Disclaimer: I don't own Gate or Nihon-koku Shoukan, as they belong to their rightful owners.
Doubts, Mystery, and Agenda
Being back at home had its fair share of the good and bad.
When Pina and the Rose Knights returned to the gates, she had no idea how she felt or thought.
There was a part of her that expected the likely friends and acquaintances to welcome her back at the gates, which some of them eventually did.
However, there was another aspect of her that sprang from recollections.
In the past, it was hard to believe, but there was a time when she would joyously take part in a grand procession and festivities each time her father returned victorious from a campaign against the kingdom's adversaries. The procession would halt at the central plaza before culminating at the palace and temple, where they would express gratitude to the Gods for their unwavering support.
Almost every major accomplishment required a celebration back then.
Pina was confident that her recent diplomatic mission had yielded significant results and she eagerly anticipated the feedback she would receive about her accomplishments.
This was a big step toward her goal of ending the conflict and the beginning of a new era that she envisioned for her home.
She stood on the balcony of her secluded retreat, dressed in a flowing white gown, savoring the cool night air. Her cascading red curls tumbled down, framing her face in their natural glory.
The young woman had chosen not to attend the event due to something that mattered to her more.
As she took a quick look at her cluttered desk, filled with towering stacks of books and unraveled scrolls, she realized how engrossed she had been all this while. It was only at that moment that she finally allowed herself to relax and take a well-deserved break.
Aside from the various paperwork that she needed to complete, she began to transfer her attention to a subject that continued to pique her interest.
What she experienced back at the Noble City was something out of the ordinary.
Almost a nightmare of some sort.
"Only you can find out the truth about the kingdom, Milady."
Those last words still echoed and had only fueled her curiousity and desire.
What was that man hinting at?
What was her exact role in this so-called mystery?
As she gazed at her hand, she couldn't help but wonder whether the lingering darkness emanated from within her.
For now, she couldn't even feel a single trace of it.
Then, in the midst of this, a familiar voice called out her name.
"Pina!"
She wheeled around to face her childhood friend, whose breath came in short, ragged gasps. Their eyes locked, and the friend's expression was deadly serious and filled with concern.
"So, how did it go?" she inquired, only to receive silence in response.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Her expression quickly transformed into one of complete disbelief as the swirling smoke from her steaming cup of tea momentarily obscured her vision, enveloping her entire face for a few moments.
"I should have gone with the Good news first."
She found herself filled with regret over her seemingly insignificant choice, and now she was at a loss for what to do.
She found it all quite surreal. The mention of a name she hadn't heard in years immediately transported her back into the depths of her contemplations.
She had no idea how to react to the news, other than to recall a scene from the graveyard she had witnessed before leaving for the Noble City.
"Milady?" Hamilton mentioned her again out of concern.
The young lady shook her head in response, rubbing her tired eyes.
"I'm fine...just a little restless." she forced a small smile.
The young page winced inwardly, displaying a hint of guilt.
"I guess I should've relayed the good news first." She muttered to herself, having the same thought as her friend.
Pina took a deep breath before taking a sip of her tea.
"So what happened at that event?" She asked.
Hamilton's lips went into a smile as she brought out a small stack of parchment on the table.
As the childhood friend reached for the documents in a rush, she blinked in surprise, taking in the contents of the main page. Her gaze then fell to the bottom of the page, where she was greeted by something she had hardly dared to hope for.
At the same time, Hamilton began explaining the details.
"I couldn't believe it at first, but He signed it!" she exclaimed, full of optimism.
"So this means that..."
She grinned and exclaimed." Yes! They are agreeing to withdraw the recent campaigns against the Principality and will be moving to a full diplomatic means instead."
Upon hearing this news, Pina was lost for words.
The woman never imagined that she would witness the day when the haughty, irrational man would resort to a course of action for which he was ill-prepared. It seemed almost unbelievable, considering that he had never employed such a tactic during his many years of reigning over the Empire. It was as if unforeseen events had brought him crashing down to earth, humbling him in a way no one could have foreseen.
