Silence fell among them — the council didn't know what to do.
Elsewhere, far from the village, near the northern gates, the soldiers discovered strange footprints — not belonging to any ordinary creature. They were massive, marked with claws, and signs of a fierce battle lay nearby. Yet, curiously, there was no blood, only scattered fragments — some black, others white, both with a strange acidic texture that burned the skin upon touch.
Tension rose among the troops. Commander Dwayne Sparkos stood tall on his horse, his instincts uneasy, feeling eyes watching him from beyond the fog. At his side was Celestia Bank, his loyal lieutenant and one of the youngest knights of the Emperor's Royal Guard. Despite her youth, she had never left his service.
Celestia: "What are these marks, my lord? The situation grows stranger by the hour, and we still can't advance into the Black Forest."
Dwayne: "Celestia, I'm losing my mind with every moment that passes. We're standing on the border — and the Empire of Towndark won't stay silent about this collapse. They'll use it as an excuse against us at the Palace of Unity."
Celestia: "We're facing too many crises at once — the Palace, the border, and Towndark itself. We can't hold them all."
(Towndark was the largest empire of the northern continent — with twelve villages under its rule. Its emperor, Flick Dweistorf, was the sworn rival of Greystov Ford.)
Dwayne smiled bitterly.
Dwayne: "Don't forget this substance… I swear by the honor of the Royal Guard, this is no coincidence."
He turned grimly toward the wasteland.
Dwayne: "The Council of Defense will never believe what's happening here — they can't see the suffering with their own eyes."
Suddenly, a soldier rushed toward them, clutching a sealed message.
> 'The Empire of Towndark considers the collapse of the northern borders an insult and will send scouting troops and soldiers to investigate and report to the Palace of Unity.'
Celestia's face grew pale.
Celestia: "What should we do, my lord?"
There was fear in her voice — fear not of war, but of something darker, something unknown. Dwayne held the message tightly, staring at the forest — still feeling that unseen gaze watching him.
---
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, Emperor Greystov Ford stood upon his balcony, gazing over the city. It was late afternoon — the air was cold, carrying with it whispers of something unseen. He wondered:
"Is this the worst… or is there something far worse to come?"
He did not yet know that Towndark's scouts were already on their way to the Palace of Unity — a sign that his empire was slipping into chaos and that many were beginning to doubt his ability to protect his people.
He whispered softly to himself,
"Frea… if you were here, what would you have done? I dreamed of a world of peace — but reality… is cruel and vile."
Beside his bed stood a black flower, feeding strangely without water, its petals pulsing faintly as if alive.
That same night, a figure cloaked in rags slipped beneath the palace. Carrying a lantern glowing green, he descended a hidden stairway into a sealed chamber — its door etched with ancient runes, symbols from a world long forgotten.
---
The next morning, after hearing that Towndark's scouts were heading for the Palace of Unity, the Emperor called for an emergency meeting. It was held in the Hall of the Chessboard — a vast chamber where the floor was a field of black and white tiles, arranged like a game of chess.
At the center stood a white king piece, upon which coiled a black serpent — no one ever understood why.
Royal guards lined the walls, while the Emperor, his advisor, and the military leaders took their seats.
General Alex Raftor, commander of the southern armies, rose to speak:
> "Your Majesty, if I may begin — the collapse of the northern gates is no ordinary event. We lost 1,400 soldiers, 250 elite troopers, and 10 royal guards — no survivors, no blood, no witnesses. And now Towndark seeks to use this to turn the Palace of Unity against us, accusing us of breaching their border and trespassing into the Black Forest. No one who enters that place ever returns."
The Emperor sighed heavily — the weight of those numbers cut deep.
Among the council stood Prince Bastan Forgorly, the last surviving member of the Forgorly family, a noble house overseeing the empire's villages, trade, and resources.
Feigning concern but secretly ambitious, he spoke:
> "As the sole representative of the Forgorly House, I must request additional protection — for myself and for the caravans leaving our villages. Bandits and rebels are growing bold in these uncertain times."
The Emperor stared at Bastan for a long moment, then walked to the window. After a pause, he said something that froze the room:
> "Tonight… we shall hold a banquet in honor of the Collapse."
Everyone was stunned. Some laughed nervously, others exchanged anxious glances.
> "A banquet, Your Majesty? Surely you jest?"
But the Emperor turned to them, his voice calm and chilling:
"No jest. Invite everyone. Let the empire feast… on its own fear."
Bastan tapped his finger on the table, studying the chessboard pieces before him, while the rest of the court sat in silence — confused, anxious, and afraid.
---
That same night, in the village of Kazbona — inside Frank's house —
Frank and Dags sat across from one another, a few cups of water between them.
Frank: "Two royal messengers in one day? Since when were we so close to the empire?"
Dags: "Even if there's a traitor, how could anyone travel that fast? It takes two weeks on horseback just to reach the capital."
Frank chuckled grimly.
Frank: "Who said it was one traitor? This isn't about betrayal — it's about weakness. We're the frailest link in the chain. No weapons, no supplies. If things stay like this, we won't survive long. And when the time comes… the Empire will abandon us first."
Outside, Diana, Dags' daughter and a skilled herbalist, waited at the doorway. She greeted passersby politely, though her eyes stayed fixed on the house. When her father and Frank finally emerged, she smiled and joined them in conversation.
From afar, an old blind woman watched the three of them, smiling faintly — her pale white eyes reflecting the moonlight.