Lardin Avenue, Esthirant

As the strong rain gradually drizzled down, Riccardo and Aria had been sneaking through Esthirant for what felt like hours now. After they took shelter in a nearby tavern, Riccardo and Aria slowly ascended from their safety and decided to risk either two ideas.

One, leave Esthirant by horse, or two, become stowaways at the docks. Both were very unideal, as they risk getting lost and heading to who knows where. But when they heard the booming sounds of jets and felt the ground shake, they think; maybe they're finally saved?

"Are you sure this is the right way?" Aria asked harshly, her feet practically aching at the continuous running. Especially in these Parpaldian shoes; she'll never take her own clothes for granted after having to disguise themselves.

"I'm sure it is. Lardin Avenue, that's what they said," Riccardo said with a grumble as he and Aria continued along the backstreets of the capital.

"This is fucking crazy... I mean you said that the embassy was surrounded, what makes you think it's safe to even head there?" Aria said with a scowl as she kept her arms crossed against the drizzle of the rain.

"Those were the sounds of jets, Aria. If we can hear them, then maybe..." Riccardo knew very well that this idea was a Hail Mary, but with nothing else on the table except possibly getting dumped in an unknown part of Philades or worse, Rodenius, this was their only certain way back to Italy.

As Riccardo and Aria got closer to where they believe the embassy was, the man started to smell... smoke, "We're getting close."

As the pair then turned a corner, they immediately stopped and went wide eyed.

The street in front of the embassy was littered with corpses of Parpaldian soldiers, horses, and even those unlucky enough to be watching the standoff. Whatever Parpaldians that were alive sat or stood in shock from the sudden explosion that befell them.

Two Parpaldian soldiers in particular were trying to make an elder captain stand up, who could do nothing but sit in absolute shock at what happened. Riccardo looked around at the devastation; even so the Italian flag continued to fly on the roof of the embassy, "Jesus Christ..."

As the Parpaldians tried to disperse, knowing full well that this standoff was all for nothing, Riccardo and Aria simply walked past them. The woman tried her best to not hurl at the grisly sight of the dead Parpaldians as she covered her mouth.

Riccardo then went wide eyed. The double door of the embassy opened as guards started to file out. Just in case. He waved his arms behind the barricaded gates, "Hey! Help us! We're Italians!"

One guard immediately took notice, "Sir, Italian citizens!"

Antonio walked out. With his suit dusty and nearly battered, he adjusted his glasses as he rushed to Riccardo and Aria, "Let them in!"

Riccardo and Aria waited. Despite the fact that there were Parpaldian soldiers around them, they barely number to ten compared to what appeared to be dozens of them before the air strike. The iron of the gate creaked as a guard quickly ushered them in.

"Ambassador oh thank god it's so good to see you!" Riccardo said with immense relief as he quickly approached Antonio.

"We've... we've been running for hours. After we received your phone call we didn't know what to do-" Aria said shakily.

"You must be the Astaldi representatives... Aren't there three of you?" Antonio asked in worry.

Riccardo's face of relief immediately dropped to that of solemn, "He's... he was killed by Parpaldian soldiers."

"Shit... I'm sorry to hear that," Antonio said before he looked around as he could hear distant helicopters start to approach. The cavalry was coming. "Listen, we need to get inside until this situation gets resolved. We'll be evacuated as soon as possible."

Riccardo and Aria nodded. As they were ushered into the embassy for safety, Antonio immediately started to head back deeper in the building. Enzo immediately joined his side as he spoke, "Ambassador, we've been informed that the Italian Air Force is now on its way to helicopter us out. Right now they're just making sure that there aren't any wyverns trying to keep them out."

"Good, good. Any other citizens coming? We've just received the two Astaldi reps," Antonio asked as he looked to Enzo.

"We've sent out a few of our men to fetch them from the hotels and inns within Esthirant. They should be back in a couple minutes. Rome will handle the rest around Parpaldia," Enzo said. "Things have gone out of hand so fast."

"I know... Fuck this," Antonio said in simple frustration. "All this needless death, and for what?"

...

Former Mana Communications Tower 8

Jana kept a steady eye out the window of the tower, musket still cocked and ready. While she was sure that they would be hidden enough to not be traced by other mana communicators, it was better to keep a strict and careful out the window.

Even so, Jana couldn't help but glance at Remille who sat on an old chair. She was a mess. Damp, tired, and dirty; Remille in this state was a far cry from the Remille she knew throughout her life.

Jana looked to the window one last time before she sighed. Slowly, she approached Remille before she gently crouched to her level, "Miss Remille... It is foolish for me to ask this but, are you alright?"

Remille slowly looked up to Jana. She would usually say yes, hide her feelings, keep her smug attitude. But she didn't have the energy to even cry, "No... No I am not, Jana."

