CHAPTER 62

THE BIG DAY finally came. The feast had been prepared and the whole Infernal Empire was in celebration. The empire's people were cooking the best dishes they could cook and wear the best clothes they had to celebrate with everyone. Everyone was in festivity mood, oblivious to what was about to happen.

The whole castle was in uproar. The emperor and the nobilities were in joyous mood. Eating, dancing and laughing with themselves. And Hakkeran was one of those nobilities. Though no smile could be seen on his lips. He was expressionless, but it was not new to the nobles around him. They were even stunned to see the warlord present since the warlord usually decline such gatherings.

And beside the warlord who was wearing his full leather armor— only his face could be seen, was the warlord's trusted aide, Gabin, who just returned after accomplishing the warlord's order with flying colors.

"Your Excellency, please smile." Gabin was feeling stressed again. "Emperor Gabrien is coming this way."

"I don't feel like it."

Gabin used the name that could change his excellency's mind. "For your Krahika, Your Excellency."

Almost immediately, a small smile appeared on Hakkeran lips, the same time the emperor reached them.

"Hakkeran! My nephew!" The emperor looked so proud and happy. "Why are you here in the corner after announcing that you're a hero? There's a lot of beautiful women tonight from noble houses. Take your pick. You can have as many as you want. They are all more than willing to warm your night."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Hakkeran sounded respectful that lessen Gabin's worry. The reason why the warlord didn't like coming to these kind of parties was because he hated these people, so to see him playing nice and amiable, Gabin was relieved. "I will surely choose a woman before the night ended."

The emperor laughed heartily. "Good. Good. I'm looking forward to your heir, Hakkeran. He will surely be just like you."

Hakkeran bowed his head. "You're praising me too much, Your Majesty. I will humbly accept it."

The emperor laughed again. "I am speaking the truth, my nephew. Anyway, how's hour warriors? Are they enjoying themselves?"

Hakkeran smiled when he remembered what his warriors were doing at the moment. "Yes. They're drinking with the empire's soldiers."

"Good. Good."

"Though I have to excuse myself later, Your Majesty." Hakkeran bowed his head again as if deeply apologizing. "I've heard from my warriors that some races were trying to invade our joyous occasion. I plan to take care of them personally."

That made the emperor smile. "As always, thank you for your services, my nephew. I will leave everything in your capable hands." Warlord Hakkeran had already proven himself to the emperor time and time again that the warlord already earned the emperor's trust when it comes to subjugating other races. "Do come back after you're done with those low lives."

Hakkeran nodded. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

The emperor finally left Hakkeran alone and Hakkeran's face was back to the way it was— cold and expressionless.

"Gabin."

"Yes, Your Excellency." Gabin immediately answered.

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes."

"And the noble houses?" Hakkeran didn't want anything to ruin their plan.

"Already in position. Just waiting for the signal."

Hakkeran sipped the liquor on his goblet. "Good. Tonight's a big night after all."

Gabin nodded. He was just as excited as his excellency. He had been looking forward to this day— or night. It'll be surely a night that no one would forget for years to come.

Gabin would do anything for the night to be perfect for his lordship. His Excellency had been planning this for three lifetimes and now, it was finally set into motion.

Silently watching and observing, Gabin stayed by his lordship's side until his lordship decided to talk to the emperor to bid farewell for the meantime.

That was Gabin's cue.

Gabin left his lordship's side and stepped out from the hall where the feast was being held to carry out his excellency's plan.

Meanwhile, after Warlord Hakkeran bid goodbye to the emperor for the meantime, using the 'other races causing commotion' as his reason, he left the hall and without hesitation, Hakkeran entered the castle's hallway and went down to the castle ground.

As he passed the ground and entered the empty castle's garden, Hakkeran ordered the Solaris in his wrists to change into its true form before he emerged in the castle maze connected to the courtyard — the entrance to the underground chamber.

Hakkeran was immediately stopped by the guards in the courtyard even though they knew who Hakkeran was. The warlord's deep blood red leather armor and the flaming swords on his back was giving the guards an intimidating aura, and also dread, but his majesty's order was absolute.

