22nd Wisdom Moon, 908 – Umbra Clock Capital – Night
Jason waited outside Castle Foirbeis, rocking back and forth awkwardly on his heels. He watched as the sky began to lighten, making way for the approaching night. It was about seven, just as he informed Melissa. She said she would meet him shortly, apparently having too much fun chattering about the date with her friends.
Jason dressed up a bit, normally stuck wearing his uniform throughout all hours of the day. He wore a plain white tunic with a black vest and blue trousers. When Eadwulf found out about the date, he contributed to the outfit himself, giving Jason a rose pinned to his vest and smoothing out the roughness in the Pikachu's hair, taking him from his usual rough, disheveled appearance to a dapper young man.
Jason pinched his sleeve, tapping his foot anxiously as the seconds ticked by. He sighed and covered his face. What am I doing? I know we've gotten closer these last several months, but I didn't think I'd actually go through with asking her out. I suppose we've been in a relationship, even if it's just little things here and there. Just feels so strange being with her. She's a princess, and…I'm me.
He groaned and slapped himself. What am I even saying? I sound like Storm Breaker when he was questioned for liking New Moon. Uuuugh, but I do like Melissa. I just…I don't know if—
"Hey, Jason~."
The Pikachu was pulled from his thoughts as the Buneary in question walked out of the castle. He turned to greet her, but stopped as he examined her state of dress. Her ears were folded back with a blue bow keeping them together. She wore a beautiful cerulean-blue dress that hovered just an inch off the ground, swaying with every step she took. Her fur seemed glossier than usual, though she had gotten used to taking quick showers back at Fort Lucus. It carried a wonderful sheen. She wore a golden bracelet on each wrist, and her prized locket hung in full view around her neck.
She twirled on the spot and giggled. "How do I look?"
Jason stared for a moment, unsure of what to say. "Uh…blue?"
She snorted and laughed behind her hand. "Wow, you really haven't been on a date before."
"Yeeeeeah, socializing has been a bit…difficult for obvious reasons." He pointed at her ears. "Uh, does that not hurt?"
She giggled. "Please, my ears naturally roll up. They're practically rubber."
He smiled softly. "Well, you do look nice."
"Aww, see? You can compliment girls." She traced her foot coyly against the ground, inching closer to him. "So, uh…shall we?"
He took her hand and gestured down the courtyard. "We shall." He led the way, the disguised princess following by his side with a spring in her step.
As soon as they exited the courtyard, Pandora, Lillia, Sadie, and Eadwulf poked their heads out the door. Lillia sighed with a smile. "They look so sweet together."
Sadie held her cheeks and squealed. "So precious!"
Eadwulf nodded. "I'm happy Jason's loosening up a bit. It's good for him."
Pandora sighed dreamily. "They're going to have such a magical night alone together~."
"Yeeeeeeeeah~."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…" Sadie sighed. "You want to follow them, don't you—"
"I'll get the fake beards!"
With most of the Foresters out doing their own thing, Basil freely roamed the halls of the castle, hands in his pockets and a content smile on his snout. He passed by the castle staff who paid him no mind, having grown accustomed to the Foresters meandering around the castle.
He lifted his gaze after rounding a corner, his eyes locking on a pair of double doors locked shut. It was King Tadhg's chamber, and the flickering candlelight peeking out from under the doors told the Salandit that the king was hard at work in the late hours.
Basil approached the door before stopping, observing it curiously. He gave a gentle test push of the door, determining that it was locked from the other side. He knelt a bit to examine the lock before peering through to get a look of the king's study.
He could faintly make out the Meowstic hunched over his desk, forgoing his usual erratic matter of reading for a more thorough examination of whatever texts captured his attention. He couldn't make out much else beyond the thickness of the books, though he could tell by focusing that the pages had a degree of age to them.
Basil smirked, digging through his pocket for his lockpicks. Mom told me all about what happened to the village during Umbra Clock's attacks during Granny's time. Among the texts stolen from us was a peculiar journal passed down by the now extinct Stillsong Clan. I did all the research I could on one particular member from two hundred years ago, and his research should be in that journal.
He procured his lockpick and raised it to the lock. However, before he could get to work, he sensed someone coming down the hallway. He pocketed his tools and casually walked in the footsteps' direction, feigning ignorance.
