Lezhe

Cardinal Silva vont Gaius met with the Cardinals of Aether, Pontus, and Nyx.

It was a rare occasion. The cardinals seldom convened formally—more likely to cross paths at the Mage Academy's fourth-year Light Mage midterms than to meet by official summons. Even a royal command drew more consistent attendance than the Academy's schedule.

Still, there were customs to uphold. When a cardinal planned to retire, it was considered proper courtesy to inform the others in person. That was the overt reason for this gathering.

The covert reason, however, was far more urgent: to brief the Cardinals of Pontus and Aether on the recent events at the Citadel of Gadreel.

"So," began Melisandre vont Gaynor, Cardinal of Nyx, reclining in her obsidian-inlaid chair, "have you come to explain why your priests and bishops rushed off to the Citadel of Gadreel? Did Bishop Omar receive a divine vision? And what was Elizabeth's purpose?"

"I will only say this," Cardinal Silva vont Gaius replied. "Gaia has warned us that another great war is coming. I've called this meeting to announce my retirement. I ask that you respect my chosen successor."

"We'll miss you," Melisandre said coolly. "But my goddess wishes to know more about this so-called Great War. What have you learned? How did you learn it? And what of Elizabeth?"

"It is not my place to divulge my goddess's insight," Silva answered sharply. "If Nyx desires answers, she can speak with Gaia directly."

Melisandre narrowed her eyes. "Your honorary bishop interfered with my goddess's plans. She was protecting her plaything—now Nyx must wait longer to enjoy it."

Her voice turned icy. "If it's war you want, the Church of Nyx will gladly oblige. And the first casualty shall be your precious vont Ballard family."

"You're threatening a royal family member?" Cardinal Matheus vont Clermont of Pontus asked, incredulous.

"We're far too old to behave like children," Silva snapped, glaring at Melisandre.

"She claims we're on the brink of war, yet I'm the one being dramatic?" Melisandre said, rolling her eyes. "Tell me, Matheus, do you really favor that tree-hugging, barefoot mud maiden? I thought you liked me more." She rose from her chair, allowing her strapless gown to accentuate her exaggerated curves.

"You vixen! How dare you try to seduce a priest!" Silva shouted, slamming her hands on the table.

"Unlike you, virgin," Melisandre sneered, "we in the Church of Nyx believe surrendering to our carnal pleasures is divine."

"Let's all calm down," said Cardinal Nathaniel "Ned" vont Blackwater of Aether, raising his hands. "We're here to bid farewell to a long-standing colleague. Melisandre, I would think you'd be the happiest to see Silva go."

"Thank you, Ned, for mediating again," said Matheus. "But I, too, have an announcement. I plan to retire as well. I simply no longer have the strength for this role. Of all of us, I've served the longest. We've made many memories over the years... but if Silva speaks true, I'd only become a burden in the coming struggle."

"No, Matty, you can't leave me," Melisandre gasped, mist forming in her eyes. "If you'll accept me as your mistress, I'll retire too!"

"My harem is already rather full," Matheus said with a warm, tired smile. "And I'm not as spry as I used to be. Don't you have more than enough lovers already?"

"I'd be monogamous for you," Melisandre said, batting her lashes.

"Hmph," Silva muttered, folding her arms, biting back the sharp comment at the tip of her tongue.

"I'm flattered," Matheus replied gently, "but I stopped adding new women to my harem a long time ago."

"Enough of that," said Nathaniel. "Let's move on to our next topic: the World Economic Forum. Even though you're both retiring, I assume you still plan to attend?"

Silva and Matheus nodded.

"Then allow me to be direct," Nathaniel continued. "The Cardinals of Pontus have decided to elect a single leader. In Kukes, we'll hold the first Conference of Cardinals. The title will be Pope of Pontus. Catchy, don't you think?"

"The same applies to the Church of Aether," Matheus added.

"We've reached the same decision as well," Silva agreed. "And yes, 'Pope of Pontus' has a certain charm to it."

"Hah!" Melisandre laughed. "You and your obsession with hierarchy. The Church of Nyx has no desire to elect a pope. Chaos is its own blessing."

With the major announcements complete, the cardinals moved on to the finer points of interfaith policy—though the air remained heavy with tension, prophecy, and the weight of shifting power.

***

With Elder Thaddeus healed and resting, Will and Elizabeth spent the evening together in Will's bedroom. James and Helen had returned Camille and Edward home.

After catching up with their children, it didn't take long for the couple to fall asleep. Their journeys had been physically and mentally exhausting, and both needed time to recover their mana from the ceremony.

In the morning, aside from checking in with staff and mentoring Kalista, Will decided to take it easy.

