Iris tears up at my words as though I'd told her everyone she cares for will die. Her small frame trembles with anger that flashes in her eyes as a brewing storm.

At this point I can only blame the people around her for getting her hopes up.

"Even you doubt those words!"

Iris snaps back at me with her bright voice strained with frustration. Her dark blue eyes narrow at me as she steps forward with a presence too big for her small body. The light hearted demeanor that usually defines my sister evaporates.

"The crown-"

"Iris," Eric interrupts her by calling her name calmly. He kneels down in front of her and places a hand on her shoulder to turn her attention away from me.

"Breathe," Eric orders her gently. Still, he doesn't let her go. Iris' body still appears to jitter with anger and frustration, but Eric's heavy hand keeps her pinned in place. When she tries to glance to me again Eric calls her. When she finally focuses on Eric he brushes back a strand of Iris' long midnight blue hair.

"We must trust that everyone makes the best decision they can, Iris. Everyone is doing everything they can to make sure as many as possible survive the war."

He gives her a faint smile and gently caresses her cheek, and Iris' eyes fill with bitterness.

"But they will kill all nobles, right? So Curtis' family..."

I glance to Curtis, but while his expression is bitter he looks calm. He was probably already prepared for the risks when he was sent here.

"Iris," Curtis speaks softly as he steps up next to her and then takes her hand with a somewhat somber expression for a child.

"It is alright, Iris. I was prepared for this."

He gives a weakened smile before looking up at me with the same look of worry he had eight years ago when I was wounded after killing the assassin. He was only three back then. Quiet and helpless as he was dragged around by his older brothers. Now he's caring for my little sister like a gentleman.

"Augustus."

Curtis's green eyes seems to lock onto me.

"I still believe it would be better to give into the demand. At this rate you will really be the first to die. They cannot allow you to live."

His face is somewhat pallid compared to usual and his lips pressed together. Yet, as though his words came as a surprise, everyone went quiet and stared at me as though I am a dead man walking among them.

Eric's eyes meet mine, but there's no worry or pity. After all, he knows I am prepared for something like that. Still, I've been focusing so much on everything else that it never truly crossed my mind that I will end up dying the way things are going. In the end, will I have used this second life well?

Iris stares quietly at Curtis. She stares as though she couldn't believe what she just heard.

A hand too gentle to belong to Vitis or Asher tugs at my sleeve discretely, but without words.

"And I shall bring as many of them with me to the grave as possible when the time arrives. It is a sacrifice willingly made. Once I have finished dealing with the demands I will return to your brother's side once more, Curtis. If nothing else, then hopefully we will be able to hold them back and reduce their numbers to the point that only the lands of house Tepet are lost."

In the end, that is the very least we stand to lose in this war.

Iris finally looks at me, but her eyes are glossy with tears and confusion...

"Lies..."

She grabs at the hem of my shirt.

"You cannot lose. You won against an army four times bigger last time, so you'll win this too. You are blessed by Lumere too. You're blessed by gods."

Ah, her tears are overflowing...

She hadn't considered I could lose in the first place?! What kind of being am I in your eyes Iris?

Ah, how am I to deal with these tears?

"Iris, I am not immortal nor a god of war. I will die at the hands of our enemy."

With eyes as wide as teacups the tears start rolling from her eyes while her lips part agape in disbelief.

Oh Iris.

Eric pulls Iris into his arms and gently strokes her head with a soft look of sadness for her. It comes as no surprise that he is better at dealing with Iris than I am. Even so, the time I have left with Iris is little.

What an uncomfortable realization.

I cannot even declare myself as a pessimist. While there is a slight probability that the princess of Crinia might do something foolish to keep me alive. With that said, I doubt she would something as meaningless even if she thought I was from the same world as her.

Then, at the same time they cannot let me live as a hero to guide the people. Truly, the only way they cannot let me die is one where I become hope or symbol for an ongoing resistance even if Ristaze falls. In other words, this would be the ideal end for me.

Even so, right now I need to make sure that when I leave there will be a path for Iris to take.

I kneel down in front of the stunned Iris and brush her tears away as Lumere did for me years ago, and give her what semblance of a smile I can muster.

"It is but the job of a noble, Iris. I live and I die for this kingdom as is the duty of a noble. My life will be a sacrifice made to protect the kingdom, its people and my family and our honor. May my life and my actions bring courage and hope to those who stand behind me that day, so that the kingdom will truly blossom. Our paths will part, Iris, but you shall never be alone. I shall watch over you from heaven and see your future unfold. When you one day choose the path you want to take, then overwhelm it with the life and energy you've put into playing and training with me. You can make your dreams come true."

Iris stares as me, but as she tries to speak her voice cracks over into rough sobs.

"Then I want you to live!" she wails out as streams of tears roll down her cheeks where I has just wiped.

I move in and hug Iris as well, having the little girl squeezed between Eric and I as she dissolves into a crying mess. I don't know how to stop these tears, but even Eric doesn't speak this time.

"I am sorry, Iris."

I have no other words than this.