To his surprise, Jet rounded the corner, stopping as soon as he locked eyes with the Salandit. Jet's stoic expression instantly soured. "What are you up to?"
Basil grinned. "What? I'm just taking a walk. Geez, don't act all suspicious with me."
"…" Jet's glare narrowed deeper.
"What? Do you still suspect me of that whole poisoning fiasco? I think we've confirmed by now Marie was responsible."
"We confirmed she was working for Last Autumn. We never confirmed anything about the poisoning."
Basil sighed. "You and your semantics." He winked. "I would've hoped you lightened up after evolving. Got to say, the look suits you. I'm so used to seeing you as a short, angry fella."
"…I'm going to let that slide."
"Wow, mature, too." Basil yawned and rounded the Dewott. "Well, I've tuckered myself out, so I think I'll hit the hay—" He jolted to a stop, feeling Jet's death grip over his arm. "Heh…can I help you?"
Jet gripped tighter. "What are you up to?"
"You still don't trust me, do you?"
"Want to take a guess why?" He let go of Basil before poking him in the chest. "How about we start with you working with the Lord of Shadow?"
Basil raised his hands and laughed. "Hey, I didn't know any better. I was a scared, confused kid with nowhere to go. How was I supposed to know the first kind soul to pick me up was a deranged ringleader with an obsession for burning?"
Jet's glare deepened. "And you don't find it just a little suspicious he also happens to be connected to Last Autumn?"
Basil shrugged. "Small world we live in."
"Why did you really sneak off into the Echo Bell Capital?"
"I already explained this to Jason. I had some suspicions that Itzy was conducting a show in the capital and wanted to investigate. If nothing happened, nothing happened. Besides, it's because of me that the flames weren't left to spread out of control."
"…"
"You're overreacting, Jet. I've always had the Foresters' best interests at heart. Have I ever steered you wrong before?"
"…" Jet's eyes flashed silver. "Let me make something crystal clear to you…" He grabbed Basil by the collar and pulled him close. "If you ever do anything that puts the Foresters in danger, I will kill you."
Basil maintained a calm demeanor, chuckling lightly at the Dewott's threat. "Yeesh. Alright."
Jet pushed the Salandit aside and marched on his way. Basil patted out the wrinkles and walked the opposite way, looking back once at Tadhg's locked chamber before rounding the corner.
I would never do such a thing to my wonderful allies~.
Melissa didn't expect their date to be anywhere super fancy, knowing Jason's bluntness for all things rich and sparkly. She almost expected him to overcorrect on dressing up by wearing a suit of armor, the highest form of fancy attire. The thought made her giggle, though she kept that to herself from the confused Pikachu.
However, to her surprise, he put more thought into the date than she thought. He took her to a reputable café within the capital that had an outdoor plaza, perfect to gaze upon the sky as the day made way for the night and stars. Arrangements were made in advanced as their server led them to a premade table with a red tablecloth and candelabra placed in the center.
Jason guided and seated Melissa himself before sitting himself down. A fresh bottle of cider was left at their table, and they were left to peruse the café menu in peace.
Melissa leaned forward on the table and giggled. "Jason Stormbreaker, I didn't think you could plan a romantic evening."
He shrugged. "I may have asked Adenine to make the preparations in my name while I was taking care of my duties."
Melissa raised her brow in surprise. "Adenine?"
He smirked. "I guess she owed you one for help convincing her to go to that gala in Senbo."
Melissa laughed awkwardly. "Riiiiight, that little…incident…" She shook the creeping thoughts away and smiled genuinely. "Well, I'll have to give her my thanks later. Oh, now I feel bad for not bringing her on board with my side of the date planning."
He waved it off. "She has been keeping Rikmai company while she's in recovery, so she wouldn't have minded."
"How is Rikmai doing? You visited her again today, right?"
He nodded. "I spoke with the doctors. She's starting to walk a little more each day. She should be clear for release by the end of next month."
"I'm happy for her. Shame we haven't been able to contact Erasmus about her survival, though."
"I wouldn't worry. I'm sending Fabrice and Enora on recon and to deliver our message. Hopefully we'll hear something back about Shade, too."
"Poor Shade. He's been with Erasmus and the others for months. I can't imagine how worried he's been over us."
