The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 66

Matsu took a seat, observing the dynamic between Marina and Sunny. He could sense the tension in the room, yet the laughter suggested a glimmer of reconciliation. Clearing his throat, Matsu spoke, "So, let's get to the bottom of this."

Marina spoke up, "Sunny's ready to spill the beans, and she wants the truth to come out."

Sunny nodded in agreement, her expression somber. Matsu leaned forward, attentive to every word. "How many people are in the Royal Vanguard?" he inquired.

Sunny replied, "There are five of us: me, Aria – who betrayed us, Violet, Axel, and Illiyas."

Matsu absorbed the information, then delved deeper. "How did Violet and Axel join?"

Sunny sighed, recounting the recruitment process. "Illiyas brought them in. Violet wanted to bring the king back, and she had a strange infatuation with you, Matsu. Axel, on the other hand, had similar intentions to rescue the king, but he also craved fame for doing it."

Matsu's brow furrowed as he processed the details. The motivations varied, but the common goal of rescuing the king bound them together. "And Illiyas?" Matsu asked, wanting to understand the mastermind behind the Royal Vanguard.

"He's been planning this for a while," Sunny explained. "He approached us individually, manipulating our desires and grievances to create a group that would follow his lead without question. He's convinced that bringing back the king will change everything."

Matsu sat back, contemplating the gravity of the situation. The Royal Vanguard wasn't just a random group; it was a carefully orchestrated assembly driven by personal desires and manipulated by Illiyas. As they continued to unravel the truth, Matsu couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility to put an end to this dangerous alliance.

Matsu's curiosity deepened as he pressed on, "When you mentioned Violet being infatuated with me, what exactly do you mean?"

Sunny shifted uncomfortably, scratching her cheek. "Well, she never explicitly said she had romantic feelings for you, but she talked about having you all to herself. It sounded possessive, like she wanted to own you. She reveled in controlling the animals near our base, making them do whatever she wanted. Frankly, I always thought Violet was a bit messed up in the head."

Matsu frowned, absorbing the unsettling information. The notion of someone harboring such possessive tendencies was disconcerting. He couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine at the thought of being an object of someone's warped desire.

"That's disturbing," he remarked, contemplating the complexities of Violet's character. "What about Axel? What were his motivations for joining?"

Sunny sighed, "Axel's main drive was fame. He wanted to be renowned for bringing back the king. It wasn't just about the rescue; it was about the recognition he'd receive for it."

Matsu pondered the diverse motivations within the Royal Vanguard. Each member seemed to have their own agenda, making the group an intricate web of desires and ambitions. As they continued their discussion, Matsu couldn't help but wonder how Illiyas managed to manipulate and unite such disparate personalities under a common cause.

Then Matsu gets back into the discussion about Illiyas, is he really the real Illiyas, the Elite Royal Guard, or is he an imposter. Sunny sighed and said she knows little about Illiyas, she knows he claims to be in the elite royal guard, he's complained about having to guard the princess but also said that the princess reminds him of his little sister when they were younger. He also mentioned that he wanted to guard the king who was real royalty and not his daughter, as much as he likes her and understands she will be the new monarch, she's just to young to give him a satisfying purpose. But he also stayed in Ironhaven a few days before returning to the solstice kingdom, so she doesn't know if he was an imposter or not.