image [https://i.imgur.com/yFu9mOD.png]

XX

Visionary

My first order of business the next morning was with my brother.

‘I’m entering,’ I said and lifted the flap to his tent. My forehead scrunched after catching sight of him. ‘You didn’t listen to me.’

He was looking worse than two days ago.

‘Many needed treatment right away,’ he said while yawning. ‘It’ll be less busy now that they’re dealt with.’

That was a lie if I’d ever heard one. I’d already assigned someone to check on him and make sure the line outside his tent didn’t grow too long, but it appeared more drastic measures were required.

I’d think of a solution. Well, later anyway, if I were to get what I wanted out of this conversation.

I took a seat. ‘Leah finished deciphering the rune.’

The height of his attention peaked despite how tired he was. ‘And?! Where are they?’

I repeated what Leah told me.

‘Near the mountains?’ he said. ‘Why would they go there?’

‘Your guess is as good as mine unfortunately.’

He paused to think. ‘You should mobilise our army.’

‘That won’t do us any good.’

‘It won’t?’

I shook my head. ‘Their scouts will see us coming from miles away. It would only ruin our advantage of surprise.’ My hands linked underneath my chin. ‘We’ll send out a small team who will search for the orcs instead. Their report will determine our next move.’

‘I see,’ he said. ‘Well, you're the commander of us two. When are you leaving?’

‘Tomorrow at the latest. However…’

He invited the rest of the sentence.

‘I was hoping that small team would include you, Levi.’

He sighed as if he’d expected it. ‘I’ve already done enough fighting for my like, Seph.’

‘I know. That’s why you’re staying in Winterforge. You’ll be the recouping point for Leah and whoever else.’

Mentioning her name got the reaction I wanted. Though I disliked having them together, giving her extra guarantee was necessary. That, and it was an excuse to get him away from this tent.

‘Also,’ I said, ‘you’ll be bartering with the Ebonfrost clan in my stead.’

‘Bartering with the masons?’ he said.

I nodded. ‘I have a plan to help the refugees. We need the clan’s workforce for it to work, so you’ll be my mouthpiece.’

That would lend credence to whatever was said. The only better option was for me to be there in person or have Leah do the trading. Both of those weren’t possible.

Levi thought hard and long. So long, in fact, that I thought he’d fallen asleep. But he opened his eyes and stared straight at me.

‘I’m sorry, Sepharin, I cannot leave the refugees to fend for themselves.’

I paused. There was more I could say, but one look into his eyes was enough.

‘Very well,’ I said, sighing. ‘I’ll ask one of the merchants.’

They wouldn’t do it for free, but there was no other way.

This was where Levi expected me to take my leave, so he raised his brow when I didn’t and said: ‘Is there anything else?’

I had pondered the phrasing of my next sentence an entire night. Even now, I was considering it. But consideration could turn into hesitation, so I spoke quickly.

‘Do you mind if I stay and watch?’

He frowned. ‘Watch what?’

‘You work,’ I said, careful to keep my tone level.

He huffed. ‘I’m not a child, Sepharin. I won’t work myself into my grave.’

Yes, he would.

‘It’s not that,’ I said.

To get closer to someone, you had to get closer. But of course, I wouldn’t tell him that. I turned to the exit, behind which I sensed the presence of dozens of people. ‘I want to see what ails my citizens. Surely, you won’t deny me that?’

And though he chewed on it, he couldn’t find reasonable grounds to refuse me. ‘I suppose…but don’t disturb my work!’

‘Don’t worry,’ I said. ‘I’ll be a fly on the wall.’

And so I sat down in the corner of the room, watching my brother work.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

The black orc known only as ‘Captain’ or ‘The Black Menace’ to the frostguards was on the field. His black armour was matted in so much old blood his attire looked painted, and in some places, the foul-smelling substance had the shape of a wicked smile.

Malakai shivered to his toes at the sight. What he’d told his liege was true. Combating the creature was demoralising. The tremor going down your arm when you blocked a swing was enough to siphon all determination out of you. A glance at his face was enough to make you envision the cold grave you’d be lowered into, should you be lucky enough to remain in one piece. Besides him, one felt small. Worthless. Pathetic.

And so every frostguard had given up sparring the Captain. They sat on the sidelines instead, hollering at whoever dared do battle.

There was one who always did.

‘Oh, he’s going, he’s going!’ the guard at Malakai’s side said. ‘Get him, Gregory!’

Malakai watched the Senior Frostblade level his claymore and circle the Menace. When nothing happened for a while, he found his gaze drawn to the disabled frostguard beside him. Ian One-Eye, they called him. His name explained it all except that he also had one ear. He’d lost his organs before the orc attacks. The reasoning differed depending on who you asked and at what time (the craziest tales were told at night), but whatever the story, one thing was certain: Ian was a damned good fighter. Malakai had scored a hit on him only once.

And melee combat isn’t even his strong suit, he thought solemnly. The bow Ian carried with him everywhere wasn’t far from his hands.

