《Chronicles of Sabaria: A New Guardian》


 Prologue and Chapter 1: Rumblings

    Foreword


    Greetings to whoever picked this manuscript up. I am the Chronicler of Sabaria. Which is a world you have never heard of nor of my existence. I have sent forth my writings to you, mostly to have someone read them. No one I know seems interested in my Chronicles.


    When choosing which story to send forth to you I came to quite a conundrum. I would have sent forth my work on the Planar Composition of the Greater Sabarian Universe. Though I''m sure it would have been tedious reading for all but the most ardent of metaphysical enthusiasts.


    Instead, I chose to send forth some excerpts of my Chronicles. This was a fascinating time of my world¡¯s history, the final decades of the Age of Man. This was a trying time that almost overwhelmed one weary old man and his young prot¨¦g¨¦ who never even wanted the job that was given to her. I hope that you enjoy this work as much as I enjoyed chronicling it.


    Until we meet in person,


    Your Friend,


    The Chronicler


    Prologue


    The Cycle of Seasons began in the ¡°Age of the Gods¡± when the High Father brought forth the Nine and charged them with the creation of Sabaria. At first, they were in unison, working as one to bring life to this new creation. However, they were still flawed beings, and soon there was strife between them. Where once they were unified under the will of the High Father. As time went on, they began to deviate from his desires, replacing the High Father¡¯s will with their own.


    As the rift grew, so did the conflict between them. Only Lenera, wisest and gentlest of the nine, remained true to the High Father¡¯s wishes. Three became consumed by the power of evil. Three sought to rid themselves of all morality. Two more took goodness to their extremes.


    The strife between the gods destroyed their young world, and the High Father had to step in. The High Father forced them all to sign The Pact, an agreement that they would not directly interfere in the running of the world they had to create from the ashes of the old. They were now llimited to their assigned duties and dominions. T


    After working together to rebuild, it was decided that the Gods could make major adjustments to the world, but it would have to be a majority vote between the nine. However, The Pact said nothing about mortals not being able to bring about their God¡¯s will in the world. The Nine quickly exploited this loophole, turning mortals into their tools to bring about their desired goals. Lenera was driven to despair, once again her siblings were neglecting their duties in the pursuit of personal ambition. The world was once again pushed to the brink of ruin.


    The High Father returned once more, knowing what the Nine had done, and devised a solution to the problem. Using his divine essence, he empowered a mortal creature into the first Guardian. A being of supreme power who would help keep balance in the world. This was done to make sure that none of the Nine would grow in power to the point that they could threaten the world.


    The Guardians would be the champions of the High Father, keeping his children in line and keeping balance in the world. In return, the Nine could petition the Guardian if they believed one of their fellows was stepping out of line.  Or to petition him if they believed that the mortals themselves were causing an imbalance in the world, from their divine perspective.


    The Guardian would live for 5000 years before passing the mantle onto his successor. This also marked the end of prehistory and the beginning of contemporary historical recordings. The Age of Serpents led to the Age of Titans, which led to the Age of Aelms, which then led to the Age of Ascension, before leading up to the Age of Man. This age was in its last three decades, the end was at hand.


    While no one was sure of what the next age would be like, all were sure that a time of great trial was upon the world. Could Methuselah, the current Guardian, train his successor, or would all be lost to ruin?


    Methuselah¡¯s Tower, The Great Northern Wastes.


    In a deserted piece of frozen land, far from civilization, three figures descended from the sky to the base of an old and weathered tower. Each deity radiated with immense divine power; any onlooker would have been blinded by the sight.


    First, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, sun kissed-skin, dark hair, and soothing gray eyes. The goddess wore a simple body-length white robe and radiated gentle warmth, smelling of freshly baked pies and meadows after a light shower. When she lightly landed the ground beneath her feet bloomed as if spring had found its way through the permafrost for the first time.


    Next, came a wild-looking woman, tawny-skinned with seafoam green eyes, her dark blue hair long and untamed, roiling like the waves of the ocean. The goddess wore a short blue skirt made of sapphires and a matching top that covered her chest but left the rest of her torso exposed. The figure wore a pair of dice earrings, with a cutlass on one side of her hips, and a jangling bag of coins on the other. This being smelled of the sea, sweat, and thick perfume. When she landed a spring of salt water gushed forth from the snow.


    The third figure was a scholarly man, pale as moonlight, in a long silver robe that covered his body from the neck down. The figure''s silver hair was meticulously maintained and neat, and a pair of wide and ornate spectacles sat upon his face in front of his eyes of liquid silver.


    The man''s face was cold and stern, utterly devoid of emotion. In his left arm, he cradled an impressive book with an elaborate design of an owl, moth, and wolf, stacked on top of each other, inside of a perfect symmetrical snowflake. In his left hand, he carried an ornate and beautiful silver halberd.


    The being smelled of old parchment, fine wine, and the freshness of fallen snow. When he alighted on the ground, the already frozen wasteland became even colder underneath and around him, with a new sheet of ice expanding around his feet.


    The figures came together at the front door of the tower, and the figure in white knocked upon it. A loud and resounding knock was heard for miles around the tower. The figures waited for a few minutes, but no one came to answer.


    ¡°How agitating, we gave them proper warning that we would be coming to meet with them, and here they are ignoring us.¡± Said silver robed Robernu in a soft but deep and emotionless voice, it was the voice of a scholar giving a lecture on the dynastic Haelmish power struggles of the 14th millennia.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so brother, Methuselah isn¡¯t one to ignore any of us when we come to meet with them, they''re probably passed out from a night of heavy drinking at the prospect of dealing with us.¡± Said the blue-haired Ariela, with a cheerful voice.


    ¡°If what you say is true sister, what a fine Guardian we have, we warn them ahead of time and they disgrace themselves by getting drunk and failing to meet us at their door.¡± Robernu replied with an indignant tone to his voice.


    ¡°There is no need to be so hard on them Robernu, we have no proof that they are drunk. For all we know they could have been up late trying to decide if the world is out of balance and how to correct that imbalance.¡± Said the soft and motherly voice of the white-robed Lenera.


    ¡°Enough of this, time is wasting, I have things to do.¡± Robernu raised his halberd, gleaming with power, and used it to burst open the door. Looking around, they saw piles of bottles on the floor, and piles of books on the tables and armchairs. On the walls were many shelves filled with various trinkets and trophies acquired over millennia of service. The three began pushing their way through the sea of liquor bottles towards the staircase.


    ¡°Okay, maybe they have been drinking a little.¡± Said Lenera to the frowning Robernu.


    Methuselah, oblivious to the divine intrusion, was still asleep. Any lesser being would have been repelled by the wards, but the halberd of Robernu was stronger than any unmaintained barrier the Guardian could put up. Methuselah was at this moment in the throes of a familiar dream, a battle they fought once in their life and many times in their mind.


    They were on top of the Citadel of Oblivion, battling Zekron the God Killer. Around them were the shattered bodies of the great heroes and champions they had brought with them to take down this threat. The only ones left standing were Methuselah, the demigoddess Trianna, Zekron¡¯s two treacherous apprentices, and Zekron himself.


    He was a terrifying vaguely humanoid being, consumed by darkness with eerie green glowing tattoos covering him. Even at their prime, Methuselah had trouble holding their own against the raw might of Zekron, it did not help that Zekron supplemented his power with that of the lesser deities he had consumed.


    Methuselah and Zekron were in the middle of a battle of magical wills, any sign of weakness from either one and the loser would be decided.


    ¡°Trianna, I cannot defeat him on my own, both Natasha and Eon are drained you¡¯re the only one whose strength I can rely on right now. This is our only chance, if we don¡¯t finish him off here and now, he will come back.¡± Methuselah¡¯s voice was filled with desperation, seeking the aid of their friend.


    ¡°If I join my power with yours, you may live but I will be destroyed along with Zekron.¡± There was fear in Trianna¡¯s voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s the only way, we need to end his menace once and for all, we knew going in that there would be a loss, does the sacrifices of our comrades mean nothing to you?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t do this; I don¡¯t want to die.¡± Trianna turned her back on the battle and ran from it, right as Methuselah broke through Zekron¡¯s barrier and blasted him with all their might, enough to destroy his body, but not his spirit.


    A cold and harsh laugh came from the figure shrouded in darkness. ¡°Guardian you may destroy this body, but mark my words, I will return, and when I do, this world will be consumed by my fury.¡± After he finished, what was left of his body crumbled to dust. An exhausted Methuselah collapsed on top of the tower, knowing that this was only a temporary respite, and the threat of Zekron would return one day.


    A few moments later Methuselah awoke from their dream and found three deities standing around his bed. At this moment, Methuselah appeared to be an olive-skinned human male in their late fifties to early sixties with gray hair, a well-kept beard, and many well earned wrinkles.


    ¡°Deities, you should know, it¡¯s rude to enter someone¡¯s home without permission.¡± There was annoyance in Methuselah¡¯s voice.


    ¡°You know it¡¯s rude to not be ready to greet guests when you¡¯ve been forewarned of their arrival.¡± Robernu was as annoyed as Methuselah.


    ¡°Is it midweek already, I hadn¡¯t realized it.¡±


    ¡°Because you¡¯ve been slacking off in your duties.¡± Said Robernu.


    ¡°Now understand, things have been peaceful and stable for about five years, I am just taking a vacation before the world loses its balance once again. Or until one of you disrupts the balance with some wild scheme to undo the free will of mortals.¡± Methuselah looked at Robernu; the silver-robed god just stared impassively back at them, not dignifying that accusation with an answer.


    ¡°Well, your vacation is over, it is time for you to fulfill your final duty and train your successor.¡± Said Robernu.


    ¡°Really, who, what, and where is my successor, and why am I training them so urgently?¡±


    ¡°The girl''s name is Elizabeth, she¡¯s a sixteen-year-old human female in the Kingdom of Lions, and that entire region is about to be invaded by the reawakened lich Zarathustra.¡± Said Robernu.


    This piqued Methuselah¡¯s interest. ¡°Zarathustra is up and about? Haven¡¯t seen him for a thousand years, not since Artie kicked his ass.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should take your job more seriously, this way you would know these things without having us tell you.¡± Robernu was quite agitated with Methuselah.


    ¡°And let me guess, you want me to grab her before the Kingdom of Lions collapses?¡±


    ¡°Yes, whether the Kingdom survives or not is irrelevant, the girl is the only one that matters, and you must begin training her.¡± Said Robernu.


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t he want to save the Kingdom of Lions as well?¡± Asked Lenera.


    ¡°That little experiment of mine has run its course, and it¡¯s time to bring it to an end. If Zarathustra hadn¡¯t shown up, I would have shattered it myself. The Kingdom was founded a thousand years ago, by a man I supported in the hope that he would provide a haven for humanity in the wake of the Great Collapse. It didn¡¯t work out in the long run, but it was enough of a success for its time.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who created the Great Collapse in the first place?¡± Ariela asked.


    ¡°All I did was unleash a plague upon a stagnated world, where one nation forced its will on all others. It was using it¡¯s oppressive might to maintain an unsustainable and exploitive status quo upon its fellows in the name of peace and prosperity.¡±


    ¡°And is your Kingdom of Lions any better?¡± Ariela asked with a smug tone.


    ¡°I don¡¯t agree with Arthur¡¯s manipulation of the truth or the rampant xenophobia of his predecessors, but the Kingdom of Lions has been a bastion of order and stability in the western hemisphere for a millennium. I do not regret its creation, nor will I mourn its passing. It has done its job, but now it is old and corrupt. I know Zarathustra very well, whatever reign he gets will not last long, he¡¯s a revolutionary at heart, not an administrator. Someone will come along and overthrow him, and a new nation will build up on the ashes of the old, such is the way of our world. The death of the old gives birth to the new, such is the cycle of nations. That¡¯s one lesson I¡¯ll have to teach the girl, that and how to deal with you meddlers.¡±


    ¡°I take severe offense at your insinuations and accusation that we, meddle, in the world.¡± Said Robernu in a dry and flat manner, betraying none of his true feelings or intentions.


    ¡°Don¡¯t piss on my head and tell me it¡¯s raining. The past five millennia has been me putting out your fires, nonstop. And it is not just you nine, but every deity and divine servant who gets it in their head that they know better than the High Father. And do not try to deny that the Scholatologists weren¡¯t connected with you Robernu, only you could come up with something as crazy as that nonsense.¡± Methuselah let out a loud sigh. ¡°This poor girl has no idea what she is getting into.¡±


    ¡°Impudence aside, you better retrieve her as soon as possible, Zarathustra will be hitting the southern provinces within the week. Archduke Yuri Baikov might be a formidable man, but he and the Bear Duchies won¡¯t be able to hold off the horde for long.¡± Said Robernu.


    ¡°Well then, I better put on some clothes and grab her, shouldn¡¯t I?¡±


    Chapter 1: Rumblings


    The Dark Wastes, fifty leagues from the nearest Zarakova outpost


    In the barren landscape known as the Dark Wastes, the forces of Zarathustra were making their move, though not unnoticed. Captain Anya Zarakova and her elite squad of scouts were out and about searching for any sign of hostiles. Things had been quiet around Wall Visalia these past few weeks, and that always seemed suspicious.


    Clad in brown and gray camouflage, the scouts traveled through the wasteland. If the Captain¡¯s hunch proved correct, then they were looking for a warband, the likes of which had not been seen for 600 years. Over the past couple of weeks, a strange dark greenish storm cloud had developed over the Dark Wastes, with all the signs pointing to it being supernatural. The fact that it coincided with an inexplicable cessation of hostility from the monsters that lived here made her even more suspicious.


    Captain Anya and her squad moved through the petrified forest, using the trees for cover. They had to be careful, if they gave away their position, things would not end well for them. Fortunately, they were the elite of the elite, scouts whose skills were unmatched in House Zarakova¡¯s forces.


    Exiting the forest, they came upon a ridge, with enormous clouds of dust coming from behind it. Moving with stealth, they began crawling up behind the ridge to see the origin of the dust. When they gazed over the edge, they beheld a sight that filled them with horror.


    Before their eyes was a great host of monstrosities and abominations. Amid the army, teams of Ormags, eight-foot-tall gray-skinned lumbering brutes with bulging muscles and massive eternally ravenous bellies, were pulling impressive war machines, giant and fearsome catapults.


    The payload of these weapons would shake the very foundations of the earth itself. Even worse, what they beheld appeared to only be a faction of the host, as the waves seemed to stretch on in front of them and behind them. The scouts could not even see the end of it. It seemed almost every foul creature in the Dark Wastes had been assembled into one massive horde.


    ¡°How did we not gain word of movement like this?¡± Captain Anya asked her squad, with shock and horror on her face.


    ¡°Because we butchered every scout and sentry we came across, bosses¡¯ orders, he wants this to be a surprise.¡± The squad turned around to see where the obnoxiously cheerful and raspy voice had come from, but all they saw was a young female Grib cheerfully smiling at them.


    Gribs were about three feet in height, with long arms for their size, claws on their hands and feet, rubbery green skin, wide floppy ears that extended from their oversized heads. Their mouths were filled with razor-sharp teeth, and they had piercing yellow eyes. Female Grib''s hair was long and black while men grew mohawks which they loved to dye various colors.


    ¡°Hurry, kill her before she informs the rest of her horde.¡± Captain Anya ordered her squad.


    ¡°Oh, not to downplay my abilities, but I am the least of your worries right now.¡± The squad heard a mighty roar as a savage Chren-Zul, a hulking, orange-skinned humanoid with the build of a six-foot bipedal gorilla and a tusked mouth. He came rushing at them from their right side, a savage bloodlust in his eyes as his red warpaint glowed and he waved his stone maul about. From their left side, they heard a bone-chilling howl. A stern-looking Ma-Grib, a human-sized and proportioned, red-skinned and muscular cousin of a Grib came charging at them astride his Morag steed. Both seemed to be surrounded by fell energy.


    As their attention was taken away from the Grib girl, the Grib drew two knives she had hidden in her sleeves and jumped on the face of the Lieutenant. She plunged her knives into his eyes while singing a sick little ditty. ¡°Patty stab, patty stab, shanker¡¯s man, make me a shank as fast as you can.¡±


    The Chren-Zul had reached the squad and had splattered through three of the scouts with one swing of his maul. Meanwhile the Ma-Grib had run down two of the Halmen and had plunged his Morag deep into the midst of the scouts, who only now had drawn their weapons and taken up defensive positions. The elite scouts were taken out in short order by the rampaging Chren-Zul, psychotic Grib, and brutal yet efficient Ma-Grib.


    Only Captain Anya and the Halmen Corporal Ivana escaped back to the Petrified Forest. Unfortunately, they did not make it far, as the mounted Ma-Grib, with the Grib now riding behind him, caught up with them. The Grib jumped off and tackled Ivana to the ground while the Ma-Grib¡¯s dire wolf knocked the wind out of Anya, placing its paw upon her back, and pinning her down.


    ¡°Leave the Halmen alive Mari, the master will want to speak with these two.¡± Said the Ma-Grib. With an accent that was thicker than hers.


    ¡°And when he is done with them, do I get to keep the Halmen, Bordek? The Halmen seems like she would be a lot of fun to play with.¡±


    ¡°Only if master lets you, you little whelp.¡± Said the looming Chren-zul who had walked on over to join his comrades, he was now calm. ¡°I would prefer to just kill them both and send their bodies to the mobile larders.¡±


    ¡°We will have to take it up with our master Ghul-Zar.¡± Bordek was annoyed at Ghul-Zar. ¡°You lost too much control back there; you nearly took my head off in your fury.¡±


    ¡°Next time stay out of my way. I unleash my fury when and where I want.¡±


    ¡°Mother, father, please stop fighting.¡± There was a childlike tone to Mari¡¯s voice.


    Ghul-Zar had an appearance of confusion on his face. ¡°So, am I mother or father?¡± Bordek just let out a loud sigh and led his companions with their prisoners back to their master.


    A little while later they were at the center of the massive horde, at what appeared to be a mobile, dark, and foreboding castle being propelled above the ground by some strange magic. Anya and Ivana were brought into the macabre structure, dragged through the hallways covered in filth to the throne room where they came upon a curious sight.


    Before the throne were what appeared to be two humans. One was a woman in black with bones stitched into her clothes, gazing at some knucklebones on the floor and mumbling to herself. The woman was beautiful, but frail-looking, with mismatched eyes, one green and one blue, and ghostly white hair.


    Across from her stood a man at a table with various vials and chemicals. The man was covered in enveloping robes, and what was not covered up by the robes was covered in bandages. The only bits visible were his mouth and eyes. The man looked up from his work and a smile emerged on his face as he realized that they had guests.


    ¡°Did you have a happy hunting session Bordek?¡± The man asked the Ma-Grib.


    ¡°Happy enough Ludwig, we caught a group of Zarakovan scouts spying on us, this is all that¡¯s left of the squad.¡±


    At that moment, a realization hit Anya. ¡°You are Ludwig Von Schwarzwald, son of Count Otto Von Schwarzwald, the heretical alchemist, and she must be Cornelia Penelope, the treacherous bastard daughter of Baron Dorian Penelope.¡± Cornelia looked up at Anya with a vicious glint in her eye, while Ludwig just appeared to be amused.


    ¡°You seem to know a lot about us.¡±


    ¡°The Baikov family provides the Zarakova family with a full list of nobles banished to the Dark Wastes, along with descriptions and the lists of your crimes. The last we checked you two were doing mercenary work for the feuding Ma-Grib tribes.¡±


    ¡°Well, as you can see the days of mercenary work are over, as we have made the discovery of the millennia, and now we will have our revenge on the Kingdom of Lions.¡± Ludwig had a smug tone to his voice.


    ¡°What type of discovery? There is nothing worth discovering in this wasteland.¡±


    Ludwig just smiled. ¡°There is more to this so-called wasteland than you could ever imagine. Underneath the wastes lie ancient secrets thousands of years old.¡±


    ¡°We both know that¡¯s a lie, this world is only a thousand years old.¡± Captain Anya was filled with indignation at Ludwig¡¯s heretical blabbering.


    ¡°It¡¯s that type of narrow-minded thinking that served as a contributing factor to my banishment. That line of thought has blinded the Kingdom of Lions to the truth, our world is far older than we were taught, and it is filled with far greater powers than we ever imagined. It was during my years of mercenary work that I was able to stumble upon one such power. The tomb of an ancient undead Arcanos, who faced the King of Lions in combat, and was one of seven foes who opposed the Unification.¡±


    ¡°The King of Lions was a divine being sent by his father, the Golden King, to drive away all the false races and corrupted humans who infested his promised land. The King of Lions then took the virtuous Humans and Halmens under his protection in the creation of the one true nation in the world.¡± For those who do not know what a Halmen is, they¡¯re half-sized humans, about three feet tall, who possess human-proportioned bodies except for their thick and insulated furry feet. The thick and insulated feet came about as a natural evolution to cope with the fact that they often found themselves in a subservient role to humans.  In many past cultures their ancestors were denied shoes as a sign of servitude.


    ¡°Arthur Galdwin was nothing more than a fearsome Oathsworn from across the ocean, his heavenly saints were his band of mercenaries who rallied to his banner. There is nothing divine about him, his followers, his descendants, or the noble families of the Kingdom of Lions. The nobles are just descendants of successful conquerors who took advantage of a chaotic situation to set up their playground.¡±


    ¡°Lies, stop spewing your lies.¡± Anya shouted with every fiber of her being. ¡°The creation of the Kingdom of Lions was a divine action, the King of Lions is a living god, and his followers were heavenly saints sent to bring order to a chaotic world in desperate need of guidance. This is the truth you filthy ninth damned heretic.¡± Captain Anya stopped when she felt an unearthly presence behind her that forced her hair to stand on end.


    ¡°My dear deluded child, you are mistaken. But, before you die, please allow me to free you from your ignorance.¡± This came from a deep but calm, almost comforting voice behind her. Captain Anya turned her head around to see a skeletal figure hovering above the ground, covered in what appeared to be ancient and tattered robes, with two green orbs in the place where his eyes should be.


    ¡°My name is Zarathustra, and I faced your ¡°god¡± on the field of battle. I can tell you this much, there are many gods in this world, but he is not one of them. No mortal has ascended to godhood since the Age of Ascension, the Nine put a stop to that after the disastrous Godstorm.¡±


    ¡°What are you?¡± Captain Anya asked horrified.


    ¡°The technical definition for myself would be a Lich, an Arcanos who has used magic to extend his life into undeath. I am 1500 years old, I was born during a great era of cultural, magical, economic, and technological advancement. That age lasted half a millennia before a combination of climate change, mass population displacement, global strife, and the Red Reaper plague brought about the Collapse. Arthur Galdwin and I were just two of many people who took advantage of the chaos to forge our kingdoms, it just so happened that I lost to him. The King of Lions was a man worthy of great respect, I must give him that much, but now his line is weak and degenerate. Any honor and nobility they may have had is long gone. The nobles of the Kingdom of Lions spend more time squabbling with themselves, instead of pushing their nation forward. The Kingdom of Lions has stagnated, honestly, I will be doing the world a favor by disposing of this unchanging relic. The twilight of your false gods is upon your land, though I doubt you¡¯ll be around to see it.¡± Zarathustra had the tone of a tenured professor who loved to humiliate his students to prove how educated he was.


    ¡°You won¡¯t get away with this?¡± Captain Anya¡¯s voice was defiant.


    ¡°No one will stop me, you people do not have the strength to oppose me, the line of Galdwin has reached its end. The Kingdom of Lions has alienated any possible allies with its staunch isolationism, and the one person who has the power to defeat me, won¡¯t interfere. They understand, even more than I do, that all kingdoms must eventually die. Now, if you do not mind, I need your companion, bring the Halmen to me.¡± Ghul-Zar brought the whimpering Halmen over to Zarathustra, who lifted her. ¡°I am going to need to infiltrate Wall Visalia and have the commander killed, this Halmen will prove instrumental in that plan.¡±


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I will never aid you or your evil schemes.¡± Said Ivana, terrified but defiant.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need you, just your skin.¡± The Halmen Ivana went limp with a visage of horror on her face as her body was consumed by a purple glow. There was a blinding purple flash and all that was left of Ivana was her skin still in the grip of Zarathustra, the uniform had fallen to the ground. Zarathustra threw the skin to Mari who took it with glee.


    Mari then proceeded to put the skin on, there was a slit in the back for her to fit into. Mari managed to slip it on, though it was apparent that it was an ill fit, her large head stretched it and it hung limply from the rest of her body. This was only a temporary problem, as the slit in the back sealed up and the magic once again began to work.


    Inside the skin suit, Mari¡¯s body spread out into Ivana¡¯s body, filling it out. Mari¡¯s eyes even changed from yellow to Ivana¡¯s blue. By the time the process was done, it appeared that Mari was gone, and Ivana was back. Mari, in Ivana¡¯s body, put the uniform back on.


    ¡°This body feels weird, having a head not so bulbous will take some getting used to. Now what is it you want me to do Zarathustra?¡± It was Ivana¡¯s voice, but Anya knew it was the Grib Mari speaking.


    ¡°I intend for you to infiltrate the defenses of Wall Visalia, spread false information, and kill the commander of that wall.¡±


    ¡°Sounds easy enough, do you plan for me to walk there or are you going to help out with that?¡±


    ¡°While my power is increased tenfold by this castle, the magical defenses built into the wall by the Arcanos Annabelle Stanfeld and the Arc-Blood Anastasia Ortoff prevent me from working any magic within two miles of the walls. I¡¯ll only be able to transport you to the edge of that area, you¡¯ll be on your own from there.¡±


    ¡°If this is such a problem, then won¡¯t we have trouble with your castle? It¡¯s powered by your magic, so once it gets within range it will collapse.¡± Mari sounded a bit worried, while Zarathustra just grinned to the best of his abilities.


    ¡°I took that into account, which is why I have put the alchemical skills of young Ludwig to good use.¡± Zarathustra looked over at Ludwig to see him smiling.


    ¡°For the past couple of years, I have been working on an alchemic dissolvent, something that will tear a hole through the magically augmented walls once it hits. As soon as we get a hole in the wall, we will have a hole in the magical barrier that prevents Zarathustra from working his magic. The horde will be able to get through that way.¡±


    ¡°Now if you don¡¯t mind, you need to get going.¡± Zarathustra snapped his fingers and a purple circle appeared around Mari. Bending over he placed his skeletal hands upon the circle, and in a brilliant purple flash, Mari disappeared.


    ¡°Hold on, how can you cast magic without uttering a word?¡± Despite everything that had happened to her, Zarathustra could defy the laws of magic that puzzled Captain Anya the most.


    ¡°I have reached a level of power where I do not need verbal citations or even hand gestures to cast my spells. My magic is far more magnificent than almost any being alive today. Being in this castle does give me a power boost, but that is nothing compared to the power I will wield when I storm the Lion Castle and retrieve what was stolen from me by Arthur Galdwin, the Jewel of Morgaine.¡±


    ¡°You mean you claim one of the seven royal gems as your own?¡±


    ¡°The Jewel of Morgaine is mine; your king took it from me during one of our battles. I can only assume that the other six gems you are talking about are trophies of war he won from the other warlords he clashed with. I guess I¡¯ll have to claim those as well, after I extinguish the Galdwin bloodline once and for all.¡±


    ¡°Someone will stop you; you will not be allowed to succeed.¡± Despite everything, Captain Anya Zarakova made her bloodline proud by being defiant in this dark situation.


    ¡°Boss, can I take her to the chefs, I¡¯m in the mood for mincemeat pie tonight.¡± Ghul-Zar looked at Anya with menace. ¡°So, what do you say, human, you ready to be a pie?¡±


    Bordek had a look of disgust on his face. ¡°Ghul-Zar you are such a base creature, do you think of anything else besides eating, fighting, and fornicating.¡±


    ¡°For a Ma-Grib, you¡¯re pretty uppity, maybe I need to put you in your place.¡± Ghul-Zar picked up his maul and stared with hatred at Bordek who pulled out his mace, which became wreathed in dark energy.


    ¡°Enough bickering you two, Ghul-Zar, I have other plans for this woman, you will still be able to have fun, just not in the way you expected.¡± Zarathustra stared at Anya, as Anya felt her body begin to tingle. Captain Anya started gaining in mass and expanding outward, her feet and hands were replaced with claws, dark fur sprouted all over her body, and her face transformed into an ursine maw.


