Chapter 83: The Elf’s Soul (Part 1!)

How does one prepare for a battle with an enemy you don’t know?

How does one do it in half a year's time?

What can you do in that time that will allow you to survive?

Those were all questions in Skaldi’s mind, as the rocking of the ship made it hard to sleep. The constant shifting and shaking, the present steps and moving of the guards and soldiers, the salty stench and the wet air.

Strangely, it gave him some focus. Like he was on the edge of some insight, some type of realization.

Sure it wasn’t as comfortable as Bolato’s ship, since that one was small and had plenty of space for them. Here the whole party was packed in a small room, only provided hammocks and a wooden bench.

Skaldi had been laying on that bench for the past hour because Valiato was drooling on him. He didn’t know why he was worrying so much. As often as the ship bobbed, his heart whimpered a bit.

Using his arm as a pillow, Skaldi looked out at the door with flickering lights behind it. Here, everything was dark, cloudy. Nothing to see or find.

No answers to his questions.

“...fuck it…” He stretched out his neck before rolling off the bench. Pushing himself up, Skaldi quietly and quickly shuffled out the room and into the adjacent hall.

This was a military ship so the hall was cramped as well, with barely enough space for two people to pass by one another. Skaldi had been on this hip for about a week so he knew the general layout. He had even stolen some of the wine the soldiers had been storing, so he was going to have a little seaside drink.

Getting to the top of the ship, Skaldi only saw a couple of soldiers out, along with the sailors making sure everything was on course. What was strange about them were the additional escorts right beside.

Granted, there weren’t too many, only three smaller ships. But still, seeing that they were being taken seriously for once and by Oligarchs was still surprising to him.

Him! A Galtian Elf was being treated to this level of service by one of the mightest Iozians in all the continent. Smirking at the thought, Skaldi gulped down some of the wine in celebration.

As soon as the wine was in his system, that worrying crawled back. Seeing the escorts beside them meant this was serious. Ani Arma was serious.

“...why us? Isn’t there anyone better?” Skaldi pushed away his hair with his thumb and rested his chin on the railing.

The thought that his team were being treated like they were important also gave him a bit of anxiety. The best the Oligarchy had was an alcoholic elf, a little girl, an asthmatic librarian, and a big soldier guy.

“Is that really it?” Skaldi bent his brows as he looked out towards the sea. Sure, those same people helped to defeat Runtaii and his forces. But that fight was really close, and without the Lai Family, the Three Oligarchs, and Lady Lai’s mercenaries, that fight wouldn’t have been so close.

“...what is the real reason?” Lifting his head up, he turned back to the ships themselves. Armed to the teeth, they would probably be used better if they were on the frontlines, or whatever Bolato could suggest.

Bolato couldn’t offer much insight, since he was about as clueless as everyone else. However, the soldier did provide a thought that it wasn’t about pure military might. Something more speculative, something that couldn’t be measured by tangible units.

“Obviously Ani Arma is not a threat that can’t be simply beaten with just pure numbers… maybe its because of Vega? No, then he would have brought along her. Why us?” Skaldi felt like he was getting closer to the true answer, one that satisfied his humility and pride.

Pacing back and forth for a while, Skaldi decided to let the answer be brought to him. Now choosing instead to imagine Oligarch Graham. Luckily, many of the sailors had been talking about him.

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“Oligarch Graham, he’s the ruler of Suncatch. Isn’t that right?” A sailor spoke between gulps of wine. Skaldi listened in on the conversation, hiding behind some barrels.

“Not just Suncatch, of all of the Marian Isles.” Another sailor spoke, gently sipping on tea.

“Wait a minute, isn’t Graham related to Damocles? The Damocles?” The sailor exclaimed with excited realization.

“Yes, they were both Marian. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have much of a navy.”

“Makes sense. A lot of Oligarchs focus on land operations, full of glory and gold! But this Graham, he seems… cautious!” The sailor announced, spilling some of his wine on the deck.

