Sakuya wrinkled her nose as she saw an unwelcome face on the other side of the cordon, surrounded by a crowd of sycophants and assorted hangers on as well as a particular Cait Syth hungry for a few quotes for tomorrow's paper. As Sylph's went, he was as handsome as Sakuya was beautiful, tall, high cheekbones, hawkish eyes, green hair almost as dark as her own pulled back to expose a widow's peak. Sakuya wondered just how much he'd spent on that avatar or if he had just gotten absurdly lucky. No, she thought, probably not, if he were lucky, Rio wouldn't be in this world at all.
    Once, what felt like a lifetime ago but really couldn't have been more than a year in the past, Rio had been a contender for Lord of the Sylphs. He had the voice and speaking talent to back up his looks and knew how to carry himself well. If only he wasn't an utter troll and completely devoid of common sense.
    Though that might have been a little unfair, Sakuya had had help, of a sort, in the form of Sigurd who had also been running for the position of Lord at the time. The two men had ended up locked in a battle of wills that had allowed Sakuya to slip past and win handily. Her performance as Lady of the Sylphs had ensured her reelection every voting period since.
    She suspected that Rio rather resented her for that. It might have explained his latest idiocy. Though maybe she was giving herself too much credit for his bad behavior. In any case, she hadn't spared Rio a thought until a little less than a month ago when he had started to make waves. Small ones at first, finding every leak and problem and complaining about it until Sakuya or one of the other Lords managed to get it plugged.
    The technique was crude, but effective in the short term. Rio had begun to develop a small but very devoted following among the disenfranchised players, the Gankers, Trolls, and generally less wholesome crowd who didn't really belong anywhere else. They styled themselves 'the Friends of the ABC' with Rio as their face to the rest of the Fae. He almost certainly couldn't be providing the brains.
    The success of operation Dunkirk had almost shut him up, for about a week. But now he was at it again, this time using the murders as ammunition for his cause. The dialogues exchanged every day with Regin had been his latest bid to gain relevance.
    Regin was taken relatively seriously by the population and tended to voice their concerns with a degree of eloquence and even flare. By debating with Regin, Rio had hoped to latch on to the Puca's popularity and become perceived as the officially endorsed opposition. It was a surprisingly clever strategy for someone like Rio if only it hadn't been backfiring so horribly.
    Put simply, Regin had been taking the Sylph apart in every one of their exchanges, stripping Rio of his modest gains until only the diehard followers remained. Today most likely would be the final death blow. Sakuya found she rather enjoyed the prospect. Now if only she wasn't on the firing line as well.
    As much as she hated to admit it, Rio did make one very good point. Over two thirds of the Fae were currently ruled by Leaders who had never been elected. They'd been selected by their fellow players to play leader in a  game, they had  not  been chosen by their fellow Fae to be their Lords and Lead them into a war.
    Where Rio had been most effective was hammering home this fact. Dunkirk had been a tremendous military success that had saved the lives of hundreds of their trapped fellow players, it had also embroiled them in a war that could very possible cost thousands of them their lives and committed the Fae to the defense of Tristain without any hope for repreave if things went badly for the Kingdom.
    Sakuya knew why this was necessary and had resigned herself to the fact. She had to, that was her job as a Leader. But there were many people who didn't share her belief, either out of ignorance or shear pig headed belief that they could stick their heads in the sand and not get involved despite every shred of evidence to the contrary.
    This debate would be as much a Trial in the eyes of some as it was a discussion in the eyes of others and it drained much of the enjoyment that Sakuya might have otherwise felt as her guards parted the crowds so that she could take to the stage. The others were already waiting.
    Not all of the Lords were represented here tonight. Seeing to the new security measures had taken Zia and Zolf back to their home cities and while the Gnomes had selected an official mayor to rule to Tau Tona, they had yet to decide on who would represent them in Arrun and by extension in Tristain. Lastly, Morgiana had bowed out to personally direct the Spriggan guards scattered across Arrun. The last Sakuya had seen of her, the Lady of the Spriggans had looked every bit the stocking huntress, hungry to disembowel something,  anything with that ludicrous spear of hers.
    Here was to hoping that  Morgiana wouldn't be the cause of their next incident.
    Alicia slipped past, stepping lightly to take her seat in one of the chairs that had been carried up onto the stage. Choosing to make the sacrifice of sitting between Rio and Rute. The Lord of the Leprechauns sat heavily, grumbling under his breath in a fashion that caused his mustache to twitch as if it were alive. Beside Rute, the Undine Thinker was seated casually in his semi martial uniform flanked by Mortimer. Sakuya paused only long enough to meet Mortimer's eyes for a heartbeat, her displeasure rising as she realized the only remaining unoccupied seat was between him and the last attendant, a scholarly looking Puca.
