Whispers of Desires: A Sense of Duty {Book 1}

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 26: 𝕿𝖗𝖆𝖌𝖊𝖉𝖞 𝕾𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖐𝖊𝖘: 𝕬𝖈𝖈𝖚𝖘𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖘

A surge of energy crackled within Kiyoshi as he unleashed the full force of his powers. King Grawl's eyes widened in horror as a blinding light engulfed him. His body convulsed violently, and his limbs contorted into impossible angles. The throne room erupted into a cacophony of shrieks and screams as courtiers and advisors scrambled away from the dying goblin king. Kiyoshi stood motionless; his features twisted in an expression of grim determination. As the light faded, Grawl's charred remains crumbled to ash, leaving behind only a small pile of glowing ash.

Then Kiyoshi's guards rushed into the throne room, their armor gleaming in the dim light. They surrounded the still-smoking heap of ashes that had been King Grawl, their expressions Stoic. "Inform the people," he commanded his guards, "King Grawl is dead. This kingdom is now under the protection of Ivamis."

"And what message should we convey, my Lord?" asked the captain of the guard, his voice low and respectful.

"Tell them their king brought shame upon this land," he said, his voice cold. "Tell them that he sacrificed innocent lives for personal gain. I shall return to Blightfang when time permits to guide its people into a new era. For now, I must return to my own kingdom."

With that, Kiyoshi turned his back on the scene of chaos and began to make his way toward the exit. His guards fell into step behind him, forming a protective wall around their king. As they left the throne room, the sounds of panic and confusion grew louder, and the smell of smoke and burning flesh filled the air. The goblin subjects of Grawl's kingdom would have to find their own way through the aftermath of his terrible actions.

The journey back to Ivamis was a blur of motion and swirling thoughts. Despite succeeding in his mission, Kiyoshi remained troubled. The anonymous letter, the figure behind Grawl's manipulation – the mystery lingered, taunting him. He found himself wishing he could have stayed in Blightfang, to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrator to justice. But duty called him elsewhere, and so he returned to Ivamis, his mind racing with questions that had no answers.

Days passed for Kiyoshi and his men, and soon they approached the gates of Ivamis, the city bustling with activity as if nothing had happened. The guards saluted him respectfully as he rode through the grand archway, their gazes lingering for just a moment on his troubled expression. He waved them off, not wanting to worry his subjects about his own concerns.

The moment he dismounted, Kiyoshi raced through the corridors, the servants parting before him like a river. He burst into the familiar chambers where Nia often sat embroidering or practicing her music. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of her.

"Kiyoshi... you are back," she murmured, as she stood up and walked to him. He closed the gap between them, hugging her tightly, his features twisted with emotion. "I promised I would," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes searching hers. "Nia... it was worse than I could have imagined," he said, his voice raw. "Grawl... he... he trafficked the children. Forced them to work, and worse." Kiyoshi briefly explained how Grawl had been an unwitting pawn in a much larger and sinister scheme. "The person who sent that letter, Nia...they orchestrated all of it," he finished, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nia's eyes widened in horror. "But why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would someone do such a thing?" Kiyoshi shook his head, his expression grim. "I do not know, my love. But I will find out. I promised you I would." He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "For now, I must address the people. They have the right to know what happened."

"You've done so much already, Kiyoshi. You need to rest." Nia placed a hand on his cheek, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Your people will understand. They know you did what had to be done, and they trust you. They will wait for you to find the answers you seek. I will wait with you." Her words seemed to have a calming effect on him, and he nodded, taking a deep breath.