The Ministers

The Council of Etherialum comprised eight members, with four Ministers serving as spokespersons for the four Fae Kingdoms.

"We must strengthen the city's defenses. Send more armies immediately."

"The towns within the forest must be fortified with additional soldiers. They are vulnerable to attack due to their remote locations, making them easy targets for Golems."

"What about the residents near the mountains? We must ensure their safety as well."

"We need to fend off the impending Myrmynons attacks. One village has already been razed to the ground, with countless casualties. This cannot continue."

"Our borders are under constant siege, with unidentified creatures infiltrating our kingdom. A Ghoul recently attacked a village in the North."

"The enemies are escalating their aggression. We must be prepared to face them, especially with our dwindling resources."

"And let us not forget the ongoing threat posed by the Ravagers. We cannot afford to engage them in our current state of vulnerability."

"Are we just gonna let them conquer our lands and citizens?" one council member questioned, voicing the concerns that echoed throughout the room.

"King Philippe is right, we must wage war now," another chimed in. "Besides, they are asking for it the moment they sent their Ghouls into our lands."

"Amelia sent the Ghoul as well as the Golems," Ludwig interjected, his tone laced with frustration. "The Ghoul was surrounded by her presence that attacked us. That's how we knew she was the one behind that monster."

The Meeting Hall fell into a heavy silence as Ludwig's words sank in. All pairs of eyes were fixed on him, a mix of surprise and suspicion evident in their expressions. Despite the tension, Liam couldn't help but smirk from his corner, familiar with Ludwig's fiery temperament and marveling at his ability to maintain composure in such heated moments.

Ludwig and Liam found themselves trapped in the seemingly endless meeting, which they initially thought would only last a couple of hours.

However, as midnight approached, they realized they had been there much longer than anticipated. The first hour dragged on as they waited for all the Ministers to arrive. Another hour passed as they entertained inquiries and updated the Council on the state of the Fire Fae Kingdom. They then spent yet another hour waiting for the arrival of all the Kings. King Zachariel, the King of Wind Fae, was predictably late, causing the meeting to extend even further beyond their expectations.

The discussion shifted to the conflicts in Fortunalia, the lands of Fire Fae Kingdom, prompting King Zachariel to question Prince Ludwig.

"Are you sure, Prince Ludwig?"

"Are you questioning me, King Zachariel?" 

Liam observed the exchange with a raised eyebrow, knowing it was unwise to question Ludwig, especially when he was growing annoyed, which seemed to be happening more often than not. The tension between Prince Ludwig and King Zachariel was palpable as their dark stares locked in a silent battle of wills.

King Zachariel grinned ominously as he sat majestically, his gaze fixed on Prince Ludwig. "Are you really certain, Prince Ludwig, that it was indeed Amelia's presence?" he questioned. "Surely all the inhabitants of Fortunalia are aware of her sins, so there's no need to further tarnish her name. Grave punishment awaits her regardless."

Ludwig's anger flared. "What are you trying to say?" he snapped. "That I accused Amelia so the punishment would fall on her, blinded by my own hatred? Can't you see that we're under attack without even realizing it?" His powers and authority surged, causing the council members to exchange cautious and wary glances.

King Zachariel's laughter reverberated through the hall. "You said that, Ludwig, not me," he smirked, which only served to further infuriate Ludwig. And that was really saying something.

The king of Land Fae, King Daemond, heaved a deep breath. Among all present, he was the only one calm and unbothered. Despite having remained silent for hours, his demeanor remained composed and untroubled.

"The Golems are increasing in number and strength. They have attacked eight towns in the past week alone, leaving many structures destroyed and countless children orphaned. Rebuilding the towns and assisting the orphans will be challenging, even with the aid of the Land Fae. The loss of life is devastating, and we still lack reliable information on Amelia's whereabouts. Additionally, the presence of Ghouls scattered throughout our land adds to our concerns. We cannot even determine if the Ravagers are planning war, but if they are responsible for sending the Ghouls or aiding Amelia, we may face significant challenges given the depletion of our knight forces due to battles with the Golems."

Minister Isaac delivered a lengthy litany of Etherealis' challenges. As the Minister of Trades and nearly the same age as Ludwig, he inherited the title from his late father. His detailed enumeration of the problems prolonged the meeting, much to Liam's annoyance. While serving as Fortunalia's Secretary of Affairs, Liam could only shake his head as King Zachariel and Prince Ludwig continued their banter.

Ludwig's demeanor suddenly shifted to one of sorrow. He, along with Liam, felt the anticipation of Louise and Alexa's arrival. While Ludwig seemed eager to end the meeting, he didn't anticipate being greeted by a mountain of conflicts and a multitude of proposed solutions.

As the afternoon swiftly approached, the agenda remained only halfway complete. Liam couldn't help but feel impatient, wishing King Zachariel would focus more to hasten the proceedings.

Despite his hunger and irritation, Liam knew he had to accompany Ludwig as also his second-in-command and fulfill his responsibilities. So, he stayed, even though he had barely eaten anything when the dinner had begun.

"What about our supplies?" asked King Philippe, the King of Water Fae. "Our lands are withering. Only half of our usual harvest has been gathered. Fruit-bearing trees are scarce, and even in our waters, the fish are becoming rare. If this continues, another famine will strike, and unrest will become unavoidable."

All those present in the hall were acutely aware of the looming possibility of bloodshed and famine if the situation persisted. The damage to the forest was becoming increasingly severe. If Liam's observations were correct, it had been less than a year, yet the once flourishing forest was now visibly diminishing.

"The balance of Etherealis is deteriorating with each passing day," King Philippe noted solemnly. "If we continue to wait, our lands will wither away. The situation is dire, especially since the Aureate Flame is now in Amelia's hands, and there is no longer Queen of the Land Fae."