    There wasn't much that could be said for Regin prior to ALfheim's actualization in Tristain. There wasn't much to say, because Regin had the grave misfortune of being a complete Newbie to ALfheim when the transition had hit, claiming to have logged less than twenty hours total. Reborn into the Puca Race with little in the way of useful skills, he'd gotten by at first like everyone else by accepting the rationed handouts and the charity of his fellow Players turned Faeries. That was, until he began to try his hand at political commentary and his reputation had taken off.
    Sakuya had read his work devoutly, and though he hardly had any new insights, what he said was consistently reasonable with an eye towards addressing the fears of the populace. Sakuya was impressed by the way he managed to keep a level head and rather wished their first in person meeting could have been under better circumstances, and farther from Mortimer.
    Kicking herself for not arriving sooner, or else insisting on a seating assignment, Sakuya took her place.
    Regin gave her a small, courteous nod as she came to take the seat beside him. One slender hand rose to rub at his eyes and thin nose.
    "Tired already?" Sakuya asked, trying to make conversation to distract from the man to her right until the debates began.
    Smiling, the Puca lowered his hand. "Not at all, or perhaps just a little." He admitted with a note of apology. "Keeping up with Rio-san is quite the challenge."
    Sakuya nodded. "I can only imagine." Except she didn't need to, she counted keeping track of the ongoing dialogue as part of her job as Lady of the Sylphs. She knew exactly how much effort Regin had to be devoting to keep up with Rio's attacks. It  had to be exhausting, not to mention exacerbating.
    "I have to apologize in advance Sakuya-san." Regin smiled wanly. "I have to confess that I've never been in a debate like this."
    Sakuya tilted her head as she smiled. The man looked positively ill at ease, something that was almost endearing really. "You really shouldn't worry so much. In fact, I think I'm the one who should be worried tonight if your writing is anything to go by."
    "Really?" Regin glanced back at her. "That's too kind Lady Sakuya, but that's not really what I'm worried about. Everyone's going to see this.  Everyone ."
    Sakuya was forced to pause as Regin's words sank in. It was easy to forget, sitting up on the brightly orelit stage that that the lobby turned auditorium of Arrun tower was filled to capacity with almost two thousand attending Faeries. And that wasn't all, through some clever spell exploits by the Imps, Puca, and Spriggans, the debate was going to be relayed live to the other Faerie Cities and even to the Royal Palace in Tristania. The Darkness Masters were already setting up their Moonlight Mirror spells at the back of the room, a row of Silver ovoids looking down from the Lobby's second floor.
    Slowly, Sakuya felt her own smile fade. Just what had she gotten herself in to? She'd known intellectually that they would be facing not only the people living in Arrun but all over Tristain and even the Nobility, but she hadn't really felt it, that was, until now. But she didn't have time to linger as the massive clock at the center of the Lobby slowly struck the hour. It was time to begin.
    "Good evening everyone!" A clear, voice amplified by the special Puca ability Ventriloquism rang out across the lobby as the volunteer proctor for the night took the stage, a Puca woman in her best black maestro attire, probably the most formal piece of clothing she owned. "I'm Noel, and I'll be proctoring tonight's discussion and also forwarding questions to the attendants. But first, I'd like to thank you all for taking an avid interest and for taking time to attend." Nodding to the crowds, the Puca next turned to the five Lords, Regin, and Rio. "And of course, we would all like to extend our greatest thanks to the Fae Lords for making time in their busy schedules."
    Sakuya nodded and smiled serenely, Sylph hearing picking up the murmurs of approval, and also the less pleasant mutterings coming from Regin's supporters who had somehow managed to hijack the front rows.
    "Without further delay, we will now open the panel for the first question."
    Noel reread a small card of paper held in the palm of her white gloved hand. "The first question is actually concerning an issue that has been foremost on everyone's mind for the last six weeks. Understanding that our options and ability to probe the phenomena that brought us here are limited, what measure are being taken by the Lords to search out a way to return home?"
    Sakuya raised her hand smoothly. "Actually, I think I would like to answer this one if that is alright."
    Noel nodded to the Lady of the Sylphs. "Of course Lady Sakuya."
    "Well." Composing her thoughts carefully, Sakuya began hesitantly. "As has been said, our ability at this time to actually analyze the effects of the Transition is limited, we lack both the scientific tools and expertise to examine the Transition as we would another physical phenomena, and the training to determine how magic may be involved. For the time being our understanding is thus limited to simple observations." The words began to come more easily as she spoke and Sakuya found herself having to try harder to slow herself and avoid babbling. "What we can say for now is that the discovery of an artifact from Earth in the Tarbes region most certainly suggests a recurring connection between this world and our own."
