The Great War

The Tidesinger

One by one each kingdom would lose a battle once a week, all of those involved were either captured, trapped, or killed by the Voltaris and the Nether. Achillean contemplated, he knew they needed to push them back, but he needed an army. Despite the power of the Challengers, they were not immortal, they would be overrun.

"What's wrong son?" Aegus asked, entering the room and sitting next to Achillean.

"I just... I don't know if we can win this war, the kingdoms are so divided and they fall one by one. We are losing too many people in order for us to keep up our defense." Achillean said, Aegus comforted and and brushed his hand up and down his back.

"It will be okay son, what they need is someone to unite them... like you." Aegus said, Achillean's eyes shot wide open as he stood up.

"Me? What do you think I am? A conductor?" Achillean questioned as Aegus shook his head.

"You've been giving speeches ever since your first words, you give life and inspiration to others... if the kingdoms heard your call and rallied under you... we could win this war." Aegus said as Achillean planted his face into his hands.

"I gave speeches to my class when I was 15. I only did that when I had to." Achillean said, Aegus chuckled at this reference.

"Then tell me how it attracted everyone else around you... that weren't even in your class." Aegus said, Achillean contemplated.

"I... I had about 50 people to hear my voice... you are telling me to take a big step that is too big for me to climb." Achillean said as Aegus stood up.

"No one would listen to me." Achillean said, Aegus scoffed as Zulius walked into the room.

"What the hell are you talking about? Don't you remember on your Father's birthday speech? You spoke to hundreds, maybe thousands of Ardoni. I was there. Everyone's hearts were lifted... you will be our drummer boy, our leader, Achillean." Zulius said, Varek entered the room behind him.

"He's right, you give greater speeches than my father... don't tell him I said that." Varek said, Achillean scoffed and stared out of the window.

"You don't win wars with speeches." Achillean said, Varek pat him on the back.

"You win people over with speeches, with inspiration, and you win wars with people..." Varek said, Achillean looked at him with tears swelling up in his eyes.

"But I don't have the strength to give that much inspiration." Achillean said, tears trickling down his cheeks.

"I stand by you." Varek said.

"I stand by you." Zulius said.

"I stand by you." Aegus said.

"We are all here to help you, Achillean." Thalleous said, entering the room, he took out his sword and raised it. Achillean wiped his eyes.

"I stand by you." Thalleous said.

"It's time someone turned the tides, and it's going to be you. Bring me messenger birds, unite the kingdoms for another meeting... we will declare Achillean the Grand Leader..." Varek said as Aegus pulled out a book, a copy of the walls of time, he flipped to the second wall. Achillean nodded.

"No... we will declare you..." Aegus said, tracing his fingers over a page, pointing at one word.

The messenger birds came, all of them set out to different kingdoms. All of the representatives met at K'arthen, the kingdom of K'arthen housed the kingdoms meeting hall. All of the representatives of the last meeting arrived, other than Ser Kaleo. Achillean took the chair of Ser Kaleo.