As Kai stepped down from the platform, the cheers of the crowd still echoing in his ears, I caught his arm, my voice low. “That was perfect. You’ve won them over.”
Kai didn’t respond immediately, his jaw clenched. He wasn’t the type to enjoy attention, let alone leading a rebellion under false pretenses. “It’s not perfect,” he muttered, “I don’t want to lie to them. But… I understand why you said what you did.”
Before I could respond, a scout from the Green Serpents, their newest ally, pushed through the throng. His face was pale with urgency. “We’ve got a problem.”
My stomach dropped. “What kind of problem?”
“The nobles. They’ve caught wind of the rally—there’s a detachment of the city guard heading this way as we speak, led by Lord Verran.”
My heart raced. Lord Verran was one of the most ruthless enforcers among the nobles, known for his brutal suppression tactics. They didn’t have much time.
Kai, hearing the news, straightened. “We need to scatter the crowd—get them to safety before the guards arrive.”
I shook my head. “No. If we run, we’ll lose everything we’ve built here today. The people need to see that we’re ready to stand our ground.”
Kai’s eyes narrowed. “You can’t be serious. They’ll cut us down.”
“That’s why we don’t give them the chance,” I said, my mind racing. “The Blackwater Crew has weapons hidden nearby, right? We get the people armed, and we hold this square.”
Kai exhaled sharply, his eyes scanning the square. “A fight here, now… it’ll show them we’re serious, but it could also get a lot of people killed.”
My eyes hardened. “This is the moment, Kai. We either take a stand or show the nobles that we’re too afraid to fight. If we back down, they’ll think they can crush us whenever they want.”
Kai studied her for a long moment, then nodded grimly. “Alright. But we do this smart. Get the Blackwater Crew to move the weapons, and we’ll set up a defensive line. We need to hold them off just long enough for reinforcements to arrive.”
I turned to the scout. “Get the weapons here, fast. And spread the word—anyone who can fight, prepare to defend this square.”
As the scout sprinted off, I looked at Kai. “We need to make this count.”
Minutes later, the square was a hive of activity. Dockworkers, merchants, and laborers hurriedly armed themselves with whatever they could find. Me and Kai organized them into defensive positions, using overturned crates, barrels, and market stalls as makeshift barricades.
The tension was thick in the air as the sounds of marching boots grew louder from the street ahead. I stood beside Kai at the front of the line, my hand on the hilt of my blade. “You ready for this?”
Kai gave her a sidelong glance. “Not even a little.”
I smirked. “Good. That makes two of us.”
The city guard rounded the corner, led by Lord Verran on horseback, his dark eyes scanning the scene with cold detachment. “Surrender now,” Verran called, his voice echoing through the square. “By order of the council, you are all guilty of treason. Lay down your arms, and I may show leniency.” He said with a smirked
Me and Kai looked at each other we both knew damn well that he wasn't going to let us go
I stepped forward, my voice loud and unwavering. “This city doesn’t belong to the council. It belongs to the people. And we’re not laying down anything.”
Lord Verran scowls, "You dare go against the council girl you don't know who you're messing with," His faces twists with excitement for the massacre that he was about to ensue.
It was like he takes pleasure in killing innocent people it disgusts me
Lord Verran’s lips twisted into a sneer. “So be it.”
With a flick of his hand, the city guard charged.
The first clash was violent and chaotic. I moved swiftly, parrying a guard’s strike and slicing him down with precision. Kai fought beside her, his strikes efficient and controlled. The workers and Blackwater fighters held their ground, but the guard’s superior training and numbers began to show.
Despite their efforts, the city guard began to push the defenders back toward the center of the square. The sound of steel against steel, shouts of battle, and the cries of the wounded filled the air. My heart pounded as I realized we were slowly being surrounded.
“We’re losing ground!” Kai called out; his voice tight with frustration.
My gaze swept the battlefield, my mind racing. If they were surrounded, there’d be no escape—and no chance to rally again. My breath came fast as the shadows around me seemed to pulse, reacting to my growing desperation.
As the city guards closed in, I felt something deep inside me stir the shadows power was coming to the surface once again, but instead it was different It was almost if a voice was in my head, and the only thing it said was two words....
"Black Out"
Before I could even ask what that meant a dark pulse erupted from my body and hit a row of guards The city guards faltered, their movements disoriented as they clutched at their faces, stumbling and crying out in confusion. They swung their weapons wildly, unable to see their targets.
My breath ragged from the exertion, watched as the tide of the battle shifted. “Now!” I called to the fighters behind me. “Push them back!”
