After finishing the reports and letting the image hang for a little while, I just watched their faces. No one among them dared speak for a long minute, but then Attila from Geth broke the stillness of the room. Listening, his voice sounded calm, but his expression was anything but that.

“You’ll have our support,” he said, nodding to Arthur and me. “But not with soldiers. I’m sorry.” Of course, that blunt statement earned him a few surprised glances, but mine wasn’t among them. I had expected it, and to be honest, his empire was not the only one that I didn’t expect to militarize. “Geth is… still recovering,” he continued, sounding more ashamed than someone who was trying to find excuses. “Our veterans are few, and our youth have only begun growing up, not to mention training. If I begin drafting them…”

“I won’t force you to.” I waved a hand, making him nod and continue.

“I thank you for that, Sovereign Leon. The rail network your engineers helped us build is already connecting our provinces, and we are on our way to rebuilding the… people. We have food reaching the highlands before winter, and I am focusing on lessening the burden on the many broken families the war has left behind. If we pull troops now, we risk more than falling behind... We risk falling apart. The people would riot.”

“As I said, that’s understandable,” I nodded again, not letting the air grow heavy. Mainly, I was letting him explain not to me but to the others at the table. Of course, that was one part… As I said, we are a Union now, so they will contribute one way or another. “Then what can Geth offer?”

“Materials and raw resources. We’ve expanded our train system aggressively over the past year. If your armies need supplies or resources to equip an army, our rail lines can shoulder the burden on our end. I’ll have my ministers join your logistics staff before the week is out, and any demand you may have can be made through them. I can make sure they will be a priority.”

“Many of us here are in the same boat as the Geth Emperor,” President Dai gave a short, approving nod from across the table. “We can offer the same help. After all, logistics wins wars.”

“I also agree,” Nuen chimed in, folding her hands over one another. “Roblesia is… how shall I put it… freshly breathing again after our fights with Sar,” she explained, looking only once at Ahnud, who remained stone-faced. “However, I have to acknowledge that we prospered immensely through trade with Avalon, but we’re still weakened from the war. My people won’t support another major deployment.”

“So, I have all the material support I should need as I see…” I said with a nod, smiling a little as I felt they were trying to evoke the previous wars as an excuse. Which could be true… but it was also partially understandable. “And I appreciate that.”

“We can offer a contingent of soldiers,” Ahnud leaned forward next, shooting a somewhat provoking glance at Nuen. “My Sar… Is ready to defend the people of this continent, regardless of their origin.” He looked at me, then at Mikan. “I can also offer three mages who are specialized in healing. Against monsters, I think your Avalon has the best weapons. So, I’d like to offer help where it is actually needed.”

“I will welcome them with open arms.” I smiled, nodding more deeply towards him.

“We can’t offer much,” Shi Belse added suddenly, speaking for all the other smaller neighbors of hers. Her somewhat nervous voice was reflected in the others’ faces, too. “Our countries can’t offer soldiers either. After our defeat against Ishillia, we were completely demilitarized, as you remember. Our borders are stretched thin already, with our own bandit parasites testing their luck against the trains... It has been a headache dealing with them. But if you have anything to ask, we will comply.”

“We can go in and subdue the bandits,” Arthur said, not bothering to speak quietly, looking at me. “We can arrest and then conscript them. We will need a bigger workforce to expand the railway into Markoth and beyond anyway.”

“That can be done!” Huren exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. I knew they would welcome the help to get rid of unwanted criminals without having to sacrifice their own already weak military... and Arthur knew it too.

“My son will get to you three with the details tomorrow.” I nodded, giving the green light and handing it all off to Arthur. It was his idea, after all.

Then, just as I finished, I saw Cardinal Lubek raise his hand. Looking at him, I noticed that he was clearly uncomfortable being the center of attention, but as I watched the others as much as I watched him, no one seemed to look unfavorably at him after my initial reaction to his presence.

“We of the Theocracy… have also depleted our warriors,” he began, choosing his words carefully. “I can’t pretend we are in any shape to send knights or even peasants with sharpened scythes.” He looked at me while speaking, sighing softly, “But we are willing to offer something just as important: CC.”

“Oh?” I raised both eyebrows, surprised, while the others also leaned forward, shocked by what he had just said.

“I’m offering the Union… two train carts of CC to be used against the monsters,” he continued, and looking into his eyes, I saw no lies there.

“That is great generosity, my friend.” I nodded, signaling that we would talk about this in private, and I was ready to not only take his offer but also work with the Theocracy.

“And a fleet.” He finished, his voice much more confident afterward. “Our ships can travel along the coast, and although it could take months, we can sail around the continent, up to the eastern edge. If these monsters are indeed controlled, and you move in from the west, the shores may be unattended as you draw them away from it. We can catch them off-guard.”

“…” That was a possibility… or even an idea. “We will look into this opportunity,” I muttered, glancing at the others, seeing them thinking.

Finally, someone with a brain. At least, that was what part of me thought. This man was already more valuable than Damar ever was, that is for sure. While thinking about it, Mirian was the next to speak up. She was blunt with her words, not even making excuses like the others.

“Ishillia will fight. I won’t sugarcoat it; our people are exhausted, and the new army lacks experience. But I think that part is true for most of us when it comes to facing monsters. Still… we have numbers. My people will follow the Union’s orders when the operation begins and will be there to fight. Along with me and the Spear.” She added with a confident chuckle.

