22nd Wisdom Moon, 908 – Umbra Clock Kingdom Capital

The battle of Telo Martius yielded a boon in fortune for the Umbra Clock Kingdom. Though the battle didn't end the way they planned, the destabilization of its capital forced the New Chariot Empire to call for retreat, gathering their forces to better secure against their enemy taking advantage of their vulnerability.

In their success, the kingdom garnered new allies in the prisoners of Telo Martius, using their strength and skills to reinvigorate their own army and march a counterassault against New Chariot. Territory they lost over the years would be regained, pushing out their weakened enemies and strengthening their borders. The food restrictions had been lifted as they regained their land, allowing the capital and its many towns and villages to thrive once again.

The capital saw a change in security as well. With the Foresters now as their true-blood allies, the kingdom's military tactics were bolstered by the Foresters' trickery. With the combined intellect of Pandora and Enoch, new fortifications and weapons were made in the kingdom walls, despite the general unease knights got whenever the two mad scientists colluded on a new scheme.

Though it had only been two months, the kingdom saw its fortunes being reversed. They were now in a comfortable position to act upon their grander projects.

What will come from the Umbra Forest Alliance's victory?

"…and with Commander Vilde's success at the northern border, we've successfully driven out another of New Chariot's camps and reclaimed more of our farmland," Tadhg said, psychically moving a mini Armorouge-shaped piece across the war table's map.

Melissa smiled. "I knew it was the right call to put Vilde in charge of the unit. It seems he's finally regaining his confidence as a leader."

Tadhg floated over a document and inspected it. "And we're seeing a fifty-three percent increase in food production." He smirked. "Guess my old man's council can stop bickering about eating peasant food."

Moira crossed her flippers. "New Chariot citizens have been entering the border seeking refuge from the wars taking place in the empire. Some of them are not happy with us."

Blackwood laughed. "And yet they come to us for aid? How poetic."

Tadhg shook his head. "It's our fault things got so out of hand. We will endure their anger, but we will welcome them into the kingdom so long as they're willing to work. We put their homes in danger. It's the least we can do. Moira, can I ask you to help with our relations with the refugees?"

She shrugged. "I'll see what I can do."

Jason glared. "We can't do much else to help New Chariot while it's under siege. The Algus and Subterra Kingdoms are retaliating, and they are some of the strongest warrior kingdoms out there."

Blackwood raised his hand. "I could send my own private army to handle the affairs with Lord…well, Emperor Martius. I shouldn't have too much trouble dealing with the invaders."

Tadhg jotted down his notes. "We'll look into direct negotiations later. However, with the Algus Kingdom focusing their attention on New Chariot, we could seize this as an opportunity to ally with them."

Melissa nodded. "It would allow us to speak freely with the king and work out a deal to stop the attacks on New Chariot, then we can work on securing a deal with Emperor Martius…assuming he's willing to talk," she mumbled.

Jason leaned over and rubbed her shoulder. "You good?"

She nodded and offered him a weak smile. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine."

Tadhg nodded. "Well, we can't go in blindly. We'll have to send a messenger first and wait for the king to accept our bargain. Could take a couple weeks. Maybe a month or two."

Blackwood crossed his arms. "Then what should our next objective be?"

Tadhg glared. "We could work on strengthening our military some more. Though our new recruits are making up for our lack of numbers, we're still lacking in weaponry and armor."

Jason looked off for a moment before raising his hand. "Why not securing an alliance with the Arcania Kingdom?"

Tadhg raised his brow. "The Arcanians?"

"I happen to know some of them from my travels. It wouldn't hurt to get them on our side. Their knowledge in alchemy would prove beneficial."

Melissa smiled. "Yeah, and they may appreciate the extra help. They've been struggling to stay in power for years. This could work out nicely for both of us—"

"It might not be the best idea," Tadhg interrupted, leaning back in his seat.

She frowned. "Why?"

Jason winced. "Yeeeesh. Right, both kingdoms have history with each other."

Melissa's eyes widened. "Oh, that's right! You grandfather led war against them once and stole a lot of their research."