    Noel allowed the crowd's murmurs to settle before going on. "You mean of course the Iroquois helicopter that was found by the consultants sent to deal with the Pixies at Tarbes?"
    Sakuya heard Mortimer mutter something under his breath that sounded vaguely like 'Huey' but chose to ignore it. Instead, she nodded in agreement with Noel's conclusion. "Yes, that would be correct."
    More mutters, and then the raising of another hand. Noel nodded to the hand's owner. "Yes, Rio-san?" Rio, oozing with false charm, smiled straight at Sakuya. "Actually, I'd be rather interested to hear how our present Leaders see this discovery helping us to find a way to return to earth, and how that factors into the course they have currently set us on."
    Noel, and the eyes of the entire audience returned to Sakuya. The Lady of the Sylphs sank down in her seat as she prepared herself for a very long two hours.
    +++
    "Then you mean to say that anyone can put forward these questions?" Colbert whispered to Enya as he sat beside the Salamander girl, trying his best to not look out of place among a veritable sea of pointed ears. He might have been the only human attending personally, though he knew for a fact that the proceedings were being scryed to the Capital by means of the Fae Magic spells.
    The odd pair were seated on a bench overlooking the lobby of Arrun Tower from the second floor balcony, others packed tightly around them. It almost wasn't an exaggeration to imagine that every Fae in Arrun had tried to find space, if only standing room, to watch.
    Colbert hadn't intended to stay in Arrun to observe the interviews, but circumstances had conspired to make it so, much to his delight. He had arrived that morning with the simple intent of checking on Enya's progress with her ambitious project and to collect the ALfheim reagents that he had wanted to examine for his research. The properties of some of the materials had proven most intriguing.
    A Gnome couple, proprietors of a cafe who he had met on his previous visits to the city while seeking a place to eat, had kindly supplied him with a list of names in the market district and sent him along with their blessing and a warning to step cautiously around the more cut throat merchants. There advice had been well given and well taken as he haggled with a Leprechaun alchemist and a pair of Cait Syth Mob hunters for what he required.
    After completing his shopping, he had made his way to the Library to discover Enya tucked away in her corner, studiously at work with her pages of notes and papers covered in rows of crossed out words in the Faerie scripts. She had come far in the past weeks, thanks in small part to Colbert's advice helping her to plan and layout the groundwork of what she hoped to achieve. But this was just the start, the Faerie girl had only delved the surface of deep waters and it would not be surprising for it to take months, or even years before her efforts bore fruit. Yet, Colbert noted approvingly, this did not discourage her in the least.
    Indeed, the Salamander had a persistence and stubbornness to her that Colbert had rarely seen equaled in all of his years. If she had been a human mage, he would have certainly have considered her a star pupil… no, even as a Faerie, though she could not use Human Magecraft, he was impressed by the way she devoured every scrap of knowledge he could supply about magic and its application.
    He was rather beginning to think he should offer her a place in the classes at the Academy. The instruction would most certainly be informative and the headmaster would of course allow it. Surely it was easy enough for her to fly back and forth when she needed to consult him, but that was hardly a courteous arrangement. Besides, it might prove instructive for people other than Enya, his student for instance, to learn for a time alongside one of their new fellow countrywomen.
    Raising a hand to her lips to silence him, Enya nodded once. "That's right. As long as the Proctors think it's good and nobody else asks first. Now quiet down a bit, I'm trying to listen."
    Colbert turned back to the stage which was lit like that of a play house. The very idea that Rulers would be expected to stand before the people they ruled and give account for themselves, from the most powerful merchant to the lowliest peasant. It was absurd, unworkable, absolutely marvelous! Not to mention a miracle that the Fae could make it work. And this was representative of the forms of government of their most prosperous Kingdoms!
    Halkegenia had seen its fair share of 'Democracies' and 'Republics' over its long and contested history. The independent City states that had consolidated and eventually formed Germania, and the short lived Republic of Gaul which had fractured for a time from Gallia. Each had failed in its own way. Democracy was an idiot system, rule by a mob that simply could not be expected to make decisions for an entire nation. Republics likewise more often than not, started strong and ambitiously, but quickly lost their enthusiasm, the leadership stagnating and gradually coming to replace the nobility that they had usurped.
    If Cromwell's Albion endured for more than a short while, Colbert expected it to follow the patterns of the latter, perhaps enduring for a time longer before returning to its Feudal roots.
    Conventional wisdom held that a Kingdom needed an enlightened class to stand above the common people. Those with the resources and time to be educated in diplomacy, law, and statecraft and to hone these arts. In Tristain, Gallia, and Albion, that was more often than not the Landed Nobility. Germania was more likely to give key national positions to its Knights while the nobility attended to their isolated fiefs, and Romalia naturally drew its leadership from the divine authority and wisdom of the Church.
