Liliane tells me bits and pieces of classified information as I press her. Apparently, there was corruption amongst the Beelzanian ranks. The friction with Lucifenia had forced many war criminals into Beelzania, where they were harbored by the generals.

"War's brewing. Traffic's slow for that reason, y'know." She takes a sip from her tankard of ale.

I can't believe it's due to some stupid squabble that my journey's halted! Everyone knows that nations go to war merely to acquire more territory anyway.

"Say, you know all this... You're a soldier or something?"

Liliane snorts, "Fat good it does. Listening to orders from the bumbling idiots above."

"The soldiers at the gates were really tough! They're all scared of a 'Demon Commander Mouchet'. Might you have suffered under his influence as well?"

As I wait for her answer, she idly swishes around the remnants of ale around in her tankard. Her eyes were looking for an answer to something that probably wasn't my question.

I impatiently list my grievances and criticisms aloud about who I thought might be the Demon Commander. Fat, pot-bellied, with infinite belly and no honor, like the barons I'd read about in fairy tales.

"...And I'll even bet he's got horns on his head!" I stick my fingers upwards on my head to demonstrate. Liliane smirks.

"You have quite an imagination."

"Well, I do read a lot. I even write, see?" I pull out my notebook where my shorthand notes were compiled. She looks with minimal interest and politely excuses herself, saying she has important business. As she rises, however, a sentry approaches and addresses her as "General Mouchet."

I feel the blood rush up to my face as I realize she could only be the Demon General Mouchet. I'd been insulting her all along! How did I not realize earlier when she told me her surname was Mouchet?! Frantically, I try to apologize for my words. She waves her hand like it's a trivial matter.

"No harm done. I'm used to playing the bad guy."

I would believe it too. Now that I got a closer look at her standing, I see her physique is lithe and would give an enemy a hard time in the battlefield. Her arms look strong like a man's and she could probably best some of the drunks here in an arm wrestling match.

But now that I had contact with one of the big wigs, maybe I finally have a chance to gather some real inside information.

"Um... Lily? I'm... um, researching the Retasan Fortress and I'm wondering if you could-"

"Pull some strings and let you cross the border? Not a chance. What if your father found out?"

"Well he won't," I say, putting my hands on my hips, "He doesn't even know I'm here."

She smirks and shrugs, "I'm not going to the fortress yet myself. But if you want to find me, I'll be at this address."

She hands me a slip of paper. I try to get her to talk more, but she walked out and merely said, "Your food's getting cold."

I was eager, as you can imagine, to get into Retasan. But to do so, I'd need General Mouchet's permission. So I had some warming up to do.

Lily lived in a temporary military post that looked like a basic motel. Soldiers were posted at every inch around the perimeter and I had a lot of trouble getting past them the first time I visited. Using Liliane's note, I got into the establishment and found her sipping morning coffee. She was startled that I came to see her the day after we met.

I badgered and pelted her with questions. She was startled at first by the inquisitions, but she openly answered some. She would not divulge any further details about Retasan or the military. I was surprised when I asked her personal questions and she answered them without batting an eye.

"My father... was a general in the Lucifenian court. During the Revolution, he was leading a covert mission to usurp some rebel leaders. He was ambushed by a masked man... and killed."

I felt fear mount in my stomach as I remembered the city of Aceid burning and those soldiers who took our entire household captive. Only through Koopa and Allen were we able to get out free. Michaela... and so many others of the green-haired community were slaughtered in cold blood by the Daughter of Evil that night. I was so happy when Clarith was alive...

"...Do you wish revenge on those who killed him?"

She looked past the hamlet borders, to the hills and greenery beyond. Her eyes were forlorn and pondering. It felt serene to stare at her as we stood silently. A breeze blew past and her hair waved wildly, glittering in the sunlight that peeped through gray clouds.

"No," She said with said with a half smile, "One thing I've learned is to shirk and eschew revenge. That's something my father taught me."

