chapter six

Early morning in the country side.

The air is still, and Lucas is busy

stacking firewood by the small

cottage he shares with his uncle,

Thomas.

"It's quiet today, uncle. Too quiet,

don't you think?" Lucas uttered.

Uncle Thomas coming out from

The house wiping his hands.

Mumbled "quiet's a blessing around

here, Lucas. After all the noise

you've made growing up, I have

learned to enjoy it."

Lucas smirks, wiping sweat from

his forehead. Suddenly the distant

sound of galloping hooves interrupts

the calm. Both men look toward the

road. A rider approaches, fast and

urgent.

"It looks like someone's in a hurry."

Lucas with a concern look, uttered.

staring as the rider approaches.

Thomas steps forward, narrowing

his eyes to the rider's chest.

Recognizes the official crest on

the rider's cloak.

mumbled under his breath.

'City business. Dam it.'

'City business? Who would have

them come out here.' Lucas thought

in his mind.

The rider stops before them,

dismounts quickly, and hands

Thomas a sealed letter. His face

is grave, his words short.

"From the capital. This is urgent."

The rider uttered.

Thomas takes the letter, his hands

trembling slightly. The rider nods

once and leaves as quickly as he

came. Lucas watches his uncle

closely, noticing the unease in

his eyes.

"What's that about? uncle, you're

shaking." Lucas uttered with

concern in his eyes.

"It's nothing, Lucas. Get back to work." Thomas mumbled trying not to

escalate the news outside.

Lucas hesitates, but his uncle's

stern tone forces him to step back.

Thomas disappears inside the

cottage, the letter gripped tightly in

his hand.

Moments later, Lucas

enters the house, unable to resist

his curiosity.

"Uncle what's going on? You

look tense and frightened, yet

you're not saying a word!"

Lucas growing impatient by his

Uncle's silence.

Thomas sits at the table, the letter

open in front of him. His face is pale,

looking drained. Lucas steps closer,

his heart pounding in his chest.

"It's about your father. Leonardo."

"What? after all this years, he decides

to show up through letters? Lucas

mumbling in anger.

"Not that Lucas. You father is gone.

Murdered. Assassinated."

Thomas wandering in his voice.

Lucas stumbles backward, his heart

pounding faster. The word

'assassinated' echoes in his head.

It feels like the world has collapsed

beneath him.

"No that can't be. My father. Dead?"

Lucas dropped back to the chair, with

his two hands covering his face in

shoke.

"It's true. The letter comes from Alex,

His right-hand man." Thomas

mumbled, groaning in pain.

Lucas staring at his hands. With

tears dropping down from both eyes.

His thoughts filled with confusion,

pain and anger. He had never met

his father, only head few stories.

But now, to know he will never

meet him. Makes him more broken.

Lucas in low tone uttered. In anguish

"All this years. Leaving in the dark

of who my father is! And now, when

It's beginning to come to light! He's

been taking away from me."

"There was a reason, Lucas. Your

father kept you hidden because of

the life he led. He was powerful.

Dangerous people surrounded him.

He knew if they ever found out about

you. You would be dead long before

you reached manhood." Thomas

says in the deep of his voice.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?

You have kept me in the dark my

whole life!" Lucas said in anger.

" For your own good! If you knew

the truth, you would have been

tempted to seek him out, to involve

Yourself in that world. Your father

gave everything to keep you safe.

He didn't want you to end up like

him."

Lucas paces the room, with his fist

clenched, jaw tight. The rage inside

him, can be seen outside. And so is

the sorrow. His father was out there,

a giant in a world Lucas knew nothing

about, and now he's gone.

"And what now? Uncle. Are you going

to tell me to stay here, and pretend

non of this Matters.?" Lucas lashes

out.

"Lucas, listen to me. Your father's

Empire. it's not what you think. It's

full of deceit, betrayal, and violence.

It's not the life you want." Thomas

uttered, warning.

"I don't care what you think is best

for me. I'm going to the city, uncle.

I'm going to find out who killed him,

and I will make them pay." Lucas

Says, being furious.

With deep concern in his eyes.

Thomas mumbled. "You will get yourself

Killed if you go, boy. The moment

they see you, they will know who you

are. Your father's enemies won't rest

until they wipe out his entire bloodline."

"Then let them try."

Lucas says fearlessly.