    Before everyone was a black bear was now sitting in the remains of Captain Anya¡¯s uniform looking around confused. ¡°There used to be a primitive little practice known as bear baiting, where they chained up a bear and tortured it to death for sport and amusement. This woman will serve well in that capacity. The bear is an animal sacred to House Baikov and its vassals, baiting a bear in front of her would be torture enough. But having her be the bear that is baited, the scenario has is made more horrific. Now head back to your chambers, the bear baiting will be later this evening.¡± With a wave of his hand, the still disoriented Anya was whisked away to a cell in the castle¡¯s dungeons. ¡°Consider this night of entertainment one last respite before our plan gets underway. Because once we hit that wall, there will be no time for merriment.¡±


    The Town of Barrington


    The town of Barrington was overseen by one of the many splinter families of House Remington, the Sword of House Galdwin. The Remington¡¯s who reigned over Barrington held their seat at Castle Greenfield, the residence of Count Oswald Remington, second child of Lord Count Chester Remington of Ironhill. Barrington was the county seat of Greenfield County, with the various Viscountess, Baronies, Earldoms, and Lordships also held by lesser families bearing the Remington name. Barrington itself was a modest community, the largest town of the Tri-County region overseen by Lord Count Chester. And it was here, that Methuselah¡¯s replacement resided.


    Young Elizabeth woke up with a shock, after one of the strangest nightmares she had ever had in her life. ¡°That¡¯s the last time I eat spicy peppers before bed¡± " she said to herself. From outside her door, she heard her mother knock. ¡°Lizzie, get up, today is the day of your Coming of Age and I want you prepared. Craig and Kayla are downstairs preparing you a filling breakfast.¡±


    Elizabeth got out of bed, washed her face, and dressed in her best clothes. Common folk were only allowed to wear certain colors, so she put on her best brown student¡¯s dress. While commoners were forbidden from wearing their lords¡¯ colors as a full outfit, they were allowed certain items to declare their allegiance.


    In Elizabeth¡¯s case, it was a light red sash and apron with gold thread trim and a white head scarf that she used to cover up her dishwater blonde hair that she had pulled back into a bun. The final piece she put on was her Leneran Heart Badge.


    In the Kingdom of Lions, one¡¯s religious faith was proclaimed by the Heart Badge they wore over their hearts. Until their coming of age, all children fell under the protection of the goddess Lenera. After she got done with her final day of school, she would dedicate herself to her mother¡¯s goddess Ariela. Ariela was the patron of sailors, merchants, gamblers, bankers, and all those who provided services to the wider populace, such as tavern owners and innkeepers.


    Elizabeth was looking forward to leaving her education behind to begin her apprenticeship and live as an adult. With no school in her way, she would work alongside her mother full-time, and one day even inherit ownership of the Goodhearth Inn. Not that she had anything against getting an education, just that she did not believe further schooling was right for her. Elizabeth could learn anything she wanted from working at the inn and learning from her mother how to manage an inn.


    Elizabeth had no intention of studying any other trades, becoming a soldier, learning magic, or taking religious vows, let alone becoming a freelance mercenary. Elizabeth was content to live the rest of her life here in Barrington, helping her mother with the running of the Goodhearth Inn and hopefully taking it over one day. That is what she wanted out of life, no crazy adventures, or spectacular journeys.


    Fully dressed, she left the room and began heading downstairs. Elizabeth noticed that the other tenants who had rented rooms were awake, except for the senile old Arcanos, George. Elizabeth knocked on his door, wanting to be helpful. The door flew open, and she was hit full-on by a magical blast. In the place of Elizabeth stood a confused-looking young man. This lasted only for a few moments before Elizabeth reverted to normal.


    ¡°Disturb my private study time and next time the change won¡¯t be temporary.¡± Old Arcanos George was always grouchy, but today he seemed even more cantankerous than usual.


    ¡°Just trying to help.¡± A miffed Elizabeth responded before going downstairs, while she did not like the old wizard, the man always paid in full and on time. Elizabeth got to the bottom of the stairs to find her mother chasing her young brother Lucas around with a broom. From the appearance of it, he had wandered outside during the night on an adventure and had come back with his clothes all muddy. Smiling, Elizabeth entered the kitchen for her breakfast. Elizabeth was greeted by the inn¡¯s two Halmen cooks, who were scurrying around on the scaffolding that connected them to all their stations.


    ¡°Good morning, Lizzie, Kayla and I made your favorite breakfast today, sunny-side-up eggs, bacon, sausage, and a bowl of porridge.¡± Craig appeared to be excited this morning. Elizabeth sat down at the table where her food was and began to eat.


    ¡°So, Lizzie, do you have any plans after you graduate today? Any academies or crafts you might want to get involved with?¡± Kayla asked her as she moved from the scaffolding over to the crib that held her young daughter Emma. She already knew the answer, but she still liked to make small talk.


    ¡°Nope, once I graduate, I plan to begin my apprenticeship in full here at the inn.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have to take an apprenticeship under someone other than your mother?¡± Craig asked her.


    A fourth voice joins their conversation. ¡°Normally that would be the case, but as the head of the Entertainment and Hospitality Guild of Barrington, I am willing to make an exception. Elizabeth won¡¯t need much of an apprenticeship, she¡¯s been learning from her mother ever since she took her first steps.¡± Everyone turned around to see the middle-aged Mistress Alice, Guildmaster of the Entertainment and Hospitality Guild of Barrington, and owner of the Crimson Lover, a favored and reputable brothel in town. ¡°I¡¯ll be at your school today, Lizzie, once we get your aptitude tests out of the way I¡¯ll have the papers ready for you to sign, giving you formal membership into the guild, with all the rights and protections you are owed.¡±


    ¡°I should have been admitted to the guild four years ago.¡±


    ¡°I know, but your mother insisted that you get a full education. Believe me, some of what you have learned at school will come in handy with your work. Now, if I were you, I would hurry with your meal, the sooner you do your recitations and get your aptitude tests out of the way, the sooner we can get you to work. Also, happy 16th birthday Elizabeth, I am not supposed to tell you this, but your mom is planning a surprise party for you when you get back.¡± The two Halmen¡¯s gave her a disapproving look while she smiled and walked away. Elizabeth finished her meal and hurried out the door through the town that was waking up. As she ran through the familiar crowd, she noticed an older man in a brown cloak eyeing her, this sent a shiver down her spine. Elizabeth rushed off toward her school while the man in the cloak talked to himself.


    ¡°So, that is my replacement, she does not seem like much, but then again neither did I when I was her age. I¡¯ll find out what she¡¯s made of later.¡± Methuselah said to himself.


    The Barrington Primary Education Academy


    The Kingdom of Lions had long believed that a good education created a good citizen, and thus it was expected of nobles to put forth a portion of the taxes they collected for the maintenance of public academies for their lowborn communities. Here children learned how to read, write, do arithmetic, and learn about history, culture, and their place in society.


    Most children went to the age of twelve before leaving to take up their apprenticeships. Some stayed until the age of sixteen, at which point the education ceased to be free. That was often an irrelevant point as the student was scouted out by organizations of higher learning that may have been willing to help the students with the finances necessary to attend their academies and universities.


    Most rural communities opted out of the program, believing that their children were better off learning from their parents as they did their chores to help their families survive. While each academy may have had its traditions for graduation, the one constant was the recitation of the Citizen¡¯s Creed, the one infallible dogma that all must adhere to when it came to understanding this world.


    ¡°Please, begin your recitation of the Citizens Creed.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s teacher, Master Richard signaled Elizabeth to begin.


    ¡°A thousand years ago, there was only formless chaos, and from this chaos, the Nine Great Gods forged a world. And in this world, they are populated with many forms of life, each one unique but lacking in some fundamental way. At last, they created their masterwork, humanity, the most perfect being to ever set foot upon the world. But the other races proved jealous of humanity and sought to ruin and corrupt them. Many were deceived and led astray by the non-humans. Only the humble Halmen¡¯s remained loyal to humanity, innately understanding the superiority of humans. As the Nine risked the loss of humanity, they enacted a plan to save at least a fraction of their favored creation. Led by the Golden King, they created the living god, Arthur Galdwin, the King of Lions, and his saints, who descended from the heavens to secure a nation of true and virtuous humans, undeceived by the lies of the world. Rallying as many humans to their banner as possible, they secured their domain from all invaders. Each saint was given a region to govern, alongside their most devout followers.¡±


    ¡°Each region would be named after an animal that was held sacred by the saint. Thus, the Bear, Mustang, Viper, Peacock, Wolf, Moth, Owl, and Albatross duchies were created, all swearing allegiance to the King of Lions, Arthur Galdwin, and the noble families he took as his vassals. The good times did not last forever, and Arthur Galdwin and his saints had to shed their mortal coils and return to the heavens, leaving their lands in the care of their descendants. To this day, only the nobles can venerate them, as the peasantry, not being chosen for greatness by the King of Lions or his saints, are unworthy.¡±


    ¡°Very good Elizabeth, the first recitation was perfect, now tell me about the Nine.¡±


    ¡°The Nine Gods are the supreme beings of this world, surpassing even the King of Lions and his Saints. First is Lord Alnardun, the Golden King, god of honor, chivalry, nobility, courage, justice, and patron of the King of Lions and his saints. Next is Gentle Lenera, the goddess of family, light, hope, and life. Fickle Ariela is the goddess of the seas, freedom, economics, and exploration. Hardworking Terra is the goddess of crafts, industry, science, and mathematics, while Narta is the goddess of nature and weather, the enemy of our civilization. The Mad God Baleris is the god of music, arts, and magic, whose chaotic nature must always be kept at bay. The Silver Tyrant Robernu is a god of scholarship, literature, administration, and uncompromising order and stability. The Cruel Queen of Darkness Neca-Ra is a goddess of plague, death, despair, and oblivion, who seeks to destroy all life. Finally, there is the Flaming Temptress Flareous, a goddess of corruption, decadence, and uncontrolled desires, who ruins all she influences.¡± Master Richard nodded with approval, indicating that she was finished. Relieved Elizabeth looked out the window to see the creepy man she saw earlier standing on the sidewalk staring right at her. Elizabeth could not focus on him right now; she had to go through her aptitude testing.


    In the Kingdom of Lions, all children were tested three times in their young lives for their magical and spiritual aptitude. The first test was at age six, the second test was at age twelve, and the final test was at age sixteen for any possible late bloomers.


    While they were under no obligation to pursue magic or become clergy members, it was a matter of national security to keep track of everyone who could develop their powers later, possibly for personal gain. It was for this reason that whenever a region suffered a strange supernatural mishap, all those who had been registered in the archives were the first to be investigated.


    The test itself consists of holding up two orbs. One measured their innate talent for the manipulation of arcane magic, and the other measured their spiritual resonance, or how their bodies could serve as vessels of divine energy.


    Individuals whose bodies had high spiritual resonance became Divine Callers, and while not all clergy members were Divine Callers, the Divine Callers were held in high regard for having a far greater personal connection to the deities.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s out of the way, we need to get your aptitudes done.¡± Sister Clara and Headmaster Winston came up to her, each holding a black orb. Sister Clara, garbed in white, was a cleric with the Leneran faith and Headmaster Winston was the head instructor at the local Arcanos academy, wearing dark purple robes with orange trim and a wide-brimmed and floppy hat on his head, a colorful luxury afforded to him by his status as a high ranking independent Arcanos.


    ¡°Now my dear, would you be so kind as to grab onto the orbs, depending on how clear they get will determine your skill in either divine or arcane magic.¡± Headmaster Winston instructed her as she grabbed the orbs in either hand. Elizabeth had done this before, but she didn¡¯t want to take away the headmaster''s fun by interrupting his explanation. The two previous times there was no reaction whatsoever, so of course there would not be any reaction this time.


    Almost immediately both orbs lit up, becoming clear, then they shattered apart in her hands. Both Sister Clara and Headmaster Winston looked on in shock. ¡°My dear, I have never seen a reaction like that, I can¡¯t even imagine the type of power you would possess if you chose to take up either a divine calling or the pursuit of the arcane. Would you be interested in enrolling? With power like yours, I can promise you a free ride.¡± Said Headmaster Winston, eager to have a pupil with such raw power.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous Headmaster, this young woman is drawn on a more spiritual path. My dear, my order would be happy to have one like you. And if Lenera is not your fit I can introduce you to some of the other Divine Callers in town.¡± Sister Clara stepped in, trying to draw Elizabeth away from Headmaster Winston.


    ¡°While I appreciate both of your offers, I don¡¯t want to go down either path, I want to begin my apprenticeship in my mother¡¯s tavern.¡± Elizabeth turned to face Mistress Alice, who had been patiently waiting in the corner. ¡°Mistress Alice, do you have the papers to begin my apprenticeship?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I do,¡± she reached into her satchel and pulled out the contract, an ink jar, and a feather pin ¡°Just sign and initial in all the appropriate places, and it will be official.¡± Elizabeth signed the contracts and she and Mistress Alice left the academy. Elizabeth would see Mistress Alice later at the party, but right now she had one more place to visit. Now was the time to dedicate her heart to the goddess Ariela.


    Temple of Ariela


    When lowborn boys and girls came of age at 16, they had to choose to dedicate themselves to one of the Nine, as the protection Lenera gave children ceased at the age of sixteen. In the Kingdom of Lions, only worship of seven of the nine was acceptable. And even then, some deities were held in higher regard than others.


    The Arielan faith, was popular amongst bankers, accountants, merchants, sailors, business owners, and those in the business of hospitality. This was frowned upon by the nobility of the Kingdom of Lions, with the sole exception of the mercantile families of the Albatross Duchies. It was because Ariela and her faith tended to buck tradition and the proper order of things. It threw aside honor and protocol for the pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of what they considered to be freedom.


    Ariela was no friend of the rural peasantry or craftsmen either. Both groups believed that Ariela encouraged their children to shun off good and honest hard work for the perilous pursuit of money. Though sailors whom she watched over would disagree with this opinion. Because of this Ariela held an odd position in the Kingdom of Lions. She was accepted because of the influence of her followers and her non-malevolent nature. But she was held in suspicion by those who valued their system and those who preferred the toil of the field and forge over counting coins. But for a young woman like Elizabeth, Ariela was a perfect fit.


    Elizabeth''s mother had always been a firm devotee of the goddess and attributed the success of their business to the blessing the goddess bestowed on their family. Elizabeth had always been drawn to Ariela, she swore that one time the statue of Ariela in the Barrington temple had even winked at her. Elizabeth had studied the Arielan holy texts her entire life, even when others tried to introduce her to other deities for the sake of curiosity. Elizabeth knew that Ariela was her goddess, and no one would tell her otherwise.


    Elizabeth headed up the temple steps and made her way toward the temple¡¯s center. The temple itself was a modest affair, well-built but subdued. Elizabeth had been told that the major temples on the coast were quite extravagant, made of the finest marble and inlaid with precious minerals and gems, with ornate saltwater fountains. They were even larger than Count Oswald Remington¡¯s castle that oversaw the town of Barrington. This temple was made of simple wood and stone, in the style of an open-air market. Around the center of the temple were stalls where the priests would sell their wares and services to those willing to pay for them. In the center open-air portion, stood the stone statue of Ariela and a raised circular platform that the high priestess would give her sermons. Around the statue and platform were rows of benches that formed a circle around the center. Today an Arielan roulette wheel and plate filled with gold coins had been brought forth and set in front of the statue with the high priestess watching over it, waiting for her. Before she could make it to her, she was waylaid by a familiar face.


    ¡°Elizabeth my dear, how good to see you. I heard today was your Coming of Age, so I decided to attend your dedication, because alas, I will not make it to your party.¡± This came from a middle-aged dark-haired woman Elizabeth knew very well. It was Ms. Keeli, a wealthy merchant who ran a profitable caravan company. Ms. Keeli was a frequent visitor to both the Goodhearth Inn and the Barrington temple of Ariela.


    ¡°Ms. Keeli, I¡¯m glad you could make it to my dedication, though I¡¯m surprised you could make it, this is your busiest time of the year.


    ¡°My top journeyman is out overseeing my caravans; I must stay in town and get my finances in order. One of my old managers was stealing from me, so I had to let him go, and I have been unable to find a suitable replacement. Do you think that you will win the jackpot?¡± Ms. Keeli asked.


    ¡°If the goddess wills it.¡± With that Elizabeth went down to where the high priestess was waiting while Ms. Keeli moved to one of the more comfortable benches. The jackpot, referred to the tray of coins next to the roulette wheel. Every time someone dedicated themselves to the goddess, they would place a coin in the tray and spin the roulette wheel that had a hundred slots on it. If the ball fell into the slot the supplicant named, they got to keep half of the tray, with the other half being given to the temple. Elizabeth got down on her knees before the high priestess and began to pray while the temple began to fill with those who wished to witness the dedication. Though quite a clamor began to occur Elizabeth could still pick up the sound of her mother scolding her brother for some new rambunctious action that was causing her mother grief. After a while, the crowd began to quiet down, with the high priestess placing her hand on Elizabeth¡¯s shoulders indicating it was time to start. Elizabeth lifted her head to meet the eyes of the high priestess.


    ¡°Elizabeth, daughter of Cheryl, today you leave childhood behind and dedicate yourself to the bountiful Ariela, lover of freedom and fortune. This is a serious matter and if you do not wish to go through with it you may leave now, and no one will think less of you because of it.¡± Said the high priestess.


    ¡°I have been waiting my whole life to dedicate myself to Ariela, she is the only goddess for me.¡± Elizabeth looked up at the statue of the goddess, she appeared as a young woman, scantily clad with a trident in one hand and a bag of coins in the other. The statue had a wry smile on her face.


    ¡°I take it you know the vow then?¡± The High Priestess asks.


    ¡°Of course,¡±, said Elizabeth, getting ready to dedicate herself, ¡°I Elizabeth, daughter of Cheryl, hereby leave behind my childhood and the protection of Lenera.¡± The high priestess removed the Leneran Heart Badge from her chest and placed it in a tray that the High Priestess held out. ¡°I choose to dedicate myself to the Goddess Ariela, in her aspect as a patron of merchants and managers, of entrepreneurs and visionaries. I will dedicate myself to the pursuit of wealth so that not only I, but others may benefit from my bounty. I dedicate myself to the freedom of one whose waves can never be tamed. I dedicate myself to the bringer of storms, fortune, and prosperity, to the goddess Ariela. If she finds me wanting, may she judge me accordingly, and may I suffer my just fate.¡±


    Once she had finished the high priestess pulled out a blue gourd she had concealed in her robes. The high priestess poured it over Elizabeth¡¯s head, revealing it to be sanctified salt water that filled her body with a tingling sensation. The high priestess then attached the Arielan Heart Badge to Elizabeth¡¯s chest. A simple iron badge in the shape of a coin with a trident in the middle. The High Priestess lifted her to the cheers of all those present. In the crowd, she could see the pride in her mother¡¯s eyes. The high priestess led her over to the roulette wheel.


    ¡°What number do you wish to choose, Elizabeth, daughter of Cheryl?¡± The High Priestess asked.


    ¡°I choose sixty-six, High Priestess.¡± Elizabeth places a gold coin her mother gave her on the plate with the others.


    ¡°Very well, you may spin the wheel.¡± So, Elizabeth spun the wheel as the high priestess tossed the ball into it. Much to everyone¡¯s shock, the ball did land on sixty-six. A cheer then went up amongst the crowd as they rushed down to congratulate her. As the crowd swarmed her, she looked up at the statue of Ariela, who appeared to wink at her once again. However, Elizabeth¡¯s good mood was ruined, by the same mysterious man who had been following her around all day, waiting in the shadows, away from the crowd.


    The Goodhearth Inn


    Later, at the inn, the party was underway. Everyone she knew was there, giving her the customary present for this occasion, coins so that she could get her life started. Since she would continue living at home it would not matter too much, but it never hurt to invest your extra coin. The only thing that bothered her was that the same mysterious man who was stalking her earlier was in the tavern. This was a strange-looking man; possessing a swarthy complexion and a short but well-kept grey beard and gray hair. The man had a perpetual smug look to his face and piercing brown eyes. The man''s entire wardrobe was brown but with nothing on him indicating which house he swore fealty to. Fortunately, it appeared he was too enraptured with the barmaids to pay any attention to her. Two of them, Angie and Martha, seemed to be entranced by him and his stories, to the point where they were neglecting their duties. Elizabeth wanted to tell her mom about him but did not want to ruin the mood of the party.


    Cheryl walked over to her and kissed her cheek. ¡°I hope you are enjoying the party, remember this is your night, so have fun.¡±


    ¡°I am having fun mom, I¡¯m just worried that we may be losing money tonight. Please tell me that this isn¡¯t an open bar?¡±


    Cheryl just smiled at her. ¡°Sweetie don¡¯t be silly, most of the food here was brought in by everyone else, and of course were still charging for drinks. Just because this is a celebration doesn¡¯t mean we won¡¯t be turning a tidy profit.¡±


    ¡°Everyone out of the way, we have the birthday cake.¡± Craig and Kayla exited the kitchen, deftly pushing out a cart taller than them with the cake on it. It was a multi-layered monstrosity, as big as one of the bar tables, covered in icing. On the cake was a simple message, ¡°Happy Coming of Age.¡±


    ¡°The cake looks magnificent, thank you so much.¡±


    ¡°Hey, today is your big day, tomorrow you begin your apprenticeship, and in a short amount of time I believe we¡¯ll have to call your boss, Lizzie.¡± Said Kayla


    ¡°That won¡¯t be for a few more years, I still have so many things to learn and I doubt my mother is retiring any time soon.¡±


    ¡°I intend to keep on working till the day I die.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s mother chimed in. ¡°And I expect the same work ethic out of you Lizzie.¡±


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so excited about starting tomorrow, I doubt that I¡¯ll get any sleep tonight.¡±


    ¡°Enough babbling, hurry and cut the cake.¡± The old Arcanos George, with two of Alice¡¯s courtesans around his arms, was eager to get to the cake.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Professor, we¡¯ll get to the cake soon.¡± Cheryl began looking around, quite frantic. ¡°Now where did your brother run off to Lizzie?¡±


    ¡°Lucas with the old man in the cloak Cheryl.¡± Alice pointed out the missing boy, who was pestering the cloaked stranger with a ton of questions.


    ¡°Lucas, you stop pestering that man right now.¡±


    ¡°But Mom, he was telling me some interesting stories, he¡¯s an old veteran, he fought down at Wall Visalia against the hordes of the Dark Wastes.¡±


    ¡°The boy is no bother mam, it¡¯s refreshing to see such a curious young person, most people find the presence of an old war hero like me unnerving.¡± The man had a deep tone and a slight accent that Elizabeth couldn¡¯t place, to his voice.


    Lucas walked on over bringing the cloaked figure with him. ¡°Mr. Methuselah has seen and done a lot, when I grow up, I want to be just like him.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you will one day, you never know what the future holds until you take the first step out of the door and into the wider world. There is more to our kingdom than just one sleepy little town.¡± Methuselah informed him.


    ¡°Methuselah, that is an odd name, where are you from exactly?¡± Lizzie asked, annoyed at the man for filling her brother¡¯s head with flights of fancy when he should be focusing on becoming a productive member of society.


    ¡°Elizabeth, that¡¯s no way to treat our guests.¡± Cheryl was annoyed at her daughter¡¯s rudeness.


    ¡°Mam, I take no offense at this line of inquiry. If you must know, I am originally from the Owl Duchies, I left the land early on as a young man to become a mercenary down south, I hope that satisfies your curiosity.¡±


    Elizabeth kept getting a strange vibe from this man, something about him seemed familiar though she had never met him before.


    ¡°By the way young lady, congratulations on your Coming of Age, this is a very important time in your life when your very future can be impacted by the decisions you make, so I hope you¡¯ve made the right ones.¡±


    ¡°I am quite happy with my decisions, thank you very much.¡± Elizabeth did not like the patronizing tone of this stranger.


    ¡°I am sure you are, though, this is just a friendly warning, be wary and open to change, things seldom go the way we want them to go. If I had a golden lion for every hope and dream, I had to give up because fate got in the way, I would be rich enough to buy out the entire kingdom.¡±


    ¡°Well, perhaps we can now move on to the cutting of the cake.¡± Elizabeth¡¯s mother tried to diffuse the tension between the two of them, which was felt in the room. Many of the guests could have sworn that they smelt ozone in the air.


    ¡°Oh, cake sounds wonderful, let¡¯s do that.¡± Methuselah also wanted to get away from this conversation. Elizabeth began to cut the cake while her mother plated the pieces and passed them around. The party went on for a few more hours, with the crowd heading home or heading up to their rooms in the inn. Elizabeth, her mother, and the rest of the staff began cleaning up the inn.


    ¡°Did you enjoy your party sweetie?¡± Cheryl asked her.


    ¡°Yes, I did, thank you so much for throwing the party for me Mom.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I hope you are ready to begin your apprenticeship tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Of course, I am, this is what I¡¯ve been looking forward to my whole life.¡± Elizabeth and her mother nearly tripped over the prone form of her young brother, who was passed out on the bar room floor, face covered in icing. Cheryl sighed as she picked him up.


    ¡°Lizzie, can you take the trash to the rubbish heap in the alley while I take care of your brother?¡±


    ¡°Of course, mom.¡± Elizabeth picked up the sacks of rubbish and took them out, lantern in hand for the dark alley. Elizabeth threw them into the pile and turned around to head back into the house, only to be given a shock as she found Methuselah standing between her and the door. ¡°Mr. Methuselah, what are you doing out here and why do you keep stalking me, if that is your real name?¡± It was at this point that she pulled out a knife she had concealed on herself, having been put on edge after dealing with her stalker all day.


    Methuselah seemed confused for a moment before he finally realized why she had drawn a weapon on him. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair; I haven¡¯t been subtle, have I? Well, my name is Methuselah, but I am, in fact, not an Owl, either the animal or a resident of the named Duchy. In fact, I wasn¡¯t born anywhere near the Kingdom of Lions at all.¡±


    ¡°Then who are you, where do you come from, and what do you want.¡±


    ¡°Like I said, my name is Methuselah, I come from a family of poor peasants. The land I came from ceased to exist 4500 years ago.¡± Methuselah looked a bit melancholic after bringing that up. ¡°I am a 5000-year-old being known as the Guardian, and my tenure is almost up. Fate has chosen you to be my replacement, which is why I have come for you, it is time for you to begin your training, congratulations, now grab my hand and let us get going.¡±


    Elizabeth had a look of shock and disbelief on her face. ¡°You know I find that hard to believe. Even if I was willing to accept such blatant lies as the truth, I am not going with you, my life and my future is here.¡±


    ¡°You know, fate doesn¡¯t give a damn about our wishes and desires.¡± There was a very bitter tone in Methuselah¡¯s voice. ¡°Consider yourself lucky, when I took up the mantle of Guardian, I didn¡¯t have anyone to teach me. Child, you get to learn about my mistakes, without suffering through them yourself. Now hurry and take my hand, I want to get you out of this Kingdom before it is burned to the ground.¡±


    ¡°What, are you telling me that this Kingdom is going to be destroyed.¡±


    ¡°Most likely, there is a massive army led by an extremely dangerous lich headed to wall Visalia, the Wastelanders will be streaming into the Kingdom by the end of the week.¡±


    ¡°Well, if you are some kind of Guardian, why aren¡¯t you working to stop it?¡±


    ¡°Listen, child, the job of the Guardian is to keep the world in balance, and that includes letting old kingdoms die so that new ones can take their place. It¡¯s a natural cycle of the world, interfering with it would be counterproductive to my job.¡±


    ¡°But if what you say is true, many innocent people are going to die, including my family.¡±


    ¡°People are going to die, why I have never seen death before in my life, it is a phenomenon that most definitely does not occur every day.¡± There was a strong tone of sarcasm in Methuselah¡¯s voice.


