Have you ever felt the passage of time with every single one of your senses?

Ian found himself thinking just that as he gazed up at the sky.

The damp wind brushing through his hair, the clouds that never paused for even a moment, the shouts of the soldiers delivering reports, the ever-thickening scent of grass… every sensation told him the night was waning. And at the end of it all, with the coming of the dawn, a fierce battle awaited.

“Lord Ian.”

Fwip!

The mages who had been scouting the area inside the ramparts from high in the sky returned, shaking their heads.

“Aside from regular soldiers, we see nothing out of the ordinary.”

“We were unable to confirm the presence of new weaponry or mages. It’s too dark, and they’ve intentionally pitched long tents to block the view. We might see something if we lower our altitude and get closer, but it’s risky.”

“The problem is, we can’t tell if the black armor on the soldiers belongs to Ruswena. Burgos armor is generally dark in color, so identification is difficult at night.”

“I see. You’ve worked hard.”

At Ian’s gesture, the mages bowed and retreated.

Jin, Tweller, and the Imperial officers were gathered around a map spread out beneath a nearly burnt-down candle. They had listened to the mages’ report and, hiding their disappointment, turned their gazes back to the map.

“We have a general grasp of the surrounding terrain, but we have no way of predicting the internal structure. It would have been easier if this were the capital, Kalamat. But Aguiar has never had direct exchanges with Bariel, so our information is non-existent.”

“The main city is inside that wall?”

“We’ve pieced together testimonies from the civilians, but we cannot trust them completely. They are, after all, citizens of Burgos.”

Aguiar was surrounded by three concentric walls.

The first was the outermost Third Gate, which the Bariel army was currently facing.

Then, there was the Second Gate, said to be half again as tall as the third.

And finally, the First Gate, which was reportedly twice as high as the second.

“The entrances get progressively narrower, a structure that makes it easier to defend the deeper one goes.”

“It’s safe to assume we have almost no chance in a ground war. Our regular soldiers wouldn’t even be able to make a dent.”

“I see why Rutherford chose this city as his stronghold. Sir Ian, will you be all right?”

Ian’s eyes scanned the map as he replied, “Yes, I will be. In fact, this is for the best. As you said, a ground assault would result in too many unnecessary sacrifices. I understand the ‘Breast of Burgos’ river is nearby, correct?”

“It’s around here.”

“I need you to cut off their water supply, but in a way that does not permanently contaminate the river. They will not be able to hold out long. Even a temporary disruption will suffice, Minister Tweller.”

“Hmm. Understood. I will take one of the golems and see to it. Will you be able to ascertain the internal structure once the sun rises?”

“I cannot be certain, but yes.”

“Minister Ian and the mages will be at the vanguard, which implies an aerial battle. If we can push from the outside with the golems while you apply pressure from within, we should be able to breach it more easily. Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?”

There were five golems in total. With one heading to the river, four remained.

“I believe that is a most suitable plan. Aguiar is at a high altitude and the walls are formidable. Using the golems first is the right move.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. In that case, I will issue orders to prioritize assessing their defensive strength, the city’s structure, and the neutralization of the wall.”

Just as Ian was about to acknowledge Jin’s decision, a small commotion arose from outside the tent.

A night raid? Tweller shot to his feet, but the soldier, having received Jin’s permission to enter, thankfully brought different news.

“Uh, excuse me. Minister Ian.”

“What is it?”

“There is… a woman… who wishes to see you. Her identity is unknown. She said she will only give her name to you directly…”

What is this now?

Ian, Jin, and Tweller exchanged puzzled glances. Someone was asking for the Minister of Magic, of all people, in the middle of a warzone, but refused to give their name?

Tweller’s voice was stern. “How dare you bring such a trivial matter to us at a time like this!”

“Ah, yes! W-We also thought she was a madwoman and tried to send her away, but… the thing she presented… it didn’t seem trivial.”

The soldier carefully placed half of a broken gemstone on the table. Even to his untrained eye, it was clearly no ordinary object, which was why he had dared to bring it here.

Ian and Jin recognized it instantly.

‘It’s an Imperial jewel.’

A woman who possessed an Imperial jewel but could not reveal her identity. Both men thought of the same person.

“Bring her here. Discreetly.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

As the soldier left, Jin gestured for the officers to clear the tent as well. Once they were alone, Ian turned to the confused Tweller.

“It is Melania.”

“Melania? Of the Hayman family?”

“Yes. As the sole survivor of a disgraced house, she cannot easily speak her name. The jewel, too, must be one of the items that vanished into the Abyss during the incident ten years ago.”

A short time later, a figure in a deeply cowled robe was escorted into the tent. The soldiers maintained a wary posture, but at Ian’s signal, they withdrew.

Melania bowed low, her forehead nearly touching the ground. “I humbly greet His Majesty, the Emperor.”

“Are you Melania?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I am so humbled that I dared not utter my own name.”

As Melania pushed back her hood, Jin and Tweller both widened their eyes in surprise. Just as they’d expected, she hadn’t aged a day since that time, ten years ago. The two men placed a cover over the candelabrum, dimming the light. It would not do for the survivor of a traitorous house to be seen here.

