Dissimilarly to the Luminous Empire's frenzied clamour, the northern giant, the land where the ivory throne of the north laid, the people of the vast Boreas Empire reacted with momentary surprise, before then again returning to apathy, as the troubles and wars of the south were too far away to be of any concern to them, as they all felt that the harvesting of their meagre crops and the worry of the coming winter was a far more tangible and immediate threat to their survival. But for the nobles and politicians of these frozen lands, who had to see a far larger picture than the ordinary townsfolk, who only cared to survive the coming frost; well they cared very much for these news, as nothing but undisguised glee spilled from them at the outcome of the battle; mostly because they felt no pressure at all from the Bloody Emperor, and if anything they saw nothing but opportunity in his rapid rise. "We had been keeping an eye on that young emperor, since his surprise twin victories against Marcus and Georgios last year, but to think he would even wrestle the War Dragon to a standstill!" One man in the marble halls of the Northern White Court, calmly said, his voice carrying only a slight flux of awe within it. "This might be a great opportunity sent to us by the Goddess herself." Another man quickly added with a devout look on his face. "Sire, I suggest that we form an alliance with the Bloody Emperor, so that we can sandwich and crush our mutual enemies." A third man who stood closest to the ivory throne finally advised, as he did a small bow. The men quickly grew quiet again, as they looked at the closed eyed older looking man, who's hair and well groomed beard were as white as snow, and who's presence was as captivating and haunting as a glacial lake. Emperor Mikhail the first remained calm for another brief moment, before speaking in his usual cold voice "I am apprehensive of forming too close a bond with the Bloody Emperor. And the southern empire will likely enter a state of rehabilitation and peace for the next few years, so that they may lick the wounds of the civil war. So I doubt they would be willing to enter another conflict at our behest, especially one against another great power." The ministers' held their breathe after hearing this, and began to prepare a few more arguments to convince him, as they feared he will reject their proposal, but then he uttered a single relieving word, one that would interrupted their fretting. "But..." He said "I do see the merits of your strategy, so I will give my permission to begin building a basic diplomatic bond with our southern counterparts, and only after we do this and properly investigate this potential ally will we decide what must be done, understood?" "Yes, sire." They all saluted, as they breathed a giant sigh of relief at having convinced their pragmatic and nauseatingly meticulous monarch of their plan, which they truly believed and hoped would lead their people to better tomorrow. Yet in obvious contrast to the disinterest of the Boreas people, the men and woman of the south were enraptured of every word spoken, their consciousness always weighed down by thoughts and worries of the civil war, on whichever side of the Jurren de Yachi mountains they were on. These fears continued to menacingly hang in the air over their heads, like an executioner's blade that would imminently plunge, for they were under no enchantment of what losing this war would mean for the empire, especially those who now resided in the rebellious lands, as the massacre in Thalab was still fresh in their minds and they dreaded the thought of the emperor's wrath descending upon them as well. And like a lover's embrace or a fires caress, word of the battle came to them on swift wings and they both deafened the sky with their howls, one of despair and the other of delight. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵 The people of Eklepsos in particular revelled in the ambrosia of a simple stalemate, as they flooded the streets in a cacophonous crowd of cheer and reassurance, which only grew in scale until it hit a fever pitch, when Darius Khan decreed that all businesses were to close for the day and that food and drink were to be distributed, free of charge for the rest of the day. But while the people were excited, another emotion flooded the heart of the empress, which was finally, after months of agonizing oppression under the merciless boots of the toxic cycle of hope and concern, she finally beheld the comforting warmth of serenity. But then very quickly another emotion pushed aside the former and expanded until it felt as though her chest would not be able to contain it all; and that sensation was pride. She was so unbelievably proud of her three brave little boys, who not only went to the most brutal of battle grounds, but had also defended their ancestors' legacy and home against seemingly overwhelming odds and unprecedented betrayal. But while Eklepsos was in the throws of celebration, Appethus was quickly drowning in the pits of panic and civil unrest, as everyone crowded the city gates or the harbour to escape the coming armies' punishment. They were not fools, nor were they willing to gamble