Like Father, Like Son [Epic Quest - Azix Niraj]

Yoshiro listened to the response, issuing a soft chuckle at Azix’ initial response, nodding in understanding at the rest of his statement.

“Absolutely. You have more than earned a vacation, cousin. All of you have. We will work out the details later.”

Yoshiro turned to Garret with a thoughtful look, running his chin as they were about to land.

“I could not very well offer him a reward without offering you one, as well. If there is anything you desire, please let me know. For now, I believe it may be time to speak with the King of Reim.”

Yoshiro would lead the way into the Palace, a guard bowing politely and informing them to proceed to the Council room. Yoshiro followed the nervous looking guard, entering the room and issuing a deep bow to Lagi, his voice ringing out.

“King Lagi!”

He twisted his head when he heard the door open once more, Octavius and Roark entering the room a few moments behind them. Yoshiro straightened, offering smaller bows to the newest additions to the room.

“Good, everyone is here. I have upheld my end of the agreement, my father is dead. I apologize for the loss of your bride, however I told you not to trust her. She attempted to kill me as Azix and I dealt with my father. For that crime, she paid with her life.”

Yoshiro would not reveal it had been Ariella that had taken Ruki’s life, taking responsibility for the death of his treacherous sibling.

Octavius had his arms crossed as Roark moved to stand behind his son, looking between the King and the new Emperor of Kou. He was exhausted from the battle, but he would not let that keep him from speaking up.

“You killed your own father? What is to keep you from pulling the same treason on this country?”

Yoshiro arched a brow at the General before looking to Lagi.

“I do not answer to you, General. My agreement was made with the King of this country. Kou may have put him on the throne, but he has done nothing but defend this country from our influence since then. It is him I will speak with, not a resurrected General, regardless of your influence in this country.”

Roark simply stood behind Lagi, resting a hand on his son’s shoulder. He was impressed that Yoshiro had reinforced the power Lagi held, but he did not speak aloud. It was not his place to speak.

“…….”  Lagi sat in his chair in silence as everyone made their way inside of the place; he took notice of his father, Octavius, Azix and co., and Yoshino. When Yoshino mentioned Ruki, he held up a deep sigh.”   So many things could have been done in those crucial moments; did you seriously expect Ruki to beat you? At the very least, salvage what you can, that was the idea that I thought you had when you continued with your sibling relationship with Ruki. A proper burial was granted? No, you burned the bodies with reason……. a harsh fate for those related by blood, a throne obtained by bodies, I want this to be the last time that anything like this ever happens again. Promise me that you will be different than your father. “ Lagi was angry, his body language was made apparent but he tried to ignore it. “Yea, you warned me.  I understand, I guess it can’t be helped, its war….people die.” With that being said, Lagi swallowed his feelings and hardened his heart, switching over to  the point of affairs. It was all too apparent,  it was as if there were two people fighting inside of Lagi at the moment.

“Personal matters should be separate; in the meantime, we won. What now, since you are emperor, what is our current relationship with Kou now?  You know, in my coronation, I wanted to believe in the fact that we could bond and continue to help each other without fully engulfing one another; I wanted to believe in a beneficial relationship between countries. However, i would like a fresh start with Kou if that is to be pursued.  . “ Lagi felt miserable, he rubbed his temples for a moment as he gathered his thoughts.

“Also,  I guess it’s also time to discuss my rule as well. The official pact that was made with kou as a puppet ruler under them, I want that contacted agreement to be gone as well. I learned with my time as ruler that there was always a heavy disdain due to how I gotten myself on the throne,  since I have assisted In your quest to defeat your father,  I would like for you to acknowledge Reim as an equal. This is one of the first steps, dismantling the hold that Kou has on reim through me.  This will leave the people with a choice of what they want to do, if they want to choose me. Its a bold move that can backfire on me, but the essence of a true government is one that isn't directly influenced by the government of another country. The person that is placed on this throne is either a person elected by the people, or the direct blood heir to the previous emperor of reim.

Azix still hesitated, and the blue magician wondered if there was some matter of consequence that he was missing. Something significant enough to give Azix pause, in spite of the benefits to the decision. Garret listened to Azix's continued discussion with Yoshiro. The light magician agreed to the proposition, but mentioned a vacation with Ariella. Ah. Ariella. I wonder how, exactly, she'll take the news? What will her part in that be? I wonder... I have simply supported Azix with assistance when he asked for it, or when I felt he needed it... He briefly wondered how Ariella supported the man.

Their dynamic was lacking, but that was something they could take care of later. Right now, there were other pressing matters to attend to. These sentiments were echoed by the new Emperor, Yoshiro. The man told Azix that the light magician had earned a vacation, that all of them had, and Garret held back a laugh. Emperor slaying and King slaying earns you vacations, does it? The thought amused him greatly, and so when Yoshiro turned to Garret and offered him a reward the blue magician did not realize it was him that the Emperor was speaking to.

After posing the first half of the question, Garret caught on that Yoshiro was in fact speaking to the blue magician. The comment nearing the end of his question posed the desire to hurry along, but Garret would remember those words; there was definitely something he wanted from the man. "I will hold you to that. When you have a chance to speak to me after the discussion with the King, I intend to take up some of your time." It was not the most flattering of 'starts' with the Emperor, but the man clearly stressed his hurry as the group got off of the carpet, and Garret emulated that rush.

