"Victory was not in sight, but neither was retreat. Only the unraveling remained."
"Are you sure that creature—Polophar—will even consider it?" Aarav asked, his head resting against the back of the chair.
It had been an hour since the plan was set in motion. I'd sent Finnian, Tavon, Velmarth, and Everett to offer treasures and ancient relics. We even offered the land of Greenreach as a tribute for a ceasefire—just to buy the lives of the hostages.
Deep down, I knew… the chance of success was slim. But at least we tried. At least we didn't just sit back and do nothing.
"If he accepts, then we're lucky," I muttered softly. "If not… well, that's when the real plan begins."
Zura, who had been sitting quietly near me with her knees hugged to her chest, finally looked up in confusion. "What do you mean, Nio? I thought… you didn't want bloodshed. I thought you only wanted to save the hostages."
I stood and motioned for her to lower her knees. Zura obeyed without question, placing her legs down and sitting upright on the fur-lined wooden bench. Without thinking, I turned and dropped myself into her lap.
She was a little surprised but said nothing. Her arms instinctively wrapped around my waist, and I shifted to find a comfortable spot. Being short and thin, even while sitting on her lap, my head still rested below hers—like she was sheltering me.
Aarav glanced at us from where he lay, using his arm as a pillow. "Seriously? The two of you? We're discussing strategy, not having a picnic."
"Shut up," I replied lazily. "I think better when I'm comfortable."
Zura chuckled quietly, gently stroking my hair. "Feels like hugging a doll… so small and soft."
"See? You called your fiancé short again," I muttered, making her laugh softly as she shook her head.
Thalgar sighed heavily. "At moments like this, Your Highness, you really do resemble the emperor."
"Don't. Don't compare me to that perverted old man."
Thalgar simply shook his head, perhaps already resigned to the fact that our behaviour was far from proper given the situation.
Leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Thalgar let out a low growl. "So, what is your plan, Your Majesty?"
I took a deep breath and slowly stood up. Cold sweat slid down my nape, but I pushed forward.
"If the negotiations fail, we'll send a small team into the heart of their camp—I've prepared a little surprise in those tribute chests," I said, looking at each of them. "We're not going to attack. Our goal… is to steal something important. What do you think matters most in a ritual besides the location and the sacrifice?"
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "What?"
I leaned my head back against Zura's chest. "Ingredients. They're not performing a ritual that large with just sacrifices. They've gathered something—mana stones, relics, or maybe… something far more sinister."
Aarav narrowed his eyes. "And you want to steal it?"
"Not just steal it," I said. "We'll make them lose time. Force them to restart the entire ritual sequence. That should give us enough of a window to mount a better attack—or save more people."
Zura continued stroking my hair gently. "Then who will infiltrate?"
I paused for a moment before replying, "Me."
Thalgar slapped the wall with his palm. "Absolutely not. I won't allow it. You're—"
"Too weak? Too short?" I cut in quickly. "That's exactly why I'm the best choice. They don't see me as a threat."
"Besides, I won't be going in alone," I continued, holding my breath. "Aarav and Finnian will accompany me. I need your alchemical skills and Finnian's sacred Paladin Mana."
Before the atmosphere could settle, Zura spoke softly yet firmly. "In that case, I'm coming too."
I turned slowly toward her. "Zura..."
"I won't let you enter their lair without me. You know who they are. You know how dangerous this is." Her gaze was sharp, her voice trembling. "I can fight. I can protect you."
"Zura, no," I said quickly.
"But—"
"You'll have another task," I interrupted, trying to stay calm. "I need you with Tavon and Thalgar. The three of you will serve as a distraction. While we infiltrate, you'll draw their outer forces away from the centre of the camp."
Zura shook her head rapidly. "I don't care about another task! I want to be with you, Nio! I can't—I can't sit still while you risk your life!"
I took a deep breath, straightened up, and—though my heart resisted—I had to speak more firmly.
"Zura, enough!"
The room fell silent. Even Aarav stopped the small flame he'd been playing with.
I looked at Zura. Her eyes widened at my tone, and I immediately regretted it. But I had to be firm.
"Listen... I need you to stay focused. If you're with me, you won't be able to concentrate. You'll be constantly worried about me. And that... will endanger us all."
Zura bit her lip, lowering her head slowly. I knew she was disappointed. But she also knew—I was right.
We all remained silent for a moment before Thalgar finally spoke up. "When will this plan be executed?"
"When Finnian returns," I replied softly. "And... when the Astral Voyager I've summoned arrives."
Thalgar stood up straight. "You've... summoned another Astral Voyager?"
I nodded slowly. "I didn't want to, but I need him. It would be odd for us to infiltrate or attack without an Astral Voyager openly on our side. This is to ensure Polophar doesn't look for Aarav—I want him to believe Aarav remains in his place."
"Who?" Zura asked quietly, her eyes still red from holding back earlier emotions. "Who is the Astral Voyager you've summoned?"
I met her gaze briefly before answering softly.
"Dante."
Zura fell silent immediately. She said nothing, but from the way she slowly turned toward the window, I knew her mind had drifted to the past. Dante—one of the most flamboyant and stubborn Astral Voyagers—who, at every opportunity, tried to propose to her, even in the midst of battle.
