-"Son."-Sankta official bowed to me.-"These are all the reports about this autumn harvest."
I took a binder filled with statistics and documents. This year's harvest was much better than the previous few years, despite the destruction. According to calculations, we had about 10% of surplus above our needs, allowing us to start making reserves for any future calamity. After checking everything, I nodded, signed the confirmations, and handed the binder back.
-"Good work. Please proceed according to plan. We can give up part of the winter cycle crops to allow for our reform to proceed more smoothly."
-"Thank you, Son. We will ensure no problems arise."
I just nodded, seeing the official out.
-"So everything is in order?"-Guinevere asked me from her spot.
-"At least there are no issues that were important enough to alert me."-I looked at her.-"Another winter arrived, any wishes? If I remember correctly, your eighteenth birthday should be around the corner, December 3rd, right?"
-"You remember?"
-"I knew it for quite a long time, I even sent you some presents, though I haven't signed them due to… You know."
She nodded, most likely thinking what presents she had received were from me. But she quickly returned to our conversation.
-"There actually is something I want from you."
-"Oh? Please tell."
-"I know about your plans to turn people into Sankta. I hope you can do it for me on my birthday."
My eyes widened in surprise, not expecting her to ask for something like that.
-"Are you sure?"
-"I am. As your fiancé, I should take this step."
-"I don't care about should; we talked about that. I want to know what you want."
-"I want to feel the world like you feel it. Even though I know that I'll be able to only feel a fraction of it, I still wish to change my perspective."
-"If that's your true wish, then I won't oppose it."
-"Thank you."
We continued our work, and a few hours later, another knock on the door interrupted us one more time.
-"Eno, your guests have arrived in Britain."-Qingyan told me while handing me a letter.
I took it and quickly read its contents. It basically consisted only of a bunch of pleasantries before proceeding to ask for details about the meeting and such. I gave it back to Qingyan to read before responding.
-"Treat them well, but make sure that they know that they are here for us, not we for them."
-"Sure. I'll send someone for them. Let's set the meeting for the middle of December."-She wrote some things on her tablet.-"Right, Lemuen told me to mention something. The people from Ursus are starting to get annoying. They push us to condemn Reunion, and 'compensate' for 'aiding and abetting' them, demanding we give up any monasteries with refuges and pay an absurd amount of money."
-"Oh? What if we don't do it?"
-"Then they will oppose us. They didn't go as far as to threaten us with a war, but…"
-"I get how they are. Get them to push further. Make them comfortable with threats so that they push the line until it's too late for them."-I smiled, though my smile was cold and threatening.-"Our neutrality is a protection and concession, not fear of others. It seems that some people forgot about that."
-"You truly are getting more and more warmongering."-She also showed a cold smile.-"I'll prepare the best stage for you."
-"Let's put the fear of god back into them."
Qingyan nodded and left the room. As soon as the doors closed, I felt a fluctuation of power next to me, Artoria appearing as the Lion King, her halo glowing with a holy light.
-"Another war, huh? You should find some time to rest."
-"That won't be a war, only a beatdown. Ursus might be threatening to big nations due to their overwhelming numbers, but Laterano isn't afraid of that; it's just a few more bullets for us. Ursus elites are far and few between, most responding directly to the emperor, not those war-hungry nobles. Not to mention that their past and present actions have surrounded them by enemies, making them an isolated tyrant."
-"Is that so? From what I read about Terra, it's not that easy."
-"Political landscape of Terra is indeed complicated, but Laterano is one of the few countries that have good relationships with all other countries, aside from Sarkaz's Kazdel; there are no enemies."
-"Enemies are one thing."-Guinevere joined our conversation.-"More importantly, Saknta are nightmares to fight with. Most won't surrender, and guns are dangerous to all, even the most heavily armed forces. I might be worried if you were to attack Yan or Columbia, who could counter you with Arts and new technologies, but Ursus, that depends on numbers and heavy infantry… I give them my condolences."
-"Sigh, your words only make me realise how far behind Britain is."
