The most beautiful aspect of life is imperfection. It is in it that one’s “character” is molded and it is in fails that honor is found. It is in failure that life is molded. It is in the disharmonious difference that the spark of harmonic reality shines.

Aeronn V. R. Thewnes – Some Other Thoughts

*

Illuminated by the orange color of the sunset, Arthur studies the images on the world map he was given in Fiandel's library.

To him, this seemed to be the most peaceful way to pass time, as, surprisingly, he had been given a break for the rest of the day after Guinevere had dismissed him at lunch.

According to her, the training would be changed in two days and he should take that time to recover his body. He was not pleased with the way she ordered him to be in top physical condition, suggesting that, otherwise, he would not be able to withstand the training.

With his eyes on the map, he tries to dispel the fear of the new training regimen, concentrating on memorizing the images and borders of the two largest continents of this world, in an effort to memorize the names of the kingdoms and their capitals.

As for the third continent, positioned to the south and closest to the East Continent, Arthur was immediately able to memorize its name: The Phantom Continent.

-Is it true that there are incorporeals in this place? – He asks Akemi, who, sitting by the window, kept him company.

- Nobody knows. - She shakes her head. - The few incorporeals I found claimed that this is a legend created by humans. Apparently, the magic in that place is so chaotic that no one has survived the trip to tell the story, and, as usual, we were blamed for it.

After a few minutes, Arthur discovered that there was no information in that book that could tell him more about the so called "phantom continent". So, he busied himself, asking the incorporeal to read the runes that described the names of the realms, which he wrote down separately in the characters he knew, to memorize them later.

One thing he noticed was that, despite the importance that everyone seemed to give to Fiandel and Vivre, the importance of the other kingdoms seemed clear to him, at least in the matters of territorial claims. After seeing the image of “Argalya”, “Naeva” and so many other countries with such extensive territories, it seemed obvious to him that, if some of these kingdoms were to be allies, perhaps it would be enough to make the supposed superiority of Fiandel and Vivre crumble. It actually seemed to him that the power was more balanced than they let on.

-Don’t forget that you're just looking at a map. – Akemi said when he told her about his thoughts. – The territorial division is just the way the leaders found to make a peace agreement. Most of the land is not even inspected and serves no purpose other than paying taxes. I saw with my own eyes how many villages and small towns don't even care about the winner of a territorial war, as long as they can continue to live in peace and pay as few taxes as possible.

-Doesn’t that help to prove my point? Doesn't that mean that Fiandel and Vivre don't have as much power as they say they do?

-Don't forget that we are in times of peace, Arthur. Fragile times, but of peace, without a doubt. The power of Fiandel and Vivre is still fresh in the memory of the entire continent because of the show of strength they displayed during times of war. The map you are holding, indeed, would, for the most part, be made up of several regions with no corresponding kingdom, were it not for the way the entire continent has been organized by the agreements and alliances formed by the two main kingdoms.

-You seem to know a lot about the subject.

-I was directly affected. - She smirks and frowns, as if the memories simultaneously amused and made her suffer. – When that happened, troops started to watch the roads more frequently, the villages in danger were able to ask for help from the capital... Life became harder.

Arthur wanted to ask more questions, but a noise at the door immediately alarmed them. Akemi didn't hesitate before stepping into Arthur's shadow as the door handle was turned.

-Art! Let's play!

Valkyrie entered the room without ceremony, jumping on the bed and running towards the window.

-The day is so beautiful! Let's go outside!

-Today I want to study a little more, Valkyrie. - He tries to deny the child's request. - Where is your mom?

-She had to go to a meeting. - The girl answers with a pout.

-That means you need to stay with Niobe, doesn't it?

After a few days living in the same house, Arthur learned that Valkyrie had a private tutor, hired by Rinlia, who also served as a caregiver for the child. She was an old lady, with kind eyes and was constantly limping. Her name was Niobe and her job was to take care of the child when Rinlia had to work – which she often did.

The problem was that the caregiver could not keep up with Valkyrie’s pace. As far as Arthur knew, Niobe was an extremely old elf, which meant she should be older than some countries.

-I don't want to study now... I want to stay here. Can I? Please?

Valkyrie had become used to Arthur's inability to deny her requests. Since they met, the boy found himself at the mercy of the child's will. This time, however, he feels guilty about keeping Akemi in his shadow and doesn't answer right away.

Valkyrie instinctively looks around, searching for something in the environment that would help her change the subject.