    But the Faeries believed that their Leaders should be selected in trust by all of the people. Or at least that those of sound mind, good standing, and sufficient experience should have a vote in choosing who would rule them. Certainly they had hit on a formula that worked where a similar method of rule would have collapsed in Halkgenia, though certainly through fault of circumstance rather than any failing of the human condition.
    Colbert suspected, that as with all other things, it was in large part thanks to the Faeries' appreciation for knowledge both current and historical that allowed them to defy that trend.
    Learning lead to questions, and questions to further learning, and the inquisitive mind naturally turned its attention to matters beyond daily survival rendering it much more discerning in matters of national politics and interest. Just walking the streets of Arrun and listening to overheard snatches of conversation, the rumors, hear say, and debate on the streets and in the shops and cafes told of a people who were profoundly interested in the world and what events abroad would mean for them at home.
    Every Fae was expected to be literate to some degree, and to be read in at least some of their classical works and the basic principles of philosophy, law, and government. While most were not philosophers, lawyers, or governors, none were entirely ignorant. It was then simply a matter of how to listen to the tens of thousands of voices and ensure that their concerns were heard. Such as they were now.
    Colbert turned back to the stage as the questions continued to unfold.
    "Actually, I'd be rather interested to hear how our present Leaders see this discovery helping us to find a way to return to Earth, and how that factors into the course they have currently set us on."
    The challenge came from one of the two Faerie's on stage that were not themselves Lords, the Sylph named Rio. A handsome man, Colbert noted, though that was about all that could be said for him in Enya's opinion.
    "Well…" The word trailed out thoughtfully from the Lips of Lady Alicia, the petite Lord, almost swallowed up in her formal robes, leaned against the stuffed arm of her chair, speaking loudly so that her voice would be carried by the Puca Ventriloquism spells. "… Without going into way too much boring detail, we've decided to start laying out plans for the short, middle, and long terms that coincide with different strategies to find a way to return home."
    "Different strategies?" The Puca woman on the stage acting as the Proctor asked, holding her conductor's wand close to her lips to amplify her voice for the crowds.
    The First Lady of Freelia nodded eagerly. "Yup. Basically, not even our Tristanian allies know what brought all of us to this world. And they definitely don't know of any magic that can make imaginary things real. In fact, the only evidence we have that this was caused by magic is so far circumstantial even thought it's still our best bet. So we have to start our research from square one. Since we don't even know where to begin we're pursuing a lot of different strategies right now and there are basically three possibilities."
    Using her fingers to keep tally, Alicia elaborated. "Option one is that whatever brought us here is still around and can send us back as soon as we figure it out. We don't know how likely that is, or how it would work, but some of the researchers in the Royal Acadamia are helping out and we do have people trying to assemble a bigger picture right now. That's where the helicopter we found comes in."
    Colbert perked up at the mention of the ingenious Faerie device. It had been his great pleasure to be able to spend a short time examining it at the facility that was being raised along the highway between Arrun and Tristania. To think that such a thing flew entirely without the aid of wings or magic! He shook his head, of course, that was hardly what mattered at the moment. What was important was… well… Lady Alicia was explaining it rather succinctly.
    "Right." Alicia nodded again. "That helicopter proves that whatever brought us here has interacted with our world in the past. It also gives us lots of interesting questions which, as everyone knows, are just as important as answers!"
    A hand shot up in the front row, belonging to a cat eared girl in pressed white blouse and pleated skirt, clutching a piece of pencil and sheaf of paper in her hand to take notes.
    "Yes?" Noel pointed her conductors wand to the girl, permitting her to speak directly.
    "Sorry to interrupt, but would you mind telling us for the record what you mean by important questions?"
    Alicia placed a finger to her lips, tilting her head in an exaggerated show of contemplation. "Hmm. Well, for one thing, the Huey is around sixty years old, so we know things have been transported before, and that it wasn't just us. But how often does it happen, and what are the criteria? Is it random? We just don't know. We're hoping that now that we know what to look for, that we might be able to find more things that have come over from our world that might tell us more about the Transition. But most of all, it raises questions of how a physical helicopter could be transported but also transform us into our ALfheim avatars. It might be that these are two different or linked phenomena and if one happens more often than the other, we might be able to use it to return home."
    Another hand shot up and Noel pointed, this time to a Gnome. "Wait, if the Transition was different, then if we used whatever brought a Huey here from the Real World rather than ALfheim to return to earth, would that mean we'd still be Faeries when we got to the other side?"