Jason glared. "Given the secondhand information he must've received regarding New Chariot, he must be confused…" He saw Melissa's expression souring a bit, so he smiled awkwardly and said, "B-But let's not stress ourselves over that. We're here to enjoy each other's company, not talk business."
Melissa sniffled before putting on her best smile. "R-Right. Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"It's alright. It happens a lot with me, honestly."
She snorted. "No kidding. You're a workaholic compared to me."
He pouted. "I've been getting better."
"Uh huh. And you haven't been sleeping on the floor again?"
"I'm telling you, I find the ground comfortable—"
"Jason, we got you the raggiest, cheapest bed in the capital to sleep on just so you could break that habit."
"It's a fine bed and all. I've just grown too accustomed to sleeping on a firm surface."
"That bed is practically a soft brick wall."
He waved it off. "Well, remind me never to take you camping."
She smirked. "Already planning the next date?"
He smirked back. "At that point, it'd be a vacation."
"I wouldn't be opposed~."
"Heh." Jason grabbed the cider bottle, popped the cork off, and poured himself and Melissa a glass. "Well, once things settle down, I'll take you camping in some of my favorite spots."
Melissa took her glass and grinned. "You know, you talk about traveling so much, but I don't think you've given me all the details."
"It's mostly me being a moody teenager with thoughts of revenge against the monarchy."
She smirked. "Mostly? So, there were some highlights worth discussing?"
He rolled his eyes and smirked back. "I suppose I have a few stories here and there…"
Meanwhile…
It wasn't like Tadhg to take his time conducting research, often letting his mind run automatically as he multitasked through a myriad of different topics that catches his fancy in the moment. However, with the gravity of the situation at hand, he felt it best to pace himself for once.
His secret infiltration into Last Autumn's heir system, courtesy of the unwitting Lord Blackwood extending an invitation on behalf of his boss, Tadhg was let in on key details and secrets regarding their operations. However, most of what he was given was information already established and gathered by the Foresters. It would seem Terrowin didn't let everyone within Last Autumn onto his true goals, and not even the heirs who seemed to be at the center of the operation.
Fortunately, his prodding at Blackwood yielded enough to consider their options moving forward.
While sending Jason and Melissa to Arcania would bolster their influence, the suspicion around the events of the Arcanian Massacre couldn't be disregarded. Moira had her rights to be wary of putting trust in the kingdom given their history and the circumstances of their survival during the massacre. Blackwood's reservations, however, added interesting complications now that Tadhg was onto his true allegiances.
The question remained: what secrets did Arcania possess to warrant these reservations?
Tadhg combed through the texts as thoroughly as possible, rereading passages thrice if so required. The further back he went through Arcania's history, the more complex the language became. It would seem that, before Arcania adopted the more common language of Virdis, they had their own ancient writing system characterized by symbols.
Tadhg glanced at a book on his shelf, telekinetically hovering it to his side. He mentally flipped the pages open, recalling a passage that worked on decoding the ancient writing language to modern English. Though, this didn't yield much else beyond more intricate, albeit fascinating tidbits of history.
Tadhg glared. One thing I've learned is that most of the Arcania Kingdom is made up of the original civilians of the Great Kingdom, or the Elysivine Kingdom as I've been told. A lot of the lost history is found only in the Echo Bell Kingdom and the Arcania Kingdom, both being the closest to the ruins. Grandfather surely acquired a great deal of their texts. So, what among these ancient writings connects to Last Autumn?
His eyes flickered softly through the lines of text, jumping from book to book every few minutes as he gradually increased his reading speed. Before he could lose himself in a hurricane of books as usual, eyes caught sight of something odd.
He found himself reading from a tattered book, different to the ones before. The hard cover was the only modern addition to the book. The pages themselves looked to be hundreds of years old. Not even two hundred. Maybe even five hundred years ago?
However, the book was written in the same ancient text, and he was only getting a grasp of deciphering everything. One word stuck out on the first few pages, though, acting almost like a title.
"The Ancient God of Creation: Talos."
Tadhg narrowed his eyes. He never heard of a god named Talos. Was it one lost to the myths of the Elysivine Kingdom, or was it perhaps the name given to another god? God of Creation could apply to a great number of deities, most notably that of Arceus. Was it a name given to Arceus?
