Chapter 7: Internal Strife
I carefully read over the document of the report sent my way by Princess Moriah. Her hounds successfully used mind magic to learn the common language of the region as well as capturing a spy that happen to ‘trail’ the Watcher. I didn’t believe the top spy force of the Empire could be spotted so easily. Right now, they were in the process of extracting information from the young man. I knew it would not be long before another report would be laid out on my desk.
I rubbed the bridge of my temple and the headache that attempted to form was quickly dispersed by my various abilities. Was it weird that I wish I could have a headache? Small things like that had completely disappeared from my daily life and I was almost always ready to go. I didn’t need more than four hours of sleep per few days, but I had made sure to properly rest every night even if my body stopped feeling the effects of exhaustion physically or mentally. It was a humanthing to do. I did not want to lose touch with my humanity.
Looking back at it now. I believe that is a vital part of ascending through the tiers. Holding onto what makes you human as your body and mind is morphing into something further. Currently I’m on the verge of breaking through into tier five for Path of the Mind and a secondary ability of auras will become unlocked with this advancement. So far, my aura allowed me to sense and touch things within a certain radius around me. With my mind expanding I would now be able to use my aura to see as if it was with my own eyes. It was like my very being was expanding. So far, my aura could expand upwards of thirty feet but would begin to drastically increase as I became stronger. It was time for me to start contemplating what it meant to be a Land God.
A hurried knock was heard at my door and Amaya burst through it not a second after.
“The nobles have finally made their move.”
“See I told you they were going to do something.”
“I don’t understand how you know all these things,” Amaya grumbled as she removed a few gold pieces from her spatial bag and handed it over.
Money meant nothing to the both of us, but it was the gestured of the bet that mattered. During one of our many trainings as Amaya would fire off spell after spell getting used to her new aspects and their benefits, I noticed several different pairs of eyes always looking in our direction. Most came from the nobility. A few of the Watchers snooped around and Princess Moriah eyes landed on me, but the most concerning pair of eyes came from a priestess within one of the two churches that came along with me.
I felt a hunger from them, but I could not pinpoint the exact whereabouts.
“So… which one was it?”
“Option B just like you said it would be. How do you know these things.”
“Ku, ku, ku, I am West Bandit. The greatest villain mastermind in all of the dukedom.”
Amaya rolled her eyes at me before we made eye contact, and we both burst out laughing.
“Option B huh. What was that one again?” I asked while stroking my budding facial hair.
Once again rolling her eyes Amaya began to speak. “You just want to hear me say you were right. Fine I’ll stroke your ego a bit.
Option B was running into one of the groups that already received an aspect. By causing some sort of minor problem in terms of not showing the proper respect granted for one of our station.”
I nodded my head while grinning. I could tell someone would act up eventually. My military police informed me of the meetings between the ten great families of the western nobles. I immediately knew something was up. It was just over a month since we landed on Prima, and nobody had yet to make a move which I found suspicious. I was the leader of the expedition yes, but I did not know how strong the troops brought by the ten great families would be. If your strength was under that of a Land God, you could effectively stow away on my ship and make it into the world. The barrier would reject any beyond the limits of its inhabitants. You would think that having a bunch of tier nines on the verge of breaking through come into a new world an conquer it would be the best way to achieve my goal. False. It can take several years for the world to accept you as one of its inhabitants. In Survival Guide for Dummies: Interstellar Conquering on page 27 it is stated that these types of attempts have been done by the empire and all led to the attempters being kicked off world immediately.
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“Well let’s go see who caused problems this quickly.”
Getting up from my red chair I head out with Amaya beside me walking with a pep in her step. I think she was more excited than me for the events to unfold as we had more bets on the line. Yesterday she proposed a heavily modified geas to me that could allow the various noble families in her small army to properly join mine. Families with long traditions of leading and knighthoods. I was still considering it, but Amaya was my family and knew me all too well. Since my return from the catacombs barely a day had gone by since we did not see one another. I think she was worried my father would ship me off without her knowledge again.
Shouting came from down the road close to the large building that was to be the HQ of my military operations. Humans and Magi Humans alike moved out of the way as they spotted Amaya and I. The loud volume that had been previously discussing the ongoing event grew quiet as we approached.
