At the RSF Training Camp: The infirmary.
Allen and Mia lay on side-by-side beds, bandaged, two mage soldiers casting [Heal] on them. The mages left after the treatment, leaving them to rest. Both of them stared at the ceiling in awkward silence, neither had ever been alone with the other for this long. The silence grew weird and Allen spoke, "Nice weather today huh?"
"Yes," Mia replied, her eyes focused on the ceiling.
"Boy, I'd love to move around without groaning so much. Probably bird watch or something," Allen said.
"Well, nothing is stopping you. There's the door" she responded, pointing at the door.
"Ok, what's your deal?" Allen asked, sitting up with a groan.
"I don't know what you mean" Mia answered.
"We just had the fight of our lives which you lost by the way and you're just... bleh, like a spoilt lettuce," Allen said.
Mia sighed, half annoyed, half tired. "What do you want from me?"
"Tips. How did you do that thing where your shadow came alive? How did you create the smokescreen? And more importantly, don't you want to know why you lost?"
The last question stuck a nerve. Mia's jaw clenched, and her grip tightened on the bed as the memory of the final strike replayed in her head. She turned away, facing the wall.
"Man it sure feels good to win," Allen said. "So this is how Ghislaine feels every time we duel huh? I could get used to this."
Allen went on about their spar, heavily hitting on the fact that Mia lost to him. As he blabbed on, Mia's grip tightened on her pillow. Her face reddened with anger and her Rem simmered. Allen continued chattering away, praising his skills and highlighting Mia's loss, her 'loser face' as he called it. Mia snapped. She spun around, her pillow hardened with her channeled Rem and smacked Allen back onto his bed, yelling, "Shut the hell up!"
"So you have a side like this?" Allen said, staring at the infuriated Mia. "Losing a duel sure does a lot to you."
Mia screamed and proceeded to smack Allen, over and over again, yelling, "DIE! DIE! DIE!"
"Sorry. I'm sorry." Allen pleaded, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Mia let go and the pillow returned to normal. She exhales, "That actually felt nice."
Allen got up slowly and leaned against the wall the bed's headrest was on.
"You could kill a guy you know that?" Allen said.
"I'd be doing the world a favor," Mia replied.
They sat in silence for a while, then Mia spoke, "How do you do it?"
"Do what?" Allen asked.
"This...." She gestures to his countenance, "Looking happy and jolly."
"I don't understand your question," Allen said.
"I've read your file, Allen."
For a moment, a flicker of sadness crossed Allen's eyes.
"So you do know my name," Allen said with a quirky smile.
"Your orphanage was directly behind the tear. You must have witnessed them die, at least one of them... Your family," she said, her voice low with a hint of sadness.
Allen's smile disappeared from his face, replaced with a mix of sadness and anger. Mia stared at him, tears flowing freely from her eyes like water through a canal.
"How are you not angry! Vengeful....Sad even," Mia said, her shoulders sagging like they were carrying weights.
"I actually saw all of them die," Allen said looking up at the ceiling.
Mia's eyes widened in shock. Her tears stopped after what she had just heard.
"One of them survived for a while and when I went to get help, I was whisked away. He died in the air strike that followed after," he said with a dry chuckle, fiddling the pendant he wore. "When I asked why, I was told that he was unsalvageable, an acceptable loss."
She just stared blankly at him, lost for words.
He sighed softly."Am I angry? Yes. Am I vengeful? Vengeance is the only thing keeping me going. Am I sad? If I wasn't, I'd be a demon but acting out these emotions in my current situation would only get my fellow teammates or me killed. I just divert all that anger and rage into my goal."
"And what is your goal?" Mia asked.
"I'll kill everyone that caused me pain, the monsters, the demons and the government," Allen replied.
The last one sent a chill down Mia's spine. She stared at him shocked but his eyes held a fire that spoke volumes, one she knew all too well. If given the chance, he might just do it.
"If you are so keen on killing the government, why are you here? Wouldn't it be better to have started a rebellion?"
"You have to know your enemy in order to totally defeat them. What better way to do that than from the inside? And with Rem on the rise, this is the best place for me to be right now," Allen replied.
Mia smiled faintly and leaned against her bed's headrest. The tiny smile crossed her lips, a reassurance that she wasn't alone. "I guess I could teach you a thing or two about battle strategy," she said, reveling in the newfound camaraderie.
"Huh? What do I need to learn from a loser..."
Mia punched him mid-sentence with a Rem-covered fist, knocking him off the bed.
"That does feel nice."
Meanwhile in Astralis: In the Council Room
Caelum sat on his father's throne, Riven and Serena flanking him and the Sanitess Mei on his throne. Since she's a Kingdom's ruler, he didn't allow her to sit with the nobles. They looked like a King and his bride addressing their council. The council members consisted of Duke Lot Stefon, Duchess Byre Baylet from the Scholar duchy of Intel, Duke Morgan Lennon from Levenil, Marquis Raon Blot for the Western city of Califf, Count Declan Spriye from Denter, Countess Myra Sven from Bernot and Marquis Hazen Stark from Stark.
The council sat, their faces grim, the issue of the threat issued by the Lunar Emperor heavy on their hearts.
"High mage, tell the council what you found," Caelum commanded.
Serena left Caelum's side and unraveled a map on the table.
"Zurhic had always been an empire even before Valemire became what it is. Their advancements in Rem and economy are their well-known qualities. Their military is twice or thrice ours."