Jana frowned. She slowly stood up before she grabbed another nearby chair. As she adjusted her maid uniform, Jana then took her seat. She then placed the musket aside, and for the first time in over ten years, Jana gently grabbed Remille and laid her head onto her lap.

At that point, Remille then finally started to tear up.

...

Old King's Road, Outskirts of Esthirant

The Fiat sputtered down the dirt road as its headlights were the only thing that illuminated the road ahead. The usually pristine car had its metal bent, shot, and even bloodied before the car finally came to a stop.

As the car door opened, Kaios shuddered shakily, his eyes wide from what just happened. He was being chased by Parpaldian military forces for who knows how long, and to say that some were injured by his vehicle was being gentle.

Kaios huffed as he looked around the vast fields. No lanterns, no soldiers. Good. His hand still shook from the thrill of the chase as he pulled out a cigar from his coat. The flame on his lighter fluttered gently in the wind, and mostly from his hand that still shook before he took a deep puff.

But as he did, Kaios could hear helicopters approaching. He went wide eyed as he went back into his car and pulled out his satchel. Kaios dug into his bag before he pulled out a crystal. And after a few enchantments, it started to blink brightly and repeatedly as Kaios looked up.

Kaios took deep puffs of his cigar before he tossed it onto the side of the dirt road. He could spot a helicopter flying above, and Kaios immediately started to wave his arms as the magical light blinked, "Dear Gods please let them see-"

Kaios watched the helicopter continue before it started to descend. He sighed deeply in relief as he kept waving the magical crystal while the helicopter descended. Kaios started to approach as the flying machine finally landed near the roadside before the doors opened.

"Identify yourself!" The Italian soldier inside said.

"Sir Delfin Kaios of the Third Foreign Affairs Department. I-"

"Sir Kaios!? Oh thank the gods!" Inside, Jana peeked through the door way. As he saw this, the Italian soldier immediately brought the diplomat inside the helicopter as he signalled for them to return back into the air.

Kaios sighed deeply in relief as he sat inside the helicopter. He looked to see Remille and Jana, "Oh thank heavens you two are safe. What on Elysia is going on?"

Remille sighed deeply before she looked up to Kaios, "It's Arde."

"Of course it's bloody Arde," Kaios said exasperated as he threw his arms up in frustration. "I knew that slimy grump had the capabilities for this. He sent an entire regiment just to arrest me!"

"He did the same and threw me in the old palace dungeons. If it wasn't for Jana I could still be stuck there. Or worse," Remille said before she frowned deeply. "Worse still Sir Kaios, Arde ordered a sudden invasion into Italy and..."

"And we're losing? Of course we are! You'd have to be a fool to think otherwise," Kaios said before he gulped. "Does Rome know we have nothing to do with this?"

"They do, we managed to reach to them via a decommissioned mana communications tower just outside Esthirant," Remille said before she took a deep breath and frowned deeply. "That bastard Arde. When I get my hands on him..."

"Calm now, Remille," Kaios said with a gentle tone. "Where are we headed? What's going on?"

As she saw Remille being agitated, Jana took the initiative as she gently held her superior's shoulder and looked to Kaios, "We're currently being airlifted out to Rome. Last I heard they've also evacuated their people out of Esthirant. Arde has the army and the emperor under his thumb... We're on our own."

Kaios nodded before he looked down, eyebrows furrowed. Things were a whole lot worse than he thought.

...

Fort Dolmanth, Harlus Region

"So it's confirmed then?" Major Halin asked as he looked to his Communications officer.

"Confirmed, Major," the officer said with a grave look as he turned to his superior. "The orders to attack the Italian border were not by His Majesty. It was Supreme Commander Arde's doing."

Halin furrowed his eyebrows before he scanned the floor, as if he expected a solution to come up suddenly. His duty as a soldier of the Imperial Parpaldia Army was to serve the Emperor first and foremost. But now, it turned out that Arde had taken the reins. Or worse.

Halin looked around as he rubbed his cheek. His men within the fort were to be back up troops for the land invasion of Italy; if it even occurred. They were just near Esthirant. But then when news reached of the attack on the village and the embassy, Halin knew this war was fruitless. He huffed before he walked out of the communications room. There he met his closest men as he looked around, "Well gentlemen, it is confirmed. These orders were not of His Majesty."

His men murmured amongst themselves. Halin took in their expressions before he took a deep breath, "Men, may I remind you that our duty here in the Imperial Parpaldia Army, is to serve His Majesty first and foremost. This thing, this war, is all Arde's doing that warrants treason to the highest level. We may be under him, but he is under Emperor Ludius. This cannot stand."

His men seem to agree only for one to speak up, "But must we heed the Emperor any longer?" He asked defiantly.

Halin's eyes turned to Captain Gevon as his expression turned from surprise to sharp suspicion, "What are you implying, Captain?"

