Aurelius watched as the name "Augustus" rippled through the council members, igniting a mix of reactions. Whispers spread like wildfire, some faces registering surprise, others interest, and a few a glimmer of hope. High Priest Lorendil's expression remained composed, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his eyes.
"Augustus, you say?" Lorendil queried, his tone guarded. "And what exactly did Augustus confirm for you?"
Aurelius leaned forward, choosing his words carefully. "Augustus has provided insight into Maledrakor's tactics and the nature of his power. He described the corruption of the divine and the transformation of Chosen into Maledrakor's generals. His knowledge corroborates much of what Kael has revealed and offers us a clearer picture of our enemy's strengths and weaknesses."
The council room fell silent, each member processing the weight of Aurelius' statement. The tension was palpable, a mix of fear and determination hanging in the air. High Priest Lorendil nodded slowly, acknowledging the gravity of the information.
"Very well, Chosen Aurelius," Lorendil said, his voice steady. "Your accounts align with other reports and testimonies we've received. We cannot ignore the threat that Maledrakor poses, nor can we discount the validity of your information."
Aurelius nodded once more. “As such, given Augustus’ account, I suggest it best that we act as soon as possible. We cannot allow Maledrakor to increase in strength.”
High Priest Lorendil smiled slightly, clearly feeling comfortable once again. “Your determination is commendable, Chosen Aurelius. However, the council operates on careful consideration and collaboration. Your role is of paramount importance, but it must also be integrated into the fabric of our governance."
Aurelius understood the underlying message—the council's decisions would be made collectively, and his role as the Chosen would need to align with the council's decisions. He, however, wasn’t sure how he felt about the underlying message. Before his life as a Chosen, he had spent far too long dealing with the effects of the decisions that the people within this room had made. He had been one of the many commoners constantly crushed under the boot of a noble. Now that he was here, Aurelius was certain that he wouldn’t allow himself to continue to be trampled.
"I understand the importance of collaboration," Aurelius replied, his voice even. "However, I must also stress the urgency of the situation. Maledrakor's power is growing, and his intentions are clear—he seeks control over our lands. If we do not act decisively and swiftly, more cities may fall under his control. We cannot afford to be bogged down by bureaucracy while our people's lives hang in the balance."
High Priest Lorendil regarded him with a thoughtful expression, his fingers steepled beneath his chin. "You raise valid concerns, Chosen Aurelius. Our city, our people, and indeed the entire realm, face an unprecedented threat. Your insights are invaluable, and I assure you that the council will take them into consideration."
Aurelius held the High Priest's gaze, his determination unyielding. "I appreciate your consideration, High Priest. But I must also emphasize that my position as the Chosen comes with a responsibility to protect the people. If there are decisions that need to be made swiftly and decisively, I am prepared to take them."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the tension between Aurelius and the council members almost palpable. High Priest Lorendil's expression remained inscrutable for a moment before a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You possess both conviction and courage, Chosen Aurelius. It is clear that you are not one to shy away from your destiny."
Aurelius experienced a blend of relief and validation when the High Priest acknowledged his assertive stance. Yet, as his gaze swept the room, he discerned a myriad of expressions among the council, most prominently caution and wariness. Notably, the headmaster also fixed him with a ‘look,’ causing Aurelius to briefly wonder if he had overstepped his authority.
“I agree that our actions must be made swiftly in these troubling times,” the High Priest continued. “Therefore, I think it’s best if I tell you this information now. We must get all the facts on the table before we make an informed decision on the next steps.”
Aurelius froze at the High Priest’s words, then nodded, urging the High Priest to continue.
“About a week ago, we dispatched the Fourth and Third Armies towards the northern region. Our aim was twofold: firstly, to safeguard the northern territories and potentially recapture the city of Silverhaven, and secondly, to establish a defensive perimeter around Silverhaven itself. This strategy was intended to shield the mainland from any threats. The Fourth Army's destination was Claim Thel, a port city situated along the northern coast and the second closest city to Silverhaven. It's worth noting that the Fourth Army had originally been stationed in the capital city, which made their journey relatively lengthy. Currently, they are a week in, with about three weeks left in their journey to Claim Thel. There was a brief pause in their journey when news arrived that the capital city was under attack, but once that threat was resolved, they resumed their northward movement.”
