I was not looking forward to this meeting.

On a day that should've been just like any other, I sat in the plush chair nestled at the back of my office. Pale white light that my eyes had been locked on for the past minute drifted down from overhead, bathing the room in its glow. I took in a light breath, gently closing my eyes as I worked to steady my mind.

Beyond the dark tinted window behind me, it was a calm and cloudy night. If nothing else, I was thankful for the fine weather.

It was almost time now.

Usually, I enjoyed the thought of taking part in these meetings. They'd often served to be... entertaining. They allowed me to reaffirm the state of play within the city and prepare little schemes ahead in advance. It was something I'd dearly missed during my absence from the duties of being Sova's Territory Lord.

It was an event I usually enjoyed. Tonight, it threatened to be an uninteresting slog dominated by a single, droll topic brought forth by a single, droll man.

Slowly opening once again, my eyes drifted down to the photograph on my desk. It was a family photo. A pleasant memory, one depicting my two sons, my two daughters, and my former partner. In it, I stood amongst the few I loved dearly.

My attention drifted to the auburn eyes of my past self staring directly back at me. Sharp, confident, and proud. Eyes that were entrusting me, his future self, with making sure everything worked out and our goals were met.

I didn't want war to come to our doorstep, especially not one paying no heed to Divastyr's rules. I knew the idea would be met with resistance, but I needed to keep my three youngest here at the base. They'd loathe the necessary supervision, but keeping them here for the duration of Aerasthetic's ridiculous war was the correct decision.

I couldn't risk having them out of my sight if Sova took a temporary turn for the worse.

At least I could take some solace in the knowledge that my golden child could handle herself. My eyes lingered on her stoic face bearing those same sharp, proud eyes as a smile came to my face. It was reassuring to know she was out there somewhere in this sprawling city, carefully plotting against me.

It was a nostalgic feeling.

The nostalgia was torn from my mind by a knock on the door. My smile returned to its normal, calculated height as the sound was followed by a second knock, and a delayed third. Despite the small size of the hand that produced them, they were firm.

"Come in, Constantine," I called out to the Adept beyond the door.

The double doors to my office slowly opened as Master Cat stepped inside. Constantine was a Cat Adept with carefully brushed orange fur and a white underside. He bore sharp golden eyes that mirrored my own in a comforting sense. He wore a purple tailcoat and matching neck frill while boasting a rapier and scabbard around his waist. Most notably of all, he still wore his black enchanted boots, a keepsake from an old friend.

Despite being shorter than many of my other staff, he was always the picture of precision and grace. Well dressed and ready for conflict at a moment's notice.

"It's almost time, Don Giovanni," the Adept spoke, turning to the side as he gestured to the corridor beyond my cozy office with a single paw.

If only I could hold all of my members to the same standard I held him.

It was an unrealistic view, and one I didn't truly desire. Something as stifling as that would only detract from their creativity and personal expression. An unnecessary binding that would hold them back from their true potential as Casters.

Still, it was nice for an idle thought, and likely one of the last nice thoughts of its kind I'd have tonight.

"Very well," I replied, taking a deep breath as I rose from my chair.

As I rounded the desk, my hands worked to casually dust off my suit. It was more of a reflexive, relaxing action than because I feared real dust. The presentation of my suit wouldn't matter nearly as much where I was going.

I followed Constantine out of the room, walking at a deceptively casual pace behind him with both hands linked behind my back. Not long after leaving we arrived at the furnished, curved wooden staircase before taking the first step down. I nodded to Screen as I reached the bottom, dutifully working behind her desk. The metallic woman gave a nod in return before getting back to work.

I was glad she didn't try to make idle conversation, not tonight. Screen was always skilled at judging my mood, something I'd been told was an uncharacteristic trait for Machina. It was just one of the examples I could draw upon as to why my staff were exceptional. A small comfort.

As much as part of me wanted conversation to get this chore off my mind, I would rather just get this all over with.

It was going to be yet another meeting, one held by the Seven Territory Lords that ruled Divastyr. It was an exercise in poise and mind games we all took part in once every three months. A time to talk shop, relations, outside threats, ways to keep the city under our influence without collapsing, and trade deals without stepping on one another's toes to avoid a turf war or meaningless spats that detracted from our joint gains and goals.

