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Return of the Fallen Vol1 Ch15

Author: Blue_Rat

ch15

Everyone stood silently around Master Garn. The Mind Frey cut off the holographic playback and as though it had gotten its fill of memories, fell off the nape of Garn’s neck and shriveled into an almost mummified husk, dying in a small curled up dried ball.

Looking around at each other, those in the throne room had all witnessed the same thing. During the incident, something had clearly happened. A bright flash of light followed by a series of dangerous spells went flying about wildly but everyone in the throne room, as well as those that witnessed the events in the summoning chamber that day, could not tell how or why those spells came about.

They had seen exactly what Garn had seen that day. Using the Mind Frey there was no way to alter the user’s memory in any way so what they saw was exactly what Garn saw. He reported everything truthfully to the King and left out not one detail and yet he was still accused of treachery by King David. Now that these important figures witnessed everything for themselves a deep regret and guilt-filled them.

(How could we doubt our hero.)

The King as well had a complete 180 change in his attitude.

(What have I done, what have I done.)

The King felt the eyes of every person in the room close in on him and a sense of paranoia ran down his spine, as though every pair of eyes laid upon him judge him silently from the sidelines.

The air filled with tension but Rust quickly cut through it. Walking next to Garn he wanted to place a hand on his shoulder but now understood why the man never wished to be touched. Ever since the loss of Garn’s family when he was little, he had felt no real affection for people until he met his Master and after his master died he only felt care for King David. Rust slowly put his hand behind his back and cleared his throat.

“My King, we’ve all seen it. Not only did Garn not know what happened that day but even as we all watched it, even we don’t know what happened. Garn has never betrayed this country and even with the incident, the blame for that doesn’t lie with him as well. With the Mind Frey, everyone here has seen Garn’s innocence, he is no traitor. So, your majesty, I ask, no I beg of you, please drop the charges laid against Master Garn.”

Once more the eyes of everyone there looked at their king. Some seemed to be pleading for Garn while others seemed to be filled with contempt for such a short-sighted king.

King David did not expect things would turn out like this at all. He wasn’t entirely sure Garn had nothing to do with the incident but watching the Mind Frey there could be no doubt about Garn’s innocence but now David was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

(Damn. If I admit I was wrong I will seem weak but if I push things further I will seem weak, cruel and idiotic. Is there no way both sides win.)

With King David starting to spiral within his own mind, he couldn’t help but instinctually look toward the one person who’s always had his back no matter what. King David and Garn’s eyes momentarily locked before Garn released a small sigh.

*Haaa*

Garn’s memory had just been played before everyone here. What took him a lifetime to gather, everyone had witnessed in minutes. They had seen all of his ups and downs, his worst moments, as well as his most intimate. They thought they now knew understood who and what Garn was and to some extent, they did but…

Garn saw the plea in his king’s eyes and swallowed his humiliation once more and spoke.

“My KIng, may I speak freely.”

A small murmur spread through the crowd.

Garn had been very brash before when exposing the King for his earlier lies and would have the moral right to speak out now that his innocence was proven before all but instead he decided to show King David some face and asked for permission to speak freely.

King David smiled brightly. He could see that Garn had received his message and was now going to find a way out for him.

“Speak.”

“My King, although I was proven innocent just now, it doesn’t excuse my earlier behavior or the way I spoke to you.”

Garn took a few steps to the side and approached the official who the king had injured earlier by turning his tongue into ash. The man laid completely on the floor unconscious. Garn kneeled down next to him and a ring upon his finger released both a green and blue light and began to heal the man.

“But, as you have seen, I made a promise to your father, my Master. I promised, first and foremost that no matter what, I would always protect you and secondly I would always protect Treia. This man who you harmed in anger, this poor man that has always been loyal to you did not deserve what you did to him. That is why I stepped up. You wish to be angry; that is your right. You wish to unleash that anger; as King, no one will stand in your way to stop you…except me. You may call me a traitor but I will always defend the citizens of Treia and I will always defend you, your majesty, and if I have to I will defend you both from each other and when I see you ruining your own reputation I will then defend you from yourself.”

The King was stunned and had never really looked at it that way. When Garn stood up and dispersed his attack and spoke out against him, King David only saw it as a betrayal but now reflecting on it, King David knew he had completely gone overboard. Still, this realization didn’t get him out of his current predicament but then Garn continued.

