Time passed quickly. The Snowdrifts expanded swiftly with new roads being laid out and new buildings erected every day.
They planned to return to Saint Empire, so the architecture design of the place was directed towards becoming a command centre instead of a city. The buildings for all the halls and departments were the first to be erected. The Virtue Hall, Inner Hall, Guardian Hall, Heroes Hall, the Library, and the Central Records Department facilities stood proudly around the new base.
The Dusk Hall which trains agents of espionage, informants, undercovers, and assassins, also operates openly under the noses of everyone as a grand hotel and the largest structure in the land. One can imagine when visiting the bathhouses, winding down at the massage parlours, or relaxing with a wine in hand at the bar, every conversation will be recorded.
Underneath the Dusk Hall, an even stealthier existence lies hidden – the Dark Hall.
Or perhaps, it will be more accurate to say that the Dusk Hall is only a front for the Dark Hall and those who were scouted to join the Dusk Hall and trained into agents will never know about the Dark Hall until the day they graduated.
The original members, the Ghosts, and the Hall Master, had all faded into the background, to monitor the land, or becoming trainers for the Dusk Hall, or to work on the most secretive missions to return the throne to the princess. Whereas the new agents from Dusk are sent across the land as innkeepers, storekeepers, or other roles. They operated individually or as families so that they could enter other countries and one day assume an influential position.
In this world where there are not many profile records to identify a person, so letting agents stay clandestine is not a difficult task. In the past, the Blue Blood organisation easily infiltrated into the Snowdrifts because of the limited ways to confirm a person’s background.
Instead of letting it happen again, the guild decided to create a system that could identify every person that step into their lands.
Rather than it being technologically impossible, the main obstacle that stopped other countries from creating such a system is how much manpower and how tedious it requires, and of course, the costs such things will incur.
There is a way to mitigate much of this work, and a rather simple solution, which is to build up a proper documentation facility with detailed records of each person and the major life events they experienced like birth, marriage, death, and any hired work, contributions, or achievements in between.
Other countries avoid doing this because there is too much paperwork involved to cover their entire population, and they could find out about a person through those who were in contact with the person.
The downside is that it would not work when every person who knows the target is either fooled, bought, or part of the scheme.
Fortunately, the Snowdrifts had less than half a million people, and it is easier for them to write down everything. Well, technically their historians from the Central Records Department were the one doing all the work.
There are many other things to establish for the Snowdrifts. Logistics, finance, trade, agriculture, and warrior training facilities that will take up considerable time.
As the Snowdrifts worked on their new land, a storm is brewing at the edge of Saint Empire.
Calculus, who has now taken command of the Ku Kang Plateau, is hellbent on taking down the Snowdrifts. He has plenty of reasons, but most importantly, it is because that the victors will write history.
If the Snowdrifts won, he and his family will be executed. Of course, for an exceedingly self-centred person such as him, he could care less for his own family. What he wanted to protect is his status and wealth.
To be fair, this is exactly how he was raised to be, and his family would not hesitate to cast him away for their own sakes. Some may wonder why a family with no love could stay intact and become one of the biggest aristocrat houses in Saint Empire. The truth is, there is merit in their way of thinking. While there is indeed little to no love involved between the members of the Devilheart family, they have an absolute loyalty to their own selves, and this loyalty is rational and highly intelligent.
They know that their surnames, titles, land, and wealth, are there because they built it together. They know the power of working together. They know the benefits of being in cahoots. Therefore, they will cast off any kin who became a burden but there is no hatred between them either. It was all in the face of profiteering.
It is the survival of the strongest, except they never act alone but as a pride of lions.
This time round, the Devilheart family had a mission where every member is involved… and that is the removal of the Snowdrifts.
Right at the forefront of their operation, Calculus will spearhead military suppression of this impudent guild. It is undoubted that he will not be acting alone, yet he is unconcerned what the rest of his family will do against the Snowdrifts. Calculus may have sat in on the meeting but paid little attention as he confidently believed that everything will end when his armies arrived at that tiny, unsuspecting guild. It is time somebody teach them their places.
