Garuda arc
Eastern Continent
Kingdom of Ignis
Near the Border
9:00 A.M.
A few miles from the border and into the Kingdom of Ignis' territory are six imperial warships flying high above the mountains. In front of the other four warships was a warship colored in white and black and had the face of a white wolf on the front. This warship personally belonged to General Fury of the Empire's Crimson Knights. It was called Wolfsbane.
Fury's Imperial Warship: Wolfsbane
Hanger
Inside the hangar were hundreds of soldiers awaiting Fury's arrival. Including his two lieutenants who were brother and sister.
His first lieutenant Ulric. A young man in his mid 20s. He was light skinned, had yellow eyes, long gray curly hair that went down to his neck, wolf ears on his head, a wolf tail and donned a white black fur coat but his coat was open showing off his chest and abs. On the back of his coat is the empire's insignia.
Ulric was a hot headed, rash and cold blooded killer who loved the thrill of hunting those weaker than him. He doesn't care for the empire but he takes pride in being a part of Fury's pack.
Fury's second lieutenant is Gianna. A young woman in her mid 20s but a year older than her brother. She was also pale skinned, had long gray white hair, gray wolf ears on her head, a gray wolf tail and wore a white and red lined kimono and sandals. On the front of her kimono that went over her breasts is the empire's insignia. Her eyelids were painted purple and they were closed shut.
Unlike Ulric, Gianna is more patient, precise and graceful when it comes to dealing with her prey. She has a high standard for what she calls "inner beauty." She never opens her eyes once but relies on her senses to see.
The small imperial transport ship entered the hangar of Wolfsbane. The ship's door opened and dozens of imperial soldiers walked out and stood in attention. The last person to exit the ship was Fury himself wearing a smirk on his face.
Hanging over his shoulder was a large wyvern hanging over his shoulder. It's blood getting on his face and clothes. Fury walked towards his top two lieutenants and the admiral of his fleet who stood in attention and saluted him.
"General Fury. It is an honor to have you back aboar-." The admiral tried to say.
"GENERAL!" Ulric shouted, interrupting the admiral.
"ULRIC AHAHA!" Fury shouted back in excitement. He dropped the dragon's corpse and scooped up Ulric in his arms hugging him tightly. Ulric grunted as he had trouble breathing.
"Gahaha! It's been far too long my boy!" Fury said.
"It's only been a few months. You. Can. Let. Go. NOW!" Ulric grunted.
"In high spirits as ever. Right, general?" Gianna asked with a smile. Fury took notice of Gianna and released Ulric from his grip.
"Gianna! Ahaha! Come here!" Fury said happily as he opened up his arms to embrace Gianna. Gianna held up her hand in disapproval.
"Thank you but no thank you. Not while you are covered in the blood and guts of a dragon." Gianna said. Fury looked at himself and held the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Oh right. Sorry. Just got a little excited to see my best soldiers. How was the battle on the west side of the country?" Fury asked.
"Went off without a hitch. The battle lasted a month but we had those lizards fleeing for their lives." Ulric said with a smirk.
"Still I regret to say it could have gone better. We lost many ships and men. Cities were still being burned to the ground before we arrived. Needless to say, Prince Ziren was not very pleased." Gianna said with a worried tone.
"That's not true. Not many in the empire can kill dragons like you two. You both still completed your mission and kept the other cities safe. I'll admit I was worried when you didn't get back to me for the last few days of that battle but, I'd say you did a job well done." Fury said proudly. Ulric and Gianna smiled at Fury's approval.
"Thank you, General." Gianna said. Behind Gianna the admiral of Fury's fleet coughed to get their attention.
"General Fury, sir! As I was trying to say it is an honor to have you back." The Admiral said.
"The honor is all mine admiral. At ease. Is everything I've asked for here?" Fury asked.
"Yes, generally. All the draugr you requested from General Silas was shipped to us and are all being safely guarded in their holding cells as per your request. Each ship has ten draugr so General Silas has sent us approximately 50 in total." The Admiral explained.
"Including the one me and my men found on the way here." Fury said.
"Uh yes right sir! We have our best men guarding it." The Admiral said.
"Excellent. Then we'll be on my way to the dining room. It's been too long since we've had a feast to celebrate our reunion." Fury said as he picked up the wyvern corpse and hung it over his shoulder again.
"Um. Are the General and his lieutenants really going to eat that thing?" A soldier asked the admiral uncomfortably.
"The General and his lieutenants have a, shall we say, unique taste." The Admiral said.
