Leomi brings the long rectangular case containing my gear and puts it down on the table. It looks like a single piece with runes carved all over it. I trail my fingers along these written flow segments to activate them one by one.
The seal is slowly released, causing a gap to appear in the wood. I open the case to reveal our dagger as well as my liangi, mask, sleeve-glove, and Vuskyt chain-mail. Our heart stirs at the sight. Leomi brings out an all-black set of hard leather armor reinforced with steel bands that she places inside before I close it.
“I meant to give it to you to replace the one you're wearing but Liz may as well use it.” She speaks up. I smile in thanks.
“I'll dress up back at the barracks, Jessica Freepath will be said to live there.” I tell Leomi.
“You'll have to show once in a while, people may get suspicious otherwise.” She suggests.
“I will.” I say with a nod. “Let's go.”
“Give me a moment.” Lance replies.
She throws off her dress to reveal her bare body, to tease me with it as she slowly dresses up in a simply set of white clothes. She then puts on a gambeson and chain-mail.
“You plan to go out yourself?” I ask.
“I do.” She calmly replies.
I prepare to protest, a dozen excuses popping to my mind like that it'll be dangerous to get involved or that she doesn't have enough flow right now but I quickly realize those are all things she kept herself from saying to me.
“We're meant to be at odds.” I note.
“And I look forward to battling you again.” Leomi says with a grin as she walks into a closet.
It takes her a long while but she comes out in full plate. I admire the shining figure and feel the stir as well to fight her. I grab my liangi's case and fit it on my back. We then each grab one handle of the symbiont's chest and pick it up.
We make our way out of the Imperia Hotel like this to find Kruzser almost empty. There shouldn't be many people out at night but still more than this. Not to mention those still on the streets are tense and fast-walking to their destination.
The imperial patrols are just as numerous as they were during the day which is a reaction to the day's events at the inn. Sadly, the capital lost the relaxed atmosphere it held these past couple of days.
She leads me to a block with long one floor buildings a few streets away where we find squads of Hospitaliers sitting at the crossings to stand guard. They salute us as we pass by.
“How can you afford all this?” I ask Leomi.
“Some barracks are on loan from Telnur.” She replies. “As for the gold to fund the rest, it came from private donations and gold seized from Noble houses.”
Lance leads me to a blue building with two stories at the far end of the barracks. Inside are low-ranking officers going in and out acting as messengers and a few Justiciers standing guard with their hammer's heads resting on the floor.
“You sent Teva and Yvonne here?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “Bit obvious, no?”
“They will be safest here.” She replies. “I store most of the flow I regenerate in the basement.”
I catch sight of Uhla and Nahl as we make our way to the second floor, I assume Idali resides here as well although it's likely she went out for drinks. Leomi leads me to a vestibule with two fortified doors leading in and out of a small apartment.
Inside is Yvonne sleeping on a bed with Rowland by her side and the golden jay sitting on her head. Teva is standing silently and awkwardly in a corner. We store the symbiont's chest in a closet that we lock with chains.
“Is Grace here?” I ask.
“No, she's likely in Telnur right now.” Leomi tells me as I prepare to change. “But I'll still need to justify my call for action to one of her Justiciers, I could use you.”
“Sure, give me a moment though.” I reply.
I take off my pouch, weapons, and armor to store them under Yvonne's bed. The reason is to make sure my writings aren't found as they're about as sensitive as the symbiont.
They're mostly innocuous, apart from a few, taken separately but together my treaties form both a blueprint as well as a call for revolt. I put the gear there because it could be of use if things go wrong.
“Use my armor if you need to.” I tell Teva.
“I really hope I won't.” She mumbles. “How long do I have to stay cooped up here?”
“I don't know, a day, a week, probably more.” I respond apologetically. “It should be fine to go out with friends or take classes with a small escort but you have to come back here for the night. Don't worry, Yvonne is good company.” And she will likely need people around her when she wakes.
“Be safe, okay?” She requests with a timid smile.
