"These peaceful days probably won't last much longer," Lucien said in a solemn tone.
He stared far into the horizon, his face heavy with thought.
"Do you think our father made the right decision?"
Marceline didn't shift her gaze. After a brief pause, she responded.
"He did. Tensions with Renalis were already high. If we don't strike before Beastfall, they will. Father made the right call."
Lucien's stern look faded into a faint sadness. A bitter smile crept onto his lips.
When Marceline noticed the change in his expression, she turned her head toward him.
"What? Do you think I'm wrong?" she asked with a hint of irritation.
"No… no, not at all," Lucien replied quickly. "It's just... there are still seven years until Beastfall. It feels too early, like father's using it as a convenient excuse."
Marceline's eyes locked onto Lucien's, sharp and probing.
"You remember the last Beastfall, don't you? It took Father three years to stabilize the kingdom. And even now, many of our warriors' seats remain empty."
"I know, I know," Lucien said hurriedly, then added, "You're probably right."
Marceline crossed her arms. Her stance radiated confidence.
"We need to prepare as soon as possible. The earlier, the better. Even if Renalis is weakened, we can't predict how long the war will drag on. We mustn't let it reach Beastfall."
Lucien found himself agreeing with Marceline. The Kingdom of Lindre had never had a peaceful relationship with its northern neighbor, the Kingdom of Renalis. Throughout history, the two realms had clashed in a series of frequent and recurring wars. These cyclical conflicts kept the continent in a constant state of tension.
As if endless wars weren't enough, both kingdoms also had to contend with the periodic catastrophe known as Beastfall, which occurred every ten years.
A massive rift stretched across the continent—starting in the far north, cutting diagonally westward, then curving southeast past the center of the land. This colossal scar in the earth was known among the people as the "World Rift." It served as both the habitat and the birthplace of all the monsters on the continent.
Most of the time, the World Rift didn't pose a direct threat to the neighboring kingdoms. The creatures that lived within it generally stayed in and around the rift. People knew as long as they didn't venture too close, they were relatively safe.
However, once every decade, something unknown would trigger a change. Monsters would multiply, mutate, and pour out of the rift, unleashing terror across the continent. This widespread, chaotic phenomenon—known as Beastfall—was a recurring crisis that every nation had to prepare for with utmost seriousness.
"Are you going to join the war, Marceline?"
With a proud posture, Marceline raised her chin.
"Naturally. I'll be right at the front."
A bitter smile appeared on Lucien's face as he glanced at her uneasily.
"Well… if you're going, then I guess I'll have to as well—being the Crown Prince and all."
Marceline turned away with a self-satisfied smirk and headed for the palace.
Lucien followed closely behind.
"What do you say—shall we go together?"
"Absolutely not!" Marceline cut him off without hesitation.
"Oh come on, we're both going anyway. It would be ridiculous not to go together."
As Marceline stepped through the palace doors, Lucien stubbornly trailed behind her.
Roughly two years after this conversation, a brutal war broke out between the Kingdoms of Renalis and Lindre—lasting three years. During that conflict, Crown Prince Lucien Lindre and his twin sister Marceline Lindre played significant roles.