When we arrived in front of the East gate of Italica, it didn't looked like we were in front of a city that had managed to fend off a group of bandits. Instead, soldiers of an enemy army were patrolling on the walls and black and green flying beasts were either flying in circle over head or resting in the field under the curious look of the inhabitants of the city. Usually, when a detachment of knights arrives in a city, the peasants show respect in front of the clean armors, but now the only thing we were attracting was the curiosity of the man in green. For the first time, we had to decline our identity and wait for an authorization to enter in an allied city.
The stone of the wall and the dirt of the ground all around the gate had been blackened, like burnt by fires of an intense force, and marked by hundreds… No… thousands of circular impacts. From what I heard, the flying machines are the one responsible for such damages. All around us were Italicans, piling up bodies on wooden carriages before getting them to large fires which smoke could be seen several leagues away.
Escorted by several men in green, we made our way towards the castle of the city. Constantly, we were hearing the cheers of the citizens. But we knew they were not directed towards us, but towards the men with the yellow and black insignia. I almost felt ashamed under the dark look of the peasants through their window, in their head the Empire was the reason why the Italican Army had been destroyed at Alnus and why the city almost fell to the bandits.
The castle also was guarded by several men in green. The feeling of being in a city on the brink of annexation is strong, but the princess is constantly telling me that they are here to help. I have trouble trusting them.
I know that Lucius disappeared on the other side of the Gate. I know that he is probably dead by the hand of those men in green. But if the princess said they are friendly, there is a good reason. Even if I am one of her closest friend, she didn't hesitated to spit out her rage in front of me.
Extract of Boses Co Palesti's diary, Written in her room of the Italica Castle, November 29th 2016
« What have you done ? » yelled Pina, throwing her empty glass to the other side of the reception room.
The golden cup flew over the table and violently hit the forehead of Boses. A few drops of the dark red wine ran down the face of the confused knight. Without really understanding what happened to her, she fell on her knees with the loud sound of iron on the marble.
« What did we did wrong, princess ? asked Panache as she rushed towards Boses with an handkerchief. We did as we learn. How could we knew about this treaty ? »
« I sent a messenger just before the leader of Nayto even arrived, Pina answered with panic starting to appear in her voice. I thought that he reached you… »
For a few seconds, nobody dared to move. The two guards simply looked at the scene that almost felt like being out of a bad comedy you see the Sunday on the market place. One knight on her knees, another one trying to help, a princess burring her face in her hands to hide her tears, the brown aide-de-camp worried about both the princess and her fellow knights and the bald man in grey armor that seemed to be the only person that was not on the brink of mental breakdown.
« Bre… Breaking such an important part of the treaty… It could lead to Nayto attacking us… » faltered the princess, rising her head a little to look at her subordinates.
« The breaking of treaties indeed was a Casus Belli used numerous times by the Empire to invade other countries, stated Grey with the deep voice of an experienced veteran. They could in a legitimate way declare the annexation of Italica. Hopefully, not a single death is to register. Maybe that they will accept apologies. I would personally advise to persuade the… How do they call him ?... the Lieutenant that we don't have bad intentions. »
« You say that I should go to Alnus to kiss his boots ? » asked Pina, throwing a dark look to her mentor.
« Maybe not going as far as that, but if you prefer to fight their flying machines and Rory the Reaper, I will not get in your way. »
Panache that was helping Boses to get back on her feet, stopped in the middle of her action.
« What… What did you say ? Emroy's Apostle is… is with the men in green ? » the White Rose asked, not really believing what she just heard.
Pina simply nodded, making fear appear in the heart of the two Rose knights.
« Hamilton, is the General still here ? » asked the princess to her subordinate.
« Yes, princess. He is currently coordinating the first operations of reconstruction at the east gate. » stated the short woman.
« Can you please tell him to come here as soon as possible ? I need to talk with him about all of this. »
« Surely, princess. »
Hamilton bowed before leaving the room to fulfill her task. Silence returned under the look of the portraits of the numerous counts that had transformed during the years the small town hidden behind its rock into a prosper trade center. The princess shifted back her intention towards the two women in armor that were not moving by an inch.
« You… disappear from my view… I'll summon you when I will need you. »
Sadly, the two bowed and exited the room.
« You wanted to see me, Princess ? » asked LaPointe as he entered in the room, one man of his escort and his translator behind him.
« Yes, General, simply answered Pina as she was looking at the sky slowly becoming orange with the setting sun. Mohmu, make Boses and Panache come here. »
The black haired maid bowed before leaving by a small door. Pina turned around to face LaPointe. With a hand sign, she invited the officer and his translator to take a seat on one of the couch. The General nodded before sitting on the designated chair. The escorting soldier, without any order coming to him, made a step toward one of the corner of the room to watch over this impromptu meeting, much to the interrogation to the two italican guards.