Despite appearing innocent, the young lady was far from naive. She held a strong belief, despite lacking evidence, that he was the mastermind behind the unexpected aerial assault on Noble City and may have even influenced the decision of the now defunct elven council.
The Regent should be ashamed of himself for falsely claiming to have used peaceful methods to handle the situation from the start.
"This means that we could finally start changing our home's image amongst the other kingdoms!" Hamilton, still full of optimism continued.
"We can finally restore what our forefathers had worked hard for."
Hamilton had been yearning for this dream for as long as she could remember. In reality, her family had played a significant role in the kingdom's history, standing alongside the royal family. They had been instrumental in lifting the kingdom out of the darkness of war during a period of terror, and their efforts had even garnered blessings from the Gods.
On the other hand, the redhead felt content that things were progressing positively, but at the moment, she was preoccupied with other concerns.
"Hamilton, you're forgetting that there is an "Election" coming soon." Pina could only give a sad smile, though she didn't want to ruin the moment.
The girl's smile slowly disappeared.
"Oh..."
Pina nodded in return as she rested on her seat." As much as I wanted to feel victorious right now, there's still a lot of things to ponder."
The brown-haired page then raised an eyebrow." Are you thinking about your brother until now?" She asked.
After a brief pause, her friend chose to remain silent, contemplating her thoughts about him before deciding to shift her attention to more pressing concerns.
However, Her thoughts kept returning to him, the more his name came up in conversation.
She groaned." Well, since I've heard the rumors of his return but now that you have confirmed it, it's now going to be a part of my every day worries."
"Are you afraid of him...I uh...I mean was there something that he did that made you very cautious of him?"
Hamilton had complete confidence in her assumptions. She had grown up with a deep familiarity with the royal family, especially the two princes. One prince was uninterested in ruling the kingdom and instead focused on his pursuits, while the other prince, with potential ambitions, remained a mystery to her to which she wanted to find out more.
Then you have all these other aspirants wanting to be the ruler by divine right. From local officials, nobility, and even some in the military.
"No." Pina simply responded, attempting to put any potential worry aside. "Almost everyone knew of my brother's reputation." She went on:
"Correct." Hamilton cringed, raising her fingers as she began counting. "Accomplished military leader, a well-known figure among the common people, has the skills of an Elite Knight and so forth.." The young girl continued until she found herself unintentionally fond of describing him.
"And a ladies man..." Her now bored-looking friend had finished the sentence for her.
A reminder that a person like him won't be faithful to any woman.
"Oh." Hamilton realized it as her cheeks reddened in return." No! I'm not falling for that!" She added while covering her face." And I'm not in love with him!"
"I don't want a man with authoritarian tendencies to ruin my life!"
Pina slightly chuckled in return." Well, He is a childhood friend after all."
In their current circumstances, it's easy to forget that there was a time when their lives were quite ordinary. As children, they spent countless hours playing in the expansive grounds of the palace and mingling with other kids from the outskirts and neighboring areas.
It was an adventure yet forgotten for a long time.
"But, speaking of him, do you think he would also be aspiring for the throne?" Hamilton inquired.
It was an inevitable scenario.
Pina simply looked her in the eye and said, "Even if he doesn't participate, we still need to do our best to win this."
Hamilton took a deep breath." We are alone in this struggle aren't we?" She found herself in between gaining and losing hope.
Her friend averted her gaze, and in that moment, her mind began to consider unconventional groups that could potentially ally with them.
"For the time being, but if we persist, I believe we can find the right individuals," she said, offering a hopeful smile. "I am sure that there are people out there who will empathize with our cause and support us."
"Qua-Toyne is the first and there will be more."
Her words uplifted the young page as she pointed at the document.
"And this will be our first foundation of a new era for our home and the rest of the land."
Pina could only smile in return.
