Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

Finnubar showed a sad smile, which was light and complex, with a bit of self-mockery and a bit of inexplicable melancholy. He slowly bent down, stretched out his slender and slightly pale fingers, and gently picked up the exquisite silver cigarette case on the table, which was a gift from his youngest son after he returned from Naggaroth.

A small and exquisite object, it is engraved with patterns symbolizing the Kingdom of Itain. The lid of the box has been polished smooth by time and faintly reflects a faint light.

He gently stroked the lid of the box with his fingertips, as if he was recalling something, or as if hesitating. Then, he slowly opened the cigarette box, took out a cigarette, and skillfully held it between his fingertips.

He did not signal to Elardesi whether he wanted one, because he knew that the master of Emerald Sea did not smoke, and his most steadfast ally was so old that he could hardly bear even such a small enjoyment as smoking.

"Darkius..."

Finnubar said in a low voice after he exhaled the first wisp of white smoke. The name itself seemed to contain a heavy weight, so that when it came out of his mouth, even the air became stagnant for a moment.

"Darkius..."

Elardesi repeated the name, with a subtle tone in his voice. A faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and then he shook his head helplessly and sighed, "A...strange...existence?"

He spoke at length, as if he was thinking, or pondering whether this conclusion was appropriate.

As the delegation returned from Elsing Alvin, everything became different. The name of Dakwus, like an invisible shadow, began to echo frequently in his mind, even in those quiet nights, this name would involuntarily emerge, making him fall into deep thought.

His eldest daughter, Marin, was a staunch supporter of Dacchus. She would talk about how Dacchus was doing and what he said. She would mention Druki in almost every conversation, talking about how he made policies, how he governed Athel Loren, Asheril and Naggaroth, and how he changed the face of Druki society. She would even get particularly excited by the wisdom in some of Dacchus's words.

Now, such conversations have become more and more frequent, even giving Elardesi the illusion that Dacus's shadow has penetrated into their world and affected their thinking?
As Finnubar listened, the smile in his eyes gradually faded. He took a deep puff of the cigarette and slowly exhaled the smoke. The wisp of white smoke gently drifted away under the sunlight, like some indescribable mood, or some secret emotions in his heart.

"Yes, a peculiar existence."

After he said this, he also shook his head helplessly.

He had complicated feelings towards Dacus, his friend. He neither hated him nor liked him, but he was filled with some emotions that could not be ignored.

He thought of the encounter after the battle. He had thought that what was waiting for him would be a conflict, a brutal siege, a belated reckoning, a revenge for an old grudge, or an inevitable contest.

However, Daxus did not attack him as he imagined, nor did he show any hostility. Instead, he greeted him sincerely, as if he was an old friend he had not seen for a long time, and then walked side by side with him naturally, chatting in the woods, like an old friend he had not seen for a long time.

Finnubar remembered that night, and the words of Dacius. His tone was calm, without any exaggeration or sarcasm, but surprisingly frank, direct, and even... real and kind?
This confused him.

It was difficult for him to describe the feeling he had for Dacus. He knew it was not love at first sight, but the feeling was similar to love - only it was not love, but an almost instinctive attraction, a desire for the truth.

The court of Ulthuan is full of exquisite lies. Everyone's words are like a knife blade coated with honey, and behind every smile there is calculation and conspiracy.

But Daxus is different. He does not hide his ambitions, but he is not as dangerous as other Druks.

His authenticity is irresistible.

Daxus is not just a strong man, he is more like... a phenomenon?
He is a Duruchi, but he has a temperament that transcends Duruchi.

Finnubar had never seen anyone like him before - Dakuus's ability to control people's hearts was almost innate. He could make Asur, Duruchi, Ainel and Aslai sit at the same table and have a conversation.

This was something that was simply unimaginable to him. In his opinion, the elves were a stubborn race, and their arrogance made it almost impossible for them to listen to the opinions of outsiders, but Daxus did it.

This is the most terrifying thing about Dacus, he does not achieve all this by force, but by his words, his temperament, and his authenticity, as if his existence itself is an attraction.

Finnubar sometimes even doubted whether Dacus was born to belong to every corner of this world. Just like a drop of water, no matter where it flows, it will naturally blend into it, will not be rejected, nor will it be swallowed up. It is not conquered by force, but accepted by people through its existence itself.

After that... everything became different.

In fact, the Asur delegation at that time had their own story. There was no doubt that Marin was one of his most staunch supporters. In order to push him onto the Phoenix Throne, the Emerald Sea Family spent a full thousand years of effort. This grand plan had even been quietly launched before he was even born, and it was advanced step by step and finally took shape.

