shadows of faith and power

Two months had passed since the incandescent fury that befell xander strong in Gradiom Plain, where the fates of many had been irrevocably altered. The Southern Federation was now a mere shadow of its former self, a tapestry woven into the Nova Empire—a new world to navigate under Emperor James' reign. The hills of the Southern Continent, once echoing with the clash of swords and the cries of betrayal, had morphed into a new battleground: the realm of political intrigue.

In the grand halls of the Imperial Palace, the air buzzed with a tension palpable enough to ignite a spark. The recent consolidation of power had not only absorbed the territories of the fallen Xander Strong but had also precipitated a power struggle of a different nature. Religious factions—once mere observers in the worldly tussles of nobility—were now emboldened, propelled by the aftermath of conflict that had shaken the Southern Federation's foundations.

**The Arrival of the High Priests**