Rise of the Legendary Emperor

Chapter 5: Chance for Redemption

Arwen looked at the lifeless body of the bandit leader falling to the ground. Even until now, Arwen couldn't accept the things that happened today, first, they were attacked by the bandits, next he was made to walk on the edge of death and then, the mysterious young human appeared out of nowhere to kill those bandits.

All of it seems like a nightmare as well as a dream to him.

Not only Arwen, but Amaryll also shared the same thought.

"Who who are you human?" Arwen questioned tiredly but his eyes had suspicions and caution against the youth.

"Before that" Don said and started to guide one of the knives with his finger to Amaryll and made it cut the ropes bound around her hands. Amaryll was slightly relieved to get her hands free as she rubbed her wrists for a bit.

"Untie them," Don told Amaryll but she already began to cut the ropes of the other elves.

Arwen couldn't stand straight due to the injuries he suffered from the beating he took but he couldn't stand down either, because he knew that if the human in front of him decides to make a move against the elves, they don't stand a chance,

so he kept his guard up all the time while Amaryll freeing the elves.

The elves stood up and looked at Don. Some elves immediately went to their kin and hugged them tightly, while Amaryll slowly walked towards her brother and threw his brother's arms around her neck to support him standing.

"I know you have a lot of questions but first you should see the others, "

As he said Knight looked at upwards 

'Knight, I think you have seen enough, bring the elves you rescued' Don told Knight telepathically.

Amaryll and Arwen didn't know what he meant by seeing the others, but they discovered out soon when a majestic lion with the wings like an angel flew down from the skies while its mane swayed in the wind, they saw a bubble beside the lion which carried a group of elven children and some elven women and men,

The lion landed in front of Arwen and ruffled his mane in a kingly manner and closed its wings.

"Look up there it's Edrahil, my son Edrahil" one elf woman shouted and ran towards an elf boy.

"My husband my husband is alive," another elf shouted.

The mood of the elves slowly turned to slight happiness seeing their fellow friends and kin.

One by one the elves shouted when they saw their kin, of course, some elves were looking and forage desperately for their relatives.

Arwen and Amaryll let out a long breath of sigh after looking at their tribe members safe and sound. Everyone was hugging and crying in happiness while holding their kin but Amaryll was looking at the human before her who saved them and the majestic beast beside him.

The cold look on the youth's face before now became expressionless, and the beast beside him had excitement in its eyes like a child seeing something for the first time.

As a girl who grew up in the woods Amaryll had knowledge about many magical beasts but not this particular beast in front of her, it looked like a Lion but had a set of wings and gold color fur that was shining even in the light of fire around them and besides, the winged lion looked at everyone like a king look at his subjects, as an elf she felt more connected to nature and living beings in the forest so she couldn't help but study the magical beast in front of her even though she just survived a disaster.

Just when she was admiring and studying the Lion she heard a majestic voice "Haven't you seen a divine beast before lady?"

Amaryll startled and searched for the source of the voice, just when she noticed that Arwen seemed to be heard that too, and he was looking at the Lion with wide eyes and opened mouth.

"Did you just speak?" Amaryll asked glancing at the Lion "Yes I'm talking to you"

Knight was also studying and glancing at the elves, that was why he saw that Amaryll was looking at him.

For Knight, who was born in another realm, he had not seen the other races such as elves. When he first saw the elves, he was astounded. They had long pointy ears, had fair skin like white gold, he had seen blonde people before, but never seen such golden and silver hair of elves, also they were taller than average humans and every elven woman was as beautiful as a full moon in the dark sky.

However, when he saw the bandits ravaging and hurting those beautiful creatures, Knight almost went berserk, he was a being who valued lives, he only kills when needed and he would never hurt those who don't deserve it.

All the elves paused what they were doing and focused on the beast, who could communicate like a human. Unlike the other elves, Arwen was more concerned about the youth, who could defeat peak level master magi in mere instants.

