After the capital was sacked the armies near the coast rushed quickly back. As they did the imperial army waiting on their ships not far from the coast saw their chance.

A large invasion force of at least eighty thousand men led by one of the children in purple landed safely and unopposed. They caught up to the army and easily encircled and defeated them in the open field.

During the same time, two other children in purple had invaded and conquered the free island of Danz that was between the empire and the Sardes federation. Both of these two conquests had happened swiftly and decisively and had left everyone everywhere speechless.

The entire world of Aesis had in just a few weeks heard of the conquests and it was all the talk in every court, council building and parliament. It was not long until all these people would start to ready their armies themselves for an incoming invasion.

~ ~

Back in the capital of the Fairfax kingdom, a diplomat from the city-state of Melba had come to meet Rufus.

The city-state of Melba was located in the old and now gone kingdom of Etna. When this once mighty kingdom's king didn't have a child and heir, the kingdom splintered into many city-states, principalities, dukedoms and other smaller states.

These small states were weak militarily but economically were extremely dominant in the entire Aesis world. The richest of merchants, most productive factories and the most elegant and luxurious goods came from these states.

The city of Melba was located on a large lake and was the old capital city of the kingdom of Etna. Around five hundred thousand people lived in the city and it was many times larger than the capital of the Fairfax kingdom even before the riots.

"I think you have heard what is happening in the south, with the empire," the delegate asked.

"You mean the recent conquests?" Rufus asked

"We have heard, but what does it have to do with us?" Doreen said.

"It has a lot to do with you. The empire did for a long time fight a war against many of the Etna city-states for the control of the islands in the strait of Espada. These islands have always been ours and the islands are now divided evenly between us and peace has lasted for over forty years.

"But not long ago, we got a delegation from the empire of declaration of war. This news wouldn't have shocked us much since we knew they also coveted these islands and would want to take them all. What truly shocked us was that they demanded unconditional surrender and to accept the dominance of everything to the Heian empire. This message was sent to all of the states in Etna," the diplomat explained.

"What does this mean?" Rufus said with him still being confused.

"What they meant was that they would invade in the hopes of conquering every single one of the Etna city-states. That would make them our neighbors and seeing how they are advancing, it is safe to assume they would come knocking on our borders next," Doreen explained.

"That is precisely the case. They would not be satisfied with just the conquest of our fair cities, if they are able of course. Emperor Ala wishes to conquer the entire Aesis world. Many have speculated that for a while, and now he is finally showing what we all feared," the diplomat said.

"That still doesn't explain why you are here," Amala asked.

"The war will not just be our problem. It will also be your problem I am afraid. If we both are to stop the incursion and ideas of this emperor, we must act together. Everyone has heard of the great Rufus Fairfax, the king and Raja of the mighty kingdom of Fairfax. You even dominated queen Sasha of the nation of Sparv. You would be a valuable ally to us."

Rufus was not sure and neither were any of his friends.

"All of the states of Etna have joined forces together for the greater good. We hope to rally the greatest king in the Eastica continent also to this cause," the diplomat said trying to convince them all.

"May we have some time to think about this?" Amala said.

~ ~

The nobles and other powerful people had relatively a lot to say when it came to foreign policy in the newly formed kingdom of Fairfax, but the final say would they enter a war was for the king to decide.

"I think we shouldn't go to war. The grey skins would not question for even a second to march out if they were led by Rufus, but still, this is not what we agreed on. We would defend our new home, but not some other people's homes," Amala argued.

"This will be our problem sooner or later. If we don't do something we will be next," Doreen said back.

"Then we will face them when they invade us. We will drive them back wherever they came from like we did with the nation of Sparv."

"Heian empire is no nation of Sparv and their emperor is definitely not anything like queen Sasha."

"I don't care."

All of them started arguing with one another with Rufus deciding to slip away during the argument.

~~

He went to the rooftop of the house that had become his quiet place like the rooftop of Haufen's bar used to be.

Haley then joined him and sat next to him.

"You know you are the one with the final word, like it or not," Haley said.

Rufus sighed.

"What would you do. Like would you go to war?" Rufus asked.

"Well, don't want to tell you my answer because don't want to influence your decision. Sooner or later, you have to stop being a pushover for all our sake."

"Being a pushover isn't that bad," Rufus said jokingly.

Haley stared at the sky.

"Are you afraid of the war or are you more afraid of what you are becoming as Haufen had said. He said that as long as you feel bad when you are harming another you are fine. You remember?"

"Yeah I remember," Rufus said with a bright smile.

"So?"

Rufus thought for a while.

"War used to terrify me. All kinds of acts of violence used to disgust me, but I pushed through. But sooner or later I didn't anymore feel any resistance and I just kept going. It became easier and easier. Now when asked to go to war once more, I am afraid of the future. The future me. What will this bloodshed make me into? I feel like I am becoming another person."

Haley was at first quiet but then slammed Rufus very hard on his back.

"WHAT THE HELL, HALEY!?"

"Stop complaining. If you are going to do something rather you go with full force and end up hitting the wall rather than tiptoe and get nowhere," Haley motivated Rufus.

He then calmed down.

"I think we should tell them your decision," Haley said and took Rufus away.

~ ~

In around two weeks, the kingdom of Fairfax started to raise its armies and soldiers. The new army of the kingdom was by far stronger now with many more men, better organized and structured, better weaponry and artillery and capable leadership.

Around forty thousand grey skins and humans marched towards the south getting prepared for a war of a generation.