The sun rose and I continued to sleep past the morning reveille. Only when it was a quarter past noon, did an attendant come wake me up.
The manor staff had been instructed to let us all get some extra rest.
I rolled over in bed with a groan.
My face meshed together with rosy strands of hair and I embraced the wriggling mass next to me.
"I don't wanna get uuuuup!"
Hailey whined loudly as she tried to break free from me.
"Awh, that's too bad. I thought we'd head down to Amelia's to get some breakfast."
Hailey's stomach gurgled in response to the mention of food, an echoed reply by my own belly set her into a cute giggle fit.
"Hehe—heh—fine! You're just lucky I'm hungry, or I would cocoon myself in these sheets until the sun went down."
Luke and Hanna were already waiting for us in the main hall, having gotten their summons from Julius. And shortly after Rias had finished getting ready, Alistaire and Soren arrived as well.
Julius emerged from his room on the second floor, followed by Mei—which elicited a few confused looks. He had failed to mention the bed he had made up for Mei was the spare bed in his quarters.
I threw him an accusatory glare, which Mei diffused with fervent arm flailing and stammered words, before we all headed out together to the city's recently renovated tavern, the Cat's Tale, headed by Nyle and Amelia.
"I want you to join the OSW. Of all the people in this city, I can't think of anyone else more fit for the position."
Julius, seated just next to me, was leaning annoyingly far over the bar top to talk at Mei. His coat was dangling dangerously over my plate of eggs, just centimeters away from disaster.
I very politely placed my hand directly over his face and pushed him back into his seat.
"Celestials above, let us finish our food before you start harassing the poor girl."
Julius relented to my scolding, sitting back in his chair.
Mei laughed nervously, poking at the sausage on her plate, "I'm glad you want me in your new order…" her voice trailed off as she looked lost for words.
Julius finished chewing a bite of food, and leaned over again—carefully, as to not disturb my plate this time.
"But?"
"Uh, haha… yeah. But I think my place is with my own people. I may be a half-elf, but I was raised no differently than any other Aestori. I have a responsibility to my own, sooo…"
"You're not thinking of leaving the Divisionals, are you!?"
Julius nearly choked on his food in recoil to Mei's statement. His outcry was well beyond a suitable volume for our current location, and drew the attention of the rest of our companions.
Alistaire and Soren appeared to be concerned, while Luke and Hanna sighed and whispered something between themselves.
Hailey remained quiet, but had set her fork down.
Rias looked to be the most upset out of all of us over the sudden proclamation.
"You can't!"
"R-Rias?"
Mei was as surprised as I was. She spun around in her seat to face my sister, but before she could say anything, Rias stormed up to her and grabbed onto her shoulders.
"I don't want to lose any friends!"
"I—You're not going to lose me as a friend, Rias. I wasn't planning to leave… I just need to find a way to continue supporting you all as well as the Aestori."
Mei tried to alleviate my sister's continued pouting.
"What if we brought you into the OSW as an ambassador? You'd stay as a member of the Empire's divisional forces, but be able to interface with the Aestori. I have no qualms about allowing you to make some command level decisions when needed."
Everyone seemed caught off guard to my casual way of extending that much political leeway.
"What? Don't look at me like that. It makes sense. And I don't want to lose Mei over something as simple as allowing her to help our allies—"
"Potential allies."
Julius cut me off and I smacked his chest with the back of my hand.
"Same difference. Anyway, Mei, what do you think? Would that be alright with you?"
"I don't know what to say. Geez, you guys. Fine! Yeah, it's alright with me. But are you sure you want some nobody Crusader being the face to the Aestori?"
"Hmmm," I tapped my finger against my cheek, "You've got a point. It would make more sense for an officer to fill that position. I guess I'll just have to promote you then."
"Airis, you can't just—"
Julius tried to stop me, but I leapt from my seat and pulled Mei out of hers to stand in front of me.
"Too late! I've already decided. Mei Devins, I hereby commission you as an officer in the service to the Vanixian Empire, and promote you to the rank Grand-Waystrider. You will report under the Order of the Scarlet Wing, Commander Julius Adaemus."
"There are procedures for this kind of thing! Airis? Are you even listening to me!?"
-✵-
People say the honest things when they think no one can over hear them.
And currently, my people's words are filled with dread.
The truth lies in whispered worries, hushed voices in the back alleys and the darkened corners.
This somber thought occurred to me as I packed a travel bag.
To ensure the safety of my people I needed to leave them. A vexing feeling in the back of my mind claws forward ever so often these days…
Am I abandoning them? To seek allies in a time of war is the right course of action. It must be. Without them, surely we cannot stand against the enemy.
After our breakfast escapade with my friends, we met with Viane and Aisling.
If one were to say the conversation went well, I wouldn't call them a liar… But I also wouldn't be able to say they were right either. The elves agreed to allow us to meet with their government, a council made up of their strongest political clans.
And if that was the sole outcome, with no other catches, I would have said that things went great.
However there was one catch.
A single drawback which could leave us in a terrible position.