He flipped through the pages some more, glaring at a number of diagrams depicting spherical statues, as well as scale diagrams of the gear Pokémon such as Klink. The book wasn't just a history of Talos, but a blueprint to…something.
What was Talos exactly?
"This might hold the answers I seek."
The hour had flown by the moment Jason and Melissa got lost in their conversation. They ate their dinner without breaking the flow of mirth and contentment, enjoying the other's company as they delved into Jason's many adventures throughout Virdis.
It amazed Melissa how much the Pikachu accomplished in such little time before the Foresters truly became a thought. Then again, looking at how much she progressed since last year, she shouldn't be surprised by Jason's own achievements. The best she could offer about her youth was an exciting essay about the history of Verde's old and obscure laws.
Some of my best work, if I do say so myself~!
However, she didn't mind listening to Jason's past. It was nice to see his stoic expression melt away for one filled with cheer and mirth, even if during a dark time in his life. All the doom and gloom in the past, yet he spoke of some of his adventures with merriment that was infectious to the attentive Buneary.
Jason sipped his cider before laughing. "Zana and I chased those brigands for days before we found their secret hideout! I was getting the hang of boosting my speed with my Inherited Will, so I figured testing it in a cave would prove educational. I took them down before they had a chance to scream."
Melissa grinned. "I never realized you had such a rich history. You, Jet, Blitz, and Eadwulf got into a whole mess of trouble."
Jason smirked. "We didn't always travel together, though it was next to impossible to go anywhere without Jet. He…really idolized me back then."
Melissa smirked back. "Then?"
He rolled his eyes. "Okay, still does, but it's nowhere near as bad now."
"I'm not familiar with this Zana, though."
"Have I not mentioned her?" Jason shrugged. "She's a mage of the Arcania Kingdom. We met, battled some, and she decided to travel with us for a bit. She was kind of my equal when it came to fighting."
"You? Someone was your equal?" Melissa laughed. "I find that hard to believe."
Jason chuckled. "Looks can be deceiving. Zana is one of the best warriors in the kingdom. Though, with everything that happened after the massacre, I guess she wanted something to do to blow off steam."
Melissa scratched her cheek awkwardly. "And, uh…totally normal question that isn't spurred on by any envious feelings—"
Jason smirked. "Don't tell me you're jealous of someone you haven't met?"
"I mean, you have been talking about her quite enthusiastically for the last twenty minutes," she responded with a wry smile.
"Relax. Zana and I are friends."
She stuck her tongue out and laughed. "Oh, I know. I'm just messing with you." She smiled. "Still, it's a bit strange hearing you admit she was your friend. I always assumed you saw everyone as just an ally."
He looked away. "I wasn't the best at showing it, at least."
"So, your time traveling helped you get a grasp on your Touch of Zeraora?"
He lifted his hand, sending a few crackles of blue sparks through his fur. "There was only so much my Uncle Sherwood could teach me, especially since my birth isn't entirely natural."
"Right. Both your parents weren't compatible with each other."
"My dad had some friends in the Arcania Kingdom, and I think one of them provided a potion that was responsible for my birth." He sighed. "They were determined to have their own child, and they broke the laws of nature to have me."
"Aww…"
"It's why I've been working so hard to perfect my techniques. This power I've been blessed with is…like a wild animal."
Melissa smiled. "Well, from what I've seen, you've shown a deep mastery of it."
"I wouldn't say everything has been used to its fullest potential."
"Hmm? How so?"
"…" He sighed, tapping his fork against his plate. "This may come as a shock to you, but I restrain myself from using my full strength."
"Heh, I kind of figured. With your skill, you could do a real number on anyone—"
"No. You don't understand." Jason glared at his plate. "I mean I haven't been using the full potential of my Inherited Will."
Melissa frowned. "What do you mean?"
"…" Jason looked aside unsurely before looking her in the eyes. "You know how we can infuse our techniques into our abilities, right?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, while Inherited Wills only boost the power of a single move, that doesn't necessarily mean they're excluded from ability infusion."
"…" Melissa tapped her chin. "Let's see. You have the Lightning Rod ability. And your Inherited Will allows you to manipulate bioelectricity—" Her eyes widened. "W-Wait. You mean…you could—"
He nodded slowly. "How do you think an eight-year-old Pikachu was able to defeat trained knights? I didn't even realize what I was doing until I got older. Tapping into someone's energy and…stealing it. It dramatically boosts my Lightning Rod's power, thus increasing my techniques. However, I haven't used it to its fullest since that day. I practiced how to wield it, then promised myself never to use it again."
