"Send the scouts here through the southern line to see if we can see more reports for a potential threat," Derek spoke to a group of men, setting several stones upon the map in certain points between Dargoth and Dalce. "There's also potential reports of certain Danger Beasts further in the area, so make sure the men you send are well experienced."
"Sir," was all one man said, bowing before he moved away from the table and opening the door outside, causing the bustle from outside of the room to be heard. With the news of a potential invasion, the castle had been thrown into a panic, with the royal family of this kingdom being informed and now on their way to the Fort to discuss joint plans with the soldiers of Emerial. 'it's a botched rush, but we still need more supplies and men,' Derek thought to himself before shaking his head, remembering what the raven had said. 'No, we have the supplies now if the Dragon's Heart's reserves have remained untouched all these years, the only thing we really need more than ever is to get the cooperation of the northern tribes…'
As he continued looking over the map, he soon heard the door open, Li walking in while holding a grim expression that made Derek look up confused. "The scout to check on Isao just returned," Li spoke, his voice shaking. "The area he was staying at was attacked, and there were no survivors while he and his behemoth were missing."
"Shit," Derek muttered as looked back at the map, his gaze heavy on the area as he noted the location which Isao had originally been staying at. It was a small region in the eastern side of Emerial, making it possible for him to have been taken by some small raid group from Dalce if they wanted to hold bargaining chips. "It seems the news coming in is getting worse and worse. Do you want a leave of absence so you can go find him?"
"Not while the threat of invasion is on us," Li spoke as he leaned back on the table, looking over the map. "Susanoo cares for that boy as if they were brothers, ever since Isao found him nearly dead up here. I just have to hope in his want to protect him until we've finished this fight, and then I will personally deal with every bastard that went after my son..."
As Li spoke that last statement, a wave of bloodthirst seemed to come off of him that made several of the commanders around the table shiver. Derek just sighed, looking back to the map. This was how Li was, the carefree attitude he usually showed being a ruse to hide the actual warrior, someone who Derek had only seen once when he first came to this land. It was these exact moments, however, that showed his title of the Northern General. As the two looked back to the map, the door suddenly slammed open, followed by warning horns that could be heard from out the window. "General Yamada, there's a large beast approaching the Fort," the soldier spoke in haste, making both men look up at him. Derek recognized him, he was one of the men he had led before coming to this world, and from the look of his face he wasn't worried over the large beast but actually excited. "It's the Dragon's Heart."
"Oliver," Derek simply spoke before he picked himself up, walking straight out the door and along the hallways as the man followed behind. "Ivan, have the rest of the men explained the dragon to the soldiers and villagers around this fort yet?"
"We're still going through the outer areas to explain the situation, but the majority within have a gist of what's to come," Ivan responded, making Derek smile as he adjusted the gauntlet in his hand. It was shoddily repaired, but it still remained one of the biggest gifts he was given by Oliver. "What about you, are you ready to see General Wolcott again?"
"I've been ready since I last heard he was here, but it was better to wait till now," Derek responded as he walked on. This made Ivan only look at him confused as they took a turn down the hall, the entrance at the end leading to the courtyard. "Lester enjoyed being on his own years after the war we went through before Oliver was born, and it helped him even out a bit better than he was in the past. With hope, it did the same for Oliver…"
As he said this, the two soon came to a clearing where soldiers were preparing weapons, moving up to the fort walls while older soldiers watched up in the sky at a dark shape in the clouds, some smiling in anticipation. This was to be expected though, there were a few who still remained in service from the group that had stayed behind after Richmond, with many others heading out to live their lives in other regions of Emerial. Sam, who was going as Oric in Emerial, was one of the few that had a mix of both, running their bar while gathering information for Derek. While it wasn't much for information gathering outside of merchants and using the intelligence from the prince, it still was enough to let him know of Oliver's arrival to the kingdom, something which surprised him completely given the distance he was told this world was to their own. As he watched the black shape through the clouds, a black dot seemed to fall off of it, approaching the castle slowly as a black streak followed behind it.
"Form up," Derek shouted, snapping the soldiers to move to him immediately, the others following suit as the dot began to grow larger, now apparent as a black blob as more of the soldiers moved into the courtyard if they weren't already at the walls above. "Do not fire or be wary of them, this is an expected entrance for him."
