"Our attack on the Royal Castle will be put off for now. I don’t know how they did it, but I’ve gotten word that Amber completely decimated the church’s forces. Every shrine, temple, and church in the kingdom has been destroyed." Lapis said, speaking to the three people sitting in front of him.
"Beryl is out?" Master Julius asked.
"According to my knowledge, yes, he is. I never considered him a threat, but it’s still nice knowing that one of my competitors has been eliminated."
Ellan Calak, Lapis’s grandfather, stroked his short beard as he listened to all the information given to him. Something didn’t sit right with him.
Ellan leaned forward. "Lapis, my boy, have you heard anything related to Duke Ralf?"
Lapis paused to think, trying his best to recall any information pertaining to Duke Ralf Canan, Beryl’s maternal grandfather. He pulled out sheets of paper, documents that held vital information related to the current war.
He looked over all of it, realizing that he had nothing on Duke Ralf. He didn’t even have anything on whether the Duke joined the war to support his grandson, which he most likely did, but there was nothing showing that they were working together, which was odd.
"No," Lapis answered, a bit puzzled by the revelation. "I don’t have anything on him or what his family is doing. I know he has been supporting Beryl, but I don’t have any records stating that he or his family’s forces were there helping him attack the castle."
"Could this be a trap to lure us out? Having us think that Beryl has fallen, but he’s actually hiding with his family, and once we attack Duke Parth, they’ll strike us?" Julius wondered.
"That’s possible," Ellan stated. "But it still doesn’t explain why he’s been so quiet. There are only three reasons I can come up with for why he’s remaining silent. One, he simply doesn’t know what happened to his grandson. Two, it’s a trap to make everyone forget about their presence so they can strike when we least expect it. Or three, he has no plans on helping Beryl anymore after what happened to the church."
"Whatever the case may be, it matters not. All preparations have been completed, and we are ready to strike when ready." Raidon spoke, his tone confident.
Lapis nodded. "Very well. Gather our forces. We’ll strike in three hours."
As soon as the four of them stood up to leave, a massive explosion rocked the estate, the loud boom shattering some windows.
"Prepare for combat!"
"What the....What’s happening?!" Lapis rushed to a nearby window, peeking his head outside to understand what was going on.
"ELLAN! ELLAN, COME OUT HERE YOU FUCKING BASTARD! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" A voice boomed as a massive wave of energy struck the magical barrier that protected Ellan’s home from danger.
"I know that voice," Ellan grumbled, looking toward a window. "It’s Duke Ralf."
"Duke Ralf? Why is he here?" Now Lapis was confused. There was no reason for Duke Ralf to attack their home, especially when his grandson’s forces were wiped out by the royal army.
"Wait, grandpa. It could be a trap." Lapis warned.
"Ha, my boy, do you think that clown is able to set a trap that could hurt me? Idiocy runs in his family, so he’s bet he’s here for some personal reason. As for what it is, I’ll go and find out."
Teleporting out of the room, Ellan appeared in the sky, still within the confines of his barrier, but face to face with Ralf, who was hovering at the same altitude as him, except outside of the barrier.
"And what brings you to my humble abode, Ralf?"
Ralf’s face twisted with anger. "Cut the bullshit! I know what you’ve done! Give him back!"
Ellan furrowed his brow. He had no idea what Ralf was talking about and answered accordingly. "You’re going to have to clarify what you mean. Who do you want back?"
"Bastard!" Ralf’s energy flared up, and the barrier shook. "Don’t act like you don’t know! I know it was you! Now give him back or face the full might of my house!"
Ellan shook his head, still not understanding what Ralf meant. "Humor me. Who do you think I have? Because I don’t know what you’re talking about."
He was trying to be reasonable, but Ralf was too angry to cooperate. His anger clouded his judgment, and he completely lost it after Ellan continued to play dumb in his eyes.
"I tried to settle this without bloodshed, but if that’s what you want, then it’s what you’ll get!" With a sharp motion, he drew the longsword from his back. Sunlight danced along the silver blade as flames coiled around it, turning the air thick with heat and the scent of smoke.
"Do you truly wish to go this route?" Ellan asked in an attempt to solve this issue without bloodshed. "Just tell me who you’re looking for."
"I’m tired of your sick games, Ellan. I’ll put an end to you, permanently, and see to the destruction of your house!" He swung, his strike fueled by anger and fury. The blade cleanly cut through the barrier, shattering it like glass, and his army charged forward.
Ellan shook his head. "So be it." A staff made of pristine wood with a magic crystal pulsating mana appeared in his hand. He pointed it downward at the army that was charging into his home, and three black spheres warped into existence in front of them.
"What is-" The men had no chance to understand what happened as they were all ripped to shreds instantly by the gravitational power of the black orbs, leaving the back half of the army stunned.
"Attack!" Lapis shouted, leading the charge against Ralf’s men.
Since half of Ralf’s army was ripped to shreds, it didn’t take long for Lapis and his men to overwhelm them.