[Capital of Edowell, Ancemore | Morning | 15th day of Early Fall]

[Tatum's POV]

I fixed myself up and wore my shining and immaculate armor. At it's left chest is the insignia of a three-headed golden dragon coiling around a sword. It is the insignia of the country I am most proud of, and the mark of the Royal Family of Edowell.

A slender hand found it's way to my chest, the owner of it looked at me up and down, helping me get dress.

"Another hard day of work, aren't we, Sir Knight Captain?" She teasingly remarked.

"It's Royal Knight Captain." I corrected her, eliciting a scoff from my wife.

Her brown her is as long as I could remember, however, it's florid color has faded through out the years as we grow older.

How long has it been now? 40 years? We've been married for a really long time and experience a lot together. Our children also had started their own families and gave existence to our lovely grandchildren.

"Will you have dinner here tonight?" she questioned.

"I don't think I will, dear. I apologize."

"Bah! What's there to apologize for? It's not something new, you old dog!"

Smack –

She smacked my chest, feeling satisfied at how I look.

"Well, I'll make it up to you this weekend. Let's go visit the kids." I soothed her.

"Sure, sure. Go on now, Sir Knight Captain."

"Royal! Knight Captain." We go over once again at our antics.

"Ah, whatever. Shoo, shoo." She shooed me away like I'm some kind of mutt. While I laughed at her morning tantrum as I pressed my lips onto her forehead and bid her farewell as I went to work.

------------------

The majestic Royal Palace of Edowell loomed up ahead as I trudge. It's walls are as pristine as a snow, it's figure towered above the entirety of Capital Ancemore.

Imposing Statues of Dragons furnished it's vicinity, while copious greens decorated it's garden. The whole of the grandiose Royal Palace screams utmost Royalty and Power. Befitting of his Royal Majesty the King, Wymond Edowell – the man who brought this squalor of a kingdom into prosperity.

As I walked, both servants and knights greeted me with due respect, a granted common sense and demeanor from the common folks.

If not for my mellowed out personality due to old age, I ought to have them grovel on my feet, as it is only natural, befiting the prestige of the Marauder of Equra.

I've lived a long life and fought many wars with my liege, and not even once have we lost any of them, gaining the Kingdom of Edowell the moniker, The indomitable Titan.

On the time of our conquest, we took anyone who surrendered under the banner of Edowell and slaughtered anyone who dared to stand in the way of his Royal Majesty.

His Royal Majesty back then was naught but an unknown man, viewed as a greenhorn and a King of an insignificant country.

But so suddenly shocked the whole continent of Equra, as he bared his fangs, seemingly about to devour everything. He then earned the nickname, Abeyant Hydra.

I – his Royal Majesty's right hand man – didn't fell behind on prestige. Though, unlike his moniker, I got a lot more of a sinister and brutish one.

Which made me more delighted than somber, as I deemed it worthy of my glory.

I ripped anyone I met on the battlefield, plundered gold, and preyed upon my enemies like the predator I was. Just my name alone made them shake in their boots, wondering if perhaps I am around, lurking somewhere in the dark.

Yet, like everyone else, I grew old. And my glory became naught but a tale of the old.

Now, I just became the babysitter of his Royal Majesty's only child, the little pup, Brinley.

'Haa~. How the Marauder had fallen.'

Still and all, I enjoyed looking after the pup. Watching him grow up and wondering if he'll also become as ferocious and capable as his father.

Lately however, I was much very disappointed in him. For he had started an illicit affair with his maid – a commoner.

I've lost count of how many times had I urge and pleaded to his Royal Majesty to stop this blunder, for what the little pup is doing is putting the throne in jeopardy.

But his Royal Majesty was much too stubborn.

His love for his son – the living memento of his late wife, her Royal Majesty the Queen, Farrah Osbournee – clouded his judgement.

After traversing the winding corridor, I now stood outside the pup's bedroom door.

'For sure, he was with his woman once again. Tsk!' – I know it for certain since there are no guards nor servant outside his chamber. He only does that whenever he's with that girl.

Calming my irritation, I knocked at the door.

Knock –

Knock –

"Your Highness, This is Tatum. It's now time for your morning training." my deep and aged voice resounded in the empty corridor.

"Your Highness?" I probe, for there is no response.

'Did they do it far too much to the point he overslept? These young folks! Now, he was not even waking up in time for his duties because of that girl. Tsk!'

I knocked once more, this time much louder and forceful.

"Your Royal Highness?" I go over once again, my irritation palpable.

I waited for 5 minutes, however, there is still no response. A vein bulge into my forehead as my patience is getting thinner.

'Did I become much too cordial and lenient on him?!'

"Little pup!!!" I shouted. "Wake up now before I drag you out myself in your birthday suit!" now this time, I'm truly annoyed.

"…"

Still no response.

'I will definitely put him in a hell of a training today.'

Calming, my emotions, I spoke. "Forgive my impudence, but if you don't come out after I count to ten, then I am going in and drag you out!"

The little shit still didn't responded.

'What's wrong? Is he taking me for a fool because he'd soon be crowned King?'

"One!" I started.

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Four!"

Still nothing.

"Eight!" I clenched my fist as I envisioned various torturous training method for this cheeky pup.

"Nine! Still not going to come out?! Fine! Suit yourself!"

"Ten!"

I kicked open the door, and Royalty be damned!

My head swiveled around the room, before my attention stopped at the bed. As soon as I did however, my blood ran cold and dry.

