“Home-landers of the Golden Roundtable, wake yourselves. The Chief and Elders are making their statement. You have been summoned.”

  I had already been awake for hours now, visions of Antarc’s story plaguing my mind. So many questions unanswered. The rest of my guildmates jolt awake in a cold sweat. Seems like we could all use some respite. I need to brush these self-pitying thoughts away. Today is monumental, and focus is required. I cannot lose sight of our goal. No declaration of war will knock me off my path.

  I hop off my bed in tandem with my friends, as we all change into our garments– This time we do not forget our weapons. We march out into the cold square accompanied by a Navaen escort as he navigates us through the crowd of civilians and soldiers alike, pushing us to the forefront of the speech. A legion of around thirty elite Navaen warriors stand shoulder to shoulder in the center of a large wooden amphitheater. Towering wooden columns stand in each corner, all bearing a Navaen flag with a streak of blood across the middle. The Elders stand in front of them, each sitting on an expensive-looking cushion. At the very front, standing on a podium, is the BloodFrost Imperator, Chief Raeis Fawra. The air surrounding him is chilling, the flame of the torches lit on the outpost being my only source of relief.

  He lifts his spear up towards the clear morning sky.

  “INVICTA NAVAE!”

  He slams the bottom of his spear into the floor, creating a shockwave of dust.

  “My kin, my people, my family. What was meant to be a night of happiness– Of family– Of hope— was tarnished. Spat upon. Defiled by the blood-soaked hands that have repeated similar offenses for a multitude of lifetimes. It is on this day today, where I make something abundantly clear to you. My people– we bleed for Navae, die for Navae, and love for Navae. There are no people as resilient as us. We have placed our safety and our livelihood in the hands of the Song. Alas, even the Song has its limits. We have withheld any direct offense on the Ministry and Central Authority, cowering like a mud crab, reliant on its shell. This has led us to nothing but an excess of bloodshed– unnecessary sacrifice– and most of all, betrayal. Not a betrayal of one another, but a betrayal of our core values. I take accountability as your chief in not retaliating sooner. I– No, we have now paid the price. I will ingrain these words within your mind before these tides of war consume us. No more. Death awaits our enemies, and freedom awaits our people. INVICTA NAVAE!”

  He slams his spear into the podium.

  “INVICTA NAVAE!”

  The crowd roars back viciously.

  “Go, my people. Prepare. Navae is with us all. If we go, I’ll see you in the Song. We march on a journey to Minityrsa at sunset.”

  Everyone disperses as the town square erupts into a clamor of preparation. I struggle to keep a visual on the Chief as the bodies of rushing Navaens bump into me rapidly.

  “Zadahn!” Antarc screams, extending his hand out from in the crowd pulling me forward.

  The chief is speaking to the elders. One of them shoots a piercing glare at me, alerting the five of them.

  The five of us walk down to the center of the amphitheater calmly, our weapons holstered, a chill enveloping our body as we meet the chief’s bloodlusted gaze.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Chief.” I say, now directly facing him.

  “Where exactly do we fall in this march of yours, if you don't mind me asking?”

  “You hold no value outside of our ward, Home-lander.” He responds quickly and honestly.

  “You are not strong enough to venture to the terrors of Celtor, nor are you wealthy enough to survive on your own. And neither is your guild. Simply put, without us, you die. Out of respect for your treatment of one of my own, I will offer you the opportunity to accompany us in our upcoming war. We will pay you with mercenary contracts and things of the sort.”

  I see the sparkles emitting from the eyes of my guildmates when he says the word

  ‘Pay’. There has to be a catch.

  The Elders nod in accordance.

  “Another option I will bestow upon you is a speedier death than freedom would grant you.”

  I was so focused on his eyes that it took me a moment to notice his spear had risen up to my throat. I feel its cold edge graze my chin, as Elder Azarro guides Raeis’ spear back down.

  I swallow my words.

