Minister Cicero escorted them to a set of stately double doors, and then waved at it slowly. "Beyond this lies His Eminence in his full station and glory. Take heed, for he represents not only himself, but the entire people."

Claud gazed at the double doors for a moment, looking at the emblazoned sun on it. He didn't quite understand why there was a symbol on it, but the sun definitely represented something important. After all, this was the entrance to the Emperor's personal quarters.

It had to mean something.

"Leave it to me," Lily murmured, placing a hand on his arm. "I'll take the lead for this one."

"Alright." Claud looked at Lily.

"Besides, I'm a high-ranked folder now." Lily grinned. "It is only right and proper that I stand in front of you!"

"Oh, you're playing that card now?" Claud asked.

"Uh-huh."

Claud looked at her happy expression, and then made a funny face. "Well, it's not like you're wrong…alright. Go and do your thing! I'll just watch and learn by the sides like a good little student."

"Alright!"

"Well, you two sure don't seem nervous." Minister Cicero shook his head. "Well then, the Emperor awaits."

The double doors opened, and the two of them stepped across the threshold. The door closed behind them a heartbeat later, and Claud looked at what seemed like a reception room or something. In the middle of the luxurious walls and smooth stone floor was a nice set of table and chairs, and the chairs definitely reminded him of little old Crown in terms of texture.

"Can we sit down?" Claud asked, looking at the chairs.

"Best not to." Lily patted her chest. "Just follow my lead."

Claud nodded and slunk into her shadow.

After a few seconds of waiting, the double doors on the other end opened, and the familiar, slender visage of Emperor Grandis appeared in front of them. He didn't look that old, but anyone who knew basic history would know that this youthfulness was a disguise. Emperor Grandis was one of the oldest people still alive today, his age minimally six thousand and counting. No one quite knew how old he was, since he was one of the very few survivors of the Third Godsfall, and while his mana circuits had been restricted due to the Coloured Gods' order, he was a supreme repository of knowledge.

It would be wise to not think of him as an dotard.

Lily, holding Claud's hand, bowed once. "We greet the sun of the Empire, the first of his name, Emperor Grandis."

Claud followed suit, copying Lily's proclamation at a speed that wouldn't make him sound like he didn't know anything about noble etiquette…and it really wasn't his fault. Count Nightfall and Lostfon had treated them informally quite quickly, and they were easygoing people to begin with.

However, the person in front of him was the stately Emperor Grandis, and while they had interacted informally, this was a different game altogether.

Like what Minister Cicero had said, Emperor Grandis, right now, represented not only himself as a person, but himself as a nation. To show him disrespect would be to challenge the entire Empire's dignity, the outcome of which probably wouldn't be all that pleasant.

"Dispense with the formalities," Emperor Grandis replied. "Take a seat, please."

The three of them settled around the table, and Emperor Grandis nodded. "Be at ease, the two of you."

Lily nodded. "We thank you for your kindness."

"Tut, tut." Emperor Grandis tapped the table twice, and a bunch of servants streamed into the room. "You two certainly were a lot more informal back then."

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"The setting is different," Lily replied, watching on with undisguised interest as the servants laid out a full course meal on the table. "And you represent a lot of people in this particular setting."

"You are a noble?" Emperor Grandis asked.

"Was a noble," Lily replied. "From Julan."

The Emperor froze, and as he lowered his head, he seemed like a middle-aged uncle who had heard about some bad news. "My condolences."

Lily grunted once. "So, to what pleasure do we owe this invitation to, Emperor Grandis?"

"Mhm. There are unprecedented changes going on in this war right now. The Moons and the Dark have retreated from the frontlines, and they've even sent a delegation to my gates. I have a headache, so I've put off meeting them for now," he replied. "This is a good time for us to catch our breath and gather strength, and to that end, I've invited you two."

"To join your defenders?" Lily asked.

"Indeed," Emperor Grandis replied. "I believe you two have the inclination to help too, seeing as how you entered my city openly."