Swallowing their fear, the guards spoke to the warlord. "W-we're very sorry, Warlord Hakkeran Adral. You're not allowed inside. His Majesty's order."

Hakkeran didn't say anything and just looked at the man walking towards their way. A man who holds a title of a general— he was the deceased General Adri's rival— General Barrin Duval.

"Soldiers, what are you doing stopping Warlord Hakkeran Adral?" General Barrin's strict gait and face made the soldiers stilled and scared. "Warlord Adral was sent by the emperor to check the moonrite prison, to secure it since there's a disturbance outside the city caused by those races who wanted the Mistress of Flame back. Feel free to check with His Majesty. Of course, you have to face His Majesty's wrath if you disturbed him and disregard his orders."

The words came from a very upstanding general and also the newly appointed overseer of the whole courtyard and the chamber at the bottom of the castle after General Adri's death, so the soldiers didn't question the warlord anymore and let him pass.

Walking beside the general now, Hakkeran spoke in a low voice. "Thank you for the save."

"I was waiting for you, Warlord Adral." General Barrin still had no emotion on his face even though his voice showed reverence. "Hearing from you that it was my last order after so many years of working for the empire by your order made me feel relieved. I am excited to go back home after this."

Hakken nodded. "Thank you for lending us your strength, Barrin."

Barrin shook his head, he couldn't accept the gratitude. "Do not mention it, Warlord Adral. We, the Phoenix's race, are doing this for our majesties, Queen Sollel and Queen Astrid. We are glad that our race's ability to take a form similar to humans could help our queens. We thank you for finding our queen and for planning their escape thoroughly. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help out and for leading us up to this day."

Yes. General Barrin was not human, but a phoenix who could take a human form. Of course, nobody knew that in this empire. Warlord Hakkeran approached the Phoenix race to ask their help when they needed a high-ranking official they could trust inside the empire. It was not difficult for Barrin to infiltrate the empire after he showed his strength and battle prowess. Phoenixes had a leader charm about them and even in their human form, they're still very strong in human standard.

"Don't mention it," said Hakkeran. "We all have our reason and purpose why we banded together and why you all listened to me."

Barrin couldn't help showing a wry smile at the warlord's last words. "You threatened them, that's why they listened, Your Excellency."

Hakkeran glanced at Barrin. "I didn't threaten your race."

"But you came with your flaming sword." Barrin refuted. "A sword that could kill us."

Hakkeran shrugged. "It was just for insurance."

Barrin just shook his head and continued leading the warlord towards the entrance to the chamber.

"Are there other people inside the chamber except for the guards?" Hakkeran asked.

"Just the master forgeman and his assistant. He had been draining Queen Sollel's blood." Barrin's face darkened. "Queen Sollel will be weakened again because of them. As much as I wanted to kill them, I was waiting for your order."

Hakkeran felt the same, but a plan was a plan. "Don't worry. It'll be over soon."

Barrin's facial expression finally relaxed. "Yes. Finally. The last stone was delivered in the empire's smithy's secret chamber. No wonder we couldn't find anything however hard we try to look. They took every single piece and hid it from everyone."

Hakkeran nodded. "But we found it and we will take it all."

Barrin smiled. "Yes, Your Excellency."

The two finally reached the stone door— the only entrance to the chamber at the bottom of the castle— and Barrin opened it and let Hakkeran enter first.

"Do it as planned." Hakkeran told Barrin.

"Yes." Barrin bowed his head and left the warlord's side to carry out his last order.

As Barrin left, Hakkeran started descending on the long and spiral staircase that would lead him to the chamber. When he reached the middle of the stone spiral staircase, Hakkeran took out the enchanted necklace he always wore hidden inside his armor and crushed the enchanted pendant with his bare hands.

He didn't need the necklace anymore. He didn't need to lie or keep any secrets from his Krahika from this day forward.

