Henry and Heather stepped out of the jump gate into the heart of Grand City. The bustling square around them was a stark contrast to the quiet serenity of the Twilight Order's headquarters. People moved hurriedly through the streets, a mix of anxiety and fear in their eyes. The city bore the signs of recent conflict—crumbling walls, gaunt-looking people, and soldiers patrolling every corner. The tension in the air was palpable, a reminder that while Grand City still stood, it was a city on the brink.
Henry took a moment to orient himself. The landscape of Grand City was both familiar and foreign. Before the convergence, this place would have been a vibrant metropolis, alive with commerce and culture. Now, it was a battleground, caught between two warring kingdoms. He could see the remnants of Earth’s structures—the towering skeletons of skyscrapers, bridges that once spanned rivers now collapsed into rubble, and highways that stretched into the horizon, cracked and overgrown with weeds.
“This place...it’s like a graveyard,” Heather murmured, her eyes scanning the ruins of what was once a thriving city.
Henry nodded, his expression grim. “Let’s hurry; we need to find the Church of Demeter and deliver this message.”
They navigated through the crowded streets, making their way towards the central district where the church was located. The city was a labyrinth of narrow alleyways and broad avenues, a confusing mix of old and new. Every corner seemed to hold a reminder of what once was—abandoned cars covered in vines, rusted street signs pointing to places that no longer existed.
As they moved deeper into the city, they saw firsthand the impact of the ongoing siege. Lines of weary civilians waited outside makeshift soup kitchens, hoping for a meal. Soldiers stood guard at key points, their faces hardened by the constant threat of attack. The mood was tense, a city living under the shadow of war.
After what felt like an hour of navigating the chaotic streets, they finally reached the Church of Demeter. It was a small, tucked-away temple, hidden in the obscurity of larger, more ornate Churches of Light. The abbey was one of the few that remained largely intact, its stone walls weathered but standing firm. A group of priests and priestesses were outside, distributing the few remaining rations and healing the poor beggars.
Henry and Heather walked past the starving mothers and children and approached a tall priestess with a calm demeanor, her robes a stark white against the backdrop of the crumbling city. “Excuse me,” he said, his voice respectful but urgent. “I have a message for Priestess Sophia from the Twilight Order. Please inform her Henry Brown from Woodhaerst is here to see her.”
The tall priestess looked him up and down, her eyes sharp and assessing. “My lord,” she bowed deeply, her tone annoyed but respectful.
“How did you know?” Henry asked curiously.
“Only nobles eat well nowadays,” she said pointedly. “I’ll be just a moment, m’lord.”
Henry looked around at the starving people and could feel their hatred and fear. They refused to look him in the eyes; instead, their body language transmitted wrath.
Soon, a pretty young priestess dressed in the traditional white robe arrived at the entrance, with a stern elderly woman in tow.
“Priestess Sophia?” Henry nodded, holding out the sealed letter. “I’m Henry Brown, from Woodhaerst. I was asked to deliver this personally.”
The priestess took the letter and gestured for them to follow her inside the church. The interior was cooler, a welcome relief from the hot, crowded streets. She led them through a series of hallways to a small, sparsely furnished office where an older priestess with silver hair sat behind a desk, reading through a pile of documents.
“Sister Sophia,” the elderly, stern-faced priestess said, stepping in front of Henry and Heather and blocking them from entering the sitting room, “These are the messengers bothering you?”
Sister Sophia looked up, her eyes sharp and intelligent. “Thank you, Matron Althea,” she said before turning her attention to Henry and Heather. “These are my guests?”
“I’ve told you to be wary of your brothers' messengers. This is the house of a god, not some noble debauchery. War has no place in the Church of Demeter,” she proselytized.
“Yes, Matron Althea,” she bowed before leading Henry and Heather inside the room.
Henry handed over the letter, and Priestess Sophia broke the seal with a practiced motion. She read through the letter quickly, her expression unreadable. After a moment, she set the letter down and looked at Henry with a thoughtful gaze.
“You’re a warden?” She asked in amazement. “I know of you. They say you are half Bearman and your town, Woodhaerst, is a safe haven for Church of Demeter practitioners. Are the legends true?”
Henry polymorphed and replied, “It’s true. My town also has a cathedral, where Priestess Thera presides.”
“Thank you for confirming your identity,” she apologized. “Your order wants me to enter the game of thrones and declare myself lord of Grand City. They think my brothers will accept a negotiated peace treaty if I secure Grand City’s neutrality. Do you think this will work?”
Henry considered his words carefully. “I think I’m the wrong person to ask.”
