"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: November 1090
Location: Mayor’s Manor, Old Siesta.
POV: Narrator
“Truly now? I meant that not as a negative reception of course. The timing is very… delicate to say the least. ” The Mayor of Siesta, Herman Doykos said to his speaking partner. A grey, with bck highlight,-haired female Feline could be seen on his side, watching over him but her eyes are glued to their guest.
The soft wind of the coastline outlined the serenity of this nd. The tranquility had been a massive boost to local tourism, and with the added pn of moving the entire city to a mobile one became a topic for discussion. Cordelia sent one of their best managers, and that would be M?ynar Nearl. Of course, he doesn’t come alone.
Unfortunately, his escort is outside of the room for security reasons.
“Indeed, Cordelia has announced their interest to help develop the nd and promote local expansion.” The Kuranta politely sip a fresh brew of tea that has become a staple aside from their coffee and beers. It tasted quite interesting with how it warmed up her body. The array of documents has been neatly arranged in front of them, and the Mayor shows great interest in the prospect of gaining more investment.
Details that could be seen would be a caravan project under the protection of Cordelia PMCs. Herman found that idea to be quite dangerous since like it or not, he would be allowing foreign military to enter his territory now and then. On the flip side, he would be able to free up more funding to expedite the creation of Siesta’s Mobile City or to make infrastructural improvements.
Another offer would be a desire from Cordelia to commence excavation into Mount Siesta. This one is a deadlock. The Mayor understands that while the minerals there would worth more than 40% of yearly income, the risk of igniting the Originium veins is too real to ignore. At the moment, he is only on board to allow Cordelia to search for artifacts as usual.
Then there is this offer.
It outlined that Siesta started its trading firm under the city-state’s control to join the, pnned, economic group. There are prominent names inside the document with Cordelia, Raythean, and the emerging Rhine Labs as primary signatories. It also shows the signatures of many Kazimierzian corporations, some Victorian nobles who owned trade leagues, and even famous clothing brands such as Marthe and Vitafield.
He found them very lucrative. But he fears that this huge economic network would attract the real hegemon of Terra’s spanning conglomerate. No nation on Terra doesn’t know their name, for they are based on both Victoria and Lungmen to keep a tight grip on the economy. Angering them would spell a hideous trade war that would be more costly than Siesta could afford.
“The trade routes that spanned from Kjerag to Kazimierz, from Columbia to Victoria, and more would be fruitful endeavors between us… Yet it would put the Schwire Group in a state of alertness. There have been crified reports that Adam Schwire himself took an interest in this matter. The proposal itself is a delightful breakthrough to pave the way to healthy competition, but our side is afraid that it is not the right moment to move forward on a binding agreement.”
“That much has been taken into consideration, Mayor Doykos. Cordelia had appointed me as a point of contact until further notice. Even if our negotiation ended inconclusively, I shall always be avaible for contact regarding further venues for cooperation that should be beneficial for us respectively but still hand-in-hand to build a cohesive agreement. Of course, such is only valid until further notice from Mr. Adenaver himself.”
“A wonderful opportunity then. I do concur that Siesta will always need a reliable partner to increase its self-sufficiency. Then if I may be so bold, would it be possible to solicit capable personnel to oversee nd reform from your company?”
“No such thing as being too bold, separate business dealings are far from unreasonable. I shall contact my office to dispatch one or two specialists for a trial run. If you find them cking and insufficient or capable and serviceable, we shall proceed to add it to our negotiation’s dossier.”
“I see… My sincerest gratitude for your willingness to bridge Siesta and Kazimierz, along with, hopefully, soon-to-be many more trading partners. We shall continue our negotiation in the following days, so please enjoy your time in Siesta. Lastly, send my regard to Lady Baroness.” The Mayor added with a smirk and the Kuranta barely stopped himself.
“Likewise and thank you for accommodating our stay.” They shook hands and left the premises. Herman is needed elsewhere and running a city-state is not an easy thing. The Feline bodyguard had vanished too, but the ex-hero had little trouble in sensing her position. She feels very high-strung on dealing with him… or specifically her.
