Tenebris Renasci: A World of Magic and Gunpowder

Alexander stirred awake with a yawn.

As the carriage slowed to a halt Alexander rose from his mother's lap to peer out the window.

Just outside was a quaint and beautiful place that looked as if it was pulled right from a movie set. With large windows that showed an interior bustling with high-class patrons.

Alexander wasn't an idiot when it came to places such as these. This was the kind of place people went to gossip or flaunt their wealth on half-assed drinks.

Ahh, just like on Earth, though I guess these people actually have money, unlike the idiots at home.

Ben hopped from the driver's bench and made his way around to help Alexander and his mother exit the carriage. Antoinette followed him, scanning the area as if she was looking for someone. 

Ben opened the carriage door and reached a hand to Alexander. "If you will, my lord." He said with a giddy grin, failing to hide it.

You have to bring it in man, you look too eager!

"Thank you, my good man," Alexander said as he placed his small hand into Ben's.

Ben chuckled as he helped Alexander down onto the sidewalk, he then went on to help his mother. "My lady, if you will." 

Alexander accepted Ben's hand with a smile. 

With her out of the carriage, Ben closed the door

Turning towards the café, Ben opened and held its door open for everyone. Antoinette was the first to enter, leading everyone into the café.

Stepping inside Alexander was met with the smell of fresh pastries and coffee.

The air was filled with soft murmurs of conversation around round tables. The large windows provided ample light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. 

Walking past the tables Antoinette led the way, her commanding presence drawing the gaze of the finely dressed clientele. Alexander and his mother followed closely behind, with Ben bringing up the rear.

Stopping at a secluded table near the back wall, Antoinette gave a brief bow before a woman and young girl who closely matched Alexander in age. 

The woman, who was dressed in long black boots, white trousers, and a long red coat, gracefully stood from her seat.

"Ah, Dame Antoinette, I see you have returned," the woman said with a smile, she then looked to Alexander and company, "and it seems you've brought guests."

Alexander smirked as he looked at the woman, her long and luscious brown hair contrasting beautifully with her bright and luminous eyes.

God do I love a woman in uniform.

"Yes Lady Camilla, this is Lady Erica, her son lord Alexander, and Sir Ben, pathfinder of House Daname," Antoinette said in a courteous tone. 

The woman- Camilla, smiled warmly. "House Daname, now that's a name I've come to hear a lot about." She said with a soft chuckle. "I assume You're proud of the work your pathfinders do in the field Lady Erica, especially for such a small and emerging household."

Alexander's mother smiled in response. "Oh I am, my husband has put a lot of effort into building what we have." She then tilted her head. "Though I assume that's something you have little experience with, given that you were born into your household."

Oh boy…

Camilla laughed as she gestured towards the young girl who sat with her. "If you think I'm pampered, you should talk with my sister Louise, I merely adopted the life, but Louise… she was born in it."

Alexander turned his attention to Louise, who looked like a younger version of Camilla.

She was dressed in an elegant dress that was covered in a white and gray pattern. It was long-sleeved with a puff at the shoulders. She wore long white socks and gray fur-lined slippers.

Her red eyes narrowed as they met with Alexander's. "I say, what gives you the nerve to gawk at me?" She asked in annoyance.

Alexander raised an eyebrow as he slowly averted his gaze. 

Alright, just gonna put a big old nope on that one…

Alexander could tell she was in trouble the moment she spoke, but he was not expecting THAT.

His mother looked aghast, clearly surprised at how blunt and unapologetic Louise was.

Camilla chuckled as she reached for her seat. "Louise can be quite direct, but I assure you, she's as sweet as candy."

Yeah, the kinda candy that loses its flavor if you LOOK at it wrong…

As Camilla took her seat, she gestured for Alexander and his mother to do the same. "I'm certain you didn't come all this way to simply escort my Pathfinder, please have a seat and we'll talk."

Alexander's mother nodded as she looked towards Ben. 

Ben, understanding his cue, moved to pull a chair from the table.

While he was busy helping Alexander and his mother get seated, Camilla looked at Antoinette. "Did you get the information I requested?" She whispered.

"Yes my lady, I've secured both a transport to the front lines and a ship to return Louise back home." She replied.

Louise, who had been quietly glaring at Alexander, who was sitting next to her, perked up. "Did you say home?" She asked in a slightly baffled tone, "I refuse." 

"Louise we've been over this, I'm not bringing you to a war front," Camilla said with a sigh, grabbing at her temples.

"Says whom?" Louise asked, crossing her arms. "I fail to recall a time where I agreed to such madness."

"Says me." Camilla said with a point to her chest, "You could be killed, or worse, captured."

Louise scoffed. "I fear no soldier of the Western empire, furthermore, the father is there to safeguard me." She then crossed her arms as she leaned back in her seat. "Though I suppose none of this would be a problem if the Fallen Kingdom could fend for itself." She said with a glare to Alexander and his mother.

Alexander's mother raised a hand to her mouth as she stared at Louise. 

Alexander meanwhile, was struggling not to laugh. She had a point, if their kingdom wasn't so dependent on the Ambur kingdom, she wouldn't even be here. 

