Esfeltian Dominion Capital Eslet.

Royal District.

An hour later.

Caitlyn rushed out of her room fully dressed with Rin following behind her, her expression was pale and movements anxious as she contained herself from running down the castle’s corridors. News of the massive army right outside her doorstep had reached her and their leaders were already strolling through the Noble’s district and towards the Royal district.

She had just received news of General Fey Talran’s defeat and First General Jason D.Moore’s retreat. One was still waiting to respawn while the other had just arrived at New Ruk and Draxxer was still nowhere to be seen or heard of.

“If they left the men outside and are coming here alone then that means they want to talk right?” She asked Rin with a panicked tone as they stormed out of the castle, seeing the outside full of her soldiers readying for the enemy leader’s arrival she untensed and calmed her nerves.

“Yes your highness, I do not believe them to be fools enough to stroll into our walls unannounced if they do not wish to barter.” Explained Rin as she continued to follow the Empress through the courtyard and towards the gatehouse.

Caitlyn stopped by one officer that stood at attention and immediately saluted “What are our current available numbers?” she barked the question at him.

“Not enough your majesty…” the soldier replied solemnly.

Caitlyn glared back at him “Our numbers.” she repeated.

The soldier straightened up “Counting the guards across the city we have around two thousand four hundred men at your disposal.”

“And the army sitting outside?” she then asked.

The soldier tensed further “We stopped counting at six thousand…we averaged up to eight.”

Caitlyn’s shoulders slumped down, “How is that possible?” asked Rin.

“The notorious Dusk Blade bandits have joined the fray, the Dezol are very present and so are most of the large Adventurer guilds and alongside them are the Mage guilds.” Explained the soldier.

Caitlyn turned to Rin “Where are the alliance leaders right now?”

Rin considered the question briefly “Most have been given a guest mansion while Elder Helen and King Jekyll have returned to New Ruk.”

Caitlyn held back a grimace “Assemble the council immediately, before they arrive. Send for Helen and Jekyll, we’ll have to sort this out without them for now.”

Rin nodded and walked away with a cloudy expression, her thoughts straying.

Caitlyn turned to face the entrance into the walls, she took a deep breath and walked in. Her legs felt heavy as she ascended the spiralling staircase, a lump in her chest weighing her down further. The pressure has been intense these past few days, with the appearance of the Empire and their sudden threat the people have been difficult to contain.

Everyone knew what would happen, how the alliance would suck up to the Empire once they came as they always did. The people were sick of it; it was why the churches fell in favour with them regaining the royal family a chance in leading the country.

Caitlyn reached the top of the staircase, she walked a few steps to reach the edge of the wall. She stared out at the vast fields of green, the walls far off ahead and the roads in between. As the suns ascended into the sky, as morning became clear she gazed off while clenching the stone ahead of her.

This wasn’t just her home, it was her responsibility. She stared out at the walls far off in the distance as her memories came back to haunt her, what had happened the last time the Empire had came to Barik. She pictured the city burning in the distance as Elven platoons marched through the roads separating into squads to raid the mansion within the fields of grass. The vision disappeared as it came but the feeling it gave her lingered.

Time passed as she continued to gaze off and a sudden hand on her left shoulder made her flinch and snap out before glancing back at the perpetrator. Queen Samala Wraecast, the Merfolk leader waved a smile at her while hovering in place, her tail hanging down below her.

“I heard from your Advisor, rushed here as quickly as I could. I sent for reinforcements from Meria although I do not know when they will arrive.” Samala explained.

Caitlyn nodded in gratitude “Thank you Samala but I’m afraid the next few hours is all we have.” she said solemnly while glancing behind the Mer.

King Raiku Goldfeather of the Avians and Sultan Rej Deepdrifter of the Nymphs arrived behind her, each with their own squad of guards. They moved to stand beside them as Raiku coughed to clear his throat “My platoons will be here within the next few minutes, they are broken and tired but will arrive.” He announced.

