《The Soul Engine - (Isekai/Fantasy)》


 Chapter 1: The Cell

    Mikael jerks awake with a groan, coming to consciousness on his knees with his arms chained above his head. Which is a distinct problem because the last thing he remembered was being on a sidewalk, heading towards the University for another day of classes. And¡­ that was it. Nothing else. Just walking along one moment, and here the next.


    What had happened? Where was he? Groggy as all hell, the young man tries to take in his surroundings but it¡¯s honestly hard to focus. The only source of light is a torch outside of his cell, leaving him in rather dimly lit surroundings. Wait, cell? Blinking more rapidly in a half-successful effort to clear up his vision, Mikael confirms what his subconscious mind had already figured out. He¡¯s in a jail cell of some sort, chained to a wall.


    Not just that, but he¡¯s been stripped of his clothes and put in a set of threadbare, itchy pants. No shoes, no socks, and no shirt. This certainly isn¡¯t how he¡¯d left his apartment this morning. Then again, the more he stares at his surroundings, the more confused he is about his current location. Is he in some sort of cellar? The place looks like it¡¯s taken right out of some medieval dungeon found in Europe or something.


    There¡¯s just one problem with that. He was born in America and had actually never left his birth country. So there was no way he should have found himself in some sort of castle dungeon. The United States didn¡¯t really HAVE castles as far as he knew.


    ¡­ Unless, of course, he¡¯d been transported to another world. But that was a ridiculous thought, right? That was the sort of thing reserved solely for fictional stories, and while Mikael had an overactive imagination and was a voracious reader, he definitely didn¡¯t think waking up in another world was actually possible.


    No, there had to be a reasonable explanation for all of this. Maybe he was dreaming. Maybe this was some sort of hallucination. Or maybe it was even a prank. Yes, that could be it. He was¡­ he was being pranked. Never mind that he was an introvert who had barely any friends outside of the internet who could have pulled this prank off in the first place. It was the only realistic answer he could come up with so it had to-


    Mikael¡¯s increasingly frantic thoughts are subsequently derailed by the sound of movement outside of his cell. He straightens up and lifts his head just in time to see the cell door open up and two individuals enter.


    ¡°Hello? Who are you people? Where am I?¡±


    Rather than answer him, the two silhouettes regard Mikael for a moment before one of them lifts a hand and¡­ and his palm lights on fire for lack of a better word. Mikael blinks rapidly at the sudden direct source of light within his cell. Must be some sort of trick, because once he adjusts, it really looks as though there¡¯s a small flame hovering just over the robed man¡¯s palm. And it is a man, Mikael notices. He can make out a lot more, now that the ball of fire is lighting up their surroundings.


    ¡°Hmph. Already awake. Stronger constitution, this one. Irritating.¡±


    If Mikael had to assign some sort of¡­ descriptor to the fire-wielding man, it would be ¡®Evil Wizard¡¯. Not only is he somehow holding a free-floating flame in his palm, but he¡¯s got a cloak with a pointed hood and a strange symbol on the front of it. His eyes, meanwhile, are merciless and unforgiving as he looks at Mikael as thought he were little more than a particularly annoying gnat.


    The only other identifying mark that Mikael can make out is a scar running just below the other man¡¯s left eye, a thick thing that speaks of an old injury. Mikael isn¡¯t an idiot. One long look into this man¡¯s eyes, and he can see that this isn¡¯t some sort of rescue operation. Even still, he just wants answers. He needs to know what the fuck is going on. Any normal person in his situation would want the same thing, he figures.


    ¡°Please¡­ can you just tell me what¡¯s happening? How am I here? WHY am I here?¡±


    ¡°Bula. Hold him in place.¡±


    His questions go unanswered as ¡®Bula¡¯ steps forward. Mikael jolts back as the second person to enter the cell finally comes out of the shadows and into full view. His first thought is that she¡¯s beautiful. His second is that she¡¯s not at all human. The one called ¡®Bula¡¯ is¡­ strangely dressed to say the least. She wears armor, but only in certain places. There¡¯s a gorget around her neck that dips down across her upper chest, a pair of pauldrons covering her shoulders, and gauntlets and greaves covering her arms and legs.


    But in terms of her torso, she¡¯s only wearing what can only be described as a white leotard, and Mikael quickly notes that it doesn¡¯t leave much to the imagination at all. Still, her exposed hips and thighs aren¡¯t even the most distracting thing for him. No, that has to be her sharpened ears and her visible tusks poking out from the bottom of her mouth.


    She¡¯s not human. She¡¯s beautiful, certainly, with fiery red hair and striking blue eyes. But she¡¯s distinctly not human, something that she proves a moment later when she grabs him by the arms and thrusts him back into the stone behind him with great force. Mikael gasps as the air is driven out of his lungs. He¡¯s pinned in place by abnormal strength that doesn¡¯t even let him do much more than squirm.


    He¡¯s not out of shape, to be clear. He might not get to the gym quite as often as he wants, but he does his best to keep himself in good condition in a world filled with bad choices and the allure of the sedentary lifestyle. However, none of that matters in the face of Bula¡¯s inhuman strength. She¡¯s so much stronger than him it¡¯s not even funny.


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Meanwhile, the evil wizard type isn¡¯t idle. As soon as Bula has him pinned to the wall, the man steps forward, leaving Mikael carefully watching the fire he¡¯s holding in one hand.


    ¡°Look¡­ whatever this is, I¡¯m sure we can talk about this. I don¡¯t-!¡±


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


    ¡°Do be quiet now. This next part is delicate. You wouldn¡¯t want me to make a mistake.¡±


    Mikael goes still as the other man lashes out¡­ not with the hand carrying a floating flame, but with his other hand. The evil wizard¡¯s palm goes flat across Mikael¡¯s forehead and in response, Mikael immediately shuts up. He doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s about to happen, but the other man sounds serious. And he¡¯s right¡­ whatever the fuck he¡¯s doing, Mikael really doesn¡¯t want him to make a mistake.


    Except, it doesn¡¯t matter how still or quiet Mikael is. Because what happens next is still¡­ still beyond his wildest expectations and most horrifying nightmares. It¡¯s insidious in how it creeps up on him too. The realization of what¡¯s just happened takes way too long.


    ¡°Wha-¡­ what¡­¡±


    He¡¯s¡­ missing things, all of the sudden. Like he still knew that he was a University Student. He still knew that he was headed to the campus earlier today before waking up here. But he didn¡¯t¡­ he couldn¡¯t recall the name of that University anymore. Nor could he recall his last name either. He was sure he¡¯d had one. He just didn¡¯t remember what it was.


    ¡°That¡¯s the first part done. Keep holding him down, Bula. This next part will be a little more¡­ violent.¡±


    Bula grunts at that, her lips curling into an anticipatory smile. Meanwhile, the evil wizard type¡¯s hand clutches down on Mikael¡¯s head even harder and suddenly¡­ suddenly he¡¯s jerking in place as memories that aren¡¯t his own go flowing into his mind¡¯s eye. They pass by almost too fast to understand or even begin to comprehend, at least consciously. But there¡¯s one prevailing theme above all else. They¡¯re all of war. Battles, more than Mikael can even begin to keep track of, filter through his head. His eyes almost roll back in his skull as he cries out and starts to struggle harder, feeling the sudden foreign need to fight, to scream, to rage.


    Mikael has never been what one could call a warrior. Nor would he categorize himself as a fighter either. Once again, he got to the gym when he could and he stayed in shape as best as anyone in the twenty-first century would be able to¡­ but he didn¡¯t really practice martial arts or anything like that. And he certainly didn¡¯t have any experience with swords or pitched combat, or being in the thick of a muddy battlefield, swinging desperately too and fro and cutting down enemy after enemy before they could cut him down in turn.


    Or at least¡­ he hadn¡¯t had that experience. Until now.


    Of course, all of his flailing, all of his fighting¡­ it ultimately amounts to nothing. Bula is still too strong, the inhuman woman holding him against the wall as her evil wizard boss finishes up with whatever the fuck he¡¯s doing and pulls away.


    ¡°Good. We¡¯re done here, Bula.¡±


    He begins making his way back towards the cell door, but Bula doesn¡¯t immediately follow. Instead she leans in close, staring at Mikael and sniffing at him curiously. In response¡­ he screams at her.


    ¡°GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY FACE!¡±


    It¡¯s a scream of desperation, of anger, of rage. He¡¯s chained up so even if he could match her strength, there¡¯s not much he can do to her. But he feels the need to express himself in some manner all the same.


    Far from being taken aback, the red head gives him a savage grin¡­ and roars right back at him.


    ¡°GRAAAAAAAAAAARH!¡±


    Mikael finds himself pressed back against the wall, his heart pounding as even the false memories his head is now stuffed with cower before her. And then¡­


    ¡°Come along now, Bula.¡±


    Her boss calls for her, a tinge of impatience and annoyance in his voice that causes her to snort and drop Mikael back to the ground. And with that¡­ they leave.


    In an instant, Mikael is alone again in the dark, the only source of light coming from a torch outside of his cell. Except¡­ except it¡¯s so much worse than before. His head is a jumbled mess. Jagged and raw, his memories are¡­ chaos manifest. He can see the bleeding lines where his actual memories end and the new memories begin, but it¡¯s not like that helps him all that much. He might be able to say that this memory or that memory aren¡¯t his, but they¡¯re still in there. And other things¡­ important things are not.


    He knows his first name is Mikael. But he no longer knows his last. He can recall his mother¡¯s face but not her name. He knows he had a father, but he can¡¯t find any details. He thinks he had at least one sibling¡­ but maybe it was as many as five? It feels like his mind has been ripped into two pieces and one of those pieces has been stolen from him entirely. Like a jigsaw puzzle that will never be completed. He only has half of the full picture.


    That alone would be enough to drive anyone mad, Mikael figures. But it¡¯s worse than that, because there¡¯s also the other memories. Memories of fighting and killing. Of bloodshed and conquest. He¡¯s fought wars where armies of thousands fought against one another. And he¡¯s fought duels where it was just him and his opponent facing off against one another¡­ winner takes all.


    He¡¯s just some pansy-ass twenty-first century American. He¡¯s never killed anyone before. He¡¯s never so much as held a weapon with the intent to kill. Except now he has. Fuck, he¡¯s stabbed more people than he can count. He can remember the feeling of his sword driving into someone¡¯s stomach even, dipping up under their breastplate and angling upwards to pierce right through their heart as he twists and-


    Heaving forward, Mikael throws up his breakfast all over the floor of the dimly lit cell. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Not your standard fare for your average struggling University Student, but it had been a special day. Why? Mikael couldn¡¯t remember anymore. Because some evil fucking wizard had torn out half of his life and replaced it with murder, carnage, and war.


    ¡°N-No¡­ no, s¡¯not me. None of that is me¡­¡±


    It wasn¡¯t all the same person, either. It¡¯s obvious from the start which memories are his and which aren¡¯t. But it takes a little while longer for Mikael to start parsing that most aren¡¯t from the same points of view. Practically every battle feels like it¡¯s viewed through a different set of eyes. Some battles are even viewed through multiple sets of eyes¡­ and from both sides at that. Fuck if that isn¡¯t fucking with him even worse. Having multiple perspectives of a mass amount of death and bloodletting¡­ it¡¯s messing with him something fierce.


    He knows it¡¯s not him. He KNOWS it. But that doesn¡¯t stop Mikael from looking down at his hands and imagining the terrible things he can now remember. He recalls literally squeezing the life out of people with his hands. He¡¯s doled out death with these hands. Not all of it on battlefields either. Some of it¡­ some of it was on plain dirt roads. Some of it was in dank back alleys.


    Some of his kills weren¡¯t anymore fighters than he was. Innocent wide eyes stare at Mikael from within his new memories and he jerks back again, his own eyes just as wide in response, his chest heaving up and down.


    However, before he can start to hyperventilate, the door to his cell swings open again. Mikael had been so lost in his own thoughts he hadn¡¯t even heard them coming, but suddenly they¡¯re there. Two men in full concealing armor march into the cell and grab him, yanking him up onto his feet. Mikael struggles until one of them backhands him across the face hard enough that he sees stars and feels a tooth loosen in his jaw.


    After that, he goes still, letting them unchain him from the wall but then apply new shackles to his wrists and ankles, connecting his arms and legs to one another. Then, they yank him out of the cell and pull him down the hall. Unable to keep up with their harsh pace, Mikael¡¯s bare feet scramble and scrape against stone as he finds himself dragged more than escorted to wherever they¡¯re taking him next.


    One thought worms its way into his mind though. Can¡¯t be worse than the dank dark cell, right? Only for another thought that feels foreign and born of his fake memories to answer it.


    Things can always get worse.

 Chapter 2: The Arena

    Things can always get worse. The thought starts out on the now-foreign side of his mind, only to move over to the native half as the guards drag him down a corridor that turns from cobbled stone to grittier and grittier sand. Until finally, he sees a source of natural light up ahead and has all of a moment to squint at its blinding ferocity before they reach a gate.


    Before Mikael can react, the gate is flung open and he¡¯s tossed right on through, thrown out into a sandy pit with nothing but a pair of pants to cover his modesty and chains to slow down his mobility. He¡¯s still a complete mess, both physically and mentally of course. His thoughts are jumbled as all hell. His mind is at war with itself and both sides are losing.


    However, at the same time¡­ something about the arena in particular feels almost¡­ right to him. As Mikael stares down at his shackled hands, there¡¯s a moment of vertigo and d¨¦j¨¤ vu. A moment where it¡¯s like he has a dozen different memories transposed over his vision where a dozen other men found themselves in this exact same situation.


    Likewise, the sword that¡¯s tossed down onto the sand next to him a moment later garners his attention instantaneously. He doesn¡¯t even flinch away from it. Instead, acting purely on instinct that feels as unnatural as it feels right, Mikael scrambles over to the weapon and quickly picks it up. The foreign half of his mind insists that it¡¯s a shit weapon, especially for the fight that he¡¯s about to be in.


    Even Mikael has to agree with those fake memories shoved into his head. The sword in his hands is rusty and looks ready to fall apart. Hell, he can see hairline fractures all throughout it that make it clear it¡¯s probably only good for a few more clashes before it shatters on him. But¡­ what fight?


    Only then does Mikael¡¯s conscious mind catch up with his subconscious as he realizes he¡¯s been orienting himself to face his opponent without even realizing it. He¡¯s not alone in the sandy arena pit. No, rather¡­ there¡¯s someone else in the pit with him.


    ¡°WE HAVE A SPECIAL ONE FOR YOU TONIGHT, FOLKS!¡±


    Standing across the way is a woman in shining golden armor. The female armor is covered in the golden, glimmering armor from head to toe, her helmet covering everything except for her eyes, which are an icy blue.


    ¡°NOT THE CRIMINAL, MIND YOU! JUST ANOTHER BRIGAND PAYING FOR HIS CRIMES! AH, BUT HIS OPPONENT¡­ NAY, HIS EXECUTIONER!¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael tears his gaze away from the golden knight and looks up at his surroundings. The sun shines far too brightly overhead, making it impossible to see very much, but if he lifts both hands to try and shade his eyes, he can get a better look around himself. Ultimately¡­ it¡¯s not much to look at. This is an arena, sure, but that¡¯s about all it can be described as. It¡¯s not some glorious colosseum, not some massive stadium with stands filled to the brim.


    No, the venue is quite small, and the stands, while more than half full, cannot be described as packed. That¡¯s not stopping the announcer from shouting at the top of his lungs for all to hear, however. For a moment, Mikael wonders if the man presiding over the arena will be the same bastard who fucked with his head. But¡­ no. It¡¯s not the evil fucking wizard. Nor is he or his inhuman muscle anywhere to be seen.


    ¡°HAILING FROM FAR AWAY LANDS, A FOREIGN KNIGHT OF GREAT RENOWN, I GIVE YOU ALL¡­ THE DAME!¡±


    The crowd cheers and applauds, though there¡¯s a note of politeness to it that Mikael can¡¯t help but feel conveys disinterest in ¡®The Dame¡¯s¡¯ identity. A foreign knight of great renown? Why the fuck would she be in some tiny arena pit like this, facing off against a dude wearing nothing but pants and chains? Something was seriously off here.


    Across the way, those icy blue eyes seem almost pitying for a moment. But as Mikael finds himself unconsciously testing the weight and heft of his shoddy sword, the Dame¡¯s gaze grows hardened and her resolve firms up right in front of him. Belatedly, the announcer¡¯s previous words finally hit him. The man had called him a criminal. A brigand.


    Part of him wants to protest the accusation. But the words catch on his tongue as he faces off against the female knight standing across from him. Her sword is buried point first in the ground, but as the crowd cheers and applauds, she grabs the hilt and yanks it up, hoisting her shield into the air as well.


    The truth is¡­ parts of him almost OWN the description as a criminal and vagabond. The longer he stands out here in the middle of this arena, the more Mikael realizes that plenty of his foreign memories aren¡¯t of war¡­ but of battle in arena pits just like this. And some¡­ some are of criminal acts, just as he¡¯s been accused of. Banditry. Brigandry. Worse.


    He knows deep down that he¡¯s not actually the man who did any of those things. He knows he¡¯s not a monster like his false memories paint him as. And yet¡­ and yet, it¡¯s quickly becoming quite clear to him that he¡¯s going to need those memories if he¡¯s going to survive this fight.


    ¡°READY?! BEGIN!¡±


    With that, any chance of protesting the announcer¡¯s accusations and trying to clear his good name are lost. The golden knight begins to move forward, and all Mikael can do is shuffle away, putting distance between the two of them and trying desperately to get used to his current circumstances. He has the memories of a thousand battles in his head, and surprisingly that somewhat translates into muscle memory as well.


    However, he has as many soldiers vying for supremacy in his mind as he does criminals and vagabonds. And most of the men whose lives are running through his mind¡¯s eye did not learn to fight with their ankles and wrists shackled together like his are now. His range of movement is incredibly limited, and he¡¯s forced into a sort of half-shuffle as he quickly backpedals around the arena, moving around in a wide circle to keep the golden knight both in front of him and at a good distance.


    For a few moments, she even seems content to let him do that. In fact, if Mikael didn¡¯t know any better, he¡¯d say that she was reluctant to engage. Rather, he DID know these kinds of things now. His memories are screaming at him that she¡¯s afraid, or nervous, or simply doesn¡¯t want this fight. They¡¯re telling him that he can take advantage of that. That he can win this.


    The foreign half of his mind begins concocting a plan for how to defeat the woman. How to tear her armor off once she¡¯s on the ground and end her¡­ or worse. Mikael jerks back, horrified by the mental images running through his head. What was once his mind and his alone, what was once his sanctuary ¡­ he now shared it with dozens of monsters. Ghosts who whispered in his mind that he COULD win. He just had to fight¡­ dirty.


    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Mikael didn¡¯t have a problem with fighting dirty, especially if it was his life on his line. He¡¯d always had a strong will to live, even before all this bullshit. But he would not engage in any of the OTHER activities that the foreign entities in his head were pushing for. He would win¡­ he would live. But he would not become a monster. He refused.


    ¡°Get on with it already!¡±


    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, just kill the sorry bastard!¡±


    Mikael finds himself torn out of the careful dance that he and the Dame have started up, the voices of the onlookers carrying from the stands around them. He scowls as he throws one of them an angry look that actually seems to intimidate that bystander into shying back. But of course, he can only glare down one person at a time. The rest continue to call out jeering comments, demanding his head on a pike.


    When he focuses back on the Dame, she seems to have taken their words to heart. Her reluctance fades away, replaced by determination as she finally moves forward, cutting the distance between them in half, and then half again, and then¡­ she¡¯s right on top of him. There¡¯s no helping it. Circling an arena this small and trying to stay out of her reach was never going to work forever. It relied entirely on her unwillingness to engage, and that had come to an abrupt end.


    Instead, he raises his sword and clashes with hers, surprised at how fluid his body moves as he blocks her blow and slips to the side, swinging his blade around to try and catch her off-guard. Of course, she in turn manages to block his swipe with her shield, easily bringing it up in time to stop his own strike in its tracks. She¡¯s good, he finds himself thinking. Very good. But he¡¯s better. He has to believe that.


    Her next attack comes from above, an overhand strike¡­ and Mikael lifts his arms up so that rather than splitting his head in twain, her sword lands on the chain locking his wrists together. The hope is that she¡¯ll either shear right through his restraints, or her blade will get tangled up in the chain and he¡¯ll be able to wrench it from her grasp.


    The first option would obviously be the best, but despite looking almost as shoddy as his sword, the chains do not shatter. Instead they glow brightly and rebound her sword, even as she hastily pulls it back, causing the second option to fail as well.


    Mikael has only a second to register the actual magic he just witnessed. His chains were not mundane, ordinary chains. They were enchanted, weren¡¯t they? It really drove home what he already knew but hadn¡¯t wanted to accept. This was not his world. This was not his home. He was in a world of magic and wonder¡­ and so far, he was only getting to experience the worst parts of it.


    But Mikael refused to let this be how it ended. He would live. He would survive. Even if he was at a disadvantage, he was sure he could find a way out of this. He could win.


    The crowd in the stands are cheering now that an actual fight is happening. And the announcer is commentating at the top of his lungs like this is some sort of sports match. Then again, for all Mikael knew, this WAS what passed for sports around here.


    ¡°OOOH! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, FOLKS! OUR CRIMINAL HAS SOME BITE TO HIM AFTER ALL! THE DAME DOESN¡¯T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO LAND A BLOW! SURELY THERE WON¡¯T BE AN UPSET HERE, WILL THERE?!¡±


    ¡°Fucking gut the bastard!¡±


    ¡°Quit playing around you foreign bitch!¡±


    Mikael wouldn¡¯t say the crowd was turning on his opponent, but damn if they seemed to only like her marginally more than they liked him. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that they hated him marginally more than they hated her. Not that they even knew him. They just knew the picture that the announcer fucking painted of him.


    But he can¡¯t let that distract him now. Despite being chained up, despite having nothing but this shitty rusted sword, Mikael really did feel like he was running circles around his opponent. Yes, she still seemed a little uncertain. Yes, she was almost certainly holding back. But even still, he could do this. He just had to get lucky. Just one time¡­


    Fluidly dodging her next sword thrust, one that the foreign part of his mind assures him is textbook perfect, Mikael swings his sword around, hoping to finally land a blow on the small part of her arm that isn¡¯t armored. If he can just disable one of her limbs, he¡¯ll have a shot. He just has to-


    Unfortunately, her shield comes up again just in the nick of time. And as his sword lands upon the golden aegis, the worst possible thing happens.


    C-CRRSSH!


    His sword shatters, breaking into a hundred different pieces that all drop to the sandy arena pit, turning what was already rough terrain for his bared, shackled feet into something much more dangerous. Not that it really matters, in the end. Staring at his broken sword, now nothing more than a hilt with some metal attached to it at this point, Mikael is reminded of an old saying. It¡¯s possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That¡¯s not weakness. That¡¯s life.


    ¡°I can make it quick, at least.¡±


    There¡¯s a sudden feeling of¡­ intrusion in his chest as the Dame speaks up in a quiet tone for the first time since all of this started. Mikael chokes on what he thinks is spit as he slowly slides his gaze downwards to find the golden knight¡¯s shiny sword buried in his heart. Not spit, he belatedly realizes as his vision begins to go blurry. Not spit at all. Blood.


    He coughs up more of the red substance, feeling its coppery taste in his mouth, on his tongue, on his lips. He really had been so sure he could win. And if he could win, he would win. That was how it was supposed to go, right? That was how all the stories he¡¯d read went, anyways. Summoned to another world? It didn¡¯t matter the adversities you faced. It didn¡¯t matter the trials thrown your way. You were supposed to overcome everything and win, no matter what.


    ¡°WELL NOW! SEEMS THE DAME HAS FINALLY FINISHED OFF THE CRIMINAL SCUM. CERTAINLY TOOK HER LONG ENOUGH!¡±


    There¡¯s a strange note of regret in the female knight¡¯s eyes as she pulls her sword back out and blood erupts from the wound she leaves behind. Not that he gets long to look at her seeing as he almost immediately falls back into the sand, clutching at his chest.


    It didn¡¯t seem fair. Nothing about this seemed at all fair. But then¡­ that was just how life went sometimes, wasn¡¯t it?


    His last sight is of the sun at least. And as the sunlight beats down on his face, the pain in his chest ebbs away along with all other sense of feeling, until that¡¯s all that remains. And then¡­ even that is gone as his eyes drift shut and everything goes black.


    Mikael dies.


    ¡­


    ¡­


    ¡­


    And then he wakes up.

 Chapter 3: The Basement

    Coming back to life sucks, Mikael quickly decides. Zero out of ten, would not recommend. Then again, it was better than the alternative, he supposed. But only ever so slightly. Dying had really, really sucked. There was no denying that. And if you asked Mikael whether he would be dead as a door nail or alive but in a shitty situation, he¡¯d pick alive but in a shitty situation every time.


    ¡­ That said, his last memory of the sunlight beating down upon his face and chest had been¡­ nice. It had almost made up for the fact that he¡¯d just been stabbed through the chest by some bitch in golden armor called ¡®The Dame¡¯. Not quite¡­ but almost.


    Still, one thing was for sure. He was getting really sick and tired of waking up in random places with absolutely no clue of how he got there. This time around, he¡¯s coming to laid out on a slanted metal slab, the cold of which feels like it¡¯s seeping into his naked back as he lays there and just¡­ tries to get his bearings. Key word being ¡®tries¡¯, because honestly, nothing feels very good at the moment.


    There¡¯s this heavy weight on his chest that he can¡¯t quite put into words, and a bone-deep exhaustion that means he can¡¯t even begin trying to lift himself up in spite of the weight. He feels like he¡¯s ran a dozen marathons back to back to back with no water and no rest. He would say that he¡¯s dying, but seeing as the last thing he remembers is experiencing death, that¡¯s the one thing he can be sure he¡¯s NOT doing at the moment.


    Still, his head is pounding and his vision is swimming. His memory problems are worse than ever too. He can feel the foreign half of his mind all but assaulting the native half with demands to get his act together and get his bearings. Wake up, soldier! Get the fuck off the damn table, you bastard! You can sleep when you¡¯re dead!


    Guess it was too much to hope that dying would get rid of those false memories. Whatever bullshit that evil wizard had done to his mind had persisted through death itself. Which was frankly fucking bullshit. Couldn¡¯t he catch one goddamn break? But no. His mind was still Swiss cheese. He still couldn¡¯t remember half of the life he¡¯d actually lived.


    People he KNEW he loved with all his heart were coming up almost entirely blank. And then there were people who he knew everything about but couldn¡¯t say how HE was connected to them. And what did he get in return for the mess? The memories of a bunch of killers stuffed into his head to fill up the empty space left behind by that jackass¡¯ ham-fisted work.


    The thing was, he WAS dead. Everything Mikael knew about anatomy, as well as everything he suddenly knew about the best ways to kill someone¡­ it told him that he should be dead. The Dame¡¯s sword had stabbed deep into his chest and skewered his heart. And it¡¯d been big enough that the organ was likely completely demolished in the act as well.


    You didn¡¯t survive long without a heart. At least¡­ not without magic. But Mikael isn¡¯t lucky enough to find himself in some magical hospital with a cute nurse standing nearby to tell him all that it was just one big misunderstanding. Nor was he in some church being seen to by a sexy nun. No, as his vision finally stops swimming, the first things Mikael notes are that he¡¯s in a grimy, blood-covered basement¡­ and the nearby table is filled with what could either be surgical tools¡­ or torture implements.


    It''s hard to tell, mostly because the only source of light in the basement is a very, very faint teal light that washes over the table and his immediate surroundings. Admittedly, it takes far longer than it should have for Mikael to realize that said teal light is coming from HIM. But then, to be fair¡­ he¡¯s had a rough day so far.


    Either way, he finally registers that the heavy weight on his chest that he¡¯d noticed before is also the source of the glow. And as he looks down at himself, Mikael realizes that the weight isn¡¯t ON his chest¡­ it¡¯s IN his chest. There, something that¡¯s very much NOT supposed to be there, on account of it most definitely NOT being biological in any way, is¡­ a contraption for lack of better word.


    Encased in a dark metal with some sort of glowing teal material at its center, there¡¯s a heavy device in Mikael¡¯s chest right where his heart should be. Embedded in his skin, it hums quietly, almost too quietly for him to hear even in the near silence of the basement.


    ¡°¡­ Holy shit¡­¡±


    Reaching out with trembling fingers, Mikael touches the thing, half-expecting it to zap him. But¡­ no. It feels almost cool to the touch, even as he runs his hands over the outer casing. He was right then. He HAD lost his heart to the Dame. She¡¯d obliterated it with her sword, ruining the thing keeping him alive and pumping blood through his veins. And then¡­ then someone had taken his corpse and brought him back. With this¡­ thing.


    How the fuck did that even work? Wasn¡¯t there something about how the longer your heart wasn¡¯t beating, the more brain damage you were suffering? Or was it to do with breathing and keeping your blood oxygenated or something? Shouldn¡¯t Mikael be missing MORE as a result of dying and being brought back? As far as he knew, he wasn¡¯t. Then again, if he WAS missing more than he had been before, how the fuck would he even know? Fuck. This whole situation was a crapshoot.


    Before Mikael can figure anything else out on his own, the door to the basement suddenly explodes open and Mikael finds himself jolting as someone rushes into the room only to stop dead in their tracks as they see him moving around.


    ¡°No way¡­ it worked?!¡±


    Mikael blinks as he takes in the beautiful woman in front of him. Dressed all in black, with black lips and black bags under her eyes and even some startling black freckles on incredibly pale skin¡­ she positively screams goth to him. Of course, that¡¯s as long as one ignores the bloodstained apron and gloves she¡¯s wearing over the incredibly gothic dress she has on underneath.


    ¡°IT WORKED!¡±


    Mikael winces at the sudden scream that leaves the young woman¡¯s mouth, even as she rushes over to him.


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe this! I¡¯d given up all hope¡­ but no! I knew it. I knew I just wasn¡¯t working with the right materials. And now look. I finally get what I need and it works immediately! Hah!¡±


    Looking at her, you wouldn¡¯t expect someone dressed like she is to be so damn exuberant. But then, maybe that¡¯s just because she¡¯s positively exploding with excitement over ¡®it¡¯ working. ¡®It¡¯ clearly being the damn thing in his chest, especially with the way she was looking it over, tapping the outer casing like he had.


    Except she doesn¡¯t stop there. She moves on from the device that¡¯s replaced Mikael¡¯s heart in record time, reaching up and patting his cheeks next, then going as far as to pull on his eyelids, staring at his pupils. She reminds him of a doctor checking for dilation or something, except she exhibits increasing mad scientist energy that, combined with the macabre setting they¡¯re in, only serves to freak Mikael the fuck out.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Stop¡­ get away from me¡­¡±


    He tries to push her away, tries to force some space¡­ but he still feels incredibly weak. The device in his chest flickers and he groans as he falls back onto the slanted metal slab, exhausted as all hell.


    Meanwhile, the goth woman¡¯s dark eyes widen at this.


    ¡°Ah! I know exactly what you need. Don¡¯t you worry, I have just the thing for you!¡±


    Turning away, she rushes over to the opposite side of the basement, a darkened area that the teal glow coming from Mikael¡¯s chest couldn¡¯t reach. Now that he¡¯s focusing on her though, he sees the cages that she¡¯s currently fussing over.


    As she busies herself with that, Mikael scrambles to get his bearings. He¡¯s not alone anymore¡­ which means he¡¯s not safe. The foreign half of his mind is urging him to find the closest weapon, which just so happens to be a hacksaw on the table next to him. A hacksaw covered in blood. Looking down at the state of his naked chest and recognizing that he must have been operated on VERY recently, Mikael quickly realizes that that¡¯s HIS blood.


    ¡­ At the same time, his ears twitch towards the door that the goth woman had come rushing through. He thinks he hears the sounds of crashing and shouting in the distance. Angry shouting at that.


    Before he can question any of it though, his mysterious benefactor comes back over to him with a rat of all things held out in her gloved hands.


    ¡°Go on. Take it.¡±


    Confused as all hell, Mikael struggles to lift a hand and take the wriggling creature from the woman¡­ only for her to pull it out of his reach and shake her head.


    ¡°No. Not like that.¡±


    In that moment, the urge to grab the hacksaw and bury it in the pale girl¡¯s exposed neck is very, VERY strong. So strong in fact, that it startles Mikael quite badly. Fortunately he¡¯s able to recognize that the urge comes from the memories forced upon him by that bastard evil wizard. Memories that are not his own. And he¡¯s not about to give into them, damn it. He¡¯s not about to try and kill someone who¡¯s just trying to help him!


    Thankfully, this is not something that all of the ¡®people¡¯ who have been forced into his head are in agreement on. Those who are just soldiers and warriors, those who still have honor¡­ they agree with Mikael himself that violence is not the answer here. Even still, he needs more fucking information. Through gritted teeth, he looks at the woman and asks for clarification.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ know what you mean. Explain.¡±


    He¡¯s so exhausted that even getting the words out is hard. But at least he manages to get his point across because her eyes light up again and she at least has the good grace to look sheepish. Looking from him to the rat and then back at him again, her freckled pale face goes a little red as she squirms under his deadpan gaze.


    ¡°R-Right. Sorry. Err¡­ focus. It should come as naturally to you as breathing. Just¡­ focus on the rat. Focus on taking its energy for your own. It¡¯s literally nothing but a rodent, so it can¡¯t possibly defend itself against you.¡±


    That was¡­ both informative and fucking ominous. What was supposed to be as natural as breathing? What did it mean to take the rat¡¯s energy? Unfortunately, the crashing and shouting is getting closer so he really doesn¡¯t have time to ask more questions. Though¡­ does she not hear it? She¡¯s not even looking towards the door.


    He almost mentions it, almost brings it up¡­ but he¡¯s just so tired. And she¡¯s giving him this expectant look, like she¡¯s wondering what the fuck is taking him so long. She even shakes the rat at him, clearly miming for him to get a move on already.


    Either way, Mikael focuses on the rat in her hands like he¡¯s been told. He focuses on¡­ on its energy. Surprisingly, it¡¯s just as easy as she said. Looking past the physical shell, looking past the rat¡¯s body, there¡¯s something else. Something metaphysical. That¡¯s what Mikael reaches out for. And that¡¯s what he takes, abruptly sucking out every last drop of energy from the rat in one fell swoop.


    Squealing and shrieking, the rodent goes crazy in the pale woman¡¯s gloved hands¡­ for all of a second anyways before it literally shrivels up and dies right there in her grasp. Mikael barely has a moment to register that however, because as it dies, a teal energy flows out of its corpse and straight into his chest. Or rather, it flows straight into the device now embedded in his chest.


    Instantly, Mikael finds himself feeling a LOT better. Really good, in fact. So good that his savior has to back up from him as he suddenly rises from the metal slab, staring down at his chest. The dim glow isn¡¯t quite so dim anymore. In fact, it¡¯s glowing rather brightly, bathing more of the blood-covered basement in its teal light as Mikael stands there and slowly comes to terms with how he¡¯s feeling.


    The device doesn¡¯t seem like such a dead weight in his chest anymore. Now that it has some juice in it, it actually feels like it belongs there. Like it¡¯s doing all the work of a flesh and blood heart and more. Mikael feels like he could run one of those metaphorical marathons he¡¯d mentioned earlier. Power courses through every fiber of his body and¡­ and he feels like he could take on the world in this moment. And all of that because¡­ because he¡¯d what? Sucked the life force out of some rat?


    ¡­ Just what had this woman done to him? What exactly had she replaced his heart with? And most importantly of all, how often was he going to have to suck rat energy in order to survive going forward?


    He might no longer be dead. He might no longer be suffering from such bad exhaustion that he could barely move a muscle. But that just meant he had time to worry about everything else. And as his brow furrows at the numerous questions filling his mind, Mikael turns to the goth woman, fully intending to grill her for answers.


    BAM! BAM! BAM!


    But before he can ask a single question, there¡¯s a sudden loud banging on the door to the basement, and a raised snarling voice that echoes through it.


    ¡°AVINA! OPEN UP!¡±


    Suddenly, the girl has his hands in her own and is clutching at them frantically. Her eyes are filled with fear but also hope.


    ¡°T-There¡¯s no time. Please¡­ they¡¯re here. You¡¯ll have to fight.¡±


    The door busts down a moment later and three men come rushing into the room. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

 Chapter 4: The Thugs

    They¡¯re thugs. That¡¯s the first thing that runs through Mikael¡¯s mind as the three men force their way into the small, increasingly cramped basement. The first thing that runs through BOTH sides of his fractured psyche, as a matter of fact. Not only do they come across as thugs to Mikael himself, but even the foreign memories taking up unlawful residence in his head are in agreement.


    Fuck, the first fucker, the one taking the lead while the other two have his back, is even some bald bastard with a shit-eating grin on his ugly mug as he glares daggers at the young woman who it would seem brought Mikael back to life.


    ¡°Avina. Nowhere left to run, girlie.¡±


    Stiffening, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, the now named ¡®Avina¡¯ hisses angrily.


    ¡°Who¡¯s running, Tak? Were you calling for me or something? Sorry, I didn¡¯t hear you. I was in a hurry to get back to my work. Important work sanctioned by YOUR boss; I might remind you. What gives you the right to come rushing in here, damaging my door, huh?!¡±


    She¡¯s not a very good liar, Mikael notes. If even HIS bullshit detector is going off at that bit of word vomit, he can only imagine that this ¡®Tak¡¯ fellow is less than convinced. And indeed, as expected, the bald fucker snorts derisively and crosses his arms over his chest, sneering at the young woman now.


    ¡°My boss might have sanctioned your little projects, girl¡­ but only so long as he continues to get paid. Lord Zadicus wants his money, Avina. Time to pay up.¡±


    Just from the grimace on Avina¡¯s face, it¡¯s obvious that the pale woman doesn¡¯t have what he wants. Of course, she confirms it outright with her next words.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have his money right now, Tak. But I also have until the end of the week to pay. So you can fuck right off and come back then. Or else I¡¯ll tell Lord Zadicus you¡¯ve been double dipping!¡±


    Her bravado is impressive if nothing else. But it doesn¡¯t seem to be working on the head thug. He¡¯s not remotely intimidated by Avina¡¯s attempts at getting him to back off. In fact¡­ he barely pays her words any mind, because he¡¯s finally recognized that Mikael is in the room. The bald bastard¡¯s eyes meet Mikael¡¯s for a moment and then slide downwards, to his exposed chest.


    At which point, Tak proves to be a lot smarter than Mikael had initially gave him credit for, because when he sees whatever the fuck it is that Avina has replaced Mikael¡¯s heart with, his eyes light up in recognition.


    ¡°You¡¯ve done it then. You¡¯ve completed your project.¡±


    Tak sounds amazed. Then again, Mikael supposes it IS pretty amazing. He might be relatively new to this world, but his memories aren¡¯t. And while magic IS real, true resurrection magic is still the stuff of legends if the foreign half of his brain isn¡¯t fucking with him. The fragmented minds of the men shoved into his head have seen more than enough death in their times. They would know if something like bringing someone back to life was at all normal, or even remotely possible.


    ¡°What? Completed? Don¡¯t be stupid, Tak. He¡¯s a prototype, nothing more. He won¡¯t even last the night.¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael shakes his head, trying to pull out of the jumbled mess that is his mind. He can¡¯t help but feel VERY alarmed over Avina¡¯s sudden dismissiveness regarding his chances of survival. He¡¯d just got done thinking she wasn¡¯t a very good liar too¡­ but there¡¯d been a ring of truth to her words and the tone she¡¯d taken. So either she¡¯d calmed down enough to be able to pass off a fib¡­ or she was telling the truth and he wouldn¡¯t actually last the night.


    Needless to say, he doesn¡¯t like that second option. He doesn¡¯t like it one bit. But more than that, he just wants to know what the fuck is going on. Who the fuck is Avina even supposed to be? Some sort of mad scientist? Who is Tak and this Lord Zadicus fellow? He¡¯d misjudged the bald man¡¯s intelligence once already, so maybe he was misjudging him altogether? Maybe he wasn¡¯t the bad guy here¡­ maybe Avina was?


    Groaning, Mikael brings a hand to the side of his head, trying desperately to get his thoughts in order. That proves to be entirely impossible of course, but if nothing else¡­ if Avina is telling the truth and he¡¯s not going to last the night, it¡¯s possible this Tak fellow and his boss are Mikael¡¯s only chance of survival. He needed¡­ he needed more information.


    ¡°Would someone¡­ please tell me what¡¯s going on. Fuck, my head¡­ I just¡­ I don¡¯t understand.¡±


    He¡¯s hoping to appeal to their basic human decency, but aside from giving him a curious gaze, Tak doesn¡¯t respond. And the two men with Tak are as silent as the grave. Avina, meanwhile, gestures to him.


    ¡°See what I mean? Sure, he¡¯s talking¡­ but he¡¯s not really all there, you know? He¡¯s a proof of concept. Not the final product.¡±


    There¡¯s a heartbeat of silence, with Mikael staring around the room pleadingly, just looking for answers. But Avina won¡¯t meet his eyes and when he finally looks to Tak¡­ the bald man¡¯s ugly mug contorts into another nasty grin as he lets out a bark of laughter.


    ¡°Well then¡­ if that¡¯s the case, we¡¯ll just take your ¡®proof of concept¡¯ here to the arena and make some use of him there. And maybe, if he does a half-decent job before keeling over, Lord Zadicus will see fit to forgive your next payment.¡±


    Mikael jolts back at that, every fiber of his being rebelling at the thought of ever stepping foot in an arena ever again. His mind fills with memories of his death at the end of the Dame¡¯s sword. His chest suddenly hurts like nothing else, throbbing with pain even though the spot where she stabbed him has been completely excavated out and replaced with Avina¡¯s device.


    The pain is a phantom sort of pain, making him stumble and take a step back, catching himself with one hand on the table filled with all of those ghastly, blood-covered surgical tools.


    ¡°What?! No! You can¡¯t! He¡¯s not¡­ he¡¯s not even fighting fit! B-Besides¡­ he might not be the final product, but he¡¯s still a very valuable prototype! I need to run tests and collect as much valuable information from him before he expires as possible! Throwing him into one of those damn pits is just a waste!¡±


    Tak¡¯s smile drops and he scowls at the dark-haired woman.


    ¡°I decide what is a waste and what isn¡¯t, girl. You can come along and conduct your damn tests from the sidelines. You and I both know Lord Zadicus has never cared about whether the combatants in the pits are fighting fit before.¡±


    Mikael was starting to get a sinking suspicion about just who this ¡®Lord Zadicus¡¯ fellow really was. Of course, he could still be wrong¡­ but two things were certain. Tak wasn¡¯t taking ¡®no¡¯ for an answer¡­ and Mikael wasn¡¯t going back to the arena. He refused.


    ¡°Please! It¡¯s embarrassing! I already told you, he¡¯s a proof of concept. He¡¯s not something that anyone, including Zadicus, is ever supposed to see! Give me some more time and I¡¯ll have something you can throw into the arena by next week. But not him. He¡¯s unfinished! He¡¯s-!¡±


    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    SMACK!


    Mikael blinks as the bald thug rapidly crosses the distance between him and Avina and backhands her across the face, cutting off her frantic pleading. Honestly, he¡¯d gotten so caught up in what she was saying that he¡¯d let himself be distracted from the threats in the room. She sounded¡­ shockingly desperate. She¡¯d been outright begging for Tak to leave them alone.


    Was he really nothing more than a prototype doomed to die by the end of the night like she¡¯d said? Or was there something more to it?


    ¡°Shut up. You¡¯ve had more than enough time to deliver results, bitch. And this is all you have to show for it? Some unfinished prototype? A proof of concept? Lord Zadicus is growing tired of your excuses, girl. Keep fucking around and you¡¯re going to find out rather soon just how limited his patience really is. Boys! Grab the fucking zombie. He¡¯s going to the pits.¡±


    Mikael stiffens up, even as Thug Two and Thug Three move forward. Now that they¡¯re in front of him rather than behind their leader, he can see why Tak is in charge of doing all the talking. He might be an ugly bastard, but they¡¯re both even uglier. More than that though, they¡¯re going to take him back to the arena. They¡¯re going to throw him back out onto that sand.


    The phantom pain in Mikael¡¯s chest grows stronger, and for a moment he stands there frozen, hand back against the table behind him as the two thugs reach for him. Then, faster than even he can register¡­ his arm swings around, the hacksaw suddenly in his clutches coming down in an overhead strike that causes it to carve straight through the forehead of Thug Two.


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen in surprise, even as Thug Two lets out a gurgle and dies on the spot. Thug Three pauses for a moment as he and Mikael observe each other in the short tableau of silence that follows. Then¡­


    Releasing the hacksaw now stuck in Thug Two¡¯s skull, Mikael lets out a bellow and rushes Thug Three with his arms outstretched for a bear hug. This proves to not be the BEST move that he could have made, because Thug Three snarls and reacts rather quickly, pulling out a knife and stabbing Mikael directly into the gut as he comes rushing in.


    Except¡­ he barely even feels it. And before he can properly register the pain or the injury, he finds himself reaching down, tearing the knife out of his stomach by the handle, and jamming it straight into Thug Three¡¯s eye and further on into the man¡¯s brain, killing him instantly.


    ¡°What the fuck?!¡±


    Mikael rips the dagger back out, causing the second of Tak¡¯s thugs to fall dead to the ground, rendered into little more than a corpse in a matter of seconds. In response, Tak pulls away from Avina and reaches down to his side, where Mikael belatedly realizes that he has a sword sheathed. The bald fucker draws the sword and grits his teeth, holding it up between them as he looks to his dead comrades and then back at Mikael.


    ¡°The fuck have you done, Avina? What sort of abomination have you created?!¡±


    Ignoring Tak¡¯s words, Avina looks at Mikael with an imploring gaze as she calls out to him.


    ¡°The bodies! Focus on the bodies!¡±


    Admittedly, Mikael has certainly had better days. While this is still better than having his heart carved out by a knight in golden armor, the gut wound is finally catching up to him and it¡¯s really, REALLY starting to hurt. Likewise, he¡¯s suddenly feeling exhausted again. Not quite as exhausted as he was feeling before the rat, but definitely far less powerful than he felt right after it. He¡¯s shaking, he realizes¡­ even as Avina¡¯s words finally permeate through the haze that¡¯s settled over his mind.


    His eyes slide down to the bodies that he¡¯s just created. The men he¡¯s just killed. Absently, Mikael notes that these are the first two murders he¡¯s ACTUALLY committed. Self-defense, sure¡­ but he still butchered them both. Unlike all of the other memories of slaughter and bloodshed swimming through his head, these two men died by his actual hands, not the hands of someone else.


    He focuses on their bodies, just as Avina said¡­ and just as he did with the rat. The only difference there was, the rat was still alive. So there was an ever so slight bit of resistance. With these two? No resistance at all. Teal energy rushes out of their bodies and into Mikael¡¯s chest without delay, flowing up into the device that¡¯s replaced his heart damn near immediately.


    Mikael feels the effects damn near immediately as well. Renewed strength beyond his wildest imagination flows through his body, coursing through his veins. More even than what he got from the rat. The teal glow coming off of the device in his chest explodes outwards as well, bathing the entire basement in its light now, illuminating every corner of the small, cramped space.


    As the basement is awash in teal, Tak¡¯s eyes widen at the display. The bald thug loses his nerve a moment later and turns to run, having smartly put the open basement door right behind him when he¡¯d moved away from Avina and drawn his sword. Unfortunately, as clever as Tak is, it¡¯s not enough. Mikael is on him before he can get more than a step.


    One hand spreads out, his fingers sliding over Tak¡¯s bald scalp and gripping down harshly in a way that jerks the sword-wielding thug to a stop. The other hand holds his friend¡¯s dagger¡­ and brings it up through the air, slicing right through the back of Tak¡¯s neck in a movement that not only severs his spine, but also angles upwards to slam right through the roof of his mouth and into his brain.


    As he does so, he focuses one last time, feeling that¡­ energy. There¡¯s a connection between him and the rapidly dying thug, and as he pulls on it, teal light flows out of Tak¡¯s jerking body and into Mikael¡¯s chest, forcing him to more swiftly expire.


    Letting Tak¡¯s shriveling corpse drop to the basement floor, Mikael looks down at his hands, both the empty one and the one holding a dagger that just took the lives of two thugs.


    ¡­ In the end, he can¡¯t bring himself to feel too guilty. It was him or them. If he didn¡¯t defend himself, they would have either killed him or thrown him back into that damn arena so that some golden bitch could kill him for them. He¡­ he refused to die. Again. He refused to die again. He wanted to live.


    Admittedly, he¡¯s never felt MORE alive than right now. The energy of three dead men courses through his body and Mikael has to admit, he feels like he could take on an entire army like this. Maybe that¡¯s just the juice talking though. He should probably temper his expectations.


    Still, no matter how good he feels, one thing is still dead certain. He has a LOT of fucking questions. And there¡¯s only one other living person left in this basement. Fortunately, he¡¯s pretty sure she¡¯s just the woman to give him the answers he needs.

 Chapter 5: The Soul Engine

    Slowly turning towards the only other person left alive in the basement, Mikael lets out a lengthy exhale and almost reflexively fights down the urge to commit more violence. He knows that¡¯s not him by this point. And while there¡¯s still some adrenaline pumping through his veins, the fight is over now. Speaking of which¡­


    Mikael looks down at himself, past the device embedded in his chest, to where the dagger he¡¯s now holding had been stabbed into his gut. He hadn¡¯t even realized it, but the pain had completely gone away. That made sense, given the wound had completely gone away as well. Mikael runs his fingers across his now blemish-free abdomen, a little shocked at how¡­ total the healing seems to be. Then again, the nightlight in his chest is still glowing brightly and he still feels like he has the strength of ten men coursing through his body. So maybe it shouldn¡¯t be surprising at all.


    Either way, he¡¯s feeling like a million bucks at the moment and that SEEMS to be thanks to the woman standing in front of him. Makes it easier to ignore the murderous urges that want him to stab the dagger into her eye.


    Instead, he lifts his empty hand and jabs a finger at her.


    ¡°Avina.¡±


    She jolts, only to slowly nod in response.


    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ that¡¯s my name¡­¡±


    Pointing back at himself, Mikael makes sure to enunciate.


    ¡°Mikael.¡±


    This causes a smile to spread across her face, one that Mikael can admit only accentuates her beauty¡­ so long as one is willing to ignore the bloodstained apron and gloves from when she¡¯d clearly been working on him VERY recently. Then again, some of his fissured mind was into that. Ugh.


    ¡°Hello, Mikael. It¡¯s a pleasure to properly meet you.¡±


    Mikael frowns at that and shakes his head.


    ¡°Pleasure¡¯s all yours. I¡¯d really like an explanation now, Avina. I¡¯d really like to know what the fuck is going on.¡±


    He feels pretty good about the fact that he¡¯s not raising his voice at the moment. Though Avina still flinches at the gruff, angry undercurrent to his tone. He can¡¯t help that though, and he thinks she should be able to forgive him a little anger, all things considered.


    ¡°R-Right. That¡¯s¡­ entirely fair. You¡¯ve been through a lot. You definitely deserve an explanation. What¡­ what do you want to know?¡±


    He wants to know more things than he can count right now. But there are less things he NEEDS to know. It takes him a moment to order them in terms of priority in his own head, but honestly? The very first item on the list isn¡¯t going to change, no matter how long he spends wracking his brain trying to think of anything more important.


    Bringing the dagger he¡¯d used to kill two men up; he taps the edge against the outer casing of the device embedded in his chest.


    Tink. Tink.


    As it makes a metallic sound from the impacts, Avina winces but doesn¡¯t try to tell him off. Though the look she gives the device is¡­ well, it¡¯s almost reverent. And proud.


    ¡°What is this thing? I¡¯m not a complete idiot. I recognize that it¡¯s replaced my heart entirely. But¡­ what the fuck is it?¡±


    Avina lights up at that, or as much as anyone who dresses in all black and is covered in his blood CAN light up. Mikael gets the impression that outside of her ¡®project¡¯, she¡¯s a bit more standoffish and introverted. But get her talking about her work and she starts to come to life.


    ¡°That¡­ thing as you put it, is my magnum opus! My life¡¯s work! That, my dear Mikael¡­ is the Soul Engine!¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes bulge at that and he immediately looks to the corpses of the rat and the three men he¡¯d killed. All four bodies, both animal and human, are shriveled up into little more than husks. While he¡­ he feels energized and powerful. Like he could take on any challenge and overcome any obstacle. But¡­ Soul Engine?


    Staring down at the device in his chest, he tries to wrap his head around it. A¡­ Soul Engine. It makes a sickening sort of sense, he supposes. The humming is louder now, though still relatively unobtrusive. Still, many would liken your average engine to that of a heart. They were what made powered machines work. Just like the heart made blood flow through a body.


    Of course, the exact details of how Avina¡¯s Soul Engine was managing to make HIS blood flow through his veins and keep him ticking were¡­ definitely escaping him in this moment. But then, what did Mikael know about Soul Engines or magic or¡­ or anything, really? Not much, as it turned out. Not even the foreign entities in his mind knew much about magic except how dangerous it was. They all believed magic existed, and some had seen it as well, but none of them were men who could cast it themselves. They were all mundane soldiers. Or warriors. Or just plain killers and worse.


    Either way though, Mikael can¡¯t help but blanch at the other word in ¡®Soul Engine¡¯. The S word. He looks at Avina askance, unable to help the slightly accusatory tone his next words take.


    ¡°You told me that I was just¡­ taking energy. But in actuality, you were having me¡­ eat souls?¡±


    Looking rather confused, Avina tilts her head to the side and shrugs.


    ¡°Well¡­ yes.¡±


    He can¡¯t help but look down at the corpses again. The rat was one thing, but he¡¯d truly consumed these men¡¯s souls? The demeanor of all three men strikes him then. How nasty and monstrous Tak and his two goons were. Was he going to¡­ get any of that from him? By eating their souls, had he infected himself with their vicious, thuggish, murderous personalities?


    Sure, maybe that was a silly thing to worry about when he was still dealing with the other foreign memories of killing and bloodshed stuffed into his head, but that was just it! Mikael had enough to deal with just trying to handle the worst of that lot! And now he had to worry about three more ¡®voices¡¯ added to the mix? Though admittedly¡­ he wasn¡¯t ¡®hearing¡¯ anything that particularly reminded him of that bastard Tak. But what if it was only a matter of time?


    ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re one of those spiritual types, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Pulled from his thoughts, Mikael looks over just in time to see Avina scoffing. Spiritual types? He actually didn¡¯t consider himself very spiritual, no. But he didn¡¯t have to be to start believing in the existence of souls when she quite literally shoved proof in his face in the form of that teal energy he¡¯d sucked out of his kills. Combine that with the name of the device in his chest literally being ¡®Soul Engine¡¯ and it painted a pretty clear picture.


    ¡°Look, listen closely please. Souls are just energy at the end of the day. Everyone likes to think that their soul has some sort of imprint of themselves in it, but that¡¯s ridiculous. Souls are basically just transfer nodes in the great tapestry of life. Ultimately, people are the sum of their experiences, of their memories. NOT their souls. A soul doesn¡¯t hold any of the actual person it¡¯s connected to in it.¡±


    She certainly sounds knowledgeable, which given this is apparently an area of expertise for her¡­ makes sense. But at the same time¡­


    ¡°Then what is the point of a soul, if not to contain the person it¡¯s connected to?¡±


    Crossing her arms over her chest, Avina answers clearly and concisely.


    ¡°Power. At the end of the day, souls are power. They latch onto people and they suck in energy throughout their lives, growing stronger and stronger. Then, when the person dies, the soul dissipates back into the weave of life, feeding the next generation of souls coming along.¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    That was¡­ sort of nice if you tilted your head and squinted really hard. It sort of reminded Mikael of the concept of reincarnation, but not quite. Or at least, not the sort of reincarnation that was popular in all of the fiction he¡¯d liked to read back on Earth. In those stories, reincarnation was more of a direct one to one transfer, allowing for the reincarnators in question to ¡®awaken¡¯ their past lives more often than not.


    But if Avina was to be believed, then here that wasn¡¯t possible. Because no soul managed to stay intact after the person it was connected to died. Each soul ultimately dissolved and gave up its energy to the next souls about to be born.


    That all said, if he trusted her to be telling the truth¡­ what did that mean for him and what HE was doing?


    ¡°You eat souls now to survive, in case it wasn¡¯t clear.¡±


    Looking at Avina again, it¡¯s to find that she hasn¡¯t uncrossed her arms. She has a slightly mulish expression on her face and Mikael is reminded of what she¡¯d said to Tak earlier. Apparently, she¡¯s also thinking about her words back then.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t entirely lying when I told Tak that you wouldn¡¯t last the night. I was just¡­ obfuscating the truth a little bit. Lying by omission, I think it¡¯s called. Put bluntly, you wouldn¡¯t have lasted the night¡­ without more meals. A single rat like the one I fed you was good for a few hours, but not even a full day. However, with three humans¡­ well. I¡¯m sure you felt it, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    He did. And even now, Mikael had to admit that he still felt amazing. And a glance down at the Soul Engine showed that it was still glowing brightly as well.


    ¡°In the end, it doesn¡¯t matter whether you get the energy from animals or humans. If you refrain entirely, the Soul Engine will run out of energy. And if it does, you¡¯ll die. Again.¡±


    A sobering thought to be sure, but Avina wasn¡¯t done.


    ¡°You CAN survive on just rats and other animals if you really want to, but as you learned just now, the bigger the soul is, the more energy you¡¯ll get from it. And also¡­ you¡¯ll get stronger the more powerful the souls you consume.¡±


    Mikael frowns and shakes his head.


    ¡°But wait¡­ if I¡¯m sucking up all these souls that are supposed to be dissipating back into¡­ into the weave of life as you called it, doesn¡¯t that mean I¡¯m damaging the weave? Unraveling it, or something?¡±


    Avina rolls her eyes again and shakes her head.


    ¡°You¡¯re just clever enough to ask dumb questions, aren¡¯t you? No. The weave of life is literally all-encompassing. It¡¯s everywhere all around us and is said to connect all living things. I made the Soul Engine with it in mind, of course. As you expend the energy within it, either through fighting or through simply living your life, the energy goes back into the weave, just as it would have without your interference.¡±


    Oh¡­ that made sense. If he was slowly draining the Soul Engine of power just by existing, that power WOULD have to go somewhere, wouldn¡¯t it?


    Admittedly, part of him liked the idea that she¡¯d put forward before. Getting stronger on the back of more and more soul consumption. But was that really him who liked it, or was it the foreign thoughts shoved into his head by that evil bastard of a wizard? That said, one thing was for sure¡­ the foreign side of his brain was labeling Avina something that the native side of his brain vaguely recognized from those aforementioned fictional stories he¡¯d liked to read so much.


    ¡­ Maybe it was signing his own death warrant to even bring it up, but he had to ask.


    ¡°You¡­ Avina, are you a necromancer?¡±


    He suspected that she wouldn¡¯t be happy with that question and braced himself accordingly, but he¡¯s still not truly prepared for just how¡­ huffy she gets.


    ¡°Urgh! No! Where did you even hear that term?! I am NOT a necromancer! If there¡¯s one thing you get through that thick skull of yours, let it be this. I did not bring you back halfway. I don¡¯t DO half-measures, alright? You aren¡¯t undead. You¡¯re a living, breathing person again. Just¡­ with my Soul Engine in your chest to replace your heart. In fact, if you have to describe me in any sort of way, I MUCH prefer that you call me a Soul Mechanic.¡±


    She looks particularly proud and happy with that title as her lips curl up into a small self-satisfied smile. Mikael, meanwhile, just raises a brow.


    ¡°A¡­ Soul Mechanic?¡±


    Harumphing, Avina gives him an evil eye at his disbelieving tone.


    ¡°Your Soul Mechanic, to be exact. Just as you are MY successful project. You know that you¡¯ll need me if you¡¯re going to survive whatever comes next. The Soul Engine in your chest is the first of its kind. I don¡¯t do shoddy work I¡¯ll have you know, but I honestly have no clue how long the thing will last before you need a¡­ tune-up or something. So, with that said¡­ we need each other.¡±


    Once again, Mikael finds himself glancing around at the bodies. Her words, as smug as her tone is, do ring true in his ears. They do need each other. And not just because she¡¯s apparently his ¡®Soul Mechanic¡¯ now¡­ but also because Mikael knows fuck all about his surroundings, even with the memories shoved into his head. He doesn¡¯t know where he is. He doesn¡¯t know where he can go from here. He doesn¡¯t know enough about anything, really.


    That said, he has two questions left at the moment. One to end this first part of their conversation, and another to begin the next part.


    ¡°Alright Soul Mechanic. How long would you say I have now that I¡¯ve¡­ consumed the energy from three human beings on top of the rat?¡±


    Avina considers that for a second, muttering under her breath momentarily and peering at the glowing Soul Engine embedded in his chest for a few moments. Finally, she nods decisively to herself.


    ¡°You¡¯re good for at least a week now. Easily. Plenty of time to pad that expiration date.¡±


    Well, that certainly wasn¡¯t depressing. To know that if he did nothing, he would only have a week left to live. And that in order to survive, he would HAVE to kill more living creatures. Animals, Mikael swore to himself. He would only hunt animals¡­ hopefully, there would be enough in this forsaken fucking place to satisfy his needs.


    Regardless, that brought him to his second question. He already had a niggling suspicion in the back of his mind, but he needed confirmation. And so he locks eyes with Avina once more, pinning his Soul Mechanic with his gaze.


    ¡°Avina¡­ please answer me honestly. Who the FUCK is Lord Zadicus?¡±


    Avina grimaces but seems perfectly willing to tell him, even opening her mouth to give an answer. However, before she can get a word out, there¡¯s the sound of clanking coming down the hall towards the basement room they¡¯re in. Mikael immediately whips around, his foreign memories telling him that that¡¯s the sound of someone in full armor stomping towards them at a clipped pace.


    In an instant, he steps forward and grabs the sword off of Tak¡¯s corpse, holding it in one hand with the dagger still in his other. And he prepares for another fight.

 Chapter 6: The Dame

    As he stands there, sword and dagger in hand, Mikael isn¡¯t quite sure who he expects to come out of the pitch black corridor. Guards, maybe? But why? How? Did Tak have more men on his payroll? Were they coming to investigate their missing comrades already? Either way, Mikael is ready for a fight.


    Or at least, that¡¯s what he tells himself. And he even believes it right up until a familiar set of golden armor attached to a familiar female knight comes out of the shadows and steps into the basement proper. Wielding a familiar sword, her face concealed behind a familiar helmet, the Dame comes to an abrupt stop, freezing up at the sight of him standing over three bodies.


    Mikael freezes up as well, his mind thrown back to the trauma of the arena pit, his eyes focusing on the sword in her hand. The last time he saw that sword, it had just come out of his chest and was coated in his life blood and the viscera left behind by his eviscerated heart. Needless to say, it does not provoke good feelings.


    The Dame¡¯s eyes sweep over the scene, from him to the bodies to Avina. After a moment, she takes a half step forward and Mikael tenses up, ready for a fight. He promised himself that this time would be different. This time he would not falter and he refused to die again at her hands. This time-!


    But before she can fully close the distance, the Dame goes still again, her blue eyes widening behind her helmet as she finally get a proper look at his features, awash in the glow of the Soul Engine as they are.


    ¡°¡­ Impossible. You should be dead. You¡¯re supposed to be dead.¡±


    What little he can see of her concealed face is clearly shocked. Feeling a little bit pleased to have put her on the backfoot, something that the foreign entities in his skull assure him is the first step to victory¡­ Mikael lets a cocky grin spread across his face.


    ¡°It didn¡¯t take.¡±


    Neither the quip nor the grin are entirely him¡­ but of all of the impulses he¡¯s had since that bastard shoved these memories into his head, this has to be one of the tamest. So why not indulge a little, right? Besides, it feels good to have gotten the better of the woman who killed him, if only in a battle of words so far.


    ¡°How is that possible. Unless¡­ necromancy?¡±


    On the other hand, hearing her default to one of his own concerns about his current state did NOT make Mikael feel very good. He¡¯d just begun to accept Avina¡¯s explanations for his current situation, only to have the idea that he might be undead thrown right back in his face again. Didn¡¯t feel good, to say the least.


    However, Mikael doesn¡¯t have to respond. Because Avina does it for him.


    ¡°It¡¯s NOT necromancy! He¡¯s NOT undead! And I am NOT a Necromancer, I am a Soul Mechanic! The Soul Engine brought him back properly. Look at him! Does he look like he¡¯s some unintelligent zombie? He¡¯s a living, breathing person! His blood flows, his brain thinks. He¡¯s just missing one measly little organ, which I¡¯ve CLEARLY replaced with a far superior upgrade!¡±


    Having already heard this rant once before, Mikael spends the time Avina is raving about his condition just watching the Dame very, very carefully. He knows nothing about the female knight except that she¡¯s more than willing to partake in arena blood sport and kill a practically defenseless man for the amusement and entertainment of a crowd. He¡¯s already decided he¡¯s not going to let her kill him again.


    That said, Mikael is well aware of how easily she killed him the first time around. Sure, he¡¯d held his own until his sword broke, but once it did¡­ it was over. He¡¯d let that moment of surprise cost him his life. This time would be different though. He might not have any more armor on him than he did last time, but he doesn¡¯t need it. He should have enough juice in the Soul Engine to heal from any wounds she might inflict on him, and she definitely wouldn¡¯t be expecting it either.


    Let her stab him in the gut just like Thug Three did and use that to get in close so he could stab his dagger right up under the edge of her helm and bury it in her skull so she choked on her own blood and- urgh. Fuck. There were the memories again. Though Mikael was feeling a bit more in line with the murderous urges this time around. He was facing down his very own murderer after all, and who the fuck could say that, really?


    Still, he¡¯s not in chains anymore. He can do this. He definitely gives himself half-decent odds¡­ if it comes down to a fight. Turns out, the key word there is ¡®if¡¯ because the Dame makes no move to attack him. Instead, she tilts her head to the side and looks to Avina, soaking in her words and then eyeing Mikael up and down.


    Suddenly, Mikael is very aware of the sweat beading on his brow and every breath coming from his slightly parted lips. He can see the way the Dame studies how he breathes and how he sweats. Her gaze all but burrows into his gaze, her icy blue eyes narrowing as she takes in every bit of him. She does linger on the Soul Engine for a moment longer than the rest, but in the end¡­ the next words out of her mouth aren¡¯t what Mikael expects.


    ¡°I cannot deny you¡¯re telling the truth. He IS alive, somehow. I see none of the classic signs of undeath.¡±


    Avina preens at this unintentional praise, looking pleased as all hell with herself. But the Dame isn¡¯t done.


    ¡°Still¡­ if you truly developed such a¡­ a resurrection device, why would you waste it on him? Why waste it on some lowly criminal? A common brigand at that. I¡¯ve seen the list of his crimes and it goes far beyond merely robbing people on the roadside. The things he¡¯s done¡­ why does HE deserve a second chance at life?¡±


    Wait, what?! Mikael can¡¯t help but bristle at that, his teeth grinding together and his grip on his stolen weapons tightening up.


    ¡°Excuse me?! I¡¯m no criminal! And I¡¯m certainly not a¡­ a roadside bandit! This isn¡¯t even my world!¡±


    The Dame¡¯s head whips back to him so fast Mikael blinks. Her eyes are suddenly caught on him, unable to move away. He¡¯s not going to let her intimidate him though. He¡¯s sick and tired of all the damn lies. If she wants to shut him up, she¡¯s going to have to use force.


    ¡°My name is Mikael. I¡¯m a University Student from a planet called Earth. Or Terra, whatever you want to call it. I might not remember everything I¡¯m supposed to, but I know one thing for sure. This isn¡¯t my world. This isn¡¯t my planet. I was brought here by¡­ by magic, presumably. And then right afterwards I was tossed into that damn arena pit where you stabbed me in the heart.¡±


    To her credit, there¡¯s a look of dawning horror in the Dame¡¯s expressive eyes. Meanwhile, Avina leans in from the side with a wicked grin on her face and nods, backing him up.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Waste my Soul Engine on some common criminal? Pah, as if! Mikael isn¡¯t a brigand or a thief or any of that. He¡¯s a Summoned Hero.¡±


    ¡­ Well, the summoned bit is definitely right, but where¡¯s the ¡®hero¡¯ part coming from? And why does it feel like Mikael can hear the capitalization on those two words in Avina¡¯s tone? Still, if nothing else, the effect that Avina¡¯s statement has on the Dame is¡­ powerful. The golden knight takes a step back, her sword arm faltering as she shakes her head in disbelief. Mikael¡¯s instincts urge him to lunge forward and take advantage of her moment of weakness¡­ but no. He¡¯s not going to stoop to her level. Besides, now his own attention is grabbed by whatever this byplay is supposed to mean.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°That¡­ that can¡¯t be. He can¡¯t be a Summoned Hero. It¡¯s not possible.¡±


    The Dame sounds faint as she tries to weakly deny it. But even Mikael can tell she doesn¡¯t believe her own words. Avina, meanwhile, smells blood in the water and goes for the kill.


    ¡°Oh-ho, but he very much is. And why are you of all people denying it? That¡¯s why you¡¯re here in our fair city, isn¡¯t it not? You¡¯re here hunting for the people abusing the Hero Summoning Ritual.¡±


    She is? What even is the Hero Summoning Ritual? And what does Avina mean by abusing it? Then again¡­ looking at his own set of circumstances, Mikael doesn¡¯t really have to ask, does he? If his experiences since arriving in this world don¡¯t constitute a textbook case of abuse of both his personage and this ¡®Hero Summoning Ritual¡¯, then he doesn¡¯t know what the fuck would.


    The Dame looks stricken as she slowly nods. Then, she jerks suddenly and looks to Avina more closely.


    ¡°I¡­ is it you? Are you who I¡¯ve been hunting then? Did you summon this poor man to this world and make me kill him just so you could perform perverse experiments on him?¡±


    The note of hope in the Dame¡¯s voice is almost pitiable. It¡¯s certainly pathetic. However, what¡¯s not pathetic is the way that her sword comes back up¡­ this time pointed at Avina. Mikael¡¯s eyes narrow as the female knight seems to have found a new target to focus on. But if she thinks he¡¯s just going to let her run Avina through like she ran him through, she has another thing coming.


    Of course, if his self-titled Soul Mechanic is in any way concerned at having the Dame wave her sword in her direction, Avina doesn¡¯t show it. Instead, she just crosses her arms over her chest and scoffs.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. You¡¯re grasping at straws now, Dame. Because deep down you already know the truth. You encountered the true culprit back when you first arrived in this city and met with its ruler. The man who¡¯s been abusing the Hero Summoning Ritual and the man who welcomed you into the City of Alether¡­ and the man who bid you to fight in his arena. They¡¯re all one in the same.¡±


    With every word Avina speaks, the Dame shrinks back, cringing in ever-growing shame and horror. Mikael, meanwhile, can tell that Avina is building up to one big proper bombshell. And he already suspects he knows exactly who she¡¯s talking about.


    ¡°The one who¡¯s been abusing the Hero Summoning Rituals and summoning heroes like Mikael here from other worlds¡­ is none other than Lord Zadicus himself. The Lord of the City has been your culprit this entire time Dame, and you fell right into his trap. Imagine it. He must have laughed himself silly when you agreed to fight in the arena for him. He knew right then and there what he was going to do. How he was going to make you unknowingly complicit in his games. Summoning a Hero right under your nose and then forcing you to slaughter them without a clue in the world. What a fucking lark.¡±


    Well damn. When Avina put it that way, Mikael almost felt bad for the Dame. Almost. It sounded like she was some sort of fantasy investigator of sorts. A traveling knight who was tasked with locking down the usage of this Hero Summoning Ritual that had brought him to this world in the first place. But of course, she and whoever else she worked with clearly wasn¡¯t doing a very good job of things.


    Not only had Mikael been summoned anyways, not only had he had his damn mind fucked with something fierce¡­ but the Dame had been tricked into murdering him. Mikael¡¯s jaw clenches, even as the female knight shakes her head, looking like she wants to deny Avina¡¯s words even then. But she can¡¯t even get a word out before Avina scoffs at her.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try and deny it. You know I¡¯m telling the truth. Do you think it¡¯s easy to bring someone back to life? Do you think I haven¡¯t tried the common criminal before now? None of them worked. The Soul Engine needs stronger stock than that¡­ and what¡¯s stronger than a Summoned Hero, right? Mikael IS a Summoned Hero. That much is beyond a shadow of a doubt. As for who summoned him¡­ who do you think has the resources for such a thing? Someone like me, stuck in a basement, paying every copper I make to Zadicus to pay off my debts? Or the rich and powerful Lord of Alether himself?¡±


    Obviously, Mikael is a little lost by this point. He¡¯s been able to put some of what¡¯s being discussed together through context clues, but much of this is flying right over his head. He¡¯s only more lost when the Dame¡¯s shoulders suddenly slump and she reaches up under her helm, before ripping it from her head and revealing her features.


    He has to admit, his breath is taken away for a second by her beauty. Those icy blue eyes of hers are accompanied by flowing white hair that goes down to her chest, and a gorgeous face with a cute nose, a full pair of lips, and a pointed chin. Dropping her helmet, the Dame falls to one knee as it clatters there on the basement floor.


    And then she holds her sword aloft in her outstretched palms towards him.


    ¡°Sir Hero. I have dishonored my oaths. I have strayed from all that was righteous and just and true. On my name as Dame Thayla Dawnguard, I must beg your forgiveness.¡±


    His forgiveness? She fucking killed him! The fact that he¡¯s even alive to be able to forgive her in the first place is a fucking miracle in and of itself! However, before Mikael can point that out, the self-identified Thayla Dawnguard does so for him.


    ¡°Unfortunately, as I took your life, there is no other way for me to make amends but to offer my own as recompense. Please, Sir Hero. Take my sword. End my existence as I so foolishly ended yours. My armor will not fit you, but it is of some value, you may sell it after if you so wish. My sword was forged at the Citadel of the Rose itself and will serve you for quite a long while if you let it. All¡­ all I ask is that you make it quick.¡±


    Mikael stares blankly down at the female knight for a moment. She was seriously trying to commit ¡®Suicide by Mikael¡¯ to make up for her fuck-up? Funnily enough, the foreign parts of his Swiss Cheese memories aren¡¯t as unanimous in their desire to take her up on her offer as he might have expected. No, their ideas of what to do with her are as many and varied as the disparate memories shoved into his head.


    But only one of those ideas actually appeals to him in this moment. Only one of them seems worth¡­ exploring.

 Chapter 7: The Lord of Alether

    Still staring down at Dame Thayla¡¯s bowed head, Mikael hesitates for only a moment longer before turning and setting his sword and dagger on the table nearby. Then, quickly to make sure she doesn¡¯t change her mind and try to stab HIM now that he¡¯s disarmed himself, Mikael takes Thayla¡¯s blade from her outstretched hands.


    As his fingers curl around the handle and it rests evenly in his palm, Mikael¡¯s immediate reaction is that it feels¡­ good. Tak¡¯s sword hadn¡¯t been bad necessarily and the dagger Mikael had taken from the thug¡¯s friend wasn¡¯t that shoddy either. Their weapons were nothing like the utter shit he¡¯d been given back in the arena.


    However, Thayla¡¯s sword¡­ it¡¯s a true masterwork compared to the thugs¡¯ weaponry. Forged in the Citadel of the Rose itself¡­ Mikael didn¡¯t know what the fuck that meant to be honest. There was a vague sense of familiarity from the foreign side of his mind, but the memories didn¡¯t exactly work like that. They weren¡¯t too focused on names or locations, but on the feelings of battle and the training needed to wield weapons for the sole purpose of killing.


    Even still, all of the killers in his head, be they soldiers or brigands, warriors or murderers¡­ they all agreed that this was a damn good sword. As Mikael hefts it up and down in his hand for a few moments, the Dame lowers her head even further and pulls her white locks out of the way so that her neck is fully exposed to him.


    ¡­ But honestly, Mikael has no intentions of killing her. Oh sure, some of him is demanding that he repay her for what she did to him. His instincts scream to end the threat. But he knows better than to trust THOSE instincts. And as mentioned before, this is not something that all of the killers shoved into his head are actually in agreement on.


    Still holding Thayla¡¯s sword aloft, Mikael looks over to Avina and asks the question he¡¯s been wanting to ask for a while now.


    ¡°Who exactly IS Lord Zadicus?¡±


    Thayla¡¯s head twitches in surprise at hearing him speak rather than swing her blade. Avina, meanwhile, lets out a low sigh.


    ¡°Zadicus Quinn is the Lord of the City¡­ this city specifically. You¡¯re in a city called Alether, Mikael. Zadicus is Lord of Alether, by the decision of the Council of Lords¡­ the ruling body of the Kingdom of Ocreatha, where Alether is located.¡±


    He appreciates her clarifying all of that, even as he tries his best to commit those names to memory. He¡¯s in a city called Alether in a kingdom called Ocreatha. The¡­ foreign nature of those names, places he¡¯s never heard of before, only serve to drive home the fact that he¡¯s truly been summoned to another world. As¡­ as a hero? But in a way that abused the Hero Summoning Ritual, apparently.


    ¡°What is he to you, specifically?¡±


    Avina¡¯s lips curl into a frown at that, and she crosses her arms over her chest again as she huffs.


    ¡°He would call himself my benefactor, but in actuality he¡¯s my creditor. He¡¯s been paying my way for quite a few years now, but never for free or out of the kindness of his heart. He¡¯s funding my research¡­ but seeing as I had nothing to show for it before you, all he¡¯s done is drag me further and further into debt. I owe him a lot of money, as Tak and his friends revealed.¡±


    For a moment, Mikael is quiet. Maybe it¡¯s cowardice but he doesn¡¯t want to ask his next question. He¡¯s pretty sure he already knows the answer too. Though, it¡¯s always possible that it wasn¡¯t really him, but one of his servants. Either way, he knows he just needs to suck it up and ask so its confirmed.


