-Grief is the Price, Part 5-

"Assault-One to Regal-One. Please standby, we are beginning our counterattack."

Static stung my ear as Julius' voice announced his arrival.

Two over-manned Vanixian divisions pushed the Renaultians from the south. Their opening attack had sent the gendarme at the center running, desperate to avoid another blast from the rune-cannon.

It wouldn't be fair to say the Renaultian forces were awful—they were, but it was because things hadn't been fair from the start.

One might assume by the timing that they attacked moments after they believed both our main armies had engaged with their holdouts across the city. Likely filled with traps and resistance fighters trained on annoying guerrilla tactics to slow or stop their ability to counter.

They couldn't have expected Aisling and Julius to be waiting closely behind them, ready to pounce.

And they certainly wouldn't have factored in the technological beast that Lira and the artificers had created.

Our ballista volley that obliterated the city's defense was an unstoppable surprise, so a self-driven platform that output double or triple the firepower…? Unthinkable.

UNTHINKABLE FOR SURE. BUT DON'T PRETEND AS IF YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THAT THING EVEN WORKS.

"They're scattering like roaches." I laughed, ignoring Ruin's jab at my poor know-how.

With the enemy attack suppressed, we all had relaxed. Mother and my knights came to watch the chaotic rout below.

"Isn't this outcome kind of a bad thing?" Aeko asked, "It'll be impossible to catch the ones fleeing, making our stay here infinitely long."

"Well," I started, "I suppose it might, but we'd ultimately just have to starve them out with a small force holding the city. Look over there."

I pointed at a handful of blue-clothed runaways being yanked into an alley by masked, black-clothed figures and clapped in cuffs or tied with rope.

"Seems Hanna and Luke's forces are participating in this covert campaign as well."

The Void's heavy influence within the palace was noticeable after we'd come above ground. SENSE FOLLOWER had been muted below, now I could accurately detect the hundreds of devotees throughout the city—if we had come up sooner I would've noticed our counterattack forces.

Nobody could've been bothered to fill us in?

Anxiety and stress had transformed into anger, and I was seething. When I next saw Julius, he was gonna get it.

"Should we remain here, or…?" Flik questioned our next move.

"No," I replied, "Let's make our way down and start toward Command. Everyone else should have evacuated the palace by now, so there's no point in remaining. And who knows if it's safe, with structural damage and Renaultians on the loose."

Knight-Protector Anherst and his squad escorted us through the inner workings of the tower to the gatehouse and down into the city streets.

We startled a few gendarmes who'd managed to enter the gate's interior barracks, thankfully they surrendered, and our progress wasn't impacted much.

The city square south of the gates was taken by our forces by the time we emerged. Lira's behemoth was parked in the center of the thruway, preventing anyone from crossing to the outer districts.

"Boss!"

The short elf girl jogged over, waving her hands. Her uniform was covered in grease and blackened stains.

"Lira, I thought you were assisting my sister."

"I was, but the field team needed more hands to get this beast rolling. Rias had plenty to keep her busy, so I volunteered! How was it? Neat, huh?"

She motioned toward the giant tank with a smirk.

"It is neat, but I distinctly recall not having anything remotely like this when we set siege to the city."

Ballistae and supply wagons, sure, but if we had access to a mobile platform like this, we would've used it in our breach into Maarin territory.

Lira started rattling off technical nonsense about how it was built, who came up with ideas for which parts, and how much power it consumed.

Most of it went over my head.

The key takeaway I understood was that they scrapped two of the ballistae and built this machine by reinforcing spare wagon parts and seizing aetherflux compatible devices from the city defenses.

At some point, I ended up introducing Lira to Mother as Rias' best-friend, and she was whisked away to be interrogated by Mother.

Sorry, Lira, you were simply a sacrifice I had to make.

I said a prayer for her as she was dragged along with us when our group continued south.

THERE HE IS.

Ugh, just look at that smug face.

Julius was out on the street, talking with some divisional officers. Nearby, a group of soldiers were setting up a forward post inside an emptied house or store.

"Oh, hey, I hope—Nngh!" Julius doubled over in pain.

"Airis?" My mother called my name in shock.

I had sucker-punched him in the groin.

I meant to aim for the gap between his chestplate and waist to get a good jab in his side, but he turned so quickly and repositioned a step back to face me.

My arm just continued on course…

BWAHAHA! SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU ASSHOLE!

Ruin's laughter erupted in my mind as he fell to the ground, shock plastered over his face.

"W-Why?"

"Well, I hadn't meant to hit you there, but now that I have, I don't regret it. I'll apologize to Mei later."

