"Ivan." Alexie gently knocked on the open door to Ivan’s office. The prince looked up and smiled, getting up to give his father a hug before offering a seat to him.

"Why have you come to visit father?" Ivan asked playfully, pouring himself and Alexei a drink. Alexei’s hand hovered over the glass, stopping his son before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small letter.

"Dimitri sent word back. It’s a lot."

"Ooooo." Ivan quickly snatched the letter from him. Alexei watched his son and saw his smile drop, his eyes hardening as he read the contents of the letter. The serious attitude lasted only a couple of minutes with Ivan throwing the letter on the table and smiling once again.

"I always love reading Dimitri’s letters. They never disappoint." Ivan took a sip of his drink and watched his father lean back.

"What do you make of it?" Alexei stared into his son’s eyes. Behind them, he could see a playfulness and wondered where he got it from. It wasn’t him or his departed wife. if he didn’t know better, Alexei would have assumed Ivan wasn’t even his son half the time.

"A secret council. Alfred always surprises me, but it makes sense. How else would he have been able to consolidate power without it."

"That’s not what I’m asking Ivan." Alexei sighed grabbing his forehead. Ivan chuckled seeing it but waved it off.

"I’m being serious. We should do it. Maybe then we can also get rid of those annoying bastards." Ivan took a sip of his drink. He could see his father was getting annoyed with his antics and cleared his throat. His eyes hardened once more as he leaned forward. "It’s a good idea."

"But the church?" Alexei said hesitantly and Ivan understood. Reaching out he grabbed the bottle and poured his father a drink.

"Father. Do you trust me?" Ivan asked seriously. Alexei was stunned by the sudden question but quickly collected himself.

"Of course. I trust no one more with the future of Vladmire."

"Then let me ask you. Do you love me more than the church?" Once more Alexei was stunned by the question.

"Of course Ivan. But why are you asking this?"

"Father." Ivan swirled the glass in his hand before doing the rest of its contents. "I’m not stupid enough to believe you are around forever. I need to prepare for the day when you are gone and I take control. Alfred is offering the chance to give me more freedom in my rule."

Alexei sighed taking a sip from his glass. "I know, but the Church exists for a reason. I’m afraid for your future Ivan. I know you, son, your ambition; your desires. But if what the Emporer is offering us fails, you’re done, it’s over."

Ivan smirked at his father’s worries, his serious attitude disappearing. "Father, if you know me then you should understand why I want to do this. The church will never let me expand beyond the Old Empire’s borders. But more than that, I won’t be free. Always having to answer to a different power. Maybe the Empire becomes that, but I want to take the risk."

"Ivan." Alexei stood up and walked towards the wall, looking at a family portrait. "I don’t care what you do when I die. Just don’t be in a rush to join me."

"Hahaha." Ivan burst into laughter hearing his father’s words. "Is something wrong with you Father? I have no plans on doing so. I love life." Alexei smirked at the response and turned to face his son.

"So you will join the schism?"

"Of course father." Ivan’s voice was stern saying that. Alexei sighed and smiled.

"We have work to do." Alexei retook his seat in front of Ivan, the two looking at one another with cunning eyes.

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"I see land," Frida shouted excitedly. Everyone scrambled happily, finally relieved that they no longer had to be on the sea anymore. Only one wasn’t. Helga looked at the land with empty eyes, simply turning her back and going back into her quarters.

Frida saw that and bitterly smiled. She had always wondered if she was going to die on her trip to the other world. She no longer was sad nor could feel despair. She already realized that he told her life was gone. She would never see her brothers or father again. Her life now was in the new world. Somewhere unknown.

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"Mayor." Desmond looked up to see his attendant looking at him with worried eyes.

"What is it?"

"A ship has arrived. One from the sea." Desmond squinted his eyes not fully understanding. The messenger could see that and gulped. "They resemble the people that attacked not long ago."

The pen fell out of Desmond’s hand as he put on his coat and ran out the door towards the dock. He didn’t bother with anything else pushing his way through the crowd. Arriving at the dock, a path opened for him and Desmond could see. Those on the boat held their weapons out taking a defensive stance whilst his own city guard did the same.

