Outside in the ornate hallways of the Castle of the Vampires. The lone General prepares himself as the two hulking Elite Knights of the Kingdom stood before in guard of a large two door entrance. Shuffling between his hands are papers with pointers and statistics. The door suddenly opens and Alana pops out wearing a gown that has the same color as the Bloodrose and on its own is a replica of the Rose that’s attached to it and a ribbon with her name and title.

The General on the other hand was wearing his usual green colored dress uniform meant for official work with the Men of the Woods. But his shoulder patch was replaced with that of the United Nations.

“M’Lord are you ready?”

“Hah…. ah… a bit?”

“Good. The Royal family is soon arriving. Let me see you properly.”

He turns around to face her and she inspects the man. Wiping his shoulders and his jacket up and down and picking the smallest strands of hair that fell into his uniform.

“I didn’t expect this to be this huge. Everyone and their Moms are here.”

“This is the only second time humans have ever been a part of the Chamber of the High Court. The Elders will also be present in the back. On the second floor balcony right above you. M’Lord, you’ll also be placed in the middle. Between the King and the Lords.”

“I’ll be standing in the middle of it all?! Wait wait wait, that’s far too face to face. I was told I’ll be far and in the middle!”

“Yes M’Lord. Just calm down. You’ll be far in the middle when you’ll be taking your formal opening speech after the King and the Lords. I didn’t tell you this as I know you’ll start overthinking again.”

His hands start to tremble as the man tightens his necktie. Swallowing his saliva. “Haaah… calm down M’Lord.” Alana holds his hand and lifts it up to her chin. “You’ll do well. Lady Morgana is also here to be the representative of her family. Even the smaller Lords from the far off sides of the Kingdom know her. You shouldn’t be afraid, I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“R-Really? Phew. Yeah. Hell yeah, I can do this.” Though still trembling, the General started to smile visibly. “How are the two?”

“My plan worked. Bahamut is too busy eating to be a bother and the other one is watching us from afar.”

“Sounds like her. Alright. Should I stay inside or wait out here?”

“You’ll be in the front seat with the Colonels as you’ll be the representative of the Humans of Earth, M’Lord. Worry not, they’ll only be asking you questions and a bit of back and forth and if one of the smaller families wish to talk to you. You’ll have no problems facing them with me and the Minuit House backing you.”

“Alright phew. I can do this.”

He flexes his muscles making Alana giggle and walks in with him, the General is met with three divided sectors. With the one for the Royalty in the front, the Lords and Families on the side, and them. On the end of the huge Court. Differing flags were everywhere but between them was the logo of the Kingdom. The large sparkling chandelier on the top brightly lit the entire room without the need for lamps or torches and the Nobility wore their more serious gowns and uniforms meant for the Court alone. Looking more to project power than to impress and look luxurious.

Everyone was busy chatting with each other. With the Vampires lightly talking with their hands or fans up their mouths as they chatted to the people next to them while the Outworlders were mostly standing about chatting openly and walking around checking out the place while enjoying the sights and the architecture of the room. With gargoyles and swans littered on displays at the wooden pillars. Sitting down in the front, Alana gives him a quick kiss on the cheek and waves at him as she walks to the seats of the Lords. Leaving him with the other players.

He didn’t waste any time looking down at the floor and then up to the ceiling and then back to the papers on his hand and skimming through all of the reports he had collected and his eyes would look up and down like his brain was running at above normal speed. His feet were tapping the marble tiles and his left hand was on top of his thigh. Massaging it as he shuffled through his paper once again.

Sitting down next to him was a man in a beige suit and well ironed hair and long sharp ears. “General Jackson. Pleased to finally meet you. The Congress has told much about your exploits in this world.” He slowly puts down his papers and turns to the left to see a man with the pin of the United Nations on his jacket and a well fancy aura to him. “Representative Ted Cotton has arrived on time!”

“Holy shit, you actually made it. Sir. By the hair thin.”

“Oh please. I’m a Representative of the Business Committee and also representing a foreign Empire that came from a different world. As if I’ll ever not be in the place I have to be most of all if it's something this important. The Vampires have complete control over Schon’s river systems as all of the major ones pass their territory. It would be bad for business if they become angry at us.”

“But have you seen their demands though? Like the ones I sent to the High Command.”

“The modern weapons part we cannot do. But we have a better alternative. I talked to the Magic Rails Guild and they were willing.”

“Wait, but the King said he needs modern guns or our help in fighting the Hybrids.”

“Look…” he puts his shoulder over the General and pushes both of their heads next to each other. “Genocide and Colonialism doesn’t sound very nicely without a heroic or morale high point spin to it. We cannot keep spinning our Operations here if we keep this up. Soldiers are also noticing strange behaviors of skeletons and why they are so aggressive against the Hybrids.”

“But aren’t you the ones that first talked to the King and agreed to it?”

“Yes and that’s when we realized that we needed to bring people who can connect to him more. Like you, Jackson so that we won’t fall for his bullshit again.”

“But sir.”

“Stop with the buts and do a good job. You’ve been excellent so far and I came here just to personally meet you too.”

“What? Why?”

“Oh, just a bit with the Terrorism problem we’ve been dealing with.”

“Uh yeah, but why would a Five Star General be in place for a problem a Colonel or a One Star General could do?”

“No no no… not this one. This one might be big. I’ve been in contact with StateSec and the Director has been telling me a lot. But, we’ll save that for later. For now. Let’s get this thing finished.”

He lets go of his grip on the General and the man goes back to reading his papers. Turning to his speech points as Noble Knights wearing the same dark blue uniforms appear from the balcony to where the Royal family is supposed to be. Three of them checked the chairs and one stood in the middle and lifted both of his hands.

“Lord Miquire. Please remove the small knife in your jacket.”

“The King has allowed me to!”

“The King has changed your permission to bring an insignificant weapon. Please hand it to a Knight. Thank you.”

The man stands up from the right side that doesn’t have any division. While the seats on the left are divided into 5 sections with each having their own flags on the wall behind them. The man on the Crown’s Balcony then closes his hands and the Noble Knights with Rapiers slinged on their hips unsheathes their weapons and points it to the ceiling. “HEAR ME! HEAR ME! HATS OFF, STRANGERS!” following his order. Everyone removes their hats and he starts inspecting them. The Congressman on the other hand notices the medals on Paul’s chest and closes in to inspect them. “SERGEANT AT ARMS…! PRE-SENT!” The doors swing open and a Nobleman with a Rapier and a different style of hat with a gold feather marches in.

“SERGEANT AT ARMS, PRESENT! READY TO INSPECT MY LORD!” Everyone then points their faces down and the man in the balcony opens his hand and lowers it. The Noble Knights then started inspecting everyone. The players on the other hand scramble to their seats and the Colonels with the General and the Congressman on the front row.

“Are… those medals real?”

“As real as you becoming the Committee Leader.”

“Aw c’mon. Don’t gotta bite like that. Also, the Chairmans of the Committee of Transportation and the Committee of Foreign Affairs will be late.”

“As expected. Looks like everyone is still a bit sleepy. But how come the Committee of Business sent you and not its leader?”

“I’m quite high in the Committee, you know? I can make things happen like what I did with the Magic Rails Guild.”

“Yea… sure.”

The two continued whispering as the Noble Knight in his well ironed uniform with golden braids and ropes and medals marched past them.

“I’ve never worn any of my medals after serving. I don’t think an occasion will ever come where I’ll wear my dress uniform again and it's a pain to put them on.”

“Just how many medals do you have?”

“I have ten from my country, seven from foreign ones, and two from the West.”

“What the fuck?”

This made the Colonels on the front row and the other players behind them look at the Congressman. “Ahem.” they immediately returned to their face down position.

“Are you real with that?”

“Yes. I was real with that.”

“What the heck did you do in World War Three?”

“A lot. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Dang. No wonder that crazy fool put in such a good word with you. Oh, the Wood Elves also sent a letter to the House Leadership about you. They told us to make sure to feed you well or whatever mistranslated thing they tried to write.”

“That’s nice. But can we focus on what’s happening right now?”

“Hah. With everyone’s head on the chopping block after the entire ordeal a day ago. I don’t think I’ll be able to shut up about it. I can’t sleep, you know? Like, we were that close to fucking ourselves over without foreign intervention.”

“Madam! Please remove your Crown and Veil for the King and Queen’s safety!”

Paul looks up and sees that the Sergeant at Arms with a Noble Knight is standing next to Alana. Their bodies are up against the wall of the benches that face the House of Families. Looking straight at Bahamut who was busy eating a Prime Ribeye Steak. The man didn’t waste time to excuse himself and quickly walked to the Minuit’s section.

“Ah! Jackson, my boy!”

“Sir Nigel Minuit. Pleased to meet you again. Uhm… I gotta handle this first!”

“Ahahahaha! Such energy. I remember when I could be that active.”

Angelica Minuit just blankly stared at her husband's laughing face and gently put his head to face down once again.

“Bahamut! Remove your Crown and Veil!”

“Oh Master! Sure!”

