Chapter 191: The All-out War Begins

"At this time, what advice can she give me?" The patriarch of the Rain Clan pondered, thinking of a figure in his heart.

Returning to Chalk City, Lott felt as if he had travelled a world away. This journey had been long and arduous. He had faced Vortigern's army, fought against the Saxon forces, defeated Vortigern himself, and captured fairies in the castle. Most notably, he had convinced Baobhan Sith to surrender and brought the clan chief of the Tooth Clan, one of the six great clans of the fairies, as a captive. Now, this captured clan chief was tied up and awaiting Lott's next command.

Altria was already waiting at the entrance. She rushed to Lott and Morgan, her excitement palpable. "Your Majesty!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining. "With your return, the capital is peaceful again! And the food—oh, the food!" Altria's recent life in Chalk City had been quite comfortable, filled with the best of Orkney cuisine. Yet, she found herself longing for the special meals reserved for Lott and Morgan.

"Come on, we just got back. We're exhausted from the journey. We'll leave the rest to you," Lott replied, waving a hand dismissively. "Now that we've escorted all the fairies back, let the prisoners rest."

Camelot had captured many prisoners during the war, and Lott had no intention of treating them kindly. "What do we owe them? They will work hard," he thought, eyeing the fairy prisoners. "It's time to start construction."

He contemplated the need for labour. "With this many captives, they can't all be stuffed into the army. I need them transformed into productive workers." Lott reflected on the harsh realities of building a new future. "Every step of capital accumulation is bloody. Camelot's new buildings will draw the fairy blood," he mused.

Morgan overheard his thoughts and felt a chill. "What is he planning?" she wondered, fearing Lott might enact a sacrificial ritual using the fairies' blood. "Surely not a human sacrifice," she thought.

Morgan leaned closer to Lott, her voice a hushed whisper. "Lott, when it comes to killing fairies, can you use magic?"

"Of course," Lott replied, puzzled by the question. "Killing a fairy is just killing a fairy. It doesn't matter how."

Morgan pressed on, "No, I mean in a sacrificial ceremony! A sacrifice!"

Realization hit Lott, and his expression shifted. "Okay," he said hesitantly. He knew Morgan was concerned about a sacrificial ritual and felt uncertain about the bloodshed she seemed to be suggesting.

"Didn't you just mention shedding fairy blood?" Morgan thought confusion etched on her face. But she chose not to press further.

As they walked into Chalk City, the mood shifted.

Meanwhile, the acting patriarch of the Tooth Clan rallied the gathered fairies and dwarves from the Earth Clan. "Let Camelot feel our fury!" he shouted, his eyes gleaming with malice.

The crowd roared in agreement, hands raised in fervour.

Nearby, the patriarch of the Wind Clan wore a more compassionate expression. "It seems Camelot is engulfed in chaos. We must find a way to protect those affected," she stated, her voice steady.

The patriarch of the Mirror Clan scoffed. "Hypocrite," she muttered under her breath.

The Wind Clan leader replied without missing a beat, "I take that as a compliment."

The Mirror Clan leader fell silent, disgust simmering within her.

With the Tooth Clan's army now forming, the tension in the air was palpable. The fairies were about to set forth, ready for war.

In the Kingdom of Shadows, Scáthach observed the unfolding events with a discerning eye. "These fairies are not particularly strong, but they're persistent," she noted. "I wonder how my sister and brother-in-law will handle them."

She considered the possibility that these fairies were merely a distraction. "If these are their best, then Lott should be fine. But if the half-man, half-snake goblins from France join, it could shift the balance," she thought, steeling her resolve.

Scáthach had a keen interest in Lott's capabilities, recognizing that his skills could lead to significant change. "Constant conflict is the best way to grow stronger," she reflected, feeling a rush of adrenaline.

Yet, her focus turned to Lott's mysterious connections. "He's involved with parallel worlds. I must investigate this further," she decided, her determination unwavering.

While others prepared for battle, Scáthach remained hidden, watching the chaos unfold with keen interest, ready to intervene if necessary.