    ¡°This¡­ Zadicus Quinn. Long brown hair? Black robes with a pointed hood? Scar under his left eye?¡±


    At that description, Dame Thayla¡¯s head finally fully comes up as she stares at him. Avina, meanwhile, has a look of pity in her eyes¡­ a grimace twisting her freckled features as she nods.


    ¡°That¡¯s him.¡±


    Of course. Of fucking course. To be fair, all of the evidence for it to be him had already been there. It still surprised Mikael to find out that some City Lord was going around personally fucking with people¡¯s heads, however. Then again, Zadicus Quinn wasn¡¯t just fucking with any random strangers¡¯ heads, now was he? No, he was fucking with Summoned Heroes¡¯ heads¡­ whatever the fuck that really meant.


    Clenching his jaw, Mikael nods to Avina in turn.


    ¡°He was the first person I saw after waking up in this world. In a cell. He¡­ he did something to my mind.¡±


    Mikael holds Thayla¡¯s sword in one hand, drooped down to point at the floor as he brings up the other to claw at the space next to his head.


    ¡°He scooped out my memories. He tore my life in two and then shoved a bunch of shit about killing and fighting into my head in its place. Now I can¡¯t go five seconds without having to fight off the impulse to hurt people. He turned me into a goddamn monster.¡±


    Still kneeling before him, the Dame inhales sharply, prompting Mikael to look down at her again with a frown. She looks as stricken as ever¡­ but there¡¯s also an outrage now. Outrage on his behalf if he¡¯s not mistaken.


    ¡°What do you know of this ¡®Lord¡¯ Zadicus? What¡¯s your relationship with him?¡±


    Biting her lower lip, Thayla shakes her head.


    ¡°I¡­ we are barely acquainted, admittedly. I am not from these parts, Sir Hero. I hail from the Zuverian Empire, which is neighbors with the Kingdom of Ocreatha. As such, I do not technically have much authority here in the city. So, when I arrived to begin my investigation, I sought common ground with the Lord of the City, hoping to find him amenable to my cause.¡±


    Mikael takes this in but can¡¯t help asking a question in a dry tone.


    ¡°And was he?¡±


    Obviously, he already knew the overarching answer to his query. They all knew how Thayla¡¯s ¡®cause¡¯ had turned out for all parties involved. But Mikael isn¡¯t exactly feeling charitable to the woman who stabbed him in the heart. Not at the moment.


    Averting her gaze, Thayla pauses briefly before answering him.


    ¡°He was¡­ standoffish and short with me. I thought that he simply didn¡¯t find my cause to be worth his time, and that he was just another greedy man who was more interested in money than seeing justice done. I realize now that he was simply presenting the fa?ade he wanted me to see. By keeping me at arm¡¯s length but offering me some ¡®assistance¡¯¡­ he blinded me to his true nature.¡±


    Avina scoffs and pipes up at that.


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re not entirely wrong. Zadicus is a greedy bastard more interested in money than seeing anything remotely approaching justice done. He¡¯s never been all that concerned about ¡®justice¡¯.¡±


    Avina¡¯s tone is bitter, even as Mikael and Thayla both glance her way for a moment before Thayla looks at him, her eyes wide with horror on his behalf.


    ¡°Sir Hero¡­ not only was your summoning a crime that Zadicus must answer for, but so was the manipulation of your memories. It should never have happened. He must be held to account for his actions.¡±


    That sounded nice, but at the same time¡­ something in Mikael¡¯s gut told him it wouldn¡¯t be that simple. And the next words out of Avina¡¯s mouth only confirm that gut feeling. Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic scoffs again, shaking her head when they give her their attention once more.


    ¡°By whom? A single Knight of the Rose? Zadicus has been doing this for years and years now. Both the memory bullshit and the Hero Summoning are pillars of his entire business model. He wouldn¡¯t have become Lord of the City in the first place without it.¡±


    The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Avina pauses for a moment, as of trying to figure out how much she should be revealing. But in the end, she just tosses her hands up as if to say ¡®fuck it¡¯.


    ¡°Before he was Lord of the City, Zadicus Quinn was the Master of the Arena. Not nearly as prestigious of a title, but still quite a lucrative business. Building up arenas all over the city, he became beloved by the people, entertaining them all with the blood sport. However, the real coup was when he managed to convince the previous Lord of the City to¡­ help him out a little bit.¡±


    Mikael furrows his brow.


    ¡°Help him out a little bit?¡±


    Nodding, Avina continues.


    ¡°Zadicus managed to push out all of the other Arena Masters by advertising more and more of his fights as ¡®to the death¡¯. With stakes that high, everyone wanted to see what would happen, so he made coin hand over fist. But his greatest strength was also his greatest weakness. How do you sustain a business that requires your product to constantly die for you?¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael considers that question for a moment before answering honestly.


    ¡°You don¡¯t?¡±


    Avina just smirks and shakes her head.


    ¡°Wrong. You get more product. That¡¯s what Zadicus did. He convinced the previous Lord of the City to start turning over Alether¡¯s criminals. It helped that the nearby silver mines had just begun to run out at the time. Before, if you were caught breaking the law in Alether, you would usually wind up being sent to do your time in the mines. But with the mines winding down, being sent there was becoming pointless and costing the city more money than it was worth. So what did Zadicus do? He offered an alternative.¡±


    Mikael was following along now. Thayla, it seemed, was a little behind though still. From her kneeling position, the Dame asks what¡¯s clearly most relevant to her.


    ¡°¡­ Where does the Hero Summoning come in though?¡±


    He¡¯s pretty sure he knows, but he lets Avina answer all the same, just in case he¡¯s wrong.


    ¡°Simple, really. Even with all the criminals in the world to pad his arenas and make the blood sport as bloody as ever, it wasn¡¯t enough. Zadicus wanted to keep expanding. So he did. By summoning heroes, claiming they were criminals, and throwing them into the arenas to die. Of course, he needed them to actually seem like criminals, or at least like fighters rather than people from other worlds. Which is where the memory manipulation comes in. By siphoning some off the top from the criminals who are going to die anyways, he can turn any ¡®hero¡¯ he summons into an instant warrior and then send them off to die in the pits.¡±


    Avina shrugs, trying to feign nonchalance but with an undercurrent of anger over the situation present throughout both her posture and her tone.


    ¡°That¡¯s how he became the wealthiest man in Alether. And from there, it was all too easy for him to make the right connections on the Council of Lords to be made Lord of the City. Ever since he became City Lord a few years ago, he¡¯s been expanding his operations.¡±


    Then, a savage smirk spreads across the freckled Soul Mechanic¡¯s face.


    ¡°Of course¡­ he usually gets a chance to retrieve the memories after his Summoned Heroes are dead. Which he didn¡¯t get the chance to do this time because I saw a window of opportunity I couldn¡¯t pass up. As I said before, no one else has had what I needed to make the Soul Engine work. So when I got the opportunity to grab your body¡­ I took it. Needless to say, Zadicus is going to be upset about that whenever he finally finds out.¡±


    While a part of Avina is clearly worried about him finding out, a larger part is even more clearly satisfied to have stuck it to the man. It¡¯s obvious that Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic doesn¡¯t like the Lord of the City very much. That¡¯s more than fair in Mikael¡¯s opinion, because quite frankly, he doesn¡¯t like Zadicus Quinn very much either.


    ¡°He¡¯ll be even more upset to discover that Mikael is alive again. After all, as a Summoned Hero, Mikael is evidence of all of Lord Quinn¡¯s crimes. We need to get him out of the city. If we can get him to the Citadel, if we can reach other knights of the Order of the Rose¡­ we might still have a chance to bring Zadicus to justice for his crimes.¡±


    Mikael blinks as Thayla suddenly rises from her knee, having apparently decided he wasn¡¯t intending on killing her. Which¡­ fair, he wasn¡¯t. Still, he¡¯s a little surprised by her impassioned plea. And he¡¯s left wondering whether she¡¯s right and if it would work or not. Only, Avina doesn¡¯t seem to put much stock in Thayla¡¯s words. His Soul Mechanic scoffs and crosses her arms over her chest again.


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s your big plan?¡±


    Thayla flushes red at that and scowls at Avina.


    ¡°Look, I¡¯m well aware that as a single Knight of the Rose, my authority here in this city and the Kingdom of Ocreatha is incredibly low. However¡­ that doesn¡¯t change the fact that if I brought proof to the Order, they would most definitely act! The political pressure from the Citadel alone would be enough to make the Council of Lords give in, but I¡¯m confident that the Emperor would also back the Citadel up on this!¡±


    Politics. And not just politics, but fantasy politics in a brand new world that Mikael is just barely starting to understand. Needless to say, a lot of what Thayla just said goes right over his head. Thankfully, it doesn¡¯t go over Avina¡¯s.


    ¡°That¡¯s not the problem. Even if everything you just said was true¡­ what would happen to Mikael in such a scenario? What would happen to me? How is the Order of the Rose going to react to a Summoned Hero who was brought back from the dead and has an esoteric device stuffed into his chest in the place of his heart? Best case scenario, they lock me away and put Mikael down while everything else you just said still happens. Worst case scenario, they strike all three of us down on the spot rather than giving us the time of day.¡±


    It''s quite obvious from Avina¡¯s tone that she¡¯s not interested in even the best case scenario. And it¡¯s equally obvious from how Thayla falls silent that nothing Avina has just said is necessarily wrong. Indeed, the Dame¡¯s silence is quite damning as Mikael stands there, looking between the two of them.


    ¡­ In the end, it¡¯s obvious he doesn¡¯t have all the information he needs. Specifically, he needs to know more about HIS current status. Not just as one of the recently resurrected, but also what it means to even be a Summoned Hero in the first place.


    ¡°Right¡­ let¡¯s table that for now. I¡¯ll wrap my head around the politics later. What I want to know more about is all this Summoned Hero nonsense. I was brought here from another world. I know that for a fact. But¡­ what the hell is a hero even supposed to be? What do they do? Why is a ritual to summon people from another world being abused by someone like Zadicus in the first place?¡±


    He needs to know. Obviously. Though the look of hero worship and excitement on Thayla¡¯s pretty face as she brightens up from his questions DOES give Mikael pause.


    ¡­ Why did it suddenly feel like he was a celebrity facing down a super fan or something?

 Chapter 8: Summoned Heroes

    All but vibrating with excitement, Thayla seems to need a moment to prepare herself¡­ and then she launches right into her explanation.


    ¡°Long ago, Vaclatora was not the mostly civilized place it is now. It was-!¡±


    ¡°Vaclatora being the world you¡¯re standing on, Mikael.¡±


    Avina¡¯s voice suddenly cuts in, her dry tone slicing right through Thayla¡¯s words and forcing the female knight to fall silent for a moment. A blush spreads across the white-haired woman¡¯s pretty face as she coughs delicately.


    ¡°Err¡­ right. Yes, apologies Sir Hero, I forgot for a moment that you were not of this world. Stupid of me, considering the circumstances.¡±


    Mikael just shrugs to show he takes no offense and gestures with his empty hand for her to continue, still holding her sword in the other. At the same time, he files the name ¡®Vaclatora¡¯ away in his head alongside all of the other information he¡¯s learned so far. He¡¯s in the City of Alether, ruled by a Lord Zadicus Quinn, located within the Kingdom of Ocreatha, which is neighbors with something called the Zuverian Empire. And now he knows that all of that is on the planet Vaclatora.


    Is it a little weird that people in a fantasy world have a name for their world? Maybe, maybe not. Mikael honestly can¡¯t say for sure and he¡¯s too busy listening to Thayla to spend too long pondering it.


    ¡°Thousands of years ago, before the Zuverian Empire, before the Kingdom of Ocreatha, before anything¡­ Vaclatora was a savage and untamed place, filled with dangers and horrors beyond our imagining. Or so the records we have of those times say. Even worse than the Savage Lands of the modern era.¡±


    Mikael furrows his brow at that, while Avina rolls her eyes and opens her mouth to speak. But to her credit, Thayla catches herself all on her own this time, perking up and quickly expounding before Avina can once again cut her off.


    ¡°T-The Savage Lands are the lands beyond the Zuverian Empire, Sir Hero. It is there that the orc tribes roam and there that the Empire fights constantly to maintain it¡¯s borders. The Savage Lands are not controlled by any one entity, hence their name. However, even they are nothing compared to what Vaclatora once was.¡±


    Here, Avina does interject, perhaps disgruntled that she didn¡¯t get a chance to speak up before.


    ¡°She¡¯s not wrong¡­ so long as the records are telling the truth, of course. But if they are, then yeah¡­ Vaclatora was basically jumping from one world-shaking cataclysm to the next in those days. Kingdoms would rise and fall on the whims of monsters said to tower over mountains. Humanity was said to be constantly preyed upon. Which is partially why I sometimes wonder if the records are entirely truthful. How did we even survive to this modern day if THAT was what we were up against?¡±


    Huffing indignantly and even puffing her cheeks out, Thayla turns her icy blue eyes towards Avina and frowns.


    ¡°I know not what records YOU have been able to peruse from this basement, ¡®Soul Mechanic¡¯¡­ but the records of the Citadel are not to be impugned. There is no doubt in my mind that everything I read within the Citadel¡¯s library really happened. After all, it was a Summoned Hero that established the Order of the Rose in the first place, millennia ago!¡±


    Avina just rolls her eyes at that, curiously enough. Mikael is definitely expecting her to throw another verbal jab Thayla¡¯s way, but instead she holds her tongue and lets Thayla continue.


    ¡°Through those records, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt how exactly it was that humanity survived to this day and age. It was the Summoned Heroes themselves, Mikael. Heroes just like you, who fought for us and defeated the monsters that plagued our world.¡±


    That¡­ sounded a lot like what Mikael could remember of the stories he¡¯d read back on Earth. Where the Hero was summoned to another world in order to complete some task. And once he was done, obviously he was to be showered with accolades and adoration, and in some cases he was even able to return home.


    That thought catches on Mikael¡¯s mind, but before he can pursue it, Avina pipes up again.


    ¡°And then what happened, hm?¡±


    Thayla shoots the raven-haired woman an annoyed look before letting out a low sigh.


    ¡°¡­ Around a thousand years ago, something happened. Something that made Vaclatora much less¡­ dangerous. Much more stable. There are musings on this in the records, of course. Most believe it was something the Last Hero did. Unfortunately, despite being the last major Summoned Hero, records of his existence are actually sparser than records of those who came before him, irritating as it is. So it¡¯s all conjecture. But the point remains¡­ a thousand years ago, Vaclatora stopped needing Summoned Heroes.¡±


    Huh. That was actually pretty¡­ cool? It sounded like this Last Hero person had done what all the others before them couldn¡¯t. They¡¯d finished the job and ACTUALLY saved the world. That was pretty awesome. Though, where did that leave Mikael?


    ¡°And then what happened?¡±


    As Avina repeats her question, clearly enjoying pressuring Thayla on this matter, the white-haired knight huffs again.


    ¡°Even though Vaclatora stopped needing Summoned Heroes¡­ that didn¡¯t stop people from summoning them all the same. The Hero Summoning Ritual wasn¡¯t known to everyone, but it was known to enough people that its use continued to propagate. However, rulers no longer summoned heroes from other worlds in order to save their Kingdom from great calamities. Instead, they summoned them to do battle against their neighbors, to aid in conquest or to defend against it.¡±


    Here, Thayla looks down at her hands. The knight in literal shining golden armor looks almost¡­ distraught just thinking about it. That more than anything confirmed what Mikael already suspected. She was a total Summoned Hero Fangirl, wasn¡¯t she?


    ¡°Heroes were never meant to be used for petty things like wars between Kingdoms and Empires. They weren¡¯t supposed to be used for conquest or expansion. It was¡­ abusive. To both the heroes themselves and the world they were being forced to come to. So¡­ likeminded people, such as the Order of the Rose and other righteous and just organizations¡­ came together and put a stop to it.¡±


    Biting her lower lip, Thayla looks at him apologetically.


    ¡°These days, most places have outlawed Hero Summoning altogether. At the very least, use of the Hero Summoning Ritual has been illegal in both the Zuverian Empire and the Kingdom of Ocreatha for hundreds of years now. The Order of the Rose has championed that cause in this part of the world, to make sure that Summoned Heroes would never again be used to wage war or abused for the sick purposes of greedy individuals like¡­ like Lord Quinn.¡±


    Straightening her back, Thayla lifts her head high.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here. In this city. To put an end to his crimes, once and for all. But¡­ I can¡¯t do it alone. This issue is clearly much larger than one knight.¡±


    The look the armored woman gives him is very much imploring, as if she¡¯s begging him to consider her previous offer. And to be fair, Mikael IS still considering it. He¡¯s been considering it this entire time Thayla has been waxing on poetically about Summoned Heroes while Avina provided color commentary in the background. But now he needs to actually make a decision.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Frankly, this discussion about Summoned Heroes has given Mikael even more questions. But there¡¯s one that needs to be answered before all the others.


    ¡°¡­ Is Avina right? If we go to the Order of the Rose with you, what will actually happen to the two of us? Sure, I might be direct proof of that bastard Zadicus¡¯ wrongdoing, but what is the likelihood that I¡¯ll be killed or locked up just for being alive when I should be dead? Or even just for daring to be a Summoned Hero in a land that¡¯s outlawed them?¡±


    Thayla had been cringing at everything up until that last question. At that, she actually perks up and shakes her head.


    ¡°Oh! No, Sir Hero, you misunderstand something. The Order of the Rose currently has NO standing orders to lock up Summoned Heroes. None of you ask to be brought to this world, after all. You aren¡¯t the criminals, you¡¯re the victims! It¡¯s not illegal to BE a Summoned Hero, only to summon one. In fact, I¡¯m confident that my Order would be happy to take in any Summoned Hero and make sure that they were comfortable and safe, especially in a strange land like this!¡±


    She looks so pleased with herself that parts of Mikael take great satisfaction in bursting her bubble.


    ¡°And the rest?¡±


    At that, Thayla deflates. She looks away from both him and Avina, quiet for a moment as she collects her thoughts. Just as he¡¯s beginning to feel impatient however, she speaks.


    ¡°¡­ I cannot deny that the Order would want to study the thing in your chest at the very least. And of course, they would need you to stay put while they did so. I¡¯m sure once I explained the circumstances to them, they would not unceremoniously execute either you or your¡­ Soul Mechanic. Of course, there would have to be certain restrictions on your movement. You aren¡¯t just a Summoned Hero, but proof of deep corruption within the Kingdom of Ocreatha¡¯s political system. I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t say exactly what would happen¡­¡±


    As she trails off, it becomes obvious to Mikael that she doesn¡¯t expect her Order to let him or Avina go, even if she seems unwilling to outright say it. And if they aren¡¯t killed for whatever the fuck Avina did to bring him back, they¡¯ll probably be locked up for the rest of their days in this Citadel place at the very least.


    Avina unknowingly agrees with his reasoning when she scoffs from off to the side, crossing her arms over her chest again.


    ¡°Oh, they won¡¯t unceremoniously execute us, will they? But I¡¯m sure the Order will be just fine executing us with plenty of ceremony and pageantry. Probably even through a parade in our ¡®honor¡¯.¡±


    Avina¡¯s dry tone and cutting words cause Thayla to flinch and fall silent, unable to meet either of their eyes. Mikael doesn¡¯t mind too much though; it gives him a chance to think. His jaw clenches as he considers his circumstances and what HE wants for a moment.


    ¡­ This is so fucked. All of it. From being yanked out of his world and into this one by some outdated, antiquated, and BANNED ritual. Then his memories get fucking bulldozed by a big bad City Lord and he¡¯s thrust into an arena to die on the end of the blade he¡¯s now holding in his hand. And now here he is, a killer with a device in his chest that eats souls.


    What is he supposed to do? Maybe if he was a purely selfless person, with a heart of righteous gold, he¡¯d be willing to go with Thayla to this Citadel and present himself as evidence. Let them take him into custody and do whatever they wanted to him so long as they ensured Zadicus Quinn paid for his crimes and couldn¡¯t continue doing what he¡¯d done to Mikael to even more helpless people from other worlds.


    That would be the ¡®right¡¯ thing to do. That would be the selfless thing to do. Unfortunately¡­ Mikael isn¡¯t a selfless person. He¡¯s not sure he was even before Zadicus fucked with his head, but he¡¯s certainly not NOW. The foreign half of his brain wants to live more than anything, especially since more than a few of their memories end in their deaths. But the native half of his brain is in full agreement with the desire to survive.


    He¡¯d died once before. For real. And it fucking sucked. Setting aside that feel of the sun beating down on his face in his last moments, getting stabbed in the heart and then dying from the resulting gaping chest wound was NOT fun.


    Mikael didn¡¯t want to die again. He didn¡¯t want to be imprisoned again either. He wanted¡­ honestly, he didn¡¯t know what he wanted. Except that he couldn¡¯t do what Thayla was asking of him. There was just one thing he still needed to figure out as far as the Dame was concerned. Was she asking? Or was she going to force the issue one way or the other?


    Looking at Dame Thayla Dawnguard, still holding her sword in his hand, Mikael hesitates for a moment. He can feel the foreign entities in his mind aching to run her through. And some more of them are pushing for him to execute her now than were before. Some of the more pragmatic ones are starting to agree with the more bloodthirsty ones. She¡¯s a liability. She¡¯s a threat. And she¡¯s already offered him her life.


    But Mikael doesn¡¯t want to kill some defenseless woman for what she MIGHT do. And that offer of her life¡­ it¡¯s given him an idea.


    ¡°Dame Dawnguard.¡±


    Jolting out of whatever internal monologue she¡¯d had running, Thayla looks up at him, eyes wide.


    ¡°A-Ah¡­ yes, Sir Hero?¡±


    Lifting her sword a bit, he holds it at a slant and spends a moment inspecting it. It shines bright in the powerful teal glow still coming off of his overcharged Soul Engine.


    ¡°You offered me your life a little while ago. Did you mean that?¡±


    Thayla¡¯s face falls¡­ but she slowly nods, before descending back down to her knees. This time she drops to both knees as she lowers her head and reveals her neck.


    ¡°¡­ I did, Sir Hero. My actions remain a stain on my knightly honor that can only be erased by death. A life for a life, Sir Hero. My life¡­ for yours.¡±


    ¡°Except I¡¯m not dead. And you keep offering me your life, while seemingly asking me to kill you.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s nonchalant words cause Avina to jolt from off to the side while Thayla raises her head to look at him once more. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares up at him in confusion. Holding up her blade, Mikael runs a hand down the flat, humming in appreciation.


    ¡°This is a fine blade that you ran me through with, Dame Thayla. A fine blade indeed. And I find myself in need of such a blade¡­ wielded by the knight it belongs to.¡±


    Thayla blinks owlishly, so Mikael spells it out for her.


    ¡°You offered me your life, Thayla. NOT your death. I¡¯d prefer you wash the stain on your honor away by service¡­ not execution.¡±


    He holds out his empty hand to her at that, hoping that she¡¯ll take it. Because if she doesn¡¯t¡­ Mikael is already steeling himself to do what must be done. If she refuses, then he WILL have to kill her. But if she accepts, then he¡¯ll have a fully trained knight on his side. And that¡­ that¡¯s the start of something, at least.

 Chapter 9: Mikaels Motivations

    After a moment of letting his words hang in the air, a hesitant smile spreads across Thayla¡¯s face and the Dame reaches out, taking his hand in her own and letting Mikael pull her to her feet.


    ¡°I¡­ I accept, Sir Hero. It would be my honor to serve you until my dying breath.¡±


    Mikael shakes his head at that.


    ¡°I¡¯m not exactly asking you to die for me here. I just need your help¡­ even if that means not going to your Order with news of my existence. Can I trust you to work with Avina and I without just spilling the beans?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes, Sir Hero. I swear to you, I shall hold my tongue where you are concerned. My debt to you is too great for me to deny you this simple request.¡±


    Mikael isn¡¯t entirely sure if that¡¯s the whole reason Thayla Dawnguard is so willing to swear her service to him, truth be told. Sure, she¡¯s probably feeling very guilty over killing him. Especially when it turned out he was an innocent man who she was tricked into murdering by the very criminal who tore him out of his world and brought him to this one.


    However, he also gets the impression that part of the reason Thayla is so eager to serve him is his status as a Summoned Hero as well. The way she¡¯d talked about them while she was answering his questions¡­ she might as well have had stars in her eyes the entire time. Still, this was good enough for Mikael, at least at the moment.


    Handing Thayla back her sword, he nods as she sheathes it at her waist and then looks at him expectantly. Which is when a scoff from Avina¡¯s corner turns both of their attention back to the raven-haired Soul Mechanic.


    ¡°Having a knight sworn to your service is all well and good, Mikael¡­ but do be careful. She¡¯ll still turn on you at the drop of a hat if she decides to.¡±


    Mikael furrows his brow, wondering where Avina¡¯s suddenly bitter tone comes from. Previous experience regarding betrayal, probably? Just by looking at their surroundings, it was obvious that the pale young woman hadn¡¯t had the best go of it. Of course, Thayla focuses more on Avina¡¯s words than her tone, scowling suddenly and dropping her hand to the pommel of her recently sheathed sword as she takes a threatening step in Avina¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Excuse me? I am a Knight of the Rose! I have taken Oaths! We¡­ we do not turn on our lieges at ¡®the drop of a hat¡¯ as you put it!¡±


    Unimpressed, Avina just sniffs delicately, arms crossed over her chest still.


    ¡°It¡¯s precisely because of those Oaths that I don¡¯t think you can be trusted. Things aren¡¯t all black and white like you knightly types like to pretend. Sometimes you have to cross a line in order to get things done and sometimes you have to muddy your boots to get to your ultimate destination.¡±


    Before Thayla can respond, Avina flicks out a hand, gesturing up and down the other woman¡¯s body.


    ¡°For instance, what would you do if Mikael ordered you to strip naked, right here and right now? Would you obey him immediately, as a sworn knight should? Or would you turn on him for such an undignified order.¡±


    Mikael blinks. Where did THAT come from? Thayla doesn¡¯t seem to know either, because just as quickly as the white-haired knight had taken a step towards Avina, she¡¯s now taking a step back, sputtering and stammering. Her eyes dart towards Mikael, giving him a glimpse of her reddened face, before she quickly averts her gaze entirely.


    ¡°W-Well I-I¡­ I c-can¡¯t¡­¡±


    ¡°Never mind that!¡±


    Avina¡¯s voice sounds both surprised and worried by Thayla¡¯s response. The young goth woman cuts her hand through the air in an almost frantic motion.


    ¡°Forget that first idea. Rather¡­ children! What if Mikael ordered you to strike down a street urchin because they found out about us and were planning on telling Zadicus, hm? What would you do then, Dame Dawnguard?¡±


    Tilting her head to the side, Thayla calms down quite rapidly as she considers Avina¡¯s words. In the end, she shakes her head in response.


    ¡°I would refuse, naturally. I could not bring myself to harm a child. I would rather Mikael take my life instead.¡±


    But Avina isn¡¯t willing to let things lie there.


    ¡°And what if he made it clear that he would take your life and the child¡¯s life, huh? What then? After all, even if you¡¯re dead, the street urchin could still report on us. Would you really let him end your life if you knew he would go on to murder a kid moments later?¡±


    Thayla¡¯s mouth opens and closes and she fidgets for a moment before finally shaking her head again.


    ¡°N-No¡­ I could not let that happen. But your hypothetical is nonsense! Why could we not just pay off the child? Why do they have to die? I have plenty of gold, more gold than a street urchin would have ever seen in their lives!¡±


    ¡°More gold than the Lord of the City could provide?¡±


    Alright, this had gone on long enough. Mikael claps his hands together, causing both women to turn their attention his way as he smiles wanly.


    ¡°It¡¯s a good thing I have no intention of killing any street urchins nor ordering their deaths then, I suppose. I can safely say that my plans do not involve any child murder. In fact, I would prefer to keep the murder to a minimum if at all possible¡­ current corpses at my feet notwithstanding.¡±


    Mikael grimaces a little bit as he has to tack on that last bit. Glancing down at Tak and his two friends¡­ he still can¡¯t bring himself to feel guilty over their deaths. It really was him or them and Mikael had chosen himself. However, he was now powerful enough that he didn¡¯t necessarily NEED to kill the next men who stood in his way. He had the strength to show mercy, or so he hoped.


    Thayla looks pleased by his words, and more than a little relieved. Avina on the other hand is peering at him curiously, a sudden interest in her eyes that wasn¡¯t there before. Or maybe it was there before, actually. It was just muted by everything else until now.


    ¡°It gladdens my heart to hear that, Sir Hero. I knew you would be of a righteous-!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah. Enough of the flowery language. I¡¯m curious, Mikael. And as your Soul Mechanic, you should really tell me so I know how to prepare. What exactly DO you plan on doing next? What are your goals? What are your motivations?¡±


    Mikael blinks at the intensity with which Avina is watching him as she asks those questions. It takes him a second to realize she¡¯s entered ¡®mad scientist¡¯ mode again. She¡¯s collecting information on him even now. It makes sense, given that he¡¯s her first successful ¡®experiment¡¯. He can¡¯t even really bring himself to be that mad at her. He was glad to be alive and it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d been in a position to ASK before trying to bring him back.


    What¡­ what did he want, really? Of course, just trying to contemplate the answer to that question causes the foreign entities in Mikael¡¯s head to start clamoring. Wealth. Power. Women. They all have their ideas of what ¡®true happiness¡¯ looks like. Some want to be rich. As rich as possible. Some want to be powerful, whether that means going out and consuming as many souls as he can stuff into his Soul Engine, or even going and conquering the city or some other land. Power. A lot of the memories in his head speak of battle after battle, all for the sake of power.


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    And then there are those who want women. Mikael figures they¡¯re only so loud right now because of the two beautiful ladies standing right in front of him. Not to mention Avina¡¯s provocative comments about ordering Thayla to strip naked. Voices whisper about how easy it would be to pin them down and ravish them. About how they¡¯d probably even like it¡­ how they¡¯d beg for more, once he got started.


    Mikael pushes back on those voices the loudest. He refused to see Avina or Thayla as some¡­ pieces of meat. They were people, not just collections of holes to slake his lust upon. A slight grimace spreads across his face, but thankfully he doesn¡¯t have a bodily reaction to the idea.


    Of course, there are a handful of voices who are even more sinister than that. They don¡¯t want wealth, power, or women. They just want blood. The other things are only applicable in how they might result in more blood. Mikael has plenty of killers floating around in his head right now¡­ but only a few truly sick monsters, thank fuck.


    Still, none of them speak for him. None of them represent what HE actually wants. What does Mikael desire more than anything? In the end, he comes to the conclusion that he wants two things above all else. Lifting his head, he looks from Thayla to Avina.


    ¡°I know what I want. First, I want my memories back from that bastard Zadicus. If he took memories from others and stuffed them into my head, then it stands to reason that he should still have the rest of my memories as well, right? Hopefully he hasn¡¯t used them yet. I¡¯ll pry them out of his cold dead hands, if I have to.¡±


    Thayla nods along, her face set into a resolved expression.


    ¡°As is your right, Sir Hero. You deserve to be made whole again just as much as Zadicus deserves to be made to pay for his crimes.¡±


    Avina also looks sympathetic, though as she bites her lower lip, looking off to the side in thought, Mikael gets the impression she doesn¡¯t think it¡¯ll be as easy as he hopes and she¡¯s just trying to spare his feelings by not saying it out loud. Instead, after a moment she gives him a simple nod before gesturing with her hand.


    ¡°You said ¡®First¡¯. What else?¡±


    Mikael grimaces and looks down at the device embedded in his chest. The Soul Engine might be the only thing keeping him alive, but its very existence made his second goal seem almost impossible. Even still¡­


    ¡°I want to go home. I had a life back on Earth, on my old world. I had friends and family, even if I don¡¯t remember half of them. Even if many of their faces are murky, and the faces I do remember don¡¯t have names attached¡­ I still want to get back to them. And if I can get my memories back from Zadicus fucking Quinn, then I¡¯ll be all set to return home as well. I can¡­ I can feed off of small animals or something. So yeah. I want to go home. How do Summoned Heroes go home?¡±


    Avina and Thayla share a glance at that. Which¡­ he barely knows either of them at this point, and they barely know each other as well. And yet, already Mikael can safely say that them finding common ground on anything is probably a bad sign. Finally, wringing her hands together, Avina turns back to him.


    ¡°Mikael¡­ I don¡¯t know if that will be possible. Even if it is, I can¡¯t say for certain whether your world even has a weave of life in the same way Vaclatora does. Going back to your world in your current condition might just kill you.¡±


    He¡¯s not sure if he believes her. She might very well be telling the truth. She certainly sounds concerned. But then, that concern also might come from a place of selfishness. She might just not want her first successful experiment to go anywhere. As much as Avina had tried to warn him off of trusting Thayla, her reasoning also applied to her too, didn¡¯t it? He knew even less about Avina than he did the Dame at this point, save for that she¡¯d brought him back to life.


    And don¡¯t get him wrong, resurrecting him DID score some brownie points in Mikael¡¯s book. He liked being alive, full stop. However, he hadn¡¯t asked Avina to resurrect him from the grave or stick a fucking engine in his chest. He didn¡¯t ask for any of this. He would stick with Avina because at this point they were in this together¡­ but he had to be careful how much he trusted her.


    ¡°If I die¡­ I die. Is it possible? Do the records talk about Summoned Heroes getting to go home?¡±


    Mikael directs that question to Thayla, causing Avina to go quiet as the female knight hesitates for a moment before nodding.


    ¡°Ah¡­ yes, Sir Hero. From what we know at the Citadel, Summoned Heroes can only return to their home worlds once they complete the task that they were summoned for. At that point in time, they are given a onetime choice, whether to stay or go home. Though¡­ it¡¯s a little strange.¡±


    Thayla trails off for a moment, until Mikael rolls his eyes and growls a little bit in impatience.


    ¡°What¡¯s strange?¡±


    Jolting out of her thoughts, the Dame looks at him with a frown.


    ¡°Well, if Lord Quinn summoned you to fight for him in the arena, you should have already been given the option to return home, Sir Hero. The fact that you haven¡¯t is¡­ odd to say the least. I do not know what other purpose he would have summoned you for either.¡±


    That was odd. And worrying. But then, everything about this whole situation was worrying. If Mikael spent too long thinking about it, he was convinced that he would spiral into a depressive state he would never pull himself back out of. Either that or he would go postal and let the foreign side of his brain take over and just start murdering people, innocent or otherwise. At which point Thayla would be oathbound to slay him.


    Mikael closes his eyes for a moment and just breathes. Then, he opens them again and nods to himself.


    ¡°Alright then. The path forward seems rather obvious. Both of my current goals center around the Lord of Alether, Zadicus Quinn. So we need to figure out a way to get him. No Order of the Rose. No trips to the Citadel. Just the three of us against a Wizard Lord and his city-wide criminal conspiracy.¡±


    He looks to Avina and Thayla.


    ¡°Can I count on you both? Are you with me?¡±


    Thayla immediately straightens up, her head held high.


    ¡°Of course. I am at your command, Sir Hero.¡±


    He would probably need to work on getting her to call him by his name at some point. The hero worship was going to get old fast at this rate. But for now, Mikael just looks to Avina until finally she lets out a sigh and tosses her hands in the air.


    ¡°I already said we were in this together, didn¡¯t I? Even before SHE showed up. I¡¯m your Soul Mechanic. Of course I¡¯m with you.¡±


    Alright then. It seemed they had a goal. Now they just needed a plan.

 Chapter 10: The Mechanic (Lewd)

    ¡°Before anything else, we need to get out of here.¡±


    Mikael blinks at that, even as Avina hurries to defend her words.


    ¡°Zadicus shouldn¡¯t know that I took you. It shouldn¡¯t even cross his mind. I made sure to pin your body¡¯s disappearance on the old drunk in charge of disposing of the arena¡¯s corpses. As far as Zadicus is concerned, the old man accidentally had your body incinerated with the common criminals instead of held in reserve because of your status as a Summoned Hero. And because of his reputation as a drunk, no amount of pleading will convince Zadicus that he didn¡¯t fuck up.¡±


    Well now. That was¡­ rather cutthroat. At the same time though, they were three people against an entire city. And if this old guy really was in charge of corpse removal, it made him complicit in the whole operation, didn¡¯t it? After a moment of thought, Mikael finds he can¡¯t really bring himself to feel guilty over it.


    ¡°Alright then. So why do we need to get out of here?¡±


    Not that he was complaining, mind you. It felt like they¡¯d spent a small eternity down in this basement. He was very much ready to leave. But why did Avina seem so desperate?


    With a sigh, the Soul Mechanic gestures to the bodies on the ground and then Thayla herself.


    ¡°Because of them. And her. I assume that Zadicus sent you in my direction, right?¡±


    That last question is directed at Thayla, who slowly nods before ducking her head in renewed shame.


    ¡°Indeed¡­ after he tricked me into doing his bidding, he told me I would find the answers I sought here in this basement. I suppose he expected me to stumble upon you and take you for your average run of the mill Necromancer.¡±


    ¡°Right. And if I¡¯m a Necromancer, I must also be guilty of abusing the Hero Summoning Ritual. I¡¯m sure it would have all fit quite neatly in your world view.¡±


    Avina¡¯s dry tone causes Thayla to flush in response, but the knight¡¯s silence speaks volumes.


    ¡°Zadicus will probably have guards watching the entrance to see who comes out. Which is why YOU¡¯RE going to go back up there and announce to whoever you find that you found this place empty with three bodies in it. Meanwhile, Mikael and I will be exiting through the sewers and making our way over to a safehouse I prepared for this moment.¡±


    There¡¯s a moment of silence as he and Thayla just stare at Avina. She¡¯s certainly taking charge, isn¡¯t she? Not that there¡¯s anything wrong with it. It was just that¡­ Mikael honestly hadn¡¯t expected her to be so prepared. Seeming to sense this, Avina scowls slightly.


    ¡°What? Did you think I was planning on successfully bringing someone back to life without any idea of what I was going to do next? Even if Zadicus doesn¡¯t know I stole Mikael¡¯s body, I wasn¡¯t about to give that bastard the satisfaction of snaking my success out from under me. And Tak definitely would have done that in Zadicus¡¯ name, if Mikael hadn¡¯t dealt with him and his thugs.¡±


    Stepping to the side, Avina slaps a hand on the wall without looking. To Mikael¡¯s wide-eyed amazement, the wall suddenly spirals open, a soft glow showing off a bit of magic that apparently hid a secret door. Beyond, there¡¯s the sound of a sewer through the hole in the wall.


    ¡°Once we¡¯re through and I close the wall up again, make sure to destroy the control rune. It¡¯ll just be an ordinary wall after that. After all is said and done and you¡¯ve done your part to keep them from getting suspicious of you, you can meet us at this address.¡±


    Avina rattles off the address, which admittedly goes right over Mikael¡¯s head. But Thayla just furrows her brow in a clear effort to commit it to memory before slowly nodding. Then¡­ she looks to Mikael for clarification. It¡¯s obvious that she doesn¡¯t want to necessarily follow Avina¡¯s orders. Or rather, she doesn¡¯t want to follow them without checking in with Mikael first. He doesn¡¯t know which, but in this case it doesn¡¯t matter. Avina has clearly figured this all out ahead of time and it would be foolish to waste her preparations.


    ¡°Do as she says. All of it. We¡¯ll see you later.¡±


    ¡°¡­ As you say, Sir Hero. I shall be as swift as possible, so that I am back at your side with all due haste.¡±


    Right. Mikael just gives that a nod before grabbing the sword and dagger off of the table and following Avina through the hole. The last thing he sees is Thayla¡¯s concerned face on the other side before Avina closes it up. Then, he hears the sound of a plated fist slamming into the wall, hard enough that some dust shakes loose on their side. That must have been Thayla destroying the control rune like Avina said to.


    ¡°This way.¡±


    Hiking up her skirts, Avina quickly begins leading the way through the sewers of Alether. Mikael follows, his weapons in his hands just in case they run into any opposition down here. The sewers were normally the domain of all of the bad guys and criminals that made a city¡¯s underbelly their home, at least in the stories he¡¯d read.


    ¡­ But what about when the bad guys were running the show? If thugs like Tak and his friends were outright working for the Lord of the City, then they didn¡¯t exactly need a hideaway, did they? Indeed, he doesn¡¯t really see any sign of life down in the sewers¡­ save for the rats of course. Rats that Avina turns her nose up, groaning in disgust.


    ¡°Ugh. Do you think you can do something about those, Mikael?¡±


    He lifts an eyebrow at that, glancing at the creatures as they scurry back and forth and give him and Avina a wide distance. He looks at his blades and then at the rats. Honestly, they didn¡¯t look big enough for him to properly fight them¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m not talking about stabbing them or anything like that. I¡¯m talking about your Soul Engine. Did you notice back there? How you didn¡¯t have to wait for the rat to be dead, but you did have to wait for Tak and his men to be dead?¡±


    Mikael blinks, having not even considered that until now. But then to be fair, he¡¯d had a lot of other things on his mind. Still did.


    ¡°This is because the souls attached to rodents are much smaller than your own¡­ and that makes them easier to scoop up. You¡¯re not going to be able to just suck a living person¡¯s soul up, but a rodent? That¡¯s another story.¡±


    Well now¡­ it sounded like she wanted him to at least try. And if he was going to avoid killing more people, Mikael would need the extra juice from somewhere, wouldn¡¯t he? Concentrating on that same feeling he had before, Mikael reaches out all around them. He blinks as at least a dozen rats squeal and shriek, their bodies spasming and then shriveling up and their soul energy flowing through the air into his chest.


    It¡¯s a drop in the bucket compared to the feeling he got from consuming three human souls back to back to back. But it¡¯s still rather nice. He doesn¡¯t even realize he¡¯s smiling until he looks up and sees Avina smiling at him too. She has a nice smile, he finds himself absently noting.


    ¡°Good. Let¡¯s keep going.¡±


    From there, it¡¯s actually pretty easy to make their way through the sewers. Sometimes the concentration of rats gets to be a bit much, but Mikael just does his thing and sucks them all dry. Finally though, they reach a wall which Avina places her hand against and much like the basement, the wall shimmers briefly and then pulls open, revealing¡­ another basement.


    He must have let his dismay leak onto his face, because Avina just giggles at him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s an actual home above this one. With actual beds at that. And even a bathtub. Come on.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at the thought of a bathtub, and for the first time he realizes just how absurdly filthy he is. Though, his eyes do dart down to the Soul Engine even as his nose wrinkles in disgust at the smell he¡¯s giving off.


    ¡°Err¡­ is this thing waterproof?¡±


    It¡¯s a fair question, he feels. Especially since the edges of his flesh around the outer casing of the device are still an angry red. Avina just looks at him strangely though.


    ¡°Of course it is. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Now come. Let¡¯s get you cleaned up.¡±


    That¡¯s how Mikael finds himself in a bathtub about thirty minutes later. Stripped out of the pants he¡¯d still been in since the arena, wearing absolutely nothing but his birthday suit, he luxuriates in water provided by another bit of magic, or so Avina had said.


    This is actually his second bath in the last thirty minutes. With access to unlimited water, he¡¯d decided that he could justify draining the tub of the admittedly disgusting first bath, and then refill it again for a more relaxing soak-off rinse. After a good scrubbing, Mikael had to admit he was feeling a lot better. Better than he would have expected, actually.


    He¡¯s almost starting to nod off when there¡¯s a sudden knock at the door, causing his eyes to snap open. Before he can speak up, the door opens and Avina slips inside¡­ wearing nothing but a slip instead of her all-encompassing black garb from before. Mikael tries not to stare, even as he makes sure all of his important bits are hidden from her current angle.


    ¡°Err¡­ just give me a second and I¡¯ll get out of your way. Sorry if I took too much time or something¡­¡±


    ¡°No. There¡¯s no need to apologize, and you don¡¯t have to go either. In fact, I thought that this would be the perfect time for your first check-up.¡±


    Mikael blinks, opens his mouth¡­ and then closes it. He¡¯s not sure how to respond. Avina though, seems to have thought this through.


    ¡°I¡¯m your Soul Mechanic after all. You¡¯ll need constant sessions with me, especially over the next few days, to make sure that you aren¡¯t¡­ degrading. I¡¯ve never had a success quite like yours before, but that doesn¡¯t mean there won¡¯t be any deterioration down the line. It just means we¡¯re in unprecedented territory.¡±


    That all sounded very reasonable and very fair. Mikael is about to open his mouth and say as much when Avina suddenly lets the slip¡­ slip. The last garment she¡¯d had on flutters to the floor and all Mikael can do is stare as she walks over to the tub¡­ and slips right on in.


    -x-X-x-


    To her credit, she doesn¡¯t displace so much water that the tub spills over once she¡¯s in. That said, Mikael still finds himself staring at her in disbelief. He¡¯d already registered just how beautiful she was. And that was back when she was wearing all black as well as a blood-covered apron and a pair of blood-covered gloves. Now, she¡¯s lost all of that and it¡¯s just her¡­ and he has to admit, ¡®beautiful¡¯ didn¡¯t begin to truly do her justice.


    She¡¯s gorgeous, his self-appointed Soul Mechanic. Pale skin, freckles across her face and chest¡­ and a body that just didn¡¯t quit. As she kneels there between his legs, Mikael finds himself trying and failing not to stare for too long at her breasts resting on the surface of the bath, each of them capped with a hardening nipple.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Avina doesn¡¯t say or do anything for a moment, just waiting for him to recover. It gives him time enough to collect his thoughts and finally focus his attention back on the naked woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°¡­ I understand needing to give me regular check ups to make sure I¡¯m not going to fall apart and die again anytime soon, but I¡¯m not sure why you need to be naked for this as well, Avina.¡±


    Smiling softly, Avina leans forward, making it MUCH harder for Mikael not to stare at her breasts as they¡¯re pushed together and placed more firmly in front of his face.


    ¡°It only seems fair. If I¡¯m seeing all of you, then you should see all of me. I want us to have a good relationship, Mikael. A strong relationship.¡±


    Her hand reaches out then, only for Avina to hesitate and pause.


    ¡°¡­ May I?¡±


    Wordlessly, Mikael nods. Only, Avina doesn¡¯t reach for his Soul Engine like he¡¯s expecting her to. Instead, she takes his consent and runs with it, dropping her hand beneath the water and grabbing hold of his cock. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as she begins to stroke his shaft up and down, a reluctant groan bubbling its way up through his lips. He blames the relaxation, honestly. He¡¯s finally stopped operating on adrenaline. He¡¯s finally had a chance to calm down. That¡¯s why he doesn¡¯t immediately stop her or speak up when she begins giving him a handjob. Yep. That¡¯s it. Nothing else.


    ¡°¡­ I know you think we need that Knight of the Rose, but I hope you also know you can¡¯t trust her. Maybe my¡­ examples weren¡¯t the best back there, but you need to be ready for her oaths to her Order to one day supersede her pledge to you, Mikael. As far as the Citadel is concerned, you¡¯re an abomination and I am a criminal for daring to bring you back to life.¡±


    Given Avina¡¯s current actions, it takes Mikael a second to even process what she¡¯s saying. When he does however, his brow furrows in consternation. Was this¡­ jealousy? Avina had already made her opinion of Thayla¡¯s loyalties clear back in the basement. But now here she was doubling down the moment she got him alone. He wasn¡¯t sure what to think about that.


    In the end though, he can¡¯t help but sigh.


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t fully trust her, Avina. I¡¯m not even sure I should trust you just yet.¡±


    Maybe it¡¯s a bad idea to be confessing his distrust of a woman who currently has his member in the palm of her hand. But Mikael can¡¯t quite bring himself to deceive her. Even if it¡¯s what a very suspect part of his brain, is telling him to do. A very recently added part of him that Mikael had been doing a great job of ignoring up until this point is all but urging him to deceive and cajole Avina into going further with him, no matter what.


    Mikael isn¡¯t that kind of guy. He¡¯s not about to trick a woman into sex, or any of the even worse ¡®tactics¡¯ that the dead men in his head were ¡®recommending¡¯. No, he would stay true to himself, no matter what.


    ¡°¡­ Do you fear that I would try to keep you here, rather than let you go home?¡±


    That gets another blink from Mikael. Well now, it seemed neither he nor Avina were inclined to beat around the bush. She¡¯d just come out and said it, just like that hadn¡¯t she?


    Suddenly, Avina¡¯s hands are both above the water, cupping his face. And the naked young woman herself is climbing into his lap. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as he feels the tip of his member press against her folds.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, Mikael. If you decide to go home, I¡¯ll just have to come with you. It might be the only way you even survive back on your old world, after all. You¡¯ll need your Soul Mechanic, no matter where you end up.¡±


    She teases him with her entrance, wiggling a bit as she bites her lower lip and looks into his eyes. Mikael¡¯s hands slide under the water and take hold of her hips as he tries to resist the urge to slam her down onto him right then and there. Instead, he does his best to focus on what she¡¯s saying, rather than what she¡¯s doing. His voice still comes out in a gasp though, breathless as his manhood throbs.


    ¡°Is that even possible? Can a Summoned Hero bring someone back with them?¡±


    Avina flushes for a moment and looks off to the side, as though just realizing she¡¯s given something away. When she finally looks back at him, she hesitantly nods.


    ¡°The Citadel isn¡¯t the only place you can find stories pertaining to the Summoned Heroes of our world¡¯s ancient past, Mikael. Yes, it¡¯s possible. It¡¯s said that when a Summoned Hero returns to their world, they don¡¯t just take themselves, but also their immediate surroundings. So¡­ bringing someone with you should be entirely possible.¡±


    For a long moment, Mikael wonders just who Avina really is. She¡¯s a beautiful, brilliant woman who apparently knows enough about souls and artificing to make a device that could bring him back to life. But he¡¯s just starting to realize how little that truly scratches the surface. Where does she come from? Who is she running from, really? The obvious answer seems to be Zadicus Quinn, but is that really it? Does she really just want to escape her debts to the Lord of the City? Or is there more to it than that?


    ¡°I¡¯ll prove it to you. One way or another, I¡¯ll prove you can trust me.¡±


    As it turns out, his introspection takes too long because quite suddenly, Avina is pushing herself down his length. For a second, he¡¯s worried that he¡¯s the one who initiated¡­ but no, while his hands are still on her hips, he didn¡¯t subconsciously pull her down. It¡¯s all her.


    ¡°Avina¡­ you don¡¯t have to¡­¡±


    ¡°I want to.¡±


    Leaning forward, she presses her forehead against his, even as she grabs hold of him by the shoulders. A light whimper leaves the raven-haired woman¡¯s lips, making him wonder if she¡¯s ever even done something like this before. But at least the bathwater provides a bit of extra lubrication, making the whole thing much slicker than it would otherwise be outside of the tub.


    Wiggling her way down his length, his Soul Mechanic moans as Mikael groans. And then¡­ she begins to ride him. At that point, he can¡¯t hold back anymore. He meets her motions with movements of his own, thrusting up into her from below as she starts to bounce up and down on his length. Their joining goes from slow and steady to frantic and harsh in what feels like mere moments.


    He¡¯s not sure how much of that is him, truth be told. Holding back the darker impulses is bad enough, but Mikael himself is only a man. A man with the memories of a bunch of other men shoved into his head. As it turns out, they all have one thing in common. They¡¯re all very interested in women, and they all agree that Avina is one of the more beautiful they¡¯ve had the chance to bed.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    A cry leaves her lips, and her inner walls tighten up around his shaft as Avina tosses her head back. Her breasts, which he¡¯d already noted were perfectly shaped, bounce up and down right in front of his face. She¡¯s all but thrusting her chest out towards him as her back arches. Her nipples both jut out, rock hard and swollen with arousal. What else is a man to do in a situation like this, really? He leans forward and captures one of Avina¡¯s teats in his mouth, sucking at it as they continue to fornicate right there in the tub, sending water splashing everywhere.


    And maybe¡­ maybe it helps. Maybe they both get the chance to loosen up a little as they partake in one another¡¯s bodies for the next long while.


    -x-X-x-


    Their first time together in the tub comes to a close long before Thayla finally makes it to the safe house, thankfully. By the time the female knight arrives, they¡¯ve both gotten dressed and moved things out into the kitchen area, where Mikael sits at a table with his shirt opened up as Avina looks over the Soul Engine with a variety of tools.


    A knock at the door signals Thayla¡¯s arrival, at which point she slips inside the moment Avina confirms its her. Looking pleased to see Mikael still safe and sound, Thayla immediately goes to him.


    ¡°Sir Hero. I have done as you asked.¡±


    Avina scoffs a bit at that, which is fair given it was what SHE had asked and suggested, and Mikael had just backed her up on it. But Thayla ignores the other woman for the moment.


    ¡°The Guards were quick to usher me away from the scene in the basement, once I showed them what I had found. I told them I could not let this go, in order to keep my cover. That it seemed to have been the work of a Necromancer. They were quite gruff with me, but told me that Lord Zadicus had given orders that I was not to be impeded. It would seem I still have free run of the city for the time being.¡±


    Mikael smiles, but before he can respond, Avina speaks up in a clipped tone.


    ¡°Good, because you¡¯ll need that if you¡¯re going to play a part in how we get to Zadicus.¡±


    Finally, Thayla looks to Avina and frowns before glancing back at him questioningly.


    ¡°Oh? Have we already come up with a plan of action, Sir Hero?¡±


    Avina bristles some more at Thayla¡¯s continued disrespect, and Mikael resists the urge to rub his head.


    ¡°I have a plan, yes. A good one too.¡±


    Then, just as quickly as she gets up in arms, the dark-haired woman flushes and glances his way, suddenly seeming less certain of herself.


    ¡°¡­ N-Not that I¡¯m expecting either of you to follow it blindly or anything like that. It¡¯s just¡­ I know how Zadicus thinks. And I know this city the best out of the three of us. So¡­ please hear me out?¡±


    Mikael glances at Thayla at that, noting how surprised the female knight looks by Avina¡¯s sudden display of vulnerability. Given the tender moment he shared with Avina in the tub earlier however, Mikael isn¡¯t quite so surprised. Avina has been alone for a long time, with her only company being failed experiments and men like Tak. It¡¯s not that much of a stretch to say she¡¯s looking for companions she can actually count on.


    She¡¯s desperate for approval, Mikael realizes. But at the same time, she¡¯s right. She does have the most knowledge of Zadicus and this city. So¡­


    ¡°I¡¯m all for hearing you out, Avina. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got so far, and then we can put our heads together and make sure its airtight. We¡¯re a team, after all.¡±


    Thayla squirms at that, but then nods, clearly not willing to go against him. Later¡­ later he would get started on convincing her to call him by his actual name instead of constantly referring to him as ¡®Sir Hero¡¯. Later.


    For now, they had a City Lord to topple from his perch.

 Chapter 11: Some Light Arson

    Avina¡¯s plan had turned out to be surprisingly actionable. In fact, it was actionable enough that Mikael had decided to go ahead with it despite Thayla¡¯s objections. But then to be fair, those objections weren¡¯t coming from a place of knightly or martial experience. No, they were very clearly coming from a place of emotion and even obsession.


    Put simply, they needed a way to get up close and personal with Zadicus. A moment when he would have his guard down and as few guards with him as possible. Unfortunately, that was going to be easier said than done because of everything that had taken place up until now. With Mikael being ¡®misplaced¡¯ at the same time that Tak and his thugs were killed and Avina was in the wind, Zadicus was sure to be on high alert.


    While Avina continued to swear that the Lord of the City shouldn¡¯t be able to connect Mikael¡¯s disappearance to her, there was still no denying that he would have lost a summoned hero¡¯s corpse, and the memories of war locked away inside of it, at the same time that his resident pet artificer had gone in the wind. Two blows that would leave Zadicus on edge¡­ but not feeling vulnerable. Not yet.


    That was a problem, because they needed him to feel vulnerable. They needed Zadicus Quinn to be desperate. Avina¡¯s overarching plan hinged on it.


    See, according to the Soul Mechanic, Zadicus had a pretty small playbook at the end of the day. He didn¡¯t trend to stray from his old favorites. When the going got tough, he defaulted back onto what he knew best. Well, a few years back right after the bastard was made Lord of the City, dissent and discontent within Alether had been at an all time high.


    This wasn¡¯t entirely because of the old City Lord being deposed or anything like that. The man that Zadicus had taken the position from wasn¡¯t THAT beloved, though his programs HAD made him pretty well-liked by Alether¡¯s nobility. All minor nobles who had to exist on the fringes of the Kingdom of Ocreatha in a border city like Alether, they had still lived somewhat comfortable, getting kickbacks from the City Lord¡¯s silver mine and helping to keep peace within the city.


    And then the silver mines had dried up and the old Lord of the City had fallen for Zadicus¡¯ gambit to turn towards his arenas. And then suddenly, Zadicus Quinn was the Lord of Alether with the backing of Ocreatha¡¯s Council of Lords. Needless to say, none of the nobles who called Alether home were ON the Kingdom¡¯s Council of Lords. They weren¡¯t important enough for that. And ultimately¡­ it had upset them that not only were they no longer getting kickbacks from the old Lord¡¯s silver mines, but they also suddenly had to obey this young upstart who had been placed over them all.


    Zadicus¡¯ initial rule as Lord of Alether had been off to a relatively rocky start as a result¡­ until finally, he¡¯d come up with a fantastic idea. Fantastic for everyone but him, anyways. He¡¯d announced a Grand Melee, to take place in a swiftly constructed Colosseum that put all of his other arena pits to shame in both size and grandeur. It was a huge event, according to Avina. It was effectively made up of volunteers who wanted to try their luck¡­ and criminals rounded up by the City Guard.


    It just so happened that some of those criminals were Zadicus¡¯ greatest detractors among the nobility. And none of them made it out of the Colosseum alive that day. As a result, the backs of the city¡¯s noble houses, all minor in the grander scheme of things but major in Alether itself, had been broken that day. And the event had been so successful that Zadicus¡¯ rule over the city had been cemented ever since.


    However, there hadn¡¯t been another Grand Melee in the years that followed. It made sense. According to Avina, the city had been relatively quiet and while some events had still taken place in the Colosseum, which had been renamed to the ¡®Grand Colosseum¡¯ soon after, there had been none quite as big at that first Grand Melee. Certainly none that had been capped off with Zadicus personally handing over a rather large amount of gold to the winner, like had happened in the Melee.


    And so¡­ that was what they were aiming for. Avina was convinced that Zadicus would revert to form if he felt threatened enough. If they could just make him desperate by loosening his hold on Alether, then he would feel the need to tighten it back up again, likely by holding a second Grand Melee after the success of the first.


    An added benefit was that it would distract the Lord of Alether from the manhunt for Avina, which would be well underway by this point.


    Still, that brought them to the crux of the matter¡­ they had an end goal, but how were they supposed to reach it? The most obvious way of hitting Zadicus Quinn where it hurt would seem to be going after his arenas. But no, that wasn¡¯t the right answer. The only way to damage the arenas would be to free the criminals being used as entertainment. And while some of those criminals might have been innocent, plenty more likely weren¡¯t. Mikael didn¡¯t want to have to figure out who was who.


    Fortunately, there was an alternative. Even with his strange hold over Alether, even with his abuse of the Hero Summoning Ritual, Zadicus had reached a limit for how many arenas he could open in the city before running into diminishing returns. But the man was as greedy as they came, and too ambitious to stop just because he already had it all. He wanted more. His greed would be his downfall if Mikael had anything to say about it.


    Having completely taken control of Alether in every conceivable way, Zadicus Quinn had started looking outwards for new methods of expansion. He¡¯d began making friends in far places, specifically by offering foreign merchants guaranteed protection in warehouses that he owned. According to Avina, it was a full-blown protection racket.


    The warehouses that Zadicus provided to the merchants who came through Alether, either on their way deeper into the Kingdom of Ocreatha or on their way out towards the Zuverian Empire, were entirely safe. They did what the Lord of the City said they did, which was to provide a safe place for merchant goods while they were staying in his city.


    The rest of the warehouses, however¡­ not so much. Ever since Zadicus had gotten into the storage business, his competition had begun seeing quite a lot of issues. Constant break-ins. Warehouse fires. Broken goods, theft. And if you were a merchant foolish enough to try to leave your goods outside of the city¡­ well, there were apparently bandits in the woods. Never mind that those bandits looked an awful lot like the City Guard according to Avina.


    Put simply, Zadicus Quinn was making a bunch of gold off of his arenas. But he was starting to make just as much gold off of his warehouses. And if their end goal was to make Zadicus desperate enough to revert to old successes, to make him return to his roots¡­ then what better way than to both figuratively and literally set fire to his newest venture?


    That was why Mikael found himself standing outside of one of the City Lord¡¯s warehouses, eyeballing it carefully from across the street. He was effectively casing the place, trying to figure out how viable getting inside was going to be.


    He was also alone. This was where Thayla¡¯s objections had come into play. See, Avina¡¯s plan called for all three of them to split up, something that the Dame did not like one bit. Mikael, meanwhile, had found himself struck by the odd thought that ¡®you never split the party¡¯ when Avina had first brought the idea up. But he couldn¡¯t say where the thought had come from. Whether it was a native memory¡­ or a foreign one.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    All the same, Avina¡¯s reasoning made perfect sense and he¡¯d found himself in agreement with her, despite Thayla¡¯s protests. See, Avina had to lay low. She also had a contact she needed to get in touch with, a lead that she was staying mum about until it either panned out or didn¡¯t. Thayla on the other hand needed to do the opposite of laying low. She had to stay active, moving around the city and continuing her ¡®investigation¡¯ while doing what ¡®knights do¡¯ in order to keep up appearances.


    If the Knight of the Rose suddenly went underground and stopped showing up where Zadicus expected her to show up, there would be suspicions raised across the board. Likewise, if she was caught helping some random fucker burn down one of Zadicus¡¯ warehouses, she would suddenly be as hunted as Avina currently was, and that wouldn¡¯t do.


    Admittedly, Avina¡¯s hadn¡¯t really had a plan for what Thayla should be doing. The raven-haired woman had had time to think about what she and Mikael would be doing, to plan ahead for her eventual success in resurrecting someone like him with her Soul Engine. But Thayla was a last minute addition, and one she clearly resented still at least a little bit.


    Mikael had been the one to come up with Thayla¡¯s current mission, and he was pretty sure that was the only reason she¡¯d even been willing to go along with it in the first place. Still, he was pretty proud of the idea. Since Thayla couldn¡¯t be with him burning down warehouses, and in fact needed to be seen moving about the city still¡­ well, it only made sense to have her doing what Knights of the Rose did, but even more so.


    Rather than focusing solely on her investigation into the abuse of the Hero Summoning Ritual, Dame Thayla Dawnguard would be seeking out injustice and hardship wherever she could find it. Her new goal, albeit with the investigation still presented as her overarching purpose¡­ was to make the Alether City Guard look as ineffectual and incompetent as she possibly could. She was going to do their jobs for them, but better.


    Avina had actually been rather impressed by the idea. Apparently, Mikael had struck gold there, because the City Guard under Zadicus were already plenty incompetent, ineffectual, and all around corrupt. And as a visiting foreign knight who had the Lord of the City¡¯s blessing to operate within Alether, Thayla was pretty much untouchable so long as she kept her nose clean.


    And she would. Mikael had ordered it of her, even if it still felt weird to be able to order anyone to do anything. But he needed her to play her part. And he needed to be able to play his.


    Wearing a cloak, as well as a thick leather jerkin over a shirt to hide the glowing teal device embedded in his chest, Mikael eyeballs the warehouse in front of him for a few seconds more before finally making his move. He hasn¡¯t JUST been thinking about all of this while he was stood here, after all. He¡¯s been watching the guards move around the warehouse, studying their rotation and counting the number of unique faces.


    It''s not that bad, he notes. Only about five guards in total, from what he can see. Of course, two of them are dedicated to the warehouse¡¯s only ground floor entrance. That just means Mikael has to get creative though.


    He¡¯s been eyeballing a second floor entrance on the side of the warehouse for a bit at that point, but now he actually moves towards it. There¡¯s enough space on either side of the warehouse that leaping to the balcony from a nearby rooftop probably isn¡¯t viable¡­ or at least, it wouldn¡¯t be for any normal human being.


    Mikael is not a normal human being anymore. And before he allows himself to question it further, he focuses on the energy swirling around inside of him¡­ and crouches down before leaping up. To his surprise, he all but flies through the air, before landing on the second floor balcony with a soft grunt.


    Looking back at where he just came from, he blinks for a moment.


    ¡°¡­ Right.¡±


    Admittedly, it¡¯s only been two days since their escape from the basement and regrouping at Avina¡¯s safehouse. And in that time, Mikael has been¡­ feeding on the city¡¯s sewer rat population some more. As a result, he hasn¡¯t lost most of the energy he got from Tak or his friends. So long as he keeps himself topped off with rat souls, the three human souls continue to supercharge him. He¡¯s quite literally superhuman right now.


    With Tak¡¯s sword sheathed at his side, Mikael approaches the warehouse door on the second floor balcony, not surprised to find it locked. But he¡¯s also not that surprised when he¡¯s able to grab the handle¡­ and with the proper application of strength, bust it open and slip inside.


    The warehouse interior is dark to say the least, but also dry. Mikael isn¡¯t sure if it¡¯s magic or what, but the place almost feels temperature-controlled. Avina had assured him that there wouldn¡¯t be any magical protections on the merchant¡¯s goods, however. While technically such magic did exist it was rare and thus expensive enough that she felt safe in saying Zadicus wasn¡¯t the kind of man who would go so far as to splurge for such things.


    That meant¡­ all Mikael had to do was start some fires. Reaching for the flagon of oil that Thayla procured for him alongside the leather jerkin and cloak, Mikael grabs the pieces of cloth bunched up in a pouch with his other. He soaks each cloth in oil before dropping it onto barrels below, never leaving the second floor catwalk that he finds himself on. The thing circles around the entire warehouse after all, making his job incredibly easy.


    Once the oiled up cloths are in place, Mikael prepares the matches¡­ and then, sprinting around the circumference of the warehouse, he drops a lit match onto each oil-soaked cloth as he goes, until eventually he reaches the second floor door that he came in through. Pausing for a moment, Mikael looks down to see the half a dozen small fires he¡¯s started quickly growing bigger and bigger by the second. In mere moments, it becomes a proper conflagration.


    There¡¯s a few pyromaniacs in the back of Mikael¡¯s mind really getting their rocks off right now. Some real freaky fire starters that have made their home in Mikael¡¯s head and are having the time of their lives. But Mikael doesn¡¯t pay them much mind. In fact, he lets a smile spread across his cowled face, even as he turns and steps back out onto the second floor balcony.


    This right here¡­ this was something he could get behind. No killing. No murder. Just harsh, honest payback against the bastard that put him in this position in the first place. Sure, it was also hurting the merchants who were storing their goods here. But Mikael couldn¡¯t bring himself to care, not when the merchants who could afford Zadicus¡¯ exorbitant rates could probably also afford a hit or two to their products.


    And in the long run, it would only be good for them or so Mikael figured. Once Zadicus was out of the picture, they wouldn¡¯t be forced to pay a premium to store their shit in the City Lord¡¯s warehouses anymore just to keep their merchandise safe.


    Dropping back down to the ground floor from the balcony, Mikael begins walking along, heading for the sewer entrance he¡¯d used to traverse the city and get here in the first place. He could get used to this. He could-


    ¡°Oi! You there! Stop where you are!¡±


    Mikael freezes as one of the warehouse guards calls out to him. Damn it all. He just had to jinx it.

 Chapter 12: Fighting the Guards

    Standing there outside the warehouse, frozen in place, Mikael suddenly wonders why he even leapt down from the second floor balcony in the first place. Hadn¡¯t he just been thinking about how with his enhanced strength, he should be able to clear the gap between the balcony and the nearby roof? Certainly, if he could make a twenty foot leap from a still position, he should have been able to run and leap across a thirty foot gap with room to spare.


    ¡°Turn around! Hands where I can see them! What are you doing around here, wearing a cloak like that?¡±


    ¡°Must be a little lost!¡±


    ¡°Is that it? Are you lost, friend?¡±


    No, more than that¡­ not making the leap to the next rooftop was one thing. But why had he stopped when the guard told him to in the first place? By all rights, he should have just kept going and slipped away before the guards could catch up. Now though¡­ now they¡¯ve approached. They¡¯re just behind him and he can hear their hands coming down to rest on the pommels of their swords.


    ¡­ He can feel the pommel of his stolen sword as well, and belatedly Mikael realizes something. The decisions he¡¯s made that have led up to this point, from leaping down from the balcony to the ground level, to stopping when the guard called out to him¡­ they weren¡¯t unconscious decisions as he¡¯d originally thought. They were quite conscious¡­ they just weren¡¯t HIS conscious decisions.


    He should have wondered why the dead men occupying so much of his mind had fallen quiet. They hadn¡¯t. They¡¯d just gotten a bit more subtle. Now? Now he felt it in his bones. The urge to kill. The urge to destroy. He¡¯s a warrior, a soldier, a criminal, and a monster all wrapped up in one man. And all of them want this fight. They¡¯re YEARNING for it.


    Mikael doesn¡¯t want it though. He doesn¡¯t want to kill anyone that he doesn¡¯t have to. Hell, he doesn¡¯t even want to HURT anyone he doesn¡¯t have to. But they¡¯re too close for him to try and run away now. The likelihood of being followed, or of running into more of the City Guard and not being able to slip back into the sewers as easily as he wanted¡­ it was too damn high.


    Slowly, making sure to keep the hood of his cloak down low to obscure his features, Mikael turns around. There¡¯s only two of the five guards currently on him. The other three are back near the warehouse. A warehouse that¡¯s currently on fire, though it¡¯s not quite showing it. The blaze is still contained for the moment, but not for much longer Mikael suspects. No, not much longer now.


    Trying to juggle pushing back on the foreign entities in his head who want to kill, while also drawing on their experience to make his voice as menacing as possible, Mikael shows off his sword and tries for intimidation.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want any of this, friend. I promise you that.¡±


    There had been nothing friendly about the guard¡¯s use of the word ¡®friend¡¯, so Mikael honestly saw no issue with turning the tactic back around on him. When the guard had called Mikael ¡®friend¡¯ it was in a derisive, mocking tone. When Mikael calls the guard ¡®friend¡¯, it¡¯s with a sharpened edge, to let him know that this isn¡¯t a fight he can handle.


    ¡­ Unfortunately, neither of the men stood in front of Mikael are battle-hardened warriors. Neither are soldiers who have seen even a single battlefield. They might know how to use those swords at their waists, and they might be used to walking around in the armor they¡¯re wearing, but that doesn¡¯t make them fighters. It just makes them cocky.


    They exchange a look with one another¡­ and then burst out laughing in unison. Mikael grits his teeth, doing his best to constrain his violent impulses, to strangle the urge to murder both men in its crib. Alas, he¡¯s not quite successful¡­ Tak¡¯s sword comes out of the sheath at his side a full inch, making a distinctive noise that causes both guards to immediately stop laughing and draw their own weapons fully.


    Mikael still doesn¡¯t draw his entirely out of its sheath. He knows once he does that, this will truly be past the point of no return. Although¡­ it might already be there.


    ¡°Really? Baring steel to a City Guard? Do you have a death wish? Surrender and come quietly and maybe you¡¯ll finish your interrogation with all your teeth intact.¡±


    ¡­ Mikael is sure that there are some good guards in this city. Men who are just trying to make ends meet, or even trying to make a difference. Not every member of the City Guard is a hopelessly corrupt thug with delusions of grandeur and overwhelming arrogance. But these two? Mikael can see the ugliness in every line of their beings but most of all in their eyes. These two might have nicer armor, and they might be a little prettier as well, but they¡¯re thugs just like Tak and his goons.


    He still doesn¡¯t want to kill them though. He really, really doesn¡¯t want to kill them. Call it what you will. Pride, maybe. A certain level of squeamishness, perhaps. Or maybe just pettiness. The same memories that got him into this mess, all but prodding him into getting caught by the guards, are now urging him to finish it in a decisive manner. And Mikael simply doesn¡¯t want to give those dead men swimming around in his head what they want.


    However, before he can say or do anything else¡­ the situation escalates.


    ¡°FIRE! FIRE IN THE WAREHOUSE!¡±


    Both guards spin around at that and admittedly, Mikael SHOULD have ran then and there. But this one he can¡¯t fully blame on his foreign memories. No, in this case the curiosity he suddenly feels is all too native. Tilting his head back to look up, he gets a good view of the warehouse he¡¯d just set ablaze finally going up in flames. The whole place is starting to burn, and the smoke is heavy and black above the building.


    He brings his head back down just as the two guards spin back around to him, their swords still out and pointed in his general direction. The one who¡¯s done the most talking clenches his jaw and snarls.


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯re coming with us, even if I have to take off a couple of your limbs to make you more compliant. Lord Zadicus is going to want to question you personally.¡±


    The guard starts to stomp forward, and his partner follows him. For a moment, Mikael considers it. Surrendering. It would solve everything oh so neatly if they really did take him straight to his quarry. Getting nice and close to Zadicus Quinn was all that Mikael wanted. He needed to force the bastard to give him his memories back and tell him how he was supposed to get home.


    ¡­ But no. He knows he¡¯s screwed if he winds up in chains again. He remembers the chains in the arena. Enchanted and with an enchantment strong enough that they took a full strength blow from Thayla¡¯s sword without breaking. There was just no telling whether Mikael would be able to leverage his own enhanced strength from the Soul Engine to overpower such a handicap. And there wasn¡¯t a doubt in his mind that Zadicus would make sure he was in chains before any ¡®questioning¡¯ took place.


    He can¡¯t let himself be captured. His confrontation with the Lord of Alether has to happen on his own terms. As Mikael decides this, the guards finish closing the gap and the first steps forward to swing his sword. One would think that Mikael would be out of time, since he hasn¡¯t even drawn his blade fully yet. But¡­ no.


    This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    In a flash, Mikael has his own sword out and blocks the first guard¡¯s blade with ease. He sends the man stumbling backwards from the force of the deflection, the guard¡¯s eyes going wide from Mikael¡¯s display of strength. Meanwhile, the second guard curses and lunges forward as well, attempting to stab Mikael in the chest¡­ in his nonexistent heart.


    While it might have been amusing to let the guard¡¯s blade deflect off of the Soul Engine¡¯s outer casing, Mikael wasn¡¯t about to test it in an environment like this one. Instead, he reaches up with a gloved hand and¡­ almost easily bats the flat of the guard¡¯s blade, turning it aside and making the man overextend and go stumbling past him.


    It would almost be funny¡­ if the first guard hadn¡¯t already recovered enough to shout at the top of his lungs.


    ¡°ARSONIST! ARSONIST HERE! GET THE FUCK OVER HERE AND BACK US UP!¡±


    With a guard now on either side of him, Mikael lets out a low sigh as the other three guards staring at the burning warehouse in horror all spin around at the call, immediately rushing over. He supposed it was too much to expect them to occupy themselves with trying to put out the fire. To be fair, they probably weren¡¯t actually trained for how to deal with warehouse fires. He doubted that they were all volunteer firefighters in their off time, if a city like Alether even had a vocation like that.


    With the other three hurrying to back them up, the first two both come in at him again, each trying to strike him from a different side to make it impossible for him to defend against them both. Mikael just shakes his head as he easily dodges their swings, his jaw clenching.


    In the end, it made sense that the guards would all go for what they knew over trying to fight something that would literally cook them alive inside of their armor. After all, better to have a culprit to present to Lord Zadicus then to come before him with empty hands and soot-covered faces, as well as an entire burnt down warehouse they would have to explain.


    Unfortunately, where they were concerned¡­ they were out of their league. With all five surrounding him now, Mikael couldn¡¯t afford to just be defensive anymore. But that wasn¡¯t a bad thing for him¡­ it was a bad thing for his opponents. As the guards all attack, Mikael finally counterattacks, his sword cutting through the air¡­ and slamming against the helmeted side of one of their heads.


    The flat of Tak¡¯s blade smashes into the helmet and sends the guard careening to the side into one of his fellows. Both men fall to the ground in a tangle of armored limbs. Meanwhile, Mikael puts on a burst of speed powered by his Soul Engine, the teal glow so bright it almost begins to show through the leather jerkin he has on. He dances among the other three guards and blocking one of them with his sword, he lashes out with a closed fist at the other and punches him right in the face.


    The knock to the head sends the guard collapsing to the ground. Of course, it¡¯s not quite so simple as Mikael suddenly being down to two opponents. His¡­ reluctance to go for killing blows means that the first two he disabled are already getting up again. And while there¡¯s now blood seeping from the third¡¯s nose¡­ he doesn¡¯t stay down for long either.


    It doesn¡¯t matter. None of the guards are fast enough or strong enough to keep up with him. But more than that, they aren¡¯t coordinated enough to truly use their greater numbers against them. Mikael finds himself noting all of the mistakes they make. The ways they fail to work like a proper team. The City Guard of Alether is not some well-oiled machine. In the end¡­ he doesn¡¯t have to kill them.


    The fighting feels like it lasts an eternity, but truthfully is probably more like five minutes. Just long enough that Mikael hears shouting from off in the distance even as he looks around himself to find he¡¯s surrounded by five groaning bodies. Some of the guards are cradling broken limbs. Some are sporting bleeding stab wounds. But none of them are dead or dying. And none of them are likely to wind up that way so long as they get medical attention in a relatively reasonable time frame.


    The temptation to kill them and absorb their souls is there though. Mikael finds himself a little out of breath as he stands over them, the power reserve in his Soul Engine definitely lower than it was before due to how much energy he just expended in sparing their lives.


    ¡­ But he can¡¯t absorb their souls. It wouldn¡¯t be tactically sound. If he absorbed their souls, he¡¯d leave behind their husks just like he left behind the husks of Tak and his men in Avina¡¯s basement. And since Zadicus already knew about those, it would automatically connect this attack on the warehouse to Avina and whatever she was up to. And it might start to make Zadicus suspicious about just what Avina had managed to achieve.


    For now, the state of those three thugs¡¯ bodies could be attributed to some sort of one and done accomplishment on Avina¡¯s end. But if Mikael were to start going around absorbing the souls of every guard who crossed his path¡­ the cat would be out of the bag quite quickly. It¡¯s a good argument, and one that actually manages to sway the more tactically minded of those soldiers in his head that Mikael is able to successfully push aside the urge to kill his defeated opponents and MOVE.


