Gladius: Wanted

[Gladius]

A couple of days pass after the death of Noa Konstantinos, and the universal message states that the portals bridging the gaps between worlds will soon close. Gladius is heavily blamed for the death of the highly admired military captain in the capital of the Halcyon Sovereignty. Noa Konstantinos accused Gladius of the many crimes committed by him, including the murder of Noa’s wife, the mother of Gladius. Gladius helped kill the captain in the middle of the big city, along with his underlings, and kidnaps his traitorous cousin for questioning. He returns to his old, worn-down childhood home with his tied-up cousin, accompanied by Riana.

Gladius opens the old, dusty, brittle wooden door to the basement of his childhood home. Spatha is shoved through the doorway, followed by Riana. Gladius sets the beaten and bloodied cousin down into a rugged wooden chair, tying his arms with rope.

Gladius: “I guess we’re going to have to interrogate you.”
Riana: “Do you even know how to interrogate?”
Gladius: “Of course I do!”

Gladius then pulls out his butchering knife, carved from a giant tooth, dark green in color with hints of glimmering gold. He slams it onto the table.

Gladius: “Usually, I’d be more modest and kinder about interrogating, but now isn’t the best time. I’m not in the best mood.” Gladius gives a stressful eye twitch and a twisted smile.

Spatha looks up at Gladius with a smile on his battered face. Gladius places his hand on his head, emitting a bright yellow glow (TRUTH).

Gladius: “Did you know of the corrupt crimes that Noa Konstantinos committed, which were then blamed on me to cover them up?”
Spatha: “Yes,” he replies in pain, trying to reject the spell.
Gladius: “Why did you help him?”
Spatha: “Because it kept me fed and also because I despise you.”
Gladius: “Why do you despise me?”
Spatha: “Because I was jealous. You were his favorite, and you didn’t even care about the capital like we did. I was given a better shot to be something popular and important. I wanted to show him that I’m better than you, but what does it matter now since you killed him? The man who would’ve taken me to the top.”
Gladius: “Did Noa Konstantinos kill Rosaline Konstantinos?” Spatha struggles to resist, beads of sweat dripping down his face.
Spatha: “YES!” He lets out a painful sigh of relief.
Riana: “Get more information about his crimes.”
Gladius: “What other crimes has Noa Konstantinos committed?” He places his glowing palm on his head again. (Truth). He continues until the minute of the spell is up.
Gladius: ” Did you get all that?” Riana nods back, writing it down.
Riana: “So, how would anyone think this is factual?”
Gladius: “You’re right; we should get something undeniable.”
Gladius: “I’ll search the house.”
Riana: “Have fun with that.”
Gladius walks up the old, creaky stairs, feeling like they could fall apart. “I wonder where the evidence would be.”
Riana, hearing Gladius loudly monologue, yells up the stairs, “I don’t know, maybe try his office?!” saying sarcastically; Gladius could feel her exaggerated eye roll.
Gladius pulls on the door: “CHK CHK!!” It’s definitely locked.
“WELP.” Gladius lifts his sword, and with a yellow shine, slams it into the door (Sunder). The door crumbles into many splinters.

Gladius steps in and looks around the red and gold-colored room. He shuffles through the drawers and old books on the wall. Nothing. Then the war map stands out, a giant, detailed wooden table with a textured map. All of the little flags on the map were painted different primary colors, but one was facing a different direction. Out of annoyance, he turns it the other way, and with a *click* The table sinks into the floor and reveals another secret room, making now two secret rooms in the house. One for my mother and one for my father.
He walks down a couple of stairs into a small storage room. Being dark, he uses his hand as a source of light and looks around. There are many documents with orders of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail.
“Found it!” Gladius shouts.

He returns to the room to find Riana teasing Spatha with a knife.
Riana: ” Left pinky, or right?”
Gladius, “Can you stop teasing him?” Gladius glances into her eyes, unsure if she will. She tosses the knife to Gladius. Instinctively, he smacks it out of his way, and it finds its way into Spatha ‘s left hand, severing the last three fingers. Riana, “(GIGGLING) I didn’t mean the other fingers.” Riana sets the knife back down. Gladius places his hand over the fingers next to his own (Heal). Gladius then guides her into the secret room. Gladius, “Is this enough?” he said with a shrug. Riana, “I dunno, probably.” Gladius, “Maybe one more thing.” Gladius pauses for a second. “Want to do something dangerous?” he asks. Riana, “And what would that be?” She raises her eyebrow, concerned. Gladius, “Wanna crash a funeral?” Gladius smirks. Riana, “Why not?” She shrugs.

They set off, leaving the pitiful man in the basement until they return. Now it is night, and many bright orange and yellow lights fill the city, with citizens standing around the path they carry the now-rotting Noa Konstantinos. They carry the man onto a wooden platform before a rich boat that would be burned with him inside. There is still plenty of time, given how many people wanted to praise the unknown liar before he was handed over to the ship. A couple of guards surround the stairs while some kind of battle buddy of Noa’s walks down from the stage. There’s no other opportunity; It’s now or never. There is no cleaner evidence than a straight-up confession. Gladius walks up to the guards, lifting his yellow sword (LOS Maim Limb). The sword stirs in the air towards the guards, letting loose a yellow wave seeping

Into the men. The power condenses into the legs, making them paralyzed in a yellow glow. Unable to move, Gladius’s eyes start to glow (Intimidated). He slightly pushes a guard over and walks up the oak stairs to see the dead father’s smug smile. Riana, with a hood over her head, walks up to him as well. She touches him on the head, and a pulsating iridescent green light surges into the man (Speak with Dead). The guards cluster together, trying to get up the stage from all three sides. With a whip of the sword and a shine (LOS Maim Limb), the yellow energy once again enters and immobilizes the other legs. Behind them, a higher-ranked member of the military walks up, unfazed.
“What’s the meaning of this?” He walks onto the stage, weapon holstered.
Gladius: “I am clearing my name and Meadowmere’s name from the lies of this demented man.” Gladius stares at the man fashioned in bolted metal with red accents, no helmet, and dead-looking eyes as if he had no concern. The man lifts his hand and flicks his wrist, signaling the guards to stop sliding around and trying to move.
Gladius’s right hand pulsates brightly enough for everyone to see. He places it on Riana. He shouts (Truth). Her eyes now turn yellow.
“Now for the questioning!”
Riana: “Did you, Noa Konstantinos, kill Rosaline Konstantinos, the mother of Gladius and your own wife?”
The lifeless man talks plainly, with no emotion, in a language unrecognizable.
Riana repeats what he says, translating from the dead husk into the open venue. Gasps fill the air, everyone realizing that their idol may not be who they thought. Gladius pulls incriminating evidence out of his bag to give to the officer. “There’s more in the old Tristar house.” Gladius is met with a nod.
Riana: “What other crimes did you commit?”
The scene continues for a long minute until both spells end. Each translated sentence makes more city folk understand and calm. Gladius hops off the stage in front of the crowd, helping Riana down and walking through the crowd, which parts before him, shuffling toward the other guards to yell at them for the corruption in their own city.

They return home, entering the basement. “Well, that was scary.” Gladius looks at Riana, taking her hood down. “Just a little…”
They waltz into the dimly lit basement to find no one in the chair.
Gladius blinks, blinks again, and again. Staring at the empty chair, hoping he’ll appear, he takes a deep breath and puts his hands on his head. “AHHHHH.”

[Author]

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