Chapter 9: The Gate of the East

“What about Vaerond himself?” Raye asked, eyes flickering. “Is he still near the battlefield?”

“No,” Caelan said. “He pulled back. Our scouts tracked movement heading east—toward Caer Serenna.”

Raye’s eyes narrowed. “Wait… does that mean—”

Caelan nodded solemnly. “The largest and most resource-rich kingdom in the land. And now, openly supporting the Empire of Solmira.”

“So they’ve declared it, then,” Raye muttered. “This isn’t skirmishes anymore. This is war.”

Caelan leaned back slightly, watching the flicker of thought pass through Raye’s face. “The Kingdom of Serenna… you’ve heard of it, I assume?”

“Only enough to know they were rich, arrogant, and far too quiet to be trusted,” Raye muttered.

Caelan gave a half-smile. “Well, quiet they remained—but not idle.”

He reached over and tapped the rim of his teacup gently, as if marking the words.

“Serenna is more than just wealth and elegance. It’s the largest kingdom in all of Velaria—military power, trade routes, naval fleets, advanced research, and a capital city—Caer—that thrives like the beating heart of the East.”

Raye’s eyes narrowed.

“It covers nearly the entire eastern end of Velaria,” Caelan continued. “From the coastal frontiers that touch the Cindral Sea and Ebon Ocean, to the mid-eastern lowlands and even parts of the central grasslands. No kingdom has the reach they do. And now we know—they were never truly isolated.”

A map in Raye’s mind started to form—lines, rivers, coastlines, mountain passes. Serenna, with its immense borders and coastal dominance, would have made the perfect gate for foreign entry.

And no one questioned it.

“So that’s how they got in…” he muttered, eyes low. “The Empire of Solmira didn’t just arrive—they were invited.”

Caelan nodded. “Long before any of us knew. While we were squabbling and holding old grudges… they were forging bonds across the sea.”

Raye let out a short breath, part frustration, part understanding. “And now the flame and frost burn weaker, while the East opens its gates to the storm.”

Caelan’s gaze turned more solemn, his fingers gently tapping the edge of the cup. “There’s something else you should know… The Fire Kingdom—your home—it’s fallen completely.”

Raye didn’t flinch. His golden eyes remained calm, unwavering. “I know.”

Caelan looked at him, surprised. “You do?”

Raye nodded slowly. “I was there… before I joined the battle at the Ice Kingdom. That’s when I was informed—about my mother and Auren. They escaped… escorted out before the capital fell.”

Caelan sat up straighter, brows furrowing slightly. “I was aware that King Tharion was taken prisoner… but I didn’t know the rest of the royal family had escaped.”

“That’s what I was told,” Raye replied. “I don’t know where they went.”

Caelan folded his arms, speaking more to himself at first. “Then there’s a chance… they might go after them. Track them down.”

But then he paused, shaking his head as if disagreeing with his own thought. “Or… they might not.”

Raye’s brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t they?”

“If the goal was to wipe out the Fire Kingdom’s bloodline, they would’ve done so already,” Caelan said. “Even now, King Tharion is alive—held captive, not executed. That tells me something else is at play.”

Raye leaned forward slightly. “Something… from us?”

“Just my assumption,” Caelan replied. “But whatever it is, they need the Fire Kingdom for something. And they need you.”

Silence hung between them for a few moments, until Raye broke it with a shift of topic.

“I’m also worried about my men. Kael and the rest… They might’ve retreated toward Aurellian Town. Do you know anything about the situation there?”

Caelan shook his head gently. “No. We haven’t received word from that region yet.”

“Then please,” Raye said, voice firm but respectful, “send someone. I need to know what became of them.”

“You have my word,” Caelan replied, already turning his thoughts toward action. “I’ll send scouts immediately.”

“Thank you,” Raye said quietly, bowing his head slightly in respect.

Caelan leaned forward slightly, his gaze steady. “What do you plan to do now, Prince Raye?”

Raye exhaled, eyes drifting toward the window where the sunlight reached through. His jaw clenched subtly. He knew exactly what had to be done—but the weight of it, the power Vaerond wielded, the storm he brought with him… it wasn’t a simple answer.

“To be honest…” Raye finally said, his voice low but firm, “I don’t know. But one thing I do know—” he turned his gaze back to Caelan, “I won’t be sitting idle any longer.”

Caelan gave a faint nod, as if that was the answer he was waiting for. “Then join us,” he said. “Let’s form an alliance. You, me, and the few others that still have their spines intact. Not just to fight Vaerond—” he paused, his tone sharpening, “—but to rise against the Empire itself.”

Raye’s brows twitched at that. It wasn’t a bad idea. In fact, it made more sense than anything else right now. But a thought clung to his mind, unsettling yet persistent. He looked back at Caelan, his tone turning curious, but edged with suspicion.

“Did you know?” Raye asked. “Did you know there would be war?”

A silence settled for a moment. Caelan’s expression didn’t shift, but the weight in his eyes deepened.

“…We didn’t know,” Caelan finally replied, his voice quieter. “But we felt something was off. Too many things moving in the shadows, too many closed doors.”

He leaned back in his chair. “We have people in Serenna. And in Drakhenwald.”

“They keep us informed, as best they can. At first, it looked like they were planning some kind of power move, maybe a territorial clash. But we were wrong.”

His fingers tapped the armrest slowly.

“By the time we realized it wasn’t just political—it was already too late. Vaerond and his army had moved.”

“They targeted Drakhenwald first,” Caelan said, his tone grim. “But they surrendered without a fight.”

Raye frowned. “Even Drakhenwald…?”

“Most of the tribes and clans sided with Vaerond too,” Caelan added. “Some willingly. Others out of fear. And the rest, they were bought.”

Raye leaned forward slightly, his expression sharpening. “So that’s what’s been happening. But how is it possible none of us knew? No rumours, no signs?”

“They moved subtly at first,” Caelan replied. “Provoking internal disputes, manipulating the tribes into skirmishes, attacking from within. It looked like isolated unrest—nothing out of the ordinary.”

Raye narrowed his eyes, starting to connect the dots. “So while we looked away, they were already cutting the roots.”

“Exactly. Political sabotage. Strategic deception. All leading to a planned invasion.” Caelan’s voice lowered. “And Kingdom Serenna... was at the center of it all.”

A brief silence passed between them.

“Then it’s not just Vaerond and his army we’re up against,” Raye said. “It’s the clans, the tribes, the corrupted kingdoms… the whole foundation of Velaria is crumbling.”

“It is,” Caelan nodded, not flinching from the truth. “But,” he added, with calm yet powerful conviction, “we still have a chance to turn this around. Not all have bent the knee. Not all have lost their will to fight.”

Raye stared at him for a moment—silent, weighing the words. Then slowly, he nodded.

“Then I’ll be part of this alliance.”

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Caelan’s face. It wasn’t pride—it was relief. The alliance had gained more than just another blade. It had gained a fire.

Raye then shifted, his eyes narrowing slightly. “There’s something I wanted to ask since I woke up…”

Caelan tilted his head.

“That attack. The one you used on Vaerond. It sent him flying. What was that?”

Caelan gave a faint smile, leaning back in his seat slightly.

“Ah,” he said. “That.”