Tadhg looked aside and winced. "Is it a bad time to mention some of that research is sitting in my bookshelves?" He shook his head. "Given everything they've been through, I wouldn't put it past them to hold a grudge."

Blackwood nodded. "It may be unwise. The Arcania Kingdom isn't in the best state currently. They wouldn't provide much for us. Best to leave them be."

Moira sighed. "I may have to side with Lord Blackwood on this. The Arcania Kingdom has a history of being tricksters. They don't exactly have a clean history themselves."

Jason glared. "Whatever happened in the past doesn't reflect who they are now. Besides, I'd argue we were in the same camp until you gave us a chance."

Moira glared. "They should've been completely wiped out during the Arcanian Massacre years ago. The Great Gate Empire wouldn't just leave so little land to not be conquered. How do we know they aren't working together in secret?"

"I know my friends. They wouldn't ally themselves with their enemy. They have too much pride in themselves to bend the knee."

Moira closed her eyes and shrugged. "I'm just saying…"

Before Jason could get heated, Melissa placed a hand on his shoulder and took over. "What if Jason and I went as ambassadors for the Umbra Clock Kingdom? If they won't listen to the king, they may listen to an ally, at least."

Tadhg looked aside. "It wouldn't hurt to see what they've been up to recently."

Blackwood shook his head. "I'm not on board with this, but…do whatever you wish, Your Majesty."

Melissa stood up and placed her hand over her heart. "Tadhg, you can trust us to handle this. We'll talk to the king of Arcania and have this tangled history of yours sorted out, I swear."

Jason looked aside with a grimace. "King Kirby. Oh boy…"

"Hmm? What?"

"N-Nothing. Just…I'll tell you later."

Tadhg tapped his quill down on the table, ruminating over the suggestions brought up, before glaring at the Forester duo. "Since we're aiming to establish a united Virdis, seeking alliance with Arcania would be a good start."

Melissa grinned. "Thank you, Tadhg!"

"We'll make arrangements for your trip. We should have everything ready in about…two days?"

"That works."

Jason nodded. "We'll be ready."

"Good." Tadhg stood up. "That does it for today's meeting. Harlow, would you mind accompanying me to my chamber? I was hoping to discuss some information I came across during my research into the ancient kingdom." He winked at her.

Her eyes widened, then she smiled and winked back. "Uh, right. I'll join you later."

Tadhg nodded and collected his belongings. Moira got up and slid out of the room. "I'm going to check on Mom. See you all later."

Blackwood gathered his supplies and approached Tadhg. "I look forward to hearing your response to my proposal, Your Majesty." He bowed to the young king. "I will be leaving back to my territory soon enough. Perhaps before I leave, could we meet in private regarding our business ventures?"

Tadhg bowed back. "I look forward to it, Lord Blackwood. Thank you." He and the Obstagoon walked out of the war room.

Jason collapsed back in his seat and sighed. "I always hated these stupid meetings."

Melissa giggled. "How did you get through these while you were running the Foresters on your own?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

She sighed. "It has been a bit stressful lately. I've been doing a lot of work around here, and now I'm suddenly acting as ambassador of Umbra Clock."

He smirked. "You volunteered."

"I run my mouth faster than I think," she said, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Clearly." Jason paused for a moment before awkwardly scratching his cheek. "Uh, listen, I need to take care of a few things myself, buuuut…I have the night free."

Melissa paused and looked at him in confusion. "Pardon?"

He smiled shyly. "Well, we've both been working hard recently, and things have been a tad stressful. So, I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me to dinner. Tonight. Alone."

Melissa's eyes widened as her documents slipped out of her hands. She pulled on her ears and looked away, her face turning bright red. "Y-You mean like a…date?"

He looked aside, hiding his own blush. "Y-Yeah. A…date."

"I-I, uh…" Melissa released her ears and took a deep breath. "W-Wow, I, uh…" She relaxed her clenched fists before relaxing and smiling sweetly. "I…I would love that. Yes."

Jason smiled and stood up. "How does seven sound?"

"Seven's perfect. I'll see you then!" She kissed his nose and ran off, squealing down the hallway. "Pandora! Sadie! Lillia! He asked me out! Cancel your plans for the afternoon!"

