The Last Day
“Cerei! Get down here! Cook Tubbs isn’t feeling well and it’s our duty to bring
her medicine!” Koli shouted up the winding stairs. Her assistant could be so distracted
sometimes, and though she wished she didn’t have to scold him it was the only way for
him to get anything done. He came rushing down from his bedroom a couple minutes
after he was called, still half dressed and holding a figure of a horse. Koli stared in
silence at the messy boy until he understood. “Right, got it, I’m goin’.” He said before
rushing back up. He was only a child, really, but he was still in service to the king and
Koli wished he would take his job more seriously. He came down again, slightly slower
this time, looking far more presentable. “We have to go, hurry up and help me with these
bottles.” Koli chided. Cerei grabbed the bottles and ran out of their chamber, forgetting to
shut the door. Koli shook her head and turned to close the door, giving the room one last
look. The pale wooden counter was stained with greens and reds from Cerei’s last lesson,
medicine books were haphazardly piled on the shelves and a chair was broken after Cerei
used it as a fort during one of his “giant battles”. Koli only shook her head and resolved
to have Cerei help her clean up after they made their rounds.
Cerei, of course, had run ahead. Koli hurried to catch up to him, hoping he hadn’t
gotten lost again. The winding corridors of the Theodoresburg palace were difficult to
navigate even for an experienced doctor like Koli, and would have been a nightmare for
Cerei. Luckily, cook Tubbs had a bad habit of getting sick, and an even worse habit of
sneaking Cerei more food than was necessary. Koli was certain that even Cerei, with his
head in the clouds half the time, would be able to reach the cook’s quarters. Koli arrived
in time to see Cerei looking up at the old oak door with wonder, as if he’d never seen
something so magnificent. Koli sighed before calling out, “Cerei! Hello? Cerei, I need
you to back in Upalia, please.” Cerei started, finally hearing her calls. “Sorry ma’am,” he
said carefully, “Was just thinking that this’d make a good giant’s gate.” Koli sighed, head
in the clouds she thought again before knocking on the door. “Mrs. Tubbs, it’s Koli and
Cerei. We have your medicine.” There was a brief pause before the door was opened by a
plump woman with frizzy hair barely tucked beneath a nightcap. Her bathrobe was tied
around her waist and made her look like striped snowman. “Oh, thank you Koli. I thought
I’d have to take the da-” She was halfway through her sentence when a boom was heard
from the distance. “Take this twice a day and you’ll be better in no time.” Koli told her
before running off to see King Theodore, with Cerei in tow.
The king was standing on the balcony, dressed in a beautiful red and black suit,
holding the diamond encrusted pommel of his sword and watching his troops march out
to battle. “What’s going on?” Koli asked breathlessly when she reached the landing of the
tower. King Theodore turned around, looking considerably more tired than Koli
remembered. I should’ve noticed, she silently chided herself, It’s my duty to keep him
alive. He strode over to her, boots clicking on the limestone floor, and said “We are
officially at war with the nation of Danova. The armies of the emperor Kang have
advanced and attacked the frontier.” The room was silent and still as a photograph, until
Cerei spoke up. “War? With soldiers an’ horses an’ everythin’?” He asked excitedly. The
king looked down and Koli mentally prepared the longest lecture Cerei had ever heard
about the serious dangers of war and the impropriety of speaking out of turn to the king
when Theodore managed a small smile. “You seem to be a very knowledgeable boy. I
haven’t seen you around the castle very much, who are you?” Cerei looked angry at not
being recognized, but thankfully managed to keep his temper under control. “I’m the
assistant to doctor Koli. I didn’t start very long ago, so I haven’t been around much, your
majesty.” Koli flashed her apprentice an appreciative smile. He had managed to behave
politely to the king, at least for now. “Well, doctor Koli will be needed to help on the
front lines in the battle. Perhaps you would like to accompany her as training?” Koli was
shocked. Theodore rarely put new people in the line of fire. This must be serious she
thought. Koli couldn’t argue with the king, however much she wanted to, so she only
nodded. Cerei leapt in the air. “I’m going to battle!” he cried happily. Though I wish that
you were not Koli thought regretfully.
