A week had passed since the fall of Valenstone, and the city still carried the air of uncertainty. The once-proud soldiers of the Iron Empire were now rebuilding under the watchful eyes of Morganna's appointed overseers—loyalists, recruited from among the disillusioned and the desperate. Black banners bearing her sigil—a crimson serpent coiled around a broken crown—now hung from the towers and gates, signaling to all that the empire had changed hands.
Lucian walked the length of the courtyard, observing the construction and the uneasy calm that had settled over the palace grounds. Laborers worked in silence, hauling stone and repairing the damage wrought during the battle. The air was filled with the sound of hammers and chisels, and yet there was an eerie stillness—a tension that came from knowing they were being watched by the Crimson Witch's agents.
He could feel the eyes of the people on him as he passed by—guards, workers, even the children peeking out from the shadows of doorways. They looked at him with a mix of fear and curiosity, whispering as he moved through the streets. He wasn't like Morganna. He didn't command the same fear, but his association with her was enough for people to tread carefully around him.
Lucian sighed, pausing near a fountain that had miraculously survived the battle. He watched as a few young women gathered water, their eyes cast downward, avoiding his gaze. He knew what they were thinking—wondering if he was just as monstrous as the witch he served, wondering if he had chosen this path or if, like them, he was simply surviving.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the steady approach of footsteps. Lucian turned to see Morganna making her way towards him, her cloak flowing behind her, her presence unmistakable. The workers hurriedly bowed their heads as she passed, her golden eyes briefly sweeping over them before settling on Lucian.
"Lucian," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "Are the preparations progressing as I instructed?"
He nodded, though his gaze remained distant. "The people are working, and the palace is being fortified. But the mood is... tense. They're afraid, Morganna. They've lost everything. Many don't know if they're better off now or if they've just traded one tyrant for another."
Morganna raised an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Is that a hint of sympathy I detect, Lucian?" She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "These people need to understand that what they had before was a lie. The so-called peace and prosperity Darius provided was built on their oppression. I'm simply cutting away the illusion."
Lucian hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's just... not everyone here was a part of the court that betrayed your family. Many of these people are simply caught in the middle. They're afraid of you, Morganna. They don't see the change you envision—they see chaos."
Morganna's smile widened, though it held no warmth. "And what is chaos if not a new beginning? Fear is a tool, Lucian. It will drive them to act, to adapt, to survive. If they wish to live, they will fall in line, and in time, they will understand the value of the world I will create."
She turned her gaze towards the bustling workers, her eyes gleaming. "But perhaps you're right," she mused, her tone softening into something almost contemplative. "Perhaps they need a demonstration—a reminder that I am not simply here to destroy. I can also... provide."
Lucian looked at her, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Morganna's eyes glimmered with a dangerous light. "The Lunaris Federation," she said. "They have refused to acknowledge my conquest. They cling to their independence, convinced that the fall of Valenstone does not concern them. They will be my next target—but we will not use brute force." She gestured towards the people, the workers who had paused briefly to watch her. "No, we shall give these people a show—a demonstration of my power beyond destruction."
Lucian frowned. "The Lunaris Federation? They're a loose alliance, held together by little more than mutual interests and trade. They value magic and innovation. They're not like Valenstone."
"Exactly," Morganna replied, her smile turning cunning. "They value creativity, individuality. They think they can stand against me with their disorganized alliance. I will show them the folly of their ways by turning their own values against them." She took a step forward, her voice lowering as she spoke, her words dripping with dark humor. "I will give Valenstone a new celebration—an illusionary display that will demonstrate my power, while also reminding the rest of Asteria that resistance is futile. The people need to see that I can create beauty just as easily as I can destroy. And Lunaris will serve as the perfect stage."
Lucian felt a chill run through him, and yet he found himself nodding, caught up in her conviction. "And what do you need from me?" he asked, his voice steady despite his unease.
Morganna turned to him, her eyes blazing with purpose. "Gather the emissaries. Prepare them for travel to Lunaris. They will carry my invitation—a demand for the leaders of Lunaris to attend a grand event here in Valenstone. And if they refuse..." Her smile grew wider, a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Well, we will make an example of them."
Lucian bowed his head, understanding her intent. "I will see it done."
As he turned to leave, Morganna looked out over the city, her gaze sharp and calculating. She could feel the pulse of uncertainty, the fear that rippled through Valenstone like an undercurrent. But soon, all of Asteria would learn to see her as more than just a force of destruction. They would see her as an unstoppable power—a symphony of chaos that could bring both terror and twisted beauty.
And they would either bow to her will, or they would be swept aside.
Morganna raised her hand, dark energy swirling around her fingers as she conjured an illusion—a shimmering crimson serpent that wound its way through the air above the courtyard, catching the eyes of the workers below. It twisted and danced, a mesmerizing display of power, and for a moment, the people watched in awe, the fear in their eyes replaced by something else—wonder.
She smiled, satisfied. This was just the beginning. A new dawn had risen over Valenstone, and soon the rest of Asteria would see it too.