At the Intelligence and Information Division headquarters, Raeligh worked constantly managing messengers and informants who arrived, scarred and very weak from their travels and constant observations of the battlefield.
The court seemed to be demanding too much from its servants, with near-constant updates from every province in Aleonia. This had left everyone involved frustrated, even driving them mad.
"–! This is total madness..!" Raeligh expressed such frustration at the precarious situation of his employees and servants.
Raeligh looked on his desk, letters from his comrades stained with blood, which was illegible due to the chaotic situation of the entire nation.
"*huff*–" Raeligh sighed.
Suddenly, one of Raeligh's personal informants appears, bringing urgent information for his leader.
"S–Sir Raeligh!"
"Can't you see I'm in a difficult moment–"
Raeligh's eyes widened at what his informant carried with him, one of the first printouts of a royal decree recently signed by the monarch.
"A–A printed decree!?"
"What does this decree say? Speak–!"
"R-Right!"
The document carried by Raeligh's informant dictated that all young people, aged 14 and over, must enlist in Aleonia's army, to combat Aleonia's advances, in short.
That statement had left Raeligh stunned and speechless at the absurdity of what had been said in that statement.
"I'm going to court. Set a hearing for me–! Now!"
"But, Sir Raeligh–!?"
…
Then Raeligh set out for an audience with his majesty regarding the decree. Arriving at the palace, he asked one of the house servants to guide him to Voros' room.
"Your Majesty, I–!"
There he was, sitting on his throne, staring at me in a blank, imposing manner. Voros did not show any reaction regarding the current situation.
"Raeligh… have you forgotten how His Majesty is addressed?"
"What–!"
"k-n-e-e-l... down"
Raeligh felt the weight of his Majesty's words and immediately fell to his knees, bowing his head.
"I see the press has sent you a copy of my new decree…"
"Information leaks out really fast, doesn't it Raeligh?"
"My lord–! I ask for an explanation behind– behind that decree!"
Voros continued to stare at Raeligh's posture, making the air in the room increasingly heavy for whoever was inside.
"You see… many of our soldiers have perished in this damned war, and we no longer have the initiative to replenish our armed forces."
"My lord–!"
"I understand that you are frustrated Raeligh, but this is for the good of our nation, our beloved Aleonia"
"Lord! This will destroy–"
"Enough Raeligh! I don't need to hear your questions anymore."
"This decree will be validated and will be printed in the city of Aleonia within 1 week of rectifications."
"Now, go."
So Raleigh withdrew from the throne room, and also from the palace.
…
In a private meeting of Aleonia's war committee, nobles close to the crown discussed their military. Voros sat in his chair, thinking of strategies to counter Galèsia's advances.
"This is absurd–!"
"We can't set up a decent feint, because they'd use ashen wizards!"
As the nobles and scholars discussed, Voros looked at the large table that contained an Atlas that dictated each region of Central Thalassia, and props that represented its soldiers and enemies.
When a nobleman crept into Voros' ear, implanting in his mind an idea of a mandate.
Outside, a heavy rain had begun to wash the earth. Raeligh looked at his pendant, which bore the names of his wife and only son, who was of the age mentioned in his majesty's decree.
"My boy… no…"
…
In the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, Willbur commanded and planned strategies alongside the main representatives of Aleonia's armed forces.
"This is absurd—!" Carlos Moorentrill, lieutenant of Aleonia's main squadron, slammed his fist against the table where the commanders sat.
"Calm down, Carlos. We are all shocked by the news." The person responding was Emille Foldenhardt, a non-commissioned officer in Aleonia's eastern division.
"Even so… how could your Majesty determine something of this caliber?" asked Peter Gruffardo, leader of the 2nd division of Aleonia's infantry.
"We will never know. His Highness is not accepting audiences for the next three days." Willbur replied, who sat at the table next to the main commander.
"Knights, I fear we will have a strong period of tribulation along this path."
With a firm and imposing voice, the person responding was Alvin Haalenbert, the general commander of the entire Aleonia division. Above Faulhault, Alvin spoke face to face with the monarch.
The atmosphere was filled with doubts and tension, due to the monarch's most recent and controversial decree. There was also discussion about the attack of the Galèsian army that was coming from the northwest of Quinervalle.
"It would take 22 days and intermittent nights for them to get here to Aleonia," Peter said.
"We should worry about recovering before their troops can relocate," Carlos replied, aiming for a shallow but strategic perspective.
"We don't have many options at the moment… besides, the monarch plans to throw a party in honor of the conquest of Faulhault and his squadron Èrasus." Emille emphasizes.
Willbur remained quiet and thoughtful about all the events and arguments around him, while Alvin signed papers left in the nearby regions.
The headquarters was very busy, with many soldiers and knights covering supplies and organizing their war weapons.
The one there was Lunis Argento, the first disciple of Faulhault Clayserfelt. A young knight of 17 years old, with light brown hair and light eyes, he wore a uniform and carried charges of gunpowder, helping the soldiers in the area.
"Careful with that weight, eh!" exclaimed a soldier carrying the gunpowder load.
"Sure thing!" replied Lunis.
Many wondered how a young man like Lunis ended up becoming the disciple of the Squadron General. Lunis was of average height and had a standard body definition.
After finishing his services, Lunis returned to the accommodation to change.
"Man… those loads were really heavy."
While Lunis was changing, someone knocked on the door of the accommodation where he was staying. Lunis opens the door, and the person looking for him is an employee from the department who deals with receiving letters and correspondence from the Aleonia Intelligence and Information Division.
