Gaius, who was taking dainty little sips from the bowl overflowing with cream of mushroom soup, was having fun watching Isabelle and Countess Reinford negotiate over the allotment of those life-saving, one-use artefacts the latter had. The boy wasn’t the best talker, but Isabelle was a skilled diplomat through and through, a direct result of her upbringing as one of the upcoming major players in House Lorenze.

And so, he asked her for this little favour, which Isabelle had readily acquiesced to. However, she wanted not just some of those ornaments, but also the crafting method — Isabelle loved artificing, in a way that Gaius couldn’t.

He made his artefacts to fight. They didn’t need to be impossibly good, especially if he needed them desperately, but he was pretty much a factory line of sorts.

In contrast, Isabelle made hers to learn and to grow. Her Straight Shots, when Gaius took a look at them, were mechanically superior to his own, but she took far longer to make them. Even though his past had served him well when it came to making things like Straight Shots, Isabelle and Nakama had surpassed him when it came to innovation and understanding.

Gaius definitely wasn’t sore about that, but…

“The method of creating the Redoubt Resorts is a Reinford family secret,” the countess said calmly. “No matter how you turn it, it’s not something I can give away.”

“You made a bet,” Isabelle replied.

“It’s a cultural heirloom of the Holdings. Anyone not from there cannot possess such secrets, or they will be hunted down and killed!”

“You made a bet.”

Gaius stifled a smile, and continued to watch as Isabelle stonewalled each and every one of Reinford’s words with ‘You made a bet’. Nakama was already counting off her fingers happily, a sight that the countess obviously didn’t miss, but she obviously couldn’t do anything about it.

“Can you stop rubbing that in?” The countess asked, with a tone of extreme politeness. “I get it, I lost the bet. But I really can’t teach you how to make the Redoubt Resorts! Like I said, the method’s a secret, and it’s not a secret I’m privy to!”

“You made a—” Isabelle’s words died halfway, replaced by a bout of laughter. “Alright, I get it. In that case, regular allotments will have to do. There’s a war coming, and I’m almost certain that Gaius and I are going to take part in it.”

She patted Nakama’s head. “I’m not sure if that sister-doting idiot is going to let Nakama take part, though.”

“Unfortunately, learning to fight is a truth of this world,” said Gaius, who frowned the moment Isabelle brought up Nakama. “And anyone, after some training from me, probably can hold their own against a Knight, even if they’re weaker.”

“Are you targeting me?” Isabelle asked.

“No, it’s just that Lords and beyond have a broken cheat,” Gaius replied. “Fiefs and Dominions don’t care how skilled you are. Unless you have a perverse amount of strength and qi, you aren’t going to break free easily.”

The countess tilted her head. “I’ll get back to you about that, then. A Reinford never goes back on their word.” She looked at Isabelle. “Where possible.”

“Alright. We had a bet on three requests, no?” Gaius asked. “The second one is a request not by me, but by someone really important in the North. The Western Holdings are apparently not intending on giving their all for the war in four years. The Mortal Light Dynasty wants that to change, since this is a battle for the entire world.”

Reinford cupped her chin. “I’ve been worried about this, but the Queen has ignored the concerns brought up in the Court of Hallows. It’s as though she believes that this war cannot be won at all. The logistics troops that are being readied are also under orders to retreat when they think World’s End will fall.”

Gaius glanced at Isabelle, who caught his drift immediately. “The Western Holdings are a monarchy. Currently, their ruler is Queen Hyperion, who has taken the post for six millennia. Doubling as the matriarch of the Hyperion Duchy, she is a Demigod, and she’s apparently the strongest Demigod in the Five Lands too.”

Gaius whistled. “Incredible. Six thousand years. How does the Holdings’ military strength fare against that of the dynasty?”

“I’m not sure of the North’s military strength,” Isabelle replied.

“There are fourteen Paragons that can be mobilised right now,” Reinford said. “And…another Demigod. Minister of War, Archduchess Gaia.”

“Another Demigod…”

It was Nakama’s turn to whistle, but she didn’t seem to have the talent for it. After making a snap decision to teach her how to do it properly someday, Gaius whistled in her place, drawing odd looks from Isabelle and Reinford.

“What?” Gaius asked.

“No, nothing.” Isabelle replied, a gentle smile on her lips.

“I can see why you call him a sister-doting idiot,” Reinford curled her lips. “But back to the main point. I’m not sure why the two Demigods aren’t letting us participate, but in recent years, they’ve been guarding a spot with extreme caution.”

“And you’re telling us that?” Gaius asked.

“To make sure that the powers behind you understand that the West isn’t shirking their duties. I’m sure the Pinnacle and the Oracle will understand once you tell them that…or so I was told to say.” Reinford rolled her eyes. “I’m also a mouthpiece too.”

“So you don’t understand either,” said Gaius.

“Even with my standing, nope.”

“In that case, you definitely can’t fulfil my second request, so let’s change it up a bit. Isabelle here has some trauma regarding people like you, for some reason. So, for the next” —Gaius looked at the clocks that were seemingly omnipresent throughout the entire phrontistery— “three hours, you’re going to listen to her lay out her grievances, and I expect you to be the best counsellor you’ll ever be.”

“What?!”

“You made a bet.” Gaius grinned as the countess turned eyes that were filled with murder at him, before making a funny face back. It was fun to act his physical age once in a while, and the best part was that no one would fault him for it.

“Fine!” She took a deep breath, and turned to face Isabelle squarely. “Bring it!”