-Training Room-

"Robin asked me to teach you how to use your gift. And, seeing as you're one of us, and likely to use it on people trying to exploit us, it's a request I can happily comply with." Aversa asked. "So, the legendary shadowgift. What do you know about it?"

"Not much." Ravena frowned. "It lets me cast dark magic with no training in it, but I had to train to use high level dark magic. I've also learned to cast with it instinctually, but I can't pull off anything stronger than just a flux spell."

"Very good~." Aversa smiled. "So, the first major difference between shadowgifted users is that we can use spells on an instinctual level, which means we can skip the learning process. And you aren't casting flux. Not exactly. Let's start from there."

"I'm not?" Ravena looked confused.

"Most of modern magic comes from the school of Gotoh the Archsage." Aversa said. "He had two disciples, the Dark Pontifex Gharnef and the Light Pontifex Miloah, who between them created the schools of Anima, Light, and Dark magic. These magics require tomes which have been magically created by forging power together within them and are gradually used up. That is known as Archeaneian Sorcery."

"Wait, Light Magic?" Ravena scratched her head. "I've never heard of that."

"That's because their users were hunted to near extinction by the Grimleal." Aversa said, shrugging. "Their leaders eventually decided that it wasn't worth the human cost to pass on the knowledge and instead focused on stronger healing magic. So no light magic this century."

"Wow, the Grimleal sucks."

"More or less." Aversa said. "There are some aspects of good in them, I suppose. They've kept Plegia from falling apart on itself with its framework, and there are decent people within it. That said, we'd be better off if they never existed, but that's not our discussion right now. Across the ocean, no such magic academy existed, so the magically gifted people learned a different way of casting. This is known as Valentian Sorcery and was eventually replaced by it's over-the-seas cousin. What you are casting is the Valentian Flux, not the Archeaneian Flux."

"Now I'm just confused." Ravena sighed.

"Where did you learn magic?"

"On the streets…" Ravena began.

"Oh, dear. Not really a good place to learn anything." Aversa smiled. "Well, looks like we're going to start from the basics. What type of magic to you use?"

"Dark!"

"Wrong!" Aversa said. "You're trained as an Anima user, aren't you? You can just use dark magic because of your shadowgift. What is anima magic?"

"I suppose, but I don't really use it." Ravena said. "Okay. So Anima magic is when you bond the spirit of power within a tome, and gradually use the power therein."

"Right. Light magic uses the faith within people as the source the binding agent for the tome." Aversa said. "And Dark magic uses the laws to be bound within their tomes."

"Laws?" Ravena frowned. "What do you mean, laws?"

"Hmm. It depends on whether you've kept up your studies but seeing as you do pretty much whatever you feel like, I suppose you haven't touched higher levels of math, or studied the natural world."

"I read a few books?" Ravena offered. "I kind of get bored by things which aren't tactics or games."

"Useless." Aversa said. "Fine, I'll explain this once and then you'll have to read a book the size of your head if you want to understand it further. Laws. Things like the universal force that pulls all objects together. The entropic decay of all transactions of energy. The passage of time, relentless of all other dimensions. Those form the fundamentals of dark magic."

"…Nope. I don't get it." Ravena frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Ugh, I'm no teacher." Aversa sighed. "Have you read any of the spell books you use?"

"I can't read." Ravena said with an innocent look on her face. When Aversa was about to howl in frustration, Ravena smirked. "Kidding. So, you mean the constants."

"Yes, that's another name for them. So you do know them."

"I know the names and formulas." Ravena looked a bit crestfallen. "I don't get them, though."

"This from a girl who can count on one hand the number of times she's lost mock strategy games."

"Well, we all have our strong points." Ravena laughed. "Anyway, yeah, I know the laws. I just wanted to see if you would explain them a bit differently."

"So… getting back on topic." Aversa said. "Darkgifted individuals like ourselves have a natural tendency to manipulate the universe to use dark magic, which lets us use it without training. The funny thing is that you seemed to have picked up on a variant of Flux. The Valentian variant, a spell just called Miasma. It's why you can use dark magic with no spell books."

