"Oh?" The Empress seemed more amused than offended by Luie's accusation. "You can be proud of yourself, King Luie. You managed to see through the illusion of Goddess-Empress Hestia. To be honest with you, it was a last-minute idea to not scare you too much."

She snapped her fingers, and the tall ships that hung in the distance dissipated like smoke in the wind. However, the sight that appeared in their place was much, much worse. The improbably huge ship made of steel was hovering menacingly just above the distant forest. Its enormous guns were aimed directly at the units that were supposed to be hiding in ambush in case they needed to get out of there. Hector looked at his uncle who slowly paled and was whispering something about the truth being worse than a lie. The other airships changed as well, and not a single one of them had a familiar shape. The ships were just hanging, silently and calmly over the forest, but their guns were aimed at the Union's positions.

"I see that you recognised this ship. Your spies surely have informed you already about HMS Dauntless. This warship is more than capable of destroying your entire army and burning your lands so no stone upon a stone will be left standing." The Empress's voice was betraying no emotion. Then, she leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. Her voice suddenly became full of passion. "Arcadia does not want this war because we are weak but because we want peace. Instead of bringing absolute destruction and misery upon our foes, we want to extend the promise of prosperity and peaceful co-existence."

"You called yourself a Daughter of the Sky..." A powerful voice boomed in the tent.

A tall man landed near him. His entire body was covered with a crackling lightning.

"God Hastrion!" Hector lowered his head and smirked as the sky darkened. One of the more powerful deities in the Union's pantheon will surely demand some respect from those arrogant Arcadians.

The clouds turned almost black as if the storm was going to hit the place, but in an instant, the weather changed. The bright and warm sun shone through the quickly dissipating clouds.

"Don't play with my domain, Hastrion." Behind the Empress's throne appeared a tall man who looked down at suddenly embarrassed God. His grim voice reverberated across the table. The authority emanating from that man was enough to make everyone recognise him as a God, but Hector knew exactly who he was. God Zephyr. "I advise you to leave Mortals and allow them to discuss their things without our interference. As to the claims of my beloved granddaughter: yes, she is one and only Daughter of the Sky."

The two Gods vanished at the same time. However, Hector was sure that Hastrion was trying to run.

"As I said..." Empress Aoi rolled her eyes but when she spoke, her voice was soft and melodic. "You are standing before a choice. Would you choose to wage a war with a far stronger opponent, or would you seek peace?"

The two Gods manifested in her presence and she was simply annoyed, which scared him a little bit.

"You seem very calm, Empress Aoi," Luie said very slowly.

"Why should I be nervous?" The woman shrugged with a soft sigh while her voice showed only her immeasurable disappointment. "Your army poses no threat to Arcadia. I'm slowly realising that my attempts to stop the madness of another war might be futile. Just because you two stubbornly chose to insist there is some imaginary third option. We have no interest in waging that war but, for the sake of future peace, my forces will lay waste to your country today. I'm not nervous, King Luie, I'm sad that your ambitions are preventing you from seeing the truth. You are the only one here who wants this war. But... This is going to end today. One way or another."

"You-"

"Stop, Uncle!" Hector yelled and interrupted King Luie who looked at him in shock. "What you are proposing for us is a humiliating defeat. You can't be seriously expecting us to accept these terms."

"Why not?" Empress Aoi gave him another flat stare. "Hilgvar have every right to demand reparations for your unjustified invasion and, yet, they will refrain from any claims. Hilgvar will be perfectly happy to have a friendly relationship with the Union. Arcadia and Metaka won't be interfering in your internal affairs and you won't in ours. You will immediately cease all hostility against Hilgvar, Metaka, and Arcadia. In return, we are all going to pretend that nothing happened. Am I right, Princess Cassmira? Prince Leonard? Queens Mia and Tia?"

Everyone loudly confirmed which angered Hector. He clenched his fists and slowly looked at the calm faces on the other side of the table. His total victory was so close and, yet, everything was ruined.

"I won't... I can't agree to this." He said as calmly as he could force himself to. "You made a great effort to blame the Union for the current state of matter but we are fulfilling our obligations. If only Mia Francesca had married Gilmour Verksa, we wouldn't have this war. Instead, she treacherously killed him and seized Verksa! You... You ruined everything!"

The Empress wasn't impressed by his outburst. However, she quietly waited if he wasn't done. As the silence dragged on, her expression changed from uncaring to disappointed.

"This is your argument?" The Empress said slowly with a voice that made Hector realise that her patience was quickly running out. "Are you really that helplessly dumb, King Hector? You know very well that it was Gilmour Verksa who attacked Hilgvar unprovoked. It was him and his army who completely destroyed its capital- Asteria. Your country attacked Hilgvar when the punitive expedition claimed Verksa and when Mia Francesca had all intentions to end the war."

