Just like that, Rufus and Lechter crashed the party, and joined us in our escape out of the lodge in Altair, Calvard. Rufus took to the point while Lechter remained behind him closer to me. Rufus uses a one-handed sword while Lechter likes to attack with a rapier. Honestly, I wouldn't mind having Lechter as a rival of sorts, seeing as we attack with the same weapon. It was Lechter, Ennea and I in the middle of the party. Van watched over Sherryl and Tio while watching our rear. I knew I could leave it to him. He seems quite trustworthy with our backs. Oh, I did receive more Gamer Notifications like increased Favorability during all of this while we arrived back into the city itself. Like I said, now wasn't the time to go over these Gamer Notifications. Once we've settled business in Messeldam Port, I'm sure there will be some down time to review all of my new stuff. It's quite a lot!
We stayed clear of the cultists. I mean, they didn't even try to chase after us. We vanished from sight before they could properly react. To avoid suspicion with a group of kids following Rufus, Rufus had his own orbal car prepared, well in advance. We soon sped along the highway. Altair was all the way situated near the border of Crossbell State, so we drove into the capital city. It was nice to see Edith and all, but our destination was beyond that. As much as I wanted to sightsee and all of that, that would be for another time. We continued north, heading toward Messeldam Port.
Meanwhile, the scenery began to change again, shifting attention back to Erebonia...
Heimdallr.
Ever since the Hundred Days War passed three years ago, all thanks to the quick decisiveness of Cassius Bright with his newly developed orbal airships, peace returned once again to the two countries. As the name implies, the war lasted exactly one hundred days. Liberl had it much worse than Erebonia. A lot of structures were destroyed in the process. A lot of money had to be pooled in for a lengthy reconstruction process. In return, all of that money came out of Erebonia's pockets. Most of Erebonia remained the same, apart from one small little village.
Hamel was no longer on any maps being distributed. The change was swift, and fierce. People began to forget that Hamel even existed. All except for three individuals, that is...
From there, Erebonia resumed business as usual, acting like the war never happened. There wasn't a draft or anything. Only the Armored Divisions moved out, and returned as heroes. In their eyes, at least.
While Naoto used this chaos to flee into the shadows, there was a single man who used the war solely for his benefits and to achieve his dream.
A man who went by the name Giliath Osborne.
Giliath Osborne swiftly retired from the Imperial Army, only to acquire a new position. The position of Chancellor. He now overlooks all governmental affairs, including business practices related to the Five Great Houses. Nothing was out of his reach now. His rise into this seat took place a year later after the war finished, and he started to reform many of Erebonia's policies to his liking. Compared to his earlier counterpart, strands of white hair could now be seen on his face, making him look more like how he does in the games. A sign of age passing by while under the stress of high volumes of work.
It was approaching the end of S1195. Light snow flurries have started to drop around Heimdallr's beautiful landscape, covering it in a small layer of snow. Its contrast to the vermillion city made it very picturesque.
Despite that, Giliath could be seen present in his office. His office displayed a full front view of Heimdallr. He could even see the statue of Emperor Dreichels, and the inactive complex magic circle that rested beneath the statue's feet. It was waiting for someone to claim it. Who, exactly? Why, Naoto of course. This is the site of the Vermillion Trial to take place in the coming future. Each time Giliath observed it gave him a reminder of what is to come.
Giliath could be seen with a solemn look in his eyes, hands behind his back. He observed the falling snow in silence. Remaining silent, he heard his door crack open, one of his newly-opened Intelligence Division officers stepped in. It wasn't just Lechter and Rufus who were a part of it. Giliath too had more goons who joined. Equivalent to that of the Secret Service.
"Your Excellency, we have received word from Lord Rufus that His Highness's group has successfully broken out of the lodge.", The officer responded. But Giliath remained calm while he heard the report. "Shall we pursue?"
"A group of people? It wasn't just him?", Giliath asked, raising his eyebrows. After observing the falling snow for a moment longer, he turned around to look at the officer before him.
"No, Your Excellency. All presumably injected with the Gnosis drug and survived. We believe this is to be intentional. His Highness went into the lodges to search for these individuals. As to why His Highness knew, we cannot give an explanation. It is four individuals apart from Lord Rufus and Lord Lechter who escaped along with them. One is five years old, one is eight years old, one is ten years old, and one is thirteen years old.", The officer answered Giliath's inquiry.
