In Lenine, the capital of the mighty Kylian Land, high-ranking individuals from the Kylian army arrived one by one, responding to the urgent call sent by the head of the family, Commander Victor, to form an emergency war council.
The air was thick with tension and anticipation, as such summons were rare and only occurred during significant crises.
As the sun rose over the ancient city, the streets glittered in the early morning light. Meanwhile, the main palace of the Kylian family was preparing to welcome the crème de la crème of military and political figures.
Among them was Kinzar the formidable, Kylian's dominator, known for his immense strength and military acumen, five predators renowned for their unparalleled combat skills, and more than nine elite hunters, alongside several adept political advisors.
Everyone entered the grand hall of the palace, which resembled the ruling seat of the Kylian region. Everything had been meticulously prepared before their arrival: dim lighting, tables adorned with maps and military documents, and chairs arranged precisely around the long table. The hall exuded an aura of grandeur that reflected the power and prestige of the ruling family.
Once everyone was seated, they exchanged tense glances and hushed whispers, awaiting what was to come.
Suddenly, the clear voice of a guard rang out, "Attention everyone… our esteemed leader is about to enter." At these words, a profound silence enveloped the room, as if time itself had paused in reverence for this great figure.
Everyone held a deep respect for Victor, the highest commander, a symbol of the Kylian family's strength and strategic brilliance. His power was evident in his sharp eyes and steady tone, which simultaneously instilled confidence and fear.
His presence was a cornerstone upon which the Kylian family relied, and thus, no one dared to interrupt or question his decisions.
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Victor is a middle-aged man, He has a muscular body, brown skin, green eyes, a light beard, and very short black, almost bald hair.
He shows moody and violent expressions.
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With steady, confident steps, Victor entered the hall, adorned in a splendid military uniform that gleamed under the dim lights. His guards followed, standing at the door with their hands on their sword hilts, ready for any eventuality.
His steps heralded the arrival of Leader into the hall. This was the moment everyone had been anticipating with bated breath. Victor entered with confident strides, followed by an oppressive silence.
Every attendee stood without exception, saluting their leader who commanded unparalleled respect and admiration. After a warm greeting, Victor reached his seat at the head of the table and said in a commanding voice, "I am pleased that you have responded to my call… Let us begin our council… Please, be seated." Everyone took their seats after Victor did, preparing to hear his directives.
Victor began, "Alright… let's start now," and addressed his advisor, Philip.
Philip stood and approached a map placed at the center of the table, displaying all the regions of Syrene. One of his aides placed stones and figurines on the map to aid Philip in his detailed explanation.
Philip introduced himself, "I am Advisor Philip, one of the advisors to Leader Victor." He continued, "Since the events that occurred in the northern region of Serine fifteen years ago, there have been skirmishes on the borders between the four families, as you all know… For us, most of these were with Iris, our western neighbor."
Philip pointed with his stick to the areas of border conflicts on the map, explaining, "Here… and here… and here as well… Almost every year, we lose a significant number of our warriors defending Kylian lands… and the same goes for Iris."
He continued, "About a month ago, Predator Moka's base was attacked in a surprise assault that caused significant damage, not to mention the loss of our warriors. As you've heard, Moka was found assassinated far away from the base. To this moment, the perpetrators remain unknown…"
Victor interrupted with an angry tone, "How is it possible that a month has passed without any acceptable findings from the investigations? What are you doing, playing games? You have to expedite the process; I want a comprehensive report by the end of the week."
Philip lowered his head and replied quietly, "Understood." Then Victor instructed him to continue.
Philip proceeded, "We are still not sure what happened… Given the base's location, a large force could not have attacked it without being detected by the border guards. And considering the extent of the damage, it's also hard to conclude that the attack was carried out by a small, stealthy group. This is the most puzzling aspect of the matter." He added, "Yesterday, we received news of the assassination of Makal, a very reliable predator too, near the Iris border, and it's likely he fought against one opponent or more of similar or higher rank…"
Kinzar spoke in a deep voice, "I doubt Axel, Iris's Dominator, is the culprit… He is too smart to make such a mistake."