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“On the other hand, the Third Army, who was much closer, has already reached its assigned city, Alerial. This city is of significant strategic importance due to its proximity to Silverhaven; it stands to defend the rest of the continent from any potential invasions launched by Maledrakor towards the heart of the continent”
Aurelius continued to listen to the High Priest as he waited for the man to deliver his punchline.
“However, a predicament has arisen as it appears that Maledrakor's forces within Silverhaven are preparing to launch an assault on the city of Alerial, where the Third Army is stationed. Ordinarily, this might not pose an issue, but intelligence reports indicate that this army is to be led by one of Maledrakor's formidable generals—an orc general.”
Aurelius felt a cold chill run down his spine at the mention of an orc general. The orcs were known for their brute strength and ruthless tactics, and having one as a general under Maledrakor's command would undoubtedly pose a significant threat.
"An orc general," Aurelius repeated, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him. "That indeed complicates matters." Aurelius’ mind continued to race.
Maledrakor had another Chosen in the Holy Hexagon? Just how many Chosen had he defeated?
Aurelius decided to voice his questions aloud. “Do we have any idea regarding the damage Maledrakor has already inflicted on our world? How many Chosen has he killed? And consequently, how many generals does he have?”
The High Priest nodded as if expecting the question. “We were wondering the very same thing. Before Maledrakor’s appearance, we know of only three Chosen that had inhabited the continent of Aran'thal — the Dark Elves’ homeland. Malaki, the Dark Elven Chosen, an Orc Chosen, and a Chosen of the Troll race. Assuming that Maledrakor conquered the entire continent of Aran'thal, and only the continent of Aran'thal, we can conclude that Maledrakor has three generals. Well, two now, since you killed Malaki,” the High Priest said, nodding to Aurelius.
“Of course, there were many other races with small kingdoms and empires inhabiting the continent, but those either didn’t have a Chosen or their Chosen was on a different continent with a different empire,” the High Priest continued.
Aurelius nodded, the High Priest’s words making sense to him. Unlike the High Elves, who were united under one empire in one continent, many of the other races, such as humans, dwarves, and the like, were split amongst many kingdoms across multiple continents. Usually, in these cases, the Chosen was often part of the strongest faction of their respective race, but it could lead to deadly tensions within races. For example, thousands of years ago, the High Elves themselves were almost destroyed by a civil war that spanned multiple High Elven empires. The High Elven Chosen at the time eventually emerged victorious, his empire annihilating or annexing the others. The damage was catastrophic, however, and after that war, the High Elves agreed to unite under one banner in the holy hexagon.
“Based on our scout reports,” the High Priest added, “we’ve only noticed the Orc Chosen or general, but we’ve seen or heard nothing of the Troll Chosen. For all we know, the Troll Chosen can still be alive, free of corruption on the continent of Aran'thal.”
Aurelius looked around the council chamber and could see the doubt plastered on many of the council members’ faces. It was clear that they didn’t think the Troll Chosen living unharmed was a likely scenario. The High Priest also noticed the doubt and decided to continue the discussion.
“With your accounts,” the High Priest said, looking towards Aurelius, “you describe these generals to be nearly as powerful as Chosen. If that is truly the case, we are uncertain if the Third Army can hold out within the city of Alerial for too long.”
“With that in mind, we have a couple of options,” the High Priest continued. “Firstly, we could send the Fourth Army to aid the Third Army in the city of Alerial.”
Aurelius could hear a round of murmured agreement going around the table.
"But," the High Priest interjected, raising a pointed finger, "this option presents certain challenges. First, the issue of time arises. As previously mentioned, it will take a minimum of 3 weeks for the Fourth Army to reach the destination, and possibly 2 and a half weeks at best. Second, we must also consider the potential consequences of diverting both the Third and Fourth armies to the city of Alerial, as it might expose the city of Claim Thel to imminent danger."
A wave of whispers and murmurs swept through the room once again, as the gravity of the situation settled in.
"Nevertheless, there exists a viable solution to this predicament."
The room fell silent as all eyes turned toward the High Priest, eager to learn of this potential resolution.
"It is conceivable that an individual or a small group could traverse the distance to the city of Alerial much quicker than an entire marching army. In fact, should a dedicated group set out at full speed today, it is calculated that they could arrive at the city of Alerial within a mere one and a half weeks."
Aurelius' eyes widened, realization dawning upon him as he grasped the High Priest's strategy.
"I propose that we dispatch you, Aurelius, northward, to safeguard the city of Alerial from the army heading towards it."