Another week passed.
Grace sat alone inside her office, gently tapping a pen against her desk. Every few seconds she placed the back of it between her lips while staring out the enormous window in front of her.
From there, the entire district could be seen.
The afternoon sun painted the rooftops in warm gold. Citizens walked peacefully through the streets below, completely unaware of the storm waiting on the horizon.
Her office reflected the authority of a leader.
Tall bookshelves lined one wall, filled with historical records and maps. Green plants decorated the corners of the room, while a deep crimson carpet covered the polished wooden floor.
Grace sighed.
"Three weeks until the election..."
"And I still haven't done anything."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Jackson already has support."
"James is trusted by the citizens."
"...What should I do to lower their reputation?"
A faint smile appeared.
"James secretly works for Robert."
"The citizens don't know the full truth..."
Before she could continue her thoughts—
Knock. Knock.
A servant entered and bowed.
"Miss Grace."
"Everyone is waiting for you for lunch."
Grace stood.
"I'm coming."
She left the office and headed toward the dining hall.
---
The long dining table was already occupied.
Emily sat at one end while Jackson and another young leader, Serena, quietly discussed recent affairs.
Grace pulled out a chair before suddenly noticing two empty seats.
"Where are Larissa and Kael?"
Emily smiled.
"Today is Larissa's birthday."
"They went into town together."
Grace simply nodded before taking her seat.
"I see..."
Outwardly, she remained calm.
Inside...
A completely different thought crossed her mind.
Larissa...
Sooner or later... I'll have to do something about you.
---
Far away...
Kael and Larissa sat together on the edge of a mountain cliff.
The wind carried the scent of pine trees while clouds drifted beneath them.
Kael reached into his pocket before taking out a small silver necklace with a blue crystal pendant.
He handed it to her.
"Happy birthday."
Larissa stared at it
A warm smile slowly appeared.
"...Thank you."
"This means more than you know.
Kael smiled.
"I'm glad."
For several moments...
Neither of them spoke.
Then Kael finally broke the silence.
"Can I ask you something?"
Larissa looked toward him.
"Of course."
"The day Elder Arulines offered Grace the leadership..."
"What really happened between you two?"
Larissa looked toward the distant mountains.
"You weren't there."
"Emily already told you, didn't she?"
"She did."
"But I want to hear it from you."
Larissa sighed softly.
"I went to Grace's room to tell her Elder Arulines was calling everyone."
"She was reading."
"When I informed her..."
"She started insulting the elders.
"I simply told her she shouldn't speak about them like that.
"I think... that upset her."
Kael listened quietly.
"When she finally arrived..."
"Elder Arulines asked why she was late."
"Grace claimed the servant had informed her only ten minutes earlier."
"The elder looked at me."
"He asked whether I'd gone to call her."
"I told the truth."
"I said she promised she'd come after reading."
"Grace denied everything."
"Elder Arulines warned me not to lie again."
A bitter smile appeared on Larissa's face.
"That night..."
"She came to me."
"I thought she'd apologize."
"Instead..."
"She threatened me."
"She said she could throw me out of the organization."
"Out of the town."
"I lost my temper."
"I said things I probably shouldn't have."
"And since then..."
"She hasn't spoken to me."
Kael slowly clenched his fists.
"I knew it."
"She gave me bad vibes from the first day."
"She's clever..."
"But there's something dark inside her."
Larissa shook her head.
"Forget it."
"It's my birthday."
"I don't want to ruin today talking about her."
Kael smiled.
"You're right."
The two quietly watched the sunset together.
---
Two days later...
Peace filled the realm.
Workers repaired roads.
Merchants opened their shops.
Children laughed as they ran through the streets.
It seemed like another ordinary day.
Then—
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion shook the eastern sky.
Another followed.
Then another.
The peaceful blue sky was suddenly filled with countless flaming objects raining down from above.
Buildings exploded.
Stone towers collapsed.
People screamed.
Parents grabbed their children and ran in every direction.
The peaceful city instantly transformed into chaos.
---
Inside the headquarters..
Emily looked toward the trembling windows.
"What was that?"
A servant sprinted upstairs.
Emily quickly stopped him.
"What happened?"
The servant's face had turned pale.
"Miss Emily..."
"Robert's forces have attacked the city!"
"The protective barrier has been breached!"
"We're informing Elder Arulines!"
Emily's expression froze.
"...No."
"This can't be happening."
"Hurry!"
The servant rushed away.
---
Moments later...
Inside Elder Arulines' chamber...
Every important member had already gathered.
Grace.
Kael.
Larissa.
Jackson.
Several elders stood around the room.
The servant burst through the doors without knocking.
"E-Elder Arulines!"
Arulines frowned.
"What happened?"
The servant struggled to catch his breath.
"Robert..."
"Robert has attacked the city!"
"According to the reports..."
"James is assisting him!"
Silence consumed the room.
Arulines immediately walked toward the large window.
He pulled the curtains aside.
Everyone's faces froze.
Fireballs continued crashing into the city.
Columns of black smoke rose endlessly into the sky.
The capital...
Was burning.
Arulines whispered,
"...How?"
"How did the barrier break?"
Grace looked shocked.
"...What have they done?"
Although...
Inside...
She felt almost nothing.
Instead...
She calmly began thinking.
Then she suddenly spoke.
"James is Larissa's brother."
Everyone looked toward her.
Grace continued.
"If James truly ordered this attack..."
