SIDE STORY 1 -REMINISCE OF STRENGTH-
UKHAC DEEPPIKE
I reminisce about how my predecessor used to tell me stories about the leader of the Espions. He was stronger than every Espion combined, in terms of magic and physical strength. The seven Espions were taught at a very young age to learn magic and the knowledge needed to fight a war.
However, so was the instructor. He was 7 years old when he taught the eight Espions, alone. His understanding of mana and magic were above those who studied for their whole life. She used to say that Makhostr used to admire her because of her age and talent she wielded. The old owner of the role I have taken was older than the seven Espions.
The first days of training, my predecessor had thought it was a lame joke to instruct a 7 year old to train seven people–two of each race–to fight a war that was already thought to be lost. He first had them understand and confine the mana in their mana ring, then he had put them in a sort of magical room where time passes differently.
Though two out of the eight Espions didn’t train like the rest, they were the two Espions from the human kingdom, Luna Lyric and Juliette Riley. These two were said to already be exceptional fighters before the Monarch’s from each kingdom even came to an idea of having powerful people to fight for them.
When the six Espions had arrived at the place that had placed the training grounds, those two were already there, fighting each other while using mana. My predecessor had described that in that moment a pressure was weighted on them the moment they setted foot on the same grounds they were.
All six candidates had failed to grasp air that some even collapsed to the sudden pressure. Even she admitted that she too would have fallen if it wasn’t for him that stopped their fighting.
I sometimes even dream of those days when she would tell me about it as a bedtime story or as a lesson that I need to learn because of something bad I had done. The sweetness of her voice would fill my heart in times of chaos and despair.
“Listen Ukhac, when the time comes for you to take my place, remember that not only do you have to keep your part but also help those who are in need of it. We are no one to judge even if we have power to do so, every person has their own suffering even if they go through the same as you did.”
“You will be stronger than I ever was and that is a promise, with his help you would reach heights that I never had the chance to do so. Though he is something on your plate, make sure you understand him, have patience with him. After all he’s gone through I don’t think he deserves to be this kind. But all I wish is to see him once more, even if I die I wish to see him at my funeral.”
Those were the final words I’d been given from her own mouth before she passed away.
On the day of her funeral, everyone that knew her was there to mourn for her. Even people who didn’t know her personally were there too. The Espions, the monarchs. Everybody was there, except him. None of the Espions knew where he was, not even the monarchs themselves.
That is when I had vowed that I would make him pay for not visiting her when she was alive or at her funeral…
Walking through the halls of the Supreme council, going back to when Alter used his strength against me in front of the monarchs. Avoiding my attack. No. I never attacked in the first place but he did and It was a humiliation, I wasn’t going to leave it like that–no instead I was going to fight him with everything I got.
After the word got out about having a new general for the whole continent since only having eight–two to each kingdom. The whole continent wasn’t aware of it, only those who have power in those kingdoms like noble-ranked people. There were even some noble-ranked people that still didn’t know about our new general.
I rested my hand on the arm that the brat had sliced clean off. Nonetheless, I found it weird. How can a brat like him move faster than my detection barrier? Nothing passes by unnoticed, not even the wind or small bugs. Almost like he could stop time…
Just the thought of someone like him, who was described like a god in my predecessor’s stories, disappeared for 6 years without no one seeing or knowing where he went. I was frustrated, no, I was pissed that he had an unimaginable power but he still doesn’t do what's correct with it.
I was done with waiting, I’m going to confront him this time without any fails. Squeezing my fists with anger that was on my sides, walking to where the monarchs of this continent resided most of the time.
The two guards that were stationed on either side of the giant connected double door that was colored crimson that looked like spilled blood. They opened the door as they met my eyes, bowed to me before I entered and when I was already six feet away from the giant door, they closed it.
Facing down, seeing only how my feet landed on the floor till they'd reached the white circle–indicating that I was in the middle of the room, in front of the monarchs.
I raised my head with a serious look. I couldn’t let the monarchs see this side of me, they didn’t need to know my frustration over the one sided fight just a couple of weeks ago.
But something was off, the council room was quiet–too quiet. Then I realized why the room was too quiet. Two out of the four monarchs were missing–or absent. Only ones there were the elven monarchs and the demi-human monarchs.
The two kings and queens were so concentrated on their work that they didn’t notice my presence when I walked in. Each of them had dark spots under their eyes, even the beautiful queens had aged in such little time.
Though I am a general of one kingdom, I couldn’t believe the stress and toll it fell on those monarchs that have to maintain peace after all that's happened.
“Hm, Espion Ukhac what is your reason for being here?”
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Vamir, king of the elfs spoke after noticing my presence.
I kneeled down with my head down as well.
“I, Ukhac Deeppike. Request your majesties to allow us to expect a training session against General Violet.”
I explained, hoping for a straight away answer.
A moment of silence fell. Lifting my sight for a little bit, I noticed the expression that they wore.
The astonished expression that the monarchs expressed gave me some sort of hope in regards to the request being fulfilled.
“There is no need for that, the battles that lie ahead are there for a reason. Only then you may witness the power that General Alter possesses if that is what you were hoping to see.”
