A heavy silence hung in Lenor's office.
Magical lamps flickered on the table, casting sharp shadows across the faces of those present.
Lenor sat in his chair, leaning slightly back, arms crossed. His eyes slowly scanned the room.
Elgot couldn't sit still. He kept crossing his arms, rubbing his temples, clearly struggling to hold back the urge to speak first.
Kano looked slightly tense, knowing that the moment was coming.
Lenor lightly tapped his fingers on the table and finally broke the silence.
—"Well, Elgot… You wanted to know what you missed?"
Elgot instantly tensed up.
—"Listen, I get it, things didn't go as planned, but you're all looking at me like I missed the end of the world!"
Lenor barely smiled.
—"No, not the end of the world… But maybe the beginning of it."
The tension in the room thickened.
—"I'll keep it short," Lenor said, slowly surveying the room. "When you went off, God knows where and for what reason, we started having problems. Those goblins who injured Kano and stole your staff… that wasn't a coincidence."
Elgot immediately raised his head.
—"Goblins? Those little bastards again?"
Lenor nodded.
—"Yes. But the problem is, there were too many of them. We wiped them all out, but… that's when we learned the truth."
Kano exhaled heavily, recalling the moment.
—"There were so many for a reason. They were being helped. They… were given women."
Elgot froze.
—"WHAT?"
Lenor continued in a calm, but cold voice.
—"They were brought women from different races. They were under control, they had 'masters.' Someone used them as tools, as… weapons. We found out that behind this is either a fanatical order or a group of madmen driven by unknown motives."
Elgot clenched his teeth.
—"ARE YOU SERIOUS?! — He jumped up, waving his hands. — I LEAVE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, AND YOU UNCOVER A CONSPIRACY THAT USES WOMEN AS A MEANS OF CREATING ARMIES?!"
Rudgard shook his head grimly.
—"We wiped out the goblins. But what they did… will never be forgotten."
Elgot nervously shook his hands, as though trying to shake off his frustration.
—"AND WHAT ELSE?! TELL ME EVERYTHING!"
Lenor gave a brief glance at Kano and continued.
—"Before the battle with the goblins, Kano found a collar."
Elgot immediately fell silent.
—"What collar?"
Lenor glanced toward the burnt piece of metal lying nearby.
—"A demonic dog's collar. It was left in the ruins of an old temple, and someone was watching it."
Elgot leaned back, crossing his arms, but there was a fire in his eyes.
—"Alright… Alright… Now this is getting interesting."
Lenor calmly continued.
—"But that's not all. When we realized this could happen again, I formed a reconnaissance team."
Elgot guessed immediately.
—"You added people you didn't trust, to test them?"
Lenor gave a slight nod.
—"Exactly. But the mission didn't go as planned. On the second day, they ran into a manticore."
Elgot raised his hands to his face.
—"I'm already afraid to ask… And then what?"
Lenor spoke calmly.
—"Kano killed it."
Elgot sharply raised his head.
—"OH, WHAT A GUY! — He slammed his hands on the table loudly. — MAYBE HE ALSO KISSED A DRAGON IN THE ASS?!"
Kano shrugged.
—"There was no dragon there…"
Elgot quickly sat back down.
—"Oh gods… I don't even know whether to laugh or cry."
Lenor continued, and even Naira seemed a little tense at this point.
—"But it didn't end there. They fell into a dungeon. And there… Kano defeated the Harbinger of Death."
Elgot just collapsed to the floor in a heap.
—"AAAAAAHHH!"
He started rolling on the floor, grabbing his head.
—"THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! THE HARbINGER OF DEATH?! YOU'RE KIDDING ME?! MAYBE HE ALSO WENT TO HAVE TEA WITH THE DARK GOD?!"
Kano shrugged again.
—"There was no dark god…"
Elgot jumped up, pointing a finger at him.
—"You're going to kill me, kid! I can see it in your eyes!"
Lenor calmly continued.
— "That's not all."
Elgot immediately fell silent.
— "What...?"
Lenor said quietly.
— "Do you know who Selina really is?"
Elgot felt like he might actually lose his mind now.
The silence in the room returned. But this time, it was different. Tense. Electric.
Elgot was still standing, his hands pressed against the table, breathing heavily. His eyes narrowed as his gaze shifted from Lenor to Kano, then to Naira, Ragnar, Rudgard, and finally, it stopped at the door of the neighboring room, where Selina was sleeping.