  “Enough, Raeis. Do not threaten them.”

  Elder Narza says sternly.

  The Chief lowers his spear, and I almost burst out in a sigh of relief.

  “We accept. We accept, Chief Raeis, sir.”

  “ A wise choice. When we emerge victorious in wiping the Ministry and its false prophets off of Lumen’s surface, I will prepare you all for a venture to Celtor. But beware– I cannot save you beyond the grasp of the whirlpool. The drowned gods control your fate from there. Prepare yourselves for sunset. This journey will not be forgiving. Your willpower will be tested, Home-landers. Thankfully I am no stranger to the tidings of war.”

  The elders chuckle, as Raeis holsters his spear.

  My eyes briefly flash with lightning.

  “Neither am I, Chief.”

  Charlie stammers in.

  “Y-Yeah, neither am I, s-sir!”

  Alexandria follows up.

  “None of us are, sir.”

  Antarc and Sevilla nod, as our posture fixes. Finally the Golden Roundtable is starting to show some pride. The elders stop chuckling, and a faint smirk forms across the gaunt face of the Chief, as he extends his hand outwards towards mine.

  “Do you Vow to be an ally of Navae?”

  “I do.”

  Raeis and I embrace in a handshake. It isn’t until his monstrous hand wraps around mine that the gravity of this decision set in.

  “We will head towards the docks at sunset. Our shipyard is strong. We have enough for all of our legions, as well as guests. If you have any mercenary allies, you have until sundown to contact them. We will pay handsomely. “

  He lets go.

  “Understood, Chief. See you at sunset.”

  Antarc, Sevilla, Charlie, Alexandria, Orbona and I walk silently back to our quarters, the emotion in the air palpable; fear, dread, anger, revenge. Entering our tent, we all burst into an immediate sigh of relief.

  “Gods below, Zadahn. What have you signed us up for?” Antarc starts.

  “The chief was right. We really had no other option. I trust his word.” Alexandria retorts. It’s good to know that somebody has my back.

  “Thank you, Alexandri-”

  “Shut up Zadahn.” Alexandria says.

  “Hey why don’t we all be a little kinder towards each other in these times of confusion and crises-”

  “Shut up, Charlie.” Sevilla quips.

  Orbona lets out a chuckle.

  Antarc stomps the floor, bringing tension back to the room.

  “Truly, what is our plan going forward? Are we just Navaen lackeys? Is that how we’re going to live? Putting our lives on the line killing Ministry agents with no regard for life-”

  “And what alternative would you suggest, Antarc?” I respond. “Our only alternatives seem to be starvation or execution by the Lord Regent. Take your pick.”

  Antarc looks down.

  “Why can’t they just focus on the Central Authority before the Ministry?”

  Sevilla, Alexandria, and Charlie exchange glances of confusion.

  “Huh? Why does that matter?” Alexandria inquires.

  “N-nothing, Nevermind. Whatever, you’re right. Better than biting the dust.”

  Alexandria shrugs it off.

  “Yeah it’s not the best situation, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. He promised to prepare us for a journey to the Drowned City. We’re still fighting for something. We have a chance to grasp something more. This is fate, an opportunity granted by something divine. Thank you Orbona–

  “Yeah, yeah.” Antarc interrupts my speech.

  “We’ve all seen worse, I'm sure. Who doesn’t enjoy killing a few soulless ministry henchmen?”

  Sevilla snaps her fingers in excitement.

  “I wonder if I'll have any time to learn some Navaen recipes.”

  “Unless those recipes include Ministry flesh and bones, I think you’re out of luck.”

  Antarcs says, flopping onto his bed.

  Charlie lets out a yawn.

  “As much as I hate to admit it, this really is the best option we have, guys.”

  “Maybe we can kill a few Voidwalkers along the way, yeah?”

  Alexandria laughs.

  “We’ve survived one night already, why not two?”

  My grip tightens around my halberd. I’m not gonna die before I see this city.