Novel Full Chapter 386 Ideals & Boys
“We can achieve it, I know. With you three by my side—it won’t be easy, I understand that. I would’ve loved to support any of my brothers if they were worthy, but they follow my father blindly. I tried to stop this madness. I told them—one war at hand is enough, we don’t need to go seeking another. And yet, they did it anyway.” Maelor gritted his teeth, his focus finally shifting from the past to the present.
“Do you even realize what nonsense you’re spouting?” Adrian asked, his voice sharp with annoyance and incredulity.
“Yes, I do. So, what do you say, Sunblade?” Maelor asked simply.
Damian didn’t know how to respond. From what he’d seen, Maelor was clever enough to understand how futile his efforts were—against so many adversaries and without a single powerful ally. Maybe if he made connections and sought out some third-rankers, one might entertain him in the hope of ruling in his name. But that wasn’t how hierarchy in this world worked. Without strength to back his claim, Maelor wouldn’t survive even one ‘Monarch’s Trial’ before someone snatched the position from him. That’s assuming he’d even make it that far before some count or marquis sent assassins after him in the dead of night.
“I’m honestly impressed,” Damian said with a blank face. “I didn’t think you had it in you.”
Maelor leaned back, placing his hands on the table. He didn’t seem offended, just thoughtful.
Damian continued, “Maybe you can do it—who knows? Your plan has plenty of courage and hope, but nothing else. You’re inexperienced. You don’t know how bloody the path to power really is. Fight some real battles. Bloody your blade. And if your mind is still unchanged after that, then we’ll talk.”
“You think things are bad now?” Sam added. “Believe me, they can always get worse. Life always finds a way to make it worse.”
Maelor sighed, a dejected smile crossing his face as he turned to Lucian. “What about you?”
“It’s ambitious—too ambitious,” Lucian replied, her tone amiable but firm. “My decisions affect more lives than just my own. I can’t risk them on a ‘maybe.'”
Maelor nodded slowly. “Spell-master will never let the Dawnstar people go without bleeding them. My father won’t yield. Thousands will perish for no reason—thousands of people who were just trying to live their lives, working their fields, doing simple jobs. The Empire is hell-bent on destroying everything in its path, and we won’t back down, either. Maybe William will stop them, but that’s unlikely. Either way, thousands will die in this confrontation.”
“Yes, it’s terrible,” Fiona said bluntly. “But I fail to see how you plan to improve the situation.”
Her words were rude, especially given the difference in their statuses, but that was the Fiona Damian remembered. It made him smile slightly.
“Eldoris can be reasoned with,” Maelor explained. “My father is too drunk on pride to make that happen. I’ve spoken with some Faerunian nobility. They’re preparing as best they can to face a weakened Empire once it gets through Dawnstar. If I can somehow unite the three sides, the Empire will have no choice but to back down.”
His plan was naïve, riddled with uncertainties and “somehows.” Damian had to admit, Maelor was one of the better ones, but he was still a boy. His view of the world was colored by the idealism of youth, his noble upbringing glorifying honor and purpose. The real world was far more brutal and unforgiving.
The possibility of the three kingdoms uniting had been discussed for years, with hundreds working tirelessly to make it happen—but to no avail.
The Queen of Eldoris had once remarked that gaining control over all of Ashenvale would strengthen their position and allow them to propose a united front with better numbers, especially after the recent war. While her assessment wasn’t entirely wrong, it was far from the whole truth. Negotiations with Ashenvale’s third-ranker nobles were still ongoing, as Eldoris sought to secure some form of agreement.
Dawnstar was attempting the same but with limited success. However, the adage “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” seemed to hold some sway. A faction of Ashenvale loyalists had begun favoring Dawnstar’s king, hoping to rally against Eldoris in another conflict.
Meanwhile some nobles were seeking independence, the beastmen revolution was flourishing in the shadows, and underground trade networks thrived in the war-torn region. These factions harbored a deep hatred for Eldoris, further complicating matters.
As for Faerunia… they had all but shut themselves off, leaving the rest of the world in the dark about their intentions or activities.
There was a faint chance that the three kingdoms might unite, but Damian doubted it would happen before the Empire advanced halfway through Dawnstar. Even if it did, it would likely be too late.
Ashenvale had fallen, and Dawnstar was poised to follow. With the Sea Serpent on Faerunia’s throne, they wouldn’t face much trouble defending themselves if it came to that. The Empire lacked a fourth-ranker, and while the Eldoris royal family boasted the highest number of third-rankers, they, too, had no fourth-ranker to tip the scales.
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What Eldoris was doing to the Dawnstar king would undoubtedly repeat, only this time with Faerunia turning the tables on Eldoris if they joined forces. The Eldoris queen, ever paranoid, would never agree to such terms.
It was as though everyone in the room was silently envisioning their own version of the future. No one spoke for a while, the weight of unspoken thoughts pressing down like a storm cloud.
At last, Damian nodded curtly and stood, every eye in the room tracking his movements as he turned to leave.
“Keep my business to yourself, and I’ll do the same with yours,” he said.
Before Damian could take more than a few steps, Maelor called out, “Fine. Don’t support me—I don’t care. But we have to do something. Our home is burning, and it’ll turn to ash if nothing is done. At least help me appeal to the high table for aid. You have connections among Highswords. You can make a difference.
If the Empire conquers Dawnstar, no one will be able to oppose them. They’re forcing my sister to marry that pig, Lord Landshark. She’s twelve, for god’s sake! And for what? So we can rely on him to fight a worthless battle on our behalf?”
Damian stopped but didn’t look back. Landshark, Dawnstar third ranker—a name he’d heard before. The rumors about him were as vile as they came.
“Don’t confuse the shit with your family with fairy tales of honor and glory,” Damian said coldly. “Take your sister and leave that wretched kingdom. Start a new life. If you want help with her, I’ll see what I can do. But all this other talk? It’s worthless. Don’t waste your time with the Highswords. They have eyes—if they cared enough to help, they would have acted by now.”
Lucian and Sam eyed him but said nothing. Damian walked out, the hallway was empty and quiet.
A few moments later, Sam and Lucian followed, along with Adrian and Fiona. Lucian paused to look at Damian for a second before walking away with Adrian and Fiona.
Damian and Sam also headed back to their rooms.