April 26th, 625
Almost 5 months flew by and I barely felt the passage. With so much information in my head each day was just another stack of papers in the Grand Library of my Mind Palace. That library constantly expanded, constantly collected information for me to peruse whenever I wished. I could basically relive each day, though there were some days that I preferred to keep shelved amidst all the other books, not minding that they collected dust, knowing I had already learned the lessons I could from them.
With the start of the new year I had resigned myself to doing what I could. I couldn’t fall into the spiral of thinking that just because my actions weren’t significant enough, I should do nothing at all. I needed to push myself and continually progress regardless of what was happening around me.
That meant I had to study, had to keep cracking my advancement formation, had to keep fighting. It had been about a year since I had advanced to Authority 6, and I was about halfway done with the new advancement formation. My visualization abilities were exceptional and it turned the otherwise daunting Authority 7 formation into a manageable but still challenging piece of work. Soon enough I would crack it, and then I would use it to develop my second Spark. When I finished, I would advance.
During January and March, the two months I was in the Capital working with Sawn, I managed to study and learn enough to design over 200 different established enchantments from memory. I could tell you why every single line, rune, and array were placed and arranged the way they were, and what purpose each of them played. I understood them all inside and out and I was already able to make my own enchantments. Sawn didn’t hold back and allowed me to be privy to some of the enchantments used in military applications, most notably certain weapons such as the turrets that most often went on top of Steeds. Sawn Industries didn’t build the Steeds themselves, that was another competitor, but he had a good hold on all things magical while that competitor seemd to have a hold on all things material. Sawn’s specialty was the Aerial. The competitor, Gearworks, specialized in vehicles like the Rails and Steeds.
Soon enough, that would change. I surely wouldn’t be going to Gearworks to develop my weapons and tech, and Sawn was thrilled to see the beginnings of certain designs I had put down on paper.
Next month, in May, I’d be going back and I’d be solely working on development, specifically on a new generation of vehicles that would change the face of warfare forever. There was nothing more for me to learn in regard to the basics. I was now on what could be considered the cutting edge of enchanting, and although I had studied even while back at base, it had only taken me a handful of months to get there. That spoke to both how simple it was as a field and how monstrous a good Summoner mind was.
For now though, I was back at the Treehouse, and I was attending a very important event, one long in the making.
I was dressed in my glimmers, feeling particularly vulnerable without my normal coat on, but disregarding it for the sake of this occasion. Around me were Generals, Colonels, Brigadiers, and the Marshal. Most of the bigshots were here and there were plenty of familiar faces.
I straightened my blazer and walked over to one side of the venue. The occasion was so big that they had managed to call upon some civilian caterers and get a spread. The floor was paneled with wood, the entire rec room being reserved and decorated to look like a real venue instead of a shack on a frontline base.
Looking at this scene, someone might think that we weren’t actually fighting a war. Generals had to have their luxury and fun every now and then though, so this occasion served multiple purposes.
I grabbed a glass of alcohol from a tray and walked over to a nearby standing table.
Nonnen smiled at me.
“Looking sharp, Envoy.”
“You as well, sir.”
Nonnen was dressed in the standard dress apparel for knights. Their dress uniform was black, a bit similar to a warlock’s in design with red trim. It looked more like a tuxedo than anything else but Summoner Glimmers still took the lead in that department.
He asked, “How many people are supposed to show?”
“Around 150,” I looked around, noticing more people continuing to arrive, “It’ll be a bit cramped and honestly my anxiety is not enjoying it.”
“Why are you anxious?”
“Well, we have just about all of our base’s leadership in a single room. It could either be considered the safest place here or the best target for a most devious ambush.”
I didn’t need to explain why. All of the intelligence leadership was in this venue. Losing them wouldn’t necessarily cut our head off, but it would quickly lead to a breakdown in the command structure and things would be chaotic for a while until the Marshal managed to get more Colonels and Generals here to help him get a grasp of everything. Not to mention I would probably be dead with them. It wasn’t a very desirable situation.
Nonnen leaned against the table with his elbow, “With the second phase of Operation Breakwater though, we’ve established a hard line well beyond the base. The Scourge can’t even siege this place, let alone sneak the monsters in to do an ambush.”
“I think you’d be surprised.”
“I’d be more surprised to know that they somehow got wind of this, especially with you having cracked down on that.”
“Well…”
I glanced around, eyeing a few particular Generals. My conversation several months ago with Polly flashed through my head.
She still hadn’t managed to weed one out, but she had her leads. It was no longer a dry case, and the fact that she had found even the slightest evidence had her scared. My words were no longer crazy to her, and she had used that motivation to push herself to break past her own limits.
