-11 PM; In the Carriage - (87 Hours Remaining)-
The carriage rattled softly as it sped down the newly built road, its sleek wheels gliding over the smooth surface. The interior was dimly lit by a single lantern swinging from the ceiling, casting flickering shadows on the faces of its passengers. The air was thick with tension and the faint scent of leather from the seats.
Aaron leaned forward in his seat, his elbows resting on his knees as he stared daggers at Cillian, who sat directly across from him. His voice broke the silence, sharp and impatient.
"So," Aaron started, his tone clipped but laced with sarcasm. "The show starts at midnight, yeah? And it takes four months to get to Eldoria." He paused for dramatic effect, his eyebrows shooting up as he got up to his feet. "SO HOW THE FUCKING HELL ARE YOU PLANNING TO GET US THERE ON TIME?!" His voice rose to a shout, echoing in the cramped space as he jabbed an accusatory finger in Cillian's direction.
Cillian didn't flinch. He sat with one leg casually crossed over the other, arms folded across his chest, his head tilted slightly downward like he couldn't be bothered to acknowledge Aaron's outburst. Slowly—agonizingly slowly—he lifted his gaze to meet Aaron's fiery glare. His eyes were cold, unreadable, but there was something about them that made everyone else in the carriage hold their breath.
"Aaron," Cillian said, his voice low and steady, like a warning growl before a storm. "Sit."
Aaron opened his mouth to retort—but before he could get a word out, the carriage jolted violently. The entire vehicle rattled as if it had hit an invisible bump in the road.
"Shit!" Aaron yelped as he lost his balance and stumbled backward into his seat like a sack of bricks. His arms flailed uselessly for support as the others around him tried not to laugh.
"Dude!" Kryll hissed from beside him, wide-eyed as he grabbed onto the edge of his seat for stability. "What the actual hell, man?"
Aaron blinked in shock, trying to process what had just happened. The others sitting near him—Kryll, Soren, and Ethan—exchanged quick glances of disbelief.
Theon leaned forward slightly, eyebrows raised in disbelief as he glanced between Aaron and Cillian. "Yo…how did you just know that was gonna happen?" His voice was laced with suspicion—and maybe a little awe.
"For real, bro?" Ethan muttered under his breath.
On the opposite bench, Dylan turned to Cillian with an incredulous smirked and nudged Cillian's shoulder lightly with his elbow. "Yo, spill it," he said with a grin that bordered on cocky. "You some kinda omniscient or what?"
Cillian finally moved—just barely—to glance at Dylan out of the corner of his eye. "How delusional," he replied flatly. "I'm a certified ignorant." With that, he uncrossed his legs and leaned back against the seat like he didn't have a care in the world. He spread them slightly apart and rested both arms at his sides before tilting his head back against the cushion with a long exhale that sounded more annoyed than tired.
The carriage fell into an uneasy silence for a moment before Ethan decided to break it with his usual nonchalant tone. "Anywayyy~" he drawled lazily, stretching out the word like it was some kind of verbal yawn. "I heard something interestingly wild." He leaned forward slightly, propping an elbow on his knee as a sly grin spread across his face. "The Queen of Domino officially handed her throne back to her parents."
Cillian didn't even blink at this revelation. He remained perfectly still in his seat like some kind of immovable statue—completely unfazed.
"Wait," Soren interjected, furrowing his brows in confusion. "Parents? I thought her mom died ages ago?"
"Bro. Who even was her father in the end?" Theon chimed in from beside him, throwing up his hands dramatically. "During the time when Domino was still an empire, the princes who were born were twins—one of them is currently dead, and the other was declared to have committed some sorta treason and was supposed to be executed, but escaped."
"BRUHH. That's soo messed up." Dylan cut in.
"FOR REALLL." Ethan agreed with an exaggerated nod. "Like did her mother come back to life after being dead or what? Zombie queen vibes."
Aaron snorted at that but quickly sobered up as he leaned forward again, resting one arm on his knee while gesturing vaguely with the other hand. "If I were her?" He shook his head with mock seriousness. "Man… I'd probably just off myself at that point."
"Bro," Ethan shot back without missing a beat, raising an eyebrow at Aaron. "Why you gotta make it dark like that?"
Before Aaron could respond, Ethan turned toward Cillian with a curious look on his face. "But seriously though," he started slowly, pointing a finger at him for emphasis. "Why you, of all people alive right now,"—he gestured dramatically around the carriage—"got sent to Domino just to deliver some accord or whatever?"
