The grand halls of the council room were majestic and was spherical in shape with the roof being a dome shape with many frescoes painted upon it depicting a scene of the King with many of his councilors attending a meeting. The room was structured in a way where the council members were all seated in a large circle with several layers of elevation going downwards. Across the main doors to the room was a large throne where the King sat and below it two other thrones, one for the heir apparent and one more for the queen-consort or regent.

There were a total of a few hundred seats in the Grand Council halls. The great council of Rumasil was an institution created during the times of the Rumasilian Empire where the rule of its vast territories couldn't be handled by the King-Emperor and his small council alone. The council was the main legislative body of the Kingdom of Rumasil, being able to create laws and advise the King in his governing. The King of Rumasil has absolute power over his kingdom but even the king had to show an amount of reverence to the Grand Council and its process.

It had been almost two weeks since the Latin-Parisian-Wesjermanian delegation had left Rumasil to report back to their respective monarchs. In the time between, Valasaire had sent word to all members of the Grand Council as well as representatives from the various provinces of the kingdom for a special meeting to be convened.

Valasaire also got word that the majority of the Rumasilian Navy had already taken position near the Port-City of Torulaut, one of Rumasil's remaining colonies on the shores of Western Ayros. The appearance of the Large Rumasilian navy bolstered with the addition of several Aerlish and Provarian vessels startled the Latin coalition ships in the area forcing them to stay their hands in the meantime.

The seats in the room were finally filled. Valasaire sat with his wife and eldest son at his sides. All representatives from the provinces, the great houses, the Church, the military, and the civil institutions among others. The Rumasilian state usually has a yearly gathering to discuss all the grave matters within the state at the start of each year. However, during dire circumstances, the King has the right to convene a special grand council usually during times of crisis or war.

The council was started by a short hymn and liturgy before a prayer as is the Rumasilian custom. It was led by Cardinal Marsinondang. An old nobleman who sat on a seat in front and lower than the King acted as the speaker of the council who led the proceedings first with addressing the important members of the council. Finally came the time for the King to address the council.

"Horas ma di hita saluhutna, angka jolma na ro marpungu dison dibagasan haramotian Debata Jahowa na tasomba marhitehite AnakNi Tuhan Sipaluanta Jesus Kristus." The King started with a common greeting

"Horas!" Everyone answered

"Firstly, I would like to apologise for having you all esteemed ladies and gentlemen of the council to be summoned to this extraordinary meeting in such short circumstances but I assure you we are facing dire circumstances."

Valasaire walked off of his throne to the podium in the middle of the room to orate.

"I come here to inform you all that the Empire of the Latinites have finally started to posture at us! Barging in on our sovereign lands like they own the bloody place! My lords and ladies, this will not stand. They think us weak and exhausted after our war with the Gissario, but as we all can see that is far from the truth! In fact we are doing better than ever! The riches of gold and silver now diverted to us from the former Provarian colonies of Tanodao have helped us a great deal to sustain developments in the provinces while the riches of the Gissario have aided in the pensions of the families of our fallen heroes.

The Latin Legions seek to come and rob us and to try and get us out of our lands in Ayros! All just so Emperor Valerius can appease his newfound masters in Parii and Wesjermania. Ladies and gentlemen of the council, set aside the fact that we are allies with some of the most powerful nations on the face of Terra, our power alone I believe is adequate enough to deal with the ilk of the Empire of Novum Aeus. But considering the combined powers of three nations now threaten us, I believe it would come to stress our economy a fair bit. Are there any suggestions or opinions from the council?"

As the king asked this, a young nobleman dressed in official military attire raised his hand.

"Yes, the Lord-General Hasiholan Togahisar may make his statement." Lord Wilem Silamen, the leader of the proceedings said

"Thank you, your majesty for the opportunity to speak.'' The general said "I represent the most esteemed military of the 3rd division of the Ayrosian Legion. We in Ayros are militarily undermanned and while I understand our navy has arrived to aid defend our island holdings from the combined Wesjermanian and Latin navies. However I find need to remind the lords and ladies of this council that should the Wesjermanians and Parisians launch a combined strike at our mainland holdings especially after Lord Lasarus's rebellion which greatly weakened the Legion's strength, I'm afraid we can't hold on."

"Then may I ask what you are suggesting, general?" The King asked with intrigue

"I only ask for reinforcements, Your Majesty."

King Valasaire nodded as he then turned his attention to the seated leaders of the Great Houses.

"In these dire times, may I beseech the Great Lords to aid the military by lending your personal regiments to this cause."