    ¡°How can you be so callous about something so horrible?¡±


    ¡°Because death is not shocking to me, it¡¯s just another part of the world¡¯s cycle. You¡¯re going to have to engage in some large-scale killing yourself, so I strongly suggest that you get used to the idea.¡±


    ¡°I will not, and I am not coming with you.¡±


    ¡°Listen, girl, you don¡¯t have a say in the matter. My final duty is to train you and train you I shall.¡± Methuselah reached for her, planning to take her with him by force. Elizabeth felt a swell of power within her that she had never felt before. Elizabeth''s eyes began to glow golden as she slapped Methuselah away and sent him flying into the wall. Completely by instinct, she teleported away from him and her home in a bright flash of golden light.


    Methuselah got up, shook the dirt off himself, and looked around disappointed. ¡°Note to self, don¡¯t underestimate my replacement.¡± Methuselah snapped his fingers and disappeared in his own flash of golden light.


    Elizabeth¡¯s mother came out of the alley door to see what the commotion was about. Much to her shock, she could not find her daughter. Cheryl was gripped by fear as she began walking around crying out Elizabeth¡¯s name.


    Chronicler¡¯s Notes


    Undoubtedly, Methuselah could have gone about this more tactfully, though, in the end, it may have worked out for the best. The people Elizabeth would meet would come to have important roles in their own lives, and hers. Fate often behaves in a strange manner that we do not always understand at first. For instance, I never knew as a child that I would have the fate of being chosen by the High Father to serve as the Chronicler of the world, but I am here now. In the end, we are the only things in our lives we can control, and we must make the most of the hands that were dealt with.

 Chapter 2: Dropping In

    Bear Territory, House Baikov Lands


    Down in the lands of House Baikov, two young nobles were making their way to Wall Visalia. Damian Diotrephes, was a scrawny young man in fine brown robes, yellowish green trim, and white inner lining. Damian had black spiraled hair that he kept short and neat, caramel-colored skin, and an enlarged pair of glasses on his face that seemed to enlarge his dark purple eyes. Damian had a yellowish-green moth pin over his heart. At the moment he was preoccupied with the study of his spell book. Madeline de Garnier, by comparison, was dressed in white robes, with a blue armband inlaid with an aqua peacock with gold feathers. Madeline wore a hood over her head and a veil over her face, which covered up her straight black hair and tawny skin. Madeline''s wide-set eyes where the only part of her people could see above her veil, around her neck was a white marble amulet with a kind-looking woman carved onto it, with a similar pin over her heart. Priests and priestesses of Lenera all veiled themselves as a sign of humility and service to their goddess, demonstrating that their identities meant nothing in her service.


    Madeline had learned to read Damian well, and she knew something was troubling him. ¡°Damian, we''re almost to the wall, what are you worried about?¡±


    ¡°That my mother will choose to ignore our declaration and intent to serve on the wall and have her agents nab us. That she¡¯ll turn me into something horrible for defying her and that she will put her plans into motion for your mutilation.¡±


    ¡°My parents should have received the message, and while they aren¡¯t thrilled with my transformation at the moment, they would both agree that the Archduchess was planning on going too far.¡±


    ¡°I know my mother, Madeline, once she sets her eye on something, she doesn¡¯t let up. Mark my words, her agents are going to pop in any minute to nab us.¡±


    While Damian could not see it, she rolled her eyes at him and his concerns, until she noticed a strange light beginning to glow on the other side of the campfire, above Damian¡¯s head.


    ¡°Damian, are you working some strange magic?¡± Madeline asked, incredulous at the idea that Damian may have been right.


    Damian looked up from his book to gaze at the light forming above him, a terrified expression coming across his face. ¡°That isn¡¯t my doing Madeline, by my venerated ancestors I was right, my mother¡¯s agents are trying to nab us.¡±


    Much to their surprise, a young woman, around their age, fell out of the golden light, landing on Damian. This young woman had long dishwater blonde hair, and hazel eyes, and was wearing what appeared to be a brown bar maids¡¯ uniform with a red and gold sash around her waist and a white headscarf with red trim. The girl got herself off Damian, embarrassed, and looked around confused. The visitor set her sights on Damian, and then Madeline, and just about fainted at the shock of what had happened. Madeline moved, grabbed a hold of her and helped her to the ground. A few more moments of awkward silence gripped the group before the girl could manage to find enough nerve to speak.


    ¡°Pardon me, but where am I and who are you?¡± The girl was both curious and scared, not realizing that she was deep within Bear territory.


    The Bear Duchies were the most southern region in the Kingdom of Lions. Ruled over by House Baikov and its five Retainer Houses, they held to their ancient duty to protect the lands of men from the Wastelanders Tribes.


    House Baikov led these efforts, providing most of the defense forces on Wall Visalia, the primary defensive barrier to the Dark Wastes, and the two backup walls, Wall Natasha and Wall Anastasia. While these two were not as grand as Wall Visalia, they did serve as reliable redoubts in case Wall Visalia was ever breached. House Zarakova dwelt in the Wastes from their fortress of Mt. Defiance, providing important information to House Baikov and the other Retainers.


    House Ortoff was comprised of potent Arc-Bloods tied to the elemental magic of earth and the metals it held. House Katzev were skilled engineers, builders, and tinkerers. House Ivakina dealt with the many supernatural threats that sprung up from living next to the Dark Wastes. Finally House Gergiev sought to supply the other families with necessary resources obtained from the only city in Bear lands, The Silver Falls.


    Most of the Bear Duchies were arid deserts, with only the meager coastal territories of House Gergiev being out of the rain shadow created by the coastal and unclimbable Storm Mountains to the East, and the just as unconquerable and even larger Mountains of Madness to the west. To the south were the lifeless Dark Wastes and to their north was the Great Marsh overseen by the Houses of the Viper Duchies.


    The primary source of water in bear territory was the Grand River which came out of the marshes and cut through the heart of the Bear¡¯s territory before entering the Dark Wastes and spilling out into the Lion¡¯s Sea. The lands themselves were dry, minus the settlements on the Grand River where most farming took place.


    This harsh environment bred harsh people, and the denizens of the Bear Duchies were as enduring and fierce as the cacti, scorpions, tarantulas, venomous snakes, and short-haired desert bears who dwelt alongside them. Offers from Arcanos in the past to use their magic to turn this desert into a lush and fertile land had been rebuffed, with the Baikov pointing out that any changes made would be undone by the natural weather patterns of the region. They had no interest in wasting their limited water resources from their aquifers on having green lawns and pretty flower gardens when water had to be conserved.


    To the common folk and the nobles of the Bear Duchies, it was their land that made them who they were, and they always respected and cherished it, no matter how harsh it may have seemed at times to outsiders. Just about every citizen of the Bear Duchies was prepared to defend themselves from Wastelanders who snuck past. Two years of mandatory service from all citizens upon reaching the age of sixteen was not the norm like it is in the Wolf Duchies.


    However, Bear commoners and nobles alike knew how to defend themselves and were ready to pick up arms at a moment¡¯s notice should their lords require them. Despite the harshness of the land, the Bear Duchies were rich in mineral deposits and boasted some of the greatest armor and weapon smiths in the Kingdom of Lions, even rivaling the Wolf in this regard.


    All of this was common knowledge, but what was not common knowledge was how a young woman from the heart of the Kingdom of Lions could just teleport herself into the middle of an arid desert. Madeline decided to take pity on the confused girl who had landed in her and Damian¡¯s camp and help her get her bearings. ¡°You are deep in Baikov lands, down in the Bear Duchies. I am Sister Madeline de Garnier of the Order of the Gentle Mother Lenera, and he is Damian Diotrephes, a young Arcanos, and we are both on our way to Wall Visalia to volunteer to aid the defenders.¡±


    Recognizing the names, and the colors on their clothes, Elizabeth immediately stood up and did a curtsy. ¡°My apologies, I had no idea that I was in the presence of two young nobles. My name is Elizabeth, I am an apprentice innkeeper from the town of Barrington, under the jurisdiction of Baron Reginald Remington, son of Count Oswald Remington. I have no idea how I got here, and I am sorry for disturbing you.¡±


    ¡°No need for formalities Elizabeth,¡± it was Damian¡¯s turn to talk, ¡°the de Garnier family isn¡¯t one to focus on formalities, it¡¯s not their style. As for me, I barely qualify as a noble as is, though I might be able to make a passable meat shield, which is more than what my mother considers me.¡±


    Madeline bent over to whisper into Elizabeth¡¯s ear. ¡°Damian isn¡¯t as bad as he thinks he is, he just lacks confidence or positive reinforcement. As for me, they are always asking for the aid of healers down south, so I am going down to offer whatever aid I can.¡±


    ¡°It sounds pretty harsh for your mother to think so little of you because you don¡¯t meet her standards.¡± Elizabeth was having trouble grasping how a mother could be so cruel and cold.


    ¡°Well, when your mother is the matriarch of the most powerful Arcanos family in the Kingdom of Lions, anything short of perfection is unacceptable.¡±


    An awed expression came across Elizabeth¡¯s face. ¡°Your mother is Archduchess Cassandra Diotrephes!¡± Elizabeth was shocked to be in the presence of such a high-ranking noble. House Diotrephes ruled over the Moth Duchies and were the most skilled Arcanos in the entire Kingdom of Lions. As brilliant as they were arrogant, they maintained their place in the Kingdom due to the potent High Magic they had mastered.


    They were a strategic, if insufferable, asset. The Archduchess herself was said to be the most intimidating Arcanos in the entire Kingdom, a prodigy amongst prodigies whose skill in High Magic helped to cover for her more controversial and eccentric behaviors.


    ¡°Please do not be that way, like I said now I am dead to my family, to the point where I can barely be called a noble. Don¡¯t view me as the son of Cassandra Diotrephes, just view me as Damian, a young bumbling Arcanos desperately trying to master his craft.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Damian, I am sure you will come into your own down on the wall, and if you do get hurt, I¡¯ll be right there to heal you back up to full health.¡± Madeline proved to be quite cheerful on this subject matter.


    House de Garnier was just about the opposite of House Diotrephes. House de Garnier was a family of simple ascetic peace-loving healers who dwelt amongst the ostentatious, hedonistic, and luxury-loving families of the Peacock. House de Garnier had dedicated themselves fully to the worship of the Goddess Lenera, instead of Alnardun and the ancestral worship of the King of Lions and his Saints so common amongst the other noble families.


    House de Garnier was much loved by the commoners of the Kingdom of Lions for the great efforts they made to care for the less fortunate. They even opened some of their fancier estates and castles to the common folk as a safe and comfortable place where they might heal their bodies, minds and spirits. This was much to the chagrin of their fellow nobles who enjoyed the beautiful southern coastal resorts controlled by House de Garnier and who did not want "common filth" cluttering up their preferred vacation spots.


    ¡°But now, back to the current issue at hand, how did you end up here.¡± Damian was eager to move the subject matter onto something else, his family issues being one of his least favorite subjects. ¡°Does your family line have any magical influences in it that you know of any magical beings or sources of magical energy mingle with the blood of your ancestors in years past?¡±


    ¡°Not that I know of, why is that relevant?¡± Elizabeth was curious about what he was getting at.


    ¡°You used magic to poof yourself into the middle of the Baikov Desert, from the heart of the Kingdom of Lions. My current theory about how you got down here is that you are an Arc-Blood, and your bloodline has awakened. You¡¯re just about the right age for a young Arc-Blood to have their powers awakened.¡±


    ¡°Forgive me my ignorance, but I¡¯m not all that familiar with Arc-Bloods, are they somehow related to Arcanos?¡± Arc-Bloods were rare and tended to keep to themselves and their families, as they faced persecution from the Arcanos when not in welcoming lands. And as a result, Elizabeth had never met one.


    ¡°Oh, heavens no, Arcanos such as I practice High Magic. Arcanos gain magical abilities through years of study, research, and practice. Someone needs to be born with the ability to draw forth raw arcane energy and shape it to their will. Arc-Bloods are quite different; Arc-Bloods are born with magic running through their veins and can perform arcane magic by instinct. Do you have any Arc-Blood ancestry in your family history Elizabeth?¡±


    Specifically, the High Magic practiced by the Arcanos was the practice of taking raw magical energy that permeated the world and shaping it through sheer force of will and knowledge of the High Tongue. This was the language of magic said to be the language of creation, since it could so alter the fundamental nature of the world, though limits did exist for most.


    Low Magic, by comparison, came from inside of a person, with their bloodline having been altered by magic years ago. Those who practiced Low Magic, or Primal Magic were called Arc-Bloods, and compared to the variety of magic performed by Arcanos, their abilities were limited to the type of magic that permeated their bloodline. Bloodlines tended to be elemental, though more esoteric types of magical bloodlines would pop up from time to time, usually revolving around an idea or concept.


    Low Magic was instinctive and subjective, and while they might never be able to equal the feats of High Magic users, they were still formidable. Low Magic users didn¡¯t even need to worry about magic dead zones, since they carried the magic within their blood. They did have to deal with the physical alterations their bloodlines performed on their bodies. Most skilled of Arc-Bloods no longer resembling humans but walking testaments to the magic that flowed in their veins.


    This caused many commoners not familiar with them, to distrust them. Hence, why they tended to keep to themselves and away from the mainstream populace and why Elizabeth had never dealt with them, having been daydreaming about new specials for her Inn when they discussed Arc-Bloods during her classes.


    Technically speaking, however, Elizabeth practiced neither high nor low magic. Guardians tapped into what was known as Pure Magic, a combination of arcane, divine, and nature magic that made them formidable.


    ¡°I am not aware of any magical heritage from either my mother or my father.¡± Elizabeth was trying to make sense of all the weird things that had happened to her over this evening, choosing to ignore anything the man who tried to abduct her had to say. ¡°But me being an Arc-Blood is irrelevant, I want to get back home to my family, I have an apprenticeship to start. I¡¯ve waited sixteen years for this day, and I won¡¯t let anything stand in the way of me and my future.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, if you could teleport yourself, by instinct, from Remington lands to Baikov lands, you sure have the potential to become a great Arc-Blood. Would you be in high demand across the entire Kingdom by those who understand and appreciate their power? You could even be the beginning of a new Inn Arc-Blood bloodline; you could summon forth spheres of mead to drown your enemies in or understand any dialect of language about those who travel our world.¡± Damian was letting imagination get the better of him.


    ¡°While that does sound interesting, I have no desire to drown anyone in mead. I just want to get back home and get on with my life, I don¡¯t want to develop these powers, I just want to get them under control. All I want is a simple life, I have absolutely no ambitions for greatness or glory.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure, perhaps the Nine have given you these powers for a reason, perhaps they have some great plan for you? Perhaps they are the ones who have brought you to us, knowing that we will be able to help you.¡± It was Madeline¡¯s turn to chime in. ¡°There is more to life than just running an inn, there are many people who you could help.¡±


    ¡°I''m sure the gods have better things to do with their life than turn me into some heroic figure out to save the world. Helping those in need may be what you want out of life, but it isn¡¯t what I want out of life. Is it too much to ask if my needs and desires be considered? First, that creepy Methuselah fellow rambling how fate has ordained me to be some type of guardian of the world and now here you are trying to drag me off on some crusade that I want nothing to do with. If people need help, I can help them to a fine room and warm meal at my inn and make a tidy profit in the process.¡±


    ¡°Wait, who is this Methuselah?¡± Madeline asked, this was the first time Elizabeth had mentioned him.


    ¡°Some strange man who followed me around all day and who tried to kidnap me, I think he was some sort of human trafficker, trying to lure me in with weird stories and claims about me.¡±


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Well, then it¡¯s a good thing you got away, stories circulating throughout the courts tell that our people fetch a good price in foreign markets, those ruled over by non-humans who find us to be exotic and who, fetishize us.¡± Damian was trying to show off his knowledge.


    ¡°Wait, I thought all contact with foreign powers was prohibited at all times.¡± This was news to Elizabeth.


    Damian, realizing his mistake, tried to recover. ¡°Officially, there is no contact, but from a pragmatic standpoint, such a position is a suicide, so the Mustang and Albatross often engage in back door commerce with outside powers, for the good of the nation of course. If you don¡¯t mind, can you keep what I told you privately, as the Owl barely tolerates it as it is? Besides my mother loves her silk gowns, she would be livid if I did anything that jeopardized her regular supply.¡±


    ¡°Enough random tangents, the primary thing is that you got away from this man and you are now safe. And while you may have wound up far away from home, you at least found yourself in good company.¡± Madeline tried to get Elizabeth¡¯s attention away from what Damian had just said.


    ¡°Indeed, when we get to Wall Visalia, we¡¯ll explain your situation to the authorities there, and secure you safe passage back up north,¡± Damian assured her.


    ¡°Thank you, now I guess that the only thing I have to worry about now is bandits while I try to get some sleep.¡±


    Madeline and Damian both burst out laughing.


    ¡°What, are bandits not a problem down here?¡±


    Damian decided to enlighten her. ¡°The Baikov Duchy is one of the most secure places in the entire kingdom, as long as you¡¯re not directly next to the wall. Between the inhospitable clime and militant populace, only the most desperate would try. Even if bandits were able to avoid the humans, they would be taken down by the Earthmen.¡±


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t waste her time with the Earth Men myth, they aren¡¯t real.¡± Madeline tried to squelch Damian¡¯s nonsense.


    ¡°Wait, what are the Earth Men?¡±


    ¡°Well, since we¡¯ve got some time, I guess it¡¯s time for a story.¡± Damian was eager to share some local lore with someone who had not heard it before.


    Damian told her of the Earth Men, a strange race of hairy tunnel dwellers with skin of iron and eyes that gleamed like gems. The Earth Men were squat but muscular, coming up to just above the waist on a grown man. The Bear Knight himself, the founder of House Baikov, wrestled with each of their seven kings to secure the lands that would soon belong to him and his vassals.


    After winning the Earth Men left for their subterranean kingdom but promised eternal friendship between them and House Baikov and all its Retainers. From that day forward, the Earth Men served as secret protectors of the Bear Duchies, killing anything that got past Wall Visalia and holding off any invaders from the north.


    Other stories involving the Earthmen talked about how they could breathe liquid fire and blow up rocks with their minds. That they had no women and were birthed from the earth itself. And how ate gold and silver and forged armor and weapons that no human hands could ever hope to match. Children¡¯s tales to be sure, but Elizabeth could not help but feel there was a grain of truth to them.


    ¡°The Earth Men are just a myth, most likely the product of indigestion caused by the liquor and jerky that is consumed by soldiers out on patrol. Adults just want to keep the myth going for the sake of children.¡± Madeline was proving to be a bit of a killjoy.


    ¡°Anyway, we need to get some rest.¡± Damian threw her a spare bed roll. ¡°You never know when you might need a spare.¡±


    The new companions all settled down into their bed rolls, while Damian extinguished the fire with the wave of his hand. Though it had been a long and very eventful day, Elizabeth needed to get some sleep. There was a ward around their campsite, so they did not need to worry about any desert-dwelling critters. Right as she was about to doze off, she noticed what appeared to be eyes watching her from behind some rocks. Reasoning that her mind was just playing tricks on her, she went to sleep.


    Methuselah¡¯s Tower


    Methuselah had returned to their tower in a foul mood, they had made a major mistake, and they knew it. Not only did they make a horrible first impression with his replacement, but they had pushed her to the point where she activated her powers and ran away.


    Methuselah also knew what was coming next, her mother would put out a missing person report, and when it became clear that Methuselah disappeared as well, they would be the primary suspect and a general watch would be placed throughout the Kingdom for them. Not that staying in town was a viable option, they would only ask too many questions and slow them down.


    Right now, they needed to collect themselves and come up with an alternative solution to find young Elizabeth. Elizabeth could be anywhere in the world with the amount of power she exerted, so Methuselah would need to scan the entire planet. As powerful as Methuselah was, even though they had their limits, they could not keep tabs on every living being in the world. Still, they had to find her, but first, they needed a snack to help them focus. Methuselah trudged through their piles of liquor bottles toward their larder. Methuselah made themself a sandwich, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and went up to their dining table.


    Much to their surprise Lenera was waiting for them, sitting on the other side. Lenera was the only deity whom they allowed into their tower without having to go through the front door, and she did not need to inform them of her arrival, their relationship was too close for something like that.


    ¡°Methuselah, I know you¡¯re eager to pass your burden on to someone else, but you honestly couldn¡¯t come up with a better plan than, ¡°You¡¯re my replacement, I don¡¯t care what you want, I¡¯m taking you by force.¡± There was a tone of deep disappointment in Lenera¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Admittedly, I went about it in the wrong way. I could have handled it with more tact, and I should have prepared myself for the possibility that she might retaliate with her, until now, dormant powers.¡±


    ¡°You stalked the poor girl all day, and then you tried to kidnap her at her Coming of Age. Methuselah you handled the situation in the worst manner possible. I¡¯m surprised you didn¡¯t kill her mother and brother in front of her and bathed in their blood, from what I saw today, I wouldn¡¯t put it past you.¡±


    ¡°Lenera you bring up an excellent point, if I want to make any headway with her, I¡¯m going to need to get rid of her family. Elizabeth is way too attached to them, and it will make her tutelage only more difficult if I allow them to live.¡±


    Lenera gave him a death glare that sent a chill down his spine. ¡°You will not kill that poor girl¡¯s family just to make your job easier.¡±


    ¡°Why not, I have had to wipe out entire nations before for the sake of maintaining the balance of the world, you, more than anyone else, know the nature of my work. I am swimming through a sea of the blood of the innocent who I have been forced to kill, why should Elizabeth¡¯s family get some special exemption? They¡¯ll both be dead in about six or seven decades, if not sooner if they don¡¯t make it through Zarathustra¡¯s assault.¡±


    A look of sadness came over Lenera¡¯s face. ¡°I know better than anyone the toll your job takes on you, it takes a heavy toll on me as well. Every innocent life lost fills me with deep sadness, and while I wish that there were better ways, I know that you only act when you have no other choice, and all other avenues have been closed off to you. If you were not that way, I would have severed our relationship years ago.¡±


    ¡°Lenera, you are probably the only person in this world who understands me, for which I am very appreciative. It makes my job easier.¡±


    ¡°Not just me, the High Father understands you as well, he is the one who made you after all, even with your flaws of laziness, alcoholism, lechery, and melancholy.¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s my flaws that make me so memorable, it¡¯s not like my predecessors were faultless and perfect. And if the big man upstairs has issues with me, he can tell me himself. As far as I¡¯m concerned, no Guardian has done a better job than me.¡±


    ¡°True, Orixianna only managed to handle the job by completely severing her emotions from herself, and Hadoralan abused his power, setting himself up as a God-King. And the less said about Rorvash the Titan Lord, the better.¡±


    ¡°What about the first guardian, the lizard dude?¡±


    ¡°Xue-Chtotl-Upec was the closest we ever got to a perfect guardian, but even he dropped the ball at important moments, and the favoritism he showed his people only sped up their decline.¡±


    Methuselah sat down to eat their sandwich and drink. While they ate and drank, they thought of what they knew of predecessors, Orixianna had indeed severed herself from all emotions, but that also included severing herself from feeling any obligation to educate her replacement. Orixianna had ignored Methuselah until her death, leaving Methuselah with a couple of awkward decades as their powers developed with no one to guide them.


    Naturally, they never knew of Hadoralan, but they did know that during his reign the Nine had to join numerous times to bring him to heel. Finally, they had to seal him away for his final five centuries and waiting with patience for his replacement to come into her own. Rorvash had instigated the Great Upheaval that caused a major uproar in the heavens, and while he realized his error, he was never trusted again.


    As for Xue-Chtotl-Upec, all he had to do was peer at the broken and tattered remnants that remained of his race to know the dangers of favoritism. While it did appear that they were making a comeback in the southern hemisphere, it only took them 20,000 years, and some interference on his part, to get themselves together.


    Methuselah finished their meal and got up. Lenera had waited for them. ¡°Now that I¡¯m done, I should probably find out where Elizabeth is and formulate a new plan to convince her to come with me, though she may not be very receptive.¡±


    ¡°Oh, she¡¯s fine, she¡¯s with one of my Divine Callers.¡± Lenera had a smug smile on her face.


    ¡°Well, why didn¡¯t you tell me this, now you can just tell me where she¡¯s at and I can go pick her up?¡±


    ¡°I will do no such thing, it¡¯s your mess, you must find her, and it won¡¯t be as hard as you think. Elizabeth will be the only being in the world with a spiritual signature that matches yours.¡±


    Methuselah was quiet for a few moments. Dumbfounded that they had forgotten this fact. ¡°You know, you¡¯re right, I don¡¯t know why I was getting so worked up.¡± Methuselah stood up and summoned an orb into their hand, this orb began to expand into a massive translucent globe filled with many different colored lights. ¡°First I need to remove all signatures that aren¡¯t Guardian signatures.¡±


    With a snap of their fingers, all the lights disappeared except for two golden lights, one deep within the northern wastes for Methuselah, and one deep down in Baikov lands in the Kingdom of Lions. ¡°Well, it¡¯s good to know that she didn¡¯t go too far, though it¡¯s a bit worrisome that she¡¯s now within the direct path of Zarathustra¡¯s invasion. This could be trouble; I¡¯ll need to act quickly to get her out of harm¡¯s way.¡±


    ¡°Please, just because a Guardian regenerates if they¡¯re killed doesn¡¯t mean that it¡¯s a pleasant experience.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know, I¡¯ve never had the misfortune of being killed.¡± Methuselah suddenly became very thoughtful. ¡°You know, I could use this invasion to my advantage, once she realized just how dangerous Zarathustra and his forces are, she may be more willing to write off her homeland and come with me to safety. I can even set it up so that she does die, and once she regenerates, she will be chastised enough to realize that I was right and that she should have come with me. Heck, I could even make a few alterations to her mind while her body is reforming to make her more compliant.¡±


    Lenera slapped him hard across the face, dissipating the floating world. ¡°Don¡¯t you even dare, free will is the one guarantee all living creatures get in this world, it is the one rule all deities hold sacred. Rewriting who she is would be such a fundamental violation of this I can¡¯t even begin to imagine the consequences.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like there aren¡¯t manipulation powers out there, memory manipulation and hypnotic suggestion aren¡¯t exactly outlawed, you know that better than anyone.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t outlawed because it can be resisted and reversed in most cases. Plus, there is that keyword, manipulation. You are proposing to rewrite a fundamental law of our universe, the law of free will, just to make your job easier. You are proposing to do this to a young girl in her most vulnerable state where she would be defenseless. Methuselah, that is wrong on so many levels there are not enough words to describe it. It¡¯s like trying to resurrect the dead, it¡¯s a form of magic that is forbidden by the High Father.¡± There was a tone of distress in Lenera¡¯s voice, this was a very sore subject for Lenera, and Methuselah knew it, they had both seen what had happened the last time someone had gained the power to rewrite free will.


    Lenera commanded a group of beings known as the Seven Maidens of Light, powerful women imbued with her power to help the world. When they died, they were reborn into new bodies across the world, doing their best to help any who needed help. Six of the Seven had recently been reborn, despite the efforts from Natra to thwart their return, but one of the Seven would never walk the world ever again.


    The last time all seven were active at once, one of them went rogue. The Fallen Maiden was still trying to make the world a better place, but in a manner, that was utterly horrific. Everyone she came across who did not meet her standards of good, would remake in her image. The Fallen Maiden would enter their minds and forcibly and irreversibly rewrite them so that they would have the same outlook, morals, and personality as her.


    The Fallen and her army almost destabilized the entire world. Methuselah still remembered the horrible childlike smiles they all had on their faces. Methuselah dealt with the problem, but now the Seven Maidens of Light were down to Six as the Fallen Maiden remained secured deep in Methuselah''s vault in a stasis field where she would never be able to hurt anyone again, in either this or another life.


    So, while Lenera¡¯s condemnation cut Methuselah, they understood where she was coming from. Methuselah decided that she was right and if they started messing with free will they were no better than that sad and strange little girl who only wanted to make everyone in the world smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re right Lenera, please forgive me, I feel that I am getting more and more desperate. Of course, I will leave her mind alone. If I have not stripped free will away before, why should I start now?¡±


    ¡°I am glad to hear this, you had me worried for a moment. Now, I do approve of you letting her experience the horror of Zarathustra¡¯s invasion firsthand if you can¡¯t convince her to come with you, though I hope you will at least intervene on her behalf if it looks like she might die.¡± A melancholic mood came across Lenera¡¯s face as she walked over and kissed him on the cheek. ¡°I need to get going love, in the coming week many innocents will die and many more will call out to me to save them, I must be ready.¡± And with that, she disappeared in a flash of white light.


