17th Day of the Second Moon

Tristan

"Why am I not surprised I'm finding you here, Caster?"

I couldn't help but sigh slightly as I took a seat opposite him. For his part, Caster simply maintained his amused, sly smile as he put the cup of tea down.

"Assuming it didn't take you long to figure out where I was then? I'd expect no less from my master. As for why here… well, with the day being as beautiful as it is, how could I possibly resist?"

"More like you just wanted to avoid your duties" I countered playfully.

"Did I not have all the reports of my observations and recommendations ready for you in your chambers? If anything, I was waiting on your return! How else was I to pass the time?"

"I don't know… I'm sure there's plenty you could have done to keep yourself occupied."

"Oh, indeed there was. Hence why I'm here" Caster laughed, then pulled out a coin purse. "How else was I to spend the winnings?"

"Do I even want to know who you swindled out of all that coin, let alone how" I asked, taking the purse to get a feel for the weight.

"I'll have you know, master, that they were the ones to challenge me" Caster took the coin purse back, "and who am I to turn down a good game of Go?"

"Ah, but was the game actually any good?"

"Unfortunately, no."

""Did they even know who you were?"

"Perhaps they would have, if they were sober."

"Implying you weren't also drinking heavily" I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, indeed I was. It was a very good night, outside of the disappointing game" Caster laughed.

It was at this point that the glances and mutterings of the other patrons and passers-by on the street were starting to become highly noticeable. That wasn't to say it was an issue or bother, but… well, I still found it slightly amusing how the sight of me out and about in public got people buzzing.

"Seems like we're rather popular" I noted to Caster, who had resumed drinking his tea.

"I believe that's more you, in this case" Caster grinned. "How wouldn't it be? Not every day you get to see the Emperor, let alone sitting with the Chancellor at some side shop."

"True enough, but I'm assuming the food is good, seeing as this is where you decided to spend your hard earned winnings?"

"Wouldn't know; never been here before. Though I suppose I'm about to find out."

Following Caster's gaze, I saw a man coming out of the little shop with a tray of a few dishes. He seemed rather preoccupied, shouting something or other to whoever was still inside, navigating past tables of patrons without even looking where he was going.

"Apologies for the wait, my-" the man started to say, only to go completely wide eyed as he turned his head and noticed that it wasn't just Caster sitting at the table. "Y-Y-Y-Your excellency! I-I didn't know- W-Wasn't aware that you-"

"It's quite all right" I smiled and raised a hand to put the man at ease. "I wasn't expecting to find myself here either. The day is proving to be full of surprises."

"P-Please, what can we g-get for you?! I-I make sure y-your order is started right away!"

"Thank you kindly, but, hmm… Well, I do quite like the look of what he's having" I indicated towards Caster, who had already started eating, seemingly without a care in the world. "If you wouldn't mind."

"Y-Yes, your excellency! R-R-Right away!"

With a deep bow, the man swiftly returned to the kitchen and the shouting resumed.

"I didn't realize you'd brought your own coin" Caster casually mentioned as he continued to eat. "Or do you plan on leveraging your status as Emperor?"

"Why would I need to do that? That coin purse of yours seems heavy enough for the both of us, and then some."

"Ah, so you're expecting me to pay on your behalf? How generous of you, my lord."

"Are you saying you would invite your Emperor out to eat, and then expect him to pay?"

"Now who's the coin swindler?"

Caster and I shared a glance, before starting to laugh.

"But seriously, on to business" I resumed the conversation.

"Now, now, master, must we spoil the day with such matters?"

"Afraid so, seeing as I have future obligations away from the capitol."

"Yes, your new friend out west… Suppose it's only natural you'd want to examine the situation personally."

"Indeed. So, while I'm out west assessing and dealing with her issue, you're the one who's going to have to deal with things here."

"Ah, what fun that will be" Caster sighed. "But if that is your desire, it shall be done."

"Excellent, but I have no doubt you've already foreseen all this, and have come up with a plan" I grinned as a tray of food was placed before me, before dropping to a whisper. "So tell me, Caster, how do you plan to prevent widespread rebellion amidst all the… restructuring?"

Sortiara

My mystic code is none other than The Book of Thoth.

