The White Darkness
By Helbaworshipper
The Roland Kingdom Arc: The Ties Of Time
It was when one of the soldiers of his father's kingdom came as a messenger that Frei knew that this incident was no longer simple. Weilhausen was willing to sit and do nothing when Seno and Wakamiya were whole, but now as the only Lotis Kingdom left, they would not allow others to control the flow. He looked at the message without really caring what the words were.
I have heard word that both Seno and Wakamiya are in tatters. Frei, you are to return at once to make sure that this is not what will happen to Weilhausen. You may bring refugees if necessary, but I will not be allowing you to bring either Mayura Seno or Kyo Wakamiya to this place. They have already caused a mess. If you have a reason that they must accompany and being given some of our hospitality, then I will have to be convinced.
Frei, this is not optional. I am demanding your return at once.
What a way to word such a mess. He took a moment to look at the messenger and waited. He looked rather nervous as he tried not to hide his already wary gaze. Slowly, Frei brought his hand to a quill and motioned for his own personal soldiers to make the messenger comfortable.
Your Highness,
As I am aware of your situation, I am sure you aren't aware of the situation as a whole. The war will be going worse even without making Weilhausen stronger. What is left of the royal family of Wakamiya and Seno are in a camp of people who have saved a considerable bunch. How much longer do you expect it to be until Lotsuan and Darva intrude in your fortress?
It felt good to let the man who had demanded his loyalty to only what he wanted feel weak. Still, his choice to keep himself from being forced back to the kingdom was a good one. During the attack, Lotsuan had protected that one tent completely. He had seen Alice sitting calmly helping Mayura who was in a tough enough position. No one else had seen it. Yet he had and she simply nodded a greeting to him.
He needed more than anything to make sure that wherever these people went, they were safe. There was only one place left to really go and fight. The Roland Kingdom itself was probably the most obvious place to go. Still, what was the situation going on? Was Eric still in control of that area? He took a deep breath and used wax to seal his answer.
"Let's be honest on what's left." Queen Seno was sitting in Mayura's tent. Kyo, himself, and the lotis thief elders were attempting to figure out the situation.
"Seno Kingdom is basically a shell," Chris answered as he pulled out a few pieced of parchment. "Even if we're being generous, there is still an army, but the refugees we have here are probably the only ones going to be able to get back and get things going. I highly doubt there's any way to get it fixed fast."
"And now the lotis tutors are a mess," Mayura continued as she looked over the personnel. "Without Kazuki and Eric's father, we're just stuck with whoever is only a little talented if we wanted to keep the system going. And as far as I know, my lack of Lotis hasn't been reported to anyone outside this camp."
"Wakamiya kingdom was so bad that I ended up ambushed and they tried to kill me with the remains of the castle." Kyo commented with a sigh. "The count is going to be charged, but the kingdom's army is one of the biggest hit. We'll be lucky if it'll be enough for more than a few battles if it keeps up like this."
"Weilhausen's trying to take all the authority to itself." Frei answered, tossing the parchment for the others to read. "I answered back to tell him it was a matter of time until the maram infected the fortress they think they have."
"Well, not that I expected much from them." Mei Lin commented with a bit of annoyance. "They refused to help my kingdom back in the day. All because it was just one kingdom in trouble."
"It's not that hard to figure out." Frei simply shrugged as he looked at the map. "Either way, the only possible place that they could be holding out is in Roland." He looked towards Chris for a moment. "The only place we can't get near unless you have a promise. And just getting to that part is a struggle for most of your forces."
"I know," Chris was calm about it despite the intention. "And only two of you can get inside Roland kingdom to put down the barrier. The true question is where is safe for the refugees? From what I read in this, King Weilhausen isn't against it. However, he's demanding you come back and follow his orders."
"He just wants his promising son to come back and marry properly. He doesn't really care if my current fiance is actually alive. He'll just reassign until I do." He felt his mind wander to Alice. He didn't want to end that link they had. "I'm not going back to be locked up until he decides I can go out to battle again."
"Is there a way to draw some of them out?" Billy proposed as he picked up one of the pieces. "We know that besides Lotsuan, there's three maram masters of importance. If we draw the three of them out and keep them from returning in time for the barrier to go, it'll give the troops more time."
"Main issue is if they'll get drawn out." Kyo commented softly as he looked over the map at the three items. "If we draw them out it's something, but what would draw them out?"
"Give them what they want." Chris commented as he drew out the book. "If they want to know the truth about the kingdom and what we are doing, we just have to give them a teaser."
"Eric would know-" Mayura spoke, stopped as Chris continued.
"Not Kayna or Samuel."
"A good point there," Frei thought about it a moment. "Even if they follow Eric properly, there's stuff they want to know about him."
It felt strange for him to wake up in such a normal place. It was the usual boundary, but he was in a place far more familiar to him now. It was a battlefield, but not the usual one that he thought of. It was one where he would listen and wonder if someone was attempting to assassinate him. He could hear the various words of the various concubines. Slowly, his hand moved forward to try and establish time as he felt a chain connecting him to something. It was not the usual power of Lotsuan.
