She paused briefly.
"That was how Valthor became a blessed kingdom. Its prosperity was not simply the result of favorable conditions. It was the consequence of living in the presence of a divine artifact."
Julian listened without blinking.
"That was Valthor's true inheritance," she continued. "The royal family became the fragment's guardians, and their authority was closely tied to its protection. They guarded its existence carefully, passing the secret from one generation to the next. Even the kingdom's greatest achievements were built upon a foundation that very few people knew existed."
Her expression grew solemn.
"But the Fragment's influence was not limited to Valthor. Its power gradually spread beyond the kingdom's borders, reaching the surrounding lands. And among all the neighboring territories, Hermes was the closest."
She looked at Julian.
