Lambert hesitated. His nobility wasn't just a title; it was a burden of heritage. His family had uprooted everything to settle here, binding their fate inextricably to the stones of Soaring Bird City.
To prosper together, or to fall together.
But Ava's words left no room for negotiation. The city had to move.
"It's impossible to stay," Ava said, shaking her head. The missive from King Harold was brutally clear. "Once the war between worlds begins, every faction will contract. They'll pull their defensive lines tight around their capital cities."
"You know where we sit. Soaring Bird City is on the bleeding edge of the Human Kingdom. When the invasion hits, the frontier is the first thing they'll sacrifice to save the core."
"I'm sorry," Ava added, a bitter smile touching her lips. "But with our current military strength, we can't hold this ground alone."
