Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

53  Human's nature

Henry and Luther's heavy footsteps echoed through the dim and frigid corridors of the castle. The flickering torchlights casted long shadows beneath their feet, warding off the encroaching ice threatening to cover the walls and the floor tiles.

"Was that truly necessary, my liege?" – Luther questioned, his fixed on Henry's back, which had become unrecognizable.

Over the past two years, Henry had gone through a great mental and physical transformation, which Luther found hard to adapt. He had ripped off the tainted image of an arrogant and imbecile good for nothing king, replacing it with a royal image that reverberated in the mind and hearts of his subjects. That foul image felt like a collective delirium of the whole world.

Furthermore, the strategies written down in the books that filled the library of the Commanders Training Center could only be considered as the masterpiece of a general that spent his whole life on countless battlefield. However, all of that has been written by the hands of a young man in his early twenties, someone who had only smelled the iron scent of the battlefield a couple of times.

Luther had pondered over and over about this sudden transformation, but he could never quite understand it and come to a conclusion. At times, he even thought that Garret, the founder, had been reincarnated into Henry's body in order to save Stahl from destruction. However, he always shut down such thoughts since he wasn't a barbarian to believe in such things as possessions.

"What do you mean?" – Henry questioned back, his voice devoid of emotion, as he continued to walk towards his office without bothering to turn back and face Luther.

"The attack against Aritreia's messengers and the alliance with Luak" – Luther responded, his memories taking him back to the negotiations that happened back in the throne room – "I have been on the battlefield for years, my liege. I have witnessed countless things, but perhaps the most distressing of all is the fickleness of human nature. Humans are always sneaking behind bushes, ready to pounce at any opportunity that presents itself…if it means taking an advantage on the board game, some of us can even betray our own kind."

Luther's words were only met by the rhythmic echo of their footsteps resounding through the dim corridor. Henry remained silent until they reached the doors of his office. At that point, Henry turned around and met Luther's worried old eyes.

"You are right, Luther…human's nature is fascinating, yet cruel." – Henry said, nodding his head– "We are evil by nature, always hiding our true thoughts and feelings behind a mask of fake smiles veiled by good compliments. We are all animals behind the bushes, ready to pounce and absorb everything from our next prey. The existence of wars is the best proof of human's evilness and fickleness."

"There will always be lurking monsters waiting for us in the shadows." - Henry's voice grew quieter and quieter, a cruel smile forming on his lips as he whispered - "But this time, we are the ones into the shadows. We are the ones holding false smiles veiled in flattery. I am going to take their lands and melt their iron. I will be sure to extinguish their names from the North."

Henry rested his hand on Luther's shoulders and locked eyes with the old man, transmitting an worries.

10:04

unwavering confidence, both in his voice and eyes. – "I need you to remain calm and concentrate on the essential, leave everything else aside. I need my General of the Armies. I have a plan."

Luther closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to quell the worries in his heart. He had forgotten about his position as his worries about Henry's safety took the best of him. He only had to follow the light and protect it from the darkness.

Henry smile grew wider, noticing the old general's eyes finally retrieving his light and warding off the worries.

"Great!" – Henry said, patting Luther's shoulders twice before opening the door, letting the warm air from inside hit them – "Let's discuss our plan. It's surely going to be an explosion…"

Henry was confident in his preparations, since every single action he had taken so far was in order to build up a kingdom that could survive through these countless changes and challenges. He had built an army capable of changing the reality of the North, an army capable of conquering both kingdoms without much trouble. He didn't mind their threat. Furthermore, Luna, his guardian angel would surely guarantee him a great victory.

--x--

Zuna rode atop her horse, making her way back to Luak, using the Merchant Road as a reference, but not daring to use it completely. The chaos that took over Stahl had probably created the perfect environment for the development of bandit villages and the eventual destruction of the economy. Zuna considered herself lucky to not have bumped into any group, either merchant or bandit, on her way to Stahl's capital.

"The first task will be to hunt down the bandits"- Zuna pondered, already planning Luak's entry into the territory – "It will even give us a good excuse to encroach even more of his territory. It's a win situation. I succeeded."

Zuna desired to jump from her horse and shout out loud for the whole world to hear. She had obtained the mines. She had succeeded.

"He was even more foolish than I had anticipated."- She murmured, her hair swaying in the icy breath of the approaching winter. The image of the cruel black-haired young man materialized in her thoughts - "He possesses some power but lacks the intellect to think deeply about our offer. He didn't even think twice when I showed him the royalties' prospects. I should have lowered the price."

Zuna clicked her tongue and shrugged her shoulders – "The current rate is enough. We are soon going to take everything away from him anyway."

She looked behind and shouted – "Let's go! I want to get back in four days at most!"

-x-

Unfortunately for her, Henry's plan began.

Soon, the war over this small part of the North will begin. The empire will begin.

Stoicist