2 The Last Will
"Has the scouting party been sent?" King Adrian asked with a solemn voice to Braum. Braum was his direct right-hand man. This man was a legendary former general of the military who also served the previous king.
"Yes, my liege. They have been sent on to all directions. They are receiving help from the Mages to widen their search area." Braum replied.
It has been an hour since the arrival of the kingdom of Vathria to the new world. After the light subsided, the whole entire castle and the surrounding grounds were transported into a foreign world.
"I must say, the position of our new kingdom is quite fortunate...it might be even better strategically than our previous location." Braum chimed in.
King Adrian looked up to Braum and smiled.
"Indeed...a kingdom surrounded by mountains and filled with rivers and forests. Resources are abundant and it would be hard for invaders to come here unnoticed...My father told me that the transportation array would automatically look for a world with similar conditions to ours so that we'd be able to familiarize ourselves to the surroundings quickly." King Adrian stood up and walked in front of his throne.
"My late father and mother...my brothers and sisters would have wanted our kingdom to thrive..." King Adrian looked down in solemn again.
"My liege...I'm sorry about the Princes and Princesses...you are correct. They'd want you to rebuild and spread the name of Vathria to this new world! Let us not have their sacrifice be in vain." Braum straightened his posture like a knight as he said that. For a glimpse, you could spot the shadow of his past domineering figure as the legendary general.
"Yes... I have my own inner turbulences but as a King, I must be strong for my people. The people depend on me...Braum, make sure the situation outside is orderly. Gather everyone, and I do mean everyone, to the castle courtyard. I shall be making my very first address in this new world." King Adrian stood up with a resolute face.
Braum's face lit up. He was happy to see a strong king.
"Yes, my liege! It shall be done! I shall be taking my leave!" Braum bowed down respectfully and left the throne room.
Everyone was still busy dealing with everything. The throne room was now completely empty. There was no immediate threat at the moment and the situation outside was still a mess so security was not the primary concern.
King Adrian sat back down again. His previous tough exterior was a front. In reality, he was a mess. Adrian was only a king for three months since the death of his father. In his will, to the surprise of everyone, his father, King Vastel, declared that the Fourth Prince Adrian Vathria was to be the new king of the kingdom.
It was truly unexpected and everyone from his siblings to government officials protested the decision. But alas, a king's decision was final so it had to be done. Adrian was not a boy raised to be a king. While his siblings were busy building a military career or managing their own territories to gain experience and fame, Adrian was an introverted kid who would rather study in the library or play with the local children. This implied that he had an extremely favorable impression amongst the local population but not so much for the royalties and government officials.
Now, at 25 years old, he was already a king. In the entire kingdom's history, he was the youngest to be the leader of the nation.
Adrian stood up from the throne and walked to the walls of the room. There, all the past kings' paintings were presented on the wall chronologically. He walked to the end of the wall to find the painting of the late King Vastel.
"Father, in your will, you said I had qualities that my siblings did not possess. What could that be? Can't you see I'm at a loss here? Out of all people, it is in MY hands to rebuild Vathria?" Nobody wanted him to be the king, not even the person himself.
'If everything turns to ruin, look to my study room's safe. The password is 6721.' King Adrian remembered the final words of the private will given to him by his late father.
"I guess right now would qualify as a 'ruin'?" With that in mind, King Adrian walked towards his father's study room, or rather HIS study room. On the way, he found a couple of knights guarding the castle who offered to escort him but he refused as the content of the message might be confidential.
He found the study room and walked inside. The safe was hidden underneath the main desk. He used the password noted down in the will and the safe opened with a click.
"This is..." Braum picked up a book with a piece of paper on top of it.
'My son Adrian, if you are reading this, then the situation has not gone according to plan and it is at a high probability that this castle is already in another world.
First, I would like to apologize for not being there to guide you through tough times and for appointing you as a King. I know you are confused on why I chose you but this book should explain everything...'
Adrian picked up the book.
"This book...I wrote it 10 years ago..." The book in question was titled Contingency of Losing The War: Rebuilding Vathria in a New World.
'That's right. This was the book you wrote to me as a teenager after I told you the real truth of our kingdom. I chose you not for your skills in leading combat or managing a territory. When I told the same stories to your siblings, you know what they said? Most of them swore that they would grow in strength to suppress the evil forces or build a strong city to defend against them. Only YOU had the foresight to plan our arrival in the new world if we lose.
After the monsters of evil arrived, I knew right away that our chances were slim. I had hopes that the skills of your brothers and sisters would be able to defend against them or perhaps even beat them. But alas, I had to have a safeguard in case we lost, and that safeguard is you.
If you are reading this, then it is up to you to rebuild Vathria in this new world. I have read your book, and I found it quite fascinating yet masterful. I hope you would follow the things you planned in the book to rebuild our glorious nation. I'm sorry I was a bad father, but I regarded you as my beloved son. Good luck, King Adrian.
Your Father,
King Vastel Vathria'
"Father...." King Adrian's face turned sour.
"I completely forgot about this book...so I was the safeguard...that's why I couldn't be in the front lines..." One of the clauses in his late father's will was for the new king not join the fight so he had no choice but to follow. Adrian now understood his father's reasoning.
Adrian's mind wandered all over the place. He still feels conflicted. He was ashamed of not being in the frontlines with his military and siblings but at the same time, he now has the hopes and dreams of all of his ancestors concentrated on one individual.
"I must be strong...even if it's just a facade...I must be strong for my people." Adrian decided with resolution. He started to open the book he wrote 10 years ago.
'This is a guidebook on rebuilding Vathria in a new world, written by the Fourth Prince Adrian Vathria. This book will explain in details each step to not only rebuild the kingdom but to establish a power strong enough to achieve the final goal: Reuniting the new world in the fight against the evil forces!'