The first light of dawn peacefully shimmered, coiling around the horizon, as the streets of Eldoria were unnaturally quiet. The usual bustling activity of market traders setting up their stalls or children running through the cobbled streets was absent. Instead, a sense of tension hung in the air, thick like a storm waiting to unleash its fury.
Akin moved swiftly through the streets, his cloak trailing behind him as his boots echoed softly against the cobbled stone. His group of soldiers fanned out around him, each man alert, hands hovering near their weapons. He knew It was only a matter of time before Daemon's remaining forces caught wind of their movements. They had secured the palace, but the streets were still up for grabs.
Captain Jarek appeared beside him, his face set in grim line. "The noble district is secured but there's word that Daemon has some mercenaries rallying around the main square." They're stirring up the civilians, trying to incite a riot."
Akin's jaw tightened. Mercenaries were men who were not loyal to the crown — they were only there for the gold. And now, they threatened to turn the city into chaos. "How many?"
"About fifty, maybe more," Captain Jarek said, his voice low. "They are well-armed, and they've got the support of some of the common folk I suppose. Fear makes people desperate."
Akin nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. This wasn't just about Daemon's soldiers anymore. This was all about the people–their hearts and their minds. If they lost control of the streets, the rebellion would spread like wildfire.
"We'll need to move quickly," Akin said, his voice firm. "We cannot let them take control of the square."
Captain Jarek nodded, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. "I will send a few men ahead to scout, but we should be prepared for a battle."
Akin felt his heart pounding with anticipation, as they approached the square. The distant shouting and the clang of metal against metal echoed through the alleyways, growing louder with every step. He could feel the tension rising, like the hum of a bowstring pulled taut.
As they turned the corner, the entire scene unfolded before them. The square was chaotic. Dozens of mercenaries armed with swords, pikes, and shields, were holding a loose line at the center. Behind them, groups of angry civilians were assembled, some with clubs and farming tools or whatever they could find.
Akin's eyes quickly scanned the scene, assessing the situation. The mercenaries were inciting the people, pushing them to attack the palace, to rebel against the crown. And it was working. The masses at this point, grew more and more restless with each passing minute.
Akin turned to Captain Jarek, "We need to break their momentum. If we can scatter the mercenaries, the civilians will back down."
Captain Jarek nodded. I will take the left flank with half of our men." You take the right."
Akin's gaze hardened. "Go."
With a signal, Jarek and his men moved swiftly toward the left side of the square, hugging the shadows of the nearby buildings. Leading the rest of the soldiers, Akin moved towards the right and got them behind a row of stalls within the market. The mercenaries were too deep into rallying the crowd to see them closing in.
Akin signaled to his men and with a sudden coordinated strike, they surged forward, breaking through the line of stalls and charging toward the mercenaries. The sudden onslaught caught the mercenaries off guard.
The first clash was brutal and quick.
Akin's sword clashed with the blade of the nearest mercenary in a resounding metal clang that left his arm vibrating from the blow. The man stumbled back, but Akin pressed forward, pivoting on his heel and bringing his blade down in a controlled arc.
The mercenary, caught off balance, tried to block the blow, but Akin's strike was too fast. His sword slipped through the man's defenses, slicing deep into his shoulder. The mercenary cried out and collapsed to the ground, blood seeping into the cobblestones.
Another mercenary lunged at Akin from the side, wielding a pike with deadly precision. Akin ducked beneath the thrust, the blade swiping a cool wind inches above his head. Turning around, he pivoted on his body to drive his sword into the man's side. The mercenary gasped and dropped from his pike as he crumpled to the ground.
The square turned into a chaotic storm. Steel clashed against steel, and blood and screams of anger and pain filled the air. Akin's soldiers fought with utter fury, cutting through the mercenary lines with practice precision. Captain Jarek, on the opposite flank, was a blur of motion, his sword flashing in the early morning light as he took down one opponent after another.
But the mercenaries were skilled fighters. They pushed back hard, forming a defensive line and using their pikes to keep Akin's men at bay. The crowd behind them began to grow more aggressive, emboldened by the resistance.
Akin ducked a swing from a broad-shouldered mercenary and countered with a quick thrust to the man's chest. The weight of the battle bore down on him, the tension in his muscles building as he fought. His mind raced, calculating the next move.
