Act 2, Part 6: Tipping Points
Tianbao breathed heavily, gripping his sword tightly in his hand. The enemy wasn't powerful, but he had been fighting relentlessly for days. His squad was spread thin beside him and just as exhausted. The Tarheed soldier that he was facing could see his fatigue on his face, which was why he grinned as he charged forward. Tianbao parried his blade and pushed him back before slicing his blade through the air, sending a beam of energy towards the surprised soldier, who was caught squarely in the chest.
The attack hadn't been powerful enough to draw blood, but Tianbao wouldn't have done that regardless, even if he had been at full strength. Restraint was one of the first lessons that Idalia had taught him, and he carried her lessons into every battle that he entered, her voice ringing crisply through his mind, as though she were standing next to him.
"To a warrior, victory is assured through superior strength. But not for a knight. We are the sword and shield of the Empress – a physical expression of her will. Whether her throne is empty or filled, the people of Maple World will know her through us. Every action we take must be carefully measured, always. We are the embodiments of all that she represents. The Noblesses stand not for power or domination. We embody restraint. Compassion. Justice. You must engrave these ideals in every swing of your sword."
And so, Tianbao strode forward and pointed his sword at the soldier's throat.
"Surrender. You are beaten," he said calmly.
The soldier looked up at him and spat blood out of his mouth.
"Surrender? To yeh?" he asked mockingly. "I won't lose to a teddy bear."
Tianbao resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You can't win against me. And I won't take the life of an unarmed opponent."
"How noble," the soldier said sarcastically. "Is that where yer name comes from? Noblesse? Yer fancy sword 'n shield won't save yeh. Whether yeh kill me or not, King Riche'll still hold this land. And then, he's comin' fer yer precious Empress."
"I don't understand. What about him inspires such devotion from you?" Tianbao asked. "The Tarheeds started out as a gang of thugs. Forgive me, but I would've thought that loyalty isn't high on the list of values shared by criminals."
"I ain't no criminal. I'm a soldier in the king's army. Fightin' for my goddamn home 'n country."
"Your 'king' is nothing more than a bully strongarming his way into power. El Nath has known no ruler for five centuries. The Lion King was the last to hold power in this country."
"That's right. 'N after he disappeared, who do yeh think was left to keep the cold from freezin' our faces off? Not yer Empress, that's fer sure. What's she been doin' up there all this time? Where's she been all these years while we froze to death each winter? When we had nothin' to eat? When the monsters 'n spirits devoured us 'n left our bodies to the flies?"
Tianbao grimly kept his mouth closed. This was the same retort that all the Tarheeds whom he had spoken with had given him, and just like every other time, he had no defense to give back.
"Ye won't come down from yer high 'n mighty perch in the sky fer us, but ye will to keep yer power, won't ye? What'll ye do once this war is over? Go back to yer floatin' island? Leave us right as ye found us?"
The man met Tianbao's faltering gaze with his own blazing eyes. The panda could feel his grip on his sword loosen. What was there for him to say? The words came easily enough. That he wasn't the one at fault. That he was just following orders. But what did those words mean to a man like the one in front of him? Who was to blame was an irrelevance. Displacing the man's anger from him would accomplish nothing.
"We will take responsibility for our mistakes," he finally said. "As will you."
"Our mistakes?" the man demanded angrily. "Yeh still don't get it, do ye? This right here? It's a reckonin'. When the winters came, we waited. Our parents, our children – we buried 'em in the snow. But still, we waited. Even when the beasts came to pick us off, one by one. When the rivers froze over. When the hunger drove its fangs into us. If we left it to ye and yer Empress, we'd have died waitin' fer salvation."
The man grinned. "But Riche… he told us that we don't have to wait no more. He says that our salvation is in our own hands. That if we want our lives back, we have to reclaim it ourselves. He says the angel will smite the sinners. 'N apathy is a sin, too, he told us. Doin' nothin' when yeh could've done somethin'. That's why the Noblesses are all sinners. And yer Empress too."
It was true, Tianbao thought. It was something that Idalia had told them over and over again.
"Listen, I want you all to remember this, and to remember it well. Your actions have consequences. In the heat of battle, everything that you do matters. The smallest hesitation, the slightest extra force in your swing – they have the power to change the outcome to something else entirely. And this isn't just for combat. The things you say, the things you do – and yes, even the things you don't do. Apathy is a choice. And like all choices, it has its own consequences. The Noblesses stand against injustice. Remember that the next time you're told to answer injustice with inactivity."
The younger Noblesses hadn't heard that speech before. It had been Idalia's favorite lesson, and one that the Senate had put a stop to. Teaching out of policy wasn't looked at kindly, especially when it was a thinly veiled criticism of that policy. Looking back, he realized that Idalia's feud against the Senate was a long one. And the more that time went on, the more he saw just how right she'd been. The Tarheed soldier was right. This war was indeed a reckoning.
"You're right. We are sinners," Tianbao agreed. "We chose to do nothing out of fear. We have our reasons, of course. But all the reasons in the world can't undo the wrongs that were committed through our inactivity. And I'm complicit in those wrongs by choosing to do nothing. But if answering injustice with inactivity is a sin, then so is answering inactivity with injustice. We were responsible for the suffering of El Nath's people. But we were not responsible for their deaths. That sin is for you and your king alone to bear."
The soldier's eyebrows furrowed. "We didn't kill no one. We might've torched some villages, but that was to draw out the spirits. They're the real sinners – the biggest ones of all. The snowstorms, the monster attacks, even possessions, accordin' to Riche's story, it's all the spirits' fault. 'N once we destroy them, El Nath will finally be at peace. A couple o' burned buildings is a small price to pay for salvation."