    Turning away from the groaning, writhing guards, Mikael leaves the scene of the crime, hurrying out of sight and back into the sewers before any more reinforcements can arrive.


    The adrenaline crash hits him once he¡¯s down there though, and he has to lean against a filthy wall to get his bearings for a moment.


    ¡°Fuck¡­¡±


    After a brief pause however, a smile spreads across his face.


    ¡°I did it¡­¡±


    And did it he had. The first warehouse had burned. He¡¯d stuck around an inadvisably long amount of time, but at least he could say that with certainty. The warehouse and all of its contents had burnt to ash. Whether Zadicus was going to be willing to pay to reimburse his clients or choose to have a bunch of angry merchants on his hands, this was sure to hurt his bottom line. And it was only the beginning too.


    Pushing off the wall, Mikael stumbles for a moment down the length of the sewer¡­ and then he hears them. The chittering rats. They¡¯re actually getting closer than they usually do. Perhaps because they sense weakness?


    ¡°Heh. You lot must think I¡¯m some sort of drunk or something. Think I¡¯m going to pass out down here so you can chew off my face? Well¡­ think again.¡±


    Sheathing his sword at his waist, Mikael reaches out with both hands¡­ and pulls.


    ¡°Mm¡­ come to papa¡­¡±


    The shrieking of the rats all around him is like music to his ears as he yanks their souls right out of their bodies and into his engine. Sucking up their energy and fueling his flagging reserves, Mikael lets out shuddering breath. When he next steps forward, he does so with much more surety in his steps.


    A day well spent. A job well done. A mission accomplished. Mikael grins as he makes his way back to the safehouse. Hopefully Avina and Thayla had both been just as successful in their own endeavors.

 Chapter 13: Debriefing

    Arriving back at the safehouse, Mikael finds himself with far too much time on his hands. Despite his mission ostensibly being the most dangerous by far, it was also the quickest. In fact, as he sits down and waits for the others to return from their own respective tasks, Mikael finds himself wishing he was still out there. He should have had Avina give him at least one or two more locations to burn down today while security was still relatively lax.


    Unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t thought that through very well, and neither had the others. Instead, Mikael found himself alone with his thoughts and given his current mental state, he¡¯d prefer almost anything else. It wasn¡¯t as though he had voices in his head, necessarily. None of the memories stuffed into his brain by that bastard Zadicus Quinn had taken on a life of their own or anything like that.


    Ugh, he¡¯d be seriously fucked up if they started developing their own sapience and could actually ¡®talk¡¯ to him. But no. As much as he might get poetic at times, describing them as ¡®dead men occupying his skull¡¯ and what not, the truth was¡­ they were just memories. There was no intelligence to them. No true drive. But that just made it all the worse because it meant the urges that they provoked within him were his own.


    A shudder runs down Mikael¡¯s spine as he considers how close he came to killing those guards today. In the moment he¡¯d managed to hold himself back and restrain his strength so that he didn¡¯t end any of their lives. But now that he could look back and reflect on it, he had to admit that it had been a near thing. Nearer than he would have liked.


    Worst of all, large parts of him didn¡¯t understand why it was a problem. He¡¯d killed Tak and those other two thugs easily enough, right? Tak hadn¡¯t even tried to fight him. Mikael had killed the man from behind, while he was attempting to flee. But that was different. That was necessary. He¡¯d been in a desperation situation filled with more questions than answers, and he¡¯d needed to make a judgment call.


    Obviously, he knew more now than he did then. Enough that it wasn¡¯t quite so easy to justify the killing anymore. It wasn¡¯t kill or be killed with those guards earlier today. None of them could even touch him. And yet¡­ his refusal to slaughter them didn¡¯t come without its consequences. Having removed the leather jerkin when he got back to the safehouse, Mikael glances down at his chest, where the Soul Engine beneath his shirt is still glowing relatively brightly.


    But not as brightly as it was before. Sparing the guards had sapped some of his strength and left him not quite as strong as he¡¯d been before. He was sure he still had superhuman levels of strength and speed, but the drain was noticeable. Just consuming the rats in the sewers might not sustain him forever, especially if he got into fights at every warehouse he burned down.


    ¡­ Well, he¡¯d just have to avoid any further altercations if possible. Security at Zadicus¡¯ warehouses was bound to get tougher, but Mikael had learned his lesson today. He would be more careful and conscious of being manipulated by his foreign memories going forward. Parts of him might want to give in and get into more fights to satisfy them¡­ but Mikael refused to become like the monsters Zadicus had stuffed into his brain.


    He-


    Cut off mid-thought, Mikael jolts from his seat as the front door and the basement hatch both open at the same time. For a second, adrenaline fills his system as he imagines guards coming in from both entrances and attacking him right on the spot. But¡­ no. It just so happens that Thayla and Avina are returning at practically the same moment, completely independent of one another.


    The Dame and his Soul Mechanic both slip in through their respective entrances, only to pause when they see each other coming in at the same time. After a moment, Avina just scowls at the other woman.


    ¡°Close the damn door. Do you want anyone passing by to be able to see us?¡±


    The female knight blushes and quickly finishes stepping inside, closing the door and locking it securely behind her. The cover story was that because her investigation had taken a turn for the strange and seemed like it would be taking longer than she¡¯d thought, the Knight of the Rose had sought out more permanent lodging.


    Meanwhile, this safehouse that Avina had set up was apparently owned by an old seamstress who the pale young woman had befriended some time ago. She¡¯d died a year back without any living family members, giving Avina permission to bury her outside of the city and then hide her demise from the city officials.


    As far as everyone outside of this home was concerned, Thayla was essentially shacking up with that old seamstress, and Mikael and Avina might as well not exist. Or at least, Mikael might as well not exist. Avina was still being hunted¡­ but then as far as the Lord of the City was concerned, Thayla was hunting Avina just as hard as his own guards were. So no one would ever think to check Thayla¡¯s residence for the fugitive, now would they?


    Both women move over to the table where Mikael is stood, prompting Mikael to retake his seat as they do the same. Avina leans forward, eyes filled with curiosity, and broaches the obvious subject first.


    ¡°So? How did it go? Did you wind up in a combat situation? How did the Engine perform?¡±


    His Soul Mechanic¡¯s excitement brings a slightly fond smile to his face as Mikael gives a nod.


    ¡°It went¡­ fine. The warehouse was well on its way to burning to the ground when I left the scene. They might save part of the building, but they won¡¯t save any of the goods inside of it.¡±


    After telling the good news however, he lets out a sigh and rubs a hand across the back of his head.


    ¡°¡­ But yes, there was combat. I didn¡¯t quite make it out unseen. After I set the fire, the guards caught me trying to leave and attempted to detain me. Thanks to the Soul Engine, I was able to defeat them with little issue and make my escape.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s back goes ramrod straight at that, the female knight¡¯s eyes widening upon hearing that he got into a fight. Avina, on the other hand, gives his chest a curious look, her brow furrowing in confusion.


    ¡°¡­ There might be something wrong with the Soul Engine then. If you really fought some guards, it should be glowing a lot brighter right now.¡±


    Mikael shakes his head at that, smiling slightly.


    ¡°I said I fought and defeated them, Avina. I didn¡¯t kill them. Don¡¯t worry, I made sure none of them saw my face. Still, if I¡¯d used the Soul Engine¡¯s abilities and absorbed their souls, I would have left behind husks just like the ones we left in that basement. It felt like a bad idea, especially since we¡¯re trying to lay low.¡±


    There¡¯s a mulish expression on Avina¡¯s face as he explains his reasoning. Likely because she suspects that he¡¯s not being entirely truthful with her. While his reasoning for not wanting to leave behind evidence of Avina¡¯s machine is plenty sound, it¡¯s not the only reason why he didn¡¯t kill the guards. For a moment, as she leans back and nods in understanding, it seems like she¡¯s not going to call him out on it. But then¡­


    ¡°You won¡¯t be able to keep it under wraps forever, Mikael. Maybe Zadicus won¡¯t bump up security after just one warehouse burns down, but you can bet he¡¯ll start paying to try and keep his buildings safe after the second goes up. And then the third. Security will be heightened before you can even blink, and so long as you¡¯re doing this solo, you aren¡¯t going to have the luxury of sparing your enemies for much longer.¡±


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Before Mikael can formulate a response to that, Thayla abruptly leans forward.


    ¡°It was most noble of you to try and spare their lives, Sir Hero. That you could show them mercy was a mark of your strength, not your weakness. However¡­ she speaks true. You can¡¯t expect to continue doing this on your own for much longer. Which is why I must once again protest our division of duties. I am sure that I would be of much greater use at your side. I can even disguise myself if need be, and leave my armor here while I go out with you under cloak and cowl!¡±


    A tinge of desperation arises in Thayla¡¯s voice and for a moment Mikael even considers the offer. But¡­ no.


    ¡°Sorry Thayla, but that¡¯s a bad idea. It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re not seen WITH me. What matters is that you¡¯re seen elsewhere in the city while I¡¯m doing my dirty deeds. We can¡¯t give Zadicus any reason to suspect you and if you suddenly start always being suspiciously absent whenever a warehouse burns down, he¡¯ll almost certainly put two and two together.¡±


    He pauses briefly¡­ and then graces her with a smile, deciding now is as good a time as any to maybe start chipping away at that hero worship she has going on.


    ¡°Also, you don¡¯t have to call me ¡®Sir Hero¡¯ all the time, Thayla. You can just call me Mikael.¡±


    The Knight of the Rose flushes and rears back as if struck, stammering.


    ¡°B-But that would not be a-appropriate. I am sworn to serve you for my crimes against your person! That is much t-too familiar!¡±


    The more he gets to know Thayla, the harder it is to remind himself that she¡¯s the one who carved out his heart. But he¡¯s seen both sides of her now. The professional knight who¡¯d thought she was slaying a criminal back in that pit, and this woman, wracked with guilt over the crime of killing a Summoned Hero. Sighing, he shakes his head.


    ¡°Try, please? For me?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Very well, Sir M-Mikael¡­¡±


    Well, it was a start at least. Mikael gives Thayla a friendly smile and a nod at that, which causes her to duck her head in response. Meanwhile, Avina clears her throat, drawing their attention back to her.


    ¡°Right¡­ if that¡¯s settled, let¡¯s discuss what I and the Dame did today then, shall we? It wasn¡¯t easy or simple, but I was able to get in touch with my contact today after all. That¡¯s why I was gone so long actually. What I thought would be a simple dead drop turned into a full blown conversation. Thankfully, I think I can trust them¡­ and it¡¯s not like they know where we are anyways.¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at the secrecy.


    ¡°Who exactly is this person? What can they do for us exactly?¡±


    Here, Avina puffs out her chest a little bit, clearly feeling proud of herself.


    ¡°It¡¯s one of the city¡¯s criers actually¡­ you know, those types who stand on street corners and shout the news at the top of their lungs for hours at a time?¡±


    When Mikael nods to show he does indeed know, Avina is quick to elaborate.


    ¡°Well I know a Crier who has a bone to pick with the Lord of the City. Mostly because her brother was arrested for thievery and then subsequently thrown into an arena where he died for his ¡®crimes¡¯.¡±


    That causes Thayla to lean forward again.


    ¡°Was he actually guilty?¡±


    Scoffing, Avina rolls her eyes at the Knight of the Rose.


    ¡°Does it matter? Or rather, let me phrase that. Do you think Zadicus cared whether the man was guilty or not when he was used as fodder to further line the Lord of the City¡¯s pockets?¡±


    Thayla grimaces and leans back at that, looking like she¡¯s bitten into something particularly sour. Avina, meanwhile, turns to Mikael with a smile.


    ¡°The point is, my contact is a Crier who has Crier friends. And she¡¯s willing to start announcing unfavorable things about our precious City Lord just as soon as the actual rumors start flying around. Because you¡¯d better believe that Zadicus and his guards will be doing everything they possibly can to suppress information about things like suspect warehouse fires. But she won¡¯t let them. She¡¯ll shout it from the rooftops just as soon as she hears proof of it actually happening. Once you¡¯ve burnt down enough warehouses anyways¡­ and once the Dame here has rescued enough lost pets, I suppose.¡±


    Thayla scowls a little at that, her hands curling into fists.


    ¡°You refuse to let me fight by Sir Mikael¡¯s side, and then belittle the work you demand I do instead?!¡±


    Before Avina can respond to that and start another argument, Mikael steps him with a raised hand.


    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about that. How did today go, Thayla? Do you feel you were successful in helping the people of Alether, above and beyond what the City Guard has been doing?¡±


    Flushing at his direct attention, Thayla nods and immediately launches into the tale of her day, describing how she¡¯d went about the city, doing what she did best. And yes, at one point she HAD rescued a cat from a tree of all things. But she¡¯d also done things like stop some petty theft, break up a tavern brawl, and even pass out food to some beggars. And she¡¯d done those things before the guards could show up and do them instead¡­ or as was more likely the case, arrest the people involved and brand them all criminals to be thrown into Alether¡¯s arena pits.


    Once Thayla is done describing her actions, Avina clasps her hands together in front of her with a smile.


    ¡°Excellent. While our actions taken apart from one another might not amount to much, when combined together, they should start to put the pressure on Zadicus. With Mikael damaging his relationship with the merchants, Thayla damaging his relationship the commonfolk, and the Criers soon reporting on both subjects, Zadicus will have no choice but to take drastic action.¡±


    Mikael wishes he could share in Avina¡¯s overwhelming confidence a little more. This still felt like the best plan they had at the moment. He honestly didn¡¯t see any better options. And right now, his best set of skills was fighting, even if they were a false set of skills.


    ¡°I¡¯ll get started on some stew for dinner.¡±


    As Avina rises from the table to go and do just that, Mikael blinks as he realizes he¡¯s not technically hungry¡­ and hasn¡¯t been since he came back from the dead. The Soul Engine really was his primary source of sustenance now, wasn¡¯t it? But¡­ Avina would have said something if he couldn¡¯t eat at all. And if he COULD still eat, then he sort of still wanted to. Even if it was just for the joy of eating more than anything else.


    ¡°Sir Mikael¡­¡±


    Thayla¡¯s voice pulls him from his thoughts and Mikael blinks as he looks over to see the white-haired Knight of the Rose giving him a strangely intense look.


    ¡°I would appreciate the opportunity to spar with you. We must keep our skills sharp, after all.¡±


    Before Mikael can respond, Avina calls out from the kitchen.


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to spar, do it in the basement where you¡¯re less likely to be heard!¡±


    Well¡­ it looked like they were going to spar then, he supposed.

 Chapter 14: A Sparring Session (Lewd)

    As soon as they get down into the basement, Thayla¡­ begins loosening straps on her armor, causing Mikael to blink in surprise.


    ¡°¡­ What are you doing?¡±


    Not looking in his direction, the Knight of the Rose continues to remove pieces of her armor.


    ¡°I¡¯m evening the playing field, Sir Mikael. This isn¡¯t to be a duel after all, but merely a spar. So we shall both go armorless, and fight with our blades sheathed¡­ if that¡¯s acceptable to you.¡±


    Oh. Yeah, he supposed that made sense didn¡¯t it? After all, he didn¡¯t have armor of his own, not on the same level as Thayla¡¯s. And he¡¯d left the leather jerkin upstairs anyways. Nor did they have wooden practice weapons, not even sticks, so it made sense they would have to fight with their actual blades but sheathed.


    Nodding along with this, even his foreign memories in agreement, Mikael leans back against the wall and is careful not to watch Thayla too closely. She¡¯s not really exposing too much skin or anything like that outside of her arms, but even still, it feels a little weird to just stare at her while she¡¯s effectively stripping.


    That said, it¡¯s also his first time seeing Dame Thayla Dawnguard outside of her golden suit of armor. The Knight of the Rose has a beautiful face, but underneath that armor¡­ is an equally beautiful body. Firm and fit in all the right places, but also soft and curvaceous in some very feminine ways as well.


    Once she¡¯s stripped down to nothing but a loose top and pants, Thayla turns to him, hesitating for a moment. Mikael pushes off the wall and lifts his sheathed sword¡­ but the female knight doesn¡¯t lift hers in response.


    ¡°¡­ We should not fight, Sir Mikael.¡±


    Mikael furrows his brow at that, confused by the sudden one-eighty.


    ¡°Wait, what? Wasn¡¯t it your idea to come down here for a spar?¡±


    Thayla flushes and looks to the side, uncertainty in every inch of her finely toned figure.


    ¡°¡­ Avina said it herself upstairs, no? By fighting those guards and then refusing to fuel the Soul Engine, you¡¯ve weakened yourself somewhat, have you not?¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael shrugs.


    ¡°I mean¡­ sure, somewhat, but nothing too major. I¡¯m just not as strong as I was before. I¡¯m still stronger than a baseline human.¡±


    The phrase ¡®baseline human¡¯ might have been a little too modern, because Thayla¡¯s brow creases for a second as she parses the words for a moment before her eyes light up in understanding. But then she shakes her head.


    ¡°Ah, but if we were to spar, you would expend even more energy, wouldn¡¯t you? And then your next mission might not go so well. You should conserve your energy, Sir Mikael. Or better yet¡­ allow me to assist you in what little ways I can¡­¡±


    He was getting a little annoyed now. Thayla almost seemed to be speaking in code, which was more than a little aggravating truth be told. He was used to Avina being mysterious, but Thayla had seemed like a straight shooter. With a bit gruffer of a tone than he probably intended to have, Mikael growls out his response.


    ¡°Speak plainly, Thayla. What exactly are you saying? Why did you bring me down here in the first place if not for a spar?¡±


    At that, Thayla looks stricken.


    ¡°I¡­ apologies for the subterfuge¡­ and for not stating myself clearly. I continue to fail to exemplify the Order of the Rose¡¯s values.¡±


    Her eyes finally lift to meet his and Mikael sees unshed tears in them as her hands curl into fists at her sides and her jaw clenches for a moment before she speaks.


    ¡°¡­ I feel immense guilt over what I did to you, Sir Mikael. Not just because you are a Summoned Hero, but because you are an innocent man. And in killing you, I turned you into a killer in turn.¡±


    He doesn¡¯t quite know what to say to that. Technically it¡¯s true that his death at Thayla¡¯s hands had in turn led to him having to kill Tak and the other two thugs in Avina¡¯s basement. But if it wasn¡¯t Thayla, someone else would have no doubt killed him. That was the whole point of those damn arenas. That was Zadicus Quinn¡¯s entire scam. He was always going to die. It was just Thayla who was slated to be his executioner.


    But before he can tell her that¡­ the white-haired woman reaches up and rather ham-fistedly fiddles with the edge of her loose top, showing off some more of her skin and the creamy expanse of her upper chest.


    ¡°There are certain things that I could not do for you, even if you asked them of me. My Knightly Oaths will not allow me to harm an innocent, even as recompense for what I did to you. However¡­ there are o-other things you could ask of me. Things that I would be glad to give you¡­ if you wanted them.¡±


    Mikael stands there, frozen in place. He hears Thayla loud and clear, don¡¯t get him wrong. He¡¯s not an idiot, though he does feel a little dense now that he¡¯s just realizing how far she¡¯s willing to let him go. However, Thayla seems to take his silence as confusion, or perhaps irritation that she¡¯s once again dancing around the issue rather than speaking plainly.


    Face bright red, the white-haired knight swallows thickly and just comes out and says it.


    ¡°You COULD order me to take off my clothes, Sir Mikael. If t-that is what you wished of me, I would obey such an order. A-And any similar orders besides.¡±


    And there it was. Thayla wanted him to¡­ make use of her. Not just as a skilled warrior and a stalwart knight, but also as¡­ as a woman. Mikael finds himself decidedly split on the offer. On the one hand, Thayla was very beautiful and Mikael was only a man. More than that, he was a man with the memories of a bunch of lustful bastards thrust into his head, because the foreign entities are all urging him to take advantage of Thayla¡¯s¡­ generosity.


    But on the other hand, Mikael had some weird thing going on with Avina. Sure, they hadn¡¯t put a name to it¡­ and sure, Mikael still couldn¡¯t quite parse his feelings when he thought about their bath time encounter¡­ but even still, taking Thayla up on her offer with be a betrayal of Avina, would it not?


    Before he can answer, however, the cellar hatch is thrown open and the woman he was just thinking of drops down into the basement, startling both him and Thayla something fierce. Avina lands in a crouch, before rising to her feet and patting her dress down as she points an accusatory finger at Thayla and narrows her eyes in the female knight¡¯s direction.


    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡°That¡¯s quite enough, Dame Dawnguard. You don¡¯t just get to pull Mikael down here under false pretenses and then try to manipulate him with your body!¡±


    Thayla sputters at that, eyes wide and face redder than ever before.


    ¡°I-I was¡­ I would n-never try to manipulate Sir Mikael! I only thought to-!¡±


    ¡°Save it. You¡¯re both incredibly transparent and supremely obvious. Do you think Mikael didn¡¯t see right through you? Do you think that he was oblivious to your aims?¡±


    Both women turn to Mikael at that, Avina¡¯s gaze expectant and Thayla¡¯s gaze downright imploring. But Mikael¡­ Mikael is looking at Avina curiously, his brow furrowed as he glances between the Soul Mechanic and the cellar hatch she just dropped down through.


    ¡°Avina¡­ were you listening through the hatch the entire time?¡±


    The already-pale young woman blanches at that, suddenly looking caught out and a little hunted as she fidgets under his gaze.


    ¡°N-No¡­ o-of course not!¡±


    Staring at her, Mikael feels like he¡¯s finally putting some pieces together. What was the saying from his old world? There were a lot of different ways to say it. But the one that came to mind, while not entirely applicable to this specific situation, was¡­ whoever smelt it, dealt it. Or more specifically, Avina was accusing Thayla of something Mikael didn¡¯t think Thayla was really guilty of. However¡­ staring into the freckled, raven-haired woman¡¯s eyes, he thinks his Soul Mechanic might be guilty of her own assertion.


    If anyone was manipulating Mikael with their body, it was Avina. She¡¯d seen Thayla¡¯s willingness to jump into bed with him all the way back in the original basement, hadn¡¯t she? And worried that it would pull him away from her, she¡¯d chosen to offer herself up on a silver platter first.


    A desperate play to say the least. Staring into Avina¡¯s eyes now, Mikael can¡¯t help but be a little bit amused. He hadn¡¯t been entirely unlucky with women back on Earth, but what little he remembered told him he wasn¡¯t much of a ladies¡¯ man. Maybe a one-night stand here and there. One meaningful relationship that he could barely remember.


    And yet here he was, with two women fighting over him. Even still, Avina¡¯s deception needed to be addressed.


    ¡°So you¡¯re saying that if I went up that ladder right now and checked on the stew, I¡¯d find it boiling away?¡±


    Instantly, he knows he¡¯s hit the nail right on the head. Avina flushes, looking even more hunted than before. Mikael grins at her, wondering what her next move will be. But even with all of his newfound realizations, she still manages to take him off-guard.


    Whirling around to face Thayla, Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic scowls at the other woman.


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll let this happen so long as I¡¯m involved. After all¡­ Mikael and I already shared a tender moment just the other day. One where we were¡­ quite intimate. So you see, I¡¯m being magnanimous by allowing you to join in, Dame Dawnguard.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes widen in disbelief, her gaze darting from Avina to Mikael. In the end, he¡¯s forced to concede that Avina is telling the truth by shrugging and nodding, something that makes Thayla¡¯s shoulders slump. For a moment, he thinks she might back off entirely. That¡¯s almost certainly what Avina is aiming for. But then the Dame surprises his impish Soul Mechanic.


    ¡°Very well¡­ I appreciate the invitation, Avina. I will¡­ g-gladly join the two of you in whatever way you¡¯ll have me.¡±


    Avina is currently facing away from him, but Mikael can see the surprise in how her shoulders stiffen. To her credit though, it only lasts a moment.


    ¡°¡­ Then come over here. And kneel before the man you so callously murdered.¡±


    As Thayla comes over like a beaten puppy, Mikael lets out a sigh and gives Avina a look when the raven-haired woman turns in his direction.


    ¡°Avina.¡±


    His voice carries a warning and he can see from the wince she gives in response that she recognizes she went too far. She dips her head in apology, even as Thayla¡­ willingly kneels down on the basement floor in front of him, looking up at him expectantly¡­ hopefully even.


    Was this really happening? Had he seriously somehow wound up in a three-way sexual encounter with the woman who brought him back to life and the woman who killed him?


    Stepping up behind Thayla, Avina reaches out and grabs the female knight by her hair, gathering her white locks up into a makeshift ponytail. Thayla¡¯s breath hitches as her head is pulled back, her chin jutting out and her neck exposed as she swallows nervously.


    ¡°Expose him.¡±


    Thayla does as Avina says, reaching out and pulling down his pants. Mikael¡¯s cock, which admittedly is already half hard at this point, comes flopping out. Thayla goes cross-eyed just looking at it, her breathing growing more and more uneven as she stares at his member until Avina gives her next order.


    ¡°Take it in your hands. Stroke it. Pleasure the Hero.¡±


    ¡°Y-Yes¡­ of course¡­¡±


    Thayla¡¯s hands come up and wrap around his mast. They¡¯re calloused of course, but then Mikael wasn¡¯t expecting silky smooth palms from a woman like Thayla. And¡­ the calloused nature of her hands has an appeal all its own as she slowly, gently rubs them up and down his shaft.


    While part of him resents Avina for taking control of the encounter in this manner, a larger part of him actually appreciates it. Because its quickly becoming apparent that Thayla doesn¡¯t have a clue what to do next¡­ and Mikael isn¡¯t entirely sure he¡¯s in the right head space to give her orders right now. But Avina certainly is. She¡¯s eager to, in fact.


    ¡°Take him in your mouth. He¡¯s ready now.¡±


    The Soul Mechanic¡¯s voice is a heated whisper at this point, but still carries a tone of authority with it. Mikael realizes as he watches Avina watch Thayla¡­ that she¡¯s getting off on this. The power she currently has over the Dame¡­ she likes it. She likes it a lot. That said, while she still maintains a hold on Thayla¡¯s makeshift ponytail, she doesn¡¯t physically force the female knight to do anything.


    Instead, Thayla is the one that leans in and takes him into her mouth, past her spreading lips. All the while, her icy blue eyes look up at him, her gaze one of absolute devotion. Mikael feels bad, but it¡¯s admittedly hard to look back at her. She¡¯s obsessed with him and he¡¯s just beginning to truly realize what that means.


    Avina, on the other hand, is a conniving brat, isn¡¯t she? Looking up into his Soul Mechanic¡¯s eyes instead, he sees a somewhat disturbing amount of glee as the raven-haired woman gazes down at Thayla¡¯s efforts to pleasure him with her mouth. Suddenly, an urge strikes Mikael¡­ and this time he doesn¡¯t fight it. Reaching out, he wraps a hand of his own around the back of Avina¡¯s head, carding his fingers through her hair.


    She barely has a chance to widen her eyes in surprise before he¡¯s pulled her into a deep and domineering kiss. Honestly, he just wants to make sure she knows that as much as she might have Thayla right where she wants her, he¡¯s not going to be so easy to put under her thumb. Now that he knows she¡¯s manipulating him, he¡¯s going to be on the look out for more of her shenanigans going forward.


    That¡¯s what he intends to convey with the domineering kiss anyways. But he¡¯s not expecting Avina to be quite so into it. His freckled, pale Soul Mechanic leans into the kiss and all but melts under the onslaught of his tongue. She moans into his mouth and Mikael finds himself deepening the kiss into a full blown makeout session, rather than ending it after a moment like he originally intended.


    All the while, Thayla is still on her knees, trapped between them. Her mouth is still wrapped around his member, and she¡¯s still bobbing dutifully up and down his shaft. Mikael can¡¯t help but groan into Avina¡¯s mouth from the pleasure. The Knight of the Rose is clearly inexperienced with oral, but what she lacks in knowledge, she more than makes up for with her enthusiasm and eagerness to please.


    In the end, between the two of them¡­ Mikael doesn¡¯t last long. And with him and Avina lip locked, he doesn¡¯t even have the time to warn Thayla before he reaches his release and blows his load.


    ¡°Hulghk!¡±


    The kneeling knight chokes a little as his seed pours into her mouth and down her throat. Mikael finally disengages from kissing Avina and pulls back, leaving his Soul Mechanic with lidded eyes and a flushed face, her lips parted and her tongue trailing after him as he does so. Meanwhile, down below he pulls back out of Thayla¡¯s mouth to give the female knight room to breathe. His seed dribbles down from her chin as she coughs a little bit but recovers admirably.


    For a moment, the basement is quiet save for the sounds of all of them panting from the intimate moment. Then, post-nut clarity hits and Mikael finds himself more than a little embarrassed that he just went along with all of that. Still¡­ judging by the looks on Avina and Thayla¡¯s faces, they both enjoyed themselves.


    ¡°¡­ Let¡¯s go get that stew cooking, shall we?¡±


    ¡°R-Right¡­ let¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°As¡­ as Sir Mikael commands¡­¡±

 Chapter 15: Two Weeks Later

    Its crazy how even the most insane of circumstances can start to feel routine. Mikael has been stolen from his home, thrust into a maddening situation, and finds himself up against the Lord of an entire goddamn City, with all the power and influence that entails backing him up. And yet, in what almost feels like the blink of an eye, two weeks have passed.


    It wasn¡¯t actually a blink of an eye, of course. A lot had happened in the past two weeks, almost too much to recount. But at the same time, it was all somewhat¡­ rote. Mikael had gone after his second warehouse two days after the first and despite the heightened security, it had been a piece of cake. The guards around the warehouse had been doubled from five to ten, but it didn¡¯t matter.


    That time around, Mikael had been more cognizant of how the foreign entities in his head might try to fuck with him. With awareness came the ability to dodge the subtle traps that they tried to sometimes draw him into. Despite doubling the amount of guards AROUND the second warehouse, there still weren¡¯t any actually inside the warehouse.


    Mikael still didn¡¯t fully know why that was. He had to assume that Zadicus simply didn¡¯t trust his guards enough to actually let them get close to his customers¡¯ goods. It made sense in a way. If the City Guard was truly as corrupt and useless as Avina liked to say they were, then they would probably try and steal some of the merchants¡¯ goods if they were allowed anywhere near them.


    Regardless of the why, the fact that the warehouse interior was empty meant that Mikael was able to do the exact same thing he did the last time and enter from the top. With the guards on the ground floor not bothering to look up, he¡¯d been able to set the fires and get out¡­ and this time he¡¯d actually used his enhanced speed and strength to roof hop his way to safety without anyone even catching a glimpse of him.


    On the other side of things, Mikael had decided to take Thayla up on her somewhat disingenuous offer. While her point about him needing to conserve the extra energy in his Soul Engine was a fair one, Mikael didn¡¯t want to rely on the memories forced into his head if a fight came up again. And even if the skills weren¡¯t actually his, he figured he DID need to keep them sharp.


    And so, every afternoon when Thayla returned to the safe house from another day of do-gooding, she and Mikael descended to the basement where they would spar with one another and she would train him in swordplay. Apparently, his fighting style was termed ¡®barbaric¡¯ by the Knight of the Rose, though she was immediately embarrassed by her own words and tried to take them back.


    Mikael had just laughed it off though. Barbaric was a good word for it, truth be told. He had just as many thugs and criminals in his head as he did soldiers and knights. More so, actually, given where Zadicus must have gotten the memories from in the first place. It didn¡¯t surprise Mikael that his fighting style, which was an amalgamation of all of the dead men swimming around in his noggin, was so¡­ rough and tumble.


    It didn¡¯t matter in the end though. Because after two weeks of training with Thayla, Mikael could confidently say that he was ready for almost anything. He could reliably defeat Thayla in a sheathed sword duel more often than not, and he constantly ran her ragged each night. Something that Avina actually approved of immensely, given their¡­ other nightly activities.


    He¡¯d found himself sharing a bed with one or both of the women who¡¯d come crashing into his life every night for the past two weeks. Only¡­ Avina had yet to ¡®let¡¯ Thayla truly bed him. So far, she¡¯d only allowed the Knight to provide a bit of oral stimulation, before taking over and riding Mikael¡­ or having him ride her. He might have been more inclined to stand up for Thayla if Avina wasn¡¯t so eager to give him her own body. Whether it was her bouncing up and down on his cock or him taking her on her back or hands and knees¡­ she more than satisfied him.


    Honestly, Mikael didn¡¯t really quite know what to do with Avina or Thayla when it came to the weird relationship the three of them had. Indulging was one thing. But actually navigating both his AND their emotions? It was a bit beyond him at the moment. Whether that was because his brain was fractured and stuffed with a bunch of memories of manly warrior men who¡¯d never had a soft or tender moment in their lives or just because he himself was bad at this shit, he couldn¡¯t say.


    One thing was for sure though¡­ it was much easier to just continue bedding Avina and letting Thayla act as their ¡®fluffer¡¯. Especially since the Knight of the Rose seemed all too happy to just be included in their nightly activities.


    But yes, despite all of that insanity, his life truly had become quite routine. During the day, he was either sent out to burn down another warehouse or stayed indoors to avoid detection. In the afternoon, once Thayla returned from her own daily activities, they tended to spar in the basement. And in the evening, after dinner time, Mikael usually found himself enjoying the company of either Avina, or Avina and Thayla.


    Oh, and after that, unbeknownst to both women, once they were fast asleep and Mikael found himself lying awake staring at the ceiling¡­ he would slip away down into the sewers and consume the souls of as many rats as he could find so that he could maintain the incredibly active lifestyle he found himself living.


    Mikael knew logically that there had to be a finite amount of rats in Alether¡¯s sewers even if so far he had yet to see any sort of diminishing population numbers on his midnight strolls. He also knew it was probably dangerous to go down there alone every night. But no more dangerous than anything else he did outside of the safe house, or so he figured. And besides, what else was he going to do? Become a killer? Expose his true nature to the Lord of the City while he was still hunting for Avina?


    No¡­ this was the best way of doing things. Mikael had to believe that.


    Still, when compared to his nightly activities with Avina and Thayla, going after Zadicus Quinn¡¯s warehouses was so much easier. He¡¯s burned down half a dozen over the past two weeks, and at this point he knows they HAVE to be pissing the Lord of the City off something fierce. He¡¯s even managed to avoid killing anyone so far on the occasions where the Warehouse Guards HAVE caught him and he¡¯s had to fight his way out.


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    The contingents of guards watching Zadicus¡¯ warehouses have gotten larger and larger, and Avina reports that it¡¯s working¡­ they¡¯re most definitely putting the screws to the City Lord. Merchants are beginning to openly question whether they¡¯ll be reimbursed for their lost goods or not and whether their goods are safe in Zadicus¡¯ warehouses in the first place. And with more and more of the City Guard being stuck on warehouse duty, Alether as a whole is becoming that much more lawless.


    Zadicus¡¯ iron grip on his city is beginning to loosen. Before, crime was at an all time low, with only the truly desperate doing anything too foolish for fear of being caught by the guards and thrown into the arenas to die. But while the arenas were still operating and criminals were still dying in them¡­ the guards weren¡¯t quite as present anymore.


    With so many of them tied up in hunting Avina or stopping the mysterious arsonist who kept burning down Zadicus¡¯ warehouses, the actual streets of Alether weren¡¯t quite so patrolled. Which meant they were becoming less and less safe.


    That was where Thayla came in, but even she was only one person. The Knight of the Rose was out there every day in contrast with Mikael and Avina who constantly took days off to rest, recharge, and prepare for their next action. She was on the streets of the city, working tirelessly to stem the tide of petty crime indirectly caused by their actions. As Thayla put it, there were crimes and then there were acts of rebellion. She made sure to distinguish between the two, only going after the true criminals and letting those rebelling against Zadicus Quinn¡¯s unjust rule go.


    But in the end, Thayla could only do so much and things were definitely getting worse in the city, which the Knight of the Rose was less than thrilled about. Avina had to continually remind Thayla that that was the point. Things had to get worse so that Zadicus would feel backed into a corner and hopefully make a mistake¡­ such as hosting a second Grand Melee and playing right into their hands.


    Which brought Mikael to his latest mission. Crouched on a nearby rooftop, Mikael scouts out the latest warehouse as all of this runs through his head. Only¡­ his eyes narrow the longer he spends looking at the damn thing. His outfit has seen a couple upgrades over the last two weeks. He¡¯s got some simple leather leg guards to go with his leather jerkin, and both are painted black now to further mute the potential glow from his Soul Engine.


    On top of that, he wears a mask over the lower half of his face now, with everything from his nose down to his neck covered up. He¡¯d had one too many close calls with guards trying to get a good look at his identity the couple times they¡¯d caught him in the past two weeks. Especially once they all figured out that he wasn¡¯t aiming to kill them. They¡¯d stopped trying to detain him and just tried to get details regarding his identity instead.


    But getting back to the warehouse he was supposed to be destroying¡­ this was a trap. Had to be. The place was practically unguarded, with only ten guards patrolling the perimeter and every single one of them looking nervous. The nervousness made sense to be fair, but the low numbers? Sure, it was still double what the first warehouse had guarding it, but it was half what his last target had had. Every single warehouse he¡¯d gone after in the past week alone had had anywhere from twenty to thirty men assigned to watch it and the nearby streets.


    He''d still managed to burn each one down, something that he was actually pretty proud of. But to suddenly drop back down to ten? Something was fishy. It was so very clearly a trap.


    As such, the smart thing to do would have been to turn around and leave. After all, nothing was saying Mikael HAD to spring the trap, right? There were more warehouses than just this one waiting to be burnt down. And he hadn¡¯t failed a mission yet, so missing out on one night wouldn¡¯t be too bad, probably.


    ¡­ But that was just it. He¡¯d gone after six warehouses in the past two weeks and burned down all six of them. Turning away now, while the job was still undone? That didn¡¯t sit well with Mikael. And not just because he had the memories of a bunch of soldiers and mercenaries swimming around in his head. Even before being summoned to this world, Mikael had always been a big proponent of finishing what you start.


    He knew it was dumb. He knew it was foolhardy. But he sort of wanted to burn the warehouse down even if it was a trap. He wanted to wreck the place and then get away clean, regardless of what Zadicus had planned. That would really fuck with the Lord of the City¡¯s head, right? To have devised some scheme to finally catch Mikael, only for it to fail completely and utterly?


    The thought brings a smile to Mikael¡¯s face. More of a savage grin, actually. And before he knows it¡­ he¡¯s inside the warehouse. With only ten guards milling about, sneaking in is easier than ever. He¡¯s a bit more cautious about it, but ultimately entering through the roof has become his go to method. He has yet to be caught on approach yet, only after the deed is already done, so they still don¡¯t seem to really know HOW he¡¯s getting in.


    Of course, he¡¯s very much expecting the trap to be sprung the moment he enters the warehouse. He even has a rag soaked in oil in one hand and a lit match in the other, just in case he has to move particularly fast. He¡¯s expecting to find the place cleaned out, but it¡¯s filled with crates and all the usual merchant goods he¡¯s seen in the other warehouses he burned to the ground. He¡¯s expecting those to be facades, but after checking a couple of crates at random¡­ they aren¡¯t facades.


    He doesn¡¯t fully understand why this warehouse is so unprotected. But in the end, he supposes he can¡¯t look a gift horse in the mouth. Pinching the lit match between two fingers for the time being, Mikael begins to go through the usual motions, setting things up so he can set the whole place on fire and make a clean getaway right after.


    ¡­ Perhaps this wasn¡¯t a trap after all? Perhaps he was-!


    ¡°GRAAAAAAAAAAAAARH!¡±


    The war cry is the only reason he survives the initial ambush, truth be told. Though can it really be called an ambush when the ambusher telegraphs their presence so effectively? Now wasn¡¯t the time to be getting philosophical about it either way. Mikael dodges and ducks into a roll just in time to hear the crunch of a heavy bladed weapon sinking into the crate he was looking at mere moments before.


    Coming up out of the roll, he spins around and draws his sword, eyes wide as he takes in the sight before him. Pulling a massive, hulking battle-axe out of the crate she just crunched through is Bula, Zadicus Quinn¡¯s second in command, bodyguard¡­ and the orcish woman who helped hold Mikael down while her ¡®boss¡¯ fucked with his memories.


    She¡¯s faster and stronger than Thayla, Mikael immediately notes. Faster and stronger than him too? He doesn¡¯t know. Either way, she doesn¡¯t immediately move to attack him. Instead, Bula straightens up and brings her battle-axe up to rest on her shoulder, one handing it as she points at him with the wide, wicked grin of a battle junkie.


    ¡°Thanks for this. I¡¯ll try and kill you fast.¡±


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 16: The Warrior

    Mikael doesn¡¯t even get the chance to ask why Bula is thanking him. She immediately tries to follow through on her promise to kill him quick by lunging at him from her relaxed position and bringing that axe of hers to bear faster than should be humanly possible. But then, as Mikael had already figured at their last meeting, Bula simply isn¡¯t human.


    If he had to put a name to what she MIGHT be, the thing that came to mind was ¡®orc¡¯. She had the tusks, the strength, and the speed that he would expect from what little he remembered of the fictional orcs back home. However, if she was this world¡¯s version of an orc¡­ well then, Vaclatora had some pretty soft-looking orcs.


    Bula might have the tusks, she might have the strength, and she might have the speed, but she didn¡¯t have the ugliness that Mikael felt should come part and parcel with orcs. In fact, she was pretty damn beautiful in her own savage way, with a figure that would give Thayla¡¯s a run for its money and a fierceness that had some of the foreign entities in Mikael¡¯s head VERY impressed.


    Not that her beauty made her any less dangerous. She races at him and Mikael has to rely on a burst of speed from the Soul Engine just to play keep away. Her axe goes right through the crate behind him, destroying that one just like the first she¡¯d come down on, but the fiery red head doesn¡¯t care. In fact, she lets out a bark of laughter as he dances out of her way, whirling around to swipe at him and miss.


    ¡°Hah! You¡¯re fast! I like that!¡±


    Well, now that she¡¯s opened up the floor to talking¡­


    ¡°What ARE you, exactly?¡±


    Bula grunts as she comes after him, forcing Mikael to rapidly backpedal. He really doesn¡¯t want to see if Tak¡¯s sword can hold up against that deadly looking battle axe she¡¯s swinging around, which means he has to keep dodging. For a moment, he thinks she¡¯s not going to dignify his question with a response, but after a couple more exchanges, she grins a savage grin.


    ¡°Heh. Never been to the Savage Lands before then? I¡¯m a half-orc. Name¡¯s Bula.¡±


    Half-orc. Well, he¡¯d been half-right then, hadn¡¯t he? Mikael files that information away under ¡®nice to know but not necessarily immediately pertinent¡¯ and grunts as he dodges another terrifyingly fast and frighteningly powerful axe swing.


    ¡°¡­ Ya know, its only fair to name yourself, when ya ask someone for their name.¡±


    Blinking at that, thrown off a little by the juxtaposition of Bula¡¯s nonchalant tone and the physical violence she¡¯s currently trying to enact on him, Mikael laughs as he continues to lead her around on a merry chase through the warehouse.


    ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not about to tell you anything that might get back to your boss.¡±


    That actually gives the half-orc woman pause, her nose wrinkling in annoyance.


    ¡°That bastard? Pah! Like I¡¯m going to tell him anything about you! Not in the contract, is it?¡±


    Wait, what? That sounds interesting. More than interesting, in fact.


    ¡°Contract? Does that have something to do with why you¡¯re working for a scumbag like Zadicus Quinn?¡±


    If he could get Bula to turn on Zadicus, then he had to try, right? Only, just as the hope of finding common cause with his enemy flares up in his chest, Bula proceeds to burst his bubble.


    ¡°Aye. Bastard pulled one over on me. Tricked me into this collar.¡±


    She stops trying to kill him long enough to tap at the fancy-looking gorget she¡¯s wearing, causing Mikael to blink. Collar? As in¡­ a slave collar of some sort? What he¡¯d initially taken as a piece of armor now takes on a much more sinister vibe as Mikael really looks at the gorget and shoulder pauldrons that Bula the Half-Orc is wearing. They¡¯re all one piece, he realizes, and they¡¯re faintly glowing with magic as well.


    Of course, he doesn¡¯t have long to study them before she lunges at him and is once more trying to take his head off. Still, her attention is split now at least. She¡¯s definitely trying to kill him, but she¡¯s also seemingly happy to tell him her life story, since he asked.


    ¡°I do shit for coin. Kill things. Guard things. Fight things. Thought when I reached this shit hole city I¡¯d found my kind of place. Thought Zadicus Quinn was my kind of boss. Bastard said he wanted me to fight in his arenas for him. Sounded great to me.¡±


    Bula lets out a snort, making it clear it was anything but.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t care about the contract or the collar. Figured Zadicus was just the high strung controlling type.¡±


    Mikael can¡¯t help but interject here rather drily, even as he¡¯s forced to continue dodging Bula¡¯s overwhelmingly powerful blows.


    ¡°Seems like that¡¯s exactly what he is.¡±


    Letting out a bark of laughter, Bula nods.


    ¡°Aye! You got that right! But he¡¯s also a fucking liar. Bastard had me sign a contract that said I wear the collar and obey his orders until I¡¯ve fought a certain number of fights for him. Problem being, he put in one of those loophole thingies. Basically, HE decides when I fight.¡±


    Oh. Mikael was starting to get it now.


    ¡°Thought he wanted a gladiator. But he likes to tell me I ¡®misunderstood¡¯ him. Instead, he¡¯s been using me as his bodyguard ever since. So that¡¯s why I thanked you, whoever the fuck you are. Because this right here counts as a fight and you made the boss desperate enough to send me out to take care of the problem. And that¡¯s also why you can tell me whoever the fuck you are and I won¡¯t tell Zadicus Quinn a damn thing!¡±


    Punctuating that last statement with another swing, Bula practically roars the words. Mikael is left wondering if she even wants to know who he is, given just how hard she¡¯s been trying to kill him. He¡¯s also left wondering how much longer he can do this. She¡¯s definitely faster and stronger than Thayla, and Mikael can feel himself burning through the energy in his Soul Engine just trying to stay alive. At the same time¡­


    ¡°But wait, if he orders you to tell him who you fought, don¡¯t you have to tell him?¡±


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    The thing is, Mikael isn¡¯t even sure Zadicus knows his name. But the bastard has half his memories, plus Mikael is supposed to be the hero that got disposed of improperly, so he probably would recognize the name if it got back to him. And that¡­ that would be bad.


    Blinking, Bula pulls up short for a moment and wrinkles her nose again in thought before shrugging.


    ¡°Oh. Yeah. Probably a good idea not to tell me then.¡±


    And then she goes right back to trying to kill him. Mikael is quickly beginning to realize what sort of person Bula the Half-Orc is. She¡¯s not stupid necessarily¡­ but she¡¯s the kind of warrior who doesn¡¯t really concern herself with words when fighting will do. He hesitates to call her ¡®simple¡¯¡­ but, well¡­


    ¡°You know he¡¯s probably not going to ever let you go, right?¡±


    The words spill out as Mikael does a literal backflip over a nearby crate to avoid Bula¡¯s latest axe slash. It¡¯s not lost on him that he can¡¯t even catch his breath long enough to go on the offensive against her. He¡¯s got a lot of regrets all of the sudden. He¡¯s suddenly regretting all those sparring sessions. And he¡¯s regretting not sucking the souls out of all of the guards he¡¯s fought the last two weeks too. Subsisting off of rats has taken him this far, sure¡­ but if this is as far as he goes, then it was a mistake to let his morals hold him back.


    Or were those the dead men in his head talking, slipping their way into his thoughts all insidious like? In the end, it didn¡¯t matter. If something didn¡¯t change, he was still going to die here.


    Fortunately, his words DO bring Bula up short for a moment. She pauses completely, staring up at where he¡¯s standing on the crate and tilting her head to the side curiously.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    As he¡¯d thought, she hadn¡¯t really thought things through to their natural conclusion. She¡¯d been fucked over by Zadicus and tricked into a slave collar and a contract that kept her working for him long past the point she wanted to be. And then she¡¯d just sort of¡­ settled in and decided to tough it out.


    ¡°Let me ask you this, Bula. When you finish up your contract and get to take off that collar, what¡¯s the first thing you¡¯re going to do?¡±


    The half-orc doesn¡¯t even have to think about it. She answers promptly and right off the bat.


    ¡°Kill that bastard Zadicus of course.¡±


    Mikael nods slowly but can see she¡¯s really not getting it. And that she¡¯s already looking like she¡¯s about to go back to trying to cut off his head. So he lays it out for her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t think he doesn¡¯t know that Bula? He tricked you, a very strong and very fast half-orc, into being his slave. Do you really think he isn¡¯t aware of what will happen if he ever lets you off your leash?¡±


    Bula frowns deeply, before shaking her head.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Has to use up the fights eventually.¡±


    Mikael didn¡¯t know how many fights she¡¯d agreed to, so he couldn¡¯t say how long it would take Zadicus to ¡®use them up¡¯. But in the end, that didn¡¯t matter.


    ¡°But he won¡¯t risk it, Bula. He won¡¯t risk letting you out from under his thumb. Not ever. Even if you get down to your last fight¡­ he¡¯ll probably have you killed before it can happen, while he still has control of you and you can¡¯t fight back.¡±


    There¡¯s a long moment of silence as Bula just stares at him blankly, clearly struggling to comprehend what he¡¯s saying. Or maybe she just doesn¡¯t want to admit that he¡¯s right. Either way, Mikael doesn¡¯t get to find out her reaction, because before she can respond, the doors to the warehouse suddenly burst open.


    ¡°Look! I told you I heard sounds in here! And there they are! It¡¯s the Lord¡¯s pet orc, fighting against the masked man!¡±


    ¡°Get him!¡±


    ¡°Reinforce the orc!¡±


    ¡°For Lord Quinn!¡±


    The ten guards from outside come spilling into the warehouse, causing both Mikael and Bula to look in their direction. Bula snarls at the interruption while Mikael¡­ Mikael smiles grimly. Because he doesn¡¯t see an overwhelming defeat. No¡­ he sees opportunity.


    Crouching low on the crate, Mikael puts the last of the excess energy in his Soul Engine into boosting his next jump. As a result, it carries him well over Bula¡¯s head before she can react, landing him amongst the guards before THEY can react as well. As they¡¯re all jolting back in shock at his feat of strength, Mikael¡­ sinks his sword right into the nearest City Guard¡¯s neck.


    He doesn¡¯t want to do this. He¡¯s tried so damn hard to avoid it in fact. But here he is. He doesn¡¯t want to die here. And he can¡¯t afford to fail either. He needs to get to Zadicus Quinn. He wants his damn life back.


    With that in mind, Mikael kills the guard and immediately sucks his soul out of his body. And then, as the teal energy suffuses him and the other guards are just beginning to shout in shock and horror, Mikael uses the power from it to put on a burst of speed that lets him cut the head off of the next guard in line. The Soul Engine sucks up his energy as well, and suddenly Mikael is practically right back where he started at the beginning of the night.


    ¡­ But it¡¯s not enough. Not nearly enough. Unfortunately, he only gets one more kill before Bula is on him again, that signature snarl of hers alerting him to her return to the fight.


    ¡°GRAAAAAARH!¡±


    As she swings her axe at him, Mikael slips out of its path with more fluidity than he had before¡­ and takes down another guard before pulling on his soul as well. Four down. Six to go¡­ and of course, one very angry half-orc. He¡¯s not sure if Bula¡¯s sudden rage is because she sees the truth of his words and needs to take her anger out on him, or simply because she¡¯s forced to follow Zadicus Quinn¡¯s last orders to fight, but either way, it doesn¡¯t matter.


    The more Mikael kills, the stronger he gets. Its honestly quite addicting. Scarily so, in fact. But also, the more he kills¡­ the faster he gets. And that, he decides, is much more important. The rest of the guards don¡¯t survive very long. And neither does the warehouse. With his newfound speed, Mikael leads Bula in a merry chase through the place, slaughtering the remaining guardsmen, sucking up their souls¡­ and setting merchant goods on fire as he goes.


    In the end, he¡¯s able to apply a certain tactic that he vaguely remembers from the video games he played back on Earth. Good old kiting. Bula is like a bull in a china shop, and Mikael is the matador, running her around in circles while the place burns down around them. Until finally, he sees it, his senses also enhanced by the amount of energy pumping through the Soul Engine.


    There¡¯s a wooden beam that¡¯s about to come down¡­ and so Mikael times things perfectly and when it falls, it falls on top of Bula, pinning the half-orc to the ground as she lets out a shout of anger and frustration.


    Mikael watches her for a second, but the beam isn¡¯t heavy enough to pin her forever. In fact, the only reason she hasn¡¯t gotten it off of her yet is because she clearly needs both hands and she hasn¡¯t thought to drop her battle axe just yet. Instead, she¡¯s trying to lift the massive wooden beam with one hand while staring him in the eye, a sort of battle madness having taken over her. Or maybe it hasn¡¯t, because when he takes a step back, her lips curl into a smile¡­ and she begins to laugh.


    As Mikael flees the burning warehouse before any more reinforcements can arrive, he hears the telltale crash of the beam being tossed aside behind him, as well as Bula¡¯s uproarious laughter. He slips away into the sewers before she can give chase, but he¡¯s not sure she even tries. Power like nothing else courses through Mikael and he finds himself almost shaking with the excess power as his Soul Engine glows brightly enough to be seen through the leather jerkin he¡¯s wearing.


    To go from managing to avoid taking a life for the past two weeks to ending ten in a single fight¡­ and yet, Mikael couldn¡¯t bring himself to regret it. His moral grandstanding had nearly cost him everything against Bula. Maybe rats had been ¡®good enough¡¯ until tonight, but he should have expected that things wouldn¡¯t remain that easy.


    He¡¯d had a choice to make and he¡¯d made it. Was he willing to do whatever it took to beat Zadicus Quinn, or did his ideals mean more to him than stopping the Lord of the City?


    They didn¡¯t. And Mikael would stop at nothing to take Zadicus down. That was what he¡¯d realized tonight, after talk-fighting with Bula and killing those guards. Zadicus had to be stopped. And Mikael, Avina, and Thayla were the only ones who were even willing to try.


    That said¡­ he needed some time to get his head on straight. It was way too early for a night-time stroll through the sewers, but Mikael didn¡¯t care. Instead of heading straight back to the safehouse, he goes ahead and takes the long way around, just this once.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 17: Debriefing Redux

    As Mikael stumbles back into the safehouse basement through the hidden sewer entrance, he immediately hears a commotion overhead. The hatch is thrown open and two concerned faces peer down at him.


    ¡°Mikael! You¡¯re back!¡±


    ¡°Sir Mikael! Are you alright?¡±


    He flushes a little bit at the sight of them both so worried over him. He probably shouldn¡¯t have spent hours wandering around in the sewers without making sure they both knew he was okay, but he¡¯d needed some time alone. Unfortunately, his plan to get his head on straight and his thoughts together had turned out to be easier said than done.


    Those guards weren¡¯t going to come back just because he spent a few hours thinking about them. They were as dead as Tak and his thugs. Honestly, that wasn¡¯t too hard to accept. Just like with Tak and his friends, it was kill or be killed. If he hadn¡¯t done what he did, Bula would have gotten him. He acknowledges that fact.


    The problem Mikael is having is more about the juxtaposition between how he feels and how he THINKS he should feel. He should be exhausted. He should be on the edge of death¡¯s door. Bula had only nicked him with that battle axe of hers a few times and every wound had healed up by the point that he¡¯d fled the burning warehouse thanks to the Soul Engine¡­ but even still.


    Mikael had the memories of a bunch of warriors, soldiers, and fighters in his head. So he knew what battle was like. It could be exhilarating, certainly, but it was also exhausting. It was tiring. It was hard and energy consuming. Right now, Mikael should be dead on his feet. But he¡¯s not.


    He hadn¡¯t stumbled into the basement because he was tired, but rather the exact opposite. He FELT like he should be tired, but instead he¡¯d never been more alive.


    Waving a hand up at Avina and Thayla, Mikael offers the two women an apologetic smile.


    ¡°Sorry if I worried the two of you. I¡¯m fine. Here, let me climb up so we can talk?¡±


    From the looks on their faces, neither woman is inclined to leave it at ¡®he¡¯s fine¡¯, but at the promise of them talking about it, they both move back from the opening, allowing him to climb into the safehouse proper. Mikael sighs as he moves over to the table and takes a seat, before looking to Thayla and Avina. The Knight of the Rose is biting her lower lip in honest, open worry. Meanwhile his Soul Mechanic has her arms crossed over her chest and is clearly trying to cover up her own concern with irritation.


    ¡°Where were you, Mikael? You left on your mission hours ago and now you come back and say you¡¯re fine? What happened out there?¡±


    Thayla, as sycophantic as ever, is quick to jump to his defense.


    ¡°N-Now now¡­ I¡¯m sure Sir Mikael has a perfectly reasonable explanation for all of this! Let¡¯s just give him a chance to explain!¡±


    And then the white-haired knight throws him an imploring gaze, all but demanding a good explanation with her eyes.


    Sighing, Mikael rolls a shoulder¡­ and doesn¡¯t feel an ounce of the soreness that his instincts are screaming he should have. He feels good. Too good, in fact. And that¡¯s the biggest problem. It¡¯s unsettling, how much power the Soul Engine grants him. And only now is he realizing how much he¡¯s been limiting himself the past two weeks. Only¡­ the opposite of limiting himself involves killing people. And Mikael is afraid of that slippery slope. ESPECIALLY with the memories he has in his head.


    ¡°¡­ I ran into Bula.¡±


    He¡¯s half-expecting to have to explain who that is, but both Avina and Thayla go wide-eyed at the mere mention of Bula¡¯s name. Thayla is the first to speak, blurting out the first words that come to her mind clearly.


    ¡°Lord Quinn¡¯s half-orc bodyguard?! And you survived her? Sir Mikael, that is most impressive! How did you escape?!¡±


    Mikael blinks and then shrugs.


    ¡°I dropped a burning building on her. It didn¡¯t kill her, but it did give me enough time to get away. Before that, we fought for a while. And talked too.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes remain wide as he speaks, until the end when she shakes her head.


    ¡°The orcs from the Savage Lands are said to each have the strength of ten men and the savagery of feral beasts. Half-orcs have all of the strength, but they¡¯re not nearly as¡­ tribal and impossible to reason with, so they¡¯re usually allowed to roam the Zuverian Empire unmolested so long as they don¡¯t make trouble. I assume the same is true for Ocreatha¡­¡±


    Mikael just shrugs again, not really knowing one way or another. Avina on the other hand¡­ well, while Thayla had been freaking out over Mikael facing down a half-orc and surviving the encounter, Avina¡¯s brow had furrowed in thought. However, when she hears that last sentence from the female knight, she finally interjects.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. Though I would hardly call the relationship between Zadicus and Bula ¡®unmolested¡¯.¡±


    Thayla blinks at that and then gets a thunderous look on her face that has Avina quickly correcting herself.


    ¡°I don¡¯t mean like THAT, Thayla! I mean, I¡¯m pretty sure anyways. Still, Bula IS Zadicus¡¯ slave by magically enforced contract.¡±


    Of course, while the first bit calms Thayla back down, the last bit gets her up in arms again immediately.


    ¡°Excuse me?!¡±


    Nodding along, Mikael clears his throat and draws attention back to him.


    ¡°Yeah, we talked about that. Apparently Zadicus tricked Bula into a contract. She willingly signed on to fight a number of battles for him, assuming that he intended to use her as a gladiator in his arenas. A heavy hitter to draw in crowds, you know? But that was never his plan. He wanted a half-orc bodyguard and he got one. Bula is essentially forced to obey his orders until he sets up the number of fights that are outlined in the contract. Only, Zadicus gets to decide when the fights take place. So she¡¯s his bitch until he says otherwise.¡±


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


    Thayla¡¯s face runs the gamut of negative emotions as Avina explains. The Knight of the Rose clearly doesn¡¯t like hearing a word of it. Snarling, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, Thayla shakes her head vehemently.


    ¡°That¡¯s as good as slavery and still wrong! The Lord of the City¡¯s crimes continue to mount by the damn day!¡±


    With a huff, Thayla moves over to the table and takes a seat as well, clearly wanting nothing more than to go and try to free Bula right then and there. But she also knows that can¡¯t happen right now. Still, it¡¯s clear that the prospect of her being enslaved offends Thayla to her very core.


    Avina just sighs and moves over to the table as well, taking her own seat.


    ¡°Well, it sounds like Bula didn¡¯t exactly hold back or pull her punches as far as Mikael was concerned. So while she might be forced to follow Zadicus¡¯ orders, I doubt she would have shed a single tear if she¡¯d managed to kill Mikael tonight. She IS still a half-orc after all. They live for the battle and the bloodshed¡­ just not quite as much as their full blooded kin.¡±


    Mikael nods at that.


    ¡°Yeah, she thanked me for costing Zadicus one of the contract¡¯s fights¡­ and then she tried very, very hard to kill me. I think I distracted her with all the talk of her contract and Zadicus¡¯ eventual plans for her, but it didn¡¯t help. In the end¡­¡±


    Avina¡¯s eyes light up as she catches on as he trails off and looks down at himself.


    ¡°You used the Soul Engine!¡±


    Sighing, Mikael nods. He pulls off his leather jerkin and reveals how powerful the teal glow of the device embedded in his chest is at the moment. Avina is immediately next to him, leaning in and pulling open his shirt to look at it more closely as he explains.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t just Bula at the warehouse. At a certain point, it became Bula and ten guards. And I was barely surviving Bula so¡­ I did what I had to do. I can¡¯t honestly say whether Zadicus will know about our connection after this. All of the husks I left behind would have burned with the rest of the warehouse¡¯s contents. But Bula might tell him. Or she might not. Either way, the only way I was able to keep up with her was by fueling the Engine.¡±


    Something in his voice must have caught Avina¡¯s attention, because after studying her creation for a moment, the Soul Mechanic looks up at him and her features soften.


    ¡°You did what you had to do, Mikael. Never doubt that.¡±


    Of course Avina would say that. She wanted him to use the Soul Engine. Though he liked to believe she was being at least partially genuine¡­


    ¡°She¡¯s right, Sir Mikael. Those men had to know they were courting death by stepping into the middle of a fight between a half-orc and her enemy. You can¡¯t blame yourself.¡±


    Having Thayla back Avina up is a little nicer. Makes him feel a little better, even if he half-suspects it¡¯s because Thayla values his life higher than the guards due to his status as a Summoned Hero. Avina¡¯s look of surprise at hearing the Knight of the Rose agree with her is certainly funny though. Perhaps noticing the slight grin on his face, Avina flushes and pulls away.


    ¡°Ahem. Changing the subject¡­ use of magical contracts like the one Zadicus has Bula under IS actually illegal in the Kingdom of Ocreatha, so feel free to add that to the list of his crimes, Dame Dawnguard. Since I know you¡¯re keeping track.¡±


    Thayla jolts at the reminder of Bula¡¯s current situation, and she scowls mightily.


    ¡°And he just gets away with it?! He parades the half-orc around like she¡¯s his pet! She was even there during my meetings with the bastard. If knowledge of his treatment of Bula is common knowledge, how has he not been held accountable for his crimes yet?!¡±


    Avina shrugs.


    ¡°Because Ocreatha is broken.¡±


    That simple response brings Thayla up short, which was clearly Avina¡¯s intention because once she knows she has their full attention, the freckled young woman starts to explain.


    ¡°Twenty years ago, the Royal Family of Ocreatha were murdered in their beds. No one knows who did it, since no one ever took credit. But right afterwards, rumors began spreading that the Royal Family deserved it. That they were all practicing illegal and dark magics behind closed doors.¡±


    Mikael finds himself engrossed by the impromptu history lesson, while Thayla nods along, having clearly heard some of this already.


    ¡°With the Royal Family dead, control of the Kingdom fell to the Council of Lords. Unfortunately, the Council of Lords is hopelessly corrupt. They immediately appointed Foss Sangrey, the Royal Advisor, as Regent-Lord of Ocreatha¡­ but he¡¯s nothing but a puppet.¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael can¡¯t help but question that.


    ¡°A puppet? Really?¡±


    Avina nods.


    ¡°The position of Regent-Lord is not an all powerful one. In fact, it¡¯s mostly a ceremonial one, to avoid anyone abusing it to their own ends. Foss Sangrey is no King and he certainly doesn¡¯t have the authority of one either. In fact, the only authority he DOES have over Ocreatha and the Council of Lords is to find and crown a new King or Queen. Unfortunately, with the entire Royal Family gone, there is no one to crown. And with the rumors about the Royal Family¡¯s activities, nobody wants to even admit that they might be associated with the Royal Bloodline anymore, lest they be named a monster and executed as well.¡±


    Letting out a disgusted huff, Avina crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°Which is just how the Council of Lords wants it. They keep the Regent-Lord defanged and toothless and they keep the throne of Ocreatha empty, allowing them to have all the power and all of the control. Basically, Zadicus Quinn isn¡¯t Lord of Alether because he¡¯s good for the city, or because he¡¯s a stalwart exemplar of justice and the rule of law. No, he¡¯s Lord of Alether because he¡¯s good for the Council of Lords¡¯ bottom lines, full stop.¡±


    Smiling bitterly, Avina shrugs again.


    ¡°They like how much money he brings them, so as long as he keeps bringing in money, they¡¯ll look the other way when it comes to certain indiscretions. I honestly don¡¯t know how they would react if they found out about his Hero Summoning Operation and all of the memory alterations he¡¯s doing. But they might know about it already and have chosen to sweep it under the rug. And in comparison to the magnitude of THOSE crimes, Zadicus tricking some half-orc bitch from the Savage Lands into being his indentured servant is small potatoes, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Silence falls as both Mikael and Thayla process everything Avina has just said. There¡¯s a lot wrong with everything she just said¡­ and not much they can do about it save for what they¡¯re already doing. Zadicus Quinn needs to be stopped and forced to account for his actions. But they¡¯re already working on that anyways. All they can keep doing is keep working on it.


    Of course, Thayla still doesn¡¯t look happy about it. Meanwhile, Mikael is wondering if Bula might still be an ally one day. If she could be turned¡­ but no, so long as that damn contract was being enforced, she quite literally couldn¡¯t betray Zadicus. Frustrating to say the least.


    And Mikael recognized that he couldn¡¯t let himself be distracted either. In the end, their target was Zadicus Quinn. Bula¡¯s situation, while shitty, wasn¡¯t the focus of their plans. Bula herself was just an obstacle in their way unless something drastic happened to change that. But until that time, Mikael had to keep his eye on the prize¡­ and so did Thayla.


    ¡°Thayla. Let¡¯s spar.¡±


    Blinking, the Knight of the Rose looks at him surprised, even as Mikael rises from his chair.


    ¡°Sir Mikael?¡±


    Grinning, he taps the Soul Engine¡¯s outer casing pointedly.


    ¡°I¡¯ve got energy to burn¡­ and I want to see you at your best. So let¡¯s go downstairs and spar, alright? I want you to come at me with everything you¡¯ve got.¡±


    Flushing, Thayla looks uncertain, even as she rises and moves to follow him down the ladder.


    ¡°¡­ I am not comparable to a half-orc, Sir Mikael. You are likely so far beyond me it isn¡¯t even funny.¡±


    Mikael just grunts at that, because in the end this isn¡¯t really about them being on even footing. Thayla is right, he IS beyond her. But that doesn¡¯t mean they don¡¯t both need this. To keep their skills sharp¡­ and to take their minds off of all the bullshit they were swimming in. He¡¯d run Thayla ragged if it meant distracting her from her thoughts. Felt like the least he could do, really. And frankly¡­ he could use the distraction as well.


    <div>


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 18: The Announcement

    Given the situation they find themselves in, Thayla is essentially the only one among their number who can leave the safehouse through the front door and actually walk the streets of Alether unmolested. Avina is still being hunted by the City Guard, albeit not quite so hard because of Mikael¡¯s antics. Meanwhile, Mikael could technically go out into the city, but there¡¯s too much risk of his Soul Engine being exposed in some way. According to Avina, Zadicus knows enough about her project that he would definitely recognize it if word of the device got back to him.


    As such, Thayla not only spends her days going out and helping the common folk all over the city, but also brings breakfast each morning for her and the ¡®old seamstress¡¯ she lives with. Two big hearty meals, with the understanding being that Thayla is eating the lion¡¯s share of the food due to her physical activity. Seeing as Mikael doesn¡¯t need to eat anymore and only does so for pleasure, two breakfasts split between the three of them tends to work out just fine.


    That¡¯s where Mikael and Avina find themselves two mornings after his battle with Bula, waiting for Thayla to return with the food. Which she does¡­ but she doesn¡¯t come back with just the food. The door to the small home they¡¯ve been using as a hideout is damn near knocked off its hinges as the Knight of the Rose comes barging in. Both Mikael and Avina leap to their feet, thinking they¡¯re being attacked, but relax upon seeing that its only Thayla.


    Meanwhile, the Dame blushes as she sees their reaction, quickly closing the door behind her.


    ¡°¡­ Sorry. But it¡¯s happened.¡±


    With that said, the female knight quickly sets the fresh basket of food on one side of the table, before also pulling out a rolled up piece of parchment that she quickly unrolls and spreads out on the other side of the table. Avina is the first to lean over and read it, only for her eyes to widen and the pale, freckled young woman to pull back and let out an uncharacteristic whoop of joy.


    ¡°Yes! Finally!¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at that and leans over to read as well. He quickly understands why Avina is so happy. The parchment is a pronouncement of sorts¡­ basically an old fashioned promotional poster for an event. And the event in question¡­ well, at the top of the parchment in big bold stylized words, it says ¡®THE GRAND MELEE¡¯.


    They¡¯d done it. Mikael sits down, feeling a little shocked at that. It seemed¡­ fast. Just two weeks of burning down warehouses and they¡¯d already forced Zadicus¡¯ hand? He can¡¯t help but voice his disbelief.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a little too quick? Is he planning something? Is this some sort of trap?¡±


    Avina shakes her head, still smiling.


    ¡°It only seems quick to you because you haven¡¯t lived in Alether for years, Mikael. Zadicus has always been a prick. And while his rule has always been relatively ironclad before, he¡¯s still had his detractors and dissenters. The thing is, while the general population of the city might be discontent with his actions, it was fine so long as he didn¡¯t look weak. The people of Alether could hate him as much as they wanted so long as the merchants who use Alether as a trade route still liked him.¡±


    Coming back over to the table, Avina lets out a laugh.


    ¡°But suddenly, Alether isn¡¯t safe for foreigners OR locals. I¡¯m betting that Zadicus did his best to suppress news of all the warehouse fires, but that some merchant or one of his other detractors finally got word to someone higher up the food chain. My guess? Zadicus just got a stern talking to from a member of the Council of Lords and is freaking out. The city¡¯s population being all riled up as the guards have been pulled away to guard the warehouses hasn¡¯t helped either. The city is a powder keg that¡¯s been ready to go off for a long, long time. We¡¯re just the match that lit the fuse.¡±


    That sort of made sense. Mikael was left wondering what exactly Bula told Zadicus. To be fair, he¡¯d been very careful not to give her much. And¡­ he liked to think that Bula wouldn¡¯t offer up any information for free given her circumstances. Which meant Zadicus would have to know to ask the right questions in order to learn things like how Mikael absorbed the energy from his fallen foes. Hopefully.


    In which case, as far as Zadicus knew, he was under attack by someone as strong as a half-orc. Someone who seemed intent on burning down his livelihood and damaging his reputation as City Lord. Meanwhile, Mikael¡¯s fires weren¡¯t the only ones in the city that needed to be put out. Hence the Grand Melee. Because as he reads the proclamation over, he thinks he understands why Thayla is so upset. The Knight of the Rose confirms it a moment later with a disgruntled huff.


    ¡°Never mind all that! Read the other part!¡±


    Avina furrows her brow and leans forward, her eyes taking in the entire proclamation. Mikael, having already read what has Thayla up in arms, lets out a sigh.


    ¡°They¡¯re not just opening the Grand Melee to volunteers. They¡¯re putting every single criminal they have locked up into the Colosseum. Anyone can enter, but if you¡¯re in prison already, participation is compulsory.¡±


    Leaning back again, Avina shrugs her shoulders.


    ¡°That¡­ makes sense. I don¡¯t really know what else you expected, Dame. For as long as Zadicus Quinn has been Lord of the City, the criminals of Alether have been used as fodder for his arenas. This isn¡¯t really any different than that¡­ just on a bigger scale.¡±


    Thayla scoffs at Avina¡¯s blithe attitude, her eyes glittering with anger.


    ¡°Bigger scale, certainly. Because it¡¯s not just the criminals they currently have in their prisons. It¡¯s anyone they can get away with snatching off the streets right now.¡±


    Both Mikael and Avina jolt at that, leaving Thayla to smile bitterly.


    ¡°I saw it with my own two eyes as I made my way here. The guards are out in force¡­ it would seem Zadicus has given up on defending his warehouses, because I haven¡¯t seen so many members of the City Guard in weeks. He¡¯s putting all of his effort into this¡­ this Grand Melee of his. And that means grabbing people off the street for the slightest offense.¡±


    Scowling in remembrance, Thayla clenches her hand into a fist and looks to the side.


    ¡°¡­ I very nearly got myself arrested. By all rights, I should have stepped in and stopped the injustice in its tracks. A woman literally knocked a piece of bread off of a market stall with her hip and the guards arrested her for thievery! Then, when the stall owner tried to come to her defense and say it was nothing but a harmless mistake, the guards arrested HIM too for questioning their authority!¡±


    A bark of angry laughter leaves Thayla¡¯s lips.


    ¡°Bah! As if questioning someone¡¯s authority is a crime! I wanted so very much to draw my sword and¡­ and¡­¡±


    The anger rolls out of her and she visibly deflated as she looks to him.


    ¡°¡­ But I didn¡¯t. Because I swore to serve you, Sir Mikael. And I know you would never ask it of me¡­ but I turned my back on those people all the same. Because I know that you are the only one who can truly stop this madness. You¡¯re the one destined to stop Zadicus Quinn.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Well. Shit. On the one hand, Mikael appreciated Thayla¡¯s faith in him. On the other hand, that was an awful lot to put on his shoulders.


    Avina seems to agree, given how she scoffs.


    ¡°Destiny has nothing to do with it, Dame. Sure Mikael is a Summoned Hero, but you forget that Zadicus was the one who summoned him. And I highly doubt the Lord of Alether was thoughtful enough to make his Summoned Task be ¡®defeat Zadicus Quinn¡¯. Whatever it is that he is ¡®destined¡¯ to do on this world, it¡¯s certainly not that.¡±


    Thayla flushes at Avina¡¯s words but before she can respond, Avina continues on.


    ¡°Still, you were smart to keep your blade sheathed and your head down. You can¡¯t beat every guard in the city, especially not if they¡¯re all out in force rounding up ¡®competitors¡¯ for the Grand Melee. I guess Zadicus wants to make this one even more of a spectacle than the last¡­ and that by arresting random people, he can also arrest the people he doesn¡¯t like the most and have it go under the radar. Regardless, you would have either been killed or imprisoned yourself, and while that WOULD have wound up with you in the Grand Melee anyways¡­ you likely would have been stripped off your armor and weapon.¡±


    The Knight of the Rose¡¯s eyes widen in outrage at that. However, her outrage is not for herself.


    ¡°Are you saying that the so-called ¡®criminals¡¯ that they¡¯re going to stuff in the Colosseum won¡¯t even be provided with arms or armor?!¡±


    Mikael clears his throat, feeling uniquely qualified to answer that one.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes move over to him, before widening in remembrance.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll recall, they gave me a single rusted sword and nothing else when I faced you, Thayla. I imagine the criminals in the Grand Melee will be lucky to have their shackles removed before they¡¯re forced out onto the sand. I certainly wasn¡¯t.¡±


    That brings Thayla up short. Silence falls and lasts long enough that Mikael begins to feel a little guilty for rubbing their first meeting in the female knight¡¯s face. Thankfully, he¡¯s saved from the awkwardness by Avina of all people.


    ¡°Right. Either way, this is big. The Grand Melee is happening, and while yes Zadicus will be on high alert¡­ this is exactly what we were waiting for. You two are both going to sign up for the Grand Melee, but before that happens¡­ I need to go and get Mikael¡¯s new armor.¡±


    Mikael and Thayla both blink at that, only for Avina to smirk slightly and toss her hair over her shoulder.


    ¡°What? Did you think every time I went out via the sewers that I was just going for a stroll or talking to my crier friend? No, I have more contacts than just that. And one of them is a Blacksmith who I spent no small amount of coin on to get Mikael a decent set of gear for when the Grand Melee finally happened. I need to go and get it now, so I¡¯ll be right back. No need to worry, I have access to his forge via the sewers, so there won¡¯t be any danger.¡±


    Mikael narrows his eyes at that¡­ and shakes his head.


    ¡°I won¡¯t worry¡­ because I¡¯m going with you. You¡¯re not going alone, not now.¡±


    Avina looks surprised by that, but Mikael just stands up from the table and grabs one of the muffins that Thayla brought back for breakfast. He tosses it to Avina before grabbing a second one for himself.


    ¡°In fact, I¡¯m instituting a new rule. None of us leaves the safehouse anymore without at least one buddy. Even Thayla. I don¡¯t want to see how far her status as a Knight of the Rose gets her if the guards are as nasty as she says they are.¡±


    He¡¯s not usually so forceful or domineering, but it feels right in this moment. Things are ramping up and getting more dangerous. Letting Avina go off alone wouldn¡¯t just be foolhardy, it¡¯d be neglectful. Mikael isn¡¯t going to let anything happen to her OR Thayla.


    As the two women share a glance, Mikael rolls his shoulders and moves to get his leather jerkin on, as well as his sword sheathed at his side. Then, he nods to Thayla.


    ¡°Stay here and hold down the fort. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    ¡°O-Of course, Sir Mikael!¡±


    And with Thayla¡¯s immediate compliance, it¡¯s all decided. Avina doesn¡¯t quite throw her hands up in the air, but she does roll her eyes and smirk a bit as she lets Mikael escort her down into the basement and then into the sewers. From there, she leads the way through the labyrinthine sewer system underneath Alether. Funnily enough, while Mikael would never know how to get where they were actually trying to go, he did recognize most of the sewers by this point. He damn well should, considering he¡¯d spent most nights of the last two weeks in them.


