The Castle in the middle of nowhere.

It had been a few days since War visited Avalon. The news spread like fire but, since the woman I used to call Minerva didn't show up again, everything slowly calmed down. Once Hestia and Freya told my wives about her, they were shocked and terrified but, ultimately, decided to trust me. Deep down, I still couldn't admit that Minerva was as dangerous as everyone saw her. I... I pitied her. No one understood her and everyone feared her... Just like she had told me and I found it difficult to understand. I wasn't so full of myself to say that I understood her but I wasn't afraid of her. Maybe that was why I had her attention? Whatever the reason was, I couldn't and wouldn't reject her friendship. She was always for me, back then, in my darkest moments, always ready to listen to me. She never judged me or despised my decisions. For me, she was my dear friend, Minerva...

It was funny, in a sense. She was so beautiful that I never considered myself as someone worthy of her, only now, to hear that I belonged to her. I always thought that she was joking so I could feel better. But, as it turned out, I was simply dense. On the other hand, I had been afraid that I was going crazy since, literally, no one else saw her. I was sure she was the construct of my slowly breaking mind and I nearly ignored her altogether. However... I somehow knew she was real all this time. So, when she appeared before me, I felt much better. With her, some of the dark memories returned but instead of fearing them, like I did back then, I welcomed them as long-lost friends. They were part of me and what I chose to do.

While she wasn't Minerva, she was also real so I was happy. While the lack of the god of war in Nilmerthis was accepted by my wives as a consequence of War lurking somewhere afar and simply scaring all potential candidates, I still wondered if there was anything I could do about it. After all, a god of war, by definition, should be a very capable fighting force. An idea started taking root in my head but, before it fully matured and escaped its shyness, Zeus sighed, making it hide away.

"I knew you were exceptional as the Mortals go but I, mostly, attributed it to the fact that you were already skilled and everything was amplified by you becoming a Dungeon." Zeus shook his head. "So what's your plan?"

"My plan?" I looked at him dumbfounded. "Plan for what?"

"For containing War, of course!" He crossed his arms. "She's as dangerous for your allies as she is for your enemies!"

"I don't see a reason why I need to contain her." I declined stiffly. "Look, I get you..."

I hesitated but he just nervously chuckled. "That I'm scared? Terrified? Of course I am!"

"She won't intentionally hurt anyone who is helping or serving me. If anything, she will be indifferent-"

"I am, more than anything, afraid of her indifference, Theon! Wherever War goes, strife and ruin follow. I can't believe that you, somehow, believe that she isn't dangerous..." Zeus interrupted me.

"Because she isn't!" I looked at him in disbelief. "I can't believe that you, out of all people, would repeat something so ridiculous!"

"What..." He turned dangerously red, but instead of lashing out, he took a deep breath. "All right, Mister Emperor. Explain how War isn't dangerous. Maybe I'm just ignorant and I need an education. Go on. Enlighten me."

I inhaled deeply and pulled the bridge of my nose. Zeus, being sarcastic, was something new for me, but that was still leagues above our discussion devolving into angry shouting.

"Sure. But let me ask you something first." I looked at him seriously and he nodded in confirmation. "Do you control every single lightning strike each time it rains? Do you personally choose their targets?"

"What? No, don't be silly!" He laughed, but it looked like he was still oblivious.

"But you are Zeus! Certainly, everyone who was hit by lightning deserved it." I used the same sarcastic tone as he had previously.

"You can't be serious..." His face was slightly clouded by a pang of doubt.

"Why are all so stalwart in blaming every cruelty of war on her?" Zeus opened and closed his mouth, unable to respond. "When she strode the battlefields, do you know what I saw in her wake?"

He simply shook his head in denial but his face betrayed that our discussion took a wrong turn for him.

