As of April 22, 2022, this chapter has been rewritten

Central Calendar 21/04/1639, Myhark, Principality of Qua-Toyne, 10:00

“Your tea, Your Majesty.”

Placing a white porcelain cup of steaming hot tea on top of the elegant brown surface of the table, the servant maintained his professional, unemotional face in front of his sovereign. Sitting dignified on the only chair present along the table was Llanfair Gwergin, princess of the Principality of Qua-Toyne. She looks up to him with her usual domineering glare, with her words and tone being a bit more reserved. 

“Thank you.”

After a single prompt bow, the servant made himself scarce, leaving Llanfair alone in the room with her thoughts and her tea. Looking down at it, she meticulously observed the stalks standing upright as they floated on the surface of the still steaming, translucent liquid. There were no ripples, no waves, no disturbances; it was as if time had stopped.

But time still marched on, so she went along with it.

Picking up the teacup with her slender fingers, curling neatly into the intricacies of the handle, she maneuvered its lips to her own. The hot tea hardly bothered her as it found its way down her tongue and onto her throat. Satisfied, she returned the cup back.

“Mmm.”

The leaves that made the tea could still be felt from the smell emanating from it, reinforcing the natural, somewhat earthy taste that engulfed her taste buds. It provided a soothing emotion to her otherwise stressed mind, a window through which she could feel the calming allure of the forest, her race’s natural dwelling. Indeed, she wanted to feel the liberating sensation of being in one, free from duties, paperwork, managerial stresses, and so on. However, this tea was what she had to settle for, because today, she is in the city of Myhark, the largest Qua-Toynian settlement on the northern coast.

Specifically, she was in her ducal villa, situated on top of one of the hills that could be found south of the city. From where she sat, she could see the ocean through a window directly opposite her, the glittering waves under the mild spring sun looking like the twinkling pearls that they undoubtedly contain.

“To think that there lies a new nation beyond...”

Her thoughts subconsciously manifested through her speech, but she paid no heed for she was alone.

Thus, the source of her increased anxieties as of late. Far more pressing than even the Lourian warmongers to the west, their recent discovery of a yet-to-be-contacted nation in the seas just north of their chunk of Rodenius threw her government into confusion. Not only was it unbelievable that they’d never been contacted before, despite being right next door, but their quest for answers was plagued by them not being able to speak nor understand the common tongue. However, for some strange reason, the Fennese were able to communicate with them, having already established trade relations as of yesterday. Through the Fennese ambassador to Qua-Toyne, they were able to learn of this new country’s name.

“Japan...”

A name so short, it simply rolls off the tongue. They didn’t even identify by what kind of country they were. A kingdom? A confederation? Perhaps an empire? According to the Fennese translators, they did have a type of country, but even they had trouble trying to make sense of it. In their best attempt to word it, they were a “country dictated by the will of the people.”

“Pfft...”

Remembering that one single statement, her amused reaction came forth subconsciously, reigned in by her willingness to uphold courtesy.

“The will of the people... That is an exciting concept.”

Llanfair took more sips from her tea.

As a near autocratic ruler herself, she wasn’t keen on having her powers and authority totally restrained by a system that diverted those powers and authority to her subjects. The people are too loose, too incoherent, and to rely on them to run a kingdom is akin to building a house on fine sand–the structure is bound to fail. Popular sentiments change as easily as a blade of grass is disturbed by the wind, and as a massive, often heterogeneous force, there are bound to be inconsistencies in the perspectives of each individual. Having built and maintained the state of Qua-Toyne according to what she sees as the best for its collective wellbeing, Llanfair was confident that her authority was justified.

Still, there were lingering doubts about the new country’s popular system.

“How in the world are they so... advanced???”

If her beliefs on a nation that is run based on the people’s will are true, then the nation should have long withered away, their attempt at immortalization a failure, and their memory condemned to be damned to history. Yet here they are, matured enough to be coherent in that they have a functioning government. Worrying of all for Llanfair was their demonstration of what they were capable of.

The scenes flashed in her head.

A huge, inanimate flying object easily bypassed their airborne forces, casually threatening their largest settlement on the coastline, and flying away as if to further insult their unpreparedness. She wasn’t there, but she felt the harrowing fear and terror of her people as she read through and listened to their testimonies. It was incredibly vexing as a leader and embarrassing for her country as a whole. Despite years of preparations for open hostilities with Louria, they were still caught with their pants down.

Imagining the thoughts of the foreign merchants and traders that were undoubtedly present in Myhark at the time, Llanfair couldn’t help but be ashamed of her lackluster administration. Despite them being a country ruled by the people, they still managed to show how superior they were.

