Nosil's words resonated throughout the entire courtyard, casting a spell of intrigue and wonder over the assembled crowd.
Speechless and contemplative, the onlookers pondered the enigmatic message, grappling with the implications of Nosil's unexpected presence despite his allegiance to the ruling family. Each person present was swept up in a tide of speculation and curiosity, adding an air of mystery and excitement to the already-charged atmosphere.
No one on the platform dared to question him, except for the predator, Amelia, who approached cautiously and asked, "Then who are the ones?" as she tried to figure out his true purpose.
Nosil turned and walked slowly to the edge of the platform, facing the crowds assembled there.
Nosil throws his eyes checking all of them, from right to left. Stood still, and said with a sorrowful voice.
"I bring you a message... from below the ground to those above it."
These few enigmatic words sent ripples of bewilderment through the assembly, making them forget entirely that the speaker was a stranger, his features now the least of their concerns.
Whispers began to ripple through the gathered crowd, each person ensnared by their own questions, "What does he mean by 'from below the ground'?" "Is he mad?"
Nosil resumed his eerie discourse, "For a century, your glory has endured... a poorly woven lie crafted by treacherous tongues. For years, their blood has simmered beneath your feet... blood begets only hatred... hatred yields only revenge... revenge fuels the spirits of those whose lives were stolen... to reclaim their own, they will come for you... they will seize what you stole from their memories... they will replace you above the ground, and you will descend beneath their feet."
A single laugh from the audience sufficed to pull everyone into a chorus of derision. Laughter and mockery of Nosil's words filled the hall.
Nosil's sorrowful face remained unperturbed by their jeers. He patiently awaited the return of silence to continue his message. Among the few who still pondered his words, only Philip had a glimmer of understanding, linking it to the events that transpired fifteen years ago in the lands of Ram.
Despite the passing years, the massacres in Ram had remained a closely guarded secret. Only a select few, primarily military and high-ranking officials, knew the truth of what had transpired.
The people of the four families were kept in the dark about these events. The borders remained closed despite the passage of time, maintained as meticulously planned conflict zones by the four family leaders, effectively preventing any attempt by residents to cross into the former lands of Ram. Over time, these areas were gradually annexed under the guise of new lands, but in truth, the Ram territory had already been divided among the four families.
Philip glanced anxiously at Victor, seeking to discern if he had reached the same conclusion. Yet, Victor remained lost in his attempt to comprehend Nosil's implications.
Philip stood abruptly and hurried towards Nosil, determined to speak with him, while the rest of the crowd remained frozen in place.
Nosil raised his bandaged hand, stained with blood. The gesture was enough to silence the mocking voices, ignoring Philip's attempt to intervene.
"What do you think you're doing... stop spouting nonsense."
Nosil pressed on, "This luxury, peace, happiness, and knowledge were never yours... you stole them from those who possessed them for three hundred years... hunger, disease, corruption, and ignorance were your lot... you drowned in the darkness of your misdeeds... their hand reached out to save you from the abyss... but you united to cast them away into it... you sent armies fifteen years ago and exterminated them... you took everything for yourselves... all the blessings flowed to these lands... while all the blood was shed in their land... You, your armies and leaders... your sin will come to judge you."
At that moment, fear seized the assembly, as Nosil's fragmented words finally began to coalesce into a coherent and chilling revelation. Only a few remained in bewilderment.
Philip realized there was no time for further discussion; the speech had to be stopped immediately. With a swift gesture, he signaled to Maxim to put an end to it.
Murmurs surged through the crowd, voices rising in alarm and confusion. "Do you mean the sick War was waged to seize the lands of the Ram family?" "If that's true, Ram will come for us." "Wait... we've heard nothing from Ram's lands for years… My father used to trade with many of their merchants, but I haven't seen any of them for so long." "Fool... the borders have been closed because of the disease outbreak there."
Nosil attempted to speak further, but in a moment of dramatic intensity, the fierce predator Mindara appeared above, his enormous muscles straining as he lifted a massive cage with iron bars. With a mighty throw, he hurled it down, aiming to ensnare Nosil within its confines.
