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As the man smiled, Adriel did so in turn. "That's better," he replied, ruffling the man's hair. Ambrosius let go of him over time, and regained his composure, throwing the hat back atop his head and grabbing his scythe. He looked like a proper warrior, moreso than the first time they'd met. The guise of being a drunken loser didn't suit him well, and it didn't reflect reality. The man was significantly more powerful than before, judging by the amount of energy he held and the quality of his equipment. He was glad, as he knew he would need powerful people beside him. "I'll need you at your best, Ambrose. No more self-pity. You follow me, and so you represent me. Pity isn't fitting of one of mine, don't you think?" His upper lip raised into a slight smirk.

As for where they would go, he pondered for a moment. "There's a castle at the center of the city. My castle. I'm the Duke of Valle. I'll write you in as being a part of my household, which should allot you some privileges as long as you're within the confines of this Duchy. We could go there, but it's just more posh drivel. I'd like to go somewhere more exciting. Let's try . . . the coast of Essfraxon. It's far to the east, but there are portals that connect here and there. It's not very populated, so we can do as we like. And I can help you become stronger. A lot stronger. The monster population in Val'Ghast is in the millions, which gives us millions of opportunities to give you combat experience. I would like for you to serve me on the battlefield. That is of primary importance. Because-" He paused for a moment, and leaned into the man, whispering into his ears.

"I will be declaring war on Nocturne soon, for the independence of the Kingdom of Valle. If I'm going to win that war, I'll need you."

The demon sighed. Did it need to come to war? It was a good question, although he didn't quite expect it. "Not privy to war?" He asked rhetorically. He could have supplied him with a variety of different answers, and explanations. Instead, though, he just stuck to one. "Nocturne is a nation of evil. Of power-mongering, control, exploitation and fear. If I diplomatically declare my independence, instead of with a declaration of war, I can expect for them to backstab me after-the-fact when my armies aren't ready. We're going to need to prepare for the worst if we're going to obtain the best outcome. And . . . we're going to need to weaken Nocturne so grievously that they won't even think to try to take Valle back." Adriel was a war-minded man. He had been fighting in some way or another for his entire life. He had been pushing his way forward in the Lumirian military since he could remember.

He knew their tactics. They were devious and cruel, and untrustworthy. That was how they survived, despite their low population and their insubordinate military. Adriel had to be better than that, with far more foresight and sound strategy, if he was going to defeat a nation whose reputation was so repugnant and ill that anything they did - no matter how dishonorable - wouldn't surprise anyone. He couldn't remember a single truce that Nocturne didn't break.

"If everything goes well, it will be a short war," he said. "I have plans for the greatest catastrophe in Axiom's history: to cause an earthquake of such scale and magnitude within the heart of Luimira, that their entire industry goes to rubble. Millions will likely die. But that's okay; the people in that city deserve it." As he said that, his eyes were very stern. Obviously he had no love and no loyalty for the Crown of Nocturne. He had admiration for Alistair, but the man would only be King for so much longer, and then he would become something more. Once he had gone, all that was left to do with Nocturne was push them to the brink of destruction to bring peace to the rest of the world beyond. After going to Yuran, and Kusana, and Fraxon, he knew where the war in this world came from. It wasn't those places - it was Luimira. There was no doubt about it.