The hall grew quiet after the young monarch's hopeful words. Everyone turned to Riureas, waiting for his answer.
He stepped forward, his boots echoing against the marble floor. His eyes locked with the monarch's, sharp and unyielding.
Riureas: "Frostveil wants to join the Federation? Then hear this clearly. I will agree—but on one condition."
The monarch straightened, nervous but listening.
Riureas (voice cold, steady): "If the day ever comes that Frostveil raises its hand against us---no trial, no warning---you will burn to ash. This is not a threat. This is the rule."
The words struck the room like a hammer. Clara shifted uncomfortably. Elra glanced at Crystella, who said nothing. Elizabeth only folded her arms, unreadable.
The monarch lowered their head, the weight of his condition pressing on their shoulders. But after a long silence, they answered.
Frostveil Monarch: "…Then so be it. Frostveil will abide by your rule. We seek peace, not rebellion."
Riureas gave a single nod.
Riureas: "Good. Then let Frostveil rise under the Federation's banner."
The hall erupted in cheers from Frostveil's courtiers. But among Riureas's companions, the air remained tense.
Everyone understood his words carried more than politics---they were law, written by the Author himself.
The ceremony ended with Frostveil's banners lowered and the Federation's raised high beside them.
Applause and cheers echoed through the capital as the people celebrated their new beginning.
But Riureas stayed silent. His gaze drifted from the smiling faces to the monarch standing proudly before their people. A thought weighed heavily on him.
Riureas (to himself): I can't just wander off chasing truths anymore. The Federation isn't a name on a map--it's lives, families, futures… all depending on me. If I leave, even for this quest, I need to make sure they'll stand strong without me.
He clenched his fist, his aura flickering faintly. For the first time since the Federation's birth, he began to feel the full weight of leadership pressing down.
Elra noticed his silence.
Elra: "You're thinking too hard again."
He smirked slightly but didn't deny it. His eyes returned to the monarch of Frostveil.
Riureas (thoughts): Maybe… just maybe, this one can carry some of that weight. If they prove themselves.
That evening, long after the cheers in Frostveil's capital had faded, Riureas asked the young monarch to meet him privately in the hall.
Only Clara, Elra, and Elizabeth stood by his side.
The monarch arrived, still dressed in their formal robes, their expression calm but curious.
Frostveil Monarch: "You wished to see me, Lord Riureas?"
Riureas rose from his seat, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Riureas: "Yes. The Federation cannot afford weak links. I need to know if I can trust you to do more than just wear our banner."
The monarch swallowed lightly but held their ground.
Frostveil Monarch: "And how would you test me?"
Riureas stepped closer, his aura leaking just enough to weigh the air around them.
Riureas: "Simple. While I and my companions pursue the Eternal Quills, someone must guard Dusk-Land---the heart of the Federation. I want you to prove Frostveil can take that role. Keep the capital safe. Protect the people. No excuses, no failures."
The monarch's eyes widened. The task was immense: safeguarding the Federation's core while its leader ventured into the unknown.
Frostveil Monarch: "…You would trust me with that responsibility?"
Riureas (coldly): "I don't trust easily. This is not trust—it's a test. If you succeed, Frostveil will stand as a true pillar of the Federation. If you fail… then remember the rule I gave you."
Silence filled the hall. Clara looked at Riureas, half-worried, half-impressed at his bluntness.
Elra crossed her arms, curious how the monarch would answer.
Finally, the young ruler bowed low.
Frostveil Monarch: "Then I accept. For Frostveil's honor---and for the Federation's future—I will keep Dusk-Land safe."
Riureas gave a slight nod.
Riureas: "Good. Then we'll see if your kingdom's rebirth is more than just words."
Before the monarch could leave, Riureas reached into his cloak. A faint glow shimmered in his palm---a shard of deep crimson crystal, pulsing with a quiet flame.
The monarch's eyes widened.
Frostveil Monarch: "That's… Ember Relic, isn't it?"
Riureas nodded and held it out.
Riureas: "A fragment. Not strong enough to wield as a weapon, but strong enough for something else. From now on, this crystal will connect you directly to me.
