Overwhelming Firepower

The silence in the theater lasted for a long time. It was not the silence of boredom, but the silence of grief, of awe. Then came the sobbing. Gentle at first, like raindrops on stone, before swelling into the cries of children who clung to their parents. They were calling out the name of the Knight Archibald.

”Dad, is Knight Archibald dead?” The crying child asked his father. The father, who had tears in his eyes, wiped his tears and his son’s as he showed a bright smile.

”Didn’t you hear, my boy? He isn’t dead... The true Knight Archibald is simply resting. Someday, when the people need him, he will foolishly charge forward again, with lance at hand... Onto his next adventure.”

Many parents were comforting their children who could not stop crying, even the adults themselves, be they nobles or commoners, felt varying emotions.

For a single night, the fictional character Baron David Muinic, the fool mocked by lords, pitied by villagers, had struck a chord in the hearts of many.

No, it was better to say that it was Knight Archibald, the knight who carried no aura, no mana, no power... Only dreams and chivalry. He was the one who stuck in the minds of the audience; his dream, his chivalry had taken root in the audience one way or another.

***

It wasn’t just sadness that was felt. There were those who felt incredibly excited after watching the play.

”Hahaha! Now that’s what I’m talking about, the burning soul! To uphold one’s ideals until the very end, that guy was a true knight!” The Sword Duke Kaelvar Runescar said in excitement. ”What do you think of him, my lovely daughter?”

Elyra’s lips curved into the faintest smile. ”If he truly existed, I would have wanted to spar with him. A knight with no aura, yet a heart that never yielded... Such a man, I would have wanted to feel his conviction through his lance.”

”What do you mean, my daughter? Of course, he exists! He is here within us!” Kaelvar, with a vicious smile on his face, pounded his chest. ”For as long as there are knights with chivalry and honor in their hearts, he will exist eternally.”

Many aura users, especially the knights who came to watch, felt the same fire igniting within them.

***

”He might not have been an aura user, but I can say for sure that he was a true knight. The Goddess Thalara would have been pleased by his pursuit of Justice.” Evander Judicar spoke while clasping his hands together as if in prayer.

”That is true... Despite him being a fictional character, his soul shone brighter than anyone.” Duke Elandor Judicar also clasped his hands together in prayer. ”No, maybe there truly was a Knight Archibald, somewhere.”

***

”To think illusion magic could be used in such a way...” Duchess Seraphina Aeromont leaned back in her seat, lips curling into a sharp grin.

”And the message, it cuts at the heart of rotting nobility. A clever little jab to the rotting nobility. What do you think, Mireya?” She asked her daughter.

”The application of illusion magic alongside props has enhanced the effect, making it seem more real. Adding to the fact that the actors were pretty good, made one’s immersion in the story higher. This is quite a good alternative to reading.” Mireya spoke with her eyes still, on the stage.

”As for the message of the play... Well, I guess that would depend on who is watching it.” Mireya answered while looking at the audience, reacting differently.

She saw most of the commoners in tears, holding one another; the knights burning with passion, clenching their fists as if renewing their oaths; the nobles were either lowering their heads in shame or guilt, but there were some with stubborn looks of irritation; and the tower master were like her mother and herself, dissecting how Lucen used illusion magic with real props.

”It’s a play that holds a mirror towards the audience,” Mireya spoke after a slight pause.

Seraphina’s grin widened, sharp as a blade. ”A mirror.... Yes. And the reflection is not flattering. Heh, the young Thornehart is far more clever than I thought.”

***

Marquess Eron Halbrecht was watching the play he sponsored with his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren, except for Reginald, who was the only noble in Caelhart that did not watch the play.

He was already impressed because of Lucen’s martial prowess, but this play made the Marquess impressed with Lucen himself.

He sat in silence, his gaze lingering on the stage even as the curtain fell. He had thought himself wise in war, and shrewd in politics, but watching the fool-knight die with more dignity than half the lords of Norvaegard made his heart ache.

