***
Deep beneath the palace, hidden within a cave shaped by Lyra's earth magic, a flickering shadow solidified into Mikael's form.
Three figures sat on sturdy, earth-crafted furniture, waiting for him. The moment he appeared, Amelia rose to her feet and stepped forward.
"So," she asked, her green eyes gleaming with interest, "how did they react?"
A small smile played on Mikael's lips. "Nothing is set in stone yet, but there's at least a 90% chance that the Valden Kingdom will move toward ending the war. The anti-war movement is at its peak, and fear has gripped the capital like never before."
"That's good," Amelia said, satisfaction clear in her tone. All their efforts wouldn't be in vain, and their military mission was progressing as planned.
Mikael glanced at Kiara. "Still, without Kiara, this would have been much harder. Her role has been invaluable."
Lyra, who had remained silent until now, nodded in agreement. "True. Her music is an incredible asset. It allows us to manipulate the emotions of Valden's nobles without them realizing it." Her gaze drifted toward Kiara, who, despite listening to their conversation, showed no outward reaction aside from a small smile when Mikael praised her.
Seated comfortably on an earth-crafted couch, Kiara rested a harp on her thighs. Every so often, she plucked a string, releasing a near-silent melody that traveled through a small opening in the ceiling, dispersing unseen throughout the palace and into the noble households nearby.
Her music didn't impose direct control, but rather subtly influenced emotions, much like how a melancholic tune could shift someone's mood toward sadness. Right now, her melody wove fear and despair into the hearts of those affected. Ideally, she would have covered the entire capital, but even reaching this many people was already an astonishing feat—one that required immense effort. If she weren't a Personal AI, such a task would have been impossible.
The nobles under the influence of her music found their minds plagued with dark thoughts. Their fears grew, and the idea of surrender became increasingly tempting. This was the final step of their carefully crafted plan to force the Valden Kingdom into submission.
The first phase had been the fall of Redgate City and the annihilation of the war camp outside Blackthorn Fortress. These battles weren't just about strategic victories; they were meant to send a message—one of overwhelming might. The divine envoys had shattered the illusion of invincibility that Valden had built through their successful campaign against the Rithen Kingdom. What had once seemed like an unstoppable conquest had now turned into a losing war.
The second phase targeted Valden's leadership. The assassination of the king and the elimination of war-driven nobles struck at the heart of their war effort, while the warning left for the crown prince made it clear: anyone who continued this fight would be next.
And now, Kiara's music delivered the final blow. It amplified the fear and despair sown by the previous phases, making surrender seem like the only rational choice. The goal was simple—end the war as swiftly as possible while minimizing unnecessary casualties.
This strategy had been meticulously crafted after extensive discussions with Rithen's high-ranking officers. The kingdom's tacticians had provided their expertise, while the divine envoys introduced unconventional methods born from their modern vision providing unconventional ideas to wage a war. The result was a plan unlike any the world had seen before.
Mikael exhaled slightly as he took a seat on one of the earth-made chairs. "Now, we wait and see if everything plays out as we expect."
"Our strategy is sound," Amelia said confidently.
"Let's hope so..." Lyra murmured.
With nothing more to do, the group remained in the underground chamber, waiting as time stretched on. Hours passed in tense silence, their anticipation growing with each moment. Finally, as dawn broke over the capital, their patience bore fruit.
The following morning, Crown Prince Lucian Valden—now King Lucian Valden—issued an official statement. His words echoed across the kingdom, carrying a tone of solemnity and newfound responsibility.
"I am ready to meet with King Alden IV to negotiate and bring an end to this dreadful war—one that has dragged on for far too long and claimed the lives of too many of our brave citizens."
His declaration spread swiftly, marking a turning point in the conflict.
Shortly after, the newly crowned king departed from the capital, escorted by a contingent of elite soldiers. The divine envoys followed discreetly, with Kiara continuing to play her melody to ensure Lucian harbored no second thoughts.
For Kiara, the past day had been exhausting. She had played nonstop for nearly twenty-four hours, but the real challenge wasn't the duration—it was the vast area her music needed to reach. The mental strain of influencing such a wide space had been overwhelming. However, the hardest part was now behind her, she now only needed to affect a single person. Though she couldn't completely relax, at least the burden had significantly lessened.
Another day passed before Lucian and his entourage arrived at Redgate City, the designated site for negotiations.
When the two kings finally met, an uninformed observer might have mistaken them for longtime allies rather than rulers of warring nations. Such was the nature of politics.
Their discussions stretched on for hours, filled with back-and-forth exchanges over what reparations the Valden Kingdom would pay for, as King Alden IV put it, "their unjustified aggression against the Rithen Kingdom and the countless lives lost because of their actions."
Finally, after long deliberations, an agreement was reached.
The war had officially ended.
***
"Ahh, finally finished… now I can rest," declared a visibly exhausted Kiara before letting herself collapse onto Mikael.
