Alaster watched from the wall of the City Lord's castle as the sun set. Yet even as the light retreated, the city lit up with torches and Mage Lights as they continued their preparations. The Outer Walls were a flurry of activity as each stone, Enchantment, and plank was double checked and reinforced or replaced.

Workers outside the walls were hard at work digging a series of ditches around the walls, shallow enough they could not be used for cover, but deep enough that Siege Engines could not cross them. Even more were busy chopping down the forest, forcing the forest back and allowing the defenders a longer sight range as well as materials.

This wood was sent throughout the city, processed into planks, serving as supports, materials for Siege Ammunition, or even sharpened down into spikes that were then driven into the ground around the city.

Everyone was busy doing something or other, but Alaster merely watched, from his seat atop the battlements.

Even his sister and her friends were busy. They were quickly outfitted and equipped by the City Lord's personal armorer and were being run through a series of drills by Lukas, Lord Siphas' bodyguard. It was nostalgic as Alaster still remembered the hard days he trained with Lukas.

As a skinny thirteen year old, Lukas towered over him, as he did with most people, and he did not care about breaking the boy's bones. Afterall, why care when there was a Healer right there?

Most people would have called the training barbaric and maybe even cruel, but Alaster had survived impossible odds for his age due to it.

Of course, Lukas was holding back against the children, something that took an incredible amount of control as even a tenth of his power would send the children crushing through walls. And even if they did survive, the city was expecting to be attacked soon. The children could not wait a week to heal from a broken leg or crushed ribcage.

Still, they danced around Lukas, attempting to land even a single blow. He effortlessly defended against all of them, occasionally fighting back to keep them on their toes. Alaster recognized several of the Guards around the edges of the dirt arena shouting out tips and advice.

Alaster smirked when he saw one of the boys find out personally why they should be cautious of the enemy's shield just as much as their weapon.

Despite merely sitting there in the dusk as the clouds turned dark and heavy, threatening snow, hopefully the last of the season, Alaster was actually quite busy himself.

When one could summon or create thousands of Minions, many of whom could think and act for themselves, it took quite a bit of time to manage them. With the War still in the beginning stages, and after falling unconscious for some time, there was a lot for Alaster to catch up on.

He was overseeing the training of his Legions, he was discussing the pros and cons of leaving Onigas to attack the Demons before they reached the city, crafting even more Forgotten, making more Mana Cores, and conversing with his second and third bodies, all at the same time.

As such, he was caught unaware when the City Lord's daughter leaned against the battlements beside him.

"So you found her?"

"Gah!" Alaster startled, nearly falling off the battlements, "Make some noise, will you?"

Iris smiled a beautiful smile, her carefully crafted Knight armor only seeming to accentuate her beauty, "No."

Alaster shook his head, taking a moment before replying, "Yeah, I found her. A lot of things happened, but here she is, and she even knows what happened to our parents."

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"How did she take it?" Iris asked, beginning to braid her long brown hair.

Alaster shrugged, "I don't know. I know she understood it, but there were so many things happening at the same time. I think she had just shoved it aside for the moment to deal with more pressing matters."

"Like the Invasion?"

Alaster nodded grimly, "Yeah. Like the Invasion."

"I heard from my dad that you don't think we can win."

Alaster turned sideways on the battlements, leaning back on his palms before he answered, "I know we can't. They just outnumber us too much, that and their ability to disable our Systems. Too few people know how to use their Abilities and Magic without it. However, there are many Demons who don't want this war.

I believe that if we make it costly enough for them, they might be willing to allow Humanity to survive in a small area of the Continent. The harder we fight, the larger that area might be.

That's just my suspicion though. I don't know. Besides, what else can we do but fight?"

Iris looked out over the city, her city, her people, "A lot of people will die."

Alaster nodded solemnly, "Yes."

They remained there, each embroiled in their own thoughts for several minutes before Alaster spoke, "You still with Loka?"

"Yeah, for the most part, the Nobility has stopped opposing us. Now, I only receive a few offers at so called 'better' matches. Motivated by you, the Order has actually pushed itself much harder. Most of the Knights are Experts, including Loka and myself!" Iris said with pride.

Alaster smirked, "That's good. We will need competent Soldiers. And with your Order's specialty of healing themselves and others, they will be very important."

"How is that girl of your own? In Galmore I believe it was."

"Lunaria. Its been a while since I last spoke to her, and with the Invasion only beginning, I suspect it will be some time more."

Iris slapped Alaster's shoulder, an action that once would have bruised him, but now did not even budge him, "Its because of the war that you should go to her. Not even you know when the next time will be, or even if there will be a next time.

Besides, with your ability to switch places with your Minions, you could probably have lunch with her in Galmore every day before going back to the frontline."

"If only it was that easy."

"Maybe not that easy, but you should go see her. Who knows, she might have found another man." Iris teased with a playful smile.

Alaster took it as a joke but replied seriously, "No, she isn't the type of person to flirt around. Though I am not sure what We are."

"What do you mean?"

"Well we kissed, that was it. It was awkward between us after that, but then I left for Lissura the next day. I talked to her a few times after that through my Minions passing letters and such, but nothing really happened."

Iris groaned, rolling her eyes, "Oh my gods, you are like some preteen talking about his first crush. Do you like her?"

"Yes."

"And does she like you?"

"I think so?"

"Then ask her if you can court her."

"It wouldn't be right."

Iris rolled her eyes again, once again visualizing this great Master before her as he was when he was just some fourteen year old brat, "And why not?"

"Because her father is my mentor, plus like you said, I don't know when or if I will die in this war. It would not be fair to get into a relationship with her only to die the next day."

"Weren't you the one who always told me that life wasn't fair? Sure you could die the next day, but you could not. And if you could die tomorrow, doesn't that mean you should life today as best as you can? If you get into a relationship with Luna, you might die tomorrow, or, you could have a beautiful relationship that could blossom into something more.

Not even the Gods know! That is what makes it so special."

Alaster sighed, changing the subject, though her words stayed with him, "How is Astrid doing?"

Iris groaned, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Why? You were like sisters the last time I saw you. Did something happen between the two of you?"

"No. Nothing has happened, which is the problem! She had been practically ignoring me to spend more time with Arthur. She isn't being mean or anything, or blowing off our plans. But she is just spending all her time with him."

Alaster looked at Iris with a funny expression, "Iris, Arthur is her husband. They are still newlyweds. Even I know that."

Iris sighed, resting her chin in her palms against the battlements, "I know, but its been months, and we have only hung out a few times, usually when Arthur is dragged away for Noble business. By the way, she took your expectations seriously."

"What expectations? I have only wanted her to be happy."

"Oh she is happy alright."

Alaster's curious expression prompted Iris to continue with a teasing smile, "She is going to be a mother."

Alaster stared blankly.

Far away, deep in the jungles of Athera, Fenrir burst out laughing, completely giving away his position to the Demon patrol he was trying to ambush.

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