King's Revenge: Reborn In The Slum

"Your Majesty, this is as far as I can help you. The boat is waiting for you in the borders. Just head straight and the you will see it hiding in the round rock. Forgive me if I can't accompany you. It is an honor to serve you"

Pushed out of the tunnel, his knight Conor close the gate as to not let them chase after his king. With his hand shaking, the last sight Alexis can see is the smile of his loyal guard as numbers of soldiers are running behind him.

"Conor..."

He mumbled as he run to the shore where the boat was waiting for him. Swallowing his saliva, he hold his tears. Conor is like a brother for him. In his miserable family, he find what real concern really is. The warmth of family's love he never receive from his parents, Alexis found it in Conor.

'He sacrificed his life to protect me... am I really worthy for it?'

And so Conor's words echoed in his ears as if he was just beside him and all.

'You Majesty, it is time for your meal. Please do take some rest even just for a while'

'Forgive my rudeness but those words hold no fact, your majesty. They do not know what they are speaking of'

'It works by luck. We have no power against the weather. I am sure your majesty will learn new ideas'

"All this time... I am being guided by him. And all I did was a failure! How did this even happen..."

'When you fall, there is only one thing left for you to do. That is to rise'

Collecting his energy, Alexis run with all his might. Even if the sand swallowed his shoes, he did not halt nor falter. With bare foots, he remove other heavy garments he can remove as to fasten his pace.

'If I give up now, then there is no tomorrow'

With the sight of the shore and large rocks, Alexis gain hope. Indeed, just like what Conor had said, there's a boat waiting for him. Hiding behind the rocks.

'Conor... there is really a boat...'

But before he can even rejoice to his safety, numbers of soldiers show up. As if they are waiting for his arrival.

'No... Conor said....'

"Your highness, it is such an honor to be in your presence. Why not, have a good chat with us?"

A grin can be seen visible on his lips. Pallad. The head of the knights. He was like a dog wagging his tail to Alexis before but the very image is the complete opposite of what he is right now.

'They betrayed me...'

"And if you are curious, we would be glad enough to invite that knight of yours"

"Conor?! What did you do to him?!"

The wind in this open space is much calmer than what it usually is. Even the calm sea shows how perfect this day was.

Pulling a man with his feet hitting the ground, two soldiers throw his body on the ground. Lifeless. Indeed, it was none other than

"Conor..."

"Suited for his place, we give him the present he deserves. Don't worry your highness, you will join him soon"

And so Pallad's chuckle covered the whole place as he saw how helpless the king was.

'I am your dog before but look at you now, if I ask you to bark, what is your difference with one?'

Ruling his land with all his heart, he did no wrong but ended up falling his reign for a sin he never did.

In the center of the kingdom's palace, with a podium created especially for him, Alexis had his hands cuff tied. Wearing only thin clothes, he is in bare foot.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Voneveir!"

That voice was so familiar in his ears. Alexis can never be wrong about it. It was his son, Allan.

"Your Majesty, Do you have any last words for your people?"

Being humiliated like a criminal who purged innocents, do he really deserve to receive such disgrace?

"Your homeland whom you loved..."

Remembering every sleepless nights he had in order to manage every problems his kingdom is facing...

"... your people whom you cherished... "

Looking at every soul in front of this place, none can even dare help the poor king. But in their eyes, no matter how he look at it, what he see was happiness and no pity at all.

"... your knights and warriors whom you sharpened..."

Does he really deserve to receive such fate? With the memories of Conor's dead body flashing on his mind, he then saw Allan walking to where he is. Holding the sword that he can be sure to say his very own, he smiled bitterly.

"Such a great present to receive..."

Not a curse to bless upon them who have wronged him, not a words begging for his life, on his last breath, the king accepted his fate.

'I have given them what I can give. What kind of a ruler am I if I would hurt those whom I serve?'

With the hands of his own child, the prince of the kingdom, his life ended in a flash. The last thing he can hear was the shouting of his people, celebrating as if it was something to look forward. As he saw such sight... his eyes lit no light of hope...

And this is how Alexis Voneveir ended.

Huff huff huff

"Good thing you are finally awake, hurry up before the others empty the bins"

"Where... am I?"

"Hey stop zoning out! Hello?? Alex are you alright?"

With his hand a bit smaller than what it was, his hands looks thin too.

'Alex? Is it me? And who is this kid?'

They then heard a sound of a carriage running near where they are.

"Come let's go!"

And so the guy taller than him, maybe around 13 or so, jumped in the cart full of trashes.

"Hey Frank! Watch out!"

Surprised by him calling Frank with no hesitation, he feel numb as he remembered everything that happened to this body.

Thrown by her own family, he was sold as a slave but luckily get out in their hands when bandits ambushed the cart of those slave's merchant. In him wandering around, he ended up in this place and met Frank. Living by snatching waste foods in the waste carts, they are doing this day by day.

