Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

The chair Rahil was sitting in seemed to emanate a kind of magic that could devour his mind at that moment.
From the moment he sat down, this usually sharp and capable general seemed to have his soul ripped away, falling into a bizarre "AFK" state. He stared blankly into the void, his strong body still standing upright, but his inner consciousness seemed to have already drifted to the void outside of Ulthuan, completely isolated from this conversation that would determine the fate of the Kingdom of Caledor.

In contrast, Elisander's posture appeared tense and sharp. His gaze remained fixed on Darkus like needles, attempting to uncover deeper truths beneath that seemingly casual face.

His thoughts drifted back to the time when Leander was active in Tal Sammersan, when he had discussed Daxus with her privately countless times.

Leandera's assessment, at this moment, was like an inscription carved into marble, each word a stark and painful testament to his mind: Dakota was unlike any nobleman in the traditional sense.

In Elisande's deeply ingrained aesthetic framework, belonging to Prince Caledron, a leader who rules over all people should be the embodiment of the essence of civilization. They should be as reserved and aloof as the perpetual snow of the crater mountains, with an air of natural arrogance that looks down upon the mortal world.

Every decree they issued should be shrouded in obscure ancient language and ornate rhetoric, like wearing a heavy armor passed down for thousands of years and engraved with the glory of their family, maintaining a ritual that is almost like that of a deity.

After all, in the legal system of the Kingdom of Caledon, the legitimacy of power comes from legitimate bloodlines and the weight of history.

However, Darkus before him was like a wildfire growing unchecked. His posture, devoid of any semblance of elegance, lacked the majesty of a dragon raising its head, instead exuding the relaxed yet dangerous air of a predator at rest. When he spoke, there were no quotations, no rhetorical embellishments; his almost crude and blunt tone was like a dagger piercing the heart of reality, stripping away Caledon's proud elegance and pretense without leaving a trace.

What chilled Elisander the most was that this “inelegance” stemmed precisely from a kind of extremely condensed power.

When a ruler no longer needs to embellish his will with elaborate rituals, when his words themselves represent unquestionable truth and power, all etiquette becomes redundant noise.

Elisander suddenly realized that Darkus appeared "vulgar" because he had long since moved beyond the stage where he needed to prove himself through "pretentious posturing." His attitude, a mixture of warrior's ruthlessness and ambitious man's realism, was itself a direct mockery of the old order.

Faced with the flames of the new order, everything the dragon princes were so proud of was melting away little by little.

What alarmed Ellesander even more was the political implications hidden in those seemingly unintentional actions.

When Dakous had just asked whether Belanar needed to play, Elisander astutely realized that it was not a sincere inquiry, but a clever display.

Elisander held his breath, observing every subtle reaction of Finnubar. He saw the unspoken understanding between Finnubar and Dakos—a glance, a pause that didn't even require a nod, was enough to exchange political decisions.

Perhaps this is why Dakous and "Sailor" Finnubal can urinate in the same pot?
Essentially, they are no different.

This is something he and Imrek don't see, even though they are cousins.

This close, even somewhat 'presumptuous' relationship is the trump card that Dakous truly wants to show Caledo: Finnubal is no longer the Asul he once was; he has become one of the cornerstones of this new order.

This silent display is more powerful than any diplomatic rhetoric. It tells Elisand that the "bridge" Caledo envisions is not only sturdy, but also deeply embedded in the order dominated by Duruci, and is unshakeable.

Seeing that Rahil was still lost in thought, and Elisander was staring at him like a statue, unable to utter a single substantial word for a long time, Darkus shook his head speechlessly.

The reactions of these two people gave him a headache called "communication costs".

"Hey!"

He suddenly stretched out his hands and slapped them hard in the center of the empty, dull conference room.

A sharp crack, like a thunderclap.

This action startled Rahil, who instantly regained his senses; Elisander, as if pricked by a needle, instinctively straightened his back; even Finnubar, who was sitting solemnly to the side, was startled.

"Who exactly planned that route?" Darkus leaned forward, his gaze piercing, breaking the thick silence.

"What?" Alessand was stunned for a moment, clearly not yet fully recovered from the loud noise.

“I mean, who planned this route from Tal Sammersan to the Temple of Asuyan, and then to Lorthen?” Darkus had barely finished speaking when he keenly caught the subtle shift in the expressions of the two people opposite him. He suddenly extended his right hand, pressing his palm down, signaling Rahil and Elisand, who were about to speak, to be quiet. “Or rather… there was no planning at all, just a very ordinary choice?”

