Chapter 21: Wilfred Cerb Vantis
South of Runewood, Austerra Kingdom
The ancient gates of Runeterra Castle groaned open, casting long shadows across the stone roads as a caravan of carriages and armored soldiers approached.
The people of the kingdom paused in their daily affairs, stunned by the unfamiliar crest etched in gold on the foremost carriage — the imperial seal of the Wha-lah Empire.
It had been fifty long years since a messenger from the Emperor himself last graced Austerra with a visit. Traditionally, it was the obligation of provincial kings to pay homage at the imperial capital. A visit from the Emperor’s envoy — and unannounced at that — was not merely rare. It was ominous.
Inside the throne room, King Aurelus sat stiffly upon his blackwood throne, his fingers drumming against the armrest carved with phoenix wings and dragon talons. News had just reached him — an envoy had arrived at the gates with a hundred imperial soldiers in tow.
Aurelus’s brow furrowed deeply. His golden crown, inlaid with firestones, caught the torchlight as he turned to his right-hand man.
"Hammish," he said coldly, "are you certain we received no word of this?"
Hammish, the king’s current royal advisor and most trusted aide, stepped forward and bowed low. His silver robe brushed the marbled floor.
"I swear it upon my life, Your Majesty," he replied, his voice was firm but respectful. "Not a whisper nor a shadow of warning preceded this arrival. I have questioned our tower watchers, scouts, and postmasters — none have seen a single messenger bearing the imperial mark in over a decade."
King Aurelus’s gaze darkened. "So... they want to catch us off guard."
He reclined slightly, fingers curling into a fist on the arm of the throne. Something doesn’t sit right with him.