Walking about the wide open square in front of the huge Senate Dome. Large birds were flying about as people went about their days in peace. The Elves all seemingly in a perfect world as none of them even looked to be thinking of something wrong or bad. The children were playing and rough housing while the parents watched from the sidelines. With the tall skyscraper-like buildings covering all his axis, Jackson couldn’t notice the edge of the city at all.
A large shadow would cast over him as he looked to the skies and saw a giant blimp flying over. Escorted by the Armored Winged Elves, the sight was odd yet magnifying. Powered by contra-rotating propellers, it flew with such speed over them as it dropped its ropes which was bitten by numerous Rocs. Helping it maneuver and turn around as it disappears in the horizon. Slowly sinking as Bahamut shoves a skewered chicken tenders up his face.
“Master, eat more!” He smiles at her and takes it. Nodding at the taste. “Hmph. For a floating city, these are some nice tasting herbs there.” He then starts going through the entire thing and before he knew it, it was out.
“So, where to?”
Alana then points at a memorial of sorts next to the Dome Square. “M’Lord, why not that? I believe that’s something of interest for us. I’d love to go and buy some ingredients from the Elves.” Walking towards it, not one inch of the park square was left untouched. Each square meter had a plant or some elaborate tile design on it, many depicting the olden Elves still there Brass and Iron armor while others showed their ancestors in Togas, sipping from bottles of wine and ale.
There was shade everywhere and the presence of carriages was far from it. All he could hear was the sound of people and the wind. “This place would make for a perfect retirement home.” As they continued on the stroll, Jackson could see some Elves taking care of a tree, going as far as to even guard it and constantly feeding it with some sort of magic to rejuvenate and strengthen its roots.
“I’ve always wondered… but where did the Elves come from?”
“It is said they came from space, M’Lord. That five stars got shot out the plane above ours and to the mortal realm.”
“Aliolac right?”
“Yes, M’Lord.”
“Can you actually go there?”
“Well… I believe you could back then. Till Man started to expand its domain and threatened even the Gods.”
“Errrrr… I have no say on that…”
“Now, only the Elves and Dragons have access to it. The method is said to be locked behind the Mother Tree itself.”
“Have any Humans or maybe the other races other than those two had gotten there?”
“One, M’Lord.”
“Deus Vrax.” Alana nodded to Jackson who sighs. “Of course, it’s him.” Upon reaching the memorial, Elizabeth walks towards the middle of the three columns of marble and her eyes lit up. “Ah, My Lord. This is a memorial to the Twentieth.”
“Twentieth…” Looking up and rubbing his chin, Jackson then remembers Janishaire’s history. “Ah! So it’s them!”
“Indeed. Six Times Outnumbered, Six Times Braver. Hmph. Such a motto. They did not last long against my Knights though.”
“Hm. So what’re the things on the marble wall then? Names?”
“Yes, My Lord. Specifically, names of their former Officers who had passed.” Jackson then dawns on how large the text ones, the names there could easily be just a handful of people with the ones having the most numbers was a certain lower rank.
Walking near a lettering would make it shine and a powerful light is emitted from it. As if it's carving the very name to your eyes. “And they greeted me personally. Is the Emperor… hmmm…”
Elizabeth then walks back to him and rests her elbow on his shoulders. “I believe this is to give you a good impression, My Lord. Their commanding officer might have an eye for you.” He looks at her and squints his eyes. “You mean to tell me he might want something?” she then nods. “Yes. My Lord. Why would he go this far? Modern weapons, mayhaps? Or some sort of exchange of technology?” he facepalms and gruntles like an old man. “Ugh, they were really butthurt by that, aren’t they?” he sighs and turns around. Looking at the memorial.
Etched on the corners of the marble wall were the old armor of the Elves. The segmented chest plate and open face helmets with brushes of varying sizes and axis on top. Finely decorated, their plates having ribbons and even large circular ornaments on it with paintings of cavalry or a Great Tree. Underneath was the logo of the 20th. A Great Roc preying on a monstrously sized Elephant with mammoth tusks on its front.
Behind them, small tones come out and a female Elf in a green and bronze Toga, with a metal wreath of Leaves from the Mother Tree had in tow of her a large group of Elven children. They were wearing elegant tunics and wore slip-on shoes. The males held the female's hand as they carelessly wobbled around looking and touching everything. The Vampire man smiles at how cute they were, alongside the brass helmets that had the emblem of the school they attend to.
A lily that’s on top of a thick book, the teacher led them into the monument and everyone got into line. With Jackson noticing how they were silent but curious while being able to follow authority and orders to the tee even at such an extremely young age. The cute teacher of theirs not even having to say a word as her mere gestures commanded them without failure.
“And here we are one of the many monuments scattered about the legendary Twentieth.” The Elven teacher had a soft tone to her, though she was quick with her words, the woman would slow down on the most important parts. “Before our Royal Capital flew, it was once on the ground but the last stroke came after the Vampiric Armies of the North came down on us. It was the Twentieth that held against them.”