"So His Highness chose these lodges with a particular reason in mind...", Giliath murmured to himself. He too didn't know what Naoto was planning to do, nor why he wanted to meet these people. Little did Giliath know that Naoto was only there for Tio and soon-to-be Renne, but he came across Sherryl, Ennea, and Van too! Giliath then spoke to the officer. "I would like a detailed inquiry on each one of these individuals later. Did Rufus say anything else?"
"Lord Rufus did, Your Excellency. It appears Lord Rufus and Lord Lechter accepted His Highness's terms, and are now on their way to Calvard's northern border at Messeldam Port.", The officer answered. Hearing that caused Giliath to raise his eyebrows again.
"Hmm, I gave those two strict orders to return with His Highness. For them to do this, there must be a good reason...", Giliath surmised. That was likely the case here. The officer nodded, only to take out a sealed envelope.
"Lord Rufus asked to pass this along to you, Your Excellency."
The officer then approached Chancellor Osborne, and handed him the sealed envelope. He proceeded to tear it open, and slowly unfolded it. All Chancellor Osborne saw on the piece of paper was one word written in Rufus's handwriting.
"Paradise."
Right after glancing at this, Giliath stepped toward his desk and opened one of his drawers. Apart from having miscellaneous documents and writing tools inside of it, he found what he was looking for. An orbal lighter. Giliath took it.
Then, he flicked the lighter, and a flame appeared. Hovering the letter over the flame, the piece of paper burnt to crisp, leaving nothing behind but ashes.
Giliath then turned back toward the officer and issued a command.
"Just keep an eye out on His Highness for now. Remember not to get too close, or else you might find your own life forfeited sooner before you can even think.", Giliath said. A smile crept on his lips. A cold chill ran down the officer's back seeing the Chancellor smile like this, but he simply saluted him back.
"Yes, Your Excellency.", The officer said, only to dismiss himself from the room. Seeing the officer leave, Giliath slowly turned back and approached the window again, and began looking outside. He saw the snow continue to fall. His gaze looked downward at the magic circle again.
Initially, this magic circle wasn't visible to anyone. Before long, Naoto's party could see it. Then, after Phase 0 of the Vermillion Trials were complete, it became visible to the rest of the public. It gave the citizens of Heimdallr a fright for sure when they saw this strange device appear, but the Imperial Government quickly calmed the masses. Giliath knew exactly what this magic circle did and assured his people it meant no harm.
Giliath uttered to himself as he observed this.
"I do not know why you are gathering such individuals to your side, but you can continue to have your fun for now, Naoto. It brings me great joy to see you alive and well. Just know the role that you are supposed to play in this wretched fairy tale. It is only the beginning, my son.", Giliath said. He smiled. As he saw his own reflection, Giliath saw the smile he now had on his face.
Giliath's smile then abruptly ended, and a serious look appeared in his eyes.
"And if you don't come back from this, I will personally drag you back and give you a good scolding. As any normal father would do for his son, hahaha!", Giliath continued, breaking into a sudden laugh.
After sharing a moment of laughter with himself, Giliath turned quiet again. Turning around, he approached his desk one more time. It was tidy, and there were not many papers scattered around on top of it. But there was one that took his interest. It wasn't a piece of paper. It was a framed photo off to the side.
The very same photo Giliath took with Naoto with everyone present shortly before the Red Constellation raided their villa...
Crown Prince Olivert. Princess Alfin. Prince Cedric. Empress Priscilla. Mueller Vander. The Sword Fox Phillip. Elie MacDowell. Henry MacDowell. Roselia Millstein. Emma Millstein. And closer toward the center of the image, one figure embraced two smaller figures. Kasia, who held onto her two sons, Naoto and Rean. Then, it was Giliath who stood off to the side next to them, completing the photo.
Giliath smiled, and spent a moment in his memories, pondering what took place back then. A moment where he was free and happy. Sadly, that fleeting happiness only lasted for a moment as he heard a new knock, bringing him back to this cold, harsh reality he was now in. As Erebonia's one and only Blood and Iron Chancellor.
"Your Excellency, it is time for the next board meeting. Will you be ready soon?"
"Understood. Inform His Majesty that I will head there at once.", Giliath answered.
Giliath took some steps and approached the door where the voice came from. Then, he turned back once, and saw the framed photo. He had placed it downward onto his desk, making it no longer visible. He then shifted his head back toward the door, and left, only to start his day...