Chapter 35: Artress

The earth shook and the sky flashed red. A few seconds passed then the sound and aftershock came blowing various figures back. Gloria looked on in shock and partial horror. This type of power was only available to mages who had to reach the peak of their power yet… yet a boy young enough to be her grandson wielded this power. For Gloria to be able to create this type of destruction by herself would be a massive endeavor. She was strong, one of the strongest in this world, and could probably destroy an entire city by herself through several hours of effort. Yet what Aegis Kan did only took several minutes and a single person.

Gloria thought Karla was a genius. She was the youngest tier 8 in the history of their continent and perhaps the world but now. Now Gloria’s eyes opened to something new. Now she could see why her lady was so adamant about not dealing with their new invaders and working with them as much as possible. During the week Gloria had spied on as much as the nobles of this mysterious Empire would allow her. What she either found out or came to the conclusions of terrified her.

Somehow these nobles could both be a mage and knights at the same time. This allowed them to wield vast amounts of power. Not only that but the magic of the Young Lord was something else. Gloria had never seen a man go from complete helplessness and weakness to their opponents to the opposite in record time. She’d seen plenty of warriors create opportunities for themselves in tough situations but never overturn the game board the way Aegis Kan did. Those opportunities happen to become available through unique situations from the terrain or a change in the opponent amongst other things.

Now as she watches the Lorina Forest turn into ash a new level of respect and perhaps fear entered her heart as she gazed at the Young Lord. Now she could see why he was so confident in capturing their kingdom with such a little force. Two or three of those dropped on a city and the nobility in the area would surrender.

It was one thing fighting Nox or an enemy in front of you. it was another if Aegis decided to do hit and run tactics and drop a meteor on a large population. For the Young Lord to do it single-handedly without the aid of a group of mages was an entirely different thing. That was one man who wielded that type of power. Gloria glanced at the nobles she learned to be the ten great families from the territory of the Young Lord. If they all could do something like he did… Gloria left the thought as it was. These were her new allies and not enemies.

Her allies and not enemies.

*

“The long answer?”

It was now night and we sat of various furs around a large bonfire away from the destruction that was caused by my spell |Falling Star|. My arm was still fixed as healers from the forces of the great families tended to me and Judd Lance earlier. Now we were eating underneath the stars and I figured what better time to hash out all our problems before we arrived at Artress. The forces of the northern part of the Last Kingdom were already mustering now that their nobles were free.

I looked around six women and four men. All in various attire and eating an assortment of food.

“Can’t this wait until we finish eating?”

Aisha rolled her soft green eyes at me before going back to nibbling on her fruit. I pondered a bit. I knew of the ten great families and how their founders traveled alongside Apollo Kan in various journeys to free the people of the Empire and stop Eradication. What I didn’t know was how close our families were in actuality.

I’ve grown to a very secluded sort of lifestyle. I know that various families run several parts of the dukedom but the only other family I’ve met and grown close to was Amaya. My immediate family has been very selective with my interactions. Something that was becoming very obvious. I hadn’t noticed as a child my days filled with learning how to be a better fighter and what the history of the Empire was. I hope things would change once I was acknowledged fully as the heir to the west dukedom.

“No, this can wait no longer,” my face was set, my eyes serious to show Aisha I wasn’t playing.

“What was this game you’ve all cooked up. Granted my actions and interactions with scions of the great families such as yourselves have not all been positive. Perhaps my greatest grandfather Apollo had a special interaction with the original members of your families, but I have not.”

“So do forgive me if I insist on having a long answer.”

I said while looking around at the silent ten scions and next heads of the great families of the west. Each wielded considerable power but in front of me, they sat quiet and staring.

I looked to Bella, taking note of Judd Lance’s shifting position. Surprisingly it wasn’t Bella who spoke first but Koama Lionheart.

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“Bella told you the simple answer so I will give you the long one. Over 1200 years ago our ancestors met one by one with yours. These meetings changed the fate of humanity and the Empire itself.”

“Charric Lionheart saved Apollo Kan’s life during his fabled descent into the Catacombs. Back when it wasn’t partially patrolled lands, and the Empire hadn’t built mining cities. Back when it was completely savage lands belonging to beast and beast alone. They formed a bond then and became sworn siblings of sorts.”

“Justice Lance saved the both of them,” Koama nodded in Judd’s direction.

“When they met the wild elves from the Forest of Death far underneath the ground as they were lost on their journey to Redcoomshi.”