But tonight, someone wanted to do nothing more than ruin that balance. To purposefully stamp on everyone's toes with childlike glee. To ruin the paradise that I and others had worked together to painstakingly craft in the aftermath of a disaster.

Every Summit altered the nature of a civilian's life without fail. I'd always worked to keep the unrest of such a thing to a minimum in the face of power struggles and disputes, but there was little softening around the edges I could manage in the face of such a painfully direct threat.

Most times I'd been able to smooth out the danger and provide my people with a sense of safety. Given the troubles that had been happening around my territory as of late, that wouldn't nearly be as simple as usual. That, above all else, was my primary concern.

I followed Master Cat down the stairs onto the basement floor as he escorted me through winding corridors. We passed the rooms holding our two honored guests, a pair of unfortunate subordinates for that droll, unthinking man. For their sakes, I hoped their boss would have an intellectual breakthrough and finally consider the consequences of his actions.

An astronomically unlikely event, but I liked to think of myself as an optimistic and hopeful man.

The two of us came to a stop in front of a wall the same as any other. Master Cat brought his paws forward, planting them against the smooth surface. Violet lines spread over the wall from his claws and paw pads, causing it to part and reveal a small, dark purple room with a single, cushioned black chair affixed to the ground in its center. Large amethysts were embedded in the chair's sides and back, glowing softly in the dim light. Beyond the chair, the room was painfully bare, one that served a single purpose and nothing more.

If I chose to abandon that blind optimism and see tonight for what it truly was, the events to follow were surely doomed from the start.

"I'll see you tomorrow then, Master Cat. I hope you have a safe trip home," I told the Adept, walking past him into the room. "Give Elisetta my regards."

"I will," the Adept nodded. "Good luck, Don."

I reciprocated his polite nod with one of my own, settling myself down into a chair bigger than the one in my office. I adjusted myself into the cushioned seating before laying my head back.

The doors slowly drifted closed, granting me one final look at Master Cat's concerned eyes. Then the doors shut, leaving me in the dark room.

My Aera flared to life, a smooth and reassuring violet glow with blackened edges. The light crept over my vision as my eyes closed shut. I spread that same light through and around the chair, coiling like a deadly Snake, letting my influence soak into the glowing gems.

Before long, the feeling in my body began to fade away.

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I slowly opened both eyes, allowing my vision to adjust to the new space. I was in a similarly small room, albeit one of inferior design to the last.

Brown, plain, and painfully drab.

I sat up in the new chair I found myself in, bringing both hands up off the armrests to enter my vision. I clenched the fingers of both hands, testing my range of motion. Both had changed, shifting from the pale texture of skin to hardened light as my mind created the proxy form used for the Summits. My body was violet with black edges, a refined replica of my form crafted from Aera.

It felt the same as a real body, sharing its 'weight' and senses, but still had a sense of freeing fluidity to it. Climbing off the chair, I approached the door, undoing the one-sided lock before opening it wide.

White light flooded the drab room from beyond as I stepped forward, walking into a large dome-like hall. I knew the Summit Hall was somewhere underground, but its exact location had always been unknown to me. Still, it was spacious enough for our purposes.

Artificial lights illuminated the room from overhead, bathing it all in a crisp, tasteful glow. It was far from being a terribly fancy hall, but it didn't need to be. It was neutral territory, and not something that I or the other Lords personally took responsibility for.

In the center of the room was a round table, one dotted with seven black chairs around the edges. As of that moment, only two of those chairs were unoccupied. A collection of 'silhouettes' formed from coloured and textured Aera much like my own were seated and ready to discuss the night's proceedings, one-note as I feared they'd be.

The air was tense despite the lack of danger in the room. In this place, there was no magic, no damage, and no risk. In that sense, this made for a perfect place to meet. I knew each and every one of these people, even if I hadn't seen any of them for some time.

To the left of my empty chair was a dark, gaudily dressed man. On first glance, one might mistake him for an eccentric [Priest]. Despite his flowing robes, he was more metal than flesh. Two black metallic Eagle's wings protruded from his back, accompanied by a thick gas mask and a metal stave clenched in one hand.

