To His Royal Highness, King William

I trained the extra troops as you've asked. Although there're some troublesome ones they're mostly enthusiastic and trustworthy. I'll have them defending against light skirmishes from the Western Imperial Empire and The Barren in order to gain some actual combat experience. We probably shouldn't have them working too much, else their morale could  drop. I might also send Fitz, Alexander and Caesar as well, since they would want to learn how to fight in case they ever need to.

Scouts were sent to The Barren to investigate the forces of this 'Grand Chief' as you've asked. I've got no idea where he learned his skills from; he made the best defence he could with the few tribes who've sworn loyalty towards him and  built some stone hill-forts, markets and blacksmiths shops with the profits of his pillages. I suspect he was either a knight or clergy of some sorts in the past, since a simple warlord wouldn't have been able to organize such structures on his own. With his leadership, his small force is becoming even more dangerous than before as they pillage other lands. The Chieftain may only occupy a small part of The Barren, but if this continues his dynasty might be able to unite the land into something close to a kingdom of bandits and pirates in the far future. This is my personal opinion, but we might have to find or forge a casus belli if we want to deal with this person early. Since The Barren is technically a nation in the loosest legality possible, we can't simply declare war without justification.

I suggest you send the Spymaster to collect information on the Grand Chief specifically. As he is now, he is either pillaging or feasting with his breatheren. In othe words, he is never alone. I have no idea if he is doing this on purpose to reduce the chances of assassination or if he simply is a hedonist but he will always have a few soilders near him. I suggest you deal with this cautiously.

From Council Member and Marshal of King William, Sun Deen

As me and Caesar begun making a list of what we would need for the hunt in the hallway, an attendant of King William appeared and relayed his desire to for our presence. "We're having some rather important guests. A noble from the Eastern Continent, as such the whole Hamarian Family is expected to be present."

"Even me?" I uttered in shock. King William never liked me. I suppose it has to with my lack of mana, but he disdains me so much I feel like he considered assassination attempts on me in the past. It wasn't strange for Hamarian Kings to prefer their other children over the fifth child, but his hatred was far above mere preference. The last time we talked face-to-face was when I was a toddler, and back then he nearly burned my hand with his elemental fire due to my perstering him.

I've never stood in the same room as him since then. Even at dinners, if he was present I would eat in my room. If he was with one of the council members during my learning time, I would call ill. I've built up a wall between me and him to avoid another encounter against his wrath. And neither of us have a desire to break that wall.

Whoever this noble is, he must be important for him to force this wall of ours down.

The attendant quickly bobbed his head up and down like a bird with a broken neck, "Yes," he confirmed. "Every direct member of the Hamarian Family is expected to be present. Including King William's brothers and sisters."

"Even our uncles and aunts?" It was Caesar who expressed his shock at this. Since King William was appointed King, all the other royalties were either married off to foreign eneties or working in other countires as council members, both of which help preserve the ties between us and our allies. So calling them would require resources and might give us an image of desperation. Which meant that whoever this noble is, he could probably change our entire relations with the East Continent with a few words. Or else we wouldn't be harming our reputation this much.

From there, we quickly hurried to the Throne Room of the King.

The King's trophies were hanged on the wall as the stuffings of prey. Or possibly near him as a pile of treasure pillaged from an enemy who recklessly declared war against Hamar. The treasure wasn't a boast from the King; it was a warning that those who raise their arms against him must be ready to sacrifice at least what was at his feet. There are cushion seats for visitors to rest and decorations of gold for them to gawk at if they wished so.

The King himself wore the finest clothes a Duke could imagine. Made from purple silk, a fabric that originated from the East that the East Continent charged us heavily for any quantitiy of. With it a crown, not of gold, but of platnuim. His shoes were made customly by the most skilled cobbler in Hamar and possibly the world. He was bald, which seemed to make him seem more regal alongside his sea-blue eyes and long stature. As the only King in history to use elemantal magic, his leadership skills have to compensate for his lack of abilities such as telepathy. Despite that, his military victories are unmathced in Hamar's history of Kings and Queens. He also appoints council members regardless of their family ties.

Inside the room, all our siblings were lined up from eldest to youngest on one side. Alexander the Fury, cladded in battle armour with blond braided hair, stood proud in his seat which was slightly larger than the seats fo my other siblings due to him being the most successful. Crass the Talkative, wearing a humble robe with his hair being dyed red as a symbol of royalty. Maria the Valkyrie, who's rough brown hair showed subtle signs of battle, wearing a blue dress that seemingly restrained her strength and Belle the Paranoid who wore a simple black dress and had simple black hair. The only ones who were missing was Caesar, someone with no title as of yet and wearing leather armour. And me who would never get a title, wearing what could be called plain clothes even by peasant standards, with grey hair which marked my lack of mana. On the other side, most of my uncles and aunts stood. Some were cladded with glistening armour, standing attentive to their brother. Others wore robes of stewards or chancellors, but all shared the same look of interest at being summoned.

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Near the King stood the all the council members except Sebastian. To the right, Marshal Sun Deen, with his eastern sword and plated armour, stood as straight as a plank and Court Witch Harrow peering into a book with seemingly unstopppable enthusiasm considering she was refusing the King's orders to go dress something different. She hasn't changed her blue robe or showered in a week since discovering that book, and the effects are appearing in her dried skin and stained clothes. Marshal Sun was originally a migrant from the East who was considered a vagabond. However, after joining the military and proving his worth, he quickly rised through the ranks of the commanders, then generals to finally reach the position of Marshal. The head of the military.