Where were the Qua-Toynian dragon knights?

Why didn’t the supposedly powerful elven mages do anything?

That princess loves to talk of unity and solidarity. It turns out that her mouth is as loose as her crotch!

The imaginary screams of outsiders and their perspectives raced through her mind, overwhelming her sense of reason and calculated calming responses. Before she realized it, her entire person began to quiver. Her already titanic grip further hardened, threatening to shatter even the handle of the porcelain cup that she was holding. Her worries had turned into fury.

The contempt with which her imaginary foulmouthed berated drove her to assail them with the same amount of contempt mentally. Her thoughts tilted towards the use of magic, and it wasn’t long before her inner mana started to be cast. As a skilled magic user herself, she could cast spells without having to openly recite the chants, which usually came at the cost of lost time spent physically mouthing the difficult words. Being able to cast spells subconsciously was also difficult since it requires self-control of gargantuan proportions so as not to use magic when not appropriate or intended. This self-control, amidst her fury, began to slip, with the mana she was using manifesting into a slowly accelerating vortex of wind around her person.

“P-Princess...!!”

In the midst of the loud swirling motions of the winds circulating around her, the masculine voice of someone close to her reached her eardrums. Opening her eyes, she looked down towards the source of the voice, kneeling down on the cold floor underneath the table in the gap between her legs. His ogling, somewhat teary eyes, a far cry from the masculinity evoked by his voice, looked back at the princess’s surprised eyes.

“Silas?”

Calling out the name of her personal confidant whom she forgot about, having ordered him to remain on “standby” underneath the table, the sight of Silas’s worried expression evoked feelings of concern which temporarily pulled Llanfair out of her anger. Having been provided with the slap-back-to-reality that she needed, bit by bit, she relaxed every inch of her person, mentally and physically. The anger she felt over the Myhark incident started to dissipate, and her grip on the teacup handle loosened. Before long, she regained her self-control, and with the valves of her inner desire now shut, the subconscious chants ceased too. Their driving force was gone, the winds circulating around her person ebbed away and the air in the room returned back to its near stagnant state.

“I forgot you were down there.”

Having more or less calmed down, Llanfair proceeded to address the man under the table.

“I’m pretty much forgettable, huh?”

“No no no. I was just preoccupied...”

Caressing the long elven ears of her long-time friend, she continued to look at his sullen, baby-ish eyes. Despite having a mild inferiority complex, Silas has always been there for her, having known her in his time as a hired hand at the ducal household. Their closeness was an open secret, but hardly anyone doubted the man as a usurper or a manipulator, as the woman he was close to already ticked those checkboxes. He was willing to do a variety of things for her sake, even if it led to questionable deeds. As such, he allowed himself to be cooped up underneath the very table Llanfair was on.

“Don’t you have a meeting to attend, princess?”

Silas asked her.

Staring directly at his face, which continued to tickle Llanfair’s heart, the fatigue and frustrations from her constant work made it easier for more twisted thoughts to take hold of her decision-making. Although she was tired from the momentary loss of her grip over her mind, a desire for gratification won over her sense of urgency to attend the meeting. After all, she still had an hour or two.

“That can wait. I want something, Silas, and I want it bad.”

Her desires were reflected in the blankness of her stare, which Silas picked up on.

“Anything for you, princess.”

Finally given the go, impatience took the wheel, driving her hands to take action immediately. Pulling on the white cloth of her dress, she lifted it up over Silas’s person before grabbing his head through the fabric and pushing it straight down. Without resistance, Silas’s head willingly surged forth, his face making contact with the means that can give Llanfair what she wants.

Himself sensually agitated, the lukewarm liquid oozing from his frothing mouth spilled all over her lower half, tickling the sensitive nerves on the one part of her womanhood that mattered. His luscious lips and naughty tongue acted in concert to assail her sanity, and every time she squirmed ever so slightly, they would be pushed deeper into the recesses of her person. Soon, the sweat pouring out of her pores was not the only liquid that was seeping into the linen fabrics of her undergarments. Her lower half turned into a stove, extremely hot from the excessive provocations on her sensitive parts. It felt as if she was going to lose control of her mind.

Leaning back on the cold wooden rest of her chair, she started to lose all sense of reason as her carnal desires took control of her limbs. Her legs drooped like that of a marionette without its marionettist before the muscles along her thigh contracted in pleasure from the rigorous rhetoric emanating from Silas’s tongue.

