Trapped In Hisstory

"As for the knights who are traitors to the kingdom, Treason is grave. Therefore, they shall be punished with death."

The bodies of the four knights weakened, while they are tied up, their body bent down, lifeless. Tears formed in their eyes from the shock they got from what they heard. The little hope that the four knights were clinging to was shattered as they hear the decree of the king.

Death.

One word that brings fear to all people. Some may not be scared of death, but once they find and realize what they want in life, they cling to the last hope they have, a finger hanging on a cliff. A finger that holds on for a bit of time, before it gives up and falls to its doom.

There are many reasons why people are afraid to die;

Some do not want to leave their families behind. Some do not want to die because there are still many things they have yet to do. Some are scared of the pain, and the unknown that comes after death.

Different reasons, yet all points to fear. Different reasons yet lead to one word.

Regret. 

They were tempted by the offer of the enemies to give them a hundred suns if they open the Venus Wing. A hundred suns would surely cause their family joy. But those hundred suns caused them...execution.

We all make mistakes. It could be our choice to make our own decision, but there will be a point where we realize that we should never have done it. Temptation should not be an excuse for the mistakes we have done. We let ourselves be tempted, therefore we are at fault.

We cannot do anything that would undo what has been done. All we could do is to ask for forgiveness, hoping that we get mercy. Once we did not get it, then there comes regret.

A mind full of regrets because of the mistake they have done. A decision that they know is wrong yet still did it, at what cost? Their lives.

Begging will not be able to help them anymore. It is a decree from the ruler of their kingdom. The kingdom they betrayed.

The messenger finished the decree and turned to the side to face the Second prince. "Caliber Stein, Second Prince of Canopus, do you accept the decree?" Weston asked.

Caliber knelt down on one knee while still bowing his head. He raised his hands with open palms, "I accept the words of the King." he responded. 

While his head was kept low, he smirked. The last time he had to bow to a decree was when his father, King Lionel, was still alive. To think that he had finally heard a decree coming from his brother, Leonidas, the First Prince. Oh, how time flies by so quickly.

Weston rolled the decree and place it on Caliber's open hands. Caliber and the messenger bowed to each other before Caliber slowly stood up.

The King's aide then descended the platform and stopped in front of the knights, "Traitors of the Kingdom," he called out and the four knights flinched, "Do you accept the decree?" he asked.

The four knights did not answer as the waterfall in their eyes continued to flow, could not believe that they are going to die. "I-I pledge my love for Canopus...I love my family and my kingdom." Maynard cried along with the breaking of his voice.

"I stay loyal to Canopus, please forgive us just this once." he continued to beg even though he knew it is hopeless.

Chance's hand made its way to his chest. He knows they are at fault, but his heart ached for them. Caliber looked at them with a straight face, as well as Alec, Sherin, and Niro. He wondered how they could keep up such an unbothered face. Their empty eyes stayed on the knights not an ounce of pity could be seen on their faces.

Alec caught Chance staring, and he could already guess what he was thinking. "We have seen too many deaths to feel pity for those who regret being at fault," he said as a response to the question inside the Crown prince's thoughts. Chance did not say anything in return and returned his gaze to the front.

"I will stay loyal...to the kingdom. To the Royal Steins!"

Weston looked down at him with a blank face, "The moment the idea of betrayal comes into your mind, you are already a traitor of this kingdom." he stated and the knights raised their gaze to him. "There is no loyalty in those who betray, the only thing there is, is proof that you are not worthy of our trust."

He rolled the other decree properly again and repeated his question, not a question anymore but more like an order, "Now, traitors. Accept the decree of the King!"

They closed their eyes, and the last batch of tears fell down their cheeks. Maynard, as the eldest of the four, raised his hands and opened them to receive the decree. "We accept the words of the King," they responded.

That was the end for them. And those were their final words.

~~~~~~~~~~

The gathering has ended, and all knights have returned to their base. Before the gathering ended, Sherin and Niro said what they needed to say, and at some points, it sounded like a threat to the knights.

It is a doubt for the knights to think of betraying the kingdom, especially from what they have witnessed. 

The four knights were untied, and their hands were tied up and they were all tied up using only one long rope so the four of them were still connected. They were dragged away and be put to the dungeon, an underground prison. They will stay there until the day has come for them to be executed.

Caliber and Chance were walking along the paths of stone, in the side wing of the Palace not too far from where the gathering was held. Chance was in a daze, still thinking about the knights who were crying and begging to be spared.

The Canopus prince noticed the man walking beside him, having a glum expression on his face. He went closer to him and intertwined his finger with his. Chance felt Caliber's hands, and he turned to him. "Are you all right?" Caliber asked.

Chance turned to him and he hesitated whether to ask him a question or not, "What do you want to tell me, you can go ahead and say it." The Canopus prince stated, giving his hand a squeeze.

"Is there really no way for them to redeem themselves?" he asked, and Caliber sighed immediately at his question.

"It is a decree, Charles. There is nothing that could be done to save them." he responded. 

Caliber put his hand on Chance's face and caressed it with his thumb, "You are too soft-hearted. Although they are pitiful because they are going to die, you cannot change the fact that it was their fault why the enemies have entered the palace so easily."

"They-"

"You are trying to save those knights from dying, but can those knights save those who have died because of them?"

Chance went silent because of his words. Caliber is right. Pity and regret will not be able to undo the things they have done. 

The knights will stay in prison, thinking about their families, thinking about their mistakes, thinking about what could have happened if they did not let the enemies in. Each day that they are inside their cells, all they would be able to do is regret their mistakes. Regret everything until the day they will be executed.

Regret.

One word yet so heavy.

He raised his hand, and he looked at it, 'Do I regret coming to your body, Charles?' he asked as if Charles was there in front of him.

'Why must you ask me? You should ask yourself if you regret coming here.'

'Maybe I do. I put myself into trouble by trying to find out the past. Maybe I regret it.'

'Do you regret coming here for history? Do you regret trying to find out everything about me?'

'I...I do not know.'

'The book...The story needs you, Chance. You need to fill the pages of our story."

"Then I have to finish everything to the end." Chance whispered.

Charles's reflection in front of him is probably just his thoughts. He was talking to himself, hoping that Charles would somehow come to him. Then his conscience spoke again.

'Do you really regret coming here?'

He stopped and turned to Caliber, whose face is in a state of confusion mixed with worry. Caliber stared back at him, trying to read his thoughts, but failed.

'I regret accepting Fate and Wish's deal.' he thought. But he was sure of something, "But I..." he muttered.

"I do not regret meeting you, Caliber," he said, not in his thoughts and not in a whisper, and it surprised Caliber.

He put his arms around Caliber's neck and pulled him into a kiss. It startled Caliber at first, but then he closed his eyes and kissed Chance back passionately. Chance's kisses were slow, savoring every moment.

After a while, he pulled away and looked into his eyes. 'I will never regret it.' he thought.

Chance removed his hand that was wrapped around his neck and lowered his gaze. "Caliber, I..." he muttered.

Caliber moved in closer to hear him, and he cupped his face, raising it so Chance could meet his gaze. Chance looked at him, but he removed his hand that was on his face and held it. He looked away from his gaze and stared down at his hand.

"I will go back to Antares....tomorrow."