Jason smirked and reached down to collect her scattered papers. "Silly bunny…"

"So, her condition has been improving?" Jason asked as he, Adenine, and Tank made their way through the capital to the physician's office.

Adenine nodded. "She's walkin' more and more each day. Ah bet she'll be up and movin' like normal by the end of next month."

"Count herself lucky she minimized the damage on her body when she did." Jason glared. "Hopefully she'll be able to help us find a way into the kingdom while it's on lockdown."

Tank scratched his head and sighed. "Well, best we can do is make her comfortable. She really seems to enjoy my company for some reason."

Adenine shot him a deadpan glare. "Ya'll can't be serious, right?"

"Pardon?"

Jason sighed. "Can we just focus on the task at hand?"

They made their way to the physician's office. After getting approved to enter, they were led to their patient's shared room. Upon entering, they found a Vaporeon sitting in a wheelchair and dressed in a medical gown. Her ears twitched as the door opened, and she spun herself around, smiling at her visitors.

"O-Oh, uh…h-hello," she greeted shyly. "Y-You are those nice people from before. H-Hello again, um…what were your names again? And…what was my name again?"

"…" Adenine marched across the room and chopped the Vaporeon lightly on the head. "Knock that off, Mai. Ya've told that same amnesia joke a bazillion times already."

Rikmai dropped the act and snickered. "Hey, I've been cooped up in here for weeks. It was funny the first time."

"Who wakes up from a coma and makes their first question who am Ah?!"

"Hey, you've got to admit, I was quick on the draw with that…one…" Rikmai looked past the Kecleon as Jason entered the room…followed closely by Tank. Rikmai's eyes sparkled with joy, and she leapt out of her wheelchair. "Benjamin, my beloved! You came to visit—"

PLOP!

She fell face first onto the floor like a wet fish.

Tank blinked tiredly. "Uh, nice to see you, too."

Jason groaned. "Oh boy…

Flashback, about nine weeks ago…

"And you're sure you're feeling better?" Jason asked, he and Melissa standing by Rikmai's bedside.

She massaged her bandaged head gently. "Memory's a little cloudy, but I feel right as rain. Everything feels sore, though."

"How did you even survive an encounter with the Roar of the Wastes?" Jason asked.

Rikmai chuckled weakly. "Wasn't easy. I felt myself being ripped apart by his attack, so I did everything I could to compress my core down before being slingshot into the air. I let myself fly into the clouds and used the limited moisture to revitalize myself, but the damage shook me up pretty badly. I must've lost consciousness when I landed."

"And yet, you still landed in a river. Even in your delirious state, you were still able to guide yourself into the water. They said if you hadn't, you would've perished on land, especially in the summer heat."

Rikmai raised her forelegs. "Heh, yeah. Wish I got off scot-free."

Melissa smiled sympathetically. "The doctors told us you'll need to go into physical therapy since you're having trouble walking. I'm really sorry."

She shrugged. "Well, I'm not dead, so…could be worse?" She sighed. "The others are probably worried sick about me. Ah crap, they probably think I am dead!"

Melissa patted her shoulder. "H-Hey, hey, let's not freak out. Uh, we're going to try and get in contact with Erasmus as soon as possible. Things have been…complicated recently."

Rikmai tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Jason sighed. "Well, for starters, the Wick Kingdom recently declared—"

"Hey Jason." The trio turned to the doorway. Tank stepped inside, carrying some lumber over his shoulder. "Adenine said you needed me to make a wheelchair or something for that girl we found?" He looked up and saw the stunned Vaporeon. "Oh. Hey."

Rikmai's eyes widened, glimmering like twinkling stars in the night sky. Her face burned bright red. Pink hearts danced around her head while her tail curled into the shape of a heart. A pink halo surrounded the Smeargle in her vision, who appeared even more muscular than she envisioned.

"The red string of fate…" she whispered.

"Eh?" Jason and Melissa gasped.

Rikmai leapt out of her bed, much to their shock. "Destiny has brought us back together—"

PLOP!

She faceplanted onto the floor like a wet fish.

