One week later: The Great Assembly Hall of the Arcturian Family:
The huge pillars along the stone walls of the great hall showed the strength and history of the Arcturian Family. In the middle of the hall was a long, carved table, and at the head of it sat Lord Magnus, his posture serious and unchanging. His face showed no emotion. Next to him was the statue of Lord Selis Arcthyx Arcturian, the first Ancestor of the Arcturian Family.
The statue of Lord Selis Arcthyx Arcturian stood in the grand hall, as if it were a work of art itself. The statue was made of white marble, and its surface was slightly cracked. But this did not make it less beautiful.
The cracks only added to its majestic appearance. The statue stood on a high pedestal, at eye level, so that everyone in the room could see it with respect.
On the front of the pedestal was the Arcturian coat of arms inlaid in gold and the inscription "First Ancestor - Lord Selis Arcthyx Arcturian."
Lord Selis Arcthyx Arcturian stood tall and proud, his long cloak draped over his shoulders. One hand was on the handle of his sword, and the other was outstretched, as if pointing to the lands he ruled. His face was serious but wise, and his eyes looked into the future of the Arcturian family.
The armor he wore was made by the best blacksmiths of the time, and a large dragon design was pressed into his chest. The armor plates on his shoulders had beautiful carvings and detailed dragon designs. His long cloak was carved as if it were rippling in the wind, with details that showed it was alive.
His sharp features highlighted the perfection of the carvings. His hair was depicted as wavy, falling to his shoulders, emphasizing his nobility and strength. The marble eyes of the statue reflected the determination and will of its subject.
The statue stood like a monument, representing the Arcturian Family's roots and heritage for centuries. It watched the whole gathering with silent but overwhelming authority.
There's a rumor going around that Lord Selis is a divine being, having reached Stage 12 to become the Dragon Goddess.
Her partner is a legendary being known as the Lord of Order. No one has ever reached her level. Elira knows that the Lord of Order connected the statue to Lord Selis's will, giving the Arcturian Family a gift that would help them make good decisions even when Lord Selis was not around.
Elira had never seen the statue speak before, but she had heard the elders and Lord Magnus say that it had. Lord Magnus was seated at a table with six elders on either side. These elders represented the wisdom and strength of many years.
These elders were the oldest and most powerful members of the Arcturian Family: Osric, Vaelion, Hadrian, Thalric, Sylas, and Corvinus. Each of them ruled different areas of the family and played important roles in the great wars.
When Elira stepped through the door of the hall, she wore a mask that didn't show any emotions. Her family had taught her self-control. But inside, she was furious.
She couldn't stop thinking about the events of the week before. The death of Lorian... Everyone said he had died suddenly, but no one really knew how or why. That death remained a mystery.
Elira was trying to figure out what had happened to Lorian. The only proof that he was dead was that his presence had disappeared.
As he sat down at the table, he looked at Lord Magnus. The family leader spoke in a cold voice. "The Nyx family has made its final move. Now, we need to decide how to respond."
Elira's fingers tightened on her dress under the table. For her family, Lorian's death was just an event. It was just a problem that was gone. She looked around, trying to keep her face impassive. The elders sitting at the table did not look regretful.
Regis Arcturian, the eldest son of the family, crossed his arms over his chest and spoke. "The Nyx family is trying to test our borders. We must scare them away."
Dorian Arcturian, the second brother, shook his head and added, "Intimidation is not enough. We must show strength. It's time to remind them who we are."
An elder member spoke in a low voice. "The Nyx's move must have consequences. If we don't react, they'll think we're weak."
Lord Magnus nodded in agreement. "That is why we will act in the coming days. Our enemies must realize that the Arcturian Family is still the strongest."
Elira closed her eyes. All that mattered to them was power. What had happened, the lives lost, the futures ruined, didn't matter. Elira controlled her anger because in the Arcturian Family, showing emotion was a sign of weakness. She couldn't appear weak in front of her family. But Magnus had already noticed his daughter's anger; he couldn't hide anything from her.
Magnus looked at Elira and began to speak: "Elira, you are more affected by Lorian's death than you realize." Elira looked at Magnus and smiled."No, Family Leader. It's just that Lorian was like a puzzle. It was fun trying to figure him out, and it made me angry to have my toy taken away from me overnight." Magnus looked at Elira with a serious face, but he was secretly amused. He knew her interest in new toys, especially mysterious ones.
Lord Magnus looked closely at what Elira had said. A faint smile appeared on his face, but it was cold and calculated. Elira's honesty was sometimes strange to him, but he respected it. She was cold and ruthless, like the Arcturian Family, and Magnus felt a different kind of kinship towards her.
"A puzzle?" Magnus said, looking into Elira's eyes. "So, do you have a plan to replace the piece you lost while solving the puzzle?"
Elira shook her head quickly. "Lorian's death was just a transition. What concerns me is how we fill the void he left behind." Her voice contained a threat, a challenge, but for the elders at the table and the rest of her family, it was just another day.
Osric spoke, putting his hand gently on the table. "Lorian's disappearance is only a sign. The Nyx family's move is no coincidence. They have plans for us, I feel it."
Vaelion frowned. "Osric is right. The Arcturian Family is the most powerful family in the region and knows how to deal with any threat. The Nyx family is testing them. And we must pass it."
Lord Magnus looked at each person at the table, one by one, with a determined look in his eyes. "The Nyx family wants to see how strong we are. But we will show them not only our strength, but also the strength of our history. In the past, the Arcturian Family ruled over every corner of this land. We must remind them of that power."
Thalric spoke up. "But we must be careful about making this move. The Nyx are not only pushing our borders, they are trying to weaken us from within. Elira, are external forces behind Lorian's death? Or could someone in our family be a traitor?"