"And, is that good?"

"Maybe. I have two Valentian spells of my own, a reconstructed version of their Nosferatu that I just call Night. The other one is – well, I'll tell you when you're advanced enough to try it. Goetia is an A-rank spell." Aversa said. "That's the funny thing. The reason Valentia ended up switching was because of the high casualties amongst their mages, and they thought that Archeneia system would help."

"Huh?" Ravena blinked. "Not following… How different can Valentia be if I never noticed I was casting a different spell?"

"That's why we're us." Aversa said. "For the shadowgifted, there's really little difference between the two, except we don't require spell books for Valentian spells."

"That's great!"

"For us. For everyone else, Valentian spells slowly drain their health." Aversa said. "Apparently, the body has some sense of self-preservation, because you can't off yourself with a powerful spell if you don't have the stamina, but there's nothing stopping a mage casting to the point of near death."

"That's not as good." Ravena frowned. "But we're immune?"

"Not … exactly." Aversa said. "Like the real source of anima is the spirit bound within the book, the real source of power for Valentian magic is something else, in this case it's similar to dark magic, the laws of energy. And they aren't scared of stealing Anima's territory, so they also have a few fire spells. But I'm getting off track. Anyway, two additional things other than a source of energy are required. The first is a catalyst, which people refer to as 'magic power', or your ability to multiply the force of the source. The second is some form of a cost."

"Nothing's free in this world, huh?" Ravena sighed. "Yeah, Robin told me about that. The second form is a raw cost, which makes casting certain kinds of spells really costly, like why he can't teleport. But on the other hand, the cost for spells are the pages in the book, which gradually are wiped as they're used up. So, the Valentian cost would be life force?"

"Good." Aversa smiled. "And we shadowgifted are blessed by the universe. We're an exception. We can catalyze without a cost. That's why Validar wanted me."

"So, we're a shortcut?" Ravena blinked. "There's no cost."

"Not quite." Aversa laughed. "There's a cost. We just don't pay it in blood. The laws dictate we must pay a cost, but from what I've read, generations of shadowgifted have tried to find it. And trust me, if it was something like lifespan, or your soul, we would have figured it out. We are dark mages, after all. But there's nothing stopping you from being the first."

"Hmm." Ravena frowned. "Blessed by the universe? Well, I don't get that, but being able to cast ancient magic with no repercussions sound pretty sweet."

"Now, conjure your magic, if you would." Aversa snapped her fingers, conjuring a ball of dark magic within. Across, Ravena mirrored her, summoning her own magical energy. "Ready for a fight, little raven?"

Ravena blasted her spell at Aversa. Aversa didn't even bother throwing her spell at Ravena, instead subverting the magic and whipping it to the side. Ravena's mouth dropped open. Aversa smiled, her genuine one, not the one she used on men. "I'll take that as a yes. So here's the thing, little raven. I believe in learning through action. Now, let's try it out. I'll make a mistress of the dark arts out of you, yet."

-Parise, Rosanne-

"Cherche, dear, why did you join Robin?"

"Oh, I'm afraid you're quite mistaken, Virion." The pink-haired retainer chuckled. "I'm at the service of his lovely adopted daughter. But I will warn you that I no longer serve you."

"Mhm. So the prospect of appointing you in charge of my rebel forces is not an option. How unfortunate." Virion said. "I suppose that I'll have to make other provisions."

"Didn't you promise to not do that?"

"Trust is a two-way street, dearest Cherche." Virion said. "I can hardly be expected to trust a man who double crosses like that Crimson Tactician, can I? The fact of the matter is, Cherche, that recruitment towards Valm has been stepping up. Walhart's simply charismatic."

"Is that so?" Cherche asked. "You're jealous, aren't you."

"Mhm." Virion shook his head. "Not quite. I've long since learned my own limitations, you see. Charisma isn't what I can do. But it's what other can do for me. I have no problem being labeled a coward if that is what it takes to keep Rosanne safe. But what Robin doesn't realize is that while a large part of Rosanne accepts Walhart, there are elements which don't, and only grow stronger in retaliation."

"It seems that underestimating Robin cost you dearly last time."

