The temperature fell inside the room as Reginald Seraph spat those words.

"What kind of activities?" asked the calm exterior minister. His name was Harrison Cox.

"They are supplying soothing dots in the black market and are caught doing espionage as well," Reginald replied.

"What’s a soothing dot?" Rufrey asked.

"A needle with a substance that calms cursed beasts. They lose their will to fight. Easier to capture or... make bonds with."

The chains connected. Vidu Morris was one of their product’s result.

"They have eyes on our Blackwild Forest," Rufrey said.

"What about the Krynova Kingdom?" Sohrab questioned, worry in his eyes.

"Suspicious. They have stationed troops at our borders for a year now. They are strengthening their numbers too," Reginald answered.

Again, a pin-drop silence befell.

"Have our plans been leaked to them by any chance?" Harrison asked.

Sohrab shook his head. "I left the border surveillance to solely focus on the peninsula. Not a fly has escaped my control. It’s their assumption. They are not stupid."

"So, the war is imminent?" Rufrey hesitatingly inquired.

The king took a deep breath and stroked his beard. "You have enjoyed peace for a long time. The time to taste chaos again is almost upon us."

"Appoint me at Drevlorn’s borders," Jay Snow said, the blaze of vengeance sparking in his eyes.

"No." His sister opposed. "I shall be there. You should lock on Krynova."

"It’s not your call, sister," Jay retorted.

"I know, and I will beg our wise king to listen to my reasoning."

"What reasoning?" Jay was furious.

The king’s fingers stopped stroking his beard, and his eyes wheeled toward Jay.

Jay took a deep breath and bowed his head. "I apologise for my carelessness, your Majesty. I will obey your command."

The king didn’t reply and continued stroking his beard as he stood from his seat.

"When will the running batch of weapons be completed?" the king asked Sohrab.

"Within half a year," the gentle old man replied.

"Make haste. The continent knows about the treasure hidden in the disaster. They won’t wait for long. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The cursed beasts bought us twenty years of peace and wealth. Now these very cursed beasts shall become the cause of turmoil.

The technology we have is a consequence of them. Drevlorn Dynasty’s emperor has made several offers to share the cursed beasts.

And I, evidently, reject every one without the slightest remorse. Now they will apply force, and we will repel them."

The tension rose. Rufrey and Harrison were tense, but the other four who served in the military were thrilled.

"I feel like my bones are rusted. Can I resign, your Majesty?" Sohrab Subzoi said with a fake grin.

"Yeah, you can," the king replied. "After we regain our lost territories."

The head of military affairs let out a deep cold sigh. "Just say no."

The king nodded. "As you wish." He looked him in the eye. "No," he said flatly.

Sohrab scowled and leaned against the chair.

The king walked towards the glassy wall and looked upon the shattered battleground as he mumbled. "I want to see which one of you is stupid enough to attack the Bentram Kingdom first."

"Your Majesty, are we really capable of tackling two nations? The Drevlorn Dynasty is one of the two titan nations of this continent," asked Harrison.

"Not two, but three titans, including Bentram Kingdom. As for our competency, question the head of military affairs," the king replied.

Sohrab leaned against his seat as he carelessly uttered. "We lack offensive power. Retaking the land won’t be easy."

"What about our defence?" he returned the question.

Sohrab looked at him with eyes that reeked of confidence and said, "No power in this world can defeat the current Bentram Kingdom. If we go to hell, we take down everyone else with us as well."

Those were some boastful words, but for some reason, nobody doubted the words of the fragile-looking old man.

"Unless," Jasmine Snow said, gathering the attention. "Something beyond our calculations appears."

"My little sister... you are professional when it comes to killing a good mood," Jay said.

With his words, everyone started to ponder different things as the discussion came to a halt.

~6 Days Later~

Thane was asleep, snorting like a giant pig spread in the damp mud.

"Thane, wake up. For fuck’s sake, we gotta go," Max cried at the door of a room in his hotel, kicking it open abruptly, his face full of frustration.

"What is wrong with your noisy ass?" Thane complained, half asleep.

"Today is the registration day for the aspirant test. You don’t want to come?" Max asked angrily.

"Huh... what!" Thane snapped awake. "Shit, why the hell didn’t you say that? Goddamnit. Let’s go."

"Calm down, lion. Take a shower, and there is mint paste there. Brush your teeth, your breath would be telling ancient tales otherwise," Max teased his friend.

"No mint can treat that foul mouth of yours," Thane roared as he went to the bathroom.

It took Thane mere minutes to come out. He wore a loose shirt and trousers. Maximilian tried to look ordinary too, but even his generic costume was too eye-catching.

The duo stepped out only to find Hawk at the entrance. He had already prepared a carriage.

His wounds had yet to heal, unlike Thane’s wounds, which almost vanished with expensive treatment. Hawk’s face was still bruised.

"Let me assist you, masters," Hawk said.

"Nope," Thane refused, and Max nodded too. "You need rest."

"Look after the Den of Legends and The Pit while I’m gone," Max added, waving a hand as the duo hopped inside the carriage.

The hooves of the horse hit the ground, and the carriage moved, carrying the two youthful dreamers on their way to change those dreams into reality.

Their chatter and chuckles lightened the mood. Even the carriage rider was smiling as he heard their ambitions.

They were not alone. Thousands more like them marched from their cozy homes to catch the stars.

Unknown, uncaring, and unbothered by anything else, the new generation moved towards a place to be recognized. Aspirant Academies.