"You don't say." The soldier responded.
"Uh General. There is something you should know first." Gianna said nervously. Fury raised an eyebrow.
"And what would that be?" Fury asked. Ulric groaned.
"We have an uninvited guest." Ulric said.
***
Dining Room
Inside Fury's personal warship was a large dining room with a long table that could fit over 20 people. At the front of the table was a young woman who in a proper manner was cutting off pieces of meat with her knife and then stabbing them with her fork to scoop them up and eat them.
The woman was very young and elegant. She had bright vermillion red colored hair, and blood red eyes. She wore a black dress with leggings, black stilettos, long black gloves with yellow nails sticking out from them and a red rose atop of her left head.
This young woman who was happily enjoying her meal was none other than....
WHAM! Fury kick's the doors wide open.
"Circe!" Fury shouted angrily.
Circe stopped chewing and looked up at Fury with a confused look. She then swallowed and wiped off the small meat pieces off her face with a napkin.
"General Fury! I was wondering when you would show. I was worried you'd miss breakfest. It's rude to keep your guests waiting, you know?" Circe asked playfully. Circe kept eating while Fury was not amused at all.
I didn't pick up her scent at all when I arrived on this ship. She masked her scent well. Fury thought.
"Circe. Leave." Fury ordered. Circe stopped herself from eating another piece of meat and then looked at Fury with a look of curiosity.
"Pardon?" Circe asked in an innocent way.
"I don't remember inviting you on my ship as my guest. And that begs the question. What are you even doing here? From what I've heard, Lord Zenal ordered you to remain in imperial territory to hunt insurgents." Fury said.
Circe sighed and rolled her eyes. She rested her head on her hand and picked up her wine glass. She spun the drink around inside the glass out of boredom.
"Yes, well. Rest assured all those little lambs have been already taken care of. And besides, I'm more than his majesty's lapdog ya know? I mean, that's what he has you for." Circe giggled.
Ulric growled but Fury placed his arm right in front of him.
"You still haven't answered me. Why are you here?" Fury asked.
"You certainly don't like to beat around the bush. Very well. Then I'll get straight to the point. You were tasked with capturing the wielder of Ragnarok and Ziera. And yet, it's been almost two weeks and you haven't made any real progress. So here's my proposal. *Circe takes a sip from her wine glass*. She stopped drinking and looked back at Fury with a sadistic grin.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Allow me to help you." Circe said. Ulric couldn't hold it back anymore and brought out his claws.
"Witch! Of all the nerv! I'd outta!-." Ulric started.
"Brother don't!" Gianna warned.
"ULRIC! GIANNA!" Fury roared at the top of his lungs. Both his lieutenants froze in place. Not moving an inch.
"Both of you. Leave. Now." Fury ordered.
"But sir she-." Ulric tried to say.
"Now." Fury said in a deadly serious tone.
"Let's go Ulric." Gianna insisted.
"Tsk!" Ulric spat. But he obeyed the order of his General so he let Gianna walk him out the door.
"Yes, run along now little pups." Circe said mockingly.
Ulric growled but still left with Gianna and closed the door. Fury turned back to Circe and sat in his chair directly across from her.
"Huh. I guess they don't teach manners back at the pound right General? You should do better at teaching that one especially. It's a dangerous world out there ya know?" Circe asked mockingly.
"So you want to help me with my mission. But why? What's in it for you?" Fury asked.
"Two things really. One would be the sacred relic of Ignis. The Warhammer, Vulcan." Circe said.
"You want the relic of the giants?" Fury asked.
"Of course! It's a one in a lifetime opportunity for me. You see my adorable hound, while I may be a member of the Crimson Knights I still have almost nothing to show for it. I have no men of my own, no fleet to command or any of the resources that come with it. I've worked 3 years for his majesty and I'm still not trusted. All because I'm a witch who doesn't use magitech. A poor, lonely, depressed, and misunderstood witch who's trying to find her place in the world." Circe said while teary eyed.
A small floating yokai appeared right next to her offering her a tissue which she blew into. Fury was unamused.
"Right. Well last I checked, perhaps the reason why nobody trusts you is because you have been suspected of putting a giant hole inside the Omni-Barrier that protects our country. Especially since you just happen to join the empire around the same time that incident occurred." Fury stated.
"Ughhhh this again? I've already proved my innocence in the matter. I don't know who was responsible for the incident but I provided evidence of my whereabouts and proved my innocence. Yet, I was still under house arrest for two months. Two months! All because of that stuck up BITCH!" Circe shouts as she slams her fist on the marble table and cracked it.
