Eostia: Harem Quest

by EostianScribe

The Gods have given mortals the power of The Gamer as a pass time. A hobby. A means to compete and relax. One goddess, however, sees it as a means of salvation; starting with one world. As such, she rolls the dice... (Harem, Citrus and Eventual Dark Content Warning)

93. Act III-Ch XX: End of an Era

[ - Author's Note - ]

Well, here we are... the end of the Third Act. Feels like a longer ride then it has been... Doesn't help FFDotNet wasn't counting views for awhile; during which I uploaded seven chapters...

And still four more acts to go... Whew...

With luck we'll see the end of this tale... For now, what's this chapter about?

It's going to be a combination of two things; the final cap of the war arc and sowing a few seeds to harvest in the next act. And James gets much more then he ever cared for.

His fault for being the hero, am I right!?

Joking aside, let's get started, shall we?

[ - Act III - Chapter XX: End Of An Era - ]

Lay the dead down to rest in their graves.
Let the tools of war be remade to farm.
Let those who've lost grieve and recover.
Let men and women make merry and new life.
Let the peace wash over the realm in joy.
Let us enjoy what we've won and recover.

~Nameless Grave Marker Found in a Skycrown Graveyard

[-]

A light snow fell as the nobility gathered in a town outside of Skyguard City, Capital of the Alliance and Home of the High Throne. It took a few days but once done we gathered we marched on the capital. Most of the army was either still in Garan, dismissed to their homes or on other duties. What was left here was the Local Lords, choice Minor Lords and Knights, notable soldiers and mercenaries and a few elite guards. Our destination was Skyguard Palace; unlike the White Citadel outside of the city the palace wasn't built for defense in mind; it was a place of luxury, comfort and relaxation. It would be the location of the party this time...

After the victory parade...

It was a more expected thing then anything else; a way to celebrate the end of the war, celebrate the victory and the new peace and not just the lords but the people too. Of course there was one little issue... the most accomplished person of the war was set to the front of the parade...

Guess who..?

And so I now rode on the back of White Peach in full armor, who was led south by Gregory (Who complained he needed to feed her three peaches to have her carry him without complaint) at the head of the line. The painted Cloud Rider rode behind me with the Seven Shields riding on the back of it with Auryon Reid driving it. Behind them would be the leaders of the Seven Kingdoms (Although King Aston's sons took his place) on an open carriage. Following them on horseback and open carriages would be all the lords, Local and Minor. Behind and beside them notable knights and guards...

All behind me...

Joy...

I blame Celestine for this. She really owes me that date now.

And so we reached the open gates of Skyguard City as I put on my best smile and as soon as we rode in... there... was... noise...

People had lined the streets on route to the palace; nearly from the gates to the nobility district and so thick you wouldn't be able to get past them physically. Not just that, though; windows, roofs and such were stood on, hung out of and any balcony was loaded with people. And they were all cheering like every Sports Ball trophy ever was just won by the local team and I could barely hear myself think over it!

Cheering people were everywhere, pumping their arms, waving and hollering or whistling or screaming as we began to pass while I waved to the crowd. And so many were screaming something...

"Our heroes are here!"

"Look! It's the High Queen!"

"Queen Celestiiiiiine!"

"I love you Princess Prim!"

"Look! The Hero of Eostia!"

"He who brought the Dark Queen low!"

"It's Lady Kaguya! She's seeeexy!"

"That's the mercenary Maia? Fuck she's hot!"

"Lord Noxdecus! I love you!"

"Princess Alicia! You're amazing!"

"It's Princess Lulu! So cuuuuuuuute!"

"Look! Lady Claudia is there! So graceful is she!"

So you know there was both more polite and... far less polite things screamed out as we rode down the streets... and I got more then my fair share... and more then I ever cared for...

We couldn't get to the palace soon enough... speaking of...

The palace was an impressive structure built when House Rodimus was sitting on the High Throne and was the sole seat of power until the construction of Fortress Ken. Chances were high that Celestine would move into the Palace as the war would be over; it would be more symbolic then anything else but she could be closer to the people that way, if only by a little.

(In the event your wondering tradition dictates that the High King or Queen relocate to Fortress Ken in war both as it was safer overall and the Myghter Accords dictated the city be ignored if any castle was outside of it; but of the ruler was ruling from the city as opposed to the castle it became a legitimate target. Not that Garan would have cared.)

The Palace itself was impressive; pure white with gold trim it bore a cylindrical building in the center as it's main building with a series of eight, smaller but similar towers around it. Each tower was connected to the center building with long, connecting bridges that were covered with cyan roofs. Speaking of, the top of each tower flared out and acted like massive patios while the top of the central building not only did likewise but it acted as a ballroom and the place of the upcoming party. It supposedly bore a shield over it to keep the temperature within bearable and comfortable (Important because, well, winter) and provided light as needed as well as deflecting rain or snow.

It was a shining and impressive structure to be sure... and a line of Dawn Templars were waiting for us on both sides of the palace's entrance, forming lines to the door along side a series of maids; said doors being made of semi-transparent, cyan hued glass. Over the door was an eight foot wide and tall Seal of the Alliance with Celestine's House Seal under it, although only three feet wide by contrast.

Once we had arrived and White Peach and other steeds were given a stable Celestine led us all to the doors, pushing them open herself. "Welcome to Skyguard Palace, the Palace of Eostia!" She said as she walked in. Cyan colored carpets greeted us as did pillars angled from the sides of the walls to hold up the ceiling with shorted pillars under them to further support it. It made the floor more open then most. (I'd later learn that spell stones were set inside the pillars to further reinforce them... and was set to explode and drop the palace onto the heads of any invaders on a spell trigger. Just in case.) "I am sure many of you are eager to settle into quarters for the party in two days time as we await the last of our guests to arrive. Before we do so however, I would address you." She said, moving to the stairs and stepped up four steps before turning, raising herself up to be seen better.

"I have ruled over Eostia for eight hundred years... and seven of those centuries has been a long, painful, grinding war... a war that is over now." She looked about, smiling to us as she held her hands out. "Despite the differences between us, the problems and disagreements we have come together in a time of war. Let us keep coming together in a time of peace. To win the war was a struggle but to win the peace will be a challenge all of it's own. One we must wage for the betterment of our realm. With luck you will be up to it." She said as she clapped twice... and the maids and Dawn Templars filtered in. "Now let us get you to quarters and let you all enjoy a well earned rest."

I was glad for it as I quickly helped a maid with some of my things; all of House Noxdecus and Bijoux was here. Sadly that left the rest of the gang back home, but it is what it is. I just asked them to keep tabs on what happened in Mungale for the time being as I was led to a room in the central palace tower with a view of the gardens that ringed within the walls, white barriers capped with rounded gold toned stone.

(The first update I got was on Rowdy and his gang. At my request the judge ignored the factor of nobility which I knew stuck in his craw more then if I had let him throw the book at him. He was slapped with three days of jail and a thirty gold fine which isn't a small amount by any means, more so for a smaller adventuring group. However that wasn't their real problem; no one would do business with him and the Rowdy Boys. Elegant Iron and Needle Point wouldn't sell weapons and armor to them nor help with maintenance, stores would demand they leave and that they wouldn't take their money and even visiting merchants only sold to them after jacking up their prices. As it turns out attacking a well liked lord who has been bringing a little more money into the city and became a major war hero is frowned upon. In the end once the week was over they decided it wasn't possible to stick around and left for Elddale. Good riddance, I say.)

Once inside the room and the maid I just collapsed on the chair... A long war... a long peace talk... and finally I could relax a little. Sure, not in the way I wanted, but in a sense of the word.

I considered going shopping but given the reception I was sure I wouldn't be left alone, sadly. Maybe if I used an illusion... ... Maybe, but not now...

I opted to read a little and pass the time for awhile...

[-]

Skyguard Palace, Skyguard City
High Kingdom of Ken
Eastern Tower, Rooftop Patio

The furniture was plush and cozy on the tower's roof and there was much of it; long seating facing north and south in a slight 'U' shape for people to speak with one another and enjoy the view. The east side bore the stairs with a railing to help avoid someone stumbling down by accident. The west side bore a court for tennis; the shield over the top of the tower both preventing balls and people from falling off the edge due to the sport. The center bore an oval table with ten seats surrounded by smaller tables. Meanwhile at the northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast was seating facing inwards near barbecue pits, stoves and mini kitchens. It was easy to host a party on each tower and chances were those not invited to main victory party would gravitate to one such side tower for a smaller one.

"Freeing all dark elves... Should have guessed the High Wench would take the opportunity." Alundra van Bludhorn let off before breathing in smoke from her pipe and breathing it out at one of the heads of the oval table. "Fucking hell..."

"They already confiscated all our breeding stock as well..." Arnold von Blitzhaus let off with a huff at the other head; an untouched whiskey set before him. "Channer's prized new slave was set free as well... Barely had the chance to spend time with her and break her in." By all accounts Avdotya spat on his castle's grounds and floors from the moment she was uncollared to the moment she was escorted off to the wagon to take her to the north, screaming vengeance when she wasn't generating spit. She even demanded her old clothing and equipment returned to her; the clothing was long destroyed and so House Blitzhaus was billed four gold as compensation.

Not all the released dark elves opted to go north to Garan, however. Others, many of which were half dark elves, opted to leave the slave states of Eostia for the free states of Eostia; an option granted to them by the now cursed Treaty of Mungale (The treaty was cursed but doubly so the name of it) with rumors of many heading to Mungale or Whitewell reaching him. While all gathered were harmed by this decree his House was wounded the most; the lost of his breeding farms would cut off, perhaps, five percent or more of his territory's income with nothing to readily replace it. Five percent might not have sounded like much but it could be the difference between maintaining the expectations of a duchy and dropping back to a county in one or two decades.

He was sure of his promotion but he would scarce get to enjoy it as he tried to restructure his investments...

"Pffft... That's not the only issue on the plate." Swirling a glass of wine Roxellia Ardon frowned deeply. "I'm dealing with Waterlilies..."

"Isn't House Waterlily dead? Aside from the Noxdecus' house guest?" Stark Angelus asked before sipping at her tea as Roxelia sighed.

"No. Not them. The Waterlily Guard..." She said with a huff. "Some peasants that have been grumbling since I rose to power led by the former staff..." She said sipping her drink as she snorted. "That blasted Noxdecus' rise to infamy brought attention to his house guest... and what she was doing in the war."

"Wait? She was on the front lines?" Arnold let off in surprise as she thought about those who stood with House Noxdecus in the war.

"Supposedly she was on hand in the Fall of the Blood Bear and the battle before and her summons guarded the lines in both the Battle and Siege of Mooncast City." Roxelia explained. "She was healing troops on the field and tales of her stories reached the Guard and now they are demanding her right to rule be... recognized by the High Throne."

"Celestine won't do that." Aram Stolzerlowe declared firmly, setting a decorated glass mug down as he huffed. "It would set a precedent that would cause her too many headaches down the line. Unless Tiffany can knock you off the throne by force she won't do it."

"Don't be a dolt Aram..." Ryan Stoneshard huffed, holding a hand out with the forefinger and thumb pressed together and the other three fingers let limp and relaxed. "Tiffany has no force of her own and House Noxdecus cannot give her any direct assistance." That they would likely give indirect assistance went unmentioned. "But if a sizable fighting force within Albia was waiting for her, promising to assist her to the throne..."

"Then we lose another state of our number were Roxellia and her House to be dislodged..." Alundra filled in with a frown. "And given Albia's placement in Eostia..." She let the words hang as everyone considered the implications.

Albia sat between Maros and Caul on the Great Slave chain... on the off chance, small as it was, Albia turned Abolitionist then Blitzhaus and Caul would both be cut off from the Great Slave Chain... Arnold and Stark both frowned with the former taking a long swig of his drink. "Then we need to do something to undermine this 'Waterlily Guard' before they gain any popular traction..." Stark suggested.

"I imagine we can send some of our preferred mercenaries to your direction with some 'bonuses'." Arnold said as Roxellia nodded once. It wasn't charity from him; shrewd as the group gathered could be they often didn't help one another out of the goodness of their hearts or companionship but rather self interest; while not great the risk was there... and peace with Garan changed the calculus of the situation; the Waterlilies had been, likely, limited by the threat across the border... now they'd be unburdened by it, something Roxellia didn't need to tell them. "It shouldn't be a major problem, with proper management. No, we've a larger issue; the root cause of both our problems."

"Noxdecus..." The table looked to the man who spoke, silent until then. Standing some six foot three he bore platinum blonde hair cropped short. save a length in the back and darker green eyes. He wore a thick, golden colored shield shaped plate over his chest held there with thick leather straps plated in the same metal as the central plate. A leather set of briefs was over the legs covered in straps of metal plated leather straps.

