Originally uploaded Sep 19, 2023

Glory Pov

My entire body ached as my head threatened to burst open. My forced my eyes open and was met by the foggy grey sky. I urged my body to move, but each small movement only sent waves of sharp pain all over my body.

Focusing in on my core I channeled the mana to spread throughout my body, in an effort to soothe the pain somewhat. I could feel my body grow warmer as I did so as some of pain subsided. And as I began to regain my bearing outside sounds filled my ears.

The sound of spellfire crackling and the shouts and yells of soldiers. Using both of my arms I propped myself up on a nearby tree stump as I saw the battlefield before me.

Alacryan soldiers marched forward, their frontline was a shield of mana barriers as the tide of invaders surged forward. And enforcing them from the side were a platoon of warriors made of lava and stone. My mind began to slowly return to me as I tried recalling what had happened.

A large portion of the army that were originally sent to the frontlines with Lance Varay had retreated all the way back here. Saying it was under the Lance's orders and that she had engaged in combat with the Alacryan Retainer. And I had rallied them to muster a support for the general Varay when Lance Olfred suddenly showed up and.

My hand unconsciously drifted back to my chest, the heavy steel plate of my chestplate was dented inward from the Lance's attack, sending me back and into a tree.

Suddenly a blade swung for my head, abandoning my thoughts I dodged by sidestepping the attack. Willing earth mana into my fists I punished my attacker for his miss. Driving my hand right into his chin his neck snapped back as he dropped. For some reason the dwarven Lance had turned against us and decided to side with the Alacryan invaders.

Was it something they promised in return? Or was it from spite and disdain towards the other races? While I didn't involve myself in the politics of it all I know there still was an unspoken animosity between all three races even after the formation of the council. But for a Lance to turn his back on the continent that was his purpose to protect.

"Damn it all!" I cursed out loud as my sword ignited in bright red and orange flames. With a heavy swing large arcs of flame and crystalline glass were launched towards a squadron of Alacryan soldiers, impaling and torching them.

I survived a Retainer attack, and I was sure as hell not going to die here like this. My core burned as I forced more mana from it, channeling it into my very muscles I could feel the pain and fatigue subside. I charged forward, kicking up dirt as I did so. A torrent of coarse sand blasted forward from my palm as with another smooth arc of my flaming sword melted and hardened them into sharp glass.

My blade sunk deep into the chest of one of the Alacryan warriors, making easy work of their armor and burning their wound shut. With a yank I withdrew my blade from their lifeless corpse that tumbled onto the ground. Looking around I saw some of our own forces standing their ground. One of which was princess Tessia's group and princess Kathyln.

While I didn't spend a lot of time with either of the princesses of their respective countries. It was a well know fact while I was at the academy that Kathyln's raw talents with her deviant magic she has grown in the time I hadn't seen her. And for Tessia, before she was admitted to the academy there was a lot of mystery surrounding her. Only ever showing herself in public when she joined her parents on diplomatic visits.

Even then there wasn't a lot of information known about her. But after finding out that she was childhood friends with the all too mysterious Arthur Leywin I couldn't help but pay more attention to her. Her skills as a mage were outstanding for her young age as an elf. There was a reason why she was such a prominent member of the student council. And it seems she hasn't wasted her time since then.

Hacking through the Alacryan forces I made my way to them. An army of vines erupted out from the ground as they grappled at the faceless warriors made of magma. The green vines began to burn before a wave of ice froze them solid and shattered them like brittle ceramic.

Kathyln was the first to notice me, and she greeted me with a small nod as she flicked her wand. Casting a barrier of ice that shielded one of our own soldiers.

"Mind me joining you guys?" I joked as I took to the front. While these youngsters were talented and all it felt wrong to rely on them to fight this battle. Kid these age should be spending time at school or with their families, not on a bloody battlefield.

"Oh, your still alive?" Darvus, a young fellow wielding a twin set of heavy axes yelled back as he drove one of his axe heads into the neck of one of Olfred's conjured warrior. The stone soldier unbothered by this motion grabbed at Darvus's arm. Pinning him as flames burst forward, climbing up the young man's arms and onto his chest.

Suddenly a loud bang could be heard as the resulting explosion sent the stone man holding Darvus flying. Stannard stood pride with his blaster in his hands.

