Leon watched with gleeful, if quiet, fascination as six arks lifted off from the Ravensâ arkyards. These six arks were the largest and finest vessels the Ravens had ever produced, the thunder wood that Leon had given them allowing the Tribe to increase the arksâ size and armor significantly. These new arks had also been provided with storm crystals, but they had already been close to completion by then so the design hadnât been impacted.
Despite this, these six arks represented the absolute pinnacle of what the Ravens could achieve. Ten Lightning Lances to a side, and one of their largest Flame Lances as a main cannon on the bow of the ark. With storm crystals and thunder wood, the Ravens had been able to actualize the weapon that theyâd been testing when Leon first arrived in their Tribe, relieving the need to swap out parts after every shot. Now, it could fire multiple times without much risk of the internal mechanics of the weapon melting under the heat.
All in all, these new arks would serve as fantastic auxiliaries to Leonâs Thunderbird destroyer. The first heâd taken as his flagship while the second was essentially useless, the damage it had taken during the final battle with Sunlit buying it a long-term stay in the Ravensâ arkyards. But with his one working destroyerâwhich was rapidly being repaired of all the damage and bypasses that the Sunlit Empire had implemented to get around the bloodline lockâand these new arks, Leon felt like his forces would practically be able to just walk into the Sunlit Empire and do what needed to be done.
Of course, âwhat needed to be doneâ was something he still needed to define, but for the moment, he simply watched as these new arks lifted off from the arkpads for the first time, a powerful statement in his mind that the Thunderbird Clan was also on the rise.
âWhat do you think?â Frode asked Leon. The ninth-tier Raven had been his escort during his visit, having taken the title of Lawspeaker from Asger only a couple months before. Asger had been happy that his term as Lawspeaker was up, giving him more time to work with all the people that Leon had brought back from Occulara.
âI⊠donât want to say anything until I see their capabilities myself,â Leon began before turning to face Frode. âBut what I can see now is encouraging, to say the least. Iâm very impressed.â
âWe strive for the best,â Frode said. âThese new arks will be the tip of the spear for the Ten Tribesâat least until we build something better. Their power is unmatched upon this plane save only for any arks of your esteemed Clan that the Empires yet have in their stores.â
âGood,â Leon murmured as he turned his eyes back to the arks. The time was coming to finally put the Sunlit Empire down for good. Months of preparation were coming to an end. In only a matter of weeks, he expected the Jaguar to report to him that the army was ready to advance on his word.
But there was still some work to be done before then on his end; he still had to coordinate with their alliesâŠ
Leon didnât stay much longer in the Ravensâ territory. He enjoyed their hospitality and wished he could stay longer given the work being done by Valentina and Asger, but he had duties in the capital that he had to return toâduties such as supervising the first bloodline awakening ceremony that would be held in the purpose-built stadium that heâd ordered constructed. It would be the first time that all Ten Tribes would be holding their bloodline awakening ceremonies together, which likely would have never happened had Leon not become their King.
So, after the ark commissioning, he departed for Stormhollow, but vowed to return as soon as he could spare the time. He truly hadnât been spending as much time with the Ravens as heâd have preferredâŠ
---
Leon, mentally exhausted, collapsed in the chair that had been prepared for him. At his side were Elise and Cassandra, the two looking tired but not quite as done with everything as he was. The bloodline awakening ceremony had just taken place, and Leon, with his wives there with him, had done his best to participate as much as he could.
Fortunately, there werenât any problems with the ceremony despite the participation of all the Tribes, and in the end, Leonâs Kingdom gained twenty thousand mages with awoken bloodlines. They were still largely weak, being only first and second-tier, but in a few hundred years, it would be them who would be leading their Tribes.
Still, it had exhausted Leon, and his day wasnât even yet over.
In front of Leon and his wives was a comm lotus and several large light screens. The screens showed nothing but white light for the moment, but that would change once their meeting began in only a few minutes.
âReady for this?â Elise asked with some concern as she laid a hand on Leonâs arm.
