The grand throne room was filled with a tense energy as the king’s advisors and nobles debated furiously. The gilded walls and towering windows seemed to mock the unease of the chamber, their splendor contrasting with the grim subject at hand.

  “How can we feel safe if one of our own is murdered in the very heart of the capital?” a rotund noble exclaimed, his face red with indignation. “Lord Varnis Hale was found dead in his own manor! His entire household slaughtered!”

  “Slaughtered or punished?” another noble quipped, a sly smirk playing on his lips. “Varnis had many enemies, especially among those from whom he extracted... generous tributes.”

  The room erupted in heated murmurs, the accusations flying as alliances and suspicions surfaced. At the center of it all, King Erend Lorridian sat on his gilded throne, his fingers drumming against the armrest as he listened with growing impatience.

  “Enough,” he commanded, his voice cutting through the din like a blade. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him.

  The leader of the Mage’s Guild, a tall, robed figure with piercing eyes and an aura of unshakable authority, stepped forward. “Your Majesty,” he began smoothly, “let us not dwell too long on the fate of one man, regardless of his rank. Lord Varnis may have been... ambitious, but his death is a matter for quiet resolution, not public spectacle.”

  He paused, his voice calm and calculated. “It is possible, even likely, that he antagonized the wrong sort. His methods were not subtle, and his greed was well known. But what is done is done. Let us instead focus on the opportunities this presents.”

  The nobles exchanged uncertain glances. “Opportunities?” one of them asked.

  The Mage’s Guild leader gave a faint smile. “His properties and wealth can now be reclaimed by the crown and redistributed to those loyal to the throne. It is a small consolation, but a necessary one. Let us turn this tragedy into an act of unity.”

  Some nobles nodded in agreement, their unease giving way to quiet self-interest. Others remained skeptical, their murmurs subdued but persistent. King Erend, his expression unreadable, leaned back in his throne, signaling for the discussion to continue as his mind turned to other matters.

  Far from the opulent halls of the capital, General Roderic Thane and his forces arrived at the remnants of the village destroyed by the monstrous Brumble Hound. The sight was a stark contrast to the military order of his column: charred remains of houses, splintered fences, and the blackened earth stretched out before them, a testament to the beast’s wrath.

  Thane dismounted from his horse, his sharp eyes scanning the destruction. “Spread out,” he ordered. “I want every corner of this place examined. Leave nothing unchecked.”

  The soldiers moved swiftly, breaking into groups to search the ruins. Among them, the mages accompanying the army began their own investigation, their hands glowing faintly with mana as they traced the lingering aura of corruption.

  “This is no ordinary destruction,” one of the mages murmured, his voice tinged with unease. He knelt near a gnarled tree, its bark blackened and warped. “The mana here is... wrong. Violent. Corrupted.”

  Another mage nodded, his hands brushing over the scorched ground. “Whatever caused this wasn’t natural. It was magical, but not like anything I’ve seen before.”

  Thane approached the group, his expression grim. “Can you identify the source?”

  The first mage hesitated before answering. “Not precisely, General. But this level of corruption suggests a being of immense magical power. It’s no wonder the villagers couldn’t stand against it.”

  Thane’s jaw tightened as he took in the words. “And we expected them to pay taxes while facing this?” he muttered, his tone laced with bitter realization.

  As the investigation concluded, Thane ordered the soldiers to regroup. The column resumed its march, moving toward the next village on their route. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the road as the army pressed forward.

  Hours later, a scout rode up to Thane’s position, his horse kicking up dust as it slowed. The man saluted sharply. “General, reports from the next village.”

  Thane nodded. “Speak.”

  “The village has been abandoned,” the scout said, his voice steady. “There are signs that they left in a hurry—tracks leading into the forests. It looks like they knew we were coming.”

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  Thane’s expression darkened, though his voice remained calm. “They’re running,” he said. “Smart. They know they can’t win a direct fight, so they’ll scatter and regroup somewhere we can’t reach them.”

  Lord Castren Hale, riding beside him, frowned. “Shall we pursue, General? Or press forward?”

  Thane shook his head. “No. We stay the course. Their retreat works in our favor—it isolates them. They won’t find allies easily, not out here.”

  Castren inclined his head, though his expression remained uncertain. “As you say, General.”

  As the army continued its march, Thane’s sharp gaze lingered on the horizon, his thoughts turning to the challenges ahead. The corruption they had witnessed weighed heavily on his mind, but his resolve remained unshaken. Whatever lay ahead, he would face it with the same steady precision that had brought him this far..