Soon as he said that the black blob seemed to slow down and land softly on the ground in the middle of the courtyard, some soldiers readying their weapons with anticipation while a few others kept in place. "Well, this is a welcome," came a familiar voice to Derek's ears, the shadow departing to reveal Oliver wearing his old uniform, beside him Princess Elia standing and looking over the area, a katana at her side instead of her old blade Derek remembered. Oliver chuckled as he walked up to Derek, looking him over. "You look older, or at least older than I expected. Shouldn't you be retired by this point?"
"I tried for a year, but it didn't take. You may know the feeling," Derek spoke before he held out his hand, Oliver simply taking it with a smile. Derek looked the man over before looking to Elia, nodding to the sword at her side. "You've aged well yourself, Oliver, and I see you got my student a new sword."
This made Elia rest her arm on the hilt of the sword subconsciously, Oliver chuckling as he looked over to her. "It was the sword that you had in your old office, didn't really want it gathering dust for much longer with Wayland getting aggravated that something he made wasn't getting used." Oliver spoke as he looked back to Derek before looking around the troops, many of which now looking at him and Elia confused. Oliver, noticing this, soon sighed before he stepped to the side, giving Derek a clear view to Elia as he stood at attention. "In the meantime, however, I suppose the proper formalities are in order."
"Of course," Derek responded with a chuckle, soon turning to Elia before giving a deep bow. "General Yamada greets the First Princess on behalf of the fortress. The other commanders are currently waiting for us in the war room to discuss the situation."
"And I greet the commanding general of this fortress, so everyone can get back to work without worries over the form in the sky," Elia responded before the soldiers finally began to disperse as the four began their walk, Oliver and Elia standing on either side of Derek as Ivan followed behind. "How have things been handled in the north, Master Yamada?"
"Poorly, the tribes further north have been continuously raiding near Dargoth for the last few months, their focus mainly going to supply lines from the capital north into Emerial," Derek sighed, looking at Elia with a grim face. "There are some which don't belligerently attack on a whim, so we've been trying to set up truces with them given the threat southeast of here. However, they've been unresponsive, and because of that we're dwindling on supplies more than we should be."
"The Dragon's Heart has a surplus of weapons and food if needed, Wayland was busy crafting the last few years anyway," Oliver responded as he looked to Derek, making the man look to him and nod. "I can also get him to start making some armor to compliment whatever tactics your troops have, though he'll hate having to rush it."
"That'll be appreciated, especially if this invasion of yours is true," Derek responded as the group entered the war room. There Li was pointing to each area and looking over the situation, soon looking up to see the four enter before nodding. "Do we have any physical evidence that they're actually coming to the north?"
"Outside of letters we found in a mercenary camp and some other items, no, but Ksalso's working on that as we speak," Oliver responded as he walked to the table, looking the map over. "More importantly, you said you had raids hitting the areas your supply lines connect to Dargoth by, correct? If it's this consistant to be the last few months, then it's possible that they could be in an agreement with them."
"It would explain the current situation," Li responded as he looked at the map, making Oliver look over at him. "The reports show the tactics are too clean to be the same as the usual raids, so it's not solely for getting food like they usually do. Add the mind control magic that's within Dalce, and they'd just need to gift some trinkets here and there that would allow them to have a heavy control over these regions. With their love of gems and their purity, it'd be no surprise if the Saritas clan would be responsible for this if true…"
"Interesting perspective," Oliver responded, noting the silver hair on the general's head before he looked over to Derek. "You have yourself a good set of eyes here."
"More he has me here to give him a leveled head if he gets too mad," Derek responded as he nodded to Li. "The Northern General, Li. This is his fort we're currently staying in, though I'm currently the commanding general."
"I prefer following orders than giving them," Li responded as he looked to Oliver, nodding. "I suppose you're Oliver, then, and Princess Elia. Sorry for not giving you a proper welcome, things have been quite hectic and made only worse with personal matters."
"How personal," Elia asked, making Derek turn over to her. "Is it anything that can affect your judgement at the moment?"
"His son's gone missing," Derek responded, making Elia look over to him with surprise and worry. Li, on the other hand, sighed before he raised his hand to stop Derek.
