A week after Leonard caused a disruption, Dawn came back to Tempestas for more negotiations. The previous joint treaty he had made with Dirram and the young nation his feet were set in was only a non-aggression pact for Aurora. Dirram had gotten much more, from trade deals to a road between the cities, and Sun did not want to be left out. Merchants, adventurers, and sentinel refugees all passed through Silverlake. Some, like the refugees, sought out Dirram for asylum. Merchants sold equipment to adventurers exploring the forest or on a journey. With the formation of Tempestas, all three groups could settle permanently there, with the merchants starting their own businesses to the adventurers finding a place to stay for the night. The refugees flocked here, spurred by the fact that the ruler of Tempestas was a sentinel himself and that all in his land were treated equally. Even sentinels from Dirram left to live in the fledging nation, increasing its workforce and diversity.
But that was only one reason for Tempestas's rapid rise. The biggest was the obvious one: Tempestas had the vast resources of the forest at its disposal. Even the naiads who protected the forest recognized their strength and gave them ownership of half of Silverlake, something the two seized upon. A primitive elf town became a flourishing power in Eastern Tenebris, and who wouldn't want to be a part of it?
Dawn wanted the same trade deals Maria and Gil had granted to Kanetaine, as well as a mode of transport between the two nations. Most importantly, he wanted an embassy in Tempestas. "I'll be happy to accept your proposals, but I don't think we can have a mode of transport between our countries," Maria smiled. "Aurora is in the sky, after all, and all the inhabitants there can fly."
"Yes, that was something Lord Sun put in there," Dawn sighed. "He completely ignored me and said that you two could come up with something feasible. I apologize for that."
"No worries," Gil smirked. "I suppose if Lord Sun really wants it, we could construct an inclined bridge thousand of meters long, but there are some conspicuous problems with that. To compensate, why don't we instead offer a free trade agreement, one with little tariffs?"
"I like the sound of that. What are your terms?"
"Not really much. You guys get a big win because your businesses have to pay less, and I win because they'll be more likely to set up shop here. Also, this is temporary, but Maria and I have decided to keep tax rates low. We want foreign markets to become a part of our economy, which we hope will grow as a result."
"You've got a deal, then." Dawn signed the papers in front of him and handed them to Alyyiah. "Hopefully, Lord Sun is in a good mood, and he'll accept this with no fuss. Otherwise, do expect me to be back here tomorrow with a bridge proposition."
"Understood," Gil shook Sun's hand. "Is that all you came here for?"
"On executive terms, yes. But I also came here to relax. I've seen you guys have encountered a few hot springs in the forest. Are there any baths?"
"Of course there are." Gil shifted to Maria and Alyyiah. "Why don't we go as well? It's been quite a while since we've enjoyed ourselves."
"It sure has," Maria replied. "Alyyiah, go get Andromeda. She's been working herself to the bone lately."
"That she has," Alyyiah agreed.
When Dawn came into the bath, he was completely drunk. Gil had to assist him into the water so he wouldn't embarrass himself. Gil heard laughter coming from the other side of the pool, blocked by a wall. "I wish I went with them," he groaned. "They sound like they're having so much fun. Meanwhile, I have to tend to this drunk buffoon."
On the other side were Andromeda, Alyyiah, Sarah, and Maria. "I could stay here for days on end," Andromeda moaned. "This is so refreshing. I really appreciate this, Alyyiah."
"Don't be. Maria was the one who asked for you to come."
"You've been driving up an intense work ethic," Maria nodded. "I thought it best to allow you to relax."
"You have my gratitude, Lady Maria. I'll find some way to pay you back."
"Don't. Just enjoy yourself, Andromeda. It's nice seeing you smile again."
Sarah rubbed her chin. "Might I suggest something then? How about a contest?" Alyyiah raised her eyebrow. "A contest here, sister?"
"The rules are simple: whoever can hold their breath the longest underwater wins!"
"Not interested," Maria shook her head. Alyyiah and Andromeda agreed with her. "Well, what if the winner could ask something from Lord Gil, and he couldn't say no?" Sarah wanly smiled as she watched Alyyiah and Maria perk up. In her eyes, her younger sister was being too bashful and indecisive. Maria, on the other hand, took every opportunity she saw, landing multiple dates with Gil. Sarah hoped to help Alyyiah catch up with this game. "Well, if the two of you aren't interested, we could just sit here and talk like old women."
