Daz did nothing in silence for a moment as he watched Ellie cry and wail her heart out on that office building's rooftop. Sadly though, he knew now was not the time to grieve as she so clearly was.

"Can you stand? If so, I'll escort you to a shelter. I've defeated their leader but more Truthians still wander the streets of Fort Home slaughtering our people. You, unfortunately, are not quite safe yet," he said with a logical mind.

Ellie stiffened. She clenched her palms over her knees before slowly pushing herself up onto her feet.

She approached Daz with unhurried steps and looked him right in the eyes with a furious look on her face. "Just leave me here if you're so concerned about others! Just fuck off! How can you be so calm when Idris and Sandy are dead?! Weren't you and Sandy close?! Do you feel nothing?!"

Daz didn't react to her being right in his face like this. He frowned and instead replied, "Now is not the time. More people are likely dying right at this moment. As this land's high king, I have a responsibility to my people, and that includes you."

"You... You heartless monster..." Tears once again poured out of Ellie's eyes as she glared daggers at Daz. "I just lost my boyfriend and a dear friend and former colleague but you just expect me to shut up and follow you to some fucking shelter?! I was strong when it was Dad and Sarah, but I can't... Not again... Leave me here."

'She's being irrational... I know the pain and suffering she is going through is immense but she needs to stay calm right now... Why is she being so difficult?' Ellie wasn't the only one struggling right now but Daz had to maintain his cool.

He was a ruler first, a person with emotions second. 'Strong feelings and subconscious obligations to follow societal morals are hard to deal with...'

"We cannot be wasting time here. I will take you by force if I need to. You aren't safe here. Will you come?" Daz asked again.

Ellie laughed a hollow laugh. "Will I come? Why didn't you come? When I was screaming my fucking lungs out. Just talking hurts. Just looking at you hurts. Why didn't you come, huh? If you did, they wouldn't be dead!"

"I'm sorry but I couldn't have arrived any sooner. I was busy fighting a card-"

A punch to the face interrupted him. And then a second and a third, and a fourth...

A cascade of fists flew at Daz's head and each connected. They couldn't do any damage to him considering Ellie's low physical stats. Dodging just seemed like an... unwise decision in his opinion.

Before long, Ellie's fists grew weak and she collapsed into Daz's chest and screaming as if her soul had been torn from its still-living body.

Several seconds passed before she sobbed, "They're really gone, aren't they?"

Daz's bottom lip trembled as he weakly answered, "Yes, they are."

"W-What about their souls?" Ellie asked with some light hope in her tone.

Daz shook his head. "Not now. They won't corrode in only a few hours. We must discuss this matter later. For now, will you follow me to a shelter?"

Ellie was still angry, upset, confused and deeply saddened. Her face made that painfully clear to the emotionally inept and inexperienced reaper.

However, she reluctantly nodded her head at his question.

As they left the building, Daz heard her whisper, "You shouldn't have blocked it..."

Considering it was relatively simple to assume what she meant by 'it', Daz found himself being unusually worried and disturbed. Quite deeply, at that.

'Emotions are... hard,' he thought.

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The mood was grim at Castle Crowthorne's war room. The silence enveloping the room was a very loud one.

Despite there being over a dozen people present whether physically or via holographic projections, not a single one made a peep as they waited for their high king to speak.

Daz collected his thoughts and looked at his sister, Rose. "Death counts."

Glancing down at her laptop, Rose, in an uncommonly timid voice, answered, "132,436 New Earthians, four of which were some of our newer Ember-wielders. 17,304 confirmed Truthian kills, most notable of which, one cardinal killed by you. Other high profile kills include 23 archbishops and 322 bishops. All others were priests or high priests. 16% of those confirmed kills came from citizens who were crafty and sneaky enough to get the drop on their attackers before they or their weapons could be turned to ash."

Daz nodded calmly. "Lyle, status report on the public's reaction and anything of concern."

"Yes, My High King. Fear is on the rise and trust in the monarchy and your armies is at an all-time low. There are various groups forming to lobby against you, arguing you should hand yourself over to stop any more needless bloodshed. There are numerous other minor concerns but they are too many and too petty to needlessly list here and now," Lyle answered dutily.

Daz tapped his finger against the armrest of his chair before he coldly stated, "Crosius. Damage report."

"Your Majesty," Crosius answered as he bowed his head respectfully, "Globally, just over 100,000 citizens have found themselves with uninhabitable homes. Hospitals and schools seemed to be the primary targets for destruction after residential areas..."

He took a deep breath before he said, "Two of our cities were completely destroyed. Las Vegas being one and Incheon in Korea being the second. We just didn't have enough defenders there capable of fighting back the Truthians. Three of the lost Ember-wielders were in Las Vegas. They were too inexperienced... The fourth was Incheon's only one."