Samala glanced at Rej to her left, he was staring out and almost dozing off, she nudged him awake with her tail.

“Bleh.” he reacted slowly as she hit him in the side, he glared up at her but said nothing about it. Instead he sighed then spoke to Caitlyn “My Tidecallers remain stationed around the shores, they have all been called to surround Esfelt and are ready to land. Unfortunately the Deepwhisperers cannot help, the sea around here isn’t deep enough for them to safely come through.”

“I have sent word for Helen and Jekyll, they had returned to their lands and will not be present today.” Caitlyn announced as she spied a group of mixed individuals approaching them far off in the distance.

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“Be truthful with us Esfelt, what chance do we stand?” asked Raiku as the feathers on his wings and tail seemed to stand on edge as he also noticed the approaching group.

“If diplomacy fails, I want you all to pull your troops out and retreat.” Declared Caitlyn as she held back a choked tone.

Samala turned to look at her with shock “Caitlyn…what do you mean retreat!?”

Caitlyn smiled weakly as she turned to face her oldest friend, she held both her hands in hers as she spoke “My people do not trust me anymore, they do not trust the military nor do they trust the churches. If the army outside does invade then a rebellion is inevitable. Eslet-No, the entire Esfeltian Dominion will come crashing down.”

Samala stared at Caitlyn baffled “But…what will happen to you then?”

Caitlyn turned to stare at the approaching would-be invaders “I don’t know.” She released Samala’s hands and straightened herself, they were almost within earshot. Her eyes widened in surprise as she recognised a certain guild with them.

Samala was about to retort when Caitlyn spoke cutting her off “Announce yourselves, you stand in front of four of the council’s members and leaders of the Esfeltian alliance.” with mana imbued into her voice.

The group approached closer before one adventurer stepped forwards, Kyle gestured at his surroundings “Each of us insist that this meeting is made entirely public, let the people of your city into these walls for them to be witness. Take whatever precautions you need, we are ready to wait.”

Caitlyn felt her throat dry up, having her people witness their weakness was putting the last nail on the Dominion’s coffin.

Kyle lowered his arms “Else we turn around and return with...a different crowd.”

Each of the present council members turned to look at Caitlyn expectantly as she nodded in defeat “It shall be done.” She turned back at the officers waiting behind her, Rin stood by with them. “Do as they ask.” She told them solemnly.

A few hours passed as the military opened the gates to the Noble’s district entirely, news of the public meeting spread like wildfire and anybody even slightly interested in the country’s future stopped what they had been doing and joined the already vast crowd that formed around them.

Soldiers stood at attention between the crowd and the invading leaders, a few meters between them not for their safety but for the citizen’s and their own. Merchants and Nobles also joined the crowd to listen in to the parley.

Kyle glanced back as Birse whispered something at him, he turned to face the council once more “We are ready to talk.” he declared.

Caitlyn was about to respond but due to her reluctance Samala spoke first “What is your business here? Why have you gathered forces outside the city?” the Mer Queen asked pointedly.

“Is it not so obvious?” asked Kyle “We have come to speak terms of your surrender; this country is doomed to either fall to itself or to the Empire. We bring a third option.”

The crowd began to grow loud as people reacted to his words, Samala continued to speak “What makes you think the alliance will surrender? The island is surrounded and reinforcements will arrive shortly. Even with your numbers you cannot resist the entirety of the alliance’s forces!”

“We need not resist your forces, as there will be nothing for them to fight for.” Kyle explained as he gestured at the crowd around them “Your leadership is crumbling Empress Caitlyn, your people follow you no longer. The churches have been found of corruption and are sorting themselves out, who will lead Esfelt now? The Empire approaches and what will you do when they arrive?”

The council members glanced at each other trying to come up with a retort but Kyle simply continued to speak “With us stand your people too, the Duskblade bandits of northern Barik, bandits they may be but people of Esfelt they are also. Then come the Mage Guilds of middle Barik, defenders of the people and their freedom. Who do you think the people will choose? You?”

