The next day arrived with energy and enthusiasm.

Shiru had just moved all of her books and notes to her new office in the war room.

Well, it used Han’s office but his stuff had been moved into Volta's office where Deag now worked.

Qualel and Erna had convinced Shiru to go to work in her new dress and although she didn’t mind, she didn’t want to get it too dirty.

The two ignored her concerns and said that they’d simply make her more dresses.

Shiru couldn’t help but smile as she raised her right hand to find a silly little band around her wrist.

Her smile dimmed just a little as a knock came from the door.

“Come in.” She said prompting two women, one tall and with short white hair, the other almost as tall with long grey hair.

One of them, the white haired one, held a stack of papers.

“Please sit.” Shiru instructed and the two did so.

“Pardon the late introduction, but my name is Nira, leader of the Ash Wraiths and this Istel. Condolences for everything that happened.”

“Thank you. I’m guessing those are lists of all the things you’ll be needing?” Shiru asked but Nira shook her head.

“No. We’ll be sending supplies up here via the new transportation system. Those dark carts are beyond useful. The only thing we might need is water. The presence of so many Ia is draining our springs rather quickly.” Nire said and Shiru promptly noted it in her journal.

“Alright. If that’s all, allow me to accompany you-“

“Can I see them? The Dragon Knights?” Istel suddenly asked.

“Umm… sure. Follow me.” Shiru said before leading the two to Thneia’s office.

Shiru knocked on the open door making Thneia raise her head.

“Yes?” She asked. Her deep voice shaking the air.

“Yes, these two wanted to meet you. One of them being the leader of the Ash Wraiths.”

Thneia’s reptilian eyed shifted to Nire then Istel.

“Come in.”

Shiru and the couple from Mt. Jivu entered the office as Thneia leaned back into large chair.

“So, what can I do for you?”

“Just… how powerful are you?” Istel asked with trembling eyes.

Thneia looked the silver knight over and sighed.

“About as strong as a Helma. Maybe two.”

“My goodness…” Nira gasped.

“C-could you show me. Your true power?” Istel asked.

“You’re being rude-“

Nira stopped as Thneia raised her hand.

She then squeezed it into a fist and a loud, deep sound filled Coh.

“That was the sound of air rapidly expanding high above us. I created a ball of heat about one thousandth of the sun’s true heat. Although it existed for about half a second. You see, we heat and cold magicians see everything around as a countless bouncing particles that vary in speed and concentration. We can gather and excite those particles by transferring into them energy from the surrounding ones. The opposite is true for Cold magicians. They can suck the amount of energy from a given point, turning it cold.” Thneia explained.

“I… I see. Thank you.” Istel said as she and Nira stood.

They then followed Shiru out of the office with widened eyes.

The two were even startled by Deag who greeted from within his office.

“Hey, Nire!”

The two turned around to find a grinning Deag.

“Thanks for everything!”

“You… already thanked us.” Nire said but Deag shook his head.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve been experimenting on my own and I’ve made quite a lot of progress!” Deag said with a sharp thumbs up. He then noticed that the Ash Wraith looked rather distressed.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

“N-nothing. Anyway, you’re welcome to visit any time if you run into any trouble.” Nire said before joining Istel in following Shiru out of the war room.

“What was that all about? I’ve never seen him that happy about anything.” Shiru asked.

“Oh- it’s nothing. He’s just been curious about a few things and we thought we’d help him out.” Nire explained as Shiru led her and Istel towards the teleportation platforms.

“Oh? And what might those things be?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say.” Nire said with a weak smile.

“I see.” Shiru said with a disappointed sigh.

Nire and Istel stepped onto the stone platforms.

“Goodbye.” She said just before the two disappeared.

She sighed before looking up into the morning sky.

She looked beyond it but failed to see anything else.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She failed to see anything beyond Coh.

Anything beyond her home.

She walked out into the outskirts of Coh, passing countless soldiers, workers and ordinary Rendaro.