"I saw peace." I raised my hand to stop his protests. "Yes, it was the brief peace of people paralysed by fear but, in those moments, I could nearly feel their regrets. It is funny how many things you see in the small gestures of people paralysed by fear during battle, when they know that every second may be their last. A young man reaching toward his pocket containing the picture of the girl he promised to protect. A young woman, a medic, closing her eyes and raising her hands in a silent prayer, not for herself, but for the soldiers she tried to help. The old veteran's soft smile because he is ready, but unwilling, to die. Unwilling to accept a death that allows enemies to take one step further. In those brief moments, you see most of their humanity. In those brief moments, they shine the brightest, Zeus."

He looked at me speechlessly. I smiled sadly and looked outside the window, at my city basked in autumn sun.

"But the war is cruel... Be mindful I've not used the capital W. I was one among those across history who refined war even further, so I have the right to speak... We always started the same, with honour, dignity, and compassion but, in the end, we are Mortals. So we added our wrath, pettiness, relentlessness, and cruelty when we clashed with each other. We fought, bled, and died on countless battlefields, fighting because any perceived slight and excelling in our cruelty." I looked at him with a hard expression, not allowing him to drop his gaze. "So, once our battles were over, the winners and heroes were hailed and we returned to our homes, we couldn't look into the eyes of those we promised to protect. Because, in the reflection of their eyes, filled with their happiness and love, we saw the monsters we had become. And who wants to be a monster? So we spread another lie."

He paled and I recognised the symptoms of rejection. He didn't want to hear it. However, he had enough dignity not to run away.

"It's all War's fault... I would never have done that if I hadn't had to! I was forced to do it! I just followed the orders" I quoted the excuses until Zeus became as pale as snow. "Yes, she is War. But she is fair in her terrifying beauty. She treats everyone equally and gives everyone the same moment of fear to reflect upon themselves. It's in our nature to ignore and underestimate it... Don't blame my friend, Minerva, for the sins of Mortals and Eternals alike."

He was shaken and silent for a very long time. When he finally decided to speak, I was surprised that he really tried to consider what I said.

"You may be right, you may be wrong. War was walking across the world long before any sapience formed the first Gods. She is older than even the oldest of us." He somberly lowered his head. "But mind my words. She is a dangerous woman..."

"And what woman isn't dangerous?" I chuckled, making him smile a little bit.

"Damn your twisted sense of humour." He took a soothing breath. "But seriously. If she returns..."

"I'll take care of her," I replied seriously.

"I seriously doubt that, even you, can take care of her..." Zeus sighed and looked towards the now opening doors, letting in the remaining Eternals and the leaders of NATO.

Behind them followed rows of silent generals, admirals, and advisors with their assistants and each dutifully took their assigned seats. Lastly, a visibly nervous Princess Roannia and Harmonia entered, followed only by Captain Rex. The conference hall was quiet when Hestia stood up and introduced our Aclian guests to everyone which was met with polite applause. Roannia stood behind a desk in the centre of the room and described, in detail, the circumstances leading to their receipt of the invitation to join NATO from Irene. Hestia must have helped them prepare the speech because Roannia quickly moved to introducing her country along with disclosing the exact details of their army and navy. It took nearly an hour but, when she finished, she waited for questions.

"You said, Princess Roannia, that your army in a time of peace numbers roughly fifty thousand people." Guad began thoughtfully. "How large of an army can you muster in times of war and how long will it take you to prepare the soldiers?"

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"During the last war with the Kingdom of Vetulia, nearly three hundred years ago, our army was almost one hundred and fifty thousand strong." She answered almost instantly. "I'm aware that was a long time ago but we are constantly prepared to, at least, double the number of our soldiers in case of war. We estimate that mustering an additional fifty thousand soldiers would take three months, after which, it might take another half year to bolster our numbers even further. But we possess the required resources and reserves to defend ourselves."

She looked proud of her statement despite the slightly raised voices of the generals discussing something. Guad's expression was friendly but slightly blank when he simply nodded in confirmatation. Prince Islur Ebrus looked as if he wanted to ask something and Hestia, who became an unofficial host of the summit, nodded towards him.

"You admitted that, at a time of peace, half of your fleet is usually anchored and in maintenance while the other half is in active duty. Is it possible to commit some of them to our joint NATO missions?" He asked pragmatically.