She beamed with joy upon seeing her friend in high spirits and looking forward to what lay ahead. However, deep down, the unanswered questions still gnawed at her thoughts.
That dark power...where did it come from?
What does it have to do with the kingdom?
Her gaze wandered over to a particular painting adorning the walls of her cozy living room, drawing her into its intricate details and vibrant colors.
The painting vividly portrayed the grandeur of the royal family of Sadera as it once stood in complete harmony and regal splendor.
Her lips curved into a gentle smile as she lovingly reminisced about the happy moments.
Then she eventually asked herself.
"Will I ever have the chance to get everything back that was once lost?"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The hallway had become eerily silent at this hour.
The persistent rumors suggest that spectral figures from bygone days may still wander these grounds, their ethereal forms unaware that they departed this world many years ago.
Many people in the palace decided not to stay in this area for an extended period.
In her eyes, it was the ideal location, reserved just for her, and a host of clandestine conversations that unfolded in this very spot.
Tyuule's mind was in a state of unrest.
Following the occasion, she wasted no time in making her way directly to this location.
Still being shaken by the surprise that befell the venue not long ago.
The list of daily annoyances was long, but this particular issue took her by surprise, catching her off guard for the very first time.
Why does he have to be here?
Are the Empire's campaigns in the West now ending at a faster rate?
Tyuule gazed out of the window, mesmerized by the soft glow of the moon casting ethereal light across the majestic night sky.
Throughout the ordeal, it was the only solace that could soothe her frazzled nerves, and at long last, the much-awaited conversation came to fruition.
"So the rumors were true." A familiar deep voice then said."Even I was expecting that no one would turn up at the gates of the palace."
The silhouette of the humanoid creature known as Bouro appeared from behind as he sat on an edge near the window.
"It appears that things have gotten more complex now that He is back...Your Highness." A small grin escaped from his face.
Tyuule fell silent for a moment, gathering her composure and reining in her emotions. His words had managed to irk her slightly.
"We need to change our plans and lay low for a while."
The latter raised an eyebrow.
Our plans?
"If we were to take both Adem and Him at the same time...It could cost us our concealment and possibly endanger our goal."
Since when did he start suggesting plans and making decisions?
She perceived him as someone who frequently told untruths, but to her amazement, he was speaking sincerely. She detected a tinge of uneasiness in his manner of speaking.
Then she posed a question, "How long do you believe this situation will endure if we choose to squander our time doing nothing?"
The creature clenched its teeth with a bitter expression and retorted, "Who says we are not taking action?"
"We will proceed with our objectives using an alternative approach," he said, mustering a forced grin.
"Like what?"
"By presenting a compelling performance," he elaborated, "we pledge our unwavering service to them, ensuring that we remain impartial and exclusively devoted to their needs."
Tyuule remained silent once more.
For quite some time, they had been persistently working on their tasks but had not achieved much success. However, the recent aerial attack in Qua-Toyne presented them with a chance to make progress.
The invasion was a failure, but she managed to achieve her goal of humiliating the unhinged Regent. However, this victory came with a heavy price - she lost not just an asset, but an ally and a friend who had once seen her potential and support, leaving her to fend for herself once more.
It was a bittersweet end that left her in a state of unrest for a few days.
Yet, her friend still pledges her allegiance to their homeland and swears that she will help to restore it.
At the same time, Bouro continued with sharing his ideas." It seems after that incident, Adem has reverted to his usual self." He then added." Normally, a person like him would exact revenge on a kingdom that defeated his so-called powerful wyvern army."
The other didn't seem to care about it.
"Then you better find out his next plan as soon as possible". Tyuule replied.
"He might even move the capital to a different place just for the fun of it."
The chief of the Haryo Tribe nodded for the first time, his weathered face showing signs of both respect and bewilderment. "It still baffles me...that man and his dreams," he remarked. "His origins remain shrouded in mystery, as does his swift ascent to power."
"Where did he come from?"