"I can't speak for the spirits – I've never met one," Tianbao said. "But with no shelter and no provisions, those people that you've displaced will die. You call their suffering a small price? Tell me something: did the Huntsman King ask for their consent to be sacrificed before he began this crusade of his? Or did he treat them as indistinguishable blurs in the faceless masses? I'll tell you what I think – he saw them as nothing more than a wretched lot whose lives could sink no lower."
"Their lives could go no lower," the soldier retorted. "Some of 'em probably had to eat the dead in order to last through the winter. 'N it's not like Riche left 'em to die. We give food 'n clothes to the places we liberate. We look out for our own."
"We're housing enough refugees in asylums all across the world for me to know that's very much untrue. I don't know what you're being told by the Tarheeds, but I can promise that entire villages across this land have disappeared over the past two years. The reality is that your king gave up on them. Let's say that he did have a point about the spirits. Perhaps the spirits are abominations that need to be purged. Still, that cannot justify the deaths that he's caused. Lives have been cut short because of him. People who once smiled, who once loved and hoped and dreamed – he stole their futures from them. Their lives were miserable, it's true, but he took away their chance to see a better tomorrow. Your king is a sinner too."
"So, what? Ye want me to abandon him, is that it? I already know that yer people don't take prisoners. Is this yer way of makin' it so that ye don't get yer hands dirty with my blood? I'm no traitor – I won't abandon my duties. Yer preachin's changed nothin'. Yer a sinner, I'm a sinner, everyone's a sinner. The difference is that yer sin would change nothin' for us. But ours will. 'N when we come out at the end of this, ye think that our children, or our children's children will lose sleep o'er how it is that they can know that peace?"
Tianbao sighed quietly. This was the closest that he'd ever gotten through to a Tarheed, and even then, there was clearly no chance of changing his mind. And the soldier was right – they didn't have the room to take prisoners. Which meant that there was only one choice left to make.
"We embody restraint. Compassion. Justice. You must engrave these ideals in every swing of your sword."
. . .
"Commander Tianbao," Dances with Balrog greeted as Tianbao entered the strategy room.
"Greetings," Tianbao said unenergetically. He then noticed Yin standing in the room as well. "Dark Lord. It's an honor."
"You seem rather weary," Yin observed. "Perhaps you should get some rest. From what Dances with Balrog has been telling me, you've been fighting for the past two weeks without relent."
"I appreciate the concern, but I'm fine," Tianbao replied. "The sooner this war is over, the faster we can begin the rebuilding effort."
"All things come at their own pace," Dances with Balrog reminded him. "We cannot force a resolution through sheer persistence alone. Wearing yourself down will only hurt you in the long run."
"He's right," Yin added. "Our enemies are getting stronger. Compromising your strength will only result in defeat."
"I… yes, you're right," Tianbao admitted. "I just… I'm worried about the refugees. Our ploy to draw their attention from Skuas worked for a time. But they know where we are now. This fortress is almost impregnable, I will admit, but we can't last forever. Without the Explorers, we're on our own."
Abdullah had managed to weasel in his own condition into the Magatia neutrality pact. In exchange for total neutrality enforced by the Explorer Guild, the Explorers, in turn, were to remain completely neutral if they were to continue policing neutrality. Which meant that the Explorers were no longer permitted to fight alongside the Noblesses.
"There was no avoiding it," Dances with Balrog noted. "The Noblesses, as the enforcers of Ereve, have martial jurisdiction. Abdullah is too clever to have been talked into allowing civilians to hold the same authority through affiliation alone."
"The loss is indeed great," Yin said. "And I can't say that it hasn't significantly impacted our chances of victory. In fact, it's the reason for my visit," she told Tianbao. "I was just telling Dances with Balrog that we've confirmed that our missing scouts were ambushed by a band of mercenaries."
"The ones that we sent beyond the basin?"
"Yes. It's just as we feared – the mercenaries were hired from Mu Lung."
"What does their government say?"
"They're investigating, but they make no promises. It seems that some of the chiefs are having misgivings about hosting the refugees."
"Do you think that they're the ones who hired the mercenaries?" Dances with Balrog asked.
"I wouldn't believe so," Tianbao explained. "The chiefs of Mu Lung are honorable. No matter their personal feelings, they wouldn't allow those doubts to interfere with their decision making."
"I agree," Yin added. "We've investigated them and they're all clean. No underworld ties, no history of consorting with the enemy – at worst, the ones having misgivings might be less enthusiastic to take on the extra work of looking into the attacks, but I can say with certainty that the mercenaries must have been hired by Riche."
"We did know that he's been sending his people to Mu Lung for the past several months," Tianbao recalled. "And there's no chance that it might've been Abdullah?"
"If he was, then he's been covering his tracks very well," Yin said. "But regardless of the culprit, their motives are still the same."
"They hope to weaken us by dividing our attention," Dances with Balrog noted. "And they're willing to use any means necessary. Commander Tianbao, you're more familiar with Mu Lung than the rest of us. What do you believe is the best way to handle the mercenaries?"
"The warriors of Mu Lung are taught to fight with honor and respect. Everything that we do is based on merit – we have to earn what we have. Competition is fierce, but just."
As he began explaining the way of Mu Lung, he started recalling his childhood. Their family was an old one, and one that had long held a great deal of respect. His father was a small government official, while his mother was a painter. Both his parents had spent years honing their skills in order to continue maintaining the honor of their family, especially in light of how his uncle had stained their reputation.