"No, no! We accept!" Sarah grinned. "Alright, Andromeda and I will be the referees. Three...two...one...start!" Andromeda giggled. "Oh, these two will never change. They're too enamored with Lord Gil, don't you think?"
"That's for sure," Sarah laughed. "But I can't blame them. Lord Gil is an idol here - he's the hottest man in Tempestas, and Lady Maria is his counterpart, and I guess my little sis is on her level. Also, Lord Gil did keep his promise. He got our mother the medications she needed, and now she can look forward to a prolonged life. Alyyiah feels indebted to him."
"Is that really all there is to it?"
"My little sister is naive when it comes to boys. One look at Gil and her breath was taken away. Add to that the fact she feels like she wants to owe him, and you get a lovestruck girl. As her older, more experienced sister, I feel it would be mean of me not to help her out."
"What about you? How do you feel about Lord Gil?"
Sarah's face reddened slightly. "Well, I like him as a friend, and I can understand why Maria and my little sister would chase after him. But I don't have any romantic inclinations towards him at the moment."
"At the moment?"
"I can't predict the future. Maybe I'll fall in love with him too and duke it out with my little sis and our Queen here. But right now, he's just a close friend. Speaking of which, how do you feel about Lord Gil?"
"The same way you do. I'm grateful he chose to spare my remaining kin and let us live in Tempestas with honorary positions even after we attacked Lady Maria."
"Yes, our Lords are very gracious," Sarah smiled. "They want to be the ones to finally end the eternal war, and to that end, a dream nation, one where all races lived side by side, was founded to show the world that everyone can live happily. They truly are amazing."
"Ssh, they're coming up now," Andromeda pointed to Maria and Alyyiah, who was gasping for air. The two disputed about who was the victor, which Sarah found amusing. Eventually, she broke them up and declared Alyyiah the winner, which was not out of nepotism.
Dawn wrapped his arms around Gil. "Say, why don't you come to Aurora?"
"What for?"
"More sweet deals, of course! I'll cut tariffs on your stores that sell goods in my nation, as well as share any technological advancements Aurora makes in the future."
"Alright, I'll accept your offer. How about I come next week?"
"Fine by me, Gil. I'll notify Lord Sun of your arrival."
After Sun left, Sarah informed Gil of the contest between Maria and Alyyiah and who won. Gil asked what role he played in the whole event.
"Simple, Lord Gil, the winner could ask anything from you, and you could absolutely not refuse!"
"Really? So what are Alyyiah's demands?"
"She wants a date!" Sarah enthusiastically declared. Gil crimsoned. "Is that really what she asked for?"
"Yes, it is! What's the matter? You don't want to go out with my sister even after all she's done for you? Jerk!"
"It's not like that. I didn't expect Alyyiah to be so direct. Well, if that's what she wants, tell her I'll be waiting by the plaza."
"You got it, Lord Gil!"
For the date, Gil chose to wear a buttoned-up black shirt beneath a black blazer, as well as khaki jeans. He sat on the foundation of the fountain next to him, looking around nervously for Alyyiah. He didn't think he was ready at all for his first date with her. Gil felt a tug on his shoulder. "Sorry, but my sister overthought this a bit too much. Did I keep you waiting for long?"
Alyyiah wore a sparkly blue dress with a loose skirt that covered part of her thighs. Her hair had been braided into a ponytail, and she wore diamond earrings, along with a necklace of black pearls. "I would like to hear your opinion, Lord Gil. Does this dress suit me?"
"You look stunning, Alyyiah. That dress fits you wonderfully," Gil gaped. "Alyyiah's gorgeous in that outfit," Gil thought. "She mentioned her sister before. Was Sarah the one who outfitted her?"
Alyyiah smiled. "Thank you, Lord Gil. You look splendid as well." She locked her arms around Gil's. "Where shall we go first, my lord?"
"Alyyiah, I've told you already - just call me Gil."
"Very well, Gil. Where shall we go?"
"If I remember correctly, a new play's just been released at the theater today. Why don't we start there?"