‘Have you thought on what I requested?’ Malakai said.

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In front of them, Gregory broke the stalemate. He roared and barrelled forwards with a horizontal sweep that would bisect any regular man. It did not get through the orc’s buckler.

‘Wat he ask ya?’ Another guard said who threw his arm around Ian.

‘Nothing that concerns a drunkard like you,’ Ian said, dodging the guard’s arm with ease. ‘Didn’t they chew you out this morning?’

‘Nawp,’ the guard guffawed.

Malakai didn’t comment. Too many had lost too much in the attacks. Who was he to judge?

After Ian didn’t budge, the man was quickly lost in the ongoing spectacle.

‘I thought about it,’ Ian said.

Malakai tensed and prepared himself for the rejection.

But Ian smiled. ‘I’ll do it. I want to see whats’s got our ice queen so worked up.’

‘Ice queen?’ Malakai said, hiding his joy with surprise.

‘You seen her face?’ Ian chuckled. ‘Not one guard has seen her so much as smile ever since she arrived.’

‘That so?’ Malakai said, searching his memory. ‘I’ve seen her smile.’

It wasn’t a lot, mind you, but it was plenty.

Ian’s mouth fell open. ‘You for real?’ When Malakai nodded, Ian’s head whipped around. ‘Ay, Rider, hear this—Malakai says he’s seen the ice queen smile!’

‘What?! He’s taking the piss!’

Rider was one of the others Malakai had asked to join him. A short and stocky man. Part of the reason Malakai wanted him was because Rider knew his way around the frontline of a battle. The other was his strategic mind; tests showed Rider had a battle IQ of 200.

Malakai thought the perfect opportunity had arrived to check two of the targets on his list at once, but the revelation of “the ice queen smiling” had drawn the attention of nearly everyone around them.

‘We know yar a cripple, but dunt lie for sum attention, One-Eye!’ One guard yelled.

‘Ain’t no lying, Doug,’ Ian said. ‘Came straight from the pup’s mouth.’

Malakai sighed and shook his head as the questions and accusations rained down on him. He should’ve kept his mouth shut—

Thoughts were cut short as a hellish warcry thundered across the field. Malakai’s muscular system spasmed and he went to his knees. Other soldiers cried out. Many bent over and clenched their stomachs, fighting the fear hidden within the deepest pits of their soul that was coming to the surface.

One man laughed maniacally.

‘Hah! I made you use it, didn’t I, hellspawn!’ Gregory yelled.

And though his movement was sluggish, the big man powered through with a swing that had the force of a cart which lost its wheels at full speed. It caught the Menace off-guard—the orc turned a slash into a quick defence and caught the blade in the nick of time…but not even the Menace could block this one.

The claymore shoved shield and arm aside as if they were children and struck the orc across the mouth. The Captain stepped back. One step. Two steps. And a third before he caught his balance. If an undead could show surprise, the orc’s face was the epitome of it.

Silent was the field. All that could be heard was Gregory’s ragged breathing. His pupils were alive. He raised his claymore to the air, and the field exploded in cheers.

The guards rushed Gregory, pulling him off his feet and proclaiming him their champion.

Ian huffed. ‘Monster. I wouldn’t face him if you offered me the kingdom.’

‘Me neither,’ Malakai said. Briefly he considered who was stronger in a straight up fight, Gregory or the Warden. But the idea left his mind just as quick. The Warden’s reach advantage was significant. However, beyond that, Malakai just couldn’t envision her losing. Not to anyone. Or anything.

The hero of the day escaped his captor’s clutches and trod their way.

‘Young Wolf!’ Gregory said in a low voice, which was nearly yelling for him. ‘I’m glad to see you’ve returned! Are you ready for a round with the beast?’

‘Greetings, Sir. Not yet. It’s not what I’m here for today.’

‘Oh, then what are you here for?’

Malakai paused. He still hadn’t figured out how he was going to convince this behemoth to join him.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

It was afternoon, which meant it was finally time for Levi’s break.

‘And?’ Levi yawned. ‘What do you think?’

I was still sitting in the corner of the tent. ‘That our people are hardy.’

There was nothing else to say. Despite the ailments they suffered from (which ranged from frostbite and infested wounds to anything else), they never gave in. It was as if the hardship was a known commodity to them—something they expected and adapted to rather than rebuke with curses.

Levi watched me. What he searched for within my countenance, I didn’t know, but he nodded. ‘I will continue in an hour. You can leave and return later if it pleases you.’

‘I’m fine. I’ll stay here for now.’

‘Alright.’ He picked a book from his desk and began to read.

For myself, I descended into thought.

There were two issues that required my immediate attention. One, extending the range of my network. If that wasn’t in place, the risks of everything I was planning rose astronomically. Luckily, I had a few ideas.

Second, was my manpower. I called a frozen core into my palm.

[Undead soldier, lvl 5 — Race: Human.]