I glanced at Nonnen before reaching out with my mind, activating my telepathy. I had started communicating with him like this because I trusted the man, and there had been certain situations in the past that warranted such secrecy. Now was one of those times.
[We haven’t managed to find the traitor among the highest ranks. Honestly, this may very well be another bait mission for us. Polly has used this occasion as an opportunity to watch certain attendees, seeing what they did with the news that this was occurring. Well, if something happens, we’ll know for sure that there’s a traitor amidst the Generals.]
He glanced at me, responding, [Why would they ambush this place and kill one of their Generals?]
[You underestimate just how little the Scourge cares for human traitors. Traitors are pawns to be used, and since they’re getting ready to invade in full force, they may try to destabilize us by killing most people here. In that case, why wouldn’t they sacrifice one little pawn?]
[Good point. You know, sometimes I get worried when you start talking to me about what they would do. Your guesses are too often on the mark.]
“To catch monsters you must fathom what they may do.” I spoke out loud, “It’s the price we pay to protect. Else you are among the ignorant that must be protected.”
“Hm, that’s a good way to put it.”
Nonnen and I went silent, watching the rest of the venue. I could see Polly going around and socializing with many of the other generals. Jasmine was there with her, Polly’s most loyal Colonel.
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I found it interesting to think about what I had gotten into by making a deal with that woman. She was incredibly smart, cunning, breaking past the stubborn barriers summoners put up to keep others from competing with them. She knew how to use advantages, carving out her own slice of authority at a Stronghold in the middle of nowhere and using it as a foothold to insert herself in the highest levels of decision making with sheer competence and hard work. What I had given her only served to act as the catalyst for this very moment.
“Attention!”
The shout snapped through the room, everyone going silent, some of those at the lower ranks straightening their backs and facing one side of the room.
General Viskar, the one overseeing this event, stepped forward with Polly. He stood behind a podium while Polly took a position to the side standing with her hands clasped behind her back.
He started his speech.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this day is years in the making. Before you stands Pollina Demerius, highest intelligence agent of stronghold Charlie and Charlie Company. Her merits are known by many. 27 years in the military, Pollina has had no small hand in securing the western edge of the frontlines for over a decade. Her merits extended further as this very base was reinforced, her expertise and knowledge of the region accelerating our establishment in this combat zone by months if not years. She has been an integral part of the Kingdom’s western forces and dominance, her skill and wisdom ensuring that bases and cities for hundreds of miles were free from the threat of flanking Scourge forces. Most notably, she is responsible for raising several other intelligence agents that have helped obtain vital intel on the Scourge that has secured the face of the western front for good.”
General Viskar recounted some of Polly’s contributions and merits over the years, speaking for several minutes about those alone. Some of his words were too optimistic for my tastes but this event could serve to raise morale just as much as it carried out its other purposes.
Once he finished the real event began. The General turned to Polly and called.
“All hands, acknowledge your sister in battle, by my decree, General Collin Viskar, Highest Intelligence Command of the Western Theater!”
There was a snap as everyone saluted, Polly and General Viskar facing each other with their right knife hands over their chests.
“Pollina Demerius, do you solemnly swear, on your life, your honor, under the eyes of he who stands in place of the Crowned King Distrion Jealven Alphon, that you will uphold the Tenants of the Kingdom of Dragon Tongue, uphold the honor of the Military and all its laws and forces, and for the sake of your fellow man, resist the Scourge of this world?”
My brows momentarily raised as I heard almost all the words I expected. Polly nodded anyway.
“I solemnly swear, on my life, on my honor, and for the sake of my fellow man.”
“Then step forward, and with everyone here as a witness, on the 12th hour of the 117th day of the 625th year, recieve your dragon wings.”
Polly put down her salute and stepped forward, General Viskar meeting her with a step and unpinning her Colonel Arrows.
Two pins, insignia with a single pair of dragon wings, were put on the corners of her collar.
Once General Viskar stepped away, they both saluted once more.
“All hands, acknowledge Brigaider General Pollina Demerius! For Honor!”
“For Honor!”
“For Honor!”
“For Honor!”
Everyone chanted as I smiled, claps erupting after the third chant.
Polly was finally a Brigadier General, that once insurmountable hurdle finally crossed.
While the clapping subsided Polly went around and shook hands of those who wished to congratulate her. After a few of those formal interactions Jasmine went up and gave her a hug. Both of them had worked toward this day for many years, and even beyond the deal they had made, the two had formed a bond that went beyond the military or any duty they may have.