Maxim, noticing Mindara's action, reacted swiftly. "I'm glad you made it," he murmured, sprinting towards Nosil with incredible speed. His objective was to delay Nosil long enough to ensure the cage enclosed them both, allowing him to fight without concern for the family's safety.
Meanwhile, Amelia moved wit an incredible speed, taking her position to defend the family.
As the iron cage plummeted like a meteor, everything else seemed to slow to a crawl. Only the eyes of the spectators darted frantically, trying to grasp any change in the unfolding drama. Each person silently wished for their desired outcome.
The cage finally struck the platform with a thunderous crash, causing devastating destruction around it. Its edges embedded deeply into the ground, sealing off everything inside. A thick cloud of dust billowed from the impact, shrouding the scene in a veil of obscurity.
Panic erupted among the audience as they scattered in a frantic bid for safety, valuing their lives above witnessing the outcome. Within moments, the palace gate was jammed with fleeing bodies.
As time ticked by, everyone anxiously awaited the clearing of the dust to reveal what had transpired. Each person was intensely focused, their breath held in suspense. Sophy, her hands raised as a shield at the moment of impact, cautiously peered through her fingers, straining to see Nosil's fate amidst the settling dust.
Unlike the others, who were mired in confusion, Maxim alone realized the plan had gone awry. From within the iron cage, he summoned all his strength, unleashing a tempestuous force that dispersed the dust with the fury of a storm.
The crowd finally noticed that Maxim stood alone within the iron prison. Heightened vigilance and intense scrutiny overtook them as they sought the elusive Nosil. The formidable predator Mindara descended onto the top of the cage, his vigilant eyes scanning the surroundings. He bellowed a warning to Amelia, "Behind you… Be careful!"
Amelia whirled around to find Nosil looming behind her, a sharp stick of hardened blood pressed against Victor's throat. Forced to tilt his head back, Victor strained to look down at Nosil, his gaze fierce and unwavering. A paralyzing tension gripped everyone, hearts pounding as they stood on a knife's edge, knowing that the smallest misstep could spell the end for their leader.
Nosil lifted his head, a wrathful glare in his eyes, which grew ever redder. The sharp stick he wielded nicked Victor's neck, drawing a trickle of blood that glistened ominously.
A deadly silence blanketed the hall. Victor, his composure at its limit, spoke through gritted teeth, "Killing me won't change anything... you'll be committing an unforgivable mistake... leave now, and I will guarantee your safety."
Nosil paid no heed to Victor's plea, his eyes locked onto Mindara, whom he perceived as the greatest threat. Amelia began to assess the dire situation, concluding that the best course of action, should it come to it, was to ensure the heir august's safety.
Without realizing it, Sophy moved, her steps quickening toward her father. The crowd's warnings to stay back filled the air, even Victor's desperate commands not to come closer.
Falling to her knees before Nosil, Sophy sobbed, "Please, stop it… I beg you… don't harm my father... take me instead."
"What do you think you're doing?... step back now!" Victor roared, his voice a mixture of fear and anger. Nosil's unwavering gaze remained fixed on Mindara, the warrior he deemed the most formidable adversary in the platform.
From his vantage atop the cage, Mindara's keen eyes bore into Nosil, searching for a weakness, yet Victor's exposed neck remained too glaring to overlook. "Wait, let's talk this through... I don't know who you are or even why you here in the first place… but you seem from Iris, correct?... What you're doing now is indeed an act of war… you know that If any harm befalls our ruler, your family will pay for it dearly… don't you?".
Victor, his voice steady despite the peril, added, "You heard him Irisian... This is far greater than you realize… Your actions will bring devastation upon all of you."
Mindara, focused, reiterated his warnings, "You will be responsible for countless deaths… unleashing unprecedented destruction upon this remained world... Let's find a peaceful solution."
"I beg you, don't be hasty… it's not too late... Take me as your hostage if you must," Sophy implored, her voice trembling with desperation.
Nosil finally spoke, his tone eerily calm, "Your world means nothing to me... I am your unborn sin that you falsely believed was forgiven... I am here as a living reminder of the truth that your absolution was nothing but an illusion".