"We joined that war as soon as we learnt-" Hector tried to explain.

"That was already over. Cease this hypocrisy." The Empress interrupted him with a cold voice, and he knew that she wouldn't stand for any more poor excuses. "Can't you see that the only thing stopping my armies from resolving this war instantly is my quickly fading goodwill? Don't test me, Hector Breonia. We will take a break and meet again in four hours. I pray to Eriar that you will cool down and we can avoid war. I wished to see the future where our nations live together in harmony as friendly neighbours and one day as allies."

"But-" King Luie looked at the young woman with fury.

"Enough!" Empress Aoi allowed her anger to be heard in her voice for the first time. She slowly stood up. "Take a cold shower, you both, and calm your heads. I won't be hearing such nonsense anymore. Mia, Tia, and Cassmira are my future sisters and are protected by the full might of the Arcadian Military. Our offer is simple. Cease all hostility and we will forget about everything. We could forge a future of mutual understanding and peace. Continue on this path, and you won't live long enough to see the leaves fall this year."

She turned and walked away, full of dignity and without any rush. By not giving the Union's representation any chance to reply, she most probably saved the conference from being broken. As Hector and Luie angrily rose from their chairs, Prince Leonard let out a quiet sigh.

"Before you go, I want to tell you one thing." He said calmly as he stood up. "We are talking in private so everyone can preserve their faces in front of their soldiers. You can walk away and choose to be angry and resentful, or truly calm down and start negotiating. Emperor Theon Avalon is the Champion of Eriar. Do you really believe that you can win against the army of a Hero? He is a terrifying enemy but a great and loyal friend. Don't make any stupid decisions based on the wrong assumptions and your pride. You believe that he is weak but you are horribly wrong. Many before you thought the same and all of them are dead. Heed my warning: your pride is blinding you from seeing the vast benefits of accepting the peace offer that will cost you nothing."

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He sadly shook his head and left. In a bit of shock, Hector and Luie realised that only the two of them remained in the tent. The Union representatives looked at each other and turned around towards their forces in silence.

•••

"That arrogant bitch!" Luie yelled and dropped into a chair in Hector's tent.

"We knew that our claims were weak at very best." Hector tried his best to calm down. "Arcadia, on the other hand, have all rights to intervene. I wouldn't ever expect that a country as weak as Hilgvar could even dream about a political marriage with a monster like Arcadia... Even as that pisses me off, I don't think any other country will support us."

"And both of them! It's infuriating!" Luie snarled.

"What in the world is that thing?!" Hector angrily pointed towards the huge battleship.

"I don't believe that something like that can fly! And yet..." Luie yelled again. "Where are its sails? How does it gather mana? It must have been some kind of illusion!"

"But you said it's not an illusion. Hmmm..." Hector rubbed his short beard. "It is said that the Goddess Hestia can cast powerful illusions."

"Eriar? Hestia? Just how many Gods are on Arcadia's side?!"

"If our sources are to be trusted, at least ten." Hector shook his head. "I had hoped that the appearance of God Hastrion was going to make an impression on them, but did you see her? The Empress was annoyed that he dared to interrupt her!"

"I saw that," Luie confirmed angrily. "If not for having this conversation in private, we would have to attack them immediately. If we only have the airships..."

"Maybe... Hmmm..."

"What?"

"Let's accept their offer."

"What?! Are you insane?" Luie looked at him with poor horror. "Our armies are vast and we have magi-cannons. Our losses might be severe, but we can win!"

"I don't think so. Even if Prince Leonard and Princess Cassmira are bluffing, even if the Empress is bluffing, have you seen Mia and Tia?" Hector said slowly and Luie calmed down. He focused but, after a moment, he silently shook his head in denial. "They are so calm that it's unnatural and, yet, they were fully convinced that our army would not stand a chance."

"They might be bluffing as well," Luie said after a moment to consider. "But it's true that our losses could be crippling."

"Prince Leonard is right in that one regard- accepting that peace offer would cost us nothing. But as the Empress said, we can also gain something." Hector made up his mind and smiled. "We will demand to receive one of their airships and the knowledge of how to build them. We will have peace and time to raise our fleet."

"I don't believe they would give it to us just like that." Luie considered his idea. "Wait... Let's demand one of their newest airships and then tone down to the tall ships. Like a brigs. Their new ships can't be much better than a brigs anyway."

"That might work. But let's not be too greedy. Depending on the Empress' mood, we could do that, but I'm afraid that our own hubris deprived us of that chance." Hector slowly nodded. "They might have stopped us for now, but in a few decades, we will be ready, and they will pay!"

"But what if they flatly refuse? Then what? War?"

