Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Lady Deepwinter refuses to leave despite losing her homeland and territory, but her Guard Captain wants to protect her. Annan intends to take the Expeditionary Army to Deepwinter Territory after settling affairs in the Old Royal Capital.
• The army establishes a base in the city, treats the plague, and begins clearing out ratfolk. Dean Breichim and Mr. Swaro have already eliminated the strongest rats, allowing the soldiers to fight with little danger. The army recaptures the eastern outer city, then the outer and Inner City; only the little Palace Garden remains in ratfolk hands.
• News of the recapture spreads across Middle Earth. Evelyn documents the campaign for Voice of Freedom, and the report boosts the Magic Newspaper’s popularity. Some Tartun Empire officials instead criticize Annan, arguing the city will be retaken and accusing him of ambitions against Montreal.
• Annan brings the rescued Princess Sails into the city and shelters her in the Underground Palace, away from the fighting. Three other survivors are found in the Dungeon, unconscious; Annan asks Mages to save them.
• Maria, a ratfolk agent who can pass as human, helps Annan by handing over ratfolk who want to resist the humans. She then leads the remaining rats north, enabling the Expeditionary Army to clear the city more quickly.
• Princess Sails reveals that the ratfolk drew her blood to study the Montreal Golden Family’s bloodline. Annan suspects they are plotting against the Tartun Empire and has Evelyn publicize the theory, adding that the ratfolk may have corrupted or bribed people within the Empire.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan combines military action with political messaging: he uses Maria’s offer to remove ratfolk opposition, cares for Princess Sails, and turns the Empire’s criticism into a possible warning about ratfolk infiltration.
• Princess Sails is physically frail after captivity but not tortured. Her bloodline was studied, and she helps Annan reason about the ratfolk’s possible aims.
• Maria shows pragmatic cooperation with Annan, trading hostile ratfolk for a chance to retreat with her followers.
• Evelyn is now an active war correspondent who appears hardened by the violence. She strongly resents critics who disparage soldiers from safety and agrees to report Annan’s warning.
• The Expeditionary Army’s varied groups—Rangers, Mages, Thieves, Warriors, and Bards—each contribute to the campaign, while the Empire’s divided officials reveal tensions around Annan’s growing influence.

Significant themes

• Revenge, protection, and loss: Lady Deepwinter’s resolve contrasts with her captain’s desire to save her.
• War and its human cost: The city is reclaimed, but its population appears to have been wiped out; the rescued survivors are unconscious and Princess Sails remains frail.
• Propaganda and public opinion: The campaign’s coverage lifts spirits and sells newspapers, while critics use it to question Annan’s motives.
• Political division and infiltration: The ratfolk may be targeting the Tartun Empire from within as well as through military force.
• Cooperation amid conflict: Annan and Maria make a temporary bargain despite belonging to opposing sides.

Plot points and events

• The Expeditionary Army storms the Palace Garden, driving the Ratfolk from their last stronghold in the Old Royal Capital. After intense street fighting, the army takes Palace Mountain.
• Silly Cat climbs onto the palace roof, feeling a connection to her memories of the Divine Kingdom and resolving to rekindle her Divine Fire. Annan’s worried call interrupts her reverie.
• Princess Sails visits the ruined palace to witness the fall of the Montreal family. Annan reflects that, despite the army’s enormous casualties inflicted on the Ratfolk, the victory offers little material gain.
• Evelyn reports that the Rikaner Kingdom has begun fighting Ratfolk and Demons and claiming the territory they once occupied. Annan suspects it is exploiting the Holy Council’s ruling that reclaimed land belongs to the ruler who retakes it.
• Annan asks Evelyn to prepare a special edition of Voice of Freedom exposing the kingdom’s betrayal and ambitions. Princess Sails warns that doing so could endanger Annan and Free City, since powerful Legendary figures—including the Red Demon King—support the traitorous ruler. Annan decides to draft the article but consult the Old Ancestor before acting.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan celebrates the military success but remains politically cautious. He is determined to prevent the Rikaner ruler from rewriting his betrayal as a heroic recovery, yet recognizes the danger of confronting a powerful kingdom.
• Princess Sails seeks closure by seeing the Montreal family’s defeat firsthand. She warns Annan against provoking the Rikaner Kingdom, showing concern for the consequences of his moral outrage.
• Evelyn eagerly accepts the chance to use journalism to expose the kingdom, while speaking bitterly from her own experience as a former resident.
• Silly Cat reveals her ambition to become a Saint and restore her Divine Fire; Annan’s anxious concern briefly breaks her solemn mood.

Significant themes

• Victory without reward: reclaiming the capital brings honor, but little wealth, highlighting the gap between military achievement and practical benefit.
• Propaganda and historical memory: Annan fears the traitor may be remembered as a hero if the truth is forgotten.
• Power and moral risk: exposing injustice may be necessary, but challenging powerful rulers could bring disaster.
• Rebuilding amid ruin: the army wins back a devastated city, while larger questions about territory, legitimacy, and the future remain unresolved.

