RISE OF EROS

The market in Cannaris was full of voices and colors, a constant stream of rumors and news that traveled faster than any official messenger. Two merchants argued over a handful of nuts among the stalls of spices and fabrics.

"I tell you, Arkan, those from Purgatory are looking to burn down the entire continent," said one, a burly man with a gray beard, gesturing with a handful of nuts, adding, "How do you explain the attack on Cannes?"

Arkan, a younger man in clean but worn tunics, shook his head. "They say it was retaliation. Something about a betrayal in the city council. But attacking with such violence? The walls of Cannes didn’t fall by themselves, eh? Someone inside helped."

"And that’s not all," a woman tending a nearby stall chimed in, her voice low but laden with urgency. "News came in this morning that the western port is closed. No ships dare sail that sea."

"Pirates?" Arkan asked, leaning towards her. "Pirates, privateers, and who knows what else. It is said that the chaos began with the sinking of a merchant fleet. Now no one controls those waters, not even the great warships."

The robust man let out a bitter laugh. "Of course. What did you expect? When the most powerful nations are busy throwing stones at each other, the vultures have their feast."

In Galicia, under the shadow of a tall bell tower, a group of young nobles had gathered in a small private hall, away from prying eyes. The topic of the day was the assassination of King Dustas of Tripia.

"It is a bold move, even for Purgatory," said one, a blond-haired man who played with the wine glass in his hands continuing, "What do they gain by eliminating the king?"

"Tripia was a natural enemy, wasn’t he?" replied an elegantly dressed woman, as she stroked the collar of her fur coat. "With Dustas dead, the country falls apart. Easier to control if each region fights on its own."

Another noble, older and with a tired voice, shook his head. "It’s not just about control. Purgatorio wants to be the center of everything. Their ambition knows no bounds. What’s next? An attack on Galicia?"

The woman snorted, though her expression showed concern. "Please, we’re far from their borders. Besides, who in Galicia would dare conspire with them?" An awkward silence filled the room. No one dared to answer, but everyone knew it wasn’t so impossible.

On the docks of Rios, the air was thick with salt and distrust. The dockworkers worked quickly, but their eyes met nervously as they loaded the ships. Two sailors, their clothes stained with tar, chatted quietly beside a stack of barrels.

"Did you hear about Cannes?" asked the first, a dark-skinned man with scars on his arms. "Purgatory came in like a gale. Not even the fishermen could escape," he added. "I heard," replied his companion, a burly man who smelled of fresh fish. "But what worries me more is the sea. They say no one is safe out there. Ships disappear without a trace," he continued.

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"It’s not just pirates. Some talk about creatures in the water, things that wake up when there’s too much blood spilled," he said. The burly man quickly crossed himself, casting a glance at the horizon.

"Don’t joke about that, my friend. Here we respect the sea and its secrets. But… there’s something strange in the air, don’t you think?" They both fell silent, listening to the pounding of the waves.

In Dunnas, a country known for its vast desert plains and proud traditions, locals packed taverns to drink and share stories. In the corner of a noisy bar, a wrinkled-faced old man was talking to a group of young peasants.

"When I was young, wars were fought face to face, not like now," he said, slamming his mug of beer on the table as he added, "These bastards from Purgatory have no honor."

"But how could they kill a king?" one of the young men asked, his eyes wide and amazed. The old man laughed, though his tone was bitter. "Kings are like any of us, son. They bleed just the same. But this… this was a message. They want us all to know that they are not afraid to get their hands dirty."

"And the war in Tripia? What will happen?" another young man asked. "There will be blood, a lot of blood. With Dustas dead, no one can keep the factions together. And do you know what that means for us?" The old man paused, looking at the young men, and said, "More refugees, more mouths to feed."

The group fell silent, their expressions grim. Across the continent, news of recent events spread like wildfire, turning every corner into a hotbed of speculation, fears, and secret plans.

From the nobles in their gilded halls to the fishermen on their worn-out boats, everyone felt the weight of an era in which stability seemed to be crumbling. No matter where they were, one phrase kept coming up in conversation. "The continent is changing. And not for the better." Unfounded rumors and untrue facts like this spread.

Even though almost everyone knew the events that were happening, almost no one knew the true implications and the actors behind so much chaos. Everyone had heard of Purgatory, but few knew its real objectives.

The campaign of many countries and the demigods was that Purgatory was a threat, but few knew about the fallen god they intended to revive. Very few knew of the great threat of the fallen god because there is only data from a thousand years ago and those who lived through it were not ordinary people wandering the streets.

The entire continent was in the midst of talk and rumors of events that they didn’t know about, but there was one thing that was certain and that everyone knew, Purgatory was a threat and they were more dangerous than they thought.

While everyone on the continent talked about the rumors and invented theories about the events and chaos, those who knew what was happening with causes and consequences moved in the shadows trying to find credible information.

Although before everyone was alert against Purgatory since few knew their objectives, the common people did not see them as a great threat, but now the situation was different.

The war in Cannes, the chaos in the western sea, and the murder of Dustas in Tripia were now attributed to Purgatory, so everyone understood that they could cause damage and no longer saw them as a simple group of terrorists.

Being able to assassinate a king and cause civil war in a country is not a situation to be taken lightly, because although many people did not like the nobles, they had to admit that they were necessary. @@novelbin@@

Everyone needs a leader, whether good or bad, and the kings and queens of the different countries are that. If that head disappears, falling like Tripia has is not strange and that would be worse than having a bad leader.

With all this happening and when the rumors only intensified, the news of Carcom attacking the dragons and being eliminated began to spread, generating new rumors, alerting everyone even more.