[B4]Chapter 1: Dawn in the Woods

Glittering stars filled the sky, with a full moon gleaming above the Northern Woods. The air was still heavy with the scent of blood, but the silence felt like a fragile blessing—a brief reprieve from the chaos of war.

Despite their fears of the recent battle, there was a peculiar calmness among the Canorians. The realization of how close they had come to complete annihilation had not yet fully sunk in. Their homes still stood, their families were intact, yet their grief was no less heavy. Civilian casualties were astonishingly low—fewer than ten—but the loss of Gildor Frostleaf was a devastating blow.

To the Northern Woods, Gildor Frostleaf had been more than a leader. He was a pillar of strength, a protector who ruled like a sovereign yet cared like a father. Gildor’s bravery in holding the line and his determination to ensure the safety of his people would live on in their memories for generations. His loss was a wound that still ached in the hearts of the Canorians, yet even in their grief, they knew they could not afford to falter.

By midnight, the steady march of an approaching army broke the forest’s stillness. Soldiers from the Human, Elven, and Feralon forces began to gather, their ranks forming swiftly. Within hours, they had dispersed throughout the woods, fortifying their positions and preparing for what lay ahead.

When the first rays of sunlight broke through the canopy, the forest glowed with hues of gold and crimson. The alliance forces knew they were sitting on a ticking time bomb. The Demon Lord’s retaliation was inevitable, and they could only hope to be ready when it came.

By mid-morning, the legendary warriors of the Varidian continent arrived. Their presence brought an undeniable surge of hope to the soldiers and the people of the Northern Woods, a much-needed boost to their morale. It felt as though their chances against the Demon Lord had just improved.

At that moment, they were gathered in the Embassy Enclave. Lily was seated at the head of the chamber. Opposite her sat Darius Stormforge, his hands clasped on the table before him. To Lily’s left, Fundin Silverbeard stroked his braided beard, the soft light glinting off its silver strands. Beside him, Tariel Quickblade leaned back slightly in her chair.

“We’ve fortified the borders as much as possible,” Fundin said in his deep, gravelly voice. “Our scouts confirm no immediate movement from the Demon Lord’s forces, but we can’t afford to relax. That beast doesn’t rest, and neither should we.” His words trailed off, but the storm beneath his tone was clear.

Tariel’s emerald eyes darted toward him as she leaned forward. “Reinforcements from Lighthaven and the Silvania Empire should arrive by tomorrow. Until then, we need to buy as much time as we can. So, don’t worry too much, Mister Silverbeard. Rushed decisions rarely lead to victory.”

Fundin let out a low grunt, his gaze shifting to Darius Stormforge. Tariel’s attention followed, both of them waiting expectantly for his input. However, Darius’s focus remained fixed entirely on the princess.

After a pause, Darius’s deep broke the silence. “How did Malachor meet his demise, Lady Emma?” His question was directed at the young woman seated to the side of the princess.

Emma, who had regained much of her composure since the chaos of the earlier hours, straightened slightly, exhaling as though steeling herself.

The room fell utterly silent as she began to speak. Fundin’s eyes narrowed, while Tariel’s gaze locked intently on her. Even Darius’s usually stoic expression shifted.

According to Emma’s account, the one who defeated Malachor was none other than the enigmatic owner of East Wind, Duke Leywin. She carefully recounted a modified version of the events surrounding Theo’s battle, following Lily’s instructions to omit or alter key details of his skills and abilities.

In her tale, Theo’s victory was portrayed as a hard-fought, near-fatal duel against impossible odds—one he had barely survived. The trio’s expressions shifted as she spoke, moving from curiosity to amazement, and finally to shock.

Despite the gaps in her story, the trio filled in the blanks themselves, assuming that the princess had used her miraculous holy spells to heal Theo during or after the battle. To them, it was the only plausible explanation for how a young man could triumph over such overwhelming forces.

