Tywin’s steps echoed in the stone hallway within the Capital of Yuor. As the commander of their might, the thoughts and values of the kingdom always weighed heavily on his consciousness. It was a job of importance, but he could swear it took two years off his life for every year he did it.

The last day of this blood sucking job.

Criticism of his unpopular choices were high from a… select few, but overall, it went well. And now, he was retiring, not normally something someone in his position would do, but there was always a time and a place for everything. A time to do what he’s always wanted.

I dedicated every part of my soul for the last 40 years to the kingdom. It’s overdue.

It took a few years debating with himself, but he finally took that first step a few months ago. One that made him grin wider as the glorious day approached. No more protocols, paperwork, or annoying nobles to deal with.

There were a few bumps in the road, since a few… select individuals weren’t particularly pleased with his actions, but not having a family helped with that. If they wanted to come after him, then they had to deal with him directly.

But that could be easily fixed with a few ‘words of agreement.’ And those words wouldn't be the ‘keep this kingdom together’ kinda words as they’ve always been. The kingdom would live, and in fact, thrive before long if a few infections were quickly rooted out, but unfortunately, that responsibility would no longer be his responsibility.

He arrived at his last official meeting, within his office of the last 10 years, transferring his power to the next unlucky soul.

Tywin’s first few years weren’t that bad, but the years that came after only increased the burden. The same would happen here, to her. As the trudge of daily life eventually waned on her soul, but she was stronger. Strong enough to curb-stomp anything this kingdom encountered. It was a… a peaceful thought that all his work wouldn’t be lost so soon.

The door opened to that very person already waiting next to his desk. “You're late, sir.” A stickler for time this one, but it has become more of a habit lately. Tywin smirked. Their grimacing faces at my lack of punctuality. “Hah.” It was always a good day if those sticklers suffered. A few were good, but having children grow up with a silver spoon was a recipe for disaster.

The grit of growing up on the streets was a lot more beneficial. Learning how to scrap for your next meal and watching a monster steps away from eating you weren’t the best, but it was the face of reality for the people you ruled over. It’s more beneficial than anything you could learn by sitting in their cozy libraries, reading who knows what.

“One last time, for the old times.” Tywin said with pride, accompanied by a rare smile on her face. It’s such a waste that someone able to rise up to commander before the age of 35 would waste her talents protecting the kingdom in a desk job. It was an important job for the people, but unless it was wartime, you were just a glorified paper signer.

There are much better positions that actually did something, but there was always what if. What if a scattering happened around the capital city, destroying infrastructure? Or if war actually started? It was always a possibility, and one that needed to be prevented at all costs, but having her here made that problem disappear. If things went to shit, then there was nothing to worry about with her at the helm. The kingdom might be ‘roughed up,’ but it would become stronger on the flip-side.

Moving around to the chair, he looked at the last paper he ever needed to sign as the Military Commander of Yuor, signing over his position. The approval forms laid completed next to it and just that single signature remained.

Tywin leaned back, looking at the next commander of Yuor. “Any last item you want to talk about before I sign this?” Almost free, but at least tie up all lost ends.

“Already covered everything over the past couple of months, but there is something I want your opinion on.”

“Go on.”

Her eyes, straight and serious, but more so than normal. She was rough, but roughness was well needed if you were going to survive in this position. Losing her parents at 13 made her one among many, but she pushed through, becoming someone not to be treated lightly. She always played by the rules, yet did everything that ‘needed’ to be done. An arduous task, yet always done without crossing the bureaucratic line.

“A meeting with one of the Barren Moon’s vice leaders. I don’t know who’s coming, but apparently some [Controller] destroyed an entire border city in Edra. Don’t know the status, but a mission team encountered the one in question. Unsuccessful attempt to stop him there. Not sure where they want to take it, but it can’t be good for anyone. Especially if they’re making their way over here.”

“Well, shit.” Tywin moved his hand up to rub his forehead. If there’s one, then there will be more. “This problem is likely much bigger than some city being destroyed. If they could manage destroying an entire city, or at least heavily damaging it, then things will get much worse in the coming months. When was the last [Controller] case here?”

She pondered for a second. “Don’t remember too well, but out in the field, the army in Vyuor killed a [Controller] 12 years ago, which seemed to be an isolated incident. Can’t really call that a threat, but you know how fast they grow.”