The group made haste towards the council room, their footsteps clacking against the stone floor. The echoes were not ignored by Garret, who listened closely for any irregularities. There was always danger, and it could be simply lurking around the corner. They made it to the room without any trouble, and both Octavius and Roark appeared in the room shortly after. The Emperor paid his respects to those in the room, and Garret followed suit out of habit, but inwardly he felt somewhat hollow; he had assisted in a heinous crime, killing the Emperor of their country. He then followed by killing some more of their soldiers. He would not trip over the decision, but it was not something he particularly enjoyed doing.

When everyone was present, Yoshiro explained the necessity of killing Ruki. Garret inwardly winced, knowing that it was a sore spot for the King. There were some things that many people would not allow logic to sway, and speak based on their emotions. Yet Lagi held back his words, waiting. Octavius did not maintain the same level of discipline, and Yoshiro reminded the Fanalis general of who was in charge. The blue magician held back a smile of amusement, and subconsciously rated Yoshiro higher due to the exchange.

Once those exchanges were over, however, Lagi made his own will known. As expected, he was upset with his bride-to-be dying. The man's temper was held back, though he could hear the undertones of anger beneath his voice. Recalling how he took the news originally, Garret knew that this could eventually become a big enough problem that it would threaten the relationship between the two. Well, of course, assuming that it wasn't already. Shortly after, Lagi spoke for a few minutes discussing what he wanted going forward. Garret couldn't help but recall the prior time his rule was being discussed during the summit with Asisiak and a few members of the spy organization.

Garret simply stood back and continued to listen to the discussion being held between the different parties involved. He was particularly wary of any decision to start hostilities anew.

Out of habit before a meeting, Azix grew quiet as they hurried to the council room. The political ramifications of this meeting in particular would be great. Considering relations between Kou and Reim had been strained for months, the slightest misstep from Yoshiro could shatter any hope of salvaging any type of alliance. The problem was further exacerbated by the carnage of the recent battles. With an amused smirk, Azix realized that an hour ago, he would not have worried about these issues. Now that he was ambassador, it was his job to make sure Kou didn't get completely shafted.

The orange magician shifted his thinking from the problem to the solution. Reim would obviously require some reparations, thankfully Gao had at least removed the majority of the Kou troops. Azix put himself in Lagi's shoes to try and see the situation from a King's perspective. Would he ask Yoshiro to fund the cost of rebuilding? Would he be upset about the death of his bride? Would he try to betray Yoshiro and claim Kou? Azix believed Lagi would at least fight for the sovereignty of Reim. The beast tamer had struggled against the perceived leash that had been placed around his throne.

Of course, Azix also wondered how he could use the situation to further his own goals. Both the Education Reform and Workforce program had proven successful, at least in his eyes. If Yoshiro planned to offer economic support, Azix planned to divert some of that money into his welfare initiatives to expand them further into Reim. Buildings schools and Opportunity halls outside of Remano would definitely improve the quality of life for more of Reim's citizens. Of course, since he was once again on Kou's payroll, he could use that to help the expansion.

As he entered the council room, Azix hoped he had considered all the variables. He imitated Yoshiro's bow to the King then turned to greet Octavius and Roark as they arrived. He arched a brow at Octavius' outburst before he remembered that the General had been kept out of the loop. Azix glanced at Yoshiro to see how he would react and gave a smile of approval at his response. His cousin had put Octavius in his place while securing Lagi's position at the same time.

Lagi was obviously upset from Ruki's death which surprised Azix. The Dragon King was known to have quite an appetite for women, so his attachment to the bitch was confusing. With effort, Lagi was able to set that aside and opened up negotiations. He started by expressing a desire to share a beneficial relationship to both parties and demanded Reim's sovereignty to be recognized.

Azix suppressed an urge to grin at guessing Lagi's train of thought correctly. Mostly because the next statement was one that he hadn't predicted. Lagi suggested that he planned to have the people of Reim determine if he stayed on the throne. Azix wondered what decision the public would come to. He turned back to Yoshiro to see how the man would respond. Azix kept quiet, knowing it wasn't the time or place to speak yet.

Yoshiro listened to Lagi’s words, his face serious as he listened to the King speak. When he mentioned Yoshiro’s father, his face pinched.

“I did what I had to, to end the terror on this world. Yes, I killed my father, with the help of my cousin. But can you honestly say there was a better way? If he had simply been imprisoned, he could have done just as much damage. As for their bodies, I was not going to risk them being brought back from the dead. They will still receive funerals, so that my country may mourn for the loss of an Emperor and a Princess. You do not need a body for that.”

When Lagi went into detail about their past and future partnership, Yoshiro hummed softly in thought. It was true that Lagi’s reign was full of conflict, the people did not appreciate what they saw as a Kou puppet on their throne. His public announcement asking the rebellion to stand down while he married a Kou princess had not helped matter any. He looked to Octavius, the General had not appreciated his authority being brushed off. He knew it would be easiest to have the support of everyone in the room, so he addressed his next comments to Octavius.

“I have heard a rumor, General Octavius, that you wanted to turn this country into a republic. Is this true?”

The General frowned, disturbed that the newest Emperor of Kou had such knowledge, but grunted softly before responding, his arms crossed over his chest.

“It is. When my friend, Emperor Claudius, died, I began searching for the means to do just that while allowing his shadow play the part of the Emperor until I could gain the support and people I needed. A plan that was destroyed when I was killed in combat. While I would still like to pursue the idea, I understand that now is not the ideal time for such a change in this country.”

