The main host of the Uprising slowed slightly, but didn’t stop in its advance. As we grew closer to the city of Helstein and the army gathered to defend it, I was able to make out more details for both.

Helstein was…

Well.

As a city, it was hideous.

I had thought that Silvercrest was an unimpressive specimen of a town, but Helstein was even worse. The style that it was constructed in reminded me of soviet brutalism more than anything else. It was all dour blocky buildings with little to no embellishments as far as the eye could see within the city walls.

And those walls were no joke. Taller and thicker than what I’d seen at Rhoscara, they looked downright oppressive. They almost looked like they were meant to keep people in as much as they were meant to keep things out.

Calling the massive structure in the middle of the city a ‘citadel’ was being generous. It…well…

It was just a giant fucking cube of a building. Sure, it looked sturdy and hard to assault and everything, but goddamn. Its sharp corners and straight lines were almost comical, with how the massive structure loomed over the rest of the city from its center.

Wait a moment.

Hadn't I seen this architectural style before? After a moment, it hit me.

This place reminded me quite a bit of Caer Drarrow. I almost burst out into disbelieving laughter at the observation, drawing a curious look from Grey.

What kind of tasteless moron would model a city after a notoriously dour island prison, of all things?

Helstein itself was situated smack dab in the center of a large gap in a nearly horizontal wall of mountains on either side. It appeared to have been constructed in the valley between them in order to block off the only passage past them. I’d heard that the city was meant to be the gateway to the south. If it was, it was the most uninviting gateway I had ever seen.

Gathered outside of Helstein’s walls was the largest gathering of Loyalist soldiers I’d ever seen. There were thousands and thousands of them. In fact, there were so many soldiers gathered to defend the city that I was a bit surprised. I hadn’t even realized that Herztal had this many people in it, much less soldiers with what had been gathered by both factions.

Something about the Loyalist army caught my eye, though. There was a large section of the gathered forces that were sectioned off from the others, and these guys looked different. They weren’t wearing Loyalist colors, for one. These guys were armed and armored in gear that looked to be of a visibly higher quality than the surrounding forces. Rather than the red and green of Herztal, they were flying grey and yellow. Their banner looked to be of a flaming spear, piercing through a shield.

You know, something about their disposition reminded me of something...

Grey had joined me instead of Sylvia up on the bench today. The both of us were dressed for war. Him in his battle robes, and me in something I hadn’t worn in some time. I’d been surprised to find that the black and silver uniform that Illuvia had given me all the way back in Hollow Hill was perfectly functional enchanted armor, making it perfect for pitched battle. Still, to be safe, I had raided an Order supply cart for a fitting set of real armor. With Azarus’s help, I’d fit a black steel breastplate over my doublet, and slipped on a pair of similarly colored greaves. I was wearing a single gauntlet over my right hand as well, while I had decided to leave my golden arm unarmored.

It was more than durable enough already.

I hadn’t had time to Meld up another spear for myself, so I was down to only one extendable dagger. Hopefully, it would be enough. Currently, it was sheathed at my waist.

Next to me, I heard my mentor tsk, appearing to catch sight of the same group I had. “I shouldn’t be surprised,” He said testily. “Of course they would throw their lot in with the Loyalists.”

I dragged my eyes away from the gathered Loyalist forces we were still advancing on and looked over at him. “Yeah? Who are these guys?”

Grey scowled. “Another Martial Order. The Order of Solstice’s Flame, they call themselves. Our last intelligence told us that most of the other Martial Orders were sitting out the war, with the surprising approval of the House of Lords. However, this particular Order has long had a one-sided rivalry with my own,” He said, for once not denying that the Order of the Eclipsed Dawn belonged to him. “They’ve hounded us in petty ways for years. Of course that absolute buffoon Shacklock would array himself against me. He’s likely giddy with glee at the idea of testing himself against me. Bah! Perhaps I’ll finally have the chance to rid myself of an irritant.”

Oookay. That was a bit more heated than I had expected.

For some reason, I thought I heard Honoka laughing from inside the cabin behind us.

Gradually, the main host of the Uprising began to slow down. Eventually, it came to a stop some miles away from the lines that had been erected by the Loyalists.

Silence fell on the plains around us. The shuffling of mailed feet and rattling swords echoed off the walls of the mountainous valley we found ourselves in. I held my breath, waiting to see what would happen next. I didn’t think that the fighting would start immediately, but what did I know about Herztalian battle tradition?

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Still, something happened next that surprised me.

From behind the Loyalist lines, a bright orange bolt of magic flew up into the air. It traveled high into the sky before exploding in a manner that reminded me of a firework.

Next to me, Grey heaved a slight sigh of relief. “Well, at the very least they’re not complete savages.”

“What does that mean?” I said, jerking my head in the direction of the fading sparks.

“It’s an old tradition, from much more turbulent times than even these are. It signifies their intent to negotiate before battle is joined,” Grey answered, banging on the hatch that led to the cabin behind him.

It opened to reveal the face of Honoka, already frowning at him.

“Are you coming?” Grey asked bluntly.

Honoka sighed but nodded. Without a word, she slid the hatch closed. Moments later, I heard the back doors of the wagon swing open before closing again. Honoka appeared at Grey’s side a few seconds later, with Sylvia and Azarus following as well. Both of my friends were dressed in the same combat uniforms that I was used to seeing on them at this point, but Honoka was different.