— "What did you just say…?" His voice was unnaturally quiet.
Lenor calmly crossed his arms.
— "I said: do you know who Selina really is?"
Elgot remained silent. Hundreds of possibilities swirled in his mind.
— "Is she… some powerful priestess? An avatar of a goddess? An incarnation of some cursed soul? WHAT?!"
Lenor leaned slightly forward and coldly spoke.
— "She's Princess Estelaris."
The silence in the room exploded.
Elgot froze. Ragnar furrowed his brow. Naira clenched her fists. Rudgard cleared his throat. Kano… well, Kano just waited for the mage's reaction.
— "...You're kidding, right?"
Lenor shook his head calmly.
Elgot took a deep breath, and then...
— "AAAAAAHHHHH!"
He grabbed his head, slammed it against the wall, started pacing the room with long strides, then stopped in front of Lenor, glaring at him with fury, and shouted:
— "GO TO HELL!"
Lenor only smiled slyly.
— "Oh, it's alright…"
— "NO! IT'S NOT ALRIGHT!" Elgot waved his hands. — "YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE GIRL WHO JUST TURNED INTO A HEALER SAINT IS ALSO THE HEIR TO A ROYAL FAMILY?!"
Lenor gave a slight nod.
Elgot turned sharply to Kano.
— "AND YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS?!"
Kano raised his hands.
— "No, no, seriously! I just found out."
Elgot crossed his arms over his chest and took a deep breath.
— "Oh gods… Fine. Now, tell me everything."
Lenor settled more comfortably in his chair.
— "Her father was killed. And the throne was taken by her uncle – Lokris."
Elgot rolled his eyes.
— "Of course! How could it not be a bloody coup?!"
— "I didn't know she was here," Lenor continued. "She's been under observation since the moment she escaped. But I only found out about her true origin recently."
— "And you took her in?"
— "Exactly."
— "And together, you came up with a new name for her?"
— "Exactly."
Elgot slowly sank into a chair and laid his head on the table.
— "And now what? You think she might be exposed?"
Lenor nodded seriously.
— "Yes."
— "And we're screwed again?"
— "Yes."
Elgot lifted his head.
— "So what now, wise strategist?"
Lenor sighed heavily.
— "We're talking about what happened after that."
He turned his gaze to the people in the room.
— "Do you know what happened to the second kingdom?"
Elgot froze.
— "No..."
Lenor sighed heavily.
— "Listen carefully."
Lenor slowly turned his gaze to Elgot, his voice even, but there was something heavy in it, something that made the heart tighten.
— "After Lokris took the throne, he didn't stop. He moved south. His next victim was the kingdom of Lianesa Virenia."
Elgot exhaled tensely.
— "Did she fight back?"
Lenor shook his head.
— "No. She made a choice."
Elgot squinted.
— "What choice?"
Lenor answered slowly:
— "She disbanded the army."
The room filled with a heavy silence.
— "WHAT?!" — Elgot's voice hit the walls of the office. — "WHY?"
— "Because she knew she had no chance. That her people couldn't win. If they raised arms, they would simply be slaughtered."
Elgot stood up, his fingers clenching into fists.
— "So what did she do?"
Lenor met his gaze.
— "She went out to her people. In a white dress, without a crown, without symbols of power."
Elgot shook his head.
— "It can't be..."
— "She knelt. Right in front of Lokris."
The mage leaned forward sharply.
— "She begged him, right?"
Lenor gritted his teeth.
— "She begged. She begged him to take her, here and now… but not to touch her people."
Elgot quickly looked away, as though he couldn't bear to hear this.
— "She said that he could do whatever he wanted to her," — Lenor's voice was cold as steel. — "But the people must remain safe."
Elgot gritted his teeth, but Lenor continued.
— "And do you know what?"
The mage slowly lifted his eyes.
— "He did just that."
A stone-like silence fell over everyone, as if a rock had been dropped into a deep well.
Lenor no longer spoke in riddles.
— "He made her lie down before him. Right on the cobblestones. In the town square."
Elgot froze.
— "No..."
— "And he took her. In front of everyone."
The mage choked, gripping the table so tightly that it creaked.
— "But that wasn't enough," — Lenor continued. — "He made the people watch."
Elgot gasped for air.
— "Lokris' warriors stood around, watching, making sure no one dared to look away. And do you know what?"
Elgot didn't answer.
— "Those who turned their eyes away... died."