Without question, she removed her Crown. Revealing her curvy pale face. She proceeds to place it on her seat and goes back to eating her Steak. The Sergeant at Arms then proceeds to inspect her. The sparkling golden eyes of the human woman seemingly possessing the galaxies inside the pupils. He then marches backwards and gestures for the Noble to continue inspecting the other benches. He goes straight to the one next to them which was the Charlemagnes with Garrana there with her eight kids in Dragon form latched onto her gown.

She notices the General and smiles and he smiles back and waves at her. Bahamut on the other hand, now that her veil is gone. The General could properly see her perfect thin eyebrow that’s pointing inward to her nose. “Bahamut, don’t be like that. I was just saying hi to her.” The Dragon’s expression didn’t change as she bit into the Steak with more force this time.

“What? I’m not angry or anything, Master.”

“Bahamut. Your face.”

“Hm? What’s with my face?”

Alana takes a peek at her and she smiles. “M’Lord, I’ll be sure to handle her. Just prepare for the speech.” he nods and walks back to the rear of the room with the other players.

“Thank you everyone. Please lift your heads!” everyone then puts their hats back on. Immediately, the Vampires sit down leaving the players looking around if it was their queue. Paul looks at the Minuit’s seats on the left and she is gesturing for them to sit down. He then gestures for all of the players in their well ironed military uniforms to take a seat.

A mile away. An armored SUV is parked outside a Grand Hotel. Two players exit out. One wearing a Black three piece suit and another wearing a Dark Blue one.

“Youse need to chill out! I just got off a two and half day flight! Give me a break!”

The player with the Black Three piece suit with the UN and Men of the Woods pins on his jacket collar with thin arms underneath his weighty ensemble opens the thick heavy door of the armored SUV.

“C’mon Oleg! The freaking thing is about to begin! Didn’t you see the carriage?”

While the other player with a more weighty body that’s taller than him in a Dark Blue suit opens the rear door and looks at the Valet. The Vampire in red uniform and a cylindrical hat just looks down on the two suitcases and then back to the player.

“What? Aren’t you gonna do anything?”

Doing nothing, the player had to take his own suitcases and put it into the back of the SUV as a high ranking officer exits out of the hotel with a stamped Letter with the Royal Crowns logo on it.

“Chairmans, sirs. Are we ready to depart?”

“Yeah. Let’s get the hell outta’ ‘ere.”

“Yeah, I know it's evening and all but you don’t have to act like a dipshit. Do you understand me? The service sure sucks.”

Inside the expensive blacked out SUV, the officer in his Evening Hall Dress Uniform drove them to the Castle. On the back, the two Government Officials in their fancy suits open a bunch of folders and start inspecting them.

“Freaking Cotton. That Yankee is gonna get me into trouble one of these days. Oleg, have the Magic Rails Guild responded?”

“Yeah. They said they’ll be more than open to help. But they’ll only limit it to Nineteen-Fifties Steam Locomotives as per the exemption given to them. I’ll give you the rest of the details later. I don’t really understand any of this crap.”

“Alright. Just none of that Diesel Electric shit. Steam trains should be more than enough for their Kingdom. What did the Magic Rails Guild Leader ask for though?”

“Enchanted Metal. That’s on Cotton since he knows the business sector in and out. I just deal with Foreign things.”

“Alright. I guess for me, it's laying out the initial trackplans… geez. Is giving the Minuit’s access to trains a good idea? Why not the Charl-charl… Charlemagnes? Or the Dreyfus..es? What the fuck are ese’ names?!”

“The Minuit has been helping us since the beginning or so I was told. Cotton thought it’d be a good idea to reward them for their services. The trains should also provide fast and needy transport for those that need it.”

“But have the Congress and House Speaker realized giving Vampires trains would basically give them unmatched control over the countryside and stability?”

“I’m sure they know but they need this done. You know what he said. Bahamut might be used if Zavalda goes tit up.”

“Jesus. Only Jackson can control Bahamut and he’s been making sure we don’t know anything about her divine powers or how far she can take it.”

“Sounds to me he is just a loving husband.”

“Ah. I’ll let the ones with dirty hands to deal with him and the rest.”

“Still, giving Vampires technology that’s three hundred years into the future? Hmmm…” he puts his hand up and places his chin ontop of it. “I guess so. It's not like that daughter of theirs hasn’t seen everything we hold already.”

“She’s a looker too.”

He gives a folder, the page is of a large image of Alana with the backdrop of a police chart where she stood at 6’4 as she held her High Heels on her hands with a bored look on her face and a plate that says “Alana Minuit

“Oyyyy, she got the mascara on too and the light lip balm.”

“Look at her eyebrows. That shits perfectly trimmed. Thin and elegant.”

“What do you think Tony? She a ten?”

“If she doesn’t have any baggage, probably. But knowen’ Vampires. She probably has a lot… or we don’t get her mannerism and such.”

“Yeah.” the man in the black suit then closes the folder. “Also, before I took the flight here. Kitter went into my office and snipped around it.”

“StateSec at it again I see. Did they find anything? Is Chairman Oleg gonna change to Representative Oleg?”

“After that Nuclear Shitshow we had. I would be surprised they didn’t act this fast. The Guild Leaders must be breathing down her neck every moment they could.”

“Yeah… I always saw that guy to have a loose’ screw.”

“Oh man, I was busy with the Committee of Foreign Affairs when Bruscremi got into an argument with everyone on the benches. He was pointing fingers at everyone, that it was our fault we gave power to a man with a loose screw.”

“Mhm. I made the right decision to go here. No way I’m dealing with that army boy with a stick up his ass. I hope Jackson is more normal than those two.”

“Seeing how he got Bahamut controlled in her Goddess form. He has to have the patience of a Saint or some shit like that.”

“Also, youse see ‘ese buildings?”

Oleg looks out and takes a gander at the beautiful nightscape of the Vampire Capital. Without any people outside, all of the structures were showing their full beauty. With ornate designs and gothic detailing, each building, restaurant, apartment, and alleyway had its own personality.

“Yeah. What about it?”

“I think we should remodel one of the cities to look like this.”

“Heh. All of the ones that know how to make buildings like that would rather work with Breznick and Libertus, but knowing how fast they fell. We might be able to hire them.”

“Hm. In the end, when people realized they were in a foreign world. The first thing they did was run to our modern cities. Who knew we didn’t even need to plan to take over Dark World with a modern and magical military force to win over everyone.”

“Hard to imagine it's been one year. I feel like it was just last January. We were all excited to create our own breed of chaos from all the magical wars the Guilds had been fighting. One where we can drop bombs and take on there Dragons without the need to tame one as we can mass produce jets and choppers… ahhhhh…”

“Also… when are we going to pay the House Speaker?”

“After things have calm down… we can’t do anything with StateSec ramming its long baton of justice up our asses and orbiting us like crows over a fresh corpse.”

Inside the High Court. The General yawned but his feet were still tapping the tiles rapidly. Suddenly, the Knights guarding the place springs into life and the Vampire Nobles stood up, exiting the benches and going to the hallway that directly leads to the large open lobby. They bring out white handkerchiefs as the players stand on the second floor balconies watching over everyone get into place.

Paul reads the pamphlet he was given and his fingers trace down the State Opening of the Court and lands on the “Arrival of the Royal Regalia”. Down below them, the players see the State Crowns for the King and Queen as two Noblemen kneel before the entrance with two Gold Swords adorned with Gems, Sapphires, Diamonds and Rubies are presented before the arriving Crown. Everyone was seemingly tense as they could hear the clacking of horse hooves and the cheers of the people. The General instinctively lets his tie loose a bit as he swallows his saliva without even thinking.

The door then opens and the military band marches in blowing their horns and a Vampire Noble in Medieval military dress uniform salutes the Knight At Arms and the two exchange flags. One of the Nation to the man in uniform and the crest of the Dreyfus house. The Knight At Arms then spreads his bat wings and flies straight upwards to the ceiling and disappears. “HEAR ME! HEAR ME! THE GREAT LORD AND KING OF THE VAMPIRES HAS ARRIVED!” the Nobles then raises their handkerchiefs of absolute white cleanliness and starts shaking it. “His truly, King Harold Timothy the Sixth from House Dreyfus and Queen Marienette Laurent with the beloved Princess of the state Princess Anna Timothy!”

Like a superstar arriving at their own concert. The entire Castle goes wild as the Royal Family reveals themselves. The King, Queen and the Princess were at there best, wearing the most intricate robes they had. The Queen herself has a gown adorned by Sapphires and Diamonds.

“I call for the Lord Chamberlain and Marshal to greet our King and Queen and present to them the flag of the country!”

The two Noble Vampires then arrive wearing clear white noble suits. Each of them holding the flag out in full spread and stops right before the Royal family. The King with the Queen and the Princess soon kneels before the flag and the Knights next to them place the State Crown on their heads. The King proceeds to kiss the flag of their nation lightly as he takes the Great Sword of the State. Walking into the Castle proper, the hundreds of Nobles and the main Five Houses greeted their Crown with great appreciation. Even in the darkness of the night, their energy was unmatched and soon, the Royal Family disappeared as they entered another section of the Castle.