    An interesting question, Colbert supposed, and also one that probably occupied many of the Fae. He couldn't imagine the opportunity to wake to the image of one's real face would be greeted with anything but relief by most. Here too he was intrigued to see Alicia shrug apologetically. "Sorry, but that's definitely not something we can rule on for now."
    Murmurs spread through the Lobby and were allowed settle before Alicia continued. "Anyway, the key here is that we might be able to learn something in the short term, but that we can't really say for sure what will come of it. So while we gather information, we've been trying to establish good diplomatic ties with Tristain." She chuckled, and the entire stage seemed to brigthen. "Can't send people all over the country to look for clues if we've got bad relations with the locals!"
    "Diplomatic ties like the ones that have gotten us embroiled in a local war?" Rio butted in with a false coolness that made him sound almost reasonable. Even so, Colbert almost recoiled at the bluntness.
    Colbert had long ago tired of war and much preferred peace to its alternative. But even he could not deny the necessity to take up arms against Albion. Circumstance rarely gave people the luxury to choose who they could make peace with and who they would have to fight. Surely the Fae as a mostly enlightened people must have agreed with that sentiment.
    But he saw more heads nodding in agreement then he would have liked, and the indecisive murmurs all around him, not many, but shocking in number given the dire circumstances. H. "But why…"
    "Smart people do dumb things sometimes." Enya breathed at his side, not taking her eyes from the stage. "Believe me, it's better to just assume everyone's an idiot until proven otherwise."
    Colbert nodded, reluctantly, before returning his attention to the stage.
    "Neh?" Alicia tilted her head curiously. "For one thing we kind of need to build up a base of operations and a good reputation if we want to be able to send people abroad to search out ways home. We won't get that if we abandon the people we've just allied with."
    Rio's lips pressed into a thin smile as he sat back in his chair. "Is that so? I have it on good authority that the Treaty may have been signed with foreknowledge of the upcoming war."
    More murmurs caused Colbert to look about. Such rumors had of course been spreading, even at the academy where students naturally discussed the politics involving their families. Of course, it was almost accepted as a tacit truth that the Faeries Lords had understood that there was a real possibility of war in the near futur,e so this hardly came as a surprise. But to hear it said out loud seemed to galvanize the more suspicious among the crowds.
    If this revelation surprised or intimidated Alicia Rue, it did not show in the slightest in her answer. "Wow, that seems a little unfair. Everyone knew that Tristain might have to fight Albion, it was just hoped that they'd have help from Germania. And that might still happen, the Tristanians have some very smart cookies for diplomats."
    Yes, Colbert had to agree with that assessment. Cardinal Mazarin had certainly been doing his utmost from what he had heard to salvage something from the now defunct marriage agreement. At last word he was making some progress, the Dunkirk Operation had turned Tristain into a strong potential ally in the eyes of the larger Kingdom. With any luck, when the fighting started in earnest, Tristain would have some sort of foreign aid to count on.
    Rio's smile never falstered. "It's not whether or not the war was going to be fought that I question." Rio said. "My concern is why we are fighting it at all and at the order of people with no formal authorityl. But I believe that is a discussion for later in the evening, please go on."
    Alicia watched the opposition Leader for a moment as if trying to delve what he might be up to. "Like I was saying, in the short term we're doing our best to establish ourselves and our settlements here in Tristain. The transition didn't just copy and paste ALfheim into this world, it took the intent of objects, buildings, and animals, and filled in the blanks, so the settlements actually have it pretty good with plumbing and sewage networks. But there's still a lot we have to do if the cities are going to remain livable even in the short term."
    Another hand, a question about public sanitation and hygiene initiatives.
    "It's a pretty daunting task, so we've had to consolidate things for the time being. I'm sure everyone's seen the work setting up the new bathhouses and restroom facilities. Lucky us we have some people with backgrounds in civic engineering. They're already drawing up plans to replace the latrines and chamber pots with an actual sewage disposal set up." Ending humorously, Alicia added. "So if anyone wants to get in some slime hunting in the sewers, you should hurry up before it gets too unpleasant!"
    Even more shocking than the lewd humor was its reception, some of the Fae showing amusement and even snickering under their breath. The very idea of a Ruler doing such a thing before their subjects! Colbert knew that the interview was being viewed in the Palace by Moonlight Mirror, he could only hope their fair Princess wouldn't get too many ideas. A Tristanian Noble of good standing would never dream of speaking in such a way save in private while Lady Alicia made light of the matter openly. And seemingly to her benefit judging by the response from the Faeries around him.
    Again the Cait who had first raised her hand, he fathomed from Enya's comments that she was some sort of 'Reporter' a person employed to gather information for the periodical broadsheets that the Fae enjoyed reading on the message boards posted throughout the city. "All this talk of getting the city's fully liveable, and then there's the initiatives encouraging people to start up their own businesses. It sounds like plans are being made to settle in for the long haul."