Key plot points and events

• Annan recalls that the Holy Council approved leaving the Northern Frontier’s defense to its local lords, despite the danger from demons and Ratfolk. He regrets not opposing the decision but recognizes he had no influence at the meeting.
• After arranging for Evelyn to capture footage in the ruined Old Royal Capital, Annan leaves with the Expeditionary Army. Though the city is now his by the Council’s resolution, it is too exposed and strategically costly to hold.
• Princess Sails mourns the capital, where she grew up and was imprisoned. Annan reminds her that she mattered to him in the past and invites her to see her sister, Lady Deepwinter.
• Annan brings Princess Sails and the army to Deepwinter Territory. The region is impoverished and under siege: its defenses and farmland are damaged, residents are starving, and the population has fallen from nearly seven thousand to just over two thousand in six months.
• Annan distributes food from his portal, splitting it between civilians and soldiers, and orders the army housed in vacant homes. The soldiers explain how residents have used the hillside and heavy round stones to repel Ratfolk attacks, repeatedly retreating to the Castle when defenses nearly fail.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan feels guilt over his earlier passivity but acts decisively now, bringing aid to a vulnerable territory. He also supports Princess Sails emotionally by recalling how she once protected him.
• Princess Sails is grief-stricken and physically weakened by her imprisonment, but hearing that her sister is nearby restores some hope. She reunites with Lady Deepwinter and reveals that the Ratfolk drained her blood while exploiting the Montreal family curse.
• Lady Deepwinter welcomes Annan as someone who once needed her protection and is now returning to protect her. She is surprised by Sails’s survival and wants to understand the Betrayer’s role.
• Eileen, Deepwinter’s Guard Captain, guides Annan and accepts his help, while local soldiers and residents respond cautiously but gratefully to the Expeditionary Army’s presence.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and regret: Annan reflects on the limits of his past influence, then takes practical responsibility where he can.
• Survival and solidarity: Deepwinter’s people—including women—fight together against overwhelming threats; Annan’s food and troops offer a chance to endure.
• The human cost of war: The ruined capital, depopulated territory, damaged crops, and starving civilians reveal how political decisions and prolonged conflict devastate ordinary lives.
• Family and protection: The reunion of the sisters and Annan’s bond with both women provide a personal counterpoint to the wider struggle.

Key plot points and events

• At a sparse banquet, Lady Deepwinter explains that her territory is isolated and starving: merchant caravans have stopped coming, the Ratfolk are consuming nearby regions, and there is little to trade. Annan says he will likely return to Free City rather than attempt an impossible campaign in the mountains.
• Lady Deepwinter apologizes because people she sent with return gifts deserted. When Annan asks about the Secret Treasure, she refuses to explain, warning that the knowledge could harm him.
• A Rat Swarm attacks. Annan calmly directs the defense, and the Expeditionary Army engages the rats well beyond the low wall. Their firearms defeat the swarm before it reaches the settlement, astonishing the defenders and Lady Deepwinter.
• Afterward, a merchant caravan arrives but demands roughly ten times the usual price. Lady Deepwinter lets the merchants leave without protest because she wants them to spread word that Deepwinter Territory still exists.
• Annan realizes Lady Deepwinter does not want to abandon her home. He offers Princess Sails a safer refuge at Montreal Mountain, and she begins to consider leaving. Annan resolves that, if Lady Deepwinter stays, he can help fortify and provision the territory.

Character developments

• Annan shows growing confidence as a leader, directing the battle instinctively. He also recognizes Lady Deepwinter’s attachment to her land and shifts from planning to leave toward imagining how he might help her rebuild.
• Lady Deepwinter remains secretive about the treasure and believes she is atoning for past sins. Though seemingly passive with the merchant, she is determined to keep her territory alive and does not wish to leave.
• Princess Sails is emotionally diminished after surviving what should have been her death, but Annan’s offer of refuge rekindles some hope.
• Olmedo, Idelia, and the others accompany Annan, while Guard Captain Eileen carries out his orders, underscoring the Expeditionary Army’s trust in him.

Significant themes

• Survival and resilience: Deepwinter Territory faces hunger, isolation, and relentless attacks, yet continues to endure.
• Leadership and responsibility: Annan’s military support changes the territory’s immediate prospects and prompts him to consider helping beyond the battlefield.
• Home, guilt, and sacrifice: Lady Deepwinter stays as an act of atonement, but her refusal to leave also reflects her loyalty to her people and land.
• Hope through aid and communication: Even an exploitative caravan matters because its return could tell others Deepwinter still stands.

Character interactions

• Annan reassures Lady Deepwinter after her people desert and presses her about the Secret Treasure, though she refuses to reveal it.
• He gives Eileen clear orders during the attack, and the troops’ successful defense demonstrates his authority and their coordination.
• Annan challenges the merchant’s inflated price, while Lady Deepwinter tolerates the insult to preserve the chance that news of the territory’s survival will spread.
• He speaks privately with Princess Sails about leaving for Montreal Mountain, offering reassurance that she will be welcomed.

Key plot points

• With Star-Moon Bay devastated by the Rat Tide, Annan offers Lady Deepwinter supplies, rebuilding support, and soldiers from his Expeditionary Army. Though she has nothing to repay him with, Princess Sails persuades her to accept, and the two territories sign an alliance.
• Free City mobilizes a large workforce to rebuild Deepwinter Territory, beginning with its city wall. Annan also hires local residents, arranges bakery deliveries so exhausted workers can eat properly, and has the rat meat discarded.
• After the surrounding Rat Swarms are cleared and the territory begins to stabilize, Annan ends the expedition. He promises compensation for the fallen soldiers’ families and offers them residency in Free City.
• Most of the returning army choose to visit Free City, drawn by its growing prosperity. Annan also arranges for the Musketeer Corps to take turns guarding Deepwinter Territory.
• The expedition’s news encourages former residents of Breeze City and Star-Moon Bay to move toward Deepwinter Territory and Middle Earth. Meanwhile, the Rikaner Kingdom claims Lady Deepwinter as one of its own, a move Annan views with contempt. He returns to Montreal Mountain with the Dean and Princess Sails.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan demonstrates practical leadership and generosity, supporting Deepwinter Territory without demanding repayment. He also makes clear that Lady Deepwinter should survive and continue helping her people.
• Lady Deepwinter shifts from wary reluctance to accepting Annan’s aid and alliance. Before his departure, she gives him a ring as a birthday blessing, signaling a personal warmth beyond political cooperation.
• Princess Sails recognizes Annan’s loyalty and urges Lady Deepwinter to accept his help. Her own gratitude stems from his earlier rescue of her.
• Free City’s people, rallied by Olmedo, show solidarity through labor, paid work, and free food for the workers. Their generosity reflects the city’s newfound abundance and civic pride.
• Femi advises Annan not to split the Musketeer Corps, explaining that their cohesion and distinct identities are developing; Annan adjusts his plan accordingly.
• Evelyn, the Voice of Freedom’s editor and star reporter, helps publicize the alliance and shape Lady Deepwinter’s public image as a steadfast hero.

