"What if we don't pick any Empire?"
Grace's voice was small, but it cut through the heavy silence of the square. She stared at Regina, her fingers twisting the hem of her tunic.
Regina didn't scoff; instead, her expression softened into a look of clinical pity. "There is no harm in it, technically. But understand this: to exist without an Empire is to exist without a shadow. You will have no protection from the Three, no access to the high level dungeons, quests or treasures, and you will be barred from every civilized gate. Unless a Sovereign or anyone with high and powerful influence grants you sanctuary—which happens once in a century—you are choosing a life of wandering the wastes. This is your only bridge to a safe and peaceful life."
"And the fourth region?" Grace pressed, her curiosity overriding her fear. "The Empires claim the North, the East, and the West. What lies in the South?"