Octavius turned to look at Lagi, his face serious.

“You have done much good in this country, do not think my ideas for a republic were born because of you. I was formulating this long before you took control of the throne. The only direct heir of the throne is not even aware of their bloodlines and I will not have them on the throne if I can avoid it. I will support your current rule, but once the dust has settled and we have some stability, I would like to revisit the idea. I believe the people would support this plan, simply because it is harder to corrupt an entire Senate than to corrupt a single ruler. Would you be open to discussing this change in the future, Lagi El Nagi? Of turning Reim into something that will make it stronger and purer? Right now, we need a central ruler to settle matters with Kou, but once we have some peace, would you be willing to discuss making Reim even greater?”

Yoshiro arched his brows in surprise at the General’s words. He had expected Octavius to demand that Lagi vacate the throne, but the man proved to be smarter than he looked. Yoshiro looked to Lagi.

“Regarding Kou’s involvement, we will no longer claim you as part of our country. You are Reim, your own separate, powerful country. All I have ever asked for, since we made this plan, was for an alliance. I would like an assurance of peace as our troops return home and I would like to maintain trade between two of the most powerful countries in the world. I understand we have much to repay in terms of reparations and I am willing to work out those details with you. Supplies, currency, even physical assistance if you desire it, though I think your people would be more comfortable rebuilding on their own, without soldiers or citizens here to assist. What say you, King Lagi?”

Yoshiro did not bring up Azix’ role as an ambassador yet, Lagi’s rule needed to be settled before anything else was discussed.

Surprisingly so, Orie is exposed to most of Lagi’s emotions. Whatever his feelings are, even his occasional drinking, she shares all of that with him. However, she was a bit worried, Orie popped up from his shoulder and looked at him with a pleading face. “I know……” He would say, but he was addressing his pet. With that being said, Orie made a sound of relief and return back inside of lagi. “Ok, Octavius first. General Octavius…..You want to make Reim into a republic, and yet you spare the emperor’s child of the pressures and the sacrifices of ruling. The tough decision you have to make and the chance of every change of the people’s feelings whenever you do something. I personally feel as if you shelter them too much in this case, only by acknowledging their god given right, and their own choice to step down would be appropriate. To live in ignorance, is that life? Though, you contain this information, and you are free to withhold it from me. My offer still stands, if that man should wish his father’s legacy before the upcoming changes. For him to wish something he knew he had....as to my word as king i follow through.

Lagi wasn’t sure of the gender, but he made a wild guess that it was a man. Clearly, it was the man’s right to rule, was it not?” Nevertheless, I agree with the notion, and disagree with the fact that I am a man to be corrupted. I have been corrupted by the darkest power that you can imagine from the contractor himself, and even he complained that my own desires even overwhelmed the dark rukh up to the point that I was playing by my own rules, not his. Though, the pure concept is enough for me to consider. I will remain as king for the time being, and we can discuss the matter of making it a republic together, for the sake of Reim. Once again, welcome back to the land of the living. The people greatly appreciate the return of their hero. “

Changing his sight over to Yoshiro, Lagi addressed what he said earlier. “Yoshiro…Emperor Yoshiro…your request for an alliance is accepted, a verbal agreement is good until it is put into writing. You have your assurance of peace, as well as any kind of food that you need for the long trip back home. I only have to offer the pleasures of a bountiful harvest; fruits and vegetables at best, water, and even horses if you need them. Though, you have my word, you will not be met with any military hostility from my country, neither any hostility from my people. We just finished a war, the fighting is OVER, and none of it will be tolerated. The people of Reim are proud, and I realized that I wasn’t answering them in the way that I should have, Ruki taught me that……………………………………………………………………………………………………. anyway, in addition to the people of reim, I contain a group of ravenous smashers that are able to handle hard labor and construction work. They are easy to communicate with through sign language, and each smashers strength and stamina is equivalent to that of 10 men. With the people’s diligence, and the help of the El Nagi beasts, we will manage. We will be fine, and you and your people will be fine.

Azix arched a brow, wondering how Yoshiro had learned of Octavius' desire to see Reim as a republic. The orange magician turned to Octavius with a subtle look, expressing that he hadn't betrayed the Fanalis General's trust. Azix continued to listen to the conversation in silence, considering how that would affect a partnership between Reim and Kou. Especially since Lagi didn't seem opposed to the possibility of changing Reim's form of government. While Lagi had no problems with maintaining a good relationship with Kou, Azix was unsure if a Senate would feel the same. The war had a detrimental effect on the people's image of Kou, currently. It would take time to cultivate good will, which unfortunately would be a part of Azix's job.

The orange magician arched a brow at Lagi and couldn't help but chime in. "Don't forget about the workforce program as well, King Lagi. We should utilize their experience to help with rebuilding. We can talk later about coordinating our efforts." He flashed Lagi an apologetic look for interjecting and let the talks resume around him.

Garret felt sympathy towards Lagi as Yoshiro explained the reasoning behind burning their bodies. His reservations towards it, however, were lightened when the new Emperor spoke. The fact that they would still receive funerals somehow put the blue magician at ease; though that was somewhat to be expected, as he had grown up in Kou and tradition was extremely important. Before long, the Emperor spoke of details entailing the change of the Reim Government system, which surprised Garret. He hid his surprise in a stone mask of impassiveness. It wasn't that he was interested in the politics themselves, as he never truly cared for them, but any bit of information was a valuable asset in espionage. Garret was still in the habit of attempting to keep himself from leaking any intelligence at all, including his state of knowledge.

