Six months later - Royal Palace:

  Sitting behind his solid wooden desk, Rapha?l was absently leafing through a few reports, his fingers tapping the wood slowly.

  His desk was illuminated by sunlight, which filtered through the windows of the room.

  In front of him was Hallan, sitting on one of the sofas in the room, quietly sipping tea.

  Raphael stared at him for a moment, looking jaded.

  "Hey, if you have nothing to tell me, go back to your office and don't invade my personal space," he said in a tired tone.

  Hallan slowly placed his cup of tea on the coffee table in front of him, and said with a slight smile:

  "I'm here to keep you company since I have free time. But it looks like you don't need my company. "

  "All this is a shame... but hey, I came to give you a brief report. "

  After that, Hallan snapped his fingers, then a card appeared on Raphael's desk, and unfolded in front of him, revealing red dots and gray dots.

  Hallan took back his cup of tea, and said:

  "The gray dots are the order of the Phoenix and our army, while the red dots are Glast's army. As you can see, Glast's conquest is progressing well, but it is a little slower than expected"

  "Despite the fall of their capital, their royal lineage has not died out. They took refuge in the last bastion of the kingdom, the Duchy of Bulter. "

  "They show surprising resistance, but after a thorough investigation, our suspicions were confirmed. The Solaris Empire and the Holy Empire sent reinforcements there discreetly without making official statements. "

  Raphael carefully observed the card in front of him, then an imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.

  "Finally… maybe it's time," he said calmly.

  "You know Hallan, six months ago my mother gave me a specific condition to end this war of expansion." he added with a relaxed air.

  Hallan quietly placed his cup of tea on the coffee table, and calmly said:

  "Really? What kind of condition? "

  "Knowing your mother, it must be a very complicated condition," he said with a slight mocking smile on his lips.

  Raphael, smiling on his face, replied calmly:

  "We can say that you are not wrong on this point, but it is absolutely feasible. "

  After that, Rapha?l calmly slid his index finger on the map, as if he was looking for a specific place.

  "By the way Hallan, recently, I heard that a kingdom dared to show us its fangs, can you tell me which one it is please"

  Hallan raised an amused eyebrow, then with a snap of his fingers, made a slight luminous halo appear above the map. A red circle landed on a region northeast of Ingrissia.

  "This is the kingdom of Darshelm." he said calmly.

  "It is a border kingdom, considered a faithful ally of the Holy Empire and Solaris. Lately we have heard of the fact that troops from the Holy Empire, and Solaris are stationed there to help them strengthen their defense. "

  Raphael followed the circle with his eyes, his fingers stopping right on the designated area.

  The continent of Wisenberg is a vast continent divided between eleven kingdoms. To the west extended the kingdom of Ingrissia, which over time became one of the four great powers of the continent. The east was divided between the Solaris Empire and the Naxthor Empire, while in the center, the Holy Empire imposed its influence despite its modest size. The rest of the territory was only a patchwork of medium kingdoms, exactly seven, scattered between plains, mountains and coasts. To the south, the Black Forest, which is considered an impenetrable territory because of the multitude of monsters it houses, and to the north, stretched the immense Eternal Snow Valley.

  Raphael inhaled slightly and narrowed his eyes.

  "So... it will be him." he whispered.

  Then, he straightened his face, and stared at Hallan who was calmly sipping his tea.

  "Hallan, by the way, the condition my mother imposed on me was to destroy a kingdom with Valthor by my side. "

  Listening to this word, Hallan froze on the spot, swallowing his tea crookedly, then he let a murderous aura escape from his body.

  Seeing his reaction, Raphael stared at him for a moment, then slowly infused his aura in his index finger, and with a movement, he tapped his finger on the table, thus spreading enormous pressure in the room.

  "Hey... calm down Hallan," said Raphael in a deep voice with an imposing tone.

  "I fully understand your reaction, but think about the future generation... we have no choice," he added calmly.

  Hallan breathed slowly, then regained his calm.

  "So, have you ever met him?" He asked dryly.

  "Yes," Raphael calmly replied.

  "We exchanged briefly, yet he seemed strangely approachable. I still don't know why he accepted this, but it's certain that he won't be hostile to us"

  Hallan remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the ground, fully doubting Valthor's reliability.

  Rapha?l, on the other hand, was immersed in his thoughts, his eyes riveted on the map in front of him, and his left hand played absently with a pen, turning it in a regular movement.

  Hallan sighed, then finally broke the silence.

  "So... what do you plan for the future?" He asked calmly.

  Raphael sketched a slight smile.

  "Tell the Six Swords to get ready." he said calmly, as if he were ordering something banal.

  He marked a short pause, then added:

  "Send a letter to the Sixth Sword, telling him to immediately join the Fifth and that together, they completely bring down Glast. Tell them that they have a maximum of two weeks. "

  Following Rapha?l's words, a slight smile appeared on Hallan's lips, who thought:

  "It seems like Rapha?l is really determined this time.He intends to take action this time."

  He then nodded, without saying a word.

  Raphael, with his eyes still riveted on the map added this:

  "With the other four Swords, we will attack Darshelm in two weeks. We have to destroy them in a week, no more, "he says calmly, without understanding the impact of his words.

  Hallan's fingers tightened slightly, and a slight shiver of excitement was guessed in his expression.

  "A show of strength..." he said.

  "Exactly." Rapha?l replied with a smile on his lips.

  After that, he grabbed a blank paper on the table, and began to write a few things on it.

  "In exactly five days, we will send two types of letters." he said without looking up,

  He briefly raised his head towards Hallan.