Melissa's ears drooped. "A skill like that would make you even more unstoppable than you already were."
"It also made me realize how easy it was to take a life," Jason mumbled. He curled his fingers tightly, emitting a few sparks. "I know the intricacies of my technique, and that terrifies me. I just can't bring myself to use it. The last time I did, I lost control of my senses. I almost killed Eadwulf. I got lost in the bloodlust."
Melissa reached over the table, cupping his fist between her hands. "You're much stronger than you were back then. You don't have to be afraid of that power."
He laughed bitterly. "I don't trust my own mental state to put my faith in that."
"Would you put your faith in me?"
He frowned. "How so?"
"Well, you'll always have someone like me to pull you back down to earth." She smiled sweetly. "You helped me when I was at my lowest, remember? It's…little steps at a time, right?"
"Mels…"
"If you feel like you're ever losing control, just…try and keep something precious to you on your mind. It helps me." She let go of his hand and cradled her locket. "Whenever I feel doubt, I hold onto my locket and remind myself my mother's looking after me. I don't need it as much these days, but…it really does help center myself."
"…" Jason laughed weakly. "I don't think it'd be wise to haul my book collection into battle."
Melissa snorted. "Nope, but that would be something precious to you. Really precious…" she mumbled bitterly.
Jason huffed. "Come on, you're still not mad about that whole fiasco?"
"I wasn't mad, just miffed! I mean, seriously, after all the trouble I went through, Marie just waltzes in and…" Melissa paused, then looked down at the ground sadly. "Oh dang it…" She sniffled and rubbed her eyes. "Ugh, sorry…"
Jason frowned. "You still miss her, don't you?"
"…Yeah."
"I'm sorry, Mels."
"It's…It's fine. Really. I've gotten over it."
"Doesn't look like it to me."
"…" Melissa leaned back in her chair, rubbing her eyes vigorously. "I'm sorry. We're on this really nice date, and all I'm doing is bringing up Marie and what happened…"
"No, no, it's alright. I know how much she meant to you."
"I just…I just can't make myself believe she was a cold-blooded killer. That doesn't sound like the Marie I knew."
Jason sighed. "Well, unfortunately, I do know her. Look, Marie had a bit of a complicated past. Even she hasn't told me everything about what happened before she asked to join my cause. She just never wanted anyone to know she was Takigawa Makiko. Took a lot of convincing for Jet to get off her case."
"…Did she really do horrible things when she was still with her family?"
"I…rather not tell you to preserve whatever goodwill you have left for her."
Melissa shook her head. "I just can't believe it no matter how many times I go over it in my head. She seemed so cruel in the palace, but she sounded…remorseful when we caught up with her at the city wall. She turned a knife on her own sister like she was nothing."
Jason shrugged. "The Takigawa Clan has a rather…loose definition when it comes to family."
"It's sickening…"
"Agreed. That's just the way things are, I'm afraid."
"…Do you think she meant what she said? About how my dream meant nothing to her?"
"…" Jason shrugged. "I can't read her mind. Marie may act flirty and open with everyone, but she's always closed off parts of herself for her own sake. She was cold back before you ever joined. She started mellowing out when she broke her leg and had to stay at the fort." He glared off to the side. "Though, given how dangerous she still is, I'm beginning to think she wanted an excuse to be lazy…"
"Heh…" Melissa wiped her eyes and sighed. "I just wish I could get over it. Just…something to tell myself what happened really…well, happened."
"…" Jason scratched his cheek. "Well, I suppose if it's bothering you that much, there is someone in the Arcania Kingdom who could help."
"Hmm?"
"I know someone who can make a potion that reveals a creature's handprints on objects. You could always bring Marie's dagger with you. Maybe it'll bring you some closure over what happened."
"…" Melissa looked down. "Maybe…"
Jason reached over and rested his hand over hers. "You knew getting involved in foreign matters like this wouldn't yield happy endings. Take whatever small comforts you can get. Not all of us can live our lives without regret."
