Year 1561 MME – 66 years after the hero's death.
Gremonita's influence spread over the Old Gate region and ruled over four different lands—thus, a new empire arose – the Arshtal Empire. This matter has become a topic throughout Santehna and has reached nations from outside the region, yet attempts at prevention have suffered a series of failures. The 14th king of the Magna Kingdom, Konstantinos II, proposed to host an emergency summit to address all the main issues regarding Arshtal expansion.
The invited nations are a group of human kingdoms united under the Sovereign Federation of the Aevalion Union, consisting of ten kingdoms across the globe of Aevalion. The leading nation within the federation is the Magna Kingdom, the founder. The Santehnian United Kingdom consists of six nations from the southern continent of Santehna, three nations from the northern continent of Zarhara, and the newest member from the land of the cherry blossom, the Yamato Empire from the eastern continent of Akishima.
Anvert – the capital city of Magna Kingdom. It is where the royal family and nobles live, heavily guarded by hundreds of royal knights and mages. And now, the city itself will be the place where all the invited kings, queens, and top brass will attend the summit. Each arrived in their lavish carriage, accompanied by their respective advisors and bodyguards.
The buzz of conversation filled the Anvert Conference Hall as delegates from each country mingled and eagerly anticipated the main event. The room was elegantly decorated with opulent tapestries and gilded details. Tensions were high as some attendees had a history of conflicts with one another. Yet they knew they were here not to discuss their personal disputes.
Amid murmurs amongst the crowd, a person walks toward the middle of the hall. He clapped his hands and gained everyone’s attention.
“Greetings, dear honored guests. I will be your moderator for today's event. Please find your designated seats and prepare for the 8th World Summit.”
The room fell silent as the moderator had their attention. Each delegate found their assigned seat and awaited the start of the summit.
“Thank you for your cooperation,” the moderator continued. “Now please welcome, the 14th king of the Magna Kingdom, High King Konstantinos the Second.”
Everyone in the room bowed as the Santehnian High King graciously walked from the main entrance, heading to the podium. King Konstantinos II, a stern yet charismatic figure, stood on the very stage before influential people, his eyes scanning the gathered leaders.
“Welcome, my esteemed colleagues,” he began. “First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to be here today. Especially my guests from the Kingdom of Namira, Alrion, and Kelthresh – our neighbors from the southern continent of Zarhara. And let us not forget our friend from overseas, who represented the Yamato Empire all the way from Akishima. We gather here today in the face of a tremendous and impending threat. I understand that some of you here may not see eye to eye, but I hope we can find a common ground within this conference.”
King Konstantinos noticed the grim atmosphere in the room, seeing some of them glancing at each other with a displeasing glare. So, he cleared his throat, thinking that he might distort the sharp gazes between them. Then he continued. “We find ourselves at a critical juncture in the history of our world. The Arshtal Empire, led by the demoness Gremonita, has grown in strength and influence, threatening the entirety of Santehna. We cannot stand by and watch our nations be consumed by—”
One of the delegates suddenly stood up and raised his hand, cutting in. King Konstantinos permitted his interruption. “Forgive me for interrupting, High King,” he started. But if I may include my opinion on this matter, according to the records of their expansion, they seemed non-hostile towards us—the human faction.”
A murmur arose from the crowd as they strongly disagreed with the statement. A demon-ruled empire without hostility? Absolute nonsense! High King, I advise we do not give him another opportunity to voice his opinion. The others joined in and requested for him to be silenced, but the Santehnian High King raised his hand, signaling for them to quiet down.
“You are the young King Medraut of Gallion, correct?”
“That is correct, Your Highness,” the person revealed to be King Medraut replied.
“Would you care to explain your statement regarding the demon-led empire since our friends here seem to disagree?”
“I appreciate the opportunity you gave, High King,” He strode to the center of the hall, ensuring his intentions, mannerisms, and gestures were visible to everyone. This would show that he spoke with sincerity. “I want everyone to take Shalrain Kingdom, for example, who is with us here right now. They’re the neighboring country of Lorrobold, the Kobold Kingdom, which has been their longest enemy. For years, they have faced constant attacks and lost countless soldiers while defending their beloved homes. However, with the recent fall of Lorrobold to the Orcish Kingdom – which has now turned into an empire – all attacks have suddenly ceased, and there are no indications of their advancement whatsoever. Isn’t that correct, Your Majesty, King Gerald Harleyson?”
