"Shadow beasts huh?" Timothy asked, leaning forward on the table with the map of the surrounding lands on top. Lucia, Shadow, Braun, William and Layfare were also in the room.
"I have never heard of this Your Majesty" Shadow said. "Believe me. I am also shocked. I never thought his gift would be about making these shadow beasts."
"The largest are truly large" Lucia said. "And the smallest is still dangerous. And here we are, thinking that we could sit back and enjoy the peace. I don't think we can do something to help Levan. It is just too far."
"Not just Levan, Your Majesty" Braun said. "There are also reports of the Shadow Beasts in Wismar. Hadea, Avelon and Hanome are are to respond though."
"I will write to my father" Layfare said, fiddling with her fingers. "I hope they are alright."
"Yes but the question remains, sires." Braun said. "What are we to do?"
Timothy looked at the map again. Levan was directly beside the Ninev mountains. Wismar and Hadea were the only vassals currently at risk.
"We need information." Lucia said. "Everything we needed to know, we must know. Weaknesses, speed, organization, intelligence, numbers, everything. We need spies and scouts by the thousand. And..." She shook her head. "We need to cooperate with Wismar."
"Dawn and Steelsword legions in Kotara could help with that." Timothy said.
"But that's not all" Lucia said. "There would be refugees Tim. A lot of them. Millions. Should we accept them?"
"I..." Timothy paused, thinking. The decision would decide the fate of millions. "I don't know. Even if our treasury piles up, food feeds and not coin. And the food we produce each year might not be enough if there was a mass migration south. We might need to invest in the long term. Increase food production and better the logistics."
"We also need to end the war with Calgari and focus on defending against this new threat." Braun traced his wrinkled fingers on the map. "This is truly a crisis."
Timothy paced to the window. It was peaceful outside. But it would all change. A new war looms on the horizon, one which wouldn't be fought in conventional ways. Everything everyone knew about warfare would need to be overhauled to match the new threat.
"We need to unite" Lucia said.
"Yes." Timothy agreed. She and him were of one mind. "We must unite. Not just Castonia and Vanadis but also everyone else. Tulosa, Canton, Inkit, Hadea, Wismar and everyone else. We must unite or else we would perish. Send letters Braun. Send letters to all the nations. To everyone who can contribute to our survival. Warlords, mercenary captains, pirates, small lords and nobles, Dukes, tribal leaders, everyone you can reach. Tell them that we desire cooperation."
"No. That wouldn't be enough." Lucia said. "We need to make it formal. Braun get some papers and a quill."
The Baron went to the bookshelf and grabbed the items without question. He fastened his monocles and dipped the quill in the ink.
Lucia went to the Baron's side. "Fifteenth day of Early Spring, Year Five Hundred and Eighty-one." Braun scribbled what Lucia dictated.
"Treaty of Nirvana. Let all men know that beginning today, The League of Kingdoms is forged into being by Castonia and Vanadis in hope to unite all humans against the threat of the cull. All with power is invited to pledge their support. The League shall be spearheaded by both Castonia and Vanadis and all members could benefit from equal protection. All resources shall be shared to better defend the realm of man. May God bless us with a strong union. May we triumph in the end. Long live us all."
Lucia took the quill after Braun was done. She signed Vanadis' support. Timothy was the next one to sign.
"You have the authority?" Timothy asked Layfare.
"I believe so." She took the quill and promised Hadea's inclusion.
The next one was Shadow who pledge the Resistance's cooperation. When all was done, four signatures were on the paper.
"This will grow." Lucia said.
"Yes this will. New rules will be added. New allies will join." Timothy said. "But for now it is enough."
***
A few weeks later.
Lucia found that the stairs had become troublesome to her. Their child was growing fast .
She went up the stairs of the palace wall anyway, each step was carefully placed. She was winded after reaching the top.
The wind blew her hair back. The setting sun was cast near the horizon. Nirvana was to her front.
She walked a few more paces and reached Timothy who was leaning forward against the merlon.
"You should have stayed in bed." His tone was stiff. A sigh sounded after. "Must you make me worry?"
"I have missed you."
"I wasn't away for too long."
"Even a heartbeat without you is too long."
He chuckled. "Come to my side then."
Lucia went to Timothy side. On Timothy's hand was Ashkara's journal.
"We will translate it in time." She said.
"I know. But the lack of progress is disappointing. I thought we could discover secrets from this but nothing."
Lucia leaned her head on Timothy's shoulder. His tunic felt warm. And his smell was lulling her to sleep.
"We have received Avelon's response. They will join."
"And Hanome?"
"Nothing yet."
"That is good news nonetheless. Our little consortium grows larger by the day." Timothy wrapped his arm around her waist. "What do you think? About us leading all the nations against whatever is inside the Ninev Mountains?"
"Honestly I don't know what to think anymore. Our strange dreams, the glowing stone, the vision I saw during our wedding. And yet I got pregnant. Who are we, really?"
"Does it matter?"
She smiled. "No. It doesn't. I am Lucia Vanadis and you are Timothy Castonia. That is all we are. The Eternal Pair or not. I don't care about magic. I don't care about fate. I met you and I loved you."
He nodded and then kissed her. It was their gentlest kiss, full of emotions. They parted and Lucia's cheeks flushed.
"We have tons of things to do. The next years will be filled with both heartaches and headaches. A lot of trials will batter our way." Timothy said.
"A lot couldn't even describe the burden. But we will triumph in the end Tim. We will work together like how we always have."
Timothy smiled to that. He held out his palm. "Together?"
"Yes" Lucia put her palm on Timothy's. "Together"