"FOR REAL!" Soren practically yelled as he threw up both hands in exasperation. His voice cracked slightly from how loud he got, but he didn't care—it just added to the chaos of their conversation. "WHY THE HELL WAS IT YOU???"
All eyes turned to Cillian again—but true to form, he didn't react at all.
"No," Theon said, leaning forward with a scowl that could cut through steel. "Why the fuck did Elmir back down in the end? Why isn't Domino under their control? What did those Dominion assholes say to make Elmir back off?" He paused, his voice rising with every word. "LIKE BRO—Elmir's NEVER. NEVER. NEVER IN A FUCKING MILLION HISTORICAL GENERATIONS EVER. EVER. EVER backed down from owning shit or taking what they want."
"EXACTLYYY, DUDE!" Ethan chimed in, throwing his hands up dramatically like he was preaching gospel.
"And what about the war?" Theon continued, his voice sharper now, cutting through the tension like a blade. "Why didn't Elmir, no. ALL ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS not throw more weight behind us when shit hit the fan with the Azones and Alizahs? Like—what's their deal? You guys just sat back and watched. And why is it, that none of you didn't even flinch when you could've gained soo much?"
The carriage fell dead silent after that. Everyone froze, their gazes snapping toward Cillian like heat-seeking missiles. Even Kryll—usually the calm one—shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The rest of them weren't subtle about it; they loomed over Cillian like predators circling prey.
"THEODORE," they groaned in unison, their voices dripping with impatience and anger.
Cillian didn't flinch. He didn't even blink. His gaze remained fixed on the roof of the carriage, his posture relaxed but unyielding—like he was carved from stone. His impassive face reflected nothing but indifference, a stark contrast to the chaos brewing around him.
Finally, he spoke—but not before letting out a scoff so sharp it felt like a slap to everyone in earshot.
"Tell me," Cillian began, his voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain as he tilted his head slightly toward them without actually looking at anyone. "Does dissecting my life somehow soothe the ache of not having one yourselves? How therapeutic."
His words landed hard—like punches thrown without warning—and sucked all the air out of the carriage. For a moment, silence reigned as everyone stared at him, stunned by his brutal delivery.
But then Aaron broke it with a snarl.
"You smug little shit," Aaron spat, leaning forward aggressively as his fists clenched at his sides. "You think you're bulletproof or something? Sitting there like you're too good for this conversation? Fucking say something useful for once instead of acting like you're above all of us!"
Cillian's gaze shifted to Aaron—slowly, deliberately—and when their eyes met, it was like sparks igniting dry wood. "I don't owe you shit," Cillian replied coldly, his voice steady but laced with venom. "Especially not explanations."
Aaron shot up from his seat so fast it rattled the carriage again. "Oh yeah?" he barked, towering over Cillian now as he jabbed a finger in his face. "Maybe you don't owe us shit—but you sure as hell owe Elmir some answers! You think you can just sit there and act like none of this is your problem? Like you didn't play a part in all this mess?"
"Sit your ass down before you embarrass yourself," Cillian said flatly, not even bothering to move.
Aaron's face turned red with fury. "Fuck you!" he shouted, lunging forward—but before he could get any closer, Soren grabbed him by the arm and yanked him back into his seat.
"Chill the fuck out!" Soren snapped, glaring at Aaron as he shoved him back against the cushion. "You're not gonna get anywhere by swinging fists at him."
"Yeah," Dylan chimed in from across the carriage, smirking as he leaned back lazily against his seat. "Not that I wouldn't pay to see you try and fail miserably."
Aaron whipped around to glare at Dylan next. "Shut your mouth before I shut it for you."
"Ohhh scary," Dylan shot back mockingly, raising both hands in fake surrender. "What are you gonna do? Cry about it?"
"Guys!" Kryll finally interjected, raising his voice enough to cut through their shouting match. "Can we not turn this into a fucking circus? We've got bigger problems than your egos!"
But Ethan wasn't about to let things cool down just yet. He leaned forward with a grin that was equal parts amused and annoyed. "Nah man," Ethan said casually as he gestured toward Cillian with one hand. "Let's hear what Mr. Stone-Face has to say for himself—or is he just gonna keep playing statue all night?"