The play was about a king named Mac. The king's wife had urged him to murder any threats or upstarts to his throne, which he did. After which, news of the king's wicked deeds spread, and the peasantry overthrew him in a bloody revolt. "Well, that was quite a performance, wasn't it?" Gil asked. Alyyiah nodded. "Yes. It was very entertaining, especially the part when the king was overthrown. The look on his face was just comedic. Where to now?"
"How about we go grab ourselves some ice cream and find a bench to sit in? We'll eat lunch at that restaurant you frequent so often."
"Bien Nourriture? I would rather go somewhere else today."
"Alright, then how about the one called Vers le Ciel? It's been rated as the best in Tempestas."
"Yes, I've been wanting to go there too." Alyyiah locked her fingers with Gil's as they walked out of the theater. "If possible, could we go to the park on Main street?"
"That's still being built, isn't it?"
"Bleak said his crew finished the final adjustments yesterday and that the park should be open to all right about now."
"If that's true, then, of course, we can go there as well."
After eating ice cream, the two ordered steak at Vers le Ciel, where they fed each other and laughed. Gil started to enjoy the date, and his nervousness faded. Gil realized he was spending time with Alyyiah, someone he had been intimate with for a year now, and wondered why he was anxious in the first place. He had always spent time with her, just that this time Maria wasn't here.
After the two finished eating, they headed toward the park Alyyiah mentioned. Bleak and the gargoyles made up a large workforce, and they quickly erected grand structures, such as the royal court where Gil and Maria now reside. The park was a lesser work, but just as beautiful. The field was circular and blossomed cherry trees were planted all around, their pink leaves caught in the wind and flying in the air. A wide variety of flowers decorated the floor, contributing to an even prettier scenery. Gil and Alyyiah rested by a bench, the former entertained by the latter's captivation. "Oh, those leaves are so pretty! Gil, what are those trees called?"
"Cherry blossom trees. They're native to Aurora, and Dawn gave them to us as a gift. Do you like them?" Alyyiah nodded. "If you want one, I can ask," Gil smiled.
"Please do!"
Gil felt a tingling sensation and immediately stood up, looking around to assess any threats. He was sure he felt something strange, an irregular aura. Everyone in the park didn't show any abnormalities to him, so he looked up and still found nothing. "Alyyiah, did you feel that?"
"Feel what?"
"I could've sworn I sensed a weird aura nearby."
"I think you're being overly cautious. It's probably nothing to worry-" Alyyiah was disrupted by the Onis, who materialized next to Gil. "My Lord, it isn't safe here. You have to get away." Maria flew down to him not long after. "Gil, did you feel that weird aura? We have to evacuate-" Maria studied Gil, then Alyyiah. Jealousy bubbled within her as she fixed her eyes on Alyyiah. "What exactly did you request from Gil, Alyyiah?"
"I think it's something you wanted to do with him but couldn't because I won the bet, Maria. Let's see...I think the term is a "date."
"Is that so?"
"Stop it, you two. We have a situation on our hands," Gil signed. Alyyiah nodded, smirking. "Yes. We have no time to spare for senseless bickering, Maria. Be a good loser now."
"You're going to regret saying that," Maria smiled. "So, Gil, did you find the source?"
"No. I can't identify where the aura is located. How about you."
"I'm the same...well, not anymore." A naiad bowed before the two of them. "Please excuse me."
"Why is your aura in flux?" Gil asked. "Do you have an illness or some condition?"
"No, Lord Gil. This is an aura we naiads emit when we are in grave danger, as a warning to our kin."
"Grave danger? What on earth is going on? Also, your appearance is similar to Coraline's. Are you related in any way?"
"Yes, Coraline is my older sister. More importantly, a threat looms over the horizon. Scylla has been revived, and she's heading this way to Tempestas." Gil eyed Maria, whose skin he swore was drained of its color. Maria was calm, rational, and level-headed in dire scenarios. If even she was frightened, then that did not bode well for him. "Scylla?"
"Yes, the so-called ruler of the skies. It is a demon the size of a city and has power rivaling that of a demon emperor." Now Gil understood Maria's fear. Lyra had just left the city, and even he and Maria together stood no chance against a demon emperor. Tempestas was totally unprepared to handle one, and the most probable scenario would be that the nation would be destroyed. Gil would not let a random invader destroy his dream to end the war, nor all the effort Maria put in towards managing the nation. It was then he realized there was hope. "Sorry, but I never got your name."
