Inside the Denvaar Kingdom

The Varn Capital

Farr from the eerie plains as only filled with rocks and stones.. they had left behind, the transition was immediate and unmistakable.

One by one, they stepped out from the fading shimmer of the portal into a narrow alley carved between old stone structures, with Razeal emerging last, his presence steady as the golden light behind him flickered once and vanished completely, sealing their arrival as if nothing had ever existed there before.

The space they found themselves in was tight and enclosed, more of a passage than a proper street, its width barely enough for a single carriage to pass through, the stone underfoot uneven and worn down by time, and the walls on either side rising close enough to dull the air and trap the faint echo of their movements.

There was no one else around, no voices, no footsteps, no distant activity leaking into the alley, only a stale stillness that made the place feel forgotten, or perhaps deliberately avoided, and the first thing that truly settled over them was not silence, but the smell thick, damp, unpleasant.. as if something that lingered heavily in the air as if it had been building there for days, if not longer, fed by the scattered waste pushed carelessly along the edges of the walls where broken crates, rotting scraps, and dark patches of unidentifiable filth collected without concern.

For a moment, no one spoke. They simply stood there, each of them taking in the surroundings in their own way, adjusting to the abrupt contrast between where they had been and where they now were.

For a moment after their arrival, no one spoke. Razeal stood at the center, his posture relaxed yet commanding, his gaze slowly sweeping across the alley, taking in every detail without haste, while the rest of his team instinctively gathered around, their attention shifting between him and their surroundings, as if waiting for the world itself to explain what came next.

It was Maria who finally broke the silence, her steps soft as she moved toward one of the walls, her eyes narrowing slightly as she examined a weathered yet freshly placed poster. "Seems like we are indeed in the Denvaar Kingdom now," she said, her tone calm but edged with certainty, her fingers brushing lightly against the rough paper as she read the bold lettering announcing recruitment into the kingdom’s army.

Her words drew the attention of the others almost immediately, their gazes aligning toward the same direction as they scanned the contents of the poster, and then, almost instinctively, their eyes began to notice the repetition dozens of identical notices plastered across both sides of the alley walls, layered over one another in some places, as if urgency had overtaken organization.

Maria straightened slightly, her expression sharpening as her mind pieced together the implications. "Seems like you were indeed right," she continued, glancing back toward Razeal, "There is indeed a war going on in this kingdom. These posters look fresh recently put up.. and just look at how many there are, even in a place like this. If they’re covering even alleyways with recruitment notices, then they’re not just preparing... they are very desperate." Her analysis hung in the air with a quiet weight, not dramatic, but precise enough to leave no room for doubt.

Razeal’s eyes lingered on the posters for a brief moment longer before he shifted his attention outward, past the immediate surroundings and into the subtle details that most would overlook. "Seems like that way," he replied simply, his voice low and measured, yet carrying an underlying acknowledgment of her conclusion. His gaze lifted slightly, observing the sky that peeked faintly through the narrow gap above.. the clouds were thick, heavy, and unmoving, casting a dull gray tone over everything, while the air itself felt humid, almost sticky against the skin. It was different.. markedly different from the Empire’s capital they had left behind, where wealth and order shaped even the atmosphere.

Here, the stone beneath his feet was worn and uneven, the walls carried stains that spoke of neglect rather than age alone, and everything about the environment suggested a kingdom that struggled rather than thrived. In his mind, the contrast formed clearly.. the Empire was built on generations of overwhelming wealth and stability, while this... this was a place that endured rather than prospered. Even without the ability to sense mana, he could tell that the Empire’s mana was definitely more density abundant and refined, then this kingdom’s.. most would likely be diluted, weaker, insufficient also.. He thought to himself..

Behind him, the rest of the team maintained their silence, though it was no longer empty.. it was filled with expectation. They all knew, in theory, what their objective was, what kind of plan they were stepping into, but knowledge of an outcome did not equate to understanding the process.

None of them had ever truly studied how to conquer a kingdom afterall or to dismantle a system from within? Or to initiate something of that scale from nothing. Actually it was almost absurd when one thought about it... Does that stuff even in there for study? Who teaches it? Or any book?

How did one even begin such a thing in first place? Like.. Where was the first move made? What was the first thread to pull? Their uncertainty wasn’t spoken aloud, but it was present in the way their eyes lingered on Razeal, waiting.. obiously relying on him to define the beginning of whatever it was to be done.

