Chapter 8 - Truth and memory
"Seize that scum!" King Vin bellowed, his voice ringing through the air. In an instant, his crimson-clad soldiers charged toward Zander.
But the tiger was ready. With a swift motion, he used his massive sword and swung it with all his might. The force of the swing was so powerful that it created a gust of wind, sending the soldiers flying back before they could even get close.
"Okay, that was cool," Zander said, nodding in approval. "But remember, no killing."
"Why?" the tiger asked, his grip still firm on his sword.
"Because we don't need to make ourselves targets," Zander replied calmly. "We've got enough trouble as it is… They probably believe I took the riches."
The tiger grinned, "I mean, you were the one throwing it out of the house."
Zander shook his head, deep in thought. "That was my clones, not me!".
They both dashed toward the gate, aiming to escape the kingdom. As they ran, citizens called out their thanks, grateful for their returned treasures. Meanwhile, Many crimson soldiers charged after them. But before they could escape there were fifty crimson soldiers blocking the gate.
“There are so many of them! I could make some clones as a distraction," Zander thought, preparing to act. But before he could, the tiger scooped him up.
"What are you doing?" Zander exclaimed.
"Opening the gate," the tiger growled, charging straight toward the crimson soldiers blocking their path. With a powerful rush, the soldiers were sent flying, clearing the way. In one swift motion, the tiger and Zander bolted through the gate, escaping the kingdom.
King Vin shouted in fury, "You idiot! You let them escape! Chase them!"
One of the soldiers hesitated, then quietly said, "Uh, sir... they're really far away."
King Vin, still seething with anger, was taken aback when the Ruby Empress marched up to him and slapped him hard across the face. The citizens had reclaimed all their gold, jewels, and coins, leaving King Vin on his knees in despair. The Ruby Empress looked down at him with disdain.
"So, you're not really wealthy," she scoffed. "I should have known. You probably stole from all these people."
"No, not stolen, my queen... Just borrowed it for the time being," King Vin stammered, trying to regain his composure.
"Whatever," she sighed, turning away. "I'm bored. I'm ready to move on to the next kingdom."
Desperate, King Vin grabbed the Empress's arm. "Please, give me time. I will be wealthy again—just give me more time!"
The Ruby Empress delivered a swift kick to King Vin's face, sending him tumbling backward into an apple market. The sound of thudding crates and startled gasps echoed around him as he struggled to regain his footing.
With a flick of her wrist, she climbed back into her ornate cart, her crimson robes flowing behind her. The soldiers swiftly followed, forming a protective perimeter around her as they departed.
Greed is a deadly sin that can consume a man's heart, blinding him to the needs of others.
Greed fosters a lack of empathy.
In the end, it may cost a man not only his integrity but also the potential of a future queen, leaving him alone with nothing but his hollow ambitions.
In the lush, green expanse filled with vibrant trees, the tiger finally set Zander down, allowing him to regain his footing.
“Okay, first,” Zander began, catching his breath, “how can you run so fast given your size? Second, where have you brought us?”
“ You’d be surprised what motivation could do to a person. As for where we are…This is my home.”
Zander’s eyes widened. “This spot?”
“This whole jungle. This is where I was born. So many memories flow into me here.”
“The whole jungle.” Said Zander
“There.” The Tiger points forward. “We keep moving. I can show you my old home.”
They walked for minutes, enveloped by the sounds of rustling leaves and distant calls of unseen creatures. He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering the carefree days of his cubhood.
“Seems like you like it, Lion,” Zander remarked, watching his companion’s eyes shine with nostalgia.
“Yes,” The Tiger replied, a soft smile spreading across his face. “I always wanted to come back to this place. Ever since I left.”
“Why did you leave?” Zander asked, curiosity flickering in his gaze. “I mean, you love this jungle the way you’re saying it.”
The Tiger paused, his thoughts drifting back to the moment he had left. A woman's voice echoed in his mind, haunting and tender.
“Leo, please survive.”
He could almost see her, strong and desperate, carrying a young Leo in her arms as she fled from a dark and looming threat.
“Leo, please survive,” she urged, her voice trembling with fear. “They can kill me, but I will not let them have you. Find your sister and brother and stay with them to be safe. Your mother was a fool to think they wouldn’t come.”
Suddenly, she came to a halt at the edge of a steep cliff, her heart racing with the realization of the danger closing in.
With no other options, she looked down at her cub, her love palpable. In one swift, heart-wrenching motion, she tossed Leo off the mountain.
“Please survive,” she whispered, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and sorrow.
As he fell, she felt the blade pierce her chest, the life draining from her in an instant.
Back in the present, the Tiger shook off the memory, his heart heavy with the weight of loss. “It’s personal,” he said.
“Sure,” said Zander, a smirk tugging at his lips.
“My name is Leo, by the way,” the Tiger added, his chest puffing up slightly as he introduced himself.
“Leo. That is a nice name. Leo the lion,” Zander teased, grinning at the irony.
“I’m not a lion!” Leo exclaimed.
They continued to move through the dense foliage until they stumbled upon an old, broken house, its weathered wood covered in vines and moss. Zander pulled out his journal and began sketching the cabin and the towering tree nearby.
“What is that for?” Leo asked, peering over Zander’s shoulder.
“My journal? I just like to draw stuff in. look i got that big kingdom” He shows Leo.
"You have a great skill in artistry." said the Leo
“ Thank you. Hey, how about I draw you?” Zander suggested, his eyes glinting with excitement.
“Not now,” Leo replied, his curiosity piqued. “I want to go inside.”
They both stepped inside to explore the place. Zander leaped onto the bed, sinking into the softness with a sigh of relief. "Oh, this feels amazing," he said, a content smile spreading across his face.
Meanwhile, Leo wandered over to a table where a ring glimmered in the light. He recognized it—likely his mother's. He slipped the ring onto his finger, and it fit perfectly.
“So, Leo, about Mercury…” Zander began, his expression turning serious.
Leo pulled out a chair and sat down, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.
“Mercury is a monster,” Leo continued, his voice heavy with emotion. “He will destroy everything until he gets what he wants. I witnessed it first hand. Three years ago, when I was fourteen, I was hiding in the kingdom—a place much larger than the one we left behind. The ruler was giving a speech to the people.”
“Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of our kingdom—a kingdom built not only for the present, but for the future!” the leader’s voice echoed proudly through the kingdom. We raised this city from the ground up, brick by brick, through the sweat and perseverance of our people. It stands as a symbol of our strength, unity, and vision but not just that. A legacy!
The people cheered. Leo took his leaves out of the kingdom. Once left he heard a loud sound and he looked back… The kingdom was gone. Suddenly, Leo felt a sharp blow to the back of his head, and everything went dark. When he awoke, his vision was blurry. he found himself in a cell?