So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.

-Sun Tzu

Nine months had passed since the final battle against the Stargian forces. The kingdom of Barrania was flourishing, its people basking in the hard-won peace. Mengus, now married to Princess Karin, had assumed more responsibilities within the royal court. Their union was blessed with the birth of twin sons, bringing joy and hope to the kingdom. The birth of the heirs was celebrated with grandeur, and the people saw it as a symbol of a prosperous future.

However, not all was well within the palace walls. Lysa, Mengus's trusted general and secret lover, had also been with child. The pregnancy had brought new hope to their already fragile relationship. But the hope turned to sorrow when complications during labor led to the death of Lysa’s baby. Lysa left the court soon after, with her small army roaming the kingdom under the Barranian flag.

King Kaladogg had recovered from his wounds, his resilience surprising even the royal physicians. He continued to rule with a firm hand, his experience and wisdom guiding Barrania through the initial stages of post-war reconstruction. Mengus respected and supported the king, valuing his mentorship and leadership.

Mengus sat in his study, surrounded by maps and scrolls, his mind preoccupied with the kingdom's future. Despite the peaceful times, there were always threats to be managed, resources to be allocated, and alliances to be maintained. His twin sons, now healthy and growing, gave him a new hope in life.

The captured enemy king, Borak, had been held in the dungeons of the royal palace. Mengus had been visiting him regularly, seeking to understand the remnants of Stargia's plans and any potential threats they might still pose. Today, however, Borak had requested a private audience with Mengus, claiming he had vital information to share.

Mengus entered the dimly lit cell, his presence commanding and authoritative. Borak, though in chains, held a certain defiance in his eyes. Mengus signaled for the guards to leave them alone, and once the heavy door closed behind them, he addressed the captive.

“What is it you wish to tell me, Borak? Speak quickly, for my patience is limited.”

Borak smirked, leaning back against the stone wall. “Ah, Mengus, always so direct. Very well. I believe you deserve to know the truth about your dear King Kaladogg.”

Mengus's eyes narrowed. “And what truth would that be?”

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Borak's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “The looting of your village, the event that set you on your path to becoming the hero of Barrania… It was all orchestrated by Kaladogg himself.”

Mengus felt his heart stop for a moment, a cold fury beginning to build within him. “You’re lying,” he said, though his voice betrayed a hint of doubt.

“Am I?” Borak continued, his tone mocking. “The attack on your village was meant to push you into becoming the warrior he needed. Kaladogg saw potential in you and decided to shape you through tragedy and loss. He believed you would be more loyal if you thought you had lost everything.”

Mengus’s mind raced, recalling the subtle inconsistencies and oddities he had noticed over the years but had always dismissed. He wanted to deny Borak’s claims, but a nagging feeling of suspicion made him hesitate.

“Why should I believe you?” Mengus demanded. “You have every reason to lie and sow discord.”

Borak’s expression turned serious. “Because it’s the truth, and I have nothing left to lose."

“Why tell me this now?” Mengus asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Borak shrugged. “Call it revenge, call it the satisfaction of seeing you struggle with the truth. Kaladogg betrayed you, Mengus. Now, what will you do with that knowledge?”

Mengus left the cell, he needed to confront Kaladogg, but he had to do it in a way that would not throw the kingdom into chaos.

That evening, Mengus requested a private audience with King Kaladogg. The king, unsuspecting, agreed readily. They met in the royal chambers, the room filled with the warm glow of the setting sun.

“Your Majesty,” Mengus began, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of tension. “I have come across some troubling information.”

Kaladogg looked up from his papers, a hint of concern in his eyes. “What troubles you, Mengus?”

Mengus’s eyes bore into Kaladogg’s as he recounted his conversation with Borak, leaving nothing out. “He told me that the attack on my village was your doing, a scheme to turn me into the warrior you needed.”

Kaladogg’s expression shifted from concern to shock, then to a guarded neutrality. “Mengus, you must understand, the kingdom needed a hero. It needed someone strong and unyielding. You were always destined for greatness, but you needed a push.”

Mengus’s hands balled into fists, his anger barely contained. “So you played God with my life? You took my family from me to mold me into your weapon?”

Kaladogg stepped forward, his tone firm but pleading. “I did what was necessary for Barrania. Look at what you’ve achieved! Look at the peace we now have!”

Mengus’s heart pounded in his chest. “At what cost? How many lives have been sacrificed for your vision?”

Kaladogg reached out a hand. “Mengus, you must see the bigger picture. The kingdom is thriving because of the choices we made. Your pain, your loss, it was not in vain.”

Mengus recoiled, his mind a whirlwind of betrayal and anger. “You’ve manipulated and betrayed me, Kaladogg. For that, you must answer.”

Kaladogg’s face hardened. “If you strike me down, you will only prove that you are not the man I believed you to be.”

Mengus’s grip on his sword tightened. “Perhaps I am more than you ever imagined.”

In a swift motion, Mengus drew his sword and struck. The blade found its mark, and Kaladogg staggered, his eyes wide with shock and pain. Mengus pulled the blade free, and Kaladogg collapsed, blood pooling around him.

Mengus watched as the life drained from the king, his own heart pounding with a mix of rage and sorrow. He knew he had to make it look like Kaladogg had succumbed to his previous injuries. He called for the guards, ensuring his story would be believable.

The kingdom mourned the loss of King Kaladogg, believing he had died from complications related to his battle wounds. Mengus, now the undisputed ruler, ascended the throne.