Far to the north, in the obsidian-fortified capital of Ironholm, General Marcus Will Valtri stood before his war table, reading a crow-sent message from the Regent Zentra. His knuckles went pale as he held onto the parchment, gripping it like it was the only thing keeping him together.
" The Hollow Creed is real.
The Cult of the Void Creed moves on Zentra.
We need the Echo Sanctum."
Meanwhile, across the city, Minister Aleric Fenric read the same letter. He laughed as he tossed it into the flames.
"They were right," murmured Liora Fenric, watching the message burn.
"Yes," Aleric said calmly. "And the king will want answers."
Right on cue, a messenger arrived bearing the royal decree.
"His Majesty requests your presence at the upcoming war council, scheduled to convene in one week."
"Send for Ethan," Aleric told his wife.
The throne room was filled with voices and bloodied reports.
Bandits marked their victims with the word END. Market stalls burned. The Cult of the Void Creed spoke of a coming event called The Silent Eclipse, while the brothers of the Echo Sanctum shed the blood of those who dared challenge them.
In the grand obsidian chamber, King Saint Benedict Lucius Frances, just twenty-five and yet to prove himself, stood from his throne. He lifted a hand, boldly he said.
"Enough."
The council fell silent.
"You've all seen the reports from Zentra," he said, voice tight with fury. "The forest is real. The creed is real. The people are afraid. And here you are bickering."
General Marcus slammed his fist against the table. "We must prepare for war."
"Based on what precedent?" Liora challenged.
Marcus gritted his teeth. "It's written in the Creed."
Aleric chuckled at the familiar argument. "Then give the people a symbol. A story. Form a unit of elite soldiers to be trained and sent on an expedition to the Orchard. If they die, we can blame the Creed."
"And if they survive," the king said softly, "we can weaponize what they find."
He stared down at the war map. Ink blotches represented the Orchard's reach, creating an eerie feeling that the Orchard had begun to creep toward Boscow's heart.
"Summon them," the king commanded.
The Hollow Orchard was awakening.
And Boscow would never be the same.