"News Flash! The Dahlia Region has been successfully reclaimed by the King's elite forces, the Bloodbound Blades! Reports confirm that the mad King of Drachenwelt has been left in disarray, his forces shattered and his influence weakened."
In the king's royal chancery, Selvaris Wolfhart, the king's Chamberlain, read the news aloud with evident pride as his voice echoed with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the king, seated at his desk, was immersed in a mountain of paperwork—reports, approvals, and strategic plans demanding his attention.
The victory in Dahlia had been a significant step forward, but it also marked the beginning of a massive renovation project to repair the damage left in the wake of war.
Two major cities of Wolfstadt—Lady of the Valley and Chrysanthemum City—along with their surrounding regions, had also been successfully reclaimed under the king's impeccable leadership and the unyielding strength of his army.
Yet, the task was far from complete. The Bougainvillea City and its two regions remained, trapped in a vice-like grip of enemy forces. Encircled by hostile troops. Reclaiming Bougainvillea was a daunting challenge, but one that the king and his forces were determined to conquer.
"That'll teach them not to mess with us," Chamberlain declared proudly, his chest puffed with satisfaction. "It seems Marquis Thornhowl has truly stepped up his game after that mercenary incident."
"Well, he'd better be," the king replied without looking up, his pen gliding across the document in front of him. "His head was on the line if he didn't."
Chamberlain chuckled lightly but then hesitated, choosing his next words carefully. "What surprises me, Your Majesty, is that you haven't taken matters into your own hands to reclaim Bougainvillea. With your power, you could easily crush the enemy troops and end this stalemate."
The king paused briefly, his golden eyes flickering toward Selvaris before returning to his work. "If I do that," he said matter-of-factly, "then Wolfhart's army will be deemed useless. What's the point of having an army if they're incapable of proving their worth?"
His tone carried no arrogance, just a quiet practicality that left no room for argument.
"And besides," the king added coldly, his pen pausing mid-stroke, "this is the Marquis's chance to prove himself after the Wolfsbane incident. If he truly stands by his claim of loyalty and isn't the traitor many suspect him to be, then he must prove it with action."
"The Wolfsbane incident…" Chamberlain Selvaris repeated, his voice heavy with somber reflection. "What a tragic day that was."
The Wolfsbane incident had been one of the darkest chapters in Wolfstadt's history. It was a plot masterminded by the former Grand Duke to overthrow the king, a calculated betrayal cloaked in devastation.
A mist of Wolfsbane poison had been unleashed across the kingdom, ravaging the land and wiping out nearly half the population.
But amidst the chaos, the king emerged as a savior. It was he who stood against the spreading mist, using his immense power to halt its advance and prevent Wolfstadt's total collapse. His heroic actions ensured the kingdom's survival, solidifying his place as both ruler and protector.
Yet, that victory came at a price. The king had absorbed a lethal amount of Wolfsbane poison during the confrontation, and though his body's extraordinary regenerative ability kept him alive, it could not purge the poison entirely. It lingered, a constant, insidious threat, weakening him over time. Without a skilled healer capable of removing the toxin, his eventual demise seemed inevitable.
To make matters worse, external threats loomed larger every day. The mad king of Drachenwelt was amassing his forces at an alarming speed as his ambitions set on conquering the four kingdoms of Azalea.
To find a healer capable of removing the Wolfsbane poison, they would need to venture to the northeastern region of Azalia, where Acadia is—the kingdom of healer elves renowned for their exceptional healing abilities.
However, this journey was fraught with danger. The northeastern border was perilously close to Drachenwelt, the enemy's stronghold, making any venture into the region a high-risk endeavor.
Adding to the difficulty was the nature of the elves themselves. The so-called "mighty elves" of Acadia were notorious for their arrogance, priding themselves on their unmatched healing prowess. Negotiating with them was no small feat; their pride often made them stubborn, dismissive, and nearly impossible to reason with.
**
Definition of Terms
Cities and Regions in Wolfstadt
1. Rose City (main) - where th Mondlicht Schloss (king's castle) is located
* Gardenia Region - posh and noble area
* Jasmine Region - middle class area
* Marigold Region - slum area
2. Lady of the Valley (north-east) - coastal city and the trading center of goods
* Azalea Region - slums and market area
* Anemone Region - fishing region
3. Bougainvillea City (eastern part) - home of the poorest
* Aster Region
* Amaryllis Region
4. Chrysanthemum City (south-east) - agriculture and mining area
* Poppy Region - agriculture region
* Dahlia Region - mining area