Until then I am just going to have to wait and let my curiosity make me suffer. Although I have gotten pretty used to that by now, there are so many things that trigger my curiosity. It wouldn't be so bad, but most of them don't have answers, or at least answers that I can find.

By the time I end my meditation the sun is coming up, so I climb under the covers. Then I wake Myria up in the best way I know how and we have some more fun. When we have finally had our fill, we move out into the main room and sit down.

It almost seems like Sarah was spying on us, we only sit for a few minutes before breakfast arrives. With our breakfast comes Ambrose, Roddick, and Borrik, but no one else. Belliza and Jezzel are probably stuck doing the work the guildmasters are avoiding.

Sarah says "There is enough for everyone, dig in!"

"Thank you, Sarah. The food and the service are amazing as always!"

Myria says "It is kind of creepy how you always know when we wake up."

Sarah says "Don't overthink it, I am just really good at my job!"

Ambrose says "Enough of that. What are these plans you mentioned?!"

So, as we eat I tell them my theories about the demons and my plan for the empire. The fact that I am planning to attack the empire both excites and worries them. However, they believe me about the demons, so they don't try to talk me out of it.

Ambrose says "This spell of yours, are you sure about its effects?"

"Yeah. I've used it before, it works."

Borrik says "There are a lot of mercenaries in the empire, would it bother your plan if I ordered them to evacuate?"

"Probably not. Will they even listen to you?"

Roddick says "Borrik may not look like it, but he is actually the highest ranked guildmaster in the mercenary guild. If he orders it, they will move out of the empire. However, if he doesn't have a good reason, he will lose his position."

Borrik says "That level of chaos is definitely a good reason and I trust Ash."

"Actually, I have a better idea. How about I hire all of them to help free and escort the slaves out of the empire?"

Borrik says "It is possible, but it would cost you a ton!"

"That's not a problem. Just talk to Pol for payment."

Roddick says "There is no need for that, my guild still owes you a ton of gold. We will pay for the mercenaries."

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"Oh, I had forgotten about that. It isn't necessary, but go ahead if you want to."

Roddick says "I do and I will. I never leave a debt unpaid."

Borrik says "Works for me, but we need to get the word out right now. Otherwise they won't get the job before the chaos starts."

Ambrose says "If you don't finish eating the food Sarah brought you, don't be surprised if you don't get served again."

That shuts them up and makes them go back to eating while Sarah laughs. We eat quietly after that until all the food is gone before we resume the conversation. Before they leave, the guildmasters have one last question for me.

Ambrose says "Assuming this all works out, what are your plans for afterwards?"

"I haven't made a concrete plan yet, but what would you say if I said I wanted to unify the peninsula?"

Ambrose says "I'd say that Illium is yours, your majesty!"

Roddick laughs and says "Ambrose, Ash unifying the peninsula means that we would have to help manage the whole thing. You would have more work to do, not less!"

Ambrose says "You can't unify the peninsula! That's a crazy idea!"

Everyone else laughs at his sudden change of tune, including me and Myria. Roddick and Borrik continue teasing him as the three of them leave to take care of things. I am not worried, they will give me their real answers once they have had time to think about it.

Myria says "So, what's next?"

"Next, I want to meet with Vacker. Then I will go to the tower to find Lin and cast the spell. After that, I haven't thought of anything yet."

Myria says "I would suggest that you and I spend some time with Lin after you cast the spell."

"She is probably busy reading, or spending time with Bella."

Myria says "You know that Bella being around doesn't mean that Lin doesn't want to spend time with you, right?"

"I know that, but it doesn't stop me from worrying that she prefers spending time with Bella. Especially since it is a lot more convenient for Bella to be around all the time."

Myria says "You are an idiot, but at least you admitted it this time and didn't try to hide it. If that is what you are worried about, you need to tell that to Lin. If you don't, then I will."

"No, you won't! This is me confiding in you, but if you run and tell Lin then I won't trust you enough to confide in you again. I would also expect Lin not to tell you things that I confide in her."

Myria says "That's not fair! This worry of yours could be settled easily if you just talk to her about it!"

"Or it could make things worse. I don't want to let my worries come between Lin and Bella. It will be better if I just keep my mouth shut and deal with my issues on my own. Now, can I trust you, or not?"

Myria says "Of course you can trust me, but I am still going to call you an idiot!"

"That's fine. At times I am an idiot and at times all I need is someone to talk with about things. Not all problems need to be solved, sometimes it is enough to vent them out. My worry about Lin will sort itself out given time and talking about it makes me feel better."

Myria says "Well, if you feel better, then I guess that's alright. I still think talking to her would be the better way, but I will stay out of it. So, you said we were going to see Vacker next?"

"Yeah. Are you coming with me?"

Myria says "Of course! I don't plan to let you out of my sight unless I have to. You get into too much trouble when you are unsupervised."

"Well, I can't really argue that, but I'm not doing anything but talking to people right now. I doubt I can get into much trouble talking."

Myria says "You could get into trouble sleeping!"

"Now you are just exaggerating! I am not that bad!"

Myria laughs at me and then kisses me until I stop glowering at her, which doesn't take long. After making out for a while, we get up, leave the inn, and head over to Vacker's school. As soon as I walk in, the crowd of students stop what they are doing and turn to bow to me.