The capital was tense with the anticipation of war. Word of Valen’s rebellion had spread like wildfire, and the empire’s heart was now bracing for the coming storm. The streets, once bustling with merchants and citizens, were eerily quiet as patrols of soldiers marched through the cobblestones, their faces grim and their weapons at the ready.

From the tallest tower of the palace, Kairos stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The distant hills, cloaked in the faint haze of morning light, were peaceful for now, but he knew it wouldn’t last. Valen’s forces were on the move, and it was only a matter of time before they reached the capital’s gates.

Behind him, Lady Elira entered the room, her soft footfalls barely audible against the stone floor. “Your Majesty,” she said, inclining her head.

Kairos didn’t turn, his voice low and steady. “What news?”

“Our scouts report that Valen’s army has begun consolidating near the southern plains. They’re less than two days’ march from the capital.”

Kairos’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Elira stepped closer, her tone softening. “The council is divided, as you know. Some still question your decision to defend the capital rather than retreat to the mountains.”

Kairos finally turned, his ice-blue eyes piercing. “And what would you have me do? Abandon the people I’ve sworn to protect?”

Elira met his gaze without flinching. “I’m not suggesting that. But there’s another battle being fought here, Your Majesty—one within your own walls.”

Kairos’s expression darkened. “You mean Soren.”

“Yes,” Elira said simply. “He’s not the enemy, Kairos. He’s the one person in this palace who has stood by you, despite everything.”

Kairos’s gaze flickered, a brief flash of something unreadable crossing his features. “I know that.”

“Then why are you pushing him away?”

Kairos turned back to the window, his shoulders tense. “Because I can’t afford distractions. Not now.”

Elira sighed, folding her hands in front of her. “Trust isn’t a distraction, Your Majesty. It’s a strength. And right now, you need all the strength you can muster.”

Soren, meanwhile, had thrown himself into whatever tasks he could find to occupy his restless energy. The days since his confrontation with Kairos had been long and grueling, but he refused to let the emperor’s coldness deter him. If Kairos wouldn’t accept his help directly, Soren would find another way to contribute.

It was during one of these long hours spent in the palace archives that Soren stumbled upon a crucial piece of intelligence. He had been sorting through reports of troop movements and supply lines, searching for anything that might give the capital an edge in the coming battle, when a worn parchment caught his eye.

The document detailed an old network of tunnels beneath the capital, originally constructed as an escape route for the royal family during times of siege. Most of the entrances had been sealed off years ago, but a handful remained accessible.

Soren’s breath quickened as he read further. The tunnels extended far beyond the city walls, stretching into the surrounding countryside. If Valen knew about them—and Soren had no doubt he did—they could provide the rebels with a direct path into the heart of the capital.

He rolled up the parchment and tucked it under his arm, his mind racing.

Finding Kairos proved more difficult than expected. The emperor had been in constant motion, meeting with generals and overseeing preparations for the city’s defense. Soren finally tracked him down in the war room, where a massive map of the capital and its surrounding territories had been spread across the table.

Kairos looked up as Soren entered, his expression unreadable. “What is it?”

Soren stepped forward, holding out the parchment. “I found this in the archives. It’s a map of the old escape tunnels beneath the capital.”

Kairos took the document and unrolled it, his eyes scanning the lines and annotations.

“They lead beyond the walls,” Soren continued. “If Valen knows about them, he could use them to bypass our defenses entirely.”

Kairos’s jaw tightened, and he handed the map to one of his generals. “Have these entrances scouted immediately. If they’re still accessible, they need to be sealed.”

The general saluted and left the room, leaving Kairos and Soren alone.

“You did well to find this,” Kairos said after a moment, his tone begrudging but sincere.

Soren hesitated. “You don’t have to say that.”

Kairos’s gaze flicked to him, his expression softening slightly. “I mean it. This could save lives.”

Soren nodded, his chest tightening. “That’s all I want—to help.”

For a moment, the tension between them eased, and Kairos looked as though he might say more. But then the door opened, and Lady Elira entered, her expression grave.

“Your Majesty,” she said, “there’s something you need to see.”

The courtyard was a flurry of activity as soldiers prepared for the impending battle. Soren followed Kairos and Elira to the ramparts, where they had a clear view of the southern horizon.

A dark mass was moving toward the city, faintly visible through the morning mist. It was Valen’s army, their banners fluttering in the wind.

Kairos’s expression hardened, and he turned to his generals. “We hold the line,” he said. “Prepare the defenses. Send word to the garrisons—they’re to send reinforcements immediately.”

The generals saluted and dispersed, leaving Kairos, Elira, and Soren alone on the ramparts.

“This is it, isn’t it?” Soren said softly.

Kairos nodded, his gaze fixed on the approaching army. “It’s the beginning of the end.”

Soren hesitated, then stepped closer. “Whatever happens, I’m with you.”

Kairos didn’t respond immediately. When he finally turned to Soren, his expression was a mixture of determination and something softer, something unspoken.

“I know,” he said quietly.

The city braced for the storm as Kairos prepared to face Valen’s rebellion head-on. The battle would test not only the strength of the empire but the bonds between those who fought to protect it.

And as the drums of war echoed in the distance, Soren vowed to stand by Kairos’s side—no matter what lay ahead.