Chapter 40: The Kingdom Shaken

The early morning sun rose over Eldoria, casting long shadows over the city that had once been the proud seat of the Valion family's power. Smoke still lingered in the air from the previous night's battle, and the streets, once alive with the energy of its people, were now desolate. The rebellion had succeeded. The capital had fallen.

On the balcony of the grand palace, Valerius Kane, the true architect behind the fall of Eldoria, surveyed the city below. His dark armor gleamed in the pale morning light, the intricate black and silver designs reflecting his careful nature—a man who had orchestrated every detail of this victory. He stood with an air of calm triumph, his cold eyes sweeping over the broken city, the new capital of his ambition.

Eldoria was his now.

The once-unshakable Valion family had been torn apart. Thorian Valion was dead, and Akin, the young heir, had been thrown from a cliff into the raging river below, disappearing into the black waters. Valerius's soldiers had scoured the riverbanks all night, but no body had been found. Akin was presumed dead, but Valerius wasn't one to leave things to chance. The search would continue until there was no doubt left.

"Is there any word?" Valerius asked, his voice calm but laced with authority.

A rebel captain stood behind him, his armor bloodied and his expression tense. "No, my lord. We've searched the river's edge, but there's no sign of Akin Valion. We believe he was carried away by the current."

Valerius's lips curled slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "Continue searching. I want no loose ends. If he lives, I want him found. If he's dead, I want to see the body."

The captain bowed. "As you command, my lord."

As the captain left, Valerius turned his gaze back to the city. The Valion legacy had been all but shattered. The young heir, Akin, had shown promise—too much promise, in fact. Valerius had watched Akin grow into a warrior, a leader, and he knew the boy's potential for greatness. That was why Akin had to be eliminated. He could have been a threat, just like Thorian had been all those years ago.

Thorian Valion. The name still made Valerius's blood boil.

His father had been the Grand Chancellor, a man of great power who had controlled the court and nearly claimed the throne himself. But Thorian had taken that from him, and with it, the future Valerius's father had envisioned. Valerius had been forced to watch as the Valion family rose to power, while his own family was destroyed. Thorian had executed his father, shattered the political system, and left Valerius an orphan.

The memory of those days fueled Valerius's resolve. The years of planning, the alliances made in secret, the dark magic learned in forbidden places—it had all been for this moment. He had been patient, biding his time in the shadows, and now, finally, his revenge was complete.

"All of this," Valerius murmured to himself, "for the future of Elaris. My future."

---

Inside the palace, the halls that had once been filled with the bustle of the Valion court were now eerily silent. Rebel soldiers patrolled the corridors, but their presence did little to erase the feeling of emptiness. Valerius had claimed the throne, but his work was far from over.

The noble houses of Elaris were watching closely. Some had already bent the knee to Valerius, seeing his victory as inevitable. Others were still wavering, uncertain of their place in this new regime. Valerius knew that in order to truly consolidate his power, he would need to bring the remaining nobles to heel. If they refused, they would face the same fate as the Valions.

He strode through the halls with purpose, making his way to the council chamber where the leaders of the noble houses had been summoned. His dark cloak trailed behind him, the sharp sound of his boots against the marble floor echoing through the empty halls.

The doors to the council chamber swung open, and Valerius entered the room with an air of authority. The nobles seated around the long table rose as he approached, their expressions a mix of fear and uncertainty. Among them were those who had once been loyal to the Valions, but now, they had little choice but to acknowledge Valerius's rule.

"Lords and Ladies of Elaris," Valerius began, his voice calm but commanding, "you have been called here to witness the dawn of a new era. The kingdom has suffered under the weight of rebellion, but that ends today. I stand before you as the rightful ruler of this land, and I expect your loyalty."

Lord Greyer, one of the more senior nobles and a staunch supporter of the Valions, stepped forward, his expression carefully neutral. "Lord Valerius," he said, his voice steady, "we have long served the Valion family, and their rule brought stability to this kingdom. Can you promise the same?"

Valerius's eyes narrowed slightly, though he maintained his composure. "The Valions are gone, Lord Greyer. They were warriors, but they lacked the vision to lead. I will bring order to this kingdom, and under my rule, Elaris will rise stronger than it ever was under Thorian or his son."

A murmur ran through the room, the other nobles exchanging uncertain glances. Some, like Lord Greyer, were clearly hesitant, while others seemed ready to fall in line.

"You speak of order," Lady Norath, another noble, said, her sharp eyes watching Valerius closely. "But what of the people? They will not forget the Valions so easily. What will you do if they rise against you?"

Valerius smiled, though it was a cold, calculating smile. "The people will learn to accept their new reality. Those who resist will be dealt with, swiftly and decisively. But those who serve me will find that my rule brings prosperity. The choice is theirs."

The tension in the room was palpable. Valerius had already shown his willingness to crush those who opposed him, and the nobles knew that defiance could mean the end of their houses. But there were still those who would not yield so easily.

Lord Greyer met Valerius's gaze, his expression hardening. "And what of the Valion heir? Akin has not been found. If he lives—"

"He does not live," Valerius interrupted, his voice sharp. "Akin Valion is gone. Even if by some miracle he survived the fall, he will never return to power. This kingdom belongs to me now."

Lord Greyer hesitated for a moment, but then he bowed his head. "As you say, my lord."

Valerius's eyes flicked across the room, gauging the reactions of the other nobles. One by one, they lowered their heads in submission, though Valerius could sense the reluctance in some of them. It didn't matter. They would fall in line, or they would be destroyed.

"Good," Valerius said, his voice smooth. "Together, we will rebuild Elaris. We will create a kingdom that is strong, united, and unbreakable."

The council chamber fell into an uneasy silence, the weight of Valerius's words hanging in the air. The nobles knew that the days ahead would be filled with uncertainty and fear, but they also knew that there was little choice but to follow the man who now sat upon the throne.

As the meeting concluded and the nobles began to leave, Valerius stood alone in the center of the room, his eyes fixed on the throne that now belonged to him. He had claimed victory, but there was still work to be done. The nobles might have submitted, but loyalty was a fragile thing, easily broken.

And then, there was the matter of Akin Valion.

The search would continue until there was no doubt left. Akin had to be dead. He couldn't afford to take any chances.

For now, though, Valerius allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The Valion family, the warriors who had stood as the defenders of Elaris for generations, had been broken. And soon, the entire kingdom would know that a new era had begun.

The era of Valerius Kane.