Chapter 61: The Shadow Treaty
Three days had passed since the duel with Lyralei. Two days remained in their agreed ceasefire.
Arthur stood in the war room, his newly restored System humming.
The power was there, but different. Around the tactical table, his key advisors waited for his decision.
"Pull everyone back," Arthur commanded, his eyes fixed on the map. "Full retreat to the walls. Every soldier, every scout."
Commander Hawklight frowned. "My lord, with your System restored, we could press—"
"That’s exactly what Lyralei expects." Arthur’s smile held no warmth. "A restored king pressing his advantage while the Phoenix Emperor remains weakened. But what if he meets a desperate king instead? One willing to sign anything for peace?"
"You want to deceive him," Isolde said from her position by the window. Through their restored bond, he felt her mix of concern and admiration.
"I want to survive," Arthur corrected. "And more importantly, I want us all to survive what’s coming. Lyralei has fifty years of experience. He’s not our real enemy—he’s just in the way."
Beatrice stepped forward, dark circles still under her eyes. "Arthur, about the restoration ritual... there’s something I need to tell you."
She pulled out a small obsidian crystal. "This manifested during our ritual—when divine energy mixed with your Incubus System. It’s not something I created. It’s something we created together."
Arthur took the crystal, feeling it pulse in sync with his heartbeat. "What does it do?"