"Rulers are made, not born."
Robert explained over the table set up outside on the porch. A large tanned leather was pulled from the edge of the cabin's roof to shield them from the cold as their discussion was being too heated for the cozy inside of the house.
Leona was shaking her head while raising a suspicious eyebrow at him. Avalon was sitting right beneath her hand on the table.
"Then by that logic, anyone can rule."
"That's right. Anyone can rule as long as they can reason their way through politics."
She sighed. The whitish puff of steam vanished as her eyes locked onto his.
"So you're saying that leading an entire kingdom is something anyone can learn."
"With enough effort." He shrugged with both shoulders. "But your run down the mill merchant won't do it. Not for free anyway."
"What do you…?"
"An idealistic rule will only get you so far. Unless you have other allies like Krieg, completely loyal and steadfast—you cannot rely on passion and trust alone."
"But… what about the people? Most of them were already against my father aiding the demons that came to Arcadia due the war."
"The people will see you as they think you are. Not for what you truly are." He leaned over his left arm while tapping the side of his head with his right index finger. "Think, Leona. In Arcadia's history, was there ever a civil war for power?"
She reeled back as the question seemed to come out of nowhere at first, but the more she thought about it, the more it started to make sense.
"No… come to think of it."
"Because they couldn't afford to wage war amongst themselves. Peace only came after Eleonora's rule and even then, both humans and demons were still at each other's throats." He straightened his back and opened his right hand at her. "So think. Even if they are not happy with your rule. What are the chances that a civil war might break out on the very first year you sit on the Arcadian throne?"
"Not very likely, but why are you mentioning this?"
"One year, that's all that you have in order to solidify your rule. Purge any opposition during that grace period and keep improving the people's lives. You'll see their tone change once food and coins start flooding the kingdom."
She flinched a bit once she heard the word 'purge' come out of his mouth.
"You mean as in, executing people?"
He nodded once.
"Cruelty is a tool used by the ones in power to remain there. It's effective and it lasts." His eyes were sharp and cold, it was as if he was saying those words from something engraved within his soul. "But you need to know how to use it. Like with a gangrenous limb, you need to do it in one go."
She closed her eyes for a brief moment while letting out another long exasperated sigh.
"Robert, you… what you are suggesting is just… my rule is meant to save lives, but this is merely replacing a tyrant with another!"
"It'll save many more lives than you imagine. A weak kingdom is nothing but a target to others. You might defeat Alexander, but then what next? Will your already battered knights defend the 'last bastion of humanity' once they realize their ruler wishes nothing more than peace? Will Akrapocalis, Londria, Zenith and Aradia stay idle as you rebuild your kingdom?"
At that moment she slammed her closed fist on the table which made Avalon jolt up from the sheer impact.
"Enough… just…" She looked at his eyes. The fierce brown eyes were still holding up to the same conviction. "I understand your point. But if I were to execute the very people I rose up to defend is simply…"
"Too much?" He stood up. His frowned brows and sharp eyes showed how disappointed he seemed. "Ruleship demands no less. You sit on a throne with half hearted resolve and it will make you lose much more than you can imagine."
Only after he left, her shoulders relaxed and all seemed to come crashing down. Sweat riddled her forehead with glistening beads despite being cold outside. The mere thought of having to enforce her rule through violence sent chills down her spine. However, those thoughts weren't exactly new. She was aware of what a ruler might do or at least, a good one. She didn't consider herself a 'good' ruler by any means as she just wanted her people to live in peace.
She swallowed dry as her hand trailed Avalon's metallic shaft.
"I wonder… how much of a ruler will I truly be?"
She picked Avalon up and led her tired body through the ajar door inside the cabin. Only Ascalon was inside stoking the fire inside the metallic oven. Once the draconic maid noticed the tactician, she smiled and said.
"Ah, welcome back Leona."
"Hello Ascalon…"
She sat on the furthest chair by the table and leaned back with Avalon on her lap. Seeing her unusual behavior, Ascalon approached her.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh?" She glanced briefly at her and tried to force a smile. "It's nothing…"
"Hmmm? I wouldn't say that." She briefly looked down at her staff. "Even Avalon is unsettled by whatever you went through."