"…True." She sighed and smiled weakly at the Pikachu. "Thanks, Jason. Maybe I'll take you up on your offer. Hopefully it'll put my mind at ease."
He smiled back. "I'm sure it will."
They stared at each other, a gentleness in their expressions as they enjoyed the comforting silence. Melissa scooched around the table and leaned her head into the crook of Jason's neck. He pulled his arm around her and rested his head atop hers. They sunk back into their chairs and enjoyed each other's tender embrace.
"…Hey Melissa."
"Yeah~?" she mumbled blissfully.
"You're aware Eadwulf and the girls have been spying on us for the last forty-five minutes, right?"
"Oh, plain as day."
"OUR COVER'S BEEN BLOWN!" A bearded Growlithe threw away her menu and leapt out from behind the table, knocking over plates and silverware. "Retreat! Retreat!" she screamed, running out of the café plaza with the tablecloth caught around her tail, dragging a basket of bread rolls and service cart along the way.
The bearded Audino and Meowstic facepalmed while the bearded Nuzleaf stroked his fake beard, nibbling on some garlic bread. "Honestly, I'm more surprised by the fact the waiters bought these disguises…"
Meanwhile, on the border of the Senbo Kingdom…
"Retreat!"
A hail of cannon fire rained down over the battlefield, blowing away invading Wick Kingdom knights in a sea of flame. Senbo knights marched through the flames, sword and shields armed and ready, and advanced after the fleeing enemy knights.
Linota, standing atop a battle wagon, raised her hand and commanded, "Fire!" A line of cannons went off, arcing cannonballs through the air and raining down on the Wick knights. Bodies scattered amidst the explosions, weapons and armor torn to shreds in an instant.
On Wick's side of the battlefield, Fulbertus observed from the sky, firing off the occasional beam attack to buy his retreating army time. He shielded his face as another hail of cannon fire lit up the battlefield, sending a cloud of fiery smoke through the air. He blasted it aside with a burst of Psychic and grunted in disdain.
This is insane. Even after months of fighting New Chariot, they still have this much firepower to expend? They could've wiped us off the map any time they wanted.
"Sir Fulbertus!" He looked down as a Dodrio knight jumped back from the smoldering smoke, shaking the ash out of their feathers and armor. "This is getting bad! There's nothing but scorched air in front of us! The enemy has us pinned!"
Fulbertus glared. This is getting us nowhere. Why is King Tetrarch insistent on us prolonging these battles? We're at a disadvantage. "Knights of the Wick Kingdom! Retreat!"
The knights rushed to their steeds and battle wagons as fast as they could, trembling as cannon fire continued to rain down behind them. Another failed attempt to take on the Senbo Kingdom, and soon the rest of the Wick Kingdom will follow suit if the tides of battle didn't change in their favor.
"You have some nerve reaching out to me like this, Wilkin."
With the development of the Senbo Kingdom's Telepath Unit, a meeting had been arranged between King Gilbert and King Wilkin. Both men from their respective throne rooms placed a paw/wing upon the head telepath, and both sides linked the two kings' minds.
They sat within an ethereal void with only a glass table and two thrones in the center. There, they sat to conduct negotiations. Or, in Wilkin's case, buy himself time.
The Empoleon grinned uneasily. "Now Gilbert, we had a good thing going on since last year. You understand I'm doing this for the honor of my son—"
Gilbert's eyes narrowed. "Erasmus has already provided substantial evidence regarding Prince Darby's actions. Even though I do not approve of my son acting out without my approval, I cannot blame him for taking matters into his own paws after what Darby did."
"Come now, it was not that bad—"
"He attempted to drug my party guests and framed a member of my castle's staff for a crime she didn't commit!" Gilbert slammed his paws down. "As if that was not enough, he is linked to the attempted assassination of my second son! Your fool of a boy nearly killed Dimitri!"
Wilkin closed his eyes. "I am sorry for that, Gilbert."
"No apology can make up for what he has done. What kind of father raises their son to act in such a vile manner? You would not see me raising my children to do as they please without consequences! Your son almost manipulated a young woman under the influence!" Gilbert clenched his teeth. "And I am almost disgusted to imagine he has done so before without being discovered. You are a disgrace of a father, Wilkin Tetrarch!"
