The Orion Knights fought with all their might against the Mercury Clan.

At first, the clan had the upper hand, boasting a firepower the Orion Knights had never faced before, and with two intermediates against whom Orion had nothing at the start of the battle.

However, with the arrival of reinforcements (knights, women, and children led by Arnaud), Orion managed to even the score. These reinforcements launched a surprise attack from behind the Mercury Clan, neutralizing the weapons of the unawakened before any retaliation could occur.

They had to advance under a hail of gunfire, but against all odds, they succeeded and flanked the Mercury Clan, while the original knights attacked from the other side.

Another advantage that allowed Orion to prevail was the elimination of Sasha and Stoneheart.

Once the enemy camp's intermediates were neutralized and their firepower (mortars, missile, rifles…) destroyed, the Orion Knights utterly crushed the Mercury men.

When the latter realized that their leader and the two so-called lieutenants had been defeated, they lost all organization, each seeking only to save their own life.

Yet, would the city of Orion allow them to escape? Absolutely not.

The knights pursued and eliminated them; only those who had surrendered peacefully survived, along with two or three lucky ones who had miraculously slipped away.

And as the sun reached its zenith, the war between Orion and Mercury came to an end.

---

Lucy and Gracia, after their fight with Stoneheart, had been unable to rejoin the melee and had collapsed in an isolated corner to regain their strength. When the battle ended and the Mercury Clan knights spotted them, they raised their swords at them.

The two tried to explain that they didn't belong to the Mercury Clan and were allies.

Without success, they were arrested and placed in the same prison as the twenty or so Mercury men who had surrendered.

Elsewhere, Fridri and Elizir found themselves in the same misunderstanding, but before they could be taken:

"Wait!" Arnaud ordered the knights.

The knights were surprised, confused.

"They fought by my side. Rest assured, they were not with those scum."

Once Arnaud gave his word, the knights released Fridri and Elizir, who breathed a sigh of relief. However, Arnaud knew nothing about them, so he invited them:

"Once we deal with the aftermath of the battle, we will need to talk, my friends."

For Arnaud, those who had fought beside him and risked their lives were friends.

Fridri and Elizir nodded, too exhausted to discuss anything for now.

And just as they thought everything was over, a commotion caught their attention.

The knights seemed to have spotted something, and when Fridri and Elizir turned, they choked on the insults and reproaches running through their minds.

Two trucks, borrowed from smugglers, were slowly approaching the battlefield.

The reason for their slowness? They were being pushed by the candidates who were supposed to join the battle alongside Fridri and the others.

As the knights prepared to fight them, mistaking them for enemies, Fridri intervened, explaining to Arnaud that they were on their side.

When this group of candidates reached the battlefield, they charged shouting, as if they were the long-awaited saviors.

However, upon seeing Fridri and Elizir, their excitement vanished.

The two stared at them with a look that could kill, waiting for an explanation for their delay.

"Honestly, we had a flat tire."

"We tried to fix it, but none of us knew how."

"So we took the second vehicle to push it, but it also got a flat. We had to push both vehicles here with our own strength, as fast as we could."

"But don't worry, we'll handle the rest of the bandits. Just tell us where they are and go rest."

Fridri and Elizir were speechless. No sermon could make up for such stupidity.

---

By evening, the knights had finished clearing the battlefield and returned to the city.

The city was in mourning; many had died, and no one celebrated the victory. Arnaud led Elizir and the others to a house where they could stay before returning home.

On a bed, Renard lay with his body covered in bandages. A village woman, whose resonance could treat poisons, had remained at his bedside for hours, only leaving once she ensured he was no longer in danger.

"Father."

As soon as Arnaud entered the room, he knelt by his side, tears welling in his eyes. The young leader who had led his people into battle and brought victory was unrecognizable.

"Stop your tears. A man must not cry for nothing."

Renard, though in poor condition, corrected his son.

"Yes, Father."

Arnaud wiped his tears, trying to regain a proud expression he could not fully muster.

"I've heard what happened," Renard said.

"You led everyone into battle instead of evacuating, you fought on the front lines, showing the way, and even defeated an intermediate. It is thanks to you that the city is victorious today."

Arnaud shivered for a moment before nodding.

"No, Father. I led so many people to their deaths. Many died because I asked them to fight. I wasn't the leader they needed, I didn't honor the knight's code, and I needed help to defeat that intermediate."

Arnaud began sobbing again.

Faced with his son's tears, Renard tapped him on the head.

"Be proud of yourself. You did what was right. We do not cry for those who died courageously on the battlefield. We celebrate them as victors."

"Yes, Father."

After that, Arnaud spoke of the friends they had made who had fought alongside him. The night passed while Fridri and Elizir spent hours reprimanding the candidates, forgetting the two who had remained locked in prison.

---

The next day, having regained some strength, Renard toured the city. He personally visited every grieving family and the wounded from the previous day. Arnaud was still at his side.

"Yesterday, we mourned. Tonight, we will hold a feast to honor our dead and our victory," he announced with fanfare, bringing life back to the city.

The citizens began preparing the feast. In the evening, as the celebration was in full swing, Renard, Arnaud, Fridri, and Elizir gathered around a table amidst the festivities, enjoying a sumptuous meal.

Fridri indulged, going through plate after plate, while Elizir barely touched his food. The former prince had been accustomed to the finest dishes.

"I thank you on behalf of this city for the little help you offered us."

Renard raised his glass in gratitude.

"Don't worry. It was nothing. More wine?"

It wasn't Fridri or Elizir who replied, but the group of candidates who had arrived late.

"No, we should be thanking you. Without you, we couldn't have handled those brigands."

Fridri raised his glass in return.

"In fact, we needed to speak with you," Elizir began, but Renard interrupted.

"Finish your meal, we will discuss afterward."

---

A few hours later

In a room where Renard often held council with the elders, the festive atmosphere had vanished, and silence settled. Breaking it, Renard asked the question that intrigued him most:

"Who are you?"

Fridri remained silent, and Elizir answered. His usual expression was gone, replaced by a calm face, like the one he once wore at the imperial palace.

"The Order."

Renard's eyes widened, fists clenched, but he said nothing. As for Arnaud, it was the first time he had heard that name.

"What is the Order?"

Fridri and Elizir looked surprised.

"You really don't know?" asked Fridri.

Arnaud shook his head.

"The Order is…"

Elizir wanted to explain, but Renard interrupted:

"You don't need to explain. Just tell us why you've come."

Arnaud didn't understand his father's expression. It was the same one he had shown to the Mercury Clan men.

"We need your help," Elizir explained.

Renard frowned but let him continue.

"You will soon be attacked by a duchy."

"What?"

Arnaud and Renard went from surprise to urgency. Renard searched Fridri and Elizir's eyes for a hint of deception but saw none, and a bead of sweat broke on his forehead.

Elizir, noticing their expressions, said nothing and continued:

"An alliance. We need your help so that we can fight them."

Renard asked:

"What would the Order gain by coming to our aid? What do you want in return?"

His voice grew louder. Elizir clenched his teeth.

"Nothing."

"Lies!"

Renard's voice echoed so loudly that even those outside could hear. His body radiated a light. Instinctively, he activated his coating, emitting a hostile aura.

Arnaud tried to calm him, but Renard did not back down. Fridri was sweating, seeking a way to ease the tension.

However, when he looked at Elizir, he didn't recognize him: the cheerful, impulsive man was gone, replaced by a solemn prince.

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