And what about Adeanna?

Her position is a little more subtle. If Marin is his staunch supporter, then she may be more like a second-tier figure. Although in the eyes of outsiders, the relationship between Yitaien and Kesqui is close, like an ally, but the actual situation is far more complicated than it seems, and even on some levels, they are competitors.

Both kingdoms rely on the ocean and trade, and because of this, friction and conflict inevitably arise where their interests intersect. This competitive relationship is one of the reasons why Finnubar chose to pursue Belloda. He once imagined that if he could bring Itain and Cosqui closer through marriage, perhaps he could ease the opposition between the two to some extent and even lay the foundation for future cooperation.

However, reality is often far from ideal.

Belloda's heart belongs to someone else, and finally she fled to Twilight Fortress, which also indirectly shows the attitude of the Kingdom of Cosqui.

The fact is, in the days that followed, the conflict between the Kingdom of Itain and the Kingdom of Cosqui not only did not ease, but became more intense.

In the port and power center of Elsin Alvin, the Asur maintain the illusion of unity on the surface, but secretly, they are fighting each other fiercely over the distribution of interests.

Competition among firms was particularly fierce.

This competition is not only reflected in the business field, but also goes deeper into politics, diplomacy, and even the personal level.

Merchants from Itain dominated the Elven Merchant Council in Marienburg, while the merchants from Kosqui were outnumbered. In this situation, the latter eventually chose to ignore the original "Treaty of Friendship and Commerce" and began to operate their own trade in ports other than Elsing Arwen.

As the situation developed, more and more Cosqui merchants chose to fly directly to the capital of the empire, bypassing the trade monopoly of Lothern and Marienburg. Brione became a trade center completely controlled by Cosqui merchants, where they established bases, expanded trade routes, established connections with human nobles, and gradually got rid of the economic influence of Itain.

At the same time, the rise of Tyrion, the Dragon of Cosqui, brought new changes to the power structure within the Cosqui Kingdom.

Tyrion, holding the Sunblade and wearing dragon armor, became the symbol of the Cosqui Kingdom with his unparalleled bravery and glory. Because of this, the Cosqui's position began to change, and they turned to support this warrior.

The end is even more...

As for Eltharion in the delegation...he seems more like he is just there to make up the numbers?
It all gets involved with the geopolitics and factional struggles of Ulthuan.

However, the appearance of Dacus made everything different. He was like an unexpected glue?
Originally, trade between Ulthuan and Athel Loren was almost impossible to achieve, because there were not only cultural differences between the two, but also many historical and practical obstacles. However, with Dacreus's manipulation and mediation, the two sides successfully established trade relations.

More importantly, the connection between the three kingdoms has never been closer. The emergence of Daxus has gradually brought the originally loose Kaihai faction together. This is not only an economic cooperation, but also a diplomatic alliance and a bond of faith. Now, the Kaihai faction has begun to influence the power structure of Ulthuan.

But it only stays at the level of influence...

Unlike Dacreus who changed Naggaroth, he had only accomplished two things in all these years, one was to make Tor Yvresse the starting point of the Ulthuan caravan, and the other was to send the fleet to Anaheim. But he believed that he could accomplish three more things immediately, and all three of them were big things.

"Are you really... going to do this? Do you know what this means?" Seeing that Finnubal had come back to his senses from his thoughts again, Elardesi, who was sitting there, confirmed.

His voice was low and slow, like a heavy rock thrown into the deep sea, splashing ripples, but quickly sinking into endless darkness. His eyes were fixed firmly on Finnubar, trying to see the answer from his expression, even if there was a trace of hesitation or wavering.

However, Finnubar remained silent, his fingertips trembling slightly, the sparks of the cigarette flickering, and the hot embers burning to the end, almost touching his skin. He did not answer immediately, but quietly watched the smoke dissipate in the air, trying to see the outline of the future through that wisp of smoke.

Finally, he spoke slowly.

His voice was calm, with the composure that comes from careful consideration, but underneath that calmness, he faintly revealed a certain unwillingness, a kind of anger hidden beneath his rationality.

"There is always a leading party in a collaboration, and there is no doubt that Dacus is leading all of this."

He spoke slowly, as if he was chewing on the meaning of this sentence.

"Like now..."

He sighed and put out the cigarette butt in the ashtray. There was still a trace of warmth on his fingertips, but his eyes were still fixed on Lothern in the distance.

