CHAPTER 198: BREAKING OFF WITH THE EMPIRE (2)

King Harius looked directly at Riku. "This village, Elowen, is the heart of the Lifewell Project. It is the single greatest hope for the survival of this kingdom. As such, it is under my direct and personal protection."

"If the Solari Empire wishes to interfere here again," the King declared, his voice ringing with absolute authority, "if they dare to threaten our people or our work, then the ancient alliance will be broken."

"The Korvan Kingdom will stand alone if those people keep this up."

A shocked silence filled the longhouse.

Seraphina was the first to speak. "Your Majesty," she said, her voice cautious. "That is a... drastic step. The Church has deep connections throughout the Empire. To cut ourselves off..."

"The Church’s connections did not bring us water," the King retorted sharply. He then softened his tone. "I understand your concern, Grand Luminar. But my first duty is to my own people."

Seraphina met his gaze. She then looked at Riku. She saw his quiet determination. She looked at Lysaria. She saw her unwavering faith, not in an empire, but in the people in this room.

She nodded slowly. "My first duty is to the Light," she said. "And the Light has never shone brighter than it does in this village. You have my full support, Your Majesty. And to you too, Riku."

Lord Falco and Marci watched this exchange, completely stunned.

They had come from a world of absolute power. A world where an Emperor’s will was law. A world where a Darklord’s whim could decide the fate of thousands.

And here was a King of a vassal nation. He was willing to risk a war with a mighty empire. He was willing to break a centuries-old alliance. All for one small village.

All for one quiet, unassuming man.

Their understanding of power, of loyalty, of what it meant to be a leader, was being shattered.

A heavy silence filled the longhouse. The King’s declaration settled upon everyone in the room. To break a centuries-old alliance with the core empire... it was a move that could lead to open war.

Lord Falco and Marci stared, their faces a mask of disbelief. They could not comprehend what they were hearing.

King Harius stood firm. His expression was that of a monarch who had made a difficult, but necessary, decision.

It was Riku who finally broke the silence.

He raised a hand, a calm, peaceful gesture. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice quiet but clear. It cut through the tension in the room.

The King turned to him. "Yes?"

"I am grateful for your support," Riku said, offering a sincere, respectful bow. "To know that you would stand so firmly for Elowen... it means more than you know."

He straightened up. His expression was serious. "But I must ask you to reconsider. There is no need to take such a drastic measure."

King Harius frowned. "No need? The Solari Legion came to your home. They threatened your people. They tried to imprison your guests. That is an act of aggression. It cannot be ignored."

"I agree," Riku said. "But responding to aggression with a threat of war is not the answer."

He looked around the room. He saw the worried faces of his friends. "This kingdom has just survived a plague. We are still fighting a famine. The last thing our people need is the chaos of a broken alliance. It would only lead to more suffering."

He met the King’s gaze directly. "Let me handle the Solari Empire. This situation began because of me. I will be the one to resolve it."

He offered a small, confident smile. "There is no need to risk a war on our account, Your Majesty. I can be very... persuasive."

King Harius stared at Riku for a long moment. He saw the quiet, unshakeable confidence in the young man’s eyes. He saw a wisdom that defied his age.

The King let out a long sigh. The anger in his posture drained away. It was replaced by a weary trust.

"Very well, Master Riku," he said. "The matter is in your hands. But my offer of support still stands. Should you need anything, you have only to ask."

He turned to his guards. "We are returning to the capital."

Seraphina gave Lysaria a final, warm hug. "Stay safe, little sister," she whispered. She then gave Riku a nod. It was a look of complete, unwavering trust.

The royal delegation mounted their horses and rode out of the valley, leaving a strange, new political landscape in their wake.

With the King gone, an awkward silence fell between the Elowen group and the nobles from the north.

Lord Falco cleared his throat, about to speak, when Rudolf suddenly stiffened. The aide’s eyes went distant for a moment. He touched a finger to his temple. He was receiving a mental communication.