“My King, I was wrong for how I went about things earlier and that wasn’t my intention. I only want what’s best for Treia. The blame as much as there is of it can be placed all over but I feel that none of that matters right now. With the compensation our kingdom has to fulfill with Jin and Maoudou, our original 24 heroes will be cut down to a measly 6. Now is not the time to argue and fight with one another but instead, it is time that we must all come together to face our true enemies, the Azirian’s.”

Garn finished healing the unconscious official on the ground and the man’s expression softened as the pain melted away from his body. Garn though continued to kneel in that position and clasped a hand over a fist giving King David a respectful salute.

“Your majesty, please, I beg of you, drop the charges of treason against me so that I may get back to work and prepare these young heroes for the dark days to come. We have no time to waste.”

The audience was stunned. Their hearts and minds fluttered for a moment with admiration and a few shared similar thoughts.

(This man, he is loyal and a true hero of Treia. This is what we need in these dark times, a man who will give up everything and put his entirety on the line to defend us all. Heavens high above if your listening, bless this man.)

King David released a magnanimous smile. He didn’t like how Garn got there but with Garn taking some of the blame and pushing the rest on no one in particular, this left plenty of room for King David to squeeze out of this hole he had dug for himself. With Garn also giving him plenty of face as well, this made the next part quite easy.

King David cleared his throat and gently stamped his scepter on the ground.

*Bang*

“I have heard your words, Sir Garn, and they are indeed correct. You are innocent of the summoning incident and we have all seen your complete loyalty to both the crown and to the great kingdom of Treia. I hereby drop the charge of treason. Mistakes were made rashly on all sides and emotion got people heated. My people, the dark times are fast approaching, let this be a lesson to all of us to be a bit more patient and let us strive together to protect this great realm.”

A slow steady clap emerged from the crowd and more and more people gathered in until there was a cascade of applause. King David raised his hands and the crowd quieted down once more.

“The summoning incident has left us with questions that simply can’t be solved by any expert here and can only be labeled as an unsolved mystery. In the end, those who were harmed in the incident have all made full recoveries. What really matters is that we now move forward, therefore, I officially announce that the investigation into the incident is now closed. Garn, you’re right, it’s time for you to get back to work. Too much time has already been wasted and the heroes have barely been taught a thing. Gather up those that are meant to leave and after that turn these young men and women into true heroes.”

The King then stamped his scepter once more.

*Bang*

“That is all.”

Many people began to clear out of the throne room to head back to their duties but many more congratulated Garn on his innocence. They all had reverence and admiration in their eyes but to Garn, they all just looked like eyes of pity to him.

Rust slapped Garn on his back and roared with laughter as usual.

“HAHAHA! I knew you were innocent. No way this old dog would try and pull one over on Treia, absolutely no way.”

Garn pushed his staff into Rust’s face nearly striking him in the nose but of course, Rust’s reflexes were just too fast and he easily evaded the attack and continued to laugh.

“Bwahahahaha. That’s the Garn I know and love.”

Rust then walked away waving behind him as he headed off to god knows where.

A few minutes later the throne room was left almost entirely empty. Only Garn remained. Looking back on the situation, Garn felt something in his stomach he’s only felt a few times in his entire life and that was Fury. Absolute gut-wrenching rage. This was the worst humiliation he’s ever felt in his entire life and it was committed by the person he considered to be family. Twisted thoughts began to fill Garn’s mind.

(Did David never see me as anything more than a bodyguard. I taught him how to read and write. How to unlock his magic, how to train and use powerful magic and yet he turned on me. I have looked out for him for over 60 years. From the age of around 3 until now it was me who had his back and he tossed me aside so easily. Have I really wasted my entire life here? All this time I’ve spent here and for what? I have no family and no true friends. No love of my life nothing to go home too. Master, all those years ago did you actually trick me into staying here?)

Garn finally left the throne room, his head a swirl of confusing thoughts and emotions. A seed of resentment had been placed in his heart by his master long ago and now, due to King David’s actions, that seed began to bloom.

The man who could have been a hero to the world, who could have conquered kingdoms and had his own country. Have a wife and kids and have a truly loving family and home. Instead, he was chained to this country for sixty plus years and was not even appreciated by the King.

Walking down the long and lonely corridor, Garn no longer felt the warmth of these walls and instead felt a cold bitterness wash over him.

That day Garn lost a part of himself. That day, Garn began to change.