These forms were only projections, yet he had always insisted on bringing such things here. Symbols of a fragile ego, one that needed to rely on metal rather than trusting in the strength and development of his own body. Even if they were invisible against the dark light making up his form, I knew there were bloodshot eyes and pale skin beneath the mask.

The self-proclaimed 'Harbinger'.

"Come, Don," the man spoke with a slow, croaky voice tinged with mechanical inflection. "One of my subordinates has spoken of an ill omen received from the prophets of the stars. The steel saucers above speak of a long shadow fated to befall Divastyr, one that won't be soon passing."

Another unreliable prediction. Divination Magic was never safe to fully rely on at the best of times, but Harbinger and his subordinates' use were even less so. I would be more inclined to trust my Plague Prophet over them at any time, especially when he'd make such a broad, obvious proclamation, yet wouldn't lift a finger to prevent it. An attempt to heighten his own importance in our eyes.

"Another prediction?" came the deeper, husky voice of the man to Harbinger's left. "We'll just need to make sure we're ready for it then."

The speaker was Damocles McBane, leader of the Swords of Damocles, and one of the very few people in this room I felt confident I could respect. He was a tall, 9ft mountain of fur and muscle formed of silvery metallic light with a flowing flame-like golden edge. The Inura had a Dog-like face reminiscent of a Saint Bernard, albeit with a longer snout and five long, flowing tails betraying his Kitsune heritage. A most unusual Halfblood.

He was the owner of a prolific mining company here in Divastyr, and the leader of a group focused on the acquisition of powerful weapons and materials, all seeking to become legendary warriors. I'd done business with his people on a number of occasions, and they'd always acted with decorum and pride expected of their position.

The group had a worthy goal, and his was one of the few faces present I believed truly deserved a position at this table.

"Indeed. I'm certain all present are fully willing to chip in and avoid the worst of this shadow," I replied, arriving at the foot of the table.

"I hope so," Damocles replied. "It is good to see you back at this table, Titan of Sova."

"That name is ancient history," I replied with a small smile. I didn't go by that name alone anymore, but old habits died hard. "Greetings, Damocles. I've missed the Summit."

Sitting on Damocles' left was an enigma of a man. He raised his head, presumably to look at me as I was addressed. He bore the figure of a bulky Goliath man wearing an outfit reminiscent of a traditional Scandian [Gladiator]. It was complete with a chestplate, a metallic skirt hanging down as far as his bulky greaves, and a rounded helmet with seven holes in it. One in the center, and six surrounding it on all sides in a hexagonal pattern.

His arms, marked as they were with nicks and scars, were folded atop the table, all cast in the stony silvery-grey colour of his Aera.

As per usual, the man was still, stoic, and silent. Refusing to give anything away. He rarely spoke at these meetings, something which I couldn't help but find incredibly disappointing. It was a shame to see that hadn't changed.

I felt certain his input would be fascinating to hear, but he never gave it. He was not the type to show his hand in any capacity, and was content to work within his territory alone.

His 'Fancy Family' was the smallest of our groups by far, yet was still able to keep up with us all. Despite the lack of manpower, his mysterious abilities were undeniably exceptional. His track record for work was flawless to the point where it drew suspicion from all sides. It was the sort of perfection that was impossible to achieve without the work of Fate, or perhaps Luck Magic. A more indirect yet undoubtedly astounding set of abilities.

Mobius, leader of the Fancy Family.

Next to Mobius was a man who was usually a red skinned Darkling, albeit like one I'd never met elsewhere. He had two glowing eyes and a thick, mushroom cap-like protrusion from his head in place of horns, the edges as wide as a [Witch's] hat's brim. His entire body was cast in a pale, misty blue. The man's expression was tired and distant, with an almost pitiful look in his eyes as he glanced Harbinger's way.

I knew him to be a passionate man, but one lacking in agency.

"If this 'shadow' is going to pass anyway, then all we can do is brace for it and pick up the pieces afterwards," the Darkling sighed.

He was always more content to take a passive role, a stance that never let him come out on top or take the initiative. I couldn't help but see him as a fool, but there was no way to know for sure. The fact that he was still at this table spoke volumes despite his... personality quirks.