"I can explain it from there, Yamada," Li spoke before he looked to Oliver and Elia with a stern look. "My son, Isao, was staying over in a castle near the eastern border to learn under a scholar in the region, but there wasn't any reports coming in for the last month. Just this morning a scout I sent out came back to reveal that the castle had been attacked, with everyone there slaughtered long before he arrived."
"Isao, huh…" Oliver spoke before he looked over to Elia, who also looked his way with widened eyes. Then, with a sigh, he looked back to Li. "By chance, did the boy have a silver Behemoth with him?"
This made the soldiers momentarily stop their work, many looking over shocked on the news. "...He does," Li spoke, his voice clearly calmer than it should be at the moment. "Why do you ask?"
"If that's the case, then you don't need to worry," Oliver responded, looking to Derek this time as he pointed upwards. "He's currently above us in the Dragon's Heart with Wayland, with the beast having been shrunk considerably from it's former size."
"How in the world…" Derek started before he sighed, shaking his head as he went to his chair, sitting down as he held his hands on his temples, Li processing the information as an unseen tension seemed to leave him from the news. "You know what, I don't want to know, the fact that you managed to save him without even knowing who he was is amazing enough."
"It certainly is good if true," Li spoke, shaking his head before he sighed, looking back to the map. "I'll ask you to bring me to him to confirm it later, but for now we need to figure out how to reach the current clan we're going to try for making an alliance with next."
"Very well, what are our options," Oliver spoke as he looked to the map, Elia moving to another chair and sitting at it as they looked at the map. From it, there were four markers on it, three closed off with red lines as it seemed the main focus now revolved on the last one. "I guess you've already decided that…"
"Indeed, though it's current size is slightly smaller than the others," Li responded as he looked to the map, leaning forward in his own chair as he stared at it. "However, their strength matches the other three through their strength and mentality alone. They are a people who believe only the strong must rule while the weak will die, and this is shown with how vicious their combat capabilities are."
"It's a good choice, but that kind of mentality isn't one that can easily be made to aid since they'll thing the hopes of a truce is because we're weak," Oliver responded as he looked to the map, his gaze analyzing the area itself. "How would you plan to sway them to your side?"
"A trial by combat," Li responded, making Oliver look at him while the man smirked. "They hunt danger beasts for a living and find a thrill in facing stronger beasts, and the strongest warrior of each generation is made the chief. The chief can be made to serve by those outside of the tribe if they beat them in single combat, but it's never happened simply due to the sheer strength of the clan. However, both me and Derek hope to challenge the chief separately to gain their aid, with this fort as the prize to give them."
"That's completely reckless," Elia stammered, slamming her hand on the table as Oliver leaned back, looking over the situation. "Even if we have the threats of northern tribes attacking our supplies, there's no reason for us to go that far to gain an alliance."
"There's no other choice here," Derek responded as Oliver suddenly closed his eyes, Derek noticing a dark shade starting to cover him that would go unnoticable if he didn't recognize it. He then looked to Li, who seemed to notice it too before he looked back to Elia. "The other tribes we can talk to have all denied our requests, but if we had this tribe then we could sway them through the fear of their strength alone. Plus if there is an invasion, then they'll be a major asset against large numbers given their love of hunting the beasts of this land."
"We don't even know if the invasion is large enough to require their aid instead of just getting the soldiers of Dargoth to come south to help," Elia spoke before Oliver held up his hand, his eyes still closed before she noticed the shade around him, making her stand up. "Everyone except for General Yamada and General Li are to leave this room immediately, Ivan is to watch the door for anyone attempting to listen in."
This made several of the soldiers look the girl confused before slowly starting to leave, some of them looking over to Oliver as if knowing what was going on as Ivan ushered them out, closing the door behind him as he exited. Then, Oliver's eyes glowed yellow, his voice calm. "Ksalso's scouts have found the army," Oliver simply muttered as his shadow pooled around him, rolling up his body as he placed his hand on the map. Then, as if a dam had opened, the shadow pooled like a river, covering the table and shocking Elia as she watched it.