Sweat had trickled my body, my heart palpitating so fast. Without much ado, I bolted towards the blood-drenched pup.

As soon as I got closer, I immediately felt his breathing, his pulse.

Nothing.

I felt nothing.

I became frantic. My composure as a veteran thrown out the window, for the lifeless man before me, is no other than the crown Prince, the successor to the throne.

"Your Highness!" I called aloud, my hands that grip his shoulders are trembling. "Your Highness! Pup!"

My mind spun around and around. Before I sprinted out the room and into the corridor.

"Guards!" I howled, blackish aura emanating from my being. "Guards!!!" the air around me trembled, the walls cracked, as the form of a towering wolf manifested around my body, enveloping my being.

My patience ran dry, and I vanished into thin air, my form flickering inside the room, scooping the lifeless pup, before vanishing once more.

The sound of hurrying footsteps echoed where I once were. However, I continued on my dash, and into the Royal Physicians chamber I went.

The door burst apart into thin pieces of woods, as I didn't bothered for civility. The obese build of the Physician flinch at the aggressive intrusion.

His eyes widened in shocked and fear, and was about to say something, but I spoke first with urgency. "Quick! Check his Highness!"

It was only then that he recognized me and the man who lay limply in my arms. "S-Sir Tatum, i-is that –"

"Quick!!!" I snapped, my aura boring into him and into the room, as it begun to rumble and him slumped on the ground.

I quickly retracted my aura intent, rebuking myself for my blunder. "Quick, Eadwig!"

"R-right! I-I'm on it." He stood up and regained his wits with him. "Please, lay his Highness here." He pointed at a patient bed and I immediately followed suit.

"What happened?" Eadwig queried.

"I don't know." I answered succinctly. I was too frantic too investigate first, as the pup's life is much more important.

Silence pervaded us, as Eadwig did his work.

"How is he?" I impatiently questioned. I held a tiny hope in my heart that perhaps… perhaps there is still a chance to save the pup's life.

Eadwig remained silent, before shaking his head.

I felt the world crumble, as my knees gave out.

"H… his Royal Highness has been dead for several hours. T-there's no chance of saving him... And, I have found poison in his system." Eadwig's glum voice wafted into my ears.

Outside, the palace's corridor has become buzzing with activity with all the commotion I caused.

"Poison?" My emotions went cold and unabated killing intent welled up within me. I felt ill, for such is the same thing that killed her Royal Majesty.

"Y-yes. And… it's not a regular poison…" Eadwig swallowed. "It's… Medusa's plight."

My mind went numb at the mention of the name.

Medusa's plight. A rare and deadly poison only nature can create. A poison that will erode a person's aura core within seconds, and also destroy one's nervous system.

'Assassination.'

"…" I abruptly stood, wiping away the tears that had formed. I buried every emotion that I have, and only coldness remained, for I have a job to do… a job no one would want to do.

I walked out. "Take care of his Highness' body." I said coldly.

"What's happening here?!" a knight had entered the room as I was about to leave, before he immediately stood ramrod straight in salute upon seeing me. "Sir!"

"Assemble everyone! Give out the order to lock the whole capital! If anyone is seen leaving upon the placement of this order, arrest them! It doesn't matter whether they are nobles or not. If they don't comply, tell them they'll deal with the ire of Marauder!!!" my apathetic voice drifted about, sending shivers down onto the people present.

"Sir, yes, Sir!"

"Arrange a group of knights to protect this place." I continued. "You!" I pointed at another knight. "Take my crest, and go to the main headquarters. Order the militia to mobilize in it's entirety. Search every nook and cranny of the capital, look for any evidence, clues of anyone suspicious."

I wanted to lock the whole Kingdom, but I have no authority to do so. Besides, the perpetrator might still be in the capital. It is big, after all.

"Sir, yes, Sir!" they saluted and went away to carry out my orders. Me, on the other hand, stilled myself as I walk towards his Royal Majesty's chamber.

My mind formulated thoughts after thoughts on how I should break the news to his Majesty. To a man who is already tired. To a man who's only strength is his son.

I swallowed hard as I stood outside his Royal Majesty's room.

I was about to knock when his Royal Majesty's voice echoed inside. "Come in, Tatum." He said.

"Huu~." I exhaled, mustering every strength I have, before I opened the door.

"What is it?" came his Royal Majesty's query. He stood beside bookshelves, holding a book, wherein his back faced mine. "And what's with all the ruckus?" he added without turning.

I knelt down, and slammed my head in the cold, hard floor as I prostrated, my neatly-combed silver hair tousled in the process. My odd behavior caught his Royal Majesty's attention, as he turned towards me.

"Your Majesty!" I started, my voice cracking, as tears welled up once more.

'Looks like old age and peace has really made me too soft.'

"Please, punish this neglectful and incompetent servant of yours!" my aged voice cried out.

"What are you saying, Tatum?" his Royal Majesty closed the book he's reading, his full attention into me.

"His Royal Highness the Prince! –" I bit my lower lip to suppress by raging emotions. "– Your son!"

He remained silent, however his body stiffened at the mention of his son.

"… go on. What of my son, Tatum?" He slowly said, his gaze beckoning me to continue, anxiousness building up at his old complexion at my unusual behavior and the mention of his beloved son.

"Your son…"

Drip –

Drip –

My tears had started to fall, as I uttered the words that would soon crush, and broke the man – whom I respected the most – for the second time.

"… has passed away."