The halls of the Northern Kingdom's council chamber were a stark contrast to the chaotic energy of the city outside. It was a place of quiet dominance, where the most powerful nobles of the kingdom gathered to plot, plan, and wield their influence. Inside one of the private chambers, William's father, Baron Ardyn, sat at the head of a long, polished table. His presence was commanding, even though he wore no armor—just the simple, refined robes of a man who knew power didn't come from brute strength, but from control.
Baron Ardyn tapped his fingers on the table, waiting patiently as his son, William, entered the room, flanked by the stern-faced soldiers who had fetched him.
"William," Ardyn said in a calm, controlled voice, "we need to talk."
William closed the door behind him, casting a quick glance at the soldiers. Once they were gone, he turned to his father, his usual bravado tempered by the serious atmosphere. "What's this about?"
"The fissures," Ardyn said bluntly. "Our partners have informed us that they are becoming more frequent. You've heard the whispers, I'm sure—those fractures in the fabric of our world are more valuable than gold. And more dangerous." He leaned forward, his eyes cold and calculating. "We need to ensure that our family stays in control of them. You understand what's at stake here, don't you?"
William shifted uncomfortably. "I know the fissures are important, but I'm not sure I get what you want me to do. I'm not into the politics, you know that. I'm a fighter."
Ardyn's gaze sharpened. "Which is why I need you to do more than just fight. I need you to keep an eye on those people you've been associating with. The ones from the southern kingdom. Especially the one called Lumumba. He's dangerous. He may seem like a fool, but no one stirs up trouble without reason. And I think he knows more than he's letting on about the fissures."
William blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Lumumba? He's… just having a bit of fun. He's not dangerous."
"You're wrong, William," Ardyn's voice was icy. "The more chaotic someone appears, the more dangerous they are. They don't follow the rules, and that makes them unpredictable. Keep him close, but be ready. If he becomes a problem, you know what to do."
Meanwhile, across the city, Lumumba, Amara, and Jon had been busy. They had spent the last few hours gathering information about Baron Ardyn and his deep ties to the kingdom's council. From what they had learned, Ardyn wasn't just powerful—he was one of the central figures pushing the kingdom toward an alliance with the Sovereign. And the fissures? They were becoming the currency of that alliance.
"The fissures aren't just random phenomena," Amara explained as they sat around a small table in their inn. "The nobles here, especially Ardyn, have found a way to control them, or at least influence them. It's part of why the kingdom has such economic power."
Lumumba tapped the side of his glass, his expression thoughtful. "So that's the game. The fissures are like gateways—resources, trade, maybe even power itself. And whoever controls them controls everything."
Jon frowned. "But that means Ardyn's working with the Sovereign to keep control. What's the Sovereign's endgame?"
Amara shrugged, but her eyes were dark with suspicion. "We don't know yet. But the fact that Ardyn's involved means it's big. They wouldn't risk destabilizing the kingdom for something small. Whatever they're planning, it's going to shake the entire balance of power in this region."
"Sounds like a perfect time for us to get involved," Lumumba said with a grin. "If they want to play games with fissures and kingdoms, we'll just have to make sure they don't see the chaos coming."
That night, Lumumba found himself wandering the streets alone. He needed time to think, to let the pieces fall into place in his mind. He had come to the Northern Kingdom for answers about the fissures and the Sovereign, but now the stakes were higher than ever. Ardyn was controlling more than just trade routes—he was controlling the future of the kingdom itself.
As Lumumba passed through the market district, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Oi! Lumumba!"
Lumumba turned to see William approaching him, looking more tense than usual. His usual carefree smile was still there, but there was something off about his energy.
"Didn't expect to see you out here alone," William said, catching up to him. "You planning on stirring up trouble without me?"
Lumumba smirked. "I was just doing some thinking. Didn't figure you'd be the reflective type."
William chuckled, but it was forced. He seemed distracted, like his mind was somewhere else. "Yeah, well, I've been thinking too. About a lot of things. Especially about what's going on around here. With the fissures, the nobles... all of it."
"Something bothering you?" Lumumba asked, his voice casual, but his eyes sharp.
William hesitated, then sighed. "Look, my father... he's involved in something big. I don't know the details, but I know it's tied to the fissures. And you? You're in the middle of it, whether you like it or not. He wants me to keep an eye on you."
Lumumba raised an eyebrow. "Keep an eye on me? Or take me out when I become too much trouble?"
William winced. "It's not like that. He just thinks you're... unpredictable. Dangerous, maybe. I don't know. But I'm not here to follow orders. I'm just telling you so you know where we stand."
Lumumba crossed his arms, leaning against a nearby wall. "And where do we stand, William? Are you going to keep playing the good son, or are you going to start making your own choices?"
William looked away, clearly conflicted. "It's not that simple, man. My father's got more power than you can imagine. If I step out of line, it's not just me who pays the price."
Lumumba's gaze softened, but his voice stayed firm. "I get it. Family's messy. But sooner or later, you're going to have to choose—your father's way, or your own. And if you choose wrong... you'll end up just another puppet."
William clenched his fists, the tension in his body obvious. But before he could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled. It was faint at first, but it quickly grew stronger. The people around them started shouting in confusion, and Lumumba's eyes widened.
"What the hell is that?" William asked, his tone panicked.
Lumumba's gaze darted to the horizon, where a strange glow was rising from the distant mountains. "That's no earthquake," he muttered. "It's a fissure. And it's opening."
The next few minutes were a blur of action. Lumumba, William, and a growing crowd of onlookers raced toward the source of the disturbance, their eyes fixed on the glowing rift that had appeared in the sky above the mountains. The air crackled with strange energy, and Lumumba felt a familiar tingle run down his spine—this was Sovereign-level interference.
"This isn't good," Lumumba muttered as they reached a high vantage point overlooking the city. From here, they could see the full extent of the damage. The fissure was growing, widening by the second, and strange, shadowy creatures were starting to spill out of it.
"That's... bad," William said, his voice uncharacteristically subdued. "Really bad."
Lumumba turned to him, his smirk returning. "You ready to pick a side yet, William?"
William looked torn, glancing between Lumumba and the chaos below. Then, with a deep breath, he nodded. "Yeah. I think I am."
Lumumba clapped him on the back. "Good. Let's go save the world, or at least break a few things trying."