Tywin leaned forward. “Yes, it has been a while. Since we didn’t eliminate everyone back 80 years during their last surfacing, they were bound to show back up. Since you asked for my opinion, I would do everything in my power to take care of this issue and end it tomorrow. It’s unrealistic, but it’s what you have to do in these situations. The opinions from the nobles are harsh as always, but the Barren Moon has good people. They may be a bit weird in their beliefs, but they never cross that line, doing things the proper way. I made good friends with a team a while back, so I may be biased, so do whatever is needed to take care of the problem. But I doubt they’d ask us to interfere with Edra directly, but they probably want us to steal our borders and start the search into the forest, since that’s where their hideout was last.”

She nodded. “Yes, as always. Not sure if I’ll have time to crush a couple myself, but those shits are at the top of my list.”

“Haha.” A lit chuckle escaped Tywin's throat. “It’s fine every now and then, but you know what you’re best at. Take care of the problem and protect the Kingdom. Don’t care about what anyone says. Nip it at the bud before things become more of a problem. Mitigate all potential problems.” A sigh escaped him. “At least that’s what I’ve been doing for the last 20 years. You may find something better or a different way to go about it. No matter what, just get it finished like you’ve always done.” He stared right into her eyes.

She nodded back as Tywin moved to sign the paper before him. “Where are you going after this, sir?”

He didn’t bother to look up, grabbing the ink pen. “What I’ve always wanted to do. I gave up almost everything I had for this kingdom. It’s time I had some fun, to do what no one else has.” He finished his signature with a flip of the wrist.

Tywin abruptly stood, bowling slightly to the one before him. “Commander Alote, I’ll be taking my leave. It’ll be hard to contact me from now on, but I’ll stop by from time to time if I have the chance.”

She smirked, mimicking his infectious grin. It was always his best characteristic. “Now, what is some commoner doing in my office? Last I’d checked, this was a federal offense.” She chuckled with a grin.

“Ya, ya, ya, I’m getting out of here.” He moved over to the door and flipped his hand, but he stopped just before exiting. “Have time to kick some ass now and then. Don’t lose that character, you’ll need it.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. You know how I am. And take care OLD man, you’ve done a lot and deserve something for your sacrifice.” A rare compliment left Alote’s mouth, definitely one to be savored, but not without an insult in accompaniment.

The capital was in the distance by now, just disappearing below the horizon.

Despite Tywin’s age, his legs remained steadfast as he marched along. The smile only grew as he walked with just a weapon and a small bag. The day’s been coming for half a year and it was finally time to enact his plan. Ever since his junior years, beyond the human lands has always been an interest. There was so much not known to the world, and he was going to be the one to figure it out.

All the books and papers made his senses dull, but his body would remember. A few months and his body would be back to his prime, but his abilities were another problem. Especially with the mana refusing to flow freely as it once did, but it would only be a matter of time. There was a mana dense area that worked wonders for becoming one with your abilities. He just hoped it remained after all these years, inside the mountain home, along the Border of Edra.

Tywin turned, walking straight into a forest as he reached for an oddly shaped double hook’d shaft on his back. It was time to start his recovery, to become the warrior he once was, and hopefully, something more this time.

After all, tonight wouldn't be a silent one

Vice Leader Ando was finally arriving at the capital of Yuor. They didn’t have the closest relationship, but they would at least listen, unlike certain other Kingdoms. Edra’s Young King sent a letter rejecting cooperation almost instantly, without even a lick of thought, probably seeing their information as ludicrous. And he started so well when he took over from his father, it seems like the rumors of him going crazy are true.

Mitigating this [Controller] problem was of top priority and the other vice leaders agreed. The last time something like this happened, it grew too big to ignore, and after a few months, it eventually led to a full out war with them. And he would not repeat history. Every piece of information they had in their Grand Libraries told them the same story, and there was only one simple solution, eliminate them immediately, before they could gain more power.

Yuor couldn't help directly with Edra, but they could help limit the potential damage, even just so a warning was valuable enough. As long as it prevented the [Controller]s takeover and limited damages.

The new commander of Yuor was an unknown, since one word from them and the entire trip would be for nought. The good relationship with the previous commander gave some hope, but getting expectations too high was a recipe for disaster. All in moderation.