His mother and his uncle had come from a long line of successful warriors. His grandmother had initially attempted to teach them both, though his mother had quickly left her tutelage in order to hone her talent as a painter, though she claimed that swordsmanship and brushwork were one and the same. His grandmother had then taught his uncle all that she knew, and after years of study, his uncle had passed the rigorous martial exams.
Soon after Tianbao had been born, his uncle had been caught escorting poachers who had been illegally transporting dragon parts from Leafre to sell on the black market. It was said that making a tonic from dragon brains and teeth had the ability to boost one's innate strength and intelligence, which would give one an edge in the rigorous merit exams.
A disciplinary panel had soon unearthed that his uncle had been taking many such dishonorable missions over the years, for which he had been given a life sentence – quite characteristic of Mu Lung's infamously harsh legal system. Their family name had been stained from the scandal, and his grandmother had renounced the way of the sword in shame at having played a role in the training of a criminal.
From a young age, Tianbao had grown up with the stigma of his uncle's dishonorable act hanging over his head. It was because of that stigma that he had decided from a young age that he wanted to become a swordsman and restore his family's honor. He had spent many years attempting to wear his grandmother down in order to convince her to teach him, though his grandmother had repeatedly refused, claiming that all she had left to her name was her vow to renounce swordsmanship.
In the end, it was his mother who had taught him the basics of swordsmanship. Though she hadn't wielded a blade since her childhood, she had continued to maintain her belief that the sword and the brush were one and the same. Tianbao had made up for his shaky foundation with a combination of artistry and determination, which had given rise to his unusual fighting technique.
Despite his best efforts, however, Tianbao had spectacularly failed his martial exams, and despite his parents' reassurance, he had spent months believing that he had destroyed what little honor their family had left. After months of isolating himself, Tianbao had finally been confronted by his grandmother, who had told him that there was another path still open to him that could give him the honor that he had made it his mission to earn for the family.
And so, Tianbao had attempted to join the Noblesses. After a thorough vetting and a practical examination, Tianbao had been selected to join the knighthood at the age of 12. Over the years, Tianbao managed to restore his family's honor after being officially knighted, and with his uncle passing away soon after, he believed that the unfortunate chapter of their family had finally been closed for good.
"…and so, our best bet to stopping the mercenaries would be handing them over to the Mu Lung legal system," he finished. "Most of them are just opportunists who want to make extra money. And while some of them are quite powerful, most of them – especially the ones that Riche would hire – are those who've failed their merit exams and believe that they have no other path for the future. If they find out that we're making a dedicated effort to catch them and hand them over to the chiefs, we'll deter the rest. No matter how much Riche pays them, they won't risk a life sentence, or worse."
"That's a good idea," Dances with Balrog. "But the risk remains that we will need to divide our forces. The mercenaries will continue employing guerilla tactics, and they hold the advantage of the high ground as we make our way through the mouth of the basin. We cannot risk losing our forces by spending too long scouting the area."
"And there's still the other problem that we're facing," Yin noted. "Our ports along the coast are wide open for the Tarheeds to attack. At the moment, we have less than half our evacuation lanes available to us. In fact, the boat that I came in was under attack upon arrival. I made swift work of the enemy, but other escorts won't fare as well as I did."
"There truly is no limit to how low they'll sink just to wound us," Dances with Balrog said grimly.
"Idalia would call it a 'potshot'," Tianbao said, smiling slightly.
"How is Ser Idalia?" Yin asked. "From what I understand, she's been in Ereve for the last several months now."
"She's doing well," Tianbao explained. "Better than she has in a while, I'd say. She hasn't said much to me, just that there's been an unexpected development in her investigation on the dark magician."
"Development? You mean the refugee that she saved? The one whose son was chosen as the Knight of Light?" Yin asked.
"Yes. I'm told that they've learned more about the tome that was linked to her past. Idalia says that she's also planning to return back to Skuas, so you might be able to ask her more about it during your next visit."
"If only I could," Yin sighed. "I'm afraid that my attention will be grabbed by the status of our northern evacuations for the foreseeable future."
"The training center?" Tianbao asked.
"Indeed. I brought the reports with me, but to summarize, the evacuation of northern El Nath is almost complete. It's a shame that our training center amounted to nothing with the neutrality pact in place, but at the very least, our graduates are more than capable of protecting the refugees during their trip through Orbis Tower."
"It's fortunate that Master Heinrich was able to convince the Nymphs to accept the refugees, at least for a short time," Tianbao said.
"It's certainly one less problem to worry about. If we can save them from being forced to excavate that mine of Riche's, I'll be glad."
"The fact that he's made that unfortunate town his capital city is quite surprising," Dances with Balrog noted. "As is the fact that he's found himself relying on the grace of a spirit for his wealth."
"I'm sure that in his mind, he views it as him liberating that treasure from the unworthy," Tianbao said. "It seems that he's made quite an impression on the Tarheeds. Enough that they believe themselves to be liberators of a sinful world."
"A priest fancying himself a king isn't something that I thought I'd live to see," Yin said.
"His philosophy is quite alluring to the powerless, which makes it that much more dangerous," Dances with Balrog noted.
"It doesn't help that they have every right to be angry," Tianbao said resignedly. "I've been talking to some of the Tarheeds during my battles with them. They see Riche's rise as an inevitability after centuries of being ignored by Ereve."
Dances with Balrog and Yin briefly glanced at each other in understanding. It seemed that this was the real reason why Tianbao had been so tired after returning from battle.
"Having to face unfortunate truths is a great test of strength," Dances with Balrog told him. "Accepting that truth takes immense courage, but finding the will to move ahead in the face of that acceptance is even harder."
