In one of the grand corridors of the royal palace, heavy footsteps echoed across the polished marble. A man of military bearing, clad in a pristine white suit of armor that gleamed under the torchlight, walked steadily toward the throne room doors. Upon his chest shone the insignia of the Lumière Empire — the symbol of light and supremacy.
He stopped before the massive doors and knocked firmly with his iron-clad fist.
A composed and commanding voice responded from within:
— "Enter."
He opened the door calmly and stepped inside, halting a respectful distance from the throne, where the ruler sat… a man of commanding presence, strikingly handsome, as if sculpted from light itself. His eyes radiated an allure not devoid of cruelty. On either side stood two guards in silver-encrusted armor, resembling sacred statues more than men.
The general bowed in military fashion, remaining silent until granted permission to speak.
— "So, what news from the United Kingdoms, General?" asked the ruler in a low yet penetrating tone.
Raising his head slightly, the general replied with confidence:
— "Your Majesty, the army you dispatched for the covert operation has now taken control of nearly eighty percent of the United Kingdoms' territory, including Mirador, Valsenia, and Chromyle. We have already begun dismantling their structures, as per your orders."
The ruler smiled faintly — a calm expression that still carried the weight of arrogance.
— "And you didn't overindulge in your brutality against the population, I assume?"
— "Certainly not, Majesty. We followed your instructions to the letter... we executed anyone who resisted, and captured those who surrendered. There were no violations."
A brief silence followed, then the ruler spoke with a deep, resonant voice:
— "What we are doing, General, is not conquest... It is light sent into a world of darkness. Humanity has suffered greatly from the creatures of the Otherworld... They were weak, powerless — wielding nothing but feeble weapons that crumbled before the wrath of even one beast. We stood on the brink of extinction... and now, by the grace of the Divine, and with the support of the Elves and Angels, we are the shield, the final hope. Supernatural power has become our inheritance... and with it, the burden of purification. Do you doubt my words?"
The general looked up at him with reverence.
— "There is no doubt, Majesty."
— "Good," the ruler said, rising slightly from his throne. He continued:
— "Before you leave... ensure that no word of what happened in the United Kingdoms reaches Auraya or Darval. No letters, no messengers, no signals... and if you must resort to force, do so. Issue this directive to all commanders and generals. We are concealing the truth... for their 'own safety'."
The general bowed once again:
— "As you command, my king."
The ruler slowly waved his hand, signaling the meeting was nearing its end. But just before the general turned to leave, he lifted his head slightly, as if recalling a side matter:
— "Ah, one more thing, Your Majesty..."
The ruler looked at him with calm interest:
— "Yes?"
— "The matter regarding the deaths of three of our men in Auraya weeks ago, under still-mysterious circumstances... shall we initiate a formal investigation among the kingdom's inhabitants?"
A sudden silence filled the room. The ruler stared into the void for a moment, then responded with unwavering firmness:
— "No. Issue an order to close the case immediately and officially accuse Auraya. A kingdom like that couldn't possibly kill our enhanced soldiers… unless it was the act of a rogue supernatural. Make that the official narrative. Understood?"
— "Understood, Your Majesty."
— "Excellent. You may go."
The general bowed once more, then exited the chamber, leaving behind the long shadows of a conspiracy stretching across the kingdoms — where even light no longer shone without smoke.