« I am guessing that you made us come here to talk about this incident. » launched LaPointe to break the heavy silence that was installing itself.
« Yes… I really want to show my good intentions. My subordinates made a mistake and I really hope that I will be able to convince you not to restart the Nayto war machine. »
Pina watched worriedly the translator whispered the meaning of the sentence in the ear of the General. Surprisingly, the officer let out a small laugh, making the princess rose her eyebrow.
« You are worrying for nothing, your Highness. I perfectly understand why the members of your Order thought that the recon team was their enemy. In a way, I also have a part of responsibility in this. I shouldn't have let them go before they reached the city. »
The door slowly opened, revealing Boses and Panache through the opening. Their faces were dark, perfectly showing how the two were feeling. Sacrifices might have to be done, and they must be completely ready to do it.
« Oh… We finally have the possibility to meet peacefully. » launched LaPointe towards them with a large smile.
For the knights, this simpathy was destabilizing to say the least. For a few seconds, they were just standing there, not really sure what to do or what to say. Seeing the two paralyzed, the General continued.
« Do not worry. The Lieutenant Moreau is currently undergoing an appropriate medical treatment at Camp Alnus' field hospital and will, according to what I heard from the doctors, be fine when he will cross the Gate in two days. »
The three women sighed of relief at the same time. But Panache's curiosity forced her to ask an apparantly innocent question.
« And, with all due respect, may we know why Sir Moreau will go back to your world ? »
« Oh nothing related with you. He is going to appear in front of the French Parliament as a witness in an investigation about the death of civilians during a battle. It made quite a lot of noise when it had been heard, so he is going ther to explain why they shouldn't sanction us. »
In an instant, Pina felt like the world all around was falling apart. Even if the General has all the best intentions in the world, a direct order coming from his Senate will force him to return to an offensive. She had to think fast and act fast.
« Then I must accompany them ! »
She only realized at that moment that she was now standing up, all the looks turned towards her.
« Huh… I… I don't think that you could appear in front of the Parliament, but if you are so desperate I could arrange a meeting with our Minister of Foreign Affairs. But I can't promise anything, your Highness. » answered the General, clearly took by surprise.
The princess sat back on her sofa, the emotion rollarcoaster striking again. Passing from relief to anxiety several times in a few minutes isn't what we can call a good experience for a heart, as young as it could be.
« Thank you, General. I deeply thank you. »
« Oh, it is nothing. Helping other is technically what NATO is all about. »
On those words, the General stood up and started to walk towards the door, directly followed by his translator and the escort. As he wait one of the guard to open the door, he turned around one last time.
« Princess, I will contact you as soon as I will have more informations. Miss Boses, Miss Panache, it was a pleasure. » he said before stepping outside.
For a few seconds, the room became quiet, the two knights sharing worried looks.
« You… You really want to go to the other world, your Highness ? asked Panache. You really want to go to the enemy's capital ? »
« It is the only opportunity that I have to save the Empire. » she answered, trying to stay calm.
Camp Alnus, Base's Hospital, November 30th, 0932 AT
Beep beep.
Beep beep.
When he woke up, Anthony had the feeling of a bad hangover. He tried to open his eyes to figure out where he was in the first place, but was quickly forced to close them by a bright white light. Passing his hand over his face, the Lieutenant felt a bandage over his cheek.
For a few seconds, confusion blurred Anthony's mind. But memories, far from being pleasant, quickly reappeared. The images of the blonde knight punching him and tying him up onto her horse forced him up out of his gaze and made him completely open his eyes. He waited for his vision to focus of his surroundings and started to examine them.
As he expected, he was on the bed of a hospital room. The room in itself was small and full of diverse medical equipment. Anthony was wearing, like any other patient of the military clinic, a simple white tunic. All over his arms and legs were other bandages, witnesses of the numerous wounds that he had suffered during his few hours as a prisoner.
« Oh, Buttercup is finally awake ? » asked a voice coming from the door.
The Lieutenant turned his head towards the source of the voice. In the small entrance was visible Marc, wearing a kaki t-shirt and cargo pants. Anthony laughed before answering.
« That's how you greet someone that sacrificed himself for you. » he stated, imitating the heavy toulousian accent of the Caporal.
« You really deserve one enormous pack of beer. » launched another voice, the German accent clearly hearable.
From behind Marc, Moltke appeared and entered the room, followed by the other soldiers of Recon 3, all telling a good word to their officer.
