The Dominican order- Chapter 1. Revenge

4th Okto 1232

"Is everything ready?".

"Be patient ,Marius.We must wait for an opportunity".

"We need to create our own opportunity". I exclaim, my body filled with fiery revenge.

"Don't let your thirst for vengeance blind you, we are going to wait, end of discussion".

We part ways, we have no intentions of talking in public for too long as we might be recognized. I walk quickly through the market of Bogor, my thick clothing protecting me from the winter cold. The market was especially quiet this time year, the sound of shoppers bargaining and the smell of fresh food was nothing more than a distant memory. My mind wanders back to Cicero's words.

Waiting? Is that really what we should be doing right now? I understand Cicero's concerns. Many have tried to overthrow king Sigal, none were successful and all those who were involved, disappeared along with their families. However, Cicero is a coward, although there were some truth in his words. He's too afraid of the king. I want my revenge, they murdered my parents. I will make them pay.

I will always be haunted by that day, the day I lost everything I hold dear. The day I decided to become the scourge of even God himself.

-Flashback-

17th Jun 1217, 

"You've got to do better than that Marius", with a quick side-step he dodged my slash. Unfortunately, I put too much weight into it and stumbled forward, exposing my back ."Never show you're back to the enemy" he said as a quick thrust of his wooden sword ended my sword-wielding lesson ,along with any dreams of defeating Cicero in a sword fight.

"I see, you've improved son". My dad said as he casually walked towards us. 

Cicero does a slight bow, his muscles was tense and the rigidity of the act was very clear ," sir, you're son is extremely talented, I'm sure he will be a great soldier". 

"Well, I'll be taking my son back now, we don't want to be late for dinner. Oh, you can join us too Cicero". My father offers my instructor.

"It would be an honor, sir. Unfortunately, I have matters to attend to", Cicero explains, declining the offer.

"That's a shame. Be safe, Cicero", says my father as Cicero walks away.

It was my 12th birthday that day, so I knew mom was going to celebrate by cooking my favorite dish, fried rice with steamed chicken covered in my mom's secret sauce, I couldn't wait to eat it once we arrived home. The road to the countryside was very bumpy. Our carriage shook from side to side as we made haste towards our home or at least what used to be our home

When we did arrived home, my heart sank. I could smell the scent of burning wood, in front of our burning house was a crowd of hooded men. My dad drew his sword, his face filled with anger and worry, contrast to the proud and confident demeanor he usually has. The crowd of men was heading towards us, among them, tied and being dragged, was my mother.

"Let go of Isabelle!" Father commanded. The crowd, instead of releasing my mother, unsheathed their own swords, we were completely surrounded. 

"Mom! Mom! Answer me!" I shouted, hoping for a reply. My mother looked at me and I saw the sheer terror in her eyes. This...this isn't real, I'm just dreaming. I begged for it to stop, to wake up from that nightmare.

Dad fought ferociously, one by one our attackers fell to the ground lifeless. The Srijaya army was trained to be the most discipline army in Riviera, they are expected to not falter when surrounded, to swing their swords when their muscle aches, to march in the roughest of terrain. But no one, not even my father could escape the effects of fatigue. 

Even so, my fathers ferocity, stamina and experience caught our attackers off-guard. For a brief moment, our attackers stopped. The air filled with tension and the smell of blood, they slowly backed away. The sight of their companions dead on the ground struck them with fear and terror as they realized that they were not dealing with a normal soldier, but a heavily decorated veteran. 

Unfortunately, they continued their relentless assault. My father was overwhelmed and he fell to the ground, I rushed to his side. "Dad! Dad! No... no... you can't.... wha..why! WHY! You promised! You said you were going to play with me, we would hang out and... and... " I started sobbing uncontrollably. My father didn't even had the chance to utter his last words.

Everything else was a complete blur, I just couldn't remember, no matter how hard I try. But one thing was clear to me. This was my fault, I was too weak. I couldn't save anyone, they killed my parents and I was sure they were going to kill me too. But I received a second chance, a chance to exact my revenge, thanks to Cicero's intervention. He convinced the king to spare me and took me in as his own son, I can never be more grateful to him.

-end of flashback-

4th Okto 1232

I waited in a dark corner, I was to meet another member of the inquisition, we both share the same intention of striking king Sigal immediately. A hooded man walked towards me, "have you any ravens?" He asked.

"have you any crows?" I answered. After we confirmed that we were talking to right person, we waited for awhile to make sure the coast was clear before we began our conversation.

"Did you managed to convince him?"he asked, 

"No, he'd rather wait in the dark like a coward", I replied.

"then we'll have to do this without him, tomorrow will go down in the history books as the day the inquisition takes over".

5th Okto 1232, 

It has begun. A huge riot erupted in the city of Bogor, a decoy to distract the Srijaya military. I wore my hooded cloak alongside fellow members of the inquisition. We stormed through the palace, the royal guards caught unprepared. A fierce battle took place within the palace walls, sword clashed with one another and occasionally screams of agony could be heard. I was in the front lines of the fight, charging in with my sword held high.

