Ashes and Kingdoms

"You can't use your hands."

Lightly pushed away, Senato was cut. Even in the summer, softly covered with cloth to his head, the magician looks cold at the reaction of such a boy, and again, drops his eyes on the floor. At the end of that gaze, Mion, round his body, was looking up at the universe with a vain face as he cried intermittently.

The only other person indoors is Nella. Senato was afraid that Mion would be disposed of, and kept him in his chambers without informing the emperor or other family members. Less than three days later, there is no sign of recovery. I finally caught the magician and brought him to the room, but he just stared at Mion and threw a spoon without trying anything.

"Come on, don't get away with it."

Senato spoke out harshly and showed with his hands to emphasize the presence of poor Mion.

"You must have used him in your grandfather's life! Are you telling me there's another magician besides you? Do you make people feel nothing like this"

"It's not what I did. I told you, even a little bird can't be hurt with my little tricks."

"Do you really take that bullshit! No, I don't care what you did now. If you're really a real magician, why don't you show me something useful!

…………

Orgin looked back at Senato with his fallen eyes, but his eyes were as if they could be seen by cattle who did not understand the human language and made noise.

Slightly, the sorcerer sighed quietly and repeated with guts.

"My reply is the same. No more hand application. This person will remain like this for the rest of his life. If you ask me to do something, I know about the pills that make it easier to sleep."

"You shameless! How dare you."

Senato unwittingly waves his fist up. It was Nella who stopped it.

"Please calm down, Master Senato. If what Mion told us was true, he was passing our information on to Senator Fercius. To that end, it must have been attached to someone over there and used in this way. I just paid the price of betrayal."

"You say that to Nella? Has he done anything so expensive that he is made to look like this? That a servant who betrayed the Lord deserved to be devoured of his soul?

"I'm not saying it's natural, but... they were bad. I can't help it."

Nella scolds him, and Senato fists down reluctantly with a bitter face. Beyond the anger-filled imperial, Orgin looked at Myon with his ankle tilted to his hump.

"It's odd to say that you've eaten up your soul. Indeed, the heart of this person seems to be already vain. Where did they create the incentive to be eroded?"

Crunching like a solitaire, he looked up. Something, clear your ears to the sound of inaudibility, narrow your eyes and stop moving, as if to see something invisible.

"- The answer may be..."

From between shriveled lips, slight words spill. As I wore it, I could also hear people in Senato's ears. It's not just the royal palace, there's more noise from the outside.

"What..."

At the same time Senato was surprised, a scream of surprise and confusion arose from all over the mansion. Nella gets hacked and runs out of the room. Senato rushed after him, too.

Nella had not gone far. He stands in the corridor surrounding the courtyard and looks up at the sky cut to the roof of the mansion. Senato also turned his neck back. Then there was the sound of wings, and the wind blew on his face.

"- Ugh!

Cover your face with your arms by accident. For a moment, a giant shadow hid the sky. And

"Master Senato!

With a familiar voice, a white dragon descended in the courtyard.

Too much Senato stood still, forgetting to breathe. When he realized that the garden trees would be crushed by the dragon giant, the white wings that had just covered the garden disappeared and one young man was descending from space to the ground.

While Senato was stunned, he, Dragon Hou Phineas, ran over the garden.

"Dear Senato, Forgive me for ignoring your visit. I really must see His Majesty the Emperor now."

He told me in an urgent manner, and Senato returned to me and somehow regained his mind. But sooner than he answered, a voice spoke from behind.

"Finally, did that thing move out"

Unexpected people say words that seem to grasp the situation, and Finn is confused. But soon he nodded deeply.

"That's right. Quanos has been wiped out and the Fourth Corps has been taken in for the most part, ignoring the commander's orders and heading to Quanos."

"Do you think so?"

That's all I heard, Orgin slipped through the side of Finn and walked out saying he was alone.

"Wait, where are you going!

"Which way?"

Senato blamed it and Finn inquired at the same time. Orgin turns only his face and responds with a blur in the shadows.

"I come to do my duty. It's none of your business."