Following closely behind them were two players in suits. One in a black Three piece and another in the Dark blue one. The General’s was widened to the point that it was as if it was about to pop out and shoot the two in the head. He first walks to the Colonels and points to the entrance. Vollalobos and Russell quickly took notice and ran down to fetch the two Chairmans as the Vampire Nobility ignored them and went up to the door to the High Court in two straight lines.

“Ah! General Jackson!”

Without even wasting a second. The General makes a quick snappy salute with his best posture up.

“Chairman Tony Wallalonga of the Transportation Committee, sir! Chairman Oleg Pourtinsky of the Foreign Affairs Committee, sir! Knight-General Paul Jackson of the Eldwood’s Ground Forces!”

“At ease General. Youse’ a good man, I heard. Have you seen the coach of the Royal family? That thing looks like its heavier than my Mom after she took me some pasta on a cold weekend.”

“I have seen the Royal Carriage, yes sir.”

“So, where are we supposed to be?”

“In the front sir with Business Committee Representative Ted Cotton.”

“Ah! That son of a bitch is already here! Tony! Ted’s already here!”

“That sunovagun!”

The General points to the front where an Elven player with a beige business suit is standing all by himself. Constantly inspecting the marble tiles and the shiny porcelain pillars of the Castle lobby. “EYYYY! Figlio di puttana! Stiamo cercando di scappare, vero?” Getting annoyed already by them. Paul just leaves the suits to themselves as he looks at the long line of Nobles and Alana closely taking care of Bahamut who was already starting to adventure around without permission.

He then looks at the ceiling where the glass roof reflects the Moon and its satellite and the bright stars of the foreign world. He then notices the outline of a bat just underneath the shadow of the steel frame that held the glass in position. The bat would then put its sharp long thumb up its lips and shush him. The General just makes a quick and small thumbs up and returns to the line.

The Military band then repositions and starts playing once again and the doors where the Royal family left opens once again. Now in Court Robes and holding the scabbard of the Great Sword of the State and the Golden Staff of Power with ten bright gems sparkling endlessly on top of it. The King motions with his shiny and newly polished Staff and the Sergeant at Arms with a Noble wearing a Black uniform marches to the door of the High Court. The Sergeant at Arms then removes his Rapier and gives it to the uniformed Vampire who then proceeds to inspect its pommel. After a single nod. He uses it to knock on the door three times.

Without question, the doors swung open and the Black suited noble bows before the Knight Noble inside with a golden feather on his hat and took the Rapier and inspected it. He nods and returns it to the Sergeant at Arms.

“Noble Houses and Families of the Kingdom! The King commands his duly and rightly Nobles to attend immediately in the High Court! May our eternity serve us in peace!”

In pairs of two, the Nobles entered with smiles as they went to their respective benches. Behind the players was the Royal family getting ready to move in. The King then started walking and Paul, who was behind the three suits, locked eyes with him. The King merely nodded and left with a smile as he marched with the Kingdoms Elite Knights in full armor to the High Court. Soon, it was the players turn and they went into the rear of the room and returned to their respective seats. The King, Queen and Princess on the balcony overlooking everyone and everything inside the Court.

The King then raised his Staff and with a youthful smile, greeted the Court with enthusiasm.

“I hereby honor this Court on the Neutrality of the Vampires on the Interventionism of the Outworlders as they have called. Speaker, has any of the Houses wished to speak first before me?”

“None My Lord, the King. The Houses wishes to hear you first in this accord.”

“Good! May I first greet our visitors, foreigners from a whole other world! May I hope that you’ve all been met with beatitude by our glorious and eternal Kingdom! Though this is just a tiny bit of this great country, I hope it's enough for it to convey who and what we are! Houses! I hereby call this Court on the claim that we may not trouble them and their efforts to stem one of our oldest allies, the Kingdom of Vitas. Families! I’ve heard much about the Outworlders efforts in aiding you in your troubles, as I know that all roads lead to Ville De La Nuit. The recent snowfall and the rumors of the upcoming return of the Hellgates has made our magnificent military slower than usual but even then, you all strived to protect your lands and the Peasants under you! I give my thanks to all of the Houses present in this Court and hereby open it formally! May we begin a great journey and bridge the gap between our species!”

He then raises his hand and all the Vampires look to the players in the back of the room. The players then look at the General and he drops his paper down onto his seat covers, checks the buttons of his jacket and swipes his shoulders as he breathes a long sigh and does a small sign of a cross as he nervously walks to the middle of the Courtroom where there’s a wooden table. He stands on the section of the table meant for foreigners and looks around at the Vampires with ribbons on their outfits and the King and Queen and the Princess high above the Crowns balcony looking down on him. Above them is a shiny polished logo of the Kingdom.

The Bloodrose with a intertwining thorny root around a bloody coloured Moon behind it. The logo was seemingly ten times heavier for him as if it would fall at any moment.

“I… am Knight-General Paul Jackson. Representative of the Military Arm of the United Nations and the hundreds of Guilds under it. I’ve come here today with the best of my intentions.” he took a quick look around and everyone was trained on him. “Mankind, as troubled and muddied we are… and our history. We came here with open arms and more than willing to accept your cultures and traditions. To how you view us and treat us, we’re all willing to accept it. But as per the negotiations opened by me. I hope you’ll be able to elevate your views of us, Man.” He breathes in and out. Sneaking stares at the Vampires watching him. “So I’d like to not only say that we’ve helped the Kingdom, but also gave it its very first Dragon Air Corps. Though the Vampires had already possessed an Air Force with Winged Knights. It was the duty of me, and my lifelong companion and comrade Bahamut has bought you Garrana. One of the last Wyverns in Schon.”

He looks at Bahamut and then to Garrana. The two smiled and silently clapped for him. “And not only that, with the sponsorship of the Minuit family, the gracious Sir Nigel and Madame Angelica for not only allowing me to lodge in their daughters mansion but to also help her. We’ve increased the trading of wine by ten percent in this quarter alone. We’ve also extended our hands to the Wood Elves and came back with great results and a newborn outlook to the Vampires. Lady Alana Minuit herself has gotten in contact with a Hunter and they are more than willing to start trading in hopes of gaining access to the Kingdoms much treasured jewelry and wine production.” He once again takes a quick second breather and some of the Vampires he could visibly see have changed expression from blank and annoyed to curious and even with a smirk. “We’ve also helped-”

“Wait. Almighty King, may I question the man before you? I am Diplomat Jafre, High Chairman of the Council of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of his truly, King Princeps Dydares.”

Everyone then looks above the back benches where the players were to the balcony above them. Next to robed Vampires whose faces are shrouded in darkness and their hands together. Completely hiding not only their faces but also the entirety of their bodies were High Elves. Wearing their luxurious robes of gold and yellow. The one that spoke up to him was wearing one that was of Platinum and Black.

“Speak Elf. The Empire of Princeps has long been an outsider to us Vampires. Make your case.”

“General Jackson, do you think such small and insignificant things can move the Vampires? We do not only have the means of boosting their economy by threefold but also give them an endless supply of enchanted steel. Steel that the lowly man of Gareth and James would pay us nine times the normal price just to get. We’re willing to sell this metal to the Vampires at the same price as any business in the Empire.”

Everyone could hear the Vampires whisper amongst themselves. The General confused looks around till his eyes stop at the small windows on the upper right wall of the Court. Elizabeth was there with her wings out. Sneakily watching. She gestures with her hand a fist and a throat slashing action. He lightly nods and turns around to face the High Elf on the balcony ontop of the players.

“Yes. I believe my words will be more than enough to move the Vampires and gain their side. I’ve long been with Vampires. I know that they do not only care for numbers but also for the Culture and Tradition. Hence why I opened my speech in such a manner. Vampires aren’t merely creatures living to get the perfection and mastery but also the romanticism of life and eternity.”

Vampires then once again spoke with each other once again. Whispering. But what caught the High Elf’s attention was the Queen putting her fan up and whispering to the King.

“Vampires, do you not think that we can provide you better things than these lowly mortals? We can give you much more and help you not only expand your powers. But we’re also willing to give you weapons and the means to get your own aircraft. Something these Outlanders have never ever given to anyone and kept their miraculous machines to themselves like the selfish people they are.”

The High Elves behind him sitting down look up to Jafre.

“Sir Jafre, may I warn you that you cannot cross such a line with us. We’re here to not make war, but to make peace.”

“Silence! I will not have an argument in this momentous moment in this Kingdom's history. Though this isn’t the first time the High Elves have been a watcher of this Court. I will not tolerate such an action. Both of you. Thus. I call upon my Nobles, march forward to the Table and speak your mind.”

“I! Morgana Tempest Voltaire, Duchess and the Leader of the Voltaire House and the Fifty Families under it wishes to speak my mind.”

“Walk Duchess and speak.”

The beautiful silvery haired woman elegantly stood up and walked to the table. She stood to the left of the General and then proceeded to expand her fan and put it up her mouth.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Diplomat Jafre, I presume you well remember me?”

