Orion The Fallen God Chapter 15: Chapter 14 - The Predator and the King

Read chapter 15 of Orion The Fallen God by AltexTV on NovelPedia.

The city of Arcadia burned with life beneath the crimson moon. From the highest towers of the capital to the crowded lower districts beneath them, the entire kingdom pulsed with celebration. Crimson banners flowed from obsidian structures like rivers of blood caught in the wind while golden lights drifted through the night sky in endless streams. Music echoed across the streets from massive crystal amplifiers positioned throughout the city, blending together with laughter, conversation, and the rhythmic pounding of ceremonial war drums. For one night, Arcadia allowed itself to forget the war. The central district had transformed completely. Merchant stalls lined the enormous streets between towering black spires while crowds moved shoulder to shoulder through the festival grounds. Children ran through the streets carrying glowing lanterns shaped like dragons and phoenixes while performers manipulated streams of arcane energy high above the crowds, creating brilliant images that danced across the night sky. Massive beasts from Arcadia's outer territories marched through the streets alongside armored handlers as citizens cheered from every direction. Some creatures resembled enormous wolves covered in black scales while others carried massive feathered wings capable of blotting out entire sections of the sky when they spread them. The smell of roasted meat and burning spices drifted endlessly through the warm night air. Despite the growing instability spreading throughout the universe, Arcadia refused to surrender its identity to fear. At the center of it all walked King Azarel. Unlike the image many outside Arcadia imagined, the king wore no ceremonial armor tonight. Instead he walked through the streets in dark crimson robes trimmed with silver patterns representing the ancient Arcadian crest. His sword remained at his side out of habit more than necessity, though even that appeared less intimidating beneath the warmth visible in his expression. Citizens bowed as he passed. Azarel answered nearly every one of them, sometimes with a nod, sometimes with a smile and other times with laughter. A small Arcadian girl ran directly into his leg while chasing another child through the crowd before freezing in absolute terror after realizing who she had collided with. Her face immediately turned pale. "I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty!" the young girl said. Azarel looked down at her for several seconds before crouching slightly. "That depends," he said seriously. "Were you winning the race?" "...Yes?" the girl blinked in confusion. "Then it sounds like a tactical collision," Azarel replied. The child stared at him for another second before laughing nervously. Her mother looked moments away from collapsing in embarrassment. "Your Majesty, please forgive her…" she pleaded. "There's nothing to forgive," Azarel answered calmly as he stood again. "Though next time," he added while looking toward the little girl again, "aim for someone smaller." The girl burst into laughter before immediately sprinting back toward her friends. Azarel continued walking through the crowded streets while his personal guards followed several steps behind him, though even they appeared more relaxed tonight. People called out to him constantly. Some shouted blessings while others offered drinks. Several merchants attempted to convince him to sample their food personally and surprisingly, sometimes he did. An elderly vendor forced a skewer of roasted meat into his hand before loudly declaring that the king looked too thin to lead a nation properly. Azarel accepted the criticism with complete seriousness. "You're implying my advisors are starving me," he said. "I'm implying your advisors don't understand seasoning," the old woman shot back. Several nearby citizens laughed loudly. Azarel took a bite before raising an eyebrow slightly. "...You may have a point," he said in a playful manner. The woman looked victorious. Farther ahead, musicians performed traditional Arcadian b