"Colonel Sitra, it's been a while since we last saw each other. What's the hurry?

" the man sitting at the head of the table asked with an ironic smile.

"I know that the situation might appear urgent, but it's not like anything will change if we have a short talk, won't it?

" Kazan said as he stretched himself to the back.

"General, I'm obliged to go and give a report to my direct superior,

" Sitra said while squinting her eyes in cold annoyance.

"For what reason are you trying to make me break the military code?

" she pushed, unwilling to yield to the man.

"Oh my, how diligent,

" Kazan laughed before nodding his head. In an instant, the doors to the chamber shut closed with a loud bang.

"But aren't I a superior of your superior? You can give your report directly to me!

" he proposed with a wide smile.

Two of the officers, different from the ones who lead the girl to the chamber, approached her sides. While neither of them drew their weapons, their hands were looming dangerously close to the handles of their sabers.

"You are not Castor's superior,

" Sitra said without as much as flinching.

"Unless you can produce a royal document with royal stamp giving you the command over the third army, then there is no correlation between my service and your authority. Sir.

" She added before glancing over at the men surrounding her.

"And stop with those childish provocations. Everyone in this room is as good as dead as soon as the two of them attempt to draw their weapons,

" Sitra added calmly while leaning her head to the side.

"And here you go again,

" Kazan sighed.

"Don't you fear the military court for threatening a general of the second army?

" he asked with his smile not disappearing from his lips for even a second.

"For that offense alone, I could have you killed right here and now!

" he announced while leaning to the back on his chair and spreading his arms to the sides.

'Not good,' Sitra thought, sensing the presences that weren't visible in the room. 'This fortress was built in the last era, so it's likely to be filled with peepholes. I can't underestimate his people,' she thought while pushing herself into a state of focus.

For a moment, the chamber was completely silent. Sitra's eyes were glued to the face of the general as if she wanted to see any hint of him going to order the attack. While this would give her only a split second to react, in this kind of close-quarters scenario, that was one of the few precious advantages that would weigh her chances between life and death.

Then, a loud knocking reached everyone's ears.

"The hell,

" Kazan muttered.

"Didn't I order everyone out of this place?

" he asked himself before moving his eyes away from the doors.

"Well, let them knock. Meanwhile, colonel Sitra,

" Kazan smiled.

"Under my authority as the general of the second army in the times of military rule, I order you...

"

CRASH!

The doors that separated the chamber from the rest of the caste burst open.

Set to react as soon as the first extraordinary event, Sitra released her power from her reins.

At the same time, as a group of men burst into the room with their weapons unsheathed, everyone already inside, along with the general itself, suddenly turned green.

"Sitra!

" Castor shouted in a stern voice as soon as he noticed what was going on. The sweat on his forehead and the several dents of his saber proved that he took an active role in cracking the doors open.

"Stop it at once,

" he looked at the weirdly-looking girl without as much as ounce of fear in his eyes.

Sitra's eyes were floating around her head as if some kind of wind was propelling them. Yet, in this closed room, there was no wind to speak off.

Her eyes were shining as if some kind of dormant power awakened in her, fueling every single twitch and move of her body.

Sitra turned her head around and looked at her direct superior. For a moment, she watched him as if she would some kind of worm crawling on the ground.

"Ah,

" then, with a slight moan of surprise, the power that fueled her strange stance vanished without a trace.

"ARGH!

" All at once, all the men holding themselves by their throat suddenly fell back on their seats. The power that choked them disappeared as soon as Sitra returned to her usual state.

"ITS A TREASON!

" Kazan shouted as soon as he regained his voice. He rose from his seat and aimed his hand at the newly arriving group.

"Kill them a...

" just as he was about to give out the order, his voice suddenly got stuck in his throat.

"Kill them what?

" An old man suddenly walked into the room. He supported each step of his with a simple, wooden crane. As soon as he passed by Castor's group, all of them fell on their knees. Sitra did the same even before the man would have a chance to reach her.

"General Arto!