He avidly gathered every piece of information available about the history of the kingdom, but he struggled to find solid evidence. While he was determined to bring down the empire, he also yearned to uncover the complete and genuine story behind it.
He wanted to know how they achieved the power to dominate the whole Rodenius continent.
He had a desire to make his tribe a powerful one because of that.
That secret that this man possessed.
As he gazed at the ex-queen, he couldn't help but be struck by the fact that she showed no concern for anyone around her. Despite holding a powerful position at court, her singular focus remained on her relentless pursuit of bringing down the Empire, regardless of the consequences.
That frustrated him even more. He believed that an ally should learn more about what they are facing.
Unless...there is something that the latter had not been telling him, though he was fully aware of her distractions.
"Your Highness, if I may know..."
"What is it?"
"Do you still care for that girl?"
A brief moment of silence went by as the bunny woman widened her eyes in surprise having caught off guard by his words.
"Or that Nobleman friend of yours?"
Tyuule then turned around and eyed the creature.
"What does this have to do with them?" She asked, a hint of emotion escaping from her.
The creature slowly backed down.
"I am just asking a question." He simply said." And out of my concern to you, your majesty."
It was obvious to her that the second remark was just a sham. She was puzzled as to why he would bring them up in this conversation.
"They are not a threat." She fired back." And please be careful with your words next time."
Bouro let out a small, presumptuous laugh. "I am fully aware of that. It only concerns me that they might soon become a distraction for you," he added, his voice trailing off.
"Or perhaps someone that might be of help."
Tyuule narrowed her eyes at him." We don't need them." She said before briefly looking away." They have their own lives to focus on."
"Interesting...is that why you began distancing yourself from them?" He teasingly remarked." And the fact that they would reached up to you?"
She didn't say a word for this one.
"Just like the way some of your people wanted to help you." He sly grin escape from his lips as he continued." And still, you kept rejecting them and even to the point you disowned them."
The man's words began to provoke a reaction from the woman. "That decision is mine to make," she calmly stated.
Bouro, now convinced that this could be a result of a personal vendetta, remembered a specific aspect of her character that seemed relevant to the situation.
That she already accepted the reality that people will hardly support her in defeating the greater enemy known as "Sadera".
Thus that is what he always wanted.
They have similar goals against one enemy...One for hatred and the other for an opportunity.
"Understood your Highness." He simply said, while taking a bow.
Then he had one more curiosity to share.
"And what about the Prince?"
"What do we intend to do with him?
Silence followed once again.
The subject has always been a sensitive one for her, particularly after he and his army defeated the Warrior Bunny tribes a few years back. back.
Her land was conquered but yet was spared from destruction.
One detail that continued to baffle her even until now.
Not because of her actions that spared the lives of her people.
Not because of Adem intervening for his gains.
And not because of mercy or some divine intervention.
But rather an offer that is impossible to refuse, one that she has not yet accepted but could potentially become a saving grace.
Tyuule lifted her gaze as she could only say.
"I don't know."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"So from this point here, we will be able to commence an invasion in just one quick swoop...far away from being seen or detected."
The man's satisfied grin spread across his face as he settled into his seat, directly across from the mystical source that was casting a vast, glowing map onto a large screen.
"And when will it happen?" He then asked the official, who was presenting the recent ongoing campaigns.
"Just as the signal has been given." The official explained." Our representatives have already gathered enough information in regards to their defenses and we also have the collaborators to commence a coup in no time."
"Or rather kill everyone in that governing body."
The venue of Sadera's court was filled with silence and tension.
The Regent's main ministers and advisors were all there to witness the final plans of the campaign being created and unfolded.
A Grand Campaign as they deemed it.
There was no doubt that Sadera's armies could quickly take over since these places didn't have the capability to defend a massive onslaught.
They also had the support of other allied kingdoms who were willing to take any necessary action to suppress any opposition. Furthermore, the Parpaldian Empire had pledged its support by assisting in this particular military campaign.
Sadera was riding high and this might be the strongest phase they have ever achieved yet.
