2
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the day conceded to the night, unveiling an expanse of ever-glowing stars and distant purple gas clouds scattered across the cosmos. One moon, radiant and white, provided a soft illumination, granting some visibility through the night. The other, a smaller dark gray orb, appeared more ornamental, encircled by a delicate golden ring.
A solitary figure gazed at the celestial display, standing on the balcony just outside his quarters.
From his vantage point, he could survey the entire southern expanse of Lumin, a view that had become his sanctuary for relaxation and fresh air. Beyond its serene beauty, he cherished the scene for its calming effect.
Drawing in a deep breath, he sighed deeply.
His eyes wandered down to the bustling activity below, where the city's denizens moved through the early hours of the night.
Lumin remained vibrant after dark, with taverns and some shops still open, the streets illuminated by lanterns casting a warm glow.
Clutching the balcony railing, he closed his eyes, bowing his head in a gesture of shame.
After another sigh, he lifted his head, resolute.
His green eyes mirrored the streetlights, and a cold breeze stirred his blonde hair. In a sudden burst of frustration, he slammed his fist on the railing, teeth clenched.
"Nothing frustrates me more than knowing some of my people are missing. They could be enduring untold horrors, and there's nothing we can do about it... ugh!" His voice rose with his anger, his fist striking the rail again.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, he walked back inside. He adjusted his long blonde hair to keep it from covering his face and closed one of the two doors.
His quarters had been repurposed from a study into a planning room. The once grand wooden desk now occupied a corner, replaced by a large circular table at the center.
On the table lay a giant map of the region, alongside several glasses of water and wine. Three other men stood opposite him, their gazes fixed on the map.
"Your majesty, I've just received word from the knights. They've successfully conveyed the message to every council member," reported the tallest of the three, a muscular man clad in heavy armor, his bald head glistening without a helmet.
"Good. Any news on their return?" the king asked.
"None, Your Majesty," the tall knight replied, bowing his head.
His face betrayed his anxiety at delivering such news, but it had only been half an hour since their last update, and only one knight had returned with information.
"Let us consider the possibility that they might not return, Your Majesty," a more elegantly dressed noble declared.
"As much as I loathe to admit it, I agree. Among those sent was my nephew," added another noble, his purple cloak draped over his oversized belly as he clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.
The king surveyed each of them before approaching the table.
"In three days, the council will convene, and together we will devise a strategy to overcome our odds against the elves," the king declared.
Everyone in the room nodded, drawing closer to the table.
"Now we must present our plan to the other nobles. While I doubt there will be much opposition, our greatest challenge will be uniting the nearby kingdoms," the king continued.
"We have no choice. It's the only way we can hope to stand a chance against such a formidable foe," he replied firmly.
A skinnier noble, adorned in a green robe, spoke up, "Your Majesty, I fear they may not be inclined to assist us. You are well aware of their sentiments towards us."
"Yes, I am aware, but we must still make the effort. This situation is not only an affront to our kingdom but an affront to humanity as a whole," the king stated resolutely.
The other three men crossed their arms in agreement and sighed.
—
Galdrin, the 5th day of Helionis — (8/05/736)
Leon hurried up the hill, darting through the grass to avoid the winding brick path and save precious time. He reached the door and
banged on it several times.
"Teacher, open up!" Leon shouted.
The door creaked open, and an old man peeked out. "Leon, I thought I told you yesterday there would be no classes starting today."
"Why? Is it because of me? You can't just leave us like that!"
"But I didn't. I've arranged for a capable substitute in my place."
"No! You said you were going to teach me more about rocks and hippopotamuses."
Old Man Henry laughed. "You mean hypotheses. Besides, I think you've had enough of rocks. Remember what happened last time? You burned all the powder I worked so hard to make. I'm only just now close to remaking it, thanks to your rock antics."
"But I even helped you clean your entire workshop to make up for it."
"And I also taught you about other things, like workshop safety and the proper ways to test hypotheses," Henry replied factually.
Leon clenched his fists. "You still have so much to teach me."
"You're right, Leon, but I can't. I have a very important matter to attend to," Henry said, patting Leon's head before walking off.
Henry was already prepared to leave. A carriage arrived on schedule, and Henry turned to give Leon a warm smile. "Take care of Sister Gwen, and don't make her worry too much, you understand? Remember, never stop asking questions." He waved a final time and entered the carriage.
As he turned, he noticed tears streaming down Leon's face, but Henry was never good at goodbyes. He felt this farewell was more of a final goodbye rather than a simple parting. However, Henry dismissed his emotions and focused on getting inside the carriage.
After the doors closed, Leon watched as the carriage rode away.
Upon reaching Lumin, the carriage halted just short of the main entrance. It wasn't a luxury but a simple transport he had arranged, so he took out his coins and paid the driver accordingly.
Despite being considered poor by the standards of other kingdoms, Lumin was vibrant and full of life, gleaming with smiles and adorned with well-decorated streets.
Henry walked through the inner walls that surrounded Lumin, passing through one of the four main entrances. The city's vibrancy always seemed to bother him, but he had no choice but to traverse it.
The brickwork of the streets was finely cut and beautifully polished. There were no cracks or unwanted plants growing through it, nor was there any unevenness.
"Of course these roads are still even; it was one of my great-grandfathers who invented the level," Henry mused as he rose from inspecting the street.
The main road led directly to the palace, one of only four paths that provided access to the royal grounds. However, the palace itself had just two actual entrances. The roads, named Gillian, Gregian, Gillathan, and Gregorian, converged at the very center of the city.
