My world-tree system-Chapter 90 - 89: Fury of the dwarf king

Foster crossed the city with a heavy step, accompanied by Lïanna who walked beside him, silent and worried. The macabre bundle he held firmly against him seemed to be heavy. Every step he took resounded in his mind like a gloomy echo, a constant reminder of the terrible threat now hanging over them all.

They soon reached the quarters specially prepared for King Thorgrim and the five dwarf guards who had survived the Eldorim tragedy. These were modest but warm quarters, where the dwarves had struggled to regain some dignity after the loss of their kingdom.

When they reached the door, Foster took a deep breath and knocked firmly. A moment later, the door opened slowly, revealing Thorgrim, seated around a large carved wooden table with his guards. The king’s face immediately lit up with a warm smile when he saw Foster.

- Ah, Foster!" he said in a powerful voice, rising enthusiastically to his feet. I’m delighted to see you, my friend. What brings you here today?

But his smile disappeared almost immediately as he met Foster’s dark, preoccupied gaze. The guards stood up too, instinctively sensing the gravity of the moment.

Foster didn’t respond immediately. He simply walked slowly towards Thorgrim, carefully placing the box on the table in front of him. He then stepped back slightly, his eyes fixed on the dwarf king, without a word.

Thorgrim stared at the box with curiosity mingled with apprehension, instinctively understanding that it contained something serious. Slowly, his strong hands carefully opened the lid.

At the sight of the bloody ear and the blood-stained paper, Thorgrim froze, his eyes widening in horror. He began to tremble slightly, rage visibly rising within him, his jaws clenching painfully as a dark fury invaded his whole being. His massive hands clenched violently on the table, almost threatening to break it in two.

- What is this evil spell?" he growled, his voice trembling with anger. What infamy is this?

The five dwarf guards scrambled to their feet and approached their king, visibly shaken too, torn between horror and anger.

Foster, feeling the terrible weight of this moment, replied softly but firmly:

- We received this at the Vollua border. An Obscurus was sent to deliver this message. I destroyed it immediately, but I’m afraid the message is all too clear...

Thorgrim took the letter with trembling fingers, slowly reading the cruel, precise words written by Vorath. As his eyes traveled over the message, his face became livid, his breathing wheezed with rage, his shoulders shook under the weight of anger and grief.

- Joker..." he breathed with ferocious contempt. The Lords of the Apocalypse... those damned demons...

He turns to Foster, eyes burning with implacable determination, but also marked by infinite sadness.

- This ear... belongs to one of mine. One of those I left behind when I fled my kingdom. I recognize the marks on the earring. They’re torturing my people, Foster. My people!" he suddenly roared, striking the table with his massive fists.

Foster nodded slowly, his gaze locked on the dwarf king’s, sharing his deep pain.

- Joker gives us until the next full moon," Foster explained in a calm but serious voice. If you or I don’t surrender to them, they’ll continue to torture the dwarves still trapped there. They want to break our will, to destroy our union.

A heavy silence fell over the room. The dwarf guards exchanged glances of silent anger, their faces expressing impotent rage at the unimaginable cruelty of their enemies.

Lïanna, her voice silent until then, stepped forward slowly, her voice soft but carrying an unshakeable inner strength.

- Thorgrim, we are all with you in this ordeal. Vollua will not abandon you.

Thorgrim slowly raised his eyes to hers, gratitude and pain mingling in his tired gaze.

- Thank you, Lïanna. But the decision to sacrifice my life is mine, not yours. My people suffer because of me. I’m their king. I am responsible... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Foster gently laid a reassuring hand on the dwarf king’s sturdy shoulder, drawing his attention back.

- No, Thorgrim. We’ll find a solution. No one must die needlessly. Not you, not them. We need to think carefully about our next move.

Thorgrim shakes his head slowly, squeezing it in frustration.

- How can we fight enemies who have no mercy, no limits? How can I protect my people from their barbarity?

Foster squeezed his shoulder slightly, his determined gaze plunging into that of the dwarf king.

- We’re not alone. We still have allies, and we still have hidden forces in Vollua. Lïanna and I won’t let you face this alone.

Thorgrim inhaled deeply, trying to regain his composure despite the burning anger that continued to bubble up inside him.

- So, what do we do now?" he demanded, his voice husky but determined. We can’t just wait for the next attack.