Rudolf’s expression turned serious. He leaned over and whispered something in Lord Falco’s ear.

Falco’s face grew grim. He nodded once, then turned to Riku. "Master Riku," he said, his tone now formal and urgent. "We must take our leave. I have been summoned back to Dreadspire by the Darklord."

"So soon?" Riku asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "But I was hoping to show you more of what we are building here."

"I know," Falco said, and his regret seemed genuine. "But the Darklord’s summons cannot be ignored."

He looked at Riku. He saw not an enemy, but a powerful, intriguing new figure on the world stage. "Do not worry, Master Riku," Falco said, a hint of his old, boisterous nature returning. "This is not the end of our association."

He clapped Riku on the shoulder. "We are friends now, are we not? There will be more time later to share secrets. You have my word."

Marci stepped forward. She looked at Riku, her expression no longer cold or hateful. It was a complex mixture of respect, curiosity, and a hint of something softer.

She gave a slight, formal bow. "Thank you for your... hospitality, Master Riku."

Then, for the first time, she gave him a small, genuine smile.

With a final nod, Lord Falco and his retinue were engulfed in the dark, shimmering energy of Vexia’s teleportation spell. They vanished, leaving Elowen at long last.

Riku and his friends stepped out of the longhouse. The immediate danger had passed. But the atmosphere in the village square was not one of relief.

Small groups of villagers were huddled together. They spoke in low, worried whispers. Their eyes kept darting towards the sky. They were looking for golden portals. They were looking for dark fog.

"They’re scared," Lila said, her voice soft with sadness.

Barou sighed, a heavy, weary sound. "Can you blame them? Bandits. A plague. A dark lord’s army. And now, paladins from the core empire." He shook his head. "Our little village has seen too much trouble lately."

He walked to the center of the square. He clapped his hands loudly to get everyone’s attention.

"Listen up, Elowen!" he boomed, his chief’s voice full of its old, familiar strength. "I know you are worried. I know you are afraid. Today, our home was threatened by powerful people from faraway lands."

He looked around at the faces of his people. He saw the fear. He saw the uncertainty.

"But look around you!" he declared, his voice rising. "We are still here! Our homes are standing! Our fields are green! We faced down the Scorchback Kin, and we won! We survived the Crimson Creep, and we grew stronger!"

He pointed to Riku and the others. "We have powerful friends. We have wise leaders. We have a future that is brighter than ever before."

He raised a defiant fist to the sky. "Let the empires and the dark lords have their squabbles! We are the people of Elowen! We are strong! We are united! And we will not be afraid!"

His words were powerful. They were filled with conviction. A few villagers cheered. Others nodded, their shoulders straightening. Barou’s speech had a calming effect.

But as Riku watched the crowd, he overheard their quiet, lingering fears.

"The chief is right, of course," a farmer muttered to his wife. "But a Dark Lord? Paladins from the Empire? Here?"

"I saw the sky burn with that holy light," another whispered. "Then that man... he just vanished. What kind of magic was that?"

"Those paladins said we were under quarantine," a man near the well asked his neighbor. "Does that mean we’re prisoners in our own home?"

Barou’s words could soothe their fears for a moment. But Riku knew the truth.

The peace had been broken. And words alone would not be enough to restore it.

Riku slipped away from the crowd. He returned to the quiet of his room at the inn. He sat on his futon and stared out the window, a wave of melancholy washing over him.

He had done everything right. He had protected his friends. He had defeated his enemies without killing them. He had even turned a foe into an ally. And yet... the village was still afraid. The peace he had worked so hard to build felt impossibly fragile. Like a beautiful glass sculpture, one sharp shock away from shattering.

System, he thought, his mental voice quiet and weary. This isn’t working. I came here for a peaceful life. But all I seem to do is bring bigger and bigger storms to this small village.

The happiness I create... it’s so fragile.