V8: Chapter 12

…

Interlude: Celia

…

Mallory and Christine both had frowns on their faces, which signaled to me that their meeting with the Lich Slayer’s apprentices did not go as well as we hoped.

“So, there’s no chance of swaying them with the righteousness of our cause?”

The twins shared a look, before replying as one.

““None.””

I allowed myself the luxury of sighing, as I could within the traveling house-wagon I commissioned. Originally, I had planned to use it as a command center for future campaigns, brought in by air. The massive flying fort that the King of Wisdom constructed invalidated that idea, and we were now trying to make something similar with some of our findings from the Lich’s lands.

A mobile, flying crypt with vast holds filled with our Hives instead of a gleaming fortress, but it would suit our needs better.

So, I took the house-wagon as my personal vehicle. It hovered through magic and was pulled over roads swiftly by undead steeds. With some of my power, it could fly short distances. It could not compare to a pure, flying transport, but it gave me privacy… and as close as a home as I could get while outside my Citadel.

I could afford to take off my mask and look weary in its reinforced walls.

“Can you kill them, if the need arises?”

Thankfully, the twins answered with good news this time.

“Yes. We outstrip them completely. Even in the coming years, we don’t believe their talents will allow them to surpass us. At worst, in a few years, they will be equal to us and the battle will be decided by whom fortune favors.” Mallory looked towards one of the chairs and I gave her and her sister a nod. They both divested themselves of their helms. Two faces with scarlet eyes and short silver hair looked back at me. Young, powerful Vampire Knights and Champions as well. In any other era, these two would’ve carved their names into legend and myth. In this one… “But Morgan would certainly intervene. She dotes on them, though her training is robust.”

“The King of Wisdom gave Morgan full freedom in their training, it seems. They stink of freshly healed wounds. None, that is permanent debilitations, of course, but they will not balk at losing limbs or pain within the season. They are practically fearless already.” I nodded at Christine’s explanation. The two Champions that came with Morgan were new. Both were dressed like regular riflemen of the King of Wisdom. Gray jacket and trousers with sturdy boots and a helmet, along with a large pack that had a shovel at the side. They both had a sword at their waist and a revolver firearm, unlike those riflemen, though. Until they found the weapon that suited them the best, they would remain with those weapons. “But that is expected of Champions. The only issue will be when his vast population arises. Then, these Champions being trained so quickly will have negative effects.”

One Champion is found for every hundred mages, and mages with high capacity are one in every hundred people. Ten thousand to one odd for every Champion, though when paired properly, Champions can sire Champions themselves. Oddly enough, however, that rule applies only to their firstborn and thereafter child will have a higher chance at being a mage, but no more than that. The Ancients most likely considered one in ten thousand a controllable amount even in their society of billions. They wouldn’t be so foolish as to give all their people such immense power, of course.

However, that ratio put into stark relief the plain and unvarnished truth.

In just a few years, the first generation born under Jack’s rule will be considered adults and every year thereafter another batch will come forth. Tens of thousands of adults entering the workforce every year… all but guarantees that in the future Jack will be able to have whole strike teams, or even a while military unit, of solely Champions. They will be a potent force, capable of running rampant across the land, and that is if they are not all found at an early age and raised so that their talents are raised to their natural heights. With the wealth and power that the King of Wisdom had at his disposal, I was sure that he will have hundreds of Champions at his disposal when the foes of the Ancients arrive.

It’s almost fortunate that there’s a greater threat for him to face than me and our piddling confederation.

I shook my head away from those thoughts, and addressed my two Knights.

“Find out all that you can from them. However, our current mission is to find the Wraith that she speaks of. The image that she showed us is that of a monster that should only exist in the most ancient of tomes.” Wraiths were said to be the next step in the evolution of Phantoms, such as my teacher. They were meant to become infiltrators for the grand armies that the Ancients called upon to exert their will. Though they would retain the weakness of the Phantoms, they would be more transient and able to wield a wider variety of magic, and thus capable of achieving much that my teacher cannot. “But have them all watched as they are in our territory. I don’t want them left out of sight or unaccounted for.”

Both Mallory and Christine gave nods at my words, before I let loose a breath and nodded at them in turn.

I got up from my chair, took my rifle from where it waited upon a gun shelf, and shouldered it with a strap.

“Come along, then. One of you. I want to hunt something fresh for this evening’s dinner.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

It was a small luxury, but after the stress I endured from Morgan’s sudden appearance, I believe that I earned it.

Mallory and Christine were quick to lock eyes one another and begin a battle of wills, through a children’s game, to gain the right to follow me along for a simple flight and hunt for our dinner in the evening.

Even they liked the peace and quiet a simple hunt brought nowadays.

…

Morgan and her two apprentices did not hesitate to accept our hospitality.

Why wouldn’t they?

If anything happened to them as our guests, then we would be destroyed thoroughly by the King of Wisdom.

“Wow, I’ve heard that the Guardians are the best cooks, but this is really something!” Morgan’s praise was completely sincere. She sat to my right as my guest of honor with Mallory across from her with Christine sitting by her side. We asked her politely to relinquish her weapons, and she obliged… and sent off the quartermaster of my camp with a wagon-full of weapons from her pockets. The only one that remained was the blade she used to slay the Lich, but that was under Mallory’s care. Even within the sheathe, the sanctified blade gave off a subtle and holy shine. “You’d need to go to the Citadel and fork over some coins to get something similar back home.”

