The wind howled through the streets of the capital as Lumumba, Jon, and Amara walked through the bustling marketplace. The city was slowly returning to normal, though the tension that had settled over the kingdom was still palpable. The fissures had been sealed, but everyone knew the Sovereign was still out there—watching, waiting for his moment to strike.
Today, however, was about something else. Lumumba's Prolo' Academy was about to take its first major step toward becoming a reality. He had spent weeks preparing for this—gathering resources, rallying support from the common folk, and convincing William to send his elite soldiers for training. Now, it was time to put it all into motion.
"So, this academy of yours," Jon began as they walked. "How exactly are you planning to make it work? Most of these recruits won't know the first thing about fighting. They're farmers, shopkeepers, maybe a few blacksmiths. You really think they can become soldiers?"
Lumumba grinned, his hands tucked casually behind his head. "That's the beauty of it, Jon. They don't have to be noble-born or trained since birth to be good fighters. They just need purpose, someone to show them the ropes. And we've got William's elite soldiers to do just that."
Amara, walking beside them, added, "It's more than just training soldiers, Jon. The academy will be a place where people can learn skills beyond warfare—tactics, strategy, leadership. We're giving the common folk something they've never had before: a chance to rise."
"Yeah, and if they get good enough, maybe we can throw them into a few battles," Lumumba said with a wink. "Who knows, they might surprise you."
As they approached the site of the Prolo' Academy, a wide open courtyard on the edge of the city, the buzz of construction filled the air. Workers moved quickly to finish building the main training hall, while groups of men and women—commoners from across the kingdom—gathered in clusters, waiting for the arrival of the elite soldiers.
Lumumba scanned the crowd, his grin widening. "Look at them—hungry, ready to prove themselves. This is exactly what we need."
Jon crossed his arms, still skeptical. "And how long before they start asking for more than training? You give people a little power, they start wanting more."
Lumumba shrugged. "That's the whole point. Let them want more. Let them demand more. That's what the nobles fear, isn't it? But here's the thing—if we guide them, if we give them the tools, they'll do more than just ask for power. They'll take it. And we'll make sure it's used the right way."
Amara sighed, glancing at Lumumba with a small smile. "You're playing a dangerous game, you know that? If the nobles catch wind of what this academy really is—a way to shift the balance of power—they won't just stand by."
"They can try to stop us," Lumumba said, his grin unwavering. "But with William controlling the trade routes, they won't get far."
By midday, the elite soldiers sent by William arrived. Clad in polished armor and bearing the emblem of the Northern Kingdom, they marched into the courtyard with discipline and precision. These were William's finest—trained warriors who had spent their lives honing their skills in battle.
The common folk watched with a mix of awe and nervousness as the soldiers assembled. For many of them, this was the first time they had ever seen such a display of military power up close.
Lumumba strode out to meet the soldiers, his casual demeanor a sharp contrast to their formality. Captain Aric, a tall, stern-faced man who led the group, stepped forward, saluting sharply.
"We've come at William's command," Captain Aric said, his voice formal and clipped. "Our task is to train these... recruits." He glanced at the crowd of commoners, his expression betraying a hint of disdain.
Lumumba's grin widened. "Yeah, that's right. These fine folks are your new students. Don't worry, Captain—give them a few weeks, and they'll be kicking as much ass as your best men."
Captain Aric's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Amara stepped forward, her tone more diplomatic. "We appreciate your help, Captain. The success of this academy is crucial to the stability of the kingdom. William has entrusted us with making sure it runs smoothly. We'll be counting on your expertise."
Captain Aric nodded stiffly, his gaze shifting back to Lumumba. "We'll see how it goes. But make no mistake—this won't be easy. Training commoners is different from training soldiers. They don't have the discipline."
"That's where you come in, Cap," Lumumba said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Show them what it means to fight with discipline, and they'll surprise you."
As the Prolo' Academy began to take shape, Amara turned her attention to the other half of their plan—trade agreements. With William's rule still shaky, it was vital that the economic alliance between her domain and the Northern Kingdom remained strong.