“Ngh...”

Just as the suction from his endless kisses over her stimulating maiden turned her mind to mush, the lasting sensation of dangerously thrilling pleasure surged throughout her entire person. Her plump hips moved up and down and squirmed left and right as her nether regions exploded with welcome indulgence. Like scratching an annoying itch, Silas’s mouth danced to the tune of her silent groaning, which was driven further by the impulses sent by her clitoris to her mind that demanded one thing: “MORE.”

“Ah... Silas...”

Hearing his name through the enchanting femininity of an aroused moan, Silas pushed through to give his princess what she wanted. He wasn’t alone–Llanfair’s hands gripped the hair strands on his head as she forcefully pushed it inwards. Her flower bloomed as if to consume his face, eager to receive the bountiful offering of his oral playfulness. Even as pain gripped him over her thrashing about, at times clobbering his head in frustrated pleasure, he nevertheless continued.

However, the energy and heat pouring into her lower half meant that the rest of her body began to feel sluggish as if they were about to ebb away into nothingness. Driven by the explosion of bodily thrill, her mind slid into a momentary state of blankness, leaving her body alone to quiver from the sensual impulses emanating from her lower half. Her back slouched further on the chair rest and her breathing became haggard, intermittently pausing to moan out her gratification audibly.

“Fuck... Fugd... Fijgmk...”

Whether she was tired or having lost her ability to coherently think, Llanfair’s speech was temporarily over the place.

The stress from her duties had taken away most of her energy, leaving only barebones for her to pleasure herself. As such, it wasn’t long before fatigue overwhelmed her sensual indulgence, and she started feeling more tired than exhilarated. Looking at her cum-stained dress, sweaty and red-flushed face, and her womanhood leaking her precious juices, she was more ready for another rigorous session of sex in bed than she was for a high-level diplomatic meeting with another country.

“Hah... Right...”

It all came back to her: after a coherent sense of communication was achieved via the Fennese, the other country, Japan, had asked for a meeting with her and her government. Some time had passed, and it was now only a while before they’d come to see each other.

Reeling from her disgusting yet self-gratifying episode, she remembered that this was the reason why she was currently in Myhark. Considering her pitiful state, she had to redo her dignified appearance before she could see them.

Releasing her iron grip from Silas’s head, she allowed him to stop and take a breather. Her exasperated eyesight, blurry from the intense pleasure of which the remnants she was still feeling, landed on her subordinate’s face. Underneath the perspiration and her womanly juices dripping over much of his face was an expression of affirmation, reminding her that he was happy to be of use to her.

“Oh Silas...”

Llanfair once more caressed his face, and Silas held her hand close. Her exasperated yet gleeful expression was more as if she was looking at a pet.

“Get yourself washed too. I’ll give you your reward after the meeting.”

Royal Reception Hall, 14:00

Having met with the sharp appearances of the Japanese diplomats some hours ago, their first meeting at the reception hall was already dragging to a close. Wearing an elegant, flowing dress of green and yellow, the colors of Qua-Toyne, with a pearl necklace around her neck, Llanfair projected the awestruck magnificence that was expected of a sovereign. She sat in the middle of one side of a long table, surrounded by the neatly-dressed persons of her high council. Populating the side of the table opposite to them were the diplomats from Japan, all bearing neatly trimmed haircuts and snappy, fashionable black suits.

Llanfair sat directly across from the head of the delegation, a stern-faced man with a handsome-looking haircut who calls himself Kuribayashi Jizaburo. His glaring eyes were as sharp as the edges of his jawline. Having been forced to look at him for the entire meeting, she couldn’t help but note how not once did Kuribayashi ever open his firm, muscular hands. As a power-hungry leader, she too held her face up in stark defiance, not wanting to submit to the Japanese man in front of her, even if the battleground was just appearances. Heck, even his apology for their flying object, which they call an “aircraft,” transgressing their sovereignty, felt very unapologetic simply because of his rugged expression. 

“This all seems well and good...”

Kuribayashi muttered as their talks were drawing to a close. Having spoken in Japanese, his statement was lost on the Qua-Toynians, but the Fennese with them, who was acting as the translator, conveyed to them in the common tongue.

“Kuribayashi says that they are satisfied with the terms.”

After nearly three and a half hours of exhausting back and forth regarding topics such as their resources, workforce and technical capabilities, the terms of an economic and trade deal, and so on, they managed to arrive at the endpoint. It was also surprisingly fast too, almost as if the Japanese themselves wanted it done as fast as possible.

“Excellent!”

