Aziel paced back and forth in front of Remus, the way he was biting down on his finger not exactly reassuring. “I’m so sorry Remus. Brison, he means well, I promise. Times are just wearing down on him. He’s always had this complex about not being able to advance to God-Graced. And now, after his sect was taken over, and how, without you, he was helpless to stop it — not to mention the rest of the war against the Right-bearers — he’s become a nervous wreck.”
Tanguy, Remus, Koa, and Octavia were seated in Aziel’s chambers. The rest of his men were enjoying themselves in some cabins Brison had allowed them to occupy. Little did his men know they’d be fighting their benefactor soon enough.
Alongside Koa and Octavia, some Ambition guards had taken the initiative of ushering away his men after Violet’s outburst. Now Remus found himself boundlessly indebted to them. As they said, ignorance was bliss. He needed to devise some kind of indiscriminate selection process to pick who would be fighting. A series of friendly bouts was the best he could think of, but that would risk draining their energy before the fight even began. Or maybe it would place them in the right frame of mind? He wasn’t sure, his own mind too scrambled to think clearly.
“There’s something you should know, Remus.” Aziel cut through his reverie.
“Yes?”
“The past year, I’ve been collecting techniques. I now have a library of any ability you could ever dream of using Ambition to create. There’s one ability in specific I’ve taught to our clan, and it could very well determine the outcome of this battle.”
Remus was on the edge of his seat. “Yes? What is it?”
Koa turned grave. “You don’t mean-”
“Yes. United in Strife.”
Remus stared blankly at them both. The ability didn’t ring a bell. It could be a technique strong enough to topple gods and build civilisations, and he wouldn't have the slightest clue. “How does it work?”
“The idea of the technique is to resonate with the Ambition of those around you. Your desires, collectively, propel one another.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that members of the Ambition Clan can significantly increase their power when fighting in a group. The phrase ‘power in numbers’ taken literally. Which is great and all, but I may have made the shortsighted decision to teach it to the entire clan. When facing against fifty or so Ambition clansmen, all working together, power resonating like an orchestra with them as the instruments, you’ll have your work cut out for you.”
Koa brought a palm to his cheek. “When I helped Aziel build this library, I thought something like that would be dangerous in the wrong hands. I could never have foreseen this though, not in a million years.”
Remus opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. In any other circumstance, he would have been over the moon at discovering such an ability; delighted. By the sounds of it, it was truly something formidable. The ace in the hole the Ambition Clan so desperately needed to defend themselves. Hell, it would even help out the rescue mission of the Carpentry Sect. Something he had neglected to learn the date of, or any other details, for that matter. The fact irked at Remus, but had more pressing affairs to attend to.
The downside of the ability felt too crushing to ignore: his men were going to be utterly overwhelmed. “Is there some kind of downside? Does it drain more resources?”
“That’s what’s so powerful about the technique. I haven’t found a weakness yet.”
Silence.
“Great.” Octavia crossed all of her spindly limbs. “So how much stronger will our opponents be?”
Aziel fidgeted. “With fifty or so clansmen, I’m thinking . . . maybe double their original power?”
Tanguy stood stoically, looking out of a nearby window. They were all gathered in the guest chambers of the clan, and despite the exquisite work of the Carpentry Sect to erect these buildings so quickly, the interior was drab.
After a dragging silence, Aziel came to a decision. “Come with me. I’m going to show you all the library. We’re going to need every advantage we can get. And for you, Remus,” he shot him a sharp look, “I have something specific in mind. Something that might make you powerful enough to challenge weak Splintered Ranks all by yourself.”
Remus blinked. He wondered what the strongest foe he could handle was, but didn’t wish to die to find out.
Aziel led the way, and the Ambition Sect was a world split in twain. Half of the residents seemed perfectly content, whistling as they went about their days. His rebellion mingled with the locals, and Remus even espied three of his men singing merrily, their cheeks flushed, frothy alcohol splashing at their feet. He couldn’t muster the will to get angry at them. Let them be happy. He didn’t want to pop their bubble before the news got out.
Remus had once heard that a picture was worth a thousand words. His thoughts mirrored that sentiment, examining the looks on the rest of the people gathered there. Amongst them were the guards that had been present when Brison announced the duel. Edmund stood outside the bar Remus had spotted his men departing from, eyebags so bad his skin was permanently tainted purple.
He nodded at Remus, expression grave. Remus had to wonder . . . would they be facing against each other?
Aziel finally stopped outside a rickety looking building, one that immediately juxtaposed the spartan, but distinctly new structures that dominated the rest of the space.