    Methuselah looked around their tower. ¡°Well, if I¡¯m going to have company, I should clean this up.¡± Methuselah waved their hands, and all the liquor bottles disappeared. ¡°I would hate to leave a bad first impression upon my successor.¡±


    Chronicler¡¯s Notes


    High Magic of an Arcanos: An Arcanos tapped into the raw potentiality that was Arcane Magic. Arcane Magic suffused the world of Sabaria and was responsible for bringing about change and evolution in the world to prevent stagnation. As a result, races and creatures evolved and changed at a much faster pace than in other worlds.


    The magic itself altered the land, leading to such phenomena as continents of solid clouds and caverns filled with lush jungles deep beneath the world¡¯s surface. Unfortunately, there were also magical dead zones in the world, which could render an Arcanos ineffectual. The channeling of raw arcane magic also took a toll on the user¡¯s body, so most practitioners had a limit on how often they could use it daily. The more powerful the magic, the heavier the toll.


    General Magic: What Arcanos called General Magic was a catch-all for magic too small to have schools of their own. Minor magical effects, flight, communication, and teleportation were found under this school, along with any spell that did not fit into a major school, such as the often-used Contraception Seal, as it was somewhere in between Defensive and Mutability magic.


    Manipulation Magic: This school of magic focuses on the manipulation of perceptions, and images, the altering of minds, and memories, and the overwriting of one¡¯s bodily autonomy. Manipulators were held in high suspicion as the most subtle ones could work their magic with their enemies, being none the wiser to their activities. One common drawback of this field of magic was often the necessity of having to look their targets in their eyes to perform the spells.


    Mutability Magic: Those who specialized in mutability magic understood that almost the entire world could be changed on their whim. Entropic magic was used to turn the odds in one¡¯s favor or against their enemies. Divination was used to divine the future and scry upon enemies. Transformation altered the physical properties of beings or material affected by it. Finally, life and death itself proved mutable as some practitioners sought out necromantic power, especially those who knew the power of a living creature¡¯s soul.


    Offensive Magic: Fireballs, lightning bolts, icy spears, and balls of acid all fall under Offensive Magic. Those who practiced Offensive Magic are seldom subtle but effective. Summoning and Binding magic fell into this school as well, where an Arcanos would bring forth and forcibly bind an extra-planar entity against their will to serve them. This is in direct opposition to Conduits who formed pacts with extra-planar entities they called Scions so that their entire family lines could form a mutually beneficial pact with the entity and the entity master. The rivalry between Summoners and Conduits served as a smaller mirrored conflict to that of the Arcanos vs the Arc-Bloods.


    Defensive Magic: Defensive magic is focused on shutting down the magic of other spellcasters, either through shielding, resistance, negating, or canceling. Groups of skilled defenders have often turned the tides of entire campaigns in their favor. And as a counterpart to the Summoning and Binding, they have access to Banishment and Sealing. Banish to send extra-planar entities home to their native planes and sealing to trap not only extra-planar entities but also their more mundane enemies into various objects or prisons. This humble Chronicler once had the indignity of being sealed in a vase for a thousand years, before my master remembered me and had his minions release me.


    Addendum: Arcanos can specialize in any of the four major schools, but they can still learn spells from the others, it is just their school of choice that will be more natural to them.


    Specialized High Magic Schools


    Alchemy: Alchemy is part magic, part science, and part philosophy. Through rituals and experimentation, all Alchemists can create three varieties of elixirs. The first variety is an offensive weapon, coming in as either an explosion, ball of acid, or sticky goo. The second variety is a spell in potion form which can be drunk at any time or thrown at someone at any time to activate the desired effect, either beneficial or harmful. The third elixir alters the mind and body of the drinker, targeting the body and mind and transforming them. Each Order of Alchemists has its unique rituals and techniques they keep amongst themselves.


    Mugic: Magic in the form of memorized songs that are sung into existence by Song Callers. Mugic can range from auditory and visual hallucinations, and mind control to high-pitched sonic shrieks that can go so far as to kill their target. Many say that a skilled Song Caller can kill with a word.


    War Magic: War Magic is a very specialized form of magic used by Magi-Knights to enhance themselves and their companions in combat, similar to the powers an Oathsworn gain through their Oaths. This included larger muscles, faster reflexes, tougher skin, advanced senses, and resistance to magical and elemental attacks.

 Chapter 3 Nobles and Foreigners

    Bear Territory, House Baikov


    After the morning had come, Elizabeth was quite certain that camping outside was not for her. The ground was so hard and uneven that her back ached, and loose desert soil had entered her bedroll during the night. Around their campsite were the charred corpses of scorpions and tarantulas that had been fried by Damian¡¯s ward. Despite his self-depreciation, he at least seemed able enough to keep out vermin. Breakfast consisted of water from her companion¡¯s canteens and dry biscuits and beef. This was the reason people stayed at inns, so they would not have to deal with the wilderness.


    Regardless of the problems, they got back up and continued their way. The road they were on was well traveled, mostly by more volunteers heading down to Wall Visalia, seeking fame and glory, along with farmers and merchants on the way to sell their goods. Elizabeth had seen many strange and unique people come through and stay at her mother¡¯s inn, but she had never seen so many together heading to one place.


    Elizabeth saw many young men and women in the colors of houses both great and small. While House Baikov was struggling to get resources as of late, they at least had no shortage of volunteers. Times of peace bred more children than the various noble families could afford to take care of or give lands to, so service on Wall Visalia seemed like an honorable and safe alternative to the intrigues of the northern courts. Most of these highborn went along with it under the northern perception that guarding Wall Visalia was nothing more than glorified guard duty. Most of them would not live past their first year on the wall.


    ¡°Impressive isn¡¯t it, all these young nobles heading down to make a name for themselves.¡± Damian decided to strike up a conversation with her.


    ¡°Is it normal to have these many people?¡± Elizabeth asked.


    ¡°Not as many as you would think, failures like me or altruists like Madeline tend to make up the majority, but this year is what is known as an open recruitment year. Five years of honorable and notable service on the wall and you can gain a position of power within the families of the Bear Duchies. Many traveling with us are the youngest children of their families, and rather than getting settled into some subordinate role in their Duchy''s military or diplomatic corps, they have decided to try their luck down on the wall, hoping to gain a position of actual value. The older siblings are getting the inheritance and titles, and they have nothing to lose, though if the stories are true, most of them will not last long. The wall is under constant attack, and in some mad quest to prove their worth, many meet unfortunate ends.¡±


    Madeline had decided to join in on the conversation. ¡°Still, open recruitment years are important for the Baikov and their vassals, when one is declared it is a sign that their numbers are below optimal levels, so they need to recruit outside talent. Times of peace in the north, minus the four Sanctioned Wars for the Bluegrass Valley, have led to a surplus in children. Nobles across the Kingdom complain and claim that the Baikov and their vassals are exaggerating the threat to gain the resources of the other families. This open recruitment year is one of the only ways they can get support from the rest of the Kingdom. Archduchess Evangeline de Lorme and Grand Master of the Merchants Guild, Kurt the Skinflint, are some of the loudest and most vocal critics of the House Baikov, though even they cannot complain at the opportunity an open recruitment year represents.¡±


    While the official political and mercantile intrigue was unknown to her, Elizabeth did know of Grand Master Kurt. Ms. Keeli had apprenticed under him, and she had described him as a treacherous weasel of a man, working those under him to the bone while trying to find every single method possible to avoid paying them what they had earned. However, she was still perplexed by Madeline speaking out against House De Lorme, to whom the de Garniers held fealty. ¡°Aren¡¯t the de Garnier vassals to the de Lorme?¡± Elizabeth asked Madeline.


    ¡°In a sense we are, but my family is a bit weird amongst the Peacock, while we are appreciated for our skills in healing and the pursuit of peaceful relations, the other families look down on us for not behaving like proper nobles, referring to us as the Peahens.¡± Madeline chuckled at this.


    ¡°There is a lot of bitterness toward the Peacock amongst the Bear, though the de Garnier family are held in higher regard over their foppish cousins, otherwise poor Madeline here wouldn¡¯t be in for a warm reception,¡± said Damian.


    ¡°The arrogance and petty shortsightedness of the families of the Kingdom will be the doom of us all.¡± The three turned around to see a handsome young man, by the standards of the kingdom, standing behind them. Unlike the others, he had no color or noble heraldry to his steel armor, only one emblem of a golden blade flanked by two angels on his chest plate, over his heart.


    The man''s helmet was hanging from a cord around his belt, with his sword and shield attached to his back, covered by a white cape. This man had a fearsome lupine face, a forehead topped with well-groomed silver-gray hair, and piercing blue eyes that went well with his peach-toned skin.


    Next to him, his companion was even more outlandish, a towering seven-foot-tall figure, whose top was unclothed, only wearing woolen pants and animal hide boots. This man had a battle axe hanging from each hip. The man was built like a mountain, pure muscle, with piercing dark blue eyes, and a wild mane of hair so blonde it was almost white. Behind them was a sparsely laden pack mule. ¡°My apologies, it was presumptuous of me to interrupt your private conversation.¡± The handsome man said.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s no problem, always happy to see that I am not the only one who sees the flaws in our system,¡± Damian said with a deeper tone to his voice, trying to measure up to the two men who made him feel inadequate. ¡°My name is Damian Diotrephes, and this is Madeline De Garnier and Ms. Elizabeth.¡±


    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you three, I am Sir Frederick of the Order of the Empyrean Blade, and this here is my compatriot, Ragnar Doth of the Frostborn Clan.¡± Ragnar just nodded at them.


    ¡°An Oathsworn of the Empyrean Blade is this far south in Baikov lands? Also, what is a barbarian warrior from the north doing so far south?¡± Elizabeth asked, not realizing that her question might be construed as rude. Ragnar seemed annoyed, but Sir Frederick moved in.


    Elizabeth¡¯s skepticism was warranted. The Oathsworn of the Empyrean Blade was one of the Seven Orders who swore a binding oath and who sought to fill out a particular niche in the Kingdom of Lions. The Order of the Empyrean Blade was known as a defender of justice who advocated for and represented the common man while exposing and destroying corruption. The Empyrean Blade also sought out and terminated criminals who plagued the Kingdom, such as human traffickers, drug dealers, and dangerous foreigners.


    And this made the fact that he was traveling with a northern foreigner so confusing. Past the Frost Barrier Mountains that guarded the northern border of the Kingdom of Lions was the Land of Ice and Fog, a savage and wild place filled with fearsome Raiders, Witches, Tormags, Giants, and other stranger creatures.


    The inhabitants denied the gods of the Kingdom of Lions and the truth of the world that was taught. Instead, they chose to raid coastal settlements, carrying off food, manufactured goods, and innocents which they enslaved as thralls, as the raiders considered manual labor to be beneath them.


    ¡°The Order of the Valiant Heart does an excellent job overseeing the lands of the Bear, I¡¯m just here as an escort for my friend.¡± Motioning to Ragnar. ¡°Ragnar was captured by slavers who had journeyed north and caught him by surprise. Amongst the more depraved elements of our nobility are individuals who prize foreigners like Ragnar as exotic servants and pets. Ragnar here wound up in the hands of Countess Diana Diotrephes as her manservant.¡± It was not uncommon for Southerners to exact retribution upon the Northmen by kidnapping and enslaving them.


    Slavery, for the most part, was forbidden in the Kingdom of Lions, though it was still often practiced in secret. Some would argue that the existence of the common folk was slavery in all but name, but most regions gave the commoners rights and protections that a slave would never have, except for House Diotrephes, who were infamous for their abuse.


    Damian knew this and blushed at the mention of his relative. ¡°Cousin Diana always had a talent for manipulation magic, with little to no moral scruples.¡± This got Ragnar riled up as he reached for his axes.


    ¡°That witch was kin of yours.¡± The accented Ragnar had a look of murder in his eye. Realizing his precarious situation, Damian tried to save himself.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t call us kin, yes, we are related by blood but growing up I was one of her favorite targets of torment. Your cousin used to put me under her spells and make me do the most embarrassing and degrading things imaginable. And the family only encouraged her, she was a prodigy after all, and I was just a pitiable failure. The only word I got from my mother on the matter was ¡°If you weren¡¯t such a failure and a disgrace, you wouldn¡¯t have a problem.¡± This story seemed to assuage Ragnar who regained control over himself and moved his hands off his axes.


    ¡°Your cousin was a vile witch, she treated me like her pet, I am a warrior, not a pet.¡± The angry tone was still in Ragnar¡¯s voice, but Damian could tell it was not directed at him.


    ¡°My Order found out about her dealings and rescued Ragnar and the other victims, many of whom weren¡¯t foreigners. Unfortunately, the Archduchess Medea Diotrephes got her niece out of trouble.¡± There was a fierce bitterness in Sir Frederick¡¯s voice, and Damian decided not to mention that Medea was his mother. ¡°However, we were able to rescue her ¡°playthings¡±, most of them we were able to return to their families, though Ragnar here is a unique case.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not welcome back home, so I saw no need to go back.¡± Ragnar decided to leave it at that, and no one felt the desire to pry further.


    ¡°Fortunately, the Baikov declared an open recruitment year, and they do not care about your past, or even your heritage, only your martial skill. So, I decided to escort Ragnar here to Wall Visalia, where he can offer his services as a warrior and find his place in our Kingdom.¡±


    Such was the nature of the Oathsworn, to do such noble deeds. Oathsworn gained power by swearing binding oaths that they had to follow lest they be stripped of their power by the Golden King Alnardun who oversaw them all. The Order of the Empyrean Blade sought justice by advocating for the common folk and hunting down and punishing criminals. The Order of the Valiant Heart fought alongside House Baikov on Wall Visalia, turning back the darkness with their holy fury.


    The Order of the Fierce Daughter was an all-female order that worked to protect women and their children from spousal and parental abuse and provided shelter and counseling for abuse victims. Conversely, the Order of the Honorable Son was an all-male order that sought to protect men from exploitation and to help them in times of need and hardship. The Order of the Holy Flame worked hard to hunt down and destroy illegal cults and to perform exorcisms on cult victims who had been possessed.


    The Order of Righteous Cause served as peacekeepers, seeking to mediate disputes and foster cooperation and community. Finally, the Order of True Thoughts sought to limit the influence of foreign and heretical ideas upon the populace. They also rooted out and destroyed foreigners residing in the Kingdom, which made Ragnar a prime target for them if he did not find his place with the Baikov. Unlike the Inquisitors and Templars of the Owl, the Oathsworn were, for the most part, held in high regard by the common folk.


    The group continued their way, now with Sir Frederick and Ragnar as companions.


    As time went on, Sir Frederick could not help but continue to look at Elizabeth. Elizabeth, not being one who cared about people who looked at her, was confused by this. To Elizabeth, if Sir Frederick was looking at her out of carnal interest, she would need to shut that down as she had zero interest in any romantic pursuits. Not that an Oathsworn should have had any carnal interests in the first place. ¡°Not to be rude Ms. Elizabeth, but what is a commoner like yourself doing heading down to Wall Visalia? If you seek a chance to prove your worth and claim a place on the wall, I will not stop you. However, you don''t have the bearing of a warrior or spellcaster, your movements are more akin to a barmaid than someone who would seek glory and honor down on the wall.¡±


    Elizabeth, relieved that he was only curious about her being so far south, decided to enlighten him. ¡°Sir Frederick you have very perceptive eyes; I am an inn Keeper in training. To be honest, I am not completely sure how I got down here. Last night was my Coming of Age and this creepy man by the name of Methuselah tried to kidnap me. My companions and I think he might have been a human trafficker. I was able to escape him in a flash of light, Damian thinks that I¡¯m some kind of Arc-Blood and that my powers awakened to get me out of trouble.¡±


    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°It¡¯s around the Coming of Age that a new Arc-Blood power first manifests if they don¡¯t come from an already established Arc-Blood bloodline.¡± Said Damian.


    ¡°Still to come all the way down from Royal Lands in a flash must be the sign of a formidable Arc-Blood. Surely you would not mind putting your budding powers to good use on the front lines, protecting the innocent from the vile hordes of the Dark Wastes?¡± Sir Frederick was in full recruitment mode.


    ¡°I have no such intention, as soon as we get to the Wall, I am going to explain my situation and head back home.¡±


    ¡°Well, that does sound reasonable, and once I drop Ragnar off, I can escort you back to your home. The Kingdom can be a dangerous place for a fair maiden such as yourself. Plus, I will need your testimony to help file a report about this human trafficker, Methuselah, we¡¯ll need to know his appearance and his mannerisms.¡±


    ¡°It would be good to have an escort back. If my geography is correct, we have a long journey ahead of us. At least three months by foot if I¡¯m not mistaken?¡±


    ¡°I will obtain horses to make the journey faster, though it will still be a long trip back. I swear upon my honor as an Oathsworn of the Empyrean Blade to return you home safely. Though we may need to make a few detours on our way back, I still have my duties to attend to.¡±


    Elizabeth would not mind the long journey back alongside Sir Frederick. Sir Frederick seemed friendly enough, and so far, he appeared to be honorable. Still, she was curious about him. ¡°So, Sir Frederick, why did you join the Order of the Empyrean Blade?¡±


    ¡°Since I was a boy, I¡¯ve been driven to aid those in need and ensure that truth and justice prevail in the Kingdom. I desire to serve the realm and the common folk till the day I die. The only family that I need are the members of my order and our brother and sister orders.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s quite heartwarming, did you come up with that speech on the spot or is it something you memorized from your handbook?¡± Damian, being a more jaded individual, decided to get snarky with Sir Frederick.


    ¡°Fighting for a cause greater than yourself is nothing to scoff at. Self-sacrifice is a virtue we should all strive to embrace.¡± Sir Frederick was oblivious to Damian¡¯s snark.


    Ragnar was nowhere near as oblivious to snark as Sir Frederick was and began to eye Damian with suspicion.


    ¡°Glad to see that someone else here shares my altruistic spirit.¡± Madeline chimed in, trying to diffuse the tension she could sense.


    The group continued their journey until they reached the village of Bears Rest, the final settlement on this road to Wall Visalia. It was a small and quaint community, with no more than twenty homesteads located in the village proper with the most impressive structure being the squat red fortress of the local Earl, the lowest noble rank that could possess a keep of their own. In the middle of the town stood the impressive statue of a fearsome-looking man, wearing House Remington armor. Around the statue, people keep laying down flowers.


    ¡°Who is that figure and why is he in Remington armor?¡± Elizabeth asked.


    ¡°Wait, you¡¯re from the lands of House Remington but you don¡¯t know the story of Randall Remington, the Ginger Giant.¡± Madeline, Sir Frederick, and Damian were quite shocked at this, Ragnar just kept his usual expression.


    ¡°Well, obviously not if I am asking about him.¡±


    Sir Frederick decided to enlighten Elizabeth. ¡°Count Randall Remington is a legend throughout the Kingdom. At a time when the Baikov had been pushed to their breaking point, he descended from the north with a large army he had gathered up from the surrounding families, including his knights and soldiers. The Remington family was furious at this, it was the family¡¯s duty to protect the Galdwin Dynasty, not to go running off to fight someone else¡¯s war. Count Randall responded that whether around the Royal Palace or down on the southern walls, there were enemies to the Galdwin Dynasty and that it was his duty to fight them.¡±


    ¡°Fortunately, his army came down at the right time, a terrifying force of foul creatures from the Dark Wastes had managed to break their way through Baikov lines and were wreaking havoc across the countryside. Count Randall and his army met them on this very spot, challenging the horde to battle. It was an epic confrontation between these two armies, and while the horde was broken, victory came with a heavy price. Count Randall had led his forces on the front lines. Sadly, a group of elite Ri-Grib assassins managed to surround him and cut him off from the rest of his army. The Ri-Gribs killed him, but not before he took out all twelve of them. Count Randall''s last words to his army were, ¡°Don¡¯t give up the assault, we got these wretches on the run.¡± The actions of him and his army stopped one of the worst invasions this Kingdom had ever seen.¡±


    Elizabeth felt bad about not knowing the story of Count Randall Remington, though she could understand why she never heard the story. The Remington family took their duty seriously, any Remington, no matter how noble, would be looked down upon if he left his territory without permission. The sad truth of the matter was that Count Randall was stricken from the Remington records, and all were forbidden from mentioning him ever again.


    Still, Elizabeth knew in her heart that he did the right thing. All five traveled together to the local flower vendor, Elizabeth even managed to scrounge a bronze coin out of her blouse, enough to buy a single flower. Elizabeth and the rest went over to the statue and placed their flowers around it, bowing their heads for a moment of silent respect to this proud and courageous hero. Written into the base of the statue, was this information. ¡°Count Randall Remington, first son of Count Robert Remington of Castle Greenfield and the town of Barrington. Born 780 died 817, proud hero and champion of the Kingdom of Lions. ¡°Don¡¯t give up the assault, we got these wretches on the run.¡±


    ¡°Count Randall was only 27 when he died.¡± There is a tone of sadness in Elizabeth¡¯s voice. Even more, she realized he was from her very home.


    Sir Frederick responded ¡°In war, many who are younger than him die. It is not the span of our life that counts, it is the impact on the lives of those around us that counts. Count Randall inspired many young men and women in life, and he has continued to do so in death. Count Randall was the spitting image of honor and nobility, quick with a joke even quicker to laugh, but also possessing a righteous anger when he saw evil in the world. Count Randall is a man I have striven to emulate, and while I may never live up to the high standards he set, I can try. Count Randall''s story may have been expunged in the lands he grew up in, but across the Kingdom of Lions, his legend lives on.¡±


    The group left the statue, Elizabeth and Madeline went to stake out a place to sit and eat lunch while Sir Frederick, Damian, and Ragnar went off to purchase food. Sir Frederick insisted on paying for the women, and since Elizabeth had no money now, she was not going to stop him.


    Right after they found the right spot, they saw Ragnar storming over to them in a huff, a look of frustration on his face.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Ragnar?¡± Madeline asked.


    ¡°The people here refused to serve me saying that barbarians do not deserve to eat the food of decent people.¡± There was blistering anger in Ragnar¡¯s voice. ¡°I never asked to come down here, I was stolen from my home by the ¡°civilized¡± people of this land and exploited by one of your nobles. And now, as I head down to help defend their land, they treat me like I am an unwanted animal.¡±


    ¡°Give them time Ragnar, once you begin fighting on the wall they will come to respect and accept you.¡± Madeline continued to assuage his anger.


    ¡°I hope you are right.¡± Ragnar was still in a foul mood.


    Damian and Sir Frederick returned, Sir Frederick carrying a tray with a pitcher and five glasses, along with a spare canteen, while Damian carried a tray with five sandwiches and a wooden bowl filled with fried slices of cut potatoes. There was a food stand in the middle of town next to the statue that catered to travelers and even provided supplies if they were needed.


    The group put the food and drinks down as Sir Frederick handed the canteen over to Elizabeth. ¡°Here you go on a journey, you should never be without a canteen.¡± Considering how thirsty Elizabeth had become on their morning journey in the desert, she was grateful, it even appeared to be full.


    And with that, they settled down to their meal.


    Further south, Zarathustra¡¯s dark plan was underway.


    Wall Visalia, Bear Territory, House Katzev


    Little Mari was moving to aid her master¡¯s scheme. Fortunately, the disguise was holding up and she appeared to be a Halmen in every biological way. Unfortunately, she had caught the attention of some loser Grib tribe and their Grib Dogs, who were now chasing her. Fortunately, these amateurs were too incompetent and unskilled to keep up with her as she scurried through the jutting rocks and barren trees, keeping five steps ahead of them and their clumsy attempts at catching her.


    Those chasing her would serve to help establish some credibility with the defenders. True, their lives would be sacrificed, but to any true Grib, life was cheap, and nothing of value would be lost with this group of idiots. Mari''s salvation came in a hail of slings, while a group of Houses Baikov Halmen war dog riders came to her rescue, charging forward and skewering the Gribs and their mounts with their lances. Mari decided to catch her breath as the Halmen¡¯s finished off the Gribs. The Halmen¡¯s rode on over to her and leveled their lances at her.


    ¡°State who you are, your commanding officer, and what business you have here.¡± The squad sergeant demanded of her.


    ¡°I am Corporal Ivana; my commanding officer was Captain Anya Zarakova of House Zarakova¡¯s 21st Scout Regiment. I am all that is left of my squad, I¡¯ve been hounded for the past few days coming here with urgent and grave news.¡± The spell Zarathustra cast imparted that information onto Mari, along with other personal details that would help her keep up the charade.


    ¡°What type of urgent news do you have?¡± The Sergeant asked.


    ¡°A massive army is on its way towards Mt. Defiance, they¡¯re seeking to overrun House Zarakova.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t we gotten word of this already?¡±


    ¡°The army is killing all the scouts who come across them, they¡¯re also using some strange magic to conceal their movements. This army is being led by a group of exiled nobles with some potent magic at their disposal. House Zarakova won¡¯t know what hit them until it¡¯s too late.¡±


    ¡°Very well, we¡¯ll take you with us to see the General Dimitri Baikov. You¡¯re in luck, his brother the Archduke is also visiting the fortress, so with any good fortune we will be able to rally an army together with haste.¡±


    The group gave her a lift to the eastern gate, Zarathustra¡¯s intended target. Mari braced herself, the gate was designed to undo any illusion or transformation that might be on those who travel through the gates by Annabelle Stanfeld, that was known by Annabelle Stanfeld. The Skinsuit spell was a new creation of Zarathustra¡¯s own making, and thus Annabelle had no idea to add it to the list of spells to ward against.


    Mari made it through the gate without revealing her true form. The Halmen led her through a labyrinth of hallways to the nearest command post, which served as the primary base of operations for the eastern section of the wall due to its proximity to a major road. Inside the room, Archduke Yuri Baikov was in a discussion with his younger brother Dimitri.


    Yuri was a giant of a man with a graying beard and hair. Dimitri was not as large as his brother, and his hair and beard were still black, each had olive skin, textured like old leather. Both men wore heavy armor, bearing the gray, brown, and black heraldry of the houses of the Bear Duchies.


    While Yuri Baikov was the Archduke of all Bear lands, he left the defense of Wall Visalia to his younger siblings. General Dimitri Baikov was the eastern commander of Wall Visalia and its forces. The general also held the noble title of Grand Duke, but his duties as the eastern commander came first. It was odd for Yuri to visit his younger brother, someone he had the highest level of trust and faith in. If the Archduke was here there must have been a reason, or so Mari thought. Both men turned to her, giving her a curious look.


    ¡°Corporal, what do you have to report?¡± The general was quick to get to the point, the Baikov do not like to waste time with pointless pleasantries and flowery language.


    Mari stood up straight and gave a full salute. It was satisfactory since neither man said anything. ¡°General, I come bearing grave news, a massive horde of wasteland abominations is marching upon Mt. Defiance, using magic to conceal their numbers, and killing all scouts they come across, I am the only survivor of my squad. By the grace of the Nine, I was able to make it to you with this news.¡±


    The Archduke became enraged at this news. ¡°The impudence of these beasts will never cease to amaze me. The beasts must have a few exiles helping them.¡± The Archduke turned to his brother, ¡°Dimitri, I am going to need to requisition most of your defenders along with any other troops that can be spared from the other houses who can get here in time. In three days, we will muster the full might of the Eastern Legion of the Bear and march down to Mt. Defiance and smash these invaders. I cannot let Zoya face this assault on her own. I also want you to send word to the Western Gate and my central seat, The Halls of Defiance. I want them to rally what they can and join us on the march as soon as possible. We will go out in force and show these beasts that it is foolish to prod a bear.¡±


    Inwardly Mari smiled, Zarathustra¡¯s host would arrive at the eastern gate in six days, and most of the eastern Baikov army would be down south on a wild mite chase when her master struck. The other armies may prove troublesome but she was sure her master had timed everything exactly right. It would take the other legions too long to organize and sally out.


    ¡°Three days¡¯ brother?¡± Dimitri was not sure about the timetable.