Clapping her hands in mild exasperation, Llanfair wanted to move along to a topic she wanted to discuss.

All this time, she thought of them as being the emissaries of old, the divine warriors sent forth by Shamash, the sun god, to drive away from the demonic menace that harassed their ancestors. Even though she felt like sticking to reason and not believing the Japanese story of them being transported to this world from another, it sounded exactly like how the sun god’s emissaries first appeared. Adding fuel to the curiosity of a plausible relation, she took notice of a decorative pin on the diplomats’ collars, which depicted a stunningly red disc on a cloth of pure white. If this was their country’s banner, then it was strikingly similar to the banner that the emissaries had left behind.

Was it a coincidence? Llanfair believes otherwise.

To nail the coffin on this personal interest, she wanted to address the Japanese head-on.

“One more thing I’d like to ask, however...”

She paused, giving time for the Fennese translator to convey her message to the Japanese diplomats. Kuribayashi responded and allowed her to ask them.

Considering that her direct questions may somehow be lost in translation, she opted for asking simpler, roundabout questions.

“Here in Qua-Toyne, we’re still very much attached to our mythologies. Our national banner contains symbolism that pertains to the deity of agricultural blessing and fertility, Astarte. If the pin you wear on your collar represents your banner, can you tell me more about it?”

As soon as the translated question reached his eardrums, Kuribayashi answered without delay.

“We too are attached to our natural world, but we hardly let those beliefs govern our lives anymore. One such vestige of this is our national flag, the Hinomaru, officially the Nisshōki, which depicts the sun.”

After a brief moment of translation, Llanfair’s eyes widened. The other councilmen next to her picked up on this as well, and they started considering their sovereign’s wild idea about the old emissaries. Even councilman Kanata, once stubborn and hesitant, was more or less convinced in finding out more. With the topic firmly on where she wanted it to be, Llanfair got more direct with her questions.

“Does it hold any religious significance? Perhaps a sun deity?”

Kuribayashi tilted his head off to one side.

“We do have a mythology surrounding the creation of the universe, which involves the goddess of the sun, Amaterasu. As the legend goes, our emperor, now mainly a figurehead, descended from her.”

A moment of silence gripped the room as the Qua-Toynians processed the translated answer of Kuribayashi. It still left room for coincidence, but they now felt that they had enough to go around to warrant an actual investigation on the matter. Satisfied with the answers she’s been given, for now, the princess was eager to send the Japanese off, but there was one more thing...

“As we go and formalize this relationship, there’s one last thing I want to ask of you.”

Kuribayashi raised his opened palms at long last, encouraging her to let him and his people hear it.

“I want to visit your country, learn of its particulars, and meet with your leaders. Surely that is not impossible, hm?”

The Japanese looked at one another, their expressions riddled with uncertainty. However, it would be rude to leave the sovereign of another country unanswered. Turning to face her with his usual poker face, Kuribayashi responded.

“We will see to it.”

Central Calendar 05/03/1639, off the coast of Myhark, 8:45

As the mid-morning sunlight peeked through the intermittent clouds close to the horizon, the daily lives of the inhabitants of one of Qua-Toyne’s biggest cities were already in full swing. Traders, merchants, and fishermen took to their sailboats, and sail ships of various sizes and nationalities as the quaint waves of the calm sea came to greet them at the largest port on the Qua-Toynian coastline. Markets selling all kinds of goods coming from both overseas and domestic producers were already bustling with sorts of peoples from different walks of life, from fisherfolk beastmen to artisan dwarves and elven entrepreneurs.

At the port, carts of goods packaged in crates and barrels were being wheeled across the sandy stone wharves by horse-drawn carts. Standing off to one side was the figure of a woman in a stunning dress of interwoven blue and white, her head covered from direct sight by the bowl-like parasol she held. Next to her were several men of various aristocratic clothing, but none of them showed hesitance to be amidst the commoners walking past them.

“Hmph. What’s taking so long...”

Clad in her usual opulence, Llanfair did not shy away from showing her impatience.

Two weeks had passed since the Qua-Toynian, and Japanese officials last met. Some days ago, they were contacted by the temporary Japanese diplomatic mission in Myhark about her request to visit the country being approved, with the date set for the 5th day of Mev, the 5th lunar cycle in the Central Calendar. Apparently, according to the Fennese, the date took the longest to set, as the Japanese were using a completely different calendar system, and it was the onset of autumn in their world when they got transported here.

“Maybe I should take their story seriously...”