    There¡¯s also a noticeably diminished amount of rats around them as they make their way to Avina¡¯s Blacksmith. Something that his Soul Mechanic doesn¡¯t fail to point out.


    ¡°Been busy down here, I see.¡±


    Mikael offers a sheepish smile in response to that. It¡¯s true, he has been. Was he happy that he effectively ¡®ate¡¯ rats now to survive? Not particularly, but at least he WAS alive to be unhappy about it.


    Regardless, they arrive at their destination a few moments after that, with Avina tapping part of the wall and revealing that the same hidden control runes from the other places are here as well. As they slip into another basement, Mikael looks around and sees what can only be a blacksmith¡¯s storeroom. Not only are there some ingots on a nearby shelf, but there¡¯s some equipment as well for use in a forge.


    Avina moves over to the nearby ladder and knocks on the wall next to it a few times.


    ¡°Francis! I¡¯m here to pick up my order!¡±


    There¡¯s a brief pause¡­ as nothing but silence comes from above. Avina furrows her brow and knocks louder.


    ¡°Francis?¡±


    Her call goes unanswered once more, however. Finally, shooting Mikael a worried look, Avina moves to ascend the ladder¡­ which is when he steps up and stops her.


    ¡°Wait. I¡¯ll go first. Seeing as I¡¯m the one who heals from fatal wounds here.¡±


    Avina flushes at that, but also looks a little proud¡­ that is because of HER work after all.


    ¡°Right. Go ahead.¡±


    And so Mikael does, carefully making his way up out of the blacksmith¡¯s basement and into the forge itself. After looking around for a moment, he frowns and nods down to Avina.


    ¡°Clear. I think something happened here though.¡±


    She quickly climbs up as well, with him offering her his hand to get her the rest of the way into the blacksmith¡¯s building. And then she sees what he¡¯s seen, which is that the place has been wrecked. There¡¯s clearly been a scuffle here and recently at that. Maybe within the last hour or two, because Mikael still sees burning embers in the nearby forge.


    ¡°What happened here?¡±


    At his question, Avina lets out a low sigh.


    ¡°They took him. It must have been the guards. They took Francis.¡±


    Wait, seriously? Before Mikael can ask for clarification, Avina bursts into motion. Moving forward with purpose, she starts checking in the blacksmith¡¯s backroom. He follows after her after a moment, brow furrowed.


    ¡°Do you think they knew about his connection to you? Do you think they found out you were in contact with him?¡±


    ¡°¡­ No, not particularly. If they did, they would have tortured him. And if they tortured him, they would have found out about the sewer entrance in his basement. Francis isn¡¯t exactly a close friend. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll turn on me for nothing, but a little pain and he would have sung like a canary. Which means they didn¡¯t take him because of me.¡±


    That¡­ alright. But then why? Avina answers that question before Mikael can even ask.


    ¡°They probably took him because Francis has refused every smithing contract that Zadicus and the City Guard have offered him. And with Zadicus tightening his grip again, he doesn¡¯t want to leave a blacksmith who might want to outfit a rebellion unmolested¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Avina trails off before perking up.


    ¡°Aha! I¡¯d hoped, but I hadn¡¯t known for sure¡­¡±


    Pulling out a crate from under a shelf, Avina pops it open fully and Mikael moves forward to see what¡¯s inside. There, laid out within is a freshly finished set of armor. It looks like a combination of leather and metal. Mikael WOULD say that he doesn¡¯t know anything about it, but that would be a lie. Immediately, he gets impressions from the dead men in his head.


    It¡¯s good armor. Not the best, but in terms of a proper balance between mobility and defense, it¡¯s perfect. Besides, he doesn¡¯t need full plate like Thayla is rocking, mostly because he can heal from every injury thrown his way thanks to the Soul Engine.


    As Mikael stares down at the armor, Avina places a hand on his arm.


    ¡°Mikael¡­ about the Grand Melee¡­¡±


    Looking over at his Soul Mechanic, he frowns.


    ¡°What about it?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t hold back. If we¡¯re going to beat Zadicus, you have to be ready to kill. More than that, you have to be ready to take advantage of other people¡¯s kills. In the chaos of the free for all, there will be all sorts of magic flying around. Yours won¡¯t be any more noticeable than anyone else. So you need to stop holding back. You need to be as strong as possible. Can you do that for me?¡±


    ¡­ She¡¯s right, of course. And he knows she¡¯s right. He doesn¡¯t want to kill anyone innocent. He¡¯ll avoid the so-called ¡®criminals¡¯ as best he can. But the other volunteers? They knew what they were signing up for. And¡­ the entire Colosseum is bound to be one big bloodbath. A bloodbath that Mikael is uniquely qualified to take advantage of.


    After a moment, he wordlessly nods to Avina, making her smile and give his arm an affectionate squeeze. Then, he reaches into the crate and pulls out the armor that Francis the Blacksmith made for him. Whatever the man¡¯s fate¡­ Mikael will make sure to put his armor to good use.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 19: The Night Before (Lewd)

    It¡¯s the night before the Grand Melee, and needless to say, Mikael can¡¯t sleep. But then to be fair, that¡¯s not exactly a recent development. The only difference between this night and every other night since he¡¯s come back to life is that he¡¯s trying his best to keep himself in a rested state ahead of tomorrow. Meaning no venturing down into the sewers for a night-time stroll. Not that there are many rats left down there anyways at this point¡­


    Still, laying on his back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, Mikael doesn¡¯t know what to do with himself. He almost wants to go bug Avina or Thayla, but that doesn¡¯t seem like a good idea. They both need sleep a lot more than he does after all, and he doesn¡¯t want to disturb them or anything. Tomorrow was bound to be a very long day, and they all needed to be at their absolute best. So he would just have to lay here and-


    Mikael blinks as he¡¯s pulled from his thoughts by the door to his room suddenly opening and Thayla slipping in. Their eyes meet and the white-haired woman freezes in place for a moment, going red in the face as Mikael stares at her. He actually thinks she¡¯s coming here without Avina¡¯s knowledge, sneaking in here to see him without the other woman being any the wiser¡­ but no.


    ¡°Why are you just standing there? Move it.¡±


    Flushing, the Knight of the Rose quickly moves further into the room, revealing that his Soul Mechanic is standing right behind her. Avina slips in as well and though she jolts and blushes at seeing him wide awake, she doesn¡¯t freeze like Thayla did. Closing the door behind her, Avina leans back against it.


    ¡°I thought you might still be up, Mikael. Or maybe it¡¯s more accurate to know I knew you wouldn¡¯t be asleep yet. You don¡¯t need as much sleep as a normal person anymore. I¡¯ve noticed your late-night strolls.¡±


    She sounds almost imperious, though in a rather cute way as she steps further into the room. Then, she shoots Thayla a look.


    ¡°Well? What are you waiting for?¡±


    Swinging his legs off the bed, Mikael sits up as he watches Thayla¡¯s blush intensify before she quickly begins to strip out of her trousers. He watches the two of them for a moment, a little nonplussed¡­ but also undeniably aroused to see Thayla stripping for him. The three of them had done quite a lot together by this point¡­ however, Avina had never let Thayla go beyond oral. She and Mikael were the ones with the fully sexual relationship, while Thayla had only ever gotten to use her mouth. It would seem that was changing as of tonight.


    Still¡­


    ¡°What¡¯s all this about, exactly?¡±


    Lifting her head and jutting out her chin, Avina is quick to explain. Though she also crosses her arms over her chest a little defensively.


    ¡°Tomorrow is the big day. Both of you will be entering the Grand Melee as volunteers. This means you¡¯ll get to keep your armor and weapons, as opposed to the criminals who will be thrown into the colosseum with rusted swords if they¡¯re lucky and iron soup ladles if they¡¯re not.¡±


    Mikael grimaces at the mental image. Those poor people. He would do his best to spare as many of them as possible, tomorrow. But clearly Avina was building up to something.


    ¡°The cover story will be that Thayla hired you to watch her back as she takes part in the Grand Melee, in the event that anyone asks. But obviously, that¡¯s not really the case, is it? You¡¯re in charge tomorrow, Mikael. You¡¯re calling the shots. Zadicus Quinn wronged you the most out of all of us, and when it comes down to it, you need to get your revenge.¡±


    Well, he agreed with those last bits, but he wasn¡¯t so sure about him calling the shots. Surely he should be following Thayla¡¯s lead, right?


    ¡°She¡¯s right, Sir Mikael.¡±


    Blinking, Mikael looks over to see Thayla has completely stripped down now. The Knight of the Rose blushes as his gaze falls upon her fully nude body for the first time. From her full breasts to her flared hips, there¡¯s no denying she¡¯s a woman. However, there¡¯s also no denying her martial path, given the muscular nature of her arms, her abdomen, and her legs.


    Still, she stands before him completely exposed, hands by her sides to reveal her nudity in all of its glory. She all but invites him to look, and so Mikael looks, even as she smiles slightly and explains.


    ¡°Tomorrow, I shall be your shield on the battlefield. It is my honor to stand between you and your enemies, and it will be my honor to obey your every command. As such, you need to know that you can trust me, wholly and utterly. That is why I asked Avina to arrange this evening. So that I might offer you myself¡­ with her permission, of course.¡±


    By the time she¡¯s done speaking, Thayla¡¯s voice has become more and more intense¡­ until suddenly she dials it back and acts quite demure with that last line. Mikael, meanwhile, reluctantly tears his gaze off of Thayla¡¯s naked body and looks over to Avina for clarification.


    Scowling slightly, his Soul Mechanic looks to the side as a light dusting of red appears on her pale, freckled face.


    ¡°I know I don¡¯t own you or anything like that. And I¡¯m sure it was only a matter of time before your beastly urges resulted in you pinning the Dame down and taking her anyways.¡±


    Amusingly, Thayla is the one who squawks indignantly on Mikael¡¯s behalf on that front. But Avina just shoots the other woman a look and she ducks her head in submission. Hm, he felt like he¡¯d let an unhealthy dynamic form between Avina and Thayla. But then, they didn¡¯t seem all that upset about it. Still, it was a little weird seeing the less physically imposing goth girl who¡¯d brought him back to life bossing around the much more muscular female knight who¡¯d cut him down in the first place.


    ¡°Do you object to this arrangement, Mikael?¡±


    Snorting in amusement at Avina¡¯s question, he shakes his head. How could he possibly object? They were offering him a night of pleasure and stress-relieving fun right before they were all probably going to go and get themselves killed trying to take on the Lord of Alether. Sure. Why not?


    ¡°No, Avina. I don¡¯t object.¡±


    Nodding sharply, Avina looks to Thayla.


    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    ¡°You heard him. Get on the bed. Hands and knees, just as we discussed.¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow as Thayla¡¯s blush intensifies. But she obeys all the same, climbing onto the bed on her hands and knees and positioning herself for him. Slowly rising from his own seated position on the edge of the bed, Mikael has to admit¡­ the sight of Thayla in such a compromising pose is quite arousing. Even more so when Avina comes up behind him and does a reach around, freeing his cock from its confines as she presses herself up against him.


    ¡°Do you like this, Mikael? Do you like how eager she is to submit?¡±


    He certainly does. Just as much as he likes Avina stroking his cock as they both watch Thayla wait on the bed for him, fidgeting and squirming under their gaze. But he was already plenty aroused so there isn¡¯t much Avina has to do to get him fully erect before she turns him loose.


    ¡°She¡¯s all yours.¡±


    With that, she releases her hold on him and steps away. Mikael notes how Avina is careful not to command HIM. This dynamic the three of them have might be unhealthy¡­ but if it is, Mikael isn¡¯t sure he wants to BE healthy, truth be told. Moving back to the bed, he climbs on behind Thayla, grabbing the well-proportioned and physically chiseled Knight of the Rose by her flared hips.


    Thayla¡¯s breath hitches and she looks back at him, blue eyes filled with longing and desire.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold back, Sir Mikael. I beseech you, take of my body what you desire.¡±


    Mikael just grunts and lines himself up. A moment later and he¡¯s pushing himself inside of her, filling Thayla with inch after inch of his throbbing mast. Her lower lips spread like flower petals as she takes him deep within her, her inner walls flexing and tightening along his length. A low moan leaves the female knight¡¯s lips.


    There¡¯s something to be said about delayed gratification. Would this be nearly as enjoyable if he¡¯d fucked Thayla weeks ago? Perhaps, but perhaps not. One thing is for sure¡­ it¡¯s certainly pleasurable now. Setting a rough pace, Mikael doesn¡¯t hold back with the female knight. When he¡¯s with Avina, the pale woman prefers to be on top usually, where she can control the pace. Mikael doesn¡¯t mind that one bit. Sometimes though, she¡¯s on her back and he¡¯s the one on top. He CERTAINLY doesn¡¯t mind those times.


    However, Avina has never let him take her from behind before. Or rather, she¡¯s never offered and he hasn¡¯t asked. Even if they had done it that way, Avina has a much softer, weaker body than Thayla. Meaning there¡¯s no way that his Soul Mechanic could have taken anywhere near his full strength. To be fair, even with Thayla, Mikael doesn¡¯t risk going all out. Not when he still has the strength of those ten guardsmen flowing through his Soul Engine and running through his veins.


    Fucking Thayla is not like fucking Avina though. He¡¯s decidedly rougher with her. Is it because he knows she can take it? Is it because he hasn¡¯t fully forgiven her for killing him? At that last thought, Mikael does hesitate for a moment, slowing down. He doesn¡¯t want to take out his anger on Thayla. It would feel misplaced. Zadicus Quinn was the one who killed him, Thayla was just the weapon used to do the deed.


    But the moment Mikael slows down, Thayla looks back at him again, her lips parted as she pants.


    ¡°Please Sir Mikael. I know much weighs heavily on your mind. As I said before, do not hold back. Not for my sake. I urge you, take out your stress and frustration upon my body. Use me as you see fit!¡±


    Even with such vocal permission, Mikael hesitates. Until Avina scoffs from off to the side, drawing his attention over to her. The other woman has sat down in a nearby chair and hiked up her skirts. She blushes when he catches her touching herself to the sight. But at the same time, she doesn¡¯t stop.


    ¡°She wants you to make it hurt, Mikael. She enjoys the pain, she¡¯s just too embarrassed to admit it.¡±


    Wait, Thayla was a masochist? Mikael looks back to the woman he¡¯s currently fucking from behind to see her avoiding his gaze. And yet, her inner walls continue to clench and flex around his shaft¡­ and maybe they do so a little harder when Avina so viciously exposes her to him.


    Well now. He never would have guessed that Thayla was that kind of woman, but if that was the case¡­ well, it changed things didn¡¯t it? He still didn¡¯t want to hurt her overly much. Especially not with the Grand Melee tomorrow morning. But¡­ he could go a little harder, he supposed. And he DID have plenty of stress to work out¡­


    Starting up again, Mikael begins fucking Thayla harder and faster than before. His hands dig into her hips and his grunts and groans become louder as well as more animalistic as he focuses on jackhammering in and out of her juicy cunt. Meanwhile, he¡¯s well aware of Avina¡¯s soft quiet moaning right alongside Thayla¡¯s louder screams.


    Of course, their safehouse isn¡¯t soundproofed by any means. And they don¡¯t really want anyone to report hearing howls of pleasure coming from the old seamstress¡¯ home, now do they? With that in mind, Mikael leans forward and grabs a fistful of Thayla¡¯s hair, before pushing her face down into the bed in front of her. The rest of his weight and the strength of his thrusts means that she collapses like a house of cards despite her toned physique, and in moments Mikael isn¡¯t fucking Thayla from behind anymore, he¡¯s prone boning her into the bed from above.


    Her legs go straight out and her feet kick as her toes curl. Her squeals and screams of enjoyment, now muffled by the bed, get louder. Turns out, she was actually holding back her voice before, at least as best she could anyways. The bed shakes beneath them as Mikael pounds into her now¡­ and he has to admit, they were right. He did need this.


    Of course, fucking Thayla hard and fast into the bed isn¡¯t a Cure-All or anything like that. He¡¯s still fucked in the head. He¡¯s still been torn away from his life, a life that he can barely remember thanks to Zadicus fucking Quinn. He still has a bunch of dead men hanging out in his mind, giving advice in the form of urges and impulses that he constantly has to fight against with every fiber of his being even as he¡¯s railing Thayla from above.


    But¡­ it¡¯s actually surprisingly easy to tune the worst of those out, the longer he and the female knight go at it. It¡¯s never quite silent in his crowded, fractured mind¡­ but it¡¯s as close as it¡¯s ever gotten. Until finally, Mikael finds himself getting close to the edge. As Thayla¡¯s inner walls clench down around him in the telltale sign of her own umpteenth orgasm, Mikael realizes that he¡¯s not going to last much longer either. In fact, he¡¯s going to cum any moment.


    With a grunt, he pulls out of Thayla and grabs her by the hair. The impulse to do what he does next¡­ he¡¯s not sure if it¡¯s entirely from him or not¡­ but he thinks it¡¯s more from the actual him than it is from anyone else, and that¡¯s good enough. Flipping Thayla over onto her back, Mikael straddles her midriff and proceeds to jerk his throbbing erection the rest of the way to completion. At which point, he lets his seed spray out all over Thayla¡¯s face and tits.


    ¡­ Is it bad that something more loosens in his chest as he does so? That marking the woman who cut out his heart with her blade in such a sexually domineering manner actually helps him move on from what she¡¯d done? Either way, it happens. Mikael lets out a shuddering sigh as he smiles down at Thayla, feeling just a bit more of his resentment towards her fading away at the act.


    In turn, Thayla smiles up at him, before reaching up and beginning to rub his cum into her tits.


    ¡°I shall wear your seed proudly until the morning, Sir Hero.¡±


    Pervert. He was surrounded by a pair of perverts. Mikael isn¡¯t sure why it took him so long to realize it, but here he is, finally figuring it out. Snorting in amusement, Mikael shakes his head.


    ¡°Not in my bed, you¡¯re not. Get cleaned up and then come back here, alright? And you, Avina¡­ get over here. I¡¯ve decided. We¡¯re all sleeping in the same bed tonight.¡±


    The two women he¡¯s somehow fallen into a three-way relationship with both freeze up for a moment at that¡­ before scrambling. Avina strips down and comes over, and Thayla hurries to go wash off her face and chest before returning to them. And so Mikael lays back down, with Avina curled up on his right and Thayla curled up on his left.


    They still both fall asleep well before him¡­ but with the two hugging into his sides, their heartbeats surprisingly loud in Mikael¡¯s ears¡­ he finds a deep and dreamless slumber takes him as well before much longer.


    Tomorrow. Tomorrow they would make Zadicus answer for all that he¡¯d done.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 20: The Grand Melee

    As they approach the Colosseum the very next morning, Mikael has to admit that it¡¯s quite an impressive structure in both size and scale. Of course, what little he recalls of stadiums from back on Earth does put it to shame, but that¡¯s comparing apples to oranges. They don¡¯t have the same building techniques nor the access to materials that people back home had.


    Though, that did go to show just how short-sighted Zadicus Quinn really was, didn¡¯t it? Mikael didn¡¯t know exactly what the man had done with his memories, but he certainly hadn¡¯t used them. Or any of the other poor helpless souls that he had summoned to this world. Now maybe the Hero Summoning Ritual didn¡¯t take exclusively from Earth. Mikael didn¡¯t know. But even if it had only taken a handful of people from Earth, Zadicus should have had enough memories and knowledge from Mikael¡¯s world to begin reverse engineering some of the more advanced stuff, right?


    The fact that he hadn¡¯t spoke of laziness. The fact that this place was magical medieval fantasy instead of on its way to being magitech uplift¡­ well, it just went to show how lacking in vision Zadicus Quinn really was. No wonder the man had defaulted to another Grand Melee, just as Avina had theorized he would. He¡¯d been Lord of Alether for years now, running his Hero Summoning scheme to keep his arenas propped up and only branching out into one new direction with the warehouse gambit. And the moment the going got tough, he reverted right back to old habits.


    Mikael couldn¡¯t complain, he supposed. Zadicus being short-sighted and predictable was what had let their plan go off mostly without a hitch so far. But even still, he had to admit that it worried him a little bit. All of this, everything they¡¯d done, was for the purpose of getting close enough to Zadicus to take him down and put him in a position where he would be forced to give back Mikael¡¯s memories and tell them what condition he¡¯d set for Mikael to be able to return home.


    But what would a man as short-sighted as Zadicus Quinn do with Mikael¡¯s memories? What sort of condition would someone as narrowminded as the Lord of Alether set for Mikael to accomplish before he could go home? Admittedly, there was a wariness to Mikael as he found himself contemplating these things while approaching the Sign-Up Area by Thayla¡¯s side. The Knight of the Rose, dressed in her full golden armor and wielding her sword and shield, strides forward and leads the way. Mikael just follows after her.


    Avina¡¯s Blacksmith really had come through for them. The armor that Francis had made fits Mikael almost perfectly, far better than he would have thought could be possible given Mikael himself had never even met the man for a fitting. But then, to be fair most of the armor was still leather. The metal pieces were more for reinforcement than anything and didn¡¯t necessarily need to be molded to Mikael¡¯s form like a set of full plate armor might need to be.


    But also, on top of the armor, Francis the Blacksmith had also created a helm for Mikael. Also made of mostly leather, the helmet comes with a metal faceplate that, while it restricts his field of view, should also protect him. The slits for his eyes, nostrils, and mouth are too small for an arrow or sword to get through, anyways.


    With the mask hiding his face and the chestplate hiding his Soul Engine, Mikael¡¯s identity is secure. Not to mention, not a single thing he¡¯s wearing can be tied to the arsonist who¡¯d been burning Zadicus¡¯ warehouses down these past couple of weeks, seeing as he and Avina had been smart enough to pick up a brand new sword and small buckler from Francis¡¯ place on their way out too.


    Even still, he lets Thayla do the talking as she signs them both up for the Grand Melee in an authoritative tone. The official behind the counter barely even pays Mikael any mind, scribbling down the fake name of ¡®Raquel Vilanto¡¯ that Thayla gives for him without a second thought. Then, the two of them are let through the gate into the ¡®volunteer area¡¯.


    There¡¯s still an hour until the Grand Melee, so it makes sense that they have a little bit of time left to kill. Needless to say, the volunteer area consists of MUCH nicer accommodations than what the so-called criminals are probably suffering through at the moment. Not only is it above ground, but it also has refreshments¡­ and a whole lot less chains and shackles then Mikael is imagining exist down in the ¡®pens¡¯ said to be underneath the Colosseum.


    The lounge area is steadily filling up, even as he and Thayla stay off to the side and wait for things to get underway. As they stand with their backs against the wall, Thayla¡¯s eyes roam back and forth across their competition, leading Mikael to lean over to her and whisper through his mask.


    ¡°See anyone to watch out for?¡±


    Quietly, Thayla nods her head towards a group that look to be armed to the teeth.


    ¡°Those look like bounty hunters. Watch out for them Si- err, Raquel. Their kind will stop at nothing for a payday. Normally they¡¯d be hunting the criminals to turn in for rewards¡­ but I suppose they see this whole event as a chance to make a whole lot of coin without having to do the legwork first.¡±


    Hm, fair. Bounty Hunters¡­ just looking at them, Mikael can tell they¡¯re hardened fighters, one and all. And they¡¯re a well-rounded group too, with differing get-ups and skill sets, no doubt. Mikael grimaces under his mask as the dead men in his head point out one that looks like an offensive spellcaster as the sort that needs to go down first and go down HARD. The foreign memories forced into Mikael¡¯s head are quick to flash images of what an enemy wizard on a battlefield can do¡­ the sort of devastation and mayhem that they can deliver.


    It doesn¡¯t help when Thayla points out the spellcaster herself a moment after he¡¯s had the foreign thought forcibly shoved in front of his mind¡¯s eye.


    ¡°If they go for us, we¡¯ll want to take him out first. Otherwise he¡¯ll rain havoc down upon us with his magic.¡±


    Okay, so maybe the instincts swimming around in his head would be worth listening to in the coming battle. It didn¡¯t make Mikael any happier to do so though, especially not when he¡¯d quite literally been tricked into fights he didn¡¯t need to have by those instincts. But¡­ it was only a little while longer, hopefully. Once they got Zadicus squealing like the pig he was, they¡¯d force the bastard to fix his mind and send him home. If all went according to plan and the condition for his return home wasn¡¯t too strenuous, Mikael might be back on Earth by the end of the day.


    Whether that would be with Avina or not, he didn¡¯t know. She would only tell them that she would be nearby. Since she wasn¡¯t joining the Grand Melee for obvious reasons, Mikael had to assume she had another way of sneaking into the Colosseum that would allow her to be close when he finally got alone with Zadicus.


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    For now, Mikael couldn¡¯t worry about her. Not when he and Thayla had a battle to the death looming in front of them. It rankled to be fighting for the Lord of Alether¡¯s amusement though. Speaking of which¡­ as Mikael and Thayla continue to stand there against the wall, Zadicus Quinn himself enters the lounge area. With Bula by his side, the scarred Lord of Alether is all smiles as he sweeps his gaze back and forth across the room¡­ before ultimately, his eyes land upon Thayla herself.


    The City Lord makes his way over to the two of them and Mikael stiffens up even as he feels Thayla do the same beside him. For a moment, Mikael fears they¡¯ve been made¡­ but Zadicus doesn¡¯t so much as spare him a glance. Bula sizes him up momentarily but doesn¡¯t seem to recognize him. Hopefully.


    ¡°Ah! Dame Dawnguard¡­ I must admit, I¡¯m surprised! A Knight of the Rose taking place in the Grand Melee? Why, your presence alone makes this event more prestigious than I could have hoped for! You must have gotten a taste for the arena from that one match I set up for you.¡±


    At being reminded of how Zadicus effectively sent her to kill him, rubbing her face in his illicit Hero Summoning activities and making her complicit in Mikael¡¯s murder without her even knowing about it¡­ Thayla bristles. How can she not? Only, the female knight isn¡¯t supposed to know that Zadicus tricked her. She certainly isn¡¯t supposed to know that the Lord of the City is the very criminal she¡¯s come to Alether to find.


    For a moment, Mikael worries that Thayla is going to blow their cover right then and there with how instinctively angry her reaction is. But¡­ to her credit, Thayla recovers admirably, and even provides a decent cover for why she¡¯s so mad.


    ¡°Your guards have been overstepping their bounds for days now, Lord Quinn. Not every ¡®criminal¡¯ that is to be thrust into your Grand Melee today is guilty of the charges that your guards have levied against them.¡±


    Zadicus raises an eyebrow but keeps the smile plastered across his face.


    ¡°Oh? A hefty accusation, Dame Dawnguard. I assure you; I have full faith in the ability of my guardsmen to sniff out the criminal scum that pervade my great city.¡±


    ¡°I do not. That is why I am here today. To protect the innocents that are slated to suffer for your¡­ spectacle.¡±


    That brings the Lord of the City pause, but Thayla is playing her role perfectly because after a moment, Zadicus just scoffs at her.


    ¡°I see. Well¡­ good luck with that.¡±


    The Lord of the City ends the conversation there on that dismissive and derisive note, moving away from them and over to the front of the room where he turns and claps his hands together, drawing the attention of all of the other volunteers that fill the lounge area.


    ¡°Attention everyone! Welcome, all of you, to Alether¡¯s second ever Grand Melee! The first Grand Melee, hosted to celebrate my ascension to the position of City Lord, was such a great success back in the day that I decided to bring it back! Who knows, perhaps we¡¯ll make it into an annual tradition going forward!¡±


    That last comment is clearly a jab meant for Thayla, given the way Zadicus flicks his eyes in her direction for a moment as he says it. The Knight of the Rose grits her teeth and glares daggers at him, but stays where she is, even as Zadicus continues on.


    ¡°Now, as I¡¯m sure you all know, the Grand Melee is a Free for All. Last Fighter Standing wins. And as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll all agree, the winner of this Grand Melee will certainly be one of you volunteers, just as it was in the first Grand Melee. Certainly, none of the worthless rabble down in the pens can hold a candle to the assortment of strength, skill, and valor I see on display here before me!¡±


    There¡¯s some shuffling at that. Some chest puffing too from the idiot blowhards that don¡¯t seem to realize Zadicus is purposefully hyping them up. Grinning wickedly, the scarred Lord chuckles.


    ¡°Of course¡­ don¡¯t let their lack of ability fool you. Cornered animals can achieve impressive feats when desperate. Do not take the criminal scum that will be sharing the Colosseum Floor with you today lightly, my friends. Give them no quarter, because they will give you none in turn. If they see the chance to kill you, they WILL take it. They are murderers, rapists, thieves, and brigands one and all.¡±


    Mikael feels how heated Thayla is beside him. Every word out of Zadicus¡¯ mouth is enraging the Knight of the Rose more and more. But¡­ she has impeccable self-control. She doesn¡¯t even speak up or do anything when the next exchange happens.


    ¡°Are you saying this whole thing is to the death? I was given to understand we can retire at any time.¡±


    One of the bounty hunters said that. Made sense, Mikael supposed. They seem to be a whole group coming together to try and win the prize. If they¡¯re forced to kill each other for it at the end though, they might be less inclined to actually participate.


    Zadicus, however, is quick to shake his head.


    ¡°Aha! No, my friend, no. I know that my arenas tend to have a¡­ reputation for being quite bloody. But you understood right. As volunteers, none of you are obligated to participate in this event for a second longer than you want to. If you wish to surrender the field and retire from the Grand Melee, you may do so at any time.¡±


    Here, Zadicus looks right at Thayla. And this time, he holds her gaze as he says the next part.


    ¡°The criminal scum, however, are under the same rules that they always are. They have forfeited the right to retire from the field. They have forfeited their right to freedom. They have forfeited their very lives with the crimes they¡¯ve committed in MY city. The only way for any of them to earn back their right to live and go free is the same way as any criminal who finds themselves in one of my arenas. By winning. Of course, I don¡¯t imagine any of you will let that happen, now will you?! Bahaha!¡±


    While some of the volunteers DO look at least a modicum of queasy at the thought of killing a bunch of defenseless poorly armed shmucks, far more of them laugh right along with Zadicus. Whether it¡¯s because they don¡¯t have a single moral fiber in their bodies, or whether they actually truly believe that all of the ¡®criminals¡¯ Zadicus is pitting them against did the crimes he accused them of, Mikael doesn¡¯t know.


    He does know one thing for sure though¡­ Zadicus needs to go down. He needs to go down HARD.


    ¡°No¡­ no, you most certainly won¡¯t. Especially when the reward is so damn lucrative! Haha! The prize for the first Grand Melee was only five thousand gold¡­ which is why I¡¯m pleased to announce that the prize for this Grand Melee has been doubled! Whoever is left standing at the end of the day will walk away with ten THOUSAND gold, handed over by me, the Lord of the City, personally!¡±


    A lot of backs straighten at that, and some murmuring starts up around the volunteer area. Mikael himself goes wide-eyed at that number. He might not know jack shit about this world¡¯s economics, but ten thousand gold certainly sounds like it¡¯s a lot. Especially if five thousand gold was the grand prize last time. For Zadicus to be doubling up¡­ he really wanted to incentivize brutality among the volunteers, didn¡¯t he?


    Nothing for it, in the end. It wasn¡¯t about the gold in the end. Mikael and Thayla weren¡¯t here for the coin. They were here for that last bit. Zadicus handing over that much gold would be Mikael¡¯s opportunity to get close to him and hopefully finally force a confrontation on Mikael¡¯s terms.


    Of course, there was still Bula to consider. But¡­ looking around the room at all of the volunteers so ready and eager to slaughter defenseless ¡®criminals¡¯ for coin, Mikael finds himself staring at an all you can eat buffet. He needs to be strong enough to take on both Zadicus and Bula when he finally gets them alone if it comes down to it. And all of these bounty hunters, knights, and mercenaries have just helpfully volunteered to help him get there.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 21: The Grand Melee Pt. 2

    The volunteers, Mikael and Thayla included, are allowed out onto the Colosseum Floor first. The central arena that the Colosseum is built around is a massive space with a sandy floor and for a moment Mikael finds himself flashing back to the much smaller pit in which Thayla had ended his life. But¡­ no. He needs to focus. It¡¯s not surprising that there¡¯s still plenty of lingering trauma over those events, but Mikael can¡¯t let himself focus on it right now.


    Instead, he pushes those feelings down, gives a worried-looking Thayla a single sharp nod to show he¡¯s still good, and then focuses on everything BUT the sandy arena floor. Like for instance, he¡¯d thoroughly underestimated the number of volunteers. It quickly becomes apparent that plenty of the volunteer fighters hadn¡¯t bothered to partake of the lounge¡¯s hospitality and had instead been waiting close by for the actual event to start.


    To be fair, Alether was a border city of no small size, so it shouldn¡¯t have been all that surprising, but where Mikael had initially clocked mere dozens of warriors in the lounge area before, now he counts what has to be at least a hundred different heads slowly spreading out over the arena around him and Thayla.


    As in the lounge area, the two of them split off from the others and quickly find a wall. Down at the other end of the Colosseum, there¡¯s a yawning opening covered in shadow where Mikael assumes the prisoners being forced to partake in this Grand Melee will spill forth from. He can¡¯t see any gates or bars down there, but they must be further in, hidden by the sun beating down hard overhead.


    There¡¯s plenty of room in the Colosseum for a hundred fighters to spread out and all have some breathing room from one another. Which is why it¡¯s noticeable when a group of thugs follows him and Thayla off to their chosen part of the wall. They¡¯re wearing leather jerkins and wielding an assortment of weapons that look relatively well-maintained. They also don¡¯t actually say a word to the two of them, but just from the glances the more antsy ones are throwing their way, mostly towards Thayla¡­ their intentions are obvious.


    Zadicus¡¯ little speech in the lounge might have been the Lord of the City¡¯s attempt to engender a certain amount of camaraderie among the volunteers so that his dissenters amidst the prisoners would all die first, but it was obvious his efforts were always going to have a limited effect. Everyone was here for the same thing after all, and only one of them could win.


    Still, the Grand Melee hadn¡¯t begun yet, so Mikael pretends to ignore the thugs aiming for an early victory and focus on everything else. Like, for instance, the stands. The Colosseum Stands are packed to the brim with people. Looking around, he imagines there must be tens of thousands of them. Maybe even as much as half the city.


    Not all of them looked that happy to be there either. Sweeping his gaze back and forth across the gathered crowds, Mikael sees just as many unhappy faces as he does happy ones. He sees just as many jeering at the warriors down in the arena as he sees cheering them on. Honestly, he¡¯s not sure everyone who¡¯s come to watch the Grand Melee is here by choice.


    He and Thayla had of course noticed the crowds streaming towards the Colosseum as they¡¯d made their way to the volunteer area, but now Mikael was recontextualizing the way those guards had been corralling people along. He felt a little foolish now for assuming they were just there to manage traffic flow and keep anyone from being trampled to death.


    No¡­ Zadicus wanted an audience. And what the Lord of Alether wanted, he got. Mikael¡¯s jaw clenches and he draws his sword for lack of anything better to do, checking the buckler strapped to his arm and making sure it¡¯s nice and tight. Beside him, Thayla draws her own sword and shield as well, giving him a resolute nod with tightly pressed together lips.


    Just as they¡¯re preparing for battle¡­ a clanking sound suddenly rings out from the yawning blackness at the far end of the Colosseum. And then¡­ there¡¯s a rush of noise, both metallic and decidedly human in nature, as hundreds upon hundreds of people dressed in anything from rags to roughed up evening wear come rushing out onto the Colosseum Floor.


    Each and every one of them is chained and shackled at the wrists and ankles like Mikael was. They¡¯re ¡®armed¡¯ for lack of a better word with absolute trash for weapons. The lucky ones have knives. Some get pans. Others get spatulas, or even just rusty pieces of metal that Mikael can¡¯t even discern the purpose of.


    A hush falls over the Colosseum. The massive audience watching from the stands all go quiet as they see their fellow citizenry, reduced to such a state. Mikael notes more than a few teary eyed faces as some reach out towards their loved ones, as if to somehow cross the gulf of space between them but to no avail.


    Zadicus couldn¡¯t have planned it better himself. As silence falls over the Colosseum, A loud clap can be heard from the Lord¡¯s Podium, a large platform overlooking the arena floor. All eyes, both on the sand and in the stands, look up towards where the scarred man stands, a broad smile on his face. When he speaks, some magical effect makes sure that his voice carries across the entire Colosseum.


    ¡°Welcome, one and all, to the SECOND GRAND MELEE!¡±


    Mikael half-expects some booing¡­ but the crowd is deathly silent. Looking around, he notes the guards in the stands, heads on a swivel as they look out for any troublemakers.


    ¡°The first was such a success that its still remembered fondly to this day! FIVE HUNDRED entered this arena, but only one left with the FIVE THOUSAND GOLD PRIZE!¡±


    Five hundred. Mikael starts to feel a pit in his stomach as a realization begins to sink in.


    ¡°But you might be asking yourselves¡­ how can we possibly top those numbers?! As it turns out, quite easily my beloved subjects! Today, ONE THOUSAND stand before you! And they compete for the chance to walk away with TEN THOUSAND GOLD! Just like before, last one standing gets the GRAND PRIZE!¡±


    And there it was. The reason behind the rounding up of hundreds of innocent people on trumped up charges right before the Grand Melee was set to start. A stupid, asinine, selfish reason. Mikael shouldn¡¯t have been surprised, but he still was. Zadicus had decided to go big for this. He¡¯d decided to go all out in order to prove himself to the Council of Lords no doubt tightening his leash.


    Stolen novel; please report.


    No wonder the guards had been arresting people off the streets for accidentally knocking things over with their hips. They¡¯d probably had quotas to meet, each and every one.


    ¡°Ah, but you didn¡¯t all come here to listen to me prattle on, did you?! No¡­ you came here for the same reason any of you visit one of my arenas¡­ to see some BLOOD! Without further ado¡­ LET THE SECOND GRAND MELEE COMMENCE!¡±


    Mikael jolts at the suddenness of it all. Zadicus had been much freer with his information to all of them in the volunteer lounge. He¡¯d been expecting the man to repeat pretty much everything he¡¯d said back there¡­ but no. They got what they did because they were the group Zadicus wanted to make sure won. Everyone else¡­ was mere fodder for the man¡¯s bloated ego.


    Immediately, the group of eight thugs from earlier turn to Mikael and Thayla, ugly looks on their faces as they brandish their weapons. They quickly spread out in a half-circle, trapping him and Thayla against the wall they¡¯ve put their backs to. Meanwhile utter bedlam erupts all over the arena floor, but every fiber of Mikael¡¯s being is telling him to focus on the battle right in front of him. Distractions are just going to get him killed.


    ¡°Heh. Yer a Knight of the Rose, ain¡¯tcha?¡±


    Stiffening as she lifts sword and shield, Thayla narrows her icy blue eyes at the thugs through the visor of her helm.


    ¡°I am indeed. You all would do well to turn around and find easier prey.¡±


    The thugs look around at each other, then at Thayla and Mikael. He suspects most of them might not know their numbers very well just based off their general appearance and likely intelligence, but then they don¡¯t need to know math to know that there¡¯s a lot more of them then there are of her and him. The spokesperson for the group lets out a bark of laughter.


    ¡°Hah! I don¡¯t think so, bitch. But hey, we¡¯ll give you a chance to take off that fancy gold armor and then get down on your knees and suck our cocks, and if you do a really good job, maybe we¡¯ll let you leave with your head still on your shoulders afterwards.¡±


    There¡¯s a pause in which Mikael finds himself admiring Thayla¡¯s restraint as the Knight of the Rose goes as still as a statue before finally answering.


    ¡°I refuse.¡±


    The spokesthug¡¯s ugly face gets uglier when he smiles at that.


    ¡°Hoped you would.¡±


    Then, he flicks his eyes towards Mikael.


    ¡°And you? You ain¡¯t no knight. She payin¡¯ you? Whatever it is, it ain¡¯t enough. Join us and you might not get the grand prize, but you¡¯ll keep yer life.¡±


    Mikael tilts his head to the side at that and considers the other man¡¯s words. He¡¯s been thinking about these eight men as thugs¡­ but he needs to adjust his thinking. They¡¯re probably not quite as piss poor at fighting as Tak and his friends were. Else they wouldn¡¯t have agreed to sign up for the Grand Melee in the first place. Sure, they¡¯re opportunists¡­ but that doesn¡¯t make them any less dangerous.


    Which is why Mikael doesn¡¯t respond with words. Instead, he launches himself forward with all the extra speed that the Soul Engine gives him, deciding to go on the attack before these bastards can do it instead.


    ¡°Wha-?!¡±


    His sword sinks into the throat of the spokesperson for the group of eight, silencing him with a gurgle. Mikael follows him down to the ground, feeling Thayla leaping to his side and knowing she¡¯ll have his back. And while he¡¯s down there with the dead man¡¯s body, their chests quite close together¡­ he sucks the bastard¡¯s soul right up, feeding on him and drawing in the excess energy.


    Bolstered by that power, Mikael is up on his feet a moment later, blocking a sword with his buckler while Thayla fights off several more of them on her side all on her own. Mikael would have loved to go back to back with her¡­ but the truth is, their fighting styles couldn¡¯t be more different. There¡¯s a reason that Mikael only has a buckler while Thayla¡¯s shield is larger and more encompassing. There¡¯s a reason that the Knight of the Rose is in full golden plate armor, while Mikael is in a mixture of metal and leather.


    Speed. To put it in vaguely remembered terms from his old life, Thayla is a tank. Mikael is a dps. And in a battle like this one, where this bout is but one small step in an entire chain of conflicts they¡¯re expected to not just take part in but win at¡­ Mikael takes his damage per second quite¡­ literally.


    He¡¯s goes for the next man faster than the poor fool can even blink and stabs him in the heart with enough force that his sword tears right through the leather jerkin. He rips it back out along with the soul, though this time the teal pull of energy is more noticeable as it floods into his chest. Noticeable enough in fact that¡­


    ¡°Spellcaster!¡±


    One of the other fighters calls out what Mikael is doing to his fellows¡­ only to die with a gurgle a moment later when Thayla takes advantage of his distraction to slip past his mediocre defenses and cut him down to size. And even hearing that Mikael is more than just a sword-and-board average warrior doesn¡¯t help the group of men who have decided he and Thayla are excellent targets. No, far from it.


    Over the next minute, they proceed to dismantle their enemies. Nothing that their attackers do helps them, not even trying to flee. Mikael supposes he could have spared some of their lives and let them retire from the battlefield¡­ but he was going to need all the juice he could get if he was going to overpower Zadicus. And the comments to Thayla had left them as acceptable targets in Mikael¡¯s mind.


    Afterwards, having sucked up eight more human-sized souls into the Soul Engine, Mikael is feeling spectacular. Physically speaking, anyways. Emotionally speaking, he looks out across the arena and sees a one-sided slaughter taking place. There are a couple of battles like his and Thayla¡¯s taking place here and there. It¡¯s a Free For All, so it¡¯s impossible to say that there are two sides and one is defeating the other or anything like that.


    But wherever he sees the much better armed and armored volunteers fighting the so-called ¡®criminals¡¯ that Zadicus rounded up for this spectacle, Mikael usually sees it only ending in one way. It makes his jaw clench, even as he shoots a glance up to the man himself, the cause of all of this. The Lord of the City isn¡¯t even looking Mikael¡¯s way. Just as Avina had said, Mikael¡¯s use of the Soul Engine hasn¡¯t registered as any more important than any of the other magical effects flying around the arena.


    In fact, right as he¡¯s thinking that, an explosion rocks the ground beneath his feet as the spellcaster from the bounty hunter team Thayla pointed out earlier fires off a massive ball of flames right into a concentrated mass of prisoners charging his group¡¯s position.


    The smell of burnt flesh on the wind and the screams filling Mikael¡¯s ears make him clench his jaw beneath his mask. For a moment, he can¡¯t bring himself to move. In the end¡­ in the end, he has to give in just a little bit. He can feel the dead men in his fractured mind reaching out to him, offering him succor. They¡¯ve all been in battles like this before, fragments that they are. Many of them died in battles like this.


    If Mikael wants to not just survive, but also win¡­ he¡¯ll need their expertise. Letting out an explosive breath, Mikael looks over to Thayla and gives her a nod. Then, side by side, the two of them wade back into the fighting.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 22: The Lords Ultimatum

    ¡°H-Hold! I surrender!¡±


    Mikael blinks, barely managing to stop before the tip of his blood-covered blade can go through the eye of the man he¡¯s currently holding by the front of his armor. For a second, he wonders if his opponent is trying to trick him¡­ but no, at the same time as he calls out his surrender, he also drops his weapon to the sand, lifting his hands up to show he¡¯s done.


    ¡­ The thing is, his current opponent is the leader of the bounty hunting group that Thayla had warned Mikael would be a chore to defeat back at the start of all of this. And yet¡­ here they are. Victory, achieved not at the end of Mikael¡¯s blade, but because the bounty hunter had just¡­ given up. It feels strange, and Mikael won¡¯t lie¡­ there¡¯s an urge to finish it on his terms anyways. It¡¯s just not HIS urge.


    Fighting back the impulse from the foreign entities in his head to stab forward, Mikael instead lets out an explosive breath and thrusts the man away from him, letting him land heavily on his ass in the sand. The bounty hunter grunts and then grabs his sword and quickly scrambles back. Rising to his feet, he sheathes his blade and looks around them, causing Mikael to do the same.


    The Grand Melee has been going on for a while now. An hour, maybe? Possibly even less. It might not seem like much, but arena fights were usually short, bloody affairs. Even a thousand man free for all wasn¡¯t going to last as long as say, an actual battle on an actual battlefield between two professional armies. It still felt like it¡¯d been an eternity and a half though. The fighting had been constant, and even now Mikael¡¯s blood was up, adrenaline and power pumping through his veins.


    Half of the group of bounty hunters are dead. Others have already retired from the field due to earlier injuries. The spellcaster had been Mikael¡¯s first target when he and Thayla had finally fallen upon the group, and he hadn¡¯t survived the initial encounter. But another one, a bow-wielder, was still alive, just downed with his bow shattered into pieces and a wound in his leg.


    Moving over to his comrade, the leader helps him to his feet and lets the archer sling his arm over his boss¡¯ shoulders. They look to Mikael then, with the leader¡¯s face twisting into something that¡¯s half-grimace, half-grin.


    ¡°You¡¯re a bastard of a fighter, whoever the fuck you are. I¡¯d say you were an orc with that monstrous strength and speed of yours, but you¡¯re missing two feet of height and a foot of width. Not to mention, you had enough of a mind left to show me mercy. This is your victory¡­ good luck with the rest of it.¡±


    Mikael watches as the bounty hunter and his friend limp off of the arena floor together, exiting through the volunteer gate manned by dozens of the City Guard. Plenty of prisoners had tried going through it to escape, but that hadn¡¯t gone well for them. As Zadicus had said, only the volunteers were allowed to leave. Everyone else was trapped.


    Though, Mikael had certainly learned that there was nuance to this whole steaming pile of shit over the course of the Melee. He and Thayla had done their absolute best to steer clear of the unarmed and unarmored ¡®criminals¡¯ that Zadicus had thrown into the Colosseum, but that hadn¡¯t stopped some of the criminals from coming after them.


    It was likely the same thinking that had led that first group of eight to try and go for him and Thayla first. They were only two people, seemingly operating in isolation from everyone else. And if those in chains could get access to better weapons, then they stood a better chance at surviving longer and possibly even winning.


    Not everyone that the Lord of Alether had tossed out onto the Colosseum Floor against their will were good, innocent folk. If there were around a hundred volunteer fighters, that meant there had to be around nine hundred criminals to reach Zadicus¡¯ desired one thousand person melee. And some of those criminals were actually criminals. Either the unlucky sort who had gotten rounded up alongside the innocent people in the last few days, or actual convicted criminals who had already been in Zadicus¡¯ prisons waiting for their fights in one of his many other arenas.


    Collecting hundreds of people in such a short amount of time¡­ it had quickly become apparent that Zadicus had tugged on every line he had in order to supply the Grand Melee with the numbers he wanted it to have.


    Meaning that some of the unarmed and unarmored fools that Mikael and Thayla found themselves sharing the arena floor with were not nice people. They weren¡¯t particularly smart people either, because they were very eager to spill his blood and do unspeakable things to Thayla. Or so they said. It wasn¡¯t like he or Thayla had given them much of an opportunity.


    In the end, even if there were nine criminals for every one volunteer, they were still all in the same situation he¡¯d been in when he was first thrust into this world. No armor. Chains locking together their wrists and their ankles. And shoddy excuses for weaponry. Honestly, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little bad, even with the ones who were trying their damnedest to kill him and take his shit.


    However, even if he felt some guilt over their fates¡­ it didn¡¯t stop him from doing what needed to be done. Nor did it stop him from activating the Soul Engine whenever he came across a dead body, regardless of whether it was a volunteer fighter or a ¡®criminal¡¯. If they were already dead¡­ well, it wasn¡¯t like they were using their souls anyways. And as Avina had always assured him, the energy he was accumulating would go back to the Weave eventually regardless of him¡­ reappropriating it for a second.


    That said, his Soul Engine was beginning to run hot. Really hot. This was hands down the most power that he¡¯d ever had at one time. It was a lot, and Mikael was only getting stronger and stronger as the Grand Melee drew on. Where even the most capable of warriors were starting to tire, growing exhausted from the constant combat, Mikael was the exact opposite. He only got more invigorated the more battles he won.


    Looking around himself for the next fight, Mikael jolts when he realizes how still the arena floor has gotten. There¡¯s Thayla nearby, like usual¡­ and nobody else. Nobody still fighting, anyways. Mikael and Thayla are the last two combatants standing. As they look at each other, this realization dawning on them both at around the same time, clapping suddenly sounds out from the Lord¡¯s Podium. Atop his platform, Zadicus uses his sound-enhancing magic to make his clapping resound throughout the entire Colosseum.


    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    Once all eyes are on him, the Lord of Alether grins a wicked grin.


    ¡°Well, well. It seems we only have TWO competitors remaining! What a MAGNIFICENT Grand Melee this has been! Doesn¡¯t everyone agree?!¡±


    There¡¯s a brief pause¡­ and then a smattering of clapping and cheering comes from the jampacked stands, mostly from the guards that Zadicus has in place to keep anyone from leaving. Many of the onlookers don¡¯t look all that happy. Perhaps because Zadicus has just forced them to watch their loved ones, friends, and neighbors get butchered on the sands of the Colosseum Floor.


    Narrowing his eyes, the scarred Lord sneers.


    ¡°I SAID, doesn¡¯t everyone agree?!¡±


    There¡¯s some jostling as guards prod people, until finally a true cheer starts up, a reluctant but forceful roar that shakes the Colosseum. Mikael and Thayla exchange another glance at that, even as Zadicus lets out a vicious laugh.


    ¡°Ahah! And to think, it would be the Dame and her hired help at that! Dame Dawnguard, a Knight of the Rose all the way from the Citadel, gracing our Grand Melee with her presence. And the man who she hired to watch her back. But has she bit off more than she could chew? It certainly doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s inclined to retire the field and give her the Grand Prize, now does it?! It looks as though we¡¯ll be having one last fight on our hands, ladies and gentlemen!¡±


    At Zadicus¡¯ words, Mikael and Thayla finally turn to face each other properly. Speaking in a quiet tone, Thayla gives Mikael an imperceptible nod.


    ¡°We have to make it look real.¡±


    Indeed they did. Mikael gives an imperceptible nod back in turn, before lifting his blood-drenched sword and buckler high, causing Thayla to gnash her teeth and cry out at him.


    ¡°Treacherous Brigand!¡±


    With that, the Knight of the Rose leaps forward, sword swinging down on him hard. She¡¯s not holding back, nor is she telegraphing her moves. If he didn¡¯t stop her, she would easily kill him¡­ again. However, this time around, things are very, very different. Mikael¡¯s buckler comes up and deflects Thayla¡¯s sword strike, even as his own sword comes in and she barely brings her shield up in time to block him. With that, battle is truly joined between the two of them.


    They have to make it look real, like Thayla said. Which means that Thayla can¡¯t hold back, not even a little bit. Mikael on the other hand¡­ he doesn¡¯t dare use his true strength, or else this battle would be over in an instant. He has to hide his true strength at this point, because at this point he doesn¡¯t even know how far his true strength goes.


    Luckily, he and Thayla have been sparring with each other every night for weeks now. Long enough that Mikael knows Thayla¡¯s strength, speed, and stamina fairly well. He might not know his upper limits at the moment, but he knows how to regulate his speed and the power behind his blows in order to match hers.


    Going at it, they dance around each other in the middle of the Colosseum, a hushed crowd watching them duel, seemingly to the death. To everyone else, perhaps it seems inevitable. And it is, really¡­ just not in the way they likely think it¡¯s inevitable. This bout between him and Thayla is as one-sided as the battle they had back when Mikael was first dragged into this world. This time, however, it¡¯s one-sided in HIS favor.


    To everyone else though, Zadicus hopefully included, their duel is one of strength and stalwart defense against speed and swiftness. Mikael darts around Thayla, using his mobility to dodge her strikes and his buckler to deflect the blows he seemingly can¡¯t slip away from. Meanwhile, Thayla sets her stance and refuses to yield an inch, her golden armor shining despite the splatters of enemy blood coating it from helm to boot.


    The goal is for them to seem evenly matched¡­ but the goal is also for one of them to win and get in to see Zadicus personally. And ultimately, that was always going to be Mikael. With a sudden burst of speed, he makes a grand show of using Thayla¡¯s own strength and armor against her, abruptly ducking down and sweeping her legs out from under her while she¡¯s mid-step.


    Thayla goes down hard, falling to her back in the middle of the sand as a loud gasp sounds out from the onlooking crowd. In an instant, Mikael has kicked Thayla¡¯s sword from her hand and is holding his own sword to her throat. Dead silence fills the air as everyone waits to see what he¡¯ll do next. After a beat, Mikael finally speaks, hoping that the gruff tone he gives himself, the distance between the two of them, and the metal mask he wears will keep Zadicus Quinn from recognizing his voice.


    ¡°Yield.¡±


    His modulated voice resounds out through the Colosseum for a moment before finally, Thayla nods.


    ¡°¡­ I yield.¡±


    Given the¡­ story that they¡¯re trying to spin of sorts, Mikael doesn¡¯t help her to her feet. After all, she did label him a ¡®traitorous brigand¡¯ before they began fighting. They¡¯d let everyone else put the pieces together and be proud of themselves for ¡®figuring it all out¡¯. Instead, Mikael turns away from her, turning his back on the Knight of the Rose and facing Zadicus up on his platform.


    The Lord of the City has a wide grin on his scarred face as he claps again, the sound amplified once more. Behind Mikael, he hears Thayla scramble to her feet, grabbing her sword and departing the field. It¡¯s just him standing there now. The last man standing, just as Zadicus had decreed it.


    ¡°Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! Well done, good sir, well done! To defeat Dame Dawnguard herself¡­ ah, well, I suppose she didn¡¯t see that coming, now did she?! Ahaha!¡±


    The smile doesn¡¯t quite reach Zadicus¡¯ eyes however, and Mikael suddenly feels a little concerned.


    ¡°You truly are a worthy victor of this Grand Melee. However¡­ there is one minor issue keeping me from naming you as our Champion. Just one small thing.¡±


    Mikael freezes in place, even as the Soul Engine thrums under his chestplate. Had the City Lord figured out who he was? Had they been wrong to think they could get anything past the man? Had he noticed Mikael¡¯s energy collection throughout the battle, and correctly deduced that it was Avina¡¯s work? Or had he managed to put two-and-two together and correctly deduce that Mikael had to be his faceless arsonist, burning down his warehouses and ruining his good name among merchants both local and foreign?


    Either way, if Mikael had been made, he would have to fight his way out. He had never been more powerful, but between the number of City Guards that were surrounding the Colosseum, as well as Bula and whatever other magics Zadicus himself could bring to bear, Mikael wasn¡¯t sure he liked his chances. Especially not when he¡¯d just had to beat his back-up black and blue to ¡®win¡¯ this damn thing in the first place.


    Still, he wasn¡¯t going to give up. He would-


    ¡°You see, my friend¡­ while you ARE the last man standing, you aren¡¯t the only living combatant left in the arena.¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael¡¯s racing mind skids to a stop as Zadicus¡¯ eyes, rather than focusing on HIM, instead gaze out across the arena floor. To the numerous criminals who, while defeated and definitely out of the fight with various types of injuries, are still alive.


    In that moment, even before Zadicus says it, Mikael realizes with dawning horror that the small-minded, short-sighted, and impulsive City Lord hasn¡¯t figured out who Mikael is at all. Not in any way, shape, or form. But that doesn¡¯t make it any better to hear the next words out of the bastard¡¯s mouth.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid there are still many, many surviving opponents between you and your prize, my friend! Clean up the riff-raff and we can discuss how you would like to receive your winnings.¡±


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 23: A Gladiators Defiance

    The silence is deafening as Zadicus¡¯ words hang over the Colosseum. The man himself spreads his arms wide, grinning like he didn¡¯t just order the execution of a couple hundred defenseless prisoners. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that the Lord of the City is grinning like he knows he can get away with the order he just gave.


    It makes Mikael sick to his stomach. Because technically, Zadicus is right. While Mikael is the last one standing, he¡¯s not the last one alive in the arena. There are still hundreds left. All of the volunteers have either quit the field or died at this point. Maybe a few of the unluckier ones who entered without any teammates are still there, just unconscious and slowly bleeding out. But the rest are gone.


    The same cannot be said for Zadicus¡¯ so-called ¡®criminals¡¯. While hundreds of them have been reduced to corpses, there are still plenty who draw breath. Some are dying even now. Some are merely unconscious, steadily baking under the harsh midday sun beating down overhead. But the vast majority are crowded against the walls of the Colosseum Floor.


    Those who weren¡¯t very smart tried to flee back the way they¡¯d come or through the volunteers¡¯ exit gates. The guards had rebuffed them one and all, and in some cases outright killed them if they persisted. But the rest had shied away from both the gates and the fighting and were simply curled up in various different fetal positions, trying to make themselves as small as possible to avoid being detected.


    Alas, their efforts had ultimately been in vain. Zadicus Quinn had initiated the day¡¯s events with the intentions of every single prisoner he sent out onto the field dying. And the fact that so many still lived, at least in part because of Mikael and Thayla¡¯s efforts to slay the more murderous and eviler of the volunteers¡­ well, it put quite the damper on Zadicus¡¯ plans.


    At least, that¡¯s what Mikael had to assume. The Lord of Alether did not seem to have any clue who Mikael was. Meaning that¡­ this was another example of Zadicus¡¯ short-sightedness at play. He¡¯d already gotten what he wanted. He could have declared the contest over, named Mikael the victor¡­ and then simply had the guards round up the surviving prisoners and reused them in his other arenas throughout the city until their lives were spent. Hell, he could have even garnered a modicum of good will among his subjects by letting the survivors go, Mikael supposed.


    He wasn¡¯t doing either of those things. Because he was petty and small-minded. He had already decided how today was going to go in his head. And the survivors didn¡¯t fit into his plan. So he was trying to force Mikael to clean up the ¡®mess¡¯ and finish the job in order to get his payday.


    Honestly, if Mikael had cared about the gold, maybe he would have done it. Even though he didn¡¯t care about the gold, he was still considering it. The plan was to get close to Zadicus. He had so much power swirling through the Soul Engine and his body that he figured he should be able to overpower Bula and force Zadicus to cough up the answers he sought, so long as he could get alone with the two of them.


    ¡­ But he doesn¡¯t move. Because even if he¡¯s told himself that he has to harden his heart, even if he¡¯s convinced himself that he needs to do whatever it takes to survive and reach Zadicus¡­ Mikael doesn¡¯t want to do this. Fuck, even most of the dead men in his head don¡¯t want to do this! There are a scant few of the darker urges that would love to murder innocents. They¡¯d revel in the bloodshed even.


    But far more of the memories that the evil scarred bastard up there forced into Mikael¡¯s mind are of soldiers and warriors. And as savage as some of those men might have been, they still had their own sense of honor. Honor that made it hard to stomach an order to kill a bunch of shackled opponents wielding wooden spoons and iron soup ladles.


    All in all, as Mikael sweeps his gaze around the arena in the wake of Zadicus¡¯ command, meeting the eyes of so many weary, cowering people, he doesn¡¯t see a single killer among them. And he should know, it takes one to know one after all.


    Jaw clenching beneath his mask, Mikael turns back to Zadicus, mind whirling with options. But before he can speak¡­


    ¡°Monster!¡±


    His head twitches, but even as his gaze moves in the direction he heard the voice, he can¡¯t make out who said it. The Colosseum¡¯s stands are packed to the brims with people, Zadicus¡¯ own doing to be sure. Whoever said it is hidden among the crowd. Indeed, even Zadicus can¡¯t seem to figure out who said it, his eyes narrowing into slits as he snarls and tosses a hand out in that direction.


    ¡°Guards!¡±


    It takes a moment for the City Guard to get moving and Mikael realizes as he watches them start to push through that section of the stands that it¡¯s not just because they have no clue who they¡¯re supposed to be arresting. For the first time¡­ Mikael sees reluctance in some of Alether¡¯s guardsmen. Their movements are slowed and measured, and their lack of enthusiasm is blatantly obvious to him.


    As he looks around at the rest of the arena, Mikael realizes that the Lord of Alether¡¯s latest order has finally begun to make even the City Guard second guess their loyalty.


    As the guards in that section of the stands put up a lackluster search for the dissenter, Zadicus turns his attention back to Mikael, sneering now.


    ¡°Well? What are you waiting for? The people of Alether are eager for a show! Kill them all!¡±


    And there it is. Spelled out in incredibly blunt terms. Before it was ¡®clean up the riffraff¡¯. Such a safe way of putting it. But finally, Zadicus has gone full mask off. Kill them all. And Mikael has to do it too, if he wants the plan to succeed. If he wants to get close enough to get to Zadicus without being swarmed by every guard in the city plus Bula, he needs to sell it.


    ¡­ Or does he? Looking around the Colosseum at the drawn, tired faces in both the stands AND on the arena floor, Mikael doesn¡¯t see the eagerness that Zadicus is espousing. He doesn¡¯t see a people thirsty for more bloodshed. They¡¯ve already had their fair share of that, especially when many of them clearly hadn¡¯t wanted to be here today in the first place.


    Watching Mikael walk around and stick his sword into the chests of hundreds of their defenseless loved ones, neighbors, and friends¡­ none of them have the stomach for it. So maybe they have the stomach for something else. Maybe now is the time to see if he can go about this another way.


    It would have been simpler to just do as Zadicus said. Would have been simpler to stick to the plan. But Mikael finds himself drawing a line in the sand all the same.


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°No.¡±


    His voice reverberates with the power of the Soul Engine. He does not yell. He does not quite shout. But every single person in the Colosseum hears what Mikael says all the same. Zadicus most of all. The scarred man¡¯s eyes widen and then narrow as his lips curl into a dissatisfied frown.


    ¡°No? What do you mean, no?¡±


    Lifting his sword and pointing it in the bastard¡¯s direction, Mikael snarls behind his mask.


    ¡°Are you not already entertained enough, Lord Quinn? Is this really how the Lord of Alether behaves?! Like a mad man and a tyrant, abusing his authority to the detriment of his subjects?!¡±


    Somehow, he felt like he¡¯d stolen that first line from somewhere. But no matter. See, Mikael has come to a realization in this moment. The dead men in his head¡­ they¡¯re all killers, yes. Soldiers, warriors, brigands, murderers. But some of them were more of that. Some of them were leaders. And those leaders had to give speeches.


    The memories of speeches before battle are far sparser than the memories of battle itself. Indeed, only a few fleeting snippets here and there. But Mikael tries to draw on that well of knowledge all the same, spinning around with his sword still lifted high.


    ¡°Does this man speak for you, People of Alether?! Is more bloodshed really what you wish to see?! Or has there been enough killing on this day?! The sand is stained with blood. The fighting is DONE. Am I your champion or aren¡¯t I?!¡±


    There¡¯s a brief beat of pregnant silence at that, and then¡­


    ¡°No more bloodshed!¡±


    ¡°Enough killing!¡±


    ¡°End the fighting!¡±


    ¡°Set the living free!¡±


    The words carry on the wind as protests and impassioned pleas explode out from the stands. Zadicus¡¯ decision to force over half of the city¡¯s population to attend his event has backfired. After all, if he¡¯d simply filled the stands with those who WANTED to be here, Mikael imagined he would have a lot less discontentment to work with.


    Then again, given how angry the people of Alether were with their Lord by this point, the stands might not have even been half full without Zadicus¡¯ seat-filling measures. Either way, the deed is done. The city guard is stretched thin trying to police this event as it is. There simply aren¡¯t enough of them to try and arrest and silence every single person speaking up at the moment.


    As their words slowly echo across the Colosseum, Mikael silently turns back towards the Lord¡¯s Podium where Zadicus looks positively incensed by this point. Still, surely the man has to see sense now. Surely even someone as small-minded as the Lord of Alether has proven to be MUST bow down to the pressure of an entire city, right?


    ¡°ENOUGH!¡±


    Amplified by magic once more, Zadicus¡¯ voice rockets throughout the Colosseum, cutting off the cries and impassioned pleas. As the crowds fall silent, Mikael frowns. Damn it, he¡¯d hoped that Zadicus had less of a hold on his people at this point then that. And yet¡­ fear was a powerful deterrent. It was hard for the people of Alether to stand up to the despot who had ruled over them for so many years. They needed a leader. An example to follow.


    Mikael supposed he would have to be that example. As Zadicus glares down at him, Mikael doesn¡¯t hesitate to throw the bastard¡¯s words back in his face.


    ¡°Enough is right, Lord Quinn! There has been enough bloodshed! If you want more innocents to die today, come down here and do it YOURSELF!¡±


    There¡¯s a palpable sense of anticipation at that. The crowd might have spoken up, but there¡¯s strength in numbers. And even then, most of them weren¡¯t speaking directly against Zadicus. Not like Mikael was now. He could feel the eyes of tens of thousands of people on him. In this moment, he was standing up to their tyrant of a Lord in a way no one had done before.


    Trying to shame the Lord of the City into submission hadn¡¯t worked. To be fair, appealing to Zadicus¡¯ better nature while also hoping to pressure him with the voices of his citizens had always been a long shot. The man was clearly a narcissist and a half, and so stuck in his ways it wasn¡¯t even funny. He was so dead set on this Grand Melee solving all his problems that he hadn¡¯t even realized he¡¯d already ruined it by this point by throwing the equivalent of a temper tantrum and failing to get Mikael to do his bidding.


    Even if Mikael died here and now, the Grand Melee will have had the opposite effect that Zadicus Quinn intended. Far from suppressing dissent, it will only ignite more of it. But all the same, Mikael had no intention of dying here. Instead, he was aiming for something¡­ else with his latest words. One last attempt at manipulating the small-minded Lord into doing what he wanted.


    For a moment, Mikael wonders if Zadicus will take him up on his offer. Or just throw the entire City Guard at him to get rid of the problem. Either would have thrown a wrench into Mikael¡¯s plan. It would have been harder to get what he wanted out of Zadicus if their confrontation took place right there on the arena floor.


    Meanwhile, facing down what might have been hundreds of guards¡­ well, Mikael suspects with the Soul Engine he could have eventually mowed through them. Or maybe they would have skewered him with so many blades he wouldn¡¯t have been able to move anymore, burying him in a veritable mountain of bodies.


    In the end though, Zadicus turns out to be predictable. In the end, at long last¡­ he gives Mikael exactly what he wants.


    ¡°So be it. Bula.¡±


    Immediately, the half-orc steps forward, eyes wide with feverish excitement, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Showing his prowess with summoning magic, Zadicus reaches out and brings forth her massive battle axe from seemingly nothing, dropping it from the air into her waiting palms. Then, he flicks his hand out towards the arena floor.


    ¡°Go down there and kill everyone still on the arena floor. Have fun with it, I couldn¡¯t care less.¡±


    He very clearly could have cared a LOT less, but it was all part of the pageantry. Of course, even Bula is fucking with Zadicus¡¯ showmanship today. The half-orc snorts, her eyes darting between the Lord of Alether and the Colosseum Floor.


    ¡°This a fight, boss?¡±


    Looking at her, the scarred man scowls for a moment.


    ¡°Yes, Bula. It¡¯s a fight. Now get down there.¡±


    Letting out a crow of victory, the half-orc flings herself from the Lord¡¯s Podium. It was a drop that would have killed a human for sure, or at least broken half the bones in their legs. But Bula lands in a crouch without issue, before straightening up and racing forward.


    Mikael is already moving to meet her of course, putting himself in between her and the hundreds of living souls huddled against the arena walls. Not that he thought Bula was planning on going after them first anyways. No, while he saw no recognition in her face yet, she only had eyes for him at the moment. In fact, as they get closer, she even lets out a bark of laughter and repeats herself from their second meeting.


    ¡°Thanks for this. I-!¡±


    However, she¡¯s cut off when her first swing with her axe is stopped dead in its tracks by Mikael reaching up and grabbing the weapon in the middle of its shaft between her hands. Bula¡¯s eyes widen at his strength, and then widen further when he cuts his sword right across her side, digging the blade deep into her flesh and making her choke on her own blood.


    The exchange lasts a second, and the half-orc stumbles forward when Mikael releases her axe and steps past her, flicking some of the blood from his sword out onto the sand. They both turn to face each other, Bula¡¯s wound already healing rapidly. But then, Mikael had anticipated as much. Half-orcs were hardy types. Not just the strength, stamina, and speed of ten men, but rapid regeneration that meant most wounds closed in moments instead of weeks.


    Meeting Bula¡¯s eyes through the slits in his mask, Mikael smiles a hidden smile.


    ¡°No, Bula. Thank you.¡±


    He sees her eyes widen in recognition then, even as he launches himself forward and forces HER on the defensive. This right here? A battle between him and Zadicus¡¯ Chief Enforcer? He couldn¡¯t have asked for a better opportunity if he tried. In the end, Zadicus Quinn had played right into Mikael¡¯s hands. Now he just had to take advantage of the bastard¡¯s stupidity.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 24: The Warrior Redux

    Mikael had briefly wondered at both of their previous meetings why Bula was dressed so¡­ scantily. Her armor could not be described as all-encompassing after all, not by a long shot. Of course, knowing what he knew about her gorget and its primary purpose as a slave collar, Mikael had assumed that the rest of it was Zadicus¡¯ doing as well. The white leotard, which provided absolutely no protection to the half-orc, seemed like the sort of thing the Lord of Alether might force Bula to wear.


    However, as they fight and her sole garment quickly gets stained with blood, Mikael starts to wonder if maybe Bula would have been happier fighting stark-naked. Maybe Zadicus HAD forced the half-orc to wear the leotard, but only because the only other choice was her walking around completely nude. She certainly didn¡¯t seem to mind being clad so scantily¡­ and she certainly didn¡¯t mind Mikael¡¯s blade digging into her flesh either.


    Bula was multitudes stronger than Thayla, obviously. But then, Mikael had known that going in. Half-orcs were said to have all of the strength of a normal orc and all of the intelligence of a human. But the regeneration¡­ that was something else. As Mikael cuts Bula, she heals far faster than he would have expected. Her blood splatters all over the arena floor, staining the already stained sand even further, but her injuries heal in real time right in front of his face.


    Narrowing his eyes, Mikael easily dodges another swing of Bula¡¯s axe, even as she growls and grunts. Those big blue eyes of hers are filled with recognition now. She knows who she is. Or at least, she knows him as ¡®the one who got away¡¯, as the arsonist behind Zadicus¡¯ unfortunate losses in the storage business. However, she hadn¡¯t stopped the fight in order to inform Zadicus of this fact.


    That was good, because Mikael¡¯s plan hinged on it being just him and her down here. For the moment, whenever he glances in the Lord of Alether¡¯s direction, Zadicus Quinn seems fairly confident still that Bula will prevail. That too is good, and it¡¯s the reason Mikael is still holding back a lot.


    Because yeah, Bula is strong. Yeah, she heals fast. But Mikael has absorbed the souls of hundreds of people. His Soul Engine is burning hot in his chest, but in a good way if that even makes sense. Power courses through his veins and he feels like he could rip this entire Colosseum down brick by brick if he really put his mind to it.


    But overconfidence could still be his undoing. And he doesn¡¯t want to have to kill a bunch of guards just to get to Zadicus. Hence, Plan B. Plan A was winning the Grand Melee so the Lord of the City would meet him alone with Bula by his side. With just the two of them, Mikael could have taken them on easily. But now that Zadicus, in his small-minded pettiness, has decided to push the issue regarding the survivors of the Grand Melee, Mikael has no choice but to pivot.


    ¡°Heh. You¡¯re faster. Stronger too.¡±


    Mikael snorts from behind his mask as Bula actually manages to speak in a reasonable tone. He¡¯s grateful that she¡¯s not shouting her words. They would have given too much away. Whipping himself under another powerful, air-splitting axe swing from the half-orc, Mikael buries his sword in her gut again, this time twisting it before tearing it out.


    Bula ROARS in pain and agony, and that roar echoes through the Colosseum. Zadicus flinches and the confident smile on his face drops for the first time. More importantly though, the audience is hanging off the edge of their seats, watching someone actually stand up to their despot of a Lord. They watch as Mikael and Bula fight¡­ and they watch as Mikael doesn¡¯t immediately lose.


    Of course, Mikael doesn¡¯t follow up. Bula throws out her axe to try and cut him down if he does, but he¡¯s already pulling away. Sure, he could have dodged her next wild swing and kept piling on the damage. Sure, he could have beaten her outright if he went all out. But he needs to prolong this. He needs to put on one last show. The most important show of his life.


    That¡¯s why, on his next pass, he lets Bula¡¯s axe finally find purchase in his flesh. A hush goes through the crowd as she slams the battle axe down onto his shoulder, crunching in the metal plate there and digging deep into his leather armor. Mikael grunts and allows himself to be driven to a knee as Bula grins the vicious grin of a battle junkie.


    He doesn¡¯t hold it against her. Not any of it. She¡¯s a bloodthirsty battle maniac who hasn¡¯t gotten enough fights because the piss poor excuse for a wizard up on the Lord¡¯s Podium tricked her into a disadvantageous contract. This and their fight at the warehouse were probably the most fun Bula had had in who knew how long.


    ¡°Mm. Good fight. You-!¡±


    Whatever harsh condolences she intended to give him as he died¡­ she doesn¡¯t get the chance. Because even as she¡¯s trying to yank her battle-axe back out of his flesh, Mikael snaps his hand up and grabs it by the haft again. Bula¡¯s blue eyes narrow as he pulls the axe back down, not letting her yank it free. He can¡¯t let her pull it out yet. It wouldn¡¯t send the right¡­ message.


    Instead, while Bula is trying to remove her weapon from Mikael¡¯s grip, what everyone else sees is Mikael slowly standing up while it SEEMS like all of her orcish strength is bearing down on him from above. What the crowds and the guards and Zadicus all see is Mikael rising back to his feet from his kneeling position, seemingly overcoming Bula¡¯s monstrous strength and the wound she¡¯s given him.


    And what they see, once he¡¯s risen to his feet once more, is Mikael being the one to yank her axe blade out of his flesh and his ruined armor and push her back. Bula stumbles backwards with wide eyes as Mikael¡¯s blood splatters across the sand in a wide arc from her battle axe. But the wound itself¡­ well, he might not know how Bula does it exactly, but he knows how he does it. It costs him a good amount of energy from the Soul Engine to heal his wound so fast but compared to how much power he¡¯s currently holding onto, it¡¯s a pittance.


    More than that though, it¡¯s worth it to see the look on Bula¡¯s face as she sees how fast he¡¯s healed. The look on Zadicus Quinn¡¯s face is pretty damn priceless too.


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re like me.¡±


    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    Mikael doesn¡¯t quite know what she means by that, but he shakes his head all the same.


    ¡°No. I¡¯m better.¡±


    As expected, such words go a long way to bringing Bula back to the battle at hand. Her wide eyes narrow again at the disrespectful confidence in his tone, and she huffs as she snarls, showing off her tusks. Her sharp, knife-like ears twitch atop her head¡­ the only warning Mikael gets before the red haired half-orc launches herself forward.


    To the shock of everyone watching the battle, Mikael meets her charge in an entirely unexpected way. Namely¡­ he drops his sword. It falls from his fingers right as Bula is bearing down on him, but while there are gasps of shock and cries of dismay from everyone in the stadium, the half-orc doesn¡¯t hesitate. He wonders what they think is happening. They probably can¡¯t see that he¡¯s healed as fast as he did. Bula and Zadicus both noticed.


    Though, in the moment before Bula brings her axe down, Mikael sees a fresh grin on Zadicus¡¯ face. Perhaps the up-jumped City Lord thinks that Mikael¡¯s healing is only surface deep and his sword arm has suddenly stopped working or something. Alas¡­ that¡¯s not the case. The brand new grin on Zadicus Quinn¡¯s face freezes in place when Mikael once again catches Bula¡¯s overhead swing on the haft of her axe before the blade can strike him.


    To her credit, Bula is ready for it this time. She steps in the moment he does it and aims a quick kick to the inside of his leg, attempting to break his footing and bring him to the ground where she can wail on him to her heart¡¯s content. A great idea¡­ he¡¯d go ahead and steal it from her then.


    Easily dodging the sharp kick, Mikael grabs hold of Bula¡¯s axe with his other hand as well¡­ and then wrenches. Bula grunts in surprise as he tears her weapon from her grasp, displaying far greater strength than her and wresting the battle axe free in front of everyone watching. The Colosseum is packed with tens of thousands of people thanks to Zadicus Quinn¡¯s vanity¡­ and every single one of them see the Lord¡¯s Chief Enforcer get disarmed in that moment.


    Rather than use Bula¡¯s own weapon against her however, Mikael tosses it away¡­ and tackles Bula onto her back. The half-orc goes down with a surprised shout as Mikael slams a gloved fist right into her face hard enough to break her nose. She heals from it almost immediately of course but doesn¡¯t recover fast enough to stop the second punch.