Matching metal coated each forearm with a thick bracer. Leather, plated gloves covered with the same metal were set on the table before him with a gold colored, Imperium styled face plate with a thick band to go around the head and a glass of rum. Armored boots were over his feet and legs up to the knee with raised points over said knees. His fit, muscular frame filled out the mana armor well and the shape and coloration of the shield marked him as a member of House Doppiodrago; Baron Siegfried Doppiodrago. "It's time to admit the facts; whatever we thought he could be he has far surpassed. The fact he is a dragonborne on top of it all is a capstone to it all." He said with bitterness; his was a house founded by not one but two dragonborne and his mother was one as well. That someone like James Noxdecus was a dragonborne made things sting all the harder for him.

"... We will need to do something..." Alundra said with a frown. "We must find a way to undermine his house in the coming year... and if possible..."

She said no more. She didn't need to.

"That will be the issue, won't it?" Stark let off with a frown. "In the moment, however, he'll be more restricted in what he can do with his fame... but while that can make his movements more predictable it'll also mean he is always watched. We must remember why we haven't moved much against him until now. Exposing ourselves in the attempt will not help anything... Subtly is required. We will need proxies... there is an issue with that idea however.."

"Who in their right mind would willingly pick a fight with the dragonborne who laid low Olga Discordia...?" Aram said as he sipped his drink.

"More over willing and capable of doing the deed." Siegfried huffed as he sipped his rum. "Hmmm... Perhaps there is a way to outsource the task to those both willing and able to do so..." He said as the table turned to look at him for a long moment. "The Church."

"... That is... not a bad idea, really." Arnold said with a thoughtful frown. "My nephew adores the archbishop; it would be little trouble to use him as a go-between." 'And given the Church is a foe of the Crowns if we could expose their actions after the deed is done...' Arnold thought to himself.

"They've no love of dragonborne so they are more then like seeking to do the deed regardless..." Alundra let off with a wide smirk. "We supply the knowledge and intel and leave them to it... express it as a means to earn our favor..."

"And let the pious do the rest..." Aram said, holding his drink up with a grin.

"That leaves us to undermine he and his house as we can." Siegfried said with a wide grin. "With luck next year will be his last!"

"Cheers to that!" Roxellia said, lifting her own drink as all of them lifted their drinks.

"Cheers!"

[-]

Everyone came down for lunch and I was, surprisingly, pulled into a conversation with a few different people; Duke Alexander Silversail the Second, Archon Edwina Guildford, Duke Matrix Solrex and the High Governor Emera Caesarea who pulled me into sharing a meal with them. It was a... bit nerve wracking in truth.

Emera I had met (And fucked) at an Erotique sex party (Only in Eostia) which didn't change the fact that she was the ruler of Geofu and Archon Edwina was the ruler of Rad and we only spoke across the room at the Council of Lords. And of course you had Duke Alexander the Second, leader of the Monetarist and South Point, the wealthiest, largest territory in Eostia as well as Duke Martix, leader of the Conservatives and the ruler of Coxworth which itself is highly wealthy as well as a major religious center.

Needless to say my little table bore a hefty amount of political power and I was aware of why they opted to sit down with me; both to gain some of my favor and to better take my measure as a person. Being the Hero of Eostia is a bit annoying at times but I opted to stay calm, casual and relaxed as we just ate and talked as we made an agreement to try and not talk politics...

There would be so much time for that later...

I wasn't the only one in this position, mind you. My parents and sister had a few other Conservatives and Monetarists hanging around them for lunch as well and I could see House Galeraven getting the same treatment in a lesser manner. That made sense; House Noxdecus was on the rise and Galeraven was one of our closest allies. Some people wanted to take our measure, it seemed, and the best thing to do was to relax and let them.

That wasn't all that was worth noting however; the Traditionalists were collected together at a table minus a notable absence; Pugnator. Xander was speaking with Fredrick Rigald, someone from House Ferrocor, Brandy Mignite and Grey Xelbar. If I was to take a guess Xander was reinforcing new relationships so that once he pulled the trigger he would have the financial support needed for Maros to stay solvent and relevant.

The issue with nobility; it was hard to set aside politics for long...

Once I had some space to relax I checked over my stats for a moment to consider things; I had some Stat Points left over to spend and, well, with how hectic things were I hadn't done it yet. I opted to drop all six RSP I had into Luck, bringing it up to sixty seven and my six SSP into Capacity as it came up to fifty six. Honestly it was overdue.

Once lunch was done I opted to head down to the Palace Library; with a place like this there could be some good spells to be found and with the war over and winter setting in I'd have time to train and perfect whatever I read up on. It all depends on what could be found, of course, so I was eager to start; like an old school scavenger hunt.

Except...

"Noxdecus!" As I walked to the library a new voice called out to be; a bellowing male one as I turned to see someone marching up to me; a little taller then myself but built much bulkier in Mana Armor that looked like it was made by the Eternia by He-Man Collection... and with the House Bludhorn Elblem over the center of the chest. Oh goodie...

"Kaiden van Bludhorn, I presume?" I asked as I turned to him. I opted to wear my usual armor this time around; I wasn't worried about assassination, Celestine advised it to 'cut a heroic figure'. Regardless it meant I'd be ready for a fight in the unlikely chance he starts one.

Mind I thought the same for Rowdy...

(-)

Name: Kaiden van Bludhorn
Title: Heir of the Bull's Duchy
Class: Barbarian
Level: 43
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 56
Status: Healthy, Annoyed, Hateful

Known Traits
[?]

[If It Bleeds I'll Kill It] You love making blood spill! +4 Damage to All Slashing Damage.
[Clobberin' Time] You just want to fight and fight well. +2% to your Con, Str & End when your not using any spells. +5% Effect to all Combat Arts

[All Right Chumps, Let's Do This] You prefer to charge headlong into battle, and you're good at it. +3 Defense when charging a foe and 30 seconds after it

Heir to the Duchy of Anvil and son of Alundra van Bludhorn he is considered by his peers to be intelligent and clever but this is undermined by a burning temper and preference to just rush in and use brute force for any and all problems as opposed to think his way through other solutions. Cruel and caring little for allies and less for underlings he is considered a force to be reckoned with.

(-)

Yeah... as 'charming' as I've heard. More over; he has a trait called Clobberin' Time? I'm not sure what's worse; that he got a trait with that name or the fact that it would be of limited use to me. He stomped right up to me until he stood half a foot awhile as he huffed down at me as I looked back as passively and lazily as I could. Given his growing glare my lack of a reaction was pissing him off further. "Can I help you, of did you just want to share the smell of your breath?"

"Do not speak in that tone, murderer of my brother." He growled out lowly as he shifted, looking like he'd step forwards save I didn't back up to give him the room. Well crap. That's annoying... but it told me two things; he and his mother suspected I had a hand in things at the very least but didn't know any of the facts of the matter, or at least the fight.

"You have proof of that, Kaiden, or do you like to bluster?" I replied calmly. "You have my sympathies but I didn't lay finger nor steel on him since our meeting in Wallace City." And that was the honest truth of it.

Sure a hand was laid on him, just far bigger then mine.

"You lie." He said sternly as he stepped in to narrow the distance to something even shorter save I set a hand to his chest and pushed him back mid-step; he stumbled slightly with a shocked look as he didn't think I'd respond in such a manner.

"Right. You have no proof of anything, otherwise it wouldn't be me you'd be approaching." I replied firmly. That wasn't true; he had proof of something but if I had to guess no more then we were in the same general area when he died. "If you'll excuse me then, I've places to be." I said as I turned on my foot and started to count to ten.

"I'm not done with you-" Didn't even make it four...

"Kaiden!" I frowned a bit at the new voice and after two more steps stopped to turn about as Kaiden stepped aside and turned by three quarters to see his mother Alundra walk down to him. "We. Will. Talk. Later." She said sternly as Kaiden stiffened and his previous look of anger turned to disciplined subservience. I'd say there was a bit of fear in there too and given her reputation I really had to focus on schooling myself; there was no one else in the hall if something happened... and while I doubted Alundra would start something it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong.

"Duchess Alundra." I said coolly; I was a bit more guarded but for good reason.

"Hero Noxdecus." She replied with a neutral tone as she looked me over, a pipe in hand as she took a soft drag and turned her head up and to the side before breathing out a long line of smoke before addressing me further. "Since Kaiden so kindly tipped our hand I'll come out and say it; I know you had a hand in Victor's death. Oh, I'm sure you neither wished for nor committed the act itself... but we all know how it goes; the best laid plans of mice and men..." She said before her face turned to a stern glare. "...I need not explain my wrath to you so rather then speak of threats and warnings I will say this... Be mindful of crossing my House in the future... for next time my hands may not be so tied... and you know I can get... creative..." She said before her face returned to it previous look as she turned and started to walk. "Kaiden, we're leaving." She said simply as the big guy gave me one, last stern look before he turned to walk away as well.

Only once they left my view did I let a breath out and relax and it was another minute and a half before I resumed my journey; I hated to say it but the old cunt (I don't know another word strong enough for her) did spook me; she was over level fifty and unlike Olga not poisoned so that wasn't a fight I was ready for if such a thing came about. Luckily I was right; Alundra wasn't going to pick a fight here of all places and likely only stepped in to prevent Kaiden from doing so. She likely just wanted to unnerve me while reigning him in.

Mission Accomplished.

I was able to shake the worst of it off by the time I reached the library and saw a few other people milling about. Finally I reached the scroll shelves and started to browse for a while... Soon I started to pick up more then a few good spells to fill out my list.

(-)

Arctic Burst [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Ice
Cool Down: Moderate
Mana Cost: Moderate

A ball made of condensed cold fire fired and forms a ball of ice when fired. Upon impact it explodes with frozen shrapnel.

Storm Wave [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Lightning
Cool Down: Moderate
Mana Cost: Moderate

Creates a powerful surge of lightning within twelve feet of the user in a sphere. Ineffective against foes in metal armor or that are otherwise grounded.

Cannon Stream [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Wind
Cool Down: None
Mana Cost: Moderate to Very High

Allows the user to generate a powerful, tight stream of wind in a fist size line. The level of power varies on how much mana is used in it's creation.

Scorpion Chain [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Arcane
Cool Down: Low
Mana Cost: Moderate

Create and fire off a chain of arcane energy with a rounded edge that magically attaches to a target. The user can pull or even be pulled by it.

Chain Lightning [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Lightning
Cool Down: High
Mana Cost: Extreme

Fire a powerful blast of lightning either directly at or above a target. If towards a target the lightning will take the form of multiple bolts as thick as a limb in a direction that can destroy stone and melt steel. If above the lightning will quickly condense into a ball before lashing downwards with likewise limb thick bolts in a very wide area. It is a highly destructive spell.

Thunder Armor [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Lightning
Cool Down: Low
Mana Cost: High

Coats the user in a layer of crackling lightning. Any non-grounded foe who strikes a user with a bare limb or conductive weapon will be shocked. The user also gains +2 Magical Resistance for every 25 Mag you have (Rounded Down); doubled for opposing lightning attacks and halved for opposing earth attacks.

Stone Arrow [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Earth
Cool Down: Low
Mana Cost: Low

Fires a bolt of earth elemental mana to a target.

Cryo Stream [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Ice
Cool Down: Low
Mana Cost: Very High to Extreme

Fire a tight, condensed beam of pure cold to a target making it freeze and reduce in temperature at a rapid rate and coat in frost. Living targets may suffer hypothermia after some exposure.

Silver Weapon [Lvl I] (0/1000)
Magic Type: Arcane
Cool Down: Low
Mana Cost: Moderate

Imbue a weapon with Arcane Mana; the weapon gains Arcane Damage equal to half the weapon's damage (Rounded Up)
(This Combat Art is also considered a Magic Spell)

(-)

It was a good collection of spells overall, I'd say. Arctic Burst, Storm Wave and Stone Arrow were all combat spells that could fill out some little roles; Arctic Burst resembled my more used Arctic Orb and, as such, could be mistaken for it in the heat of the moment. Storm Wave could be useful if I ever found myself surrounded and swarmed or even pinned down while Stone Arrow, while low level and simple, could be useful when I needed something more blunt force. Silver Weapon was just there to round out me Elemental Weapon spells... or Non-Elemental Weapon Spells as it stood...

Cryo Stream was very mana intensive and bore a long range although it's effect dropped off the further out it had to go. That said; in close it could cause hypothermia in a few seconds which would be a major boon... if you connected. What I hadn't realized until I first tried it is that it had a wind up time; coupled with the mana cost a miss would hurt/ Still there could be uses for it.

Thunder Armor was another defensive based spell that I could see some uses for; once more it was useful in case of a swarm. Chain Lightning was a very powerful spell and until I had some real space I couldn't test it but it could eradicate a massive patch of land and what's on it. I imagined it wouldn't be useful for most situations, given both the level of destruction and the mana cost, but when the time came...