Perhaps it is a little arrogant of him to think so, given that the Snowdrifts had taken down the Ku Kang Plateau that was known to be impregnable.
Well, the rumours must be exaggerated then, Calculus thought. The Snowdrifts got lucky because Saint Empire just never had a real reason to take the plateau.
Besides, with the Devilheart family at the helm, the war between Saint Empire and the Silent Lambs Empire had ceased and their armies stationed at the border are freed up.
While a good portion of the brainless footmen were deceived to join the guild, there are far more who were assigned to his army.
The fools who believed the Snowdrifts represents Relestia Vestimore, the last of the old royal family, will soon find out how wrong their decision was when he brings his forces to their doorstep.
The Silent Lambs Empire had withdrawn their soldiers stationed at the border because the Phrixus family had a deal with the Devilheart family. Now, one may ask where those soldiers went? Well, they did have a bone to pick with the Snowdrifts. Their princess Axtalia who had gone after Kairos and his group had never returned. Although they had confirmed she was slain by their own guardian of the realm, Syriong, the Snowdrifts were the reason that the guardian had turned berserk and taken the Devil-Turning Pill in the first place.
Moreover, the Phantoms that were sent to retrieve the princess and Jones, were all killed. Such a loss must be repaid in blood.
The Snowdrifts that had just settled in at their new base remained blissfully unaware that two armies are preparing for war against them. The Dark Hall that is responsible for detecting international threats could not do their job. They had uprooted their base of operations when they decided to follow after the Snowdrifts. If only they have five more years to establish the Dusk Hall… No, perhaps just two years would suffice.
…..
At the same time, in the realm below, Kairos had been immersed with his scrolls.
Piecing together all of the dwarven ancient crafting techniques, he is using it to make himself a combat puppet. Well, technically it was intended for combat, but Kairos found that to be limiting the potential. He had no intention of making an item that will one day become obsolete as his cultivation rise so he made it capable of repairing and customising itself. Additionally, he made it into a replica of himself. Just imagining the look of his foes when they confuse his combat puppet for himself made him chuckle. Kairos sneaked a look at Relestia and wisely chose not to make a female version.
The work was so considerable that even with the help of the five master craftsmen it extended to a few months but now it is finally near completion.
During the same time, Relestia had been busy herself venturing into the dungeons. When the princess and Kairos first arrive at Axis Mundi, they were told that there are massive networks of underground tunnels everywhere in the land that generate an endless supply of monsters. These creatures, if left unchecked, will become a flock great enough to bring Armageddon to sentient races.
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The Jarl told them that the source of the dungeons’ magical nature and the reason why these creatures are spawning, is the king of the elves, Veritus, but they quickly figured out that this might just be a ploy to assassinate an enemy that the humans could not deal with.
At the very least, Kairos and Relestia can be certain that the gnomes, some of the royal elves, and the entire humankind are plotting to kill King Veritus and the heroes they summoned from another world are just their tool to achieve this goal.
Technically, Kairos and Relestia are not summoned but fell through a dimensional hole and slipped into this realm because the summoning ritual that was coincidentally occurring had created a path of least resistance.
During this time, the two of them placed their eyes on returning to Gaia and did not focus on Veritus or the dungeons.
When the kings of the gnomes and the dwarves do not know a way for them to get home, Kairos decided to form a group. There is strength in numbers, isn’t it? He could not find solution by himself but with enough people involved, perhaps someone might.
Unfortunately, Kairos had to work on the scrolls first. He owes his teacher Edgar and the dwarven king Hogard for their help, moreover, the techniques he is learning belongs to the dwarves.
To say the dwarves did not want to restrain him after gaining knowledge from their ancient scrolls will be a lie. Well… the five master craftsmen were just excited over regaining lost knowledge and did not think of excluding Kairos from using the techniques. And, as follows, they admit the lad’s genius and respected him as one of their own. However, the dwarven king who sees things from a higher position, knows fully the consequences. Hence, he tested the lad and unwillingly admits that it may be better to befriend Kairos than turn him into a foe.