"Then perhaps only Larissa can stop him."
"You all know how much he loves his sister."
Arulines slowly nodded.
"...You may be right."
Grace immediately stood.
"Then send Larissa."
"If anyone can convince James to stop..."
"It's her."
Larissa looked uncertain.
"...I'll go."
Kael instantly stood as well.
"I'm coming with you."
Grace shook her head.
"No."
"We still need you here."
She looked toward Jackson.
"You should accompany Larissa."
"Protect the civilians while she's searching for James."
Jackson nodded without hesitation.
"I understand."
Arulines raised his hand.
"Do it."
"Quickly."
"Before this realm ends up like the Third Realm."
Larissa and Jackson immediately left the headquarters.
---
Meanwhile...
Far from the burning city...
James calmly sat inside his hideout.
Unlike the city outside...
Everything here remained strangely quiet.
A man rushed into the room.
"Brother James!"
"Someone has bombarded the eastern district!"
"Everyone believes Robert attacked under your orders!"
"The police are already searching for you!"
James slowly raised his head.
His eyes narrowed.
"I didn't order any attack."
He stood.
"And if the police want me..."
"They're welcome to come.
Larissa and Jackson rode their horses at full speed toward the eastern district.
The wind roared past them as thick columns of black smoke rose into the sky ahead.
Another explosion echoed in the distance.
Neither of them spoke.
They knew every second they wasted meant more innocent lives would be lost.
---
Meanwhile...
Chaos filled the headquarters.
Grace stood before Elder Arulines.
"What do we do now?"
Arulines remained silent, staring out the shattered window.
"..."
Grace frowned.
"Elder Arulines."
"What should we do?"
Arulines slowly turned toward her.
"I made you the leader."
"So use your mind."
Grace clenched her fists.
"How can I?"
"I've only been acting as leader for a few days."
"I don't even fully understand what's happening."
Arulines answered calmly.
"The eastern protective barrier has been destroyed."
Grace's expression changed.
"The barrier..."
"The same barrier my mother sacrificed everything to create?"
Arulines nodded.
"Yes."
"The barrier your mother protected through the ritual."
"The ritual..."
Before Grace could ask further—
The chamber doors burst open.
A soldier rushed inside.
"E-Elder!"
"Panic has spread across the realm!"
"The southern district has erupted into protests!"
"The citizens are demanding the barrier be restored immediately!"
Arulines frowned.
"It's only been three hours..."
The soldier continued nervously.
"They're shouting that they don't care how it's done."
"They're saying..."
"'Protect us.'"
"'That's what leaders are supposed to do.'"
Arulines looked outside once more.
The bombardment had slowed, but smoke still covered half the sky.
He turned toward the officers.
"Send every available medical team to the eastern district."
"Treat every injured civilian."
"Increase security in the north, south, east, and west."
"Larissa and Jackson are already there."
"Support them immediately."
"Yes, Elder!"
The soldiers hurried out.
As the doors closed..
Grace looked back at Arulines.
"What ritual were they talking about?"
"The same one my mother performed?"
Arulines gave a slow nod.
"Yes."
Grace remained silent for a few moments before speaking firmly.
"If that ritual can save everyone..."
"I'm willing to perform it."
"When thousands of lives are at stake..."
"I don't care whether it's legal or illegal."
Arulines sighed.
"That isn't the problem."
"Your power is only compatible with two people."
"Kael..."
"...or Jackson."
"Jackson has already gone to the city."
"And Kael..."
Arulines slowly turned toward him.
Before he could speak—
Kael interrupted.
"Don't expect me to do it."
Silence filled the chamber.
Arulines narrowed his eyes.
"We have no other choice."
Kael shook his head.
"I will never marry Grace."
"Even if it's only for the ritual."
"According to the ritual's laws..."
"If I marry her..."
"I can never leave her."
"I can't marry anyone else."
"And I will never betray Larissa."
Grace stared at him
"Look outside!"
"People are dying!"
"The realm is collapsing!"
"And you're still thinking about your love life?"
Kael met her eyes without hesitation.
"I don't care."
"I will never betray Larissa."
"Even if it costs me my life."
Without another word...
He turned around.
The chamber doors slammed shut behind him.
Arulines rubbed his forehead.
"Emily..."
"Talk some sense into him."
Emily folded her arms.
"What exactly do you want me to say?"
"He's right."
"If he performs the ritual with Grace..."
"Larissa's heart will break."
Grace replied coldly,
"So?"
"If one person has to suffer to save an entire realm..."
"Isn't that a fair price?"
Emily slowly looked toward her.
Her eyes had become unusually sharp.
"The way you talk..."
"Makes you sound more corrupt than any politician."
"If you're so desperate to marry..."
"Then marry Jackson."
"He's unmarried."
"He doesn't have a fiancée."
"And he'll return from the city in a few hours."
"That would waste far less time than trying to convince Kael."
She pointed toward Arulines.
"Call Jackson back."
"It'll solve everything."
Kael will never agree.
Emily turned and walked toward the door.
As she left, the room fell silent once again.
Grace stood frozen.
Arulines finally spoke.
"Emily is right."
Grace looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
Arulines answered firmly.
"Send someone to recall Jackson."
"If Kael refuses..."
"Then you will perform the ritual with Jackson."
For the first time since becoming acting leader...
Real tension appeared on Grace's face.
It wasn't fear for the realm.
It was the realization...
That the future she had quietly imagined with Kael had just begun slipping away.