Chapter 63: Reluctance

3rd Person POV

In the aftermath of the deformed dragon's attack on the Western Kingdom, chaos reigned. The once vibrant cities lay in ruins, their streets littered with debris and ash. Homes and shops, once bustling with life and business, collapsed. 

But perhaps the most chilling sight was the fate of the two archmages who had valiantly battled the dragon. Their lifeless bodies were discovered amidst the wreckage, their once powerful forms now mere shadows of their former selves as they were damaged severely from the explosion caused by their attacks.

With the loss of their most formidable defenders, fear spread like wildfire throughout the world. Uncertainty echoed in every corner, as people wondered what other horrors lurked beyond the dragon, were there more of these?

If so, how would they survive if even the mighty archmages could fall, what hope was there for the common folk?

The destruction wrought by the dragon's attack was unlike anything the kingdom had ever seen. Entire villages had been razed to the ground, their inhabitants either fleeing for their lives or perishing in the flames.

Crops lay trampled from animals running and fields were scorched by the dragon's flame that can't be put out by regular magic, leaving the land barren and lifeless.

In the capital city, the devastation was especially profound. The grand castle, home to the royal family and seat of power, now stood as a grim reminder of the kingdom's vulnerability. Its once majestic towers lay crumbled and broken, the walls blackened by fire. The castle was protected, but at what cost? They have just lost their best defender.

But it wasn't just the physical damage that struck fear into the hearts of the people. It was the knowledge that their world was no longer safe, that their lives were threatened by forces beyond their control. The loss of the archmages only served to underscore this harsh reality, leaving the kingdom feeling more vulnerable than ever before.

They thought that the vengeful snakes were just angry commoners wanting revenge for their past discrimination, but to think that their rage was so strong that they were willing to contaminate an important resource of a whole continent and even stage an attack that took out the lives of innocent people, which included fellow commoners.

As the dust settled after the harrowing attack, whispers of political tension began to weave through the already fractured kingdom. The Southern Empire, emboldened by the chaos wrought by the dragon's rampage, demanded compensation for the death of their archmage.

The Southern Empire has already suffered many losses, and now their strongest mage is among those losses, resources can be gathered easily, but archmages are much rarer than that, especially a loyal one.

Their demand rippled and ignited a firestorm of debate. The decision to stand alongside their Western neighbors had not come without consequences for the Southern Empire. In the wake of Ashford's death, questions arose regarding the empire's stance on the matter.

Some saw his actions as a betrayal of his homeland as he chose to not retreat to live for another day, a reckless abandonment of duty in favor of fleeting alliances. Others, however, hailed his bravery and selflessness, viewing his sacrifice as a testament to the bonds that transcended borders.

Negotiations between the Western Kingdom and the Southern Empire teetered on the edge of collapse, as each side vied for leverage in the aftermath of the tragedy.

As negotiations between the Western Kingdom and the Southern Empire teetered on the edge of collapse, the weight of guilt hung heavy in the air.

The Western Kingdom, reeling from the devastation wrought by the deformed dragon's attack, felt a profound sense of responsibility for the chaos that had befallen not only their own lands but also their ally.

The demands put forth by the Southern Empire, though initially seen as reasonable by some, quickly became a point of contention. While the request for strong mages, artifacts, and other treasures seemed fair to most, the Western Kingdom's officials found itself unable to meet these demands without sacrificing its own future.

These demands were vital to the kingdom's ability to rebuild and recover from the destruction wrought by the dragon's rampage.

Artifacts held within the kingdom's vaults could be useful in times of other emergencies and strong mages were needed not only for defense but also for the task of rebuilding shattered cities and fortifying defenses against future threats.

Faced with the impossible choice between appeasing their ally and securing their own future, the Western Kingdom found itself at an impasse. Compromise seemed out of reach as tensions continued to escalate.

As the days turned into weeks and the deadlock persisted, whispers of discontent echoed through the 2 nations.

Some urged the kingdom to stand firm in the face of the Southern Empire's demands, unwilling to sacrifice their own future for the sake of appeasing their ally. Others, however, feared the consequences of such defiance, warning of the potential for war and further devastation.

The reluctance of the Western Kingdom to meet the demands of their ally cast a shadow over their standing in the eyes of the other nations, after all, if the Western Kingdom was unwilling to meet the reasonable demands of the Southern Empire, who sacrificed one of their own to receive nothing in return for such a sacrifice was perceived as a breach of trust.

If the Western Kingdom could not uphold its end of the alliance, what assurance did other nations have that their sacrifices would not be in vain?

Caught between the demands of the Southern Empire and the expectations of their other allies, the Western Kingdom found itself standing at a crossroads.

The decisions made in the coming days would not only shape the fate of the world and the human race but also determine the course of its relationships with its allies for years to come. 

The southern empire has the hero, a person fated to save the world, and such a person will no doubt revive the empire to its former glory, when that happens, the western kingdom will not be within their priorities, they cannot beat the demon god alone.