    This right here is the crux of Plan B. He can feel everyone¡¯s eyes on him. That¡¯s good. But he has to be careful. Too short, and Bula recovers enough to fight back while he¡¯s doing what he needs to do. Too long and Zadicus likely starts throwing magic around or calls in the guards to put Mikael down. In the end, he settles for a dozen walloping punches to Bula¡¯s head, leaving the half-orc with glazed over blue eyes and a dazed and confused expression on her face.


    She¡¯ll heal, he figures. But not soon enough. He could have killed her right then and there. He could have cut her head from her shoulders with her own axe, or his sword. Both were close enough for him to get them and come back before she could recover.


    But Bula¡¯s death was never part of Plan B. No, she was much more useful to him alive. As evidence.


    Before anyone can really react, Mikael reaches down and grabs the enchanted gorget around Bula¡¯s neck, upper chest, and shoulders. He grabs it¡­ and he begins to pull. Immediately, he feels resistance. More resistance than he¡¯d felt when fighting against Bula¡¯s physical strength, even. There¡¯s a lot of fucking magic in the heavy, incredibly thick slave collar that the half-orc is wearing. Magic that fights its removal every step of the way.


    There¡¯s a chance that this will actually kill Bula¡­ but having seen how tough she is and how fast she heals, Mikael figures she¡¯ll be alright. Probably. Either way, he doesn¡¯t stop. He burns through the energy in his Soul Engine as fast as he needs to¡­ and he keeps. Fucking. Pulling.


    ¡°GUARDS, STOP-!¡±


    With a roar of defiance and rage that reverberates through the entire Colosseum, Mikael cuts Zadicus off. The explosion of magical energy as he tears Bula¡¯s collar off of her probably also helps to silence the shocked Lord of Alether. Only too late had Zadicus realized what Mikael was doing. Only too late had the City Lord realized he was about to be exposed.


    Holding Bula¡¯s slave collar up in two ripped pieces in his hands, Mikael looks down and sees the half-orc¡¯s eyes refocusing just in time to glance down at the magical contract that was literally branded into her flesh. Mikael can¡¯t say for certain how it works, but if he had to guess, he¡¯d assume the contract was written in magical runes on the inside of the gorget, and then placed upon Bula, literally branding it into her flesh and tying it to her person.


    Of course, now that the gorget is shattered, the contract flakes off of Bula¡¯s body, the magic broken. Her flesh heals rapidly, the branding disappearing in mere moments. She¡¯s free.


    As Bula stares down at herself with wide eyes, Mikael rises to his feet and lifts the collar up, slowly turning in a circle to regard the people of Alether.


    ¡°IS THIS YOUR LORD, PEOPLE OF ALETHER?! A COWARD WHO HIDES BEHIND HIS SLAVE?! A MONSTER WHO STEALS YOUR LOVED ONES FROM THEIR HOMES TO THRUST INTO HIS SICK GAMES?!¡±


    His voice rings out through the Colosseum. Everyone has seen it. Honestly, Mikael hadn¡¯t been counting on the contract being so visible. But this works. Plan B has gone better than he could have hoped. There¡¯s just one last step and it¡¯s one Mikael can¡¯t take alone. Beating Bula up was Phase One of Plan B. But turning the Colosseum Audience against Zadicus at long last¡­ that was Phase Two.


    There¡¯s a brief pause¡­ and then someone cries out.


    ¡°Fuck no!¡±


    ¡°Monster!¡±


    ¡°Murderer!¡±


    ¡°DOWN WITH ZADICUS QUINN!¡±


    The stadium begins to fill with more and more voices. Mikael can see some of the City Guard even joining in. The others have faces white as ghosts as they look around, trying to figure out who the fuck they¡¯re supposed to arrest first. The smartest ones quickly realize how outnumbered they are and begin to quietly disappear from the stands.


    Meanwhile, Mikael slowly turns back around and looks up at the Lord¡¯s Podium where Zadicus Quinn stands, his crime of slavery laid bare before everyone. Maybe he would have gotten away with it if they¡¯d gone through the proper channels. After all, as Lord of Alether, he was part of the proper channels. But the court of public opinion was another thing entirely.


    The sound of a scuffle draws Mikael and Zadicus¡¯ eyes over to the same part of the stands. They watch together as a group mob the guards in that section and take their weapons. It¡¯s only the first of many. The rioting has already started. The people are fed up and have had enough. When Mikael finally looks back to Zadicus¡­ the Lord doesn¡¯t even glance his way. He just turns and hurries off of the platform, vanishing down a passage and fleeing from the scene.


    Mikael grits his teeth, prepared to go after him, but before he can do so, Bula rises to her feet in front of him. As expected, the half-orc had healed fast and whatever backlash she might have experienced from having her slave collar forcibly removed isn¡¯t enough to keep her down for long. Mikael tenses for a moment, not sure whether to anticipate a thank you or an attack from the bloodthirsty woman.


    But as she shakes off the last bits of metal from the destroyed gorget Zadicus had her in, Bula graces Mikael with a savage grin and brings her fists together, slamming her knuckles hard enough to make them bleed for a moment.


    ¡°Well? What are we waiting for? We going to go and kill that bastard or not?¡±


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 25: Regrouping

    ¡°Sir Mikael, over here!¡±


    The city is on fire when he and Bula make their way out of the Colosseum. Not literally just yet, but figuratively speaking, the fighting has already spilled out onto the streets and the people of Alether are in full revolt against their Lord and his army of goons.


    Unfortunately, by the time he and Bula had made it to the Lord¡¯s Podium by taking the long way around, they hadn¡¯t seen a single glimpse of Zadicus Quinn. Mikael almost wished he¡¯d tried to leap up onto the platform from the arena floor so he could maybe have caught the bastard before he slipped away, but he hadn¡¯t been sure that Bula could follow, not with her still slightly dazed from the concussion he gave her and the after-effects of the way in which he¡¯d shredded her slave collar and magical contract.


    As a result, Zadicus was in the damn wind and Mikael wasn¡¯t entirely sure where to go next. Fortunately, the moment that he and Bula hit the streets, a familiar voice called out to him, identifying him in a way that only one person had so far. Rushing over to where Thayla is stood over near the entrance of an alleyway, Mikael steps into the alley with Bula at his heels, even as Thayla leads them to a veiled woman who can only be one person.


    Avina confirms it a moment later when she flips back the veil to reveal her face and then lunges forward, grabbing him by his chestplate.


    ¡°You i-idiot! What were you thinking?!¡±


    Mikael blinks, preparing to ask for clarity. But before he can Avina grabs him by the front of his armor, looking like she''s ready to pull him into a surprisingly desperate kiss. Then she notes the fact that he''s still wearing his mask and her face scrunches up in consternation. Had she been that worried about him? He wasn¡¯t entirely sure why. He was never actually in any danger. Thanks to her and her Soul Engine, Mikael was the most dangerous thing in the Colosseum today. And he¡¯d proved it over and over again.


    Still, he¡¯s not going to turn down a kiss. He''s just about to pull off his mask right then and there, when his Soul Mechanic abruptly changes course and starts working open the straps on his armor.


    ¡°Err¡­ Avina, this really doesn¡¯t seem like the time¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m checking on the Engine!¡±


    Oh. Actually, that made a lot more sense. Mikael flushes at the misunderstanding, not really sure why his mind went there of all places at a time like this. Indeed, the sounds of civilians clashing with guardsmen and angry rioters running through the streets fills the air all around them. Now is not the time for any hanky panky, that¡¯s for sure.


    Getting his chestplate off of him, Avina pulls open his shirt to reveal that the device embedded in his chest is glowing so brightly that it causes the entire alleyway to be awash with teal light. Bula¡¯s eyes widen from off to the side when she sees it, and she looks at Avina in a new light.


    ¡°Huh. I¡¯d wondered how you survived. She¡¯s the one the bastard¡¯s been trying to hunt down all sly like.¡±


    Avina scowls but doesn¡¯t give Bula the time of day. The Soul Mechanic is already completely focused on Mikael and his Soul Engine, checking it over and peering at it closely. She doesn¡¯t have time for outside distractions, even ones that are shaped like Zadicus¡¯ half-orc bodyguard. Thayla on the other hand frowns at the half-orc, placing herself between Bula and the two of them.


    ¡°What are your intentions now that Sir Mikael has freed you? You owe him a debt of gratitude. Will you pledge yourself to his service?¡±


    Mikael winces at Thayla¡¯s sharp, cutting tone. But he doesn¡¯t speak up, because rather than get upset, Bula tosses him an amused glance before snorting derisively at the Knight of the Rose.


    ¡°Not big on debts right now. Or pledges. Or contracts.¡±


    Thayla flushes at Bula¡¯s deadpan tone. Letting out a grunt, the half-orc tilts her head back and thrusts out her chin.


    ¡°But killing Zadicus Quinn? Aye, I¡¯m all for that.¡±


    For a moment, Thayla looks indecisive, almost like she wants to push for more. But before she can, Avina finally pulls back from Mikael¡¯s chest and scoffs.


    ¡°That¡¯s all well and good. I¡¯m sure we¡¯d all like to get a chance at Zadicus now. But the likelihood of that happening has dropped to zero, hasn¡¯t it?¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael furrows his brow in consternation, even as Avina pats the Soul Engine and gives him a smile.


    ¡°It¡¯s taking to this level of power better than I thought it would. So are you, Mikael. I think it probably has to do with you being a Summoned Hero. The old legends said that Summoned Heroes were like sponges. If they lasted long enough, they inevitably became powerhouses each in their own right. But I think out of all of them, you¡¯ve taken it the most literally. You¡¯ve become an actual sponge, absorbing all of that excess soul energy.¡±


    Well now. That was good to hear, but it was distracting from the issue at hand. Nodding to make it clear to Avina that he¡¯s hearing her loud and clear, Mikael nevertheless changes the subject back to the important thing.


    ¡°What do you mean by what you said before Avina? That our chances of getting to Zadicus have dropped to zero?¡±


    Letting out a sigh, Avina looks towards the mouth of the alley. All around them, fighting can be heard. The people of Alether are taking their city back¡­ or at least, that¡¯s what Mikael is hoping anyways. Truthfully, he has no clue whether this will be good for Alether or not. The line between revolution and riot is a thin one, isn¡¯t it? When the dust settles, how many people will be dead?


    Though, one thing is certain¡­ after all is said and done, they¡¯ll be better off without Zadicus Quinn as their ruler. Mikael has to believe that. But for that to even be possible in the first place, the bastard has to be deposed. And Mikael very much wants to be the one to do it, for obvious reasons. If anyone else gets to him before they do, there might not be enough left of the evil wizard for Mikael to get what HE wants.


    ¡°¡­ He¡¯ll have retreated to the Lord¡¯s Tower in the center of the city by this point. I didn¡¯t mention it before because it wasn¡¯t supposed to be relevant. Basically, every city in Ocreatha is built around a Lord¡¯s Tower. Alether is no different. Each Lord¡¯s Tower is warded with powerful magical protections that are centuries old. And they¡¯re centuries old because they¡¯re just that strong. Nothing anyone has come up with in hundreds of years can break through them.¡±


    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    Avina points and Mikael follows her finger, her words washing over to him as he sees the pinnacle of a large tower he¡¯d noticed before. Just as he¡¯s looking at it however, the top of the tower, a large shimmering gem, suddenly glows and massive waves of magical force flow down from it, covering the tower and disappearing out of view behind the building that stands between them and the rest of the structure.


    ¡°There it is. He¡¯ll be holed up there and now that the protections are active, it¡¯ll be largely impenetrable. On the plus side, by activating those protections, he¡¯s automatically alerted the rest of the Lord¡¯s Towers across Ocreatha. Meaning that the Council of Lords now knows something is going on. He won¡¯t be able to hide this from them, and when they find out that he¡¯s fucked up badly enough to put the city in open revolt against him, they¡¯ll probably send a force to remove him from power themselves.¡±


    That sounded good, but obviously it was only good if one ignored the fact that Mikael needed to get to Zadicus personally. Avina¡¯s shoulders slump, making it clear that she at least understands the issue here. Zadicus might be ultimately brought to justice, with the Council of Lords being forced to make an example of him when they find out everything that happened. But justice was never the primary goal. Mikael wanted his memories back. He wanted to go home. Both were things Zadicus couldn¡¯t do for him if he was languishing in some prison cell or worse, executed before Mikael could talk to him.


    ¡°¡­ Shit.¡±


    Avina just nods, before slumping back against the alley wall with a huff. The Soul Mechanic looks surprisingly defeated. Though she also keeps glancing at his Soul Engine, seeming quite pleased with how well her invention had performed.


    ¡°Hmph. I see no problem here.¡±


    Mikael, Avina, and Thayla¡¯s eyes all snap to Bula at those words. The half-orc lifts her bared shoulders and then brings them down in a shrug as she grunts.


    ¡°Bastard Lord has holed himself up in Tower, yes? Put protections in place so none can get to him. None but us, that is.¡±


    Furrowing his brow, Mikael feels a spark of hope ignite in his chest.


    ¡°Bula¡­ what are you saying?¡±


    Grinning savagely, the half-orc lifts her battle axe up off her shoulder, hoisting it in both hands.


    ¡°Bastard Lord taught me quite a bit. Showed me even more. More than he thought he was teaching me. More than he thought he was showing me. I know a way in to Lord¡¯s Tower that goes past defenses. A way that goes under them.¡±


    Bula¡¯s grin feels infectious, because Mikael can feel one growing on his face as well as she speaks. It seemed that freeing the half-orc was already beginning to pay dividends.


    ¡°And how can we trust you, exactly? After all, you signed on with Zadicus willingly. All we have is your word that he ¡®tricked¡¯ you into that contract of yours.¡±


    Avina¡¯s voice cuts through the growing excitement like a knife and Mikael looks at the freckled young woman askance. She really wanted to go there. Fortunately, Bula seems incapable of taking offense. Or maybe she¡¯s just in such a good mood that she can¡¯t bring herself to get angry right now. The half-orc lets out a bark of laughter at Avina¡¯s accusation, shaking her head.


    ¡°Hah! I¡¯m not the kind to stab you in the back, little human. This one¡­ Mikael was it? He laid it out quite plainly the first time we fought. Zadicus Quinn never intended to let me live to see the end of my contract. He would have made sure I died while I was still under his control, rather than let me be free. That much is plain to see at this point. So rest assured¡­ I don¡¯t intend to let him live to see the end of this day.¡±


    Nodding, Avina seems to appreciate Bula¡¯s conviction¡­ but she¡¯s not done prodding the half-orc, it would seem.


    ¡°I believe that you¡¯re prepared to kill Zadicus. But are you equally prepared to let him live?¡±


    Bula¡¯s brow furrows for the first time at that, even as Avina waves a hand in Mikael¡¯s direction.


    ¡°We need to take Zadicus alive so he can help Mikael here. The Lord of the City is the only person in all of Ocreatha, if not all of Vaclatora, who can possibly help Mikael.¡±


    Right. Bula still didn¡¯t know his true identity. Zadicus didn¡¯t either, which was something Mikael was more than happy to have in his back pocket going into this final battle against the bastard of a wizard. But still¡­ reaching up, he pulls away the metal mask covering his features, letting Bula see his face.


    The half-orc peers at him curiously for a moment before her blue eyes widen in recognition. Then, she glances to Avina.


    ¡°Oh-ho. Summoned Hero. That¡¯s what you said earlier. Hah! The bastard lord was fucking angry when he thought one of his other underlings lost this one¡¯s body! But here he is, alive once more¡­ and all because of you. Oh, the look on his face is going to be great¡­¡±


    It probably would be. Still¡­ Avina had a point.


    ¡°Bula. I need Zadicus to return my memories. And I need to tell him what condition he set when he summoned me so I can fulfill it and return home. Can I count on you to stay your hand and let him live long enough to get the answers I seek? Avina is right that I need him alive for at least a little while longer¡­ and possibly a lot longer depending on what condition he set.¡±


    Mikael didn¡¯t know what he would do if the condition Zadicus had set was something like ¡®ensure Zadicus Quinn lives a long, happy life¡¯. That would be¡­ an issue. But Mikael was willing to cross that bridge when he got to it. Or burn it to the ground. One or the other.


    Still, he watches Bula carefully, wanting to make sure she¡¯s fully on board. To be fair, he doesn¡¯t think the half-orc has a deceptive bone in her body. Especially with how long she¡¯s having to think about it. Finally though, Bula nods sharply.


    ¡°Aye. You can count on me. Freed me and spared me, didn¡¯t you? I might not be in the mood for pledges of service¡­ but I can do this much for you at least. Whatever happens after¡­ well, we¡¯ll figure that out when we get there, won¡¯t we?¡±


    They would indeed. Giving Bula a thankful smile, Mikael places his metal mask back over his face and then straps his chestplate back on over the Soul Engine. The others check their own gear and get ready to move out as he readies himself. In short order though, they¡¯re all good to go. With a grunt and a simple jerk of her head telling them to follow, Bula leads them out into the streets of a city in turmoil.


    Luckily, they don¡¯t look like City Guards, but they DO look way too well-armed for most people to fuck with them. A few recognize Bula as Zadicus¡¯ bodyguard, but none want to tangle with a half-orc wielding a massive fuck-off battle axe. A couple of guardsmen try to conscript Bula into whatever defense they¡¯re attempting to mount while their boss hides in his tower, but Bula just laughs and punches their lights out. Honestly, Mikael feels like she shows surprising restraint in doing so.


    Eventually, they dip down off of the streets into a nondescript cellar. And then, much to all of their amazement, Bula leads them into the sewers. None of the three of them say anything, but a quick glance at Avina shows that she¡¯s quite annoyed to discover that they were literally using the same network as the secret entrance into the Lord¡¯s Tower. Still, it made sense. Even a magical, centuries-old tower needed to have access to the sewers, right?


    Soon enough, true to Bula¡¯s word, they come up inside of the Lord¡¯s Tower in spite of the magical barrier blocking access from above. Seems like a massive oversight to Mikael, but then, he supposed a Lord in question might want an escape route all the same.


    The Tower itself is very sparsely populated. There¡¯s one or two guards who apparently made it inside before the protections went up, but they¡¯re easy enough to take down. And with Bula leading the way, they can avoid any of the traps and pitfalls meant for would-be thieves.


    Ascending the Tower is a walk in the park. But then they come to the top, where a pair of large double doors stand between them and their quarry. Mikael can feel it in his bones, thrumming right alongside the Soul Engine through his veins. Zadicus Quinn is on the other side of those doors. And who knows what sort of bullshit the evil wizard has cooked up?


    But he refuses to let that stop him. It¡¯s finally time. Time to get his mind put back straight. Time to get answers. Time for the Lord of Alether to pay for what he did.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 26: Zadicus Fucking Quinn

    Mikael is more than ready to kick in the large double doors and lay down a can of whoop ass on Zadicus fucking Quinn. However, right before he can, he notices something. The doors aren¡¯t locked. How can he tell? Well, there¡¯s a simple, easy trick to checking that sort of thing you see. Namely, the fact that one of the doors is actually half an inch ajar makes it clear that they aren¡¯t locked.


    Blinking at the sight, Mikael looks to the others and brings a finger to his lips. Then, he creeps forward and slowly pushes the door open. Its large and heavy, but with the amount of strength he¡¯s packing right now, it doesn¡¯t prove to be all that resistant. Best of all, it doesn¡¯t even creak as he slips into the Lord¡¯s Quarters undetected.


    ¡°-telling you, I need assistance! The city is in open revolt against me! This is a plot by the Zuverian Empire to swoop in and take control of Alether, I swear it! That bitch Dawnguard brought some sort of heavy ringer in and has completely turned the city¡¯s populace against their rightful Lord!¡±


    Mikael blinks as he sees Zadicus looming over a skull of all things on the far side of the room. Has the Lord of Alether gone insane? Has his mind shattered because he can¡¯t comprehend why he¡¯s lost control of his city so readily? And what was all that nonsense about Thayla and the Zuverian Empire trying to take over Alether? Oh sure, Thayla WAS in on it all¡­ but Zuveria had nothing to do with it. This was personal. And completely of Zadicus¡¯ own doing.


    Just as Mikael is contemplating all of this and considering how to best initiate ¡®negotiations¡¯ with the City Lord¡­ the skull suddenly lights up, its eye sockets glowing with unholy energy as it speaks right back at Zadicus in a garbled, heavily modulated voice.


    ¡°Have you located your charge yet, Mister Quinn?¡±


    Mikael exchanges confused looks with the other members of his group, even as Zadicus freezes in place for a moment before scowling angrily down at the skull.


    ¡°What?! No! I already told you, I think she left the city! If she were still here in Alether, I would have found her by now! But that¡¯s besides the point. I¡¯m telling you that a chunk of Ocreatha is about to be annexed by the Zuverian Empire and you¡¯re still focused on that damn bitch!¡±


    There¡¯s a brief pause, and then the skull lights up again.


    ¡°It pains me to see that you think you can lie to me, Mister Quinn. After all this time, one would think that you would know better. The situation in Alether has nothing to do with the Zuverian Empire. The Knight of the Rose within your walls acts without the knowledge of her Nation AND her Order. The people of Alether have turned against you because of your own inability to lead them.¡±


    Zadicus blanches as the garbled, modulated voice on the other end of the skull-like communication device lays out his failures in a succinct, deadpan fashion.


    ¡°That¡¯s not-!¡±


    ¡°Goodbye, Mister Quinn.¡±


    A moment later, the skull¡¯s eyes glow even brighter. Then, it fractures, seemingly of its own accord. And then it begins to compress in on itself, experiencing a small implosion that leaves behind nothing but dust. Zadicus stares at the empty space on his desk where the skull sat for a long moment in disbelief and shock.


    THUNK.


    And then he looks up, because Bula has just let the head of her battle axe sink into the floor of his quarters, drawing his attention their way. Mikael supposes he shouldn¡¯t be surprised that the half-orc had reached the limits of what constituted as ¡®stealth¡¯ for her. In the end, stealth and Bula just didn¡¯t fit together in the same sentence, did they?


    Still, Zadicus¡¯ eyes widen at the sight of them all standing there. In fact, they grow progressively wider as he registers each individual person. First Mikael, who he has nothing but hatred and general anger in his gaze for. Then Thayla, much the same. Bula, who he has the gall to look betrayed by of all things. And finally¡­


    ¡°Avina¡­¡±


    Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic is the shortest of their group, so it¡¯s not surprising she¡¯s the last to be noticed. Still, the look Zadicus gives her is a mixed bag to be sure. Mikael thinks he detects incredulity right alongside anger and befuddlement. He also looks down at the dust in front of him almost longingly, as though he would give anything to have the skull back in this moment.


    But no matter how long he stares at the spot where the skull once sat, it does not return. In the end, the Lord of Alether throws his head back and laughs.


    ¡°Fuck me! Just my luck, isn¡¯t it?! I get thrown to the curb because I can¡¯t find one stupid bitch¡­ and just as they wash their hands with me, you turn up right before my eyes!¡±


    What? Mikael throws a glance at Avina, who has gone stiff at Zadicus¡¯ words. It¡¯s obvious that whatever he¡¯s going on about is news to her. Glaring daggers at him, the freckled Soul Mechanic steps forward with a growl.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be repaying anymore of your oh-so-generous loan, Quinn. Regardless of exactly who controlled the purse strings.¡±


    Zadicus blinks for a moment and then lets out another derisive laugh. It¡¯s the kind of laugh that makes Mikael want to punch the other man¡¯s face in. Or maybe that¡¯s just Zadicus in general. Who can say?


    ¡°Stupid girl! The loan was never the point! It was just a lever to control you with. Fuck, you¡¯ve really made a mess of things, Avina.¡±


    Before Avina can demand clarification, Thayla steps forward, lifting her sword and pointing it at Zadicus.


    ¡°Zadicus Quinn. You are accused of numerous crimes. Abuse of the Summoned Hero Ritual! Utilization of Memory Alteration Magics! Slavery! Mistreatment of your citizens! The evidence against you is ironclad so I will not ask how you plead. Surrender now and prepare to stand trial for your actions!¡±


    Looking equal parts amused and irritated, the scarred City Lord shakes his head.


    ¡°So you figured it out, huh? What? Did Avina tell you? Is that why you two are working together? I sent you after her for the express purpose of driving her further into my arms and now look at you both. Thick as thieves. But if you knew the sorts of things she¡¯s gotten up to¡­¡±


    Zadicus trails off there, clearly trying to sow division in their ranks. Mikael isn¡¯t having any of it though. Enough of this fucking bastard talking out his ass. Mikael wanted answers, and he wanted them now. Stepping forward, he rips the mask off of his face and glares Zadicus¡¯ down.


    ¡°She learned it all straight from the source, Quinn. She learned it all from me.¡±


    For a moment, Zadicus just stares at him blankly. Then, his eyes sharpen in recognition and he lets out a noise of disbelief. His gaze snaps from Mikael to Avina and a laugh of disbelief leaves his startled lips.


    ¡°You stole the body. You know I had that old drunk killed for his ¡®fuck up¡¯? And all this time¡­ it was you.¡±


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Thrusting her chin out, smiling confidently, Avina nods.


    ¡°Yes. It was me.¡±


    There¡¯s a beat of silence as Zadicus just looks at them all. However, Mikael feels a pit developing in his gut as he realizes the Lord of Alether doesn¡¯t look nearly as afraid of them as he should. In fact, he looks surprisingly at ease despite facing down their combined might. The reason why becomes apparent a moment later when his eyes dart to Thayla¡¯s raised sword and he scoffs.


    ¡°Enough of this.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as an unbelievable pressure suddenly drops down onto his shoulders with a wave of Zadicus¡¯ hand. And he¡¯s not the only one either. A grunt from Bula, a sharp exhale from Thayla, and a cry from Avina alert him to the fact that all three women are experiencing the exact same thing. More than that, they all go crashing down to their knees from the pressure, Bula included. She¡¯s only driven to one knee, while Thayla is forced to both. Avina though is clearly faring the worst as she¡¯s pushed to both her hands and her knees.


    He¡¯s the only one left standing, frozen in place as Zadicus gives him a curious look but ultimately smiles all the same.


    ¡°Did any of you stop to think this through? Confronting a Lord in his own Tower? Just because you got past the barrier doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m defenseless. In fact¡­ here, out of everywhere in the city, I¡¯m at my strongest. You cannot kill me here. You cannot even touch me. You-!¡±


    He cuts himself off¡­ because Mikael has suddenly taken a step forward. The smile drops from Zadicus¡¯ face and his brow furrows in consternation. A redoubling of the pressure that the Lord of Alether is exerting falls upon Mikael¡¯s shoulders¡­ but it¡¯s not enough. Because Mikael is calling upon all of the power in the Soul Engine right now. He¡¯s burning through energy like never before. He consumed hundreds of human souls down in the Colosseum, and now he¡¯s burning through dozens each moment.


    ¡°M-Mikael¡­ t-the ring!¡±


    Avina¡¯s pained words manage to reach his ears from behind him. And Mikael sees it as he takes another step forward. The hand Zadicus is waving¡­ it has a ring on it. One with a glowing gem set into the filigree. The Lord of Alether waves the hand at him again, but Mikael just grits his teeth¡­ and lunges forward, bringing his sword up in a flash and a truly herculean feat of effort.


    A sharp cry rings out through the Lord¡¯s Quarters as a finger goes flying through the air with a ring attached to it. Zadicus Quinn drops to his knees, cradling his injured hand in shock and pain as blood pours from the stump left behind by his missing digit.


    Mikael can¡¯t bring himself to care though. Moving in, he grabs the bastard of a wizard by the front of his robes and points the tip of his sword at Zadicus¡¯ throat, right under his chin. The City Lord goes still at that, eyes focusing up on Mikael¡¯s face.


    ¡°No more tricks. No more games. You¡¯re going to go with Thayla quietly and admit your wrongdoing and crimes to whoever she brings you to, you bastard. If not, we¡¯ll let Bula have you. But first¡­ first you¡¯re going to fix me.¡±


    Zadicus blinks at that, looking baffled by the demand.


    ¡°¡­ Fix you?! Avina already brought you back to life! And somehow gave you enough power to overcome a Lord¡¯s Domain at that! Fix you? You seem plenty fixed to me!¡±


    Snarling, Mikael tosses his sword away so that he can curl his fingers into a fist and sock Zadicus across the face. The Lord of Alether lets out a strangled cry at the blow. Despite mostly pulling his punch, Mikael feels a crunch as he¡¯s pretty sure he fractures Zadicus¡¯ cheek bone. As a result, Zadicus winds up thrown to the ground, with Mikael going with him.


    Pinning the other man beneath him, Mikael snarls as he grabs Zadicus even more tightly by his robes, having to restrain himself from slamming the man¡¯s head back against the floorboards a few times to really get his anger across. He needed Zadicus in his right mind. Still, hopefully the pain from the one blow he had allowed himself would be enough to sharpen the bastard¡¯s focus.


    ¡°You know what I mean, fuckface! I want my memories back! You scooped out half of my mind and shoved the fragments of a bunch of killers into their place. Fix my fucking head! Fix my memories!¡±


    He shakes Zadicus as he speaks, jostling and jolting the City Lord. But finally, he slows down enough to give the man a chance to formulate his response. Of course, when he finally does¡­ it¡¯s not anywhere close to what Mikael wants to hear.


    ¡°Oh¡­ that¡¯s what you want? H-Heh¡­ idiot. Why would I keep your memories? Why would I keep the memories of any of the idiots I summoned to fight for me? Waste of fucking space. No fighting. No battling. No bloodshed. Utterly worthless.¡±


    Mikael freezes up for a moment¡­ and then sees red. With a roar, he finally gives in to that urge to slam Zadicus into the ground a few times, pounding and pummeling the wizard as Zadicus chokes, the air driven out of his lungs time and time again. There¡¯s no physical strength to Alether¡¯s Lord. He¡¯s a weakling through and through, without a single ounce of muscle to his person. It¡¯s¡­ quite easy to manhandle him, especially without that ring of his that gave him control over the Tower¡¯s defenses.


    It would be even easier to kill him. Mikael very nearly does. The dead men in his head are all crowing for it. Egging him on. Encouraging the bastard¡¯s death. But if it were just them, Mikael wouldn¡¯t be struggling to resist the urge quite so much. No, it¡¯s not just them. It¡¯s Mikael himself. For the first time in his life, Mikael himself truly WANTS to kill someone. Not just needs to. Not just has to. But WANTS to do it. He wants Zadicus Quinn dead.


    Only one thing stays his hand in the end, eventually forcing him to stop throttling the bastard and slamming him into the floorboards of his own quarters. One last glimpse of hope.


    Zadicus is dazed by the time Mikael finally ceases his abuse, but he doesn¡¯t let that stop him. Slapping the man across the face a couple times is enough to make his eyes refocus on Mikael.


    ¡°How do I go home? I was told every Hero summoned to this world is given a condition. What condition did you give me? What do I have to do to be given the choice to go home?¡±


    Silence hangs for a moment¡­ and then Zadicus grins. It¡¯s a bloody grin, the man having bit his own tongue at some point from the look of things. He snorts¡­ and then has the gall to laugh in Mikael¡¯s face.


    ¡°Heh¡­ eheh¡­ ahahaha! You don¡¯t! You poor, stupid bastard! You never go home! You-!¡±


    SMACK!


    He has no problem slapping Zadicus again. This time it¡¯s a backhand, and one strong enough that Mikael¡¯s knuckle tears away a strip of Zadicus¡¯ flesh. The Lord of Alether gasps, looking worse and worse for wear. Mikael doesn¡¯t care. He screams into the man¡¯s face.


    ¡°EXPLAIN! What does that mean?! What the fuck did you do?!¡±


    His words slurred and a little delirious, Zadicus nevertheless explains.


    ¡°S¡¯loop hole, y¡¯see¡­ the condition¡­ the condition I set for ¡®very Hero I summoned¡­ was to ¡®die for me¡¯.¡±


    ¡­ What?


    Zadicus grins again, looking so unbelievably smug and proud of himself.


    ¡°Heh¡­ but the ¡®ero is supposed to get to choose. And if they¡¯re dead¡­ they don¡¯t get to choose. You¡¯re a special one though, a-aren¡¯t you? Guess¡­ guess we know for sure now¡­¡±


    Mikael furrows his brow.


    ¡°Know what for sure?¡±


    Giggling some more to himself, Zadicus shrugs.


    ¡°¡­ we know what happens when a Summoned Hero who¡¯s died completing their task is brought back from the dead.¡±


    He stares blankly until Zadicus lifts himself up and whispers the answer.


    ¡°Nothing. Nothing happens. You don¡¯t get the choice. You don¡¯t get to go home. You¡¯re stuck here. Forever. You-urk!¡±


    Mikael¡¯s hand is suddenly around Zadicus¡¯ throat. Gripping down tightly, he cuts off the other man¡¯s airflow. Zadicus¡¯ face rapidly begins to purple. But the Lord of Alether doesn¡¯t have the chance to expire from lack of oxygen. Nor do any of the other people in the room have the chance to stop Mikael. Because the very next thing he does is form his other hand into a fist and drive it straight through Zadicus¡¯ skull, pulping his head in a single blow.


    His fist meets the floorboard under Zadicus¡¯ head and tears right through that as well as an inhuman, unearthly roar leaves Mikael¡¯s throat. A strangled, desperate sort of roar. The sound of a dying animal, one might say.


    Perhaps its proximity. Perhaps its because he has Zadicus¡¯ brain matter all over his fist right alongside the splinters from the wood he just busted through. Either way, Mikael doesn¡¯t even have to try. His Soul Engine glows brightly beneath his chestplate and a moment late he absorbs the dead Lord of Alether¡¯s soul.


    Mikael seizes up, back arching as he shudders. His eyes damn near roll back in his head from the single most powerful pulse of power he¡¯s ever received. Something changes in him in that moment, even as he pulls back from Zadicus¡¯ corpse. Something in the Soul Engine has diametrically been altered by absorbing the wizard¡¯s soul.


    But¡­ did it even matter? Kneeling there, slumped on the ground, Mikael stares down at his kill. His eyes are empty. The power of the Soul Engine thrums through his body, but his mind¡­ his mind is an utter mess. And he¡¯s never going to be able to fix it either. His stolen memories are gone, tossed away by a cruel and petty tyrant, an uncaring and unfeeling greedy little toad of a man. Meanwhile, his chance to go home is forever closed to him by a loophole in the Hero Summoning Ritual big enough to drive a fucking car through.


    He was never going home again. He was never going to be whole again. This was it. Now and forever.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 27: The Aftermath

    ¡°Stay still.¡±


    A metal tool taps against his clavicle, making Mikael grunt as he aborts the heavy sigh he was in the process of letting out. It wasn¡¯t the first drawn out sigh that had poured out of him in the past few days, but admittedly, this wasn¡¯t the time for him to be sighing. Not with Avina wrist deep in the Soul Engine, fiddling around inside of it with a set of specialized looking tools.


    It had been five days since the Grand Melee, Mikael¡¯s victory, and Zadicus¡¯ death. But the city was still in a state of utter anarchy. Civilized anarchy perhaps, but anarchy all the same. What Mikael had heard was that the people of Alether had finally risen up and thrown off the shackles of their oppression. With Zadicus out of play, the City Guard was apparently headless. Whoever was supposed to be in charge over there had merely been a Yes Man for the Lord of the City, not any sort of military commander or soldier.


    As a result, the City Guard hadn¡¯t lasted longer than a day before crumpling. Most of the guardsmen had either died, fled the city, or simply taken off any identifiers and joined the populace in their revolt. That last option had apparently been less successful than most of them had hoped, because even if they wanted to forswear all previous loyalties, the ringleaders who had sprouted up amidst the rioting weren¡¯t so inclined to let them.


    According to the reports, there were street courts popping up all over the city, where men were pulled before community leaders or just mobs of people and their crimes were judged by the angry citizenry. Not many survived their ¡®trials¡¯. Did Mikael feel guilty about the part he played in making that happen? Perhaps a little bit. But at the same time, for every ¡®good¡¯ guardsman that was perhaps punished unfairly for simply doing his job, there were ten who were guilty of corruption, abuse of power, and far worse crimes than those.


    All in all, Mikael had washed his hands of the whole situation. It wasn¡¯t his fight. It never had been. Alether wasn¡¯t his city, Ocreatha wasn¡¯t his kingdom, and Vaclatora wasn¡¯t his world. Even if he was stuck here all the same.


    Another heavy sigh threatens to escape him, but this time Mikael manages to hold it in, staying as still as possible as Avina runs the last set of tests on his Soul Engine. Or at least, that¡¯s what she told him they were doing today. Indeed, for the last five days, they¡¯d all stayed holed up in the Lord¡¯s Tower. Avina had taken the ring from Zadicus¡¯ finger and put it on, taking control of the tower defenses.


    She¡¯d kept the barrier up and the four of them had stayed put. Mikael was a little bit surprised that Bula hadn¡¯t asked to be let out into the city to take part in all the fighting, but to be fair, the fighting had been done for a while now anyways. And to be extra fair, word of her enslavement might not have reached every corner of the city just yet. To many in Alether, Bula was still Zadicus¡¯ Chief Enforcer.


    With the Lord¡¯s Tower under their control, they¡¯d had more than enough supplies to make the last five days the most relaxed time period Mikael had had yet in this world. And yet¡­ and yet, he was not exactly overjoyed. Or thrilled.


    Mikael ultimately found himself in a strange state. On the one hand, he felt strangely powerful. Energized in a way he¡¯d never been before. The Soul Engine in his chest is glowing brightly, even after five days without a ¡®meal¡¯. Of course, he¡¯d ¡®eaten¡¯ hundreds of souls during the Grand Melee¡­ but then he¡¯d had to burn through a lot of that power to overcome Zadicus¡¯ control of the tower defenses so that the evil wizard couldn¡¯t have his way with Mikael or his friends. And yet he didn¡¯t feel any weaker for it. He felt¡­ perfectly fine.


    On the other hand, he was melancholic. Physically he might never have been better, but mentally and emotionally, he was listless. The life he¡¯d had before coming to this world a few weeks ago was gone. His memories were lost to him. He was never going home. Frankly, a little grieving period felt appropriate. He deserved to be sad over what he¡¯d lost, didn¡¯t he?


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry about your memories, Mikael.¡±


    Apparently Avina agrees, because she suddenly speaks up even as she continues her work. Not even bothering to glance away from the Soul Engine, his Soul Mechanic nevertheless frowns slightly, saddened on his behalf.


    ¡°There¡¯s still a possibility we might be able to get you back to your world though. The Hero Summoning Ritual is ancient beyond words. Its origins are shrouded in mystery. Even if none of the old writings in Ocreatha or Zuveria have answers, it¡¯s possible that other parts of the world do. I¡­ I¡¯d be happy to travel with you in search of such answers. Wherever you want to go.¡±


    Mikael grunts. It¡¯s nice of her to offer, but even as she speaks of hope, he can hear in Avina¡¯s tone that she doesn¡¯t think it¡¯s possible. The loophole that bastard Quinn found in the ritual seems pretty fucking ironclad. The Summoned Hero is supposed to be given the choice to go home once he¡¯s completed the condition he was summoned to complete in the first place. But by making the condition ¡®die for me¡¯, Zadicus had gamed the system. You couldn¡¯t choose to go home if you were dead, now could you?


    And apparently whoever had invented the ritual hadn¡¯t thought about that or put any sort of failsafe in place to avoid it. Nor had they thought about the Summoned Hero being resurrected after death either. Otherwise Mikael would have gotten some sort of option to go home the moment he woke up in the basement. Perhaps it was best he hadn¡¯t. Showing back up on Earth with no explanations, a soul-sucking device in his chest, and half his memories replaced with those of killers sounded like a recipe for disaster.


    Ultimately¡­ Ultimately Mikael didn¡¯t think he was ever going home. It was just like Zadicus said. Nor was he ever getting his head fixed. He was going to have to live like this now¡­ half Mikael and half monster. That said¡­ amidst all of the melancholy, amidst all of the despair, Mikael hadn¡¯t been ONLY thinking about himself these past five days.


    As Avina works away at his Soul Engine, he slowly lowers his eyes from staring off into nothing to his Soul Mechanic¡¯s face. After a moment, Avina glances up at him before returning to her work.


    ¡°What? What is it?¡±


    ¡°¡­ What did Zadicus mean when he said the loan was never the point? Whoever that was talking to him through the skull¡­ did you recognize the voice?¡±


    Stolen novel; please report.


    Avina hesitates for a moment before shaking her head.


    ¡°No. It was too garbled. It didn¡¯t even sound human. Whoever it was, I think they were masking their true voice somehow.¡±


    Mikael nods at that. He would have to agree. The skull¡¯s voice didn¡¯t SOUND like any normal voice would. It sounded deep, dark, and heavily modulated. Still.


    ¡°They talked of a Zadicus¡¯ ¡®charge¡¯. Like it was someone he was supposed to be looking after. And the way Zadicus spoke¡­ it was pretty obviously implied to be you.¡±


    His Soul Mechanic¡¯s shoulders slump at that and she lets out a sigh of her own.


    ¡°¡­ Yeah. I got that much too.¡±


    Mikael gives her a moment. She¡¯s earned at least that much from him. After all, if it wasn¡¯t for Avina, he would still be dead. Maybe he was never going home. Maybe he was never getting his mind or his life back. But at the very least, he¡¯d gotten revenge. And all of those inane sayings back home about how ¡®revenge is a dish best served cold¡¯ and ¡®if you seek revenge, dig two graves¡¯¡­ it was a bunch of bullshit. Mikael was glad Zadicus Quinn was dead. He was even glad he¡¯d done the deed with his own two hands. At least he got some fucking closure.


    ¡°¡­ I wasn¡¯t always Avina the Soul Mechanic, Mikael.¡±


    Avina scoffs in dry amusement at her own words.


    ¡°Heh, of course I wasn¡¯t. ¡®Soul Mechanic¡¯ is a title I made up on the spot when I finally managed to bring you back. When I finally managed to make the Soul Engine WORK. Before that¡­ I was a nobody. And before that¡­ well, I was someone I really don¡¯t want to be associated with anymore.¡±


    Biting her lower lip, Avina takes a moment to gather herself.


    ¡°¡­ A long time ago, something terrible happened. And I survived. I lived when everyone else died. I wasn¡¯t supposed to. And in fact, I didn¡¯t think anyone knew that I lived either. But I fled anyways. I ran away all the way to this city, to Alether. And here I¡¯ve been for¡­ more than half my life. One might say I grew up in Alether, even if I wasn¡¯t born here. I scavenged, and I survived, and I made something of myself, no matter how small it was.¡±


    Avina has a faint smile on her face as she describes her time in Alether. Then, the smile drops.


    ¡°Eventually though, I got the itch. I wanted to create. But I needed money. So¡­ I started looking for ways to earn extra coin. Somehow, Zadicus found me. He was just Arena Master then, but he found me and offered me the first loan. I was desperate, so I took it. And I started the work that would eventually lead me to creating the Soul Engine.¡±


    Glancing off to the side, Avina huffs.


    ¡°¡­ I suspect now that Zadicus knew who I once was. Or maybe he didn¡¯t, but whoever was on that skull definitely did. For some reason, they had him watching me. Keeping me in line. I don¡¯t really want to guess why that might be. I¡­ I don¡¯t want to be that girl I once was anymore.¡±


    Looking back at him, Avina¡¯s dark eyes are almost imploring.


    ¡°It¡¯s better for everyone if my past stays dead and buried, Mikael. I¡­ I want to tell you everything one day. I promise I will. But for now¡­ I think it¡¯s best if we leave Alether soon. And Ocreatha altogether. Wherever you want to go, we can go. Just so long as its away from this Kingdom.¡±


    ¡­ He doesn¡¯t fully understand, but even still, Mikael gives Avina a nod and a small smile.


    ¡°Everyone¡¯s entitled to their secrets, Avina. Thank you for telling me as much as you could.¡±


    Then, because it¡¯s obvious that the subject is making her uncomfortable, Mikael glances down at his Soul Engine.


    ¡°¡­ What¡¯s the verdict, doc?¡±


    Avina blinks at that, before looking back to her work as well. After a moment, she finishes up whatever she was doing and closes the Soul Engine back up, sealing the outer casing once more. Then, she gives him a sardonic look.


    ¡°Congratulations. You¡¯re a wizard, Mikael.¡±


    For a moment, he just stares at her blankly. Then, he chokes out a response.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    She gestures at his chest.


    ¡°You have magic now. Specifically, you have a magical talent.¡±


    ¡­ Right, of course she wouldn¡¯t know. But fuck was it jarring to hear her repeat a line from the most popular magical fiction back home. And fuck was it frustrating that that damn book series was what he remembered, instead of more important things like his goddamn family. Grimacing, Mikael forcibly suppresses such depressing thoughts, instead focusing on what Avina is actually saying.


    ¡°Explain? Please?¡±


    His Soul mechanic has the good grace to look abashed as she nods her head and rises to her feet.


    ¡°Right, sorry. Simply put, magical talent is not learned in this world, Mikael. It is something you¡¯re born with.¡±


    ¡°Wait, its genetic?¡±


    As Avina¡¯s blank look, Mikael flushes.


    ¡°Err¡­ its inherited?¡±


    She starts to nod, but then tilts her head to the side and raises a hand to make a so-so gesture.


    ¡°Sort of. It¡¯s inherited a lot of the time yes. If a family is known for magic, most of its members will have a magical talent. But magical talent has also been shown to crop up in non-magical families as well. It¡¯s¡­ incredibly random, at times. Zadicus Quinn, for instance, definitely wasn¡¯t from any known magical family as far as I¡¯m aware. But he had a magical talent all the same. One that he passed onto you when you absorbed his soul five days ago.¡±


    Mikael chokes on his spit. Never mind the similarities to a certain property he¡¯d JUST been thinking about. But did Avina just say what he thought she said?


    ¡°You¡¯re saying I¡¯ve absorbed that bastard¡¯s magic?¡±


    For a moment, he¡¯s amazed by the idea. Then, Mikael blanches as he thinks over the magics Zadicus was known for. He hadn¡¯t seen the bastard cast a single fireball in the few encounters he¡¯d had with him. There was that hand flame in their first encounter, but even that hadn¡¯t made another showing when they¡¯d fought that final time.


    No, Zadicus¡¯ magical talent had seemed to lie in summoning rituals, mind magic, and magical contracts. Otherwise known as kidnapping people, fucking with their heads, and enslaving people to do his bidding. Needless to say, none of those were things Mikael himself wanted to suddenly start doing.


    ¡°You have, yes¡­ and I can tell you¡¯re concerned because of what Zadicus was known for. Let me set your fears at ease, Mikael. Magic manifests differently in everyone. Just because you absorbed Zadicus¡¯ magical talent does not mean you will be predisposed to the same magics that he was. It doesn¡¯t¡­ or rather, it shouldn¡¯t work like that.¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at Avina and the pale, freckled young woman flushes under his gaze.


    ¡°But you don¡¯t know for sure, do you? Because this is all new ground. Look, I appreciate all you¡¯ve done for me as my Soul Mechanic Avina¡­ but you say it yourself. Soul Mechanic was a title you made up AFTER you finally succeeded in getting the Soul Engine online and bringing me back. So really, you don¡¯t know for sure that I didn¡¯t inherit Zadicus¡¯ predisposition to certain less than savory magics, do you?¡±


    Mulish, Avina crosses her arms over her chest and huffs.


    ¡°¡­ No, I don¡¯t know ¡®for sure¡¯. But all of my research says it shouldn¡¯t be. Still, if you¡¯re that worried about it, there¡¯s only one way to know for sure.¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael gestures for Avina to go on.


    ¡°You let me lead you through the basics of drawing out your magical talent, and we see exactly what it is you can do without any sort of training. If I¡¯m wrong and you ARE predisposed to Zadicus¡¯ types of magic, well we can decide how you want to handle it. But if I¡¯m right and you have your own magics, possibly unique from anything else in the world¡­ well, surely that¡¯s worth exploring, right?¡±


    His head still tilted; Mikael considers Avina¡¯s words for a moment before slowly nodding. Yes. Yes it was.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 28: Magic Mikael

    His decision made, Mikael looks down at his glowing Soul Engine.


    ¡°¡­ How do we begin?¡±


    Smiling slightly, Avina places a hand atop the outer case of her creation, running her fingers along her device almost as if she¡¯s a mother stroking the head of her child. A weird analogy when talking about the thing that¡¯s literally replaced his heart, but that¡¯s the first thing that comes to Mikael¡¯s mind all the same.


    ¡°Focus. Reach within yourself and try to find something that feels like pure power. Then¡­ draw it out.¡±


    Mikael can¡¯t help but shoot Avina a dubious sort of look at that. The freckled young woman maintains her serious look for a second before cracking a broader smile and ducking her head.


    ¡°I know how it sounds, Mikael. But I am actually serious. This sort of thing¡­ normally it takes months of hard work and focus for someone to draw out their magical talent after its discovered. But normally, it¡¯s also discovered at a young age, sometimes by accident, sometimes through rigorous testing. You, however, are special. For two reasons.¡±


    His Soul Mechanic holds up two fingers at that last bit and then makes a show of pulling one down with her hand.


    ¡°Number One, you¡¯re a Summoned Hero. All of the texts I¡¯ve read made it clear that your kind either sinks or swims. You¡¯re not born into our world, you¡¯re thrust into it. As a result, you have nothing at the start, but you also have unlimited potential.¡±


    Then, she pulls down the second finger.


    ¡°Number Two, you have my Soul Engine in your chest. Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t already felt it while drawing upon the Soul Engine¡¯s power. The strength flowing through you. The energy coursing through your veins. You¡¯ve already got experience with this sort of thing. All you have to do is do that¡­ but this time externalize it.¡±


    Hm. Okay, that actually made a lot of sense. Part of Mikael was a little concerned about the idea of just¡­ expelling energy from the Soul Engine though. It was his literal life force, after all. But at the same time, this was magic they were talking about. He couldn¡¯t just ignore the possibilities, now could he?


    Giving Avina a nod to make it clear he understands, Mikael lets out an explosive breath and closes his eyes, focusing inward. His hands are atop his knees as he sits there, steadily breathing in and out while searching for that¡­ feeling. His Soul Mechanic is right, of course. Finding the source of his power is easy for someone like him. It¡¯s literally his heart, after all. The Soul Engine is a part of him, and something he¡¯s already established a connection with.


    Reaching a little bit further, Mikael thinks he picks up on what Avina is talking about. It¡¯s the same energy he¡¯s felt flowing through him before when he fought, when he needed a burst of speed or strength. But¡­ more. Honestly, it¡¯s surprisingly intuitive. Almost natural, really. Mentally grasping at that power, Mikael slowly begins to pull it out of him.


    Unbidden, his left hand comes up off of his knee and turns over, cupping seemingly empty air. Then, Mikael feels a warmth in his palm that causes him to open his eyes. He blinks in shock at the teal flame he sees there. It¡¯s the same color as his Soul Engine, he quickly realizes. But then that makes sense, doesn¡¯t it? His magic IS unique to him after all. No one else has a Soul Engine in their chest, he assumes. And so no one else has a connection to this¡­ Soul Energy he¡¯s currently manifesting.


    ¡°¡­ Magnificent.¡±


    Blinking, Mikael flushes a bit. He¡¯d got so caught up in staring at his hand that he¡¯d forgot he wasn¡¯t alone. To be fair, Avina is staring right alongside him. Her naturally pale face and stormy grey eyes are alight with the teal coming off of the flame in his palm, even as she leans in close, gaze glittering with curiosity.


    ¡°What does it feel like?¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael considers the question for a moment before shrugging and going with the honest truth, even if it¡¯s also rather vague.


    ¡°It feels¡­ warm.¡±


    Avina gives him a deadpan look at that, the brilliant artificer¡¯s inquisitive mind not really appreciating the incredibly unhelpful answer. But Mikael just gives her a sheepish grin and shrugs again. He doesn¡¯t know what else to tell her.


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m going to touch it.¡±


    That, of course, makes his eyes widen. He looks between Avina¡¯s adorably determined face and the flame in his palm and gulps.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea, Avina.¡±


    Pouting at him, his Soul Mechanic frowns.


    ¡°Whyever now? How can we figure out what it¡¯s capable of if we don¡¯t experiment?¡±


    She raises a good point, but having her touch the flickering teal energy doesn¡¯t seem like the best way to experiment. Mikael opens his mouth to say as much¡­ only for Avina to stick her hand into the ball before he can speak. He blinks and then scowls, pulling his own hand back along with the teal flame.


    ¡°Avina!¡±


    But the Soul Mechanic just holds up her hand, showing it to him front and back. Blemish free. And she doesn¡¯t look to be in pain either. Instead, she grins at him.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. It was warm.¡±


    Mikael just gawks for a moment. He even contemplates taking Avina over his lap and spanking her for her audacity. But in the end, he holds himself back, even as Avina hums and reaches out again.


    ¡°May I?¡±


    Honestly, asking for permission only after they deemed it safe? Mikael just sighs and nods his head, putting his hand back into the space between them so she could play with the teal flame in his palm.


    Over the next half hour, they learn a lot about Mikael¡¯s new magic. It¡¯s incredibly versatile, with the possibilities seemingly being endless. His energy doesn¡¯t actively harm or burn things unless he decides it should, and it can even offer healing if he focuses on rejuvenation and regeneration. He can bind things with it, but he can also burn things with it, as a few of the late Zadicus Quinn¡¯s tapestries and curtains get to discover.


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    On top of that, there¡¯s something else they uncover about his new powers. Namely, he¡¯s got a new sort of sight. It¡¯s hard for him to make out at first, but if he looks very, VERY closely at Avina, he can see it¡­ her literal soul. It¡¯s bound to her person, slightly lifting off of her body, and moves with her when she moves about. He¡¯s basically got a sort of soul-sense now, it would seem.


    It makes sense, Avina tells him. After all, the Soul Engine absorbs souls. And as Avina has said time and time again, souls are just little off-shoots of the Weave, through which all life and all things are connected. Ultimately, Soul Energy is just a step or two removed from Weave Energy. Whereas most other magical talents are directly tied to the kind of person they¡¯re born into, limiting the scope of what that being can hope to achieve in magic, Mikael¡¯s talent is far purer in form.


    That¡¯s all well and good, but when the half hour comes to a close, Mikael finds himself focusing on the one major issue with all of this. Its great that he has this amazingly versatile magical talent. Really it is. But as much as he¡¯s excited and acting like a child with a new toy at first, he¡¯s very much not ACTUALLY a child. And after burning some of Zadicus¡¯ stuff in a very cathartic move, Mikael has to sit down again and focus on the elephant in the room.


    ¡°This new power is great and all, Avina¡­ but isn¡¯t it also a double-edged sword?¡±


    Avina tilts her head to the side at that, furrowing her brow in confusion. Sighing, Mikael waves a hand through the air as he explains.


    ¡°Basically, aren¡¯t I literally using my own life force whenever I cast magic, Avina? I¡¯m suped up on all of those deaths from the Grand Melee at the moment so I¡¯m not even feeling the drain, but if I¡¯m not careful I could kill myself throwing around this much energy.¡±


    His Soul Mechanic¡¯s eyes light up in understanding at that¡­ and then she smiles as she places a hand atop the Soul Engine and shakes her head.


    ¡°The Grand Melee isn¡¯t why you¡¯re not feeling the drain right now, Mikael. Sorry, I got so distracted by the magic that I didn¡¯t mention the other thing.¡±


    Mikael blinks, thoroughly confused again.


    ¡°Other thing?¡±


    Nodding, Avina strokes the Soul Engine for a moment, staring down at it almost lovingly. No, not almost. That was definitely a look of love and adoration on the young woman¡¯s face.


    ¡°My creation has managed to surprise even me. I mean, I made it to be¡­ adaptive of course. After all, for all that it¡¯s an artificial device, it¡¯s meant to be installed in a living person. Or¡­ err, a not-so-living person, but then its meant to bring you back and keep you alive. And it¡¯d be a pretty poor replacement for your heart if it couldn¡¯t evolve and grow with you, Mikael.¡±


    What was she saying? He doesn¡¯t interrupt again, even though he¡¯s itching for her to get to the point. It¡¯s clear Avina is beyond pleased about whatever this is and he¡¯s finding it hard to ruin the moment for her.


    ¡°¡­ Basically, the reason I¡¯ve spent these last five days running so many tests on you is because the Soul Engine has become something more than I ever anticipated. It¡¯s funny, there were plenty of spellcasters in the Grand Melee whose souls you absorbed. I know, I was watching. But you didn¡¯t get THEIR magical talents as far as I¡¯m aware.¡±


    Avina furrows her brow for a moment in thought before shrugging.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know why it was different with Zadicus. Whether it was because you were physically closer to him, or because your emotions were running hot, or what. But either way, when you absorbed Zadicus¡¯ magical talent, it changed how the Soul Engine operates¡­ specifically it made it self-sustaining.


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at that.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Nodding as if his surprise is perfectly understandable, Avina smiles and gestures around them.


    ¡°As you likely recall from previous explanations, the Weave is all around us. Which is why it¡¯s apparently possible for the Soul Engine to now draw energy straight out of the air itself.¡±


    His mouth agape, Mikael just stares for a moment before shaking himself out of his stupor.


    ¡°¡­ Wait, doesn¡¯t that mean the Soul Engine isn¡¯t¡­ even a proper Soul Engine anymore? Isn¡¯t it more of a Weave Engine or something now? You¡¯re saying that I basically don¡¯t have to consume souls anymore. That I¡¯m sustained by just¡­ existing in this world?¡±


    Frowning slightly, Avina hums.


    ¡°¡­ I suppose you¡¯re not wrong. Though as it¡¯s creator, I veto any change to the name. It¡¯s still the Soul Engine¡­ and I am still your Soul Mechanic, Mikael. Understood?¡±


    She¡¯s almost adorable with how stern she tries to get. Mikael grins, snorting in amusement even as he dips his head in acknowledgment.


    ¡°Of course, Avina. Soul Engine and Soul Mechanic it is. Still¡­ this changes things, doesn¡¯t it?¡±


    Avina nods, agreeing with him readily.


    ¡°Yes. You effectively have a baseline level of energy that you can¡¯t drop below now. Well, not without seriously trying. In fact, you¡¯re functionally immortal.¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael hadn¡¯t thought of that. He would have gotten there eventually sure, but he¡­ he hadn¡¯t made the leap yet. And yet¡­


    ¡°So long as you don¡¯t stay in the same place for too long, at least.¡±


    A spike of worry lances through Mikael at those words. He can¡¯t help but be filled with concern.


    ¡°Hold on, what do you mean by that? How long is too long?¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Avina shakes her head.


    ¡°There¡¯s no need to be worried, Mikael. By ¡®too long¡¯, I mean being trapped in a small space as big as this room for as long as a decade. Like I said before, the Weave is constantly replenishing itself off of the souls that rejoin it upon people dying. And people die every day. While it¡¯s true that you¡¯re sucking the ambient Weave out of the air wherever you go now, you¡¯re not going to be a detriment to your surroundings unless you wind up trapped somewhere for years on end.¡±


    Tilting her head to the side, Avina purses her lips together in thought, even as Mikael reels at the ramifications of what she¡¯s saying. The mad scientist of a young woman hums some more before shrugging.


    ¡°Hell, even if you do wind up trapped¡­ say buried underground or something, so long as you stay still and conserve energy, you could last for centuries in such a-mmph!¡±


    Avina is cut off by Mikael¡¯s hand over her mouth as he hurriedly silences her, his eyes wide with panic.


    ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that, Avina! Don¡¯t you know you¡¯re tempting Murphy?!¡±


    She furrows her brow at him, mumbling in response until he removes his hand. When he does, she repeats herself.


    ¡°Who is Murphy?¡±


    Mikael blinks¡­ and then realizes he doesn¡¯t actually know. He just knows that for some reason, Avina was tempting Murphy there. But who was Murphy? What did it mean? The experience is jarring as he¡¯s struck in the face with the state of his fractured mind for the first time since this whole conversation about magic and all that started.


    Slumping back in his chair, Mikael brings a hand to his forehead and rubs it with a sigh.


    ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡±


    It dawns on him then. His mind. His fucked up memories. He was going to be stuck like this forever. And yeah, he¡¯d known that already. These past five days had, in large part, been spent trying to come to terms with the fact that he was never getting HIS memories back, and that he was stuck with the memories of killers, soldiers, and warriors that Zadicus fucking Quinn had foisted upon him.


    ¡­ But it¡¯s different now. Because ¡®forever¡¯ isn¡¯t just to the end of a normal human lifespan. As Avina said, he¡¯s functionally immortal. Forever is¡­ forever. Unless he ends it early. But he doesn¡¯t think he was ever the type of person to contemplate suicide. Even now the idea is anathema to him. But was suicide so abhorrent because all of the dead men in his head wanted to live so badly? Or because he himself wanted it?


    Fuck him. Immortality with this shit was going to be pure torture, wasn¡¯t it? To say nothing of his current companions eventually growing old and dying and leaving him all alone with just his own sorry self for company.


    ¡°Mikael?¡±


    Avina¡¯s voice is laden with concern. He knows she cares. For all that Mikael recognizes she¡¯s manipulated him at certain points in their relationship, he can¡¯t really bring himself to be mad at her for it. And he knows that Avina cares for him. But he can¡¯t deal with that right now. He can¡¯t deal with her right now.


    ¡°Thank you for everything, Avina. But I¡¯d really like to be alone for the moment, please.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ if that is your wish.¡±


    Whatever she might have said, his Soul Mechanic seems to think better of it. After a moment, she wordlessly rises and leaves the room, leaving Mikael all alone with his thoughts.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 29: Bula the Half-Orc (Lewd)

    It¡¯s a testament to how lost in his own thoughts he is that Mikael doesn¡¯t see the attack coming. The day after his and Avina¡¯s chat and the revelations regarding his new magic and longevity, Mikael is walking down one of the tower¡¯s hallways when it happens. An arm reaches out of an open doorway, grabs him by the shoulder, and yanks him in with inhuman strength and speed.


    Mikael grunts as he¡¯s all but thrown into the room beyond, stumbling and managing to catch himself before he can fall flat on his face at least. Still, he silently chastises himself for letting his guard down, even as he straightens up and turns to face his attacker. To be fair, Mikael isn¡¯t too worried¡­ there are only four living people left in the Lord¡¯s Tower. And only one of them is strong enough to manhandle him like that.


    ¡°Bula.¡±


    Though he has to admit, he¡¯s a LITTLE surprised when he actually lays eyes on the red haired half-orc. It is indeed Bula who stands before him, her nostrils flaring and her chin thrust out as she grunts roughly in his direction. Her blue eyes are as piercing as ever and she looks ready for a fight. But what she¡¯s wearing¡­ well, it¡¯s a far cry from the all-white leotard she¡¯d worn alongside the gorget that had contained her slave contract.


    Her new attire is the literal definition of ¡®plate¡¯ bikini, Mikael can¡¯t help but think. There¡¯s a rustic feel to the metal, as if Bula found it buried in some crate deep in the tower¡¯s depths and pulled it out of storage. Meanwhile, the half-orc¡¯s tanned breasts are held within a chestplate that¡­ is all chest and no plate. Her arms, shoulders, and lower legs are all covered by armor, but her center chest, her abdomen, and her toned, muscular thighs are all bared.


    To be fair, Mikael has fought Bula. He knows she doesn¡¯t really need armor. Her half-orc biology means that anything short of decapitation will heal within moments. Maybe that¡¯s why her new armor has a gorget just like the old one, albeit one that¡¯s far more rustic and doesn¡¯t look nearly as obviously magical as the last.


    Still¡­


    ¡°Where did you even find that, Bula?¡±


    The half-orc blinks and then looks down at herself for a moment before grunting.


    ¡°This is my armor. The armor I wore when I first came to this city. The bastard wizard stuffed it in some corner and forgot about it. I found it.¡±


    ¡­ Holy shit. She¡¯d literally pulled it out of some crate buried in the tower¡¯s depths, hadn¡¯t she? Just like he¡¯d thought. It explained why parts of it didn¡¯t just look rustic, but actually rusted. And why it was so¡­ jagged too. Truthfully though¡­ it actually suited Bula quite well. Even if Mikael privately thought her crotch could use a little bit more coverage.


    ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯m happy for you, I suppose.¡±


    ¡°Fight me.¡±


    Mikael blinks, brow furrowing as he realizes Bula has put herself between him and the door. More than that, he belatedly realizes that the room she¡¯s all but tossed him into¡­ it¡¯s a large empty room perfect for fighting, isn¡¯t it? Hang on a second¡­ are those target dummies at the far end?


    ¡°Bula¡­ I don¡¯t want to fight you.¡±


    Scoffing, Bula shakes her head.


    ¡°Yes you do. Fight me.¡±


    She starts to stride forward, forcing Mikael to raise his hands with the palms out.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t. You-!¡±


    But then she¡¯s upon him and she¡¯s swinging, forcing him to duck under her fist.


    ¡°Bula!¡±


    ¡°Fight me! I wronged you, did I not? I held you down while Zadicus Quinn ruined your mind!¡±


    Even as she spells out why he should want to fight her, she also continues to swing at him. Mikael ducks and dodges, dipping and weaving. The Soul Engine blazes as he ups his speed to match the half-orc¡¯s inhuman alacrity.


    ¡°I don¡¯t blame you for that, Bula. You were as much Zadicus¡¯ victim as I was!¡±


    ¡°¡­ You were not the only one. There were hundreds before you. Individuals summoned to this world to fight and die in the bastard lord¡¯s arenas. I held them all while he forced his way into their minds.¡±


    Mikael flinches at that, a spark of something hot igniting in his chest. Not the Soul Engine either. No, this was pure emotion. He could imagine it all too easily. So many other people in Mikael¡¯s place. So many more innocent lives, ruined by Zadicus and Bula. And with no Avina to save them and bring them back, they¡¯d all died in those sandy pits just like Mikael. And they¡¯d stayed dead.


    ¡°Fight me!¡±


    Bula continues to attack him and Mikael¡­ Mikael snaps. With a roar, he catches the half-orc¡¯s next punch in his palm, a meaty smack resounding through the training room. Of course, not to be deterred, Bula immediately throws her other fist as well. Mikael catches that one too and the half-orc goes for a kick. Mikael blocks it and then sweeps her legs out from under her, sending her sprawling across the floor.


    But the half-orc just gets back up and launches herself at him again. This time, she doesn¡¯t have to demand that he fight her. Mikael is already in the zone. No weapons but their bodies¡­ and yet, for two people like them? Their bodies WERE the weapons. That said, there¡¯s a difference between a dagger and a longsword. Or maybe the correct analogy for this was that there was a difference between a hand axe and a battle axe.


    The red head might wield a battle axe herself, but in comparison to Mikael¡­ she was the hand axe. They clash a few times, mostly because for a moment Mikael feels himself actually starting to have fun. Then, he realizes he¡¯s having a little too much fun. More than that, he¡¯s starting to get increasingly violent. Starting to hurt, rather than just stop. Bula heals from all of it with lightning speed, but that¡¯s not the point. Mikael is starting to revel in the sound of her bones cracking under his fists. In the blood that seeps from her torn skin.


    Of course, trying to stop and pull back only leads to Bula coming after him like a fucking dog chasing a bone. In the end, he¡¯s forced to slam her into the floor of the training room and hold her there, letting out a roar in her face that makes her sharp, knife-like ears twitch as she finally stops.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°ENOUGH! Fucking¡­ fucking enough, Bula. Before I go too far and do something I¡¯ll regret to you.¡±


    Bula grunts. Shifts under him. Then, she gives him a piercing look with those blue eyes of hers.


    ¡°You fear the memories Quinn put in your head.¡±


    Straight from the mouth of babes. Mikael snorts derisively.


    ¡°No shit.¡±


    ¡°You should not.¡±


    His incredulous look makes Bula shift some more under him, but the half-orc doesn¡¯t back down even as her chest heaves up and down from the exertion they just shared in.


    ¡°You should not fear them. They do not control you. You control them. They are a tool, a weapon in your arsenal.¡±


    Mikael barks out a laugh at that.


    ¡°Yeah? Sure doesn¡¯t feel like it at times. They fuck with my head, Bula. Give me these impulses. These urges. How much longer can I resist them, huh? Avina tells me I¡¯m fucking immortal. Isn¡¯t it only a matter of time before I become the monster they want me to be?¡±


    Bula¡¯s lip curls upwards at that, the half-orc¡¯s tusks grinding as she growls beneath him. Suddenly, she punches him in the kidney. Mikael grunts as she tries to turn the tables on him, tries with all her might to flip him off of her and regain her feet. The ensuing moments are filled with him overcoming her yet again, keeping her pinned in place.


    And yet, when they¡¯re done wrestling after a few seconds and Bula has once again given up as Mikael pins her down, this time with her arms above her head and held by the wrists, she looks¡­ pleased rather than angry.


    ¡°You will not. You are strong.¡±


    Mikael just gawks at her certainty. She sounds so¡­ confident. But before he can respond, Bula wiggles under him in a very¡­ different way.


    ¡°Fuck me.¡±


    He chokes on his own spit at that. She says it so matter-of-factly, in the same way she¡¯d said ¡®fight me¡¯. And seeing how she hadn¡¯t taken no for an answer on that front, Mikael tenses up.


    ¡°E-Excuse me? Bula¡­ I don¡¯t know what¡­ look, I¡¯m already in some sort of relationship with Avina and Thayla. Maybe we haven¡¯t put a name to it, but I can¡¯t do anything without talking to them first.¡±


    Unconcerned, Bula snorts.


    ¡°Who do you think sent me to you?¡±


    Wait, what?


    ¡°The little one, Avina¡­ she said you had rocks in your head. Stubborn.¡±


    Rocks in his head? Was Bula taking liberties with whatever Avina had actually said? At the same time though, he didn¡¯t think the half-orc would lie to him. She didn¡¯t really seem all that capable of subterfuge.


    ¡°The golden one, the Knight¡­ she was right when she said I owed you a debt. I just didn¡¯t like that she said it. I wanted you to say it.¡±


    Mikael blinks, thrown for another loop by THAT revelation.


    ¡°The dark and tiny one said you would never say it. That you would not force yourself upon me, despite it being your right through rite of conquest. She suggested I force the issue myself.¡±


    Before Mikael can even start to wrap his head around that, Bula reaches out and grabs him by the hair, yanking him down into a tongue-filled, soul-searing kiss. Mikael grunts as their lips smash together for a moment¡­ and then he¡¯s surging forward, taking charge and dominating the kiss almost purely on instinct. A lustful, almost primal growl rips its way out of his throat and into Bula¡¯s mouth as he holds her down, pinning her in place.


    Truthfully? That sounded exactly like something Avina would say. Not in those exact words, but sending Bula to get his mind off of his melancholy? Yeah, he could definitely see that happening.


    Bula suddenly bites down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. The wound heals immediately of course, but still causes him to jerk back in surprise. She uses the moment to twist under him, and while he doesn¡¯t let her fully escape, she does manage to get herself onto her front, still pinned beneath him as she lifts her ass up into his crotch, rubbing against him from below.


    ¡°Fuck me, Mikael. Take me. Claim me.¡±


    ¡°Bula¡­ for fuck¡¯s sake¡­¡±


    Dragging her hands from above her head to behind her back, he locks them in place with one hand wrapped around both of her wrists. Bula grunts as he pulls back, letting her lift her hips higher into the air so that she¡¯s on her knees and face before him. Her tanned, toned ass meanwhile, is clad only in a leather covering that can barely even be considered ¡®panties¡¯, really.


    Grabbing hold of them, he tears them down over her hips and thighs, exposing her crotch in an instant. Then, he uses that same hand to free his cock from its confines. It seemed a little sudden. And with so little build up too. Even Thayla hadn¡¯t been like this. But at the same time¡­ well, it was Bula wasn¡¯t it?


    With a grunt, Mikael thrusts into the half-orc from behind. She arches her back, lifting her head back and letting out a lewd but bestial orcish cry as he fills her. Her insides are hot, wrapped around his member, and she clenches down hard on him as he drills deep into her. Meanwhile, Mikael¡¯s eyes are drawn to her head, where her pointed ears are twitching¡­ and her fiery red hair is up in a messy, wild high-top ponytail.


    He hadn¡¯t even realized it before. How her hairstyle had changed. He¡¯d been too focused on the rest of her, honestly. But now, as he buries himself ball¡¯s deep inside of the frisky half-orc, he finds himself focusing on her hair¡­ on that ponytail.


    With another growl, he reaches out and grabs hold of Bula¡¯s hair by the base of her ponytail and gives it a harsh, sharp tug. Her responding howl echoes through the training room, but even more telling is the way she tightens up even harder around his pistoning prick. Grunting, Mikael doesn¡¯t let up. In fact, he fucks Bula harder than he¡¯s ever fucked anyone.


    She can take it, he comes to realize. She can take all of his strength. All of his speed. All of his raw emotion. With a roar to answer her howls and screams, Mikael pounds into the half-orc from behind, holding her arms behind her back and yanking her head backwards by her ponytail. Rough, animalistic noises fill the training room as he plows the half-orc for who knows how long.


    It¡¯s incredibly easy to lose track of time, buried inside of Bula¡¯s squeezing cunt. He rails her hard and fast with little concern for her pleasure or her health¡­ but all signs point to that being precisely how Bula likes it. She milks him the entire time with her clenching inner walls. Her juices and fluids gush out of her, making the passage slicker and wetter as well. Until finally, with a hoarse groan, Mikael fills the half-orc. Her ears twitching all the while, Bula shudders and quivers her way through one last orgasm, before they both collapse forward, Mikael on top of her.


    As the two of them catch their breath, Bula bucks beneath him and this time Mikael pulls back, letting her free. Instead of breaking out entirely though, Bula just turns back over, laying there under him and staring up at him with those piercing blue eyes of hers.


    ¡°You cannot go home. You cannot get back what you lost.¡±


    Mikael stiffens, but Bula isn¡¯t done.


    ¡°Make a new life here. Forge new memories. Carve out your place in the world, and make sure it knows you exist.¡±


    He recognizes she¡¯s trying to help, in her own blunt way. Mikael smiles softly, appreciating Bula¡¯s efforts more than he would have expected. She means well¡­ and truthfully, she has a point too. His old life might be over, but he¡¯s still here. The old Mikael was gone¡­ but then, life was about change. You were never going to be who you were ten years ago. Twenty years ago. Mikael had just had a couple decades of change forced into one single moment by that bastard Zadicus Quinn.


    ¡­ He didn¡¯t regret killing Zadicus. But Bula was right. Avina was right too. He couldn¡¯t keep wallowing. Nor could he live in constant fear of dead men. It was like Bula had said. He was in control. They were not.


    Letting out an explosive breath, Mikael opens his mouth to thank Bula, but before he can get the words out, the sudden sound of people running down the hall fills their ears, causing both Mikael and Bula to turn their heads.


    A moment later and Thayla and Avina come rushing into the room. Startling, Mikael furrows his brow.


    ¡°What? What is it?!¡±


    Mikael blinks as Avina has to stop to catch her breath, the least athletic of their little foursome holding up a finger in response as she gasps and gulps in air. Thayla gives her a concerned look for a moment before deciding that whatever had them sprinting all the way here was too important to wait. The Knight of the Rose looks decidedly pale as she clasps her hands together in front of her, almost in prayer.


    ¡°Sir Mikael. There¡¯s an army coming over the horizon, marching on Alether.¡±


    ¡­ Oh.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 30: The Mysterious Army

    As soon as he and Bula have untangled themselves from one another and fixed their clothes, the four of them all rush out of the training room and to the tower¡¯s closest balcony. Clinging to the railing, Mikael looks out into the distance¡­ and indeed, there on the horizon is what can only be described as an army approaching the city. They¡¯re coming down the main road in and out of Alether from within the Kingdom of Ocreatha. So it¡¯s not an invasion force from Zuveria, at least.


    ¡­ But that means its likely a peacekeeping force sent by Ocreatha, right? Except¡­ isn¡¯t this fast? Mikael is just some poor schmuck from Earth so what does he know, right? Is what he would say, if he didn¡¯t have a bunch of dead soldiers in his head, confirming his unease. For an army the size of what he¡¯s seeing to be approaching Alether, one of a few things had to be true. Either they¡¯d started marching weeks ago¡­ or they¡¯d been very close by.


    As more and more of the army fills the horizon, the large van slowly starting to spread out as they get closer and closer to the city itself, Mikael looks to his companions, trying to gauge their reactions. Avina looks stricken, Thayla looks like she¡¯s trying to put on a brave face¡­ and Bula looks excited. Not in a ¡®oh she was actually a triple agent and is excited that reinforcements are about to arrive¡¯ sort of way, but more in a ¡®battle junkie, bloodlust¡¯ sort of way.


    ¡­ It said a lot about this new life he was apparently now living that Mikael could tell the difference in the half-orc¡¯s facial expressions already, he supposed. Still.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too soon? Where did this army even come from?¡±


    Thayla nods, having clearly already thought about that herself. Bula frowns slightly, looking about as contemplative as she can possibly get as she takes his words into consideration. But Avina¡­ Avina scowls.


    ¡°You¡¯re right. And not just too soon¡­ this army¡­ it shouldn¡¯t even exist.¡±


    Mikael blinks at that, even Avina¡¯s scowl becomes more and more pronounced.


    ¡°Ocreatha doesn¡¯t have a standing army. It never has. For such a thing to exist, for there to be a Royal Army¡­ it would be too much of a threat to the Council of Lords. So even when there was still a Royal Family, they didn¡¯t have an army. Just a Royal Garrison. And after the Royal Family were all killed, well, the Council of Lords wouldn¡¯t have let the Regent-Lord muster his own army. I don¡¯t¡­ this shouldn¡¯t be possible. I don¡¯t know where they even came from.¡±


    Avina¡¯s words ring with conviction. As the only Ocreathian Native among the four of them, they sort of have to take her word for it. That said¡­


    ¡°No army? But what if the Zuverian Empire were to invade?¡±


    His Soul Mechanic shakes her head, but it¡¯s Thayla who fields that one, speaking up from off to the side.


