It was meeting time again. The broadcast had shaken people up across the Realms, so the time for action was NOW. Everyone announced their attendance and Elgrad began. \u201cEveryone, we lost a friend during this summit. A friend and a valuable ally when it came to dealing with the Splitters. During our second meeting, Jeefef said that her killing a top citizen would be what we should call the first shot. Well, Dr. Borg took that shot. The question now becomes, what do we do to announce that she started the Final War?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have an idea,\u201d called Orbak. He then pulled out what he wrote last night and the silver quill, then set them onto the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026A Blood Contract, Daddy?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wrote it last night,\u201d explained Orbak. \u201cWe need to show the people that we\u2019re willing to lay down our lives for the Realms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you think that making such a contract will ensure that?\u201d asked Olmarfa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith all my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let\u2019s sign,\u201d called Rokalla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, not you, not our heirs,\u201d declared Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me?!\u201d protested Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha, we\u2019re not losing our children to war!\u201d declared Elgrad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaddy, that\u2019s not your decision to make!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t lose my only daughter!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaddy, if Oyed wins, you\u2019d lose me anyways! At least, with this, there\u2019s a chance I\u2019ll still come back to you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m siding with Arsha here,\u201d called Lardeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo!\u201d called Feymay. \u201cI\u2019m not losing you! Not after I\u2019ve carried you in my womb!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMama Feymay, with all due respect, that\u2019s not your call. I must show our Realm that I will protect it by any means necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMalnar, you\u2019re not agreeing to this, are you?!\u201d barked Elmpam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m signing that thing, and you ain\u2019t stopping me!\u201d declared Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuys, the Realms are our homes too,\u201d insisted Arsha. \u201cLike it or not, we DO have a stake in this.\u201d Elgrad looked at his daughter, then sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll those in favor of signing a Blood Contract, even our kids, say Aye.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye!\u201d called everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgainst?\u201d No one responded. \u201cThen, tonight, we sign the Blood Contract. Tomorrow morning, the Final War begins. This concludes the All-realm Royal Summit of Year 4,006,300,080.\u201d Rokalla ended the recording and sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fire was lit in a fire pit behind the Royanas\u2019 castle. Everyone gathered around it in their armor or duty uniforms. A podium stood nearby with the Blood Contract and quill waiting for signatures. Orbak took the podium and began. \u201cBlood has been spilled and it must be avenged. Through this vow, we affirm our vengeance against our enemies.\u201d He then read the contract. \u201cWe, the Undersigned, hereby declare, in our blood, the following vow: vengeance will be wrought on the Realm Trinity Empire via its destruction. If any of us attempt to break this vow, our life is forfeit.\u201d He then held the quill out. \u201cWho will begin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will,\u201d called Feymay. She then took the quill, pricked her left finger with it, then signed her name on the contract. Emfam then took the quill, pricked her finger, and signed. Thus it went, from Lardeth, to Roomef, to Jeefef, to Olmarfa, to Ufnamfa, to Teefmanam, to Pofomofo, to Endram, to Elgrad, to Arsha, to Hanako, to Orbak, to Malnar, and finally to Elmpam. Orbak then took the Contract and held it to the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hereby swear the oath proclaimed here, with both mortal and Divine witnesses! Vengeance on the Realm Trinity Empire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVengeance on the Realm Trinity Empire!\u201d everyone repeated. Orbak then rolled up the contract and dropped it into the fire. As it was consumed by the flames, everyone doubled over in pain, grasping the hand that they signed with. The pain subsided and they released their hands. Scarred on the back of each hand was their signature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow you see why we don\u2019t sign a Blood Contract willy-nilly,\u201d panted Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, Dr. Borg and her spouses woke up. Dr. Borg reattached her limbs and threw her clothes on, Remsu put her top and gloves on as she arranged her clouds into their usual shapes before setting her hairpiece onto the cloud on her hair, Tensam set his veil onto his head, and Shefarn attached his thumb before he and Tensam entered their water chairs. \u201cWhat say we get some breakfast?\u201d suggested Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCapital idea, my love,\u201d purred Tensam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYummy, more breakfast rations,\u201d muttered Shefarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBetter get used to it,\u201d advised Remsu. \u201cIf the Final War starts now, rations are gonna be breakfast, lunch, and dinner for a while.\u201d They left their bedroom and made their way to the mess hall. They got their breakfast and sat down to eat. \u201cYou know, one would think,\u201d Remsu mused, \u201cthat Yamta\u2019s actions would spur the Realms into fighting us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne would think, yeah,\u201d remarked Dr. Borg. \u201cBut all we got was the disbanding of the Crimson Diamonds and Calandra taking the Galdredan Throne.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd getting a fancy hat out of the deal,\u201d chuckled Tensam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDiscussing the apparent apathy of the Realms?