Steel and Mana-Chapter 389 – Debate

The weather was surprisingly warm today, especially at the tail-end of winter. This meant spring was coming soon, but for the current few weeks ahead of us, it still meant shoveling snow. The only difference was that a new coat wouldn't come and cover us again. Considering everything, this winter went better than I expected. I am not only speaking about how we had beaten back the usual monster attacks but mainly about how the others reacted to it.

Despite the slight hiccup with the High Cardinal, the rest of the leaders became even more united. This time around, it wasn't because of the obvious benefits of working together but because of an obvious danger. Heh... If one thing I did learn in my two lives is that if we humans have a threat that we can unite against, it will always work. Even when the parties hate each other.

Interesting... Something never changes, huh? Maybe even Damar got the message because Elliot did report that all those who were from the Theocracy had left his land too, no longer trying to meddle with him either. If he keeps to it, I will let bygones be bygones, but for the upcoming year or so, one of Avalon's eyes will always be looking at the Theocracy.

Thinking about it, I couldn't help but smile and divert my thoughts back to a project I was seriously considering. Since it came up, I couldn't shake it out of my head...

We may really cross over the Gods' Formation and build a fortress at the opening of the Pass, right in the land of the beasts. Then, we could set up multi-layer defenses, and even if that point is broken through, we could still have multiple defensive posts amongst the Pass to stop any tide wanting to break through. The questions were... What effects would it cause? Would it make the Gods' Formation react? Or would it result in something worse, something bigger, to notice and try to visit us? Maybe even something that couldn't fit into the Pass.

It was a possibility but not my biggest fear. That was about the humanoid corpses we once found on the backs of fallen beasts. If we showed our presence there, what would they do? Would they attack? Or would they try to communicate? Or would they try to come and take my children?

The possibility was there. The question was, could we withstand it and support a base of operations there? Well, we did get cores for two new mechs, so we are about to raise their numbers to fourteen. What we had now was probably enough to tip the balance of power on the continent onto our side. Enough to make anyone question if they want to attack us.

But the beasts didn't ask questions like that... It was then that I heard a knock.

“Enter,” I said, without turning around, still looking out of my office's window, thinking.

"We received an urgent message from General Oleg," Merlin said as he walked in, his steps sounding hurried. I couldn't tell if it was good or bad news...

“It’s pretty extensive and about a month behind with how slow communication is between those lands and ours. But it is a full debrief. Markoth’s response to our presence is, and their overall state is… unexpected.”

"Is it?" I asked as I turned, watching the folder in his hand.

Quickly, he offered the thick bundle of reports that was probably sent into Atuvia first, from which it was immediately transmitted to us by telegram. Opening it and taking a look at the first words told me everything I needed to know:

‘They are broken, and they beg.’

It was blunt but painted a perfect picture of the state of the eastern part of the continent.

"So they did come through," I mumbled, making Merlin sigh as he stood before my desk.

"Yes. I expected something like this, but with confirmation, we now have proof. I have already compiled a full report that will be published in the next Avalon Weekly. I am making sure that people learn of this and that it travels throughout the Union. The leaders saw the monsters, but the people also need to understand how it would be here if we weren't stopping them at the gates."

"Mhm." I nodded as I continued reading. "I leave the propaganda part to you."

"It is not propaganda if it is true." He smiled, making me chuckle a little.

"Ture... true. Haaah... But this is going to be difficult..."

What I meant was Markoth's open request.

Their King, Edric Vaelor, had made it official—a formal request for vassalage, which he also passed on in writing, stamped and sealed, handing it to Oleg. There was a complete copy included in the document, making me sigh again... Especially after reading the detailed recount of Oleg, detailing their public plea, the desperation in their voices, and how the crowds looked, watching them from the Kinght's Errand. I could read from the lines what Oleg felt when he saw them fall to their knees as the Knights dragged back the slain monsters. I could tell that my general was touched because he mentioned multiple times how the people wept openly, that they offered everything—gold, food, territory, servitude, whatever we demanded—but they wanted only one thing in return:

Protection.

Safety that only my Avalon could provide.

"This is not an easy decision..." I shrugged, flipping back a page and reading it out loud. “They will not survive another winter without us,” Oleg had written. "But if we accept them, they will endure. And they will remember who saved them. I ordered our soldiers to start training them and feed them with monster meat. We can defend them, but we also need them to reform and grow up to protect their own Pass.”

"His idea is right." Merlin nodded, "We can't always be there, but we can turn them into a proper army."

"By giving them mechs?" I asked as I closed the folder.

"Of course not." He chuckled, shaking his head, "But we can help them plug their hole and build a proper fortress. We can supply them with cannons, artillery, and actual military training. We can spare some machines for the winter to travel there and fight. It would be a good live training for future Knights of Avalon. Including the fresh recruits."

