"Years have passed," Ragnar began, his voice deep, "since we last locked blades with the people of Björn."
He paused, his jaw tightening as the memory darkened his eyes. "A war that cost us our most brilliant leaders, my own mother and father." Despite his stoic reputation, his voice wavered, the raw ache of personal loss cutting through his regal composure.
"Yet, through their profound sacrifices and the grace of the Moon Goddess, we emerged victorious. We drove our enemies back beyond our borders, and in our triumph, we even secured new lands to call our own."
He swept his gaze across the assembled councilors, meeting their eyes one by one, his expression hardening with a grim intensity. "But in winning that war, we paid a price far greater than blood or territory. We lost something of inestimable value, a spiritual tether that marked our great kingdom as one of the beloved children of the Goddess."
