Thelara, now a radiant jewel of prosperity and hope, stood proudly under the sun. Its markets buzzed with life, its halls echoed with knowledge, and its streets were lined with people of all lands. But in the shadows, envy festered.
From the distant lands of Fenrir, a kingdom veiled in cold ambition and old traditions, came the first move.
The plan was not to raze Thelara to ashes. No, the plan was crueler—strike not its walls, but its heart. Crush not its buildings, but its reputation. Let the world see that the mighty Thelara could bleed.
Twenty assassins were dispatched, masters of their arts. Each one bore a title among the dark circles of their craft: The Miststep, The Bone Weaver, Scarlet Fang, Echo, and many more. All were linked by magical transmit orbs, whispering across space like thoughts of malice.
They disguised themselves—merchants, pilgrims, scholars, even farmers—blending into Thelara's ever-growing populace. The city gates had welcomed them with the same hospitality given to all.
Then came the First Phase.
At dusk, chaos whispered through the corridors of the merchant district. Several people were taken—supposedly random victims of a kidnapping.
But the assassins had not accounted for one thing.
Thelara's people were not ordinary.
"Get down, now!" one of the assassins barked at a young woman, holding a dagger to her throat.
The woman's eyes gleamed with quiet confidence. In the next second, she twisted, elbowed the assassin in the gut, and summoned mana daggers mid-air. Three assailants fell before they could blink.
Another scene unfolded where a group of children had been corralled. But these were students of Thelara's new academy—taught by Scarlet herself, trained by Mira and Kael.
One boy raised his hand, and a barrier of pure mana erupted, throwing the captors backward.
Within minutes, each of the hostages became the captors.
The twenty assassins were rounded up, bound in chains infused with anti-magic ore, and brought to the palace's central hall.
There stood Nova, clad in his deep navy coat bearing the crest of Thelara, and Scarlet, robed in elegant crimson drapes that shimmered with divine embroidery. Beside them stood Kael, Mira, Gerren, and Lio, each tense with restrained fury.
Nova's voice cut the silence. "Speak. Who sent you?"
Silence.
Scarlet's steps echoed as she walked forward.
"You entered my home." Her voice was soft, but each word was etched with ice. "You dared hurt my people."
Her War Druid Staff, the Bloody Tear, flickered.
"If pain is your language…" she raised her hand, and the captives trembled. A chill swept across the hall, "…then let me teach it better."
Their nightmares became real. One saw himself buried alive. Another felt fire licking his bones. One screamed endlessly until his voice cracked like glass.
Nova placed a hand gently on Scarlet's shoulder. "That's enough."
Two assassins broke.
Through ragged breaths and sweat-drenched hair, one muttered, "King Scarfin… of Fenrir… he sent us."
The air fell silent.
Scarlet's hands slowly fell. Her breath caught.
"…My father," she whispered.
Kael's eyes widened. Mira stepped forward, concerned. "Are you alright?"
Scarlet's smile was bitter. "He knows I married Nova. He won't accept it. This is only the beginning."
Nova turned to her.
"Do you want to go back?" he asked quietly.
Her eyes lifted to his. "No. I never felt at home in Fenrir. I was a tool there. But here, in Thelara, I am me. I'm your wife, Nova. This is my home. My kingdom."
He nodded.
He raised his hand, calling forth a storm of mana. From the void, a bow of light and stardust formed—the War Bow of Judgment, a relic he hadn't drawn since his time in battle.
With fierce resolve, he notched an arrow glowing with radiant energy.
"Then let the world know."
He released it. The arrow streaked across the sky, a bolt of cosmic fire.
In Fenrir, King Scarfin stood on his tower balcony, sensing the surge. The sky ripped for a second as the arrow landed before him, pinning a parchment into the marble.
He stepped forward and read:
"Condolences from me… but Scarlet is now my wife, and the Queen of Thelara.
If you wish to take her back… be prepared for all-out war."
King Scarfin's fist clenched.
Scarlet leaned against Nova's side. "We may have just declared war."
Nova smiled. "Then we'll fight… not just for Thelara… but for us."
Author's Thoughts:
This chapter is a turning point. We see not just the strength of Thelara, but its unity. Everyone, from children to citizens, is no longer weak. The bond between Nova and Scarlet strengthens, even in the face of war. The next arc… begins with fire.