Brisena rode her horse as fast as she could, then dismounted hastily as she reached Rogg's residence, her breath short and ragged by the time she reached the door. With trembling hands, she handed him a letter.
"Brother Rogg, this is an urgent letter from Damerius and Magnoli," she said, offering the parchment scroll.
Rogg took the letter, his expression filled with concern."What kind of urgent letter? Read it for me."
Brisena hesitated. "But… Brother, it's addressed to you."
"It's fine. Maybe you need to hear it too," Rogg replied.
Brisena nodded and carefully broke the seal, her voice shaking as she read:
Rogg, my friend, this is news of grief that may shatter your heart. Hans just arrived in Patisia with word that Migase has been completely destroyed by the Balevad nation. The only survivor of the Migase people is Balaraniyan, Bala's child. Everyone else has been slaughtered in unimaginable ways.
We stand with you—whether you choose vengeance or decide to resolve the accusations and conflict with the Empire. Give us your answer and let us know our next move.
—Damerius & Magnoli
Rogg collapsed into a seat, drained of strength. His breathing quickened, his chest thundered with rage barely held in check. His heart felt like it had been crushed into a thousand fragments.
Yara, who had been silently watching, stepped forward and took his hand."Rogg, you must stay strong. This isn't the end."
Brisena looked at him, her eyes full of worry."Brother, we need to send a reply to Damerius and Magnoli. What should we do?"
Rogg lifted his head. His eyes now burned with a sharp, unwavering resolve."Send them word. I need their help. Tell them I'm returning to Migase and I need a large force. In the meantime, they must protect Hans and his group."
Brisena nodded quickly. "Alright, Brother. But… what about the accusations from the Empire?"
"I'll deal with them. But first, I'll go to Aeternum Vale to seek Mother's counsel. After that, I may need the Doliex army. How can I claim command over them?" he asked.
"You have to win the Knight's Arena. If you emerge as champion, you'll automatically become commander of the elite assassins and trained knights—but you can only take a hundred of the best," Brisena explained.
Rogg exhaled deeply. "A hundred assassins and knights won't be enough to intimidate the Empire… but it might be enough to exact revenge on the Balevad."
"You could seek support from Mother and the elders at Aeternum Vale, or from the Masters who train the Doliex warriors. But since Migase is no longer part of the Whiteheaven Empire, it's unlikely they'll approve," Brisena warned.
Rogg nodded. "Very well. I'll consider it. Send the letter and make sure Damerius and Magnoli are ready to support us. But I won't be reckless—I won't trigger a civil war. I'll confront the Empire… another way."
Brisena rushed off to deliver his message. Meanwhile, Rogg stared into the distance, his mind already racing with strategies and cold calculations.
At Damerius's mansion, Balaraniyan—who had just received treatment—sat quietly in the infirmary. His weary eyes still carried the terror and trauma of the tragedy that had befallen his homeland. In a trembling voice, he recounted everything: how Migase had been burned, how his people were slaughtered without mercy, and how a hidden passage that should've remained sealed became the breach that allowed the Balevad army to invade. One possible cause of Migase's downfall, he said, was the rift between his father Bala and his uncle Nakhsa, which had led Nakhsa and his followers to return to Guava Valley.
Hans, listening with a sorrowful expression, lowered his head."So… your uncle Nakhsa returned to Guava Valley?"
"Yes… Uncle Nakhsa returned a month ago. He often fought with Father. He wanted to take me and Brother Baluru with him, but Father wouldn't allow it," Balaraniyan replied, voice quivering.
Hans relayed everything to Damerius and Magnoli.
Magnoli looked at the boy thoughtfully."Then I'll send troops to search for Nakhsa in Blacksand. We need him here."
Damerius added, "In the meantime, we'll begin planning how to crush the Balevad forces. That may become part of Rogg's strategy. They destroyed Migase, and they will pay."
Magnoli nodded. "I'll prepare a contingency plan. We need to start mobilizing troops now. If Rogg really does return to Migase, a major war will be inevitable—but that will also weaken our forces here in Patisia."
"Perhaps the only way forward lies in Rogg's mind. So we wait… for his reply," Damerius said.
