As the bus rumbled down the highway under the cloak of night, Daniel and Ragnar engaged in a lively conversation. They exchanged gossip, rumors, and tidbits about the world of mages and their families. Their chat was interrupted by Daniel's phone ringing. He excused himself from Ragnar and answered promptly, recognizing the call as Envy's number.
"Yes, dear," Daniel spoke in a gentle tone. "What do you need?"
"There's trouble within the Confederacy, Daniel," Envy began, her voice tinged with concern. "They seem to have garnered formidable allies from the Curtained World, strong enough to force Pride into retreat alongside her father."
Daniel's astonishnt rang clear. "Pride? Injured? But she's the second strongest witch, right after you! Who could have possibly inflicted harm on her?"
"Yes, she's the second most powerful witch among us seven, and not many can rival her, let alone cause her harm. But that's assuming she can unleash her full power and isn't confined in closed spaces like caves, hallways, or buildings," Envy explained, continuing on.
"As for what really happened, I don't have all the specific details yet since she's still unconscious along with her father. However, based on her injuries and condition, it seems that the fight itself didn't cause her much harm. What truly affected her was the backlash from using her blood magic," she elaborated.
After that, Envy told Daniel about what occurred at Greed's Mansion, including the thod she used on Pride to stabilize her condition with Sat's blood. However, she decided not to ntion Sat's special treat to Daniel. She didn't want him to return and put Sat on a diet or make any sudden changes, especially since she prefers Sat to remain a bit chubby.
"Who is it this ti? The Hightower?" Daniel asked, his tone tinged with annoyance. This wasn't the first ti soone had disrupted his plans. He had co to New xico to assist Greed with the Confederacy dispute and reclaiming Texas, not to deal with reckless mages who disrupted his day without consequences.
"No, I don't think it was the Hightower this ti. They might be stubborn, but they're not foolish. I believe it was so radical group within the Curtained World, unrelated to the Hightower," Envy explained.
"A new group? Why? Did I inadvertently offend them or sothing?" Daniel asked, frustration evident in his voice. The world seed far more chaotic than he had realized.
"To be honest, I don't have all the details, Danny," Envy sighed, then continued. "But my guess is it's a radical group that believes they can surpass the Hightower in controlling North Arica. You just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong ti. Besides, I don't think they know that Pride is your woman," Envy explained.
"What!? What do you an by 'your woman'?" Daniel was taken aback. "Why do you assu she's mine?" he questioned.
"What? She's not? Really? Are you sure!?" Envy's voice betrayed surprise, as if she had stumbled upon a remarkable discovery; a secret hidden in plain sight.
Daniel raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusent dancing in his eyes.
"What's that supposed to an? Do I look like that much of a horn dog to you?" Daniel countered, feeling a bit irked by Envy's teasing. She seed to enjoy teasing him more and more as they grew closer.
"Wait. You're not!?" Envy blurted out, her surprise a touch too theatrical.
Daniel: "..."
"Hahaha, alright, enough of the teasing," Envy said, her voice full of concern. "Just… be careful, okay? I don't know which group it is this ti, but their aim seems to be controlling the Confederacy first, then expanding their influence to the US. I also don't know if they have any hidden advantage or not. So please… be careful." Envy repeated her concern before hanging up.
After hearing that, Daniel let out a smile, making Ragnar, who sat opposite him, smile along.
"Lady Envy, is it? Yeah, I'm very jealous of you, young man. Lady Envy is like a forbidden flower to us old tirs. She's gorgeous and kind to everyone, but anyone with a bit of sense would notice the invisible wall she creates, keeping everyone out of her heart. You are the first one in centuries that she's opened up to, you know that? So… cherish her, okay?
Lady Envy has a lot of admirers, and a lot of old tirs in the Curtained World are even bigger simps than you think. If you make her cry, expect a lot of powerful, undying mages to co after your blood." Ragnar said to Daniel, half-teasing, half-serious.
"Don't worry, old man. I wouldn't bully her. In fact, it's the opposite." Daniel said with a warm smile before keeping his cell phone in his pocket.
