Farosth, Koles Region, Parpaldia Empire, 7:35 AM

The town of Farosth was one of the few spared by the Parpaldian invasion. Years before, the town had decided to stay hidden and cooperative with Parpaldia during the invasion and as such, while economically suffering, much of its citizens were still alive when the invasion occurred.

Settled on a hill overlooking vast farm fields, a particular farmer with blond messy hair had noticed his room felt somewhat colder than usual which was a bit odd for a season like Spring. Believing it was simply cloudy outside from the shade, he stepped out to his backyard only to gasp as beyond what were supposed to be more hills were instead a mighty range with ice and snow on the peaks.

The farmer's dumbfounded gaze was broken however as he shook his head and looked up to see a group of wyverns flying towards the mountains.

Up above, six wyvern units gazed at the mountain incredulously and through their own manacomm, spoke to each other to combat the loud winds. "Where in hell did these mountains come from!?" One said.

"Who knows! They definitely weren't there last night right?" Another said.

"Definitely not! Did some powerful magician create these or what?"

"Why would they need to create a bunch of random mountains!? Besides is there even anyone powerful enough to do that??"

"What so you're telling me these just appeared out of nowhere or something!?"

The banter of the wyvern fighters stopped however as they heard some sort of whirring noise. They looked around as they tried to find the noise before one of them looked up to see a flying machine. The four looked in shock as one of them finally spoke.

"What is that thing!? Is that a flying machine?" A fighter asked.

"Seems so! Does that mean Mu is responsible for these mountains?" Another replied.

"I've seen those machines from Mu! They don't look like that! Maybe it's from the Holy Mirishial Empire!?"

"Mu, the Mirishials, whatever! The question is why are they here!? They're breaching Parpaldian airspace! We need to go and confront it!"

"Are ya crazy, our wyverns can't go that high! Look, let's just follow our orders and check out these mountains before we head back, yeah!?" A fighter said while his comrades simply hesitantly agreed and continued over the mountains.

Once they got over the first mountain, they noticed something between the valleys. "I'm spotting villages and roads. A few people around.... Somehow this place is inhabited."

"Wait wait, are they the old towns we know south of here or what?"

"Definitely not. It's different, way different. Relay this to HQ back in town, c'mon!" He said as one of his comrades nodded and started doing so.

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Imperial Palace, Esthirant, Capital Region

Remille of the Imperial family, some called her princess, some called her mistress, but whatever title you tell of her the woman was an influential figure in Parpaldian politics and affairs. As she lived in the grand palace in Esthirant, she had been a long time aide of Emperor Ludius to the point of them becoming very close personally.

She enjoyed the luxuries of the palace and barely did any work unless it concerned foreign affairs or the budget for her dresses. Remille was in the imperial dining room enjoying her breakfast with Ludius who sat beside her.

The food of Esthirant was the best in Philades. After all, a proud empire should have proud cuisine. She was in her morning dress before another aide entered the dining room. He was about to speak before Remille raised her hand. "Silence. Whatever it is you wish to say, that's for later. Can't you see I'm having my breakfast with His Majesty?" She said in her usual annoyed, sharp tone as Ludius spoke.

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"Calm down, Remille. You know our aides don't dare disturb us during our free time. Whatever it is, it's important, right?" Ludius said, emphasising the word important as the aide simply nodded.

"Y-yes your majesty. Umm... Director Kaios wishes to speak with you both. It- it's an emergency." The aide meekly said as he knew fully well the consequences of disturbing the imperial family.

"Kaios? Hmph. What does that bumbling fool want at this hour?" Remille said as she crossed her arms.

"U-umm... He believes that it's best to speak with you personally about this matter. It's of utmost importance..."

Remille narrowed her eyes. While indeed she disliked Kaios, the man was far from a terrible government employee. If it was important, much less an emergency, then so it may be. "Very well.... Tell Director Kaios I'll be on my way after I dress up more appropriately."

The aide nodded before he bowed as he scampered off. Remille meanwhile scoffed while Ludius was intrigued. "I wonder what it could be. You know Remille, you may take some extra time for your breakfast."

"No thank you, I've lost my appetite... whatever Kaios wants it better be worth my time." She then stood up and left the dining room while in the process yelling for a maid to prepare her dress. All Ludius did was watch with an admiring smile.

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Third Foreign Affairs Building, 8:02 AM

Kaios paced around his office nervously. Aside from the fact he asked for Remille at this time, the reports he received were worrying. When the first report of a mysterious mountain appearing came in, he ignored it but then more and more reports came from mysterious villages to unknown peoples residing in them. The extent of these mountains stretched from southeast of Duro to the port town of Golic. Not only had they lost territory, whatever these mountains where they were inhabited.

The man then looked up as his double doors were opened to reveal Remille in a rather grumpy look. Kaios straightened up as Remille crossed her arms. "Well Director Kaios, I'm here.... This ought to be worth my time." She said. Even though she was physically shorter, her mean gaze made Kaios feel tiny.

Kaios cleared his throat. "I assure you, mistress Remille that it's an emergency of significant levels... It concerns the regions nearby Duro."

"Oh?" Remille then had a mild look of curiosity mixed with boredom. "What could it be? Rebel activity? Slave uprising? You know Kaios the procedure for any regions in rebel yes?"

"I do, mistress Remille but... It is something else entirely." He said.

Remille then scoffed. "Enough with the dramatics, just tell me what it is."

"We lost territory." Kaios finally said.

Remille stood there with a gaze before she snorted. "Parpaldia losing territory? Surely you're joking."

"I- I am serious, mistress Remille. Here..." Kaios then used the manacomm to show a live feed from a nearby village. "This is the village of Farosth in Koles. You have visited it before as a resting place during your tour around the empire." He reminded.

"Indeed I have...." Remille simply muttered. The manacomm feed then showed mysterious, high mountains towering over the village where mountains shouldn't be. She narrowed her eyes. "Mountains? Where... There were no mountains in this region yes?"

"None at all, mistress. These mountains were discovered yesterday and the local wyvern fighters have done a quick survey. Worse yet.... These mountains are occupied by peoples calling themselves 'Italians'. They essentially believe that our territory they occupy is theirs."

Remille then furrowed her brows and sneered. "The audacity of these imposters... We have never heard of some sort of 'Italian' nation have we? Hmph. You know what to do, Kaios."

"Wait mistress... I initially believed these Italians to be barbarians as well however, our wyvern men said they were treated to the best wines and cheeses that they have ever tasted."

With that Remille had an unimpressed look. "Director Kaios, remind yourself that these wyvern fighters are mere simplingtons. Of course wine and cheese would impress them."

"Mistress Remille you don't understand... The wyverns general has indulged in such luxuries before and he said that their cheeses and wine were the best he ever tasted. Louria is yet to even make wine that we deem acceptable. Whoever these Italians are, they may just barely be above barbarians." Kaios explained as he clasped his hands.

Remille narrowed her eyes. She just wanted to return to her palace and let Kaios do the work invading the mountains but he did have a point not to mention she was now curious on how these wines and cheese tasted. "Very well... I suppose we can give them one chance. Do notify me of any new developments." She said as she left Kaios's office who nodded. The moment she left, Kaios scoffed.

"Ever the immature mistress...." He muttered before he returned to use the manacomm. However just as he was about to, a woman barged into his office in a rush. Kaios looked back in surprise. "Raita? What is it?"

"Director Kaios there's- there is a metal ship fast approaching. They don't bear the ensign of Mu nor the Mirishials!" She said in a bit of a panic.

"A metal ship? Then... we must meet them at once." Kaios said as he rushed out with Raita.