Senato steps forward to a narrative that belittles his surroundings too much. Finn stopped it.

"Whatever you are to be done, we still need the evacuation of our citizens, and it's no different to what we're supposed to do. That's a good idea."

"... I see you're Dragon Hou"

Orgin, instead of responding, chuckled slightly lower and walked away with little footsteps, as usual.

"Lord Phineas, why are you letting me go!?

Senato asks questions about all the bites. But Finn gazed behind the magician and shook his head small.

"I'm not sure, but he's him and he seems to have some kind of thought... mission"

"Isn't that dangerous if you don't make it stop!

"No. As I said three years ago, he's still not dangerous. You wouldn't think about something roughly lifelike giving to that“ hunger ”in the first place. Except for someone who's had his heart eroded."

Finn said calmly, then turned to Senato to cut out his original business.

"This one here, we have to do what we have to do. Senato, which way does His Majesty the Emperor come?"

The royal palace's conference room was engulfed with bitter air. Besides, I had just been warned and rushed to take action, but I was informed that things had moved quickly.

Besides, what Finn told me made Varys and the others brave from the cold. Although it was only vaguely heard as a 'disaster', and its size, its appearance, and its specific threat could not be assumed, I had no idea that it was an army that left a dead grass muscle on the trail of walking, a darkness that swallowed the city whole.

Varis had a rugged face, often silently delayed in his thoughts. Faces gathered indoors - Finn and Senato, Nella, plus Islev, who happens to visit a meeting of the Ship Competition - sip and watch his reaction.

Somewhat Varys asked, roaring.

"Phineas, from what I see of that, how much respite is left? Is the disaster still about to strike the Imperial Capital?

"The exact thing is, I'm not sure either. However, what was in Quanos looked terribly hungry and swallowed up everything around him, but it hadn't moved itself yet. Perhaps… awaiting the arrival of the Fourth Regiment"

If there is any trigger, it will overflow, Blue Mist said. If the “hunger” that eats up what is around them is newly fed the Fourth Legion, is that not a sufficient "trigger"?

Because even if you quote less, until the Fourth Corps gets to Quanos, there's a respite. And also, if that overflows, it won't expand to the whole territory in an instant. If so, Blue Mist would have warned the fins not to eat the convolutions, and not to mention the long "wait" for the self-destruction of the disaster in the first place.

Finn asked Varys to put out a map, thinking about the possibility of this.

"It was around here that I found the Commander of the Rufus Army. North-South streets stretching from Orne Street meet Nakte Street"

The imperial map, made on the basis of accurate surveys, is largely consistent with the view from above. I can't go wrong. Finn stared at the tip of his finger as he rode out.

"How many days does it take for a regular march from here to Quanos"

"Right," Varys replies. "It would be four days by standard. Three days if it's a forcible army."

"Then there will probably be a respite for about five days. The footsteps of the Fourth Corps were very slow. That said, in that way, you won't have a break or a camp, so I was wondering if that's the extent of the subtraction. After they reach Quonos, we can't predict what kind of movement will begin."

"Tough."

Varis roars and Islev also holds between his eyebrows with a difficult face. It is impossible to use the ship competition as an excuse for only a few days. Varys shook his head without hiding his disappointment.

"A month is all I want," he said.

"Unfortunately, it won't be that far. No matter how slow the disaster spreads, I don't think it will take a month to reach the Imperial Capital."

"Then until you do what you can in a few days. In the name of preparing for the crowd of the ship competition, we have already begun preparations for wheat transport. Let's get more personnel and hurry up. There's no choice but to assemble the council and have all the residents issue an eviction order immediately."

Senato hastily stopped Varys, who was about to leave.

"Wait, Your Majesty. The council has Senator Fercius."

"So what? Sure, he's hard, but he can't avoid it. With the words of Heavenly Dragon Marquis, no one can go under."

"That's not what happened."

Senato said, but hesitated to shut his mouth. If I was to warn you about Fercius, I realized I had to tell you about Myon, and I got anxious. However, it is no longer a case of giving priority to personal concerns. He wet his lips before continuing.

