Going to war--preparation tiemz (kinda open)

[alexanderthegreat]

((After A Strange Meeting, open to those who PM me otherwise Captain Alex, Liatris, and Shanira for a time are able to enter WHENEVER THEY SO PLEASE))

Just as Duo had said it would be, the very next day it hadn't mattered that Santo-Luce soldiers by the dozens had gone in to try to stop the attack on the village that had been targeted by the man, the sixty-six lives were claimed by Duo's command and left only one lone woman who could do nothing more but spread the words he wanted her to:

All across the kingdom of Santo-Luce it had been made clear and official, they were now at war.

There was an obvious tension in the major towns and cities, and even in the castle as Alexander sent out messages to arrange a meeting with Holmes and his military. The young king worried many, his thoughts long but his spoken words having been short up until now, a ghostly pale face sombre as he marched into his designated 'meeting' room, a white square table in the middle of it and several books sprawled out over on top of it. He took a seat closest to the window, a spot where he faced the door and could watch who was coming in and out, and shoved some of the books out of his way as he drummed his fingers along the top of the table.

"Where is he?" he muttered, staring at the door, impatiently waiting for his captain to show up. His eyes widened in anticipation as the door opened but then narrowed as Holmes shuffled in instead.

"Where's my captain!?" Alexander found himself snapping, Holmes clapping his hands together first in response.

"He's on his way, sire, but for now..." Holmes made his way over to the king and began flipping through one of the books, "did you find anything in here? About that group I told you about?"

Alexander shook his head.

"Duo's not getting Unda," he huffed, a moment of silence as he shook his head again, "no...no. And no, I don't have a clue about this 'hero' group you blathered on about."

Holmes raised an eyebrow as he stared in the green-covered history book on the table, looking back to his king and with a sigh he closed the cover.

"They're not a 'hero' group, they're a well-established order of amazing fighters who even came to your father's aid and I know they'll be here for you, too. Duo's a little too big of an issue for them to just 'overlook' afterall..."

Alexander leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, his head shaking again. Holmes smiled at him as he added in, "Soon, Sire. I know it."

[Liatris "The Prism"]

Forceful footsteps echoed throughout the halls of Solar Castle, each one striking the ground with a firm sense of presence and purpose, as a soft symphony of rustling cloaks and softened footfalls backing each sure and definite "clack" that rang against the inner halls.

Seasoned guards who had long been with the Frexton family, as if on cue, stood tall at attention and cleared a path as the regal figure leading the pack pressed onwards through the immaculate castle's inner sanctum, while those green and new to their post were simply pulled aside by their superiors, their motions conveying all too well the combinations of respect and urgency that the groups appearance demanded.

Approaching the chamber where the young King resided, the guards posted drew the large double doors open without a hint of hesitation, before stepped forward and announced the group that stood before the somewhat distraught King and the Frexton family's well-weathered advisor.

"Announcing "The Prism" and the Chromatic Order!"

Stepping with now feathered footfalls, the regal figure produced an elegant bow before addressing Holmes and the young man before her.

"Greetings Holmes, it's been a long times since I've seen you, mind you I was just a child those many years ago. And to you, my Liege, I bid you a warm welcome from not only myself, but the Order as a whole," Liatris spoke with a calm and almost lilting tone as she and her disciples gave a practiced bow different from her initial introduction; the diamond-shaped outline created with their hands no doubt a foreign gesture exclusive to the Order itself.

"I should hope that be it by your Father's words, or those of your trusted aide that we have been expected in these dire times, for just as my father had done unto yours, I have come to you with all that the Chromatic Order posses to stave off this force that now threatened our lands."

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander's own eyebrow raised as half of his guards and even Holmes seemed to stand to attention and acknowledge this woman and her band that marched into the room. They were scary and unknown (probably even scarier) to him, and for a moment it almost worried him how everyone just let them walk on in. His only reassurance was Holmes turning to him with eyes widened with hope and a big "I told you so" grin on his face before Liatris spoke to them both.