“Is that right, King Gerald Harleyson of Shalrain?” King Konstantinos asked.
Everyone glanced towards the Shalrain King, Gerald Harleyson, who nodded slightly. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he responded, agreeing with Medraut’s statement, “that is correct. We have put our scouts on patrol in the demilitarized zone, and we could say that—strangely—they are… minding their own business. Putting our scouts in there is already surprising enough since they would have to survive and retreat constantly. Some might not be lucky enough to retreat. But this time, my scouts are never forced to retreat.”
“You have my condolences to those Shalrain soldiers who had fallen to defend your home. How long has it been since they have stopped attacking you?”
“Just as they had fallen to Arshtal a year ago, they have never again stepped into our territory. I’ve received reports from our spies that they are rather thriving and much happier. Hence, they won’t need to steal from us again.”
A murmur once again spread through the crowd as the Shalrain King's words echoed in the hall. Many could not comprehend how a demon-ruled empire could be at peace with others, but the evidence was undeniable.
“If this is true, what does it mean for our nations?” asked a woman in a long, flowing dress, her petite figure belying a fierce demeanor. “Are we to believe the Arshtal Empire isn't a threat? It has only been a year, which might be a ploy by that wretched demoness to lower Shalrain's defenses. Moreover, their geopolitical position threatens the border that connects the bridge between the northern and southern continents.”
“Queen Merlina Ishmar of Ishmaran, I suppose you have a suggestion?” King Konstantinos responded.
“Your Majesty, we cannot allow ourselves to believe that they aren’t weaving a web of plans. We should unite ourselves to attack the Arshtal Empire all at once.”
“If you mean by throwing away the precious lives of my people, you can count me out of your shortsighted idea, Lady Merlina,” A voice familiar to Queen Merlina’s ears chimed in. “We can’t just walk into a dragon’s mouth and expect to come out with their heart in our hand.”
“My dear, Sir Geraint,” she sighed, “I highly doubt that you or your people have a better solution to this matter.”
“With all due respect, High King, Lady Merlina’s proposal might have put all of our people at risk, and the fact that she stole my land is enough reason to put aside any of her brutish talk.”
King Geraint’s voice was filled with a sense of passive-aggressiveness, which indicates something must’ve happened in the past between them. All the while, Queen Merlina seemed to bear no mind from the look of her face. No one except King Geraint could see a spark beneath her plain façade.
“Stole, you said? I find that rather boorish and folly,” She replied. “Your people chose to join us of their own free will. If anything, you should blame yourself for not being an adequate ruler—"
“—And by not informing and getting my blessing?!” King Geraint interjected angrily.
Queen Merlina hid her smirk behind her intricate and elegant hand fan. “Why would they need to have your permission? They did not consider you as their ruler.”
“That's enough,” King Konstantinos cut in. The tension among the opposing leaders was palpable, but the Santehnian High King quickly put an end to it. “We are here not to discuss personal issues. I anticipated this situation, where we failed to concur within this scenario. So, I prepared a special guest for today, which—of course—I did not inform all of you about beforehand. You may come in.”
The entire room's attention shifted towards the main entrance as three cloaked figures with masks on their faces made their way toward the podium where the High King stood. The one in the middle appeared shorter than the other two, but its presence gave the impression that the short one held an air of importance; at least, everyone in the room felt that way. Whispers began circulating among the crowd as the majority recognized these figures while others were left guessing their identities. Who did the High King invite?
They stood behind the High King while the crowd still murmured. Then the Queen of Ishmaran, standing with a bitter look on her face, exclaimed, “High King, would you care to explain why you invited these criminals?!”
Criminals? They’re the Guardians, protectors of innocents.
Those people are vigilantes!
They’re the keepers of peace!
The arrival of the Guardians sparked opinions among the leaders. Some detested their presence as Queen Merlina did, some acknowledged them as an ally, and some didn’t even know who or what they were, especially the guests from overseas.