In the days following the fissure battle, Amara had worked tirelessly to ensure that import and export tariffs between their territories were kept low. She had negotiated with William's advisers, securing favorable terms that would allow goods to flow freely between the two regions, while keeping other kingdoms out of the loop.
"We've got the trade agreements in place," Amara told Lumumba one evening as they sat in the council chamber, reviewing the details. "Lower tariffs, preferential treatment for exports between our domains. This will help stabilize William's kingdom while keeping our own resources flowing."
Lumumba nodded, satisfied. "Good. With the Sovereign still out there, we need every advantage we can get. And the other kingdoms? They won't like it, but they won't have much of a choice."
Amara raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll just accept being left out of these deals?"
Lumumba leaned back in his chair, his smirk returning. "They won't like it, but they'll be too afraid to do anything about it. If they try to mess with William's kingdom—or ours—they know what'll happen."
Amara crossed her arms. "The trade routes."
"Exactly," Lumumba said, his eyes gleaming. "William's kingdom controls the most important trade routes in the region. If he cuts them off, prices for basic goods will skyrocket in the other kingdoms. Food, medicine, supplies—it'll all get so expensive that the people will start to riot. And you know what happens when a kingdom has to deal with an angry, starving population."
Amara smiled faintly. "They fall apart."
Lumumba's grin widened. "Exactly. It's like I said before—trade is just another battlefield. And with William in control of the supply lines, we can make sure no one dares to challenge us. If anyone tries to start trouble, they'll find themselves dealing with a full-blown economic crisis. It's basically like a medieval version of an embargo—like the United States with all their sanctions. Only here, we're doing it with swords, soldiers, and trade routes."
Jon, who had been listening from the corner, chuckled. "So we're basically starving out the competition without having to lift a blade. I like it."
Amara leaned forward, her expression serious. "We need to be careful, though. This is a delicate balance. If we push too hard, we might force the other kingdoms into an alliance against us. And that's the last thing we need."
Lumumba waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, Amara. We're not going to push them into a corner. Just enough pressure to keep them in line. Besides, with the black market already thriving, they'll be too busy trying to figure out how to keep their own economies afloat."
Amara nodded, but her eyes remained thoughtful. The plan was sound, but she knew there were always unforeseen consequences in politics and trade. The Sovereign was still out there, and his influence stretched farther than they understood.
"For now, let's focus on keeping this alliance strong," Amara said. "We'll deal with the other kingdoms when the time comes."
Lumumba stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Works for me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a bunch of commoners to whip into shape."
Jon chuckled as he followed Lumumba out of the chamber. "This academy thing might just be the best idea you've had yet."
Back in the capital, William sat at his desk, reviewing the final trade agreements with Amara's domain. The deal was favorable, and he knew it would help stabilize his rule in the Northern Kingdom. But the pressure from the nobles was growing. Many of them resented the rise of the Prolo' Academy, seeing it as a threat to their control over the military and their influence over the kingdom.
A knock on the door broke his concentration, and Captain Aric entered, bowing respectfully.
"Your Majesty," Aric began, his tone formal. "The soldiers you sent to the academy have begun their training with the commoners. But I must warn you—some of the nobles are already voicing concerns. They don't like the idea of empowering the lower classes. They fear it will lead to rebellion."
William nodded slowly, his expression grim. He had expected this.
"Let them grumble," William said quietly. "For now, we need this academy. And we need Lumumba's support. The Sovereign is still out there, and we can't afford to be divided. Tell the nobles I'll address their concerns soon. But until then, the academy stays."
Captain Aric bowed again. "As you wish, Your Majesty."
As the days passed, the Prolo' Academy grew stronger. The commoners—farmers, shopkeepers, laborers—were slowly becoming disciplined soldiers, trained by the best that William's kingdom had to offer. Lumumba's vision was coming to life, and with it, the balance of power in the region was beginning to shift.
But the peace was fragile. In the shadows, the Sovereign still plotted, and in the court of the Northern Kingdom, whispers of discontent were growing louder. The next challenge was already on the horizon.