"THE PLEDGEBORN HAVE A FATAL MISTAKE WITH THEM. THEY ARE LOYAL, EVEN IF SOMEONE BREAKS THEIR PLEDGE, THEY WILL STAY. SOMETIMES, THE EXTRA TIME ALLOWS THE DEVILDEALERS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT, OTHERS IT DOESN'T.”

* THE HELLFIRE CHRONICLES, HOLY BOOK OF TRAGSXT

6th of Jirath, 1012 on the War Calander

Enjin knelt reverently inside the steel church of the camp. Nanos made transporting large buildings easy enough, though they needed to be separated and put back together, but in the last few years, moving had become rarer.

They still participated in conflicts with the Sali, but since their new King took the throne, their fighting was half-hearted.

In front of Enjin was a statue of a man with a light tan. He didn't look Yjraith, but he was their founder. A long mane of gray hair ran down to his shoulders, complementing his pure white eyes and scraggly beard that adorned his sharp face, matching his soldier's body.

Kalendi, Arcanum of Cloud. The first cloudsummoner. That's what most of the world knew of him, but the Yjraiths were better. In Yjraith, Kalendi is The Holy Prime Witness. He was the first Arcanum. He was the one who sought them out and united them against 3rd Bleakness. He watched the skirmishes until four others caught his eye. He even personally trained Jirath.

Enjin made one last prayer to the skies and Kalendi before leaving the altar and stepping into the burning sun. It seemed to be getting less hot recently like it was dying.

He strolled through camp, inspecting the soldiers and workers. There were three forges small enough to be transported by nano, though the same couldn't be said about the materials. The blacksmiths forged new weapons and armor, and they'd continue until their shift ended.

Thankfully, Enjin, being an Elevated One, had to power to decide not to use slaves in his camp.

A few huddles of soldiers stood at different fenced areas, training under their generals, though most of them lounged around, waiting until their next battle or training session.

Enjin traveled around until he found a stone hatch hidden well beneath the ground. Enjin lifted a hand, causing the hatch to fly open with a gust of wind.

He jumped inside to check on the underground farm. Using Lumosvine for photosynthesis, the four different layers of the farm didn't produce much food, but that didn't matter as Yjraith sent deliveries to keep the warehouse stocked.

After checking up on the entire camp, Enjin went to his office, where his guard, Loyad, greeted him, "Elevated one."

Enjin was going through a large stack of papers when a golden light appeared in front of his head.

He looked up, seeing a courier, scrolls able to be teleported long distances. Enjin picked up the scroll and started reading the Yjraith script, each word filling him with rage.

The King of New Learu city had squandered the mercy Enjin had given him by freeing a Yjraith slave. The brand sent a signal back to the homeland to inform them of the transgression. Enjin, along with the rest of the Elevated Ones would take a group of around 10,000 to raze the settlement.

The worst part was it meant he had the see the rest of the Elevated Ones.

The four others would be arriving "shortly" which was a word Enjin hated. The Queen or whoever wrote these blood-spilled letters could use it to mean either 5 seconds or 5 days!

A large thump shook the mountain, and chatter started immediately.

So it's 5 seconds then, Enjin decided in his mind.

He sighed to himself and went to meet his "honored" guests. Standing outside his office were a few Yjraith soldiers on the ground from the sudden impact, and a huddle surrounding them, all gawking at four people in shining steely white armor with patches signifying their rank; for the first time since the Learu City incident and for the first time during Enjin's tenure, all 5 Elevated Ones were in the same place, on the same mission.

"I hate those guys! Well, except for Rebbeca, I know you...don't hate her as much," Glass said, suppressing a cackle at the end.

Enjin made a point of ignoring his pledgeborn's comment and just summoning him as a katana in his right hand.

One of the Elevated ones, Lady Rose, stepped up to the three soldiers on the ground. At first glance, she looks super kind, she even had Enjin fooled on their first meeting. She had long purplish black hair, a pretty face that somehow looked more appealing with the scars, and pure white eyes, just like Kalendi. The soldiers on the ground looked at her like a goddess, which probably shouldn't have made Enjin laugh as much as it did.

Lady Rose extended her hand to the side and summoned her Devilblade; a large claymore and hung it centimeters away from cleaving the soldier's throat.

"To fall with a simple force made by our landing is disgraceful, I dare say that the Yjraith army would be better if you lot suffered a painful end."

She smiled sadistically before pulling her claymore back, "Just kidding...I'll make it painless!"

She swung her massive blade towards the soldiers. Enjin slashed the air with his katana, making a gust of wind so strong the claymore almost blew out Lady Rose's hand.

"You will not kill my soldiers, Rose!" Enjin screamed, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Oh, please! The both of us bear Kalendi's eyes! We can do what we want." Rose countered.

"I bare Kalendi's eyes, you...you were a divine mistake."

"I thought the Arcanums didn't make mistakes."

Enjin scowled, "You're an exception."

Rose laughed, "Enjin, how can you seriously believe in this dribble? It's simple genetics! At best, Kalendi is a distant ancestor."

"Hertic!" He chided

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Enjin scowled, She was right, but there was meaning to their genetics. Kalendi had sent them with a purpose.

Was his purpose to destroy a city of innocents?

"Well, theology aside, that still wasn't very nice, Rose!" a cute voice pouted behind her.

Enjin tried hard not to smile at her voice but failed.

The girl stepped forward. She had slightly lighter skin, a cute face littered with freckles, long flowing black hair with white underlights, and intricate armor that looked like an art piece.