Even with the fan blocking her mouth. Her deep womanly voice spilled out into the Court and echoed softly into everyone’s ears.

“I do Lady Volltaire. I hope my gift was more than to your liking.”

The Duchess opens her hands and what spawns was a strange hair thin blade that was in complete color of platinum. It's rainbowish shine gave it an otherworldly feel. Even the General couldn’t help but be impressed by such a weapon. “Do not move General.” she then swings it multiple times. Performing thrusts and swipes as the General stood completely frozen.

“Hm. Its a good blade, made to perfection. Not a single mistake was put into making this weapon. General, may I have your hand.”

Fazed, the General lifts his hand up and takes her invitation. Without even knowing, he was taken by her to a dance. Unprepared, Paul’s face was absolutely confused. But he took the chance and rode along with her. Though not perfect like her, he was more than trained and practiced to the steps and managed just enough. She then stops after half a minute.

“General Jackson, do tell. Can you offer us Vampires more than that blade?”

“...” panting, the man looked at her starry crimson red eyes “I can.”

“In what way?”

“This way.” He takes her hands and continues to dance around the Court and finishes the first section of the steps and gently bows before her and she returns it by elegantly lifting her skirt and placing her left foot behind her right and lowering her head.

“Hah? What was that about?”

“As you see My Lord, the King. The Outworlders do not only bring us material things, assurances, and words that we may never know what’s behind. But they were here with us. Mingling amongst us and talking to each and everyone. Regardless of their position in our beloved country. From the Commoners outside to the High Society inside. They found out about the things we need and gave us what we need for merely the hope that we may give them an inch of our trust. I, Morgana Voltaire Tempest and the fifty families in our House stand by our mortally challenged friends.”

The King lurches down to inspect the General from high above as everyone started chatting with each other in whisper while the players in the back were just left with dropped jaws and big wide smiles of happiness.

“I see. Sit down Sir Jafre. General Jackson, please do continue.”

“Thank you sir!”

The High Elf just scoffs and sits back down. Both of his hands crumble into a fist as the General returns to his place on the table. Morgana on the other hand bowed to the King and the King returned it with a simple gesture. Prompting her to return to the bench of the Voltaire House. All the while, the House of the Families on the right whispered amongst themselves.

“Ahem, and thus with all of our great efforts do I hope that you’ll all see the benefits. Believe me, it will only get better from here. If the Neutrality is signed, we’re also involved with you now meaning we’re all partners with means of constant communication. We are more than willing to help you mend problems that we might have long already solved while not bothering the advancement of technology too much and letting you discover things by yourselves. For all you know, you might have better results than us with the existence of magics and enchanted metals that we never had back in our world. I’d like to thank the King and the Royal family for letting me open this Court and start this discussion. As things are heating up back in the homefront and it has come to my attention that we cannot waste anymore time.”

“Time.”

Everyone then looks at the King.

“Time is such a bother at certain moments.”

The King walks forward, locking eyes with the General who is down below on his seat.

“Tell me, General. You said you bring peace. Does that mean our request for weapons has been denied?”

“Yes.” The Vampires immediately whispered amongst themselves. “But! Before you continue, Your Majesty. I’d like to call for the Chairman of the Committee of Transport Mister Tony Wallalonga. Born from New York Belmont, Bronx. He has come here today to present to you a better alternative to weapons.”

“Hmmmm… present it.”

The Chairman in his Black suit stands up and opens the door outside and has his large suitcase bought in. He then places it next to him as he stands on the table in the middle and the General, back to the rear where he immediately plops down exhausted. The man's soul seemingly was about to leave from his opened mouth as he looked at the ceiling.

“Ahem ahem. Oh wow, nice echo. I am Chairman of the United Nations Joint Committee of Transportation and also of the Men of the Woods. My good colleague and friend here, Representative Ted Cotton, has talked with the Magic Rails Guild in providing you a better thing than our weapons. Something that will instead not bring death and violence, but progress and prosperity. Your hands reach far into the ends of the Kingdom without needing to expend resources in feeding your Vampires who had taken enough time of their day to practice flight or the more resource intensive Wyverns that only Kingdoms near the Dragons may be able to field in large numbers.”

He opens the suitcase, prompting the King to stand up again and peek over to where his hands were. The Chairman then drops a large map of the Kingdom. With the borders of Vitas and the major rivers and towns with even the major cities all intricately labeled and printed out. He looks at the Capital and the roads from it that seemingly branch out like a tentacle making its way to all of the villages, towns and major locations.

“Forgive the use of red. We call the area outside of Schon and Vitas as the Redzone. Akin to the Death Zones in Tur, its a no go area unless permitted. So here, north of you is the Demon Kingdom of Vitas. The lines with slashes on them are what we call railways. This is just an initial draft I got up a few days ago but your Kingdom is perfect for this. It has not only an abundance of open plains and large swathes of just empty grasslands but to the North near the Demon Kingdom is a vast mountain range where most of your ore come from. This can be weighty for Wyverns and Vampires. But with trains, we may be able to give you automation.”

Immediately, a family from the right stands up and raises his hand. “MY KING! May I speak!”

“Speak.”

He then exits out the bench of the House of the Families and to the middle table.

“I am Baron Clovis Umberto de la Pole. I own some of the Mines up North. Do you have an idea what this will do to our workforce?”

“But I believed that most of your workforce up in the mines are slaves. Elven slaves to be exact.” The Chairman then reaches for his jacket and pulls out a notepad showing the workfroce and ethnicities living in the Kingdom. “I do not understand this language.”

“It just shows the amount of people in your Kingdom. Seventy percent are the new Vampires as they are called, ten percent are old Vampires incapable of walking in sunlight, and twenty percent are slaves. Of These twenty percent, fifteen are Elves, four percent to be humans and one percent others. With this information, I did some math and I suppose that it’d be better to put these slaves into better conditions and maybe open air.”

“As if! These mines are the lifeline of the De la Pole family! This is preposterous! How much ore can this… railway even do?”

“One thing is for sure. You’ll no longer have to use the river.” he then reaches for the large suitcase and presents to him a model of a Chesapeake and Ohio 614. “This here is what we call a Steam Locomotive. This bad boy can be able to pull up to ten thousand tons of ore, even more if the incline is not as tall or hard to get up to.” The Vampires from both of the benches and the King all lean forward to inspect the model closer as the Chairman pulls some Pullman carriages and attaches it to the tender. He then puts two baggage cars and a dining car with the interior all modeled for them to see. “So first things first. I’d like to thank the Magic Rails Guild for providing me with this magnificent model to showcase to you. But this is what we’ll be giving you. The real thing of course weighs almost eighty thousand pounds and has a power output of five thousand horsepower. Please come inspect it if you wish.”

He then takes the train and goes to the House of the Families bench first. The Vampire Nobles inspect the long model with carriages and pass it around as they confusingly stare at it. “Excuse me Chairman.” a polite Noble woman shows herself to the player as she holds the train in her hands.

“Yes madame?”

“How is this supposed to carry ore?”

“Oh, that one is for passengers.”

The lower Noble class all nodded, impressed by it. “My good man. So does this mean this machine can not only bring Ore but also people?”

“Yes. Materials too. Wait, let me get a boxcar.”

He returns to the table and to his suitcase and brings out a 50ft boxcar and attaches it to the rear. The King just silently sat in this throne and watched the Nobles fawn over the model train. After the families, it was then brought to the House of Lords. With the Charlemagnes impatiently taking it from the Chairman before he could give it to the Bartley House who had no leader infront.

“Count Percival! Let me see it! Hand it over!”

Young and up, the handsome Vampire finesses his way to Sir Charlemagnes who was on the rear with other Vampires in uniforms. Adorned with medals on his body, the middle aged Vampire stands up taking a gander at the locomotive.

“Woah… Cattle!”

“Ahem, its Chairman, My Lord.”

“I mean- Chairman!”

“Yes sir.”

“Can you put weapons into this thing?”

“You can. The Magic Rails Guild has some makeshift armored trains which they use to maintain tracks that’re near to caves and labyrinths.”

“Amazing. May I keep this?”

“Sorry, but that belongs to the Magic Rails Guild.”

“I’ll pay you in Relouse! Our currency is worth thrice as much as that of Aeralous!”

“Again. I apologize sir but I can’t.”

He scoffs. Making his medals bounce around as he handed it back to Count Pervical who then proceeds to give it back to the Chairman. He then walks to the left and gives it to the Minuits. Alana and Bahamut were both unimpressed by it but her parents and the other families under the Minuit House were all but astonished by the detailed model. Her father then starts shaking her.

“My daughter! Imagine! Imagine the profit!”

“Father… I know…”

“The profit…! Oh goodness! Angelica honey! We must get one of these!”

“Father… stop shaking me please.”

“O-oh sorry. I got a bit too excited.”

“And don’t worry. I have the General with me.”