The ride to the battle was quick, with Koli and Cerei on two of the castle’s fastest
horses. They rode just behind Theodore on his brilliant white charger, leading the army
out to the Upalian frontier. With them was the general Delio who would lead a scouting
group to make sure no Danovan soldiers were up ahead. Cerei seemed thrilled to be
riding with the king and his general, even if he wouldn’t see the whole battle as long as
Koli had any say in it. The scouts split off from the main group as it pulled to a stop.
“What’s happening?” Cerei whispered.
“He’s making a plan to take back fort Lion. You’ll see.” Koli replied. Just after
she finished Theodore began leading the group towards the mountains, heading for a pass
through to the fort. The soldiers followed without question, though Cerei looked
confused. “What if they cut us off in the mountains?” He asked hesitantly. Koli briefly
wondered why he wasn’t apprenticed to a general, or even king Theodore himself. No
one else had even thought to argue with the idea. Theodore probably has it under control
she thought hopefully, before turning back to Cerei. “Just wait, Theodore’s got
everything under control.” Cerei nodded and went silent, following the group through the
mountains. They stopped to rest after an hour of slow plodding through a pine filled
ravine. Koli pulled out some bread and cheese from her bag, just as Cerei pulled out a
stack of cookies. Naturally Koli thought. We’re going to war and he brings cookies. She
said nothing, however. No need to attract attention. Suddenly, a rumble came from the
distance, then another. The soldiers didn’t seem bothered, but Theodore did. He turned
back to look towards Theodoresburg immediately. Koli stood up “What is it, your
majesty?” she asked quietly, careful not to let her panic show. “I don’t know. But I fear it
isn’t good.” Theodore replied tersely. Cerei looked up, his gray eyes wide with worry.
“My family is there…” Koli heard him whisper. Theodore clearly heard it too, as he
immediately turned to Cerei and said “Go back to the city. Find out what happened. I
want you to keep everyone in order and tell them that the king will be with them soon.”
Cerei nodded mutely. His usual talkativeness had all but vanished as he quickly mounted
his horse and rode back through the pass. Koli watched until he turned a bend and
disappeared behind a craggy rock face.
Theodore called the group together again and they set off quickly, hoping to cover
the last few miles to fort Lion before dark. Koli’s mind was still on Cerei though. He
wasn’t always careful, and if he acted on impulse alone he could end up hurt or worse. If
the armies of Danova had gotten to the city, he might try to play hero and... Koli forced
herself to think about something else. There’s no point in worrying, he’ll be fine. He
always is. Still, she was glad that the last thing she had said to him don’t think of it like
that was kind. Koli was almost grateful when they reached the siege. There were plenty
of patients to treat, despite their advantage, and Koli was feeling optimistic about their
victory. There hadn’t been any casualties yet, though she knew that there would be before
the battle was over. Koli sighed and stepped out of her tent for a moment. She looked
over to see Theodore riding through the battle, cutting down the Danovans. Koli cringed
internally, but kept watching the battle for soldiers that might need help. Theodore had
almost reached the top when a massive tremor ran through the ground. What is happening
today? Will we have any peace? Another quake came, and then another. Soldiers ran
everywhere, trying to escape the toppling stones from the fort as it crashed down around
them. Suddenly the world went still. Koli stood up from her hiding place, thinking that at
least some of the soldiers had survived, but there was no one. Fallen soldiers lay on the
muddy ground that they had been riding over moments before. It seemed as if some had
just collapsed on the spot. Only king Theodore was left, standing in front of where the
fort had been moments before. He looked confused, standing where he would have been
victorious, looking down at the scene before him. They stood still for the second time that
day, leaving the dust to settle. Soon, they both seemed to have the same thought,
Theodoresburg. Koli mounted her horse and followed Theodore as he raced through the
mountains, leaving everything behind.
They arrived at the city just as night fell. The houses were in ruins, and there were
nobles and peasants alike lying in the streets. Carts were overturned in the marketplace,
and not one person was left. Families were buried in their houses, and Koli couldn’t look.