"Yes. I don't believe they can win as easily as they describe." Hector took a deep breath. "I am going to regroup our armies. We will take better positions and aim all our guns at their fleet."

"Even if we fire first shots, we both will die. Do you think they will allow us to leave? No, Hector, I think that... Empress Aoi was right. We must calm down and once more consider our options."

•••

Four hours later the two sides met again. Hector and Luie were much calmer. However, once the young king of Breonia looked at the Empress, his confidence started crumbling. His armies began to take better positions but she was just bored. They knew very well that their movements were seen and yet, Empress Aoi was simply indifferent. What kind of power or weapon could they possibly have to be this confident? He moved his gaze, and while Princess Cassmira was sad and Prince Leonard was resigned, Queens Mia and Tia looked agitated. He couldn't guess any reason, but certainly, the two Nekomi were upset and angry. He started feeling doubts about his determination for war. There was so much he didn't understand and what could potentially change everything.

He closed his eyes, offered a quick prayer to the Goddess Trentii, a patron Goddess of Breonia, and froze. He was given a very brief flash of many visions and a warning to change the course of his actions, otherwise, his country would be doomed. He lowered his head unsure what to do anymore. He looked at his Uncle, who crossed his arms and looked with a determined gaze at the indifferent Empress. His mind was racing, looking for solutions for this hopeless situation. He took a deep breath and smiled flatly. The visions he received were still vibrant in his mind and drastically changed everything.

"The Union might consider a peace treaty," Hector said, while his uncle was silently looking at their interlocutors. "I want to hear what you can promise to us. How the Union can benefit from the peace agreement. From our point of view, we have the advantage over your forces. If we simply fall back now, after so many losses, some of our people might consider that treason."

"We can negotiate, King Hector." The Empress shrugged. "Just tell us what you want to obtain?"

He took a deep breath. "We want the lands of Verksa returned to the rightful heirs..."

"No. Verksa began that feud and failed so all those lands belonged to Queen Tia Francesca. However, even if we would like to fulfil your wish, there is no Verksan noble left. They died in the same battle as their King. That subject is closed and should be considered a warning for anyone who believes that their actions won't have any consequences." The Empress shook her head. "What else?"

"We want the guarantees of sovereignty and non-aggression pacts with Arcadia and Metaka." He swallowed and that was met with much warmer smiles.

"Such pacts will hopefully conclude this conference." The Empress looked at him more favourably. "What about Hilgvar and Verksa?"

"If I understand the situation correctly, they are going to become a part of Arcadia sooner than later. There is no need to recognise them as independent states..."

"On the contrary. They are sovereign and independent Kingdoms, and they must be included in the treaties."

"By doing this, we will be relinquishing any claim to these lands. Let's say we will accept that as a fact. We will want something in return." Hector was trying to remain calm and speaking firmly.

"I'm not interested in playing a guessing game, King Hector. Don't get me wrong- I'm glad you recognised the need for a dialogue but it would be more beneficial for us all if you would speak your mind freely." The Empress leaned back on her throne and rested her elbows on the armrests.

"We want to obtain the airships and knowledge of how to build them," Hector said and noticed that his uncle almost held his breath. "We want to have our own fleet. If we don't obtain them now, we can't feel safe when all powers around us possess the mighty navies."

The Empress slowly inhaled and after she rested her head on her hand, she closed her eyes. She considered that option, but after a moment, she sadly shook her head. "Let's say we agree. What kind of guarantee can you give us that you will never use these ships against us?"

"The same guarantees you can give us that you won't attack the Union," Luie replied slowly.

"Let's say that we agree. Will you refrain from any interference into the internal affairs of Metaka as well?"

"We are not interfering in their affairs at all." Hector sternly refused.

"The evidence we obtained says otherwise, but we will take it as a promise to pull out your agents." The Empress put together her hands and calmly looked at Hector. "We can provide you with a brig and building instructions. But don't expect us to teach your people. We also exclude any military magi-tech from the deal. Arcadia recognises your need for self-protection, and we are willing to accept your demands. This is the best offer you can get."

Hector closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt the uncomfortable pressure on the back of his head but he was slowly coming to terms with the importance of this moment. As he slowly released the air from his lungs he saw more visions of possible futures. Then, one of them became more clear than any other. The future in which he declared war upon Arcadia. Hector clearly saw the strange spells shot by the Arcadian Navy mages that destroyed his vast army in an instant. He and his uncle died, killed by the knights clad in black-and-gold armours. It was exactly as the Empress said. He heard the terrified voice of a distressed woman, a voice he knew very well and trusted. Goddess Trentii was speaking to him in visions until her voice reached him.

"The Union might have overreacted in the events that took place in the past few months..." Hector slowly nodded, discarding all his pride and confidence that almost destroyed his country. "We are ready to begin negotiations..."