He caught a glimpse of Captain Jarek out of the corner of his eye, locked in combat with two mercenaries at once. Captain Jarek's blade flicked out in quick, precise movements, parrying one attack and sidestepping another. His footwork was impeccable, and within movements, both mercenaries lay at his feet, motionless.
But then something shifted in the square.
From the crowd of civilians, a group of men stepped forward, holding torches aloft. Their faces were twisted in anger, and their shouts rang out above the din of the battle. "Burn down the palace! Down with the Valions!"
Akin's heart skipped a beat. If the crowd turned violent, if they truly rose against the crown, everything could spiral out of control. The palace and everything his father had built, could be lost.
"No!" Akin shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "These mercenaries are not your allies! They're using you!"
He pushed forward, cutting down another mercenary as he made his way toward the center of the square. The civilians hesitated, some looking uneasy and still clutching their makeshift weapons. Akin knew he had to get to them, he needed to end the riot before it escalated.
"Listen to me!" His voice did not waver as he called again. "These men are mercenaries, hired by Daemon to destroy the kingdom! They don't care about you or your families. They're here for gold and blood. But I..."
He raised his sword, bloodied from the fight, "I am here to protect this city, to protect all of you."
The civilians wavered, the anger in their faces beginning to flicker with uncertainty. Just when Akin thought he had reached them, one of the mercenary leaders — a hulking brute with a scar across his cheek— shouted, "Don't listen to him! He's the son of a tyrant! He'll see you all in chains!"
The brute charged at Akin, his massive axe swinging in a deadly arc. Akin barely had time to react, stepping back just as the blade whistled past his chest. The force of the swing was immense, and Akin felt the wind knocked out of him as the brute closed in.
The crowd roared, and for a moment, it seemed like the tide was turning against Akin. The civilians' anger flared, and they surged forward, emboldened by the mercenaries.
But Akin wasn't finished yet.
He steadied himself, his grip tightening on his sword. The brute swung again, but this time, Akin was ready. He managed to raise his sword at the right moment and deflected it, but even then his arms felt as though they would break off from the impact. The force of the blow brought him to one knee—but he didn't falter. With a grunt of effort, he pushed back, throwing the brute off balance.
Seizing the moment, Akin rose to his feet and thrust his sword forward, driving it deep into the brute's chest. The man's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, dropping his axe with a heavy thud. Akin yanked his sword free, and the brute collapsed to the ground lifeless.
The square fell silent.
For a brief moment, no one moved. The civilians stared at Akin, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. The mercenaries, seeing their leader fall, hesitated.
Akin lifted his blade, aiming at the rest of the mercenary group. "Your final warning," his tone was chill and commanding. "Surrender; or suffer the same fate."
Mutual looks of trepidation crossed the faces of the mercenaries. Their number had dwindled, and without their leader, they had no direction. One by one, they began to lower their weapons, dropping their swords and pikes on the cobblestones.
The civilians watched in stunned silence as the mercenaries surrendered, their expressions shifting from rage to uncertainty. The adrenaline that had once fueled their anger seemed to drain away, leaving only confusion in its place. Some clutched their makeshift weapons, hesitant to let go of the fight, while others looked down at their hands as though seeing the tools of violence for the first time.
Akin panted and his breath was jagged, as the battle still weighed on his chest. He wiped the sweat and blood from his brow, his eyes scanning the crowd. He knew this wasn't over...not yet. The rebellion wasn't just about Daemon's soldiers or mercenaries; it was about the fear and frustration that had festered in the hearts of the people. That was the battle he had to face.
Akin walked forward sheathing his sword on purpose as to show peace. "Citizens of Eldoria" he called, his voice firm but full of compassion. "I know you are angry. I know you are scared. But this isn't the way. We are not your enemies."
A murmur spread through the crowd, and a man at the front—a grizzled farmer with a hoe still clutched in his hands—spoke out. "And why should we believe you? Daemon said the Valions would take everything from us, and your father is a tyrant who rules with an iron fist."
Akin nodded in response to the man's statements, "I will not dispute that my Father is a stern leader, but he is far from a tyrant. He has only done what he believed was right to save this kingdom from collapsing back into chaos. And today, I stand before you, as a common man, as someone who will listen, and who will fight for you."
Even then, the man's brow furrowed, but there was a slight softening of the hardness in his eyes. He then asked, "What guarantee do we have that things will change?"