“Why do you say that?” She asked quizzically.
“I have my own interest in this city. Interests I hope to achieve,” Henry answered truthfully.
“That makes you the most honest adviser in the empire. Most lie and scheme for their endeavors. I’ve yet to meet a truthful adviser such as yourself. Tell me honestly, what are your interests in Grand City?"
Henry quickly explained the situation in Woodhaerst and the mutinous adventurers. “My people need access to the jump gates to search for their missing family members, and merchants who are eager to establish new trade routes. We need to open a gate between Grand City and Woodhaerst.”
“You want access to our jump gates so people can find their lost family?” She repeated happily. “And here I was worried you had more nefarious purposes.”
“And what do you think?” the princess asked, pointing to Heather.
“I believe whatever stops the people's suffering is worthwhile,” Heather answered, her voice calm but firm.
Princess Sophia nodded, a small smile touching her lips. “Our beliefs align. But announcing myself as City Lord and becoming City Lord are two vastly different things. I’ll need the support of the denizens and my brothers’ acceptance.”
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Henry felt a flicker of hope at her words. “The order sent bags of grain and other food aid to bring peace to this city. As for your brothers, that is something you’ll have to negotiate on your own.”
“You brought grain?” the princess asked, smiling excitedly.
“Yes, along with vegetables, beer, and wine,” Heather smiled back.
“Goddess be praised!” Princess Sophia said, clasping her hands in prayer, then hurried to alert her sisters of the news.
Soon a group of priestesses watched as Henry removed grain, corn, greens, beans, milk, and more from his spatial ring. The priestesses watched in awe at the piles of wheat grain.
“Goddess, we’re saved,” the stern-faced matron cried. Then, with the skill and command of a military general, she ordered the priestesses to begin feeding the needy.
Henry was sure it wouldn’t take long for news to spread that the Church of Demeter was rationing out grain and bottles of milk. “Dear sisters in Demeter,” Henry said, trying to sound pious. “Please tell people these are gifts from Princess Sophia, the new Lord of Grand City.”
The priestesses looked at the princess in surprise. The matron smiled broadly, “I see you’ve finally finished wrestling with your purpose.”
“I did. But it is thanks to Lord Henry that I know I can be a priestess and lord. My duty as a believer and my responsibility as a noble heir are not mutually exclusive. I can be both simultaneously.”
For the second time in his life, Henry saw a bright ray of light from the heavens descend and bathe the princess in light.
“I can feel the Goddess upon me. She is…blessing me. Thank you, great goddess Demeter!” Princess Sophia cried, tears of gratitude streaming down her face.
Seeing the beam of light made everyone fall to their knees in prayer. Divine grace was a rare sight, and the faithful did not take it lightly. It was a reminder that the gods were real and invested in their devout believers.
“What did the goddess say?” the matron asked cautiously.
“She…ordained my reign as City Lord and promised to bless the city under my rule. She also said to trust her Warden,” the princess replied.
The Matron considered her response, then knelt. “Honorable City Lord, your humble servants await your command.”
Hearing the matron, the other priestesses knelt.
“Mother Althea, sisters, you don’t have to kneel. Please rise, treat me normally,” she begged tearfully.
“My child,” the Matron rose, hugging her firmly. “You are the imperial princess, heir to the Ancient Aceraceae Empire, the last of the great old empires. We are but the first to kneel in submission. You have always been our sister and our queen. We love you and we’ll be there for you whenever you call. Now leave and accept your great commission.”
Both the matron and princess were crying tears of joy. Mother Althea wiped tears of melancholy from Princess Sophia’s face and kissed her on the cheek. “Go to the City Lord’s castle and proclaim your divine right. Meanwhile, we must spread the word of your divine blessing. Sisters, leave now and spread the word through the city. Take some coin to pay the criers. By tonight, the old empire should know of Princess Sophia’s divine mandate!”
“I understand,” she said tearfully. “Henry and Heather, please wait a moment while I change.”
Soon Henry and Heather were alone in the sitting room. They watched as several priestesses left to spread the news, and others returned to healing and handing out rations.
“I understand now why the order sent you,” Heather chuckled, then added, “This is my first time meeting a real princess.”
Henry nodded, but he couldn’t stop thinking about how he had stumbled into another succession war.
Thirty minutes later, the Princess was ready to leave. As they walked back through the streets of Grand City, despite the urgency of his mission, Henry’s thoughts were already turning to the challenges ahead. He knew the Princess’ path to peace and prosperity was a long one, but for the sake of his people and the world they now inhabited, he was determined to see it through.
