The smell permeated from the soil, puddled across the area with a thick and purple liquid. The trees reflected a similar colour, sickly almost. It changed and nourished the atmospheric aeter, enough to transform the region’s course of evolution even. From several creatures to varied plants and trees, they adapted by drinking from the purple puddles, from eating the tainted leaves, and from feasting on darkened flesh. It marked the eastern reaches of the Sea of Trees, not often ventured. But the five men present, stood in a circle, unimpacted by the strangeness around them – three on one side, two on the other.

“Well met, Prince Roland,” said High Lord Bloodheart, with a smile. “It’s been a long time, a long, bloody time.”

General Magellan bowed a little, respecting rank, and retreated to a distance away from the conversation. Zane offered no such courtesy. The Lord of Fire merely gazed at the two people in front of him, with neither thought nor expression.

“Must I remind you as well, High Lord?” said Roland, casually. “I’ve not been crowned as such, not yet. If you insist on being formal, I would much rather you address me as Duke.”

Aelius shifted his gaze to the large, Awaran Lord at Roland’s side. “What about you, Noah? Do I still address you as Baron?”

“Yes, I’m still a Baron…” said Noah, with a shrug, avoiding the route of humour.

Roland stiffened his expression in that moment, taking a gentle step forward. He reached into an inside pocket and unveiled a sealed document. With a smile, he offered it to the Godvildian High Lord.

Aelius read the contents of the document and nodded, appreciatively. He passed it to Zane and waited for the latter’s acknowledgement of the conditions. They nodded at each other this time, once in agreement.

“We accept your surrender and request for peace,” said Aelius, rolling and tying the document in a knot. “I’m surprised you convinced your father to agree to such terms.”

“We fought a losing war to begin with,” said Roland, with a sigh. “And the massacre at Sol Sanctum certainly helped convince him of it.”

“Spending power,” muttered Zane. “Don’t wage wars when you don’t have the money to raise soldiers.”

Roland pursed his lips, but stood in agreement with the blacksmith’s assessment. He sighed again. “We have one other request, however.”

Aelius raised an eyebrow, but gestured for the Relictan Duke to continue, piqued with curiosity.

“I know you’re trying to hide it…” said Roland, cautiously. “But I have everything I need, everything necessary to request the involvement of the Noxun Empire as well.”

“What…what do you mean?” asked Aelius, hiding a twitch of irritation.

“The Awakened,” stated Roland, with a straight expression. “You erased the memories of everyone in Mutuba Village – a precautionary move. But I obtained my information before that.

“Mioverold did not announce the Awakening. I can only assume that your god manipulated the process this time. And I’m willing to overlook it, granted an agreement to my request.”

Aelius remained motionless. His eyes shifted from Roland to Noah, and then back. He shrugged, before moving within the frame of a blink. His speed transcended common sense, and his arm grabbed onto the Awaran Baron, without mercy. He spun at a distance from Roland, veiled in a fiercely thick and wrathful aura. The Godvildian High Lord lifted Noah by the neck now, his fingers – piercing past armour, cracking into flesh.

Noah struggled for breath, failing in every attempt. He closed his eyes in anticipation of death, but felt the release of freedom instead. The Relictan Lord crashed onto the ground and hurried to his feet, in time to watch Aelius return to conversation with his Prince. He trembled from the experience, unsheathing his weapon almost, only to hesitate upon Roland’s command.

“You’ve made your point, albeit an unnecessary one,” said Roland. “I’m not here to threaten our peace. I merely request a favour for my silence.”

“Go on, then!” spat Aelius, making little effort to hide his disgust.

“I’ll allow you to take me prisoner and hold me hostage, for the sake of appearances,” said Roland, to the surprise of the two Godvildian Lords. “This will be the official message Baron Noah returns with, a non-negotiable addendum to the peace treaty. In return, I want you to grant me a new identity and the freedom to interact with the Awakened as I see fit.”

Aelius massaged his temples, to ease from the pain of growing frustration. He calmed and then said, “I don’t like the idea of you interacting with our Awakened.”

In that moment, Zane raised an arm, forcing an interjection. He paused the conversation to a state of awkwardness and continued only after a thorough analysis of Roland’s proposal.

“Let it be, High Lord Bloodheart,” said Zane, waving away Aelius’ objections. "Despite remarkable ability, the Duke poses little threat to us. He’s revealed his intent.”

Aelius almost opened his mouth in protest, but refrained at the sight of continuation from the Lord of Fire.

“Void Helena claims him to be different from his predecessors,” said Zane. “Is there any reason for us to route the Awakened through the usual process?”

The Lord of Fire casually turned to Duke Roland and added, “We agree to the terms. You will be allowed limited autonomy despite the status of prisoner.”

“Thank you!” said Roland, respectfully.

“Know that there are expectations attached to such freedom, beyond the scope of your intent,” said Zane, with a stern expression. “I will come to collect when the time is right. Do not refuse me then.”

Roland lowered his head on instinct, shuddering a little. He braved his heart nonetheless, as a Duke to his people, aware of the impact of his every move. “And what if I refuse?”

The Lord of Fire straightened his posture and lulled the conversation to another stall. He assessed the question as mere curiosity and not one of malicious intent. With a sly smirk, he stroked his beard with an elaborate and unhurried gesture, once, and then thrice more.

“It wouldn’t come to that, now, would it?” said Zane, without expression. “Well, I’m sure you understand.”

Roland swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded without issue. “Yes…yes, I understand.”

The Lord of Fire approvingly tossed the sealed document, fused with his aeter, into the air. It shattered to fragments, then ash, whistling away with winds soon after. In time, the denizens of Mioverold experienced a familiar phenomenon, the end of a war.

[[Upon Royal Order from the Emperor, the Relictan Empire surrenders all wars against the Godvildian Empire.]]

[[The Relictan and Godvildian Empires have signed a two-year peace treaty.

For the duration of the treaty, trade will only be allowed with the Godvildian Empire Relictan goods will be taxed an additional 50% upon export to the Godvildian Empire The Godvildian Empire is entitled to 30% of the land taxes accrued from the Lords’ regions The Godvildian Empire is entitled to 30% of the annual Relictan military budget The Relictan Treasury is ordered to transfer 100,000 bloodstones to the Godvildian Empire The Relictan Duke, Roland Lar Relicta will be held prisoner for a period of five years as a warning against all future conflict]]