“It doesn’t make sense,” she said, “At least some people should be left, but it’s like they
all just...dropped.” Theodore nodded, looking at the remains of his once beautiful
kingdom. Koli kept walking, hoping that Cerei was still there, that somehow he had
survived. She headed towards the palace, and stopped when she heard a small noise. She
turned and saw a horse fallen down, and lying next to it… oh no. Koli jumped off her
horse and ran towards a toppled house, Cerei’s old home. The wooden shingles were
scattered everywhere and the logs from the walls had fallen. One was balanced on what
looked like an old bag of potatoes, but Koli knew better. She went over, afraid of what
she would find. Lying there, buried by logs, was Cerei. His face was turned to the sky,
and Koli thought she saw his eyelid flicker. She ran over, maybe he’s alright, maybe he’s
alright, and held his head in her lap. His brown hair was as messy as it had been that
morning, and his green and white robes were covered in dust. “Cerei?” Koli asked
cautiously. “Cerei?” she called again, more frantically that time. His eyes didn’t open.
She felt for his pulse, but there was nothing. It started to rain, small drops turning into
sheets of water pouring down on the kingdom. Koli closed her eyes and sat with her
apprentice. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. He was only 10, he had still believed in
magic and wonder and then he was...gone. There were footsteps from behind. Koli turned
around slowly, knowing that it would only be Theodore but hoping that it could have
been Cerei, or Mrs. Tubbs, or anyone who was immortalized by that happy morning. She
stood up to face him.
“He was a brave boy. He will be missed.” Theodore said awkwardly. Koli felt
anger bubbling up inside her. “He wasn’t just a brave little boy. He was smart and daring.
He was like my child and you let him put himself at risk!” Koli shouted
“I know, I was only trying to-” Theodore replied, but Koli cut him off.
“If you had kept him here, or let us stay together, he might still be alive. If you
hadn’t started a pointless war with Danova in the first place we might ALL still be here!
Now your kingdom is in ruins and there’s nothing left. Nothing. And it will never be the
same because everything is-” She broke down. Cerei was dead. Her family was likely
dead. Everyone she knew and loved was dead except for Theodore and she had just
shouted at him like he was a lowly kitchen boy! Where was her propriety? Where was the
order at all? Was Theodore even a king anymore without his kingdom? To her surprise,
she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. “We have to leave the city. It might still be
unstable.” Theodore said calmly. Koli only nodded and followed him through the now
unfamiliar roads. Once they had reached the fields outside, Theodore turned to her again.
He seemed far more worn and tired than he had, even that morning. “We have to find
Kang. This was clearly his doing. He must be hunted down and killed for what he did to
my city.” Theodore said. “Come with me, we can get revenge for Cerei and everyone
else. It’s the only thing we can do to help them.” Koli hesitated.
“What will we do after we kill him?” She asked. Theodore sighed. “We’ll decide
then. Revenge is the most important thing right now.” He began to walk towards his
horse, but Koli grabbed him. “We can’t just become loners bent on killing a man who
might already be dead. Let’s wait here and try to rebuild some sort of civilization. We’ll
be doing nothing for them by abandoning them.” Theodore turned to face her “You’re the
one who said that we could never make Upalia again. Think about what Cerei would
want.”
“Cerei was a child, and you one you didn’t know at all. Don’t you dare bring him
into this.” Koli said. Theodore sighed, but thankfully switched topics. “What do you
expect me to do then? I used to have a kingdom and now I have nothing but ruins! At
most I’ll have a little house, where I’ll live out my life and die, leaving nothing.”
“It’s better than going on some insane quest for revenge that you don’t even know
how to start! At least stay here a little while, you have to make a plan anyway.” Koli
argued.
Theodore sighed and gave in. “Fine. I’ll stay for 2 weeks, but just to plan for my
attack on Kang.” Not if I manage to get some sense into you Koli thought, but she didn’t
argue. She only went into the city, and after some struggling, got Cerei’s body. She also
picked up a shovel from one of the forges and began to dig underneath one of the trees
that he had loved to climb. Cerei’s funeral was short, with only the two of them, but there
was nothing more to do. Koli and Theodore started collecting logs and had built the start
of a decent sized cabin after a few days. They kept on going, but they both knew that no
matter how much they did, Upalia was gone.