A Dreadful Reunion

Hisui kept dodging Umbra's attacks and panted. Umbra was fast despite him wearing heavy armor. Hisui parried Umbra's attack then went for a slash. Umbra dodged then kneed Hisui and punched his back. Hisui groaned and fell on his hands and knees. The red aura emitting from Umbra's helmet was turning into a darker red. He went for a downward stab. Hisui rolled out the way and sighed.

"What the hell..? He...definitely is trying to kill me..." Hisui said and stood up.

Umbra got in a stance and dashed to Hisui. Hisui slashed and Umbra exposed his core on purpose. Hisui panicked and stopped his motion then got punched in his face and was blown back. Hisui grunted and rolled on his side then stopped. Umbra noticed Vern coming back and she jumped off her horse then slashed down. Umbra froze and his helmet cracked and shattered in two pieces. Vern landed and her golden eyes glowed.

"I'm not letting you kill Hisui..!" Vern said. She stood up and looked shocked and took a step back. "Z-Zain..?"

Zain's eyes emitted black and red aura. He looked at his Lunar Arms as it shattered into a million pieces. He opened his hand then black and red aura surged around his feet. Hisui stood up slowly and coughed.

"W-What..? Zain..?" He said.

"Zain..! You betrayed Uphelia...years ago to join the Empire..why...are you fighting for Stella..? You know her history...she is not to be trusted..!" Vern said.

"Neither am I.." He said and summoned an Ancient Arms, Dark Excalibur.

Vern covered her face from the force of his aura and slid back, grunting. Hisui looked shocked.

"I am loyal to Stella at all costs...she helped me when no one else was there...after our recent argument...I couldn't turn back until I know it was right..and now is that time...Uphelia attacked Stella...and now she is preparing to strike back..but while she prepares you all keep getting stronger hence why I am here..you all...will be eliminated." Zain said.

He looked around and saw Holy Order members surround Zain. He looked at them and glared.

"You don't know what you're messing with...fighting fire with fire will only leave you with a nasty scar.." Zain said.

"That's far enough Zain." A man walked up.

Hisui and Vern looked at the man and stepped back. They watched the events unfold.

"Stella has corrupted you into this demon..this isn't who you used to be..you were one of us..one of the Holy Order.." The man said.

"Arthur..." Zain said. "Maybe you're just too foolish to see the true colors of your 'King'"

"Our King is in the right state of mind...you value your friendship over the future of Arcania...you are blind." Arthur said. "You have the right to remain silent..we are taking you in for further investigation."

Arthur walked closer then Zain's aura repelled Arthur. Once best friends, now enemies..Arthur glared and Zain looked at him.

"I'm blind..? Get your head out of your ass, Arthur...you think Uphelia is full of saints..? Bullsh*t. I've opened my eyes to the truth..Queen Stella is more level headed than all the other royalty in Arcania. In fact..she is the next Empress of Arcania...Emperor Lazlord deems her worthy of the Head Throne...your king has done more destruction than good for Arcania while Stella has only murdered her enemies. Your king is the one who sent you all out to destroy the Kingdom of Maanga. An innocent Kingdom..you dare tell me I am blind..?" Zain said.

"They were planning to take down Uphelia...we can not let our enemies prosper. We can not--" Zain interrupted Arthur.

"The only thing you all are is puppets. Disposable garbage..P...A...W...N...S." Zain said.

Arthur didn't like that statement. He took a step forward and his blue eyes glowed.

"Look what happened to Haido...A sacrifice...he played a good roll into finding all of Stella's secrets but..what did he really find?" Zain asked. No one spoke. "Answer my f*cking question! What did that useless pawn find?!"

"...nothing that is worth using against her..." Vern looked down.

"Exactly...you all think you can do whatever you want to ONLY Lunia...and the Emperor has caught on to the trend also...Every major kingdom has targeted only Lunia while the minor kingdoms are siding with Lunia..Vern you aren't one to lie. State the REAL reason Zephyr targeted Maanga." Zain said.

"....." Vern was silent.

"Don't speak Vern." Arthur said.

"Answer my question.." Zain pointed his sword at Vern.

"...He targeted Maanga...for no reason...they were helping Lunia with resources...and Stella and Gabriela had a close sister type relationship...he just wanted a reaction from Stella...but Stella wasn't informed of the downfall of Maanga until a year later.." Vern said.

"If Stella is so strong what is stopping her from defeating the Holy Order and Uphelia..? She's just gonna use her pawns to try to stop us..her new pawns, The Seven Pillars of Lunia, are her front lines..she is the most cowardly Queen in existence.." Arthur said. "Our King takes action. He does what he says. Your Queen, is nothing but a useless coward who only knows how to use her pawns only.."

"Stella is a strategist. She is a tactician..you think she's gonna send her knights into a battle she can't win? Do you think she is gonna charge into a battle she can't win? Honorable death means nothing to her. It doesn't exist in her reality...She is alive for this long because she is smart... Uphelia is already on their seventh royal on the throne. Lunia only had two..Her mother and Stella herself..if I'm an idiot for following Stella then you must have a mental disease because Uphelia will end up getting rid of you sooner or later.." Zain walked off.

"You can only deny the truth for so long Zain!" Arthur called out.

"Look in the mirror and say that to yourself. If I'm denying the truth then you must just can't see it...King Zephyr...isn't all you think he is...Next time we cross paths...I will have you dead at my feet..." Zain said.

Arthur stopped the Holy Order from following Zain. He hated seeing his closest friend turn against him. Vern looked at Zain and withdrew her weapons. Hisui's equipment vanished in a green beam of light.

"We should report to Zephyr...Zain has appeared on the scenes.." Arthur said.

"Wait...What was Zain like before he turned into this..?" Hisui asked.

"He was the Head Commander of the Holy Order..his goal at first was the eradication of Stella...he always wanted to drive the darkness out of Arcania...suddenly...he changed after the Maanga attack..." Arthur said.

"That was his breaking point..before he broke the chains hiding his dark power...He said too many innocents have suffered from the Holy Order...He even killed his own brother in a battle against him when he first rebelled against Uphelia...I didn't know how to stop him...he just left..." Vern said.

"He is an enemy now...we have no time to worry about dead weights." Arthur said. "Let us head back towards Uphelia.."

He walked off and the Holy Order followed. Vern and Hisui soon followed him. Zain kept making his way to a distant ally of Lunia, The Kingdom of Semilia. He took his armor off since his helmet was destroyed. He wore assassin's clothing under his armor.

"Queen Stella...I will return to Lunia..but not now..I have matters to settle with your allies.." Zain said.