Quest 2, Part 5: [Her future?]

I return to the army camp we established in the near with the soldiers and newly gained slaves. I properly burned the corpses before, to avoid a calamity. Feeding both of my pets and giving a tent to rest to the women, I go back to the old men to discuss. There are a few younger researcher in the group and I have high hopes for them. 

I opt to give new weapons to the 100 guard who are on watch and send the remaining 300 to eat and rest. I only brought the useful soldiers with me since this matter has to be settled quickly. Their cooperation and coordination was good enough to use the guns efficiently. 

With an order I have all used weapons to be placed in the workshop tent and with the mages we disassemble them one by one. This was the first actual field test these weapons gone through and there were a few that disfunctioned. 

I also do it with them, but they report their discovering in the end.

The one I’m working on is one that is the worst shape. I don’t want someone to make a mistake and destroy important data, so I do it myself.

Right after taking the still hot cover off, I can clearly understand the problem in general. The mana storage crystal melted, the only reason it did not explode is because the magazine got stuck. The cooling is not enough and the barrel is full of damage. Even the reloading pin broke prom the force, the anti-knockback crystal defends the user creating more strain inside.

The report I get is the same as my conclusion. It needs better mana efficiency and more utility. Like all weapons in history. I leave these small matters to them, I have no time to every single thing. The blueprint for the new slave collar was done long ago but I just don’t have time to produce them. These rebels, but mostly the weapon research takes away all the resources and manpower I possess.

I’m pleasantly surprised by the AD sniper rifle. The insides have zero damage and the material was not overheated. It was only a few shots, but for this weapon it’s more than enough to understand how good it is. Well, it’s true I spent more time on this than all the rest of the guns. I still have a small arm on me just in case.

Inside an unknown tent in the special unit’s camp, women talk can be heard. Their voices are almost shaking from the fear, not knowing their exact circumstances. They are having a heated debate about the future, which they know it has no meaning.

“I know that! But what will happen to us now! We were with the rebels, it wouldn’t be strange if they execute us in the middle of the city. And you know that woman is crazy!”

“Shhh! Are you insane?! Don’t talk about the Princess like that. If she wanted to kill us, we would be dead already. You heard right? I have no idea why, but she employed Purple! She is basically a noble!” stopping their talk, the two scared woman look at their friends they are speaking about. “Just who were you exactly? Do you know what happened?”

She does not know how to respond to that question. Looking at her friends she musters her courage and look in their eyes with determination.

“I can’t really explain, I’m not sure either.. I’ve met her once before. She is indeed strange, no, crazy, but she never lies. I trust her words.” Although she loves them very much, the unreachable real world is still something she can’t talk about. Even if she were to tell them, what could they do with the information? She can’t even leave this place.

“Are you sure?” They ask with begging eyes. It’s not that they don’t trust her, they just worry for her.

“I.. don’t know. But I saw her eyes when I answered her. She seemed glad. Delighted. I’m sure that if we are not enemies no harm will fall upon us. Besides, we already made a promise. I serve her and she will grant you what you want. Freedom. I have to repay her. I’ll have to stay with her. Will you still be my friends?” Her desperate words slowly turns into cry, for she already knows, they survived. They will be okay. This is the small, lingering trust for someone who came from the same place as you.

The once prostitute women look at each other for a while surrounded by dead silence. For a while, no one speaks. They grew close together in hell, they trust each other like no one else normally. The one right in front of Lilium answers first.

“We promised right? We will stay with each other no matter if it’s heaven or hell. Even if the Princess decides to throw us away, we will stay to be friends forever.” 

“That’s right. And if you become wealthy you will have to share with us you know!” Interrupts the other jokingly with a wide trusting smile, poorly hiding her emotions.

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Lilium stands up and walks to them, gripping both in a tight hug and the three start crying just like that. The bond they have is maybe even tighter than they actually knew. Only god knows how much time goes by, when a soldier interrupts their peace.

“Purpula Lilium. I’m here to escort you to the Princess. Please follow me. The rest stay, food will be served at sunset, find the open tent near the middle of the camp. You are treated as guests of Purpula Lilium currently.” He motions for the girl to follow her and waits.

Their slowly separate and promise each other to meet later. The promises did not escape the soldier’s ears, but not hearing anything suspicious he does not interrupt them. He gives them some time, since they were given permission, but still hurries them.

“Please proceed. We are in the middle of a rebel suppression, the Princess has no free time.”

Leaving her friends behind, she follows the man dressed in strange soldier clothes. Modern looking leather strap with heavy weapon magazines of strange metal hang from him. She also feels the strange little magical power within them. With quick and determined steps Lilium is led to a large tent. The insides only contain a large table with maps, surrounded by chairs. Not knowing why this is the place she is led to, she turns to the soldier who understands her insecurity.

“It was the command to bring you here. The Princess will arrive in a minute.”

They don’t have to wait, Aurora enters the tent in the very second with a hard to read expresion. Her face seems to be both glad and displeased. She notices the two and sizes the girl in front of her up. Lilith can’t help but feel the chill running in her back.

“You may leave, thank you.” She says to the soldier.

“Princess, are you sure being alone with an unknown-” he tries to say but he is silenced.

“Quiet. Does thee think I’m afraid of a single woman? Leave, now.” her voice is not angry, but annoyed, even the man can understand that, he knows, he was trained to know when he should just obey.

“I understand, I’m terribly sorry.” He says bowing with a hand on his heart, then leaves quickly.

The two look at each other in a difficult way. They both have things they want to talk about, but don’t know how to start. Since she is if the higher position, Aurora talks first.

“It’s faster if you ask. You have a minute before others arrive.” The girl thinks hard on what to ask because a lot depends on her next few minutes.

“How do I speak?”

“As per your position. At all time, except inside the castle with special permission.”

“What will happen to my friends?”

“The NPCs? They are yours’ I don’t care.”

“What about me?”

“Welcome, slave. You will be a military officer, I lack intellectual personnel with leading skills. Hell, I lack anyone with brains.” Of course, Lillit didn’t know that Aurora was not kidding at that time.

Just about she tried asking the next question, others arrived at the tent. The research magicians, the commander and the officers are coming to hold a meeting about the next attack. The one thing that stands out is that only a few of them actually knows about warfare strategies. The rest are here because the positions have to be filled with the available capable people.

Lilium knew about the the adventurer guild incident, so she was surprised to see Rotko Pletze, the old adventurer from the disbanded council working under the Princess. Not only that, he became the general leading this small army. 

During the meeting she learns that she will be his direct subordinate, or assistant. From a captive she turned into the second in command in an hour! Of course above them were Aurora who gives the sanction in the end and shows unparalleled wisdom and knowledge during the meeting, greatly surprising her. She made magical weapons that are so powerful, normal spellcasting can’t be compared to it. She does not fail to amaze her.

This what made her understood: her modern knowledge and out of the box thinking is why she was chosen. She will be useful! She will be helping saving more people! She knew  the truth very well from first hand, the unpredictable and dangerous Princess makes people happy while the rebels claiming to be good, destroy, kill and plunder.

Thus, she choses to help her, by her own will. If this was this predicted by Aurora, only she knows.