"So be it." Virion said. "I'll be a legal governor, and drive Rosanne to Walhart. While that happens, that will of course drive resentment towards me, and create the underground."

"But what can a simple underground do?"

"Nothing, except for bide it's time." Virion said. "Something I assume you're doing by joining forces with Robin. Or am I incorrect?"

"You are correct that I'm biding my time." Cherche said. "But I'm not doing so with the intent of destroying Walhart's empire. I've always been a vassal, Virion. And now I'm in service to Ravena. Of all those living today, it seems like she has the greatest potential, building off of what Robin himself can do."

"Is that so?" Virion asked, smiling. "Well, Cherche, would you like to perform a small wager on that? We'll see what ends up happening."

-Chon'sin-

"I confess that I've been more comfortable." Say'ri said, sitting on her knees, in front of a low table. Two representatives from the dynasts sat at either side of the table. "But how are we progressing?"

"We have had dozens of merchants moving to the new sections of the Vermillion City." The first representative said, smiling. "Our army is growing as well, now that you have the blessing of Valm, and have given it to us. The people no longer fear that joining our armies is rebellion."

"That is good to hear, Hikaru." Say'ri said. "Of course, I assume that your oath of loyalty will hold to Walhart."

"Why would it not?" Hikaru gave a broad grin. "Our people our prosperous under this new order. What reason would we ever have to rebel?"

"We all know that your clan switches sides at the drop of the hat." The second representative retorted. "Lady Say'ri, it is as Hikaru has described by us as well. We are prosperous and shall help serve the Empire that both you and your brother Yen'fay swore an oath to."

"There's no need to be so formal with me, Ryu." Say'ri said. "I have lost my title. And I must correct you, I have not sworn an oath to Walhart or to Valm. Rather my oath is to Count Robin Obsidian."

"Ah, the legendary Crimson Tactician." Hikaru said. "If it's not too much to ask, would it be possible for such a humble servant like myself to meet him?"

"I understand that there are official channels for such a meeting to occur."

"Yes, but I was hoping you could expediate the process. For a fellow countryman." Hikaru smiled again. Say'ri shook her head. Hikaru believed himself to be a great deal cleverer than he really was. No doubt he was trying to worm his way into Robin's graces. And she had little doubt that he'd only be working for his own gain.

"My apologies, but my oaths are to serve Robin and to act as his sword." Say'ri said. "They do not include acting as his diplomat."

"Ah, but it seems that you could do a fine job with that, Lady Say'ri!" Ryu said, laughing. "Your presence here has greatly increased the prosperity in both Chon'sin and Valm as a whole. In fact, there are a few quiet whispers I've been hearing among the workers that perhaps we're better off under Valm."

"What foolishness." Hikaru snorted. "The peasants can believe what they want."

"But aren't you working under Valm yourself, Hikaru?" Ryu asked.

"Of course, but only because that's the most prudent course of action."

Analyze. Robin said I'd be needing to do this. Say'ri inhaled. Imagine the two of them as duelists and translate what they've said into moves. Ryu seems reserved, and he indicated that he seems to be in favor of supporting me. A conservative duelist, then. I'm not sure if he's on our side, but I am sure he won't backstab us unless it's clear that such a strategy will win.

Hikaru is the opposite. He's clumsily overextending himself with feints. I don't know what he's trying, but I do know that the acts would be comparably to a flailing newborn. I do not believe that there's anything he can that Robin cannot counter.

"Was it really wise to say that aloud, Hikaru?" Say'ri said. She took a sip of her tea. "Regardless, I am glad to hear that both of you are recruiting forces. Though, from what Robin has told me, you may lose a good percentage of them soon."

"Oh?" Hikaru blinked. "A war, perhaps?"

"No. I do not know all the details, but his last letter indicated that he was working on a military program known as Wolfguard. It's likely he'll be using part of your forces to create it." Say'ri said, eyeing the reactions. I don't know what Robin is up to, but he seems to be playing with a nest of vipers.

-Northwestern Valm, the 'Wastes of Duma'-

"Why are you here, Battlemaster?" Farber asked from atop his horse.