M?ynar exited the meeting room to find Nyx reading through a magazine. He stopped himself just barely from seeing the cover since it looked very… bold. Unfortunately, she noticed him staring at her. The Pythia was too engrossed in imagining herself in those types of fashion. Nyx forgot that she is there for work both personal and commissioned, and not vacation. Almost throwing the magazine on the table, she coughed with a shade of pink tinting her cheeks.
“D-Done already?”
“… Yes. Although the negotiation would need more time to be concluded. How did your photo shoot go?” Nyx unconsciously curled strands of her hair, a slightly shy expression surfacing through her cold mask.
“It goes well, but the photographer was way too pushover. The moment I showed dissatisfaction, he quickly rushed to reshoot and remedy the problems. Thankfully he did his job well despite those hiccups.”
“That’s good, my negotiation had gone smoothly, but there are details that need to be taken care of.”
“How long would that be? If I can ask.”
“8 days at worst. Several agendas had been reached and compromised upon, although I will need to hash out the minutia of details regarding Cordelia’s more sensitive agreements.”
“That so? Huh… so… what now? I’m stuck with you until we return home- to Kazimierz, and my CM survey should finish in 3 days.”
“Technically we are done earlier than expected. There would be nothing that requires my attention until 1 P.M.”
“2 hours…”
“…”
“…”
The awkwardness is palpable, even the hidden eyes in charge of keeping trouble away from them cringed at their conversational dead-end. He doesn’t know what else there is to say, as long as it doesn’t mean work or disdain for Kazimierz, and Nyx has her brain clogged with too many things all at once. He did however understand that there would be a better pce for them to continue their chat.
“We should have enough time for lunch, do you know a modest eatery around here?” Her face had returned to her usual impassive gaze. Yet he somehow knows just how happy she is with that indirect offer. Pretty much jumping back on her feet, she just gives him a head tilt and imperceptibly soft smile.
“I know a few, you prefer seafood or dryer stuff?”
“I would prefer something healthier.”
“… Did you just insinuate that I am-” Nyx smile was gone. Her eyes turn sharper but M?ynar has yet to finish his words. Thank whatever higher power there is, are, or whatever.
“Or something easier on the stomach. I would be expected to meet 3 more clients by the evening.”
“… Hmph, you’re no fun. Oh well, follow me.”
The duo walked outside in silence through the street. The emotion shown to them mirrored each other. The locals found the man to be very attractive and his polite and disciplined countenance made dozens of so women look his way. That is if they disregarded the person accompanying him and are tching close but not too close.
Conversely, to open interest, Nyx is seen with a mixture of hesitance, awe, and ample fear. Ordinary Siestan had heard the many tales and rumors of her savagery and ruthlessness in combat. These tales and rumors form a less fttering image etched on their conscience. It truly doesn’t help how Nyx never bothered to fix her dreadful reputation, citing that is a waste of time and the people would think and accept what they want anyway.
Then again, she never showed rudeness to the locals and acted like she was just a tourist in her free time. A conflicting image thus formed, but since she is a paying customer who never shies away from something that interests her, every day is business as usual.
Verily amusing that her walking alongside M?ynar seems to pce a nice counterweight on each other. Even when they are on a stroll, he focuses more on getting things that need to be done on the go. Contacting his office with a message is one such thing. His companion meanwhile did a little window shopping.
Nyx sees the pques for bars, eateries, and jewelry. A man could be seen walking around with his family, hands full with many souvenirs. An Anaty woman and her friends are enjoying ice cream and gossiping in their pavilion. The sea could also be seen to be jam-packed with tourists and a few civil officers keeping the peace.
Unlike Dossoles, she is verily certain that the Mayor of Siesta is a much more upright man compared to her another regur customer who happens to be a sve driver. She shows curiosity and carefreeness but her mental synapse has been put on overdrive and scanning non-stop for even a tiny little fly that looks at her Mwi a tad wrong.
Her spies or usual paparazzi aside, Siesta is a melting pot of people who either came for tourism, investment, or looking for work. The tug of war between Victoria and Columbia hasn’t been all bad, simply because armed conflict would not be preferable and a trade city turned battlefield would not be profitable. That’s how Siesta managed to steadily increase its influence and capital, with investors of not much renown to the Schwire Group itself, they have a lot of options.
