The wind grew warmer as they descended to the cliff.

The Ember Summit loomed ahead, its obsidian towers glowing faintly with the constant breath of geothermal heat. Red banners snapped in the wind, inscribed with dozens of clan sigils and magical glyphs, some recognizable… most ancient.

Darin's company moved in tight formation. Banners furled. Weapons sheathed. No outward aggression.

But every step closer brought more attention.

Sentinels on the towers took notice first. Then came the horns, loud scream of horns.

A long, low note echoed through the valley—deep and commanding. A warning call.

Vincent leaned down from Grull's shoulder and whispered to Darin, "umm….I'm guessing that's not their welcome chime."

"Maybe it's their brunch bell," Darin muttered.

The gates ahead remained closed, thick and dark with glowing molten seams tracing across them like veins. Magical, for certain. Possibly explosive.

The guards stationed before it, two dozen elites from at least six different factions. They stepped forward in synchronized motion. Their armor wasn't ceremonial. These were seasoned veterans, the best of the best of their faction.

In front of them, a man stepped out.

An elf, tall and silver-haired, clad in ash-grey robes with gold trim and a staff of black glass.

His voice rang out across the rocky slope with command born from centuries of diplomacy and danger:

"Halt. State your business."

The column behind Darin stopped at once.

He rode forward slowly, the Sorceress at his side, Alvin and Steve just behind, Grull and Vincent looming to the left, the Stranger and Murgan following at a respectful distance. Reeka carried Grumble tucked in her arms like a feathered weapon of diplomacy.

Darin cleared his throat. "We come seeking council with the Summit."

The elf narrowed his eyes. "You are not summoned. And you are not marked among our recognized envoys. By what right do you demand council with the High Clans?"

Darin glanced at the others.

"Right," he muttered under his breath. "Here we go."

He dismounted slowly, dusted himself off, stepped forward until he stood squarely in front of the closed gates, and met the elf's eyes.

"My name is Darin. I represent a coalition of soldiers, mercenaries, and civilians who have marched from the south to investigate and resist the spreading threat in the North."

A pause.

The elf raised an eyebrow. "You are not a lord. You wear no crest. Your men are armed, your dragon unregistered, your presence unsolicited."

A few of the guards leveled weapons at Steve, who responded by stretching and yawning a cloud of smoke with just enough fire in it to suggest "please continue and find out."

The elf pointed his staff at Darin.

"And I ask again, by what right do you come here?"

Darin took a breath.

Then removed his sleeve.

He raised his left hand.

And revealed the mark.

The black sigil carved into his skin, pulsing faintly with a mix of dark mana and something… older. Deeper.

Magic shivered in the air like a ripple in water.

One of the guards recoiled instinctively.

Another gasped.

The elf's face darkened. "That mark… it bears the aura of the—"

"The Overlord," Darin said evenly. "Yes. We know."

There was a collective shifting among the defenders. Weapons creaked. Several mages whispered counter-incantations. One dwarf in the back muttered, "Impossible, I did not sense it till he showed the mark!"

Darin didn't flinch. He took another step forward.

"I didn't ask for it. I didn't earn it. But I carry it. I've used it to protect people. To lead. To survive." He gestured behind him. "These people marched through cursed forests. Faced monsters that shouldn't exist. They bled to get here."

The Sorceress stepped up beside him, her voice cool and cutting. "The North is burning, and the threat rises from within. Your Summit argues while villages vanish. Your walls are strong, but how long before what's out there comes here?"

The elf hesitated.

Grull stepped forward next, towering over everyone. "The lord may speak like a fool," he grunted, "but he carries an old fire."

Vincent leaned down, flashing a grin. "Besides. Who else brings a talking cat with a harem?"

Reeka raised Grumble slightly, and the cat blinked once—unimpressed and divine.

One of the younger guards actually dropped his halberd. EnjoythestorybyreadingonM|V|LE%MPYR.

The elf exhaled slowly, fingers tightening on his staff. "You carry a dangerous presence. The title of Overlord is not welcomed lightly here."

"I didn't come for titles," Darin said. "I came for allies. Or if not allies, then at least answers."

Behind him, the Stranger stepped forward at last.

He lifted both arms and bellowed, "BEHOLD, THE RETURN OF THE SHADOW-BEARER, BRINGER OF BALANCE, MAKER OF ORPHA—"

"Please stop," Darin said.

The elf flinched as the Stranger dramatically threw a handful of dark petals into the wind (no one was sure where they came from).

Murgan stepped forward quickly. "We are the Gallikarn. What remains of our tribe stands with him. We come as witnesses—and allies."

The elf studied them for a long moment.

Then he sighed heavily.

Then waved a hand.

The gates didn't open.

Not fully.

Just enough.

A small portal, barely wide enough for two to walk abreast, ground open in the base of the wall. Molten lines flickered, casting an eerie glow on the snow.

The elf's voice was quieter now.

"You will be permitted entry. But only you, and a select delegation. You will speak before the Clans. They will decide your fate."

Vincent hopped down from Grull's shoulder and clapped. "Oh good. Another room full of people who want to kill us but will wait till after tea."

Darin looked at his people. His army. His strange, terrifying, beautiful disaster of a traveling circus.

Then nodded.

"I'll go."

He pointed to the Sorceress, Alvin, Vincent, Murgan, and the Stranger. "You're with me."

Reeka started to follow—but Darin gently raised a hand.

She hesitated.

Then smiled, hugging Grumble a little closer and nodding solemnly.

Darin turned back to the elf.

"We're ready."

The elf nodded once, still studying Darin with open suspicion.

"Then step forward, Overlord."

The gates opened wider.

And Darin walked through.