The next morning ofcourse felt different, and right now every mage was slowly stepping out of their rooms into their main guild room, fully clothed in their guild uniforms.

Except the captain, The other female mages of ravens grave today were totally off, and for good reason.

Laela had red and swollen eyes, evidently she had been crying the whole night and didn't get any sleep at all.

She also looked furious and no one was trying to be on the wrong side of her that morning as she walked into the Main Room in her uniform.

Arianna had a solemn look on face, and it also looked like she didn't get much sleep either, especially as she shared a room with Laela who made sobbing sounds that gnawed at her chest.

At some point, when she couldn't take the burning feeling of guilt anymore, she stepped out and walked to the main room, spending the rest of her short night there.

Elena on her part ended up trying to comfort Laela all night. She understood that it must've really hurt having to see her lover kissing another girl, and worse when you share a room with this other girl.

Aiden himself did not have the best look too, but his focus was more on the outcome of this war. Dealing with any other thing would have to wait till after this war was done.

To not leave Xathia entirely defenseless, Oberon only asked the captains to come along with two-third of their guild members.

And so after the members of ravens grave filed out into the guild room, The Captain proceeded to select the her two-third who would be going to war.

She called out the names of those who would not be going, this included Bernard, Rick, Oliver, Fred, and a few others.

Fred was made to stay because asides Piers and Elena, he was the only other older member of the guild and she entrusted looking after the rest to him. He didn't protest this cause he understood duty.

Oliver however did. He wanted to prove himself, and maybe after this, earn enough merit stars to climb the next rank like the rest of his friends. But Katherine deemed him too young to be having an experience of what war felt like.

Soon after they all left the guild and joined up with the rest of the other guilds and soldiers at the front gates of Xathia.

…

Oberon was seated on a white horse, about to address an army of about ten thousand soldiers in total.

The Captains and their Mages wearing different colored uniforms stood infront Xathian Soldiers.

Xathian soldiers were lined up in a formation to one side, and the soldiers from zahka were lined up to the other side.

And infront of the soldiers of Zahka was Lady Selene, the supreme Asura and other Asuras

Oberon began;

"Soldiers of Xathia! Warriors of Zakha! Today, we stand united as one force with a singular purpose!"

He paused, letting his words settle over the crowd.

"For generations, we have lived in the shadow of House Crowley. We accepted their claim to supremacy simply because a Dragon's lair was in a place they called capital!"

His voice grew stronger, more passionate.

"But I ask you - what have the Crowleys done ever done for this continent?

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the assembled forces.

"Thyrak has abandoned them, and the truth is laid bare for all to see - the Crowleys are no different from any other ruling house. They bleed like we bleed. They fear like we fear. And without their dragon, they are NOTHING!"

Oberon's voice rose to a thunderous crescendo.

"So I ask you, warriors of Xathia and Zakha - will you follow me into glory? Will you help me write a new chapter in the history of our world? Will you stand with me as we tear the crown from the Crowleys and place it where it belongs - on the head of a ruler who EARNED it through strength and vision?"

The crowd began to roar. "YES!"

"Will you bleed with me?"

"YES!"

"Will you CONQUER with me?"

"YES! YES! YES!"

Oberon thrust his sword toward the direction of Dragonhold.

"Then let us march! Let the Crowleys tremble in their halls! Let them call for their dragon who will never come! And when we stand victorious in their throne room, let all the kingdoms know - the age of false kings is over!

The armies erupted in thunderous cheers, weapons clashing against shields, voices rising in a war cry that echoed across the plains.

With that, the march to dragonhold began behind Lord Oberon who led the way.

….

Meanwhile in Dragonhold…

Jarius, his family alongside the Grand Magus, Grandal, Ursula and a few other officials were all within the throne room.

Jarius spoke to Baran, the chief of the knights. "Take the Knights with you and reach every corner of the city. Make certain that everyone is in their homes by nightfall"

"I'll see to that, Your Grace" Baran replied before bowing respectfully and leaving the throne room.

Then Jarius turned to Ursula, "I trust that your preparations are ready"

"All you need do is tell me when the time is right, your Majesty" Ursula assured

Jarius nodded confidently, he expected nothing less. Then finally he turned towards Mumbleton, "Have Elandria been informed?"

"Yes my King, Queen Arnarra assures that Elandria will always have open arms" Mumbleton replied

Then Jarius walked back to his wife, Queen Helena and both his kids. They all had very sad faces and looked like each of them were both to give into tears at any moment.

How could their own undoing be caused by Aiden, of all persons?

Both Jarius and his wife embraced each other and he caressed her hair, then he pulled away slightly and looked at his twins, Lysandra and Lucas.

"Perhaps you have bid your friends goodbye?" Jarius asked, looking at their pitiable faces.

"That won't be necessary Father. It's bad that we have to run. I won't make it worse by going to tell them" Lucas replied, although his real pain was the fact that Aiden was the reason they were going to have to leave Dragonhold.

His Nobody Stepbrother!, Aiden.

"I see." Jarius then turned towards Lysandra, "Are you certain you want to do this?"

She nodded, "Yes Father, I chose to do this remember?"

"Alright my child. But just know that at any moment your life becomes truly endangered or the champion, Ursula will pull you out" Jarius reassured her for the umpteenth time.

"I know" She replied simply.

Lysandra chose to be called onto as Dragonhold's champion.

Jarius had explained to her what had happened the day Aiden suddenly appeared at the palace, and the demand he was making.

And then when the King reconvened with his captains later on that day discuss how they could deal with the situation and who they would appoint as champion, Lysandra who had been overhearing all of their conversations from a corner within the throne room, then stepped in and volunteered herself.

She volunteered herself on the basis that Aiden would be less inclined to kill her, which made her the perfect person to stall him long enough for the rest of their plans to come into fruition.

….

Oberon and the army he commanded had arrived the land of Dragonhold, a few more hours after sundown.

While their horses slowly strode across the land, Thamoryn's crow messenger flew from a distance landed on her shoulders before disappearing.

Then she turned towards Oberon whose horse walked close to hers, and said "Your Grace, I have just confirmed. Cedric Greystone has been made Regent Of Xathia"

Without turning to look at thamoryn, he replied "Good. Now we can proceed with the contest tomorrow"

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