"You're welcome." Stannard said smugly as he loaded another mana beast core into his weapon. Darvus only clicked his tongue as he touched at his burnt clothes.

"We aren't here to best each other." Caria said trying as she was trying to catch her breath. As we continued to hold our ground more and more of our own forces began to join us. At first it was just a handful, but as time went on they began to rally around us. But the strangest thing was that Lance Olfred hadn't made a move yet.

He was hanging in the air as if he was standing on solid ground. He was just there, doing nothing. Not even leading the Alacryans, honestly he looked more like a lost child than anything else. It seemed like he was waiting for something, but whatever it was I wasn't going to waste this opportunity.

The Alacryan soldiers obviously wasn't expecting that much of a resistance, as our forces consolidated they were beginning to be pushed back. With only Olfred's own summons being their only support they were still outnumbered by us. It seems that we have prevailed when Olfred began to move.

The spear made of stone, glowing with magma struck the ground with enough force that it launched several of our own soldiers and even the retreating Alacryans into the air. And before I knew it he was upon us.

A white core mage granted his title to protect our continent and its people turned his strength against us. He wielded no weapon, he didn't need to. The ground opened up as it swallowed people like ants, pillars of stone shot out from the ground sending people flying into the air and killing them as they popped like balloons on impact. He was making his way there us like an adult manhandling children.

Multicolored arcs of spells filled the air as the mages who could respond desperately cast spells. But I knew it was an futile effort. As mages grew in strength and core stage the difference between them only grew exponentially. In retrospect it was a smart plan. Dicathen's resources were already stretched thin, and luring away one of our own Lances to surround us was a sound strategy.

We didn't have anywhere to retreat. And I didn't think for a second the Alacryans would treat us kindly if we were to surrender.

No, if I was going to die I am going to go down swing. My core ached as I channeled more mana into my body. Fire ignited my skin as I yelled at the traitor Lance.

"Why don't you pick on someone your own size!" I taunted as I jumped for him. Bringing my sword up to my head I slashed down at his head. But with motions that didn't even seem human a large wall of stone was summoned and with contact with my weapon my sword shattered. Sending sharp fragments of metal and stone raining down I cursed in my head as I began to tumble out of the air.

Mana rushed from my core and into my hands as I conjured a sword of rock and fire. Stone pillars erupted out from the ground as I used them to boost myself up to him.

I didn't exactly know what I was doing but attempt suicide. A mage of my level challenging a Lance alone the same as walking straight into the gates of hell themselves. Perhaps it was the bloodlust and anger that drove me to do so. Or it was the desperate attempt to buy at least a few more seconds for the soldiers behind me. I was a captain after all, and these people placed their lives in my hands.

And if my life was enough to buy them some time or save a handful of them it was worth. My chest ached, my muscles burned. My mana core protested as I fully withdrew all of the mana from within it. Placing them into my strike. Pale blue flames burned across my entire body as shards of razor sharp rock and glass propelled themselves forward like an army of arrows.

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The traitor Lance was in front of me. His face was stern and unmoving as the very ground itself. As I drew closer the entire world around me seemed to slow down. I could see and feel everything around me. An arrow sinking deep into a soldiers should, the crackling sound of lightning as it burned through a squad. I could even feel the mana reacting to the Lance's will. As tiny motes of yellow exited his body and gathered at his chest. Condensing until they formed a layer of earthly armor.

'This is what I have trained for.' I reassured myself. All of those years of hell I had put myself through was for this. Fighting for my country and its people. Defending those who could not defend themselves. It was a life well lived for that purpose.

The tip of my conjured weapon made contact. My vision blackened, perhaps from the backlash. I could feel an immense heat explode forward as I felt tiny cuts and stabs pierce right through my armor as if it was paper.

I could feel my body tumble out of the air as the last of my strength abandoned my body. It felt as though it wasn't even my body. As if I was feeling everything that was happening from an outside perspective. There was an emptiness that felt cold but welcoming and relaxing at the same time. The last thing I saw before losing consciouness was the grassy ground racing towards me.

Arthur Pov

I pulled my hood down closer as I made my way through the market. Being a human among these dwarfs did make me stand out due to my height. But they didn't seem to mind that. After I had the entire capital lockdown many merchants and travelers were trapped within the city.

