Aurelius woke to the sound of bustling activity all around him. The camp was already alive with the preparations necessary to rebuild the city of Alerial. Aurelius could see High Elven soldiers continuing to patrol the city, looking out for any remaining possessed or even High Elven civilians. Aurelius could even see some of the remaining earth magi clearing some of the earth and rebuilding the foundations of some of the buildings within the city. It was a slow process, and it could take months or even years for the city to return to its previous state, but the people of Alerial and the Third Army were doing their best to take the first steps.
Aurelius looked away from the bustle of the camp and into the sky, seeing that the sun had just begun to rise, casting a pale golden light over the camp. Looking at the sun just beginning to make the trek above the horizon, Aurelius knew he had a couple of hours before he had to leave for the city of Claim Thel. Lord Gavrel had told him last night that he needed to leave the city by noon today, and Aurelius planned to put the morning time he had to good use.
In fact, there were three things on Aurelius’ agenda. Firstly, he wanted to obviously prepare for his journey to Claim Thel, which meant ensuring he had all the necessary supplies and equipment for the mission. He needed to stock up on essentials like food, water, and medical supplies. Secondly, he wanted to have another conversation with some of the commanders, making sure he didn’t miss any details and was well-informed about his upcoming task. Finally, and most importantly, Aurelius wanted to craft a few more mana bombs and any other enchanted items that might aid in the upcoming battle.
After allocating his essence last night, Aurelies realized that he was really underutilizing his Arcane Artificer class. Aurelius knew that if he wanted to survive these upcoming months he would have to use any and all resources available to him. Aurelius wasn’t sure if the city of Alerial, or what was remaining of it, had the necessary materials for his class, but he was determined to find out.
With that in mind, Aurelius sat up, stretching out the kinks from his sleep. He had slept soundly, and though he still felt the weariness of the previous day's battles, his mind was sharper and his resolve firmer. Aurelius made his way through the bustling camp, aiming to complete his first goal on his agenda. As he walked, he greeted several soldiers and mages, their faces a mix of weariness and determination.
He quickly gathered his supplies, placing them in his spatial storage. He filled it with dried food, water, and a few medical supplies he could scrounge up. Aurelius also picked up a few spare weapons, ensuring he had an ample supply. He knew that these weapons would likely not stand up against the sheer power of a Chosen, as he had learned firsthand with the Orc Chosen, but against the tide of the possessed, they should be more than enough.
Next, Aurelius made his way to the command tent. Inside, Lord Gavrel and High Mage Sylara were already deep in conversation, strategizing the rebuilding efforts for Alerial and planning their next moves.
Aurelius waited respectfully at the entrance until Lord Gavrel noticed him and beckoned him inside.
“Good morning, Aurelius,” Lord Gavrel greeted, his tone formal yet warm. “I trust you slept well?”
“Well enough, considering,” Aurelius replied, offering a small smile. “I wanted to discuss a few things before I head out to Claim Thel. Are we still on schedule for a noon departure?”
“Yes, everything is proceeding as planned,” Lord Gavrel confirmed. “What do you need to discuss?”
“Firstly, I’d like to ensure I have the latest intelligence on Silverhaven,” Aurelius said, pulling out the maps and scrolls he had been given the night before. “Any updates or additional information we’ve gathered overnight?”
High Mage Sylara stepped forward, her expression serious. “Our scouts reported back late last night. There’s been minimal movement from the possessed within Silverhaven. It seems they’re consolidating their forces, likely in anticipation of an attack. This could mean they’re either preparing defenses or planning a counter-offensive. We need to be prepared for either scenario.”
Aurelius nodded, absorbing the information. “Good to know. I’ll make sure to factor that into our plans. Secondly, I want to ensure we have enough supplies, particularly enchanted items. I need access to materials for creating mana bombs and other magical devices. Do we have a stockpile, or will I need to source them myself?”
Lord Gavrel turned to one of his aides, who quickly fetched a list of available supplies. “We have a small stockpile of materials,” Gavrel said, glancing at the list. “However, given the recent battles, our resources are limited. You may need to be resourceful and make do with what we have.”
Aurelius nodded, expecting this much. “That would be more than enough, thank you. Where are they located?”
“I’ll have my aid show you,” Lord Gavrel started. “But Aurelius, before that, there will be a couple of figures joining you on your journey,” he said.
“Really?” Aurelius said, turning around. He already had a suspicion he knew who these figures were.
“Well, originally,” Lord Gavrel continued, “we were thinking about sending a contingent of mages with you, accompanied by High Mage Sylara. However, the mages need some time to recover the mana in their mana pool, which might take days to weeks of meditation. Instead, we think we found a better option.”
As if on cue, three familiar silhouettes walked in through the tent flap. Aurelius smiled as he say Valen, the Headmaster, and Instructor Donovan, the three companions that had accompanied him to the city of Alerial in the first place.
“So, you think you could leave us?” Valen said, a mocking tone in his voice but a smile on his face.
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Aurelius grinned at Valen's remark, shooting right back at him. "I was thinking about bringing you along..." he replied, slightly leading off towards the end. "However, I realized that you, Valen, might be more of a hindrance than a help."
While Aurelius had meant his remark to be a joke, Valen still wasn’t a fighter, so he might actually be more of a hindrance. At least, that’s what Aurelius would have thought. After his last battle, Aurelius realized that you didn’t need to be a fighter to let your impact be known on the battlefield. In the chaotic battle for the city of Alerial, Valen had been extremely useful, helping direct forces and providing critical support where needed. His strategic thinking and ability to coordinate had proven invaluable.