It has been quite some time since a third-party organization participated in the World Summit—the Merchant Guild was present last time to discuss economic matters, but this time, it is unlike any other. What exactly were they aiming to achieve in this summit? What is their agenda? The presence of the Guardians raised questions about their intentions and motives.
“Silence,” King Konstantinos said, interrupting the muttering amongst the crowd. “To my honored friends, please do me a favor and give them at least a chance to explain.”
The Santehnian High King gestured toward the masked short figure and moved aside from the podium, giving them a chance to speak. He bowed to the High King as a form of gratitude as the king sat on the lavish chair behind.
“Greetings, my honored leaders,” he started. “Allow me to introduce ourselves. My name is Shadowfang, and we’re from an independent organization called The Guardians. I’m honored to have been invited by the High King to convene on the matter of Arshtal Expansion. For half a century, Guardians have been operating in the shadows, maintaining peace after the event of the holy war, and have been targeting the surviving demon after the war; such is our goal and purpose. Gaining the trust of the Magna Kingdom and the Luminaris Kingdom wasn’t an easy road to cross, which I’m grateful to the High King. And right now, I believe we have met the same craggy road twice: to gain your trust.”
“And what makes you think you will gain my trust?” Queen Merlina asked. “An organization with their people hiding their faces. What could be more suspicious than that?”
“Your Grace, Queen Merlina, I overheard your proposal about uniting ourselves as one to attack the Arshtal Empire, correct?”
Queen Merlina nodded reluctantly. “Yes… And what about it?”
“I believe it is a noble plan to unite as one, and we, The Guardians, will support you and be the pillars to ensure our plan to overthrow the Arshtal Empire goes as planned.”
The question about hiding behind a mask seemed to have been deliberately dodged. Shadowfang made sure to keep the conversation in control.
“Would you care to explain why we needed your help in the first place?” one of the Kings asked.
“Excellent question, Your Majesty—King Gregory of Ravenor,” Shadowfang replied contentedly. “The answer is simply… that we have information.”
Shadowfang gestured to one of his guards, who then pressed their fingers on a bracer attached to their wrist. A big rectangular screen popped up, projecting blue-colored imagery of two figures engaged in an intense magical battle.
A collective gasp echoed through the room as everyone's eyes fixated on a sight they had never seen before – A moving picture. Each of the three Guardians had a similar bracer on their wrist. What kind of sorcery does the bracer on their wrist hold to be able to cast this enigmatic spell? Even King Konstantinos himself showed the expression of someone who had just seen a ghost. His reaction suggested that it must be his first time seeing anything like it despite their years of cooperation.
“Shadowfang,” King Konstantinos called to him. “What in the Mother Fayrie’s name are you showing to us?”
Shadowfang once again signaled to his subordinate, who presented the screen from the bracer and paused the recording. The image, which had previously been in motion, now remained still. Then he turned to face the High King.
“Your Majesty, and to my honored world leaders,” he said while gesturing himself towards everyone. “This bracer is an invention of ours.”
Fiddling the bracer again, the screen that was displaying the magic battle has now changed into something else. A display of the conference hall with the figures of everyone who attended the World Summit.
Everyone was shocked to see themselves displayed in the conference hall. Questions arose from their mouths one by one and quickly turned into a crowd of murmurs. They realized that every move they made was being copied on that screen. Some were waving their hands to see if it would mimic their move, and it worked. It was as if they were looking into a mirror, but oddly, there was no mirror present.
“What you see,” Shadowfang continued, “is a live recording of everyone here. The bracer is linked exclusively to each of our masks—so right now, you are seeing the point of view of my aide’s mask. These tools are packed as one, known as The Vox Resonator.”
Fascinating! Such a useful tool. It would definitely help us develop strategies. The room was filled with compliments and positive remarks about the Vox Resonator tools, but some seemed uneasy about its capabilities. One of them is the Queen of Ishmaran herself, who wore solemn expressions, hinting at the potential concerns with the tool. She worried that these innovative tools would ruin her thoroughly planned agenda. But the longer she thought, the more she realized after all this time that the Guardians were always one step ahead of her – those tools were the reason why. What more could she do about it? She knew well that this wasn’t the time to act selfishly, so she kept her mouth shut and held her opinion in her thoughts, letting Shadowfang continue.
