"Now, with the sudden arrival of a foreigner from outside the mountain, we can't afford to wait idly and pray to Naka, a god who has forsaken us....'"

"Clan Leader Garnet..." Owen attempted to interject, but Garnet promptly interrupted and continued.

"Clan Leader Owen, I'm merely suggesting that for the survival of our clans and the potential escape from this mountain, it might not be wise to entrust the control of the bridge in and out of this mountain solely to the Crystalforge clan," Garnet explained, his tone calming.

He had spoken with such energy that his words and emotions had nearly blended together. "Furthermore, in case our escape plan doesn't work, the next logical step to resolve this crisis is to reduce our numbers. But since the Crystalforge clan insists on endless mining to provide homes for a population that's already facing its demise, I believe that if the ambush goes as planned, we might find a resolution to sixty per cent of our problems."

Observing Garnet's unwavering confidence in the success of the ambush, Owen felt a twinge of curiosity about the individuals Garnet had dispatched for this operation.

However, Owen understood the importance of not delving into the affairs and strengths of another clan, so he turned to his wife instead.

As he looked at her, he noticed the bewilderment mirrored in her expression.

Realizing she might be as puzzled as he was, Owen decided not to press her for her thoughts on the matter. He redirected his attention back to Garnet.

Owen raised a valid concern. "And what if you fail? What's your plan if the King or Queen traces this back to the Gemheart Clan? Given the existing tension between our clan and the Crystalforge Clan, it wouldn't be wise for the Luminaris Clan to suddenly get entangled in such an issue," he pointed out.

After all, among the five Major Clans, only the Prismaflow Clan and the Crystalforge Clan posed significant obstacles to their claim to the throne this time. It wouldn't make sense for them to jump into the fray instead of observing from a distance to see how events unfold.

Garnet, however, remained confident. "Don't worry, I won't fail," he reassured Owen.

Meala, concerned about the plan's repercussions, chimed in with a question of her own. "Does Clan Mistress Elara know about this plan?" She fixed her gaze on Garnet, awaiting his response.

"She knows, but not everything," Garnet replied to Meala, addressing her concerns. "As I mentioned earlier, my wife has chosen to entrust the clan's affairs to me and live a carefree life. She's well aware of my capabilities and trusts me completely, so there's no need to worry."

He then turned his attention back to Owen and continued, "While it's unfortunate that we can't dive right into planning our next steps, I thought it best to inform you about this in advance, given the close relationship between our clans. Rest assured, once everything is settled, I'll send you a letter to discuss how we can continue our association with the Luminaris Clan."

"If you'll excuse me, Clan Leader Owen and Clan Mistress Meala, I must take my leave. I need to ensure I arrive on time to gather information about how everything unfolds."

With that, Garnet stood up from his seat, as though preparing to leave.

Owen and Meala promptly stood up and escorted Garnet to the exit. A servant was summoned to lead him to his awaiting carriage. After he had departed, the couple settled back into their seats, reflecting on their conversation.

They couldn't help but ponder the imaginable uproar that lay ahead. Fortunately, they had received this information in advance, giving them some time to brace themselves for what might come.

......

After a few minutes of waiting idly in the carriage, Orion decided to seize the opportunity to inquire about the kingdom. He had been cautious about every move he made, but after his conversation with Clan Mistress Olivia, he made an effort to be more transparent in his intentions.

Orion cleared his throat to get their attention. "Ahem," he began, "I've been meaning to ask something."

Queen Selene raised an eyebrow and replied, "Go on, what is it you want to ask?"

Orion nodded and continued, "I was wondering if the Prismerian Kingdom has tried any other methods to escape from this mountain, aside from praying and seeking forgiveness from Naka."

Queen Selene initially frowned at his question but then nodded her head, responding, "Apart from futile attempts to dig through the mountains or break down its inner walls to reach the outside, which proved endless and impossible, we also made several efforts to defeat the White Flame."

"Unfortunately, these attempts led to the near-extinction of the Prismerions, an event now known as the 'Three Great Slaughters', a memory that every Prismerion in the kingdom wishes to forget." She sighed with emotion as she spoke.

Continuing, she said, "Our last option is to continue searching for a way out through the upper section of the mountain. However, this mountain seems to react to our intentions, making it difficult to escape. At the moment, your presence and our prayers to Naka are our only hopes for escaping this mountain."

She concluded her statement with a hopeful smile, anticipating that Orion's question might lead to further information sharing about the outside world.

Orion nodded in understanding and appeared to take a few moments to absorb Queen Selene's words.

Then, he refocused his gaze on her and asked abruptly, "Your Highness, I really want to know what the Prismerions did to warrant such punishment from Naka."

Queen Selene's and King Brylon's eyes widened momentarily, surprised by Orion's sudden and direct question. Nevertheless, given that they hadn't hidden the fact of their punishment by Naka from him, they expected such a question to arise sooner or later.

After a brief silence, King Brylon let out a long, weary sigh and shifted his attention elsewhere, seeing that his wife intended to answer the question herself.

As Queen Selene began to respond, a loud explosion echoed outside the carriage, accompanied by a resounding "BAAANNGGG!!"