Originally uploaded Dec 5, 2023
Bairon Pov
Wild whips of wind slashed at my skin as I exited out the front gate of the flying castle. The bright blue skies were only partially covered by thin wisps of clouds that ran streaks in the sky.
"Sir!" A row of soldiers saluted when they noticed my presence. Armed in standard iron armor they were each armed with a spear and shield.
The castle was in a flurry of activity since early morning. Soldiers were coming to and fro from the teleportation gates, as many other workers scrambled to get ready.
Commander Virion had insisted we formally welcome Grey as a new king of Darv. While I had protested against this he made the point of showing good face towards the dwarfs.
"Any sign of him?" I asked the closest guard. He was a older gentleman. Maybe mid forties. With a well groomed mustache he was aged but from the way he conducted himself I knew he was capable.
"No sir. We have our people patrolling the nearby airspace but there have been no irregularities." He said sternly.
Indeed, I had pulled my own personal battalion and brought them here. I was not taking any chances with bringing that monster here. If we were going down I am going to go down swinging.
I marched forward, onto the stone pathway that cut through the front area of the castle. The well kept floor of grass and trees lined the walkway as I saw a pair of workers hoist up a banner displaying the flag of Dicathen.
Elves, humans, and dwarfs alike were working together as they made the correct preparations but I hardly paid them any mind as I made my way the the far end of the castle entrance.
There I stood, overlooking the vast greenery of the beast glades that lied below us. From this distance the trees looked more like edible vegetables then massive trees that were centuries old, hiding horrors even I was apprehensive about facing.
The fresh cold breeze hit my skin as I looked beyond the horizon. With mana enhancing my vision I could barely make out the gleaming blue ocean as it reflected the sun's light.
I took a deep breath, the dense mana of the beast glades felt like a glass of nice cold water after a long hot day. It seemed to refresh my senses, so much so that I could feel my body growing lighter.
"Worried?" A voice called out to me.
I turned to see Varay, clad in her silver armor with a golden signate on her right shoulder that denounced her allegiance and rank.
She didn't show it, her scars from her battle with the Retainer were covered but by the armor and bodysuit that covered all the way up to her neck. Instead she displayed her usual calm and cold composure that she always does.
"Are you?" I asked as I looked out into the sky again. In the distance I could dark clouds rolling over the mountain peaks.
Varay didn't respond for a while. Letting the silence hang between us before she opened her mouth to speak.
"This... King Grey. You have met him in person." She stated more like a fact than a question. Even standing just next to her I could feel the temperature around me drop a few degrees as her mana was like a potent snowstorm that was barely contained within her core.
"Indeed."
"And you believe it will be a repeat of last time?"
The incident at Xyrus was a mark of shame and failure for all the Lances. An full on attack in the heart of one of the biggest city. It practically happened all under our noses. Even then we weren't able to deploy in time with the damage having already been done when we did arrive.
It was this mysterious Grey character who dealt with many of the Alacryan invaders and traitors. The reason as to why he would do such a thing was still a object of debate. But if it weren't for him who knows what could have become of the innocent students who were there.
I thought back to the clash with Grey. Well, to call it a fight wouldn't be quiet right. The short bout we did have it seemed more like Grey was toying around with us. Entertaining our challenge to him, and when he lost interest he simply sealed away our cores.
Where he could have easily killed us one by one if he truly wished to. Yet he didn't, instead claiming he wasn't our enemy and disappearing in a flash of lightning
The Lances for by all definitions of the word failed that day. Our duty to act as the protective wall for the people of our continent went unfulfilled.
I went over and over that day with Grey. His fighting stance was fluent, each move flowing effortless into the next. It looked more like some kind of elaborate dance than a actual fighting stance. The way mana moved around him and obeyed his command without effort. And how he denied us of the very asset that set us apart from others.
Up until my most recent meeting with him. Whenever he was around there was something strange about it. As if he was manipulating something beyond our understanding, which was translated to a strange uneasiness or even dread whenever he drew close. My mind couldn't quiet place a finger on it. But there was something more to him.
"Even if he kills us all there is no way he would. He is playing up his role as a king and the people won't stand if he slaughters the entire council." I answered, realizing I was thinking for too long.
