Liliya woke to the sound of birds outside her window. Her head throbbed, and the events of last night were a blur.

  How did I end up in bed?

  As she lay there, trying to piece things together, a memory surfaced of Kai leading her to the room.

  Oh no. What did I do? Did I sleep with the enemy? Ex-enemy? Gods, please no. Think, you drunk fool, think!

  She buried her burning face in a pillow, wishing she could vanish from shame. Slowly, fragments of the night returned, and relief washed over her.

  “I really need to tone down the drinking,” she muttered, dragging herself upright.

  With a flick of her fingers, a small orb of water shimmered into existence. She splashed her face, then stepped into the hall where everyone was already gathered, picking at last night’s leftovers.

  Zara spotted her and strolled over, a mischievous glint in her eye. “So… had fun last night?” She winked.

  “I did. The mead was too strong, though.” Liliya rubbed her temples.

  “Did you do anything you’ll regret?” Zara teased, nudging her playfully.

  “I don’t think so. Why? What did you hear?” Liliya asked, dread creeping in.

  “Oh, nothing. Just saw someone leave your room late at night.” Zara smirked.

  Liliya froze, then remembered Kai, and blushed. “It’s nothing like that! He just helped me to my room. I swear.”

  “Haha, okay, okay. But honestly, you two would make a cute couple.” Zara grinned.

  “No way. He’s way too angry for my taste, and his mana? It’s terrifying. Like a wild beast.” Liliya protested.

  “Trust me,” Zara said, casting a sly glance toward Xarion, “having a wild beast isn’t always a bad thing.”

  Liliya’s cheeks flared crimson as the meaning sank in. Without another word, she fled to the far side of the hall, putting as much distance between herself and Zara as possible.

  ***

  Kai sat beside Lisa, who clung to him with teary eyes.

  “You know we have to go,” he said gently, brushing her hair back. “But we’ll be back soon. Then I’ll take you home.”

  She wiped her eyes and nodded. “I know. Please return safely. Lisa will be a good girl while brother is gone.”

  Kai smiled. He was truly becoming this little girl’s family. He wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but she had awakened a brotherly side of him he hadn’t known existed.

  “We’ll miss you too!” Scry suddenly jumped between them.

  Lisa hugged him tightly, nearly choking him. “Easy, girl! You’ll kill me,” Scry gasped. “You’ve been spending too much time with the bird.”

  Umbra, unfazed, continued eating and ignored the commotion.

  Arama entered, looking fresh and energized. “Good morning, everyone. I hear you're leaving soon?”

  Nerva stood. “Yes, Chief. We can’t afford to waste more time. Who knows what that monster has been forging while we rest? The longer we stay, the more lives he takes.”

  Arama frowned. “Indeed. I came to take those who’ll be living with us and settle them in. We’ve got free houses on the outskirts, close to the mage, since she’ll be training them.” He shivered at the thought.

  Nerva chuckled at the reaction. “No problem. Let them say goodbye to their savior first.”

  Kai approached the seven men, who looked far healthier than when he’d first found them.

  “Men, this is goodbye for now. Train well and listen to Bjorn and Harrietta. If you need to go home, do so. You don’t have to stay here,” he said thoughtfully.

  “We shall wait for you, Master,” Bjorn said, kneeling.

  Kai sighed. “Stand up, Bjorn. We’ve talked about this. I’m not your master. But we can be friends.” He offered his hand.

  Bjorn rose. “Master, this isn’t proper. You gave us our lives back. We owe them to you.”

  “I saved you so you could live, not to follow me or anyone. Train, live, do what you will. And if I ever need your help, I won’t hesitate to ask.” Kai smiled.

  The men grew teary-eyed and bowed in unison. “We thank you, Master Kai!”

  Bjorn finally shook his hand and led the men away with Arama.

  Xarion watched the scene unfold with a smile. “You did well, Lord Kai. As befits a dragon.”

  Kai shivered and shot him a stern look.

  Zara leaped onto his back, playfully choking him. “Don’t worry, Kai, I’ll teach him a lesson.”

  Kai laughed. “You two really are a good couple.”

  “Like you and someone here?” Zara teased, wrestling with Xarion.

  Kai wasn’t sure what she meant, but Liliya turned red across the table and shouted, “You vile woman! I said nothing happened!”

  Nerva turned to her, then to Kai, eyes wide. “What happened?”

  Scry perked up and dashed toward Kai. “Mating with enemies now, are we? You do know what she’s half of, right?” he teased.

  Kai slapped him on the head.

  “Ouch!” Scry yelped.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Nerva, nothing happened,” Kai said quickly. “She tried to sneak up on me in puppy form, and I took her to her room to rest. She was a bit tipsy.”

  “Heeey! No need to tell everyone!” Liliya protested.

  Nerva laughed and shook his head. “I swear, she really has a drinking problem. I don’t even know when it started.”

  Lucius sat beside Eira and Kran, rubbing his forehead, clearly uninterested in the drama.

  Kran chuckled. “I support him.”

  Harrietta walked past. “Of course you do, you thirsty dog.”

  Kran’s ears turned red with embarrassment.

  Eira giggled. “Kran, come with me. We need to talk.”

  She took his hand and led him to the balcony on the cabin’s second floor.

  ***

  On the balcony, the sun shone brightly, warming cold-blooded Eira as she perched on the railing.

  “Kran, you know you’ll have to stay here, right?” she said gently.

