Chapter 25: Public Confrontation.
“I wish Lucas were here,” Talon muttered as he paced near the window, frustration evident in his every movement. “He’d have this sorted out in no time.”
Ava, standing nearby, sighed softly, her mind racing through the evidence they had collected. "We have to do it without him, Talon. This is our mess to clean up," she replied, her tone firm but understanding of Talon’s frustration.
Miko, leaning against the table with arms crossed, chimed in, “We’ve got what we need. Now it’s just about presenting it to the council, but the mayor’s not going to go down quietly.”
Talon’s gaze shifted to Miko, determination hardening his expression. “He’s already out there, isn’t he?”
Miko nodded, grim. “He’s rallying support in the market, trying to sway public opinion before we can make our case.”
Ava straightened, her eyes narrowing. “Then we won’t give him the chance to control the narrative. Let’s go.”
---
As Ava, Talon, and Miko stepped into the busy market square, the morning sun cast long shadows over the bustling scene. The villagers were gathering, drawn in by the mayor’s booming voice as he stood atop a crate, gesturing animatedly.
“These Sentinels think they can come back and rule over us!” the mayor shouted, his voice dripping with false conviction. “They’ve already begun spreading lies to turn you against me! They want to take control of Green Arbor and bend it to their will!”
The crowd was a mixture of curiosity, loyalty, and skepticism. Some nodded along with the mayor’s speech, while others whispered among themselves, casting wary glances in Ava and Talon’s direction as they approached.
Talon’s jaw clenched as he observed the mayor’s performance. “This bastard is manipulating them,” he muttered, his fists curling in frustration.
Ava’s eyes narrowed, her focus sharp as a blade. “Not for long,” she replied, her voice steady with purpose.
Without waiting for an invitation, Ava stepped forward, drawing the crowd’s attention. “Mayor,” she called out, her voice cutting through the marketplace noise like a whip. “Enough with the theatrics.”
The crowd shifted, murmurs rising as they turned their attention to Ava. The mayor faltered for a brief second before regaining his composure. “Ah, Sentinel Ava. Come to join the fray? Or are you here to continue spreading your lies?”
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“I’m here to speak the truth,” Ava said, her gaze cold and unyielding. “The truth that you’ve been hiding.”
Miko stepped up beside her, his voice carrying weight as he addressed the crowd. “We’ve got a statement from Mark, the tavern owner. He confirmed that the mayor has been dealing with the Syndicate, helping them operate in Green Arbor.”
The crowd erupted in murmurs, shock rippling through the marketplace. People exchanged glances, some in disbelief, others starting to piece together what had been happening beneath the surface.
The mayor’s face reddened with barely concealed fury. “This is preposterous! You’re grasping at straws because you’ve realized you’re losing control!” His voice rose with desperation as he pointed a finger at Ava and Miko. “They’re trying to tear Green Arbor apart!”
Talon, standing a step behind Ava, finally spoke, his voice cutting through the mayor’s rant. “The only one tearing this town apart is you, Mayor.” He pulled out a folded piece of paper and held it up for the crowd to see. “This is the statement from Mark. He tells us that you’ve been working with the Syndicate, funneling resources, and turning a blind eye to their operations.”
The mayor’s eyes flickered nervously, his voice faltering. “This is nothing but slander. You don’t have proof—”
“We have more than enough proof,” Ava interrupted, stepping forward. “And when we present it to the council, your lies won’t hold up. Your days of betraying Green Arbor are over.”
The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, people now openly questioning the mayor’s integrity. Some of the villagers who had been supporting the mayor moments before were now exchanging concerned whispers, unsure of where to place their trust.
The mayor, desperate to regain control, shouted, “This is a conspiracy! A ploy to take power from the people and put it in the hands of the Sentinels!”
Ava’s eyes flashed with anger, but her voice remained calm. “We don’t want power. We never have. The Sentinels have always been here to protect, not to rule. But we won’t let you use this town as a pawn in your game with the Syndicate.”
Miko nodded, adding, “We’re bringing this to the council. Let the people see the truth for themselves.”
The mayor’s face twisted with rage, but there was little he could do. “Fine,” he spat, his voice bitter. “I will have my day within the council. And we’ll see who the people believe.”
With that, the mayor stepped down from his crate, the crowd parting as he stormed away, his back straight but his steps hurried.
Ava watched him go, her gaze hard. “He knows he’s losing,” she muttered.
Talon, still holding the statement from Mark, glanced at her. “We just need to hold him accountable. The truth will take care of the rest.”
The crowd remained, still buzzing with conversation, but there was a noticeable shift in the air. The trust that the mayor had once held was wavering, cracks forming in the support he had relied on.
As the villagers dispersed, some approaching Ava and Miko to offer quiet words of support, the three Sentinels exchanged a look of quiet determination.
“The council will hear this,” Ava said, her voice steady. “And when they do, the mayor won’t be able to hide behind his lies anymore.”
Miko nodded. “We’ll be ready.”
With the weight of their mission clear, they turned and headed back toward the Sentinel post, knowing that the battle wasn’t over yet—but they had taken the first step toward victory.