    The 'Long Haul', Colbert thought, what a simple way to put it. Truthfully, given all of the friends, loved ones, wonders, and conveniences the Fae had left behind in their homeland, he couldn't blame them for wanting nothing more than to return as quickly as possible. But by now, he knew better than most how unlikely it was. Lady Alicia had spoken the truth, the Acadamia, Colbert, and even the Headmaster himself, were all in agreement that the Transition was unlike any magic seen before. It's unraveling would not be a simple task.
    But alas, that was certainly not something any of the Faeries wanted to hear, underlined by Lady Alicia's reluctant answer. "You're right. That actually brings me to phase two of three." Alicia raised her hand again, her middle finger joining with her index in the tally. "In the likely event that we can't just hitchhike out of here on whatever brought us to Halkegenia, we'll have to start work out how to make our own way home." Alicia shifted to allow her tail to hang over the side of her chair, swaying of its own accord as she continued to speak. "That will take lots of time and a lot of money and other resources which means we won't be able to keep supporting everyone on just the coffers. In fact, we'll have to start easing off pretty soon to prevent problems. It's not good to add so much gold to the economy so quickly." Alicia shrugged again. "Besides, if was happen to find a way home soon, a little hard work won't hurt anyone. And if we don't it'll be important in our battle against our worst enemy."
    "And now you're suggesting labor camps?" Rio cut in before Noel could say a word.
    Alicia perked up with a smile. "Actually, I was talking about boredom! Sixty thousand people need things to do to make themselves feel useful and so they can afford a few little luxuries. Really, right now, a lot of people still have way too much time on their hands and that's gotta stop. We're all in this together after all."
    "I would actually like to say that I agree with Lady Alicia." The soft, shyly spoken voice of the Puca Regin called out from the opposite end of the stage, barely carrying to Colbert's ears despite the sound amplifying magic. "Seeing to a strong civil base is essential to support our efforts of returning to Japan, and I also think that if we're considering the longer term it would be best to start laying out the framework of the civil governments by starting at the city Level before we work up to the representatives and Faerie Lords."
    More murmuring, this time, much more, the crowds giving many small nods of agreement. Regin was not an impressive man, nor charismatic in person, but his words most certainly resonated with these people.
    "You mentioned three." A voice said without raising a hand.
    The echo made it hard to find, but eventually eyes fell on a Salamander near the middle of the Lobby. Noel took careful aim and nodded for him to continue. "You said that setting up the cities was phase two of three. So then, what's phase three?"
    "Don't say it." Enya whispered.
    Say what? Colbert wondered.
    Alicia tried to smile, she real did, but seemed to realize that it would be taken poorly no matter how she replied. Instead, she just looked a little tired as she answered. "Well, we'd be irresponsible if we didn't plan for everything."
    "Don't say it!"
    "If phase one is settling in for the short term, and phase two is medium to long term planning…
    "Please."
    "… Phase three is what happens if things become permanent."
    Colbert might have been new to the Faerie idea of 'Liberal Democracy' but he was all too familiar with the faint inhalation of breath and the pain looks all around him. He place a hand on Enya's shoulder as the girl leaned forward, eyes squeezed shut. The expression of a young person who was accepting, only now, that they might never see home again.

"Oh my, I hope saying that that doesn't hurt Miss Alicia's position."
    Seated beside her mother the Queen, Henrietta wrung her hands as she watched the proceedings unfold from the vantage provided by the Moonlight Mirror.
    The spell first used by the Faeries for long range communications had tonight been re-purposed and combined with Puca and Spriggan magic to allow the Royal Family and their allies to peer into the Faerie City and watch as the interview unfolded.
    Strange to observe at a distance like this something that was unfolding at this very moment.
    Was this really how the Faeries ruled themselves? Henrietta wondered. Surely the people needed to be seen to and their wishes respected under the law, but this seemed too much.
    "Watch well Princess and learn from the errors of others." The Duchess de La Valliere said from her own seat upon one of the half dozen sofas that had been set close together at the center of the parlor, filled with members of the Nobility.
    Henrietta had thought of this as a meeting of allies, but to look around it was more a meeting of acquaintances of convenience. Naturally, diplomats and observers had been sent to the Faerie cities, people well versed in statecraft who could take soundings of the attitudes and views of Tristain's sizable new population of mages. Some in fact would be in the audience now, watching the populace as much as they watched the Faerie Lords.
    Many were still waiting to see just what the consequence of these new arrivals would be. But for most of the high nobility, dealings in the Capital or on their own lands prevented their attendance even as their new alliance with the Fae demanded their attention. Thus did Henrietta find herself in the strangest mix of company.