Amelia, a predator, interrupted, "Do you mean that the one who took down Makal was also a predator?"
Kinzar replied, "As for Makal, he is undoubtedly strong, but he lacks composure. What bothers me is Moka's fall… I knew that man… he wouldn't have fought an opponent unless he was certain of victory. And more... What's strange is the location of his death, far from the base. It seems he tried to avoid the fight for some reason… And this unknown reason is what bothers me… Why would he choose to flee instead of fight?"
With a look of suspicion, Amelia said, "I understand now what you mean. Moka must have discovered something about the enemy that made him avoid the fight."
Silence fell for a moment before Victor spoke again, "We must find out what made him avoid the fight. This issue must be clarified, and any hesitation or delay could be costly..." Refers to Philip "Gather the information we have and prepare a detailed report on all possible scenarios... And Kenzar, I want you to monitor the borders and be ready for any emergency. There is no room for mistakes here... We received two painful blows in a short time... we will become a laughing stock among the families if something else happens..."
"My pride... No, our family's pride is at stake here... I don't have to remind you of that."
A cautious silence settled over the hall after those words, and Advisor Philip, noticing the tension, broke the silence by saying, "Along with Makal, we lost 47 warriors who were part of his unit".
"Additionally, we received confirmed reports that Makal attacked and destroyed an Iris garrison... We are waiting to verify this information, but it's believed that he had cornered some Iris soldiers within Kylian territory before they escaped." He concluded, "This is all the information we have at the moment."
Victor spoke up, "Thank you," and rose from his seat. "I have gathered you all today to discuss the appropriate response. Iris's involvement in these events is undeniable. We will retaliate in kind..." He struck the table forcefully with his hand. "I will now hear your suggestions," he added before sitting down.
Among the assembled members, only the opinions of four held significant weight in the council, alongside those of Victor and his advisor, Philip. The first was the formidable Kinzar, and his deputy, the predator Maxim, who were the strongest in Kylian territories.
Then there was the predator Mindara, a man skilled in all the mightiest combat arts, renowned for his intelligence and high wisdom, often described as a calm mind, respected and highly regarded in Kylian.
Lastly, there was Amelia, a predator known as the "Poison Princess," who had earned widespread fame due to her deadly curse.
These five were the most influential voices in the council.
After a lengthy debate, the decisions made by the Kylian family were finally reached:
Victor proposed an attack on Iris to restore his honor and avoid losing the people's trust.
Advisor Philip supported the leader's decision, arguing that Iris was the one who started the conflict. Secretly, Philip was inciting Victor towards war even before the council.
Mindara suggested not making a definitive decision before questioning the Iris family and seeking clarification about what had happened.
Amelia opposed both suggestions, stating that they should assassinate a predator from Iris to balance the scales, and then seek an explanation from Edmund, the head of the Iris family.
Maxim believed that war should be the last resort and emphasized the need to use the situation to pressure Edmund into providing suitable compensation while keeping the option of war on the table.
Victor opposed the idea of compensation, arguing that only blood could atone for blood.
Kinzar praised Mindara and Maxim's suggestions, stating that it would be better for them to bide their time and attempt to use the situation to their advantage.
Naturally, Victor was adamant about going to war, but the consensus to exploit the situation to gain more influence over Iris rather than immediately resorting to war led him to reconsider his stance.
It was ultimately decided to send a messenger to Iris to request a clarification on the events, with an explicit threat of war or a demand for suitable compensation.
Another outcome of the meeting was Maxim's promotion to be the second Dominator, a clear message to Iris about the seriousness of their threat.
The council concluded with mixed emotions, as everyone knew that the forthcoming response of the Iris family would be pivotal in determining the future of both families.
The sun had begun to set, its red rays filtering through the hall's windows, casting long shadows on the faces of those present, reflecting the heightened tension and anticipation for what lay ahead.
Victor left the hall after concluding the council. He was dissatisfied with what came out of the meeting, but he was determined that it would be the last time he overlooked something that Iris did.
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