"And you believe he won't just beat all of Dicathen into submission.Or that he acts for a higher power and he doesn't care of the fallout?" Varay rebutted.
I could feel my fingers dig into my palms. I have already thought about all the possible scenarios and there wasn't one where Grey didn't hold all of the cards. We don't know anything about him but he seems to know a great deal about us. He already has a third of the continent at his fingertips, and we were already stretched thin enough as it is with this war.
Before I could properly think of a reply I felt a sudden change in the air. A gust of wind so strong that it pushed my back slightly assaulted the castle. Some of the people screamed or yelled in surprise as the trees swayed and danced.
The clouds began to move and shift at an unnatural speed in response to the wind as I shield myself by bringing my arms to my face.
Then a loud boom echoed outwards. A sound so loud that it rang in my ears and shook the entire castle. Feeling a warmth on the side of my head I reached upwards only to withdraw my hand and see blood on my fingertips.
Ignoring my damaged ears I flew upwards, trying to located where the sound had come from. Varay joined me as we both scanned the skyline.
"What was that?" I asked as a thick coat of mana covered my body and I readied a spell.
But my question was answered not to log after that. A sound of something being torn in half filled our ears as A giant beam of light bisected the sky right in front of the Dicathen castle.
The beam of light expanded, as it seemed to cut right through the sky. Revealing a gaping hole that hummed with purple energy that was alien to me.
And with another prolonged booming sound a massive entity emerged from the wound in the sky.
It glided soundlessly in the air, it looked like a blend of a ancient castle-like building and that of the ships Gideon designed. Only looking far more advanced in its make and build.
The fully emerged from the portal, and the portal shrunk down until it disappeared as if it never happened.
The massive ship hung in the air as if it was sitting on the solid ground. I flew higher to get a better view, it was about half the size of the flying castle. I tried to find words to properly describe it but I couldn't.
It had broad sides of sheer metal and stone, large opening housed cannons the diameter of adult humans that lined the sides. I couldn't fully understand what it was I knew, that this vessel was built for war.
I flew down to the castle as I joined Varay at the entrance. I could feel that she was also on edge, as I could feel the air particles around us solidify in the air into tiny flakes of snow.
We waited for a moment, hesitant on what to do next. When from one of the larger openings on the castle's side emerged a dark shadow.
It flew up to us, and as it drew closer I could make out the large leathery wings of a dragon.
The mighty beast flew up to us and on its back was him. Grey, dawning a dark emerald green coat with a well fitting dress shirt. His face was still covered by his white mask but his liquid gold eyes still shinned through his eye-holes.
He casually jumped off the dragon's back and stood in front of us. A sheathed sword by his side shook as he did so. We stood face to face for a moment as the dragon turned to fly back to the flying ship. Each beat of its large wings sending out winds of a hurricane.
Standing in front of him I could feel the sheer gravity of strength Grey emitted despite clearly suppressing it. From this distance I could feel the sheer cliff that was the difference in our strength.
"I believe you have been expecting me?" He said, his deep baritone voice being heavily altered by his mask. He looked around and over our shoulders.
"Ah, it seems you have made preparations. You are too kind." He jested.
Varay and I stood still for a moment longer before Varay spoke up.
"The council is waiting for you, your maje-"
Grey cut her off before she could finish her sentence.
"Just Grey is fine, Lance Varay Aurae." He said, putting emphasize on her last name. Almost like an open threat.
"Now then, we don't want the council to wait any longer do we." Grey said in a cheery tone as he walked around and ahead of us. Varay and I begrudging turned and led him into the castle. Led wasn't quiet the right word. Instead he seemed to know where exactly he was going and knew his way around inside. Seems his spies have dug in deeper than he suspected.
And soon enough we reached the main council chambers where most of the official meetings were conducted. Large twin mana enforced wooden doors with golden decorations and markings stood tall in front of us.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Grey stopped for a second. He stared up at the door, as if he was pondering something. But it was only for a second, he opened both of the heavy doors with ease as he entered the chamber.
