THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 337: 337: TIME TO DIE

Kiuga stepped down from the rooftop and joined the procession moving toward the city square. The escort had already been prepared, and they wore red ceremonial ropes over their combat and armor. The colour of blood.

Zifara was walking with his head high, even with the weight of the gamble he was holding crushing down on him. He had to give the people what they wanted.

Kiuga stepped out of the gate after him, and the procession followed. Behind him were Kaka and Banga, and he could feel Kaka’s hostility rise. He just hoped the boy would not fight everyone on their way to death.

Dressed in Sagiri’s cloak, he kept his head high and his pace steady despite the hostility surrounding him. The reaction was immediate. People spotted the dark figure, and the chants grew louder. Angry voices erupted from every direction. Accusations, curses, and demands for blood followed him through the streets.

Soldiers struggled to keep the crowds behind the barricades as people pushed forward, some pointing directly at him while others shouted for his death. The noise rolled through the city like thunder, yet Kiuga never broke stride. Ahead of him walked the General of the South, his presence alone enough to keep the warriors disciplined.

Rows of elite soldiers cleared a path through the packed streets while the General led the procession toward the execution square. The closer they drew, the denser the crowds became. Every rooftop, balcony, and window overlooking the route was occupied. Thousands of eyes followed them. Thousands of voices demanded punishment. Kiuga could feel the weight of their hatred pressing against him from all sides, but he continued forward beneath the cloak, saying nothing as the execution platform came into view at the heart of the square.

The General walked ahead without slowing. He is the man entrusted with carrying out the sentence if dusk arrived and Sagiri failed to return. They were men pushed to the wall, and their situation could only change if Sagiri suddenly showed up.

Kiuga watched from the platform as the prisoners were finally brought out. The noise from the crowd swelled instantly. The first five were led forward in chains, their hands bound behind their backs, and thick white execution ropes draped across their shoulders and around their waists, marking them as condemned.

Soldiers escorted them onto the platform before forcing them into position near its center. Their faces were bruised and exhausted from their confinement, yet thousands of eyes remained fixed upon them with little sympathy. Then came the remaining three. Banga. Kaka. And Kiuga’s own companions in this disaster.

Unlike the others, they were not led into place. They were thrown down onto their knees. Warriors immediately stepped forward and forced their shoulders downward, keeping them there with firm hands. The wooden platform groaned beneath the combined weight of prisoners, guards, and officials as the final preparations continued around them.

”Galaka!!” Kaka cursed, ready to fight, but Kiuga shot him a look and shook his head. He really knew the boy was at his limit. If he moved, he would only kill maybe a hundred in his rampage. That would force Kiuga to join, and then they would be outnumbered and slaughtered like animals with no full corpses. It would also give away the fact that they were from the north, and that could taint sagiri’s image even further.

Torches burned brighter as the last light of day faded across the square. Beyond the barricades, the crowd stretched in every direction, a sea of faces illuminated by firelight and anger. Chants echoed from the surrounding streets and rooftops, rising and falling like waves. At the front of the platform stood the General, silent and unmoving as he looked out over the city.

Dusk was almost here.

The hour to die was growing closer and painfully closer

The General stepped forward as the noise of the crowd gradually died down. His gaze swept across the thousands gathered in the square before settling upon the prisoners kneeling behind him.

”The South stands upon the edge of uncertainty,” he said, his voice carrying effortlessly across the square. ”Laws exist so that no man, chief or warrior, may place himself above them. Today judgment is passed not out of hatred, but duty.” The words were met with scattered cheers from the crowd. The General remained silent for a moment before turning toward the kneeling figure draped in Sagiri’s cloak.

”Do you have any final words, Sagiri?” The entire square seemed to hold its breath. Kiuga slowly raised his head. Through the disguise, he could feel thousands of eyes fixed upon him. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he looked out across the sea of angry faces and spoke.

”The South does not deserve Sagiri.” Silence followed. Absolute silence. Even the crowd seemed caught off guard by the answer. Kiuga’s gaze remained steady as he looked over the people demanding blood. ”Killing one of your own because of selfish means. Just kill me already. ” Kiuga’s voice sounded even colder to his ears. He knew Zifara’s hands were tied like his, but it was the people he hated more.

”The South does not deserve Sagiri.” His words were cold. He had never felt so much hate for a people.

A sudden commotion erupted near the edge of the platform at that moment.

Soldiers turned in surprise as Azir broke through the line, stumbling forward as he ran. His face was wet with tears. He nearly fell twice before reaching the steps leading to the execution platform.

”Uncle!” he shouted, his voice cracking. ”Uncle, please!”

The crowd fell silent as the young city lord pushed past several startled guards and threw himself toward the General.

”Please don’t kill Big Brother!” Azir cried. ”Please don’t do it! I will be good! I promise I will be good!” He grabbed at the General’s arm with both hands, openly sobbing in front of thousands of people.

”I won’t sneak out anymore! I won’t cause trouble! Please don’t kill him!” His desperate voice echoed across the square. Then he turned toward the kneeling figure in the dark cloak.

”Big Brother!” Azir shouted. ”Fight back! Please fight back!” He took a step forward. ”You’re stronger than all of them! Just fight back!” Kiuga felt his chest tighten. He kept his head lowered. He did not look at the boy. He could not. He turned his face slightly away instead.

The boy was so stupid and naive to the end. Acting so unchiefly. Kiuga thought. But at least he loved Sagiri for real.

Sagiri... you might have one person in the south worth not killing

A sad smile took over Kiuga’s face.