V4: Chapter 4:

…

"Ah, I see why I failed to seduce you, Jackie. You have quite the definitive type."

"…Didn't stop you from dressing up to try, though."

"Of course not!" Khalai was wearing some very tight denim shorts and had a white, sleeveless, and mid-riff bearing top. If the shorts were orange, he'd fit right in at a certain store. "Why would I ever stop trying to seduce the most powerful man on the continent? For the sake of my people, I must be willing to do anything, no?"

"That's not what I meant by that, and you know it." I grumbled and took a seat at Khalai's office. He sauntered over to the very large desk… and proceeded to sit on the desk with one leg crossed over the other instead of the chair behind it. This man is going to be a problem in the future. In fact, Conquest was practically having a stroke holding back from yelling at him to be less provocative. Why can't you be normal, Khalai? I didn't ask that aloud, though. He'd take it as a challenge, and I didn't want to see how lewd he could go. "Are you capable of providing us aid to take the Citadel of the Scholars?"

"Yes, of course. The horror they unleashed cannot be allowed to stand. If justice is not meted out, then others will follow in the wake of the sinner." Cool holy paladin quote. Please stop crossing and uncrossing your legs like a stripper, while you say that. You don't need to raise your legs all the way up to show your flexibility to dictate your national policy, Khalai. "My people will march against them in support of you… but the fact that the Conquerors will take the Citadel after a year gives my advisors and myself doubts. If you rescind your alliance with them, and ally solely with us, we shall give you the Third Citadel permanently."

I'll admit it.

If Conquest wasn't right over my shoulder, I'd have taken that offer.

Hell, I hated the fact that I went to the Conquerors first right after I heard it.

But, the die was cast, and all I could hope for now was that Khalai would remember these words when I betrayed the Conquerors.

"I'm afraid that I wouldn't have taken such an offer, High Justiciar. If I took a third Citadel, too much suffering would take place." I lied my ass off and kept a small, earnest smile on my face. My goal was to look grateful and apologetic. The raised eyebrow from Khalai told me that it worked, since he wasn't insisting on me just forgetting about the Conquerors. "The continent entire would become incensed against me, if I took three Citadels permanently. It would destroy what little peace we have left. You must remember that the war can be won, but the peace still be lost, my friend."

Khalai pouted at my statement.

"Now, that's not fair, Jackie. You can't just be reasonable and hot all of a sudden and expect me to argue back." Khalai pouted and twirled a lock of hair that was just past his chin. Huh, he's growing his hair out. Oh, no. He's growing his hair out. I really, really hoped he was growing his hair out to gain more feminine advantage over all his targets. Not just me. Please, if there's any higher power out there, please have mercy on me. Make sure that this Dark Elf bisexual power bottom isn't targeting solely me. What have I done to deserve a test this hard? Haven't I complained enough with all my soul to make it clear that I'm weak as hell? "Fiiinneee, I'll play nice with the Conquerors."

Reminder: this guy's the pope analogue of this world.

With that said, Khalai hopped off the table, made sure he had the tightest top and shorts on the planet, and went over to me with a smile and hooked his arm through mine.

"Now, that all that stuff's over, why don't we go have some time to ourselves, Jackie?" Khalai's definitely got the Seduction perk in his Diplomacy tree and was powering it up. He had a little, toothless smile that was both smug and mischievous, which carried into the words he whispered my way. There was also a smolder to his half-lidded gaze as he looked up at me. Looking down at him, as he craned forward to direct my vision, informed me he wasn't wearing the tightest pair of denim shorts and crop top on the planet, because there was just a tiny gap when he leaned forward that showed a straight line of skin until it reached… the short's now-unbuttoned waistline. When did he even manage to do that while walking towards me!? "It's been really too long since we've last seen each other."

Back in my world, I was worried that being completely and utterly heterosexual would ruin me, if I was ever found out. Even in gamer circles, not being a little into femboys is considered cringe. Hell, I knew a few fervent right-wingers who I knew for a fact had drives full of the people that they 'hate.' Anyway, thankfully, my sexuality carried over in my new body and I was more than capable of repelling the attack completely.

Sorry, Khalia, I'm not twink resistant.

I'm twink immune.

"And, I've told you many times that I am not interested." I drew my arm out of his grip, while he pouted some more. Seeing my only reaction at that being a raised eyebrow made him straighten up… not completely. He still had his ass out and had that little lean going on to make him look even smaller and more slender. I've said it once and I'll say it again. This guy's going to be a lot of trouble in the future. I'm almost grateful for the fact that no one will ally with me once I break ties with the Conquerors. Wait a minute, no, Khalai might still stick around after then! He really is going to be my biggest headache! "But, I do have time for lunch. Let's catch up, Khalai."

"Not the catching I'd like, but sure." Khalai sighed and placed a hand on his hips, before wagging a finger at me. "One day, Jackie, you're going to fall head over heels for someone, and you're going to feel really, really sorry for me!"

"And, when that happens, I'll give you a call and you'll come running?"

"Absolutely! Just tell me when, darling!"

With that said, I followed beside Khalai to our usual place to eat lunch in the Wardens Citadel.

As we walked away, only Ayah and Sirena followed, and I heard Conquest speak into the empty room alone.

"But… but men can't marry other men!"

I'd hoped that Khalai wouldn't catch that, it was already a social blunder of pretty high proportions, but the High Justiciar could make things worse.

Naturally, my hopes were dashed.

"Connie-dearest, I want him to marry Sirena! I just want him to have lots and lots of fun with me!"

