“I’ll help you,” Reth stated. “But on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Felix asked.
“You don’t tell anyone that I am involved. I want plausible deniability.”
“Easy enough,” Felix replied. “You have a deal.” He looked at Tinuriel, “I think the best thing to do is to swear our allegiance to this emperor – for now – and then request permission to go and take out the head of the other empire.” He glanced back at Reth, “Is that something that someone in your position would be sent off to do?”
Reth chuckled, and his face lit up with insidious joy. “It’s already been done. Covert operations have been underway, and several squadrons are on their way to the Coralith Empire already.”
“Then we don’t have time to lose it we want less bloodshed,” Lucifer commented.
Reth nodded, “I would be honored to accompany you to see this mission through.” He sighed, “I have no love for the Coralith, but I do not desire the deaths of thousands of soldiers, and possibly more innocents. Be aware, we will most likely have several combat events along the way. The two empires are at war, after all.”
You know, he might be a good candidate for your Animancer Escort.
I was thinking the same thing. But we need to keep testing him. Should be easy enough if he comes along. I have to really evaluate his character qualities. If he doesn’t work out, we have some options with whoever survives Roy’s sorties against Vugog.
“You’ll come with us?” Felix asked.
Reth nodded, “I’d insist upon it. You seem like a man of your word who truly desires a peaceful resolution. I’d be remiss in my duties if I did not ensure that those words became action. Come, we shall speak with the emperor.”
Reth led them to the throne room and the trio waited patiently as they stood in the back. Several armored individuals who appeared to be of a high rank were sitting around a table that was brought into the room and set in front of the throne. The emperor was seated on the throne, and the various commanders squabbled and gestured to various marked units on an enormous map. The map was like the one Ghell had shown them when they first arrived, but there were far fewer cities.
Did they lose large chunks of their population?
Querying…no. They created a variety of technological advancements for agriculture, so less people were required to tend farms, and thus the city population swelled. The lower classes went to the cities for work. You could almost say that this war was a good way to get rid of excess population.
I don’t like the sound of that. Maybe we should try to also get more of those people into the VBV. A thought raced through Felix’s mind – crystal clear in an instant. Heck…why even bother with going to the Coralith Empire? We can just offer to take the whole of the Monolith Empire’s population into the VBV. Let the Coralith have this world – these people can just move.
Would you move willingly? And furthermore, this emperor would be giving up power over others and be subservient to you by default.
Lucifer’s words made sense and Felix sighed. This got the attention of one of the military commanders, who quieted his allies as they all stared at Felix. “Hi,” he stated, “We’re back. And we decided we’re going to help you out.”
Reth walked forward and knelt, “Emperor, I request to go on a mission with these two into the heart of the Coralith Empire and strike them as they have struck you.”
The emperor stood and raised his hand, gesturing for Reth to stand – which he did before assuming a military ‘attention’ stance. “My agent of the Vigilant Gaze, you do your country a great service.” The emperor looked at Felix and waved for him to walk forward, and Felix did so. “And you, Versewalker. I thank you for siding with our cause.”
“I have a proposition as well,” Felix stated as he walked to the edge of the room and gestured for one of the guards who was standing in a nook to stand aside. He glanced at the emperor, who nodded, before moving away. “I’m going to open a portal to my personal kingdom. It’s called a VBV and will enable you to trade with other ‘Verses – other worlds.” Felix used a Multiversal Charge and the grey aperture appeared and stayed in place.
The emperor walked forward, and the various military commanders stood. They flanked him as he approached the portal. Felix stepped aside and bowed slightly, “You have my word that no harm will come to you in this place.”
The emperor poked his head inside for a few seconds before pulling it back out with a look of wonder on his face – the VBV Function having given him the knowledge of the Multiverse’s existence. “You have bestowed on us a kingly gift, Versewalker. This will greatly increase our prosperity.”
“Of your realm and mine,” Felix stated.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
The emperor grinned and looked at Reth, “I believe you should be well equipped for this journey you are going to undertake. Seneschal? Take Reth, the Versewalker, and his Escort to the royal armory.”
----------------------------------------
They were led through several vaunted chambers and locked hallways before arriving at an ornate vault door. The seneschal that led them pulled a large key from around her neck, slipped it into a concealed lock, and opened the door. She stood aside and gestured, “Limit yourself to one item apiece to assist in this journey.”
Felix instantly used Detect Object, intending to find the rarest items in the room.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/JRtgPNNm/Detect-Object.webp]
The golden beam guided him toward the back of the chamber. There was a large chest. Glancing back, he saw the Seneschal watching him with curiosity. Felix turned back and quickly picked the lock. What he saw when he opened it took his breath away. Sitting on a velvet cushion was an intricately woven circlet made of shining, cerulean metal and embedded with emeralds. Detect Properties.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/WT5CGWJX/Detect-Properties.webp]
[Item Description: Circlet of Prosperity]
[Provides a 10% discount on all purchases, and enables the user to sell items for 10% more.]