In fact, Aurelius had heard personally from both the Headmaster and Lord Gavrel that Valen seemed to have a knack for understanding the strategy behind the battle and he seemed to have a natural ability to connect with others, which was crucial for leading others. To Aurelius’ surprise, despite only having stayed a couple of nights in the city, Valen had already made a name for himself amongst the soldiers and civilians alike as a key leader within the camp. Valen had certainly proved his worth, and Aurelius was glad to have him by his side once again.
Valen rolled his eyes but smiled. "I'll have you know I've been working on my magic. I might surprise you yet."
Aurelius chuckled, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Is that so? Well, I suppose we'll see." He turned to the Headmaster and Instructor Donovan with a nod of greeting. "It's good to see you both again."
The Headmaster, emitting the same stoicism he remembered, nodded solemnly. "Likewise, Aurelius. We are here to support you in whatever capacity you require."
Instructor Donovan crossed his arms, following the Headmaster’s declaration. "We've been through worse."
Aurelius smiled warmly at their reassurances. "I'm grateful to have you with me. Your presence will surely make our task easier."
Lord Gavrel interjected, a note of urgency in his voice. "Time is of the essence, Aurelius. Make sure you gather everything you need swiftly."
Aurelius nodded in agreement, his mind already focused on the next steps. "Understood, I'll finalize preparations and gather our supplies immediately."
With that, Aurelius turned to Valen, the Headmaster, and Instructor Donovan. "Let's gather our gear and meet at the outskirts of the camp at noon. We have a journey ahead of us."
Valen grinned, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Sounds like a plan. I'll make sure we're ready."
As they dispersed to make their final preparations, Aurelius followed the aide Lord Gavrel sent for.
The aide led Aurelius to a tent near the edge of the camp. Inside, various crates and barrels were stacked, filled with an assortment of materials: enchanted stones, crystals, alchemical ingredients, and even some rare metals. Aurelius quickly assessed the contents, mentally cataloging what he could use for his crafting. Among the materials Aurleius found several fire-attributed crystals which would be critical to making a few of his mana bombs.
With a satisfied smile, Aurelius gathered the necessary materials and returned to a quiet corner of the camp. He set to work, taking out his rune carving tool from his spatial storage and putting his innate Arcane Artificer abilities to use to create several mana bombs.
The process was meticulous, requiring precise carvings of runes and careful imbuing of mana into each device. As he worked, the tent around him seemed to fade away, his focus entirely on the task at hand. It took around an hour and a half, but Aurelius was able to create 4 mana bombs. It wasn’t as much as Aurelius expected, but it was definitely more than enough to create some serious damage. Besides, Aurelius had stored the extra fire-attributed crystals in his spatial storage so he had the ability to create more mana bombs whenever he had the free time. Aurelius quickly checked his status screen, going over his gained essence from the forging.
Rare rune forged. Essence Received: 500
Rare rune forged. Essence Received: 500
Rare rune forged. Essence Received: 500
Rare rune forged. Essence Received: 500
Seeing the “rare” status of the rune, Aurelius made a mental note to test out forging in higher-level runes. According to his Arcane Artificer ability, he now had the capability to forge epic or even legendary runes. Aurelius wasn’t sure where he would be able to find the blueprints or knowledge to complete such an act, but it was certainly something he wanted to test out in the future when he had more time to experiment.
After finishing the mana bombs, Aurelius carefully stored them away in his spatial storage, ensuring they were securely packed and shielded to prevent any accidental detonation. Satisfied with his preparations so far, he took a moment to review his overall strategy for the mission ahead.
Leaving the tent, Aurelius made his way to the outskirts of the camp where the others were already gathering. The morning sun had risen higher now over the camp as preparations for their departure continued around them. Soldiers hurried by, finishing their own tasks, while mages gathered in small groups, discussing strategy and preparing spells.
Valen, ever the optimist, greeted Aurelius with a grin. "Ready to go?"
Aurelius nodded, a determined but strained expression on his face. "As ready as I can be"
Instructor Donovan clapped him on the shoulder, attempting to lighten Aurelius’ expression. "We've faced worse odds. This will be no different."
Aurelius nodded, grateful for the instructor's attempt.
After double-checking his supplies, Aurelius reviewed their plans once more. They discussed their route, potential strategies for engaging the possessed, and contingencies for unforeseen challenges. Lord Gavrel came out to give one last word of encouragement, emphasizing the faith he had in Aurelius and his companions. With everyone's spirits lifted and their preparations complete, and as the sun climbed higher in the sky, they set off from the city of Alerial towards Claim Thel.
As Aurelius left the city he couldn’t help but look backward, reminded about the first time he had entered the city, which felt like weeks ago but, in reality, only occurred a couple of days ago. In comparison to the energy and beauty he had noticed while entering, the impact of the battle was noticeable. Now, the city was scarred by recent conflict. Buildings bore the marks of siege and battle, some reduced to rubble, others charred by fire or blasted apart by magic. The once bustling streets were now filled with soldiers and workers, diligently clearing debris and beginning the arduous task of rebuilding.
Aurelius couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight. Alerial had welcomed them with open arms just days ago, and now it lay wounded and in need of healing. Yet amidst the devastation, he saw signs of resilience. The citizens and soldiers worked tirelessly, their determination a testament to their strength.
As they moved further away from the city, Aurelius turned back around in the saddle, his attention now on the road and mission ahead.