It was hours after Claus's death, when General Baldwin reached the capital city of Velmoria. Baldwin was exhausted and still limping for the fatigue of the battle. He walked towards a huge castle with dozens of flags mounted on it. The flags were of blue colour, the colour of the Royal family. The flag itself had an image of a sleeping red dragon hoarding its treasure.
'Why was Claus's existence hidden from the public? Why did Claus mention the name 'Viremont' family'? These questions haunted Claus's mind as he reached the gates of the castle. The castle itself was divided into five layers for security purposes: the Outer gates, inner courtyard, inner gates, the castle keep, then at last the Royal palace which included the throne room.
The guards let the general in after revealing his identification. He then reached the inner courtyard to see a few people descending the stairs of the inner gates. Baldwin gave a polite bow and stepped away to let them pass. "Filthy peasant, I wonder why his majesty even tolerates such disgusting insects." One of the people said as the group passed Baldwin. 'Tch. Arrogant worms in silk.' Baldwin thought as he started the climb to inner palace. The nobles and the military hated each other with all their essence. After, the dreadful exchange, Baldwin walked straight towards the throne room.
After going through six to seven check posts, Baldwin finally reached the throne room. "General Baldwin ID- 34243, requesting an audience with his majesty to report the events of the 'Durnholde' prisoner escape." Baldwin said to the guard. The guard raised his hand to his mouth and ask for permission to allow entry, which was accepted by the guard on the other side of the line.
The guard opened the door to the throne room. Baldwin bowed deeply once and advanced inside.
The room itself had a high ceiling, majestic walls with hanging drapes of the history of the kingdom. The podium was on an elevated platform where there; seated on majestic red pillowed chairs were the royal family. The king, The queen, the three princes on the right side and four princesses on the left side. The princes and the princess's chairs were smaller compared to the king's and the queen's chair. There was a dozen of soldiers in Golden armour wearing weapons, standing surrounding the Royal family. Just before, Baldwin reached the elevated platform he bent on one knee and bowed his head as deep as he could.
"Report General" the king said.
"Your majesty, the prisoner Claus escaped during the ambush on our carriage during the transit toward his execution. The attackers were killed in the ambush; I organised a manhunt for the prisoner. The soldier's located the prisoner in the scavenger's den. When I reached the scavenger's den; two soldiers were already dead. The convict overpowered me and tried to fight the other soldiers. I personally killed Claus during the confusion. The unreleased Ki caused an explosion resulting in total wipeout of Scavenger's den." Baldwin reported. Mentioning Gus in his story would purposefully drag the child into a political game. Thus, Baldwin conveniently left out the hostage situation.
"I heard from a soldier on site that you had a conversation before the inmate died, what was it, general?" The king further questioned.
"Your majesty, the inmate mentioned the name 'Viremont' before his demise before he died." Baldwin mentioned. He observed the royal family to check for any changes with the sudden revelation.
"Good work, I would raise your salary for this milestone but, the court would find the decision problematic considering your … humble beginnings." The king said with a disgusted face. "Please do not Fret the kingdom shall reward you with something matching your achievement. You are now dismissed."
After being dismissed, the General swiftly retreated towards the door.
"What do you think does he have any idea about what happened." The king asked the Queen after Baldwin's exit.
"From what I could see from Baldwin, he was grieving but did not have any relevant clues. He did try to rile us up, but it failed miserably. He doesn't have anything to point towards us." The queen answered.
"I disagree," one of the princes said, "I received a report from one of my men who were present during the event. Our good old trusted general has lied conveniently forgot to mention that there was a hostage situation."
The king stroked his beard in thought then he said, "well done Issac. I have taught you well. You show the potential to succeed me. What would you like as a reward?"
Issac face lit up with a smile on his face, "tell me father, why was Claus the invincible; so terrifying for you and mother."
Hearing this request, the king's face curled up in disdain, a hint of fury burst in his eyes for his eldest son. Then, the king calmed himself down and said "don't look into this any further."
Later that night,
Baldwin recollected the memories of Claus. He recalled the day he and Claus officially met on the training grounds. Baldwin was just promoted to position of captain; he knew that he did not deserve the raise. Baldwin had heard of a lieutenant by the name of Claus, that had more achievements and more qualifications than Baldwin. Baldwin being promoted to the captain of squad 4 of the crimson knights was a political move, it was to promote him a fallen noble rather than a commoner.
