I raised my hand, and as if a switch had been flipped, everyone stopped in their tracks. The silence that descended on the city was eerie as if no one had ever lived there. The tip of my sword was still nestled under Noah's chin, and I smiled with satisfaction as I looked out at my people. It was a moment that I had been waiting for – the moment when I knew that they had become truly loyal to me.
There is nothing more important than the loyalty of one's people, and I felt a deep sense of pride at that moment. As I moved my sword away from Noah, I turned to face Oliver, who had been captured earlier. He was on his knees, looking up at me with pleading eyes. I could see the fear of death in them, and he spoke in a trembling voice, "Please let me go. I want to live. I will leave this city and never return. I will live a normal life or even better, I will serve you in your army. Please let me live."