But that also made him curious, he had heard bits and snippets about a war against the Western empire from various sources but mostly his radio, and he wondered what exactly this war was.

Was it a war of conquest, of defense, or was it a war for resources?

"Louise, how dare you say that of our ally?" Camilla hissed, careful to keep her voice down. Though her efforts were futile, as the Café had fallen silent, with all eyes on Camilla's table.

I guess if you say your ally sucks whilst in said ally's kingdom, people get a little offended. Who knew?

Louise rolled her eyes. "An Ally? Their reliance upon is so great I had mistaken them for a vassal."

Alexander barely managed to stifle a snicker. Louise was bold, too bold. He imagined that if it came down to it, she'd tell a lion off in a heartbeat, with no fear.

Camilla sighed as she shook her head. "I refuse to deal with this." She mumbled to herself as she looked upward. 

Then with a deep breath, she turned her attention to Alexander's mother. "So Lady Erica, Alexander seems to be quite the observer, he hasn't uttered a word since I've seen him."

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

Alexander's mother changed her attention from Louise to her son. 

A smile formed on her lips. "That is a valid point, Alexander, do you have anything to say?" She asked warmly.

Thinking back on it he didn't have much TO say. Louise seemed like a prick, Antoinette and Ben were too busy passing looks when they thought no one was noticing. Camilla was way out of the league, and Alexander had already chatted with his mother earlier.

But now that he thought about it, there was one thing he wanted to say.

He turned his attention to Camilla and smiled. "Ma'am, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes upon." He gave her a wink as his smile widened.

Camilla's cheeks turned pink as her eyes widened.

Alexander said this not to be nice, but to lay the groundwork for something bigger. 

He may only be six now, but eventually, he'd become an adult, and if Mrs. Dellwich was anything to go off of, Camilla would still look as young then as she did now.

Oh yeah, it's all coming together.

"Oh, Alex." His mother said with a soft laugh, wrapping her arm around his head as she pulled him in for a hug. "You really are your father's son."

Camilla smiled warmly as she leaned back in her seat. "My, you certainly have a way with words Lord Alexander, unfortunately, your age puts a hindrance on our wedding plans."

Ben, ever the opportunist, nudged Antoinette's shoulder. "I taught him that." He whispered, briefly pointing a finger while no one was looking.

Antoinette simply shook her head with a smile.

Alexander smirked, remembering that Camilla was from the Ambur kingdom, he wanted to ask a few questions as well.

"Lady Camilla." He said casually, "May I ask you some questions?"

Camilla nodded as she leaned forward. "Why of course." She said warmly.

"Queen Charlotte, who is she?" He asked.

"She's the Queen of Ambur and the second ruler of the new golden age," Camilla answered.

"Golden age, what's that?" Alexander asked.

"It's the age of exploration and new technology, everything from trains to the expansion into the demon continent, it's all signs of a golden age."

Alexander nodded, "so if Queen Charlotte is the second ruler, who was the first?"

"King Lucas the Sixth, Queen Charlotte's father, it was he who introduced the golden age. First with ending the civil war on the isle, unifying the Ambur kingdom, then by bolstering the navy and increasing trade with other Hakshi nations." 

Camilla's expression then fell slightly, "Unfortunately there wasn't much trading to be done, as our people have been pushed to the edges of the main continent."

"What do you mean?"

Camilla sighed, "There aren't many Hakshi kingdoms left." She explained. "Ambur, Fallen, and Tora are the last major Hakshi kingdoms, and of those three, it's Ambur who's footing the bill to protect the others." 

So that's why Louise said the Fallen Kingdom was a vassal. 

Camilla then placed a hand on her chest. "But I couldn't be more honored to help Queen Charlotte and Ambur as a whole in their duty to protect our sibling kingdoms, and it's my dream that one day, both Fallen and Tora can stand on the same level as us," Camilla spoke with pride and determination fit for a leader.

Alexander absorbed the information with a thoughtful expression. With a brief nod of his head, he looked back to Camilla. "So, you're here to check on your father, who's fighting the Western empire with our kingdom, but what's the reason for the war?"

And why is it still being fought?

The technological advantage Ambur has must be significant, because from what Alexander could tell, every technological wonder he's seen so far, has come from Ambur.

So realistically, they should have steamrolled the Western empire.

Camilla sighed as she lowered her gaze. "The western empire wishes to claim the cost of the Fallen kingdom, so that it may stage a future invasion onto the island of Ambur." She explained.

She then smiled. "But rest assured, the front is stable and in our favor, with the military might of both our kingdoms victory is guaranteed."

Alexander could tell something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Eh, maybe I'm just overthinking things.

If Lady Camilla was confident and the Ambur kingdom was throwing its weight behind his kingdom, then surely it would be fine.

Alexander's mother, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, chimed in. "Your father says the same dear, every time he comes home, he reassures both me and Olivia of victory, so don't look so worried my love."

Alexander shrugged. "I'm not worried." He said with a soft sigh, leaning back in his seat as he crossed his arms.

After a brief moment of silence, Camilla picked the conversation up with a lighter topic. "So, has anyone tried the puff pastries here?"