Speak into it, and I'll hear.
Should Dusk-Land face danger, call---and I will come."
The monarch hesitated before taking the relic with both hands, treating it as sacred. The glow reflected in their eyes.
Frostveil Monarch: "…Then even in your absence, the Federation will never be without its Author."
Riureas's voice hardened.
Riureas: "Remember---this is not a gift. It's a bond. Break my trust, and the crystal will burn with you."
The monarch bowed deeply, clutching the relic to their chest.
Frostveil Monarch: "I understand."
As the ruler departed, Clara leaned toward Riureas with a half-smile.
Clara: "You really know how to keep people on edge, don't you?"
Riureas only shrugged, eyes fixed on the ember's fading glow.
Riureas (to himself): This way, I can lead the Federation… even from afar.
The ember shard pulsed faintly in the monarch's hand, its glow flickering like a heartbeat. For a moment, the young ruler felt warmth--then pressure, as though Riureas's presence was etched into the crystal itself.
Elizabeth, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke.
Elizabeth: "So it's just a link to your voice, then? Or… is there more to it?"
Riureas turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.
Riureas: "If I willed it, the shard could do more. In a true emergency, it will answer for me----channeling a fragment of my power. Enough to shield the capital, or to strike down an enemy. But only once. After that, the shard will turn to ash."
Clara crossed her arms, studying him.
Clara: "So it's both a lifeline… and a warning."
Riureas gave a small, cold smile.
Riureas: "Exactly. They'll know the weight of carrying it."
The hall fell into silence, the glow of the relic fading as the monarch disappeared down the corridor. Outside, Frostveil's bells rang in celebration, but Riureas's thoughts were already elsewhere----on the Eternal Quills, and the truths waiting beyond the Lake of Origins.
The wind howled across the barren stretch of land, carrying dust and grit that clung to their cloaks. The northern sky was pale and heavy, the horizon endless, broken only by the faint outlines of distant watchtowers.
Clara tugged her scarf tighter around her neck.
Clara: "This land feels… empty. Like it's waiting for something."
Riureas walked at the head of the group, his steps steady, his cloak trailing against the dirt. He didn't answer at first. Instead, his eyes lingered on the crystal shard clipped to his belt----its ember glow faint even in the gray daylight.
Finally, he spoke.
Riureas: "About the relic I gave Frostveil… you should know something. It isn't just for words. Should their kingdom face true collapse, the shard will call on me. Not in flesh, but in force."
Elra tilted her head, curious.
Elra: "Force?"
Riureas glanced back at them, his tone calm but sharp.
Riureas: "The shard can release a fragment of my power. A shield strong enough to hold back an army. A strike sharp enough to split a fortress. But once it's used… the relic will burn away."
Elizabeth smirked faintly.
Elizabeth: "So you gave them a miracle, but only once. That's cruel."
Riureas shook his head.
Riureas: "Not cruel. Fair. It forces them to choose wisely---to call me only when there is no other path."
The wind pressed harder against them, tugging at their cloaks.
Ahead, the vast expanse of the Northern Alliance stretched like an untamed frontier, its borders still raw, its crown newly claimed.
Riureas's eyes narrowed at the horizon.
Riureas (to himself): "If even they fall to weakness… then the Federation's bonds will shatter before they're truly made."
Riureas, Clara, and the others walking across the vast northern lands after leaving Frostveil. This is when Riureas quietly reveals the other truth about the ember relic.
The land stretched endlessly, nothing but cracked soil and the distant shimmer of snowcapped peaks. The wind howled across the empty plain, carrying the faint smell of ash from lands once burned by war.
Riureas walked ahead of the group, his cloak trailing faint sparks of black-red aura. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, but his voice carried back to the others.
Riureas: "That shard I gave to Frostveil… it isn't just for communication."
Clara glanced up, her curiosity piqued.
Clara: "You mean it does more than act like a messenger?"
Riureas nodded slowly.
Riureas: "Yes. The ember relic still carries fragments of the Federation's origin flame. If Frostveil ever faces destruction, I can channel a sliver of my power through it. Enough to shield the city… or to burn it down if they betray us."