Hearing the noise of happy chatter coming from the room, the doctor also made his way inside the cramped space, holding a clipboard.
« Good to see you are awake Lieutenant Moreau, he started while looking at the papers on his plastic board. You should consider yourself lucky, the only injuries you got were simple cuts and bruises. Nothing broke and the only thing you really needed was a good amount of rest. »
« And how much time did I slept ? » asked Anthony, in a way freaked out by the fact that he couldn't tell what happened to himself.
« Well, started again the man in white blouse, according to the medical team that brought you here, you fell from tiredness when you boarded the Black Hawk at five past eleven, and now it's around twenty before ten. »
« Twenty three hours… Damn, I think I broke my record, laughed Anthony. But does that mean that I still have to go to the summon ? »
The doctor simply nodded, causing the Lieutenant to sigh.
« Even dead they would have found a way to make you come, joked Chaumond as he drew closer to the bed. Plus you managed to have yourself fine guest. »
« Wha… »
Anthony wanted to ask a lot of questions, but he was immediately interrupted by Cavendish that had been watching the corridor of the hospital.
« Here they come ! » he barked, causing the rest of the soldiers to get into an organized line in the corridor.
The Lieutenant heard the sound of a pair of boots on the tiled floor getting closer, but it was accompanied with an unusual one for a military hospital. The sound of heels.
Through the opening of the door, he saw the soldiers snap into a rigorous salute, which indicated without a word who was coming.
Anthony, still laid down on the bed, put his flat right hand next to his forehead to form the closest thing to a salute he could do when the General LaPointe entered the room. As he expected, he was wearing his dress uniform. Behind him entered the princess and the blonde knight, wearing the same purple dress embroidered with golden thread representing the emblem of the Empire, a Targaryan-like single headed dragon. It was obvious that they were dressed for a diplomatic meeting.
« At ease Lieutenant, started LaPointe. Good to see that you are alright. Those fine ladies wanted to see how you were doing. Princess… »
Pina took a step forward and bowed respectfully while her knight was curiously observing the medical equipment.
« Sir Moreau, I am happy to hear that you are not severely wounded. I believe that now is a good time for proper introductions. » she said, before turning her towards the blonde woman that nodded and also made a step forward and bowed.
« Sir Moreau, my name is Boses Co Palesti. I deeply and sincerely apologize for what happened yesterday. »
Her voice was reflecting shame, like a child that had done something stupid.
« Oh it's nothing, simply answered Anthony as he waved his hand. I understand why you thought we were enemies. We are not used to the slow speed of the information anymore. »
The Lieutenant let out a small laugh before grabbing a small glass of water on the night table and taking a sip. As the liquid ran down his throat, he felt the burn of an irritated esophagus.
« Anyway, continued the General, we already delivered the six uniforms of those that are going to Paris tomorrow in the barracks. »
« Six ? Don't you mean four, sir ? » asked Marc, not really sure if he had heard LaPointe correctly.
« No, Caporal, six. The four uniform of those that are going to appear in front of the Parliament, plus yours and Private Chaumond's. »
The two French soldiers confusedly looked at each other. They didn't expected this good news.
« But… But why are we going back to France, sir ? » asked Chaumond, still confused.
« I managed to establish a meeting between the Princess and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I'll need you to stay with them during that time. »
« Oh great… » sighed Anthony, now that has redressed himself to sit on the bed.
« Did you said anything, Lieutenant ? » launched LaPointe towards the Lieutenant.
« No, nothing. »
« Anyway, the rendezvous is at 0700 hours tomorrow. » said the General before indicating with his hands the exit to Pina and Boses.
The three made a few meters in the corridor before being stopped by LaPointe, launching a last thing to his soldiers.
« And don't forget to pack some civilians clothes… You will need them. »
Camp Alnus, Refugee Camp, November 30th, 1400 AT
« Me ? Going through the Gate ? »
The surprise was clearly visible on the elf's face. The news was clearly unexpected.
« Yes, answered Marc as he opened a cold Oasis can. There, the only non-humans they saw were mindless brutes and I guess they want to show that intelligent species exist here. »
The Caporal took a sip of the soda before closing the door of the fridge. The refugee camp's common room was as big as a standard lodging, but instead of the bed and the large closet, the Genie had kindly installed a small kitchen, a couch and a small television. He made a few steps and stopped by the opened window offering a view of the Camp Alnus' grey walls.
« And who else is coming ? » asked Tuka, putting down the pen she had been using to dress a basic list of the different plants that could be found in the region and their known effect on the body.
« Well… Lelei is coming to do the translation, and I think that someone else is coming but I don't know who…. » launched Moltke, lying on the couch and looking at his phone.