"Mhm. We did have that intention," Lily replied.

"In that case, what do you want from me?" Emperor Grandis asked. "If it is within my capability, I will provide you with whatever you need, be it lifestones, equipment and other similar objects."

"That would be nice," Lily replied. "However, our main purpose is to look for our companions. The Shadows of Grandis are famed for their information-seeking skills; it is with these skills that we hope to locate our missing companions."

"The Seekers of Life, I believe." Emperor Grandis smiled. "There is no need to mobilise them. Princess Dia and her companions are currently in the northern encampment, presumably as bewildered as I am over the sudden retreat of the Dark's forces."

"They're there?" Lily asked.

"That's…" Claud wondered if he should continue on. It was a rather permissible atmosphere, though, so he didn't cut his own words off. "Good. Are they safe?"

"Indeed so," Emperor Grandis replied. "Some of them are probably sick, though. Sick of the lifestones they've been throwing into their mouths. Now, then. I suppose you two will desire compensation for your service…"

"Pure-ranked lifestones will do," Lily replied. "I, however, am uncertain about the going rates for a hexa- and a septa-folder."

"…What?" The air around Emperor Grandis changed. "A septa-folder?"

Lily nodded, before an intense glow erupted from her body. Her presence intensified rapidly, and the air around her began to warp.

Emperor Grandis nodded heavily, and the glow around Lily died down. "Unbelievable. To think that a youngling would beat me to it. Truly, chaotic times produce heroes…you are very brave, Lily Julan. You have my compliments."

"Thank you. But before we work on the rates and all, we have something else on the agenda," Lily added.

"Something else on the agenda?"

"A personage that wants to meet you," Lily replied. "Claud?"

Claud nodded, and then fished out the black cube from his pocket, who promptly flew over to Emperor Grandis.

"Hmm." Lesser Half orbited Emperor Grandis once. "So, you are the ruler of the Grandis Empire."

"That is me, indeed," Emperor Grandis replied, his voice touched by a hint of confusion. "And you are…?"

"I am Lesser Half," the black cube replied.

"Lesser Half…" Emperor Grandis paused, and a huge array of expressions ran through his face. "Of the Dark?"

"That is me, indeed," Lesser Half replied. "This is a fragment of my consciousness, freed from the bindings that my sister has cast upon me. Nonetheless, I am still me. Worry not."

Claud had a feeling that this wasn't what Emperor Grandis was worrying about, though.

Emperor Grandis stared at the cube intently, and then gestured once. He gazed at something — presumably his Status, although what good that did Claud didn't know — and then nodded.

"It seems that you are indeed Lesser Half." Emperor Grandis furrowed his brows. "And you are here in person? After waging war on my people?"

"I apologise for my sister's aggressiveness. It was my hope that she would continue to maintain a peaceful coexistence with humanity, but she is a very driven person," Lesser Half replied. "I am more curious about humanity itself…"

Emperor Grandis hummed. "It does not seem like it, but I am genuinely surprised by your appearance…and the fact that you were with these two. So, what are you here for?"

"As a courtesy," Lesser Half replied. "Nothing else. My observations of humanity will continue on regardless, but it is only polite to ask about these things in a foreign land. Worry not. I do not have any ill intentions…and I certainly do not know what my elder sister's people are here for either."

The black cube shook once, and then flew back into Claud's pocket, a sight that clearly made Emperor Grandis contemplative once more.

"How are you two related to him?"

"…That's a good question, really." Claud pondered for a moment.

"It's not something we can really answer," Lily chimed in. "But he is very harmless in this state. And adorable, too."

"Youths these days sure have a novel sense of aesthetics," Emperor Grandis muttered. "Hmm. Well, as long as he does not intend any harm, I'll leave him to it. My instincts tell me that this might be a way to break out from this deadlock."

He thought for a while, and then shook his head. "At any rate, let us return to the topic at hand. Renumeration."

It was, all things considered, a rather nice word to hear for Claud.

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