The messenger arrived just as Lusian was reviewing maps and battle strategies in the campaign camp. He stepped forward and presented a package wrapped in white cloth, carefully sealed, placing it on the table before him.
"My lord… a birthday gift from your mother, Duchess Sofía… and… news from the Duchy," the young man said, his voice trembling.
Lusian opened the package and found a personal gift, thoughtfully prepared. A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you…" he murmured softly. "Mother always knows how to make me feel special."
But the smile faded when he heard the second part of the message. Lusian straightened, his gaze hardening.
"What is happening in the Duchy?" he asked, each word heavy with concern.
The messenger swallowed and recounted the situation: the defensive cities had been attacked, cultists and demons were advancing, and Sofía herself was leading the defense in the capital.
Lusian shot to his feet, leaving Sofía's gift on the table. His eyes burned with determination.
"Prepare the men," he ordered his subordinates. "We march for the Duchy."
At that moment, Alejandro and Leonardo arrived just as the troops began organizing. Their eyes met Lusian's, disbelief written across their faces.
"What the hell is going on?" Alejandro demanded, clearly alarmed.
"You're abandoning the kingdom's campaign?" Leonardo added angrily.
Lusian took a steady breath and gestured toward the messenger who had just delivered Sofía's package.
"My mother—the Duchess," he said firmly. "A report has arrived from the Duchy. Demonic runes activated in nearby villages, cultists infiltrating our territory, mana barriers weakened… a horde of monsters of extraordinary levels is approaching and threatening to destroy the city."
The heroes exchanged tense glances. The gravity of the situation was unmistakable.
"Even so, you can't leave!" Alejandro shot back, raising his voice. "The Duchy can defend itself, but there are lives we must save. We can't let innocent people die while you—"
Lusian looked at them calmly. His stance and gaze were not those of a young noble, but of a leader who would not abandon his people or his land.
"Listen to me carefully," he said, pausing so that each word carried its full weight. "I am not only a commander here. I am the Duke of Douglas. My priority is my land, my people… my family. The kingdom's campaign can continue without me, but if my Duchy falls, there will be nothing left to protect."
Alejandro tensed but said nothing more. Leonardo exhaled slowly, realizing that further argument would be pointless.
Emily stepped forward, her expression serious, a spark of determination in her eyes.
"I'm going with you," she said. "If needed, my healing magic can help."
Kara appeared beside Lusian, her cloak fluttering gently in the afternoon wind. She bowed slightly, her voice soft with respect and concern.
"Good luck. If you need help, send word."
With a nod, Lusian gathered his soldiers: several hundred elite Lords and Magisters, along with his finest cavalry squads and support mages. Each step they took toward the edge of the camp echoed with determination and solemn purpose.
As they departed, Alejandro and Leonardo remained behind, watching him go with expressions that blended anger, frustration, and reluctant understanding.
The tension between duty and loyalty—between strategy and the personal—hung heavily in the air.