He then looks at Elizabeth who has a smirk on her face, leaning into Jackson’s ear. “Their armies were just as well thought out as ours, though not as well supplied and one Vampire could stand toe to toe with three Elves. Then the Twentieth was trapped against the very walls of the city they were to defend to the death just like in the place now called Janishaire against the rebelling Humans.” The Queen just crossed her arms as she had a dastard grin to her face.
“My Lord, do not let their society fool you. For all the glitz and glamor, the prim and proper exterior comes the biggest fall from pride you could imagine. My Black Knives didn’t even need to assassinate or seduce that many Elves. They were already prepping their own demise, we the Vampires just had to light to flame to the banquet.” Jackson’s eyes widened at the sight of the Queen. With her hand up her mouth, covering it as the students passed. She had a big smile, her shoulders trembling as if she couldn’t contain her laughter.
All the while, Alana and Bahamut stepped aside for the kids to start looking and reading at the various texts on the monument. The two just awkwardly looked at Elizabeth who was holding her tummy. Jackson, having to grab her hand and control her.
The Elven Teacher then proceeded to touch the marble wall, making it come to life as the walls of the names lit up. “There was this quote here from a surviving Vampire who was part of the Assault Legions and soon became one of the only Vampires to gain citizenship in the Empire.” She then points at a screaming Vampire Queen, even in their depictions of her, she was beautiful, angelic, and wonderful, yet her arms that were spread out seemed as if it was a maw of an all powerful and all knowing monster, her sharp nails akin to claws grabbing a prey’s bleeding neck.
The drawings then started to animate, the Ancient Vampire Queen had snuffed out the light of Phorus. Letting even the old Vampires that are weak to the morning come out in hiding, now able to look for food even in daylight and standing against her was the 20th and its mighty Cavalry against General Mar of the Vampire Armies and most of all, King Charlesmagnes himself.
There was then spoken out loud by the woman. Her voice, condescending and disrespectful as she looked at the Elves. “My King, Bring Me Elvennur On a Plate!” and soon it changed to slow and methodical screening of the brutal fighting that occurred.
As one by one, the Legions of the Empire fell to the Vampires who had seemingly walked straight up their Capital. it immediately skips to when the Twentieth held out long enough for a deal to be penned. “The Vampires were relentless, day and night they never stopped attacking the city.”
One of the students then raises their hands. “Miss Herog, were these the new Vampires?” the teacher nods. “Correct Sir Ulmag-Tur, they cannot be equated to the olden Vampires, these ones were capable of walking in Phorus light without being burned and able to see themselves in mirrors.” She then whirls her finger as a point of light is created and it's shaped into a pointer.
“And one of those being there King, one of the most prolific Knights and inventor of the many tactics used by various calvaries in Threa, one who even the Elven Generals respected, King Charlesmagnes. Coined from the Vampiric Term “The Great”, he truly was one of the few that proved to us the new Vampires were of another caliber.”
The paintings on the marble wall then return to show a brutal fight between the two sides and on one of the higher texts she reads out loud. “The Elves will surrender but only under the banner as an autonomous zone.'' The kids then went into their pouches and bought out notebooks.
Some had pens and pencils while others wrote with magic alone, the more talented ones even having their notebooks levitate around them as they focused on the presentation. “Oh by the love of Goddess Forrus as in the end, a Mon’krol came and took upon the mantle of dethroning the Vampire Kingdom. Ending their Age of Blood with insurmountable piles of bodies below the soil of her Goddess’ beauty.”
As the last final large war the Twentieth participated in, the art depicted their General, wielding an armored mask of a Demon and the wings of the Rocs on his battered golden helmet looking face to face with the handsome and incredibly angelic King Charles. His beautiful golden blonde hair and eyes sparked even in the art.
He had his sword vertical of him, not showing any malice or hatred as bodies of both Elf and Vampire laid around him dead on the cracked wall of Elvennur. The teacher then proceeded to touch an orb that was hidden behind a statue of a Commander of the 20th and an illusion starts to play off the event that happened long long ago.
“King Charles! Tell me! What does the Twentieth have to do to make you lay your siege on our beautiful capital?! What is Elvennur worth to you?! To your Queen?!” Sounds of brutal fighting were still happening as clangs of swords and explosions of magic were coming back and forth between the two sides. But then suddenly, King Charles lifted his hand and with a smile on his face, the Vampires stopped their attacks. Confused, the Elves also stopped in return, taking the moment to breathe and regroup, the Vampire King having a Vulture to land on his shoulders as he was presented a scroll. This gave him a wide grin, turning to look at the Elf.
Unrolling it, the Commander of the 20th drops on his knees upon seeing the seal of the Imperial Dydares family. King Charles merely nodded and returned it to the Vulture who flew away while he, as he turned around, spoke. “It is worth nothing…” walking away to the battle line of thousands of lesser Vampires, he lazily throws his hands. “And everything.” and the Elf was left to a surrendered city. But there wasn’t despair in his eyes, except it was full of courage and motion.