"What–are you even–talking about…" He whimpered.

"You treated Ruin like garbage, so I was planning to get a solid hit in to avenge her feelings. But then my mother was surprise attacked by Renaultians while recovering, and nobody bothered to give us a heads up that they knew it was coming."

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"We–couldn't risk–Gods, it hurts–hooo," Julius breathed heavily, "It was operational security."

"I call BS. You could've called on the rune-to-rune channel, or sent a runner if you didn't even trust that. But I bet you probably thought I wasn't stable and Ruin may have taken over for me at any time. Because you didn't trust her, you failed to trust me."

"Sorry."

"Haah," I sighed, "Sorry for what? Being an ass to Ruin, getting caught, or stressing me out?"

Julius remained quiet, and glanced away.

A flash of anger zipped through me, and my divinity surged. My two already semi-unstable auras flared up, causing those around us to flinch under the pressure and eerie presence.

"We'll talk about it later. Wrap up your secure operation and return to Command."

I left in a huff.

Gods dammit.

WELL. I APPRECIATE YOU STICKING UP FOR ME. EVEN IF IT MAKES THINGS AWKWARD WITH JULIUS FOR A DAY OR TWO.

Yeah, yeah. We need to get this broken seal resolved before I do something I regret.

I refused to turn around and see what faces Hailey or Mother were making.

The failed attack on the hidden palace was the death throes of both the Renaultian Republic and its shadowy mirror Kingdom.

That isn't to say there weren't still some nobles attempting to resist or officers on the run. It's just that those few were now isolated and methodically being tracked down.

It had been just under two weeks since our opening volley had set the city ablaze, and with the threat that was Renault contained, it was time to turn my attention to the third-rail.

What does the renewed Vanixian Empire do about the peoples of the Maarin Republic and Renaultian-remnant?

I was of the mind that anyone directly tied to the coup d'état should be executed for not only the atrocities against the Vanixian people but also for their assistance in aiding a cosmic force intending to eradicate humanity.

Selling crimes against the government or its populace wasn't hard, there would be hardliners arguing for imprisonment and reform—those who were in my father's camp—but with all the evidence we had, nobody could deny the charges.

The difficult bit would be actually proving that the transgressors knowingly sold out humanity to the Void. That would be a much harder case.

We also suffered from having temporary positions within entire interim administrations back in Tolin. Proper votes couldn't be tallied.

Do I even need votes? I don't have rulership over the Republic, so I should judge based on Imperial Law…

Where's Dell when you need him?

The people I'd grown to rely on were currently half-staffed with some remaining behind in Tolin, such as Adellin, who'd taken on the role of Head Minister.

"Why not form a new council to hear out the different organizations for you?" Mother suggested after I confided in her, "They could compile popular opinions so you can make more informed decisions. I don't know which system is right, but I'll support you as long as you don't go too crazy. No mandatory hairstyles or frivolousness like that."

"Thanks, but that leaves me back at square one, who do I put on this council? I'm missing the key members, and if I fill it with my companions, I doubt it'll be well received."

"Well, you can always make any exigent judgments now and table everything else once you have the people you need."

I sighed, "You were a big help, Mother, thank you."

DON'T LIE TO MOM LIKE THAT.

What do you want me to do, tell her that her solution just wraps around straight back to the problem I brought her?

Ruin said nothing.

A council sounds great, something like the Consulate Court the Republic had—maybe even keeping the same name. I'll consult Dell and get that in the works once we return to Tolin. For now…

I sent out a notice for all divisional officers to gather for a formal call-to-order, those we arrived with and those who were freed from the interment camps. Invitations were also sent to Karina and the Church officials. Though, anyone with solely a political background was excluded. After the incident with Bashir, there was reason to doubt their allegiances

Hailey was assigned as my adjutant, and when the meeting started, she stood from her seat next to me and started the proceedings.

"This call-to-order is designated as highly-restricted. All members are sworn to keep any details discussed here to themselves. Anyone who does not adhere to this will be punished under Imperial Law to the highest degree."

The military officers rose and stood at attention.

Most of the clergy followed, including Primarch Karina and Exarch Anathalo. Those who did not seemed like unfamiliar faces—older men, Magisters likely recovered during the city's liberation.

I ignored them, addressing the standing officers and clergy instead.

"At ease, I understand my unexpected call-to-order interrupted many a busy schedule, and your attendance is greatly appreciated. There are a number of smaller issues that need addressing by individuals, and we will single you out afterwards, but for now I will start with the pressing matters."

I motioned to Luke and Hanna, who'd been waiting on either end of the mess hall I had re-appropriated for a temporary meeting chamber.

