Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: The Hidden Truth

 Just when Choy thought his world could not shatter any more, a more painful truth emerged. It was Ethan, another of Choy's childhood friends, who had secretly plotted the death of King Jang Ho. Choy had never questioned Ethan—he had been the one person who remained loyal to him, offering guidance when his father's death weighed him down. Ethan had always been there for Choy, encouraging him to rise above the past and face the future. But in a shocking revelation, Choy learned the truth. Ethan had orchestrated the attack by the Gura'ka, the creature that had killed his father. It was Ethan who had secretly lured the beast into the forest, knowing that his father would come to save him. His father's death had been planned from the very start—Ethan wanted to weaken the throne and ensure that Choy would be vulnerable, so he could manipulate him into supporting the knights and their cause. The betrayal cut deeper than anything Choy had ever experienced. His anger flared to life, a roaring fire that consumed his thoughts. He confronted Ethan in a moment of rage, demanding to know why. "You were my friend!" Choy shouted, his voice thick with betrayal. "Why? Why would you betray me like this?" Ethan, cold and indifferent, simply replied, "Because I knew you would never lead without your father's death. You were weak, Choy, and I needed you to realize your place. The knights are the future, not you." The truth hit Choy like a hammer. Ethan, the one person who had been by his side, had been working against him all along.