Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Free
3rd Person POV
The following day, Cedric stood before his father, King Aldric, his eyes burning with a mixture of anger and disbelief. The atmosphere in the grand hall was tense.
"You sent assassins after him, father," Cedric's voice was sharp, his words a direct challenge to the king's authority, "You sought to take his life without cause or justification."
King Aldric's expression remained impassive and indifferent.
"I merely sought to test his loyalty," he replied, his voice devoid of remorse or empathy, "His actions have consequences, and he must answer for them."
Cedric's fists clenched at his sides, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
"Testing his loyalty by sending trained killers?" he retorted, his tone sounding incredulous, "That is not justice, Father. That is tyranny."
The king's gaze hardened, his patience wearing thin.
"Do not presume to lecture me on justice, Cedric," he warned, his voice low and menacing. "I will not tolerate insubordination from my own son. Hero or not, you are currently under my rule."
But Cedric stood his ground.
"I will not stand idly by while innocent lives are threatened," he declared, his voice ringing with determination. "If you refuse to see reason, father, then I will do whatever it takes to protect those who cannot protect themselves."
"Protect him?" the king now was the one incredulous, "The slave in question posed a threat to the stability of our kingdom by attacking our men over a mere test. I took the necessary steps to neutralize that threat."
"If you continue down this path, father, you risk losing the respect and loyalty of your subjects," Cedric warned, "I implore you to reconsider your actions before it is too late."
"The slave's fate has been decided, and he shall face the consequences of his actions."
With that, Cedric turned and strode out of the grand hall, leaving behind a stunned and silent king. As he made his way through the corridors of the palace, his mind raced with plans and strategies to confront the injustice that had taken root in his father's reign.
Cedric knew that he could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of others, even if it meant defying the very ruler he was sworn to obey.
*****
In the dim confines of his cell, the air heavy with the stench of despair, Perseus' rage simmered like a volcano ready to erupt. Hatred coursed through his veins, a seething fire fueled by the injustice and cruelty he had endured. As he surveyed his surroundings with narrowed eyes, his lip curled in a silent snarl of contempt.
The food they had offered him lay discarded in a corner, a vile concoction tainted with spit from one of the prison guards. A foul mockery, it served only to stoke the flames of his fury. The cup of dirty water provided was no better, its murky depths reflecting the bleakness of his situation as the guards left laughing and jeering at him.
Bound by chains of iron, Perseus was shackled to the wall, his movements restricted and his freedom stripped away.
*****
After a while, a guard came to mock him again as he watched Perseus restrained while taking a drink on the job.
"You think you're mighty, don't you?" the guard jeered, "A pathetic excuse for a prisoner, that's what you are."
"And you think you're a hero, do you? Hiding behind your armor and the cage like a coward."
"You'll be begging for mercy soon enough, mark my words. Just another worm squirming in the dirt."
"Mercy...? Mercy? Puhahahahaha...that's funny. You think you've won, don't you? You think these chains can hold me down, that this cell can contain my fury? You're wrong. Dead wrong. Because every moment I spend in this wretched place, I grow stronger. More determined.
"And when I finally break free, and mark my words, I will break free, I'll rain down hellfire upon you and your precious empire. You've made a grave mistake, underestimating me. You see me as nothing but a prisoner, a pawn to be toyed with and discarded. But you're about to learn that I'm so much more than that.
"So go ahead, laugh while you still can, revel in your victory. But know this, the day will come when the tables are turned when you'll be the one begging for mercy. And on that day, I'll show you none. I'll show you the full extent of my wrath, and you'll know what it means to face the consequences of your actions.
"You may think you've defeated me, but you've only sealed your own fate. For I am not so easily broken. I am not so easily defeated. And when I rise from the ashes of this prison, I'll be stronger than ever before. And I'll make you regret ever crossing me. That, my friend, is a promise."
"You think you can threaten me, prisoner? You're nothing but a rat in a cage." the guard replied with a faltering laugh.
"Call me what you will, but remember this, even a rat will bite when cornered. And mark my words, when I escape these chains, I'll be more than just a thorn in your side. I'll be your worst nightmare."
*****
Perseus POV
The cuffs were supposed to be unbreakable, designed to restrain the most dangerous criminals, those who posed a threat even to the mightiest brutes. But they had a flaw, a fatal flaw that they didn't anticipate. They were so focused on anti-magic properties and brute strength that they overlooked the size.
They were made for adults, for fully grown men with thick wrists and powerful muscles. But here I was, a young man with slender hands, and the cuffs were slightly loose. It was a small oversight, but it was all I needed.
I ran my fingers along the edges, searching for any sign of vulnerability. And then I found it, a tiny pinhole in the metal, barely visible to the naked eye. Due to my hands being loose and the female hairpin I took from a female guard, I can reach it easily.
I inserted the pin into the hole and applied pressure. There was a faint click, and suddenly, the cuffs loosened around my wrists. I couldn't believe it. I had actually done it. I had broken free.
Dumb fantasy world...they should get themselves more spy movies because this is just too easy.
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