"Well it's been a long while since I watched this," Derek spoke as he looked at the shadows rolling onto the table, Li seeming unaffected but stone faced as he stared at the shadows with a grim expression. Then, as if pulling up a curtain, the shadows soon began to take forms before a mirror in the same way as Reginhard had shown Elia Oliver's fight appeared, this time speeding past a tall mountain line as the sun reflected on the snow below. "That's the mountain trail in the Southern pass, a week's travel from here."
As they watched, the mountain pass suddenly cleared, and what they saw drew a pit in Derek's stomach. "Dalce," was all Li muttered as they saw banners held high along the path, a large array of soldiers marching along the path as Li leaned forward and stared at the troops. "There's a slave contingent in the center of the military march, more than likely to be a first wave to halt the weapons of anyone who will be willing to kill them, and heavy infantry and cavalry on the sides."
"There's also spearmen in the front, and archers in the back," Oliver spoke as well, staring at the area before he noted another matter. "And beasts in the far back being dragged along with crates. In total, Ksalso labeled a total of a hundred-thousand, with a third being slaves. Given how they treated the mercenaries, they more than likely have mind control magic on the slaves and monsters as well, meaning they'll fight without fear or panic to hold them back regardless of how their minds may be."
"Bastards," Derek muttered, staring at the vision before them before he looked up at Li. "How many could we muster if we gathered all the troops here now before they arrive?"
"Around fifteen-thousand at most, and only a third of that could stay in the fort to hold off this force," Li spoke as he looked at the army before he placed his hand on the table, causing the scene to ripple around it before it returned to the map. He then sighed before he picked up a few pieces, setting them at an area southeast of the castle marking the fort on the map, Oliver watching him as he kept his gaze on the situation. "General Yamada, let's leave this situation here for the moment and collect ourselves. I'd like to see my son so I can think over this situation with a leveled head."
"Of course," Derek responded before he got up, looking to Elia as she kept staring at the table, still thinking over what she saw. Derek just walked up to her and tapped her shoulder, snapping her out of her thoughts as she looked over to him surprised. "Well, since we'll need to collect ourselves, why don't you show me how well you can use my old sword at the moment."
"Of course, sir," Elia spoke before she looked at both Li and Oliver, Oliver still staring at the other man with a rather stiff expression that she didn't expect him to have at the moment. Then, with a sigh she picked herself up, following Derek out of the room where Ivan was still standing guard, along with a few older soldiers standing out as if on guard as well. "The men-"
"They all served Oliver back in our homeland," Derek spoke as the men followed behind him, turning his head to her with a smirk as he nodded. "However, what I'd like to know is how you've been all this time since you've been in the south."
-Oliver-
"So then, should we head out," Oliver spoke finally, snapping himself out of his stare before Li chuckled, sitting back down as he looked to him. "What, did you want a one on one on the situation like the king had?"
"No, I just had a question I wanted to ask you," Li spoke as his very demeanor seemed to remain rather calm despite everything he saw, while Oliver was still confused by the fading of the vision he showed since he didn't release it. "How was Alegar the last time you saw him?"
This made Oliver stiffen, not expecting that question as he looked at the man. Then, as if pieces were clicking together, he simply closed his eyes, thinking. "...He was fine, a bit wore out with his fight before I left but overall unharmed," Oliver spoke as he opened his eyes, making Li nod as if expecting it as he leaned back. "He gave me Hesperus properly that day when I left so I could eventually return it to you, too."
"As I asked him, the last thing I wanted was for you to be lost in the darkness forever," Li responded as he looked Oliver over. "You paid far too much for a path that was originally yours to begin with, Myrkr."
"I haven't heard anyone outside of Alegar and a few others call me that as if it was my name in years," Oliver sighed, sitting down before he looked at Li seriously. "I'm sorry for being blunt on this, but are you-"
"Gaius Aurelius," Li responded, looking to the map. "Well, technically one of seven fragments of Gaius Aurelius, for the moment at a pause of being a Lord of Darkness while I raise my son. I thank you for keep my Weapon of Power with you while I'm like this, though I suppose we can call it an even trade since I gave your group a place to stay at the same time."
