War Room — Two Weeks After the Contest
The atmosphere in the room was tense in a different way from previous etings.
It wasn’t the tension of impending battle or economic crisis.
It was the tension of an imminent departure.
Kaito stood before the large map of the Twelve Kingdoms, a route marked in red from Neudämrung to Vestria—the neutral capital where the Council would be held.
Two weeks of travel. Three if the weather didn’t cooperate.
Around the table: the four queens, Drake, Gorman, Aria, and the main captains.
Kaito pointed at the map.
"The entourage will be small. We can’t appear threatening, but we can’t appear weak either."
He touched points along the route.
"I’ll lead, obviously. Naporia as the official Queen."
Naporia nodded from where she sat, still not completely comfortable with the title but accepting it.
"Drake cos as an advisor and representative of... well, of a forr Avernor hero who chose our side."
Drake raised an eyebrow.
"Representative of traitors?"
"Representative of the fact that not all heroes blindly support Avernor," Kaito corrected. "It’s important."
Drake considered that and nodded.
"Aria cos as a neutral observer. Technically she’s not part of our official governnt, which could be useful."
Aria smiled slightly from her chair.
"Spy with a fancy title. Understood."
"And twenty elite guards. Bram leading them."
Bram, seated at the end of the table, nodded with his usual quiet efficiency.
Kaito paused before continuing.
"Adelheid, Lilith, and Valeria stay behind to protect the kingdom."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Adelheid spoke first, her voice controlled but tense.
"Commander. I should go. As Supre Commander, my place is..."
"Here," Kaito interrupted firmly. "Protecting our ho while I’m away."
Adelheid gripped the armrest of her chair.
"It’s not fair. I..."
"You won Strategy. You’re the best person to coordinate defenses if soone attacks while I’m gone."
Kaito looked directly at her.
"I need you here. I trust you more than anyone to keep this running."
Adelheid wanted to argue. Kaito could see it in her eyes.
But she also understood the logic.
She nodded stiffly.
"Understood."
Lilith spoke next, her tone lighter but her eyes revealing similar disappointnt.
"I suppose my wisdom is more useful here than in formal diplomatic debates."
Kaito caught the sarcasm.
"Lilith. If I take you, every kingdom will assu you’re manipulating . That you’re the real power behind the throne."
He paused.
"And they wouldn’t be completely wrong, but that’s not the image we want to project."
Lilith smiled despite herself.
"Complint wrapped in rejection. Well played."
"But I need your intelligence here. Coordinating with Stahl, managing resources, keeping the economy stable."
Lilith inclined her head in acceptance.
Valeria said nothing, waiting.
Kaito looked at her.
"Valeria. You intimidate people without trying."
"True," Valeria confird without emotion.
"That’s perfect for defending the kingdom. But terrible for diplomacy."
"Also true."
"So you’re staying as... let’s call it Guardian of the Fortress."
Valeria nodded once.
"Function accepted."
The tension eased slightly, but Kaito could see that Adelheid and Lilith were still uncomfortable with staying behind.
It wasn’t about trust. It was about being separated from Kaito for weeks.
Gorman cleared his throat.
"There’s another matter. The prisoners."
All eyes moved to him.
"Eldric and Marcus have been in the cells for almost two months. We need to decide what to do with them before you leave."
Kaito exhaled.
He had been postponing this decision.
"Options?"
Drake spoke.
"Option one: we take them to the Council. Present them as evidence that Avernor attacked first."
"Risky," said Lilith. "Avernor could claim them as hostages. Give them cause for formal war."
"Option two: we leave them here, well-guarded."
"Also risky," added Adelheid. "If soone attacks while you’re away, they might try to free them."
"Option three," Aria spoke quietly. "We release them."
Everyone looked at her.
"Explain," Kaito requested.
Aria leaned forward.
"Eldric will never change. But Marcus... Marcus is doubting. I’ve seen it these months."
"And?"
"If we release him, especially before the Council, he might voluntarily testify that Avernor attacked without provocation."
Drake frowned.
"Or he might flee straight back to Avernor."
"It’s a risk," Aria admitted. "But Marcus is an honorable man. If we give him freedom, he might feel obligated to repay with truth."
