The two guards stood rigidly at the front gate of the throne room, their faces as still as stone. They seemed almost inhuman, their bodies unmoving as if carved from granite.
Moments later, a group of soldiers marched into view, dragging a man along with them. His face was swollen and bruised, a testament to the harsh treatment he had received. He stumbled along, his legs barely able to support him, his body wracked with pain. The soldiers had beaten him mercilessly, draining all his strength.
The guards at the gate, recognizing their comrades, immediately swung the heavy doors open. The soldiers, their faces grim, marched into the throne room, their urgency clear. They carried a man who had dared to speak against the king, and they knew the king would want to see him.
Karl's mind still troubled by the threat Mara had issued, stood motionless, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular. He had been lost in thought, his mind swirling with anxieties, when the soldiers entered, dragging the beaten man with them. His eyes fell on the man, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Sire," one of the guards announced, his voice sharp and authoritative, "This man was caught criticizing your rule and inciting rebellion among the people. He was urging them to disobey your commands and even plotting to overthrow you for Mara."
Karl's face impassive, nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the man before him. He was a stranger, a face Karl did not recognize, yet he had dared to challenge his authority. Karl's mind raced, trying to understand the motivations of this man, this rebel who had dared to stand against him.
"Treason? Yes! Lock him up!" Karl declared, his voice firm. "I can't pass judgment on him now, not while I'm just acting king. When all this is over, when we've won, then we'll decide his fate. For now, take him to the cell and lock him up." He gestured with his hand, his order clear. The soldiers nodded, their faces grim, and dragged the prisoner away.
As they left, one of the soldiers, the captain, lingered behind. He glanced back at Karl, a flicker of something in his eyes. Karl, sensing the captain's hesitation, raised an eyebrow. "You seem to have something to say, Captain," he said, his voice laced with curiosity.
The captain stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "Yes, Your Majesty. It's something important, something I need to tell you in private. A threat, a serious one."
Karl shrugged, his expression unchanged. "Threats? I have plenty of those. what could the one bothering you?"
"This one, Your Majesty, is different. It's a threat you need to act on now, before it's too late." The captain's voice was low, urgent.
The air crackled with tension. It was as if the captain himself was the threat, his words carrying a hidden meaning, a veiled warning. Karl, intrigued, sat down on his throne, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, ready to listen.
"Go on, Captain. What is it?" he asked, his voice calm but his mind racing.
"Sir! We don’t know who this man is, but we found him inside the Golden Castle during the gathering this morning. This suggests he must have been living nearby, possibly close to the Genesis family," the captain explained, swallowing hard before continuing.
"I can’t say for sure if he came from outside, but he was holding a weapon..." he was saying when Karl interrupted.
"A weapon?" Karl asked, his interest piqued.
"Yes, sir. A very dangerous weapon—one I’ve never seen before. It’s more perilous than the Godkiller sword created by Genesis," the captain replied. The mention of the Godkiller sword struck Karl like a bell, and he sat up, fully attentive. A weapon really more dangerous that the godkiller sword? how dangerous could it be then?
"Tell me more about it," he urged.
The captain took a deep breath and continued, "Honestly, I don’t know what it is. It was the first time I had seen it. My men and I confronted the boy to ask him about the weapon. We tried to stop him and bring him to you along with the weapon, but in a matter of seconds, I found my men dead. I was the only one left alive. I had to return immediately to inform you about this. That’s when I came in with the arrested man, but I wasn’t part of that group. This is the main reason I came to see you."
Karl listened in silence, struggling to comprehend the gravity of the situation. It felt as if he were being told a fantasy story, because it's almost unbelievable or made up story to scare him.
"If I understand you correctly, you're saying we lost men while trying to apprehend this boy because he used a weapon on your team?" Karl asked, his voice laced with disbelief. The captain nodded, his gaze fixed on the floor.
Karl immediately stood up, his anger rising. "What kind of weapon are you talking about?" he demanded as he gently rubs his jaw.
"A bow..." The captain whispered the word, his voice barely audible. Karl cut him off, with a surprise expression on his face. He couldn't believe that it was just a bow that he was talking about all along and a boy used it to defeat him and he isn't even ashamed to talk about it.
"A bow? You mean you and your men were so incompetent that a boy, just a boy, defeated you with a bow and arrow? I thought it was supposed to be something different!" Karl yelled, his frustration evident.
"Forgive me, sir, but it was! Yes, it was a bow and arrow, but I've never seen anything like it before. It was specifically made. It's not like the bows we use. This one shoots faster, firing more than ten arrows in a second. That boy, alone with that bow, could defeat an entire army! If he decides to wage war against Golden Castle, it will be a reckoning," the captain explained, his voice trembling.
Karl, realizing the gravity of the situation, began to calm down. He shifted back, placing his hands behind his back as he pondered the captain's words. If this boy was alone and not part of a larger group, it meant he might not be after Karl or anything related to him. They had seen him inside the palace, so if he wanted to harm Karl, he could have shot him during his speech. But he didn't that means he didn't come for him and since he didn't come for him that simply means he can try to align with the boy.
Imagine him have someone as that powerful among his armies, that means, he's unstoppable.
Karl looked up at the captain once again. "Do you know where the boy was headed?" he asked.
"Yes! He was heading to the southern part of the kingdom when we stopped him at the Forest of the Golden City. But I’m sure by now he must have gone very far and can no longer be caught," the captain responded. Karl nodded in agreement.
"I don’t care if he can be caught or not! Right now, I am removing you from your duty! I will find a better replacement. What you need to do for me is to change your approach and find this boy. Bring him to me and tell him I want to talk to him personally," Karl declared. This felt like a suicide mission to the captain, as the boy already knew him and his face. He was aware that the boy might kill him on sight, knowing he was after his life once before, it would totally look like Karl sent him after him. It would have been better to send someone else.
"My king..." the captain began to complain, but he was quickly interrupted.
"You will do as I said!" Karl ordered, and the captain nodded his head before leaving the hall.
               • Selah's Family Home •
The house was tightly shut, a testament to Selah's family's skill in farming. The compound was a vibrant tapestry of fruits and flowers, their colors and scents creating a haven of tranquility.
Though the windows were closed and the house seemed deserted, the sounds of activity within betrayed the illusion. The family was inside, busy with their chores. They were supposed to be at the market, but today was a day for rest, for indulging in delicious meals. The recent chaos at the Golden Castle had spread to the market, making it a place to avoid for now.
A knock echoed through the stillness, and Selah opened the door with a welcoming smile.
"Hey! Obed! Is that you?" She asked bring so surprised to see him again. "You forgot something?" she asked, her smile tinged with amusement. Her eyes, however, lingered on Micah, who stood beside Obed. She had never seen him before.
"Oh, not really. I didn't forget anything," Obed replied, leaving Selah with wide eyes and a shrug. His words were a clear signal for him to explain his presence, as he was clearly not welcome. Selah's family was known for their strictness, and she had personally told Obed he wasn't to come to the house unless invited. His sudden appearance was odd and against her wishes.
"Umm... this is my friend, Micah," Obed introduced, noticing Selah's curious gaze. Selah and her family were known for their shyness, and she seemed a bit uncomfortable.
"Oh, Micah, nice to meet you," Selah said with a smile, but when Micah extended his hand for a handshake, she acted as if she didn't see it. He gently withdrew his hand, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"So...?" Selah prompted Obed, her tone hinting at her impatience.
"You know, we were going somewhere, but we can't make it today. I was wondering if we could seek refuge for a few days..." Obed trailed off, his request hanging in the air.
"Few days? No!" Selah immediately declined, her voice firm and leaving no room for argument.