How I Became the Strongest King

Chapter 4:Gary's Truth

After the horsemen left, I couldn't shake the image of them calling Gary a traitor. A knot of confusion and concern settled in my chest. Gary had always spoken of the King as a good man, but today had been different. He had called the King evil. What had changed? Why did they call him a traitor? My mind was a whirlwind of questions.

I splashed some water on my face to clear my head and decided to confront Gary. I found him sitting under an old oak tree, gazing up at the sky. His eyes were distant, almost as if he was looking back in time rather than at the clouds.

"The sky is beautiful today, isn't it, boy?" he said softly, not looking at me.

I nodded, though I wasn't focused on the sky. "Yeah, it is." I hesitated, then sat down beside him. "Gary, why did they call you a traitor? And why did they treat you like that?"

Gary sighed deeply, the weight of decades in that breath. "Look, kid, what I'm about to tell you is the truth about the King that no one knows. He's not the man he pretends to be. He's evil."My heart pounded in my chest. "Why?" I asked, struggling to understand.

Gary's eyes darkened as he began his story. "Thirty years ago, I worked for the true King—Octavious's father, Raiden Malfoy."

"Wait," I interrupted, surprised. "You worked for his father too? How old are you, Gary?"

Gary smirked, a flicker of his usual humor breaking through. "Are you more interested in my story or my age?" he teased. Then he continued, "I served Raiden for twenty years. He was a good man—he taught me how to master my fire powers. He was the strongest King this nation has ever known. Even the evil group, the Masters of Evil, feared him."

"Masters of Evil?" I echoed. "So, they're a bad group, right?"

Gary nodded grimly. "Yes, they are. And they're powerful. But they didn't dare challenge us while Raiden was on the throne. I fought them many times alongside Raiden."

"You really are strong, then," I said, admiration in my voice.

Gary's eyes softened. "Strength doesn't mean much when you're betrayed by your own," he said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked, sensing the pain behind his words.

"Raiden had a wife, Queen Mary," Gary explained, his voice turning reverent. "She was like a goddess. Her power was healing; she could mend wounds with a touch. She cared for the nation deeply. Raiden and Mary were beloved by all. But their son, Octavious, was different—cruel and heartless. He tortured innocent people, treated them like they were nothing."

My eyes widened in shock. "But you said he changed," I stammered.

"Or so we thought," Gary replied, bitterness creeping into his tone. "Raiden sent him away to another nation to learn and grow, to become a better person. When he returned, he seemed different. Matured. Raiden was so happy, he announced that Octavious would be the next King if he could prove himself worthy."

I tried to reconcile this image of Octavious with the man Gary had called evil. "What happened?" I asked.

"Queen Mary died," Gary said simply, his voice hollow. "She was found dead in her room, and the doctors claimed it was a cardiac arrest. Raiden was devastated. He had dreamed of spending their old age together. But after she died, something in him broke. He announced that he would step down, and Octavious became the King."

I frowned. "But Octavious turned out to be bad, right?"

Gary nodded slowly. "Yes. After he took the throne, he dismissed all the old guards who served Raiden, except for me. He brought in his own people—cruel men who treated the citizens horribly. They acted like they were kings themselves. When I tried to talk to Octavious about their behavior, I wasn't allowed to enter the palace. The guards said it was closed to everyone by the King's orders."

"That doesn't make any sense," I said, trying to grasp the full extent of Gary's story. "Why would he shut everyone out?"

"Because he had something to hide," Gary said darkly. "I knew the palace well, so I sneaked in to see what was happening. The halls were empty, the meeting rooms deserted. I went to Octavious's room because I heard noises coming from there, and what I saw..."

Gary stopped, his face contorting with a mix of anger and sorrow.

"What did you see?" I pressed.

But before he could answer, Gary's eyes sharpened. "They're coming," he said, his voice low and urgent. "And they're not like the knights. They're much stronger."

I felt a chill run down my spine. "What do we do?" I asked, panic rising.

Gary stood, a fierce determination in his eyes. "I'll deal with them. You hide in the house," he ordered. "You're my only family, boy. I have to protect you."

"No, I want to help!" I protested, feeling helpless.

Gary's gaze softened, a small, sad smile on his lips. "Promise me you'll stay safe. I'll come back and tell you the rest of the story. That's a promise."

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. "You promise you'll come back?"

"I promise," Gary said firmly. He ruffled my hair, his usual warmth returning for just a moment. "Now go, and don't give up on your dreams, okay?"

"Okay," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please come back, Grandfather."

He turned, his eyes glistening with tears as he whispered, "I will." And with that, he ran towards the approaching men, his back straight, fire igniting in his palms.

I watched him go, my heart pounding in my chest. This man, my grandfather in every way that mattered, was going to face an unknown enemy to protect me. I turned and ran into the house, hiding in his room as he had instructed. There, under his bed, I found a small box. I didn't have time to open it now. My mind was too focused on Gary and the fight that awaited him.

The minutes felt like hours as I waited, every sound making me jump. I pressed my ear to the wall, straining to hear anything that would tell me Gary was okay. He had to be okay. He promised.

The door to the house swung open, and I held my breath, praying it was him. The heavy footsteps that followed didn't sound like Gary's, and dread filled me."Gary," I whispered, clutching the box to my chest. "Please come back. You promised."

Next chapter Attack......stay tuned........