Finnubar believed that he was not someone who was easily swayed by emotions. As a politician, his state of mind was always like the deep sea, calm on the outside but turbulent on the inside. However, he had to admit that now, his way of thinking, his judgment, his understanding of the world, and even his views on Duruchi had all undergone subtle changes?
Elardesi looked at Finnubar quietly, without saying anything, just staring with a meaningful look.

Silence spread between the two people, like an invisible net, trapping them in this space and time that intertwined history and the future.

After a long moment, Finnubar finally spoke again, his voice low and firm.

"Our relationship with him should be...an alliance, not what it is now."

He paused, his eyes as deep as the sea, and then slowly uttered the word that even he found ironic.

"equality?"

Heraldsi chuckled. That chuckle contained neither contempt nor sarcasm. It was simply irony - even funny?

Finnubar himself smiled, but it was fleeting, and in an instant, his expression returned to calm.

"I don't have much time, kid."

Elardesi sighed softly, his eyes at this moment penetrated time and saw the past hundreds of years ago. His voice was no longer as hard as before, with an indescribable vicissitudes.

"I am too old to keep up with the changing times. Our family is ancient, and we have been here since the beginning of the kingdoms."

Finnubar did not interrupt, but just listened silently. He knew that Erardesi was not just sighing, but analyzing and reviewing his life, facing his failures and regrets.

"At the beginning, my request was simple," Elardesi whispered, "Let the Kingdom of Itain produce a Phoenix King."

His voice was very soft, as if he was afraid of disturbing someone's deep sleep.

"So, your father and I started planning. You know how difficult this is..."

When he said this, he shook his head and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"We thought we had everything under control, that as long as we set up the chessboard correctly, the position of the Phoenix King would fall into our hands."

"But what is the reality?" he sighed. "Since Bel Shana, they have monopolized the Phoenix Throne. Among all the Phoenix Kings, only Aenarion was not appointed by them."

He bent down gently, opened the cigarette box, took out a cigarette, and turned it with his fingertips. The flame jumped up and lit the tobacco. The smoke spread around him, like a mist covering the past and the future, making reality blurry.

"Some elves were just ordinary scholars or warriors, but in the end, they all became Phoenix Kings." He slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, telling the irony of the fact, "However, they were all pushed to the throne by those princes. They were chosen by the council of princes, and stood out from the candidates they put forward."

He snorted lightly, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He used to be a powerful figure, he was roaming the sea and scheming on the chessboard of power, but now, he is just an old man sitting here, holding a burning cigarette in his hand, his eyes full of the precipitation of years.

"The king they choose is not the strongest or the wisest, but the one they can control or the one they owe a debt to. In this way, they have no choice but to obey those princes."

Finnubar did not interrupt. He knew these things, too well. He was like a traveler standing on a mountaintop, overlooking a stormy world. He knew everything, but still had to face the mockery of fate.

"When you look closely at how the machine of power works, it is always so dirty." Heraldsi sighed softly, leaned back in his chair slowly, and looked out the window.

"They will never allow an absolute ruler like Aenarion to appear again, so they will choose an elf of their own choice to maintain everything."

There was a certain sarcasm in his tone, but more of it was deep exhaustion.

“In this way, power will not be too concentrated and will not fall into the hands of one person, thus avoiding tyranny.”

He paused, and the smoke between his fingers swirled and rose, like some invisible chains, interweaving into a web in the air, tightly binding the entire world within it.

"But what did we get in return?" Finubar raised his head. His voice was calm, but it was like a sharp knife slowly piercing the heart, carrying an irreversible chill. "Ulthuan is declining, and our war with Duruchi continues unabated."

Herardesi did not refute. He just took a puff of his cigarette in silence, his eyes fixed on the spark of the cigarette butt, as if everything in the world had slowly burned out and dissipated with that faint light.

Finubar gazed towards Lothern in the distance.

His world has changed.

He once thought that he could control everything and that he could guide Asur towards a new future with his firm will.

However, the reality is that he is not the one who truly dominates the situation.

The figure of that person is becoming more and more deeply engraved into this era.

Dacius. That Druch—changed everything.

"I'm sorry, kid... I just... just..."

Heraldsi said bitterly, his voice trembling a little, as if even he himself was not sure how to continue.

He didn't understand why he said all this to Finnubar at this time. He originally just wanted to remind, warn, and make Finnubar understand that the next choice did not seem to be the right one, but in the end, he felt like he was analyzing his own failure, like an old sailor looking back at the long years at the end of the voyage.