Lounging in the library, he and Elizabeth discussed their plans. Will discussed the upcoming World Economic Forum, while Elizabeth shared news about Camille's upcoming mana ceremony.

It felt surreal to Will—Camille would be turning twelve next year. Where had the time gone? It seemed like only yesterday she was born. And now she was preparing for her own awakening.

"Is she nervous?" Will asked, remembering how confused and anxious he'd been.

Elizabeth laughed. "What do you think? It's all she talks about! It's all any of her classmates talk about!"

"How's Edward?" Will asked.

"You should ask him yourself," Elizabeth replied gently. "He's been practicing swordsmanship with the city guard nearly every day. You should consider training him with Kalista. I think he'd enjoy that."

"Alright. I'll include him," Will nodded. "I'm sure Elder Thaddeus would enjoy training both of them."

"Just don't be too hard on him. He gets frustrated easily," Elizabeth added.

"Well, then that'll be his first lesson," Will chuckled.

After a moment, Elizabeth's tone shifted. "Will... did you tell the king your full story?"

"No," he admitted. "There were quite a few parts I left out."

"So did I," she said softly.

Will laughed. "I wonder what the gods think of what we did."

"Don't be rude!" she scolded.

"Sir Perceval also warned of an impending great war," Will said, sobering.

"I'm scared," Elizabeth whispered. "The war is the only thing our journeys have in common. That can't be a coincidence."

"Then we face it—head-on. What choice do we have?"

"You could bring it up at the World Economic Forum—two months from now?"

"I think that would be wise," Will agreed. "It might be the best chance we have to push for collective defense. Not every empire, kingdom, or theocracy will support it—but it could still serve as a unifying idea."

"Collective defense?" Elizabeth asked, confused.

Will hesitated. The concept wasn't native to this world. In another life, Immanuel Kant had defined collective security as a global pact: if one is attacked, all respond, like the Three Musketeers—all for one, and one for all. NATO's version was more practical: defend one another, but don't chase world peace.

Will simplified it the best he could.

Elizabeth's eyes brightened. "That's a great idea! What kingdom would refuse to fight demons?"

'There's always one,' Will thought but didn't say.

"How's development in Kukes?" she asked next.

"Slower than I'd like. But Vincent's holding the timeline, and Kurosawa and Bubba have been exceptional. Still… we're cutting it close."

Elizabeth frowned. "You bounce from one project to another without ever resting. You know what I think? We need a proper family holiday. Let's visit Lezhe this weekend."

"I think that's a fine idea," Will smiled. "Let's invite Elder Thaddeus too. We all deserve some time at the beach."

When the children came home from school, Elizabeth and Will told them the news.

"We're going to Lezhe!" Edward cheered.

"Yay! It's our favorite place!" Camille added.

"I want to splash in the water!" Kalista beamed.

"You've had everyone talking about how wonderful your new fief is," Elder Thaddeus chimed in. "I'm coming too!"

Will had half-expected to beg him to come, but Thaddeus seemed more excited than the children.

Lezhe was a retreat from the busy trappings of life. 

Will had no intention of turning it into another bustling trade city or a political capital. It was, in his mind, sacred in a different way—a quiet sanctuary away from titles, meetings, and the endless web of schemes.

The salty breeze soothed his nerves better than any tonic. The sound of gulls and waves replaced the murmurs of court and the scribbling of ledgers. Here, he rolled up his pants, kicked off his shoes, and let the warm, white sand bury the burdens he usually carried.

The air smelled of seafoam and drifting salt, and sometimes, if the wind blew just right, wildflowers from the cliffs. He spent hours doing nothing, lounging beneath wide-brimmed umbrellas or reclining in cabanas with Elizabeth nearby, sipping chilled wine and watching the children chase waves.

He made only the most minor changes. A few sturdy cabanas. Colorful umbrellas. A small luxury rental service for high-end guests who demanded elegance with their seclusion. Nothing obtrusive—just enough to allow comfort without disturbing the natural charm.

Landen, the city's administrator, had raised the issue of food early on. Lezhe had no farmland, no arable soil—only rock, beach, and sea. Will solved that quickly, organizing regular shipments of seafood and grain from Gadreel. Trade routes were soon humming. Fishermen gained new markets. Prices stabilized.

With food secured, tourism became the next focus.

Will didn't try to sell Lezhe. He invited discovery. No heralds, no fanfare. No op-eds in his newspaper. Just a few offhand comments at court, over dinner, or after a successful negotiation.

"We just got back from Lezhe. The air clears your mind."

"You've never been? You should go. It's... quiet."

That was all it took.