The group fell silent. Even the desert wind seemed to pause at his words.
Elra frowned, uneasy.
Elra: "So it's not only a lifeline… it's a blade hanging over their heads."
Riureas finally stopped walking, looking at the cracked earth beneath his boots. His voice was firm, without a trace of doubt.
Riureas: "Trust is fragile. I can't be everywhere at once, not while searching for the Eternal Quills. If I am to leave pieces of myself behind, they must serve as both a shield… and a warning."
Crystella crossed her arms, her icy aura flaring faintly.
Crystella: "Then the ember relics are more than tools. They're your judgment."
Riureas didn't answer. He simply resumed walking, the ember glow faintly flickering in his palm before vanishing into his cloak.
The group exchanged uneasy glances, realizing that the Author's reach now extended far beyond his presence.
And above them, the vast northern sky rumbled faintly---like the world itself was aware that new powers were stirring.
The desert gave way to fields of pale blue grass that shimmered like frost under the sun. At the far end of the horizon, towers of silver and sapphire rose into the sky.
Rosa Azul.
The capital of the Northern Alliance.
Unlike Dusk-Land's fortress style, Rosa Azul looked like it had been carved from a single jewel. Bridges of glassy stone arched over glowing canals, and flowers of azure crystal bloomed from terraces that climbed the walls of the city.
The air itself carried a faint perfume, sharp but calming.
As the group entered the main gate, armored knights with cloaks of white and blue lowered their spears. But instead of hostility, they bowed deeply.
Guard Captain: "Welcome, Author. Welcome, heroes of the Federation. Rosa Azul has awaited your arrival."
Clara leaned closer to Riureas, whispering.
Clara: "They act like they've been expecting us."
Elra's eyes scanned the streets. Citizens lined the road, tossing petals that sparkled faintly in the air. Cheers rose, but there was something strange beneath it all---a tension, as though the city celebrated while holding its breath.
Riureas walked forward, calm but alert. His gaze swept over the grand plaza where a massive sapphire obelisk stood, pulsing with faint light.
From the steps of the palace, the monarch of Rosa Azul descended. Draped in robes of deep blue, their crown was carved from crystal, shining like frozen fire.
Rosa Azul Monarch: "So the Author arrives at last… and the Federation's chosen stand beside him."
Their voice echoed across the plaza, and the crowd roared.
Riureas met the monarch's eyes, his expression unreadable.
Riureas: "Rosa Azul looks beautiful. But beauty can hide cracks. Tell me----what is it that you truly want from the Federation?"
The plaza fell silent. The question cut sharper than any blade.
The monarch smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in their eyes.
Rosa Azul Monarch: "We want survival. And to survive, Author… we may need more than your blessing."
Riureas kept his gaze steady, measuring every word the monarch spoke.
Rosa Azul Monarch: "The Eastern Treaty grows hungrier by the day. Their fleets now sail farther west, their armies drill along our borders. We, the North, cannot stand alone forever. But with the Federation in the South… together, we would form an unbreakable wall."
Elizabeth folded her arms, narrowing her eyes.
Elizabeth: "And what price would the Federation pay for this wall?"
The monarch didn't flinch. Instead, they raised a hand, gesturing toward the massive sapphire obelisk in the plaza.
Rosa Azul Monarch: "Trade routes. Knowledge. And soldiers. Rosa Azul commands the Northern sea passage---if we join hands, every ship of the Eastern Treaty must pass under our shadow, or yours. Together, we could cut them off entirely."
Elra leaned toward Riureas, speaking low enough for only him to hear.
Elra: "She's right. With their navy, the East would bleed supplies before ever reaching us. But… trusting a newborn kingdom is always a risk."
Riureas didn't answer immediately. His eyes lingered on the monarch, who watched him as if trying to read his very soul.
Riureas: "Alliances forged in desperation often shatter in peace. If Rosa Azul seeks my hand, then understand this---betrayal will not end with fire. It will end with erasure."
A ripple passed through the gathered nobles and citizens at those words. Yet the monarch's smile only widened, sharp as crystal.
Rosa Azul Monarch: "Then let us pray peace never tempts us, Author. For now, survival demands unity."