Tank blinked twice. "…What?"

Rikmai scrambled across the floor as best she could, grabbed Tank's hands, and strained to lift herself. Her tail wagged excitedly, eyes glowing like the northern lights. The world disappeared around them. Just them, hand-in-paw, lost in the vastness of the stars in this romantic moment.

"Benjamin, my beloved! I've finally found you! I waited for you for so long, and now the winds of fate have brought us back together!"

"…Oh, hey," he said, his voice carrying a dreamy, masculine tone that made her melt. "Who are you again?"

"…Eh?"

CRACK!

Rikmai, a blank smile permanently affixed to her face, fell to the floor and shattered into a pile of ice, softly weeping as the doctors frantically raced to scoop her back into bed.

Tank stared at the crumbling Vaporeon in mild bewilderment before glancing at the others. "What did I say?"

Jason facepalmed while Melissa sighed with a weary smile. "Oh boy…"

Tank scooped the Vaporeon into his arms and carried her back to bed. "You know you should be resting, right?"

Rikmai covered her blushing cheeks and squealed. H-He's carrying me! EEEEEEE! Such a gentlemen! We're not even married yet!

Tank dropped her back onto her bed and pulled her wheelchair over. "If you promise not to throw yourself onto the floor anymore, I'll take you around the capital to get some fresh air."

Rikmai grinned. "Like a date?"

"Date?"

"N-Nothing! I said nothing!" She buried her face into her pillow, squealing and slapping her tail down.

Jason sighed and tapped the Vaporeon on the shoulder. "Yeah, uh…Ms. Kruger, I need to have a word with you."

She sat up and composed herself. "Phew. Oh, none of that formal stuff. Rikmai's just fine."

He shrugged. "Rikmai. Anyway, we tried getting in contact with the Senbo Kingdom again, but no luck so far."

She dropped her giggly attitude and frowned. "How bad is it?"

"Well, I wouldn't place bets on the Wick Kingdom winning the war, but Senbo has their borders locked down tight. They've completed isolated all forms of communication. We tried getting our fastest messenger beyond their borders, but she was nearly gunned down several times. Too risky to send her back out."

Rikmai sighed. "No, no, I understand. I don't want someone getting hurt on my watch." She groaned. "And to think we've been making so much progress opening our borders. From the sound of it, they've tightened defenses to their maximum. The Senbo Kingdom prioritizes keeping all threats out. We are considered the invincible kingdom for a reason."

Adenine frowned. "But ya're a member of the knighthood. Is there any flaw in yer perfect defenses?"

Rikmai scratched her chin. "Eh, I guess we're not as prepared for underground attacks? Then again, the Subterra Kingdom rarely bothers us."

Jason glared. "Sidney's still recovering from her battle with Nero, so I can't send her. I'll have to ask Fabrice and Enora to investigate the warfront."

Tank glanced at Rikmai. "So, are the rumors true? Last Autumn has the Roar of the Wastes on their payroll?"

Rikmai winced. "I wish I could say no, but…yeah, it's true. He was just as tough as the stories say. With a snap of his fingers, he can speed-blitz anyone. He can swing his trident in one direction and obliterate anything he wishes just from the pressure. He can shake the land with just a single strike. I'm still shocked I'm alive. A-Are you sure my friends and the prince are alright?"

Jason nodded. "Information is limited, but we haven't heard anything about Prince Erasmus' death. And I'm sure your friends made it out safe, too."

Rikmai's ears drooped. "I wish I wasn't cooped up in bed recovering."

Tank patted her back. "Hey, from what you've told us, you saved everyone and gave your captain enough time to banish that monster. You were a hero on the battlefield."

Rikmai's eyes watered, and she threw herself around the Smeargle. "AWWW! BENJAMIN! THAT'S SO SWEET!"

Tank stared at her blankly. "Seriously, where did you learn my first name?"

"I-I'm not a stalker, I swear! I just kept your uniform!"

"What?"

"AAAAHHHHH!" Rikmai buried her face into her pillow with shame.

"…" Jason glanced at Adenine. "Is she always this hyperactive?"

