Chapter 3 :The Gathering Storm

Chapter 3 :The Gathering Storm

Elsewhere, in the outer regions of the continent, the armies of Nytherra had crossed into the lands of Thalvethar and set up a military base close to the borders of Elarion—another major kingdom.

The first night, the generals and soldiers of Nytherra rested, preparing for what lay ahead.

By morning, a Junior General from Elarion arrived at the command base, requesting a meeting with General Migo, Aru, and Gabe.

“My superiors want a joint council,” he explained. “They believe it’s time to coordinate our battle plans.”

Without delay, the three followed him. Soon, they reached the Elarion military post and were led to a large command tent. There, they were introduced to the Elarion High Command—two senior generals and a royal advisor, accompanied by seven junior generals.

The two senior generals stood out immediately.

The first was General Asad, a 61-year-old veteran. Calm and composed, he radiated the strength of a man who had seen dozens of wars. He wielded a spear, and he was the highest-ranking warrior among Elarion's field commanders. The second was General Adam, aged 42, known not just for his skill with a sword but for his sharp, tactical mind. He had a reputation for turning losing battles into victories through clever strategy.

Standing beside them was a mysterious young woman.

No one at the table had heard of her before, but she had been sent directly by the King himself. Her name was Lila.

She was just 24 years old, yet she held the rank of Advisor to the High Generals.

What set her apart was her magical blade—a healing dagger that could close wounds with a single cut. Her healing abilities were fast and effective. But even beyond her magic, she stood out for her confidence, her clarity of speech, and her ability to win trust quickly.

"That girl..." Aru thought when he saw her.
"There’s something about her presence—it’s not ordinary."

A Stranger’s Interest

When the five generals from Nytherra entered the large command tent of the Elarion war council, all eyes turned toward them—especially the young royal advisor, Lila.

She recognized everyone... everyone except Aru.

From the moment her gaze met his, something stirred in her chest. He was unfamiliar, but there was something captivating about him—an aura she couldn’t ignore.

As greetings began, old ties resurfaced.

General Asad stepped forward with a warm grin.
“Migo! You’ve grown older.”

Migo laughed. “And you’ve gone gray!”

They embraced briefly.

Despite his years of service in Nytherra, Migo had been born in Elarion. He was raised there until the age of thirteen, when his parents divorced. His mother, a native of Nytherra, took him with her after the separation—and from then on, Migo had sworn loyalty to her homeland. Yet the roots of Elarion still lived within him.

The five generals took their seats and began their war council with Asad, Adam, and their junior commanders. They caught up on everything that had transpired in their absence—battle strategies, enemy movements, and coordination efforts between the kingdoms.

By the time the meeting ended, the sun had dipped low.

Aru stepped out first, hoping for some fresh air. To his surprise, Lila followed him.

“Hi!” she greeted, her voice light. “I’m Lila. Mind if we properly introduce ourselves?”

“Of course,” Aru replied. “I’m Aru. Pleased to meet you.”

“You’re a new general, aren’t you?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Yes, just promoted recently,” Aru answered.

“I’m General Asad’s advisor,” she explained. “Are you doing anything tonight?”

Aru gave a modest shrug. “Not really. Probably just staying in my tent.”

“Alright then,” Lila said, smiling. “Catch you later.”

She walked off gracefully, her presence lingering in Aru’s thoughts.

That night, as the camp quieted down and fires burned low, Lila came to Aru’s tent.

“Hey,” she said casually. “I’m bored. Sitting alone in my tent feels like torture. Want to hang out?”

Aru blinked. “Hang out? Out here? This isn’t exactly the capital city...”

She laughed. “Just wear something casual. I’ll wait for you outside.”

Curious and a little amused, Aru changed clothes and joined her. Together, they walked to the lively part of the camp, where soldiers sat around fires, sharing stories and laughs. The two of them spent most of the night talking, wandering, and quietly enjoying each other’s company.

It became a pattern.

For two nights, they repeated this routine. Talking, laughing, drifting closer.

On the third night, just before they parted ways, Lila turned to him.

“Come see me tomorrow,” she said softly. “I’ll be waiting.”

At first, Aru hesitated. But the next day, he went.

That afternoon, they sat and talked for hours—until Lila finally said,
“There’s something I want to tell you. But first, I need to ask you something. Please... be honest.”

“Go ahead,” Aru replied.

She hesitated, then asked, “Are you... in love with someone?”

Aru nodded. “Yes. I am.”

The light dimmed in her eyes. For a moment, she was silent.

So he wasn’t hers to dream of. Not now... maybe not ever.

Trying to hide her disappointment, Lila looked away. Aru noticed the shift.

“What was it you wanted to tell me?” he asked gently.

“Forget it,” she said quietly. “It doesn’t matter now.”

Hearts Divided

While Aru marched off to the frontlines, leaving behind the life and people he cared about, Maria tried to resume her normal daily routine.

A month passed in quiet absence. Life in the capital continued, and Maria kept to her duties.

It was during this time that she met someone new—a recently appointed staff member named Moha. Since Maria had seniority, Moha became her assistant. He was quick, intelligent, and strikingly handsome. His charisma didn’t go unnoticed.

Unbeknownst to many, Moha came from one of the wealthiest merchant families in the Nytherra Kingdom. Though rich in status, he carried himself with humility and charm, quickly winning favor among his peers.

Over the next few days, he and Maria grew closer. Their conversations flowed easily, filled with laughter and lightness. After work, they began spending time together—walks through the palace gardens, conversations beneath lantern-lit corridors.