I drew near and saw Ronwick on the ground mouth bloodied as he kneeled over an unconscious Rouge. A vein appeared in my forehead, and I began to grow angry. Only for a soft green glow to come from my wrist. The Slight Hands were the first of my followers and I spotted Murnia arguing with a noble who held a whip in his hands. I watched as she held onto the weapon, and he tossed her away striking her in the process. My anger only growing as the soft light grew brighter. Just as he raised his hands to strike her again my own ended around his wrist.
“WHO,” he turned shouting in indignation. Only to freeze eyes wide as Amaya spell took effect. She calmly grabbed my wrist and pulled me back as flames began to lick the outside of my clothing.
“Calm down, they are watching…” Amaya whispered to me.
The glow began to fade, but the anger remained as the flames dispersed. My mind was clear but if not for Amaya I would have struck at the man.
“|Release|.”
The man’s body grew reanimated, and Amaya began speaking. While I bent down to help Murnia up.
“What happened,” I asked while looking over her making sure she was fine. She was not as a purple bruise was developing upon her face. Murnia was basically a sister to me. For a second, I lost control and not even the Bracelet of the Forever Hero or any other of my abilities could hold me back. My aura expanded and my mind broke through into the next level. A field of suppression was extended, and a few mortals collapsed to their knees. Comprehension was a funny thing. It was how I moved so quickly through the Path of the Mind. I had comprehension from the sciences from my previous world, so I understood how to cast a fire ball better because I knew what fire truly was or I could move the earth easier. I knew that the dark was just the absence of light and various ways to generate electricity. Right now, what I comprehended was Murphy’s Law.
“I should have known you’d be testing my patience.” My voice rang out over the entire unnamed city amplified by magic.
Amaya quickly turned my way wide eyed as my aura surrounded everyone and thing within a fifty-foot radius. A red spell construct appeared in the air. Something that I was working on since my first steps into the realm of magic.
“Five different circles. You’ve broken through Young Lord,” Murnia said to me with a smile, but I was no longer looking at her.
Control… control… my mind seems to whisper.
“Let this be a demonstration of my power. Do not test me once again,” I said as I pointed the spell towards one of the farthest mountains out of the valley.
“AEGIS NO,” Amaya shouted but it was already too late.
For a few moments nothing happened. Then a minute passed and another as people began to grow restless. Then the shouting and pointing began as a single meteor flew from the upper atmosphere and impacted the mountain.
The wind hit us first blowing through the city and sending the unwary stumbling. Then the roar from the explosion came and I watched as a small mushroom cloud rose almost to the mountain peak.
I looked back towards the noble who cause the incident I knew he was only a pawn, but I did know for who exactly. So, I address all of them my voice once again ringing throughout the city.
“I am Aegis Kan, Young Lord, and leader of this expedition. Let it be known that that is only a small taste of my power. Do not test me nor my men as you hold no jurisdiction here.”
As I spoke my eyes went to all the visible nobles one after the other.
“Call for Ivy and her squad to provide healing.”
One of the various military police saluted me before taking off towards the area of the city the mages were residing in.
Princess Moriah appeared and for a moment I could see a hunger a desire in her eyes as she stared at me.
“Aegis,” she said with a nod and smile and came to stand next to me. While she began to make small talk. Her eyes never once left the mushroom cloud. She had made her stance on the matter clear, and this was her projecting her voice to all the others. They would not have her support.
Indirect battles were the game of the high nobility. One that I truly did not care to join in. Power should be enough.
“How about a friendly spar between us Aegis? I’d love to actually test myself against someone of my own level. Back in the capital Empress Mother never truly let me fight.”
“Moriah, I don’t think it would be proper of one of our station to truly let loose like that. Think of the terrain. The farmers have already complained we’ve taken up good space because of the various training grounds provided between the forces.”
“Nonsense what are earth mages good for if not fixing the land? I insist.”
I wanted to roll my eyes but since she made her stance so clear I would give her the spar she asked for.
“Tomorrow eve just before dinner. How about we give out a demonstration of what it means to rise upon the tiers.”
“Excellent,” she said while turning.
If she didn’t, I would have seen the manic grin that plastered her face.