Direct the rest.

You hustle to stand before the castle itself. With a hand on your sword, you stare out over all those watching. It isn't just your audience, but it's your people. There's a lot to be said, and you have very little time to do it. Avana might be able to hold out, and be under siege for quite some time, but that also depends on King Thadius. If he's a part of this, he may not send any reinforcements. Whether the city will stand for days or hours, you need to assume the worst and move as swiftly as possible. Step 2 has begun, and it's time to place your units where they're needed most.

The main problem, however, is travel.

While everybody else watches from a distance, Niki, Eva, and Amara stand before you--not to impede vision from your people, but to stand nearby in support. Amara reaches up, and she places a gold circlet atop your head with three blue gemstones across the front which shine brilliantly even beneath a cloudy sky. You draw your sword, and as you do, you see the faint pink glow of the blade radiate out, and you sense the invisible strings that bind you to all those around you. Even the Circle of the Unicorn watches as if they were like any other, despite the arrogance or perhaps apathy you've seen from some.

"Malakae!" you call out first.

The gold dragon perks up. She looks around before placing a hand upon the window through her qipao dress. "You wish something from me?"

"I do. Take on the form of a dragon. I need you to make haste and travel to Tolis with the queen on your back."

"Excuse me, but I'm not some riding horse to be--"

"Please," you say tenderly. "Malakae. You're the only one who can do this. The two of you must inspire the people of Tolis to fight. We can't allow King Thadius to hold things back. The people need to see their queen, and the beauty of a powerful golden dragon in flight."

After those words, and with all eyes on her, Malakae blushes. "F-Fine. But only if she carries with her a change of clothing for me."

Queen Catherine II bows. "I'll do as you say, both of you. Come. Let us make haste. Though with how amazing you are, Malakae, I'm certain we'll make it there in time."

"Aha, well... I suppose you're right," the dragon replies.

"Chairmen of the Circle!" you call out next. "How many of you can open a portal for others to travel through?"

Lady Vazeela Sulta, the most sultry of them all, steps forward with a sashay of her hips. She places a delicate hand against her bountiful chest, and she smiles with confidence as the two of you lock eyes. "You know that I'm able. As a master transmuter, of course I can open a portal. Most teleportation magic is instantaneous. It takes a special touch to move a large number of people via portal travel. Leave it to me."

"Good. Lady Sulta, I need you to open one to outside the old lair of Demon King Muian. You'll be coming through, but also Bulrak."

"I'd like to come as well. My talent in conjuration may prove to be valuable, though I also know quite a bit about the late Muian," Okawa the kitsune speaks up. "I always thought his lair may have held further secrets, and I'd like to see this for myself."

"Right. Vazeela, Bulrak, Okawa. This is going to need a big attack ****, since it'll be the one going straight through the front door. I'll be coming too, along with Bek, Vivi, Shivra, Mela, Sen-nu, Alice, Stax, Cat, Taiga, Delphi, and even you, Peony. This is Front C. But that won't be the only portal we'll need. Before opening that one, I'd like to send an army of reinforcements to Avana, if King Thadius isn't going to do it."

"I can come?" Peony asks with excitement.

"I'm ready to kick ass," Bek says. "But some people are gonna have to stay here. I feel like something's not quite right. There's no way that Elok guy doesn't have more planned."

"You're right. Staying at Castle Phoenix will be all the craftsmen and commoners, which of course includes Laira, Luna, and Dix. To protect them, I'll need Dajy and her her harem, Linzeri, Yin, Mipa, Jelly, Chini, Chula, Chila, Patricia, and Fava to stay," you continue. "For the reinforcement army, or Front B, your job is to make sure Avana is secure before heading down through the entrance at Dragonhide Manor. That will consist of Koblix, Fang, Summer, Tom, Candy, Barkis, and Beela, who will be joining with Nyllia already there."

"And then we come right up through the rear!" Candy makes a rather inappropriate gesture. "Through the secret entrance, right? With all of us there, it'll be a peace of cake."

"Front A will be somewhat split, but it's still Rose, Mina, and Lynx, while Snow will be leading above-ground support, possibly meeting up with Queen Catherine and Malakae."

Eva tugs on your sleeve. "Psst. I think you forgot us. We're coming with you, right?"

You shake your head. "Eva. Amara. Niki. The three of you have the most important job. You're my real trump cards. You're going to travel to speak with the Lady of the Lake, and when she tells you, jump through her portal. Trust me. After that, you'll meet up with me and we'll deal the final blow. This is Front D."

"Shall I fetch the communication mirror?" Amara asks.