Soon, more people came to the Monument and with Jackson having less and less wiggle room, he had to walk out of the place to let the children be exposed to the wonder of their ancestral Heroes.
“I wonder how old they are. Those kids were already so adept at magic from such an age.”
“Probably twenty years old by now, My Lord.”
“R-Really?!” Elizabeth nods as she relaxes herself. “And thus, My King bought Elvennur to me on a plate.” he looks back at her as she stared at the tall statue of the last combat experienced General of the 20th. “They tried, but inside their own system, I already had laid everything to be. Such as the Elves, unwilling to let go of their pride till the end.”
As they walked a bit far from the moment. The teacher was done with her presentation and the kids were still following her neatly. There they got a good view of the Vampires from afar. Though no one cared, some of the younglings did. “What their Monument omitted is that the Kings under Dydares vetoed all attempts to create new armies as I’ve poisoned the well long before. The Emperor’s power was already divided as he needed to gain the support of at least Ten Kings to put into action the Rule of the Majority.”
The General stopped and turned his head to look at Elizabeth, who had her arms crossed. “So what did you do to prevent that?” she merely opened her hand, presenting an empty palm. “I gave a certain King of their most Northern Region an offer he couldn’t possibly refuse.” she then starts walking away, thoughtlessly waving her hand. “Mm. Though I best suggest we get you a more… pertinent ensemble, My Lord. One befit of a Vampire Lord.” Elizabeth sneaks a peak at the children and they were looking at him with an odd stare.
He looks at himself and notices he's still wearing his general uniform that’s been modified to fit the absolute perfect manly build of a Vampire. “Then, let me change to a better one.” as he was about to touch Bahamut, he remembers something and his outfit instantly changes to the more Count looking one. Though he bought along the cape that’s adorned by the Queen’s many roses and flowers in her garden. This made Elizabeth chuckle, touching the cape she had repaired a month ago.
“Let’s continue then.” Walking in the huge park inside the center of the city. A bunch of metallic birds flew above him and landed on the bushes. There, they’d peck on the litter left by the citizens and would quickly drop it dead center on the nearest bins while high above, Blimps carrying platforms patrolled about the airspace, occasionally stopping Elves riding their big birds and checking on their cargo.
Dragons on the other hand were regulated to flying on the outskirts, their massive downwash not hampering the activities of the daily citizenry as they took a specific path to their designated areas of drop.
The buildings were akin to magnificent ancient structures, their design had so much touch to it and the colorful flowers that sprung along the sides in front of the windows gave it so much more flare than a spray painted wall. There wasn’t a single thing that was touched, it was as if a modern city was built with perfect harmony with the land and soil as people took the time to take care of all the strays and birdhouses were placed in strategic positions.
With architecture that could never bore a person, there wasn’t one five to ten story building that didn’t have elaborate balconies on each floor with big wide windows and glass that would let in as much starlight as possible.
In his different form, he could perfectly distinguish the air quality and he couldn’t be any happier with it here as every breath he took felt like it could cleanse even the darkest of lungs. Though the lands he once knew and birthed were far from it, he could still smile and be at home in the city. Though Bahamut was less impressed by everything while the two Vampires just looked at everything with scrutinizing eyes.
Over a thin concrete railing was an open air market. With Alana immediately pointing her hand at one of it. “M’Lord, may we buy some produce? I’d like to try something tonight.” He nodded and they went around to the front of the park where he could be on the sidewalk. The Elves were incredibly kind to one another, though some also tended to themselves only. Most wouldn’t look away from your eyes, instead nodding to you or exchanging a smile that’s genuine. “I wonder, is this because I am a Vampire of Higher Ranking?” as they turned right to enter the market that sat next to the park.
His eyes opened in wonder as the stalls had strings of light that were zigzagging above the path. Though it was crowded and there was a lot of chatter happening, he could clearly see a line, and everyone took their time to look and browse. His ears, being able to decipher each and every word that was being thrown about, Alana had to cover his sharp ears. Deeply breathing in and out, she lets him hear her breath instead of the countless mouths talking and moving. “M’Lord, don’t over focus on the crowd, stay in your lane and gaze your eyes into the ground.”
Doing as he is instructed, the sounds of the crowd seemingly started to return to normal. “M’Lord, you must remember. As a Vampire, you can control every one of your senses to your specific desire. You must just home it more.” as he nodded, she slowly removed her hands and he looked around the busy place. “Where to?”
“I saw it near the back, M’Lord. I believe you will love the taste of this one.” Without a question, he follows the Countess as they go down the handful of steps to the market.
“Hm?” Tilting his head, they join the line that moves alongside the stall fronts like a conveyor belt. Though some would not join it and be at their own pace, they never tried to get in front of others and were quick with what they were ought to do. Not disturbing the peace and the momentum.