"Plus, I wouldn't go to Lucifenia even if you paid me now," She added, "Too much tension and inconvenience."

I nodded in agreement. Kyle was not doing a good job in Lucifenia. Mother never raises a word about him, because she's friends with his mother, the Queen of Marlon, but father tells me Kyle never should have annexed Lucifenia, and left matters to the Revolutionaries. He never talks about such matters around mother though.

Me and Lily talk about these political issues and our experiences in life. She said she envies me because I live the carefree life with siblings, whereas she was a single child in a family with a military background. As a child, she'd been trained to be a soldier, and learned to hold her own in battle. She was quite impressed one day when I told her of my training.

"Asmodean Mercenary, huh? I hear they're a weird bunch."

"Well, they taught me the way to fence. Wanna try me?"

Lily merely smiled mysteriously and looked towards a lamp post in the town circle. I assume she was looking down on my skill. Not that I wanted to risk a thrashing either. The matter of fighting and training concluded on that day.

I asked Lily about dresses, seeing as she doesn't wear any. She wears a light armor that has short straps as pants around her thighs and is covered in part by a long black shirt that extends from her top. It's supposed to be comfortable and flexible for battle, but I can't imagine putting it on every morning. I tell Lily.

"Well of course it seems like a hassle. Until it saves your life."

"But every day?"

"Well... Sometime when I do overnight shifts, I don't even take them off for a few days."

I make a note of the need for hygiene in the army.

We prattled for four days. On the fifth morning I came to see her, she had bags under her eyes and greeted me halfheartedly. We sat at an outdoor cafe on a stone bridge for lunch and gazed out to the mountain range bordered by clouds.

"Yukina," Lily speaks unexpectedly, "I want to help you get into Beelzania."

I couldn't believe my ears. This was my big break! At the same time, I wondered how she'd manage this. Even if she is a general, she seemed so worn out...

I was about to give my profuse thanks when Lily spoke again.

"But I must ask, exactly what do you seek of this 'truth' in a nest like Beelzania?"

I swallow. I'd feared this question from the very start. Depending on my answer she may retract her support and I'll never get into the country. What could be there that sounds even remotely believable? Think, think...

"...The ancient city," I say confidently, "I want to see the historic site."

"Oh? A textbook enthusiast?"

"No, not a at all. It's just... the truth lies with the past, don't you think?" I laugh lightly to go with the lie. She seemed to buy it, much to my relief.

Lily doesn't look at me as she speaks.

"Listen, I'm going to try and use your name as a pass through the border. It may not cover it all, but that's the best plan we've got. You'll write a letter, that I'll send through a messenger to some higher up, explaining your acquaintance with Keel. If they can vouch for your entry, you should be able to pass through with your approved visa."

I was struck by the simplicity of the plan that not even I had thought of. My father was indeed a famous figure all over Evillious, but using it as weight to enter a militarized zone? Genius! I quickly agree and the letter is written and sent on that very same day. Lily says we may have to wait a while for processing, given the backlogged delivery system.

"It's chaos even more than usual over there..." She sighs

Still, I was sure my father's fame would come through for me.

It was indeed a long wait. I practically chewed my nails waiting daily for a reply or a sign from Lily that I could finally move ahead. This block was driving me crazy. I had nothing to write or write about, and this hamlet was not a good environment for me. The drunkards and lurkers often did their business in the alleyway under my hotel room window.

Just when I was think about giving up and going home in disgrace, I heard a knocking on my door eighteen days after the messenger was sent. It was Lily, pounding with elation. I open the door and ask what the news is.

"We've done it," she says, "Hurry and pack. You're going to Beelzania."


This story is becoming more convoluted by the day. I'm beginning to understand why no one has written a fanfiction so far past the Cloture of Yellow...

Well, I'll keep going till my fingers fall off. Really sorry for the slow rate of updates.