The Kingdom of Benicharry, once known as the Kingdom of Crafts 200 years ago, now stood as a monumental tribute to the brilliance of Bruni, the visionary who built it.

  Her legacy of creativity and craftsmanship flourished here, forming the very bones of the thriving kingdom, all in memory of Laraeon—the great hero she had once revered

  Now, the kingdom was a bustling hub where innovation met tradition, where every corner breathed the stories Bruni had woven into its creation.

  Inside the tallest building in the city, an elegant elf woman sat with her son, her braided hair falling neatly down her back as she flipped through an ancient tome.

  Her sharp eyes scanned the pages while her son, a young elf, sat obediently at her side, absorbing the words she spoke.

  "They say the great hero Thailon has arrived," a dwarf spoke from the window, his voice gruff but laced with unease.

  He was holding a wine.

  He was adorned in the finest armor, jeweled and glistening, a symbol of his wealth and status. His eyes never left the view below, scanning the streets as if searching for threats.

  The elf woman's gaze never wavered from the book in her lap as she responded,

  "Yes, I've heard. And he's not alone. He brought the young master of the Hennessy family with him."

  The dwarf—Kraken—turned slightly, his face marked with concern.

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  "What do you think their business is here? Do you think... they know?"

  She closed the book with deliberate calm, her lips curling into a faint smile. "There's no need to be so cautious, Kraken. I doubt they're here for anything significant. The two of them? They're not even on good terms."

  Kraken's brow furrowed. "But both of them are a threat," he said in a hushed tone.

  "Caelum—descendant of the Fifth. Even at a distance, he is unmatched in power. They say he roams the world defeating monsters like they're mere insects. And Thailon... the great hero... Your people—the high elves—fear him, even in his silence. It's rare for them to appear together unless they have a purpose."

  The elf woman finally looked up from her book, setting it down on the table beside her. The room's dim light cast shadows across her face, highlighting the sharp angles of her features. Her voice remained calm, almost too calm, as she placed a chess piece onto the board before her—a queen, its white porcelain gleaming under the low light.

  "I told you, Kraken. Don't let your nerves get the best of you. It's probably just a coincidence."

  The dwarf clenched his fists at her indifference, his eyes darkening. "You're far too relaxed about this. What if they've come for—"

  "—what?" she finished for him, her eyes narrowing slightly.

  "The day we worry about is Laraeon's return is the day that our world will tremble again. But it won't be today. It's impossible. Now," she is dead remember a great hero he is" she leaned forward, her smile sharpening,

  "this auction, Kraken, is your responsibility. Do not falter. My husband will not tolerate failure."

  The tension in the room thickened as Kraken's gaze dropped to the floor. His anxiety hung in the air, but her cold confidence was unshakable. The elf woman leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping softly on the chessboard.

  The queen, standing tall on the board, seemed to mock the dwarf's growing unease.

  "And Kraken," she added, her voice dropping into a chilling whisper,

  "if Caelum and Thailon truly are here for something more... we'll deal with it. But until then, keep your fear to yourself."

  Kraken nodded stiffly, the weight of the kingdom's politics and shadows pressing down on him. The elf woman's smirk deepened, satisfied with the control she held over the situation.

  As she stared at the chessboard, her fingers hovering over the pieces, one name lingered in her mind—Laraeon. The only name that could tremble everything.