    ¡°We will need three days to rally the eastern garrisons from their castles and forts, and with a force that size, we have a three-day march to the Mt. Defiance. I know that I¡¯ll be leaving you with a skeleton force, but if such a formidable force is focusing on the lands of House Zarakova, I don¡¯t foresee a major attack upon the wall, you should be fine with the forces you have. Fortune smiles at us, most of the army is within three days of us, running invasion drills. Those who can¡¯t make it in time will be advised to help man the wall.¡± With that, Yuri stormed out of the room to begin preparing.


    Mari smiled inwardly; things were going even better than they had planned. Mari was a bit shocked that they were not second-guessing themselves or questioning her harder. The reputation of the Zarakovan scouts was so great that anything one said would be taken at face value.


    Dimitri gave her a long hard look, and then his expression softened. ¡°You have done well Corporal, rest here for now, after the ordeal that you¡¯ve been through, I won¡¯t send you back out into the field with the force. You¡¯ll be on leave until this operation is over and I can promote you and assign you to a new squad.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sir.¡±


    ¡°Dismissed Corporal, the Sergeant will lead you to sleeping quarters.¡±


    With that, Mari was led away, everything was going according to plan. By the time the primary force got here the eastern portion of the wall would be undermanned, with the Baikov army being too far away to respond. Yes, everything was aligned with perfection, she now had one last assignment, when Zarathustra struck, she was to kill General Dimitri. General Dimitri would never see her blades coming.


    Chroniclers Notes


    The legend of Count Randall Remington is a worthy tale in and of itself that I might share with you one day. As for the curious case of Ragnar, foreigners were not allowed in the Kingdom of Lions, but they made an exception in his case since he was a skilled warrior. If he had been without the escort of Sir Frederick, he would have been a marked man. Also, I cannot help but wonder if things would have turned out differently if Yuri and Dimitri had grilled Mari more, though, at the end of the day, we must accept that it would have been very unlikely for them to discover the truth. Even for creatures as clever as Gribs, Mari stood out as a rarity.

 Chapter 4: Song Of The Wild

    Bear Territory, House Baikov, Randall Remington Memorial


    After their meal and a bit of rest, the group got up and continued with their journey. The noonday sun had passed, and a cool gentle breeze was coming from the north. As they continued, Elizabeth decided to make conversation with Damian.


    ¡°So, Damian, I thought that Arcanos have familiars, why don¡¯t you have one? I know the Arcanos who stayed at my mother¡¯s inn had a fat raven for a familiar that he named Lenny.¡±


    A look of pain crossed Damian¡¯s face, indicating Elizabeth had hit a sore subject for him. ¡°In House Diotrephes, gaining a familiar is a rite of passage, an indication that you have been accepted as a full member of the family. I never proved myself to be a competent Arcanos, so that privilege was denied to me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯ve caused you any distress by bringing this subject up.¡± Elizabeth felt bad for the turmoil she had caused Damian.


    ¡°No, it¡¯s alright, you were simply curious. I hope to one day prove myself worthy of gaining a familiar. I would like a unique one like my mother¡¯s lynx, Lysander.¡±


    ¡°Coming down to Wall Visalia may be good for you then, where, through camaraderie, you could find a true family. It was my dysfunctional family that led me to join the Order of the Empyrean Blade in the first place.¡± Sir Frederick said.


    ¡°Perhaps, but I am a pitiful Arcanos, and I¡¯ll probably be turned away once the evaluation is done. However, they could decide that I might still have use as a fighter, and they¡¯ll shove a spear in my hand and place me on the wall, where I will die even faster. Though who knows, it could be that death will get my mother to show some affection for me.¡±


    This conversation had put everyone in a very dour and awkward mood. Elizabeth had a hard time grasping how cruel a mother could be to her child. From everything Damian told her, Archduchess Cassandra Diotrephes must have been one of the most unpleasant women in the world.


    The group continued for a while before they came across a peculiar sight. A human woman wearing a long fur cloak and sweating profusely was arguing with a gaudily dressed female Halmen over a map. The human had long curly red hair and dark emerald, green eyes, along with pale skin and numerous freckles.


    On her back was a bow and arrow, with a long knife hanging by her side. Over her heart was a bow and arrow, a Heart Badge that Elizabeth was not familiar with but could very well be one of the emblems for Natra, the goddess of nature and the hunt.


    The Halmen had tan skin and long brown hair with rainbow ribbons and bells tied into it. The Halmen''s clothing was quite colorful, being an odd combination of red, gold, purple, and orange. On her left side appeared to be a tambourine, with a rapier on her right side.


    The Halmen had the Harp of Baleris over her heart. Low-born entertainers in the Kingdom of Lions got to dress however they wanted if they were not connected to any noble house and remained mobile, though they still could not wear the sigil of any house. The pack mule was off to the side of them, bored with what was going on. The group walked on up to see what the problem was.


    ¡°Pardon me ladies, but do you require any assistance?¡± Sir Frederick asked them.


    ¡°Bugger off you meddlesome gray-haired girly boy, this doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± The redhead was quite hostile. Getting closer Elizabeth could see the white stag on a brown background that belonged to House Sullivan. A minor noble house that oversaw the Stag Duchy, a land that was comprised of the Ever Autumn Forest between the lands of the Peacock and the Moth. It was their sacred task to safeguard the Kingdom of Lions from the hostile and malevolent fae that dwelt within the forest. The Sullivan were a sullen and private house that did not take kindly to outsiders meddling in their affairs.


    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind Bridgette, she¡¯s just upset that she¡¯s Wood Walker with no sense of direction or an understanding of what clothes are appropriate to wear in a desert.¡± The Halmen tried to ease the tension of the situation.


    ¡°If  a fur cloak is such a bother, why don¡¯t you change into something more appropriate for the clime?¡± Sir Frederick asked her, oblivious to the fact that he was wearing plate armor while traveling in the desert, though he did not seem to mind. Bridgette gave him a dirty look.


    ¡°Oh, I bet you would like to see me strip down, so you could get a nice look at me and my undergarments. Aren''t you a real pervert? But I will not be doing you any favors, I have no other clothes to wear and not enough coin to waste on buying a new wardrobe like some prim and proper princess. Besides, this is all I have left of my home. I suspect I can get new clothes when we get to the wall but until then I am just going to have to deal with the heat.¡± Bridgette proved herself to be a bit of a spitfire while Sir Fredericks''s face went bright red.


    ¡°Well, if your destination is Wall Visalia, you are on the right path, this road goes to the Eastern Gate, it¡¯s pretty much a straight shot.¡± Damian was a bit confused at how anyone could get lost on a straight road.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I was trying to tell my companion here, but she kept insisting that my shortcut through the desert got us lost.¡± Bridgette stood vindicated.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say wandering around in the desert for three days desperately looking for the road a shortcut.¡±


    ¡°We found it, didn¡¯t we?¡± Bridgette roughly folded up their map.


    ¡°If you are worried about getting lost again, you can join us.¡± Sir Frederick offered his aid, forgetting that these lands were heavily patrolled.


    Bridgette was indignant. ¡°I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much, I don¡¯t need some armor-clad pansy guiding me anywhere.¡±


    Bridgette''s companion was far more diplomatic. ¡°While we do not need a guide, some extra company would be appreciated. I am Carmen, and my companion here is Bridgette of  House Sullivan. I am a wandering Song Caller and she is an elite Wood Walker, or so she claims.¡± Bridgette gave Carmen a dirty look after that comment.


    ¡°I am Sir Frederick, Oathsworn of the Order of the Empyrean Blade. My companions are Lady Madeline of House de Garnier, a Divine Caller of the goddess Lenera, Lord Damian of House Diotrephes, a young Arcanos, Ragnar Doth, a fierce warrior from the north, and Miss Elizabeth, an apprentice Inn Manager who through a bit of bad luck and magic gone awry has found herself far from home.¡±


    ¡°Out of curiosity, how did that happen?¡± Carmen, like anyone, was curious to know how something like that could occur.


    ¡°Well, it was the night of my coming of age. After the party, I went outside to take the trash to the rubbish pile. This mysterious man named Methuselah tried to kidnap me, there was a flash of light and before I realized it, I found myself right in the middle of Damian and Madeline¡¯s camp. Damian believes that I am an Arc-Blood.¡±


    ¡°That is some pretty potent low magic to transfer you from Royal lands down to Bear lands,¡± Bridgette said, seemingly impressed.


    ¡°How did you know that I¡¯m from the Royal lands?¡±


    ¡°Your clothes, for one, are a dead giveaway. Your name, Elizabeth, is the type of name you would find among those who dwell within the royal lands. Also, from the way you hold yourself and the specific manner of your dress, I would have to say that you are from the lands of House Remington.¡±


    ¡°Bridgette, you can pick that up from the way I dress and hold myself?¡±


    ¡°Yes, those who live in Remington lands are very conservative in dress, disdaining makeup and jewelry, along with anything but the most functional of clothing, while at the same time holding themselves with confidence and self-assurance. It¡¯s a common feature amongst the nobility and the common citizenry.¡±


    Elizabeth was awe-struck that this stranger could know so much just by looking at her. Sensing her confusion, Damian stepped in.


    ¡°Since the House of Sullivan is a minor independent noble family that serves as the protectors of Ever Autumn Forest, located between Moth and Peacock lands. The Sullivans make it their job to know everything about everyone without letting other people know about them. It¡¯s rare to see a Sullivan out of Ever Autumn Forest.¡±


    A look of disappointment came across Bridgette¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ve been banished, stripped of my duties, and sent to fight on Wall Visalia to redeem myself.¡±


    ¡°Why were you banished?¡± Madeline asked.


    ¡°None of your concern, thank you very much.¡±


    ¡°There was no reason to tell us you were banished if you¡¯re not going to tell us why?¡± Madeline mumbled to herself. Bridgette, proving to have good hearing, caught every word said, but chose to ignore it.


    ¡°And what about you Miss Carmen, why are you heading down to the wall?¡± Sir Frederick asked her.


    ¡°The Baikov are always looking for entertainers to raise the morale of their troops. It is a steady well-paying job for a profession where both work and food are often hard to come by. I figure if I make a name for myself entertaining the troops, I can move on to larger venues.¡±


    The now larger group continued for a while, making small talk with each other. The long walk did not bother Elizabeth, who was used to being on her feet all day, but she could tell that Damian and Madeline were not used to walking at such a brisk pace over such a distance. Most likely they had been traveling at a nice leisurely pace before joining up with Sir Frederick and Ragnar. Bridgette and Carmen were also unfazed by their now rapid pace. Bridgette spent a lot of time on her feet, and despite being around Halmens like Carmen her entire life, she was always amazed at their inner stamina.


    Craig and Kayla had always insisted that it was because Halmens did not wear shoes, and they were able to stay on their feet more than humans. The Halmen alleged that shoes were unnatural and caused unnecessary strain on one¡¯s feet, disconnecting them from the world around them. As a result, Elizabeth had spent a lot of her young life running around without footwear.


    The only reason she was wearing boots was because her mother insisted that she look her best for her graduation party. Even then, Carmen noticed that she walked less like a human and more like a Halmen, light on her feet, conserving her energy and making sure that she did not tire as quickly, as well as not making any sound.


    ¡°You spent a lot of your childhood around Halmens, didn¡¯t you?¡± Carmen asked.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    Elizabeth nodded. ¡°Craig and Kayla, our inn chefs, were like a second pair of parents to me. During times when the tavern was busy, my brother and I used to stay at their place in the Halmen district. Heck, when I was little, I used to spend entire summers at their home. I was not much help around the house and my mother needed to focus her attention on the business during those busy travel months. When they were not around, their eldest daughter looked after me. I was even the flower girl at her wedding. Though at that point I had shot up like a weed, so I towered over everyone there.¡±


    Carmen giggled at this, ¡°I would expect so.¡±


    The group continued their way, unfortunately, Elizabeth¡¯s group got the unwanted attention of a group of men bearing the heraldry of House De Lorme, the head of the Peacock duchies. ¡°Hey, you there, why are you walking around with a barbarian by your side? Shouldn¡¯t the beast be in chains?¡± The young men sneered. Ragnar chafed at their insults. Sir Frederick noticed this and decided to respond on behalf of his companion.


    ¡°You dishonor your house with your rudeness, did your mother not teach you better? Or are you perhaps bastards conceived by your fathers philandering in the local brothels?¡± Sir Frederick responded.


    Incensed at this insult, the three men draw their rapiers. In a flash, Frederick drew his sword which, made of Empyrean Gold, Bridgette drew her bow, Ragnar grabbed both of his axes, and Damian clumsily made hand gestures while reciting magic words, though Elizabeth could tell he was stumbling his way through. Madeline put herself between the two parties, while some onlookers near them who were also heading south stopped to watch how the confrontation turned out.


    ¡°Now, now, there is no need for us to fight. I get it, we''re all tired and sore from a long journey. You wouldn¡¯t want to dishonor your family by getting into a fight before we even get to the wall?¡±


    Ragnar was still fuming, but Madeline just stared at him and mouthed the words, ¡°Not now¡±. Understanding what Madeline was trying to accomplish, Ragnar decided to help with the diffusing of hostilities.


    ¡°If you wish to prove yourselves, you may challenge me at the wall. But now is not the time nor place and we must be on our way.¡± The intensity of Ragnar¡¯s glare got them to back down.


    The young nobles sheathed their rapiers. The oldest turned to Sir Frederick. ¡°You need to make sure that your pet remembers his place, or we¡¯ll have to remind him of it.¡± The braggarts then strutted off smugly.


    Now that they were on their way off, the others in the group stood down as well. Madeline walked on over, smiled, and placed a hand on Ragnar¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I know your pride was hurt, but the middle of the Baikov desert is not a suitable place for a duel of honor.¡±


    ¡°I know, but I will remember their insults when we get to their wall. I will break them and send them home to their families gelded and submissive.¡± Ragnar replied, annoyed but willing to wait to satisfy his wounded pride.


    ¡°You may very well get your chance, my friend.¡± Sir Frederick joined in. ¡°You have impressed me, not by your reply to their rude comment, but by having the clarity to know when to step back from a fight. My grandfather used to tell me that some battles in this world just are not worth fighting. A true man backs down from a pointless brawl. While someone foolishly rushes into every fight they come across. In a way, you won that fight without ever having to fight it.¡±


    Ragnar just rolled his eyes. ¡°That is not the way of my people, I will meet them again, and my pride and honor will be satisfied. Those men who look like young maidens shall face the fury of my ancestors.¡±


    ¡°That is well and good, but you aren¡¯t doing it today. I must get you to Wall Visalia, and I don¡¯t want you getting injured on my watch.¡± Sir Frederick said.


    After a few more hours of travel, they decided to leave the road and make camp for the night, settling down to set themselves up. Bridgette went out to get some games for them to cook. Elizabeth and Madeline got out their collective supplies to get ready to cook the food while Damian pulled out his spell book and studied it by magical light.


    Sir Frederick got down on his knees with his sword in front of him and began praying. Ragnar decided to stand watch around their campsite, even though his companions tried to tell him that it was not necessary in this section of the Baikov lands to stand watch.


    Old habits died hard for the warrior from the Land of Ice and Fog. Carmen took out her tambourine and gave them a beautiful love song about the steadfast but low-ranking knight who fell in love with the Countess he was sworn to protect. The couple died in each other¡¯s arms rather than be separated by the social conventions of the Kingdom of Lions. Bridgette came back with five desert hares. The group cooked dinner, ate their meal, silently said their respective prayers, and went to sleep.


    The Wastelands


    Zarathustra and Ludwig were sitting on top of the highest tower of the moving castle, overlooking the desolation of the Wastelands. To Ludwig, Zarathustra appeared to be enraptured in thought.


    ¡°Long ago Ludwig, 1000 years before my birth, this peninsula used to be fertile land. Pristine beaches on the coasts and miles and miles of swampland in its interior, funny how time seems able to change everything.¡±


    ¡°What happened to this land so long ago, to turn it into this desolate wasteland?¡±


    ¡°Zekron the God Killer, the greatest Arcanos who ever lived, dwelled in this peninsula. The magic released during his confrontation with the Guardian Methuselah and his allies ruined the land, turning it into what you see now. The duel between Zekron¡¯s apprentices, Eon and Natasha, only made it worse, destroying any chance of recovery. Those who are graced with great power often abuse it and take it for granted, never realizing the damage they do to the land around them.¡±


    ¡°This coming from the undead Arcanos?¡± Ludwig sounded amused.


    ¡°I may be many things Ludwig, but I have always been restrained and controlled. My biggest worry is keeping this horde in line. If they devastate the countryside and terrorize the populace too much, the infrastructure of the land will be destroyed, and the Kingdom will descend into anarchy.¡±


    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan then?¡± Ludwig was curious.


    ¡°Secure my power using my magic to get any dissenters in line. Make the humans and the Halmens of the land subservient, at least for the near future. Most will most likely end up as either slaves or livestock, as many seem to enjoy the taste of human and Halmen flesh. Does that unnerve you?¡±


    ¡°Not in the slightest, I was rejected by my family, my ancestors, and the Kingdom itself, as far as I¡¯m concerned, they¡¯re no kin of mine. Also, living in the Wastes has given me a different perspective on the tribes and clans that live here, it¡¯s not fair that the inhabitants of the Kingdom have enjoyed so much prosperity, while so many have known nothing but hardship.¡±


    ¡°Still, some short-term hardship for the Kingdom''s inhabitants will be a necessity, as I enact my plan to pick up where I was interrupted so many years ago, in the creation of a just and fair society.¡± Zarathustra looked thoughtful.


    ¡°You¡¯re the boss, though I don¡¯t think the livestock are going to submit so easily, not  with Ghul-Zar¡¯s appetite.¡±


    ¡°Ghul-Zar will have to make do with what I give him. I can¡¯t have him eating all my future subjects after all.¡±


    ¡°You know he wanted to eat that Captain.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, but I had more fun with the bear baiting, even if she did escape and kill a few Grib before going down. I was almost tempted to let her escape, though still trapped in bear form. When we get to the Kingdom of Lions, Ghul-Zar will have plenty of humans and Halmens to choose from. But here is the real question, does he prefer regular or bite-sized?¡±


    At this, Ludwig let out a loud groan while Zarathustra just chuckled.


    After Zarathustra¡¯s chuckle, Ludwig got a serious look on his face.


    ¡°Do you think that Mari succeeded in her infiltration mission?¡±


    ¡°I do not doubt that she succeeded, that little Grib has a lot of talent, far more talent than I have ever seen in a Grib before. If all goes according to plan, the Baikov family and their primary army will be long gone, leaving only untested recruits to defend the portion of Wall Visalia when we attack.¡±


    ¡°I concur, she most likely succeeded, Gribs, of all breeds, are full of surprises. Back when I was still a nobleman in the Kingdom, we used to look down our noses upon them all. After a few years serving as a mercenary for Ma-Grib warlords, I have come to understand that there is far more to them than we humans give them credit for.¡±


    ¡°The Grib are a fascinating race; the Grib existence is so short and miserable that they can¡¯t help but take control of the life they¡¯ve been given. I have to say that I respect that. I also respect their ability to find love, even in the most unlikely of places.¡± Zarathustra turned and smiled at Ludwig, who blushed out of embarrassment.


    ¡°How did you find out about me and Brunhilde?¡±


    ¡°Brunhilde, I thought the name of your chief acolyte was Borguta.¡±


    ¡°Bogruta changed it to Brunhilde, she likes it more than her name. Also, I mean no disrespect, but she and I had something planned for this evening.¡±


    ¡°Of course, don¡¯t let me spoil your fun, I was young and living once, I know all about the passionate fire of romance.¡± There was a sad smile on Zarathustra¡¯s bony face.


    ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t need me anymore, Brunhilde is waiting for me.¡±


    ¡°Go to her, cherish these moments of intimacy, you will never realize how valuable they are until you lose them forever.¡±


    With that, Ludwig hurried off to Brunhilde while Zarathustra stayed on top of his tower to brood.


    Zarathustra¡¯s Library


    Sometime later, the Ma-Grib Warlord Bordek, out of his armor, sat quietly in the library, surrounded by books on strategy, history, and Haelmish poetry. Bordek had taken up the pursuit of the arts, not content to remain a normal brutish warlord. Bordek had been encouraged by both Ludwig and Zarathustra to embrace an artistic pursuit, and he had taken quite well to poetry. The strict rules set well with his ordered martial mindset. Bordek was reading through some Third-Age Haelmish poetry when Cornelia stormed into the library in a huff, disturbing his private time.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter Cornelia, did Ghul-Zar despoil your room again?¡±


    ¡°No, Borguta just can¡¯t control her moaning with Ludwig, it¡¯s annoying. Also, Mari isn¡¯t here to keep me company, which is how I normally deal with that ruckus.¡±


    ¡°Cornelia, you can be honest with me, you¡¯re upset that you¡¯re not the one in there with him right now.¡± Bordek was nothing if not supportive and a good listener.


    ¡°Ludwig made his choice, I respect that, I just wish he wasn¡¯t so loud about it.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps you should ask Zarathustra if you can move rooms so you¡¯re not right next to his anymore?¡±


    ¡°I suppose so, what are you reading tonight?¡± Cornelia was a lover of poetry herself.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m reading the Complete Love Sonnets of Vimtarioma Stardancer.¡± Bordek held up one of his poems. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find this one to be quite entertaining.¡±


    Ludwig¡¯s Personal Chamber


    A few hours later, Ludwig lay in bed with what at first appeared to be a human woman, his room cluttered with various vials and alchemical ingredients. Slowly the woman began to change into that of a Ma-Grib, much to her discomfort. As for Ludwig, he had removed his bandages to reveal a man with pale skin, wide-set brown eyes, and shaggy jet-black hair.


    ¡°That lasted two hours this time, up thirty minutes from last time.¡± Said Ludwig


    ¡°Your formula is getting better with each attempt Ludwig.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, though it isn¡¯t quite up to the length that I would like.¡±


    ¡°You could always ask the Master to put a permanent magical change on me.¡±


    ¡°No, this is something I have to do, I need to push myself to ever greater heights, if I let Zarathustra do all my work, how can I further develop my technique? Don¡¯t worry my dear, sooner or later I will make a potent enough formula to ensure that your change to human is permanent.¡±


    Smiling, Brunhilde continued to cuddle with him, though she did feel the need to ask him something that had been bothering her. ¡°In front of your family name, is the word Von, what does that mean?¡± Ludwig looked thoughtful for a moment before answering. ¡°I have no idea, much like the De¡¯s before Peacock family names the families of the Wolf don¡¯t know why we put Von before ours. Our names have been like that dating back to our earliest known records, and I have never been able to figure out the reason. What I have figured out with my research and conversations with Zarathustra, is that the King of Lions did something to his Kingdom, something to us to make us forget the truth of the world. I do not know why or how he did it, only that something happened, something terrible that he wanted everyone to forget to protect his dream. Who knows, maybe I will find out what Von means one of these days, I¡¯m sure it¡¯s something deep and meaningful.¡±


    Chroniclers Notes


    You may be wondering about the Ever Autumn Forest? In the world of Sabaria there are four primal forests, each tied to one of the four seasons and inhabited by dangerous Fae. Strangely enough, three of the four forests are in the territory that belongs to the Kingdom of Lions. The Ever Autumn Forest is ruled over by the Shadow Queen and her court. They seek to plunge the world into a never-ending nightmare and would make great headway in their objectives if it were not for House MacPherson keeping them in check.


    The Ever Spring Forest is ruled over by the Verdant King and is in the Albatross Isles, overseen by House Florio, who has established a mutually beneficial and symbiotic relationship with the benevolent Verdant King and his Court.


    The Ever Summer Forest is the home of the Hunts King and his Wild Hunt, he is a fickle fae prone to wild mood swings, and House Veligan of the Mustang Duchies does their best to keep him and his hunt under control, sometimes feasting and hunting with him, other times fighting and being hunted by him.


    Finally, there is the Ever Winter Forest ruled over by the Ice Queen in the Land of Ice and Fog. The Ice Queen is the most enigmatic of the fae monarchs, content to let the humans who dwell by her be if they do not intrude on her forest. The one exception to this is during the Winter Solstice when the Ice Queen and her minions stream out of the Ever Winter Forest to steal children away from their neighbors. The fact that the Raiders leave thrall children out instead of their own doesn¡¯t seem to bother her, only that she receives her due.

 Chapter 5: Is Free Will Evil?

    Bear Territory, House Baikov, Road to Wall Visalia


    As the group continued its way in the morning, Elizabeth noticed that she liked traveling with her companions. Back home, while she knew young people her age, she never had any time to hang out with them, she was too busy helping her mother with the inn or studying at school where she kept to herself. Even on festival days when everyone got time off, she would spend her time working at the inn, festival days were big for hospitality professionals.


    Just about the only people she knew were the inn workers, the tenants, and the other hospitality professionals in town. Elizabeth had never even left the town¡¯s boundaries, content to remain at home. Though while she was enjoying herself now, all things considered, she wanted to return to her family. Living on the road just was not for her even though she liked the companionship. As they continued, Carmen decided to start singing, lifting their spirits, and lightening their feet.


    ¡°On the road, we go,


    When we will stop, I do not know


    We are ever, on a roll,


    On the road, we go.¡±


    The song continued like that for the rest of the morning travels, she had a soft and soothing voice that lifted their spirits, even if the song was a bit inane and repetitive. While Elizabeth was relaxing, Bridgette, Frederick, and Ragnar remained vigilant. As time went on, they came to an unruly crowd up ahead, an angry mob wielding pitchforks surrounding ten people suspended above the crowd in cages.


    Nine of them appeared to be human, while one appeared to be a female that had glowing red eyes, a mouth full of fangs, two curling horns, a barbed tail, clawed feet, and hands, and bat-like wings on her back. The Lust Infernal kept reaching out of her cage, trying to grab at the mob surrounding them, giving off eerie moans that made Elizabeth uncomfortable.


    Standing on top of a makeshift platform, was a man in a brown trench coat, with white and black owl imagery etched into it. Surrounding the platform were men dressed in brown owl-shaped armor, armed with shields and spears. A white star was painted onto the front of their shields. To the side was a plain-looking man in simple brown robes, tan skin, and large blue eyes just beneath his shaved head, he was holding a quarterstaff with an owl on top.


    Next to him was a surly male Halmen with pale skin and a piercing hawk-like face who looked like he did not want to be there. The man had the badge of the nine great heraldic beasts, a lion surrounded by an owl, moth, bear, wolf, viper, albatross, peacock, and mustang over his heart while the Halmen had nothing over his.


    ¡°It appears like the Inquisitors of the Owl Duchies have been busy.¡± Sir Frederick whispered to the group, pointing to the man in the trench coat.


    ¡°That¡¯s an Inquisitor?¡± Elizabeth asked.


    ¡°Yes, he is, and from the looks of it, he has a group of Templars of the Light with him. And an Ascetic as well, though I don¡¯t know what the deal is with the Halmen.¡± Sir Frederick considered the crowd, and he saw another Oathsworn, this one a member of the Order of the Holy Flame, the Kingdom''s premiere hunters of fiendish cults and exorcists of evil spirits. The Oathsworn had a troubled look on his face.


    The Owl Duchy was a unique case in the Kingdom of Lions, a sparsely populated mountainous region where no nobles ruled. Instead, the rule was given to the Church of the Nine Holy Founders. It was a religion that commoners were forbidden from worship though the ranks of the servants of the faith were filled with orphaned or discarded commoner children, brought in to serve.


    The Nine Ascetic Orders sought mastery over their minds, bodies, and spirits, studying the holy texts, communing with the divine, and honing their bodies. The Ascetics were the backbone of the faith and filled various advisory roles throughout the Kingdom. The Orders were led by the Grand Patriarch, Timothy Paul who oversaw the faith and served in the position of Archduke for the Owl Duchies.


    The members of the reclusive Seven Alchemical Associations practiced a form of arcane magic that was a fusion of traditional magic, science, and philosophy, steeped in symbolic rituals and hidden mysteries, led by the Ascendant Alchemos Nicodemus.


    The Five Templar Orders served as the first of the faith, being brought in to enforce church doctrine and protect the divine mandate of heaven. The leaders, known as the Arch Masters, symbolically took up the name of their founders upon their ascension to their positions, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Ariel who all followed the Grand Arch Master, Lucifer the Morningstar.


