Before ascending the throne, Laria already regarded Kalad as a trusted confidant and a pillar of the state. To better utilize Kalad’s wisdom and talent, the newly succeeded Laria, during the ancestral sacrificial rites, bestowed upon him a status second only to his own. Under the watchful eyes of the courtiers, he granted Kalad authority surpassed only by his own. Though Kalad was only a few years older than the Lord, in private settings, the humble Laria treated him with the deference due to an elder.

　　Aided by his group of trusted advisors, Laria took decisive measures to restore order to his domain, ensuring the people lived in prosperity and treated one another with civility. Neighboring lords, moved by Laria’s virtue and justice, came to view Colibia as a paragon of order and standards. Even the distant and cold eastern lords dispatched envoys, seeking to establish bonds of friendship with Colibia.

　　During this period, the Queen of the Pandirians was engaged in a struggle against sea raiders from Pylos. These pirates were once survivors of a king's tyranny; their homeland, Pylos, was situated in the eastern reaches of the Kingdom of Nigel, where those near the coast boiled seawater for salt and lived by fishing and hunting. Although the roads to the interior passed through a barren expanse, the industrious people had once made the route flourish by cultivating desert dates and spinach.

　　Now, however, the atrocities of these displaced farmers and fishermen made it difficult to offer them any sympathy. Forced to flee their homes, they had turned to murder and pillage. To spread terror, they would hang the corpses of sailors from masts or ship railings, leaving the plundered vessels to drift aimlessly upon the sea. When the pirate host split apart due to disputes over the division of spoils, one faction grew so audacious as to attempt an invasion of the Pandirian coast.

　　Until then, the Pandirians had long enjoyed the benefits of their geography. The barrier of high mountains shielded them from nomadic incursions, and merchant ships from the outside world docked peacefully at their shores. Sailors would offload their wares and take on the products of the Pandirians and Limidians; this transoceanic trade yielded exceptionally handsome profits.

　　The Pandirians shattered the invading marauders on the coast, but to eradicate this scourge, they had to prepare for naval warfare. The Queen’s envoy appeared in Nisul, the capital of Colibia. Although his earnest words and humble posture earned Laria’s sympathy, the Lord stated that the weight of affairs in Scoro prevented him from departing.

　　Nevertheless, the Queen’s envoy returned home with a sum of gold. After a period of preparation, the Pandirians boarded their ships and set out for sea combat. Strong gales at sea dealt the forces some setbacks; the haste of the mobilization meant the men had not yet acclimated to the damp maritime environment or the pitching of the vessels. This resulted in dizziness and a sense of physical heaviness, an imbalance exacerbated by the weight of their armor.

　　A persevering vanguard fleet discovered a pirate lair and launched a courageous assault. Though the soldiers' physical strength was somewhat depleted, they relied on the superiority of their arms and armor to overcome the rabble. They strictly executed the Queen's command: to leave not a single soul behind, showing neither hesitation nor mercy. Anyone bearing a weapon was slain; the others were sold in the markets like livestock.

　　One detachment remained there for rest and guard duty. They cooked food using nutmeg and chili peppers sent by their comrades, which greatly relieved their heavy bodies. In the final battle, the Pandirians held not only the numerical advantage but also the favor of the wind.

　　Realizing their doom was certain, the pirates fought with the desperate ferocity of cornered beasts. They maneuvered their ships with agility, standing steadily on swaying decks to loose arrows and swing weapons. Had they not been so steeped in villainy, these men would have made excellent sailors and soldiers. A Pandirian fleet, led by a brave lord, maneuvered to the pirates' flank and rear, throwing them into chaos and leaving them dead or dying to the last man.

　　The spirited Queen and her battle-hardened troops ensured that the Pandirian banners fluttered over oceans far from their homeland.

　　On the other side of the mountains, in Scoro, the Counts of the Frontier Alliance watched Colibia and its Lord, Laria, with eyes full of resentment and envy; Laria’s actions were effectively placing obstacles in the path of their own designs. Now, the eastern lords had not only established friendships with Colibia but looked to Laria as their leader. Even the Queen of the Pandirians had dispatched friendly envoys to this powerful Limidian vassal.

　　When Laria received word of the recovery of the Pilater Highlands, his heart was a tumult of joy and apprehension. Though the Limidian banners finally flew once more over long-lost lands, the surging strength of the Frontier Alliance forced him to adopt a defensive posture.

　　The descendants of the declining royal house, caught between the eastern lords and the Frontier Alliance, repeatedly declared their neutrality. They feared that the confrontation between the east and the frontier would sweep them away, or that choosing a side would invite the wrath of the other.

