In the Kingdom of Eryndor, King Aldrich Vaelthorn was gathered with his advisors, discussing the recent events.
One of the advisors approached him and said:
— Your Majesty, three soldiers from the Kingdom of Altherion have been found crossing our territory!
Another advisor immediately asked:
— Should we send a group to respond to this invasion?
King Aldrich raised one hand, asking them to remain calm.
— Calm down, gentlemen.
We are a small nation compared to Dravenhold and Altherion.
Even so, we cannot simply sit back and do nothing.
The other advisor thought for a few seconds before asking:
— Should we send a spy into Altherion as well?
Everyone looked at him.
Aldrich placed one hand against his chin, deep in thought.
— Yes.
But we must be discreet.
Under no circumstances can we put the kingdom in danger.
I will also try to call a meeting with the other kingdoms.
Then another advisor asked:
— And the queen, my king?
Aldrich remained silent for a moment before answering:
— If something goes wrong, we will place the queen and the princess somewhere safe inside the palace.
I want the best protection possible for both of them.
The advisors began exchanging glances.
— Th-then… we’ll bring the best spies so you can evaluate them.
Aldrich raised an eyebrow.
— So I can evaluate them?
What are you here for?
Do your jobs properly!
Everyone immediately bowed.
— Yes, sir!
The advisors then left the room.
Aldrich remained seated for a few moments, staring at the half-open door beside him.
He sighed and said:
— Shouldn’t you be in your private lesson, Lynara Vaelthorn?
The door slowly opened.
On the other side stood a girl of about sixteen years old, with blonde, wavy hair and brown eyes.
She poked her head into the room and replied:
— Ah…
You only call me that when you’re angry.
Aldrich sighed.
— Our kingdom will depend on you one day.
Instead of wasting time, you should be working hard to learn how to rule it, Lynara!
— But, Father…
Your Majesty, I’m learning by watching you.
Suddenly, an extremely beautiful woman appeared behind Lynara.
Aldrich looked at her and his eyes widened slightly.
— Ah…
Selmira?
Lynara looked behind her.
— M-Mother?
I mean…
Your Majesty?
Selmira merely gave her daughter a look before entering the room.
Aldrich then asked:
— What is it, Selmira?
She replied:
— I heard some rumors that we had a small invasion.
Aldrich shook his head.
— It was nothing.
Just a few soldiers entered our territory.
But we’ll find out what they want soon enough.
Lynara, who had been listening to the conversation, timidly raised her hand.
— Are you going there?
Can I come with you?
Aldrich and Selmira looked at her with serious expressions.
Then, they answered at the same time:
— Of course not!
Lynara’s eyes widened for a moment.
Selmira sighed and approached her daughter.
— Daughter, go back to your lessons.
Aldrich looked at his wife.
— I’m sorry about this, Selmira.
Selmira gave a slight bow.
— It’s all right.
She then took Lynara by the arm and began pulling her out of the room.
— You’re not a child anymore, Lynara.
You’re almost entering adulthood.
At your age, I already had a suitor.
Lynara looked at her mother with a displeased expression.
— Yes, but your parents forced you to marry, didn’t they?
Selmira remained serious.
— It was for the good of the kingdom and our bloodline.
I wasn’t merely chosen; I was also considered the ideal person for this kingdom.
And now your time is coming.
Lynara immediately pulled herself free from her mother’s grasp.
— I-I don’t want to get married like that!
She ran down the corridor, holding up her dress with her fingers so she wouldn’t trip.
Selmira remained standing there for a few seconds, bringing one hand to her face.
— Lynara…
Aldrich stood behind Selmira, silently watching the corridor.
Selmira looked over her shoulder.
— Ah, Aldrich…
He took a few steps toward her and then said:
— You know very well that if anything happens to this kingdom, the two of you will be escorted out, don’t you?
Selmira sighed.
— All of this because of my visions?
— Because of your visions… and because of the succession.
Selmira remained silent for a few moments.
Then, she turned her eyes toward the opening at the end of the corridor, a large window in the wall through which they could see the streets of the city.
— One day, Lynara will have to learn about her destiny… the destiny of the Eternal Shield.
Aldrich slowly nodded.
— Yes.
It’s part of it.
Just as it happened to me, to my father, and before him, to everyone who carried this duty.
We cannot allow those creatures to return from the depths to the surface.
Never again.
Selmira turned her eyes away from the city and looked at Aldrich.
— You… don’t you think it’s a cruel destiny?
To be… a watcher for all eternity?
Aldrich remained silent for a few seconds before answering.
— If Altherion is the sword, Eryndor is the shield.
I have no regrets about my purpose.
Selmira simply looked at him.
The two remained silent for a few moments.
Then Aldrich smiled slightly.
— Besides…
I have you.
Selmira frowned in surprise.
— Me?
You mean… because of my visions?
— Your visions have already saved this kingdom twice.
I have no words to express how grateful I am to you.
Selmira was speechless for a moment.
