The ground trembled as the army of Fallhaven marched swiftly toward the main city of Rond, where the estate of the late Duke Francis stood.

  Anton Rond, the Duke’s eldest son and heir to the title, paced restlessly in his father’s study. He knew his father’s grand plan had collapsed. The spies had long since fled the battlefield and brought grim news.

  Who could have guessed that bastard Sorgaz had such powerful fighters hidden among his ranks? He even killed Father while wearing the finest gear Rond ever forged. Anton slammed his boot against the desk, fear clawing at his chest.

  “ I have to negotiate… anything I can. The Fiend won’t forgive this. ” His voice cracked as defeat settled in. He was the head of the family now. If he failed, the name Rond would vanish.

  Then the city of Le Colma shook violently. The estate quivered as the barrier surrounding the city rippled, fractured, and shattered, exploding into countless shards that rained down like glittering fairy dust.

  One strike from Theodor at full power had obliterated it.

  The remaining soldiers clung to what courage they had, forming a desperate line and thrusting their spears toward the advancing enemy.

  Nerva burst through the main gates, his metal aura detonating in a deafening blast that crushed all resistance. Like a meteor of molten silver, he tore through the ranks, killing most of the men in an instant.

  “ Anyone who wants to live, drop your weapons and get on the ground! ” he roared.

  Those who survived trembled and obeyed. The Ember Guard stormed in, chaining them with arg-metal shackles that severed their mana. Overhead, the Winged Squadron swept through the skies, sniping any would-be ambushers.

  In one decisive strike, the outer city fell. Theo and Nerva led the rest of the army deeper into the streets, where terrified inhabitants locked themselves inside their homes, sobbing and screaming.

  “ I am Theodor Sorgaz, rightful ruler of Fallhaven!” Theo’s voice thundered across the city. “Your Duke struck first and paid with his life. Do nothing foolish, and you will live. Only the Rond family will answer for this.”

  The streets shook beneath their march. No one resisted. The last soldiers surrendered, and Rond’s fate was sealed.

  ***

  The duke’s estate was shielded by a formidable barrier, but before Theo could shatter it, the shimmering wall flickered and receded. The gates swung open.

  “Welcome. Please enter, the Lord Anton awaits you,” said an elderly man in a pristine butler’s uniform, bowing with practiced grace.

  Theo scoffed and strode forward, Nerva at his side. Behind them came the commanders and a handful of Ember Guards; the rest had scattered through the city to hunt down any lingering rebels.

  Inside the grand mansion, Theo’s voice thundered through the gathering hall:

  ?“ Every son of Francis, come here this instant, or I’ll bring this house of cards crashing down!”

  He dragged a chair to the center of the hall and sat, his presence radiating menace. Nerva and the others stood like silent sentinels behind him.

  Anton appeared first, followed by three more men. They looked to be in their thirties, but appearances meant little in Sacra. The wealthy could live for millennia, their bodies preserved by mana. Yet without advancing further on the path of fighters or mages, even mana could not halt the slow decay of time.

  The four assembled before Theo, hatred burning in their eyes.

  “Keep staring at me like that,” Theo warned, his voice low and dangerous. “You might lose an eye or two.”

  Anton opened his mouth, but Theo cut him off with a snarl:

  “First things first, you speak when I allow it. Now, who can tell me why your father called the Voiceless to murder my brother, my niece, and my sister-in-law? If no one answers, one of you loses a finger. Every minute I wait, another finger goes.”

  Heat shimmered in the air as his aura flared. Behind him, Nerva’s silver radiance blazed so fiercely that even Pius and the other commanders shifted uneasily.

  Anton spoke first, voice trembling: “They know nothing of Father’s dealings. Please, spare them.”

  “Wrong answer. Another one and off goes the finger.” Theo’s gaze was merciless.

  Anton swallowed hard. “Father was contacted by the League first, I swear it. They wanted information about your highness’s brother and a way to reach him and his family. My foolish father thought he could provoke you, have the League kill you as well. That is the truth, I swear on my core.” He pressed his fist to his chest, the gesture of honesty in Sacra.

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  Theo sat in silence for a long moment. “Hmph. I see. Doesn’t matter who started it, the deed is done.” His voice was cold steel. “Do you know what happened to Cecily Sorgaz? Her body was never found.”

  Anton shook his head. “Only that the mission failed. The League cast them out after that. We know nothing more.”

  Theo exhaled slowly. “Then I’ll dig deeper myself. For now, your family is finished ruling Rond. This land falls under Fallhaven now. Understood?”

  “The hell it will! This has been our land for ages!” one brother roared, only to be silenced by Anton’s brutal slap, blood spilling from a split lip.

  “Forgive him, your highness,” Anton said, bowing low, hatred simmering in his eyes.

  Theo’s lips curled into a predatory smile. “You… I could use. You hate me, yet you choose the right path. Sign a death oath with me, and I might let you govern these lands as my vassal. Taxes will be light, but your best artisans will move to Fallhaven. Rond becomes a hub for mining and refining. Nothing more.”