"I'm glad to see you are doing well, milady. You've grown into what I can only truly believe your father has proudly expected of you," Holmes tilted his head to the side as he greeted Liatris with a smile, for a moment noting oh damn how old he really was now. His gaze trailed back to the golden-haired king who still sat staring at Liatris and her group, speechless even in the moments he should have taken to acknowledge her greeting or even return it. Holmes cleared his throat as he stepped closer to Alexander's chair, trying to use his movements give him that subtle hint to speak to the woman. Alexander's arms unfolded, stretching out onto the arms of the chair as he looked from Holmes to the Order and finally nodded.

"I apologize, my memories of the tales I've heard of your Order have escaped me," he spoke, a little white lie it was to start but what words followed genuine," I am truly glad you've come. Santo-Luce isn't going to be having an easy time with Duo Angelo's threats, towards ourselves or our neighbouring country of Unda, which also sadly needs our help if not more. This is a time where we need the best of help, all help and any help we can get."

His eyes met with Holmes's then as he spoke, his thoughts immediately jumping to his next order of business with his advisor, "Which means, Holmes, I need you to get in contact with Lady Elexa of Nerezza promptly. It wouldn't hurt to arrange a meeting with Prince Kyros of Crepusculum, either. I need him here."

Alexander looked around the room from the Order, his guards, to Holmes, a very distressed look on his face as he leaned back in his chair again.

"This isn't a war typical of Santo-Luce. It's not about covering only our own bases, it's about keeping Unda out of Duo's grasp. It's about keeping everything out of his grasp...we're actually working with the goal in mind to strike down this man and bring him to justice for a multitude of crimes."

He knew what they had to do. Now where to start?

[shanira]

A hand shot out from the door way, waving frantically behind Liatris and her whole Order as Alexander spoke to them. In the silence that was had between everyone for just the briefest of moments an oddly enthusiastic voice spoke, echoing in the room and in the king's ears.

"Shanira!" the guardian chimed, taking the situation as serious as she thought she was but sounding and looking a little more immature than she should have been. For a moment even Holmes had to look away to resist chuckling at the strange girl's antics, though he, Alexander, and Shanira all knew this was her way of not only reminding them she was competent and available for all kinds of battle and enemies but her announcing her own name arbitrarily was her attempting to speak to the mortals in their own language.

Regardless of her intentions, she still looked ridiculous, if not childish in front of someone as esteemed as Liatris.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander glanced to the doorway to see his overly-enthusiastic guardian waving at him. Her hearing that 'Duo was coming' was probably something that gave her more heavily-determined energy than it did worry her but Alexander shook his head at her, muttering a quick "Excuse me" to Liatris as he addressed Shanira.

"You," he started, finger pointed at Shanira as he rose from his chair, "are to go back to Zeke. Help him, and help him get home to help us."

[shanira]

Shanira stood where she was, firmly placing her hands on her hips as she stared at Alexander. She didn't think about how bad this probably looked for the king until afterward, but she retorted automatically with, "No."

She knew Zeke was important to Alexander, and she understood that Alexander was important to Zeke. To her, to keep Alexander ultimately happy she'd easily rush in to help both of them and keep both safe but when it came down to it Zeke was a trained soldier and stood a better chance in battle than Alexander did when both were left alone. This Shanira also understood and when it came time to draw the line and choose one, she wasn't allowed to make a bad call.

Alexander wasn't just the king of this country on Allorum, he was her job, the reason she was created to begin with. Her job was here, especially when she had the knowledge that something horrible was coming with full intent to murder her master at some point in his attack.

She didn't have to explain it. He already would know why she denied his orders.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander understood this to an extent, she'd done it many times before though when she was in her fox form instead. He remembered trying to shoo her away and the persistent girl at times would literally sit on him just to ensure he didn't rush off into danger. He wasn't sure what was more frustrating, a big fuzzy animal disobeying him or someone who could argue back with actual words and openly in front of an audience of people in the room.

