Chapter 19 Two Worlds Collide

The Empire began to truly flourish the moment interstellar travel was discovered. Long had the noble families grown bored and even war games erupted in the northern nobility of the Empire because of no longer having any enemies to challenge. The greenskin races had been culled from the Empire lands as any sighting of them would require the lords’ local knights to do a hundred-mile sweep of the area. While the highest noble within the region would also send troops out doing a further three-hundred-mile sweep. Any greenskin found was Eradicated.

As I said however, everything changes when the fire nation attack. Errr, excuse me everything changed once the Empire discovered interstellar travel as the war games of the northern nobles slowed and every noble house raced amongst one another to have a world or several under their belts. An influx of new materials appeared within the Empire accelerating our development and creating wonders. Of course, the highest houses such as the dukes and imperial families themselves had to go a step farther by finding worlds that held more mana and essence. These worlds were able to support Sky God’s and conquering one was significantly more difficult. It is unsure if there is a third level that even Sky Gods would not be able to conquer.

* Excerpt from Survival Guide for Dummies: Interstellar Conquering Page 12.

“You smell that?” I turned and asked Amaya as we rode upon the hovering platform as it took us through the mountains with a small contingent of guards among us. While Murnia rode upon her own platform.

“Smell what?”

“Smells like freedom,” I said as watched her stared at me in confusion before I laughed it off. In truth there was a strange smell in the air that began the moment we emerged from the hidden valley. I hadn’t noticed it our first time leaving but now I could detect a faint whiff of honey and a coppery smell. Faint but my senses where strong enough to pick up on it.

“The stars shall show all truth before me.”

Exactly one week since the battle past and now it was time to see what the Last Kingdom would be offering us to not invade. Today I would be completely hands off. It was to be Amaya’s soul responsibility to handle the interactions between our forces. She had trained her entire childhood for things like this, and I would not deprive of her the chance to finally put her practice to test.

My calm demeaner remained present. Today I was dressed in a black tunic laced with red stars throughout the fabric while I wore ebony boots with the tips being a bright silver. Every piece of my clothing was enchanted with things that would keep me smelling pleasant while giving me an entrancing aura around me. A gift from my mother for occasions exactly like this one. Amaya was in a similar color theme outfit, but she wore a form fitting dress with an ivory belt around her waist. I had a similar belt on these were special spatial items that held onto our weapons. Usually, it was impossible to put an item with spatial properties into another, however there were special beast on the Nia call the Interval Gators. These gators hid within their own separate space and would emerge to consume any creature that roamed to close to the pocket they created. It was discovered that they had a great affinity for not only making spatial items but being able to merge the space of an item with their own allowing you to only have one spatial item on you if you wished.

“We’re almost there,” Amaya commented while peering off into the distance.

“No matter what route you wish to go know that you have my support,” I said once again wanting to reaffirm with my cousin. The weight of our future actions would rest in her hands. If she wished to bring war to the citizens of this kingdom then I would follow along with her.

She gazed at me steadily and our eyes locked before she gave me a nod and turned to face the land of the battle.

The area was now covered in tents and hovering close to a distance mountain was some sort of object with a round circular shape. Our platforms landed a distance off and our newly appointed knights jumped off instructing their troops to secure the area. They each received one squad of mages and another of warriors. As that sweet and coppery sent covered the field we moved forward as a small delegation came forth to greet us, Gloria amongst them.

She along with the rest of the party gave us a slight bow as we met. Her reaction to my eyes no longer apparent.

“Young Lord, General, I thank you on behalf of the Warrior Princess for coming today,” she said as she took a hesitate glance up at Moriah who stood alongside us at the front. Alexa a step behind her.

“This esteemed lady is…?”

“I am Moriah Angelo, imperial princess to the Empire and I’d very much like to meet this ‘Warrior Princess’.”

Gloria’s eyes widen as Moriah aura flared at the height of tier seven and just a step away from eight. Her golden eyes shone like the sun’s rays as she peered around.

“Why hasn’t she come out to meet us herself?” Moriah spoke once again as her gaze finally settled on Gloria.

“My lady would not allow herself to be present without her upmost respects and has taken the time to thoroughly wash herself in preparation for this meeting. Please allow me to bring you to the meeting chambers where food is prepared as well as wine.”

Moriah harrumph before gesturing forward.

I slowly pulled back trying to make myself less conspicuous as I was only here as a figurehead. Amaya step forward and I was to her right as Moriah was to her left and as we both waited on her. She smiled and Gloria looked on in confusion but led the way to the largest test in sight. It was sky blue and white and reminded me of the nice summer days I spent training with my father and aunt practicing the Kan battle arts. A smile tugged at my lips as I thought back to the day, I asked my father why we used the ax instead of the sword.

