Chapter Four — The Meeting of Skalvorn
After hearing that command, a few guards ran off to inform their superiors.
Soon after, a large party was formed to deliver the king's order — to summon every captain and elder.
If needed, they were instructed to use force.
The lowest ranked among them were Rank 3 Martial Artists; some captains were Rank 7.
They split into squads, sweeping through every district of the capital, and even parts of the kingdom itself.
They avoided the borders and the distant regions, but within minutes the capital was in uproar.
Within an hour, the entire kingdom trembled with gossip.
And before long, word reached the neighboring kingdoms and empires.
Every messenger carried the same report:
> "Something big is happening in the Kingdom of Skalvorn."
---
In Akajaya's meeting hall, captains began to arrive — one after another.
Even the elders came, something that hadn't happened in years.
Outside, at one of the doors, a guard muttered,
> "Even the elders came this time…"
Before he could finish, his superior struck him hard on the head.
> BLAM!
"Do your job properly!"
Moments later, another guard entered the chamber.
> "My lord, everyone has arrived — except those stationed at the borders."
The Prime Minister, Varrek Lysandor, stepped forward.
> "My lord, we have around 2,500 to 3,000 captains present. An equal number remain at the borders, and a few are away on missions."
Akajaya nodded slowly.
> "I see."
His eyes moved over the gathered captains and elders.
Some of the elders looked visibly displeased by the sudden summons.
> "Then let's begin," Akajaya said.
"Or perhaps… I should call it the meeting that decides Skalvorn's future."
An elder stood abruptly.
> "You— you child! You did not rightfully inherit the throne!"
Akajaya's gaze turned to him, cold and sharp.
> "Not rightfully inherit the throne?
Should I have waited for the old king — my father — to die of age?
Or perhaps killed my brothers and sisters to make it 'rightful'?
Or maybe…" he leaned forward slightly, voice lowering,
"…should I kill everyone here to make it truly mine?"
The elder froze.
A chill ran down his spine.
A ripple of uneasy whispers spread across the hall.
> "Silence," Akajaya commanded.
"I summoned you all for one reason.
I am closing the kingdom's borders."
The words struck like thunder.
Shock spread instantly — through captains, elders, ministers, even the guards.
Everyone thought the same thing:
That crazy bastard… what is he doing?
Then, from the ministers' seats, Selira Vondrin, Minister of Justice, stood up.
Her tone was sharp, urgent.
> "My lord, you can't do that! For the sake of our people—millions will die!
Trade will collapse, our alliances will crumble—
please, my lord, rethink this decision!"
Akajaya turned his gaze to her.
> "Selira Vondrin… are you commanding me?"
She froze.
Before she could respond, Akajaya spoke again, his voice calm yet venomous.
> "Of course not.
But you see, Selira… your foolishness threatens my authority."
A dark silence fell over the room.
Every heartbeat grew heavy.
Something dreadful was coming.
Akajaya turned his head slightly.
> "Velkir," he said.
"Can you do it for me?"
Velkir's reply came low and cold.
> "At your command, my lord."
He vanished.
In the blink of an eye, where he had stood moments ago, he was gone —
and reappeared beside Selira.
Before she could react, his hand was already around her throat, lifting her off the ground.
Selira struggled, gasping, clawing at his arm — but nothing worked.
Her strength was meaningless.
Over ten thousand people —
all warriors of Rank 7 or higher —
stood frozen in shock.
No one dared to breathe.
It was as if their own necks were being crushed.
Only two in that vast hall breathed normally.
Akajaya.
Velkir.
Seconds passed.
Then Selira's body went limp.
The Minister of Justice — once a Rank 9 Peak Martial Artist, one step from transcendence —
was dead.
Velkir opened his hand.
Her body fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Silence.
The entire hall stood still.
A moment ago, she had been one of the strongest in the kingdom.
Now she was nothing.
All ten thousand present thought the same thing —
> Who is this man?
How could someone kill a Peak Rank 9 Martial Artist in mere seconds… without even a trace of emotion?
Velkir stood silently, his eyes cold and empty.
He looked less like a man — and more like a devil standing beside his king.
And in that silence, every single person understood the same truth —
> This was not a king they served.
It was something far more dangerous.