“The Vox Resonator is more than just a recording tool; it also serves as a long-distance communication device. With this tool, we can transmit our voices to others who have the same device. The bracer functions as the controller, operating the various features, while the mask acts—not just to receive sounds but to transmit voices and share visions. Let me demonstrate how it works.”
One of Shadowfang's aides who was beside him suddenly wrapped in a cloud of violet dust and vanished. Then Shadowfang started tapping his fingers into the bracer and talking by himself. “Can you hear me, Starhawk?”
Yes. Loud and clear~ She replied.
Starhawk's voice was only audible to Shadowfang, as it was projected through the openings on the side of his mask and directly into his ears.
“Where are you right now?”
I’m at the top of the clock tower in the central square.
Did she really have to go that far? Shadowfang thought. But never mind that. “Can you share your view with us?”
Got it. Sharing access of my view to Ironfist.
The screen shifted from displaying the conference hall to a stunning view of the capital city from the top of the clock tower.
“Not only could we communicate at a long distance,” Shadowfang continued, “but we could also access the view of another Guardian’s mask. With this, we will always be connected and informed about the progress of our campaign. We will dispatch our people to work as your ears and eyes for our operations.”
“Wait, are you unwilling to share this tool with us?” Queen Merlina probed; her curiosity piqued as to why they insisted on sending their forces.
“The tools currently have limited units and are unique to solely the granted members of Guardians can access or use them. On the side, we weren’t the ones who invented the tools. Alas, we can’t share the tools with you.”
“You Guardians didn’t invent the tools? Then who did?”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
An attempt to probe the creator of the Vox Resonator certainly interested every attendee in the room after Shadowfang’s statement, and Queen Merlina’s straightforward question represents their inquisitiveness.
Shadowfang knew too well that such questions would eventually be asked, but he did not anticipate it so soon. But regardless, he has the answer to it. “I’m afraid we also cannot share the information about the creator of the Vox Resonator.”
One of the Kings raised his hand, voicing his opinion on the newly introduced Vox Resonator tool.
“If I may,” he started, “Mister Shadowfang, it is indeed a useful tool to keep us intact with each other throughout this campaign – but what will happen after all this ends for us? I can’t see any benefits besides you Guardians to spy on us.”
The King of Kelthresh voiced his opinion, which may represent those who were also uneasy at the idea.
“King Laxius of Kelthresh, I understand your concern regarding the potential breach of privacy. However, I am here before all of you, openly revealing our secrets. Isn’t this already becoming reciprocal?”
King Laxius seemed restless but couldn't deny the truth in Shadowfang's words. “Certainly… Then I suppose you have a suggestion for how you can maintain our trust in the Guardians after all this is over?”
“Similar to Magna and Luminaris, we’re requesting your permission to establish an embassy – and of course, it will operate according to your regulations.”
“A bold request,” King Laxius responded. “And what if we were to refuse?”
“We simply won’t be cooperating after the campaign’s over. But, Your Highness, I implore you to cooperate with us. We have information regarding a demon in Zarhara that you have been dealing with.”
“How did you know that?” King Laxius asked, surprised. “We, from Zarhara, were about to address this issue together with Arshtal expansion.”
“Our network spans across Aevalion, allowing us to stay informed about current events. We’ve heard of your ongoing struggles with the eastern faction, The Sand Shapers, and we suspect there may be a link to Gremonita’s Arshtal. This might be similar to what is happening in Akishima,” Shadowfang added, addressing the representative from Yamato, “where the Yamato Empire is actively pursuing a notorious individual who has gone into hiding.”
“How did you have such information? How many informants do you have in your hand?” The delegates from Yamato asked, stupefied by Shadowfang’s knowledge. His accent carries a precise, clipped cadence with gentle, melodic undertones, his pronunciation crisp yet flowing, each word meticulously shaped.
“Like I said before, we have our own source. And once again, we will share these pieces of information if we work together.”
King Laxius quietly conferred with one of his advisors, seemingly apprehensive about what the future would hold after the campaign against the Arshtal Empire concluded. However, the potential advantages they would gain if they had the support of the Guardians could prove invaluable. The information they possessed was not to be taken lightly.