The intendant hands him a letter from the court. Lunis, curious, breaks the wax seal with the flag emblem on the letter and realizes that he had been invited to the celebration at Alviberto 's palace .
"But wha–"
Lunis had been quite surprised by the news, thinking about the merits he had received on the battlefield. Lunis got dressed and quickly left the ammunition and weapons department, when he was approached on the way by his superior.
"Where are you going in such a hurry, boy?"
"What–?"
"Urgh–! Sergeant Charles–!"
The person who calls him is Second Sergeant Charles Nobren'shòr, responsible for the administration of the entire weapons area. He had a neutral and intimidating expression, but he maintained his composure and expressed patience at the same time.
"I-I was going to—"
"Don't give me excuses, boy."
"Excuse me, Sergeant."
"Hmm… I see you must have something very important to do, and I heard that you have been doing a lot of tasks here in the district."
"So maybe I can get you out of this sooner."
"S-S-SERIOUSLY—!"
"Scream any louder in my ear and I'll take you off duty for 2 more days."
"Y-Yes! Sorry! Thank you very much, sir!"
Thus, Lunis withdrew from the first district.
"even though he is the general's first disciple, he is still immature…"
"—what an unpredictable boy."
The disciple had gone to visit the middle region of the central citadel, where his family lives, walking through the main city, where people of wealth and possessions lived, with higher living conditions.
There were many soldiers patrolling and people walking freely without a care in the world. Along the way, Lunis approached the border between the upper and middle city, a thin line that divided the two regions.
Unlike the upper city, the middle city did not have many soldiers, and civilians were rarely seen walking the streets. Lunis faced this injustice with frustration due to such inequality. As he passed through the area, some acquaintances greeted him.
"There you are, our knight!"
"Our pride!"
"Faulhault's disciple has returned–!"
Everyone saw him as a hero, not only because he was the first disciple of the strongest and most skilled knight in the entire region, but because of his feats and tales in the field. The population of the medium city saw Lunis as a rising prodigy and this weighed heavily on his shoulders.
Children surrounded them, showing them drawings, and various craftsmen paid homage and admiration, men and women welcomed them with warmth and gifts.
Lunis felt embarrassed by such a warm welcome. After all the commotion, the disciple arrived at his mother and brothers' house.
Lunis is suddenly hugged by Frida, the middle daughter of the house.
"Welcome back, big brother!"
"It took you a long time, huh" – The one who answers him is his younger brother, Milo.
"I apologize for the excessive delay," Lunis replied to Milo.
Lunis' family consists of 5 people: Nortus, the oldest, who is serving in the army; Lunis, the second son; Frida, the middle son; and Milo, the youngest, and their mother.
"Brother, brother! Our mother is getting better!" Frida said to Lunis.
"Thanks to the money you and Nortus have been sending us, we were able to buy the medicine in the upper city." – said Milo
Lunis was very happy with the news of his mother's recovery, so he decided to go upstairs to see how she was doing. Arriving in the room, he saw his mother lying on her bed, looking out the window.
"Whenever I hear the commotion outside… my heart rejoices."
"Mom, I'm back."
"Yes… welcome my son."
Lunis went to hug and greet his mother. The young man took a stool and sat down next to his mother's bed.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm… slowly getting better."
"I thank you and your brother so much for everything."
"You're welcome, Mother. This is the least we could do after–"
"Hmm?"
Lunis backed off his voice before completing his sentence, feeling that it might make things uncomfortable.
"I see… even after everything, you still miss him."
"From your father."
"–!"
Lunis and his brothers lost their father while they were still children, in a raid from Galèsia to the border of Hault. It was a brutal attack, and many soldiers perished, and those who returned alive had many after-effects.
This marked the past of the entire Middle City of Aleonia, and the father of Lunis and his brothers was remembered as a brave warrior. Moved by this encouragement, Lunis and his older brother Nortus decided to follow in their father's footsteps.
"Your father was a hero, loving and protective… I won't lie, I'm still very sorry to see him go."
"We don't know the direction of this war, Lunis."
"That's why I pray every day for the safety of both of you. After all, Frida and Milo are still children…"
His mother's words comforted Lunis' heart, making him look forward and freeing him from melancholy.
"Mother, I received a letter. A letter from the court, from the monarch."
"I was invited to a celebration at the palace."
"A celebration, how nice, congratulations my son!"
"Yes, but I do not know for what purpose this celebration was encouraged."
Lunis talked to her mother about the events on the battlefield, in the district, and funny moments with her colleagues and acquaintances. Those stories comforted her mother's heart, bringing joy and relaxation. It was already getting late, and they were still talking.
"I don't know… people see me as a salvation…"
"All because I am the disciple of Faulhault Clayserfelt."
"I feel suffocated by my duties, and sometimes I feel like giving up."
"But… I can't stop now. I feel like we're just a few steps away from regaining the peaceful times of our land."
His mother turns to him, and holds his hands, while staring at Lunis.
"As I said to your father, and your brother Nortus, so I say to you now."
"There is no barrier that can stop a stubborn man. Our world is made of adversities and we will all face them."
Lunis' mother's encouraging words reached him, giving him motivation and encouragement to achieve his goals.
"I swear– that when I reach a high position in the hierarchy, I will end the inequality between the upper city and the middle city!"
In contrast, Lunis' words to her mother make her laugh, but with relief. Her mother turns to Lunis, saying that her ambitions remind her of her late father's traits.
Lunis then says goodbye to his mother and brothers and returns to the Upper City. Reflecting on the fearless words he had spoken to his mother, the young knight walks through the region, which is now under curfew.
The stubborn young man looks towards the great palace of the city and clenches his fists.
"I will try hard."