lives or their families' lives on the Bloody Emperor's mercy, yet they were halted by barred gates and armoured guards before them, as they shouted for them to disperse. Yet they were not the least bit cowed or intimidated by them, as they insisted on leaving this soon to be slaughter pen, which ultimately led to an escalation and a short, yet bloody battle in front the gates and docks of the city, before the enemy armies even arrived, much to horror of the recently returned Zadkiel. "Maybe we should allow the people to just leave." One of his most loyal men hesitantly suggested. "Of course not!" Zadjiel quickly denied it. "We need every man who can bear arms to stay in the city to resist the coming calamity!" "Then we can at least release the women and children!" Another of the few remaining supporters that still stood by his side suggested. "Have your minds been completely hollowed of any intelligence what so ever?! How do you expect the men to fight with all they've got if they're wives, parents and children are not behind them?! Worse yet, what will happen if we let their families leave and they are captured and used to threaten them? How will they stand their ground then?!" Zadkiel raged against them, before asking with narrowed eyes "Why make such moronic suggestions? What aren't you telling me?" The two men looked at each other for a brief, wavering moment, before one of them replied "The city isn't ready for a siege, sire. We... We have don't the supplies to feed all the people in the city." Zadkiel felt as though the world was closing in on him, with his every escape route cut before he could take a single step towards it. "WHY ARE THE GRANARIES EMPTY?!" He howled at them madly, throwing the cup in his hand at them. The men quickly ducked, just about evading the glass hurled at them before it shattered against the opposite wall, as they quickly tried to explain "W-We didn't expect to face a blockade! And the Mercenary King requested additional contribution to the war effort, so you... gave it to him." "ARE YOU SAYING THIS IS MY FAULT?!" Zadkiel was now screaming wildly, his hands already drawing his saber, flailing it around frantically. The two tried to calm him down, but he was inconsolable, acting as though their words couldn't reach him, but then like a rope thrown to a drowning man, Zadkiel's head butler barged into the room, and pantingly announced "My liege, the guests you were awaiting have arrived!" The previous deranged Zadkiel seemed to regain his sanity, as he quickly asked "Where are they?" "In... the guest room, sire." The butler bowed and answered through ragged breathes, but by the time he'd raised his head again, he was already gone. Zadkiel, was like a man possessed as he barged into the room, wanting to convince his allies, beg if he must to help, for that was only way to survive the coming storm. Yet instead of the usual expected audience of familiar faces, he saw only half of the original four, and they were not ones he knew. "Who are you?" He growled, his paranoia making him fear that this was a play by his nephew to assassinate him and end the war even sooner. "Please calm yourself my lord. I am here as a substitute to my lady, who ordinarily represents the Sapphire Swallow Trading Guild." A woman dressed in fancy wear and jewels, quickly introduced herself. "And I am here on behalf of the Head Shepherd." The other, who was a tall man dressed in the priestly white robes of the clergy then spoke. Zadkiel was stunned for a moment, but he still kept his guard up, as he turned to his now arrived butler and angerly asked "Where are the other two?" "They were the only two who arrived, sire." The old man quickly explained, and their absence was a clear message that Zadkiel immediately understood 'They've abandoned me!' His whole body trembled in place for a moment, before he turned to the two and said with the best confident façade he could muster at the moment and said "No matter, we don't need those Luminous cowards and those incompetent mercenaries. We three could still..." The lady from the Sapphire Swallow guild rudely interrupted him at that moment, saying "Pardon me my lord, but before you continue I have something I must clarify." "What is it my lady?" Zakiel replied with narrowed eyes, as he venomously thought 'A mere servant of an attendant dares interrupt me?! I'd show you what your place is had I not needed your support right now!' Yet the words that came out of her mouth next completely shattered his earlier notions "I'm afraid that our past partnership with you has proven to be quiet the unsuccessful investment, so we are no longer going to continue funding you from now on?" "Wha...?" Was all Zadkiel could mutter, before another blow came down on his head "We too have decided to seize our support of you." The tall man said bluntly. Zadkiel said nothing in return, only remaining in place for a while before he asked in a mocking tone "Then what are you doing here? To rub it in? To gloat?" "Nothing so childish I'm afraid my lord." The woman apathetically replied "I'm here to settle some amount of the outstanding debt you owe my lady, so if you may my lord, would you please guide me to the treasury."