Half-step Purgatory

Durin stroked the black cat on the armrest of his chair, sitting on the black leather sofa. Through the glasses perched on his nose, his gaze passed over the long table in front of him and settled on the man kneeling on the carpet:
"I understand, you've made money in Naples, your business has been very successful, and you've led a happy life. You've had those secret police, friends in both the law and the underground, and even the Royal Family speaking on your behalf."
"You don't need a friend like me, I know that. You're afraid of owing me a favor, and you don't want to get involved in troubles."
"But now you come to me and say, 'I beg you, Mr. Durin of the Corleon family, please help me seek justice, so that my life and my family will not suffer and sink into despair.'
Yet, in your eyes, I was nothing more than a second-rate artist involved in movies and music. Even at the brink of death, you still show me such disrespect, not even willing to call me by my title... Keeper of Secrets."

Durin's Diary

At that time, the Sidney Union had just endured a brutal civil war. The invasion of the Northern Kingdom left them powerless to resist, but in their hour of direst need, a Halfling girl named Betty Brando claimed to have been called upon by the Prime Creator. She led a volunteer corps from the south of the Sidney Union to march north and confront the First Legion of the Northern Kingdom, whose forces were at their prime.


"To end the war amongst humans, to put an end to suffering," that is what she said.


Everyone doubted the girl, yet young lives still took their stand at the front lines.


In that battle, Betty Brando's corps numbered only two thousand, mostly Halflings and orcs, but it was such a motley force that held fast on the left wing of the Sidney Union's line. Numerous noble contingents had collapsed, but Betty's corps withstood.


Chapter 67: Destiny (Part 2)