The silence that followed the Emperor's command hung thick in the chamber, heavier than the marble walls around them. Yet Supreme Commander Darius did not rise. He remained kneeling, his armored frame still as stone, his gaze flicking once toward the Empress before returning to the Emperor.
"Your Majesty," he began slowly, his tone measured, almost cautious. "There is another matter—one of… grave importance."
Alaric turned, his brows knitting. "Speak."
The commander straightened, his armor catching the faint lantern light. "Our scouts have confirmed the discovery of a Terra King's Egg."
The words landed like a thunderclap. The air itself seemed to tighten. One of the maids gasped; another crossed herself in silent fear. The Empress's eyes widened as she instinctively drew the infant closer, her heartbeat quickening.
"Impossible…" Selene whispered. "A Terra King?"
Darius's jaw tensed as he nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. As you know, Terra Beasts infest the wilds of Elyra. But once in an age, among their kind, a rare mutation occurs—a creature born with a will strong enough to command others of its blood. That is a Terra King. Its egg alone carries power beyond measure. To nurture it is to bind the loyalty of its entire species."
The Emperor's expression hardened. "Where was it found?"
"In the neutral wildlands, on the border between Voltaire and Infris," Darius replied. "It was discovered by Baron Vislisk during a hunting expedition. Believing it a divine omen, he offered it as tribute to Earl Saer—under Duke Viron's banner."
Alaric's eyes narrowed, the flicker of controlled fury glinting within them. "Then how, Commander, did Infris learn of its existence?"
Darius hesitated. "We do not yet know. But their reaction was… immediate. Two nights past, their troops crossed into Vislisk's lands. His estate now lies in ruin. Reports say their vanguard marches on Earl Saer's stronghold even as we speak. Their intent is clear—they mean to claim the egg."
The Empress's voice trembled with restrained anger. "If Infris gains the egg, they gain power enough to unmake the balance of Elyra. A Terra King's brood answering their call… it would be disaster."
The commander's eyes darkened. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Should they succeed, even our legions may not stand against an army led by a beast that commands its kin."
A heavy silence followed—thick, unbroken, and suffocating. The Emperor stood motionless, the shadows of the chamber deepening around him. Then, slowly, he raised his head, and when he spoke, his voice cut through the stillness like the draw of a blade.
"Then we shall not allow it."
He turned to face Darius fully, the golden trim of his cloak catching the faint light. "The Terra King Egg belongs to Voltaire. Assemble the armies. We march not only to defend our borders, but to seize what should rightfully be ours. Let Infris learn what it means to steal from a lion's den."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Darius struck a fist against his chest, his voice ringing with conviction before he strode from the chamber.
As the echo of his steps faded, Alaric stood in silence for a moment longer. His gaze softened as it fell upon the Empress, who rocked the infant gently, her eyes filled with unspoken worry. For a heartbeat, the Emperor's hardened façade cracked. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"For Ace," he murmured, his voice low but certain. "For Voltaire… the egg will be ours."
Selene said nothing. She simply watched him go, the weight of destiny pressing down upon the quiet room. Outside, the wind howled softly through the palace spires—an omen, perhaps, or a whisper of what was to come.
Beyond the capital walls, the night stretched endless and dark.
And somewhere in the unclaimed wilds between two empires, within a nest of stone and roots, a heartbeat pulsed faintly inside a shell of glowing earth—
the unborn Terra King, stirring for the first time.
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