A guard tried to slash me with his sword, I barely dodged his attack and immediately dealt a counter blow, my slash managed to dent but couldn't penetrate through his armor. Realizing this, his attacks grew bolder and bolder, eventually he became careless. He attempted yet another slash but this time I caught his sword with my left hand and stabbed him through his throat, my left hand protected by a thick leather glove was unscathed from the slash and I move on to my next opponent.

After a few minutes of rigorous fighting, we managed to break through, though not without significant casualties on our end. We split up, hunting down the king. As luck would have it, I ran into Cicero, mad with anger and disappointment. Never before have I seen Cicero faces contort in such away. He looked at me and immediately I felt the true extent of his fury, it sent a chill down my spine.

"What have you done! All this years of planning and scheming ruined by your vengeance!" He scolded me furiously. His words cut deep, instinctively I hung my head low in response. I took off my hooded cloak, there's no point in hiding my identity from him.

"After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me! you're just like your father, such arrogance!". I unsheathed my sword, my blood boiling from his insult against my father. The father, who loved me, protected me and died for me. "I don't care what you say about me, but I won't let speak ill of my father!".

All of sudden, a group of guards appeared, one of them thrusts his sword towards Cicero but Cicero parried the attack with ease. While he was distracted, I moved in for the kill. I was filled with rage, my vision blurred in fury with pulsing shade of red and black. No one mocks my father and gets away with it, no one. I plunged my sword deep onto his back, warm blood flowed from the wound to the sword unto my hand before falling to the floor one drop at a time. His eyes became wide with shock.

"You ungrateful bastard" he said as he realizes my betrayal. He turned around to face me,"The king is only a puppet, there are greater *cough~ powers involved in your father's death". He staggered forward and fell in front of me, lifeless. The guards stood there bewildered and confused of the scene unfolding before them. Taking advantage of the confusion, I ran away. No matter how proficient I am with a sword, I'm not dealing with a group of highly armored trained royal guards. I managed to rally with the rest of the group and headed towards the king's bedroom while the rest of the group held off the guards.

I kicked open the door and drew out my sword. In the corner of the bedroom was the king cowering in fear behind his two personal guards. These two guards were also part of the inquisition, we finally did it. I waved my hand, signaling the guards out. They started walking towards the exit, "Wait! Where are you going! You're supposed to be protecting me!", the fear in his voice was exhilarating. I have waited so long for this day.

"Good job securing the king, you will be rewarded appropriately"

"Make it quick, the others are still fighting out there", one of the guards answered as they closed the bedroom door.

"If it's money you want I can give it to you, all the money in the world will be yours, just spare me. I'll give the kingdom if I have to". He begged on his knees. I dropped my sword and held the left side of his face as I look at him in the eyes. "Then give me back my father" I answered with a sly smile on my face.

Before he could answer I bashed his face to the wall with my left hand. He whimpers. I kicked him in ribs and as he covered his chest with his hands, I stomped his pitiful face. He rolled on the ground, clenching his jaw. 

I grabbed hold of his hair and pulled it upwards. "Stand up!" I ordered. I let him go, walked up to my sword and picked it up.

He was still on the ground shaking, covering his face with his hands. I stabbed him in his right thigh, blood oozes out from his wounds. He screamed in agony as I drive my blade further and further until my blade reached his bone. I drove the blade even further still, smashing through his bones and appearing on the opposite side of his thigh. Yes, YES! Scream for me! Oh... for so long I have waited for this day. Now you know what pain feels like, I will make you savor that pain till your last breath.

A scream echoed throughout the palace, " the king is dead!" Followed by a resounding cheer of victory. The guards realizing the hopelessness of the situation dropped their swords and fell to their knees, a sign of surrender. We gathered together at the palace's royal court, Cicero was supposed to be the next king.But the death of Cicero meant that a new king had to be chosen  from among us. I stepped forward, in an instant the room fell silent as everyone listened to what I had to say.

"Fellow comrades, for years we have planned for this day. The day we take what is rightfully ours and exact revenge on all the bloodshed and suffering Srijaya had endured. We are the liberators of this country , we are heroes and we deserve to be treated as one, choose me as your king and you will live a life without worry, choose me and I will bring Srijaya glory it has never seen!"

"All hail king Marius!" They exclaimed as they bow down towards me. I took my seat on the king's throne, a new era has arrived. I disbanded the Inquisition, the men needed to acquire a nation are not the men needed to maintain one. I give everyone their respective rewards based on their contributions and sent most of them home to live in retirement. The ones I do keep however, shall now be called the Dominican Order, with me, Marius Dominic, as its leader.

12th Nov 1232, 

After a month of digging, I finally found out the one behind my fathers death. What Cicero said was true, King Sigal was a mere puppet. The true mastermind behind the conspiracy was the queen of Kuta, Tristan.  Apparently, queen Tristan made a deal with Sigal. She would assassinate the current king at that time and make Sigal king, in exchange, Sigal will be her puppet and follow her orders. My father was very close to uncovering this scandal and queen Tristan ordered the assassination of my father. I will have her head, I am the king. I will have my revenge and use every means necessary to achieve that.

We made ready for war.