"Meow!"
Bam!
As soon as Sir Dolorem backed up, he felt something slam onto his chest, knocking the air out of him and sticking to him. He heard a lot of cat noises, too, as if someone was crying.
Sylvester chuckled and explained. "My guardian angel is trying to comfort you by hugging you. You can hug him back. He's very soft and furry."
Sir Dolorem's mind raced as he looked down at his chest, seeing nothing but empty air. Yet, he could feel the weight and warmth of something there. With trembling hands, he reached out and squeezed the invisible creature, feeling the soft fluffiness melt his heart.
"He's very…"
Sylvester interrupted, bobbing his head vigorously. "Spoiled, I know."
"Meow!" Miraj growled in protest, showing his teeth and raising his paws in a warning. Though that only made him look cuter.
Sir Dolorem chuckled. "I was going to say fluffy. Only you can see him? Since when?"
Sylvester, of course, could not tell everything. So, he kept things vague. "Indeed, only I can see him, as he's my guardian angel. He's been with me since I was born and, on many occasions, protected me."
Sir Dolorem looked down at the ball of invisible soft air. "Thank you, Lord Guardian Angel. Lord Bard is a man of utmost importance for the future of this world. Please continue protecting him."
Pa!
Suddenly, Miraj stamped his paw on Sir Dolorem's forehead, giving his affirmation. "Meow."
"Umm… Your grace, I baked some pastries. Would you like to eat some?" The woman in the house came and asked them meekly while rubbing her hands together. After all, she was a resident of a simple town, and the likelihood of her seeing anyone above the rank of Archpriest was as high as the Sun rising from the East.
Sylvester smiled and graciously agreed to taste the food. That was the least he could do for allowing them, two stranger men, into her house.
So, they spent some time there and tasted the pastries after ensuring she didn't mix any poison in them. Then, as the night came and the town got illuminated with lanterns everywhere, they went out on their way to find the King.
To their utter astonishment, they discovered the King dancing with children and other townsfolk while traveling bards played lively music on instruments that Sylvester had distributed some time ago. Some were drunk, couples danced together, and the King swung children on his strong arms, bellowing with laughter. Even the young women participated, though they remained in their designated spot. Some of the older folks were already on the ground after tiring themselves from dancing.
"I have never seen a king like him," muttered Sir Dolorem.
Sylvester chuckled and walked towards the traveling bards. He enjoyed the town's energy and appreciated seeing the King's down-to-earth personality. "Isn't that how kings should be? Regal when required, but grounded when necessary? Come, let me cheer them up even more now."
The two bards were busy playing medieval European-style rhythms, and they were impressive but lacked the energy expected on a dance night. The two bards recognized Sylvester quickly and bowed their heads.
Sylvester extended his hand to the one holding the guitar. "Let me show you another way to play the guitar. You don't always have to be slow and gentle. You can also go wild and incorporate the slap strumming style. But for now, I need you to start clapping in unison, with a thick and heavy clap, as if the hooves of horses, understood?"
The music stopped for a minute, and all heads turned to look at the Bards. Then, as everyone noticed it was Sylvester sitting down, they expectantly waited.
The King was energized. "Great! Now the real night begins! Get ready, lads and ladies. Throw your boots away and let your bodies sway! Follow your King!"
Sylvester quickly tuned the guitar and took a deep breath to recall the feeling of playing music. The piece he wanted to play was used for a rhythmic dance called Rumba in his past life. The song he was about to play was called Tormenta de Fuego.
[A/N: Search on YT - Tormenta de fuego (RUMBA)]
Then, at last, Sylvester began with firm slaps and knocks on the guitar to establish the rapid tempo of the song and communicate his intentions. The knocks themselves produced a pleasing melody.
And then, he commenced by strumming the strings. The first second was unhurried, but in the next moment, everything escalated to a rapid pace, and the music resounded in the spacious area. As Bards were professionals, they carried with them specially engraved items that utilized air element magic to amplify their sound and voices. Thanks to it, everyone could hear the music loudly and clearly.
Nevertheless, everyone was left speechless for a few moments as they had never encountered something like it before.
"YEAAAAH! This is music!"
