The scout finally reached the king's tent, but was stopped by guards who were guarding the entrance. "Please, let me pass, I have a direct message for the king," said the scout, his voice laden with urgency. The guards, not recognizing the man as a scout, prevented him from entering the king's tent. Desperate, the scout began shouting: "King Relon... King... Lord of the Water City... Please, hear my voice!!!" Quickly, the scout's ruckus drew attention from people nearby, forcing the guards to forcibly remove him.
However, before they could do anything with him, Suzannah appeared. "Leave him, you idiots!" she said to the guards, who quickly released him. "Tell me what you want with the king!" Suzannah asked, looking firmly at the scout.
"My lady, I bring news I must deliver directly to the king, it is urgent!" replied the scout.
"The king is sleeping, and as one of his advisers, I take responsibility for everything. Therefore, tell me what you want?" concluded Suzannah. The scout, eyes full of tears, said: "There is an army coming here, men with golden eyes. My partner was killed by them, and their leader sent me to deliver a message to the king."
Suzannah immediately remembered the dream that had been tormenting her for some time, but she showed no fear in her look. She just held the scout's hand and said: "And what is the message you need to deliver to the king?" Before the scout could speak, the guards behind Suzannah prostrated themselves toward the tent door, from where King Relon emerged.
"What is happening here?" asked the king. Suzannah looked back and, rising from the floor, said: "What I tried to warn you about, boy!"
The scout then prostrated himself before the king. "Your Highness, I bring a message from the warlord of the hostile army!" Relon was astonished and asked: "Hostile army? Explain further, man!"
The scout, still prostrate, said: "During our patrol last night, we were ambushed by soldiers with golden eyes. My partner was killed and our horses disemboweled. Their leader, who calls himself a warlord, let me go to deliver a message to you."
Relon, feeling a chill run up his spine, asked: "And what is this message?"
The scout then replied: "He said that at nightfall today, he would be at the gates of our sacred city to massacre all here!"
Relon's expression hardened, his hands clenched into fists. He looked at Suzannah, who was now rising with a serious expression on her face. "We cannot allow this to happen," she said firmly.
Relon felt despair growing in his heart. He looked at Suzannah, perplexed and unreactive. The Red Queen, turning to the guards, said: "Summon the king's entire council to his tent immediately!" The guards quickly went after the council members while Suzannah escorted the catatonic king back to his tent.
"What should I do, Suzannah? Our people have no ability to fight, what would my father have done?" asked the king, his voice choked with fear.
Suzannah, helping the king, merely seated him on his improvised throne without saying anything. Relon simply bowed his head and placed his hand to his face, surrendering to despair, as the council members arrived.
Princess Lilla was already in her training when the scout arrived, heard all the commotion and approached to see what was going on. Hidden, she heard the scout's story and saw when Suzannah, on behalf of the king, summoned the entire council.
Lilla never wanted a position at court, much less on the council, despite often being offered by her brother, the king. But upon hearing the scout's words, like her brother, she also felt despair and deeply wished that Kal was there. At that point, she no longer felt her bond with Kal and, without realizing it, let the void left by Kal's presence dominate her being. Then, she fled, ran to her training ground and, feeling dependent, grabbed her wooden sword and, roaring with rage, struck the straw dummy several times.
"You longed so much to be independent, you longed so much to be mistress of your own destiny. When did you become so dependent on Kal?" Lilla screamed at herself as she struck the straw dummy hard. She continued screaming and hitting until the sword slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. At that moment, feeling insignificant, Lilla leaned on the dummy as tears fell from her face.
Alone in the silence of her training ground, Lilla felt the weight of responsibility and despair. The shadow of the imminent battle loomed over her, and Kal's absence only increased her feeling of vulnerability. "Kal, where are you?" she whispered, her words lost in the air.
Meanwhile, in the king's tent, the council members gathered. Suzannah, firm and determined, began organizing defenses and discussing strategies. "We must mobilize all the forces we have, small as they may be," she said. "We cannot surrender to fear. We have to fight with what we have and protect our city."
