Upon returning to the mobile city, Talulah seemed deeply altered by the recent events. Each day, she spent hours sitting alone, lost in thoughts no one could decipher, or throwing herself entirely into endless tasks.
She immediately modified the regulations regarding relief efforts. Her updates strictly warned the vanguard never to accept food or water proffered by local villagers, emphasizing the necessity of helping others while maximizing their own protection.
For a while, her isolation caused considerable worry for those close to her, as she barely interacted with a living soul outside of late-evening discussions. They feared she was driving herself into a psychological corner from which she could not escape.
Fortunately, her mind remained sound. The lingering anxiety that Kashchey might twist her thoughts from afar proved groundless; the old Duke had been entirely out of contact for months, presumably enjoying his games within the high courts of Deity Grypherburg.
Talulah explained that she merely needed to thoroughly re-evaluate her philosophy. At the very least, her previous ideal of uniting every single person was entirely unsuited for the current climate of Ursus. Forcing such a mindset would only cause harm to those who followed her.
This period of deep reflection lasted a considerable length of time—long enough for the political landscape beyond their borders to shift dramatically. By the time she finally emerged from her self-imposed seclusion, she had truly returned to the Talulah of old.
When she finally shook off her total absorption in her work, Reunion had long since departed the frozen tundras, marching steadily toward the southern regions of Ursus. The frozen plains had vanished, replaced by an expansive, rugged wasteland.
Naturally, she hadn't been completely oblivious to the world during this span; she had frequently left the mobile city to handle external matters, so she knew their geographic location well.
It was simply that the sheer volume of responsibilities had left her spirit slightly dazed. Waking up on this particular morning, she briefly harbored the illusion that their journey had only just begun. It was a clear sign that she desperately required a period of rest.
Furthermore, life during this phase had been remarkably peaceful—so uneventful that the days blurred together. Had a major crisis occurred, she wouldn't have lost track of the passage of time.
Now that her mind had cleared from the relentless schedule, she realized that both Reunion and the broader empire of Ursus had undergone massive transformations.
The most prominent shift was the virtual disappearance of the rebel factions and roving imperial division armies from their path. The only resistance Reunion encountered now consisted of scattered scouts, patrol squads, and wandering bandits.
Such forces posed zero genuine threat, serving merely as training material for the newly recruited fighters. As for the powerful adversaries they kept a watchful eye on? Those armies remained entirely within their garrisons, waiting to see which way the political wind would blow.
Over the course of the past year, the friction between the Emperor and the warmongering old nobility had reached a boiling point. Everyone across the land was waiting for the volcano to erupt before choosing a side.
Consequently, no military commander wished to provoke a prickly thorn like Reunion. While the imperial military possessed the raw power to dismantle the movement, the heavy price required compared to the meager strategic reward made it an entirely unworthy venture.
Recognizing the lull, Jeanne used the peaceful interlude to expand their foundations. She did not rely solely on the mobile city; instead, she dispatched fighters to various corners of Ursus, and even into neighboring foreign lands, to spread their philosophy and gather dedicated warriors willing to struggle alongside them.
"Look who finally decided to join the living. Seeing you sleep in today almost made me think you had fallen ill."
The moment Talulah stepped out of her quarters, her gaze landed directly on Jeanne and Fafnir. Over the entire year, neither of them had grown a single inch taller, as though some deity had pressed a permanent pause button on their development.
Jeanne's lack of growth was one thing, but Fafnir was at an age where development should have been rapid. Yet, she remained completely unchanged, while other children her age were already twice her height.
"It's nothing. I just suddenly realized how many things have unfolded during this period. My mind is still struggling to process it all this morning," Talulah remarked, resting a hand on Fafnir's head as she greeted Jeanne.
Observing the scene always gave Talulah an uncanny sensation, as though she were patting her own head. The way the little girl narrowed her eyes was undeniably endearing.
"I told you that keeping up such a frantic pace would backfire eventually. See? You've exhausted yourself. How about I accompany you to see a medic today? We happen to be heading over to Rhodes Island to collect our people anyway."
Jeanne looked at the weary Draco with an expression of fond exasperation, genuinely concerned for her health.
Regarding Rhodes Island—yes, that massive landship had finally begun its voyage. With the young Amiya acting as the public face of leadership and Kal'tsit directing the actual command, the vessel had embarked across the continent.