"Why shouldn't I be here?" Robin shrugged, walking alongside him, as Farber's army marched on. "I heard there was a campaign occurring here, and I decided to stop by and help."

"Stop by and claim all the credit it more like it." Farber snorted. "I'm familiar with Excellus. Take you and your entire stupid army and go help someone else. We prefer to fight actual battles here, not win by outnumbering our opponent and just using sheer numbers."

"Excellus really used to do that, huh?" Robin grinned. That did sound like something Excellus would do. In the short run, it would let you claim prestige and honor. In the long run, it ended with all the generals hating you, and the army not used to fighting its way out of tough spots. Exactly the sort of thing that Excellus would do and Robin wouldn't.

"Yeah, and it was annoying." Farber said. "Look, I don't care even if you do have some master plan to kill these fools like stomping on roaches, but I'd rather not answer to someone like you."

"Because I'm just a tactician, and not a warrior?" Robin asked. Farber's silence answered him. "Thought so. So, when I said I would help, I just meant as allies. Aside from my guards and Morgaine, I've brought no one. In fact, I was intending on fighting alongside you, under your command."

"Hah. Good joke."

"A commander should never ask his soldier anything he wouldn't do himself." Robin said. "I need a better perspective, so I decided to travel Valm."

"There's that ulterior motive." Farber shrugged. "But I guess I can pick up your slack if you really want to help me. So, welcome to the wastes, Battlemaster. The Wastes of Duma."

"I have to ask, why the name? This isn't exactly a waste, you know." Robin said. "So, why the name?"

"It harkens back to the old days." Farber said. "This country was named Valm after King Alm I, by merging its name with the old continent name of Valentia. However, the unified country couldn't hold, and during the reign of King Rudolf III, it eventually fractured. A loyalist movement, composed entirely of those who were originally from Duma, founded a nation on their own."

"I see." Robin said. "So, in other words, you are the literal waste of Duma, the nation. That … doesn't sound like a compliment."

"Many nations are known by the name given by their enemies." Farber said. "Our name proper is the Holy Duma Empire, but as we are neither holy, nor empire, nor even Duma, as I told you earlier. I have no problem with the name."

"Interesting." Robin said. "If I recall, your people fought the least with Walhart."

"Well, Valm, the nation, composes the other half of Valm, so our people have always been looking for a reason to bring us together." Farber coughed. "The fights were just to decide who would be in control. It didn't take long for us to surrender to Walhart. That's also when Excellus joined."

"Ah, yes." Robin shuffled through his internal memory. "Excellus was born in the wastes of Duma, correct? He started as a choir boy."

"And the world would've been better off if he stayed. Even if his voice was that bad." Farber chuckled. "Yes, I've known the treacherous bastard longer than Walhart has. And I know that officially you were just targeted by him, but he's not that stupid. I'm guessing there was more to the picture involving his treachery."

"Who knows?" Robin shrugged his shoulders and put on a blank face. "I was just following orders."

"Following orders?" Farber raised an eyebrow.

"Creatively." Robin smirked. "Walhart told us to determine between us which one was the superior tactician. And it's clear that he was me." Robin whistled innocently.

"Ha!" Farber laughed. "I like you, tactician. It's not quite like you remind me of myself, but I can tell that you're on our side, unlike that old toad. And not a lot of people would walk while a man who they outrank rides alongside them."

"Then they've never deployed cavalry." Robin said. "At any rate, what's on the menu today?"

"A small fry, named Sima Yi." Farber frowned. "My would-be archnemesis. A Chon'sin tactician, who thinks he's a lot smarter than he is. He jumped sides when Chon'sin surrendered, and immediately took his army into the Wastes, figuring that it was a good place to be annoying."

"Well, my tactical advice is at your disposal."

"Won't need it." Farber grunted. "Figured that bastard out a while back. Like I said, he's smarter than he thinks he is, and he's got a habit of pulling these complex plans. I've stopped trying to think through them, and just decided to fight at a basic level, ignoring all his ploys. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but lately I've been giving him more than he can take."

