Chapter 94: The Meaning of Leadership
As expected, Givia’s eyes widened in surprise when she heard Abyss’s words. “What? You went to the palace last night? How? Was it safe? That’s the Lord of Nightmares’ domain!”
“We flew there. I have my methods,” Abyss said, flapping his hands playfully, mimicking the motion of wings. “Don’t worry, we were discreet. The Lord of Nightmares did cause us some trouble, but we handled it. We weren’t reckless. We wouldn’t enter an Outer God’s domain without proper preparation.”
“Did you find anything?” Givia asked, setting aside her map and bread, her interest piqued. She wasn’t concerned about the potential consequences of his investigation. She and Kevin were already sworn enemies. If Abyss was willing to antagonize him, she wouldn’t object. Kevin might be her brother in name, but she barely knew him. He had only forced his way into the palace after the war began. Her memories of him were from her early childhood. There was no sibling affection between them.
“I apologize for not informing you beforehand. It was a last-minute decision. Rebecca discovered a potion that could counter the Lord of Nightmares’ hypnotic abilities, so I decided we should act quickly,” Abyss explained, sitting down. “We discovered that the Shadowlings are connected to the apple trees in the palace gardens. Kevin had them pruned after he arrived. Do you remember that?”
“Pruned apple trees?” Givia thought for a moment. “Yes, I vaguely recall something like that, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.”
“Outer Gods can’t directly influence this world. They need a conduit, an object to anchor their power—they can only fully manifest after accumulating enough energy,” Abyss explained. “I suspect the Lord of Nightmares is using a set of gardening tools as his conduit. He’s influencing Kevin and his confidant, Apos, using them to sow despair in your kingdom, harvesting nightmares—his sustenance—to grow stronger.”
“You’re saying the Lord of Nightmares changed Kevin?” Givia asked, frowning.
“Perhaps, perhaps not,” Abyss said, his voice serious. “Outer Gods amplify the darkness within a person’s heart. Perhaps your brother was already corrupt, and the Lord of Nightmares simply empowered him, turning him into his champion, just like the Church serves the Nine Gods.”
Givia bit her lip, lost in thought.
“I had a brief conversation with the Lord of Nightmares. He claimed he’s enacting a plan against you, but I suspect your presence within your own territory somehow restricts his power, preventing him from directly influencing you,” Abyss said. “Do you have any plans to leave your territory soon? If so, be careful.”
“Now that you mention it… I’m planning to visit our guerrilla units. The potions have arrived, and I’ve sent a portion of them to the front lines. It will greatly enhance their combat capabilities,” Givia said after a moment of thought. “I plan to visit them in two days, after I’ve finished my work here. Those young men and women are fighting every day, harassing Kevin’s forces, disrupting their supply lines. They’re not like us, training and resting in safety.”
“Are you the only one who knows about this plan? When did you decide to visit them?”
“This plan was finalized before my trip to the Eastern Empire. I made thorough preparations. Santos and a few of my trusted officers were involved. If the potion acquisition was successful, I would proceed with this plan… Ah.”
Givia’s voice trailed off as she realized the implications. If the plan had been decided before her departure, the Lord of Nightmares would have had ample opportunities to learn about it during their journey to and from the Eastern Empire.
If Abyss’s theory was correct, the Lord of Nightmares would surely seize this opportunity, now that Givia was outside her territory, to learn about her itinerary and formulate a counter-strategy.
“You realize what this means, don’t you?” Abyss asked, his gaze serious. “I suggest you cancel all your travel plans and remain within your territory. I’ll protect you and uncover the Lord of Nightmares’ plot.”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Givia said, shaking her head firmly. “I haven’t just been reading battle reports. I’ve also received intelligence from my network. Our guerrilla units are losing morale. The enemy forces are strong, and they’ve gained several powerful new recruits. Our guerrillas are suffering unexpected losses. If I don’t visit them personally, they might not be able to continue fighting…”
“Do they need your encouragement that badly?” Leona asked, puzzled. “Can’t you send one of your generals? They’re important figures as well. I remember soldiers finding comfort in being visited by their superiors.”
Givia glanced at Leona, her Western Empire heritage evident in her features, then shook her head. “Leona, you’re from the Western Empire. Your nation is powerful and prosperous. Your soldiers don’t require much comfort—they’re well-fed, well-paid, and their families receive generous compensation if they die in battle. But my Restoration Army is different. They’ve joined me because of my promise: I will lead them to reclaim our kingdom and restore Ossi’s glory.”
Leona scratched her head, the Western Empire’s long-lasting peace making it difficult for her to understand the Restoration Army’s struggles.
“Our soldiers here are barely eating any better than I am. If not for the generosity of the people of Oakning, they wouldn’t even have fresh vegetables. We don’t have enough money to pay them. We can only keep track of their service, promising to repay them someday. And their families receive no compensation. We simply don’t have the funds,” Givia said, sighing. “But they still follow me, enduring these hardships. If I hide from them now, their morale will plummet.”
Givia’s concerns were valid. These soldiers, despite their patriotism, couldn’t fight on empty stomachs and empty promises, especially if their leader remained hidden.
Givia was their only source of inspiration. She couldn’t afford to show any weakness, any fear.
“In that case, we might have a solution for you,” Abyss said suddenly.
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