Felix immediately put it on his head. It was slightly oversized for him, but once he had it on, it shrunk until it fit perfect. He threw up his hood over it, and turned to see what his allies had found. Reth had picked up a large cloak and was trying it on in front of a mirror. “Want me to identify that for you?” Felix asked.
Reth shook his head, “I know exactly what this is. It is a cloak of perfect disguise.” He waved it with a flourish that concealed his whole body and as it fell away Reth was no longer standing there. Instead, a perfect duplicate of Felix was standing there. “This will be a useful tool.”
And dangerous.
He’s coming with us. If he misuses it, I can just knock him out and take it.
Pragmatic.
If nothing I am that. Felix looked for Tinuriel and found her in an alcove, rifling through dozens of leather objects. “What are you looking for?” Felix asked.
“Valiant Edge has no sheath, I’ve been using my old one,” Tinuriel muttered.
“Don’t you have your own inventory linked to mine now?”
“I prefer having it on my person, not in my person,” she tersely replied. After a few moments she stood up and held a large sheath with a leather band in front of Felix. “Do you mind?” Detect Properties.
[Item Description: Sheath of Returning]
[The user may at any time recall their weapon to their hand, or the sheath.]
Felix laughed at the mental image of Tinuriel just chucking her sword into some charging monster. “This is the perfect item for you!”
She raised an eyebrow, “Oh?”
He handed the sheath back to her, “It’ll return your weapon to you.”
She frowned, “What idiot would lose their weapon?”
Felix put on the sheath, “Hand me your sword.” Tinuriel did with a moment’s hesitation. Felix sheathed the blade briefly – attuning it to the new item – and then pulled the sword out, flinging it across the room.
And return!
The sword was about to impact a wall before vanishing and reappearing in his grip. He handed the blade to Tinuriel once more and gave her the sheath. “I will have to consider changing my combat style,” Tinuriel stated thoughtfully. She equipped the new item, and the two joined Reth as they left the vault.
----------------------------------------
Felix insisted they go to the highest point of the citadel, which confused Reth at first, but once they got up top, Felix pulled out the glider. “Come on, we’ll use this to get as far as we can.”
Reth’s eyes went wide as he saw the device and eagerly got in it, “I’ve never seen anything like it? What does it do?”
Tinuriel, for the first time since Reth joined them, showed an emotion other than distaste towards the man. “It is from my ‘Verse. We will ride the air itself.” Her tone was one Felix was familiar with at this point – her vain voice.
Reth slapped the side of it, “What are we waiting for!”
Felix pushed the glider off the building before hopping in as it gently descended.
Reth’s eyes opened in amazement, and he looked at Felix, “Is this normal where you are from?”
“Not really. We have flight figured out in my ‘Verse.”
The agent’s jaw went slack for a moment, “You can fly? How?”
“It’s about thrust, I think. And how the wing is shaped,” Felix stated. “I can also use a Skill to let you fly.”
Reth was seemingly bouncing up and down, “I never imagined one could do that!”
“And we shouldn’t while we are here,” Lucifer stated.
“Joy kill,” Felix muttered. “Why?”
“Flying is strictly forbidden in this ‘Verse’s rules.”
“I did it in that library.”
“I should clarify. Flying under the open sky is forbidden. I don’t know what will happen if we break that rule, but I don’t want to find out.”
Felix sighed and pointed his hand behind them, “Well at least we can get some distance.” He channeled a steady stream of Anima through his palm, activating Wind Beam.
He used the ability in short bursts and as the hour passed, they flew well beyond the capital’s borders and approached the ocean. “Tinuriel, is this thing waterproof?”
She nodded, “It functions as a boat. Not a good one, mind you.” She pulled the steering device and began to bank gently to set them down on the shoreline. “I don’t see any sign of these armies.”
Reth pointed North, “The staging ground is up that way. Where the sand bar is the largest. It’s also the best place to invade either kingdom, having the least amount of sea life that are hostile.”
“Is that why there’s abyssal cliffs marking off the barrier between the Coralith Empire and the rest of the ocean?” Felix asked him.
“That is correct. The oceanic life, due to divine decree in the creation of the world, cannot pass over that point.”
Tinuriel grinned, “Are we going to be attacked while we are swimming?” Reth nodded, and this elicited a cackle from the elven warrior as she angled them right to the beach, the glider skidding gently in the sand before coming to a stop. “What are we waiting for?” She held up her hand and put the glider into their shared inventory.
Reth leaned over to Felix, “She’s really into fighting,” he whispered.
Felix just nodded and smiled at Tinuriel who was tapping her foot impatiently. “So how do we do this? Do we just walk in?” Felix asked.
Reth nodded, “All residents of this world can breathe water just the same as air.” He walked into the surf and dipped below the surface. Tinuriel was a step behind him, and Felix reflexively took a deep breath before following.