The crowd grew ecstatic as they cheered at the mentioning of the Mage Guilds, urging Kyle to continue “It is clear that your rule is over, times are changing and if you do not change with then you shall only drown alone.”

Caitlyn gulped down and along with went her pride as she responded before anybody could speak further “What are your terms?”

The crowd grew quieter as Kyle held back a smirk “Esfelt will leave the alliance and join the Dezol legions as a vassal. Your lands will remain your own but your swords and men become the Legion’s. You hold onto your freedom whilst gaining a powerful military to back your own.”

The crowd grew dead silent as Caitlyn faced her worst fear, a choice between joining the Dezol’s horde or falling in line with the Elven Empire. She held her stomach with her arms while clenching her sides “And what about the alliance’s forces on Barik? What about my fellow councillors?”

Kyle glanced to the side where Lucifer stood, the Devil king was enjoying himself from glaring at a couple soldiers and watching their reaction. “They will be given the freedom to leave Barik, or join us themselves.” Lucifer announced as he turned to stare up at her, annoyance suddenly filled his expression as he disliked looking up at others.

“And what of Esfelt’s vassals? What about the Dwarves and Fae of Barik?” asked Raiku as he leaned away from the wall, his usually steadfast expression crumbling under the Devil King’s gaze.

Lucifer smirked in amusement “Elder Helen of the Fae will face the consequences for her choices, King Jekyll will also be transported back to Ruk as many of the current Dwarven lords wish to speak with him personally. Any Dwarf or Fae that wish to remain on Barik is free to do so, any that wish to follow their leaders will be given passage as well.”

“Then…Is that all?” asked Caitlyn with slight relief.

Lucifer chuckled as he looked away no longer interested, seemingly a joke ran between him and Kyle as he also snickered before speaking “A change of leadership will take place within Esfelt, following tradition of course.” Kyle explained.

Birse seemed to suddenly whisper something at Kyle, he simply glanced back and quickly assured him yet Birse remained unsure as he glanced over at Lucifer who wore a mischievous grin.

“Following tradition? Do you mean leadership will be redirected to the churches?” Caitlyn asked with a confused expression, at her words the crowd grew louder and disgruntled.

Kyle raised his hands up gesturing for calm “No the churches will not, power will remain with the royal family.” Caitlyn’s face drained of all colour as Kyle turned to meet her baffled stare “As by tradition the change of leadership will include a royal marriage between Empress Caitlyn Esfelt and the leader of the rebel army, Birse of the Red Hawk Down adventurer guild.”

Birse froze up in sudden realisation as he heard his name being called, he glanced around as Woody, Skill and Cherry barely contained themselves from laughing while the others seemed just as surprised.

Queen Samala glanced between the pale white Caitlyn and the group below before her eyes rolled up and her hovering magic stumbled. She fell to the ground and her soldiers rushed to her side then held her up as she held her head.

A few awkward seconds passed as everyone processed what had just been said when suddenly the crowd began to cheer, Birse was about to object when Caitlyn suddenly responded “If it is for my people and my home, if that is all you ask of me then I cannot refuse.” causing Birse to glanced between her, Kyle and Lucifer with a completely baffled expression.

Caitlyn faked a smile at the best of her abilities “The Esfeltian Dominion will leave the Alliance of it’s namesake and creation to join the Dezol as a vassal. The exact terms will be discussed further and written down for nobody to break or disregard.”

Samala suddenly snapped out of her apparent black out “The Mer will also do the same!” she exclaimed while glaring down at Birse, causing the crowd to grow awkwardly silent for a brief moment before cheering even louder.

Rej glanced to the side at Samala with a raised brow, she didn’t notice his stare so he nudged her in the side and whispered something into her ear. Not a moment later Samala completely and utterly passed out.