v

The ruler caught onto the silence of Veringtil this morning, with heavy breath and a thumping heart. It was a quiet town right now, with barely anyone out except for the usual salesmen and women. And, coupled with the dirty and drab look and constant cloudy weather the town had, it would only make the lord’s breath more heavy than before.

Were they all jealous of him?

Did they fear him?

Did they want him back in place?


A handful of concerns grew and danced around in his head: something he didn’t expect to happen at this point. They weren’t something he was sweating terribly over, but, instinctively, he saw those thoughts and recognized them, and he was worried over them. And oh, did he hate that feeling. Especially the worries over him.

He tried to think of answers to the questions that were drowning him, and was only hit with more of them. It all felt like there was an unbearable weight put on him, ready to crush him at any second, with no hope, and no answers.

Fortunately, for the master, he’d have one answer: his tea was finished.

“...Vexkamus? M-master Vexkamus? Your tea is finished, a-and ready to drink.”

The ruler looked over his spiked armored shoulder, and saw his small butler holding a plate of tea. His body poking out of the door.

Hearing and seeing about his finished tea, Vexkamus walked over to the servant like a silent ghost. His worries of the town dwindled as he walked, and the rest were about to be diminished by a warm cup of tea.

As the master walked over to his servant, he noticed his shaking body and his face inching away from every step he took. That said it all for him, and he couldn’t help but almost completely love it.

Not seeing his butler as much, Vexkamus grabbed the tea off the plate; he noticed the flinch his butler made as he did.

As he took a long sip from the small tea cup, he finished it and threw it back onto the plate, much to the dismay of the butler, and with no words walked back over to the wide glass window that showed the view of Veringtil. He heard the butler leave the room as he stood there at the sight.

Alone, the ruler looked down on his town from high above, zooming his eyes on all of the buildings; the houses, shops, and jail made up his view. Though, as he was looking; a thought was brought into his head.

A thought that was a reminder. A reminder that this was all his. This town, it’s people; all under him.

But, then, he looked his eyes on something else; something that wasn’t under his rule.

That drab, lifeless looking sea. The sea that surrounded him for a long time. He almost hated looking at it all.

And with that, an idea was brought back.

“...Servant.” That dark, slow, and heavy voice called out.

“Y-yes, master Vexkamus?” The butler shouted back lightly from the hallway.

There was a bit of a pause.

“In my room.”

“R-right away, master Vexkamus!”

Hearing the small butler’s quick steps, he heard him enter the room.

The butler was frozen for a few seconds.

“On my left.”

“O-Oh, of course!” He obliged, as he frantically moved to the commanded position.

As Vexkamus stood there at the sight of his town, he couldn’t help but notice his servant shaking; sweat getting on his head, and a look of worry written on his face.

Half of the ruler wanted to laugh at his small butler, but, another part of him knew there was something more meaningful he had to do. Something more meaningful he had to say.

“...I want to get off this island, and conquer all of what is out there, servant.”

He saw his butler freeze after he said that. His face of fear turned into one of bewilderment.

“W-What do you mean by that, master Vexkamus?” The butler tried picking up his own words.

“You remember the day he said the news to us. He said he didn’t want to expand from this tiny, boring island.” The ruler stated. “He just wanted to stay here. And everyone was fine with it for whatever reason. Everyone except me.”

The butler instinctively bats his eyes on the floor and ruler upon hearing that.

“And it was as soon as I heard the news that I knew Henry was a coward.” He said with some hatred in his voice.

“...That was why I built up that army, and overthrew that old king from the seat he sat on.”

“And it was at that moment that everyone would call me the king of Veringtil. But, I preferred the lord of Veringtil. And so, they did as I said.”

“And, now…” The ruler looked at his servant. “I can be the ruler of every new land I step on.”

“M-master Vexkamus…” The butler spoke up, “D-do you mean..?”

“Yes.”

The butler felt some part of him for a split second telling him to go against doing it, but, instinctively, he looks at the ruler with a mix of bewilderment and surprise.

“...Why are you looking at me like that?”

“W-What?” The butler spoke out, his face turning into a mix of confusion and fear suddenly.

“Why did you make that face?” Vexkamus said, his tone getting sharper.

“M-master Vexkamus, I’m not s-sure what you’re talking about…”

“You think I’m stupid, don’t you?” He asked, walking to his butler. His hands turned into fists.

“S-sir, please…”

The master grabbed his butler by the middle of his suit.

“Don’t lie to me, you worm!” He yelled at the butler, “You’re just as weak as everyone else in his town. Who knew?! You’re scared of what could be out there, all because of what Henry had to say! Well, guess what? I’m the ruler now! You follow what I say! And if anything is dangerous to us out there, then there’ll only be one who can destroy them: Me!”

The ruler stares blankly at the butler with quick breath, before releasing him from his grip.

The servant lands on the floor, his body shaking violently and his head down almost to the floor.

As Vexkamus began to collect himself, he gets a sight of his servant’s looks. His face and body language said it all again. And with that, he was quickly reminded of what role he was in; the lord of Veringtil. The head of it all.

He looked down on the butler. “...Pathetic.” He muttered, as he turned his direction from him.

The butler looked up with his state of fright, and saw his master walking out of the door.

“First thing to say; you and only you are coming with me on this journey.”

The butler froze. “W-wait, what?” The butler shouted. “B-but master Vexkamus!-”

“You have no choice in this matter.” Vexkamus said, quickly turning his head to his servant. “You will do what I say, or there will be consequences.”

The butler fell silent.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Meet me at the beach two days from now. On Monday.”

And so, Vexkamus left the room, determined and just about ready for his journey. And he not only left the room, but his butler; who was left a scared and confused servant.