The Duchy of Araceae stretched according to the will of Duchess Exa of Araceae.
Every inch covered by her webs was now claimed under her authority.
She could order the sky to turn black and the moon to dress itself in a deep, blood-red glow.
If she wished, daylight would vanish entirely, replaced by an eternal night.
Exa had watched Count Kai and his subordinates get wiped out one after another, with such ease and such clever execution that it could only mean one thing: an ambush.
An ambush indeed. She could only reach a single conclusion: humans had known they were coming, and they had prepared in advance to welcome them.
How had they found out? Since when were humans aware of their plans?
Exa would have granted a noble title to anyone capable of answering those questions. Sadly, no one could, and her mind remained clouded with uncertainty.
Still, she had been right to send a small group as a test.