After receiving Brisena's devastating news about the fall of Migase, Vuuxi and Robb rushed to find Rogg. Their faces were clouded with worry, and as soon as they arrived at Rogg's residence, their older brother—visibly troubled—greeted them.
"Brother... is it true?" Robb asked, his voice trembling. "Migase... is gone?"
Rogg nodded slowly, his gaze sharp yet laced with sorrow. "Yes. Migase has been destroyed by the Balevad forces. I can't sit idly by. We must act. That's why we need to go to Aeternum Vale—to seek Mother's counsel."
Without wasting another moment, the three of them prepared for the journey. The road felt long, haunted by worry and unanswered questions. Upon reaching Aeternum Vale, they were immediately received by Mother Zeeva, the woman who had long protected them from the shadows with the quiet strength and instinct of a mother.
She looked at them intently, as though she already sensed the burden they carried.
"My children," she said gently but with unshakable authority. "Tell me what has happened."
Rogg took a deep breath. "Mother, as I told you before, I am now the King of Migase—or rather, a king without a kingdom. Migase has been annihilated, my people slaughtered. I need an elite force to strike back. But what's worse... the Empire now brands me a traitor. I'm not only facing the Balevad threat—I must also confront Whiteheaven itself. I need your guidance."
Mother Zeeva listened closely, then let out a long, heavy sigh. "My son, a king must forge his own path. I won't decide for you, but I can give you the army you need. However, there will be a great price. If you choose this path, war is inevitable. Smokeland will be drawn into it, and the entire Doliex race will be swept into the storm. This will no longer be a personal vendetta. It will become a war that shakes the whole continent."
A deep silence filled the room. Rogg, Robb, and Brisena exchanged looks, each of them aware that this path would plunge them into unavoidable conflict.
"But..." Zeeva continued, her voice cutting through the silence, eyes piercing them with clarity, "there is one way to clear your name of the Empire's accusations."
"What is it, Mother?" Robb asked.
Zeeva offered a faint, enigmatic smile before delivering the words that left all three frozen in place.
"One of you must become the Emperor of Whiteheaven."
Brisena, Rogg, and Robb stood speechless, their thoughts paralyzed. To become the Emperor of Whiteheaven? It was an idea none of them had ever dared consider.
"I... I can't," Brisena whispered, her face pale.
"We might be able to take the throne," Rogg said heavily, "but we never wished to rule. Especially not like this. The Empire is in chaos... and we're just now resurfacing."
"You're wrong," Zeeva interrupted. "Your father was Brovos. That truth is undeniable. If you claim his name, you have a rightful claim to the throne. But the Empire will never accept it easily. If you want to restore your honor and exact your revenge, you must do it from within. Becoming Emperor isn't just about power—it's about shifting the tides of fate."
The three siblings fell silent. They knew their mother didn't speak lightly. This might be the only way out of the storm they now faced.
Rogg clenched his fist. "If that's the only path forward... then I'll consider it. But I'm still not sure."
"You don't need to decide now," Zeeva said. "But think carefully. War is on your doorstep. Choose your path before it's too late."
Meanwhile, in Patisia, Damerius and Magnoli were deep in strategy, preparing a sizable force ready to move at any moment. But their concern was heavy—on the side of the Empire stood their elder brothers, Prince Todius and Prince Dorges.
"The Imperial army is massive," said Magnoli, his eyes scanning the strategic map spread across the table. "If we don't act quickly, they'll strike first—and Patisia will be their target. You'll be the first they come for, Damma. They'll reduce this city to ashes."
Damerius slammed his fist onto the table. "I won't let that happen. We must rally every ally we have. I'll send envoys to all our supporters. We have to be ready for full-scale war."
Magnoli nodded. "And what about Rogg?"
Damerius paused, his expression grim. "If he chooses to stand against the Empire, we stand with him. If not... then we must ensure the Empire survives—even if it means fighting our own blood until the bitter end."
A monumental decision loomed. With the threat of war and the explosive secret of Brovos revealed, the fate of the Whiteheaven Empire now rested in their hands.