"What do you mean I should be protecting you as Argal Commander in Chief?" Darius's voice resonated with anger, his tone reflecting his frustration.
"No, you will be protecting the Saintess so she can pray without any disturbances, and I will be accompanied by Rai and the Strategist. It will be fine," King replied calmly, his voice unwavering.
"Both of them don't know how to fight," Darius retorted, his concern evident.
"I know how to fight," King asserted confidently, his voice filled with determination.
"Arguing with you is quite troublesome," Darius muttered, a hint of exasperation lacing his words.
"Then don't do it," King said firmly, turning and walking out of the tent.
Darius watched King's retreating figure, a mixture of irritation and fondness crossing his face. "This guy, he would never change," he thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
King strolled through the roads of his Kingdom, his steps carrying him down memory lane. Thoughts of how he first built this Kingdom flooded his mind.
"At first, it was just the fire of youth. But I never thought it would become so big. Hahahaha," King chuckled inwardly, reminiscing about the humble beginnings of his realm.
As he made his way to the lake of the Kingdom, he noticed Queen Elenore standing near the water's edge. Approaching her, he called out, "What are you doing here, Elisa?"
"You will never change, will you, brother?" Elenore replied, a trace of amusement in her voice.
"Well, some things remain beautiful if they remain the same," King remarked, a nostalgic tone in his voice.
"Was it today?" Elenore asked, her gaze fixed on the rippling waters.
"Yes, it was today," King confirmed, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"She was a good friend," Elenore said, her voice carrying a note of wistfulness.
"Well, she was quite amazing," King replied, a fondness evident in his voice.
"Never asked you how she died," Elenore inquired gently.
"Well, it was a promise," King said, his voice filled with solemnity.
"Your promises again, brother. Don't you think you promise quite a lot?" Elenore teased, a smile gracing her lips.
"Well, it's a bad habit of mine," King confessed, a touch of sheepishness in his tone.
"It's fine. As your wife, she deserves this much privacy," Elenore assured him, her voice filled with understanding.
"It's like tomorrow I was finding a job and we were preparing for your college. It changed quite quickly," King reflected, his voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and awe.
"It's already five thousand years, and you still remember those days," Elenore mused, her tone carrying a touch of amusement.
"At least I wasn't counting years," King quipped, a playful glint in his eyes.
Suddenly, the barrier surrounding them began to crack, drawing their attention.
"It's time," Elenore said solemnly, her voice filled with determination.
In an instant, both King and Elenore disappeared from their spot, leaving behind the fading echoes of their presence.
Darius continued his walk along the street, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming war. Suddenly, he spotted Saintess Sophie walking with a basket of fruits.
"May I help you, Saintess?" Darius offered, surprising Sophie.
"Oh! Sir Darius, you surprised me. It's fine. You must have many works," Sophie replied politely.
"No, currently, I am quite free," Darius replied, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Then, thank you, Sir Darius," Sophie said gratefully, handing him the basket.
Darius accepted the basket and continued walking alongside her, their footsteps falling in sync.
After some time, they reached a tent where injured soldiers lay, remnants of the first encounter with the demon army.
"Sir Darius!" one of the soldiers recognized him and attempted to rise from his place.
"No, please rest. Your injuries are not yet healed," Darius advised, his concern evident in his voice.
"No, my Lord, we can still fight in this war," the soldier insisted, his determination shining through the pain.
"Definitely, you could, but for that, you need to heal first," one of the doctors interjected, emphasizing the importance of recovery. "He is telling the truth. The enemies are strong, so we need healed and strong soldiers. It's better if you heal quickly, or you'll be giving water to horses next," Darius said with a wry smile.
"I understand, Lord Darius," the soldier acquiesced, realizing the wisdom in his words.
Afterward, the Saintess used her healing abilities to tend to everyone's wounds, a temporary respite from the impending battle. As they exited the tent, Darius and Sophie headed toward the nearby garden, where an old shrine of Luminous stood.
"Thank you, Sir Darius, and sorry for the trouble. I know you wanted to go with the King, but because of me..." Sophie expressed her gratitude, mixed with a tinge of guilt.
"No, it's fine, Saintess. You are not the one at fault. Your protection is really important for this war. And if anyone is at fault, it's that friend of mine. But he would be fine since he knows how to fight," Darius reassured her, his voice filled with unwavering loyalty.
They walked together to the shrine, where Sophie began her prayer, her voice rising in devotion. Suddenly, a sound of breaking reached their ears, jolting them out of their reverie.
Darius looked up and witnessed the barrier beginning to collapse, shattering the tranquility of their surroundings.
Lucas, lost in contemplation, made his way toward the training ground. He sought solace in testing his spear one last time before the impending war.
"It feels just like tomorrow everything was going fine, but now suddenly we are at war. Heaven and Hell fell within the span of four years. I still don't know how many of our friends we lost in all of this. After the defeat of the seven ancestral demons, I thought everything would be fine, but suddenly, one more appeared," Lucas mused, his mind filled with thoughts of the tumultuous times they had faced.
Entering the training ground, Lucas sensed time shifting within its confines. The passage of time in this space differed from the outside world. Suddenly, a blood-red spear hurtled through the air, piercing the ground before him.
"Queen Rachel," Lucas acknowledged her presence, his voice carrying respect.
"It's been a while, Spearmaster," Rachel greeted him, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"Call me Lancer," Lucas responded, his voice laced with determination.
"How about a last spar, Lucas?" Rachel proposed, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.
"It won't be the last one," Lucas retorted, reaching out to claim the blood-red spear.
Lucas hurled the spear toward Rachel, unleashing its power and creating a shockwave behind him. The impact was formidable, yet Rachel managed to catch the spear just before it struck.
"My, my, you are serious about it," Rachel teased, her voice filled with admiration for his resolve.
"I don't do anything half-hearted," Lucas declared, assuming a stance ready for the next attack.
In a flurry of movement, they engaged in a fierce exchange, their clash sending shockwaves that reverberated through the walls of the training hall. Cracks started to form, a testament to the intensity of their spar.
After some time, they both sensed the same thing—the barrier had broken.
Without a moment's hesitation, they disappeared from their positions, leaving behind a training ground in disarray, its walls shattered.
Everyone gathered before the crumbling barrier, anticipation coursing through their veins as they prepared for the imminent battle. The forces of the Seven Kingdoms poured out of the castle, ready to face the unknown.
The Saintess began her prayer at a war shrine, seeking guidance and protection.
Darius stood watch, guarding her with unwavering resolve.
Lucas and Rachel took their places in front of their armies, the weight of their responsibilities weighing heavily on their shoulders.
And everyone else stood united, their hearts filled with a myriad of emotions as they gazed upon the unfolding scene before them.
Lost in his thoughts, King suddenly tilted his head upward, his gaze fixated on the sky in front of him.
"Selena, do you feel it?" King's voice resounded in his mind.
"Celestials," Selena's response echoed, carrying a mix of awe and anticipation.
The stage was set, the moment before war, as fate and destiny converged upon the Seven Kingdoms.
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