"Guardi-" Behind him, he could see an asleep Alice. The chain was certainly connected to her. He could see her discomfort as he approached and slowly moved to sit down in a corner of the courtyard. This was getting more familiar as he remembered this event. It was when someone had tried to poison her in Weilhausen, but for reasons was unable to. This was Alice. Lotsuan was aware of this event, but Alice… Alice had hesitated to go to Weilhausen a lot after this event.
He knelt down and spoke wordlessly to to change the scenery. This room was far more important to him. It was the room he could go in, but he couldn't avoid his father's accusing gaze every so often. This seemed to surprise Alice as she hadn't been allowed in this room. He sat down next to her slowly, their bodies against the ornate marble walls and under the dim, but expensive lighting.
"I thought that it would be okay." Alice's voice was something he hadn't heard in so long. Certainly Lotsuan was someone who was comforting, but the warmth in Alice's was… He remained silent to let her continue. "I realized that he was manipulating the situation. I knew he wasn't going to let things be. I was told I didn't have to make a choice, so I chose to let him do as he wished." He could see the red under her eyes. "Then he tried to kill Mayura." His hand slowly moved closer, but not quite touching her dress. He could tell if he pushed it any further at the moment she'd probably bolt.
"I tried to reason with myself that it'd just complicate everything. Yet..." She slowly turned to face him, the tired and probably desperate gaze. "I couldn't let him destroy the things I loved. I killed Eric even though I knew..." He moved his arm up and slowly held her close.
"My mother… My father loved her." She looked up towards him. He motioned towards the painting. "It was an arranged marriage, but they were so happy."
"Did you meet her?"
"No," his other hand moved to gently wipe some of the wetness from her eyes. "She died giving birth to me. After I was born, all I could remember was being this sort of golden barrier. More people died or were blackmailed for being my fiance than I can remember."
"Mayura was never targeted." He nodded again.
"They wanted a powerful offspring." He tightened his hold only slightly. "When Mayura refused, they thought it was okay to hurt you."
"I thought it was better than Mayura getting hurt."
"Alice," his voice was softer, starting to stand up while holding her. He felt his heart thumping again. "I know it's hard and making a decision isn't the point. The only choice you have to make is if you want this world to go on like this or it needs to change." He lifted her gaze, not aware of the heat on his face. "I can't say for certain that what I feel at the moment is love. The reason I've never said affectionate things as much is I don't really know what it might mean to me. I promise that no matter what decision you make, I'll support you."
"How do you know you can trust me? Is it because of-" A finger on her lips.
"No," he calmly picked her up and walked towards the immaculate bedspread. Slowly, as he lay down on it with her, he smiled. "Your heart is powerful. Your feelings are just as powerful. When the time comes, I'll trust whatever decision you make. This is the first time I've truly felt that way." He held his hand out as they lie side to side. Just as he was starting to go to sleep, he could feel her hand tightening around his. The chain was still present, but it felt less like it was being willed there.
He could hear a bit of a disturbance outside as he finished getting ready after his meeting with Alice. The mess of an event could only be the Weilhausen's brand of being intrusive. Taking the deepest breath he could, he moved to exit the tent as the rather sizable private force of King Weilhausen had sort of taken over the camp. He could see the shining armor and the recognition as they seemed to think he might bolt.
"Your choices are most rebellious, Frei." Ah, his father was waiting outside the tent. "I was going to suggest a private talk, but you have a lot to explain."
"Explain? Certainly not to the man who has spies all around." Frei's eyes narrowed a bit. "Let me guess, you're going to put the entire camp in prison in Weilhausen."
"If that's what it takes for you to return home."
"Threatening this camp with soldiers is absolutely pointless." He looked at his father for a moment and thought about Alice's current state. Mayura had also made a decision. "If you do that, I'll revoke my status as royalty."
"Frei! You can't be serious about all this mess." His father's voice was audibly distressed. He could see the man trying to figure out what to do. "This is just a mess made by people who don't understand the pain of this war."
"Tell that to the last remnant of the Roland Kingdom." He spoke, his father's eyes widening. He looked towards the figure who had been calmly waiting in the nearby tent. Chris looked almost relieved at his words.
"Nice to meet you, King Weilhausen."
"The Roland was wiped out. There is no power in knowing of a remnant."
"Oh, so I have to be a Lotis Master of Lotsuan's level to be acknowledged even without my former royal title?" Chris was almost tired as he spoke. "Your Majesty, considering the war's direction, you'd be better off fighting the ongoing battles."
"We can take care ourselves just fine with our Lotis power." He commented, trying to figure out how to get Frei to agree. As he tried to think, he heard a bit of a gasp as some of the men heard a figure coming through the opening. "You have words, heir to Seno?"
"No, I simply have something to show you." She lifted up her hand for a moment to show the lack of her lotis bracelet. Then, she lifted her mirror slowly. "Lotsuan can remove your lotis if you choose to act like this."
"Wait… Now even you've lost your value?" A shock came over as King Weilhausen realized the implication of his words. Taking a moment, he slowly turned and motioned for the men to return to their probably close by camp. As the commotion was mostly calm for now, he thought to his mother for a moment. This was not going to get any easier, but he was certain of his promise.