“I understand,” He replied to Shadowfang’s appeal. “I will accept your term. And I suppose we have a common voice, don’t we, King Tadion? Queen Leina?” King Laxius said, turning his head toward them, referring to the two of his allies in Zarhara.
The king of Alrion and the queen of Namira nodded, implying they agreed with King Laxius’ decision to allow Guardians to establish an embassy.
“Then we, The Sun Keepers of Zarhara, will grant the Guardians to establish an embassy and accept them as our ally.”
“You have my deepest gratitude,” Shadowfang said, expressing his appreciation.
King Geraint raised his hands. “I will also allow the Guardians to establish an embassy in our country.”
Soon after King Geraint, the rest began to follow, raising their hands and permitting the Guardians to establish an embassy. Queen Merlina, one of the leaders, hesitated before finally raising her hand. She didn't want to be perceived as refusing, but it was evident she had reservations about the Guardians, unlike the other leaders, who seemed more open towards them.
“You have my deepest gratitude,” Shadowfang said while bowing sincerely to the world leaders. “I hope we can continue being cooperative with each other. Now, shall we proceed to where we left off?”
Shadowfang motioned to Ironfist to switch the display back to the two figures locked in intense magical combat and called for Starhawk to return to his side.
Everyone in the hall was fixated on the blue screen, once again. The heavy rain slightly distorted the footage, but they could still clearly discern the details.
What they witnessed might’ve been the grandest magical battle they’ve ever seen. As the battle continued, they slowly started to notice who the two figures on the screen were: the so-called Arshtal Empire's supreme leader, The Sorcerer Demoness Gremonita, and a masked figure resembling the Guardians.
The battle was hectic and full of spells that an average mage could only ever dream of performing. The display of Ice magic performed by Gremonita was a unique element formed by combining the elements of water and wind, which was something only an experienced mage could do. The masked man also displayed inferno magic, a fire element advancement, indicating that he was also not an ordinary individual.
As King Geraint had previously stated, ‘walking into a dragon’s mouth.’ Their battle display demonstrated that they could not simply charge in without a plan.
The heat of the battle continued. The demoness brandished the legendary stave Kaladanda, which was a surprise to the crowd. The stave is known for requiring immense magical prowess to wield due to its connection to an ancient deity. The same could be said for one of the ancient daggers that Artorius used to carry: the sealing knife, Lævateinn.
A powerful gust of wind spell hit the masked man, but to everyone's surprise, he emerged unscathed, his mask still firmly in place. The footage zoomed toward the masked man, and suddenly, he began to put his hands together; with quick hand movements, he formed a series of intricate hand signs that shocked the delegates from Yamato.
“Those are…!” One of Yamato’s delegates blurted in their native tongue, recognizing the actions of the masked man.
The rain hung suspended in the air, and from each droplet, it transformed slowly into majestic water dragons. The spell that the masked man had cast was obvious to them.
“Lord Azuma, that masked person is using the Heaven’s Seals!”
“Water Dragon Barrage…” Azuma said. “Who is he?”
The masked man’s action captivated the people in the conference hall with curiosity. A sense of dread and awe were mixed among the crowd as they watched the masked man unleash an outlandish power. The water dragons chaotically charged toward Gremonita, forcing her to be on the defense.
The masked man’s spell relentlessly struck the protective barrier surrounding Gremonita, causing a slight vibration that made the footage shaky and difficult to see. Suddenly, after the barrier collapsed, Gremonita seemed to cast a spell that cleared the sky and at the same time, she cast an ice spell that surged outward, freezing the water dragons in mid-attack and so the entire town was affected, left frozen.
The footage was abruptly cut off right after the ice spell. The screen plunged into darkness as the observing member of the Guardians hastily retreated from the scene.
Hey, what happened?! Why is the recording cut off?!
The people in the conference hall began to question, and slowly turned into a crowd murmur once again.
Azuma, the delegate from the Yamato Empire, finally grasped the reason for their invitation to the summit. He felt Shadowfang's piercing stare amidst the chatter of the crowd and knew that he desired something from him – information, perhaps.
“Lord Azuma,” Shadowfang started. “I believe you noticed what spell the masked man was casting, correct?”
