Another chapter that I made when I woke up.

Thanks for the support!

----------------------

After receiving the invitation, the same servant who delivered it escorted Cavaron to the dining hall. The dining hall was between the West Tower and the Central Building, and is able to accommodate hundreds of guests while enabling easy access from the sleeping quarters and the audience room.

As they headed to the dining hall, many guards wondered as to who the man wearing the silk shirt was. That is until the servants mentioned that he was the same Cavaron that their late king summoned. It would appear that they only recognized the armor and not Cavaron's face.

"That was him?" a guard whispered to another.

"Yeah, I didn't recognize him without the armor." another whispered back.

"He looks so... different..." the guard whispered again.

"And handsome, too." said one more guard.

""Ha?"" said the two previously whispering guards and backed off a bit.

As the guards were chatting with one another, Cavaron arrived at the dining hall. Within is a long table able to seat around 12 guests on each side. The queen, Ritna was seated on the left in the middle, so Cavaron sat across her.

"Greetings, sir Cavaron." Ritna spoke. "I see you have made yourself comfortable."

Ritna, like the guards from before, was surprised to see the massive difference between the armored Cavaron and the one before her.

"Eh, well, I never expected that there would be personal baths."

"We make sure to have basic hygiene necessities available for good faith with our guests and... benefactors."

While the two of them chatted, servants from the kitchen brought in the food, and placed it in between them. The food brought was small enough to accommodate two people, but large enough to not be seen as stingy. A large roasted fowl, a bowl of salad, a plate of bread, a basket of fruits, and each with a glass of wine.

"I hope the food is appetizing for you, sir Cavaron."

"It is, to be honest. I make appreciating food to be a virtue."

As he took a bite, he faced the servants on the side and said with a smile, "Compliments to the chef."

His smile made some of the females slightly blush and look down to avoid his gaze. Ritna noticed this and just let out a giggle which made her look unbecoming of a person of royalty.

Cavaron didn't mind and continued eating the food before him.

After dinner, Ritna spoke.

"Sir Cavaron, what do you think the contents of the treaty be?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"I suppose that your knowledge from other worlds would help, especially since you're a third party."

Cavaron crossed his arms and thought for a while. Ritna just patiently waited for his answer.

'Hmm... Ladenras is the party at fault, even if there was a change in authority...'

"Ritna, what do you know about the other races?"

"Huh? Ah, hm... the fairies and beasts, I know. Nothing much about the draconians and the real demonic races."

"Then tell me about the fairies and beasts."

"Alright. The fairies live within and around the Azure Waters and the Argent Mountains. Specifically, they are made up of elves, dwarves, and elemental faes. 'Fairies' is just the collective term for them. The beasts are made up of tribes. These tribes are the Wolf, the Tiger, the Hawk, and the Rat. The wolves are the most cunning, the tigers are the strongest, the hawks are the fastest, and the rats are the sneakiest. In times of war, they are the hardest to defeat when they band together. Although magically weak, their physical capabilities make them out to be a force to be reckoned with."

"How about their way of life? Their culture and economy?"

"I know that the beasts are hunter-gatherers. The fairies, however, are similar to humans albeit of a smaller scale since they just assimilate with nature to regain lost energy."

'Hn... for reparations, the one at fault must give... huh? Reminds of that Terran country who lost a war yet continues to give aid even after half a century has passed.'

"Ritna, I assume you don't want another war?"

"Yes, if possible. No more wars will be fought, at least while I live."

"Alright, I have some ideas, but feel free to modify it to your ideal conditions."

Cavaron listed down some ideas he had gathered from his past travels.

Taking inspiration from a Terran world, he suggested opening trade routes between human and non-human territories. Other than that, for the sake of reparations, Ladenras must give up the territories they took during the war, and give aid for rebuilding the lost settlements. Afterwards, if possible, open the borders for all races to be able to travel to and fro freely. Of course there will be guards stationed at the borders, however, they will be of mixed races. Anything else could include exchange programs, a mixed race educational institution, or a police force coalition to patrol the settlements.

"Thank you for the suggestions, sir Cavaron. I will take this up with my diplomatic ministers to write up. Let us part ways for now as I need to prepare for the crowning ceremony and proclamation tomorrow morning."

"Alright, good night, Ritna."

"Good night, sir Cavaron."

As both stood up, a window broke and an assassin entered.

"For the human race!! Death to the traitor princess!!!"

Cavaron wasted no time to magically summon his equipment. In just a split second after the window broke, he was fully armed for battle. He rushed to Ritna's aid with speed unnatural for the size of his equipment and deflected the assassin's attack with his short swords.

Instead of summoning his blood and mana swords, he used the swords on his waist. Sparks flew as he and the assassin parried each other's attacks.

During this time, Ritna pulled out a shortbow and a quiver of arrows from a nearby pillar, and provided long range support for Cavaron.

"Guards! Get in here!" Ritna commanded as she notched arrows.

This time the nearby guards have entered and eased Cavaron's burden.

The assassin, not expecting Cavaron's skill pulled out a bomb.

"Oh no, you don't!" yelled Cavaron as he coated his swords with mana and launched it at the bomb.

The blades of mana was an invisible force to the untrained or non-magical eye, and made the assassin think Cavaron swung at nothing. Only, the blades of mana hit the bomb as intended making it useless.

"No!" the assassin screamed.

Cavaron used this moment as a chance to rush in and cut off the assassin's joints, like how you easily cut up a chicken by slicing the joints.

The assassin, unable to dodge in time got both left limbs cut off and sprayed blood.

"Argh!" the assassin screamed in pain.

Cavaron looked to the guards and said, "Lock him up for interrogation."

The guards followed without a second thought and bound the assassin.

After the guards have left, five remained to guard Ritna.

"Hm, this might be a restless night. I should stay by your side, Ritna." Cavaron spoke to Ritna.

"Please, sir Cavaron. You need rest. You have done enough. Leave it to the guards." Ritna replied.

Cavaron stared at Ritna for a while, then opened a rip in space to pull out an item.

It was a ring.

"Here, wear this." Cavaron said as he handed the ring to Ritna. This made Ritna surprised, and the surrounding guards look away.

Cavaron, noticing their reaction, followed up, "It's not what you think. This ring has a barrier spell that protects the wearer from attacks. It can deflect most attacks, but cannot defend against a behemoth or something stronger."

Ritna, realizing her mistake, reddened as she took and wore the ring.

"Thank you, sir Cavaron." Ritna smiled. "Well then, good night."

"Good night, Ritna."

Cavaron left for his room as Ritna went in the meeting room.

While walking back , Cavaron thought of what to do next.

'We still have a day or so until the meeting with Culverin. Might as well go to the dungeon to... interrogate... that assassin.'

Cavaron changed course to a nearby guard to ask where the assassin earlier was brought to.