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image [https://i.imgur.com/LoYByv0.png]
Hikita’s lifeless body laid in the center of a ritualistic circle I’d etched into the stone slab plaza using raw magicka.
The grooves were filled with a spellcasting component commonly used by priests when they needed to use advanced magick—the crushed powder of a diamond weakened by soaking in holy water.
“Don’t you think this is a bit of an overkill?” Julius asked, peering over my shoulder for the umpteenth time.
“No. I don’t.” I shrugged and continued to carefully met out my preparations.
Julius’ feet scrapped on the stones, small amounts of the diamond powder had spilled earlier, to my annoyance.
“It’s just… last time didn’t you just say a few words about some incomplete journey and called the soul back from the Aether? What’s with all this, I dunno, extra-ness?” he asked.
I shot him a glare, “All those previous times, I was using Capricorn’s magicka. I want to do it on my own this time. So excuse me if I’m being a little extra. I can’t risk failing and causing Hikita’s soul any harm.”
“Then, why not do it the normal way and test out your powers on someone else?”
I sighed.
“Julius.”
“Yeah?” he replied quickly.
“Nothing about bringing people back from death is normal.” I quipped at him.
“True.”
“I can’t keep relying on another Goddess’ magick. We’ve seen how powerful I can be on my own, but I haven’t developed a foundation for it.” I stood and faced him.
“That’s also true. But still, I—”
I placed a finger against my lips, and he quieted.
“Have a little faith in your Goddess, ‘kay, Julius?” I said with a forced wink.
“Ugh, whatever,” he groaned, waving me off, “Do you need anything else?”
“Is Hails here yet?” I asked, having already slouched back over the ground to etch sigils around my circle.
“She just wrapped up her last session listening to the Maarins whine, last I heard. She’ll be this side of the walls in twenty to thirty minutes, I imagine.”
I chuckled to myself, “Sounds like an awful time, though I’m glad she was able to remain calm with all that happened.”
“She’s probably gotten used to the weirdness that always occurs around you.” Julius suggested in a serious tone.
I frowned a little, “Yeah, maybe. Anyway, that’s the last of it.” I stood, patting the dust and powder off my leggings away from the circle.
“Time to bring blondie back, huh?”
I looked down at Hikita’s body, now healed as best I could using my own spells without straining it too much while her soul was away.
When I cast my Gloria spell, I completely skipped over any kind of incantation—though I had yelled out its name. I asked Capricorn about it and she explained spells could be cast so long as a clear mental image was maintained. Chanting is a simple way to associate the correct image of the spell you want to cast, which is why simplified and complex incantations are memorized to assist casters control their output.
Without that control, the output of the spell can vary wildly—as was the case where I passed out after reducing the gatehouse to mere stains on stone.
While I was lost in thought, I felt a presence appear right next to me and I flinched.
“Shit!” I yelped.
Julius laughed, and I collected myself.
“Welcome back, Tatsuko.” I greeted the elven mage who’d been dispatched to clear the nearby buildings.
She’d been assigned to Julius’ combat team since our trek north from Tolin—and even with all that time together, she was able to sneak up on Julius undetected every time. Apparently a talent she was testing on me now as well.
I swear she did this to me forever ago, or maybe it wasn’t that long ago?
“Thanks.” she replied evenly, “Your circle looks good. Shouldn’t have problems.”
“It’s now or never then.” I remarked.
Okay. I’ve prepared everything as best I could.
I took a deep breath in and began to cast RESURRECTION with a slightly modified chant from my previous casts.
“O’ soul, who has yet to complete their journey, hear my call. I shall open a pathway to return here, I bid you beyond the veil. Seek me through the sea of mist. Return to my endless empire, Resurrection!”
Silver light began to shine at my fingertips and I instinctively placed both hands on Hikita. Magicka seeped out of my hands across her body, enveloping her like an extra skin.
The ardent color shifted, sparkling in a mess of iridescent light as the magick began to absorb the diamond dust.
New notifications sprang up in the corner of my vision and I quickly glanced them over while waiting for the spell to finish taking effect.
» YOU HAVE MET A CRITERIA TOWARDS YOUR NEXT RANK OF RULER:
» YOU HAVE GAINED A PALADIN SLOT [1 / 2] FILLED
» REMAINING CRITERIA FOR SECOND TIER: [702 / 1000] DEVOUT FOLLOWERS
» RESURRECTION AND MASS RESURRECTION HAVE BEEN MODIFIED, AND ARE NOW INCORPORATED INTO IMPERIUM SIN FINE
» NEW NATIONAL CLASS SPELL, IMPERIUM SIN FINE
INSPECTION
SPELL
SCHOOL
CLASS
DETAILS
ᚾ'ᚵᚱᛡ—ᛋ—ᚹᚨ
IMPERIUM SIN FINE
Divine
National
Returns any number of designated souls to their bodies. Revives the targets to a state before their death.
