Family system-Chapter 204: A joke

The rebels paused for a moment as the Arbiters attempted to rally themselves. The central Arbiter, pale but attempting to appear authoritative, raised his cane and bellowed, "You think you can overthrow us? The gods choose us!"

Kael exchanged a glance with Lysara, who rolled her eyes. "Oh, this should be good," she muttered.

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The central Arbiter muttered something under his breath, his trembling hands clutching the cane. A flicker of energy sputtered at the tip. He attempted to summon a blast of power, but instead, the staff emitted a faint pop, followed by a wisp of smoke. The Arbiter coughed awkwardly and waved at the smoke, trying to maintain his dignity.

"That’s it?" Hana asked, raising an eyebrow. "This is what we’re supposed to be afraid of?"

Another Arbiter stepped forward, a wiry man with oversized robes that made him look like a child playing dress-up. "You dare mock us?" he screeched, pulling a tiny wand from his robes. He pointed it dramatically at the rebels. "Behold our might!"

He flicked the wand, and a small spark shot out, hitting a nearby decorative curtain. The fabric caught fire, sending the Arbiters scrambling in panic.

"Put it out! Put it out!" one of them shrieked, fanning the flames with his robe. Unfortunately, this only spread the fire to his sleeve, causing him to flail wildly while the other Arbiters scattered in all directions.

"Good gods, this is embarrassing," Kael muttered, lowering his sword slightly.

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"Wait, I think they’re just warming up," Lysara said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The skeletal Arbiter, his bony fingers trembling, reached into a pouch and retrieved a vial of glowing liquid. "This potion will annihilate you!" he proclaimed, tossing it with all his might. Unfortunately, his aim was as feeble as his confidence, and the vial missed the rebels entirely, smashing against a nearby statue. The statue dissolved in a hiss of smoke, leaving behind a very unimpressed group of rebels.

"Is this a comedy show?" one of the rebels at the back called out, eliciting laughter from the rest.

A rotund Arbiter, huffing and puffing from the back of the group, raised what looked like a gilded scepter. "Enough! Feel the wrath of the gods!" He swung the scepter with all the strength he could muster—which wasn’t much. The heavy object slipped from his hands mid-swing and clattered to the floor, narrowly missing his foot. The Arbiter froze, his face a mix of horror and humiliation.

"Wrath of the gods?" Hana snorted. "More like the clumsiness of a toddler."

Desperate to salvage the situation, another Arbiter with a wild mop of white hair pulled a large book from his robe. "The ancient spells!" he declared. "Prepare to meet your doom!"

He flipped through the pages furiously, muttering incantations. A small orb of light formed before him, growing brighter and brighter. For a moment, even the rebels paused, wondering if the Arbiters might succeed in doing something.

Then, with a loud crack, the orb exploded in the Arbiter’s face, sending him sprawling backward with a puff of smoke and a scream. He landed in a heap, his singed hair on end and his robes smoldering.

"That was spectacular," Lysara said, clapping mockingly. "Ten out of ten for effort."

"Shut up!" the central Arbiter barked, his face red with embarrassment. He tried to lift his cane again, but his hand shook so badly that he dropped it. The cane hit the ground with a thud, and the gem at its tip rolled off, resting at Kael’s feet.

Kael bent down, picked up the gem, and held it up. "You dropped something," he said dryly, tossing it to Hana, who pocketed it with a grin.

By now, the remaining Arbiters were either cowering behind the central Arbiter or fumbling with their robes in a vain attempt to find more weapons or spells. One of them tripped over his own feet and fell face-first onto the floor, his hat tumbling off and revealing a shiny bald spot. Another tried to hide behind a decorative vase, which shattered under his weight when he leaned too hard.

The rebels stood in a loose circle, watching the chaos unfold with a mix of amusement and disbelief. One rebel leaned toward Kael and whispered, "Are we sure these are the ones who’ve been oppressing us?"

Kael sighed. "Unfortunately, yes."

The central Arbiter, now visibly sweating, raised his hands in a feeble attempt to command authority. "You... you fools! You think you’ve won? The gods will smite you for this insolence!"

