As soon as Elianna and Aman returned to the City of Saligao—they both immediately headed to the palace to inform King Erui of the failure of the expedition.
They were disheveled, their armor dented, and their expressions hollow, carrying the heavy weight of their survival. They marched through the grand, marble-floored hallways of the royal palace, ignoring the shocked stares of the courtiers and servants who had expected a triumphant return of the kingdom's greatest warriors.
When they finally stood before the throne, King Erui, who had been pacing nervously for weeks, stopped mid-step.
And of course—the news they brought shocked the whole Arcanis.
Not only they failed once again in conquering the [Cursed Forest]—but a 14th Demon King appeared too!
The silence that followed their report was absolute. It felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving the monarch and his advisors gasping.
"A Demon King? You are certain?"