‘The ax is the most superior weapon of the common man. When a farmer or labor is called to arm there are two weapons that they would be most proficient in. The spear in which all soldiers of the dukedom and Empire use. Or the ax as it has the most basic of moves that any unskilled laborer can use.’

Perfect Recall ended as we marched through the entrance not even having to duck low as it was more than high enough to accommodate magi humans. Inside was a feast fit for royalty a sight that I had long grown used too. As the outside appeared like the morning summer sky the inside was like the setting sun with oranges and reds displayed against the fabric. There were several circular tables all filled with assorted meats from what looked like whole pigs, goats, and cows, each of these animals appeared to be the best their host had to offer, and Gloria led us to the centermost table.

Where six chairs were laid out. These Primans as I decided to call all inhabitants of this world were quite the people. By using circular tables, they made it so that there was no distinct head, and we would be sitting as equals. I took my seat as did Amaya and Moriah. Murnia stood behind me as did Sofia for Amaya and Alexa for her own lord. Another duty that my personal maid would be doing that I frowned upon, brut accepted was to taste test any meal before it grazed my lips. Our newly knighted stood against the close side of the tent along with five other members each chosen to be our honor guards a total of fifteen each. The rest of their squads stationed outside.

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Just as we were seated two more figures walked in and Gloria rose to greet them.

“General, Young Lord, Princess Moriah I would like to introduce you to General Irvon and the Warrior Princess Karla Artis.”

I took note of how Gloria had switched the arrangement of addressing us while proclaiming loud enough for her liege to hear. Her eyes went from being directed at me to Amaya who stood first. I followed at once never speaking only being present. I was sure whatever plans the Primans had developed in their week time to prepare were solely based off of me and now what I did with my actions had thrown a wrench into their plans.

“Greetings Princess Karla and General Irvon. I am the Crimson General Amaya Kan; this is my cousin Young Lord Aegis Kan and Princess Moriah Angelo.”

As Amaya spoked, I took a quick glance in Moriah’s direction. Her eyes had never left this Warrior Princess the moment she entered, and I chuckled internally in amusement. I could see the clear provocation that came from the title the people of the land had given their liege. I just hoped whatever Moriah had in mind would wait until we settle the negotiations. The princess and general gave out a slight bow not low enough to establish subservience but enough to show a respect to our stations. Even if the title Young Lord was vague, I’m sure whatever report Gloria and the count turned in would have every detail of our previous interactions recorded.

“It is my pleasure to be able to host ones esteemed such as yourselves,” Karla Artis said while bowing. She was dressed in a royal blue gown that matched her eyes. Woven throughout the gown was tiny figures on ships pointing to a bright star. General Irvon was draped in a cool blue garb with various medals donned upon his chest. Showing off various achievements that he received throughout his service.

We sat as Amaya sat and the food began to be served. The first was a prime slab of meet cut from some of the various cattle they had on display around the room. I dug into the food only after Amaya had taken her first bite after her personal maid and mine had taken a taste of course. As we ate Karla, and her party began to make small talk asking us various questions about our home and its inhabitants and how it’s like to live on Nia in general. Amaya and I only happy to tell small tales of our childhood and things about the Empire. Harmless things that would have no repercussions in the negotiations to come. The entire time Moriah’s eyes never left from Karla’s. If the young woman was growing uncomfortable from her stare, I haven’t noticed, but I what I did notice was General Irvon’s and Gloria’s eyes flick to Moriah for the briefest of moments every now and then their grips tightening around their silver utensils. I could at least tell they were growing uneasy as the oldest princess of my Empire stared at their leader.

“Why do they call you the Warrior Princess,” Moriah suddenly asked.

I smiled knowing it was only a matter of time. All the tropes in my previous life pointed to one thing as I grew to understand Moriah since she appeared on that faithful day at Aurora. She was a battle junky and our fight and the pleasure in her eyes and body at the time only reinforced that notion.

Gloria flashed a quick glance, and her hand tapped the table so quick that one would have missed it if they were not paying attention. Amaya eyes had turned to Moriah a silent plea that would go unanswered. While this entire time I had focused on the three before me. So, I caught as Karla’s eyes for the briefest of moments flicked to the message. I laughed, I would step in just to see how this played out.

“I assume, Princess Moriah, it is the same reason they call me the Young Lord.”

Amaya’s head snapped to my direction, and I only communicated with my eyes knowing Amaya would receive her answer from them. It had come to my attention that the watch dogs under the employ of the princess were sniffing a bit too close to me and mine.

For the first time since we entered this tent Moriah’s eyes left Karla and looked to my own a slight surprised look within them as she gazed at me, and my eyes left the Primans and turned a quick glance at Alexa before returning Moriah’s gaze. Nobles and their games, but these games were effective as realization dawned in Moriah’s eyes before the briefest of nods was sent in my direction. Her watch dogs should be sniffing a bit less hard now and I finished what I was going to say.