"Three times our forces? That seems like a bit of an overstretch," Duchess Byre said.
"I assure you every single detail is as is. Their mage soldiers are one of the strongest in the entire continent," Serena concluded.
"Riven," Caelum called.
He stepped forward and began, "The Lunar Emperor, Kasian Le Monde became King after his father and sister died. The instance behind their deaths remains shrouded in mystery but from what I could gather, a forest fire claimed his sister and the grief of losing a child claimed the father. Rumors in the underground say that he swallowed the essence of a 'Star touched elf' which exponentially increased his Rem level and abilities. I don't know how far that is true."
Murmurs filled the room, mostly from the nobles who knew nothing. Duke Lot remained silent, his cold eyes assessing everyone's reaction.
"However..." The room quieted down.
He continued," One thing was coherent with all my informants, the Lunar Emperor possesses a crescent mark that may be the source of his power."
Caelum let out a heavy sigh. The Lunar Empire and its emperor seemed like a foe not to be messed with. Abdicating the throne of his fathers was not an option and going to war isn't either.
"We can't allow this information to stop us from crowning a King," Duke Morgan said. "The Valerius bloodline has served this kingdom for years and we don't intend to betray that."
"But at what cost, Morgan, war?" Duchess Byre asked.
"The Lunar Empire, from the information we've got, relies heavily on mages. If we make the battle one of swords....."
"That's a foolish thought Morgan," Duke Lot interjected. "A military that invested so much in mages would always find a way to make the battle about their strengths as they are aware of their weaknesses."
"Then what do you suggest Stefon?" Morgan asked.
"That we don't crown Caelum."
The whole council was in shock. Then enraged. They argued fervently. After watching them for a while, Caelum intervened.
"Enough!" His voice, bold and firm. His eyes calculating.
"Why do you say not to crown me Duke Lot?" Caelum asked with a piercing gaze.
"To avoid the war. I suggest we hand the power of ruling to the council. Of course, it would only be a formality but to the Lunar Emperor, a Valerius wasn't crowned," he answered.
The council members all pondered the idea. It seemed plausible enough to fool the Lunar Empire but a problem arose, What would Valemire do if they were found out?
Back at the RSF camp:
A convoy of armored vehicles pulled up into the campgrounds. The door of the last car opened and a man in his mid-fifties alighted. He was short, his pace brisk as he headed straight for the admin office. His name, General Crof Magnum. A few minutes later, there was a call. Everyone at the camp was expected at the training grounds in five minutes. Allen and Mia managed to get up from their beds and went to the grounds. They arrived late.
The old man was already speaking. He gave a short speech about the loyalty and struggles of the soldiers, the courage of those who went to Astralis and survived. As the speech reached his end, he signaled for Leon's trainee squad to come up to the podium. Mia and Allen hobbled behind the rest, up the podium.
"As of today, these men standing boldly before you are not trainees any longer but full-fledged soldiers."
The attendees clapped.
"Also, by the orders given, all of them are promoted a rank," he said. "And you my boy," Croft said, meeting Loen's eyes, "Are promoted to Sergeant Major."
Leon stumbled a little from the surprise. His sudden promotion to Sergeant Major smelt fishy.
After the ceremony, Leon was called to the old man's office. He entered and said, "Sir."
"Good, you're here. The monsters from the rift have quieted down but something seemed amiss so we sent some soldiers out there to do some recon. Those who returned alive said the monsters are evolving through cannibalism and eating humans that have activated Rem. They are now ruled by three beasts we are now calling the three titans. A reptile gorilla that calls itself PUAH, a giant bird with blade-like wings and human hand for talons called SERBA and the 7-foot tall ape with a human face calls itself HIT. Your mission is to infiltrate the Red Zone and figure out what they are planning. Take as many men as you need."
"But sir..."
Leon's question was cut by the thud of a dossier landing on the desk.
"Everything you need to know is in that file. You are to depart in a day," the old man said, rising from his seat. "Godspeed soldier."
He walked past a stunned Leon, out of the office.
Later that night in Astralis:
The sky was bare, like a canvas before the picture. Stars were nowhere in sight, only the moon and its ethereal glow. The council members had left to the rooms prepared for them in the Castle.
Caelum stood on the open balcony, gazing down at his recovering city. Riven stood behind him, studying him. Caelum wore a heavy look. He now has to choose between keeping his throne—his birthright and the wellbeing of his people.
"The Caelum I knew would have gone to war. He was an impulsive brat that one, without a care in the world," Riven said.
Caelum turned with a weak laugh, "Well that Caelum was your prince and he could have you executed for slander against royalty."
"Oh please have mercy on this poor servant," Riven said, dipping in a curtsy.
Caelum laughed and so did Riven. The two of them stood side by side, staring down at the city.
"So, what will you do?" Riven asked.
Caelum sighed, his eyes distant. "Uncle Lot's idea holds a lot of reason but it has a flaw. For a Kingdom as powerful as Zurhic, It's not farfetched if they already have spies in the Castle."
"I thought the same. Duke Lot's idea though logical, hides a subtle ill-intent."
"If he betrays Valemire, he will die by my hand," he said covering a smirk. "I wonder how Sika would react if that happens." Caelum responded.
Whilst they were still gazing down at the city, a figure came up behind them. The voice was Countess Myra's, "Your Highness, I think I have a plan that might just save us all."