Claus had charged into his office asking for a fair duel to change the leadership of squad 4. Claus lost that day. After that loss he and Claus became rivals, training and fighting with each other.
Then the day for mission firebird came. A phoenix had made its nest in a village. If the phoenix was not subdued, then it would have caused the area to become a wasteland for decades if not centuries to come. Baldwin was the captain to the team which consisted of seventeen soldiers including Claus.
Baldwin and his men reached the village at night. A heatwave constantly splashed against Baldwin and his men from east of the village.
"We will camp here tonight. Carter, I want you and Finge to scout out the village and create a map." Baldwin ordered his men.
"Yes Captain" Carter said.
"Claus, follow me." The Captain Baldwin said.
Claus followed Baldwin as they reached a dried up riverbend.
"Claus, I will be taking the lead tomorrow. Our mission is to just scout the place and relocate the villager's before the strike team arrives. I will be approaching the phoenix to view the damage it has caused." Baldwin said, "I want to complete the mission, if anything happens to me."
"Come on, Baldwin. Nothing is going to happen. You and I are both strong enough to protect the team if required." Claus said, "Just make sure that you survive and not do anything stupid." Hearing this Baldwin gave a slight chuckle.
"How's Sonia doing?" Baldwin asked. Sonia was Claus's wife, he had married her a few months ago.
"She's good. I mean, I can't provide much with a Lieutenant's salary. But we manage."
"That's good. May the gods grant I meet a woman who tames my fire." Baldwin replied.
"Don't be in such a hurry. I love Sonia with all my heart but, it's only possible because she loves me the same." Claus retorted. "Don't hurry or you might miss all the red flags. You remember Clara, right?"
Baldwin laughed out as he had remembered the incident. He was a young man who had met a girl on the street. He directly proposed to her intending to marry her. Clara had agreed. But as fate willed it Clara turned out to be a fraudster who promised men for marriage just to rob them of everything they owned.
Baldwin and Claus talked for hours after that, only to join with squad during dinner. The night went bad; the heatwaves continued even during the night. It made it hard to breath. As the blistering air entered in through the nose, it mildly burned the diaphragm.
Early morning Baldwin decided to begin his plan. He cautiously moved towards the direction of the nest. As he closed in towards the nest, he could see everything had burned down or dried out. After walking three kilometres he arrived at open volcanic pit.
In the centre of the pit, there was a nest created from alloys molten together. The temperature had turned the alloy into rainbow patterns. Baldwin could see a giant egg in the nest. 'Shit, this shouldn't have happened. A phoenix lays its eggs after one year of building its nest. The information is completely wrong; I need to destroy the egg, before that thing hatches.' Baldwin thought. When a phoenix hatches, the volcano around the nest explodes. The lava that is released from the nest destroys thousands of kilometres of land. The phoenix chick is constantly burned by the lava, only to make it a walking nightmare as it emerges from the lava cocoon. It would rampage across the lands searching for food. The situation could not be any more desperate.
Claus thrust Urumi into the molten lip of the nest, its blade singing against the alloy, and triggered the retraction. The sword yanked him forward like a lifeline through hellfire. Baldwin followed close behind, his legs coated in Ki, but even that divine buffer faltered. As his boots struck the nest, he felt the searing pain shoot through flesh and bone—the heat melting him alive despite his defences. The air itself was agony.
At the centre of the nest pulsed the egg—vast, otherworldly, a shell forged not by biology but by elemental wrath. Baldwin didn't hesitate. With a roar and a prayer, he raised his blade and brought the hilt down like a judgment.
CRACK** The egg split. What spilled out was not life—but a warning. A slick, luminous yolk of molten gold hissed onto the alloy, revealing a flaming orb at its core. It hovered, unanchored by gravity, and radiated such unbearable heat that the nest walls began to soften around it. It wasn't an embryo. It was a heart—still beating, still burning.
Baldwin grabbed it barehanded, screaming as Ki surged through his body to hold the inferno at bay. The orb throbbed, and for a moment he saw something—a vision in the blaze.
A towering silhouette. Wings that blotted out the sun. Eyes like twin dying stars. A scream that cracked mountains. The Mother.
She knew.
He didn't know how—but she knew.
With no time left, Baldwin lashed his sword around a spire of blackened rock and hurled himself from the nest, the orb clutched tight against his chest. Behind him, the winds turned violent, curling inward like breath being drawn.