"Celeste-sama, we are ready to head out."

I look behind me to find the group of people I decided to bring along to the capital. Asher, Darius, Felix, Arven and... Mike. That's right, Eric and I are bringing two non-combatants with us instead of sending them home. Neither Arven nor Mike are currently fit for fighting. Of course we could ask for Claire, but apparently she and some of Wolfram's escorts left immediately after the meeting as had the demons set their shoes aflame.

Then why are we still bringing them? Well... Mike kept insisting that he would go to the point to nearly turned to pleading when he gave the point that our group would look a lot less threatening this way. After he said that Arven added in that it would show that we had taken losses too... in other words, to send small messages without saying anything.

Eric agreed and here we are.

Vitis and Spence will stay behind with the army. Spence for his humor which is more amusing to the knights and soldiers than me, and Vitis because he's the most competent leader of the men I lead into war this time. He will be acting as a second in command until we meet up at Ice-Claw Keep.

Eric rubs the neck of his horse with a somewhat somber expression. He doesn't appear to have calmed down from what happened after our family meeting...

You see, apparently one of our maids died shortly after the meeting. She had snuck away from her duties and had gone to the castle, ending up 'falling' out of a window. The thing is, the wind apparently caught her and carried her just perfectly onto a weapon rack, before a small tornado ripped the broken pieces of the rack apart... the 'tornado' is gone now, but apparently none of the wind mages can use wind magic right now.

If I remember right, then it would've happened shortly after the wind gods finally left me alone. I doubt that they would have gone for the maid, but had she been a wind user with a wind fairy nearby then she may have gotten caught up in the fury of the wind gods. They'd been rather angry after the meeting. Not that the maid was reported to have a fairy blessing in the first place.

Though of course it is possible for her to be a spy. Though, I'm not really worried about the spies. Most of the knights in the room were old and well paid and have known my secret since the siege, and Wolfram was using wind magic to keep any sounds from slipping out of the room as one of the many things that ended up angering the wind gods.

For now... I'll make a note of what is possibly the wind gods taking vengeance upon the faeries..

"Augustus. Wolfram asked for permission to talk with Sir Vitis Njord regarding transport to the Tepet lands. Is this a problem?"

Eric looks back to the castle one last time with furrowed brows.

"No... it shouldn't be."

Still... it's a bit odd. Though, really, it's probably just something along the lines of 'protect that man no matter what'.

"Let's go."

—-*—-

It took a while to get to the capital partly due to the lack of horses. They need to be used for any units traveling to the Tepet lands.

As a somewhat 'coincidence' a 'merchant' that saw us about to leave asked to travel together with us... a 'merchant' with an awful habit of listening in on our conversations.

At least he left once we entered the capital.

"We are currently on schedule so we should be able to get an audience either tomorrow or the day after."

Eric glances to the castle with a sigh.

"For now let's head for Myosotis Mansion..."

Myosotis Mansion is the one mansion we have in the capital, and isn't really a sort of profit. All medicine produced there is sent directly to our stocks so it's used more for medicine production than a summer mansion.

"Very well. I assume we send a messenger to inform the crown of our arrival once we reach the mansion?"

I look down the busy cobbled street. The flowers are gone now, and the leaves are withering. It turns the once colorful streets either beautifully golden... or a withered brown.

"That should do," Eric agrees as we ride through the streets. The streets are packed with carts and carriages taking madicine and provisions to the highways or to the docks. All in a hurry. The pedestrian street where the knights try to walk through is far denser though and they almost have to push their way through the streets just to keep up with us. Not just that, but all eyes are locked on us as though we're foreigners. Worry, doubt and suspicion linger in the eyes of some but hints of hope in the eyes of others.

They know why we are here.

Even worse is what most of the people in the streets don't look like the city people. It's refugees from the Tepet lands flocking together  desperately to get away from the incoming horrors of war.

The eyes of the refugees eyes shine and gleam with hope and imploring looks as they stop their lives just for a moment to catch a glimpse.

