------------------------------Hervalle Empire -----------------------
Avior looked at the capital of Hervalle dumbfounded. While Christina took his expression as coming from being shocked by the scale of the towering city before them the alarm bells ringing in Avior’s head were only growing louder as he took in a camp made up of tents numbering in the thousands organized in neat rows staked outside the city. His confusion only grew as he saw the rabble-like soldiers who made up the camp's populace.
Soldiers who came from a draft? Avior was confused. What had caused the Hervalle Empire into such dire straits they needed to draft the common rabble into their army.
Glendale seeing Avior’s focus on the troops misunderstood his intentions.
“There you see the newly formed 9th Division made up of volunteers from all across Hervalle. Upon hearing the Emperor’s decree to conquer the Vernicus Kingdom many patriotic citizens came to the capitol to enlist. Once they receive some training they’ll be sent to support the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Divisions which are already deployed to the front lines. Once you graduate from the Academy you can join any Division you chose if you so wish. And you won’t start as a common officer, no you’ll start as a fully-fledged captain in command of a company made up of 200 soldiers of Hervalle's finest.” Glendale boasted hoping to inspire the youth to claim an attainable goal.
Avior lost in his puzzlement just looked on in wonder. Planning to investigate what had caused this discrepancy once he was settled into the academy.
Glendale led them through the city gates, simply flashing a mark showing his status as a mage under the Academy before being waved past. He took them deep into the massive city, the buildings slowly becoming larger and more lavishly decorated the closer they came to the city center until finally Glendale abruptly stopped in front of a gated entrance marked with the words “Hervalle Magic Academy” displayed in large gold lettering.
Six soldiers stood posted at the entrance of the academy, all wearing uniforms unique to the armed forces who served under the School showing the emphasis and effort the Empire put into their magical academy by even allowing them their own armed contingent.
Upon seeing Glendale one of the soldiers opened the gate while calling out to him welcomingly. “Good to see you again Professor Glendale, who did you bring back to be admitted this time?”
“Jenkins good to see you as well!” Glendale seemed to be rather friendly with this particular guard.
“These two are Avior Malim and Christina Castus two promising youngsters from the countryside.”
The guard called Jenkins turned to Avior and Christina in a friendly manner. “It's my honor to welcome you both to the Academy. Please let me know if you’re ever in need of assistance any pupil of Glendale's is a friend of mine.”
Christina and Avior both thanked the kind guard before following Glendale past the gates and into the school.
“Now that we’ve reached the Academy you can officially be tested to see if you’ll be able to be admitted to the Academy and which class you’ll be put into if you are.” Glendale explained steering them towards a large hall in the center of the academy.
A nervous Christina spoke out “Should we rest before taking the test? Or maybe study more?”
Glendale let out a warm chuckle. “No, the test isn’t something you can prepare for; it simply measures your current mana capacity. Along with age and how long you’ve been training it's used to estimate potential and natural talent.”
Christina nodded still appearing rather nervous.
Avior, wanting to calm her down put his hand on her shoulder. “Christina you’ll do fine. I know you will.” He spoke encouragingly.
Christina feeling Avior’s hand on her shoulder felt herself blush as she nodded in thanks.
Reaching the testing hall the two were separated. In Avior’s room, he was met by an old man in red robes holding out a crystal ball.
“Young man place your hand on the ball.” He spoke curtly.
“Yes sir.” Avior responded as he put his hand on the ball leading to it emitting a slightly dim but steady light. The man in red seemed a little disappointed.
“How long have you been training for?” He asked.
“Two weeks.” Avior responded.
“Two weeks.” The man's eyes had their warmth returned. “Very well you’ll be able to attend the Academy as a member of the Sparrow class.”
“Thank you sir.” Avior responded nodding in thanks before leaving and returning to where a smiling Glendale and Christina were waiting.
“Which class did you get?” Avior asked knowing full well the answer.
“Eagle! How about you?” Christina asked hopefully.