“This building survived the fight against the Pet-Keeper.” Aziel explained. “I thought it would be fitting for the contents of this place. This is the oldest building we have — other than the Gallery — and now it houses our oldest secrets. A match made in heaven.” He opened a mahogany door, dust billowing off. “Now I’m going to expose them for you.”
Remus entered, following along a few steps behind. Immediately, he could tell by his spiritual senses alone that this place was heavily guarded. Aziel had left no stone unturned when protecting this place.
Something stirred in Remus. He put a hand on Aziel’s shoulder, as the rest of the group took in the expansive interior. “I’ve been meaning to ask. How have you been coping . . . you know, without Hansley?”
He felt the muscle of Aziel’s shoulder tense. “I think about her everyday.” His voice was only a whisper. ”Without fail. It’ll probably be the same for the rest of my life.”
“It feels like I can’t go ten minutes without seeing Andreas' face.” Remus hadn’t admitted that before. But he knew Aziel would understand. “It’s gotten a little easier. It’s still hard though.”
“I’m an orphan now. I never really knew my dad before he died from his war injuries.” The walls around the two fell away. Nothing else existed. Just Remus and Aziel, drifting through the abyss. “Everyone tells me I look just like him. I’ve got his looks and my mother’s kindness, apparently.”
“They live on with you. All of the people we lost, we carry their wishes, their passions, their hope for a better future. Nobody’s ever truly lost.”
Aziel nodded. “That’s beautiful. I’m sorry about your great grandfather. The sacrifice he made . . . he helped lead us towards that better future you speak of. I don’t care if it takes a thousand years to get there, to finally achieve peace amidst all this war, all this fighting between gods, mortals, and monsters. If we just carry the flame of hope forward, one day we can put an end to all of this.”
Remus didn’t know what to say in response to that. Aziel had caught up with the rest of their group before he could think of anything. “Alright guys, it can be overwhelming when you first step foot in here, I know, so let me explain some things . . .”
The place was only the size of a large living room, but not a square inch of space had been wasted. Remus couldn’t find a centimetre of wall not used, all hidden behind row after row of bookshelves. Each corner had its own moving ladder that reached six feet up. None of the shelves were completely full, but it was awfully impressive.
“Did you write all of this? By hand?” The Scholar Sect had developed a printing press, but that invention was new enough to only be accessible by the richest of society. “There’s no way you could have done this all within a year.”
“Some of the books were prewritten, and most are just notes bound together. A significant portion however, was written by me, alongside a few trusted clansmen.”
“Impressive nevertheless.” That was the first compliment Remus had heard escaping Octavia’s lips. Aziel had earned it.
Remus’ imagination ran wild, his eyes roving over the literary buffet. He wanted to become a hermit, and dedicate the next few Passings to quiet, solitudinous reading. With such a thorough understanding of his domain of power, Remus could push Tanish’s Mark to the very limit of its capabilities. If he couldn’t ascend to Splintered Rank anytime soon, this struck him as the next best thing. But Remus’ mind didn’t stop there: what if the entire Ambition Clan became just as well-read? They would become the equivalent of a warrior race, equipped with a plethora of techniques at their fingertips, while most clans only dedicated themselves to a select few.
“I never want to leave this place.”
Aziel cackled in delight. “I thought you’d say as much. You can read all you want when we win this fight, but first of all, it’s about time I show you that little surprise I mentioned.”
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Intrigued, Remus followed close behind. “Think of this as a reward, or gift from the clan for all you’ve done for us. I know you won’t take it under any other circumstance, so I’m forcing it upon you.”
Remus looked blankly at a red curtain. The contours of something poked against the thin material, leaving Remus to speculate endlessly on what it could be. Two flat surfaces, angled upwards, pressed through the curtain below eye-level.
“What is it?”
Aziel pulled at a rope to the side, before stretching both arms out like a budding salesman. “Ta-da! What do you think?”
Audible gasps followed Remus’ own.
Again, he found himself at a loss for words. “It’s . . . It’s-”
It was a suit of armour. But that was like calling Damosh a bad guy. It got the message across, but lost the depth that really mattered.
Remus recognised the material of the armour in one breath. Infirnite. A resource he hadn’t laid hands on in so long. It seemed perfectly crafted to match his measurements, with the reddish crystal glimmering no matter the angle he looked at it from, or despite the lack of light. Horn-like protrusions stuck out on the surfaces he now recognised as shoulder plates. The armour was paradoxical in how weightless it appeared, being more akin to light armour than the heavier equipment often put on sale by smithies. And yet it could most definitely take a punch, and a few mean ones at that.
