"What can we possibly achieve in a week when half our men have already fallen in the attritional battles of the past four years?"
One of the ministers spoke after seeking permission from his sovereign, Orig, who sat in a difficult position. The once-mighty king no longer possessed the same strength he had before. His injuries had left him less agile, his movements constrained by lingering pain.
"With the Kingdom of Jasmine joining the Six Kingdoms Alliance to eliminate us, hope is gone, my lord. I regret to say this, but the Kingdom of Tulip is bound to fall,"
The counselor spoke solemnly, knowing full well that Orig was already aware of these grim truths. The situation was dire, akin to a rabbit cornered by a pack of wolves in a forest of thorns.
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"I cannot stand idle and surrender—not now, not when my beloved Taya has returned to my arms. I wonder if she will ever forgive me."