The Fall of Everything [Rewrite]

In Sanguinar's secret storerooms, Lightstone had accumulated in quantities that even the most powerful countries on the continent had only dreamed of. These stones were not just precious ore, but an almost mythical source of power. But the people of Rhazgord, and especially Sanguinar and his family, knew only too well the true nature of the Lightstone: That it was both a blessing and a curse. If the Lightstone was used continuously or taken in large doses at once, it could have fatal consequences - and it often did, as one became addicted to the power over time. The power of the stone would soon consume the body, increasing stamina but burning the soul. That is why Sanguinar carefully managed this enormous resource at his disposal.
The Lightstone was collected in warehouses and given in limited quantities only to Sanguinar's family and a few loyal followers. It was a strategic decision: If even ordinary soldiers of the Rhazgord had easy access to such a vast amount of a powerful resource, the balance of power in the city could be upset. Everyone was a potential enemy, and empowering enemies was not a risk Sanguinar could afford to take. Therefore, the people of Rhazgord and ordinary soldiers had limited access to the Lightstone. They could only acquire a small amount of Lightstone after major attacks against the demons, and these rare stones were usually sold in the market. Sanguinar knew the value of his stones and kept them only in the most trusted hands.
Corvus, however, was one of the few who had access to this vast treasure. Everything that had accumulated in his father Sanguinar's storerooms technically belonged to the Tiamats. Corvus, the future leader of the Tiamats, knew that one day he would own all of this treasure. Even if Sanguinar lost his position, he would traditionally retain ownership of the goods in the warehouses. So Corvus, with his father's trust, could access these stones as he wished.
Every time he entered the warehouse, the faint glow and powerful energy emitted by the stones made Corvus' body tremble. The gleaming stones were far more precious than gold and jewelry. But this power was a weapon to be used with care.
Corvus knew the value of the Lightstone all too well, but he needed to take a big step to realize his strategic goals. That's why he was fifty kilos short of storage. Even though the Rhazgord's huge warehouse still seemed full to the brim, each of these stones was priceless. But for Corvus, this was not a loss, but the first step in a major investment. These Lightstones would lay the foundations of the Rhazgord and its future power.
Belisarius and his men decided to load the stones late into the night, after the celebration was over. Every move was carefully planned; the Sizat Empire must never find out that the Lightstones had traveled to the Kingdom of Adler. Protecting the stones seemed an almost impossible task, because Sizat spies were everywhere. So Belisarius was determined to transport the stones to Adler as secretly as possible. During the night, they quietly prepared and set the convoy on its way. By dawn the convoy was ready for departure. But Belisarius was feeling uneasy; he wanted to say goodbye to Corvus. But Corvus was nowhere in sight. Belisarius waited, but it was time to go and there was no point in wasting any more time.
Tired during the night, Belisarius threw himself into the back of a cart and lay down to sleep. The monotony of the journey and the tensions of the night were enough to make Belisarius close his eyes. But when he awoke, he was disturbed by the sounds he heard. The sound of horseshoes outside was much more than he had expected. When he poked his head out and looked behind the convoy, he saw thousands of Rhazgord soldiers marching behind him. The soldiers' eyes were scanning the surroundings intently, every one of them walking on alert. As he tried to understand what was happening, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"So you left without saying goodbye to me." Corvus' voice was sarcastic, as if he was genuinely upset that Belisarius had not said goodbye to him.
Belisarius was startled. He did not know what to say in the face of this unexpected situation. He thought for a few seconds, then asked with a half-smile on his face, "What are you doing here?"
Corvus met this question with a big smile. He looked at Belisarius with a mocking gleam in his eyes. "I have things to do in the same direction as you," he said, his voice full of amusement. "If I had known you would be so sad to see me, I would not have come!" He smiled slightly at his words, as if this encounter was just a friendly joke.
