[All we have is our games...] Count Shaun had gotten a kick out of Ashton's words and ignored the dangers within them.
"Son, I have already said my worries. If we aren't lobbying for peace, then we both must act swiftly. I will grab hold of our vassals, what will you do?"
Ashton disapproved of his father's heavy hand. "Father, is that truly necessary? Our vassals are still our people, despite being nobles themselves, they and the people they rule look to us for leadership. Our mission is to protect and enable them, we should be easing their minds and preparing them for war. Demanding from them, before the war even starts, will doom us to failure."
"We are not statesman. We are rulers, leaders, you said it yourself. Our decision is final in the southwest." Count Shaun was upset, he thought Ashton was becoming a monarch. He thought he had placed too much expectation on him.
"Of course, we aren't statesman. We have no real loyalty to the imperial family, our interests are our own. I don't hold progressive ideologies either, at least not yet. I simply rule based on my own wisdom, and what history has proven to us."
"You are not a philosopher king Ashton. As genius as you are and as rooted as our house is, we are struggling!" Slamming his hands down onto his desk, knocking over ink and drink, Count Shaun is livid with how casual Ashton is treating the situation.
"I allowed you to talk me into war because I believed you had substance... But you are just gambling all of our lives."
Ashton didn't notice the water dripping down and puddling around his feet, or his father's ink stained hands. He stood still through his father's rage, without breaking eye contact. He knew why his father was acting this way, but couldn't sympathize.
Count Shaun was thinking linearly, guided by tradition.
Ashton was thinking nonlinearly, he was looking far out beyond the horizon, taking in what could be seen and what couldn't.
"Father, I agree we are struggling. That is because, despite our disciplined and mighty warriors, we are weak. We have no real power, everything we have is fleeting. Only the legitimate wield power, people like the Raines of pristine pedigree. That is why we must fight. Winning here is no longer just about survival, it how we earn the right to play a larger game."
"SON! This is exactly what I mean! You want to make your house greater than it is? Then go study magical theory. I will not tolerate bravado and unproven leadership to sink what this family has built for generations!"
[Bravado? Unproven? I have walked through the gates of Aether...] "This is not bravado father, and if I am still unproven in your eyes... then that seems more like a fault inside of you than me."
"Son, come on... I didn't mean it like that and you know it.."
Ashton's rebuke had replayed the day of his trial inside of Count Shaun's mind. His battles and suppression of Duke Raine, he realized he had misspoken.
"Father, try for a moment to think rationally. Our men are much more disciplined and skilled than Raine's. All our warriors do is train and do actual field work, even that kid earlier is a martial prodigy. Duke Raine's attitude is reflective in his forces. They are arrogant, have grown lazy without challenge, they enjoy the gold he showers them in and nothing more. I can imagine what hidden cards he has, and I am confident I trump them all."
"Ashton, people say you have divine right, but I think you need divine clarity. We cannot count on perceived rot inside of his army to win this war. That is a fool's hope. Also, you "trump them all"? You may have beaten the tower master, but this is much different. You will become their focus, their goal. The duchy certainly employs 6th circle mages."
"Weapons that have rusted will never cut the same father. You can put it through the grindstone and knock off as much as you want, but it will always be dull. The "fool's hope" is not merely a weakness, it's a cancer that is already winning us the war. Unlike you father, Duke Raine understands the importance of morale, he will have these dull swords believing they are sharp, and they will break against our shields. And as you mentioned, there is defiantly high caliber mages within the Duchy, yet I remain confident."
"Ashton..." The Count was tired. Worried that his son is walking a path that leads to him becoming a sovereign or fading in history as a tragic genius. "This rot you speak of, there is no possibility that it is present within all of his ranks. I know many eastern lords, they are hard people. Disciplined."
"I am not saying it is the deciding factor, father. But it is there, a weakness that we don't have to actively exploit. At the end of the day, it will be warriors that decide this war, and we can only ensure that ours are ready."
"I just can't get through to you son, where is this confidence of yours coming from? Have you become trapped within your hubris after realizing your potential?... You must stay alive to fulfill your potential son."
"Father, this isn't unsubstantiated confidence, it is my conviction. It is the necessity of our situation. My ego may be a factor, but beyond that is my desires. I don't want to merely survive and live, I want to seek out the dangers of the world and conquer them. I asked you to watch closely how I live my life, and that starts with this war. I desire a challenge, I want to meet people, things, and go places that threaten my life. I want to take the world inside of me so our people can survive."
[What have you become...] Count Shaun fell into his chair, his logic was defeated, his emotions had gotten the better of him, and he lost touch with his son. He felt sorrow that his words were no longer reaching Ashton.
He sat in his chair, unspoken, for a long moment. Ashton remained standing, firm, his eyes were clear, and it was frightening to the count.
Ashton was talking and acting as if he had no fear, it was hard to witness.
"Son.." Count Shaun finally muttered, "You can't dominate the world. You said you wanted to be a shield, but now you want to be the spear that doesn't stop."
"You are right, to the people I stand a top, I will become unbreakable. I will spill the blood of thousands, millions, to keep them safe. I won't take pleasure in it, but I will do it. However, I can still enjoy the moments that truly push me along my journey."
[You have stood here with eyes so intense, but truthful. You have stated your desires and your purpose, but why do I sense you are still holding something inside of you... Is all I can do, watch from the side as you walk this path? Is it okay for me to stop you, or would that be unfatherly of me? I have always known you were meant for things beyond what I could achieve and dream, but why must you take this path son? You sound sacrificial, but phrase it was your duty... you are already worthy if you even have such thoughts, so there is no need to go so far.]
Count Shaun had many things he wanted to say, many questions to ask, but he hadn't. He only looked up from his slouch and asked one question,
"What do you need to help prepare son?"