He sighed. The cigarette between his fingers had burned to the end, and the ashes were crumbling, but he had no intention of throwing it away. He just stared blankly at the faint red light, as if trying to find some answer from it.

Finnubar looked at him quietly, his eyes as deep as the ocean at night, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly in a smile.

That's not sarcasm.

It is a kind of relief after having seen through everything.

"You're just telling me," he said, his voice steady as water, "how our world is so tightly bound."

He slowly leaned back in his chair, folded his hands on his knees, and stared at Heraldsi calmly.

"You thought this was a warning," he continued, his tone indifferent, yet with a certain unquestionable power, "but in fact, it only makes me see more clearly the shackles on us."

Heraldsi's eyes flickered slightly.

He never thought that his words would eventually lead to such a result.

He thought Finnubar would hesitate, back off, or even rethink his decision... But now, he saw a more determined look, a determination that had completely seen through the rules of this world.

"So... you have to break it! In a way that has never been done before..."

He stared at Finnubar, waiting for the final answer.

Finnubar did not answer immediately.

He slowly stood up and walked steadily to the fence, placed his hands lightly on the cold white stone pillar, and stared at Lothern in the distance.

This ancient city is still silent, sleeping in the whispers of sea breeze and history. The sparkling lagoon seems like countless weak but undying hopes, and like an invisible cage that binds their fate.

This land carries the dreams and glory of countless elves, as well as countless corrupt shackles.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and listened to the pulse of the city.

When he opened his eyes, they were brighter than the stars in the night sky.

"Yes, I'm going to break it!"

His voice rolled out like thunder, his tone firm and steady. He turned around, his eyes blazing with determination that could not be shaken. "I will break the existing rules, frameworks...everything that binds Ulthuan!"

"Do you know what you are saying?" Elardesi's eyes were as sharp as a knife, staring at Finnubar, his voice was low and slow, and every word carried a heavy weight.

"You are not the only one who breaks the rules. You are not the only one who wants to tear the shackles. But do you know what happens to them?"

The corners of Finnubar's mouth rose slightly, but that smile was not relaxed at all, but rather sharp and resolute.

“They failed,” he said slowly, his tone as if stating an inevitable fact, “because they only wanted to challenge the rules, not replace them.”

Elardesi's hand trembled slightly, and the ash between his fingers fell to the ground, turning into a gray dust, and then was blown away by the wind. He was silent, looking at Finnubar steadily, he wanted to find even a trace of hesitation in Finnubar.

However, he was disappointed.

Finnubar's gaze was extremely firm, like a sword drawn from its sheath, leaving no room for compromise.

"Do you really understand what you are doing?" His voice lowered, revealing an unprecedented complexity of emotions.

Finnubar nodded slowly.

"You just said that the Phoenix King was chosen by the princes, and those they chose must obey them." He took a step forward, his eyes calm and his tone sharp as a knife, "But you forgot the most important point. The Phoenix King is the king of Ulthuan, chosen by Asuryan, not their puppet!"

Heraldsi's lips trembled slightly, and he wanted to say something, but in the end, he chose to remain silent.

He knew why Finnubar said this. It was because of that meeting where Dacus revealed the terrible truth, which shook Asur who was present and turned Asur's past into a joke. What was even more terrifying was that these words were like a brand, firmly imprinted in Finnubar's mind, which in turn affected Finnubar's thinking and decisions.

The most direct reaction was that Finnubar no longer talked about his desire to become the Phoenix King or what would happen after becoming the Phoenix Queen, as if the word Phoenix King had become a taboo and he avoided saying it out of his mouth.

Herardesi also tried to do something, to reverse the situation, but what could he do?

What Daxus said was an indisputable fact. Starting from Bel-Shana, the Phoenix Kings were all chosen by the Asur, not Asuryan. These Phoenix Kings treated entering the Holy Fire as a child's play, using fire-avoidance spells to tease and fool Asuryan who was watching it all quietly.

How is this different from blasphemy?
What's funny is that the Phoenix King and that group of princes consider themselves followers of Asuryan. What's even more ridiculous is that he also engages in political games within this rule and framework.

His eyes were complex and difficult to understand, like an old sailor who was used to seeing storms but now looked towards an unfamiliar sea.

"They are afraid of a true Phoenix King. They are afraid that a ruler like Aenarion will appear again. So they continue to weaken the power of the Phoenix King and make the throne a symbol, a pawn that they can manipulate."