Garret was unable to keep his face impassive as Octavius spoke his following words. The implications were clear, and Garret wondered exactly how they had managed to keep it such a secret. I bet only one or two people knew... We had never caught a single scent of the man not being the true leader of Reim... A long engrained schooling made Garret avoid the use of the title 'Emperor' due to Emperor Gao Yuan Zu detesting anyone else taking up the title. It was such a natural avoidance that Garret's mind did not even touch upon the idea.

The words spoken in this room, at this time, continued to surprise the magician. The thought of there being a direct heir, and Lagi willingly abdicating from the throne, was something he could never have thought of happening. Especially not with the willing deal Lagi had taken when he became King of Reim. Then again Claudius - rather, Fake Claudius - had said some provocative things towards Lagi. I suppose it is understandable. The mention of the man's beasts that he had available to help support the destruction done to the land was out of Garret's scope, but the magician had to hold back a chuckle as Azix explained that he wanted his Workforce program to be factored in as well. The man went so far as to mention the talk of coordinating their work together for the maximum benefit of both groups.

Of those present, there were only two who had not said anything yet. Those two were Roark and Garret. Once Yoshiro responded to Lagi's comments, Garret would make his move. The blue magician sensed that things were coming to a close here, and thus cleared his throat, stepped forward and bowed to Yoshiro. "I would request a private audience with you, Emperor Yoshiro. Simply let me know when you will be available for such, and I will be there." He had been hurried earlier, and had acted brusquely, yet now there was no reason for him to ignore decorum. Especially not with the request he planned on asking the man, when the time came to do so. He lifted his head up from his bow, gauging the new Emperor's reaction.

Yoshiro allowed Octavius to speak as much of the conversation was directed at the General. Octavius’ face was a mask caught somewhere between anger and confliction when he spoke, telling of some internal argument with himself.

“Lagi El Nagi, you do not have the experience necessary to dictate to me about who should or should not be ruler. Claudius did not wish his child to be buried in the hypocrisy and corruption that politics is brewing with. It is a father’s wishes I followed, not an Emperor’s and certainly not some self-declared King’s. I have more right to your throne than you do and I have the paperwork to support that, so think carefully before you condemn my desire to keep the rightful heir in the dark about their legacy. They will be informed, when the time is right.”

Roark finally spoke, interjecting as he rested a calming hand on Lagi’s shoulder as he glared at Octavius. His voice rang out with authority as he interrupted the two verbose men.

“That is enough, General, I believe my son has been duly chastised. Lagi, Octavius is correct, you have no right to judge his actions. Octavius, we both appreciate your acknowledgement that while Lagi has no right to the throne, he has done much good. But you will not stand there and let your temper get out of control. You know Lagi only did what was necessary to wrest control back from Kou. He has agreed to speak about a republic at a later time. Now, with all due respect, both of you shut up before either of you say something you regret!”

Yoshiro raised a brow at Roark’s tone but his face was otherwise neutral. He did not show his surprise at the bickering between the three powerful men currently attempting to piece Reim back together. He was not even remotely shocked when Octavius snorted and stormed from the room. The man still had the temper of a Fanalis, but he knew when to control it, it seemed. Without allowing anyone else to interject, Yoshiro spoke, glancing between all people in the room.

“Lagi, I shall see to it that some reparation money is set aside. When and if you require other items, simply send word. Azix, your idea to have the Workforce Initiative is a splendid one. It shows that even a program started by a man from Kou was developed to help the people of Reim. Iatsu, if you would like, we can meet for dinner, if that is agreeable. Right now, I would like to get the blood and scent of battle off of my body and I am sure you all feel the same. Roark, I want to thank you for being the voice of reason these past few weeks, I know it must have been difficult to contend with both the General and your son, all while assisting the rebellion. I know a speech needs to be made regarding the withdrawal of the Kou troops and the new terms of our alliance. King Lagi, would you like me there to reinforce our determination to create peace between our lands or do you feel the people would respond better to you making the announcement alone?”

Yoshiro would wait patiently for Lagi to respond and agree to whichever decision the king made before giving the men in the room a deep bow. He would give a small twitch of his hand to Azix, beckoning the man over, his voice quiet.

“We will discuss your appointment after I have spoken with Iatsu. The speech should be made today, if possible, I plan to return to Kou tomorrow evening at the latest. Perhaps in the meantime, you should discuss things with Ariella before we make an official announcement regarding your appointment as ambassador.”

He would give the room another bow before moving to leave.

“I shall see you all shortly.”

With that, Yoshiro would retreat to his quarters, eager to scrub the putrid scent of death from his body.

Lagi wasn’t easily rattled, hiding the heir from him was something he didn’t appreciate or respect as well. Though he respected Octavius, he was just not in the best of moods at the moment. He tried to keep it buried within him, but the fondest of memories kept being brought up, as well as the fact that he has been used continuing to float right in front of his face. He didn’t like those latent thoughts of being someone puppet, nor did he desire to be controlled any longer. Lagi had his fill of servitude, and he refused to be a slave of secrets either. “I’m sorry….” Lagi would say to his father with remorse and a hint of sadness, thought that would change back to his hard exterior just as quickly as his humanity was shown.