    At last, working in the shadows was the mysterious Owl Inquisition, whose agents, overseen by Director Asmodai, scoured the Kingdom of all practitioners of dangerous cults and foreign faiths not approved by the Grand Patriarch, and exterminated them. Ruthless and efficient, they sought to take the dark road no one else would even consider when it came to protecting the people of the Kingdom of Lions.


    The Inquisitor on the platform began to speak. ¡°Here we have vermin of the lowest order, a cult of the foul Mistress of Corruption, Flareous, who have dedicated themselves to the vice of lust, even going so far as to infest the body of this poor girl with the seed of an Infernal of Lust. Sadly, we were too late, the Infernal has merged with its host and all attempts at exorcism were a failure.¡± The Holy Flame Oathsworn had a sad look on his face as the Inquisitor continued. ¡°But the crime of these cultists will not go unpunished, they will pay for what they¡¯ve done.¡± The Inquisitor turned to the prisoners in the cages. ¡°For the high crimes of heresy, conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, and rape, how do you plead?¡±


    Possession was a common problem in the Kingdom of Lions, though in most cases it was an issue of animistic spirits from one of the nine spirit realms sneaking their way into the material world and finding a host. Either the spirit would come to an accord with its host and they would form a Merged, or the host''s eccentric behavior would alert the experts in possession who would help exorcise the victim. Flareous and her cult were more insidious. Flareous was a selfish and indulgent goddess who delighted in corrupting and debasing all that was good in the world, a trait she passed onto those who fell under her power.


    In the service of Flareous are lesser divine entities known as Infernals. One type for each of the Seven Sinister Sins, and they need the aid of mortal cultists to reproduce. Cultists needed to spiritually implant the Infernal Egg in an unwary victim. The egg will hatch and begin to corrupt and twist its host, its body, mind, and spirit.


    Someone who had been infected by a Lust Infernal will start as being more licentious and active in their pursuit of physical intimacy, but over time both their minds, bodies, and spirits warped into that of a true Lust Infernal. The process could be reversed if the victim did not reach one hundred percent corruption. In the case of the young woman, it was too late, and her fate was to be sent to the Pit of Lust with the others of her kind, before being summoned back to the material world to serve a master or mistress.


    ¡°Kill us if you wish, you only send us to the arms of our Goddess sooner than expected.¡± One of the women in the cages yelled at him.


    ¡°Duly noted, Templars, you may dispose of the cultists, they are beyond redemption.¡± At that, the Templars went from cage to cage, skewering all the cultists with spears, leaving only the Lust Infernal left, staring at the Inquisitor with a covetous gaze. ¡°Send this foul creature to the Pit that awaits it, we cannot save the soul of the innocent consumed, but we can protect the remaining innocents from its vile grip.¡±


    At that, the Holy Flame Oathsworn stepped forward and sent forth a stream of holy white fire from his hand that consumed the Lust Infernal and sent her screaming to her mistresses¡¯ realm. Elizabeth had a horrified look on her face, and Sir Frederick tried to comfort her.


    ¡°There was nothing else that could be done, once an Infernal Seed merges with its host, there is only one option left. It¡¯s either that or let the creature run wild, which never ends well.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard stories, but it never seemed real to me until this,¡± Elizabeth said.


    ¡°Elizabeth, you live in royal lands, the Inquisition and the Shadow Guard are out in force patrolling and safeguarding those lands from Vice Cults. I¡¯m sure there are a few hidden ones, but none are big or influential enough to make any brazen moves, even if the rumors are true that the King has joined a Gluttony Cult.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure the King is fine and that rumors of Vice Cults among the nobility are exaggerated.¡± Damian joined in, not out of genuine loyalty to the crown, but out of concern for his mother, as he was eighty percent sure his mother was either a part of a Pride or Lust Cult.


    The Ascetic and the Halmen walked on over to them and greeted them. ¡°Greetings friends, my name is Brother Hezekiah, an Ascetic of the Order of the Honorable Lion, and this little cretin is Francesco, a reformed scoundrel who seeks penance upon Wall Visalia for his past crimes.¡±


    Francesco looked up at him, annoyed. ¡°On our way down, we got sidetracked into helping the Inquisitor and his Templars in rooting out this cult. From the look of it, you are headed that way as well, would you mind if we joined you? I would like some company other than Brother Hezekiah and his lectures.¡±


    The Ascetics of the Owl Duchies were divided into Nine Ascetic Orders, each representing one of the Great Beasts and their associated virtue in the Church of the Nine Holy Founders. These are, of course, the Lion of Honor, the Wolf of Unity, the Bear of Duty, the Moth of Knowledge, the Owl of Wisdom, the Albatross of Diligence, the Peacock of Courtly Love, the Viper of Loyalty, and the Mustang of Tenacity. Following the virtue of their order, the Ascetics trained themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually to serve their faith and the nobility of the Kingdom of Lions.


    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you, Brother Hezekiah, I am Sir Frederick, Oathsworn of the Order Empyrean Blade. My companions are Damian Diotrephes, Madeline de Garnier, Ragnar Doth, Bridgette Sullivan, Ms. Carmen, and our displaced friend, Ms. Elizabeth, the victim of a vicious kidnapping attempt, who I intend to return home once I finish my business at Wall Visalia.¡±


    Francesco smiled wryly at Carmen and winked at her; Carmen blushed.


    Hezekiah eyed Ragnar, sizing him up, and began to take up a combat stance. ¡°I was not aware that one of lowly barbarian stock had been let into our nation.¡±


    Seeing the Ascetic tense up and get into a battle stance, Ragnar began to growl an answer in kind.


    ¡°Ragnar was banished from his clan and enslaved by one of our nobles. This man is under the protection of my Order, and I have been tasked with escorting him down to Wall Visalia so that he may be given a chance to find a place in our kingdom.¡± Sir Frederick stepped between them, wanting to avoid confrontation.


    Hezekiah went out of his battle stance and loosened up. ¡°If an Oathsworn of the Empyrean Blade vouches for you, then I will give you no trouble. Though, I have even more reason to travel with your group to make sure this Ragnar fulfills his duty and proves that he is one of the good ones.¡±


    Ragnar continued to glare, but Sir Frederick was able to calm him down by placing a hand on his shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t mind Hezekiah, he¡¯s as blunt as a toddler¡¯s rattle, all that book learning up in a secluded Asceticery rots one¡¯s social skills after all.¡± Francesco chimed in. ¡°You should hear some of the things he has said about me, villain, knave, scoundrel, thief, just the most hurtful things.¡±


    ¡°You are all of those things, Francesco.¡± Brother Hezekiah had an annoyed tone to his voice.


    Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°You see, he does not care about my feelings at all, he continues to insult me, even now when we are in far more civil company.¡±


    Carmen let out a light chuckle and began composing a story in her head about the uptight Ascetic and the charming Halmen scoundrel.


    The group began their travels once again, stopping a few hours later, with a strong sense of tension between Hezekiah and Ragnar. As they rested, Brother Hezekiah began to stare at Elizabeth, as if he noticed something.


    ¡°Miss Elizabeth, there appears to be something peculiar about you.¡± Brother Hezekiah walked on over and placed his hand on her face and closed his eyes, Elizabeth was uncomfortable with this, but seeing that no one else was freaking out she decided to stay calm. After what seemed to be a few minutes, Hezekiah removed his hand from her face, and she opened her eyes. ¡°You have a strong spirit, Miss Elizabeth, a strong spirit indeed. I suggest you be on guard, Ascetics such as myself are not the only ones who can peer into your soul, there are other unsavory beings out there who would love to get their hands on you, especially since your soul glows with such a brilliant golden light.¡±


    ¡°Wait, I thought that human souls glowed white?¡± Madeline was confused by what Hezekiah was saying.


    ¡°This woman is no ordinary human. Tell me Miss Elizabeth, what do you plan to do with your life?¡±


    ¡°Once I get everything sorted out, Sir Frederick will take me back north and I will continue with my life, as an apprentice inn manager and I will take my mother¡¯s place once she gets too old to continue with her work.¡± Elizabeth was getting annoyed with everyone commenting on her condition and trying to get her involved in a life she had zero interest in participating in.


    A look of disappointment came across Hezekiah¡¯s face. ¡°Such a waste, you could be so much more than an inn manager, you could accomplish great things and become one of the greatest heroes this Kingdom has seen since its founding.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, but I have no intention of doing so, my future is my choice, and no one will dictate my destiny to me. So, what if I have a strong spirit, magical aptitude, or a connection to the gods, I do not care. My future is helping my mother run our inn. There is no other future for me, I am the master of my destiny.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Hezekiah was disappointed, ¡°it¡¯s a shame you feel that way. Though your fate may yet be decided by outside forces despite your wishes.¡±


    ¡°I am an Arielan, we decide our fates and hope that our goddess has our back. No matter what storm comes my way, I know I will weather it.¡±


    ¡°I see, you follow that indolent revolutionary, that counter of coins, that fickle mistress of fortune, that rustler of the natural order.¡± There was thinly veiled contempt in his voice.


    ¡°Most hospitality industry professionals do, idiot, she is the patron of merchants and entrepreneurs after all, it¡¯s not like Terra would ever serve as our patron, were not respectable enough for her. Ariela understands better than any other god or goddess the importance of free will and letting mortals choose their path.¡±


    To Elizabeth, a familiar voice came out of nowhere. ¡°I believe you forgot the part of her doctrine where she teaches her followers to adjust their sails once the winds start blowing a certain way. As in, the winds are blowing you to me and my tutelage, so you should adjust your sails accordingly.¡± The group all turned in the direction of the voice, only to find a middle-aged man in a tattered old brown coat. Elizabeth recognized him as she filled with fury.


    ¡°METHUSELAH¡±, she shouted at the top of her lungs.


    ¡°Hello, my dear, glad to see that you are alright, I believe it¡¯s time that we had a little chat.¡±


    ¡°Is this the man who tried to sell you into slavery?¡± Sir Frederick asked.


    Methuselah has a puzzled look on their face. ¡°I did no such thing; I was trying to take her by force back to my tower to be my apprentice, though now that I¡¯ve said that out loud, I can see how some people could take exception to that.¡± Methuselah got a thoughtful look on their face as those around them prepared for battle.


    ¡°Methuselah, you are a dishonorable, vile fiend, I will see to it that you threaten the innocent no more.¡± Sir Frederick charged Methuselah with his sword glowing bright gold. Methuselah just pointed their finger at him and shot a blue beam, forcing Frederick¡¯s armor to lock in place as he fell over. Bridgette got ready to shoot them with her bow, but with just a casual wave of their hand, she was engulfed in a green light, with her clothes falling to the ground.


    A red-furred rabbit pushed its way out of the clothes, looking around terrified. Ragnar began to charge them, bellowing a furious and primal war cry, Methuselah just smiled as they sidestepped Ragnar¡¯s charge and slapped him on the side, engulfing him in a pink flash. Ragnar collapsed to the ground, now female,  trying to keep her now bare chest hidden. In a chaotic whirl, his pants moved up the rest of his body and became a ballerina outfit and he found himself trapped, unable to talk or move on his own, in a giant music box.


    This impressive feat of magic left Methuselah open to an attack from Hezekiah, who moved and quickly connected his fist with Methuselah¡¯s jaw, attempting to get them in an uppercut. Much to Hezekiah¡¯s shock and horror, Methuselah was unbudged and unfazed by his attack. Now annoyed, Methuselah flicked him in the head, turning him into a statue of amber.


    Moving on, they went on their way over to Elizabeth and her four remaining defenders. Damian was desperately searching through his book to find a spell strong enough to defeat Methuselah while Madeline did her best to shield Elizabeth and the Halmens. With a casual wave of their hand, Madeline¡¯s robes began to grow and envelop her, trapping her inside a tight cocoon that she could not escape from no matter how much she struggled. While for Damien, he shouted in pain as he dropped his book, which began to suck him in. Damian grabbed at the ground as the book devoured him. As it closed trapping him inside it, it placed his face on the cover.


    Francesco and Carmen made one last desperate stand, with Francesco drawing his knives and Carmen getting ready to sing. In the blink of an eye, Methuselah was upon them. A strange purplish glow enveloped the two as they became like clay in his hands. First, they wiped away their mouths, fused their hands and feet, and then twisted them about into one giant writhing Halmen knot. Smiling at their handiwork, Methuselah composed themself and began to walk toward Elizabeth, who fell to the ground shaking in fear.


    ¡°My dear, there is no reason for you to fear me, I just want to talk.¡±


    ¡°Look what you did to them, you monster.¡± Elizabeth was barely able to keep herself composed.


    Bemused, Methuselah just continued. ¡°It¡¯s not like I killed them, even though I had every right to since they attacked me first. Your companions will all be returned to normal once we are done with our chat, or not, I may just keep them like this depending on your cooperation.¡±


    ¡°This is a heavily traveled road; don¡¯t you think anyone will notice this mess?¡±


    ¡°I placed us within a pocket dimension of mine, we should be fine, no disturbances.¡±


    Out of pure frustration, Elizabeth cried ¡°Damn you¡±, she instinctively drew upon her natural power, and remembering her conversation with Damian, she launched a forceful stream of honey-colored liquid at Methuselah, sending them flying until he crashed hard against an invisible barrier. Methuselah collapsed to the ground and began coughing up blood.


    ¡°You pack quite a punch Elizabeth; such a shame you have no control over your power. And is this mead? Did you hit me with a high-pressure stream of mead? Where would you even get the idea for something like that?¡± Methuselah wiped the blood from their mouth, stood back up, and smiled. ¡°Though I suppose it is my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have let my guard down around you. I promise it won¡¯t happen again.¡± Methuselah teleported themself right next to her, locking her arms in place with his magic.


    ¡°WHY WON''T YOU LEAVE ME ALONE?¡± Elizabeth shouted at him.


    ¡°Because you cannot run from your destiny, I am only trying to help you, to give you the guidance that I never received from the previous Guardian, believe me, I will be saving you from a lot of headaches if you would just listen to me.¡±


    ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be a problem, I have no intention of becoming Guardian, I just want to get on with my life in peace.¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t your choice, you were chosen, destined for this role even before your birth. In the Great Empyrean, your soul was forged, and your body molded for a single purpose, to serve as my replacement, now that I am so near retirement, I would appreciate it if you were just a little bit more cooperative. Elizabeth you have so much to learn, and my time is running out.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t want to go with you, I want to go home to my family.¡±


    ¡°Normally I would not go this far, but if your family matters so much to you, they can come with us. It will lead to more problems later, but we¡¯ll cross that bridge when we get there.¡±


    ¡°My answer is still no.¡±


    ¡°Why are you being so stubborn about this, why can¡¯t you understand that it is your destiny.¡±


    ¡°I decide my destiny, it¡¯s my choice.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t get a choice, NONE OF US GOT A CHOICE.¡± Some deep resentments Methuselah kept buried deep inside them came out more forcefully than they would have wanted.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t we, do we not have free will to choose our destiny.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we have free will, you can reject the call, but that won¡¯t stop me from exercising my free will to continue to attempt to convince you, and it won¡¯t stop the devastating consequence of your rejection. Free will does not give you a blank check to do whatever you want. Sooner or later, you will realize that you made a mistake, but I may not be around to help you anymore. It should sink in when you find that you do not age, unlike everyone around you. You can choose to appear middle-aged like me, but this form is only a lie, a shape that matches my weary spirit.¡±


    ¡°I will take my chances, as long as it¡¯s my choice, I will be content.¡±


    ¡°Elizabeth, ruin is coming to this kingdom, and there is nothing you can do to save it, everyone you care for will die, why not come with me, and leave this place behind.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t leave my friends and family behind so that they can die without me, if they die, I die with them.¡±


    ¡°Die you may, but trust me, it won¡¯t be permanent. You will be sent back to continue your work.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t stay dead if I¡¯m killed?¡± Elizabeth was shocked at this.


    ¡°The Guardians are the only ones who can come resurrect themselves, though regeneration does take ten days.¡±


    ¡°If you have no fear of death, why don¡¯t you intervene, and help save this nation if it is on the verge of ruin?¡±


    ¡°Because it is time for this nation to die, it has lasted for a thousand years, most don¡¯t make it that long. It is consumed from the inside out by decadence, corruption, incompetence, and infighting. It is time to burn away the old rotten undergrowth to make way for a new forest. I will not have to intervene, someone else will be doing the work for me, which is always nice when that happens.¡±


    ¡°How can you be so callous?¡±


    ¡°Do this job as long as I have, and you will be saying the same thing by the end of your tenure.¡±


    ¡°All the more reason for me not to go with you.¡±


    ¡°Do you even realize what I am trying to do for you, I am trying to help you. The previous guardian never even bothered to contact me before she passed away.¡± The bitterness in his voice got worse. ¡°I am trying to save you from all the painful lessons I had to learn on my own. Help me help you.¡±


    ¡°You should go now, after returning my friends to normal.¡±


    ¡°Very well, but I sincerely hope that you do not regret this decision. But if you do change your mind, I have something for you.¡± Methuselah reached into their robes and pulled out an amulet with a stylized M on it. ¡°When you wish to see me again, shatter this amulet, and I will come for you.¡± Methuselah handed her the amulet, and she deposited it into one of her pockets. ¡°Stay well Elizabeth, I''m sure that you will contact me soon.¡±


    ¡°And I sincerely hope that I never see you again.¡± Elizabeth could not hide the contempt in her voice.


    Looking disappointed, Methuselah snapped their fingers and disappeared in a flash of light. When Elizabeth was able to see again, she saw that everyone was back to normal, and looking right at her.


    ¡°I take it you guys heard that conversation.¡±


    ¡°Most of it,¡± Sir Frederick said, ¡°this Methuselah is an obvious lunatic who needs serious help.¡± Sir Frederick was shaken by the things he heard.


    ¡°What he needs is a purifying fire, the Inquisitor and the Templars shouldn¡¯t have gone too far north, should we head back to the town and seek their aid?¡± Hezekiah asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that will be necessary, we can tell the Baikov when we reach Wall Visalia. Madmen he may be his predictions of doom for our Kingdom do trouble me. The Baikov must be informed as soon as possible.¡± Madeline said.


    With that, Elizabeth and her companions continued their way, while a concealed Methuselah watched them head off.


    ¡°That girl is going to put herself through a lot of pain before she learns,¡± Methuselah said to themself.


    Chroniclers Notes


    A Collection of Children¡¯s Songs/ Of Beasts and Virtues


    The Lion stands for Honor and reminds us of our call.


    The Wolf stands for Unity, so that we may never fall.


    The Bear stands for Duty, to do what must be done.


    The Moth stands for Knowledge, for learning, and for fun.


    The Owl stands for Wisdom, guiding us in our faith.


    The Albatross stands for Diligence, so we shall not be a waif.


    The Peacock stands for Love, that our bloodlines may be true.


    The Viper stands for Loyalty, so treachery shall never become you.


    The Mustang stands for Tenacity, the will shall never break.


    Remember this, my children, for our Kingdom is at stake.


    The Templars Cry


    Arise the Templars of Light, shine forth your truth.


    Arise the Templars of Patience, guide the wayward youth.


    Arise the Templars of Fury, strike down the unfaithful.


    Arise the Templars of Fire, to give comfort to the grateful.


    And Arise the Templars of Purity, to cleanse us of our doubts.


    The Alchemists Song


    The Order of Aurum seeks glory everlasting.


    The Order of Argentum seeks healing not blasting.


    The Order of Ferrum seeks to aid those in battle.


    The Order of Plumbum transforms us like cattle.


    The Order of Stannum expands our minds and understanding.


    The Order of Aeris gives us appearances that are commanding.


    The Order of Hydrargyrum aids us in our travels.


    The Mysteries of the Universe, the Seven Seers unravels.


    The Inquisitor¡¯s Warning.


    Do not stray my dear child, for we are always watching.


    There are monsters in the dark, who are always gawking.


    We cross the dark roads, to save you from the sinister nodes.


    But if you stray from the path, you shall know our wrath.


    Rest easy child, and do not watch for the watchmen.

 Chapter 6: Wall Visalia

    Bear Territory, Outskirts of Wall Visalia


    The following day, the group was getting close to Wall Visalia, the great barrier mountain that flanked the eastern half of the Wall rose even higher before Elizabeth. Elizabeth had been able to see it from a distance since she arrived, but it had gotten closer. The fact that they were so close to the eastern coastal mountains was a sign that they were close to the Eastern Gate.


    As they kept on heading south, the scars of a thousand years of conflict became more apparent, the very southern tip of the Baikov lands, part of the Dark Wastes, were completely barren, devoid of even desert life. Perhaps one of the most iconic sights, other than the wall itself, was the Skull Hills, massive piles made up of the skulls of Wastelanders. It was a rite of passage for someone serving on the wall to kill a Wastelander and claim their skull, so they could add it to one of the piles.


    If one noticed, it wasn¡¯t just the skulls of adults that adorned these hills, any Wastelanders, even the children, were considered fair game by the soldiers of the Bear. The Bear considered the death of Wastelander children to be an act of mercy, though the Wastelanders disagreed with that sentiment and used it as proof that the humans were not as righteous as they claimed to be.


    The area itself was patrolled by retired soldiers and militiamen, hunting down any critters that managed to sneak their way around Wall Visalia, usually by climbing over the mountains, a difficult task, but not impossible. The biggest issue they had was with Ri-Gribs, who, despite their great size were stealthy and cunning and had the easiest time sneaking past the watchers.


    As they got closer to the gate, they could see the smoke from many fires rising. After cresting a hill, they saw why. Before them, a massive army was camping around the Eastern Gate. The banners of the greater and lesser nobles who had sworn fealty to the Baikov were fluttering in the wind, along with the banners of the Baikov themselves, a great black bear covered in armor.


    As they traveled through the camp, they saw that everyone was on edge, those who were not drilling were on constant alert, speaking only in hushed tones, as they eyed the newcomers warily. Eventually, they reached a large stone fort, which resided next to the Eastern Gate. The sign above the door to the fort read, Recruitment, Registration, and Aptitude Testing.


    ¡°Aptitude Testing?¡± Elizabeth asked aloud to herself.


    Sir Frederick responded ¡°To determine if anyone coming to volunteer has any unique skills or abilities. Some people have incredibly valuable bloodlines with unique abilities, especially among the nobility. The Baikov seek any advantage they can get. Though, they tend to get the cast-offs from the rest of the Kingdom.¡±


    ¡°You know, I can¡¯t help but take offense at that.¡± Damien sounded downright indignant.


    ¡°I meant no offense, but what other reason do you have to be down here if you were wanted back home? The last I checked; the Diotrephes are very secretive and insular when it comes to their family members. If you had any value to them, they wouldn¡¯t have sent you away.¡± Sir Frederick continued to be blunt with Damian.


    ¡°You could have phrased it more politely.¡± Damian had forgotten the fact that he often referred to himself as a failure, or he just did not want to hear it from Sir Frederick. Damian had not bothered to share the full reason why he and Madeline had come to Wall Visalia, as he had no desire to sweep them up in his family''s drama or schemes.


    The recruiter, a muscular and scarred woman in her late fifties walked out and looked them over. ¡°So, we¡¯ve got recruits with us. Well, your timing could not have been better. We¡¯ll likely need to be replenishing our ranks in the coming days.¡±


    ¡°I take it that there¡¯s a major operation underway?¡± Sir Frederick asked her.


    ¡°Indeed, we got word that a massive army is marching upon the Zarakova Fortress, the Archduke himself is leading the army down to relieve them, it should be assembled in two days. You won¡¯t be doing much of anything until they get back, we don¡¯t even have spare uniforms, but we can at least get you registered.¡± The recruiter took a long look at all of them. ¡°This is quite a collection we¡¯ve got here.¡± The recruiter focused her sight on Elizabeth. ¡°Mam, I don¡¯t think that you belong here, at least not if you¡¯re going to show up wearing a serving wrenches uniform.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have any plans of signing up, I¡¯m here under an unusual set of circumstances, Sir Frederick, and I need to speak to you and your superiors about it.¡±


    ¡°Very well, they¡¯re very busy now, so make sure that what you have to say is relevant and concise.¡± The woman said as she led them inside. The woman gestured to an aide who came forth and led Sir Frederick and Elizabeth to the General''s office, they were going straight to the top for this report.


    As Sir Frederick and Elizabeth moved to the waiting room, the others lined up for examination.


    The woman stood at attention and looked them over. The recruiter had tan skin and short black hair. ¡°I am Commander Ivanka Katzev, head of recruitment and placement. You are here of your own free will, I will not force you to stay, but be warned that this is not an easy duty. You will be expected to put your life in danger in defense of this wall. We of the Bear Duchies have a sacred duty to defend the Kingdom of Lions from the barbaric hordes to the south of us. It is not an easy job, it is a thankless job, but it is one we take great pride in, and it is a duty we take very seriously. If you cannot cut it, you will be sent away, you can even leave of your own free will, and many do, you are volunteers after all. But if you choose to stay on, you will have my respect and the respect of all who march under the banner of the Bear. Now, let us begin with your evaluations.¡±


    Commander Ivanka went to each of them and handed them a slip of paper. ¡°These are the room numbers I want you to go to, I have a good eye for talent and if I¡¯m wrong, we¡¯ll send you to the right room.


    Hezekiah and Madeline, Divine Auxiliary


    Hezekiah and Madeline both went to room nine, on the door were the words, ¡°Spiritual Support¡±. Hezekiah and Madeline entered and saw two hallways split up. One hallway had ¡°Martial Support¡± over it, while the other had ¡°Healing Support¡±. Hezekiah went down the hallways and listed martial support. Brother Hezekiah came to a room and discovered an elderly Oathsworn of the Holy Flame sitting at a desk going through paperwork. The elderly Oathsworn looked up and smiled as Hezekiah came into the room.


    ¡°An Ascetic, we don¡¯t see many of your kind down here, still, you are welcome. Tell me, do you have any specialties?¡± The man asked.


    ¡°I am skilled in hand-to-hand combat, along with the use of my staff. Using the power of my spirit I can enhance my body while possessing the ability to read the souls of others. I have decided to dedicate myself to helping defend the lands of the Bear as my sacred duty.¡±


    Ascetics, while devout like Divine Callers, did not draw upon the power of the gods. Instead, they trained to hone their bodies, minds, and spirits, unlocking their internal spiritual energy. This energy could allow them to perform many amazing feats, with physical and sensory enhancement being only the tip of the owl''s talon.


    ¡°Good to know, we¡¯ll be putting those abilities to good use.¡± The elderly Oathsworn said.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to test me, sir?¡± Hezekiah asked, confused.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry boy, you¡¯ll be tested soon enough.


    Down the other hallway, Madeline met with her instructor. The woman was an elderly Mother of Lenera, but much to Madeline¡¯s shock she was smoking a cigar and drinking whiskey, she even had her veil removed while doing so. The elderly woman looked up from the holy text she had been reading, and upon seeing the shocked look on Madeline¡¯s face, decided to speak.


    ¡°If that is the reaction you give me, you¡¯re not going to last long on the wall Little Sister. My habits are nothing compared to the horrors you will face my little indulgences are what allow me to get by.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry venerable Mother; I meant no disrespect.¡± Madeline was quick to apologize.


    ¡°You meant no disrespect, but you showed me disrespect. Still, it cannot be helped, many sheltered northern Daughters and Sons of Lenera are often shocked when they come down south. The world is not as pretty or neat as they were taught, but the White Lady needs us down here all the same. I will not lie and say that our work is glamorous, but it is work that must be done. And the men and women you care for will appreciate it. Speaking of which, I have a difficult case behind the screen in the corner, this might be a good time to gauge just how talented you are.


    Madeline followed the Mother over past the screen to see a horrific sight. A young man, even younger than her, was lying in the bed. This man had lost both of his legs and his left arm, but the worst part was the dark oily splotches that had dug into his skin. The splotches were pulsating and glowing in a sickly green light. The young man was completely unresponsive, just staring up at the ceiling.