"It's Emma," the naiad apologized. "Did you come up with something?"
"Yes. Do you know who Dawn is?"
"I don't KNOW him, but I know what he looks like."
"Find him, inform him of the situation, and tell him to come to the royal court if he wants to discuss the matter with us."
"Understood. Lord Gil. I'll take my leave." Gil turned to the Onis. "Jaco, I need you to keep an eye on Scylla's movements. Don't engage him." Jaco nodded and began giving orders to his men before teleporting with them. Maria grabbed Gil's arm. "What are you up to, Gil? Without Lyra, we can't possibly go up against Scylla."
"We can't alone, but there's another demon emperor we've recently allied ourselves with. Have you forgotten who rules over Aurora?" Maria's eyes widened. "The demon emperor Sun!"
"Yeah," Gil nodded. "We're not out just yet. If I can convince Dawn to get involved in this affair, I can hopefully get Sun to fight alongside us."
"Yeah, but you won't be doing any of that. That job is assigned to your second-in-command," Maria puffed her chest. "Leave it to me. I'll get Aurora's aid in no time."
"I'm counting on you," Gil smiled. "We should head to the royal court and continue talking there."
Once everyone had taken a seat in the council room and, Emma arrived with Dawn, Gil began the meeting. "According to Emma, Scylla will soon reach Tempestas. This is a monster on par with a demon emperor," he turned to Dawn. "And it's not something we can deal with by ourselves. We would be overjoyed to receive Aurora's aid in tackling this demon. Does anyone want to mention something?"
"I'll prepare the weapons and armor along with my siblings as per the usual," Klain raised his hand. "However, I doubt they'll be of much help against this foe."
Tiffany nodded. "We're dealing with a mighty demon that could obliterate Tempestas in one go."
"And we don't have the firepower to win against it," Sarah added. "To sum it all up, we should just accept defeat and either die in valor or run away."
"That would be the case, but Aurora is ruled over by a demon emperor who's agreed to form an alliance with us," Alyyiah objected. "The sky kingdom is not far from here, and there's a high chance Scylla would attack it, too. It would be in Lord Sun's best interests to assist us."
"I've already sent a messenger to go give the report," Dawn gave a thumbs up. "We should have a decent-sized army as reinforcements. However, about Lord Sun..."
"Is there something wrong?" Maria asked. "Please don't tell me Lord Sun will ignore Scylla because he thinks that it's no match for him." She rolled her eyes when she saw the expression on Dawn's face. "If only demon emperors weren't so arrogant," she muttered. "Well, I doubt he'll ignore it for long, considering Scylla would decimate both our nation and yours if he did. We'll just have to slow the monster down as best we can. Nova, Bleak, marshall your forces, and prepare to intercept Scylla within an hour. Alyyiah, Tiffany, and Sarah begin preparations for an evacuation if things go south. Holly and Andromeda accompany Gil and me to the battlefield. Are there any questions?"
"No, Lady Maria!" The only people in the room now were Dawn, Emma, Gil, and Maria. "I will go as well," Emma bowed. "My kin has already intercepted the monster, and we will try to change its trajectory."
Dawn got up from his chair. "I should go with Nova and Bleak. My reinforcements should come soon. Mind if I ask a question?" Maria nodded. "What is it?"
"Why not just run away? Or rely entirely upon Lord Sun on aid? He's the only one here that can actually defeat Scylla, not to be offensive or anything." Maria glanced at Gil, motioning for him to answer the question. "What would be the point of running? A new country doesn't manage itself, and it won't end the war, either. If Lord Sun didn't exist, and if we chose to evacuate, Tempestas would be destroyed, and so would people's trust in us. They would see Maria and me as weak and cowardly, and we won't be able to unite this many races again. Running away won't get rid of Scylla either. She'll just keep coming back until somebody destroys her. Lastly, we can't rely on Lord Sun on everything, and to fulfill our dream, we need to be capable of doing a great deal on our own."
Dawn smiled. "I understand, Lord Gil. Then I assure you I will somehow find a way to drag Lord Sun into the battlefield."
"Thanks, Dawn. Now let's get going. Scylla should be inside Silverlake forest by now."