My stomach churns. As always they are helpless and can only come to us for these things. Cowards that have enjoyed the rule of the crown and now wish to abandon it for their lives. Filthy, treacherous and ignorant civilians.

The air suddenly fills with the sound of tolling bells in the distance, and it makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Enemies?

"Celeste-sama, theres a Fire across the city!"

My eyes dart across the skyline to a beginning pillar of smoke. Fire. The buildings in the capital are made of stone and generally stand a bit further apart... some places. If not then fires can cause a citywide fire!

"Eric!"

I spur my horse on and let out a roar as I lead it between the carriages, thankful that the road is wide enough for this in the first place.

"Right behind you!"

He turns to the knights that follow us through the crowd.

"We ride ahead, meet us there!"

"Yes, milord!"

The traffic of the city seems to freeze at the sound of fire as if paralyzed with fear of death though they're far away from the smoke rising to the heavens.

The closer we get the more the traffic thins out and we can finally spur the horses into a gallop. The fire doesn't seem to have been spreading, but we ride past several palace guards running towards the source of the fire...

—-*—-

It doesn't take us long to arrive at the source of the fire where civilians and servants are struggling to put out the fire in a... partly wooden building.

I turn back to Eric that's jumping off of his horse in an instant, but a servant runs to his side with a desperate look.

"There are more people in the basement!"

I stare back at the mansion with momentary terror. It's a sea of flames. Not even a fire magician is immune to that. If I use my water tsunami it'll break the burning house.

No.

There are things we can do.

"Eric! See if you can make a light rain, I'll try to find a way to extinguish the fire! When the palace guards arrive open up just at the entrance and make a hole to the basement. Preferably construct a new ceiling for the basement!"

Eric gives a vague nods and descends into a concentration I've never seen before.

I don't have time to worry about that.

I sense the world around me for gods and as expected... the fire stares back at me. Eyes of white light forms among the licking flames as it senses my intention.

It's awake.

I dismount the horse and step up to the flames. The air is dry and hot far beyond the heat of a searing summer.

Fire gods rest not only in fire itself, but also in the heat and warmth of sun, life and embers. Every candle has a single god of fire clinging for its life when you've turned it on for the very first time. It's life is merely as long as the life of the candle, not its flame.

Though, for a fire such as this, the life of the god of fire is short but with a blazing intensity of anger and delight.

The civilians are screaming... the heart is painful. It's hard to breathe.

My head feels off.

I kneel down and look up at the fire god.

"What do you want, mortal?" It sputters at me with an angry, overwhelming roar. It towers far above me, enveloping nearly all of the two floor once beautiful mansion that withers in its burning embrace. Tongues of greedy fire reach out for me and starts blackening the grass in front of me and around me.

I feel short of breath, and my throat feels tight as I respond to it.

"I beseech thou, great god of fire for the power to ask you to leave this place."

I am specialized in water. Fire has always been a weak point of mine though the rage of fire is much like that of my soldiers.

"WHAT?!"

A blast of heat pushes against me, making even the wind bend to its angered will.

"Honored god of fire,"

I pause to gasp for air.

"You will be doused by water from the mages of water or silences by the mages of fire. The faeries will attempt to dispose of you, and I, humble priestess will offer you another place to feed. A place to linger as they try to rescue the people in the basement."

The god stares at me, and as though to answer my words the flames burn even brighter.

"There is no wood near which you can get to in time should you wish to save them, only what remains of this mansion can be used, and you would reward me with the leftovers of my meal?" The wood cracks and sparks fly wild.

"I wish for more. Give me a bonfire, and give me the dry crumbling tips of your hair."

...I look at the mansion in front of me. What can I get to? The wood cannot be wet, but yet it must be moved. These bits of burning wood.

"Move aside!" The voice of a palace guard reaches my ears... but worse is when I hear one of the civilians report to them.

"There are still two children inside!"

...

"As you wish," I reply to the god.