And then there was Nancy.

Unlike the others, she didn’t share that silent understanding of what was going on.

She stood slightly apart, her gaze moving from one person to another, then back again, her expression carrying a mix of confusion and discomfort that she didn’t bother to hide. The silence, the lack of explanation, the way everyone seemed to already know something she didn’tzz it irritated her more than it unsettled her.

"Umm... yeah," she finally spoke, breaking the stillness with a tone that was hesitant at first but quickly grew more direct as she continued. "I did hear that we were coming to the Denvaar Kingdom, but before I didn’t really get the chance to ask..." She glanced around briefly, then back at them. "So... What exactly are we doing here?"

Her question hung there, simple but necessary.

Then she wrinkled her nose slightly, her expression shifting immediately as the smell seemed to hit her again, stronger now that she had stopped ignoring it. "Also... can we please get out of here?" she added, her tone dropping into something more annoyed than curious as her gaze shifted downward toward the edges of the alley.

"Because this place smells..." she muttered, trailing off slightly as she looked more closely at what was scattered along the ground.. it was filth or whatver. "Disgusting."

Her eyes narrowed faintly as she noticed the piles more clearly rotting waste, broken debris, damp patches that suggested more than just water, all carelessly dumped against the walls as if this alley existed less as a pathway and more as a convenient dumping ground. So much that It looked like people use this place more to throw their garbage than actually walk through it.

Even though she had heard Maria mention the war and had seen the posters plastered across the alley walls, Nancy didn’t let her thoughts linger on it for more than a passing second, because right now that kind of large, distant problem simply didn’t register as something she had the capacity to care about.. not after everything she had been through.

The two months that still clung to her like something she couldn’t wash off no matter how much she tried to ignore it. Compared to that, a war in some unknown kingdom felt far away, almost uncaring.. while the things that actually mattered to her were immediate and painfully real.. her body, her condition, her survival. She lowered her gaze to herself, taking in the state of her clothes properly for the first time since arriving here, the fabric torn in multiple places, dried blood stiffening parts of it, the left out marks of everything she had endured still visible as if they refused to let her forget, and for a brief moment her expression tightened, not dramatically but enough that the memory of it all brushed against her again, those days of pain, exhaustion, fear, the constant pressure of not knowing what would happen next, and she quickly pushed it down before it could take hold again.

"Also... I need some new clothes," she said, her voice carrying a faint edge as she looked down at herself, brushing lightly at one of the torn sections as if that alone irritated her, "These are..." she didn’t finish the sentence, because she didn’t need to. It was obvious.

Her thoughts shifted almost immediately after that, her priorities blunt and straightforward. "And I need to eat something," she added, her tone changing, more direct now, less restrained. "I haven’t eaten anything for like days... something proper... something tasty... I really need to eat." There was no hesitation in admitting it, no attempt to hide the need behind anything else, because at this point hunger wasn’t something she could pretend away anymore, it was there, constant, draining, and she was tired of ignoring it.

Razeal listened, his gaze moving toward her as she spoke, and he gave a small nod, acknowledging both her complaints and what lay behind them, because he understood even without her saying it that she was holding herself together far more than most would have managed, and that alone was enough reason not to dismiss what she was asking for.

"We’ll deal with that," he said calmly, his tone steady, not dismissive but controlled, as if placing those needs into a sequence rather than ignoring them. "Just not right now." He paused briefly, then added, "This isn’t the right time for that... but I promise, it won’t take long."

Nancy looked at him, not fully satisfied but not arguing either, because there was something else in his tone, something that suggested this wasn’t just delay for the sake of it, and before she could question further.

He continued, shifting the focus entirely. "As for what we came here for..." he paused, as if choosing his words, then said it plainly, without buildup, without emphasis, "We are taking over this kingdom."

For a second, the words didn’t even register properly.

The rest of the group barely reacted, a few of them exchanging looks, some rolling their eyes in a way that clearly showed this wasn’t new to them.. as if this level of insanity had somehow become common.

Nancy, on the other hand, froze.

"What?" The word slipped out of her almost immediately, her eyes widening as she stared at him, blinking rapidly as if trying to process what she had just heard. "What do you mean by taking over?" she asked, her voice carrying clear disbelief, because there was no way that sentence could mean what it sounded like.

Razeal looked at her briefly. "I mean exactly what I said."

That was all he gave her. No further explanation or clarification.

And then he moved on as if that was enough. "Alright, let’s not waste time. Follow me."

