IN THE DOME.
It had been months here, the flow of time faster than the real world, but none of them knew.
Dust rose high in the sky, the air thick with an otherworldly energy.
Zeus stood face to face with his doppelganger, something that now seemed like a normal occurrence.
The dark figure before him, was a twisted mirror image, his eyes blazing with what seemed like unnatural power. In his hands, he wielded the lightning bolt of Zeus, the very fabric of the sky cackling with electricity as he moved.
Zeus almost didn't draw his sword. It felt pointless. He held onto the familiar weight that was some form of comfort to him, but before he could even react, his doppelganger struck.
A bolt of lightning shot out from its hands, striking Zeus with incredible force. He felt his body being torn apart, his muscles screaming in agony as he was hurled across the sand.
Zeus struggled to get to his feet, but the doppelganger was relentless. His footwork was slow and clumsy compared to his opponent's fluid movements.
He tried to land a strike as the doppelganger stalked towards him, but he was no match for him.
The lightning bolt flashed again, dark shadows from the doppelganger pulling at him as it struck. Zeus barely managed to dodge it, the electricity cackling mere inches from his face.
Zeus vision began to blur as the battle went on. This was how it usually ended, his body screaming in pain as the doppelganger continued his assault.
He tried to fight again, he wanted to injure him even a little bit, but his sword arm felt like lead. His movement was slow and clumsy.
The doppelganger's laughter echoed through the air, a cold, empty sound that sent shivers down his spine. He had killed many in war -as he remembered- but even this brought fear to his heart.
"You are still weak." It spat, sneering at him, his voice a twisted mockery of Zeus own. "You feel the darkness inside, and yet you choose this." It kicked at him in frustration. Bursting into a cloud of darkness as he always did.
The darkness remained, a figure taking shape inside of it. The darkness writhed, and twisted almost like a living thing. As the image cleared, he saw that it was the same woman. Her presence radiated an aura of authority and power that made his skin prickle.
Her features were striking, and otherworldly, an ethereal beauty that seemed almost divine. But it was the resemblance that always amazed him. The same features in a different form.
Her hair was black as night, a stark contrast to his golden brown locks.
And yet, despite the difference, the similarity between them was unmistakable.
"Son." She whispered, her voice hypnotic like a gentle breeze. "Come to me."
He saw snippets of memories of a different life, knowledge that seemed like his. She bore the mark of the dark continent, a tiny shapeless star beneath her crown of darkness.
He pushed the vision away, refusing to acknowledge its truth. This was impossible, he was a general of the empire. He had a duty to fulfill. The vision was just a fantasy, a product of his fevered imagination.
He had more important things to focus on. The war, the empire that rested on his shoulders, his duty as the heir to it... those were the things that mattered.
He felt the world shifting around him, the landscape dissolved and he felt himself being pulled back into the world of the waking. He was aware of his own body, the familiar sensation of the bed beneath him. He opened his eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling as his chest heaved with exertion.
'It is just a dream', he told himself, but the memory of the fight still lingered, the pain and defeat still fresh in his mind. He felt fear, that one day he will not wake up from it.
He threw off the bed covers and got up, his movements stiff and mechanical. He knew he had to get moving, the war would not wait for him.
The words from the doppelganger resurfaced in his mind, but he pushed them away, focusing on the task at hand.
The sound of his armor and gear being readied was a welcome distraction. He focused on his familiar routine, the feel of leather and metal as he strapped his armor.
He was the commander general, he had a duty to his men, to the kingdom. He would not let them down.
He walked outside once he was done.
The morning air was sharp, carrying dust from the distant hills. From the fortress walls, Zeus could see them when he used binoculars, the enemy's first columns moving across the valley. Their spears glinting in the sun, their banners snapping violently in the wind,boots stamping over rocky terrain. The sound was nonexistent at first, then distant, getting closer, a slow relentless rumble.
His eyes swept over the field. Every dip, every ridge, every narrow pass.
His second in command Ardine arrived with reports from the scouts and a message. "Her highness, the princess is here."
He lowered the binoculars, and glanced over his shoulder.
Zeus nodded. "Okay, lead the way."
They walked together.
"How is the situation with our troops?" Zeus questioned him.
"Word from the scouts say that they have spotted enemy movements in the southern border. Looks like they are ready to attack."
"How about the situation with our troops?"
"Everything is under control, sir." Ardine responded. "The men are ready and eager to move out."
Zeus nodded. "Good." He was satisfied with the answers. He paused suddenly. "Where is Cassian?"
Ardine hesitated for a moment. "The field commander should be in his quarters, sir, finalizing his strategy."
Zeus nodded again, he expected nothing less. "His men should be ready to move out."
Ardine nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Ensure they move out as planned."
Ardine nodded. "I understand, sir."
He walked away to oversee everything, and ensure that everything was going according to plan.
Zeus walked into a tent, and saw Nessina there. She was bent over, with her back facing him, her hands folded at her back, as she studied the map on the table.
She released her hands, and picked up a map. "General." She called without turning back.
"Your highness." He replied warmly, coming to stand besides her.
She stared at the maps critically, calculating angles, and projectile range. Her brows furrowed as she pointed a part that was painted but without markers with her finger. "This?" She questioned, briefly glancing at him.
"Artillery will cover the ridges," he pointed out the spot. "Minimal exposure. We can disrupt their advance without sacrificing the front line."
She smiled, satisfied with his answer. "And the supply lines?"
"Wagons have been prepositioned along hidden routes. They won't know until its too late."
Theydiscussed their counterattack plans, and their defense and attack plans for a while more.
She straightened, her face a picture of dissatisfaction. "I know we have the enemy's plans on our table, but I think we are missing something."
Zeus eyes met hers, he could see the concern etched on her face. "What do you think it is, your highness?"
She shook her head, her eyes scanning the map. "I don't know, but I feel like we are overlooking something obvious."
Zeus scanned the map, racking his brain for whatever could be missing. It looked like they had covered all angles, nothing seemed missing. "We will figure it out, your highness. We have the best generals on board after all."
She nodded, a small smile on her face. "I hope so, General. We can't afford to lose this war."
"We won't." He answered with assurance.
She looked into his eyes, and then kissed him. He kissed her back, and they continued for a moment, before they parted. "I am returning back to the capital. I'll leave you to your planning."
Nessina was beautiful, and smart, someone who he saw as an equal, a comrade, someone who understood him. Not just because of her royal status, but because she was more than just that, and she owned it.
He smiled, watching as she exited the tent. He always felt a crazy kind of pride, not just because of her beauty, but because she had chosen him.
The sun had claimed high into the sky. The war already at a full swing.
A thunderous clash echoed through the valley. Spears meeting shields, riders colliding with infantry, arrows arced finding gaps in armor's.
Every movement mattered, every second could decide life or death.
He navigated the chaotic battlefield, enemies falling as he passed, caught of guard by his swift strikes. His focus on assessing the situation as he went by.
Artillery boomed in the distance, shaking the ground beneath his feet. The enemy were firing back, too close to home. His troops were faltering, the enemys relentless pressure was taking its toll.
The enemy had circumvented all their attack, as though they already had knowledge of their plans.
Ardine came riding in. "My lord, the enemy's reinforcements have arrived." His face was pale with fear. They are outnumbering almost five to one."
His heart sank. He needed to act fast.
"Fall back," he ordered, his voice carrying above the sound of the battle.
The fortress could keep them for a day, before they would come up with a solution.