Elira's body stiffened. Thalric's words had caused her to feel a sharp emotion. "Betrayal?" she murmured, squinting slightly. "For me, the Arcturian Family is everything. But sometimes, people who want power will do anything. If we have a weak link in this family, it can become a target." The coldness in his voice matched the coldness in the room.
Lord Magnus looked Elira in the eye, which made the tension in the room worse. "Then we will consider every detail in determining our strategy. When we meet the Nyx family, we'll show them our full power, and they'll know we're serious."
Elira nodded calmly, keeping her anger and pain hidden. The power of the Arcturian Family would be shaped not only by sword and shield, but also by intelligence and strategy. The Nyx family's move was the perfect opportunity to test this power play. But Elira sensed that it was more than that. The death of Lorian was only the beginning.
Regis Arcturian stepped forward and spoke. "Then we must make the first move. We should put on a powerful show against the Nyx family. One move, one answer, one response. But this should be just the start. We need to send them a clear message."
Elira looked at Lord Magnus with a mixture of coldness and a desire for revenge. "This isn't just a move. We must remind them of the power of the Arcturian Family. They'll never forget."
Lord Magnus' eyes brightened. Elira's approach was dangerous but effective. "I have to think like you, Elira," he said. "If we can make this message clear, the Nyx family will be careful enough to keep an eye on us from now on. But let's not let this move be just a show. Afterwards, we will show the world the victory and power of the Arcturian Family."
The atmosphere in the hall became tense. Everyone was thinking about the difficult road ahead and the moves that had to be made, but also calculating the consequences of a move for the honor and power of the Arcturian Family.
Elira took a deep breath and said, "This time, I have decided that justice will be served not only with the sword, but also with the mind. We will show the Nyx family not only strength, but also wisdom and strategy." After she spoke, everyone in the room remained silent.
Lord Magnus nodded in agreement. "Then we move."
Then, a voice from the hall surprised everyone. "Family Leader, Lorian's last name was Nyx!"
The air in the hall became more intense. Elira jumped to her feet and raised her voice, drawing everyone's attention. Everyone at the table looked at her, confused. Lord Magnus looked at her, but he didn't get angry. Instead, her words affected everyone.
When she stopped talking, everyone was silent. They were all thinking about what she had said, but no one knew what to do. Lord Magnus looked at her, and although he seemed upset, he was trying not to show it.
Elira continued, clenching her jaw. "Family Leader, wasn't Lorian's last name Nyx? Lorian came from the Nyx family, and the things he said to me before his death... They reminded me of something important." Elira tried to understand what was going on. "Everything about her death has a deeper meaning than what we know. The Nyx family's move... I don't think it's just a coincidence."
Lord Magnus narrowed his eyes and stood up from the table. "Are you saying that Lorian belongs to the Nyx family?" he asked, his voice serious but also confused. "But that's... very strange. Lorian didn't belong to any family. We didn't think he was connected to the Nyx family."
Elira nodded, putting her hand on the edge of the table. "Yes, Lorian really didn't belong to any family. But his last name was Nyx. I understand that if the Nyx family has acted so soon, it is not just against the Arcturians, but to get something from me or him."
Thalric, one of the elders at the table who had been silent earlier, spoke up. "If there really is a connection to the Nyx family, then it can't just be a coincidence. There might be something sinister going on with Lorian's death. But as you say, that raises another question: Why is the Nyx family acting now?"
Elira was thinking quickly. "To understand this, we need to look into the past. Since Lorian is related to the Nyx family, there might be other connections and secrets about him that we don't know about yet. The Nyx might want to use the Arcturians' past victories or losses to their advantage.
Osric paused for a moment before responding to Elira. "If Lorian is truly from the Nyx family, things get much more complicated. It's clear that Lorian's death wasn't an accident. The Nyx family is always very careful and thinking ahead. We need to find the real reason behind their move."
Lord Magnus understood the situation well, and shook his head to show that he did. "What should we do? We need to figure out the Nyx family's real reason for moving. But we have to be careful. War is fought not only with weapons, but also with minds. What do you think our strategy should be, Elira?"
Elira didn't answer for a few seconds, looking at Lord Magnus coldly. "The strategy must be simple. They are testing the Arcturian Family. They want to see how strong we are. When we show them how strong we are, we must also discover their weaknesses. The Nyx family's latest move is not just about weakening our power. They're also searching for our weaknesses."
Vaelion agreed with Elira. "Yes, it's true. If the Nyx are trying to see how strong we are, then we should focus on their weaknesses. It should be a strategic move, not just a show of strength. When we show them our strength, their weak spots can be turned to our advantage."
Elira took a deep breath and leaned closer to the table. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm planning. First, we need to be very careful with every move. The Nyx must know that we are strong, but we must also discover their weaknesses. One idea is to look at the Arcturian Family's history and point out their weaknesses.
Lord Magnus nodded in agreement, recognizing the wisdom of Elira's strategy. "Yes, that makes perfect sense. But remember, every move has consequences. We need to show our strength and also target their weaknesses in a way that makes them act more carefully. We need to look closely at the Nyx family's strategy to do this."
Elira finished her plan, which she had thought about. "Exactly. The first attack on the Nyx must be physical and psychological. We will focus on their weak points, and by targeting those points, we will slowly corner them."
Magnus tapped the table. "Then we move. It's time to put the plan into action."
Elira nodded, looking intently at Lord Magnus. "And the Nyx family's last move will be our beginning. We will show everyone who tries to challenge us how determined we are.
This was the start of a new war for the Arcturian Family.