Helena was the first I met who was reincarnated. I know so for certain because she approached me directly. Disappointingly she is from a different world than mine, and her version of the story was a bit different from mine. More detailed.

Helena got attached to Jesmaine immediately and, just as Helena got attached to Claire the heroine. I did think it was odd back then, but I never considered that she could have been reincarnated. I never got this suspicion confirmed, but her unnaturally fast friendship with Helena despite their differences in status and her interaction with me would suggest Jesmaine is a reincarnated person too. Thus, when Lionel gave me the message I wasn't really surprised about the message, but rather that the Headal king and prince allowed her to have any influence on the battlefield, considering that she is neither married to the Headal crown prince, or a man.

"We should bring Helena Fox. This message pertains to her as well," I inform Lionel as we head towards the battlefield. I don't receive a favorable reaction from him. You can see his shoulders sink and his brows furrow with annoyance at the thought.

"...very well, but a word out of her..." he takes a breath and waves over one of the nearby soldiers.

"Fetch Helena Fox in the Keep. She is to join negotiations with Headal now. She does not have a right to speak and will only be there to observe."

I can't help but to raise an eyebrow at the gleam of irritation lingering in his body language. She must have been pestering him a lot about Jesmaine.

"Yes milord." The soldier runs off in a hurry as Lionel motions me to follow along.

"Ordinarily only father would attend a negotiation where the Headal royalty is to attend, but they insisted that he would not be allowed to attend. They asked that you attended alone." He pauses and watches me closely for a few moments.

"How bold," I respond calmly as he seems to expect an answer out of me. I do not want to share Lionel's possible futures with him, and explaining that I have knowledge of some things that could have happened in this world is something that cannot be discussed so lightly. Seeing as I didn't divulge any information he sighs.

"Of course we refused. We cannot let someone make deals for us. It is our responsibility, and if something goes wrong we need to be there to get you back. Especially since you have yet to recover. After a bit of arguing they seemed to accept my presence at the meeting... so it'll just be the two of us."

He looks uncomfortable with it. The risk is enormous... but it is still better than losing Lord Tepet himself. I'm am not sure why they would allow Lionel when they wouldn't accept Lord Tepet, but it all sounds like a trap. Still, Jesmaine was close friends with the Heroine. Bringing Helena along should make things better... they could have tortured her, but I honestly doubt so. If they know about her reincarnation, then they wouldn't be bringing it up but using it as I had told Helena back when she wanted to use her knowledge of the future. There's just one odd thing...

"Why haven't you blankly refused?"

Lionel visibly straightens up and takes a small breath.

"They offered two days of peace in return if the meeting happens. The rest of today, and the entirety of tomorrow. It would be enough to just barely rest up our soldiers and for people to regain their mana. It is too valuable to decline. We need every day of calm that we can get."

In other words, the Tepet troops were exhausted, and Headal was offering them time to recover... it may not seem like much, but seeing as their main method of getting. Through the Tepet army is by exhausting them, then this is the most valuable thing that they could offer. They must really want this meeting... unexpectedly much... too much... Lionel's grim expression causes a shadow to fall over my own. The risk of it being a trap is enormous.

"What element does the Headal prince have?" I ask cautiously in case we have to deal with him. I recall Gilbert's fire tornado vividly. If that ends up cast at us, then I don't think we would survive.

Perhaps I should importune something to chase away all the fire gods to prevent fire magic for a little while?

Lionel's expression darkens further... and this time it is nothing like annoyance. It's spite, disgust and hatred.

"The Headal Royal Family are blessed by faeries of darkness."

I admit, I have no idea what darkness does. Merely that it is unliked, and that light and dark magic are not elemental magic. In other words, light or dark do not actually seem to control light itself or darkness itself. They are unique magic types.

"What exactly is dark magic?" Since his expression turned so grim, I expect him to have  knowledge of this. Lionel, however' looks at me with those sharp cold eyes while clenching his fists.

"It is magic that affects the veil between the dead and the living... it is a nightmarish ability that lets vengeful dead roam the land of the living for a time." The words come out of him as if they're venom, and the horror of the ability shows in his eyes. He has seen it before.

"If dark magic is activated we need to retreat. Only magic blessed weapons can affect them."

He starts making mental plans for dealing with the ghosts, but I've faced opponents as this before. The ice nodachi spell should work just fine. Wait... the veil between the dead and the living... if I do not remember wrong, then those who die are, according to their religion, brought to judgement. Those that have done bad are reincarnated immediately, whereas those who have done well observe their loved ones and those who remember them while guarding the balance of the world. Once they're forgotten they reincarnate. Honestly, there is too little punishment, but if their judgement part is like ours, then these 'vengeful ghosts' are ghosts with regret or anger that keeps them from moving on. But... if the Headal soldiers know that they will have another chance to kill the Tepet soldiers in their death... then they may more easily go mad with rage...

