The Siege of Shadows
POV: Xiao Xing / Borderlands
The horizon burned with the banners of Li Dynasty. Cavalry thundering across the plains, infantry tightening formation, siege engines rattling ominously — the invasion had begun. Xiao Xing stood atop a cliff overlooking the borderlands, Giyeok beside him. His eyes, sharp as steel, scanned every movement.
"We cannot allow them to breach Cheng," he said, voice firm, filled with determination. "Every village, every soldier, every life counts. If they fall, the empire falls with them."
Giyeok placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying him. "Then we fight together. Every breath, every heartbeat."
Xiao Xing nodded, his mind calculating every possibility. Defensive positions were organized, traps set, and archers stationed along the ridges. Yet the sheer size of the invading army loomed like a dark cloud.
POV: Li Dynasty / Battlefield
General Hae Jin, commander of the northern forces, observed Xiao Xing's preparations with respect. "The boy is not merely a prince," he said quietly to his lieutenants. "He is a strategist. He will fight us with skill, but we will break him with numbers and fire."
Siege engines were rolled into place, catapults aimed, and the first volleys of fire and stone were unleashed toward the border fortifications. The earth shook, the sky filled with smoke and ash, and the battle began in earnest.
POV: Nae Yi / Cheng Dynasty
From a secret vantage point within the palace, Nae Yi smiled faintly. Her influence over Xae Rin had grown stronger since the Emperor's death and the exposure of his secret betrayal. The crown prince, though conflicted, was entirely under her control.
Let the boy fight and bleed for Cheng, she whispered. Let him earn his legend while Xae Rin remains the puppet ruler. Soon, both will be ready for the final play.
She issued silent instructions to her spies along the frontlines, ensuring information and sabotage flowed perfectly to manipulate both sides. Every trap, every diversion, every whisper of doubt was orchestrated.
POV: Xae Rin / Cheng Dynasty
Xae Rin watched the chaos from the palace, his hands shaking as he received reports from his generals. Nae Yi whispered in his ear constantly, a poison of doubt and ambition.
"They fight well, my prince," she said softly. "But remember your path. The throne, your destiny, depends on decisions others cannot know. Your brother's survival is a threat… one you cannot afford."
Xae Rin's gaze fell to the battlefield, and for a moment, guilt and fear twisted in his stomach. But Nae Yi's influence was subtle, insidious. Her words planted seeds of obedience, shadows that clouded judgment.
POV: Xiao Xing / Borderlands
The first wave of Li Dynasty soldiers reached the fortified villages. Xiao Xing, sword in hand, met them with unparalleled ferocity. Each swing cut through armor, each strike precise and devastating. Beside him, Giyeok moved like a shadow, her blades taking down enemies before they could even react.
The clash was bloody. Blood-soaked fields, screams of warriors, and the clang of steel filled the air. Xiao Xing's tactical genius became apparent — he anticipated every maneuver, exploited every weakness, and protected the villagers at all costs.
Yet the sheer number of attackers was staggering. The invaders pressed harder, forcing the defenders to retreat strategically into stronger positions.
POV: Ministers / Cheng Court
Inside the palace, ministers argued fiercely. Some pushed for Xae Rin to personally lead reinforcements, others questioned the loyalty of troops scattered across the borders. Fear of Nae Yi's influence paralyzed many, while others whispered secretly of Xiao Xing's growing legend.
"This boy, Xiao Xing, fights like a hero," one minister said quietly. "But if Xae Rin falters… Cheng is doomed."
"Xae Rin is under Nae Yi's control," another replied. "Every decision he makes benefits her, not the empire."
The palace was a microcosm of the battlefield — divided, tense, and ready to explode.
POV: Giyeok / Battlefield
Giyeok, though injured from prior battles, fought with precision and fury. Each enemy she faced brought memories of betrayal, loss, and bloodshed. Her love for Xiao Xing gave her strength, her survival instincts honed through years under Nae Yi sharpened her reflexes.
She saw Xiao Xing faltering under sheer numbers, and with a cry, she plunged into the heart of the enemy, creating a path for him to strike decisively. Together, they became a whirlwind of death, a force that no army could ignore.
Closing Scene: Foreshadowing the Twins' Confrontation
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the battlefield was a chaotic sea of fire, blood, and shadow. Xiao Xing and Giyeok, battered but unbroken, held the front lines. Behind them, Nae Yi's shadow stretched long, her influence over Xae Rin tightening like a noose.
The twins' destinies were entwined in blood and prophecy, their paths converging toward a final, inevitable confrontation. Cheng hung in the balance, and the storm had only just begun.