Those private moments were only for family, and slightly being revealed to Garret unintentionally. “Make the speech Yoshiro, I think the people honesty had enough of me for the time being. After all I done, the moves I made, only a few know the truth. As it is, I a painted as the enemy, I don’t think my presence is well received. So, I think that it would be better if we were together, as well as Octavius if he isn’t too angry with me. “ Lagi would then reach into his pocket and simply grasp his orb of communication. “General Octavius, I’m sorry. Come back, I would like you to be here when I announce the end of this war and this reinforcement of peace with Kou. Though, if you don’t want to come, I understand, we will talk later.” Afterwards, Lagi takes in a deep breath. “ That’s all for now. “ Lagi got up and excused himself from the room

[Exit]

Ability used

Spoiler:

345/350

Garret narrowed his eyes as Octavius made his threat, his hand clenching his staff and ready to support Lagi should the Fanalis commander make a move. While Octavius had a point on the legitimacy of Lagi's rule, depending on those who supported Lagi such a legitimacy would not even be necessary. Unfortunately, Garret had been out of the loop with Azix, and was unaware of how good of terms his King Candidate was on with the grizzled General. His dislike of the Fanalis caused him to blindly ignore the points he had made.

It was only Roark's intervention that kept things from escalating. After he told the two to calm down, Garret found himself without reason to attack the leader of the Fanalis Corp. Yet his attention was soon grasped by Yoshiro, who began discussing his plans for the evening, going so far as to tell Garret that they could dine later in the day and discuss his request with the new Emperor. He bowed his head in acquiescence, acknowledging the setting and time of their meeting. Once everything had been set, Garret moved out to change into fresh clothing after taking a bath of his own. The smell of death was a common one to the blue magician, and he was fairly desensitized to it, yet Yoshiro had shown his displeasure of the scent which was the reason the Emperor had presented for putting off their meeting.

When the dinning period began to approach, Garret received a letter on where to meet Yoshiro, including a Paige who would escort him. Garret was a man who wore clothing in layers when he left a place equipped for the possibility of combat. Simple cloth adorned his innermost layer, followed by a well-fitted silk cloth from Kou. Its sleeves were voluminous and riddled with pockets on the inside, allowing objects to be stored within. He wore a bandolier across his waist, with another draped diagonally from his right shoulder to left hip. These bandoliers contained a variety of smoke bombs and flash bombs. Garret's blade, Desceld, was strapped to a belt just below his bandolier. His staff, the Exuro Staff, was held firmly in his left hand as he walked down the Palace's many halls. Upon his right hand was a single ring; his Household Vessel.

They arrived at a set of doors, which the Page made motion to, Garret assumed this to be the spot himself and the Emperor would dine. The guards at the doors, Kou men themselves, made that much apparent. He walked towards the doors and was stopped. "Your weapons, sir."

Garret kept himself from rolling his eyes; his entire existence was a weapon, though these men did not know. He began with his blade, Desceld, followed by the Exuro Staff and then the bandoliers that held a variety of combat-oriented objects within them. "Be careful with that. Some of those items will explode, if handled improperly." The man who was taking the objects from Garret narrowed his eyes at the blue magician, setting the things aside on a table near the door while another guard patted the blue magician down. The Household vessel was missed, due to its inconspicuousness. It was determined that Garret had no further weapons upon him, and that he was cleared for entry.

One of the guards knocked on the door, announcing Garret's presence and receiving permission to allow the man to enter. When the doors were open, Garret took note that it was actually a simple guest chamber, albeit for an important guest, and walked into the room to begin dinning with the current Emperor.

Azix's hand reached for his wand at the anger in Octavius' tone, concerned that he would have to subdue a fiery Fanalis temper. Roark however managed to calm the situation down by telling both his son and the General to shut up. After Octavius left, Yoshiro made plans for a speech with Lagi and then a dinner with Garret. The new Emperor then pulled Azix aside to schedule a meeting before he left.

With a bow, Azix agreed before heading to his house to bathe before meeting up with Ariella. As he soaked his body in the steaming water, he found it cleansing not only for the physical grime, but the mental as well. The days leading up to the assassination had been emotionally exhausting, however they had been worth it. Now, he could focus on relaxing. Soon he would have to worry about rebuilding, but that could wait.

Once he dried off and got dressed, Azix caught up with his Kios Council; consisting of Jarl, Viri, Gillus, and Janus. Miss Viri and Janus had just gotten back from checking on the families, making sure everyone was safe. He informed them of the Emperor's death and that a speech would be made later, announcing a peace treaty. They probed him for more details, which he deflected until Viri put a warm plate of food under his nose.

Azix looked up at the elderly woman with a mock scowl on his face, "You play dirty. Fine, I'll tell you what I know." He gave them a watered down version of events and proclaimed his cousin had single-handily taken down Gao, in between large morsels of his meal.

After he finished his meal and the others were satisfied with his gossip, Azix departed to meet Ariella at her inn. He knocked on the door, waiting for her to answer it.

Ariella ran the brush through her damp purple locks, making them shimmer and shine before tucking the brush away. She had not been back from helping clean up the battlefield for long, but she had used her minutes back to scrub the filth of battle from her skin and hair. While she had wanted to go back with Azix, she had not wanted to be underfoot while he discussed the politics of his homeland. Her help on the field had been met with gratitude, though, as she was glad to be of assistance. Just as she closed the drawer she kept her brush in, there was a knock on her door and she stood to answer it, smiling brightly when she saw her lover standing there. She flung her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly before allowing him into the room.