Soon the King bellowed and began soaring with the children. Everyone emerged from their daze and began to dance. For some reason, the melody appeared romantic for couples and, at the same time, joyous for those enjoying themselves and tapping their feet.
With the claps of the other two bards, the rhythm for footwork was established, and the crowd unconsciously began to follow it. It was a pleasant experience, with cheerful faces all around, having forgotten their struggles. Any resentment towards Sylvester's arrest of the town's chief also dissipated.
Sylvester continued playing for an hour until the strings snapped, and afterward, with gentle, melodic music, food was served. Sylvester sat beside King Highland and ate more than he desired because the energetic King shoved every dish on the table onto Sylvester's plate.
Finally, night descended, and Sylvester and Sir Dolorem retired to a sheltered tent outside the town. They remained within the encampment established by the King's Royal Knights, so safety was not a concern.
"Release me!"
However, the morning arrived very early as the Royal Knights, whom the King had dispatched, returned with the Baron captive in a steel cage with spiked bars. Every jostle of the cage caused the Baron to injure himself on the spikes, leaving him bloodied from top to bottom by the time they arrived.
It was early morning, and the dew had not yet settled. The town's inhabitants were yet to awaken, but the camp outside the town bustled with activity.
King Highland emerged from his tent dressed in his usual armor and wielding his sword. "Bring the town's chief and the Baron here, and set up the chopping block."
Thud!
The boots hit the gravel. The swords clanged as the soldiers gathered around to watch the execution. It was not every day that you see a Baron being punished so heavily.
"Y-Your Majesty!" Baron Nightwood implored. "Why? I'm a Baron! You'd execute me for a mere Inquisitor? I've been faithful to you for so long!"
The King looked at the kneeling Baron with disdain. "Your loyalty means nothing if you are committing crimes in my name. If you believe your noble status will save you, you are mistaken. Furthermore, I suggest you accept this judgment, for Sir Dolorem is a man close to the Inquisitor High Lord. If you push your luck, you might get your bloodline exterminated."
The Baron shut his mouth at the mention of the legendary man. Most of the folks in Sol had not seen Inquisitor High Lord, but everyone had heard about the man's fury and his overarching love for justice and Church.
"I accept the judgment." the Baron said calmly, willingly resting his neck on the stone block.
The town's chief, on the other hand, was foolish. Despite his age, he wanted to survive. "What are you doing, Nightwood? You assured me that I didn't need to worry about anything!"
The Baron remained motionless. "Be silent and accept your fate if you wish for your family to survive. The Church is warm and merciful, but it is ruthless toward its adversaries. What is a Baron when even Counts are not spared?"
King Highland glanced at Sir Dolorem. "Do you wish to swing the sword, Sir Dolorem?"
The old Inquisitor shook his head and looked at Sylvester for a split second. "I have come to terms with my sorrow, Your Majesty. But sins must not go unpunished, though I leave the judgment to the King's blade."
"Very well." King Highland positioned himself mercilessly to the side and raised his long sword. "In the name of Solis, I judge you. As King Atrox Highland, I punish you — May your souls be guided to the gates of salvation!"
Woosh!
The blade swung, cutting through the air. Two thuds resounded as the heads fell. Instantly, a knight approached and poured holy water on King Highland's sword, cleaning it with a cloth, for the blood of sinners should not taint the noble blade for long.
"Burn their bodies and give their ashes to their families. The Knightwood family is no longer authorized to govern the Barony. There will be no more Barons… As I have done in the past, the bureaucracy shall replace the nobility. Let this serve as a warning to the remaining nobles.".
The King then turned to Sylvester, his face adorned with a smile. "Now, shall we move to Sand City? My dear queen consort must be feeling anxious at our late arrival. She wishes to spoil you like a child, for she had accepted you as a son a long time ago when we requested the Holy Land to adopt you."
Sylvester's heart instantly screamed and cried internally. 'Why must you remind me of what my life could have been? Perhaps, I could have made the Highland Kingdom the strongest and the richest in the world with my intellect – But no! I'm a bloody religious fanatic at this stage… Talk about a life story.'
Shoulders drooped, and Sylvester nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, let's go."
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