"And Ereve's reasons for withdrawal are valid concerns. Riche and Abdullah both threaten to seize control of Maple World, even while they believe that the Empress is still present. If the knowledge of her absence had been public from the beginning, there's no telling how much chaos would have ensued," Yin added.
"Still, that doesn't erase the fact that Ereve willfully ignored the plight of its people. I've read about the great war from centuries ago. In spite of facing one of the most powerful enemies in history, Empress Aria never once backed down until the very end. It just feels like… with her death, the spirit of Ereve died with her. It doesn't make sense to me why so many people – the Senate, the elders, even Shinsoo – would all just fall apart in the Empress' absence. I know that Shinsoo made the Piyos to help the Empress, but it feels like… like they're not even real people without having someone to follow."
"The best and the poorest leaders find the measure of their skills through a trial by fire," Dances with Balrog explained. "For me, that test was quite literal. My ancestor, Crawls with Balrog, became the first chief of Perion after driving out the wild boars of the wastelands. Like him, I became chief during a time of great crisis, when Fire Boars attacked our town."
Perion was a barren wasteland that had inexplicably bordered a lush forest teeming with life energy. As the people of Victoria Island had settled, they had soon discovered traces of an ancient civilization that had long since vanished centuries ago.
It remained unknown what this forgotten kingdom was called, nor were there any records of how it had vanished. However, it was clear that the kingdom had once stood in the barren wastelands, and a brief investigation by the mages of Ellinia had revealed that an ominous magical force had drained the life energy from the land itself.
Because it had been quite unsuitable for a town, the pioneers of that time had chosen to settle in the southern plains instead, leaving the wastelands all but forgotten. Many years later, however, the wild boars of the wastelands – left unchecked – had increased in number and had threatened to invade the fledging towns of Victoria Island.
Crawls with Balrog, like many others, had been a foundling of the great war – children whose pasts had been erased by the violence of those dark times. The refugees of Ossyria had banded together to build a home for those displaced children, many of whom had forgotten their roots, save for a few memories and traditions, which had eventually blended together into something new.
Over the years, the foundlings, who had grown and trained together, had hoped to carve a space for their large family. When the wild boars had invaded, Crawls with Balrog had bravely led them into battle, after which they had declared the wastelands to be their own. And thus, Perion had been built upon the ruins of a kingdom with no past, by foundlings with no pasts – a haven for a family that would gladly adopt those who had nowhere to go.
"My ancestor was but a foundling of the great war. And yet, our people's stories say that the Wisemen of his time had foreseen a great destiny for him," Dances with Balrog continued. "For him, destiny had chosen him to lead. But for me, I discovered my path through trial. And the opposite holds true as well. Just as many learn that they are poor leaders, some are born knowing that they were not meant to lead. Crawls with Balrog had been destined for greatness – it had been known since before he could talk. The Piyos, perhaps, know their own destiny as well. They know that they are destined to fail should they attempt to step into power."
"The Piyos were made to advise the Empress," Yin added. "Their wisdom gives them insight, but insight is nothing without the clarity and cunning to wield it. That is the way of the thieves, and a hard truth that many would do well to remember. I imagine that the Piyos are well aware of their shortcomings, and they believed that the best thing they could do was to do nothing, lest they cause more harm through direct action."
"But doing nothing still has consequences," Tianbao protested. "For them to have chosen to do nothing without even trying – that's the same thing as giving up. Idalia spent so many years fighting against their policies, and when she realized that nothing would change, she decided to go against their orders because she couldn't stand being complicit any longer. That's how we ended up finding Kari – that is, the next Knight of Light – in the first place."
"I do not mean to defend their actions," Yin explained. "Merely to understand them. I believe that inaction has its uses. After all, thieves wait for opportunity in the shadows. But I agree. The Piyos may have been unequipped to lead, and perhaps they believed that to withdraw was to give the world its best chance at survival. But it's just as you say – doing nothing has consequences. However, I believe that your concerns run deeper than that, Tianbao. What is it that truly troubles you?"
"I… I'm afraid that this war will have solved nothing. Our adversaries were born from our mistakes. But what happens after we win? What's keeping something like this from happening again? Idalia is doing everything she can to change Ereve, but I fear that things won't change fast enough. If it's like you say, the Senate will see this war as even more reason to withdraw from the world, and pretty soon, we'll be facing another Riche."
"Your concerns are valid," Dances with Balrog said. "But the time is not yet right to face them."
"Isn't this the exact time to be facing them?" Tianbao asked. "Before the time for rebuilding comes upon us?"
"My ancestor shared his wisdom with us long ago. It is a saying that has been passed down from chief to chief. 'A warrior must do his duty without concern for the results.'"
"But… don't we act in order to bring about a desired result?"
"Indeed. But when your focus fixates on those results, it takes away your focus from actually achieving them. You spend so much of your time concerned about the effects of your actions that you are no longer living in the present. On what it is that you're doing in the here and now. We are not in control of the results, and thus, there is no need to concern ourselves with them. If we act with all our determination, free of distraction, those results will naturally follow. This war is not yet won, and we need our leaders to first bring us victory. And when the time for reformation comes upon us, we will be able to turn our attention to it, with all our focus."
Tianbao considered Dances with Balrog's words. The idea of detaching oneself from an outcome was a foreign thought to him. Idalia had always taught him to be mindful of the future – to account for every outcome well before they happened. Her forward-thinking mind was one which would never be able to accept the idea of acting without having a larger goal in mind.
But at the same time, there was truth in Dances with Balrog's advice. Tianbao himself was all too aware that his mind had been elsewhere during every battle that he'd fought over the past month. His focus was fractured, and it was taking a toll on his energy.