“I expected nothing less,” I said quietly.

“Sure,” She gave me a slight smirk. “You better not expect them for free, though.”

“I’ll feed them myself if I have to.” I waved a hand, which earned a few chuckles.

“We are also ready,” Alvor nodded as if it was a foregone conclusion. “Atuvia can send its troops, who will be volunteers only, but we will also handle the foremost part of logistics.”

“Excuse me?” King Vizsla asked, blinking as he was just about to offer something similar.

“Well,” Alvor shrugged, “If we’re building forward bases, someone has to keep everything organized. As one of Avalon’s closest allies, part of the group that is already active in Markoth, we are already funding multiple caravans, brewers, healers, and cooks to go there and help the locals. By the time we march there, we will be ready to keep expanding towards the east.”

“I see…” the Western kingdoms' rulers sighed upon hearing his answer, but then again, they quickly continued. “We can amass our armies and provide ground forces from foot soldiers to cavalry in a month's notice.”

“I will let my General work out the details with you all,” I said, nodding at them gratefully. “We will need to establish a centralized command anyway, so please promote your chosen officers. I mean, everyone. Even if you don't send troops to the front, you can still send people to guard our backlines. Of course, the bulk of the army will be my Avalon and its mechs, but as we now see, horde-like creatures of smaller variants are bound to surround the big ones. We can take down the latter, but we will need an army to round up and exterminate the former.”

...

....

......

Back in Khulman, steam was rising through the air inside the vaulted wooden bathhouse. Lanterns were hanging from its ceiling and walls, burning with bright orange light reflected from the surface of the bathwater. Rashira sighed as she leaned back against the edge of the pool, stretching her arms along the rim. Wet strands of hair stuck to her cheeks while she moaned, looking at her sisters with one eye.

“Gods, I needed this... my legs are still sore from riding all morning.”

“Maybe if you didn’t spend half the time trying to outshoot our guest with every opportunity, you’d not have exhausted yourself to such a degree,” Jila teased from across the bath, her grin wide and proud. Then, she flicked a playful splash of water in Rashira’s direction with her feet, making her return it in kind.

“He deserved it,” Rashira pouted, flicking water back, “He was irritating... Coming here, to take us away as some kind of prize…”

“That is our Father’s idea, not his,” Seltana interjected calmly, sitting close to Rashira, eyes closed, leaning back against the pool in calm meditation.

“I thought he was polite,” Meyli offered softly, hearing her sisters speak. She had nestled herself near one of the jets feeding hot spring water into the pool, her knees hugged to her chest, replaying all that had happened. “He was nice to the animals… and to me.”

“Yeah, he was fine,” Jila agreed, giggling. “He looks good, has a strong body, and isn’t afraid to get dirty. And was also honest! It was much better than the others Dad tried to hawk on us.”

“That means nothing,” Rashira snorted. “That can still be a masquerade, a mask that only falls off when he leaves with one of us, heading back to his… Avalon.”

“Maybe,” Seltena nodded as she shifted to sit a bit straighter, opening her eyes. “He learns quickly and can be methodical. Patient even. When we played my game, he adapted to the terrain and my moves surprisingly quickly. But… He doesn’t bluff like one should… He seemed way too honest, which made him easier to predict and counter.”

“So you do like him,” Jila grinned.

“I said no such thing,” Seltena replied, coolly. “I said he is capable.”

“You all…” Tarsine let out a delicate sigh, her long legs folded neatly beneath the water, “He has no sense of etiquette at all. At the tea ceremony, he ate like a ravenous hound! Ruined the flow, the poise, the rhythm. It was disgraceful… If everyone is like that in his Avalon, it's a place for barbarians.”

“He was starving!” Jila burst out laughing. “It had to be hilarious! Haaah… Also, who cares? I also eat with my hands!”

“Because you are a barbarian…” Tarsine sniffed. “There’s nothing funny about a man devouring delicate pastries that need to be enjoyed slowly to appreciate their taste, as if they were rations for the army.”

“He apologized… no?” Meyli asked gently.

“Kind of,” Tarsine muttered after a pause. “And... that did count for something… at least.”

The water stilled for a while, and they all fell silent until Rashira said what none of them wanted to speak aloud.

“You know Father will choose one of us if he doesn’t. And this time... he won’t take no for an answer.” Hearing her speak, the silence deepened between the sisters.

“I hate this,” Meyli muttered, sinking deeper until only her nose and eyes were above the surface. “It’s like we’re being sold.”

“You know that’s not what this is,” Seltena said calmly, which was not the right way to coo her youngest sister. “It’s politics, strategy, and the way to make an alliance.”

“Still feels more like exile,” Tarsine said under her breath. “Marriage as a reward... As a prize. We’re not prizes...”

“No, we are not.” Rashira agreed resolutely, closing her eyes shut, “If it comes to it, I will go. As the eldest, it is my responsibility.”

“He will refuse.” Jila chuckled, keeping up a half-smile, “You’ll see… This won’t go down in any way that you or I think it will. Honestly… It is kind of exciting!”

“You are pretty confident about it,” Rashira muttered, looking at her younger sister, who suddenly stood up from the water and stretched lazily.

“I fought with him. I think I know him more than any of you, just because of that… You’ll see.”