"Ah'm not answerin' that," she muttered.

"RAGGER! GET BACK TO BED!"

The group looked past one of the dividing curtains and saw Ragger's younger sister, Freya, strapping him into his bed while the scaly dragon himself trembled in his bindings.

"Come on, just one drink! I've been sober for weeks!" Ragger shouted.

"The doctors said you can't drink anything until you're off your pain meds!"

"My liver can take it!"

"Stop being difficult!"

The group blinked slowly, then looked over to the bed across from Ragger's where Casimir looked up from his book and watched the siblings bicker. Much like Ragger, his arms had to go through surgery after pushing his body to the limit. While Casimir was opting to take it easy, Ragger was being as restless as usual.

"Come on, sis, just get me something to drink!"

Freya rolled her eyes and handed him a canteen. "Fine, here." She held it to his maw and poured it for him.

He sputtered in disgust. "That's the worst rum I've ever tasted!"

"That was plain water, you idiot!"

Casimir glanced at the others and smirked. "Well, absence hasn't dulled their sibling bond, at least."

Adenine giggled while Jason rolled his eyes. "Why can't everyone just behave themselves for one day?"

Meanwhile…

It was rare for the Foresters to enjoy an evening in town without having to conceal themselves. With them as allies to the Umbra Clock Kingdom, they could roam the capital and enjoy themselves in public.

Sidney, Zephora, Brooklyn, and Shingo decided to hang out by the city's water fountain with café-fresh sandwiches. Sidney had Zephora help unwrap hers since her left arm was still in a sling. Fortunately, Rusty was more than helpful to carry her stuff with her one arm out of commission.

Brooklyn nibbled on her sandwich and chirped with delight. "Mmm! Have I mentioned yet how nice it is to be eating something other than Lambert's ration bars?"

Shingo chuckled. "I think he'd be annoyed we're eating out instead of indulging in his meals."

"Hey, we rarely get to hang out without some nonsense preoccupying our time. Besides, he has the castle staff to fatten up."

"True."

Zephora laughed. "And to think there was a time we thought this was a bad idea. Allying ourselves with another kingdom? It seemed crazy at the time."

Sidney tore a bite out of her sandwich. "I didn't think we'd go back to having normal days. Then again, most of my life was spent scrambling for scraps of food, so this is far from my original normal."

Brooklyn tapped her talons awkwardly against the stone fountain. "A lot of my life feels like a weird dream."

Shingo frowned. "Something on your mind?"

"…I found out one of my brothers joined the aerial unit of the knighthood. I actually saw him. I…don't think he recognized me." She frowned. "You think my folks forgot about me?"

Shingo patted her back. "Things have been busy. I'm sure he didn't recognize you because…well, last time you were in Umbra Clock, you were a Tranquill."

Brooklyn sighed. "Yeah…"

Zephora frowned. "Something wrong, Brook?"

Shingo leaned over and explained, "Brook had a pretty rough relationship with her father and was captured by slave traders after she ran away."

Sidney winced. "Ohhhh. Brook, I'm so sorry!"

Brooklyn brushed her eyes, then groaned as her wing twitched uncontrollably for a moment. She matted it down and sighed. "I've always been sensitive about my wings. If it wasn't for Shingo's uncle purchasing me from the slave auction, I might've ended up somewhere terrible. It feels weird being back in Umbra Clock. I've gotten so used to wearing kimono, I learned to eat with chopsticks in my talons, and I can speak Old Johtonian pretty decently. I've been away from home for a long time…"

Zephora smiled sympathetically. "You're worried about confronting your folks."

"I'm worried they forgot about me. My dad has always been hard on me for not being a natural born flyer. Even now, I don't fly like a normal bird. I just don't know if I have the guts to finally confront Dad."

Shingo shrugged. "If he doesn't have the guts to apologize after being separated for so long, then he's no father of yours." He frowned. "My dad was always a tough man, so I often worry about disappointing him. But he's always been firm with his beliefs. A father should always be there to protect his children. I believe your dad feels remorseful for that day."

"…" Brooklyn sighed and hugged herself. "I may need some time before I can confront him."