Ruminating endlessly on the Senate's actions – both on and off the battlefield – wasn't going to help him with what he was doing now. And yet, it was still something that kept weighing on his mind. The heavy thoughts were taking their toll on him, and it made him wonder – was this what Idalia had been going through all these years?
"Perhaps you're right," Tianbao said. "Still, the act of letting go doesn't come easily to most. Myself included. How did you do it?"
"For me, it was difficult," Yin said. "I grew up an orphan. My thoughts dwelled with my family for many years. I became a thief with the intent of using my skills to find them, and it was all that I could think about for many years. Letting go of that dream came at the cost of accepting the fact that what I wanted was not possible. But past the disappointment came the realization that what I'd been looking for was right before my eyes – the people of Kerning City who had been with me for my entire life. I was able to let go by changing my perspective. But my experience may be different from Dances with Balrog."
"In my youth, I was trained to hone my mind as I trained my body," Dances with Balrog explained. "I grew up with the wisdom of the chiefs who came before me. For much of my youth, I believed that I had mastered the practice of detachment. That clarity is what had helped shape my skills as a warrior, and why I had been able to lead Perion through our Fire Boar crisis."
"So, for you, it came naturally?" Tianbao asked.
"In a sense, yes. But all that changed when I became chief. Suddenly, I was faced with decision after decision. Every thought preceded another. Every action came with consequences. Mastering detachment is simple for a warrior. But for a leader… detachment is dangerous. Acting without focusing on the result is possible, but it can never be done at the cost of disregarding consequence. Leadership is the ultimate test of this philosophy."
"But you said it can be done – have you mastered how to do it?"
"From my time as chief, I have struggled immensely with balancing my responsibilities with my mindfulness of the present. Like you, I often find myself thinking of the future. The future of my people, the future of the Explorers, and most recently, the future of Maple World. Anxious thoughts cross my mind unbidden. Fears that our actions aren't enough. That I should be doing something more, even while knowing that I am doing all that I can."
Tianbao nodded in agreement. "How did you overcome it?"
"If there's one thing that I've learned since my youth, it's that fear is not something that can be simply overcome. Fear is an instinct that comes to us without instruction. It is the enemy of the human spirit, and one whose assault can only be overcome through presence of mind. I train myself to remember where the focus of my reality lies. When I am in battle, I am a warrior, and a warrior alone. When I am a leader, I remove my weapons from sight. Distinguishing where my priorities lie is how I can remain mindful."
"I agree," Yin said. "As the Dark Lord, I also worry for the future of Kerning City, and when the war broke out, I was besieged with fears that I had no control over what would happen to my people, despite being responsible for them. But as Dances with Balrog said, I reminded myself of what I had control over, and what I did not. I think that mediating on that might help you."
"And once you do, train yourself to recall the things that you are in control of. Remembering what you can do will help center your focus in the present," Dances with Balrog added.
"I see…" Tianbao said. "Thank you both for your wisdom. I'll do my best to heed your advice."
As he said the words, Tianbao began thinking to himself what it was that he could control. His senses, of course, and his sense of strategy. He could control the way he could move his body in battle, and in a broader sense, he was the commander of the Noblesses. This meant that he had control over the way that their forces responded in battle, and the Senate held regard for his counsel and assessments.
But at the same time, he didn't have control over how the Senate would respond to his suggestions. He didn't have control over what the enemy would do, nor did he have control over what the reconstruction effort would look like.
He was a commander of the army, not a politician, which meant that his control was limited to mere suggestion. That thought was what bothered him the most, but he reminded himself that the point of the exercise was to acknowledge the parts of the situation that he could change.
And it was like Dances with Balrog had said – it was too early to worry about something in the distant future. Whatever reservations he had, whatever it was that he wanted to change – it was something that he needed to push aside for the moment.
Of course, that was easier said than done. His mind kept pushing the thoughts at the forefront, filling him with anxiety and dread. This type of training would be more difficult than anything that he'd done – it was a total reconditioning of his perspective and a synthesis of all that he had learned over the years. It was something that would take time and constant effort. But if he was to bring about the future that he desired, then he would need to master this technique.
"Every action we take must be carefully measured, always."
"A warrior must do his duty without concern for the results."
There was a way that both these teachings could be true. And for the sake of the future, he would find it.
. . .
"Are we all here?" Riche asked. "Good, let us begin, then."
The old council chamber of Astafi had been repurposed into Tarheed war room that they all sat in. Over the past two years, the humble mining town had been reshaped into something akin to a cross between a small city and a work camp. Riche had been determined to make Astafi the capital of his new kingdom, and he had spared no expense to transform it into something that would sit as the crown jewel of the Huntsman King's sphere of influence. The priest still wore his simple garb, but there was an air of regality in the way that he now carried himself, as though he had grown quite comfortable with his new power.
Dion's eyes darted from Riche to the others seated at the round table. Aspen, disinterested as always, was picking at the half-healed cuts on his fingers. Wren was sitting with her legs demurely crossed, smirking ever so slightly at the way that Dion had been intently gazing at Riche.
Meanwhile, Mari was fixated on the report that she had brought with her. Surprisingly, Riche had been teaching her to read, and while it had taken several months for her to start getting the hang of it, she now spent all her time practicing by reading through all sorts of reports on military, mining, and even schematics for alchemical inventions from Magatia.
"Captain Mari, would you care to begin?" Riche asked. "You may begin with the status of our latest operation near Skuas Fortress."
"Yes, milord. Our scouts met a Noblesse force near the edge o' Windsleep Forest. All but one were killed. The survivor said 'e saw the panda commander there."
