14 Haven, II

It has been 2 weeks since the funeral and the empire has now found stability, Astrian sat down the his office's chair, spinning around to look at the growing city of Arcadia. A week ago they had sent a diplomat to the Sicilian isles, where they had reached a trade agreement. It was good enough for now as Astrian still hasn't planned anything about taking it for himself.

Though he had to keep his army a secret from the kingdom of Sicilia.

He made the kingdom a bit more connected, establishing road networks which all lead to one another, especially to Arcadia, the first of many. His surveyors also found a few more iron mines all around the place, it seems the peninsula is rich in those. As such it has become their primary trade resource.

Apart from the Kingdom of Sicilia, he also established a connection and trade agreement with the kingdom of Segesta. They would really need their materials if they want to expand further. Frankly Astrian was glad he wasn't handling all of the logistics involved. Perhaps he could think of coins too, but he still doesn't know how to handle it and would most likely just let Lui-eya handle it.

Speaking of Lui-eya, the idea of her immortality has been kept a secret from the people, it's not like they've known her for longer than four years. Though now she works only as Astrian's advisor, the head logistician for his army, as well as being in charge of the road network of the empire.

Should Astrian die without a definite heir, she would rule as the Empress of the Empire until she finds someone suitable to rule for her. She's not that good at that thing after all.

Right now she's at her office next to Astrian's, working on the recruitment process for the next few decades. He stands up and approaches her office, knocking on the door twice she calls him out to come in.

"What do you want?" She asks, her hood still down, though he can feel her stare from under it.

"U-uhh.. just wondering if we have enough iron to make a stable coin economy? If that's how it's done?"

She sighs, "So you want a coin-based economy but don't know how to make it work in the first place?"

"Yyyyeaaah, I just want the people here to understand how it worked back in Nydorekith."

"I see," She continues on her work, "I'll work on it, give me a week, shoo shoo" She brushes him off, he feels a soft gust on his body urging him to leave. As he left the door slammed shut without him touching it.

Astrian then went off outside into the city. His proficiency in magic allows him to not need much of a bodyguard. The place is going well, a bunch of people going to and fro markets, children are happy, parents are smiling. Just as Tei'hi would've liked it.

He proceeds into the city's barracks where the soldiers are training their skills with both magic and the sword, his bombers training in their flight. It was here that he was approached by Zoroan.

"My liege, an army has landed on the midwest coasts. It seems that they are led by Sicilio, king of the Sicilians."

"Sicilio? What would he need at this time, and with an army too?"

"Yes sir, he is currently staying outside the walls of Satormia, requesting an audience with you."

"Very well, inform Lui-eya. I'll be going there."

"Alone, sir?"

"Alone, preferably. I'll inform the garrison units there to keep down their magic."

"Yes, sir."

He flew stealthily towards Satormia, stopping to walk as he reached the outskirts of the city. There he meets a formidable number, totaling to at least eight thousand men, they surround the roads of the city and at the very end, seated at the stairs of the city's castle is a man wearing white garbs, his hair was long and his crown was shiny. He looked discontented and bored, he was Silicio.

"Well met, Emperor of Arcadia." He says, standing up and approaching him.

"Well met as well, King of Sicilia." They stared each other down, careful as to not say one wrong word, Astrian started, "What brings you here? With such a huge force as well."

"Just... checking around." He looks all over the place.

He stares him down, "Pull your men back, Sicilio."

"Or what? I'm just claiming a land for my own to see this scenic peninsula, is that a bit too much?" He smugly stared him back.

"You're smarter than this, pull them back."

"Oh, I'm glad you can make a compliment but please do tell me first." Silicio leaned closer to Astrian's ear and started whispering to him. "How did you take control of the entire peninsula in less than a week, kid?"

"H-huh?"

"Words spread around, you know. And I want to learn it from you considering," He pulls back and looks at him directly, "How weak you seem to be."

Astrian pushed him back, "I'd rather not discuss it with you."

"Aw, why not?"

"You don't discuss trade secrets with rivals, do you not?"

"So you see us as a rival then?"

Astrian looked around, "If you pull your army back then I won't."

"But I won't."

"Then you are an enemy of the Arcadian Empire."

Silicio chuckled and after a short few seconds he bursts out laughing, "AHAHAHAHAHA, OH GODS... you tell me that I am an enemy of your Empire surrounded by my soldiers while you only have one soldier in your garrison? Clearly, you're not the tactical genius I thought you were... unless you're hiding a secret yourself." He glares at him.

Astrian notices that the soldiers surrounding them have started to arm their bows and crossbows, "You will regret doing this, Silicio."

"Huh? Well, unless you have something up your sleeve then you won't survive this, would you? Just think of this as my punishment to you giving me a weird welcome by coming here alone."

"Well, I like going anywhere alone, unlike you and your trips, Silico."

"Tch, FIRE!" Everyone fired squarely at Astrian who did not budge. For a brief moment, everyone felt the gusts of wind under their clothes as it all converged towards the Emperor. Keeping the arrows afloat in the air as if it was his own sharp forcefield.

"Get out of here, Silicio or you WILL die here."

"No."

Astrian blew the arrows away, hitting anyone it comes across, mainly soldiers who fired those arrows a few seconds before. It didn't hit Silicio as there were no arrows fired from his direction. In his eyes he saw an angel expanding its wings, if arrows are feathers.

"Tch. Alright alright." Silicio began walking away, salvaging what little men he had that was still alive, "I'm leaving." He stares right at Astrian's eyes as he was about to leave and says, "I'll see to it that your men will be beaten."

"Don't count on it." Astrian replied.