He turned without waiting, already walking toward the end of the alley where faint sounds of people could be heard, voices blending together in the distance, indicating a busier street beyond the narrow passage.

Nancy didn’t move.

She stood exactly where she was, her mind still trying to catch up, trying to make sense of what he had just said. Taking over a kingdom? That wasn’t something people just said casually. That wasn’t something normal people even thought about. He had to be joking. He had to be. But when she looked around, when she saw the others already moving, already following him without hesitation, something about that realization unsettled her even more.

No one else was questioning it? Or

Even looked surprised.

Her gaze moved across them all.. and honestly she barely knew any of then.. Ofcourse except maria.. But these people whoever they all are.. seemed to already understand Razeal plan.. and are so calm about it too.. is it not big deal for these people? Just who exactly arenthey? and for a brief moment, a very real thought crossed her mind. Did I make a mistake coming with him?

"Don’t look at us for answers, kido," Yograj said, noticing her expression as he slowed just enough to glance at her, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and something that almost resembled sympathy. "Believe me.. He told us just as much as he told you."

Nancy stared at him, not reassured in the slightest.

Aurora exchanged a brief look with Levy, both of them glancing at Nancy with a faint, shared understanding that didn’t need to be spoken aloud. One more person thrown into this stupid chaos.

"Come on," Yograj added, already turning back to follow Razeal, "Believe me you don’t want to get lost." He paused just slightly before adding, "Especially when he’s the one leading."

There was something in that statement.. subtle, but real that made it sound less like advice and more like a warning... Obiously remember what had happened when they all most last time.

Nancy remained still for another second, her thoughts still tangled, her mind still resisting what she had just heard, and then Sofia stepped closer, gently taking her hand without much force but softly just enough to guide her forward.

"Come," Sofia said quietly.

Nancy hesitated, just for a moment, before finally allowing herself to move, her steps uncertain at first, her gaze still drifting back toward where Razeal had gone, still trying to understand what she had just walked into, but even so, she followed, letting Sofia lead her as the group moved.

They continued moving through the narrow alley, one after another, with Razeal at the front setting the pace without even needing to say it, and the rest following behind him almost instinctively, their footsteps echoing faintly against the damp stone floor while the stale air clung to them in an unpleasant way that no one really commented on anymore, as if they had simply accepted that this was where they were now. The walls on both sides felt too close, the space barely enough for them to walk properly without brushing against the rough surfaces, and yet Razeal walked as if none of that existed, his hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed, his gaze forward, already somewhere ahead of where his body was.

Yograj increased his pace slightly and moved up beside him, his eyes shifting toward Razeal’s face with a clear intent this time, because silence had gone on long enough and he needed something solid to hold onto. "So how do we start?" he asked, his tone casual but with a noticeable edge beneath it, as if he was trying not to sound too concerned but failing just enough to make it obvious. "What’s the plan?" He paused for a fraction of a second before muttering under his breath, "If there even is one... Ofcourse.." his eyes narrowing slightly, because at this point, following Razeal without any information felt less like strategy and more like walking into something blind.

Razeal didn’t respond immediately. He kept walking, his steps even, his expression unchanged, as if the question didn’t require urgency or even importance. Then, without turning his head, without even a slight shift in tone, he answered plainly, "I don’t know."

There was a brief silence.

"Haven’t figured it out yet... But we’ll be there."

Yograj’s steps faltered for a moment, his face going completely blank as he stared at him, trying to process whether he had actually heard that correctly. "You what..?" the words slipped out before he could stop them, his expression shifting into disbelief mixed with quiet frustration, as if he had expected unpredictability, yes but not this level of it. He exhaled sharply through his nose, running a hand through his hair as he slowed down for half a step, clearly reconsidering several life decisions at once, before forcing himself to keep walking... its not his fault.. its his daughter’s.

Razeal, however, didn’t even acknowledge that reaction.

Instead, he turned his head slightly toward Maria, shifting his attention as if Yograj’s response didn’t matter at all. "Maria," he said calmly, his voice steady, "Tell me about Denvaar Kingdom. How does it work? The ruling system... structure... and about everything i should know..." His eyes settled on her properly now, sharp but not pressuring. "You have information about this, right? Or should I get it myself?"