Inflicts SOULBIND.
“Well, hopefully that’s a sign the spell worked without issue.” I murmured.
A few seconds passed, and Hikita’s fingers twitched. Her eyes opened as she gasped for air in an almost perfect mirror to how her soul awoke after the curse had been removed.
“Welcome back, Hikita.”
“Ah, yeah. Thanks, it’s, uh, been awhile.” She stammered awkwardly, clutching at her chest.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“For you maybe,” I laughed, “Only been a few hours for me.”
I helped Hikita stand, and she nearly collapsed again. Her legs were shaky, so Julius and I each took a side and helped her walk to the forward base.
We got her into an empty tent that had been prepared and sat her on a cot.
“Rest up as long as you need.” I reassured her, “Don’t feel bad if you need an adjustment period—for both the whole resurrection thing and having freedom after living under a curse.”
She nodded, relaxing her body and lying down on her side.
I placed my hands on Julius’ back, below his shoulders, and started to push him towards the exit.
“Time for you to rally the troops for another attack.” I strained, fighting against his large frame, “We gotta get rid of that void crystal and put a stop to this gloomy weather.”
“And what’re you gonna do in the meantime? Don’t forget what I said before, I’m not letting you wander without attendants.”
I glanced back at Hikita.
“Well, first I gotta get her out of that damaged black and blue armor. It can’t be comfortable and I don’t want her getting treated poorly for looking like a Renaultian prisoner of war. Send Flik and Hails my way when you see them. Oh, and Akari as well, if she isn’t with Rias.”
Julius sighed but exited the tent without anything else to add.
“Okay,” I started, slowly making my way back to Hikita, “Let’s see if you look good in red.”
----------------------------------------
“Your Eminence, I don’t know how I feel about this…” Flik said hesitantly, looking at the blonde-haired girl now dressed in Divisional officer’s light-wear.
I flashed her a look.
“If you’re still hung up about Murphy—”
“Ah, no!” my Knight-Captain quickly backpedaled, “I mean, there is that, but it’s just… Now that I see her up close like this, don’t you think she’s too young looking to be an army officer?”
“You mean without the dark plate armor and menacing swords covered in void magick? I suppose she does.” I admitted, “Hikita, I never asked, but how old are you?”
Hikita was staring down at her new uniform, seemingly infatuated with the crimson-colored officer’s coat, which seemed to engulf her.
I know we borrowed a spare coat from Julius, but the difference is size is a little much.
“Hikita?” I probed her again, waving my hand to grab her attention.
“Oh? Sorry! What did you ask?” she replied, obviously flustered.
I leaned back in my seat and tried my best to not sound too inquisitive, “We were just curious about your age.”
“Seventeen in the spring, I believe.” she replied in an even-toned voice, then she quirked her head to the side as if hard in thought, “At least that’s around when Zieta would try celebrate my birthday with me. But that would depend on if I was consciously in control of myself or not.”
She dropped the ‘remember I was mind controlled?’ bomb right into Flik’s lap so casually. I could tell the knight was still having difficulties coming to terms about Hikita.
Wait… Seventeen!?
“Celestials above,” I sighed, “You’re younger than Rias.”
“That’s… your sister, right?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded, “Well, shit. It’s bad optics no matter what we do, Flik.”
“Your Eminence?”
Flik didn’t seem to catch my meaning, so I tried explaining why it’d be problematic.
“We either dress her up a little out of place in Divisional wear so I can keep her close by—for both her own safety and because I am planning to rely on her memories when we get into Renault’s palace—or we parade around what looks like a civilian straight into hostile enemy territory.”
I saw a light catch in Flik’s eyes and knew she was tracking along with me.
“I feel like I’m already up to my necks with kids.” I bemoaned, massaging at my head with my hand. “With Rias and Akari already being stars in actual battles and the two Petlin kids at base camp, what’s one more teenage girl to add to the mix?”
My question wasn’t really aimed at Flik, and I didn’t expect an answer. She looked at me with a mixed expression that gave me some comfort by knowing she also wasn’t feeling great about this.
Our attention was torn away by the sound of people approaching the tent.
I heard Aeko greet somebody, then the entryway flap was pulled back and Hailey stepped inside with Akari following after.
“Hey, you two.” I weakly waved with my free hand.
“Oh, is our Goddess still exhausted from her trip to the celestial realm?” Hailey said, jokingly.
“Momma Airis!” Akari squeaked, darting past Hails.
I braced for the impending tackle and managed to stay seated without tipping backwards.