« And what are we going to do there ? Are we going to visit French cities ? »
« Well first we will go to the Parliament where senators and delegates are going to ask us questions about what happened when… huh… we helped… the refugees. » The German officer had trouble finding his words, trying not pronounce the name that could literally blow Tuka's mind.
« Then apparently LaPointe's approved a "tour" of Paris and a few other things. » continued Marc as he turned his back to the opening in the wall to cover Moltke's hesitation.
The two shared a look full of relief when after a few seconds, the elf's facial expression was still unchanged.
« Oh and before I forget, you should have received a package with clothes in it. »
« Yes, there was a heavy white wool shirt and a black tunic… Jenkins told me how it is called… Huh… a suit ? »
Tuka was literally the only thing remaining from her village if you don't count ruins and burnt corpses, and the traditional elf clothing she was wearing then had been cut in two by Trevis. Since then, she was either wearing white t-shirts or sweatshirt provided by NATO.
« Well you will have to wear the suit when you'll be at the Assemblée, and the heavy shirt will be for later because right now on the other side, it is currently winter. »
« And what about me ? »
The question came from behind Marc, where nobody was a few seconds before. After slowly turning their heads, the two Recon 3 soldier were now looking at Emroy's Apostle, sitting on the ridge of the window and holding her axe behind her back.
« Oh huh… Rory… I don't know if… » faltered the Caporal, clearly surprised the apparition of the girl just behind him without him noticing.
« They're surely think that you're just a regular child dressed in weird clothes. Nobody will believe that you are a demi-goddess. »
« I could still perform some miracles. » she simply launched as she jumped down from the window and made her way towards an open pack of cookie that was on the table.
« If by that you mean miracles like in Italica, it's not going to be possible. » Moltke came back, rising from the couch.
« Enough ! Rory suddenly yelled, poking the ground with the handle of her halberd. You want to leave me here and go have fun together, isn't it ? »
Everybody stood still, frozen by the sudden change of mood of the Apostle and by her dark look sweeping across the room. The only one that dared to move was Marc, grabbing his own phone and dialing the Lieutenant's number.
« Euh, Anthony, je crois que Rory veut nous suivre demain… Quoi ? T'es sûr ? Et sa hache alors ? Je crois pas que ce soit une bonne idée… Attends, ils sont d'accord ? Ok alors… C'est leur problème après tout… Ouais, je lui dis. »
He pressed the red button on the tactile screen before putting back thee device in a pocket of his cargo pants.
« You can consider yourself lucky. Anthony is alright with it. » sighed the Caporal.
The Apostle expression returned to her usual happiness as she started a little dance like a kid that just learnt that his parents will bring him to a theme park.
I am currently in the middle of the camp of the Nayto army. Well, I say camp by habit, but there is not a single tent visible within a radius of several leagues. Everything here is metal, bags of sand and a strange grey stone that they call "concrete".
Early this morning, the officer leading the men in green staying at Italica told us that the General LaPointe managed to arrange a meeting with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, the head of all their diplomacy. With my position as the Third Imperial Princess, I expected to meet their minister but for now I can only take the opportunities they give me. Boses and I had already packed the bare minimum to stay on the other side of the Gate for a few days in simple cloth bags. This maybe was an official visit in another country, but it is a secret that I must keep from Father and the rest of the Empire and that Nayto must keep from their foes. With little ceremony, we were lead to a group of vehicles that they call "Humvees" and asked to get inside one. Even after flying in one of their "helicopter", being locked inside a vibrating metal box was still terrifying for me, but for Boses, it was even worse. The fear of being eaten by this enormous green monster was constantly on her face before being replaced by the fear of the speed. The heavy machines were moving faster than anything imaginable by someone from our world. It was so fast that from Italica, we reached the Holy Hill of Alnus in only a few hours. The times of the empty hill subject to yearly pilgrimages are over. Now this is a real city, populated by all of the soldiers of this powerful army, protected by large walls shaped like a star that lays all around a large iron dome. But before we even entered, Nayto started to show its power to us. Flying machines were passing overhead constantly, heavy armored wagons bigger than the one we were in transporting a dozen men and even bigger iron elephants moving their large snouts around before making the ground shake and producing the largest explosion we both ever saw.
