“Demigod Eliza, Warmaster Chamberlain, General Degurechaff, I’m the Minister of State for the Republic of Francois, Pauline de Francois, first among equals in the Republic of Francois.” Pauline held a hand out. “It is my honour to meet you.”

The Demigod smiled gently. “Likewise.”

A spate of detailed introductions and niceties followed, although Aziz couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised to know that Degurechaff was actually a human who actually held the rank of general in Ark City. He didn’t expect Ark City to be that unrestrained in their personnel employments, given that the Second Extermination had just ended a few years ago, but the same could be said for the Republic too.

He could see a similar look of surprise that Degurechaff sent his way, and Aziz had a feeling that he just found a kindred spirit. Replying with a small smile, he redirected his attention to Warmaster Chamberlain, who was speaking to War Minister Eventide, his counterpart.

It would seem that Ark City had retained some of their older traditions. The positions of Warmaster and Campmaster were similar to the roles of War Minister and Interior Minister respectively…although Aziz preferred the latter, which were more descriptive and less metaphorical.

“…aren’t particularly important infrastructure. Sure, destroying a local blood pool will prevent any newly-respawned demons from re-joining a currently-occurring battle, but there is little evidence to show that doing so will have any other effect. In fact, there is no evidence of any other effects at all.”

“I see. It seems that a war of attrition is impossible to avoid, then,” said Eventide.

“One that is not in our favour,” Chamberlain added.

Aziz listened in for a few more minutes, as the two men began to talk about whatever they had come up with in the past few years. Warmaster Chamberlain, in particular, was most interested in the recent developments of artefacts that were meant for war, and it didn’t take long for their conversation to go down the rabbit hole of artefacts.

He turned his attention away, joining the conversation between Demigod Eliza and Minister Pauline, who were talking about some profound stuff that Aziz wasn’t able to follow without being in the conversation from the very start.

“What are they talking about?” Aziz whispered to Marie.

“Both of them are talking about the philosophies and ideals that they hold,” Marie replied.

“What happened to discussing about Ark City’s possible reintegration with the Republic?” Aziz asked. “And besides, the Republic of Francois was founded on the concept of liberty and equality, right? That’s a rather simple, albeit effective, ideal, so why are the two of them hung up on it?”

“I’m not too sure myself. But you know how people like them are, right? They argue over the smallest of definitions and whatnot.” Marie smiled. “I didn’t expect the Minister to be so accomplished in this particular area, though.”

Aziz glanced at Rene, who added her own opinion every so often, and nodded. “Neither did I expect Rene to be like that too…but she is a familiar spirit, after all.”

“Do you know what I’m thinking right now?” Marie asked.

“What?”

“I’m thinking that I need to read more books about philosophy when I get back, or else I won’t be able to keep up with them anymore,” the marshal replied. “I’m feeling this odd pressure from them, and I don’t like it.”

“You’re not the only one,” Aziz muttered. “Am I going to have only an hour to sleep now?”

“You can do that after the war,” Marie remarked. “Either we’re all dead, or we don’t need to fight any more battles and therefore have lost our jobs.”

“I’m not sure if either of these scenarios are good ones,” Aziz replied.

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Marie replied. “But you’re getting so little sleep that the shadows beneath your eyelids now look like a permanent fixture. Definitely not good for your health, even if you’re a Knight.”

“Can’t be helped.” Aziz grunted. A moment later, his ears pricked up as Demigod Eliza breached the sensitive topic of the day.

“It’s good to meet a kindred spirit,” said Demigod Eliza, “but I am afraid that I must trouble you to talk about why so many people are focused on the fact that Constellation Gemini’s name is on the memorial.”

Pauline ran a few fingers through her hair. “I suppose I should begin with the relevant details first, then. A few years ago, a group of unidentified men and women made a concerted effort to put an end to the Constellation Heroes. With the exception of Scorpio, who gave up his power willingly, the others were all inevitably killed.”

“We had nothing to do with this matter at all,” Pauline added. “And besides, we didn’t have that kind of strength. Rather, this group was trying to avert a dire future.”

“A dire future?” Degurechaff asked. “Doesn’t killing off the chosen of the Human God help the Demon God’s forces?”

“The alternative was far worse,” Pauline replied. “In the future that these people worked to prevent, the Demon God captured a whole bunch of Constellations. And a few days after that…an invincible foe descended. The Demon Sovereign Asteria. A being that housed both the powers of the Human God and the Demon God.”

The Demigod’s face paled. “Gemini!”

“Exactly.” Pauline’s face was lined with worry. “And one thing we inferred from the erected memorial was that Gemini’s fate was unknown. We need to know what happened earlier. Why did he stay behind? Was he already dead back then?”

Demigod Eliza closed her eyes. “Such irony. What a miserable state of affairs.”

She breathed out slowly. “I now understand why the dignitaries of the Five Lands were so anxious about this. Degurechaff.”

“Yes?”

“We’ll be making the memorial ceremony a public one,” said Eliza. “The world should know what Gemini has done, at the very least. His name should not be vilified and cursed at. We’ll also unveil our plans for the future during the ceremony too.”

“Demigod Eliza?”

“You’ll understand later,” the Demigod replied. “I know your concerns, but we will not stand idly by if our saviour’s name is besmirched and blemished, no matter what the future holds for us.”

“Very well. I’ll respect your wishes.”