The Duchy of Douglas was made up of six fortified cities.
Each had its own customs, celebrations, and traditions, but they all shared the same identity.
Before being citizens of the kingdom, they were Douglas.
It was an idea passed down from parent to child for generations.
First, I am a Douglas. Then, I am part of the kingdom.
And the gods had never been necessary to hold that identity together.
Nearly seventy percent of the population possessed an affinity for Dark magic. They used it to defend their cities, protect their homes, and preserve traditions that had survived for centuries.
The veterans of the old wars had not been cast aside by society either.
They lived among merchants, craftsmen, and farmers.
Some ran small shops. Others worked their land or taught the younger generation how to wield a sword.
They had fought for Douglas.
And the people knew it.
That was why, when the priests arrived in the first city, they were greeted with curiosity.
Not hostility.
At least, not at first.
It was dusk.
The central square was filled with people returning from their daily work. The stalls were beginning to close, and lamps were being lit in front of the dark stone houses.
Then the priests appeared.
They wore white robes and carried the banners of their temples.
The conversations in the square gradually died down.
One of them stepped into the center.
"Citizens of the Duchy of Douglas."
Some continued walking.
Others stopped.
"We have come in the name of the gods to offer you their protection and guidance in these times of darkness."
The word caused several murmurs.
The priest continued.
"These are changing times. Monsters threaten our lands, and no mortal authority should stand above the divine will."
Several people stopped moving.
An old man raised his head.
The priest unfurled a scroll.
"Even your rulers must answer to the gods. Duke Lusian Douglas and his family will have to answer for certain decisions made in the past…"
He never finished.
A cane struck the ground.
CLACK!
A burly man stood before him.
He wore an old black cloak over his shoulders. A scar ran across his face, from his eyebrow to his jaw.
He was one of the veterans of the old wars.
"Say that again."
The priest swallowed.
"We are merely pointing out that even a ruler—"
"No."
The veteran took another step forward.
"You said the name of our duke."
The priest slightly raised the scroll.
"The gods have the right to judge all men."
The veteran let out a dry laugh.
"All of them?"
He looked around.
"Then ask them where they were when we were defending these walls."
Silence fell over the square.
An elderly woman who sold vegetables a few steps away placed her basket on the ground.
"Where were they when our children were dying on the borders?"
Another veteran emerged from the crowd.
"Where were they when we buried our comrades?"
A young man clenched his teeth.
"We never needed them."
The murmuring began to grow.
"Never."
"The Duchy of Douglas has always defended itself."
"Our lord protects us."
"We don't need you coming here to tell us whom we should respect."
The priest tried to regain control.
"We are not seeking confrontation. We only want you to understand that the authority of the gods stands above that of any noble."
The first veteran slowly raised his cane.
A thin current of dark mana coursed through the wood.
"Then you came to the wrong city."
The crowd surged forward.
No orders were given.
None were needed.
The priests stepped back.
City guards appeared at both ends of the square.
They did not draw their weapons.
They simply blocked any attempt to advance toward the center.
The message was clear.
There would be no violence.
But neither would the priests be welcome.
One of them looked around.
"This is an insult to the gods."
The veteran smiled.
"No."
He pointed toward the walls.
"This is Douglas territory."
The priests eventually left the square.
The news spread quickly throughout the duchy.
The other cities reacted in much the same way.
The temple doors remained open, but almost no one came.
The priests could preach.
They could speak of blessings.
They could invoke the gods.
But they could not replace a loyalty that had been part of these people's lives for generations.
In Douglas, religion could exist.
Authority could not.
Douglas Castle
The strategy room was illuminated by dozens of lamps.
Maps of the duchy, military reports, and mana crystals covered the central table.
Lusian stood before the map.
His white hair fell slightly across his face as he studied the six cities.
Around him, several nobles and commanders spoke in low voices.
Count Harven slammed his fist onto the table.
"It's a provocation!"
"Yes," another noble replied. "They insulted the duke in the middle of the square."
"We should expel every priest from the duchy."
"That would only give them an excuse."
Sofia stood with her arms crossed.
"Exactly."
Harven looked at her.
"And we should simply allow them to continue insulting us?"
"No."
Sofia held his gaze.
"But neither are we going to turn a provocation into a war."
Harven clenched his teeth.
"And what do you propose, my lord?"
"Ignore them for the time being. Send guards to the temples, but make sure they do not attack those people."
Lusian raised a hand.
The room fell silent.
"The temples made a mistake."
His voice was calm.
"But we are not going to make an even greater one."
He pointed toward the map.
"No religious representative will enter our cities again to interfere in political affairs without authorization from the duchy."
A commander nodded.
"And if they return?"
Lusian looked at him.
"They will be expelled."
There was no threat in his voice.
None was necessary.
"We will send an official response to the temples. Respectful, but firm."
Harven frowned.
"Just a letter?"
"For now."
Lusian picked up a scroll.
"I will not give them a reason to portray us as enemies of the gods."
Sofia smiled faintly.
It was exactly the response she had expected from him.
Lusian continued:
"They may preach. They may build temples. They may offer their blessings."
He paused.
"But they have no influence in our territory."
No one answered.
"Make sure that is clear."
The silence that followed was absolute.
Lusian placed the scroll on the table.
"And while they are trying to enter through our cities…"
He pointed toward the northern edge of the map.
Several red marks were appearing along the border.
"We have a more urgent problem."
An aide approached.
"My lord. The scouts have confirmed new sightings."
Lusian studied the marks.
Epsilon-level creatures.
And a few Omega-level ones.
"Reinforce the patrols."
Everyone waited.
"I will not allow those creatures to enter Douglas territory."
The commander bowed.
"Yes, my lord."
Lusian picked up the quill.
But his eyes remained fixed on the map.
The monsters had appeared exactly where he expected them to.
And that meant the board's next move was already underway.