Lenor clenched his teeth.
— "An old man closed his eyes. Lokris' warriors thrust a blade into his throat."
Elgot gripped the table, trying to steady his breath.
— "The woman who tried to hide her son's face was cut in half."
— "ENOUGH!" — Elgot erupted.
Lenor paused, but his eyes remained dark, like an abyss.
— "It lasted for a long time," — he added coldly. — "The people stood and watched. They couldn't do anything."
Elgot slowly sank into his chair, his chest rising and falling heavily.
— "And her?"
Lenor met his gaze.
— "She didn't make a sound."
Elgot froze.
— "What...?"
— "She remained silent."
Elgot blinked, unable to believe what he was hearing.
— "She didn't scream. Didn't cry."
Lenor barely tightened his fingers.
— "She gave herself up, but even in that moment... she denied him the pleasure of her suffering."
Elgot gasped for breath.
— "She just... silently endured?"
Lenor nodded.
— "She lay there, looking at the sky, while her people stood before her. She surrendered... But Lokris didn't get what he wanted most."
Elgot grabbed his head.
— "Lokris... IS FINISHED."
Lenor nodded.
— "But first, we need to gather our strength."
Elgot ran his hand over his face.
— "Where is she now?"
Lenor met his gaze.
— "She's in his hands."
Elgot didn't ask anything more. His body trembled with rage.
— "We'll take her."
Lenor nodded.
— "We'll save her."
Lenor slowly sighed, turning his gaze to Kano.
— "Tell him where you found it."
Kano silently pulled a black shard of stone from his bag.
Elgot immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
The stone looked… wrong. It seemed darker than darkness itself. Its surface was covered with engraved symbols that seemed to move when you looked at them.
Rudgard quietly exhaled.
— "What the hell..."
Elgot turned his gaze to him.
— "What is this?"
The dwarf silently reached out, touched the shard, and immediately pulled his hand back as though burned.
— "This..."
Lenor exhaled heavily.
— "It was in the cave where they fought the demon."
Elgot squinted.
— "Which demon?"
Kano clenched the shard in his hand.
— "The Harbinger of Death."
Silence filled the room.
Elgot's eyes widened.
— "YOU KILLED THE HARBINGER OF DEATH?!"
Kano shrugged.
— "He attacked, I responded."
Elgot dropped his jaw, then quickly clenched his fists.
— "That's one of the most terrifying demons that can appear in this world! Their names are engraved in books kept in sealed archives! And you just say 'I responded'?!"
Kano licked his lips.
— "Not exactly 'just'."
Elgot turned to Lenor, who silently watched everything, his arms crossed.
— "And you just let this fool fight a creature of that level?!"
Lenor smiled.
— "He won."
Elgot glared at him furiously.
— "You..."
He had already opened his mouth to curse, but then his gaze shifted to the shard.
— "Wait... You said it was IN HIS BODY?"
Kano nodded.
— "Yes."
Lenor added:
— "This shard was attached to him, like a talisman."
Elgot froze.
His breathing grew heavier.
He slowly reached out and touched the stone.
...And in that instant, something tightened sharply around his heart.
His body seemed to freeze, and something black, otherworldly, something formless but full of will, flashed before his eyes.
Elgot quickly pulled his hand back, gasping for air.
— "This... is not just a shard."
His voice was hoarse.
— "It's part of something much bigger."
He ran his hand over his face, trying to calm himself.
— "If it were just an artifact, it wouldn't leave such a mark."
Lenor nodded.
— "So, it's not just a symbol of ownership."
Rudgard frowned.
— "If it was on the Harbinger of Death's body..."
Elgot slowly lifted his head.
— "Then he was part of this, or its servant."
The room sank into an even deeper silence.
Lenor finally spoke.
— "And if this seal was already on him, then it was broken before you ever arrived there."
Elgot inhaled deeply.
— "That means someone or something broke it."
His voice turned cold.
— "And there's only one question left..."
He looked at everyone, his eyes gleaming in the twilight.
— "What came out?"
The room in Lenor's office was once again filled with heavy silence. Everyone sat, realizing the gravity of the situation. The air was thick, almost suffocating from the tension.
Lenor slowly turned his gaze to Kano and calmly said:
— "You need to find all the artifacts."
Elgot, who had been holding himself back, suddenly exploded:
— "WONDERFUL! JUST WONDERFUL! AND HE CAN'T KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT!"