Don was also conscious of the concerns of Arwen "Don't worry I won't harm you or your people. I'm here to offer you a chance to get back your former elven glory"

Arwen's heart skipped a beat when he heard this and he couldn't believe what he just heard. How could this youth say such things, yes he killed those bandits and he was certainly someone powerful but taking back the elven glory, it's not so simple even though Arwen couldn't help but wonder is this youth telling the truth? Can he really help them?

Arwen always dreamt of getting back their honor and glory but he was unable to do so but now he was given an option to do precisely what he had fantasized even though it sounded like a fantasy.

But Arwen could not make this decision since he doesn't know anything about the human offering the choice or what was the reason behind him.

He only knew that this young man is a powerful slaughter machine who didn't even flinch an eye or showed any emotion, while he slaughtered his own members of the race.

"If we desired to harm you, we wouldn't have opposed the bandits," Knight responded overlooking the elves.

"You can accept my offer and swear allegiance to me and get back what you have lost or decline and remain to live like loots to humans, hiding and dreading" Don stated in a cold tone.

The elves were rational beings as they knew if he wanted to kill them or capture them to sell as slaves, he could easily do that and there was no need for him to offer them any choices.

Arwen stared at Don for a moment

"Who are you? What what do you want from us " Arwen spoke slowly, clearly he didn't heal from the thrashing he received from the bandit leader, his face was still swollen and blood dripping from the nose and head, his silver hair was almost dyed in red because of the blood,

"I am Don and this here is my brother Knight" Don point at Knight beside him.

Arwen didn't respond this time but Amaryll did "What do you mean by swearing allegiance to you? Are you a human prince, why did you choose us?" Amaryll's questions were also the questions of the elves.

"I am not a prince, the reason I chose you because you were in a danger as for the allegiance" Don paused for a moment and closed his eyes for a second then opened and said "I made a promise to someone that I unify all the races scattered around the outer lands and lead them to a prosperous and a life without fear,"

Amaryll noticed the first time emotion from the youth, there was a trace of sadness in Don's eyes when he mentioned the promise to someone.

"But how can we trust you? what would stop you from doing what those humans and bandits were intended to do?"

"You are right you have no reason to give me your trust but what have you got to lose? as you overheard from the bandit someone powerful enough to hurt all of you has already made their move, sooner or later, you're all going to encounter them, do you possess the strength to defeat them?"

Don asked Amaryll, but before she can respond he continued

"I know the elves are once a proud race and won't swear their allegiance to anyone other than your king but do you have a king or do you still have the means to be proud?" Each question was similar to needles that penetrated their heart. Elves were standing there in silence reminiscing about their past.

Nobody let out a sound for a moment but soon an elf boy came forward to face Don and Knight.

The boy had silver hair like the elves and wore a green robe with a leaf embroidered on the right upper pocket, the boy was clutching on the embodiment with teary eyes, two lines under his eyes could be seen on the boy's muddy face. He looked up at Don and wiped his tears while Arwen and Amaryll were glancing at the boy.

Don looked down at the elf boy and recognized him, he was the brave elf kid who was defending his friends from the bandits.

The boy looked Don with tearful eyes at Don but there was a question hiding in his little eyes " today I lost my mama and papa" he was tightly clutching his embodiment while he mentioned his parents,

"If I chose to follow you, can you give me your word that nobody will lose their mama and papa?" the boy asked while sweeping his teary cheeks.

Looking at the boy, Don's heart started to feel the pain, he knew very well how hurtful it is to lose someone you love.

He knelt to face the kid and put his hand on the shoulder of the kid

"I promise that nobody will become orphan if they follow me"

Don very well knew that if they declined his offer, sooner or later they would face a disaster and he didn't want them to suffer that but he also knew he can't protect the people that don't trust him.

The elf boy stared at Don for a movement, there was a battle going in his little heart it showed in his face he was struggling to make a decision but seeing the confidence in Don's face, a resolution emerged on the face of the kid and he looked like he moved through the kid stage to a young man in a single day as he let go of the embodiment he was clutching and stood with the straightened spine, he completely wiped away his tears, he looked straight into the eyes of Don and said in a voice with determination.

"Then I Elrond son of Elaran swears my allegiance to you" he made a deep bow which was halted by Don in the midway.