Steel and Mana

Chapter 359 – Preliminary Talks

After Milan and his son, Veron, greeted us when we got off the Camelot, I was led to a private meeting room, as expected. Arriving, I sat comfortably in the ornately decorated chamber, a large, circular table between me and Mirian Ishillia. It seems someone couldn't wait, huh? Not that I minded, and my kids were already way too excited to go and explore, so I went along with the situation without complaining.

Looking around with a half smile, I couldn't tell that this place was almost destroyed a decade ago. Sunlight streamed in through the grand windows, illuminating the fine details of the golden filigree that adorned the walls as if nothing really happened. The air smelled faintly of exotic spices and flowers, probably thanks to the fresh and colorful plants sitting on the windowsills. Hm... I wonder how it was with Pascal occupying the Palace. I assume it wasn't as welcoming as it is now.

"It is nice to sit down face-to-face sometimes. Our radio talks are not the same," Mirian said, dressed in a flowing violet gown embroidered with golden patterns.

"We are both busy," I answered with a chuckle, watching her nod.

"That is true." She sipped at her tea before setting it down, her calm gaze locking onto mine. “You didn’t have to make such a grand entrance, you know.”

"We both know that is not true." I smiled in answer, leaning back in my chair. “You know as well as I do that a bit of spectacle ensures people don’t forget who they’re dealing with. Besides, the Camelot is Avalon's symbol. Its presence alone reminds everyone that the peace we have will be kept. One way or another.”

"Harsh." She chuckled softly, shaking her head. “But I do agree. You haven’t changed a bit, Leon, which I am grateful for. I am pleased we can work together so well even after our mutual enemy was vanquished.”

"Same here. You are the first Ishillian who I don't think would stab me in the back. At least you didn't do it for ten-plus years." I laughed freely, making her giggle.

“You didn't give me a reason to do so,” Mirian retorted, pursing her lips. “Anyway, there is much to discuss before we get to the real summit.”

"I guess so. I do hope it is not you again trying to sell your daughter to me."

"First, I am not selling Fila. Second, she would be the perfect pair for your youngest son," she said calmly.

"Fila is barely ten if I recall right. Galahad is––"

"That's nothing." Mirian waved her hand, stopping me from continuing, "They would be a perfect pair."

"Let them decide it." I shrugged, shaking my head, and then I studied her for a moment, noting the slight tension in her expression, something barely noticeable before. “Something’s on your mind, Mirian. Did something happen I don't know of?”

"Yes." She sighed, resting her chin against her fingers. Her honesty was surprising, so my expression became somber as I kept listening. “This summit is important, Leon. It is more than just another meeting of monarchs, more than trade deals or boundary agreements. It is not about me wanting to reestablish Ishillian dominance over my neighbors...”

"I didn't think so, either. So... what is going on?" I asked while I raised an eyebrow.

"Explaining it... is hard." She exhaled slowly. “But I want to form a union.”

"Huh?" I sat up a little straighter, intrigued. “A union?”

“Yes,” she nodded, leaning forward and explaining in a solemn tone, “A true alliance between our empires, between the nations of this region. We’ve had peace for thirteen years, but it is fragile and not enough. The tensions between Geth, Scorc, and the rest of us have not faded completely. Not that I expected it to... Same with Sar and Roblesia or the Theocracy. A war will come again, eventually. It must NOT happen. If we stand together, we can prevent it.”

"..." I felt that there was more to it. Thinking, I tapped my fingers against the table, considering her words and the possible meaning behind them. “You do know that I have always been more interested in facilitating trade rather than military conquering. Economic cooperation benefits everyone and reduces the chances of war, leaving me enjoying life in peace. So I am not against your plan and will support you in it.”

"Mhm." Mirian nodded. “I know. And I agree. Trade is a powerful tool, but it won’t be enough if something bigger comes. Something… worse.”

"What happened?" I frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

"..." Mirian hesitated before speaking, but in the end, she opened her mouth. “I’ve been having dreams, Leon.”

"Visions?" My expression didn’t change, but I was listening intently now. Maybe if it was me twenty years ago, I would not have taken it so seriously. Now? Oh, I did. I did...

