"This object... is the medical charm you spoke of?" Saria stared blankly at the silver crucifix Jeanne had just unfastened from her attire. The stern Vouivre warrior wondered if she had misunderstood the maiden's definition of healing.
"Though it might seem difficult to believe, this charm is perfectly capable of restraining the chaotic, maddening Sarkaz wills lingering within the child's soul. I am afraid this is the extent of what I can offer," Jeanne explained gently.
She understood that handing over a simple cross and claiming it possessed the power to steady a fractured mind could easily make one look like a common charlatan. Yet, its blessings were entirely genuine.
Despite finding the concept completely bizarre, Saria knew that since she had traveled here to seek assistance, she simply needed to follow the maiden's guidance. Uttering blunt skepticism to a benefactor's face was contrary to her nature.
"Thank you for your immense generosity," Saria replied, tightening her grip on the silver cross.
It was plain to see that the youth named Ifrit held an incredibly vital place in her heart. However, if that was the case, Jeanne wondered why Saria hadn't brought the child along to let her examine the condition firsthand.
Recalling Saria's earlier description, the girl's physical health appeared stable enough for travel, which prompted Jeanne to ask about the child's current whereabouts out of genuine curiosity.
"Ah..." A rare look of profound awkwardness broke across Saria's stern visage. She fell into a tense silence for a brief moment before answering in a low voice, "The child is no longer by my side. In truth, I have not seen her in quite some time."
Jeanne fell silent as well. No wonder the warrior had relied entirely on Dr. Kal'tsit's medical summaries when describing the progression of Oripathy and the secondary voice. Jeanne had initially assumed Saria simply lacked medical expertise, but the reality was far more tragic.
"If a proper opportunity arises in the future, I shall travel to see the child on your behalf," Jeanne noted, gently patting Saria's shoulder. Her gaze carried a distinct look—not one of mere pity, but rather the understanding look one might give to a divorced spouse whose child had been granted entirely to the other party.
"Um... thank you," Saria muttered. She clearly perceived the unspoken meaning behind that look and opened her mouth to clarify, but ultimately chose to let it rest, offering a polite nod instead.
She clutched the crucifix tightly in her palm, almost as if she feared someone might burst into the corridor next season and snatch the precious artifact away.
"Dr. Kal'tsit and the main vessel of Rhodes Island are currently stationed near Lungmen. Normally, halting our vessel in this territory would pose no issue. However, the sweeping changes in Chernobog require everyone to tread with extreme caution. After all, stepping into the internal affairs of the Ursus Empire would place our organization in a thoroughly awkward position..."
Saria quietly detailed the current position of the mobile vessel. In truth, she hadn't possessed much confidence when she embarked on this journey to request a remedy for Ifrit, given how rarely she had crossed paths with Jeanne.
Having joined the ranks of Rhodes Island only recently, Saria had spent the vast majority of her tenure deployed on perilous field assignments, leaving her with zero opportunities to interact with the maiden who only occasionally visited the main vessel.
"So they have transitioned down toward Lungmen? That is an excellent choice. Even if we wish to establish formal communication with their leadership, it is only proper to wait until the dust has settled completely," Jeanne replied, showing no surprise since she had long known Kal'tsit's ultimate destination.
"I am told that Lungmen has heightened its internal security to an extreme degree due to the sudden proximity of your forces. Prolonging such a tense standoff will bring no benefit to either side. Kal'tsit mentioned that if you require a bridge, she is entirely willing to serve as an intermediary," Saria added, relaying the message word for word.
The leadership of Rhodes Island genuinely fretted over the volatile relationship between Jeanne's forces and the government of Lungmen, terrified that a sudden misunderstanding might ignite a massive conflict.
This anxiety was heightened by the historically strained relations between the Ursus Empire and the Yan Empire. Given that these two mobile metropolises sat right on the fringes of their respective nations, the slightest tremor could easily stir a violent tempest.
Furthermore, now that the Doctor was resting inside this very city, Kal'tsit would readily act as a peacemaker solely to guarantee the strategist's safety, even if she chose to ignore the rest of the political board.
"Ah... Lungmen? There is no need for an intermediary. We intend to establish direct contact with their government shortly," Jeanne answered smoothly, though she privately wondered when Talulah would finally choose to open dialogue with the Chief of Lungmen.
The primary reason the Draco lady had maintained complete silence toward Lungmen all this time was the overwhelming mountain of administrative duties demanding her attention. Yet, beneath it all, Talulah simply didn't know how to face that particular relative.
