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At the moment the door opened, the voice of one of the servants rang out, announcing the arrival of the great leaders:
"Arrival of Alythion, head of the Azraka family,
Darcyan, head of the Falacora family,
Valinor, head of the Randor family,
Ragarth, head of the Rigar family,
Serenus, head of the Neroth family,
Vilaria, head of the Loreth family."
In the spacious hall, golden chandeliers illuminated the high ceiling, and their sparkling lights reflected on the long table made of ebony wood, adorned with intricate carvings mimicking the kingdom's glory.
Next to Alythion and his generals, the remaining heads of the great families were seated in their places:
Valerith, a man with silver hair and cold eyes, head of the Valerion family,
Corinth, a lady with an imposing presence, head of the Coralis family,
Draconith, a fierce warrior with many scars, head of the Draconis family,
Tiraman, an elderly man with the wisdom of years, head of the Tarmag family,
Drakath, a rising young man with political cunning, head of the Drakron family,
Kaliston, a name reflecting the power of the family he leads, head of the Kaylor family,
Tronval, a man with calm features but military influence, head of the Tronth family,
Galysar, the youngest present but no less important, head of the Galisin family.
At the head of the table, the king sat, majestic in his royal robe adorned with golden threads and a sun emblem etched on his chest. Beside him stood his personal advisor, a tall man with sharp features and cautious eyes, adding to the sense of awe in the hall.
A solemn silence fell for a moment before the king looked at Alythion and his generals, speaking in a deep, serious voice:
"I've called you here for a matter that cannot be delayed... The kingdom faces a threat unlike any before."
As Alythion and his generals sat, the silence in the hall grew, everyone holding their breath, waiting for the king's next words.
The king sighed slowly, then leaned slightly forward, his sharp eyes scrutinizing the room before speaking again in a grave voice, heavy with concern:
"Yesterday... While the royal guards were conducting their usual patrols at each of the four gates—west, north, east, and south—they discovered something unusual. At each of those points, they found a body... A decapitated body, wrapped in a black cloak. And on each chest, a dagger was thrust, bearing a single message..."
The king paused for a moment, as if the weight of the words caused him to hesitate before continuing in a soft but clear voice:
"'All the families of the kingdom will fall, starting with your beloved...'"
A wave of tense whispers spread among the heads of the families, some stroking their chins thoughtfully, others exchanging cautious glances, while Alythion and his generals remained silent, listening intently.
The king continued:
"The bodies were examined, but their identities remain unknown. There is no indication of their origin or status. Even the signs of torture were not conventional; they seemed almost ritualistic, or something similar. Furthermore, the daggers used were no ordinary weapons... When one of the guards tried to remove one, the body vanished entirely, as if it had never existed."
Louder whispers began, and one of the attendees struck the table, saying:
"This is a direct threat to all noble families!"
Another, angrily:
"Is this an attack on the kingdom's rule, or is it personal for some families but not others?"
But the king raised his hand, calling for silence, and everyone fell quiet, watching him expectantly.
"We cannot take this threat lightly, which is why I summoned all of you, especially you, Alythion, and your generals. You have led the kingdom through its toughest battles, and I know you won't take this matter lightly. We need swift action... before we see the first of the families fall victim to this mysterious threat."
The king looked directly at Alythion, seemingly waiting for his first response, while in the depths of the hall, the advisor remained standing silently, as if knowing more than was being said...
There was a moment of silence after the king's speech, as Alythion pondered deeply. He looked at the message found with the bodies, then slowly raised his eyes to the king and spoke in a calm but sharp voice:
"Let's be realistic... Who are the enemies of each family here? Has anyone been threatened before or noticed any suspicious movements? Is there a kingdom harboring hostility toward us?"
He glanced at each family head in turn, as if searching for any sign of hesitation or concern. Some exchanged glances with one another, while others remained silent, thinking.
Valerion, head of the Azmaris family, spoke after taking a deep breath:
"I don't think any kingdom would go so far as to do something like this now... Though old enmities don't die, everyone is currently weakened."
Coralis, head of the Merdras family, nodded and added:
"True, it's been years since we last fought a neighboring kingdom, but if they're planning an attack now, that would be madness."
But Draconis, head of the Valdor family, wasn't convinced, speaking in an angry tone:
"And who says they need to wage a conventional war? Perhaps they want to stir up chaos from within. Some kingdoms may send agents to infiltrate ours and carry out acts like this."
At this, everyone turned to Darcyan, Alythion's strategist, who had remained silent throughout, his eyes gleaming with deep analysis. Alythion noticed this and addressed him directly:
"You've been quiet all this time, Darcyan... Have you reached any conclusions?"
Darcyan took a deep breath, then spoke in a steady voice:
"If a kingdom is behind this, we should have received warnings or signs indicating preparations for something. But right now, all the kingdoms are weak, and if one tried to move, the others would strike before it could fully recover. Launching a direct war now would be suicide for them."
He paused for a moment, then continued slowly, as if thinking aloud:
"But if it's not a kingdom... it means we're dealing with an entity that doesn't rely on conventional armies but operates in the shadows. An entity with influence, knowing how to move without leaving a trace."
He looked up at Alythion, then at the king, and said firmly:
"I suspect this is the work of a cult. An organization working in the shadows, with goals we don't yet understand, seeking to spread fear and chaos within the kingdom, perhaps to set the stage for something bigger."
A silence fell over the hall, as everyone seemed to absorb this idea. Alythion looked at the king, who appeared more anxious than before, while the advisor whispered something in his ear that no one else could hear.
Finally, the king spoke:
"If it's a cult, that makes things even more dangerous... Because we don't know its size, power, or true objectives. We'll need to search and act quickly before we see the consequences."
He turned to Alythion and his generals, saying firmly:
"You must begin the investigation immediately. We cannot afford to wait for the next catastrophe."
The atmosphere in the hall became even more tense after the king's declaration, as it was agreed that Alythion and his generals would lead the investigation into the threat facing the kingdom. However, all other families were also required to conduct their own investigations. The king looked at everyone and said in a decisive voice:
"Alythion and his generals will handle the initial investigation, but I ask that all other families conduct their own investigations as well. Any piece of information that might prove useful could come from here or there. This is a matter that concerns the kingdom's future, and it's vital we all work in full coordination."
The other families looked at Alythion with expressions full of anger and disdain. It was clear they had never forgotten his natural talent that made him the center of attention in the kingdom. Although they understood the king had entrusted Alythion and his generals with the leadership role, this decision did not please them. There was an underlying resentment and jealousy bubbling to the surface, especially when it came to sharing power and influence over such an important issue.
Valerion, head of the Valerith family, who had always looked down on Alythion, could no longer contain his feelings. He raised his eyebrows and said in a low voice, but loud enough to be heard in the silent hall:
"It seems the king wants to drag us into this issue concerning someone who seems to carry the kingdom's burden alone with his extraordinary talent... Is it not enough that he leads everyone with his natural gift?"
Coralis, head of the Corinthal family, didn't hide her dark expression toward Alythion.
"What makes us trust his investigation? It seems we're wasting our time following one person, when we need teamwork, not individualism."
As General Darcyan watched silently, Alythion quickly turned his gaze to him and said firmly:
"This is not the time for squabbles. The kingdom needs us all, and there's no room for wasting time on personal disputes. All that matters is protecting the kingdom."
But it seemed Alythion's words didn't satisfy everyone, as the other families exchanged angry looks, while Alythion's generals, who were accustomed to his command, observed the situation in silence. The insult and disdain for Alythion were
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If you like the story ! please support it
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Or even 12+ chapters if you want !
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