"But I don't understand, what are you doing here to begin with," Oliver responded as Li stood up. "More importantly, why this place and time, if I was right this was the Akame Ga Kill world, isn't it? There's a lot of landmarks that seem to match certain parts, even some beasts that I've faced which seem like older versions of the monsters in the manga, but there's also a lot that don't seem to exist, like the Fake Mountain or the connection to Wakoku that eventually brings forth the aid in creating Imperial Arms like Murasame."
"With good reason, those areas and connections don't appear until the later years of the Empire, but there's some that are clear in showing it," Li responded as he tapped the map. "We're at the time before the Empire's rise, seven years before it's creation and twenty years before the creation of the Imperial Arms. However, clear players that will be apparent in the future are still here, such as the monster Tyrant which carves through this land as it pleases. There is also the clan which we were talking about, which you would recognize the name of if you enjoyed reading this world as much as Derek claims since it's the same which Esdeath comes from."
"You're aiming for getting the aid of the Partas tribe," Oliver spoke, shaking his head as he looked to Li shocked. He then closed his eyes, processing the statement before nodding. "Actually, that makes sense given how Esdeath will eventually come from them, as well as the fact they don't get destroyed until the fall of the Empire. Add their knowledge on the land from hunting Danger Beasts, and they'd be a good addition to the defenses. However, why are you aiming to grab them now?"
"Because there is a unwanted change in this timeline," Li responded, shaking his head as he looked to the map. "The Eastern Kingdom's far more powerful than it should be now, and because of that it's caused the balance of the areas of the central plains to shift. Some people chose different jobs or died before their time thanks to the mercenary activities, taking out key individuals for the Empire. To add to that, this realms absolute is the creation of the Empire and it's reign, so action must be taken to correct it."
"And you, being a Lord of Darkness who serves Alegar, are meant to ensure that nothing changes with the absolute timelines of realms under Alegar's control," Oliver muttered, looking it over as Li nodded to the statement. "Is this also why Arlus hasn't reached the throne yet? He seemed older than he should be to take it."
"Sadly, yes," Li took on of the pieces, placing it on the center of Emerial. "He was originally meant to take his first steps through Potulu four years ago, which we're fortunate to have him doing now, but the actions of the East and West hampered that in favor of watching defenses. To add to this, his father doesn't expect him to be able to actually manage fending off this major campaign so he's having what resources he can pave the way for when Arlus can rise to the throne."
"That's strange given the current situation," Oliver spoke, shaking his head. "But why wait so long to place Arlus in power?"
"Because the biggest thing the prince needs now is someone to serve as his blade," Li responded as he looked to Oliver, making the boy look at him confused. "You know how I'm well known as the Blade of Alegar, correct? There's a similar required notion for this world such as Darius being the sword for Indras, or even later in time where Budo and Esdeath serve as the swords of the Empire, one for the corruption of Honest and a brutal world while the other wishes to ensure the preservation of the power of the Empire and restoring the Emperor's control. This same concept of a blade is needed for Arlus to rise as emperor, but there isn't anyone who can reach that point so soon thanks to the actions of Dalce and the West."
"Why not Elia," Oliver asked as he looked back down to the map. "She may be a bit rushed in her on personal techniques due to her strength, but she already has a great mind as a general despite how much she focuses on her strength. Hell, she's already started to master that katana only a few days after I got it to her, and read and understood the books I gave her like it was nothing. She could be an ideal choice."
"It wouldn't work simply because of Elia's connection to the throne," Li spoke as he looked at the map. "She would be the ideal candidate otherwise, but her current standing as the First Princess places her at odds with Arlus when it comes to succession of the throne, even if she may not want the crown. What we need is someone who is not of royal blood so there won't be a war of succession in the middle because of people not being happy over the situation. That's why the original plan with the Partas Tribe was so big of stakes. Whoever can subjugate them can swear their allegiance to Arlus afterwards and be the foundation for the first step to his rule, which either me or General Yamada swearing fealty to Arlus after claiming their strength. With the invading army, however, we have to forestall that plan until a later date for another region."
"Even given the current situation, that probably wouldn't have worked either," Oliver spoke before he picked himself up, placing his hand on the table. "Derek is too old to aim for that position and remain before the complete subjugation of the Empire, and you're already the blade of Alegar. You're here to raise your son here, and having to serve as the blade for both would put you at odds with your duties if you're summoned by both at the same time."
