The three days Eray spent in the medical wing of the Raiders' Central Base were no different from the tortures he had endured in Umbra.
His body had been repaired with hybrid gels of magic and technology. He had gone through more than a dozen surgeries.
But the real test was the interrogation room.
Facing General Arso and the Intelligence Council, Eray revealed the horrific scar around his neck, where skin and flesh had been burned away.
"I was captured," Eray said flatly. "They forced me to work in the mines. When I resisted… they tortured me with magic. Put me in chains."
"A collar?" one intelligence officer asked, examining the scar closely.
Eray's jaw tightened.
Velira calling him my toy.Kneeling before her.
The memories struck his mind like lightning, but not a single word escaped his lips.
"A control mechanism," he lied. "A restraint they use on prisoners they consider dangerous. They didn't feed me like an animal or anything. I was just… a valuable captive."
No one in the room fully believed him.But no one challenged it either.
After all, a man's pride was involved.A Raider Captain being treated like a pet in an Elf Princess's bedroom was simply unthinkable.
Eray's pride was strong enough to take that truth to the grave.
In the end, the data Eray had brought back was so valuable that the files labeled mission violation and ship loss quietly disappeared.
Ether reserves were simply too tempting.
General Arso slammed his fist on the table.
"Congratulations, son. You're no longer a Captain. You've been promoted. Major Eray."
_ _ _
Two Days Later / Officers' Quarters
Eray stood on the balcony of his new room, smoking a cigarette.
He wore a pristine black-and-gold Major's uniform.
The door opened without knocking.
"Lale, I told you I want to be al—" Eray turned around, and his words died in his throat.
It wasn't Lale.
The woman who entered was taller than Eray thanks to her heels. Lieutenant General insignia gleamed on her shoulders.
Platinum-blonde hair. Perfectly tied.Sharp features disturbingly similar to Eray's own.
The same jawline.The same coal-black, emotionless eyes.
General Luna.
Eray crushed the cigarette.
"General," he said, snapping to attention. His voice was tense.
Luna looked around the room with open disdain, then turned to him.
"At ease, cousin," she said.
Eray did not move."There is no cousin here, General. Only a Major."
Luna laughed. A cold, aristocratic laugh.
"Still the rebellious little boy. How many years has it been since you ran away from the palace, Eray? Four? Five?"
She smiled faintly.
"Your mother, Lady Dione, still has an empty plate placed on the table every evening."
Eray's face went pale.
He had fled that suffocating noble life. Fled his family. Fled the palace. He had joined the Raiders because he believed no one could reach him here.
"What do you want, Luna?" Eray asked, dropping formality.
Luna adjusted the insignia on his collar.
"A massive invasion force is being formed. The largest in our history. And I'm in command."
Eray looked away.
"I heard. The Umbra Campaign. But I'm out. I submitted my report. My mission is over."
"Your mission ends when I say it ends," Luna replied sharply, touching the scar on his neck.
"You want to go back there. But you're afraid. Afraid of what made that mark… or who."
"I'm not afraid!" Eray snapped.
"Then come," Luna said. "Be my right hand. You're the only one who truly understands that dimension, those races."
Eray shook his head.
"I can't. Going back there—"
Luna leaned in and whispered into his ear.
"If you refuse… it will take me exactly ten minutes to locate your mother."
Eray froze.
"You know her. She'll come here with an army and drag you back into that gilded cage. Even the Raiders won't protect you."
Her voice was calm. Absolute.
"Your choice. Come with me and conquer that world… or go home and drink tea with your mother."
This was no bluff.
His mother was one of the most powerful and obsessive women in existence.Daughter of the Pentraegon Emperor.Queen Dione.
Eray stayed silent for a long moment. His fingers crushed the cigarette pack.
Then he exhaled.
"You helped me escape the palace," he said quietly. "If you throw me into the fire… I'll throw you in with me."
Luna remained indifferent. This was the reaction she expected.
The look of anticipation on her face never faded.
"…Fine," Eray said. "But I have one condition."
"What is it?"
"When we land there… the Silver City, Lunaris. It's mine. At least until procedures are complete. It will be under my authority."
Luna smiled.
"Agreed. Prepare yourself, Major. The War Council meets tomorrow."
_ _ _
The Next Day / War Council Chamber
The room smelled of cigarette smoke and testosterone.
A dozen generals and high-ranking officers sat around the table, staring at the Umbra map like starving predators.
General Luna stood at the head.Eray sat to her right, under the dismissive gazes of the others.
"The plan is simple," said General Varg, commander of the heavy weapons division."The moment the gate opens, we send in the airships. We carpet-bomb the capital. Lunaris."
He sneered.
"No magical shield can withstand rune-nuclear warheads."
Murmurs of agreement followed.
"No."
The room went silent.
All eyes turned to Eray.
"Do you have an objection, Major?" Varg asked mockingly. "Or are you afraid of those savages?"
Eray stood and stepped toward the map.
"Not fear, General. Intelligence."
He placed his finger on Lunaris.
"Emperor Kaelthas crushed a warship by himself, like a fly. If you attack directly, he and his daughter Velira—and likely allies we haven't even identified—will turn your fleet into scrap within ten minutes."
"Their magical power exceeds our technology."
"And what do you propose?" Luna asked, arms crossed.
Eray slid his finger away from the capital toward darker, rural regions.
The Human Kingdoms.
"There is a hierarchy in that world," Eray said."Elves and magical races at the top. Humans at the bottom. Slaves. Laborers. Oppressed."
He looked each general in the eye.
"Before attacking the Elves directly… we land in human territory."
"Attack humans?" someone asked.
"No," Eray said, smiling darkly."We save them."
Silence fell.
"We won't arrive as invaders," Eray continued."We arrive as the Brothers from the Stars, freeing them from cruel Elf overlords."
"We give them technology. Weapons. Food."
"And most importantly…"
"We give them a chance for revenge."
General Varg grunted.
"You want pawns."
"I'll give you an army," Eray replied coldly."One that dies on the front lines, gathers intelligence, and collapses that world from the inside."
"Let the Elves weaken themselves fighting their own slaves. We only fan the flames."
Luna looked at her cousin, a spark of approval in her eyes.
"The savior's mask…" she murmured."My enemy's enemy is my shield."
She slammed her hand on the table.
"The plan is approved. First landing will be at the border of the Human Kingdom of Armos."
"Operation name: Dawn."
She turned to Eray.
"Major Eray, Diplomatic Relations and Local Force Organization are your responsibility."
Eray saluted.
"Yes, ma'am."
As the meeting dispersed, Eray stared at the glowing point marking Lunaris on the map.
Wait for me, Velira, he thought.I'm not coming back with just an army.
Darkness and fury mixed in his eyes until they turned completely black.