-"Don't treat it as a competition. Not to mention, the paths forward are different for our countries. Laterano can easily produce many strong soldiers, even elite ones, but rarely any champions. Britain, meanwhile, focusing on magic rather than technology, can train champions far stronger than elite soldiers, some capable of turning the tides of war on their own; just look at yourself and your knights."
-"Yes, we should try to find better ways to utilise magic. I read through Eno's notes and scrolls from the Lands Between, and I suggest we try to take an example from the Caria and establish an academy to train future mages and Mageknights. Additionally, I hope that Laterano can train those talented in miracles to form an alternative to Mageknights, the Holy Knights."
-"Do you have a plan prepared?"
-"Yes, I can give it to you."
-"Please, I'll look at it and ask my sister to also make her own input. If it's feasible, we can start the plan even before the war ends."
-"Sure, I'll lend Eno's Spectral Hawk to send you the drafts."
I looked at two of them working together, and I could see how they got married in real history, but I pushed those thoughts away, focusing on the subject.
-"That idea is something I highly advise, as if everything proceeds as planned, there will be a great change in the world."
-"You mean?"
-"If the Age of Man doesn't commence, and with the Age of Gods at its twilight, the next era will be filled with magic and powers that previously were controlled by gods, now free without restraints. The remaining gods will help their people, but their power is limited, so most of the burden will still be on people themselves to defend their homes from the newly emerged monsters and beasts."
My deep-blue eyes turned golden as I spoke, seeing through possible futures as I was referencing them.
-"Monsters and beasts?"
-"Yes, with the mystery not fading, and the power of nature from dispersed gods, the previously extinct monsters would reappear, contending with humans for the title of Prime Species. And let me remind you that Alaya isn't in a state to assist right now, nor will they do so for the world at the edge of culling."
-"So what should we do?"
-"Learn how to coexist with them. This world will never turn to Alaya as our history is too far from the Pan-Human one, but Gaia won't baby humans; they will only consider the Planet's interests. I know that creating a society like Kaldorei is impossible, but limiting the destruction of nature and exploitation of its resources is a must."
-"How much time do we have?"
-"The first signs will show as soon as Vortigern is killed, but the Age of Man didn't start, as this is the divergence point, but it'll be gradual. At the beginning, the animals would become more wild and stronger, some slowly morphing into monsters as time passes. From my observations and estimates, you'll have twenty years before the world returns to its wild state from the Age of Gods, so before then, you need to find a replacement for Divine Protection."
-"Any advice or suggestions?"
-"Yes. I observed two interesting words not that far from this one. One can introduce professionals for handling monsters, and others can allow people to gain power more easily. Of course, the magical academy is also a great idea, as with the return of mystery, magical talents will emerge much more often. I predict that one in a hundred will have talent in magic enough to use it in daily life, and one in a thousand will be qualified to become a mage."
-"Then I'll adjust our long-term strategy."
-"Just don't forget that in such a hostile world, the threats of humans can't be ignored only because nature is fighting back. I can tell you directly that the Holy Church from the mainland would do everything it takes to make the Age of Man happen, and their allies in France will most likely happly help them."
-"But we can count on you and Laterano, right?"
-"Indeed, but our focus is still on Terra, mind you."
-"It's enough to know you have our back."
-"I have something to add."-Merlin's voice suddenly sounded near us.-"Monsters are one side of the coin, for Britain, there is one equally important matter: Spirits. Faes, Fairies, Pixies… All of them will return, and as Britain is the land of Fairies, we need to work on how to deal with them."
-"On that subject, we need Morgan to act. She is Fairy Great Mother after all."-I turned to Artoria.-"You might need to establish a reserve for them, a small country in a country for spirits where Morgan is the Queen."
-"Indeed. I'll mention it when I write to her. But aren't you also a Nature Spirit? Shouldn't fairies defer to you as well?"-Artoria asked me.
-"Both Fairies and Divine Spirits are Spirits, but of different origin. Fairies exist purely due to nature, their power tied to it, along with their responsibilities and characteristics. Divine Spirits, at least normal ones, are True Gods who degraded into Spirits existing on faith. This separation puts them closer to Alaya than Gaia, thus making them exist in a different hierarchy than Fairies. I'm categorised as Divine Spirit due to my need for faith, but as the said faith originates from Sankta, I'm not linked to Alaya."
