As a god fled for her life, the story in Cloudreign was reaching its final chapters. Ilia Perli had managed to obtain most of the artifacts after stealing one of them from Westcoast. However, Rosewood had a different situation.
"As agreed, my artifact is yours," said Lillian, her hands clutching her long sword, which was intricately engraved with flowers. Her hand reached into her robes and out a small dal. "You ca to with nothing but the truth, Dorian Stormblade. I expect our partnership to remain unchanged even after this war is over."
"Your trust in is flattering," said the tall man with humility as he bowed and received the artifact. "This will change the entire course of this war. I still can't believe you chose to trust ."
"I did not trust you," Lillian clarified before she turned to the soldier standing at his side, who t her gaze with a smile. "My agent was the man I trusted the most throughout my childhood. If those mories were a lie, it would have shattered ."
"Are you staying in Rosewood, Joey?" Dorian inquired as he turned toward the smiling soldier. "We've achieved what we ca here to do. After this battle, the Eternal War will be no more. This will be a fun adventure."
"I choose to remain by my lady's side in troubled tis like these," said Joey, adopting a more refined manner as he bowed. His attire and attitude had transford. "We must protect those dear to us."
Dorian nodded at Joey's words while observing a faint blush on Lillian's face. Deciding not to say anything more, he bowed and left their front gate, away from prying eyes.
The pair remained standing, watching Dorian hop into his carriage. Its wheels left deep tracks in the ground as it headed toward Final Valley. Only two days remained until the end of the war, and the zones had already been established.
"It would have shattered you, huh?" Joey teased with a grin as he turned to his lady, who did not look back. "I didn't think you felt this strongly about ."
"Only a madwoman would have accepted your offer otherwise," Lillian retorted, composing herself. "I might be just that. The day you brought Dorian Stormblade to my doorsteps, my heart sank into an abyss, thinking that you had betrayed ."
"I would betray Rosewood before I would betray you," Joey asserted as he slid his hand into hers, gripping it firmly. Lillian did not resist, acting as if nothing had happened. "Everything I said that day was true, Lillian."
"You no longer call 'my lady,' huh?" Lillian remarked with a smile as she turned toward him. "You've grown quite impudent, but equally cheesy."
"I might be cheesy, but I speak nothing but the truth," Joey said with a smile. "I might not have confessed how I felt about you, or even realized it, if not for Alexie. I hope you'll et him soday."
"Is he a kind person?"
"Ruthless to his enemies, kind to everyone else," Joey answered as he turned and walked together with Lillian. "I trust him to make a better world for us."
"You should have entrusted with that matter," Lillian replied with a frown as she tightened her grip on his hand, causing his bones to squeak. "Am I less capable than this man Alexie?"
"There is no one as capable as you are," Joey assured with a sweating face before he looked her in the eyes. "I just wanted to relieve you from the burden of leading Rosewood. That way... we can be together."
"...corny motherfucker," Lillian muttered as she looked away, her face turning red. Joey chuckled at her response as he looked at their camp. Although peace had not yet been achieved, it was on the horizon.
Rumors began to spread throughout Cloudreign two days before the war's end. Most cities had obtained one or two zones by now, but the situation remained volatile. Battles erupted everywhere as scouts clashed.
Final Valley was the only zone that remained untouched, its geography making it difficult to infiltrate. However, another reason for its security was that Ascent guarded the paths leading there without venturing in themselves.
Like whispers from ghosts in their ears, the rumors tempted every lord to storm into Final Valley. The rumors suggested that eight artifacts had been left there, stolen from various lords. If any force acquired these artifacts, they would be virtually invincible.
Westcoast and Elvenheim each had an artifact, but this paled in comparison to the staggering eight within Final Valley. Hence, as the na implied, Final Valley was destined to be the ultimate battlefield that would decide all others. The temptation also stemd from the fact that if one lord killed another, they would rule their city.
Initially, no one believed the rumors because Xeloria had two artifacts initially. These supposed lies were disregarded as everyone knew that Xeloria was destined to beco the new ruler of the second floor. The situation, however, took a sudden turn when scouts witnessed the Xelorian Army rushing toward Final Valley, paying no heed to anything else.
Standing atop one of the mountains that overlooked the pass leading to Final Valley, Jonathan held two artifacts in his hands as several figures gathered around him. Although they had never t, a single glance revealed to Jonathan the identity of the man everyone followed.
"You must be the lord of Ascent," said Jonathan with a smile as he pocketed the artifacts and extended his hand for a handshake. "We both believe in the next Demon King, so let's get along."
"I don't consider him to be anything," replied the man with a thin mustache before shaking Jonathan's hand. "But I wouldn't mind working with soone who has allied himself with my lord."
"I can see that Alexie has followers everywhere he goes," Jonathan comnted with a smile before breaking the handshake and producing the artifacts. "As promised, I brought these from Xeloria. Lord Marshal must be searching for now, infuriated."
"Infuriated would be an understatent," added Seraphine with a grin. "His most trusted ally snatched his dream from him. It's no wonder he's racing here after reading your letter, ignoring the possibility of an ambush."
"When Marshal is enraged, he doesn't think logically," Jonathan remarked with a shake of his head. "How do you plan on separating lords from their soldiers?"
"Our initial plan was to stop them ourselves, but we heard about a particular artifact that Rosewood possesses," Ilia explained with determination as he approached the edge. "This artifact can create a barrier with any condition you set, and it's impervious to strength, thanks to the tower's enforcent."
"That would be the perfect defensive array," Jonathan said, surprised. "If they've used it on zones, no one would have been able to take them. Why would they give up such a valuable artifact?"
"Dorian Stormblade convinced them," Seraphine revealed with a smile. "It seems the artifact appeared in Rosewood without any difficulty. I still can't comprehend why the tower favored them."
"Dorian did this?" Jonathan asked in surprise before bursting into laughter. "After the battle against Crestview, it seems that sothing else has taken hold of him. I might have been following the wrong Stormblade all my life!"
"There's still ti to change," Whisker, who had been standing in the background, added. "Our leader has chosen Dorian to lead the second floor. However, Dorian himself doesn't know he's been chosen."
"I've witnessed his life since he was a child," Jonathan said with nostalgia. "I never imagined he would be chosen for such a task. Marshal hoped that Alexie would have a positive influence on him, not realizing that it might end his rule."
"Tis change," Whisker concluded, his feline eyes locked onto Jonathan. "Dorian is now on his way here with the artifact. Once we create the barrier, all we have to do is wait for our leader to erge. So, tell us what you know."
"Koby stayed near the lakes where he trains, but the battle is happening there, as everyone knows," Jonathan said with a shake of his head. "As for the mage, he might already be dead. I have no further information."
"You led him to et Azkahar, knowing this would alert the gods," Seraphine scolded, her frown evident. "You've been too impulsive, Silver Rose."
"Save the chitchat for later," Ilia said as he narrowed his eyes at the distance. "The first army has arrived, but Dorian is not here yet. We need to hold them back before they thwart our plans."
"Which army is it?" asked Seraphine as she walked to the edge, observing the banners this army carried. The black banners with a white mountain belonged to Crestview. "It looks like you'll be fighting them again, Knight of Silver Rose."
Jonathan stared at the banners with a frown, his lips pressed tightly together. "If all their generals are converging here, our plans might crumble before they even begin. We fought against Skyline of Crestview, and they managed to kill most of us."
"Our armies may be weaker than Xeloria's, but we're all here," Ilia Perli declared with a smile as he raised his hand, conjuring a long spear crackling with lightning. "Let's show them the true might of our alliance."
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