“I wouldn’t choose that word, but sure. Marians love their grand battle plans. Still, I don't know why he had us pick those randos from Uvi Jantok.” The other scoffed and put down his tea on his lap, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Randos? I am so insulted.” Skaldi whispered to himself.

“Randos!? Brother, haven’t you heard the report? Freed multiple cities, defended from Tripolian invasion. Fort Jao, Jinmai, and now Uvi Jantok! I’m insulted on their behalf.” The sailor again gestured with his cup, barely not spilling it in the process.

“Thank you! Finally, someone who sings our praises.” Skaldi spoke quietly to himself, glad to finally have a good reputation.

“Regardless of that fact, I doubt that’s the true reason. We won’t know till we get there.” Lifting his cup back to his mouth, the sailor continued to drink his tea. Doubting that he’ll find anymore information on Oligarch Graham, Skaldi crawled back to the staircase he came out from.

Taking one last look of the night sky, Skaldi wondered what would have changed about Core Civitus since the last four months since they had been there. If the air and food would taste the same. If there were traces of the person he was before there.

The Elf wondered if he was worthy.

After months in the making, the complex had been completed.

A massive complex, not built for war, but for training.

Oligarch Graham commanded great loyalty from his legions since they didn’t care to question the structure, until its completion. His unquieting requests for more and more foreign scholars and doctors now showed fruit. In this complex would be born new armies.

The last couple months to prepare for the war season came and went and soon he would lead a full assault on Tripolia.

Not to inflict suffering, not to achieve monetary gain. But to simply deal a crippling blow to Tripolian’s senior most Patriarch, Ani Arma.

As Skaldi stared up at the complex, he saw the faint visage of Core Civitus and its star. In a way, the complex was a twin city to it.

Designed low and wide, the complex spread throughout the valley. Resembling a Kai Ren palace in shape and Sanguian fortress in defenses, this facility was truly massive in scale.

Entire road networks, bridges, and tunnels had to be crafted just to simply get to it. With five military checkpoints of increasing security made the journey there unbearable, but when the party saw it, they knew why.

On every road and entrance, wagons and entourages filled every space leading up to the gates. People, just as varied and strange as the party was. Bands of warriors from all the known continents, traveled adventurers of all seas and realms, and the many marvels and tailsmans they carried.

If you would ask me, it wasn’t an Iozian city, nor a Tripolian one. More of a mixture between the two, like two oils in a glass. Where instead of repealing one another, they swirled and orbited.

Currently, the party was in line for the gate. Surprisingly there were few in line compared to how many were camping outside.

“~...feels… like home…~” Amir got down on one knee and laid his hands on the soil. He saw the etchings of hundreds of footprints, all walking on the same ground.

“~Are you okay Ari?~” Valiato smiled, feeling that Amir was getting overly sentimentality for such a sight.

“~On this ground have walked a thousand people, in all directions. Here, in Iozia.~” Standing up and cleaning his hands, Amir could not hide how impressed he was.

“What’s he saying kid?” Bolato rubbed Valiato’s hair, tired but playful.

“Something wise, I don’t know.” Throwing her arms up, Valiato pointed out that their turn in line was next.

This checkpoint was the briefest and less protected, only having two guards to confirm who they were. A tiny red shed that rested by the wall, only a few feet from the giant brass gate.

For an odd reason, it make Skaldi worry. He held close onto to Bolato who laughed as Skaldi did.

“Calm down sweetie. We’ve made it this far.” He held him close, resting his chin on the elf’s head.

“I know. But… something is wrong.” He sighed as they arrived to the checkpoint.

The only thing different was that they gave each member a colored wax stamp on their hands.

Amir and Bolato recieved a gold orange stamp, Valiato got a green one, and Skaldi got a bright red one.

“All clear. Simply check in with the colored paths and you’ll be fine. I hope.” Pulling a level on his desk, the soldier pulled up the gate.

Rising slowly, it gave everyone time to think about what exactly they’d be facing.