Silence settled heavily in the small room. Thorgrim, his hands resting on the table in front of him, stared intently at the mutilated ear, as if it represented the very embodiment of his guilt. His sturdy shoulders seemed to sag under the crushing weight of responsibility and grief.

Foster, worried, already sensed what was to come. He knew Thorgrim well enough to sense the painful decision ripening in his mind.

The king finally raised only his eyes, his pupils shining with determination and pain.

- Foster," he said slowly in a dark, almost tired voice, "we no longer have the luxury of time. My people suffer every minute I spend hidden here, safe behind your roots. I can’t let this continue.

Foster frowned, feeling panic slowly creep over him.

- Thorgrim, listen to me. I understand your pain, but surrendering to them won’t save your people. They don’t respect anything, not even their word. It would be a useless sacrifice, a gesture that would only reinforce their cruelty.

The old king nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on hers with a determination that seemed unshakeable.

- I know very well who we’re dealing with, Foster. But I also know the price my people are paying for my existence. It’s unbearable. A king who abandons his people is not worthy of his crown. I’d rather die trying to save them than live here knowing that every breath I take costs me the blood of those I’ve sworn to protect.

The five dwarf guards in the room immediately move closer, their faces marked by concern, but also by unconditional loyalty.

- Your Majesty," said one of them, a burly dwarf with a neatly braided gray beard, "if you surrender, we’ll come with you. You can’t face these monsters alone.

Thorgrim slowly raised a hand, stopping them immediately. His face was hard, but his eyes shone with deep affection for these loyal soldiers.

- No. You’ve already paid too much for me. You’ve already paid too dearly for my survival. I will not sacrifice more precious lives. This is my burden, not yours.

The guards exchanged desperate glances, but none dared openly challenge their king. They knew it was impossible to make anyone think when he had taken such a serious decision.

Foster stepped forward slightly, his voice almost pleading:

- Thorgrim, please don’t do this. We can still find a solution, look for a way to negotiate or trap them...

Thorgrim gently placed a firm hand on Foster’s shoulder, staring deeply into his eyes, his gaze charged with gravity and emotion.

- Foster, my friend, I value you more than you can imagine. You are a great leader and a brave protector of your people. But today, I ask you to respect my choice. I have never shied away from my responsibilities, and I won’t start today. I have no other obvious solution than this.

Silence fell again in the room, heavy, suffocating, almost unbearable.

Foster felt his heart clench violently, sometimes realizing that no words, no arguments, could divert Thorgrim from his decision.

Finally, after a long moment, Thorgrim inhaled deeply, straightening his broad frame, his face hardened by resolution.

- I’m leaving right now," he announced in a deep, determined voice. Every second lost is another torture for my people.

Without further ado, he quickly equipped himself, adjusting his armor, buckling his weapons belt and pulling his thick fur cape over his shoulders. His movements were precise and confident, his gaze fixed on a destiny he fully accepted.

When Thorgrim passed Foster to leave the room, he simply stopped, placing his massive hand on the young elf’s arms.

- Take care of them, Foster. Your people, Orëlas and these guards. They need you now more than ever. I entrust you with this duty.

Foster nodded, unable to answer as his throat knotted with emotion. He could feel the pain of the coming separation weighing down on him like a cold, heavy stone.

Without another word, Thorgrim passed through the gate, followed silently by Foster, Lïanna and his dwarf guards. Together, they crossed the city to its edge, each silently bearing the terrible weight of this moment.

Arriving at the roots that formed Vollua’s magical barrier, Thorgrim paused one last time. He turned back slowly, looking at them with poignant nobility and unshakeable dignity.

- You have offered me your hospitality, your friendship, your protection. I will never forget all you have done for me and my people. May you succeed where I have failed.

Then, without turning around, he stepped through the roots, which gently parted to let him pass, slowly closing their protection behind him. His imposing silhouette gradually disappeared into the dark forest, his straight, proud back moving away with implacable determination.

Foster remained motionless for a long time, watching this same regal figure disappear into the shadows, feeling deep pain and heartbreaking helplessness within him.

Finally, when only absolute silence remained, he whispered in a barely audible voice:

- May the roots of Vollua protect you, my friend. Your bravery will never be forgotten.

And in that heavy silence, everyone understood that Thorgrim had just sealed his fate, marching straight into the darkness to save those he loved.