Zura's face tensed. She didn't say anything, but her expression was clear. Dante wasn't just an annoyance but also a tiring memory.
I glanced at her briefly, then turned back to Thalgar.
"Prepare everything. Once Finnian returns, we move."
Before Thalgar could respond, a voice emerged from the tent entrance.
With his usual infuriating wide grin, a man with silver-blond hair and a long robe the colour of the night sky appeared at the tent's entrance. A faint starlike glow shimmered from his attire—whether a magical effect or just his flair for the dramatic.
"Zuraa! Hey! Have you thought about my proposal?" he said loudly, arms raised as if expecting a hug, though none was forthcoming.
Everyone in the tent turned to look. Zura immediately covered her face with one hand, taking a deep breath, while I simply lowered my head... trying not to appear as though I wanted to bury my face in the ground.
Dante entered uninvited, scanning the room—then stopping at us.
And when his eyes took in my position—me sitting on Zura's lap, my head resting on her chest—the smile on his face slightly faltered. There was a pause. A brief lag that was quite satisfying to witness.
"...Oh?" he uttered flatly.
Aarav, who had been leaning back with arms crossed, rolled his eyes and hissed softly, "God, who is this clown?"
Dante glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "And who are you? Ah, wait—you must be Aarav. I've heard a bit about you. An Astral Voyager like me from... where again? Asia? Hmm... what was that small country?" he asked one of the soldiers I'd sent to fetch him.
Aarav grinned, but it wasn't a friendly smile. "Indonesia. Earth, as well. Small country? Perhaps. But we don't have people like you wandering around, thankfully."
Dante chuckled lightly, but his eyes were cold. "Oh, believe me, if this world summoned us all from the same Earth, it clearly has preferences—stronger, more experienced, and definitely more stylish ones." He shot a maddening wink at Zura, who replied with a blank stare.
I rose from Zura's lap, forcing myself to stay composed, even though I desperately wanted to stuff a Mana Stone into his mouth. "Enough. Dante, thank you for coming. We don't have time for pleasantries."
Dante stepped closer, bowing with theatrical flair. "Of course, of course, Little Prince. Always a pleasure to receive an invitation from you."
Zura stood slowly, coming to my side. "I've told you before, Dante. I'm not interested in you."
Dante let out a raspy chuckle. "You only said you're not interested yet, Zura. I'm a patient man."
Aarav rolled his eyes again. "Can you two finish your soap opera later? We're planning an infiltration here, not auditioning for a romance drama."
Dante finally turned to Aarav, his grin sharpening. "You enjoy speaking harshly, don't you? Typical of a small country."
Aarav stepped forward slightly, a small flame flickering at his fingertip. "And you're typical of a Western loudmouth with too much flair."
I quickly moved between them. "Enough!"
All eyes turned to me.
"I didn't call you here to throw insults at each other," I said firmly. "Dante, you'll be the primary decoy. You'll go with Zura and make it seem like you're the only Astral Voyager we have. We need the enemy to believe Aarav is still far behind our lines."
Dante scoffed. "Naturally. This will be my date with dear Zura. And let's be honest, I'm far more eye-catching than the rest of you."
Aarav muttered under his breath, "Yeah. Eye-catching enough to get slapped."
Zura turned sharply toward me, her face tense. "Wait… I'm being paired with him?" Her voice was low, almost a whisper, but heavy with pressure.
I nodded slowly, trying not to show hesitation—though her gaze alone stirred a storm inside me. "Yes. You and Tavon will lead an attack from the eastern front as if striking the heart of their camp. Dante will be the face of the mission, drawing all eyes to the only 'visible' Astral Voyager."
Zura took a deep breath, clasping her hands in front of her chest. "I… I understand. But working with him isn't easy, Nio. He tends to… treat missions like a joke. I'm afraid he might put others in danger."
Dante only chuckled softly, unfazed. "I never joke about missions, Zura darling. I merely add a bit of flair to the battlefield."
Zura looked down for a moment, then back at me. "If that's your decision… I'll do it. But… if he starts acting out of line, can I step away for a bit? Not to run, but so I don't become a liability."
I gave her a small smile, my voice soft. "If he acts out, I'll bend the law and sentence him to death myself."
Dante, clearly catching that last part laughed. "How touching. But worry not, I'll be very well-behaved this time. Especially if Zura's by my side."
Aarav scoffed, folding his arms. "Your idea of 'well-behaved' sounds very different from normal people."
Dante grinned. "And my version is always more entertaining, isn't it?"
Aarav rolled his eyes and leaned against one of the tent poles.
I raised my hand, cutting the tension. "That's enough. We begin as soon as Finnian returns. Prepare yourselves. We need teamwork, not drama."
Zura gave a small nod and stepped toward Thalgar, her voice low but filled with resolve. "If this is for Nio… and for Midgaria… I'll do my best."
And Dante? He remained in place, humming softly—like this was all just a dress rehearsal for some grand performance. Yet the way his eyes followed Zura… sharp and impossible to read.
Damn it. This was going to be a long mission.