Gevon looked around as he felt the stares of some of his men before he turned back to Halin, "The Emperor's leniency with Italy is what brought here in the first place. The economic hardship has us at such a struggle, that nation has its boot on the head of our great empire. Think about it, we need new leadership. That boy on the throne is not fit to lead Parpaldia."

Halin immediately retorted back, "How dare you question your loyalty to the empire? You dare go against His Majesty for Commander Arde?"

"Well maybe I am!" Gevon yelled back. "Ludius should be deposed for what he did, Parpaldia is at a crossroads, this is our chance to change it!"

"You treasonous scum!" Halin said in aggression as he pushed Gevon backwards. And just like that, the once united leaders of Fort Dolmanth erupted into a mess of yelling and fistfights, over Arde versus the Emperor.

"His Majesty has the mandate of the Gods to lead our empire, nobody else!" One corporal said.

"That fool of an emperor has brought this empire down! If his father was here, he would have him hung!" Another said.

The room erupted into a mess of yelling and berating, some even getting into fist fights as Halin tried to take control of the situation. Whatever was happening, this was a big mess. And Arde will pay for it.

...

Faltwon Creek, Angelus Region

Lilius fluttered through the quiet woods as she looked around cautiously. Her tiny fairy form blended in alongside the soft glows of the fireflies. Her eyes scanned the scenery intently, ready to retreat at the slightest shadow straying in the moonlight. But nothing was amiss.

She slowly fluttered her way to a small, abandoned forest cabin. The inside looked empty, the windows covered in thick black curtains. The door was locked, and the walls intact except for a small hole in the wall. Lilius fluttered through before she returned to her normal form, her wings scratched up and scarred from her former hours of flying around crops for so long.

Her eyes scanned the room. Everyone was here; the Angelus Liberation Society. From the town of Angelus itself to the smallest villages, they were all here. Lilius wasted no time and spoke, "It's true. Parpaldia is under some sort of coup. Last we've heard Esthirant was under some sort of siege. Explosions all around."

The largest of the fairies, an elder yet gruff man leaned against his walking stick. Half of his wings was missing, as if deliberately torn before he spoke, "Is that so? Any word about movement around Angelus?"

"Our scouts say much of the Imperial Army in our kingdom is on high alert, but they've started to make their moves to Esthirant and to the border of Italy. They're distracted, Elder Orcher," Lilius said.

Orcher narrowed his eyes, "And our allies?"

"Vern Lakes and Selinia are saying the same. Forces are on the move. Whatever war Parpaldia is fighting, they're very much losing and in disarray."

Orcher nodded before he stood up from his seat. He looked around to his fellow freedom fighters before he frowned, "Fellow Angels, now is the time to strike. For too long we have been beaten down and enslaved by Parpaldia. For too long they have turned our peaceful way of life into their machine for greed. For too long, they have tried to rip us to shreds with their nobles and settlers..." He said as he fluttered his ripped wings.

"But that changes NOW! Tell the men, tell the women; tell all of our fighters and the peasants. Tell anyone who has the burning desire for freedom. We shall soon be free. Arm up, load up the muskets, and prepare for our grand plan! We liberate our land, NOW!"

Orcher's words resonated within the leaders as they yelled cheers and chants, "Long live Angelus! Down with the Crown of Parpaldia!"

"Go on, now! Rally up our forces, we attack by morning!" Orcher said. Everyone then turned into their tiny fairy forms and fluttered out of the cabin, as Orcher did the same. With his ripped wings, he leaned against one of his closest leaders before he was fluttered out of the cabin.

...

Ritlian Castle, Galen Region

King Hales II. His title of king wasn't worth much. His kingdom was a territory of Parpaldia, given 'Transitory Autonomy' status as more and more Parpaldian settlers and soldiers slowly try to fully annex his nation. His castle wasn't grandeur, much of its riches plundered away to the private palace of the governor general.

But this was to change. The Royal Knights of Galen were still there, still waiting, wanting to take back their kingdom. And in front of him was Queen Ulinius, leader of their historic enemy the Norinia Kingdom.

Being part of the outer regions of Parpaldia meant they were more free to conspire behind the shadows. And Hales knew this. In front of the two monarchs was a map of their two kingdoms drawn together, and markings to signify key Parpaldian installations.

"... The Norinia Citadel on the border has been a key military installation for Parpaldia but as you said, it has been neglected for a while. Now this war, with whomever it is, has made Parpaldia much more vulnerable and distracted. While the Norinia Royal Army does have muskets, we believe we may need more firepower," Ulinius said.

"I concur," Hales said with a nod. "Taking the citadel now ought to be our last effort. I believe we should take the smaller forts and armories around our kingdoms first. Only then can we take the citadel. If we do, we may be a force of reckoning against the rest of the empire. If they even decide to fight back."