"Which is why we need a third option, but with the information you gave we can't use the Partas clan as a stepping stone for someone," Li spoke, tapping the pieces on the map around them. "While we need someone to take the role as a blade for Arlus, given the current situation ahead we need to focus on our defenses instead for the time. However, I don't necessarily have a good trust in my combat ability as a fragment of myself, nor can I trust Derek's since his stamina has started to lessen over the last three years."
"And you can't have Elia face them because she'd gain more traction than she should for the throne," Oliver sighed, looking down at the map before he took his hand off, turning to the floor behind him before he held his hand out, his shadow spreading into a small square shape. As features on it became more prominent, he turned back to Li obviously thinking at the moment. "If you can humor my curiosity, what kind of weapon does their leader wield, by chance?"
"A spear passed down through their line, one which uses a fang from Tyrant as a spearhead in some strange irony," Li spoke, making Oliver chuckle before he looked back to the stairway in front of him, nodding. "Are you going to be joining us later for when the royal family of Dargoth arrives? We'll probably go over the best way to gather forces for the fight, as well as the best way to get to the Partas tribe."
"Maybe, but that'll be after I look over my own ascertation of the situation," Oliver spoke as he started walking down the stairs. "I have the Dragon's heart with me, which means I'll be having a dragon's eye view over the path Dalce's army is taking, if you mind my joke. Given how none of us really care for them, too, I'll even look over a detailed report of it to ensure a proper response, and hopefully find good ambush points to give them a bit of chaos."
"That'd be appreciated," Li spoke, only getting a nod from Oliver before the stairway vanished, leaving the general alone as he leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Well, you can't say we won't be busy this week…"
-Elia-
The courtyard was loud with shouts from around, soldiers looking over provisions and equipment from the news of the approaching army. However, in another area to the West side of the courtyard, Elia and Derek were going through a sparring session as she faced him with the katana she had gained. 'Still not fast enough,' Elia thought to herself, each of her strikes being deflected fluently by Derek as the two fought through the area. However, her mind wasn't on the strikes that she blocked and returned to Derek, but of the fight that she had with Oliver that was so one sided before.
"Good," Derek spoke as he blocked an attack from Elia, knocking the hilt of his blade onto her forehead and snapping her out of her thoughts as she fell back. They had been training for half an hour, and during that time Elia had yet to land a single hit on him. However, he was panting and sweating heavily as he held his blade at the ready, watching as Elia picked herself up, barely even sweating as she took another stance. "It's minor, but you've started to use less of your strength in your strikes, and have significantly improved in the last few years I haven't seen you. That's especially a good thing for swordplay which requires a focus on the swing over force, and doubly so for the requirements for the draw motions of a katana that you've only started using."
"It still feels strange," Elia spoke as she looked at the katana confused. "Oliver told me I was using too much strength in my strikes earlier today and should focus more on the skill, so I decided to give it a try."
"So you won't listen to me when I've been telling you for years on that, but you change your tune when a man you've known for only a week recommends it," Derek asked, making Elia blush as she tried to fumble a response before he laughed, patting her shoulder as he walked past her. "I'm only joking, Oliver's always had a way with knowing how people need to learn their mistakes. Knowing you, I'm guessing that you broke the sword your father gave you by trying to attack his armor?"
"Uh, yes," Elia spoke, turning over to Derek as they went to one of the benches, sitting down with their weapons still drawn and resting in front of them. Then, remembering what she saw in the office, she looked over to Derek with a new question. "Also, he talked about how you and his father served together in the past when we saw a picture of you two in his office."
"Did he now," Derek spoke, looking to her with surprise but with a more sorrowful look. "I didn't think he'd be willing to talk about that yet, so seems you're not the only one who's listening more than expected."
"He didn't talk long about it, he actually seemed like he was about to break down from just mentioning it," Elia spoke, looking to Derek concerned. Derek just sighed to the news, shaking his head. "He said that he died in his arms…"
"He did, before the war started," Derek spoke, shaking his head as he looked to Elia with a grim smile. "He was a mercenary at the time, and had made a decent name for himself for helping people and making a name for himself that was far beyond what someone could normally obtain. Because of that natural affinity, the people he would eventually fight saw him as a threat, so thought over the best way to break him. Their decision caused a day of personal hell for him, where he was too late to save his father and several others, one of which being a girl he had been extremely close with. After that, he shut away his emotions, and during the majority of the war he closed himself from making any connections with people so they couldn't use the same tactic again."