Those less fortunate exist, but instead of doing nothing, the Doykos Family has been doing their best to employ them gradually. Unknown to her, that pink and bluish-haired Liberi has been counting on Cordelia to help develop the nd for that exact purpose. More work means less crime and less crime means more tourists, and with more tourists, his dream would be easier to achieve. Having close ties with Cordelia PMC won’t hurt in the slightest and could be considered a bonus.
Her eyes were soon drawn to a nearby boutique. She noticed the sign that it was Vitafield brand, well known for having designed clothing for outdoor excursions. Nyx fondly recalled the times she agreed to model for them, and has been able to foster an amicable retionship. Her favorite was a set of shirts with exposed shoulders, a jacket being hung on her shoulder, cargo pants fit for harsh environments, and a beanie. The accessories include a backpack for hiking, ropes and a belt for rescue, dark gsses, an armament bandolier, and so much more.
She was about to just focus back on their destination before she id eyes on a wedding dress. Her eyes widened seeing the pristine, nigh-immacute, and modest dress. Stopping her steps, she couldn’t tear her vision away from it. M?ynar notices her sudden stoppage and turns his head to where she’s looking. He sees that pristine white dress with flowery embroidery and thin lines of gold. The sigils and runic pattern were an odd choice in his mind, but fashion was not something he readily understood.
His attention was returned when Nyx scoffed out of her stupor. She starts wondering if the world is going out of its way to mock her for something outside of her control. Nyx realized the ridiculousness of that thought and she rather not waste more time on frivolous fantasy when Kazimierz is teetering on the brink of civil war.
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The pair are waiting for their food. Nyx guided him towards a small eatery that has a small but avid customer. It just so happens that they managed to reserve a room so they could enjoy lunch in peace. His order was nothing too fancy, just a Bolivarian-style steak with avocado sauce and orange juice. Nyx got herself a sandwich and soup plus a smoothie.
Waiting for their food, Nyx is content to just watch him still insisting to do his work. He has his ptop opened with his fingers clicking away at the keys to make a report. He notices her staring and thinks that indulging her a bit more won’t hamper his activity.
“Something the matter?”
“No, I just find that your irksome workaholic nature is adorable now that I think about it.”
“That’s so? I’m afraid you should look into the mirror yourself. I’m not the one who keeps disappearing for weeks on end now.” His words made her giggle, a dispy of emotion she would be hesitant to show anyone else. It reminds her of the past when the role was reversed, her being worried for days because of his prolonged search with little contact.
Still, her amusement doesn’t st long. He notice the shift in the air, but let her decide to take the initiative or none at all. The Grey Serpent’s trademark of being quick was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes darted from the table to him, moved to the window and back at him again, and then repeated ad infinitum. Swallowing a lump in her throat, she soon speaks.
“… How is Margaret doing?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, her tone was shaken, and she couldn’t keep her hands on the table. She is torn between rapping her fingers on the table or just keep staring down but her slowly swaying tail makes further details a heap of luxury.
“She is doing fine. A stubborn child as always, heard she has been gaining fame of her own.” The Tenebrous Hero still gave her the courtesy to back out. She appreciated his gesture and processed a bit more inside her mind.
“…You know… um… I’m not talking about that…”
“… Fine.” He shelved his work for ter and turned off the device, the advancement of technology made it easier for him to process his duty while traveling. He put the device inside his briefcase, straightening his posture, and only then did M?ynar have his eyes level with hers.
“She is a moron, na?ve and foolhardy. Too busy chasing non-existing justice, crowing upon the idea of betterment but throwing all of us into the whirlpool.” He is just an octave away from growling. The man has been questioned by both the council and the Adeptus about the Nearl’s stance on the matter. He rejects them, saying that only the Knight Primus knows. The golden-haired Kuranta calmed down, he needed to make Nyx understand Margaret’s thought process… confusion.
