The Emperor Class

Why are you here? Asked Bayard. Everyone else is preparing for the march to York.

I just wanted some alone time.

Dreu took out a necklace from his pocket. The necklace had a copper plate at the end. One side had his name engraved into it while the other side had 4 names. He felt the engraving of the four names with his fingers.

When we formed a squad, we decided on making these necklaces. They were meant to remind us of the unbreakable bonds we have and, should any of us leave for elsewhere, we can always identify one another on the streets. I finally left Berkton and yet no one will recognize this copper plate anymore.

When Dreu realized that Bayard was unaware of his past with his close friends, he went on to explain how he joined the Labor Guild where he met the four laborers. He described their favorite food at the Adventure Inn and how they parted ways the night of the attack. While he had no confirmation, Dreu was quite certain his friends all perished that night. He nearly joined them if Bayard didn't show up. He didn’t have time to think about them as he was fleeing danger. With the rare peace and quiet in the cave, he finally accepted that he had to grieve for his loss.

Have you ever lost someone close, Bayard? I know it's a stupid question but I know nothing about you.

I’ve lost many.

The dragged out pause made Dreu believe the footman had clamped up again but Bayard continued.

In my line of work, it’s not uncommon to lose those close to you. We took up an oath to protect the empire and that oath remained until our death. Initially, I fought against creatures of the Underworld who threatened the existence of all beings on Ittoroth. Many lost their lives to those powerful monsters. Then, we had a schism within our ranks and I found myself fighting against those who once fought with me shoulder to shoulder. Many of those I considered my brothers sided with Xemir and his twisted logic. To this day, I still remember personally ending their lives with my blade. Those memories will stay with me for the rest of my life.

When Dreu originally obtained his powers, he assumed his footmen would be mindless summoned creatures that could only act as they were ordered. From talking to summoners in the Adventure Inn, he commonly heard those spellcasters comparing their summons to inanimate objects capable of taking orders. He never got the impression anyone developed bonds with their summoned creatures. In his case, he faced an individual with memories and emotions who was very much human like him. He knew that, if Bayard was capable of all human functions, the man would be crying at this moment. His voice betrayed that much.

How do you handle your grief then, Bayard? I don’t think you have overcome yours.

The three hundred years of idleness have not helped. The sense of helplessness and disconnect from this world worsened my grief. Now that I’m back and a new emperor has appeared, I can finally get back on the path of recovery. As for my coping mechanism, I focus on the good memories I had with my friends, especially those who joined the opposing side. I remember what we strived for and aim to create a better world where such tragedies don’t repeat for others. It’s far better aiming to create a better world than looking for revenge or placing blame on others.

A better world? One where demons don’t slaughter humans?

I understand the recent events put the demons in a bad light. However, you must remember, as you stated before, humans have tried to wipe out demons before. Is it so absurd for the demons to retaliate? Should we expect them to simply wait for their destruction and do nothing? If the shoe was on the other foot, I'm certain your actions would be no different.

Do we descend into a cycle of revenge until one side is wiped out?

That is the world Xemir intends on creating. He wants to wipe out or enslave all nonhumans so all humans will reign supreme. You may not believe this but humans and demons once worked closely together.

What happened?

That’s a tale for another day. It seems like everyone else is ready to leave.

Dreu then noticed he was subconsciously shedding tears for his squadmates during his talk with Bayard. The realization of him saying farewell to them so soon only made his tears stream down faster. He could only hope their deaths were swift. The Adventurer’s Inn was close to the gate so it would have been one of the first targets for the demons. Overnight, he had lost everything and everyone he cared about.

“Let’s go, Dreu!” shouted Baldwin.

Relieved he was facing away, Dreu wiped away his tears. The silver lining in all this was that he was about to go to York. This was a city he dreamt of going for so long and his dream of becoming a knight might be happening sooner than expected. Before his conversation with Bayard, he thought about exacting revenge for his friends once he became a knight.

Do I really want to feed into this cycle of hatred?

Dreu took a few deep breaths to regain his composure. He then turned around to join the others. Everyone was in much better spirits now that they were ready to head towards York. The idea of staying in a well defended city was reassuring for everyone. Someone mentioned reinforcements from the Xante which would no doubt turn the tide of the demon invasion. Dreu personally couldn’t wait for the rebuilding that would come after the invasion. He was ready to start a new chapter by creating the better world Bayard spoke of. Dreu then joined the others at the cave mouth. This whole time, his other footman stood like a statue as it guarded the entrance. Contrary to the dark night they just experienced, Sol lit up the forest and brought warmth to the group. A gentle breeze blew past them and carried with it the scent of blooming flowers.