017 | Corruption

VINCENT’S BODY TREMBLED IN the strain of using too much aether. He had pushed himself too far, too fast, and now he could feel the aether burning through his veins.

  When he looked at his arm, his skin had become pallor, and his veins indeed had become black. He stumbled, nearly falling to the ground, but Lisa managed to catch him just in time.

  “V...ent! Calm ...r s... core!” Lisa said but Vincent could barely make out her words. He felt his muscles spasm and his vision blur.

  However, he knew what to do, and thus he closed his eyes to concentrate, trying to keep the aether from poisoning him.

⁂

It has been a day since the beginning of the battle in Edares, and the rebels finally revealed themselves as the Order of Kalis. Kalis claimed to be the RMA's armed forces, similar to the Order of St. Claire by the Church of Andel. Victoria knows this is not true and is only framing the RMA to achieve her goals.

  She watched the city from atop a hill. While it looked peaceful under the bright sun – the war was simply at pause. Once the night arrives, the war will resume.

  Then finally, the person she was waiting for appeared. A rider approached before climbing off his horse.

  "Aaron," said Victoria with a nod. Aaron's warm, caramel complexion was marred with wounds, and his black hair was unkempt.

  "Thanks for your help," Aaron nodded in response. "I still can't believe Theodore managed to trap and capture me. I also lost my emblem when I escaped."

  Victoria shook her head. "I've also made a mistake... we have gotten too desperate. Theodore is also a smart man, using his own family as bait." Then she looked back down the hill toward Edares. "Not everything will always go according to plan," she said, and thankfully, she had men who infiltrated the ranks of the prison guards. If not, Aaron's hope for escape would have been futile.

  "As for your emblem, it doesn't matter. We've already revealed the Order of Kalis to Alardice. It doesn't matter if the Aramdales find out that we have spies in their midst," said Victoria with a smile. "But more importantly, did the detachment succeed?"

  Aaron looked down for a while and did not respond. Finally, he shook his head. "No. They've all been slain."

  "I see," Victoria said and clenched her jaw. After the failed kidnapping of Cassius, she expected Theodore to have more security for his family.

  Thus, the attack on Edares was also an opportunity to be a diversion of keeping Theodore away from his family. This would then give a Kalis detachment – composed of elite non-sorcerer combatants and five second-realm sorcerers – higher chances of assassinating Isabella and Cassius. "Was it Theodore?" she asked with a furrowed eyebrow.

  Aaron shook his head. "Unlike our expectations, we've spotted six enemy High Sorcerers – not five," he said and listed names. The five were Brigadier General Louis Fletcher, Lord Hamili Manawis, Colonel Armas Ilagan, Colonel Lyrion Knight, and Commander Davis of St. Claire's. "They're mostly the ones responsible for taking out our sorcerers. The sixth is that unknown man who defended the Aramdale estate. He has not shown himself after the battle. We would have succeeded if he wasn't here."

  'Is it Lucas? Is he also here?' Victoria thought as a sudden feeling of bitterness and nostalgia overcame her, briefly reminding her of the past – of Lucas, Isaac, Theodore, Lucius, Isabella, and Talia. But for her goal, she has already killed three of her best friends, and even their son Hiram, albeit it was not her intention.

  Though upon the thought of Hiram attempting to save Talia, she felt a stab of guilt. Victoria shook off her thoughts and asked, "Is that man an Umbra?"

  "A shadow sorcerer?" said Aaron and looking surprised. "I don't know. The battle took place inside the mansion. All we know is that no one came out alive. I left momentarily after Theodore showed up."

  "One High and one Grand protecting the estate... it doesn't matter. It's still within our expectations," said Victoria. While she hoped the attack would succeed. It is still just a separate minor plan that wouldn't change anything even if it failed. However, it would have been nice if it succeeded because it would make her future plans much easier.

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  Ultimately, the true nature of the attack in Edares is a diversion of a much bigger plan. "As I said, we can't expect every plan to sail so smoothly," said Victoria.

  She then took out a map of Alardice. "As long as Theodore, Archbishop Walton, and Lieutenant General Williams are all occupied. We can take the cities of Celgard, Elmere, and Ivemire."

  Alardice is divided into three major island groups or regions, and Victoria wrote 'X' marks on the three major cities in those regions: the City of Celgard in Cevalon or the northern islands, the City of Elmere in Elyra or the central islands, and the City of Ivemire in Idorith or the southern islands.

