Chapter 15: Scarred Duke
CH15: Scarred Duke
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Axel Castle stood like a granite crown at the very heart of the Wastelander Duchy. Raised upon the duchy's geographical midpoint, the vast citadel was, in every sense, its pulsing core. Around this grand palace-fortress stretched a sprawling city, the official capital, and—until recently—the jubilant stage for Duke Siegmund Wastelander's elevation to Legendary rank.
Even weeks after the formal ceremonies, the streets still throbbed with carnival spirit. Banners hung from every arch; taverns overflowed with patrons toasting "Long live the Legend!"; and minstrels wove tales of Siegmund's might late into the night.
The simple presence of a living Legend within their walls soothed common folk and filled them with giddy pride.
Yet, within Axel Castle itself, the mood could not have been more different. Behind iron-reinforced gates and white-marble walls, the ducal household moved in tense silence.
Servants hushed their voices. Courtiers skirted conversations. Any mention of the ascension—once a point of boundless pride—had become a whispered taboo.
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Whoosh—Thwack!
Down in the castle's dark dungeon, a whip sliced through the damp air and cracked across the back of a young man locked into a pillory.
"Ahh!"