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s unlikely to happen, Sir Mikael. Even ignoring that relations between the Kingdom of Ocreatha and the Zuverian Empire are currently quite strong¡­ the Empire has far more pressing matters to attend to. So long as the orcs of the Savage Lands that line Zuveria¡¯s opposite border continue to encroach on Zuverian lands and force conflict, the Empire will remain tied up in defending against those monsters. Ah, no offense Bula¡­¡±


    The half-orc shrugs her shoulders and snorts derisively.


    ¡°None taken. The Savage Lands are indeed filled with monsters. Both orcs and other things. Zuveria does well to stand against the onslaught. You should be proud of your people.¡±


    Blinking, looking surprised by the brash, blunt compliment tossed her way, Thayla straightens up and smiles.


    ¡°I am. But¡­ thank you.¡±


    Bula just huffs and nods before turning her gaze back to the encroaching army, an air of expectation about her. Mikael, meanwhile, feels nothing but trepidation, even as Avina finally speaks up from the side.


    ¡°This is the Council of Lords. Has to be. One of them was probably speaking to Zadicus Quinn through that skull we saw him communicating with. While the Kingdom has no standing army, the Lords each have their own separate levees that they can call upon, as well as knights in their employ. This though¡­ this is too much. Some group within the Council of Lords must have been planning this for quite some time. With an army this large, they could overthrow the Regent-Lord and the rest of the council and install one of their own as the new King.¡±


    That made a terrible amount of sense. Ugh, politics. Mikael didn¡¯t really think he had the head for it. He probably hadn¡¯t had the head for it even before being yanked into this world. But he definitely didn¡¯t have the head for politics now. Sure, he had a few good orators swimming around in his fractured psyche¡­ or at least, he had a handful of memories of leaders on battlefields giving speeches right before the battles themselves went underway.


    Though, there was one thing that didn¡¯t make as much sense.


    ¡°If all of that is true, then why come here to Alether? Why bring such an army to a border city, rather than whatever Ocreatha¡¯s Capital is?¡±


    That brings Avina up short for a moment, her face scrunched up almost cutely in thought. Then, the freckled young woman¡¯s eyes come alight with understanding.


    ¡°It¡¯s a test run. Alether is without a Lord right now, and thus without any easy way to contact the rest of the Council of Lords. They can use their army to stamp out the rebellion here in the city while at the same time giving their army some much needed experience. And then they can turn it on the rest of the Kingdom. No one will see it coming.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at that. Thayla¡¯s do as well, before the Knight of the Rose scowls angrily, her brow furrowing.


    ¡°What? After everything Zadicus Quinn put the people of this city through? They¡¯re just going to sweep it all under the rug and crush the people here, just as they¡¯ve finally freed themselves?! Surely not!¡±


    Sighing, Avina nods.


    ¡°Zadicus operated with the approval of the Council of Lords. I¡¯m not saying they all knew what he was getting up to here, but whoever was on the other end of that skull definitely did. And they approved of it. All of it.¡±


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


    Thayla grimaces at that, falling silent as she grips down hard on the railing, looking out at the approaching army. More and more details can be seen at this point. Each soldier is wearing the same set of shiny armor. And they¡¯re marching in lockstep too, in a way that Mikael¡¯s experiences tell him means they¡¯re quite disciplined at the very least.


    Though¡­ something niggles at his mind. An idea that has him turning to Avina.


    ¡°They think there¡¯s no Lord here, right? Because they somehow sensed Zadicus¡¯ death. But you have the Lord¡¯s Ring. You could contact the Council of Lords and let them know what¡¯s happening here, right?¡±


    Avina¡¯s eyes flicker down to the ring she¡¯s wearing, the ring that¡¯s allowed her to keep them safe behind the Lord¡¯s Tower these past several days as the city around them descended into anarchy and mob justice. She hesitates for a moment before shaking her head.


    ¡°That¡¯s not a good idea. We have no clue which of the Council of Lords is complicit in all of this, after all. And even if I were to contact them¡­ they¡¯d be expecting Zadicus, not me. They wouldn¡¯t give me the time of day. No, we only have one choice at this point. We need to run. Flee the city before the army begins their attack. We¡¯ll have to flee into Zuveria, but it¡¯s our only chance.¡±


    Thayla suddenly looks interested in that idea, but she¡¯s also torn enough that she doesn¡¯t immediately speak up against it. Bula, on the other hand¡­


    ¡°What?! And miss such a glorious battle?! We should stay and fight!¡±


    Avina gawks at the half-orc for a moment before letting out a laugh of disbelief.


    ¡°Us and what army, Bula?! Look, you might be a half-orc warrior and have more than enough strength to take on a dozen human men, but that¡¯s not a dozen! That¡¯s THOUSANDS! Maybe even tens of thousands!¡±


    Mikael stiffens, ready to step in if Bula takes offense to his freckled Soul Mechanic all but laughing in her face and questioning her combat prowess. But far from being offended, Bula just snorts again and crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°Hmph. The people of the city have had a taste of freedom now. They will fight for it.¡±


    Rolling her eyes, Avina shakes her head.


    ¡°They¡¯ll die for it, you mean.¡±


    But Bula just grins a savage grin.


    ¡°Yes. And while their deaths distract this army, while they fight their way through the streets of the city¡­ Mikael grows stronger. Each kill fuels his power, yes? This is how he overwhelmed me in the arena. So long as they do not know to gang up on him, Mikael could slay that army. With our help.¡±


    ¡­ Savage. Mikael has to keep reminding himself that Bula is not a ¡®good person¡¯ by his Earth sensibilities. She¡¯s not just a fighter, she¡¯s a warrior. A bloodthirsty one at that.


    When silence falls, Mikael can hardly believe it. Thayla at least has the good grace to look a little sick at the thought but doesn¡¯t raise any protest. Avina, meanwhile, looks as though she¡¯s contemplating it! Never mind that Bula¡¯s plan involves letting most of Alether sacrifice themselves as a distraction! It also involves Mikael killing thousands upon thousands of people! Soldiers, yes¡­ but they¡¯re still people!


    He opens his mouth to shut it down himself before Avina can agree with Bula¡­ however, he doesn¡¯t get the words out in time before something else happens. All of their attention is suddenly torn away from each other as a massive illusionary projection suddenly rises from the ground outside of Alether until its towering over the city.


    No¡­ rather, HE towers over the city. An elderly statesman with white hair and a white beard, wearing very important-looking robes, suddenly looms over Alether. There¡¯s a surprisingly kindly smile on his face, even as he reaches up to adjust the small spectacles sitting on the bridge of his nose.


    ¡°Greetings, People of Alether. For those who do not recognize me, I am Foss Sangrey, Regent-Lord of Ocreatha.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen and he shoots a glance at Avina, who is just as wide-eyed. Though she at least spares a moment to give a mute nod in confirmation that this is indeed Foss Sangrey, as far as she knows. But then¡­ how did that change their theories? How did the Council of Lords¡¯ puppet ruler wind up here at the head of an army?!


    Spreading his arms wide, Regent-Lord Sangrey lets out a rumbling sigh, looking like a well-dressed disapproving Santa Claus as he shakes his head.


    ¡°I and the Council of Lords have been informed of the situation here in Alether. A situation caused by the monster Zadicus Quinn. Traitor to our Kingdom, criminal and slaver, I can assure you, the Council of Lords does not condone his actions. They were reprehensible one and all. It is good that he has faced justice and been executed for his crimes.¡±


    Wait, what?


    ¡°In light of Zadicus Quinn¡¯s widespread evil, it is the decision of the Council and myself as your Regent-Lord that nobody within the bounds of Alether shall be held responsible for their actions in the last week. I offer you all a blanket pardon so long as you lay down your arms and do not fight the soldiers under my command. This army is not here to add to your grief¡­ but Alether must be put to rights. Please¡­ allow me the chance to make things right.¡±


    It all happens so fast from there. The city gates are thrown open and Mikael honestly has no clue if it was the remaining City Guard or the rebels who did it. Either way, the Regent-Lord¡¯s army flows into the city¡­ and from the balcony where they stand atop the Lord¡¯s Tower, Mikael can see people setting down their arms, returning to their homes, and effectively surrendering on the spot.


    No fighting erupts, causing Bula to grumble at Mikael¡¯s side. Even the battle-hungry half-orc realizes that they can¡¯t fight an army that large with just the four of them. Without Alether¡¯s population to provide a distraction, her incredibly bloody plan was nixed before it could even begin. Mikael feels a bit relieved that he doesn¡¯t have to be the one to rain on her parade. That said¡­


    ¡°Avina? Didn¡¯t you say Foss Sangrey was a decent man? That the Council of Lords were just using him?¡±


    Grey eyes wide as the pale, freckled Soul Mechanic stares down at the army still pouring into the city, Avina hesitates for a second before nodding.


    ¡°I¡­ yes. Before he was Regent-Lord, he was the Royal Family¡¯s closest ally, a staple in the King¡¯s Court. He was¡­ he was always a kindly sort of man. Or at least, that¡¯s what I heard. Maybe¡­ maybe it¡¯s okay? Maybe everything is fine?¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes narrow at that. There¡¯s a lot of little things that he¡¯s ignored since they met, but it¡¯s becoming harder and harder to just pretend they aren¡¯t there. Like just now, when Avina had to tack on ¡®or at least that¡¯s what I heard¡¯ after describing Foss Sangrey as a kindly sort of man in a fashion that almost spoke of¡­ personal experience.


    He¡¯d told Avina that he would give her time to fully come clean, but this¡­


    Before Mikael can decide what to do, the choice is taken out of his hands. Out of Avina¡¯s too. On the balcony railing right in front of them all, a much smaller illusionary projection of Foss Sangrey appears. The Royal Santa Claus lookalike shimmers into view, causing all four of them to immediately pull back in surprise. Then¡­ he looks at them. Right at them, clearly able to see them all as he fiddles with his spectacles some more.


    In the end, the Regent-Lord¡¯s eyes focus on Avina in particular, even as she freezes in place.


    ¡°Ah, Princess. You have no clue how happy I was to find out you were still alive. Not to worry, I¡¯ll be with you very shortly. The retaking of the city seems like it won¡¯t take very long at all. Oh, and I see you¡¯ve already used your Royal Bloodline to attune to the Lord¡¯s Ring! Wonderful, simply wonderful. Please prepare for my arrival. We¡¯ll have tea within the hour, just like the old days!¡±


    And then, just as quickly as he appeared, the little illusionary projection disappears, vanishing with a faint pop. The larger projection remains in place but seems to be some sort of recording at this point, because he doesn¡¯t speak any longer. He just smiles down at the city in a grandfatherly, kindly way, watching as his army takes Alether without a single drop of spilt blood.


    Mikael, on the other hand, only has eyes for Avina. But then to be fair, so do Thayla and Bula. The newly identified Princess blushes and bites her lower lip under their intense stares.


    ¡°I¡­ I can explain.¡±


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 31: Avina Relayis

    Let it be said, Avina has not been a Princess for a long, long time. In fact, for the vast majority of her life, she has not been a Princess. She was very, very young when the assassins came for her family that night, and she¡¯d been on the run ever since. Hardly the life of a Princess of Ocreatha, to be sure.


    And yet¡­ that didn¡¯t really change anything for anyone, did it? She still had the blood of the Reyalis Royal Family flowing through her veins. She might have discarded that name when she went into hiding, but the fact was, she was still Princess Reyalis to anyone who cared about such things. Such as the former Royal Advisor, now Regent-Lord, Foss Sangrey.


    As she sits across from her old tutor, a hastily prepared pot of tea between the two of them, Avina can feel the eyes of her new allies on her even now. There hadn¡¯t been nearly enough time for her to explain things to even her own satisfaction. An hour? No, she would have needed several to even really get started. But¡­ they¡¯d deserved an explanation after all her subterfuge. Mikael most of all.


    He was so much more than just her masterpiece, though Avina tried not to let on to that too much. He was¡­ he was a representation that she wasn¡¯t a failure. He was her salvation. Without him, she didn¡¯t know where she would be right now, but it certainly wouldn¡¯t be here. And how had she repaid him? With lies. She¡¯d kept the truth from him, even after finding out that Zadicus or his superior had clearly had some idea of who she was.


    Well, not anymore. Avina had told them who she was before Regent-Lord Sangrey¡¯s arrival. She had explained to them what had happened that night, twenty long years ago. She¡¯d been just a child, and even to this day she couldn¡¯t really say why she was the only member of her family who got to survive. Oh sure, she knew logically why, but it still felt¡­ wrong that she out of everyone had gotten to live. Almost like a waste.


    Her survival that night had been a fluke. A silly little game between children had seen her live through the night while her father, mother, and siblings were all brutally murdered in their beds. Indeed, the only reason that Avina had made it to the next morning was because she¡¯d befriended a daughter of one of the servants. They¡¯d been of similar age and build. Not really close in features, but that didn¡¯t end up mattering Avina supposed.


    She didn¡¯t even remember the other girl¡¯s name. All she remembered was being curious. Curious how the other half lived. She¡¯d spent her entire life up to that point in the lap of luxury. She¡¯d had the best sheets, the best beds, the best nightclothes. For one night, Avina had proposed a swap with her friend. A little trick that would be so successful no one would ever realize.


    They met up and switched clothing, before making their way to each other¡¯s beds for the evening. Avina had almost immediately regretted her choice, of course. The other girl¡¯s living conditions were deplorable, at least to the sensibilities of a young, spoilt Princess. The bed was lumpy and filled with straw. The blankets were scratchy and threadbare. Even the room itself was small and drafty, being located right next to the kitchens.


    But Avina couldn¡¯t go back on her word for two reasons. Number One, even at that young age, her father the King had instilled in her a sense of responsibility. Once you resolved to do something, you needed to see it through. That was what he¡¯d always told her. And Avina had resolved to see what living in her less fortunate friend¡¯s shoes was like for a night.


    Of course, the other reason was a bit more¡­ obvious. The other girl¡¯s mother had been asleep in the room when Avina and her friend made the swap. If she tried to leave, she would risk waking her and the ruse being discovered. And that could not be allowed, even if Avina had to suffer a little bit of discomfort.


    ¡­ Eventually, she¡¯d fallen asleep. And then she¡¯d woken up to pandemonium. The morning after the Royal Family¡¯s brutal murders, Avina had found out what happened¡­ and made a run for it. She¡¯d run and she¡¯d never looked back. After all, while her friend had been disfigured beyond identification, if her friend¡¯s mother saw Avina¡¯s face for even a moment, the servant woman would know precisely what had happened.


    Avina couldn¡¯t face that. She didn¡¯t want to face it. Better the woman think her daughter had run away to seek her fortune elsewhere, than to know that she was brutally killed in a case of mistaken identity.


    Unfortunately, while Avina had never looked back, she was beginning to think that she hadn¡¯t run far enough. Perhaps staying in Alether had been a mistake, but she¡¯d been afraid to leave the Kingdom of her birth. And now it was costing her. Here she was, her past having caught up to her. Foss Sangrey of all people, a man she¡¯d once called Uncle sat across from her with a kindly smile on his bearded face.


    Finished preparing his tea, the Regent-Lord brings it to his lips and take a deep sip before letting out a happy little sigh. Then, he gives Avina a broad smile, his cheeks rosy as he beams.


    ¡°You have no idea how much joy it brings me to see you alive and well, Princess.¡±


    Smiling rather weakly, wishing more than anything that she¡¯d had more time to talk with Mikael and the others before this conversation, Avina dips her head.


    ¡°Thank you, Regent-Lord. It gladdens my heart to see you again as well. I¡­ I have missed you.¡±


    Still beaming, the Regent-Lord bobs his head.


    ¡°Then please! Call me Uncle Foss, like you used to!¡±


    Blushing a little bit at that, Avina squirms in her seat.


    ¡°I¡­ would not be amiss to that, so long as you call me Avina then.¡±


    When the old Royal Advisor raises a bushy grey eyebrow at that, Avina is quick to explain.


    ¡°It¡¯s been¡­ a long time. Avina has been my name longer than any other. It¡¯s what I go by now¡­ Uncle.¡±


    He seems to soak this in for a moment, before his eyes crinkle in another smile as he nods again.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°Of course, Avina.¡±


    Then, his face almost immediately drops into a sorrowful expression.


    ¡°That night¡­ all those years ago. It was the hardest night of my life. The loss of the King and Queen, of your brothers and sisters¡­ it was a tragedy. Unspeakable in its horror and that was from the outside looking in. I can only imagine how it must have been for you. However did you survive?¡±


    She wants to tell him. To explain everything that had happened with her and her friend as she¡¯d hastily done for Mikael and the others. But it¡¯s too hard. Mikael, Thayla, and Bula are all far enough removed from the situation that she could explain it to them in rather clinical tones. However, Foss¡­ he hadn¡¯t lived with them necessarily, but he might as well have. The Royal Advisor was over at the Palace practically every day. It was entirely possible he would even know the mother of Avina¡¯s friend. He had always been that kind of man.


    In the end, she just shakes her head, staring down into her tea.


    ¡°¡­ Luck. I was just¡­ lucky.¡±


    Fortunately, the Regent-Lord seems to accept that. Humming thoughtfully, he nods after a moment and takes another sip of his tea. Then, he lets out a second sigh, looking almost hurt as he gazes at Avina over the rim of his spectacles.


    ¡°Why did you run, my dear? No¡­ rather, why did you not come to me? You were right to flee. Who knew whether those assassins were still close by, or what they would do if they found out about your survival. But¡­ if you had come to me, I could have kept you safe. I swear it.¡±


    Avina flinches, suitably chastised. Foss was right, of course. She should have gone to him. But she hadn¡¯t. She¡¯d ran and ran. She didn¡¯t really have a reason at the time. Only that she was terrified. Not just of being killed, but of being discovered alive. Of having it found out that her friend had died for her. A silly, childish fear to be sure, but a fear, nonetheless.


    Of course, in the decades since, Avina had had time to think about her reasons for why she never even tried to get into contact with her old tutor. After all, he was Regent-Lord, was he not? He¡¯d been Regent-Lord for twenty long years, and he¡¯d done his best in the role. But that was just it. He¡¯d done his best. However¡­


    ¡°I¡­ I suppose it¡¯s because I knew who killed my parents all along, Uncle.¡±


    Foss blinks at that, going still. Avina, meanwhile, gives a half shrug as she purses her lips together quite thinly, still studying her tea.


    ¡°It was the Council of Lords, obviously. Someone among them wanted my family dead. They wanted the power that my family wielded for themselves.¡±


    Looking up, right into Foss Sangrey¡¯s eyes, Avina sees the surprise there. Clearly, he didn¡¯t think she would be politically minded enough to figure it out. Which¡­ fair. She¡¯d been little more than a child the last time she¡¯d been royalty, and in the time since she¡¯d had to scrounge and scrape for everything she¡¯d earned. Still.


    ¡°I know you¡¯ve done your best to hold them off all these years, Uncle Foss¡­ but tell me true¡­ could you really have protected me from them AND kept them from taking the crown for themselves?¡±


    The ensuing silence from her old tutor lets her know the answer. Foss is quiet for a moment, before slowly nodding.


    ¡°You were right to be concerned, Avina. The Council of Lords¡­ they¡¯ve been corrupt for even longer than your father had been King. But they were never so bold until that night. They¡¯ve been a problem ever since, forcing me to allow bad apples like Zadicus Quinn to exist among their number.¡±


    Avina feels a swell of pride at his acknowledgment. She knew it. She knew she was right to hide.


    ¡°Not anymore though.¡±


    That brings her up short for a moment however and she tilts her head to the side in confusion before her eyes widen in realization. Seeing this, the Regent-Lord beams again, giving her a nod.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Avina. The Council of Lords has officially been defanged. This mess with Zadicus finally gave me the casus belli to move as I¡¯ve wanted to for so long. Now¡­ now the Kingdom of Ocreatha can move past the corruption of its Lords and into a brighter future.¡±


    Of course. The army outside¡­ if it belonged to Uncle Foss, then the Council of Lords didn¡¯t stand a chance. An army that large and magnificent would be able to take on any of the forces that the Lords of Ocreatha could hope to bring to bear. Even if they all banded together, they would be hard pressed to win. And they wouldn¡¯t band together, because they hated each other¡¯s guts as much as they hated everyone else.


    A sense of relief fills Avina as she looks into Foss Sangrey¡¯s kindly, grandfatherly eyes. With him taking the reins, Ocreatha would be just fine.


    ¡°Together, we¡¯ll be able to right all the wrongs committed by the Council of Lords, Avina. I¡¯m so glad to have you at my side once more, my dear girl.¡±


    That¡­ causes Avina to pause. Funnily enough, she hadn¡¯t even thought about that. The idea of becoming an official Princess again¡­ it hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind. Her place¡­ her place was with Mikael. She was his Soul Mechanic after all, and the Soul Engine in his chest still required constant attention even if it had somehow evolved all on its own. ESPECIALLY because it had somehow evolved all on its own.


    But how to tell Uncle Foss that? As Avina struggles to find the words, the moment of silence is broken when Mikael suddenly steps forward and speaks up.


    ¡°Where exactly did you get the army to be able to do all of this, Regent-Lord?¡±


    Avina turns her head to look at Mikael aghast. His tone is clipped and his words are bordering on disrespectful. Before she can reprimand him, however, Uncle Foss responds with a jovial laugh.


    ¡°Oho! And who is this then? Is this¡­ a successful project, Avina? My oh my¡­¡±


    Avina blinks, even as the stately old man leans forward, studying Mikael like one might a particularly interesting insect. Mikael, meanwhile, is standing there tense and high-strung, his jaw clenched as he glances from the Regent-Lord¡­ to the two guards standing motionless behind the seated man.


    The room was occupied by seven individuals at the moment. On one side was Avina sat on one couch with Mikael, Thayla, and Bula all arrayed behind her. On the other side was Foss sat on the other couch with two of his soldiers standing at attention behind them. She hadn¡¯t begrudged her old tutor the protection, of course. Alether HAD just been in a state of anarchy after all, anarchy that THEY had caused.


    But¡­ the way Mikael is looking at Uncle Foss¡¯ guards draws Avina¡¯s attention to them as well. Until that is, the Regent-Lord¡¯s next words cause her focus to snap back to him.


    ¡°What you¡¯ve accomplished with your Soul Engine is simply marvelous, Avina.¡±


    He¡¯s not looking at her. He¡¯s looking at Mikael. Who only tenses up further when Uncle Foss somehow names her device¡­ despite the fact that he should have had no way of knowing what she¡¯d titled her creation. The only people who knew she¡¯d called it a Soul Engine were either in this room or dead¡­ or they were Zadicus Quinn¡¯s mysterious benefactor on the other end of the skull who had seemed to know much too much about her already.


    A sinking feeling begins to fill Avina¡¯s gut and she places a hand on her abdomen. She hasn¡¯t even had any of the tea, and yet she feels like she might be sick. Surely¡­ surely not, right? There was just no way.


    ¡°Avina¡­¡±


    Mikael¡¯s voice is tense as can be and his eyes are now firmly fixed on the two guards that Foss has brought with him. His hand is on the pommel of his sword, even as he speaks through clenched teeth.


    ¡°Avina¡­ those two soldiers. They don¡¯t have souls.¡±


    Avina stares now too. At the two guards who don¡¯t even react to Mikael¡¯s accusation. The soldiers who haven¡¯t moved a single muscle since taking up position behind their superior. Discipline was one thing¡­ but this? This was something else.


    Oh. Oh no.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 32: The Regent-Lord

    Mikael hated having to be the one to do this. Truly he did. Especially because he could tell how much Avina cared for the seemingly jovial old man seated across from her. She had even started calling him Uncle, albeit under his instruction. It was clear that the two went way back. Unfortunately, Mikael couldn¡¯t stay quiet. Not any longer.


    It was one thing learning that Avina was royalty. The long-lost Princess Reyalis, who apparently wasn¡¯t supposed to BE long-lost. Everyone was supposed to think Avina was dead, she¡¯d been confident of that fact. No one should have known she survived the night her entire family was assassinated. Was Mikael upset about the secret keeping? Perhaps a little. But he understood why Avina hadn¡¯t wanted to talk about it. Why she might have wanted to leave it all in the past.


    That was going to be impossible though, it would seem. Because the man sitting across from Avina was dead set on bringing her back into the fold. If it were just that, Mikael might not have minded. Foss Sangrey certainly seemed like a good man on the surface. Avina had had nothing but nice things to say about him.


    But¡­ more and more, things just weren¡¯t adding up. To start with, there was the whole conversation they¡¯d had on the balcony about the Regent-Lord¡¯s army that Avina had conveniently forgotten once she found out who said army belonged to.


    Still, Avina clearly had blinders on where the Regent-Lord was concerned due to their history and the influence he¡¯d clearly had on her early life. Mikael had no such blinders. And while Foss and Avina had been talking all this time, Mikael had been listening¡­ and watching.


    On the face of it, the Regent-Lord¡¯s willingness to only bring two soldiers spoke well of him. After all, there were four of them and he only had two guards. Except¡­ except there was definitely something wrong with his soldiers. Something Mikael couldn¡¯t shake. It had taken him a while to figure it out, but eventually he¡¯d picked up on what he was missing. Or rather¡­ what THEY were missing.


    The guards that Foss Sangrey brought with him into the Lord¡¯s Tower hadn¡¯t moved a muscle since the man had sat down. Not even to breath. They¡¯d stood absolutely still, like a pair of statues, their faces hidden behind concealing helmets so that Mikael couldn¡¯t even see their eyes. On top of that, there was Mikael¡¯s new sensory ability. It might have seemed like the least of his new magic. Barely a foot note compared to what else he could do with the talent he¡¯d gained from absorbing Zadicus¡¯ soul.


    But right now, it was incredibly crucial in discerning a plain and simple truth¡­ the two men standing behind Foss Sangrey had no souls.


    Mikael¡¯s accusation hangs in the air as Avina goes paler than she already is at his words. The Regent-Lord, meanwhile, pauses for only a moment before letting out a little chuckle.


    ¡°Hah! What an interesting thing to say. How could you possibly know one way or the other who has a soul or not, my boy?¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Mikael grips down harder on his sword¡¯s handle, though he doesn¡¯t draw it. Yet.


    ¡°After I consumed the soul of Zadicus Quinn, I also gained his magical talent. Along with that came a growing ability to see souls.¡±


    The bearded man takes this in for a moment, blinking at Mikael¡¯s blunt honesty. Then, he¡¯s all smiles again.


    ¡°Well now, that¡¯s fascinating. Truly fascinating. Still, you said growing, did you not? It seems to me that such a¡­ new ability would be a bit finicky. Perhaps the armor of my soldiers is merely blocking your sight, hm? That said, what a magnificent creation, Princess. Even if he¡¯s a little rough still, he¡¯s a fantastic prototype. You should be proud of yourself!¡±


    Mikael clenches his jaw at the brush off. If it were just the soul sight, maybe he¡¯d even back down. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing that didn¡¯t add up. However, before he can speak, Avina¡¯s voice suddenly cuts through the stillness of the moment, her tone quiet but her words crystal clear all the same.


    ¡°¡­ How did you know about the Soul Engine, Regent-Lord? How did you know what it was called? The only one who even knew what I called it before I succeeded with Mikael¡­ was Zadicus Quinn.¡±


    And there it was. A feeling of relief goes through Mikael as he realizes that Avina is finally starting to see through Foss Sangrey¡¯s lies. However, that relief is quickly stamped out by apprehension as the situation in the room grows¡­ undeniably tense.


    With a low sigh, the kindly old grandfather from before sits back on the couch¡­ and melts away. Suddenly, it¡¯s the Regent-Lord of Ocreatha that they¡¯re all looking at, as though Avina dropping the ¡®Uncle¡¯ and using his title has¡­ invoked his true self somehow. Foss at least doesn¡¯t bother trying to tell Avina that she¡¯s mistaken as well. Instead, he just shakes his head, looking at her with a tinge of disappointment.


    ¡°Ah, Princess. Always too clever by half, my girl. Yes¡­ you¡¯ve sussed me out. Zadicus Quinn was my agent.¡±


    The tension in the room skyrockets. Nobody on their side has a good reaction to that, but at the same time¡­ it¡¯s hard to draw steel on an old man that¡¯s just sitting there. Foss Sangrey looks supremely unconcerned that he¡¯s just revealed himself to be the one pulling the strings of someone all four of them considered their greatest enemy. Instead, he laces his hands together in front of him and smiles softly.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I gave him too much leeway with you, my dear. My sincerest apologies for that. Obviously, I knew you were alive for quite some time¡­ from almost the very moment you fled the Capital all those years ago, in fact. I had my men watching you, making sure you didn¡¯t get into too much trouble. And when you settled in Alether¡­ well, Quinn seemed like the best option to keep a close eye on you and act as an intermediary so that I could fund your research without you knowing where the money came from.¡±


    Foss shrugs and lets out another sigh.


    ¡°In hindsight, I should have curtailed his ambitions. He clearly wasn¡¯t ready to be Lord of Alether if he could not only lose you but also his head in the span of two weeks. The boy was too ambitious by half¡­ he lost sight of his purpose.¡±


    ¡°¡­ His purpose. Watching over me? To what end?¡±


    When Avina finally speaks, she sounds subdued. Quiet. But also desperate for answers. Foss¡¯ smile grows as he tilts his head in her direction.


    ¡°I think you know what end, Princess. Your Family¡­ all of you were Trueborn Necromancers.¡±


    Avina flinches at that, even as Mikael furrows his brow. Trueborn Necromancers? What did that mean? What was the difference between that and a regular Necromancer?


    ¡°Your father, my dearest friend, taught me everything I know. I think it¡¯s safe to say that I¡¯m the most accomplished Trained Necromancer not just in Ocreatha, but on the entire continent. Alas, that means nothing in the face of Trueborn Talent. Your father could not teach me everything he knew. He could not give me the True Necromancy that he and your family are capable of. A magic said to be capable of¡­ immortality.¡±


    At that, Foss¡¯ eyes slide over to Mikael. They don¡¯t look nearly as jolly or jovial anymore. His rosy cheeks are nowhere to be seen. If anything, Mikael would say that the Regent-Lord¡¯s gaze was almost¡­ sunken in nature.


    ¡°With the death of your family, you became the only True Necromancer left in Ocreatha, Princess. Perhaps in the entirety of Vaclatora. You became the only source of further learning, no matter how unwitting. Your research, your experiments¡­ you¡¯ve helped me more than you know. You¡¯ve-!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care about any of that. My family. Did you have them killed?¡±


    When Avina suddenly cuts in, Mikael tenses up. His eyes widen at her point blank question, however. Somehow, he hadn¡¯t even thought of that. But¡­ Foss doesn¡¯t even try to deny it. He nods his head, almost looking like he regretted it. As it turns out, he did.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m afraid. In my shortsightedness all those years ago, I had them slaughtered. I¡¯d hoped that by studying their corpses¡­ your corpses, I suppose, that I could glean some information. Of course, that¡¯s how I found out you were alive in the first place. Whatever poor girl was in your bed that night was unrecognizable once my men got done with her, but there was no touch of True Necromancy to her. Not like I knew lay within you.¡±


    A shiver runs down Mikael¡¯s spine at how¡­ casually Foss talks about the little girl who Avina traded places with on the night of her family¡¯s murder. He¡¯d thought Zadicus Quinn was an evil bastard. And to be fair, he was. But his was a petty, short-sighted, vainglorious sort of evil. This man? This man was a far more terrible kind of monster, wasn¡¯t he?


    Avina trembles on the couch, raw emotion causing her to shake. It¡¯s clear that the Regent-Lord sees this, but he continues on anyways.


    ¡°I truly am sorry for what I did to your parents and siblings, Princess.¡±


    Choking, Avina glares at the man she¡¯d called Uncle mere minutes ago.


    ¡°You¡¯re¡­ sorry?¡±


    Nodding, Foss¡¯ aged face is lined with regret.


    ¡°Indeed. After all, it did not yield the results that I wanted. And now, all these years later, I feel the bite of age more and more. Unfortunately, watching your work from afar has not produced the results I was hoping for. Zadicus Quinn clearly wasn¡¯t keeping nearly a close enough eye on you. The bodies he provided me should have borne fruit ages ago if you were able to install your Soul Engine in this one successfully, but every single one could be considered a failure compared to him.¡±


    Wait¡­ what? There¡¯s a sudden sinking feeling in Mikael¡¯s gut as Foss gestures to his guards. Wordlessly, they reach up and remove their helmets¡­ revealing what Mikael already anticipated. They¡¯re undead. Their eyes are milky white, their skin is ashen grey, and they do not breathe. Blood does not flow through their veins. They¡¯re basically incredibly well-made zombies in equally well-made armor. From the look of things, they don¡¯t have a single pair of braincells to rub together between them either.


    ¡°After all, this one¡­ he¡¯s the final Hero that Zadicus Quinn summoned to this world, is he not? After the boy¡­ misplaced the body, I told him to cease using the Summoning Ritual until the Knight of the Rose either gave up and moved on or could be dealt with. But it seems he didn¡¯t actually misplace the body, did he? No¡­ you appropriated it.¡±


    Thayla steps forward then. Whether it¡¯s the mention of her presence or the horrifying realization slowly dawning on them all, the female knight can remain quiet no longer.


    ¡°You mean to say¡­ those two were Summoned Heroes as well?¡±


    Looking over at her, Foss smiles a seemingly jovial smile. Except this one doesn¡¯t reach his eyes.


    ¡°Oh? Oh yes, Dame Dawnguard. They all are.¡±


    They all are. Mikael¡¯s blood pounds in his ears at those three words. They all are. That entire army outside of Alether¡­ no, not outside anymore. Inside the city. Keeping the peace. Each and every last one of them is¡­ like him? Summoned by Zadicus. Used in the arena to line his pockets¡­ and then sent on to Foss Sangrey to be raised as undead by the Necromancer.


    No wonder the army had managed to make it to Alether so rapidly. It probably was kept fairly close by to be fair, but also¡­ undead didn¡¯t need to eat, drink, or sleep. They could march indefinitely. Fight indefinitely too.


    ¡°You¡¯re a monster.¡±


    Avina¡¯s whispered words provoke a laugh from Foss. The older man shakes his head.


    ¡°My dear Princess¡­ you were just singing my praises a few minutes ago. Nothing has changed. I am still all that stands between the corruption inherent in the Council of Lords and this Kingdom¡¯s citizenry. So what if the peace I will bring to Ocreatha comes on the back of some otherworlders? They had their chance to survive in Quinn¡¯s arenas. Not a single one did. Not even this one, as I understand it.¡±


    Mikael bristles at that, having been on the receiving end of that ¡®chance¡¯ personally. Thrown into a sand pit with his mind torn in two, wearing nothing but a pair of pants and with his wrists and ankles shackled together. What a fucking joke.


    SHIIIIIING!


    The sound of a blade being drawn suddenly sounds through the room. For a second, Mikael thinks he¡¯s the one who did it, purely on instinct. But no¡­ it¡¯s Thayla and the Knight of the Rose is pointing said blade at Foss Sangrey.


    ¡°Foss Sangrey, you have committed crimes too numerous to count and too unimaginable to ever be forgiven! Submit yourself to my custody so that I might return you to the Citadel to stand trial for your heinous actions!¡±


    Perking up from where she¡¯d been watching all of this, Bula hefts up her battle axe.


    ¡°Oooh! Fight time?¡±


    Mikael grunts and draws his sword as well, already well aware that the mad man in front of them isn¡¯t going to just surrender without a fight. In fact, as Mikael draws his blade, the undead soldiers behind Foss both draw theirs as well. And at the same time¡­ the Regent-Lord rises, a chuckle on his lips as inky black darkness begins to waft off of him, rising from his body and the floor around his feet.


    ¡°Adorable, really. But I should be the one saying that to all of you. If the Princess advocates for it, perhaps your lives can be spared. Well, except for the Hero. I do apologize, Princess, but I¡¯m afraid that he will have to be put down and dissected. That working Soul Engine¡­ just imagine how replicating it might increase the strength of my forces. And from the look of things, it might just hold the secrets to immortality as well.¡±


    There¡¯s a pause at that as everyone waits for everyone else to make the first move. But in the end, the first move comes from the only person who¡¯s remained seated.


    ¡°¡­ I refuse.¡±


    Suddenly, Foss lets out a surprised grunt, his body buckling briefly. Only the inky blackness keeps him upright. Meanwhile, his two undead guards both collapse to the floor, pinned there in an instant. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as he realizes what it is¡­ Avina is still wearing Zadicus Quinn¡¯s ring. The defenses of the Lord¡¯s Tower are HERS to command.


    Rising to her feet at long last, Avina¡¯s eyes blaze with fury.


    ¡°Mikael is MINE, you bastard! I won¡¯t let you touch him! I¡¯ll kill you before I let you lay a hand on him! In fact, for what you did to my family, I¡¯LL KILL YOU RIGHT FUCKING-!¡±


    Only because he¡¯s looking for it is Mikael able to react in time. Traveling along the floor as Avina speaks are unnaturally dark, thick shadows. And they¡¯re heading right for his Soul Mechanic. With a shout, Mikael leaps forward and lashes out with his own magic almost on instinct. A teal whip of power slices through the shadows, cutting them in twain and making them shriek and hiss as they pull back at the damage.


    In response, the Regent-Lord stops playing games. Instantly, he straightens up¡­ and his undead guards rise from the floor like the defenses of the Lord¡¯s Tower suddenly mean nothing to them. Avina¡¯s eyes widen and she tries to throw out her hand again¡­ but it has no effect. Then, there¡¯s a sizzling sound and Avina cries out, forced to tear the Lord¡¯s Ring from her finger.


    ¡°My dear, dear girl¡­ it was so simple, convincing the commoners that I was but a puppet, forced to do the corrupt Council of Lords¡¯ bidding. But to have convinced you as well¡­ it speaks to the gaps in your education. I was named Regent-Lord, Princess. That title bears quite a bit of weight¡­ and comes with its own sort of power. For instance, the bestowal of a Lord¡¯s Ring can only be done by my hand¡­ and by that same token, the right to take BACK a Lord¡¯s Ring also falls under my purview. Now please¡­ stop this ridiculous rebellion. It¡¯s time to return home, Princess.¡±


    ¡°N-NEVER!¡±


    Avina¡¯s denial makes Foss¡¯ smile drop into a dark scowl.


    ¡°So be it.¡±


    Both of his hands come up and black shadows go surging forward. Not subtle and careful across the floor this time, but a massive wall that encompasses the entire room. With a hoarse shout, Mikael calls upon the power of the Soul Engine and forms a bulwark of teal soul energy between them and the old Necromancer. Then, he looks to the others.


    ¡°We need to go. NOW.¡±


    It only takes Avina and Thayla a second to realize the gravity of the situation and nod in agreement. Bula isn¡¯t so inclined.


    ¡°What?! And run from the fight?!¡±


    But Mikael just shakes his head.


    ¡°Bula, think! It¡¯s not just these three. The barrier is down. There¡¯s thousands and thousands of undead converging on this tower right this moment! Undead who are all well-armed and well-armored. Undead who I can¡¯t absorb anything from, even if I DO manage to kill them!¡±


    The half-orc¡¯s eyes narrow in understanding. Her original plan, to have Mikael just slaughter his way through the army, getting stronger as he went¡­ it was even less viable now than ever before. Foss Sangrey had brought his greatest counter¡­ a whole bunch of fighters that Mikael might be able to re-kill but couldn¡¯t actually get any power off of. They were effectively outnumbered ten thousand to one with no ace in the hole to turn the tide.


    ¡°Tch. Fine!¡±


    He¡¯s glad she¡¯s on board, because a moment later Foss Sangrey¡¯s shadowy, necromantic magic redoubles in strength and it takes all of Mikael¡¯s power to keep holding him back. Fortunately, perhaps the only bit of fortune they had right now, they¡¯d chosen the side of the room with the doors on it. Even as the Regent Lord¡¯s magic pushes and pushes, Mikael lets himself be pushed back, his girls all behind him, getting the doors open.


    And then¡­ they run. Of course, the barrier around the Lord¡¯s Tower is actually turned inward by the time they make it to the ground floor¡­ which is probably why the Regent-Lord doesn¡¯t think he needs to chase after them, since as far as he¡¯s concerned, they¡¯re trapped in the tower with him. But he doesn¡¯t seem to know about Zadicus¡¯ secret escape tunnel, because there¡¯s no one, alive or undead, waiting for them down in the sewers as they flee the Lord¡¯s Tower in the same way they entered it a week before.


    From there, there¡¯s really only one choice though. Foss Sangrey is not Zadicus Quinn. His army of Undead Heroes certainly aren¡¯t the incompetent City Guard that the late Lord employed either. Hiding out in the city isn¡¯t an option. Hiding out anywhere in Ocreatha isn¡¯t really an option.


    In the end, they keep running. They keep fleeing. All the way across the border into the Empire of Zuveria.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 33: Next Steps

    Seated in a tavern a few days ride away from the border between the Zuverian Empire and the Kingdom of Ocreatha, a pair of men nurse drinks between themselves as they talk back and forth across a solidly made wooden table.


    ¡°Oi, you hear the news from across the border?¡±


    ¡°Hm? No, what happened.¡±


    ¡°Tch, where you been man, living under a rock? That Regent-Lord fella over there went and declared himself the Supreme King of Ocreatha.¡±


    The second man¡¯s eyes bulge out of his head at that, before he lets out a laugh.


    ¡°Bahaha! ¡®Supreme King¡¯! The balls on that fucker! But wait, isn¡¯t there some Council of Lords over there or something? And they¡¯re just letting him get away with it?¡±


    The first man shakes his head, grinning the grin of someone who knows something that his companion doesn¡¯t.


    ¡°That¡¯s just it. Part of the declaration was that Supreme King Sangrey disbanded the Council of Lords. They can either fall in line or get crushed beneath his boot, I guess.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Huh. Damn. Can¡¯t imagine they liked that one bit, did they?¡±


    ¡°Some of them sure didn¡¯t. But from what I hear, those ones aren¡¯t around anymore. Ocreatha¡¯s new Supreme King didn¡¯t move without certain assurances, ya see?¡±


    ¡°Assurances. Pah! Where¡¯d ya learn such fancy words, mate?¡±


    ¡°Oi! Shut it! I¡¯m plenty sophist¡­ sofistic¡­ I¡¯m plenty smart, alright?¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright!¡±


    The first man gives the second man a side eye for a moment until the second man raises his hands in apologetic surrender. Only then does the first man continue on.


    ¡°Anyways¡­ from what I hear, the Council of Lords was pretty fucking corrupt as it was. Hear that they were doing all sorts of awful shit over there. Turning a blind eye to slavery, practicing evil, forbidden magics. Calling himself ¡®Supreme King¡¯ might be a little silly, but it might not be so bad having a man like Foss Sangrey in charge of Ocreatha. After all, he didn¡¯t do a half-bad job as Regent-Lord right?¡±


    The second man just shrugs and takes a long pull from his mug before smacking it down on the table and burping.


    ¡°Pah! What does it matter, really? We¡¯re in the Empire of Zuveria! What happens in Ocreatha doesn¡¯t mean anything to us mate!¡±


    ¡°Oi! Idiot! It could mean something if war broke out, you moron!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯ll never happen! Ocreatha is Ocreatha and Zuveria is Zuveria. They wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±


    ¡°Hmph¡­ whatever.¡±


    As the first man subsides into grumbling and the second snickers at his more politically minded friend¡¯s expense, a cloaked figure at another table nurses from his own drink right up until a second cloaked figure walks up and speaks to him in a quiet tone.


    ¡°Mikael. We¡¯ve secured a room for the night.¡±


    Throwing back the last of his mug of alcohol, grimacing at the poor taste, Mikael nods to Thayla and rises from his chair, followed the hooded Knight of the Rose up to the tavern¡¯s second floor where Avina and Bula are already waiting for them in their room.


    Getting this far into Zuveria hadn¡¯t been easy. They hadn¡¯t known if Foss would send a force after them or not, nor had they had actual horses to ride. Technically, Mikael and Bula could both run at the same speed as a horse, and for as long as one too. But Thayla and Avina could not, and while carrying Avina WAS possible, carrying Thayla with all her gear would have undeniably slowed them down.


    Besides, fleeing in a straight line would have been the height of foolishness. Instead, they¡¯d basically fled in a roundabout fashion, circling back on themselves what felt like half a dozen times, trying to make sure that no matter what, they weren¡¯t followed.


    As such, even though this Zuverian Town was a few days¡¯ ride from Alether, it had taken them three weeks to get here all the same. And it also wasn¡¯t on the main road out of Alether and into Zuveria either, but on an off-shoot side road to hopefully throw Foss completely off their scent. Whether that had worked or not¡­ well, only time would tell.


    One thing was for sure though, Mikael was sick and tired of roughing it out in the wilderness with what little resources they¡¯d managed to scrounge up as they went along. Maybe it would have been fine if they could have gathered some supplies before leaving Alether, like bedrolls or basic camping equipment, but their flight from the city had had to be too fast for that. If they¡¯d dallied for even a few minutes, the newly titled ¡®Supreme King¡¯ and his undead army would have closed off any possibility of escape.


    Of course, as nice as it was to be indoors for the night for once, this also meant it was time to discuss next steps. Perhaps they could have done so at any given point over the last three weeks, but at the end of the day, they¡¯d been much too busy just trying to make sure they weren¡¯t caught by any would be pursuers. This was the first chance any of them had had to truly breathe in all this time.


    ¡°Tch. Still think we should have slowed down and seen if they were really after us. Could¡¯ve killed anyone who followed us into Zuveria.¡±


    Of course, out of the group of four, Bula had made her position on their ¡®cowardly¡¯ fleeing quite clear. While she¡¯d accepted that staying in Alether itself wasn¡¯t in the cards, she felt that they should have stood their ground and seen who was actually after them. Only her debt to Mikael had made her listen to him when he¡¯d kept them on the move. And only Mikael¡¯s concern for Avina and her inherent squishiness had in turn kept him from trying out Bula¡¯s idea.


    He wasn¡¯t afraid for himself or Bula, or even Thayla. Not even against Foss¡¯ undead heroes. But Avina? His Soul Mechanic wasn¡¯t much of a fighter, regardless of what the bastard had said about her family being ¡®Trueborn Necromancers¡¯.


    ¡°Still, what¡¯s done is done.¡±


    Crossing her arms over her chest, Bula grunts.


    ¡°If we¡¯re finally talking about what we¡¯re gonna do next, I say we forget about all that Ocreatha bullshit. There¡¯s always room for mercenaries here in Zuveria. Let¡¯s find ourselves a proper battle and sell our services for some coin!¡±


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The half-orc uncrosses her arms in order to punch a fist into her palm, a savage grin on her face as she offers up her suggestion. Of course¡­


    ¡°What?! Forget about Ocreatha?! Don¡¯t be absurd! Foss Sangrey MUST be brought to justice! You don¡¯t care that he was Zadicus¡¯ Master?¡±


    Thayla sounds offended that Bula would even suggest not trying to bring Foss to justice. Bula, in turn, snorts derisively.


    ¡°Why should I? Zadicus was the bastard who tricked me. He¡¯s dead now. I¡¯m happy. Foss is just some old fucker. Let him rule Ocreatha. Wasn¡¯t he ruling it anyways for like twenty years or something?¡±


    Straight from the mouth of babes. Bula isn¡¯t wrong. Has anything really changed in Ocreatha? The only difference now is that Foss is ruling openly, instead of from the shadows. However, the half-orc is ignoring the elephant in the room.


    ¡°¡­ We can¡¯t just forget about it. Or at least, I can¡¯t.¡±


    Avina¡¯s tone is quiet when the freckled young woman finally speaks up, but she commands all of their attention, nonetheless. Looking up from her hands, the former Princess frowns.


    ¡°Foss Sangrey will stop at nothing to get me back now that I¡¯m out from under his thumb. He¡¯s spent the past decade using my research to create his army, but I never succeeded before Mikael¡­ and so his¡­ creations are subpar. Now that he¡¯s seen what Mikael and the Soul Engine can really do, he won¡¯t stop until he can retrieve me¡­ and likely Mikael as well. He¡¯ll want both of us. Me to force my service, and Mikael to dissect, just like he said back in the tower. Maybe he hasn¡¯t sent pursuers after us just yet, or maybe we shook them for now¡­ but one way or another, he will hunt us down.¡±


    Straightening up, Avina¡¯s jaw clenches, her dark lips pressing together in a thin line of disdain.


    ¡°And to that¡­ to that I say good. Let him come. Because I¡¯m not going to forgive or forget either. The bastard killed my family. I may not want to be a Princess anymore, but that doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t want revenge. I¡¯m done running.¡±


    There¡¯s a brief beat of silence at that, before Avina turns her gaze onto Bula and Thayla.


    ¡°Of course, Bula is right. Mikael and I might have no choice but to stand and fight, but you two¡­ you have no stake here. You can leave if you want and Foss probably won¡¯t pursue you. If you want to part ways from us here, then I won¡¯t blame you.¡±


    There¡¯s a challenge in her tone, even as she says those words. Mikael can¡¯t help but be a little amused because it¡¯s clear to him that Avina knows exactly what she¡¯s doing. Thayla scoffs while Bula bristles, but it¡¯s the Knight of the Rose who speaks first.


    ¡°No stake? Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Setting aside that every crime I pursued Zadicus for can also be laid at Foss Sangrey¡¯s feet, and many more at that¡­ besides all that, do you really think a man like Foss Sangrey will stop at just Ocreatha? It¡¯s only a matter of time before he points that army of undead heroes in the direction of the Zuverian Empire. And with so much of Zuveria¡¯s armies tied up in defending against the constant encroachment from denizens of the Savage Lands, Ocreatha might actually be able to do some real damage. He needs to be stopped.¡±


    Thayla takes a deep breath after that long diatribe¡­ and then the white-haired female knight flushes and tosses a glance in Mikael¡¯s direction, biting her lower lip.


    ¡°And besides, my service to Sir Mikael does not end simply because Zadicus Quinn is dead. A life for a life.¡±


    Seeming pleased with Thayla¡¯s response, Avina has a smirk on her face, even as she looks to Bula next. The half-orc stiffens at the challenge in Avina¡¯s gaze, before finally scoffing and shaking herself as she growls.


    ¡°Tch. As though I would pass up such a glorious fight. I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    There¡¯s a brief pause at that, given Bula had just been advocating that they all go just leave Ocreatha to its fate. But no one calls her on it. Instead, Mikael steps forward and gives his own two cents.


    ¡°Avina is right. The ¡®Supreme King¡¯ won¡¯t ever stop hunting the two of us. And Thayla is right too. A man as ambitious as that, with an army like that at his command WILL eventually invade his neighbor. Whether it¡¯s to get at us or just because he wants to expand his power. This isn¡¯t a fight we can run from.¡±


    Avina and Thayla have grim expressions as they nod. Bula, meanwhile, grins a savage grin, looking almost like she wants to either fight or mount him right then and there. He¡¯s not sure which. As it is, he can¡¯t give her what she wants either way right now. Because first¡­


    ¡°The only thing is¡­ how? How are the four of us supposed to take on Foss Sangrey and his invincible army?¡±


    That¡­ brings a period of silence to the small room. Avina looks uncertain. Bula looks mulish. Thayla on the other hand¡­ Thayla winces, looking very much torn. But finally, the Knight of the Rose speaks up.


    ¡°We need help. We need the Order.¡±


    Avina scoffs at that.


    ¡°You mean the Order of the Rose? I remember you suggesting that before, Thayla. And I also remember shutting down the idea. I don¡¯t know if the reasons for doing so have changed, exactly.¡±


    Thayla grimaces at Avina¡¯s sarcastic drawl but doesn¡¯t back down.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m talking about the Citadel. The Order of the Rose is Zuveria¡¯s largest Knightly Order. Things have changed Avina. Dramatically. The Order NEEDS to know what Foss is up to¡­ what he¡¯s done in Ocreatha. We can argue for aid based on the things we¡¯ve seen and the actions he¡¯s taken. This isn¡¯t the same as it was with Zadicus. Foss Sangrey¡¯s crimes threaten the entire continent. His army is an affront to every good, sensible living being on Vaclatora. I am confident that the Order of the Rose will see reason once we explain things to them.¡±


    Them. Mikael notes the use of the word, even as Avina scowls angrily and crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°And if they don¡¯t? What then, Thayla? What if they decree me a heretic and Mikael an abomination to be put down? What if they kill us where we stand?¡±


    But Thayla shakes her head, Avina¡¯s old argument clearly not holding as much weight with the female knight anymore. And perhaps it shouldn¡¯t.


    ¡°I won¡¯t let them. And neither will Mikael. Things have changed, Avina. Not just in regard to the threat we face, but for our group as well. If¡­ if the Citadel attempts to harm you or Mikael, I will not allow it. I will stop them.¡±


    That definitely catches Avina by surprise. She looks taken aback, even as she regards Thayla in a new light.


    ¡°¡­ You would fight your fellow knights for us?¡±


    With no hesitation, Thayla nods sharply.


    ¡°I would. Not that I expect I¡¯d be nearly as effective as Sir Mikael himself. Having fought him myself and having seen him do battle¡­ I suspect that he could take on the entire Citadel by himself if it were necessary. After all¡­ the Order of the Rose is not nearly as soulless as Foss Sangrey¡¯s army.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s dry tone makes Mikael wince as she brings up Bula¡¯s old idea of how he might be capable of singlehandedly killing an army, albeit in a roundabout way. Seeing his wince, the female knight gives him an apologetic smile.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe it will come to that though, Sir Mikael. I believe the Knight-Superior, leader of the Order of the Rose, can be convinced that the situation is too serious to censure you or Avina. I believe this with all my heart.¡±


    He can see in Thayla¡¯s blue eyes that she means her words. He can see her conviction. Still¡­ Mikael looks to Avina to see how she¡¯s feeling. After a long moment, his Soul Mechanic sighs.


    ¡°Well¡­ it probably is our best bet of getting reinforcements against Foss, I suppose. If nothing else, if we can convince them that the undead army is real, they¡¯re sure to jump on it like a dog on a bone.¡±


    Thayla flushes at Avina¡¯s description, but also doesn¡¯t argue the point. Mikael just nods.


    ¡°Very well then. It¡¯s settled. We¡¯ll head for the Citadel tomorrow. Thayla, we¡¯ll be counting on you to get us there.¡±


    ¡°O-Of course, Sir Mikael!¡±


    Looking around at the three women in the room with him, Mikael finds himself adopting a rather crooked grin.


    ¡°I would say let¡¯s get some rest¡­ but from the looks all of you are giving me, somehow I don¡¯t think that will be possible, will it?¡±


    Bula growls in agreement, while Thayla blushes and then sheepishly nods her head. Avina hums and then shrugs.


    ¡°It has been some time, hasn¡¯t it? All these weeks running and sleeping with one eye open¡­ we haven¡¯t really had time for any¡­ fun, have we?¡±


    Mikael just snorts. He might not need the sleep, but that didn¡¯t mean his girls didn¡¯t. It seemed that it would fall to him to make sure that they all were too tired to do anything but rest then. Such a heavy burden to bear¡­ but he¡¯d bear it gladly, he supposed. He opens his mouth to speak, only for Bula to finally lose her battle with her self-control and lunge at him with a lustful growl.


    Right then. He¡¯d start with her.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 34: Stress Relief (Lewd)

    Bula might have taken the initiative, but that doesn¡¯t mean she gets to take him. Under normal circumstances, there would be no way for an average human being to conceivably defend against a lunging half-orc. But Mikael was no average human being. More than that¡­ he had magic now. His eyes flare with energy and teal bands of power peel off of his palms, reaching out and catching Bula mid-leap.


    The half-orc¡¯s own blue eyes go wide in surprise as she¡¯s suddenly held aloft, unable to do anything but squirm. After a moment, she growls at him, glaring daggers in his direction. Or maybe, given who it was, ¡®glaring hand axes¡¯ would be more appropriate.


    ¡°Tch! Take me like a man, Mikael!¡±


    Rolling his own eyes, Mikael smiles.


    ¡°I will, Bula. You don¡¯t have to worry about that. But if you get us kicked out of the first tavern we¡¯ve stayed at in weeks, I¡¯m not sure Avina or Thayla will ever forgive you. I¡¯m not sure even I will forgive you.¡±


    Bula flushes at that, giving away the fact that she definitely wasn¡¯t thinking about property damage before she launched herself across the room at him. Nor does she look like she¡¯s particularly concerned about it even now after he¡¯s brought it to her attention. Mikael raises an eyebrow at the beautiful fiery-haired half-orc.


    ¡°Well? Can you promise me the room will stay intact if I let you go?¡±


    Bula¡¯s silence is telling. Finally, she just huffs, blowing a lock of red hair out from her face as her sharp ears twitch and her cute little tusks shift. Grinning, Mikael bobs his head in acknowledgment of her ¡®honesty¡¯. After all, in this case silent was honest.


    ¡°Then there you have it.¡±


    With more of his magic, Mikael is able to strip the half-orc warrior out of her armor without ever truly letting her go. She remains hovering in the air where she can¡¯t find the leverage to make a mess of things. As he does so, she glares at him¡­ before cracking a grin and growling once more.


    ¡°I like that look in your eyes. It¡¯s a good look. But you know what I¡¯d like even more?¡±


    ¡°My dick inside of you?¡±


    ¡°Your- tch!¡±


    When he preempts her, her grin drops and she pouts mightily at him. Mikael just laughs and frees the aforementioned member from its confines. Bula looks at it and licks her lips, squirming a bit more though to no avail. Of course¡­ she¡¯s not the only woman in the room. As Mikael strokes his rapidly growing erection, he looks to Avina and Thayla curiously.


    Avina has chosen to take a seat at the small room¡¯s only table, and when he makes eye contact with her, his Soul Mechanic just waves her hand dismissively.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine. Go on, get it out of your system.¡±


    She sounds more amused than anything else, so Mikael chooses to take her words at face value. Meanwhile, Thayla is bright red¡­ and doesn¡¯t seem capable of deciding whether to look at Bula in her trussed up state, or Mikael and his exposed phallus. It takes only a moment for him to realize why she might be¡­ enjoying Bula¡¯s current situation.


    ¡°Thayla. Is there something you want to ask of me?¡±


    Blinking, the female knight goes still at being called out. She swallows thickly¡­ before shaking her head.


    ¡°I-It would not be proper¡­¡±


    Funnily enough, before Mikael can say it, Avina says it for him.


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t be ridiculous, Thayla! Nothing about this is proper, you silly woman!¡±


    She¡¯s right, of course. Their relationship, having graduated from something between the three of them to now something between all four of them¡­ it¡¯s not ¡®proper¡¯ by most people¡¯s standards. Even in this world, most people don¡¯t pursue romantic relationships like whatever this is. But Mikael doesn¡¯t care. He¡¯d rather be improper and happy than proper and unhappy any day of the week. And besides, life is shit enough as it is without denying yourself joy and pleasure where you can find it.


    ¡­ At least part of that thinking comes from the dead men still floating around in his head. But in this case, Mikael is in full agreement with them. Better to enjoy himself so long as no one else was getting hurt, especially when they all had no idea what the next day might bring.


    ¡°I¡­ y-you¡¯re right¡­ Sir Mikael¡­ please¡­¡±


    Even with Avina¡¯s encouragement, Thayla seems almost too embarrassed to say it out loud. In the end, Mikael takes mercy on the poor white-haired knight. Reaching out with his magic and binding her in the thick bands of teal the same as he¡¯s done to Bula is child¡¯s play. Stripping her out of her armor is a little more challenging since there¡¯s a lot more of it than Bula has, but he still manages to do it all the same.


    Thayla squirms in his magical grasp the same as the half-orc, but the difference is that Thayla is very clearly enjoying being bound and tied up, while Bula is just putting up with it in order to get what she wants from him¡­ a good, hard pounding.


    Of course, in the interest of not getting kicked out of the tavern because of noise complaints instead of property damage¡­ Mikael also goes ahead and forms up a pair of gags for the two women. Thayla accepts hers willingly¡­ almost eagerly. Bula though pulls her head back first and gives him a snort when he raises an eyebrow at her.


    ¡°I better need this by the time you¡¯re done with me, you hear me? If I¡¯m not howling into this damn gag, you¡¯re going to regret it.¡±


    Heh, he believes her. Mikael nods, and Bula accepts the gag. At which point¡­ well, there¡¯s nothing else to do, is there. Bound and gagged, Mikael flips both women over onto their fronts and lays them down on one of the room¡¯s two beds. Their asses lifted into the air by his magic, their glistening sexes on display, Mikael strides forward, cock in hand.


    He starts with Bula. She wanted it the most after all, and she wanted him to dominate her again, just like back in the tower. That was something Mikael was willing to do. After all, while he¡¯d certainly gotten a lot of his latent anger and frustration over Bula¡¯s part in his situation out on her that day, there was plenty more where that came from.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    It helped that Bula liked it though.


    ¡°MMMPH! GRRRRRGH~¡±


    Arching her back as he fucks into her from behind, the half-orc is soon howling through her gag, her ears flat to her skull and her body shuddering beneath his own. There¡¯s really only one thing that Bula seems to respect and that¡¯s strength. Fortunately for them, strength is something Mikael has in abundance these days.


    Ever since the Grand Melee, ever since killing Zadicus Quinn, Mikael has a new baseline that¡¯s probably pretty damn close to that of a half-orc like Bula. He hasn¡¯t had to consume a single soul in order to survive since they fled Alether. That¡¯s not to say he hasn¡¯t consumed any though. Traveling in the wilderness, fleeing through forests and hills alike¡­ well, the wilds of Zuveria were not completely tamed. Wolves were the least of their worries, though in turn, their little group of heavy hitters were hands down the most dangerous thing to grace any location they found themselves in.


    Still, Mikael had consumed the souls of quite a few beasties that they¡¯d then cooked and eaten over the past few weeks. And honestly? Those souls felt like drops in the bucket that was his new power. So yes, he fucks Bula as hard and fast as she likes it. He fucks her with deep, powerful thrusts, enjoying the way she tightens and creams herself upon his shaft.


    Until finally, he finishes her off and pulls out. As Bula is left breathing heavily through her nose and laying there in a puddle of her own sweat, Mikael moves over¡­ and inserts himself into Thayla instead. The Knight of the Rose has been not-so-patiently waiting for her turn. Her inner walls immediately clamp down on his cock, but her absurdly slick insides make it impossible for her to hold him in one place.


    A muffled keening noise makes its way out from Thayla¡¯s gagged lips as he fucks her at a much more sedate pace. Still face down. Still ass up. But he¡¯s not trying to harm her and if he¡¯d gone as hard with her as he¡¯d gone with Bula, he might very well have injured the female knight. Instead, he relaxes as he fucks Thayla next. Though knowing what she likes, he still gives her some rough pinches on her hips and ass, gripping down tightly and holding her in place as he thrusts in and out of her.


    Thayla¡¯s insides squeeze down hard on his member as her juices gush down along his length. Mikael enjoys himself¡­ just as much as he knows Thayla is enjoying herself. Of course, Thayla isn¡¯t like Bula. She doesn¡¯t submit purely because he¡¯s the strongest person in the room. No, she submits out of duty¡­ and guilt.


    Even now, Mikael knows that Thayla¡¯s own actions eat away at her. She¡¯d carved out his heart with her blade, and while she definitely hadn¡¯t intended to kill an innocent, it didn¡¯t change the fact that Zadicus had tricked her. She felt she owed Mikael her life¡­ and maybe she did. But she didn¡¯t owe him her body.


    He wouldn¡¯t be having sex with her if he thought Thayla was only offering herself up to him out of some sort of guilt though. No, he¡¯d refuse her advances if he didn¡¯t think there was a large part of her who clearly wanted it. Who needed this. Thayla Dawnguard¡­ was a pervert deep down inside. A pervert who hid her darkness behind a fine set of golden armor and her oaths and honor, but a pervert all the same.


    That was okay though. This was a safe space. She was allowed to be herself here without judgment and without censure. At least from him anyways. A glance over at Avina shows that the former Princess has moved from the table to the room¡¯s second bed, discarding her dress as she went. Laid back, her pale freckled body exposed to his gaze, Avina makes eye contact with him even as she touches herself. Her dark grey eyes are lidded as she watches him dominate Thayla right there in front of her. Her fingers match the tempo with which his cock is pistoning in and out of the beautiful white-haired knight.


    At some point, he tuckers poor Thayla out. She does her best, but she¡¯s not built to go all night long. Not like he is. And not like Bula is either. By the time Thayla has passed out upon his cock, Bula is no longer insensate and is instead forcing Mikael to split his focus between keeping her from jumping him with his magic and continuing to fuck Thayla.


    Pulling out of the Knight of the Rose, he returns to Bula a moment later, pinning her down with his actual hands this time. One in her hair, the other on the small of her back, he jackhammers in and out of the growling, moaning half-orc¡¯s cunt even harder and faster than before. He doesn¡¯t hold back a bit this time, until finally Bula passes out the same as Thayla did. Only way either woman was going to get some sleep, it seemed. He had to fuck them silly to get them to rest.


    But then to be fair, the last three weeks had been tough. They¡¯d been hard. And the four of them had all earned a moment¡¯s respite. With that in mind, when Mikael pulls out of Bula for the final time¡­ he doesn¡¯t immediately drop down to go to sleep between the two women. After all, they¡¯re not his only lovers, now are they?


    Turning to the other bed, Mikael smiles as Avina rises to meet him halfway. The naked young woman takes him by the hand and leads him over to the much cleaner of the two beds, at least at this point. She has him lay down where she¡¯d just been laid out, and then she climbs atop him, before slowly impaling herself upon his cock.


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry I lied to you, Mikael. About who I was. About my past.¡±


    Mikael hums at that, even as he takes hold of Avina by the hips. But not to take control¡­ rather, he rubs soothing circles into her flesh as she slowly rides him, gyrating her hips around on his cock.


    ¡°Technically you didn¡¯t. Everything you told me WAS the truth. I just never asked for more information. And when I did, you still didn¡¯t lie to me¡­ you simply told me to wait a little longer. Though admittedly, I doubt you intended for it all to come out quite so soon after our talk.¡±


    Avina huffs in amusement at that, her pale breasts heaving up and down as she rises and falls upon his shaft.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Still¡­ you should be mad at me. For the lie of omission if nothing else.¡±


    In the end, Mikael shrugs.


    ¡°We¡¯re all entitled to our secrets. There¡¯s an argument to be made that you should have told me before it came back to bite us all in the ass, sure¡­ but I don¡¯t know if anyone could have seen ¡®undead army of summoned heroes¡¯ coming. Even if it feels painfully obvious in hindsight.¡±


    That gets a grimace and a nod from Avina.


    ¡°Indeed. I can¡¯t believe I never questioned what Zadicus was doing with the bodies of the others he summoned. I knew he didn¡¯t let them burn with the normal criminals but I always thought that was because he needed to extract the memories afterwards¡­¡±


    Looking down at him, Avina¡¯s eyes are suddenly serious and rather intense. She leans forward and cups Mikael¡¯s cheek with one hand while caressing his Soul Engine with the other.


    ¡°You may forgive me, but I do not forgive myself. I-!¡±


    Mikael groans and brings a hand to his forehead, causing Avina to fall quiet as he rubs his brow with his fingers.


    ¡°If you¡¯re about to say you¡¯re in my debt, Avina¡­ just save it. I¡¯m already two for three and I¡¯m not looking to perform the hat trick.¡±


    He glances down at where they¡¯re joined together and smiles a wry smile.


    ¡°At least¡­ not that hat trick, anyways.¡±


    Avina giggles, even if his words probably seem nonsensical to her. Then, she grows solemn again.


    ¡°¡­ Still¡­¡±


    ¡°Nope. Won¡¯t hear of it. You brought me back from the dead, Avina. Maybe I can¡¯t go home. Maybe you withheld critical information. But setting those things aside¡­ you¡¯re the only reason I¡¯m here right now. The only reason I got revenge on Zadicus Quinn in the first place. As far as I¡¯m concerned, I¡¯m in your debt.¡±


    ¡°What?! Of course not! You-!¡±


    Mikael silences her with a kiss at that, pulling her down so that their lips press together as Avina continues to ride him. When they pull apart again a few seconds later, he gives her a smile.


    ¡°I guess we¡¯re even then, Princess.¡±


    She blushes bright red at his teasing tone, smacking him in the shoulder.


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me that.¡±


    Mikael grins.


    ¡°I¡¯m serious! Don¡¯t you dare start calling me that!¡±


    Mikael just grins wider.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 35: The Sylian Woods

    When they¡¯d fled Alether, it had not been on horseback. There simply hadn¡¯t been time, not even to try and retrieve Thayla¡¯s steed. With the city already occupied by Foss Sangrey¡¯s unnatural army, their only escape route had once again been via the damn sewers, which led off into a few rivers, one of which was outside of Alether right on the border with Zuveria.


    Unfortunately, the first town they¡¯d been able to stop in and get a good night¡¯s rest had been too small to sell horses either. So from there, they¡¯d had to journey on foot for a few days more, with Mikael giving Avina a few piggyback rides to help the less physically capable member of their party rest her aching feet.


    Fortunately, the second town had been a bit bigger, with wooden walls. With that size had also come more problems, and before Mikael knew it, they¡¯d found themselves with the task of clearing out a monster den. Truth be told, it wound up being a slaughter. Sure, the creatures were more organized and grouped up then the sort of things he and his companions had hunted and been hunted by on their initial flight from Ocreatha, but it was still completely one-sided.


    It reminded Mikael of being over-leveled for some part of a video game from back on Earth. Between him, Bula, and Thayla, they crushed their enemies with ease while Avina watched. This in turn got them enough coin to be able to purchase two horses and a cart. And so Mikael finds himself sitting in the back of said cart, with Thayla up front managing the horses and Bula and Avina with him.


    Honestly¡­ it was the first time Mikael had gotten to truly sit back and take in Vaclatora¡¯s natural splendor. Before this, it had been one thing or another. First, he was busy provoking Zadicus into holding another Grand Melee. Then, he was moping around over his inability to go home or fix his mind. After that, it was running from Foss Sangrey as fast as possible and just trying to survive another day.


    And sure, it wasn¡¯t like they didn¡¯t still have a lot on their plate now. But apparently Zuveria was huge¡­ easily twice the size of Ocreatha, and while the Citadel wasn¡¯t on the other side of the Empire thankfully, it was located closer to the middle of it then a border. Meaning that they had plenty of travel time still, even with the cart to speed things up and let Avina rest.


    Looking around at the rolling hills and grassy plains, Mikael has to admit¡­ it¡¯s beautiful. All of it. And gazing at it all, it¡¯s almost as though something settles within him. He still aches for home of course¡­ but he¡¯s not sure he would have even chosen to go back to Earth if he couldn¡¯t have his mind fixed first. The loss of half of his memories¡­ it¡¯s left him a different person than he was back then.


    He couldn¡¯t look his mother in the eye and tell her he didn¡¯t know her name anymore. He wouldn¡¯t even be able to recognize his father without having to be reintroduced to the man. His entire life, everyone he¡¯d ever cared for¡­ they¡¯d been torn away from him, almost as surely as if they¡¯d been killed. Or maybe it was more accurate to say he¡¯d been torn away from them. He was the one who¡¯d actually died, after all.


    Mikael is never going home. Vaclatora is his world now, as surely as it is the world of his lovely traveling companions. He just needs to get used to that, accept it¡­ and move forward, no matter what obstacles choose to get in his way. Of course, it helped that he had such beautiful friends to make things easier on him.


    A smile alights on Mikael¡¯s face, as he considers Avina, Thayla, and Bula. Perhaps karma is a real force in this world, because as shitty as things had gotten, he¡¯d also gotten very, very lucky as well. Part of him wondered if he even deserved the three women and the affection they showed him. But at the same time, he certainly wasn¡¯t going to be the one to push any of them away.


    That said, he finds his gaze lingering on Bula in particular, considering the half-orc and the fact that she¡¯s decided to stick around. Of the four of them, her reasons for doing so are certainly the flimsiest. He appreciates her presence all the same, and he can only hope that they aren¡¯t leading her to her death. Especially not so soon after she got her freedom.


    Though¡­ the longer he looks at her, the more he realizes she¡¯s looking at something as well. At first, Mikael assumes that she¡¯s just staring off into the distance, deep in thought. But no, that¡¯s not quite right. Her eyes are fixed towards the South. Following Bula¡¯s gaze with his own, Mikael peers out that way. He thinks he sees something in that direction, but it¡¯s tough to makeout truth be told.


    Fortunately for him, he has magic now. Incredibly versatile magic at that. After a moment of thought, he sends a burst of energy towards his eyes and as they blaze with teal light, he finds his sight magnified tenfold. This allows him to make out what he¡¯s seeing in the distance with far greater detail. At first, he assumes he¡¯s staring at some sort of¡­ mountain wall. Thick and tall enough that it goes up into the clouds even.


    But then he looks even closer and realizes he¡¯s not looking at some cliff-face at all. No, what he¡¯s looking at¡­ are trees. Massive, thick tree trunks, close enough together to almost give the appearance of being an insanely steep mountain face, but far enough apart that he can tell the difference once he starts paying attention.


    Mikael gapes at the sight in silence for a moment, but his little trick with his eyes has not gone unnoticed.


    ¡°Mikael? What are you doing?¡±


    Avina¡¯s concerned voice prompts him to pull out of his stupor and shake his head, blinking rapidly as he looks over at the confused woman.


    ¡°Err¡­ trees. Really big trees. There are¡­ incredibly massive trees over there on the horizon. What¡¯s that about?¡±


    He can¡¯t help but cringe a little at how stupid he sounds once he¡¯s done talking, but to be fair¡­ he¡¯s still a little shocked by what he¡¯s looking at. He¡¯s seen a lot of crazy shit since he arrived in this world, but in terms of the most majestic, awe-inspiring sight¡­ those huge-ass trees take the cake, at least for now. Still, pulling the energy back from his eyes, he focuses back on the present and looks to Avina, who has a bit of a smile on her face.


    ¡°Ah, right. The Sylian Woods.¡±


    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at that, prompting Avina to shrug.


    ¡°Sorry, I know full well that things that are obvious to natives like us wouldn¡¯t be to you. But unlike Zuveria, the Sylian Woods have never really been relevant to our situation. So they just didn¡¯t come up. But basically¡­ you¡¯re right. The trees that make up the Sylian Woods are said to be the biggest in the world. Each towers over even the largest man-made structures in recorded history, and there are said to be at least a thousand of them, easily.¡±


    A thousand of them? On the face of it, a thousand trees doesn¡¯t seem like a lot. A brief flash of something crosses Mikael¡¯s mind. Something about a ¡®Team Trees¡¯ and Twenty Million Planted. But it¡¯s gone as quickly as it comes and Mikael honestly doesn¡¯t have a clue what it was about. That said¡­ he remembers trees from Earth. They¡¯re a lot like the trees he¡¯s seen in Zuveria¡¯s woods so far, at least in size anyways.


    The trees he¡¯d seen in the distance however¡­ they were immense in both height and width. So a thousand of them? That was a fucking lot.


    Perhaps sensing his shock, Avina just nods, her smile growing a bit as though she¡¯s enjoying the wonder on his face.


    ¡°Yeah, the Sylian Woods stretch across not just the entirety of Ocreatha¡¯s Southern Border, but also the Empire of Zuveria¡¯s as well. They even run up into the Savage Lands from what I understand. They make for a natural barrier, with no one really laying claim to them¡­ though there are legends that say they are populated by an ancient race of elves.¡±


    Mikael blinks at that and glances in the direction of the Sylian Woods. Legends? Okay, so there were definitely elves in the Sylian Woods. Mikael remembered enough of the stories he¡¯d read back on Earth to know that much. There was simply no way that there WEREN¡¯T elves in the Sylian Woods. That said, he was curious about one thing¡­


    ¡°Why are they only legends? And why don¡¯t Ocreatha or Zuveria lay claim to them?¡±


    Avina snorts at that, but before she can answer, Thayla speaks up in her stead. Turning back for a moment from where she¡¯s driving the cart, the Knight of the Rose tosses him a smile.


    ¡°Because Sir Mikael, they¡¯re filled with beasts said to be as tall as the trees themselves.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes bulge out of his skull at that claim, while Avina scoffs and shakes her head.


    ¡°Not THAT big, probably. At least, nobody has ever actually laid eyes on a creature from the Sylian Woods said to be that large. All factual and confirmed reports of Sylian Beasts put them at around the size of a house at best.¡±


    A house?!


    ¡°That¡¯s still pretty damn big!¡±


    Avina and Thayla both laugh at his outburst, causing Mikael to flush a little bit. Still, Avina nods her head in easy agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Big is a good way of describing everything in the Sylian Woods. And honestly, most of the time, ¡®big¡¯ is still an understatement. The trees are undoubtedly the largest thing in those woods, but the rest of its denizens are plenty huge themselves. The legends say that there were ancient pacts made with the Sylian Elves in order to keep the denizens of the Sylian Woods from running roughshod over Ocreatha and Zuveria. And that¡¯s why our lands are able to flourish so well, despite having such a dangerous place right next to us.¡±


    Avina¡¯s tone and eye roll make it clear what she thinks of that. Mikael can¡¯t help but furrow his brow.


    ¡°It sounds like you don¡¯t believe that Avina. If the elves are just legends, then why don¡¯t the big beasties in the Sylian Woods come out and lay waste to Ocreatha and Zuveria? Doesn¡¯t that seem to imply that there IS some sort of magical pact in place?¡±


    Honestly, he¡¯s a little surprised at how closeminded Avina is being about this. She¡¯s from a literal fantasy world, one with magic and even orcs. And she doesn¡¯t believe in elves?


    Shrugging, Avina glances over in the direction of the Sylian Woods for a second before explaining.


    ¡°There are two reasons I doubt there was any pact with elves, Mikael. Or rather, if there was one¡­ it hasn¡¯t been enforced for a long, long time now. Number One, every once in a while, someone gets it in their head to try and start a settlement on the border of the Sylian Woods. After all, it¡¯s a land of untapped potential with no prior claim to it, right? Sometimes, they even go into the Sylian Woods and try to make a town under the great canopy.¡±


    Avina shakes her head.


    ¡°It never ends well. No settlement, either on the border or inside the Sylian Woods itself, has ever survived for longer than a couple months at most. And yet, there¡¯s no reprisal from these elves, if they even do exist. No diplomatic envoy to tell us to stop or that we have to honor some ancient pact. And of course¡­¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow as Avina pauses for a moment before waving her hand airily.