"Ah." Robin nodded. "One of those. Probably won't shut up about the Thirty-Six."

"So that number does have significance." Farber frowned. "Yes, one of his usual taunts when he's done is that I can't beat him as long as he has his Thirty-Six. What are those?"

"The Thirty-Six Stratagems is the basic textbook of military strategy that Chon'sin uses. Of course, it's markedly inferior to our Art of War. No bias, honest." Robin said. His brow furrowed as he recalled the texts. "Still read it, of course. Now, if I recall, there are six stratagems each for six situations. What kind of situation are we finding him in this time?"

"Apparently, he's taken command of old fort." Farber frowned. "We caught a deserter. Didn't even need to torture the man, he's tired of the inevitable. Told us. 'Course, if he lied, we'll torture him slowly until he tells us where it is."

"Perfectly reasonable." Robin shrugged. They'd do the same to us. Mercy to the enemy that costs you lives of your own soldiers is false and misplaced. It's a basic tenant of war. "An old fort? Hmmm, so maybe a Proximate Stratagem? But which one?"

"Keep your muttering down, Battlemaster." Farber said. "Like I said, I won't need your tactical advice. I've got no problem with just murdering him the old fashion way. Feel free to figure out the right counter, or whatever, but just be ready to follow my orders."

"If you're sure."

-Old Fort-

"I change my mind." Farber sighed. "It's a trap."

"Clearly."

The abandoned fortress that they'd been directed to had clearly seen better days, but someone'd been hard at work fixing it up. The walls had been reworked with new stones, and the rotted wood was mostly replaced. There were crenellations all over the walls, and Farber would be in for a fight if he wanted to storm the gates.

That said, the gates were wide open, and not a soul seemed to be present, save for a single old man sitting on top of the battlements, wearing a wide conical hat and smoking a pipe almost as long as the man was tall. He noticed the army in the distance and gave a cheerful wave.

"I have no idea what's going on, I just have a horrible feeling in my stomach."

"Well, of course." Robin started ticking the cases on his fingers. "There was that time when a retreating force from Pheros's army got ambushed when they took cover in a supposedly-abandoned fortress. There was that time when a castle surrendered to Excellus, only for them to ambush the army once they entered the fortress, and slaughter them except for Excellus who teleported away. There was that time they tried it on Walhart, except, you know, Walhart. Almost makes you want to pity the poor bastards who ambushed him. Then there was also that time when I snuck my entire army as traitors within a fort and took it from within."

"I don't see what that last one has to do with this situation."

"That's because it doesn't, I just like bragging." Robin said. "Anyway, I agree with you wholeheartedly. This is undoubtedly a trap. In fact, it's a textbook situation from the Thirty-Six. Number Thirty-Two, if memory serves correct. I've never had the pleasure of using it, but I suppose I've never had to. Anyway, like I said earlier. Text. Book."

"So… you have a way to counter this." Farber said.

"I do, but I'd like to hear your plan first."

"Are you mocking me, tactician?" Farber said. "Ordinarily, I'd just charge in, but I haven't a clue of how to proceed here. There's obviously a trap, but I have no idea what it is. Are they going to lock us in a set it on fire? Are they going to ambush us? Are they not even there anymore, and that's just a lunatic with a pipe? What's going on?"

"Lock them all in and set on fire." Robin blinked. "That is a good idea. I'll have to remember it and send it to Vermil. He'll figure out a way to optimize it. Anyway, no, it's not going to be any of that. I do think we should charge. But not with all our men."

"How many?"

"Hmmm." Robin considered. "I think two should be sufficient. Just the two of us. Maybe a cavalry division if we need the help, to stand by."

"Just the two of us! You're crazy."

"It's the two of us against the crazy man with the pipe. We'll outnumber him two to one! Well, anyway, I'll put my money where my mouth is." Robin walked forward. "Follow if you will."

"Oh, come on." Farber scowled as he sent his horse after the tactician, after waving for most of his men to stay, and having a cavalry unit come with him. Thankfully, his discipline got his men to follow him. Farber caught up to the tactician just as he got within a few hundred feet of the gate. "What is your plan?"

