"She is on her way, my Lord." The aide said and looked at her Lord. The woman had been his aide for over ten years but still couldn't get her employer.
He was caring for all his people, those who lived in his castle as well as for the people in the city below - the city beneath Daystreak.
Her mother was one of the first people who followed the Lord when he was still only a fighter for the people and one of the desperate people trying to survive. But after the incident, he changed. The incident referred to the time where everyone believed him dead or forever lost. As he returned, he was a different man, ruthless, relentless and truly harrowing toward his enemies. This was what her mother perceived. At this time, she was barely twelve, too young to fully get to know him or notice the difference in her Lord. Only after her mother died and her father encouraged her to study to become an aide, she learned of all the cruelty her Lord was able to do and did.
But it was also a part of the protection he cast on his people. The bigger the shadow his cruelty threw, the more hidden remained the thousands of people working for him and living deep below the city their parents grew up in.
She seldomly returned to Daystreak because she didn't miss it. Their city, built by themselves and the Lord, was far more beautiful. The people were happy and their lives weren't lost nor threatened by the city lord of Daystreak anymore.
Their Lord was forever this man. The common folk may call him Lord of the Underworld or other names bestowed by his enemies, but for them, he was their Lord, their saviour. He was regarded highly and they revered his every action that brought them peace and safety.
Every young man and woman wanted to be like him and dozens of people dreamed to work beside him as close as she did.
But since a few months ago, he seemingly had changed. He often went to Daystreak to build his network, enlarging his influence over the city above them and she feared that he wanted to battle the city lord of Daystreak. In the city below was safety, they had food, precious minerals, springs and fountains, lakes and enough space to house them all and more. What desired her Lord by starting a fight? But she didn't say anything as she believed in him and that he had only the best in mind for all of those who followed him.
He was the most gentle and warm ruler she could imagine and the most vicious from an enemy's viewpoint. She saw him gut spies more often than she liked, but saw it as her responsibility and honor to serve him. As he bloodied his hands to save lives. Not only did he torture his victims to spill all their dirty secrets, he also took their blood and organs to save the lives of the people in the city below.
Because their natural death rate was very low, the organs were either used in case of accidents or to help the people in Daystreak who couldn't afford doctors or had no chance of survival.
He was a hero for anybody residing in Daystreak. And he was the nightmare of every rich man who desired to do bad deeds in Daystreak. His fingers and men were in many organizations, some of the servants in every household reported to him. He knew more than anyone else. The aides help him to work for both cities, hindering crimes in the city above and keep the nobles from committing as many crimes as they can and manage the city below.
It is no easy job to work for him but she would've never considered any other work than to help him improve people's lives.
So she did everything without questioning him. Like she reported about the newest addition to the apprentices.
"Did she already leave the black market?"
"In about fifteen minutes if I considered the duration of the way correctly."
"Good." he mumbled. "How was her attitude when she received the mission? Do you think she will return?"
"If my estimations are correct, she will return after questioning the merchant she wanted to find so badly. After she learns that there is a reason why only lies and speculation circulate throughout the city."
"Why does she want to find out who sent the assassin?"
"It seemed like she lost someone important to her. Naturally, she wants revenge."
"I know. Her eyes screamed it as she entered the audience room a few days ago." He massaged his temple. "Tell me, Lirra, what should I do? I also want to murder a few people. I have been keeping calm all this time, but it is enough, right? Can't I just kill them all? Erase them from this world?"
She shifted in her position. Lirra knew that her Lord hated the nobles and still only killed when it was unavoidable or their crimes were grave enough to justify their death. So whom does he desire to kill? Only a few were mighty enough to stay safe under his dooming shadow. And those who did, well, they had armies to defend them or attack them if they dared to fight or try killing their leaders.
"Who do you want to kill, my Lord?"
"Everyone who I couldn't punish for their irredeemable sins. The people who threaten our existence with their armies, laws or magic. Those who betrayed, abused, corrupted and killed for far too long unpunished."
"Do you want war, my Lord? We will fight with you but we don't desire our doom."
He laughed a dry laugh. The scars on his face contorted his features,
"I don't want to wage a war, dearest Lirra, I just want to kill them all alone and slaughter them like the parasites they are. But will it be alright? Because I might not return after killing them all."
"You...you want to leave?"
"They will force me to die. I will be regarded as a bug, too, if I change the flow of this world and abandon my duty to do what my heart desires. They will call me a murderer and frame me for crimes I didn't commit to cover that they will kill me for doing a deed that shouldn't have happened in their eyes."
"How could we survive without you, my Lord?"
"You and the other people are knowledgeable enough to survive and even expand the black market. My dooming shadow will always loom above this place and the fear that I might return will make them unable to attack this castle. And even if they tried they would be unable to claim it without letting many ten thousands of soldiers die. The cost will outweigh the result and you will just grow as a result. The black market is already too large to fail. Ever."
"Is this your decision?"
"I'm not sure yet, so tell me, should I quell my anger and bury it in my heart or follow my heart's desire to eradicate them all?"
"I wish you happiness, my Lord. All of us do so every day. We don't want you to die. But we won't be a burden to your wishes and dreams. What you desire, we will give it to you on a silver plate. If this is your yearning, ask anyone and they would be willing to fight beside you and for you. It would be selfish to ask my Lord to stay just so we mustn't shiver when you gave us the freedom to stand up for ourselves and taught us to pursue our dreams.
If your heart can't be pacified, we shall quell it by bringing you the heads of those who you want dead."
"Lirra, you are a good friend, and an even better aide. But I won't drag you or anyone down whom I swore to protect. Start Protocol 79 and proceed to the election for a new representative afterwards. The parliament should finally find someone else than me to lead Daybreak. Next week, I will be gone. You will report it after I leave. I need no troops. Thank you for aiding me all this time, Lirra. You did the best service and helped me a lot to make this dream a young man once dreamed become reality."
"My Lord, I was lucky to be able to serve you and Daybreak in its rise. Without you, I would have never lived a life. Sincerely, from the depths of my heart and soul I want to thank you for saving me, my family and all of us who found shelter and home in Daybreak. Please return like you did all these years ago. I believe that no one is able to stop you. Even death couldn't get you. I pray and await your safe return."
"Yes, death couldn't take my soul. If I return I shall come to you first and tell you I was wrong."
"This day will come. I'm sure of it." Lirra said and watched the eyes of her Lord crinkle and his genuine smile made the room a happier place. Out of the shadows he made their lives happier and brighter. He would kill his enemies out of the shadows, too.