But Belisarius ignored Corvus's mocking tone and slight smile. There was a bigger question occupying his mind. Belisarius was now on a different route from the one he had taken to Rhazgord. He wanted to do this because he wanted to be well out of sight. He began to think about what Corvus meant by "things to do ". What Corvus needed to do was to clear the trade routes. If Corvus was heading in this direction first, it meant that this road held the greatest dangers. Belisarius' mind was suddenly filled with uneasy thoughts. His eyes, despite Corvus' cheerful appearance, were filled with suspicion. "So..." he said, cautiously. "These roads are dangerous, are they?"
Corvus raised his eyes to the sky, as if to downplay the situation. "Ah, yes. A few minor problems," he said, as if it was no big deal at all. Then he added with a serious expression, "Why are you going this way anyway? You're making a long detour now."
Belisarius felt uneasy as he listened to Corvus' words. Despite Corvus' relaxed demeanor, he sensed that this journey was going to be much more complicated and dangerous than he had imagined. The discipline and vigilance behind the Rhazgord soldiers made it clear that this was no ordinary journey. He anxiously explained to Corvus why he was taking this route.
Noticing the concern on Belisarius' face, Corvus smiled, looking into his friend's eyes. "Don't worry..." he said, his voice calm but confident. "I have three thousand men with me." He gestured to the soldier marching in front, carrying a large flag. This flag was decorated with the figure of a black lion on a bright red background. The flag was the ancient symbol of the Tiamats.
"That is the banner of our family," Corvus said, a gleam in his eyes. "There is no one in Rhazgord who would dare attack someone standing behind that banner!" His voice was full of determination and pride. It was the confidence of not just a leader, but of a man carrying the legacy of a family with a long history.
"Near the border is the city of Bahoz," Corvus continued, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "We will escort you there. That is my destination too. There are wagons in the back carrying what my soldiers need. We will place your cart among them. That way you won't attract attention." His tone was serious because the city of Bahoz was strategically located for Rhazgord and the surrounding kingdoms. Bandit attacks posed a serious threat to the trade routes.
Bahoz was the only city close to the border and almost everyone who came to Rhazgord stopped at least once. This crossroads had the potential to become a vital center for both trade and diplomatic transit.
Corvus turned to his friend thoughtfully. "I will give you some good warriors to escort you to Adler," he said. These words eased some of Belisarius' uneasiness. However, Belisarius wanted to make it clear in a polite manner that this help was not necessary.
"Thank you, Corvus," he said, without losing his courtesy. "But it's really not necessary, I don't want to attract too much attention."The Rhazgordians' large bodies and clothes would certainly attract too much attention, and Belisarius did not want that.
After listening to Belisarius' polite refusal, Corvus widened his smile and decided to reveal his true intentions. "I'll arrange for a few people who won't attract attention. And they won't just be coming to protect you," he said, his voice taking on a more serious and diplomatic tone. "They will also come to protect our treaty!" His words lit a spark in Belisarius' mind. With those words, Belisarius realized for a moment that his friend was fast becoming a true leader.
Corvus knew how critical it was for Belisarius to get the Lightstones safely to Adler. The deal would only succeed if these stones reached Adler. Otherwise, it would be impossible to deliver the goods Corvus demanded. Therefore, securing this journey meant not only clearing the trade routes, but protecting the future of the Rhazgord.
Corvus' plan did not stop there. He also wanted to ensure that trade was fair. So the men Belisarius would send with him would not only guard the convoy, but also investigate the internal markets of Adler and other kingdoms. In this way, Corvus would gather critical information for future deals and learn the true value of the goods Rhazgord produced.
After a day and a half of tiring and silent travel, the city of Bahoz appeared on the horizon. Even from a distance, the city resembled the harsh and irregular architecture of Rhazgord. Buildings made of stone, with sharp corners, crammed together. Some looked as if they had been eroded by the wind over time; others were on the verge of collapse, held up by patched roofs. The gray sky covered the city in a dark blanket, as if the clouds over Bahoz would never dissipate.