I wink at her and leave with Lance. We enter an office where a Justicier sits at a desk with parchments stacked upon it and a burning candle. Leomi remains standing in front of him and waits for the man to raise his head. Once he does, she explains the attempted assassination of Yvonne Shipwold and the surrounding slaughter.
“I'm going to call upon a regiment to arrest Duchess Roskal for an attack on one of the beings under Hospitalier protection.” Lance speaks up. “As established by the charter, I am duty-bound to protect the lives and well-being of those the Hospitaliers are sworn to defend. Additionally, Duchess Roskal's actions have brought direct harm to innocent civilians so I believe now is the time to make public the proclamation I've presented to Chief Justicier Grace.”
“Do you believe or have proof that the threat is persistent?” The man asks with a formal tone.
“I believe the three successive attacks on us, twice in Izla Meria and once in Kruzser, are sufficient to be considered proof there will be a fourth.” Leomi replies.
“I agree.” The man nods. “This situation is included in the contingencies left behind by the Chief Justicier so, by the powers granted to me, I allow you to deploy the troops you believe necessary to curb this threat to those under our protection as well as act to preserve civilian lives.” The man declares. “To help justify this action to the public, I will agree to let you make public the treaty you've submitted.”
“What treaty?” I ask.
“This one.” The man replies as he opens a drawer to give Leomi a roll of parchment.
I snatch it out of his hands, causing the man to frown but Leomi raises her hand to appease him. I unroll the treaty and place it under the candlelight. The writing is most definitely Leomi's. Some sentences and words were erased with flow to be rewritten, showing she worked hard on it despite the short length of the text.
'Every sapient being has a Lake-given right to self-liberation so as to pursue personal freedom and fulfillment. As such, one's escape from slavery, indentured servitude, or prison cannot be considered a crime. Consequently, cruel treatment towards another sapient being can be considered a criminal act of violence.'
I stand stunned by this treaty which so resembles the contents in some of my own. It is even more surprising because this is to involve the entire Hospitalier organization and will put Leomi at odds with a large portion of the Empire, including large swathes of bourgeoisie which enjoys flourishing businesses because of crime-slave labor.
“You're going to start a civil war with this.” I note, swallowing my saliva.
“No, this isn't binding.” Leomi replies. “Not yet at least.”
“...” I think quickly. “You want to spread this idea out, and act on it, to sound out whether it'll gain you enough allies to successfully implement it where you can.”
“Yes.” Leomi agrees with a big smile.
“Nobility will never go for this.” I contest with a frown.
“It will, I've spoken to dozens of titled Nobles and a few houses who share the belief this is something their Kingdom needs. These people have given us entry to five of the six Kingdoms while the Redreef rebels grant me the last. With these enclaves as examples, the ideology will flourish.” Leomi says, stunning me again. “Can you think of changes to make to it?”
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“Dame Freepath has not the official capacity to do so.” The Justicier intervenes. “And any alteration would once again require the Chief Justicier's approval.”
“I'm aware but we can send a messenger to get it. We can publish this after taking action.” Leomi argues.
“I think this is simple but precise enough.” I speak up. “Complicating it wouldn't work if the goal is for it to spread out, you can refine the specifics once you make this Law.”
“I thought the same.” Leomi nods with a sharp corner smile.
I feel my heart thump at the sight and put the treaty down on the desk to grab her by the arm-guard. She grins and leads me back to the apartment where Yvonne sleeps to take me in a different room.
She takes off her gauntlets to help me shed my hard leather armor and clothes in record time. Leomi then kisses me and uses her heavy plate armor to push me back against a wall.
I mellow into the kiss and hold onto the back of her head to push her pulpy lips against mine while she seizes my breast with her left hand. Her lithe right hand trails down my flank and goes around my thigh to reach my sex.
Lance's cool long fingers penetrate me without difficulty and she pushes the entirety of them inside. This gesture is meant to be romantic rather than sexual for us but Teva is the one who made me wet so I feel guilty.