The great lords stood up and bowed signifying their compliance to the order of the king. Each of the seven great houses of Rumasil had their own personal guard forces numbering around ten thousand soldiers compared to the hundreds of thousands of the standing army.

"I am mainly asking for Lord Josua Silamen of Tanomudar to help aid General Hasiholan in his efforts in defending our holdings in Ayros." Valasaire said to which the Great Lord agreed immediately before bowing his head.

"Also concerning the issue of this war and to gather support from our allies, I would also like to inform you all that I along with my family would be leaving at the end of the year after christmas as we would be traveling to Germania City for the second meeting of our alliance. More nations have shown their sympathy and interest in our alliance and will also be sending delegations to Germania to discuss further interactions. Prince Valaron, if you would be so kind as to inform the council of who would be coming in attendance besides the nations already in the pact."

"Yes, Your majesty." Valaron said as he took out a parchment and began to read it "The nations coming to the second gathering are among others, The Elven Lordship of Kaena in Dorinhar, The Kingdom of Tomasz, The Elven Republic of Raemus, the Tsardoms of Loskawy and Vasilia, the Orcish Federation, as well as the other states that are in subordination or already in alliances with the members of the pact."

Hearing the success of the pact, the council clapped their hands. After the applause died down, Valasaire continued his speech.

"Although this is a great success and many of the great powers of Terra are on our side, many more have chosen to stand against us. As we have seen most clearly, the Latin Empire is already poised for attack along with the indignants of Wesjermania and Parii. But besides that, some other states have shown apprehensiveness to our pact and have taken it as a clear threat to their interests. The Empire of Kyusho under their military dictator have shown airs of sympathy towards the Latin cause and are looking to expand their boundaries downward towards the orcish cities and eventually Germania. Our further colonies in Pulcharia as well as Niros are under threat from the Moslems as well. The new caliphate is putting on airs of invincibility and we can only hope to rely on the efforts of the crusaders to hold them back for now."

"Therefore, I would like to currently open our discussions on our plans for the near future. In doing so I have devised a rough guideline on what I hope our nation can achieve. Firstly is the most pressing matter of the Latinite and Parisio-Wesjermanian aggression. To strengthen our defenses, as was suggested earlier, the Silamen noble legion will be sent to reinforce the colonies in Ayros while Tanomudar will be defended by the garrison division. Now, to the domestic matters, I require a team to be quickly sent to the new colonies in Destairos that we got from the Provarians and have the yearly income be properly recorded. For the defense of the new colonies, King Esteban has agreed to transfer over the authority of the native legions of the colonies over to us so we only need to get the soldiers there used to the new administration along with a retraining of their officers at our military academies in Destairos."

Valamar felt a great awe as he saw his father dealing with stately matters. A determination grew in his heart to further study the situation of his country and to further his studies of statecraft as he took notes all throughout the meeting. Alessa who saw her son so filled with passion smiled as she rubbed his head which caused minor embarrassment in Valamar.

Valasaire continued to lay the plans he and his ministers had designed for the duration of the week before. There, the council modified, added to, and even vetoed some of the things there and finally after the sky grew dark and it was almost midnight, the meeting for the day concluded. After another few days, the council meeting was finally adjourned and new resolutions were put forth and ratified by the council. The criers and heralds of Rumasil went to all the corners of the Empire bearing the King's most important message to be announced along with the other resolutions of the council. The following day, the public square which the palace deck of Rumasil overlooks was filled to the brim with people, the common citizenry as the crowd was also guarded by soldiers to keep the peace.

There besides the guard stood the all important members of the great council along with the rest of Rumasil's nobles and officials. On the palace deck stood strong and firm King Valasaire along with his family and most important retainers, dressed in their best clothes. An official announcement was about to be revealed from the king's own mouth, an event which only happens on the most important of times.

Valasaire walked to the edge of the deck in the full view of his people. As the crowd saw him, their king, in his majesty looking upon them, the noise amongst them instantly quieted down as they were eager to receive the news. Soon the trumpets and traditional drums sounded as a short ceremony was held before the announcement followed by the singing of a few hymns by everyone there.

Princess Cassandra stood next to her husband as she heard the crowd follow in song, dividing their voices spontaneously into bass, tenor, and the rest. Giving the acapella singing a surreal vibe to it.

"I'll never get over how talented you people are at singing..." Cassandra said

"When our child is born, I want you to sing this hymn for him." Valamar said as the song that was being sung was one of his favourites. Cassandra nodded as she smiled while ever so subtly laying her head on Valamar's shoulders.

