Chapter 28: The Fallen Commander
Morning came slowly to Yggdrasil.
The city was still standing.
Barely.
Entire streets had been destroyed.
Buildings lay in ruins.
Scorch marks covered stone walls.
Workers and soldiers moved through the wreckage, helping survivors and clearing debris.
Yet despite everything—
The city was alive.
And for many people, that was enough.
Kai stood atop a balcony overlooking the reconstruction efforts.
For the first time since arriving in Yggdrasil, the city felt united.
No whispers.
No accusations.
No fear of the king.
Just people trying to rebuild.
Footsteps approached.
Akshay stepped beside him.
The king looked exhausted.
More exhausted than ever.
But he was smiling.
"You're awake."
"I barely slept."
Kai replied.
"Same."
Akshay laughed.
Neither seemed surprised.
Below them, workers hauled away broken stone while soldiers distributed supplies.
Among them were familiar faces.
Vice's smugglers.
Zindine's contacts.
Military volunteers.
Citizens.
Everyone.
The king watched them quietly.
"Funny."
"What is?"
Kai asked.
"The people who saved my city weren't nobles."
Kai smirked.
"Most nobles aren't good at fighting giant demons."
"Or anything useful."
The two shared a brief laugh.
Later that afternoon, a formal investigation concluded.
The council members involved in the conspiracy had been identified.
Documents were recovered.
Witnesses testified.
Hidden connections were exposed.
The evidence was overwhelming.
The traitors were arrested.
Some attempted to flee.
Others denied everything.
A few begged.
None succeeded.
The sentence was swift.
Execution.
Yggdrasil could not afford another conspiracy.
Especially not after what had happened.
The news spread quickly through the city.
And for the first time, citizens finally understood.
The attacks.
The unrest.
The king's arrest.
The demon.
Someone had been orchestrating it all.
That evening, a funeral was held.
Not for the traitors.
For Jack.
The plaza overflowed with people.
Soldiers filled entire sections of the square.
Citizens stood shoulder to shoulder.
Even merchants had closed their stores for the ceremony.
A large memorial stood at the center.
No body had been recovered.
Only fragments of armor.
Yet nobody doubted what they had seen.
Commander Jack had saved the king.
Commander Jack had died fighting the demon.
Akshay stood before the crowd.
The plaza fell silent.
"For years, Commander Jack served Yggdrasil."
His voice echoed across the square.
"He protected this city through wars, disasters, and countless battles."
The king paused.
"And when our city needed him most..."
Akshay lowered his head.
"He gave everything."
Silence followed.
Many soldiers saluted.
Others cried openly.
Even hardened veterans struggled to keep composure.
Kai noticed Andre standing nearby.
Surprisingly quiet.
"You okay?"
Kai asked.
Andre crossed his arms.
"Guy was annoying."
Kai raised an eyebrow.
"But?"
Andre looked away.
"He was alright."
For Andre, that was practically a heartfelt eulogy.
The ceremony continued until sunset.
When it finally ended, the crowd slowly dispersed.
That night, Akshay invited Kai, Andre, Zindine, and Vice to the palace.
The atmosphere was much lighter than before.
Food covered the table.
Good food.
Actual food.
Not prison food.
Not stolen bread.
Andre nearly cried.
Vice sat with his usual calm expression.
Zindine looked mildly annoyed at being there.
Akshay raised a glass.
"To Yggdrasil."
Everyone raised theirs.
Even Andre after making sure there was free food involved.
The king looked toward Vice.
"You protected civilians during the attack."
Vice shrugged.
"They were paying customers."
Nobody believed that was the only reason.
Akshay smiled anyway.
Then he looked at Zindine.
"And thank you."
The merchant looked uncomfortable.
"As long as nobody tells anyone I helped."
"Why?"
Kai asked.
"My reputation."
Andre immediately laughed.
"What reputation?"
Zindine threw a bread roll at his head.
The celebration continued late into the evening.
For the first time in weeks, nobody spoke about conspiracies.
Nobody spoke about cults.
Nobody spoke about demons.
Just food.
Friends.
And survival.
Eventually the others left.
Kai remained alone on one of the palace balconies.
The mountain wind felt colder tonight.
His eyes drifted toward the memorial in the distance.
Jack.
The commander had arrested a king.
Protected a city.
Saved civilians.
And died saving the very man he had removed from power.
None of it made sense.
Kai rested his arms against the railing.
"Who were you?"
he quietly muttered.
A traitor?
A hero?
A fool?
He honestly didn't know.
Maybe Jack had been manipulated.
Maybe he had made mistakes.
Maybe he had simply done what he believed was right.
Or maybe there was a side of him nobody would ever understand.
Kai looked toward the stars.
For some reason, one thought lingered.
Jack had been a good man.
At least, he seemed like one.
But in a world filled with lies, conspiracies, and hidden agendas—
Could anyone really know for sure?
Far beyond the mountains, a lone figure walked through the darkness.
A damaged military coat fluttered in the wind.
The man glanced back toward Yggdrasil one final time.
Then continued walking.
Toward a distant city.
Toward a future nobody could yet see.
And toward the next move in a game only he understood.