Garius's footsteps echoed faintly as he continued walking, but his voice grew sharper, cutting through the heavy silence.
"Because if I don't…" he said quietly, "this world is going to collapse."
He stopped again, fists tightening at his sides.
"You've read all the reports. Every single one of you."
Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn stayed silent, but their expressions hardened. They had read them all. Every gruesome page.
"Look at the Halfling Kingdom," Garius continued, voice low and bitter. "Look at the Human Kingdom now. What do you see?"
"Decay," Hesbeirn muttered.
"Exactly," Garius said. "Outside the Armand Region, Beastkin Country, Elven Kingdom, and Demon Territory—everything has fallen into ruin."
He turned to face them all with unwavering eyes.
