The surrounding buildings began to seemingly rise from the dirt as their appearance began to change from decrepit old abodes to something more livable.
The difference between the slums, which began to encroach closer and closer to the wealthier section of the kingdom, was almost like a completely different world when compared to the district around the palace.
'Not even the lower class nobles and middle class society can survive the attrition of war it seems.' Noted Strom as he continued to make his way towards the palace.
In the middle of the night it was fairly easy for Strom to remain unnoticed as he arrived at the side of the palace gardens. One of the last remaining scenes of greenery that thrived inside the core of the kingdom was currently on the verge of death.
Crouching on top of the gray decorative wall, with murals sprawled across the surface facing the inner garden, Strom drank in the depressing image in front of him.
He had only witnessed the beauty of the palace gardens when he was very young. Back then due to his parents' military prestige in the kingdom Strom had the privilege to visit such a haven only once.
At a much happier time and era when the gorgeous garden had flourished, a young Strom was mesmerized by its beauty and mystery. However, like the kingdom's current state, the garden was falling into an abyss of darkness fraught with starvation.
The once lavish pavement was now grimy and had a few paved stones cracked or missing. Similarly, the proud statues of the gods that dotted the landscape were either gone or crumbling. Needless to say, the vegetation that once brought fascination to his mind were either dead or on the verge of it.
The only vegetation still surviving were unkept vines and invasive weeds soaking up the opportune space beginning to appear with the shrubberies' and flowers' unwilling resignation.
Strom used one of these vines to descend the inner side of the wall. As his feet hit the dry dirt with a sickening crunch, Strom fixed his gaze towards the fractured path leading to one of the estates used for storage, kissing the side of the palace.
He continued down this somber path until reaching the old estate. Located within this estate was the escape route used by most officials in case of an emergency.
Finding some stacks of old wooden crates over near the back of the warehouse like building, Strom flipped a few of them to the side.
A small iron barred gate was revealed with a damp dark stone passage expanding beyond its entrance. Strom peered between the bars of the gate down this passage with a squint to make up for the lack of illumination.
'If my guess is correct; This is the spot where I'll gain everything...'
Strom wasn't completely certain whether Amira and this Aaron were actually working together. But whether or not that was true; he was certain that an uprising would soon take place due to the unrest in the kingdom's people and Amira's influence.
When such an event would take place, the officials would be backed against their coveted throne, and drop everything to keep ahold of their selfish lives. Strom was wary that the secret passage the guard had provided him with was simply a lie to save his own skin. However, as he stood here gazing down that dark passage, Strom could validate the guard's lifesaving testimony.
'If the officials end up using this escape route then unfortunately it will only lead to their next life.' Thought Strom with an amused chuckle.
Now that he had confirmed the existence of the crucial part of his plan, Strom needed to finalize his preparations.
'Assuming that the report I sent reaches Axus in two days' time... That should leave me with about four days in total until the Roman army arrives to wipe out any opposition.'
After calculating his time table, Strom began to debate on the next best course of actions.
'I know I originally planned to go at this alone, but I'll need more hands in order for this to completely work... I don't like this conniving Amira... I feel like I'll end up with a knife in my back if I'm not careful around her. Looks like that thief really is the connection I'm gonna have to foster...'
Subconsciously Strom had been already gravitating towards meeting with this thief again, with the remaining hope inside of his heart that it wasn't actually his brother. However, his heart and mind were fraught with disaccord. He needed to verify with his own eyes and ears whether or not the state he had left the orphans and his brother in had improved.
After covering the iron gate back up with the wooden crates, Strom secretly slipped away from the palace.
Meanwhile, inside the crumbling halls of an old catacomb long forgotten underneath the kingdom, trudged a weary and ragged young man. The only lively indications beneath the grime covered cloak of the individual were two sparkling blue eyes, almost hidden beneath the dirty cloak and rags.
"Fucking foreign bitch..." Grumbled the individual in a youthful voice.
The cloaked figure kicked a small stone out of frustration down the halls, fracturing one of the many deteriorating skulls lining the old catacomb's floors.
This eerie and disgusting labyrinth was one of the last remaining havens that was safe for slum rats like himself. The citizens were either unaware or terrified of venturing into its depths while the guards held a similar opinion. Thus, many people from the slums, criminals, scavengers, and regular beggars alike found refuge in its sanctums.
The man continued his trek until arriving before a slated door at the end of the crumbling hall. Using the side of his hand, he beat on the metal door until the slate above slid open. An eye and red patch appeared from the opened slate along with a grunt.
