Taleth did not say a word, but his expression said enough.
Disbelief, anger, and disgust mixed on his face.
The woman saw it and sighed. "I know you are angry.
I was too.
But listen to my story carefully."
She sat up straighter.
Her voice became calmer, but it stayed heavy.
"In the past, there was a massive war between the Nephirid Kingdom and the surface nations.
Velmora was caught in the middle, and to survive, we allied with the Nephirid."
She paused.
Her jaw tightened. "But in the end… we lost."
Taleth stayed silent.
His eyes narrowed.
"The defeat was not just military," she continued. "The Nephirid lost more than land.
Their primary power source was sealed.
With it went their ability to maintain dominance."
"And the Velmora?" Taleth asked quietly.
She did not flinch. "Our king made a deal to preserve what was left.
To keep our kingdom alive and our wealth intact, we sold half our population."