    ¡°Well, the second reason that I doubt any such thing is real would be the fact that Sylian Beasts DO come out of the woods every few years. How do you think we know about the ones as big as houses, Mikael? They cause quite a mess, doing a lot of damage, and sometimes even wipe entire towns of the map before they¡¯re put down. But ultimately, there¡¯s never more than one of them.¡±


    Frowning, Mikael asks the obvious.


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    Here, Avina would definitely be pushing her glasses up her nose, if she were the type to wear spectacles. As is, her nose does this cute little wrinkling motion as the freckled young woman smirks, clearly pleased to be able to speak her theories into the world.


    ¡°Why not indeed? If I had to speculate¡­ I suspect it¡¯s because we simply don¡¯t have the right resources for such massive creatures to survive. The Sylian Woods are beyond our reckoning. If the trees are as huge as they are, what must the bushes be like? Or the prey animals? The predators are as big as houses, meaning their prey must be as large as horses at the very least if not larger.¡±


    Nodding to herself, seeming quite confident in her assertions, Avina shrugs.


    ¡°Something in their instincts must tell them that our lands aren¡¯t sustainable for their kind. In fact, I postulate that those few who do wind up leaving the Sylian Woods and attacked our lands were probably pushed out by rivals, forced into exile because they lost some sort of bestial dominance challenge, perhaps.¡±


    Mikael takes that in for a moment, rolling Avina¡¯s words over in his mind. Then, he tilts his head to the side.


    ¡°Huh. Wouldn¡¯t that mean that the beasts that come out of the woods and attack Ocreatha and Zuveria are the weakest that the Sylian Woods have to offer?¡±


    Smiling thinly, his Soul Mechanic nods.


    ¡°Yes Mikael. It does.¡±


    Well. That certainly isn¡¯t frightening. Okay, maybe a little bit. Although¡­ Mikael¡¯s eyes slide over to the only person in the cart who hasn¡¯t said a word throughout this entire conversation.


    ¡°Bula.¡±


    Her name causes the half-orc to jolt, her eyes sliding over to him as she blinks.


    ¡°Is that why you keep looking in that direction? Is the idea of fighting a Sylian Beast that enticing?¡±


    Bula¡¯s knife-like ears twitch and the half-orc snorts as she shakes her head.


    ¡°Tch. No. We already have a fight, and a good one at that.¡±


    She¡¯s putting on a brave front, but Mikael thinks he¡¯s on to something. Is it crazy that he¡¯s already considering the viability of taking Bula on a ¡®hunting¡¯ trip when this is all done? Assuming they manage to survive Foss Sangrey and stop his mad bid for power, maybe he and Bula could go to the Sylian Woods and hunt down a big, honking monster for the half-orc to fight. Between the two of them, he figured they were more than powerful enough for it.


    Ah, but that was in the future. Plenty to do in the meantime. Still¡­ it was always good to have something to look forward to.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 36: The Patrol

    ¡°We made it!¡±


    Wait, what? From where he¡¯s laid down on the bench in the cart, Mikael lifts his head at Thayla¡¯s sudden exclamation. Both Avina and Bula look equally surprised¡­ and also confused. Once he lifts his head a little higher, he sees why they¡¯re confused. There¡¯s no structure that could possibly be titled something as majestic as ¡®the Citadel¡¯ in sight.


    ¡­ Was their knightly guide going insane? Was she getting stir crazy, being in charge of the horses and cart for so long?


    ¡°Err, Thayla? We¡¯re still in the middle of nowhere.¡±


    The Knight of the Rose blinks at his assessment, glancing back at him and then around them before flushing in embarrassment.


    ¡°A-Ah! Apologies, I didn¡¯t mean we made it to the Citadel, sorry Sir Mikael. Rather, we¡¯ve made it to the lands that belong to the Order of the Rose.¡±


    Oh? Mikael sits up completely at that, his brow furrowing as he takes in their surroundings again. Thayla, all smiles, is happy to explain.


    ¡°You see, the Order of the Rose is Zuveria¡¯s oldest and thus preeminent Knightly Order. Seeing as we were around even before Zuveria itself was born. As such, the Order actually holds more territory than anyone save for the Emperor of Zuveria himself.¡±


    Mikael doesn¡¯t exactly know how much land that is, but it sounds like a lot. In fact, of all the breadcrumbs Thayla and Avina have dropped about Thayla¡¯s Order, that actually drives home just how powerful this Order of Knights truly is to Mikael. For them to own land in such vast quantities that they¡¯re second only to the Emperor himself¡­ yeah, that¡¯s a lot of wealth, power, and influence to be sure.


    But then¡­


    ¡°I suppose it makes sense, doesn¡¯t it? For the Order of the Rose to be powerful enough to send solo Knights like you into neighboring kingdoms on missions like yours, they¡¯d have to be a pretty big deal within their own homeland, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    Thayla smiles and nods at that, though she also blushes.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, Sir Mikael! Rather, the Order of the Rose is incredibly important to the internal stability of the Empire as well as the defense of its borders. Though all things considered, the border with the Savage Lands is obviously the most constantly contested for Zuveria.¡±


    Right. Mikael nods, only for Thayla to bites her lower lip.


    ¡°Though¡­ admittedly, I sort of¡­ demanded to be allowed to investigate the rumors that someone was abusing the Hero Summoning Ritual in Alether. Nobody assigned me this mission, nor sent me to Alether. I¡­ forced my way so that I could investigate of my own accord.¡±


    There¡¯s a beat of silence at that confession, before Mikael raises an eyebrow.


    ¡°Would that be because you¡¯ve idolized Summoned Heroes all your life, Thayla?¡±


    The female knight goes rigid at that, her eyes widening as she whips her head around to look at him in shock. She¡¯s frozen for a moment before remembering that she¡¯s driving a cart. Facing forward again, but not in time to hide her suddenly very rosy complexion, the Knight of the Rose slowly nods.


    ¡°I¡­ yes. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised that you figured it out, Sir Mikael. You are especially observant, so you likely caught on to my¡­ hero worship quite early, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    That draws a scoff, not from Mikael but from Avina.


    ¡°Excuse me? I caught on to your hero worship earliest. All the way back in the basement, it was clear as day that if Mikael asked anything except for the most objectionable actions from you, you would happily do whatever he said. The fact that you killed him was just a convenient excuse for living out your fantasies of being the loyal knight in service to a Summoned Hero.¡±


    Mikael winces as Avina¡¯s blunt, brutal words cause Thayla to hunch in on herself further and further. Until finally, as if to put the nail in the coffin, Bula grunts and speaks up.


    ¡°Yes. Even to one such as I, your reverence for what Mikael is, rather than WHO he is has been quite obvious.¡±


    Having Bula of all people casually calling her out really seems to get to Thayla. Letting out a sigh, Mikael shoots both Avina and Bula a quelling look, before reaching out and placing a hand on Thayla¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Ignore them, Thayla. Even if you started out only following me around out of guilt and because of what I represented, I know you care about me for me at this point. Right?¡±


    Looking back at him, Thayla nods, wide-eyed.


    ¡°O-Of course, Sir Mikael!¡±


    Seeing an opportunity, Mikael grins right back at her.


    ¡°Great! Then let¡¯s drop the ¡®sir¡¯, yeah? After all, I¡¯m no actual knight and you like me for more than just my hero status¡­ so it should be no problem to just call me Mikael from now on.¡±


    Freezing up at being caught out like that, Thayla bites her lower lip for a moment before finally nodding again, this time much more hesitantly.


    ¡°As you wish¡­ Mikael.¡±


    Hah, score! Sure, while Thayla¡¯s deference was kind of cute, it also got a little tiring. From Sir Hero to Sir Mikael, to Mikael¡­ he was honestly just glad to have finally gotten to a place where the female knight saw him as a real person, rather than someone on some unachievable pedestal to idolize. Letting out a happy sigh, Mikael waves his hand through the air, willing to change the subject now that he¡¯d gotten what he wanted.


    ¡°Wonderful. Anyways, how could you tell that we were entering your Order¡¯s lands? Like, was there some sort of road marker that we missed or something?¡±


    Thayla perks up and turns forward again, before pointing off in the distance.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°Oh! No, Mikael. I could tell because I saw a patrol of knights appear over the horizon coming down the road towards us. They wear the armor of the Order, so I know that we¡¯ve entered the Order of the Rose¡¯s territory!¡±


    Wait, what?! Again, Mikael is caught off guard. He straightens up properly and peers down the road. Sure enough, he can see some folk in golden armor on horseback, steadily making their way towards them. Focusing some energy into his eyes lets him make them out more clearly. Their armor is mostly golden like Thayla¡¯s, but not nearly as fancy or intricately designed as hers is. Does that mean that she¡¯s a higher rank, or something?


    Belatedly, Mikael realizes that he probably should have questioned Thayla a lot more about her origins as well as her place within the Order of the Rose before they got to this point. Though in his defense, Avina and Bula hadn¡¯t done so either!


    ¡­ Okay, so maybe that wasn¡¯t a very good defense. Bula wasn¡¯t the type to do research to begin with, while Avina was the type who seemed to believe she already knew pretty much everything there was to know about most subjects. Still!


    Without much time, Mikael makes sure to dispel the teal energy from his eyes and hide his Soul Engine properly so it¡¯s not too obvious under his shirt. Then, he looks to Thayla and frowns.


    ¡°Is there anything we should know ahead of time, Thayla? Should we try to have Avina hide, or something?¡±


    Avina scoffs at that, but Mikael feels like it¡¯s a fair request. Sure, the former Princess hates being called a ¡®Necromancer¡¯¡­ but she sure looks like a gothic summoner of the dead in appearance. Foss Sangrey naming Avina and her family ¡®Trueborn Necromancers¡¯ only made this fact more apparent to Mikael if he was being honest.


    And Thayla even seems to agree with him because she considers Avina for a long moment¡­ long enough that the other woman scowls and crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°What? Is looking a certain way a crime to your Order now, Thayla? Because if it is, this entire venture is doomed from the start¡­¡±


    Thayla flushes at that and quickly shakes her head.


    ¡°A-Ah¡­ no. It should be fine. It¡¯s just a patrol after all, and I don¡¯t see anyone high ranking among their number. Just¡­ let me do the talking, please?¡±


    Mikael, Avina, and Bula all exchange looks at that¡­ and then shrug and nod, one after the other. Thayla looks relieved by their easy capitulation. Then, the relief vanishes as she puts her game face on, turning back to once more face the road¡­ and the quartet of knights fast approaching now.


    ¡°Ho there! Hold for a moment!¡±


    With ease, Thayla stops the cart and lets the knights from her Order close the rest of the distance between them. Watching from the back, Mikael sees the surprise in the head knight¡¯s face when he recognizes Thayla by face alone.


    ¡°Dame Dawnguard! I thought it was you but couldn¡¯t be sure from so far away! I¡­ err, wouldn¡¯t expect to see you driving a cart of all things.¡±


    His eyes roam over the three of them as well, but if he recognizes them, he¡¯s very good at hiding it. Mikael tries not to appear too hostile or friendly¡­ honestly, he¡¯s not sure how to act right now. Probably for the best that they let Thayla take the lead here.


    ¡°Yes, well¡­ my mission didn¡¯t go quite as well as I¡¯d hoped. My horse was lost to me, as was everything save for my armor and sword.¡±


    The head knight¡¯s face turns grave at that, even as his eyes slide away from peering at Avina and Bula in particular, instead gazing at Thayla directly.


    ¡°¡­ I see. That is a shame, Dame Dawnguard. Still¡­ are you heading back to the Citadel now?¡±


    Nodding, Thayla smiles as she gestures towards the three of them.


    ¡°Yes. I and my witnesses have business with the Knight-Superior¡­ and grave tidings from the Kingdom of Ocreatha.¡±


    That seems to surprise the head knight for some reason. He peers at them all again, before blinking at Thayla.


    ¡°Witnesses?¡±


    Seeming confused by his question, Thayla inclines her head.


    ¡°Yes. Unfortunately, their words are for the Knight-Superior alone. I apologize, but we must be on our way.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Of course, Dame Dawnguard. Allow me and my men to escort you to the Citadel.¡±


    Mikael blinks, not liking the sound of that at all. He¡¯s not sure if the Citadel is an hour or a day away at this point, but concealing the Soul Engine around a bunch of suspicious and likely superstitious knightly strangers for any length of time did not sound like very much fun. Fortunately, Thayla is just as put off by the idea as he is.


    ¡°What? No, that won¡¯t be necessary. I and my party can take care of ourselves just fine, especially now that we are on the Order¡¯s lands.¡±


    The head knight, despite clearly being lower ranked and deferential to Thayla up to and even through this point, nevertheless hesitates. His eyes focus on Bula in particular, for some reason.


    ¡°¡­ Are you certain, Dame Dawnguard?¡±


    Following his gaze to Bula, Thayla seems uncomprehending for a moment¡­ before scowling angrily.


    ¡°I am quite sure, Sir. You and your men are to continue your patrol to its proper conclusion. That is an order.¡±


    ¡°As you say, ma¡¯am.¡±


    With that, they slowly begin moving off and with a flick of her wrists, Thayla gets their cart moving again. The white-haired knight is stiff as a board as they leave the quartet of knights behind them. Mikael, meanwhile, doesn¡¯t dare to look back¡­ after all, he can feel the eyes of the knights burning a hole in the back of his head as they depart.


    It¡¯s fifteen minutes later when they¡¯ve moved far enough away that Thayla finally speaks.


    ¡°¡­ My sincerest apologies, Bula. I did not¡­ but no, I should have expected such a response. The Order of the Rose is supposed to be an order of good, honorable, righteous people. But some have different definitions of these words. And others hold long grudges after losing family members to the conflicts on our border with the Savage Lands. You still do not deserve such distrust levied at you simply because of your heritage, however.¡±


    Bula blinks and then tilts her head to the side.


    ¡°Oh? They wanted to fight me because I¡¯m half-orc? Should¡¯ve said something. Would¡¯ve been fun.¡±


    Mikael snorts in amusement and shakes his head, even as Thayla turns back to give the red-haired warrior an askance look. Meanwhile, Avina huffs rather smugly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t even look twice at me, did they? Admit it, both of you. Just because I prefer black clothes, doesn¡¯t mean everyone is going to assume I¡¯m a Necromancer! Honestly!¡±


    Giving in to his growing amusement, Mikael just chuckles at the women in the cart. From Avina sitting there vindicated, to Bula looking back behind them with a forlorn expression, to Thayla just shaking her head and turning to face forward again with a sigh. Still, after a moment, Thayla does speak up again.


    ¡°I do not know what sort of welcome we can expect to receive once we reach the Citadel. I was able to pull rank with those four¡­ but I can only hope that the Knight-Superior will be willing to hear us out, regardless of the¡­ eccentricity of our group. For now, we should probably start looking for a good place to stop for the night.¡±


    Blinking, Mikael raises a brow.


    ¡°Oh? Is it that much further?¡±


    Thayla looks back at him at that and Mikael is surprised for a moment because it¡¯s probably the first time that she¡¯s ever made a face that led him to believe she was doubting his intelligence.


    ¡°Mikael¡­ I did say that the Order of the Rose¡¯s territory was second in size only to the Emperor¡¯s lands. So yes¡­ yes, we are still a few days out from the Citadel at our current pace.¡±


    Oh¡­ right. A little embarrassed, Mikael just nods and starts helping look for a good place to camp for the night.


    When they finally find one, they set up a small fire, hunt down some wild game, and eat heartily that evening. Then, at Thayla¡¯s insistence, they all spar for hours. Well, he, Thayla, and Bula all spar. Avina watches, as is her usual choice.


    Still, with the difference in their power, the only chance that Bula or Thayla have to take him down when he¡¯s going all out is by working together. As such, while they do SOME two-on-one sparring like that, most of the time he¡¯s holding back or simply remaining on the defensive altogether as Thayla or Bula try to attack him with all their respective might.


    Thayla spars with a single-minded ferocity that night¡­ and every night until they reach the Citadel, in fact. It¡¯s almost as if the female knight is hoping for the best, but at the same time preparing for the worst.


    Finally though¡­ they arrive.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 37: The Citadel

    It¡¯s quite clear when they finally DO reach the Order of the Rose¡¯s base of operations. Because¡­ the Citadel, as Thayla had called it, has to be the most amazing thing that Mikael has seen since arriving in this world. Hell, based solely on his fractured memories, it might be the most amazing thing that he¡¯s ever seen, at least with his own two eyes.


    While it¡¯s perhaps not as tall as the trees of the Sylian Woods or a skyscraper back on Earth, it still towers over its surroundings, with its tallest peaks reaching high into the sky all the same. But more than that, the structure is positively massive, easily half as large as the City of Alether just by itself. It¡¯s also grandiose in a strangely austere way.


    Where Thayla and all of her fellow Knights of the Rose seem to wear golden armor of increasing ornateness depending on their rank within their Order, the Citadel is not nearly as opulent, extravagant¡­ or even intricate. Instead, the whole structure is marble white and smooth as can be. Even enhancing his eyes, Mikael can¡¯t see any seams or cracks in the entire structure as they approach. The only openings are windows and what are clearly meant to be arrow slits.


    It reminds him of cathedrals from Earth, but without the stained glass or over the top displays of religious reverence. But then, that makes sense Mikael supposes. The Order of the Rose doesn¡¯t follow a god as far as he¡¯s aware. They only followed their oaths and their honor. Still¡­ still, it¡¯s an incredible sight and Mikael won¡¯t lie, his breath is taken away just staring at it.


    The closer they get, the more its majesty becomes apparent too. It¡¯s one thing to see it from afar, but to find himself in the shadow of it is another thing entirely. It very much blocks out the sun once they get close enough, leaving them to travel another ten minutes in the shade just to reach the outer gate.


    However¡­ that¡¯s where the trouble begins. There are of course armored men manning the walls of the Citadel. That doesn¡¯t surprise Mikael. However, the looks those men give their small group set him on edge. Judgment. Derision. Anger. Something is definitely wrong.


    Unfortunately, with them literally sitting outside of the front gate, it¡¯s not like Mikael can tell Thayla to stop and let them regroup for a moment. Maybe he¡¯s just imagining things, after all. And even if he isn¡¯t¡­ they¡¯d known way back at the beginning that their reception would be somewhat frosty. This whole idea was a gamble from the start and Mikael was well aware of that fact. In the end, they just had to hope that they would be allowed to make their case before any violence began.


    Of course, he¡¯s not the only one in the cart who feels the¡­ unpleasant amount of attention being directed at them. Thayla is sitting straighter than ever before, shoulders squared and head held high as she guides the horses and cart through the gate and down a short corridor into the Citadel¡¯s front courtyard. Meanwhile, Bula bristles at first but then grins once they¡¯re out of sight of the knights on the walls. Reaching down into the cart for her battle axe, she would have picked it up if Mikael hadn¡¯t stopped her with a hand.


    She gives him a curious frown and Mikael responds with a shake of his head and a quiet voice.


    ¡°We let Thayla try and handle this. We do not start anything. We only end it. Alright?¡±


    He¡¯s pretty sure the only reason Bula agrees is because of the ¡®end it¡¯ sentence. Still, the half-orc huffs but nods, leaning back in the cart and leaving her battle-axe where it lays. He doesn¡¯t want to give the Order of the Rose any reason or excuse to attack any of them. Even if Bula could probably heal from a lot of what these knights could throw at her, she wasn¡¯t invincible or immortal. Meanwhile, he¡­ well, he didn¡¯t want to have to slaughter an entire Citadel worth of men who could be thrown at Foss Sangrey and his undead army if he didn¡¯t absolutely have to.


    They¡¯d come here looking for allies against a far greater foe. Not to start a fight.


    Of course, it¡¯s pretty abundantly clear that the Knights of the Rose didn¡¯t get that memo, because as soon as their cart leaves the short passage and passes into the front courtyard, they find themselves stopped. In their path stands a tall, towering knight in golden armor just as intricate if not more so than Thayla¡¯s. Surrounding them in a half-circle, meanwhile, are dozens more knights, all of them wearing their helmets with their weapons at the ready.


    As the gate closes shut behind their cart, Bula gives Mikael a look and Mikael just smiles back at her. Like he¡¯d said¡­ they¡¯d let Thayla try and handle this.


    ¡°Thayla! Welcome home! I wish it was under better circumstances!¡±


    It¡¯s the man at the front, blocking their path, that speaks up. He¡¯s also the only knight not wearing a helmet right now. Instead, he has it tucked under his arm with his sword still in its sheath at his waist as he smiles a broad smile that doesn¡¯t quite reach his eyes at the group of them. Meanwhile, Thayla has stiffened at the overly familiar form of address. She bristles as she tosses the reins she was holding away and rises in her seat, towering over the assembled welcoming committee.


    ¡°Chevalier Ironshield. What is the meaning of this?¡±


    A few things are immediately obvious to Mikael. Number One, this Ironshield guy knows Thayla and Thayla knows him. Number Two, he¡¯s overly familiar with Thayla in a way that Thayla clearly doesn¡¯t appreciate. And Number Three¡­ Mikael has to remind himself to follow his own instructions. Because just like Bula couldn¡¯t be seen brandishing her battle axe even if they were currently surrounded by knights brandishing their own weapons, Mikael couldn¡¯t allow himself to be goaded into interrupting Thayla while she was doing her thing, no matter how much he might have wanted to come to her defense and call this guy out for being an irritating bastard.


    The fact was, he didn¡¯t know enough about this situation to step in without making an ass of himself. And more than that, Thayla wasn¡¯t some mewling maiden in need of a white knight. She was a knight herself, and a damn capable one at that.


    Chevalier Ironshield¡¯s eyes flash, his smile not wavering for a moment. Not that that means much when his smile is so clearly fixed upon his face, a faux grin designed to hide his true feelings.


    ¡°Oh? Whatever do you mean by something like that? Honestly, addressing me so formally. This is merely a¡­ ¡®welcome home¡¯ that¡¯s long overdue. Though I suppose if there WERE any additional meaning then that, it might have something to do with the piss poor company you¡¯re keeping, Thayla.¡±


    Mikael, Avina, and Bula all stiffen at that as the Chevalier¡¯s eyes shift over them all, his smile remaining but his gaze¡­ his gaze filled with condemnation. Shit, he definitely knows something. Or thinks he knows something, anyways. But what? Mikael is starting to reconsider his ¡®non-interference¡¯ plan, but at the same time, he¡¯s not quite ready to overrule Thayla just yet. So, when Bula gives him an expectant look, he once again shakes his head ever so slightly, making her scoff.


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Thayla, meanwhile, hops down from the cart, a scowl on her face that then softens when she gets a little closer to Chevalier Ironshield. Mikael can tell because through his enhanced hearing, he can make out her words alongside the softening of her tone.


    ¡°Sir Nathaniel¡­ please. We need to see the Knight-Superior at once. You and I¡­ can catch up later.¡±


    For the first time, the man¡¯s hardened eyes soften slightly and his smile even becomes a little genuine. But then he shakes his head.


    ¡°The Knight-Superior¡­ no. I¡¯m sorry Thayla, but your father is far too busy to deal with things like this.¡±


    Wait, hold on. Her father? No seriously¡­ her father?! The guilty look Thayla throws back over her shoulder at him is enough to confirm the bombshell that this man, Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield, just unknowingly dropped on Mikael¡¯s head. The Knight-Superior was the head of the Knightly Order, according to Thayla. Meaning that Thayla was the daughter of the Grand Master of the Order of the Rose. A Knightly Order who she herself had described as being second only to the Emperor of this entire country.


    So basically¡­ Thayla was also a Princess. A Knightly one if you wanted to be clear about it, but practically royalty all the same. Jesus fucking Christ. Was every one of his lovers going to turn out to be some variety of special and unique? Mikael is the one to shoot a glance at Bula this time, one that the half-orc returns with a bewildered look on her face. At least SHE clearly hadn¡¯t known who Thayla¡¯s father was. Though it did have Mikael wondering who Bula¡¯s father was now.


    With his luck, Bula¡¯s father would be Orc Royalty as well, with Bula as the Orc Princess destined to unite the Orc Tribes and conquer Zuveria once and for all. God he fucking hoped not¡­


    But now wasn¡¯t the time to be thinking about such things. They were currently in the midst of a very intense stand-off, after all. Thayla¡¯s secrets aside, Mikael tries to focus on the present¡­ and Thayla is clearly attempting to do the same. Having turned back to the Chevalier, the female knight shakes her head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand. This is too important to so readily dismiss. Knight-Superior Dawnguard WILL want to hear of this¡­ I assure you.¡±


    Finally, in the face of Thayla¡¯s obstinance¡­ Nathaniel¡¯s veneer of civility drops alongside his smile. Letting out a low sigh, he shakes his head right back.


    ¡°Why would he? He already knows.¡±


    Huh? Mikael blinks and so does Thayla, the white-haired woman just as taken aback as he is. Then again¡­ a sinking feeling starts up in Mikael¡¯s stomach as Nathaniel steps past Thayla¡¯s frozen form and begins pointing at them, one after the other starting with Bula, then Avina, and then finally him.


    ¡°Lord Killer. Necromancer Princess. Undead Abomination. Do any of you deny it? Do you deny your true nature, hm?¡±


    Okay, that was¡­ a lot to unpack. Especially since the Chevalier was so confident but also so wrong. Still, they¡¯ve been directly addressed so there¡¯s not much to be done at this point but respond. Mikael stands up in the cart, immediately tensing when all of the knights with their swords shift on their feet, looking ready to charge him at the first sign of trouble.


    He keeps his hands well away from his own sword in turn. Sure, he knew he could have taken all of them and more. But could he have done so while keeping Avina alive? Maybe. But then what afterwards? Where would they go next to find an army willing to help them defeat Foss Sangrey? No¡­ diplomacy was still the answer here.


    ¡°¡­ I would ask where you heard such claims, Chevalier Ironshield.¡±


    The Chevalier looks surprised that he¡¯s the one talking. The man¡¯s gaze flicks to both Bula and Avina, the former baring her tusks and teeth at him in a snarl and the latter averting her gaze, fixing it on some point in the distance. Finally, Nathaniel looks back at him and huffs.


    ¡°Surprisingly polite for an undead abomination. As for where the information came from¡­ the newly proclaimed Supreme King of Ocreatha sent a letter ahead of you all. As Regent-Lord, Foss Sangrey has long been an ally to our Order. He has allowed the Knights of the Rose to freely roam the lands of Ocreatha and kept open lines of communication between himself and our Order.¡±


    Looking to Avina, the Chevalier smiles a grim smile.


    ¡°It is thanks to him that we know exactly who you are, Princess Reyalis. As well, it is thanks to him that we know you resurrected this man as your undead servant.¡±


    Mikael bristles at being so readily dismissed as ¡®this man¡¯ and ¡®undead servant¡¯. Man, he really wanted to wipe that smile off of Nathaniel Ironshield¡¯s face. He could understand why Thayla seemed to dislike this guy so much. They¡¯d barely interacted and he already found him to be downright insufferable. Unfortunately, Nathaniel isn¡¯t done. Next, he gestures to Bula.


    ¡°Just as we know this one as the half-orc Bula¡­ murderer of the late Zadicus Quinn, former Lord of Alether.¡±


    That was¡­ entirely wrong. Not only was Mikael very much not undead, but Bula also wasn¡¯t even Zadicus¡¯ killer. HE had killed Zadicus Quinn. And for damn good reason too. More than that, he¡¯d do it again if he got the chance. Before he can say as much, however, Nathaniel waves a hand through the air.


    ¡°Naturally, due to our close ties with the former Regent-Lord, allowances will be made. He has asked that all three of you be remanded back into Ocreatha¡¯s custody to answer for your respective crimes¡­ and the Order of the Rose has agreed to do so. That said, he has only requested that the Princess and the Princess alone be handed over alive. So, you all have a choice to make. Whether you will hand over your weapons and come quietly¡­ or make this difficult.¡±


    Well. This certainly changed things. Especially if all of these knights were under explicit orders to leave Avina alive as well. That meant Mikael didn¡¯t have to worry about her safety quite so much. On the other hand, the ugly looks on some of the knights¡¯ faces made him wonder if they were all so willing to follow that order. They looked eager for a fight to break out. But then, they did think he was an undead abomination and Bula an orcish murderess. Ugh. What a mess. This was-


    CLANG!


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    Mikael blinks, torn from his thought process as something strikes Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield square in the back, making him stumble forward half a step before the man whirls around. There, on the ground before him, is a gauntlet. A gauntlet thrown by one Dame Thayla Dawnguard. Sometime in the ensuing reveal, Thayla had removed her gauntlet and literally tossed it at the other knight.


    ¡°Specious lies. Preposterous insults.¡±


    Looking at Thayla questioning, Nathaniel furrows his brow.


    ¡°Thayla¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    With her head held high and her icy blue eyes glinting, Thayla scowls angrily as she draws her sword and points it directly at the Chevalier¡¯s face.


    ¡°Chevalier Ironshield. For spouting such obvious falsehoods regarding my allies, I challenge you to a duel of honor! When I beat you soundly, I and my allies WILL go to see my father¡­ with or without your approval.¡±


    Mikael blinks as all around them, the air goes still for a moment. Then, much to his surprise, the knights surrounding them all take a few steps back, looking at one another in consternation. Holy shit¡­ she¡¯d literally just thrown down the gauntlet, hadn¡¯t she? Nathaniel looks mulish for a moment¡­ and then crouches down to pick up Thayla¡¯s thrown gauntlet. He eyes it for a moment before nodding and tossing it back to her.


    ¡°I accept your challenge, Dame Dawnguard.¡±


    As Thayla begins strapping the gauntlet back onto her arm, Mikael, Bula, and Avina can only watch as an impromptu dueling circle quickly forms. Nathaniel Ironshield draws his own sword with a flourish as he and Thayla face off, a chuckle leaving his lips as he shakes his head in clear amusement.


    ¡°Honestly though¡­ have you truly forgotten the way things were between us in this short time since you were last home, Thayla? We grew up together¡­ and not once, not a single time have you ever won a spar against me.¡±


    Thayla frowns at that, but simply finishes tightening the straps on her gauntlet and takes up her position. Nathaniel flashes her a cheeky grin as he enters his own stance.


    ¡°Still, if you wish to complete your disgraceful return home with another ignoble defeat¡­ so be it.¡±


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 38: Thayla Dawnguard

    As she faces off with Nathaniel, Thayla is very careful not to look in Mikael¡¯s direction. She doesn¡¯t need the distraction that seeing his no doubt betrayed expression would bring. Not right now. Thayla is well aware that she probably should have told Mikael and the others about her relation to the Order of the Rose¡¯s Knight-Superior ahead of time. But she¡¯d been too much of an irrational coward. And now they were finding out here and now, in this impossibly shitty situation.


    Thayla¡¯s lips thin out, even as the other knights all make a space and she finishes securing her gauntlet to her arm once more. Seeing this, Nathaniel seems to take it as a sign of her reluctance to fight him, a smirk spreading across the Chevalier¡¯s face.


    ¡°You sure you want to do this, Thayla? You know it won¡¯t end well for you.¡±


    Thayla ignores him, hefting her sword and shield and staring at him expectantly, waiting for him to make the first move. He just raises an eyebrow in response, but when she stays quiet he huffs out a laugh, shaking his head.


    ¡°The silent treatment never won you a bout against me before, Thayla. Don¡¯t think it will now.¡±


    Then, he takes a quick three steps forward and attacks. Thayla blocks him with her shield and counterattacks right back, and with that the battle starts.


    It¡¯s true that she¡¯s never won a single spar against the man. Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield. They were of an age with each other, meaning they¡¯d pretty much grown up together side by side. And he¡¯d been an insufferable ass the entire fucking time. From a very early age, Nathaniel seemed to have gotten it into his head that they were meant to be together. That they belonged with one another.


    Needless to say, Thayla had never agreed with that. Ducking under a powerful swing, Thayla bends her knees before springing up, her blade flashing towards Nathaniel¡¯s face. His eyes widen in surprise at her speed, but he quickly gets his shield up in time to deflect her to the side, breaking off and making some distance as they circle one another for a brief moment.


    ¡°Hmph. Learned some new tricks, did you Thayla? No matter. It won¡¯t help.¡±


    Their ¡®relationship¡¯ had always been rather one-sided. His advances had never been appreciated. Unfortunately, he had never quite stepped beyond the bounds of propriety. He had merely been there, a constant presence in her life, reminding her of her inadequacies and failures. And all the while, it felt more like he was interested in her for her family name than anything else.


    The Order of the Rose did not have inherited positions, to be clear. It did not overtly favor family ties either. It was, first and foremost, a meritocracy. That was what the Hero who had originally started it all those centuries ago had wanted. And it was the ideal that the Knightly Order had tried to stay true to, all this time.


    So in actuality, Thayla¡¯s parentage didn¡¯t matter all that much, at least as far as her companions were concerned. Just because she was the daughter of the current Knight-Superior didn¡¯t mean he would listen to them any more closely than he would otherwise. Family and duty were two very separate things within the Order of the Rose.


    Nathaniel had never understood that. Thayla might never have been able to defeat HIM, but she had still risen as high as she had purely on her own merits. She was Dame Dawnguard, not because her father was Knight-Superior, but in spite of it. Or at least, that¡¯s what Thayla had always told herself. Still, it was clear to her that the Chevalier thought he could rise higher in the Order if he had her at his side.


    They exchange another series of blows, each flash of their blades faster than the last. Thayla keeps her breathing as slow as she can, but as the pace of battle picks up, so does her heartbeat. It¡¯s unavoidable, in the end. Still, when Nathaniel flashes her a smirk, she doesn¡¯t rise to the provocation. She doesn¡¯t let him bother her at all.


    Part of the reason Thayla had left the Citadel in the first place was to get away from Nathaniel. Even now, she doesn¡¯t think the pigheaded man realizes that funnily enough. But it¡¯s true. As much as she¡¯d wanted to get to the bottom of things regarding those rumors about Alether, she¡¯d also needed to be away from the Citadel, away from him. She¡¯d needed room to breathe.


    Of course, look at how that had turned out. Her ¡®room to breathe¡¯ had resulted in her killing an innocent man at the behest of the very criminal she¡¯d gone to Alether to try and arrest. Though¡­ Thayla isn¡¯t sure what she would have done anyways if Zadicus Quinn had come right out and admitted to his crimes the moment she showed up in his city. Gone to the Council of Lords, perhaps? Been silenced by his goons? By Bula herself, even?


    In the end, everything had worked out for the best. Not because of her though. Because of Mikael. Because he wasn¡¯t just a Summoned Hero, he was more than that. Even if he himself didn¡¯t realize it, Mikael was a good man. He was a man worth following, worth swearing herself to. Thayla wasn¡¯t the same woman that had left the Citadel all those months ago. She doesn¡¯t think Nathaniel really realizes that.


    The Chevalier begins to get frustrated. His confident smirks are replaced by small frowns and an increasingly furrowed brow as their duel continues. It¡¯s not the easy win he was expecting.


    He just doesn¡¯t get it. He doesn¡¯t understand that people can change. It¡¯s been several months since Thayla left the Citadel. And in those several months, Thayla has not stood still.


    The Citadel is great at teaching fundamentals, but Thayla is finally starting to understand a lesson that her father tried to drill into her head while she was growing up. There are two types of Knights within the Order of the Rose. There are those who guard the Citadel and keep their skills sharp in the training yard¡­ and then there are those who venture forth into the wider world to fight evil and injustice wherever it might be found.


    Don¡¯t get her wrong. Thayla had the utmost respect for those who stayed close to the Citadel. The Citadel was a bastion of hope and justice, not just in the Zuverian Empire, but across the entire continent. So long as the Citadel stood strong, so too did the Order of the Rose. And so long as the Order of the Rose stood strong, so too did its ideals and the ideals of its Heroic Founder.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    But¡­ Thayla knows Nathaniel has never left the Citadel. He has never ranged afar, not even on a mission within the borders of the Empire. He has not fought the orcs of the Savage Lands or sussed out evil in far away swamps and dark forests. He has lived his entire life in the Citadel, gaining the title of Chevalier solely based off his contributions to the Order through guarding its most hallowed ground and training the next generation of squires.


    It shows¡­ in his stagnation.


    ¡°You-!¡±


    Thayla huffs as Nathaniel starts to growl something out, only to have to cut himself off as she starts up a new offensive, forcing him to backpedal rapidly. He¡¯s so much¡­ slower. So much weaker. Not compared to her, mind you. But rather¡­ compared to the people she¡¯s been fighting for weeks now. Mikael. Bula. He doesn¡¯t measure up to either of them.


    Now, in all fairness, Thayla doesn¡¯t measure up to Mikael or Bula¡¯s monstrous strength at this point either. But frankly, Nathaniel doesn¡¯t measure up to her either. Compared to the life she¡¯s lived for months, traveling the roads of Zuveria, surviving off the wilderness, assisting the towns she¡¯d passed through on the way to Alether with all sorts of tasks¡­ Nathaniel¡¯s life has not been hard. Perhaps it has not been easy, but the man is soft in a way Thayla doesn¡¯t think he realizes.


    The Citadel matters. This Thayla will never stop believing. The Citadel must continue standing strong, to usher in the next generation of the Order of the Rose. But¡­ only now does Thayla have perspective that Nathaniel Ironshield lacks. Only now does she truly realize that the Citadel does not stand simply for the sake of standing. The Order of the Rose does not exist simply for the sake of existing.


    No, there¡¯s a great big world out there, and it¡¯s up to the Knights of the Rose to make it a safer place for innocents. The Citadel stands tall¡­ but it only deserves to stand tall for as long as it continues to give more than it takes.


    Thayla doesn¡¯t think Chevalier Ironshield understands that. Which is why in the end, he inevitably loses. Between one moment and the next, Nathaniel is suddenly on his back with Thayla¡¯s sword at his throat. He freezes up as her cold steel touches his neck, threatening to split open his soft throat and end his life right then and there.


    ¡°Thalya¡­ you¡­¡±


    She¡¯d done it. She¡¯d finally won against him. And the funny thing was? It didn¡¯t even really matter. Much like she¡¯d come to realize the Citadel had more of a purpose than simply existing, she¡¯d also come to realize that Nathaniel Ironshield simply wasn¡¯t that big of a deal. Beating him like this used to consume her every waking moment, but only now that she¡¯s finally done it does Thayla realize how¡­ small a matter it truly was.


    ¡°Yield, Chevalier Ironshield. This is my victory.¡±


    Nathaniel grimaces, his throat bobbing beneath her blade. She doesn¡¯t want to kill him, truth be told. She never has. He¡¯s not an evil man¡­ just a complete and total ass. Maybe this defeat will be the wake up call he needs? Maybe he can grow and evolve, just as she did. Maybe-


    The Chevalier¡¯s face twists into something ugly as he looks around at all of the other knights standing around them. The knights he¡¯d assembled in order to arrest Thayla¡¯s party the moment they came through the front gate.


    ¡°What are you all waiting for?! Take them! And take the Dame too! Her father will decide what to do with her!¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes widen at that, even as the other Knights of the Rose all tense up. They look uncertain, but also ready to obey. Not surprising¡­ Nathaniel is of a high rank, his authority unquestionable. And yet¡­ and yet, the lack of honor makes Thayla stiffen. Truly? They had just fought a duel over this. And she had won. Was he really going to¡­ just ignore that?


    Letting out a growl, Thayla digs her blade in just a bit, making a droplet of blood well up from the Chevalier¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Nobody moves a muscle! This was a duel of honor! A duel that I won! Whatever lies you believe you have been told about my companions, I have PROVEN them falsehoods through the strength of my steel!¡±


    The other knights look uncertain. Technically, Nathaniel is a higher rank than even she is. That was a point of no small amount of soreness, once upon a time. Now though? Now Thayla doesn¡¯t care. All she cares about is getting that audience with her father. The Order of the Rose might not put much stock in family ties, but damn it all, Thayla knows that if she can just speak to the Knight-Superior and explain things, she¡¯ll be able to convince him.


    ¡°Tch. Kill me and you will have truly lost your way, Thayla. Stand down.¡±


    Thayla snarls at that, her eyes flint-like as she glares down at Nathaniel.


    ¡°I am not the one dishonoring myself, Nathaniel!¡±


    Then, to give the others something to do so they don¡¯t decide to attack, Thayla calls out.


    ¡°Someone go and retrieve the Knight-Superior! NOW!¡±


    ¡°There is no need.¡±


    Before anyone can move, however, a solid, strong voice fills the courtyard. Eyes dart in its direction, Thayla¡¯s included. Her breath hitches as she beholds Knight-Superior Timothal Dawnguard coming down the steps into the courtyard. Clad in white-gold armor, with well-kept silver hair and beard, the Knight-Superior has his hands clasped behind his back as he takes in the scene.


    He radiates a sense of strength that fills the courtyard. Along with it comes a sort of calmness seated deeply in the confidence that that strength instills. The other knights all relax now that they¡¯re in the presence of their Order¡¯s Grandmaster. But that doesn¡¯t mean they aren¡¯t ready for action all the same. No, rather, they¡¯re more ready for action than ever before.


    The chain of command is clear now. Whatever the Knight-Superior orders¡­ will be done. No matter what.


    ¡°Remove your blade from the Chevalier¡¯s throat, Dame Dawnguard. Your duel is won and your point is made.¡±


    Even she is not immune to this feeling it would appear, because though Thayla bites her lower lip in consternation, she doesn¡¯t hesitate to pull her sword back at the Knight-Superior¡¯s order. Her father gives her a simple nod in response, even as Nathaniel scrambles to his feet.


    ¡°Knight-Superior Dawnguard! I was-!¡±


    The older man doesn¡¯t say a word. He simply looks at Nathaniel and the Chevalier cuts himself off all on his own. Thayla blinks at the exchange. Did it mean what she thought it meant? That Nathaniel had prepared this ambush without her father¡¯s knowledge? That¡­ bode well for them, right?¡±


    As Nathaniel steps back, silent and head bowed in frustration, Timothal¡¯s eyes sweep back over her¡­ and her companions. He spends only a moment studying them all before looking back to Thayla in particular. Those icy blue eyes of hers had to come from somewhere, and their origin stares her right in the eye as the Knight-Superior lets out a huff that might have been amused or exasperated. Thayla can¡¯t quite tell which.


    ¡°Follow, Thayla.¡±


    She almost wishes he¡¯d continued to use her title. To keep things¡­ separate. But even if their ideal is one of meritocracy¡­ it is impossible to completely ignore one¡¯s family ties, isn¡¯t it? Even still, Thayla hesitates for a moment. She isn¡¯t sure she can obey this order. Not if it means leaving Mikael and the others in the hands of Nathaniel and his men. Especially when she¡¯s not sure the Citadel would survive an attempt to take Mikael, Bula, and Avina into custody.


    Fortunately, when Timothal sees her hesitance, he just scoffs and beckons with a hand.


    ¡°Bring your¡­ allies as well. We have much to discuss.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s shoulder slump in relief at that, even as she and the others follow her father into the depths of the Citadel. The relief lasts all of a moment before its replaced by dread. Dread at eventually having to explain to Mikael why she¡¯d never told him the truth about her parentage. And dread at what this upcoming meeting with her father might wind up being like.


    She was finally home. Now she just had to survive it.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 39: The Knight-Superior

    As the Knight-Superior, Thayla¡¯s father, leads them deeper into the Citadel, Mikael is admittedly very conflicted. On the one hand, he IS upset that Thayla kept this from him. It was one thing for her to be a Knight of the Rose. It was another entirely for her to be the daughter to the Order¡¯s Grandmaster. On the other hand, even if he might be a little angry with her at the moment, he also can¡¯t help but be unbelievably proud of how Thayla had handed that Nathaniel bastard his ass.


    The way she¡¯d taken him apart and made it look so damn easy while doing so had impressed Mikael beyond measure. It¡¯d really driven home just how ridiculous both he and Bula were as well, because of the three of them, Mikael would have said Thayla was the weakest fighter. And sure, maybe the female knight WAS the weakest physically¡­ but in terms of skill, she might just be the strongest.


    Having to keep up with him and Bula over these last couple months, Thayla had been stuck in a sink or swim type situation¡­ and in the end, she¡¯d refused to sink, hadn¡¯t she?


    So yeah, Mikael was mad but also proud. More than that though, his anger was further tempered now that he¡¯d met Thayla¡¯s father himself. Even as he leads them further into the Citadel, Knight-Superior Dawnguard is¡­ something to behold. Indeed, the way he silenced the courtyard commanded everyone¡¯s attention, and just all around filled that entire area with his very presence had been quite eye-opening.


    Not just because Mikael now saw how dangerous the older man was, but also because he could now understand what sort of upbringing that Thayla had likely had. If she¡¯d grown up in a place like this with a father like that¡­ Mikael could understand why she might not have mentioned her parentage. It must have been quite¡­ intense.


    At the same time of course, Mikael is still very much on edge. Even though it SEEMS to be just the four of them and the Knight-Superior, he can¡¯t help but keep his eye out for ambushes all along their journey through the Citadel. He keeps expecting more knights to be lying in wait, to try and throw shackles onto him and his companions, or just try and kill them straight up.


    But no. While he can sense other souls moving throughout the halls around them, none are waiting for them. There are no ambushes. And when they finally reach their ultimate destination, it¡¯s to find that Knight-Superior Dawnguard has brought them to his office, where it seems he intends to meet them with no guards.


    Admittedly, that only increases Mikael¡¯s tension, rather than lessening it. After all, even if the Knight-Superior is on the up and up¡­ for him to have the confidence to meet with them all by himself is a little frightening. For all Thayla¡¯s dad knows, he¡¯s sitting down behind his desk and basically leaving himself wide-open to a half-orc murderer, an undead abomination, and the necromancer who spawned him.


    And yet, he¡¯s not worried. Not remotely. That¡­ hopefully bodes well. But Mikael can¡¯t be sure. One way or the other, he does know he¡¯s not letting his guard down. They were already one for one on old men from his lovers¡¯ past turning out to be evil monsters in disguise. If things were going to turn out badly, Mikael planned to be ready this time.


    Meanwhile, the Knight-Superior just looks at the four of them¡­ and then lets out a sigh.


    ¡°Chevalier Ironshield may have overstepped, but he told no lie as HE knew it. Word from Ocreatha reached the Citadel over a week ago. Unfortunately, it was not sent through the proper channels. If it had been, then the contents of Foss Sangrey¡¯s letter would have been for my eyes only.¡±


    Knight-Superior Dawnguard¡¯s eyes narrow and he frowns most severely.


    ¡°Instead, Ocreatha¡¯s new Supreme King accidentally mislabeled his missive, resulting in others reading its contents before it was finally brought to my attention. By that point, keeping the information under wraps became impossible.¡±


    Avina can¡¯t help but scoff at that, her arms crossed over her chest.


    ¡°I highly doubt it was an accident.¡±


    The Knight-Superior¡¯s eyes flash over to Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic, the same icy blue as Thayla¡¯s. But then, it¡¯s obvious that her father was where she got her eyes in the first place. The intensity of his stare reminds Mikael of the way Thayla had looked at him the first time he¡¯d met¡­ back when she¡¯d killed him in that arena. Instinctively, he shifts himself in front of Avina, taking up a protective stance.


    Seeing this, the Knight-Superior huffs and shakes his head.


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think it was truly an accident either. I believed that Sangrey¡¯s aim was to keep me from choosing to suppress the information, considering how it cast my daughter and our family name in a bad light. Now though, I¡¯m not quite sure what to believe. After all, if the missive were true, would you all have been so foolish as to come here, to this bastion of righteousness and justice? I suspect not.¡±


    That causes a hopeful stir among them, though before any can speak, the Knight-Superior continues on.


    ¡°Ah, but where are my manners. I am Knight-Superior Timothal Dawnguard, Grandmaster of the Order of the Rose. And you are?¡±


    Mikael and Avina both grimace at that, but Bula doesn¡¯t hesitate to step forward, tossing her head and jutting out her chin.


    ¡°I am Bula. Warrior.¡±


    ¡°Hm.¡±


    Avina is next, hands clasped together before her as she seems indecisive for a moment¡­ before letting out a soft sigh.


    ¡°I am Avina Reyalis¡­ Princess of Ocreatha.¡±


    Mikael can imagine the conflict that was going through her mind. She no doubt wanted to introduce herself as a simple Mechanic, perhaps¡­ but they had to put their best foot forward with Thayla¡¯s father if they wanted to succeed in their aims here. And hey, he hadn¡¯t turned out to be evil yet, right? With that in mind¡­


    ¡°And I am Mikael. Summoned Hero.¡±


    For a long moment, Timothal Dawnguard takes them all in, silently assessing them. Judging them, perhaps? Mikael honestly couldn¡¯t say for sure. Only that the older man¡¯s gaze is intense enough that even Bula squirms a little bit under it.


    ¡°¡­ Then not all of Foss Sangrey¡¯s missive was a lie. But then what was fact and what was fiction? Who abused the Hero Summoning Ritual, if not the Princess? Who practiced Necromancy in the depths of Alether, if not the Princess? And who killed Zadicus Quinn, if not the warrior Bula? Daughter. I would have the answers from you.¡±


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Thayla straightens up at that and steps forward. But Mikael¡­ Mikael has had enough of being sidelined if he was being honest. He had let Thayla take the lead up until this point, but now that they were in the thick of it, he wanted to speak for himself. Stepping forward as well, he puts a hand on Thayla¡¯s arm. She looks surprised at him, but when he gives her a smile¡­ she smiles back and bows her head.


    The clear deference makes her father¡¯s eyes narrow, but Mikael pushes right on through, not hesitating to take center stage and stand before the Knight-Superior¡¯s desk.


    ¡°I feel like I am best suited for discrediting the so-called Supreme King¡¯s lies, Knight-Superior.¡±


    Timothal frowns, tilting his head to the side.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    Nodding, Mikael spreads his hands apart.


    ¡°The answers to all of your questions are interconnected. I was summoned to Alether by none other than Zadicus Quinn himself. The Lord of the City tore me from my world with the hero summoning ritual and cut half of my memories from my mind. He replaced them with memories of battle and war¡­ and then sent me into his arena to die. When I found out that he threw my stolen memories away and that he made it impossible for me to go home¡­ I killed him myself. With my own two hands.¡±


    That gets Timothal¡¯s attention, just as Mikael knew it would. Mikael had just professed to committing the crime Bula was accused for. He knows that the Knight-Superior can tell that he¡¯s telling the truth as well. Unfortunately, while that answers two of the older man¡¯s questions¡­ Mikael has conveniently left out the third.


    ¡°And the charge of necromancy?¡±


    Wincing, Mikael¡­ deflects.


    ¡°What makes an undead an undead, Knight-Superior? Is it the lack of intelligence? Is it the lack of blood flowing through the corpse? Is it the inability to feel the elements, to feel the heat of the sun on your skin or the cold of crisp night air on your body? I still eat and drink. I still think and feel. Am I undead?¡±


    He feels like he¡¯s doing pretty well convincing the other man, but at the same time¡­ Mikael truly doesn¡¯t know enough about this world¡¯s magic and necromancy in particular to say for sure. But apparently Thayla either doesn¡¯t agree with his optimism, or she just can¡¯t hold herself back any longer.


    ¡°Father¡­ Avina would not have had to bring Mikael back if not for how I dishonored myself. It was only because my blade carved out his heart that she had to replace it in the first place!¡±


    ¡­ Well, that cat was out of the bag. Mikael valiantly resists the urge to groan and cover his face with his palm as Thayla passionately tries to defend them. Of course, Timothal is not so easily swayed, not when she¡¯s just dropped a couple of bombshells in her father¡¯s lap.


    ¡°Excuse me? Explain.¡±


    This time, Mikael knows that he can¡¯t step in. The Knight-Superior only has eyes for his daughter now, and while she quails a bit under his gaze, Thayla doesn¡¯t back down. To her credit, she stands tall and with a straight back as she describes the events in Alether that led her to Avina¡¯s basement laboratory. Telling her father of how Zadicus Quinn tricked her into dishonoring herself by slaying Mikael in one of his arenas couldn¡¯t have been easy, but Thayla does it all the same.


    ¡°¡­ And so I swore myself to the Hero¡¯s service, father. I did not know at the time whether he was truly a good man or not, but I knew that the only way the stain on my honor could ever be erased was through him. A life for a life. It was his choice to let me keep mine, rather than slaying me as I slew him. And I can tell you, having served him in my full capacity ever since, that Sir Mikael IS a good man. A man worthy of my pledge.¡±


    Her full capacity. Mikael supposed he was just grateful Thayla hadn¡¯t expanded on that at all. If she¡¯d said something like ¡®my full capacity as a knight and a woman¡¯, then they might have found themselves in a whole different heap of trouble. As it is, Timothal takes in all of their words¡­ but still looks troubled. Probably by the description of how Thayla had carved Mikael¡¯s heart out and definitely killed him, given Mikael is standing before him now, seemingly alive and well.


    ¡°I must admit, I have having trouble reconciling my daughter¡¯s words with yours, Hero. You claim not to be undead. And yet¡­¡±


    Avina steps forward, arms still crossed over her chest.


    ¡°It¡¯s true. I brought Mikael back from the dead. I didn¡¯t just heal him or resuscitate him. I resurrected him. But I didn¡¯t half-ass it or anything like that. Not like Foss Sangrey did to create his undead army out of all the other poor bastards Zadicus Quinn summoned. I brought Mikael back, completely and utterly. He¡¯s alive. As alive as anyone¡­ MORE alive than anyone, in some senses!¡±


    Ah, and there¡¯s the mad scientist always lurking in the back of his Soul Mechanic¡¯s mind. Mikael grimaces and gives Avina a reassuring pat on the shoulder to try and calm her down before she can really get going and start ranting about Souls and the Weave and her Engine some more. Frankly, he¡¯s not sure Timothal Dawnguard needs or wants to hear about all that. After all, he probably doesn¡¯t care for such-


    ¡°Then¡­ that would make you a True Necromancer, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    Mikael blinks, even as Avina goes stiff under his hand. Even Thayla and Bula look surprised to hear Thayla¡¯s father using the same descriptor as Foss Sangrey did. Though, Foss had called Avina and her family ¡®Trueborn Necromancers¡¯ and what they did ¡®True Necromancy¡¯. A small distinction¡­ and one Mikael didn¡¯t understand a lick of to be honest.


    What WAS the difference between True Necromancy and regular Necromancy? Was it merely that Avina had the ability to bring people back fully, like she had with Mikael?


    Avina huffs out another breath and then nods her head. Her lips are thin as she admits it.


    ¡°¡­ Yes.¡±


    Well, at least the Knight-Superior doesn¡¯t immediately declare them all criminals to be executed with that admission. Instead, Timothal leans back in his chair for a moment, contemplative. Finally, he glances at Bula.


    ¡°Hm. It would seem that of the three of you, only the half-orc is truly innocent of the accusations levied against her.¡±


    Bula lets out a bark of laughter at that, baring her tusks and teeth in a bloodthirsty grin.


    ¡°Tch. Would have killed the bastard myself given half the chance. But Mikael had the greater claim.¡±


    Debatable. Sure, Zadicus had ruined his life. But he¡¯d ENSLAVED Bula. Still, in the end Mikael was just glad that the asshole was dead. And he suspected his orcish companion felt the same way.


    Silence falls in the office at Bula¡¯s declaration. Not because anyone is particularly stunned by her words, least of all the Knight-Superior. No, rather¡­ no one seems to have anything to say, even Timothal Dawnguard. Everything seems to almost sit on a knife¡¯s edge for a moment. Tension in the room builds the longer that the silence carries on.


    Are they going to have to fight their way out of the Citadel or not? Because one thing is for damn sure, Mikael isn¡¯t about to let anyone do anything to Avina. Not even Thayla¡¯s father. If he decides that she has to be executed for being a True Necromancer, Mikael will step in. Immediately.


    Just when he thinks it¡¯s almost inevitable, however, the Knight-Superior surprises them all by letting out another sigh.


    ¡°¡­ Your situation is a unique one, to be sure. By all rights, I should not doubt Foss Sangrey¡¯s words. He has, after all, been a friend to the Order of the Rose for many years. As Regent-Lord, he is the sole reason we were even allowed to operate within Ocreatha¡¯s borders. At the same time, he¡¯s taken over Ocreatha with a mysterious army that came out of nowhere, disbanding the Council of Lords and declaring himself ¡®Supreme King¡¯. Ostentatious, to be sure.¡±


    Abruptly, Timothal stands from his seat. Mikael just barely manages to hold back the urge to draw his sword at the sudden motion.


    ¡°There is only one way to truly separate fact from fiction. Only the Truth Above All can see through the lies and deception that turn these waters murky.¡±


    Thayla chokes on her own spit the moment she hears the words ¡®Truth Above All¡¯ fall from her father¡¯s lips. Mikael, on the other hand, is simply confused. At least Avina and Bula look just as confused as he is for once¡­


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 40: Truth Above All

    ¡°Father, are you sure about this?¡±


    After rising from his chair and dropping his solemn declaration on them all, Knight-Superior Dawnguard had led them out of his office and into another section of the Citadel. Along the way, Mikael, Avina, and Bula had received an explanation of exactly WHAT the ¡®Truth Above All¡¯ actually was. Apparently, it was the Order of the Rose¡¯s most prized artifact.


    Coming in the appearance of a mirror, its rippling surface gave away its enchanted nature. Put simply, as Thayla¡¯s father had explained it, it was a portal into one¡¯s very self. It wasn¡¯t dangerous, supposedly. In fact, every single Knight of the Rose had to go through it during their training, to make sure that there was no great darkness or evil lurking in their hearts.


    Standing before the magic mirror-like portal now, staring at his reflection, Mikael won¡¯t lie¡­ he¡¯s not exactly feeling excited about this. And Thayla¡¯s recalcitrance isn¡¯t making him feel any better either.


    Looking to his daughter, Timothal sighs.


    ¡°I am. But please, outline your concerns, daughter.¡±


    Straightening up, Thayla looks between the Truth Above All and her friends for a long moment before making her case.


    ¡°They are not Knights, Father. They have not had our training, they have not sworn our oaths, nor have they chosen to abide by our ways. Holding them to the same rigorous standards as our Order would be unfair to them. After all, we do not demand the same of our other allies, do we?¡±


    The Knight-Superior nods in agreement with his daughter, as intense and serious as ever.


    ¡°You are correct, we do not. Though an argument could be made that perhaps we should start. After all, Foss Sangrey is numbered among those allies and if I am to believe you and your friends, he never should have been. In point of fact, if we had demanded he submit to the Truth Above All a long time ago, then maybe his true nature would be known to me, and all of this would not be necessary.¡±


    ¡­ That wasn¡¯t a bad point. It sounded to Mikael as though this artifact could really get to the heart of certain matters. Forcing Foss Sangrey to use it, or forcing him to reject it¡­ either way would have let Timothal know that the other man wasn¡¯t to be trusted. Of course, Thayla wasn¡¯t willing to just leave it at that.


    ¡°But father! Have I not already passed this test? I stand before you as Dame Dawnguard, a Knight of the Rose! I have subjected myself to the Truth Above All and it has not found me wanting! Does my word not count for anything?¡±


    Also a fair point. Though Thayla¡¯s father doesn¡¯t seem to agree. The Knight-Superior shakes his head.


    ¡°You are not in question, Thayla. The new Supreme King was quite careful with his letter. He accused you of no crimes. Instead, he was careful to make it seem as though you have been misled. A distinct possibility, given what you yourself admitted happened back in Alether. If you could be misled by Zadicus Quinn¡­ who is to say you cannot have been misled by Avina Reyalis?¡±


    Thayla flinches at that, but Avina stays quiet. Mikael is a little surprised that she hasn¡¯t spoken up, but when he looks over at her, it¡¯s to find that his Soul Mechanic is actually looking surprisingly contemplative. Almost as if she¡¯d actually considering acquiescing to Knight-Superior Dawnguard¡¯s request.


    To be honest, Mikael thinks he might be willing to do it as well, even if he¡¯s a little nervous. However, he does have one question he thinks they deserve answered before they decide anything.


    ¡°Knight-Superior. You claim the Truth Above All will separate fact from fiction and falsehood from lie.¡±


    Turning to him, Timothal gives a simple, sharp nod.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Letting out an explosive breath, Mikael fixes the other man with a look.


    ¡°Is this because YOU will see everything about us? Will you be watching whatever happens while we subject ourselves to this mirror?¡±


    Looking a little disgruntled at that, the Order¡¯s Grandmaster straightens up to his full height.


    ¡°The Truth Above All is not a simple mirror. It is a portal to the heart of one¡¯s true nature. But¡­ no. While is it true that stepping into the Truth Above All will result in you being tested, observers do not see the specifics of those tests on the outside. Rather, all we see is the Truth. Fundamentally, who you are as a person is laid bare, making it clear whether you are worthy of the joining the Order of the Rose¡­ or not.¡±


    Mikael can¡¯t help himself. He raises a single eyebrow and casts his gaze back the way they¡¯ve come, towards the courtyard where they entered the Citadel.


    ¡°¡­ And someone like Nathaniel Ironshield proved worthy in your eyes, did he?¡±


    Thayla blushes at Mikael¡¯s dry tone, but its Timothal¡¯s reaction that truly surprises him. For the first time since they¡¯ve met, the Knight-Superior actually laughs. It¡¯s only a quick bark of course, but it still catches him and everyone else in the room off guard. Including the man¡¯s own daughter.


    ¡°Hah! Chevalier Ironshield is not a perfect man, I¡¯ll grant you that, Hero. But he is also not an evil man.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s doubt must show on his face, because Timothal just shakes his head as he explains further.


    ¡°Nathaniel can be reckless and arrogant at times, but everything he does, he believes that he does for the good of the Order and the people under our protection. The Order of the Rose does not demand perfection. If it did, we would not have an Order of the Rose in the first place. Nathaniel would not be a knight, its true¡­ but neither would I. Neither would Thayla.¡±


    Clasping his hands in front of him, his bearded chin thrust out, the Knight-Superior looks Mikael directly in the eye.


    ¡°As none of you are actually attempting to join the Order of the Rose, the standards by which I will judge your Truths will be even lower than usual. In the end, I do not truly believe any of you will fail. But¡­ my hands are tied. The Truth Above All will tell me whether you can be trusted or not in fact¡­ and if you refuse to do this, then you have made it clear that you can NOT be trusted. And I will be forced to act accordingly.¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Despite the threat inherent in his final words if not readily apparent in his tone, Mikael¡¯s opinion of Thayla¡¯s father actually goes up several notches at his words. The man was not just stalwart in his convictions, but also willing to take his lumps both where he and his order were concerned. Mikael could appreciate that. And he could even appreciate the man¡¯s position.


    That said¡­ he wasn¡¯t going to be the first to agree to use the damn mirror. He didn¡¯t want to pressure either of the other two into-


    ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±


    Mikael blinks at that, looking at Avina in surprise. He really hadn¡¯t expected her to agree so readily, but when she looks at him, he sees the determination in her eyes. She wants to do this. Rather, she¡¯ll do anything to help them stop Foss Sangrey. The bastard has taken too much from her already.


    To be fair, the fact that the Knight-Superior had labeled Avina a True Necromancer and was still willing to give them this chance to prove themselves was another point in the man¡¯s favor, Mikael supposed. Whatever prejudice and discrimination a necromancer of Foss¡¯ variety could expect from the Order of the Rose, it didn¡¯t SEEM to extend to someone like Avina. Which was weird, but Mikael wasn¡¯t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.


    ¡­ Where had that phrase even come from? He grimaces as he realizes it¡¯s yet another idiom from Earth that he doesn¡¯t really remember the origins of. Only that it feels vaguely appropriate to his mind. And that¡­ that¡¯s a little scary to think about, isn¡¯t it? If he goes into the damn mirror, what¡¯s he going to find? What¡¯s going to come out the other side?


    ¡°Hmph. If it¡¯ll get us to the next fight faster, then fine. I¡¯ll go in.¡±


    And there was Bula. Mikael grimaces, even if the half-orc¡¯s casual agreement makes sense. Still¡­ it leaves him as the last holdout. And by all accounts, he should have the least reason to be worried. After all, isn¡¯t he an innocent in all of this? The Truth of Mikael is that he was torn from his world and forced to do everything he¡¯d done to survive. But that was just it. The things he¡¯d done¡­ what if he¡¯d become something more than a victim? What if the mirror recognized him as a monster?


    He¡¯s afraid. There¡¯s no denying that. But with everyone looking at him, waiting for his answer, Mikael realizes he has no real choice. One look at Thayla¡¯s father and it¡¯s obviously an all or nothing deal. The man will accept nothing less. And while Mikael is confident that he could get them all out of here alive if Timothal Dawnguard turned hostile, it¡¯s not just about that. They need an army. They need the Order of the Rose¡¯s backing, and maybe the Zuverian Empire on top of it.


    With a roll of his shoulders, Mikael clenches his jaw and nods. He doesn¡¯t speak¡­ doesn¡¯t trust himself to, frankly. He just nods his agreement and thankfully that¡¯s enough. Perhaps sensing his recalcitrance but approving of his courage, Timothal returns the nod with one of his own before stepping to the side and gesturing to the mirror.


    ¡°You will enter the Truth Above All one at a time. You will not see each other within whatever test you find yourselves undertaking. You will also exit the other side separately. Stay true to yourselves, stay strong¡­ and you will be fine.¡±


    See, staying true to himself might be a problem. Because Mikael didn¡¯t exactly know who he WAS anymore. But he doesn¡¯t voice that concern. Instead, he watches as first Avina and then Bula step into the magic mirror¡¯s rippling surface, disappearing into whatever their tests might entail. Then, with Thayla and her father both watching him, Mikael lets out a harsh sigh¡­ and steps on through as well.


    -x-X-x-


    ¡°Mikael! Mikael, wake up! It¡¯s time for school!¡±


    Blinking open his eyes, Mikael stares at the ceiling for a long moment before slowly sitting up in his bed. Looking around at his old bedroom¡­ he finds himself staring at a mess. Not the sort of mess that a young man would have in their childhood bedroom. No, the sort of mess that resulted in some things literally not having proper shapes to them. The sort of mess where some of the walls have blank white spots on them where posters should probably be.


    ¡­ He thinks he was supposed to be taken in by all of this. Supposed to actually be convinced that he was back in the past for a moment. But instead, he¡¯s stuck staring at the ruins of his own mind made manifest. His childhood room with strips torn out of it because he couldn¡¯t remember some of his favorite things, couldn¡¯t recall some of his favorite hobbies.


    ¡°Mikael!¡±


    Ah¡­ but that was his mother¡¯s voice. He could¡­ he could see her again. Scrambling out of his bed and to the door of his room, Mikael steps out into a hallway just as... decayed as his bedroom was. He nevertheless manages to get downstairs, to the kitchen where his mother and father are waiting for him. His mother gives him a bright smile as she hands him a plate of piping hot breakfast food. He smiles back at her, soaking in the details of her face.


    ¡°There you are, Mikael. Eat up! You have school today!¡±


    ¡°¡­ Yes Mama.¡±


    As he drinks in her face, he realizes he doesn¡¯t remember her name. Even now, even in this surreal vision of the past, he can¡¯t remember what Zadicus took from him. But¡­ seeing her face is still pretty good. Seeing her smile at him with such loving affection in her eyes.


    Mikael finds himself buoyed all the way to his seat at the table. Just as he¡¯s settling down however, things take a turn for the worse. MUCH worse.


    ¡°Took you a while to come downstairs Mikael. Don¡¯t make your mother ask so many times in the future, alright?¡±


    His father¡¯s gentle chiding is nice¡­ until the man pulls down his newspaper and doesn¡¯t have a face. Blank cream-toned flesh stares at Mikael, his father¡¯s voice coming from a mouth that doesn¡¯t exist as he looks at Mikael with eyes that aren¡¯t there.


    With a shout of surprise, Mikael kicks back from the table, his chair falling to the ground as he stumbles away.


    ¡°Mikael? Are you alright?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you, my boy?¡±


    Both his parents sound so concerned, but between his mother who¡¯s name he can¡¯t remember and his father who doesn¡¯t even have a face¡­ Mikael can¡¯t stay. He turns and he runs, sprinting out of the front door.


    Only to find himself on a battlefield instead.


    ¡°GET IT TOGETHER, MEN! CHARGE!¡±


    Suddenly, he¡¯s a lot older. Older even than he had ever actually been as far as he was aware. Mikael looks at hands weathered with age, knuckles white as he grips tightly at the spear in his grasp. Around him, the others all let out shouts in response to the voice, charging forward while he stands still.


    ¡°Oi! Soldier! I said charge! Stay in formation or I¡¯ll run you through myself!¡±


    There¡¯s a clap on his back, forcing him to stumble forward. And before he knows it he¡¯s running. Charging alongside a bunch of other soldiers on a battlefield he can¡¯t even name. Funny that this memory actually seems to be intact even though¡­ even though it¡¯s obviously not his. Unlike his room, home, and parents, there are not strips torn out of this memory. It¡¯s the full deal. It¡¯s also just dreadfully short.


    Mikael finds himself shouting as he engages the enemy. His spear flashes out and catches one man in the throat, sending his opponent into the mud with a dying gurgle. He fights and so do his fellow soldiers, and together, staying in formation, they win the day.


    Or at least, he thinks they win the day. The memory is too fleeting. It ends in mere minutes, whereas Mikael suspects he could have stayed in the childhood memory for hours if he hadn¡¯t been so¡­ cowardly.


    Still, one thing is for sure. This is the test. This is the Truth Above All fucking with him. And he¡¯s already sick of it. As that memory of battle comes to a close, Mikael finds himself on another battlefield¡­ and shakes his head.


    ¡°No. That¡¯s enough.¡±


    He could have kept going, sure. Lived through every moment of his real memories. And every moment of his fake memories. But he had no desire to revisit either for longer than he has to.


    Instead, at his declaration something else happens. Everything¡­ turns white. And he finds himself face to face with two other people. Two other versions¡­ of himself.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 41: Reflection

    Standing in the middle of the white void, Mikael stares at the other two versions of himself. One is him as a child. Much younger, dressed in old clothes he remembered wearing once upon a time back on Earth, and looking frightened out of his mind by the circumstances. The other is him as he is now. Tall. Armored. Armed with a sword sheathed at his side.


    Except¡­ no. The second version of him isn¡¯t really him as he is now at all. That Mikael looks older. More weathered. He even has the start of a beard. And¡­ there¡¯s no glow coming from his chest. It¡¯s almost like he doesn¡¯t have the Soul Engine or something. Did these represent the Mikaels of his past and future as he stood as the bridge between them in the present? Even that didn¡¯t feel quite right, but it was as close as Mikael felt he could get to be honest.


    ¡°¡­ What even is this test? Am I supposed to choose who I want to be or something? Or am I just supposed to accept you both and sing kumbaya or something?¡±


    His younger self gives him an incredulous look. His older self just barks out a laugh.


    ¡°Choose? Accept? Don¡¯t do anything. Just stand there and watch as I finally kill this twerp once and for all.¡±


    With that, his older self suddenly has his sword in his hand, even though he didn¡¯t have to draw it. He lunges across the whiteness, attempting to run his child self through. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen, even as the child springs back with a scream, but not nearly quickly enough to-


    CLANG!


    Without even realizing it, Mikael is already moving to protect his past self. He suddenly has a sword in his hand as well, and he¡¯s blocking the other armed version of him, their blades locked together as he grits his teeth. Glaring at him, the older version snarls before pulling away with a huff.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡±


    Straightening up, making sure he¡¯s between the two versions of himself, Mikael holds his sword at the ready.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t that be my question? Why would any part of me kill another part of me? Unless you¡¯re going to try to claim that he¡¯s not actually me or something.¡±


    Spitting off to the side, the armored, grizzled Mikael lets out a bark of derisive laughter.


    ¡°Of course not. He¡¯s us, no doubt about that. He¡¯s our weakness. You want to survive in this world, Mikael? You don¡¯t need him. You need ME. After all¡­ at every turn, every challenge, every obstacle¡­ it¡¯s me who you¡¯ve relied upon to survive. Not him. All he¡¯s done is hold you back. All he¡¯ll ever do is hold you back.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as he finally realizes who the older version of him REALLY is. He can¡¯t believe it took him this long to realize. After a moment, he snarls. This time, it¡¯s he who lunges forward, attempting to drive his sword right through the grizzled Mikael¡¯s chest.


    ¡°You! How dare you wear that face! How dare you pretend to be me!¡±


    The old soldier blocks, parries, and deflects every single one of Mikael¡¯s frenzied strikes. He toys with him, really, as they trade blows there in the white void. Mikael just continues to pick up speed though, continues to put more and more strength into his sword work.


    This isn¡¯t him. It¡¯s a fucking sham. This¡­ amalgamation wearing some older looking version of his face is the memories that Zadicus fucking Quinn forced on him. Memories of war and battle. But also worse than that. Memories of murder and mayhem, of killing and pillaging. No wonder he was so eager to kill a child, even if it wasn¡¯t a real child. Before him stood a monster wearing his face. Mikael wouldn¡¯t fucking stand for it. He refused.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd. Pretend? I am you, Mikael. We are only the sum of our parts. Maybe I started out as the memories of a bunch of dead men, but I¡¯ve become so much more than that. I¡¯m your resolve. I¡¯m your determination. I¡¯m your KILLER FUCKING INSTINCT!¡±


    Suddenly, the grizzled Mikael goes on the offensive and it¡¯s all Mikael can do to keep up. His eyes widen as he¡¯s forced to backpedal. It¡¯s shocking, because for a while now he hasn¡¯t fought anything or anyone nearly as strong as him. He¡¯s even been able to put Bula in her place every single time they sparred. But this older version¡­ he might have a point. He fights with a ferocity that feels far more natural than anything Mikael can muster.


    Even still¡­ even still.


    ¡°If the choice is between you or me, I choose me every time. If I have to kill one of you, I¡¯ll kill you every goddamn time. I¡¯d rather be whatever¡¯s left once you¡¯re gone, even if it means I can¡¯t fight worth a damn anymore. Even if it means I¡¯m fucking useless!¡±


    He might have made use of the memories Zadicus forced on him. He might only have survived because of them. But Mikael would be damned if he would lose any more of himself to them. If they wanted to kill his past, to turn him into nothing more than a psychopathic killer just like them¡­ he¡¯d rather excise them from his skull completely. Even if it left him as an invalid with nothing but Swiss Cheese for a brain. He¡¯d prefer that over becoming any more like them.


    Slowly, he finds himself pushing back the other warrior. That overwhelming advantage seems to be shrinking by the moment for some reason. Indeed, the more grizzled version of his face twists into confused consternation.


    ¡°Why? All he does is make you weak? I¡¯ve made you strong, haven¡¯t I? Together, we¡¯ve taken our revenge on Zadicus Quinn. For not just ourselves, but every man who¡¯s memories he forced into our head!¡±


    Mikael flinches. He¡¯d never thought about that, really. Or he supposed he¡¯d chosen not to think too hard about it. But¡­ his opponent was right. He¡¯d always hated the dead men in his head. They weren¡¯t even real people; he knew as much. They were memories. Mere fragments designed to give him fighting instincts and make him worth more of a fight. They¡¯d kept him alive just long enough against Thayla to entertain the audience before she¡¯d killed him. That was their entire purpose.


    ¡­ But they¡¯d had to come from somewhere. Actual dead men, no doubt. Every single one of them was a warrior, soldier, or criminal that Zadicus Quinn had gotten his grubby hands upon at some point. The Lord of Alether had created quite the collection of fighting prowess, plucking snippets from his victims, from the actual natives who wound up in his arenas.


    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    He¡¯d used them to create an amalgamation that he could shove into the heads of each of his kidnapped heroes, in order to both keep them off-balance and unable to speak out about who they were and where they were from, but also to make them ever so slightly more entertaining before they died in his arenas. Then, after all was said and done, he¡¯d come back around and pulled the fighting memories out of his victims¡¯ heads before sending their bodies on to Foss Sangrey to be raised as undead soldiers in his army. But those like Mikael weren¡¯t Zadicus¡¯ only victims. There were also those other men, the ones these memories came from in the first place.


    As though he¡¯s reading his thoughts, the grizzled and older version of him nods along.


    ¡°We avenged them. Now we need to continue to work together, to avenge all of the others. Without me, you can¡¯t defeat Foss Sangrey and his army. Without me, you can¡¯t help Avina. You need me more than you need him. Admit it.¡±


    They¡¯re stalemating now in their fight. Neither giving ground before the other, but also neither able to overwhelm the other either. And yet¡­


    ¡°No. I need you both.¡±


    The words feel right as they slip from Mikael¡¯s mouth. But of course, the warrior version of him doesn¡¯t seem to think so. He lets out another bark of derisive laughter, sneering as he shakes his head.


    ¡°Still so childish! Still so weak! We have to be stronger! We have to be ready for whatever that bastard Foss throws at us!¡±


    Mikael doesn¡¯t get angry through. He just nods his head in agreement.


    ¡°And we will be.¡±


    Needless to say, that doesn¡¯t go over well with his opponent. With a roar, the older version of him swings his blade down from above, even as Mikael brings his own up to block. Their arms strain as they lock swords once again, fighting with all their might to overpower the other. Well, his opponent is trying to overpower him. Mikael isn¡¯t. Not anymore.


    ¡°And how do you see that working out, huh?! You aren¡¯t even strong enough to beat ME!¡±


    Smiling softly, Mikael chuckles.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have to be.¡±


    In an instant, his magic unfurls from his chest. Energy flows out of the Soul Engine, filling the white void with the teal light. Thick bands of power seize upon his other self, grabbing the man and lifting him into the air. Mikael disables him in moments, the sword in his grasp inconsequential now. As his opponent is pulled back, Mikael straightens up, only to feel an impact on his side as his child self runs forward and latches onto his leg.


    Mikael gives the younger version of him a reassuring smile, before looking up at the older.


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill either of you. Because¡­ in the end, you¡¯re right. You are me. Maybe once upon a time, you started as nothing more than fragments of those other men. But they were never really here. I was never really in danger of losing control of my body to dead men possessing me like some sort of sick collection of ghosts. No¡­ you aren¡¯t them. You¡¯re the part of me that took hold of those memories and used them. You¡¯re the part of me that was strong enough to do anything to survive.¡±


    Ceasing his struggling, his more grizzled self scoffs.


