From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!

Chapter 260: Kraghul Wakes!

Kraghul’s eyes snapped open in the dim interior of the large orcish tent. The air was thick with the scent of smoked herbs and damp furs. His chest heaved as he sat up too quickly, a cold sweat already coating his skin. Something was wrong. Deeply, terribly wrong. A heavy sense of impending doom pressed down on him like an invisible weight, making his stomach twist and his heart race. He couldn’t remember the dream—no, the nightmare—but the feeling lingered like poison in his veins. Something was on the verge of going horribly wrong, and he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. The uncertainty clawed at him, leaving him restless and on edge.

He rubbed his face roughly with both hands, trying to shake the dread away. "What the hell is this feeling?" he muttered under his breath. "It’s like the sky is about to fall... but I can’t remember why."

Kraghul glanced over his shoulder toward the far side of the tent. His three sisters were there, safe and whole. Thulga, the oldest, was chatting animatedly with a group of Maui’s orcs, gesturing with her massive hands as she described something. Roktha laughed at whatever Thulga said, while Mazga—the youngest—sat cross-legged, sharpening a small blade and occasionally adding a comment. They looked completely at ease, interacting naturally with the other orcs who had taken them in. The sight should have comforted him. Instead, it only deepened the unease.

He had no idea what was truly going on. He thought he had seen Kragg... or at least, something that looked like Kragg. But that couldn’t be right. Kragg should be here with them. Safe. Alive. The contradiction gnawed at him.

His sisters noticed the movement. Thulga’s head turned first.

"Kraghul! You’re awake!" she exclaimed, quickly rising to her feet. The other two followed right behind her, rushing over to his side.

Roktha dropped to one knee beside him, her hand gently touching his shoulder. "Brother, how are you feeling? You were thrashing and screaming in your sleep again. We were worried."

Mazga hovered close, her young face etched with concern. "Yeah, you looked like you were fighting ghosts. Are you hurt? Does anything pain you?"

Kraghul waved them off with a sharp motion of his hand, his mood sour. "I’m fine. Just... leave it. I don’t want to talk right now."

Thulga frowned, crossing her arms. "You can’t just brush us off like that. We’re your sisters. If something’s troubling you, tell us."

"I said I’m fine," Kraghul growled, though his voice lacked its usual fire. He wanted to be left alone, to sit with the nagging dread in silence, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen. The other orcs in the tent were now watching him with uncertain glances, whispering among themselves. Their stares made his skin crawl. This was humiliating.

He kissed his teeth loudly in irritation. "Tch. This is embarrassing enough without all of you hovering."

Thulga wasn’t deterred. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a more serious tone, skipping any further pleasantries about his health. She knew her brother well enough to cut straight to what mattered. "What is going on in this region, Kraghul? Father sent us to find you because rumors reached him. Speak plainly. What have you seen? What do you know?"

Kraghul stared at the ground for a long moment, his jaw tight. The feeling of doom refused to leave. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost a mutter. "I have no idea... but this is not enough. There is something happening here. Something dark. If we do not act now, it will bring an end to us all."

His words hung heavy in the air. The terror in his eyes was unmistakable. Kraghul had always been the bold one—the fearless warrior who charged ahead without hesitation. Seeing fear in him now rattled his sisters more than anything.

Mazga’s eyes widened, her voice trembling slightly. "Kraghul... you’re scaring me. You never show fear like this. What did you see? Was it in your dream? Tell us. Please."

Roktha placed a reassuring hand on Mazga’s shoulder but kept her gaze on their brother. "He’s right to be worried if it’s affecting him this badly. Brother, if it’s that serious, we need details. What exactly is coming? Is it the elves? Another tribe? Or something worse?"

Thulga nodded firmly. "Exactly. Father trusts your instincts. If you say we’re all in danger, then we believe you. But we can’t prepare if we don’t know what we’re facing. Speak, Kraghul. What made you wake up like this?"

Before Kraghul could respond, the tent flap was pushed aside. Maui walked in, her powerful presence immediately filling the space. She carried herself with the quiet authority of a leader who had seen many battles.

Kraghul looked up and, despite everything, a familiar smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, well, well... So it is true," he said, his tone teasing even through the lingering dread. "The mighty Maui herself has come to check on me."

Thulga reacted instantly. Her large hand came down in a firm smack across the back of Kraghul’s head, forcing him to bow it low. "Apologize! Right now! Show respect to our host."

"W-What are you doing!?" Kraghul barked, rubbing the back of his head indignantly. At the end of the day, he was still just a child in the eyes of these older orcs, no matter how much he tried to act otherwise. "I was only—"

"Apologize," Thulga repeated sternly, not budging.

Kraghul grumbled under his breath but muttered reluctantly, "Sorry... Maui. I didn’t mean disrespect."

Maui simply raised an eyebrow, a small amused smile on her lips, but she didn’t respond immediately as she saw this orc was just like any at the end of the day.

Suddenly, Kraghul coughed. It started as a normal clearing of the throat, but quickly turned aggressive and violent. His whole body jerked forward.

"Brother?" Roktha asked, alarmed, reaching for him.

The cough worsened. Black, thick blood erupted from Kraghul’s mouth, splattering onto the ground in dark, viscous pools. The metallic tang filled the air instantly.

Mazga gasped in horror. "Kraghul! No—someone help him!"

Thulga’s eyes widened. "What is that?! It’s not normal blood—Maui, do something!"

Kraghul tried to speak, but another violent cough cut him off. His vision blurred. The world tilted violently as his body convulsed once, then went limp. He collapsed backward onto the furs, unconscious again, his breathing shallow and ragged as shock took hold of his system.

Maui moved quickly, dropping to his side. "Get the healers! Now! And bring clean cloths and water—this looks like...!"

The tent erupted into frantic activity. Thulga barked orders at the other orcs while Roktha and Mazga hovered protectively over their brother, their faces pale with fear.

Roktha whispered urgently, "He was trying to warn us... Whatever he saw, it’s real. We can’t ignore this."

Mazga nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "Please, Kraghul... wake up soon. We need you."

The sense of impending doom that had troubled Kraghul now spread to everyone present, thick and suffocating, as black blood continued to slowly seep from the corner of his mouth.