I couldn't stop his words from playing over and over again in my mind. The Book of Thoth… I mean, to have it was one thing; due to what I understood of the Moon Cell it was possible for Tristan to have compiled all of Thoth's writings. But… to make it work as a mystic code? To be able to tap into the magical formulae within and cast spells, spells that in theory should be on par with magic more so than magecraft…

Where did Tristan get the magical energy to activate any of the formulae?! There's no way the thing should have magical energy innately; it was a rewritten copy of original writings observed through records! If it was the genuine book, then I could understand some of Thoth's magical energy being tied to, or residing within it. But a copy?! That just… shouldn't have been possible…

Everything about this shouldn't be possible Sortiara, yet here we are…

…Of all things, why did he have to be so close to me at the start of this bloody thing?!

"Master, are you alright" came the familiar voice of Saber after a brief round of knocking. "You've been in there for a few hours now."

"Yes! Yes, I'm fine, Saber…" though with the groan that escaped alongside the words, I highly doubted I was convincing.

"Certainly doesn't sound that way" Saber's armor clanged as he opened the door and stepped into the room I'd converted into a temporary study. "What troubles you, master? If it's about the phantom army, the knights have managed to hold the border... more or less."

"It's not that, though the reminder than we're fighting an enemy that we can't even properly see, yet alone strike, is definitely an issue. One of many…"

"Ah… Still contemplating your deal with the devil, as you put it?"

"...Tell me, Saber… did I make the right choice, even if we both know it's never going to last?"

"…Hard to say" Saber admitted, turning serious. "Based on what you'd told me about him before, I admit I'm surprised by your agreement. But at the same time, this isn't quite like any war I've ever taken part of, nor can I deny that circumstances forced your hand."

"…Then it's just like the last war… Strung up and played like a fucking fiddle…"

"You're being too hard on yourself master. I find it hard to believe anyone, human or spirit, could be truly ready for a war of such design. I've no doubt Percival would tell you the same, were he in my place now."

"That's-" I started to say, before an idea came to me.

An idea as to how I could test out the genuine capabilities Tristan had when it came to his magecraft and the book, as well as maybe a means by which to figure out just how that mystic code of his worked…

"Yes… you may be right, Saber" I was feeling a lot more confident now. "In fact, take command of the frontline forces and have them at the ready for when Tristan and I arrive. I think it's time we showed this enemy master we are not to be messed with."

Johnathan

While I never doubted the sand extraction was part of a major operation, I had to confess I'd underestimated the sheer scale of the resources it would accumulate. Rows upon rows of seemingly endless mountains of soil, stone, wood, and myriad minerals. Multiple pits of water the size of lakes. An entire forest of diverse plant life. Even just as it all was now, it was truly a spectacle; a gathering of resources unlike anything I'd ever heard of, or seen.

"Really makes you wonder what all this is for" I couldn't help but marvel as I turned to Sophia.

"So long as it actually goes to some use" she grumbled. "If it turns out I spent all that time in the desert, having my men excavate all this sand, for nothing more than a palace expansion for Assassin, I'm going to lose my shit."

"Fair enough" I couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Don't think you have to worry about that though. I'd say our friend there is just as interested as the rest of us at getting this alliance moving forward with the hunt."

In between the mountains of resources Assassin's master and Caster led Assassin along, showing off everything they had created from their alchemical conversions and allowing Assassin to inspect every pile, stack, plant, and body of water personally. Caster's master was also present, though if she was doing anything but following alongside Caster and listening in to whatever was said, I couldn't make it out.

Fortunately, it wasn't too much longer until the rest of them reconvened with Sophia and I. While Caster looked rather pleased, and his master looked exhausted, Assassin and her master both held an incredible poker face; stone cold and devoid of even a hint of emotion.

"…So" Assassin's master would be the first one to finally speak, after a moment of silence past over the group, "I take it everything is in order, Assassin."

"It's... passable..." Assassin tried to sound dismissive, but the slight smirk at the end gave her away. "I admit, you have performed better than I'd expected. Consider your desire granted, but let this be crystal clear, master: while I shall go along with this plan of yours, the kingdom remains under my control."

Assassin then turned her attention over to Sophia.

"Your men were the ones performing the extraction, yes? Ensure you have them organized and ready by three days time."

"And what is to happen in three days time, exactly" Sophia asked, sounding none too pleased at being ordered around by Assassin.

"Why, isn't it obvious? We take the war to our enemies doorsteps."

A/N

Holy shit, don't even know how long it's been. Not since 2023 at least, which... fuck me xD

Between BG3, P3R, being brought out of retirement for FF XIV, school, work, life... I've just been a complete mess and all over the place.

But I'm finally back! Summer is going to slow things right down for me, and I plan to make the most of it to start playing catch-up and cranking these out ASAP!