Wilkin chuckled. "And you have not had your fair share of crimes—"
"My actions in the past were unjust, but that does not change what you have done!" Gilbert snorted smoke before falling back into the imaginary glass throne. "Frankly, if I had seen Darby when he tried to kill Dimitri, I would have killed him myself."
Wilkin glared. "You can speak so brazenly because you believe you hold the advantage."
"I do not believe. I know. The Wick Kingdom has only two options: surrender to the Senbo Kingdom, or face the fires of war. And by the sound of the recent reports, it seems the latter will come to pass. The Wick Kingdom has no possible advantage over our military strength."
"…" Wilkin scoffed. "Do not underestimate the Wick Kingdom, Gilbert. We may not be as strong as you, but we're willing to do what is necessary to get what we want. Remember that."
"…This conversation is over." Gilbert clapped his paws twice, and he faded from the illusionary space.
Wilkin closed his eyes and sighed. "Welp, I put on the show of a lifetime. Now it is just a matter of getting Terrowin involved…"
Gilbert awakened from his illusionary meeting and stepped down from his throne. A knight bowed to him and asked, "How did the meeting go, Your Majesty?"
The Houndoom growled. "Call upon my council. We will be deciding what to do with the Wick Kingdom in the coming weeks."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Gilbert exited the throne room and went on his way to his office, unaware of Erasmus and Shade spying just behind the door. Erasmus peeked out, worriedly looking upon his father's disgruntled expression.
"I should not have gotten involved…" Erasmus mumbled.
Shade patted his shoulder. "You couldn't have predicted the outcome of your actions. I'd say a good chunk of us wanted to see Darby dead just as much as you."
"Still, even if the Wick Kingdom is controlled by scum, that does not mean we should be putting its citizens in danger. Innocent lives will inevitably be caught in the crossfire."
Shade sighed. "This is why the Foresters tried to stay out of these kinds of affairs. Well, more so Jason than anyone else, but these things always seem inevitable."
Erasmus looked down. "All I wanted was to avenge my brother. All I wanted was to see Adenine again. To see Melissa again. If I had not acted like I did, maybe this could have been avoided."
Shade shook his head. "You spurred on a war, but…let's be honest with ourselves: the Tetrarchs were never good people. They were going to do far worse. I'd say you gave it your best shot. Some would herald you as a hero."
Erasmus closed his eyes and shuddered. "I wish I could believe that…"
The moment Wilkin ended his telepathic meeting with Gilbert, he reached out to Terrowin. With the war being on the forefront of his attention, he neglected to make contact with his boss for some time. He waited patiently for his call to be answered, albeit with a twinge of anxiety.
Soon, Terrowin appeared within the ethereal space and sat himself at the glass table. The weathered Sceptile looked just as ill as ever with more of his face being blotted by the roots growing under his skin. However, his condition paled to the leveled glare directed solely on Wilkin, a stare that could bore holes through the soul.
"…I can only guess why you've chosen now to contact me, Wilkin."
Wilkin gulped and leaned against the table. "Mighty Terrowin, you have provided me with much in the ways of power. Even when I was the heir to my kingdom, you have gifted me arrays of power I couldn't imagine. For that, I am eternally grateful, thus I come seeking your aid."
Terrowin maintained his collected expression. "You wish for my assistance in dealing with the Senbo Kingdom."
"Indeed! They are far stronger than our own military power. If something is not done soon, I am afraid the Wick Kingdom will fall. I am one of your main benefactors, so surely you would still require my aid—"
"Are you aware that Darby nearly violated Melissa Penworth?"
Wilkin's eyes widened. The coldness in the Sceptile's tone nearly made him faint in fear. "Oh no…"
"So, you understand the gravity of your situation?" Terrowin leaned forward on the table, hands folding under his chin. "I promised to make Darby a candidate of the heir system so long as the Wick Kingdom provides resources to Last Autumn. However, given the progress we've made as of recently, I see no need to continue working with you."
Wilkin gripped his chair in alarm. "Milord, hold on a moment—"
"Melissa was made to be the true heir of Virdis, and Darby nearly ruined that poor girl for his own selfish desires. Melissa was to be raised in a proper, loving home until she was old enough to take the throne, where I would eventually offer her the sacred treasure of Virdis. However, because of the circumstances that followed, my original plan had to be scrapped. I promised power to your eldest son, but it seems he has taken advantage of the power he already possesses."