“How did things go? Do we finally have some peace and quiet, my love?”

Yoshiro looked up as one of the guards led Garret into the room, standing from his desk where he had been scribbling out communique for various branches of the Kou government. He gave the magician a bow of respect before dismissing the guards, waving Garret over to a table prepared with a light dinner. It was a simple meal, steamed rice, thinly sliced pork and vegetables served with a side of egg drop soup. Instead of wine was tea; Yoshiro knew he had far too much to do this evening to be muddled with liquor.

“Iatsu, thank you for agreeing to meet with me over dinner. With all of the commotion, a meal is some of the only spare time I have, I fear.”

Yoshiro would take his seat, pouring himself some tea into a delicate cup before arching a brow at the blue magician. He wasted no time with small talk, getting to the point quickly after he took a sip of tea.

“I offered you compensation for your assistance. I am assuming you have decided upon what you would like to ask of me?”

Despite how frazzled he might look, his tone was friendly and open, truly grateful for the help the magician had provided in helping to take down his father.

Garret bowed in return, deeper than the man had done to him and for a slightly longer period of time. As the Emperor, the man deserved a larger amount of respect than a man of Garret's station. The blue magician looked towards the meal on the table, glancing over the contents and judging the quality of the food itself. It was not quite a generous spread fit for an Emperor, instead it was a very simple yet hearty meal.

When waved over, Garret took a chair opposite of his nation's leader. Garret took his portion of steamed rice. The white kernels looked fluffy, steamed just perfectly and glistening with the moisture of a mouth-watering texture. There was a selection of cooked vegetables as well, the heat rising from it gave Garret the impression that it had just recently been cooked. And the thinly sliced pork, alongside of it, completed the steamed rice. Garret noted that Yoshiro sat and grabbed the tea, pouring himself a cup. Looking around for a servant, Garret noted the room was bereft of any such individual. Strange. I never expected to see the Emperor pour his own tea... Garret shut his eyes, imagining the consumption of the food in front of him before grabbing a pair of chopsticks. With Sleight of Hand the magician twirled the pair of chopsticks across the top of his hand at an incredible speed before digging in.

He managed to get a mouthful of rice, followed by a strip of sliced pork, before the Emperor took a sip of his drink and began to speak. Noting his eagerness to jump straight into the topic before they had ate, Garret carefully placed his chopsticks down on the table and gave his complete attention to Yoshiro. Garret's chewing of the food was finished when the question of what he wanted had been asked of him. Garret drew a deep breath through his nose and exhaled. He was going to be requesting something unorthodox. "My request is a difficult one to fulfill, but one I believe you should be capable of." He moved his hand over to the tea pot, slowly pouring the liquid into his own cup and washing down the food he had just swallowed with a swift sip of the relaxing drink.

"I would like all records of my existence erased, and no mention of my true hand of assistance made in any official reports. I do not care what others write about the battle, and my potential involvement, but as far as the government is concerned I no longer exist. I want my nobility struck from the list of living nobles; the man known as Takegawa Iatsu is dead. Killed in the war in Reim, fighting for his country." Garret watched Yoshiro closely, gauging his reaction. What Garret was asking of him was a drastic request. It was on a similar level of being disowned and without history. A lowly servant would have an equal status as Garret, insofar as Caste was concerned, if he went through with this. Garret was partially curious how Yoshiro would take the request, or if he would attempt to convince Garret otherwise.

Abilities Used:

The orange magician's face lit up to see Ariella's smile and returned the hug, squeezing her just as tightly. He followed her into the room, closing the door behind him and noting the dampness of her hair. 'It appears everyone felt the urge to bathe after today's events.'

Before answering her question, Azix had to resolve a pressing matter. He felt an urge to 'mark' her once again, especially after watching Yoshiro place his lips on hers. Azix pulled Ari into a close embrace, kissing her passionately. He gently nibbled on her lip, leading her to take a seat next to him on the bed. "Everything went well, my love. Yoshiro and Lagi are making a speech later today, announcing Reim's sovereignty."

Azix wrapped his hands around hers and stared into her golden hues. He hesitated a moment before continuing, letting out a sigh. "However, we might have to delay our vacation. I accepted an offer to be Kou's ambassador. Yoshiro wanted someone that both he and the people of Reim could trust. However, once everything settles down, we'll be able to go."

Ari gave a muffled sound as she was thoroughly claimed by Azix’ lips, the sound softening to a soft moan as she returned the intimate gesture. She was thankful he had not hesitated after seeing her kiss Yoshiro. It had not been pleasant for her, but given the history, she had almost expected her lover to doubt the action. When he led her to the bed, she became hopeful for a more pleasant distraction but pouted when he began filling her in on what had come of the meeting. She listened as he spoke, nuzzling against his neck until he mentioned their vacation would be postponed. She almost got upset before remembering what she had planned to talk about with him, making her sigh in acceptance. Looking into his undamaged eye, she gave an understanding smile, raising a hand to brush across his cheek.

“It’s okay, dear. I understand. An ambassador? That should be an interesting position. Does this mean I will get to see Kou one day?”

She paused for a moment, chewing her lip in thought before speaking again.

“Postponing the vacation for a bit is fine, I need to return to Magnostadt for a short period. The magician’s need to be returned to their home and I believe Ayero would like her brother back at some point. And when I get back… I…”

She took a deep breath, her eyes shooting to the faint outline of chalk on the ground.

