Amun.
***
“God damn… I didn’t miss this feeling at all.”
I dropped my Wraith Form with a groan and looked out upon the spacious cavern far below the tower. While everyone was healed up and resting, I was on the brink of dying. Yet, I traveled to the hidden level to check up on Lana and Zaraxus, hunting for experience rather than prospecting for dark metals.
Zaraxus was the strongest undead I had and my Doppelganger was just as strong as I was, which wasn’t very much without magic or sorcery. Lana, however, was even weaker than she was in life. A one hundred percent decrease if measured mathematically. As the one with the most growth potential, the journey was for her more than anyone else. In the meanwhile and for the fifty years that have passed since the tower began its construction, most of the Bobs have remained here, toiling above or carving out the bedrock below to create an industrial facility that could rival anything in the explored realms.
Though Robert was the foreman, the overseer was none other than the gentleskull himself, Simion Lumbarde, working with the full zeal of a cultist now that he knew of what awaited him in the near future. With Darekhil, Forgruna, and their companion, Thordrohilda sworn in and caught up, I was sure they would soon be filled with just as much fervor. Though the road map for the undead industry was much different than the one they were to traverse.
The realm, Maru at least, had been in what could be compared to the Renaissance when I left. If what I heard and read about the explored realms of Nonus was true, they pushed past the industrial age decades before my birth; if not altered to befit our magical reality. They had the equivalent of Model T’s, for example. Yet they were reported to have ‘vast cables of light’ to transport citizens and resources across vast distances.
While those in Hill Base were worming their way through the Industrial Revolution, my undead were here, using their endless, dilated time to steam past the post-industrial Revolution. And it was all done here, a few kilometers below the tower.
We started with gravity-spun flywheels. Massive cylinders of carbon fiber and copper coils were spun to an absurd degree to power our first factories. Paving the way for more power generation, more factories, and more constructs that soon swelled beneath the lake above and sank ever deeper towards the Darkworld below, where hydroelectric and geothermal energies were available in excess.
With mass production and an abundance of power came an easier means for the tower’s construction. Though it still needed magic and it still took decades for roughly 200 undead to complete. Now that we were here, however, the road to the future would only get longer, yet the ride would get faster.
The precursors to such futuristic technologies I dreamt of had to be perfected and mass-produced before such a thing came to be. All of them. Cars and boats had to be altered to fit this world before tanks and battleships could be made to my liking. The same went for gliders and hot air balloons evolving into planes and model rockets and then on into fighter jets and ballistic missiles. Radios. Computers. Lasers. Even nuclear fusion needed to be perfected before cybernetic or nano-implants became a reality for my people. For my family. For those like Caia and her child and the many young and old in Hill Base who just wanted to live in peace. Only then would I be comfortable leaving them on their own while I explored the realms.
Only then would I not have to worry about them.
That required the road to be traversed by the time we returned to Maru. Preferably sooner, if I were to be honest. In turn, that required this train to move a lot faster than intended. I needed more undead.
Even with my Doppelganger picking up much of the slack. I needed more.
Since I left campus, most of his time had been spent here or in my lab upstairs, toiling away with Carbury’s horn. Besides the holy symbols for Zakira and Opal, I used a piece of it in Zaraxus’ war scythe at the behest of Cononthoth and tainted it with death magic. Making it a magical weapon, according to Forgruna, though I was under the impression it was already magical by the account of the horn. Regardless, the healing marrow was withdrawn and put into storage while the rest of it was taken by my Doppelganger to be made into a few things. A smoking pipe, a pen, and a flute. Leaving a bit of spare material that was crafted into a pair of rings on a whim. The scraps, on the other hand, were stored to either be ground up and snorted later or used as potion ingredients with the rest of Carbury’s parts.
As for my new toys, only the pipe and pen were for me. The flute was for my future bard and the rings were for whoever. Though I had no idea what any of them even did. If anything at all.
I could ask Zook, I supposed, but figuring out for myself was far more preferable. For the flute at least. So I assumed my Wraith Form and ascended through the floors until I came upon the lounge, where I saw just the person I was aiming to see.