Tonight, when he faced his Krahika again, it'll be the real him — the whole him. And he could only hope that his queen and his lady would accept him as he was.

Continuing his descent, Hakkeran reached for his sword on his back and draws it as he reached the bottom of the stair. Before the guard at the bottom of the stair noticed his presence, they were already burned to crisp with only one slash of Solaris.

Finally stepping inside the chamber, he infiltrated once, Hakkeran let Solaris burn as much as it wanted, its flames flaring fiercely as if showing its eagerness to the be wielded. And Hakkeran didn't disappoint it. They had a pact after all. It will stay by his side and protect him so long as he wielded it to burn and kill the humans that betrayed its owner.

"Who are you?!" A guard who just noticed Hakkeran draw his sword and everyone followed suit and aimed their swords at Hakkeran who was just standing there.

"He looked familiar." Another guard spoke.

"Isn't he the wanted hunter running around with the evil queen?"

"How did you manage to enter this chamber?!" The head of the guards in the chamber walked to Hakkeran as if he had the strength to defeat the intruder.

Nonchalantly, Hakkeran pointed the stairs he used to come down the chamber. "I used the staircase."

"You bastard!" The head of the guard sprinted and jumped in front of Hakkeran, readying a powerful slash from the top, planning to cut Hakkeran in half, but Hakkeran didn't even need to move.

The Solaris in his hand flared as if showing its anger at the insolent attacker. The flares burned brightly, blinding the guard and burning him at the same time.

Seeing the scorched corpse of the head of the guards, the other guards stepped back in fear. They have not seen such flame attack, even from the strongest flame sorcerers.

"F-for the emperor...!" Said one guard who wanted to fight his fear. "We will fight for the emperor. We have to keep the evil queen in her prison!"

Hakkeran's eyes darkened in rage, but before he could act on his anger, the Solaris beat him to it. It just suddenly flared and burst, its flames filling the whole chamber, every inch was filled with Solaris' flame, burning everyone mercilessly but Hakkeran.

Hakkeran sighed and glanced at Solaris after everyone was burned to crisp. "You could've let me handle them. I like slicing them up, making them bleed than burning them."

Solaris flared a little as if it was talking back to Hakkeran and Hakkeran glared at it.

"Don't you dare talk back to me," Hakkeran spoke as it as if scolding a child. "Or I will not return you to your owner."

Solaris flared fiercely to show how against it was.

Hakkeran put Solaris back on his back and walked towards the center of the chamber. Upon reaching the middle, in front of the moonrite prison, he stared at the prisoner inside with bright red hair intently before he used Solaris to destroy the prison's lock.

Entering the moonrite prison, before Hakkeran could get closer and unchained his queen, she slowly stirred awake, as if waking up from her deep slumber just for him. And bit by bit, her head rose to look up at him, her eyes fluttering open, showing her lava-like eyes, swirling in their depths.

Controlling his throbbing heart, Hakkeran spoke. "I'm here to fetch you, my lady."

Hakkeran knew his Krahika was weak, but she still managed to smile at him that made his heart flared and thundered in his chest.

"W-what took you s-so long... Hakkeran?"

Hakkeran took a deep and stepped closer to his queen to free her from her chains. "You can call me Hakken." He freed her and wrapped his arm around his lady's waist to pull her up and embraced her at the same time. "I like it more than my full name."

As feeble as she was, Sollel buried her face in Hakkeran's neck and whispered. "I—I'm g-glad y—y-you're okay, Hakken..."

Hakkeran smiled and kissed his Krahika's shoulder. "Ready to raze hell, my Krahika?"

"A-anytime..."

Hakkeran chuckled and carefully carried his Krahika out of her prison like what he did the first time he took her out of prison. "Let's go then. I ready a feast for you, my lady. It's a grand celebration."

Sollel only smiled and leaned her head on Hakkeran's chest. She was weak, but happy— happy because her assumptions and suspicions were not wrong.

Hakken is Hakkeran. Her hunter was her warlord. I was right not to choose. Why chose when I can have both?

CECELIB | C.C.