October 11, 1887

Laddyn Voertstedd was not an attractive man, nor was he a scholarly one. He was in possession of a scruffy beard, a generous belly, and a relaxed demeanor. Nevertheless, he was King of the Shealands, and a good King he was. 

As he pored over a book, wiry spectacles perched on the bridge of his nose, his studious activity was interrupted by the sound of his office door being violently thrust open. 

"Yes?" He lifted his head, allowing the very winning smile that endeared him to his people to come over his face. 

"It is I," a much taller and younger man stated with a hint of cold in his voice. 

Prince Travais- though admittedly not as nobly magnanimous as his brother- was not an unkind being. Although, his aquiline features and severe, detached expression would give one such an impression. 

"What brings you here?" Laddyn asked, reclining jovially in his armchair. Travais, in stark contrast to his brother as expected, lowered himself into his seat with an icy degree of rigidity, a scowl permanently etched into his personage.

"How could you ask such a casual question?" Travais rubbed his temples with nervousness. "Our Kingdom is at stake! Our ruin approaches swiftly!" 

"My dear Travais," Laddyn chuckled. "Your paranoid ideas grow more fanciful every day. This is the Rhenan Kingdom of the Shealands! No other sovereign state comes close to us in size or numbers. To say we are imperfect as of yet is an acceptable measure of humility. But to say that we are in danger- now, that is laughable." 

"A new kingdom is rising on Lessaenes, led by a man named Crescel Myers, a woman named Alisha Valior, and man named Airel Arystenn who calls himself King of the Lessaenite Empire," Travais said darkly. "This would-be Empire already encapsulates a quarter of the planet, and swallows up new territory every day. At this exponential rate of expansion, it may grow to the size of the Shealands within a year." 

"A new kingdom of Lessaenites?" Laddyn let out a deep sigh, allowing his hand to return to his lap. "Why do you see a threat in them? They could very well be trade partners and allies. We cannot judge them without more information." 

"They are Lessaenites, brother," Travais hissed. "Low, greedy creatures ruled by their baser desires. For every Shealander there are two of them, and they possess Auras stronger than we could ever dream of. We have only managed to keep an advantage over them thus far through our unity and faith. If they were to somehow gather under a single ruler, they could easily decimate us!" 

"To what end?" Laddyn let out a hearty laugh. "We pose no threat to them. They would gain nothing from our misfortune. Despite their affinity for destruction, they would not destroy without some purpose- no matter how twisted- in mind. On top of that, they have lived lawlessly for centuries! Such a people cannot be tamed so suddenly."

"If you do not immediately associate them with aimless destruction, you do not know the people of Lessaenes!" Travais hissed, his eyes growing wide with disgusted, frantic passion. "As for their 'taming', they will very quickly come together when promised power and money. They are white-skinned wraiths! Servants of the devil! Horrible, wretched-" 

"That is enough!" Laddyn roared. "I will not have you casting undue and unfounded suspicions upon anyone- whether they be Lessaenite, Shealander, Kilaenaian, or born of the Tribes of Rhai. I am King of the Shealands, and I will speak and hear nothing but justice." 

"Justice," Travais chuckled, shaking his head as if mocking the very word. "I shall take my leave of you now, dear brother, and I can assure you that you will never hear of this from me again. You may expunge this conversation from your memory at this very moment, if it would facilitate your peace of mind. But, on the day that the Lessaenites turn up at our doorstep with weapons in hand, do not say that you haven't been sufficiently warned...King Laddyn." 

He bowed to his brother with a sneer and an exaggerated flourish before snatching his hat from the table before him and advancing toward the door with wide, purposeful strides. Laddyn was left dumbfounded in his chair to ponder the accuracy of his brother's words. All streams of thought he took led him to the same questions.

To what lengths would this Airel Arystenn go for fame and power?