After the song was done, Valasaire finally began to speak.

"Marhitehite Goarni Tuhanta Debanta Jahowa, dohot AnakNi Tuhan Sipaluanta Jesus Kristus, dohot Tondi Parbadia na adong di bagasan rohanta sude dison, hupasahat ma tu hamu sude Horas!! ( By the Name of the Lord Our God, and His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy ghost that resides in us all, I give you welcome!)" The King said in his loudest voice which was specifically enhanced by the architecture of the place.

"Horas!" The crowd shouted back

"My people, my brothers and sisters, my family whom I love with the love of God. A few weeks ago, our nation's dignity had been spat upon! Many of you may have already known what had happened but to those who don't, some noble but misguided gentlemen had arrived in our great city and proceeded to relay unto us a message from their sovereign monarchs... The message which was a blatant threat to our sovereignty! Who do those bastards think they are?! I'll ask you all now, my people, do we fear any mere mortal kingdom on Terra?"

The crowd of thousands replied with jeers and disaprooval.

"Of course not! We laugh at the attempt of the Latin Emperor to scare the likes of us honest folk into submission like we were some minor nation. I tell you all it should be them who fear us! During the great war a millenia back, it was the armies of Rumasil who marched on the gates of Novum Aeus and I believe doing it again would not be beyond the realms of possibility especially for the likes of us noble folk. The Kingdoms of Wesjermania and of Parii as well are of little consequence to us. It makes no difference the aid they provide towards the Latinites as they are nothing compared to our righteous might!"

Valasaire continued ever so passionately, "They dared to threaten us by parading their navy around our shorelines, well I tell you all that they will rue the day they came to posture against us. My people, we do not need to wait for the Latinites to strike us first in acting upon their threat for today as is the decision by our great council, I, by the power vested in me by God and our Kingdom, declare a state of war upon the Latin Empire, nulling the treaty of Anteokheia, and upon the Kingdom of Wesjermania, and the Kingdom of Parii... So help us our great God."

The crowd cheered upon the announcement of war as they clapped and roared. A glorious victory awaits in the eyes of the Rumasilian people. Valasaire raised his hand to settle the crowd.

"And I can promise you this..." Valasaire continued "By God, we will sink the entirety of the Latinite fleet to the bottom of the Northern oceans by the new year! We will show the Latinites what it means to awaken the slumbering tiger! They will be in for a rude awakening! Sul Vala! Puji Jahowa!"

"Sul Vala! Puji Jahowa!" The crowd shouted back before erupting into another round of applause and cheer. After that, they were led in singing another hymn before the crowd dispersed.

***

At the Imperial palace of Novum Aeus, an elderly man was sitting upon his throne. He was Valerius III, Emperor of the Latinites. The air in the room was thick as news had just arrived to the Emperor that the Rumasilians had immediately declared war upon his Empire as well as the Kingdoms of Parii and Wesjermania. Not long after that, a messenger arrived bearing news that his fleet in the Northern Oceans had immediately been engaged by the Rumasilian navy.

The Emperor had intended to provoke Rumasil into minor actions of denouncing or trade embargoes but he did not expect for the Rumasilians to just completely nullify the forty year truce after the last war even though there was still a couple of years left to go.

Soon, an official diplomat from Rumasil had arrived at the palace throne room accompanied by a squadron of the most elite Rumasilian fighters from the army and the daughters of Ruma, all fair looking young men and women in the best armour Rumasil had to offer all to impress and command awe from the nobles of the Latin Empire. Two other dignitary squadrons had been sent to the Kingdom of Parii and Wesjermania, all bearing the same news. That war was upon them.

“And so, by the Grace of God Almighty invested in me, I, Valasaire XIX, King of Rumasil and of all the Halak, Great Lord of Tanodao, Great Suzerain of the Provarian Isles, King of Tanolaut, Tanomudar, Tanobarat, and Tanotimur, due to the grievances that has built up in recent years with your nation’s blatant provocations and posturing, declare that a state of war exists between all my realms and that of the Empire of the Latinites.” As the messenger said that, he rolled back the parchment and gave a final bow to the Latin Emperor.

The declaration of war lacked any superficial boasting and so the Latin nobles could not jeer much at the sudden situation. The Rumasilian delegation merely called upon the charter of the Great War that guaranteed the safety of messengers before they had asked to leave the presence of the Latin Emperor to which they were granted an escort outside of Latin Territory.

After a while, the Emperor breathed a sigh before saying in a solemn tone, "War is upon us, my precious citizens. We must ready the legions for it."