Within the vast, ornate Throne RoomQueen MorlinJai, James, ZaynMorisaLittle ArthurTier 5 Healing Artifact
Despite the relative safety, the room was thick with tension. Jai's brown eyesZeronAlex
King Borin stood before them, resolute in his decision to stall the war with words. He channeled his voice through a booming Earth Spell, carrying it across the walls to where ZeronZevan
"Younger brother, please stop this war!" Borin's voice pleaded. "Our father built this kingdom to stop suffering and make the Dwarves happy. If we start this war, countless families will be destroyed. So many fathers and mothers will lose their sons; so many children will lose their parents. Please, stop this war at once!"
ZeronLenardZevan
"Big Brother, you banished me and our relatives! Where were we to go? How were we to survive?" Zevan demanded. "And don't forget, your own fool of a son [Zeron] started the revolution that drove us away and manipulated our family to seek vengeance against you!"
Borin, his composure faltering, replied with a heavy heart. "The truth is, I never truly wanted to be King. It was Father's dying wish, so I honored it. If you asked me for the King title, I would give it to you now."
A slight, cold smile touched Zevan's face. He looked directly at Borin. "Our father knew I was not capable of ruling this kingdom. If you gave me the position now, the people would see me as a weak king who was scared of war and begged for the throne. I don't want that. I want to take the position after killing you, so the people understand how powerful and scary I truly am."
While the King was wholly engaged with Zevan, a figure moved quietly inside the sanctuary. It was the MagistrateMorisa
The Magistrate slowly covered Morisa's mouth with his hand. A terrifying, split-second flashback hit Morisa's mind: it was the same size and texture of the hand that had kidnapped herthe Magistrate was the true betrayer and kidnapper.
Before Morisa could struggle, Little Arthur
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The warning reached everyone's ears, but it was too late. The Magistrate had already surged toward the windows. JaiZaynZayn
They gave chase, but the Magistrate was swift. He launched himself out of the palace window, channeling a powerful artifact. A Tier 4 Air Artifact"Wind Swing"Fle Bird
The Magistrate flew to the enemy lines and stood directly behind Zeron, holding the terrified Morisa.
King Borin, seeing his daughter captured by his own administrator, was instantly distraught. The Magistrate then pulled off the brown cloak
The figure was a woman with short black hair and cold blue eyes
"Leora," Borin whispered, his heart filled with fresh devastation. "Leora Stonehead. You are truly alive?" Tears welled in his eyes. "After you disappeared, I thought you died! I was even preparing a statue for you in the center of the kingdom!"
Leora Stonehead
Her voice turned venomous. "When I returned after the war and heard Father died, I was sad. But then I saw the truth: no one mourned. All I heard was laughter and talk of the new King. I know you wanted the crown, Borin. Everything you said until now was a lie to manipulate Zevan and me."
Borin saw the resentment and madness in her eyes. The mask of the good King shattered, revealing the cold, hard ambition beneath.
"Yes," Borin replied, his voice chillingly calm, a creeping, horrible smile spreading across his face. "I wanted to become King. Beatrice defeated our father, but he was barely alive, so I killed him to take the crown!people or did anything wrong by the Dwarves!"
"You didn't harm the people," Leora hissed, "but what about me and your family?"
The family drama was broken by Zeronblue eyes
Zeron snatched Morisa from Leora. He held the little girl up before the entire Shadow Ledger army and the terrified populace watching from the walls. His voice, amplified by his Dominance
"Listen to me! I am Zeron, the True Prince!" he announced. "Whoever in the king borin party kills me and defeats my party will be rewarded! You can take the girl [Morisa] as a prize, and your reward will be a kingdom of your own!that person wins her, and they will become the Prince of the new Dwarf Kingdom that I will build!
With the promise of a royal title and the life of the Princess, Zeron effectively lit the fuse.
"Siege! Begin the assault!
The Shadow Ledger army, fueled by the promise of ultimate reward and the sight of their captive princess, surged forward. The air instantly filled with destructive elemental energy as the attack began, plunging Khazad-Dar
