The main hall was bursting with noise as all the subjects gathered inside.
Edward and Jim, now dressed properly for an event of this scale, entered the crowded hall and moved toward the upper-left corner, leaning against the wall while waiting for the gathering to begin.
"Fuck, I hate these clothes. Why would anyone wear something like this?" Jim complained.
Edward looked to where Jim had disappeared a moment earlier.
"And rushing for the ale, I see."
Jim returned carrying two cups filled to the top with ale.
"There you go, mate. Enjoy," he said with delight.
Edward stared at him with mild shame.
"What?" Jim asked.
"Nothing," Edward muttered and took a sip.
The door opened.
The duchess stepped in—wearing a red dress and skirt matching her long crimson hair. A pair of white pumps covered her feet. Her hair was tied perfectly with a green emerald holding it in place.
Regis followed behind her: a strong man in his thirties, black hair, a short beard, and sharp green eyes. A scar marked his right eye, though it had not taken his sight.
He was the duchess's uncle—brother to her mother—and her guardian. Once a holy knight serving under the Temple's command, he had returned home after the duchess's father and his friend fell in battle against the orcs.
Even with the duchess stepping forward, the noise in the hall barely lessened.
"Silence!" Regis roared. "The gathering begins now."
The duchess walked a few steps ahead, facing her subjects: barons, khans, mayors, wealthy merchants, and even a few hunters and adventurers—anyone who could be of use in the coming conflict.
"I sincerely thank every one of you for gathering here on such short notice," she began confidently.
"These are harsh times indeed, and now a new threat has emerged in our lands."
Edward watched her, surprised. He hadn't expected her to speak so firmly—especially in front of such a crowd.
"For years we have fought the orcs along the border. They raided our lands, taking piece after piece, enslaving men, women, and children. Towns and villages destroyed—turned into their underground nests. Their numbers have grown greatly in such a short time.
"Now they have taken the Jin Mountain Fortress. Without us realizing, they have rebuilt it and prepared for an invasion. In the past years they attempted many times to bring us down—to make us their ear-to-ear pets. Yet because of strong men like you—all of you—they failed.
But now… things are different. Our forces have declined over the years."
She paced slightly as she spoke, her voice echoing through the hall.
"There are more than twelve hundred orcs currently stationed there. And if we do not defeat them now, they will destroy us. So I ask all of you—stand together. Let us crush this evil once more and show them that this land is ours, and we will not surrender it."
For a brief moment, silence swallowed the room.
"You speak confidently of victory, my lady," someone finally said.
A man stepped forward, walking up the stairs until he stood beside her—taller by several centimeters. His smile was twisted.
"But we have been fighting these creatures for a decade. What progress have we made? Losing our lands? Our people? Our soldiers?"
"Why not bow to them? Pay tribute? Others have done it. We could save our land, our wealth… our lives."
He pushed her slightly aside and walked toward the main seat—more like a throne.
" why not bow to them? Saving our life?" he said smiling
"You, Sir Regis—served for two years as a holy knight. Tell us, what have you seen? Be kind enough to enlighten us."
Regis glared at him with visible frustration.
"Lord Losh, I do not think the way you are speaking to—"
A loud thud cut him off.
Everyone turned their heads toward the upper-right corner of the room.
Edward had punched the wall. His eyes were fixed on the duchess, who looked shaken.
"I don't think you understand what's happening, sir," Edward said as he walked toward Lord Losh.
Losh laughed mockingly.
"And what does a fucker like you know about this?"
Edward reached the top, standing face-to-face with him.
"I've seen enough of what they do," he said coldly.
"They don't spare farmlands—they prefer barren hills to fertile ground. When they come—and they will Come—they bring devastation. They take women, children, and men as slaves. They wipe out cities and villages. And do not fool yourself—they keep some villages alive only to use them as breeding grounds. Young women forced into servitude… sold or abused. Strong boys worked to exhaustion. Men and women kept as breeding stock. Their main source of food isn't what we eat. They feast on human flesh."
A shiver ran across the hall.
"So tell me—how exactly do you plan to bow to these monsters?" Edward asked.
"I know many of you think like him—so ask yourselves: how can you call yourself a lord if you kneel to creatures like that? If I were you, Losh, I'd rather die free than live my life in chains."
He stepped back. "I have spoken."
Lord Losh, pale and shaken, sank into his seat, covering his face with his hand.
Regis stepped forward. "Who stands with us?" he shouted.
For a moment—silence.
Then a voice rang from the crowd:
"Lady Bell will have my men!"
A man raised his sword high.
Others followed—raising weapons, shouting their pledge.
Even Lord Losh, defeated, muttered reluctantly,
"You… shall have my men as well."
The Duchess, cheeks flushed from the heat and pressure of the hall, took a breath.
"…Assemble the army," she commanded.