[Neville Capital.]
[Throne Hall.]
"Father!!"
The heavy oak doors of the Throne Hall burst inward as Harold, his face etched with alarm, rushed into the vast chamber. He skidded to a halt before the raised dais where his father, the Emperor, sat beside his mother, the Queen.
"What happened, dear?" The Queen inquired, her brow furrowed with mild confusion at her son's uncharacteristic haste.
"We... Our scouts just returned with grave news. The great forest north of Neville... it have been wiped out." Harold's voice trembled slightly.
"What do you mean by, 'wiped out'?" The Emperor's voice was sharp, a deep frown creasing his forehead. He leaned forward, his regal composure beginning to fray.
"I mean... gone. Destroyed, cleared, vanished. The report is unbelievable, Father. The entire forest, every single tree, every creature within it... all gone. The land is now a barren desert!" Harold's words hung in the air, heavy with disbelief and dread.
"What?!" The Emperor surged to his feet, the shock evident in his widened eyes.
"Who dares such an act?! Could it be the demons? No, even they lack mages of such destructive power..."
"What if it's the elves, Father?" Harold offered, his gaze uncertain.
"The elves..." The Emperor paced before his throne, his agitation growing. "They possess a strong affinity for earth and nature magic, it's true, but still... To obliterate a forest spanning thousands of miles? The repercussions would be catastrophic! It would not only devastate us but all three kingdoms. Famine would grip the entire golden continent, everyone would suffer!"
He roared, the weight of the potential disaster pressing down on him.
"I will investigate, Father. I will go to the north and discover what has transpired!" Harold declared, his voice firm despite the tremor he had initially displayed.
"What of the isles?" The Emperor asked, sinking back onto his throne, his initial shock giving way to a grim contemplation.
"Our forces have already eliminated approximately forty percent of the elven presence there. They currently suspect the demons are behind the attacks."
"That is... Some solace," the Emperor conceded, though his expression remained troubled.
"And Father..." Harold hesitated, then continued, "Oakhavan lies in close proximity to the site of this forest incident."
"Hmm..."
The Emperor fell silent, his gaze distant as he considered this new piece of information. After a long moment, he nodded slowly.
"That is... perhaps opportune. Go with a contingent of soldiers, Harold. Use this tragedy as an opportunity to ascertain what truly happened to the forest. You shall depart within two days."
"But Father, that isn't the—"
"—I know what you were going to say, Harold. Just do it. We need to secure any and all food sources we can lay our hands on! I have no doubt that by now, the other kingdoms have also received news of this calamity!" The Emperor sighed heavily, the weight of his responsibilities evident in his posture.
Harold nodded, his own concerns momentarily suppressed by his father's command. With a respectful bow to both his mother and father, he turned and strode from the Throne Hall.
__
Emerging from the grandeur of the throne hall, Harold's sharp green eyes scanned the vast hallway to his right and left.
"Report."
He turned right, his boots echoing softly on the polished stone as he began to walk towards a less frequented stairwell.
A figure, cloaked entirely in black, detached itself from the shadows of a nearby alcove and fell into step beside Harold.
"The whereabouts of the three individuals remain unknown, Prince Harold. Rest assured, the entire network is actively searching for them." The figure's voice was low and discreet.
"Find them quickly..." Harold hissed, his jaw tight. The woman beside him offered a silent nod.
'I have a terrible feeling about this forest incident... Something is deeply wrong. No single mage, not even the most powerful I've heard of, could possibly obliterate an entire forest like that...' His thoughts raced, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. He addressed the woman beside him:
"In Oakhavan and the surrounding areas near the vanished forest, has your network detected anything...suspicious?"
"Indeed, Prince Harold. My investigation has flagged a small village situated some miles from Oakhavan as potentially anomalous. Shall I dispatch a team to investigate further?"
"No."
Harold decided, his pace quickening. "I will be marching towards Oakhavan in two days, leading twenty thousand soldiers. I will personally assess the situation in that village on our way."
The woman stopped walking, allowing him to move slightly ahead.
"You will accompany me," he stated, then paused, glancing back at her over his shoulder, his piercing green eyes fixed on hers.
"And second... I need Kyle, Juliet, and that fool, Andrew, apprehended. I do not care what methods you employ, but they must be found." He delivered the order with an air of cold finality and continued walking.
'This? I distinctly recall the order was for Kyle to be eliminated on sight, or is Kyle related to the forest?'
The woman's brow furrowed in confusion, but she offered no verbal dissent. With a slight shake of her head, she turned and melted back into the shadows.
___
[Skyborne.]
[Throne Hall.]
The Throne Hall of Skyborne was a study in elegant simplicity, bathed in the soft glow of natural light filtering through crystal windows. Upon the intricately carved throne sat Queen Helene, her long, flowing blue hair cascading around her shoulders, her piercing blue eyes fixed on the five elven soldiers standing stiffly before her.
Seated on a smaller, equally ornate chair beside her was a male elf, his gaze of molten gold unwavering as he observed the soldiers. A faint, almost predatory smile played on his lips. This was Kel, the Queen's consort, a formidable Rank 55 Hunter, and a figure whispered to be the most ruthless individual in the entire elven kingdom.
"Repeat yourselves, General Gaxion," Kel instructed, his voice deceptively calm, the smile never quite reaching his intense eyes.
"My... My King," General Gaxion stammered slightly, his usual military bearing faltering under the combined scrutiny of the Queen and her consort.
"we have received two pieces of...unfortunate news."
"Go on then! Don't keep us in suspense," Kel urged, his smile widening fractionally, a hint of something dangerous lurking beneath the surface.
"The great forest situated at our southern border... it has been completely wiped out."
"Oh?"
Kel's grin broadened. "And what of the creatures that dwelled within the Forest?" he inquired, his tone almost casual.
"They were present as of last night, My King. But this morning... they too have vanished without a trace."
"Hmm..." Kel's golden eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned his attention to his wife. "Do you comprehend the implications of this for the three kingdoms?" he asked, his voice now devoid of its earlier amusement.
"Famine."
Queen Helene stated simply, her expression grim.
Kel's gaze sharpened, and he turned back to General Gaxion. "And the other piece of unfortunate news? Do you believe it pales in comparison to the potential starvation of an entire continent?" He asked.