The man stepped back from the door and pulled back his coverings to reveal long blonde hair and a young slightly scarred face. His piercing blues eyes held a restrained burning fire within them that appeared to be unquenchable and bored through the eye of the gatekeeper.
"Yo Aaron! How many times do I gotta tell you to chill out dude! Come on the guy nearly pissed his pants!" Chuckled a young male voice as the gatekeeper grunted before opening the door.
"Sigexe, shouldn't you be focusing on the responsibilities I left you with before I went out?" Sighed Aaron as he annoyingly rubbed the rustic red hair of his younger companion who ran out from the opened door.
"Ouch! How many times do I gotta tell you to stop doing that? Damn, that shit hurts!" Whined Sigexe.
"Well maybe if you did what I asked correctly for once you wouldn't have to deal with it you little bastard." Teased Aaron.
"Well maybe if you weren't such a lonely fuck with Amira I wouldn't be so busy finding you a girl and could actually get my work done." Retorted Sigexe while running away back through the metal door before he could get hit anymore.
"I don't know what's faster anymore... That little bastard's mouth or his feet..." Grumbled Aaron before pulling the rags around his neck back up to cover his face.
Although he wasn't ugly, Aaron was still very conscious of his appearance since with age he had garnered unwanted attention due to his looks.
Blonde hair and blue eyes were foreign traits to the Zephyr kingdom and therefore he had received all sorts of harsh judgements from even the lowest of people.
Actually, Aaron was extremely attractive, especially with women of higher nobility. However, such looks he considered to be a nuisance since they seemed to only bring him unwanted trouble.
These cursed genes had came from his mother who held high military prestige before her death. Aaron truly believed his brother had received the good luck in the family while nothing but grievance remained for him.
His brother's personality was quite similar to his own but sadly the brown hair and hazel eyes were not. He often wondered how his brother had ended up after leaving a few years ago, but with little word exchanged ever since their old hideout was destroyed; Aaron felt as if he had truly no family left in this world.
The only people left in his life were the other orphans that had managed to survive along with himself. After being pursued relentlessly by the guards for stealing in order to barely stay alive, like the old days, they eventually fell upon this unholy sanctum beneath the kingdom. Ever since his brother had left he had been given the leadership role due to being the eldest of the orphaned group.
Slowly as the years progressed, more and more of the slums began to gather together here in their safe haven and under his supervision.
As he made his way through the inner sanctum, the citizens of this subterranean world bowed their feeble heads in greetings to their leader.
"Greetings my king!"
"King!"
"Lord!"
"Savior of the Slums!"
These greetings and chants were the usual bothersome noise that would resound within the sanctum even when Aaron tried to mask his presence.
'The King of The Slums... What a ridiculous title.'
Without trying or wanting to create such a movement he had been gifted this silly title. He often wondered whether his brother had felt such burdens when looking after them in the prior years.
However, there was not much he could say or do after a majority of the populace now exalted his robin hood like persona. Such an image was too empowering for these weak and downtrodden people.
'And just like that, my burdens continue to grow.' Thought Aaron with a sigh as he pushed his way through the masses to his quarters at the end of the sanctum.
"How goes it my King?" Trilled a high yet light pitched voice from within the entered room.
"Knock it off Seri! You know it's not like that..." Responded Aaron who was clearly annoyed further.
"Whatever, as always you're no fun." Said the young girl who stuck out her tongue with more teasing.
"See I'm telling you! No bitches!" Chimed in Sigexe from atop a crate filled with food.
"Sigexe can't you shut your ass up for more than five seconds?" Groaned Aaron as he took off his worn cloak and sat down at his half standing desk.
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be possible since his mouth is the only thing that actually works." Commented another kid in his early teens from behind a chair stacked with old books.
"At least I can actually talk to people other than our adopted family here." Shot back Sigexe while chucking an apple at the boy's head.
The dark haired boy didn't turn his head while his hand darted to the side from beneath his oversized sweater like jacket. The apple slid down the small blade of a knife that seemingly appeared out of nowhere in the boy's hand.
"Thanks."
"Aw come on that's no fair Jin." Complained Sigexe as he watched him take a bite from the impaled apple while continuing his reading.
"Alright settle down guys... We've got some serious shit to deal with right now." Commented Aaron from behind a map sprawled out over the papers filling the surface of his slanted desk.
"Huh? What do you mean? Is it the guards again?" Asked Sigexe.
"Oooo... It's Amira isn't it? I heard from some of the other girls that she's pretty amazing!" Giggled Seri behind a forced smile.
"Yeah, something like that." Sighed Aaron as he threw a knife into the map, embedding them into the table beneath.
"The war outside is gonna be a lot calmer when compared to this..." He said with a heavy voice.