It had been only a couple of weeks but they seemed to have adjusted better than I had thought. Of course the execution of many of their prominent political figures weren't made public yet. They didn't even know I had taken control of their underground city.

The sounds of the bustling market filled my ears as I walked. Many of the merchants and store owners beckoned me to their stores. It was an odd feeling. Despite all that is happening outside and even just a short distance from them, all these people were just going about their normal lives.

'What are they supposed to do? Raise their arms in rebellion against you?' Regis chimed in, he was still deep within the main castle of Darv but his voice rang loud and clear.

'Fair enough.' I shot back.

'You can't always have this double existence Art.' He rang in my head but I chose to ignored him as I drew close to one of the shops. An array of different gemstones and rocks were neatly arranged and displayed on a heavy wooden table. Picking up one of the gems I brought it closer to my face to better observe it.

"You have good eyes." A gruff voice called out. Placing the stone down I lifted my head up slightly and saw a large dwarf. His forest green eyes peered into my eyes as he nodded with satisfaction.

"I mined and shaped these babies with my own two hands. No mana was used in the process." He proudly proclaimed. You would think that using mana and other magic tools to create things would be a good thing. And in most cases it was. But for dwarfs using their own hands and might to shape the natural world was a thing to be proud of. They believed being able to craft things with no external aid was the true mark of a dwarf.

"They are nice." I commented with a acknowledging nod. Which he seemed to take a bit of offense to.

"Just nice?" He questioned with a hint of hostility seeping into his words as his big bushy eyebrows raised themselves like fluffy caterpillars.

"I am just a traveler and don't have eyes for such things." I reassured the dwarf with a slight smile. And with that he did seem to calm down somewhat.

His powerful arms wrapped around my neck as he brought me close, bringing me down to his eye level he pointed at each of the objects on the table as he began to ramble off about them. Going into great detail as to where they are from and how they are formed and mined. I wasn't expecting a geology lesson of all things but it was a nice change of pace.

Suddenly pressure built up in my head and ears. As loud ringing could be heard. At least it sounded like some random garguling, then it corrected itself into a more coherent speech.

'Where the fuck are you?' Neoth cursed in my head, having forced a direct communication link between our minds by bridging the distance with aether it felt as though he was yelled directly into my mind. So much so that I could even feel the contempt and annoyance seeping in.

Ignoring him for a second I pondered whether I could try to break free from his dwarf's grip. He was rather strong, no doubt from all the hard manual labor he does. But I voted against it, I didn't want to draw to much attention to myself and he seems to be a nice fellow.

Politely interrupting the man I questioned him about the price of a necklace. A chain of silver and gold metal wrapped around each other in a helix pattern ending in a small deep black gemstone that glistened like the night sky.

He said some number but I didn't pay much attention and just handed him a pouch full of gold coins. He could tell from the weight alone that I had overpaid, but before he had the chance I plucked the necklace and merged into the crowd.

Turning my attention back to my Djinn friend I reestablished the mental connection with him and with that a wave of frustration filled my own mind.

'Get your ungrateful ass over here!' He screamed into my brain.

'What is it? Can't you just tell me?' I questioned him as I continued window shopping. Picking up a rather delicious looking fruit. It filled my hands and was quiet lump.

'I think it would be easier if your dumbass is here so I could explain it. And you can literally teleport so get here now.' Neoth hissed like snake.

While I had done much of the work dealing with all of Darv's leaders and the main defenses I had pushed off most of the political work to Cynthia and Neoth. Although I did advise them on a couple of things. I didn't live my previous life as a king and learn nothing.

And adding to that I had ordered Neoth to work on Nico and the mess of a soul and memories he had. But at least this time when he awakes I will have time to set the story straight. Of course he will try to kill me but baby steps.

I still hadn't made my presence known to anyone outside of my sphere. Still donning the mask and name of Grey I have grown my reputation within the adventurer's guild and taken control of Darv. Which allowed me to have a double life of sorts. It was nice, being able to enjoy the little things in life. A luxury I never truly had before for a extended amount of time.

With a small sigh I placed the fruit in my hands down. Blending myself into the mass of people Godstep glowed warm on my back as aether carried up deep within the dwarven castle.

"There you are!" Neoth shouted as I materialized into a dark room he had fashioned into his lab. Regis was laying on his back on a plush pillow, looking up at me as I returned.

