Chapter 22: Final Words

The moment he dreaded had arrived.

Helios sat in his throne room, pale-faced, as his five commanders kneeled before him, awaiting his orders. After they had left Etna, they had enjoyed peace for nearly two weeks, allowing Helios to slowly evacuate his people, bidding them to go wherever they felt was safe. He had planned for everyone to leave, but his men refused to let their king die alone. Their loyalty was going to lead them to pointlessly waste their lives.

They had refused to allow him to join the front lines as well. It would be better if he preserved his strength for a final showdown against the three kings, they had said. Helios didn't care anymore. Killing Yam had been enough for him to lose his fighting spirit completely.

"They have breached our gates," Phaethon said. "I don't know how much time we have left before they overrun the castle."

"You must escape with them, my liege," Sol said sharply, looking up at Helios.