“No, that’s incorrect, Margaret doesn’t even know what type of justice she wanted deep down… Would it be for the Campaign Knight bleeding with little supplies, the commoners that have been cheated of their hard work, or even her desire to find an answer to her parent's disappearance, she doesn’t know.” His shoulders shifted low, a disappointment of a man at the end of his wits.
“I tried Nyx. I did, but she is adamant about seeing this debacle in her way. Her aspiration is commendable, but she acted rashly… what had you taught of her?”
His tone was harsher than intended, causing her fingers to dig into her palms. He cursed silently but refrained from backpedaling there. He knows her, and she rarely takes kindly on hearing gentler versions with implicit opinion compared to one that is both a cold and explicit fact.
“… I… taught her how to protect herself. I was hoping she would one day become the Knight Primus through her service and merits in the Army… but I never accounted for her to dial back like that. She is earnest, stupidly earnest to a fault, so why did she suddenly go back on her own words?”
“Outside influence, by the very admirers that wish to cling upon her. Perhaps she found euphoria of being the beacon of hope, a young girl with zero sense for reality.”
“Doesn’t that mean her understanding is limited?”
“That’s the problem. She would have a better luck a few centuries ago, but Kazimierz of today is not worth fighting for.”
“If it’s not worth fighting for… why not do it for the people? The people could live without the system, but the system will always come and go.”
“Indeed… then why didn’t I? The burden, the disappointment, the fruitlessness of it all… I do not know or care about motives when the facts stay the same…The fact that the Nearl Family is blindly abiding by whatever those vultures in the National Council are dictating. Case in point? Schnitz and Ionta is gone.” He heaved a deep sigh.
“Glory, honor, chivalry… all dead, Nyx. Murdered by the very same people that cimed them. An exhibition revolving around a coliseum of bread and circus that is, at its very basic form, innocent and brilliantly heinous simply because it is logical. Time keeps moving, and I’m adapting… that much I’m well assured and… No… there is little meaning to continue.”
“I… hah…” Nyx sunk into her seat, her eyes downcast. She keeps hearing reports about how he is getting less and less enthused to do anything he finds worthwhile. Seeing it directly though? That hurt. No matter her misgivings, she understand his logic, the pain of losing his brother and sister-in-w won’t go away even with the sweetest lie she could coax unto him.
Someone like him became like this, a man who she adored with all her heart. She could never fathom to stay sane in his shoes. Nyx expression took a nosedive, her head hanging low and she let out a rueful sigh with a hint of self-ridicule.
“Yeah… I missed simpler times, maybe I could have taken it a step further in a different direction.” One of her many admittances, which he could not accept because his divided mind would hurt her. He is serious about not letting even a minuscule stray graze her. The man once famed and feared for those who knew him could not let go of them, and he is not keen on muddying the water further.
‘Maybe if Margaret sees her like this, she would reconsider…’
“We all do. I’m certain the younger M?ynar would be sorely disappointed, and the current M?ynar would pity him. He was an utter fool, so prideful on thinking that he made so much difference.”
His downcast expression; so fed up with the world and their mockery of his family sickens him. The man who once braved rain of arrows, the man who once redirected a flood away, and the man who once cowed arrogant noble into a sniveling mess of a child had been reduced to a tired and despondent corporate worker.
Nyx tried her best to indirectly revive that old self of his through Cordelia, but the result is pin for her to see. Tired eyes, tired posture, and so done with the world. She even thinks that he might have forgotten about them, giving her a chance to fill in the void. That sort of thinking made her sick instead, she would be no different than the people he accused of just using the Nearl for their ends.
The Grey Serpent could find no recourse. The dy of war found a battlefield she could not dance and beckoned to her tune. It reminds her of her many outbursts and stress outside prying eyes. The words of that Feline Doctor she desperately hoped to be a cruel joke were proven true time and time again. Other than that looming shadow above, she is reminded of her many duties coupled with many problems that ground her nerves.
Preparing to chart the nd, updating a map of where a temporary refugee camp would be the safest, making predictions about catastrophes, keeping bandits from causing disturbance, and juggling her responsibilities to keep the countries of Terra at bay. So many things, so little time, and there is only one of her. Surges of pain start stabbing her like well-polished and sharpened bdes.