"I thought I'd ask him politely to surrender, then electrocute him if he refuses." Robin said. "I might miss, though."

"Aren't you worried?" Farber asked. "We haven't seen a hint of his men yet."

"Exactly." Robin said. "Put yourself in his shoes. He's in enemy territory, and you just told me that you've beaten him soundly the last few times. Morale is at an all-time low, and you've picked up a deserter. I'm guessing that he wasn't the only one. In fact, I'm guessing that most of his force is either dead or deserted, and he's got nowhere to resupply from. What does your intelligence put him at?"

"No more than around 5,000." Farber said, frowning. "But that's only because he's never committed all his forces to battle. Seems to have an endless supply of reinforcements. Now, if he did commit all his men the last time we fought, he'd really have no more than 500. In any event, I took a force of around 15,000, just to make sure."

"Okay. But what if his ragged remnant abandoned him. This hypothesis is further backed because you picked up a deserter who freely shared information. Pity he didn't give you troop strength, though." Robin said. "This fort was recently repaired, but even to my amateur eyes, it's too well done and too old to be the work of just a week. I'm guessing he had a unit here for emergencies and that unit was used up in the last clash. I'm guessing he's now using it as a place of last refuge. I'm also guessing that he's all but alone."

"So why would he leave the door open- Oh." Farber blinked when he remembered what he was going to do until Robin had marched up to the front door. "This was a trap, but the trap wasn't when I charged, it was when I left! He wanted to make it look like a trap so I left."

"One way to put it." Robin said. "Stratagem Number Thirty-Two: The second Desperation Stratagem: The Empty Fort! When you're outnumbered, bare yourself to the enemy, and create a scenario that's simply too good to be believed. That way, he'll think there's a trap that simply isn't there. Isn't that right, Sima Yi?" Robin bellowed the last point to the pipe-smoking man atop the gate, raising his left arm. Fast as a lizard, the man flipped over the gate and ducked below it as a lightning bolt soared over.

"Missed." Robin chuckled. "Farber, can I leave you the honors? I came with just the two of us to prove that we aren't scared of his trick, but there's no need to risk just the two of us, if he's got five hundred soldiers."

"With pleasure." Farber raised his hand and prepared a battle-cry as his army prepared to storm the castle. "FOR VALM!"

-A brief battle later-

"Well, that was overkill." Robin sighed contently as he bit into a wonderful piece of smoked meat. There'd been around two hundred loyalists, but outnumbered seventy-five to one, there hadn't been much of a fight. Farber had brought in the cavalry regiment, but it was a complete rout. Fortunately for Robin, they'd tracked Suma's elite guards, and he and Farber took out the cluster of eight, proving himself a competent warrior in Farber's eyes.

Now, Robin and Farber were sitting in the fort's reconstructed throne room, enjoying the spoils of their victory. Turns out that Sima Yi was a man of comforts and had a large stash of smoked meat, as well as an excessive amount of alcohol. And this he was intending to keep these stores for a good-sized army for at least a year, there turned out to be enough to firmly bolster the nightly rations of Farber's army. But that was only the good stuff.

There wasn't enough of the best stuff for the entire army, of course. So Robin, Farber, and several of Farber's lieutenants had taken it upon themselves to nobly sacrifice and dine upon those, so the rest of the army wouldn't have to face the challenge of dividing it up. Truly, the work of those in power were difficult.

It should also be noted that several bottles of the high-quality sake had already been safely stashed. Robin recalled Say'ri's taste for the substance and had acted accordingly. He wasn't getting Aversa anything, because while he never touched his alcohol collection, at least Say'ri didn't act like she owned it. Aversa did.

"All thanks to you, Battlemaster." Farber said, raising a glass.

"You're too kind, Farber." Robin said, raising his own. He wasn't drinking wine, but in fact a deep red tea. "I simply made an observation. Your training and soldiers won the day. Not to mention the fact that Sima Yi was only back into a corner because of your persistence."

"I said it before, and I'll say it again." Farber nodded. "I like you, tactician. A lot better than that old toad, anyway."

