The forces of Royal Duke Elianus, led by Lord Kaylin, were encamped a few kilometers from Kisor, in an open plain overlooking the town's walls. Kaylin, a seasoned commander in his fifties, with thick gray hair and a face etched with battle experience, sat in his command tent, reviewing his plans for besieging Kisor. His forces, numbering 5,000 soldiers, were preparing to begin the encirclement, confident in their ability to subjugate this young Viscount who dared to defy the Crown.
"My Lord Commander, everything is ready," one of his aides said, pointing to the map. "We can begin the siege at dawn. Kisor's walls won't hold out long against our forces."
Kaylin nodded, but he wasn't entirely at ease. He had heard of Zidan's victory over Sirot and Rick, but the details were vague. "I hope this mission is as easy as it seems," he muttered to himself.
At that moment, the tent flap suddenly opened. A messenger from Royal Duke Elianus's intelligence division entered, his face pale, his eyes wide with shock. He was panting, barely able to speak.
"My Lord Commander! Urgent news! Horrible news!" the messenger cried, his voice trembling.
Kaylin stiffened. "Speak, coward! What happened?"
"General Marioth's forces have been... completely annihilated, My Lord!" the messenger said, his eyes staring into space. "Completely annihilated! By Viscount Zidan's forces! In Merod Village!"
Kaylin was stunned. His eyes widened in disbelief. Marioth? 7,000 soldiers? Completely annihilated? By Sevara, Zidan's army commander? This was unbelievable. Marioth's forces were among Prince Geral's elite army, and they outnumbered Zidan's forces by more than double.
"Annihilated? How?" Kaylin asked, his voice barely a whisper, as fear crept into his heart. His forces were only 5,000 strong, while Marioth's forces were 7,000. If Zidan was capable of crushing an army of that size, how could he possibly win? How could he besiege Kisor?
Kaylin had barely begun to process the shock when another messenger entered, this time from Royal Duke Elianus himself.
"My Lord Commander Kaylin!" the messenger said, his voice carrying a tone of command. "Royal Duke Elianus informs you that the mission to besiege Kisor has been closed. He requests your immediate return to the Lighthouse. We must deal with Frederick first. Do not waste time in Kisor."
Kaylin felt confused and a little relieved. He had been saved from an inevitable confrontation, but he knew that Zidan's mysterious victory would shift the balance of power in the entire kingdom. Kaylin ordered his forces to withdraw immediately, leaving Kisor behind, a puzzle yet to be solved.
Lionji's Revival
Meanwhile, in Lionji, the atmosphere was completely different. Sevara's forces entered the city victorious, but they didn't find a prosperous city, but rather a semi-city. Lionji, once a large city with 34,000 inhabitants, had become ravaged by hunger, death, and poverty. The smell of blood and ash filled the air, and burned houses stood like silent ghosts.
But Sevara had not come to plunder. He had brought with him massive supplies, at Zidan's and Lin's direct request. Caravans loaded with food and medicine poured into the city, under the supervision of Kisor's soldiers.
"Soldiers! Begin distributing food and medicine immediately!" Sevara shouted, his voice echoing in the ruined main square. "Let no one go hungry! Let no one suffer!"
Kisor's soldiers began distributing food to the starving inhabitants, who emerged from their hiding places, their eyes filled with suspicion and fear, then with astonishment and gratitude. The doctors sent by Zidan began treating the sick and wounded.
"Prisoners!" Sevara shouted, pointing to the 2,900 soldiers captured in the Battle of Merod, who stood shackled. "You came to destroy Lionji, and now you will participate in its rebuilding! Begin building latrines! Begin repairing the shattered houses! You will work as slaves until you restore this city's glory!"
The prisoners began to work, their faces expressing despair, but they knew this was their fate. Sevara imposed order in the city, reorganized it, and began laying the foundations for reconstruction. Lionji, which had been a dead city, began to breathe again, thanks to Zidan's generosity and the strength of his army.
Lin's New Role and Geral's Rage
A few hours later, news of the victory at Merod and the recapture of Lionji reached Kisor. In Zidan's council, joy pervaded everyone.
"A great victory, My Lord Baron!" Sevara said, standing before Zidan. "We crushed Marioth's army and recaptured Lionji. The city is in our hands now."
Zidan smiled. "Well done, Sevara. You have proven yourself an unrivaled commander."
Then Zidan looked at Lin, who sat beside him, her eyes gleaming with hope. "Princess Lin, the time has come. We have reclaimed Lionji. And now, I want you to take charge of the city."
Lin's eyes widened in disbelief. "Me, My Lord Baron? But... I'm just a girl. And Lionji is ruined."
"You are the daughter of its former lord, Lin," Zidan said firmly. "You carry the blood of Leonac, who was an honorable man. You are the most suitable to lead Lionji at this time. I will keep a garrison of 1,500 soldiers in Lionji, led by Marley, one of the trusted squad leaders in our army. And I will send caravans loaded with food and medicine to them, and a group of doctors, teachers, and engineers to begin rebuilding Lionji anew. You will be responsible for everything."
Lin looked at Zidan, then at his commanders. She felt an immense responsibility, but she also felt overwhelming joy. She loved her city, Lionji, the "Pearl of the Sea," more than anything else. She didn't love positions, but she loved her city.
"I agree, My Lord Baron!" Lin said happily, her eyes glistening with tears. "I accept all your conditions, even if it changes my position from a noble baroness to just a mayor. I will make Lionji the Pearl of the Sea again! I will never let you down!"
Zidan smiled. This was his vision: building a new kingdom, not based on titles and positions, but on justice, prosperity, and true loyalty.
Elsewhere, in Geral's territory, the horrifying news of Marioth's army's annihilation arrived.
Inside his palace, Prince Geral went mad. He began smashing everything in his path, shouting and cursing. "Marioth the failure! How could this happen? 7,000 soldiers! Crushed by a small Viscount!"
He cursed Zidan and cursed the day he was born. This was a devastating blow to his ego and a direct threat to his ambitions for the throne.
"My Lord Duke, calm down!" one of his advisors said, trying to soothe him. "We have new information. This Viscount Zidan... he used strange weapons. Weapons similar to the magic weapons used by sorcerers in the great magical empires, like the Magical Sun Empire, which sponsors the Kingdom of Albido."
Geral stopped smashing and looked at his advisor, his eyes wide. "Magic? Did Zidan receive support from sorcerers?"
"I don't think so, My Lord Duke," the advisor said, his voice carrying a tone of concern. "If he had indeed received support, he would be the King by now. Perhaps he found a way to use magic in this mortal world where there is no magic. But... I believe the sorcerers will punish him if they learn he used magic in forbidden territory. This could be dangerous for him."
Geral smiled sinisterly. Magic? This changes everything. Perhaps Zidan wasn't just an intelligent noble, but he possessed supernatural power. And perhaps, if he was using forbidden magic, this could be his weakness. Geral had found a new way to confront Zidan, a way that might not require an army.