"..." Daz tapped his fingers against his chair's armrest patiently with nothing clear being displayed in his expression.

Ho Ran who was present via holographic projection, however, was displaying her fury for all to see, though she stayed silent.

Losing an entire city had clearly affected her greatly as United Korea's queen.

"Continue. Locally, now," Daz demanded with a wave of his hand.

"O-Of course, Your Majesty." Crosius stuttered nervously. "Due to the increased amount of higher-ranked Truthians - the cardinal included - than all other affected areas and cities, Fort Home has lost almost all of its public and service buildings. Most notably, the hospital, two schools and the cathedral. The bank, mercenary guild and a few other system buildings were able to protect themselves or were specifically defended by the city's Ember-wielders, included the castle academy. We were lucky to have so many of our strongest Ember-wielders present. Losing the capital would have been a devastating blow. That is all. Naturally, like Mr Middleton, I have a more detailed report should you wish for it."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"I see," Daz said softly but sternly.

Silence consumed the room once more as everyone waited for his next words. He was currently the very picture of serenity from his outward appearance but all who knew him could see the waves crashing against the cliffs that were the insides of his mind.

Mu, in particular, saw more than most. He felt suffocated, in all honestly. His less combat-oriented Embers were not reacting well to Daz's current mindset, that was for certain.

Thankfully, he didn't keep his lips sealed for long. "Do you all support me? Do you all believe in me?"

Lyle was the first to answer. "Unto death, My High King."

"Of course, Your Majesty. My role is to advise, not to question and doubt," Crosius stated.

Crusher nodded her head with a serious expression. Her Ember of Clarity gave her insight into what Daz's goal was by asking these questions so she replied quickly, "I'm with you, Uriel. Don't make the mistake of thinking I could ever be so cowardly."

Mu smiled faintly. "When we pledged brotherhood to one another, I did not do so lightly, Daz."

Madison reached over and squeezed Daz's hand. "Always, faith, in, you."

"You know how I feel," Rose responded as she seemed to struggle with something mentally.

General Retford slammed his fist to his chest. "My sword is yours and always will be so long as you fight for justice, Your Majesty."

General Miller scoffed as he crossed his arms. "I see what this is about. I doubt anyone in this room wants to sell you out for an early peace, Daz. We all lost friends and family today. That won't be forgotten by losing another. Fuck the Truthians and that whore Danielle's second victory condition."

Slowly turning to stare at the middle-aged man, Daz very carefully said, "Answer the questions plainly."

Surprise flickered across General Miller's face before he answered, "Yeah, I support you."

"Good," Daz responded before looking away. "Also, do not throw baseless insults at Mother Danielle. She may be our enemy and I may fully intend to kill her and rip her soul from existence itself, but that is no excuse to become so vile as to call her a 'whore'. We are above such childishness. I expect more from you as a forward-facing representative of our high kingdom."

"R-Right," the over 50-year-old father of Dorian stuttered as he felt a frog spawn in his throat.

Gradually, one by one, every person in the room, whether physically or holographically, pledged their support and trust in their ruler.

Daz got up from his seat at the war table and said, "I'm truly glad I can trust everyone gathered here. Lyle, you will work with Rose, Crosius and both General Miller and General Retford to rebuild here in central New Earth."

They all nodded, accepting the extremely daunting task made only more difficult now that both builders capable of self-creating system buildings had been lost.

"Mu... Brother, I entrust to you the task of enforcing a nationwide lockdown. You also must lead our Ember-wielders to defend our borders, both locally and overseas. Crusher will help you with this. When they can be spared, use the armies of New Earth," Daz ordered. "Remember, line of sight must be broken for normal men and women to do any damage whatsoever."

"I will do my best," Mu answered immediately.

Crusher frowned a little but nodded regardless. "If that's where I'm needed, that's where I'm needed."

Daz then gave every other present member a mission they had to fulfil, spanning from helped the citizens to gathering intelligence on the Truthians and their movements. Some people like Lyle and Rose were given multiple jobs.

It was a burden on them and he knew it but he had no other choice. While he could put his faith in everyone here, none were as incredibly talented and hardworking as his little sister and his personal advisor.

When Daz was finished assigning tasks, Crusher asked, "What will you do then? You're the only person here who hasn't been assigned a role by, well, you."

"I will hold a press conference that I want to be relayed across the world, even outside of New Earth," Daz answered.

"And then?" Crusher followed up. "What about after that?"

"I will actively seek out and destroy the Truthian bases spread out across the world, though mostly focusing on their Northern American ones, where they are based out of and where they threaten us the most," Daz said plainly.

"No!" Rose yelled. "That... That's foolish! You can't fight a war alone!"

Daz looked at her with no emotion at all showing on his face. "I can and I will. I alone am immune to their ashification. I am the most effective tool to prune this infestation that plagues our land before we can prepare for a final push to wipe them out. I will not accept objections on this matter."