“It’s an alloy of Infirnite and some other more malleable materials. I want to make these standard commission for all our clansmen, but you can be one of our test-subjects.”
“I’d be honoured. Thank you Aziel. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Just as Remus suspected, the alloy was far more flexible than standard Infirnite. He could comfortably perform his most elaborate of moves without a hitch. Then, utilising the Infirnite’s innate power, all of his fire-based attacks would be supercharged.
Remus was keen to test it out.
“I’ll never be able to repay you for this.”
“You don’t have to; you already have.” Aziel left no room for argument. “But give Damosh the worst beating of his life, and consider us even. And, more immediately, knock some sense into Brison.”
“That’ll be my job.”
Everyone jumped at Violet’s sudden appearance, Veida in tow.
Remus shivered. “Gods, you have to stop jumping up on us like that.”
“Nope. I like seeing you squirm.”
Beyond any speck of doubt, Aziel was the most perturbed of all them. “How did you get past my wards so easily? They should be strong enough to give even Splintered Ranks tr-” He stopped himself. “Gods, you really are strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Brison, aren’t you?”
Violet made a gesture that was a little too withdrawn to call a nod, as if she wasn’t entirely sure. “I should be able to keep him preoccupied at least. Now then, we need a plan. But I think it’s our rebellion’s right to know what's up. We’re sending them into battle here, the least we can do is give them a head’s up.”
“You’re right.” Remus looked to his armour for comfort, trying to reassure himself that he’d be strong enough to win. “It’s selfish of me to keep it a secret. But how do we decide who fights?”
“We can see who volunteers, or ask for the Foot-Soldiers to step forth. How many Foot-Soldiers make up your force?”
“About a third? Most of that from Beckett’s army.”
“It’s humbling to think we’re on par with them, not to sound self-absorbed.” Koa muttered. “It’s hard to not get your ego blown out of proportion after all we’ve been through. We need to remember how strong we really are. We can’t let hubris be our downfall. We’ll be able to handle more opponents than most, but too many Foot-Soldiers, and any one of us will be quickly overwhelmed. Let’s take inventory. Excuse my bluntness, but what Rank are you all?”
“Foot-Soldier.” Remus said first. Enquiring about someone’s Rank wasn’t exactly rude, but it was a touchy subject for some. Nobody present seemed bothered, however.
“Foot-Soldier.” Aziel smiled.
“Warlord Equivalent.” Violet only hesitated for a second.
“Foot-Soldier.” Koa and Octavia announced in unison.
“Peak Emblazed.” Tanguy said quietly. “I’ve been neglecting my training after delving so deep into politics. The amount of times I’ve wanted to burn any paperwork handed to me . . . “ he sighed. “I don’t think I’ll be of much use in this encounter, my apologies.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Remus swatted his shoulder gently. “How do you feel about acting as a general, guiding us through the fight? You have a good head on your shoulders. You can keep calm, even if things get heated. And I don’t just mean that as a pun.”
“I don’t know how you got to that conclusion knowing my history, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
“I don’t want to force all of you into fighting.” Remus felt compelled to say. “Most of you aren’t officially in my rebellion. If you want to walk away from this mess, I won’t hold grudges.”
“At this point, I might as well officially enlist.” Violet responded first. “We have the same motivations: stop the Right-bearers, stop Damosh. And there is no way in hell I’m going to miss out on punching Brison after what he did.”
“Once Eliane endorses the Talents of the Future, your numbers will reach the thousands.” Veida reasoned. “I should write to my husband to see what he makes of all this, but I’m sure Hadrian will be leaping at this opportunity too. I’m in.”
Remus’ mouth hung wide as Aziel joined in.
“Virtually everyone in the Ambition Clan is eager to join their saviour. Might as well cut the middleman and get first dibs.”
“I’m not a messiah.” Remus said, not able to conceal the grin forming on his lips. “But I won’t refuse help when it’s needed.”
Tanguy stood quietly in the corner. “It’s very tempting Remus. I’ll see how this progresses. I can’t promise you anything, but depending on how much the Flame Sect wishes to join your cause, it might become inevitable that I enlist. But for now, all I can promise is my assistance, while our paths are still crossed.”
“Thank you all.” Remus clapped loudly. “Now then! I’m going to rally our men, tell them what's happening. The Foot-Soldiers won’t have much choice but to fight — this is what they signed up for, after all — but we’ll have to examine our pool of Emblazed. Maybe some veterans of Beckett’s army will have some bright ideas about what kind of fighting formations we should take.”
“When I’m not busy with Brison, I can teleport our men around, but we might not have time for that to work. At the very least, I could warp them out of harm’s way if they’re being overwhelmed.”