On the surface, it operated as a pharmaceutical enterprise founded within the borders of Kazdel. In reality, it moved across the land serving as a diplomatic bridge, allowing Kazdel to hold discussions with various international factions.
Presently, their primary focus involved treating Oripathy patients, conducting advanced medical research, securing supplies for Kazdel that could not be imported through official channels, and quietly identifying potential allies.
When Jeanne first heard of the arrangement, she was utterly stunned that Amiya had been placed in charge. Did they truly intend for a young teenager to carry such a heavy burden? She jokingly wondered if the child was a secret offspring of Theresa and the Doctor.
Furthermore, Theresa had certainly picked a relentless workhorse in Kal'tsit. The sheer volume of responsibilities resting on that doctor's shoulders would cause anyone else to lose their hair from stress.
However, none of that concerned Jeanne directly. What mattered was that through Jeanne's mediation, Reunion had dispatched a group of physicians and casters to engage in an academic exchange, primarily to master professional medical techniques.
"To Rhodes Island... I completely forgot. Three months have already passed, so our vanguard should be returning today. Tell me, has Mephisto returned with them?"
Talulah recalled Eno, the youth who had chosen the codename Mephisto. Jeanne could never fathom why a boy who aspired to be a priest would adopt the name of a devil, finding the choice thoroughly bizarre.
Yet, that child was the primary reason they had sought out Rhodes Island. The youth's Arts were exceptionally dangerous, capable of triggering localized catastrophes on par with a minor Cataclysm.
They hoped Kal'tsit could leverage her vast medical expertise to instruct the boy on how to govern his volatile Arts safely.
"Very well, I shall accompany you. It has been quite a while since I last saw him," Talulah mused, remembering the slender, fragile Liberi youth who used to follow her around, calling her his older sister.
...
"Alright, you need to point out which one is Mephisto. Why do I feel like I cannot find him anywhere?"
Arriving aboard Rhodes Island, Talulah surveyed the gathered Reunion members, her brow furrowing in confusion.
The youth was nowhere to be seen among the group. Had Jeanne played a prank on her?
"Are you truly blind? He is standing right there! The boy used to trail behind you every day, and now you don't even recognize him?"
Jeanne directed a thoroughly amused grin toward a towering, two-meter-tall Liberi powerhouse. If that imposing figure were handed a heavy weapon, he would easily be mistaken for a frontline shock trooper.
"You are telling me that is Mephisto? What on earth did they feed him over the past year? Even with growth stimulants, human physiology shouldn't alter this drastically!"
Talulah stared at the massive individual Jeanne indicated. He possessed a remarkably gentle smile, yet his physical build suggested he could easily trade blows in a melee contest against a veteran vanguard like Ace.
Was this the same frail Mephisto who looked as though a strong gust of wind might blow him away? What kind of bizarre timeline had transformed a fragile caster into a frontline juggernaut?
Talulah felt her thoughts grind to a halt. She began to suspect she hadn't merely been occupied for a year, but had instead been entirely sealed away from reality.
"Well... I suppose I bear some responsibility for this," Jeanne admitted, scratching her cheek sheepishly as she recalled a passing comment that had inadvertently redirected the boy's entire future.
"In ancient times, anyone wishing to become a priest had to meet exceptionally rigorous physical standards. After all, holy men were frequently required to engage in physical combat against various foul entities and monsters."
Following that advice, Mephisto had dedicated himself to physical training. His Arts allowed him to constantly repair his own muscles, and once the youth committed to a path, his resolve was absolute.
Consequently, Jeanne watched him develop into an absolute colossus. Yet, the transformation was highly practical; such an imposing physique was remarkably well-regarded and respected within the rugged culture of Ursus.
"Sister Jeanne," a vanguard fighter interrupted, stepping forward with a respectful nod. "Amiya and Dr. Kal'tsit asked me to inform you that since you have arrived, they would like to request your presence in the command room."
Jeanne gave an understanding nod. Turning to Talulah, she left her to check on the returning fighters and ensure her own health was fine.
She needed to discover exactly why the ancient physician required a formal audience. After all, it had been a very long time since Kal'tsit had requested a discussion with such immense solemnity.