Their shared history was so thoroughly tangled that no outsider could ever hope to unravel it. The impending dialogue with Wei Yenwu would serve as a vital milestone for Talulah—a solemn ritual to bid a final farewell to her tragic past.
"Is that so? That is reassuring. Matters of diplomacy are best handled swiftly; allowing them to drag out often invites unforeseen perils," Saria noted with a soft sigh before bidding her farewell and walking down the corridor.
Jeanne didn't dwell too deeply on the matter, confident that the Draco leader possessed a proper strategy to handle the situation elegantly.
What she never anticipated, however, was that the burden of this diplomatic endeavor would land squarely on her own shoulders a few hours later. Staring across the desk at Talulah, Jeanne felt a sudden, violent urge to deliver a sharp blow.
"Why on earth must I be the one to go? Do you honestly believe it is appropriate for me to visit the heart of Lungmen?" Jeanne demanded, glaring at the woman who was playing innocent. She had a sudden urge to seize the Draco lady's tail.
"You will not be traveling alone. FrostNova and Skullshatterer will be accompanying you. Since we are dealing with our closest neighbor, sending three prominent leaders demonstrates the immense value we place on this dialogue," Talulah explained, her face locked in an expression of absolute gravity.
In truth, Jeanne was the perfect candidate for this assignment, as she was the only leader who had successfully navigated dealings with the authorities of Lungmen in the past.
"Do not play games with me. I know precisely what you are planning," Jeanne grumbled, gritting her teeth.
"Are those two truly traveling there to conduct a formal diplomatic visit? They are going to scout out potential talent! And Skullshatterer is simply using the journey to look for his missing sister. In the end, you've dumped the entire weight of the official labor onto me!"
Jeanne understood the urgency behind this sudden assignment. A significant portion of the city's populace remained terrified for the safety of their family members who had fled into the borders of Lungmen during the chaos. A few hotheaded individuals had even attempted to slip across the border under the cover of darkness to search for their kin.
The numbers were growing rapidly. These citizens had intended to brave the wilderness at night, only to be caught red-handed by Jeanne, resulting in thoroughly severe punishments.
Allowing this covert movement to continue would surely invite disaster. The most logical solution was to utilize this diplomatic opening to send a formal delegation into Lungmen, allowing them to locate the displaced families simultaneously.
"Please lend us your strength! The entire assembly is looking forward to your leadership. In their eyes, your personal participation is the ultimate guarantee of success!" Talulah coaxed with a bright smile.
"Hmph, you leave me with no choice. Very well, I shall make the journey. I only hope that when I set foot in their plaza, I am not greeted by a battalion of soldiers looking to place me under arrest," Jeanne sighed helplessly, thoroughly exasperated by the turn of events.
"We are profoundly grateful for your dedication. Before your departure, I shall personally initiate a direct communication with Wei Yenwu," Talulah promised, patting Jeanne's shoulder with a look of immense approval.
"It is comforting to hear you say that," Jeanne murmured, feeling a sense of genuine relief that the Draco lady was finally prepared to speak with Wei Yenwu. It proved that, to a certain degree, Talulah was steadily walking out from the shadow of her past.
With that, Jeanne took her leave to prepare for the long journey, leaving Talulah alone in the quiet study. She sat in absolute silence for several hours until the sharp ring of a communication device shattered the quiet.
Talulah stared at the vibrating receiver for a brief moment, then glanced toward the doorway where Jeanne had departed. A small, profound smile of relief formed on her lips as she lifted the receiver and spoke clearly into the line:
"Greetings, Master Wei Yenwu. I am Talulah Artorius, the current leader of Chernobog..."
The individual on the other end of the line fell into a prolonged, heavy silence. Talulah made no attempt to press for an immediate response, choosing to wait in quiet composure to see how the ruler of the city would choose to reply.
"Greetings, Lady Talulah. I am Wei Yenwu, the Chief of Lungmen. I believe our respective governments can find common ground on several pressing matters."
This initial dialogue yielded very few concrete agreements. It served primarily as a formal declaration that both factions desired a peaceful, harmonious coexistence, concluding with an arrangement to exchange official envoys to foster open communication.
After returning the receiver to its cradle, Talulah let out a long, deep breath. Looking out the window at the endless sky, she felt as though the horizon appeared far wider than it ever had before, and a heavy weight lifted entirely from her heart.
Meanwhile, across the dividing wilderness in the grand office of Lungmen, Wei Yenwu sat in absolute silence long after the line went dead. He had strictly forbidden any staff from entering his chambers to disrupt his thoughts today. Only he and his wife, who sat quietly by his side, occupied the spacious room.
The two exchanged a long, wordless look, their hearts too heavy with history to utter a single sound.