"Senator Fercius, perhaps… insane"

"What?

Varys asks back suspiciously. While taking care to state only the facts as far as possible, Senato explained the vain eyes and voices of Fercius, whom he once saw on the floor, Mion, who had contact with him and showed similar anomalies.

"Even now he still can't speak properly and is relieved. I don't know if that was the work of a magician or grandfather, or if it was eroded by“ disaster, "just like the Fourth Legion. But Senator Fercius should also still see it as not in a state that makes sense and makes sense. It could also be an attempt to harm His Majesty."

"Right."

Unsurprisingly, Varys did not show surprise, he just nodded lightly. Varis said pale as the shoulder-watermarked Senato glanced at him for a while.

"I've known for a long time that that man was standing on the border between madness and sanity. Just change the response a little rough. Islev, summon an extraordinary parliament immediately. Call Callux and order me to lay down a strict precaution."

"I understand. How will you explain it to Parliament? Nakte, do you think Dragon Marquis disobeyed the Emperor?

Islev gives his regards and confirms them before leaving the room. Senato was slightly frightened, but neither Varis nor Islev saw it.

"That's right. On behalf of the Commander of the Legion of Rufus, he will take control of the Fourth Legion and decide that he has pressed for the dawn of the Imperial Capital. I'm sorry about that Jen, but he's no longer in a position to open his petition, so let's get as much stigma as we can get. Conveniently, it is witnessed by a large crowd that Tenryu Hou flew to the Royal Palace in a great hurry. It would be better if he brought news from the Legion. Dragon Hou Phineas, I hope to accompany you on the floor as well. If anyone else is handicapped besides Fercius, I want you to warn me. Besides, if I were on your side, I'd be safe."

After stating even that far, Fumi Varis smiled sarcastically.

"Or can't we still fight to protect the Emperor?

"No way," Finn replied instantly. "I'll protect you. It's on your shoulders, for the lives of the royal city people."

"I see, that's how it came"

Varys laughs. After a few blinks, Finn took it seriously.

"Of course, I have learned that Your Majesty himself is one of the citizens to protect. Because it's not like a normal battle."

"This is it. Care, it hurts."

The emperor, who was treated as a citizen, rounded his grey brown eyes and then thanked him.

All in all, the time available was just a waste of a second, and Varis made the next decision.

Senato, I order you to head south first.

Of course, if something happens to Varys, let the heirs get away with it, because of it, but someone has to take the lead. Towns and villages beneath the river will also be disrupted if the evacuees are to massively push over. In addition, supervision of the transport of supplies is necessary.

"I'm going to put on an escort guard, so even tomorrow, we'll leave on the first convoy. Alert them first, and keep them from panicking. Keep a close watch on looting and food concealment. After we get to Ordos, we'll take over the city council and get ready for local reception."

After giving him a series of instructions, Varys turned his back.

"All of them are seas to be rowed out, but I don't know if I'm going to be a sailor in the middle of a storm. But if I did, I'd get through it. Nella, I'll take care of the assistant."

"I'll do my best"

As Nera lowered her head deeply, Varis nodded and encouraged her to leave the room by hand gesturing. He must be getting ready soon. When Senato and Nera left, one soldier appeared wearing a breastplate in a replacement.

Callux, I'm here.

He saluted by stretching his spine tightly, and he also offered a salute to Finn. "That's fast," says Varys. Islev must have been in such a hurry.

"Phineas, he is the deputy commander of the Carius-Sestius-Farida, the Royal Capital Guard. He is entrusted with the defense team while Glaus is away. Kalux, he's the rumored Tenryu Hou. Phineas-Elphalenia-Oandius. Was it?"

With his verbal butt, Varis showed signs of a slight setback and looked back at Finn. Called an oblivious official name by someone else's mouth, Finn nods as he struggles to fix his expression. As he hurried to give Callux his hand to deceive him, he was firmly gripped by his powerful hand. It's the hands of a rough samurai with a sword. The tone of greeting was similarly slightly boneless, but the warmth and solidity seeped through.