Maria reacted immediately, almost too quickly. "I do," she said, her voice firm and a little brighter than before, as if being asked something like this had triggered something inside her, a small sense of purpose or usefulness that hadn’t been there a moment ago. A faint, genuine smile appeared on her face as she took a few quicker steps forward, closing the distance and aligning herself beside Razeal, walking shoulder to shoulder with him naturally, without hesitation, while Sofia and others remained just a step behind, watching the shift quietly.

"I know quite a lot about this kingdom," she added, her tone now more composed, organized, as if she was mentally sorting through everything she had learned before speaking.

"Denvaar Kingdom’s system is complicated," she began, "but not actually that difficult to understand if you look at it from the right perspective." Her gaze moved forward briefly as they continued walking through the alley, then back to him. "At its core, it’s very straightforward."

She paused just slightly before continuing. "This kingdom is governed by eleven great houses."

Razeal turned his head toward her at that, one eyebrow lifting just a fraction. "Eleven houses?" he muttered, a faint trace of amusement slipping into his expression. ’That’s quite a lot for something that’s supposed to be simple,’ he thought to himself, the corner of his lips almost moving but not quite.

Maria caught that reaction immediately.

"It’s normal," she said calmly, already addressing the unspoken thought. "For example.. Take our empire.. on the surface, it looks like there are only four duke houses, the main pillars." She raised her hand slightly as she continued, explaining with quiet clarity. "But beneath that, there are ten pillar families... and then dozens of smaller noble houses, each with their own roles and responsibilities. They just aren’t presented as prominently."

She looked at him again. "Denvaar isn’t different in structure."

"It’s just weaker."

"Their ’great houses’ would barely qualify as high-tier families in the empire," she continued, her tone analytical, steady. "But here, they are the backbone. Each house governs a specific sector military command, trade routes, internal administration, logistics, agriculture, defense systems.. and together, they maintain the entire kingdom."

Razeal nodded once, silently signaling he was following.

"But they are not equal," Maria added, her voice sharpening slightly, her expression becoming more focused. "Some houses hold significantly more influence than others. Power isn’t evenly distributed."

She slowed her steps just a fraction, making sure he was fully listening. "If you want to take control of this kingdom... Taking down the throne alone wont work."

"You go for what holds it up."

The alley felt tighter as they walked, their presence filling the space, their footsteps the only consistent sound.

"To actually control Denvaar," she continued, "You would need to either gain influence over or dismantle all eleven great houses. And beyond that, there are still smaller supporting families you’d have to deal with as well." Her tone didn’t exaggerate anything, but the scale of what she was describing was clear enough on its own.

Razeal nodded again, slower this time, absorbing the structure, the layers, the implications behind it.

"But," Maria said, and now there was a subtle shift in her tone.. more strategic, more precise, "if you want to start somewhere..."

She turned her head slightly toward him, her eyes steady.

"I would suggest beginning with..."

A small pause.

"The Iron Council."

Razeal’s gaze shifted fully to her with faint interest.

"The Iron Council?" he asked, his tone calm but clearly engaged now, because unlike everything before, this sounded like something that actually mattered.

Maria noticed the shift in Razeal’s expression the moment she mentioned the Iron Council, the slight slowing of his step, the narrowing of his gaze, and she understood immediately that she had reached the part that actually mattered to him, so without wasting time, she continued, her tone calm but carrying a more structured clarity now, as if she was laying down something important piece by piece.

"Well, the Iron Council is the main governing body," she said, walking beside him, her voice steady despite the narrow alley and the uncomfortable surroundings, "it is formed by six of the eleven great houses... not all of them, only the ones that hold the highest level of authority and influence." She paused briefly, making sure her words were landing properly.

"With each of these six houses holds a seat in the council. The heads of these families themselves act as the council members... and through them, the entire kingdom is managed."

She gestured lightly ahead as they kept walking, her expression thoughtful but composed. "This council doesn’t just advise the crown," she added, "it functions as the operational core of the kingdom. All major decisions, administration, execution of policies, military coordination, internal control... everything flows through them." Her voice softened slightly as she summarized it in simpler terms, "In simple words.. They run the kingdom’s machinery."

Razeal didn’t interrupt. His gaze remained on her, attentive, absorbing each word without showing much reaction on the surface, but the slight focus in his eyes made it clear he was processing everything.

Maria continued, "There are six members in total... but the structure is slightly more complex than just six equal powers." She glanced at him briefly before explaining further. "The crown itself belongs to one of these six families. So technically, the ruling king is already part of the Iron Council." She slowed her words slightly here, emphasizing the point. "That means, alongside the king, there are five other great house heads sitting in that council... making decisions together, balancing power, influencing each other."