âYes,â Leon groaned. âJust wish I could take a nap or something first.â
Elise smiled while Cassandra softly giggled. âDealing with my family isnât that bad, is it?â
Leon snapped his head to her and gave her a skeptical look. âYour family is⊠lovely.â
She responded with an exaggerated scandalized look. After a moment, though, she sighed and said, âI⊠can understand your hesitation. But you donât hate them, do you?â
âOf course I donât hate them,â Leon soothingly replied. âYour brother and sister I donât know well, but your mother has been nothing but pleasant to me. Your grandmother is also⊠enthusiastic. Sheâs never once been bad to me, but she can still be a littleâŠâ
âOverzealous when it comes to her passions and desires?â Elise offered.
âCouldnât have said it better myself,â Leon agreed.
Suddenly, one of the light screens in front of them resolved into a flat image of the Grand Druid grinning unabashedly at them.
âCassandra, my darling!â she immediately cried as Leon, Elise, and Cassandra almost jumped in surprise, all hoping that their words hadnât been heard. âAnd you, Leon and Elise, itâs so good to see you again!â
Leon breathed a quiet sigh of relief at the Grand Druidâs friendly demeanor, steadied his heart, and replied, âWonderful to see you again, too, Grand Druid.â
âPlease, Leon,â she replied, âjust call me âgrandmotherâ.â
Leonâs smile became slightly strained even as Cassandra covered her face for a moment and groaned, âGrandmotherâŠ!â
âYes, thatâs exactly what I want you to say, Leon, my boy!â the Grand Druid replied as she leaned in closer, her face growing on the comm lotusâ projected light screen. âYou can say it, canât you?â
âSay what?â the Lord Protector asked as his image resolved on one of the other two light screens.
âIâm bonding with my grandson-in-law!â the Grand Druid insisted.
âSpectacular!â the Lord Protector boomed, his aged face wrinkling further as he gave everyone a big, toothy grin. âNothing cements an alliance better than good personal relationships!â
The final screen flickered, finally adding the final guest for this meeting to show his face: the Director of Heavenâs Eye. He looked a little harried and tired, the lines on his face seeming longer and deeper than Leon remembered.
âHello, all,â he said. âIf itâs not too much to ask, how about we just jump right into things?â
âNow, now,â the Grand Druid chided, âimpatience should be reserved for the young! Arenât we all old to beââ
âThe situation demands impatience,â the Director said. âIâve received reports that the Sunlit Emperor and the Keeper of the Sentinels have met once again. Though it doesnât seem like an invasion force, armies are on the move.â
âWho gave you this information?â the Lord Protector demanded, his demeanor shifting immediately to stoic professionalism.
âTrusted sources,â the Director stated. âMost of Keeperâs armed forces are marching south to link up with the Sunlit Emperorâs troops.â
Before any of them could continue, Leon interjected, âI reached the tenth-tier.â
The other three went quiet and stared at him, mouths agape.
âYou⊠you ascended to the tenth-tier?â the Grand Druid whispered.đđ»đđđđđ«đ·đ€đđđĄ.đđ€đ
âYes,â Leon confirmed.
âItâs true,â Cassandra added. âThough my husbandâs forces took some casualties in the campaign on the Sword, weâve been hard at work to recover from those losses. Iâd say that even alone, weâd be more than a match for the Sunlit Empire.â
â⊠But the Sunlit Emperor doesnât stand alone,â the Director quietly stated. âKeeper stands with him.â
âIf we work together, that wonât matter,â the Grand Druid stated. âHonestly, Iâm tired of Keeper, anyway. I would be greatly reassured for my descendants if we could do something about the Sentinels before we leave this plane.â
âLeaving this plane?â Leon repeated. âShould I take this to mean that youâre going to accept my offer to come with me when we leave Aeterna?â
âMaybe,â the Grand Druid coyly answered as her eyes shifted over to Anastasios.
âIf we manage to achieve Apotheosis,â the Lord Protector helpfully explained, âitself something that we canât just assume weâll doâŠâ he gave the Grand Druid a lightly reproachful look, which she laughed off, â⊠we might just go our own way. Explore the universe ourselves. We might also take you up on your offer, Leon. We havenât yet decided. Either way, if we both manage to achieve Apotheosis, we will eventually leave Aeterna.â
Leon nodded in understanding.