As he passed through what had once been a residential neighborhood, the sight of collapsed homes and overgrown gardens reminded him of the families who had once lived there. The siege had not just destroyed this city; it had torn apart lives, leaving behind a trail of loss and despair. Yet, even in this desolation, there was a strange beauty.
At seeing the strange beauty, Henry couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss for the world that had been. The convergence had brought new opportunities, new challenges, but it had also taken away so much. The weight of history pressed down on him, a reminder that the past was never truly gone, only buried beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.
Turning, they made their way through the bustling streets once more, heading toward the central government building where the city’s administrator was located. The building, once a grand hall of power, now showed signs of wear and tear, its walls marked by the scars of conflict.
Inside, they were directed to a large, imposing office where the administrator, a stern-looking man with a sharp, calculating gaze, sat behind a desk piled high with papers and maps. He looked up as they entered, his eyes narrowing slightly.
“Your Highness, what an honor it is to be graced by your presence,” he said, bowing deeply.
Sophia stepped forward, meeting the administrator’s gaze head-on. “Goddess Demeter has ordained me City Lord. I’m sure your clerks already reported on the divine beam. The goddess mandates for me to ensure Grand City’s neutrality.”
“My clerks indeed reported a divine phenomenon. However, you know as well as I that without your brothers’ consent, your claim to the city is contested,” he apologized.
Henry noticed the greed in the man’s eyes. He’d been around enough schemers to know the man’s true purpose. “Cut the bullshit! I can tell you want to rule this city as regent, at least until the kings are weakened enough for you to defeat both.”
“Is this true?” Princess Sofia asked, astonished.
“May I ask the name of your majesty’s adviser?” The city administrator sneered.
“This is Lord and Lady Brown of Woodhaerst,” she introduced.
“Then Lord and Lady Brown, I invite you to spend a night in city jail. Along with the princess. Guards!” shouted the man.
Twenty city guards dressed in refined armor burst into the room and surrounded them. The princess looked aghast at the surprise attack.
Henry used his skill to analyze the level difference. The guards were level 80. Henry was sure the kings took the highest-level soldiers with them. This was probably the best the city administrator could muster.
Activating his polymorph skill, Henry transitioned into a Bearman for the second time that day. Summoning his axe, Warden’s Wrath, and Dhruvah, he retook the initiative.
“A Druid Bearman? Heavens be damned!” the man cursed.
Henry and Dhruvah sliced through the knights like a hot knife through butter. Henry's fighting prowess had been sharpened during the tribal war. The room erupted into chaos as Henry and Dhruvah moved with the practiced efficiency of seasoned warriors. The guards, despite their level, were no match for Henry's raw strength and Dhruvah's precision. The clang of steel rang out as Warden’s Wrath cleaved through armor and shield, while Dhruvah moved with deadly grace, cutting down any who dared approach.
Heather stood back, ready to intervene if necessary, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of treachery. But it was clear that the guards were outmatched, their initial confidence crumbling into panic as they realized they were facing a druid of immense power.
The city administrator, seeing his guards fall one by one, stumbled back against the wall, fear replacing the smug arrogance that had been on his face moments before. “Wait! Stop! Your Highness, there’s no need for more bloodshed,” he cried, kneeling in submission, his voice trembling with fear.
Emboldened by Henry’s display, Princess Sophia spoke with condescension thick in her voice, “You tried to imprison us. You dare betray the will of the goddess?”
“I’m—sorry!” the administrator stammered, his hands raised in a desperate gesture of surrender.
“Your guards are hereby ordered to fall under my command!” Sophia demanded, stepping forward with an air of authority. Then with a softer tone, she said, “Lord Brown, I appoint you Knight Commander of the City Guard. And Lady Brown, I invite you to join my court as my first lady-in-waiting.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The administrator cowered.
Henry’s eyes flicked to Sophia after hearing her. It was her city, her rule now. She had to make the choice.
“Alert the city officials to join me in the throne room. Any more schemes, and I’ll have your head separated from your shoulders!” Sophia’s eyes narrowed, a flash of anger crossing her face.
The administrator swallowed hard, sweat beading on his forehead. “As Your Highness commands,” he pleaded.
Sophia took a deep breath, her expression softening just a fraction. “Lord Brown,” she asked, “Please organize the city guard under my command. It’s time to assert my control and influence over my fiefdom. I will see the Goddess Demeter’s mandate become a reality.”
Henry lowered his axe, his form shifting back to his human state, and glanced at Heather. They nodded at each other and went their separate ways.