Once they got to the keep's entrance, they were met with a wave of curious and awed gazes. Whispers rippled through the crowd that had gathered just outside the keep. These weren’t just Krimlond’s people but citizens from all corners of the district seeking refuge from the encroaching undead. The air was thick with tension, but the sight of Talich and Zavet returning unscathed brought a glimmer of hope to many.

Almost immediately, they were surrounded by a flood of questions. Voices overlapped, each one tinged with a mix of fear, curiosity, and admiration.

"How did the spell work on you?"

"Why didn’t the undead attack you?"

"How did you manage to kill a Lord of Necromancy when it usually takes all four baronies to bring one down?"

Zavet and Talich exchanged glances, realizing how extraordinary their feat must have seemed to those who had only heard of such powers in legends. In the years to come, this moment will become legendary. This is when people Say the hero known as Zavet started his journey.

Before they could respond, Lina, the Baroness of Krimlond, stepped forward. She radiated authority, her presence commanding immediate attention. She raised a hand, signaling for silence. "This is war," Lina began, her voice cutting through the murmurs with calm authority. "We are on the brink of losing our kingdom. It doesn’t matter how they did it. What matters is that they did do it. Their actions have bought us time, but we are far from safe."

The room fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in. Lina’s gaze swept over the crowd, ensuring that everyone understood the gravity of the situation. "Now," she continued, "we must focus on our next move. We cannot afford to be complacent."

She turned her attention to Talich, Zavet, and the others gathered nearby. "I will be sending some of us to aid Erenlond. They need our help, and we cannot let any part of this kingdom fall if we can prevent it."

Her eyes locked onto Talich and Zavet. "Zavet, Talich, you’ve proven yourselves today. You will go to Erenlond and offer them the same strength you brought to this battle."

She then looked to the other warriors who had gathered nearby. "Runner, Hoat," she called out, naming the two seasoned fighters preparing for the next wave of attacks. "You will accompany them. Erenlond needs every capable fighter we have, and I trust you to protect it."

The named men nodded in unison, their resolve hardening at the command. There was no hesitation in their acceptance; they understood what was at stake.

Lina breathed, her tone softening slightly as she addressed the room again. "We’ve all lost something in this war. We’ve all felt fear, and we’ve all felt the pain of loss. But now, more than ever, we must stand together. We must fight for the kingdom we hold dear, for the people who look to us for protection. And we must trust in each other."

With that, the crowd began to disperse, the urgency of the situation sinking in. People returned to their duties, their fear tempered by the knowledge that heroes still fought for them.

Talich and Zavet, flanked by Runner and Hoat, moved to prepare for the journey ahead. They got what they needed and headed to the Neighboring embassy, Erenlond.

As they continued to make their way through the desolate streets, the eerie silence grew heavier with each step. The usually bustling streets of Krimlond, now eerily empty, seemed almost haunted. Despite the desolation, Zavet, Talich, Hoat, and Runner could sense movement in the shadows. Glancing around, they noticed the flicker of faces quickly darting behind shattered windows and broken doors.

Runner squinted, his keen eyes catching sight of figures moving stealthily through the darkened interiors of the buildings. He recognized the familiar yellow-and-black quartered tabards of Solond’s soldiers, though these men were not fighting—they were looting. "Shit," Runner muttered under his breath, frustration and anger flashing across his face. "These idiots are going to get themselves killed or, worse, get us all killed."

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Hoat turned his head to see what had caught Runner’s attention. His expression darkened as he watched the Solond members greedily rifling through abandoned homes and shops, stuffing their pockets with whatever they could find. The sight made Hoat’s blood boil. These men were supposed to be soldiers, part of the kingdom’s defense, and here they were, taking advantage of the chaos for personal gain.

"Hey!" Hoat barked, his voice echoing down the empty street. "Come out!"