“I understand now!” Ritrix bounced up to me the moment she noticed my presence.
“You... understand?” I tilted my head.
“Why everyone wants to follow you.” She beamed. “I think.” She then turned away, frowning and tapping her chin before turning back to me, smiling. “At least why I want to. I’ll do it.” She wagged her small finger at me. Then her voice boomed with power. “But only under the condition that I’ll never have to be alone. I’ll join the Legio Noctis.”
“We are all your family, Ritrix.” My voice boomed through my smile. “Neither space nor time, not even death can separate us.”
Though resolute, she still seemed apprehensive as the darkness reacted to our new pact. Her eyes, vibrant and green, darted this way and that while she let out a few nervous chuckles.
“Your timing is impeccable, by the way,” I said, handing her the flute. “I recently made this. Would you like to test it?”
“Sure!”
The instrument was out of my hands before the words even left her mouth. While impressed, I was more so anxious and stepped back to sit on one of the contouring sofas stretching about the place.
The first whistle seemed to set off a grenade of strings, splaying them out to latch onto the minds of those around her with the first note. While they didn’t touch me, I could indeed see them. There were but a few. Silky threads, thrumming in the simple tune of Ritrix’s performance. Slow and elegant it was, it enthralled those around us to turn their gazes to her. Their mouths hung low and their eyes remained wide while Ritrix, lost in her own melody, spun about on the central dais in a slow dance until the notes drifted to still silence.
Being no longer stimulated, the strands soon withered away soon after, releasing the few humans and the half-orc from their charmed stupor.
“That was amazing.” I gasped. And though she bowed, Ritrix gave me an apologetic look.
“It’s nice but… not my style.” She held out the instrument with both hands.
“Because you use your voice.” I nodded affirmatively while taking the flute.
“…Yeah.” She nodded, looking at me curiously while her olive skin stretched into a belated smile.
“Comedy, right?”
“Yeah!” She smiled wider. “Are you a fan?”
“A bit.” I nodded. “But… well.” I sighed. “You’ll find out tonight.”
“Oh? O- oh, Amun!” She shied away, giggling into her hands.
"Yeah, phrasing." I turned to those around us with a sigh. “Anyway, it’s time for our lessons.”
While Ritrix shied away at the back of the group, we were joined by many others as we made our way past the first floor. Many of them mentioned how impressed they were by the library and more so by the books they found in their rooms. Though it was a bit creepy, they were copied in such an easy-to-read manner that they couldn’t help but be astonished.
Rather than talk their ears off just yet, I only thanked them for their words and guided them into the labs on the second floor. Particularly, inside an alchemical lab filled with mortar and pestles, beakers, and hot plates.
“Welcome to Brewing 101!” I grinned after taking the center. Then gestured to the arrangements prepared at each station. “You’ll find before you, fermented Amanita mushrooms and the dried heart of a magical beast. In separate bowls, you’re to grind both into a paste or powder before mixing it with three parts distilled water, and one part alcohol. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer it for twelve hours. Then strain it and let it come to room temperature before infusing it with your blood.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Therein lies the recipe for a Greater Healing Potion.” I smiled. “Now listen to me talk while you work.”
They seemed taken aback by the lecture ending in such an abrupt manner. At least until their Doppelgangers rose from the floor to assist them in the parts they missed.
After I gave them an oversimplified lecture on the four fundamental forces and how they related to my magic, I went into a semi-detailed and holographically assisted lecture on atomic and molecular science before concluding with a summarization of germs and a promise to break out the microscopes in our next class. For now, however, I left them with the thought of uncountable creatures too small to see, living among us, and let them know that, as the Bodhi Tree has done for us, textbooks were deposited in their studies for them to read later. Allowing me to move on to the most important lesson of the day.
Legion-building.
“Now, before I begin. I need everyone who hasn’t sworn in, to either do so now or leave the classroom at this time. Legion-talk is for Legionary ears only.”
To my surprise. Bazzric stood up and spat before anyone could speak. “Not here!” He turned and jerked his head in the same motion.
Alright.” I shrugged. Then followed the storming dwarf outside.
