Milo was dressed more formally as the meet and greet began. Revolvers under his arms. With their barrels, they weren’t usually carried in underarm holsters. But he was given no choice since he had to show who he’s going to speak with what he was carrying. It was the formal custom of the Mence that had quite a respectable view when it comes to bearing arms.

To have a polite society, one must be armed. Milo was rather surprised when heard a patient say that to him. Most of the time they carry their pistols on their waist, but in formal events you have to carry them under yours as a sign of respect. Letting the guns greet each other and letting the person know you’re carrying.

It was a practical way of saying ‘this is the gun I’m going to shoot you if we ever turn violent’. It was also to show off the guns you’re holding.

Underneath the spring tower was a grand hall. It was said to have been a storage area when the city was still a sailing island. Large and wide spaces now decorated to function as a welcoming hall for events and parties that require a large space.

Milo saw stairs leading down however. Barred by large metal doors with Vitae-wearing guards holding armaments scaled to their size. A red carpet leading to the grand hall where most of the attendees are already socializing.

Milo, the Mayor, and Mrs. Rieta was waiting in line.

“Looking good you two,” he complimented.

The couple was always dressed in a manner befitting their age. Suits made comfortably and dresses that provide comfort more than style. However, since this was an important event, the two dressed up sharply. Expensive tight-fit suit boldly showing that the old Mayor hasn’t lost his physical frame. And a dress telling what could have been if she had remained young.

Milo was dressed sharply. He showed his pistols in front and was like a dagger. He carried himself with a confidence Milo wasn’t sure where was coming from. Sure, he was a Doctor, but that’s all.

The line moved. Milo scanned the grand hall. He was looking for any signs of the Elven. It was unlikely for them to be waiting in line, but he was looking forward to meeting one.

He had seen sea creatures appearing out of the beach, attacking people. But seeing an Elben was the same as seeing a legendary artist, but in this case to Milo it was more of seeing an endangered humanoid who are so rare and few.

While waiting in line, servants carried silver plates. Milo refused wine and preferred to remain sober in formal events. Not to mention he might have to make a toast every time he meets someone who is interested in the affairs of Arksh City. Mayor Solra and his wife would handle most of them, but being around them means he’ll have to speak with them sooner or later.

As they finally got in. Milo’s gaze was attracted to this glowing plant bulb covered in roots as if securing the bulb. The plant itself looked like a miniature sun and gave off warmth similar to sunlight.

Milo heard of this plant. But seeing one this big meant it was old and most likely ancient. The illumination covered the grand hall and it felt like he was under the sunny sky where everything was visible. Following the couple close, he was considered as a part of their group and as the couple met acquaintances. They began to form a rather large group.

Despite the amount of people inside the hall. It was calm. People spoke in whispers and only a few were shameless enough to raise their voices.

As Milo was hesitating to pick a glass up. He felt the mood still and the gazes of the people gathered in one direction. Milo followed their gaze and saw a face he could only associate with beauty.

Her hair reminded him of the color of golden wheat, her movements were so graceful they stunned him. He felt dumbfounded for eyeing the maiden this intensely, after all she was a fair maiden who had come here in hope she could advise humanity.

As he found himself staring at her, her indifferent eyes sent him quaking. He had it in his mind that there was no way for him to get acquainted with a she-elf of her status. He was avoiding her and watching from afar in the crowd in fear his curious eyes would disgust her. Milo couldn't help but admire her like a beautiful flower. Hell, he might have thought of her as holy with the way she looked and moved.

Mayor Solra thumped his shoulder as if to wake him from his stupor. “That’s Erna Thea.”

Following Erna was a woman. She did not have prominent ears. But she has an aura quite similar to Lady Erna. With the appearance of the Lady, the grand hall seemed like it was a congregation instead of an event.

What followed after the two was the head of the Mence. The Premier of the Mence, and the one acting as its representative as a whole. Premier Demaya Roan. Following them was a group of soldiers whose presence seemed to carry precise movements and unlike the Vitae-wearing guards. They carried only a sword and a pistol as if that’s all they needed.

“A Silence.”

“A what?”

“The ones following the Premier and the Lady. They are the Silence.”

It was said their skills are among the best in the business. He had heard tales about them, but seeing one in the flesh meant they were expecting trouble.

“Does that mean the Matron of Shadows is here??”

“Who?”

“The Lady in the Dark, she is said to have been part of the voyage and have remained as a steadfast guardian for the Elven. She’s blessed and she remains their firm leader.”

“Quite an intimidating title.”