  Kael sat on a smooth stone by the edge of the river, his boots discarded beside him as he let his feet dangle in the cool, flowing water. The gentle sound of the current was a rare moment of tranquility in the otherwise chaotic life he had led since arriving in this world. His cybernetic eye scanned the rippling surface reflexively, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

  He leaned back, bracing himself on his hands, and gazed at the cavern’s glowing crystals far above. The events of the past days swirled in his mind—the scattered termites, the growing burden of leadership, and the endless questions about what lay ahead. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to simply sit and breathe.

  The crunch of footsteps on gravel pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to see Nolan approaching, the young smith’s hands tucked into his belt, an eager but nervous look on his face.

  “Kael,” Nolan began, stopping a few paces away. “Do you have a moment?”

  Kael nodded, motioning for him to sit. “Of course, Nolan. What’s on your mind?”

  Nolan hesitated briefly before sitting on a nearby rock. “I’ve been looking at the carcasses of the termites we’ve taken down. Their chitin—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever worked with. Hard as steel, but lighter. It’s... incredible.”

  Kael’s brow furrowed as he listened. “Go on.”

  “I know we don’t have a proper forge yet,” Nolan admitted, his voice steady despite his apprehension. “But if I can get the right tools, I think I can work with it. Maybe even make armor out of it, or reinforce what we already have.”

  Kael considered the idea, his cybernetic eye flickering faintly as he processed the suggestion. “It’s worth a try,” he said finally. “Take what you need from the remains, and keep me updated on your progress.”

  Nolan nodded, a spark of determination lighting in his eyes. “Thank you, Kael. I won’t let you down.”

  Kael gave him a faint smile. “I know you won’t.”

  As Nolan left, Kael’s gaze returned to the river, his mind turning over a new idea. The forge would be a critical addition to Zharakai, but if they were going to build something capable of working with materials like termite chitin, they would need more than basic tools. They needed advanced equipment—and Kael knew where to get it.

  His spacecraft.

  The thought crystallized in his mind. The propulsion system’s heat output could be reengineered to create an improvised high-temperature forge. But the craft remained deep in one of the forgotten cave systems, and retrieving it would be no simple task.

  Kael rose to his feet, determination hardening his expression. He needed a team.

  Kael first sought out Tharuk. The Molvari scout was sharpening his spear near the plaza, his sharp eyes scanning the activity around him. When Kael explained the plan, Tharuk nodded without hesitation. “I’ll come,” he said. “But we’ll need more than just the two of us.”

  Together, they approached Renka, one of the Molvari tribal leaders. She stood near a group of workers clearing overgrowth, her commanding presence evident even in the midst of labor. Kael laid out the plan, emphasizing the need for stealth.

  Renka folded her arms, considering him carefully. “You want to slip past the termites with a small team,” she said. “It’s risky, but... I’ll join you. My people will hold the city while we’re gone.”

  With Tharuk and Renka on board, the group gathered to discuss their strategy. Kael unrolled a rough map of the region, marking the location of his spacecraft. “We move fast, and we avoid drawing attention. The termites are still scattered, but we can’t afford to get caught.”

  The others nodded, their determination matching his.

  Kael, Tharuk, and Renka moved purposefully toward the entrance of the Spire. The weight of their mission hung over them, but their steps were steady, their resolve unshaken.

  As they approached the wide, vine-covered archway Elira was waiting for him.

  Her arms were crossed, her expression a mix of concern and determination. She straightened as the group drew near, her gaze locking onto Kael. “You weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?”

  Kael stopped a few paces from her, his companions giving them a respectful distance. “Didn’t want to make a big deal of it,” he said with a faint smile. “I figured you’d be busy keeping everyone else in line.”

  Elira stepped closer, her green eyes searching his. “Kael… just promise me you’ll be careful out there. We can’t afford to lose you.”

  “I will,” Kael replied, his tone calm but earnest. “I’ve got Tharuk and Renka watching my back. And besides…” He gestured lightly to his katana. “You’ve seen me fight.”

  Elira’s lips twitched into a faint smile before she sighed. “That doesn’t make me worry any less.”

  Before Kael could respond, Elira leaned in, her hands brushing his arms as she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. When she pulled back, her face was flushed, but her expression was serious. “Stay safe.”

  Kael blinked, caught off guard, but recovered quickly. A faint grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’ll take that as an order.”

  Elira stepped back, glancing briefly at Tharuk and Renka before turning on her heel. “You’d better. Don’t make me regret trusting you with the city.”

  Without another word, she disappeared into the shadows of the cavern, leaving Kael momentarily frozen in place. Tharuk’s voice broke the silence. “The humans have interesting ways of saying goodbye.”

  Kael chuckled softly, his focus returning to the task ahead. “Let’s go. We’ve got a ship to find.”

  With that, the group stepped into the Spire, their figures swallowed by the dim light as the entrance loomed behind them.