"Hello, Enjin!" She said, cheerfully.

"Hello, Rebbeca." Enjin greeted, hoping the dimming sun would hide his blush.

She beamed at him when he said her name, which confused him to no end, but Glass snickered in his mind.

"You two are cute!" His pledgeborn laughed.

Enjin composed himself, greeting the other two Elevated ones. There was an average-looking Yjraith man, dark skin and short brown hair with a thin sword Devilblade in his hand. He had curly brown hair and black eyes.

"Lrai." Enjin greeted. The man just nodded in response. He was amenable most of the time, but the man was a Frosjr in battle.

Then, there was a hefty man who stood about twice as tall as Enjin. He was middle-aged with wrinkles all around his heavily scared face and thinning gray hair, including his beard. He had a pair of large spectacles that gave him a kindly grandpa look. He was the Devil.

"Karim." Enjin bowed, as typical of men to their elders in Yjrath, though he had a scowl on his face when he said it. This man was the largest defender and owner of slaves in the entire country.

Enjin thought half the reason he stayed alive was to make sure his property didn't escape.

"Enjin..." Karim greeted, though the man's face had a scowl more intense than his own.

Enjin made the rest of the proper greetings to the Elevated Ones.

He pointed to a guard, "Lead them to their rooms." He instructed.

"No need," Rose said, finding a diamond-shaped piece of obsidian with a glowing gold core; A nano. "We brought our own!"

"Of course you did." Enjin replied, trying to suppress an eye-roll, "Find a place to put it where it won't disrupt anything."

He started to walk off when Rose called to him. "How about a practice duel, Enjin!"

Cheers started vibrating through the crowd. He heard snippets of encouragement; about how he was the best duelist and how there was no way he could lose.

Rose smiled devilishly, "How about you tell them our score!" She said, disturbingly cheery.

Enjin sighed, "27-0 in your favor." He said blandly.

The crowd wilted, filled with shock.

Rose met his eyes; she really was offering a battle. "Fine, after the mission, we'll have a bout! Everyone gets an extra break to attend!" The soldiers will need a morality boost anyway.

Rose congratulated him on finding the courage to accept his 28th loss and led the rest of the Elevated ones away to find a place to put their rooms before going to the small arena to train his protege.

.

.

.

Enjin trained Odith. He couldn't use a Devilblade, unfortunately, Odith wasn't a Devildealer. Devilblades are much sharper than regular steel, the only thing that could match a Devilblade is pure 100% Spiral Obsidian. Though there were a few Devildealers who could conjure blades stronger than Obsdian, Enjin heard they dripped with golden water, though one hadn't existed for a few decades.

So that left Enjin swinging a regular katana that couldn't change form and Glass complaining.

"I'm much better than a steel sword! Use me!"

Enjin chuckled, "You're too good; I can't use you!"

Odith was a promising 19-year-old recruit. If he was being honest, he'd been speaking with a pledgeborn for months, but can't figure out the first pledge.

Enjin told him the words, of course, but when you're bonding, you can't even comprehend them enough to speak until they've been etched into your soul.

The two fought, him using a javelin and Enjin using his katana. Sparks flew in the air, and the wind gusted around them; the boy was close, but something was stopping him.

Maybe a bit of risk would help him out.

Enjin stepped back, allowing Odith to close the distance. Enjin dropped his steel katana and summoned Glass, cutting away the spear and knocking Odith to the ground.

Enjin held the blade close to the man's throat, "Say the words!" He demanded.

Odith murmured, but couldn't get them out.

Enjin sighed and gestured for him to take a break.

He saw Rebbeca watching the duel from the gates, an inquisitive expression on her face but ignored her.

"What's stopping you?" Enjin asked.

"I...I can't believe in the empire." Odith whispered.

Enjin wished he could be surprised. He sat down next to the man.

"Don't say that to anyone else."

"The Pledge, it has to do with justice, right?" Odith asked.

Enjin nodded.

"Are we really doing the right thing? I mean, we're going to wipe out an entire city just because they did the right thing? They get punished for being virtuous?"

Enjin sat there for a time, taking in every argument he tried not to make to himself. Enjin nodded.

"I can't say that we will be remembered as just, but we don't need to be. Cloudsummors must adhere to their idea of justice, and for most, that means serving the empire." Enjin explained.

"Are you adhering to your justice?" Odith asked.

"I don't know, all I know is that I will have to decide soon. I'd hoped to change Yjraith from the inside, but how much longer can I keep ignoring reality?"

"What should I do, Enjin?" Odith asked, pleading.

Enjin sat quietly for a moment, and an understanding passed between them. "I wouldn't be a good Cloudsummoner if I didn't tell you to cling to your justice. I won't tell anyone what you decide. Very soon, I'll have to make the same decision."

Odith nodded, then stood.

The wind started swirling around them, clouds bubbling until Odith was in the eye of a hurricane reaching the sky.

"I pledge to fight for Truth and Justice, whatever that entails!" He screamed, becoming a Cloudsummoner.

The tornado subsided, leaving a soldier holding a javelin in his hand. A Devilblade. When first becoming one, summoning it is easy, but after that most lose the ability and need to make more pledges to conjure it at will.

Odith looked at Enjin, nodded, and returned to the camp, pretending he hadn't decided to betray the empire. Enjin did the same.

Whatever was going to happen to New Learu City, Enjin would be nothing more than a bystander.