Meanwhile, at the other end of the land.
The solemn doors were pushed inward from outside, and twilight streamed through the several-meter-high doors into the silent, sacred hall. Upon the enclosed dais, the frail prince who had been praying with his eyes closed raised his eyelids.
He saw the tall, powerfully built captain of the royal guard kneeling on one knee in the center of the hall. He heard the scrape and clatter of armor and smelled the blood flowing through the gaps between the plates.
Thick blood. Fresh blood.
There should never have been bloodshed within the royal city.
"Your Highness, the sages of the Grand Archives have calculated the names of the awakened Lords of Cinder." The captain's voice was heavy, like the tolling of bells.
"Leave the list." The prince's voice was gentle, yet brooked no refusal.
"Your Highness, the fighting outside the royal city..."
"You may leave."
Their exchange was simple and direct, but the captain's movements betrayed a hint of astonishment. He even dared to raise his head and look toward the dais within the palace. In the end, however, he found nothing and could only leave a document behind before withdrawing dejectedly.
The heavy doors closed once more, yet the hues of twilight continued to spread through the hall. Accompanied by a suddenly unfolding white miracle formation, the document was displaced through space and moved before the prince on the dais.
Right before him—three feet away.
An invisible force field wrapped around the document, unrolling it even as it isolated it. When the writing on the document entered the reader's eyes, a soft laugh arose from the dais.
"Just as I thought." The handsome young prince sighed. "Pontiff Sulyvahn's ambition is as undisguised as ever."
As soon as he finished speaking, another firm voice