Sir Nigel then looks at the back with General Paul drinking some bottled water as he chatted with the Colonels. He then looked at Alana who was sitting next to her parents and he saw Sir Nigel with both of his middle fingers up. He just looked confused as Alana turns to face her father and immediately jumps into action covering his hands and smiling at the players in the back. She spoke some words but with how far they were apart, the General couldn’t read any of it.

“Father! What was that for?”

“I thought it was a gesture of good will.”

“It’s the thumbs Father! Thumbs!”

“Oh my! Then what was the middle finger meant for? The slaves I met in the market did that to me.”

“Agh… Father…”

Alana just facepalms as the train is returned to the Chairman and he hands it to the Bartleys. The one in the bottom right politely took it and they silently passed the train around. Tony in an awkward silence as no one asked him questions. The well dressed Vampires were unlike the others. The Minuits were more attuned to looking like they were ready for business, the Charlemagnes in their military uniforms but the Bartley House all wore the same hue of crimson and the ribbons on their ensemble akin to a rose.

Soon, it was returned to him and the Chairman merely smiled and went past the Minuit and Charlemagnes and to the Voltaires. Morgana was the first to take it and she inspected the train carefully.

“May I ask.”

“Yes ma’am?”

“Do you have one with a glass roof?”

“Oh absolutely! I’ve actually ridden those back on Earth on Amtrak trains. It’s called the Observation car. It has glass roofs, larger windows and leather seats for all your pleasures.”

“Hmmm… will you be giving us the ability to build these complex machines? As I wish to have my own personal train.”

“Yes! Mister Oleg!”

With his dark blue suit, the man stood up and marched to face the beautiful Morgana. Her long silvery hair was so enticing the man couldn’t help but stare at her excellently carved face. One he might never forget.

“Yes Chairman. How will I help?”

“What has the Magic Rails Guild said about the transfer of technology?”

He then reaches for his jacket. Inside it were two small pockets and two large ones for folders. Taking the brown folder, he opens it and reveals a document signed by the top leaders of the Magic Rails.

“Do you read English, Lady Voltaire?”

“No. Read it out to me.”

“Uhm… I’ll uh… paraphrase it then. Ahem.” On the back, General Paul has completely gone into a deep sleep as the Vampires talked amongst each other about the offer. “The Magic Rails offer its full support to the endeavors of the Men of the Woods and to the United Nations, formerly the League of Modern Guilds in building a relationship with the foreign Kingdoms. We humbly not only allow the transfer of railway tracks including enchanted ones, to locomotives, cars, and maintenance vehicles but also…” Oleg breathes in and out. “Blueprints and schematics will also be transferred and we are willing to modify them to your likings. Please bear in mind our services will stop when the time to return comes.”

“Interesting. I look forward to seeing these… trains come.”

People of the Voltaire House then proceeded to inspect and look at the train. Afterwards, the two Chairman's hands it over to the Dreyfusses. With the young and handsome Sir Dreyfus himself to be the first to take the model train. With an ornate and stylish Nobleman outfit with gems on his jacket and golden braids over his armpits, the style of the House was overwhelming. In stark contrast to the more brooding and overt power projecting of the Voltaires.

“Boy. Tell me, who is going to fund this?”

“For the first section of railway coming from the main city to the town of La Cassis. It shall all be on us. It’s a quick two kilometer run and the outskirts of the city are mostly open swathes so it will be fast to build.”

“I’ve seen enough.”

“Bring that toy to me.”

Everyone suddenly silences as the King speaks up. “I’d like to see this train.” Oleg looked up and felt the weight of the stare of the Vampire King before them. He instinctively pushes the model to Tony who then looks back at him and sighs. The man then goes into the hallway where there’s only a platform. He looks around and the Knight guarding it peeks over to him. “Lightly pour mana into the floor where you are standing. Do not pour too much as you might break the gem.” he follows as instructed and opens his palm as it faces the floor.

The platform suddenly goes up to the House of the Crowns Balcony. He then walks forward to where the Royal Throne is and the magnificent Queen waved at him, making him instinctively smile at her pretty face as the King stood up from his seat and opened his hands to take a look at it.

“Daughter. Come.”

The quaint but elegant Princess of the Kingdom then stood up. Letting the Cardinals and the members of the Crown’s entourage stay in their seats as the King picked up the model train. He slowly turns it around, inspecting it to the minute detail.

Chairman Tony then steps aside as the Princess with her waist length black hair and slender frame goes over to her Father to look at the model as the Queen stood up from her Throne and also inspected it.

“Interesting… very interesting. What does this run on?”

“Coal.”

“Coal? To think such an insignificant resource would become of great importance so suddenly… hmmm… Do you know that the lights of this city all came from the transparent gems? Every night, a Lighter as we call would come and find the main dial to illuminate the city.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“So… Do you think we can get coal to run these in high numbers?”

“Your Majesty, if needed be. Magic Rails is more than open to accepting modifications based on what you have. We already have Steam Locomotives that run on reusable Magma Stones as we call it.”

“Magma Stones?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s a special stone that can be mined in rare volcanic areas. It burns forever and if you stack them enough. It will provide enough heat. Though some coal would still be recommended to provide an extra nudge to the power and get it up its output of five thousand horsepower.”

“Interesting. Though I do see how this will be an amazing technology for the Kingdom. The hands of the Royal Family shall reach far and wide with this… train. Daughter, tell me. What do you think?”

“In my opinion Father. I think that we should take this opportunity. From what I know, the Outowrlders are yet to share their technology with anyone.”

The Chairman's eyebrow raises at the soft and kind voice of the Princess. Worthy of her elegant and slender stature in her pure white gown with silvery earrings and rings.

“Marienette?”

“I feel good about this. I also would like to thank the Outworlders for their restraint. I know it’d be easier to hand us weapons and call it. But you’d rather go out of such lengths to give us these gifts. My Husband, we should go with this.”

“Hm. Take this and return to your seat Chairman Wallalonga. Thank you for your kindness.”

Bowing, the Chairman takes the train and goes down back to the ground floor. He swipes his friend Oleg and the two return to the rear. The King further discusses it with his own entourage and the Court got noisy as all of the divided benches were talking amongst each other. Soon after, the King walks to the front of the Crowns Balcony and lifts his hand.

Everyone instantly silences just as the suited Government players started shaking each other's hands and nodding.

“I, King Harold Timothy the Sixth from House Dreyfus, Current King of the Kingdom of Rose Cramoisie hereby open the petition in our Neutrality in exchange for Trains. We mustn’t also forget about the just as major contribution of the Outworlders in giving our Kingdom its very own Wyvern Air Corps. Please anyone who wishes to represent their House and Family. Step forward.”

In the back, the General fiddles with his thumbs as a sneering silence hovers over everyone. He sneaks a peek at Alana who was confiding with her parents and Bahamut smiles at him with two thumbs up. He smiles back at Bahamut and returns it with one quick gesture.

“I.” The Minuit family is the first to stand, with Alana alongside her parents smiling to the King and Queen and the Princess. “Daughter of the Minuit family, representative of the Minuit House, wishes to support the Neutrality of the Kingdom.”

“Let’s get this on then.” Sir Dreyfus in his overly stylish outfit stands up. “I, The Dreyfuss House also agree to the Neutrality of the Kingdom.”

And suddenly, Morgana stood up. Her lavishly intricate gown shows the extreme elegance of the Voltaire family. Holding her fan up, she stands up. “I, Morgana Tempest Voltaire of the Voltaire House and its seventy families, wish to support the Neutrality of the Kingdom.”

Seeing the Voltaire’s support. It soon cascades with even the Minor Families opposite of their side on the right of the Court agreeing and all of them standing up. Many of them citing the Outworlder vampires that have greatly contributed to their families and livelihoods while also the players have greatly helped in small little ways in the community, most of all in the city. All that is left is the Bartley’s whose representative is still no one.

“Bartley’s, though your Lady is no longer with us. I ask of you, do you, or do you not agree?”

“It’s already overwhelming your greatness. Our words mean nothing.”

All of the sudden, the King gets spooked. He takes a few steps back taking everyone’s attention. The man’s face is as if a ghost appeared right before his eyes as the man leaned back out of nowhere and down to his Throne.

“My love, what is it?”

“It may be just me… but I swear that woman is haunting me to this very day…”

He looked at the only man that came to represent the Bartley’s and appeared right behind him. As if confused as he looked up, down, left and right.

“Lord Chantell, do tell me. You wouldn’t have a lady with you wearing the same Royal Party Gown as that of the ancient Queen right?”

“Your Majesty. The Chantell family has long respected the Bartley’s. We’d never tarnish her by doing such a thing. Her Gown to us is as precious as our eternity.”

“I could’ve sworn to have seen her… could this be the age getting to me?”

He once again looks at the balcony on top of the players where the Elders sat with the High Elves who were visibly angered by the agreements of the largest House in the entire Court.

“Uhm… Your Majesty?”

“Regardless, do you or do you not agree?”

