The dawn was beginning to spread across the mana-warped walls.
From a distance, the imperial capital still retained some of its majesty.
But the closer they came, the harder it became to ignore that something had changed.
One of the outer towers remained suspended several meters above its own foundations, held aloft by currents of mana that glowed like veins through the air.
In the streets, soldiers worked alongside groups of mages to stabilize areas where the ground had begun to warp.
Some houses were covered in a thin layer of blue crystal.
Others had lost parts of their walls.
And above the rooftops, thin strands of mana floated aimlessly, drifting slowly like particles carried along by an invisible current.
Elizabeth watched it all from the carriage.
She said nothing.
They had come to help.
Now she could see just how much that help would be needed.
Across from her, Lusian remained beside the carriage door.
He watched the city in silence.
He watched the people, looking for any hidden danger.
The soldiers patrolling the streets.
The mages stationed along the walls.
The guards approaching the carriage.
Anyone who might get too close to Elizabeth.
The capital might be dying.
Lusian cared about only one thing.
Making sure Elizabeth was not in danger.
When the outer gates opened, the caravan began to move.
Behind them marched the soldiers of the Kingdom.
Thousands of men advanced in formation, accompanied by wagons loaded with supplies, tents, medicine, and equipment.
Elizabeth watched the long column for a few moments.
They had come to help.
But helping did not mean surrendering control of their troops.
The imperial palace remained intact.
At least from the outside.
Its towers still rose above the capital, and its great gates still bore the emblem of House Ferrussi.
Yet something had changed inside.
Elizabeth noticed it as soon as she crossed the first corridor.
The imperial soldiers were still there.
So were the officials.
The servants continued moving from one place to another.
But priests now occupied the places where members of the court had once been the only ones present.
One of them was speaking with several commanders.
Another stood beside a window, reviewing military documents.
A third was being escorted by two imperial soldiers.
No one had given them those positions.
They had simply taken them, just as they had in the Kingdom.
Elizabeth kept walking.
No one dared stop her.
But she did not go unnoticed either.
Lusian walked beside her.
His hand rested near the hilt of Dainslein.
He watched the Heralds as potential threats.
When they reached the throne room, the great doors opened.
Naira Ferrussi was waiting for them.
The Empress sat upon her throne, her back perfectly straight and her hands resting on the armrests.
Her dark dress barely reflected the light in the hall.
Several Heralds stood on either side of her.
Naira raised her eyes.
"Princess Elizabeth. Duke Lusian Douglas."
Her voice was calm.
"Welcome to the capital."
Elizabeth inclined her head.
"Your Majesty."
Lusian did the same.
Naira studied them both for a moment.
Then she turned her attention toward the Kingdom's delegation.
"I appreciate that you answered our request."
Elizabeth held her gaze.
"The Kingdom could not ignore a crisis of this magnitude."
"I'm glad to hear it."
Naira made a small gesture.
"Take your seats."
The attendees settled around a long table positioned before the throne.
One of the Heralds extended his hand.
The mana responded.
A three-dimensional map of the region appeared above the table.
The capital stood at its center.
Around it, several areas were stained red.
Some stretched for dozens of kilometers.
Others had begun changing shape even as they watched.
Elizabeth frowned slightly.
"Those regions…"
"They are the most severely affected," one of the Heralds replied.
With a movement of his fingers, he enlarged one of them.
The image revealed a city surrounded by a magical barrier.
Small markers represented the military units deployed around it.
There were hundreds.
"This morning's reports indicate that the mana concentration continues to rise," the Herald explained. "If the situation worsens, that city will be isolated."
Naira studied the map.
"How many soldiers do we have there?"
"Twelve thousand."
Elizabeth raised her eyes slightly.
The Herald continued.
"We need to send reinforcements."
Naira did not answer immediately.
"How many?"
"Another ten thousand."
Silence.
Naira rested one finger against the arm of her throne.
"No."
The Herald looked at her.
"Your Majesty, thousands of civilians—"
"I know."
Naira did not raise her voice.
"I also know that twelve thousand soldiers are already there."
The Herald pointed toward the region.
"And they will not be enough."
"Probably not."
Naira moved her gaze across the map.
"That is why I will not send another ten thousand."
One of the Heralds frowned.
"The city must be protected."
"Then we must solve the problem putting the city at risk."
Naira pointed toward another region.
"The Heroes can handle the areas where the mana concentrations are most unstable."
"The Heroes cannot be everywhere."
"No."
Naira raised her eyes.
"But they cannot be anywhere if we send them to accompany armies."
The silence was immediate.
Elizabeth remained still.
Now she understood the real conflict.
The Heralds wanted soldiers.
Naira wanted to use the Heroes.
It was not a question of whether they should help.
It was a question of who would pay the price for doing so.
One of the Heralds turned his attention toward Elizabeth.
"The Kingdom has brought troops."
Elizabeth met his gaze.
"Yes."
"They could reinforce those positions."
"They could."
The Herald seemed to interpret Elizabeth's answer as an acceptance.
"Then, with the Kingdom's troops available, we can reinforce the most critical positions."
Elizabeth kept her expression calm.
"Which positions are you referring to?"
The Herald pointed toward one of the regions marked in red.
"This one."
The map expanded.
Several defensive lines appeared around a city surrounded by unstable concentrations of mana.
"The situation there is worsening by the hour. We need reinforcements before the barrier collapses."
Elizabeth studied the figures.
"How many soldiers do you consider necessary?"