Before entering, Jackson could see there were just crates that were leftover without anyone watching them and people would just take what they could without care. He takes a look at the fruits which varied from ones he knew to ones oddly coloured and shaped. “Ah! M’Lord! Take that one! The rotund one!” He just looks at Alana with a confused stare as she went ahead and took one from the crate and smelled it first then checked its squishiness. “Hm! This is good!”
“Uhhhh… exactly what is that?”
“It’s a type of Eggplant only found here, M’Lord. It might be a bit bluer but it has excellent taste when paired with Roc meat.”
“Roc meat?!”
“Hm. I always wanted to try it and we have money. Why not.”
“Just be sure you know how to prepare it.”
“No worries, M’Lord. I shall make an excellent dish for us all tonight!”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Suddenly, Jackson’s right hand seemingly got into action and grabbed Bahamut by the collar of her business blouse. “EHHHH?!” Her sudden girly reaction even caught the two Vampires off guard as she forcibly tried to reach for the meat. “NGH! NGH! LET ME GO MASTER!” the Dragon wasn’t budging, not a bit with only a single hand. “W-Wow. I would’ve been dragged for a mile by now… and Bahamut. No. We’re buying.” She then deflates and crosses her arms.
“Listen to our Lord, Bahamut. How many times should we go through this?” She then just gave the Queen a sneering stare and turned back to looking at the fresh meat that was offered to the public by the citizens. Behind the crates where the offerings were was an icon of the Great Tree behind it, illuminating as if it was as bright as the Sun.
As they waited, Elizabeth looked around and noticed the line had only gotten longer and there were already people behind them as the foreign Sun slowly died down in the sidelines. Rubbing her chin, she turns to the person behind them. The olden and tall Elf wore a Toga of violet and brass, along with him a younger Elf whose white hair was gleaming in the afternoon bask. Up and handsome, he had the eyes of someone who is ready to take on the world and wore a silk tunic with a more elegant style to it, having intricate details on the shoulder ends and the bottom.
“Excuse me.” The older Elf quickly drags the young white haired man to him. “Yuleth, you remember what I taught you right? Go.” He then pushes him forward to the pretty Vampire and bows first before looking at her. “Lady of the Night, I am Baron Yuleth Uhm Thurm. I’d like to ask you a question.” Elizabeth, who was captivated by the courage of the Elf, turned her attention to him.
As the line moves, Jackson had to keep an eye on Bahamut who was already checking around the place while Alana was fixated on the fruits and vegetables on the front area of the stalls. “After the death of the Ancient Vampire Queen, what did the Elves and Humans do afterwards?” He then looks back to the old man who just gestures to him to shoo away.
“I believe both the species gathered their people and rebuilt everything that was destroyed over the year long campaign against your kind. Why the question, Elf?”
“Is that so? And afterwards?”
“The Humans went to war against one another. Something about the lands south of Gareth and the division between the surviving Lords. You Elves on the other hand started the project to float your Royal Capital.”
“The Humans went to war after rebuilding?” She just burrows her head onto her fingers and then turns to look at Jackson. Though in an entirely different look and body, she still sees the Human version of him and she just giggles lightly and smiles. “Of course, By the Gods, of course. There is a reason why the Gods left the Humans in such a disastrously chaotic state. Only they could be crazy enough to face the Unknown so knowingly.”
The Elf just tilted his head in curiosity as she walked a few meters forward as the line started to go once again. “What was the general discourse amongst your kin about us Vampires? How was the relationship fixed? I still remember that the Elves aren’t one to forgive and forget so easily.”
He nods and crosses his arms as the old Elf behind him starts to pick up vegetables from the stalls, paying in cheque as he bought a specific yellow apple in bulk. “It was the King that came after who started a relook of sorts. Paying for the damages, sending out envoys and many free trade agreements. It was hard but he did succeed and our Emperor at the time forgave the Vampires.” she then nods to herself and extends a lone her long slender finger outward. “Last question. As a citizen of this city, what’re your opinions on the Holy See and the Pope being here?”
Shot with such a heavy question, he had to fix his tunic and his hair as he changed to a more stoic and serious face. “Many of us simply do not care. But we also do understand why there is friction. Not only is this a rebirth of a problem that plagued us once, but it's also a potential threat to us in the future.” Elizabeth then gave him a smile and turned forward once again, ignoring him completely all of the sudden.
The Elf just shrugs and comes back to the old man who was giving him a devilish smile which he just ignores and looks at the multiple baskets of yellow apples he has gotten. Meanwhile in front of them. Jackson had reached the meat area and Bahamut was in overdrive. The Vampire man has to put most of his effort in stopping the Dragon from taking everything. Constantly having to hold her hand and keep her shoulder to shoulder with him.
Alana on the other hand has found the Roc meat and alongside it was one with a smoother texture to it. Wet and as slidy as jelly. She points her finger at it, the womanly Elf behind the stall smiling elegantly back. “Is this… May I ask what meat is this?”