The question now is how will they utilize it to their fullest advantage.
The Regent had one singular focus consuming his thoughts.
"Very good! Now, I want to know if they already found the exact location." He excitedly asked." If you know what I'm referring to."
The official remained silent as he was overcome with confusion.
The other ministers took glances at each other as they were the ones to first realize it.
"Well?" Adem raised both eyebrows in anticipation.
The tension rose as the official felt nervous by the time he figured it out.
"Oh...I, umm," he stammered, his voice wavering for a moment before he regained his composure. "We are continuing our relentless search, Your Excellency. Please be assured that we are making significant progress and will not rest until we find-"
He was cut from his sentence as the man raised a fist and slammed it on his table.
"IT MUST BE FOUND!"
He stood up and raised his voice as he reminded everybody in the room.
Adem's determination shone through as he declared, "We will exert every effort to secure them! The longer we delay, the more our adversaries will fortify themselves and hinder our progress." He continued with a bitter tone, "If we wait any longer, we may not even be able to locate them on this continent."
The rest kept silent as Adem became restless, his paranoia setting in but still managed to give a laugh.
The incident that occurred in Qua-Toyne served as a warning. With the destruction of the desired artifact, only two remain.
Then in that moment, the door to the meeting hall had opened as another official emerged.
"Your Excellency! The Prince has arrived."
All eyes immediately shifted towards the doors as a familiar figure stepped in.
Whispers and chatters amongst ministers could be heard.
Some were intimidated and some admired his presence.
Adem smirked in return as his overall mood had changed again.
He then raised a hand.
"Gentlemen, I believe we will need to reconvene this meeting at a later time," he informed the attendees. "Please vacate this room for the interim."
Their eyes met with each other.
"We'll be having a little conversation."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The full moon had come full circle.
The meeting hall is now devoid of people except for these two unlikely individuals.
Adem had eagerly anticipated this scenario ever since the first whispers of his return had begun spreading.
He didn't miss him but he was pleased to see the young man after all these years.
He always thought he would die at an earlier age but he was wrong.
To see him in this current state.
A supposed strong figure that he had become.
His words cut through the tense air as he broke the silence. "I never anticipated your swift return," he remarked, seizing the opportunity to steer the conversation.
"I heard that you were able to conquer the remaining lands in the southwest region," he chuckled with amusement. "Quite a remarkable feat, considering no one has ever returned alive from those parts."
"Let alone people with the worst intentions."
He remarked before adding." And not just that..."
Adem continued to observe him, spilling all the information he had learned.
"You destroyed every temple in that region." Adem continued." Slain every monk, priest, and their religious leaders." He paused as he enjoyed every bit of the reports.
In some way...it was sweet revenge for him.
He had been discreetly observing the young man's actions in his military endeavors, curious to witness his transformation from a frail, powerless boy to now a formidable man capable of subduing an entire kingdom.
"I must commend you for that." He grinned delightfully.
Zorzal stared at the older man with a stoic look before giving a small smile.
"I did what I had to do." He finally replied." After all...that's a policy you created for most of your crusades."
"Is it, now?"
Adem wanted to hear it repeatedly, that every successful decision and strategy came from him.
A man who made enemies surrender in an instant.
The young prince nodded." Let's say that you and I have a common goal." He explained as he walked towards the center where the moon's rays lingered.
"I commend you for proclaiming an 'Election'," he said, gazing at the numerous paintings of the former rulers of the Empire. "Just to reclaim a throne that would seldom hold sway."
Adem chuckled, "Certainly! Amid these battles, people crave someone to admire," he observed. "It's often referred to as Entertainment."
"Yet, I have to show fairness in order for this to succeed." He grinned.
"The victor will have the chance to establish their royal lineage, which would serve to solidify the empire's standing as a force that the mightiest nations across the oceans will acknowledge."
"Don't worry...there's still more to be handled as to complete the vision."
The young man was unaffected by his words as he wanted to see the true intention.