I click off the mantle as another burst of heat hits me and causes most of the civilians to back away. A light rain begins to fall over the mansion itself as I step deeper into the heat.

Flames lick across the walls and out of the windows, and bare handed I grab the nearest wooden windowsill. It glows bright orange and with my hold spreads a burning excruciating pain. My instincts tell me to let go, to give up and hope that the palace guards will be able to do their job.

I reach tighter as the fire bites my skin, reveling in the meal. I can feel it watching me as I clench harder onto the burning wood... and rip.

The sill comes off with a fiery crack and for a moment I am surrounded by sparks. I can't toss it. The flames might go out.

I feel dizzy from the rush of adrenaline ripping through my body as a torrent just to negate bits of the paralyzing pain spreading from my hand. I step back and place the wood away from the house, then go back to rip off yet another piece. With every piece the smell of burning flesh grows stronger, bringing me back to that day. I can hear Eric calling my name ever so faintly beyond the roar of flames, but I don't have time to answer.

"It hasn't crumbled yet," reminds the fire god and watches the little bonfire grow with every piece.

I move another piece onto the bonfire and with it the fire god shifts from the house and down to the bonfire, leaving a trickle of flames between them.

"Now, the hair. It burns so easily."

It watches me with its bright eyes as I reach for my dagger, but my hands are tainted deep black and paralyzed from the pain. My hand shakes as I try to grab around the hilt of the dagger.

My view is blurry.

I can hear Haruki-gunso calling me again.

No, focus. I don't have time for this!

Grab it!

My trembling hand begins to curl around the handle and when it finally does I grab the sky blue strands of hair with my less burned hand and cut... and cut... the bits of falling hair are caught by the fire that gulps it up greedily with a small happy sound.

"I'll fulfill your request," it says as the nauseating smell of burned hair mixes with that of burnt flesh.

The words it whisper to me then are faint.

I drop the knife and turn back to the mansion. It's still aflame from top to toe and the roof has collapsed onto the first floor. It's just a matter of time until the first floor collapses entirely as well.

I begin the prayer... but as I do the fire of the mansion fades.

It's extinguished before my eyes.

I turn to look around, and not till now I notice than there are palace guards and civilians all around me. They're staring at the bonfire which is still aflame and then to me.

"As expected of Augustus Celeste, the hero. To think you can control and douse fire as well!"

A bright and happy voice sounds out among the crowd... but it sends a chilled rush of anger through my body as the memory of Magdalin's beaten and bruised body flashes for my eyes together with the night long cries from her lips.

Upon hearing his voice the crowd steps away from the figure just slightly taller than me with jolts of surprise.

It's Gilbert.

What is he doing here?

Don't kid me, no one here except for Gil has the power to control the amount of fire that was there just now. I certainly could extinguish it because of the agreement with the fire god, but I didn't.

My stomach knots and my hands scream with searing pain as I consider ripping him apart for the spy right then and there. I'm drenched in sweat from both the pain as Eric steps up to me and puts the wolf mantle on my shoulders.

"You should heal."

I nearly growl and grit my teeth quietly as I go through my memory for a healing prayer.

Meanwhile Gilbert proceeds looks to one of the servants with an uncharacteristically serious expression.

"Where are they?"

The servant flinches.

"We assume they are still in the basement, Lord Salender."

Gilbert nods and orders the palace guards... and Tepet soldiers around..

Tepet soldiers?

Not now. I begin to perform the healing prayer. The biting pain is cooled by Lumere's gentle touch what seems even before I fully finish the prayer. His cool body wraps around my hands and caress the burning flesh and as though he devours the pain along with the injury my head begins to clear far more even than when the adrenalin hit me.

Eric watches me quietly for a while and then looks to Lumere. Though, to him he only sees my hands glow a soft cool tone.

He glares to the fire god one last time before taking my mantle to clasp it back on.

"As always you're awfully reckless," he whispers with a bitter expression.