“Dreams of war,” she continued, her voice quieter. “Of fighting against beasts unlike any I’ve ever seen. I wield the Spear of Death in these visions, and it feels as if it is trying to warn me. Whenever I woke up, I felt its weight in my arms, you see. These monsters were… beyond anything you have ever faced. And in one of the dreams, I saw Avalon.” She looked at me directly, her eyes troubled. “I saw it burn.”

"Damn..." I breathed in sharply, my fingers tightened against the chair’s armrest, but I forced my voice to remain calm. “You think the artifact is trying to tell you something?”

“I know it does.” She leaned back, exhaling. “The Spear has never given me any premonitions before, but this… this feels different. And it’s happening more frequently, more vivid than before, every time. Something is coming, Leon. I can feel it. We need to be ready. If we can't unite, that... thing may catch us unprepared and come through.”

"..." I was silent for a long moment before nodding. “Then we prepare. If what you’re seeing is a glimpse at a possible future, I won’t ignore it. I have a family to protect.”

"As do I." A flicker of relief passed across Mirian’s face, and she allowed herself a small smile. “Good! I knew you’d listen.”

"Of course I do." I leaned forward, my tone shifting to one of practicality. “But we’ll need more than just our two empires; that is why this union, eh? If this threat is as dire as you say, we’ll need the cooperation of Geth, Sar, and Scorc as well. All of those who hate us. And you also know how they feel about each other...”

"Yeah... They could list those who they don't hate quicker than those who they do." Mirian’s smile faded, replaced by a look of someone trying to avoid a headache. “I know that it won't be easy. But if anyone can convince them to set aside their differences... It will be you. I am an Ishillian, and they see me as one. Even after all I did, that won't change. You, on the other hand... have a chance to be convincing. And if that fails, well… I’ll probably have to start acting as an actual Ishillian.”

"Oh?" I chuckled dryly. “I would pay to see that.”

"Sure you would," Her lips twitched into a smirk. “Careful, or I might charge you for it.”

The two of us shared a brief, knowing laugh before the weight of the conversation settled back over the room. The news was heavy, and my expression grew serious once more. This summit just got more difficult than I expected...

“The past winters have been normal." I started, "If these visions are showing a future, we need to know how far into the future we are talking about. Have you seen anything that would give us a clue?”

"No." She shook her head, "I couldn't tell."

"I see... Well, having an advance warning is already good enough. I will call a meeting back home and start allocating resources to bump up our defenses a little."

"Good." Mirian nodded. “I’ve already sent ambassadors out, further east, along to the countries living next to the mountains. There are multiple crossing points, not just in your territory. I am trying to gather as much as we can.”

"That is a great idea," I stood, pacing slowly around the room as I thought aloud. “We’ll need to mobilize our forces quietly. No need to cause panic in our neighbors, thinking we are preparing to gobble them up.”

"Yes, that is something I was worried about," Mirian shrugged, pinching the bridge of her nose. “The moment I would start doing that, they would notice. Then everything would fall apart.”

"For now, leave preparations for me. If they do come through, they will do it where I live. We will stop them from doing that." I paused, glancing at her. “It’s what we do. You focus on creating the ideal backdrop for our heroism and get me raw resources.”

"Heh, sure." Mirian stood as well, her luxurious gown shimmering in the sunlight. “Nothing is ever enough for you, though.”

"What can I say?" I grinned, "I love hoarding stuff."

...
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......

At the same time, while Leon was meeting with Mirian, the streets of Ishillia bustled with life as Arthur, Leyla, and Prince Veron made their way through the packed and labyrinth-like city, surrounded by the twins' honor guard and Lucca. Seeing the massive soldiers made many clear the way for them, scaring the people away, but many were still in awe, recalling how the black-armored, skull-faced warriors took down the tyrant, Pascal Ishillia.

“This way!” Leyla said excitedly, leading the group. “There’s this café I heard about! It’s supposed to have the best desserts in the entire empire!”

"Um, Princess Leyla, isn't it me who should show you around?" Veron asked, feeling a bit ashamed, red in the face that she knew the streets better than he did, even though it was supposedly Leyla's first time here.