    Naturally in attendance were the Duke and Duchess de La Valliere and the Count of Woestte, two of the Crown's strongest supporters by inclination of loyalty and by strong self interest respectively. Though Henrietta continued to regard Woestte as a thoroughly unpleasant man, she couldn't help but admire the way he had set about profiting himself, and by extension Tristain, through his business relations with the Fae, even as he chafed under the 'unjust' terms of trade that required him to deal fairly with the Faeries or face Crown sanction.
    The Vallieres of course remained above reproach, the Duchess' contribution to operation Dunkirk fully absolving her slighted honor for her dealings with deceased Viscount of Wardes.
    Which reminded the Princess to find out where exactly Louise had gotten to these past few days. The last she'd heard was that she was working with Lieutenant Agnes of the Firearms squadron on a related matter, most strange.
    Less welcome was the Lord Justice Richmond, a high ranking member of the Legal Collegiate that oversaw and enforced the laws and treaties ordered by the Crown. Having loudly declared his disapproval of the current measures to instate the Faeries as members of the Nobility, Richmond's interest was more official than personal. Simply put, he was there to observe that the Faeries did indeed honor their half of the alliance, and to prosecute viciously if they failed to do so.
    Or in other words, he sought evidence that would strengthen the case of the Radicals who still wanted nothing to do with the Faeries. Though their faction had lost some strength after the Fae had come to Tristain's aid, it had been more a reordering than a dissolution.
    The Faces had changed, but there were still those who resented the Fae, either wronged by the Transition or simply 'bigoted' as Sakuya would say.
    Henrietta would much rather Richmond not be here at all. But for now he had to be courted, an honorable member of the Legal Collegiate with many allies in the house of Peers. She didn't trust the man though she could not place why, nor did Wales who likened him to Cromwell in the days prior to the opening of the Rebellion.
    Thankfully, she need not look upon him, he sat well to the side and back From Henrietta, isolated in conversation with one of his aides, quietly exchanging comments at every exchange that floated from the mirror.
    Sitting with the Princess herself was Henrietta's Regent, Cardinal Mazarin who had made as near a complete recovery from his injuries and resumed his duties in full, and her mother who had been taking a more active role in the affairs of the Kingdom as of late, if only as a temporary figurehead to bolsters Mazarin's policies.
    Proceedings were already apace to crown Henrietta as Tristain's next Queen and Monarch, an unprecedented step for an unmarried Noble Woman, but a necessary one to strengthen the Crown's political position in preparation for the war.
    Tristain could ill afford the indecisiveness of being lead to war by a house of barely disciplined Aristocrats. But the going was slow as that self same house of Nobles attempted to sabotage the Kingdom's defense at every turn.
    Cardinal Mazarin insisted that this was normal, but Henrietta could hardly believe it was not intentional on the part of Reconquista sympathizers. Perhaps this was why Germania entrusted so many important positions to Knights newly raised to the Nobility.
    Not all of the Nobles in attendance were of Tristanian Lineage, though many of these foreigners were more welcome than the likes of Richmond and Woestte. Prince Wales sat close by, along with the Countess of Windsor and his own adviser Paris. Having survived thanks in large part to the Faeries, it was natural for Albionians in general and the Prince and Countess in particular, to take an interest in all matters that involved the Fae, and the interview tonight was no exception.
    Whimsically, Henrietta wished the viewing could be a bit more private, in such a fashion that she might seat herself beside the Prince without worrying for how it would look. Alas, a semblance of propriety had to be maintained, at least in public, and there had been little time for themselves as much as they both wished otherwise.
    Since his safe arrival in Tristain, Wales had devoted himself entirely to ensuring that Henrietta's Kindgom did not meet the same fate as his own. Though only two thousand strong, the Royalists brought with them a core of hardened veterans and skilled Albionian Sailors and Navigators that Wales and Count La'Ramee had wasted hardly a breath putting to good use to help bring the Tristanian fleet up to snuff.
    Much of the past two weeks had been spent in drill aboard the ships birthed at the edge of Tristania, crews learning how best to handle the rigging of the captured Albionian vessels and practicing with the new model cannons that had been liberated at the battle of York.
    When last they'd had a private moment, Wales had cursed the sloppiness of the Tristanian crews who he compared to 'green winged' Airmen hardly fit to act as ballast, though given how easily he had surrendered to her teasing, Henrietta suspected he wasn't entirely serious, and by every account they were fast improving. She didn't expect it would be long before Wales promoted them to merely 'incompetent'.