Nyx soon feels a warm touch enveloping her hand. It brought her mind back from wallowing in her predicament. She sees that his hand cradled hers gently, even with the same scowl and gring hues of gold, he shows that he cares. The Pythia shows a thin smile of longing and gratitude.
Before she could enjoy this moment of warmth further, she pulled her hand back when she heard footsteps in their general direction. She tucked her hair back while her reddened face moved away from his. He hummed noncommittally and pulled a newspaper out of nowhere for reading.
Her Kuranta companion watched her silently, not wishing to pour more fuel into the fire else she would snap in a completely different direction. He reclined on his seat with said newspaper in hand, reading about the usual fad or something that might make occupy his mind before the upcoming and tedious work.
Their orders arrived soon and she desperately hoped the waitress wouldn’t notice her complicated expression. After the waitress said her complementary courtesy while pcing their orders on the table, she willed herself to look back at the table with a few locks of her hair obscuring her eyes.
With the bill already paid, with his adamant insistence that it is all on him, the pair continue their lunch in silence. One person moved their utensils with practiced and efficient use complemented by immacute table manners while the other was still lost in self-inflicted embarrassment with visible tremble if one were to look hard enough. No one would though, due to the partitions, who is the target, and because that’s pin rude.
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POV: Herman Doykos
“So what do you think, Schwarz?” I asked my bodyguard about what she could learn from the both of them. Of course, I won’t order her to do anything too malicious against 2 people who could burn Siesta to the ground. The Feline girl steps out from the shadow with a tray in hand, a fresh brew of tea.
“They are not going to be a problem for Siesta or the Young Lady.” She says while filling the cup carefully. Her gentle mannerism was truly unlike the first time she came for my head, all for the better. I doubt there are many people as insane as I to hire an ex-assassin… but this is for the best.
“Respective opinion on them?”
“Sir M?ynar is a formidable warrior. I would need to try dozens of methods to even incapacitate him. He is rexed and willing to put aside conflict, simply due to his nature. There is a high chance that he is willing to overlook a conflict as long as we leave his family alone.”
“And Lady Nyx?” Schwarz pondered her answer carefully. She always has an answer on how to deal with problems quickly, just as 2 weeks ago when she wiped out a den of wbreakers despite repeated warnings. Siestan who knows her starts fearing the girl, but she has a hard time internalizing herself as dangerous, only recognizing that she is doing her duty.
After 5 minutes of pondering her answer. Her voice was accompanied by her pupils diting and her breathing uneven.
“… I’m sorry… I could hold her back for a few hours but ultimately… Lady Nyx would kill me. I could not conceive a pn that would not put either of you in jeopardy.” Her ears fell ft on her head, and she is positively remorseful. She doesn’t take herself into consideration, only caring about our safety.
“That much I understand, what I want to know would be… what would you do next?”
“Regardless, I will not hesitate. You and the Young Lady had allowed me a chance to set the record straight, so I shall stand by either of your side. Even if the Grey Serpent burns the city to the ground, I will not leave your side.”
Her voice returned to its mostly hollow tone. Ensved since childhood and turned into an assassination tool still deeply entrenched inside her mind. Even when I tried to hammer in the fact that her attempt on my life was nothing personal and that she should not feel remorse; she stubbornly doubled down. Freeing and allowing her to make her own choice resulted in her begging to make amends upon non-existent debt.
She would comply with my orders for professional therapy, but that would result in mental conditioning; a complete opposite of what I had intended. Thus I let her be subtly influenced by Ceylon, with the bodyguard duty as the means to an end.
“… Cronin could learn a thing or two from you.”
“Cronin is a capable man, he is well-versed in bureaucracy and administration, something I would never be able to accomplish…”
“The kid has ambition, and I think that he has what it takes to do so. My sole fear would be him losing his footing and misjudging the examples I had shown to him.” Standing from my seat, I watch as the city built in my wife’s legacy trying to stand the test of time. Influxes of foreign currency and wealth have been paying their due dividends. However…
“I wonder, how long could I st under this unreliable rule?”