"It's an honor to meet you, Lord Phineas. No rumors. It would be comforting if I could count on your help. Your Majesty, an urgent assembly of Parliament, in your opinion, would be rather rough?

"It could be a brawl. But more than that, I don't need to go home on my own. When the senators get together, don't let one of them out. As soon as the door to the floor is closed, detain Fercius."

"No questions asked, is it? Guilty charges?"

"It's a rebellion against the state. He's about to tie up with Senato the Dragon Hou and put this Imperial Capital in his hands. Now the Fourth Regiment has banished the Commander of the Rufus Regiment from his seat and has received news that he is aiming for the Quanos by order of the Senato Marquis"

――

Callux took a breath and gently turned his gaze to Finn. Finn almost looked away unexpectedly, and could enjoy himself in a terrible place. but it was a useless effort. Soon Varys exposed the facts.

"That's the apparent reason. The real reason is, you won't be convinced right away if you ask. Unstoppable calamity swallows legions and is about to expand from Quanos to the whole territory, etc."

"... Your Majesty, I'd like to ask you a few details now"

Callux puzzles me. Varis let Finn brief him on the situation and he just started preparing to head to the floor. When Finn finished talking to the Fourth Legion about the Quanos situation, Varis took over the continuation.

"Because of this circumstance, we must pass an order in Parliament for the eviction of all inhabitants from the Imperial Capital. Even then, contrary to the name of the Imperial Capital Guard, you will be ordered to abandon the capital. Callux, just remember that now. Convince those who want to cage that there is no prospect of reinforcements coming"

"Recall General Glaus..."

"No, I can't recall it. Let's send a messenger to let him know what's going on and let him make that decision over there. I don't know if Nornicom will stop the war, but if the disaster is going to spread further east beyond the Imperial Capital, it's pointless where we've shed a lot of blood and won."

Varys snorted and looked up at the map of the textile placed on the wall. On my mouth, I have a cold, ironic grin. In his eyes, the map seemed to peel off losing color from the edges.

Now that even the centre is about to be lost, both the "Empire” and the "Emperor” are only famous. All that remains is the south, just a few lands on the sea edge. That said, the duty remains strict, as a duty. Varys continued to speak pale as he thought of the world's anomalies.

"If calamity actually looms, the truth will be known to those who rely on eviction. Until then, spread the rumor that Marquis Senato was possessed of madness. If we stay in the Imperial Capital, we'll all be killed. First convince your men who seem to be able to use it and let them hit the floor security. If you're screwed over Congress, focus on the harbor and the castle gates, the shops next, and prevent riots."

Copy that, sir.

Callux salutes and also meets with Finn "later" before leaving neatly. Without waiting for that footsteps to disappear, Varys took a small bunch of keys out of his nostalgia and removed one.

"Phineas, take it. It's the key to the treasure trove. We'll have a little time before the senators get together, so I want you to look inside."

……

I didn't know what I meant, and Finn looked at me for a while. In the meantime, why the treasure trove now, although I received the important key with both hands. Varis spilled a bitter laugh at Finn waiting for the words to follow.

"Don't look so strange. In this emergency, I'm not asking you to bring out your treasure with the wings of a dragon. Of course, it's a huge loss for a superb piece of art to be destroyed... but if so, you'll know if any of those antiques still hold power. If we can keep the disaster away from the slightest, we've never come to take it out."

"Okay, I'll take a look. I don't think you can expect much."

Where there were several swords like Fallendyne, when it comes to being able to deal with that disaster, it would be enough to protect the spirit of the holder at best. I might as well choose something to evacuate because it's an artistic masterpiece.

When Finn was thinking about it, Varys said he didn't agree with it, and clasped his shoulders.

"In the first place, Dragon Marquis and magicians use it. I don't think it'll help us. But if the calamity that devoured it might add strength, you don't have to bother to keep the delicacies on the table."

"... right"

Failing to return the attentive words, Finn just agreed.

Is it a unique way of coping with crises for the powerful that makes me joke about something that makes me feel at ease? Finn felt a little sorry for Varys as he guided the servant to the treasure trove.