They began passing out pamphlets. I had some mages ink them up with magick, making liberal use of the white paper we recovered from the Maarin and Renaultian administrative offices.

When they finished, Hanna stood opposite Hailey and began to read a copy she kept aloud.

⌈IMPERIAL DECREE

Orders of Her Imperial Divinity, Airis Vanixi, the rightful heir to the Empire of the Light–Vanixian Empire

1. The Triumvirate Republics are henceforth abolished, and all statutes under the Humanity Unification Accords are superseded by Imperial Law. The Maarin Republic shall be dissolved, and its leader's authority is not recognized by the Imperial Family. All bodies of government and its peoples are annexed into the Vanixian Empire. The Renaultian Republic shall be dissolved, and its leader's authority is not recognized by the Imperial Family. All bodies of government and its peoples are annexed into the Vanixian Empire. The Vanixian Republic shall be dissolved, and its leader's authority will be recognized by the Imperial Family in the form of a newly formed Consulate Court. All bodies of government and its peoples are annexed into the Vanixian Empire.

2. The entirety of the city of Axio is declared to be hallowed ground for the consecrated remains of the Vanixian people. Its borders are henceforth under the authority of the Imperial Family and the Church of the Consecrated Light. All non-military or non-clergy persons living within the sacred lands must vacate within five (5) days of this decree.

3. All citizens of Maar are deemed innocent of the crimes committed by the Maarin Republic until proved otherwise. Detailed investigations will be made prior to the withdrawal of Imperial Army from Axio City. Non-compliance during these investigations will be considered as guilt of concealment, and the offenders will be executed in accordance with Imperial Law, Article 13 § 203

Concealment of treason and failure to report. "Any persons, living under the Grace of the Imperial Family, having knowledge of the commission of any treason against them, conceals and does not disclose and make known the same to the Imperial Family or to some appointed judiciary officer of the Empire of the Light is guilty of concealment of treason and shall be summarily executed under this title."

4. All citizens of Rena are deemed guilty of the crimes committed by the Renaultian Republic until proved otherwise. Detailed investigations will be made post withdrawal of the Imperial Army from Axio City. Resistance to apprehension will be considered guilt of rebellion or sedition, and the offenders will be executed in accordance with Imperial Law, Article 13 § 204 and § 205

Rebellion or insurrection "Any person who incites, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the Grace of the Imperial Family, or the laws thereof, is guilty of rebellion or insurrection and shall be summarily executed under this title."

Seditious conspiracy "Any person in any Imperial Territory, or in any place subject to the Grace of the Imperial Family, who conspires to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force any Core Institution of the Vanixian Empire, is guilty of sedition and shall be summarily executed under this title."

5. Imperial special information officers, "Crimson Seekers" will immediately apprehend all political minsters and military officers of the former Triumvirate Republics.

6. Any able-bodied persons over the age of sixteen (16) and under the age of thirty (30) shall be conscripted into the Imperial Army until the entirety of the city of Axio has been reclaimed and Vanixian citizens accounted for. Once the Imperial Army withdraws from Axio and returns to Tolin, they will be relieved of service requirements and returned to civilian status under supervisory parole.⌋

The room was dreadfully quiet.

Throughout the declaration, I watched expressions change and caught the gaze of more than one startled officer.

"We can make slight changes if necessary." I broke the silence, "I plan to use whatever paper supplies we have left and begin distributing these through the city in less than a week's time."

"We're going to abandon the city?" An officer asked, and murmurs of shared sentiment washed through the crowd.

Hanna answered at my request, providing some surface-level reasoning, "The great cathedral is in ruins. Both High Command and Central Command were completely torched by the Renaultians. According to my Seekers' reports, the Maarin district is seventy percent destroyed beyond repair, the entire southern defensive wall has been leveled, and the buildings in the Renaultian district have all suffered severe structural damage to the point that standard residential buildings could collapse at any time."

Karina followed her up, unprompted, from her seat nearby, "The city has been bathed in Her Imperial Divinity's grace. Divine flowers containing the essence of our fallen peoples have sprouted throughout the entirety Axio. We cannot simply remove these and rebuild as if they were overgrown weeds."

Most of the Church members nodded along, but I noticed the few dissenters. I didn't let it bother me.

Karina will sort them out soon enough.

"Reconstruction efforts alone would take a decade," I added, "Tolin may have fallen into disrepair, but the foundations of the city haven't been destabilized by a national-class spell. So let's move forward with the general idea that all of us, the former citizens of Axio, will be relocating to Tolin."

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