"I've no doubt they will try. But from what I've heard they're truly distracted with their war in the south. This is our chance to revolt, to take back our thrones. Truly this time," Ulinius said as she looked up to Hales.

Hales sighed. Their history taught them that Norinia was their mortal enemy, from border clashes to surprise wars. But today, if they want even a chance to kick Parpaldia out, they must unite. At least for now, "We will take back our thrones. Our kingdoms deserve to be free from Esthirant. They need to return to their lands in the south once and for all."

Ulinius nodded as she looked to the map, "Glory to Nornia. And Glory to Galen."

Hales nodded. The two monarchs then gave each other a courteous bow before they went their separate ways. Hales walked up to a window of the castle before he looked down to his capital city. 'Barbaric, backwards, dirty', those were the words that the Parpaldian invaders described his beloved kingdom all those years ago.

He watched as Ulinius hopped onto her Dark Wyvern, meant to blend in the dead of night before she flew off alongside her knights. Preparations were now being made, and Hales took a deep breath. His kingdom still operated on swords when the Parpaldians invaded, only to be shot down by muskets and stomped on by their Land Dragons.

But things will be different this time. And Parpaldia will pay its price.

...

Chigi Palace, Rome

The convoy drove through the night streets of Rome as the rest of the country was still asleep. Remille looked out the window. The last time she was in Rome was their first delegation to Italy. To think now that what she once considered a potential enemy was now her one and possibly only ally in her fight against Arde.

Remille wasn't stupid. While she hoped that the news of the coup would be kept in wraps, the updates she's received on the way to Italy were not good. Reports of uprisings, mutinies, and skirmishes around the empire were evident. The coup set off a powder keg that Remille had no hope of extinguishing.

The car stopped in front of Chigi Palace as Remille hopped out with Kaios and Jana. They were quickly ushered into the palace as Kaios spoke, "It's getting out of hand. This war is going to cause the empire to fracture. Arde opened something he cannot just shut again."

Remille shook her head in dismay, "At this point I can only hope Ludius is okay. Arde essentially has him hostage. If I could I would just... have Italy bomb the palace to get the old man."

Kaios frowned at that thought before he simply sighed. They continued into the palace before they reached the situation room; sat along the table were Italy's generals, their aides and staff, and in the center of them all was Giovanni and Roberto, alongside Moretti.

They all looked to the doors before Giovanni stood up, "Miss Remille, Director Kaios oh thank God you're here."

"Prime minister, it's such a relief to be here," Remille said in exhaustion, which she could say the same for Giovanni; the man hasn't slept at all ever since the attack. They all sat back down as Remille continued. "The situation in Parpaldia is deeply dire. What's happened so far?"

Giovanni looked to Moretti before the defence minister took the initiative, "Well Miss Remille we've managed to retake Prato alla Drava from the Parpaldians. We've now taken in the surviving men as prisoners of war. We've evacuated the embassy and almost all of our countrymen within Parpaldia... As of now, we've noticed that there were forces around our borders and as such we've told the Americans, one of our allies, to launch drone strikes to take them down. But even though we stopped the invasion, we cannot end this war until either terms are discussed, or we take the one responsible for this."

"That would be Commander Arde," Kaios said. "Problem is that he has His Majesty with him. He's holding him hostage essentially."

Remille nodded, "They were last in the palace but we've heard that they've evacuated somewhere. We're not sure where however."

Giovanni sighed, "Problem is as well, as long as Arde doesn't say anything, there are still border clashes and even a few naval skirmishes around the sea. We need him to end this war once and for all."

"No, we don't need him," Remille said. "Ludius has the last say for everything, period. If we could just... rescue him and order our army to stand down, this wasteful war would be over."

"But you said he is with Arde, where could we possibly find them?" Moretti asked.

Remille continued, "If I could just send out a message that this is all Arde's doing, we can have parts of the Imperial Army rise up against Arde. I'm known to be the closest to Ludius, if he wasn't around they would look for me. We just need to turn at least some of Arde's men against him to find and corner him."

Kaios nodded, "There's no use keeping this hidden anyway. It seems that news of the coup has leaked. We've already heard reports of uprisings in parts of the empire. How it leaked we don't know but..."

Remille sighed, "The empire is at risk of fracturing. At this point, we have nothing to lose if we do this... We just need your support. I... I'm begging you at this point. Wherever Arde may be, he will be holed up and he will have an army with him. He's a brilliant strategist, he won't go down easily if it's just us." She said, her eyes once filled with pride now desperate for Italy's assistance.

Moretti and Giovanni looked at Roberto expectantly. The president nodded as he looked around, "Parpaldia is not at war with us, it is Commander Arde himself. And as Parpaldia are our allies, it is our duty to take down any threats to their sovereignty within Esthirant. Remille, you have our full support."

Kaios couldn't help but light up a bit before he furrowed his eyebrows, "Let's take this bastard down once and for all."