Nathan
Year 2850 | Month 12 | Day 30
After spending the past few days experimenting with my new spell – and not getting as much progress as I’d prefer – I head straight back to the Undying Caverns. After, of course, notifying the nobles about my taking my one break from the frontlines. But the first thing I find when I get there is not what I was expecting.
What I find is a massive crowd lined up in front of the entrance to the Undying Caverns. There’s got to be several dozen thousand people, with tents and camps built up for as far as the eye can see.
And my eyes can see quite far, considering what I am, not to mention the lack of trees directly around the building serving as the entrance to the Caverns. What with the trees having previously been scorched in a battle.
What’s even worse about this though is that I can smell wounds and injuries covering everyone here. And if it weren’t for the fact that I just came from a battlefield that had even more injuries than this, it would’ve been annoying to hold back my bloodlust.
But fortunately for me I don’t really have much trouble with bloodlust anymore. Especially after fighting in the war for days on end.
While experimenting, but I think I can consider that fighting in the war.
Not sure if the nobles even realized I was experimenting with my new spell when ‘fighting’, so it’s fine.
I begin to walk through the people towards the entrance of the Caverns, only for some of them to attempt to shove me out of the way as they try getting over to the really long line that’s formed. Which ends up with them falling on their rears instead of me since I’m a vampire.
Without paying them any mind, I continue walking towards the front of the line. Gathering the attention of quite a few of the people in the line.
And while some of them begin to shout at me about skipping the line, others quickly realize who I am.
After all, there aren’t exactly many people with glowing red eyes in the world, much less the Kingdom of the Fallen.
At least, when not using magic, that is.
Once they realize it’s me, and word spreads to the others who were previously barraging me with complaints, everyone begins ditching the line to follow me. But I ignore them all to eventually step inside the building as the guards stationed there block the refugees from entering.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Such a pain.
The soldiers all say a very respectful, “Welcome back, Your Majesty,” copying what Claire calls me now along with some of the other leaders. And I give them a brief nod as I walk by. Meanwhile the civilians living in the Undying Caverns all kneel or bow in front of me as I pass without saying a word.
Which is rather awkward for me, but I don’t pay them any attention.
Eventually I make it to the meeting room where I can smell Claire currently being located. Making the other officers in the room all stand up and give me a salute.
Of the people in the room that I recognize at a glance, there’s Ryan Haris – my head of logistics – and Benjamin Anderson – the leader of my enforcers. And of course Claire, my second in command. But the others are all just faces I may have seen once or twice but don’t really know other than that. All people Claire and the others hired.
I glance at Incendia, who is currently perched on my shoulder with her eyes closed. As if she doesn’t care about any of this.
Then I look back at Claire and ask, “Alright, I’m here. What do you need?”
Claire doesn’t waste any time as she answers, “We need your power to intimidate the new refugees, since they’re growing more and more uncontrollable by the day. And the magicians amongst them don’t seem to be afraid of our own or our weapons.”
“Do you have a plan for this already set?” I ask while crossing my arms, making Incendia slowly open her eyes before looking directly at Claire. Which in turn seems to make Claire shiver slightly.
She nods her head, answering, “Yes, I have a plan set to begin the moment you agree to it.”
“Good,” I state before glancing at the other officers in the room when I notice the smell of perspiration. Meaning they’re all sweating. And after looking them all over for a moment, I realize they’re all nervous as hell.
But that’s not all. While they have some fear in them, most of them just seem excited.
Interesting.
I look back at Claire again as she says, “The plan is currently revolving around a single group of talented mages from the fallen noble’s military forces that are armed and include a single Class B magician in their ranks. One that was being fostered by the noble in question and is even the noble’s son, thereby inheriting his title upon the noble’s death. Which is intimidating the others into listening to him.”
Right, so it’s a matter of taking down the most powerful and influential group amongst them with ease to intimidate the rest into following my orders. While also shutting that noble brat up in the process.
“If that doesn’t work?” I ask with a single brow raised.
She just stares back at me and answers rather bluntly, “Then feast.”
My other brow rises at that answer.
Did she really just tell me to drink their blood in front of everyone to terrify them? I mean, that would work, but still…
She can be more ruthless than I’d thought.
Although I get the feeling it won’t come to that. Not so long as I make it look easy enough to take down the noble brat.
Which shouldn’t be a problem.
The corner of my lips quirk ever so slightly upwards as I state, “Alright, let’s put this plan into action.”
“These nobles…” Incendia mutters through our bond, making me nod my head in agreement.
These nobles indeed.