Naboru wipes the blood away with a slow gesture, his hand now stained with a deep red hue. He takes a few steps forward, the smile still etched on his face, eyes half-closed, perfectly calm. The second Legati Aurorae remains frozen, but Naboru notices a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes behind the helmet.
"I must admit,"
Naboru begins, his voice soft and almost hypnotic,
"I admire your loyalty. Devotion is a rare quality these days. But you see…"
He takes another step, letting his gaze pierce into the guard's,
"Loyalty… it has its limits, doesn't it?"
He stops, tilting his head slightly, eyes narrowing as if in deep thought.
"Tell me, what's the point of loyalty when those you serve don't even care about you?"
The guard stands motionless, but Naboru knows he's struck a nerve, just a little. He continues, his voice gentler now, almost consoling.
"Look at your companion there, on the ground. He did everything that was asked of him. He was a good little soldier, wasn't he? And look where it led him. At your feet, dying in a pool of blood."
Naboru crouches down slightly, taking a relaxed pose, as if he were chatting with a close friend.
"You know, it reminds me of a story I once heard… A king loved sending his soldiers to battle, promising them glory and honor. But in truth, he couldn't care less about their fate. They were just pawns. Replaceable. Forgotten. So tell me, how does it feel knowing that, to your king, you're probably already dead… even if you don't realize it yet?"
The Legati Aurorae flinches, almost imperceptibly, but Naboru isn't finished. He adds, his tone becoming almost affectionate, as if he were offering a gift.
"But I'm generous, you know. I'll give you a chance. Go tell him… your king. Tell him Naboru wants to talk to him. You'll be the hero of this little story. The one who delivered the message. The one who avoided ending up like your friend there."
The guard hesitates, then shakes his head slightly, as if refusing.
"It's impossible… I can't…"
Naboru's smile widens, and he slowly straightens up, taking his time to dust off imaginary dirt from his clothes, keeping his gaze fixed on the Legati Aurorae. His tone becomes sharper, still calm, with a hint of mockery in each word.
"Impossible?"
A soft laugh escapes his lips, as if the very idea of refusal were absurd.
"No, no… nothing is impossible. You just need to free yourself from those invisible chains that bind you. After all… what's worse? Disobeying me or disobeying a king who won't even notice your absence?"
He steps closer, until their faces are almost level, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "I'm offering you a much simpler solution. You leave, and you live. Or you stay, and I show you just how painful this spear can be… very slowly."
He tilts his head, his smile widening like that of a predator.
"So, what do you say?"
The Legati Aurorae stays silent, but Naboru can already see the fear in his eyes, the doubt in his posture. It's over. He knows he's won.
"Come on, I'm sure you'll make the right choice."
Naboru steps back, giving the man space to think.
"Go tell the king that Naboru wants to speak with him. I'm sure he'll be… curious about my proposal."
The Legati Aurorae, his face hidden behind his helmet, repeats calmly,
"It's impossible. Julius Aur—"
Before he can finish, Naboru cuts him off sharply, his voice rising, tinged with barely controlled madness.
"IMPOSSIBLE?! You dare say it's impossible?! Don't make me laugh! You and your ridiculous orders, your damn divine laws… What do you know about what's possible or not?!"
Naboru lets out a roar of rage, his arms lifting forcefully, his fingers pointing accusingly at the Legati. His body trembles with an uncontrollable energy, his movements sweeping wide and dramatic, as if he wanted to brush aside all authority in front of him. Every word he utters seems to materialize in the air, hitting like punches.
The Legati Aurorae, visibly annoyed, responds with cutting coldness,
"Fool! Who do you think you are to speak like this? You're nothing but a—"
But Naboru doesn't let him finish. He yells even louder, his words sharper, more dominant.
"SHUT UP! You think you can judge me, silence me with your spears and empty threats?! I am Naboru! The one who stands before you with a will that no one can break! YOU… UNDERSTAND… NOTHING! You think your position protects you? That your divine rules grant you authority? Let me tell you something. This kingdom, your queen, your so-called divine punishment, all of it is nothing against the will I bear! I scoff at your gods, your rituals! All of you… you bow to your king's every word like insects! But me… I am the one who will shape the future! I am the one who will break your chains! You are nothing to me!"
His eyes shine with a mad gleam, his movements wide and commanding, his arms sweeping the space around him with an intensity that nearly makes the Legati recoil.
The Legati Aurorae, shaken by Naboru's fury but holding firm, shouts back,
"Enough! Julius Aurorion, King of the Dawn, is not here!"
The words hit Naboru like a blow. He freezes, the sudden silence enveloping him. All his rage dissipates in an instant, as if those simple words had drained every ounce of aggression from him. His arms hang in the air in a theatrical pose, his mouth hanging open, frozen in an expression of surprise, his eyes widening, as though the world around him had crumbled in an unexpected revelation.Naboru sits down on the cold stones of the square, a strange expression lingering on his face. He motions for me to come closer, a gesture that feels both welcoming and unsettling. I comply, sitting beside him, my thoughts swirling. A quiet fear rises within me, a dread I cannot deny. Naboru, once so sure of himself, so unpredictable, now terrifies me.
What has he become? What has become of the good Naboru who saved me?
As he turns to the Legati Aurorae, he gestures for him to sit as well. The invitation is incongruous, almost absurd, given the crushing authority these guards embody. My heart races as I try to grasp his intentions.
"Where is the king?"
he asks in a tone that could almost be described as casual.
I look at him, not knowing what to think. I can't help but wonder if Naboru truly realizes the danger surrounding him. His eyes, usually filled with an unmatched kindness, now shine with a determination I've never seen before…