Kaito considered this for a long mont.
"I’ll speak with both before deciding."
---
The Cells — That Afternoon
The cells beneath the fortress were clean but spartan.
Limited natural light. Basic but adequate food. Guards rotating every six hours.
Kaito went down first alone, then with Drake following at a prudent distance.
Eldric’s Cell
Eldric was sitting on the cot, staring at the wall.
Two months of imprisonnt had thinned his figure but hadn’t broken his proud posture.
When Kaito appeared, he didn’t even turn.
"Co to gloat before you leave for the Council."
It wasn’t a question.
Kaito stopped before the bars.
"Co to offer you a choice."
Eldric finally looked at him.
"What choice?"
"I release you. You return to Avernor. Live your life."
Eldric stood slowly.
"In exchange for what?"
"Nothing. Just that you consider whether Avernor truly valued your life when they left you here."
Eldric studied Kaito with eyes that had seen too many battles.
"You’re offering freedom with no conditions."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Kaito crossed his arms.
"Because keeping prisoners costs resources. And honestly, you’ve suffered enough."
Eldric approached the bars.
"Then listen well, failure. If you release , I’ll return to Avernor. Report everything I’ve seen here."
"And I’ll co back with an army to destroy you."
Kaito didn’t flinch.
"I expected that."
"Then why offer?"
"Because I wanted to see if any honor remained in you. If you could at least consider that maybe, just maybe, you’re on the wrong side."
Eldric spat near the bars.
"I’m on the side of the gods. Of order. Of justice."
"You’re on the side of pride," Kaito corrected. "And that pride will keep you here until the Council ends."
He turned to leave.
"When I return, I’ll make a final decision about you."
Eldric shouted behind him.
"You’ll die in Vestria! Avernor won’t let you live!"
Kaito didn’t respond.
Marcus’s Cell
Marcus was in better condition than Eldric.
Not physically but ntally.
He was sitting with a book Aria had brought him—a history of the Twelve Kingdoms.
He looked up when Kaito entered.
"Lord Kaito."
"Marcus."
Awkward silence.
Kaito spoke first.
"I’m offering you the sa as Eldric. Freedom. No conditions."
Marcus set the book down carefully.
"And Eldric accepted?"
"Eldric promised to return with an army to destroy ."
Marcus almost smiled.
"That sounds like him."
He stood.
"Why are you offering this?"
"Because you’re not Eldric. You’ve been doubting. Thinking."
Kaito pointed at the book.
"Reading about how the kingdoms were ford. How power changes hands."
Marcus touched the book.
"I’ve had a lot of ti to think. About what it ans to be a hero. About whether Avernor truly represents what it claims to represent."
He looked at Kaito.
"Drake chose to stay with you. That ant sothing."
"And you?"
Marcus approached the bars.
"If you release ... I won’t return to Avernor."
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"Then?"
"I’ll travel. See other kingdoms. Learn about this world beyond what Avernor taught ."
He paused.
"And maybe, when you’ve returned from the Council, I’ll co visit you. Not as an enemy. As... a person seeking to understand."
Kaito studied Marcus for a long mont.
Then he nodded.
"I accept that."
He signaled the guard to open the cell.
Marcus stepped out, stretching for the first ti in months without chains.
"Thank you."
"Don’t thank yet. The world is dangerous for a hero without a ho."
Marcus smiled.
"I’ve faced worse things."
He looked at Kaito with a serious expression.
"But I have a warning. Avernor won’t let you exist. The Council will be a trap."
"I know."
"And you’re still going?"
"I have no choice. If I don’t go, I’m a coward. If I go, I’m an idiot. I’d rather be a brave idiot."
Marcus laughed genuinely.
"Then maybe you are a hero after all."
He left with a guard escorting him to the exit.
Kaito stood looking at the empty cells.
Two decisions made.
One hopeful. One... less so.
---
Library — Night Before Departure
Lilith had asked to et with Kaito privately.
When he entered, he found her surrounded by small objects on the table.
"What’s all this?"
Lilith smiled.
"Farewell gifts. Because even though I’m not going with you, I can help in other ways."