    ¡°What passes as Divine Callers amongst the Grib tribes have gotten quite clever as of late. The foul Grib gods have gifted them the ability to create this substance that resists our healing magic and makes it more difficult for a person to recover from injury. You can also see that it paralyzes the victim as well. I can remove it with great effort, but many of my staff lack the necessary spiritual resonance. Let us see what you¡¯re made of.¡±


    Madeline gulped, knowing that this was a test. Madeline placed her hands over the young man and silently said her prayer. ¡°Lenera, give me the strength to purge this foul substance from this brave young man¡¯s body.¡± After she had said her prayers, her hands began to glow with a bright and luminous light, that fell upon the victim. The light consumed the substance, dissolving it and healing up the wounds, even the bandaged limbs, sealing them up. The young man came back to his senses and looked around the room. The Mother just stood staring awestruck at Madeline.


    ¡°My dear, I do believe that you have a talent for this.¡±


    Ragnar, Infantry Corp


    Ragnar went down to an area of the fortress known as the fighting pits, where warriors trained and fought with each other, honing their skills. It is also where new fighters would go to register. When he got down, he saw a grizzled and scarred old veteran overseeing the training of recruits. Ragnar walked up and presented himself to the man. The grizzled old veteran looked him over, with a cold hard stare.


    ¡°You¡¯re a big one isn¡¯t you, I take it you¡¯re a northerner.¡± The man asked.


    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Ragnar replied.


    ¡°Coastal raider or wandering nomad?¡± The man asked.


    Ragnar was genuinely shocked at this. In the Land of Ice and Fog, there were two groups of humans, the coastal dwellers who raided the south on their longboats and shied away from the interior, using the Everwinter Forest as their shield from the terrors beyond, and the nomadic tribes who dwelt in the mainland proper, amongst its many perils. There was little love between the two groups, despite sharing common ancestry and the same gods, the two had quite different views on the best way to live.


    The coastal raiders boasted of their valor in raiding fishing villages and the freedom they had because thralls did all their work for them. The nomads on the other hand had no use for southern excursions or southern thralls, most of whom would not be able to keep up with the harsh life of a nomad.


    The nomads were content to be left alone, warring amongst themselves and the dangers of their land. Any man, woman, or child who did not pull their weight was left behind to die. It would bring shame to any true northern nomad to have a thrall do a job that they could do themselves. Most Southerners did not know of the distinction between the two groups.


    The old man just smiled at him. ¡°From the look of you are a nomad, do not act so surprised, not all of us are ignorant of the nations around us. As a young man, I went on a sanctioned expedition to the Land of Ice and Fog. The King at the time was curious about our northern neighbors. I feasted in the halls of Huscarl Bjorn of the Ice Devil Tribe as an honored guest, though he refused to return the thralls he had taken. We lost twenty good men wandering in the Everwinter Forest and another fifty when the ice giants descended upon us. We spied on the Castle of Witches and dined as honored guests of the King Erik of Silver Pillar. King Erik was a nice fellow for a man who drank blood and who had been punished by his dark northern gods.¡±


    ¡°You saw much of my land then,¡± Ragnar said.


    ¡°Indeed, I did, which is why I know of your people¡¯s prowess in battle. But I do not think that those three do.¡± The trainer pointed to the three swaggering swordsmen from House De Lorme that they had confronted on the road. They eyed him with visceral hate in their eyes. ¡°I do believe they want to fight you.¡±


    ¡°Those weaklings may, I will fight all three at once,¡± Ragnar said as he stepped forward, drawing both of his battle axes.


    ¡°We¡¯ll pay you back for the insult you gave us on the road.¡± Said the middle boy who was the leader. To Ragnar, he seemed the least fearsome of the three. Ragnar found it humorous that he was somehow prettier than all the women in his tribe back north. The other two were only slightly as pretty. The grizzled old veteran came forth to watch the match, lifting his hands in the air and then bringing them down. The three men charged Ragnar who called forth on the fury of his ancestors to fill him with their fighting spirit and strength.


    Moving quickly, he sidestepped the man in the middle who lunged forward with his rapier, knocking the man on his right to the ground with the flat of his axe. Ragnar then ran over and slammed into the chest of the man to his left while the man in the middle was recomposing himself after Ragnar dodged his attack. Ragnar jumped off the man whom he had slammed into the ground and faced his only remaining opponent.


    The man lost all composure and began poking at Ragnar. While Ragnar¡¯s fighting prowess was filled with fury, he knew how to channel and control it, and could dodge each clumsy attack from his opponent who was blinded by his unfocused rage. Eventually, the man tired himself out and Ragnar kicked him in the chest when he let his guard down, sending him flying into his two companions who had just gotten back up.


    Calming down, Ragnar coldly looked at the men on the ground. ¡°Learn how to fight like a northern warrior, and then you might prove to be a challenge to me. Also, learning how to use an actual weapon might not hurt.¡± Ragnar said looking with disgust at their rapiers.


    The grizzled old veteran just clapped his hands signaling that the fight was over, with a smile on his face.


    Damian, Arcane Auxiliary


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Damian was not in a good mood, the Ortoff Arc-Blood had just given him a bombshell that would shake the very foundation of his existence.


    ¡°There must be a mistake, I can¡¯t be an Arc-Blood, I¡¯m a Diotrephes.¡± Damian continued to argue with her.


    The Ortoff Arc-Blood, whose skin was bronze with pieces of granite jutting out of her body and grainy hair made of condensed graphite just looked at him. ¡°Your family lineage is exactly why you are an Arc-Blood. You can¡¯t have a family be surrounded by that much magic and not have Arc-Bloods pop out now and then.¡±


    Damian knew this was true, but there was a reason the Diotrephes had no Arc-Blood family members. It was no secret that the Diotrephes looked down on Arc-Bloods as magical freaks who were weak and let their bloodlines be mutated by magic. More so, Damian knew what his family did to Arc-Bloods. Any Arc-Bloods caught in Diotrephes lands would be, Refined, or rendered down into raw magical energy, themed around the magic that flowed through their blood. Arc-Bloods with an Arcane bloodline, like the Ortoff was insinuating he was, were the rarest and most desired for Refinement.


    ¡°If I were an Arc-Blood, my mother would have known early on, she would have refined me rather than attempt to teach me High Magic.¡± Damian thought he knew his mother well enough to know what she would have done to him.


    ¡°Your mother likely knew, and she was trying to protect you and perhaps she hoped that by teaching you High Magic you would never utilize your Arc-Blood abilities.¡±


    ¡°But my mother hates me, she considers me a failure.¡±


    ¡°But here you are, instead of being refined into pure arcane magic, your mother let you come to a place where you would be protected from the rest of the family. It¡¯s presumptuous of me to guess at her motives, but it could be that she cared more about you than you believed.¡±


    It occurred to Damian that his mother, while disappointed in him, may have still loved him after all. ¡°But I don¡¯t know the first thing about being an Arc-Blood, other than what I¡¯ve read in my story books.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s easy, the first thing to do is forget everything you know about High Magic. The magic is in your blood, that is where you draw your power from. For an Arc-Blood, it''s counterintuitive to try to shape magic from outside sources. Your only limit is your imagination, your will, and your stamina, think about what you want to do, and the magic will manifest. In a way you hit the jackpot, being an Arcane Arc-Blood, means you have a lot to work with, in time what you can accomplish will surpass that of most Arcanos. You do not control a single form of magic; you are magic incarnate. Unlike myself, who must work with rocks and minerals, you can do whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°This will take some getting used to,¡± Damian said.


    ¡°The other Arc-Bloods and I will help you any way we can, we all went through what you are going through, and we will help unlock your potential. Also, be prepared for physical changes.¡± The Ortoff Arc-Blood tapped the granite spike jutting from her left shoulder. ¡°The changes will be disconcerting at first, but in time you will get used to it.¡±


    Damian struggled not to faint.


    Bridgette and Francesco, Scouting Corp


    Bridgette and Francesco were struggling on a testing gauntlet. The Scouting Corp wanted to make sure that recruits were up for the job physically. So far, the gauntlet had taken out most of the other recruits, with only Bridgette and Francesco still standing in the final stretch.


    Standing on a wobbly platform they could see a thin wood wooden bridge suspended unevenly by ropes, a series of hanging circular platforms that swayed in an artificial wind, and an array of rusty metal bars that they would need to go under to get to the final obstacle, a narrow path filled with spinning pillars that would knock them off if they got hit.


    Working together, Bridgette and Francesco began crossing the thin wooden bridge, they shifted their feet as the bridge wobbled back and forth, threatening to throw them off. Despite a near slip from Bridgette, they made it across, with Francesco helping to balance her out before she fell off.


    On the hanging circular platforms, they jumped across to each one, keeping up their momentum less they fell off. While Francesco may not have had the strength to make the final jump, Bridgette grabbed him and helped throw him to the next platform, using the momentum of the throw to help guarantee her landing.


    On the rusty bars, Bridgette¡¯s fatigue and size were working against her, while the lighter Francesco was having an easier time. Fortunately, Bridgette could make it across though she was beginning to have trouble breathing.


    Finally, they got to the final obstacle, which they were handling with masterful skill until one of the spinning pillars hit Francesco knocking him off. Bridgette grabbed onto him and put him back on the path before he hit the dirt. They made it across much to the satisfaction of their instructor, a one-legged member of House Zarakova, now relegated to the instruction of recruits for the Scout Corp.


    ¡°Well done, it has been a while since we have seen anyone complete the course on their first try, let alone two recruits. Welcome to the Scout Corp.¡±


    Bridgette and Francesco smiled at each other and gave each other and collapsed to the ground.


    Carmen, Entertainment Corp


    Carmen looked up from her playing to find her supervisor in tears of joy. The Entertainment Corp provided a vital function for the soldiers on Wall Visalia. Pain and loss were everyday issues, and to help relieve the stress the soldiers needed a distraction.


    Carmen could do more than that, with her Mugic she could also provide support for the defenders, either empowering her allies or befuddling her enemies. Carmen knew that she would find no shortage of work down on the wall, and perhaps she could even come up with a few new songs for her repertoire while she was down here.


    Frederick and Elizabeth, Eastern Command


    Elizabeth and Sir Frederick had been waiting for a while.


    Sir Frederick had gone off to the corner to pray at the office¡¯s shrine, while Elizabeth sat by the door. Even though she knew it was wrong, she could not help but eavesdrop on the conversation.


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t the troops been mustered yet, we need to leave as soon as possible to relieve the Zarakova, if this scout¡¯s reports are true, this is an army of a size not seen in over 500 years when Queen Emma the Brave had to intervene with the royal army.¡± Said a very loud, gruff, and commanding voice.


    ¡°Brother we are mustering the troops as quickly as possible, the recent decrease in assaults upon Wall Visalia had led us to believe that we were entering a dry spell, and now it appears that they were just rallying their forces around a new warlord.¡± This came from a voice as loud, gruff, and commanding as the first.


    ¡°Ah yes, and do we even know anything about this warlord, what he is, and what he plans?¡± Asked the first voice.


    ¡°Our scout only reports him as a mighty Ma-Grib of monstrous appearance.¡± Said the second voice.


    A third voice chimed in, speaking a tongue Elizabeth had never heard before, it had the harshness of rocks being ground together and was as pleasant on the ears as fingernails being scratched across a chalkboard.


    ¡°Yes Rorrek, you can tell your King to mobilize his forces, if things don¡¯t go well we''re going to need your people¡¯s support.¡± Said the first voice.


    At this Elizabeth moved to peek through the keyhole, only to have the door suddenly open and to come face to face with an imposing man, seven feet in height. The Archduke had a wide and well-muscled body under his thick gray, brown, and black armor, bearing a heavy bear motif. Upon his back was strapped a mighty Warhammer.


    The face was harsh and cold, with a long scar running down from his forehead to his chin. The Archduke had long and thick black hair with streaks of gray on his head, weathered swarthy skin with gray eyes so cold that Elizabeth could feel the warmth leave her veins. Most impressive of all, was his black handlebar mustache, that somehow shimmered in the candlelight, and at least appeared sharp enough to cut someone.


    Above his heart was an Alnardian Heart Badge. Quicker than someone that size had any right to be, the imposing figure grabbed Elizabeth by the throat and lifted her as he entered the room. There was a cold fury in his eyes at what he perceived as a spy wriggled in his grasp.


    ¡°Young lady, I don¡¯t take kindly to eavesdroppers to my private meetings. You better have a good reason for this, or you may find your stay here short and very unpleasant.¡± The Archduke looked past Elizabeth to discover that Sir Frederick had drawn his blade and was pointing it at the man before him. ¡°Boy, do you have any idea who I am?¡±


    ¡°I take it that you are Archduke Yuri Baikov, but that does not excuse your behavior, we came here peacefully to warn you of a threat gallivanting about in your lands, preying upon innocent young people and this is how you treat my companion.¡± There was righteous indignation in Sir Frederick¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Considering I have a massive army seeking to wipe out my loyal vassals, any threat you must tell me about seems insignificant and should have been left with the local magistrate, though that still doesn¡¯t clear up this girl¡¯s crime of eavesdropping.¡±


    The second man entered the room behind the first man, he appeared to be an almost exact copy of his brother minus the scar, gray hair, and the lack of intensity in his eyes. ¡°Brother, you are overreacting, I¡¯m sure that this girl did not see or hear anything that she wasn¡¯t supposed to see or hear, after all, it should be common knowledge that an enemy force marches on the Zarakova.¡±


    The Archduke let go of his hold of Elizabeth. ¡°You¡¯re right Dimitri, I¡¯ll leave these two and their message in your hands, right now I have an army to mobilize.¡± As he left the room, he added one more thing. ¡°I want a full background check done on the girl; This girl still may be a spy of some sort.¡±


    ¡°Of course, brother,¡± Grand Duke Dimitri, the general of the eastern forces of Wall Visalia, replied, ¡°As for you,¡± turning to Elizabeth ¡°anything you think you heard was just your imagination, me and my brother were the only ones in that room, do you understand me?¡±


    Elizabeth nodded her head yes, but could not help but respond, ¡°But my lord, I never said anything about hearing anyone else.¡± At this Grand Duke Dimitri began to eye her suspiciously before dragging her into the room, which she now found empty, the only door in and out was the one they were standing in. Elizabeth was dumbfounded because she could have sworn that she heard a third voice in this room.


    Sir Frederick decided to chime in. ¡°My lord, I still need to tell you everything I know about this foreigner who is preying upon our people.¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± Grand Duke Dimitri said, ¡°Follow me, we¡¯ll get the background check started on your friend and you can tell me everything that you know about this human trafficker.¡±


    With that, they headed on out.


    Five days passed as the background check continued, even with the aid of magic it took a while to contact the magistrates of House Remington to find out what they knew about Elizabeth and whether she had any prior illegal dealings.


    In the exchange, they were able to tell Elizabeth¡¯s family where she was and that she would be returning to them in three months at the latest, as the Baikov could not spare any horses. Elizabeth and Sir Frederick planned on getting horses later, but now, they would settle on walking back.


    While waiting she saw the Bear Army march off to war to relieve their Zarakova vassals at their fortress-home of Mount Defiance. It was an awe-inspiring sight to see all the banners of the Baikov, their vassal families, and the other great houses all march as one.


    The bulk of the Bear¡¯s eastern military assembled, 120,000 strong, ranging from higher nobles down to the common citizen levies that had been called up to the Eastern Command Fortress. 80,000 were still stationed a week away at the Western Command Fortress under the command of Yuri Baikov¡¯s younger sister, Grand Duchess Katerina, along with 50,000 at the Halls of Defiance under Yuri¡¯s eldest son, Vladimir, four days away.


    Elizabeth had even seen the famed Baikov Bear Cavalry, a regiment of Baikov knights and nobles riding fearsome, armored bears. What they lacked in horses, they made up for in war bears. The army had left three days ago and had now made it down to the fortress. But that was no longer her concern, today she and Sir Frederick would be heading northward, back to her home. Elizabeth would be sad to leave her new friends behind, but her place was not down here, it was back home, working alongside her mother in her family¡¯s inn.


    Elizabeth was no hero; she was just a sensible young woman trying to have a comfortable and safe life. Elizabeth would miss her new friends, but right now she had to get home and get on with her life, no matter what that crazy man kept telling her, she had no great destiny or power, she was just Elizabeth, apprentice inn manager. But before she left, she did have to say goodbye to her companions.


    Elizabeth left the guest quarters where she had been staying to find her friends, who were still going through orientation, focusing on team-building exercises today. Elizabeth made her way to the training field to find them in the middle of trust falls. Sir Frederick was observing them passively. Elizabeth made her way to the right as Damian failed to catch Ragnar, who fell flat on his back. Damian had little faith in himself to catch Ragnar¡¯s mighty form and an argument started.


    ¡°Ragnar, I¡¯m small and you¡¯re large, if I had caught you, I would have been crushed.¡± Damian was trying to get out of trouble with the northerner.


    ¡°In my homeland, we would have tied a weakling like you up and left you to the wolves, witches, fair folk, Tormags, frost giants, or the blood-sucking king of the Silver Pillar. A man who cannot pull his own weight cannot be trusted.¡± Ragnar was annoyed.


    ¡°I am sorry that I have offended you, I am just trying to explain to you that I¡¯m not a mighty warrior who can lift a man who towers over me.¡±


    ¡°Do you think the beasts past this wall will go easy on you just because you aren¡¯t big or strong? In this world, the strong feast upon the weak, and the creatures out there understand and embrace that truth, it is kill or be killed. I hope you live long enough to learn that lesson before the beasts take you.¡± Ragnar shoved him and knocked him to the ground.


    Carmen moved in trying to relieve the tension. ¡°Friends, friends, there is no need to fight, We are all down here together and we need to learn how to work together. Mighty Ragnar, if you¡¯re worried about Damian being a weakling why don¡¯t you tutor him on how to be a real strong man who can pull his weight?¡±


    Ragnar looked thoughtful. ¡°All men have the potential for greatness.¡± Ragnar took a hard look at Damian. ¡°But with him, I¡¯ll have my work cut out. Damian is meek and apologizes too easily, refusing to meet my gaze. The moment I got in his face he should have shoved me back and asserted his dominance.¡±


    Damian got an annoyed look on his face. Regaining his composure, he tried to assert himself, standing back up. ¡°I will be willing to learn if you are willing to teach.¡± Damian tried to put confidence in his voice.


    Ragnar moaned, ¡°First lesson, threaten to kill me if I don¡¯t teach you.¡±


    Once this exchange was done, they looked over at Elizabeth and Frederick and went on over.


    ¡°So today is the day you are leaving us?¡± Madeline asked as the group reached them.


    ¡°Yes, it is, I can¡¯t wait to get home. My mother needs me more than ever, in three months a tourney will be hosted for the 30th anniversary of the King¡¯s reign, and my mother will need all the help she can get to take care of the travelers on their way to the capital.¡±


    ¡°Well, that sounds like a waste of valuable resources.¡± Hezekiah the Ascetic joined in, despite the vows of his order to serve the nobility, he and others like him had no love for extravagance.


    ¡°I agree with Hez, if those knights wanted to prove their martial skill, they would be down here on the wall, or aiding my family against the Queen of Eternal Autumn. Then again, I doubt they would know how to deal with the tricks of the faeries.¡± Bridgette appeared to be deep in thought with a troubled look on her face.


    As they continued their goodbyes, they heard ominous war horns in the distance as the signal fires on Wall Visalia were lit in mass.


    Chroniclers Notes


    Wastelander Secrets of Survival


    Grib: The Grib possessed excellent noses for searching out sources of water in the Wastelands, while also keeping aware of their surroundings with their sensitive ears. Food Arc-Bloods were also common amongst their people, representative of their near-constant hunger and love of food. Grib Arc-Bloods would transform their victims into edible food stuffs, instead of wasting time cutting them up and cooking them.


    Even with these tricks, Gribs were small, weak, and denied even the meekest of supplies, so all Grib children were raised in a communal pen, given only enough food so that the strong would survive, and the weak would perish. Heartless? Maybe, but no one could deny that the Grib were survivors.


    Ma-Grib: Disciplined and organized, the Ma-Grib had developed several ways to sustain themselves while on the march. The Ma-Grib deployed mobile magical wagons that collected and condensed air moisture into drinkable water.


    The Moisture Mobile also served as makeshift mushroom farms, which formed a central pillar of the Ma-Grib diet. The Ma-Grib, while not as heartless as the Grib, would still leave weak and sickly children to die, while choosing to focus their resources on children who they believed could survive the harsh conditions.


    Also, unlike the Grib, they strictly monitored their breeding cycles, ensuring that they didn¡¯t overpopulate themselves with children they could not realistically take care of. Their Morags, large hairy beasts reminiscent of wolves, aided them in their hunts with their keen senses. Their bodies worked in such a way that they could make do with a calorie intake, far lower than a beast that size should have. They were also semi-sentient, making it easier to work with and command them.


    Chren-Zul: The Chren-Zul of the Wastelands took on a very different method of self-sustainment, consisting of raiding their fellows and chopping up and cooking those they defeated. Unlike the Grib who would transform their victims into edible food stuffs, the Wasteland Chren-Zul preferred to view anyone who was not them as cattle.


    They also lacked the capabilities to find water that the Grib and Ma-Grib possessed, instead subsisting on milk taken from their mothers. Chren-Zul breeding pits were the location that housed the mothers of a Chren-Zul tribe, where older and infertile magic-using crones would use spells to keep the younger ones calm and content. During the invasion, the Chren-Zul would, for the first time, replace their mothers with the ¡°bipedal livestock¡± they intended to capture and subjugate for this purpose. This would also have the added side effect of freeing their women. It should be noted that Chren-Zul in other parts of the world did not engage in such behavior, as these are Wastelander Chren-Zul traits brought about by desperation.


    Final Analysis: It is true that the Dark Wastes were limited in resources and forced the inhabitants to perform drastic, and downright horrific, actions to stay alive. Though, if I were to speculate, I believe there may be more to this issue. It could be that the residual dark magic that suffused the land, rendering it so hostile to life, also affected the Grib, Ma-Grib, and the Chren-Zul, bringing out and worsening darker impulses.


    The evidence for this is self-evident in the lack of such drastic behaviors in their cousins abroad, and the increased aggression of House Zarakova and those on the wall. When the King of Lion and the Three Thunders drove these people into the Dark Wastes and out of their lands, they may have made them far greater threat than they could ever be on their own.

 Chapter 7 Shattered World

    Chapter 7 Shattered World


    The Great Wastes, Mt. Defiance, Home of House Zarakova


    Archduke Yuri Baikov looked around dumbfounded, and concerned, he had come down to relieve a siege and yet the enemy had so rudely refused to show up. The Archduke had no idea what to expect, as Mt. Defiance itself was an area that nullified all long-range communication magic, but he wasn¡¯t expecting this. Grand Duchess Zoya Zarakova and her elite guard had come down to treat him.


    Even though she was pushing into her eighties, the old woman was still somehow as quick and nimble as she was in her youth, though her gray hair and many wrinkles did not disguise her age. The Grand Duchess was dressed in the attire of a Zarakovan Scout Commander, with a quiver on her back, a bow in her hand, and two short swords to her side. This wizened old woman didn¡¯t come up to the Archduke¡¯s chest, though he still had great respect and admiration for her, he had been quite a cocky young man in his youth, and she was the one who put him in his place, giving him a beating he would never forget.


    ¡°My Archduke, I would hate to say this, since the truth may be too much to bear, but I do believe you have been tricked.¡± The wizened old woman said with sorrow in her voice.


    The Archduke, severely annoyed and growing in fury at the situation, replied ¡°It would appear so, but that just leaves open the question, where in Passions Inferno is the enemy?¡±


    Bear Territory, Wall Visalia Eastern Command


    Zarathustra overlooked Wall Visalia from the battlements of his mobile castle. When he had last been in this region the wall had yet to be built, this was the location where the final battle between him and the King of Lions took place. It was a fierce and mighty battle, but in the end, he lost and retreated to his old keep deep in the wastes, waiting a full millennium for someone to awaken him.


    Now, he had returned, this time with an even larger army under his command and no damnable King of Lions wielding magic swords and flying on winged lions standing in his way. Zarathustra looked down from his castle at his host arrayed before him. The Gribs were swarming in the vanguard, backed up by Ormag, Tormag, and Hill Giant shock troops who would fall in right behind the Gribs as they swarmed through.


    Behind them stood the unruly Chren-Zul mobs and the more disciplined Ma-Grib companies, standing perfectly still but focused on the wall in front of them with intense hatred in their eyes. Most of his horde waited behind his castle, including the Ri-Gribs and all his cavalry.


    Those forces would not be needed for this battle. Zarathustra smiled as the trebuchets containing the alchemic solution necessary to tear down this damnable wall were being set up and loaded, Ludwig was busy overseeing the calculations to make sure they hit their target.


    Ludwig assured him that they would work, and Zarathustra was inclined to trust him. While he never dabbled in alchemy, he knew better than to second-guess his alchemical expert. Now was the time for his big speech. Using his magic, he projected a massive image of himself in the sky, making sure to darken it in the process, he always liked to go for the grand effect. Zarathustra, instinctively but unnecessarily, took a deep breath and then propelled his voice across the entire area.


    ¡°Good afternoon everyone, my name is Zarathustra the Enlightened, 1000 years ago I ruled a substantial portion of what you now call the Kingdom of Lions, before that wretched son of a whore, Arthur Galdwin came with his mercenaries and defeated me and the other six warlords. You have been lied to, there was nothing divine about this man born the son of a literal whore in the city of Swordfall that lies in the lands to the east of the Clustered Ocean. And the world certainly is not 1000 years old, just another lie to keep your mindless sheep pacified, obedient, and complacent.


    For millennia, you have been cultivated into a culture of dull-minded submissive slaves, incapable of introspection or critical thought. Those who have dominion over you have built their castles upon a pillar of lies. None of you commoners even realize that you once had surnames, just like the nobles, but they were stripped from you by the King of Lions, and your memories of them erased.


    The removal of your names was just another way to objectify you and turn you into property. The erasure of your names, along with the erasure of your history, of who you used to be as a people, is a grievous crime, and grievously shall the descendants of those responsible pay for it. I have come to shatter this old order, to break the chains and create a just and equitable society. It will be rough for many of you, but once your conditioning is broken your descendants will thank me for freeing them. But first, a reckoning is in order, those who have been dispossessed and driven into a literal wasteland have come seeking justice for wrongs done to them.


    The dispossessed have come to claim what you have denied them. Now, I do not doubt that you will defy me here, though it is of little consequence, you are but a castle made of sand, and I am a wave coming to wipe you away. May you die well, though you die in vain.¡±


    Zarathustra raised his skeletal hand and signaled for the bombardment to begin.


    Everyone on the Baikov side of the wall started looking around at each other with confusion and fear. It was easier for those not on the battlements and towers of the wall, they were spared the sight of a massive horde stretching further than the eye could see. General Dimitri turned to his Colonel Natasha Ortoff, who had already sent a vibration through the earth to pick up the number of the host before her. The color drained from her mineral-laced body, she looked at him, trembling in fear. ¡°The enemy numbers are five hundred thousand soldiers strong, General.¡±


    General Dimitri stared at her, dumbfounded for a few moments, before returning to his senses and remembering his duty. Turning to his assembled officers he began giving commands. ¡°Sound the mustering call, I want everyone who is still here armed and ready, they¡¯re going to hit us and hit us hard. Also, scouts need to be sent out in all directions, and everyone needs to be warned, especially my nephew and sister, we might be able to hold the wall for a while, but we will need the central and western forces to drive them back. I''m sure my brother has learned of this trick and is already on his way back. We¡¯ll hit them from both sides.¡±


    None of his officers were convinced that they could hold, and he wasn¡¯t convinced that they could hold, but right now he had no choice but to put on a confident and assured fa?ade, such was the burden of leadership. If he panicked now everything would collapse. General Dimitri just had to hope that they could withstand the full might of this creature and his minions, even for a little while.


    Bear Territory, Zarathustra¡¯s Artillery Line


    Ludwig quietly surveyed the wall before him. The trebuchets had been stationed on the highest hill, closest to the wall. Ludwig was sure his alchemical dissolvent would do the job, he was just running through the numbers in his head one more time.