Scorpion Chain (Perfect name, I had to say) would fit my mixed range combat style as well as being a way to yank another mage into range where I could let them have it. It wasn't just that mind; I could snatch objects and dropped weapons to make sure they couldn't be recovered. More over I could see a use for it once I got to my large scale project. Speaking of which...

Cannon Stream was the real prize here. Up until now I've been using Vortex Tunnel as the enchantment of choice for the Cloud Riders propulsion and some testing showed that it could provide more powerful propulsion for the same mana cost. If things panned out and I got it to max level...

It made me giddy... It also washed the bad taste of my encounter with the Bludhorns from my mouth. Bleck.

[-]

Celestine's Office
Skyguard Palace, Skyguard City
High Kingdom of Ken

"And there we are." Celestine said as she signed the last document before sighing. Fourteen promotions signed and authorized by her. Honestly; it was frustrating how much of her job was paperwork and not hands on work. She was never that lucky. Compared to her office in the Fortress the one of the Palace was similar in decor and color if larger and with fountains built into the sides that used Aqua Create spells. The sound of the running water was calming, she found.

"How much of these are earned and how many are political?" Standing across from the desk Celestine sat in Claudia stood and asked, adjusting the sheets to get a better look at them. Indeed fourteen Houses were getting a promotion... in addition to one more document; one promoting Victoria Daphne from the Acting Countess of Xenera to a full, recognized Countess.

"Half and half, maybe." The High Queen said as she leaned back in her seat. "And even those who earned it are beneficial politically." She began as she looked to the sheets. "Redhull and Ambacht all punched over their weight but now that Garan is no longer at war with us our other borders need more security; which is why Erotique, Rexvenandi, Abhainn, Trademan and Flotte will join them. Maros earned it but speaking with the soon to be Count cemented the choice. Draken, Galeraven and Xelbar are the only ones that earned it without the thumb of politics on the scale... as well as one I need not name."

"Noxdecus." Claudia said as Celestine nodded. Claudia could see the value of promoting the border states; previously they wanted to avoid provoking or risk threatening their rivals. Now that they no longer had to deal with their northern border so much they could shift attention; the promotions would raise the number of troops allowed by those territories and, thus, security of those regions. Had Dayhill not been a duchy she would have promoted House Aquwis as well as a further bulwark. She looked at the other choices and, without asked, guessed why they were promoted.

Whitelance was likely to promote a Ken state as it was the only one rising from that batch. The same was true for House Ambacht but there were two other reasons; their finances had risen to the point where the question of promotion would come up and likely be answered with 'yes' thus saving time, debate and headache. The other was she could see what was coming in time with the Traditionalist and given the important position of Longroad in the Great Slave Chain she wanted to ensure the House of the Highway bore the means to politically fend off coming problems. And then there was the last house that would be promoted...

House Blitzhaus.

"Sadly the audit came up with nothing beyond 'too clean' which is, sadly, not a valid and acceptable reason to deny them." Celestine said with a huff. "That said they're also the only one I'm not convinced is unaffiliated with the Crowns somehow."

"The connections with Beardsley is there if nothing else... but we have nothing else, do we?" Claudia asked as Celestine sighed.

"No, no we don't. We only have enough to keep tabs on things; such as that Arnold has connections with the Church and I know they have no love for the Crowns either." She said as she frowned for a moment. "I could be wrong on the connection with the Crowns, of course... They are a slippery bunch and wouldn't mind sending me on a wild goose chase to avert my eyes. If Arnold wasn't aligned but I could be made to think he was it would be a waste of time and weaken an ally of the Church and my trust in the lords; something that benefits them more then I, I would think."

"And yet the politics demands it lest grumbling from more then just the Traditionalists begin." Claudia sighed as Celestine nodded. Indeed; that was the issue. That the Traditionalists held no favor with the High Queen was no secret to anyone and the other factions were more then happy to take advantage of it... however they also knew that being shown no favor was different then being shown unfairness according to the rules and traditions of Eostia. If she showed them no favor no one would care. If she showed them no fairness everyone would care. "It is what it is, I suppose."

"Sadly... That said with things as they are Blitzhaus will be undermined by situations around them; the Treaty of Mungale for starters." Celestine began once more. She knew that she couldn't bring up the slavery of dark elves in Eostia with Traditionalist observers on hand on her own and needed to, somehow, goad Olga into it. As it turned out previous conversations and her aide Chloe made Olga do as she had hoped; the freedom of all dark elves in Eostia was a significant blow to slavery in Eostia as a whole as both Ironheart and Arafe would default to free states from their previously limited state. It was a minor blow to the Traditionalists but a blow nonetheless. "More over Xander wants a moment to make his announcement. I imagine that will further frustrate Arnold and the Traditionalists both. That all said how the chips will fall is yet to be seen... Regardless; we must safeguard the future as best able."

"We all must... If I may I'd like to go see Klaus for a bit." Claudia said as a warm smile came to her face. "We've a clearer future to discuss now."

"Indeed. Go to him, my friend." Claudia would salute to the High Queen before marching out as Celestine stood as well, moving to a mini kitchen kept in the office to make herself some tea...

This would be her last major duty for the year...

There would be much to do in the following one...

[-]

Once my trip to the library was done I was accosted by Bolt Mignite and after a brief greeting she asked me to follow her to the Palace's training room at her mother's request. The reasons were two fold; one to train me to use guns safely. In the event your wondering I had some training with firearms from my old world; namely rifles and shotguns. I had no training with handguns or revolvers but the principle was the same; the main difference was how to hold them as there was no stock and one needed to rely on arm strength to take the recoil. That being said I was much stronger then I was in my old world and could boost my strength if it came down to it. Moreover I was sure I could enchant the gun I got to reduce the recoil if needed.

Bolt was the one to start the training, using a well shielded archery lane for this, setting up a wooden back board in front of the target; the reason for it was the bullets would go past but if it ricocheted off the wall the boards would block it with the loss of force it would have. Brandy watched over us but Bolt was dead serious during the whole thing, something I respected. We would start off with learning to use it with both hands (What they called 'standard grip') and then once they were sure I was competent at it one handed (What they called 'single grip'). At first they didn't fret about accuracy; they wanted safety first and foremost to ensure I wouldn't shoot my own foot off. Once they were sure I knew what I was doing to a basic degree they gave tips for accuracy.

Once more I knew what I was doing to a degree with lining up the sights so I started with reasonable accuracy but lacked practice and all of my old world's experience was on long guns. (As a side note there was a trait upgrade for Gunslinger called 'Boomstick' that allowed for the use of rifles and shot guns as a secondary weapon for an additional twenty Trait Points. Not what I needed, but maybe down the line... As a side note to the side note, Gunslinger had another upgrade called 'From The Mouth Of My Cannon' that allowed you to operate cannons. Useful? Not to me at the moment. Later? Not impossible.)

Once they were sure I had it down they brought me to a table for a discussion of what I was hoping for in the design of my future gun; the second reason I was called over, in other words. "The overall design I'll leave to the smith." I began as I started to answer as I used Arcane Weapon to form a revolver from mana based on what I recalled from the old Colt Army Revolver... I was sure it wasn't quite there... One thing that was notable was a set of points under the barrel; one near the finger guard and one under the start of the barrel. "But I need some form of anchor points for the Arcane Weapon spell I plan to add into it."

"Magically made bayonet then?" Bolt said with a grin as she chuckled. "I can see use in that. We gunner sorts prefer to keep distance to let bullets do the work but wouldn't be the first time time someone got too close. But why do ya need the points at all? Can't you just make the blade like on your staff?"

"The weapons made by the Shining Gemini are anchored to it; by the spell stone." Bolt blinked as I explained. "The weapon's mana is anchored to the mana of the stone which goes down the shaft. Despite how it looks it is anchored." I then lifted the mock revolver and pointed to the stocks. "With the stone as part of the grip I can't do that so I need to anchor it in place by another means." I then used another Arcane Weapon to make a saber blade that attached to the revolver's points that was three feet long and started a short kata with it. In case your wondering, yes I had practiced with this before hand with Arcane Weapon and it was... interesting.

I had used curved grip swords before; they were a bit better for thrusts as it brought the blade more in line with your arm and certain types of slashes but it doesn't transfer forceful cuts in the same way as a straighter grip. Given I'm a fencer that was something I could deal with, doubly so if I could overcharge the spell to heat it... Of course one difference is that the curve of those blades didn't quite reach the levels that a revolver did.

Next I transitioned the blade to another form; a foot long but with a bladed prong moving out from under it and pointing forwards and down. "It'll take practice, but I should be able to use a two pronged bayonet as a replacement for my parrying dagger."

That was the other thing; I could only carry three weapons with me and with the Dragon's Claw and Shining Gemini as all but shoe-ins for two of those slots the dagger had to go to bring in the gun. Used off hand I could use it in close to block, deflect and trap blades while in close and once the fight moved away from the melee I could fire at range. In a sense it was a near perfect fit for me and gave me an option to attack if sword and spell were impractical.

"I don't suppose you can make socket type bayonet's with that spell'o'yours?" Brandy asked as she tapped her chin. "Maybe we can have the option for our riflemen, don't you think?"

"Well even if we used my means of enchanting en mass there would be a premium simply because you'd need decent spell stones for each rifle." I replied honestly; unlike my voxluxs which could piggyback off of boosters an Arcane Weapon spell needed some power to it. Sure; you didn't need a high grade one (Unless you wanted the spell overcharged) but it still needed to be in the lower-mid range at best. Brandy frowned but nodded.

"Hmm... Might be best to stick to steel save for some of our more elite troops then." She nodded. Yes, there was a reason bayonets was still something a modern military in my old world would train in; sometimes things got in real close and having what amounted to a short spear was a benefit. It's why soldiers knew how to club people with a rifle in addition to shooting them with it.

"Maybe, but I can see the use of a blade you can just turn on." Bolt added as she grinned. "I can see some use in having one of my shootin' irons having it."

"Fair warning; the grip won't be the best for hard cuts so you'll want to focus on thrusts with it." She nodded at my replied but still grinned.

"Not sure that's be a good idea; you'd cut yer own damn foot off!" Brandy let off with a huff.

"Ma! If I can shoot a gun I think I can handle a damn blade enough to not lose my own limb!" Bolt let off looking to her mother now with hands at her hips.

"You can't handle gettin' otta bed on time!" Brandy barked back, matching her daughter's pose.

"Well forgive me fer showing a lad a good long time!"

"Oh, is that the guy scurryin' from your room a week ago?"

"Ummm, ladies?"

"At least I can say men are leavin' my room since they come in the first place!"

"Well at least I'm being invited to other beds!"

"Ladies, can you two-"

"BUTT OUT!" The turned on me now, screaming as one as I backed up only for them to go back to shouting at each other.

Ten minutes later I showed myself out...

[-]

Come the next day a few others arrived to the Palace; Vult of the Black Dogs as well as his main lieutenants, members of some minor nobility, notable merchants and bureaucrats and the like but most came from within the city; foreign ambassadors. While they weren't given the chance to observe (And thus influence) the Treaty of Mungale they were kept abreast of the process and would be allowed to observe the party and the outcome of it. Given that it would all become public information (Or most of it, anyway) there was no reason not to bring them in on it.

I was a bit surprised Vult was invited into the party but the reasoning was sound; he led the largest mercenary group known, his group lost members and they played their part against not just Garan but the Abomination as well. Hell, they were the first line of defense against the zombie horde the Abomination deployed. General Mallory DuLouvenoir supposedly extended the invite herself.

I had brought the suit I wore to Prim's party to wear... only from Prim and Kaguya (With Carmen and Troya Zeragon in tow) to arrive in my room and shove me into another outfit all together in spite of all of my protests I had to the thing... Not that it was bad, mind you just... well... where did they even get my sizes!?

(Answer; Agana. Traitor.)

Come the time of the party I was all fancied up and trotted out to the roof of the main tower. So; my new outfit?

White pants, tighter then I cared for but oddly comfortable, with stripes going down the sides that was blue with gold trim on the outsides that were shimmering in tone; nearly metallic. It was dyed steel silk; a normal silk that was made with powdered spell stone. The grades for the stone were low and several stones were used so it couldn't be enchanted but it gave the fabric a shining, metallic hue that was eye catching. The boots that went with it were black leather, capped with gold trim (More powdered spell stone there) with black laces that were well fitted.

The shirt was a silken, blue shirt that was of amazing quality with a white vest over it boasting golden buttons and gold colored stitching. A neck tie went down from around the neck and tucked under the vest; gold in color and boasting the Noxdecus House Emblem stitched into it with powdered threads, so more metallic hue. The back of the vest also bore the House Noxdecus emblem in powdered threads. Ending the look was a pair of white gloves; each with my House Emblem on the back of the hand (Bottom of the shield facing the knuckles) and well fitted to me (Although I had to wear my Grand Master's ring over it). I asked Prim how much it cost.

She said don't worry about.

Translation; enough to buy a full suit of plate armor. At least.

