Lila walked along the wall, the cold wind tousling her dark hair. Beside her was João, the young servant always full of curiosity. He looked at her with a mix of respect and fascination. Ever since he had learned about her powers, João always seemed to have a question on the tip of his tongue, eager to know more about the magical world Lila seemed to master so easily.
“What does it feel like to use magic?” João suddenly asked, his eyes wide with wonder. There was admiration in his voice, but also innocent curiosity.
Lila paused for a moment, reflecting on the question. “I... don’t know exactly how to explain,” she replied, gazing at the horizon. “It’s like breathing. Something natural. It just happens.”
She extended her palm forward and, with a gentle gesture, conjured a small spark of light that danced in her hand like a tiny living flame. João took a step back, surprised, watching the magic with eyes shining in awe.
“Wow...” he whispered. “That’s amazing.”
Lila gave a slight smile, feeling the calm that magic always brought. But then, something interrupted the moment. Small snowflakes began to fall slowly around them. Both looked up at the sky, where dark clouds were already starting to cover the weak sun.
“Winter is coming…” João murmured, reaching out to catch a snowflake. Lila mimicked the gesture, letting a small flake rest on her palm. She watched it melt into water almost immediately, the cold touch sending a shiver through her.
Before they could speak further, one of the wall guards appeared, a stern expression on his face. “How many times have I told you two this place is dangerous? Get out of here!”
João gave a shy smile, pulling Lila by the arm. “Alright, we’re leaving.”
Lila cast one last glance at the sky, the snowflakes now falling more intensely. Both descended from the wall in silence, as the icy wind announced the start of a long winter.
---
In the grand hall, the flames of the torches cast dancing shadows on the stone walls as the meeting of leaders continued. The king of Ardia, a burly man seated on an ornate throne of gold and furs, listened impatiently. His scowl revealed the irritation of being there, knowing that internal problems pressed him more than ever. Beside him, the pope of the sacred kingdom, dressed in solemn robes and a golden crown adorned with sacred jewels, watched everyone’s reactions intently.
One of the leaders, a noble from a neighboring kingdom, leaned forward with a curious and disdainful expression, speaking in a low but audible voice: “King of Ardia, have you resolved that... rebellion in your barony yet?”
The king of Ardia snorted in anger, his round face turning red. “It’s all under control,” he replied in a biting tone, almost spitting the words. “That bastard who rebelled will be made an example of. I’ve already sent my troops; it’s only a matter of time.”
Some of the other leaders chuckled quietly, but the matter was soon set aside. The pope rose from his chair, raising a hand to call for everyone’s attention. His presence, almost divine to many in the room, brought instant silence.
“Gentlemen,” the pope began, his voice grave and powerful. “The reason we are gathered here today is not the rebellion in Ardia. There is a much greater threat than a mere human traitor. We have received information that these... beasts, the beast-men, are preparing to invade our territories.”
A murmur of indignation rippled through the hall. Some of the leaders frowned, murmuring among themselves with expressions of anger and scorn, while others laughed openly at the idea, finding the audacity of the beast-men ridiculous.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“Do these monsters really think we wouldn’t notice their movements?” The pope continued, his gaze firm as it swept across each leader present. “They are underestimating our vigilance, our faith, and the will of the gods.”
The king of Ardia, still simmering over his internal issues, abruptly stood, making the chair creak. “What do you propose then, Your Holiness?” he asked, trying to divert attention from his weakness and display false confidence. “What shall we do about these monsters?”
The pope looked at him for a moment before smiling coldly. “We will do what we should have done all along, Your Majesty. We will launch a crusade. Not only to stop this supposed invasion but to liberate and conquer the lands these filthy creatures still possess. It is the duty of the faithful; it is the will of the gods.”
One of the other leaders, a general from a northern kingdom, slammed his hand on the table in agreement. “We should have done this a long time ago! Their lands are an affront to our faith, a stain on the continent. It’s the last territory still governed by these creatures, and if we don’t crush them now, they will continue to be a threat.”
More murmurs of approval filled the hall, and all eyes turned to the pope, who nodded solemnly. “The crusade will be launched. We will conquer their lands, cleanse their impure souls, and the continent will finally be at peace.”