The crowd erupted once more, the alliance declared in public before all. But as petals rained down on the plaza, Riureas's hand brushed the shard of Ember Relic hidden in his cloak.
He knew beauty could be a mask----and Rosa Azul, for all its splendor, was still untested.
That night, long after the cheers of the alliance ceremony faded, Riureas found himself walking the silent streets of Rosa Azul. Lanterns glowed faintly against the blue-stone walls, giving the city its name.
He wasn't here to celebrate. His eyes scanned every mural, every carved relief, every detail of the obelisk standing at the city's heart. Something about Rosa Azul whispered of the Quills.
Crystella approached from behind, her steps light on the stone.
Crystella: "You're looking for traces of them, aren't you? The Eternal Quills."
Riureas didn't turn.
Riureas: "The monarch spoke of unity, of walls against the East. But what interests me is what they didn't say. This kingdom rose too quickly. Their symbol—the sapphire obelisk—doesn't feel new. It feels ancient."
He reached out, brushing his fingers against the carvings etched into the obelisk's base. Symbols curled like frozen ink strokes, faint but familiar.
Riureas (murmuring): "Quill marks… they've been here."
Clara joined them, arms crossed, studying the stone with a critical eye.
Clara: "So the Eternal Quills aren't scattered at random. They've been shaping kingdoms long before us."
Riureas finally turned to his companions, his expression sharp.
Riureas: "Exactly. And Rosa Azul may not even realize it—but one of the Quills could be here, hidden under their own foundation."
The night wind stirred, carrying the scent of salt from the northern seas. Somewhere in the shadows of Rosa Azul, truth waited to be uncovered.
The dawn over Rosa Azul was quiet. Too quiet.
Riureas opened his eyes to the still air. Something felt wrong—terribly wrong.
He moved through the mansion's corridors, one by one checking the rooms.
And then he found them.
Clara. Elra. Crystella. Yullues. Elizabeth.
All lying lifeless. No blood. No wounds. Their bodies untouched—but their magic cores, completely drained. It was as if their very essence had been stolen away in their sleep.
The air froze around Riureas. His hands trembled, not from fear, but from a hollow silence creeping into his heart. His voice broke, but no tears followed.
Riureas (whispering): "…so this is betrayal."
Outside, bells tolled across Rosa Azul. But they weren't signals of mourning. They were war horns.
The Northern Alliance had shown its true face. Soldiers in black-and-silver armor marched through the streets, banners raised high. The city Riureas had hoped to ally with had become his enemy overnight.
Riureas stepped outside, his cloak dragging along the stone, his face cold—emptied of all warmth. His aura flickered, black and violet flames dancing along his body.
He raised his hand to the sky.
From the cracks of the earth, shadows burst forth. One after another, colossal beasts and armored wraiths clawed their way into existence. The ground trembled under the weight of a summoned army.
Riureas's voice was calm, detached.
Riureas: "If you wish for war, then war you shall have."
The sky darkened as the air filled with his summons—an endless tide of ink and flame.
Rosa Azul had betrayed the Federation. Now, it would drown in the wrath of the Author.
The capital of Rosa Azul shook beneath Riureas's power. The moment he raised his hand, the earth split open in violent cracks, black fire spilling from the void.
From the abyss, an army was born.
Shadows took shape—knights clad in armor of obsidian and ink, dragons of smoke and flame, colossal titans that blotted out the rising sun. The sky itself bent under their weight.
One after another, the ground quaked as millions upon millions poured forth. Soon their number passed a billion, their roars shaking heaven and earth.
The soldiers of the Northern Alliance froze in terror. Their banners wavered, their proud horns fell silent. Against this tide, their legions looked like ants.
At the center of it all, Riureas stood perfectly still, his face cold and empty. His aura flared like a dying star—black, violet, and crimson flames that devoured the light around him.
Riureas:
"You betrayed me. You killed them. For that, your kingdom will vanish from history.
If it takes a billion soldiers to erase Rosa Azul… then so be it."
His voice carried across the battlefield, not shouted, but spoken with such finality that it rang louder than thunder.
