—
The gates were open.
At last.
The city belonged to the victors.
Soldiers poured through the breach.
Banners rose over towers that had belonged to the enemy only an hour before.
—
**Eljara:**
“They did it.”
—
**Sean:**
“Looks that way.”
—
In the conquered square…
the enemy commander was dragged forward.
The man responsible for the siege.
For the raids.
For the dead.
He was forced to his knees.
—
Thousands shouted:
*”Kill him!”*
—
The victorious commander drew his sword.
—
**Eljara:**
“If ever there was a man who earned it…”
—
Sean looked at her.
—
**Sean:**
“Careful.”
—
**Eljara:**
“What?”
—
**Sean:**
“That’s how these things usually begin.”
—
The sword remained raised.
The crowd roared.
—
**Eljara:**
“If he kills him…”
“…they’ll love him even more.”
—
**Sean:**
“I know.”
—
**Eljara:**
“And if he doesn’t?”
—
Sean watched the thousands waiting.
—
**Sean:**
“Then we’ll find out whether they followed the man…”
—
“…or the fire.”
—
For one moment…
the sword lowered.
Then someone shouted:
*”Remember the children!”*
Another:
*”Remember the dead!”*
—
The chant returned.
Louder.
—
*”KILL HIM!”*
—
The sword fell.
The crowd exploded with joy.
—
**Eljara:**
“It’s done.”
—
Sean didn’t answer.
—
Then more prisoners were brought forward.
Officers.
Advisers.
Officials.
—
**Eljara:**
“They helped him.”
—
**Sean:**
“Yes.”
—
The commander nodded.
Another execution.
—
Then merchants.
Priests.
Scribes.
Messengers.
—
**Eljara:**
“They weren’t commanding the army.”
—
**Sean:**
“No.”
—
**Eljara:**
“But they supported it.”
—
**Sean:**
“Yes.”
—
Another nod.
Another body.
—
**Eljara:**
“That decision was faster.”
—
**Sean:**
“The first step usually is the hardest.”
—
Then families were brought forward.
Eljara froze.
—
**Eljara:**
“No.”
—
A soldier shouted:
*”Their sons will come for us later!”*
Another:
*”Finish it now!”*
—
**Eljara:**
“It started with justice.”
—
**Sean:**
“Yes.”
—
**Eljara:**
“Then security.”
—
**Sean:**
“Yes.”
—
**Eljara:**
“Now prevention.”
—
**Sean:**
“Yes.”
—
She stared at the commander.
—
**Eljara:**
“When did he become the monster?”
—
Sean looked at the blood-stained steps.
—
**Sean:**
“Which step?”
—
**Eljara:**
“What?”
—
**Sean:**
“The enemy commander?”
“The officers?”
“The advisers?”
“The merchants?”
“The families?”
—
He shrugged.
—
**Sean:**
“Pick one.”
—
Eljara looked sick.
—
**Eljara:**
“There has to be a line.”
—
**Sean:**
“There is.”
—
**Eljara:**
“Where?”
—
Sean watched the celebration.
—
**Sean:**
“That’s different for everyone.”
—
“An Orc crosses it when his Boyz stop being warriors…”
“…and become ammunition.”
—
“A Dwarf crosses it when the hold becomes worth more…”
“…than the clan meant to live in it.”
—
“A priest crosses it when salvation matters more…”
“…than whether anyone wants to be saved.”
—
“A lover crosses it when keeping someone…”
“…becomes more important than loving them.”
—
“And a warrior…”
—
Sean looked towards the executions.
—
**Sean:**
“…crosses it when protecting his people means…”
“…nobody else is allowed to remain a person.”
—
The victorious commander was offered a circlet.
He hesitated.
Then took it.
Thousands cheered.
—
Behind him…
for just a heartbeat…
four shadows seemed to grow in the firelight.
—
**Eljara:**
“Did they make him do it?”
—
Sean shook his head.
—
**Sean:**
“That’s the frightening part.”
—
**Eljara:**
“Then what did they do?”
—
The square fell silent as the commander raised his hand.
—
**Sean:**
“Maybe nothing.”
—
“Maybe they simply waited…”
—
“…to see how much he was willing…”
—
“…to feed his fire.”
—
The commander spoke.
—
**Commander:**
“Tonight…”
“…we make certain this never happens again.”
—
The crowd roared.
—
**Eljara:**
“He still thinks he’s saving them.”
—
**Sean:**
“Probably.”
—
**Eljara:**
“And that makes it worse.”
—
**Sean:**
“Much.”
—
Eljara looked towards us.
—
**Eljara:**
“It’s easy to say we’d stop.”
—
“Easy when it isn’t our victory.”
“Our dead.”
“Our people.”
“Our enemy.”
—
She looked back towards the conquered city.
—
# If one more step could make every sacrifice behind you worthwhile…
Sean looked towards us too.
—
# Would you take it?
—
## PLAY EPIC. FEEL THE STORY.
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