Priscilla sat in the count's chamber, eyeing a series of reports and documents uncovered within the count's land. Beside her was Calvin, who diligently replaced the read documents with new ones. With everything that occurred with the mayor and the count, Calvin, who was uninformed about their evils, begged for a second chance and ended up staying beside Priscilla.
It proved a big help as they uncovered countless deplorable acts that the mayor and count had committed under the guise of benevolence. The count's depravity ran deep and had influenced the Skriythe's hunger for young girls.
Document after document proved nothing more than a headache to Priscilla, who had a grimace across her face. It had been three weeks since the count died, and the days had been naught but rife with trouble.
The townsfolk had propped Priscilla up as a deity walking among them. At the same time, the other territories of the count's lands had mixed reactions, which primarily included disbelief and greed for the lordship position. Besides that, the cult's machinations across the empire had more than once come up in reports and hearsay.
Priscilla sighed and held one of the papers loosely, "With so many villages and towns running into the Church of Zenith, how has the empire not acted upon it?"
"Our scouts haven't worked out why that is, My Lady," Calvin earnestly replied. "There might be collusion between the cultists and the empire, or someone is merely intercepting the reports before they can reach the emperor's ears."
"Even so, it seems unreasonable that they've said nothing about it all this time." Priscilla shook her head. "The people's worries are not something the empire can afford to ignore."
"My Lady, the world isn't as forgiving as you," Calvin replied with a slight bow, "Most worry only for themselves and avoid anything troublesome that can ruin their day."
"I believe the emperor, even if he knows about them and isn't working with them, wouldn't waste his time unless it put the imperial city into a predicament," Calvin added, passing another document toward Priscilla. "You see here, the emperor's been skipping out on noble meetings and has secluded himself for weeks now."
Priscilla scanned the paper with weary eyes and slammed it down on the table, "The whole damn place is falling apart!" She muttered through muffled gasps.
"Have Jensen or Jared returned yet from the nearby territories?" Priscilla stood up and asked as she stretched her tired body.
"They should be back within a few days, My Lady," Calvin replied, putting away several piles of papers that Priscilla had finished looking through. "Would you like to rest now and continue tomorrow?"
"No, I'll go see how the training is progressing," Priscilla waved the man off and headed toward the training ground near the count's mansion. "If they can't progress quickly enough to face off against the evils lurking in the empire's shadow, then everyone will be better off fleeing to the far reaches of the continent and digging a hole for themselves."
"It should work out, My Lady," Calvin pondered momentarily before responding. "Everyone's quite motivated, and seeing you watch over their training each day inspires them to work harder."
"We shall see," Priscilla responded with unconvinced flatness.
As they reached the training ground, they could hear the grunts of battle and the clashes of steel against steel. Both men and women—young and innocent battled with each other. Fending one another's strikes and trying to make the most of their awkward motions. It was blatant that they were novices in the art of battle, but they pushed their bodies until beads of sweat rolled off, and their weary gasps echoed through the grounds.
After fifteen minutes of Priscilla watching, one of the trainees noticed her and gasped. "Greetings to the Divine One!"
The others reacted and shuffled around, bowing just the same. "We greet the Divine One!"
Their gazes shone with fervent light that could drill a hole in a person.
"How is the training coming along?" Priscilla asked with a smile. She had numbed to their divine title. No matter how often she repeated that she wasn't divinity, it would do nothing to halt their praise.
The group silenced momentarily and looked toward one of the young men to the side. Seeing their actions, he took a few steps forward and bowed. "I'll answer, My Lady. There have been visible improvements in coordination and awareness. Some of the younger trainees still struggle with sudden changes in the flow of battle, but even they have drastically improved since we started. It might not be comparable to knights with years of experience, but at least they can put up a fight."
"I see, thank you, Tristan," Priscilla responded, "but it is not the knights you must face but the tides of tireless demons that come crashing down upon the empire. You cannot be satisfied with merely putting up a fight. You must do better and fight to survive."
"Do you understand this? All of you must live, fight, and survive. Nothing will change this fact. No miracle will happen overnight to fend the demons off. Only by gaining the strength to protect yourselves and your loved ones will you stand a chance against what's to come." Priscilla sternly added, voicing her concerns for the future that many of the fervent followers were painfully aware of already.
"We understand, Divine One!" The group bellowed while stomping their feet and thumping their chests.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Return to practice!" Tristan yelled, waving them off. "We won't disappoint the Lady's hopes for us!"
Soon, sounds of brutal clashes echoed across the training grounds once more. Priscilla crossed her arms and glowed with a bright and proud smile. "They're good. Their hearts are firm, and their desires innocent. Will the others adapt just as well when they arrive?"
"I'm not sure, My Lady. There's much hearsay against your accomplishments. So, I'm not sure how many people the Eckhart brothers will be able to convince to come." Calvin replied, scratching his head with doubt.
"We'll find out soon enough. Let's head back," Priscilla said before turning back toward the mansion.
"Yes, My Lady!" Calvin earnestly smiled and followed.
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As the days passed, Priscilla's tasks were much the same; she would go through documents sent by their scouts and would witness the combat training daily. When she wasn't busy with her tasks, she'd spend much-needed leisure time with Hallie and little Bianca.
