In the grand halls of the castle, the Duke summoned Jayce, Irelia, and Jax to his opulent quarters. His voice carried authority as he spoke, his words laced with admiration. "Jayce, your effectiveness in recent missions has been impressive. You have been a breath of fresh air, a greater replacement for Varus than I could have ever expected."
Jayce accepted the Duke's praises with a humble nod.
However, the Duke's tone shifted, his expression growing serious. "But let us not forget the setbacks we have faced in the past weeks. We have discovered that there are more eyes on our operations than even I realized. There is a mysterious threat that has been haunting my dreams, and shortly after it began, our invisible spies, who once left no trace, have come dangerously close to being exposed."
Jayce's curiosity piqued, and he couldn't help but ask, "Do you have any clues as to the source of this threat?"
The Duke sighed, his gaze fixed on a distant point. "Once the truth seeker is fully activated, I will obtain the clues I need from the captured spy. But for now, we must act cautiously."
The Duke leaned forward and said, "There is another task that requires your expertise, Jayce. There has been a rebellion brewing in the southeast coastal Duchy of Essex. It poses a significant threat to the stability of our Kingdom, and I want you to quell it."
Jayce, Irelia, and Jax exchanged determined glances, accepting the mission without hesitation. Their loyalty to the Kingdom burned fiercely within their hearts.
Days later, the trio journeyed through the picturesque countryside of the Duchy of Dorset, their destination an imperial fort in Essex adorned with a banner bearing the emblem of a bronze phoenix. A red-caped commander awaited their arrival, Captain Jax was unusually more respectful now that he was in the presence of a military superior.
The commander briefed them on the rebellion, detailing the involvement of local farmers and blacksmiths. Captain Jax, ever the strategist, suggested mobilizing a force to crush the rebels swiftly and decisively.
Irelia, her eyes gleaming with determination, offered an alternative approach. "We could infiltrate their hideout, locate the leaders, and eliminate them. It would weaken their cause and scatter their forces."
Jayce, however, surprised his companions with an unexpected decision. "No," he declared, his voice steady yet filled with purpose. "I will surrender myself to them."
Shock washed over Jax and Irelia's faces, their eyes widening in disbelief at Jayce's audacious plan.
Jayce, leaving his weapons behind at the fort, carried a white flag as he approached the barricade that had been erected at the entry road. Farmers, armed with pitchforks, stood guard. With cautious steps, Jayce approached them, his voice calm yet determined. "I want to talk," he announced.
The farmers eyed him warily, their expressions hardened by the rebellion that had consumed their village. Reluctantly, they carried him through the barricade to their leader, a weathered man with a gaze that held both weariness and resolve.
he leader said, "Thank you for coming, Jayce. Please don't judge us harshly for what we did. We had very few options." He then informed Jayce of their motivation. He said, "We were paid to rebel by Duke Kassadin." His words carried a weight of betrayal. Jayce's shock and confusion were palpable.
"Why would Duke Kassadin foment a rebellion within the Kingdom of Fire?" Jayce asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
The leader's reply held a truth that pierced through the confusion. "This territory belongs to the Albino Duke, the arch-rival of Duke Kassadin. They threatened to expose him if he didn't provide us with more supplies and weapons." Their demands were simple—less taxes and more water—and they would end the rebellion.
As they spoke, the tranquility was shattered by the distant sounds of conflict. Troops from the fort began attacking the town, the chaos unfolding before their eyes. Accusations of betrayal were hurled at Jayce by the leader, his voice filled with anger and despair.
Assuring them of the misunderstanding, Jayce acted swiftly.
Jayce assured the farmers that it was a misunderstanding. He said, "Don't worry, these are my men. They are here to help, not to harm." He rushed to halt the troops, his voice commanding as he said, "Stop! What are you doing? Why did you attack these people?"
Jax, with an apologetic expression, said, "I'm sorry, Jayce. I thought you might be in trouble. These rebels are not to be trusted"
"Look around you, Jax," Jayce seethed, gesturing to the common folk caught in the crossfire. "These are our fellow citizens, farmers, blacksmiths, and artisans. Not enemies, but people who want less taxes and more water."
With conviction in his voice, Jayce ordered the soldiers to stand down, warning them that they would have to face him if they continued their aggression. Turning his back on the chaos, he made his way to the castle of the Albino Duke, a stark contrast to Duke Kassadin's gloomy stronghold. It was made of white stone and not red stone and was contructed relatively recently compared to Castle Kassadin.
In the castle, negotiations ensued on behalf of the farmers. Jayce attempted to convince the Albino Duke to agree to lower their taxes.
Jayce entered the castle and met with the Albino Duke. He said, "Your Grace, I come on behalf of the farmers of this land. They are suffering from your high taxes and they need your mercy."
The Albino Duke's pale face gazed at Jayce with a weary expression. He said, "I know their plight, but I have no choice. The Duchy is in debt and we need to pay our dues."
Jayce shook his head and said, "That is not a valid reason to oppress your people. They are loyal and hardworking, but they can barely survive. You have to lower their taxes and give them some relief."
The Albino Duke sighed and said, "You are a persuasive speaker, Jayce. You have a passion for the common folk. Very well, I will agree to lower their taxes by ten percent."
However, a troubling revelation emerged—the river James, their vital water source, had been drying up recently and there was nothing he could do for the farmers.
Following the river banks upriver, Jayce discovered an artificial dam blocking its flow. Reciting a chant under his breath, he summoned his fire-breathing spell, unleashing a torrent of flames that consumed the dam. As the barrier crumbled, tons of water surged forth, sating the parched land.
Jayce returned to see a scene of impending tragedy. The soldiers had rounded up the rebel leaders, ready to execute them. He felt fury surge within him and shouted, "Who authorized this? Who gave the order to kill these people?"
Irelia stepped forward, her face cold and determined. She said, "I did. I followed the third edict of the Order of the Black Phoenix—ruthlessness."
Jayce's hand moved swiftly, his palm meeting Irelia's cheek in a resounding slap. She looked at him with a stunned expression, as did everyone else in the room. Jayce's voice cut through the silence, filled with anger and disappointment. He said, "You are a foolish child." He uttered those words with a heavy reprimand.
Ordering the release of the leaders, Jayce turned and began his journey back to the castle, Irelia and Jax following in his wake.