She was dressed in a set of thick, intricate white and red robes that hugged her form and fell in three parts at her waist. Her long white hair was styled in a manner that I’d never seen on her as well, bound up in a high ponytail with a number of short braids falling around her face adorned with red beads. Under the robes, I could see a strangely baggy pair of similarly colored pants, with sandals of all things adorning her feet. At her waist was a thin straight sword that I had never seen before, with similar beads to those in her hair adorning its white leather hilt. I couldn’t see the blade itself, as it was sheathed in a black and gold scabbard adorned with the form of a fiery bird in flight.

But I could feel it.

The sword might well have been on the same level as Stellarum, from the intensity of power rolling off of it. It was a different power, though. Stellarum radiated Mana that was cold, distant, and uncaring about the blood it could potentially spill. This sword raged with shaped Ki that wanted nothing more than to explode and unleash its fury upon the world.

Grey quirked a smile at the sight of Honoka. “Ah, good. I wasn’t sure if Kasai had been lost when you were captured.”

“Hah!” Honoka barked. “You should know better than that. This blade and I are one. It would take more than what that upstart Leonard has to separate me from this.” She said, thumbing the beads that hung from the hilt of the sword. The sound of them swaying in the breeze hung oddly in the air, not at all sounding like simple ceramic beads.

“As you say,” Grey said, inclining his head in her direction. He flicked his eyes in the direction of Azarus and Sylvia. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you two to stay behind for this meeting. Taking Nathan along with Honoka and I alone will be a bit of a provocation. Besides, I’d prefer Venix to have a guard.”

I started. I was going with him? That was news to me.

Still, I trusted Grey. I’d follow his lead. If he wanted me at the negotiations, then I was fine with that.

“Very well, Father,” Sylvia said before Azarus could speak. He didn’t seem to mind, though. Sylvia flickered her eyes over both Grey and I, before nodding at us. “Good luck.”

Grey returned the nod, before turning to Honoka and I. “Let’s go. I’m sure the others are waiting for us.”

The three of us left the wagon behind with our friends and family. The forces of the Order of the Eclipsed Dawn parted ways for us, leaving a wide open space for us to march through. Before long, our trio had reached the front of the Uprising host.

There, we found three people waiting for us. Leopold, Woodrick, and his second that I still hadn’t met. A Sculpted woman by the name of Nyx. Leopold was much as he always was, stoic-faced and clad in a full suit of scarlet plate. He had a shield slung across his shoulders, with a longsword belted at his waist. Nyx, however, was dressed in a set of leather armor, with an Uprising tabard over top that displayed her rank. The shaft of a bow and quiver peaked over her right shoulder

Woodrick was wearing a set of plate as well. Only, his seemed to be oddly fashioned out of what appeared to be petrified wood polished to a sheen. I’d never seen anything like it before, but I have to admit he cut a striking figure. He looked almost noble, standing with a massive two-handed axe slung over his back.

Woodrick nodded at us. “Good. We’re all here then,” He said, his eyes nevertheless lingering on me in a puzzled manner. He didn’t say anything about my presence, however. “If we’re all ready?”

“Hold,” Leopold rumbled, drawing everyone’s attention. “We may be stepping into a tenser meeting than we were already anticipating.”

Grey frowned, crossing his arms. “How so?”

“Prince Oskar’s personal banner has been sighted among the Loyalist forces,” Leopold said grimly. “We were unaware of his presence at Helstein.”

Honoka cursed, while Woodrick and Nyx frowned. I tilted my head in thought. I think I recognized that name, from the briefing all the way back in Hollow Hill. I think that was the younger Prince of Herztal that was slightly sympathetic to the Uprising? Why was it a problem that he was here?

Grey sighed. “Damn,” He said, pinching the bridge of his nose. “That does complicate matters. However, we have no choice but to proceed. Our plans remain unchanged.”

The gathered leaders of the Uprising nodded at Grey’s words, understanding something that I didn’t. I kept quiet, though. I don’t think it was my place to interfere or ask questions right now.

“Let’s go,” Grey said, nodding to the center of the field that separated the armies of the Uprising and the Loyalists. At an equal distance between the two forces, there was a flurry of activity from the Loyalists. I could see a large tent being rapidly erected around an equally large, rectangular table that had a number of chairs set around it. He set off in that direction, with the rest of us following behind him.

I could almost physically feel the eyes and attention from both armies following us. Either in support, or antipathy.

By the time we had reached the center of the field, the tent where we were apparently going to be meeting had been finished being erected. Grey paused for a moment before we entered it, turning to give everyone following him a nod. We all returned it, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Grey turned back to face the tent flap, and moved it aside.

We all entered the tent, to find…

That it was empty. The only thing inside was the table and the chairs we had seen earlier. There wasn’t even anything on the table. Luckily, the tent walls were thin enough that light could seep through, allowing us to see in here.

Grey snorted in disgust at the sight of the empty tent. “Of course. Nobles playing games, as usual. Please, be seated my friends. Nathan, stand behind me.”

Yeah. There weren’t enough chairs that I could sit in one as well. As Grey took the center chair on our side of the table, Honoka sat on his right, with Leopold next to her. Woodrick took the seat on Grey’s left, with Nyx on his left. I did as Grey asked and stood behind him, as he steepled his hands in front of himself.

We settled in to wait in silence for the Loyalists to arrive.

We didn’t have to wait long.

The tent flap across from us swung open, letting a bright ray of light pierce the dimness.

I took a deep breath, readying myself for what was likely to be a tense confrontation.

Let’s do this.