A few others followed as well. Hogaz and Elurial, standing off to the side as they wanted to speak to me next. Ash, seemingly indignant about having to leave, but standing off to the side like the aforementioned pair. And Urshure and Phelia, seemingly indifferent about it all.
“The God of War admires your talent for destruction.”
“Oh?” I turned to the rugged dwarf with raised brows.
“Aye.” He growled. “Keeps giving me the same dream. About you, creatin' shite that I find hard to believe.”
“He wants you to follow me?” I guessed.
“Seems that way.” Bazzric shrugged. “I don’t care one way or another. So long as I get to destroy, I'm good.”
“There will always be things that need destroying.” I boomed, grinning at him. “And the God of War is one of the few that I seek to get acquainted with. As are the other Marulean Gods. Dwarven included.
<
The call of her name in his native tongue was a lure that Urshure couldn’t have resisted, no matter how hard he tried.
I felt her watching him as he came over, Cononthoth. Ironically or not, it was her who he asked about the moment he stepped before me.
“Tell him this.” She growled before I could respond, giving me no choice but to prepare to play the telephone game. < < < < Bazzric, having long grown tired of the Draconic conversation, muttered some obscenities under his breath and walked off while Urshure muttered his agreement. “Good.” I shook his claw with a foul grin. “There’s much about the past that I’d like to ask of her.” “Hey, listen! I already made my choice, but I just wanna know.” The half-high orc woman paused to stomp to my front, unconsciously forcing me back a step upon realizing just how… overbearing, she was up close. “Why are you doing this?” “Because my home is the inverse of a birdcage.” I bluntly said. “Maru has legions of powerful creatures trapped beyond a single barrier. It gets breached, chaos will ensue.” “So?” She shrugged. “You’re strong enough to do it alone.” “I highly doubt that.” I snorted. “I mean, yeah, I probably could kill them all and deal with the portals. But after that?” I turned to her and Hogaz both. “I can’t ensure the cities, nations, and empires that take their place won't be worse. But what I can do, is give the right people the right tools to excel at these things in my stead.” “I see,” Hogaz muttered after a short moment. “Others have told me that you don’t care to distinguish between good and evil? Would you then, have me do things some would consider evil, despite me wanting to do good?” “Oh no.” I quickly shook my head. “The only thing I ‘make’ my subordinates do is learn, train, and teach. Everyone has a choice regarding everything else. More or less, Moonlight represents the good side of the Legion. If you want to help people and bring change to where it's needed most, go to the church to be blessed by the Moon. If you wish to fight and kill those who need killing without caring for morals, go to the temple and be graced by Twilight. I’ll be your moral compass if you need me to.” “Selflessness and selfishness then, is it?” “That's one way to put it.” “Hmm,” Hogaz grunted. “Here’s the thing. I am not that powerful.” He gestured to Elurial. “But I still wish to do something with this life. I wish to do good. It's why I came here. To gain insight into… otherworldly powers that wouldn't corrupt me. And… well, you’re a devil. You’re... otherworldly. Could you… help me with such a thing? Without… without corrupting me?” “To be candid, I’m unsure if I can make you a Warlock. That said, if I can, the chances of everyone being a warlock already would be pretty high. In any case, whether it be through enchantments, blessings, curses, or eventually runes, I’ll do everything in my power to help you. I can't make any promises about corruption, though. Such things are... fickle.” “I don’t care about being a Warlock or a good person.” Elurial spat. “I’m a Barbarian. I just want to be strong and live free.” “Then there’s no better place for you.” I smiled. After they swore in and walked off, the last two shambled toward me. Ash and Phelia. Two dissimilar beings of fire. Though they could not have been more different, their words were more or less the same. “I have nowhere else to go.” They both said. Though for Ash, that had been a constant for most of his life. He only wanted a home. Friends. Belonging. As a kindred soul, as the only half-drow half-devil in existence, I could only sympathize. But Phelia, she came here with Zarzok. So Zarzok was all she had. But now, he was with me. And though she wanted to come along with him, she had no wish to fight. “Fighting is not the only way to serve,” I told her with a gentle smile. “We are a guild of many Legions, so each Legion will have a different specialty. Some will be builders, some will be healers, some will be fighters. All will be explorers, but you are free to be what you want to be beyond that.” I nodded to her knowingly, and