The Winged Dynasties: Chanjin

The Summit's Collapse

The cold wind of Winterhold howled against the walls of Frostholm Citadel, its icy tendrils slipping through cracks in the ancient stone as if to remind everyone inside of the chaos outside. Inside the war room, where the princes and their advisors gathered, the tension was just as biting as the winter wind. The rebellion in the Yang Kingdom had upended what little balance remained, and the summit's original purpose—strengthening alliances—was now at risk of collapsing entirely.

Hyunjin stood at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the maps and reports that covered its surface. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him. They were running out of time. The rebellion in Jeongin's kingdom was spreading, and if they didn't act quickly, it could spark a chain reaction of unrest across the region.

Jeongin sat to Hyunjin's left, staring blankly at the reports in front of him. He looked pale, his usual confidence shattered. Hyunjin could see the strain in his friend's eyes—Jeongin had always been the youngest of them, and while he'd been groomed to lead, no one had prepared him for this kind of pressure. The very fate of his kingdom now hung in the balance.

Beside Jeongin sat Jisung, his brow furrowed as he traced the rebellion's spread across the map of the Yang Kingdom. His fingers moved from city to city, each one now under the control of rebel forces. He, too, looked more serious than usual, the carefree smile he often wore nowhere in sight.

"We can't wait any longer," Jisung said, his voice low but firm. "Jeongin's kingdom is falling apart, and if we don't send support soon, it'll be too late."

Jeongin's lips tightened, and he nodded silently. "I don't know what else to do," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "My mother's been trying to hold the capital, but the reports say the rebels are already inside the walls. I should be there, helping him—but instead, I'm stuck here, waiting for someone else to decide the fate of my kingdom."

Felix, who sat across from them, leaned forward, his eyes serious but determined. "We'll help you. We've been through too much together to let your kingdom fall without a fight."

Hyunjin could feel the resolve in Felix's voice, but he also sensed the uncertainty that came with it. The rebellion wasn't just a problem for Jeongin—it was a threat to all of them. If the Yang Kingdom fell, the balance between the four allied kingdoms would be shattered, and the fragile peace they'd maintained for years would be in jeopardy.

"My father's advisors are discussing sending reinforcements to support the Yang capital," Felix continued. "But they're worried about leaving the Lee Kingdom vulnerable if the rebellion spreads beyond Jeongin's borders. The rebels are getting more organized, and there are whispers that other factions in our kingdoms might be ready to follow their lead."

Hyunjin's chest tightened. "So we're dealing with more than just a rebellion in the Yang Kingdom. It's a spark that could set fire to the rest of the region."

"Exactly," Felix said grimly. "We can't afford to make any mistakes."

Jeongin let out a shaky breath. "Then we need a plan. A real plan. If my kingdom falls, I'm not sure how much longer the rest of the region will hold."

Hyunjin glanced at the map, tracing the borders of the Hwang Kingdom with his eyes. His father was counting on him to represent their kingdom at the summit, but the weight of that responsibility felt heavier than ever. If the Yang Kingdom fell, the Hwang Kingdom would be next in line for destabilization, and Hyunjin wasn't sure how his people—or he—would handle the pressure.

"We'll send support to your capital," Hyunjin said, his voice steady. "We'll work with Felix's soldiers and reinforce the defenses. But we need to know where the rebels are getting their support from. If they have help from outside your kingdom, this could get worse fast."