“… Sir?” the grey and bck-haired Feline tilted her head questioningly. I find her more innocent gestures to perfectly mirror my daughter… If only I could stop looking so anguished every time I gaze upon Ceylon’s face. Hopefully, Schwarz could be someone she holds dear in the pce of this failure of a man.
‘I’m failing horribly as a father… Dear, please give me strength…’
“The matter of independence, Schwarz.” Taking a generous sip of the tea, my eyes scanned over the sea with its boundless potential. If we were to put more effort into shipping, we would gain another card to keep the great powers away. With the correct offers and benefits, I could requisition an accomplished architect to manage and pn the relocation. Uttering promises of lower tariffs and taxes, I could distract competing corporations from touching my power base recklessly.
Yet I could not secure the engineer for greater undertaking such as shipping I said earlier, the sum needed to construct such an ambitious project would drain our coffers for decades. Not to mention how that would make us seen as a threat. We are Kjerag with its naturally defensible terrain and harsh eternal winter, we are an open ground for invasion.
The invasion is not the problem, the intervention is. At that point, Siesta is as good as dead.
‘If only our obstacles and hurdles be so simple.’
“I have a retively easier time to keep Columbian rule on us be minimal. Since the charter’s establishment and cooperative nature upon legal rights, we could dictate this region on our terms while paying our due. It would be perfect if the mobile city transition could be done as swimmingly.”
“… Should I ask for Cronin to come? I’m not sure how could I provide a suitable counsel, Sir.”
“No need. I only wish for you to listen, for Ceylon’s sake so you could be her anchor.” Pushing out a tired sigh.
There is also another problem that needs to be prepared for. Lady Baroness had informed me that Siesta’s volcano, while dormant, could be deliberately triggered. Her st survey noted the existence of Originium slugs that feast upon the molten rocks and minerals deep within.
She cautioned me that their ecosystem is delicate because it is so simple. When these slug starved, they would dig deeper into the mountain. The deeper they dig, the higher the chance of va bursting forth and contaminating the area with Originium magma. Since Originium veins are votile, an explosion would turn into a camity. Naturally, this is not a piece of information meant for public consumption, thus I only enforced a ban on mining inside the volcano.
‘I wonder when is the time for me to let Schwarz know, but it is not now.’ Schwarz sat in muted attention and heightened state of awareness, obediently awaiting me to continue.
“Victoria is still pressuring us. As I had told you before, my te wife was Victorian. She needs to conceal herself due to the rising prejudice and suspicion. Her passing is still hard on me, but I could not give up. Siesta is my pride and her dream my objective; a future she had always encouraged and impressed to be possible. It would be disastrous to turn Victoria on us, but we could not refute them without concrete reasoning.” I sat back on the chair and pulled a stack of documents from the drawer beneath.
“By using the Columbian’s investment and our status of commonwealth’s associate, we could steer them away from annexing us outright. As you might have known, Victoria sees the Columbia in a bitter light after their disastrous defeat.”
“…”
“With us gaining their investment, the Victorians are barred from doing anything drastic. Columbia invested a substantial amount of funding, shown with their company's interest… and the problems that it brought… how many spies had you caught just yesterday?”
“Me and my men had eliminated 12 Victorian, 7 Columbian, then apprehended 2 Siracusan and 4 Minoan. There has been a noticeable increase in surveilnce, possibly due to Lady Grey Serpent’s existence… should I refrain from overt action?”
“If it could not be done quietly, then let them see more than usual, it could also serve as reference and proof about Lady Nyx’s truth from fiction. However, do remember that they are no longer welcomed the moment Lady Baroness left the city.”
“Affirmative, anything else you wish to add?”
“Look after Ceylon as usual.” Schwarz's impassive expression cracked into uncertainty.
“… Understood, I shall ensure that no one shall harm her.” Even with her lingering doubt, she didn’t voice it.
‘What must I do for this foster daughter of mine…?’
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who has frequent mental breakdown and recovery.
Here we see her and Conrad trying to gather allies to be used for the worst case scenario. The question is, would it work? Or would her aggressive preparation entice unwanted eyes? We’ll see.
Update number 2 of this month.
Ciao
