Meanwhile, at the court of Alsenia, the King and those of which made up his royal court stood around discussing how to properly tax the people this quarter. The King was an older tanned man in his forties that although looked dignified, did not carry himself in the same way. He had a five-o-clock shadow and several scars along his face and hands. The gold crown he wore sat tilted on his head as wearing it properly gave him headaches and his red and purple robes flowed all over the seat he was reclined in.

As he listened to one of his Dukes discuss relieving taxes on the farms around his settlement due to a bad harvest an old woman in her late sixties wearing bright blue robes burst through the door. The guards stationed there both pointed their spears at her only to fall to the floor paralyzed. She was covered in wrinkles that matched her equally wrinkled robe. Her white hair was stuck out like a sore thumb against her robe but could barely be seen against her incredibly pale face.

“What is the meaning of this?” one of the members of the court exclaimed. The King raised his hand up to silence the court. The woman who walked in went to the center of the room where she did a rather disrespectful curtsy.

“Your majesty, I have troubling news.” the woman said.

“Normally I would be enraged at such an entrance but you saved me from having to hear any more about unnecessary taxes so what is it, Grand Mage?” the King asked in a way that revealed her title to the rest of the court. It also really annoyed the noble who was talking when she barged in. Many of them began murmuring to each other about her.

“A Hero has been summoned,” she said with an amused smirk. The court erupted in a mix of yelling and squabbling over what this could mean for the kingdom. However, they all shut up the moment the King raised his hand once again.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes. We detected it less than an hour ago.” the Grand Mage answered. The King’s hands clenched into a fist as if he was mad.

“What country was this Hero summoned to? Was it the Arkins? Or perhaps the Jesabites?” he asked with a determined glare.

“The Hero was summoned from within the Imperial remnants territory.” She said solemnly. The King’s fist clenched even harder. It was almost as if he was about to burst. Many in the court looked worried as to what the King was about to say or do so they kept quiet but the Grand Mage stood there impatiently. Then he began laughing. Not like a King should but like a madman. Standing up, all of the attention was on him.

“Ready the war room! Send word to every country who is part of the great treaty of this news and request their presence for a war meeting! My father may have been a coward for not wiping out those foolish Imperial dogs when he was King but I will not make the same mistake. Thank you Grand Mage! You have made my week. I don’t think I have been this happy since my wife survived giving birth to triplets.” the King yelled out enthusiastically.

“I live to serve the kingdom.” the Grand Mage said with a bow of her head before walking out of the court. As she left, the guards she had paralyzed regained control of their limbs and stood back up where they were both very cautious of her.

The King sat back down in his chair and leaned his chin underneath his hand as he reclined back. A smile that would terrify anyone who saw it crept along his face. He had been waiting for this for too long and now he would get to truly enjoy it. A true war with a legend.