[POV: Arthur]
The Valorian council hall was filled with morning light. Towering stone pillars
stood firm, banners of Valoria's glory fluttered on the walls, and the air
carried a tension I had rarely felt since taking this seat. Eight days had
passed since my celebration in Caelora. Now, the people awaited a great
decision, and every noble eye was fixed upon this council.
I sat in the central chair. Before me, the eight seats of the Royal Council
were fully occupied: Lionel Drest of Defense, Hendrik of Intelligence, Karrel
of Infrastructure, Loran of Education, Bruna of Health, Roland Sparks of
Industrial Reform, Theon of Diplomacy, and Erel Vadison of Economy.
My gaze lingered on Hendrik. He had returned. His body was frail, his face
scarred deeply, one eye gone. Yet he endured. From the hell of Grimhollow, he
had survived, and now he stood again as Head of Intelligence.
I struck the great wooden table. "We begin. Erel, the economic report."
[POV: Erel Vadison – Head of Economy]
I rose with a scroll in hand. "Your Majesty, Valoria's economy is soaring.
Sales of Mana Cold Chests from the new factory equal three months of ordinary
trade. Railway tickets, within just seven days, have brought extraordinary
revenue. The people are traveling, trading, accelerating the flow of money."
I unfurled the second sheet. "Royal bonds are in high demand. Nobles and
merchants alike scramble to buy them. Valoria's treasury is at its highest
point in twenty years."
A small cheer broke out. Arthur gave a slight nod. "Good. A strong
foundation is the key to both war and peace."
[POV: Karrel – Head of Infrastructure]
I stood, pointing to a large map. "Your Majesty, with this surplus, we propose
expanding the railway project. At present, only major cities have stations. But
if we want equality, smaller towns must also be connected."
My finger traced southward. "With the aid of the dwarves, construction can
be accelerated. They bring steel techniques and drilling machines. If the
project expands, within five years all of Valoria could be bound by rail."
Arthur studied the old map, his eyes full of calculation. He took notes
without much comment.
[POV: Bruna – Head of Health]
I rose, my white robe swaying. "Your Majesty, cases of river fever are rising
in the south. Yet with medicine distributed, the death rate has dropped twenty
percent compared to last year. Weekly deaths are now only a third of what they
were under Mordred."
I exhaled. "But railway expansion will also accelerate disease. We will need
more medical staff in small towns."
Arthur gave a short nod. "Noted. Do not let progress turn into disaster."
[POV: Lionel Drest – Head of Defense]
I stood firmly, my voice booming. "Your Majesty, Valoria's soldiers are
beginning to master the Heavenly Valoria Technique. Training is divided into
three levels: basic soldiers for body strengthening, intermediate for energy
attacks, elite for combined techniques."
I clenched my fist. "The army's morale is blazing. They believe Valoria is
forging an invincible force."
Some nobles clapped. Arthur only nodded, his face calm.
[POV: Hendrik – Head of Intelligence]
I rose slowly. My body still weak, but my voice could not falter. "Your
Majesty, the Demonic Cult we destroyed was only a pawn. The mastermind… is
Ethereal."
The room fell silent.
I laid a scroll on the table. "These are confiscated records of experiments.
Names of victims, lists of materials, results of trials. We also have living
witnesses—our people—who were abducted. Everything is consistent. Ethereal has
turned Valoria's land into their laboratory, our people into test subjects."
Angry shouts erupted. Lionel rose, striking the table. "This is war! They
have defiled our soil!"
Bruna countered, "War means thousands of deaths! I see the casualty numbers
every week!"
Erel stood. "Our treasury is strong, but war could devour it all!"
Karrel retorted, "What use are steel rails without honor?"
Theon, silent until now, finally spoke. "The world's law is clear. If we
attack without cause, we are aggressors. But with Hendrik's evidence, our
position is justified. We are not aggressors—we demand justice."
The debate raged on. Costs, casualties, law, honor—arguments collided.
[POV: Arthur]
I struck the wooden gavel. "Enough!"
I stood, meeting each gaze. "We have weighed everything. Valoria can bear
the price of war. Our army is ready. Our economy strong. Our evidence
undeniable. The world will know who stands in the right."
I turned to Theon. "Prepare an official letter to the Union of Kingdoms in
Veritas. State that Ethereal has violated world law by creating a dark
organization within our territory. Attach Hendrik's evidence. Valoria formally
declares war."
Theon bowed. "It shall be done at once."
I faced the council. "We do not go to war out of greed. We go to war for our
people. For justice."
[POV: General Narrative]
That day, Valoria's envoys departed with silver-sealed scrolls bound for
Veritas, the center of the Union of Kingdoms. The palace bells rang, heralding
a new chapter.
Arthur stood on the balcony, gazing at thousands of citizens. His voice
thundered.
"People of Valoria! Our land has been defiled. Our people used as experiments.
Ethereal has violated our sovereignty. Today, Valoria does not stand idle.
Today, we rise for justice!"
A roar erupted. Tears, pride, fear—all mingled. But all knew: Valoria had
chosen the path of war.
[POV: General Narrative – Sunstones]
That same day, far to the south, Solaris banners fluttered before the trade
hall of Sunstones. Black-clad envoys rode into the city, bearing golden scrolls
sealed with the emblem of the sun.
Before King Barthol Van Stones and the Trade Council, the Solaris envoy
unfurled the document.
"Your Majesty, Riverbend has betrayed us. They conspire with dark
organizations, disrupt commerce, and even plan to attack Solaris. Here is the
proof!"
Documents were displayed. Paid witnesses swore they had seen Riverbend
agents.
King Barthol frowned, his voice heavy. "Why was this proof not brought
before the Union of Kingdoms?"
The envoy smiled thinly. "The Union is slow. Solaris acts swiftly. If
Sunstones opens its logistics routes to our forces, you will be safe under
Solaris' protection. If you refuse…" He paused, eyes sharp. "…Sunstones will
fall alongside Riverbend."
Whispers filled the hall. The Trade Council exchanged uneasy glances, torn
between submission and defiance.
That day, two declarations reshaped the continent:
Valoria announced a formal war against Ethereal.
Solaris set its schemes to drag Sunstones into the invasion of Riverbend.
The shadow of war now split the continent.