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“Sparrow.” Avior responded with a neutral tone.
Glendale looking to cheer him up chimed in. “Don’t worry about being placed in the bottom class. Students can move up if they show considerable aptitude. And even if you stay a sparrow you’ll still be given access to more resources than most mages could even dream of. If you do manage to move up your resources will only increase. The falcon, hawk, and Eagle classes all hold increasing opportunities to thrive and propel yourself forward as a mage.”
Seeing an attendant walking over Glendale gave them a farewell. “If you ever wish for guidance you can find me in Garden Hall if I’m still here that is and not wandering around the continent like when I found you two.”
Christina bowed towards Glendale. “Thank you Professor Glendale for saving my life and bringing us here I’ll never forget your kindness. She said with all the seriousness a twelve-year-old can muster.
“Haha, very well I look forward to seeing what you two grow up to be.” Glendale said with a smile as he handed Avior and Christina off to the attendant who took them to their new respective residences.
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Deep in the eastern continent at a river crossing that provided the only passage from the area of the Spines to the Berdale meadow a scene of slaughter was taking place. Thousands of mounted riders in red were clashing with an equal number of soldiers wearing blue. Any organized fighting had long since been reduced to a sprawling melee in the waist-high blood red water of the crossing. Dismounted soldiers were fighting tooth & nail as thundering hoofs splashed in the shallows all around them. Large clusters of dead horses had become makeshift barricades for the dismounted against incoming mage strikes while the cries of dying horses and men alike served to ensure no orders coming from either side’s officers reached their soldier's ears. Every soldier held the same crazed look as they struggled in the hellfire colored waters straining every muscle in a desperate effort to just stay breathing.
Arden, who had never been the type to stand idly by, was in the midst of this landscape of brutality, enjoying the atmosphere. Arden watched with passion as a dismounted soldier used his teeth to tear out a screaming mage’s throat before being run through with a sword grasped by a soldier in blue. Arden glanced back to his own work as he pulled out a spear which made a satisfying schlrp sound as it separated from the unfortunate soldier Arden had chosen to sheath it in.
“Scoundrel ARDEN your opponent is me!” A sound suddenly echoed throughout the ford as a man dressed in fancy blue robes styling a grey goatee appeared at the top of one of the hills watching over the crossing.
Arden looked at the confident man and a grin broke out on his blood-covered face making him seem vibrantly mad. He shouted his response as he began charging up the hill a trail of fire burning any soldier in his path. “Geezer Saphir thank you for coming all this way to see me. Now be a good grandpa and die for me.”
The man in fancy blue robes, sharing Arden's eagerness, launched himself into the fray. Soon soldiers dressed in both red and blue stared in awe as the shockwaves created by the renowned 6th Mage Saphir unleashing his infamous bloodthirst aura washed over them.
Saphir threw his hands forward while running, launching a sinister stream of blue streaked with red toward the rabid Arden who had seemingly self-immolated now sharing a visage to that of a massive bonfire. In a flash Saphir’s attack collided with the blazing Arden, exploding into a massive cloud of steam and incidentally obscuring any outside observer's vision of the fight. The soldiers of each side who had been at each other's throats, now tamed by the understanding they were nothing but ants when compared to their two leaders, retreated to either side of the ford straining their eyes to try and perceive any sight of the duel which would decide their fate.
Between flashes of fire, the silhouettes inside the steam changed from the original two combatants to three, then four! Confused the watching soldiers prayed whichever side the unknown reinforcements belonged to were their own. After what seemed like an eternity to the two armies the sounds of magic clashing and the pace of shockwaves being emitted from within the thick steam began to die down until finally silence reigned throughout the ford.
Slowly, the steam dissipated under the feverish gaze of soldiers from both armies desperately hoping whatever remained would not spell their imminent doom. As the last of the steam vanished a few horrified cries sounded out from soldiers in blue while most seemed to be frozen in disbelief. Now revealed were three identical-looking Arden’s, faces smeared with a shit-eating grin like they had just gotten away with peeping. Before the men in blue could fully accept the extent of their despair the eerie quiet of the ford became replaced with the howling of raucous cheers emanating from Arden’s soldiers. Now armed with the realization of their imminent victory, they charged forward backing the identical Arden's who now set about bathing the remaining enemy troops in a light of fire and blood.