She picked up the first object—a silver ring with a green gem.
"Anti-poison artifact. If sothing you eat or drink is poisoned, the gem changes color."
Kaito took it, admiring the craftsmanship.
"From the ruins?"
"From my own collection. I’ve had it for centuries. It saved my life three tis."
She slid the ring onto Kaito’s finger.
It fit perfectly.
Next object: a small stone carved with symbols.
"Communication device. Primitive compared to your mobile phone, but it works."
"How?"
"You have this one. I have its pair. If you touch the symbols in a specific order, I can feel it. And vice versa."
She demonstrated by touching her own stone.
Kaito’s vibrated softly.
"We can’t talk, but we can send simple signals. Danger. All good. Need help."
Kaito stored the stone carefully.
"This is... incredibly useful."
"I know."
Third object: a small vial with blue liquid.
"Universal antidote. If the ring fails or you’re poisoned in another way, this gives you six hours to find proper treatnt."
"Single dose."
"Use it wisely."
Kaito took the vial with reverence.
Lilith had more—special bandages that accelerated healing, powder that created thick smoke for escape, even a small dagger that never lost its edge.
When she finished, Kaito was surrounded by survival tools.
"Lilith... this is..."
"Necessary," she interrupted. "Because I can’t be there to protect you. So these things will do it in my place."
She approached, touching the ring on his finger.
"Promise you’ll co back."
Kaito took her hand.
"I promise."
Lilith leaned in and gently kissed his cheek.
"Good. Because we still have much to do together."
She pulled away before Kaito could respond.
Leaving him with a warm cheek and a heart beating a little faster.
---
Main Courtyard — Morning of Departure
The sun was just rising when the entourage gathered.
Twenty guards in formation. Drake checking provisions. Bram coordinating the loading of horses. Aria verifying that everything was in order.
And Naporia.
Standing beside her horse, dressed in an imperial uniform modified with Neudämrung’s colors—dark blue with silver details. The simple crown on her head still looked strange.
The three queens staying behind were there to say goodbye.
Adelheid approached Kaito first.
She handed him a sealed letter.
"For the Council. A strategic explanation of our actions in the war against Avernor. With evidence."
Kaito stored it.
"Thank you."
Adelheid hesitated, then hugged him briefly.
"Co back alive. Please."
"I’ll try."
Valeria was next.
She gave him... a small hamr.
Kaito looked at it confused.
"In case you need to break sothing," Valeria explained with her usual lack of expression. "Structurally sound. Useful."
Kaito almost laughed.
"Thank you, Valeria."
Valeria nodded once and walked away.
Lilith had already given her gifts the night before, but she approached again.
"Rember: touch the stone if you need help. I’ll be listening."
"I will."
Lilith looked at Naporia.
"Take care of him. Or you’ll answer to ."
Naporia t her gaze directly.
"I’ll take care of him better than anyone."
Sothing passed between them—not hostility, but mutual challenge.
Finally, Kaito mounted his horse.
Naporia mounted hers.
The entourage ford up.
Gorman gave a brief speech to the gathered population about the importance of the mission.
But Kaito barely heard it.
He was looking at the fortress.
His ho for almost a year.
The kingdom he had built from nothing.
Two weeks there. The Council. Two weeks back.
A month away from ho.
Please let it still be standing when I return.
He raised his hand.
"Forward!"
The horses began to move.
The crowd cheered.
Kaito looked back once.
Adelheid, Lilith, and Valeria watching from the fortress balcony.
He raised his hand in farewell.
The three responded.
Then he turned forward.
Toward the road.
Toward the Council.
Toward an uncertain fate.
Aria rode up beside him.
"Nervous?"
Kaito smiled without humor.
"Terrified."
"Good. ans you’re taking this seriously."
Naporia approached from the other side.
"Don’t worry, mon général. If anyone tries to kill you, I’ll kill them first."
Kaito looked at her.
"That’s not as comforting as you think."
Naporia smiled.
"I wasn’t trying to be."
The entourage moved forward.
Leaving Neudämrung behind.
Toward unknown territory.
And what awaited in Vestria.
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