Might & Magic of Emotions - Nijisanji Fantasy

Chapter 18: Crumbling Hope

- Helestan Capital, hours later... -

The situation in the Kingdom of Helesta has not improved in the slightest. Progress on solving the crisis is non-existent, the vassal houses and their soldiers are nearing their chaotic points as they continue to be stretched thin by the revolutionaries, and all the while they still do not know who is truly behind all of this. On the latter, at the very least, they have come to the agreement that the Cheliots are their main suspects.

King Garte has not recovered from the wound that he sustained from the assassination attempt months ago and remains confined and away from the public. The queen, Phaerys Helesta, remains the person calling the shots for their kingdom and she is already considering drastic measures to be taken to address the crisis including the recalling of the legendary Winged Highlords of Harold and their revered gryphon riders, something that was never done before since decades ago in the last war between the four kingdoms.

Today is just another exhaustive day at coming up with effective resolutions. The royal family, the advisors, and the vassal houses have already understood that brute force is an ineffective way to address the largely unhindered revolutionaries who are attempting to besiege the cities across the Eastern Plateaus. What is worrying for them are the reports of the sudden decline of activities from the revolutionaries. Some of the houses saw this as them finally taking the upper hand, but Queen Phaerys is quick to foresee what is preceding it.

They are preparing for something big and with the military of Helesta unsecured, everyone is worried that the revolutionaries are preparing to make a daring push towards the capital.

"Preposterous!" Duke Dalton, patriarch of the House of Silvercane, exclaimed in the throne room where he and many others from the houses and the royal council are meeting. "These rebels are incapable of taking the capital! What road of thought makes them think that they can besiege the most fortified place in the Helestan lands?" He questions with a tone of disbelief.

"I concur. They are ill equipped to even take the town of Osthill before the defenders were relieved by the men-at-arms of the House of Crosslake. A city would be too much for them. My son here can testify." Duchess Julia, matriarch of the House of Crosslake, stated while gesturing to Prince Dareth who nodded.

"But how can we explain the sudden loss of rebel activity near the mountains west of here? The town of Boleslaw was just under siege four days ago, but a runner from the force rushing to relieve them arrived earlier this morning and said that Boleslaw is already secured by the time they arrived." Prince Grandi questioned the people in the throne room. "The runner also said that the townsfolk told them that the rebels left just over a day before they arrived. This isn't normal for them." He added.

"They could've just been warned about the reinforcements early, Prince Grandi." A royal council member said to him.

"Maybe so, but that wasn't the case in the nearby towns. Those towns I speak of are Bozena and Jazyck and the runners that came from said towns informed us that the rebels left at least a week before reinforcements arrived to relieve them." Grandi told the councilor. Hearing that, the people in the throne room started murmuring.

"From what I see, Queen Phaerys, is that they seem to be under a force that is somehow successful at uniting them against a common foe, that is, your kingdom and to an extent, ours as well." Sir Giazza said to Queen Phaerys.

"Yes, Sir Giazza. It does seem that way, but it seems unlikely." Queen Phaerys replied to the elder Felgardian. "You have had problems with revolutionaries in the Southern Plains, yes? May you tell us what are they like?" She asks him.

"Of course. The revolutionaries that Felgarde is dealing with right now is not dissimilar to what we are facing here right now. The largest of these splinter groups is led by a despicable individual who goes by the name of Malmar Hoss." Sir Giazza said. "He, at least in my eyes, has proven to be a meticulous and capable leader and warrior, but for him to be able to unite all of the revolutionaries in the Southern Plains is impossible as even in his faction, he is having problems with keeping it together based from the words of captured revolutionaries. By all accounts, Malmar Hoss is a mere man, nothing more." He added. Queen Phaerys thought about what he said for a moment. She turns to peculiar man who is wearing outlandish clothing.