Mayor Solra shrugged. “She had been watching over their remaining Kin and no one who had touched the Elben and the Elvens have walked out alive. She’s rather protective of them.”

Premier Demaya stood in front of the podium. Lady Erna, who stood with her, sang an enchanting song. Balls of light appeared on everyone’s shoulder and Milo could hear a voice on the light.

“It pleases me you have answered this call,” Premier Demaya started. “The thousand islands have always been our home. We came from the same people who had gotten out of the ships and started anew. Our ancestors fought and suffered under hellish conditions and through grit, managed to build a society we enjoy right now.”

She scanned the room with a quick easy smile.

“We’ve come here to talk. To discuss what the steps the Mence must take. What we need to do in hopes to maintain the peace we enjoy.”

She raised a firm hand as if to attract attention.

“That is how we speak. That is how we act. We are the very heart of the civilized world of the thousand islands. Our neighbors have forgotten. They’ve thought of themselves as superior and their dreams have become big. My kins, they’ve forgotten that we have not fought them when they decided to leave our Union. They had the right to leave. Take control of their nation, their kingdom, their states as they’ve liked.”

She shook her head.

“And now madmen are daring to provoke others into a war. I think we all can agree here that we are no cowards.”

Milo heard others reply in agreement. The sentiment was shared.

“But we aren’t killers either. We live and enjoy this peace. We sought this peace because our people have long been fighting. Historical records, and personal accounts spoke of our struggle fighting monsters for hundreds of years. We build our cities while dealing with those who refuse to admit defeat. We’ve fought hard. I say we deserved our peace.”

She sagged her shoulders and then stood defiantly.

“And yet they want to show us our fangs. Took off the mask. Reveal us for who we are. My kin, we were born as travelers, a discipline group who fought all the evil the world could throw at us. Did we do it out of malice? Did our ancestors conquer in the name of greed? No. They fought to survive. When the world wanted our ancestors dead, we simply fought back and stared the world in the eye and with a whisper of defiance, said ‘no’.

“We did not conquer out of malice, but to survive. We’ve lost our lands and settled into the thousand islands after we’ve survived the ordeal. It took us a while to find the remains of the very island we stood on. When we did, we made it our home again. Lady Eletha of Roan, the Lady of the Milostiv, the one who stayed and cared for us watched us tirelessly. She, along with our Kin, battled through darkness, and led us out of the darkness. When both light and darkness faded after the Mime, Kaius Woodheart himself struck down both the sun and the moon. She, in the Grand-Galleon of the Milostiv, made sure we can live our lives without the fear of light and the dark after his deed.”

She spoke mournfully.

“But let us not forget about Kaius himself. The very person who broke light and darkness. He was called the Mime by the Kin, the one who made the dastardly act that led to a hundred years of darkness. Kaius was said to be the kindest and yet his heart rotted and he broke the natural order, leaving us into a darkness we endured and survived.”

She raised a finger.

“But Kaius did this vileness, this blasphemy upon the natural order when he saw his people threatened. My Kin, if you were Kaius himself, and you saw the generations of men and women you loved die. What would you have done? Would you have stayed silent? Or would you have struck them down too?”

There was quiet. Milo had heard the legend of the one who struck down the light and the dark. The breaker of both lights. And the story he heard from this figure resonated with everyone here.

What would you do if you saw your people under attack? What would you do to prevent them from suffering? Would you do it even if the world suffers because of it?

“I think deep inside we know our answer to that. We, the descendants of the famed reconnoiter company of the lighthouse fleet, know it well.”

She scanned the grand hall and saw the fire burning in the eyes of her people.

“Lady Erna told me of a phrase used in Old Aon. A phrase that was once the mantra of our ancestors who had braved the oceans and seas. Some of the armed forces even keep it as their credo.”

She gathered air in her lungs and recited:

“Through our merits!

Through our labor!

Through our daring and determination!

Through our perseverance!

We will not slacken!

We will not tire and lose courage!

And so that when the storm comes, we will never despair!”

Her words rang like thunder. Followed by the crowd who echoed her words. She quieted everyone again with a hand.

“My friends, my kin, it is clear a storm is coming for us. A storm with the intent to provoke us. I am not asking you to fight nor I ask your support against a possible war. But I hope you understand what we’ll have to do if this storm comes to us.”

When her speech ended. Milo could only shake his head. It was clear to everyone what she meant. Her intentions if this ‘storms’ come. Anyone who’d think otherwise would probably find themselves isolated and alone when they got against the current sentiments.

Premier Demaya’s words were weighted because of the ones following her. It could have been different if the elven wasn’t present, her message was clear.

What this Republic would do when faced with the threats of a war.