"That might be possible, but what kind of missions do the joint forces conduct?" She furrowed her brows.

"Mostly air policing missions as Emperor Theon calls them. However, the NATO fleet recently, successfully, conducted a mission of cleansing the Cursed Land now known as Falcia and mapped the northern wilderness." The Prince proudly explained and everyone, except for the Falcian representatives, eagerly nodded.

"The air policing missions are crucial to provide safety to our lands." Theresa Iceleon chimed in with a confident smile. "The allied ships patrol the borders of our alliance so, in case of an enemy attack, they are first to respond. As you can imagine, if anyone attacked the Metakan airship over Arcadian airspace, it would trigger an immediate response from the two biggest Empires of Aderon."

"I see no reason not to use Aclium ships for that purpose." Roannia agreed with an excited smile.

"If Arcadia has no questions, I don't see the point in postponing the admission voting." Guad looked at me with a wry but friendly smile.

"Not really. We took the liberty of questioning our guests earlier." I offered the excuse with a smile.

"In that case, who votes in favour of admitting the Kingdom of Aclium into the North Aderon Treaty Organisation?" Guad chuckled and raised his hand.

The little smiles on the faces of all leaders betrayed that it was only a formality. With all votes in favour, Hestia clapped her hands and formally announced: "Welcome as the fifth full member of the North Aderon Treaty Organisation, representative of Aclium, Princess Roannia Viera Aclium."

The Princess sighed a sigh of relief but the mood changed. Hestia took the Princess's place and displayed an enormous map of the region. It floated in the air allowing everyone to see it clearly.

"As Metakans already informed us, their cities and towns were attacked by Nar'verna's forces pretending to be bandits. Guad?"

"I would like to formally invoke Article Four of the Treaty." Guad briefly stated and his advisors quickly brought forth the reports they had given us. I quickly looked through it but there wasn't anything more than Cassmira already briefed me. "The Empire of Metaka cannot leave these attacks unanswered and we are preparing a military response. The southern agricultural region of the Metakan Empire is crucial to our existence and every attack on it is treated as a declaration of war. We possess information from a reliable source that the King of Nar'verna is planning additional aggression against Metaka. Considering the violent tendencies of Nar'verna's people, I plan a full-scale military response against them."

"It's understandable, Guad." Hestia nodded and looked towards Roannia. "The recent events in Aclium drastically changed the situation in the region."

"Indeed... Cassmira informed me of Ibrevell's involvement in Nar'verna. The fact that they were behind the attempted kidnapping of Princess Roannia is very concerning." Guad put together his hands. "Do we have any additional data regarding the scale of their involvement?"

"There is one update worthy of mention." I crossed my arms and told them about the visit of the Ibrevellian envoy in detail. "Ibrevellians are underestimating all of us. They still believe they could force the members of our alliance into a war against Aclium. However, for all intents and purposes, their spies found out, just a few days ago, that the most important mission of Princess Roannia in Arcadia failed."

"Oh? I assume it was worded exactly like that?" Theresa started laughing.

"Indeed..." I smiled while the Princess looked at me in shock.

"I don't understand..." She said with a timid voice. "How could they have received any news about Aclium's admission progress to the Organisation if the voting was today?"

"Oh, I'm referring to King Varis's inquiry about selling Aclium Arcadian airship technology." I chuckled. "I believe that everyone here can attest that if she managed to pull that deal off, it would have been her greatest achievement."

Everyone started laughing.

"It would, indeed, have been a peerless achievement. Unfortunately, Princess Roannia, Aclium will have to reach that technology using the same methods as the rest of the alliance." Guad grinned. "So Elves believe that Aclium was declined membership."

"Indeed. And, I gave them a straight-up response that Arcadia wouldn't intervene in any affairs outside of NATO. For now." I slowly nodded with a crooked smile. "I accepted their de-escalation offer and I'm going to teach them what malicious compliance looks like. What you are going to discover, sooner or later, is the fact that my traders are buying every single slave they can get. It is a part of my fairly long-term plan of not only helping those people out of their misery but it also serves my plans to punish Ibrevell. That being said, I can't spare even a single ship because I can't risk the battleline in the Ancient Forest collapsing. So, even though I won't be able to commit my forces, I will provide you with intelligence reports."