"But he doesn't seem that way now," Elia spoke, looking at Derek. "He even has a student back in Emerial which he's trained, and who's now acting as a communicator between him, the king and Arlus. He's even given me and Arlus rings that can help with communicating with him, so he's not trying to cut connections now."
"Probably because he felt he was finally free to make connections again after so long, but the emotions are clearly still being held back from what you told me," Derek responded, looking forward to the training area they were at. "Tell me, does he still drink a full bottle when he goes out for a night, or have a large glass during meals?"
"I… don't know, but he's finished off a glass of mead in a heartbeat during the times we ate together on the way here," Elia spoke, making Derek sigh as she kept her gaze on him. "You don't think he's killing himself by drinking, do you?"
"No, fortunately for him he can just recover from whatever alcohol does to him thanks to that healing ability of his, and his father had a tolerance to a point where he never got hangovers," Derek muttered, leaning forward as he put his sword in front of him with the tip resting on the ground, both hands resting on the pommel. "However, the fact he's still drinking so much along with his reaction to seeing the picture of his father shows that he's still trying to suppress those emotions. I've told him for years to mourn properly, but he refuses to listen…"
"I wondered behind why that was the case, and that explains how Ksalso talked about the matter," Elia spoke before she looked up at the sky, now clear with the black dragon flying overhead in a circle. "Why hasn't he or Wayland, or even Reginhard tried to help him? They serve him, don't they?"
"It's because they serve him that they can't help him," Derek responded, looking up to the dragon above. "They were born from his power, so if he doesn't want them to help, or want them to keep quiet over the reason behind it, then they can't. It's not a matter of why or how, but on the matter of if he thinks he deserves it."
As the two looked up, a noise of something rising caught their attention before they looked to the left where the courtyard was, and where Oliver and Elia had appeared. Now a gateway had risen from the marking on the ground, and with it Ksalso in his human form and Isao with a small Susanoo walking out with two horses behind them, one of which being Elia's that she had taken with her. "Ksalso, it's good to see an actual humanoid form this time," Derek spoke as he picked himself up, catching the entity by surprise as they looked over to him. Then, looking to the boy he nodded. "And it seems Oliver's claim of finding Isao was true, as well as the shrinking of Susanoo. Why are you coming down here yourself?"
"Oliver needed time to think and asked me to bring Isao down to get to his father while he went to the observation deck," Ksalso spoke as he looked to Elia, bowing. "Am I correct to assume you'll be staying in the fortress, Lady Elia?"
"…Not yet, I'd like to stay in the Dragon's Heart for a while longer if it's fine," Elia responded as she picked herself up, sheathing her katana as she walked to Ksalso. "However, you can leave my horse here since they'll need to adjust to the cold temperatures in the area before we have a plan set up. Is the observation deck the same one he took me to the first day? I have some questions for him on one of the books he gave me to read."
"Of course," Ksalso responded, looking to Derek confused as the old man was in the same position, surprised at Elia's request. "Will you be up to returning up there as well, Derek?"
"No, I'll stay here for a while longer to get the troops sorted since we still need to set up plans and scout routes now that we're certain of the invading force," Derek spoke as he looked to the north side of the fortress, where the gate showed the trail to Dargoth. "The scouts are already calling for the troops to rally back to the fortress, and we still have to greet the royal family of Dargoth when they arrive and inform them of the situation. We're going to have a busy week ahead…"
"Very well," Ksalso spoke as a soldier walked up, taking the reigns of the horses that were in the man's hands as Isao and Susanoo went off to the castle. Then, with a nod from Elia, the two went into the gate, causing the area to vanish back down into the mark on the floor.
'That's unexpected,' Derek thought to himself as he looked to her. 'Li recommended to Indras that I should train her since I noticed she had promise in similar areas that Oliver did, but to think she'd be this interested in him when they meet…'
