It was an ordinary morning in Aurelia. Amara and Lucien were meeting with various representatives to solve their kingdom's problems. And they had many.
Ever since returning from Aaran's coming-of-age ceremony, they had been struggling. There was unrest among the people. In mere days, over a tenth of the total population had left Aurelia.
The once abundant fields turned barren overnight. Trade routes were constantly interrupted. Amara and Lucien were doing everything in their power to stabilize the situation, but nothing worked.
At that point, the templars made their move. They used their food reserves to feed and win over the people. They even gave them money, resources, and jobs. Within days, the people's trust had shifted from the royalty to the temples.
No longer did they appear for help at the castle gates. Everything they wanted, everything they desired, was given to them by the temples.
