(General Erlic's Point of View)
General Erlic wiped the sweat and dust from his temples. His sword was stained with blood—both enemy and, more painfully, that of his own men. For an entire week, he and his troops had been holding out in the death trap King Mordred had deliberately sent them into. He knew all too well that this was a clever yet vicious political trap. Erlic had been dispatched to the border to face the Ethereal Kingdom—a realm renowned for its Archmages and mass-destruction spells—not to win, but to die a "heroic" death that would benefit Mordred.
His mind drifted to the pigeon message he had received months ago from a loyal maid named Cici. It contained only one short sentence, yet it had given him hope in the darkness: "The Prince you await has returned." Since then, Erlic had secretly strengthened his network within the military, waiting for the right moment to rebel. But now, his life and the lives of the young loyalists were threatened with annihilation before he could even meet the Prince.
On the battlefield, the situation was dire. The Ethereal mages employed a brutal and effective strategy. They did not engage on the front lines but rained down deadly spells like Fireball Barrage and Ice Spikes on Erlic's forces from a distance. Erlic ordered tight testudo defensive formations, but these only delayed the inevitable destruction. His troops were exhausted, many severely wounded, and their morale had nearly shattered. Erlic was no longer thinking of victory. He was only thinking of how to survive long enough to meet the promised Prince.
(King Mordred's Point of View - In Valoria's Palace)
Far away in the capital, a tense and icy atmosphere gripped the Royal Throne Room of Valoria. The air was thick with the suppressed fury of the nobles and their sharp, accusing glances toward the King. Mordred sat relaxed on his throne, savoring every second of this tension.
Count Reynard, a senior noble known for his neutrality and wisdom, finally stepped forward. His voice echoed, filled with restrained anger.
"Your Majesty!" exclaimed Reynard, his voice cracking with emotion. "For a full week, General Erlic and our young men have been fighting alone at the border! Why have you not sent reinforcements? Is this how a King celebrates potential victory? By letting his best general die a pointless death?!"
The other nobles joined in, voicing their accusations loudly.
"You are slaughtering our future!" shouted another Count, fists clenched at his sides. "General Erlic fights for Valoria,yet you betray him!"
Mordred merely offered a thin, cruel smirk. His eyes gleamed with cruel delight. "Compose yourselves, my lords. You sound like the buzzing of annoying flies," he said in a dismissive tone. "A true soldier does not die easily. Do you doubt the General's capability? Or perhaps you are beginning to doubt the wisdom of your King?"
He leaned back on his throne, enjoying the suffering he had orchestrated. This was the perfect political trap: eliminate the ambitious Erlic without the mess of a public execution. The room simmered with unrest.
(General Erlic's Point of View - The Turning Tide)
Just as Erlic was on the verge of despair and preparing for his last stand, something strange happened. Suddenly, shouts of confusion and panic erupted from the Ethereal lines. The usually unflappable Archmages were in disarray. Their stable streams of mana fractured and spiraled out of control. Spells fizzled mid-air; fireballs detonated prematurely, and ice spears shattered into harmless fragments.
"What sorcery is this?" Erlic muttered, squinting through the dust. He saw mages fumbling their incantations, their hands shaking, their concentration broken.
"General! They're weakened!" a soldier cried out with hope.
Instantly, Erlic's combat instincts took over. This was an inexplicable miracle, but he would not waste it. "Now! Attack now! Don't give them a chance to recover!" he roared, his voice hoarse but blazing with newfound fervor. His desperate troops, sensing the shift, found a second wind. They surged forward, exploiting the chaos engulfing their enemies.
A battle destined for tragedy turned into a stunning, bewildering victory. The crippled Ethereal mages were helpless against the physical assault, and their army eventually retreated in disarray. Erlic and his troops had successfully repelled the enemy. However, this victory left him deeply wary. He knew a third party had intervened. He owed his life to someone—or something.
(Reyna's Point of View - Delivering the Message)
That night, in his dimly lit makeshift command tent, a guard reported an infiltrator requesting an audience. With Erlic's approval, a figure emerged from the shadows. An assassin clad in black, moving with agile confidence. Her sharp eyes held a cold calm. It was Reyna.
"General Erlic?" Reyna began, her voice flat. "I bring a message from the Prince you await."
Erlic froze. He studied the assassin before him, searching for signs of deception or a trap. "Who... is the Prince?" he asked cautiously.
Reyna offered a faint smile. "He is the one who provided the mana disruption scrolls that broke their concentration," she said, gesturing towards the battlefield. She then extended a small, sealed parchment. "This is for you."
With a racing heart, Erlic took and opened the scroll. Inside, a single line was written in stark black ink:
Two weeks. The capital will be ours.
Reyna did not wait for further response. She gave a brief nod of respect and melted back into the darkness, leaving Erlic stunned.
