ELECTED BY FRIENDS

In the heart of a lush land known as Eldoria, a group of powerful individuals, once bound by friendship and secret oaths, cunningly maneuvered their way into absolute control. They called themselves The Elect, and under the banner of their carefully crafted political group, The Unity Party, they claimed to be the true protectors of Eldoria’s peace and prosperity. Though a minority, they seized power and skillfully manipulated the rest of the country into submission, all in the name of progress and democracy.

The Elect were masters of deception. They crafted an elaborate Language Code—a set of terms that sounded noble and essential but were nothing more than a linguistic veil for their schemes. “Democracy” became a popular term, but only The Elect understood its true meaning within their circles: obedience to their rule. They invented phrases like “People’s Subsidy,” “The National Constitution,” and “Economic Reform.” On the surface, these terms implied security and growth. In reality, they were tools to create a maze of poverty, ensuring that the general population remained dependent and in the dark.

The Elect governed with an iron grip, hidden behind a pleasant facade. Every decision, from food distribution to the curriculum taught in schools, was meant to reinforce the myth of The Unity Party as a force of good. Even education was weaponized, with citizens conditioned to revere The Elect from childhood, taught that questioning their leaders was akin to betrayal.

Eldoria’s citizens were trapped. Their voices, though encouraged to speak, were drowned in rhetoric and media spectacles choreographed by The Elect to divert attention from the true issues. They lived under the illusion of choice, but all roads lead back to (The Unity Party). With each election cycle, they thought they were voting for change, but The Elect rotated power within their inner circle, ensuring no one outside their ranks could ever break in.

For The Elect, it was the perfect setup. They lived in luxury, a pleasure-driven world where loyalty was rewarded handsomely. Under the guise of “public service,” they wielded control over every resource, every opportunity, every life in Eldoria. And as long as the people of Eldoria remained captivated by the illusion of democracy, The Elect would rule on—unchallenged, comfortable, and forever in power.

The Elect, aware of the power they held and the fragility of their deceit, lived in constant fear of one thing: the military. Though they controlled nearly every aspect of life in Eldoria, they knew that a single general with the loyalty of the armed forces could disrupt their web of control in an instant. They dreaded what they called a coup d’état—the swift, decisive overthrow of their carefully constructed rule.

In hushed meetings, The Elect spoke of past nations where generals, driven by visions of true governance and economic reform, had unseated corrupt leaders and set their countries on paths of genuine growth. Such leaders were rare but powerful, and their legacies became folklore. In Eldoria, the military had historically been a source of pride, and the people respected its officers for their discipline and bravery. This respect was something The Elect couldn’t fabricate with slogans or codes. It was real, and that made it dangerous.

The Elect had to act. To keep the military on a leash, they developed a strategy both subtle and ruthless. They created an entire division within The Unity Party—called the Loyalty Corps—whose sole purpose was to infiltrate and monitor the military. Promising officers were given tempting privileges and promotions within The Elect's hierarchy, but only if they proved their loyalty. They also enforced new “laws” within the Language Code to frame any hint of resistance from the military as treason.

Despite these efforts, The Elect knew that true loyalty couldn’t be bought with bribes and promotions. The military remained a wild card. As whispers of discontent grew louder in the villages and towns, so did rumors of young, principled officers who questioned the legitimacy of The Elect’s rule. They watched their comrades in neighboring countries, led by military leaders who practiced authentic governance and prioritized growth. These neighboring nations thrived under the disciplined stewardship of their leaders, a reality that stood in stark contrast to Eldoria’s stagnation.

This threat became a ticking time bomb. The Elect could feel the weight of their deception pressing down on them, knowing that should the right leader emerge from within the ranks of the military, they might be overthrown. Despite their hold on the populace, the very foundation of their power remained precarious, balanced on the edge of one possible uprising. The Elect continued their rule, haunted by the shadows of honorable generals and the ticking clock of rebellion.