Desmond watched carefully. He could see that the people on the boat were hardened warriors in an instant, the city guard not standing a chance. The silent stalemate lasted for minutes, only broken by the sound of someone walking on the ship.

Desmond watched as a woman with golden hair walked to the front of the ship; two children in hand. "dear god." Desmond quietly muttered, recognizing her instantly. Whilst he had never met the woman he had been given enough of a description of her to know who she was. One of the most wanted people in the entire Empire. Someone who the Emporer personally wanted to be brought to him.

Looking at the children in her hands Desmond froze, having an eerie feeling at why the order was given. "Send word to the Emporer now. Tell them we have a guest from the sea. He will know what it means." His assistant bowed and ran off. Desmond steeled himself and walked forward, the men on the boat raising their weapons seeing it. Spreading his hands he showed he was unarmed and boldly walked up the ramp of the ship.

Helga turned to face him. Her appearance stunned him, but coughing he wore a friendly smile. His eyes landed on the children in her hands and seeing the boy he was almost sure of it. ’The Emporer’s bastards.’

Desmond bowed slightly, not wishing to annoy the people around him. "Greetings. I am Desmond. Mayor of Far Mile." Slightly raising his head he could see none of them understood what he said.

"Alfred." In a terrible accent, Helga said his name. It was hard, but Desmond understood his body stiffening.

Shaking his head he saw the woman’s face scrunch in anger as the men around moved closer towards him. "STOP!" Raising his hands he thought carefully. "He’s not here." Making gestures as he spoke Helga looked at him with cold, empty eyes. Frida watched everything from the distance and ran over.

"I think he saying that whoever you want isn’t here." Frida had watched everything and concluded. Helga looked at her and scoffed.

"Wait here. Alfred will come." He tried again to talk to them before running off the boat. Helga watched the weird actions and turned to Frida again who could only shrug.

"I guess he wants us to wait." It was annoying to Helga but she could only shrug and go back into her quarters.

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"Hey, have you heard? Those invader came back." A student said quietly, scaring his two friends.

"No way. When." One of the boys asked with a mix of excitement and fear. They had all heard the stories of the day when the attackers came from the sea.

"Last week. My brother is a guard in the city. Apparently it’s only one ship this time."

"What did you say?" A cold voice spoke from the side as the three looked at the man, freezing at the sight of him.

"Dan. What do you want?" One asked cautiously as the three took a step back.

"Tell me. What did you say?"

"Okay. Those guys that attacked the coast a year and a bit ago. They came back. Well, one ship did." Halfdan ignored the rest of what the boy wanted to say, rushing through the university halls. Reaching the headmaster’s office he opened the door letting himself in, shocking the old man.

He stared at Halfdan for a couple of seconds before smiling. "What do you want Dan?"

It surprised Halfdan that he recognized him, never having interacted with the man before. "You know me?" Halfdan took a seat without asking.

The headmaster chuckled. "When I get a report from a teacher saying their student has killed before, it catches my attention. Especially when it’s an ex-mercenary saying it. Besides I have faith that you will go on to do big things and you won’t forget the help the University gave you. Anyway, why did you come here."

"You have connections to the Palace don’t you," Halfdan asked cautiously getting the old headmaster to stop what he was doing. Looking at Halfdan his eyes went cold.

"What do you want?" The Headmaster asked and the veiled threat in his voice surprised Halfdan.

"The invaders came back. I think I can be of help."

The headmaster scoffed. "You. I get you’re a skilled fighter but the Empire has the military for that."

"I came with them," Halfdan spoke in a language the Headmaster didn’t understand but looking at Halfdan’s eyes he could tell instantly what he meant.

"You came with those barbarians." Halfdan nodded softly causing the man to sigh. "I could have you executed for that alone you know."

"Help me get to the Palace. I can be of help. I have no wish to return to that life." The two looked at one another for minutes with the Headmaster breaking away first and sighing.

"Fine. But I need to report this to General Flanders. I can’t have you running free now that I know." Halfdan nodded, hiding his smile.

’You shouldn’t have come back Helga.’