Steel and Mana

Chapter 358 – Arriving

Mirian’s calm, slightly smiling eyes lingered on the Camelot as it descended above her city, her mind drifting back to the day Pascal was defeated. The memories were still just as vivid as if she had traveled back in time. She could smell the smoke and see the flashing blue shield around the city, the way the sky had seemed to split open when Pascal's spell was diverted up to the Heavens. She knew that many others may experience just the same feelings as she did, watching the massive ship descend, emerging from the white clouds above them all, casting an enormous shadow.

Thirteen years, she thought, her fingers tightening around the delicate teacup she was holding, standing on her balcony.

"You and your flashy entrances..." She chuckled, shaking her head, her lengthy hair tied up in a bun.

Still, she didn't mind his pompous entrance. She had rebuilt Ishillia from the ashes, fortified its borders, and forged alliances that had turned her empire back into a power to be reckoned with. Even if nobody wanted to admit it, the fact that her new laws changed Ishillia for the better was enough proof that her decisions were correct. Not only did she sweep away a thousand years of Ishillian laws, rewriting them, but she also implemented ideas straight from Leon's Avalon, including many of their inventions.

Even if Atuvia had done the same, they were more like a subordinate nation to Avalon, a country that was the contracted 'get me what I need' people. Ishillia, on the other hand, was the only other nation besides Avalon that had the sheer resources to produce its own variants after buying the blueprints from Avalon. Thinking about it, Mirian’s lips curved into a faint smile as she turned around, looking at her young son, standing there, watching with awe in his eyes, zoning out completely.

“Come on, Veron. Let's get you dressed so we can go and meet them.”

"That machine is even more frightening than you mech, mother." He said, obeying and starting to finish putting on his white and gold attire, befitting of a prince.

"It is." Mirian nodded, "But never be afraid of it. Fear is a warning only; it can't govern your decisions, or you will fall."

"But even if we fall, we do it so we can get back up and do better next time, no?" He asked, repeating a teaching his parents had told him many times.

"Exactly~! Come, while your Father greets them, we will prepare to meet them inside the palace. You need to make yourself prim and proper while meeting with the heirs to Avalon!"

"They felt strong." Veron nodded, looking back out of the window once again, watching the airship get closer to the city.

"They have a few years on you," Mirian chuckled, looking at her son with pride. "But you are an Ishillian, and we don't lose to the Vasa bloodline. You are already a good mage yourself, so don't feel inferior! Be proud!"

"Um!" He nodded, his eyes ablaze with a healthy competitiveness. "I understand, Mother!"

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At a different part of the Imperial Capital, Emperor Kadosa’s jaw clenched as he watched the Camelot descend, its shadow stretching across the city like a dark omen. Or at least... it was an omen for him. The memories of the war were bubbling up from deep within, flooding back into his mind, opening up a wound that had never fully healed. He had been so close to victory, so close to crushing Ishillia and claiming glory for Geth... Then, the army was thoroughly crushed and burned... And then Avalon had arrived with the same ship, herding his remaining troops back behind the original borders alone.

They humiliated him, he thought, his fingers digging into the armrest of his chair. Then they humiliated all of Geth, forcing them to sign a peace treaty in the coming years, acknowledging that no new borders would be drawn up between the two Empires... And now they expect him to sit here and smile while they parade their superiority in front of the world.

Thinking about it simply caused his face to fill up with even more wrinkles, making him look even more aged than before. Time was not kind to the Emperor, as the fallout from his defeat was not only stressful but deadly. The fact he managed to hold onto his throne and head was already a miracle, causing multiple streaks of white to appear in his hair.

"Khm." His advisor, Varga’s voice, broke through his thoughts, bringing his Emperor back to reality and reading his thoughts. “They come as guests, Your Majesty.”

"Heh!" Kadosa’s laugh was hollow and bitter. “Guests? No. They come as champions. They didn't have to fire a single shot... Nor do they need to say anything in this summit, either. Their mere presence will be enough to remind us who holds the true power in this region. I was doubting for the first time I read the invitation that it was Ishillia who called for this summit in the first place.”

"Peace is the most important part for everyone." Varga reminded him, knowing that any kind of war for Geth would be catastrophic. No matter who it was waged against...

"I know." He snorted as he turned away from the window, his eyes narrowing. He knew... Avalon's current power was most likely absolute. But, even the mightiest empires had their weaknesses, his being the proper example of it. Avalon may have their inventions, but they are not invincible. They have their own vulnerabilities and their own secrets, mainly regarding their need for raw resources. And if he could exploit them…

"My Lord?" Varga asked, seeing the thoughts flashing behind Kadosa's eyes.

“This summit will be a test,” he said aloud, his voice cold. “I'll see how far Avalon would go, see if they are like Ishillia, with just a new mask that has yet to slip from their faces.”

...

Kadosa was not the only one looking at the arriving Camelot. The Queen of Roblesia, Nuen’s expression was serene as she watched the airship approach, but her mind was filled with ongoing calculations. The airship was a wonder to witness, yes, but it was also a threat. Maybe not now, but it could be in the future, threatening her children. Or grandchildren. Roblesia was no longer that far away as everyone was thinking back home... Just witnessing the train, beginning to adopt it themselves, and building the first railways... she finally realized that the distance between empires was shrinking way faster than others realized.