’To think the young Thornehart has such an understanding of chivalry and honor... I guess in his eyes, my grandson truly was but a jester.’

Thinking about Reginald again made Eron sigh. He then looked at his children and grandchildren, and couldn’t help but shake his head.

He looked then at his children, calculating eyes, practiced smiles, and at his grandchildren, some weeping, others clutching their fists as though making an oath. A slow realization gnawed at him.

He had taught his children to be cunning, since, unlike the battlefield, the battles that happen within the kingdom were of words. He had neglected to teach them honor.

He had doted on his grandchildren because of his failure to raise his children with love, but that was a mistake as well.

’I should have taught them of honor and chivalry, to treat others as the Knight Archibald has shown us... It’s too late for my children, but for my grandchildren, I can still show them the proper path.’

Eron had resolved himself to change the way he treated his grandchildren. To make them fine nobles like the Knight Archibald.

***

Lysette Crowlorne had come to watch Lucen’s play with her father, Marquess Varne Crowlorne, and her mother, Alice Crowlorne.

The same as Marquess Eron Halbrecht, Varne Crowlorne was of the generation that had experienced war. Watching the foolish Knight Archibald charge forward, for his ideals, for his honor, and for chivalry, reminded him of his younger self.

The Marquess almost cried as he thought of his current self, whose words were much sharper than his sword.

’Maybe, I could ask the Iron Duke if I could join him battle against one of the monster waves.’

Lysette was truly impressed by the play Lucen had written, especially his main character, the Knight Archibald.

She found the way Knight Archibald protects the weak from the abusive strong made him shine brightly.

***

Duke Vardon Thornehart, the Iron Duke, who was always seen with a stoic expression, had an ever slight smile on his face.

’Heh, as expected of my son. To think he thought so deeply of honor and chivalry. Yes, as a Thornehart, we must be like the Knight Archibald. Protecting the weak with our shields.’

Harlik and Mark, who were also watching, had tears in their eyes.

’Heh, little leader, your vision truly is different from most nobles. If that’s the path you want to walk, then allow me to walk it with you.’ Harlik made a silent oath to himself.

’Is that part of the grand dream you wanted to show us? A world where the strong protect the weak. If that’s the path to your dream, then I’ll be like the loyal William and follow behind you.’ Mark thought to himself.

’Hmph... Well, I guess that was pretty interesting.’ Robert looked around, and when he noticed the different reactions on everyone’s faces, he scoffed. ’I guess there is some merit in this little play... But it can never compare to alchemy! To search and understand the truth!’

Robert crossed his arms, scoffing. ”Hmph. So this is what you call impact? Making grown men cry over a fake knight?”

His lips twisted, yet his eyes betrayed a flicker of thought he couldn’t smother. ”This fantasy may stir hearts for a night, but only alchemy can change the world.” He couldn’t help but murmur to himself.

Yet despite all his words, Archibald’s lance lingered in his thoughts like an unwelcome echo. The fact that a mere fantasy clung to him at all irritated Robert more than anything.

***

The royal family also had varying reactions. The King and the Queen were truly impressed by the way Lucen showed how a true noble/knight should act.

The First prince had a frown on his face. He didn’t much like the focus on chivalry, more than power. How can one protect others with nothing but ideals without strength?

The Second Prince’s sight never left the stage, even when the curtain closed, one could tell that he was truly immersed in the play.

The Third Prince was like every other child and had tears in his eyes. He was inspired by the way of life the Knight Archibald showed him. To live with honor, to move onward for dreams, and to die for ideals.

The First princess, her expression as unreadable as always, but her eyes were slightly red, showing that she had cried a little during the play.

The Second princess, like the third prince, had openly cried when Archibald died. She was so immersed in the story that it felt like she was truly there with Archibald and William, as they had their adventures, until the final one.

***

Lucen watched the audience reactions from behind the curtains and chuckled. With this play, he might be able to change the fates of a few people.

’I guess these people were truly starved for entertainment. If they already reacted this way, what if I do something of Shakespeare later? I wonder what kinds of reactions they’ll show then.’