Mycophile of the Fungal Respite.

Next to the Darkling was yet another obnoxious figure. One with a gleaming gold body of light boasting a thick imposing frame, and a smug Humanoid face with perfect teeth and short-cut hair. He wore a thick coat open at the front with heavily padded shoulders. He leaned back into one of the seven spacious chairs as though he were back at home enjoying an aged drink.

The man was usually fun to banter with due to the unpredictability of the Gold Standard group, but this time I knew exactly where Golden Rule and his organisation would align themselves. There would be no chaotic elements at play from him tonight. At any given meeting, he was everyone's enemy until one or another paid him to join a side definitively during a struggle to create more revenue for his group. Tonight, there would be no bartering or discussion on his current allegiances. It was too obvious where the profit would fall, were I in his shoes.

Tonight, he was my enemy.

"A pleasure to see you've come home, Don," Golden Rule spoke up, his voice feigning irritation.

His tone was more miffed than I'd anticipated. How much of that was legitimate, and how much was it to keep up his current ruse? He needed some excuse to take the stance I had no doubt he would. The one that would bring the greatest profit and overall benefits to his group.

"Thank you, Golden Rule. I'm glad to be back," I replied with a polite nod, sliding down into my chair.

Despite their quirks and differing motivations, I liked to believe these people were not fools. At least some had to know where this meeting was destined to go, but were they willing to let a war break out for just a chance at a reasonable, justified invasion to bolster their resources? I liked to think they weren't so short sighted, that they were capable of seeing the bigger picture and the consequences of what such an action would bring.

Regardless of my optimism, tonight's events would be telling, one way or another.

Pulling my seat in close to the round table, I found myself looking down at its surface. Rather than wood or metal, the table was crafted with a clear glass top. It was a terribly fragile thing, especially when surrounded by such volatile individuals. I stared down at my own somber, controlled face in its surface.

I'd often heard it said that a reflection served as a window to the Soul. A way for a person to truly look themselves in the eye and think about what they desired. An invitation to explore inward and mull over one's past decisions and future path.

It was something I suspected that Aerasthetic idiot hadn't done a day in his life.

I was loath to admit it, but I was annoyed. At this situation, and at the fact that it had all come to this. I hadn't wanted it to go this way, but Aerasthetic seemed Abyssbent on plunging Divastyr into yet another crisis it wasn't prepared for. I'd wanted to leave such a thing behind after the Disciples left our city's walls, but there were fools seeking conflict everywhere here in Scander.

Sadly, a city like this attracted dangerous people. I'd taken that as a given when I settled here and conquered my territory all those years ago, but still.

My eyes turned to the one vacant seat remaining.

The seat belonged to a man devoted to turning this city into a mess, one that risked calling dangerous beasts out to play. Not just independent Casters looking for a chance to take hold of power and prestige within our walls, but those beyond it looking for scraps and Experience fighting in a war that they'd have no real stake or investment in. Chaotic outliers with no true allegiances.

In the worst case scenario, Divastyr's true harbingers of destruction could return.

My thoughts drifted back to that sole standing monument that Equinox had defended against that fool's forces. To the reason it stood there at all. I leaned back into my seat, trying to make myself comfortable despite all I knew to come.

Karisti was once ruled by such a sensible, respectable man before the Disciples attack. It was a shame to have lost such a worthwhile contemporary, especially when his replacement was so short-sighted.

Now it was led by another man, one I had no respect for whatsoever. Any mental games with him were one note and basic. Worse still, he was chairing the meeting I was returning to.

He was late on purpose, as he always was, indulging in a childish desire to prove that he cared little for these meetings. An unspoken challenge to all of us that he knew none would take for the sake of their own territories. It was an empty provocation, one that only served to inflate that fool's ego.

They weren't afraid of him, but the joint efforts of others that would leap on an opportunity whenever one territory launched an offensive. It was part of the balance that kept Divastyr in check.

Of course, that one simple fact flew right over his head.

The only reason Sova hadn't been invaded during Big Tooth's rule was that they suspected I and my Velvet Star had been lying in wait, ready to trap Casters and territories when their guards were down. A reasonable worry, even if it was regrettable that they'd seen through it.