"Don't mind it, Veron," Arthur sighed but followed along, used to his sister’s relentless energy. "She reads a lot and knows a lot about the city. Just roll with it," he said as he glanced at Veron.

The young prince was only a bit younger than them but carried himself with a quiet dignity that reminded Arthur of how nobles were in Luna's books. It was hard to accept that, on paper, he and Veron were of the same rank, as he was sure Veron had a much more princely appearance than he did.

“You don’t get out of the palace much, huh?” Arthur suddenly asked, unable to hold back his question, thinking about how he and his siblings all went to the same school as every other child in Avalon.

"Well..." Veron glanced at him before smiling slightly. “Not as much as I’d like. My mother has kept me busy with private studies and training magic. But I did walk the streets... now and then. But usually, I am inside the Palace... yes.”

"You should come out more!" Leyla spun around, walking backward with a grin. “That’s what makes traveling fun! You get to see how different places live. It isn't enough to read and study about things; you must also experience them. But you know what’s even better?”

“What?” Veron asked.

“Food,” She declared, dramatically pointing ahead. “And here we are!”

The café was a charming little place tucked between two larger buildings, its entrance adorned with hanging flower baskets. The aroma of freshly baked pastries and green tea greeted them as they stepped inside. The interior was cozy, with warm wooden tones and plush seating, a perfect retreat from the busy streets outside. With the added caveat that their guards immediately knew all of them wouldn't fit into it if they went in...

"Stay outside and set up a perimeter," Lucca whispered, standing next to Pion. "I'll go in with them."

"Mhm." Pion nodded, issuing orders through his helmet, "Keep them safe."

"Of course."

Accepting Lucca wasn't easy. For the first five years, Pion had grave suspicions against them, but... As the years went by and he saw the man in action and listened to his plans and, explanations and suggestions, he had to acknowledge that Lucca was a great commander. No wonder their Sovereign was keen on recruiting him. By now, he accepted him as one of Avalon, following his suggestions without pushing back against him.

By the time Lucca also entered the building, the trio found a table near the window. Soon, they were served a platter of delicate pastries and steaming cups of tea while the waitress inside tried to hide her shaking hands, realizing the importance of their guests.

“So,” Veron said after taking a bite of a bright red fruit tart, his expression brightening at the taste. “What’s Avalon really like? Mother only told me about it, but I never went there...”

"Oh, it is great!" Arthur and Leyla exchanged glances before Arthur continued. “It’s different from Ishillia, though. It’s… well... contemporary in its own way." He smiled, not wanting to insult Veron's city by saying it was much more modern. "We focus on introducing our inventions to the people en masse a lot. I know that you have built a train station by now but... you see, we have small trains inside the city. We call them trams!”

"Yep! They run not on steam but on electricity!" Leyla nodded. “And our people are different too. We don't really have ranks. I mean, there are people who take up different, more or less important roles depending on how much effort they put into it, but that does not mean they are really different. Hauh... it is hard to explain!”

"Woah..." Veron exclaimed, finding it fascinating. “That sounds amazing. I’d like to visit one day! A train inside the city... who would have thought that?!”

“You should come,” Arthur said with a small smile. “It’s always good to see the world beyond your own borders, and we are allies, after all.”

“If my Mother lets me...” he shrugged, "She can be strict."

"Maybe my Father can persuade her," Arthur answered.

"If it would be my sister, I guess Mother would jump on the occasion to send her over."

"Your sister?" Leyla asked, curious.

"Um. Fila," Veron nodded, "She is a bit shy, so she rarely goes out of her room, but she is a kind soul! And Mother wants her to marry one of you."

"Go on!" Leyla grinned, elbowing Arthur. " It's time to get a wife, big brother!"

"She is ten." Veron quickly added, a kind of brotherly protectiveness flashing in his eyes, making Arthur almost choke on a bite while Leyla turned bright red, not knowing what to say. "Haah... Don't sweat it..." Veron shrugged, returning to his teacup, swirling it with his spoon, "But it would be nice to visit once. She doesn't have friends besides me, so... It would be even better for her!"

"Well," Leyla continued, clearing her throat, "you can introduce us! It would be a start, no?"

"Hm..." Veron nodded, thinking that it would indeed be a good idea. "You know, I may just as well!"