The atmosphere in the court was tense, and every eye was fixed on Nitish as he stood before the gathered merfolk. The once vibrant and joyful place now felt heavy with judgment and animosity. Nitish's heart pounded in his chest as he faced the consequences of his actions.
The Fourth Prince, a sneer on his face, looked triumphant as he observed Nitish's predicament. He had been waiting for this moment, eager to exact revenge on the commoner who had dared to challenge the royal heirs. Surrounding Nitish were the princes who had been defeated by him, their faces still seething with humiliation and anger.
Princess Lilly, who had once been at Nitish's side, now wore a sinister smile, her betrayal casting a dark shadow over their previous bond. She had played her part well, ensuring that Nitish's downfall would be swift and merciless.
The gathered merfolk began to vote on Nitish's fate, and their voices echoed through the chamber. One by one, they declared their verdict, their hostility evident in their words. Outcast. Banished. Sent to the Hell of Merfolk.
Nitish listened to the verdicts, feeling a strange calmness wash over him. He knew that his fate was sealed, but he refused to let fear consume him. Instead, a smile spread across his face, and his eyes gleamed with an unexpected fire.
"I have had enough," Nitish declared, his voice resonating with a newfound strength. The court fell silent, taken aback by his sudden shift in demeanor.
Princess Lilly's laughter faltered, replaced by a look of uncertainty. "What do you mean, enough?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Nitish's smile widened, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the merfolk gathered before him. "You see," he began, "I thought I was alone in this world, an outsider with no place to belong. I thought I had nothing left to lose. But I was wrong."
He paused, the weight of his words settling on the room. "You may have taken everything from me," Nitish continued, "but you can never take away my spirit, my will to fight. You underestimate me, and that is your greatest mistake."
The Fourth Prince's smirk faltered, and a flicker of doubt crossed his face. The merfolk, who had been eager to witness Nitish's downfall, now felt a sense of unease. Nitish's unexpected show of strength and defiance had caught them off guard.
Nitish turned to Princess Lilly, his gaze unwavering. "I trusted you, Lilly," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of hurt and determination. "But you betrayed me, just like the others. You may have won this battle, but mark my words, the war is far from over."
Lilly's composure wavered, and for a moment, Nitish saw a glimmer of remorse in her eyes. But it was quickly replaced by defiance. "You brought this upon yourself," she spat, trying to hide her unease.
"No," Nitish countered, "you brought this upon me. And you will have to live with the consequences of your actions."
As Nitish stood tall, a sense of fear began to grip the court. They had expected a broken man, defeated and despairing. Instead, they saw a man who refused to be broken, a man who had found strength even in his darkest hour.
The elders, who had presided over the court proceedings, exchanged uneasy glances. Nitish's display of resilience had thrown a wrench into their carefully laid plans. They had not anticipated such defiance from a mere commoner.
The Fourth Prince stepped forward, his anger evident in every step he took. "You think you can defy us?" he sneered, his hand reaching for his trident. "We will see how strong you truly are."
Before anyone could react, Nitish's hand shot out, and a brilliant burst of solar energy erupted from his palm, engulfing the entire court in a blinding light. The merfolk gasped in awe and shock as the powerful display of magic illuminated the room, casting shadows on the walls.
In the midst of the swirling dust, a figure emerged, holding the Fourth Prince suspended in the air effortlessly, his once unbreakable handcuffs now shattered like glass. The court was left dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what they were witnessing.
Lilly and the other merfolk muttered in disbelief, "This is impossible."
But Nitish's smile was filled with confidence as he spoke with an air of authority, "Playtime's over. Shall we get started, in a more savage way?"
His words sent a shiver down the spines of those who had sought to destroy him. With the display of his unimaginable power, Nitish had shattered the illusion of his helplessness. The merfolk realized that they had severely underestimated him, and the consequences of their actions were about to be laid bare.