  The brothers stiffened, rage boiling beneath their skin.

  “There’s no other way, is there?” Anton asked, voice hollow.

  Theo’s aura surged, heat rippling across the marble floor. “There is…” His eyes burned like molten iron. “Death.”

  The four men trembled before the Grand Master’s presence.

  Anton bowed deeply. “I understand. I’ll do whatever it takes to save my family.”

  “Good.” Theo produced a black parchment pulsing with eerie magic. “Sign with your heartblood, all of you. Betray me, and you die instantly. I’ll know and burn this estate to ash with you inside… Don’t be foolish.”

  One by one, the brothers exhaled and signed. Black threads snaked from the parchment, burrowing into their chests, coiling around their hearts.

  Theo tucked the contract away. “Pius, stay here with the Ember Guard and Sentinels. Audit their ledgers. Summarize Rond’s wealth. Establish trade routes with Fallhaven and beyond.”

  “Yes, sir!” Pius saluted sharply.

  Theo turned back to the brothers. “Two of you come with me, as collateral. You and your families. Decide who. Those who remain will serve as my vassals. Keep your titles, but your riches are mine. You’ll have enough to play nobles under my rule. Nothing more.”

  “Is that necessary? We’ve signed the contract,” one brother began.

  Theo’s glare silenced him. “You’ll do as I say. You have hours to choose.” He rose, his presence suffocating. “Anton, you stay. Summon your best forgers, artisans, and magetech researchers. I want to see who’s worth taking.”

  He smirked and strode toward the doors, the air inside too stifling for him.

  Anton bowed, resentment etched into his face, and sent messengers to gather the council.

  ***

  After some time, the gathering hall of the duke’s estate filled with angry crafters and artisans. Most were Cinderfolk, but among them stood humans, beastmen, and even a few Nords, a towering race of human-like giants, each over two and a half meters tall. Their bodies were sculpted with muscle and raw power. Even as apprentices, they could match knights of other races thanks to their blessed physiques. Yet strength wasn’t their only claim to fame; their leatherwork was prized across all of Sacra.

  “What is this nonsense, Anton?” a Cinderfolk shouted, his voice sharp with fury. “We were promised safety to create freely, and now an army storms our gates because of your father’s greed!”

  “He’s right!” a Nord bellowed, his deep voice echoing through the hall. “Low taxes and fine housing mean nothing if we have to live in fear of armies burning our homes!”

  Anton raised his hand, cutting through the uproar. “I understand your anger. But know this, Father is dead. His attack failed.” Silence fell like a blade.

  “And things will change from now on.” The doors opened, and Theo strode in with Nerva at his side. Anton stiffened as Theo whispered, “Show them.”

  Nerva obeyed, tossing a shriveled corpse onto the floor, the remains of Duke Francis. Anton’s breath caught, grief and rage twisting inside him, but the dark thread of fear strangled any thought of defiance.

  Theo’s voice was cold steel. “This is what happens to those who plot against me. But those who help my kingdom prosper? I reward them generously.” His gaze swept the room. “Stay here if you wish. I will not punish you. But if you come with me, you’ll pay only five percent tax. I’ll build you a district dedicated to crafting, where you can create without limits. My goal is simple: to forge the greatest center of weapon and artifact production in all of Eastsun.”

  An old Cinderfolk with hair like ash spoke up. “How do we know you can protect us? We were promised the same here.”

  Theodor smirked. Then he unleashed his aura. Power surged like a storm, shaking the hall to its foundations. Men paled. Anton trembled. A Grand Master… Now he understood why his father had fallen.

  A human magetech artisan raised a hand nervously. “Perhaps… we don’t all need to move. Some prefer it here. But we could link both cities with a teleportation circle. The distance is short.”

  Theodor’s smile widened. “That works for me. We’ll build the circle.”

  The man hesitated, then blurted proudly, “Actually, I’ve already built a space-navigation gyro artifact. It can reprogram the coordinates of the existing circle and link it to a new location. Since we already have the circle, the duke used to attack you, we can repurpose it.”

  The room froze. Theodor’s eyes narrowed. “So… you helped with the attack?”

  The artisan paled, bowing low. “Forgive me! It was the duke’s order!”

  Theodor’s voice was ice. “Then you’ll work for me as you did for him, to repay your debt.”

  He turned to the crowd. “Here’s the deal: finish what you have here, then join us in Fallhaven if you choose. Once the circle is operational, those who move will receive full funding to craft whatever weapons and artifacts their minds can imagine, no matter how dangerous.”

  With that, Theodor and Nerva left. Murmurs erupted instantly, some thrilled at the promise of a Grand Master’s protection, others wary. But all knew one truth: everything was about to change.

  Anton stood in silence as servants lifted his father’s broken body, carrying it to the family catacombs.

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