Prologue:

Siegrain, Magic Council Headquarters, August 12, 784

"Siegrain Sternberg," said Crawford Seam in a displeased tone, "I trust that you can explain why you are late to such an important session of the Magic Council?"

"Of course, Chairman," Siegrain replied respectfully, "I would never intend to waste an opportunity that the Council has granted me." He looked at the woman to his left, whose demeanor showed embarrassment and anxiety. She stepped forward, bowing deeply to the group of men and women seated in front of her, and began to speak in a shy and halting tone that bordered on a stutter.

"My deepest apologies, honorable Councilors; the fault lies with me. You see, I'd arranged for maintenance on Mr. Sternberg's projection Lacrima to take place at this hour. I was never made aware that the time and place of this meeting had been changed; I only meant to be as productive as possible. My mistake delayed Mr. Sternberg's arrival and has derailed your schedule. Once again, I am sorry."

Siegrain smiled as the thought projections of himself and his assistant turned transparent for a few seconds before stabilizing. "As you can see, the Lacrima needs some fine-tuning." His assistant retreated as Siegrain brought the Council's attention back to himself. "I was able to speed up the work in order to join you as soon as I could. If there's anything you wish to discuss with me, we may now begin."

Lorenz, the Icelands Councilor, frowned as he steepled his hands. His eyes dispassionately scanned Siegrain's assistant, who fidgeted slightly. Lorenz turned to look at Siegrain. "If Ms. Utyosova is incompetent, you should dismiss her. It is not appropriate for you to be late due to an assistant's inadequacies."

Siegrain took in a deep breath. "Mari," he said, "I believe I can handle this meeting on my own. I would appreciate it if you could start work on another task for me. Please get in touch with the Wizard Saints and let them know that I need to speak with them today. Their contact information is in my study's desk, top left drawer."

"Of course, sir," she said, head bobbing in a quick nod. She flashed Siegrain a smile containing gratitude as well as apology, vanishing as she ended her thought projection.

Siegrain smiled politely at Lorenz. "If I need assistance in handling my personnel, I shall request it. Otherwise, you shouldn't concern yourself with my staff. Mari is exceptional at what she does and I'm not about to replace her over such a well-meaning, harmless mistake. She's only human, after all."

Lorenz pulled his hands back as though they'd touched something hot and scowled at Siegrain, who glared back at him without hesitation. This wasn't the first time they had been hostile to each other and it almost certainly wouldn't be the last.

The Chairman spoke, his tone now somewhat less dissatisfied. "If the two of you have finished," Lorenz and Siegrain both shifted their expressions into the proper deference, though Siegrain doubted that either of them was being honest about it, "this meeting can commence." Crawford leaned forward. "We've evaluated your plans for the restructuring of wizard guild systems across Council territory and found them to have certain merits, but they shall need extensive alterations before we can consider implementing them. It has been suggested that a committee be established to determine exactly what those modifications entail, but we have yet to vote on that option."

Siegrain resisted the urge to sigh. It was going to be one of those meetings, then. "Why exactly," he began, his voice tightly controlled, "do you believe that my ideas ought to be adjusted? In what way have I failed to perform the task you gave me?" As he spoke, he met the Chairman's eyes, before turning his attention to the other Councilors, adding, "I was asked to develop measures that would allow the Council to resist future invasions from the Alvareth Empire. The proposals I submitted were the best I could do, considering the circumstances we're working with." The Councilors all understood what the Alvareth situation was, but they didn't seem to appreciate just how difficult it had been to develop feasible courses of action. Alvareth had conquered all of Alakitasia, which gave them access to every resource on their continent, and was ruled by a dictator with supposedly indomitable magical power. Meanwhile, the Council only had authority over the majority of Ishgar, which was a smaller continent, and ruled through democratic nations that sought to keep magicians from trampling over those without magic. Alvareth had nearly none of the Council's vulnerabilities and most of their advantages; the only reasons Ishgar hadn't already been conquered were the Council's magical deterrents and, despite their classified nature, Siegrain knew enough about those to realize that they were not acceptable long-term solutions.

Yajima, the Councilor from the Kingdom of Fiore, spoke. "In particular, your idea of turning wizard guilds into extensions of their nation's militaries can't be carried out. It's too vast a cultural shift to Council society, particularly for our magical populations. Guilds of any sort are close-knit groups, but wizard guilds don't usually stay together through common economic interests; no matter what side of the law they're on, the wizards of a true guild tend to form very powerful bonds. Even if your proposals were put into effect, it is all but certain that many guilds would reject them. Alienating the wizards isn't worth the slight increase to our capabilities that would result from turning their guilds into auxiliary forces."