The white haired man’s pointy ears twitch and he looks to the rear of the Court. He soon agrees. “As told to me by her Greatness, on behalf of her. I agree.” King Harold wipes his face with his palms, confused by the reply. “Are you insinuating to me that my wife gave you the all go?” the man with the messy white hair grinned at the King. “No, Your Majesty. It’s someone far greater than your beloved wife.” he then stands back down to his seat. Though the smallest of the Houses, the aura of the Bartleys were on a whole different level compared to the rest.

“Tsk, Bartleys. Doesn’t mean they have the most powerful Knights in the Kingdom that they can just do that. I should have the Charlemagnes take their barracks.”

The Cardinal of the Kingdom then stands next to the King. In his blood coloured and golden Pontifical Vests and his large Mitre headwear and a Crosier staff.

“Last I heard, the position to become the Lord of the Bartley House is cursed, as that’s why no one dared to replace the ancient Queen’s position.”

“Those Bartleys. That House really needs to be dissolved and the families inside it divided amongst us. Such foolishness to disrespect the Queen right in front of me.”

“I do not think they meant your wife, Your Majesty. It has long been said that Queen Elizabeth has drunk enough blood to basically become a Deity of sorts.” The King's eyes stood frozen as he faced the Court with everyone whispering amongst each other. “I do not believe it till I see it but knowing her. We might never know. I survived long enough. I do not wish to be haunted by that beauty.”

As the families whisper amongst themselves, the King sees a faint and nearly ghostlike image of the ancient Queen he used to serve under eons ago. Her beautiful red gown, white gloves with rings on all ten fingers and the old Royal Crown looking at him from the balcony as the players below celebrated. His eyes stopped before hitting her face, afraid to look at her in the eyes. “It can’t be… has she drunk so much blood that her very soul is now omniscient?! No, it can’t be!” looking at her, the King is once again taken aback by her beauty but this time, his eyes just stopped and looked at her

“Ahhh, that smile. I haven’t seen you smile like that, Your Majesty. How long has it been since you’ve made such an expression?” the Queen’s transparent form in all her glory and beauty is smiling at him earnestly. The King holds his heart as his free hand gestures over for his wife and daughter to come to him. The families continued to chat amongst each other, not knowing what was happening. The King hugs and kisses his wife and his daughter. “Your Highness the Queen, this is my family. I thank you for blessing me before your final hours in this world. Please, rest now. You’ve been through so much. This cruel world can never be prepared for your beauty. Inside and out.”

The current Queen then tilts her head, confused to what her husband is looking at while the Princess is just in awe, as if she saw something truly beautiful right before her eyes.

“Heedeth me Monkey. A storm is coming amongst our kin. Lead them true, as I did in times of peril when the mainlanders came to our continent. Farewell, if thou wert still alive. I thee would have cherished life. Live on and carry our kin to the next era.”

“My beloved, what is it? What’re you seeing?”

“Something wonderful. Something truly… beautiful. Isn’t that right my daughter?”

“So that’s how the first Queen actually looked… the books weren’t lying about her beauty… that golden blonde hair… and body.”

The current Queen looks at the balcony and still sees nothing while the House of Dreyfuss looks up to the King who is seemingly staring at no one. Their eyes widened as they heard him talking about the first Queen, they looked at the balcony just to be met with nothing but disgruntled High Elves and the silent Elders of the Kingdom.

“Such a bitter sting of remorse, thy have giveth to me. To brandish what I longed for in thine’s eyes. Live long, as for you Princess. Find a good man, he be not the wealthiest or the best looking. But looketh thou for the heart and thy shall find peace till death. I bid thee farewell.”

The Queen’s image disappears and the General feels as if someone is hugging him from behind tightly as he shakes the hands of the Colonels and the Chairmans. Weight on his shoulder seemingly got heavy. He turns around and looks up to the ceiling where the small stained glass windows were and sees a large Vampire Bat upside down looking in.

“It is done! I call this Court to be over! Go on with your days! Return to the party if you so wish! Mankind, I bid you safe return to your world, on behalf of all of us Vampires. Although we may not see eye to eye and never we shall be on the same platform. I hope you all health and wealth. May our eternity give light to your mortality!”

General Paul just felt weak at his knees and his breath cleared. The man shed a tear as the players became extremely rowdy and celebrated in the Court room. They immediately returned to there Vampire lovers and friends, exchanging hands and gestures as Alana jumped him and hugged him from the front. “MI LORD! YOU’VE DONE IT!” Cheering the man while Bahamut arrives carrying a plate full of Steaks.

“Congrats Master!”

“M’Lord, congratulations.”

“Phew… ALRIGHT! GIVE ME DRINKS!”

After a long night, he wakes up once again at their hotel. Surrounded by the three women, all sleeping tightly. All he could feel was the intense headache and some amount of dizziness as he slithers out of the bed to avoid waking up the trio. He tried to stand up, but everything from his pelvis down was absolutely whacked and immobile.

Having no choice, he crawls to the main lobby all naked and looks at the clock. The old Threan Clock shows that it's already afternoon with the halfmoon plate on the Sun down position, and the cold marble tiles was enough to make him jump and slither back to the carpeted main room. Its intense smell on the other hand was too much for him and he picked up his uniform from the floor scattered on top and below of gowns and expensive heeled shoes.

Soon, some energy returns to his lower areas and his table to walk about albeit slowly. He gets some bread and starts munching on it alongside an entire pitcher of water. He looks back at the opened doors of the main room and just sighs.

“Well, that was crazy. Probably the best and most taxing night yet of my life. Urgh. Why do you people start your Balls and even Court meetings at night?”

With a pain coming from the back of his head, the man heals himself and is surprised that he didn’t feel any amount of tire from doing it without his armor on. He grins as his energy returns. He starts to walk around and goes to the table in the main room. Checking the paper reports of the Bombers that were shot down and other things concerning the Kingdom. “Geez, that was far too close for comfort. Ugh. I’ll need to make a report to the Chairman and the House Speaker… If they probe me, I swear.” he shrugs, scratching his messy hair and goes back to their room to pick up their clothes that’s messily scattered about the carpet. Taking a pair of panties, he notices that was all, one that’s pink with a small ribbon on it and another that’s a black laced one meant for lingerie. Calculating what he is seeing, he looks up once again and puts the panties up to each of their wearers. “What a woman. Dang.”

He proceeds to take them again and the gowns left about and properly folds them and place them on the chair in the room. Neatly on top of each other. He then takes the High heels of the women and his Oxford shoes and aligns them next to the door. Seeing that the women were still sound asleep, he takes the chance to go into his briefcase and look at the report given to him.

The orders were all over the place as if all hell broke loose in the main headquarters and one folder was given a Top Secret stamp on it. Reading through it, his eyes widened at the report and his feet started tapping the marble tiles as he sat on the sofa. Carefully reading each word and sentence. “Unbelievable…” soon, he opens the other folders and looks at the reports and orders. All of them were about mobilization and total war being put into consideration and one report says that there’s still one B-52 bomber flying with Mana Nukes loaded in its bomb bays that has disappeared completely. Presumed to be shot down by an unknown party or creature.

Thousands of miles away in Zavalda, Airbase Shadilay is getting stormed by multiple Modern Guilds. Wrecked Main Battle Tanks littered its tarmacs and roads as intense magic and gunfire lay waste to the barracks and main offices, fire also started from the main fuel storages that engulfed half of the entire base itself. Inside his office, General Ripper’s carpet is all covered with used .50 casings as he continues to lay down fire with his mounted M2HB.

“SERGEANT! MORE BOXES!”

“SIR! MOTORPOOL SAID A JDAM JUST HIT THEM! ALL OF OUR MAIN BATTLE TANKS ARE OUT AND HANGAR ALPHA GOT NUKED BY A MAGE!”

“THEN GET THE JAVELINS! DON’T LET THOSE ABRAMS GET CLOSE!”

“CAN’T SIR! WE’VE SPENT MOST OF THEM! AND THEY DIDN’T DO MUCH AGAINST THE MOVING TARGETS! SOME OF THE ARMOR IS ALSO TOO CLOSE FOR LOCK ON!”

“COME HERE SERGEANT! MAN THIS FIFTY! I’LL GET THE SMAW!”

An LAV-25 rolls into the main street, its 25mm chaingun tearing up the first floor as Ripper comes back to his office carrying a rocket launcher. “BACKBLAST!” the Sergeant dives behind a sofa and screams back “CLEAR!” and the General fires his AT launcher, instantly blowing up the armored recon vehicle and soon after, a BTR-82A comes barreling through a blocked road, ramming through the makeshift obstacles of furnitures and its 30mm autocannon destroys the second floor, just littering it with high explosive shells. “SERGEANT!” The man rolls back into the M2 and the General removes the box and replaces it with an AP one.

“Let ‘er at ‘em!”

Ripper reorganizes his cigar as the Sergeant lets the M2 rip into the top armor of the BTR, killing its crew and punching holes into its armor. Running through the shitshow is one player, a high ranking adventurer in Knight armor. The M2HB points to him and starts throwing lead at the armored player but his enchanted armor tanks the bullets and he continues to slug through the hail of varying calibers shooting from the windows of the administrative building.

“Look at that playa’! C’mon Sergeant, hail some lead into him! Load the magical bullets!”