"Thank you, but no." You take a deep breath and place one hand's fingers to your temple. "Thanks to Aris, I can communicate a different way. It's faster. We need this done straight away. Also, were you able to contact your mother?"

"Sadly not yet. But I think she will come. She always does."

"All right. Give me a moment." Then you focus your mind on Lady Vex.

This one is a little more difficult, but you can feel the passageway regardless. Aris pulls the link together inside your mind, and after a rough tug through what feels like course mud, your perspective is warped across the Oraang Desert, and to the fortress called Zettanko. There, Vex is outside her castle, perhaps for a walk. You're not certain, nor do you have time. You immediately speak to her inside your mind. "Vex! It's me, Kyle. This is gonna sound like a lot, but the city of Avana is under attack, and we need to make our move immediately. Is Kashura there too?"

"Woah, woah." Vex looks up to the sky. "This is some new magic. And yeah, she's here. Why?"

"She opens portals, right? I need you to direct your troops. Leave some to protect your home, just in case, but I need you to send some to Avana."

"I like you, Kyle, but you know I'm a Demon King, right? Not some hero."

"It's not about that. Clear through the carnage, and get to Dragonhide Manor. Meet up with my troops, head through the secret entrance into Elok Daven's underground tunnel, and follow it straight into his lair. You and whoever you're bringing will be a part of Front B. I'll keep directing it from where I'll be, as best I can."

"Shit. All right. Well, I'll act as quick as I can here. You're laying a lot on me."

"Well, it was a lot for me too. Sorry, but we all gotta fight here, or we might not have a better chance."

"You've got it, chief. I'll grab Masumi, and we'll make a plan as fast as possible."

"Thanks, Vex. I'll talk to you later."

When the view of your own people returns to you, if it wasn't for Niki grabbing your back, you would have fallen just now.

She holds you tight against her. "Hey. You good?"

You nod. "Yeah. Just overdoing it. But I gotta, and I'm not done."

"Just be careful."

"If you're the one saying that, I should probably be extra scared."

You have one more person to contact, for now at least. She's right. You need to be more cautious and slow it down after that. When the battle begins, you'll need that energy to both fight, and communicate further. Though it's time to focus on William now. Doing so is even trickier than with Vex. The only link you feel you have is your history on Earth, which is definitely something, but you haven't formed a deep bond with him or anything like that. Still, after a moment, you and Aris together manage to do it.

Your view if William is that of behind his head as he looks off the edge of Laputa, his flying fortress. Below is familiar. He's not far from Demon King Muian's old lair.

You speak to him. "William. It's me--"

"Avana is under attack," he cuts you off. With two fingers, he nudges the bridge of his glasses farther up his nose. The heavy winds from such a height blow his long coat back as he stares off the edge of the floating landmass. "Are we making our move now?"

"That's right."

"I'll order my troops then. I trust yours are in place."

"As much as they can be in such sort notice."

"Then I'll see you on the battlefield, shortly before we have Elok Daven's head. I trust that you won't stand in my way, and play the type who wants to save his life."

"No. I'd like to minimize damage to specifically his ALICE robots, though."

"I see. You think you can sway them. That may be something Elok doesn't expect. I respect the strategy."

"I'll see you there."

"Goodbye, Kyle. Trust in the power given to us, and the greatness we can still achieve."

With that, you have a plan in motion. You don't know exactly where William or Vex will send their troops, but you know where yours will be.

• Castle Phoenix: Dajy, Klava, Raleza, Brizi, Vodrani, Linzeri, Yin, Mipa, Jelly, Chini, Chula, Chila, Patricia, Fava, Laira Holland, Luna, and Dixby.
• Front A (Tolis): Shadow Garden (Rose and Mina), Lynx, Snow, Queen Catherine II, and Malakae Vraelion.
• Front B (Avana): Koblix, Fang, Summer, Thomas Whitham, Candy Cane, Drev Barkis, Rada Beela, Lalarin Relestel, Nyllia Tesgella, Bill & Phil, Zazra, and possibly Lady Vex's army*.
• Front C (Lair): You, Vazeela Sulta, Bulrak, Okawa, Bekram Kholrann, Vivilia, Shivra, Meladarai Tlarthanil, Sen-nu, Alice, Stax, Cat, Taiga, Delphi, Peony, and possibly William Cresswell's army**.
• Front D (Spring): Niki, Eva, and Amara.

*Lady Vex, Masumi, Kashura Saylinor, Taffeta, Cid, Farin, Kiki, and/or Kis-sa.
**William Cresswell, Jika, Trin, Stilet, Ribi, Juggernaut, Storm, and/or Caleena.