Hana stepped forward, her dagger glinting in the light. "If the gods haven’t smote us yet, I don’t think they’re coming. You, on the other hand, are done."

The Arbiters screamed and cursed, their once-grand voices echoing in the damp corridors of the underground maze as the rebels dragged them out one by one. Their robes were torn and stained with dirt, trailing pitifully behind them. Hana secured the last of the knots around the central Arbiter’s wrists, pulling it tight despite his loud protests.

"You can’t treat us like this!" the central Arbiter bellowed, his face red with fury. "The gods choose us! Do you hear me? Chosen!"

"Chosen to whine, apparently," Lysara clapped back as she yanked another Arbiter to his feet. He tripped over his robe and nearly fell, his curses muffled by a gag one of the rebels had thoughtfully provided.

"This is an outrage!" another Arbiter screeched, his voice cracking. "You’ll burn for this insolence! The gods will—"

"Will what?" Hana interrupted coldly, stepping close enough for him to see the sharp edge of her blade. "Smite us? Or maybe they’ll bless us with more of your brilliant leadership?"

The Arbiter recoiled, his mouth snapping shut as his eyes darted nervously between her dagger and her expression. The other rebels laughed, the sound echoing in the narrow stone passage.

"Move it," Kael ordered, shoving one of the heftier Arbiters forward. The man stumbled, his indignation rising.

"How dare you!" he spluttered, glaring over his shoulder. "Do you know who I am?"

"An oversized sack of uselessness," Kael replied flatly, giving him another shove. "Keep walking."

The group slowly made their way toward the maze’s exit. The rebels moved with happiness, their weapons ready in case of any remaining traps or guards, though most of the latter had either fled or been dealt with earlier. The Arbiters dragged their feet, grumbling and snarling like spoiled children denied their toys.

"This isn’t over!" one of them shouted. "We’ll have you all executed for this! You’ll pay dearly!"

Lysara snorted. "The only thing you’ll be paying for is a cell big enough to hold that ego."

As they approached the surface, the faint sound of the city reached them—the murmurs of a crowd gathering, curious about the commotion. The rebels exchanged glances, and a grin spread across Kael’s face.

"Looks like we’ve got an audience," he said.

The Arbiters immediately stiffened. "Audience?" the central Arbiter repeated, his voice tinged with panic. "You wouldn’t dare humiliate us in public!"

"Oh, we’d dare," Hana said, her tone filled with happiness. "The people deserve to see what’s been rotting at the top."

"You can’t!" another Arbiter wailed, struggling against his bonds. "We’ll be ruined!"

"You’re already ruined," Lira muttered from the back, her voice heavy with disdain. "This is just the beginning."

As they emerged from the maze into the bright light of day, the crowd erupted into cheers and shouts. News of the Arbiter’s downfall had spread, and people had gathered to witness their capture. The rebels dragged the bound Arbiters into the square, where the citizens jeered and mocked the once-feared rulers.

"Look at them!" a woman in the crowd yelled. "They’re not gods—they’re cowards!"

"Down with the Arbiters!" another voice called, and the chant spread quickly through the throng.

The Arbiters flinched at the noise, their faces contorted with rage and fear. "Silence them!" the central Arbiter demanded, trying to regain some semblance of authority. "We are your leaders!"

"You were," Hana said sharply, stepping before him. "Now, you’re just prisoners. Get used to it."

The Arbiters were hauled onto a makeshift platform, their chains rattling as they lined up for everyone to see. The crowd roared with approval, their pent-up anger and frustration pouring out in waves. Some threw rotten food or stones, while others simply shouted insults.

Kael turned to the gathered rebels, his voice carrying over the chaos. "This is what we fought for! Justice for the people! No more oppression, no more lies!"

Kael stood on the makeshift platform, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. Cheers and shouts filled the air. The rebels, worn out from the battle but victorious, stood as a wall behind him, their weapons still at the ready in case the Arbiters tried anything foolish.

Kael raised his hand, and slowly, the noise began to quiet. The crowd leaned in, eager to hear what their leader had to say. He took a deep breath, his voice steady and strong as it carried across the square.