"Hey, why did you not jump? It is a bounty today. What a waste, they have lots of this meat, bit smelly but better than nothing. Hehe"

"Frank, what do we call this place again?"

"Huh? You mean this slum?'

"No... I mean, where is this slum? What kingdom does it belong to?"

"Alex you are really weird today, well, all I heard is that it is near the Floranteine borders but it is still part of the Voneveir"

Hearing that familiar names, he was surprised as chills run up his spine.

"Why did you ask anyway? If you want to know more, maybe Clad can help you. Wanna go in his place? I can also borrow his pan to cook this. Tee hee, let's go!"

Spirited as he is, Frank is only a year older than who he is now. Alexis have no idea how he became Alex but there really is much things to unfold in this world.

'Maybe brother Clad can help me know more things about where I really was'

Clad Volmar, a kind man that helps street children like Frank and Alexis. His house is up the hill.

"Brother Clad!"

Frank shouted with enthusiasm as he knock the door of Clad's house. But even with his hand hitting the wooden door, no one answered him.

"Brother Clad? Are you alright?"

"Is he not here?"

"No Alex, he would put a notice otherwise..."

Putting down the waste foods he got this morning, Frank take a peek on the small hole in the window.

"Brother Clad?"

But his eyes widened as he saw the sight inside.

"Alex!! Get out of the door! Now!"

He shouted and soon Alex did as what was told. Hitting the door with his shoulder, Frank give all his might to open the door but to no avail. That made Alex be worried why Frank was acting like that. But the moment he peek at the hole, he was terrified by what he saw.

Clad shares the very image of Conor for some reason. He is also laying on the ground, unconscious.

'Conor...'

He thought to himself.

If before, he did nothing to save Conor and run away for his safety, this time, even if he know that it wasn't Conor, he can't help but have the urge to save him.

'I failed to save you before, this time, I will not let it happen again!'

Seeing how Frank still fail in opening the door, he look at the window and saw how it is not as thick as the door.

'I think I can smash open this'

With the use of a large rock he saw nearby, he use it like a hammer and hit the window forcefully.

Creak,

It is now damaged and have hole enough for him to get inside.

"Frank help me!"

He shouted and soon receive an assistance from Frank to lift him up. Opening the door, the two of the burst running towards Clad. He was cold and unconscious.

"His heart is still beating!"

Frank happily announce. But they know that it is not gonna end just like that.

"I think he is poisoned"

Alex mumbled as he saw how there is a weird skin color in Clad's arm.

"What is that?"

Frank shouted hysterically. Even in his life as Alexis, it was the first time he encountered someone bitten by a Kranses. It is a bug mutated that releases venom. it is not deadly but if left by its own, it can be.

"Kranses, a bug with venom bit him"

"Kranses? What is that? It is my first time hearing it!"

'Yes, after all, the high officials don't want to cause ruckus in the kingdom. Even the antidote is not costly to produce and there are lots of alternatives but with those in power, they took advantage of it and keep it for their own use.

"A bug that mutates from Voneveir, we need to find cure right away!"

"But how??! Do you know how to get one?? Can we buy it??!"

Frank shake his shoulder. Wanting to know an answer right away.

"I... I don't know where can we buy it but... I think I know how to make one"

Holding bunch of Cinnada leaves, it is a plant that grows everywhere. Some even pull it and think of it as a weeds. But not everyone knows the value that grass holds.

"Are you sure this is all we need?"

Frank asked as he put down all the Cinnada leaves he can gather.

"Yes, make it in a powder and soak in water to make a small round balls as big as a finger nail, once we burn it inside a coco husk, we can have the cure"

"That's all?"

"Yes"

Immediately doing what was told, the final product was ready. A black round ball can be seen inside the coco husk where they burned it.

"What to do next? What do we do now with this cure? There is no way he would drink that burned grass Alex"

"No, it is not used like that"

Picking up one black ball, hit was hot but he just blow it to not burn himself.

"It would hurt a bit but this is the only way"

And so he smash the antidote between his hand and Clad's bitten arm. It turn white in no time.

"Alex..."

Clad's breathing then turn stable but the moment Clad open his eyes, his hand cornered Alex on the ground with his wrist pushed on his neck.

"You..."

"Brother Clad! Wait! That is Alex! Stop!"

Even with Frank trying to stop him, Clad did not listen.

"You, how did you know about this?"

Anger, that is the only thing that one can see when they look in Clad's eyes. Sorrow, there is a pain hiding behind his gaze. But even with his body moving like that in a rush, that doesn't change the fact that he just recovered from a serious injury.

To get bitten by a Kranses s no joke. After all, in this place secluded from the main palace of the Voneveir, to get an antidote can be seen as a miracle.

"I am asking you, why do you know Kranses and its antidote!!"

Huffing, his breathing is now stable compared to what it was before, but his grip did not turn lose. It is as if he was holding onto something that worth his life.

"Brother Clad! Stop! You are hurting him!"

