Will you be mine, Red Witch?

Liara continued forward even though more than a thousand eyes were on her group. The crowd had been silent since she and her shadows stepped onto the ridiculously long carpet that led to the royal pavilion.

Next to her, she felt Makro snort. Her gigantic friend didn't like being the center of attention. A sideways glance showed him with rosy cheeks. Liara knew it wasn't because of the morning cold. How cute… Liara said to herself. Surely he couldn't wait to finish the event and return to his home, to his family.

For her part, she was also interested in ending that last formality. Her peripheral view showed soldier after soldier with the same appearance. Each seemed happy, but each one also had the marks of exhaustion and hardship on their faces. That, among other traces, had left from that long battle.

Well, today it all ended. Liara said to herself. Each step took her closer to the makeshift podium in the center of the cantonment.

The Ten Years' War had come to an end. The royal idiot who had started it was waiting for them on the podium. Liara could see his face since she had set foot on that stupid carpet. Neat and well-fed. Raam, the Instigator as he was known among the commoners. Raam Ruthelo Silas of Aelamar Great Emperor of Aelamar.

This emperor had started a war with the monsters over the resources of the Forbidden Land. Not knowing that to fight monsters, you need monsters.

While thinking about all this, Liara came very close to the throne. Then she noticed it. Although the old emperor looked spotless and plump, something was wrong with him. He remained there sitting on his enormous throne, surrounded by advisors, bodyguards, and soldiers. However, his glassy eyes seemed to see nothing and his hands did not stop shaking.

What was the matter with him?

"Glory to the saviors of the East!" Someone suddenly shouted and after such intervention, the mass of soldiers began to roar.

"Glory! Glory! Glory!"

Behind her, Castelo shrank imperceptibly. Liara knew how susceptible the ears of her best spy were. Those vociferations had to be like torture for him. It was fortunate that the Emperor's escort usher raised a hand. So, the voices began to fade away.

"We welcome the heroes of the north!" This time Liara saw the crier just before something clank, drawing her attention and also her party's.

Metal. Armors to be more exact. The warlords who came from the north were as impressive as rumors said. With their white armor on, they looked as enormous as Makro himself. 

Liara looked away from the warlords. Thinking there were only eight Angis. Only eight of them had secured the north, the most dangerous place of all. ¡So much power! But that were the Angis, immortals and powerful. If possible, Liara would never have wanted to run into one of them.

Clank! Clank! The sound of metal was getting closer. Meanwhile, Liara and her people stood to the right of the podium, facing the emperor. She and The Shadows gave a respectful Esteria-style greeting to Ruthelo and his inner circle. 

Mégano's sons did not bow to anyone. It was known by everyone.

Then the Angis arrived. They stood on the left next to Liara and his people. The leader stood on the same level as Liara. ¡Clank! The armor made one last sound as the eight warlords stood in a resting position. Each of them carried a large sword on their back. The blades, free of sheaths, shone in the rising sun. Each was almost the size of a normal person. Clank! The leader of the Angis took off his helmet.

"A beautiful man," Cala whispered to Liara's right. 

Liara did not say anything, but silently she agreed with her prophetess.

Dark hair and eyes of a rare blue hue. Turquoise, to be more exact. And the first thing those eyes focused on was the leader of The Shadows of Esteria. In response, Liara gave him a polite nod. However, he just continued to stare at her. 

He had the most visceral eyes. Liara thought. Then, she began to feel uncomfortable. Luckily, the leader of the warlords returned the greeting and looked forward.

¡Clank! And everything was silent.

"His Greatness, Raam Ruthelo Silas of Aelamar Great Emperor of Aelamar." The royal crier announced.

Then the king who had remained like a statue, moved.

"A great wise man said once," Ruthelo who surprisingly had a pleasant voice began. "If you know your opponent and you know yourself, you should not fear the outcome of a battle. I say, that from the fires of our naivety and our despair, our strength burned toward solidarity, hope, and victory."

In other words, Aelamar had confidently rushed towards the Forbidden Land and was almost conquered instead. In the end, Aelamar had to make pacts with Esteria and Nephil.

Liara knew that Esteria had cooperated in exchange for a treaty that allowed the use of the Anaya Canal by the country's commercial companies. On the other hand, she didn't know what Nephil had asked for. While Liara pondered all this, Emperor Ruthelo continued with his speech. 

Liara wasn't interested. She only wanted to return to her country and her tower in the sorceress district. While thinking about that, a strange sensation suddenly came over her. At the same time, she felt a gasp from where Cala was standing.

Wondering what the clairvoyant had seen, Liara tried to turn to her companion. However, she was unable to move.

"Liara, you… are what was promised." She heard Cala say.

Then, Liara staggered, losing control of her body. ¡What a horrible feeling!

The last thing she saw was the leader of the Angis. He had caught her before she fell to the ground. What a shame! What was wrong with her?

For the first time in her life, Liara passed out.