“It is a Galiantar Boar meat. Just arrived an hour ago. I suggest you buy this if you wish to taste the local animals, Lady Vampire.” Alana then picks it up and observes it. Some blood was left over and she then goes through its innards and then plops it back down. “How much?” The Elven lady with her apron then lifts up her ring, middle, and index finger. “Three Pares for a Pund. One if you use Certis.” going to her gowns hidden pockets, the woman checks for the denominations she has, and it varies from 1, 2, 3 to then 10, 20, and even a 1000. “Here you go. I’d also like four punds of Roc meat. No basket please.”
With the transaction complete. The lady in the stall scaled everything first, using an intricate looking device. It could be figured to what specific weight you were looking for and it’d automatically set itself via weights and a crystal gem. She took with her three pounds of the Galiantar and another four with the big bird Roc meat.
Afterwards, they soon just walked around a bit on the open air market. With Jackson being curious of the weapons they were selling and was given a chance to do so upon meeting a merchant in a mobile stall. There, he offered various high level looking swords and polearms. These all being coloured in the style of bronze and copper. Though upon closer inspection, it was clearly made of some composite material that had alloy and some other unknown plastoid-like mixture in the handles and pommels giving it an oddly futuristic air to it.
Mostly enchanted already, with the most basic of basic ones having only a single enchantment. The most usual one being an improvement on your endurance while the more top level one having multiple ones to even being able to shoot off points of energy from the tip of the weapon to being able to direct the elemental magic of the user.
Elizabeth on the other hand checked the toys there, and it was figurines that were mostly sold. Many of them being of the Emperor and detailed action figures of the Empire’s various soldier types to the elegant and stylishly overdone Toga’s of their politicians and business leaders.
Below the stall, there were even functional toy Blimps that could actually float and travel around with you if you could concentrate your magic on it. She was even more curious about one that was depicting the Great Tree. Able to shine in the darkness, it had the various original Elves that many were now long gone below it. Holding hands. “Hm? I never knew a Vampire would be curious of her Holiness the Mother Tree. You have a good eye, Miss. I hope the Mother Tree speaks soon of what the Goddess has planned for us. May we return to being Great Elves in Paradise, I wonder.”
Alana meanwhile had gotten to her own section of the market that was full of used books. All of them selling for less than a single Pares. Some even being sold on international copper currencies. Most of it were full of complex mathematics that were now considered outdated while in others, it was full blown history books to specific autobiographies.
She notes that in almost all of them, the mistakes done and what went wrong were given extra attention to, and the tactics developed and used being given entire twenty page long explanations, going into every and last detail possible from the documented records and survivors. Though to her surprise, Human stories were also there. The same ones she used to read when she was still a young Vampire.
That of the Heroic adventures of the many Human Knights that came to pass. All of them in excellent conditions. “Heh. I haven’t read this one for a long while.” The one book that got her was of King James the Conqueror. Though in the back, there was ink strewn saying “Lies.”, “Embellished greatly by the short memories of Humans.”, and “Untrue and more fake than my wife loving our Summer outing." She opens it and sees that the contents and all the pages were still there.
Jackson, who was still holding Bahamut’s hand tightly, slightly tilts his head at her and sneaks into her territory. Spooking her. “M’Lord!” She jumps a bit and he smiles at her. “Hah, finally got back at you. All that’s left now is Elizabeth.” he then picks up the book she dropped and looks at the cover of it.
An old Human King with a blue cape with white and black fur, it was coloured beautifully as it showed his silvery sword by the throne. Sitting quietly in the darkness as its sparkle gave out its position. Handing it back to the Countess, she sighs and slowly puts her hand on her chest and takes the book. “M’Lord, you shouldn’t try that when I have our dinner you know?” he just smiles and scratches the back of his head. “Heh. Oops. I just saw it as a good opportunity to do so.”
Pouting, the Countess turns forward to the road. “Hmph. I believe that Vampire form of yours is more problematic than it shows.” walking away, the man had to tap Elizabeth’s back as she was so fixated on the toys there and had to catch up with Alana who was already far away in the now night market.
In the National Park, he could see that there were more mobile stalls. This one being packed with chairs and boards as they set up by the sidewalk. There were food stalls. Already, ones that were set up nearer to the Senate Dome itself were gaining lots of guests. Hot and fresh soup and meat was being served as Elves from all walks of society started pouring in. Right in time as the Moon and its satellite enters the sky and the city completely turns on its various lightings.
Even the gutter had lights on them, down to the alleys all being extremely well lit. Not a single place wasn’t illuminated as people either went home or went to the food stalls.
Bahamut, with nothing in her hands while the rest of everyone had bought something, was left scratching her long vertical horns. With Jackson, walking to the road and looking for a vehicle to transport them to the Embassy as the two Vampires were already carrying things, she took upon the opportunity to look around.