Significant themes

• Mutual aid and friendship: Annan’s assistance is presented as an expression of loyalty, not a transaction.
• Recovery through collective effort: Free City and Deepwinter residents work together to rebuild after disaster.
• Prosperity and dignity: Free City’s generosity shows how material security can transform former refugees into a confident community.
• Public image and political legitimacy: Newspaper coverage influences how Lady Deepwinter is seen and draws attention and potential support to her territory.
• Military solidarity and continuity: The expedition ends, but rotating guards and the soldiers’ growing cohesion preserve its protective legacy.

Plot points

• Annan brings Princess Sails to Montreal Mountain, the Montreal family’s ancestral home. She is afraid to return, but Olin welcomes her with “Welcome home,” and the Old Ancestor reassures her that she is not to blame for her brother Clo’s betrayal.
• Princess Sails asks Annan to kill Clo. Annan agrees only conditionally, while noting that his position and ties to Rikaner make revenge legitimate.
• Annan tells the Old Ancestor that Rikaner’s royal family collaborated with the Ratfolk and plans to present itself as innocent. He wants to expose the truth and asks for protection against retaliation.
• The Old Ancestor supports him, dismisses concerns that the effort might shame the Montreal family, and offers to go to Free City herself to help.
• Annan learns that the Laurencet family’s Old Housemaster is on the mountain. His blunt surprise at finding him alive upsets the frail old man, who is treated by a mage and refuses to see Annan again.
• After visiting the Ghost at the Moonlight Theater and briefly checking the account books, Annan returns to Free City with the Dean. He plans to return to Montreal Mountain to reunite Princess Sails with her brother, the Second Prince, and bring the Old Ancestor to the city.
• Back in Free City, Annan stages a mock fight to draw reporter Evelyn out. He tells her the mountain has approved their effort and orders a special edition prepared.

Character developments and interactions

• Princess Sails moves from fear and guilt toward a tentative sense of belonging. She speaks openly about Clo’s upbringing but does not use it to excuse his betrayal, and seeks Annan’s help in holding him accountable.
• Annan remains determined to expose wrongdoing rather than let the powerful rewrite history. He offers Princess Sails sympathy without minimizing Clo’s actions and secures the Old Ancestor’s backing.
• The Old Ancestor combines warmth toward Princess Sails with firm political resolve, welcoming her as family and supporting Annan’s campaign.
• Olin helps bring Princess Sails to the Old Ancestor and privately confirms the family’s support for Annan.
• Evelyn is shown as an eager reporter who quickly appears wherever news is brewing.

Significant themes

• Accountability versus sympathy: A painful past may explain someone’s actions, but it does not erase responsibility.
• Belonging and family: Princess Sails’s welcome on Montreal Mountain offers her a home after trauma and exile.
• Truth and historical memory: Annan opposes propaganda and the concealment of betrayal.
• Justice and protection: Exposing the truth carries risks, so personal conviction must be backed by collective support.

Plot points and events

• Voice of Freedom publishes Evelyn’s exposé accusing the Rikaner Kingdom of deliberately enabling the Ratfolk invasion and other atrocities so it could reclaim territory and expand. The article argues that the kingdom sacrificed millions for the monarch’s ambition.
• The story initially sells poorly, as readers in the Tartun Empire keep their distance and powerful groups stay quiet. The Mercenaries are its most vocal audience.
• Free City’s ministers, Brink and Fronning, recognize the danger: whether the accusations are true or false, the Rikaner Kingdom may retaliate.
• The Empire Times then cites the exposé and publicly thanks Annan’s expeditionary army for rescuing Princess Sails. This apparent support from Montreal Mountain sends Voice of Freedom’s sales soaring.
• The Rikaner Kingdom retaliates with its own newspaper, Rikaner Glory, accusing Annan of sheltering foreign races, keeping ties with the Ratfolk, and violating the Foreign Races Edict. The accusations seem weak and instead strengthen Annan’s reputation.
• Meanwhile, the Elven Royal Court debates contacting Free City. Despite opposition from isolationist elders, the council agrees to send an envoy, prompted in part by the approaching “Day of Chaos.” The delegation will be led by Annan’s elf mentor.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan approves of Evelyn’s uncompromising reporting and asks Ingrid about the article’s reception. He is surprised by the Elves’ offer of an alliance, having been preoccupied with the Rikaner conflict.
• Evelyn establishes herself as a forceful investigative voice, exposing the kingdom’s alleged crimes without leaving it room to save face.
• Ingrid reports the newspaper’s weak initial response but leaves before Annan can finish speaking.
• Brink enjoys the newspaper’s satire and admires Free City’s courage. Fronning is more cautious, warning that the kingdom will retaliate regardless of whether the story is true.
• Tadel Moonchaser advocates contact with Free City; Irilanze says the Moon Elves will act independently if the wider court refuses. An elderly voice invokes the threat of Chaos to sway the council.

Significant themes

• Propaganda and public opinion: Competing newspapers shape political reputations, and the Rikaner Kingdom’s counterattack backfires.
• Power, ambition, and accountability: The exposé portrays territorial ambition as the cause of mass suffering.
• Courage versus self-preservation: Free City risks retaliation by publishing the story, while many nobles and wealthy readers stay silent.
• Alliance against a greater threat: The Elves’ decision to reach out reflects growing concern about the approaching Day of Chaos.