"Where is Sylvie?" I asked Regis as I kicked him lightly on his furry butt.

He yelped in mock pain as Neoth answered for him. "That damned dragon? Don't know, probably training or something. That's what all your people do anyway." He said with disdain. In fact, he never took too kindly to Sylvie's presence. And I couldn't really blame him, she was a dragon, Indrath's granddaughter no less. It made sense he held some sort of contempt towards her.

"So what was the thing you were telling at me for." I asked as I crossed my arms and leaned on the stone wall. The multiple tables around the room were covered with large parchment papers and various sorts of aetheric tools.

"This." He said as he pointed to a small screen made visible with a combination of mana and aether. It reminded me all too much of the electronic screens we had back on Earth. The image on the screen flicker for a moment before focusing. A large forest filled the display, with heavy mist making visibility worse.

With a couple hand movements the view shifted and I was met by a scene of battlefield with only two combatants. Pushing myself off of the wall I looked closer at the screen. A unmistakable head of bleach white hair and uniform made her identity apparent.

"Lance Varay." I whispered. And I took note of her opponent. That witch of a Retainer I had fought originally. I did predict for her to make a move but I haven't been follow the news about her for a while now. I had initially used her and the Alacryan occupation of the area around the Town of Slone as a distraction. If it wasn't for her their would have been some Dicathen forces or even a couple of the Lances knocking on my door.

I relaxed for a bit at the sight of two of them. When I had fought Jagrette I was only a silver core mage, I was sure Varay could deal with her.

"This is why you screamed in my head for?" I questioned the old Djinn. Even if it is a hard fight Varay was the best among the Lances. And even if I show up I don't think it would go down so well with my reputation among the Lances.

"While yes, that human is more than capable of surviving I wouldn't rest so easy. In fact I only noticed this because you told me to stalk that elf girlfriend of yours." Neoth said as he hunched over the screen.

"Stalk? Wait a minute, she is not-" I tried to correct him.

"She's not. Then why the fuck are we wasting all this time on her. Look, I know you told me that she is very important. That she is the vessel for this Legacy, whatever that means." Neoth said, putting emphasizes on the word Legacy.

"But if she isn't important why don't we just off her? I could easily send a single one of my warriors and nobody would know. I doubt there is a single being with the Dicathen forces that can sense aether do you?" He said as if I was missing the obvious.

"No. She has to life. I have plans for the Legacy and eliminating her so soon could cause problems." As I said those words I knew I was just prolonging the inevitable. I had rather... complex feeling about Tessia. While she is the vessel for the Legacy and will cause so much unneeded destruction she was still the small elven princess I grew to love. There had to some sort of other solution.

'You are just kicking the problem down into the future you know.' Regis chimed in but quickly grew quiet as he read my mood.

I sternly looked back at Neoth. And in the end he threw his hands up and relented.

"Fine fine. Mr.Wishy Washy over here. Anyways she is not the reason why I called you here. It was her." He pointed at the screen as the image changed again. This time it showed two fronts locked in a battle. Dicathens were falling back as they fruitlessly tried to defend themselves from the Alacryans and warriors made of fire and stone.

"I originally thought that she was your little lover friend. And as allies I didn't need you to grieve and go mad on all our asses. But if you don't care-" He spouted with sarcasm but I ignored him.

Through all the chaos I saw Tessia, wearing light armor wielding her thin silver rapier. And those stone warriors, they were Olfred's ability. And that would mean that the dwarven Lance has made his move.

"When was this?" I asked

"A couple of minutes ago." Neoth asnwered as he sat down in a nearby chair. He leaned his staff on the armrest as he let it go.

"It's the same-"

"The same place. Just a couple of meters away. Most of those people were sent to retreat by Varay. Heh, out of the pan and into the fire." Neoth joked and chuckled at his own joke.

"They are surrounded" I cursed. While a Retainer was one thing, adding another Lance into the equation changed things. Even if Varay were able to finish off the Retainer quickly Tessia was still at risk. I rushed out the door as Regis jumped out of his cushion bed and joined me. Sending a message to Sylvie I told her to gather Lucas and Cynthia and join us. Even if I didn't go myself this was a serious matter.

"Ay yo. Where are you going?" Neoth yelled from behind.

Without looking back I answered him.

"Going to take out the trash."