"Does it affect ghosts from both armies?"

Lionel's answer comes out as a paled growl.

"We put a lot of effort into letting our people accept their fate. We won't sink as low as Headal as to use the dead to fight for us. They deserve their rest."

I... admit I feel a bit conflicted by Lionel's words. While he means well, he is making a decision for them.

"Then, what if one of your men died with the only regret being that he could not protect you? He would appear at your side to fight without a single wish to rest, nor a desire for vengeance. Is that still low?"

When Lionel looks to me this time, his eyes are filled with sorrow... worry and... hints of denial. He is trying to brush away the thoughts of this and the subject as well.

"Those who desire to watch over us and protect us do so from heaven. Sadly they cannot reach us here."

I end up scowling mildly at his words.

"But if they did," I reply insistently. I know that Kenta is here next to me. I know from the swamps and from the old woman. Not just that, but for us ancestors have always been beings that could stay by our side hidden beyond the veil. It... may be different here...

Plop. Lionel puts a hand on my shoulder and looks at me closely... searching my eyes... I end up leaning away a bit and try to brush his hand off of my shoulder, but he tightens the grip for a few moments. His skin is pale, and I can see pearls of cold sweat forming to make his skin clammy. It has been a long time since I saw Lionel terrified... but in that moment I see nothing else.

"I've yet to see a spirit from heaven descend onto earth, but if you believe they exist I will accept it... though, I can only see the magic of darkness as that of a living nightmare. I cannot feel differently about these opponents that care not for anything but magic. Of all the losses we take... ghost fields always take the most, and every time it appears our defenses are just about to crumble entirely."

He then lets go. His eyes flicker back to the way we are walking as he continues. He looks nauseous and doesn't talk after that.

—-*—-

It doesn't take us long to get to the front line. The Headal force is quite far away compared to what I would have expected, but they don't seem to mind. They did lose a lot of gained territory after the glacier attack. They likely gained no territory yesterday either, so pulling back comes without consequences. After all, the Tepet troops won't move in further. They're comfortable exactly where they are. Moving in further would make them vulnerable to surprise attacks from above and the sides.

Merely from glancing to the front I can see the royal crests of the Headal family. I remember Jesmaine had it on her handkerchief as well. Probably a present from the crown prince to his fiancé.

Lord Normand Tepet, stops Lionel before we head out. His lips are curled into a scowl and his eyes are the most intense I've ever seen them. The friendly bear like man I remember is finally serious. He clearly isn't comfortable with sending Lionel out for the negotiation, but Lionel is not a bad negotiator. When it comes to people, Lionel is far more observant than Normand. Not that saying that out loud is proper, but it is worth taking note of. One would be surprised how House Tepet manages to do so well in politics when Normand is so ignorant to people's sneaky plans, but the royal family likely simply uses them as thoughtless pawns... but... what about House Celeste?

As I reach this awkward question Lionel passes by his father and walks onto the battlefield. I, of course, follow along right behind him. Lionel is the a part of the residing army, so it is only right to him to be in front and take the glory and attention.

Then, from between the guards in the enemy lines two figures step out as well. One clad in a black light armor with brilliant streaks of purple, and the other wearing a... striking red and golden armor shaping nicely along her curves... her skin has an ocean tan and her hair is black as the night.

We face each other about the midpoint... and there is no sight of Jesmaine.

"We have accepted your request for negotiations. We will expect you to honor the agreement in return," Lionel almost sneers our at the male figure. He's sneering... but I can see a certain amount of caution in his body language and hints of paranoia. The male is definitely the Headal crown prince, Jacques Ronchelieu.

I'm shocked that King Philippe of Headal actually allowed his son to go without bodyguards... as for Jacques... his violet eyes are piercing me... he is blatantly ignoring Lionel and watching me with caution matching Lionel's...

"Of course," Jacques answers... still without facing Lionel. He turns to me properly and actually gives a half bow...

"Son of Scorog, Augustus Celeste, my name is Jacques Maizin Ronchelieu, first prince of Headal. We have requested this negotiation on behalf of our ally, Crinia, this is the first Princess of Crinia, Catalina Ilegis Galicia."

He elegantly moves a hand towards the female figure next to him to introduce her, and she smiles at me with a fascinated look... meanwhile Lionel visibly goes paler... and I probably do to. Ally. Crinia was allied with Headal as well? They weren't just taking advantage of the situation? While I am still soaking up the consequences of their introduction alone, Catarina gives a smile at Lionel.

"You need not introduce us. I know both of you quite well, or at least you. So you don't need to talk." With that she faces me with insistent red eyes and a hand on her hip.

"You however, I have been wanting to talk to. After all, you are one of us. Someone reincarnated... Lily Celeste." With those words her red lips curl into a grin.