That said I did look like one smooooooth mother fucker in that moment, I had to say.

There were two, curving stairs up to the roof of the tower that would put you to the south side of it; triple wide to make reaching it easier. Between the top of the two stairs was a magically powered elevator; both so staff could more easily wheel food in on carts and for women with more complex dresses to use as to not trip. Once there you could feel the shielding over the roof as enhanced the dying sunlight a bit to brighten the place while the falling snow quickly melted upon contact with it. Once I had the chance I looked around.

There were tables set up for dining on the sides of the tower; rimming from northwest to southwest and northeast to southeast with another table set to the north and to the left side a bit. At the very back of the tower's northern point was a throne on a raised platform; golden with the Seal of the Alliance over it. On either side was six more seats on a lower platform; one for the remaining Shield Princesses. Off to the throne's right side was a band playing music of what could be called the classical genre to give atmosphere to the place. Finally the tower's center was being used for dancing with the edges being set aside for chatter and talking.

Thankfully no one screamed my name as I arrived this time as I walked over, picking up a glass of white wine from a passing maid as I saw what was going on; you could see the Traditionalists all but clustered into one of two groups (Lords and Heirs, respectfully) while other lords spoke with one another. "Ahh, the hero arrives." I turned my head to see Jupiter Rexvenandi walking to me with a smile and a glass in her own hand as she wore what seemed to be a toga. It was gold in color and was single strapped over the left shoulder and a simple, horizontal, orange trim six inches over the bottom of it that looked like arrowed rope. There was another cloth over the right side that was green trimmed with orange that was over the right shoulder and tucked into a tight, orange, arrowed belt that was set just under her bosom; giving it a half cape-like look. A set or orange sandals finished the look off. "Good to see you once more."

"Jupiter, likewise." I replied as she held her glass out; I clinked mine to hers. "You look well."

"You look delicious." She teased with a grin. "Someone dressed well tonight. You'll beating floozies off you tonight."

"And I've sadly come unarmed; that could be a problem." I quipped as she giggled at me for a long moment. "Joking aside; I'm looking towards the pomp and circumstances coming to an end." I said as I sipped at my drink.

"Hear, hear..." She said, finishing her own sip. "Honestly I can't wait for things to settle back down a bit..."

"Tell me about it..." I replied with a soft sigh... right before an arm draped over my shoulders.

"You're sounding like an old man." I heard then turned my head to see Maia there with a grin. She was wearing something interesting; a red one piece combining a halter top and tight, tight pants together with a set of short, black boots. A silver belt around the waist added a splash of flair, as did the purple scarf around her neck... oh, and she still had her headband... because of course she did. My arm moved around her waist as she grinned up at me as she tightened her arm around my neck. "Buuuut, yeah, it'll be great to kick some feet up for awhile." She let off, a frosted, glass mug of something in her other hand (Eggnog, it would turn out) as she grinned wider. "Nothing like a victory to make you feel good."

"That depends on the victory." I was able to turn my head to see both Kaguya and Lulu walking over; both in their own outfits. For my (Yet to be announced) bride to be she wore her usual headdress with a white kimono with red trim and gold stitching... but because Eostia it was cropped to just under the bust with loincloth hanging to her knees, those wooden sandals and... well... she wasn't wearing panties. There were no straps.

(As it turns out I was wrong; she wore a slingback thong as underwear... which was somehow sexier.)

By contrast Lulu wore a gold necklace with a ring in the center from which two, green cloths attached to and wrapped behind her back, covering her flat chest as they connected via another ring. For bottoms it was a matching, bikini like thong and a semi-transparent, pale gold skirt that hung to her ankles with white stockings and short, green boots. Her hair, usually stuck under a hat, was pulled back into a short, curled ponytail. "Good to see ya girls!" Maia let off as I turned to face them, letting Maia go to do so.

"I have to agree; you both look rather nice tonight." I added before grinning. "And Maia looks... okay."

"Okay!?" Maia bawked at me as I chuckled at her. I knew the over reaction was a joke; I was in on it as Lulu gave off a laugh and Kaguya just shook her head with a smile and a sigh. "Yeeeeeesh, I know who not to dress up for in the future now!"

"Well I suppose I can say nice things then." As I had heard Vult was here and walking over with a mug of his own (Also Eggnog) as he grinned and... holy shit the dude shaved his face! I'm surprised by that! He also wore an interesting outfit; a rich, brown tunic with the bottom boasting square panel cuts at the bottom trim and hanging cloth extensions under it with silver trim. A roman styled eagle stitched in the front, also in silver and clutching a gold, wreathed circle with a red iron cross in it; an old Imperial emblem used by it's military under the Kaiser rule which was, in turned, used by the Rycall Empire during it's time.

(Fun fact; the Rycall Empire had it on a dark red flag. The eagle and iron cross, at a distance, could look more like another eagle holding a swastika. Cruel minds think alike..?)

Under it he wore a red kilt like cloth (Called a tunica, popular in the Imperium once more), black leggings trimmed with silver and open toed black boots. Black, silver trimmed cloth bracers were over the forearms and his head bore a black headband with a gold colored wreath and a red half cape was over his shoulders and left bicep. "Really!?" Maia let off as her face lit up with a grin.

"I can... but I won't." He teased with a grin as Maia flinched then pouted as I looked over his outfit once more.

"You enjoy the Imperium collection, Vult?" I quipped softly as he chuckled... and yeah; re-imagine the tunic as a breastplate and the hanging bits as armored and he'd look not unlike an Imperium Emperor of said Kaiser era.

"What can I say; they had taste!" He said with a chuckle before drinking his eggnog. "I mean the ladies went around showing their legs all the time."

"...That sounds like Eostia." Lulu pointed out in a childish way... as Maia glared at her own (Tight) leggings.

"Legs, tits, ass..." I let off with a sigh. "It's amazing some women don't prance around naked sometimes."

"Remember Chouko?" Kaguya said as I sighed once more.

"Very much so." I replied curtly as she giggled. Vult raised an eyebrow but knew there would be no discussion on the topic so he wouldn't ask.

"Anyway, I was passing by to speak with a few, now former, clients and making sure I'll still have contacts if work crops back up." Vult said with shrug as he grinned. "Enjoy the party, M'Lord... You earned it."

"H-hey! Vult, let me come along!" And as Vult moved to walk off Maia left up and followed like a lost puppy, one of her arms grabbing one of his as she all but attached herself to him. I had heard Maia had a thing for Vult and I'd seen it before at the post-Siege of Mooncast party but this cemented it.

...

I wasn't sure how I felt about that; not out of jealously (Although I did kinda liked Maia, fun girl) but rather there was something... off-putting about Vult... there wasn't anything I could point to and say 'problem' but there's a reason the Kaiser era of the Imperium was considered so sketchy. It wasn't a red flag but it wasn't a green one either; more orange. Still...

Given the Black Dogs reputation would Vult take payment from a group like the Black Storm to attack Eostia down the line...?

[-]

"You know how much talk there is about your son, right Merlin?"

"Well, you waste no time with topics, Jamaica." Merlin raised an eyebrow at his friend and ally's words as she sipped her wine. By contrast to his son (Where did his boy get that outfit?) he wore his Grand Magus Robes; well made robes in the House Noxdecus colors with the main body being blue with gold trim and buttoned down the front to the groin with a matching, bicep length poncho around the shoulders. On the back was the House Noxdecus Emblem stitched with spell powder infused threads. Clasped over his collarbone and holding the short poncho shut was a round brooch denoting his status as a Grand Magus of the Spellcaster's Guild; the same outer wreath as the Grand Master's emblem but with something else inside of it; a pair of hands under what seemed like falling rays of light with an eight pointed star; half of each point being colored in with yellow and trimmed with gold.

White pants was set to his legs tucked into black, knee high boots with golden colored pads over the knees. His hat was not on his head and replaced with a silver, cord thin tiara with a small, blue spell stone in the front of it. A set of white gloves were over his hands to end the look as the redhead by him shrugged. "Ach, that's true but it's not like I'm wrong."

By contrast Jamaica's dress, by contrast, was red, rectangular panels set over her breasts, groin, center of her ass, side of her hips and thighs and ribs; held together with golden colored cords that connected to one another and wrapped around her body. A set of red boots were over her feet and had short, matching gloves on each hand. Around her head was her usual crown as she swirled her glass of red wine. "The lad isn't just going to need to pick a wife, if only to keep the mindless floozies away, he's gonna need to take on an apprentice sooner or later." Merlin sighed and frowned deeply as he sipped his own drink.

"I know, I know... James won't like that; even ignoring the usual enchanter paranoia he is, in many ways, still learning himself." Merlin summarized as he saw his wife and daughter speak to a few female members or other Liberalist houses. "It's something that's expected but still..."

As a rule most nobility didn't need to take squires or apprentices to teach or train and for most of them it wasn't an expectation but as many things in life there were exceptions. Of those exceptions included high ranking members of the Fighter's Guild (The Physical equivalent of the Spellcaster's Guild that owned, sponsored or organized arenas, gladiators or tournaments across the realm), the Spellcaster's Guild or even creative Guilds like the Playwrights's or Hammermen's Guilds. The other exception was notable heroes and exceptional individuals in Eostia.

James had qualified several times over. The expectation was likely and while he knew the wife issue was covered (Twice over) the apprentice issues had yet to be discussed and there would be a lot of young men and women seeking the position. Indeed, he was well aware of the situation being a Grand Magus; ending up with Aeris as his apprentice solved that issue for him.

He doubted James would get an elven apprentice from the United Elven Kingdoms like he had... and given what happened with Folas it was likely he wouldn't be welcomed there to start with. That said who he picked would be political if it was someone from another house... or from someone who was an orphan or otherwise considered 'unsuitable'. More over there was not just an obvious answer to the question the fact was they had to be careful on vetting who it was.

There was a shot there for a rival house to get someone into his son's council and trust that they could control or manipulate... and he wasn't so foolish as to think that the Church or a foreign nation wouldn't take the chance either. House Noxdecus was on the rise and that brought both good and ill to their little Barony. "Still; it's a stone we can kick down the road until the new year... but once we get into it we'll need to vet a lot of people when the time comes..."

"Ach, that's the way of things at times." Jamaica sighed as she sipper her drink once more. "Lad did what he had to but I doubt he likes all the eyes on him; more so those huntin' for a ring." She said before turning an eye towards the Traditionalist section of the room; eyeing Alundra van Bludhorn in particular. "But they're not the biggest ones ta worry about... rumor is the Bull's boy got in yer lad's face and while Alundra pulled his leash back she coupled it with a stern word to him."

"I imagine they're displeased about his rise..." Merlin mused as he sipped his own drink... although he was well aware that Kaiden confronted him over something else; not long after James returned from his tour of Eostia and the installing of the voxlux network James pulled him aside and told him of the events that led to the death of Victor van Bludhorn. On the one hand he didn't blame his son; Victor was the one to attack first, could have not attacked and sealed his own fate in the effort... but his death was a fumble (Partially his son's fault but due to not having a full grasp on the people involved) and one they couldn't let others know about.

James had told him about the encounter with Kaiden before the party as well to keep him in the loop; Alundra knew enough to know James had a part in Victor's death, likely knew who started it and knew she had no public or honest channels to demand compensation or retribution and would, likely, try and find another means. Which meant Kaiden tipped their hands letting them move from suspecting Alundra might target his son to knowing it and, thus, could find means to counter and deal with it.

That they had the recording of Victor's attack was something he could use as leverage should the situation come to it was a comfort as well.

"There's a lot of grumbling, boyo." Jamaica replied with a look to him. "The Liberalists are all happy, the Monetarist and Royalist are content but the Conservatives are grumbling over his rise."

"Hmmm, sounds about right..." As politics went the Liberalists and Conservatives were rivals and ranged from friendly to... unfriendly but there was often respect there. "It is as it is; jealously and worry will cause such... with luck my boy's nature will smooth over most of the issues..."

'At least until his engagements are announced...' He thought to himself as he bit back a sigh. The problems of nobility...

[-]

Dinner was finally called up and served; steaks and lobster for everyone with a side of imperial salad, garlic bread and fried spirals (Fried potatoes that were cut into thin spirals and seasoned with herbs and spices) served with, of all things, White Liberty Wine; a wine that was made the year after the fall of the Brazen Empire in celebration of it's fall and only one thousand bottles were ever made with few left. Celestine, supposedly, had a collection of twenty bottles and by the end of the night only one would remain. Desert was taiyaki with the ice cream inside, which I learned was nicknamed 'frost cooked cake' and the recipe was being picked up elsewhere outside of Blackcut. It had also been called 'Blackcut Cake' for that reason and some places were making it other shapes then just fish shaped.

Given the reception it was getting here it would become much more popular soon.