Conquest made a few strangled noises of confusion, Ayah stayed stoic, silent, and ready to ask me if I needed relief the moment we had privacy, and the ryona-game protagonist (Sirena) looked at me with a blush on her face… and propped out her chest a bit.

Yeah.

The Wardens haven't changed a bit.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

…

Interlude: Rita

…

It was difficult to control myself when facing the Scholars of the Skies.

Every time I fought against them, I recalled that day when the sky fell, when so many burned and suffered, and all those I tried to save perished right before my very eyes.

I knew that not all of them were involved in the plan, that the peasantry that we followed from a distance had no say in the ambition and madness of their leaders. These Scholars, carrying their lives on their backs or on wagons towards the Citadel of the Scholars, were not the perpetrators. However, still, the urge to kill them remained despite that knowledge.

Something within me was changed forevermore on that day, and I did not know if I can do anything to change once more.

Thankfully, Ilych was more than capable of keeping track of our foes, while I watched our surroundings for foes.

"There is a complication in the plan. Some villages are choosing to entrench and bunker down." Ilych and I followed the caravan of merchants that flowed through lands towards the Scholars' capital. Like a vice, Riegert commanded troops that raided villages and burnt them, and forced the peoples of this land to move according to our will. We were to put the Citadel to siege and force them to surrender as they starved, even with the treasures of the Ancients at their disposal. "Look."

If they stayed still and fought, it would complicate matters. A strongpoint could form that would give warning to our coming allies, or destroy the shepherding force. We traveled fast and light and so did Riegert's forces. Standing against a professional army would be suicidal in our current state, especially if a Champion of the Scholars rode out to command and lead an army.

I confirmed what Ilych reported by looking through the telescope we shared.

The caravan we were tailed had split into two. One group elected to stay with a village that decided to entrench, while the rest went onward. More caravans were coming behind them. The village and its protections could become a strongpoint for the Scholars in the coming campaign. That couldn't be allowed.

"It's time for us to call in our support, then."

"Aye."

The statement was succinct on Ilych's end, but it was a decision with great weight behind it. We could call upon support from the air only once every few days. This land was hostile and only veteran riders could safely navigate it and provide us with support in enemy lines. Bringing along transports was a sure way to get unwanted attention, too. Even with their forces mostly depleted, the Scholars still had a defending force that was rapidly swelling. They intended to defend their current position and retain their Citadel, despite all that they did.

With Ilych approving, I took my bow and the arrow that I needed to use as a signal. The head of the arrow was of a magical crystal, which I could force power into to glow brightly. It doubled as a distraction in combat and a signal for allies when fired high into the sky. Today, it would act as a signal, but I knew that the time will soon come when I will use it in combat.

I barely noticed my body as I fired it into the air, and it glowed so brightly in the clear blue sky that it couldn't be missed… and moments later there was the sound of horns above us and the beating of massive wings just above the tree line.

"This is how we destroyed Jack's original caravan." Ilych stated simply, while we watched fully armored knights astride armored beasts fly through the air with speed and grace that belied their deadliness. As we watched, they were coated with power from the blasts of their enchanted horns, and they became living projectiles wreathed in devastating power, which would be propelled forward by their speed and mass. They charged through the skies and collided with the village, just as they were noticed and horns of alarm were rung. Moments later, just as the village's alarms reached us, it was wiped away by the aerial charge. "But with only a quarter of their number."

"I see." The sheer destructive force of the aerial charge was within question. Even in the times before the Citadel, the flying, armored knights were feared. Now, however, they were arranged as units in army groups. Each unit self-sufficient, capable of acting with solely its own officers on the field, when given directions by the general for their mission. With that knowledge in mind, I watched as a second wave came shortly after the first, destroying everything left in the wake of the first charge. A third was already on the wings. Like hammers falling upon an anvil, they fell at a steady rhythm… and as the third charged the first was already circling in the air to see if they needed to strike once more. "The village is gone. We can move onward now."

"Yes." Ilych nodded, before growing still. A moment later, she charged a nearby bush whilst unleashing the massive blade strapped to her back. A second later, as leaves fell in her wake from her sheer speed, a familiar sound reached me. The sound of metal breaking apart, flesh and bone being rent, and a gasp of pain silenced but a moment after.

I followed after her, bow in hand, as the sound of battle resounded for a brief few seconds.

When I arrived to help her, the battle was already over.

"Skirmishers." Ilych explained simply. I looked over the most whole of the bodies. They were all of the non-feral stock of Goblins. Long-eared and with exaggerated facial features on their large heads, their tiny bodies had large hands and feat for their size. Many thought them gruesome to look at, but their sheer numbers told that they found no fault in their own appearances. This bunch were clad in half-plate over padded gambesons. No chainmail, and the plates were camouflaged to fit with the surroundings. Their faces were masked and hooded, whilst the stretches of skin that they showed were darkened with some war paint. These were capable, skilled trackers and hunters. Ilych dispatched them in an instant, because their skills did not make them warriors. "We are being hunted now."

"Yes, so that means it's time to retreat." I looked up and our air support was already leaving the skies at a rapid pace. That was what they were told to do, after coming to our aid once, no matter if I sent another signal or not. They couldn't be risked… and we would be poor Champions if a hunting party or two were threats to us. "Let's go. This portion of the mission is over."

Ilych paused for a moment, and I feared that her winds would bid her to go against our lord's orders, but soon she nodded and sheathed her blood-drinking blade to follow me.

Now, the second phase of the plan will begin.

We will sap as much of the enemy's army our way to be smashed apart by the Conquerors and all the other allies our King will bring into the fray.