The sanctuary held its breath.

Hundreds of eyes watched from behind the walls.

Goblins peeked through arrow slits.

Kobolds gripped crude spears with trembling hands.

Even the elderly ogre who had welcomed Vespera stepped in front of the younger refugees.

Outside the gates stood the towering warrior.

He remained motionless.

His massive sword rested point-first against the ground.

He had bowed once.

Since then...

He had not moved.

Vespera studied him through Sanctuary Sense.

The System responded immediately.

────────────────────────

Unknown Entity

Name: Darius

Race: ???

Threat Level: Very High

Hostility: Unknown

Recommendation:

Proceed with caution.

────────────────────────

"So even the System doesn't know what you are."

Lirael folded her arms.

"That worries me."

"It worries me too."

Vespera looked at the frightened faces behind her.

"But I can't hide forever."

She stepped forward.

"I'll speak to him."

"I'm coming with you."

"No."

Lirael frowned.

"You're not facing him alone."

A small smile crossed Vespera's face.

"I wasn't planning to."

She glanced toward the sanctuary walls.

"If anything happens..."

"Close the gates."

The elderly ogre nodded solemnly.

The massive stone gates opened slowly.

Their grinding echoed across the valley.

Vespera walked into the open.

Lirael remained only a few steps behind.

The black-armored knight watched them approach.

When they stopped several meters apart...

He removed his helmet.

Everyone behind the walls gasped.

He wasn't human.

Nor was he undead.

His skin was ash-gray.

Silver markings ran across his face like living veins.

His eyes...

They shone with pale sapphire light.

There was sadness in them.

Centuries of it.

"You are Vespera."

It wasn't a question.

"I am."

He slowly knelt.

Placing one fist over his heart.

"I, Darius of the First Legion..."

"...offer you my sword."

Silence.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

Vespera blinked.

"Why?"

His answer came without hesitation.

"Because I failed your predecessor."

Lirael's eyes widened.

"Predecessor?"

Darius looked toward the sanctuary.

"I once served the first Abyss Queen."

"The last true ruler before the kingdoms united against her."

Vespera felt her heartbeat quicken.

"The statues..."

"They were real."

"They were."

"The sanctuary..."

"Was alive."

"It was."

"The alliance between races..."

"It existed."

Every answer created ten new questions.

Vespera took another step.

"If that's true..."

"What happened?"

For the first time...

Pain crossed Darius's face.

"Fear."

"Fear became hatred."

"Hatred became war."

"And war..."

He lowered his gaze.

"...created the Devourer."

The words struck like lightning.

"The Devourer isn't natural?"

"No."

"It was born from the Abyss itself."

"It fed upon countless deaths until it became something beyond reason."

The System suddenly activated.

────────────────────────

Hidden Lore Updated

Historical Accuracy Increased.

New Entries Added:

• The First Abyss Queen

• The First Legion

• The Great Betrayal

────────────────────────

A child's scream shattered the moment.

Everyone turned.

A young goblin stumbled from the nearby forest.

He collapsed before the sanctuary gates.

"Help..."

Behind him...

Shapes emerged from the trees.

Not monsters.

Not adventurers.

People.

Their armor gleamed white beneath the crystal light.

Each shield bore the same golden sun emblem.

Lirael's expression froze.

"No..."

"The Holy Empire."

The soldiers advanced in perfect formation.

At their head rode a woman in silver armor.

Her blue cloak flowed behind her.

She raised one hand.

The army stopped.

Her voice carried effortlessly across the valley.

"By decree of the Holy Empire..."

"All Abyss-corrupted entities are to be purified."

Her gaze settled upon Vespera.

"Monster."

"Surrender peacefully."

"And I may spare those hiding behind your walls."

Silence followed.

Vespera looked back.

The refugees.

The children.

Lirael.

The sanctuary.

Everything she had built.

It wasn't much.

But it was hers.

She turned back toward the imperial commander.

"I'm afraid..."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"...this sanctuary isn't accepting visitors today."

The commander's expression hardened.

"So be it."

She slowly drew her sword.

Thousands of soldiers raised their weapons as one.

The crystal valley echoed with steel.

The System flashed crimson.

────────────────────────

Emergency Event

The Siege of the First Sanctuary

Objective:

Protect Your Subjects.

Failure:

Sanctuary Lost.

────────────────────────

Beside Vespera...

Darius stood.

For the first time in centuries...

The Black Knight drew his blade.

Its edge shone with deep violet light.

He looked toward Vespera.

"My Queen."

"Your orders?"

Vespera took a deep breath.

Then smiled.

"Defend our home."

The sanctuary gates slammed shut.

War had arrived.

End of Chapter 14