What gave Llanfair more reason to consider this appeared at the other end of her sight. Looking out towards the ocean from the port, she caught sight of something mind-boggling. Beyond the defensive harbor walls that enclosed parts of the port was a long, massive vessel painted in different hues of gray and white. The gigantic size of the ship made her doubt her own sense of scale and distance as she struggled to compare it with the various sail ships that traveled across its vicinity. Seeing its towering hull project a sense of power all throughout, Llanfair could not even fathom how such a massive ship was even possible in the first place.

Only some weeks ago, Myhark was the site of one of Qua-Toyne’s most harrowing moments when a Japanese aircraft easily grazed the skies above it, a point of personal embarrassment for Llanfair. Now, in that very same place, the Japanese had once more demonstrated just how untouchable and powerful it was. The massive ship undoubtedly caught the attention of everyone in the city, with scores of people across the port taking the time to gawk at it.

“How vexing...”

Llanfair clicked her tongue at her powerlessness to project a strong image to the Japanese, being thwarted time and time again by their titanic technological capabilities. Even on her home turf, it was the Japanese who were turning their heads and not the other way around. At this point, it was beyond doubt that their heads would turn once they got to their mainland.

“Ah, look!”

Councilman Kanata, next to her, shouted out loud as he pointed toward the ocean. A group of small, black boats traveling at ungodly speeds through the waters darted towards them from the massive ship, entering the harbor in no time. Fluttering above one of the boats was a white banner with a red circle in the middle.

“I think that’s our transport vehicle.”

With the Japanese boats approaching, the Qua-Toynian officials hurried to do last checks on their luggage.

Haneda International Airport, Tokyo, Japan, 13:30

“Dear Astarte...”

“Land... At last!”

Upon exiting the innards of the rumbling cylindrical steel deathtrap the Japanese call an “airplane,” the wobbling Qua-Toynian officials immediately got on their knees and kissed the concrete tarmac. Some of them even fell flat on their stomachs, exhausted from the tense sensation they felt throughout the aerial journey.

The entire trip was relentless for them. After being taken to the massive gray ship stopped outside Myhark, they were then led to a small aircraft capable of taking off at a vertical angle. It was an extremely unpleasant ride, as they encountered turbulent winds along the way. After nearly two hours, they then landed on an island called Okinawa, where they were then immediately taken to a bigger aircraft to travel to the capital, Tokyo, which was two and a half hours away by plane.

Quivering on her heels and feeling off-balance, Llanfair reached out for a place that she could lean on.

“My fucking...”

Reeling from the sickening, stale “food” she was given onboard and the overall frightening experience of being taken to the skies, the princess tried her best to keep her lunch within her stomach.

“Are you alright?”

Approaching her was an unfazed Kuribayashi, who with a little delicacy and capacity to read the room, asked her in his still crude common tongue. Exhausted and motion sick, she tried her best not to lambast the thickheaded diplomat with a colorful flurry of words so as not to cause a diplomatic incident.

“I will be waiting over there. Ah, and welcome to Japan, your highness.”

What a dastardly shitty welcome, thought Llanfair.

Slowly finding her footing on solid ground again, Llanfair looked at her surroundings. All around her was an endless flat plain of grayish stone, almost as if it were a single, uniform block. Looking back at their aircraft, a sizable machine of shiny red about the length of four adult wyverns, she then compared it with the monsters parked all around them.

These goliaths... can all fly?!

At times, the massive white aircraft, with wings as broad as entire parks, would appear to be as large as entire sections of castle walls. The indomitable keep and walls of the fortress town of Ejey in the countryside came to mind. The extreme technological marvels required to create these giants were something that was simply beyond comprehension. Even the gigantic facility that stood before them called an “airport” by the Japanese, shocked the Qua-Toynians with its towering height and extensive use of uniform, supposedly expensive glass panels.

Then, there was the breathtaking sight behind the aircraft they came in. Beyond the waters beyond the endless plane of stone lay an alien skyline of white and gray buildings that soar into the heavens. They sparkled beautifully in the early afternoon sun and were testament to the hair-raising power that the Japanese possessed. Having never seen such an imposing sight in their life, the Qua-Toynians were now more inclined to believe that they were in a completely different world.

“No... They really are from a different world...”

The inescapable feeling of them being incomparably tiny was etched into their hearts. Llanfair, however, continued to resist, adamant about maintaining the image that she was the leader of a proud nation. With her heart in chaos, she proceeded to catch up to Kuribayashi to be transported to their lodgings.

