Banners were hung around in a circle above the great round table, each illustrated logo representing one of the great kingdoms. Phithia’s blue coiling serpent, Vislinia’s orange banner with flames circling a sword, Eyheluna’s green banner with a tree, Hirmzin’s linen color with a cog, and Leviara’s white banner with four symbols blending. An eye, a blade, the mountains, and a seven-pointed star that contained them. Beneath each banner was an envoy sitting at the round table. A fair-skinned man in black and red garbs was beneath Vislinia’s banner, his dark hair pulled back, and he looked to be in his mid-thirties with a stubbly beard and brawny physique. On the back of his garb was the flame circling symbol of Vislinia’s banner. Underneath the Phithian banner was an ivory-colored older woman. She wore a black dress with blue accents, her hair graying as it was in a bob cut down to her shoulders. A skinny, darker-toned man with dreadlocks sat underneath the Hirmzin banner, adorned with beige colored clothes. In comparison to everyone else in the room, he was relatively younger, and it didn’t take a hivemind to notice. In contrast to all was an elven woman underneath the Eyheluna banner. She wore pure white clothing, her silver hair resting on her shoulders and trailing down her back.

  The tall, curving double doors creaked open, and walking in were two men, along with a handful of knights. The first man was tall and pale, with short hair that had gone fully gray. He wore black clothing with a flaxen cape around his shoulders, and mounted on his head was a golden crown. Embedded in the crown were jewels ranging from bright sapphires to vibrant emeralds. The other was of average height, similarly wearing black clothing, but instead wore a much shorter cape. His skin was fair, his hair was a medium-short blonde, and his eyes were a deep blue. He leaned against one of the pillars near the guarding knights, while the older man took his seat at the head of the table, underneath Leviara’s banner. Everyone’s gaze shifted towards him.

  “My humblest apologies for the wait. Now that we’re all here, we may begin.” King Alan said. The Phithian envoy crossed her legs before tapping her fingers on the table.

  “Virelda Saeris wished for me to voice her concern for Hirmzin’s… Ignorance of the effects of their experiments. The residual materials have been finding their way into our shared rivers, making travel much more difficult.” She said

  “I assure you that we’re working on it. Hirmzin is making great advancements with newfound technology.” The Hirmzin Envoy said.

  “You’ve the rest of next month to clean up your filth, or the Queen will deal with you herself.” The Phithian Envoy added.

  “Speaking of filth… When will the bandits that litter our forests be dealt with? They steal, kill, rape, and do as they please. They’ve gone far too long unchecked.” The Vislinian Envoy said.

  “Agreed, there have been issues in my outskirts regarding theft. I heard there was a small village nearby being terrorized by them here in Leviara.” The Eyheluna Envoy said.

  “Oh, please… Bandits? You waste time and resources to deal with such trivial matters?” The Phithian Envoy uncrossed her legs and crossed them again.

  “Not to worry, I will send some of my knights to deal with it. If I recall, some of the villagers scheduled an audience with the council some time ago.” King Alan Said. Prince Avery shifted in place, glancing towards the analog clock across the room before sighing under his breath.

  “Sending knights to round up corpses? As expected.” The Phithian Envoy said.

  “We won’t know if those villagers are dead or not unless someone checks.” King Alan said.

  “Then, you should consider another envoy in your absence. One who understands what you want to convey. Not someone whose only ambition is what they stand to gain. I see those whose hunger blinds them to the realm’s needs.” The Phithian Envoy said. King Alan sighed, rubbing his temples.

  “I’ll have a chat with Raven, then.” King Alan Said. Prince Avery faintly smirked in the background, shaking his head. He glanced at the clock again, shuffling towards a faraway pillar that was away from the double doors.

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  “Oh, please do.” The Phithian Envoy Said.

  “Your majesty, Vislinia humbly requests an additional allocation of aegium to further the development of our battle academy.” The Vislinian Envoy said.

  “Yes, will do. Vislinia’s aid of warriors will not go unrewarded.” King Alan Said.

  “With all due kindness, you reward them for creating ambitionless killing machines?” The Phithian Envoy said.

  “Everyone, I’m here in your presence, and you are in mine to discuss much more severe topics. We are not here to quarrel like children over what one got that the other did not. If nothing else is required, do not waste my precious time!” King Alan stated. The room fell silent, the gazes of every envoy falling on each other before looking away. Footsteps stamped hard against the ground in the hallway, the doors blasting open as a knight emerged into the room.

  “THE EAST WING HAS BEEN BREACHED! ESCORT THE KING AND PRINCE!” He shouted. The room became narrow, and the envoys stood up from their seats, including King Alan. The knights jumbled to the king’s side.

  “Are we sure this isn’t a false alarm!” The Phithian Envoy said.

  “NO, THIS IS NO FALSE ALARM, OUR MEN ARE DYING!” The knight said.

  Bodies and blood seeped into the royal carpet of the east wing. Streaks of crimson trailing down portraits along the walls. Sunlight flashed through the window and onto the fresh bleeding corpse of another knight. The assassin kicked the lifeless body out of their way, their katana coated in gore.

  “Ridiculous how easy their minds break.” The female voice muttered. She wore a pitch black cloak, the hood pulled right over her head. Beneath it was a sleeveless black garb. The knights trembled once their glances met her arm. It was drowned in the scarlet linings of artwork that pulsed with energy. Before they could grasp any of it, the assassin lunged forward, her blade tearing through a knight’s armor, cutting deep into the flesh of their chest. She tightened her grip and pushed it further in and out of the back-end, yanking the blade out and then kicking them out of her way. The knights rushed towards the assassin in synchronization. The lining of the marks on her arms pulsed red before spinning in place and slashing all around her. Bodies crumpled to the floor, unresponsive not by her blade, but by the illusion that they were ever cut in the first place. As she paced by the bodies, the surroundings derealized. There wasn’t a drop of blood. Only bodies were scattered around the hallway. The assassin advanced down the hallway with great speed, her footsteps silent and weightless. At the end of the hallway were the double doors of the council room. Using her speed and momentum, she lurched into the air and rammed both of her feet into the giant double doors, breaching. Envoys scrambled, a few screaming as the knights were hit by the opening doors, flying across the room. The assassin was mid-air before blitzing down into the center of the round table without a sound. She launched herself towards the Vislinian envoy, energy of shadow erupting in the wake of her movement. Her hand slugged across their face, rendering them incapacitated. Knights were whirling back up to their feet, huddling up to try and corner the assassin.

  “Release the envoy!” One shouted. She unleashed a devastating slash towards the interior walls of the council room. Debris and clouds of smoke flung outwards and around the room. A giant hole had burst in the wall. Knights coughed profusely while the assassin leaped out of the hole. She was airborne and now outside in the kingdom of Leviara. In a falling arc, she landed on a giant chunk of rubble before pouncing towards another. Shadows swirled at her feet before she blasted skyward and vanished into thin air. King Alan rushed to the hole in the wall, stopping and gazing out.

  “This… Can’t be.” He uttered. King Alan looked back at the knights.

  “Search the kingdom, lock the gates! Not a soul leaves Leviara until the envoy is found!” King Alan ordered.