I wanted to secure my territory against all outside threats. Above all else, I wished to leave a good Sova in place for the next generation. Not just for the promising members in my employ, but for my golden child.

A smile finally crept onto my face. I couldn't wait to see the Divastyr she would create. But for now, I had to do my duty, to make sure that her Divastyr would have the chance to come one day and not be destroyed by short-sighted fools before then.

Behind the vacant chair opposite mine, a door swung open.

Emerging from that door was the fool of the hour.

Even in this hall, Horizon looked like a mess of a man. He was a tall Half Elf with two long ears poking outwards, both partially hidden behind long, puffy hair. His body was surrounded in a shifting muddy light, a feature of the Half Elven race that only served to make him look worse where it made others look better. The Aera that constructed his form was a splotchy, disorganised mess of shifting colours, like the contents of a paint aisle in an art shop that had been spilled out and formed into a person. Aera was always an honest representation of a man, after all.

His personality was just as messy to experience as looking at him.

The man casually approached the table with both hands stuffed deep into his pants pockets. His gait made it clear he believed he was standing on top of the world, even if he had never fallen further down before now. The Aerasthetic leader was a fool drunk on his own hubris, yet didn't even have a speck of intellect to back that belief up.

Horizon.

An ostentatious name for a man who could barely see a day into the future.

"How is everyone tonight?" the man spoke in his high, playful tone. "I trust you've all been having a wonderful evening?"

The table was silent as he plopped down into his seat, leaning back as he brought both legs up, crossing them atop the fragile glass table.

Silence. The fool of a man cast his eyes around the room, but nobody spoke up.

"How cold. Nothing to say to me after I took the time out of my busy day to come here?" the long eared buffoon asked.

"We're waiting for you to open the meeting, as is the duty of the Territory Lord whose turn it is to chair it," I interjected.

"Oh, of course! My apologies!" the man replied, clapping his hands together with a sickly sweet smile stretched across his features. "We're talking about duty now, are we?"

Before waiting for a response, Horizon raised one hand into the air.

"I hereby announce the Territory Summit formally begun!" he announced, using a falsely deep and authoritative voice before his eyes turned back towards me. "There. Is that what you were looking for, Titan of Sova? I thought you'd finally given up on 'duty', but it looks like you've come crawling back to our table regardless."

Such blatant, transparent attempts to antagonise me. Still, there was little more to expect from a fool like this. Normally I enjoyed the competition. The back and forth banter and mind games of these meetings.

But not with Horizon.

There was no subtlety or tact to him. He simply had a desire to annoy, anger, and destroy.

"Don," I corrected him smoothly. "Not Titan of Sova, although the title is flattering. And yes, that was what we were all waiting for."

"Shall we get down to business then? We have much to discuss," Golden Rule asked from across the table.

The man's tone was pointed and combative. A voice designed to rile Horizon up, I was sure. The fool of a man frowned, sighing as he pulled his feet down from the table. He heavily planted both shoes on solid ground before bringing his chair in close.

"Sure, sure. Then as the person chairing this meeting, I'll get us started," Horizon began, looking up from the table and fixing his multicoloured, splotchy eyes directly on me. "The issue I wish to put on the table for everyone to see tonight is of course the return our beloved Don. He took a well deserved vacation from ruling over his territory when it didn't suit him, allowing a part time guest to keep his seat here warm for a few meetings. Now, it looks like he's finally returned to us."

Big Tooth. Was that really how he'd start this charade off?

"Yes. I retracted my forces to keep them from falling into the Disciples' clutches. Our group laid in wait for attacks on public areas within my territory quietly, as I wished to avoid conflict with them where possible," I replied.

"You did? That wasn't how it looked to me," Horizon responded, tilting his head with a raise of his brow. "To me, Don, it looked as though you abandoned your people just to save your own skin."

"I took a precautionary measure," I countered. "Through the abilities of our Wheel Casters, the Velvet Star has the potential to quickly mobilise our forces in the case of an emergency. We keep our hand close to our chest, but the Disciples vacated our region before any major infrastructural damage could be done, and so we did need to show that hand."