Once the dinner was done Celestine would move to her throne and the other Seven Shields moved to the flanking thrones. What surprised me was this was the first time (Barring the resort at Bria) that I saw her wear a new outfit... that was somehow skimpier then her normal one... starting with the gold, heart shaped pasties and C-String. No, I am not joking, that's where it started.

(I wouldn't know it until later but the C-String didn't go any further back then just over her anus... so yeah, magic must have kept it place...)

Feathered, gold colored panels covered her ribs with a loop on each side by the front with two chains that wrapped loosely over her thighs and back to connect to the back of the C-Strip. (I couldn't see it now but two more chains went from the back of the panels up to a ring near her shoulder blades where another chain went up to another chain connecting two lengths of white cloth.) A ring at her neck with two cloths going around the back of her neck held a small, blue spell stone in it and bore another, semi-transparent length that went down to her knees. Two short chains went to the sides that swapped to two more white cloths of the same type went over the pasties were a short chain with three, small pendants on each of them held the fabric over it before moving to wrap over her forearms.

Bangles were over each wrist and a golden wreath that wrapped around the back of her head and over her temples. Over each foot was golden sandals that wrapped up her shins and calves to finish the look off. There were a few people still chatting and talking at their seats as two aides walked over towards the High Queen, one with a platter of scrolls with wax seals bearing the Mark of the Alliance, the other a long box that was set aside behind the throne. Finally she would lift a small bell by her seat and held it up, ringing it loudly. Conversation ended, some instantly others in short order and everyone stood and gathered about in the center of the room. Once everyone was done she set the bell down and smiled, clasping her hands together.

"My Good Lords. Here we stand. Seven centuries of war has ended with Eostia stronger then before." She began with a smile. "We have, at long last, won the war. But now a greater challenge awaits us; to win the peace. That said we should be able to accomplish this given the capacity of those gathered before me. With a peace secure with Garan we now can shift focus and attention. Let us us not be unaware; Dominious is still in turmoil and Nyaru wishes to nip at our borders. Challenges yet await us that we will need addressing... but that is not here nor there in this moment. This is a night of celebration and it is time to give at least some of you more reasons to do so. The last promotions of the war will be handed out tonight."

A long cheer went up at that and I wasn't surprised; it would be a capstone for some of the territories and a point of pride for Eostia as a whole. Celestine picked one of the scrolls up from the aide's platter and held it up; each would bear a name of the appropriate house to let her know which scroll was for whom. "To bring with; The House of Daphne. Acting Countess Victoria, kindly step forth." Sure Enough, Victoria Daphne (In a royal blue dress that reached her knees) would step forwards; head held up and arms behind her in a professional manner as she moved to a spot before Celestine's platform and moved to kneel. "Due to... unfortunate circumstances House Insidiae's fall left a severe gap in the leadership of Xenera; one you have filled. You have led well and bravely in battle and I have been told many a time of how you not only saw to the needs of your troops but those they were occupying. As such I remove the title of Acting Countess and have you recognized as the full and true Countess of Xenera."

Applause broke out; at bare minimum polite clapping but more then a few enthusiastic that House Daphne was now in charge of the once Land of the Madmen and that they didn't need to deal with House Insidiae ever again. One of Celestine aides took the scroll and brought it to Victoria who stood and accepted it before looking to her.

"I thank you, Your Highness. I will prove this trust is not misplaced." She said as Celestine nodded before she moved to return to the mass of nobles as the High Queen plucked another scroll up.

"Jamaica of House Galeraven. Step forth." Celestine called out and Jamaica (In a dress that could be called panels of cloth and shoestring! You'll never forget how damned daring women can be in this place!) Like Victoria before her she would kneel as Celestine smiled. "The passionate leadership of House Galeraven has been repeated to me a few times; your own most notable in your fiery passion but also your daughter Campbell who's bravery and chivalry inspired those she had fought with. Your units have often charged to the front besides you and your people's care for the freed in Mooncast is not unrecognized. You will now be promoted from Countess of Ferra to Duchess of Ferra!" Once more an aide brought down a scroll as clapping came up in response as I smiled wider; no doubt she had earned it. Once Jamaica had her scroll she rose up and held it up.

"Ach! Thank you, my good queen. Blessings of the Great Ravens of Morrigan upon you and yours!" She let off as she bowed and moved to rejoin the lords. Soon, one by one promotions were dealt out... and I kept mental notes of them...

Of the Houses we would see Ambacht of Longroad, Trademan of Ironport, Xelbar of Yerical, Abhainn of Cauldona, Whitelance of Armon, Rexvenandi of Harcal and Erotique of Forestside were all promoted from Barons or Baronesses and Baronies to Counts or Countesses and Counties. On top of that Draken of Ironheart (With someone standing in for Nimrah, who's more delicate constitution demanded more care in her pregnancy), Flotte of Ironside and Redhull of Eastport were all promoted to Dukes/Duchess and Duchies. Notably Zealand was rather... stiff and embarrassed when accepting her scroll... it was cute.

I quickly noted that of the promotions all those by Dominious and Nyaru were promoted and two bordering Balanar (Forestside and Harcal) were also promoted. I was aware that promotions of at least Ironside and Cauldona were overdue and likely Eastport as well... but it was held off on to avoid risking provoking our more... aggressive neighbors.

Not that they always listened.

Now? Now it was time to remind everyone where the borders were and to stay off our lawn. I also couldn't help but think that the promotions to both Galeraven (Earned as it was) and Ambacht was to help fend off Traditionalist problems... Speaking of...

"Arnold of House Blitzhaus. Step forth." Arnold grinned and stomped forth; wearing a red great coat with his House Emblem on the back. He would kneel down at the base of the platform as he waited. "Whatever talk at the last council can be recalled but one must say the deeds of Blitzhaus were done well. Yours sons, the youngest in particular, rose to the challenges given to them and held lines and met strong foes over and over; all while directing the forces to follow. The promotion is earned, now Duke Blitzhaus." She said as the aide brought down a scroll to him. The clapping was more tepid then before but still there although the Traditionalists (And his sons and daughter in particular) clapped louder as he took the scroll and stood.

"Whatever differences I have with my peers, Blitzhaus stands with Eostia!" He bellowed out, holding his scroll up before returning to the lords. Whelp, he finally got it... Duke Arnold von Blitzhaus...

That leaves a bad taste in my mouth... Celestine reached out to take one of the two remaining scrolls and smiled. "Xander of House Pugnator, step forth." Oh hey.

Shit? Meet fan.

Fan? Meet shit.

You'll get along great together, I'm sure.

Xander strode forwards towards Celestine's throne wearing his own Imperium styled uniform like Vult had save the red/gold coloring and the emblem over the chest; a spartan helm with sideways plumage on the top, two short swords crossed under it and wings extending outwards from the helm's bottom. It was the one the Imperium used pre-Kaiser and what the Imperium Remnant used in it's dying days. Additionally over each shoulder was the emblem of an owl made of straight, angular lines; something added to the Remnant's flags and a symbol of wisdom and, at the time, better days. Once at the base he would kneel down.

"Xander, man of strength and leadership." Celestine began. "Let none doubt your people charged in with you at the front. From start to finish of this war you defended land and people and once in Garan you acted with respect and dignity. You demanded much of those under you but more of yourself. You will now be no longer a Baron but the Count of Maros." Once more an aide took a scroll down to a waiting lord, Xander accepting it as he stood.

"I thank you, your majesty." He spoke with a bellowing, but controlled voice. "With this war over Maros has no more need of her slave armies... and I think for now slaves no longer. Let the Slave Barony of Maros make way for the Limited County of Maros!" That got a hefty cheer from most of the gathered lords... save the Traditionalists. Alundra looked like she was slapped in the face as her face turned to hard neutral as she tried to not turn it to a deep, sharp frown. Kaiden snarled openly as Ryan Stoneshard had a face that spoke of betrayal. Arnold looked like he was punched in the gut and his face paled as he realized what that could mean down the line as Xander moved to walk back to the lords; towards the Conservative lords.

(Channer was another I saw the reaction of; he stumbled back and if Jeager hadn't steadied him he might have fell on his ass. I took no joy in his look of dismay but it still baffled me he still thought slavery was a good idea...)

Finally she picked up the last scroll on the platter. "Merlin of House Noxdecus; step forth." My father took a moment to smooth out what he wore to the event, his Grand Magus robes, before stepping forwards to the platform's base and, once there, kneeling. "Merlin, wise and true. From common birth you've since risen to noble title. Your deeds in each incursion have always been noted, as have your territory's. You led our first air forces to battle and directed your magics to defend our forces while guiding with your knowledge and wisdom. Now you rise higher as the Count of Mungale." Applause came as the aide handed him the last scroll as he stood up and smiled, bowing to her briefly.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I have ever aimed to better my people." He said as he stood up full once more.

[Social Rank Increased!]
You are now a Count's Heir!
Your Bridal Cap is Increased to 4!

Oh... right... That's a thing... I forgot... Still I nodded to my old man as he walked back and we shook hands and shared smiles for a moment... as I braced myself...

"While that is all the promotions of states and their leaders... there is one more acknowledgment that needs be made." Celestine said as she looked right at me. Here... we... go... "James Noxdecus... Step forwards." I took in a breath and walked forwards... It wasn't long before I knelt down at the base of the platform, waiting to see what praise/horrors she had for me. "James of the House of the Unicorn. Inventor. Warrior. Mage. Innovator. Not long it is since we met but it seems as if you've grown over thrice as strong since then... moreover from then to now you have changed so more of Eostia then anyone else I have known in such a short amount of time. You have brought those separated by distance together with the voxlux. You have made travel by air possible with the Cloud Rider. You were tasked to defeat the Dread Field and did so in a fraction of the time anyone could have expected. You have defeated two matrons, three trolls in one fight, the Blood Bear and Olga Discordia herself... and let us not forget the felling of the Abomination. To say you are the stand out in this incursion would be an understatement. While you are not the sole one to do so it is fair to say you played one of the most prominent roles to bring this war to an end by both blade, spell, word and mercy. Many have called you the Hero of Eostia already. I bestow the title to you, now formally and the privileges it allows."

Title Unlocked: The Hero of Eostia
You have been recognized for your deeds that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and country.
As such you have been honored with one of the greatest titles of the land!
+4 to All Damage. +4 Damage to All Foes at least 5 Levels over your own. +4 Additional Damage to all Foes at least 10 Levels over your own. +20% XP to all Non-Quest Rewards. +1 to Bridal Cap; You do not need to equip this title for the Bridal increase

Your Bridal Cap is Increased to 5!

Annnnd new title used... Well... now that that is out of the way-

"But with the deeds done I feel it is not enough to merely formalize what many have assumed already." She continued.

Shit.

One aide moved to pick up the long box that was brought over earlier, and held it up and over to her. She would open it and from inside drew a mace... muttering began to rise up as the weapon came out into view; it bore an oval shaped head with groves carved into it in the silver color of mythril. On the end was a blue colored spell stone in a ball-like cap. The other end bore a grip with enough space to grip made of etched metal and capped with a short ring while the pommel was rounded; both ring and pommel being bronze. This was the two thousand year old weapon first used by Joanna of the White Cloth; Silver Justice.

I gulped as she walked down from the throne with a weapon in hand that, at least from a cultural standpoint, bore the same reverence and respect as Excalibur would for the English people! She would stop before me as she smiled in that serene manner she could do so as casually as I could breathed. "You have done so much in so short a time. You are clearly set to do more then you have. You have accomplished more in the span of months then some could hope in decades. This is thanks; from the High Throne, the Seven Kingdoms and all of Eostia." She said moved to lift the mace and slowly lowered the mace to one of my shoulders, then the other. "I grant you the Title now; Champion of Eostia." She let off as I gawked and muttering came up from the lords.

Title Unlocked: The Champion of Eostia
You have been recognized for your deeds that have gone far and away above and beyond the call of duty and country.
As such you have been honored with the single of the greatest titles of the land!
+2 to Bridal Count, +3 to All Stats and +25 to all Stat Caps. You do not need to equip this title to gain these effects.

Your Bridal Cap is Increased to 7!

Some explanation for context...

The title 'Champion of Eostia' is considered the highest title in Eostia and was only given to one person in the history of the Eostia; Hogan 'The Hero' Levantine... posthumously. It was on the third incursion Garan ever pulled and Olga had taken the field herself. She was, by all accounts, slaughtering troops in bulk and was demolishing the army when Hogan reached her to fight her in single combat. Tales of the fight varied based on who you asked but three things are agreed upon; Hogan heavily wounded Olga in the fight, died soon after and thanks to him both holding her off and injuring her turned the tide and allowed the Eostian army the space to recover, reconstitute and push back to carry the day. The title itself was given to him for his heroic deed and was never given to another...

Until now...

And I'm the one stuck with it; the first one to have the title and be breathing at the same time.

Fuck.

