The attack began in the dead of night, when the palace was at its quietest. The air was still, save for the faint rustle of banners in the breeze, and the guards stationed at the gates exchanged tired glances, unaware of the storm about to break.

The rebels struck with precision. Disguised as couriers and merchants who had been granted entry during the day, they emerged from hidden alcoves and shadowed corners, cutting down guards and throwing open the gates for the rest of Valen’s forces.

By the time the alarm bells rang, the rebels had already seized key strongholds within the palace grounds.

Soren woke to the sound of shouting, his heart racing as he sat up in bed. The faint glow of torches flickered outside his window, and the distant clash of steel sent a chill down his spine.

Throwing on a cloak, he bolted from his chambers, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced toward the war room.

He found Kairos already there, dressed in black armor and issuing orders with the calm authority of a seasoned commander. The emperor’s ice-blue eyes met Soren’s as he entered, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of something softer—relief, perhaps—but it was quickly buried beneath the weight of the situation.

“They’ve breached the gates,” Kairos said, his voice clipped. “Valen’s forces are inside the palace.”

Soren swallowed hard. “How did they get past the defenses?”

“Someone let them in,” Kairos replied, his gaze hardening. “A traitor in our midst.”

The words hung heavy in the air, and Soren felt a sickening twist in his gut.

The next hours were a blur of chaos and violence. The rebels moved swiftly, their knowledge of the palace’s layout giving them a crucial advantage. The loyalist forces fought back fiercely, but the element of surprise had shifted the balance in Valen’s favor.

Soren found himself in the thick of it, running messages between the palace’s defenders and aiding in the evacuation of wounded soldiers. He wasn’t a fighter, but he refused to stand idly by while the battle raged around him.

At one point, he stumbled into a skirmish in the eastern wing, where a group of rebels had cornered a handful of palace guards. Soren grabbed a fallen spear and thrust it toward the nearest attacker, his hands trembling but his resolve firm.

The rebel turned, his expression one of shock, and for a moment, Soren thought he might falter. But before the man could react, one of the guards lunged forward, finishing him off with a swift strike.

“Nice timing,” the guard said, offering Soren a grim smile.

Soren nodded, his heart pounding.

In the war room, Kairos’s suspicions about the traitor were confirmed when a familiar face entered the chamber, flanked by rebels.

Lord Gaelen, one of Kairos’s longest-serving advisors, stepped forward with a smug smile. “Your Majesty,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery. “It seems your reign has reached its end.”

Kairos’s gaze was colder than ice, but his voice was steady. “I should have known it was you.”

Gaelen inclined his head. “You’ve grown complacent, Kairos. Ruling through fear only works until someone stronger comes along.”

Before Kairos could respond, Gaelen gestured to his men, who surged forward with weapons drawn.

Kairos fought like a man possessed, his blade a blur as he cut through the rebels. But the numbers were against him, and even his skill could only hold them off for so long.

Soren arrived just in time to see Kairos stagger under a blow from a rebel’s blade, blood seeping through the gaps in his armor.

“No!” Soren shouted, running forward.

Lady Elira appeared at his side, her dagger flashing as she dispatched the rebel closest to Kairos. “We have to get him out of here,” she said urgently.

Soren nodded, rushing to Kairos’s side and slipping an arm around his waist. The emperor was pale, his breaths shallow, but his gaze remained sharp.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Kairos muttered, his voice weak.

“And you shouldn’t be dying,” Soren shot back. “Let’s call it even.”

Elira led the way, cutting a path through the chaos as Soren half-dragged, half-carried Kairos toward the servant’s passageways.

“These lead to the escape tunnels,” Elira said, her tone clipped. “Once you’re out of the palace, head for the eastern forest. There’s a safe house there.”

“What about you?” Soren asked, his voice tight with worry.

Elira gave him a faint smile. “I’ll buy you time.”

Before Soren could protest, she turned and disappeared into the fray.

The escape tunnels were dark and narrow, the air damp and heavy. Soren could hear the distant sounds of battle fading behind them as they moved deeper into the labyrinth of stone corridors.

Kairos leaned heavily on him, his breaths labored. Soren kept his grip steady, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination.

“You’re stubborn,” Kairos muttered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips despite the pain.

“You’re one to talk,” Soren replied, his voice trembling. “Just keep moving.”

They emerged into the forest just as dawn broke, the pale light filtering through the trees. Soren guided Kairos to a small clearing and helped him lower himself onto a patch of soft moss.

Kairos’s armor was slick with blood, and Soren’s hands shook as he worked to remove it, exposing the wound beneath.

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Kairos said, his voice faint.

“You’re a terrible liar,” Soren muttered, tearing strips of fabric from his tunic to bind the wound.

Kairos watched him in silence, his gaze softer than Soren had ever seen it.

“You came back for me,” Kairos said finally.

“Of course I did,” Soren replied, his voice breaking. “I’ll always come back for you.”

Kairos closed his eyes, his expression unreadable. “You’re a fool, Soren.”

Soren let out a shaky laugh. “Maybe. But so are you.”

For a moment, the forest was quiet, save for the rustling of leaves and the distant call of birds.

Kairos reached out, his hand brushing against Soren’s. “Thank you,” he said softly.

Soren clasped his hand tightly, his chest aching with a mix of relief and despair.

The capital was lost, and the empire lay in ruins. But as the sun rose over the forest, Soren vowed that this wasn’t the end.

Together, they would find a way to reclaim what had been taken.