"Seems like they were expectin' us," Dion noted. "Which means they still have spies in the city."
"Colonel Wren, how goes the effort to root out the weeds?" Riche said, turning his steel eyes towards her.
"We caught two last week, my lord," Wren explained. "Got nothing useful out of them, so I put them on display with the others."
The display at the city square was Wren's favorite project, composed of the heads of all the spies that she'd discovered and placed on pikes as a warning for all enemies to flee the city.
"Good. The sooner the vermin leave this city, the better," Riche said in satisfaction. "The Dark Lord and her servants have been a thorn in our side for far too long. Perhaps a stronger message may be needed."
"I'll think of something, my lord," Wren offered.
Riche nodded approvingly. "Captain Mari, continue."
"Yes, milord. Almost all the north is under our control. The Noblesses are evacuatin' the last few cities to Orbis. Most of the ports are ours too."
"Which means that they will have no choice but to turn their gaze towards reclaiming the few ports in their reach," Riche said. "Giving us the chance to seize their stronghold with their forces divided and weak," he added before turning his head. "Colonel Aspen, what of our friends in the east?"
"Bought 'n deployed, milord," Aspen said gruffly. "They just wiped out a scouting party. Sent rocks tumblin' down where they were walkin'. Child's play."
"But how long before Mu Lung sends its people out?" Dion pointed out. "They won't stand fer their reputation sinkin' like this fer long."
"Bogged down in bureaucracy as they are, by the time they take action, it shall hardly matter. We need only squeeze the Noblesses until they act out in desperation. We have cut off their reinforcements from the north, blocked both their evacuation zones, and we are assailing their main stronghold. In a matter of weeks, their resistance shall fall. And once it does, El Nath will finally be ours. A unified country… the likes of which has not existed in over five hundred years."
"All under the Tarheed banner," Wren grinned. "All these years of fighting will finally have paid off."
"Indeed. And with Ereve out of the picture, we may finally drive out that incessant Sultan from our southern border. How is our defense holding?"
"Slowly bein' driven back, milord," Mari explained. "They're pushin' into the mountains 'n our forces have been retreatin'."
"Which is to be expected," Wren replied. "We're fighting a war on two fronts. All that Abdullah needs to do is to throw his soldiers at the edge of the desert until we give way. But we have the advantage of the terrain. If he hopes to reach the capital, he'll need to scale Mount Abrup first. Imagine his surprise when a horde of our mercenary friends roll boulders from the mountain peak. Their bones will snap first before they realize what's happened."
"Precisely," Riche agreed. "This was known to us from the beginning. I am least concerned with Sultan Abdullah's pitiful offense. Our focus must be towards breaking the Noblesses."
"And findin' the tree spirit," Dion said. "That's also a priority, too… right, milord?"
For an instant, Riche's eyebrows furrowed, though he quickly recovered and smiled.
"Of course, Lieutenant. I've not forgotten."
It didn't seem that way, Dion thought to himself. But he couldn't bring himself to say the words. This was the first time in three months that they'd officially discussed the matter of tree spirit. It was the whole reason why they'd marched to Astafi in the first place, and yet, it seemed as though Riche had completely lost his focus after discovering the mine and its infinite riches.
"Tell me, Captain Mari, what is the status of our mining operations?" Riche asked.
"We're runnin' at full capacity, milord. 'N the mine still ain't showin' no signs of giving out."
"Good. And the tree spirit? Are there any signs of it?"
"Nothin' much, milord. Only…"
"Yes?"
"We did find some ancient tablets. We couldn't read 'em, but I have a picture of 'em here, if you wanna see 'em, milord."
"Show me."
Mari passed along her report to Riche, who began studying the pictures of the strange, runic tablets. The language was quite archaic, and nothing like anything he'd seen before. Dion watched Riche gaze intently at the page. There was something in Riche's studious gaze that made him feel five years younger to Dion, who felt a small pang in his chest at the way that Riche's steel eyes seem to have softened in color.
After a few moments, Riche looked up. "I am afraid that these runes are foreign to me as well. They are quite dated, however. Without properly dating the artifacts, I would hesitantly say that they are relics of the First People. But this is a good sign that we are getting close. Traces of civilization precede traces of life. It will not be long before we find the tree spirit… and purge it once and for all."
The words sounded just like Riche, but Dion could sense none of the resolve behind them. Even as he thought it, Riche seemed to have already moved on.
"There is also the related matter of our partnership with Magatia," he said. "What is the state of our commissions?"
"I can answer that, milord," Aspen said suddenly. "The prototypes for our spirit capturin' devices have been completed and tested. By usin' spirits as a power source, we can forcibly disintegrate 'em 'n turn 'em into mana fer our weapons. That way, they can't reform 'n end up gettin' purged in the process."
"Excellent. What are the results of the prototype?"
"They've been usin' desert spirits as their power source. Same sizes, same subtypes. Ye get fifteen good shots outta 'em. Can cut through five layers 'o thick metal."
"Perfect for a siege weapon," Wren noted. "We'll melt through the Noblesse fortress in a matter of seconds."
"Yes, this is most opportune," Riche agreed. "How long before they can move past the prototype stage?"
"Production is… complicated, milord," Aspen explained. "A couple 'o kinks in the pipeline. Abdullah, fer one. 'Is people are breakin' in 'n sabotagin' our work."
"Tsk," Riche seethed. "What precisely is the Explorer Guild's meddling accomplishing for us? Are they so ineffectual that they cannot even keep the peace in a city of scholars?"