Anything is better than nothing. As long as they remain strong, then we have nothing to worry about. Help would be nice, but we would still do it without them. With those thoughts, Vice Leader Ando, Librarian Lefyr, and a small group of Barren Moon members made their way into the Command Center for the entire army of Yuor.

A set of guards were already there, ready to guide them in. A few minutes is all it took before they sat in a meeting room filled with 10 chairs. Ando took the lead and sat at the head of their side of the table.

He would do most of the talking, but Lefyr might be of help if they needed to draw on his knowledge. The others were just there to protect Ando and Lefyr if the need ever came, not expected, but just as a precaution.

Before long, the main individual arrived, Alote. Her stiff face said all Ando needed to know. This might be rough. As soon as she sat down, the bell rang out, showing the next hour had arrived at the start of the meeting to come.

“I read your initial report of what happened there, so let’s get to the point.” The harsh words delivered her stoic personality perfectly as her eyes remained firm.

Ando met the gaze and took a harsh breath, calming himself as his experience took over faultlessly. “This will not be the end with just one [Controller] and the flower needs to be pulled from its roots. One of our teams met the controller, and it wasn’t good. The man in question was already injured and they just barely forced him to retreat. His focus was also on something else, so even more so.”

“They didn’t plan on this encounter. It was just a happenstance situation, even on our end. That power is not a major problem now, but it will be shortly. And that’s if he was already the strongest within the Controller group, which is unlikely considering what they’re normally able to do. The quicker we can do this, the better it will be for everyone. And that’s why I’m here.”

Alote shifted in her seat. Nothing unexpected. “Agreed. The bud needs to be nipped with swift action.” Ando’s eyes narrowed at the words. “But we won’t act as support. We do this together and I want to know everything. Every piece of information needs to be on my desk or through one of your librarians on the task at hand.” She said, looking to Lefyr.

Ando frowned. They were all for sharing information, but all in due time. Information was the lifeblood of their organization, letting nothing be lost to time. Humans have been on a cliff face before, in which one step would mean the end. They’ve been pushed back to the last millimeter with most lost to history, but they wanted to put an end to that. Give Humans an edge for once, stability in the unknowns of the world.

The repetition of relearning the same thing has pushed us back so far, and it will not happen again. A waste of our intellect that could further advance humanity. Life was precious, and it was time to put an end to that waste of time. Ando thought.

So many people, killed because others wanted to keep everything a secret forever. To keep hold of their power so they could remain strong or wealthy. Humans could live their lives, but there was a limit to how far one could take such dangerous steps before it backfired.

There were no records of what laid far beyond their little piece of land called the Human Kingdom. By their calculations, this land was nothing in the grand schemes of things. The unknown of what laid beyond the borders was a threat that could end them in a single day for all that they knew. Stories to prove false or relinquish its reality didn’t exist.

The words resounded in Ando’s heart. The pride of the mission he and his compatriots stood for was impertinent. What they stood for would never be lost as long as he was there. He was only one vice leader, but the others shared the same sentiment. He looked back with steeled eyes.

Whatever it takes.

“Lefyr will remain here to take care of that. I don’t have to say this, but keep all the information on a need to know basis. We don’t care after this ends, as it should be knowledge known by all, but you know how they are. Can’t have them using it against us. We can’t make a mistake or this will get quiet… precarious.”

Alote didn’t smile, but her half smirk was all you could hope for. “Then we can consider this matter agreed upon. Now let’s get into how this is going to work in a bit more detail.” The atmosphere in the room relaxed. It was time to get to work, for a monumental task lay ahead.

I flopped down onto the bed after a long day, tired, but a smile rested on my face. “Difficult, but definitely worthwhile.” Bruises were already forming, but they would heal with time. A good sacrifice for the lessons learned.

It started somewhat ok, a few falls and punches, but eventually Laira wanted me to attack as she countered. It looked and felt pathetic as my delicate punches landed on her rock solid form, followed by her sweeping me to the ground.

We didn’t do too much talking about what I should be doing, but experiencing it firsthand was enough to learn the hard way. It wouldn’t be the best if I had the time to learn the proper way, if there was even a proper way, but in a rush… “It was perfect.”

My mana abilities didn’t really improve, but everything felt more comfortable as I could attempt a reaction to her movements, instead of just feeling the impact and lamenting it a moment later.

Not anywhere near second nature, but I was on my way to at least brace for impact.

It was a long day, and one that would repeat itself. “Unfortunately.”