“Sir! We didn’t bring any!”

“Then just shoot his head! Bwahahaha let these morons in Iron Mountain see what bullshit will bring them! Zavalda’s military industry is ummatched!”

Another officer comes barreling into the hardened office of the General. In full gear, the man slings his M4 back and salutes to Ripper.

“SIR! PERMISSION TO USE THE AMMO INSIDE THE HARDENED AIRCRAFT SHELTERS!”

“If you can get them! Ahahahahahah! Look at these bastards storming in!”

Back in Rose, the General looks around at Alana’s manor. All of her Maids and Servants were outside, properly lined up and their hands together. He takes a small walk around the empty building. Passing their office and then to the dance hall and then stopping at the garden. He makes one long sigh and breathes in the air of Schon as much as he can. Soon, an officer arrives in the front yard and salutes as he opens the door to the MRAP.

“Well, looks like it's a shitshow back down there.”

“Wanna stay here M’Lord? You seem to already be accustomed to our culture and ways.”

“Heh, as much as I want to stay in this peaceful winter wonderland with beautiful eternal people, I can’t. And you three will be with me, so let’s go.”

“Hahahaha, well said. As you wish, M'Lord.”

They board the MRAP and it soon joins a convoy that transported them back to the Airbase where a C-130 awaited them.

Soon, they were brought to the airport and then delivered to Geraldia, the flight was so far that the cargo plane they were riding had to perform multiple midair refueling as the rattling ride of theirs landed in the middle of a valley formation. The huge mountains towering over the giant C-5M Super Galaxy. Their C-130 taxis into one of the tarmacs between the larger planes and the cargo doors open and the group is met with soldiers standing in parade and people in dress uniform to greet the five star general.

One player, wearing the cleanest dress uniform he’d seen with gleaming metal ribbons and medals walks up to him as he walks out of the ramp with his duffle bag behind him.

“SIR! Good Morning General Jackson, how was your plane ride?”

“Fucking terrible. Get the girls some nice barracks. I’ll perform the inspection immediately.”

“Sir yes sir.”

On the other side of the mountain is a huge tunnel opening, three entrances where battalions of skeletons with armor and vehicles march out to board the container vans of the freight trains parked just in front of it. The stage and the entrance was nearly three kilometers with each entrance being a kilometer long with a seemingly endless stream of undead soldiers in full kit marching out. They soon stopped and in complete unison, went into parade.

“CENTRAL ARMY GROUP! PREPARE TO MEET YOUR GENERAL FOR INSPECTION!”

The lifeless skeletons look to their left as a heavy bunker door opens, multiple inches thick and exits out is General Jackson with three beautiful women in tow behind him. He stops at the thick concrete gray balcony to look at the sea of skeleton soldiers looking at him. With the Support and Auxiliary Regiments way back and the armor in the middle while the infantry in the front.

“Sir.”

“Interesting, so this will be the one to delay the Demon Horde, Colonel?”

“One of many sir, many of them have already reached the front as you know in the reports. It’s just that of all the Generals, you're currently the last one to do a check on his army.”

“To think I was one of these back on Earth and I never got to meet my General except in the mobilization or TV or the magazines. So this is what it feels like, maybe Captain was indeed correct about me.”

“Well… sir.”

“Oh yes, lead the way.”

With the train yard stopping all activities and the players there standing in parade opposite of the massive formation. Walking down from the concrete hardened balcony down to the main area, he couldn’t even see the end of it from how far the formation goes.

“Master, I’m hungry.”

“Sh Bahamut. Look good, I feel like we’re being watched right now.”

“Oh we totally are My Lord. I can sense the window slits and cameras looking at us.”

“Oh geez, look good girls. Look good behind me.”

With his hands behind his back, he starts going through the formation. Eyeing the skeleton soldiers as thousands of heads follow his stride.

“Colonel, exactly how many skeletons have already been sent to the frontlines?”

“About six hundred thousand already. We’re reaching the max limit of eight hundred thousand.”

“So the paperwork wasn't lying then. But that’s still not enough. Elizabeth, since you're the only one here with experience with the closest history of the resets or the End Times as you call it. How many Demons could you count going through your Kingdom?”

“Oh… uhm… hm…. About ten? Twenty?”

“Thousand?”

“Million.”

“Oh God… Colonel, are we truly sure with this plan of using technology to level the playing field? The Kingdom of Rose itself is not that large compared to the Kingdoms and Nations here. And yet look at the numbers.”

“High Command is very much competent that the numbers will bring forth an equilibrium with the guns and armor. One skeleton soldier to twenty demons and one tank to a hundred demons.”

“I don’t know, that ratio seems to still be far too low with what the rumors are and what Elizabeth told me.”

Most of the skeletons were wearing old stuff. None of them were wearing exosuits or any of the latest cutting edge military technology back on Earth. But the General was happy to see old weapons that he used to see on TV being placed in such a situation.

“Anyone using the latest generation stuff? Exoskeletons? No?”

“Uhm… only one Guild has working Exoskeletons sir. So we didn’t implement it into the basic kit as it’d be far too expensive and resource extensive.”

“Boo, that’s sad. Exoskeletons were the shit in my day, IOTVs, ACHs all of these are ancient stuff, even in Basic. My helmet had a HUD on it and everything, at least you didn’t give them UCPs like the others.”

“You served in the United Asian Alliance right sir?”

“Yup, and our equipment is ten times better than this. Heck, this stuff is super old. Like twenty tens old. No army except Third World ones uses this stuff anymore. But I guess none of it is classified huh?”

“Yes sir and we recently changed our Kevlar vests to Bialloy now. They should all be able to resist magic damage to a degree.”

“Ah, good. At least stuff is still being changed and adapted. I know how hard it is to adapt to a new combat scene but good to know, good to know. Though I’d love to see my old Ratnik Eight gear and the Type Thirty Exosuits.”

“Sorry sir, that stuff is still far too new.”

“Well, as long as it provides protection. It's not like these skeletons can feel it anyways. Continue Colonel.”

The entire Inspection took them two hours of endless walking and soon, the General makes a thumbs up to the Colonel and the man walks back to the Command Center and orders the army to continue marching as the well cars on the freight yard opens their container doors and lets the army walk into the dark and lightless container vans. The tanks with their operators on board into the flatcars and soon, the entire army was fitted into a single three kilometer long train with double stacked container vans and flatcars meant for military vehicles.

“M’Lord.”

“Hm? Yes Alana?”

“Is this how you conduct war? In your world?”

“Hm. I guess you’ve never seen the behind the scenes huh. But yes, this is the effort that goes into arming a modern army. All the industrial capacity we're using right now is on an insane level, one that many cannot match thanks to the presence of magic.”

“My Lord, I hope you know how fragile this army is. Just looking at their equipment and how they have so many complex things working. All it takes is one pillar in your logistics to fall and your army stopped or its effectiveness cut in large portions.”

“I know, and it's not like we can keep this up forever. Eight hundred thousand, such numbers are just completely insane. No modern country on Earth can even field that many people. It’s only thanks to us having skeletons that we’re able to do it. But even still, the material support and the numbers there are reaching twenty to thirty million tons.”

“A month M’Lord?”

“Yea, a Month. Colonel, are the Lords of War still here?”

“Uhm… you mean High Command sir?”

“Yes, the President of Woodstock and the General Secretary of the UN. They’ve been staying here right ever since the problems with the Special Forces Regiments disappearing right?”

“Oh, yes sir. They have an emergency meeting right now about something.”

“Alright, I’ll attend as a guest.”

“YOU SON OF A BITCH! THAT’S A BIG CITY THERE! YOU CAN’T JUST DECLARE MARTIAL LAW!”

“NO YOU MORON! THAT’S THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE! STATESEC NEEDS TIME!”

“ENOUGH! ENOUGH! NO FIGHTING IN THE WAR ROOM!”

The wooden door opens and General Paul is met with suits and uniforms pointing fingers at each other. He notices Hassan was also there, but quietly sitting down with his legs crossed and in his skeleton form.

“THEN WHAT THE FUCK!”

“Mein kamaradens… I suggest ve ztay kalm, ja?”

“SHUT UP SCHNITZELNAZI! I’LL COOK YOU LIKE YOU DID TO MY ANCESTORS!”

“HEY! NO NAME CALLING! THIS IS A PROFESSIONAL SPACE! NO BAD WORDS TOO!”

“SHUT IT ADMIN BOY!”

He leans down, untying his shoes with Elizabeth and Alana tilting their heads in confusion as the General neatly places his polished Oxford leather shoes on the side and starts walking in silence to the scene. Even though the huge war room was well lit, everyone was too busy looking at each other and arguing to even make sense of their surroundings.

President Grahame was the first to notice the Eldwood General walking to the arguing Officials and Generals and just looked down on himself as slaps were heard left and right. “Are we calm now? You people are acting just as worse as our leaders back on Earth. Do you seriously THINK you can accomplish anything with this stupid mindset?” Bahamut then appears, bringing her Masters shoes to him. “Thank you. Girls, stay outside. This is going to get messy.” The three women leave the war room, leaving them all together now.