Her eyes rest on the map.

-The desert! - She points to the middle of the continent, the first place her eyes were able to notice. – The desert is red, you know?

- Isn't it just the name?

-No, the sands there are red. It is true! - She insists, noticing his condescending tone. – My mother told me! She brought the sand for me to see! Do you want to see it?

The little girl ran out of the room and Arthur noticed a dark mist rising from his own shadow. For an instant, he sees the image of Akemi sneaking to the window, just in time to disappear before the girl walks through the door with something in her hands.

-Here!

She carried a small pot with her, with a handful of sand inside. She opened it and allowed Arthur to take a small amount.

-Are they really... red? Why am I still surprised that something like this can exist in this world? – He smiles to himself.

-My mother brought me. I was scared at first, but now I'm not scared anymore.

-Scared? Why?

-The desert is a bad place. - She straightens her posture, as if teaching something to another child. – That's where bandits and… and bad people live. Mom told me that bad kids are sent to the desert. - Arthur sees the fear in the child's eyes. – No plants grow there and nothing good ever happens.

-So… Is it a desert with bad people and red sand?

-Yes. – She takes the sand back. – Nothing can grow there, because that's where the heroes of the stories locked up the baddies.

Those words ignite another flame of curiosity in Arthur's mind. He turns to the map and points to a place in the middle of the desert.

-You mean that there is a barrier here? – He points to the “capital” of the Red Desert. The point where “Barrier of Truth” is written with runes. – A real barrier? Locking something?

She shakes her head.

-That's where the heroes of the past locked up the ghosts. In the time of the heroes, there were many ghosts and now they are locked up behind the barrier.

-Ghosts? Real ghosts? - Arthur finds it difficult to distinct the real information from what Rinlia created to frighten her daughter.

-Of course! Mom said you've seen one! That you faced one together not long ago!

Arthur frowns, confused. His expression, however, soon changed and he understood what the girl was talking about.

-The Incorporeal? Are you telling me that your mother told you stories where large numbers of incorporeals are locked behind that barrier?

Valkyrie puts her hands on her hips.

-Yea! She told me! And if Mom told me, then it's true. Why? Won't you believe me?

*

Armenvald's study chamber is better lit than usual. Although the old mage’s eyes are used to the dimness, he is aware that the same is not true for his two guests.

-What's the reason for this secret meeting? - Rinlia's voice carries some mockery. The elf was never fond of Armenvald and they both used to talk just out of politeness or necessity.

-I'm also curious about your motives. – Bernard says with his deep voice. The great warrior, while sympathetic to Armenvald, was uncomfortable with the idea of ​​military leaders meeting in secret. As a precaution, the warrior kept his hand on the pommel of his sword, constantly looking around.

-I called you out of immense concern for the direction our kingdom will take in the next months. – The mage avoids speaking in riddles. In situations like this, he would like to use the best words possible, but his interlocutors were known for completely rejecting his far-fetched way of speaking. – As you both know, King Njalmar and his heir, Prince Connor, have been talking secretly and making plans for the future of the crown.

-That's natural, isn't it? - Rinlia shrugs. – After all, father and son are the current and future king. I would be worried if they didn't have plans.

-And I would agree with you, if the most recent meetings didn't revolve around the arrival of our guest. - He notices Bernard's eyebrow rise. – I'm talking about Nafaester. The nymph, oracle, princess or whatever you want to call it. The offer she made is irresistible to our king. I know it because I've tried to dissuade him from that idea, but, with my efforts alone, it seems impossible to do such a thing.

-Why would you try to dissuade him? – Bernard can't keep his lips closed, given his confusion. – Does a war against the Oracle scare you?

-Wars always worry me, but that's not the problem. – Armenvald shakes his head. – The problem is that I believe Fiandel has a chance to win.

-Are you against our kingdom? - Rinlia speaks with a quip, but Bernard takes the sentence seriously, adjusting his sword at his waist and narrowing his gaze towards the old wizard. – Calm down, Bernard. I wouldn't bet on Armenvald trying to destroy Fiandel. Right, Armenvald?

-I would never betray the kingdom of Fiandel. - The wizard does not seem bothered by the aggressive posture of the army leader. On the other hand, the movement of his fingers indicates the undoing of a spell that was about to be cast. – However, if I can't even conjecture with you, our structure is even more fragile than I feared.

-I'm just a little agitated, Armenvald. - Bernard shakes his head, trying to calm down. – I've been taking care of some problems recently and I think that is affecting my temper. I am sorry.

