Chapter 658: “Since when did you grow so moist?” (2/2)
What else can be said? He walked out of the building in the company of children. 'Enough politic for one day,' they skipped to a rather quaint fast-food area. Fixed tables and chairs, a singular tree hung its foliage over the eaters. ”Ice-cream,” said Vanesa, ”-I want one.”
”I'll have two,” glared Lizzie.
”One each,” he smiled and hurried to a smaller round table. Passersby, dressed in casual clothes, took notice quickly. A man in a suit caring for girls in elegant dresses. Neighboring tables assumed him to be the stereotypical rich guy, obnoxious and smug. No heed on the surrounding, '-aunt Elvira's at the council, the new rule will have to bring Arda under one. Julius and Lizzie have abdicated their claims on the throne. In a time of crisis, I don't think the nobles would mind either. Maintain the feudal rulership or change to a more democratic way of government. A dictatorship could work, out of the three, maintaining feudalism is better. Arda's traumatic experience under the church's dictatorship has very well wiped the mind of the populous. Hard for me to think, they need a ruler, someone to make decisions. We ought to move past the dated days of kings and nobles, Alphia's a prime example, they're just fine under the semi-democratic and feudal rulership. The people were adamant about letting their emperor be in power, got to hand it to them. Saddens to see such a fruitful land be soiled at the hands of fake believers. The pest of Kreston will never die, a damn cockroach. The fate of an entire continent rests in the Haggard's hand. Once Eira is married, the scope of our influence will be untouched. Julius would fit the title of king, knowing him, he'll refuse. I see only a single way, Queen Shanna returns to the throne, a job easier said than done. Many will argue she's the reason why Arda fell into cacophony, and as is, we can't refute their worries. Mistakes are spotted easily, no matter the great done, the jealous shall always have their way.'
”Stop thinking so heavily.”
”Big sister?” focus returned, ”-how long was it?”
”Two hours,” she said.
”What about Lizzie and Vanesa,” the questions answered themselves, the duo lent on his legs and napped.
”Where's Julius and aunt?”
”No idea?” she shrugged and pulled a stool, ”-Igna, you were right to bring me here.”
”The mood sure looks relieved, the shoulder stands proudly, what happened?”
”We fought,” she chuckled, ”-fought until the hatred displaced for laughter. Julius and I realized the points were the same in ideals, the application differed. Mother sure was excited to see us argue, she but sat with hands on her chin and smiled. Creepy if you ask me.”
”Not creepy. She's happy her family is back together. Look at Lizzie, isn't her face of a blissful individual?”
”Since when did you grow so moist?” frowned she, ”-aren't you supposed to be the slayer of a seven thousand army?”
”Oh, don't worry about that,” the bicolored pupils swiftly reddened, ”-tis all in a day's work.”
”Tell me about Mantia; what does it feel to know just about everything in the world?”
”I can't explain the sensation; the events feel repeated. Domain expansion, ability granted to symbol wielders, you used earlier at the office.”
”Yeah, I had to. A Haggard must have some aggression in the negotiations.”
”Strictly magic wise,” *Mana-Control: Five Fingers Variant- Rainbow,* ”-I hold powers to any type of magic imaginable. Don't even have to use my mana.”
”Still using magic?” her tone waned, ”-Igna, I thought the powers would be more impressive. Magic in our age feels outdated. Even adventurers stray from the arts while in combat.”
”Let me tell you something when magic dies out and humans evolve to not be able to sense or use mana, a simple fireball spell will feel as strong as a gun. The cycle of life and death, wait and watch, the magic of this era will be hailed as ancient arts.”
”We can safely say death isn't an issue. Watching the populous grow and evolve sounds fun, and boring.” Shanna and Julius joined the conversation, ”-welcome back,” said Eira.
”I've spoken to Éclair; a jet is on its way. We'll fly to Arda.”
”We headed the to Southern airfield?”
”No, not the airport. We're headed to Phantom's private one.”
Blood-King's council, a short fifteen-minute break intervened to the final debate. Aurora stood strongly for Eira's propositions. Gabrielle and Julia were neutral. Alaric strongly opposed the traitor.
”I can't accept her return. She brought on the hurt. If not for the wall, we'd have lost in another attack. Glenda's but a mediocre town, we can't allow Igna's land to be given greater importance.”
”Alaric,” said Julia, ”-the arguments are valid, we might upset the nobles if we focus on a single man, a boy rather. Even now, the title of Viscount has had the others furious. None want to speak out, they'd rather choose the shadows.”
”We can't entertain everyone,” interjected Aurora, ”-Julius and Igna saved our land, don't forget. If not for the latter's party, there wouldn't be any of us left. Phantom helped the castle's capture, I say this with confidence, traitor or not, the Haggard Dynasty stepped in to handle a mess a runaway child caused.”
”They wouldn't have needed to if the girl had remained quiet,” fired Alaric, ”-don't get me started on the Queen, she fell prey to Lucifer's charm.”
”On that point,” said Gabrielle, ”-we might also blame the council of races, they openly accepted his entrance. I watched how he acts and speaks, the man has charm and intellect, no way we had seen this coming.”
”Don't stray off the point,” voiced Elvira, ”-Eira's not interested in Arda's land. She wants to restore the continent for a stable future, the lady's engaged to be Empress of Arda.”
”Economically speaking, we're barely making progress,” facepalmed Aurora, ”-raising taxes will break the livelihood of many. The coffers might last another year if we are conservative… Repairs and afterwar recompensating, the noble lords and army need to be paid. Food supplies are also slim, more have fled for the protection of the Blood-King's faction.”
”What do you propose,” frowned Alaric.
”Let the royal family figure it out. Igna's said to accompany the princess, right?”
”Correct.”
”Shall we decide?” proposed Gabrielle.
”Just to be clear, we have three choices, accept, neutral, and oppose.”
”I disagree,” said Alaric.
”I'll wait and watch,” nodded Gabrielle.
”Same here,” added Julia.
”I also wish to wait and watch,” said Aurora, ”-my allegiance stands firmly on Eira's side.”
”Thank you for your time, Eira's party will land at the capital later in the night. To confirm, the council has accepted to wait and watch.”
”Correct.”