She gradually made her way to where Nonnen and I stood, after most people had come to shake her hand at least once, as if they had always been her friend, as if they had ever wanted her to reach this height.
Nonnen smiled and leaned in for a hug, teasing her with his large frame, “Congratulations, Brigaider General Pollina Demerius.”
“Be quiet and come here,” Polly rolled her eyes and hugged him, turning to me once they separated.
I nodded to her, “Tally one more congratulations. How many is it now?”
“84,” she replied, pulling my shoulder in so we could hug, “And many of them are thanks to you.”
I returned the hug, my arms wrapping under her own, “You deserve it. I’m glad I was able to help as much as you thought I would.”
“Just know my appreciation of you goes beyond our cooperation, John. I know you know that but it’s always good to put these things into words.” She pulled away and smiled at me, “I’m glad to have you by my side. You’re a damn good kid. I don’t care what Nonnen says.”
“Wait huh?” Nonnen staggered at the sudden mention, almost coughing on his drink.
Polly chuckled and pat my shoulder, stepping away, “Enjoy yourselves, boys. The woman of the hour needs to tend to the social scene.”
I waved to her, smiling as Nonnen dabbed his chin with a napkin.
At the same time, I briefly recalled the speech General Viskar gave for the promotion.
For the sake of your fellow man, resist the Scourge of this world, he said.
I had gone over the official speech a while ago, it was in one of the texts for promotion material that Colonels needed to learn. It was proper to learn procedure for those things.
Well, those weren’t the words he was supposed to say.
“For the sake of your fellow man,” was originally, “For the Grace of God’s Holy Light.”
It was definitely religious, but that’s how it was supposed to be. It seemed that things had been subtly changed without much notification. I wonder who it was that demanded that change, and why General Viskar felt the need to go along with it despite it not being very official, disregarding the tradition that had stood for centuries prior.
Another thing to ponder as I took a sip of a drink.
……
A couple hours passed and a big lunch was served and devoured. It was the tastiest food these people had eaten in months and they were sure to indulge in every scrap. We actually managed to clean out the caterers, especially when dessert came.
I wasn’t that worried because soon enough I’d be going back to the Capital where I could get all the sweets I wanted. It wasn’t fair to compare though, so I just kept my consumption minimal so others could have more.
The promotion ceremony was supposed to last close to half the day, and a big chunk had already passed. It was getting close to ending and some of those lower on the rungs left early to tend to some of their work.
What shocked me though was the fact that, despite nearly 5 hours passing, we hadn’t been attacked. I hadn’t even felt the slightest bit of danger.
I was pleased, but that also meant that Polly’s plan to weed out a traitor using this ceremony as bait went up in smoke, not that we necessarily wanted it to succeed that badly. It made me wonder why the Scourge didn’t take this chance. I was always going to assume that there was a traitor so all my logic came from that perspective.
Nonnen appeared at some point and bumped we with his elbow.
“So much for your theories, huh?”
“Hey, sometimes it’s nice to be wrong.” I shrugged, “For once I haven’t predicted and watched as a horrible disaster came to pass.”
“How many times have you done that before?” His brows raised as he turned to me.
“I’m not actually entirely sure but at least thrice, and it’s only happening more as I get more powerful.” I sighed and leaned back, overlooking the rest of the venue.
Nonnen shook his head, “You and that Aura of yours. Honestly though, we’re still doing pretty good. The Kingdom hasn’t seen the need to send a Sovereign so we’re not at the point of no return.”
“When would they send a Sovereign?”
He rubbed his chin, “Well, I’ve heard that those at Authority 12 can sense each other across the world. That includes the Scourge. Of course, I’m sure that power fluctuates and not all Authority 12s are created equal, but that’s the general consensus.”
“So if a Sovereign shows up…” I muttered, and at that moment the door to the venue opened.
Everyone turned to see who it was, all eyes laying on a large man even taller than I was wearing heavy dress attire, fitted with a custom insignia detailing a hand clenched around a sun.
He had long hair, a sword scabbard at his waist with a waist-length cape draped over one shoulder.
Now that I knew he was here, I could sense a bit of his Aura, a mere hint that eluded toward something far, far deeper than I’d ever been able to see before.
A Sovereign, in the flesh.
“Oh, looks like I’m not too late.”
His voice echoed through the dead silent venue, a slight smile tugging at his lips.
Everyone simply stared, every single General rapidly guessing what this man’s presence meant for the entire Western Front. They all came to the same conclusion.
I turned to Nonnen with narrowed eyes. He planted his face in his hands, looking exhausted already.
And I said the words hanging on everyone’s minds.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”