On June 20, 1731, on the eve of the holiday at the Elizabeth Academy of Magic, compared to the imperial capital, which could still maintain a superficial calm, the border regions were filled with tension. Even a bird flying overhead could be shot down by magic released from an unknown source.
One of the four great dukes of the Valeria Empire, Charles Lester, stood in the dark black stone castle, gazing at the desolate plains to the northwest, his resolute eyes tinged with unease.
Unlike the other three dukes, Charles carried a trace of royal blood, or rather, his entire family had deep ties with the imperial family of the Valeria Empire, their status even surpassing some of the distant branches of the royal lineage.