“Can someone explain to me why people with ranks as high as General and President are pointing fingers at each other like their life depends on it? Are we in some CoD lobby from Twenty Ten or something?”

Outside, Elizabeth starts sniffing around the bunker complex. Towing Alana and Bahamut as the vampire took a leisurely walk to the busy place where players are moving from left to right. Busy bringing paperwork and other materials around the Mountain complex.

“Ahhhh, humans. They never cease to amaze me. Right Alana?”

“Your Majesty, I think we have to step in.”

“Nay, let them be. No amount of words will stop humans from being fools. Bahamut knows this.”

“Yes, the Chosen Ones are as unpredictable and unquantifiable as it gets.”

“Haaaaa… I guess organizations can fail upwards. Though I think only humans can do this so successfully.”

“Oh yes it can Alana. Oh yes it can, the first days of the Kingdom was like that. When you grow far too large and powerful, no amount of mistakes can undo the success just like those fools posing as leaders.”

Inside the war room, Paul is just facepalming at the stuff he is told. He then opens his palms and lays it on the table.

“You people will give me more stress than the war. I’ll go to Zavalda and quell the potential rebellion. All I request is that I am given access to all the units that stormed the place and are right there. After that, I’ll go ahead and take a break. I do not want to be involved in chasing down that rogue Black Ops Battalion. I already have enough on my plate. You said StateSec will handle them right?”

“Yes. I’ve sent Kitter to go and investigate Zavalda right now and see what connection they have with them. She has sent me an initial report already and she thinks it might be the local Government Officials and some rich people involved. The fact that they knew where to hit inside the Downtown Police Station and have access to those tankers. Its no fault that it might be an inside job.”

“Th-thank you General. General Ripper has sadly left us, he has gone far now. Too far.”

“He was always unhinged but you people kept him in such a place of power. How can you let someone like that become in charge of the bombers? Now, we only have a handful of Mana Nukes and not enough to stem the tide of the Demon Hordes when those Hellgates open. Sir Hassan.”

“I know Paul, I know. Go ahead, quell the rebellion if need be. I’ll go and talk to our members with Seiness. I think one of them has already sent you a message?”

“I actually came here to learn more about that but instead I get sidetracked to this bullshit. I’ll be on my way now sir. Please handle the problem with the Holy See.”

“Hm. Safe travels General.”

“Yours too sir.”

Before he could exit out, he could hear the rattle of a chair being pushed. “General, could you have the three magnificent women with you come here? I’d like to ask one of them a question.”

“Hm? Who Mister President?”

“Bahamut.”

“Ah, I don’t recommend it. Their creatures far beyond our scope, their answers would seem insanity to us.”

“I don’t care, bring her here.”

After a few minutes, the three women are brought to the war room and stood before the table with Bahamut in the middle and forward of the two vampires as Paul in the background sat on a sofa drinking coke and eating the nachos from a long glass table full of snacks and food.

“Bahamut, I am President Hans Grahame, Leader of the Woodstock Guild. I’d like to ask you a question.”

“Hm? A Human asking God a question? Bwahahaha, how entertaining. I’ll answer then.”

“What do you think is the best course of action to the peril we’ve seen ourselves in? Do you think we can fend off the forces of Evil with what we have?”

“Hmmmmmm…” all of them leaned in, in anticipation of her answer.

“I think… you should all just give up.”

“EH?!”

“Now, now, don’t jump through the hoops humans. Let me finish. If you're gonna view them as Evil then you are wrong, you aren’t facing an enemy that is Evil. As Evil is merely a part of everyone and everything, the Demons you are so afraid of are part of this world.”

“Wha-what do you mean?”

“The Gods of this world have all gone, but left in their wake is the balance that is required. To stop the cycling End Times would be to defy these Gods and their construct of balance. Far too much peace and good is to come, war and destruction needs to happen to bring balance.”

“That’s absurd though!”

“See?”

“Because it is! Goddess Bahamut, are you suggesting we just roll over and die? We humans? No, we will fight back!”

“Ahahahahaha! That’s what I like about you humans. Let’s see then if you can, but that’s the truth of this matter. Me and everyone else are merely foreigners meddling in an affair we have no knowledge about. Even in my divinity, I’ve only scratched the surface of how this world works, how Threa and its architects had built this planet and the logic behind it. It might be seem like the one in Tur, but this world is far more complex and dangerous with an open eye like mine.”

“So, Evil and Good needs to be balanced? Is that why we came here? To bring chaos to the table?”

“Oh, you're smart for a mortal. Yes, I can sense that. The Gods of this world brought you here to do as such. But the Gods of the Good wish to stop this and hence have sent the Sword Saint to occasionally poke at you while the other Heroes venture off getting stronger and stronger by the day to one day face the very Gods that was born from the Under.

“S-so… the Sword Saint meddled with us twice to-”

“Slow down the chaos you're bringing. Though it is inevitable with how much weapons and violence we’ve brought to this world. It can be slowed down, but it's just a slower march to our doom.”

As if their suddenly transformed to a new place, Bahamut is standing outside of the planet in her Dragon form. The golden lizard eyes of the mighty beast looking down on them as they stood on top of the continents.

“You, Chosen Ones have been brought to Threa to seemingly cause an upheaval, to spark the start of the imbalance, the last pillar that needs to fall to activate the so called End Times. I can occasionally feel the hands of the Gods of this world moving like meddling tentacles. Nudging things left and right, though I’ve not done much as I am only a single God and there are more than five.”

The two Vampires were also with them but Elizabeth, having placed on top of a mountain and could see through the other side, into space where Bahamut lay while Alana is just right behind her, looking back at the Players who’re visibly trembling and shaking at the sight of Bahamut’s true power and presentation. Their Master and Lord, nowhere to be found.

“It is but an impending doom for all you mortals. A wall that’s now nearer than before, but yet far enough to not be seen.”

“Th-then! Who can defeat the Reset then?!”

“The one called the Heroes, the ones that you fear so much and give problems too. They are the other side of Balance that wants Good to prevail, far more powerful than any of you. Loved by the world and given everything by the world. Only they can do anything while you and your lot are left to fend for themselves with your meager machines.”

Hundreds of tiny bombers could be seen on where they stood, flying from Geraldia and Schon as the entire giant planet turned red and the seas coloured blood and the skies darkened. There bombers, cruise missiles, nukes unable to stop the hordes of Demons appearing from everywhere and anywhere. Nowhere is safe as screams can be heard from all around the large globe.

“Though that is merely what I can read, I am after all a limited God. I cannot access my True Dragon form as you all know what that could mean.”

“But I do wonder… if you can escape. The portal you have, it is opened but you're left with the question if it takes you back home… to Earth, correct?”

Bahamut then changes the planets and the skies to any different unknown worlds and some without light while some has nothing but a barren world.

“I suggest you take the leap before it's too late. Do not wait before you're forced to move as seen by your tendency to only react when things have gone awry that involve your power.”

“Then, is there any way for us to stop it? To defy it, as we still need time! We do not know if the portal takes us home to Dark World!”

“Can you see the fire in my eyes?”

They look and stare at Bahamut’s giant golden eyes, larger than the planet itself. On it could be seen rays of fire like the Sun constantly exploding and moving in all directions as new galaxies are made and milky ways are born from her very pupils alone.

“Unless you humans can stop the world itself, to extinguish the flame that provides the light that moves the Gods and all that is logical and spatial, it will still occur and none of you can do anything to it. I am sure you people are sensible enough to know what doing it would mean, the extinguishing of the light, the utter destruction of all life and concepts and a complete restart from zero.”

“So this light will always return?”

“No matter what, the burning flames, the essence of life will always find a way. We Dragons are part of this flame. Those before even me, the Dragons that ruled over a dark world, it was our flames that gave life to what little places that had plants in them. The heat of living and the burn of breathing, you humans should not play with this. Last it happened… let us not delve into such a horrendous sight.”

“Oh no…” Grahame then starts to walk around the globe, seeing all the death and destruction as endless hordes of Demons from small to giant walked amongst everyone and trampled anything that stood in their way. But then, he sees a bright light. A small group of people running towards the billions of Demons. He nudged the other players to look and they all dropped their jaws at the sight.

The small group of people were shining like Gods as each swipe of their Sword, Maces, Knives, and other weapons wiped out thousands and millions. The Demons are unable to touch them.

“It's as if… we're all just pawns…”

“We all are. Even we Gods are pawns to the True Gods. The ones that created the flame that lit the world and brought life to the Dragons. In the end, do not concern yourselves with them. Just as Master said. That’s their story and this is ours and only you have the right to control the narrative. Mister Grahame, beware of what is coming.”

They suddenly returned back to the war room with Paul finishing the nachos with a cheese dip he found jumps at the sudden animation of the players on the table.

“That is all, good luck.”

The Black Goddess turns around, and exits out the room with the General just noticing it. He takes three nachos with him for the road. The war room was left in silence from the powerful presentation the Dragon gave. “Sooo…. What now?”