The Princess' Harem
Chapter 123: The Gratitudes

Chapter 123: The Gratitudes

Rayne gave a weary smile. "News of the blight, and your efforts against it, spread further than even the Emperor knew. And with our combined might, we broke through the blockades that were keeping us from you. There were forces... unknown, trying to prevent any aid from reaching Elysia."

Viana’s eyes narrowed. "Unknown forces. Oh, I see. The blight... it felt like purposely made. And Arin... his actions too perfectly timed with Elysia’s weakened state."

She looked at the now-quiet battlefield, then towards the distant, serene forests where the elves would soon retreat. "This victory, Rayne, it feels... incomplete."

Rayne’s gaze followed hers. "The war, perhaps, but not the fight. This was a battle won. But, something darker, something behind Arin’s madness, remain."

He looked towards the horizon, where the sun now fully illuminated the scene. "We have so much to discuss, Princess Viana. The true source of the blight. The individuals who sought to isolate Elysia. And the future of your kingdom, now scarred but standing."

The physical battle was over, the immediate threat gone. But as Viana stood amidst the exhausted celebration, a new kind of tension settled in.

***

Later that morning, within the heart of Elysia’s battered castle, King Clive Yanis and Queen Isabella, Viana’s parents, awaited Eryndor.

They had watched from the highest tower as the battle unfolded, their hearts heavy with dread, then soaring with a mix of disbelief and awe as the Elves, followed by Valendale and the provincial forces, turned the tide. The sight of their capital saved, their people alive, brought tears to their eyes.

Eryndor entered the royal audience chamber, his elven form radiating a quiet majesty that seemed to fill the room. His garments were still pristine, his demeanor calm, despite the bloodshed he had just commanded.

He moved with a grace that seemed out of place in the grim, war-torn castle, yet utterly fitting for an emissary of the ancient forests.

King Clive Yanis, his usually stern face softened by profound relief, rose from his throne.

Queen Isabella, her eyes still red-rimmed from worry, stepped forward, her hands clasped in gratitude. Her gaze was fixed on the Elven lord, a silent testament to the miracle he represented.

"Lord Eryndor," King Clive said, his voice husky with emotion. "Words cannot express the debt Elysia owes you and your people. You came to our aid when all seemed lost. Your magic, your warriors, the very spirit of the wild itself... you turned the tide. We watched in awe. Never before have we seen such power, such unity."

Queen Isabella nodded, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. "Indeed. We saw the majestic stags, the fierce Gryphons, the swift Centaurs, even the unseen Fairies... the ancient races of the land, fighting beside our own. Elysia will never forget this day. The very forests seemed to have answered our silent pleas."

The King stepped forward, executing a deep, heartfelt bow of respect. "Tell me, Lord Eryndor, what can Elysia do to repay this immense debt? How can we thank the Elves, and all the other valiant races who fought for our survival?"

His brow furrowed with genuine concern. "Name your price. We will endeavor to meet it, however great the cost."

Eryndor’s gaze was serene, yet profound. He looked past the King and Queen, his eyes seeming to pierce through the stone walls, out towards the ravaged plains.

"Your Majestry, Queen Isabella," he began, his voice melodic. "There is no ’price’ to be named in the human sense. Our reasons were not for conquest or gain."

He paused, his gaze returning to the King. "As I conveyed to Princess Viana, the blight that threatened your lands, that you fought so bravely against... it threatened ours too. Your Princess, with her unwavering determination to heal the land, stemmed its tide for use, in ways you may not fully comprehend."

He continued, "We do not seek coin or territory. What we seek is the eradication of that darkness, the blight, and the forces that unleashed it upon this world. Our homes, our forests, the very essence of nature itself, were under attack. Elysia’s survival was intertwined with our own. This was a fight for the life of the land, for all its creatures, for the balance that has been corrupted."

Eryndor’s gaze settled on the King, unwavering. "Repayment, Your Majesty, lies in ensuring that such a horror never again darkens this realm. It lies in true understanding between our peoples, in working together to uncover the source of this plague, and to purge it from existence. That is the debt we seek to settle. For the land, for all of us."

His eyes held a hint of steel. "And we believe the true orchestrator of this recent madness, this grand war, remains hidden in the shadows, far more insidious than Prince Arin."

***

The aftermath of the Great Convergence was a strange mix of profound relief and daunting reality. The battlefield, once a maelstrom of violence, was now a somber scene of cleanup and triage.

Elysian and Valendale soldiers worked side-by-side, their former enmity replaced by a quiet, shared exhaustion. The wounded were ferried to the overflowing infirmaries, where Kaley and his temple priests continued their tireless work, their healing light flickering even as night began to fall.

Arden, surprisingly composed, moved among them, overseeing the distribution of fresh supplies brought by the provincial forces.

Within the castle, a solemn council of war was convened. King Clive and Queen Isabella, though still weary, sat at the head of the long oak table. Beside them sat Princess Viana, her armor replaced by simpler robes, her face still smudged with dirt but her eyes sharp and focused.

Rayne, still in his Valendale uniform but with his helmet removed, occupied the seat opposite Viana, his gaze frequently meeting hers. Joel, Reyes, and Daniel were also present, their faces etched with the strain of the past days.

Eryndor, having completed his audience, had respectfully withdrawn, leaving the human leaders to their strategies.