With the well lit park, she noticed an old Elf. Though still looking vigorous, this long eared creature seemingly needed a cane. Even with his body that looked more than capable of walking on its own still as his skin showed very little to no wrinkles at all. The Dragon on the other hand felt an odd calling to her, as if this person’s mind was speaking to her familiarity.
Walking towards him, the Elf immediately felt her immense presence and looked to her with a smile on his face. “Ah what a beautiful maiden, who may you be?”
“I am Bahamut! Dragon of the Void, Goddess of Death, Destruction and Unmaking!” Seeing the Elf’s absolute non reaction, she then instead focuses on the odd sense she’s getting from him. “I find your aura to be interesting. Are you thinking of something that I may have an answer to? My Goddess senses tingles very hard with you Elves sometimes.”
His eyes then light up, his breath grasps upon laying his gaze so close to her. “Ah, Death. So you’ve come to me then? Shall I no longer make a trip to Aliolac as mortality fully grasps my soul and traps it in this plane and I am to be given a death of a Man?”
“That is not for me to decide. You should’ve made the trip long ago if you wanted to become immortal. Now, I am just watching and waiting.”
“Heh. I might’ve gotten far too in love with this world. Tell me Death, can you give me more time?”
“I think you’ve had enough time. More than any Human could hope for.”
“A Human is a foolish bag of foolish organs and bones trying to make peace with its short life. They see life as a mystery even when it is not, always seeking answers to things that need not be, creating their own demise in the process.” As if the conversation had reinvigorated the Elf, his body straightened up and his eyes filled with a sense of duty he long hadn’t felt. “An Elf is a gift sent by Forrus to take care of this world. Protect its forests and animals. An Elf’s hope is more than that of a mere Human.”
“Indeed you are correct. Life is not a mystery to be solved. Mankind has driven itself to destruction looking for an answer. What legacy they may leave, and what mark will they produce with such a short amount of time… but you Elf. You’ve fought long and hard, yet you chose to die here, stuck with them. What does that make you?”
“Ahahahaha, I do not know it myself. A part of me wants to go to Aliolac but another, wants to stay here.” He gazes into the buildings, the divine architecture of the Elves and the common citizen walking and going about their day in the sinking daylight. Everything was a picture perfect painting in movement and the smile on his face only got larger. “What does it make me…”
“For a Human, Life is a problem that needs an answer. They long for guarantees, even if it meant the death of some. For a guaranteed answer to be found, they’d sacrifice it all. For an Elf, Life is a Duty that needs to be Done. What say you?” The old Elf then stands up. Grunting heavily as he scratched his head. “I don't need guarantees like Man. I know Forrus exists and she speaks to us and a paradise exists beyond this plane. But the Darkness of Mortality, there’s something to it that’s attractive. A peaceful end to it all. A curtain to my long and arduous life.”
Stopping a coach. Jackson turns around to see Bahamut chatting with the Elf, curiously putting his hands on his hip as the Vampires get on the wagon.
Walking towards her, he looked at the Elf who waves his hand slowly. “Ah, a Vampire. Pleased to meet you. I’ve only seen your kind a handful of times in my lifetime.”
“And you too sir. I am duly pleased to have met you. If you may excuse me, I’ve come to collect my companion.” He looked to the Dragon who had an oddly serious air to her. “Hm? Bahamut, let’s go.”
“Master, what do you think the answer to life is, as a Human?”
“What? Where did this come from?” Bahamut didn’t react to his query, merely looking at him with a silence that beckons a thousand thoughts. “I guess… being a Vampire now. The answer is just not to care.” The Elf tilts his head at this answer as the General gathers his thoughts.
“I’ve faced Death many times. I know it follows me to this day as the thoughts of the war lingers at the back of my head, I’ve pondered life many times as I sat in that tank in the middle of the hot desert and all I could come up with was that I know nothing and will probably never know anything…” Jackson then looked up to the darkening skies as he blinked multiple times.
“So why think about it when I have things to do? Rather than thinking if I will die the next day by some Texan with a rocket launcher. I’d rather just make the best of my journey.” Bahamut then smiles as she slightly nodded. “Master, you couldn’t be as blind as any other Human when it comes to life. But I adore and love that part of you the most. That normal part of yours that never fails to prove the beauty of the simplicity of your kind.”
“That simplicity breeds complexity, you know? Though I guess it's complex for us and trivial for Elves, Dragons, and Vampires.”
She then turns to the Elf, still with a smile to her face. “Death comes when it comes for Man. But you as an Elf chose for it. Did you have fun?” The Elf then had a grin on his face as he chuckled. “Oh dear. I believe I had a bit too much fun, actually. Ehehehe…” With a small laugh, Bahamut turned around and walked toward the road, Jackson just bowing politely at the Elf as they both got to the wagon.
Inside the Coach, Jackson orders the driver to take him to the Embassy where they were driven to for a small fare of Five Pares.
Immediately, the Vampires gave Jackson all of the bags of goods they’ve bought, who then looked at the Gate Guards and handed the duty to them as he put his hands in his pockets. Walking back to the main doors whistling calmly.
