Kaito had called an emergency meeting.
Everyone was present.
The three queens. Aria. Gorman. The senior captains.
The atmosphere was tense.
Kaito spoke first.
"Three days. Not seven."
He slammed his fist against the table.
"How did they move so fast? How did they know the exact timing?"
His eyes shifted to Aria.
"Your information said one week."
Aria was pale.
"I… the information was correct when I stole it. I swear."
Naporia rose to her feet.
"Unless they wanted you to steal it."
All eyes turned to her.
Naporia walked slowly around the table.
"Think about it. Information too easy to obtain. Too detailed."
She pointed at Aria.
"What if they let you take it? What if they knew you'd come here?"
Aria stood abruptly.
"I'm not a spy! I didn't know anything about—!"
Lilith intervened gently.
"No one is saying you're a conscious spy, dear."
She stepped closer to Aria.
"But Naporia is right. Something doesn't add up."
She looked at Kaito.
"Allow me to examine her."
Aria took a step back.
"Examine me?"
Lilith nodded.
"Search for trackers. Surveillance spells. Anything Avernor may have planted."
Aria looked at Kaito, eyes pleading.
Kaito considered.
Then nodded.
"Do it."
Aria trembled.
"Kaito…"
"It's necessary," he said firmly. "If there's something there… we need to know."
Aria closed her eyes.
"Alright."
Private Chamber — Minutes Later
Aria sat in a chair.
Lilith stood before her, hands extended.
Kaito remained as witness.
The three queens watched from different angles.
"Relax," Lilith said softly. "This won't hurt. Yet."
She closed her eyes.
No visible mist this time—only magical perception.
Aria felt something strange.
As if someone were… looking inside her.
Lilith scanned slowly.
Head. Neck. Shoulders.
Nothing.
Arms. Torso.
Nothing.
But when she reached Aria's chest—
She froze.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Here."
Everyone stiffened.
"What?" Kaito asked.
Lilith pointed to Aria's chest.
"There's something. Just above the heart."
Aria instinctively touched the spot.
"No… that's impossible…"
Lilith focused her perception.
"It's small. The size of a grain of rice. A magical crystal."
She looked at Aria.
"A tracker."
Silence fell completely.
Aria began to tremble.
"No… I didn't know… I never…"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I swear! I didn't know anything!"
Naporia drew her sword.
"Kill her. She's a spy—even if she doesn't realize it."
Adelheid stopped her.
"Wait."
She looked to Kaito.
"Commander. We must expel her from the kingdom. Immediately. Before she transmits anything else."
Lilith shook her head.
"Too late for that. They already know where we are."
She smiled faintly.
"But we can use it. Send false information."
Aria sobbed.
"I never wanted this…"
Kaito stepped forward.
He knelt in front of her.
"I know."
He took her hands.
"But I need you to be strong right now."
He looked at Lilith.
"Can you remove it?"
Lilith nodded.
"Yes. But it will be painful."
She looked at Aria.
"It's close to your heart. I must be careful."
Aria nodded through tears.
"Do it."
Extraction
Aria lay back on a table.
Lilith prepared her instruments—not surgical, but magical.
Her fingers glowed with dark energy.
"This will hurt," she warned. "A lot."
Aria closed her eyes.
"I understand."
Kaito stepped closer.
He took Aria's hand.
"Squeeze. As hard as you need."
She looked at him.
"Thank you."
Lilith began.
Her fingers pressed against Aria's chest.
Dark energy pierced through skin.
Aria screamed.
A sharp, burning pain tore through her.
Kaito tightened his grip.
"Hold on. Almost there."
Adelheid watched from the side.
Watching Kaito hold Aria's hand.
Watching the concern in his eyes.
Something twisted in her stomach.
Jealousy.
But she said nothing.
Lilith worked with precise control.
Guiding the energy deeper.
Aria screamed, cried, crushed Kaito's hand nearly to breaking.
Finally—
Lilith extracted something.
A small red crystal. Pulsing with light.
She held it up.
"Here it is."
Aria collapsed, gasping.
Kaito gently freed his bruised hand and stepped toward Lilith.
The crystal pulsed rhythmically.
Like a heart.
"What exactly does it do?" he asked.
Lilith studied it.
"It transmits location. Constantly."
She paused.
"And likely has been doing so since Aria arrived."
Naporia growled.
"Then Eldric knows everything."
Kaito stared at the crystal.
"Can we destroy it?"
Lilith shook her head.
"If we do, Eldric will know we discovered it."
She smiled.
"But we can do something better."
A Plan Using the Tracker
Everyone gathered around the table.
The crystal sat at the center, pulsing.
Kaito spoke.
"We can send it somewhere else. Make Eldric think we're elsewhere."
Lilith shook her head.
"No. Better idea."
She touched the crystal with one finger.
Dark energy wrapped around it.
"I can poison the signal."
All eyes were on her.
"My power can alter perceptions. Memories."
She smiled.
"I can make the crystal transmit false information."
"Like what?" Kaito asked.
Lilith considered.
"Incorrect defensive positions. Exaggerated or reduced troop numbers. The queens positioned in the wrong locations."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Eldric will think he knows exactly where we are. But he'll arrive prepared for the wrong battle."
Naporia grinned.
"I like it."
Adelheid nodded.
"It's risky. But it could work."
Kaito decided.
"Do it."
Lilith concentrated.
The crystal began glowing gold mixed with red.
"It's done. It now transmits that we have twice our actual forces—and that all three queens will be on the front line."
She looked at Kaito.
"When in reality…"
Kaito finished:
"They'll be where he least expects."
Stables — Sunset
Aria sat alone.