Azuma's shoulders slumped as he let out a long, heavy sigh. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before forcing himself to say what he might know. “Yes, I do. The water dragon spell that he had cast is a form of our sacred technique called Ten no In, or you might call it the Heaven’s Seals.”
Heaven’s Seals? What is this all about?
Are you saying that the masked fellow on the screen is one of your people?
“If I may interrupt,” King Gerald cut in and raised his hand. “Isn’t that masked person who had caused mayhem all over Santehna?”
“Correct,” Shadowfang responded. “It is indeed him.”
“I don’t know how anyone here did not notice,” Queen Merlina joined. “Sir Shadowfang, could you please elaborate on why he looked like one of yours?”
Queen Merlina knew that the masked man's case had been a heavy burden on the Guardians since their masks were similar, hence the question. She asked to push them to clarify, and Shadowfang knew that Queen Merlina's question wasn’t just as simple as a question out of curiosity.
Shadowfang paused for a moment, carefully considering his response. He knew Queen Merlina's question was designed to sow doubt about the Guardians' integrity. With measured words, he addressed the room:
“Your observation is astute, Queen Merlina. The similarity in masks is indeed troubling. However, I can assure you with absolute certainty that this individual is not affiliated with the Guardians in any way since he does not wear the Vox Resonator on either side of his wrists—"
“But that doesn't answer the question of whether he is - or was - one of yours, does it?” Queen Merlina pressed, her eyes narrowing.
A murmur rippled through the crowd at this admission. Some delegates exchanged worried glances, while others whispered to their advisors. But Shadowfang already had his answer in mind.
“We do not have any members outside Santehna nor anyone capable of using the Heaven’s Seals. Additionally, even if he were once a member of the Guardians, without a doubt—we would know who the person behind the mask was.”
“Is that the purpose of our presence here, Lord Shadowfang?” Azuma slipped back into the conversation.
“Your insight and knowledge are invaluable to us in unraveling this mystery. We are hoping that you can assist us in discovering his identity. But that is only a part of a long bucket list, Lord Azuma.”
Shadowfang turned to face the assembled leaders directly. “In fact, revealing his identity is one of our top priorities.”
“Hold on,” A voice that belonged to the king of Alrion joined the conversation. “I was under the impression our objective was to dismantle Arshtal. How exactly does the masked man factor into this?”
“Exactly. Why did you push your agenda—your mess to us?!” Queen Merlina added.
We are here to discuss Arshtal and Gremonita, aren’t we, Mister Shadowfang?
Once again, Shadowfang was being cornered by logical and coherent questions. The crowd's trust began to crack like thin ice, and the seeds of doubt began to sprout in their minds as they pondered if Shadowfang and the Guardians offered a hand in a partnership or simply set them up as pawns in a larger game.
“It seems I failed to make everything clear,” Shadowfang began after a moment. “The battle you’ve seen on the screen was taken in Barta a year ago.”
Barta? The one near the forest of Kilamor?
“Precisely. Barta was the first to be conquered and has now become a part of Arshtal right after the events of their battle.”
“So… he’s likely to be involved in all this—is what you’re trying to say?” King Geraint Hypothesized.
“No,” Shadowfang answered, his calm demeanor belying the weight of his words. “In fact, he is involved.”
“What exactly do you mean by ‘involved’?” King Konstantinos demanded, his voice bearing a sense of authority. “You never informed us about the progress of the case of the masked man. Please, make yourself clear, Shadowfang.”
“Your Majesty, honored assembly,” Shadowfang intoned. “Why, in the six decades and more since the Demon King's fall, has Gremonita remained a statue of grief? what has kept her powers at bay? For 66 years, she has been a volcano in slumber, her fire seemingly extinguished, writhing over her king's death.”
The conference hall fell silent as Shadowfang's words sank in. People began to speculate and connect all the dots, and everything seemed plausible. Gremonita has never made a move until now, but after her battle with the masked man, she begins to repeat what the demons used to do. Tyranny.
After the hero, no one was ever a match against her; not even the strongest elven warriors combined could take her down. She might be one of the greatest magic users ever to exist due to her never-ending wits.
But conjectures alone aren’t enough to provide further proof. And so, does Shadowfang and the Guardians have the answer? The fact that he said that the masked man was involved might prove that he had what was needed for the answer and probably the solution.