  "The first will go to eight kingdoms of the continent. We will tell them that we are stopping our campaign. But I will also specify limits that they should never cross. "

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  His fingers resumed their dance on the paper.

  "And the second will go to Darshelm. As a sign of benevolence, I will tell them to evacuate their civilians within seven days, I do not wish unnecessary deaths. And after that..." he voluntarily left his sentence in suspense, a thin smile on his lips.

  Hallan got up from the sofa, then tilted his head slightly in front of Raphael.

  "I fully understand the intentions of his Highness. "

  "But can your Highness allow the magic tower, as well as the four ducal houses to join you for the quick conquest of Darshelm," he added, his gaze shining with a dangerous glow.

  Raphael stopped writing, looked up and planted his gaze in Hallan's.

  "What a wonderful idea Hallan... the departure is in thirteen days," he said smiling.

  Five days later:

  The continent of Wisenberg was in total effervescence following the recent declarations of the kingdom of Ingrissia.

  In a letter sent to the kings of eight kingdoms of the continent, the kingdom of Ingrissia said this:

  "On this day, me, Rapha?l Ingriss, after nearly half a century of conflict, the kingdom of Ingrissia undertakes to end its war of expansion in a month to the day, starting today.

  Be aware that as long as I reign over Ingrissia, no other expansion war will take place. Despite this, consider this not as a sign of weakness, but as the promise of lasting peace.

  However, I would like to give you a warning. Anyone who dares to interfere, or even intervene in the cases concerning Ingrissia, whether internal or external, will have to suffer the consequences. Ingrissia's power remains intact, and if it is to be brandished again, it will be without the slightest hesitation.

  May your kingdoms prosper and the continent enter an era of peace,

  Rapha?l Ingriss

  King of Ingrissia "

  This letter was sent to the kings of all the kingdoms of the continent, except the king of Glast and Darshelm.

  But, several hundred kilometers from Ingrissia, in the throne room of Darshelm, a messenger in breathless light armor fell to his knees, holding in his hands a sealed roll of Ingrissia's symbol. The king, a man with ebony skin color, and a face marked by the years but with still sharp eyes, broke the seal with a dry gesture. His hands trembled slightly at the reading of the first lines. His pupils narrowed as he read, his face freezing in an icy expression.

  The letter he was reading said this:

  "To the king of Darshelm,

  Following a massacre that took place in a village in our kingdom, we launched a thorough investigation, and this shows us that you are the culprits of this heinous act.

  In response to your provocation, you have seven days to evacuate as many civilians as possible from your kingdom.

  After this delay, Ingrissia will descend upon on Darshlem with the clear intention of crossing your name off the cards.

  This decision is irrevocable. I don't want to shed the blood of ordinary civilians. Our kingdom is committed to welcoming as many civilians as possible with open arms.

  Do not seek to negotiate or flee. Ingrissia's blade is irrevocable.

  Rapha?l Ingriss

  King of Ingrissia "

  The queen, on her right, leaned over to read over her shoulder. His eyes widened, and his hand instinctively rose to his mouth, stifling a cry.

  "What is..."

  The king slowly folded the letter, his features closed.

  "A week..." he breathed.

  "We have a week before the arrival of these Ingrissia demons. "

  A heavy silence fell in the room, and around them, the advisers exchanged worried glances. A knight put his hand on the guard of his sword, as if the enemy could already emerge. In the heavy silence, the only sound presence was that of the wind against the stained glass windows of the Royal Palace.

  A week later - Royal Palace of Darshelm:

  The Royal Palace of Darshelm was bathed in the golden light of the afternoon. In the vast corridors of the palace echoed footsteps, mixed with a burst of youthful laughter.

  Young Prince Narel, a eleven-year-old boy with bright ebony skin and deep green eyes, was desperately trying to grab the shoulder of his second brother, a young man with thin features, athletic build and short black hair.

  "I told you I wanted to come with you to the West!" The cadet protested, a wide smile contrasting with his sullen tone.

  The oldest of the three, a twenty-six-year-old man with an impressive stature and a calm look, put a firm hand on the little prince's shoulder.

  "And I told you that we are going to work, currently the West is not a playground, Narel. "

  "But you're going to leave me alone here, when I was told to go live a real adventure like the hero Zardovan!" Narel replied, crossing his arms, swelling his cheeks like an upset child.

  The second brother burst out laughing, leaning over to ruffle the youngest's hair.

  "Haha, what you are really stubborn... but don't worry, one day, we will all go on an adventure together, like Zardovan and his companions." he said with a reassuring smile.

  A few steps away, a young woman with a slender figure arrived in front of them. She wore an elegant black military outfit with a green cape embroidered with gold that fell on her back. His dark skin reflected the light, and his amber eyes shone with an amused curiosity.

  "Still talking about this hero from your book Narel?" She said a slight smile on her lips.

  "Amy!" Narel exclaimed when he saw his sister.

  The princess bent down to take Narel in her arms, and he snuggled up as if he were finding his natural refuge. The scene gave off an almost unreal warmth, as if the approaching war did not exist.

  "Narel... we have to go now with your brothers," Amy said in a soft voice.

  "But I also want to go with you! " protested the child.

  Amy rested Narel on the floor, and tenderly stroked his cheek before saying:

  "You can't come with us. But we promise to come back very soon, and together we will go on an adventure," she said while smiling.

  After his sister's words, the young prince nodded, then watched his brothers walk away, hoping to be able to go on an adventure with them as soon as they returned.