Lumin, a city built in a perfect circle and surrounded by formidable walls, was divided into four quadrants. These quadrants, numbered 1 through 4, were named counterclockwise, much like the divisions on a graph. Each of the four main roads was beautifully distinctive, reflecting its own unique hue. In Henry's case, Gillian Street was marked by a light blue tint. The bricks, originally red, white, or gray, were all meticulously painted a soft, serene blue. Even the mortar between the bricks was carefully painted white, maintaining a consistent and elegant aesthetic.
Adjusting his book bag, Henry began to walk.
The streets were alive with smiles, the air buzzing with chatter, and the enticing aromas of various foods. If Henry wasn't careful, the allure of these delights could easily disrupt his progress, but he couldn't afford to stop.
His summoning was a matter of grave importance, and this was abundantly clear.
After some time, he arrived at Lithum, a building close to the palace, often used by nobles and high-ranking officials for important discussions. It was a meeting hall of sorts.
After a thorough inspection, he was granted entry. Inside the Main Hall, he surveyed the scene. He had arrived just in time; a few people were still trickling in. Amidst the chatter and whispers, it became apparent that no one knew the exact reason for the gathering. Despite the presence of nobility, they sat beside members of the Council of Bright Ones, indicating that within these walls, privilege was reserved solely for the king.
Henry spotted a vacant seat and made his way towards it. Once seated, he glanced around to see who was still absent.
"Henry. How are you doing?"
"Oh, if it isn't Fredrick Benevious! Old friend, how have you been?" Henry asked, rising to shake his hand.
Fredrick, slightly younger with gray hair and a clean-shaven face, was another member of the Council of Bright Ones. He took the seat next to Henry.
"I've been better, but this whole situation took me by surprise," Fredrick replied.
"You too, huh? It seems no one here knows why we were summoned."
"I'm afraid I don't know either. But recently, many people have been going missing, large parties in fact. Not sure if that has something to do with this," Fredrick said, his tone grave.
"But we aren't nobles or knights. So, why involve the Council of Bright Ones?" Henry questioned.
"Henry, Fredrick," another voice interrupted, as a man maneuvered through the crowd to take the seat next to Henry.
"When I heard the Council of Bright Ones would be attending, I knew I'd find both of you together." The newcomer, an older noble with brown hair just beginning to gray and a short gray goatee, settled beside Henry.
"Livious, how have you been?" Fredrick asked with a smile.
"How's this I hear about you selling your finest horses?" Henry inquired, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Well, with age, I'm afraid mounting them isn't as easy as it used to be. But I've been fine, nothing to complain about," Livious replied, chuckling.
"Nonsense. In my opinion, no one's ever too old to ride a fine horse," Fredrick added.
They all laughed together. The room was steadily filling with all those required to be present: all 32 members of the council and more than 40 nobles.
The hall, spacious enough to accommodate even more, finally saw the guards close the entrance doors, signaling that everyone was present—except one.
On the opposite side, two doors were flung open by two robust guards.
Once open, the king himself made his entrance.
It wasn't uncommon to find oneself in the same hall as the king if one was important. Unlike other monarchs who sent messengers or neglected significant gatherings, this king made it his mission to be personally involved.
The king wasn't one to show-off, doing so only when necessary. In this instance, he wore simple silver armor that had clearly seen its fair share of battles.
This armor was significant, symbolizing that although he wore the crown, he also fought on the front lines. Like his subjects, he was a proud Leotian, ready to defend his kingdom.
The king strode in and made his way to the central desk. After laying a few papers on the table, he turned to face everyone in the room.
The hall had fallen silent the moment he entered, a serious tension now hanging in the air.
"Thank you all for gathering on such short notice, taking time out of your busy days and setting aside planned occasions for this meeting," he began, walking to face each side.
His gaze was fierce and sharp, making even Henry uneasy.
"Shall we begin?" the king asked, though no response was needed. The room remained silent, awaiting his words.
"Many of you might already be aware, but for those who aren't, let me fill in the gaps. On Almer, the 35th of Ilyara, 735, several merchants traversing the Lyon Passage mysteriously disappeared. Initially, this matter didn't garner much attention, remaining unnoticed until days later. The adventurers' guild became involved, hiring search parties, yet hundreds of people vanished. The disappearances didn't stop there. More and more innocent lives were lost. At that moment, we knew war was imminent. In an attempt to prepare, we summoned all available hands, even offering adventurers a full year's notice. For some time now, we have been preparing for war. Though the rate of new disappearances has since dropped, we still hoped to find those who went missing by sending armies and skilled knights. To this day, none who cross the Lyon Passage return."
The hall remained silent, the silence tinged with horror. How could entire armies and adventurers vanish? What was truly happening? These questions filled their minds, though they held their tongues in the presence of the king.
"Recently, a small army of important figures and peace negotiators failed to return. This marks the fourth time peace negotiations have ended without any word from either side. You all know what? I've had enough! Innocent lives have been lost. Even our messengers have disappeared. A peaceful resolution is no longer an option. Those who don't get to return home to their families now number in the thousands. If the elves want war, then war they shall have," the king declared.
Worried eyes filled the hall. They all feared war, but another emotion began to brew within them—resolve.
One noble stood. "Your majesty, may I speak?"
"You may," the king replied.
"I believe we all share the same feelings… You can count on our full support in dealing with this matter with the full force of the kingdom."
Though the king didn't necessarily need the nobles' support, this declaration prompted everyone in the hall to stand.
"If it's war they want, then war they shall receive!" someone yelled.
All council members rose in support. Even Henry stood, though he didn't share the same enthusiasm as the rest.