My Slime Butlers handed them the most recent reports and, judging by their expressions, they slowly realized that simple brute force wasn't the only field where my forces excelled. The information obtained detailed everything about the enemy forces, their staging grounds, and supplies.

"I'm so glad we are allies, Theon..." Guad combed his hair as he passed the report to his advisors. He took a deeper breath before he crossed his arms. "Hmmm... So Nar'verna was prepared to fight the airships. The number of cannons they have is very concerning."

"It looks like they managed to copy the Arcadian towed artillery your forces used during campaigns in Cridia and Berna, Theon. Undoubtedly, that's the Ibrevellian handiwork. Not so long ago, Nar'verna's technology level wasn't much different from Iceleon's." Theresa shook her head. "But, the fact that you have no idea how effective their weapons are, is probably the most concerning thing."

"They could use it to inflict heavy damage on ground forces, as well, but I believe I have a solution. It won't be perfect or infallible but I will lend you my Faé. They are capable of using very powerful shield and barrier spells so they might help lower the casualties... However..." I hesitated and took a deep breath. "I'm not even sure if I can spare more than a hundred of them. Lately, the Ancient Forest has been unnaturally quiet and I expect a major counteroffensive. My forces are already waiting for the enemy movement but I don't know where I should expect Vestargo to attack me. There is little I can do but wait for now."

"We can't weaken Arcadian forces in the Ancient Forest for the sake of fighting this threat. I believe that I have a good idea of how to bolster our forces for the plan prepared by Metakans." Prince Islur stood up and approached the table. He quietly exchanged a few words with Hestia, who nodded and zoomed at the Arcadian southern border. "As you know, the southern borders are currently protected by Metakans and Iceleonians. We can easily replace the Metakan fleet with Ebrusian. To additionally confuse our enemies, we can leak reports about a mundane rotation of our forces. Since Metakans were in charge of the joint air policing forces over the Arcadian border, the Ebrusian Navy will relieve them while Iceleonians take command to additionally confuse the enemy. Besides, it's also logical because Iceleonians are familiar with the situation on site. To be honest, my Father had already sent the fleet..."

Everyone looked at the young Bearkin prince in shock, but also with respect.

"It's a solid plan that not only will allow us to resupply but also provide continuous protection to the southern borders of the Organisation." Theresa nodded and looked at her husband. "Can we send our forces to Metaka as well?"

"We can send Spirit of Lion and two frigates but that will leave the north completely unprotected since Ebrusians would probably leave only the smallest ships back home." King Victor looked at Prince Islur who smiled widely.

"I'm afraid you are correct. While I fully understand the need for Iceleon to contribute, I would like to formally request that Iceleon take responsibility for patrolling the northern border, including the Ebrusian border." Prince Islur bowed towards the Iceleonian Royal Family with respect.

"I believe this is the most optimal course of action." Victor nodded in agreement. "We won't disappoint you."

"If I'm correct, Aclium should prepare for attacking Nar'verna as well?" Princess Roannia asked timidly.

"Not exactly. In the first phase, you should prepare to defend yourself." Guad shook his head in denial. "If Nar'verna's forces decide to attack you first, you will invoke Article Five of the Treaty and Metakan forces will roll over them from behind. If they stick to their plans and attack the Southern Alliance, Metaka will attack them in response to their previous false-bandits and you will join the war as our allies. If Nar'verna, somehow, decides to attack Metaka, we will invoke Article Five. At this point, no matter what Nar'verna does, they are finished."

"What about the Southern Alliance? They won't protest?" Princess Roannia furrowed her brows.

"No." I smiled coldly. "They will be delighted by your intervention and, I can assure you, they will sign any treaty promising peace with them, even if Metaka and Aclium demanded full authority over the lands of Nar'verna. King Hector became a very reasonable man after his brief chat with Morrigan..."

"In that case. I believe that our course of action is clear." Guad nodded with satisfaction.