Another Defeat

"You know you can't kill me right?"

"I don't care."

Tidal's Queen wasn't known for her strength, it was the King that carried that honour. Lexia was just a Queen with little sway which is why she was able to come here in person. After that explosion happened she was the one who had to deal with the aftermath of the carnage. Walking through shattered buildings and bodies that littered the ground. The sight was sickening, she had let her people down and was forced to see them suffer. Their Astral Zone was on the edge of its life just barely alive which was the only saving grace. Just like the city though it would take years to be of any use to anyone. Which meant they couldn't train new recruits to defend against Cestrin. With Cisterns inevitable invasion the losses will be catastrophic, all because of the woman standing in front of her.

"Do you even understand the lives you've put in danger..do you even care...?"

"No, they are nothing of concern to me."

Gritting her teeth Lexia knew just how Katrin was as a ruler so she expected this answer. Rushing forward, she couldn't hold in her anger. Aeon moved in to stop her only to be stopped by Katrin herself. Lowering his hand, he stayed as a bystander. Appearing in Katrin's face Lexia slammed her fist against the throne right behind her as they met face to face. Feeling Lexia's breath tickle her Katrin didn't flinch as she watched Lexia's mask fall to the ground. "I really hurt her." Her lovely walnut coloured eyes were red from endless crying, her makeup was completely destroyed, running down her face a little bit and it looked like she hadn't slept since that day. Even with all that emotion inside of her though Lexia didn't hurt her regardless of the faint whispering of death threats.

Without blinking Katrin brought her hand up and fixed Lexia's hair, removing it from her face.

"You know Lexia, I really didn't expect you'd be the one to show up here."

"..."

"I'm not going to say sorry for what I've done. No matter how angry you are or how betrayed you feel by me. I destroyed that Zone with my own free will for the safety of the people I care about."

"What about the people I care about? Cestrin will invade and slaughter all of us, we don't stand a chance against them and they won't pass this opportunity up. This whole event has spread like wildfire around the world and everyone is talking about it. In the end you just get off with a slight warning and my Country gets annihilated by everyone else. Where's the fairness in that?"

Snarling Lexia was appalled by such selfishness especially from Katrin. Lexia had been a Queen before Katrin but they had gotten to know each other quite well. Katrin was quite a kind woman even if it didn't seem like it on the surface and they had a bit in common being weaker than most in power. "Why?" So when Lexia figured out it was Katrin behind the destruction of her City ,she felt betrayed and rushed here instantly for answers. If she wasn't satisfied she would kill Katrin in an instant regardless of the consequences. Watching Katrin's emotionless eyes refuse to waver, Lexia was just getting angrier as she faced her friend. Facing a bit of the reality behind what she had done Katrin was speechless for a moment.

"....We'll figure it out from here."

Tightening her fist Lexia wasn't happy to hear that.

"What the hell do you mean by that? There is no "we" here."

Taking a deep breath Katrin composed herself as she jumped to her only answer.

"If and when Cestrin invades Tidal, Ukel will be there to back you up. We aren't really much help as you know but Cestrin can't fight us both easily."

"Pft, that's far from good enough. Ukel is known as some of the weakest Countries in the world. You'd just be fodder for them and that doesn't make up for my City's losses."

Lexia refused to back down and take down some prepared plan that Katrin had thought about. "She's not an idiot." Once that idiot from Rawl talked Lexia had a good idea where this whole thing was going. Katrin was going to make an example out of him for the others and use that momentum to get them to all back off. Katrin was counting on them not caring too much about some nobodies and hopefully the other Countries would focus on Tidal, which was essentially free territory at the moment. "While they ripped Tidal apart she would strengthen herself." With herself here though that wouldn't happen.

"That's..."

"Don't try to talk your way out of this, I'm not falling for any fancy act you put on or pretty words. This is between me and Katrin, not the Queen's of Tidal and Ukel. If you really want to help us out you will support our Country in an official Treaty, you'll also allow us to use your resources like the Great Astral Zone here since we currently can't use ours. Freedom to cross the borders whenever we please and joint trading. If you think any of us this is to your benefit for a moment then you're an idiot. We'll be applying a tax to each trade you make, we'll also be taking some of your best fighters and Teachers and half of your treasury. IF you have a SINGLE complaint then I'll end your life here and now."

A golden sword appeared in Lexia's fist that was directly pressed against Katrin's neck. If anything happened she would instantly slash her head off without any prior care for their friendship. "I can also be heartless." Just like Katrin, Lexia had things she would fight for without regrets. Hearing each of Lexia's demands Katrin felt the hammer of judgement fall down on her head. Each demand stung more as Katrin felt any chance of herself winning slipping away. She had lost her momentum completely in the face of Lexia. "...This is ridiculous." Feeling a bit fed up Katrin pushed her luck.

"What makes you think we have to agree to this, this is unreasonable."

Blood spilled out of her neck as the sharp metal pushed against her.

"I have people I want to protect just like you and I'll do anything for that even if I have to die."

"You're more crazy than me..."

"Is this your refusal?"

Taking a moment to think about it Katrin saw Xilo from the corner of her eye as she sorted her thoughts out.

"Haaa….Fine, I agree to all of your terms."

Katrin faced defeat head on for the second time.