Central Calendar 05/04/1639, Tokyo, Japan, 9:00

Emerging out onto the foyer, or “lobby” as the Japanese insist on calling it, of the building they call a “hotel,” Llanfair took to one of the mirrored walls that lined the lobby. There, she examined her reflection on the mirror’s pure and stainless surface, admiring the extravagance of the handwoven black patterns that decorated her stunning purple dress. Satisfied with her almost-menacing appearance, she then took to indulging herself with the grandness of the lobby.

Rose-red pillars stood imposingly along two parallel lines running through the middle, acting as support for the rest of the hotel above. Glistening chandeliers hung from the ceiling, which was as shiny and aesthetic as the marble floor she walked on. Off to one side, there was even a functioning fountain, complete with the artistic depiction of a nude siren with a vase from which the water poured out. She had already seen these features yesterday when they arrived, but the fatigue from the air travel had driven them to their beds, which was the pinnacle of what it means to feel something soft and comfortable.

“Shall we go, your highness?”

Caught up in her admiration, she did not notice the smart-looking figure of Kuribayashi standing next to her. Turning to face him, she then took note of another man standing to the left of the Japanese diplomat. He also wore the same sharp, black suit that Kuribayashi was wearing, but his rustic facial features and grown beard led her to assume that he was not with the Japanese.

“Forgive my transgressions for the late introductions, but this person here is Kado, the new ambassador of Fenn to Japan. He will be assisting us in the translations.”

Managing to somehow read the passage given to him by Kado in transliterated common, Kuribayashi introduced the Fennese ambassador to Princess Llanfair. The two then exchanged bows.

“Now then, we will proceed to our session in the National Diet of Japan. This way, your highness.”

With Kado’s translation assistance, Kuribayashi led Llanfair and the other Qua-Toynians out of the hotel towards a convoy of black cars awaiting them outside.

As part of the first state visit of a new world country to Japan, the sovereign of Qua-Toyne and some of her government officials will be making a speech at the National Diet, the parliamentary body of Japan. With guidance from Kuribayashi and the Japanese foreign ministry, as well as from her own councilmen, she managed to prepare a few words to say to the lawmakers of Japan. She herself added some parts in it that she did not divulge to anyone, so no one knows what exactly she was going to say.

Led into the interior of the sleek, metallic, horseless carriage, Llanfair took note of the alien sensations she experienced as her body sank in her seat. Unlike the thin cushions of the carriages she was used to, the cushions on the seat of this “car” were plump, so much so that her thigh muscles tensed up from the unfamiliar degrees of comfort. Not only was the seat so soft, but the back and headrest were also of noteworthy suppleness. Leaning back and feeling at ease was something Llanfair found exciting.

Holy blades of Astarte... I will never ride those carriages again! I need to know if these “cars” are for sale!!!

Consumed by the overwhelming sense of being at ease in the car seat, she didn’t even notice that they were already moving. Turning her head off to one side, she looked out of the glass windows of the car, noticing the rather fast movement of the vehicle as it sped down the road. The prospect of getting to ride in such a comfortable vehicle back home got her all giddy, as now she was also impressed by how smooth the movements of the car were. There was hardly any violent shaking that assaulted her back and bum, and she could still reliably feel comfortable just leaning on the rest.

Still, there was one more thing she wanted to do.

According to Kuribayashi, the National Diet Building, where the National Diet holds its “productive back and forth,” was situated in the heart of the capital. Since their hotel was close to the airport, it was going to take some time to get to the building as the distance to it from the hotel was modestly far. As such, it was reasonable to think then that they would be passing through the streets of the Japanese capital, an opportunity for Princess Llanfair to get a glimpse at the power that the nation held.

Her eyes widened at what they were seeing looking outside: everywhere she looked, it was all artificial, whether it be glass, stone, metal, or other alien-looking materials. There was hardly any green; there were only a few trees, shrubbery, and other signs of life that appealed to her elven tendency to be with nature. Without these signs of life, it wasn’t that surprising when she thought of how dead the capital was. They were the only cars out, despite the size of the streets being able to accommodate even more. The sidewalks were devoid of people, and the places that seemed to be storefronts on the streetside were all closed and darkened.

Just as she wondered where everyone was, answers came to view. On multiple occasions, they passed certain places where there were long lines of people. Taking a quick glance at their faces, she saw that they were disheartened, confused, and frustrated. Whenever they passed a big sprawling park, a refuge of green in an otherwise gray metropolis, she saw barriers around the park manned by what seemed to be armored personnel clad in blue and black, keeping at bay what seemed to be people who were crying and begging for help. The park was littered with tents and people who seemed to be living in relative squalor when they examined the area more closely. Her mind filled with questions as to the reasons for the chaotic scenes playing out before her, she glanced towards Kuribayashi, who was in the same car. However, all she found was that he and the driver were actively ignoring the sights before them, their faces looking elsewhere and their mouths mum.