“I want us to go after Lilly. We can’t just let her run wild, not knowing who or where she will strike next. I could push her out of my mind while we focused on the war, but… she cannot be allowed to be out and killing people…”

She said the words while trying to keep her face clear of the panic wanting to rise at thoughts of the small monster the Contractor had unleashed on the world.

Yoshiro pressed his fingertips together in contemplation, considering the man’s request. He could understand, he supposed, the man wanted a fresh start, not as Iatsu Takegawa, Spymaster of Kou. While his services would have been invaluable, it was reasonable compensation for helping to end a reign of terror. He took a bite of the steamed rice as he thought over the steps to complete the request, not answering Garret immediately. He would not dishonor what good the man had done, both in the ball room and on the battle field.

“I will honor this request of yours. I will have it stated that you died during the Battle for Remano, falling as you sought to protect Captain Natsuki. I will add you to the list of casualties, and you will have a funeral like the other soldiers. As far as Kou is concerned, you will be dead, free to live your life as you so choose.”

He took another bite, humming softly in appreciation of the meal before speaking again.

“Azix has accepted the position of ambassador. If you wish to stay at his side, you would need to cover your face during any time spent in Kou, though I am sure you realize this. You seem quite loyal to the Marquis. It is nice to see that he found a place in the world with people he can trust. You and Miss Ariella are both fierce protectors. Consider your request done, I will send you the official documentation via messenger, if you would like, once I complete it. I will not try to convince you to not do this, you are fully aware of the ramifications of such a request, I am sure. You did not become a Spymaster without being intelligent and well-versed in the government systems. Very well. Now, please… enjoy the meal.”

Yoshiro drained his cup of tea before pouring another, allowing it to cool as he ate. He was quite hungry and it showed as he devoured bite after bite, paying little attention to decorum as he consumed. Garret had seen him take out his father, he hardly felt it necessary to be delicate and proper in his eating habits. It was one of the reasons he did not keep servants in his quarters to serve his meals and tea. He was not a fan of constant servitude and liked his peace and quiet.

Garret was somewhat surprised to hear the ease at which Yoshiro agreed to his request. The blue magician continued to eat, pausing only during the time that the Emperor was speaking. Garret took note as Yoshiro explained Azix having accepted the ambassador position, and how he followed up by mentioning that Garret would have to hide his face during any time spent in Kou. I have spent little to no time in court... I do not believe myself to be an easily recognized individual... Prudence, however, outweighs the alternatives. He nodded his head slowly at the man's words, understanding the meaning behind them. At the mention of official documents, Garret furrowed his brow.

"One last thing, Sire. As to the method of... Informing me of the completion of the request. I assume they won't be quite... Official, in the official meaning..?" A paper trail of his existence was something he would prefer to avoid. If necessary, he would be fine with Yoshiro passing an encrypted message along, such as 'your friend's request has been taken care of' to Azix, who would be able to get in touch with Garret and inform the blue magician of the fact. After giving Yoshiro a chance to respond, Garret would explain this preference if the man did not provide a more subtle approach to informing Garret of the deed.

The rest of the dinner was finished in relative silence; the magician knew he likely wouldn't have a similar opportunity any time in the near future, but his mind was occupied enough as it were. He needed to figure out what it was he planned on doing in the future, insofar as actual work was concerned. Garret sipped at his tea pensively, staring off into the distance before politely excusing himself and going back to his inn.


[Exit]

Azix let out a sigh of relief and chuckled, "Yes, I suppose that does mean you'll get to visit Kou some day." He noticed her hesitation and waited for her to continue. He gave her a look of understanding when she mentioned going to Magnostadt and squeezed her hand, wondering what was bothering her. He felt silly for not realizing that it was Lilly. With everything that happened with the Emperor, Azix had forgotten about the little murderess. Of course, Ariella hadn't, it had probably plagued her every thought.

Azix hugged Ari tight and kissed her forehead softly. "You're absolutely right. While you are gone, I will do my best to find out where she is." His fingers danced up and down her back in soothing motions as he spoke in a tone that let her know she had his full support. "We will kill her, I promise."

He stared off in the distance, contemplating how he would track Lilly down. Azix made a note to ask Yoshiro if he knew anything, when they met. The orange magician noticed that his cousin had never gave him an update and frowned. Either he hadn't tried to locate the girl or he wasn't able to. Both options were unhelpful, so Azix would have to think of a backup plan.

Azix’ reassurances quelled Ari’s nerves about bringing the topic up. When he promised they would kill her, she felt a small weight lift. If Azix could take out an Emperor, he would be able to help her take out the monster-in-disguise. Her complete trust in his abilities allowed her to relax into his side, simply enjoying his presence. They had been so busy, there had not been much time to simply relax. And she would be leaving for Magnostadt as soon as possible, wanting to get things taken care of so she could return to Azix that much more quickly.

She did not mention that she planned on taking her final Kodor test while in Magnostadt. She did not need to take the test, she knew, but she had to prove something to herself with the test, to prove that she was strong enough to serve at Azix’ side as a household member. She would not allow herself to become a liability to him. She dragged him back onto the bed and stretched out beside him, wrapping her arm around his thin waist. She would keep him here as long as he allowed her to, absorbing all the warmth and comfort he had to offer.