"Arise... while I am sure you've little interest in the praise granted to you by the deeds you have accomplished know that you've become a beacon to others because of those deeds." She said with a wider smile. "Maintain that glow and show a shining example to the peoples of our realm. Thank you." She said... as a shrill whistle went off. Everyone looked up and I realized what it was...

Well above the palace an explosion sounded as bright, white sparkles showered out from a point followed by another, followed by another... Blue, white and yellow fireworks went off, as if punctuating a point...

...

She couldn't add more then the House Noxdecus colors, huh?

[-]

Once my, for lack of better term to use, knighting was done a massive cheer went up and despite my best efforts I was well congratulated for it; to the point it took almost half an hour to finally slip from the party, loosen my tie and find a small balcony to relax on as I leaned into a wall and watched the sky...

More fireworks were shot into the sky; now every color in the rainbow as I watched on as I had a... well, sorta quiet moment as I tried to sort my thoughts out... Despite the bangs I still heard footsteps as I turned my head; to my surprise it was Alicia walking to me. She wore something interesting; a white dress that fell to the upper thigh with the front dipping down to under her breasts with thin straps that covered the outside of the breasts but were attached to blue panels with laces pulling them together to support her breasts. A black, gold trimmed girdle was around her waist with the House Arcturus emblem on a plate in the front of it. The bottom of the skirt bore two golden lines going around it near the bottom and lace was hanging from under it. White sandals was laced up her legs to the knees and white gloves up to the bicep were on each arm. Her hair was pulled back into a single, French Braid (Roxford Braid, here) and a tiara was around her head; silver with a gold wreath etched into it and a blue sapphire placed to the center. "So, this is where you went to?" She let off as she walked closer.

"Well things were getting a little... claustrophobic up there..." I replied, smiling to her as I stood up fully. "I just needed a moment of space; although feel free to join me. You look lovely, by the way."

"Thank you." She said, moving to the balcony, standing next to me. "You seemed like you were thinking."

"I was..." I said with a sigh, looking back up to the fireworks. "I... Things have gone so fast, I guess. One minute I'm working on making a wagon fly, working out the kinks and the next I am, perhaps, the most decorated person currently in the Realm... It's... jarring..."

(If one ignored the Champion of Eostia title then I wasn't; but I was the eighth. What separated me and the top seven was I only fought in one incursion, the last one. The others fought in up to sixteen of them... So, yeah...)

"You've earned it. And do not argue with me." She said, the last part sternly as I opened my mouth to argue. "To say you single handily ended the war might be a large exaggeration but in a way it's true. If it wasn't for the voxlux we wouldn't have responded so quickly. If it wasn't for the Cloud Riders we couldn't shuffle troops and supplies about so well. If it wasn't for the filter stones we couldn't have marched on Garan. If you hadn't defeated Olga she wouldn't have been brought to the negotiating table. If you hadn't defeated the Abomination who knows what harm would have been done... Your contributions are excessive... should not the accolades be equally so?"

"... I admit I did a lot. I do find it a bit... much..." I sighed for a moment. "I suppose it's a case of I know I deserve praise and rewards but I'd rather not have so much attention... Not that I can avoid it..." I said as a large, white firework went off with a louder then normal 'bang'. "I'm told I'm too humble a fair bit... But honestly I just... How do I put this...? I don't wish to be held so far above everyone that I seem more god then man if... that makes sense..."

"It does... And trust me, if I thought you were a god you would correct me..." Alicia said with a smile... then a smirk. "Or you'd declare yourself the God of Humility and to never bow to you."

"At this rate godhood doesn't seem impossible." I said with a short chuckle as she shook her head.

"R-regardless..." She said, coughing into her hand. "I did want to speak with you on something... sorta... Could you... come with me?" She asked as I blinked at her but nodded and with a gesture she led me away, down two floors and towards a room.

Once we entered I noticed it was a small arena with a swimming pool sided, square fighting pit that dropped a foot under the floor. Seating was off to two sides of it in the style of bleachers and more seating to the end across from the door for VIPs. It was nice; white washed walls with hanging banners bearing the Alliance Seal on them. Spell orbs overhead lit the room as she walked to the pit and towards the VIP seating. "I didn't know an arena was in here." I mused as she giggled.

"When I was first here I was thirteen and it was a private tournament." She began. "Claudia was the judge and host at the time. I came in third and yet for some reason... she chose to train me over others; even those who came ahead of me. I was grateful and this is a place I would call special for it." She said as she moved to the seating and I finally noticed that there were two wooden swords on the table before the VIP seat.

"Alicia?" I let off, finding this a bit odd... and I could hear... a soft flute start to play...?

"...I am... not like Prim. I sometimes struggle to express what I'm feeling..." She began as she picked up a practice blade in each hand. "I often have a hard time saying what I feel, what I want to express in just words... In that regards I envy Prim." She said as she turned to me and, after a moment, she threw the blade in her left hand to me... as the flute picked up and started to become joined by a violin and then a piano in... boss music!? My view flashed just after I caught the blade and zoomed to her breasts as she stepped towards me, making me watch as the bounced as the view slowly panned up to her face. "I know what I ask is selfish and, in a way, boorish... and I apologize for this... But I must ask that you face me here... so I may... so I may express my feelings how I know best." She said as my view panned back to show her standing with her left hand on her hip, wooden blade in the right and held low.

_Noble Shield Princess of Feoh_
Alicia Arcturus

She lifted the blade to a combat stance as my view flashed to return to normal... and I slowly brought up my own weapon... unsure yet... somehow sure of what she wanted to express... I waited for her to act first and I was not surprised when she rushed me swinging her blade to my shoulder; I used the guard of the blade to block the, obviously half power, strike.

She would drag the blade along mine to push it aside but rather then attempt another strike she pushed into me, locking blades. I pushed back; not overpowering her but matching her until I opted to push her back forcibly and swing twice, one from the left then swinging it over my head to strike with the other edge before I allowed the blade lock to carry on once more as we pushed into one another as we started to circle about to our right.

This wasn't really a fight, persay... nor was it a performance... Well, in a way it was a performance but it was, in truth speech with a bladed dance... It's... not easy to explain... Soon she was the one pushing me back, switching to a kata involving the sword's dual edges that aimed for the shoulders and chest as I fell into a blocking pattern before stepping in with a block as our blades locked once more but now we had our faces inches from each other and holding ourselves there...

[-]

"Do I need to explain to any of you what an utter disaster this is?" Alundra hissed out as she and the other Traditionalists moved to the east end of the tower to the normal seating that was there. A small silence spell was set up to avoid being overheard as Princess Prim (Wearing a dress that was made of a pink cloth spiraling one way around the body with a semi-transparent white cloth with the pink cloth places to cover the breasts and groin) glanced to them as the duchess sat on the towers edge to address them all. She was sure that Prim could sense the spell but only moved over to Claudia (Wearing a silver skirt with a cloth moving from behind the neck and over the breasts to connect to it) to say something. She knew they would do nothing but Alundra didn't care if the conversation was noted; Celestine and her flunkies knew they'd be talking; so long as they didn't overhear them it didn't matter.

"I am well aware of it, woman." The now Duke Arnold von Blitzhaus shot back bitterly with a glare. "My realm is one of the ones that is most affected by Xander's foolishness." Alundra glared to him but said nothing to the man now equal to her in rank. He wasn't lying; if Maros turned fully abolitionist (And she had every reason to think that was the course he was plotting to take) the the northern end of the Great Slave Chain was broken. Elddale, Cual, Albia and Hol'canna would be severed from it and there would be no legal way to transport slaves about with any ease. Arnold would look to his side, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Channer... what chances have you of copying your friend's work in air travel?"

"That's... difficult to answer..." He admitted. The praise heaped upon his friend dug at him, more so the title 'Champion of Eostia' but the threat of Maros turning their coats fully and not halfway was equally as distracting. "The issues isn't the enchantments; Levitation, a wind spell to propel it, shields to make it cut through the air cleaner... I can copy all of that. Given two or three weeks I could pull it off; it's the material that's the issue. We would need a very sizable or very powerful spell stone to pull this off with and I don't need to tell you how expensive that would be." He began looking around. "Making a fleet of a dozen with spell stones would bankrupt us... Assuming such stones were on the market."

"So... how in the bloody hell is Noxdecus able to fund it?" Kaiden growled out as he crossed his arms, gripping his elbows hard to avert doing something rash as he frowned deeper. "His pockets are less deep then ours."

"That's the thing; I don't know..." Channer sighed in admittance. "It's some form of spell glass in a very... weird shape... I wasn't able to see under the wood to the glass and what I've heard of what's inside is a block of glass but that doesn't add up... But somehow it's able to withstand the rigors of air travel and even combat to some degree. He's either discovered or commissioned a means to create stronger glass or, more likely, more flexible glass... How I don't know... If we could bridge the material gap then it would be easy enough, but without the secrets of this new glass..."

"... James Noxdecus is highly innovative." Stark Angelus said as she adjusted her glasses. "This is something we need to acknowledge and admit to. While I do not think he is a genius as some are claiming he is exceptionally able at looking outside of the box to find solutions. Dislike him if you wish; he bears traits best emulated if we wish to recover from this. To begin with; how do we overcome this material issue?"

"I'm not sure..." Channer admitted with a frown. "We can discover the means of this new glass making or create our own version of it... Of course if our means ends up copying James' and Celestine discovers it..." There was a soft chill over them.

Such could be seen as a subversion and there would be a risk of Celestine responding badly to that.

"We will brain storm to discover our own means, then." Ryan Stoneshard let off as he huffed. "Air travel, regardless of anything else, is new and still in it's infancy. Our energies are better spent curbing Maros' new direction; or at least averting a shift towards Abolitionism. How do we do that?"

"We will need to ensure certain... elements disrupt Maros' economy; they won't risk a full shift so long as their trade is shaky." Aram Stolzerlowe said with a frown as he swirled a wine glass for a moment. "...Having said that I have to worry that Alcanth's minor nobles might opt to rise and oppose me with promises of Abolition to gain support... I've no proof, but House Whiteraven is speaking with House Daphne..."

Alundra let off a 'tsk' as she frowned deeper. On the other end of Longroad sat Alcanth, Stolzerlowe's Barony; would they turn his realm to Abolitionism then the Limited States of South Point and Elrus would be cut off from the chain and, in turn, Anvil's connection via Balanar was cut from it as well... Anvil was slightly insulated from the problems this would cause; having Balanar as a trade partner and access to their ports on the Great Sererus Lake... but it would disconnect them from their allies and those allies from the lake and the ports in South Point...

In someways that would be worse. "...This path is unsustainable for good traditions..." Alundra said darkly with a deep frown. "...we may need to consider... more extreme measures in the coming year..."

Arnold frowned deeper... indeed, the Crowns had been aware of the course of history thus far and it was not in their favor, nor the Traditionalists... No, that was the reason they were willing to take the risk and align with 'Varro' to the point of even willing to follow his lead; whatever the risks and downfalls of the alliance the truth was it was required to avoid a slow, grinding death of their ways. They could sit back and die or roll the die; it was that simple...

More so now... The loss of Xenera to House Daphne and the shifts from House Delconna and House Pugnator as Traditionalists in such a short amount of times, the rise of an Abolitionist as one of the greatest heroes of the Alliance's history, the end of the Garan War... their positions were being undermined bit by bit... And as such it might be an idea to speak to his fellow Crowns and widen their circle...

It was time to roll another die...

[-]

The blades clacked together as I started to try and better understand what it was Alicia was expressing and as we sparred I was starting to get it; all our swings were half power as we circled, locked blades, stepped back and swung in less of a fight and more of a dance... and it was more of a dance. She would spin on some strikes; sometimes half way, sometimes fully once, sometimes twice or thrice in one attack which made her skirt lift up; at times exposing a blue thong as she did... At times when she stepped back she would lean her body in a hint to let me see down her top; showing off her breasts even more then it was already was.

I hadn't even noticed I was matching her in that way, stepping about with a smile, turning my back to her to swing behind me in a means that would be impractical for combat but drew her eyes down my frame and making sure my legs were parted a bit to strain my tight pants over the groin (And yes, I know she looked) as during the odd blade lock I would move to press the inside of a thigh to hers and press up slightly only for her to press back; more then once until her groin touched my pants.

It was one of those sword locks that I finally opted to make my move, a hand moving off the wooden sword and to her waist, pulling her closer and mashing the false weapons between us as I press my lips to her own in a deep kiss; one she returned as an arm moved around my neck in turn. Groans from the both of us mixed together as I moved a hand to her ass, the other moving to grab her other cheek as she wrapped her other arm around my neck; the wooden swords trapped by our bodies for a long, long moment until the kiss broke as we relaxed enough to let them fall and clatter to the floor.