Pushing Clad away from Alex with all his might, Frank did no difference at all. He wasn't strong enough to handle someone as big as Clad. He may look thin but his strength is surely something you would be surprised to see.

"I-I..."

Cough

Alex find it hard to breath. Even with him pushing Clad away, as seconds pass by his strength decreases. Almost losing his breathe, Clad came back to his senses as soon as he notice what he was doing.

Cough cough cough

"Alex!!"

Frank shouted and immediately push Clad away. This time, he did not fight back, making it possible for Frank to help Alex.

"Are you alright?? Hey, you good?!"

Slightly nodding, Alex hold his neck as he still feel the wrist of Clad pushing his throat.

As a king in his past life, he did not feel such pain other than that time where his life ended from a sword. he indeed face painful events as Alex but all of it is just a fragment of memories with no feelings attached. Even so, the hatred he felt when Clad did that, Alex can't help but picture it similar to the gaze of resentment he got from his people when he was still Alexis.

"Brother Clad! He saved you! If not for him, who knows what would happen to you! Why did you do that?? You are not like that!"

A gaze of disappointment and confusion can be seen written all over his face. In this small simple house made up of woods, it is surely impossible to get any help when anything happens. Add the fact that he is living alone, if ever Frank did not visit him, there is a huge possibility that he is dead by then.

"I.... I'm sorry..."

Looking away, Clad knew too well that what he did is wrong. He have no excuse. To do that to the person that saved your life is surely something any normal person would do.

Cough

The moment Alex gain back his breathing, he look at Clad. With an uneasy face, it was his first time seeing such sight. With Clad having the similarities with Conor, Alex wonder if that is how Conor will look like if he is mad.

Again, that uneasy feeling he had with his rush to his veins.

'I am happy that this time, I did not run away and leave you dying...'

Even if he is not Conor, even if Clad is someone else, Alex was still delighted that he did something to save someone. Especially someone that looks similar to Conor, someone he treats as his own brother.

"Let's get out of here. I don't know what happened to brother Clad but he is not like that. Maybe he is just confused"

Smiling awkwardly, Frank still believes in Clad. He may have done something bad but it isn't something that cannot be forgiven.

"Please understand him Alex. I know you are kind and will understand it, right?"

Alex's gaze land towards Clad.

"W-"

Hesitating, he asked him.

"Why do you ask if I know about Kranses? Is it something I shouldn't know?"

Not looking at Alex, Clad let out a deep sigh as if he thinks about something deep.

"Are you from Voneveir?"

The one he is asking was Alex and not Alexis. Even if he is Alexis Voneveir in his past life, in this time, he is not part of the Voneveir Kingdom and not associated with them. Living as Alex with no surname, one can even say that he doesn't belong to any kingdom at all.

"No, I am not from Voneveir"

"They where are you from?"

Based on the memories he had as Alex, he can tell that his family if from the southernmost part of the Floranteine. A village poor enough that most of the adults produces child in order to sell them as a slave to the Merchants.

"Floranteine... the southernmost part or it. Where only dangerous plants can be seen. The place where they sell children to the merchants in exchange of goods"

Frank was surprised to hear what Alex said. It was his first time knowing it. After all, Alex did not talk about his past and just change the topic whenever he have time.

"Alex... I didn't know you..."

He can't word out what he wanted to say and instead he just give Alex an embrace.

"Then how do you know about Kranses? That doesn't make any sense. For someone who came for the southern most part of Floranteine, it really doesn't make sense... are you a spy or something?"

"I..."

"Brother Clad, stop it. Alex is not like what you think. He is a good person. How can he be a spy? He helped you, if he is a spy he wouldn't do so. Spies are monsters that sold their whole existence in exchange of something. Does he look like one to you?"

Thinking about it, Clad understands what was behind Frank's words, indeed, it is impossible to think that someone like Alex is a spy. But still, the thoughts of how Alex learn such informations keeps bugging him.

'No one outside the Voneveir Kingdom knows about the existence of Kranses. For they use it to dispose people with no suspicion. Making it seems like they died to a natural cause... why on earth did this kid learn about it? He even create an antidote himself... this is suspicious... something is wrong...'

But soon, his eyes widened as he hear countless of footsteps. Even though Alex and Frank doesn't hear it.

"Hurry! We have to go!"

"Huh? Why? Brother Clad, wait-"

"There is no time to explain, you two, follow me!"

Opening a secret passage that was hiding behind the table, Clad lead the way, following Frank and Alex.

"Who-"

They all fall silent the moment a large bang was head, joined with the countless parts of the door that was hit smashing into pieces.

It was thanks to that loud sound, Alex closing the path wasn't heard at all.

"Are you alright?"

Whispering, Frank hold Alex's arm. Stunned in what he saw, he can't help but have a cold sweat on his forehead.

'Why are they here?'

Right where they are just a while ago, Voneveir's soldiers are now covering the area.