“And somehow,” he continued, “Now she thinks it is the right time to continue what the demon king started.”
What if the masked man was just a random criminal like everyone else?
It would be a waste of time to even care about a random masked jester, isn’t it?
And besides, speculations and theories aren’t enough to prove that the masked man has something to do with her!
“Speculations and theories are all we have right now!” Shadowfang exclaimed. His loud tone cut through the air like a blade.
The sudden sharpness in Shadowfang's voice sent a ripple of surprise through the hall. The transformation was as stark as night to day - the composed, formal figure who had entered the hall had now burned with an intensity that demanded thoughtful attention. The contrast between his initial courteous demeanor and this sudden outburst left the assembly reeling as if the air itself had shifted.
He took a deep breath before he went right back into the storm.
“Apologies for my tone,” Shadowfang apologized. His voice lowered, but the edge remained, “but I implore you, esteemed delegates, to heed my warning. The masked man is no trifling matter. Our pursuit of him was not a mere chance, and I think most of you are aware of the elves and the masked man’s encounter.”
“Encounter?” Azuma quoted. “What is this ‘encounter’ all about?”
“The elves? They have something to do with the masked man?” Queen Leina joined and queried the same question.
“King Konstantinos,” King Tadion called. “What it is that you haven’t told us yet? Did any of this have to do with the Arshtal Empire?”
The delegates who did not come from Santehna found themselves on the outside looking in, their grasp of the masked man's history as insubstantial as smoke.
King Konstantinos found himself in a peculiar position. The Guardians, expected to be the compass in the Arshtal matter, had inexplicably furled their sails. Instead, Shadowfang had taken the helm, steering the conversation into uncharted territory where interweaving the threads of the masked man's record with the fabric of Arshtal's situation looked intertwined.
The question hung heavily in the air, demanding an answer. With the room’s attention now squarely on him, King Konstantinos rose from his chair.
“Esteemed leaders,” he began, his voice reaching the farthest corners of the hall. “Those of you who hail from beyond Santehna's borders, I did not anticipate that the matter of the masked man would be a concern.”
Shadowfang felt the weight of King Konstantinos' slight gaze upon him as he spoke, heavy as a storm cloud ready to burst. It was clear the Santehnian High King was far from pleased with where the conversation had gone. Yet Shadowfang remained unfazed. This unexpected turn of events, though unplanned, was necessary.
“However,” King Konstantinos continued, “given the direction our conversation has taken, I believe I might have to make things clear. To answer the question regarding the elves' encounter with the masked man, the incident happened a year ago—”
“—Pardon the interruption, Your Majesty,” Shadowfang cut in, “I believe the burden of explanation falls upon my shoulders as I am the one who is responsible for bringing it up. Please, allow me to shed light on the shadow I’ve stirred.”
King Konstantinos can see the authenticity in Shadowfang’s words. “Very well. You may proceed.”
He sat back on his chair, letting Shadowfang continue.
“A year ago, the masked man caught the elves’ attention with the chaos he brought to Santehna. Destroying villages and taking down kingdoms. Yet curiously, his targets were exclusively the settlements of lesser races. In some respects, this might appear beneficial to both elves and humans, as the lesser races have often been sources of conflict. However, the more pressing concern—and the one that has generated far-reaching complications—is the masked man's interference with the barrier separating the upper-ranked zone.”
As soon as Shadowfang's words left the room, Starhawk could see how Ironfist tightly gripped his hands together, and his muscles tensed. It was clear he was uneasy about what had just been said. But Shadowfang just kept on going.
“He caused many monster outbreaks, which continued for months, so the elves decided to track him down, and they were finally able to pinpoint his next move. They tracked him to the borderlands of the Tuskan Forest. It was there that they confronted him when he was making his way to Nurrobold, the Kobold Kingdom.”
“A kobold settlement?” King Laxius asked, seeking the masked man's motive. “Why?”
“We're still in the dark about what drives him. It might be tempting to overlook his actions since he's only targeted lesser races, and like I said before, it might appear beneficial, but that… would be a mistake. The elves' confrontation with him showed just how much of a threat he is.”
“What happened?”