Witch Harrow was a commoner, her position as witch being the only one commoners often get into. She formed a pact with a spirit to obtain mana since the Grand Spirit of Hamar only shared theirs with Royals, Dukes and Nobility. Her achievements rank from making more accurate magical models to disproving the mechanical ideas behind magic. Even now, it is rumored she is researching something ground breaking. Hence possibly why she is so zealous at her research.

To the left of the King stood Chaplin Piety, Chancellor Brono and Steward Leon.

Steward Leon came from a renowned merchant family that is on par with some of the upper nobility. His understanding of how money flowed though the pipes of a country allowed him to amass his own wealth without the aid of his family, attracting King Willaim's attention to him. Despite the public outrage at such an idea that two people who weren't Nobility got some of the most powerful positions in the country, Leon recieved his title alongside a praise from the King since improving the economy drastically through his buisness.

Chancellor Brono was the King's cousin and playmate during his childhood. He was wearing a humble noble's fashion with simple laces and wool forming the attire. Whilst the Chancellor's looks are nothing notable like other diplomats nowdays, his words are so tactful and carefully crafted that one must work hard to find offence.

Finally, Chaplin Piety. Just like Marshal Sun he is a foreigner, although he came from a neighbouring country with the protection of the Third Pope of the Six Popes. So unlike Marshal Sun, he was considered to be of a higher position in comparison to most commoners and nobles. And he successfully carried out his duties, from advising King William on religous matters to converting a country's ruler to believe in our six Gods.

Chaplin Piety's was wearing his ceromonial clothes usually used during yearly events. It was coloured in red to represent the Godess of War, Harban, in her most bloodied moment. With his head bent down in an act of humility, he seemed to be whispering to the King who listened with intent who was looking down upon the foreign lord.

The man, a Duke of a land right past the Barren, was standing straight. It was courtsey to offer him a seat, but due to his abrupt arrival, we had either not given him a seat or thought him undeserving of one. His olive skin shone against the sun rays of the windows whilst his bulging stomach pushed against his garments. He stood, looking the King dead in the eye as if they were equal. For reasons that are somewhat clear, it seems all the men knotted their fists as if they wanted to punch the pillow-face. Obesity was hated, so much so everyone remained as fit as they could. Someone would have probably 'bumped' into the noble if it wasn't for the fact it would be hard to play it off as an accident and his few courtiers that were with him.

All were chattering. There were a few minutes until the actual negotiations begun. So the Hamar Dynasty would share their thoughts with each other and each individual would decide what would be beneficial for the country. Although it would be the King who would have the final say.

"What do you think they will offer?" Caesar peppered me with his questions. "We already have spices and silk, so there isn't much else they can offer to us that would help us. What else do they have to offer?"

I thought for a second. What DO they have to offer to us? Their foods are exotic, but it wouldn't last the trek through the Barren without rotting in the raging heat of the desert. To add to that, bandits would be more likely to raid for food, considering they had no farmlands and had to rely on pirates to trade for food.

The only reason they travelled to our lands to trade their spices and silk was that it was a luxury most would kill here yet extrememly commonplace in the Eastern Continent. Seemingly, what someone could purchase with a few coppers there would become a bag of gold over here. But the trip was dangerous, costly and likely to be unsuccessful. Most with the exception of the knowledgeable or luckiest merchants would fail due to bandits taking it and selling the products or not being able to feed the animals that carried the products.

Other than what they are already giving us, they don't have much more than us that is valuable or useful.

"Hmm... honestly Caesar? I have no idea."

"I think there's some sort of plot going on here. I mean who treks the Barren just to negotiate instead of writing a letter?"

"You're too paranoid, Belle."

 Suddenly, Chancellor Brono's voice boomed through the Throne room to alert the Hamarian royals. "We shall start the negotiations. Everyone assume your seats and remain silent."

I quickly reached for my bag of potions and drank the potion that mimicks Mental Defense, a magic that defends an army from magical-mental attacks such as Hysteria. However, as alchemy generally mimicks the magic with a weaken affect, the potion would only allow me to defend the Castle rather than a whole army. But that was enough, considering the  common tactic in negotation ,using mental magic to gain leverage, was what I was watching out for.

Almost instantly, I felt someone among the nobleman's courtiers trying to grasp the whole court. The Hamar family lacked any defensive mental magic in this generation, and the noble was probably trying to take advantage of that. However, I erected some protection and pushed the man's mind away from the court.

"Ugh!" A man among the courtiers started to stumble a bit, probably who I had just attacked. Of course, the court probably assumed he was sick or something. The Eastern nobleman's face twitched a bit, looking at the Court Witch still invested in her book with a bit of fury in his glare. He probably would never assume I was the one who just prevented him from gaining the upper hand. Court Witch Harrow probably didn't even notice.

"What is the terms of your deal, Namir?"

The nobleman, Namir, probably realized he was silent for too long. "Of course, gracious lord King Willaim. I actually have two seperate deals. First, we shall sell damascus steel."

At that, everyone's jaws dropped a bit. What a very funny memory, heh.