" she lowered her head with respect before the old man.

"I don't think this ruse should continue any longer,

" the man claimed while calmly leading his eyes from one end of the room to the other.

"The next time you attempt to snatch my people, I will have your head removed from the shoulders,

" the old general said as if he was commenting on the last year's weather. He then reached underneath his simple clothes and pulled out a sealed scroll.

Scroll that was sealed with a seal that only a single-family in the entire kingdom could use.

"I bring you a royal decree,

" Arto continued in the same voice, fully devoid of any emotions.

"You will be fined seven southern villages by abandoning your post to the east. What's more, you are degraded from your position of army general to the general of arms,

" Arto explained before throwing the scroll on the table.

"Everything that I said is on the decree. Now, scram.

"

When compared to how Sitra was about to deal with those men, Arto managed to actually achieve an actual effect without as much as raising his voice.

General Kazan clenched his teeth. His well-groomed hair fluttered when his head started to shake in silent fury. But rather than acting upon it, he stood up and looked at the general.

"Do you really think that you can just waltz in here and shame me in front of my subordinates?

" Kazan asked in a silent, monotone voice. Anyone with eyes could see that he was holding back his fury on a very thin thread right now.

"I hope you know that I will never forget about this,

" he added, looking directly into Arto's eyes.

"Threaten me as much as you want,

" Arto replied with a solemn tone.

"I'm not representing myself here, but the dignity and rule of the Slavian Commonwealth,

" Arto announced as his eyes darkened a bit. At the same time, his old body suddenly started to give off a strange aura, as if he was a young and fit soldier somehow confined into the meek body of an elder.

"Should I take your words for an act of treason?

" he asked without as much as flinching.

For yet another moment, the room turned silent. But instead of escalating the situation, Kazan closed his eyes and took a few breaths. Then, he walked out of the head of the table and moved towards the doors.

"If you think that's the end of it,

" he said as he was passing by Arto's side.

"If you dare to act against the decree, it won't be me that you will be going against,

" Arto replied in the same solemn voice as before.

"But it will be the will of the Commonwealth,

" he added, turning his head and looking calmly at Kazan's furious expression.

"I will follow the royal order,

" Kazan muttered after a moment before swinging his arm forward and shouting,

"let's go.

"

A few moments later, the room turned silent. This time though, there was no hidden tension that would keep everyone on it focused and ready to pull their weapons out at the first given notice.

"Ah, that was tiring,

" Sitra sighed as she fell directly on the cold stones of the floor.

"Thanks for the help, sire,

" she then nodded her head towards the elder.

"Don't mind me,

" Arto smiled as if he suddenly became a kind, old uncle of the family. But his happy expression didn't last long on his face. Using his crane, he approached the closest seat at the table without paying any mind to the protocolar value of each place.

"Now, can you tell me what did you find out in the steppe?

"

"Sir!

" Sitra instantly sprung up to salute the man and stand at attention. Yet, before she could as much as open her mouth, Arto already waved his head with displeasure.

"Take it easy, kid. While I usually don't agree with anything that bastard says,

" the general looked towards the doors where Castor and his men stood guard,

"but we are really not that pressed for time yet.

"

"Sir,

" Sitra once again called out, this time in a relaxed voice. Her body also slumped down.

"That entire place is generally just the same as the steppe that we know. However, there is one lake where building a city would be possible,

" she quickly brought all the information about the terrain's layout that she discovered during her trip.

"Child, as long as one can live on that land, I don't care how does it look,

" Arto said in a lenient voice before casting a sharp glance at the girl.

"And you should already be aware of what I was asking about,

" he added.

Sitra swallowed a gulp of saliva.

"Sir, there is a small group already living there,

" she admitted before raising her eyes at the man.

"Sadly, one of them already claimed all of that land by killing the Overlord. While he appeared to be severely weakened right now...

" the girl hesitated for a moment before shaking her head and finishing what she both wanted and had to convey..

"But it won't be long before he will become a power that even with our entire might, we won't be able to trifle with.

"