"But you still allowed that damage to be done?" Horizon pressed. "What do your people call the region that served as the Disciples' temporary base, again? The Death District?"

"That is correct," I nodded back, linking both hands atop the table. "They were isolated to an evacuated district during their stay in Divastyr, and did not attack any large scale facilities necessary for the continued functioning of Sova."

"Yet the good people of Sova were exposed to horrors and public attacks before the brave, brave Miracle Workers rose up to protect them in your place. They even managed to kill one of those Demons, creating an unprecedented ray of hope that was swiftly squashed thanks to your inaction," the fool of a man continued. "I didn't see you leap to their defense as they were slaughtered."

I knew he was simply trying to aggravate me, but that didn't make it any easier to hold back my irritation. I wanted to keep a cool head, yet I hated the fact their name was coming out of that fool's filthy mouth, especially after what he'd ordered his group to do to their monument.

"They bravely stood in our place against the Disciples, and we have reclaimed our seat at this table to ensure their sacrifice doesn't go to waste in protecting Sova's integrity," I told him stiffly.

"But you didn't," Horizon shot back, his words sharp and pointed. "You let Big Tooth, another gang within your territory, gain influence and take over. You couldn't even handle your own gangs. In your absence, they caused even more damage and fear in the populace, dropping the quality of life in Sova even further than before! What excuses do you have for that?"

"I had my reasons," I replied, taking a subtle deep breath.

This fool was intent on saying whatever he pleased, and the others weren't leaping to the Miracle Workers' defense either as Horizon huffed with a roll of his eyes. Not an unexpected result.

"The Summit Meeting is a time to discuss our interpersonal issues and territorial disputes," I added curtly. "I see no reason why past tragedies and issues need be brought up, especially if they do not concern your own lands, Horizon."

"This is a major concern for me, Titan of Sova," the Aerasthetic leader chirped, mimicking my posture with both hands linked on the table in front of him, both thumbs erratically rolling over one another in the process. "As a Territory Lord leading lands neighbouring yours, I can't leave such a turbulent region within your hands in good faith, not while my own people are in such direct risk."

Bold. Was he that foolish to the point of openly waging war? The issues of Sova had not spilled out into other regions.

My eyes glanced at the others, yet those whose faces I could see wore passive expressions. Damocles' ears were flat against his head, yet his eyes met mine for a moment before looking away. Harbinger and Mobius were unreadable, while Golden Rule was the only one to properly stare me down and make his stance crystal clear.

"Besides, you have caused problems for other territories, Don. This isn't just Sova's problem," Horizon added, nodding towards Golden Rule.

The man broke eye contact with me only to nod back at Horizon.

"That's right. Your people have caused trouble for us too, Don. We've lost some of our precious cargo thanks to that Fishfolk in your employ," the Gold Standard leader declared.

Cargo...? My eyebrows furrowed lightly at the thought. He must have been referring to Yakamoz of Equinox. The man had recently gone missing, but I hadn't been told anything about 'lost cargo'. The temporary spread of Leviathan's influence was one thing, but was there more to it? I hadn't heard of any structural damage...

Both overt and subtle, the Fishfolk seemed determined to do everything in his power to cause issues for me. Unless it was a bluff from Golden Rule?

"I'm well aware. I have full intentions to reimburse you for any coin you may have lost, Golden Rule," I replied with a nod.

"Good. We want full compensation for the stock lost and damages to our Casters," Golden Rule added. "We want that Fishfolk to pay for it all and apologise to us personally."

Apologising in person. Was he looking for Yakamoz to have an ‘accident’ and disappear for good, or simply trying to pile on the pressure in the meeting to justify Horizon's ridiculous actions?

But he wasn't here. He'd left Divastyr of his own volition without saying a damned word.

"I'm afraid Yakamoz is currently unavailable," I responded, feeling an unexpected mote of irritation from someone other than Horizon.

"That isn't acceptable, Don! Not only did he lead to us losing stock, he called one of the Chaos Dragons to our damned doorstep!" Golden Rule roared, getting to his feet as he slammed both hands on the glass table. The surface shook from his impact, sending several thin cracks spider webbing across the surface. Yet it did not break. "Between the damages and how many of our contacts are refusing to do business in this city out of fear, we're going to need some serious compensation."