Something that Farber himself doesn't seem to know is that he's actually on the most respected of the Duma generals. Not overall, of course, but the most important among the Duma. Having him as an ally is an important step. Robin grinned. "Thank you, Farber. It's been my pleasure. Now, have you heard the latest from the Vermillion City?"

"You mean all those expansions?" Farber said, yawning. "I'm a fighter, not a bureaucrat. These things bore me."

"Perhaps I could change your mind." Robin said. "After all, the next generation of soldiers will come from the foundation of today. Anyway, just keep the idea in your mind. I'll be discussing it with Walhart, and I've got something else to discuss."

"Heading back to capitol?" Farber asked.

"A tactician's work is never done." Robin said. "I'll leave tomorrow."

-Vermillion City, Throne-

"What is thy bidding, Conqueror?" Robin asked with a smirk hidden on his face as he knelt.

"Explain your actions." Walhart said.

"You'll have to be more specific." Robin said. "Are you referring to my aid in the campaign in the wastes of Duma, or perhaps my appointing of Virion as the regional governor of Rosanne?"

"You are intelligent enough to wield the double-edged blade you placed on Rosanne. As for your conquests, that's merely your business." Walhart said. "Why have you taken upon yourself to tax the treasury to build the capitol up in a non-military fashion? And what is the Wolfguard I keep hearing mentioned?"

The Wolfguard Initiative is part of a greater plan in place, and is the cornerstone of a great many steps involved. It may merely be one step among many, but perhaps the most important one of them. Robin hid his smile. Your spymaster is good to have heard of that, but as it happens, I was going to tell you anyway. Knowledge won't let you know what I'm planning, not without being able to track all my actions. And, I may be wrong about this, but I believe that leak came from Chon'sin. Interesting. But let's deflect for a bit. "You question my improvements to the capitol?"

"I see you have decided to move your talents from something beneficial to simply furthering the aims of those with gold." Walhart said. "I would understand your actions if they increased the funds for my army but they aren't. While you aren't losing, you seem to be drawing even. Why spend all the time and energy?"

He just likes questioning my actions, doesn't he? Robin got up and nodded. "It's simply a long-term plan. While gold moving through the citizens of Valm does not go directly into our war chest, it does buy us goodwill with the people, and lets our next generation of soldiers grow up viewing us in positive light. Aside from the taxes we collect on the increase of money, which is not insubstantial."

"It is better to be feared than loved, tactician." Walhart responded.

"Only if you can't do both." Robin said. He raised his fist and clenched it. "With the new Vermillion City, we will show what happens to citizens in our Empire, and we will crush those outside it without mercy. As part of that, I've wish to start what I've taken to calling 'the Wolfguard Initiative'. This is what you've been hearing about. It's a military branch, of a sort."

"As a counter to the Shepherds?" Walhart ask. "Are you that scared of Ylisse's elite guards?"

He saw that fast. "No, not at all." Robin lied as smoothly as possible. "The Shepherds are an elite force made up of a single group. The Wolfguard is the opposite, a vast organization with small groups located all over Valm. It's due to the Risen threat. Mostly."

"Pah. They are no threat. Either my forces can kill them, or they will be culled." Walhart smiled. "Really, I should thank whatever dark mage came up with that spell."

"I'll pass it along." Robin said.

"Ah, yes." Walhart smiled. "You would know who did it, wouldn't you? Regardless, why would you try to fight them when they serve a perfectly valid test?"

"With all due respect, Conqueror, I believe that these Risen serve as more than simply a test to weed the weak out. I believe that they also serve the perfect opportunity for training soldiers." Robin said, clenching his fist. "If we armor garrisons and raise militia to fight these across Valm, it will serve to recruit new soldiers, train them, solidify loyalty to Valm, and raise the average standard of strength for Valm as a whole.

As you said, Ylisse has the Shepherds, which serve to protect the people, the sheep. But we aren't sheep. We are the proud people of Valm. We are wolves, to the point that even our guards are made from wolves! The Wolfguard Initiative will compose of two components. The first are the rank-and-file members. We'll start chapters, complete with weapons and training in a scattered web around the Empire, based on distance from each other, and population density, recruiting people for a part-time local militia.

