Shadow Arthur writhed on the dirt floor, his dark armor cracking as the sacred sunlight touched his skin. The black smoke surrounding him began to dissolve, exposing his weakened, human form beneath the monstrous shadow.
King Arthur: "Please... Leo... have mercy! I am your uncle! We share the same blood!"
Leo: "You showed no mercy to my father. You showed no mercy to my mother when you forced her to live in fear for eighteen years."
King Arthur: "I was desperate! The throne was meant to be mine! Your father was weak—he cared too much for the poor!"
Leo: "Caring for your people isn't weakness, Arthur. It is the true definition of strength."
Leo thrust the golden sword deep into the dirt floor in front of the fallen tyrant. A massive wave of golden light rippled across the colosseum, instantly purging all traces of black magic from the air. Arthur collapsed onto his face, completely stripped of his powers and reduced to a broken old man.
Commander Thomas: "Seize the traitor! Put him in heavy iron chains and drag him to the lowest dungeon!"
The royal guards rushed forward, grabbing Arthur by his arms and pinning him to the ground. Arthur yelled and cursed as they dragged him away from the arena floor, his royal robes trailing in the filth.
Commander Thomas: "My Prince... the kingdom is yours. We await your command."
Commander Thomas dropped to one knee, unsheathing his sword and pressing the blade to the dirt in a gesture of total loyalty. One by one, every single soldier in the arena fell to their knees, bowing their heads toward the young heir. The remaining citizens in the stands began to clap, their cheers growing into a deafening chant that shook the stadium walls.
Crowd: "LONG LIVE KING LEO! LONG LIVE THE TRUE HEIR!"
Leo turned toward his mother, who was walking slowly across the arena floor with tears streaming down her dusty cheeks. He rushed over and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly as the weight of the moment washed over them both.
Leo’s Mother: "You did it, my sweet boy. Your father would be so proud of you."
Leo: "We don't have to hide anymore, Mom. It’s finally over."
Leo’s Mother: "No, my son. It is just beginning. You have a kingdom to rebuild, and a broken people to heal."
Leo pulled back and looked at the ancient golden sword still humming with power in the dirt. He reached down and pulled it effortlessly from the ground, raising it high above his head as the crowds went wild.
Leave a Comment