If there was anyone present that could convince Siegrain of his flawed reasoning on this issue, it'd be Shiro Yajima. Siegrain had never been in a magical guild, whereas Yajima had been a member of Fairy Tail, a prominent Fioran wizard guild, for twenty nine years before starting a career in politics and eventually joining the Magic Council. It'd be unfathomably foolish of Siegrain to disregard Yajima's perspective on this topic. Perhaps he'd failed to consider just how emotional wizard guilds could get.

"The overwhelming majority of magicians in Council lands already dedicate their abilities toward violent pursuits through the guild system. I merely explored the possibility of putting them to better use than working for anyone that offers payment." Siegrain gave a slight bow in Yajima's direction. "However, I will defer to your expertise on the matter and adjust those clauses." Yajima nodded, acknowledging the concession. Siegrain looked toward the other Councilors, who seemed eager to speak as well. "What else would you like to discuss with me?"

And thus, the floor was open for each of them to voice their concerns. Between responding to their questions and presenting his arguments, Siegrain had to tap into his strategic reserve of patience to stay composed. Dealing with the Council had always been the worst part of his role as a Wizard Saint, especially since he'd been chosen by his peers to represent them here. It hadn't taken long for him to realize that they'd foisted the task onto the newcomer. He knew that his predecessor had retired due to feeling too old, but Siegrain was starting to suspect that the real reason had been to escape this tedium.

Org, the Councilor from the Kingdom of Seven, who had been very quiet throughout the session, broke through the discussion. "I still maintain that this approach is flawed. We've discovered no signs that Alvareth intends to break the treaty. Their military assets are demobilizing; even the Twelve have returned to their usual assignments. Their embassy has been cooperative and proactive in restoring positive relations between the Empire and the Council. While I do not believe that Alvareth is genuine about their desire for peace, we have to consider appearances. If we establish such blatant initiatives, we'll be providing the Empire with reasons to distrust us as well as justifications to topple the Council and bring Ishgar under their rule. Among the wizards, there is an appreciable portion that wouldn't be opposed to being ruled by Alvareth if it allowed them to make use of magic without our restrictions."

Siegrain sighed, out of both a dramatic flair and genuine exasperation, as he realized what was going on. Org Anholts was sixty-something years old and, for nearly three decades, he'd served as the Kingdom of Seven's representative on the Magic Council. He was competent and unwavering as far as the law went, but he was still somewhat set in his ways and prone to resisting changes to the status quo. And yet, despite being the most vocal opponent of Siegrain's initiative, Org was also one of the few Councilors that Siegrain genuinely liked. "We cannot rely on deterrence to prevent Alvareth's conquest. The Empire might eventually create countermeasures or the Emperor may decide to call your bluff and accept the consequences to his forces." Siegrain looked directly, but not unkindly, at Org as he talked. "Are you willing to take that chance, gambling with the lives of those the Council are charged to lead?"

"Siegrain is right." Belno, the Councilor from Bellum, spoke up. "Deterrence is a delaying tactic. If the Emperor desires war, there is nothing stopping him from overwhelming our tactical advantages with sheer numbers. However, the Council does not have the resources to engage in extended conflict against the Empire. Bellum's forces cannot stand against Alvareth's armies alone and the militaries of the other Council nations lack the numbers or the capabilities to alter the situation to our favor. Even if we had the soldiers, our societies are divided while Alvareth has united the might of an entire continent. We cannot replenish losses as easily and their wizards are more powerful than our own, especially when comparing the elites. Considered as a group, the Twelve are more powerful than the Ten Wizard Saints. Individually, it's possible that some of the Twelve can be neutralized, but if their reputations are true, they're all extremely dangerous. Most of them qualify as dark wizards, if not criminals, under our laws." She regarded Org sympathetically. "I understand your worries, but we cannot allow Alvareth to decide the course of what seems to be an unavoidable war. While I do not agree with all of Siegrain's proposals, I believe that such measures are necessary to safeguard our way of life."

Despite her reluctance to support him, Belno was the best ally Siegrain could have on this issue. Before becoming a Councilor, she'd been a colonel in Bellum's army. Had she rejected her nomination to the Council, she'd have likely gone on to reach the rank of general. She was the Council's military expert and, if she spoke on such matters, the Councilors were inclined to listen. Already, he could see that some of them appeared to be reconsidering their positions. Org seemed especially thoughtful.