As Emma recounted the events, disbelief flickered in her voice despite her rehearsed delivery. Even now, she struggled to reconcile what she had witnessed with her understanding of Theo’s power. Her mind lingered on the moment he had revealed to her and Agnes his ownership of East Wind—how neither of them had believed him at the time. Now, having seen his strength firsthand, Emma realized how foolish she had been to doubt him.

When she finished, her voice faltered. The room was heavy with astonishment, each person lost in their thoughts.

Fundin said thoughtfully, “When I first met Duke Leywin, I knew he was no ordinary man.”

Darius’s sharp tone followed. “It raises a question we cannot ignore. How did he gain such strength in such a short time?”

“Have you forgotten who his brother is?” Tariel reminded.

As her words reverberated in the chamber, the trio began piecing it together. Someone related to that madman was expected to be extraordinary, but none of them had imagined the young Duke would grow to such heights in less than half a year. Not only had he defeated the Eclipse Guild, but he had also significantly diminished the Demon race by killing the Ascendant Malachor.

The room lapsed into silence once more. To the side, Emma remained quiet, her hands tightening on her lap as her mind replayed the battle in vivid detail. She hadn’t even scratched the surface of Theo’s true abilities, and yet, even the altered tale left the trio in stunned disbelief.

Lily remained silent throughout the discussion. The talk of war strategies, fortifications, and alliances droned on, but her thoughts wandered back to the farm—to her farmer boy. The idea of returning to him pulled at her heartstrings.

Still, she understood the importance of this meeting. As much as it felt like a headache, these final moments of discussion were necessary before she could depart the Northern Woods.

Noticing the princess’s prolonged silence, Darius Stormforge turned his attention toward her. “What’s your command for us, Your Highness?”

Lily’s scarlet eyes returned to the present, though she concealed any trace of distraction. Her tone was composed as she addressed them. “The Canorians have faced unfairness in recent times. Ensure that this war and the movements of our armies do not become an additional burden on them. Their safety and livelihood are paramount.

“Furthermore, announce that the Northern Woods will be under East Wind’s protection from now on. Orcs from Feralon or any other region must not threaten this land or its people. If they try, they will face the wrath of Duke Leywin... and the Lighthaven Empire.”

Fundin Silverbeard’s thick brows furrowed. Her words surprised him—particularly her bold interference in the affairs of Feralon. However, at the mention of Duke Leywin, his doubts and resistance quickly faded.

The young Duke’s reputation was already legendary, even within Feralon. Unlike the relatively prosperous Lighthaven and Silvania Empires, Feralon’s situation was far more tenuous. Yet East Wind had quietly stepped in to aid the struggling regions, distributing food and resources to those in need. The Duke’s care for Feralon’s people had earned him unwavering respect among its leaders. Even the Orc and Dwarf leaders regarded Duke Leywin as a figure of honor.

With his name invoked, no Orc or faction would dare challenge East Wind’s authority in the Northern Woods.

As the discussion drew to a close, Lily rose gracefully, signaling the end of the meeting. Emma stepped forward to follow her as the princess addressed the group one final time.

“Emma and I will be departing shortly. Prepare for the reinforcements arriving tomorrow. Until then, maintain vigilance—and act as the situation demands. I trust your judgment.” With those words, Lily and Emma left the chamber.

In the hallway on the first floor, Lily paused and instructed, “We leave in one hour. Make sure you’ve packed everything you need so nothing gets left behind.”

Emma nodded silently, her movements mechanical, as if her body was on autopilot. Without a word, she turned and entered her room, her mind still replaying the shocking events that remained vivid and fresh.

Lily watched her for a moment before she continued toward her own room. As she stepped inside, a dark gate began to materialize before her. Without wasting another second, she stepped inside.

[SnowNote]

Writing the start and the end of a book is always the hardest part for me, so it took some time to begin. I wasn’t sure where to start without dragging things out too much.

For the chapter numbering, I followed Amazon’s format. Instead of continuing with chapter 199, I decided to label it as [B4] Chapter 1 to indicate the start of Book 4.