Like one guy once said, rebellion de la mases is a one way trip to game over.

  Well of course there's the army.

  But if they too forsake you it’s GG you're cooked.

  That said, it takes time for the chain to rattle and cut your breath.

  A nick of blood and the sharks smell blood. They still have to cross the distance to devour though.

  So while the empire of the east may have lost like twice, that doesn’t mean others will join without certainty.

  My safety first after all.

  Of course there's the major player named the republic on the other side.

  Like France, eager to influence the continent, and not like France, merely warily watching what both sides do.

  I'm joking of course.

  I may have fried my brain too much to really do anything, but!

  Eh, I’m tired.

  So imma…

  Go sleep or somethin.

  Rot my brain further.

  …Sure.

  Hm.

  — — — —

  I have thus changed the name to DE/II.

  Reason being D?dance was wacky. And I cringe at my past everyday.

  So something more generalised.

  I’m also trying to think of something else to help but…

  Hear ye hear ye.

  What the fudge do I add.

  Ya see you’d think it’d be mostly chainmail armor. Which is correct but there's also a bunch of other things I looked up and skimmed through.

  Like there's the gambeson it uh, protects. I didn’t read the descriptions okay.

  Some tools like a knife, flint…

  I didn’t read alright.

  Life's a beat. Ch.

  Regardless of that, I have trouble thinking of what to do next.

  Look man I stay inside like the outdoors– as if the outdoors were a plague.

  So many years.

  Years.

  Years.

  Years.

  ….

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  ….

  ….

  ….

  ……..

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  …………………

  Inwardly sighing I fiddled with the bracelet.

  Can’t do much until the idea is approved or thrown in the trash.

  That too is fine.

  I guess.

  …But no more thoughts until it goes away.

  My heart still beats.

  The Empire is a country of solidarity.

  That was it’s birth.

  The Empire now is a warhorse.

  By many eyes, they would feel threatened.

  On the western side of the continent not so much.

  But those as it’s neighbours felt the gravity of that nation's swift upstart.

  The Yprest duchy configured itself on figuring out the next target.

  Luckily it was not them.

  The war with the Ujkal alliance was a costly war with no real gains besides territory.

  Adding onto that was the guerilla warfare from Ujkals and it was hardly feasible to fully occupy without deaths erupting from surprise attacks.

  Then again, the Empire still won.

  And the Empire's eyes turned southward.

  With a betrayal of leadership and the duke alongside his children executed.

  With little family to speak of, there was practically no ruler to pick from that were legible to be a puppet ruler.

  A regent from the Empire came to control order.

  …Even if someone of the duke's bloodline appeared the Empire would likely create a rift that the people can’t rely on.

  Someone not in control and has no sway over people.

  It was during Germinal that rumors of the Empire being defeated came southward.

  Years ago the Empire lost.

  Several times in battle.

  But that was against an opponent of the same power. Against the weak, they never lost.

  Yet a kingdom smaller than any nation won?

  Over insurmountable odds?

  Peculiar.

  Discussion with sister led it to likely a minor victory exaggerated.

  Then in the beginning of Floréal news came even more absurd.

  Twice.

  That small kingdom won twice.

  A tiny record compared to the military campaigns of others. Yet against the Empire.

  Highly trained troops lost to an army dwarfed in numbers.

  My head shakes with a light chuckle coming out of me.

  An absurdity of absurdity.

  Opening the door I called out.

  “Sister, I’ve arrived.”

  The floor boards creak as I walk to sisters room.

  “Ufufu. Really now?”

  Pale shaky arms flip the page.

  Smiling as always.

  “Yes.”

  I considered speaking of what I heard, but let it go.

  I sat in the seat next to sisters bed.

  “Did you sleep well?”

  “A little less than that.”

  Underneath her eyes tracing the words on the page, dark circles stuck like black ink.

  Saying nothing, I watched her flip the page.

  “Do you want anything to eat?”

  “Not particularly. Ah, perhaps water to wet my throat.”

  Standing up, I went to grab a drinking vessel.

  Grabbing the vessel from the cupboard, I went outside to the well.

  Scooping some, I returned inside with colder hands.

  Handing it to sister, she put her book down.

  Bringing it to her lips, she swallowed.

  Sister let out a relieved sigh after lowering the drinking vessel.

  “Thank you.”

  I nodded.

  “Anything else?”

  “Nothing I can think of.”

  Alright then.

  “Call me if you need me.”

  “Yes yes.”

  She picked up her book giggling.

  I went to make food when a knock from the door came.

  Opening it, two men stood.

  On the right a man with a scholarly look. And the older man on the left with a bushy beard.

  My face slowly turned sour as soon as I recognized that face.