The second will be the leaders of the Wolfguard, full-time employees. These will be soldiers selected for their training and leadership abilities, chosen to lead over their skills on the battlefield. As opposed to the temporary rank-and-file, these will be the leaders, known as the Dire Wolves, who will form the core of the Wolfguard."

"You mean, form the core of your own personal army." Walhart corrected.

Why do you keep noticing these things!? Robin's inner monologue wasn't happy, but he wasn't about to admit it.

"I suppose it could be looked at that from one perspective." Robin admitted. "Seeing that I'm currently the one overseeing the whole initiative. However, I would also remind you that I happen to the Battlemaster of Valm, and as such I can countermand the orders of anything except for yourself."

"I see." Walhart considered. "It does seem that the positives outweigh the negatives under these circumstances. Very well, you may proceed with this Wolfguard Initiative. I presume you mean to make your friend Lord Zulas Albert one of the main members?"

"Now that you mention it, that's an excellent suggestion." Robin said. "His ancestor was the leader of the Sable Order, so I suppose that's natural."

"Vermillion Rojo Rubrum, as well?"

"The most effective method of killing these Risen abominations is with fire. Lots and lots of fire. Like enough to fill a volcano and then some." Robin said. "In fact, I'm thinking of working on ways to transport lava from the Cracks of Doom."

"You mean the Demon's Ingle."

"That's what I said." Robin replied, completely straight-faced. "I intend to have Vermil join as well."

"You really hate these things, don't you?" Walhart frowned. "It's unbecoming of a tactician to have such biases."

"I do not regret hating undead zombie abominations. They do not get a pass because they've been raised by dark magic and are called Risen."

"I see." Walhart shook his head. Robin could feel the disapproval radiating off him and ignored it. "Well, will your assassin Dant be joining the Wolfguard Initiative as well?"

"Regrettably, she's away on a deep cover assignment in Plegia." Robin said. "And to forestall your question, I also intend to include Argenita di Cratez as well."

"As I suspected." Walhart nodded. "I can't say I disapprove of Valm gaining strength, so I shall allow your obvious nepotism. Do you wish to include Virion and Say'ri as well?"

"No, I think those two are useful where they are." Robin said. Say'ri and Virion are both former rebels working for Valm. It's exactly what I wanted. A few more such turncoats on my side would be useful, but I can't really think of any. Aversa isn't from Valm, so she doesn't count towards my objective. "Your leave, Conqueror? Unless you have more tasks for me."

"No tasks, merely a message to pass on to you."

"Oh?"

"My spymaster complements you on your invisible ink trick that you used to trick your way pass Cervantes." Walhart smiled. "He says that he'll be passing the trick on to his own foreign agents. That is all."

Well… Robin sighed. Ah, that's just bad luck. I suppose there's only one thing to do now, if I consider myself a player at this game.

"I cannot ask one such as yourself to pass a message back, but your spymaster undoubtably only needs the words spoken aloud to know them." Robin bowed. "My complements to your spymaster. He seems to have gotten the best of me once again." But I only need to win once.

Report: Am I doing this right? Really hope I actually got that crypt memorized, otherwise this is just going to be a bunch of gobbledygook. Well, now that that's out of the way, I've got some news. Plegia's focusing all their efforts on rebuilding, which is a thing, I guess. (I remember you saying that most of my early reports would say as much. I don't like it when you're right.) Oh, and there's a new tactician in the Shepherds, apparently. Not Marth. Can't quite recall the name, but something like 'The Tactician Magician!' Seriously, that's a lame name. If I had something like 'The Mysterious Mercenary!', I'd kill the man who gave me that – Dant.

A/N: Yes, Shadowgift is OP in RotCT. Aversa's backstory has Validar murder her entire village and indoctrinates her just to get her barely-usable Shadowgift as a Dark Flier. It's really not worth it, so I decided to crank the power up a few notches. They'll also have far more powerful ritual magic, but I don't foresee that being an important plot point. I am also aware that both the Thirty-Six Strategems and Art of War are Chinese in origin, but the plot worked better if I split them up.