Wilkin stood up in his chair. "Terrowin, please! Think about what you're doing! The Senbo Kingdom could cause great harm to Wick! Even for all your cruelty, you wouldn't wish potential genocide!"
"You would, however."
"Milord, I'm begging you! Give us another chance! Why else would you allow Darby's life to be saved if you weren't willing to negotiate?!" He dropped to the ground, bowing before the Sceptile. "Please, have mercy! Just send us the Roar of the Wastes to deal with our enemy—"
"I cannot provide you with Alban."
Wilkin looked up in shock. "W-Why?"
"Unfortunately, when Sir Gaufroi jettisoned him off the battlefield, he ended up sending Alban into the sky. He's currently recovering from his injuries."
Wilkin clenched his teeth. "Milord, please! Give me another chance! I'll do anything! ANYTHING!"
"…" Terrowin closed his eyes, ruminating on the matter for a moment. "Anything?"
"Yes! YES! Please!"
"…" Terrowin opened one eye and looked down at the blubbering Empoleon. "The Senbo Kingdom may prove to be a nuisance in the foreseeable future. With our plot exposed, making an alliance with them is out of the question, and their military might currently overpowers our recruits from the Outlands."
"S-So…?"
"I will allow you a second chance, Wilkin. However, Darby is on thin ice now. He is to follow all of my orders from here on out without fail or question. Failure to do so, and I may just leave the Wick Kingdom to burn in the fires of war."
Wilkin stood up and shook Terrowin's hand fiercely. "I-I promise! I'll talk some sense into the boy! He'll make a worthy heir to Virdis, I swear!"
"Tch." Terrowin pulled his hand away. "There's no third chances, so watch yourself, Wilkin."
Wilkin pulled himself back into his seat and dabbed the illusionary sweat off his forehead. "But how will you be able to help? You just said you lack the might to match Senbo's military."
"Officially speaking, that is true. Last Autumn's grunts is made up of Outlanders contracted through thugs like Florentinus. They can hold their own against other bandits and filth, but a trained military force is beyond their scope."
"So, what do we have?"
"Coincidentally, your situation actually provides a unique opportunity for us." Terrowin narrowed his eyes darkly. "Project Talos is in the final stages of completion."
Wilkin's eyes widened. "Project…Talos? Wait, you mean—"
"I do. Tests are being conducted as we speak by Dr. Underhill and his new, abrasive assistant. It took a lot of convincing to get the young man to cooperate, but his genius has been indispensable to Project Talos' completion. We're actually ahead of schedule."
"And my situation?"
"Tests are one thing, but we need to see how they fare on the battlefield. Incidentally, we only have two working controllers in our possession. The rest will be completed and shipped off soon enough, and the Subterra Kingdom will be providing the material to make more units for Project Talos. Two hundred units at the ready, and one hundred of them will be at your command."
Wilkin eased back into his chair in awe. "I cannot believe it…"
"I request that the units be handled by your strongest psychic until we've gathered the appropriate data on their functionality. You just need to hold out against the Senbo Kingdom for a little longer."
Wilkin glared. "Until when?"
"Until the 25th of next month."
"The Day of Arceus? Isn't that the same day you will be attending Orochi's granddaughter's ascension ceremony? Why then?"
Terrowin crossed his arms and leaned back in his throne. "Wilkin, are you a man of faith?"
"I haven't held onto my faith in a long time, milord."
"Well, do you ever wonder where Logos' species came from? Why did they come to our world many, many, many millennia ago? Was it fate or coincidence? My ancestors believed that these creatures, known by few as the Absconi, are the legendary arms of Arceus. They who shaped the world to his design. They who helped create the gods. Whether or not this is true, the Absconi are an…unknown entity to us feeble mortals. They don't view the world the same as we do. They have no morality. They do not sleep, eat, or desire like us mortal creatures. They simply wish to understand everything. They are everything. I've only been able to merely glimpse into the truest thoughts of these creatures, and I realize that we are hundreds or thousands of years away from ever fully comprehending what they know.
"Thus, if my will is to be the correct course of action to save Virdis from its corruption, may Arceus be my judge, lest I be cast down into the fiery pits of damnation. When the 25th Winter Moon arrives, Last Autumn will finally step out from the shadows."