I'd assumed this was an act, but it was difficult to judge. Golden Rule never let his emotions get the better of him. Still, now I understood his aim. I'd known Golden Rule would take Aerasthetic's side in the short term for the sake of stirring up a fight and profiting from it, but he was certainly playing it up.

"A Territory Lord who can't even control other gangs or his own members allowing such a disaster to happen right under his nose in another person's territory is a worrying thing to hear, Titan of Sova," Horizon smiled.

The fool didn't even have the presence of mind to feign anger alongside Golden Rule. He just looked smug.

"If you can't handle your own territory, then we'll need to appoint others who can for the sake of keeping Divastyr's balance secure. To ensure we don't have another little accident ruining our carefully crafted utopia," Horizon continued, his smile only growing with each word.

'Appoint others'. He wished to have a puppet leader take my place? Such a thing would tip the balance in Aerasthetic's favour and ruin the city's function regardless. They had to know I wouldn't possibly agree to that. Yet another reason they formulated to make the situation seem desperate and justifiable enough for war.

Horizon hadn't brought up his true goals in the slightest, hiding them beneath the guise of safety.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," I replied with a light bow of my head.

"Yeah, didn't think so," Horizon smiled, giving me an idle shrug.

Golden Rule raised an eyebrow in my direction. That fool Horizon was dancing like a puppet for Gold Standard, being led right into their leaders' wallet. He'd take the fall for any damages done by this war, naturally, and Golden Rule would profit.

That single raised brow conveyed an obvious message, so much so that I could almost hear what the man was saying.

If you can offer more coin than he can, we could arrange something.

"Do you all want this city to end up like Malavoin? Like Zeradonia?" I asked, throwing my auburn eyes around the room.

"You aren't leaving us with many options to secure our business, Don," Golden Rule added, his voice tinged with anger.

Looking around at the others, it became clear none of them were intending to speak up and paint a target on their backs. Their interference in the coming conflict, if they employed any at all, would be from the shadows when the right time arose, and not a second before then.

"Let's talk about business then, shall we?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Someone has been bringing Boost into my territory. I received reports of an unknown Caster with a globe-shaped head, likely of mechanical make."

My eyes turned towards Harbinger, the most obvious culprit. He remained stoic, silent, and unmoving.

His group were ridiculous yet dangerous, an unhinged organisation unfit for rulership. They were a collection of religious extremists focused on evolution through technomagical augmentation. 'Mechafabra' was what they'd taken to calling the movement in Rengrasia.

I was glad they'd made no attempts to capture Screen yet given their goals, but it felt to me like it was only a matter of time. They wanted more Casters of their ilk, and it was easy to see his attempts to destabilise the public as a way to create a window of opportunity. I suspected they'd attempt it during the coming conflict, or look to abduct and recruit one of our other Anvil Casters like Shambles, Gamechanger, or Homebound.

"And where might they be getting these supplies to peddle into my territory?" I continued. "I know they're not causing this Boost to appear from thin air."

Mycophile turned his eyes away from mine as I scanned those at the table. The Darkling was painfully easy to read, but it was hard to judge the emotion in his eyes. Was he making it? Sourcing it from elsewhere? Or did he simply have some other connection to Boost?

Given his nature, it could've been a desire to avoid my gaze from worry alone.

"Yes, yes, that would be the Chained Wolves," Horizon interjected, bringing my eyes back towards his own glassy, multicoloured messes. "We know they peddled a ton of Boost to Big Tooth during your little spat, but I've managed to secure their second-in-command for you. You're welcome."

"That was not your business, Horizon," I told him, pulling my seat in closer to the table.

"It's only right for Territory Lords to help each other out when danger arrives at our collective doorstep. I was hoping that would loosen you up a little for our compromise, but my goodwill seems to have fallen completely flat on your ears," the Half Elf smiled back.

"Is capturing one of my own something you consider 'helping', Horizon?" I shot back with a raised black brow.

The Half Elf tensed at the words.

"My people were attacked during a meeting in a neutral location, Don. That was retaliation," he retorted.

"A meeting made without consulting the Territory Lord who owns the region surrounding that 'neutral location', I might add. What was the topic of this discussion, pray tell?" I pressed.