Plot points and events

• Annan wakes on the day he first arrived in this world—his seventeenth birthday—and finds the City Lord’s Mansion unusually empty.
• His household surprises him with a cake. Annan accepts birthday wishes but is self-conscious that he still looks much younger than his age.
• The city has begun celebrating Freedom Day, established by deputy city lords Olmedo and Idelia. Annan approves the holiday and orders double pay for anyone working, though the idea seems unfamiliar to his advisers.
• Annan shares cake with friends and visits Old Ancestor, Aunt Susan, and Mr. Victor. Each teases him about finding someone to love, prompting him to escape or deflect the question.
• Meanwhile, Tadel Moonchaser prepares to disguise himself as Irilanze for the diplomatic visit. The Elven Royal Court’s delegation—representing several Elven peoples—arrives in Free City. The visit is deliberately presented as ordinary; a formal alliance would be politically momentous and must remain secret until negotiations are certain.

Character developments

• Annan shows growing concern with his public image and authority: he worries that his youthful appearance may keep people from seeing him as a mature ruler.
• He also demonstrates practical compassion by insisting that a holiday should bring workers a tangible benefit.
• The people around Annan reveal their affection through the surprise party, gifts, and teasing.
• Illymoyas offers Annan copper coins for his birthday, a rare gesture of generosity from the dragon.
• Tadel takes on a sensitive diplomatic role, while Irilanze’s attachment to him shows in her reluctance to let him impersonate her.

Significant themes

• Freedom and labor: Annan supports celebrating freedom, but recognizes that a day off means little to people whose survival depends on work.
• Leadership and legitimacy: His youthful appearance troubles him because he wants to be respected as a capable, grown ruler.
• Affection and belonging: The birthday gathering and visits highlight the close bonds Annan has built in Free City.
• Diplomacy and secrecy: The Elves’ visit hints at a possible historic alliance, but caution and political consequences require discretion.

Character interactions

• Annan is warmly surprised by Della, Olmedo, Leila, Idelia, Abby, and the others, and gently refuses Illymoyas’s birthday money.
• He discusses Freedom Day and double pay with Ingrid and the deputy city lords.
• Old Ancestor, Aunt Susan, and Mr. Victor each ask whether Annan likes anyone; Annan dodges the question with humor and haste.
• Tadel reassures Irilanze that his disguise will not change their relationship, though she misunderstands his reassurance.
• Tadel privately warns Annan to keep the diplomatic visit—and its potential significance—quiet.

Plot points and events

• Annan welcomes an Elven Royal Court delegation led by Irilanze. The elves recognize him for his stories and poems, while Alger Windrunner, the supposedly brilliant elf, and Selma Windrunner, a gifted archer, remain more reserved.
• Olmedo formally presents Free City. Annan privately asks Irilanze whether Elder Tadel really is the world’s most beautiful elf and whether she was sent to assess the city. Irilanze admits that checking whether Free City lives up to its claim of being “free” is part of the visit.
• Annan encourages the elves to explore during Freedom Day. Olmedo later confirms that the delegation has no knowledge of the alliance negotiations and is genuinely there to inspect the city.
• The delegation’s members discuss their favorable first impressions: Free City is clean, beautiful, and unusually free of prejudice and unwanted attention, though its men seem tired. Tadel leaves after saying Annan has invited her to meet.
• Annan gives Tadel a slice of birthday cake and fruit from the Northern Frontier. When he reaches toward her, she withdraws, explaining that she is studying a spell that prevents her from touching anyone.
• Tadel tells Annan that winning over the delegation will help secure an alliance with the Elven Royal Court. She identifies Nana, Iris, and Morrigan as representatives of the Wood Elves, High Elves, and Dark Elves, and offers to help him gain their support.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan is warm and socially engaging, but less confident about formal diplomacy. He tries to reassure the elves about Free City and becomes wary that Tadel views him like other Sorcerers.
• Tadel acts as both evaluator and ally: she is frank about the political stakes and offers Annan strategic guidance, while her reluctance to be touched hints at a personal or magical constraint.
• Irilanze gently teases Annan and serves as a link between him and the delegation.
• Nana, Iris, and Morrigan emerge as influential voices within their respective elven communities; the others’ conversation shows the delegation is actively judging Free City.
• Annan’s closing objection to replacing the delegation with male elves suggests he is tempted by Tadel’s joke, reinforcing her teasing challenge to his reputation.

Significant themes

• Freedom and acceptance: The elves assess whether Free City’s promise of openness is real, especially in how it treats different peoples.
• Diplomacy and persuasion: The delegation’s impressions may shape the alliance, making trust and personal relationships politically important.
• Prejudice and reputation: Annan resents being judged by assumptions about Sorcerers, even as Tadel playfully tests those assumptions.
• Cultural difference: The elves’ customs and perspectives contrast with human habits, from birthday celebrations to their expectations of city life.

Key plot points

• Annan’s growing fame fuels political turmoil in the Tartun Empire. Magic Films and Newspapers have made him a constant presence in ordinary life, prompting opponents to accuse him of corrupting the public and supporters to defend him as a hero.
• The argument escalates into mutual suspicion. Mebis, a Ministry of the Interior official, is arrested for selling intelligence to someone linked to the Ratfolk. His arrest briefly quiets the dispute before rumors and accusations intensify again. Annan lets the unrest continue, reasoning that the attention he draws may help protect Maria from the Ratfolk.
• Annan focuses on Tadel and Irilanze’s mission: persuading the Elven Royal Court to renew an alliance after more than two thousand years. He studies the delegation’s three key Elves—thoughtful but proud Morrigan, novelty-loving Lulu, and lineage-conscious Iris—and concludes that conversation alone will not sway them. Their common weakness is art, especially Magic Films.
• A dispute between Elves and Orcs in Free City offers Annan inspiration for a new film. After an Elf insults an Orc and the Orc retaliates, the confrontation is stopped by the City Guard. Annan begins developing a story titled When Orcs Come Knocking.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan shifts from managing his political prominence to deliberately studying the Elves and planning how to influence them through art. He also remains pragmatic about the Empire’s growing unrest.
• Mebis’s everyday life is saturated with Annan’s influence—from entertainment and products to his family’s interests—until frustration drives him to confront his superior. His eventual arrest reinforces the real danger beneath the public quarrel.
• Annan consults Tadel about his film idea. Tadel initially sees little originality in the story, then asks whether the father and son are killed by Orcs. Annan says they live happily; the Orcs are simply the ones “knocking.”
• The Elves’ longstanding hostility toward Orcs turns a street insult into a public confrontation, showing how easily cultural prejudice can flare into conflict.

