The chamber was utterly silent now.

"When races clash," Felicity continued in the silence, now having all eyes on her without exemption, "it is because leaders favor their own. They protect their blood, their banners, their histories." She shook her head. "But a ruler who belongs to none of us has no reason to do that."

Her smile returned, small but certain.

"This is why the term 'absolute tyranny' is perfect. It sounds horrible at first glance because up until now, it was wielded by imperfect mortals who could be corrupted. But under his rule, order will not favor one race over another. It will be applied evenly. Fairly. Without exceptions carved by ancestry."

She met the dwarf's gaze again.

"That," Felicity said, "is the kind of peace mortal leaders have never been capable of creating."

"A Primordial… Like Luminara and Bjorn…?" Many asked, unable to believe it. Those were legends, and their races were not known to the public. To them, they were a female elf and a male dwarf; that's it.

"That is an explanation for another time," a new voice sounded.

"But know this," a second voice came. "No mortal would be able to do what he can."

Two figures stepped forward, flanking Quinlan. Seraphiel and Kitsara. They looked at the slaves in the cages with emotional eyes.

Seraphiel reached up and fondly touched his chin. "My husband might look human, but he is far from it. No human could achieve what he did. Just like the princess said, he is a primordial, an immortal demigod."

"Husband?!" multiple elves snapped with loud yelps. Seeing that one of their own loved him so dearly was an even bigger shock than seeing the human princess's attitude toward him.

"Yes… My name is Seraphiel Vaelorith, heir of the Vaelorith clan, and I am fortunate enough to have met this wonderful man at my lowest possible point, and he changed my life forever."

Then the foxkin spoke up. "And my name is Kitsara Ironfang, adopted daughter of Vargis Ironfang. I am the princess of the dogkin people, and I, too, am a fortunate woman who met the Primordial Villain and was accepted as his."

The effect was immediate.

Murmurs softened. Shoulders loosened. People who had been gripping bars eased their hands away.

A beastkin voice rose first. "Princess Kitsara… you stand with him willingly?"

Kitsara nodded once. "I do. He is the love of my life who earned not only my boundless trust but even managed to make my father accept our union." The foxkin grinned. "You must know the stubbornness Vargis Ironfang is known for. If even that old, grumpy guy accepted Quinlan as a man worthy of handing his cherished daughter over to…"

The beastkin's eyes widened as she finished for her. "Then… he really is trustworthy…"

An elf followed, eyes fixed on Seraphiel. "You chose him over your clan, Lady Seraphiel?"

"I am still of my clan, but my home is now where my husband is… just like many of you, I was conscripted at the orders of our king and queen, then thrown away as a pawn to measure the defenses of the human kingdom. I was captured and sold as a sex slave."

Many gasped. Then the blonde elf smiled tenderly. "But to my greatest luck, it was my husband who bought me. He did so back when he was much, much weaker and needed the help of a healer. He never used his power over me, never issued a single order. He slowly won my heart over. And now, just as it is with Kitsara, he earned my mother's blessing. Sylvaris Vaelorith has blessed our union."

"!!"

Questions came, brief and sharp.

"Will we be used as soldiers?"

"Only if you choose," Kitsara answered.

"Will our children be safe?"

"Yes," Felicity said. "That is the point."

"Will we be punished for what we were forced to do?"

Seraphiel shook her head. "He judges actions made by choice."

Just like this, questions flew out of the slaves, answered by the representative of their kind. Felicity did her best to dash between the human cages, answering their concerns to the best of her ability.

Seraphiel did the same with the elves, while Kitsara did the same with the beastkin. As a foxkin, her words were treated with scorn at first, due to the foxes' reputation for being crafty. But soon, she managed to win them over with her extreme sincerity, displaying none of the dishonesty her kind was known for.

Just like this, dozens of seconds passed with the girls working hard to get to as many questions as possible, knowing it was a race against time.

Then a deep, steady voice cut through the chamber.

"We do not have time to answer all your questions."

Quinlan stepped forward.

"I still have other slave houses to reach and free the people captured there. So it is time for you to decide."

He lifted the contracts binding them. The parchments trembled.

"Choose now," Quinlan said. "You will join us, or you will-"

His hands closed.

The contracts tore apart.

"-leave as free people and return to your homelands."

The collars reacted at once.

Metal vibrated. Runes crawled, then peeled away, fading into nothing. The pressure vanished.

Hands flew to throats. Knees buckled. Several people dropped to the stone, breath breaking loose all at once. Water streaked down faces. Some laughed without sound. Others pressed their foreheads to the floor.

Quinlan moved. The girls followed.

Cages opened.

"[Warp Gate]."

A spell unfolded in the air.

"Those who wish to accept me as your ruler and begin anew, step through."

They came quickly.

Words of thanks followed them. Some touched Felicity's sleeve. Others bowed to Seraphiel or Kitsara before passing through the gate.

The chamber emptied.

Only the dwarves remained.

They stood together, arms crossed, boots planted. They had not turned away.

Seraphiel tried to get to them as well, but she was an elf noble. The distrust was greater than what Kitsara experienced with the beastkin of other tribes, largely due to the extreme stubbornness of the dwarves.

Quinlan looked at them and smiled. "What will it take?"

Since they were still here, looking at him with uncertainty instead of leaving and beginning the journey back to their homeland, Quinlan knew they were not completely against being convinced.

They just needed a little push.

A dwarf scratched his beard. "How's this Miri Town on booze?"

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