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Dawn came late to Eldoria.
It was as though the sun itself feared illuminating the bodies covered by blankets, the smoldering ruins, and the swords still stained with blood. The city's bells tolled a solemn funeral knell; each chime was a relentless reminder of how many would never return home.
But in the central square, where the banner hung gray beneath the ash, people were not whispering about the tragedy... but about the man who had died defending them.
Marcus Valentine. The Iron Jackal. Their governor.
They said that when the enemy breached the walls, he stayed behind to open the gates for the civilians. They said he had fought against ten, thirty, a hundred. They said his final breath had been a fierce roar as he fought to protect them.
The rumors were more beautiful than the truth.
And in the desperation of the survivors, that was more than enough.
In the center of the square, a young woman stood before the stone pedestal where her father's battered sword and Supreme Staff rested. Barely twenty-two years old, her expression was firm, her hands clenched against the morning cold. The wind stirred her black coat, but it could not shake the determination in her eyes.
She stared ahead with the same steely gravity her father had always carried.
Laura Valentine.
The Jackal's only daughter.
The soldiers watched her in complete silence: some with genuine respect, others with a guilty gratitude for still being alive. No one had known how to inspire security with such ferocity as that man.
And now, among the smoldering remains of the market, they all stood motionless... waiting for someone to tell them how to move forward.
Laura spoke.
Her voice did not tremble.
She did not allow a single tear to cloud her gaze.
The solemn silence of the square held her like a vow.
—Here... where he trained his soldiers —she said, looking at the pedestal where her father's battered sword and Supreme Staff rested—. My father died doing his duty.
Her firm, clear voice carried across the square.
—He gave his life for Eldoria and its people. And I swear this to you: I will not allow his sacrifice to be forgotten.
A murmur passed through the ranks of the guard. Laura let several seconds pass before continuing.
—But I will not allow us to forget something else.
Her eyes swept across the survivors.
—The Empire has not abandoned us.
Several soldiers raised their heads.
—Our armies are fighting across the territory. Cities are being attacked one after another, and our soldiers barely have time to breathe. Eldoria is not the only place in need of help.
She paused and turned her face slightly toward Lusian and the others.
—But even amid this chaos, the Empire found a way to send us aid.
The silence changed.
The citizens followed her gaze, and the insignias of Carpathia were exposed for all to see.
Laura did not hesitate.
—The Kingdom of Carpathia was passing through our lands. And when Eldoria was attacked, they fought alongside us.
A lie.
But a useful lie.
She did not need to explain why they had arrived or who had given the order. She only needed to give her people something to believe in.
—It doesn't matter where they came from —Laura continued—. When our walls fell, they were here.
Laura placed a hand over her chest.
—And as long as we continue fighting beneath the banner of the Empire, we will not stand alone.
The soldiers of Eldoria simultaneously brought their right fists to their hearts.
CLANG!
The men of Carpathia exchanged a few glances before bowing their heads.
There was no applause, but something had changed.
The fear weighing upon the square no longer seemed quite so heavy.
Laura turned back toward the pedestal and took her father's sword. She held it for several seconds before securing it at her waist.
—From this day forward, I will assume my father's position as acting governor.
She raised her gaze.
—And Eldoria will stand.
There was no applause.
Only absolute silence—dense, painful, and real.
Laura Valentine did not need applause.
Her mere presence conveyed the certainty they all feared and longed for in equal measure:
The Jackal had died.
The Jackal's daughter had just been born.
The air in the square seemed lighter, even though the lingering fog and smell of burning wood still drifted among the collapsed columns.
Laura approached Elizabeth as the square began to clear.
The princess greeted her with a slight nod.
—Princess Elizabeth —Laura said—. Thank you.
Elizabeth blinked, surprised by her frankness.
—You don't have to thank me.
—Yes, I do. —Laura lowered her voice slightly.— And I also owe you an apology.
Elizabeth looked at her, confused.
—What I said in front of my people... about the Empire sending help. —A small smile appeared on Laura's lips.— We both know that's not true.
Elizabeth remained silent.
—I needed my people to believe the Empire was still looking after them —Laura continued—. After what happened last night, if they start thinking we're alone, fear will do the rest.
—I understand.
Laura inclined her head.
—Thank you for not contradicting me.
—I would have gained nothing by doing so.
Laura studied her for a moment, assessing her resolve.
—Then I suppose I can ask you for one more thing.
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow.
—What do you need?
Laura pointed toward the collapsed walls.
—The secondary barriers in the west are still unstable. My father used the Supreme Staff to power the main nodes; without it, the network will barely withstand another assault.
She paused.
—And I'm afraid there will be another one.
Elizabeth followed her gaze toward the shattered masonry.
—I can help with the channeling crystals. My affinity should allow me to stabilize them temporarily.
Emily nodded.
—And I can reinforce the nodes with Divine magic.
Laura nodded gratefully, then looked toward Kara.
—And I need eyes outside the city.
Kara casually shifted the heavy greatsword onto her shoulder.
—Count on it. Those beasts didn't go far. If the pack is still roaming the area, I'll find their tracks before they have a chance to regroup.
Laura then turned her gaze toward Lusian.
The duke stood apart from the others, his eyes fixed on the cracks running through the walls.
—Duke Douglas.
Lusian turned his head slowly.
—The governor's headquarters are at your disposal —Laura said.— You'll find supplies there, along with the reports my father compiled on the mana fluctuations in the northern peaks. If that A-Omega was only the beginning, you may find something there that helps us understand what is happening.
Lusian looked at the wall.
Then at Laura.
—No.
Laura blinked, bewildered.
—No?
—My people have already done enough. —He gestured toward the city.— The monster is dead. Eldoria survived. It is the Empire's responsibility now.
—But...
—We'll continue on our way.
Lusian turned to leave.
—Duke Douglas.
—Yes?
—I'm asking you for help.
—And I'm refusing.
Laura opened her mouth to argue, but Lusian had already begun walking away with firm steps.
—Besides —he added without turning around—, if the Empire asks, we were never here.
Emily watched him walk away.
Then she looked at Laura before turning her gaze back to Lusian's retreating figure.
Her expression hardened.
—Oh, no. Don't even think about it.
She hurried after him.
—Lusian!
He kept walking without slowing down.
—No.
—You don't even know what I'm going to say!
—Yes, I do.
Emily quickened her pace and, as soon as she caught up with him, firmly grabbed him by the ear.
—Ow! —Lusian stopped dead, tilting his head.— Emily!
—Do you seriously think it's a good idea to abandon a city that was just devastated by an A-Omega?
—We already killed it.
Emily pulled harder.
—And there are still monsters roaming the perimeter!
—Kara will handle it.
—And the barriers have been reduced to rubble!
—The soldiers of Eldoria can repair them.
—And we just discovered that those creatures are acting under a coordinated will!
Lusian fell silent, his jaw tightening.
Emily narrowed her eyes.
—So you're staying.
—No.
Emily mercilessly tugged on his ear again.
—Yes!
—That's abuse of authority.
—And you're an irresponsible idiot.
Laura watched the scene from several meters away.
For the first time since her father's death, a faint smile appeared on her face.
Perhaps Eldoria still had a chance.