The vehicles lead us to the largest building of the camp. From the outside, it looked like the manor of a rich merchant of Sadera, but the numerous flags that were situated on the plaza in front of the entrance made it clear that it was an important place in the area. On each side of the door were a line of soldier holding their wands in a way that was obviously meant for protocol. When the vehicle stopped, I saw the General LaPointe and his translator getting out of the front door and heading towards us. With a large smile, he opened the metal door and extend his hand to help Boses to get out of the cramped carriage. I saw that she was unsure of what to do, and in a way I understand her… Knowing what power this man was handling was terrifying. With hesitation, she grabbed the hand and almost let herself be pulled out. LaPointe then closed the door before turning around and opening the door at my left. I can still remember his words and how he told them.
« Your Highness, I really hope that you had a good trip. »
Those were words that showed how he was considering me, and by extension the Empire. People he can have friendly relations with.
I think he was expecting the answer I gave him.
« I never thought that something on land could go that fast. »
« You know, a lot of things here and on the other side are imaginable for you, but I'm not going to say anything. I hate ruining surprises. »
After that he lead us inside the building. All around us were men and women in green uniforms walking or running around. Some were holding papers, others were transporting crates… It was like walking in the middle of a market in Akusho during the rush hour. From all the men surrounding us, maybe half of them didn't noticed us.
We entered inside the General's office. Compared to where I work in my palace of Sadera Hill, it was a small room. A small but definitely not empty one. Large pieces of metallic furniture full of scrolls, books and a few pieces of memorabilia. Even on the desk that was sitting at the opposite side of the room, free space was rare.
After making one step into the room, he saluted a woman sitting behind a smaller table right next to the door. In front of her was a strange black object that looked like a book, but resting sideway as she was pressing on buttons marked with letters. They exchanged a few words in their language before the General turned around and invited us to take a seat. If you ever thought that the sofas of the Imperial Palace were the most comfortable seat someone could dream of, then they must try the ones coming from the other world.
But I digress.
LaPointe sat behind his desk and started to explain to us what will happen in the next days. We will cross the Gate with the group that accompanies Sir Moreau on his way to the Senate of France before splitting with them to meet the Minister, a man called Jean-Marc Ayrault. We will then reunite with the group to what he said is going to be, and I directly quote him, "two days of discovery." He then noticed Boses picking up and looking curiously at a small painting that was next to her on the desk.
It was like someone froze time and put it behind a piece of glass, and I doubt that it was made by a painter, as such level of details are impossible to accomplish with a brush. On it, the General was younger next to other men in uniform. Strangely, their clothes weren't green, but yellow and tan and all around them was the bright yellow sand of a desert.
« What is that ? » asked Boses, really confused.
« That ? It's a photograph of me and other officer in Iraq, twenty five years ago… »
I felt a sort of melancholia in his voice, like he was missing those times. But he continued his explanation before I could say something.
« This might be the best example of modern war, your Highness. The country of Iraq invaded one of its neighbor, Kuwait, for natural resources and a larger access to the sea. A large coalition, lead by the United States of America, declared war on Iraq because their claim weren't founded. We went to war not for the land, but to protect legitimate borders, populations and peace despite being the ones of a country on the other side of the planet… »
This and what the Lieutenant already told me yesterday was making it clearer that the Empire, even with a similar power than Nayto's, would suffer because of how we consider our neighbors and our vassals.
After this little discussion, he then lead us to another building where a large room equipped with two beds was waiting for us. Despite the lack of decoration, our small apartments maybe are the things that are the most surprising. A small door is leading to a room where metallic pipes comes out of the wall. Next to those curved pipes are lever. If you pull on a lever, the pipe next to it start to spit a waterfall directly into a pierced bucket. According to the men in green I could talk to, this apparently is used to clean yourself faster than a regular bath and can be found in a majority of houses in the other world.
Now, the night is falling and I must sleep as much as possible before tomorrow. Every single detail will be important.
Tomorrow might be the most important day in the history of the Empire.
Well, when I said I will slow down writing OMJ, I didn't thought I would slow down that much.
But hey, I finished it and now it is all yours to enjoy. I know this chapter is not the most interesting, but it is always better than having just a few lines quickly explaining it all. You all know what is coming next...
The crossing of the Gate and the discovery of Paris.
But I won't say anything, you'll have to deserve it.
New Universe Returns - Thanks. For now I'm trying to focus on the main group visiting our world, but having other characters doing it later could be a good idea.
The Tundra Fox - As I said one day on the forum, yeah I noticed how it sounded french and that at first without realising it, I called Anthony "Marceau" before changing it. Only now I realize how dumb I am because it would have helped making the whole "daddy issues" make sense... I'm currently still thinking on wether or not including this part to the Fire Dragon part. Plus adding the interrogation scenes make it easier to have exposition comming from the characters not sound awkward.
Nicodemus V - I used AC/DC's Hells Bells, but I didn't knew that there was other Hells Bells made by other people.