“Bahamut, what made you talk to that Elf?”
“It’s just that tingle I get, Master. When a person who has been through much is in my vicinity, I usually have a gutt feeling to check them out.”
“Huh. Is this some mutation of a Dragon’s ability to sense threat?”
“Maybe. I only started feeling this Master after I’ve gotten some divinity and I’ve always acted on it.” Jackson was just left with a confused expression as three soldiers had to carry their bags back to the Embassy hallways.
Upon arriving in their modern room, the Vampire man didn’t plop down into his bed as usual and was instead already in work mode as he checked the stacks of paperwork that was meant for him while he was in absence, whilst the Vampires and Bahamut all went into the single bath together. The three soldiers on the other hand were left out at the hallway and Jackson just gestured for them to leave the things on the door.
With the trio Saving time as they all finished up quickly from the bath and got onto their respective duties. Lazing around included as per Bahamut’s expression as she turned into her Dragon form and snuggled up on the black Eldwood General greatcoat of Jackson.
Alana though, having to prepare dinner with the new local ingredients she had attained had an excited look to her while Elizabeth was with Jackson, the two looking at the papers and all the micromanaging that was given to him had to be handled in an immediate manner as everything started to ramp up into levels that were beyond the normal capacity of their factories.
It's as if the Political Leaders of the various Player Guilds had unanimously agreed to start restocking and perform a massive buildup of arms. With Jackson having control of some of the only Armies that has experience with the Demon Horde, with the Zavalda National Guard and Eldwood Undead Rangers specifically being given top priority for rearmament and was to be given the top and best modern stuff they could produce in a timely manner. He was also handed more control of the air forces.
Multiple Air Wings composed of multirole fighters to helicopters of varying types were all moved under his command as shown on the paper. With many of the other papers requesting the movement of experienced players in dealing with the Demons to train the already Veteran ones that’s been in Schon since last year.
As he checked for the statistics, the majority of the papers given to him had all but numbers and tables upon tables with some parts having sentences explaining things. He was able to keep his attention span on check. Seemingly having the odd function to his body to not waver his eyes and head on a task. Being able to blaze through the mountain of work that was thrown at him out of the blue like the Countess in her room.
Before he could even count the time that had passed, Alana had already finished their dinner and was thrown out of his space when Elizabeth bit into his neck. She didn’t lay her fangs on her, instead just a peck of her lips. He just turned around and smiled. “Dinner, I know.” the Queen just pouted at his nonchalant reaction as he got up and joined the rest on the glass table.
“This is fine, right?”
Alana nodded. “Yes, M’Lord. Red meat is of no problem. Though we need a bit more as it's not the same as drinking blood. If you may allow it, I’d be honored to pour some of my blood into your drink.” he shrugged, smiling at her as he elegantly took the utensils. “No need, As I said. I’d like to complete this whole thing without having to drink blood. I am a pretty high ranking Vampire so I should still be good for a few more days.” He then starts eating. His chewing did not even last a few rounds as his teeth just crushed and grinded the cooked beef in no time. Though the fangs got in the way, he got used to it before long and was stoked at how fast he was eating.
Elizabeth then gently placed her hand on his shoulder. She then lifted her chin, as if to showcase not only how well carved it is but the action of having to deliberately eat slower and softer to match the pace of a Human. His red eyes widened a bit and instantly understood it and before long, he had started to eat normally again.
A ring then came and he was already on the door. Opening it, he was greeted a soldier in dress uniform. Saluting to him. Absolutely shocked at the speed that the door was answered.
“General Jackson, sir!”
“Speak.”
“Generals of CENTCOMM requesting for your presence in the Command Room.”
He looks down to himself, wearing the elegantly styled waistcoat of a Vampire Lord. “Alright. I’ll be there stat.” Closing the door, he turned around and immediately went to the wardrobe. Picking up his now upsized general uniform and changing in the bathroom.
Coming out of it, everyone just looked at him as he put his cap on. “I’ll be back. My presence is needed in the Command Room." The two Vampires respectfully bowed as Bahamut started taking his portion. “Oy, leave at least one for me. This should be quick.”
Walking out of their room, he walked from the right wing to the center where in the deeper levels, it leads to the more militarized part of the Embassy. Soldiers in combat gear were more common alongside decorated officers.
Upon the presence of the Five star general. All personnel would quickly step out of his way and salute as the handsomely beautiful man in such serious attire walked into an underground section, which is protected with not only a bunker door, but also multiple magical barriers. Though it was open, the barriers weren’t and having so many spells put on top of one another, it seemed more like a thick concrete wall of moving sigils and runes.
Passing it, he is led inside by hardened skeleton soldiers which then salute as they open the door to a single room that was full of the higher ranking COs. Colonels and One to Two Star Generals were present in the large room full of flatscreen TVs and a huge digital map.