"You have my word," Akin said, his gaze unwavering. "Elaris will not be brought to ruin by the treachery of traitors. We will rebuild—together. But I need your help. I need your strength, not in fighting against each other, but in standing together. The mercenaries are gone. The rebellion is being put down as we speak. Now, it's time to rebuild."
The crowd shifted again, the tension slowly ebbing away. Some of the civilians were beginning to lower their weapons, hands, and faces a mixture of release and exhaustion. They had been caught in the crossfire of a war they didn't fully understand, manipulated by the likes of Daemon and his hired swords. But now, with the threat diminishing and Akin standing before them as a figure of calm authority, hope began to flicker in their eyes.
"Will you stand with me?" Akin asked, his voice clear and resolute. "Will you help me protect this city and restore peace?"
There was a long pause, the weight of the moment settling over the square. Then, slowly, one by one, the civilians began to nod and murmur amongst themselves. A few stepped forward, tossing aside their makeshift weapons in a gesture of solidarity. The grizzled farmer, still clutching his hoe, finally let out a heavy sigh and lowered it to the ground.
"We will stand with you," the farmer said in his gruff but earnest voice. "But you'd best keep that promise, boy."
Akin gave a brief and grateful smile. "I will."
Pacifying the civilians had been successful, so Akin turned to Captain Jarek who was by his side throughout the exchange. The captain gave him a nod of approval, a rare gesture from the usually stern warrior.
"Well done," Captain Jarek said. "I thought for sure we'd have to cut our way through that lot."
Akin let out a weary breath. "We've had enough bloodshed for one day."
Jarek grunted in agreement. "What's the next move?"
"We secure the square and make sure the mercenaries are properly dealt with," Akin said, glancing at the remaining soldiers. "Round them up and get them locked away. We'll deal with them after we've stabilized the city."
The soldiers then sprung to action, collecting the mercenaries and binding their hands with rope. The men, alas demoralized so thoroughly by the swiftness of their defeat and the falling of their leader, offered little to no resistance. Akin watched as they were led away, his mind already turning to the challenges ahead. The square had been secured, but this was only one part of the city. There were still pockets of resistance, and the threat of more unrest lingered like a storm cloud on the horizon.
Captain Jarek joined him as they began to make their way back to the palace. "What about the other districts? The news of Daemon's death will spread, but not all will fall in line."
Akin nodded. "We must dispatch messengers to the other districts so they hear the news. If there is any resistance, we will deal with them. But once they learn that Daemon is dead, I believe most will surrender."
Captain Jarek's lips twitched in a rare smile. "Let's hope they're smarter than the mercenaries."
Akin chuckled softly, though the burden of what the day had wrought over him did not quite dissipate. "We'll rest when the city is safe."
Walking through the deserted streets, Akin could not help but also reflect on how much had changed in so little time. Just days before, he'd gotten ready to live his humble boring life as the heir to a peaceful country. Now he commanded soldiers in battle, quelling rebellion in the streets and keeping a kingdom from tearing itself apart.
Then his mind went to his father who was recuperating in the palace. Thorian had kept Elaris strong for so long, but now Akin could see how fragile the kingdom truly was: all Daemon needed was a crack in their foundation. The cracks were starting to develop, it was up to him now to ensure they didn't widen.
As they approach the palace gates, the first ray of sunlight breaks through the clouds, casting a soft golden glow over the city. It was like a small beacon, something to whisper through the night that no matter how dark it is now, the daybreak would keep coming.
They were crossing the palace courtyard when — Jarek placed a hand on Akin's shoulder. "You did well today, my lord. Your father would be proud."
It was a rare outburst of praise, and Akin looked at his captain. "Thank you, Jarek. But we're not done yet."
"No," Jarek nodded, his gaze hardening. "…but we have taken the first step. And that's something."
Akin nodded, his thoughts already turning to the next steps. The city still needed to be secured, the remaining rebels dealt with, and the kingdom stabilized. But for the first time in days, he allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. They had won the battle, and now it was time to win the war.
As they entered the palace, Akin's mind was filled with clarity. The road ahead would be fraught with danger, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay in his path and would fight to the very end.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hope you guys are enjoying the novel. what do you think will happen next along Akin's journey, write your thoughts in the comment section, and let's see how our prediction goes.
Thank you guys..... :)