Before the debate could recommence, the Chairman spoke. "I believe that we've gone on for long enough. Councilors, if Siegrain Sternberg's proposals were discussed to your satisfaction, the vote may now commence." Siegrain noticed that some Councilors seemed to be unsatisfied, but no one proved willing to oppose the decision. Crawford Seam did not appreciate time-wasting or feet-dragging, whether it came from those appearing before the Council or his peers. Without any new arguments, there was no ground for them to postpone the vote any further without earning Crawford's disapproval and no one wanted to get on the Chairman of the Magic Council's bad side without a damn good reason.

It was very close, but they ultimately chose to establish the committee. A second vote allowed Siegrain to join the group that decided which of his proposals would be carried out, altered or rejected. With the matter settled, most of the Councilors ended their thought projections and departed, but Siegrain stayed behind to speak with Yajima, following him as he exited the chamber.

"What's the agenda?" Siegrain asked when they were seated in Yajima's office. "It wasn't easy to compile the information in my plans, but I completed my assignment. I'll admit that I didn't consider the emotional repercussions of certain measures, but nothing I submitted was radical enough to deserve a session dedicated to picking it all apart. Was this all another effort to rein in my so-called ambition?"

Yajima shrugged, lifting his hands. "Your guess is as good as mine for now, Siegrain. It's certainly a possibility. There are a few Councilors that think you're a nuisance. Fortunately, your competence has left no basis for your removal. Not to mention, your high public standing makes you tough to ignore."

Siegrain snorted. "I wouldn't call what's going on 'high public standing'. Did you know I've been showing up on some magazine's 'hottest wizards alive' list?" He chuckled. "They're getting desperate. Maybe I should give in and have an interview to calm them down."

Yajima grinned at him. "I'm sure that they'd love that. Their sales would probably skyrocket. But I doubt that would help you much. That'd probably just make it harder for you to be taken seriously. You've already got an uphill battle, being the youngest Wizard Saint in history, after all."

Siegrain frowned. "I'd rather have people consider me for my actions than obsess over my looks, but I suppose it couldn't be that easy, could it?" He sighed as he stood up. "I'm done for today. You need anything else from me before I go?"

Yajima shook his head. "Not really. I'll warn my old team while you prepare the Wizard Saints. We'll all have to be ready for what's coming. Even if the committee waters down your work, we won't be helpless against Alvareth."

Siegrain nodded and, after bidding Yajima farewell, he ended the thought projection, restoring full awareness to his body inside his room within the Sternberg family manor. Yawning, Siegrain rose from the chair he had been sitting in for over two hours and stretched, trying to bring his limbs back to full functionality. He looked at the Lacrima, softly glowing on the desk before him, and placed his hand on it, feeling the warmth and power that coursed through the crystal. Thought Projection was an amazingly convenient magic; it essentially let users be in two places at once and, though it only produced intangible holograms and needed the aid of a Lacrima like the one before him to function over great distances, Thought Projection had affected society across the whole planet, all the way back to its origins in history long lost. If only the magic wasn't also a singularly uncomfortable and taxing method of communication, it would have enjoyed much more widespread use.

There was a knocking at the door and Siegrain instinctively tensed into readiness, only to relax as the person on the other side spoke. "Mr. Sternberg? May I come in?" his assistant said. Her voice was still laced with meekness. Just another part of her deception, but it was convincing. Even now, he nearly believed it.

"Yes, Mari. Please enter." he replied. The door opened and the woman known to the world as Mari Utyosova sauntered into the room. She'd changed out of the modest white attire she'd worn earlier into a long dress, sporting a striped pattern and revealing her voluptuous, pale-skinned figure. Her dark purple hair, previously arranged to make her seem demure and submissive, now accentuated her beauty. The timidity she'd displayed in the Council chamber was gone, replaced by a casual confidence that was evident in both her body language and her expression. As she closed the door, Siegrain kept from ogling. Asides from the indecency of it, he was fairly certain that one of her objectives had been to seduce him. He'd managed to keep the balance of power steady between them and he wasn't about to give that up.

"So? How did the meeting go?" she asked, walking toward him. As she approached, Siegrain smelled her perfume, a vaguely familiar flowery scent. He wasn't sure where he'd encountered it before, but, whatever it was, the aroma was pleasing. He had to make a conscious effort to keep his mind on track.

