War Meeting (2/2)

Seeing that everyone is patiently listening, Kara then starts talking about how the Time locking enchantment works.

"First off," she begins, "the Time Locking enchantments doesn't make the walls indestructible; they're frozen in time and space, which means that all the kinetic energy that's been exerted on them will remain trapped inside the enchanted stone. One day, when the enchantment wears away, all the kinetic energy will be released at once, creating the biggest explosion ever seen to man… well, as far as WE know, anyway."

(A/N: think of the stasis rune from Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You freeze objects in time, yet they retain the kinetic energy you put into them with your weapons. All the energy is released at once. Now, think of how horrifying the explosion would be when you consider all the abuse the Threshold walls has received over the millennia?)

Haalfrin and the other commanders immediately understand the issue Kara has presented them. "How long is the enchantment going to last?" Kaalhyme asks.

"It's been estimated that they'd last about 10,000 more years," Kara says confidently, "though they still require us to check up on them frequently to make sure nothing's wrong."

Haalfrin just rubs his temples and says wearily, "What's the point of making a fortress that'll self-destruct after a certain amount of time?"

"Easy," Kaalhyme answer swithout hesitation. "10 thousand of years is easily enough time to build another fortress, what with all the resources of our old world to back us up. 10K years of safety is definitely worth the eventual explosion and the cost of another fortress."

Haalfrin thinks for a while and has a brief idea. "Hmm… the ant Queen has taken the old Threshold deep beneath the surface. Could we just wait her out until her fortress explodes around her? With the centuries of carnage those walls have endured, as well as her own energy blasts and countless dragon attacks… the explosion will certainly kill her."

Haalfrin thinks for a moment longer before adding, "I know you guys have time sealing magic. I certainly won't live for another 10,000 years, and when I die, you all can't be revived here. You could all seal me, then use me when you're running low on numbers."

Laura shakes her head at this, "The old Threshold was certainly built later than the imperial palace, but the art of Time Locking was less refined back then, and the enchantments on the palace is more sloppy. I'm afraid that it's actually unclear which fortress will blow up first."

"Could we just build another castle in the sky before this one is destroyed?" one of the generals asks. "We have you and your team here to constantly update us on the Time Lock's lifespan."

"I'm afraid that might not work," Haalfrin replies immediately. "Emperor Fisco is facing a lot of financial trouble right now, and the current mana stone mines that supplied us seem to be dangerously low. Unless more mines are discovered, we might not have enough materials to make another fortress."

"So…" one of the old Threshold captains says, "We'll have to fight hard and end the war before our fortress explodes. That means we'll go with our plan?" – gesturing over to the other angry-looking Arkin.

Kaalhyme and the other generals on his side sigh heavily at this. Seeing their reluctant approval, Haalfrin turns to that Threshold general and nods, which elicits some cheers from that side of the room.

Haalfrin then turns to Kara and says, "I need you all to research a way to relieve the pent-up kinetic energy in the fortress. I don't want to live in a giant bomb waiting to explode. Until then, we'll fight assuming that this war has a time limit."

Kaalhyme adds to this, "And when I spoke with Fisco on the other side, he said that he could supply us with food, drink, and munitions. As long as he's around, we won't have to worry about a siege being broken.

Haalfrin nods, then starts tapping his fingers as he goes deep in thought.

In the middle of his thinking, one of the generals here speaks up, "As long as we're receiving aid and supplies from the empire, we have to contribute somehow to the empire instead of one-sidedly receiving. The Empire's citizens were supportive of the Threshold before since everyone knew that the Threshold was the only thing keeping our world safe from this one. But now?"

"Yes," one of the other generals agrees, "Now that the World Gate has been sealed away, the citizens think that bending over backward to collect the supplies to send us is a waste.

"Yes," the first general says while nodding his head. "Now that the gate is closed, the people seem hesitant about sending us supplies. Relying on force to take what we need isn't a very stable way to operate, since it provokes resistance."

Haalfrin looks over at the pair of generals and says, "You make a good point. What are we going to do for Brancotte? Sending soldiers to help the country won't do much to curry favor with the people. Besides, when our war with the Queen gets REALLY fierce, we won't have the men to spare."

One of the two captains replies, "Sir, we could advertise that you have a way to make people immortal. Emperor Fisco used this tactic, and the dukes immediately supported him from the heart."

"That might work for the nobles, but not for the commoners," Kaalhyme replies, "The commoners and subordinate kingdoms are already complaining about all this wealth being sent to 'who knows where'. Besides this promise of 'immortality' is a scam. It'll fall apart a lot faster if we make that promise to the entire country!"

Haalfrin wants to make a reply, but he is honestly quite stumped at this difficult situation. After some thought, he asks, "Could we transition to getting supplies from the Death Realm? I mean, now that we have no need for expensive materials like mana conductive stone, we only need calorie-rich food to replenish our mana. The munitions are already Time locked, so we don't need to refill the cannons with new Essence Crystals anymore."

"Hm… So we just eat on the other side when we're hungry?" asked another captain. Kaalhyme abruptly answers, "That won't always work. We'd need a supply of food here. If there's a prolonged fight, we can't afford to send our people to the other side."

Still, if they can normally eat in the Death Realm while relying on a supply of food here for emergencies, then everything should work out fine.

Haalfrin then stands up and says, "That sounds like a plan. Is there anything else before we're dismissed?"

---------------------

Several hours after the arduous meeting is over, Haalfrin is standing over a balcony in the very room that used to be the emperor's bed-chamber. Instead of the landscape view displaying the Arda mountains, all he sees are dull, grey plains and an equally dull sky unadorned with celestial raiments, like the stars, sun, and moon.

This entire place feels gloomy and dead, as if it were a prison in the Death Realm. It's all so unworldly to Haalfrin that despite looking out of a familiar setting like a palace, he can't help but feel unnerved.

In the middle of his strange, unguided thoughts, he suddenly hears Ficso's voice speak up in his mind.

"I heard most of your meeting. If it's just food supplies, I can take care of it," Fisco says. "Plus, I have Death Aura still. Because of our Ally Contract, you're able to lend your Name abilities to me. Just let me use your Yiir and Reh Names to keep Death Aura around me, then I can use it to make my own Arkin. I can then spin it off as, 'you serve the empire well, and you'll be rewarded with a strong, undying body.'"

Haalfrin shakes his head at this, "That might not work so smoothly. In order to become an Arkin, your soul has to be Significant. This battle at the Threshold is about the fate of 2 worlds. The soldiers defending the place were deemed Significant enough to warrant this evolution. It'll be hard for you to make Arkin on the other side."

Fisco then smiles, "You forget that there are many ways to gain Significance. One is to be NEEDED… which is what you're doing. Another way to get it is to be WANTED – to be adored by the masses. All I have to do is become as popular as possible with the people, then spin some story about how I've been blessed with powers from beyond the heavens ordaining my rule."

"Would something silly like that really work?"

"Have you read history books?" Fisco scoffs. "It works like a charm. Trust me."

Haalfrin then added, "Well, tell me how it goes."

"Will do commander."

"…" Haalfrin goes silent. "Yes, your majesty."