The day of the war passed, and the sun rose once more over the world of Armus. For many, the day before had been filled with loss and sorrow. For others, it carried the bright promise of a new beginning. Both feelings lingered in the air of Armus.
I stood in front of a mirror, looking at my own reflection. It had been a long time since I had done something so ordinary. As I stared at myself, memories surfaced, of simple days at the academy, waking up early, getting dressed in a rush, preparing for the day without worrying about the fate of worlds.
Back then, it felt like a daily struggle, but I was young and full of energy. Now, things were different. With a single controlled flow of Essence, my body felt clean, rested, and renewed, as if sleep itself had become optional.
I adjusted my robe slightly. This one was special. It was meant to be the official attire of our organization, a symbol of what we were becoming rather than what we had been.
The night before, all of us had gathered together—Steve, Primus, North, my summons, and me. We sat down and spoke at length about what came next. I shared my idea of turning Armus into our first secret base.
To my relief, Primus agreed without hesitation. As for the demons, I still wasn’t fully sure how we would use them going forward, but I knew one thing clearly: I wanted to leave something behind in this world. Something lasting. Not just move on from this place and forget Armus ever existed.
I had a few plans forming in my mind, but everything depended on how the Fallen and the System would react in the future. Their response would decide my own.
To complete what I was setting up, I needed two more people on board: Dorian and Orobas. With Primus leaving alongside us, they would remain behind as the pieces left on the board to manage Armus when we were gone.
My perception spread outward and covered the entire Bloodreaver fort. I quickly found Primus, Dorian, and Orobas gathered inside their meeting hall. I remained still, listening to their conversation.
"So the boss that elemental was talking about was really here all along," Orobas said, a deep frown etched on his face.
Primus nodded slowly. "Yes. And he is the one who freed Lara and me from our slavery as well. He is powerful. The cloaked figures listen only to him. No one else gives them orders."
Dorian let out a tired sigh and leaned back slightly. "Primus, after hearing the full story about Lana from you, it feels like we are surrounded by people we cannot understand, control, or even refuse. Powers far beyond us." He paused, then added quietly, "I wish you had listened to me back then, when we opposed your marriage with her."
Primus stared at the floor for a long moment, silent. The hall felt heavy as he gathered his thoughts. Finally, he spoke.
"I won’t say I regret marrying Lana," he said slowly. "She gave me my daughter, and that alone matters more than anything else." His voice hardened. "But I can say this for certain, she will answer for what she has done. I will drag her here myself and make her face the consequences of her choices."
He took a deep breath, steadying himself, then lifted his head.
"As I said before, I want Armus and more importantly, us, to stand on his side for what is coming," Primus continued. "From this point on, the Bloodreavers will follow his orders. Not openly. Not recklessly. Slowly." His eyes narrowed with resolve. "We will prepare in silence. Over time, it won’t just be us. It will be all of Armus."
"That will take time," Dorian said carefully.
"I know," Primus replied. "But when the moment comes, we must be ready."
Orobas frowned even deeper. "Ready for what?" he asked.
That was when I decided it was time to step forward and introduce myself to the two demons. I took a single step and arrived inside the hall, standing directly behind Primus.
Dorian and Orobas reacted instantly. Both of them shot up from their chairs, eyes wide with shock at my sudden appearance, as if I had been standing there all along and they had simply failed to notice. I watched as Essence surged through their bodies and spilled into the space around them. The surprise had pushed them straight into fight-or-flight instinct.
"Sit," I said calmly.
The Essence that had begun to move froze in place. In the next instant, both Orobas and Dorian jerked as if pulled by invisible strings and dropped back into their chairs.
I stepped out from behind Primus, pulled the chair beside him, and sat down.
Only then did Primus fully grasp what had happened. He immediately stood up from his seat and moved to stand behind me, posture straight, like an attendant awaiting orders. I almost smiled. The gesture wasn’t necessary, but I appreciated the clear show of support.
"I apologize for arriving like that," I said lightly. "It’s a bad habit I picked up from my mentor. He enjoyed dramatic entrances." I waved the thought away. "Anyway, let me introduce myself."
I looked directly at the two demons.
"I am the Prime Monarch. As Primus mentioned, I have been here from the very beginning, watching and trying to understand the game being played in Armus. This round is now over, so I intend to wrap things up properly before we move on to the next board in Dragos."
I paused, letting the words sink in.
Dorian and Orobas remained completely still, as if turned to stone. Their eyes were locked onto my face, unblinking, their minds clearly struggling to catch up with reality.
I tilted my head slightly, surprised by the silence.
"You can speak freely. I am a friendly man," I said.
Orobas was the first to recover. His expression slowly returned to normal, and he drew in a steady breath before speaking.
"It is our honor to receive you here in Armus Prime Monarch" he said sincerely. "And I thank you for ensuring that Primus and Lara returned to us safely."
I met his gaze and held it. There was no fear in his eyes now, no hidden schemes or layered intentions. Only honesty. From what I had observed so far, Orobas was a straightforward demon. He did not hide his emotions or polish his feelings to suit the moment. What he felt, he showed openly.
I found that refreshing. And, more than that, I respected it.