　　Laria obtained a decree from the court at Hedlim, commending the Frontier Lord’s achievements in the name of the King. Inspired and reminded by this royal decree, the lords of Sirleid, Ral, and the surrounding territories quickly formed an embassy to Nisul.

　　Laria received them with the grandest ceremonies and announced his intention to journey to Hedlim to present tribute to the King, thereby restoring the ancient rites of the Willem era. He sought this opportunity to win the favor of the royal descendants and extend Colibia’s influence into the west—an act that inevitably caused profound unease among the frontier lords.

　　Stanos, the Marquis of Sirleid, clung steadfastly to the traditions of the Willem era; whether in managing internal affairs or arranging his succession, he followed the ancient norms. However, his second son, Bilbus, a man of generous character, still incurred the suspicion of his elder brother.

　　To avert disaster and ease his father’s worries, Bilbus requested that Stanos grant him a piece of wasteland on the border of the domain. He wished to become a minor lord vassal to the Marquis, tilling the earth to support his family in times of peace and answering his liege's call in times of war.

　　Yet, this act of filial piety and brotherly devotion, though praised by his father, failed to quell the suspicion of his elder brother, Slein. Instead, Slein feared that his brother was secretly amassing strength to oppose him. His discomfort grew as the Marquis frequently praised Bilbus’s conduct in public. While the Marquis lived, the elder brother masked his true feelings with deception; but the moment the Marquis passed away, Slein immediately moved to execute a long-plotted conspiracy.

　　Following Stanos’s funeral, Slein went so far as to dispatch assassins to intercept his brother on the road. Two of Bilbus’s servants were killed shielding their master. Bilbus fled in panic with his wife and three children; with nowhere left to turn, he was forced to hide his identity and live under another's roof. Bilbus took a job tending horses for a wealthy family, while his wife worked there weaving cloth.

　　Some time later, Slein’s suspicious nature and tyrannical behavior incited the hatred and resentment of his courtiers. In the municipal plaza of the capital, he was publicly struck down by the arrows of his own soldiers. While the citizens cheered Slein’s sudden and violent end, they soon realized that the death of a tyrant might bring a different kind of catastrophe. The members of the Lord's family would now fight one another for the throne, and they knew that the Frontier Alliance was already denouncing the regicide in the name of morality.

　　Morrissy, one of the organizers of the regicide, insisted that the throne of the late Lord should be inherited by the eldest son, Rothman. As this young man had only just reached adulthood and possessed no political experience, many grew suspicious of Morrissy’s true motives. Seeing an opportunity, elements within the Frontier Alliance proposed that, if necessary, they should use military force—under the guise of maintaining stability and punishing injustice—to compel Sirleid to accept Rothman’s rule.

　　Morrissy’s subordinates questioned the rhetoric of the frontier’s secret envoys, believing their armies would cross the border regardless and that defenses must be prepared. Otherwise, they would not only see the frontier forces at the gates of Sibilis but also be branded with the capital crimes of colluding with the enemy and murdering their lord. Consequently, Morrissy immediately dispatched a letter to Colibia while massing troops near Sibilis.

　　Without waiting for a reply from his secret envoy, the Frontier Lord impatiently ordered his troops to cross the border. On an open plain, they encountered the Sirleid forces already waiting for them. The frontier army was brimming with confidence, believing they could defeat their opponents and force them to accept their terms before the eastern lords could raise any opposition.

　　Borred, another high-ranking official and co-conspirator, took no public stance toward the Frontier Alliance or Morrissy. However, his retainers and servants worked tirelessly in secret to find news of Stanos’s family (Bilbus). After much effort, they finally located Bilbus’s hiding place.

　　To avoid drawing attention and risking disaster, Borred’s retainers falsely claimed that Bilbus’s family were runaway slaves who must return to face their master’s punishment; they also offered several ox hides to compensate the employer for the loss.

　　Bilbus and his family traveled by separate routes. Under escort, Bilbus (the son of Stanos) galloped toward the capital, Desaler, while his wife and children followed slowly along the highway, accompanied by a noblewoman.

　　Bilbus appeared in the capital and immediately held an enthronement ceremony, an act that served as a death warrant for his brother Rothman. Even Bilbus’s two young nephews, though innocent and ignorant of the world, were swept up in the fallout and died in quick succession of sudden illness. The King at Hedlim issued a decree declaring his support for Bilbus’s legitimate status, while simultaneously announcing that the King had granted the authority of judgment and disposal to Laria, the Earl of Colibia.