"Take as much time as you need," Zephora assured. "We'll probably be living here for a while, anyway." She snickered and nudged the Unfezant's side. "You could always check out the aerial unit and show off your incredible flying skills."

Brooklyn laughed weakly. "You mean tumbling through the air?"

"You call it tumbling, but I've never seen a bird Pokémon endure a hurricane without the need of an ability. Honestly, you fly better in dangerous storms."

"Heh. Thanks."

"Delivery! Delivery!" The group looked up as Petra descended from the sky with her mail carrier. "Mail call!"

Sidney laughed. "No matter what, nothing will stop Petra from delivering the mail!"

"You're darn right! Delivery the mail is my calling!" Petra ruffled through her bag. "Speaking of which, letter to Shingo!" She pulled out the envelope and tossed it to the Frogadier. "More letters to deliver! See ya!" She fluttered off.

Zephora smirked. "Does that girl ever slow down?"

"Rusty says, probably never," Sidney said before laughing.

Shingo opened his letter and skimmed down the page. Brooklyn looked over his shoulder, studying the foreign text herself. She smiled. "Aww, it's from Megumi. Aww, she even addressed it to me, too. So thoughtful! Oh, it seems they're doing well, too. That's good."

Despite the positive letter Brooklyn was reading, Shingo's eyes narrowed little by little the further he went down the page. "Hmm…" He folded the letter and finished off the last of his sandwich before standing. "I've got to go."

"Huh?" the girls gasped.

"Something wrong, Shingo?" Brooklyn asked.

"…" He stopped and smiled back at them. "No, not at all. I just remembered I promised to give Harlow another lesson."

Zephora smirked. "You're going to turn that girl into a mini ninja one of these days, you know that?"

"I am aware. You all enjoy the rest of your day." He waved and went on his way.

Sidney tapped her chin. "You know, come to think of it, Jason has mentioned a couple times that Shingo has the potential to be a Nature Spirit Scout."

Zephora nodded. "Same with Ursula. I think he was going to promote them this year until things got…blegh."

"Shame." Sidney grinned at Brooklyn. "Though, you two are good partners, so Shingo might've refused."

"…" Brooklyn narrowed her eyes suspiciously in Shingo's direction. "Yeah…" He saw something else in that letter, didn't he? Oh boy, and I didn't like that look in his eye.

Tadhg's Chamber

"…and I can't thank you enough for agreeing to my arrangements, Your Majesty."

Tadhg bowed to the Obstagoon lord. "It is truly an honor to be accepted into Last Autumn's heir system. I hope to earn favor with your boss so that I may be worthy of the sacred treasure."

Blackwood grinned. "Heh. It'll be a good look for me convincing you. Compared to our other candidates, you're quite amicable. The treasure's power would be safe in your hands."

Tadhg folded his arms behind his back. "And…what could you tell me about this treasure? I'm quite curious how it bestows the powers of a king."

Blackwood laughed. "Now, now, let's not unveil all our secrets. You'll have to find out once my boss has finalized his plans. You're doing a good thing by taking this deal. It keeps the Umbra Clock Kingdom safe, even if we're working with our enemy."

Tadhg nodded. "Ah yes. The Foresters might be a problem down the line. Best you let me handle them until they've expended their usefulness."

"Ah, I never took you for a callous man, young prince."

Tadhg glared. "The Foresters proved useful in securing our borders and driving back New Chariot, but my thoughts are purely to the safety of my kingdom. If this ultimate power you promise is anything like you've advertised, it will sway the power of Umbra Clock to glory."

Blackwood sighed. "Best hope you leave a good impression. Arceus knows your competition will be trying to impress my boss."

Tadhg tilted his head. "Oh?"

"I'm not sure if you're aware, but recent intel speaks of Great Gate preparing for a ceremony next month. Emperor Orochi Amano will be stepping down from his duties, and his granddaughter, Riko Amano, will be taking his place. She's aiming to show her resolve and worth to the sacred treasure. I'm not saying her chances are good, but the extra competition could make securing the throne for yourself bothersome."

"…I see." Tadhg bowed. "Then I will try my hardest to secure your boss' favor."