Not that our lips stayed parted long as we kissed once more. I was still mindful to lift her up by her ass and carry her back a bit away from the dropped practice weapons to avoid tripping on them. I would have set her back down but I quickly found her legs about my hips as we groaned together once more. Despite not expecting this I still managed to carry her weight with relative ease, walking to the VIP table where the weapons were waiting for us. Once there I sat her down and managed to pry her legs apart wide enough to set a hand to her sex, pulling my hands back to get my gloves off then set my hand back to her sex and pulled her thong to one side to explore her sex.

She was already wet...

Very wet...

Despite being, I assumed a virgin I slipped two fingers into her with little issue and I got them up to the second knuckle before I felt real resistance as she moaned deeper. My other hand moved to her breasts to cup one of her hefty humps, squeezing and then feeling her unto the laces there to loosen her top. Her hands weren't idle either; aside from undoing her laces she moved her own hands to my groin to open my pants up; fishing a hand inside once they were. I was already decently stiff so fishing my dick out was a bit difficult but soon it was out and her hand was stroking me in long, firm strokes.

We groaned out as she stroked me to full hardness before gripping down and tugging me closer to her and setting my cocktip to her sex as I finally broke the kiss to speak. "Are you-"

That's all I got out before another firm kiss. Assuming she knew the question and that this was the answer I pressed forwards as her lower lips parted before I started to bury myself into her, the hand once at her sex moving to her hip as I groaned deeper. Her legs then decided to squeeze down hard and I ended up slamming into her and to the hilt as she squealed into my mouth. I felt no virgin barrier but given how hard she trained that wasn't a huge surprise. She did wince and I held still for a long moment before I started to hump into her; starting off slow to let her adapt to the feeling.

A squeezing pattern from her legs made me speed up my pace as the kill finally broke once more as her moans and my groans filled the air as I started to hammer at her sex. "Yes! Yes! Like that!" She let off, clutching me closely, head over my shoulder as we rutted quicker and harder. "I love you! I love you!"

"Alicia!" I let off as I groaned harder, ramming in that bit harder as I felt her squeeze down as I ending up being the first to cum as she shuddered on me as followed a moment later; squirting softly on my cock as we shuddered in mutual delight. Once things settle for a moment I pecked her lips for a moment as I looked to her, cupping her cheek. "Alicia... I..."

"I know..." She let off, panting a moment before swallowing and smiling up to me. "I know... you've enough on your plate... and that it's neither fair or gracious to ask this of you... more at a time like this... But I would ask you to marry me!"

[New Quest Gained: The Third Bride]
[New Objective: Accept or Decline Alicia's Offer (No Penalty Based on Response)]

Of course, it's a quest when another quest isn't ongoing...

"Alicia, this isn't a rebuttal but what about Feoh?" I said, stroking her face slowly. "You're the heir and given Prim is already-"

"Benton will be named heir in my place." She cut off as I gave her a surprised look. "He... he doesn't want to leave once more... He wants to remain with father until he's... ... He said he wants to be sure Feoh is taken care of in his stead." Huh.

I didn't know Benton that well; we had the odd chat and everything I got from him was he was a fairly wise, relaxed guy... with a hint of a reckless streak... but what is courage without a dash of recklessness? I had the impression he'd make for a good king; his only weakness was a lack of training and knowledge about rulership and familiarity with Feoh's current situation, but those were correctable with time and learning.

"Are you sure... You could get a husband all to yourself..." I told her as she chuckled.

"Prim and Kaguya did say you'd make an effort to be sure..." She replied, moving in to press our faces together, nose to nose. "And yes, I could get a man all to myself... but he wouldn't be you..."

I sighed and moved my head so noses and foreheads bumped onto another then pressed. "I can't say no if you say it like that..." I replied as she giggled and leaned in and kissed me. "Alright... You can be my third bride... ... I never thought I'd say that, let alone to someone like you..." She giggled a bit as she kissed my lips for a long, long moment.

"Thank you..." She said as she released her legs from me as I stepped back from her as she smiled. Finally she would stand up and start fixing her clothing to signal the end of the sex.

[Defeated List]

No Opponents Defeated
Gain No XP

[Fucked List]

Banged Alicia Arcturus=100xp x 20 First Time Shield Princess Bonus=2000xp
+20% Hero of Eostia Bonus
Gain 2400xp Total

Level Up!

You Are Now Level 38!

+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc!
+1 to End!
+1 to Rap!
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 UTP!

Achievement Unlocked: Shield Princess of Feoh - Bedded
You laid with Ur's Alicia Arcturus

[(⸜∕ ) Accept or Decline Alicia's Offer (No Penalty Based on Response)]

Quest Complete!

[Quest Complete: The Third Bride]
+5 UTP

As she (And I) fixed our clothing I opted to dig into the Relations Menu to see her entry.

(-)

Name: Alicia Arcturus
Title: Noble Shield Princess of Feoh
Class: Knight

Stat Bonus : +5 to Con, Str & End. +3 to Dex, Agi & Mag. +5 RSP
Trait Bonus : Alicia's Devotion ~ +4 to Physical Damage +2 to Pysical Resistance
Bridal Bonus : Alicia's Ally ~ All of your Resistances are increased by 1. Additionally any armor you wear gains +3 to all Resistances. +3 Damage to all Combat Arts

(-)

"I want to stick around and, ahh, do more..." She said with a deep blush. "But you know how politics are and how missed I'll be if I don't spend more time there..."

"Yeah, I'll be suffering that as well sooner or later..." I said with a sigh and shaking of my head. "I'm sure you'll see Prim and Kaguya before me so give my regards."

"I plan on it." She said , moving to kiss my lips once more... and then once more before turning to leave... looking back once before she reached the door with a spring to her step.

I'd wait five minutes before doing the same.

(She'd find her way to my bed by the end of the night... for a hardened knight she was soft to snuggle to.)

[-]

Once alone once more I found myself to the gardens behind the palace and looking up once more; the fireworks had finally ended. Sitting down on a bench I opted to look up to the moon, three quarters full and bright as I smiled a bit. I was glad to have the space to breath; there was... a lot to think about...

How far I've come...

How far I've yet to go...

What I've made...

What I've yet to make...

The threats behind us...

But most important the threats yet to come...

"There you are!" I nearly jumped as a young voice called out and, rushing out to me in a black set of slacks and white tunic was one of Celestine's boys. He was a brown haired, freckled faced scamp with bright green eyes. I vaguely recalled him from my first stop in Skyguard; he was one of the boys who played with the toy wagon. "Cele says you're real strong!"

"There's a lot of strong people around, kid." I said as I leaned over, setting my elbows to my knees as I looked to him. "But I'm stronger then most, I'd say."

"I wanna be strong too!" He let off with a grin, looking up at me with those bright, wide eyes. "How do I get to be strong!?" He let off as I gave a soft chuckle.

"...There's a few ways. Training is important, of course." I told him with a smile. "But it's more then learning how to swing a weapon or cast a spell. You'll need three things above all else; wisdom, courage and power." I said as he blinked to me. "You need the wisdom to know what to do, the courage to attempt it and the power to accomplish the task. And each of those has more then a few forms; there's martial power, political power, the power of discovery, the power of building and creation, the power of teaching..." He looked up at me wide eyed as I chuckled. "Don't limit your options before you've started... Once you know which direction you want to go... go as hard as you can, understand..?" I said as he nodded and moved to sit next to me...

Annnnnd my vision flashed as the view of me and the boy was focused on before it started panning back to showcase the palace in full as the Narrator's voice spoke once more. "War... Seven centuries of war is now over and finished. Seven centuries of bloodshed is now over and a chance to hear old harms and hates now grows. Old enemies have become new friends. New heroes have risen and brought with them glory and hope."

The view kept rising up; soon the city and fortress could be seen. "And at it's center; one hero who rose above all else like a guiding star one would use to steer their ship to. There now stand not just a Hero but a Champion of Eostia... And his story is not over yet..."

Soon the view turned to look skywards... one star above all others shining brighter then the rest. "More threats are yet to come... The Black Storm gathers in the distance... But for now the realm as a whole has earned a well earned respite..."

"Come the new year... there will be more to do... and the Heroes of Two Realms will ready to meet the challenges ahead!"

Act III: Complete!

Act Completion Rewards

+1 Level

Level Up!

You Are now Level 39!

+1 to Con, Str, Dex, Acc & Mnc!
+1 to End!
+1 to Rap!
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 UTP!

+50% Current XP to Level
Gained 19500XP

Main Objective Complete: Assemble a Harem of at least Four Brides and/or Concubines
Gain 3000 XP
Gain +1 to All Stats
Gain +10 USP

Bonus Objective Complete: Gain a Nobility Rank of Count or Higher
Gain 1000 XP
Gain +4 USP
Gain +10 UTP

Bonus Objective Complete: End the Conflict Between Eostia and Garan
Gain 1000 XP
Gain +4 USP
Gain +10 UTP

Bonus Objective Complete: Obtain One Legendary or Relic Weapon That You Can Use
Gain 1000 XP
Gain +4 USP
Gain +10 UTP

Achievement Unlocked: Seasoned Adventurer
Complete Act Three

Achievement Unlocked: Best Two Out of Three
Finish two of your Main Objectives

Achievement Unlocked: Half Way There
Finished three Bonus Objectives

[-]

Two Days Later
Skycrown City, Old Merchant's District
Mercenary Alley
Evening

One of the most historic cities of Eostia and formerly known as Verlangen City, things had changed in the two thousand years since the fall of the Brazen Empire within Skycrown City. Once a part of the Unitum Imperium and then the Larentian Ascendancy before the Brazen Conquests it would become the capital of a new empire. Much had changed since those days... and much had stayed the same.

Deep in the oldest merchant districts of the city was a series of small barracks that were once used by soldiers to keep order in the city then when the Brazen rose became home to such forces as the Ninth Brazen Army (AKA the Wolf Pack), the Eleventh Brazen Army (AKA the Devil Guard) and the Black Centurions; the most elite men of Verlangen's forces.

After the rise of Eostia the barracks were used at first by local forces but as they downsized to normal guard houses the barracks were turned over to various mercenaries seeking to have a base. The bulk were held by notable groups in the realm and even the Black Dogs held one; used more as an office and means to communicate and accept jobs. Some groups would band together to use the same building with tensions not unheard of in those cases.

And of course secret entrances to odd places weren't unheard of...

Two cloaked figures could be seen walking down the district and then down an alley between an old brewery and a potter's store. Both stores bore a door to the alley but the brewer's door a second door at the back; a wall connecting the stores and blocking further travel. Reaching the second door the first, taller and clearly male one would knock in a pattern; rap... rap, rap... rap, rap, rap... rap-rap-rap. A disguised panel shifted to allow someone to peer through as the cloaked figure spoke, "Even if reduced to skulls the memory does not die."

The panel would shut as three chains could be heard moving before the door opened. A man in dark robes let the pair in, his face concealed with a skull shaped face plate that bore a fist emblem over the forehead. The lead man would set two silver into a bowl. "Thank you for the donation." He said as the second figure, female, added one silver and four copper. As they walked down a set of stairs into a long hall the door would be shut. The walk was long before they came up into another building. The building was between the district walls separating the Old Merchant's District and the Lesser Noble's District. From above it looked like one wall split into two before joining another length with an iron lattice to prevent anyone from falling into the gap. Illusions made sure no one could see what was really down there seeming like unkempt grass and flowers.

"Here we are. The Hidden Shrine of the Brazen." The lead man said; at the end of the hall was another door that led into a tall room. It resembled a church almost save that the gray bricked wall the entered from bulged into a half circle. That half circle bore a carpeted path forwards with curved benches on either side, hanging spell stones illuminating the room. A pedestal at the center of it and pulled back slightly was clearly set up for a preacher and his places was before a raised platform with a life sized statue made of gold upon it.

The statue was of a man standing in plate armor but different then the usual; a half breastplate with pointed lengths on the bottom to look like fangs, matching those rising up from the belt. Indents over the chest and two smaller ones in the bottom center of the plate gave it a skull-like look, bare skin between it. The pauldrons bore three plates that pointed out and up slightly. Both bracers bore three short blades, two by the elbow and one in the center. Both bore two more points near the wrists with the right ones being short and the left ones a pair of foot long blade. Heavy looking boots were on each leg with plated shins covered in five, outwards and upwards pointed blades were on it; two by the knee, two closer to the ankle and the last in the center with loose cloth bridging the gap.

On his head was a crown that covered the head with a large, central point rising up from it's center and two more on either side pointing outwards. Five, diamond shaped rubies along the length and a lightning bolt on the center top of the middle point and closer to the base of the rest; shaped spell stones on the original crown. The man's face bore neck length black hair and a collarbone length beard with a thick mustache. He bore a wicked grin, posed with one fist thrust forwards and the other holding onto something; a silver, fang shaped sword; the Fang of Bahamut. "So..." The woman began. "This is Emperor Gottes Verlangen."

"You never saw an image of him before?" The man asked her, the woman shaking her head in the cloak.

"You'd have to go to the Museum of Heroes for that and I care little for Celestine's version of history." She replied with a huff. "Where to?"