Significant themes

• Fame and political influence: Annan’s popularity reaches into daily life and shapes public debate, making him both admired and feared.
• Propaganda and suspicion: Competing sides label one another traitors, while genuine espionage makes the accusations harder to dismiss.
• Art as persuasion: Annan sees Magic Films as a way to reach people who are too proud to be convinced by ordinary argument.
• Prejudice and cultural conflict: The Elf–Orc clash reflects entrenched hostility, even among groups capable of speaking and learning from one another.

Chapter summary

Annan explains to Tadel why he wants to make When Orcs Come Knocking, a story about an Orc father and son living in a human city. Beyond earning money, he hopes his films can gradually challenge prejudice between races. He argues that forcing people to forgive those who have harmed them only buries resentment; real change should begin by bringing together people who have not personally inherited that hatred. Tadel recognizes how difficult this goal is but lets Annan pursue it.
Annan says making the family Orcish will help audiences enjoy the story without immediately identifying it with their own burdens. He rejects Tadel’s suggestion of making the son an Elf, fearing it would antagonize Elves instead of changing their views gradually. He plans to recover his memories of The Pursuit of Happyness with magic, then asks Betty to find a lean adult Orc and a young Orc to play the leads and train them.
With six days left in the visiting Elven envoys’ stay, Annan turns to getting closer to Nana, an enthusiastic Wood Elf and devoted film fan. After informing Idelia and Olmedo of his plans, he finds Nana watching Annan Potter and the Magic Stone. She is delighted to sit with him and eagerly takes him outside—but their conversation revolves entirely around films and behind-the-scenes stories. Annan realizes she enjoys talking to him, but his attempts to steer the conversation elsewhere fail. Frustrated and uncomfortable about pursuing her with an ulterior motive, he admits that he is “terrible at getting girls to like” him.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan shows increased confidence in his social vision, while remaining awkward and self-conscious in personal relationships. He wants to address prejudice through storytelling rather than direct confrontation.
• Tadel challenges Annan’s ideas and offers an alternative casting suggestion, but ultimately respects his determination.
• Nana is curious, lively, and deeply enthusiastic about films. Her warmth toward Annan is genuine, though it appears centered on their shared interest.
• Betty is given responsibility for selecting and coaching the Orc actors, and eagerly accepts.
• Annan also informs Idelia and Olmedo of his plan to approach Nana so they will not think he is neglecting his duties.

Significant themes

• Prejudice and reconciliation: Lasting change cannot be imposed by demanding forgiveness; it must begin with people untouched by inherited conflict.
• Art as a means of social change: Annan sees popular films as a way to soften entrenched attitudes gradually.
• Distance and identification: Making the protagonists Orcs may help viewers experience a familiar family story without feeling it mirrors their own hardships too closely.
• Personal awkwardness: Annan’s confidence as a filmmaker contrasts with his uncertainty about romance and his discomfort at treating friendship as a strategy.

Key events

• Annan admits to Nana that he was trying to win the envoys’ approval on Elder Tadel’s advice. Nana says she already likes Free City, and they become friends.
• Iris, who has been exploring Free City and questioning Druid minister Dade, asks Annan for permission to touch a Succubus. Her curiosity satisfied, she warns him that Morrigan is a Dark Elf and should not meet Della, Annan’s Dark Elf guard.
• Following Nana and Iris’s advice, Annan brings children to meet Morrigan. She enjoys playing with them but remains unimpressed by Annan and Free City, and demands that he defeat her in a genuine fight to pass her test.
• Annan postpones that challenge when the squire of the Tenth Holy Grail Knight arrives to investigate the deaths of Teacher Mel and the Fifteenth Holy Grail Knight. Annan confirms the Rikaner Kingdom betrayed them and recounts what happened.
• After the squire believes Annan, Morrigan declares that he has passed her test. Annan realizes he may have won over all three Elven envoys.

Character developments and interactions

• Nana proves warm and supportive, becoming Annan’s first Elven friend and offering advice about the other envoys.
• Iris is curious and direct rather than aloof. She trusts Annan’s honesty and helps him understand Morrigan, while revealing the historical hostility between Dark Elves and the Royal Court.
• Morrigan is difficult to approach and holds a grudge against the Orcs, but her fondness for children emerges. She ultimately judges Annan by his credibility and honesty.
• Annan tries to build goodwill but repeatedly finds his plans taking unexpected turns. He responds candidly to the envoys and treats the Holy Grail Knight’s inquiry seriously.

Significant themes

• Trust and honesty: Annan’s truthful account convinces the squire and, indirectly, satisfies Morrigan.
• Prejudice and coexistence: Free City’s diverse residents challenge inherited stories and tensions between peoples.
• Unexpected connection: Annan’s efforts to win approval lead not to formal diplomacy alone, but to friendship, curiosity, and personal tests.