"Yes, Lady Envy likes to tease other people, but she only teases the one she likes. This ans she likes you a lot, lad." Ragnar said before he stood up, patted Daniel on the back, and went toward his private compartnt to catch so sleep. They still had to deal with the Confederacy tomorrow when they arrived at the border.
—
In the shattered silence of a San Francisco night, around 1:00 am, a jolt of breaking news ripped through the tranquility. Every screen - television, laptop, phone - pulsed to life with a crimson alert. Startled from their sleep, people scrambled to wake loved ones.
Spouses fumbled for lights, parents shook sleeping children, friends in dorms burst through doors – all rushing towards the collective gasp emanating from the glowing devices.
The usually asured voice of the news anchor crackled with raw urgency as they delivered the earth-shattering ssage: President John Malcos had declared war on the Confederacy.
Despite desperate pleas for diplomacy, the Confederacy's icy silence had driven the situation to a precipice. A collective breath hitched in living rooms across the nation. The weight of history settled on weary shoulders.
President Malcos' face, etched with both resolve and a flicker of sorrow, filled every screen. "We, the people of the free world, will not stand idly by as the Confederacy commits such atrocities against our own and the innocent people of New xico," his voice bood, echoing the outrage simring within the nation. "Repeated warnings have gone unanswered. The ti for patience has passed.
"Therefore," he continued, his jaw set firm, "I have authorized a full-scale military response against the Confederacy, effective tomorrow morning. And to bolster our brave soldiers, we have secured the aid of the Astral Private Military Company. This is a final call to the Confederacy – lay down your arms and return to the negotiating table, or face the full might of the Arican people.
May God have rcy on us all, and may He guide our brave n and won in uniform."
The announcent detonated a spectrum of emotions across the nation. Staunch patriots erupted in cheers, a defiant roar echoing from coast to coast. Others, hearts heavy with dread, sought solace in prayer, their whispers weaving a tapestry of hope and fear into the night air. In countless hos, families held loved ones close, clinging to fleeting monts of peace before the storm.
This is the kind of news that severs normalcy, carving a jagged line between life as it was and the uncertain future that lood. As dawn painted the horizon a bloody red, the nation braced itself. War, a grim specter, had returned, casting a long shadow over the land of the free.
— San Francisco - Liberty House —
Within the opulent walls of the Liberty House, the West Coast's answer to the White House, a lone figure observed the televised declaration with an intensity that crackled through the air. Greed, sat within the confines of the live conference room. A curt nod, a silent language only they understood, passed between her and President Malcos, lost in the sea of reporters clamoring for his attention.
The die was cast. Greed could only clench her fists, a silent plea escaping her lips drowned out by the dia's cacophony. Nuclear war – the re thought of it sent a shiver down her spine. The Hightower, and Golden Scale, would surely intervene; such an apocalypse served no one's agenda.
But her doubt lingered. General Moore, a volatile wildcard in this precarious ga, lood large in her mind. If cornered, would he act in blind fury, unleashing a nuclear nightmare beyond anyone's control?
Greed's usually composed face hardened. This war, a tinderbox waiting to ignite, held the potential to rewrite the very fabric of existence. "God help us all," she whispered, the gravity of her words echoing in the sterile room. The weight of the world, it seed, now rested not just on the President's shoulders, but also on hers.
— Ragnar Luxury House Bus —
Inside the Ragnar Luxury House Bus, Daniel watched the news unfold on his laptop. Unlike Greed, the President's declaration didn't weigh heavily on him. He knew the capabilities of the God Slayer cannon, orbiting Earth. Even a full-blown Confederate nuclear launch wouldn't escape its watchful gaze. The God Slayer's light-speed beam would fry the warhead detonators before they ever left their silos.
His true concern lay elsewhere. Who was the shadowy group pulling the strings behind the Confederacy? How deeply were they entangled in this brewing conflict? Unmasking them could be the key to ending this madness before it spiraled out of control.
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