Nathan and his entourage continued their grim journey on foot through the rubble and devastation that had befallen the city. His anger and determination to uncover the truth about the attack burned within him. Thoughts raced through his mind, fueled by the senseless violence he had witnessed.
"Who would instigate such things against innocent people, who pose no threat?" Nathan seethed under his breath. "If I discover who's behind this, or whose fault led to this, I won't spare them."
Meanwhile, King Rodrick, in a nearby house with a damaged roof, was engaged in a chilling interrogation of the captured mages. They were bound and restrained on the floor before him, while Liam stood by his side. King Rodrick's cold demeanor and the dagger he idly toyed with sent a clear message of intimidation.
"Tell me," King Rodrick demanded in a stern, unwavering voice, "who is behind this? What is your objective with this attack? Surely, you're not so foolish as to think you wouldn't be captured."
With a deft flick, he sent the dagger plunging into the ground between the legs of the lead mage, the blade narrowly missing its mark. The king's icy tone persisted. "Speak, or I won't miss my next throw."
In response, the mage who had orchestrated the attack burst into laughter, a sinister and defiant mirth that filled the room. "Hahahaha," he chuckled, his voice laced with mockery. "You know, King, even if I die here, I must say, congratulations for capturing us. But do you truly believe that the one who sent us would limit his plans to a mere city attack? Think, King. What is vulnerable right now because of this chaos? Hahahahaha."
The cryptic words hung heavily in the air, and King Rodrick's face contorted with a mixture of frustration and concern. The mage's revelation hinted at a deeper conspiracy, one that extended far beyond the walls of the city and threatened the kingdom itself. The puzzle was far from solved, and the true mastermind remained hidden in the shadows.
King Rodrick's mind raced as he pondered the cryptic words of the mage, searching for the hidden meaning within. Then, as if a lightning bolt of realization had struck him, he shot up from his chair, his eyes wide with sudden understanding.
"The castle!" he exclaimed aloud, a sense of urgency gripping him. Liam, his loyal companion, looked at him inquisitively.
"What's happened, King?" Liam asked, concern etched on his face.
Rodrick's words spilled out hurriedly as he explained, "We need to move quickly, Liam. To suppress the golems and deal with these mages, we've drawn most of the Arcanum Legion soldiers out of the castle. Nathan and Beatrice are in danger."
The king's heart raced as he comprehended the potential threat to his family. With swift determination, he knew that every moment counted, and he and Liam needed to return to the castle to ensure their safety.
but just as he was hurridely preparing to go nathan arrived on the scene of batle he says from outside the building "father i am here with healers support"
Relief washed over King Rodrick as he heard his son's voice calling out from outside the building. Without hesitation, he rushed to the nearest window and peered out, spotting Nathan accompanied by a team of healers.
"Nathan!" Rodrick exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of worry and gratitude. He quickly made his way to the entrance and opened the door to greet his son.
Nathan, with determination in his eyes, stepped inside along with the healers. "Father," he said, "I'm here to help. The city square is in ruins, but we've brought healers to tend to the wounded."
King Rodrick nodded, his heart swelling with pride for his son's sense of responsibility. "Thank the gods you're safe, Nathan. We have much to discuss, but first, we must ensure the safety of the castle and your mother."
Nathan's words caught him off guard. "Don't worry, Father," Nathan continued, "I know why you're saying that. There was an assassin who came to kill me, but I've already dealt with him. You don't need to worry."
King Rodrick's relief was palpable. He placed a hand on Nathan's shoulder, his voice filled with gratitude. "You've grown into a fine young man, Nathan. I'm proud of you, and I'm thankful you're safe."
With a hint of a smile, Nathan turned his attention to the matter at hand. "Father, did you capture the mages? Where are they?"
Rodrick responded with a slight smile, "Hey, can't you just ask first how your father is doing? Jumping straight to topics."
Nathan's expression shifted to a slightly disgusted one. "Father, please stop behaving like a child. We are not in the castle, and I have to have some belief in my father's strength, right? So, where are they?"
Rodrick chuckled at his son's straightforwardness. "My apologies, Nathan. You're right; we have more pressing matters. The captured mages are inside. You can go talk to them, but remember, don't let their words sway your judgment. You're still getting used to all of this."
Nathan nodded in understanding. "Don't worry, Father. I'll be careful."
Father and son shared a brief moment of understanding before they prepared to address the captured mages, a crucial step in uncovering the truth behind the recent attacks on their kingdom.
Nathan's anger and frustration that had been building up, and he couldn't contain it any longer. As he entered the room where the captured mages were held, his emotions erupted. With his sleeves rolled up, he unleashed a series of powerful punches on the lead mage.
Lead mage seeing him says to the other two mages "Hey, hey look who we have here, it is the-" The lead mage's attempt to taunt Nathan was cut short by a series of devastating blows. His words of mockery turned into gasps of pain as Nathan's fists rained down upon him.
The first punch landed squarely on the mage's face, instantly knocking out one of his teeth. The impact echoed in the room, a harsh reminder of the violence that had been unleashed upon the city. Nathan's voice trembled with fury as he spoke, "This is for attacking my city."
A fierce left hook followed, the force of the blow causing the mage to reel back in agony. He struggled to maintain his composure as Nathan continued his relentless assault. "This is for my people that you killed," Nathan declared, his voice resolute.
Nathan's fury showed no signs of abating as he delivered a powerful uppercut, his emotions raw and palpable. "This is for the tears of the child whose mother was taken from him because of you," he seethed.
With one final punch, Nathan made it clear that he would not let the mages' actions go unpunished. "And this one is from me."
The lead mage, battered and bloodied, could only groan in pain and defeat. Nathan's actions were a visceral expression of his anger and grief over the devastation that had befallen his city and its innocent citizens.
The room fell into a heavy silence, with the other two mages watching in the grim realization of the consequences of their actions.
"What can you do now?" the lead mage on the ground said while making a bloodied smile. "All your citizens are already dead! If you'd shared the method of your products silently when Thornwood's army first came, this wouldn't have happened." He guffawed between bouts of coughing. "Do you know what that means? It's. Your. Fault. Hahahaha!"
As the lead mage lay battered and bloodied on the floor, his mocking words hung in the air, echoing in Nathan's ears. Nathan's fists were still clenched, his knuckles stained with blood, and his emotions in turmoil. He couldn't escape the turmoil within him, and doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind.
"What if..." Nathan thought, his gaze fixed on the defeated mage. The accusations had planted a seed of doubt, and despite knowing they were untrue, he couldn't help but question his decisions. He felt the weight of his responsibilities as a leader and the consequences of his choices.