—-*—-

It took a while for Iris to calm down after that, but eventually she put on a brave face. Still, she didn't let go of Curtis the entire time. Furthermore, Eric has both Iris and Magdalin head into the mansion after saying he had to talk business with me.

Iris would stare over her shoulder as she walked inside holding onto Curtis' hand tight enough to make her small knuckles go white. I should go see her at least once more before I leave our lands again.

With a stiff expression Eric looks me over for a moment, then sends a stiff stare to the castle and then presses his lips together in a scowl.

"Wolfram Stanbell and Miss Claire Talwen are waiting for an audience at the castle. Once we are ready we will meet mother and father at the castle."

...

Oh Claire, please don't tell me you came chasing after your childhood hero.

I don't currently have the patience to be overwhelmed by your one sided crush. Even though I say that...

"Why is the Stanbell heir here?" I turn back to the castle and wait for Eric to take his place beside me. As you would expect he towers above me.

"...he wanted to see you and talk about the demands in person."

The demands? Why by the gods would House Stanbell come to us, and more specifically me for a discussion? It's not as though they know the royal family played the northern marquesses out against each other. Then again, it wouldn't surprise me if that knowledge was given together with the 'peace' declaration.

As we start heading towards the castle I attempt to straighten out my clothes just a bit. I want this over as soon as possible. I should probably have changed into some other clothes, but at this point I just want to get this over with, head to the capital to clarify my point of view to Alstair and the king and then head back to the front line. Furthermore, if Wolfram has brought Claire along that means the northern border is currently lacking its two important sources of magic. Though, I must admit I am relieved they sent the son instead of the father.

"I see. Do you have any hints on his intention?"

Eric gives a somewhat bitter look at my words.

"Not quite. While I doubt his intentions are bad, he hasn't clearly expressed his reason for the meeting. At this point he might really just be using it as an excuse to meet you in person."

He visibly holds in a sigh.

"Be warned, Wolfram isn't ignorant and he is talking not only for House Stanbell. He has the signets for House Stanbell, House Silbell and House Windhall."

...what?

I stop up for a moment. This means that Wolfram speaks for the entire northern border. Whatever decision he makes is a decision made by all three houses. Not just that, but he has the signet from his own family. Right now Wolfram is visiting us as the acting Lord of House Stanbell and as a proxy for the two others.

To put this into perspective I should remind you that the northern border stretches far wider than our eastern and western borders. Furthermore their land stretches further than that of House Salender. This means that Wolfram is currently the most powerful person when territory is considered.

I am not surprised that the three marquesses have allied. I am surprised that House Silbell and Windhall would let someone stand as their proxy or even have a need to. Whatever Wolfram is here for is serious business. I can only hope that it is discussing war and not for that.

This is not a confrontation I am prepared to deal with. What do I do? I need to deal with Claire at the same time as well.

"...Give me a little while first... I need to talk with some wind gods first. I may never have spoken with Wolfram before, but Claire is not big enough of a fool not to notice that I am exactly... well... you know."

Eric watches me quietly, then nods.

"I'll wait in the great hall and speak with mother and father."

—-*—-

"Oh~ she speaks so politely."

"Why do you not reveal your identity?"

"Are you afraid of the consequences?"

"You should tell the chirping little bird you adore her. That you want to see her grow."

"Oho~ Apparently she adores the bulwark too."

Wind gods... wind gods are truly...

"Truly what?"

The swirling figures around me watch intensely and playfully. I've say before that I specialize in water, but you may remember the bird of wind I made during the siege of Castle Celeste.

"Lively," I add carefully while doing my best to withhold a grimace. Dealing with wind gods is an exercise in mental control as they cannot tell the difference between words you speak and words you think, and will actively pry you for emotional feelings.

"Mmm?"

"I humbly and respectfully request your aid honored kami... I am to meet with two people, and to protect my family and their honor I would like to change my voice for the duration of the conversation."

"By deception?" Ugh.

"For the chirping little bird that cries? Okay, but you will have to give us a mystery," it demands with what would compare to a tilted head by its gas and snake like shape.

"Oh~ a mystery!" another speaks up with clear excitement.

"Do you have a mystery?"

Oh by the gods, a mystery? Mmmm a mystery...

"A mystery to solve," one whispers and swirls upside down in a moment of curiosity.

"I do have one."

They perk up with attention. I can only really think of a single mystery, so I give them the general story of... my death and the time leading up to it followed by a single question:

"Why was Kenta talking to the woman?"

They pause. Then swirl around me for the good side of a couple of minutes before they exchange words.

"Is it that?" One of them asks the others.

"Should we tell?"

"It is more fun to show."

As they drift towards the castle door in a small breeze I follow along. It didn't take them as long as I thought it would. I suppose they must have found a situation that gives an answer to the question I posed... though it seems like an awfully specific situation.

In case you are wondering... I sent off Asher and Vitis. Vitis to get things ready, and Asher because he is still looking at me weirdly at times. At this point I feel a need not to be stared at weirdly while talking to something that isn't visible to them. That Lumere takes a physical form is an exception rather than the norm.