“It's okay, my jay, I could tell she got you going.” Lance whispers, her lips brushing along mine. “What matters is that you feel me inside you and know it is all mine so you do not let yourself be hurt tonight or any other.”
“I love you, kitten.” I reply as a grin blossoms on my lips. “Don't get hurt either, I have enough avenging to do.”
“But this.” She says as her left hand slides from my breast to the scar where a right one should be. “This heart I wish never to be in pain.”
“It's fickle, but it tries its best.” I tell her with a gentle voice.
“On the contrary, it is too stubborn.” Leomi denies with a sigh. “Although that has benefited me more than any other.” She adds mysteriously. She doesn't give me any time to ponder her words before dropping an explosive question. “What is it about that redhead you like so much? These breasts? The fact she's as sm... tall as you?”
“Definitely not the breasts, although they're nice.” I reply teasingly but it causes Leomi to clench her hand, gripping at my pussy from inside and outside. “Ihum.” I let out a gasping moan from the fleeting pleasure this pressure grants me but quickly recover as she does no more. “Cut it out, kitten. I like her because she's the brightest and nicest woman I know.”
“Ah, I get it.” Leomi says as she pecks my lips with only slight jealousy to her traits. “She's your Yvonne.”
“Good comparison but I've had a few Yvonnes in my life now, including the woman herself.” I remark with a smile.
“Do you want it?” Lance asks plainly. “I do.”
“So do I, but blood is what I'm spilling tonight. I don't want to spoil a good time.” I explain.
“Makes me wonder which of the two you consider is being spoiled.” My fiancee remarks. I let the joke pass because I feel her pull her fingers out of my sex and have little choice but focus on that debilitating sensation. She then licks them with a delighted expression.
“Do you have a change of black clothes?” I ask.
“I do but they're not your size.” Leomi replies absently while eating up my naked body with her silvery gaze.
“Right, you're freakishly tall.” I note, blushing a touch. “It's fine, I'll go bare.”
I notice Leomi shiver a touch and smile in satisfaction because it must be torment for her to hold back right now. I open my liangi's case and fit on my sleeve-glove before putting on the hard black leather armor with her help.
Then, I throw the intricate Vuskyt chain-mail on my shoulders and settle my mask over my face. I anchor a framework of hardened air to my sleeve-glove to give it a shape I will then control with unstructured energy when needed.
I take out my liangi to inspect it for a short while with a desire to wield this highly skillful weapon to slaughter my way to Roskal. I make it spin a bit and then slash down before myself, making the other end of the weapon swing upward behind and to my right.
“How do you feel?” Leomi asks.
“Calm, the kind before storm.” Liz replies.
“Keep in mind I'll arrive fifteen to twenty minutes after you do so don't force it.” She mentions.
“How harsh shall I make our feud?” I question.
“Don't hurt anyone too bad.” She responds with a concerned scowl.
“You can handle a broken bone or twelve.” My sister says jokingly.
“As if you could.” Lance rolls her eyes.
“We'll see.” I chuckle. “I'm going.”
“Not yet, I need to take care of that hair. Turn around.” My fiancee commands.
I sigh and do so. She takes out a red ribbon that she uses to bind my rebellious hair and leaves it hanging on my back. Then, Leomi takes out a glove that she fits over my right hand.
“Right, my ring.” I realize bashfully.
“I'm a bit annoyed you forgot but oddly happy it's such a part of you it doesn't bear thought anymore.” She comments. “You didn't keep those boots with high soles?” She asks.
“We're wearing them.” Liz scoffs while I freeze. “I told her I was taller but she didn't believe me.”
“She's mistaken because I'm so naturally tall.” I contest.
“That doesn't make any sense, my jay.” Leomi replies gently.
“It does when you consider I'm the tallest one.” Liz gladly boasts.
“That doesn't either, Liz.” My fiancee sighs. “Enough arguing, you're the perfect size.” She tells us.