"There's one benefit, milord. Our research team couldn't find any spirits 'o their own, so they stole 'em from another lab. Someone named Master Johann – 'e's in charge of Abdullah's personal projects. 'N 'e's throwin' a fit 'bout them stealin' his work, and so the Explorer Guild's gotten involved. They're doin' an investigation 'bout the missin' spirits, but our people covered their tracks pretty well. 'N with the Explorer Guild haltin' Johann's work with their red tape, Abdullah won't get 'is projects, 'n by the time their investigation figures out that we stole the spirits, we'll already have the prototypes 'n the spirits in our hands before they can do anythin' 'bout it."
"Good. How long will it take for the shipment to arrive?"
"Couple 'o weeks, most likely. Maybe a month or two."
"Milord," Dion spoke up. "Shouldn't we start roundin' up more spirits? To fuel the weapons?"
"Yes, a good point, Lieutenant," Riche said. "Round up our mages. Have them sent out north. We've liberated much of El Nath, but there may still be some spirits in hiding. And in the meantime, speak with our allies in Mu Lung. See if they can capture several more. Maple World's energy flows strongest in that region, meaning that spirits will undoubtedly flock there like insects."
"Yes, milord," Dion said. "I'll lead the expedition personally."
"No need, Lieutenant. Your talents would be better served here. Colonel Aspen, I'm placing you in charge of ensuring that the shipment arrives, as well as to oversee the acquisition of our power sources. Colonel Wren, continue weeding out our unwanted guests. And Captain Mari, your efforts to improve your skills – particularly your literacy – have not gone unnoticed. I believe that a promotion is in order… Major Mari."
Mari grinned broadly and bowed before Riche. "Thank ye, milord- Yer Majesty. I'm honored."
"May your loyalty never waver," Riche nodded before gesturing her to rise. "The rest of you, you are dismissed."
The others bowed before moving past Dion, who remained transfixed in hesitation. Riche, who had immediately turned his attention to the reports in front of him, seemed completely unaware of Dion, who cleared his throat hesitantly.
Riche's eyes flicked up in notice. "You have more to report, Lieutenant?"
"Er… not exactly, milord," Dion said awkwardly. "I was hopin' we could… talk."
"Talk?"
"I figured… it's been a while since we've talked. Wanted to see how ye are."
"As well as can be expected. But at the risk of being gauche, what prompted this line of questioning?"
"Nothin'," Dion said immediately. "Just… I've been a bit… worried. 'Bout ye."
Riche put down the report and gestured at one of the empty chairs. "Have a seat."
Dion reached out at the chair directly across from Riche, but after considering it, he instead walked forward and sat at the chair directly on Riche's right.
"Now tell me, Dion," Riche said. "What is it that troubles you?"
"Er… well, it's just… lately ye've… forgive me, milord-"
"Speak freely. It's only the two of us."
Dion hated the way that his heart beat harder at the words.
"I'm just afraid that… lately ye've been… distracted. About yer goals… our goals. To destroy the spirits 'n bring peace to El Nath."
"I see… well, rest assured that my commitment to the cause has not wavered. But I am curious what makes you believe so."
"The tree spirit – it's been almost two years 'n we've only just found sign of it, 'n accidentally at that. I know we've hit a jackpot with our minin', but I feel like yer forgettin' the reason why we came here in the first place. To destroy the tree spirit, not to profit off its power. All the Lidium 'n silver 'n the rest… it's tainted."
"Nonsense. We are merely reclaiming the bounties of the land from an impure source. The spirit has been selfishly hoarding these rarities for itself. We are taking it all back and using it for our holy cause."
"Our cause was to purge the spirits from this land," Dion protested. "But we ain't found a spirit in almost two years – we ain't even looked for one. We've just been sittin' here, buildin' this town… forcin' our own people to mine endlessly fer us. They're the reason we're doin' this – we made a vow to make this land safe fer 'em, not to force 'em into labor."
"This land has become safer. Because of us. We are on the verge of unifying this frayed country at the seams. No king before me could ever claim to do so. We have done away with the chaos that once plagued this land and established both unity and order, all under the Tarheed banner. Our mining efforts are meant to sustain that order. Our enemies are closing in at our borders, and we need the wealth to sustain our war effort. Our people understand this – it is the reason why so many have come to work for us out of their own volition. And why we have been sending their families provisions in return."
"That's just it, milord," Dion retorted. "A year ago, ye wouldn't have said that ye've unified this land. Ye would've said that it was the angel o' balance, 'o vengeance, whatever, workin' through ye. Back then… ye were as angry as I was. Do ye not even remember anymore? What the spirits did to yer family?"
Riche narrowed his eyes dangerously. "You are on the verge of insubordination, Lieutenant. I would advise you to choose your next words very carefully."
"See, just like that! Ye once asked me how long anger can sustain a man. Do ye remember what I said?"
"You are-"
"Do ye remember?" Dion yelled loudly, desperately. "Ye can't have forgotten. Just tell me! Tell me ye still care 'bout the things that matter! Not yer war machine, not yer crown – what was it that ye still had when ye'd lost everythin'? It was yer anger, wasn't it? Wasn't it?"
Riche's staff began scintillating brightly.
"Perhaps I don't need that anger anymore – tell me, have you ever considered that?" Riche shouted back. "I remember perfectly what you told me – that pain like ours doesn't fade. That our anger is righteous. That it could carry us forever if needed. But I told you something back too, didn't I? What was it that I said, Dion? Tell me that!"
"'Only some days… it feels like forever ain't enough. Forever is what ye call somethin' when you can't see its end. When it comes to the future, humans are woefully short-sighted. All our predictions, all our prophecies… they're merely shapes we feel out in darkness. Forever is a rope we pull 'til it runs out far too soon. And that, more than anything else, is what terrifies me. Because, ye see, after tastin' that golden pool of hate, what else could ever compare? What feeling could take ye the rest of the way, when the rope falls short?' …That's what ye said. Word fer word."
