Aethelos Pain and Blood

Nayb crossed the gates of Solaris with a smile on his face. The night in Aldiana still walked with him — the nursery, the conversation, the kiss, the feeling that the world could be larger than orders and oaths. · In the meeting room, Joseph, Brock and Violeta were already together. The air was cold. · “Hello, everyone. So… everything alright?” · No one answered. · Joseph took a step forward. His voice came out low and precise. · “Nayb. · Which side are you on? Her side… or ours?” · A chill ran up his spine. · “Which side? Her who?” · Brock could not hold it. He stepped forward, fist clenched, anger trembling in his voice. · “The girl you kissed yesterday in the forest, on the way to Aldiana! · You are a traitor to the homeland, Nayb. I thought we were friends!” · Nayb stepped half a pace back, stammering. · “Everyone… I fell in love with her. I like her. · And they’re not that bad. Deep down… we’re all the same, okay?” · Violeta cut him off, eyes hard. · “Yes. And all the people who suffered in the previous attacks weren’t the same? · Didn’t they deserve the same thing you say they deserve?” · “They’re not going to do that anymore,” he answered, almost begging them to believe him. · Joseph raised his hand. Silence fell over the room again. · “Nayb. You are removed from the mission. · To keep you from facing the death penalty… we will not tell the government. · I hope you accept. And that you understand.” · Nayb stood still. The soldier inside him wanted to protest. The man inside him could only feel the ground opening. In the end, he only nodded. · Later, in the courtyard, Violeta sat beside him. · “Nayb… how did you fall in love with her? You’re so different.” · He sighed, his gaze lost on the horizon. · “I don’t choose who I fall in love with, Violeta. · It simply happened. · And the truth is… maybe we’re on the wrong side.” · She stood up slowly. Her voice came out tired, almost a warning. · “Or maybe you were thoroughly manipulated. · And I hope you don’t get hurt.” · Joseph went to the Vindicari Royal House that same night. · The nobility’s representative received him without ceremony. The conversation was short. Cold. · “The rebels will attack the Vindicari Royal House today,” the man said. · Joseph frowned. · “How do you know?” · The representative smiled sideways, without humor. · “Because we are going to say it was them who attacked the Vindicari Royal House.” · Joseph’s blood ran cold. · “You can’t do that.” · “Of course we can’t. · But you can. · For the honor of the government.” · Joseph did not answer at once. The weight of the order settled on his shoulders like a sentence. When he left, his face was no longer that of a tutor. It was that of a man from whom the last illusion had been taken. · At Solaris, the atmosphere in the room remained heavy. Brock, Violeta and Nayb were together, but separated by a silence that hurt more than any shout. · Then the ground shook. · BOOOOM. · An explosion echoed from the city. Seconds later, a guard burst through the door, face pale. · “The rebels attacked the Vindicari Royal House!” · Brock turned slowly toward Nayb. In his eyes there was no longer only anger. There was disappointment. There was the cruel certainty of someone who feels betrayed twice. · “You still say they weren’t going to do anything? · There’s your answer.” · Nayb could not speak. · Outside, smoke was already rising over Aethelos. · And no one in that room — except Joseph, still on his way — knew that the atrocity the people would not be able to ignore had been written not by the rebels… but by the hand of the government itself.