[exit]

Yoshi waved to a chest, a servant hurrying over to gather the last of the Emperor’s belongings. He has sent word to Azix to meet with him outside of the Palace to escort him back to the magic transfer circle south of Remano. He wanted to go over a few of the finer details of the Marquis’ newest appointment with Kou and to sort out any remaining questions Azix might have for him. He disliked having to leave for Kou so quickly, but he had to solidify his rule as quickly as possible. It was a shame that he would not have more time to absorb some of the culture of Reim while he was here, but his duty to his people came first. This was not a vacation, but perhaps he could return one day on more pleasant terms.

He glanced around, his guards apprehensively watching every person that passed by as they awaited Azix’ arrival, a carriage waiting to take them to the magic transfer circle.

Azix spent the night with Ariella, enjoying the opportunity to simply cuddle the hours away with his lover. The sensation of her wrapped around his body soon had him drifting off to sleep. In the morning, he regretfully untangled himself so he could get plans underway to assist with the rebuilding. He spent the day at Opportunity Hall, discussing his ideas with the workers for rebuilding and sending runners to Lagi to coordinate their efforts with the King's group of Ravenous Smashers.

He wasn't surprised when a servant entered the building and announced that Yoshiro requested his presence outside the palace. Azix dismissed the servant with an idle wave of his hand, wrapping up his discussion with Gilda, Kylar and his son, Marcus. He then left towards the palace to meet with his cousin before he left to secure his rule in Kou. Azix wondered if Yoshiro was nervous of returning home and if anyone would object to their new Emperor.

Azix found his cousin, waiting next to a carriage in the courtyard of the Palace. The orange magician bowed deeply in greeting, "Good morning, my Lord." He straightened his back with a small smile on his face. As much as Azix despised his family and hated to watch Ariella with Yoshiro, his cousin had grown on him. Fate had certainly led them down a strange path, one he never would have foreseen. Azix found himself nervous of Yoshiro's return, not wanting to see his cousin assassinated like his father. "So is my meeting just an after thought or did you save the best for last?" The teasing tone in Azix's voice as he spoke showed how much his opinion of Yoshiro had changed as of late.

Yoshiro chuckled as he returned the bow to his cousin, waving him into the carriage.

“Not an afterthought, cousin. I apologize for everything being so rushed, but I am sure you know how important it is that I solidify my rule as quickly as possible.”

He waited until Azix had climbed into the carriage before following, his guard closing the door before climbing up front with the man driving the carriage. Getting settled on the cushioned seats, he turned his attention back to Azix, taking a deep breath. The reality of what had happened and was soon to transpire was weighing heavily on his and he knew his cousin would understand. Rubbing a hand over his face, he offered Azix a small smile.

“From the lion’s nest to the shark’s den, eh, cousin? Luckily, I have had a supporter assisting in Kou to secure my arrival in Kou, so I do not have to worry as much about being ambushed the moment I return. Journey books are wonderful tools for communicating so far away. It was one of the few items I kept from my experience in the dungeon, most of it was given to a local village. Now, I am sure you wish to discuss your role a bit? The role is fairly simply, you would be acting as a liaison between myself and King Lagi, or whatever the ruling government in Reim might be, on matters that involve both countries. It seems the people of Reim have a great deal of trust in you, you have done great things for them.”

He would pause and allow Azix to ask any questions he might have regarding the position, answering them as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Azix was familiar enough with life in court that he should have a basic idea of what his duties would entail, but securing the final points was always important. He knew one of the key reasons Azix had agreed to the position was to keep an eye on not just Reim, but also his own rule over Kou. Part of him wanted to be outraged by the idea of anyone keeping tabs on his activity, but given his family history, he understood Azix’ caution. Mostly, he was glad that there was someone making sure he did not step over the line, making sure he did not turn into his father.

It did not take them long to arrive at the last remaining magic transfer circle in the country and Yoshiro happily got out of the carriage, nervous but excited for what awaited him at home. Assuming Azix followed him out of the carriage, he led the Marquis towards the circle, where a familiar figure stood. With a deep bow, Azix' uncle, Illidan, greeted the new Emperor before turning to Azix with what might be considered a proud smile.

"Greetings, nephew."

Azix slipped into the carriage and found the cushioned bench seats to be quite comfortable. He noticed the weariness in Yoshiro's expression as the man sat down opposite him. The orange magician listened as his cousin explained that he had support back in Kou to help with the transition of leadership. Azix wasn't surprised, however he was curious to know who else had a hand in betraying Gao.

The discussion turned to what was expected of Azix in his new position as Ambassador. Once Yoshiro gave the queue for questions, the orange magician ran his hand over his jaw in thought. "How would you prefer I send communications to you?" He inquired not just for general messages but also for private messages. Azix knew communications were sent through the spy organization, but he wasn't familiar with the process and he wasn't sure if he could trust it.

Azix continued prodding Yoshiro for his stance on different matters with Reim's current state of affairs. In order to effectively act on behalf of his cousin, Azix needed to understand the new Emperor's foreign policies. There wasn't much time to learn everything he needed, so he covered the more pressing matters. The orange magician didn't forget to ask about his income, planning to use it to invest further into the welfare programs and Kios.

Once they arrived, Azix exited the carriage and saw an odd sight. His Uncle Illidan was waiting near the magic transfer circle with a smile, something the orange magician had never seen before. It was almost as if Illidan was proud of him. With an arched brow, Azix bowed to his Uncle and turned an inquisitive look at Yoshiro. The last time Azix had seen Illidan, the meeting hadn't gone too well.

Coronation of the New King:

"What a pleasant surprise, Uncle..."