Blackwood smirked. "Good." He marched to the door and let himself out. "You're a good man, Your Majesty. You made the right decision allying yourself with Last Autumn."

"Of course, Lord Blackwood." He bowed to the Obstagoon as he exited his chamber. "I always act logically, after all."

A half hour later…

"So, does he suspect anything?"

"I'd say I've successfully kept Blackwood in the dark."

After the lord left, Melissa eventually arrived at Tadhg's chamber to have her private meeting with him. Unbeknownst to Blackwood, Tadhg wasn't as honest as he held himself up as.

Una jumped on the bed, giggling mischievously. "Oh, you are bad, Tadhg! I never took you to be a liar! So bad~!"

Tadhg flicked his ear and chuckled. "I wasn't lying. I was merely playing a character. The Evil King Tadhg. How would you rate my performance?"

Leitis rolled her eyes and smirked. "And so modest, too."

Melissa rested her arms over the back of Tadhg's chair and glared. "I still can't believe one of your own advisors is working for Last Autumn."

"Hence why I'm hesitant to put him in charge of peace agreements with New Chariot," he said. "He didn't seem eager about you going to Arcania, either. Blackwood may seem like a brute, but he's a shrewd and crafty man. His family has one of the strongest private armies in the kingdom, so he's no pushover. Still, keeping him placated for now is our best bet."

"So, what did you find out?" Leitis asked.

"I still haven't been able to pry much information about the sacred treasure. Though, based on everything you've informed me about…"

Melissa glared. "Logos."

"Logos seems to be at the center of all of this. It must be something truly powerful to promise the makings of a king. If that's true, letting it fall into the wrong hands would prove detrimental."

Melissa grimaced. "I've met two of the other candidates. Evangelina Visconti of the Echo Bell Kingdom and…ugh, him."

"Evangelina and Darby." Tadhg glared. "Would you happen to know anything about Riko Amano?"

She shrugged. "I don't know much about the east's history. I just know Emperor Amano is her grandfather."

"Well, based on what Blackwood told me, Great Gate will be investing their time in impressing Terrowin. She's going to become empress next month. I know enough about her. If you thought Nero was a war-obsessed tyrant, I'd argue Riko Amano is even more unhinged. Her grandfather seized the empire from the previous emperor. He and his daughter were both killed in the takeover, so Orochi was there to fill the power vacuum."

"It's not even a secret," Melissa mumbled.

"Everyone knows what Orochi is, but they can't do anything with his elite guard and the Takigawa Clan under his control. You might find difficulty uniting the empire under your vision of peace."

"Maybe…" Melissa rested her chin on the back of the chair and huffed. "The Takigawa Clan, huh?"

Tadhg nodded. "Dangerous assassins."

"Dangerous…"

"Are you alright, Melissa?"

"…" She sighed. "I'm fine, yeah." She massaged her neck gently, still remembering the touch of a dagger pressed to her throat. "Why would Terrowin ally himself with a clan like that, though? I thought he was seeking peace. Then again, with all the actions he has taken, he's not exactly an honorable man."

"Sounds like desperation to me," Leitis said.

Una raised her brow. "How so?"

"Think about it. With how deep into the criminal underworld he is while speaking nonsense of achieving peace, I wonder if he's just doing whatever works to get the results he wants. You said he was, like, super old or something. We have no idea how long he has been at this. I'd probably go mad if I was an old woman seeing my region fall to shambles every day of my life."

Tadhg tapped his chin. "There might be more to it than that, though."

Melissa glared. "Still, if the Takigawa Clan are under his control…"

"He's indirectly responsible for their crimes just as much as they are themselves." Tadhg glared. "Lord Takigawa was the one who spearheaded the massacre in Arcania."

"Basil and Victoria's homes," she mumbled. "That thing your sister said about the Arcania Kingdom surviving the massacre—"

"I don't want to believe there's something sinister going on in the kingdom, but they have been awfully reclusive during these times. Still, if there is something going on between them and Great Gate, hopefully you and Jason will be able to sway them to our side."

