Monarch (Part One)

The chariot hummed softly, its delicate frame carved from gleaming metal that gleamed with golden runes, glowing faintly beneath the weight of the energy pulsing through it. Spirals of pure Arcane energy wove through the air like serpents of light as the chariot glided smoothly over the cobblestone streets of Arnem’s Sector One.Thalia sat poised on the inside, her gaze fixed on the road they left behind. Beside her, Kain’s eyes moved constantly, scanning the surroundings with an intensity that matched his every breath. “Isn’t it strange?” Thalia murmured, breaking the silence. “How quickly things can go from certainty to confusion.”Kain didn’t immediately answer. He merely tilted his head slightly, his voice low. “Do you think your father, the Monarch, is wrong? You’ve always had your doubts, Princess. Don’t let them go to waste now.”“No! Of course, I don´t think my father is wrong. Why would I? I´ve always believed my father has the right intentions."He looked over at her, his gaze steady, though it carried an edge of something- concern, maybe, or the barest hint of understanding.“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice quiet, as if speaking too loudly would make the thoughts in her mind more real. “Look at the state of this sector around us, Kain. My father always says that Arnem is a utopia. That it’s humanity’s haven. The wealthiest nation to ever exist in the history of humankind. The only nation that survived. But I was missed, wasn’t I? Look at the state of this place. Look at the people, walking around quietly in rags with their heads low. Look at the food."“Don’t like it, princess? What if I told you that that bowl of soup you see is sufficient to last a slum child 3 days?""You´re the only person who I can talk to about these things, Kain. Please don´t turn on me too," she said pleadingly. His expression immediately softened. He nodded and apologized. Thalia’s lips pressed together tightly. She didn’t speak for a moment, her eyes scanning the sector roads that had grown quiet as the chariot passed through. The echo of soldiers marching, the hum of distant machinery, the subtle unrest that had been growing in the city- they were all just whispers now, but they seemed so much louder inside her mind.“What about you, Kain?” Thalia asked, her eyes finding his once more. “Do you believe in this utopia? Do you resent my father? Or are you just another soldier doing his duty?”Kain’s lips twitched into a faint, knowing smile. “I don’t believe in utopias, princess. I believe in survival. And sometimes, to survive, you have to question everything. Even what seems immovable.”He noticed her interest, then continued. "I do not resent the Monarch, princess. There would be no point in that because god cannot be beaten. The executions, the wealth, the control, nothing matters. We should focus on the Ghouls themselves before they potentially get out of control.""Why do you say that?""A Prowler reported noticing something strange on the day the Ghouls attacked. She fully believes she saw a Ghoul exorcising others of its kind.""Isn´t your Prowler basing this on a mere assumption? Ghouls are mindless creatures. It’s useless to think of patterns in their behavior, they don’t think or speak. They have no intelligence, and no sense of community, or friendship. They aren’t sentient. They just. . . exist. . .""We have no proof, aside from her word.""And do you believe her word?" Thalia asked. Kain looked hesitant. "I do not. Some mysteries. . . are best left unresolved, even if one does all he can to strive for the truth."Thalia absorbed his words, feeling the weight of them settle in her chest. The truth was, she wasn’t sure what she believed anymore. She had always been an obedient daughter, the perfect princess, accepting her father’s vision without question. But Kain’s words, his perspective, made her wonder if that had been a mistake."Thank you, Kain. I´ve been meaning to say that," she said. When he looked confused, she continued hastily. "For this conversation. And for speaking up for me at the council the other day."Kain looked at her again. "I should not have done that. I just could not see you bowing before the whims of the councilors.""What else would I do? I was just a placeholder for my father.""Fight them," Kain said. "You are royalty. You don´t bow to them, you force them to bow to you instead.""That´s charming, Kain. But I think the councilors have much more experience regarding political matters.""I think you´re wrong. Your Highness.""Are you saying they´re incompetent?"He regarded her with a flat look. "I´m saying you needn´t be so humble. Princess Thalia, your word means more than all of them combined. You´re a god.""I´m not a god, Kain. That´s my father. I would not even be her if he hadn´t found me two decades ago."She turned, twisting in her chair, looking back over a group of servants surrounding her chariot. Four servants held up a large canopy on each side of her, shielding her from the rain. "Could you. . . move that aside?" Thalia asked. "Let the rain fall on me?"The servants glanced at one another. "Just for a little bit, please," she said. The chariot slowed, and the servants did as they were told, stepping to one side to expose her to the rain. She looked up, smiling as the drizzle fell on her face. "Twenty years is far too long to spend indoors," she admitted. She basked for a long moment, enjoying the cool wetness on her skin and clothing. Then she turned back again, nodding to the servants. They sped up again, and the two stepped up, covering the drizzle with their canopy once more. She was delighted, and briefly considered walking to the venue. But then the chariot slowed to a halt, its smooth hum dying down as it approached the gathering place where the council awaited. Kain stepped out first, boots clicking firmly on the cobblestone road, and turned to assist Thalia, who hesitated for a moment before climbing out. Her gaze swept over the grandeur of the location- a square filled with bustling citizens, many of them still arriving, straining to catch a glimpse of the princess for the very first time. A sense of unease settled over her.---Lancer sighed as they all joined the small procession walking across the street toward the gates leading to a large structure in the square. He’d been worried about them standing out, after all, they all wore a simple dress, with its practical fabric, and muted colors. But most of the people present were slaves and workers, just like them. The square was choked with people, a dark sea of faces pressed together in uneasy silence.Lancer stood beside Finn and Siri, waiting their turn as the people crowded around the arena entrance. The square was choked with people, a dark sea of faces pressed together in uneasy silence.Ed watched from the high parapet of an abandoned tower, his gaze fixed on the platform below where soldiers were leading a line of shackled prisoners to the center of the square. His view was clear, but his distance from the crowd made him feel strangely removed like he was looking into a memory instead of a living scene.The executions were public, brutal, and meant to send a message to those gathered below. Prowlers, their black cloaks gleaming with the dampness of the morning, lined the perimeter, holding the crowd back with the cold threat of their presence. This was the king’s justice- swift, final, and merciless. Only a few days had passed since the Ghouls had attacked the outskirts of Arnem, reducing entire sectors to rubble and sparking a wave of panic. They had demolished the outer Sectors, and everyday life with it. Although, the entire population was evacuated on time. On paper, only one civilian died that night. The hundreds of slaves who lost their lives receive no mention. They were, after all, less than human. The other deaths were all soldiers who fended Ghouls off in the line of duty, protecting Arnem as Prowlers."As if that wasn´t enough," Ed thought to himself, gritting his teeth as he looked over to the prisoners. He scanned their faces one after the other. None of them were familiar, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Ash might still be somewhere among them. That slim, dangerous hope was what had brought him here, though he’d tried to keep it from the others. If they saw Ash here, there was no way they could remain passive.Below, among the throng, he caught sight of them- Finn, Lancer, and Siri, positioned strategically on the edges of the crowd. They were watching closely, blending in with the common folk, tense but still. None of them dared make a move, not with the Prowlers scanning the masses and the risk of exposing their identities so high.