I scowl but also smile, torn because she returned our comment about her perfect breasts which is nice but also an issue because they're tiny, really tiny. And cute, soft, firm, perfect... I shake my head to recover focus.
“How do you plan to leave?” She asks.
“It's night, I'll fly up and out. No one will spot me.” I tell her.
“Take this too, then.” Leomi says.
She hands over the last hundred portions of her reserve, bringing the total I'm carrying over four hundred. I disperse the energy into my various runic constructs and add an expansive defensive construct to my new hard leather armor.
“Don't exert yourself too much.” Leomi repeats her plea as she raises my mask to kiss my cheek.
“I won't have to, they won't know what hit them.” I reply with an E.Vil smirk that makes my lover shudder in a good way. “Where is Roskal?”
“In a manor to the west not far from the gate, it has a large garden and is surrounded by a steel fence.” Lance replies with a touch of hesitation. “You'll see a couple statues at the entrance and a flag with the King's crest.”
Jess kisses her left hand above the ring but under the bracelet and puts my mask back over my face. My sister then walks up to the window and fades back into herself while I reach to the forefront. I flick the liangi into my new left hand and close it with a thought.
“I'll be back by morning.” I tell my kitten.
I open the flaps and create kinetic force that I use to launch myself into the sky, hardening air to sustain my flight. I arrive in the west of Kruzser within minutes and find my destination after looking around for a few more.
There are dozens of soldiers patrolling the grounds so I begin counting them but give up when I reach two hundred. Since there are two companies outside, it's fair to bet on there being another inside atop of titled Nobles.
I could attempt to shatter the building but would likely fail as I would clash against their runic defenses which, if I fail to break them in time, would quickly be reinforced with energy from the manor's occupants.
“This is how you do things without overthinking it, sister.” I boast. Looking forward to seeing you fall flat on your face.
I retrieve the energy hardening the air under my feet and let myself drop down towards the largest concentration of soldiers. As I fall, I spread out flow to appear like a golden comet while preparing to disperse the impact's kinetic force in an outward going ring.
My feet hit the ground. Thump, crack. I stop dead while a half-dozen soldiers all around me fly out, bleeding from their noses and eyes. None of them get back up but the rest immediately cry out and charge me.
I shape three huge lightning construct spheres and let out dozens upon dozens of bolts in waves that take out every soldier within sight. More than seventy fall within the first few seconds as they lack the preparations needed to deal with lightning but quite a few remain standing despite getting hit.
“Elizabeth Vil! It's Elizabeth Vil!” A frightened soldier screams and runs away, shoving aside those who came running from other parts of the garden to reinforce their allies.
“Come out, Roskal, or I'll be coming in when I'm done here!” I bellow.
This last comment is enough to throw most of my opponents into a frenzied panic as they run away. I stomp towards the manor's entrance while sending out casual bolts of lightning to ensure that all the troops present here will flee and keep fleeing.
Squads organize to block my way but they all fall under the deluge of white bolts or retreat before entering close combat with me, not that they could considering their trembling limbs.
The smell of roasted pig becomes prevalent over that of charred flesh the closer I get to the double-door so I stop sending out lightning bolts as I consider it a waste to attempt to overpower constructs specifically designed to counter mine.
I instead shape a large air-blade and enhance it with kinetic energy to propel it directly at the last row of fifty soldiers hastily forming a shield-wall. The gigantic blade shears through their bodies and continues its path to breach the oak doors as well as cause large cracks on the stone frame.
I smile at the chaos of the scene and launch a burst of lightning bolts inside the building through the new opening as well as the windows. More screams arise along with puffs of black smoke.
“What's happening? What's happening?”
The shriek coming from inside surprises me as retaliation should have been expected of Leomi or Jessica. I sigh and spread out flow to gather blood from the dead all around me.
“E.Vil walks this field of battle, listen to death's rattle. Every step lives end, no mercy by her hand. Beware or begone, war is her domain lone!”