Finally, Jensen and Jared returned, riding into the town where the count's mansion stood. Behind them, hundreds of weary people followed on foot, trudging through the dust, creating a cloud of brown that blanketed the area.
Priscilla could see the faces rife with determination and intrigue, some of confusion and apprehension, but more than anything existed a united fervor and an ignited passion for witnessing something grander than their lives had preordained.
Jensen dismounted his horse with a loud thud as his feet planted against the ground, and he subtly bowed toward Priscilla with a knowing smile. "I greet the Lordship, Countess Valentine."
Soon after, Jared followed and acted out the motions, "Greetings, Countess Valentine."
The crowd, witnessing their respectful inclinations, bowed with bated breaths and firmly echoed their greetings. "We greet the Divine One! Prosperity and blessings to Countess Valentine!"
Priscilla walked forth and propped herself up with the force of the wind, lifting her feet off the ground as a show of power. "Welcome. I'm eternally grateful that you've answered the call and have shown your support. We face a great enemy that spreads its vile hands across the empire we hold near and dear, and only by working together can we work to stop it."
Seeing that the woman rose off the ground and floated like a deity among men, the crowd's eyes shone with zealousness. Their travelworn bodies perked up, and their postures straightened as they focused on every uttered word like gospel.
"This is why—I'm forming the Viper Legion. You all—are the brave and the willing. You will join those who have already started their training and become a force to be considered—for all of our sakes. You will be coiled and ready, waiting to strike and lash out at the demons that infest our lands."
"We will obey and serve! To the future of the empire! To the survival of our people!" The crowd roared with the wind billowing through their ranks.
"Good!" Priscilla smiled, "Mayor Calvin of Blackstone will situate you and get you accustomed to the town of Blackthorn. You've traveled a long way to join us, so for today, rest, recover, and rejoice that the future is bright."
"YES, DIVINE ONE!" The crowd fervently bowed while whispering and cheering spread between the people familiar with one another.
Calvin came and ushered them toward a makeshift registration, whereas Priscilla left with Jensen and Jared in tow.
Once they reached the mansion and shut the door behind them, Priscilla walked over and slumped into the office chair. "It's difficult breathing under their passionate gazes. It feels like putting on a show and manipulating them to act on our behalf."
"Don't feel so bad, Pris. You said it yourself; if those things returned with their full forces, what we saw is only the beginning of a greater catastrophe." Jensen replied and reassured her. "Plus, they're more than willing to follow. Most people live their lives to get by. They have no grand purpose and no hopes to work hard toward it. You're giving them something they can wholeheartedly believe in, which is amazing."
"I guess you're right," Priscilla sighed and flattened against the desk. "I just hope they remain serious about the training. If they think this is a game, they'll only sacrifice their lives for nothing."
"We'll push them in the right direction. Don't stress yourself too hard. You cannot shoulder all of the burden by yourself." Jared spoke out. "There are several skillful craftsmen among the group, so we should have a good time going forth. Believe in the people, Pris. We'll manage to survive, just like we have thus far."
"As long as we keep our eyes and ears open, we should find their tail before long," Jensen added. "Anyways, what matters most is that we're ready for them. As soon as they make a move we can follow in their footsteps."
"I know what you're saying is true. I just don't wish to see the innocent fall into their hands. Life is quite burdensome when the end is looming overhead, isn't it?" Priscilla leaned back in her seat and sighed. "Part of me wishes to just ride into the imperial city and see what the situation is there, even though I know it's impossible to do so with an unknown threat hiding in the shadows."
"Well, My Lady, Countess Valentine, future Duchess of the empire," Jensen titled with a smirk, "Without any disrespect, you're still a girl not unlike the young men and women training out there. It isn't abnormal for you to be impatient and yearn to do more, but you have to slow down sometimes and do your best when you're able to do so."
"Jens. . .get out!" Priscilla huffed and threw a bundle of documents at the man, causing him to laugh uproariously, nearly falling out of his seat.
His actions caused the whole room to fill with laughter until a knock came at the office door.
"My Lady, I bring news," Calvin spoke from the other side.
"Come in, Calvin." Priscilla sat up in her chair and put on a more stern appearance.
Calvin came in with visible fatigue and sweat coating his brow. In his hands was a new document that he brought to the table. "The emperor has gone mad, My Lady! He's begun attacking the imperial city, claiming to be ridding the empire of dissident forces and forming a group to attack the Sandlands." Calvin caught his breath momentarily before continuing, "There's word of Duke Valentine appearing in the south and moving toward the imperial city. My Lady, don't you think all of this is too convenient?"
"Indeed it does. If someone is pulling the strings on the empire's chaos, this would be the perfect opportunity to do so." Priscilla rapped her fingers against the desk and silently pondered the news. "The legion is still too young to head toward the empire. We can only take a small force and head for the Sandlands while the rest commit to their training."
"Jens, get some men together and prepare for the journey. We'll head out within the next few days. We won't let them act as they please." Priscilla commanded. "Calvin, you and Jared take charge of the town and the training. The war is coming! Make sure everything is ready for when it does come."