after accepting her pledge, followed her inside to the still-waiting candidates. “Alright.” I faced them with a sigh. “As I explained earlier, no matter your jobs or specialties or Classes or even rank, each Legionary will be paired with their Doppelganger and one undead. While they can and will fight, their primary roles are for logistics and labor respectively. They will also be involved in promotions, however. We are a meritocracy. So, to be eligible for a promotion, you must be recommended by the Doppelganger or shadow undead of someone outside of your immediate chain of command. For you all, this does not apply. You are founders, thus you have the highest station one could hope to have. Your junior subordinates, however, will be recommended by your peers among you. Don’t worry about rivalries or bickering getting in the way of you being promoted. They are unable to lie to me. “That aside, the Legio Noctis is a guild comprised of multiple, fully autonomous legions.” I began pacing. “Each legion is to essentially be its own empire, complete with a self-sufficient industry, a civilian population, their own culture, and a specific specialty. So too will that be true for the Corps created by those of you who will not command a legion. However, you will not start as such. We are building this organization from the top down, so we must work in reverse.” Pausing, I allowed a stream of Moonlight to fall from my hands and form a diagram, detailing the ranks for the living along with their benefits. “The benefits of being a founder notwithstanding, as a result of this accelerated course, you all will be promoted to Captains come our evolutions. Thus your task will be to gather individuals who will be suitable to become the staff officers for your company, including an Executive Officer, a Marshal, an Engineer, a Civil Officer, a General, a Witch, and a Wizard, plus two more individuals to lead each of your four future platoons. Once done, you and your subordinates will be promoted to Commanders and Captains respectively, allowing you all to step up the ladder each time you fill the ranks below. “In the end, the first officers you recruit will become the most senior leaders of your organization. The best of you will become Imperators- Legion Commanders. As of yet, there are five guaranteed Imperators. I aim for six more to join them by this time next year. But there is a long journey before that becomes a reality. You all will begin as Captains, and as Captains, your weekly pay will be five hundred gold. You will receive back pay in that amount after these six months are complete.” I added, causing a few choked guffaws to erupt from the crowd. “In addition to that is a personalized set of enchanted equipment and a custom vehicle, plus another tower. Not for your homes.” I gestured to our surroundings. “For your headquarters. So too will you receive land for your civilians, of course. With these things, your Doppelganger and your subordinates can recruit all throughout next year and the following year when we shadow the Nonusian guilds. And so, by the time we return to Maru, our Legions will have been fully formed.” I paused to conjure an annotated map of Hill Base, shocking the Epethians to their core. “ The Legion’s primary mission is to breach the barrier in Maru and reclaim the portals for Maruleans. They can decide what to do with them. After that, you all may retire. Or, if you wish, you may continue serving and join me as I explore Betrarth and the other realms.” “As we explore and move past distant lands, we’ll be making new Legions and leaving them in place while we press forward.” I continued, showing them the path I carved across the realms, complete with the worlds and moons floating high above the astronomical swathes of land. “The best of you will be the ones to form or head these new Legions. I imagine there being around thirty or so in the end, formed by some of you. Will their lands become places where future Legionaries come to learn of their Classes, or will they become metropolises or groves with a culture influenced by your very lives? That will be up to you to decide. Whoever that may be. “This is the road on which we march, and the first steps were taken today. As of now, it’s just us. You all and me. Students and teacher. in just a few years, however, we will number in the millions. And each of those millions will follow in these very steps we take. Like you, their first lesson will involve removing the fear of death from their hearts, ‘cause you work for me now. You die when I say you die. And even then…" I spread my arms before maniacally laughing with mana filling my voice to such an intensity that it caused the beakers to rattle atop their hotplates, and I chanted. “We do not die!” "We multiply!" Zaraxus and the Bobs stepped forth from the shadows lining the rooms, chanting as one. “We thrive!” “WE ARE LEGION!” “WE ARE NOX!”