"How did they achieve this?" she wondered, her fingers tracing the rim of her wine glass. What secrets do they hold that many others have yet to uncover? This was just what they allowed others to see. Who knew what was hiding in the faraway north...

"Your Highness," Her aide’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “It truly is a marvel, isn't it, Your Majesty?”

"Of course it is." Nuen smiled faintly. “But don't let yourself be dazzled by it. Tools are tools and worth only as much as the one wielding them. It will be my first time sitting down and having a good talk with this Sovereign... It will be a fine opportunity...”

But beneath her calm exterior, her mind was less relaxed. Avalon’s knowledge was an untapped wellspring. If they could gain even a fraction of their technology, it could tip the balance of power in their favor down the south. And there was a chance to do precisely that.

She took another sip of wine, her gaze never leaving the airship. There were multiple merchants from Avalon arriving in her country in the past few years, and all of them were interested in the same thing: The sap that her bleeding trees were producing. She had already heard from her spies how Avalon acted with the so-called 'black gold' within Atuvia's borders, and she sensed the same was happening here. They had something valuable... And she wasn't going to bend over like those band of merchants.

"This will be interesting." She muttered, licking her lips and forming a sly smile.

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"Tsk!"

A loud click of the tongue, followed by a similarly powerful snort, coming from the representative of the old Kingdom of Scorc, sitting isolated in his provided guest mansion within the city. So they have finally arrived, and this bastardly summit can start.

Watching the ship, Cassian’s hands were clenched beneath the table as his eyes stared towards the sky, only blinking when they began stinging. For the people of Scorc, Avalon was an anomaly. It was both a savior and an oppressor at the same time. They had freed Scorc from Ishillia’s grip, yes, but their unwavering support for the empire had left a bitter taste in his people’s mouths. They couldn't trust them...

"They claim to stand for justice and freedom..." he thought, his jaw clenched, his teeth grinding against each other. "But their actions tell a different story. They prop up empires, like Atuvia, maintaining the status quo and expect us to be grateful for their scraps."

"You are right." One of his colleagues leaned in, his voice low. “This is why we can never let our guard down. That thing could destroy us before we even had a chance to react.”

"We need guarantees that it won't happen." Cassian exhaled slowly, forcing himself to remain calm. “We should not act from fear. Avalon has chosen to stand with Ishillia... But that does not mean they are beyond negotiation.”

"I wouldn't be so sure of that..." Another older representative scoffed. “You’re too soft, Roake, Cassian. Avalon is just another empire in disguise!”

Cassian didn’t respond. Instead, he watched as the Camelot settled onto its comfortable altitude with breathtaking precision, throwing down dozens of chains to 'secure' it into place by those waiting down below. Perhaps his colleagues are right. Perhaps Avalon is an empire of its own. But if they do let fear dictate their actions, they will never break free from their shadow and may repeat the old kingly bloodline's mistake.

His mind raced as he considered the possibilities. This summit was an opportunity—a chance to negotiate and push for change. Scorc was still only just rebuilding, and they were vulnerable.

"We must be careful, but we can't show weakness either." Cassian straightened in his seat, his resolve hardening. "Whatever happens, we will not let Scorc be left to the wolves to be torn apart. Not again."

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"We are ready, My Sovereign." A voice called for me as its owner entered the bridge, making me smile as I turned towards him.

"Thank you, Lucca," I replied, watching the man walk up to me. He was wearing a typical Avalonian black officer's outfit, with his rank as a military advisor gleaming in gold on his chest. "Are you ready to return to the city?"

"I am." He answered without hesitation. "I never had any attachment towards it in the first place, My Sovereign."

"Unlike Kiva or Kaelis," I said with a faint smile, but Kiva's expression remained calm and collected, as always.

"True. That's why I advised you to not bring them on this trip. They could get sentimental and be taken advantage of by others."

"I know!" I shrugged, standing up and stretching, nodding at Kustov to take over the bridge, "You will join Pion and his men, responsible for accompanying my children wherever they go. While Pion will be responsible for protecting them from physical harm, you are there to ward against any magical. Questions?"

"None, My Sovereign." He saluted, making my smile widen a little.

He has been a good subordinate. For the past five years, he, Kiva, and Kaelis have had their bracelets removed, gaining a certain freedom to use their magic and serve Avalon to their full capabilities. It took some time for Kaelis to turn our little girlie back into his subordinate after Atuiva presented her to me, but they turned out to be another helpful asset. At the moment, Lyria was operating in the same Western countries as the three idiots, providing us with all the news and information we needed. While Kaelis was now serving under Yuri and becoming part of our intelligence network, Kiva was turned into a civilian.

Both Lucca and I noticed it... something had broken in him. Maybe it was guilt. He did some insane war-crime-level shit, that is for sure... So, to utilize him to his fullest, I didn't force him to do anything significant. No. Instead, I used him as a teacher, not in the university, but instead, guiding young kids on how to read and write. That's all. It looked like it was helping...

"Well," I clapped, watching as my twins were already standing at the bridge door, impatiently looking at me. "Let's go. Making the Empress wait is rude, even if it is us doing it~!"