　　By this time, the Sirleid army had already suffered a defeat in a confrontation, and the death of their commander had left the men hiding in their camps, paralyzed by uncertainty. Fortunately, Bilbus dispatched a new commander just in time, preventing the troops from falling into further chaos. In the name of the King, Colibia issued a denunciation against the Frontier Alliance, accusing them of disregarding the King’s law by invading the lands of a royal vassal—who was, moreover, the King’s own kinsman.

　　Ral also sent envoys to the Frontier Alliance, informing them that the eastern lords, gathered in the King’s name under the banner of Colibia, were prepared to march westward. They warned that if the Frontier Alliance continued its military operations, it would inevitably drive Sirleid, led by a descendant of the royal house, into the arms of Colibia. Such a move would turn Sirleid into a frontline bastion against the frontier, allowing both sides to exhaust one another while Colibia reaped the rewards.

　　Those present within the Frontier Alliance immediately voiced their opposition, arguing that they should instead intensify their offensive to crush the frail Sirleid army. They aimed to force a humiliating treaty upon the enemy, which would not only send the eastern lords home empty-handed but also deter other lords from taking rash action.

　　However, Bilbus, considering the safety of Sirleid, was inclined toward Colibia. Furthermore, the armies of Laria and his followers had already entered Binehus and halted at Glarense. Following the counsel of Kalad, the Earl issued an invitation for peace and a summit to the western lords, including those of the Frontier Alliance, using the occasion to observe the Alliance's movements.

　　This stunning and open expanse of land, situated in southeastern Binehus, was a paradise for hunting; wild deer and boars roamed the meadows while gray wolves lurked within the woods. The local lord, a descendant of a military commander, extended every hospitality to the arriving guests.

　　The internal rifts within the Frontier Alliance led to disastrous consequences. Not only did they fail to attend the eastern conference, but they also squandered a precious period of time through further delay. Meanwhile, the attending lords gathered at the long tables of Glarense and signed a military treaty. According to its terms, members were to withdraw their forces from the borders; if military action became an absolute necessity, a formal document had to be issued to notify the opposing party in advance.

　　Though this was a reaffirmation of the norms from the Willem era, it served to deepen rapport and cooperation while effectively isolating the northern frontier. The signing ceremony followed the traditions of the Willem era: monks performed rites of exorcism and cleansing, led by a priest and a procession of virgins. The contracting nobles wore simple robes and humbly offered sacrifices to the Sun God. Afterward, Laria, the Lord of Colibia, read the terms of the peace treaty aloud in a resounding voice.

　　On the day following the ceremony, the nobles held a grand hunt. The participating parties were arranged according to their rank; the descendants of the royal house occupied the most prominent positions, while Laria and the eastern lords contentedly stood behind them. The Frontier Alliance was eventually forced to withdraw its troops from Sibilis. Once the eastern lords had departed from Ferafea, the Frontier Alliance, in the name of friendship, dispatched envoys to Desaler, the capital of Sirleid.

　　The hospitable Bilbus met the envoys outside the city and treated them with kindness. After seeing them off with meticulous courtesy, Bilbus followed the advice of his subordinates and invited the surrounding lords to assemble in the capital of Sirleid.

　　The recent events had nearly pushed the people into a state of extreme peril. Thus, Bilbus issued an appeal to those present, stating that their royal status and blood ties should serve to enhance their mutual affection rather than deepen their suspicions; they should strengthen their cooperation rather than guard against one another. In the private gathering that followed, he spoke bluntly to the assembled nobles:

　　"The Great Highlands were once the domain bestowed by the gods upon the House of Willem. They were first usurped by audacious tyrants, and subsequently subjected to the incursions of lords and the insults of commoners. These lords and commoners were once subjects of the House of Willem, yet today they harbor only disdain and follow their own paths. Our grandfathers and fathers all dreamed of restoring our ancestors' glory and labored for it, yet they achieved nothing; instead, their actions only invited the challenges, threats, insults, and ridicule of others.

　　Yet our ancestor, Brill, once defeated enemies several times stronger than himself. This is the last legacy he left us—his virtue. Thus, even when his strength was at its lowest, capable men were willing to follow him and contribute their wisdom; even in his moments of deepest hardship, his subordinates and soldiers continued to press forward with courage.

　　Now, we find ourselves in an equally perilous position. Shall we then simply drift along and vanish into the contempt of others, or shall we grasp firmly onto this last shred of hope? We cannot deny our own strength, and the Sun God still supports his people. Therefore, as long as a single breath remains within us, we must not give up."