Cillian finally moved—just slightly—to shift his gaze toward Ethan. His expression didn't change; it was still cold and unreadable. But when he spoke again, his words cut deeper than any insult.
"You want answers?" Cillian said quietly, almost too calmly for comfort. "Here's one: You're all pathetic. Whining about wars and politics like it's some big mystery why Elmir didn't lift a finger for your sorry asses." He leaned forward slightly now, just enough to make everyone tense up instinctively. "Maybe they didn't care because none of you are worth saving."
The carriage erupted into chaos after that.
Aaron lunged again—but this time Soren couldn't hold him back fast enough. He managed to grab Cillian by the collar before Kryll jumped in to pull him away.
"Let go of me!" Aaron shouted furiously as he struggled against Kryll's grip.
"Stop being an idiot!" Kryll snapped back as he shoved Aaron toward the opposite seat.
Meanwhile, Dylan and Ethan were laughing hysterically on the sidelines while Theon tried—and failed—to restore order by shouting over everyone else.
"Enough!" Theon yelled, slamming his fist against the side of the carriage hard enough to make everyone pause for half a second.
But that half-second was all Cillian needed to deliver one final blow.
"You can scream and fight all you want," Cillian said coolly as he adjusted his collar where Aaron had grabbed it. "It doesn't change the fact that none of you have what it takes to fix this mess—or survive it."
The silence after Cillian's brutal remark was suffocating. The group exchanged uneasy glances, their anger simmering just beneath the surface. Aaron was still seething, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. But it wasn't just him anymore—the others were beginning to boil over too. The air in the carriage felt like it could ignite at any second.
The atmosphere in the carriage was suffocating, the tension so thick since it felt like it could snap at any moment. It seemed like no one was willing to back down from uncovering why Elmir had backed off—a mystery that gnawed at their pride and curiosity alike. And the easiest way to crack open that vault of answers? Hit Cillian where it hurt most. The best weapon? That wife of his—the one Aaron had already brought up in a recent argument that had nearly turned into a fistfight.
And then Ethan struck the match.
"Y'know," Ethan began casually which was laced with malice, leaning back in his seat with a smirk that screamed sharp trouble and danger. "For someone who talks big about people being pathetic, your wife sure fits the bill, huh?"
Cillian's gaze didn't shift—he was still staring at the roof of the carriage—but there was a subtle tension in his jaw now. He didn't respond.
"Oh shit," Dylan laughed and chimed in, grinning like he'd just found a new game to play, slapping his knee as he leaned forward like he was watching a show. "You're really gonna let us talk about her? What's next? What was it Aaron said last time? Something about her being too good for you? or how she's got all the personality of a wet rag?"
Aaron's lips curled into a sneer, fueled by Ethan's jab, as he leaned forward aggressively, his voice dripping with venom. "Nah, bro," he said with a sneer. "I said she probably spends half her day wishing she'd married someone with an actual spine, or maybe she's worse than that. Who knows? She might be like one of those fancy porcelain dolls—looks nice on a shelf but cracks under pressure."
"Or maybe she's just cracked already," Soren added darkly, his voice low but sharp enough to cut through the tension like a blade. "I mean, let's be real—she married you. That says enough about her taste in men."
"Or someone who doesn't sit around acting like a goddamn statue," Dylan added with a bitter laugh. "Hell, maybe she's already planning her exit strategy."
"Exit strategy?" Ethan chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "Bro, she probably regrets walking down that aisle every single day. Like—imagine waking up next to this guy." He gestured toward Cillian with mock pity.
Theon chuckled bitterly from his corner of the carriage. "Forget taste—she probably doesn't even have standards. Bet she'd marry a fucking horse if it wore a crown."
"Brooo!" Dylan howled with laughter, practically doubling over in his seat. "A horse would probably treat her better than you do!"
Cillian remained motionless, his face unreadable as their insults grew sharper and more personal.
Aaron wasn't done yet. He leaned closer to Cillian now, his voice dripping with venom. "Tell me something," he said mockingly. "What's it like being married to someone who probably spends half her day wishing she'd picked literally anyone else? Must be rough knowing you're her biggest regret."
"Biggest regret?" Ethan snorted. "Nah man—he's probably her second biggest regret after whatever shitty decisions led her to this life in the first place."
"FOR REAL!" Dylan howled, slapping Ethan on the shoulder as he doubled over laughing. "Bet she's counting down the days till she can ditch his sorry ass."
To be Continued...