“A team of nine elite elven officers managed to trap him, surrounding him with layers of impenetrable barrier magic. But, somehow, he managed to escape without even damaging the barriers. In a swift motion, he took out three elves standing near the barrier by slitting their throats, killing them… in quick succession.”
Gasps rang out across the conference hall at this revelation. Elves were renowned for their arcane prowess; their barriers were considered to be almost impenetrable. The idea that a single individual could so effortlessly bypass an elven spell and as much as neutralize three of their elite was unthinkable. Even to those outside Santehna. People started to have their own approach about who was behind the mask. A demon? A rogue elf? Yet it was clear that the masked man performed magic that was believed to be an Akishin spell.
“Impossible!” exclaimed Azuma, slamming his fist on the table. “It is the elf warriors we are talking about! If they did not stand a chance against him, why did you even bring this matter up to us, an outlander?”
Azuma's statement was sound. The topic of the masked man was likely not even considered until it was mentioned by the Guardians. However, there was a flaw in Azuma's objection; the masked man demonstrated the use of the Heaven Seals technique.
Shadowfang understood Azuma's point – he spoke in general terms. No concrete proof was given about the masked man’s involvement in Arshtal's expansion. Regardless, Shadowfang couldn't help but find it odd that Azuma seemed to completely overlook the possibility that the masked man might be one of his brethren.
He took a deep breath, his voice steady but firm. “I understand your concern, Lord Azuma, but we cannot dismiss the possibility that he may be a warrior from your land, as evidenced by his use of Heaven Seals. Ultimately, we must work together and support each other in this matter. And, of course, Lord Azuma’s words certainly also represent those outside Santehna. That is why we opened our hands, as a way to return the favor. We will assist and help solve each of your problems if you help us in this matter. Please.”
His gestures were genuine. Almost everyone in the hall could feel it after he lowered his head down, pleading for cooperation. However, the atmosphere grew quiet after Shadowfang's recent statement.
“I understand,” Shadowfang went on, “that this matter needs proper judgment and consideration, but as the Guardians, we are committed to aiding you in the Arshtal campaign regardless. As promised, we will dispatch our members to your designated locations to maintain communication. We shall take our leave.”
The three Guardians placed their left fists over their hearts and bowed slightly, a sign of respect and farewell to the delegates in front of them and directly to King Konstantinos, who was behind them.
The Guardians made their way out of the summit hall, their departure casting a palpable conundrum over the gathered leaders. The silence they left behind was soon filled with murmurs of speculation and unease.
The grand hall, decorated with elegant tapestries and carvings, echoed with the uncertain whispers of the attendees. Despite the room's grandeur, perplexity hung over the assembly.
At the Conference Hall's gateway, the three conversed as they walked to exit the city of Anvert.
“Ironfist, sorry you have to deal with that,” Shadowfang said, referring to when he explained about lesser races.
“It’s nothing to be concerned about,” Ironfist replied. “We should worry more about what’s ahead, but I appreciate your thoughts.”
“But—Chief!” Starhawk chimed in. Her tone was as high as the trill of a songbird. “Do you really have to tell them about most of our secrets?”
“Secrets?”
“You said so! About our VR—and its function—and you even mentioned that we didn’t create this! Isn’t that concerning?”
“They are secrets, indeed. However, those secrets were never truly ours to keep. Our only responsibility is to hold onto them until the creator deems it time for them to be revealed.”
“Really? I haven’t heard from him in a while, and now suddenly, he thought and told you it is the time to reveal the VR?”
“What is it with you with shortening anything named?” Shadowfang annoyed.
“What about it? It sounded cool. Anyway, we had a new recruit about a week ago, right? I heard he’s quite a fighter. He—um… a goblin—if I remember—”
“He’s an orc, Starhawk—how many times do I have to remind you?” Ironfist interjected.
“Relax, geez… I’ve never seen an orc that small. I mean—look at you ‘IF’, you are humongous!”
“I’m not that big compared to others. You can find an average tall human to be as tall as me.”
“That’s true… So, this little orc, he’s recommended by Madame Jennie? He must be extra.”
“He’s a special case,” Shadowfang said. “And we should be grateful that Madame Jennie found him and took him to us.”
“Why’s that?” Starhawk asked curiously.
“Oh well… I think you have to meet him in person.”