"Keeping a monster as a pet, are we? If the king hears of this, it's off with your head!" the subedar jeered with a snicker.
"True, but who's going to spill the beans to His Majesty?" Aqua replied coolly, unfazed.
The subedar's smile vanished. "What do you mean?" he asked, a tremor in his voice.
"Night, our furry enforcer, if anyone not bearing our crest steps out, consider them your midnight snack," Aqua said, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"What?! You can't do that…" the subedar stammered, his disbelief as clear as a full moon.
Tien, remember the slave crest tutorial from Mr. Noorlan? Never had a chance to practice," Aqua said with a chuckle that could chill bones.
"It's showtime," Tien declared, his voice booming like thunder.
The subedar quaked with fear. "No, no, you can't—I'm a subedar!" he pleaded.
Aqua's laughter was a symphony of scorn. "As per the king's decree, I, Aqua, lord of this realm, hereby strip you of your title," he declared, his words sealing the subedar's fate.
Now mister you are just a commoner like us, heheheheheh Tien and Aqua both laughed!
"Now, strip the ex-subedar of his finery," Aqua commanded his soldiers, who stood still as statues.
"Defying orders? Choose your fate: a wolf's dinner or the king's wrath?" Aqua's words were as sharp as a sword's edge.
The soldiers sprang into action, peeling the subedar's clothes away despite his protests.
Aqua's eyes narrowed as he regarded the subedar's corpulent form. "It seems the spoils of your station have been… indulgent. We shall see to it that you are… streamlined," he quipped, his words dripping with disdain.
With a flourish, Aqua produced a slave tattoo, its design intricate and foreboding. He pressed it onto the subedar's flesh, the mark of servitude burning into his skin. The subedar's protests were futile, his resistance crumbling like dry leaves in a gale.
Stop this you monster, stopp! subedar resistance were futile as Aqua placed the crest and use a knife to cut his blood and put it on the stomach where he places the tatoo and started to chant a spell...
Gigglewiggle, snicker-snack, Your resistance now shall crack. Follow my lead, dance to my tune, Like a merry marionette under the moon.
AND BOOM!
Aqua chanted an incantation, his voice weaving a spell of binding and obedience. The air crackled with unseen energy, and with a final, resounding word, the slave crest was forged.
"Release him," Aqua commanded, and the subedar, now bound by invisible chains, staggered toward the gate, only to be repelled by a force as unyielding as the mountains themselves.
"Return to your master," Aqua taunted, his voice a velvet threat. "Henceforth, you are my obedient servant."
The subedar, his spirit broken, crawled back to Aqua's feet. "Master, I am yours to command," he intoned, his voice hollow.
Awww, the submissive side of you looks quite appealing, sir. But don't fret, all those arrogant pigs who think they're entitled to rule will soon be joining you. I will shatter their false dreams into countless pieces, Aqua declared.
Aqua turned her gaze towards the soldiers of the subedar and asked, "What do you wish to do from this point forward?"
"We will serve you, young lord!" the soldiers lined up and saluted Aqua.
"Hmm, alright. But if any of you dare to betray me, I assure you, the nights will be filled with unimaginable horrors," Aqua threatened the soldiers.
"Yes, master. I will thoroughly enjoy the feast," the soldiers replied, their fear evident but their resolve unyielding.
"Go and release everyone here," Aqua commanded.
"Yes, my king," the soldier said.
Aqua then approached Grey and handed him his cloak to cover himself.
"I apologize for my tardiness, Grey. But I thank you for fighting on my behalf. Your loyalty honors me," Aqua said with a gleam in her eyes.
"Kinggg..." Grey hugged Aqua tightly and whispered, "Please don't leave us alone."
"I won't," Aqua replied.
"Um, Lord, I have failed to protect the people. The task you assigned me turned out to be a failure," Maria said, kneeling before Aqua with a bow.
Aqua lifted her up and said, "You did well, Miss Maria. I understand that you were considering the possibilities for the king's army. I am not angry. Don't worry."
"But I don't deserve to be in this position. I only watched Grey fight alone. I was helpless," Maria confessed.
"Don't worry, Miss. You have learned a valuable lesson, and that is what matters," Aqua appreciated her.
Aqua then mounted Night, standing tall and commanding from above.
Fellow citizens, I stand before you not as a monarch who revels in the trappings of royalty, but as a leader forged in the crucible of our collective struggle against tyranny. My ascension to kingship is not born of desire for power, but from the necessity to champion the cause of justice—a mantle you have bestowed upon me with your trust and support.
In my recent journey to the capital, I have rallied new allies to our cause. Our ranks have swelled by a hundred valiant souls, joining the three hundred already united under our banner. We now stand seven hundred strong, a formidable force poised for the expansion of our mission.
Yet, before we march forward, we must solidify our foundation—financially and militarily—so that when we face the kingdom, we do so with the might to emerge victorious. I seek not just your allegiance, but your active support. Will you lend me your strength in this noble endeavor?
As Aqua lowered his head in a gesture of humility, the crowd erupted.
"Stand tall, our king!" Tien's voice rang out. "A king should never bow his head!"
"Yes, lift your gaze, our master!" the voices joined in a chorus of encouragement.
"Raise your head, our king! We stand with you!"
"All hail King Aqua! All hail King Aqua!" The chants reverberated with the force of thunder, a testament to the unwavering support of the people.
Night, the loyal companion, let out a resounding howl, echoing the sentiment of the masses.
Aqua lifted his head, his eyes meeting those of his people. "Thank you for placing your trust in me," he said, his voice resonating with the gravity of true leadership. "Together, we shall carve a path toward a just and prosperous future."