"Shanira," he warned, glancing at his guests in the room and hoping Shanira would take the hint to watch her tone, "I know you're worried, but it will be fine here. I really need you to work with me, Zeke is out there trying to accomplish the same goal we are here, remember. If you help him, you will be helping me, you understand?"

His words were delivered slow and deliberately, trying to keep his cool in front everyone.

[shanira]

Shanira couldn't find a way to convey her thoughts with the common language other than short one-syllable words that strung together something along the lines of "no, bad, Shanira stay". Though really, that was a poor excuse because she probably could have but had not the patience to try.

"Master, I understand why you want me to leave. You need to understand why I can't, though," her words, though sounding much like gibberish to all ears aside from Alexander's at least sounded like she was calmer now than before, "someone else needs to go. I'm staying here to guard you."

[alexanderthegreat]

"Pardon me for just a moment. Holmes, keep them company," Alexander muttered as he walked around the table and gestured for Shanira to follow him outside the door. Once around the corner he stared at her with a stern gaze and a voice that matched as he immediately turned on her.

"You need to understand why I'm giving you the orders I am, and why I'm getting really upset that you refuse to obey them! I have all sorts of people to protect right now, and I need all my best hands to help me do that and right now I only have one set here and that's you. You follow my orders."

[shanira]

She didn't want this, she hated being reprimanded from Alexander and since coming to Allorum as her true physical form she felt like that sensitivity he and her had for each other in the times they conflicted had vanished. If she were the fox right now he wouldn't sound as angry. He may have grumbled a little, but he'd have let it go long before hauling her out into the hallway to snap at her and she'd have gotten a snuggle out of it or something.

The way she was now, she felt more the need to shove back at him, which was something that wasn't like her when she and Alexander conflicted in the past. It was like the two of them had changed their attitudes towards each other since she ditched her avatar and it seemed to make them both irritable.

"My orders are from Felios, actually, and those orders are to follow yours to an extent--that extent being when your life is threatened. Then? It's my call," her voice was just as firm as his was, though her eyes were wrought with a sadness as she spoke, "I was created to be your guardian, Master. My first if not only goal is to ensure you don't die. If it means I have to abandon all else...then I must."

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander stared silently at Shanira as she made her argument and solidly stood by it, very much to his dismay as he let his worry for Zeke slip to the surface of his mind for several moments. He was lying when he told her that he really only needed her to stay by Zeke's side and help him get home, that the only way she was going to help Alexander was to help Zeke.

She knew his every emotion, he really shouldn't have been surprised that she'd see through this, too. Not long after Holmes had brought Alexander back to the reality that Zeke's job as his military captain meant that he was expected to go to war and fight for them all was when Shanira had made her appearance, something that seemed a little too good to be true at the time. It was like she had appeared in her true colours just when he needed her, to him it meant that while Alexander was away the gift he'd sent along to Zeke as well as Shanira would both be extra care for his love. What with Shanira always spouting about how she was "the fastest" no matter what he tried to compare her with, Alexander felt he had no reason to worry about...well, anything anymore. Just dealing with Unda in its state of disarray, and actively trying to keep it safe from Duo's hands for Benjamin, and for Brea when he could get put into position to lead it.

For a time, he forgot all about her role in his life. As he looked in her eyes he realized despite her drastic change in form, her eyes still held the same familiarity they had since the first time they met in the ancient temple by the sea. He recognized the way her stare hardened when she knew something was coming, something bad, and he glanced over the high ponytail on her head out of habit knowing that it was the closest thing that for all these years looked like the large, fluffy tail she had had, and how whenever she got this kind of level of concerned--that 'on guard' look he liked to call it--the fur along the back of it would start to spike. That was how Alexander knew she was worried, it was in her last zone of patience, lacking entirely for strangers, she would snarl at anything that moved near him.
Maybe it was the learning of how much of her own person she really was, a very bubbly, easily-excitable, and at times harshly opinionated kind of girl that helped Alexander forget after all of these years she wasn't different now, she just looked different.