Leona looked at her first before glancing down at her own staff. She wore a bittersweet expression on her face.
"It's just… the way I wish to rule seems naive in the face of someone with firsthand experience." She chuckled nervously as her hands clutched the staff tightly. "Then again… I never truly considered being the one to lead a kingdom."
"Is it not something you wish to do then?"
"I… I don't know… I thought I would be able to change Arcadia but…" She paused for a moment as her gaze traced the features of her staff. "Even if I don't, someone else will…"
"Then… isn't it good?" Leona's eyes widened as she turned to her. "If you won't, someone else will. Doesn't that mean you can do what you want?"
"What, I want?"
She nodded with a confident smile on her face.
"Yes. I'm not sure what humans find so compelling in leading each other. Aren't all of you simply, humans?" She crossed her arms and closed her eyes while tilting her head slightly, lost in thought. "Then again, we dragons tend to flock to the strong—or well, at least when I was part of one. My point is, why must you be the one to lead? If it isn't something that you want to do, why do it in the first place?"
She looked at her with doubt clear on her face.
"But if I don't, many will suffer."
"Then, is ruling the only way to save those you wish to save?"
For a moment Leona didn't know how to respond. In her mind, the reason why she studied so hard and became known as Princess Tactician was simply because she was good at it.
Warring was all but a means to an end. To protect those who couldn't protect themselves, that is what the house Crossford always had stood up for. She wanted to carry that legacy, that much she was sure.
But leading a kingdom was nothing like leading troops or devising strategies for a war. It required nerves of steel, to soak one's hand into their people's own blood if necessary. Would a ruler that raises her blade against her own people be a good ruler?
"No… but it's the only way I know. To protect those who cannot protect themselves."
Avalon let out a low hum of approval as Leona's grip tightened around her. In the same manner, Ascalon smiled and nodded once.
"I'm glad to see that you found your answer." She turned around and continued to do her chores around the kitchen—namely, chopping firewood with a small yet hefty machete and cleaning the loose splinters of chipped wood by throwing them in the fire. "You know, you remind me a lot of Lady Sylphia when we first came into her possession. Confused and unsure of what she would do."
"She… was?"
"Yes. She bore little love for humans back then. In fact, I think she resented most of them at the time." She spoke proudly while splitting the firewood between each sentence. "But it was thanks to her sister's sacrifice that allowed humans to live in relative peace with the elves. She gradually started to live around them for a time."
"I see…" She closed her eyes and could still feel Sylphia's warm embrace around her. It was a soothing sensation that could only be described as unconditional love. "What about you, Ascalon? Why did you choose her as your wielder then?"
"Me? Well… I doubt anyone else could wield me." She smirked. slipping back to her usual self. "I bear too much power. If Sylphia so much desired to tear the earth and pierce into the heavens I'm sure I'd be able to do it in a heartbeat." At that moment she paused everything she was doing for a very brief moment and Leona could sense something different from the usual upbeat sword maiden—sadness. "But, hopefully I won't have to do that anymore."
"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to relive bad memories."
"No, it's fine." A faint smile appeared on her lips as she turned to Leona. "At first when Sylphia decided to give Avalon to Lady Ravness, I thought we'd never see each other again but…" Her eyes traced down to the staff she held and a genuine expression of happiness appeared on her face. "...here you return years later—bearer of a sword maiden." She said those words as her hand had stopped moving which made her shake her own head. "Ah… forgive me, I tend to become emotional when talking about any of my sisters…"
"It's okay, I find it refreshing."
Leona smiled quietly while leaning comfortably against the chair. Her eyes traced up towards the wooden ceiling and she began to reminisce about her mother.
'Be strong, Leona.'
The memories of those who passed on lived with her and so do their hopes. She wanted to fulfill that wish—to have a kingdom where any person, no matter their race, would be able to enjoy a fulfilling life without having to worry about the morrow. A simple idealistic view that many would consider out of reach.
'I'll make your dream, our dream, come to reality.'