Siegrain half-suppressed a laugh. "Honestly, about as well as we could have expected. I was allowed to join the committee, but there's a decent chance that my work will amount to nothing. I don't expect most of my proposals to make it through intact." He raised an eyebrow as she sat on his desk, facing him directly, but said nothing about it. It'd only be an acknowledgement that she'd annoyed him. She already accomplished that far too often for his liking. "What did your master have to say?"

"Oh?" She smiled at Siegrain as if he was a child saying something foolish. His right eye twitched. "And why do you think I've contacted him? It's only been a few hours. I don't mind keeping people waiting." She crossed her legs and brought a hand up to her chest, over her heart. "After all, I am very patient."

Siegrain rolled his eyes. "Oh please, Ultear." The smile left her face, replaced by a bad-tempered scowl. "Ever since I confronted you about your spying, you've kept regular contact. Now that you don't have to conceal it from me, he expects frequent communication." She hid it well, but he could still see that he'd disquieted her with his use of her true name and his disregard of her espionage. Siegrain knew why; when he'd discovered her secret, he could have arranged her capture or death, either via the Council's authority or using his personal resources. But, rather than exposing her, Siegrain had approached her for the truth. That moment had been engraved in his memory due to finally seeing the woman genuinely stunned, perhaps the first legitimate emotion she'd expressed around him. He suspected that, at first, she'd thought him gullible enough to fool indefinitely. After she had revealed her true name as well as who she was working for, he had offered a mutually beneficial relationship between her organization and himself. Once the details of their association had been negotiated, she'd started abandoning the self-effacing act whenever the two of them were alone. He was sure that Ultear's new behavior wasn't her true personality, but Siegrain felt certain that, as time went on, he'd see more of who she really was. He wasn't sure why, but that notion both excited and worried him.

By the time he'd returned to the situation at hand, she'd recovered, a smirk on her lips. "He said to express his gratitude to you for finally arranging our access to your Council sessions. They're sure to prove useful." Siegrain nodded, but inwardly, he was still annoyed that they'd forced him to give in on that matter. He looked at the projection Lacrima, which radiated with blue light at its core, on his desk. He'd had to find an opportune moment to meddle with it in such a way that did not attract suspicion from the Council. Ultimately, he'd set up the situation so that a routine, if ill-timed, maintenance had enabled him to surreptitiously connect Ultear's organization into the Council's Lacrima network.

The Lacrima issue had been another reminder of how working with these people was a delicate matter; he had to balance pursuing his interests with fulfilling their demands. There was no doubt to either side that he was the more vulnerable between the two of them. However, when Siegrain considered the risk they'd undertaken in sending a skilled agent to infiltrate the Council as well as trusting a Wizard Saint, he'd come to the conclusion that they were the more desperate of the two. Whatever truly drove them, it was serious enough for them to rely on Siegrain Sternberg, a treacherous manipulator.

He was shaken from his thoughts when Ultear gently cleared her throat; it seemed that she wasn't done. All levity was gone from her expression as she looked at him. "He also reminded me that, if you start showing signs of reneging on our deal or becoming less valuable, I have to be prepared to neutralize you, either directly or by revealing what you've done."

Damn it. She'd turned the tables on him and now it was Siegrain's turn to cover up his unease. He wasn't terribly worried about being exposed; even if there was evidence, being a Wizard Saint was merely a means to an end, one he could still achieve if he were judged a criminal. No, his concern was that of her potential to kill him. He knew that she was more than she appeared to be, but he was still uninformed as to her magical prowess. Siegrain had no way of knowing how legitimate that threat was. He must have failed to hide his apprehension because Ultear's expression shifted to show traces of compassion.

"Oh, Siegrain, sweetheart," she pushed off the desk and moved in close to him, "you ought to have more faith in me." He allowed her to embrace him, bringing her body against his own. He now felt her every curve in exquisite detail, but she didn't stop with that. She placed her head over his shoulder, her breath warming his ear, and spoke in a soft whisper. "I'm playing these little games with everyone. At the end of the day, I'm in this for my own reasons. My master knows that; he accepts it. You should try doing the same. That way, it'll be a lot more bearable for both of us." She pulled out of the hug and walked past him. His eyes followed her as she returned to the door, placing her hand on the knob before turning to look at him. "By the way, dinner will be ready soon. Remember to come and eat something," she paused before adding, with a wink, "sir." She left the room, leaving Siegrain alone to recover from her words and touch as well as consider their implications.