"Follow me." The man said as he walked down the carpeted path, turning off as the woman admired the hanging, black, U-shaped banners trimmed with gold bearing Verlangen's banner on it. At the back of the room she noted tables set up for what seemed like a meal; although no plates of food was set up. They would enter a back door and slip into another hall. Three doors of five on one side of the hall and they'd step in to see two waiting pigmen. "Mortadellas." The man said as he took off his cloak as they walked in, the woman shutting the door behind her.

"Arnold." Conti let off as the newly promoted Duke hung his cloak up. "Congratulation of the well earned promotion!" He sat at one side of the table's head opposite of his brother who spoke next. The room bore gray walls lined with red trim and a fireplace by one wall. Over it was an framed picture of Verlangen; holding his sword point down and in his armor; black as night with the spikes being white, his crown gold and hair black... with two oddities; black skin and a set of pure red eyes which were said to be effects of the gifts Dagon gave to him.

"We've gotten things set up for the meeting." Indeed; the Mortadella Brothers were members of the Undying Skulls and owned the brewery attached to the Hidden Shrine... as well as boasting a home in the Lesser Noble's District (Which despite the name was more of an 'upper class' then sole noble's district) with it's own passage to the shrine. "Although are the Crowns sure about your... guest?"

"I was able to talk to a few key members before the invitation was extended; I'm sure the rest will accept her." Arnold replied as the other cloak was hung up as Alundra van Bludhorn looked to the pigmen.

"I hadn't expected these two to be the keepers of a place like this." She quipped as Ponti shrugged.

"It was an unexpected honor." The pigman let off as the door opened once more; cloak under the arm of the next figure. "Ahhh, General Grave!"

"Hurmph. Conti. Ponti." The aged man let off as he moved to sit at the foot of the table and set his cloak onto the side of it, Arnold and Alundra moving to the same side. "This meeting should be... illuminating given recent events."

"Indeed." Alundra let off as she pulled her pipe out setting it on the table before pulling a small container from another pouch. She would fill the pipe with tobacco and, once done and her container set away she would set it to her lips and set the tobacco alight. As she took her first drag the door would open and... someone would walk in. Little could be made out; she bore thick, off-white, hooded robes with a matching half cape that hung down her left shoulder and bicep. Brown boots and gloves were visible but the face was covered in a rounded face-plate with the face of a wolf carved onto it. There were holes for the eyes and over the mouth hiding the features of the person as they walked around the table, opposite of Alundra. "Who are you?"

"An ally." The white robed figure let off, the voice distorted magically but was clearly feminine. "You can call me White Wolf for the time being."

"The boss is very protective of her identity." Ponti explained as Grave glared to the disguised woman.

"All we know is she's got the inside scoop on the High Throne." Conti added with a shrug as the doors opened one more time. Both grinned as a tall figure walked in, carrying a long, wrapped bundle. He threw his cloak onto a rack as Grave sat up a hint straighter.

"So you finally show your face 'Varro'." He let off, the man chuckling as he walked around the room and to the head of the table, smirking as he took his rightful place, laying the bundle on the table before him.

"Come... no need for that alias here of all places, General." The man said as he set his hands on the table.

"As you wish... Vult." The General said as the King of the Mercenaries looked about, staying standing.

"Good. Good. Now that we're all here we need to begin talking about our current issues." Vult said as his face grew more serious. "I won't lie; our previous plans relied on our ability to weaken Olga with a poisoning and crush Garan as the Dread Field fell... that plan's out the window."

"Wait, you were poisoning Olga?" Grave let off with a blink. "I knew Olga wasn't fighting at her best!"

"Having never faced her myself I wouldn't know..." Arnold let off as the mysterious woman looked to him.

"I can confirm this." White Wolf began. "Doctor Richardson confirmed it once Olga was captured. When the drone viewing the battle went down it wasn't able to capture Olga collapsing with a seizure. It's being kept a secret to maintain Olga's image before her people."

"I do not think it will be long until the poisoner is found, then." Arnold summarized. "And, thus, our plans have come to naught... I presume, then, we must forge new ones."

"Indeed..." Vult let off as he grinned a bit. "But it's not like all our plans have come to nothing. The Black Dogs have both hired a lot of the former Legion and made contact with the now Free Legion Forces... They'll be important when the time comes. And yes; the time will come but it'll require new planning... and more importantly timing. Thankfully that will come soon enough... That said, for now, we have to collect our strength and power."

"That said, caution is advised." White Wolf added as she looked to him. "Celestine still knows nothing of our inner workings but she suspects the Primus of having a hand in things. More over she has her Black Watch tracking someone of interest; I'm not yet sure who yet, however. She is aware that the Crowns are involved; although she still has no names of the individuals."

"You can't get the name of her suspect from the Black Watch?" Vult asked her as she shook her head.

"No. They are infamous for playing certain cards close to their chest and I've been unable to ask Celestine directly." She replied. "Knowing her as I do asking might get me an answer but it also might get me suspicion in an inquiry over something well covered by others. When it comes to hunting the Crowns she likes to keep things need to know and most who need to know are in the Black Watch. Even I'm kept out of the loop due to the chances of gossip."

"Say what you will; she's been High Queen for eight hundred years." Alundra let off after letting off a long breath of smoke. "You'd expect someone like that to be a bit shrewd in their dealings. That we have someone so close to her under the Storm's employ is impressive."

"At this stage we can do but one thing." Vult let off as he unwrapped his bundle... with all but the pigmen gawking as he grinned and lifted the Fang of Bahumut off the table where he stood, setting it's point to the floor. "We will prepare. We will ready mercenary forces under our banner and train and equip them! We will strengthen our position and move people to places to undermine the High Whore and bring her to the gutter where she can be raped and ruined beside her precious shields!" He let off as he thrust his left fist forwards. "The next Empire will yet rise! And I will reforge it with strength and fury!" He let off with a grin...

And for the first time Arnold didn't see a an able and talented mercenary with ambitions...

He saw the next Emperor of the Brazen...

The Head that the Crown would sit upon...

[-]

I had ended up stuck in Skyguard Palace for a bit... because politics... It was mostly Celestine trotting me out to meet various ambassadors, a few other bureaucrats, a few of the local minor lords who played disproportionately important roles and more. As the first Champion of Eostia that managed to be alive while holding the title I had shot up in importance. And that's not getting into leaders of the Adventurer's Guild, Spellcaster's Guild and Fighter's Guild all vying to further their relations with me (Or in the case of the Fighter's Guild, begin them) but also the Crafter's and Hammermen's Guild were contacting me in relation to my enchanting. On top of that the Paper Maker's Guild asked me for an introduction to my father in regards to his paper industry and their contacts in the Printer's Guild.

On top of that I've been spending more time with Alicia to cement the new relationship and when I wasn't with her Prim and Kaguya were (Not unusual for Prim, but Kaguya was a new element in there) and when all four of us were together the question of when to make the announcement of the triple engagement came up. After some discussion and at my advice it would be pushed back to the first day of the New Year; that meant there was some spacing between the whole, ya know, CHAMPION OF EOSTIA thing and the announcements.

In short it's been a busy couple of days and I found my way to the top of the palace finally, snow falling a bit quicker then the last few days. I was alone as I looked about; all the decorations for the party were pulled away as were the dinner tables, thrones, throne platform and so on. There was normal seating there and I'd sit for a long moment to look out into the distances as the moon rose and the snow fell... but I heard the scrapping of feet along the ground; the sound of someone approaching who didn't want to sneak along. I turned my head to watch someone approach...

He was a bit shorter then me; five ten maybe... Cropped brown hair save the back of the neck where knee long lengths of hair fell. He wore loose, blue-ish gray pants tucked into brown boots, a black, loose tunic with blue-gray sleeves and a short, matching poncho around the shoulders with a white cape coming out of the back of it. A brown belt held a thick spell book at one him as he walked over.

His face was boyish and a bit soft looking but it was the sky blue eyes that drew my own... A small Telescopic Vision spell showed me that the color wasn't just by chance; those eyes were scaled...

A dragonbrone.

"Forgive the interruption, My Lord." He said with a smile as he set his hand over his chest. "I was hoping to find you when you were less occupied. I am Dominic James Pencraft; a Keeper of the Historian's Guild. A pleasure."

(-)

Name: Dominic James Pencraft
Title: Keeper of History and the Past
Class: Summoner/Historian
Level: 37
Alignment: Friendly
Reputation: 78
Status: Healthy, Relaxed, Pleased

Known Traits
[Borne of Dragon's Blood] You are a Dragonborne, (Character Name)! Gain the Dragon's Breath Ability. Increase lifespan by up to twelve times. +2 to All Stats

[Explorer of Knowledge] You enjoy traveling and learning new things. -15% Exhaustion when on the road.
[Badass Bookworm] Your learning has given you insight on how to handle and fight those who use magic. +5% Resistance to Magical Attacks

[Silver Tongue] Your words flow like silk. +2 Diplomacy, Bartering & Negotiation

[Nerds Are Sexy] Women seem to appreciate your sense of knowledge of tales and history. +10 Seduction Value to all women

Now in his second century of life, Dominic James Pencraft has traveled Sererus for the sake of collecting knowledge of history, culture and wisdom. Even with all of his travels he makes his home in Eostia in Starlight's Hamlet outside of Aurum Forum City and finds comfort and joy in the simple things of life; even if the desire to travel and explore pulls him from his home sooner or later.

(-)

"I've heard of you, Keeper Dominic." I said as he moved to sit on the tower's edge as he smiled to me. "How may I help you?" He smiled in response as he chuckled.

"A word or two, if you would." He said as he clasped his hands together for a moment. "I've been asked to write a new foreword for the next edition of the Eostia Historia and... well, given the tome references the Garan War quite often I decided it would be best to write on how it's ended." He said as he smiled to me for a long moment. "I wanted everything to be as accurate as possible and as such I thought it best to seek out the source. We both know your story will be... exaggerated by those seeking grander stories or making you more or less then you are... so I would ask of you directly... what is the story of the war's end in your words and view..." I blinked after a long moment and leaned back...

"Well... ... ...where should I begin..?"

"Perhaps we should with the development of the voxlux as it had it's impact on the war and... go from there." He suggested as I nodded...

As so through the evening to the early night and much the morning following we would speak, ask and answer questions and just talk.

I would leave for home two days later, securing a new friend in the process...

[ - Author's Note - ]

And here we are... The end of one act and some set up for what's to come.

It's been a wild ride so far and we're not done yet... I will say I had hoped for James to be in the mid-thirties at this point so he's a bit over-leveled to what I had hoped. Best laid plans and all that...

Mind I didn't expect Act Two to become... Act Two... Yikes!

Well as usual the Epilogue is next. I also want to give a little more love to Questlines; I have one chapter that will release with this one. I might make one or two more soon; or at least I hope to.

Act Four will be coming soon as well and some more... interesting bits here and there. In tone it'll be closer to Act One; it'll be a sort of 'cool down' arc after the long, combat heavy Act Three. Sure, it'll be more episodic... but I should be able to plant seeds for what's to come yet... Speaking of...

VULT'S THE BAD GUY!? I'M SO SHOOOOOOOOOCKED!? WHO COULD HAVE GUESSED!?

(Yes, anyone who knows anything of Kuroinu or recalled his mention all the way back in the prologue knew it, just give me this, okay!? I can stop playing coy now!)

So, the chapter as a whole... I felt the Palace would give a new local for the story to carry on in, hence why I made it. We have the Traditionalists talking about their problems twice, the second having them a new issue to address, Kaiden confronts James but it's Alundra who has the real effect, moar spells... and the two things people have likely been waiting for.

The various promotions were handed out and while Blitzhaus stepped up a notch it was undercut twice by the shift in Maros and James being granted such a large title; no matter his opinion on holding it. His quiet life might be over...

And of course there's Alicia... I've had this set up in mind for well over a year now and I'd say it came out... ninety percent how I envisioned it. I like to try and portray as Prim being more in touch with her feelings and Alicia struggling to understand them a bit more but more able to express and understand them in combat. If I pulled it off or not is up to you.

And of course there's the fact that White Wolf is at the Black Storm's table... Who is she? Well, that's for later... Needless to say when she says she's up there in Eostia she's not lying.

Also; I should mention that there's a good Discord channel out there if you wanna talk about anything Kuroinu such as fanfiction or more; kuroinu ~kedakaki seijo wa hakudaku ni somaru ( /bX9GEjuS discord(D-O-T)gg(S-L-A-S-H)bX9GEjuS ). And of course I'm usually hanging out on the kuroinu_fanfiction Sub Reddit so always feel free to come by and say hi or talk about your favorite Kuroinu stories. Or promote your own, if your writing.

So... with all of that said, thank you for reading! Let me know what you liked, didn't like, want to see more of, hope to see in Act Four and so on... Until next time!

~Eostian Scribe