“What has happened?”

It was a question that contained many others: How did you get to Aguiar? What of the gypsy and Clark? And why have you come to the Bariel camp?

Melania, still prostrate, began to slowly recount the events.

“I was able to escape the Abyss by making a deal with the Gypsy Who Eats Secrets. I was with a man from Merellof named Clark, and as our goals aligned, we have traveled together since.”

“Your goals aligned?”

“Your Majesty… you must remember my family’s past transgressions. All the disloyal acts committed under the name of Hayman.”

“Of course. I remember well the great danger the Hayman family’s deception placed the Imperial Palace in. If one thinks about it, is this scar of mine not also a product of that same history?”

At his response, Melania slowly raised her head. Ten years… so much time has passed. The small, young prince had grown so much, now possessing the full dignity of an Emperor. She quickly lowered her head again.

“I was allowed to live, by Sir Ian’s hand. He intended to use me to track Rutherford, and I… I was merely trying to find my own way to survive.”

“Minister Ian.”

Tweller shot him a look of surprise, but Jin raised a hand, defending him. “This is a matter I am already aware of. It was done with my permission, so there is no issue.”

“Only a very few in the Imperial Palace know,” Melania added cautiously, testing the atmosphere. “In that process, I did meet Rutherford, but my fall into the Abyss, along with the Imperial Palace ambush, was unintentional. Your Majesty, please… please believe me. I have never, not once, denied that I am a citizen of Bariel.”

“Yet you also cannot deny that you are the survivor of a traitorous house. Our time is limited. State what you want, and state what you can offer in return. Then, I shall make my judgment.”

Melania took a shallow breath, then proposed in a low voice, “Please, grant me a new identity. Grant me the chance to start anew in Bariel.”

“And what will you pay for this?”

“As Sir Ian first wished of me… I can provide Rutherford’s location.”

“What do you mean?”

“Clark has taken the other half of the jewel and will approach Rutherford. He was once one of Rutherford’s close aides, so he should be able to rejoin him without issue. From now on, Rutherford’s every movement… will be in Bariel’s hands.”

Tweller’s fingers twitched. So it wasn’t just a simple jewel. If they had a tracker on Rutherford, the strategic applications were endless. Ian, too, seemed to agree, glancing at Jin with a look of approval.

“And—” Melania was not finished. “The Gypsy Who Eats Secrets is going to find Rutherford. To… hear his secrets. If you wish to stop this transaction, you must move quickly.”

“Rutherford has secrets, you say?”

“That, I do not know, and neither does the gypsy, Your Majesty. However, Rutherford has played such a significant part in Sir Ian’s past that the gypsy seems to believe he must have some.”

The gypsy and Rutherford… meeting.

Ian considered this for a moment. It was a problem if Rutherford’s secrets were eaten. But if Rutherford cut open the gypsy’s stomach to get at her secrets, that would be an even bigger problem.

“Sir Ian, what is it?”

“If the Gypsy Who Eats Secrets’s stomach is cut open, the world will be plunged into chaos.”

“In what way?”

“I am not entirely certain. But when I confronted her in the streets, long ago, I felt it clearly. She had no fear of her own death… it was more like she was certain of what would happen.”

“My, my. Rutherford would certainly enjoy that,” Tweller interjected quietly. “He is, after all, a man who seeks to create chaos.”

If the world were thrown into turmoil, who would be hit the hardest? Burgos, which had already fallen to rock bottom? No. It would be Bariel, standing firm as the center of Gaia. For Rutherford, this would be just another path to achieving his goal.

“Clark will be by Rutherford’s side. He will observe the situation and do his best to prevent the worst from happening, but even he does not know what will occur if the gypsy’s belly is cut.”

At Melania’s words, Ian tapped his forehead lightly. “So, another task has been added.”

“To prevent the gypsy’s stomach from being cut?”

“Yes. I can only hope she is as nimble as she used to be. But… I do not know if that will work on Rutherford.”

As Ian fell silent, the grand, deep sound of the water buffalo horns echoed from outside.

Bwoooooo— Bwooo—

It was the signal that dawn was breaking.

Jin snuffed out the candle flame with his fingers and gave his order to Melania. “You will wait here for now. I will discuss the matter of your new identity with Sir Ian and make a decision. Until then, if there is anything else you can do to aid Bariel, you would be wise to speak of it.”

Melania remained prostrate, not moving until everyone had left the tent. Ian brushed past her and looked out at the sky, which was just beginning to bleed with a pale, blue light.

“The wall?”

“No response yet, sir.”

The very edge of the sun was beginning to crest the horizon. Thirty minutes, at most. Ian clicked his pocket watch shut and addressed the mages.

“Prepare for battle.”

“Yes, Lord Ian.”

“I will be the one to take Rutherford’s head.”

“We will follow you to the end.”

Ian pulled his gloves on tightly. The mages, in turn, unfastened the heavy outer robe from his shoulders, clearing him for action.

The day of the decisive battle had dawned.