Dion breathed heavily as he took in Riche's slightly surprised expression.
"What, ye think there wasn't someone listenin' when ye spoke? That there ain't someone hangin' onto every word ye say? The Tarheeds are yers now, but they were mine first, or have ye forgotten that too? I was the one who gave it all up to ye. 'Cuz I believed in what ye told me. Ye called yerself a savior. Ye looked me in the eye 'n promised that ye'd lead us to salvation."
"And that's exactly what I've done," Riche retorted. "This land is practically unified, the spirits are all but gone – what more do you want? For me to cling to righteous anger all my life? The fight is over. We've won. Forever is a rope, but you're mistaken. It has not fallen short. I've reached its end. I've conquered 'forever'. And do you want to know how? By letting go of my anger. Not clinging onto it as you do, pulling on that rope for eternity like a madman."
"Clinging? My ma 'n pa are dead! 'N the bastards that killed 'em are still out there. Them and the rest of their kind need to be put down. Ye understood that once, 'til ye got yerself a crown 'n a pile 'o fancy rocks in yer backyard. Yer supposed to be a priest, a servant 'o the Goddess! How can ye still rest when there's an enemy of the faith sittin' deep inside in yer own capital?"
"Do not dare bring my faith in the Goddess into question," Riche said dangerously. "I have served her more faithfully than any man before me. This land is unified under the Tarheed banner – under her banner. I've carried out her mission to purge the sinners. The tree spirit is cornered. It cannot escape, and it knows that it is the last enemy of this nation. What purpose is there in acting with haste?"
"'Cuz the bastard's still alive, that's why! A year ago, ye thought that was more than enough reason to blast it to pieces. It's the damn reason ye had us march here in the first place! Why don't ye care the way ye used to anymore? Ye call yerself a priest 'o the Goddess, but the only god ye believe in nowadays is yerself, don't ye?"
Riche immediately stood up and gripped his staff, which was overflowing with murky golden energy. He pointed it straight at Dion, who merely started into Riche's furious eyes with an unimpressed look.
"Go on, then. Do it."
Riche tightened his grip, and for an instant, he began to gather the mana inside his body. But then, he stopped. He took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled it out.
"Tell me, is this your way of driving me back to anger, Dion? Are you so selfish that you would want me to remain broken all my life, unable to move past my pain? Or do you simply wish me to join you in the throes of misery? That's what this is all about, isn't it? You're afraid of being alone. Of being without me."
Dion's eyes widened in surprise, causing Riche to smirk in satisfaction.
"Do you think that I'm somehow blind to your feelings? Surely you must give me more credit than that, my faithful Lieutenant," he said, taking in the effects that his words were having on Dion.
"How… how long have you known?" Dion asked quietly.
"Since the day I told you about my past. Since the moment I saw the look in your eyes, when I saw the relief that flooded you, when you believed that you had found yourself a kindred soul in me. And I've seen the way that you've withdrawn in the past few months. Why do you think I've given Wren free reign to do as she pleases? Why I've spent so much of my precious time teaching Mari how to read? Because I knew that you were the only force keeping them tied to me. In this way, I don't need you to make them obey me anymore. They're glad to have a place in my kingdom. Aspen cares little, but he will go where the tides shift. And at the moment, they're turning against you."
Dion could feel the breath leave his lungs at Riche's words. It felt like the room was collapsing.
And suddenly, Riche's eyes softened. "But, they don't have to be. I know that you are still loyal to me. You want me to kill the tree spirit? Consider it done. You want me to do more for the people of our kingdom? I will appoint you as the architect of our public works. Is that enough for you? Or shall I do more?"
Dion could feel his lips quiver as he struggled to form a sentence. Riche took the chance to lean closer towards Dion, whose eyes widened as the distance between them closed.
"You care very much about me. And I care very much for you. Everything that you've done, you've done for me. That loyalty means everything to me, Dion. Never before have I been shown the devotion that you've shown me. Would you like me to show you that same devotion?" he whispered.
Dion pulled back from Riche. "N-no. This isn't what I want."
"No?" Riche asked softly. "How many nights have you spent thinking of me? Of being this close to me?"
Dion remained silent, trembling slightly.
"Or perhaps you believe this to be a façade?" Riche suggested. "That this is merely a manipulation of mine to retain your loyalty? Believe me, I would never deceive you, Dion. I promise you – say the word and I will give you anything that you want."
"…Anything?" Dion asked softly.
Riche smiled. "Anything."
"I…"
Dion's mind was aflame with emotion. Fear and panic, but there was also something else. Elation. Wasn't this what he had wanted, he thought? There was a part of his mind that was screaming out that he was in danger. That this was too good to be true. Then why was it that the danger was bringing along joy?
What was it that he wanted? Riche, surely. And there he was for the taking. All he had to do was close the gap between them. This was the man who'd reached out his hand to pull him back on his feet when he had no reason left to stand. This was the man who had shined the light back into his eyes. Dion could clearly see Riche's grey eyes from how close they were. There was nothing false inside them. There was nothing false about any of this. Riche was showing him exactly who he was. Which was why he knew exactly what he wanted to ask.
"I want you to pretend like you never knew how I felt about you."
Dion quickly got up and strode out of the room, without even looking back to see the mix of shock and anger on Riche's face. There were impending consequences for his actions, but he couldn't be bothered to think about it now. All he could think about right now was the fact that his chest was being painfully hollowed out by the past five minutes' worth of memories.