My head begins to clear up as the pain fades away along with the burns. Lumere seems to send a slight glare to the fire god, and in turn the fire god sends a small spark at Lumere.

More importantly. Gilbert definitely lied just now. Why? Giving the honor of the rescue to me will do nothing but make me even more of a hero...

A bitter suspicion spreads in my stomach. Are they planning to use me as a martyr when I die in the war?

Eric steps to my side with confidence as Gilbert turns back to us. Done giving orders.

"I, Gilbert Salender am thankful for your assistance, and his Majesty King Astolphus will be as well. He would have been heartbroken had innocents died in one of their mansions."

His fake smile is back. His body relaxed without a bit of tension.

This is a mansion owned by the crown?

Eric asks Gilbert a much more pertinent question, which I'd already put out of my mind:

"What are the Tepet soldiers doing here?"

Gilbert doesn't flinch.

"Lord Normand Tepet wanted to discuss the demands and a retreat strategy including building defenses around the capital."

Gilbert gives a discrete glance to the mansion before he continues.

"Now, as you have arrived on time I will lead you to his Majesty as requested in the letter you sent ahead of time."

Gil tilts his head sweetly to the side at those words.

"The sooner we finish this, the sooner you can return to the front line."

He looks to both of us.

...as usual I cannot tell if Gilbert is lying, but it would indeed be in their interest to get us back to the frontline soon.

"Very well. If you do not mind, Gil, we would like to wait for our knights to arrive as we'd gone ahead of them."

Eric takes the word and speaks calmly. Gil on the other hand goes quiet for a moment the same way he did back when I asked him to make he dog drink the poison... he doesn't want us to stay.

Wait... why are there so many palace guards here in the first place? Distraught if anyone had died? Even if that is true, then sending the palace guards, a Marquess and soldiers from a third army is excessive.

I glance to where the earth blessed palace guards try to carefully make their way through the floorboards of the mansion entrance instead of making a tunnel so they wouldn't have to step on the floor and risk it collapsing... is the basement made with anti-magic enhanced bricks like a castle? No, it wouldn't make sense to put that much effort into a simple mansion they barely use. I've never even heard of the royal family using this place.

Even so...

"Very well. However, we set off as soon as they arrive," Gilbert answers with a bit of hesitance that makes me want to go dig up whatever made this mansion so interesting.

It doesn't take long before the servant from earlier rushes to Gilbert with an absolutely pallid expression. He whispers something Gil which makes even Gilbert frown... and I understand why very soon.

As they start getting people out of the basement they also get out... two dead people. Even without going closer it's clear that the maid and a milkman have both been killed by a blade.

From what I manage to glean from conversations from the rest of the servants, then they found the two of them in the basement when they ran down there.

Not only that... but you remember how some of the servants had insisted there were kids in the mansion? Not even a single child is brought up from the basement. Because of this people start looking through the blackened mansion, but by the time Asher and everyone else arrive the children have yet to be found.

—-*—-

"Are you certain you would not want help to look for them, Lord Salender?"

I've little doubt that Gil should be able to find them on his own... but I admit I'm a bit worried as well. If the maid and milkman were killed then it's possible that the kids were taken.

"Leave this matter to me. You have your own matters to attend to, Lord Augustus."

His voice is strained, and has been ever since the pallid servant spoke to him.

"As you wish."

We end up in the reception room with pillars of swirling vine like trees, and my eyes glide up to the ceiling paintings. Now where I look over it again I actually find another creature that I recognize. That huge flying ice whale reptilian is there.

Asher steps up next to me, but he's very fidgety. His eyes keep darting around though the room is practically empty for people. He isn't even glancing at the ceiling or enjoying the beauty of the place... but then again, practically everyone but Arven look like they're losing their nerve, so it's nothing that surprising. It may be their first time in the royal castle... almost palace.

Gilbert stops us at the door to the great hall.

"Augustus. His Majesty would like to see you alone at first. Once he has finished asking you some questions then Eric can enter as well. As for your knights, we request that they wait here in the reception room."