Word spread. First, a trickle, then a stream. Nobles seeking discretion. Wealthy merchants crave something untouched. Ministers escaping political storms. Even generals took leave to rest on its shores.

Lezhe's sapphire-blue waters shimmered like polished glass beneath the sun. The sands were white and fine, soft enough to sleep on. Its taverns, already well-worn and weathered, had a kind of lived-in charm that drew praise from those tired of marble halls and stiff etiquette.

But Will didn't stop there. He quietly built a dozen seaside villas, each more elegant than the last—whitewashed stone with blue-tile roofs, sprawling verandas, and shaded terraces that faced the ocean. He added a pier-side restaurant, where guests could dine on fresh-caught fish under the stars, with harpists playing soft music nearby.

He charged premium prices for the villas—enough to keep them exclusive—but made the inns, the drinks, and the food in the town itself inexpensive. Lezhe's draw wasn't just luxury. It was balanced. You could spend like a noble and sleep like a prince, or enjoy the sea with a cold drink and good company.

Will called it "the best-kept secret in the realm."

It was remote. The nearest city was days away by boat or airship. And still, demand surged.

He would stroll the beach and encounter nobles he hadn't seen in months. He'd share wine with an old rival under the cabana or play cards with fellow lords on a villa balcony. Slowly, subtly, Lezhe became a place where old bonds were rekindled and new alliances formed.

On this particular trip, however, Will and Elizabeth were startled at just how crowded their quiet seaside escape had become.

They walked the shoreline and recognized face after face from Gadreel, Tirana, and beyond. There were children building sandcastles, governors splashing with their spouses, and soldiers stripped of their armor, laughing freely.

"This trip," Elizabeth said, her voice soft and nostalgic as she watched the tide roll in, "Lezhe doesn't feel like a secret anymore. It feels like... a family getaway."

From beneath the shade of a cream-colored cabana, she looked out over the beach where Kalista, Camille, and Edward splashed in the shallows. Elder Thaddeus was sprawled on a towel, looking remarkably content, half-submerged in the surf like a beached lion.

"Will," Elizabeth said, smiling gently, "I love our family. I'm so glad the Sea Witch talked you into taking Kalista as your apprentice."

Will turned his head from his lounge chair and returned her smile. "I wasn't thrilled at the time. But now... I think of her as a daughter."

The moment stretched, peaceful, and golden.

The children's laughter. The rhythmic crash of waves. The warmth of sunlight diffused through the cabana cloth.

Will leaned back, one arm behind his head, the other loosely holding a book he'd barely read.

And for the first time in what felt like ages—he let himself drift.

Just sleep.

Guided by the ocean's lullaby.

Ten days later, they returned to Gadreel.

Relaxed, sun-kissed, and happy.

Even Elder Thaddeus seemed lighter. He had spent hours soaking in the sea.

But just as they were settling in, a deafening roar shook the estate.

They ran outside.

A vast shadow passed overhead.

"A dragon!" Edward cried.

A long, sleek dragon—white and blue with flowing whiskers—soared toward the Dragon Temple.

"Let's go," Will said, activating a spatial gate.

At the temple, Elder Thaddeus was already greeting a woman in flowing robes.

"Priestess Xing, welcome to my fief," Will said, introducing his family.

"A pleasure to be acquainted," she said with a graceful curtsy. "The temple is… majestic."

"I'm glad it meets your standards."

She sniffed. "I sense a cave of gold nearby. Will that be my residence?"

Will flinched. His secret vault had been discovered solely by smell.

"I'm not sure what you're referring to," he lied poorly. "But you're welcome to build a cave in the mountain."

No one said anything, but everyone filed the revelation away.

Elizabeth was especially interested in Will's secret vault. She looked forward to learning more about the vault. She was sure Will would admit it was his, and she was sure he'd lie about the amount stored away.

"Priestess Xing," said Elder Thaddeus, "Will told me how you saved my life. How can I repay Mother Tiamat?"

Priestess Xing's eyes glazed. She paused, listening.

"Mother Tiamat wishes to speak with you directly. Visit the Dragon Realm when you can."

"I shall," he said, bowing.

Suddenly—

"Priestess Xing?" a handsome noble exclaimed. "A temple?!"

"Are you a dragon too?" Edward asked eagerly.

More dragons arrived—twenty-seven in total. Will and his family stood in awe as noble after noble revealed their true forms.

"I had no idea so many dragons lived in Gadreel," Elizabeth whispered.

"Tonight, I shall consecrate the temple," said Priestess Xing. "Pray with me."

Afterward, everyone returned to Will's estate for a feast that lasted late into the night.