Erlic stared at the message, then gazed out into the silent night. A new understanding washed over him. This confusing, "stolen" victory, snatched from the jaws of defeat, was the answer to his prayers. It was the momentum he needed. He would use this victory to justify his coup. He would demand justice from Mordred, question the king's decision to send young men into danger, and publicly accuse him of dirty politics. With this victory, the neutral nobles would have no choice but to side with him.
(King Mordred's Point of View - The Fury)
Back in the throne room, at the height of the heated debate, the main doors were thrown open. A royal messenger, face pale and sweaty, rushed in clutching an official dispatch.
"Your Majesty! Urgent news from the front!" he gasped, his voice trembling.
The entire hall fell silent. Mordred raised a hand, and the scroll was delivered to him. The smug smirk on his face vanished as he read it, replaced by deep, furious grooves of anger and his face flushing red.
He read the message aloud, his voice twisting with disbelief. "Ethereal... defeated? Our troops... victorious?!"
The silence broke into hushed murmurs and cries of astonishment. Count Reynard and the other neutrals exchanged glances, subtle smiles and looks of victory on their faces. Mordred read further, his face purpling.
"Damn him!" Mordred snarled, his gaze locking onto Reynard with pure venom. "This scroll also contains... a DEMAND!" He read the words with utter hatred. "In two weeks' time, I will lead a demonstration and protest before the palace, demanding justice for your decision to endanger Valoria's youth!"
The hall fell utterly silent once more, but the atmosphere had completely shifted. Reynard stepped forward with great authority. "It is proven, Your Majesty. General Erlic is not only a hero but also a leader who cares for his people. And now, he demands your accountability."
With this unexpected victory and bold demand, Mordred's political footing crumbled. Reynard and the neutral faction bowed curtly, then turned and left the hall arrogantly, leaving Mordred trembling with rage. News of Erlic's victory and his challenge to the King spread like wildfire throughout Valoria, and it wouldn't be long before it reached foreign courts.
(International Impact: The Domino Effect)
In the Ethereal Kingdom... Archmage Theron hurled a report to the floor,his face crimson with anger and shame. "Impossible!" he roared. "An untrained Valorian force defeated our elite troops?! There must be a conspiracy! Investigate! I want to know what really happened!"
In the Vexian Empire... Emperor Vexius,an ambitious and power-hungry leader, smirked cunningly upon hearing reports from his spies. "Interesting. Valoria is shaky. Their king is cornered. This might be a golden opportunity for us to expand our territory." He immediately summoned his most trusted generals to devise military and expansion strategies.
In the Galian Republic... President Galian,a veteran and shrewd politician, promptly convened an emergency meeting with his advisors. "A coup is underway in Valoria," he said gravely. "This is no longer just a border war. This is a civil war that will determine the future of that kingdom. We must send spies and diplomats to monitor the situation directly. If Valoria collapses, the balance of power on this entire continent will shift drastically."
(Arthur's Point of View - The Beginning of a New Chapter)
Meanwhile, far from the capital's turmoil, on a secluded, quiet mountain trail, Arthur, Ren, Reyna, and Cici were on horseback. Cici, now fully integrated into the core team, held her reins tightly, trying to match the speed and agility of Ren and Reyna. Their expressions were tense, awaiting the news from the battlefield that would determine their next move.
Suddenly, a sleek, swift hawk—not a pigeon—swooped down from the sky and landed gracefully on Ren's outstretched arm. It was part of Ren's secret communication network. With a quick motion, Ren retrieved the small message tied to the hawk's leg and read it. His typically cold expression softened slightly, replaced by a hint of satisfaction. He then handed the message to Arthur.
Arthur took it and read it quickly. A faint, meaningful smile of satisfaction finally appeared on his face. He looked at Ren and Reyna, then at Cici. "He did it," he murmured, his voice full of conviction. "General Erlic has repelled Ethereal."
"He won? Really?" asked Cici, a mix of shock and disbelief in her voice.
"Yes," Arthur affirmed firmly. "Of course. It was a stolen victory—and now we hold the initiative."
Reyna and Ren exchanged a meaningful glance. They understood. This was the perfect first move in their grand plan. Erlic's win, though he didn't realize it, was a chess piece they had moved perfectly on Valoria's political board.
Arthur folded the message carefully and stored it inside his robe. He then gazed toward the horizon, where the towers of Valoria stood majestically in the distance. His eyes gleamed with burning determination and unshakable resolve.
"Our journey is still long," he said, his voice firm and authoritative, "but we have successfully taken the most critical and risky first step. Now, there is no turning back. We will seize the capital. We will reclaim the throne that was stolen from us."
They then spurred their horses onward, continuing their journey. The anxiety that had previously weighed on their shoulders had transformed into certainty and steely determination. A new chapter in the history of the Valorian Kingdom was about to begin. And the Prince, though still working from behind the scenes, had executed a perfect opening move.