Key plot points

• Nana, Iris, and Morrigan are already well disposed toward Free City for different reasons: Nana’s artistic interests, Iris’s loyalty and sense of duty, and Morrigan’s respect for strength and faith. Annan learns that Elder Tadel deliberately selected Elf delegates who were already friendly to the city, so he does not need to persuade them individually.
• Annan finishes the script for When Orcs Come Knocking in three days with the aid of Memory Thread Extraction. He plans to remain in Free City to oversee the film rather than travel south.
• Olmedo explains that Free City is expanding its trade through theaters and commercial streets in other city-states. Its population is approaching 50,000, and stricter citizenship and housing rules are helping manage growth.
• The film will feature an Orc father and son, Brook and Dag, selected because their vulnerability may make them sympathetic to human and Elf audiences. They are struggling to act, however, and Betty notes that their lack of natural talent is difficult to overcome.
• The Elf delegation completes its weeklong visit. Another is due in three months, and Tadel agrees to lead it again. Elf negotiations may continue for years because an alliance requires broad approval from the royal court.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan is focused on the film and Free City’s economic expansion, balancing artistic work with its diplomatic and commercial value.
• Tadel quietly accompanies Annan and appears thoughtful and emotionally restrained. She is not interested in discussing beauty, and she agrees to return with the next delegation after reconsidering her initial reluctance.
• Annan and Olmedo discuss Free City’s growth: Olmedo sees regular film production as a route to wealth, while Annan argues that expanding trade is the larger opportunity.
• Annan meets Brook and Dag, whose fear of him reflects their belief that power determines who can dominate whom. Betty works to prepare them for their roles.

Significant themes

• Art as diplomacy and commerce: The film is meant both to earn money and to shape how audiences view Orcs.
• Growth and governance: Free City’s rising prosperity brings crowding and a need to regulate citizenship and housing.
• Power and vulnerability: Brook and Dag’s treatment within Orc society—and their fear of Annan—shows how status and strength shape relationships.
• Different senses of time and duty: Elves view a multiyear alliance process as relatively brief, while Tadel’s commitment reflects the importance they place on collective agreement.

Key plot points

• The Elven Royal Court delegation’s visit attracts little attention, and Annan has it mentioned briefly in the newspaper. He focuses instead on preparing the film When Orcs Come Knocking, set in Free City.
• Annan assigns himself as director, with Francois and Betty as assistant directors. Evelyn remains at the newspaper office, and Tina is not needed for the drama.
• Annan visits Brook and Dag to help them prepare for their roles as father and son. He learns that Orcs generally do not know their fathers: mothers raise the children, while fathers take no part in their lives.
• Annan explains that their performances could challenge other races’ assumptions about Orcs. He encourages them to imagine a bond that Orcish custom has not taught them, and tells them their tribe and clan leaders will be proud of them.
• Back at the mansion, Annan explains to Olmedo why he wants Orcs in the lead roles: an unfamiliar story of Orcish fatherly love could move audiences, and featuring Orcs may help build a stronger Orc presence in Free City. More broadly, he wants the city and its films to welcome all sapient races.
• Annan hints at future films starring other peoples, including Ratfolk, though he keeps his idea for Cat and Mouse to himself.

Character developments and interactions

• Brook is hardworking despite having faced discrimination for his weakness. He admires Freeman and is nervous about whether Gar will approve of him. Annan redirects his hopes toward earning the respect of his tribe and clan.
• Dag, a young and timid Orc, admires Martin. He agrees to treat Brook as his father for the film.
• Annan acts as a mentor, reassuring the Orcs and using filmmaking as both an artistic project and a means of social change.
• Olmedo questions Annan’s casting choice and recognizes his plan to cultivate Orc Warriors. She also probes whether the Orcs’ religion complicates that aim, but Annan dismisses the obstacle and says the Orc Gods could be included in the Pantheon.
• Their conversation reveals both Annan’s ambition and Olmedo’s familiarity with the challenges of building a diverse city.

Significant themes

• Representation and prejudice: The film is meant to challenge the view that Orcs are fit only for mercenary work and violence.
• Family and belonging: The imagined father–son bond contrasts with Orc customs, making the story emotionally powerful while offering Brook and Dag a new relationship to perform.
• Art as social change: Annan sees films as a way to attract other races, reshape public attitudes, and strengthen Free City.
• An inclusive society: Annan’s broader goal is a home where different peoples can live peacefully and pursue their own lives.

Plot points and events

• As rain falls over Free City, Annan sketches designs for an umbrella and a practical, affordable bar of soap.
• Free City produces both inventions within three days. The umbrella is made from canvas, wood, and metal; the soap works better than the alchemists’ costly cleansing liquid. Annan plans inexpensive basic versions for ordinary people and scented or decorative luxury versions for the wealthy.
• Ingrid warns that the alchemists may retaliate through trade pressure or price competition. Annan is unconcerned: Free City’s reputation and strength should protect its products, and he believes the alchemists are not a unified group.
• When the rain eases, filming can begin on When Orcs Come Knocking. Annan and Tina have adapted the original story for the local audience. The revised film follows Chris, an unemployed orc, and his son, Christopher. After watching a film that presents Free City as a place free of discrimination, Chris considers spending their scarce money on the costly journey there.

Character developments

• Annan shows his practical, entrepreneurial side, turning everyday problems into marketable inventions. He also accepts that Free City’s economic growth will unsettle other regions, and trusts its influence to withstand commercial opposition.
• Olmedo is skeptical that an umbrella is more useful than a rain cape, but trusts Annan’s track record.
• Ingrid raises the political and commercial risks of competing with the alchemists.
• Chris, the film’s protagonist, is presented as a devoted father whose hopes for his son make him consider a risky escape from hardship.

Significant themes

• Innovation and commerce: New inventions can improve daily life, but also provoke competition and imitation.
• Class and access: Annan wants basic goods to remain affordable while selling premium versions to the rich.
• Economic change and conflict: Free City’s prosperity may come at other regions’ expense.
• Prejudice and hope: The film’s story explores discrimination against orcs and the possibility of a better life in Free City.
• Parenthood and sacrifice: Chris’s choices are driven by his desire to spare his son the life he has endured.

Character interactions

• Annan declines Dean Breichim’s offer to clear the rain, preferring to let the weather create time for the film’s leads to bond.
• He explains his sketches to Olmedo, who questions the umbrella’s usefulness but allows the idea to proceed.
• Ingrid discusses soap’s scent and warns Annan about the alchemists; he answers that they can compete and that their ranks may include potential allies.
• Annan revises the film with Tina, adapting its story to local concerns about orc discrimination and Free City’s promise of refuge.