"…and in accordance with the Strifelands-Edendry Defense Treaty of twenty-seven ninety-three, signed with the Van'Ixian Alliance, in which the Aestori of Starfall were incorporated and the Vanixian Empire was formed, we recognize that our nation is under obligation to defend against aggressors opposing the Empire."
Lady Aisling had been speaking for about ten minutes straight. When she finally came to the conclusion; Julius, Hailey, and I remained silent.
Not too sure what the other two were thinking, but I was having a rough time trying to digest every detail.
I had thought I knew a lot about the Empire, but in as short a conversation as this one, Lady Aisling had referenced a dozen instances I had zero knowledge about.
Julius fidgeted in his seat, though remaining to appear calm and collected. He crossed his hands and spoke concisely.
"But you aren't able to determine whether or not we can legitimately considered to be members of the Empire."
Lady Viane nodded her head.
"Regrettably, neither of us can make that determination. Placere—um, please, understand that it has been decades since our people have had contact with any imperial consulars. We must ask that you appear before the Tribunal."
"And this, tribunal, they will be able verify our claims?"
"So long as what you claim is true, they will be able to confirm it very quickly. There should be no worries on your part—"
Lady Aisling quickly shot her hand up to interrupt her counterpart.
"There is one minor concern. Our legislative body calls for a recess at the equinox of the spring season. If you wish to meet with them while they are in session you will have to journey to the Enclave before then."
"That's in less than two weeks!"
"Lady Viane and I would be willing to accompany your delegation to the Enclave. With the two of us, it is unlikely you would be held up in the forests and could make it just before the sessions are over."
And so, I was now frantically packing my things to depart the city as soon as possible.
I gazed wistfully out the window, peering out upon a sea of clay-tiled homes. Only a few derelict buildings remained to be renovated, testaments to a war once fought against what seemed to be an unbeatable enemy.
Tightening my fists, I resolved myself.
The Axian traitors are not an unbeatable enemy either. We'll get the elves to aid us. We have to.
-✵-
Civilians of all sorts were bustling around the streets of Tolin. The city's market district had been revitalized, now a thriving center of commerce. Many stalls had been built to house the few refugees who either were merchants in their past lives, or those who wanted to start a new trade.
Through the efforts of a few talented mages and a handful of veteran fishers we had resolved our people's food crisis.
The small amount of Republic currency we had in circulation was bolstered with numerous stop-gap policies to prevent the price of goods from exceeding predetermined caps.
The goal was to keep a sense of urban regularity. It seemed to be working for now, though I had little faith our quasi-socialist system would work in the long term.
"You could've had whatever this is delivered to the manor. I doubt you really need to go yourself."
I sighed at the pretentious comment. While my shopping partner was probably correct, I wasn't walking the streets today to purchase anything in particular.
Julius had insisted on accompanying me through the city, quoting regulations and safety concerns until his face began to turn varied shades of blue.
"And if it showed up with the wrong size fittings, what then? Keep playing delivery tag until we get it right?"
I hadn't shared my true intentions with him. If I told the newly minted Commander that I intended to disguise myself to spy on the daily lives of my citizens, he most definitely would not have allowed me to do so.
Instead, I told a lie—well, not really a lie so much as it was a truth that made for a good cover.
Rhia and Dori had sent word to the manor that they had completed work on an order I'd placed three weeks ago, and I needed to check in with them about a certain undefined object before a certain Celestial Goddess caused me any more grief.
So under the pretense that we were going to the blacksmith to have new armor fitted, I set out on the town with Julius.
He shook his head but remained silent.
I purposefully dragged him along the long way through the markets, casually stopping at stores along the way to eavesdrop on the patrons.
My intention was that if the people seemed content with their current situation, I'd be able to set off tomorrow for the elven enclave. But if they were distressed or came off as subversive, then I would postpone the journey until we could resolve any issues.
Either when I was satisfied, or pulled along by my impatient bodyguard, we'd continue on to the next shop.
Eventually we reached the blacksmith—no longer a myriad of tents surrounding a stone forge, but instead a proper brick and mortar smithery.
"Oi!"
A broguish shout greeted us as we entered the shop.
The clamoring of hammers hitting against steel rang throughout the entire building.
Dörien, our Dwarven master artificer approached us.
"Will ye' look at who just came 'round! Go on 'den, welcome the Empress, would 'ya?"
Our resident Master Artificer shook her fist at a group of apprentices working nearby.
"There's really no need for any grandstanding, Dori. We're here as customers, that's all." I waved the rushing workers away frantically. "Please, don't let us disturb your forge!"
"Aye, Aye. If ye' insist. Here for your order, lass?"
"I am. I also needed to talk to you and Rhia about the shards you've taken possession over."
Dori's face stiffened at the mention of the shards.
"Aye. Those shards, eh?"
Rhia poked her head out from a side office, but at the mention of the shards she tried to slink back into the room.
"Oh, Rhia! Good. Have a moment? I needed to talk with you as well."
"Of course, I'll be right there."