“It’s me.” Alessandro paused for a moment, then readily admitted.

"Worried about me, or worried that Malekith will just kill you two right here? I must say, that's a clever tactic." Darkus's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he leaned back slightly.

In his discerning eyes, this route of movement was not a headless, aimless wandering, but a sophisticated political game.

The situation was now crystal clear: with Imrek's resolute step into the sacred fire of Asuyan, which consumed everything, the power structure of the Kingdom of Caledor was undergoing a startling reorganization. Elisande, of Caledorian blood, had effectively taken over the reins of civil administration and rule, while the ever-silent Rahil symbolized the remaining military backbone of Caledor.

Like Wot and Dorion of Ashriel in the old days, one the Night Watchman and the other Valahar.

From a cold, political perspective, Imrek's sacrifice was far more than a simple act of suicide. This tragic "farewell" was, for the Kingdom of Caledon, the last bastion of dignity; for Ausuan, the complete end of an old era; and for Duruci, an excellent political lever.

More importantly, this story had to be brought to Lorthorn by Elisande and Rahil themselves, and then spread throughout Ulthuan, rather than being announced by Duruci's battle report.

The "martyrdom" recounted by those involved is an epic, while the "death in battle" recounted by the enemy is merely cleaning up the trash.

If these two propagators were to die in Lorthorn, with the followers of Asuyan siding with Duruci, the truth about Imrek would become a political mystery that could never be cleared up.

Therefore, these two Caledonian survivors are now not only messengers, but also two hot potatoes. If they live, Imrek's death is a sacrifice for Caledon's integration into the new order; if they die, will Caledon become a malignant tumor that can never be healed?

Of course, Darkus might be overthinking it all...

But Ellisand didn't refute, nor did he feign modesty; he simply let out a dry laugh. That laugh contained both the relief of being seen through and the last vestige of cunning a nobleman could cling to in dire straits.

“Tell me your conditions,” Darkus said casually, spreading his hands and sinking back into his chair, passing the conversation to the other side. “The Kingdom of Caledon… demands to retain its autonomy,” Elisander said in a deep voice, each word emphasizing its weight, as if these words were Caledon’s last line of defense for dignity.

"no!"

It wasn't Darkus who spoke out in denial, but Finnubar, who had remained silent throughout, his voice carrying an undeniable calm. Having said that, he crossed his arms and stared at Elisander's Adam's apple, which throbbed with tension and humiliation, with an almost pitying yet meaningful gaze.

Seeing that neither side showed any sign of immediately turning the table upside down and arguing, Dakous chuckled and leisurely stood up. He turned over the overturned glass on the table one by one, picked up the kettle, and clear water cascaded into the glass.

“This may be the bottom line that the Kingdom of Caledo considers itself to be, or it may just be a test you’ve thrown out.” Finnubal took the water glass handed to him by Darkus, his fingertips tracing the rim of the glass, and paused. “But that’s no longer important.”

Alessand also took the water glass, his fingertips touching the coolness of the glass, but he couldn't suppress his heavy breathing the next moment.

"Why?" Rahil finally spoke after being offline for a long time. He placed his hand firmly on Alessand's trembling shoulder and looked directly at Finnubar.

“If I’m not mistaken, Leandera must have broken down the political structure of Atholloren in detail for you. So, it’s logical that you’ve referenced Atholloren’s political structure.” Finnubar’s voice was as calm as a mirror. “But Leandera doesn’t know that for this nascent empire, that structure is merely a temporary transition.”

“Perhaps… your information needs updating.” Seeing that Finnubal had finished speaking, Darkus took over the conversation. He picked up his water glass and took a sip, his posture more like savoring fine wine than drinking water. “After the Battle of Lor'then, Malekith left alone. He went to the ruins of Nagarris to keep a death pact; the person who invited him was Aris Anar.”

He put down his water glass, a hint of mockery in his eyes.

"The latest intelligence that came back yesterday shows that Malekith and Estrel appeared side by side in the capital of the Kingdom of Charis—Tal Achar."

Rahil glanced at Ellesander's face, which was filled with shock and dejection.