One by one, the leaders nodded in agreement, some already discussing strategies and how they could contribute with troops and supplies. The meeting ended with an agreement: preparations for the invasion would begin immediately, and the last kingdom of the beast-men would be crushed once and for all.
The king of Ardia, still brooding over his unresolved battle, only watched, reflecting on the imminent fate awaiting the beast-men while trying to ignore the fact that his own house was crumbling.
---
Miguel was in his office, focused on the sketches before him. He studied the compositions of the bricks being used in the road construction and the city’s expansion, but recently, an idea had intrigued him. He was considering adding sea salt to the concrete mixture, believing it could increase the materials' strength and durability. As he sketched new formulas and theories, a soft knock pulled him from his thoughts.
“Come in,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with exhaustion.
A soldier entered, bowing respectfully and announcing, “Ruidahr, the lion, and Elnar, the stag, request an audience with you.”
Miguel nodded. “Let them in.”
The door opened, revealing the imposing figure of Ruidahr, tall and robust, with his ever-serious expression. Beside him was the agile Elnar, whose discreet posture never concealed his sharp intelligence. Both approached and greeted Miguel with respect.
Miguel smiled, gesturing to the chairs in front of him. “Make yourselves comfortable, my friends. Elnar, Ruidahr, what brings you here today?”
Before they could answer, Miguel turned to the stag and added, “First of all, Elnar, I want to thank you for your help with the brick factory construction. Your support was essential to moving forward so quickly.”
Ruidahr, with his usual directness, got straight to the point, not wasting time once Miguel finished speaking. “King Miguel, I bring grim news. The humans of the sacred kingdom have launched an offensive against our northern borders. Three cities have already fallen, and our kin are being massacred or taken as slaves. Thousands of refugees are fleeing to other cities in the kingdom.”
Miguel remained still for a moment, the weight of Ruidahr’s words sinking in. “I thought the beast-men would strike first... but the sacred kingdom moved faster.”
Ruidahr shook his head. “We don’t know the exact size of the force they’re mobilizing, but the losses are already great. I’ve come to tell you that I will depart with my men to try to contain the human advance.”
Elnar, always eager to contribute, intervened. “I’ll go with him. I’ll take the catapult designs, the saturation artillery, and everything we’ve developed with you.”
Miguel nodded, shaking both of their hands. “You have my full support. I’ll do whatever I can to assist your efforts, just as you helped me when I needed it.”
Ruidahr and Elnar bid their farewells, leaving Miguel alone with his thoughts. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the decisions he would have to make in the coming days. He ran a hand over his face, his eyes weary from the pressure. Deep down, he longed for nothing but peace, but it seemed fate was continuously pushing him toward the battlefield.
He stood and walked to a nearby table, grabbed a bottle of wine, and filled a glass. Walking to the window, he watched the snow falling slowly, covering the city of Drakmoor in a white blanket. The cold was beginning to intensify, and winter was fast approaching.
As he contemplated the scene, he heard the door open behind him. When he turned, he saw Amelia entering quietly, with her usual air of confidence.
“You startled me,” Miguel said, turning to pour another glass of wine. He offered it to his sister, who accepted it with a slight smile.
“Is everything alright?” she asked casually, though she knew the answer was obvious.
“Another war, more bloodshed,” Miguel replied, taking a long sip. “It never seems to end.”
Amelia shrugged and took a sip of her wine. “Nothing in this world ends without a fight, Miguel. And you’re at the center of it all now.”
Miguel sighed and sat on the edge of the table, watching her with interest. “What are you planning, Amelia?”
She smiled, but her eyes were serious. “I’m leaving, Miguel. I’m going to seek allies. There are many people in the kingdom of Ardia who are dissatisfied with the current government.
“They would join us, just as I did.”
Miguel nodded, though concerned. “Be careful. I know you’re capable, but I don’t want to lose anyone else.”
She laughed, a brief sound almost devoid of humor. “I’ll be fine, little brother. You don’t need to worry so much. After all, who would be able to kill Amelia so easily?”
Miguel smiled back, but his heart was still heavy. When Amelia left, he was alone once more, the silence filled only by the sound of snow falling outside. He took another sip of wine, fixing his gaze on the white landscape. War was everywhere, and he knew the road ahead would be long and arduous.