The Eralith King and his wife sat on the left in elevated chairs behind a tall v-shaped table on the far end of the large room, with the Glayder king and queen sat on the right with commander Virion in the center.
Grey walked forward, his long coat flowing behind him like a royal cape. From the way he walked you would imagine he was some prince from a long lost nation. He not only exude an uncomfortable suffocating aura of strength but also gave off the airs of a king.
He walked up to the center of the room, where a similar chair to the rest of the royal family was. He sat down, as he faced the rest of the council. The Eraliths and Glayders seemed uneasy, and Virion's face was serious if not readable.
Before Virion could start Grey spoke up first. Unleashing a wave of his suffocating intent that made everyone in the room reel back in silence, even Varay.
"Let's get this done with."
Caera Pov
The town center was jam packed with people. All of them in suspense of the announcement from the Dicathen council. The large castle walls created a perimeter around the courtyard with a central tower that rose up high above with a balcony that looked down upon the crowds.
There was visible excitement in the air as people gathered around. If I remember correctly there hasn't been such a big occasion or an announcement from the council since the introduction of the Lances.
Most people probably thought this was some big talk about the war. Perhaps it has finally ended with peace talks underway or the Alacryan invaders have given up.
Alas, the truth was more likely the High Sovereign was most likely toying with Dicathen. Scythe Seris has told so that the High Sovereign only had Ephetous in his sights. And that this war with Dicathen was a mere afterthought.
The struggles and deaths of lessers mattered very little to beings like him. Indeed, while I haven't met him in person the Vritra clan of asuras were know for their intelligence as scientist.
So much so that they see and treat the entire world as their own personal laboratory. Something to poke and dissect to satisfy their own desires. I unconsciously reached up the feel my horns that were rendered invisible.
Scythe Seris has conveyed more information than I knew what to do with. Perhaps since I was risking my own life by being in Dicathen as a spy she believed at least I needed to know a bit of the truth. As well as her own cause, not that she revealed all her secrets.
In such times of war there were things you couldn't tell to even your closest allies. In truth I didn't even know my full purpose here. It was Scythe Seris who recommended my services and brought me here.
With the mission of monitoring a boy called Arthur Leywin. But ever since the Xyrus incident he had simply vanished. I initially thought he was killed in the conflict but with more thoughts I dismissed such ideas.
With the level of mana control and combat prowess he possessed he wouldn't have gone down with a good fight. But still, he was completely absent during the attack, and his name wasn't in the list of the deaths.
I had even started monitoring the Helstea household but there was still no sign of the mysterious man. It truly felt as if he completely disappeared from existence, leaving no trace and no trail to follow.
A loud wave of cheering brought me back to the moment as commander Virion stepped out of the shadows and presented himself to the people below. He wore a fine woven silk robe of deep forest green with dark grey highlights.
He wore his long white hair in a tail behind his head, he truly had the airs of a wise old king. From the confident stride to the way he waved to the people below he was used to this.
Virion Eralith, a silver core mage of good talent. As the previous king of the elves and one of the leaders of the last war Dicathen was apart of, he possessed what the other royal families lacked. Experience, but I wondered how much that would aid against a fight against asuras.
I have never met an asura, at least personally. Of course there were sovereigns who made public appearances during festivals or other important events like the Victoriad. While the High Sovereign never left his fortress in the Central Dominion.
Even from a distance the sovereigns exuded an powerful aura that made you want to bow in supplication. A feeling that puts your own existence into question as you feel like an insignificant insect in front of their might.
After the cheers died down Virion's son and his wife, the current king and queen of the Elenoir came into view. They both waved at the crowd in return but they seemed... uneasy.
They smiled, but it was a smile I was all too familiar with. The same kind of smile other Highblood families would put on. A fake one, a mask to hide your true emotions.
I pushed mana into my eyes as I enhanced my own vision to have a better look at their faces. They were pale, well, paler than usual.
'Just what was going on?' I thought. Why would they look so uncomfortable when this clearly seems like such a big event. And what would the council even have to announce at such a time.
There was no way in a million years that the High Sovereign would be even entertain the idea of making a deal with lessers. He would judge such a thing as unbecoming of someone his status and power.