"And again," Maria added, a small, almost proud smile appearing on her face, "you’re lucky I actually know the names of each of these houses... and what they specialize in." There was a hint of satisfaction in her voice now, the kind that came from finally using knowledge that had once seemed useless.

She continued without waiting. "First... House Valen," she said, her tone slightly more formal as she began listing them. "The royal bloodline. The current crown belongs to this house."

"Second... House Draven," she went on, her expression tightening just a little as she spoke of them. "They are the strongest among all houses after the crown. This house controls the army... the entire military force of the kingdom falls under them."

"Third... House Dorn," she continued, her pace even. "They oversee grain, supply chains, and logistics. Everything related to resources, distribution, and sustenance of the kingdom is managed by them."

"Fourth... House Kharvek," her voice carried a slight weight now. "They are responsible for fortresses and defense. The strongholds, the defensive walls, the outer protection of the kingdom... they are essentially the shield that has protected this land for generations."

"Fifth... House Thale," she added, her tone turning sharper again. "They maintain law and order. Internal control, governance within the kingdom, enforcement... everything related to stability inside the kingdom is handled by them."

Then she paused just slightly before continuing, her expression shifting into something more uncertain. "And sixth... House Veyra."

There was a faint hesitation in her voice now. "They are... the most mysterious among the six. Even I don’t really know much about them." She frowned slightly as she tried to recall what she had learned. "But they are known for their influence... noble connections, political manipulation... it is said they have been shaping the internal politics of the kingdom quietly for the past twenty years."

As she finished listing the houses, the alley seemed even more silent, the weight of that structure settling over the group as they walked.

Razeal and the others listened without interruption, letting her speak fully, the only sound being their footsteps against the stone.

Maria exhaled softly, as if finishing a segment of explanation, but then something else came to her mind, and her expression shifted slightly, becoming more serious. "Oh... also," she added, her voice lowering just a little, "The king himself is said to be a strong individual."

"He is actually rumored to be at half-step Supreme rank," she continued, her tone cautious now. "And each of these great houses... they are not weak either. The heads of these families are said to be peak Great Saint rank powerhouses." She hesitated for a moment before adding, "At least... that was the last confirmed information I had."

"It was also said," she continued slowly, "that the king was very close to breaking through into the Supreme rank." Her eyes shifted toward Razeal now, more directly, more seriously. "If he has already done it... then this becomes very dangerous.. For us all.."

Her words hung in the air.

Razeal brought his hand up to his chin, rubbing it lightly as he walked, his expression turning thoughtful, his mind clearly running through possibilities now. "Half-step Supreme... haaa?" he murmured quietly, more to himself than anyone else, considering it, measuring it, weighing it against something only he knew. There was no fear in his expression.. only calculation.

Seeing him not respond immediately, Maria blinked, her concern becoming more visible now. "Are you sure..." she started, hesitating slightly before continuing, "I mean.. are you sure it’s right to get involved in something this big?" Her voice was softer now, but genuine. "i mean confident enough that you can take on someone at Supreme level?"

It wasn’t doubt in him.

It was concern about the scale.

Razeal turned his head toward her at that, meeting her gaze directly. For a brief moment, there was silence between them, and then he spoke, his tone calm, almost casual. "I... don’t really know," he admitted honestly.

A faint smile appeared on his face. "Guess we’ll find that out on the way."

There was something unsettling about how easily he said it.. not reckless, not careless... but as if uncertainty itself didn’t bother him at all.

Inside, however, his thoughts were more active. A Supreme in a mid-tier kingdom? That didn’t sit entirely right.. right?. Afterall.. Breaking into Supreme rank wasn’t something that just happened easily, especially not in a place like this. Either the information was exaggerated... or there was more going on beneath the surface.

Maria watched him for a moment longer, noticing the lack of a definitive answer, and that alone made her more uneasy, but before she could say anything else, something else caught her attention.

The alley ahead was ending.

Light from the open market began to spill in, along with distant voices, movement, and the sound of life.. completely different from the suffocating silence of the alley they had been walking through.

Maria’s steps slowed slightly.

She looked ahead, then back at Razeal.

"Also..." she said, her tone shifting again, more cautious now, "Would it really be fine for us to just walk out just like this?" Her eyes moved toward the opening, where people could already be seen moving. "So openly?"

——