King Gulben sat in heavy contemplation, his fingers pressing against the armrest of his throne. Fairon's suggestion was a bold one. He was saying that they should attacking first at those who had long been their enemies then ensuring they could not ally with Laston before his forces fully erged.
It was a logical move, but without undeniable proof it was also a dangerous gamble. If they acted on re suspicion, they might start an unnecessary war when those kind that have been their enemies were now laying until low. That war could weaken them before the real battle even began.
He exhaled slowly before eting Fairon's gaze.
"I understand your reasoning, but attacking now without clear evidence could turn uncertain enemies into certain ones," he said with calm and firm voice. "We need more proof before we act."
Fairon let out a quiet sigh, his expression shadowed with concern.
"I understand," he admitted. "But this situation is bigger than we know. Even if we attack those who seem to be our enemies first, I'm not sure it will be enough to stop Laston. He may already be several steps ahead."
Gulben remained silent, his mind weighing every possible outco. He could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of his people's safety resting on his shoulders.
After a long pause, he finally spoke. "Then we wait for the scouts to find sothing concrete. If there is any sign of an alliance forming or any proof of Laston's involvent, we will act imdiately."
Fairon held his gaze for a mont, his sharp eyes searching for any hint of hesitation. The tension between them was clear now, the unspoken fear of being too late lingering in the air.
But at last, Fairon gave a slow nod, choosing to respect Gulben's decision.
Without wasting ti, the scouts were deployed.
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Elite squadrons of five Elves each who riding swift ivory coated unicorns raced across the kingdom. They rode toward the north, south, west, and east of the Palace. Their cloaks billowing behind them as they urged their mounts forward at the highest speed they could muster.
The wind howled past them and the shadows of the trees blurred as they pushed ahead.
Their mission was clear. They have to search, observe, and report back imdiately. They had no ti to waste.
---
Aurdis stepped again into Saeldir's chamber, her eyes imdiately falling on Erend and Eccar who stood rigid with expressions looks heavy with tension. The air in the room felt thick and charged with concerns that not yet been spoken.
She hesitated for only a mont before stepping forward.
"Did sothing happen while I was gone?" she asked, her gaze flicking between the two of them. "Did the orb start beeping again?"
Erend and Eccar both shook their heads.
"No," Erend answered. "Nothing's happened, for now."
Aurdis let out a quiet sigh of relief, but it did little to ease the weight pressing down on her chest. Just because the orb had remained silent didn't an there was nothing to be concerned about.
They had already confird that sothing was shifting and stirring in the dark beyond the palace walls. Ignoring it would not make it disappear.
Without another word, she moved past them and approached the orb again. Her gaze locking onto its swirling crystalline depths.
It remained dormant but the mory of its previous activity made her uneasy. She bit her lower lip anxiously, her fingers clenching slightly at her sides.
Behind her, Eccar shifted uncomfortably. "Aurdis… are you sure that we… uhh… shouldn't help?" His voice carried hesitation and uncertainty.
She turned to face him, her mind churning with thoughts she dared not voice too openly.
She understood his frustration and felt it herself. Every instinct in her body scread that they should let the Erend and Eccar act. She understood that they couldn't just stand by and wait while all of this happened around the. And yet…
Her lips parted, but she hesitated before answering. Finally she said, "I would be glad if we helped." Her voice was quiet but alos firm. "But the king's decision still stands. I can't go against that."
A heavy silence settled between them. Erend and Eccar exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.
Then, almost at the sa ti, they exhaled and nodded in understanding.
Even if they didn't agree with it, they knew — at least for now — they were bound by the king's will.
Eccar then leaned back with a sigh, stretching his arms as he lowered himself onto a chair with an air of forced ease.
"Alright. I'll just be sitting here then," he said, crossing one leg over the other. If he couldn't do anything there was no use dwelling on it. Might as well not think about not doing anything and just relax for now.
Erend, however, couldn't bring himself to do the sa. His mind churned restlessly. He can't just ignore the weight of the situation. This kingdom was in a precarious position and waiting felt like the worst thing they could do.
His gaze drifted toward Aurdis, and when she turned to et his eyes, he knew she felt the sa. They both understood the danger looming over the palace, but with the king's decision set, their hands were tied.
"Let's hope this all turns out alright," Erend said finally, though he wasn't sure he believed it.
Aurdis sighed, her expression troubled. "Yeah…"
There was nothing more to say. The three of them settled into an uneasy silence, waiting for news or a change, or for sothing to break the tension that hung over them.
---
anwhile, in another world filled with towering tal structures and endless streams of glowing foreign energy, the Elven scouts advanced toward a single destination even though they approached it from different directions.
Saeldir, Arlyn, and Vael moved through what seed to be an abandoned factory sector, weaving between rusted machinery and clusters of people who lurked in the shadows.
The air here was thick with the scent of oil, smoke, and sothing less identifiable but equally unpleasant.
Neon lights flickered weakly in the distance, but in this part of the city, their glow barely reached the ground. The result was long twisting alleys where darkness clung to the corners, concealing all manner of strange and indecent activities.
Vael's steps suddenly faltered, his expression twisting in disgust.
"Are those people having sex in the middle of the alley?" he asked with voice filled with barely restrained revulsion. His face looks disgusted.
Saeldir barely spared a glance before looking away in irritation. "Do I need to answer that?" he replied dryly. His lips curled slightly in distaste but beneath that was sothing sharper. It was anger at the sheer lack of decorum and at the way people here seed to revel in filth.
Arlyn, anwhile, remained silent, though his grimace also spoke the sa disgust in his mind. He had no intention of thinking about what he had just seen any longer than necessary.
As they pressed forward, the towering structure of Skyreach Tower beca more visible through the gaps between buildings. The looming spire pulsed with blue-white light. Even from here, they can feel its Magic energy coursing upward in erratic bursts.
"There it is," Saeldir murmured. His voice was tense and focused. "We need to move faster."
Without hesitation, they quickened their pace, weaving through the darkened streets with their destination now in sight.
---
From the other side of the city, Aerchon and Sylra also moving with quick and deliberate steps. Not like Saeldir's group, they walked a more well lit district where neon signs flickered in vivid colors and the streets, though still polluted with cri and corruption, held a semblance of order.
Here, people had a little more decency, or at least the appearance of it.
But that wasn't an advantage.
With more light ca more scrutiny at them. In the shadows, one could slip through unnoticed but here, any unusual movent would be seen.
The two Elves had to walk in careful balance. Fast enough not to waste ti but cautious enough not to attract attention.
The Skyreach Tower lood ahead, growing larger with each step. Its sleek tallic structure pulsed with artificial blue and white light, veins of energy coursing up its fra like a living thing.
The closer they got, the more Aerchon felt the weight of the mont settle on his shoulders. He glanced at Sylra and she t his gaze with an understanding nod.
Minutes later, they reached the periter of the tower's base. Aerchon ca to a halt, his jaw tightening as his eyes swept over the area.
It was guarded. He had expected as much, but the sheer number of sentries stationed around the entrance was more than he had anticipated.
So wore heavy tal armor. Others were leaner and faster looking with weapons integrated directly into their limbs. A few stood unnervingly still, their faces obscured by glowing visors, scanning the area.
Aerchon gritted his teeth.
"This won't be easy just like we thought," he muttered under his breath.
Sylra exhaled slowly. "We need to find another way in. A direct approach is suicide."
Aerchon's eyes narrowed as he observed the guards' movents.
"Then we start looking," he said. "There's always another way in. Let's find Saeldir and the other."
With that, they slipped back into the city's underbelly.
---
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