Then, the Caledo general slowly lowered his head, his eyes dimming rapidly in that instant. He possessed a strategic acumen far more acute than Elisander's; he knew the suffocating strategic intent behind Dakous's words.

Since Aris allowed Malekith to leave alive, or rather, Aris was killed by Malekith, it means that the Shadow Lord who had been wandering for five thousand years was no longer a variable in the war. Nagarius's army would no longer intervene in the war, and might even have secretly submitted.

The joint appearance of Malekith and Estrel signifies that the two core authorities, the Phoenix King and the Eternal Queen, have reached a consensus. With the Queen's endorsement, will the Kingdom of Charis, previously aligned with the Kingdom of Caledor, soon withdraw from the rebellion, or even become a vanguard of the new order?
Rahil gave a self-deprecating bitter smile to himself.

Looking left and right, there's no one else.

There are ten kingdoms in Ulthuan.

Itaien, Iris, and Kosquie had already sided with Duruchi from the very beginning. Just look at the nonchalant and indifferent attitude of Aislin and Arslan earlier, and then look at Fennubar, who is sitting calmly on the sidelines right now. The stance of these three kingdoms is as firm as a rock.

Then, the defection of the Kingdom of Saffre proved to be a fatal blow, meaning that Caledor's most desperately needed magical support was completely cut off. And now, Nagarius and Charis will also be withdrawing from the war one after another.

With the appearance of the Eternal Queen in Charis, the Kingdom of Avalon under her rule has effectively made an indirect yet resounding political statement.

Looking around, only Caledo, Tyrenlock, and Elion remained. But Rahil knew that Tyrenlock was unreliable; the presence of Giled in Duruchi's camp was enough to make Tyrenlock's nobles quickly choose the option more advantageous to them between 'loyalty' and 'blood ties'.

This is only within Ausuan's territory.

In Elsin Alwyn, distant relatives like Asura and Enil had already chosen Darkus. As for the scattered colonies, they were utterly insignificant in the face of such a grand upheaval.

In the end, only the lonely kingdoms of Caledo and Elion remained.

This was a diplomatic humiliation that couldn't be more typical.

The Kingdom of Caledon once disregarded these things, for they possessed unparalleled military strength and invincible dragons. But with the Battle of Lor'then ending in Caledon's demise, that confidence vanished. Without the protection of dragons and cut off from magical infusion, Caledon's army was as fragile as an insect struggling for its last breath in late autumn.

As for the final kingdom of Elion... if the Eternal Queen's next destination is there, those devout followers of Kunos will never disobey the goddess's will.

Just like hundreds of years ago, when Orion, the incarnation of Kunos, wreaked havoc in the Kingdom of Elion, the Asur, as followers of Kunos, could only avoid his attacks.

Rahil and Elisand had come to Lorthen at the risk of being killed, hoping to fight for a last chance of survival on the edge of the game, but the current situation shows that they have no chips at all.

This matter was no longer even related to Imrek's life or death, unless all the dragons slumbering in the Dragonspine Mountains could instantly awaken and respond to the long-lost Dragon Song, but Rahil knew this was impossible. In the past few days, he had heard too many secrets of the dragons from Ignimus, secrets that were heavy, desperate, and ancient, truths that the nobles of Caledor had never touched.

These ultimate secrets about the dragons are the real reason why Imrek chose to step into the sacred fire, and why he and Elisande risked their lives to come here.

Unlike Rahil, who was mired in despair, Ellesander's breathing became increasingly heavy, his chest heaving violently, as if a surge of resentful anger and extreme frustration were raging wildly within his narrow chest cavity.

Dakos and Finnubar exchanged a glance, and the two remained silent in perfect unison. They waited quietly, waiting for Elisander to erupt, or for him to finally succumb to reality and return to silence.

The process itself was insignificant, but Elisander's final reaction determined the last vestige of dignity for the ancient kingdom of Caledon.

Finally, the tension in Alessand's body collapsed. He sighed heavily, as if exhaling all the remaining pride, then covered his face with trembling hands and fell into a deathly silence.

Just then, five crisp and rhythmic knocks came from outside the door.

The door opened, and Aislin stood in the doorway, nodding slightly to Darkus and Finnubar, breaking the suffocating atmosphere in the meeting room.

“Let’s eat first.” Darkus stood up casually, his tone light as if they had just discussed a trivial outing. “After dinner, I’ll accompany you for a walk around Lortheron.” (End of Chapter)