She walked past a rather loud and rowdy building wherein many soldiers could be seen drinking.

One of them, a visibly drunk one, grabbed Shiru’s hand, startling her.

She turned to face him and his many comrades who sat on a bench just outside the tavern and she looked into his half closed eyes.

“Ey… you’re that woman who’s the new boss, right?” He asked, his speech a sludgy mess.

“Oi! Let ‘er go, idiot!”

The soldier next to him said after smacking his comrade in the back of the head.

The first soldier unhanded Shiru before lowering his head.

“What? Is it so wrong to want to speak with the person who’ll decide when and where we die?” He asked with a hiccup.

“Pardon this pitiful excuse of a man, ma’am. He means no harm, I swear.” The second said.

Shiru looked at them all before taking a single deep breath.

She then took the seat opposite the first’s and looked deep into his eyes.

“Go ahead. Share with me your concerns. I may not be able to help, but the least I can do it listen.” Shiru said with a weak smile.

The first soldier lowered his head even further while tightly holding his glass of ale.

“S-sorry.” He said.

“Don’t worry. But, like you said, I am your superior now and I think a good leader is one who knows the needs and wants of those who follow her. So tell me. What do you want? What do you need?” Shiru asked with narrowed eyes.

“Well, we’re fine, in terms of supplies. I just wish this war would end. How long has it been? Ten months? A year? It’s hard to tell when you’re up there. On the plateau all days meld into one and sleepless nights follow you back home. I… when will it end, ma’am?” The second asked with trembling eyes.

“I… I don’t know. But you must remember that each tribulation you overcome will bring us closer to making the Expanse a safe home for the Rendaro of the present and the far future.” Shiru said.

The soldiers all nodded but they still seemed a little down.

“Drink up, gentlemen. Oh- what troop or squad are you?” Shiru asked as she stood up.

“One hundred and third troop, ma’am.”

“Yes, drink well for I have a plan that will shift all future conflicts in our favour. Could I ask that you place your trust in me until the plan is revealed?”

The soldiers all looked at each other before raising their glasses.

“We’ll look forward to it!”

“Yeah!”

They all said.

Shiru smiled before giving them a curt bow.

She then bid them farewell before continuing west towards the edge of Coh.

She eventually arrived at the point where the buildings stopped and the desert began.

She looked out into the vast sea of sand but before she could digest all of what she saw, Raer suddenly appeared next to her.

“Rix has returned.”

Shiru nodded before being teleported to the camp in the Kommátia planes.

She was led into a large tent within which stood around one thousand humans.

Standing above them all was Rix only his left arm was missing.

Shiru walked up to him and looked into his burning reptilian eyes.

She then explained all of what happened in Coh and he nodded in acknowledgement.

She knew he couldn’t talk and so she simply guided him to a group of healers who poured life energy into his wound, although he kept his dark armour on during the process.

Thneia eventually entered the tent only she was wearing her armour and helmet.

She walked up to Shiru while placing her hand firmly on her swords hilt.

“The Moon King wants to speak to you and Deag.”

Shiru’s eyes trembled but this wasn’t the time to panic.

She opened her mouth to speak, but before any words left her mouth, Llana appeared next to Thneia, dressed fully in dark armour.

“Everyone has been notified of his presence. If things go bad, they’ll go to Eimval and follow protocol from there.” She said.

Shiru nodded before looking around but before age could open her mouth to ask, Deag entered the tent.

“Where is he?” He asked Thneia as Rix wore his helmet as well.

“He’s standing far above the Kommátia planes.”

“Then take us to him.” Deag growled.

He and Shiru were then teleported onto an invisible platform that was hundreds of meters in the air.

Standing about ten meters away was a dwarf, clad in a ornate blue robe and next to him was a rather beautiful woman dressed in a beautiful white dress. She was bald and her skin was covered in thin golden lines but, If anything, that made her uniquely beautiful.

Standing behind the two were four silver knights who wielded different kinds weapons.

Shiru’s eyes turned to the dwarf and she couldn’t help but scowl as she looked into his silver eyes.

