Two weeks passed.
The tension throughout Lumeris only continued to grow.
Reports arrived daily.
Military drills increased.
Supply stockpiles expanded.
And yet...
No army marched.
No banners crossed the border.
No declaration of war came.
Which somehow made everyone even more nervous.
Then the messengers arrived.
Not soldiers.
Not diplomats.
Messengers.
Sent directly from Norvoss.
The royal council chamber was unusually crowded that day.
King Cedric sat upon the throne.
nobles, generals, and advisors filled the chamber.
Ebruhan stood beside the throne, arms folded.
His eyes never left the visitors.
The lead messenger stepped forward.
He showed no fear.
No arrogance.
Only confidence.
After receiving permission to speak, he bowed respectfully.
"We have come bearing a message from Princess Selene of Norvoss."
The room became silent.
Everyone listened.
The messenger continued.
"As you are already aware..."
"Princess Selene wishes to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Several nobles immediately frowned.
Ebruhan's expression remained unreadable.
The messenger calmly produced a scroll.
"Her Highness offers the Kingdom of Lumeris an opportunity."
The room grew even quieter.
"You may join Norvoss willingly."
Several council members immediately stiffened.
Others looked openly offended.
The messenger ignored their reactions.
"Norvoss has never erased a kingdom from history."
His voice echoed through the chamber.
"When resistance is avoided, local governments remain intact."
"Trade continues."
"Citizens are protected."
"Culture is preserved."
A few nobles exchanged uneasy glances.
Because they knew that wasn't entirely a lie.
Selene's conquered territories were still functioning.
That was one reason she had become so dangerous.
The messenger lowered the scroll slightly.
"Princess Selene believes war between our nations would result in unnecessary suffering."
He looked directly toward King Cedric.
"She wishes to offer peace before blood is spilled."
The chamber remained silent.
A heavy silence.
Because everyone understood what this truly was.
Not a peace proposal.
A surrender proposal.
Wrapped in polite words.
One noble immediately stood.
"Outrageous!"
Another slammed a fist against the table.
"You dare walk into our kingdom and demand submission?"
Several others voiced similar objections.
The atmosphere rapidly grew heated.
The messenger remained calm.
"With respect."
"No demand has been made."
"Only an offer."
That somehow made several nobles even angrier.
Ebruhan finally spoke.
His deep voice instantly silenced the room.
"An offer?"
The messenger turned toward him.
"Yes."
Ebruhan's golden eyes narrowed.
"If we refuse?"
The messenger didn't hesitate.
"Then Norvoss will proceed accordingly."
The answer was diplomatic.
Yet everyone understood the meaning.
War.
The room grew colder.
Ebruhan's gaze hardened.
The messenger met his eyes without flinching.
An impressive feat considering who stood before him.
Finally, King Cedric rose from his throne.
Immediately, silence returned.
The messenger bowed respectfully.
The king descended a few steps.
His expression calm.
Controlled.
Royal.
"You speak well."
The messenger inclined his head.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Cedric nodded once.
Then his voice became firm.
"Lumeris has existed long before Selene."
The room listened.
"It has survived monsters."
"It has survived famine."
"It has survived war."
His gaze settled upon the messenger.
"And it will survive this as well."
The messenger remained silent.
Waiting.
Cedric's answer came without hesitation.
"Lumeris does not belong to Norvoss."
The king's voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"It belongs to its people."
A pause.
Then:
"And I will not surrender it."
The messenger slowly closed the scroll.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then he bowed respectfully.
"I understand."
His expression did not change.
The messenger remained calm despite the tension filling the chamber.
"Your Majesty..."
He lowered his head slightly.
"But think carefully."
His voice echoed through the council hall.
"Do you truly wish to spill blood for no reason?"
Several nobles frowned.
A few looked ready to shout again.
But before anyone could speak, King Cedric raised a hand.
Silence returned instantly.
The king turned his gaze toward one of the kingdom's veteran generals.
"General."
The armored man immediately stepped forward.
"Yes, my king?"
Cedric's voice was calm.
Steady.
"Will you and your soldiers stand and fight if our kingdom is threatened?"
The general didn't hesitate.
Not even for a heartbeat.
His hand moved to his chest.
A soldier's salute.
"Without a single doubt, Your Majesty."
His voice rang throughout the chamber.
"We swore our lives to this kingdom long ago."
Several officers nodded.
The general continued.
"If our homeland is endangered..."
"We will fight."
"If our people are threatened..."
"We will fight."
"And if necessary..."
His eyes hardened.
"We will die defending them."
The chamber fell silent.
Not because of fear.
Because every person present knew he meant every word.
The messenger quietly listened.
His expression remained composed.
Yet even he seemed to understand the weight of those words.
King Cedric slowly turned back toward him.
The king's gaze was unwavering.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"Tell Princess Selene this."
His voice carried throughout the hall.
"Lumeris will not join Norvoss."
The messenger remained silent.
Cedric took another step forward.
"This kingdom was not built through submission."
"It was built through the sacrifices of those who came before us."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And I will not trade their legacy for comfort."
The messenger slowly lowered his head.
Acknowledging the answer.
Acknowledging the refusal.
"I understand, Your Majesty."
For the first time, there was genuine disappointment in his voice.
Not anger.
Not hostility.
Just disappointment.
Because everyone present knew what this meant.
The final chance for peace had just slipped away.
-------
King Cedric remained standing as the messenger departed.
The massive doors of the council chamber slowly closed .
The sound echoed throughout the hall.
For several moments, nobody spoke.
Nobody needed to.
Everyone understood what had just happened.
The king's gaze swept across the room.
Generals.
Advisors.
Nobles.
Ebruhan.
Every one of them was waiting for his words.
Cedric drew a slow breath.
Then spoke.
"Everyone."
The chamber immediately straightened.
"Prepare."
Just one word.
Yet it carried the weight of a kingdom.
The king descended the steps of his throne.
"Lumeris has chosen its path."
His voice remained calm.
"We did not choose this war."
"But we will not run from it either."
The general who had spoken earlier clenched a fist against his chest.
Several commanders followed suit.
The atmosphere in the room changed.
Fear was still present.
But now determination stood beside it.
Cedric continued.
"Increase border patrols."
"Mobilize reserve forces."
"Secure food supplies."
"Prepare evacuation plans for civilians near vulnerable regions."
One order after another.
Each practical.
Each necessary.
The advisors quickly began writing.
Generals exchanged looks.
Plans that had existed only on paper would soon become reality.
Finally, Cedric looked toward Ebruhan.
The blue dragon met his gaze.
"Ebruhan."
"Yes, my king."
"If war comes..."
The king paused.
"...bring our people home."
For a brief moment, the Royal Protector Dragon lowered his head.
Not as a soldier.
Not as a weapon.
But as a guardian.
"I will."
The answer was simple.
Yet everyone trusted it.
Cedric nodded.
Then turned back to the council.
His voice rang through the chamber one final time.
"Lumeris will stand."
The words settled over the room like steel.
Not a boast.
Not a threat.
A promise.
Around the chamber, hands tightened around sword hilts.
Commanders straightened.
Nobles exchanged determined looks.
And Ebruhan silently gazed through a nearby window toward the distant horizon.
Toward Norvoss.
Toward the storm that was coming.
For weeks, everyone had been waiting.
Wondering.
Preparing.
Now there was no more uncertainty.
No more diplomacy.
No more offers.
Only the calm before the battlefield.
And somewhere far away, Princess Selene was undoubtedly preparing her own council for the same future.
The game of words was ending.
The game of armies was about to begin.