-"That's not all."-Merlin continued my explanation.-"Eno is 'grounded' due to his Originium Glintstone. Meaning, he won't be changed due to human influence through the faith like other Divine Spirits; in that respect, he is still a Nature Spirit, as he 'originates' from his crystal. The magical theories about Spirits are rather convoluted, but if we are to distinguish, then Fairies are Elementals and Nature Spirits, while Eno is a Divine Spirit and Nature Spirit."
-"I see. But as a Druid, shouldn't you still hold great power over the Faries?"-Guinevere pointed out.
-"And you'd be right, as all 'wild' Spirits would indeed heed my words, but Fairies are not wild. It's connected to the difference between spirits in this world and one from my dreams. Fairies are a race; they have their own lives and don't exist for some purpose, they just are. On the other hand, spirits of nature from my dream are born from the cosmic force of Life, existing as its guardians. The Spirits that, even if possessing sapience, exist for nature's needs, will listen to me; others, not so much."
Guinevere nodded, committing this distinction to her memory.
-"Either way, don't forget that Spirits are important for Britain."-Merlin spoke as she left.
-"I'll also be going then."-Artoria started to disappear.-"Remember to call me if you need something."
And so, only Guinevere and I remained in the office. I looked at her, and she shrugged, returning to the documents before her. Having nothing better to do, I also continued my work.
A few weeks later, I stood in the banquet hall, surrounded by nobles who talked about everything, trying to get close to me. I responded politely when needed, but mostly ignored them; my presence here was only for the star of the evening. And soon, every head focused on the person walking through the entrance.
In contrast to her usual dresses, Guinevere today wore a long-sleeved white coat accented by a subtle and elegant snowflake-like pattern, with a long, flowing blue coattail draped from her waist down to her ankles, accented with a blue lapel and a wide dark navy sash-style belt, simple light grey trousers, and modern military boots. This was far from the British style; instead, it was an adapted military royal uniform from Terra, changed slightly to match Lateran style, with blue color representing me.
She decided to wear such clothes to show that she had decided to stand on her own, to prove that she was capable of standing side by side with me. At first, she wanted to wear armor like my Knights, but decided against it, to show that she was different, not a knight but a partner. But this caused my Knights to also ask for clothes in a similar style, so now, when not on duty, I would often see them in such uniforms in the Azure Dream.
She didn't style her ash-blonde hair much, letting them hand loosly behind her, while her deep blue eyes were locked on me. She had no visible accessories aside from a circlet with the same style as I and my Knights, but under her black gloves, there was a simple ring made from my crystal, something she asked me to make for her some time ago.
When she approached me, she hooked her hand with my right arm, a slight smile appearing on her face as she did so. Only then did the people start to wake up from their stupor, some unhappy with her, annoyed that a woman tried to wear such clothes, but most were attracted by her uniform, already planning to make something in such style for themselves.
The party progressed as planned, nobles interacting with each other, men talking about business while women mingled and gossiped. But the center of everything was the two of us. Guinevere worked the room like a professional, dealing with both attacks and gestures of goodwill with calmness and dignity. The time passed slowly, but soon it was time for the gifts.
One by one, the nobles presented their presents, mostly jewelry and accessories, only a few giving something truly worth looking at, but when it was finally the time for me, I stood before Guinevere. I looked at her and took out a long package before handing it to her.
-"While I hope you never need to use it, I also wish that it can keep you safe if such need arises."
She opened it to find an elegant sword made from the wood of the giant tree from Azure Dream and my crystal. It was thin and straight, a mix between a rapier and a Chinese Jian, with a blue tassel by the handle. Next to it was a silver-blue scabbard, enchanted with runes that mimicked Artoria's Avalon, but on a much smaller scale, allowing one to enter Azure Dream whenever they wanted, be it for shelter or just because.
She took it and looked at the partially see-through crystal blade, admiring the craftsmanship. When she looked at me, I smiled and activated my Right to Convert, making her eyes widen as a bluish-silver halo and wings appeared on her. The first emotions that I felt from her Empathy were surprise, joy, but also a budding affection.