Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil



Day 1 after Arthur's death.

The initial piece of news that swiftly circulated throughout both kingdoms concerned Saisha's alleged collusion with a cultist organization as a means of retaliating against Edinburgh.

Demonmir had already been declared as one of the most wanted cultists and criminals by the Anfang Alliance. So when Arthur's proof of Saisha's collaboration with Demonmir came to light, the masses of Edinburgh supported his actions against Layos' army with all their hearts.

Arthur had taken deliberate steps to ensure that this news reached the masses of both kingdoms. He had also strategically informed multiple authorities within the Anfang Alliance, thereby preventing any attempts to suppress the information.

This revelation, along with the evidence Arthur had brought to light, served as the foundational justification for his audacious attack on the Layos army base.

The people of Edinburgh erupted in jubilation upon learning of Arthur's unwavering resolve in the face of Layos' forces. The Duke of Edinburgh was hailed as a war hero, and numerous influential Rankers within the city-state sought to establish contact with him. During this period, only Arthur's daring assault on the Layos army base had been made public knowledge, and the news of his demise had not yet reached the masses.

***

Day 2.

Despite Arthur's clear violation of the rules and regulations of warfare by attacking the Layos army base, the Anfang Alliance found itself unable to prosecute him or Edinburgh by extension. The Alliance would have placed the blame on Saisha and Layos for their alleged collusion with Demonmir. However, a second layer of news began to circulate among the populace, revealing the deaths of both Arthur and Saisha in the events that had unfolded four days prior.

The citizens of both kingdoms were left in shock upon discovering that Arthur and Saisha had perished during these events. It was widely reported that Saisha had sought the assistance of a cultist to eliminate the Duke of Edinburgh, solidifying his reputation as a collaborator with these shadowy organizations in the eyes of both Edinburgh's populace and the Anfang Alliance.

For those Rankers with access to privileged information, it became apparent that Saisha had conspired with the Last Blood Bastian and enlisted the aid of a wolf-type half-blood to eliminate Arthur. This revelation not only shocked them but also raised questions about how Layos had dared to form an alliance with the half-bloods, in direct contradiction to the Anfang Alliance's strong stance against their kind.

Among the general populace of Edinburgh and the Rankers who had been directly or indirectly involved in the war against Layos, there was a collective sense of mourning for Arthur. Despite his impulsive attack on the Layos army base, news of Saisha's collaboration with a cultist to kill him cast Saisha as the greater villain in the eyes of Edinburgh's inhabitants.

***

Day 3.

This situation would have been simpler for Layos had it concluded with Arthur's death alone. It would have allowed the kingdom to sever its ties with Saisha and designate him as the sole Ranker responsible for collusion with Demonmir and the cultist organization behind him. This move could have shielded Layos from eventual prosecution by the Anfang Alliance without breaking a sweat. After all, this was a sought-after loophole that was often used by the kingdoms to avoid the wrath of the Anfan Alliance.

However, the revelation of a third layer of news regarding the events from four days prior complicated matters significantly for both kingdoms and the Anfang Alliance. It soon became public knowledge that Saisha had also met his demise at the hands of another Edinburgh Ranker, Zethos de Montmorency. Zethos claimed that he had been tracing Demonmir's actions for some time, seeking revenge for Arthur's death and Saisha's involvement with Demonmir.

It was widely known that Demonmir had betrayed and killed numerous established Rankers from House Montmorency before becoming a cultist and a wanted criminal. Only Levine's faction within the House Montmorency had survived Demonmir's treachery. Demonmir's betrayal not only stabbed the kingdom of Edinburgh in the back and earned the enmity of the Anfang Alliance but also undermined the foundation of House Montmorency. Zethos' actions, by thwarting Demonmir's plans through Saisha's death, could be seen as justified on multiple fronts.

Fortunately, Zethos survived the encounter, eliminating Saisha in a neutral zone on the verge of being contested by both kingdoms before returning to Edinburgh's borders. Consequently, all the credit and popularity that would have gone to Arthur shifted to Zethos, instantly making him one of Edinburgh's most celebrated Rankers.

Simultaneously, the central administration of Layos and its citizens raised objections against Zethos' impulsive and reckless actions. Layos argued that Zethos' sudden arrival on the battlefield was too coincidental, suggesting that these events were a meticulously planned setup to frame Saisha as the villain.

Ideally, Layos would have allowed Saisha to shoulder the blame for its budding collaboration with the Last Blood Bastian and Demonmir. It certainly wouldn't have defended Saisha at the cost of receiving scrutiny from the Alliance. However, after Saisha's demise at Zethos' hands, Layos was compelled to portray him as a martyr and a war victim.

The kingdom vehemently denied any association with the cultist organization, shifting all responsibility onto Arthur. Layos claimed that it was Arthur who had orchestrated the plot to frame Saisha and had colluded with the half-bloods. Layos asserted that Zethos had been hastily dispatched by Edinburgh to conceal this secret alliance with the half-bloods, silencing Saisha permanently to prevent the leakage of any of Arthur and Edinburgh's secrets.

***

Day 4.

Day 4 marked a critical turning point following Arthur's demise. It was then confirmed that Sage Gregory Grant of Layos had been slain by Sages Altar Argas and Osha Daman of Edinburgh.

Gregory Grant had taken it upon himself to rescue Saisha upon learning of Arthur's assault on the Layos army base. Tragically, when he arrived, it was already too late to save Saisha.

In his desperation for revenge against Edinburgh's actions, Gregory attempted to eliminate Zethos, triggering a fierce confrontation with the Crimson Ghost and Sage Osha Daman. Before Gregory had a chance to retreat or call for help, Altair and Osha had managed to kill him before he could see the sunrise of the next day.

This startling revelation was initially met with disbelief and considered mere rumor. It marked the first Sage fatality in the ongoing conflict between the two kingdoms, a development entirely unexpected by all parties involved.