Melissa sighed. "Yeah…"

Tadhg walked over and patted her shoulder. "Hey, this is just the price for achieving peace. Sometimes you have to be a little paranoid and a little harsh to get results."

Her mind flashed briefly to Nero, then she sighed. "True."

Una grinned. "Hey, don't you worry yourself over nothing. Besides…" She teleported to the Buneary's side and hugged her. "You got yourself a date to get ready for, right?"

Melissa giggled and hugged her back. "Yeeeeeah, I guess I do~."

"Ooh, Leitis and I have some dresses you can try on! Bring the girls over to our room! We're going to make you look fabulous!"

"Hee! Alright!"

Tadhg chuckled. "You've got a big mission coming up, so enjoy whatever fun you can."

"Right!" Melissa and Una laughed, dashing out of the room.

Leitis jumped off Tadhg's bed and stood by his side. She glared and asked, "Great Gate wouldn't keep Arcania active for nothing. Do you suppose this has something to do with Last Autumn?"

"Not sure." Tadhg glared. "Arcania is renowned for their expertise in alchemy, though."

"What do you suppose they could offer if such an arrangement was made?"

"I'm unsure, but…" He glanced warily at his shelf of tomes. "It wouldn't hurt to do some research on Arcania's history."

Shingo retreated to the rooftop of the castle, sitting on the ledge as he examined his mother's letter. He stared at it in deep thought before pulling out a special inkwell and brush. He dipped the brush into the inkwell, coloring the hairs in a glossy blue. He highlighted certain characters in the note, ones that were written in a different style from how his mother normally wrote.

It was a simple method of transporting encrypted messages to each other. The Mochizuki Clan had a number of different methods to hide information for their eyes only.

The special ink bled onto the page, removing the ink on the paper and replacing it with an invisible type hidden beneath in smaller print. After reading over the letter to make sure he revealed all the characters, he put his brush aside and read the hidden message.

[Lady Amano's ascension ceremony next month. Gathering allies. Undercover truth of Emperor Amano's takeover. Five Takigawa elites slain in the night. Mysterious killer on the loose. Friend or foe? Shingo. Return to Great Gate as soon as possible.]

Shingo put the note aside and held his chin. "Someone's going after the Takigawa Clan." He narrowed his eyes. "It couldn't be…"

His mind wandered to when he first learned Marie and Takigawa Makiko were the same person. He recalled the first time he clashed blades with her.

Takigawa Makiko. The one who caught him during his mission into the palace.

The reason he failed, and the reason his family had to go into hiding.

What he saw in the palace could change the balance of Great Gate's political system. It wasn't enough to simply announce what he saw. His family was planning to expose the truth of what happened during Orochi's takeover. Exposing the Amano Clan's secret would finally motivate the people to take action and overthrow them, as well as giving the Mochizuki Clan ample opportunity to remove their rival clan. If Amano Riko took her place as empress…

What horrors would she be capable of?

And what did Marie get out of it?

"Marie. Do you seek to cut down your father? Take revenge on Lady Amano? Or something more?"

Basil stared vacantly at his desk, blanketed in the darkness of his room. Four wooden figurines and three tarot cards sat in front of him, forewarning him of the fates ahead.

The Mawile-shaped figurine sat before the Reversed Death.

The Sceptile-shaped figurine sat before the Hierophant.

The Buneary-shaped figurine sat before the Reversed Justice.

He picked up the final figurine: a Salandit. He twirled it delicately between his fingers, observing the fine craftsmanship he put into the design. It truly captured his deceitful nature.

He sighed and placed it back on the table before shuffling his cards. "What awaits me should I continue on my path?"

He pulled the card and placed it before his figurine.

It was the Tower.

"…" He sighed. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

He picked up the cards and shuffled them back together. Setting them aside, he leaned back in his chair and gazed up at the ceiling.

"Marie should be setting everything up for her end of the deal. My part starts soon."

He glanced down at the table, eyeing the Buneary figurine. He picked it up, twirling it gently in his fingers.

"All the pieces are lining up. I just need you in the center of the wildfire once it clears, and a phoenix will be born from evil's ashes. That's the belief of causinomancy: good fortune comes from all that is burned by our flame."