The days after Saamu's reflection by the river were filled with a strange sort of stillness. It was as though the world around him had paused, holding its breath, waiting for the decision Saamu had yet to make. He felt it, the weight of the choice he had yet to solidify. But in the silence of the days that followed, he found himself drawn into the tension of his own heart, the struggle between the beast and the boy he used to be.
The river goddess, as always, was there, whispering in his mind, urging him to seize his destiny, to let go of any hesitations and embrace the power she had given him. But this time, Saamu didn't let her words consume him. This time, he sought balance, not domination. Or so he thought.
The man, whose name Saamu had learned to be Jarek, had become his mentor in the days following their conversation. Jarek had lived through the fall of his own kingdom, and it was clear to Saamu that Jarek had once walked the same path he was now on. But Jarek had walked away from it, choosing a life of solitude and reflection. He had become a man hardened by the lessons of power, Saamu had yet to fully learn.
Every day, Jarek took Saamu further into the wilderness, away from the remnants of the village and into the vast, untouched forests that stretched out like an endless ocean of trees. Here, in the stillness of the wild, Jarek taught Saamu the true nature of strength: that it wasn't about destruction, but about the ability to withstand temptation. To fight not just enemies in the world, but the demons within.
But even as he trained with Jarek, Saamu felt the river goddess's presence growing stronger, her voice becoming a constant hum in the back of his mind, urging him to give in, to take what was his.
"The world will kneel to you, Saamu. You are a king. Do not let your doubts stand in your way."
It was one morning, as the air was still thick with the remnants of the night's mist, that Saamu first felt the stirrings of rebellion. Not within himself, but from outside. The whispering winds carried the sound of voices, faint at first, then growing louder, more distinct. Saamu and Jarek had spent the morning in silence, training with the weapons they had fashioned from the surrounding trees and stone. But now, the quiet was broken by the sound of shouting, distant but unmistakable. It was the sound of people, many people rising up.
Saamu froze, his senses immediately heightening. The sound was too deliberate to be a random encounter. This was a revolt.
Jarek was already on his feet, his face set in a grim expression. "It's happening," he said, his voice low. "They've finally had enough."
Saamu's heart skipped a beat. "Enough of what?"
"The ones you've conquered," Jarek said. "The ones you've ruled with fear. They've decided they no longer want to bow to you."
Saamu turned his gaze to the distant horizon, where the sounds of rebellion had taken root. The world he had built only if one could call it a kingdom is in the edge of collapse. His power had come at a high cost, and now, the people were beginning to fight back. The very ones who had once cowered before him were rising against his tyranny.
"How could they rise against me?" Saamu murmured, more to himself than to Jarek. "I gave them everything. I gave them power, I gave them strength."
Jarek's eyes darkened. "You gave them nothing but fear. Fear can only hold a kingdom together for so long. Sooner or later, the people will remember that they have power, too. And when they do, they will fight to take it back."
Saamu felt the stirrings of anger flare inside him, but he quickly suppressed it. He had worked too hard to build his power, too hard to let it slip away. But the rebellion was more than just a sign of discontent. It was the first crack in the foundation of his empire.
"We need to stop it," Saamu said, his voice hard. "I won't let this go unchallenged. I'll crush them before they can rise any further."
Jarek placed a hand on Saamu's shoulder, his grip firm but steady. "You can't destroy everything, Saamu. This isn't just about power anymore. This is about people's lives. If you crush this rebellion with bloodshed, it will only fuel more rebellion. Your kingdom will burn to the ground, and you will have nothing left but ashes."
Saamu pulled away from Jarek's hand, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I don't care about ashes. I care about power. I care about ruling the world. And I will not let anyone take that from me."
But as the words left his lips, Saamu felt a flicker of doubt. The beast inside him raged, wanting to unleash all its fury, to stamp out any who dared defy him. But the small part of him, the boy who had once wanted to protect his home, to be like his father felt the weight of the decision pressing down on him.
"Embrace me, Saamu. Embrace your destiny. You are the king." The river goddess's voice was insistent, louder than before, but this time, Saamu fought against it.
"Enough," he muttered, shaking his head. He turned his back to Jarek and began walking toward the source of the rebellion. The sound of the revolt grew louder, more distinct. There was no turning back now. He would have to face this head-on.
The path was fraught with uncertainty, but Saamu knew one thing: He would fight. He would fight to maintain control, to ensure his reign, no matter the cost.
When they arrived at the camp of the rebellion, Saamu saw the faces of those who had once bowed to him like the farmers, workers, soldiers and now standing tall in their eyes burning with defiance. Their leader, a tall woman with fierce eyes and a commanding presence, stood at the front, rallying them to fight.
Saamu's chest tightened as he stared at her. She was everything he had feared a symbol of resistance, of defiance against the power he had worked so hard to amass. She was the first real challenge to his reign, and she had no intention of backing down.
The rebellion had begun, and for the first time, Saamu wasn't sure if he could win.
But as the leader stepped forward to face him, her eyes filled with determination, Saamu felt the weight of the river goddess's presence in his soul, urging him to claim victory.
"Do it, Saamu. You are the king. Show them who rules this world."
But as the rebellion grew closer, Saamu hesitated. The choice before him had never been clearer: he could crush them with the river goddess's power, bend them to his will, or he could listen to the faint, distant voice of reason that had begun to awaken within him.
The moment of truth had arrived. Would he remain the Lord of All Beasts, or would he become something more?