“They call her the Warrior Princess because they acknowledge her as so. Just as my men call me the Young Lord as I have undergone trials and tribulations to be acknowledge as such.”

The food all but forgotten as red eyed servants move to take them away. A scent of honey and copper drifted to my nose as the tent flapped opened.

“It is as you said Young Lord Aegis Kan. I am called the Warrior Princess as a testament to my strength on the battlefield fighting against the dark hordes of the Nox.”

At once my demeanor changed at the mention of the Nox. The creatures that haunted my dreams in the months before my world was changed forever.

“Well, there is your answer Princess Moriah,” I said while turning to the white and gold haired young woman.

“An answer that is… satisfactory,” Moriah said, and I realized a ‘but’ was coming.

“Yet I still wish to test the claims of this title of course after negotiations are done,” Moriah said now looking at Amaya her own golden eyes drawn steady and measured.

The all but silent General Irvon chose this time to speak.

“You say that you are not from this world and yet I do not doubt that as even in our older records we have never had any mention of an eight-foot-tall human. How is it that you came to find yourself on our world?”

“We came from the stars by a heart-shaped ship. Landing a few months ago and only showing our presences now,” Amaya stated.

“Now… after I assumed you’ve made sufficient preparations to attack us.”

Amaya’s response was a pleasant smile. Locking eyes with the general before speaking. “Are we not here to negotiate the Last Kingdom coming underneath the wing of our dukedom,” she responded as she gestured towards me. It was here another voice chose to interrupt.

“So, you are the fallen meteor my people and the counts set out to find.”

I looked towards Gloria now knowing the reason for her interference as everything came full circle.

“I think we’ve long since passed that point as my cousin stated. Now is the time to negotiate why we shouldn’t join the Nox in waging war upon this ‘Last Kingdom’.” My eyes turned to the only person who truly mattered between the Primans.

Karla returned the gaze head held high.

“Because the Nox pose a danger to any free-thinking lifeform on this planet and my God Arlo has pointed that the only hope for my people to have a chance of survival was located within the Endless Mountains.”

“These Nox keep getting mentioned yet you talk about them as if you expect us to know who they are. Tell us of them Warrior Princess,” Moriah said undermining the atmosphere Amaya and I had worked to keep stable.

“Princess Moriah, I will say this once and once only. Though you may have paid a fair price my aunt and uncle deem worthy to be allowed onto our expedition. That’s all it was. The price to be allowed to join us.”

The rest was left unsaid, but I recognized the underlying threat that Amaya said. Enough was enough. They held gazes for a brief but tense moment before Moriah looked away sitting back in her chair.

“Tell us of these Nox,” Amaya said her golden eyes and red hair seemed to intensify and shine as a dominating air seemed to take place around her. Something had changed and I wondered exactly what it was. She had a new air around her and I it took me a few seconds to place what it was my mind working in relations to the system attached to my soul. The effect was similar to the aura that surrounded me. Amaya had gained a title.

The Warrior Princess took in a deep breath and began to tell us of how the Nox came to her world back when it wasn’t the Last Kingdom but the Artis Empire. As she talked, we listened, and all my attention was focused on absorbing whatever details I could.

“The Nox are a parasite. At least from what our mages have inferred. It is very hard to capture one alive and restrain them in any manner as they aren’t only a parasite to the body but the very soul. They first came to the continent in a time of strife when a civil war was erupting between our race, the daemons, and the various beast tribes.”

I perked up in interest at the mention of the two new races.

“Both used to be… subservient to the Artis Empire before its fall but after the Nox struck a terrible blow the Empire broke apart and the Last Kingdom was formed. The three nations would constantly war against one another and the Nox. The Nox who were rebuilding their strength after their forces suffered a great blow. Now a few centuries later they’re strong enough to finish the job they started.”

“They struck a crippling blow against my father who even now has yet to wake. They took my brothers and I know not of their fates all while their High Queen uses my mother’s body as a home.”

Gloria waved and a few servants that were along the wall brought us refreshments. One a young lady with striking red eyes met my own and hesitated before placing a wine glass in front of me.

“What striking red eyes you have.”

The hand that was reaching down to place the red wine paused. Karla who had never finished speaking and telling her story paused as well as General Irvon and Gloria. All turned to look at me then the servant girl.

“The people of the Last Kingdom only have blue or brown eyes. I’ve only seen red eyes on the battlefields against the Nox and that girl has brown eyes.”

The Warrior Princess said to me while looking in confusion.

For a moment the entire room stood still, but for just a moment, as in the same instant all my instincts SCREAMED.