    ¡°Adjust the trebuchets up by 5 degrees,¡± Ludwig told the Ma-Grib crews under his command. They obeyed and looked to him for further instructions. Ludwig lifted his hand to signal the loading of the trebuchets, as the crews motioned their Ormag attendees to hoist the large vials into the slings that would send them flying.


    Once that had been done, Ludwig closed his eyes and took a deep breath. There was no going back now, there never was. All he could do now was ensure a future for himself and Brunhilde. Ludwig lowered his hand, and the glass containers were sent flying.


    Ludwig was aiming for the softest space in the wall, the stretch of wall between the massive Eastern Gate and the Eastern Command Fortress. All the giant vials hit home covering the wall, from the ramparts to the foundation, in a viscous substance the color of green snot. The dissolvent did its work, destroying the millennia-old enchantments and protections, before moving onto the wall and those hidden inside of it. The dissolvent worked so fast that no one in its path even had time to scream before they were smothered in his solution and erased from the face of the planet, nothing was left of them.


    On the plus side, Ludwig smirked as he thought to himself, their families had just been spared costly funeral arrangements, so they could count that as a blessing. Though all the corpses left on the field that day would be in the army cooking pots this evening, either way, the families won out by having their loved ones¡¯ bodies destroyed. In a matter of 45 seconds, the dissolvent went inert, having been exposed to outside air and losing its properties, but the damage had been done, there was now a gaping hole in the wall two hundred feet across. Ludwig could not help but admire his handiwork.


    The vanguard of Zarathustra¡¯s force began to move forward. Discordant swarms of rabid Grib fodder with Ormags, Tormags, and Hill Giants dispersed behind their ranks to make the defenders unsure of who to target and to guarantee that the Gribs did not turn around and run for it. Following right behind them in the center of the van were several ranks of disciplined Ma-Grib spear infantry marching in perfect unison, shields raised high to protect from any incoming fire.


    On both flanks, unruly gaggles of fierce Chren-Zul warriors surged forward, desperate to get to the fight and upset that others would be getting there before them. To face this threat the remaining garrison force gathered what trained soldiers they had on hand around the wall, who had not been dissolved, either wholly or partially, into a formidable shield wall around the crater where the wall once stood.


    However 200 feet is a wide area to cover, especially when they were low on manpower to begin with. Instead of forming an impenetrable wall of wood and steel, there were several isolated pockets desperately trying to hold their ground as the horde rushed into the crater and then up and out of it, into the desperate defenders. They were doing their best to slow their foes down to buy everyone else time to join the fray.


    The inside of the wall was no better, as a ravenous swarm poured into the breaches on both sides, overwhelming the bewildered and wounded defenders. Those who had parts of their body dissolved stood no chance while their whole companions only fared slightly better against the relentless onslaught. The defenders on the higher levels were able to shoot down at their foes, but their measly crossbow bolts could only do so much against such an inexorable foe.


    The front line just shattered as the Gribs swarmed around the outnumbered shield infantry and got them from behind. To their surprise, they were wounded but not killed by the Gribs, though the realization of this only became clear as the Ormags, Tormags, and Hill Giants made their way to them. These beasts, but especially Ormags and Tormags, loved the flesh of humanoids, the fresher the better, and that meant alive. The Hill Giants were too stupid to realize that the Gribs had given them a free meal.


    Despite being cousins, Ormags and Tormags had different physiologies. Tormags were as tall as Ormags, but incredibly lanky, appearing to be emaciated by those who knew nothing about them. This was due to Tormag physiology, which was so efficient in breaking down those devoured. That they had no need of any further digestive systems, and instead of defecating or urinating, they just sweated out whatever their bodies did not metabolize. Now, that meant that those devoured by Tormags only had a couple of seconds of horror before they were torn apart, molecule by molecule, and incorporated into the Tormag''s physiology. This peculiar quirk also meant that Tormags took on the characteristic traits of those they ate.


    Those who fed on many humans became more intelligent and ambitious, those who fed on Halmen¡¯s became smaller, but more agile and stealthy, possessing a keen cunning. Since these Tormags had fed on their kind or the other savage tribes, they had become inbred. Over time the Tormags Zarathustra brought with him would prove to be highly dangerous as they devoured the humans and Halmens of the Kingdom of Lions and transformed into ever more varied and unique Tormags.


    Ormags, in contrast, had highly inefficient digestive systems, despite possessing massive appetites, so instead they became quite rotund, though their outer layer of fat hid several layers of muscles. They were just as tall as Tormags and possessed gigantic maws that they would shove their meals down into. Now those unfortunates enough to be devoured by an Ormag would have several days of digestion to deal with.


    Ormags did not stop feeding until their bellies were full, and while it took a while, all those crammed inside of its gullet would eventually be digested. The strong stomach muscles of the Ormags would often aid in this task, constricting and bashing together those unfortunate enough to be devoured by an Ormag, until they were broken down. Tormag and Ormag physiology is fascinating, if horrific to the defenders who learned about it firsthand.


    The Second Line


    Major Edith, one of the few Conduits serving down on the wall, looked on in horror with her golden orb eyes as the horde got ever closer. Taking stock of the situation, she reached deep inside of her and called forth her family Scion, Edachiel, an Empyrean in service to the King of Kings, Alnardun. Edachiel had silver skin, copper hair, and glowing sapphires for eyes. Edachiel was clad in ornate empyrean gold armor, wielding a sword and shield forged from empyreal gold. On his back were a pair of massive golden wings. Edachiel looked with disdain at the great host before them.


    ¡°Edith,¡± he said, ¡°I do believe that this is the day your life will come to an end.¡± Edachiel face was unflinching in that proclamation.


    ¡°I know Edachiel, I have made peace with that fact. Tell me, who in my family will you go to once I go beyond?¡±


    ¡°Your brother George still lives, so I will pass to him.¡±


    A bitter smile passed across her face. ¡°So, he¡¯s still alive, good luck straightening that delinquent out.¡±


    ¡°I am sure that I can turn his life around, with the proper guidance.¡±


    ¡°Edachiel, when you see him, can you tell him that I loved him and that I miss him dearly, and that no matter what bad blood came between us, he¡¯s still my little brother.¡± Tears were streaming down her face now.


    ¡°I will relay your message.¡± Edachiel looked back at her with sadness in his eyes.


    Realizing that Edachiel might not be enough, Edith decided to call forth some extra help as well. With all her might, she reached into the realm of Lord Alnardun and drew forth reinforcements. Twenty Empyrean Hounds, hers appears to be short-legged and stumpy, with empyrean gold helmets on their heads and little wings on their backs. ¡°Servants of truth and justice, I call upon your aid in this darkest hour, will you stand beside Edachiel and myself against the foe before us?¡± Edith asked.


    The leader of the Empyrean Hounds took one look at the foe before them. In a sophisticated voice, speaking the language of the heavens, he replied. ¡°My dear, we will fight by your side till the final trumpet sounds.¡±


    ¡°Then let us make our stand.¡± Edith was sheathed in golden light, as she floated in the air, ready to give aid to her allies as they charged forth into the implacable horde before them.


    Training Grounds


    Elizabeth and her companions were unprepared for the onslaught, though they did their best. Pairing up they put themselves between Elizabeth who was a non-combatant and overcome by the horror that she was witnessing. Sir Frederick paired up with Damian, Ragnar with Madeline, Hezekiah with Bridgette, and Carmen with Francesco.


    The Grib swarm hit them and hit them hard. Carmen began to sing a song of enthrallment, a gentle melody that clouded the minds of the Grib as they got close, leading them to stand in place. Francesco, taking this as his cue, moved through their ranks, slicing their throats while they remained helpless. A stray stone came flying in and hit Carmen on her head, ending her song and leaving Francesco surrounded by a group of very irate Gribs. Charging with their crude stone knives and clubs, they tried to hit Francesco.


    Thankfully, his reflexes aided in saving him from most of their savage assault, but he was not used to this kind of fighting, and one lucky blow knocked him to the ground. Right as they began to pile on him, a loud and bone-shattering sonic boom hit them, bursting their brains with its force. Francesco looked up to see that Carmen had recovered and had killed the Gribs with a mighty shout. Moving to her side, they both got ready for the next wave that was coming in. Carmen had another song in mind, this one would make Francesco a deadlier fighter and aid his dodging ability, but she was not sure if it would be enough to survive the onslaught.


    Sir Frederick and Damian were also dealing with Gribs. Demanding that Damian support him, Sir Frederick put his shield in front of him with his Empyrean gold sword at the ready, suffused with holy energy. A golden aura enveloped his body, further increasing his combat prowess.


    The Gribs hit hard, but Sir Frederick knocked a few of them back with his shield, though he was aware of the fact that he could be overrun at any moment, so he went to work cutting them down. The Gribs fell like wheat before the scythe as Sir Frederick proved his martial prowess, but it was not enough. It was inevitable that one of them got lucky and got behind him.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Damian was hesitant and confused about what to do, while he had been learning to harness his low magic, he was not confident in his abilities, and the current stress-inducing situation was not helping him. Desperately mumbling half-forgotten spells and making hand gestures that he had always found awkward, he tried to cast spells like an Arcanos, to no avail.


    A couple more Gribs had made it past Fredericks defenses, knocking him to the ground. They begun to crawl all over him, trying to get underneath his armor. A frustrated and desperate Sir Frederick finally called out, ¡°Hurry and do something, you coward, Elizabeth is in danger.¡±


    This snapped Damian out of indecisive finger twirling and spell mumbling, and calling on power hidden deep within him, he put forth his hand and shot out bolts of pure arcane energy. The swarm of purple bolts struck with precision, hitting not only the Gribs on Sir Frederick, but all the Gribs coming their way as well, killing them instantly as they were all impaled.


    Exhausted he looked down at his right hand and discovered that an intricate array of purple lines had formed on it, pushing up through his skin and glowing purple with arcane energy. Damian watched as these lines made their way up his arm until they stopped at his elbow. Damian reached down and touched one of the larger ones that was pushing up out of his arm. It felt hard like stone, or crystal, though he still had great flexibility in his hand and lower arm. If anything, he felt less awkward and uncoordinated than usual.


    While obsessing over the changes being wrought on his body, he heard another shout, ¡°Damian, your arm looks impressive, but right now we have to focus on the task at hand.¡± Damian looked up to discover that another wave of Gribs were swarming around Sir Frederick who was trying to hold them off, choosing to infuse his armor with holy power rather than himself. Sighing, Damian got off the ground and got ready to launch another attack.


    Hezekiah and Bridgette were not nearly as uncoordinated in their attacks as Sir Frederick and Damian. Both seemed to work together quite well. Hezekiah was a whirling tornado in the Grib¡¯s midst, either kicking them or whacking them with his owl-topped staff. Every time he struck, he struck true, and Grib''s bones shattered beneath his furious blows.


    Meanwhile, Brigette was picking off the Gribss who appeared to be the most dangerous or were managing to avoid the literal maelstrom of pain that Hezekiah had become. Every one of her shots either hit in the throat or the heart. Bridgette did run out of arrows, but that didn¡¯t mean she was helpless. With a maniacal glint to her now glowing emerald eyes, she pulled out her long hunting knife and prepared to slice the Gribs like they were Redcaps.


    Madeline was fortunate that Ragnar had an appetite for violence because she had none. Much like Hezekiah, he too had become a whirling maelstrom of death, through his involved more axe blades and war cries to his foreign gods. Ragnar had been overtaken by a savage bloodlust, slaughtering terrified Gribs in his path, all the while bellowing his war cries, beseeching Hasbarl Allfather and his Valkyries to witness his glory and martial prowess in his native tongue. Regardless of the method, he was proving quite adept at slaughtering every Grib in his path, allowing her to relax and wait for him to need her.


    Unfortunately for her, she had caught the eye of a crafty Grib Arc-Blood, who had found a way to make it past Ragnar, who was too preoccupied with slaughtering the obvious threats. Madeline did not even notice him, too preoccupied checking up on how the others were doing to pay attention to him, moving up on her until he was only a few feet away. Shocked, she stumbled backward and fell flat on her rear.


    Eyeing her maliciously, he said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± The Grib''s appearance was odd, even for a Grib, possessing a head that resembled a massive muffin covered in poppy seed hands that appeared to have been deep fried, and slimy skin that looked like it had been drenched in butter. Too late did she realize that he was a Food Arc-Blood and that he had put her on his menu. Madeline looked around for help, but the others were occupied, and Elizabeth had fallen to the ground, cradling her head and screaming at the top of her lungs that this was not happening.


    Madeline felt a tingling sensation, looking down and screaming in horror as her right arm was being transformed. Her fingers were turned into little sausages attached to her larger sausage arm. Realizing her predicament, she tried to get up with her left hand only to discover that she could not stand up, as her legs were being turned into cheese.


    Finally, her left arm began to match her right, being made into sausage as well. She was now crying out for help as the Grib stood over her, leering. The Grib Arc-Blood stuck his hand into her chest, and it began to transform into bread. Closing her eyes, she prepared for the worst, when she heard a voice speaking to her. ¡°Madeline, you can beat this, I know you can, it¡¯s too soon for you to die, I need you in the trials ahead.¡± She realized who was speaking to her, it was her goddess. ¡°I know you are a gentle, sweet child; I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way. You do not like to hurt others, and you always try to do what is right. But right now, you are on the verge of being devoured, and it is far too soon. Many, including Elizabeth, will need you. Now fight back, you can undo what is being done to you.¡±


    The voice left her right as the Gribs magic was about to finish transforming her head into a bowl of vanilla ice cream, with her hair becoming the hot fudge topping, she had very little time left. Reaching deep within, she channeled the power of her goddess through her body, undoing the transformation and sending the Grib flying off her.


    Madeline got back up, a bit wobbly as the final effects were undone, but she was still fine. Madeline stared the Grib down, who looked at her with frustration and fury. ¡°You aren¡¯t supposed to fight back!¡± The Grib shouted at her.


    ¡°You have poor table manners,¡± She replied, ¡°didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you not to play with your food?¡±. Madeline began to summon divine energy into her clasped hands, saying a prayer and drawing on the power granted to her by Lenera. ¡°By your radiant majesty, may this evil be purged.¡±


    Madeline then sent forth a beam of blazing white fire that consumed the Grib, the fact that he was lathered in butter only made his demise much quicker. When the flames subsided, only his charred body remained, with his now blackened cupcake head having split open with some form of chocolate filling leaking out all over the ground. Madeline looked around, this fight was far from over, and she had to help in any way she could. Ragnar had kept on slaying, oblivious to what had happened behind him.


    Command Post


    General Dimitri made his way through his command post, desperately trying to think of a way to turn this situation around. Not only had the wall been breached, but the largest horde in recent memory was pouring through it. General Dimitri did not know what to do, his troops would fight bravely, but they would soon be overrun.


    The messages had been sent out, so the entire kingdom would soon know that the wall had been overcome, but they did not know the magnitude of what they faced. One of his command staff, Captain Natascha Ivakina came to him to report on the situation.


    ¡°General, our forces are being worn down and we cannot hold them back.¡± This statement of the obvious information annoyed Dimitri.


    ¡°Can you tell me anything that I don¡¯t know? What is the condition of the healing center?¡±


    The Captain appeared hesitant to answer that, but she did anyway. ¡°After breaking through our lines, most of the Ormags and Tormags were directed that way by their compatriots. The last I saw was our defenders had been slaughtered and the Ormags and Tormags broke down the walls and door. I did hear a lot of screaming coming from the wounded, though that subsided.¡± The Captain did not say anything outright, but the fate of those inside was implied.


    ¡°It was a Grade A all-you-can-eat buffet, not that I¡¯ve ever seen a buffet, but Ludwig told me they¡¯re awesome.¡± They both heard a soft voice behind them. Turning around, they found a Halmen smiling creepily at them. The same Halmen who had come in a few days ago to warn them of the assault on Mt. Defiance.


    ¡°You lied to us, why would you do that?¡± General Dimitri demanded, furious at the deception.


    ¡°Well, I do want all of you dead, so I wasn¡¯t going to tell you the truth. Besides, my master''s plan had a lot of moving parts that needed some external care to ensure that nothing messed them up.¡± Mari replied quite cheerfully.


    ¡°Why would you turn traitor and serve that creature?¡± Dimitri demanded of her.


    ¡°We¡¯ll you see, I never turned traitor, since I wasn¡¯t on your side to begin with.¡± The Halmen put her hands behind her head and underneath her skin, pulling it off. As the head was peeled off, a Grib head emerged, smiling wickedly. Dimitri and the Captain were now facing the horror of a Grib-headed Halmen standing before them. Mari burst out into laughter. ¡°You dopes should see the looks on your faces, they¡¯re hilarious.¡±


    Dimitri and Natascha quickly recomposed themselves and drew their weapons, ready to fight. Mari stopped laughing and drew two knives as she wriggled out of the skinsuit.


    ¡°I see you want to play a game now, alright, what should it be, I¡¯m quite fond of tag.¡±


    ¡°We''re not going to be playing any games, we''re going to kill you.¡± Captain Natascha informed her.


    ¡°But that¡¯s the best part of tag, killing whoever is it,¡± Mari responded. Taking a quick breath, she moved quickly, too quick for them to react. Mari slipped between the captain¡¯s legs, cutting her hamstrings and bringing her to the ground before she got a chance to slice her with her sword. Dimitri was more of a problem, but he was big and slow, and Mari knew how to deal with his kind.


    Dodging his hammer blows, she climbed up him using her knives before he got to her. Mari made it to his face where she took a big bite of his nose ripping it off right as she shoved both knives into his neck. General Dimitri came tumbling down. Mari spat his nose into her free hand ¡°Looks like I got your nose.¡± Mari told him as the blood came flooding out of his throat and the light left his eyes. Smiling smugly, she took off the rest of the Halmen suit and walked on over to the captain, who was struggling to get on her feet, though incapable of doing so.


    ¡°What do you want with me, you little infernal.¡± The Captain defiantly asked Mari who was now standing over her with the Halmen skinsuit in her hands.


    ¡°Flattery will get you everywhere, but you¡¯re too big to be my type, at least at the moment.¡± Mari put the suit''s head over Natascha¡¯s head, which shrank and restructured itself to fit. Mari put the rest of Natascha¡¯s body in with the magic of the suit helping to shrink her down and fit her in. When every piece of her was inside and the suit had sealed up, Natascha looked at her bewildered.


    ¡°Why did you do this to me?¡± The Captain asked, standing there naked and confused as the clothes had fallen off the skinsuit.


    ¡°I promised some friends of mine a mid-battle snack.¡± Mari said as she shoved Natascha¡¯s face into the stone floor and kept her down with her foot on her back. Mari pulled out some rope she had stored in a magical bag that she had kept with her while wearing the Halmen skinsuit, and hogtied the poor woman, dragging her along with her deceptive strength. On their way through the command post, they passed by one of the larders. Leaving her tied in the hall, she opened the larder door and went inside.


    Mari came out a few moments later arms full of spices, an apple, and adhesive strips. Mari began to dump the various spices all over her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my friends won¡¯t care that you¡¯re a little over-spiced, now for the finishing touch.¡± Mari shoved the apple into Natascha¡¯s mouth and kept it there by wrapping adhesive strips around Natascha¡¯s head and the apple. ¡°There we go, a feast fit for a Tormag King.¡± Mari continued to drag Natascha to a portion of the command post that had been destroyed by the dissolvent, with a hallway leading to the outside world. Outside stood about twenty Tormags and Ormags, waiting eagerly.


    ¡°Hello boys,¡± Mari waved down, ¡°I got you a mid-battle meal, now let us see who gets it.¡± They cheered as Mari used all the strength, she had to swing Natascha out of the hallway and into the maw of the most eager Tormag of the bunch, who jumped up to catch the morsel. Natascha slid down easily into the tormag¡¯s gullet, where she would meet a very unpleasant though mercifully quick death.


    Mari just shrugged to the disappointed assembly. ¡°Sorry folks, but he got her, better luck next time.¡±


    The battle continued to rage around them.


    Outside Training Grounds


    Our heroes had drawn back from the training grounds and into a storage shed, making sure to bring Elizabeth with them. Elizabeth had regained her senses. The fight had gone well at first, with the group handling most of the Gribs while the Ormags and Tormags headed off to the healing center. The Hill Giants got into a huge brawl amongst themselves, which tied them up.


    The Ma-Gribs and Chren-Zul had come in behind the Grib wave. Against the disciplined ranks of Ma-Grib spear and shield infantry, and the ferocity of Chren-Zul ravagers, they were pushed back. Even Ragnar eventually lost the will to fight, with his savage fury leaving his body at a most inopportune time. Thankfully, Madeline was able to shield with a dome of holy light, that also blinded their pursuers. Together everyone made it to the storage shed and locked the door, though they knew it was only a matter of time before they were finished off. It did not help that the shed was short and small, with all nine of them being cramped inside. Ragnar and Sir Frederick both had to duck down to avoid having their heads touch the ceiling.


    They heard shouting outside and some massive footsteps coming their way. Much to their horror, the roof was ripped off the top of the shed and a smiling Tormag was staring down at them. Everyone was too exhausted to fight back as the Tormag reached his long arm in and grabbed Elizabeth, picking her up and pulling her out, raising her high and showing her to the horde before her.


    The Tormag opened his maw wide and dropped her in, the foul stench of his stomach and mouth overpowering her senses. Elizabeth reached her hands out into his throat to stop her descent, but he used his tongue to shove her down into his stomach.


    Before she could reach the acidic juices waiting to dissolve her headfirst, she felt a strange power overtake her, the same power she had used before in her escape from Methuselah. Elizabeth sent it out, filling the troll with as much mead as she could produce, at a high velocity.


    Elizabeth shot out of the mouth and flew into the air, before landing back on top of the Tormag who had just tried to eat her, who was on the ground throwing up all the mead she had filled and expanded his body with, knocking his face first into the mead/vomit mixture. Realizing the danger of her predicament, she reached into her pouch for the trinket Methuselah had given her. Methuselah was the last hope of her and her friends, so she broke it.


    In a flash of light, Methuselah appeared before her, landing hard on the Tormag''s head just as it was lifting its face off the ground, shoving him back into the mead/vomit mixture. ¡°You summoned me?¡± Methuselah asked nonchalantly, oblivious to the situation around them.


    ¡°Save me and my friends, and I will go with you. I swear upon the Goddess Ariela that I will do whatever you want if you save us.¡± Elizabeth desperately cried out.


    Methuselah smiled wily, accepting her word. ¡°I will hold you to that.¡± Before raising their arm and engulfing her and her friends in a golden light that whisked them far from the horror before them, then turning their attention to the brutes around him.


    Methuselah did not need to kill them, but it had been a while, and they were in the mood for some fun. After all, they had tried to kill and or eat their replacement, the people had to be taught a lesson. The assembled creatures overcame their shock, and they all began to converge on them. Moving even faster, Methuselah filled the bellies of the Tormags and Ormags with a white-hot flame that quickly burned them from the inside out.


    Seeing two Chren-Zul groups charging at him from the flanks, Methuselah jumped into the air right as they collided. With a wave of their hand and the flick of their wrist, they turned them all into glass, their momentum leading them all to crash into each other and shatter. Which left the befuddled phalanx of Ma-Gribs before Methuselah. Still floating high, they decided to lift them all into the air while in formation. Methuselah then proceeded to crush them all together.


    As they screamed in pain and terror, Methuselah compressed them all into a toddler-sized ball, made of flesh and metal and which leaked copious amounts of orange blood. Methuselah chucked the ball hard at the head of one of the Hill Giants, killing him instantly and shattering the ball in an explosion of gore.


    ¡°Enough¡± they heard a desperate voice shout into their head, ¡°Guardian if you have any business with me, please speak to me.¡±


    Smiling, Methuselah decided to visit old Zarathustra, it had been a while since they had last spoken. Methuselah wondered if the lich was still upset about Metuselah''s patronage of Arthur Galdwin, the King of Lions. It did not matter one way or another, but they had found that some creatures just held onto grudges for way too long. ¡°I¡¯ll be over in moment Zarathustra, put the tea on for me, we¡¯ve got a lot to talk about.¡±


    Zarathustra¡¯s Castle


    Zarathustra was anxiously pacing around in his throne room, with Bordek, Ghul-Zar, and Cornelia watching him nervously. The lich had not expected the Guardian to intervene in his affairs again, could he have miscalculated? All his answers would be answered soon though as Methuselah decided to teleport himself onto Zarathustra''s throne. Smiling, they began to speak.


    ¡°Z, it¡¯s been a while, not since Artie trashed you thoroughly all those years ago. I bet you''re wondering what I¡¯m doing here?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that thought had crossed my mind, I had imagined that you would stay out of my affairs this time.¡± There was a hint of desperation in Zarathustra¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Yes, that would normally be the case, but then one of your Tormags tried to eat a young woman I have grown attached to. Elizabeth is my replacement you see, and your troops had to be taught a lesson about threatening someone who has my protection.¡±


    ¡°I did not even know that the girl even existed. Even if the girl had died, wouldn¡¯t she have just regenerated into a new body?¡±


    ¡°Which is why I¡¯m not crushing your phylactery right now; your ignorance ensures your continued existence. And do not presume to think that just because she regenerates, I will permit you to cause her any harm. Dying is still painful, and regeneration can take a while. It is my will that you and your followers don¡¯t lay a finger on her.¡±


    ¡°As you wish.¡± Zarathustra sheepishly responded, now on his knees. His minions had no idea who this creature was, but if they could bring their master to his knees in fear, they were someone they should avoid at all costs.


    ¡°Elizabeth should be fine now, that she¡¯s in my care, but you never know what the future holds. Perhaps she won¡¯t be as petty and bitter as you, and she won¡¯t hold a grudge against you for your little conquest.¡± With that they disappeared in a flash of golden light, blinding everyone in the room with their brilliance.


    Zarathustra got off the ground and brushed himself off. Zarathustra would remember this warning well. Methuselah outclassed him in every single way imaginable.


    The Front Lines


    Edachiel surveyed the battlefield in his ethereal form. The battle was long over and all that was left was the cleanup as the rest of the lich¡¯s army moved through the gap. Edachiel was not alone, the Psychopomps were out and about, harvesting the souls for judgment.


    Edachiel would not interfere in their work, and they would not interfere with his. Edachiel was here to collect one soul. Edachiel had to wait a bit before returning to the world after Edith was killed and he was banished, but no force in existence had a right to keep him from what was rightfully his. Edachiel and the Empyrean Hounds had fought well, but all it took was one sneaky Grib stabbing Edith in the back to send them all away as she lost her concentration.


    Edachiel was looking for her body, as her soul would not be too far from it. Edachiel found her, waiting for him patiently and sadly smiling as she saw him. The legs of her physical body were hanging out of a Hill Giant''s mouth, as he chewed on her upper body, the crunching noises were sickening. Like all humans, her soul glowed white, with a luminiferous brilliance that mortal eyes could not appreciate.


    ¡°Did I do well Edachiel?¡± Edith morosely asked him.


    ¡°You performed splendidly child. Even in the face of death, you fought on with everything you had. I am proud of you, and I will vouch for you before the Golden King. Your mother is proud of you as well, she can¡¯t wait to see you again.¡± Edachiel told her.


    Smiling, she reached out and took his hand. ¡°Shall we go then; we need to get all the paperwork done before you appear before my brother.¡± As they ascended into the sky, a pair of golden wings formed on Edith¡¯s back.


    Chroniclers Notes


    As a Chronicler, I am tasked with being as impassive as possible when it comes to the uglier sides of mortality. Who is crueler, the Wastelanders who would unleash a thousand years of pent-up frustration and hatred on those who had condemned them to such a miserable existence? Or the citizens of the Kingdom of Lions, who hunted them for sport and who had condemned their ancestors to the endless nightmare that is the Dark Wastes.


    They, literally erected pyramids of skulls made from the Wastelanders they killed, children included. It is not my place to pass judgment, but to think critically and try to understand why mortals do the things that you do. No creature is born cruel or wicked, but a cruel world can bring out the worst in anyone. My friends, if you found these events disturbing, then I implore you to put this story aside and instead peruse my collection of Haelmien poetry from the reign of Vizarion Star Crowned because the cruelty will not end. However, if you choose to continue reading these manuscripts, then I look forward to continuing to gift you with my unique insights into these matters.