Caught off guard, Mikael had no choice but to catch her, lest she fall face-first onto the ground. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, steadying her as he raised an eyebrow at her antics.
"Kiara?" he inquired, his tone filled with amusement.
"Too tired…" she murmured, her voice weak and sluggish.
Mikael sighed, already suspecting where this was going. "So, I take it that means I have no choice but to carry you, right?"
His playful tone was met with an enthusiastic nod from Kiara, her exhaustion suddenly vanishing as she answered, "Exactly!"
Realizing how blatantly she had exposed her true intentions, she quickly reverted to her previous state, dramatically sinking further into his hold. "Too tired… too tired…" she repeated, this time in a softer, more pitiful voice.
Mikael let out a chuckle, shaking his head at her shamelessness but ultimately choosing to indulge her. Whether she was genuinely exhausted or simply acting spoiled, there was no denying that being carried by him made her happy.
With an effortless motion, he adjusted his grip, slipping one arm beneath her knees and the other around her back before lifting her into a princess carry.
Kiara, now completely satisfied, wasted no time snuggling closer to him, a pleased smile gracing her lips as she closed her eyes. At this moment, she resembled a small, contented squirrel that had found the perfect place to rest.
Amelia and Lyra, having watched the entire exchange, exchanged a glance before letting out small chuckles, though they chose not to comment further.
Still smiling from the scene, Amelia spoke up. "Our military mission should be finished now, right? Since the two kingdoms have officially made peace?"
Lyra hesitated for a moment before responding, "Probably?" Though her words were uncertain, her tone suggested she was hopeful.
"I'll check," Mikael said, shifting his focus inward as he accessed the system interface.
For a few seconds, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on something unseen to the others. Then, with a nod, he relayed what he had learned. "Good news—the mission is considered complete. We now have one hour left in this world before we're ejected. That means we can do whatever we want during this time, like saying goodbye or handling any unfinished business. Oh, and just so you know, the countdown started the moment the peace agreement was finalized, so we have fifty-five minutes left."
As soon as they heard his confirmation, a wave of relief washed over the group.
While this mission had not been particularly dangerous in terms of combat, it had been mentally draining in ways they hadn't fully anticipated. The constant planning, the delicate political maneuvering, and, of course, the assassinations—all of it had taken its toll. While they had emerged victorious, it was far from an easy experience.
With the tension now lifted, Amelia and Lyra fell into an idle conversation, their words casual and relaxed. Mikael, however, remained silent, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Kiara, meanwhile, showed no interest in participating in the discussion. As far as she was concerned, she was exactly where she wanted to be—nestled comfortably in Mikael's arms, her worries momentarily forgotten.
But Mikael's mind was preoccupied.
'Does this mean… this is the last time I'll see Seraphis?'
The thought unsettled him more than he expected.
While there was currently nothing explicitly romantic between him and the goddess, there was undeniably a sense of mutual interest—one that, given time, could potentially evolve into something more. The idea of simply leaving and never seeing her again left him with an odd mix of emotions. Unease. Discomfort. Something else he couldn't quite define.
His mind wrestled with these feelings before settling on a course of action. He needed to ask the Records.
'Records, is it possible to return to a world where I previously completed a military mission?'
Under normal circumstances, communication with the Records was restricted during a mission, but since their assignment was technically complete, the connection had been reestablished.
A familiar notification appeared before him.
[It is possible to revisit a world where a military mission has taken place. However, doing so requires a minimum of Military Rank 4. Additionally, upon returning, you will be entering under your own identity without the protection of the Records.]
[In other words, you may be targeted by powerful beings that exist within the military rank you are exploring. Normally, during a mission, the Records intervene if an entity far beyond the mission's intended difficulty attacks. However, in this scenario, no such protection will apply. Proceed with caution.]
Mikael exhaled, feeling a wave of relief wash over him.
'So, I can come back… that's good.'
The specifics of reaching Military Rank 4 or the dangers associated with returning were things he took note of, but at this moment, they weren't his primary concern. What mattered most was that this wasn't a permanent goodbye. That made all the difference.
Clearing his throat, he turned his attention back to his companions. "So… do either of you have anything you want to do before we leave?"
Amelia and Lyra exchanged a glance before shaking their heads. "Not really," Amelia replied. Lyra gave a small nod of agreement.
Mikael, however, had already made up his mind. "I do," he admitted, his gaze drifting upward toward the sky. "Or rather… there's someone I'd like to see."
Almost as if in response to his words, a melodious voice suddenly echoed around them—Seraphis' voice, extending an invitation.
She was summoning them to her divine realm.
The four of them accepted the invitation without hesitation.
A familiar golden light enveloped them, wrapping around their bodies like a warm embrace. The sensation that followed was both comforting and ethereal, touching something deep within their very souls.
Their surroundings blurred, their senses momentarily thrown into disarray. Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the transition ended.
Author Note:
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