knight's Royal Duty || Gonkillu ||

Dreams

The command council meeting was as tense as Killua had expected. The room was filled with high-ranking officers and strategists, their faces grim as they discussed the state of the war. Maps were spread out across the table, marking the enemy’s latest positions and the areas where their forces had been hit hardest.

Killua took his place at the table, trying to push aside his worry for Gon and focus on the task at hand. The war wasn’t just his mother’s twisted game anymore—it had become a battle for survival. And no matter how much he hated being drawn into it, he knew that he had to do his part.

"Prince Killua," one of the commanders addressed him, his voice gruff. "We’ve received reports that the enemy is massing troops on the western front. They’re preparing for a full-scale assault."

Killua frowned, leaning forward to study the map. "How soon?"

"Within the next two days," the commander replied. "We need to reinforce our defenses immediately, or we’ll be overrun."

Killua’s mind raced, calculating their options. The war had been a stalemate for weeks, with neither side gaining significant ground. But if the enemy was preparing for a major offensive, it could change everything.

"We need to reposition the knights," Killua said, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. "We can’t spread our forces too thin. We should concentrate on the ridge here." He pointed to a spot on the map where the terrain would give them a defensive advantage. "If we hold that position, we can force the enemy to engage us on unfavorable ground."

The commanders nodded, their faces filled with the same grim determination that Killua felt in his gut. This battle would be decisive. If they failed to hold the line, the enemy would push deeper into their territory, and the war could spiral out of control.

As the council continued to discuss their strategy, Killua’s thoughts kept drifting back to Gon. He had promised Gon that he would be there for him, that he wouldn’t leave him behind. But the reality of the war was pulling him in a different direction, and Killua didn’t know how much longer he could juggle the weight of both his duty and his need to protect Gon.

When the meeting finally adjourned, Killua made his way back to the tent where Gon was resting. His heart pounded with a mixture of relief and guilt as he stepped inside, finding Gon awake, his eyes watching him carefully.

"How was it?" Gon asked, his voice still weak but steady.

Killua hesitated for a moment before answering. "The enemy’s preparing for a major attack. I... I have to help with the defense."

Gon’s expression softened, though there was a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "I figured. You’re a prince, Killua. They need you."

"I don’t care about that," Killua said quickly, sitting beside Gon. "What matters to me is you. I’m not going to leave you behind."

Gon smiled faintly, though the exhaustion in his eyes was clear. "You can’t always protect me, Killua. I know you want to, but... you have to fight for the kingdom too."

Killua clenched his fists, his chest tight with frustration. "I’m not choosing the kingdom over you, Gon. I refuse to."

"You don’t have to choose," Gon replied softly. "But you can’t be everywhere at once. I’m getting better. I’ll be fine, I promise."

Killua’s heart ached at Gon’s words. He knew Gon was right, but the thought of leaving him—even for a moment—felt like a betrayal. He had already come so close to losing Gon once, and he couldn’t bear the thought of it happening again.

"I’ll come back," Killua whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. "No matter what happens, I’ll come back to you."

Gon’s hand reached out to rest on Killua’s. "I know you will."

You always did anyway
---

The day of the enemy’s attack arrived faster than Killua had expected.

The battlefield was a storm of chaos. The air was thick with smoke and the deafening roar of clashing steel. The enemy forces were larger than they had anticipated, and despite their strategic positioning, the battle was not going in their favor.

Killua fought alongside the knights, his sword moving with deadly precision as he cut down enemy soldiers. His body ached from the strain, but he pushed through the pain, his mind focused on the promise he had made to Gon.

He had to survive this.

The enemy was relentless, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm the defensive line. Killua could feel the pressure mounting, his body growing more fatigued with each passing moment. But he couldn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop.

Amidst the chaos, Killua caught sight of something that made his blood run cold. At the far edge of the battlefield, he saw a familiar figure—an enemy commander, directing the troops with brutal efficiency. And standing beside him was a figure Killua recognized instantly: his mother’s most trusted general.

The queen’s influence was here. This war was no longer just a battle for territory—it was a power play, orchestrated.