I wasn't part of the military so the info I could gather has been limited. Mostly restricted to what my own agents could gather from rumors and what Scythe Seris relayed to me. So I was flying very much blind here.
I knew that a retainer had taken territory near Etistin Bay, but the info well dried up a couple of weeks ago. Which did make sense, if there was a retainer involved there wouldn't be many survivors to tell the tale but it still seemed odd.
Deep in thought I barely noticed the Glayder king and queen step out. Long streaks of greying hair marked the human king's wild fire-like mane of hair. Subtle bag hung heavy under his eyes, in fact he seemed the most stressed about all of this. While his wife was thinner than I had seem previously but otherwise the makeup she had on hid most of the imperfections.
"DI-CATHEN, DI-CATHEN, DI-CATHEN." The crowd cheered in unison as the current council all stood there on the balcony over looking their continent. But a strange figure stood behind all of them.
After a couple of minutes of chanting Virion raised his hand toe silenced the sea of people gather here.
"Everyone! We are in a time of war." Virion spoke sternly into a voice amplifying artifact that was placed in front of the balcony. His stern voice echoed throughout the large courtyard for everyone to hear.
"Despite a third of our council still gone we still stand strong." The truth of the dwarven royalty being traitors was an open secret. As well as their execution by Lord Aldir. And while many dwarfs still held a bit of disdain for their monarchies being dead they seemed to have mellowed in the past months.
"We have all worked hard for the safety of Dicathen. When the council was formed we all vowed to put aside our differences and history for all of Dicathen. We promised each and every one of you to guide and lead this continent we all call home. We must all fight together in order to keep our homes safe from the Alacryan invaders." Virion said as he pointed out into the horizon.
"But these are uncertain times, and we can no longer rely on just us to protect all of Dicathen." As Virion spoke these words visble confusion washed over the crowd. For most people they would have all of their faith and trust in the council. A whole continent united to fight one common foe did wonders for morale.
So it was understandable for them to be confused when Virion himself uttered such words. If they weren't fit and able to lead Dicathen, these kings and queens who ruled their respective countries, then who was? Was it perhaps an asura from Ephetous who would have full reins of the war effort?
But that would be an open breach of the agreement between Lord Indrath and the High Sovereign. And I doubt either of them would allow for such a thing to happen, when they have gone through such efforts to not do so so far.
Before I could completely finish my inner thoughts Virion spoke up again, cutting through the murmurs and growing doubt.
"Please, welcome with me, our new leader, our new king: Grey!"
Virion turned aside as did the other royal families as a man emerged from the shadows. Donning a dark green longcoat that matched Virion's robes. With a clean well-fitting white dress shirt, he dressed like a wealthy but understated noble.
But the strangest thing was his white mask that covered most of his face. Only two holes made his gold eyes shine through, and even from this distance I could see them glow like hot liquid gold.
There was no applause, just a deathly silence as this King Grey looked down on his new subjects.
'Wait what?!' I screamed in my head. Grey? The Grey that rode in on a dragon and slaughtered the attackers at Xyrus? That man? I looked again, and yes, the mask was the same as well as his unmistakable piercing eyes.
Grey stepped up to the front, both royal families tensed up as they took a step back, almost as if they were afraid of this man. Which was understandable now that I think back to what he did.
Sudden a wave of absolute dread washed over the entire courtyard as my body felt as if it had grown at least three times heavier. Sending chills down my spine I could feel beads of sweat form and roll down my back, some people in the crowd yelled out or out right fainted.
My head snapped back up to the man. Was this him? Was this his aura he just unleashed onto the people. A feeling that reminded me of the sovereigns of Alacrya, but to give off such a feeling to so many people...
His pale, almost milky white hands reached up to his mask as he took it off and revealed his face.
My jaws dropped as I took in the sight right in front of me. There my mana enhanced sight I saw him as clear as day.
At first glance his slender form appeared delicate, but that was just a facade. His long blonde hair swayed in the wind, the composed and hardened expression on his face. He was so beautiful that you could almost mistake him for a mirage, a flicker image on a screen.
"Arthur Leywin." I quietly whispered in wonder and bewilderment.
