Chapter 5 - The High Chancellor's Betrayal
Before the archers in the upper balcony could notch their arrows, the giant white lion whipped its head around. It let out a deafening, earth-shaking roar that sent shockwaves rippling across the stone amphitheater. The sound was so powerful that several guards dropped their weapons, clutching their ears in agony.
Kaelen seized the moment. He reached down and gripped the thick fur of the lion’s neck. The beast didn't flinch or snap; it leaned into his touch, acknowledging its rightful master.
"You called me a thief, Vane!" Kaelen’s voice echoed magically across the amphitheater, amplified by the mystical resonance of the glowing necklace. "But the only thief sitting in this stadium is the coward hiding behind the royal banner!"
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A murmur rippled through the thousands of citizens. For years, Vane had taxed them into poverty, blaming foreign wars while hoarding the kingdom’s wealth. Seeing the legendary beast bow to the impoverished youth shattered the illusion of Vane’s divine right to rule.
Vane’s face twisted with rage. He drew his jeweled broadsword, desperate to salvage his grip on the throne. "Silence him! I am the law! Kill the boy, or I hang every family in the lower wards!"
