Queen Ompera’s POV
My kingdom, my people, my family… are all under threat. War with the Southern Union has killed countless of our soldiers, risked our solidarity, lost our territory, ravaged our farmlands, and put centuries old treaties under scrutiny. The only thing that kept my kingdom together for a time was my father, the previous king, and when he died, I feared I would lose everything… until he came; the familiar of a middle-class mage, Jake the Sentinel. In less than a month he took down one of my father’s biggest obstacles, and ended their noble house’s influence. With the backing of Grand Duke Sopra, the way for me to take the throne from my family members was opened.
At first, I surmised that it was a mere coincidence, and that I should simply be grateful for the opportunity. So, I granted him a pardon for any crimes he had committed while doing it, and left it be. I never expected him to join the military, or the Wyverns, or to be a Viking. The familiar who had given me the opportunity to save my kingdom from my foolish family, was now the most dangerous thing I had ever seen.
I orchestrated an inquiry with my Royal Court and his master, all so that I may see him for myself. I later regretted that decision when one of my brother’s supporters bribed members of the court to kill the familiar. But their foolish mistake allowed for greater insight into the threat, and for one more opportunity.
“Your majesty, I have performed the measurement, as you requested.” My attendant, Talik, said as he flew into the room and landed on a golden perch beside my roost. He sounded distressed.
“The results?” I asked. We were currently in my private chambers, which had special runes engraved into the walls to prevent anyone from hearing what was discussed.
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“It is as you feared; his abilities have increased from our last report, given by the researcher Sela-Car.”
“By how much?”
“Sentinel’s new Life Force Density is six hundred Kelma and ninety-three Dalma. His mana reservoir has also increased to one thousand and seven.”
“In less than three years, he has achieved the same growth as most Neame strive their whole lives for.” I said, and took a deep calming breath.
“Your majesty, did you get a good look at him?” Talik asked. He was talking about ‘Mana Gaze’, an ability only some members of the royal family, and the highest class of mages can use. It is an ability gifted to us by the dragons that allows one to physically see the mana one possesses.
“I did, during his interview with the Royal Court. The image was… disturbing.”
“In what way?”
“Surrounding him was a purple and blue miasma; it poured off his body like a waterfall. To me… it looked as if he were a living mass of mana.”
“Do the records of the Viking’s rampage match what you saw?”
“Yes. According to the records, Jake has roughly the same amount of mana as Hel.”
“Was… was it wise to spare him; if he is such a threat?” Talik asked, shaken.
“For now. But if the rumors from the front lines and the reports of Deyja’s potential awakening are true… we will need him.” There was a moment of silence as we both thought, then I broke it. “How did his experiment with runes go?”
“Very well, your majesty. He learned the basics, and even developed new rune symbols, and a new method of weaving them.” Talik sounded excited; he has always loved rune-smithing and rune-craft.
“It was a Viking who originally created them, so I should not be surprised.”
“That is the end of my report your majesty.” Talik said and bowed.
“Then you are dismissed. Have a good night, Talik.” He bid me a good night, and flew out.”
Glancing over to a small silver statue of my father, which I had created after his passing, and kept in my chambers, I wondered what he would do in my position. Would he worry more about the rumors from the front lines of the war, the dragon’s return, or the Viking in our midst? “A monster, a Viking, a war, and the Chaos Dragon…” I said to myself aloud, but did not finish the thought.