Gil looks to Eric and the knights with a somewhat forced smile compared to usual, but he hasn't changed his mood since we left the mansion.

Though I could complain about not getting to bring Asher I decide not to. At this point in time I'm considered a possible traitor, so they'll isolate me until they're sure I won't try to kill the king.

I'm beginning to have some theories about what they'd been trying to hide, and my best one is that the missing children are somehow important.

"Very well," I respond calmly.

"Lord Eric, Lord Augustus, I would like to be excused for a while during the meeting. I will get things in order so that you can rest when the meeting is over."

I raise an eyebrow at Asher's request. He wants us to rest up properly... very well. We are still more than a day ahead of time.

"You have my permission," I reply calmly after getting a nod from Eric.

"We will head back once the meeting is over."

Asher gives a bow and then walks off with hasty steps.

The door to the great hall opens behind us, and Eric gives me a last, smile before I walk through the door with Gilbert.

As expected the mirrored light from above nearly blinds me as we enter the great hall. The golden carpet at our feet shines brightly in the sun all the way down the excessively long room to the golden throne raised above us.

The vibrant green color used in the banners, paintings and the tops of their long rows of pillars makes the great hall shine as a lush forest.

As majestic as last time.

We walk down the carpet, and as I almost expected a couple of guards appear behind me. One on each side. They're walking calmly, and are likely there to grab me in case I start praying or running.

I'm expecting this. I may be bitter about having my loyalty doubted, but it isn't outside my expectations. With the country as it is they would be fools if they did not take these security cautions.

That aside... there is a few people standing on the half-rises on each side of the path to the throne. They look like nobles from Headal, Semor and Zocria. Each of them has palace guards on each side of them...

They look somewhat unwell..

One of them is literally visibly shaking.

"Augustus Celeste."

I look up as the king speaks out 'my' name.

Alstair is standing next to the king with an emotionless expression... or at least what looks emotionless. Gilbert walks up closer to the throne and goes off to the side to stand near Alstair. Looking between Alstair and I for a moment with this cautious look.

"Your Majesty, your highness."

I bow deeply. I haven't had time to change my voice, so we will have to bet that the twins and castration excuses will be enough.

I move from the bow and finally down till I am kneeling in front of them, lowering my head with respect. I don't want to leave any doubts anywhere.

"The prince of Headal, princess of Crinia, King of Semor and King of Zocria have demanded my rise to the throne in exchange for peace, as you already know. They mentioned this first in the negotiations from which Lord Tepet was denied attendance, and as such I suspect this declaration made to split our country in two."

I decide to bring up the negotiation before they can ask about it. The less they have to draw out of me the better at this point. If I hold back too much I'll appear insincere.

"My family has sworn loyalty to the crown, and I am no different. My life is in the hand of the crown, and I will not go against it. The choice made by his Majesty and his highness shall be the path I take. I came here to silence any worries of my loyalty, your Majesty, and should you order me I will return to the front line."

I keep looking at the sun colored carpet while remaining quiet for their answer.

"And the meeting between the young Stanbell and yourself?"

Tch...

"The young Stanbell expressed his worry about the declaration and sought my opinion on the matter."

He may have been turning on the crown if I hadn't said anything, but it should be fine now.

"And Claire Talwen?"

Alstair's voice echos through the room... worried for our beloved heroine? Or worried that I will 'take her from you'?

"She joined the young Stanbell and wanted to talk to me since I saved her life when we were children. You needn't worry for your queen candidate, your highness."

She will come back to you since I just crushed her heart.

"I see. Very well," Alstair voices out.

That should do it, right? Somewhat... Alstair is likely going to put me on some mission I won't come back from though. Not that I would in the first pla-

What was that?

For a moment it felt like I lost breath like someone hit me in the back.

I glance back to the guards behind me without getting up... but he has his short sword drawn...

...it's... dripping blood all over the suncolored carpet.