Risitro sat in an ornate room. It was the kind of place where even the armrests were embroidered in gold. The rest of the room was filled with sculptures, paintings, and delicate engravings. He considered the opulence tasteless but didn’t comment. Across from him was a youthful human woman. She donned a silken dress and an assortment of jewelry.

She spoke in amused tone, “Risitro, right? For what reason does the future Demon King enter my estate uninvited?”

“You already know the reason. You even dressed for the occasion, didn’t you?” His voice was uninterested, “I need to make sure you won’t be causing any problems for me in the coming weeks.”

“Bold of you to think you have any say in that.” She chuckled, “What, are you going to kill me or something?”

“Do you think I could?”

“Oh heavens no! That’d be silly to try, don’t you think?”

“I do. If that were my intention, I wouldn’t have come alone. Don’t tease me, Princess Madison.” He sighed, “All I wish to know if you’ll be participating in the war our fathers are waging against each other.”

“I see. And what do you think my answer should be?”

Risitro reclined into his chair, “That’s for you to say. All I want to do is listen.”

“You wouldn’t have come here if you didn’t have a preference.”

“I can’t control you.”

“We wouldn’t be friends if you could, now would we?” The princess smiled, “Really, my course of action depends on you, Risitro. If your soldiers go around burning the city and innocent citizens, I’d be inclined to do something. That much is obvious. However, if you handle this professionally and only kill my father—and career soldiers too, I guess—I might find myself more hesitant.”

“You’re okay with me killing your father?”

“Sure, I think it’s the same for both of us. You wouldn’t be mad if I killed yours, would you?” Risitro reluctantly nodded, “Point is, both of us are the first in line to the throne in our respective countries. What’s more, is that both of us would make better rulers than our parents. If wouldn’t be happy if you killed my dad, but I wouldn’t be mad either. My subjects would live better lives under me, no doubt.”

“Perhaps they would, but many revolutionaries across this world of ours have held similar notions… but after coming into power, but in the end, all they did was sow more chaos. Don’t think that ruling a nation will be as easy as you think.”

“I’m not such a fool as to believe that my ideals are flawless. But what you have to remember, is that I’m not like my father. I have advantages that he never did, like magic—and you.”

“Only a fool relies on necromancy, Madison. But you do have a point.” He rose to his feet. “Very well then, I’ll spare your citizens as best I can. The only person I’ll actively hunt is your father.” He snapped his finger and a portal opened behind him, “Good talk.”

“Good luck, Risitro.”

With that, he picked himself up and disappeared into the portal.

♦

Ronny awoke feeling refreshed. He got ready for work and left.

During his commute, a legion of conscripts passed by. It was easy to tell that they were conscripts because only a few of them had equipment. The rest just wore work clothes. Some didn’t even have weapons.

They would be the first ones to die. It was a harsh truth, but one that they more-or-less accepted. A commander that only saw them as numbers would send them to fight on the front lines where they’d be slaughtered in troves.

The group was comprised of poor, untrained people. The Barnock army didn’t discriminate by man or woman, nor by young or old. There were kids as young as twelve in the group. It was a sad sight, but Ronny tried to ignore them as he walked.

He’d avoided the draft purely by chance. Because the wall was considered essential to the war effort, Ronny and the other masons were exempt from military service. Alice had dodged it as well. Recruiters didn’t bother going into the ‘Warrens’ because the area’s inhabitants were considered unsuitable.

Ronny arrived at work, somewhat motivated from the sight he’d caught on his way. He was thankful for his circumstances. Today, he wanted to earn a lofty 45 silver. More money would be needed to buy supplies for the siege.

As always, the work was hard, but he persevered. “Strength increased to level 10” towards the end of the day, after Devitalized had set in. He stayed an hour after the site was closed, but nobody told him to leave.

Night was already in full swing by the time he made it back to the Inn. Alice was waiting behind a table next to the stairs when he arrived.

“You got a table?”

“A nice heavy one!” She set her book down on it, “You’re home awfully late, did you go somewhere?”

From his pocket, Ronny produced twenty silver, “Nope, just working. I wanted to get a little extra money to prepare for the war. Took longer than I would have liked.” He put the money on her desk.

Alice straightened her collar, “Oh wow… That’s a good bit! I’m sure I can thrift for something nice with it. Thanks for everything you do, Ronny. I mean it.”

“I should say the same to you. How about some dinner?”

They ate happily and slept.