"Shanira," Alexander spoke finally, his voice quieter and he shook for a moment as he fought with everything within his own mind to avoid the thoughts of living alone without Zeke, "I...trust you. I trust what you say, I trust when you say you'll do something, you will actually do it. You always tell me you will be here for me, any time I need it and I trust you will be."

He gave her the best depressing look he could muster, frowning as his hands folded in front of him sadly and he watched her for a reaction as he tried to string up his thoughts carefully placed before her.

"I also trust you when you tell me there is nothing on Allorum that is faster than you are. Isn't that right? If you were away in Roccia and Duo appeared here before me right now and brought a weapon down on me, how much time do you think he'd have compared to how fast you can move? Who's faster?"

[shanira]

Shanira hadn't expected Alexander would seemingly back down as quickly as he had, though she knew her master enough to know that he was a crafty one when he wanted to be. She knew his patterns.

He was asking questions, she knew this trick of his! Her hands slid to her hips and her head moved slowly to the right, tilting as she gave him a curious stare and caved in to humoring him.

"I am the fastest. Duo is not. Master, I can run faster than you can blink," she answered simply, "but I am not leaving. I must stay here now for you."

[alexanderthegreat]

"Dammit, Shanira!"

What was he supposed to do? Make her leave? He threw his hands down to his sides and tried to come up with another argument for her but it appeared he'd already used his greatest weapon on her, that ego of hers he wanted to build up to convince her she didn't need to be here. Just a little longer, just until Zeke got back...

He bit his lip and let out a shaky breath, turning away from her as he focused his gaze on a painting on the wall. Feeling the tears break through and well up in his eyes he turned his back on his guardian entirely and marched down the hall only but a few feet as he tried to cool his nerves.

Alexander couldn't be angry with her. He wasn't angry with her. Okay, he was a little, but he knew he shouldn't be. She was doing her job and she was doing it very, very well.

He wasn't going to win this, just like how he didn't win when Zeke left him and he tried to beg him to stay.

"Fine," he answered quietly with a nod. He had nothing else better to say and any more would have probably made him break down instead.

[shanira]

Shanira stood looking fairly emotionless as Alexander displayed his distress. She felt it, she felt all of it. His heart was broken which meant hers was, too, and it came to her as that uneasy sickening feeling deep within the pit of her own stomach. It tickled her nerves in her arms, and nothing she felt could have made this pain subside more than to lash out and destroy everything in her path.

It was different on Allorum. When she felt like this, her avatar would abandon Alexander for the briefest time and up in Heaven was where she would--and could--let loose all of her emotions she felt through him. Here, herself on Allorum she had no such luxury.

She had to be the calm one between them. It killed her more than anyone could have ever known to see and feel the hurt in his eyes as she delivered the words that made him stress over Zeke again, but she acknowledged too well she had no other choice. Duo was coming. Alexander was a target, and that obligated her to stay with him even if it meant Zeke didn't come home.

"Zeke be fine, Master," she spoke, her words as usual short and simple, "strong, smart. Zeke good fighting, Shanira knows. Master no worry, Master do him things."

It wasn't the right thing to do as Shanira hadn't really seen exactly all of what Zeke could do in battle to accurately give Alexander her prediction for how he'd fare in a bloody war, but if she...exaggerated her hopes a little, maybe it'd put her master in a better mood.

[alexanderthegreat]

Alexander just shook his head at Shanira, glancing her way but refusing to meet her gaze yet.

"I don't know what else you want me to say. Let's just go. I've left them waiting too long..."

He marched past Shanira, arms wrapped around himself as he paid her no mind, and taking a deep breath before me marched himself back into the meeting room with Holmes and Liatris to continue his meeting, without either of his captains, something that he at least hoped Liatris could be a remedy to in this situation...



((and unless anyone has anything else they want to add this has been dragging on for too long, so it's done otherwise lol))