"At least five thousand."
The answer came immediately.
Elizabeth remained silent for several seconds.
"And how many imperial soldiers are currently there?"
"Twelve thousand."
"And they are still holding?"
"For now."
Those last words were enough.
Elizabeth studied the map.
Then raised her eyes.
"Then the Kingdom can help."
The Herald nodded.
"I'm glad to hear—"
"But we will not send five thousand soldiers to replace the casualties of a position that is already at its limit."
The Herald fell silent.
Elizabeth pointed toward the city.
"We can provide supplies, medics, and logistical support. We can also protect the supply routes."
She paused briefly.
"But our troops will not be sent directly to the front."
"Princess, the situation demands difficult decisions."
"I know."
Elizabeth's tone did not change.
"That is precisely why we must make the right ones."
One of the Heralds intervened.
"The civilians in that region cannot wait while we discuss conditions."
Elizabeth slowly turned toward him.
"Neither can my soldiers."
There was no defiance in her words.
Only a firmness that could not be ignored.
The Herald frowned slightly.
"Then what do you propose?"
Elizabeth turned back to the map.
"Use those who were sent specifically to deal with threats like this."
The Heralds fell silent.
Elizabeth pointed toward the figures representing the Heroes.
"Our Heroes."
Naira raised her eyes slightly.
Elizabeth continued.
"They have already proven capable of fighting enemies that conventional forces cannot handle."
One of the Heralds slowly nodded.
"The Heroes are protected by divine will."
"And they have followers," Elizabeth added.
The silence changed.
That mattered.
The Heroes were not ordinary soldiers.
They were symbols.
People whose actions could strengthen the faith of thousands.
Elizabeth understood that this was precisely why the Heralds could not easily reject her proposal.
"If there is a region where the situation is too dangerous for conventional troops," she continued, "then they should be the ones who go."
One of the Heralds exchanged a glance with his companions.
Naira said nothing.
Elizabeth continued:
"The Kingdom will keep its troops protecting the roads, supplies, and areas where they can actually be useful."
She then pointed toward the most dangerous region.
"And our Heroes will go to the front."
One of the Heralds exchanged another glance with his companions.
"That could work," he finally admitted.
Elizabeth inclined her head slightly.
"I'm glad we agree."
The Herald looked back at the map.
"However, the Heroes will need military support."
"They will have it."
"Kingdom troops?"
Elizabeth gently shook her head.
"Imperial troops."
The answer was so calm that, for a moment, no one reacted.
Then the Herald understood.
"Princess…"
"The Empire knows its own territory better."
Elizabeth kept her eyes on the map.
"Your soldiers can keep the roads open and secure the defensive positions. The Heroes will deal with the threats they cannot handle."
It was a reasonable proposal.
And at the same time, it closed the door the Heralds had tried to open.
They could not accuse her of refusing to help.
The Kingdom would provide aid.
The Heroes would go to the front.
But the Kingdom's soldiers would remain under the command of their own officers.
Naira slowly placed a hand on the arm of her throne.
"That seems like an appropriate distribution of forces."
The Herald looked at her.
"Your Majesty, the Kingdom's army could contribute much more."
Naira did not answer immediately.
Then she pointed toward the remaining regions.
"They can do so here."
The Herald fell silent.
Naira continued:
"Protecting the supply routes. Reinforcing the border cities. Keeping communications open."
Her voice remained calm.
"We do not need every Kingdom soldier on the same front."
Elizabeth watched the Empress.
This was not a defense of her position.
Naira was simply reorganizing the available forces in a way that also benefited the Empire.
But Elizabeth had no reason to object.
"The Kingdom can accept those terms."
The Herald slowly exhaled.
He had not obtained the five thousand soldiers.
But he had obtained something more important.
The Heroes would go.
"Then it is settled."
Naira made a small gesture.
"Let us continue."
The discussion moved on to the remaining regions.
Routes.
Supplies.
Reinforcements.
Isolated cities.
The Heralds continued trying to obtain more troops.
Elizabeth continued finding ways to offer aid without surrendering her soldiers.
And Naira reduced every request to what was strictly necessary.
Lusian remained behind Elizabeth.
He did not participate.
He did not offer an opinion.
He had no interest in supply routes or defensive positions.
He was only watching.
Until one of the Heralds finally turned his attention toward him.
"There is another matter."
Lusian raised his eyes.
"Duke Douglas."
One of the Heralds pointed toward the map.
"His abilities could prove especially useful on the front."
Lusian said nothing.
Elizabeth did.
"Lusian will remain with me."
"Princess, the Heroes will be sent to the most dangerous regions. Duke Douglas could accompany them."
Elizabeth gently shook her head.
"I said he will remain with me."
The Herald studied her.
"His presence could make a decisive difference."
"Then he will have to make that difference somewhere else."
Naira intervened before the conversation could go any further.
"Duke Douglas is part of the Kingdom's delegation."
The Herald fell silent.
Naira returned her attention to the map.
"The Heroes have already agreed to take the risk."
A brief pause.
"I see no reason to demand more."
Silence returned.
Elizabeth did not thank her for the intervention.
Naira did not seem to expect thanks.
She had simply made a decision.
The meeting continued.
But the main agreement had already been established.
The Kingdom would help.
Its soldiers would protect the roads, supplies, and positions they could hold.
The Kingdom's Heroes would advance toward the most dangerous fronts.
And Lusian would remain at Elizabeth's side.
For him, that was the only thing that truly mattered.