The defenders surged forward, taking advantage of the guards’ confusion. Kai leapt into action, cutting down a guard who was still fumbling blindly. The workers and Blackwater fighters followed suit, overwhelming the disoriented guards with a renewed ferocity.
The battle had shifted in their favor. As the city guards retreated in disarray, their ranks broken, I released my hold on the shadows, the darkness dissipating slowly. My body felt drained, but the sight of their enemies in retreat fueled my determination.
The city guard started to run and retreat without Lord Verran's orders Lord Verran, still on horseback, stared at Luna with a mixture of shock and rage.
"GO BACK AND FIGHT YOU HALF WITS IT'S ONLY A HYBRID AND A BUNCH OF MAGGOTS!"
They didn't listen however still running to retreat
He turned his horse, leading the remaining guards in a hasty retreat. The square was theirs—for now.
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As the dust settled and the adrenaline began to fade, I stood at the center of the square, my body trembling from the strain of using my powers. Kai approached her, his face a mixture of concern and awe.
“What… was that?” he asked quietly.
I wiped sweat from my brow, still catching my breath. I don't know, but I think I'm going crazy. Its funny because I still don't know what this power exactly is.
Kai’s expression hardened with resolve. “Well, whatever it's it saved us bigtime.”
I looked out over the square, the people beginning to gather, murmuring with a mixture of fear and hope. They had won this round, but I knew that the battle was far from over. The nobles wouldn’t forget what had happened here today—and neither would the people.
“We need to prepare,” I said softly. “I won't ever let them catch us off guard again.”
The square was eerily silent after the chaos, save for the distant retreating sound of Lord Verran’s enraged shouts. The people, dockworkers and laborers alike, stood in a stunned circle around Luna and Kai. For a moment, it was as if everyone was trying to process what had just happened—how they had managed to drive off a superior force. But the cost was visible; bodies lay scattered, some unconscious, others worse.
Kai shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. “We can’t stay here. Verran will return, and next time he’ll bring more men.”
My eyes scanned the square, landing on the faces of those still standing, hardened and determined. I knew Kai was right. Verran was furious, and the next wave would likely include even worse tactics—mercenaries, siege weapons, or worse, noble-backed assassins.
“We won’t be caught off guard,” I said. “But we need a real plan.”
As if on cue, the Blackwater scout returned, his face lined with worry. “Luna, Kai—we’ve got word from one of our informants. The council’s planning a full-scale crackdown. Word is they’re gathering forces as we speak.”
Kai cursed under his breath. “They’re not wasting any time.”
I stepped forward; my expression resolute. “Then we won’t either. We need to hit back before they can organize. If they want a crackdown, let’s make it a war. Tonight, we go after their strongholds.”
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The makeshift war room was set up inside a nearby warehouse. Me, Kai, and the leaders of the Blackwater Crew and Green Serpents gathered around a hastily drawn map of the city, marking key council strongholds with smudges of charcoal. My fingers traced the lines of the map, my mind racing through possible strategies.
“The council’s power is spread out across the city,” I began. “If we take out their key supply points—guard barracks, armories—we can slow their reinforcements and buy ourselves more time.”
One of the Blackwater leaders, a broad-shouldered man named Aiden, crossed his arms. “You’re talking about hitting multiple targets in one night. We don’t have the numbers for that.”
My eyes flicked up, gleaming in the dim light. “We don’t need to hit every target ourselves. We’ll divide and conquer. The people are ready to rise up. They’ve seen what we can do. Now we rally them to our cause.”
Just as they were beginning to strategize their next move, a familiar figure pushed through the throng of people gathering in the square. Rose emerged, her presence like a breath of fresh air amidst the tension.
“Luna! Kai!” she called, her voice bright against the backdrop of the chaos. “I came as soon as I heard!”
"Oh and here comes one of our fearless leaders, and where have you been," Kai says with a sarcastic smile.
"We suffered tooth and nail against the city guard and here Rose comes all chipper, I don't know what she was doing, but I guess it was none of business," I thought to myself.
Not answering the question Rose rolled her eyes at Kai's sarcasm, a grin spreading across her face. “You know I can’t resist a good fight. I’m here now, and I heard about the rally—and the scuffle.” She glanced around the room, taking in the worried expressions of the Blackwater leaders. “What’s the plan?”
I stepped forward, my determination unwavering. “We’re gearing up for a counterstrike against the council’s strongholds. They’re mobilizing, and we can’t let them get ahead of us.”
Rose’s eyes widened with excitement. “I’m in. What do you need me to do?”
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-To be continued
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