Zeke's eyes widened in disbelief. "The Valtore family? Why? What do they want?"
Alistair's gaze darkened. "Power, control... the same as everyone else. The kingdom is on the brink of chaos, Zeke. The Lennox family and the Valtore family are forming a coalition, building their strength. That's why the captain can't take immediate action. His hands are tied right now."
Zeke struggled to process this. "So… the attack… was it all part of this?"
Alistair nodded, his face hardening. "Yes. They want to destabilize the kingdom, to create a power vacuum. And… My family, the Ashcroft family, is involved too. But we're not aligned with the others. We're working with Captain Varek. We need to hold things together, even if it means playing a dangerous game."
Zeke felt a chill run through him. The world he knew was suddenly shifting, and he wasn't sure which side he should be on. "What does that mean for us? For me?"
Alistair met his gaze, his expression serious. "It means you're caught in the middle of something much bigger than yourself, Zeke. We all are. But you need to be prepared. Whatever happens next, the kingdom is about to change forever."
Alistair paused, his expression grim as he looked at Zeke. "The reason we, and the Lennox family, are rebelling against the king… it's not just about power. It's because the king has gone mad. He was once a genius, a brilliant ruler. Everyone trusted him—he held the kingdom together, united it in ways no one thought possible."
Zeke's eyes widened, the weight of Alistair's words hitting him like a punch to the gut. "But now...?"
Alistair nodded, his gaze hardening. "But these past few years, he's been losing his mind. His decisions have been reckless, dangerous. He's made enemies out of allies, driven away support from all sides, and even alienated his closest advisors. The kingdom is fracturing. The Lennox family believes he's weak, unfit to rule. And my family... we've reached the same conclusion."
Zeke's thoughts raced. "So, it's not just about taking control for the sake of power. They're rebelling because they think the king is no longer capable of leading."
Alistair's voice was quiet, but resolute. "Exactly. The king's madness is putting the entire kingdom at risk. That's why they're rising up—to stop him before it's too late. They believe the kingdom needs a new ruler, someone with clarity and strength."
Zeke's heart pounded,and that is why your family is,Alistair cut him off, his tone darkening. "Because we're trying to save the kingdom. We're not aligned with the Lennox family or the Valtore family. But we can't sit idly by while everything falls apart. We need to act before it's too late."
Zeke felt a strange sense of urgency rise within him. This wasn't just about survival—it was about the future of everything he knew. "So, what happens now?"
Alistair met his gaze. "Now, we have to decide where we stand. And prepare. The war for the kingdom is just beginning."
Alistair's expression softened as he leaned closer, his voice lowering to a more serious tone. "Zeke, we need you to choose a side. And I really hope you choose to be with me."
Zeke scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "I mean, I really don't have a choice, right?"
Alistair's smile faded, his expression becoming serious again. "You always have a choice, Zeke. But right now, the kingdom is on the brink of collapse. If you don't make your move, you'll get swept up in the chaos. And I don't want that for you."
Zeke was quiet for a moment, feeling the weight of Alistair's words. He knew what was at stake, but a part of him still couldn't shake the uncertainty.
Zeke's frustration boiled over as he leaned forward, his voice rising. "I really want to know—what are you doing here, instead of staying in the capital city with your family, trying to fight back against the king, against the Lennox family? What are you doing here?"
Alistair didn't flinch at Zeke's outburst. He met his gaze calmly, his voice steady. "I've been sent here as a representative of my family. We couldn't send someone strong, someone too powerful. It would've attracted attention, especially from the Lennox family. So, they sent me to be a bridge—between Captain Varek and my family. My job is to gather information, to make sure the Lennox family doesn't expand here, and to keep an eye on the city's situation."
Zeke blinked, taking in Alistair's explanation. "So, you're playing a dangerous game. Trying to keep the peace without making too many waves."
Alistair nodded, his expression unreadable. "Exactly. The city is crucial. If the Lennox family gains control here, it'll be harder to stop them from spreading further into the kingdom. My family has their sights set on the capital, but for now, they need someone here who can move quietly, gather intelligence, and keep the balance."
Alistair stepped forward, his tone matter-of-fact as he added to the conversation. "I mean, you already saw it. The guy who attacked you? He's part of the Lennox family. A commoner, raised and trained by them. He's a gang leader in this city."
Zeke's eyes widened as he processed the information. "A gang leader? But how could someone like that...?"
Augustine continued, unfazed by Zeke's shock. "There are a lot of people like him—recruits, lowborns with special training, all working for the Lennox family. They've been slowly expanding their presence in the city. Right now, they're being discreet, keeping things low-key, but step by step, they're trying to spread their influence into Zeblax."
Zeke leaned back, the weight of it all sinking in. "So, they're building an army, little by little, trying to take over the city without drawing attention."
Augustine nodded grimly. "Exactly. And that's why we can't afford to underestimate them. If they gain enough power here, it could shift the balance. The king might not be able to control it. And then, the entire kingdom is at risk."
Zeke clenched his fists, feeling the gravity of the situation. "So, this fight isn't just about defending ourselves. It's about stopping something much bigger."
Alistair glanced at Augustine before turning back to Zeke, his voice firm. "That's right. And we need to make sure that doesn't happen."
Alistair gave Zeke a steady look, his voice soft but firm. "That's it. Since everyone thinks you're dead, or at least the people who attacked you believe that, you should stay put for now. Rest. You need time for your injuries to heal, and I'm not just talking about the physical ones. A month should be enough for you to recover. After that, we can get you back into position."
Zeke glanced down at his bloodied clothes, still reeling from the encounter. He wanted to protest, to get up and fight back, but the pain in his body was undeniable. He exhaled slowly. "A month... I don't know if I can just lie low for that long."
Alistair smiled, though it wasn't a cheerful one. "You don't have much choice, Zeke. We can't afford to lose you before you're even fully trained. And when you're healed, you can get back to your mission. Don't worry, we'll do our best to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."
Zeke nodded reluctantly, knowing it was the best course of action—for now. "I'll be ready. But I don't want to be just a pawn in someone else's game. I want to make sure I can protect myself... and everyone around me."
Alistair's eyes softened with a hint of understanding. "You will. But first, you need to trust that you have people on your side who will watch your back. We're all in this together."
Zeke remained silent for a moment, the weight of the situation settling in. The thought of lying low felt wrong, but he knew there was little choice. At least for now.
Zeke turned to Alistair, his voice steady, though his body still ached. "I'll join you."
Alistair's face lit up with relief, and for the first time in a while, Zeke saw a genuine smile. "Good," he said, his tone softening. "We'll make sure you're ready. This isn't over yet."
The two exchanged a few more words, their conversation mostly about the future—what they would do next, how they would prepare. But before long, Alistair gave him a nod and stood up. "Get some rest. I'll check in on you tomorrow."