Aldrich smiled faintly before adding:
— Although you could have used that power to prevent what happened at our wedding.
Hehe.
Selmira immediately laughed.
— You still haven’t forgotten about that fall, darling?
— How could I?
I fell right on top of you!
— And we both got our clothes covered in mud just minutes before the ceremony began!
— she replied, laughing.
Aldrich laughed as well when he remembered it.
— My parents were furious… but I didn’t care.
After all, I was with you.
Selmira smiled.
The two exchanged a silent look, faint smiles on their faces.
For a few moments, it seemed as though the entire weight of their duties had disappeared.
Until a voice echoed through the corridor:
— Your Majesty!
Where are you?
Aldrich’s expression immediately changed.
He straightened his posture and answered loudly:
— Well, I’m coming!
I’M HERE!
Selmira let out a small laugh.
— Have a good meeting.
Meanwhile, at Edric and Tessa’s inn, the two continued serving customers as usual.
Edric was organizing a few things behind the counter when he commented:
— I wonder when that group will come back here.
Tessa smiled.
— Ah…
I miss them too, even though it hasn’t really been that long.
Edric looked across the dining hall.
— And it seems like this week has been busier.
— Yeah… we’ve been getting quite a lot of customers.
Before she could finish her sentence, the inn’s door opened.
The two looked toward the entrance.
A human figure entered the establishment.
Several magical staffs were hanging from their back.
Without saying a word, the person walked over to the farthest table and sat down.
Tessa narrowed her eyes.
— Hey… that looks like… the messenger.
Edric nodded.
— They always change.
I’ll go.
You already took care of the last order before that group arrived, remember?
— Good luck.
Edric approached the covered figure.
— Good morning.
What would you like?
Instead, he handed Edric a small piece of paper.
Edric looked at him.
— The usual?
The covered figure simply nodded.
Then, he replied in a low voice:
— Give it priority this time.
Edric nodded.
— Of course.
Your order will be ready soon.
He took the piece of paper and walked toward the kitchen.
As soon as he entered, Edric discreetly opened the paper.
There was a message written on it:
“Soldiers from Altherion have invaded Eryndor. Find out why.”
Edric remained silent for a few seconds.
Then Tessa appeared, carrying an empty tray.
— Are you coming back soon?
Edric put the paper away.
— It’s a spying mission.
I might be gone for a while.
Tessa looked at him with concern.
— Are you sure you don’t want some help?
— No. Focus on the inn.
Only then will we be able to put an end to this someday.
Tessa crossed her arms.
— Fine.
But I’m not giving you a massage afterward.
You’ll have to stay sore until it goes away on its own!
Edric made a displeased expression.
— B-But I didn’t ask for one.
Who would even want that?
Tessa picked up a ladle that was sitting on the counter.
— What did you say?
Edric scratched his head.
— N-Nothing, heh.
But I’ll be back soon, okay?
Tessa then picked up something wrapped in several pieces of cloth and handed it to him.
— Here.
It’s for the journey.
You’re not going to work on an empty stomach, right?
Edric smiled.
— Thanks, big sis.
Tessa pointed toward the door.
— Now go.
I don’t like those messengers.
They’re strange.
Edric smiled again and left the kitchen.
However, when he returned to the dining hall, he realized that the messenger was already gone.
Edric looked around in surprise.
“Looks like the mission has already begun…”
Meanwhile, in the Kingdom of Altherion, something completely different was taking place.
King Dren of Altherion stood before a resident of Drakthar.
Without any mercy, the king punched him.
POW!
— You… you filthy race… how dare you walk through my kingdom?!
POW!
Another punch.
The royal guards watched everything closely, not daring to interfere.
The king continued beating the soldier until his hands were covered in blood.
Breathing heavily, Dren clenched his fists.
One of the guards finally gathered the courage to ask:
— Are you all right, my king?
Dren slowly turned his head toward him.
— Get this piece of trash out of here.
Then he kicked the lizardman’s face.
The man fell to the ground, agonizing in pain.
Dren picked up a cloth and began wiping his hands.
— The blood of that filthy creature is on my hands…
Damn it!
At that moment, the king’s secretary entered the area.
— Sir, the soldiers sent to Eryndor have already begun settling in the nearest city.
The king remained silent for a few moments.
A smile slowly appeared on his face as he continued wiping his fingers.
Then, in a swift movement, he grabbed the secretary and pulled him closer.
— Excellent news.
I like that.
Keep it up.
The secretary swallowed nervously.
— But we still haven’t received any news from the pair we sent.
Dren released the secretary and calmly replied:
— If they haven’t died, then everything is fine.
I’m sure they’ll find the traitor.
He smiled.
— And she will pay for her sin with her own life!
Dren then looked at the statue of the goddess Luminarya.
— Right, Goddess Luminarya?
The king slowly stepped away from the secretary, keeping his eyes fixed on the statue.
— She will be sacrificed in your name, my goddess.
I promise you that.