*Year: 18900, Month: February, Day: Tuesday Afternoon*
Ethan gestured subtly with a flick of his wrist, and the heavy gates of the Guild house began to swing shut with a satisfying clunk.
"We need to be careful, Ethan. My instincts are telling me something is off," Gaia warned as they walked, her heels echoing on the surface of the ground. They were hurrying towards Eliana's guild house. "Don't worry, I'll handle it," Ethan reassured her with a commanding tone. For the rest of their journey, they remained silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
As they turned the corner, the tall, imposing building of the Guild house came into view. Ethan whispered to himself, "Looks like a normal day." They continued walking and approached a guard standing at the front entrance. "Excuse me," Ethan said, "can you tell me where Eliana is?" The guard recognized Ethan and replied, "She's upstairs, waiting for you." He then turned away and pointed lazily at the stairs, signaling for them to go up.
Ethan and Gaia stepped inside and climbed the stairs, scanning their surroundings as they went. On the far left corner, an open door caught their attention. Without hesitation, Ethan headed towards it with Gaia following close behind. "I'm here, what's so urgent that you had to call me in, Eliana?" Ethan asked as he entered the room.
"Don't worry, Ethan," she reassured him with a warm smile. As he walked into the room, his eyes caught sight of a stunning young woman with fiery red locks cascading down her back in waves. Her piercing emerald green eyes held both intelligence and a hint of longing as she sat next to Eliana.
"Allow me to introduce you," Eliana begins, gesturing towards the woman sitting next to her. "This is Princess Seraphina Velarion." As Eliana speaks, Seraphina stands gracefully, adjusting her dress and offering a small bow to greet Ethan. "Fascinating," Ethan murmurs as he takes in Seraphina's appearance.
"I've made the journey from the capital to speak with you," Seraphina stated confidently, sporting a warm smile. "What could you possibly need to talk to me about?" Ethan asked, gesturing for Gaia to take a seat as he settled into one himself in front of Eliana and Seraphina. As they all sat down, Seraphina couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by Ethan's commanding presence: his tall stature, brown hair that fell over his forehead just so, and piercing green eyes that seemed to see right through her. Nevertheless, she also took a seat.
Ethan's voice boomed through the room, a powerful demand laced in every word. "What do you need from me?" he growled, his eyes burning with defiance. The woman standing across from him trembled as she spoke, her voice shaking with fear and reluctance. "I have been sent here to deliver a message," she stuttered, her words forced out with each breath. "You must cease building your company immediately and join us as a vassal company in the capital." Her voice cracked with the weight of her duty, knowing that delivering this ultimatum could mean Ethan's downfall.
A tense silence hangs in the air as Ethan's smile fades into a cold, calculating expression. His eyes lock onto Seraphina's with an unwavering intensity. "Is that a warning?" he questions, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Well, I'm not one to back down from a challenge." Seraphina rises from her chair, urgency flooding her voice. "You must listen to me, or my father will stop at nothing to destroy you." Despite the threat, Ethan remains unfazed and motions for her to sit back down. "I think it's time for me to reveal what I've been working on these past month," he declares, rising to his feet with an air of confidence and power.
As Ethan stands tall and confident, a figure emerges from the shadows behind him. With a cold smirk on his face, he reveals to Seraphina that he is not only wealthy, but also incredibly powerful - more so than her entire empire combined. Behind him stand two imposing figures, his Shadow Captains, capable of unleashing destruction upon an entire city with ease. Ethan's voice rings out, commanding and unyielding, as he declares that Seraphina must choose one of them. And in just two minutes, her army that she left behind will be decimated. The tension in the air crackles as this ultimatum hangs over them, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.
Eliana's sharp gaze sweeps across the room, landing on two figures adorned with the unmistakable mark of the infamous Crimson Army. Her heart races as she turns to Ethan, her voice shaking with fear and curiosity. "Are those two...from the Crimson Army?" she asks, barely able to get the words out. Ethan's expression darkens as he confirms her suspicions. "Yes, they are. But now is not the time for questions," he commands, his eyes burning with a stern intensity. Seraphina's mind races with dread as she realizes just how dangerous their situation has become. "What do we do now, Ethan?" she whispers, her voice trembling with fear and uncertainty.
"Today, I will show kindness," he said, as his man informed him of the army of 150 thousand guards waiting at the outskirts for an attack order. He signaled for two men to step forward. "I will send them to you, but know that there are only three more inside the village who will survive and bring you back home." He paused for a moment before adding, "As for your army, they will be decimated." Just as he finished speaking, the two shadow captains vanished and reappeared before he could even finish his sentence. "I suppose it went quicker than expected," he remarked, taking his seat once again. "Your army has been annihilated."
*Year: 18900, Month: February, Day: Tuesday Afternoon*