Prologue

Prologue (Novel Excerpt)
by Marq Padillo

A cool, evening breeze swept by Enrico Augello as he stepped out of the glamorous building where he worked and lived for almost a couple of decades. He took a few steps forward before turning around to face the edifice he had just exited. The seventy-year old Chancellor of the Kingdom of Sol paused as he savored the splendor before him.

This marvelous piece of architecture never fails to amaze me, he said to himself as he rubbed his round belly. He stretched his arms and yawned, his robes synchronically dancing with the wind. I guess I ate too much food for dinner. I should take a little stroll before returning to my study.
The old man turned around and gazed at the tranquil heavens. He stood with an air of resilience; the chancellor’s face as serene as the sky above him. From where he stood, he could see the huge steel gates of the chancellery; the same gates that served as a barrier to rebels and discontented citizens during the turbulent years of the kingdom. Several massive cloud formations were being tossed around in the sky by the wind, slowly revealing the grandeur of the radiant full moon shining with all its might, illuminating the placid night sky. He shifted his gaze further on and saw rain clouds brewing and flashes of lightning, causing a silhouette to appear; the silhouette of massive bell towers at a distance. After a short while, he heard a distant clap of thunder.

I better make this quick.

He paused for a while before heading towards the vast grounds of the estate. As he walked, he thought of the things he needed to accomplish before tomorrow. He strolled down the path, past the sculptures of Sol’s previous chancellors. The lamp posts standing between each of the statues illuminated their faces and casted a shadow behind the figures. A black cat darted across his path as he went past the fourth statue.

The chancellor was in deep thought that he did not realize that he was already in front of the huge steel gates. He stared at the sky. The rain clouds he saw earlier were already above him. It’s about to rain, he thought.

The two guards standing by the gates greeted him. He acknowledged them, thanking them for their hard work. A cold gust of wind rushed past Augello, which sent a chill up his spine. At the same time, the distant sound of bells echoed in the place. He decided to return to his study. Augello was already halfway between the chancellery and the gates and near the stone statues of the previous chancellors when a sudden thunderstorm caused the lights to go out. At the same time, the dark clouds in the sky were already starting to cover the whole moon. Little by little, darkness started to flood the ground.

Augello froze in his steps. Rain was already beginning to pour. From clouds above, he judged that this drizzle would turn into a heavy downpour in no time. He had to go back to the chancellery before it happened. He squinted in the darkness for the sight of the building. As he prepared to take a step towards the direction he presumed to be towards the chancellery, he heard the sound of footsteps. He blindly stared around him.

“Good evening, Chancellor,” a voice greeted him.

Augello turned towards the source of the voice. He saw a man’s silhouette before him. He strained his eyes to discern the stranger’s appearance. He could not see the man’s face but the fading light from the moon enabled him to see that the one he was talking to wore a top hat.

“Who are you?” Augello asked.

The rain grew heavier.

“It is unnecessary,” the stranger said.

“Answer me first,” replied Augello. “Who are you?”

“I said it is unnecessary; I merely came here to stop the wickedness and blind sense of justice of self-righteous people like you,” said the stranger. “Do you think there is still a need for me to tell you my name when you’re going to die, anyway?”

Augello maintained his composure. “What are you implying?” he asked in an effort to buy more time. He tried to look around without moving his head while trying to determine his escape route. The stranger appeared to be alone, but Augello felt the presence of another person near them.

“Stop screwing around, Chancellor Enrico Augello,” the stranger hissed. “I know very well that you are not ignorant of what I am talking about, are you?”

“I really don’t get you,” the chancellor calmly replied.

“You idiots think you are worthy to deliver divine justice, at the price of messing up the peace in this kingdom? Don’t make me laugh. I’m going to stop you right here, right now.”

At that moment, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, momentarily illuminating the chancellery grounds. Augello’s eyes narrowed as he saw the stranger’s face.

“Y-You are…”

“Yes,” the stranger interrupted. “Now, Chancellor, I would like to have a word with you,” he whispered as he drew out a dagger.