The war

After Priya left, I focused more of my attention on opening the door of the code in front of me.

What code is it?
You might be wondering. Well, it's a passcode.

The passcode in front of me was a combination of symbols and numbers, designed to guard a secret chamber within the castle walls. The urgency to unveil it heightened as each passing moment brought unforeseen challenges.


Twenty-five years ago, a dark-haired elderly woman attacked our castle, she came with her amigos! And everyone was scared of her because of her dark power.

She wanted to dethrone my father who had previously vowed to see her downfall.

…….
"What are you doing here again, you evil woman?! Haven't I warned you to keep yourself at a reasonable distance away from my family and me?" King Asher's voice sounded in the hallway, as he walked closer to where an elderly woman was standing.
Three guards were by his side, and they were all with their swords ready to fight if the need be.

"Asher! I haven't come here to fight! Instead, I am here to dethrone you, and claim the palace as mine! Peacefully!" She replied menacingly, her head still bowed.
Her voice sounded thick and hoarse, and her tone was that of revenge and anger.

"Ah, Nam! What madness possesses you to threaten the sanctity of this castle once more?" King Asher's voice thundered, each word dripping with a mix of anger and frustration.

"Madness?!!! Asher! You've been the mad one among us all your life, and I am ready to finally dethrone you, but peacefully!" She replied curtly and raised her head up.
She had a deep cut on her face down to her throat.
The wound had been there for years, refusing to heal up.

Perhaps it was there to continuously remind her of her failure in the battle of the elders.

"Ah! Ah! ah ah!" Asher burst into laughter as he mocked the eerily dressed woman.

The woman wore a black cloak, which had no sense of fashion, a plain black towel was tied around her neck, and her slipper was decorated with a plain color.

"Look at her! She is all alone, her people are not ready to associate with a loser!" Asher mocked her and burst out laughing.

The woman smiled, revealing her broken bloody teeth.

King Asher, defiant and prideful, stared at Nam with a mixture of scorn and disbelief. "Peacefully, Nam? Your idea of peace involves tearing down the very foundations of this kingdom. I won't let you bring chaos to the lives of my people."

Nam, undeterred by his defiance, traced the scar on her collarbone with a cold gaze. "This scar, Asher, is proof of the battles we fought. Battles you chose to forget, while I carry the reminders engraved into my very flesh."

The guards shifted uncomfortably, caught in the tension between their king and the vengeful woman. Swords held steady, they awaited Asher's command, their loyalty unwavering.

Asher's eyes narrowed, his voice cutting through the charged air. "Your grievances with me should not taint the lives of those who call this castle home. Leave peacefully, Nam, or you will leave in chains."

Nam's laughter echoed through the corridor, a haunting sound that sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it. "Chains, Asher? Do you think chains can bind me? I am bound by destiny, and destiny has led me back to this castle to fulfill what was denied to me."

As Nam's laughter dwindled, she locked eyes with Asher, an intensity burning in her gaze. "I don't expect you to understand, Asher. You, who have wallowed in the false comfort of this kingdom while I endured the consequences of our shared past."

Asher's expression hardened. "You chose a path of darkness, Nam. A path that led you away from the principles that once bound us together."

Nam took a step forward. "Principles? Do you speak of principles, Asher, as you sit on your throne built upon the suffering of others? Your rule has not been just, and I am here to correct the imbalance."

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the gravity of the confrontation unfolding before them. Asher, undeterred, raised his hand, signaling them to stand their ground.

"You speak of justice, Nam, yet your actions have always been driven by revenge. You are blinded by your thirst for power," Asher retorted, his voice cutting through the tension.

Nam's laughter echoed once again, a hollow sound that echoed through the hallway. "Power, Asher, is a force that cannot be denied. I have embraced it, and now I shall wield it to reshape the destiny of this kingdom.

Asher, your reign ends today. The throne belongs to me, and this kingdom will bow to my command." Her words carried a chilling confidence as if fate itself whispered her victory.

King Asher, defiant and proud, replied, "You've always underestimated the strength of this kingdom, Nam. Your delusions of gloriousness will be your downfall." The air crackled with tension as the clash of creeds unfolded.

The guards, their loyalty unwavering, awaited the signal. "Protect the king at all costs!" commanded the captain, his voice echoing through the courtyard.

Nam's amigos, covered in mystery, echoed her beliefs. "This kingdom will fall, and your legacy, Asher, will crumble into dust," one of them proclaimed, their voice an eerie chorus to the impending doom.

As tensions escalated, Asher's frustration reached its peak. The weight of the kingdom's fall fueled his anger.

Nam, covered in her dark cloak, stood defiantly before Asher, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of revenge. Their verbal exchange crackled with magical energy, each word carrying the weight of centuries-old grievances.

"You were never fit to rule, Asher," Nam hissed, her voice cutting through the tension. "Your leadership led to this downfall, and now you shall taste the bitterness of powerlessness."

Asher, unwilling to accept defeat, retorted with a nasty tone. "You dare accuse me? You, who sought to sabotage my reign from the shadows? Your curses won't break the spirit of this kingdom."

As the argument intensified, guards nervously shifted in the background, torn between their loyalty to Asher and Nam.

Nam, with a triumphant smirk, recited an incantation that bound Asher and his soldiers to her will. The once-mighty king struggled against the unseen power, his authority slipping away like sand through his fingers.