\u201d asked Oyed\u2019s voice as he appeared in the seat next to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a matter of fact, My Lord, yes,\u201d answered Shefarn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must say, I\u2019m a little disappointed that not even my children are taking action,\u201d mused Oyed. \u201cI mean, Yamta\u2019s idea had merit. Where did we go wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDr. Borg!\u201d called Rochak\u2019s voice as he burst into the mess hall. \u201cDr. Borg, why aren\u2019t you spurring us into action?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Why would I wish to?\u201d asked Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Didn\u2019t you see the news?!\u201d protested Rochak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe just got up and had breakfast,\u201d answered Remsu. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d Rochak turned on a viewing screen, displaying Orbak, Elgrad, Arsha, and Emfam in full armor, looking fierce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat in all the Realms?\u201d asked Tensam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re speaking to you all,\u201d began Elgrad, \u201cfrom the Central Crier\u2019s Square in the Mid-realm\u2019s capital of Largandra.\u201d He took a breath before continuing. \u201cSince her cheating of death via artificial means was revealed, Dr. Cytanek Yavenag Borg has continually harmed the Realms, going so far as to speak to Oyed and create Revenants. We had constantly warned her that, unless we had evidence, physical evidence, that she would cease her actions, a state of war would exist between the Combined Realm Governments and her Realm Trinity Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Termaf, Yunfeen, and Tufarmem hugged each other close as the broadcast went on. \u201cIn response,\u201d Emfam supplied, \u201cshe sent one of her minions to assassinate Queen Andwayla Narven of the Under-realm\u2019s Galdredan Lava Kingdom to demonstrate her displeasure of our methods to remove the Splitter threat. Not only did she harm a good friend of mine, not only did she also attack Rellmeer and force the Crimson Diamonds to disband, but she did so in the Mid-realm and in Oyed\u2019s. She has attacked all three of us and the Divine Ones that breathed life into her ancestors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enfanti looked like she was about to cry as she and Delga watched the broadcast. \u201cLast night,\u201d continued Orbak, \u201cwe all gathered for a final meeting\u2026and decided that enough was enough. Andwayla Narven will be avenged with the destruction of Dr. Borg\u2019s organization. People of the Three Realms, it is our solemn and heartbreaking duty to inform you\u2026we hereby declare war on the Realm Trinity Empire. The Final War has begun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Falnii sobbed into Foresna\u2019s shoulders as Gorfanth ran his hand down his face in frustration. \u201cThis decision wasn\u2019t made lightly,\u201d Elgrad went on. \u201cWe never wanted to see the Final War in our lifetime. Still, if we must fight Oyed now, then fight we must, for our survival depends on it. Despair not, for there IS a ray of light on the horizon. The Divine Ones had revealed their own Blood Contract to us that they would take an active role in this war and assist us on the front lines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?!\u201d shouted Oyed as the declaration reached his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Divine Ones,\u201d explained Elgrad, \u201cknow more about Oyed than we do. Their joining us will ensure victory for us! My daughter has one of them aboard her ship, ready to serve as is their duty.\u201d He stepped back and allowed Arsha to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arsha\u2019s Senior Staff now had Lord Mordek, one of the Red Divine Ones of Fire. They watched from the conference room. \u201cToo long have we allowed the Realms to endure Dr. Borg\u2019s machinations,\u201d began Arsha. \u201cTime and again, we\u2019ve defeated her, but we\u2019ve exacted no retribution, demanded no remuneration. \u2026What have we gained for our attempts at peace with her? More death, more intrigue, more senseless violence!\u201d She drew in a breath to calm herself before continuing. \u201cAs someone who will fight to protect her future as the Mid-realm\u2019s Queen, heed me. No longer will I attempt to treat with Dr. Borg. No longer will I simply defend the Realms. As per the vow I have taken last night, I will seek out and destroy all who threaten the Realms\u2019 peaceful future. No mercy will be shown, no quarter given!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back in Plunder Island Stronghold\u2019s mess hall, Dr. Borg and her allies observed Arsha showing the back of her palm. \u201cDr. Borg, if you\u2019re watching this, then go ahead and enhance the image on the back of my hand. You will find my signature scarred into it. We all signed a Blood Contract, declaring that you WILL be destroyed! Oyed, you most likely assumed that your children wouldn\u2019t be involved. \u2026That will be a fatal mistake for you!\u201d The broadcast then ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy children aren\u2019t going to sit this one out?!\u201d growled Oyed. \u201cThey would dare get their hands dirty?! They\u2019ll upend everything! We need to get started!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRochak,\u201d called Dr. Borg, \u201cI want our soldiers armed and ready to march by week\u2019s end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, Doctor,\u201d protested Rochak, \u201cthere are too many! They can\u2019t all be armed in time; we don\u2019t have the means!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBuild more dams,\u201d ordered Dr. Borg, \u201cblock all the streams, work the forges night and day!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have enough fuel to feed the fires!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t this stronghold rest at the edge of a jungle?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yes\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBurn it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026At once.\u201d Rochak then took off to carry out his orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you will excuse me,\u201d rumbled Oyed, \u201cI must see to my own weapons.\u201d He vanished in a cloud of smoke, leaving only Dr. Borg and her spouses. They all looked at each other, then grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, when the stars align!\u201d purred Dr. Borg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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