There was a connection between them, something strong and unspoken.

Maria felt something blooming in her heart—a kind of love she never felt for Aru. With Moha, she felt seen, heard, and cherished.

Moha, for his part, was deeply drawn to Maria. Every moment he spent with her left him more enchanted. But neither of them confessed what they felt. Not yet.

After nearly a month of knowing each other, Moha finally gathered the courage to ask her to dinner.
The idea had been gently suggested by one of the kingdom’s ministers—someone who had been watching their growing bond from the shadows with political interest.

Maria agreed.

That night, both dressed with care.

They met at a quiet, elegant restaurant reserved for nobles. Candles flickered. drinks shimmered. And conversation flowed easily—until it didn’t.

Toward the end of the evening, Moha finally spoke the words he had long held in.

“Maria,” he said, voice steady, eyes sincere, “Since the day I met you, something in me has changed. I tried to hide it, to pretend it wasn’t real—but it is. I love you. Deeply. Truly. I want to build a life with you.”

Maria froze. Her heart thudded in her chest.

Tears shimmered in her eyes—not because she was sad, but because her heart was torn in two.

Part of her still held Aru in a sacred corner of her soul... but Moha had lit something new in her—a fire that she could no longer deny.

“Please...” Moha said softly, “Say something.”

She looked down at her hands, trembling.

“I need time,” she whispered. “Please… just give me time to think.”

The next day, Maria didn’t go to work. She needed to breathe, to think.

She sat with her parents and shared everything—her confusion, her guilt, and her love.

Her father, a wise and practical man, recognized Moha’s family name immediately.

“His father is one of the most powerful merchants in Nytherra,” he said. “You’d be marrying into wealth, yes—but also influence and security. We’ll speak to Aru when he returns. Calmly. With respect. But you must follow your heart.”

Maria spent the night wrestling with her feelings. When morning came, her heart had chosen.

She loved Moha—with all of herself.

That day, she returned to work.

At first, she avoided him. But when the day ended and they stood alone in the evening shadows, she turned to him and said:

“Moha… I accept. I want to be with you. I want to share a life together.”

His face lit up with joy. He stepped forward and took her hands in his.

That evening, Moha returned home and shared the news with his father—who couldn’t have been more delighted. Plans for an extravagant royal wedding began immediately, one fit for a noble house. Invitations were sent across the kingdom. Nobles, merchants, and ministers all prepared to attend.

Meanwhile, far from the warmth of romance and candlelit dinners, darkness gathered.

Ramsi, from his shadowed stronghold, had learned of the alliances forming against him.

His rage was volcanic.

“No one will rule this world but me,” he growled. “Gather all the armies . I’ll crush every one of them.”

He summoned his generals with fury in his voice and fire in his veins.

“Prepare for war. Mobilize the troops. Stock the armories. Secure the food supplies. We march soon.”

The war drums of the dark lands began to echo.

The storm was coming.

The Gathering Storm

The moment Ramsi’s forces began their military mobilization, it didn’t go unnoticed.

The intelligence network of the Kingdom of Thalvethar picked up whispers of movement—armories being opened, troops shifting from the barracks, and war drums beating in the Blacklands. Swift as shadow, a message was dispatched to the kingdom of thalvethar.

Upon receiving the intelligence, Thalvethar’s high council immediately convened a war summit—summoning the top-ranking generals of the Alliance Forces. The meeting was held in the grand war chamber of the palace, presided over by the King of Thalvethar himself.

Thalvethar had three commanding generals—renowned across the realms for their strength, brilliance, and battlefield dominance:

General Kunbaaf – A seasoned tactician, widely respected for his strategic genius. Stocky and powerful, Kunbaaf wielded a magical shield forged by Thalvethar’s greatest sorcerers. He also consumed enchanted elixirs that granted him unnatural strength in battle. He was 47 years old and considered the wisest among the three. General Xami – A veteran of countless wars and master of the spear. Xami excelled in leading frontline assaults and maintaining battlefield morale. At 53 years old, he commanded respect and fear in equal measure. General Shoosh – The youngest of the trio at 42, Shoosh was a swift and agile swordsman known for his explosive attacks and keen reflexes. Though younger, he was no less dangerous than his comrades.

The war summit centered on a critical point: should the original battle plan remain unchanged, or adapt to the new intelligence?

King Asad stood to speak.

“This war is for Thalvethar. thalvethar homeland is the one Ramsi seeks to conquer first. Therefore, leadership of the Alliance army must lie with one of them.”

The council murmured in agreement.

A vote was held, and General Kunbaaf was appointed Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces. King Asad was named his second-in-command, respected for his wisdom and long service to the realm.

Next came the discussion of defeating ramsi.

The primary plan to defeat Ramsi remained unchanged: a direct campaign with precision and force. However, given the growing reports of Ramsi’s dark power, the council decided to strengthen Kiyaa's squad—the elite task force originally chosen to eliminate Ramsi himself.

Four warriors were added to the strike unit:

General Migo Captain Gaabe Aru, the young swordmaster Adam, a skilled mage-knight

This team of five would operate as a special assassination unit, with one mission—to find and kill Ramsi, and confirm the kill.

The council also finalized the timeline: two days until the march began.

Their first battlefield would be in a region called Ila—a mountainous terrain shrouded in vast, ancient forests. It would serve as both a staging ground and a deadly trap for those unprepared.