  “What? I wanted to go with all of you, to help.” His voice was tight with disappointment. He had always assumed he’d be part of the mission.

  “You’re too weak right now. You’d die out there. We can’t risk it. I’m sorry,” she said softly.

  “But I can scout! I’m fast,” Kran protested, his tail twitching.

  “Kran… please wait for me,” Eira said, her voice tender. “When we return, I’ll stay here. I want to live a normal life for once.”

  Kran stared at her. “You mean… stay with me?” His tail wagged hopefully.

  “Not right away,” she replied with a small smile. “But maybe, in time. I can see that happening.”

  She didn’t feel as strongly for him as he did for her, but she was willing to give him a chance. He was, after all, a truly kind man.

  “What if something happens to you? I’ll never know what became of you,” he said, worry clouding his face.

  “If it does… then it’s my fate. I’ve already lived a long, albeit messy life.” Her smile was cold, distant.

  Kran’s expression darkened. He didn’t know how to respond.

  “Look,” she continued, “we’ve got a strong group. Florian’s wounded, we can do this. Have faith.”

  “Fine… I’ll try to be hopeful,” he said, though doubt still lingered in his mind.

  “How’s your training going?” she asked, trying to shift the mood.

  “It’s… going. Still feels like something’s holding me back from reaching Knight level. I need more mana.” He sighed. Weak and useless. Old, useless Kran. Greywind Wolf would probably die of shame if he knew I was his offspring.

  Heavy thoughts weighed on him.

  Then, something cool touched his cheek. Eira had leaned in and given him a small, cold kiss.

  “Thank you for being there,” she said softly, then hopped off the railing.

  “Come say goodbye. We leave soon.” She walked back toward the entrance of the main hall.

  ***

  In the royal gardens of Fallhaven, Theodor sat alone, his mana swirling violently around him, scorching the earth and wilting nearby plants. The air shimmered with residual heat. Deep black bags under his eyes betrayed the torment of the previous night.

  He wore simple black trousers and a yellow button-down shirt, his silver hair disheveled and falling over his forehead.

  Barnacus approached slowly, wary of the volatile energy in the air.

  The night before, the king had received a mana message from Nerva, and in his grief and rage, he had burned down half of his wing. No one knew the exact contents of the message, but it was clear: something terrible had happened.

  “Your Majesty,” Barnacus said cautiously, keeping his distance, “may we speak? The people are worried. Rumors are spreading that the castle was attacked. I’m doing my best to contain them, but it’s getting harder.”

  Theodor didn’t look up. “Barnacus… I will fix everything. But let me mourn my brother today. I won’t let my emotions run wild again. Forgive me.”

  He was a shadow of himself.

  Nerva had contacted him from the village last night, revealing the truth: Lisa had been found, but James, Theodor’s brother, was likely dead.

  Overwhelmed, Theodor had lost control, and his aura had incinerated his chambers.

  “What?” Barnacus staggered, his face pale. “Lord James is gone? But… they left for Ilun. We hadn’t heard from them, but we thought they were still crossing the World Sea.”

  “They were attacked on their way there,” Theodor whispered, his voice hollow. “James and Cecily are dead. Lisa survived. Some boy from the wilds saved her.

  Nerva found them by chance.”

  Barnacus collapsed to his knees. “But… who would dare? James was a Master Knight. He was strong, stronger than most.”

  “Lisa spoke of masked men, tall, cloaked in black. It’s likely the Voiceless League. And who else could afford to hire them?” Theodor’s aura flared again, but he forced it back with visible effort.

  “Rond…” Barnacus muttered, his voice trembling.

  “They wanted to bait me. Lure me out so the League could strike again. But their plans were ruined by a Soul Forger. The same one behind the beast attacks.”

  “A Soul Forger? That’s impossible. They were hunted down. Their legacies erased!” Barnacus was reeling from the flood of revelations.

  “A rat survived, and in my lands, no less.” Theodor fell to the ground, fists pounding the earth. Each blow sent tremors through the garden.

  Guards rushed in, but seeing the king in such a state, they turned away, unwilling to intrude.

  “Please, my lord,” Barnacus cried, running to him. He wrapped his arms around the broken king. “I feel your pain. But think of the people.”

  Theodor finally broke, tears falling to the ground. “He was my only family left. Now Lisa and I are the last true descendants of Sorgaz.

  I will avenge him, I swear.

  Nerva is already on the move to destroy the Soul Forger. And I… I will ruin Rond. When Nerva returns, we march. I will raze their capital to the ground.”

  “But my lord, the Empire won’t allow it. They value Rond’s mines and weapons.”

  “Zenith won’t care, as long as trade continues. They have Paleria to worry about; the civil war there could escalate into open war with Zenith.” Theodor stood, his eyes burning with vengeance.

  “Barnacus, assemble my commanders. Inform Pius, it’s time to activate the Sentinels.”

  Barnacus swallowed hard and nodded. Rond had crossed a line they would regret. His heart hardened as he turned to carry out the order.

  Servants emerged, cautiously beginning to clean the scorched garden and the king himself.

  “Forgive me,” Theodor said quietly. “I’ll pay you double for the extra work.”

  The servants bowed silently.

  And so, Eastsun stirred toward war, Paleria and Zenith in the North, Fallhaven and Rond in the South. The East and West watched, calculating their moves.

  No one knew what fate awaited Eastsun in the years to come.?

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