their thoughts consumed by the king's assassination and the possibility of a shadow organization behind it all. Zellrid led them off the main road and into a dense forest as the sun began to set.

"We'll camp here for the night," he said, dismounting his horse and searching for a spot to set up camp. The others followed suit, setting up tents and starting a fire. As they settled in for the night, Zellrid couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. He scanned the surrounding forest, his senses on high alert.

"I'll take the first watch," he said. He wanted to make sure his friends were safe, but Maro had other plans.

"No," the commander said firmly. "I'll take the first watch. You get some rest, Zellrid." He could see the reluctance in Zellrid's eyes, but he also knew that his friend was exhausted. He needed to rest, and Maro was determined to keep him safe.

"Alright," Zellrid sighed, handing over his sword to Maro. "Wake me up if anything happens."

As Zellrid settled into his tent and closed his eyes, he couldn't help but feel uneasy. His mind was racing with thoughts of the shadow organization and what they might be capable of. Suddenly, he felt a strange energy pulsing through his body. He sat up and looked around, but everything appeared to be normal. However, when he looked up at the stars, he saw them swirling and dancing in the sky.

Zellrid quickly fell asleep from exhaustion, but his dreams were still filled with wonder as he watched a phoenix soar through the sky alongside a storm pegasus As he watched, the sky turned an eerie shade of red and a fierce wind picked up. Zellrid felt his heart racing as he saw a figure cloaked in a fire started to approach him. He gasped and stepped back, only to wake up with a jolt from his dream.

Zellrid let out a breath of relief and lay down again, trying to steady his beating heart. The soldiers were still in the same positions as before, and there was no indication of any impending danger As Zellrid stepped out of the tent, he spotted Maro sitting on a rock, gazing into the flickering orange flames of a campfire. The smoky scent of burning wood lingered in the air Zellrid approached Maro, taking a seat on the boulder next to him. They both sat in silence for a few moments, gazing into the flames as they crackled and popped.

"You awake, commander?" Zellrid asked, breaking the silence.

Maro nodded, his eyes still fixed on the fire"I couldn't sleep. I have a bad feeling about what the future hides.

Zellrid let out a long, frustrated sigh and slumped against the boulder. "I understand what you're saying, but why did you lie? Why'd you lead us to believe that the king would interrogate us if he was dead? And how did he demand me to come if he was already gone?"Maro squirmed in his seat, not taking his eyes off the flames. " his son commanded you to come; he has taken the reigns of power now. But you know Xerise is not the same as it was when you left. If the King dies and twelve others stay alive, that would be unbalanced; the gods need to be equal Zellrid furrowed his brow in thought. "Equal? What do you mean?"

Maro finally turned his gaze away from the fire to look at Zellrid. "It's an old legend, one that's been passed down through generations of our people," Maro began. "The gods of our world are in a constant balance. There must always be an equal number of gods for the world to function properly. If one god dies, another must take their place to maintain balance."

Zellrid frowned in confusion. "But how does that relate to Xerise?"

"Xerise is different," Maro said, a hint of fear creeping into his voice. "The gods here are more than just symbolic figures or legends. They hold real power, and the balance of their power is what keeps our world from falling apart. If that balance is upset, Xerise could be destroyed."

Zellrid's eyes widened in shock. "Destroyed? How is that even possible?"

Maro's gaze shifted back to the fire. "I'm not sure. The legend is vague in the details, but it's clear that if the balance is upset, Xerise will be consumed by chaos and darkness. It's something that must be avoided at all costs."

Zellrid sat in silence for a few moments, letting Maro's words sink in. He had heard stories about the power of the gods, but never anything this dire. Suddenly, Zellrid remembered what Maro had said when they first arrived. "You said before that King Edwin's death was mysterious - do you think it has something to do with the balance of the gods?"

Maro nodded slowly. "It's possible. If King Edwin was a god, his death would have upset the balance. And if someone else takes his place and upsets the balance further, then we could be in real trouble."

Zellrid stood up, feeling a sense of urgency wash over him. "We have to do something. We can't just sit here and let Xerise be destroyed."Maro looked up at him, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "What can we do? We're just two mortals."Zellrid smiled down at Maro reassuringly. "We can't control the destiny of Xerise, but we can try to make sure it doesn't come to pass. We'll find a way, I know it." With that, Zellrid remembered his most sage advice: "A wise man accepts what he cannot change and works diligently to improve the situation" Tell me more about the other gods and kingdoms that you know; I am no competition for you when it comes to this knowledge Maro nodded, grateful for the distraction from his worries. "Well, there's the kingdom of Aetheria, ruled by the god Zephyrus. Their people are known for their mastery of air magic and flying beasts. Then there's Solara, ruled by Helios, god of the sun. Their people wield powerful fire magic and are known for their fierce warriors."

Zellrid listened intently, fascinated by the different kingdoms and their strengths. "What about Avaloria?"

"Ah, Avaloria," Maro said with a smile. "That's the kingdom of the goddess Seraphina. Her people are skilled in earth magic and are known for their beautiful gardens and massive structures."

Zellrid nodded, taking mental notes of each kingdom and its specialties. "And what about the kingdom of Eldoria?"

Maro's smile faded slightly at the mention of Eldoria. "That's the kingdom of the goddess Gaia. Her people are skilled in nature magic for their connection with the land and its creatures. But Eldoria has been facing some troubles lately. There have been reports of strange creatures appearing and attacking their towns and villages."

Zellrid's brow furrowed in concern. "Do you think it could be connected to Xerise's imbalance?"

"It's possible," Maro said with a shrug. "But with so little information, it's hard to say for sure."

Zellrid slowly stood, feeling the gravity of their discussion settle on his shoulders. "We need to research some more and figure out what can be done," he offered before adding, "Maro, what else do you know about other kingdoms?"

Maro tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Well, there's Zenithia—the city under the sea that is ruled by Syou, who is both a queen and a deity. They are known for their superior water magic and intricate underwater architecture."

The astonishment was evident in Zellrid's eyes as he exclaimed, "A city beneath the waves? That's amazing! What about Arcanterra?"

The corners of Maro's mouth turned up slightly as he began to tell the tale. "Arcanterra is governed by Meridian, the god of that realm. Their people excel in arcane magic and are renowned for their powerful spells—not quite like what I am familiar with," he concluded with a hint of sarcasm. Zellrid chuckled as he said, "What can I say? You know I'm the one with mastery of the arcane arts." Whit and Maro laughed along with him.