Key events

• Annan begins filming a locally adapted story about an Orc father and son, emphasizing perseverance, optimism, and parental love. The early shoot is chaotic, but the cast gradually improves.
• Though Free City is caught up in the growing “Ratfolk spies” uproar, it remains peaceful, partly because Old Ancestor’s arrival has redirected attention toward the Empire.
• Annan visits Old Ancestor with Lily. She says a divine curse has left her no stronger than an ordinary person, and reflects on having once underestimated the world’s supernatural powers.
• Ingrid brings word of a strange Poison Spring discovered in the Forest Mountains. The spring water has no detectable toxins, but Michael has already used the explorers’ entire sample while experimenting with Magic Gunpowder. Annan asks for more and suggests testing sugar as a fuel.
• During filming, Brook’s performance becomes more natural. Annan encourages him to incorporate Orc speech and mannerisms, while warning him not to become too absorbed in his role.
• Olmedo tells Annan that the tenth Holy Grail Knight has arrived at the cemetery. The chapter ends with Annan standing beside the visitor at Mr. Mel’s Clothes Tomb and honoring the justice Mr. Mel upheld until his death.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan balances filmmaking, city affairs, and scientific curiosity. He is considerate of the cast’s growth and thoughtful toward Old Ancestor, while his suggestion to use sugar shows his unfamiliar ideas about energy.
• Brook gains confidence and skill as an actor, drawing on his own experience to make the Orc father feel authentic. He does not yet understand Annan’s concern about losing himself in a role.
• Old Ancestor appears resigned to the lasting effects of her divine curse, though she speaks warmly with Annan.
• Michael is increasingly absorbed in alchemical experiments, eagerly trying unusual materials in Magic Gunpowder.
• Annan recounts how Evelyn once struggled to separate herself from a role, using it to explain his concern to Brook.
• Olmedo brings Annan news of the mysterious Holy Grail Knight, whose identity remains unrevealed.

Significant themes

• Family and affection: The film’s emotional core is a father’s love, intended to resonate especially with people deprived of family warmth.
• Identity and performance: Brook’s growing immersion in acting echoes Evelyn’s earlier difficulty leaving a role behind.
• Justice and ideals: Annan honors Mr. Mel as someone who upheld the Holy Grail Knights’ justice even in defeat.
• Limits and consequences: Old Ancestor’s curse reflects the cost of underestimating supernatural forces, while the film crew’s slow progress shows perseverance through difficulty.

Key plot points and events

• The Tenth Holy Grail Knight, Marcolo Stone Milton, visits Mel’s grave. He and Annan discuss the Rikaner Kingdom, which has killed two Holy Grail Knights and is acting deliberately rather than foolishly. Marcolo says the Holy Grail Knights’ Hall can respond; Annan offers Free City’s support.
• Annan and Olmedo update Idelia, and filming of When Orcs Come Knocking continues successfully, reaching halfway through production.
• In Wheat City, the Ogre and Orc spot the Rat Swarm advancing toward the basin. The Orc fears for his tribe, but the Ogre concludes they must return and warn Annan.
• During filming, Annan discovers that Gar ate the props. A knight then delivers water from Poison Spring. Annan recognizes it as naturally carbonated water, sweetens it, and develops Lemon Soda.
• Annan protects the spring and asks Lady Fine Wine to handle production and sales. The drink proves popular with many, especially the orphanage children, though not everyone likes it. Annan predicts it will become a major source of income for Free City.
• Annan asks the Magic Mirror who is the smartest person in Free City. It names Ivana Ser, prompting Annan—embarrassed that he forgot to exclude himself—to jokingly order her killed.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan balances political strategy with practical ambition: he cultivates an alliance with the Holy Grail Knights, turns a natural resource into a potential business, and relies on Lady Fine Wine’s expertise. His playful vanity shows in his reaction to the Magic Mirror’s answer.
• Marcolo is reserved but deeply affected by the deaths of fellow knights. He intends to act through the Hall rather than alone.
• Idelia responds warmly to Annan’s memories of Mel, whose quiet righteousness contrasts with Marcolo’s more visible sense of justice.
• The Ogre and Orc recognize the danger posed by the Rat Swarm and prioritize warning Free City, while the Orc remains anxious about his tribe.
• Lady Fine Wine evaluates the drink and takes charge of its commercial rollout. Annan’s friends and companions disagree over its taste, while the children’s excitement confirms its broad appeal.

Significant themes

• Justice and political calculation: The Rikaner Kingdom’s actions are deliberate, and meaningful resistance requires collective strength.
• Community and cooperation: Annan offers support to the Holy Grail Knights and depends on others to respond to the Rat Swarm and develop the new product.
• Innovation and prosperity: A chance discovery becomes a possible new specialty and revenue stream for Free City.
• Different forms of happiness and righteousness: Mel’s gentle influence, Marcolo’s stern resolve, and the children’s delight in a simple sweet drink highlight varied ways people affect those around them.

Key events

• King Clo of Rikaner rallies his people to war, declaring that victory over the Ratfolk and the recovery of the Old Land will silence criticism and restore his family’s standing.
• At Old Ears of Wheat City, a vast Ratfolk army marches south. Its forces include Elite and Royal Guard Ratfolk, Brute Rats, Assassins, monstrous Rat Mothers, and Chaos-corrupted members of other races.
• Annan and Olmedo test ten-year-old Ivana Ser for magical talent. She has none, but proves exceptionally capable with numbers and quick-witted in conversation. Annan arranges for Ingrid to train her for future service in Free City.
• Ivana asks Annan to help ensure that the girls at the Orphanage have opportunities equal to the boys. He agrees, emphasizing that rights bring responsibilities. Before she leaves, Annan also tells Ingrid to watch for the children’s planned “jailbreak.”
• Back at the Orphanage, Ivana reveals to Cathy that she warned Annan about the boys’ escape plan, helping ensure the guard will stop them.
• Annan checks the Devil Parchment Scroll, wondering whether Beludona has sent news. He and Olmedo joke about Olmedo’s father, but the subject touches on Olmedo’s grief: Chaos consumed his father, whose soul remains under Chaos’s control.