-Do not worry about it. – The mage waves and walks around the small chamber again. - As I said, my intention was to dissuade your majesty to join the princess and invade the Great Forest. My concern, at this point, goes beyond Fiandel or individual interests. I am concerned with the continent's balance of power.

-Do you believe that a war can damage the borders made by the peace agreement? - Rinlia seems interested.

-No. I believe that, after the war against the forest, the current structure will continue to exist.

-And is that a problem?

-Not at all. The problem is that the system that will have been put in place to restore peace will be that of a kind of dynasty. One bloodline, that of Connor, will likely be linked to that of Nafaester for generations to come, with the intention of strengthening the bonds between the two nations and, who knows, maybe even unifying the kingdoms in the future.

-A dynasty would bring stability, wouldn't it?

-Stability does not guarantee quality, elf. – The mage seems nervous. - Stability of power in the hands of a family would not be a problem for me, if it were Fiandel, Vivre or even the Great Forest. The problem is that if Fiandel and all the races in the Great Forest pledge their allegiance to a single bloodline, that bloodline will have the power to tell the entire continent what to do. For Njalmar, this is “peace”.

-Is he wrong?

-Yes. Njalmar's peace model doesn't work. Such a system can easily be corrupted if one heir is not worthy, or if family members become power-hungry. I have explained this to our king countless times: Power must be fragmented among different nations and Fiandel's role is to strengthen and maintain its military might, forcing neighboring kingdoms to develop, thus allow for joint prosperity. This allows for “minor” conflicts to occur in the form of small territorial wars, maintaining a historical cycle of conflicts. Still, it is better than the risk that the fall of a single family will end the peace of an entire continent.

-You tried to dissuade the king from the idea of ​​unification of power?

-I did. I tried to make him understand that only through the existence of multiple kingdoms of similar power we will get as close as possible to the “peace” he so desires to achieve.

A minute of silence slips between them. Armenvald allows the two guests to absorb his words and understand his idea.

And, when he gets tired of waiting, he starts talking again.

-Alone, I couldn't convince our king. I need your help. I need allies among trusted members of the crown to maintain order in the realm. - He opens his arms. - This is not the time to cause a revolt in the Great Forest, but to strengthen our armies and prepare for war against the East Continent. This is not the time to make alliances with other kingdoms, but to strengthen ourselves and wait for the port cities to be attacked first, when we will have the upper hand in negotiations and will be able to safely strengthen the kingdom, without monopolizing power in the hands of a single family. Can you understand my point?

-I understand it perfectly. - Rinlia shakes her head, sighing. - And again, I don't understand you, Armenvald. I can't understand how we live in the same place, go to the same meetings, get the same information and, yet have such distinct opinions. We are not talking about any king or any wish. We are talking about Njalmar. We are talking about the vision held by the one who, in the past, led Fiandel through a reconstruction, when we stopped being a band of barbarians and invaders and became a consolidated kingdom, capable of building peace in a land shaken by wars. I don't understand how you can't see that, doubting him now, is the same as doubting him years ago, when he promised he could create peace and promote prosperity in a country that was drowning in blood and tears. I'm sorry, Armenvald, but I will not be one to doubt Njalmar's abilities. If there's anyone who can help everyone, it's him. And, to me, questioning that decision would be the same as questioning my loyalty.

Armenvald shakes his head, feeling uneasy.

-It's not a matter of loyalty. It is about seeing the problem in his recent actions.

-Like I said, we're different. I am not questioning your loyalty to the kingdom, but, in my case, agreeing with you would be the same as disagreeing with my own loyalty. Excuse me, Armenvald, but I must go. You won't have my help.

The elf gives no time for further questioning, turning to the door and walking through the narrow outer corridor.

The mage turns to the big warrior.

Bernard no longer has his hand on the pommel of his sword.

-I know you agree with my arguments, Bernard. You know that a lot of power in the hands of a single person-

The warrior approaches him. His eyes express some sympathy.

The proximity does not bother Armenvald, who allows the warrior to place a hand on his shoulder and stare into his eyes.

Bernard smiles and shakes his head. Then, he turns to the door and follows Rinlia's footsteps out of the room.

Armenvald sighs. He knew that could happen. It did not make the situation less frustrating.

Alone, the old wizard looks at his table full of letters.

-It is a pity that no one is able to understand the danger we are in. - He shakes his head. – It looks like I'll have to take care of matters with my own hands.

*

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