Violet would have her hands full trying to manage both of those at once, but if anyone could handle it, it would be her.
Twenty minutes later, and Remus’ men were all gathered in the tavern they had passed prior. Aziel was friends with the barmen, so anyone who wasn’t part of the rebellion was escorted out of there.
Remus stood upon the nearest table, conscious of its wobbly leg. Speaking from his diaphragm, he watched the faces of his men fall as he informed them of the news. Gritted teeth soon followed, and his rebellion hollered in a united warcry.
“Any Foot-Soldiers here gather outside! I’d also like to speak with the highest ranking member we have from Beckett’s army, military-wise.”
Thirty or so men filed outside. Another seventy remained inside the bar, leaving Remus astonished that so many people could even fit inside. The bar was a spacious place, with no walls between the separate rooms, and a group of his men occupying the stairs to provide extra space. Nevertheless, they made an excellent attempt at filling the place completely.
Out of the back, a middle-aged man approached Remus. His hair was fully grey, the faint whiskers of a possible beard nestled on his chin. Along his green uniform, a number of medals trailed down his chest.
“Colonel Mason, at your service.” The man had immaculate posture. His aura was that of an accomplished Foot-Soldier, one who had seen plenty of battles, and even more bloodshed.
“I’m not going to act like I’m more knowledgeable in how to lead our men. So what do you suggest? My friend Violet here can teleport our men around, if need be, but she’ll have her hands full dealing with Brison.”
“She can deal with the Warlord?”
Violet nodded, arms crossed, as if asking to be challenged on that point.
“Well, I saw how you dispatched Nova in the news. I’ll trust your word.” Mason looked Remus up and down. “Nice suit by the way. Infirnite?”
The blood rushed to Remus’ cheeks. The suit of armour was so comfortable, he hadn’t noticed he was still wearing it. The thing would be formidable in battle, but outside? Bless Aziel’s hard work, but it looked a little ridiculous.
“Yes. Thank you. It should make me even stronger when we begin to fight.”
“I’m glad to hear it. So fifty men against fifty of the Ambition lot?”
“That’s right.”
“Alright then. I’ll pick the cream of the crop of the Emblazed, and form our men into defensive and attack squadrons. By the sounds of it, we’ll need more emphasis on the defence. If we can eliminate Brison, a Warlord on our side will be the advantage we need to overcome . . . what was that technique you mentioned?”
“United in strife.”
“Yes. That.”
The man spoke like this was all perfectly reasonable, but Remus suspected he had an excellent poker face. The fact their plan relied on the defeat of Brison was telling enough. That was a longshot, but it sounded to Remus like the only way they could win this thing.
The next few hours were dedicated to picking out men, one by one, forming squadrons, and scheming out nothing less than the riskiest battle plan imaginable.
They had three squads. Four, if you counted Remus and his closest companions as one, though they would be acting roge with their own abilities. One of their few advantages here would be the variety of abilities at their disposal. Aside from their main force of Insect clansmen, Remus had Chaos, Flame, Ambition, Arachnid, and the Wild all at his disposal. The Feast Clan had the task of feeding their warriors before the fight, but weren’t officially a part of their fifty-large attack force.
There would be two defensive teams of twelve each, allowing Violet to keep Brison occupied without any disturbance. With seven of them acting independently — Remus, Aziel, Tanguy, Koa, Octavia, Violet and Veida — causing chaos across the battlefield, that left nineteen spaces left for their attack force. They would be dealing with the bulk of their enemies, with their rogue members and defensive squadrons assisting if they drew too close.
Tanguy and Mason would keep their forces in check, maintaining position as much was possible as the commanding voices of reason. Though Mason was technically part of their melee squad.
Each of the rogue members had their own unique missions. Koa would try to create walls of oak to divide their enemies and close off sections of the battlefield, though he warned Remus creating so much fire-resistant oak would drain him within minutes. Violet of course, was taking on Brison, but would teleport their men around if the opportunity arose. Aziel would cause confusion amongst his own ranks, blending in with the Ambition clansmen, and doing his best to disrupt United in Strife by sparking distrust and infighting. Veida, as a Warden, would defend any holes that opened in their formation, easily their second strongest member.
And Remus? Remus was to cause as much destruction as possible. More likely than not, he would be the prime target of their opposition. If he fell, team morale would come crashing down harder than any one of Ash’s meteorites.
Remus watched his men spar with a thin line of a mouth, trying not to fidget.
It was almost time. All he could do now was hope for the best.
Patience was apparently a virtue, but Remus’ was running thin.