As dwarves, they would never underestimate the worth of the five scrolls, but Hogard believes that there is more to gain by giving it to Kairos. In fact, the King did not stop Kairos from teaching what he learns to his friends, because if Kairos treated the dwarves as friends, they might learn much more from him. King Hogard truly believes in the lad’s creative talent and his character. The ancient knowledge given him will only be a launchpad for greater things to come.
Just imagining a dwarven city filled with automatons could one day come to life made the king feel his old blood moving again.
With the five master craftsmen helping, Kairos is certain his combat puppet will be complete within days.
While he is so busy in the workshop that he practically stayed there for the past months, Princess Relestia had been doing her best to help.
She could not let Kairos handle everything and offered to manage the new Snowdrifts branch. During the recruitment at first, despite gathering a large crowd there were few that shown interest, and those that applied only thought to give it a try.
…..
I am Sagrado Araw, a human boy who found myself stranded in this dull metallic dwarven mountain. In my veins flowed both fairy and orc blood, both of which came from mythical races that once walked on this land but were lost in time.
Fairies are tiny beings thought to be the only ones more magical than elves, whereas Orcs are warlike savages believed to be the only ones that could face a dwarf in melee and win.
Putting together a quarter blood of the toughest warrior race with a quarter blood of the strongest magical race and half human blood that could assimilate the strengths of other races, I am born to be the strongest warrior. Mankind, while lacking in the other departments, does have unlimited potential, the greatest strength of will and is the only race known to produce demi-humans. There are half-elves, half-dwarfs, half-gnomes, there used to be half-orcs, and through some magical experiment, half-fairies.
Well, somehow, I decided to inherit the magical strength of the orcs, the physical traits of a petite fairy, and unlimited mediocracy from the humans. Oh, and my human strength of will? Well, it is sort of neutralised after I developed the fae’s trademark flightiness and the orckin’s … Let’s just say I am not the sharpest tool in the shed.
I am someone who fell into a treasury of good genes and came out with a sorehead and nothing else. Perhaps I blew up a planet in my past life and absorbed all the misfortune in the universe when I was born?
You would think that this is terrible enough, but I forget to mention how I look…
Fairies are known to be adorable. These tiny beings that are no larger than your palm have beaming large eyes, refined doll-like features, a beautiful voice, and a natural innocence that pours guilt into anyone that thought of harming one.
Orcs, on the other hand, are… well, they are orcs. Tusked, green skins, tough, rough, and bulking with muscles, they deter threats more actively by having a look that means business.
Put that together and I am ugly but adorable. Large watery eyes with a mouth that looks ever ready to bite your throat.
With the full care package that life had given me, I found myself at the Snowdrifts branch hall despite everyone else being sceptical. Honestly, I am also sceptical.
Rather than magic, there is something else known as the Origin Energy? Furthermore, it can help one become stronger, increase lifespan, and one day breakthrough to a higher realm?
I personally do not believe a single word they said, but, if there is something that could make me become stronger…
What could make it worse?
Or… so I thought.
“Name?”
“Sagrado Araw.”
“Age?”
“Twenty-two.”
“Race?”
“H-human.”
“Really? … Ah, that was rather rude of me, I apologise!”
“I-it’s okay, I am part orcish and fae too.”
“Oh, you are one of those blessed children. There is no need for you to take the test. Welcome to the guild!”
A few moments later, I, Sagrado Araw, found myself standing in the halls of the new guild I applied for.
As the first person who was recruited (?), I am here… alone.
L-looking at the emptiness all around… Will I starve here? Even the squatters have at least tree bark to cover up at night but there is not a single piece of furniture in their building.
Incidentally, if they find out I have no strengths… Will I be kicked out?
…..
The next day, more arrived at the empty hall that Sagrado had spent the night in.
Relestia interviewed everyone who signed up and grouped them up as warriors, those with helpful skills or talent, and those who will do the odd jobs in the guild.
People without a single specialty and cannot fight are directly sent to the third group together with those failed their tests.
As for Sagrado who has the strong magical bloodline of the fairies and the tough physique of the orcs, Relestia had assigned him as one of the warriors.