“Greetings. I am Luno, King of Lanceberg. What should I call thee?”

“I am Deag and this is Shiru, Katsíki’s regents and current leaders of the United Expanse Forces.” Deag said firmly, his eyes quaking with palpable amounts of animosity.

“Regents? May I ask where thine lord is?” Luno asked and without missing a beat, Shiru answered.

“You may not.”

“I… see. Well, Pardon my rudeness, but could we find somewhere more accommodating to have our talk?” Luno asked.

“Yes.”

The Moon King nodded before teleporting everyone to a small patch of grass in the middle of the Kauretia Valley.

The wind then seemingly disappeared and a mind numbing silence filled the now still air.

Shiru kept her gaze locked with Luno’s as they stood beneath the pale light of a cloudy sky.

“Firstly, I would like to apologize for the damage my son caused. I… was preoccupied for the longest time and although that is no excuse, I do so sincerely hope that we can move forward together in these dark times.” Luno said but Deag and Shiru remained silent.

While Deag’s face flared with emotion, Shiru’s feelings suddenly fizzled out and her face relaxed to the point that it was expressionless.

“Ahem! If thou art willing, I would also like to establish trade relations. I know very well the toll war can have on people and I would like to offer what help I can.” Luno said and again, Deag and Shiru remained silent.

This seemingly bothered Luno, but before his face could even shift to reflect that, Deag and Shiru spoke simultaneously.

“Is that all?”

Luno smiled weakly.

“Unfortunately, no. We have yet to discuss specifics like when I will send aid, what form it will come in and how thee will receive it.”

“May I be frank with you, Moon King?” Shiru suddenly asked.

“Please, call me Luno.”

Shiru clasped her hands together with so much force that it hurt, but her face didn’t change.

“You speak as though without a doubt what you want will happen. I’m not sorry to say, but that is not how things will go. If you send help, as you call it, we will simply send it back. Does that mean trade will not be an option? Not at all, I just hope you understand my- our feelings. Our people are still reeling, so do as you will but leave us be for the time being.” Shiru said with half closed eyes.

Luno nodded.

“I understand. Once again, I apologize for my son’s actions and if there is anything I can do to mend relationships between our people, send a massager carrying your names.” Luno said as he turned to leave.

“Oh, there is something you could do that would make us consider everything you said.”

“Oh-“ Luno’s face twisted into a frown upon seeing a faint smile on Shiru’s face.

Deag glanced at her with a raised brow.

“W-what condition dost thee propose?”

“Kneel.”

Shiru’s words were painfully clear in the silence of the barrier.

“Excuse me?” Luno asked while turning to fully face Shiru, who’s face was still ecstatic.

“For five hundred years, your kind has brought nothing war and suffering to this world. Surely kneeling would be the least you could do in the name of reparation.”

Luno struggled hiding his shock and anger.

He turned to the silver knights and saw that they were all ready for battle but it’s upon glancing at the Draconic Knights, who stood with crossed arms, that Luno’s eyes lowered.

“That… I cannot do.”

“And that is completely understandable, Moon King. Return to your throne, take care of your people and oh- just a word of warning. If your son is seen anywhere near our borders, he will be killed.”

This was the last straw for one of the silver knights, who teleported right next to Shiru while swinging his sword in an attempt to decapitate her, but the knights just as quickly let go of his sword as Rix teleported in front of it.

He then grabbed the weapon and squeezed it so hard that not only did it shatter, the space around it cracked and splintered loudly.

The knight promptly backed away while Rix walked back to his spot behind Shiru but the space he had grabbed remained shattered and the broken remnants of knight’s sword swirled endlessly within.

Rix, Thneia and Llana then accompanied Deag and Shiru to a safe distance away from the cluster of broken space.

They then teleported back to the tent in the centre of the camp where Shiru immediately fell to her knees.

Deag knelt to help her up but his eyes widened upon seeing that although Shiru’s face was covered in tears, she was silently laughing.