"Bu-"

"This meeting is over." And with that, Daz walked out of the war room at a steady pace.

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A couple of hours later, Crosius approached Daz as he sat upon his throne and announced, "Miss Richie has arrived."

Daz nodded. "Send her in and have everyone else leave the throne room, yourself included. I wish to talk with her privately."

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Crosius agreed.

Ellie was escorted into the room by two soldiers who bowed their heads at Daz and held their arm to their heart in respect. A few moments passed before the two of them were left alone.

Daz held out a palm and indicated towards it. "I have collected Sandy and Idris' souls. They rest atop my hand. What would you have me do with them?"

Ellie looked at the empty space above his outstretched hand and she responded, "Attach them to me. I... I'll protect them like with my mother."

Daz shook his head. "Impossible. You are no reaper. A single soul is all you can endure. Should you wish to turn Idris into a spirit, you must find a willing host. It will put me in more debt with my Death Energy, but the cost doesn't matter since it was my ineptitude that led to his passing."

"C-Can't you host his soul?" she asked him.

Daz sighed faintly. "I could, but I won't. I have no desire to attach any souls to my person. Were I to be the one to do this, I would do it via Hamson. Souls who enter Hamson do not leave. I'm sure you can find someone willing though, knowing you."

"I... I see." She hadn't expected that from him but it made some sense. Idris was nothing to Daz but another citizen.

In fact, if anything, he should have detested him since he tried to win Madison's favour almost immediately after being summoned from Africa. Suddenly, something dawned on Ellie.

"... Why did you only mention Idris?" she asked in a somewhat accusatory tone.

"Sandy had no family here. His wife died long ago and he didn't know if his son still lived or not since from what he told me, they had lived apart for quite some years. Granted, he had many friends and I... I looked to him as a son might a father. However, I think he doesn't deserve to be shackled to a person in a loose form of what he once was, being forced to wait for me to figure out how to bring him back to life. He would have wanted peace. I wish to grant him that, whether in some sort of afterlife or reincarnation. His soul will be free to enter whichever cycle of souls it so wishes," Daz explained calmly. "Do you disagree with my judgement?"

Ellie swallowed a quickly pooling sum of saliva that was building in her mouth. Something about Daz seemed... frightening. Perhaps it was his majesty since he was upon his throne and was devoid of any expression, but still... she felt on edge.

"You knew him better than me. I-If that's what he really would have wanted, I can agree to it," Ellie answered. "But I will find a willing person to host Idris' soul. How long does he have before he becomes corrupted?"

Perhaps she would have gotten angry at him and blamed him again for acting so... cold, however, she had spent a few hours crying and calming down.

She knew Daz wasn't a cruel and heartless man. He was likely dealing with the loss of a close friend in his own way.

She thought herself foolish to assume he would cry and become a bawling mess as she had. 'He... He's stronger than me to let go of Sandy... I just... I can't... It's hard to think I'm older than him.'

"He was young and strong but not infantile. Your mother survived a decade as a soul, did she not? Idris will be fine for a few years at least. I do not know the exact date though. Not that it matters if I also die during this war. One thing at a time, yes?" Daz asked.

Ellie nodded. "R-Right... If you... If you also... died then would my mo-"

Daz interrupted her. "She would become a normal soul once more. If I die, which I do not plan to do nor think I shall, tell Mu to buy Mudlow's Spirit Formation and he will help both you and Edward as I once did. Don't expect him to actively seek a method to bring back the dead though. He is not me. Again, this is unlikely, but it does not hurt to be overprepared rather than underprepared."

"Thank you," Ellie answered. "What will you do now, if it isn't rude of me to ask?"

"I will hold a press conference. Watch it if you want to know more of my stance and thoughts on what happened today," Daz answered matter-of-factly.

Ellie nodded, bowed her head then turned to leave. 'I'm so powerless... I need to get an Ember and help. I can't just move on and not avenge Idris and Sandy, doubly so if Sandy is never coming back!'

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Daz stayed motionlessly on his metal throne as he watched the girl a couple of years his senior leave the throne room.

He slowly turned to look at Sandy's grey soul before he smiled weakly. "Farewell, friend. I... I will miss you... I already do..."

He willed the soul to leave this realm and slowly, it scattered to the wind, entering one of Earth's many afterlives or a circle of reincarnation.

He had lived a full life. Perhaps he died before his time but Daz knew he was a happy man, gruff and crass as he was.

Sandy still had dreams to fulfil but he assumed everyone who died did. It would be... dangerous to set a precedent now to pledge to resurrect every person he cared about.

"Learning to move on is a valuable lesson, if not a painful one..." His arms shook and he exhaled deeply. "Now to address the people."