This was not what I was expecting...

Their convoy then came across a street blocked off by stone barriers. Before they completely turned away, she was able to take a detailed look at what was happening beyond the barriers. There, she saw a line of armored personnel with clear, glass-like shields withstanding a hail of rocks and attacks by what appeared to be protesters. With the line of personnel being driven backward, one of them tripped and fell, leading to that person getting focused on by attacks by the protesters, which were beaten and cuffed in retaliation by the other armored personnel. Before long, a bigger, bulkier car appeared next to the uniformed personnel. A small, metallic pivot-like object on top of it suddenly spewed out an intense jet of water against the protesters, forcing them to disperse and run away.

While the violence paled in comparison to the crimes committed by Louria, it was still surprising that so much unrest and unhappiness was occurring in the Japanese capital. She wondered if the other Japanese cities were suffering the same predicament. Still, the reasons behind the general social disorder she witnessed eluded her.

Their convoy then emerged out into a part of the capital that was clear of the extremely tall buildings she had witnessed earlier. There were also more trees and greenery to the point that the ratio of nature to artificial structures was beyond comparison from where they passed through. Off to one side, she found a gray, imposing building that jutted out of the layer of trees that blocked off its lower half. It was massive and wide, and its unimpressive yet menacing facade evoked a sense of being intimidated.

“There it is, the National Diet Building.”

Kuribayashi remarked in common, still trying to get the hang of proper intonation. As the brutalist symbol of Japanese politics loomed ahead, Llanfair steeled herself for her speech.

- - -

Guided by dozens, maybe hundreds, of Japanese suits and shaded spectacles, the Qua-Toynian delegation, headed by the magnificent opulence of Princess Llanfair, made their way through the halls of power. In spite of maintaining an aura of supremacy and predominance, she can’t help but feel dwarfed by the sheer scale and grandeur of the Diet building’s interior. Marble walls, intricately carved reliefs, massive perfect arches, vibrant paintings; it was as if she was in an imperial palace of first-rate world power.

She then entered into a grand chamber of wooden walls, with an array of tables arranged in an amphitheater-like semi-circle facing a podium on a slightly elevated platform. The chamber was populated with all sorts of Japanese lawmakers wearing the common black suit, as well as some individuals that carried with them small, boxy contraptions that emit short bursts of light. They were notified by Kuribayashi beforehand that these were harmless machines that take photographs, which was something that the Qua-Toynians were already aware of given that the Parpaldians already possessed technology that could do something similar.

Ignoring the flashes and judgemental stares descending on her person, Llanfair ascended to the platform and faced the condescending glares of the Japanese lawmakers head-on. Absolutely confident in her self-presentation, she was unfazed by the crowd before her. After positioning herself before the podium, she heard the well-modulated voice of a Japanese person echoing throughout the chamber.

“We will now commence the address of her highness, Llanfair Gwergin, princess of the principality of Qua-Toyne, to the National Diet of Japan.”

She did not understand a single word. Fortunately for her, Kado was standing behind her side, and he then told her that she was now allowed to speak. Relying on the Fennese ambassador for the translation, she exhaled one last time before proceeding to open her mouth.

“My greetings to you, noble officials of the state of Japan, and to the astute people that inhabit your nation.”

Llanfair was taken aback by how her voice was also being amplified in volume. This was presumably the work of a magic device or a technological machine that the Japanese were using on her. She was not alone in being surprised, though. Hearing the unrecognizable, unfamiliar, completely alien language being spoken by the princess, the Japanese lawmakers couldn’t contain their shock. Immediately, they began talking amongst one another, their tones and expressions a mix of worry and amazement.

“This is probably the most convincing presentation on how we’re in a new world...”

“Well, crap... I appreciate her kind words, but we’re not gonna go anywhere with the economy...”

“Is she actually an elf? Look at her ears!”

The chamber was drowned out in excessive hushes by the Japanese lawmakers. Seeing the disrespect to her presence happening before her, Llanfair can’t help but be irked. Fortunately, she was the type of person who would do anything to command respect. As such, she deemed her next move to be appropriate for the occasion.

“As a token of my gratitude for your hospitality in accommodating us, I will provide you with firsthand experience of something you’ve never witnessed before.”