"Maybe..." I muttered, leaning back in my chair, thinking. "I am curious how the rest of the countries would react. Especially this Khulman Empire."

"Are we worried about them?" He asked, making me smile.

"No, but I am not about to make my own life harder than necessary." I mumbled, pursing my lips before clapping, “Ready the ministers,” I ordered. “Tomorrow, we will have an open debate about it. When spring comes, I will invite King Edric over and see if we can induct him into our Union.”

"Understood," he nodded and then chuckled, “One more thing. Word is spreading about the Theocracy. The other delegates are… noticing that we cut most of our ties with them and only support their region when it comes to Union matters. With our private dealings stopping with them... Even if nobody would say it aloud, everyone took note of it.”

“I know.” I shrugged, "It is as it should be. Never confirm it, though. Let speculation do its thing..."

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The following day, at the early start of the morning, my ministers were sitting orderly in the throne room while I sat on my throne, letting Merlin tell them the shortened, summarized version of Oleg's report and the state of the Kingdom of Markoth. To make sure those who may one day go there and fight were also present and understood it too, they were invited to attend this meeting.

So, behind my ministers, all my Knights were present and stood at attention, listening.

“Markoth is shattered,” Merlin finished the report, reinforcing the key points of it all. “They offer themselves fully. Now, it is up to us to decide how to respond to such an offer.”

"They are not playing around, are they?" My mother chimed in, her voice barely able to hide her surprise. “Reading this... Their King has indeed issued an unconditional offer." She continued, already going through the copy of his written declaration, something I passed onto all my ministers at the start of this meeting, "They give up all territorial control, internal autonomy, and economic policy. They are willing to utterly yield to Avalonian oversight in every aspect. In exchange, they request permanent garrisons, continuous protection, and…” She traced a line of text. “They’ve asked to adopt our laws... and colors.”

They weren't joking... They wanted to become part of Avalon. They didn't know about the Union, but probably even if they did, they weren't looking for something like that. They wanted to become part of Avalon. Period.

"This is not something I have ever considered to see," Kraus muttered, now part of my ministry, no longer holding the title of Forgemaster. “My Sovereign, they’re desperate. We all can feel it... But can we provide what they are begging for?”

“They have suffered for a long time,” Pion answered him. “Just by the reports we received, we know that their end has been blown open. Even if we hold ours, sooner or later... their end will be overrun, and then we will be besieged on two sides.”

"They have already been overrun." Merlin joined in the debate with a shrug, "Besides going there, we will need to sweep the region for monsters and root them out. If we decide to accept their offer."

"So the question is," I spoke before the others would have a chance to speak up, “Are we prepared to bear them? If we accept, we can't go back on our word. We will defend them. Are we able to honor it... or not?”

No one answered right away.

"I say we can." Pion spoke up again, standing, his back straight as a spear. “We carry the strength to do so, My Sovereign. If we accept them, we cannot fail them. Not once... and I don't think we would.”

"Do the others agree?" I asked, looking around, "Raise your hands if yes." I didn't need to wait for long to see them agree, making me nod my head with a slight smile. “Then it is decided. They will become part of the Union. But not like the others, but an extension of Avalon. They will be our first vassal state.”

Looking at them, a quiet nod passed around the table, everyone noting the decision and standing behind it as one.

"I need you to contact Atuvia. We are going to start building an express railway towards Markoth. Make sure they map out a perfect route for us and make the necessary deals with any country we pass through to allow it to be built."

"Yes!" They answered while I continued.

"Pion! Collect a handful of soldiers and recruits along with our freshest two Knights." I smiled at him, "You will take them to Markoth and relieve the current contingent there from duty. I want you to map out the land and note down any possible hidden beast nests. Then, according to what you find, we will move and do a little bit of cleaning..."

"Consider it done, My Sovereign!" he saluted, his eyes burning with desire to act. "If you may allow, I would like to bring Polo along. We need an experienced Knight along with us."

"Granted," I nodded, "Good hunting."

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Later that day, I walked into our garden, sorting out everything that had happened until then. I did it in a similar way that I taught my son how to deal with having the gift of a perfect memory. I didn't realize until his birthday that while mine was designed perfectly to not overwhelm me, his gift had to be learned—he had to be taught how to keep it focused. I didn't know it would be something that others could inherit...

Considering everything, we were in a pretty good position right now.

The Theocracy’s Cardinal hadn’t spoken a word since the summit. Especially since the other Union leaders noticed how we treated them with clinical indifference—no warmth, no ire. Just our complete absence.

Meanwhile, the Union itself showed signs that it would soon blossom into something greater. Trade convoys are now coming and going weekly, not only in our territory but everywhere. Members of the Union indeed began sharing amongst each other, and where once they’d hoarded grain, they now shared amongst themselves. Why? The reason was simple...

I have already received an informal question from Mirian.

She was curious about how big of a garrison I was thinking about putting into the Pass. Because she wanted to be part of it, too...