"I must say, you have quite the ambitions for this land..." He paused, his penetrating gaze fixed on him. "But aside from your lofty dream of uniting this continent, your intentions, in my opinion, are misleading."
Adem's eye twitched.
"Mind your tongue, you don't know everything." He fired back, as he raised both his hands.
"The evidence of why I am essential to this Empire is right before your eyes, just take a look around."
"All what I've accomplished!"
The meeting hall, once the royal court of a bygone era, was adorned with towering pillars, intricate statues, ornate ornaments, priceless trophies, and ancient artifacts.
It was hard to believe this grand venue was once filled with ruins and ashes as a result of the great treachery.
"I am the one who lifted this kingdom from the earth!" His voice thundered as he pointed at the young man. "It is my right to govern and guide this land even until the Fabled Empire returns."
"And if anyone tries to get in the way, they will face terrible consequences!" He glared at him. "That includes you!" He growled, surrounded by a dark essence.
"You should feel grateful that all of you are still here."
Zorzal remained unfazed, from his amber eyes...He could see right through it.
"Alright, I'm certain that you are now content with feeding your ego," he remarked. Stepping forward, he called forth the familiar aura once again.
"But let me remind you that time is not always your friend."
At that moment, he drew a small crystal shard that emitted a soft, iridescent glow. As the older man laid eyes upon it, his expression transformed into one of sheer astonishment, causing him to quiver with emotion for the very first time.
Moments later, He began to feel pain in his entire body forcing him to slowly backed down.
"H-How? How did you...?"
The young man smirked." You don't have to worry...It's just a fragment...the entire thing had been forever lost."
"You think that a piece of that artifact would changed my mind!?"
"Do you think it will bring everything back!?"
He forced a laugh.
"I will never let go!"
He continued to assert his authority yet he just could not handle it.
"It does hurt is it?"
Adem's jaw clenched as frustration and anger surged through him. "So this is your purpose for being here? To try to intimidate me!?"
"To show me that you are capable of being the ruler of this Empire after Him!?"
Zorzal shook his head in amusement. "No, Your Excellency," he said softly, "I'm just here to remind you of your true nature..."
In the entire kingdom, no one had ever witnessed the regent in such a state, and the young man took satisfaction in seeing him experience suffering for the first time.
"Now with all this said, I'm looking forward to this rare chance of assisting you in this Grand Campaign." He smiled and as he was about to leave, he gave one more look at the man.
Adem was now enveloped in a dark aura, shielding him from the shard's power, while the regent's eyes transformed, revealing what seemed to be a pair of golden-slitted pupils blazing with rage as he had never thought he would be reminded again; The Horrible past that almost took him away.
As for the other, He kept a satisfied smile as he knew that the end was coming soon for the man who was responsible for starting this whole ordeal.
He never forgot his vow ever since that fateful day that changed his life forever.
A vow to get everything back that was lost.
A vow that he swore to fulfill until his last breath.
CHAPTER END
AN: Hi again! So here comes the second mini-story and this time it focuses on the perspectives of Pina, Hamilton, Tyuule, Zorzal, and Adem.
The chapter also discusses the different plans of the characters throughout the Rodenius Conflict and how they will try to pursue and achieve their goal.
You got Pina wanting what is best for her home as well as the other kingdoms through moderate ways to end the conflict.
As for Tyuule, like her goals and desires in the manga and some other storylines, She wants vengeance for what they did to her and her home and she will do anything to bring down the Empire and those who are responsible, but with the changing situations compared to the Original series. There's gonna be a lot of things that would change her perspectives along the way.
Adem...The mystery surrounding him continues and is now being unfolded.
The arrival of Zorzal changes things. What would he bring to the main field? Whose side is he going to be and what are his motives?
With that said, Thank you for reading the chapter and I appreciate your time!
P.S.
For those who are confused...You may read the first main story which is "Gate: Journey in The New World" to better understand the lore and situation of the characters.