The air in the Northern Kingdom had changed. The jubilant cheers of the people following William's rise to power had begun to quiet, replaced by an eerie stillness. The looming threat of the Sovereign was palpable, hanging over the kingdom like a storm waiting to break. William's new reign was fragile, and everyone knew it. For now, the people trusted him, but trust could only carry him so far. With the Sovereign's forces moving from the east, the clock was ticking.
In the war room, Lumumba, William, Amara, Jon, and the key military captains—Garth and Valla—stood over a map of the kingdom. The table was strewn with documents, reports of troop movements, and intelligence about the Sovereign's army.
"It's only a small force now," Garth grunted, his scarred face lined with concern. "But they're testing us. It won't stay small for long."
Lumumba, who had been leaning casually against the wall, uncrossed his arms and stepped forward, scanning the reports. "They want to see how we'll react," he said, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Typical strategy—send a small contingent to prod at the edges, see where we're weak. They're probably hoping we panic and overcommit our forces."
"So, what's the move?" Jon asked, looking at William. "We need to show strength, but we can't throw everything at them."
William nodded, his eyes hard as he stared at the map. "We'll send a force to intercept them—enough to hold the line but not enough to leave the capital vulnerable." He pointed to a spot on the map just outside the eastern border. "We meet them here, cut off their advance before they get too close to the city."
Amara frowned, studying the map. "If they're probing our defenses, they'll have scouts watching the area. We need to outmaneuver them, or they'll retreat before we can engage. We'll need a distraction."
Lumumba grinned, the familiar gleam of chaos returning to his eyes. "A distraction? That's my specialty." He tapped the table, his mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll take a small unit ahead, draw their attention. Make them think we're sending a bigger force than we are. When they take the bait, the real strike force moves in. We catch them off guard, clean it up before they can report back to the Sovereign."
William nodded slowly, clearly uneasy but trusting Lumumba's instinct. "Alright, but be careful. We don't know exactly what we're dealing with yet."
"When am I ever careful?" Lumumba quipped, flashing a grin.
Later that day, Lumumba gathered a small group of soldiers from the city, handpicking the best of the bunch for the mission. Jon was by his side, ever the loyal companion, and Amara had provided a handful of magical wards to help shield them from the Sovereign's forces. Lumumba checked his newly crafted portable crossbows and the twin sabers at his side, feeling the familiar buzz of anticipation that came before a fight.
As they prepared to leave, William approached, his face lined with tension.
"Are you sure about this?" William asked, his voice low.
Lumumba shrugged. "It'll be fine. I've dealt with worse." Then, with a glint of mischief in his eyes, he added, "Besides, you've got the harder job—dealing with those stuffy nobles while I'm out having fun."
William cracked a small smile. "You always find a way to enjoy the chaos."
"It's a gift," Lumumba said, his tone lighter than the gravity of the situation warranted. Then, his expression softened, more serious for a moment. "You've got this, William. Stay strong. Show the people you're not just Ardyn's son—you're something more."
William nodded, but Lumumba could see the weight of the crown settling on his shoulders. He gave a small nod, understanding the burden without saying another word, and with that, Lumumba and his team set off toward the eastern border.
The Eastern Hills were a rugged stretch of land, dotted with forests and narrow passes that led toward the Sovereign's territory. As they reached the edge of the hills, Lumumba signaled for the group to stop.
"Alright, here's the plan," Lumumba said, his voice low but confident. "We split into two groups. I'll lead the first group in with a lot of noise, draw their attention. The second group will circle around the ridge and flank them when they take the bait. We'll hit them hard and fast before they know what's happening."
Jon nodded, gripping his sword tightly. "And if they don't take the bait?"
Lumumba grinned. "Then we improvise."
As the teams split up and moved into position, Lumumba's heart raced with excitement. This was where he thrived—in the middle of chaos, making it up as he went along. He had no doubt the Sovereign's forces were dangerous, but Lumumba had faced worse. And now, with William's new reign in the balance, he had even more reason to push forward.
As Lumumba's group moved closer to the Sovereign's encampment, he could see the enemy's banners fluttering in the breeze. The soldiers were well-organized, but they hadn't yet detected Lumumba's approach. Perfect.
He signaled to his team, and within seconds, the forest came alive with explosions and noise. Lumumba fired his crossbows, setting off small charges that sent debris flying. The Sovereign's soldiers immediately reacted, shouting commands and forming ranks, just as Lumumba had predicted.
"Here they come, boys!" Lumumba shouted, his grin widening as the first wave of enemy soldiers charged toward them.
The battle that followed was fast and brutal. Lumumba moved like a whirlwind, his twin sabers flashing as he cut through the enemy ranks. He danced between strikes, deflecting blows with ease and firing his crossbows whenever a gap opened in the enemy's defense.
Jon and the other soldiers fought fiercely at his side, holding the line just long enough for the second group to flank the enemy from the ridge.
The Sovereign's forces were caught off guard, and the tide quickly turned in Lumumba's favor. But as the battle raged on, something strange happened.
Suddenly, the ground beneath Lumumba rumbled, and a dark, shadowy energy surged up from the earth. The fissures. Lumumba's eyes widened as he realized what was happening.
"Get back!" he shouted, just as a rift tore open in the ground.
From the fissure, shadowy creatures began to emerge, their forms twisted and grotesque. They moved with unnatural speed, their mouths gaping with sharp teeth as they lunged toward the soldiers.
Lumumba cursed under his breath. "Of course, it couldn't be that simple."
The creatures turned the tide of the battle, their numbers growing as more poured from the fissure. Lumumba's team fought valiantly, but the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.
Jon, his face grim, fought his way toward Lumumba. "What do we do?"
Lumumba's mind raced, searching for a solution. The fissures were tied to the Sovereign's power, but if they could somehow close the rift, they might stand a chance.
"We need to shut it down!" Lumumba shouted, his eyes locked on the dark rift. "Amara's wards should help, but we need to hold them off long enough for me to get close. Cover me!"
Jon nodded, rallying the remaining soldiers to form a defensive line.
Lumumba charged toward the fissure, his sabers cutting through the creatures that tried to block his path. As he neared the rift, he could feel the pull of the dark energy, like a storm raging just beneath the surface of reality.
With a deep breath, Lumumba reached into his pack, pulling out one of Amara's wards. He wasn't sure if it would work, but there was no time to second-guess.
"Here goes nothing," he muttered, slamming the ward into the ground.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the air crackled with energy as the ward activated. The fissure shuddered, the dark energy flickering as the rift began to shrink.
"It's working!" Lumumba shouted, turning to Jon with a triumphant grin.
But the grin quickly faded as the ground shook violently, and a new, larger fissure opened just behind the first one.
"Oh, come on," Lumumba groaned, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the new rift. "This guy really doesn't know when to quit."
Back in the capital, William stood on the palace balcony, watching the horizon with a heavy heart. He knew Lumumba was out there, risking his life to protect the kingdom. But as the rumbling of the fissures echoed in the distance, William realized the Sovereign's power was far greater than any of them had anticipated.
The kingdom was on the brink of a full-scale war, and William's rule—still fresh and unsteady—would be tested in the days to come.
"You'll have to face him sooner or later," Amara said quietly, standing beside him.
William nodded, his eyes locked on the horizon. "I know."