Kano stared at him, but Lenor remained calm. He turned back to the young man:
— "Kano."
He looked at him warily.
— "Yes?"
Lenor nodded.
— "Show him."
Kano didn't understand right away, but then his thoughts formed the command on their own.
A helmet.
Just one thought — and it instantly materialized, as if it had materialized from the air, settling over Kano's head.
Elgot froze.
His eyes widened.
— "THIS CAN'T BE…"
He suddenly jerked back, nearly knocking over a chair, and stared at Kano as if he had seen a ghost.
— "DAMN IT! HOW?!"
Ragnar and Naira also stared at the young man in shock.
Lenor smiled, watching the mage's reaction.
— "You were asking where his helmet was?"
Elgot sharply exhaled, placing his hands on his head.
— "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!"
Lenor laughed.
— "He didn't lose it when he crawled into the next hole, as you assumed. He controls it."
Elgot grimaced.
— "Controls it?"
Lenor nodded.
— "Yes. And if this is true, then Kano will be able to find the other artifacts."
Elgot ran a hand over his face, then heavily sat down in his chair.
— "So... we're really going after these things?"
Lenor crossed his arms.
— "Exactly."
Elgot sighed, then raised his head.
— "What's next?"
Lenor turned his gaze to everyone present.
— "We gather a group and head to the kingdom of the dwarves."
Rudgard crossed his arms.
— "Smart choice. If the boots are really there, we'll find them first."
Elgot grimaced.
— "And who are we taking on this reconnaissance mission?"
Lenor immediately answered.
— "Kano."
— "Predictable..."
— "Lianel."
— "Good choice."
— "Rudgard."
Elgot raised an eyebrow.
— "That dwarf again?"
Rudgard smirked sarcastically.
— "Someone has to show you the way underground."
Lenor continued.
— "Naira."
Elgot glanced at the orc.
— "You're not going to agree, are you?"
Naira sighed silently and crossed her arms.
— "I'm going."
Elgot raised an eyebrow in surprise.
— "Something's off here..."
Lenor turned his head to Selina.
— "She's coming too."
Elgot dropped the cup he had just picked up.
— "WHAT THE HELL IS SELINA DOING HERE?!"
He sharply turned to Lenor.
— "ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!"
Lenor remained unfazed.
— "She'll be safer there than here."
Elgot ran his hands over his face.
— "You've got to be kidding me..."
He lifted his head and stared at Lenor.
— "And we're just taking the young Estelaris heir on this mission, like it's a walk in the woods?!"
Lenor calmly replied:
— "Exactly."
Elgot sighed, then grimaced.
— "Fine. If this absurdity is actually going to happen, then tell me… where's Lurk?"
Lenor raised an eyebrow.
— "Lurk?"
— "Yes, Lurk!" — Elgot growled, raising his arms. — "I need that wolf!"
Kano looked up, puzzled.
— "Wolf?"
Elgot looked at him as if he were a complete idiot.
— "He's exactly who we need. And in general, shut up while the smart people are talking."
Kano rolled his eyes.
Lenor calmly nodded.
— "Lurk is on a mission right now."
Elgot clenched his fists.
— "And when will he be back?"
— "I don't know."
— "Then send him after us!"
Lenor didn't immediately respond, as if weighing all the options.
Elgot continued:
— "He's one of the best in this guild, you know that perfectly well!"
Lenor slowly exhaled, running his hand across the table.
— "He's also very needed here."
Elgot grimaced.
— "So you're refusing?"
Lenor looked at him carefully.
— "I'm not saying 'no.' I'm saying he'll join you when he finishes his task."
Elgot fell silent for a moment, considering Lenor's words.
— "So, when he gets back…"
— "He'll join you," — Lenor finished.
Elgot narrowed his eyes, then nodded.
— "Fine."
He extended his hand.
Lenor smiled and shook it.
— "It's settled then."
— "Fine… And when do we leave?"
— "Tomorrow."
Elgot leaned on the table, exhaling heavily.
— "So, it's not just dungeons, not just searching for artifacts… But also dwarven caves… Wonderful. Just wonderful!"
Lenor turned his gaze to everyone.
— "Prepare yourselves. We leave at dawn."
Elgot nervously laughed, raising his hands:
— "Yeah, of course. What could possibly go wrong?"
Lenor smiled faintly, but something unsettling flashed in his eyes.
Because he knew: ahead of them lay something far more terrifying than anyone could imagine on this uneasy neutral continent.