   Just like Elmere, the City of Edares is also located in Elyra.

  Aaron looked at the map and said, "Yes. The three Grands are all occupied. Archbishop Walton is gathering the wounded and protecting the citizens at the cathedral, so he's not out fighting. Lieutenant General Williams is on his way to Edares with reinforcement from Elmere. It'll take them a week of riding, then our forces can take over. Theodore is yet to join the fray."

  "Good. Even if the assassination failed, Theodore will be forced to play it safe," Victoria said. "How about the Scions?"

  "They've finished their tasks in Allassa sooner than expected. They've retrieved the armament from Yamahara. They should land in Cevalon, Elyra, and Ivemire in about two weeks. When it comes to Elmere, even if Elmerian reinforcement returns from Edares right away, three of the Scions will still reach the city first and immediately fortify it. As for Celgard and Idorith, it'll be easier to take over due to the absence of a Grand and the lack of Highs."

  Victoria smiled. In addition to the armaments, the Scions are composed of nine High Sorcerers to bolster their forces, which will be spread into three groups in the three regions. "How about our losses so far?" she asked.

  "Over five hundred men. Roughly fifty of those are sorcerers."

  It was a painful number, especially the number of sorcerers they lost. But they were necessary... without dispatching that amount of sorcerers, enemy Highs would have no trouble disposing of them all. After all, Edares is still the most fortified city in all of Alardice.

  "That's more than I expected. But our remaining forces should be enough to cause delay," she said confidently. After all, many buildings like banks and businesses are being targeted. If the battle were to take place outside the city, they would stand no chance.

  Then Victoria whistled, and a stallion of black came galloping. "Let's head back to the RMA headquarters. Everyone should be back. It's time to get them on our side," said Victoria, and Aaron responded with an excited smile.

⁂

The chamber was lit by a chandelier that emitted a flickering radiance, causing the intricate designs on the walls to cast a shadowy play of light. A boardroom table, flanked by six high-backed chairs, dominated the center of the room. Seated around it were the leaders of the RMA with grim expressions.

  Victoria scanned the room, taking in every detail. Some of the people at the table were Illustrated. Some were insulars, some were half-bloods.

  To her right sat Lady Miriam, a striking woman with flowing black hair and a sharp wit. She wore a long, flowing dress of deep green velvet adorned with delicate embroidery. She’s also a member of the nobility and a half-Alardi. Her pale features contrasted well with her green eyes. Lady Miriam met Victoria's gaze with a smile.

  'Miriam. She's sly as a fox. A loyal ally of Isaac and the Crestmores. Hiram's godparent,' thought Victoria.

  Then she looked at Sir Ishmael, a cold yet fierce High Sorcerer. He donned long, lustrous hair that fell in loose waves around his face, framing his chiselled jawline. Ishmael looked at her with deep green eyes, offering a curt nod.

  'Ishmael... A threat to the cause,' she thought. 'But he will be useful once I bring him to my side.'

  There was also Elizabeth with a book in her hand. An Alardi with flawless light brown skin, with a dark hair, pulled back into a messy bun. Despite her glasses and pleasant appearance, she is a doctor and a wizard of the third circle.

  'Dr. Elizabeth, who recently became a High Wizard from the University of Edith. She's already seventy years old, but she still looks like she's in her early twenties. The brain and the strongest pillar of the RMA – and also the master of Isaac. After so how many years, she finally came back,' thought Victoria. 'She will be useful.'

  Finally, she looked at her allies – the leaders of the Order of Kalis – those truly responsible for the Tragedy of Crestmore and those responsible for the chaos in Edares.

  At the head of the table to her right sat Sir Alzona, a tall, imposing man with a neatly trimmed beard and piercing green eyes. He wore a black suit with a silver chain draped across his chest, symbolizing his authority. He belongs to the gentry and owns a business empire. He was voted the de facto leader of the RMA.

  Opposite Miriam sat Aaron Tolosa – her top spy and a High Sorcerer.

  As they sat around the table, the air was thick with tension. Sir Alzona cleared his throat and spoke in a deep, commanding voice.

  "We are gathered here today to discuss the future of our movement. As you all know, we have been fighting for change in Alardice for many years. But the time has come for us to take more drastic action."