"I was having my trusted subordinates ask the other gangs in your territory for their input on your rule. To get some insight into what life has been like in Sova since you came back. It isn't easy to judge from the outside, so I wanted some insider knowledge before I committed to the bold claims and suggestions I did tonight," Horizon replied, frowning as he cupped his head in both hands.

He had an answer prepared for everything, it seemed. Once again, he swept thoughts of internal violence and conspiracy away under the guise of protection. The others couldn't possibly be buying his drivel, yet they remained silent.

I didn't expect them to interject much, and they were matching that expectation well. I knew they'd do what they had to in order to protect their territories against outside forces. An excuse to lay low and take the scraps from the aftermath in the name of self preservation. A cowardly move, but admittedly a safe one. Not an honorable choice to grant experience or fame, just material wealth.

Temporary boosts to the fatness of one's wallet that wouldn't last.

"On the topic of captured Casters, what of my two under your roof, Titan? I trust you've been keeping to the rules and left them unharmed?" Horizon asked, his voice tinged with a taunting tone the others seemed keen to ignore.

"Your two members are unharmed and in custody," I told him, my hands unclenching from one another as one finger began to trace circular ringed patterns on the glass.

Horizon waited for me to continue, but I elected not to say a word. I knew exactly what he was waiting for. Hoping for.

He wished for me to ask about Languish, but trusting a word that came out of this cretin's mouth was a waste of energy. Instead, I stared the man down, my eyes cold and detached. The attention alone was more than he deserved.

I spotted Damocles staring at me from the corner of my eye. The look didn't feel combative, but it took a few seconds to place the intent. It was... worried. Supportive, perhaps? Would he elect to take in the refugees of this war should it get out of hand?

I'd done business with the Inura Halfblood before. While I didn't trust him fully, I respected him at the very least. If he had less altruistic intent, he may attempt to snatch some of my organisation's swordsmen from me, few in number as they were.

I had a few tentative allies, but I suspected the others would do what they could to take from both my territory and Horizon's in the wake of the coming battle.

For almost a full minute, the silence dragged on until that fool's need for noise and attention couldn't take it anymore.

"Are there any objections to both my and Golden Rule's desire to keep Sova safe from this wishy-washy ruler?" Horizon asked aloud, moving his eyes back and forth at those gathered around the table.

The air was still and stiff, devoid of all sound.

"No? No takers? Glad to hear it," Horizon smiled, grinning to me from across the table. "It seems to me like Divastyr's fine order is being upheld by most of us."

A screeching sound filled the air as Horizon roughly scraped his chair back along the stone ground, rising to his feet.

"In that case, I've got some preparations to handle in order to keep my territory safe, so I'll bid you all a good night," Horizon waved with a slowly, leisurely motion. "Oh, and Titan?"

I raised a brow, glad that he was finally leaving the table.

"The bigger one is, the harder they fall," Horizon smiled, turning around as he began to walk away.

"The likes of you are far from enough to make me fall," I sighed, feeling exasperated from his utter lack of tact. Talking to him was a draining exercise.

"I hope you've got people watching over your body while you're here!" he called out.

"The concern is appreciated, but fully unwarranted," I replied as he arrived at his door.

"If you say so~," Horizon chirped, closing the door behind him as relief washed over me.

The man chairing the meeting had walked out of here before anyone else. That in itself was an irritating insult, but I was just glad to see that multicoloured mess gone.

Mobius gingerly pushed back his chair with none of the racket that Horizon had caused. The Goliath rose to his feet without a word, turning around to leave the table as the others sat in silence.

I let out an internal, exasperated sigh that I wanted nothing more than to vocalise. If Mobius had deigned to leave too, then I doubted there would be any chance of regular chats and plotting to be had with the others tonight. I had no doubt their minds were going wild with plots and thoughts I wasn't privy to, and that I should be setting up for my own in turn.

All I could do was hope that when I dealt with that miserable excuse for a man that these meetings would go back to being something I could look forward to.

Until then, all I could do was put in work to ensure he didn't ruin another of these meetings, nor my territory.

If it was a war Horizon wanted, it was a war he would get.