The throne of dominance

Chapter 6: The Siege of Jing Lou, Part Two

The air hung thick with tension as the four of them—Jean, Yuri, Jonas, and Zane—stood on the ridge overlooking the valley. Below, the Edwards family's army had spread out like a dark tide, stretching across the plains, a formidable mass of soldiers and siege engines, all bearing the ominous crest of the Edwards family. Rows upon rows of armored soldiers moved with ruthless precision, each rank disciplined, weapons gleaming under the fading light. The banners whipped in the wind, casting long shadows that stretched up the hillside, creeping toward the walls of Jing Lou as if marking the city for conquest.

Jonas's chest tightened, his eyes fixed on the encroaching force. He could feel the weight of his anger pressing against his ribs, a cold, relentless sensation that pulsed alongside his heartbeat. Memories began to surface unbidden, flashing before his eyes with vivid intensity. He remembered his own home, his family's laughter filling the rooms, only for it to be torn away in an instant, replaced by the crackling flames and the distant echoes of screams as the Edwards family's soldiers took everything from him. The memory stirred a dormant, seething rage deep within him, a spark that threatened to ignite the storm of magic he kept buried inside.

Jean, standing beside him, glanced sideways, his normally bright and joking demeanor shadowed by a grim expression. He whispered, almost as if afraid to break the tense silence, "I didn't expect it to look like this. It's... massive."

Yuri swallowed, his face pale, his hand gripping the hilt of his weapon as his eyes scanned the vast army below. "How do we stand against something like this?"

Zane's gaze was fixed forward, her face stoic, yet there was a hard resolve in her eyes. "We've faced worse," she said quietly, her voice steady, though even she couldn't hide the faint tremor of uncertainty.

But Jonas barely heard them. His mind was elsewhere, rooted in the past, his memories tearing open like an old wound. He could still see the faces of his family, could still hear the hollow silence that followed their last breaths, a silence that had haunted him ever since. The rage he had buried, the anger that simmered within him, began to stir, feeding his magic, a faint hum that grew stronger with each beat of his heart. His fists clenched, and he could feel the energy pulsing through him, barely contained, itching to be unleashed.

"Jonas..." Jean's voice cut through his haze, bringing him back. "Are you alright?"

Jonas forced himself to nod, though the tension in his chest remained, pressing against his ribs, a restless force that pulsed beneath his skin. "I'm fine," he muttered, though his voice betrayed the strain, the barely concealed fury.

Before they could say anything more, a voice rang out from within the city walls, strong and unyielding, carrying above the murmurs of fear that had spread among the citizens. The council of Jing Lou, clad in robes adorned with the symbols of their state, stood atop the city walls, their expressions fierce and determined. One of them stepped forward, raising his hand as he addressed the crowd, his voice filled with a defiance that echoed across the valley.

"We must resist!" he called, his voice unwavering. "Our state will not fall under the rule of the Edwards! We have fought to keep our freedom, and today, we fight again. Jing Lou stands united!"

A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, some finding courage in the council's words, while others remained silent, their faces pale, their eyes wide with fear as they looked out at the advancing army. The soldiers on the wall tightened their grips on their weapons, their jaws set, their eyes fixed on the approaching force with a mixture of fear and determination.

Jonas's hands shook, his gaze fixed on the Edwards banners as they drew closer, each step of the soldiers a beat that echoed in his mind, stirring memories he had fought to suppress. He felt Jean's hand on his shoulder, grounding him, a silent reminder to keep himself in check, to not let the rage consume him. But the memories wouldn't stop, the images flashing before him—his family's faces, their laughter, the sudden silence that followed.