Nam's powerful incantation echoed through the palace halls, sending a shiver down the spines of all the guards present. As the final words left her lips, a dark energy enveloped the kingdom, and a mystical force bound the soldiers to a newfound authority.

In an instant, the once-mighty soldiers found themselves under an unseen control, their will overridden by a mysterious power. Asher, the proud king, now stood among his subjects, unable to resist the compulsion that gripped them all.

Nam, satisfied with her vengeance, vanished into the shadows, leaving behind a kingdom that tumbled into chaos. The soldiers, once rulers, were now enslaved, their every action dictated by an unknown force.

The news of this supernatural uproar spread like wildfire, and the kingdom that was once prosperous fell into disarray. Asher, unable to break free from the curse, struggled to maintain order among his people.
………
For five years, the kingdom was bound in these chains, and the once-thriving kingdom now existed in the oppressive shadow of Nam's influence. The people suffered greatly.

Luckily, in the sixth year, a group of mages appeared at the palace. These mages were not ordinary spellcasters; they were keepers of ancient knowledge, with a profound understanding of the mystical forces that governed the world.

Their arrival was unexpected, yet their purpose was clear—they sought to break the chains that bound the kingdom and restore balance to the kingdom. As they studied the secrets hidden within the palace walls, they uncovered the passcode, a key to unlocking a hidden chamber that held the key to undoing Nam's dark sorcery.

The mages, with their abilities and wisdom, solved the complex symbols, letters, and numbers that composed the passcode although it took them many years.
The connection to the mystical powers of the universe allowed them to solve the sorcery that guarded the secret chamber.

King Asher, worn by years of struggle, looked at the mages with a mix of hope and skepticism. "Are you the ones who can truly break the chains that bind my kingdom?"

The mage leader, adorned in ancient symbols, nodded solemnly. "We are Your Highness. The threads that tie this curse can be solved with the knowledge we possess."

An elderly advisor, survived by the kingdom's hardships, approached the mages cautiously. "How can we trust that you won't bring more chaos? Nam's influence has been severe."

The lead mage responded with a reassuring tone, "Our purpose is to restore balance, not sow conflict. The passcode is the key to unlocking the solution that will free your people."

As the mages dived deeper into solving the passcode, a faint glow surrounded the ancient symbols. The air crackled with energy, and the lead mage announced, "The enchantments are weakening. The hidden chamber awaits."

The door creaked open, revealing the long-forgotten treasures within. The elderly advisor, eyes wide with awe, spoke, "Could this spell truly break Nam's hold on our kingdom?"

The lead mage, studying the powerful incantation, nodded. "This spell is a beacon of hope, but its success depends on the unity of your people. Together, we must stand against the forces of darkness."

King Asher, determined, addressed his people. "This is our chance to reclaim what was taken from us. Muster your strength, for the battle ahead, will test our resolve."

Amidst the gathered crowd, a once-silenced voice spoke, "I never thought I'd see the day when hope returned to our kingdom. Let us stand united and face the shadows that have haunted us for too long."

The mages, ready to release the spell, shared a knowing glance. "The passcode has opened the path to freedom, but the true power lies in the hearts of those who yearn for freedom."

The kingdom, bound in chains for far too long, braced itself for the impending effort. The passcode, now decoded, resonated with the hope of a brighter future, echoing through the once-oppressive halls of the palace.


………..
Yes, the kingdom was liberated, unfortunately, the mages left and went back to their kingdom, but before leaving, they gave them the code, but didn't tell them the passcode, warning them to be cautious and careful because Nam could be back at any time.

Now, King Asher, Nunew's father, wants to enter the hidden chamber to uncover its mysteries and perhaps find a way to prevent Nam's return. However, the entrance to the chamber remained sealed, and the decoded code provided by the mages needed to be decoded.

King Asher, accompanied by his trusted advisors and guards, stood before the sealed entrance. The complicated symbols engraved around the door seemed to twinkle faintly, reacting to the presence of the rightful ruler.

"Father, what do you think is hidden in there?" Prince Ariel, one of the kingdom princes inquired, curiosity etched on his face.

King Asher pondered for a moment, his eyes fixated on the sealed entrance. "The mages spoke of ancient relics and scrolls, powerful enough to challenge Nam's dark sorcery. If there's a way to strengthen our kingdom's defenses and prevent her return, it might lie within."

The advisor, who had witnessed the kingdom's hardships and the successive freedom, added, "Be cautious, Your Highness. The chamber's mysteries could hold both salvation and danger. We must tread carefully."

With a determined nod, King Asher turned to the guards. "Prepare to unseal the chamber. We cannot afford to let Nam's shadow loom over our kingdom again."

As the guards began the process of unlocking the hidden chamber, the air echoed with a powerful energy.

Unfortunately, the door refused to open, because the magic guarding it was that of an ancient power.

That's why King Asher gave the code to Nunew, begging him to study and decode it. He was scared that if he gave it to any of his two older sons, they might use it for their own selfish benefit.
And his two younger sons won't even be able to crack it.
The only person he could trust with it was Nunew.
Unfortunately, for the past two months, Nunew had been studying it, but he just wasn't able to crack it.
But an inner part of him was telling him not to worry because the real guardian of ancient magic and power was by his side.