“Attention!”
A bell-like voice that only a true fairy could make called out to all the clueless new recruits. The princess of Saint Empire had kept her scarf on when the guild was advertising, but here in this room she let them see her visage for the first time and for the first time they closely saw the person rumoured to be an angel visiting Axis.
Indeed, she looked more beautiful than any person they saw that the rumours that she came from heaven might not be too far off. Her lush dark brown hair sparkled with tinges of gold, purple and red, and fell off her shoulders like they were made of water. The softness made those who saw have a desire to run their fingers through her hair.
Her eyes shone like gems of soft brown, the colour of autumn. Her lips are of the sweetest pink, lightly brushed on a portrait. Her skin is of perfect porcelain that seem so delicate that a touch could break it.
They suddenly understand why she had to wear a scarf usually. An enchanted one that could divert away attention, but even with it, few could completely ignore her.
Yet, all the beauty belongs to a budding flower. A fourteen-year-old girl that had yet to fully blossom. It is terrifying to think what a smile of hers could do when she is grown.
Relestia did not want unnecessary attention and usually left her scarf on except when with her friends.
These recruits might be her new friends and she did not want to hide behind a piece of cloth.
The news of the Snowdrifts recruitment drive had seep into every nook and cranny of both the dwarf and gnome cities. The excited Relestia was filled with energy waiting for the announced date of recruitment. In the end only eight people applied. All of them looked scrawny, including one grandfather over the age of eighty and a three-year-old child.
Incidentally, the granddad belongs to the ‘talented’ group and the kid is assigned to the warriors’ group.
The pair might look the worst, but the rest are more alike refugees than proper recruits. If they had another choice, they would not be braving their lives to join this unknown organisation with unbelievable claims yet no promise of shelter and meals. Sagrado can probably claim to be one of the better ones in the eight.
The group stood listlessly around, undoubtedly all of them are fearful of this new and unknown environment. Still, they remained here hoping that the next thing they would hear is a warm meal. Sometimes, death is frightening but not knowing when to eat again could be worse.
Relestia, Lulatia, Clef, and Boink quickly introduced themselves. The five masters, Edgar, Amethyst, Firewrought, Whittleblade, and Blunderspark came along with Hogard’s granddaughter, Sparrow, to show their support, but when they saw the elder and a kid amongst the… ‘refugees’, the words of encouragement they prepared were stuck.
…..
I, Sagrado Araw, may have played myself – big time- by claiming to be of orcish and fae descent. I didn’t lie… but it made me captain.
I don’t usually dislike becoming the leader, except there is something seriously wrong with this group!
On my right is my new right-hand man… woman. It is not that I am a misogynist, i-it’s just that isn’t she rather short?!
My knee-height vice-captain may be a dwarf, but her stature considerably smaller than the average.
Did they discover a new core race on the Axis? She is a pygmy dwarf, isn’t she?
And the way she looked up at me respectfully when told I am both orcish and fae, is putting a great deal of weight on my shoulders. We are probably screwed.
Why?
Because, for our first training, we are to reach the third level of the underground dungeon.
From the gazes of the group… Everyone is probably putting their hope on me.
We are toast. Definitely. No argument there.
Our ‘safety net’ for today’s exercise is two persons.
Not that I am complaining to have help, only, they did not send the big muscular giant called Boink nor the deadly looking magus called Clef. Heck, I’d even take the elf that looked more like an idol or singer. At least she would most certainly have powerful magics.
The first person they sent is a guard called Sparrow. Now, I know that dwarves are known for their physical strength, and I am not looking down on her or anything, but she looks like a human child, and it does not incite any confidence.
The second person is our recruiter. A delicate and fragile damsel who looks like we are her safety net instead. I’ve heard she is rather famous, a princess from a foreign land. Did the bards always sing about scores of people dying to save princesses? We are going to die, aren’t we? The princess will be captured, then knights will come to this land to save her.
I, Sagrado Araw, have finally played myself into eminent doom. Goodbye mama, goodbye papa. Although I’ve never seen you both, but please do pick me up when I reach the other side.