Circe calmed down when she realized her voice began to change and that she was losing her cool and took a deep breath. Her voice and calm demeanor returned to normal.
"My apologies. That was quite crude of me. Anyways, thanks to our beloved 1st princess, I was left on garbage duty for three years. Finding and killing insurgents in whatever mud hole they could cram themselves into. But then Ragnarok returned with a new wielder. And when I heard about Lord Zenal assigning you this mission, I just couldn't sit idly by and miss my chance to gain his favor." Circe explained.
"I see. So that's your goal. You really think that's enough for Lord Zenal to spoil you?" Fury asked.
"Ahaha. It's a sacred relic darling. You can't name a better gift than that. Well other than his daughter of course. Besides, it's not the first time a man has spoiled me." Circe said as she drank from her wine glass cup again.
"You also said there's something else you'd gain from helping me on this mission. Well? What are you also after?" Fury asked. Circe stopped drinking and wickedly grinned. Showing off her sharp teeth.
"Not "what". Who." Circe said.
"And who would that be?" Fury asked.
"None of your concern. But don't fret, it's not Ziera or even the Ragnarok wielder I'm after. The person I want is of no concern to you or your goals." Circe said.
"Fine. But what makes you think I need your help?" Fury asked.
"Easy. With my magic I can surely help speed up the process." Circe said.
"That's unnecessary. My nose can track them for miles. And I have a plan of my own in place. One that doesn't include you." Fury said.
"Does this oh so brilliant plan take into account Ziera's new dragon-kin allies?" Circe asked.
Fury didn't say anything. He just glared at Circe.
"Surprised I know about them? I'm a witch darling. I have my ways. And don't you forget it." Circe said smugly.
"As I said. I already have a plan. And yes that does include dealing with those dragon-kin. Now if we're done here. You can get off my ship." Fury said as he got up from his chair and turned away from her.
"I can help you with that draugr." Circe said.
Fury's eyes widened and froze in place. He turned his head back to Circe. Circe's smile widened in a mischievous manner.
"Which draugr?" Fury asked.
"The one that can speak." Circe said.
"I have over 50 draugr on this ship and you still managed to find it huh?" Fury asked.
"Like I said, I'm a witch. All I had to do was find it's soul." Circe explained.
"And how exactly do you plan to help me with it?" Fury asked.
"Simple. With my magic I can manipulate the soul as I please. But instead of turning your new pet into a yokai, I'll return it to its original form." Circe said. Now this revelation shocked fury.
"You can do that?" Fury asked.
"Ahaha! Such a thing is child's play for me. You see that draugr has a bone to pick with Silas' favorite lab rat. Once I transform it back to it's original state, it will be a valuable asset to you. I'll even throw in a bonus and make the rest of your draugr army stronger." Circe said.
"How generous of you. But I know this comes with a price. So what is it?" Fury asked.
"Oh nothing serious. All I ask is this. You help me retrieve Vulcan and stay out of my way while I go after my second target. Sounds fair?" Circe asked as she clasped her hands together.
Fury thought about it. Circe's proposal seemed fair. Almost too fair. If he went along with it, this could give him the advantage he needed over the republic.
They are going to King Ogun for help. Even with his forces Fury would have to deal with Tenjin and King Ogun before he can get to Ziera and Jayden. Of course even without Circe he would have taken the risk since he had a plan already, but with Circe's help things would go smoother.
Yet even so, every bone in his body told him not to trust the witch.
"Thanks but no thanks. I'll still have to refuse. Because despite how you already disrespected me and my men by coming over here unannounced, the simple truth is I don't trust you. Witch" Fury said.
Circe never lost her smug smile but her finger twitched a bit. Fury's instincts could tell that Circe didn't appreciate his answer. Nor his tone.
But Fury didn't care. She may be the vermillion witch but he was the Fenrir. The Empire's greatest hunter. He would not be intimidated by a spoiled little girl and he twisted magic.
The two continued to glare at each other from across the table. Never taking their eyes off each other for a second. In that moment, if someone made the wrong move, they would die.
Circe sighed. She climbed on top of the table and closed her eyes. Fury was both annoyed and confused why Circe stood on his table. She dared lecture him about manners.
Circe opened her eyes and they were fully black with red dots at the center of her pupils. She began slowly walking across the table over to Fury himself.
"Then. How about this? Why don't we make a deal? Hound?" Circe asked with an unhinged smile. Her voice sounded distorted and multiple different people. Men, women and children all at once.