The Solond looters froze at the commanding shout, their heads snapping up in alarm. After a moment of hesitation, they cautiously peeked out from their hiding spots, their faces pale and their hands still clutching stolen goods. They reluctantly stepped out into the open one by one, looking like they were ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

Hoat’s eyes narrowed as he approached the group, his posture radiating authority and barely restrained fury. "What the hell do you think you’re doing?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "You’re supposed to be defending the kingdom, not picking it clean like vultures!"

One of the Solond members, a tall and wiry man with a sneer plastered on his face, stepped forward. His name was Vlad, and he was the leader of this ragtag group. "We’re just taking what we can," Vlad said, his tone defensive and defiant. "The city’s lost anyway. Might as well make sure we come out of this with something."

Hoat’s patience snapped. He stepped closer to Vlad, his fists clenched at his sides. "You’re looting while the rest of us are out here risking our lives to keep this city from falling! Do you know how dangerous you’re putting us in with your selfish actions?"

Vlad’s eyes flicked to the other Solond men, a sneer curling his lips. "You’re not our boss, Hoat. We’re looking out for ourselves. If you’ve got a problem with that, tough luck."

Hoat’s eyes blazed with anger. "You’re going to get yourselves killed, and you’re going to get us killed too! Do you even understand what we’re up against out here?"

Vlad scoffed, his defiance only growing stronger. "We know exactly what we’re up against. But we’re not interested in dying for a lost cause. We’re taking care of ourselves."

The two men stood inches apart, their tension crackling like a live wire. Hoat’s temper flared without warning, shoving Vlad hard in the chest. "You’re a coward!" Hoat spat. "If you want to look out for yourself so badly, go ahead, but don’t drag the rest of us down!"

Vlad recovered quickly from the shove, his face twisting into a snarl. "You think you’re so tough, Hoat? Let’s see you back that up!" He swung a fist at Hoat, who dodged it easily and retaliated with a punch of his own, catching Vlad square in the jaw.

The two men clashed in a furious brawl, fists flying as they grappled in the street. The other Solond men started to move in to back up Vlad, but before they could intervene, Runner, Talich, and Zavet stepped forward to break up the fight.

"Enough!" Runner shouted, grabbing one of the Solond men by the arm and yanking him back. "We don’t have time for this nonsense! We’re all on the same side, damn it!"

Talich, meanwhile, focused on Vlad. He recognized the man’s face, which had appeared in whispered rumors and hushed conversations. "Vlad," Talich said coldly, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I know you. You’re the one who’s been dabbling in necromancy, aren’t you? Don’t think I haven’t heard about your connections to the Necro Guild."

Vlad’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing his face before he angrily masked it. "You don’t know what you’re talking about," he hissed, but his bravado had weakened.

Talich stepped closer, towering over Vlad with an imposing presence. "Oh, I know exactly what I’m talking about," Talich said, his voice low and threatening. "And if you don’t want me to tell Baroness Lina about your extracurricular activities, you’ll stop this looting right now and fall in line."

Vlad’s defiance faltered as he weighed his options. He knew that if Talich reported him to Lina, it would be the end of him—not just as a member of Solond but as a member of the kingdom. He glanced at his fellow members, watching the exchange with apprehension and uncertainty. Finally, he relented, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"Fine," Vlad muttered, his voice bitter. "We’ll stop. But don’t think for a second that I’m doing this for you. I’m doing it because I don’t want to end up on the wrong side of Lina."

Talich gave a curt nod, his gaze never leaving Vlad’s. "Good choice. Now get out of here and make yourself useful. To survive this, you must start acting like a soldier, not a scavenger."

Vlad and his men reluctantly backed off, their loot forgotten as they retreated into the shadows. Hoat, breathing heavily from the fight, turned to Talich with a grateful nod. "Thanks," he said, wiping the blood from his knuckles. "I was about to lose it."

"No problem," Talich replied, watching Vlad disappear into the city. But we’d better keep an eye on him. I don’t trust him to stay out of trouble."

With the fight behind them and tensions eased, the group continued, more determined than ever, to face the challenges ahead. But in the back of their minds, the encounter with Vlad and his comrades lingered, a reminder that the dangers they faced weren’t just from the undead but from those who should have been their allies.