Lord Elmeron Said.
My mouth opened to rebuttal the words the monarch let out, yet my lips closed shut when another voice jumped in. The same voice that my predecessor described vividly as if she had just met him during her deathbed, the voice and tone epitome of the so-called ‘hero’ himself.
The brat, Alter Violet.
Walking like he was the most powerful being in the continent, like the rules and hierarchy didn’t apply to him. That shitty aura that gave off the feeling that he knew how a royal shall act in front of peasants.
“It seems that Espion Ukhac wants to train the same way his predecessor did.”
His demeanor as he walked, almost like he was an experienced general for over a decade. The confidence that swayed around him, along with his small smile that he gave when you talked.
Alter Violet stopped and turned to the monarchs—probably ten feet away from me—before speaking once more.
“Well after all you still haven’t gotten your code name, huh?” He asked, putting his right hand on his chin like asking himself why.
You’re an idiot to even think that I want this training because of some stupid code name. If that was the case I should have inherited my predecessor’s code name instead of thinking for one.
Then, the elven king, Vamir Bamford spoke up in an excited voice.
“Then Espion Ukhac, for your request I, Vamir Bamford will accept this training offer in exchange of a condition.”
The other monarchs only looked at him with curiosity of his condition.
“I have a bad feeling about this.” Alter Violet muttered.
“I shall witness this training—since I couldn’t watch the earlier one because of the dire circumstances —that is my condition of this acceptance.”
Alter Violet’s eyes widened to the elf’s condition that before even speaking, the other monarchs jumped in the condition too.
The dead silence room that was before I walked in because of their eyes concentrated on the continent's work became loud like a party that a king and queen would host.
***
Upon flying for hours–10 hours to be exact–stopping only when it was necessary. Only I and the brat flew here because I was the only one who didn’t know where it was, while the other people did–even the monarchs.
Then before I knew it, we had arrived. Beautiful, amazing, astonishing. Those were only a few words that my predecessor mentioned.
Though I couldn’t see mana I could feel it, the strong pressure and peaceful breeze brought me to know that mana here was unable to be extinguished from this island. No matter how much mana you needed for a spell or even a ring phase, this island, this place obtained the impossible for you.
At that moment, as we flew closer to the island, a barrier type of dome surrounded the island along with ten feet of ocean water from the island’s shore. Crossing the barrier-type dome, a sudden wave of mana hit me more than it did before–outside of the dome.
My connection with mana became strong…yet weak. I couldn’t explain this phenomenon. At moments my strength had enhanced but in mere seconds it would be gone.
“So you’ve felt the after effects of the mana dome, yet it is still interesting how you still haven’t lost control of your mana manipulation.” Alter Violet explained.
I didn’t answer, no, I stayed quiet and it seemed like he too wasn’t looking for a response back. Instead I tried to gain my concentration back again as we kept on flying, Alter Violet then moved into a different direction and I purposely followed.
This didn’t seem like a training camp and even if it was, how would this work? Sure, mana here is more potent than the continent but that was all. No mana beast, no monsters, no enemies. Just how is this going to work?
Before I could question more about my predecessor's words of this training camp, the view of the other Espions came into sight. They were fighting each other, in a free-for-all.
No mana, only combat. Hand to hand, sword to sword, blade to blade. Next to them, not too far were the monarchs. All four kings and queens.
“We will land here Ukhac!” The bastard yelled because of the loud noises the Espions produced as they were sparring .
Without a response I quickly fastened my arial spell letting me land before him. As I passed him, I slightly turned to see his reaction but it was something I didn’t expect. He was smiling?! Why?
Many thoughts entered my mind at the last minute, I was already close to the ground to worry about the last entry thoughts in my mind. What I needed to do now was to land safe and not create a crater where it could affect the monarchs here.
Using the wind affinity to slow down my landing I continued to think about the bastards’ expression, it was almost like he had seen through my intention to fly past him and land before him.
Slowing down my speed, I was already twenty-feet high. I needed to inject more mana into the spell if I wanted to escape this unscratched. As I tried to inject more mana into the wind spell, the rejection of the injection became big, like it was being disturbed.
What is going on?
The spell rejected the mana I sent into it and instead of slowing down it fastened my fall.
Dammit!
“Dammit!”
I cursed inside and outside my mind at the same time. There had to be another way to slow down my fall. Earthen manipulation!
Mother nature, the one that cares for this world’s soil and rocks. Heed my call and lessen my injury. SafeGuard!
The earth below me rose to where I was, enveloping me in a circle structure that could lessen my fall. I let my guard down for a minute, thinking that I was safe and sound as to not take precaution of the outside things, like the battle of the Espions and the brat bastard Alter Violet.
“Void Bending.”
Upon hearing those words, the circle earthen structure began to disappear. Seconds later it was like it was never invoked. My eyes caught the glimpse of a dark silhouette above me, the sunlight covered the person's appearance that I didn’t know who it was.
Bullshit…I knew who it was, I just never thought he would have something like this.
“YOU BITCH!” I roared as I fell down until my back hit the hard and hot soil ground.