Fury could feel Circe's mana spike. It was intense to say the least. But he didn't back down at all. In fact it only got him excited. He smirked.
"You want me to sign a Witch's Contract? You're out of your mind. No deal is worth selling my soul to you for." Fury said. Circe reached the end of the table and stood on top of it a few inches above Fury.
"Oh I disagree. Time is of the essence. And that's something your soul doesn't have much of. Right?" Circe asked with an innocent smile.
Fury now looked really angry. He brought out his claws and tried to slash her but stopped right before his claws reached her face. Fury stopped because a yokai Circe recently acquired appeared next to fury.
His name was Sojo. The former insurgent soldier Circe killed and turned into a tengu masked samurai. He had his sword aimed at Fury's throat.
"Now. Now. There's no need for that." Circe said.
Circe raised her hand and ordered Sojo to lower his blade. Sojo listened so Fury slowly moved his hand away from Circe's face.
"Come on there's no reason to be afraid. You know how these contracts work. My soul will be on the line as well. If I should break it I will be the one to suffer the consequences." Circe said.
"Maybe. But even then my army will be under your control once you tamper with them." Fury said.
"Not true! They'll be under your command as per the contract. So that brings me to my new deal. Until the day I die, both myself and your new army will assist you on this mission without question. All you have to do is help me get Vulcan and never interfere with my other affairs."
"And besides, you already failed to kill Tenjin Nakamura. And you'll be dealing with both him and King Ogun. So I'll ask you again. Do. We. Have. A. Deal?" Circe asked as she raised her hand out. Red butterflies made of mana fluttered around her.
To Fury his instincts were never wrong. He knew in his soul that he can't trust Circe no matter how good her deal was.
There's no way in hell I can trust this woman. But if I refuse her again, what will she do after she leaves my ship?
The last thing I need is for her to stir up trouble while my back is turned. Even so, I can't accept her deal. My time is limited but...but....
Fury thought back to Ziera glaring at him with those eyes. Fury silently gasped.
If I miss this chance, then what Zenal said about me was right all along. But I...I!
And in that moment of weakness...Fury looked back up at Circe.
"Deal." Fury said. He grabbed onto Circe's hand.
Circe's twisted smile grew even wider as her eyes glowed fully red. Red energy came out of her eyes and mouth. As did blue light came from out of Fury's eyes and mouth. It was their souls.
Their souls flew up into the air. Circe's soul turned into a long sheet of paper in the form of a contract. While Fury's turned into a long blue feather pen.
The pen signed Fury's real name into the contract and then it disappeared. Circe's soul flew back into her mouth and down her throat. The two returned to normal and released each other to catch their breath.
While Fury took a knee to hold his head, Circe snapped her fingers and conjured the red contract in her hand. She looked at it with immense satisfaction.
"The deal has been made." Circe said as her voice returned to normal.
Circe hopped off the table and patted Fury on his shoulder.
"You should be happy doggy. Because now we're in this together. Until the very...END!" Circe said with her twisted voice.
Fury glared up at her and then shoved her off. He picked himself up.
"If we're done then get lost. I'm going to have dinner with my people." Fury said
"Of course. Enjoy yourself. I already had my fill so I'll be turning in. Oh and don't worry about finding me a room. I already picked one out. Have a good night, my adorable mutt." Circe waved away. Her body turned into those red butterflies and they flew out the door.
After she was gone, Fury slammed his fist into the edge of his marble table and broke off a piece of it.
Damn you Circe. No. Damn you Zenal. For cursing me with this fate.
***
Circe arrived at her room. The guest room was huge. It had a king sized bed, drawers and other furniture that Circe added with her magic. She sat on the bed and stretched.
That went well. But that was only step 2. Luckily it was easier than step 1 from before. Now onto step 3. That's going to be a challenge. Ziera almost ascending into that thing this soon was not what I anticipated.
If I don't play this right, I'll come into contact with her or the ragnarok wielder and that would be very bad for me. Circe thought as she placed her hand on her chest where her heart was.
Luckily, that mutt Fury and his pups will keep them busy. Hehe the poor fools. Them not knowing what she and ragnarok are fully capable of makes this future confrontation more entertaining.
And while they're busy killing each other, I'll obtain Vulcan and my new pet. Circe thought. Circe let out a long snake-like tongue and licked her lips.
"Oh how I can't wait to put you in your cage. My new pet. HEHEHEHEHE! HAHAHAHAHA!" Circe wickedly laughs.