    While Wales had dealt with the military, and his Adviser Paris had managed political matters on his behalf, the exile Countess of Windsor had been fighting her own battles alongside and sometimes against the likes of Count Woestte and the other entrenched mercantile nobility. Emily's claims to her family's trade holdings had been acknowledged in Tristain and by the Germanian Hanza, and with their backing she was set to acquire the wealth that was rightfully hers in Gallia and Romalia as well.
    The young Countess had wasted no time in turning her small fortune directly around and into the coffers of the Faeries, investing even more fervently than Count Woestte and the Vallieres in the Faerie inventions and plans for steel production. This had earned her the attention of the both the Gnomes and the Leprechaun Lord who had actively courted her as a patron in their ongoing endeavors.
    Personally, Henrietta thought this was a wonderful turn of events for Emily who was ever eager to partake of any dealing with the Fae.
    Nor were all of the Nobles in attendance  human . Seated on the sofa between Henrietta and Wales were a pair of Fae, very special ones in point of fact. Henrietta had been pleased to make their acquaintance, for it was in no small part thanks to one of them that Wales was alive today rather than slain by the Viscount of Wardes. For that alone she owed them more than she could ever repay. It only seemed natural to extend her hospitality.
    The first was the Lady Asuna, former Commander of the Knights of Blood, who had introduced herself fully as Yuki Kirigaya Asuna, wife of the Black Swordsman of Aincrad Kirito, but would never admit to being a 'Lady' or any sort of 'Noble' despite holding right to the title as a mage and possessing both bearing and beauty that made her the very model of a young Aristocrat.
    The second was a beautiful young girl of deceptively human appearance dressed in dark blue skirt and and pink sweater. Black haired and every inch the image of a younger Asuna, Kirigaya Yui, leaned against her mother's side, watching the image before her with rapt attention. Henrietta had met the young Faerie once before in the guise of a Navigation Pixie and now was pleased to meet her again in the form of a human girl. Though at the same time she had been astonished at first to learn that she claimed Asuna to be her mother.
    It had taken some explaining to make it clear that she had not misunderstood and that Yui was indeed the adopted child of Asuna and Kirito, and as much loved as their own blood. After just a few days in their company, the Princess could see why. The warmth and affection between the two was genuinely that of a mother and her child and it had become a contest between Henrietta and Emily to see which could earn the honor of cuddling the young Faerie girl the most, usually by diverting Asuna's attention so that Yui would need looking after.
    At the moment Henrietta was trailing far behind having expected the fencing match between Asuna and Captain Hammond to last somewhat longer before the Manticore Knight's utter defeat, while Emily had won an entire night of sitting with Yui in her lap by coaxing Asuna to show off her cooking. Perhaps Henrietta could bribe Yui with some sweets, though if Asuna's cooking was anything to go by, only the best Royal Chefs would stand a chance.
    But that was a matter for another time. There was a very good reason to have asked them here tonight that went beyond simple hospitality and that was simply to explain some of the Faeries customs that were quite at odds with anything Henrietta had been trained to expect. Such as now as Henrietta speculated aloud about what had just been said by the First Lady of Freelia.
    A Leader, whether they derived their power by right of birth or commission, should never think to admit such an unpleasant possibility to the masses lest they make themselves appear weak. The only thing that was worse than not being in control was to  appear to not be in control. Another of Mazarin's catechisms.
    "You might be right." Asuna admitted thoughtfully. "But I don't know what other choice Alicia-san could have made."
    "Holding her tongue would have done well enough." The Duchess de La Valliere said, eying the Fairy woman with an appraising eye.
    Mazarin added. "I don't suppose there was any way around it."
    Asuna nodded again she hugged her daughter close to herself. "It probably won't be that bad. I think a lot of people have thought about it. Alicia-san is just the first person to say it out loud. Once people have time to think it ove,r they'll settle down again."
    Henrietta mulled this over and judged that the Cardinal and Asuna were likely right. This was not a simple matter in the least. "I should think it's more important how Lady Alicia manages things  now. wouldn't you say?"
    And on that matter, the murmurs of the audience had finally fallen to a manageable level. The interview continuing where it had left off.
    The Puca announcer seemed unshaken by the Cait Syth Leader's shocking reply to the questio. Henrietta had heard that she was one of the Faerie soldiers, a former member of the Mob Patrols who had taken a political position in Cadenza now that things had started to settle. Another of the Fae women taking up a role oft reserved for men.
    "You mean to say that a method of returning home may be beyond our means to replicate." Noel said. "Then… that being the case…" She flipped through the note cards. "Let's move on to an equally important matter. The short terms and intermediate steps that you mentioned earlier. Some of the top questions tonight have to do with income and taxation. Since this is an economic matter, I would like to ask that Lord Rute answer…"