Unfortunately for the men and women in blue, what would go on to be known as the “The Bloody Battle of the Ford” was destined to have only one winner from start.
-----
Inside a command tent atop a hill overlooking the ford strewn with thousands of charred corpses, a remaining Arden clone sat lounging lazily as he wondered if every war would end up being as easy as the last. As if to object to his idle thought a servant boy in red came in and spoke to Arden while kneeling.
“My Lord a courier from the Church of Radiance has come with a message for you.”
The Arden clone grinned as he spoke aloud. “A courier from the Church? How interesting. Send him in! Send him in!” Arden then whispered under his breath “Maybe he has a cure for my boundless boredom."
Soon a middle-aged man whose hair showed signs of turning white matching his robes entered while escorted by two soldiers in red.
The priest immediately spoke, sparing no pleasantries. “Lord Arden, the Church sends its congratulations for your most recent victory. We wish to extend an offer of alliance.” The man spoke humbly but concisely.
“Oh? An alliance with the peace-loving church? And why would I care for that?” Arden spoke plainly, more curious about why the offer was being made than anything.
The man in white pulled out a scroll from within his robes. The startled guards annoyed the man would pull out something concealed raised their weapons before being waved off by Arden as he carelessly sauntered forward and took the scroll.
As Arden began reading the priest spoke up. “The church has recently discovered a force behind the scenes manipulating the three continents. It's been decided if anyone is to survive, those unassociated with the hidden plotters must unite. The Church believes you would be a great ally to them and they, as well, to you.”
Arden let out a chuckle as he finished reading the scroll. “Priests errand boy I will admit I’m no fan of being manipulated. After all, my first act after establishing my kingdom was to burn all those no-good nobles who were always looking at me with scheming eyes. If the church’s goal is to manipulate me into being their meatshield I’d rather burn the church instead." Arden paused a moment to enjoy the couriers panicked eyes before continuing. "But if the offer's genuine I wouldn’t mind setting the shadow forces alight instead.”
The priest, who had been trying to keep a steadfast expression the entire encounter, allowed for a hint of relief to flash across their face before responding. “Great Flame Emperor Arden what would you like the church to do to show its sincerity?” The man asked, careful not to proceed forward in negotiations with an unreasonable man like Arden without the utmost caution.
“Sincerity? HA! Send me gifts! Oh and a beautiful woman. But mostly gifts!” Arden exclaimed loudly.
The priest stopped himself from rolling his eyes as he thought to himself. Of course, we know you want gifts, but what kind! But he calmed his inner thoughts down before prodding further. “The church has a variety of artifacts we can provide, perhaps I can send you a list an-” He was cut off by an annoyed Arden.
“Artifacts! Who would want those stuffy things? No! Send me warriors with potential and things to help train warriors. Haha. Yes, this is what I want! Ahem. Aside from that beautiful woman of course.”
The priest stood still shocked for a second before bowing with the most gracefulness he could muster. “I will convey your wishes to the Nine with utmost haste my Lord.”
“Go. Go! Be on your way to bark my words back to your masters.” Arden waved for the two guards to escort the man out of his pavilion. After they left Arden allowed another large smile to spread across his face as he looked down at the scroll which had been given to him by the priest.
Two different shadow organizations battling for power. Both high profile enough to catch the Church's attention while being secretive enough for the church to not know anything of merit about the two groups. Or at least not know anything of merit they're willing to tell a lowly warlord like me. Either way, it seems like I may have found some of my siblings. Arden's smile grew wider as he looked out across the bloody ford starting to be basked in a fittingly red sunset.
“Wait for me dear siblings. I’ll meet you all soon enough.”