I had two powerful undead. Ones I believed could win a fight against everything I had seen until now except Leah. One of the two was going with Malakai. The other was shadowing my mage. The problem with that setup was that it left me alone.

And I was the most important piece in the chain.

What I need is another super soldier.

And how best to make one? Killing levelled my undead, yet there wasn’t much of worth to kill around here except humans…but it wasn’t the killing that made them stronger.

I searched inside myself for a core of black, and the obsidian gem flickered to life in my other palm. The air around the crystal grew heavy. Closing my eyes, I put my ear to it. A moment passed. And in that moment I thought I could hear them cry—the souls from which it had been pulled and crafted.

My hands held both cores to the light. Blue and Black. Frost and Death. I pushed them closer together on a whim, and the cores started humming. Stronger and stronger the nearer I held them until it was an effort to keep them separate.

Yes, I thought. What made them stronger wasn’t the killing. It was the miasma. And death-attuned miasma—

I put away the black crystal and drew energy from my core. Death crawled up with it, and I poured it all into the frozen gem.

Nothing changed. But the crystal kept absorbing, so I kept going. And then I watched as the core pulsed.

[Undead soldier, lvl 6 — Race: Human.]

I smiled. Durak had gotten the option to become a squire yet had not been fit for it. But what about him? Would he usher in the revival of an order, one that had followed me everywhere in my previous life?

Perhaps. I’d make certain to feed him well over the next few days.

The high of nostalgia vanished, and I remembered where I was. But when I turned to the side, I found Levi’s face nestled in his book.

I chuckled and covered him in a blanket I plucked from a nearby table, then went outside.

It was time to test another theory.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

Jaeger and two faces I hadn’t spoken to in a while were waiting for me outside the city near a treeline.

‘Why she got us collectin’ critters?’ I heard Drake’s complaints over the wind. Michael looked away and pretended not to hear his companion. It’s why he was the first to notice me. He nudged Jaeger.

‘Warden!’ Jaeger said. ‘We did as you asked.’

Drake jumped in place before adopting a scowl. I hope she didn’t hear me, his expression said.

I stifled a chuckle and glanced at the pile of dead animals at their feet. There were at least a dozen, being a mixture of hares, snow foxes and owls, and ermine.

‘I see your hunt was successful.’

Jaeger jabbed a finger at Drake. ‘Hunting and complaining are his two strengths.’

Drake chewed his lip but didn’t speak.

‘Your work is appreciated,’ I said, then bowed and placed my hand on the hide of a hare. Blood smeared onto my gauntlet as I searched for the heart—a task made easy because the arrow had pierced straight through and I could follow the bolt's trajectory.

‘You’re a good shot,’ I said.

Drake mumbled his thanks.

A flash of power, and the hare got to its feet. I made it run in a circle to test its integrity. No complaints. I quickly raised a second one and produced one of my orcs. The soldier ran into the frozen wastes together with its newly raised companions.

The three frostguards mutely watched all of it happen.

Drake asked Michael a silent question. The boy raised his shoulders and said wordlessly: “It has nothing to do with me.”

Well, it wasn’t for them to know anyways.

‘Let us return,’ I said. I didn’t have to stay here to know the results.

image [https://i.imgur.com/z6G5s0x.png]

Darkness was pushed aside, and light settled where its cousin lost ground.

Levi opened his eyes...and found himself on an island.

…Strange.

His only experience with islands could be found in a book, yet he knew that the piece of land he was on must be one, for there was nothing but sea around him. A cool breeze that wasn't cold sailed past as waves ebbed back and forth. The sound mesmerising. He must’ve stood there for an eternity, just listening.

Then he noticed the sun. It was overhead. Bigger than he had ever seen it before. Hotter than he had ever experienced.

‘Where am I?’

He looked around as he questioned this. Nothing but trees with big, green leaves, and sand in all directions. Levi peered, focusing his mind on gathering anything useful.

That’s when he saw her. A woman sitting on the edge of the island. She was sitting so still he had thought her a part of the land at first. But though he noticed her now, Levi couldn’t make out the features of her face nor the shape of her body, though he somehow knew she had both.

…However, if he couldn’t tell any of these things, how did he know it was a woman? The more he thought on it, the more it confused him. But that confusion vanished—nay, it was expunged—when she turned towards him, and a wave of divine energy purer than anything he dare produce in his wildest dreams washed over him.

She spoke. Levi did not hear. Before he knew it, he was prostrating. And right after that, he was fully awake and back in his tent.

The difference between the worlds slammed into him. His head snapped up from the book it was resting on, and a blanket he didn’t remember pulling over himself fell to the floor.

He couldn’t think. He couldn’t even question what he had seen or what it could’ve been. His hands and arms were quivering. They were so raging hot he removed all of his clothing so his limbs could breathe.

And yet they burned hotter.

Levi ran outside and buried his arms in the snow. The heat remained. He should be screaming, he knew, for he faintly recognised the sensations as pain. But a single thought dominated his being more than anything did:

‘Leave for Winterforge.’