Lira stood in the dimly lit chamber on the First Floor of the Citadel, her crimson eyes glinting with a hint of satisfaction. Around her, shadows swirled like living things, as if responding to her presence. Beside her, Seraphine, the Abyssal Priestess, stood in stark contrast. Her ethereal form glowed faintly in the darkness, her deep blue robes flowing as if touched by a current unseen by mortal eyes. The two guardians had been waiting for this moment for weeks—ever since they had dispatched their handpicked maids to infiltrate the noble houses and kingdoms of this new world.
In the center of the room stood a table, its surface scattered with scrolls and letters—each one a piece of the puzzle they had been gathering over the past month. As the shadows thickened, the eight maids they had selected from the First and Fourth Floors filed in, their heads bowed respectfully before their masters. Each maid had spent a month embedded in various noble houses, kingdoms, or empires, tasked with observing and gathering information about the political landscape of this new world.
Lira gestured for them to begin their report.
The first maid to step forward was Selene, a tall woman with striking blonde hair tied into an intricate braid. She had been stationed in the Kingdom of Veridane, one of the largest powers in the region.
"My Lady Lira," she began, her voice steady and calm, "the Kingdom of Veridane is ruled by King Gareth Veridane, a shrewd and calculating man who maintains a tight grip on his throne. He controls a vast military force, primarily made up of heavily armored knights and war mages. His closest advisors include several powerful nobles, the most influential of whom is Duke Renard Thorne, who holds sway over the eastern provinces. Duke Thorne is known for his ambition, and there are whispers that he seeks to expand his territory by force."
Selene paused, her eyes flicking briefly to Seraphine before continuing. "However, despite King Gareth's strength, there are tensions brewing within the kingdom. Several noble houses are dissatisfied with his rule, particularly due to the high taxes imposed to fund his military campaigns. These houses could be leveraged to create instability within Veridane."
Lira nodded thoughtfully. "Good. Keep an eye on Duke Thorne. If his ambitions grow too large, we may be able to use him to destabilize the kingdom from within."
The next maid, Mira, stepped forward. She had been embedded within the Empire of Solaria, a vast empire to the south that was known for its grand cities and powerful magical academies. Her pale blue eyes were sharp as she recounted her findings.
"The Emperor of Solaria, Emperor Kael Solara, is a powerful mage in his own right, though not nearly on the level of Lord Lucian," she said, her tone betraying no doubt in Lucian's superiority. "His rule is absolute, and the empire thrives on a combination of advanced magical research and trade. However, the most interesting detail I uncovered concerns the Solaris Order, a secretive faction within the empire's mage academy. They are rumored to be searching for ancient magical artifacts that they believe will grant them the power to challenge even the gods."
"Ancient artifacts?" Lira's interest piqued. "That could be useful. If they find something of value, we might need to take it for ourselves. Keep a close watch on this Solaris Order."
Mira bowed and stepped back, allowing Calista, who had been stationed in the Kingdom of Durnam, a militaristic kingdom known for its battle-hardened warriors, to present her findings. Her jet-black hair flowed behind her as she confidently took her place in front of the two guardians.
"The Kingdom of Durnam is ruled by King Baric Ironfist, a warrior-king who takes pride in his kingdom's martial prowess," Calista began. "The Durnam army is formidable, and their elite soldiers, known as the Iron Guard, are renowned for their strength and discipline. However, the kingdom has a long-standing rivalry with the neighboring Empire of Calthor, which has led to several border skirmishes over the years. King Baric is eager to crush the Calthorian forces once and for all, but his resources are stretched thin."
Lira leaned back in her chair, considering the information. "A rivalry between two military powers… we could use that to our advantage. If we sow discord between them, we could weaken both kingdoms and make them easier to manipulate."
The fourth maid, Aira, stationed in the Duchy of Valenor, was next to step forward. She had observed the most discreet court in the land, where covert dealings often carried more weight than open warfare.
"The Duke of Valenor, Duke Soren Valenor, holds considerable sway over the northern territories, and his duchy is wealthy due to its control of rare minerals and trade routes," Aira reported. "He is a calculating man, though more inclined toward negotiation than open conflict. He has recently allied with several influential merchants who control significant portions of the trade networks across the continent."
Lira smirked. "A man like him could be bought. We shall keep a close eye on him."
Next, Livia, one of Seraphine's handpicked maids from the Fourth Floor, stepped forward. Her dark green eyes gleamed as she recounted her time within the Barony of Greythorn.
"The Baron of Greythorn, Baron Wilhelm Greythorn, rules a small but strategically placed barony at the crossroads of several trade routes. Despite its size, the barony holds considerable influence due to its control of several key trade points. The Baron is fiercely loyal to the Kingdom of Veridane, but his family has been known to harbor personal ambitions of expanding their influence within the kingdom."
Seraphine nodded approvingly. "A barony with such influence could easily shift the balance of power. We will consider our options carefully."
Elara, another maid from the Fourth Floor, reported next. She had been assigned to gather information from the Kingdom of Aerilon, a kingdom known for its devout worship of the gods.
"The Kingdom of Aerilon is ruled by King Aerith Valion, a deeply religious man who governs with the support of the Council of the Faithful, a group of powerful priests and priestesses. The kingdom's military is less formidable compared to others, but their faith-based magic is potent, and they maintain strict control over their citizens through the influence of the church."
Lira's expression darkened slightly. "Religious zealots can be troublesome. But they often hide their weaknesses beneath their faith. We shall exploit those weaknesses when the time is right."
The remaining two maids, Feyra and Nerissa, gave their reports, detailing the military strength and political landscape of the Eastern Isles and the Kingdom of Rhodenia, respectively. By the time they had finished, Lira and Seraphine had a comprehensive picture of the surrounding kingdoms and empires. Each piece of information painted a complex web of power struggles, ambitions, and rivalries—one that could be manipulated to further Lord Lucian's goals.
Lira stood, her dark cloak shifting as she moved to the center of the room. "It is clear that the kingdoms and empires around us are divided and driven by their own desires. They believe themselves to be strong, but they are weak in their disunity."
Seraphine, her voice soft but commanding, added, "Lord Lucian's rise to power in this world will be swift if we can exploit these divisions. But we must tread carefully. The nobles are cunning, and we cannot afford to make enemies before we are ready."
Lira nodded in agreement. "We will continue to observe, to infiltrate their courts and councils. And when the time is right, we will strike."
The eight maids bowed once more before retreating into the shadows, their task for now complete. Lira watched them go, her mind already calculating the next move. The pieces were in place, and soon the world would know the true power of the Citadel of Nightfallen and its master.
As the chamber emptied, Lira turned to Seraphine. "We must inform Lord Lucian of these developments. The time to act draws near."
Seraphine's pale eyes met hers, and she nodded. "Indeed. The world will bow to him, as it always should have."
Together, the two guardians moved toward the throne room, ready to relay their findings to their lord and prepare for the next phase of their plan.