We, unfortunately, don't have magic in Japan. It has never existed for us, so knowing it and casting it is out of the question.

That was what Kuribayashi told her and her councilmen when confronted with the question of magic. Since magic was so natural in this world, Llanfair took his word with a grain of salt, but it did reinforce their story of being transported here. With that in mind, she knew that the Japanese had never witnessed magic before, and so she deemed it adequate for her to demonstrate it to get their attention.

Letting go of some of her self-control, she felt the mana flow out of her body, which was then immediately cast according to the chants of her subconsciousness. Using her hands as conduits, she twirled around, the slightness of her nimble hand movements exciting the air around her. The Japanese, witnessing her perform fluid movements of unknown nature, were beholden to her image by the curiosity of what she was doing.

Then, they saw the air around her person slightly warp as the spell she cast sped up the flow of wind. Before long, a swirling vortex of winds had gathered around her. The Japanese looked on with terror and awe as the violence of the winds threw around objects lighter than a pebble. With her wind magic on full display, she cast another spell that served as the cherry on the cake. Bringing her arms in, she muttered a few words before proceeding to spread them out. In response, the vortex of winds around her dissipated into the crowd of Japanese before her.

After the winds blew through them, particles of snow started precipitating from their wake, fluttering beautifully down on the ruffled hairs of the lawmakers. Reeling in from the stupefaction of what they had witnessed, the Japanese had their mouths and eyes wide open, unable to utter even a single word. All they could do was look back at Llanfair, who looked back at them with a triumphant face.

“People of Japan, I bid you welcome to our world: Asherah!”

Hot on the heels of this announcement and with attention still on her, she continued.

“It is an amazing world filled with all sorts of magic, breathtaking scenery, and plentiful natural resources. The people that inhabit it are hardworking and diligent, and like us back in Qua-Toyne, they are willing to be friends.”

Then, she went straight into the crux of her speech, the part that she wanted the Japanese to hear.

“However, not all are friendly and are of good heart. One of these bad-hearted people is our neighbors, the Lourians. Every full moon, they raid our borders, burning everything and everyone. They destroy, set alight, torture, rape, and massacre our peoples! Pillage is but a norm to these barbarians!”

Intentionally putting some exaggerations, Llanfair could see her emotional words tugging on the heartstrings of the Japanese officials before her.

“Just months ago, the king of these barbaric Lourians, ordered for our submission. This is no empty threat, for their war-hungry soldiers and terrifying wyverns amass at the border in the hundreds of thousands as we speak! We, who are your friends in peace and partners in economic progress, will be put to the sword for the crime of existence!”

Still, she knew her proof-less assertions were without merit, so she went loaded with her statements.

“You doubt my words? Go then! Fly your aircraft to witness the horrors happening at the border! Still don’t believe us? Are you going to wait until we, your only source of necessary foodstuffs, are eradicated?”

The atmosphere in the chamber got tense. Llanfair, seeing that the iron was hot, landed her strike.

“But I know you’re not going to do that... I know this because you’ve done this before.”

She was delighted by the confusion on everyone’s faces, knowing that they were basically now wrapped around her manipulative fingers.

“Long ago, the Sun God, Shamash, sent down her emissaries in divine flying ships of iron, and in their wake, they left a trail of fire and thunder. They had saved us and humanity from the jaws of extinction, allowing us to thrive and rebuild. Seeing your sophisticated technological marvels only convinced me more of what I know. That’s because the banner that the emissaries of the Sun God flew was this.”

She took out a wrapped package from a small sack that she had brought. Unwrapping it, she produced a worn cloth stained with age and burn marks. As she unfurled it for all to see, the reaction from the Japanese was a resolute and resounding “what?!” The chamber descended into rattlings and commotions as the banner fluttered gently in the air, the occasional light that directly hit the bright red disc on the center reflected back, making it appear as if the banner was shining, complementing the 16 bright red rays that radiate from the center.

A smile appeared on Llanfair’s face, satisfied with the outcome her actions were having on the Japanese. Intent on pouring more fuel into the fire, she ended her speech with a hanging question.

“To have the privilege of meeting you in this age is nothing but divine intervention. This doesn’t go just for me, but all of my people as well. In these trying times, could your nation serve as our sun? A beacon of hope in the endless darkness? Just like the very banner that represents your people?”

Unreasonable expectations, a reignited spirit of national wellbeing, and a desire for a united social order clashed in the hearts of the Japanese officials. Faced with troubling circumstances as they stand, it didn’t take much for them to develop conflicting ideas on how to best respond.