Morgan was casual in her statement, but both her apprentices sighed and shook their heads, while following proper etiquette for their meal. They used the correct utensils for every course, politely thanked the servants, and ate with a dignified air while paying their compliments sincerely. The two of them, after given time to wash and have their clothes cleaned, seemed to simply be respectable young adults of the Descendants… which was worrying.

Champions are typically freer and more unrestrained, oftentimes acting above the station they were raised in. These two, despite all their talent, power, and ability, were perfect soldiers. Completely loyal and perfect Champions who would not question the King of Wisdom. Not even the Academy managed such a thing, always having to pay their Champions handsomely and treat them well, but these two before mere were clad in standard clothes and would not seem out of place amongst their kin.

Jack’s intentions to “mass produce” Champions couldn’t be any clearer than with the two apprenticed to Morgan.

Every single one a representative of his people, each one skilled a multitude of matters, ranging from etiquette to warfare.

How many will he have within a year?

Two years?

Half a decade?

Khalai told us plainly that he intended to conquer the entire continent within ten years. The Forgers had scoffed, but Khalai only smiled at the reaction. Harper had said nothing, besides look my way, as if telling me that was indeed the case.

I shook my head free of the thoughts and spoke to the two.

“Sir Leonardo and lady Maryline, I hope the meal is satisfactory to you both. I had it made with a long day in mind.” It was freshly hunted venison roast alongside a light soup with herbs and potatoes. Thin slices of the roast, which was allowed to cool, settled in the stomach better after a long day of journeying. “If you find it unpalatable, we have bread and preserves ready for a lighter meal.”

Leonardo was a wiry and gloomy-eyed young man with hair cut short and close to his scalp. His ungloved hands were covered in scars and I was sure that was the case beneath his uniform. However, his face was without a single blemish. Mallory and Christine’s words came to mind. Thing young man will not shirk from wounds that can be healed, without a doubt.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the young woman by his side nudged him lightly on the side and his mouth closed.

She was probably better suited for the task.

“Thank you very much for your concern, your excellency.” My official title felt odd to hear, and I felt a of shock as the young woman primly stood from her seat and bowed at my direction. The young man followed a moment after she finished speaking and effectively stood by her side with her at the lead. “The food is nourishing and delicious, as well as well-portioned. It is a wonderful meal.”

“I… I feel the same way, your excellency.” Leonardo gave a small nod at the statement, and glanced at Maryline briefly. The blonde-haired young woman with startling ruby eyes gave the smallest of nods at his query for confirmation. He practically sighed in relief as his shoulders loosened, and he cast his gaze downward in perfect deference to her. He allowed her to take the field without hesitation. “You have my thanks for the meal.”

A quick glance at Morgan showed me that she was watching them from the corner of her eye… and seemed quite pleased.

Right.

They addressed me properly as etiquette demanded and subscribed their thanks to the meal that I have given.

Not even an iota of an error for me to grasp upon.

“Please, sit. We are allies in the current task. The Academy’s actions are a threat. Though I oppose the King of Wisdom’s designs to rule over the continent entire, I hold no ill will towards him or his people.” Not even the eldest and most venerable of my people could claim to hate him. Many denounced his use of disease as a weapon, but that was not enough to hate the King of Wisdom, especially when his actions spared much of our cultivated lands in former Academy-held territory. If we declared against him for such an action, they could easily ask us if we wished for all our people there to have their lives upended, and for our flanks to be hit by hordes of monsters. “We may be foes, but we are not hated enemies.”

I hoped that my words would reach them, but the young woman frowned as she took her seat.

It was obvious that she had words to say, but stayed her tongue.

Morgan, however, spoke up for her.

“We feel hated, though. Why wouldn’t you accept an alliance with us against the rest of the world, if you didn’t?” Morgan stated simply and looked over at her student who gave a sharp nod. Morgan had the fame and power to say such things… as well as the will to do so. I realized that my passing interest in the young woman’s words gave Morgan an opening. “Me and my students, all of the soldiers under our command, we’d rather prepare and fight against the Ancient’s foes. However, at our backs are your lot holding back the potential of our Citadels. If what you say is true, you should at least allow us to have four eightfold-improved Citadels instead of what we have now.”

Such was their view on matters. We must all fight together or fall, thus old hatreds and pride must be given away. In truth, all the Citadels should be linked at least to reach their full potential, then returned to their holders now.

I could not disagree with the notion and the good it will bring.

But my confederation with the Merchants, Forgers, and Wardens would not allow it, even if I could convince my people. Honor also demanded that I uphold my promises to them and not give a five-fold improvement to my Citadel and those of the King of Wisdom. Even though such a thing would strengthen the only force on the continent that intended to fight against the calamities to come.

As I thought this, as I considered it all, the stares of Morgan and her two Champion students bore into me and accentuated the silence.

I was reminded of my words to Morgan.

When I had told her that one day my people will fight an honorable battle for the ownership of our Citadel against the King of Wisdom.

Those words had turned into a lie.

At their continued stares, I could only manage a simple statement.

“Such matters are being discussed by our confederation. Know that we take the threat of the coming calamities with utmost seriousness.”

It was a half-truth.

We did see the great calamities that were to come.

It was just that we were focused on defeating the one known as the King of Wisdom first.