âBut thatâs something to decide when it happens,â the Lord Protector continued. âFor now, the Sunlit Empire and the Sentinels are the problem.â
âLetâs just go to war and finish this,â the Grand Druid insisted. âTo the Ashen Fields with this deliberation; letâs just end this whole thing!â
âAnd launch a devastating war that could bring an end to all of our Empires?!â the Lord Protector practically shouted.
âWith all of us together, it would hardly do that, would it?â the Grand Druid shot back. âWe have the power, so let us use it!â
âI have to admit,â Leon said, âIâm siding with the Grand Druid on this one. My forces are assembling. We can launch an assault on Argos in only a couple of months with weapons that the Sunlit Empire will have never seen before. I doubt theyâve regenerated the forces they lost on the Sword, so while I donât think any war would be easy, I canât see all of us working together losing this fight.â
âThe âKeeperâ,â the Director whispered, bringing all attention upon him. âHis title is not meaningless. In full, itâs âThe Keeper of Memoryâ, Iâll remind you all. The Thunderbird Clan was based out of the Sentinelsâ land when they yet ruled this plane, and the scars their toppling left upon that land remain to this day. It is the whole point of the Sentinels and the Keeper to oppose the return of the Thunderbird Clan and to never forget the depredations inflicted upon them by those long dead.â
He paused a moment to give Leon an apologetic look, which Leon merely frowned at before nodding at him to continue.
âThey hold the largest number of Thunderbird Clan ruins. They could have kit that far outstrips whatever the rest of us have simply by virtue of occupying the center of Thunderbird power on Aeterna for so long.â
âWould they use any weapons they may possess?â the Grand Druid skeptically asked. âI think itâs more likely theyâd destroy all that theyâd have rather than use it. Their dogma would prevent them from using the weapons of their enemies.â
âThat wonât stop them from resisting us fanatically,â the Director replied. âNo matter what, theyâre going to be a problem, and if theyâre involved, an easy victory is not something we can count on.â
âYou make some valid arguments,â the Lord Protector said.
âThere are other ways we can go about this,â Leon speculated. âI donât want to conquer these Empires⊠Bear with me, Iâm thinking out loud here⊠I have in my possessions a few hundred thousand prisoners of war taken on the Sword, some of whom have been quite⊠cooperative. Theyâve told me stories of the Sunlit Emperor that make my skin crawl.â
Leon paused a moment and glanced at Cassandra. She met his golden eyes with muted anger and understanding, her ruby eyes flashing with determination. In another life, she mightâve been given to Sunlit to secure an alliance between the Sacred Golden Empire and the Sunlit Empire.
Now, however, Leon would die before allowing Cassandra and the Sunlit Emperor to so much as breathe the same air, let alone have her come anywhere even close to the Emperorâs harem.
âWhat is the most beneficial thing that can happen?â Leon asked everyone. âThe status quo has worked for a long time, hasnât it? Some kind of mediated peace would be the best, right? Something that ensures the Sunlit Empire and the Sentinels donât become destabilized hellholes that require military occupation, I think.â
âI donât think anyone was advocating for long-term occupations,â the Lord Protector stated. âPerhaps some regime changes, something that ensures that both of our sister Empires are less⊠unpredictable, and less zealous. Make them more able to keep the peace that has lasted for so long between our Empires.â
âI was thinking along similar lines,â Leon said. âA punitive expedition against the Sunlit Empire, culminating in the ending of Sunlitâs life. After that, we support a new Emperor who is amenable to making peace with us. Given what Iâve been told by many of the Sunlit officers in my care, those in Sunlitâs empire wonât be too unhappy to see him gone.â
âThey may be unhappy to see a brokered peace between our peoples,â the Grand Druid mused.
Leon acknowledged her point with a quick nod of his head.