Knees pulled to her chest.
Crying silently.
It's always my fault.
I always ruin everything.
I didn't even know they were using me, and still…
Footsteps approached.
She looked up.
Kaito stood there.
"May I?" he asked, gesturing beside her.
She nodded.
He sat.
Several minutes of silence.
Finally, he spoke.
"It wasn't your fault."
Aria let out a bitter laugh.
"How can you say that? Because of me, Eldric knows where we are. Because of me—"
"Because of you, we discovered the tracker," Kaito interrupted. "And now we can use it against them."
He looked at her.
"If you hadn't come, we'd still be blind."
Aria's eyes filled again.
"It's always my fault. I never do the right thing."
Kaito touched her shoulder.
"Then do it now."
She blinked.
"What?"
"Help us win," he said firmly. "Prove you came here for the right reasons."
He paused.
"Fight with us. Not for redemption. But because you believe in this."
Something stirred in her chest.
Not pain this time.
Determination.
She wiped her tears.
"You're right."
She stood.
"I'll fight. And I'll prove trusting me was worth it."
Kaito smiled.
"That's the Aria I know."
Montage — Two Days of Preparation
The kingdom transformed into a hive of activity.
Day 1 — Morning:
Soldiers training intensively.
Adelheid supervising formations.
Shouts. Sweat. Determination.
Day 1 — Afternoon:
Traps installed in the canyon.
Rocks prepared for collapse.
Hidden pressure plates.
Fortified archer positions.
Day 1 — Night:
Families evacuated to the central fortress.
Crying children. Mothers consoling.
Elders carrying provisions.
Day 2 — Morning:
Naporia training assault forces.
Fast movements. Guerrilla tactics.
No mercy. Only efficiency.
Day 2 — Afternoon:
Lilith preparing her psychological mist.
Mixing herbs. Whispering incantations.
The mist gathering in special containers.
Day 2 — Night:
Aria with the archers.
Teaching techniques. Sharing knowledge.
Gradually earning their respect.
Adelheid's Room — Night of the Second Day
Adelheid was alone, reviewing maps.
A knock.
"Enter."
Kaito stepped inside.
"Still awake?"
She nodded.
"Reviewing strategies."
He approached.
"Nervous?"
She didn't lie.
"Yes."
She set the map down.
"Tomorrow we face blessed heroes. And when I fight seriously… I lose control. You saw it with Naporia."
Kaito sat beside her.
"I did. And it was terrifying."
She lowered her gaze.
"That's why—"
He took her hand.
"Then promise me something."
She looked at him.
"What?"
"If possible… don't fully unleash yourself."
She frowned.
"But Commander, if I don't use my full power—"
"We'll win another way," he interrupted. "But I don't want you losing yourself."
He squeezed her hand.
"That side of you… it's dangerous. Not just to enemies. To you."
Warmth filled her chest.
"Commander…"
He smiled faintly.
"You're more than a weapon, Adelheid. You're… important to me."
He paused.
"And I don't want to lose you. Not even to win."
Tears formed in her eyes.
"I… I will try."
He nodded.
"That's all I ask."
He stood.
"Rest. Tomorrow will be long."
He started to leave, but she stopped him.
"Commander."
He turned.
She stood.
Stepped closer.
And hugged him.
He stiffened in surprise.
But slowly… returned the embrace.
She whispered,
"Thank you. For seeing me as a person. Not just a weapon."
He smiled.
"Always."
They separated.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed.
"Good night, Commander."
"Good night, Adelheid."
He left.
Adelheid remained alone.
Touching her chest where she had felt the embrace.
Commander…
For you… I'll try not to lose myself.
Night Before Battle — Watchtower
A scout shouted:
"Movement to the south!"
Kaito rushed up the tower.
He lifted a spyglass.
Twenty kilometers away.
Campfires. Hundreds.
The army of Avernor.
Encamping for the night.
Tomorrow… they would arrive.
Kaito descended.
He gathered everyone in the courtyard.
He looked at them.
His soldiers. Tired but determined.
His three queens. Powerful. Lethal.
Aria. Redeemed.
And for the first time—
Kaito wore armor.
Not ornate. Simple. Black. Practical.
Reinforced leather plates. Protection at vital points.
A short sword at his belt.
He looked… like a king.
He spoke clearly.
"Tomorrow we face the army of Avernor."
Silence.
"They outnumber us. They outmatch us in equipment. They have blessed heroes."
He paused.
"But we have something they don't."
He walked among them.
"We have a home to protect. Families to defend."
He pointed toward the fortress.
"We have something worth fighting for."
His voice rose.
"Tomorrow we prove that Neudämmerung is not just a dream!"
He looked at his three queens.
Adelheid with iron determination.
Lilith with confident smile.
Naporia with battle hunger.
"It is a promise forged in steel!"
The soldiers slammed their shields.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sound echoed through the mountains.
Kaito drew his sword.
Raised it high.
"For Neudämmerung!"
The cry was unanimous.
"FOR NEUDÄMMERUNG!"
The echo rolled across the night.
And in the distance—
In Avernor's camp—
Eldric heard the faint echo.
He smiled coldly.
"Tomorrow," he murmured. "Tomorrow it ends."
-+-
Kaito's Room
Kaito couldn't sleep.
He stared at the remaining cards on the table.
Two still uninvoked.
His fingers brushed one.
Should I?
Just in case?
He remembered Aria's words.
"Die as a hero. Not as a monster."
And Adelheid's.
"I don't want to lose myself."
He put the cards away.
"Not today," he murmured. "Today we win with what we have."
He lay down.
Closed his eyes.
And tried to rest.
Because tomorrow—
The war would begin.