"Suzannah, do you know who the army coming against us belongs to?" asked Terona.
"It doesn't take much intelligence to know it's the Volkaron Regent Queen, that viper has always wanted to destroy the royal family since she was removed from the line of succession!" said Suzannah.
"And do we know the size of the army coming against us?" asked Arthan.
"The scout didn't see, he was too shaken after seeing his partner killed before him," replied Suzannah again.
"Oh please, if the scouts saw no army, perhaps there is none and we are panicking over nothing!" said Alister sarcastically.
"No, they are coming, and they come in great numbers!" said Suzannah thinking of the vivid dream she had. Shun meanwhile remained silent amid all this.
"And when will they arrive?" asked Arthan again.
"The scout said their leader warned they would arrive at nightfall, but we cannot trust that, we must prepare as soon as possible!" said Suzannah.
As the council discussed the war, King Relon remained silent, deeply wishing in his heart that it was all a lie. After Morfrey's defeat, Relon, who had always felt incapable of sitting on the throne, wished for no more wars during his reign. He believed Morfrey had only been defeated because of Kal's powers and Nannu's people's bravery. Relon felt cornered and knew the vast majority of his men had perished in the war of greed. Most of those remaining were children and elders, and he could not thrust his suffering people into a new battle.
In the midst of the councilors' discussion, the king placed his hand to his face and asked, "How old were the scout and his partner?"
"I have their records here, my lord. One was 16 and the other 17," said Shun.
Relon then rose from the throne, and all noticed great concern on his face. "They were very young!" said the king.
Suzannah immediately responded: "You are also 17 years old, we all must carry our burdens!"
Relon then placed his hands on the table and bowed his head as Suzannah spoke: "You asked me what your father would do, and I'll tell you. He would summon whatever remained of his banners and meet his enemies on the battlefield before they reached Alnuum!"
Relon, however, in a burst of despair, forcefully punched the table. "BUT I AM NOT MY FATHER!"
Suzannah then looked firmly at the king and asked, "Then what is the king's wish?"
Relon, despair in his eyes, said: "Alexandria wants the life of the King of Nannu, so I will offer her mine in exchange for the life of the people!"
At that moment, all the king's councilors fell silent before his absurd idea of surrendering his own life. Suzannah merely bowed her head as Alister asked, "Is this the king's will?"
And even with fear in his eyes, Relon nodded positively. Suzannah rose, saluted the king and quickly left the tent, ending the council. Arthan then knelt before Relon and said: "Not long ago, my father promised his life to Emperor Mordret, swearing to walk side by side with kings as long as they have the blood of Aquarion. And as Nannu's lord of war and heir to my father's will, I cannot let my king go alone. Therefore, I will accompany you!"
Relon asked Arthan to rise and said, "It will be an honor to have you on my last ride, blood of the dragon."
Meanwhile, all others saluted the king and, like Suzannah, left the tent. Relon remained alone for a moment, reflecting on his decision. He knew he was about to sacrifice everything, but believed this was the only way to save his people.
Outside the tent, Suzannah took a deep breath, trying to control her emotions. The responsibility of protecting Nannu weighed on her shoulders, and she knew they needed a plan to effectively confront the enemy. She called Alister and the other councilors, and together they began organizing the city's defenses, preparing for the imminent confrontation.
News of the king's decision spread quickly, and although shaken, the people of Nannu prepared for what was to come. Men and women armed themselves, ready to defend their land until their last breath. Relon, knowing the battle would be difficult, felt a renewed determination. Despite his imminent sacrifice, he knew he was doing what was necessary to protect those he loved.
As the sun began to set, Relon donned Leviathan and armed himself with Wavebringer, mounted his horse accompanied by Arthan. They rode toward the fate that awaited them, ready to face the darkness and fight for Nannu's freedom. The city prepared for the night that would decide its future, and the young king, despite his fear, rode with the courage of a true leader to surrender his life.