The exchanging of greetings between Hailey and Hikita was a little strained—I could definitely tell Hails was tip-toeing around some questions, not quite certain how inquisitive she could be with the formerly brainwashed assassin.
“Ya’ know,” Hailey started, “I was told you only spoke in creepy rhymes and ominous sentences. But you seem fine now, was that part of the curse as well?”
Hikita’s face went red in embarrassment.
“Awh man, yeah!” I jumped in, “You were suuuper cringey. As if Renault wasn’t already bad enough, even his curses are made with terrible taste.”
We all bad mouthed the bastard king and Hikita’s mood seemed to improve.
A short time passed before one of Julius’ aides arrived and informed us that the vanguard forces were ready to go. Hailey stepped out to get her party ready to depart with us and I gathered my guard knights together for an important talk.
“I want to just lay it out straight from the beginning, I want Hikita to fill Knight Pearson’s spot in our party. I understand there will be conflicted feelings but she’s our best bet at quickly and safely navigating Renault’s palace to put a stop to this invasion of void monsters.”
Flik didn’t show much of a response, as expected since we’d talked this over beforehand.
Akari also showed no sort of disagreement.
Hawken and Viktor both had almost imperceptible grimaces—and I couldn’t tell if it was because Hikita had been an enemy a short-while ago to them, or because she looked like a kid dressed in their parent’s military uniform.
At the very least, they weren’t showing any obvious hostility towards her.
The one I was most worried about was Aeko.
I was hesitant to see her expression but was surprised when she silently got up from her seat.
“Aeko—” I started, standing to approach her.
She turned to me with tears in her eyes.
“I know,” she choked out, “I can’t blame her. I’ll be fine, so don’t worry.”
Aeko’s strained smile pained me to see. Before I had a chance to say anything, she knelt down and drew her arm across her chest in a salute.
“I’ve pledged myself to you, Your Majesty. I’ll follow your will and I know we’ll take vengeance for Murph and everyone else suffering under the Renaultians in the process.”
Nonstandard and a little weird, but still a knight’s oath.
I smiled and placed my hands on her shoulders, “I accept your oath, we’ll bring Renault to justice.”
» AEKO MONROE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REGISTERED AS A PALADIN
» YOU HAVE ZERO REMAINING PALADIN SLOTS OPEN
Aeko must have received a similar notification as the rune on her wrist began to flash. A small cloud of mist appeared and as she read the contents of the projected screen her eyes got wide.
I helped her stand and clapped a hand on her back as I walked out of the tent, “You’re in it for real now, Paladin. No backing out.”
Outside I found Julius surrounded by a number of junior officers reporting the status of their squads.
“I thought Hanna or Luke would be coordinating our assault?” I questioned him when I approached.
“Hanna’s taking a very much needed nap, and Luke is overseeing Aisling as they take the home district back. I can handle our push to the palace.” Julius said confidently, then indicated towards the rune near his ear, “Plus, I’ve got Lieutenant Baker feeding me intel from the Specter units.”
“The Minervia commander, right? Either way, I’d trust you to lead us well.” I tapped the back of my gauntleted hand against his chestplate and left him to his work.
A streak of fire swooped down from the sky and I held my arm out. Ignicorus perched on my bracer with grace. Her flames subdued and I gently pet her feathers.
I’d gotten used to the indifference from our soldiers since we’d convinced everyone that Igni was Hailey’s familiar, and not the actual Phoenix God from legend. So it was mildly amusing to see the perplexed look on Hikita’s face.
“The priestess is waiting for you near the front of the formation. You should make haste. That purple crystal has been giving off a bad vibe since it was activated.”
Igni’s voice resounded in my head. I did a once over of our front lines and found Hailey and her party with ease.
Once we got close, the phoenix switched her perch—choosing to land on Hailey’s staff.
“Whatcha guys doing at the front?” I asked, directed at Hails.
Hailey’s party was a full squad of healers, so they’d keep position near the rear once we got moving.
“The alleyway was getting cramped,” Hailey shrugged with a laugh, “But really, the advance Assault teams have already set off along with the Specter teams. If they needed healing it could be detrimental if they needed to make way through that crowd before getting help.”
Hails pointed across the street at a building that had guards posted outside of it.
“I’ve got two Light teams standing by in there. So in terms of a medical camp, this is the rear line.” she said with a hint of smugness.
“Jeez, you take an hour to resurrect someone and every forward position gets changed up.” I smirked.
My attention was drawn by the shouting of orders from the rear. I turned to find a sea of soldiers falling into formation.
“Guess we should find our spot, eh, Knight-Captain?”
“You heard Her Eminence!” Flik yelled, “Let’s fall in.”