Though its quality is not the same as in Iron Mountain, the walls being a basic thick concrete layering unlike before where it's coated with a special steel with composites, here it's left to the meters of thickness to do all the work in case of an attack from above.
There, an Elven player General he met was present. Saluting him and bringing him to the center of the room where the smaller flatscreen TV’s showed the entire of CENTCOMM. Majority were in bunkers, others in vehicles, and a small minority were inside dusty or wet tents.
“Ah, General Jackson.” He turns to the player and salutes. “Yes, I heard my presence here is needed?” The lower ranked General then points to the corner of the screen where there was the Admiral of the Greater Japan Guild. “They want Steel. Not just normal steel, but good steel.”
He immediately shrugs upon this and looks around for a chair which was promptly given to him. Sitting down, he crosses his legs and arms. Chuckling. “For what?” a paper was then given to him and alongside it, a blueprint was presented. “A… Super Yamato?!” It showed that the only parts missing were some of the outer armoring and Guns 1 and 4, while everything else was basically marked with complete.
“Hai. Please do consider this, General Jackson. I promise you that this ship will surely do more than what it is required to do and slow down the horde for months if needed.” parsing through the paper and then gesturing for the blueprint to be brought closer to him, the man didn’t smile nor nod. Keeping a poker face as he looked through all the upgrades it has been given. Including a bay in the middle for cruise missiles and CIWS close range Vulcan miniguns.
“Wait a sec… What happened to your original Yamato?!”
“It uhhhh…” He swallows his saliva, though not looking Asian at all, his avatar conveyed the strictness of the Eastern world to a tee. “It has sadly been teleported in the middle of a plain field.” Jackson then facepalms. “It has been beached there since the start of the entire ordeal and we have been having a hard time in disassembling it and moving it. Hence we decided it was better to complete this one and let it serve as a stationary battery.”
“So…” He giggles and puts his hands up his eyes. “Your only functional Yamato has basically been beached?!”
“Hai. The soil is above its waterline. Even with Ancient Magic, it will take a considerable amount of limited teleportation resources to move it. We’ve done the study and it's not worth it as everything is to be focused on the Portal to go back home.”
“Hmmm… that is true. This planet doesn’t exactly have the old bark tree we need to power our teleporters… yet…” As he went back to the paper, one of the last parts made his eyes open wide. “... … … No.”
“Y-You see, General Jackson. Yes it will hamper the creation of new armored vehicles due to the-”
“No. Unless, you can make that thing fly and shoot lasers off its main guns. You won’t be getting anything from CENTCOMM and the Joint Command. Try someone else.” As he stands up, another player, this one wearing a suit that came from the 30s bows and grovels before him. “Please! Consider it!”
“And who might you be? To dare to stand in front of a Five star general. One might call you daring at least.”
“I am Rear Admiral Yoshitsune of the Third Combined Fleet. The Super Yamato is meant to be our Flagship. Please, give us this chance. It's so close to completion, General Jackson-sama! With this, we may contribute something far greater than anyone else!”
“No.” He takes the paper and points his finger at it. “Do you know what my job will be? Now that I am here? My armies will be the one who will eat the brunt of the Demon Horde when it comes. And hell, what makes you so sure you will complete it? Mind you, the best we have is a month left and on this blueprint, Guns One and Two aren’t even halfway completed.” He sighs and wiped his face with his hand. “You won’t have to contribute much as that duty has fallen to me. I’ve made a certain decision that laid the heaviest duty to my shoulders, Admiral. Don’t fret too much about my resignation to your proposal. I simply have my own share of problems.”
“We have Skeleton workers and we can source for more workers if needed. We can build her and deploy and complete her sea trials by the end of the month. If we do, I will personally send the entire Combined Fleet under your command. I myself will lay my Kongo class destroyers under your authority. No one may get to them before the start.”
“Hmmmm… now that’s what I want to hear. I’ll see to it then.” He then scoots to the side, planting his forehead on the floor. “Thank you for your time!” as he walks away, he stops just before leaving the area. “Get him the steel. I also want the Himeji Guild’s naval list on my desk by tonight.”
The various 1 and 2 Star Generals immediately stood up and saluted. Closing their transmissions as the two players from the Greater Japan Guild were left looking at one another.
“General Martinez.”
“Sir!”
“Look if you can get a mage from the Shine Guards. They have some of the best mages who can teleport things from Mid to Dark Continent back then. They should have someone who can do the job. A Yamato ship is a pretty tall order, I know but can you get it done?” Martinez looked around and then looked to the Vampiric General. “SIR YES SIR! I already have someone in mind!”
Walking out of the bunker, he returns to the surface and to their room where everyone was already done. Elizabeth was out on the bed, sitting pretty as she watched a Korean Soap Opera on the flatscreen TV, Alana on the study table doing her paperwork while Bahamut was in her Dragon form, all balled up and tucked in by a sea of soft blankets.
He smiled at the sight and immediately got to finishing his dinner.