The army of the Author began to march, an ocean of death flooding toward the Northern Alliance.
And though deep inside Riureas knew his authority could bring Clara and the others back… the pain in his heart demanded blood first.
The Northern Alliance would pay.
The sapphire spires of Rosa Azul cracked under the weight of Riureas's summons. Crystal bridges shattered as titans of shadow crushed them beneath their steps. The once-celebrating city now rang with screams, the sound of war drowning out every memory of peace.
Northern generals scrambled to rally their soldiers, but their voices broke against the sound of the Author's army.
General: "Hold the lines! Form ranks—"
The command was cut short as a dragon of smoke descended, its breath a storm of black fire that erased the plaza in a single sweep.
The monarch of Rosa Azul stood at the steps of the palace, their once-proud face pale as ice. The ember relic Riureas had given them glowed faintly at their side, but it no longer felt like a bond—it felt like a curse.
Riureas's eyes locked on them from across the battlefield. His voice pierced the chaos, calm and merciless.
Riureas:
"You raised your banners in celebration one night, and in betrayal the next. That choice carries only one end."
The monarch tried to speak, but their words drowned in the roar of the summoned host.
Above, the sky split open. From the rift descended colossal quills forged of black light, striking the ground like spears. Each impact birthed more soldiers, until the horizon itself was swallowed in endless ranks of the Author's creations.
Elizabeth's body, cold and still behind him, haunted the edges of his mind. Clara's smile, Elra's sharp remarks, Crystella's silence, Yullues's defiance—memories burned into his soul. He could bring them back, yes… but not yet.
His heart whispered revenge first.
Riureas raised both hands. His aura surged, staining the heavens in violet flame.
Riureas:
"Erase them."
And a billion voices answered in unison, shaking the foundations of Rosa Azul:
"AUTHOR."
The army moved as one, unstoppable, eternal. Rosa Azul had betrayed him—now Rosa Azul would be buried under the ink of his wrath.
The streets of Rosa Azul drowned in fire and shadow. Towers of sapphire crumbled, canals boiled into steam, and the cries of soldiers were swallowed by the roar of the Author's army.
At the palace steps, the monarch of Rosa Azul fell to their knees, crown shattered, robes scorched. The ember relic pulsed weakly in their trembling hand, but it offered no salvation.
Monarch of Rosa Azul (desperate):
"Author—wait! It wasn't us! It wasn't—"
Their voice broke as Riureas's summons closed in, blades raised. He stepped forward, his expression cold, his aura towering like a storm that could smother the world.
Riureas:
"You drained them. You killed them. That truth is enough."
The monarch looked up, eyes wide with terror—yet behind them, the massive sapphire obelisk suddenly flared with light. Ancient runes spiraled upward, the same quill-like marks Riureas had seen before. The obelisk screamed with power, as if reacting to his wrath.
Cracks ran down its length, and for a heartbeat Riureas felt something stir—something older, deeper. A whisper brushed against his mind:
Whisper:
"…One of us… lies here…"
His hand faltered for the briefest moment. An Eternal Quill—hidden beneath Rosa Azul itself.
But then his gaze fell back on the lifeless faces of Clara, Elra, Crystella, Yullues, and Elizabeth. His chest tightened. The pain overrode the whisper.
Riureas (coldly):
"Even if the truth sleeps here… Rosa Azul has already chosen its fate."
He raised his hand. Black-violet fire surged skyward, then collapsed downward in a single, crushing wave.
The obelisk shattered. The palace burned. The monarch's scream was lost as the entire capital was swallowed in flame and ink.
When the fire died, Rosa Azul was gone. Nothing remained but glassed earth, scorched to ash.
Riureas stood alone among the ruins, his army fading back into shadow. His companions still lay lifeless, but his authority stirred faintly—reminding him he could bring them back when the time came.
He looked at the horizon, his voice a whisper carried by the cold wind:
Riureas:
"If betrayal is what this world offers me… then I will uncover the truth of the Eternal Quills, no matter how much of it I must erase."
The sky rumbled in answer. Somewhere beyond the ashes, destiny shifted.
Turning Point 2 had ended—but its scar would mark the world forever.