After the battle at the Summit, Nihad returned to the kingdom exhausted but determined. His body carried the scars of countless struggles, while his mind bore the weight of facing Nicat and Nahid. He remembered their ideals, their power, and the choices they had made. But the thing that echoed most deeply inside him was Nicat's dark oath.
When he stepped into the king's throne hall, the tense atmosphere tightened around his soul. The King sat upon his throne, watching him from behind his golden armor. Nihad bowed, but without lifting his eyes from the ground, he began to speak.
Nihad:
"Your Majesty, I have returned from the Summit with the truth of everything that happened. My brothers… Nicat and Nahid are no longer the men you once knew. Their ideals have sharpened like blades, yet even they do not know who those blades will cut. Nicat has surrendered himself to darkness, while Nahid has abandoned brotherhood in pursuit of power. And I… I am only trying to see what is truly right."
The King listened in silence. Two figures waiting in the shadows beside the throne fixed their gaze on Nihad, as if weighing his words. The King took a slow breath and rose from his throne.
King:
"Nihad. You went to the Summit with your brothers, yet you returned alone. Now tell me this—
is that brotherhood truly worth saving?"
Hearing the question, Nihad swallowed. His heart began to pound rapidly. For a moment his vision darkened; the faces of Nicat and Nahid appeared in his mind. Nahid's ambition… Nicat's dark whispers…
But then memories of their childhood surfaced—the days they once shared together. Taking a deep breath, Nihad stood tall.
Nihad:
"Your Majesty, brotherhood never completely disappears. Even when ideals clash, I can still see the small light inside their hearts. But that does not mean they should not be stopped. Yes, they must be stopped… but they must not be killed."
The King remained silent for a moment before turning toward the two figures beside his throne.
One of them was Kagehana, her emerald-green eyes sharp and unwavering.
The other was Asya, a calm warrior carrying a graceful sword.
The King raised his hand and spoke.
King:
"Brotherhood belongs in fairy tales, Nihad. Your brothers must be stopped—but I cannot leave that task to you.
Kagehana will be sent after Nicat. She understands the power of darkness. Her blade was trained to cut through it.
And Asya… master of blood magic shaped by loyalty and justice… she will go after Nahid.
This is my command!"
Nihad's heart tightened painfully. His throat knotted as he struggled to respond.
Nihad:
"Your Majesty… this is wrong. They are not just enemies. They are my brothers. Please—"
King:
"They are no longer your brothers, Nihad. They are enemies of the kingdom. And when an enemy threatens the kingdom, I cannot hesitate.
Asya. Kagehana. Take your orders and depart!"
The two warriors silently bowed and accepted the King's command.
Nihad, however, left the hall in helpless despair.
When Nihad retreated to his chambers, his hands were trembling. He could not stop thinking about his brothers. Once they had shared the same table, the same dreams.
Now he had witnessed their death sentence.
Standing by the window, he stared into the distance while the silence of the room failed to drown out the screams inside his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he whispered to himself.
Nihad:
"Nicat… Nahid… what happened to us?
We once stood beneath the same sky.
We dreamed beneath the same stars.
And now… death is being sent after you.
I cannot accept this."
For a moment he closed his eyes. A dark fear tried to pull him into its depths.
And in that moment… he made a decision.
To save his brothers.
To break this cycle.
But this time, he would not rely only on strength. He would listen to his heart.
Under the dim light of a candle, he sealed his resolve.
Nihad:
"Ignoring the King's command may make my loyalty questionable…
but brotherhood… brotherhood is greater than myself."
Nihad sat in deep thought. For years he had witnessed the cruelty carried out under the King's orders. Now he had decided to end that system with his own hands.
He knew that rebelling against the King could mean death.
But there was no turning back.
For his family.
For his people.
If freedom, justice, and peace were ever to exist in these lands, the King's rule had to end.
He had sworn it.
From the dark corner of the room came a faint whisper. Though his mind was in turmoil, Nihad remained seated in silence.
Everything he had sacrificed for his brothers now gave him courage.
It was time to face the King.
He would fight him, overthrow the dark throne, and destroy the old order.
Just then, the door creaked open.
A royal guard stepped inside and looked at him.
"The King is waiting for you," he said.
Nihad stood up, determination burning in his eyes.
Thousands of thoughts raced through his mind, but one thing was clear:
He would face the King—and this time he would not bow.
The King sat upon his throne, watching Nihad with cold eyes.
For years Nihad had served him loyally as a soldier. Now he stood before him as a rebel.
To the King, this was the ultimate betrayal.
King:
"Come, Nihad. What is it that you wish to say?"
His voice carried arrogance and authority.
But Nihad would no longer submit.
Stepping forward firmly, he spoke.
Nihad:
"I will no longer remain silent against a tyrant like you.
The blood of my people and my family will be the reason you fall from that throne.
Enough is enough.
Your rule ends for me today."
The King smiled coldly.
King:
"Are you threatening me, Nihad?
Your rebellion is nothing but madness.
Do you truly think you can overthrow me?
You will pay dearly for even attempting it."
The King raised his hand and gave the order.
Soldiers stormed into the chamber, surrounding Nihad.
King:
"Seize him! Throw him into the dungeon!
He will pay for this rebellion!"
Nihad noticed the cold expressions in the soldiers' eyes as they surrounded him. Each of them was loyal to the King, yet even they seemed uneasy about arresting him.
Slowly, Nihad smiled.
He knew every step he took was for freedom and for his people.
As he walked through the dark corridors of the dungeon, he strangely felt a sense of peace.
Yes, this was a defeat.
But sometimes defeat was the beginning of a greater victory.
The King might try to keep the people under oppression…
But Nihad was ready to pay any price to end that system.
When he reached the iron bars of the dungeon, he took a deep breath.
The cold metal echoed with the suffering of countless prisoners before him.
Yet one thing was certain:
If he was to destroy this dark order, he would continue fighting for freedom.
No matter how much pain the King inflicted upon him, he would never surrender until that dark throne fell.
The soldiers dragged him deeper into the dungeon.
Rusty chains hung from the walls—chains that had imprisoned many throughout history.
But Nihad would not remain here forever.
One way or another, he would break these chains and fight his final battle for freedom.
One thing was certain.
This… was only the beginning.
Imprisoned in the dungeon, Nihad sat alone against the cold stone walls.
In his eyes still burned the determination to overthrow the King and free his people.
From that moment forward, no matter what plans the King had, only one thought filled Nihad's mind:
Freedom for his people.
And he would do whatever was necessary to achieve it.
From the darkness of the dungeon, a voice echoed softly.
Nihad lifted his head and whispered into the shadows.
Nihad:
"In the darkest hour of the night…
a light is born.
Tonight…
that light will be me."
The King may have thrown him into the dungeon.
But Nihad knew this was only the beginning.
Darkness was merely part of a greater plan.
And freedom…
was only a few steps away.