"People of DIcathen." He spoke but not into the mic. He projected his own voice out presumably with his own mana. Yet his words rang clearly than it did when Virion spoke. As if he was directly in front of you.
"I am Grey. Some of you will know me as the new king of Darv." He continued. Which was news to me as far as I knew the capital city of Darv, Vildorial locked themselves away from outsiders but there was too many things going on in my head right now.
Was Arthur Grey this whole time? Then, he was the one who...
"Upon a discussion with the current Dicathen council we have reached a conclusion." Arthur's words cut through the silence like a sharp knife.
"I am king Grey. The first monarch of a now unified Dicathen." He coldly stated as if all of this wasn't a massive upset. I couldn't even imagine what this would do to an average person let alone my position and purpose here.
Spying on some random boy was one thing, but he was now a king of Dicathen? Just what has he been up to while he was gone?
Some unknown stranger appears out of nowhere and is crown king of a whole continent? Would people even accept him? Wouldn't there be pockets of rebellion that would grow and spread like wildfire in the light of this news?
Doubt surrounding the royal family and the council will no doubt grow in people. Perhaps some will completely abandon their trust in them and their continent's leadership. Why would they want to follow orders from someone they don't know.
"Traitor!" A loud voice yelled, and as he did so more and more people joined in as they began screaming and yelling at Arthur and the council.
"Usurper!" "You sold us out!" "Cowards!"
The council members reeled back as their faces tensed, but Arthur was still calm. In fact he looked as if he was hoping for this to happen.
A loud roar that shook the entire ground silenced the people as a large beast stepped out into the light. The council members on the balcony hastily moved out of the way as a dragon stood behind Arthur.
An species of asuras, beings thought to be of mere legend in Dicathen myths. A true deity.
Its black scales absorbed the sunlight so that it looked like it was made of shadows. Its large topaz eyes matched Arthur's, giving off an unknowable ferocity and intelligence unlike any other beast. Its large head reared up as it opened its jaws and roared again, shaking the balcony.
Some people yelled in shock and panic but their was something else that cut straight through the dragon's deafening roar. A large booming sound assaulted my ears as I instinctively covered them.
A long beam of light appeared in the sky. And it expanded, tearing the sky in twain as a whirlpool of mana swirled in the air and created a massive portal in its wake.
The entire castle was darkened by a gigantic shadow. From the portal emerged a vessel. Looking like a mix of a castle and the steam powered ships that Dicathen constructed. Its sides and bottom were heavily armored in a shiny black metal I wasn't familiar with.
Large cannons the size of full grown men adjourned its sides as it hung threateningly in the air above all of us.
I couldn't even fully comprehend what is was but one thing was clear, this was a thing made for war. And this was Arthur's way of convincing us.
Arthur stepped off the balcony as he walked on thin air as if there was solid ground at his feet. A feat only possible for white core mages, so that would mean he was at least on their level. But this, this was something else entirely.
This display of power, from his dragon to this war vessel. This is meant to send a message.
"As your new king I shall fight tooth and nail to defend this continent. With the resources I posses even the gods shall know fear." Arthur spoke, his voice rang inside my head.
He reached down to his waist and unsheathed a sword that hung from his belt. Its blade glowed, casting a holy white light on everyone. It struck awe into even my own heart. He raised the sword and pointed it slightly upwards into the skyline. His long coat fluttered in the wind like a long cape as his dragon joined, hovering in the air just behind him.
This was the picture. The image the sovereigns drew for themselves. Them being these larger than life gods who would descend upon our lesser world to lead us to greater heights. This was the image of a true god.
He spoke again, and this time the people listened. How could they not, seeing just the show of strength that they had just witnessed and being caught up in all the emotions. I was more surprised people weren't kneeling down and worshiping him as a savior or god. Perhaps it was the aura he possessed that reminded me too much of the sovereigns or this whole over the top show he put on. But I wondered if Arthur was an some kind of asura himself. Some agent of either of the two greater forces in this world.
"People of Dicathen rejoice. I am your salvation. I shall be the bulwark against the terrors of this world. I promise to lead this continent, lead all of us to glory!"
And for the first time since Arthur appeared the crowd cheered.