âStill,â he said, âwhat is our realistic goal for victory? How do we go about securing it? The way I see it, we have to answer the first one, and then determine if all of us go to war with Sunlit and Keeper, or if the dirty work is left to me and mine.â
âWe shouldnât have to do all the work,â Cassandra said as she gave her grandmother a meaningful look. âThink about it; if the âSky Devilsâ were the only force for change, then doesnât our Empire look either weak for not defending against them, or opportunistic for taking advantage of a weakened neighbor by interfering in their politics after suffering a great defeat? We should be involved, even if itâs just an ark fleet and some high-level mages. We need to be seen as a key player otherwise weâll only invite disunity and suspicion.â
âI like the way you think, young Princess,â Anastasios said with a grandfatherly smile.
âTechnically,â Leon corrected, âsheâs a Queen.â
Cassandra grinned as she squeezed Leonâs arm. Elise, too, wove her fingers around his in support of his statement.
Anastasios smiled in apology, then said, âI can live with Sunlit being deposed for a⊠more stable Emperor. The Keeper will be a problem, though. I can envision making peace with whoever replaces Sunlit, but I canât imagine Keeper just giving up after weâve done so much to make peace with our ancient enemies.â
âYou donât think thereâs a chance heâll see reason?â Leon asked. âThat heâll see that we ought to not be fighting and lay aside his Empireâs ancient animosity?â
âI donât,â the Lord Protector gravely intoned.
Leon frowned.
âShouldnât we try anyway?â Elise asked, her attention on Leon.
âThe outcome is certain,â the Lord Protector insisted. âThe Keeper will oppose us so long as we support Leonâs Kingdom.â
âThat is his choice,â Elise said. âLet him make it. We should try and talk to him, make him the offer. If he doesnât lay down his arms and sit this one out, then we act against him. If we show him that we mean Aeterna no harm, and then he attacks us anyway, then weâve won the moral victory.â
Leon nodded along, agreeing with her at least in principle.
âI canât see this working,â the Lord Protector said.
âNeither can I,â the Grand Druid agreed.
The Director simply shook his head, but he made eye contact with Leon and said, âIâll leave the decision to you, Leon. Whatever you decide, Heavenâs Eye will follow.â
His statement drew some surprised looks from the other two tenth-tier mages in the meeting, though neither said anything. Leon simply smiled and nodded in gratitude.
He squeezed Eliseâs hand and said, âThen let me present a plan. We try and get in contact with the Keeper. We do what we can to make peace. If he refuses, then nothingâs changed, has it? Then we move on Argos, and after taking the city, proceed north with the defectors moving with us. We wonât pillage and burn, and instead make it clear that weâre there to remove Sunlit from power. Once that has been achieved, we will return home, leaving no garrisons behind. The only thing, in fact, that I want to leave behind is peace.â
Leon glanced between the Grand Druid and Anastasios.
âThe only thing remaining for that plan is what you two will doâŠâ
âItâs a fine enough end goal,â the Lord Protector said thoughtfully. âI⊠I suppose that I can support it. Our armies wonât march against the Sunlit Empire, but I will move personally to ensure that our goals are achieved.â
âAs will I,â the Grand Druid added. âWe donât need to destroy the Empires, we only need to make them see reason.â
Leon nodded. âIâll get in touch with those who lead my prisoners, such as Commander Arcaion. We can coordinate better as our expedition approaches its launch date.â
âThis works for me,â the Lord Protector stated. âFor now, anyway. Iâll need more details before we commit.â
âYouâll have them,â Leon promised.
âIâm in,â the Grand Druid declared. âThisâll be fun, Leon my boy. I look forward to finally having you back here in Evergold for a while once all of this is over.â
âI look forward to visiting, too,â Leon promised.
âHopefully weâll have some time for me to show you around more,â Cassandra said. âYouâve never really seen the city, have you?â
âI suppose I havenât,â Leon admitted.
âItâs a date, then,â Cassandra replied with a smile.
The meeting ended there with Anastasios and the Grand Druid leaving to prepare their small personal forces. No large movements of armies, but at the very least, theyâd be personally supporting Leonâs war in the Sunlit Empire.
The Director was on his side, too, though Leon noticed a strange look pass over the Directorâs face as he left the meeting, and he wasnât sure what to make of it.
It looked almost like⊠doubt, or possibly fear.