The following day, atop a hill in the Nortrom region, Leon, Lucia, and Livia stood looking out at a massive city. It was bustling and dense, with houses packed tightly together behind a fortified wall. Inside, they could see the military garrison, which occupied its own sprawling complex.
"So this is Nortrom. The city that should have belonged to our parents," Leon said.
"It's quite large. Probably home to about 30,000 people," Lucia replied.
"It's almost as big as the cities back in the Regenas Empire. Interesting," Livia added.
"Um... Your Excellencies, should we head down now? The soldiers seem restless; they're anxious to get back to their homes," a middle-aged knight standing beside them suggested.
"Hmm... alright. Let's move out," Leon replied.
"Once again, I want to thank you for your intention to liberate us. As a general and the head of the knight battalion, I pledge my loyalty to the three of you," the commander said, bowing deeply before them.
"Lift your head, General Aldrich. We are very pleased to hear that," Livia said.
"So, you actually served our father, Alex Reinald, in the past?" Lucia asked.
"I did, Your Excellency. Ever since House Clark took control and seized this territory, many people from Toreno moved here. They are arrogant because they feel their home region is wealthier. Many of the native people of Nortrom have been suppressed. You'll see the difference for yourselves once you enter and see it from the inside," Aldrich explained.
"Hmm... so House Clark doesn't actually govern this city?" Leon asked.
"No, they simply take from it. Even we soldiers are bitter and angry, but we were powerless. They held our hometown hostage just to force us to fight for them," Aldrich answered.
"Well, the era of House Clark is over. I want to see the state of the city for myself. Let's head down, General Aldrich," Lucia said.
"One more thing, Your Excellencies. Regarding Lady Alesya—the commanders and generals would like to ask for her release, even if her noble title is stripped away. Lady Alesya never mistreated her subordinates or her soldiers, unlike her father and brother. In the attack yesterday, we followed her of our own free will. This doesn't mean we aren't loyal to you; we simply beg you to consider it. We only want her to live," Aldrich said, bowing again.
"Fine. We understand, and we will consider it," Leon said.
"Thank you, Your Excellency," Aldrich replied.
"Let's head to the city," Livia urged.
"Right away, Your Excellency," Aldrich said. "Alright everyone, we're going home!" he shouted to his troops.
The soldiers broke into a joyous cheer and began their descent. A short while later, the city gatekeepers saw the army appearing on the horizon. When they reached the gate, the guards—mistakenly believing the triplets were prisoners—allowed the entire group to enter.
As they rode through the main thoroughfare, the three of them saw the reality of the city up close. People sat in alleys with bowed heads and tattered rags. Slaves with chains around their necks strained under heavy loads. Meanwhile, others strolled about in fine clothes with their chins held high. The main road to the town square told a story of deep neglect.
"It's this bad, huh," Leon remarked.
"Hmm... this isn't good. It's a far cry from how it looked from the outside," Livia added.
"The inequality here is glaring," Lucia noted.
Suddenly, Leon, Lucia, and Livia came to a halt. Leon turned to Aldrich.
"We stop at the square," Leon ordered.
In the square, they found a fountain that had run dry and been left to rot. The triplets dismounted and summoned their weapons, causing the townspeople to scramble away.
"Go ahead, Livia, Lucia. Do it," Leon said.
Livia slammed her twin axes into the fountain, shattering it. A massive tremor shook the earth as a giant tree erupted from the ground, covering nearly the entire square. Lucia then raised her sword, calling down bolts of lightning to gather the masses. The soldiers stationed at the military headquarters came charging into the town square, but the moment they saw the troops led by Aldrich and the two other commanders, they froze in their tracks. They stood there in total silence, watching as lightning continued to strike Lucia's sword.
"Thump." Leon struck the base of his trident against the ground. Instantly, the stone tiles beneath them were forced upward by water surging from the earth, lifting the three of them into the air on a platform held steady by high pressure. As the townspeople gathered to witness the spectacle, the generals and mounted knights dismounted and knelt before the triplets.
The long lines of troops behind them followed suit, dropping to their knees. Even the soldiers who had just rushed out from the military headquarters joined in, kneeling behind the others in a display of total submission.
Only the townspeople who had finally gathered—ranging from those in fine clothes to those in rags, from the polished to the disheveled, and from small children to the elderly—remained standing. They didn't kneel, paralyzed by their own confusion, but their eyes were locked on Leon, Lucia, and Livia, who stood high above them on stone tiles hoisted by a pillar of water that served as their stage.
Not a soul dared to speak a word as they witnessed the continuous strikes of lightning, the massive tree sprawling across the square, and the three figures from legend holding their mythical weapons on a high-pressure pedestal.
Their faces told a thousand stories—confusion, disbelief at what their eyes were seeing, fear, and awe all rolled into one. Seeing that the citizens had finally assembled, Leon spoke.
"People of Nortrom! My name is Leon Reinald, son of Lord Alex Reinald of House Reinald. I have returned after 18 years in exile on the Black Continent, and it breaks my heart to see my father's city in this state!" Leon shouted.
"My name is Lucia Reinald, the second of the triplets. We have returned to take this city back from House Clark!" Lucia cried.
"And I am Livia Reinald, the third of the triplets. To the newcomers from Toreno who think they can act however they please: change your ways if you want to stay here. If not, get out!" Livia yelled.
The crowd's reaction was immediate. The beggars and the homeless looked visibly relieved, while those who looked like arrogant nobles turned pale. Whispers flooded the square as the name Reinald was passed from lip to lip. Everyone in town knew the prophecy of the triplets. Suddenly, with a collective thud, many citizens dropped to their knees alongside the soldiers. Those left standing looked on in confusion—some eventually knelt, while others turned and fled.
"Now, my sisters and I are going to Nortrom Castle in the north to take it back!" Leon shouted.
"We will restore this city to its former glory!" Lucia added.
"Are you with us?" Livia bellowed.
The soldiers roared their approval, followed by the townspeople. The triplets raised their weapons high.
"For Cronus!" Leon cried, his trident glowing a brilliant blue.
"For Soranus!" Lucia shouted, her greatsword flashing a blinding white.
"For Terranus!" Livia yelled as her axes radiated a vibrant yellow-green light.
The people rose to their feet and cheered, joining the soldiers in a thunderous ovation. They hailed the return of the rulers foretold by the prophecy.
"Long live the King and the two Queens!" the crowd shouted in unison.
"Now, let us march to Nortrom Castle to destroy House Clark, who stole our home eighteen years ago!" Leon commanded.
The people and soldiers raised their weapons in a frenzy of excitement. The triplets leaped from their water podium, landed on their horses, and galloped north toward the back gates. Behind them, a tidal wave of soldiers and citizens followed, ready to reclaim their future.