Finnubar smiled, and in that smile there was a hint of unruliness, a hint of coldness, but more of a fearless determination.

"I want the Phoenix King to truly be the Phoenix King."

"I want Ulthuan to no longer be controlled by those self-proclaimed nobles."

"I want to make it a kingdom of elves again, rather than a private territory of some family."

“I want to bring the future back to the past.”

"I'll make them pay for their choice!"

His words echoed in the air with unquestionable firmness.

Elardesi stared at Finnubar in front of him, his eyes flickering with a myriad of emotions. He did not ask: But what is the price? Nor did he ask: Can he really do it?
Because he knew that all the chess pieces had been placed and the layout had reached the final stage.

Now... the arrow is on the string!
Finnubar looked into the distance, his eyes were like flames in the cold night, burning with a will that could not be extinguished.

When I was in Naggaroth, I deduced countless possibilities of war.

In those calculated futures, he witnessed the defeat of Ulthuan time and time again. He witnessed his own failures time and time again. He had swallowed the bitter fruit and endured the pain of failure countless times...

However, what shocked him the most was that... in those calculated futures, Darkius had not yet appeared!
Once Dacreus appears in Ulthuan as the Champion of Matheran...

What will be waiting for the Asur Navy?
What will be waiting for Lothern?
Finubar closed his eyes and let the breath of the sea wash over his face. Behind his closed eyes, images kept churning in his mind - visions of the future, battles that had been replayed countless times, and possible endings for Ulthuan.

He saw the storm-like warships breaking through the strait, like a ruthless iron stream, crushing the sea defenses of Asur. The azure sea was dyed red with blood, the once unshakable fleet was reduced to ashes under the dragon flames and blades, and the wails of the elves echoed under the sky.

In the end, Lothern was not spared. This glorious city collapsed in the tsunami. The throne of the Phoenix King became ruins, the once glorious palace sank into the sea, and the corridors interwoven with gold and white jade broke and collapsed, just like the irreversible fate of Ulthuan.

He couldn't allow this to happen.

But he knew that if he continued to cling to the ancient rules, Ulthuan would eventually be destroyed.

So, he changed his strategy and chose a more realistic path - looking for cooperation!
He knew that he could not stop Dacus.

He understood that he was powerless to stop Druch.

But that doesn't mean he can't do anything.

He was not a rock to be washed away by the stormy tides, nor would he allow Ulthuan to be torn apart, broken down, and devoured in a war that was doomed to fail.

He has to do something, he has to do something.

As Dacius had said in Athel Loren, "We can be collaborators."

Although Finnubar didn't sneer at this sentence, he felt it was a bit too much... However, as time passed, he had to admit that Dacus was right. He even found that he agreed with Dacus's point of view to some extent, especially that sentence.

“War shapes a nation.”

however……

He saw contradictions in Dacus again.

Dacius is a complicated man.

He pushed for the war, but was afraid that it would get out of control.

He changes the world, yet tries to protect it from destruction.

He is cold and rational, but at certain moments he reveals deep thought, and behind every decision he makes, there is a hint of restraint.

He will not let the battle get completely out of control.

He would not allow the army to become a wild beast that would run wild and devour everything.

This made Finnubar wonder - what exactly shaped Dacus like this?
A Druki shouldn't be like this.

But he is like this.

Dacus is walking on a delicate path, a path that belongs neither to light nor to darkness. He is both a warrior and a wise man; both a destroyer and a creator; he is full of conflicts and contradictions, but he moves forward unswervingly on this path.

This is Dacus, a man who cannot be simply defined.

But that didn't stop Finnubar from making a decision.

He would not be an enemy of Dacius.

He would choose cooperation, choose alliance, and choose to reshape the future of Ulthuan.

He was going to surprise those princes.

He wants to write his own mark in history.

He wanted to keep the war within a manageable range, and make those nobles who claimed to be the true masters of Ulthuan become a group of jokes before they were swept into the dustbin of history.

Elardesi had been looking at Finnubar silently until this moment, when he suddenly laughed. The laughter was a little tired, but also full of a long-lost joy.

"You are really crazy," he muttered, shaking his head, "but you have more courage than me."

He slowly stood up, walked to Finnubar, stretched out his hand and pressed it on Finnubar's shoulder.

His eyes were firm and solemn, and his voice was low and powerful.

"I support you. Tomorrow, I will face it with you!"

The wind, carrying the scent of the ocean, blew across their faces, and a storm that would change the landscape of Ulthuan was already forming. (End of this chapter)