So on and so forth Koama mentioned the ancestors of each of the great families and how they were tied to Apollo the man I grew up hearing stories of and seeing his mural back home at the castle. From what I gathered he was the reason for these trials in the first place because his descendants wanted to be just like him. A Hero.

Well, I was no hero. I’m only a man on sent a mission by some being. Was [Beyond] a god, or just some superpowered being, and what was the system?

“When Eradication ended, and Apollo Kan cut the head from Radix Doom and was given the lands that would become the west of the Empire. He made sure that the members of the Ten would always prosper and our families agreed to always look out for one another. Your father grew up with my own and the rest of their parents.” Koama said gesturing to the others

“I don’t know what made the change but as we all grew close to one another as children you were never there. The only time we saw you was for birthday’s and even then, you only interacted with Judd and Bella really.”

I don’t know why but the day I received Crimson Twilight came to memory. I remembered the proud look in his eyes but suddenly my head ached in pain and another vision of my father overlapped with that one. In this one, he had a look of expectation. The ache went away quickly, and I returned my attention to the speaking Koama.

“So Young Lord Aegis Kan I’d like an explanation. What made you stay away from us. What reason did you reject the sons and daughters of nobility who wanted to join your force? You are the idol of the west, you know?”

***

The city of Artress was much more of a giant fortress than a city. At least for its outside appearance with giant walls and a large moat diverted from a river that flowed around it. Thousands of troops surrounded the city as the entire kingdom mustered its forces. I passed so many young faces they all began to blur together. Kids younger than me were equipped with cheap equipment that could barely protect them from a scratch. We were swiftly escorted into the city by Gloria where I was reunited with my cousin. Once I collected the ten great families the journey to Artress was swift as I pushed the forces behind me hard. Only stopping for lunch in the few days it took us to get here.

What surprised me was the level of dedication Princess Karla had in getting every one of her soldiers inducted into the system. Outside of Artress long lines of men and women were erected at the monoliths. With about ten to fifteen becoming inducted together at once.

Quickly I was ushered into what was a large war room packed with different figures. Behind me were the ten great families each with the second in command of their force. The room was loud and rowdy, but the atmosphere changed the moment we stepped in. My eyes searched around until I found Amaya and I made my way through the room not bothering with the nobles of the Last Kingdom. Against the wall were my newly promoted knights. She was hunched over a map with Princess Karla, my cousin Makanui and two other magi-humans pointing at various regions of what I could only assume to be the front lines.

“It seems West Bandit arrived right on time. Greetings Princess Karla.” Both young women looked up at the sound of my voice Amaya smiling and Karla as well the moment she saw Gloria next to me.

“I trust you’ve resolved your issues with our allies?” Amaya asked the warm smile still on her face as she glanced towards the magi-humans behind me.

The conversations we had flashed in my mind as I answered.

“We’ve solved the major issue between us. These are…?”

I let the question hang gesturing at the two now nervous magi-humans as they turned to look at me.

“Loani and Rang from house Holbot and Ousta respectively both third in line for succession. Both have been trained by their families to be commanders and both have attended the War College of Cortina. Both have also received aspects related to commanding and strengthening themselves and their troops.

The two bowed low at the mention of their names and backgrounds and I gave a nod in acknowledgment. My attention is now drawn to the table I recognized as the magical device we once used to view the Last Kingdom.

“Everywhere the sand has turned black is lost to the Nox. We were just discussing the influx of refugees to Fort Carrano. The closest fort to the frontlines and where the Crimson Army will be headed.”

“Are you sure they’re ready?” I was talking about the Crimson Army. What we would be facing soon would forever change the lives of many of my troops. They already tasted battle but now they would have a full course of war. I wasn’t even sure if I was ready. I was more than confident in my strength and my ability to stay alive. The shield shape necklaces were a constant reminder of the protection I would have while it also pulled the vision of me in the Endless Mountains surrounded by Nox.

“Star God will protect us and if we should fall our souls will go to their divined realm.”

My cousin suddenly spoke, and I was reminded of the mission given to me by said god. I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone other than Amaya, but the way Makanui looked at me as he spoke reminded me of the mission assigned to me by the god. The mission I had no plans on completing. I had concluded that my soul already belonged to another. The churches of Rirrypha and Arva were enough on my plate. Already their priest and priestesses were testing the waters looking for an opportunity to bring the word of their goddess here. They were amongst the first to all receive an aspect once the monoliths went public.

The conversation returned to planning. By tomorrow we would be headed for Fort Carrano.