Character developments and interactions

• Clo presents himself as a forceful, victory-driven king, using a public rally to turn criticism into a call for conquest.
• Annan shows both political foresight and personal warmth: he recognizes Ivana’s potential, supports her ambition, and takes her appeal for fairness seriously. His teasing about the jailbreak also shows his playful side.
• Ivana is clever, proud, and resourceful, but still a child. She wants her talent to benefit other girls, and she quietly uses her access to Annan to protect them.
• Ingrid accepts responsibility for mentoring Ivana and escorts her back, while Olmedo observes Annan’s unexpected attentiveness to the child.
• Cathy and Ivana share a mischievous partnership. Ivana’s warning to Annan turns their plan into a way to frustrate the boys’ escape rather than simply join it.
• Olmedo maintains a light tone with Annan, but his sadness over his father reveals an unresolved wound.

Significant themes

• Power, victory, and legitimacy: Clo believes success in war will justify his rule and restore his family’s status.
• Potential beyond innate talent: Ivana’s lack of magical ability does not prevent her from earning recognition through intelligence and determination.
• Equality and responsibility: Annan supports equal opportunity while insisting that leadership and rights carry obligations.
• The next generation: Training Ivana reflects Free City’s effort to prepare future leaders beyond its current officials.
• Childhood ingenuity and solidarity: The Orphanage girls organize against unfair treatment, blending playfulness with a serious desire for equal standing.
• The lasting cost of Chaos: Olmedo’s father remains a source of grief, underscoring Chaos’s power to corrupt and control.

Key events

• Rikaner Kingdom’s offensive against the ratfolk and demons receives mixed coverage. Rikaner Glory celebrates the killing of millions of ratfolk and the recapture of a county, while Voice of Freedom argues that these gains cannot make up for the lives lost or the damage to the Old Land. Evelyn publishes an image of the ruined Old Royal Capital.
• As filming wraps on the movie initially called When Orcs Come Knocking, Annan and Evelyn settle on the title When Freedom Knocks. The story follows an orc father and son seeking freedom.
• Annan writes a satirical joke, Clo Montreal at the Front, mocking King Clo Montreal for appearing absent from the very war he claims to lead. Voice of Freedom publishes it.
• West arrives with urgent news: Wheat City has fallen, and the ratfolk’s main force is moving south. Annan recognizes that the threat could reach the Duchy of Keating or encircle Rikaner Kingdom. He is willing to warn the kingdom despite its earlier deception.
• Annan learns Della has finished a statue of the Spider Queen and places it in his study. Later, he releases the completed When Freedom Knocks directly in the twenty-three cities with theaters, skipping a premiere.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan shifts between political commentary and practical action: he attacks Rikaner Kingdom through satire but is prepared to share vital military information when the ratfolk advance. He also guides the film’s title and release.
• Evelyn continues to back Annan’s editorial campaign. She laughs at his joke, though she anticipates it will anger Rikaner Kingdom; she also pushes back on his teasing about her socializing with succubi.
• Brook and Dag have grown close during filming. Dag has experienced a father’s affection, while Brook has found a connection that fills the absence of a father in his own life. Their bond hints at a real family relationship, though Brook still needs to win over Dag’s mother.
• Howler and the Ogre remain together; Howler refuses to leave the Ogre even when Annan offers him a chance to return.
• Della returns after completing the Spider Queen statue, which briefly fascinates Little Spider.

Significant themes

• The cost of war and accountability: Military victories do not erase casualties, destruction, or past neglect.
• Propaganda and satire: Competing newspapers shape public opinion, while humor exposes the gap between Rikaner Kingdom’s claims and reality.
• Family and belonging: The film’s father-son relationship echoes the emotional connection developing between Brook and Dag.
• Freedom and cooperation: The new film’s title emphasizes the characters’ pursuit of freedom, while Annan’s willingness to warn Rikaner Kingdom suggests that shared danger can outweigh political grievances.

Key plot points and events

• Milaire finally persuades Gray Watkinson to attend the premiere of Annan’s fourth film, When Freedom Knocks. Though anxious about the cost of their tickets and drinks, he tries to impress her.
• The film follows Chris, an Orc father, and his young son Christopher as they face rejection, bullying, poverty, and abuse in the city. A compassionate mother points Chris toward Gem Bay, advertised as a place without oppression or racial divisions.
• After saving enough for passage, Chris and Christopher endure the indignity of being confined to the ship’s hold. When they arrive, they are greeted with friendly smiles and blend into the welcoming city. The film ends with the narration: “This stage… I call it When Freedom Knocks.”
• Deeply moved by the film, Milaire sees a boy who cannot afford his ticket and gives him a Gold Narl, refusing repayment. He then invites Gray home, but she surprises him by suggesting they take a walk together.

Character developments and interactions

• Milaire begins the outing preoccupied with money and with winning Gray’s approval. The film’s portrayal of suffering moves him to tears; afterward, he acts generously toward the boy, showing a new impulse to help others. His sincere response appears to impress Gray.
• Gray remains reserved during the date but watches Milaire’s reactions. Her invitation to walk in the park signals that she may be warming to him.
• Chris and Christopher endure discrimination together. Chris’s determination to give his son a better life ultimately carries them to a place where they can live with dignity.
• Chris’s exchange with the mother highlights how a humane explanation of difference might have changed his own childhood, while her advice gives him a practical route toward hope.

Significant themes

• Prejudice and exclusion: The Orcs are denied work, safety, and ordinary acceptance.
• Parental love and sacrifice: Chris protects his son and works toward a better future despite hardship.
• Hope and freedom: Gem Bay represents the possibility of a society beyond exploitation and racial division.
• Art’s emotional and moral impact: The film affects its audience, including Milaire, and inspires a spontaneous act of kindness.