    ¡°You claim to understand. But you still insist on holding onto your weakness.¡±


    Mikael just rolls his eyes at that.


    ¡°Because it¡¯s not weakness. Without him¡­ there was no hope.¡±


    ¡°A foolish hope! It was his weakness that convinced you that you could get your memories back! It was his weakness that had you clinging to that idiotic desire to go home! If you¡¯d stopped and thought for even a second, you would have realized from the beginning that Zadicus Quinn didn¡¯t bother keeping our other memories! And you definitely would have figured out sooner that he was never going to let us go home, no matter what!¡±


    Mikael clenches his jaw at that. Because¡­ the other him has a point. In hindsight, expecting to be able to get his memories back and a way home from Zadicus Quinn had been a wild goose chase the entire fucking time. It was obvious from the lack of technological uplift and the way Zadicus used and tossed aside the people he summoned to Vaclatora that he hadn¡¯t kept or even bothered studying the memories he¡¯d taken from the thousands of Summoned Heroes he¡¯d brought to this world before Mikael.


    But¡­


    ¡°Even a false hope is better than no hope at all. It might have been foolish, but it kept us going just as much as the memories of battle helped us survive. It kept us sane. It kept us whole. And it wasn¡¯t just hope either. It was love.¡±


    Embarrassing, but if he couldn¡¯t admit it here inside of his own personal mindscape within some sort of magical artifact, where could he admit it? Mikael¡­ was in love. He might not have said it out loud to Avina, Thayla, or Bula¡­ and they certainly hadn¡¯t said it back to him. But he knew he loved Avina and Thayla at the very least, and he believed they loved him back. Bula was a bit iffier, but he certainly enjoyed her company¡­ and he suspected she thoroughly enjoyed his company as well.


    ¡°Without my past, with just the memories of killing and fighting and worse¡­ we never find love. We never find purpose. You said it yourself. It¡¯s not just about stopping Foss Sangrey or getting revenge. It¡¯s about helping Avina.¡±


    That was what had led to the realization that this truly was another part of him in the end. As much as Mikael might have wanted to claim that the grizzled older self was just those dead men disguising themselves as him¡­ he knew it wasn¡¯t true. Because the warrior him loved Avina just as much as he did. He wanted to help her just as much as Mikael did.


    Because in the end¡­ they truly were one in the same. All three of them were parts of the same whole.


    Slowly, Mikael releases his older self from the magical bonds, letting him set his boots back down on the ¡®ground¡¯ of the white void they find themselves standing in. Closing his eyes for a moment, the warrior lets out a low breath.


    ¡°You really believe that don¡¯t you? You think you need both of us in order to keep Avina safe and stop Foss Sangrey.¡±


    Mikael doesn¡¯t even hesitate. He nods sharply, his jaw set.


    ¡°With all my heart.¡±


    He was more than the sum of his parts now. He was more than his past experiences, be they his or someone else¡¯s. What Zadicus Quinn had done to him¡­ Mikael would bear the scars of that man for the rest of his life. But scars were not wounds. They were what came after the wounds healed. And Mikael refused to let his scars define him. He refused to let anyone, even himself, tell him who he could and could not be.


    Finally opening his eyes, the grizzled version of him gives a simple, sort nod.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right.¡±


    Then, the warrior begins to fade. A tug on his side draws Mikael¡¯s attention down to his child self who smiles up at him.


    ¡°I know you¡¯re right.¡±


    Even as he too begins to fade, Mikael looks around the whiteness. He finds himself thinking on who matters most to him in this new world. Who he loves. Who he wants to protect. Avina. Thayla. Bula.


    ¡­ He steps out the other side of the magic mirror, finishing his stint in the Truth Above All. To his surprise, he finds the others all arrayed before him. Avina, Thayla, Bula, and Timothal. Avina and Bula had apparently finished before him, something that they waste no time making clear.


    ¡°Took you long enough, Mikael.¡±


    ¡°Hah! He gives even himself trouble in a fight!¡±


    Mikael flushes at that, and then colors at Bula¡¯s words in particular.


    ¡°Err¡­ wait. You guys didn¡¯t see everything that went on in there, did you?¡±


    Because Thayla¡¯s father had said that they didn¡¯t see specifics¡­ and it was one thing to have a heart to heart with yourself, but another entirely to know that everyone else had been watching.


    Before Avina, Thayla, or Bula can answer, however, a grave and serious voice cuts through the humor of the moment, a blanket of intensity that Mikael is quickly becoming familiar with falling over the room.


    ¡°No. It is as I said, observers do not see details in the Truth Above All. Only the Truth. And now¡­ now I have seen all of your Truths. I have seen who you are at the core of your very beings.¡±


    His no-nonsense tone has Mikael tensing up as he turns to face the Knight-Superior, awaiting Timothal Dawnguard¡¯s final verdict with no small amount of trepidation.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 42: Judgment

    Timothal Dawnguard¡¯s ominous words hang in the air like the headsman¡¯s axe over all their necks. Mikael wonders if even after everything, it¡¯s still going to turn out to be a fight. But¡­ no. Instead, the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster surprises all of them once more¡­ by actually cracking a smile as he gives them all a respectful nod.


    ¡°It would seem my daughter has found good, albeit unconventional allies.¡±


    Well shit. Mikael hadn¡¯t even known that Thayla¡¯s father was capable of smiling. Sure, there¡¯d been that bark of laughter earlier, but that had been more an exhalation of air than an expression of mirth in Mikael¡¯s eyes. Now though, as Timothal lifts his head, the man looks surprisingly warm¡­ for all of a moment before his expression turns dour and grim.


    ¡°Unfortunately, that¡¯s where the good news ends I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    The tension in the room, which had just been beginning to die down, ratchets up again on the spot. Thayla is quick to interject, gasping as she steps forward with wide eyes.


    ¡°Surely you can¡¯t still mean to hand them over to Foss Sangrey, Father!¡±


    It would make some small amount of sense if he did. It would be¡­ politically advantageous, probably. Or so Mikael assumed, he wasn¡¯t really a politician. And yet, the Knight-Superior shakes his head at his daughter¡¯s pleading.


    ¡°No, of course not. I can say with near certainty that you are all innocent of the crimes that Foss Sangrey accuses you of. And once the rest of the Order is told that you have willingly subjected yourselves to the Truth Above All, I know they will believe it as well. However¡­ that is one thing. And it is not why you all came here to the Citadel, is it?¡±


    Mikael and the others exchange looks at that. Or rather, Mikael finds himself exchanging looks with Avina and Thayla. Bula looks rather bored with the whole situation, her head turned off to the side, staring blankly at a wall. She¡¯s clearly not paying much attention at this point. Which is¡­ more than fair to be honest. The half-orc wants to fight more than anything. Mikael supposes he should just be grateful that she was even willing to put herself through the Truth Above All.


    But then, if she¡¯d faced what he¡¯d faced¡­ he could just imagine how that had gone for Bula. More than likely, the somewhat simplistic warrior woman had come out the other side of the magic mirror even more sure that all she wanted to do was find a good fight. And now here they were, chatting again.


    In the face of their silence, Timothal just nods, reaching up to stroke at his well-groomed silver beard for a moment before sighing.


    ¡°As I suspected. You lot didn¡¯t even know of the Supreme King¡¯s letter before arriving at the Citadel. So while it might look like you all came here to absolve yourselves of your crimes in Ocreatha, at least in the eyes of our Order¡­ that¡¯s clearly not the case, now is it? No, you all came here¡­ looking for allies.¡±


    Mikael has a sinking feeling in his gut and meeting Avina¡¯s eyes only makes it grow worse. She doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯s any more excited to have this conversation than he is. Especially not when the Knight-Superior is pretty obviously telegraphing that what they weren¡¯t going to get what they wanted.


    Of course, Thayla isn¡¯t so easily dissuaded.


    ¡°Father, it is true¡­ I brought the Princess and the Hero here because they need your help. Avina in particular needs our help to avenge her family and retake her country. Foss Sangrey was the one who had the King and Queen and all their children murdered all those years ago!¡±


    Looking to Avina, Timothal lets out another sigh.


    ¡°I am sorry for your loss, Princess. As belated as my condolences might be. Unfortunately, while I know you have come here to secure support from our Order and Zuveria as a whole to regain your throne¡­ you cannot expect much I¡¯m afraid. Relations between Ocreatha and Zuveria have been¡­ strained since the deaths of your parents, but only because of the perceived corruption of your Council of Lords spilling over our borders into the Empire.¡±


    Crossing his arms over his chest, the Knight-Superior doesn¡¯t look happy. Rather, he looks resigned.


    ¡°I won¡¯t lie. There have been murmurings in Zuveria about Ocreatha becoming too much of a hassle. People would talk about how little sense it made allowing Ocreatha to maintain it¡¯s independence when the Kingdom didn¡¯t even have a Royal Family anymore. Regent-Lord Sangrey has cultivated a very specific sort of reputation both in Ocreatha and Zuveria. One of a man who was doing all he could to keep things under control and to keep the squabbling of the children that make up the Lord¡¯s Council to a minimum.¡±


    Avina¡¯s eyes flash at that, but then she speaks up and her words cause a hush to fall over the room.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to rule Ocreatha once the deed is done, Knight-Superior Dawnguard. So long as Foss Sangrey is defeated and dead¡­ I would gladly give up the Kingdom to the Zuverian Empire¡­ if that¡¯s what it takes.¡±


    Timothal¡¯s eyes widen in surprise at Avina¡¯s convictions. Meanwhile, Mikael isn¡¯t all that shocked. Avina didn¡¯t want to rule, she wanted revenge. Though he wasn¡¯t sure she could necessarily have one without the other¡­


    ¡°¡­ That is certainly a powerful statement, Princess.¡±


    Avina shrugs, looking to the side.


    ¡°Admittedly, I don¡¯t know as much about the Zuverian Empire as I should. But clearly if someone like you isn¡¯t willing to condemn someone like me to death¡­ then it seems that Zuveria is already better than Ocreatha, at least in that way. And¡­ I haven¡¯t been a Princess for a long, long time. I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d make a very good Queen anyways, so why not let Zuveria step in instead?¡±


    Raising an eyebrow, Thayla¡¯s father chuckles at Avina¡¯s words. It seems he¡¯s at least somewhat loosened up around them, Mikael notes.


    ¡°It seems you¡¯ve given this more thought then I credited you for, my apologies. That said, you misunderstand me. Those within the Empire murmuring for us to intercede in Ocreatha¡¯s affairs did so because they thought the Council of Lords was a problem too large to be ignored and ultimately too big for the Regent-Lord to handle. Those same individuals are no doubt overjoyed that Foss Sangrey has taken over Ocreatha as Supreme King now. Even I was initially relieved when I heard the news¡­ though I obviously have cause to doubt his good character now.¡±


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    That last bit, said in an incredibly dry tone, has to be the understatement of the century. But Timothal doesn¡¯t even know how much of an understatement it really is. Clearing his throat, Mikael steps forward.


    ¡°You should know, Knight-Superior, that I was not the only Summoned Hero brought to this world by Zadicus Quinn. I was merely the last.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s father frowns at that, but slowly nods.


    ¡°I suspected as much, given just how long ago we started hearing rumors of the Hero Summoning Ritual being abused. Still, I imagine you have a point you¡¯re trying to make, Sir Hero?¡±


    Mikael resists the urge to grimace at the respectful address. So it wasn¡¯t just Thayla, in the end. Apparently ¡®Sir Hero¡¯ was a common title for Summoned Heroes. Good to know. But ultimately, at least at the moment, irrelevant.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sure someone like you has wondered how Foss Sangrey did it. How he took command of Ocreatha and disbanded the Council of Lords. I assume you¡¯ve heard about his army. But where did that army come from, exactly?¡±


    The Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster doesn¡¯t take long to figure out what Mikael is getting at, his eyes widening in understanding but then narrowing in confusion.


    ¡°The Regent-Lord and this Lord Quinn worked together to summon that many heroes? Was the stipulation for their summoning that they all had to help Foss Sangrey become Supreme King? Is that how he bound their loyalty to him? But no, if that were the case they would already have begun disappearing¡­¡±


    ¡°Father.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s voice sounds rather distraught as she cuts in from the side, her expression ashen. Timothal looks over at his daughter¡­ and then fresh realization hits him and he looks to Avina.


    ¡°Your father was a True Necromancer like you, wasn¡¯t he?¡±


    Avina wordlessly nods.


    ¡°¡­ But Foss Sangrey is not. He¡¯s a trained necromancer.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Now, Timothal Dawnguard looks just as ashen as his daughter.


    ¡°His entire army?¡±


    Avina nods sharply.


    ¡°Undead Summoned Heroes. Every last one, as far as we could tell.¡±


    It¡¯s a little scary, seeing a man as tough and intense as Thayla¡¯s father had been so far suddenly look weak and weary. In fact, the Knight-Superior has to make his way over to the nearest chair, sitting down heavily as he processes their words. Still, when Mikael thinks back to watching from the balcony as Foss Sangrey¡¯s army marched on Alether with eerie precision and unnatural speed, knowing what he knows now about all those gleaming, armored soldiers¡­ yeah, he fully understands why Timothal might be a little taken aback.


    Maybe they were getting somewhere now. Maybe they just needed to push a little harder and the Knight-Superior would be willing to help them out after all. Making eye contact with Avina, he jerks his head in Timothal¡¯s direction. It feels like it has to be here. After all, she¡¯s the one who knows the most about all this stuff.


    Letting out a shuddering breath, Avina nods slightly and continues on in a grave tone.


    ¡°Thousands and thousands of them, all outfitted with what looked to be enchanted armor and weapons. An army that managed to march from who knows where to Alether just five days after Zadicus Quinn died. An army that doesn¡¯t need to eat or sleep. That doesn¡¯t produce waste and doesn¡¯t need supplies.¡±


    Letting out another sigh, Thayla¡¯s father sweeps his gaze across all of them again.


    ¡°¡­ I understand. Truly I do. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not that simple.¡±


    Thayla squawks at that.


    ¡°How can it not be simple, father?! Foss Sangrey has raised an undead army! An undead army made out of innocent men and women from other worlds, kidnapped and brought to Vaclatora to fight and die in Zadicus Quinn¡¯s barbaric arenas! This is as simple as it gets. Was the Order of the Rose not made to fight against these very sorts of crimes?! Were you not fully ready to prosecute and punish my allies for the exact same things if they had proven to be guilty of what Foss Sangrey accused them of?!¡±


    Her father weathers Thayla¡¯s rant in silence until the female knight has finally gotten it all out of her system. But to Mikael¡¯s consternation, Timothal doesn¡¯t look any more swayed than before.


    ¡°I believe you, Thayla. I believe all of you in fact. But there¡¯s another very good reason that the murmurings in the Empire about taking matters into our own hands and ending the corruption in Ocreatha were only ever just murmurings. Put simply¡­ the Zuverian Empire does not have the forces to fight a war on two fronts. And you well know that we are at war with the Savage Lands, Thayla. Perhaps others might call them simple border skirmishes, but with more than three quarters of Zuveria¡¯s entire military tied up in protecting the border from the orc tribes, it very much is a war.¡±


    Timothal gets a far off look in his eyes.


    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s a war that¡¯s been going on since before you were born Thayla. Since before I was born too. And it¡¯s a war that will likely continue on long after we are both dead and buried. Ocreatha might only be half Zuveria¡¯s size, but so long as the Empire is stuck with the orcs on one side, relations with the Kingdom of Ocreatha have to remain as stable as possible.¡±


    Thayla looks betrayed. Like she can hardly believe the words out of her father¡¯s mouth. Mikael sort of gets where she¡¯s coming from. It¡¯s hard to see someone you think can do anything say they can¡¯t do something, isn¡¯t it? At the same time, he also sort of sees where Timothal is coming from too. Even if it feels ridiculously short-sighted.


    ¡°You know that Foss Sangrey won¡¯t stop with Ocreatha, right?¡±


    Mikael¡¯s tense words cause Timothal to look at him with a frown.


    ¡°Men like him¡­ they don¡¯t ever stop. He¡¯s even calling himself the ¡®Supreme King¡¯ now. With an army like that at his back, it¡¯s only a matter of time before he attacks Zuveria. I understand that the Empire has a lot of its military tied up on its other border. I get how dangerous orcs are¡­ I¡¯ve fought a half-orc a number of times now.¡±


    He tosses a smile and nod in Bula¡¯s direction at that, which the half-orc returns rather distractedly.


    ¡°¡­ But that doesn¡¯t change the facts. Rather, it only makes it more obvious what Foss is going to do. He¡¯s going to invade Zuveria. It¡¯s only a matter of time. Even if he doesn¡¯t want to conquer the Empire, though I guarantee you he does¡­ he needs Avina. He wants Avina because with Avina, he can make more soldiers like me. He can make himself like me too. And then you aren¡¯t just dealing with a self-proclaimed Supreme King Necromancer and an army of undead heroes on your border¡­ you¡¯re dealing with one that¡¯s immortal and has all the time he could possibly want with which to conquer the world.¡±


    For a long moment, Timothal is silent, his brow furrowed in consternation as he thinks over Mikael¡¯s words.


    ¡°¡­ You might be right. But we still can¡¯t attack Ocreatha unprovoked, no matter how much I personally might want to. Even if I were to recall the entire Order of the Rose to the Citadel to begin making preparations for battle against Ocreatha, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. And the Emperor would have my hide. Conversing with him, convincing him of the danger Foss Sangrey represents¡­ that will take time.¡±


    That was better than a flat ¡®no¡¯, Mikael felt. Still¡­


    ¡°That makes sense¡­ but we might not HAVE time, you know. Whatever Foss is planning, he¡¯s going to be going after Avina hard and fast. She¡¯s the key.¡±


    Timothal nods and suddenly that presence from before is back. Knight-Superior Dawnguard is suddenly before them again and as he rises from his seat, he straightens to his full height.


    ¡°Yes, of that I have no doubt. Do not fret. If there is one thing that I can offer immediately and without reservation, it is sanctuary. While I send a message to the Emperor apprising him of the situation, all of you will remain safe here in the Citadel. It¡¯s the least I can do for you, all things considered¡­ and I hope in time, there¡¯s more that can be done as well.¡±


    Mikael hopes so too. Because as much as the situation in Zuveria might not allow for them to immediately mobilize for war with Ocreatha¡­ he just doesn¡¯t see a world where someone like Foss Sangrey decides to let bygones be bygones. Either the self-titled Supreme King is going to send some sort of force after Avina specifically, or he¡¯s just going to invade Zuveria wholesale.


    Still, he and his allies have done what they can for now. It seems in the end all they can really do from this point is sit and wait to see what happens next.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 43: Clearing the Air (Lewd)

    True to the Knight-Superior¡¯s word, they¡¯re provided with not just their own quarters, but an entire corridor of rooms for their stay at the Citadel. The area even comes with its own private kitchen and courtyard, the latter of which is clearly made for training and sparring if the wooden posts clad in beat-up armor are any indication.


    Timothal also promises to make sure that everyone else in the Citadel knows they are guests and not to be touched as swiftly as humanly possible. Mikael even believes him, but he¡¯s still going to be keeping an eye out and staying on guard. He trusted Timothal Dawnguard. He did not trust the entirety of the Order of the Rose. Especially not after their interaction with Chevalier Ironshield.


    Sure, the Truth Above All might have proven itself to be a powerful artifact capable of discerning good from evil, but people could change. And good and evil wasn¡¯t nearly that black and white. Mikael himself didn¡¯t necessarily feel like a good person. He didn¡¯t consider himself evil either to be fair, but still¡­ good? That was a hard sell.


    Regardless, Avina had turned in for the night straight after dinner and Mikael didn¡¯t blame her. It had been a long, trying day and of the four of them, Avina had the least stamina. That said, Mikael wasn¡¯t nearly as ready to go to bed. That¡¯s why he found himself out in the hallway where all their rooms were located, running right into one Thayla Dawnguard coming from the opposite direction.


    ¡°O-Oh! Sir Mikael, I had hoped to run into you¡­¡±


    Smiling slightly, Mikael figures he knows what this is about.


    ¡°Thayla. I¡¯m glad you chose to stay with us instead of taking up your old quarters. I know this place was your home for much of your life, so I imagine you have normal rooms somewhere else in the Citadel.¡±


    Thayla flushes at being so casually called out. It was almost certainly true, and she makes no effort to deny it. Squirming, she averts her eyes and nods her head.


    ¡°Of course Sir Mikael. Until you dismiss me from your service, m-my place is at your side¡­¡±


    Mikael hums, noting the tone of fearful anticipation. Then, he nods and gives Thayla a pat on the shoulder before moving to step past her. Petty? Maybe¡­ but he¡¯s not here to make things easier for the female knight. Especially not when he knows she¡¯s working her way up to an apology.


    ¡°Sir Mikael, wait!¡±


    Stopping, he turns back to look at her with a raised brow. Flushing even harder, Thayla squirms for a moment longer before finally speaking.


    ¡°I am sorry for not telling you about my father. I should never have withheld such critical information from you or the others. I understand completely if I¡¯ve irrevocably broken your trust in me.¡±


    By the time she¡¯s done speaking, her shoulders have drooped and her head is bowed in eternal shame. She¡¯s definitely taking this way harder than he is. Which is why it¡¯s all too easy for Mikael to step up to her and place a hand on her shoulder, giving it a comforting squeeze.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Thayla.¡±


    Head shooting up so fast he fears she might give herself whiplash, Thayla¡¯s icy blue eyes are wide and filled with wonder as she gapes at him.


    ¡°It¡­ it is, Sir Mikael?¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, Mikael sighs.


    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I told you to call me Mikael. And I¡¯m pretty sure you agreed too.¡±


    Coloring, Thayla bobs her head.


    ¡°A-Apologies, Mikael. I had assumed I lost the privilege.¡±


    ¡°¡­ Well you didn¡¯t. I understand why you were afraid to tell us about your father. He seems like a good man¡­ but also a very intense man. And I can only imagine how growing up in his shadow must have felt.¡±


    Thayla bites her lower lip, Mikael¡¯s words clearly hitting home for her.


    ¡°Yes¡­ all my life, I have been compared to him. And people knew how it affected me too. I used to lie. I used to tell them that my father was the sun and cast no shadow. That I was fine. But the truth was¡­ I never felt like I was enough to live up to everyone¡¯s expectations for me. Getting away from the Citadel was as much about getting out from under those expectations as it was anything else. And¡­ it felt good, not being known as Timothal Dawnguard¡¯s daughter. Even with everything else going on¡­ that felt good.¡±


    Mikael smiles softly at Thayla¡¯s heartfelt confession, giving her shoulder another squeeze.


    ¡°I get it, Thayla. That¡¯s why I forgive you for not telling us ahead of time. Even if it was a mistake, it¡¯s not one I¡¯m going to hold over your head or anything like that. Though¡­ there will have to be a punishment.¡±


    Thayla jolts at the word ¡®punishment¡¯, her eyes lighting up in¡­ excitement.


    ¡°O-Oh? Oh, of course, Mikael. I will¡­ submit to whatever punishment you see fit. Shall we retire to your room or mine? Or¡­ or will you do it right here out in the hall for the others to possibly see?¡±


    She blushes incredibly hard at that last idea. However¡­ Mikael shakes his head.


    ¡°No Thayla. That wouldn¡¯t be a real punishment at all. Rather, it¡¯s going to be the exact opposite. Your punishment for lying to me and the others¡­ is that I¡¯m not going to do anything to you tonight whatsoever. You¡¯ll just have to live without me for the evening.¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes widen in horror and the expression of heartbreak on her face is so strong that you¡¯d think he¡¯d just dismissed her from his service or something, rather than just telling her she wouldn¡¯t be getting any sort of sexual attention from him on this fine evening.


    ¡°¡­ oh. O-Of course, Sir Hero¡­ I¡­ I understand completely. It¡¯s¡­ no less than I deserve.¡±


    Slowly, downtrodden and literally dragging her feet, Thayla turns and begins heading for her room. Mikael watches her go somewhat incredulous. Seriously? For a moment, her despair is so palpable it almost makes him change his mind. But¡­ no. He steels himself. It¡¯s only for one night for fuck¡¯s sake! Thayla can survive one night. Honestly.


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    Once she¡¯s disappeared into her room, Mikael lets out a sigh and heads down the hall towards who he was ACTUALLY aiming to talk to on this fine evening. He passes right by Bula¡¯s door, already able to tell that she¡¯s not actually in there due to both his enhanced senses and his burgeoning, ever-growing soul sight.


    Instead, he locates the half-orc warrior out in their newly assigned private courtyard. Bula¡¯s battle axe swings through the air as she lets out gruff snarls and exhalations. All the while, she¡¯s doing a deadly dance that almost looks like sword katas¡­ if the sword katas were performed with a battle axe instead. Mikael is surprised by her restraint. He¡¯s glad she chose not to-


    Oh, never mind. Off to the side, those training dummies he saw earlier are already thrashed and trashed, shredded by Bula¡¯s weapon and dumped against the courtyard¡¯s fall wall in pieces. Seeing that, Mikael chuckles softly, shaking his head.


    When he looks back to Bula, he blinks in surprise. She¡¯s stopped swinging her axe¡­ but not because she noticed him. Rather, she¡¯s stopped in place and is staring off into the distance with a frown of consternation on her face.


    After a moment of silence, Mikael clears his throat.


    ¡°Err¡­ Bula?¡±


    Turning to face him, the half-orc tilts her head to the side.


    ¡°Yes? What is it?¡±


    Then, her eyes slide up and down him, clearly looking for a weapon. When she doesn¡¯t find one, she grunts.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t here to spar. So¡­ fuck?¡±


    That actually wasn¡¯t why he was here, but once she comes to a conclusion, Bula doesn¡¯t waste time tossing her battle axe to the side and leaping at him. Mikael catches her easily, spinning with her body and letting them fall to the ground together with HIM on top and her on bottom. She grunts as the breath leaves her lungs but continues like he hasn¡¯t just turned the tables on her, her hands immediately going down to his crotch and working open his pants to pull out his cock. At the same time, her legs spread eagerly in anticipation.


    Mikael doesn¡¯t really need any incentive or motivation to fuck Bula. But even as he slides into her and the half-orc groans her appreciation, he doesn¡¯t immediately start jackhammering like she prefers. Instead, he grabs her by her wrists and pulls her arms over her head, holding her down and pinning her to the ground as he goes still with just half of his cock inside of her.


    When Bula frowns, Mikael smiles.


    ¡°Actually, I wanted to talk. But knowing you, doing both is better, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Bula snorts derisively but doesn¡¯t resist.


    ¡°Just fucking would be best. But¡­ yes.¡±


    Rolling his eyes in amusement at his half-orc companion¡¯s simple tastes, Mikael slowly begins sliding in and out of Bula. Despite his claim to want to talk, he doesn¡¯t actually speak for a moment. He¡¯s trying to figure out how to word his most pressing question without sounding¡­ accusatory. Finally, he decides to do things in a roundabout way.


    ¡°Bula¡­ who was your father?¡±


    Bula¡¯s face immediately scrunches up at that, her nose wrinkling. For a moment, Mikael thinks he¡¯s stepped in it after all¡­ but finally, she grumbles and shrugs.


    ¡°A bastard. Why?¡±


    Damn it, he should have expected that sort of response. Blunt, short, to the point¡­ and ultimately didn¡¯t help at all. He¡¯d have to explain himself better. With that in mind and wanting to put Bula in the right¡­ mood for answering his most burning question, Mikael picks up the pace, much to the half-orc¡¯s vocal enjoyment. She moans and groans beneath him as he pistons in and out of her tightly flexing, well-muscled cunt.


    ¡°I¡¯m asking¡­ because I¡¯ve been blind-sided by two out of the three women in my life now. First, Avina turns out to be a long-lost princess to the Throne of Ocreatha, and her ¡®uncle¡¯ winds up being the evilest bastard I¡¯ve ever had the misfortune of meeting. Then, Thayla turns out to be daughter of the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster. And her father turns out to be the most intense man I¡¯ve ever met. Not as bad, but still kind of blindsided me.¡±


    Sighing, Mikael makes sure to continue giving Bula what she wants as he finishes his explanation. A good, hard dicking.


    ¡°I guess what I want to make sure is¡­ your father isn¡¯t anyone special, is he? He¡¯s not some Orc Warlord who¡¯s going to wind up uniting all of the orcs in the Savage Lands and invade Zuveria from the other side at the precise wrong moment, right? Because that would really suck¡­ but if he is, I just want to know so I can start preparing.¡±


    By the time he¡¯s done getting that all off his chest, Bula is giving him a strange look. After a moment, she snorts and shakes her head before winding her limbs around his body, pulling him in closer.


    ¡°Fuck me harder. Maybe you¡¯ll talk less, Mikael.¡±


    He rolls his eyes again but does as he¡¯s told all the same. He knows she¡¯s not just stonewalling him. She¡¯ll answer him on her own time, that¡¯s just how Bula is. And so, for a few minutes they continue fucking, until finally Bula speaks.


    ¡°Do not worry about my father, Mikael. He is dead.¡±


    He almost stops at hearing that, but Bula¡¯s tightening around his hips reminds him that she wouldn¡¯t be happy if he did. Still¡­


    ¡°He and his tribe were known for ranging beyond the Savage Lands and raiding the settlements foolish enough to place themselves within his reach. Still, he will not be an issue¡­ because I killed him myself many years ago.¡±


    ¡­ Oh. Well then. Mikael makes sure to keep a good, rough pace for his half-orc lover, pounding her into the grass in a consummate mating press as her feet kick high in the air on either side of him, her arms wrapped around his neck. Looking down into her eyes, he knows Bula is telling the truth. But then, she wouldn¡¯t lie to him to begin with, he doesn¡¯t think. Not consciously anyways.


    Still¡­


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Though I¡¯m sorry you had to do that, Bula.¡±


    She blinks as he offers his condolences and then lets out a bark of laughter.


    ¡°Hah! I am not! He deserved death and I was pleased to dole it out to him. Even the consequences of my actions, being exiled from the tribe and forced to leave the Savage Lands, do not make me regret it! After all¡­ I got to meet you.¡±


    Mikael blinks, shocked by Bula¡¯s tone. Of course, Bula immediately follows up on those last five words by reaching up and grabbing him roughly by the hair, dragging him down into a deep kiss. As their tongues wrestle for dominance, Mikael redoubles his speed, making Bula squeal into his mouth in excitement and glee. He had been holding back a fair bit after all in order to let them both hold a conversation. He doesn¡¯t need to do so anymore.


    Plowing Bula with a great deal of his considerable might, he enjoys the way the half-orc tightens around him again and again, moaning against his lips and tongue in clear enjoyment. Mikael is enjoying himself too, to be fair¡­ but he has to admit, alongside the pleasure is also a sense of relief.


    Its sobering to learn that Bula had to kill her own father. He can only imagine the circumstances that forced her hand. Or¡­ maybe she wasn¡¯t forced at all. Maybe she just waited until she was big enough and strong enough to end his life and then left. Mikael wasn¡¯t going to speculate too much. And he certainly wasn¡¯t going to judge Bula¡¯s actions either.


    From everything he¡¯d heard about the orcs, they were a¡­ difficult people. Bula was an example of a more reasonable subsect of their kind, being a half-orc and all. He could only imagine what full orcs were like. Bloodthirsty, impossible to reason with¡­ and almost as strong as him. A pretty terrifying combination, considering he had no clue how many of them actually populated the Savage Lands.


    Still, at least his worries had been assuaged. Bula was no princess and her father was dead by her hands, so the likelihood of him showing up to make further trouble was next to none.


    As Mikael and Bula fuck the night away, making an utter mess of themselves and the grassy courtyard they¡¯re fornicating within in the process, Mikael consoles himself with some simple knowledge. Avina might be a Princess in Exile and Thayla might have serious daddy issues and an inferiority complex a mile wide¡­ but at least Mikael didn¡¯t have to worry about Bula.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 44: Hurry Up and Wait

    Mikael is starting to worry about Bula. It¡¯s been a week and some change since they¡¯ve arrived at the Citadel, and in that time things have fallen into a somewhat hesitant but ultimately consistent routine. The four of them would come together for meals during the day, and at night Mikael would wind up doing the horizontal tango with one, two, or all of them.


    However, outside of meals, Avina spent most of her time in the Citadel¡¯s massive library, burying herself in books and Thayla spent most of HER time pestering her father, trying to get the Knight-Superior to change his mind.


    She¡¯d talked a bit more about how the Order of the Rose worked over a few of their meals, describing the meritocracy that the Knightly Order was supposed to operate under. As far as Mikael could tell, it was mostly exactly what Thayla said it was, which was surprising to him. After all, you either died a hero or lived long enough to become the villain.


    ¡­ He wasn¡¯t sure where that phrase came from, whether it was an Earth memory or a Vaclatora memory, but it felt really deep and philosophical either way. And yet, the Order of the Rose bucked that trend. Oh, their history books had a few bad apples here and there, and once or twice the Knightly Order had been brought to pretty extreme lows. But they¡¯d always rebuilt and always bounced back, managing to return to the teachings of the Ancient Hero that started their Order even when some were led astray.


    That all said, as much as Mikael believed Thayla when she said she¡¯d had to fight and claw her way into her position as Dame of the Order of the Rose, it was equally obvious that her father was allowing her to occupy far more of his time then he would have let anyone else under his command occupy. How long that would last before he put his foot down, Mikael didn¡¯t know¡­ but for the time being, it meant Thayla was gone most of the daylight hours trying to convince Timothal that they needed to be more proactive against Foss Sangrey and his undead army.


    This left Mikael and Bula without anything to really do except spar out in their private courtyard, fighting each other and trying not to make TOO much of a ruckus while doing so. Which brought Mikael back to his initial thought. He¡¯s really starting to worry about Bula.


    ¡°Hah!¡±


    ¡°Oof!¡±


    As he buries the pommel of his blade deep in the half-orc¡¯s stomach, Bula folds over his blow. Dancing back, Mikael watches as she recovers swiftly, not even falling to her knees. Instead, she straightens up and growls at him, eager to go on the offensive. Except, yet again her eyes are shifting to the side¡­ to the South.


    It¡¯s only for a second before she¡¯s on him of course, but the distraction still costs her¡­ as it has been all week long.


    There¡¯s simply no denying it, Mikael is trouncing his sparring partner. He has been for quite a few days now. And it¡¯s not because he¡¯s stronger or better than her. Stronger, maybe. But Bula is a consummate warrior and even with the memories shoved in his head, Mikael has actually been learning a lot from her. He¡¯s also held back, dialing back his speed and strength to match her own immense physical attributes.


    And yet he¡¯s still been kicking her ass because of how distracted she is.


    Another exchange between them ends in Mikael¡¯s favor as he straight up sweeps Bula¡¯s feet out from under her. As she lands on her back, the air driven out of her lungs, Mikael winces from the low growl that exits her throat.


    ¡°Bula? Do you¡­ uh, are you alright?¡±


    Hopping to her feet, she growls louder as she glares daggers at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at that, because he doesn¡¯t believe her for a second.


    ¡°You sure about that?¡±


    ¡°It is nothing. Come. Let us continue.¡±


    She¡¯s as short as ever with her answers. Sighing, Mikael shrugs and raises his wooden practice sword and buckler, readying himself for another round of sparring that likely isn¡¯t going to be satisfying for either of them. Bula raises her wooden practice axe in turn, preparing to launch herself in his direction. However, just before her feet can leave the ground, an unfortunately familiar voice calls out that stops them both in their tracks.


    ¡°Ho there!¡±


    Turning as one, Mikael¡¯s eyes narrow and he¡¯s pretty sure Bula¡¯s do as well as they both gaze at Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield and the group of knights he¡¯s leading into their private courtyard. Technically they are guests here and as a high-ranking member of the Order of the Rose, the Chevalier is entitled to going where he wants to go.


    ¡­ But Mikael still tenses up, his jaw clenching as his eyes slide over the group that Nathaniel has brought with him. Sizing them all up, he¡¯s confident that he and Bula can take them. Still¡­


    ¡°What do you want?¡±


    If this is an ambush, it¡¯s a poor one. Then again, the Knights of the Rose clearly aren¡¯t very good at ambushes to begin with because the one they were treated to upon their arrival at the Citadel was also pretty poorly planned out.


    That said, Nathaniel doesn¡¯t hesitate to raise his hands in surrender. Then, he drops into a gallant bow, one arm crossed over his body as he lowers his head in deference and respect.


    ¡°All I want is to apologize. To both of you.¡±


    Mikael blinks, more than a little surprised by the man¡¯s words. Truly? Mikael doesn¡¯t know what to say. Bula, meanwhile, snorts derisively. In the ensuing silence, the Chevalier maintains his bow for a second longer before slowly lifting his head. There¡¯s a sheepish smile on Nathaniel Ironshield¡¯s handsome face as he spreads his hands apart.


    ¡°I said some¡­ regrettable things when we first met. I spoke with a confidence I did not deserve to speak with. No¡­ rather, there¡¯s simply no denying what it was. It was arrogance. For that, and for trying to name you an undead abomination and you a murderer¡­ I am sorry.¡±


    As he looks first to Mikael and then to Bula while giving his apologies, Mikael just stands there, caught rather flat-footed. Sure, Thayla¡¯s father had said that Nathaniel wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad person. But this was¡­ a pretty severe one-eighty, wasn¡¯t it?


    This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    ¡°What¡¯s with the change of heart, exactly? And if you were really sorry, why did it take you this long to come and say it?¡±


    Here, Nathaniel grimaces and bows his head.


    ¡°The Truth Above All cleared up any doubt in my and my fellow knights¡¯ mind. If you and your companions passed through our most sacred relic without the Knight-Superior taking offense, then the accusations laid at your feet MUST be lies. As for why it took so long to come here and say it to your face¡­ shame. It is not excuse, but I was ashamed. We were ashamed. We treated you all poorly, only to discover we¡¯d been made fools of.¡±


    Well. Shit. Now Nathaniel was almost downright likable. Mikael didn¡¯t like it. He¡¯d much preferred when Nathaniel was the handsome bastard who Thayla had beat into the dirt for being an arrogant ass and trying to impede their way. Now¡­ well, he was proving to be an actual person. One with flaws, yes¡­ but also some redeeming qualities.


    Still, Mikael can¡¯t help but be a little¡­ antagonistic, all things considered.


    ¡°You know Thayla and I share a bed most nights, right? And you¡¯re¡­ okay with that?¡±


    Judging by the even worse grimace on the Chevalier¡¯s face at that, he¡¯s not all the way to ¡®okay with that¡¯ just yet. But that just makes Mikael respect him more, especially when combined with the next words out of his mouth.


    ¡°I am¡­ trying to be. I have come to terms with the fact that what I saw between Thayla and I is not what she saw between us. We have talked¡­ and I have realized what an ass I have been.¡±


    Well shit. Talk about character development. And all of it had happened outside of Mikael¡¯s view too, apparently. Was that even allowed?


    ¡­ What was he talking about? Of course it was allowed. Gracing the Chevalier with a polite smile, Mikael decides to let bygones be bygones.


    ¡°Very well then. Apology accepted. At least for me. I can¡¯t speak for my companions, of course.¡±


    Nathaniel nods, not looking put out by that in the slightest. Instead, he glances over at Bula hopefully. Mikael looks over as well, only to find Bula not even paying them any attention, her gaze fixated southward yet again. Coughing into his fist, Mikael winces.


    ¡°Err¡­ Bula?¡±


    At hearing her name, Bula tears her gaze back across all of them. For a moment, Mikael wonders if he¡¯s going to have to catch her up on what they were talking about, but after a beat the half-orc just scoffs and lifts her practice axe onto her shoulder.


    ¡°Can you lot fight or is all that fancy armor just for show?¡±


    Nathaniel and his fellow knights all straighten up at that, their chests puffed out and their heads held high.


    ¡°We can indeed fight, Lady Bula. If you are challenging us to a spar, we would be happy to test our mettle against one of your strength and speed.¡±


    Bula huffs.


    ¡°Just Bula. No Lady bullshit.¡±


    Nathaniel bobs his head in understanding, even as Mikael frowns slightly.


    ¡°Err, I¡¯m really not sure that¡¯s a good idea¡­¡±


    Nathaniel laughs and for a moment Mikael feels himself beginning to bristle. But then the other man speaks and to his surprise, the Chevalier understands where he¡¯s coming from immediately.


    ¡°Oh, I know full well that me and my comrades here stand little chance against either of you in a one-on-one confrontation, Sir Hero.¡±


    Oh no, that damn title.


    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s why I would suggest something of an open melee and an unbalanced spar, so to speak. All of us against the two of you should be fair, right?¡±


    That brings Mikael up short. His first instinct is that it¡¯s some sort of trap. He¡¯s definitely suspicious as he flicks his eyes across Nathaniel Ironshield and his men again. However, he doesn¡¯t detect any deceit from the Chevalier. He¡¯s not sure the handsome knight is even capable of telling a lie. Certainly, he doesn¡¯t think Nathaniel can tell a lie CONVINCINGLY, at least.


    ¡­ So this probably isn¡¯t a trap then. And just glancing at Bula shows that she¡¯s already starting to vibrate slightly with excitement. If this is what he needs to take her mind off of whatever¡¯s distracting her, so be it.


    ¡°Sure, sounds like fun.¡±


    Besides, they¡¯ll all be using blunted weapons anyways and between Mikael¡¯s magic and Bula¡¯s orcish constitution, he¡¯s not exactly worried about anything that Nathaniel or his fellow knights could possibly try and pull on them. In the end, a lopsided spar with Mikael and Bula working together instead of against one another sounded like just the sort of thing they needed to shake things up and keep it fresh and interesting.


    ¡°Excellent!¡±


    With that, Nathaniel and his men go over to the side and pick up their own wooden practice weapons. After which, they fan out, quickly surrounding Mikael and Bula. Grinning as he goes back to back with the half-orc warrior, Mikael whispers over his shoulder to her.


    ¡°Wanna make this a little interesting?¡±


    Grunting, Bula responds gruffly.


    ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Bet I can take out more of them than you. Loser has to do whatever the winner wants tonight?¡±


    He can feel Bula perk up at that.


    ¡°Heh. You¡¯re on.¡±


    Mikael thought she might like that idea. It wasn¡¯t as though Bula seemed to mind him pinning her down to have his way with her, but she certainly saw the appeal of getting to order him around instead. Not that Mikael had any intention of losing, of course.


    ¡°It¡¯s a wager then.¡±


    ¡°Yes! One I intend to win!¡±


    With a roar, Bula launches herself forward into the encirclement of knights, causing some panicked shouting and the Chevalier to call out commands to try and keep that flank from falling apart completely. Mikael laughs and leaps into the fray as well. They aren¡¯t exactly fighting together anymore now that they¡¯ve made it a competition¡­ but that doesn¡¯t make it any less lopsided in their favor.


    Oh, Nathaniel and his fellow knights are certainly well-trained, and it¡¯s interesting watching them work in tandem to try to take down two much tougher opponents. Especially when Mikael¡¯s memories of battle and war usually involved him being one of the weak run of the mill warriors fighting side by side with his fellow soldiers.


    ¡­ Except, there¡¯s one knight wearing a closed helmet who doesn¡¯t seem to be listening to Chevalier Ironshield¡¯s orders. Instead, he¡¯s clearly looking for an opening of some sort. Initially, Mikael assumes that it¡¯s part of some feint or gambit and just keeps an eye on the steadily encroaching man, ready and able to put him down when he gets within range.


    But then he notices Nathaniel looking at the other knight rather queerly as well.


    ¡°Hold! You there, who are you? What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Mikael blinks as the Chevalier brings the spar to a grinding halt, calling out the mystery knight right there on the spot. As everyone focuses on the knight that Nathaniel has just called out, Mikael does too¡­ and realizes what¡¯s truly wrong with the situation at the last possible moment. The helmeted knight doesn¡¯t have a soul.


    In the same instant that Mikael registers this, said soulless knight lunges forward, dropping the wooden practice sword he¡¯d picked up and pulling forth a dagger made of black metal and glowing with an ominous green light. In a smooth motion, Mikael¡¯s assailant stabs the dagger towards him¡­ with limited effect.


    Mikael might have been caught off guard, but there¡¯s a pretty big difference between him being caught off guard and a regular person being caught off guard. In an instant, Mikael summons up a shield of teal energy, his magic swirling in front of him to block the strike and stop it dead in its tracks. Or rather, that¡¯s what Mikael is expecting to happen.


    While the teal power he¡¯d gained from absorbing Zadicus Quinn¡¯s magical talent does stop the enchanted dagger initially¡­ that sickly green glow starts to immediately eat through his magic, causing Mikael¡¯s eyes to widen in disbelief. He¡¯s never seen something like that before, but then to be fair he hasn¡¯t gotten many chances to fight real battles with his particular brand of magic at this point.


    In that moment, Mikael finds himself in a position he hasn¡¯t been in for a long, long while. He simply doesn¡¯t have enough time to react. Everything seems to slow down as the dagger eats through his shield and makes a beeline for his chest. Heading straight for the Soul Engine.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 45: War

    WHAM!


    Just because Mikael has been completely taken by surprise doesn¡¯t mean everyone else has. Before the vile, glowing green dagger can find purchase in his flesh, Bula¡¯s wooden battle axe comes down HARD on the back of the helmeted knight¡¯s head with enough force to not just shatter the practice weapon but also send the knight faceplanting into the ground.


    However, while the dagger¡¯s trajectory is forced straight down into the ground as well, the knight doesn¡¯t let go of its handle, even after what should have been an incredibly disorienting blow. Mikael curses as he takes a step back, immediately recognizing his assailant for what it is. Unfortunately, he¡¯s the only one at first.


    ¡°Take him down!¡±


    Chevalier Ironshield¡¯s order is completely fair based on what he knows, but not a good idea. Mikael immediately shoots out a hand, trying to stop the charge¡­ but to no avail.


    ¡°No, wait-!¡±


    As the other Knights of the Rose all rush forward, determined expressions on the faces of the ones without helmets, the knight on the ground comes up with a swiftness that shouldn¡¯t have been possible after taking a blow like that from Bula. His dagger slashes out¡­ and that corrosive green edge goes right through the golden armor of his opponents like butter, sinking into flesh and provoking screams as whatever vile enchantment is on the weapon proceeds to do its nasty work.


    Mikael claps his hands together and summons as much power out of the Soul Engine as he can possibly spare. Sure, the enemy¡¯s blade might be able to cut through his magic, but that didn¡¯t mean anything if Mikael could just immobilize him. Bands of teal energy snap out from all angles, grabbing the helmeted ¡®knight¡¯ by his wrists and ankles and yanking his limbs taut. At the same time, a fifth band takes the form of a grasping hand, grabbing hold of the struggling man¡¯s helmet from above and yanking upward viciously.


    The snap of straps is heard as well as the crack of vertebrae as Mikael¡¯s enthusiasm gets the better of him and he breaks their assailant¡¯s neck in the process of exposing his identity. Not that it matters in the end. Milky eyes set in deathly pale skin stare back at Mikael as the helmet hovers over the undead¡¯s head. One of Foss Sangrey¡¯s, almost certainly. A former Summoned Hero, just like Mikael? Maybe, but he couldn¡¯t say for sure.


    What he can say for sure, as the undead struggles in a truly inhuman manner in Mikael¡¯s grasp, is that this wasn¡¯t a ploy from Nathaniel or his fellow knights. Not only are there two knights laying on the ground now, wisps of poison green energy rising from their wounds¡­ but the looks of horror and disgust on the faces of the Chevalier and his men don¡¯t have a hint of deception to them.


    Bula, meanwhile, has run off to the side and Mikael snaps out his hand just in time to catch his actual sword as she throws it to him before picking up her battle axe. Face drawn and mouth in a thin line, he cautiously approaches the immobilized undead, wondering briefly if killing it right now is the right answer, or if there¡¯s a reason to leave it alive. Maybe Avina can-


    The sound of bells suddenly rings out throughout the Citadel. Mikael doesn¡¯t have to be a Knight of the Rose to recognize what they mean either¡­ those are distinctively alarm bells. And that means this isn¡¯t a one-off event.


    Mikael¡¯s sword flashes out without another thought, relieving the undead of his head. As it goes rolling across the ground, Mikael is glad to see whatever necromantic magic reanimated the damn thing ended with decapitation, seeing as the body slumped in his magical grasp.


    With that taken care of, he doesn¡¯t hesitate to turn and sprint out of the courtyard, ignoring the cries of the Chevalier to his men to fan out and repel the invaders. The Citadel is under attack, that much is obvious¡­ but it¡¯s not Mikael¡¯s job to defend it. His place is at Avina¡¯s side, because he just knows the assassination attempt on him was merely an attack of opportunity. Avina is who the Supreme King really wants.


    With Bula at his heels, they race through the Citadel, making exceptional time to the library. Mikael¡¯s breath catches in his throat when he sees the large double doors that sat at the library¡¯s entrance have been blown off their hinges and lay shattered in a hundred pieces. Are they too late? Has Avina already been taken?


    Only, as he sprints into the library, Mikael finds himself skidding to a halt the moment he lays eyes on his dark-haired Soul Mechanic. Avina is still there, thankfully. And she¡¯s also unharmed, surprisingly. Standing there in the middle of the library¡¯s main hall, Avina looks around herself with her black lips pressed into a thin line. Around her are four more undead in stolen golden armor, all motionless at her feet and not a mark on Avina to boot.


    Mikael is relieved¡­ but also concerned, because his Soul Mechanic looks even paler than usual. She¡¯s shaking slightly as she stares down at her hands with wide eyes.


    ¡°Avina? Are you alright?¡±


    Her head snaps up and she immediately grimaces, quickly balling her hands into her fists and tucking them into her sides self-consciously.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m fine. I took care of the problem, as you can see.¡±


    She¡¯s clearly not fine, but before Mikael can call her out on it, another voice rings out.


    ¡°You took care of part of the problem, Princess. That said, it does look like you bore the brunt of the assault.¡±


    Turning to regard the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster, Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at the sight of Thayla and her father. Timothal and Thayla Dawnguard are unharmed, thankfully¡­ but that does not mean they have not seen battle. The Knight-Superior¡¯s chestplate is splattered with black ichor and Thayla looks stricken as she makes eye contact with Mikael for a moment before gazing down at the bodies Avina has created.


    Avina, meanwhile, pales even further at Timothal¡¯s words, her fisted hands trembling.


    ¡°How¡­ how many? And how many dead?¡±


    Looking down at Avina¡¯s kills as well, Thayla¡¯s father lets out a heavy sigh.


    ¡°Including these four? Twelve in total, it would seem. They struck as assassins. They were successful with six of their targets, all critical members of the Order¡¯s leadership, their deaths clearly meant to destabilize us.¡±


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


    Mikael jolts at that, his mind quickly doing the math. Twelve assassins. Four on Avina. One on him¡­ and one on Timothal. Meaning six others. Meaning the only survivors of this targeted attack were standing in this room. Sure, between him as Avina¡¯s successful project, Timothal as the Order¡¯s Grandmaster, and Avina as the one Foss wanted most¡­ they¡¯d managed to blunt the Supreme King¡¯s attack and rob him of his most desired targets. But even still, at least six were dead. Probably more, given the collateral damage that had happened even in the assassination attempt against Mikael.


    ¡°¡­ Will they?¡±


    It takes him a moment to realize he¡¯s even spoken. Regarding him for a moment, the Knight-Superior shakes his head.


    ¡°The Order of the Rose will not be brought low so easily. But¡­ it is good that I still live in order to make the transition smoother, I suppose. And even better that they failed against their true target.¡±


    Avina flinches as Timothal turns back to her with those last two words. Looking around herself again, she sighs.


    ¡°Four for me. Because they wanted to take me alive. Because Foss still wants me returned to him, safe and sound.¡±


    Face grave and drawn, tone solemn and low, Timothal nods his head in agreement.


    ¡°Indeed. Without the knowledge you all have shared with me, I could not say where this attack came from. But knowing what I know, the perpetrator is all too obvious. The Supreme King has sent his undead agents to try and decapitate the Order of the Rose while retrieving you in one fell swoop, Princess. By all rights, he can still pretend like these undead are not his. After all, nobody outside of this room, not in all of Ocreatha and Zuveria, knows him for the Necromancer he is.¡±


    Grimacing, the Knight-Superior falls quiet as he considers the situation for a moment.


    ¡°¡­ Tch. This changes things. This attack cannot go unanswered. I will contact the Imperial Seat at once and push for a meeting with the Emperor. Foss Sangrey must be stopped.¡±


    Mikael likes the sound of that, he really does. But at the same time¡­


    ¡°How long will that take, precisely? We don¡¯t exactly have time for letters, Knight-Superior.¡±


    Shaking his head, Timothal smiles a grim smile.


    ¡°No, we do not. Fortunately, there are other ways.¡±


    Mikael is just about to ask what those ¡®other ways¡¯ are when he gets his answer, albeit with it taking him a moment to realize it. All of the sudden, the Knight-Superior¡¯s eyes begin to glow with golden light as he looks off into empty space. He¡¯s quiet for a second, then begins to speak.


    ¡°Greetings, I request an audience with his Imperial Majesty immediately under the-!¡±


    Whatever treaties or agreements or ancient rites the Knight-Superior was about to evoke never materialize. He suddenly cuts himself off, his glowing golden eyes going wide in shock. Mikael¡¯s own eyes widen in shock when Timothal Dawnguard stumbles backwards a moment later, looking like he just took a blow to the chest.


    ¡°Father!¡±


    For a moment, Mikael spins around as Thayla rushes to her father¡¯s side, anticipating some sort of final assassin hiding from the shadows. But¡­ there¡¯s nothing. No one. As he looks back to the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster, he doesn¡¯t see any outward wound marring the man¡¯s armored body as Thayla helps him into a nearby chair. And yet¡­ Timothal looks destroyed.


    ¡°No¡­ no that can¡¯t be.¡±


    There¡¯s a pause as whoever is on the other end of this magical communication responds to the Knight-Superior. And then, finally¡­ The ashen faced expression disappears underneath an avalanche of grim resolve and determination.


    ¡°I see. Yes, I understand. No. This will not go unanswered. You have my word. The Order of the Rose stands strong, even now. Yes, I am aware. Very well.¡±


    And with that rapid exchange, the golden light fades and Timothal blinks once before looking at all of them. His face might have become a mask of resolve and steeled will, but Mikael can see in his eyes¡­ he¡¯s still shaken. For a moment, Mikael wonders what could possibly shaken such a man. He wonders if he really wants to know. But then¡­ he doesn¡¯t really have a choice in the end. Timothal is going to tell them all anyways.


    ¡°¡­ It would seem that I greatly underestimated Foss Sangrey¡¯s ambition. I assumed this latest attack was meant to give him plausible deniability. But I was wrong. He does not fear war with the Zuverian Empire. He is not biding his time. No, he intends to take Zuveria for himself. Right here, right now.¡±


    Mikael blinks at the certainty in Timothal¡¯s voice. He looks at his allies and sees all of them just as nonplussed by the Knight-Superior¡¯s words as he is. Finally¡­ Timothal tells them what he just learned.


    ¡°The Imperial Family is dead. The Emperor, the Empress, and all of their children. This attack on the Citadel was not an isolated one. The Supreme King sent his undead assassins all across the Empire. He had to have been moving them into position for weeks now¡­ longer even then you lot have been at the Citadel. His efforts in the Capital have yielded full results with the death of the Imperial Family. And more than that¡­ there are reports of his army marching out of Alether and into Zuveria.¡±


    To his credit, Timothal Dawnguard rises from the chair his daughter has helped him into. He stands tall and does not give into despair, nor does he falter. In that moment, Mikael can¡¯t help but see a true leader. The aura that the Knight-Superior seems to emanate is a heady thing. Mikael isn¡¯t sure if it¡¯s magic or simply just his personality shining through, but it¡¯s quite impressive. The black ichor drying on his golden armor only adds to the effect as well.


    ¡°For the first time in centuries, Ocreatha and Zuveria are officially at war. And for the first time in living history¡­ Ocreatha is in a position to conquer the Empire, given half the chance.¡±


    Everyone jolts at that morbid estimation of their chances, but Timothal is already explaining himself.


    ¡°Zuveria will of course rush to respond. Even headless, even without an Imperial Family, the Empire¡¯s Generals and armies are not so helpless that they cannot react to this terror attack on our soil. But¡­ the response will be sluggish. If we had our armies positioned correctly, I would bet on Zuveria every time, even with Foss Sangrey¡¯s Necromancy at work. However, with so much of the military tied up on our border with the Savage Lands, we are in no way prepared to weather an assault from Ocreatha.¡±


    The Knight-Superior begins to pace back and forth across the wrecked library, barely stopping to kick one of the motionless undead out of his way with a booted foot before continuing on. His eyes dart back and forth in thought and it becomes obvious that he¡¯s figuring out what to do in real time, talking out loud as much to himself as he is to all of them.


    ¡°In the end, despite the losses to our leadership, we of the Citadel and the Order of the Rose are the only ones who stand poised to lead a defensive charge against the Supreme King¡¯s advance at this time. We are the only force of significant size in any position to do a thing. Without us to stand in the way, Foss Sangrey will be able to make a beeline to the Imperial Capital and take the city before any of the armies tied up with the Savage Lands can turn and respond.¡±


    Here, Timothal stops and looks appropriately grave again, his eyes sweeping across all of them for a moment. When Mikael looks to his allies, he sees determination on their faces. A swell of pride rises in his chest. He feels the same way. They can¡¯t back down. Of course, Timothal is a lot more honest about their chances.


    ¡°Needless to say, I don¡¯t like our odds. We¡¯re going to need reinforcements fast and Foss has masterfully cut off all of our normal avenues for aid. If I had died, even the Order would not have been in a position to do a thing about this attack. However¡­ however, where the orthodox fails, the unorthodox must be explored.¡±


    And then, much to Mikael¡¯s confusion¡­ the Knight-Superior turns to Bula of all people, making the half-orc stiffen up as he gives her a solemn, apologetic look.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ but your people are our only hope.¡±


    Wait, what?!


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 46: Revelations

    As the Knight-Superior¡¯s words hang in the air, answered by a baffled silence, Mikael just stares at the man, wondering if he¡¯s taken leave of his senses. Meanwhile, Bula bristles and then growls low in her throat. Timothal takes that in stride though, spreading his hands apart and dipping his head apologetically.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I wouldn¡¯t be asking if it weren¡¯t a case of literal life or death. At this point in time, there isn¡¯t much else to be done. If we can¡¯t find allies¡­ even from the unlikeliest of places, then we are likely doomed.¡±


    Mikael blinks as this actually seems to give Bula some pause, the growl cutting out and the half-orc considering the Knight-Superior¡¯s words for a moment before grumbling under her breath. For Mikael¡¯s part however, he can¡¯t keep silent any longer. It just doesn¡¯t make any sense, really. In one breath, Thayla¡¯s father has gone from declaring Zuveria¡¯s military out of reach to aid them, to talking about Bula¡¯s people¡­ the orcs, presumably.


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What exactly are you talking about? Bula¡¯s people¡­ you just finished telling us why it would be impossible for the armies of Zuveria to turn away from the border with the Savage Lands to meet Ocreatha¡¯s advance in any reasonable time frame. Pardon my language, but how the fuck is Bula supposed to bring her people together any faster? And even if she can, how can they possibly be trusted to fight against Foss and not just pillage and raid across the Empire?¡±


    Indeed, even if Bula managed to somehow become a unifying leader among the orc tribes like something straight out of a fairy tale or something, they still had a number of hurdles to leap over and hoops to jump through. Getting the Zuverian Military to let a bunch of orcs out of the Savage Lands and into their Empire definitely didn¡¯t sound any easier than getting them to abandon their posts on their border with the Savage Lands to turn their attention towards Ocreatha!


    He feels like he¡¯s taking crazy pills, but at least when he looks at Avina and Thayla, they¡¯re just as confused as he is. Bula, on the other hand, is avoiding his gaze for the first time in his memory. Meanwhile, Timothal has fallen silent under Mikael¡¯s questioning.


    When he¡¯s finally done speaking, the Knight-Superior has an eyebrow raised, gazing between all of them in quiet contemplation. Mikael doesn¡¯t like the older man¡¯s look to be honest. It feels like the sort of expression one might have when they realize that they¡¯ve overestimated their company¡¯s intelligence. Seriously, what the fuck is going on here?!


    ¡°Hm. You truly don¡¯t know? None of you?¡±


    His eyes sweep from Mikael to Avina to Thayla. Honestly, as confused as Mikael was, he was a little relieved that he wasn¡¯t the only one in the dark this time, apparently. Finally, Timothal sighs.


    ¡°¡­ I see. I owe you another apology then, Warrior.¡±


    Crossing her arms over her chest, Bula huffs.


    ¡°S¡¯fine. Tell them. I don¡¯t care. It doesn¡¯t matter.¡±


    She certainly sounds like she cares. Mikael almost wants to say they don¡¯t need to know¡­ but obviously they do. Whatever this was, it certainly seemed to matter a great deal, if Thayla¡¯s father was to be believed.


    Nodding at Bula, the Knight-Superior looks back to the rest of them for a moment before speaking plainly.


    ¡°I was not talking about the orcs. After all, Bula¡¯s orcish side only represents half of her heritage.¡±


    That hangs in the air for a moment, with Mikael nodding slowly¡­ before furrowing his brow. Yeah. Bula was a half-orc. Which meant¡­


    ¡°However, you all seem to have assumed that Bula¡¯s heritage was half-orc, half-human. That would be incorrect.¡±


    Wait. Mikael¡¯s eyes dart to Bula¡¯s knife-like ears. And then he finds himself thinking back to a certain conversation about a certain forest of massive trees a couple weeks ago. No way.


    ¡°Bula is half-orc¡­ and half-elf.¡±


    Dead silence hangs in the air as Mikael continues staring at Bula¡¯s sharp, pointed ears. Seriously, how could he be so blind? Meanwhile, after a beat to process Timothal¡¯s words, Avina lets out a squawk of disbelief.


    ¡°W-What?! But the Sylian Elves are just a myth!¡±


    But Timothal just shakes his head.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, your Highness. The elves of the Sylian Woods are very real. You should assume the ancient legends all have a kernel of truth to them in a world like ours, to be honest. But even setting those myths and legends aside¡­ I¡¯ve seen Sylian Elves with my own two eyes, long ago in my youth.¡±


    It¡¯s Thayla¡¯s turn to gawk a little bit as the female knight blinks rapidly.


    ¡°What? Father, you never told me that story!¡±


    The Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster shakes his head.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a very nice story, Thayla. I was very young and under the command of a Chevalier who thought it was the Order of the Rose¡¯s duty to spread our reach as far as possible. I would like to say he had good intentions, but ultimately his arrogance and overconfidence led to the loss of eight knights and ten squires. It was the last time that the Order of the Rose officially sanctioned an incursion into the Sylian Woods.¡±


    For a moment, Timothal looks off into the distance, clearly remembering things based off of his grimace. Then, he shakes his head.


    ¡°I would not be alive today if it were not for the Sylian Elves. Those of us who survived that expedition owe our lives to them. The reason you have never heard this story is because the Sylian Woods are off-limits to members of the Order of the Rose. For good reason.¡±


    There¡¯s a brief moment as everyone in the room digests that. Thayla in particular looks floored that her father might not have always been the powerful, stalwart, and altogether implacable man he is today. Then again, from what Avina had said about the Sylian Woods, Mikael doesn¡¯t know if Timothal, even as he is now, would fare much better out there. That said, Mikael can¡¯t just leave it at that. Based off Timothal¡¯s words alone¡­


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°If you have some kind of bond with them already, then why can¡¯t you contact them yourself? Why does Bula need to do anything?¡±


    As he speaks, Mikael glances in the half-orc¡¯s direction with some concern, frowning. Bula doesn¡¯t seem to be listening very well¡­ rather, she¡¯s scowling angrily and glaring off to the side. No, rather¡­ now that he¡¯s paying more attention, Mikael realizes that Bula is glaring southward specifically. In the direction of the Sylian Woods, like she has been for weeks now.


    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. I might owe my life to those elves who saved me and my comrades¡­ but I doubt they would even remember me, let alone care if we came asking for aid. The elves who rescued our ill-fated expedition that day did not do so specifically to save our lives. They were merely hunting the beast that slew half of our number, including our overconfident leader.¡±


    Clearly still thinking back to that day, Timothal huffs and shakes his head.


    ¡°They barely even paid us any mind save to tell us to get out of their woods if we valued our lives. And I don¡¯t even think it was a threat if I¡¯m being honest. They were simply stating facts. The Sylian Woods are no place for humans. And as far as the Sylian Elves are concerned¡­ we¡¯re little more than an afterthought to them.¡±


    On the one hand, that sounded like the vague memories of fictional elves Mikael could still pull forth from his life back on Earth. Immortal Assholes who couldn¡¯t be bothered to interact with the world around them. Mortals were fleeting existences to them, and they either hated them for it, or were merely apathetic more often than not.


    On the other hand¡­ Mikael¡¯s gaze flicks back to Bula, more worried than ever now. Because none of that really bode well for the half-orc¡¯s history if she really was also a half-elf. It didn¡¯t bode well at all.


    ¡°¡­ Bula? Are you alright?¡±


    Still staring southward, Bula growls, a sound that starts deep in her chest and reverberates up through her throat and out her clenched teeth.


    ¡°They¡¯re calling to me.¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael blinks at that, even as Bula finally tears her eyes away, grinding her tusks together and flaring her nostrils.


    ¡°Have been since the Colosseum. Dunno why then but its fucking annoying.¡±


    Her blunt admission takes him back for a moment. All the way back to Alether¡­ to the Grand Melee. From off to the side, Avina makes a noise of understanding in her throat.


    ¡°The Slave Collar. It was hiding you or¡­ or something.¡±


    Bula just grunts, responding to that with a half-shrug.


    ¡°Maybe. Didn¡¯t hear a call before the collar. Heard it ever since though.¡±


    ¡­ It made sense, Mikael supposed. Though only barely. It didn¡¯t begin to explain WHY the elves of the Sylian Woods would be calling out to Bula, but if the slave collar blocked their perception of her, then as soon as Mikael broke it back in the arena¡­ they would have been aware of her existence. Still¡­


    ¡°Bula, what do you mean exactly? They¡¯re¡­ calling to you?¡±


    She nods sharply, her nostrils flaring again. She bites out her words through clenched teeth and shifting tusks.


    ¡°Trying to beckon me home.¡±


    Then, her face contorts in rage and she stomps hard enough that it cracks the floorboards beneath her feet.


    ¡°Pah! As if they have any right to say what is my home and what is not! THEY! ABANDONED! ME!¡±


    CRUNCH!


    Swinging her fist around, Bula strikes a nearby stone wall hard enough to put a hole in it. Mikael glances at Timothal, half-expecting the Knight-Superior to admonish her. But Thayla¡¯s father stays quiet, seemingly content to let Bula get her anger out in her own way. To be fair, it seems to work. Despite her anger, Bula manages to mostly calm down all on her own. Or rather¡­ the half-orc merely tempers her rage, focusing it in the right direction. Nothing and no one in this library has earned her ire in the same way the elves have it would seem.


    ¡°Yes, I am a half-elf. My father raided the Sylian Woods many years ago and made off with an elf maiden.¡±


    Bula snorts and shakes her head, clearly reciting history that was told to her, rather than anything she lived through.


    ¡°The feat brought my father much acclaim within the tribe. So much so that he was able to become Chieftain. Even when the elf maiden escaped within the turn of a moon, his place was still secured. Even more so when I was¡­ retrieved as evidence of his victory.¡±


    Oh. Mikael¡¯s blood cools in his veins as Bula grits her teeth. Retrieved? Through another raid or¡­


    ¡°As my father told it, they found me on the border between the Savage Lands and the Sylian Woods many moons later. The moment I was birthed, I was tossed out as little more than trash.¡±


    Between Timothal¡¯s description of them and now Bula¡¯s own experiences, Mikael doesn¡¯t think he likes the Sylian Elves very much. To be fair, their behavior isn¡¯t really all that surprising if he spends a moment thinking about it. After all, if the elves of the Sylian Woods HAD been willing to keep a half-orc in their midst and raise her as their own, it would have immediately made them some of the most accepting, open-minded elves that Mikael had ever heard of.


    No, with what he recalled, it actually made a lot of sense that an elvish society would throw out a half-orc like Bula and basically toss her to the proverbial wolves. However, that didn¡¯t make it any better. Especially since Bula was¡­ well, someone he cared about very much. He can see how hurt she is, under all her anger. How much it pains her to think about being thrown away by her mother and the other elves, even now.


    Taking two steps forward, Mikael embraces the startled half-orc before she can react. Wrapping her in what would be a bone-crushing hug for anyone else, Mikael gives her a tight squeeze. After a moment, Bula starts to squirm a bit.


    ¡°W-What are you doing, Mikael?!¡±


    ¡°Hugging you.¡±


    ¡°Why?!¡±


    ¡°Because you deserve to know that you are loved and cared for.¡±


    Bula falls silent at that, going still in Mikael¡¯s arms. He keeps the hug going for a little while longer¡­ and is beyond delighted when she slowly raises her arms after a moment and hugs him back. It¡¯s undeniably awkward on Bula¡¯s end and he¡¯s not sure if she¡¯s ever even hugged someone before outside of copulation or a grapple, but she¡¯s trying and that¡¯s all that matters.


    When they finally pull apart, Bula has a small smile on her face and huffs when he returns it with a broad smile of his own. Of course, the moment is somewhat ruined by Avina piping up.


    ¡°I¡¯m surprised that your father did not seek to use you to take on the Sylian Woods again, later on.¡±


    Mikael gives Avina a look, though he has to admit it¡¯s a pretty good point. Bula¡¯s father doesn¡¯t sound like the sort of orc who contents himself with past achievements. No, an ambitious orc like him wouldn¡¯t just stop there. Oh. Wait.


    ¡°He did.¡±


    Bula¡¯s words echo through the library. But her tone¡­ her tone is one of pride.


    ¡°I was nothing but a tool to him. A way to relive his glory days and eventually raid the Sylian Woods again. As I aged, he trained me for that sole purpose. He made no secret of that fact.¡±


    There¡¯s a vicious, savage grin on the warrior¡¯s face to accompany her next words. She looks so damn pleased with herself, though Mikael has to admit that she almost certainly has reason to be if his suspicions are correct.


    ¡°When I came of age, the tribe threw me a party that lasted all night. Father told me that in the morning, I would lead them into the Sylian Woods and together we would hunt down the elves. Didn¡¯t really feel like it. So I gutted him like a fish and left instead. Haven¡¯t looked back since.¡±


    Right. Bula had told him as much before, hadn¡¯t she? She¡¯d told him that she¡¯d killed her father. Mikael had been too relieved that Bula wasn¡¯t some sort of Orc Princess to care about WHY she¡¯d killed him. But now he knows. He doesn¡¯t think any less of Bula for it, of course. In fact, he¡¯d go so far as to say she did the right thing.


    Of course, Bula has her own opinions of her actions.


    ¡°Tch. Doesn¡¯t mean I give two shits about those damn elves though. Just didn¡¯t feel like being used by that bastard for a single day more, that¡¯s all. Been trying my best to ignore their call, but they¡¯re getting¡­ insistent.¡±


    Well. That wasn¡¯t ominous or anything¡­


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 47: The Last Hope

    ¡°But wait¡­¡±


    Thayla cuts herself off for a moment when everyone¡¯s eyes suddenly cut to her¡­ but then she gathers herself and stands tall, continuing her thought.


    ¡°¡­ If they abandoned you, why are they so insistent on calling you back now? I mean¡­ you¡¯re still a half-orc after all. No offense.¡±


    Snorting derisively, Bula shakes her head.


    ¡°I dunno. It¡¯s dumb. They threw me away. I want nothing to do with them.¡±


    Mikael slowly nods, in full agreement with Bula on that part. Sure, they might need reinforcements against Foss Sangrey¡­ but it didn¡¯t sound like these elves were truly an option, right? Whatever reason they were trying to get Bula to return to the Sylian Woods, they had still been the ones to toss her aside in the first place. It was because of them that she¡¯d had to grow up in the Savage Lands under the ¡®care¡¯ of her father.


    ¡°It¡¯s not so simple as that, I¡¯m afraid.¡±


    Timothal¡¯s grave tone interjects once more, drawing their attention back to him. He looks around at all of them for a moment.


    ¡°¡­ The Truth Above All revealed things to me about all of you.¡±


    Mikael blinks at that, while Avina squawks.


    ¡°What?! You told us that it didn¡¯t show the specifics to outside observers!¡±


    Holding up a hand to forestall further objections, the Knight-Superior shakes his head.


    ¡°Indeed it does not, your highness. However, I also said that it would reveal the Truth. I believe I used the words ¡®fundamentally laid bare¡¯ in fact. That doesn¡¯t just mean your personalities and your minds, I¡¯m afraid. No, it goes deeper than that, to the very core of your beings.¡±


    Avina looks deeply unsettled by this revelation. Timothal gives her a knowing look for a second before shaking his head.


    ¡°As I said before, under normal circumstances I would not betray this confidence. But it has become clear to me that not only is this situation desperate beyond measure¡­ Bula herself is unaware of what lurks within her.¡±


    Glancing at Bula, Mikael sees that Timothal is right. At least, the red-haired half-orc looks baffled by whatever Thayla¡¯s father is talking about. Focusing back on her, the Knight-Superior gestures southward, in the direction of the Sylian Woods.


    ¡°Bula¡­ you are not just half-elf. You¡¯re something far more than that. I do not know what. I cannot say whether it was because of your mother or simply because of the uniqueness of your birth.¡±


    Here, Timothal¡¯s tone turns dry.


    ¡°Needless to say, there is a reason your father was able to become leader of his tribe off of the back of a successful raid of the Sylian Woods. I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯ve heard of another happening before or after the one that led to your¡­ conception.¡±


    Bula frowns deeply at that, but after a moment shakes her head.


    ¡°No. Orcs aren¡¯t much for book writing and history keeping, but even then¡­ he was it. The only one to ever do it.¡±


    Nodding, the Knight-Superior gives everyone a meaningful look.


    ¡°This means that Bula might be the first half-orc, half-elf in centuries¡­ perhaps in all time, given just how dangerous the Sylian Woods truly are. That might be why¡­ well, that might be why I felt what I felt while she was in the Truth Above All. It was only glimpses, mind you, but her connection to the Sylian Woods is¡­ immense. It is not just the place of her birth, no. There¡¯s something much, much more than that.¡±


    The library falls quiet at that. More? What did that mean? But it¡¯s obvious without even having to ask that Timothal Dawnguard doesn¡¯t know. His glimpses at their souls had certainly given him insight that even they themselves might not have, but it still had its limits. Mikael¡¯s brow furrows in consternation, even as Bula scoffs¡­ but then throws a glance in the direction of the Sylian Woods.


    For the briefest of moments, Mikael is sure he sees a hint of longing in Bula¡¯s big blue eyes. The half-orc¡¯s expression is open and¡­ wistful. Of course, just as soon as it appears, it¡¯s gone. Her expression closes off again, her face scrunching up in irritation as she scowls furiously. Growling, the warrior crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want anything to do with those damn woods or those damn elves. They threw me away. I didn¡¯t kill my father for them. I killed my father for ME. And I ain¡¯t some mutt to come bounding forward at their call, begging for scraps either!¡±


    As ever, Thayla¡¯s father is surprisingly implacable. In the face of Bula¡¯s obstinance and stubbornness, he doesn¡¯t get frustrated or angry with her. Despite his intensity, now more than ever does Mikael think Timothal Dawnguard is a good man to his core. However, he is also a desperate man, and the leader of a Knightly Order that will soon be riding forth to do battle with an undead army that has them outnumbered and outgunned.


    ¡°What was done to you was unconscionable, Bula. You were an infant¡­ you did not deserve to be punished for the crimes of your father. I understand your recalcitrance completely. However¡­ our options are very limited at this point. The Supreme King and his army of undead will wash over a leaderless Zuverian Empire without much resistance if its just the Order of the Rose standing against them.¡±


    Timothal grimaces at the thought of it, even as Bula grows quiet again.


    ¡°¡­ In the end, unless we can find allies, even from the unlikeliest of sources, we are doomed. I believe the Sylian Elves could be those allies¡­ if they could be persuaded to stand by our side as the ancient pacts said they once did a thousand years ago.¡±


    Avina jolts from her own internal thoughts as Timothal mentions the same ancient pacts she¡¯d claimed were myth and legend on the cart ride here. Bula, meanwhile, huffs and looks¡­ uncertain. The half-orc is clearly torn between two impulses. One, to continue to have absolutely nothing to do with the Sylian Woods, ignoring their call and going about her own business. And two¡­ helping him.


    Mikael can tell that he¡¯s the only reason she¡¯s even considering it when she tosses him a look, working her jaw around and grumbling to herself. In this moment, Mikael knows he¡¯s the only one who can likely convince Bula to actually go along with Timothal¡¯s crazy plan.


    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Because it IS a crazy plan. It¡¯s also very clearly one born of pure desperation. With Foss Sangrey¡¯s decapitation strike on the Zuverian Imperial Family a success, the Empire is headless. They have a chance because he didn¡¯t succeed in killing Timothal as well, but the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster is just one man. If he says that the Order of the Rose by itself will be hard pressed to defend against Ocreatha¡¯s attack, then Mikael believes him.


    They need allies. They need reinforcements. And Thayla¡¯s father is beyond desperate if he¡¯s willing to turn to the denizens of the Sylian Woods of all places for such things.


    From his place still by her side, Mikael places a hand on Bula¡¯s shoulder. The half-orc stiffens but when she looks at him¡­ she gives him one hundred percent of her attention, staring at him wordlessly but also questioningly¡­ silently asking for his opinion.


    ¡°The elves abandoned you, Bula. You owe them nothing. No¡­ you owe them less than nothing. Frankly, what you owe them all is a good punch in the gut and a kick in the teeth.¡±


    Bula perks up at that and Mikael knows he¡¯s speaking her language. Smiling ruefully, Mikael glances around them, at the others.


    ¡°But¡­ even if you don¡¯t owe those elves anything¡­ we¡¯re going to need them anyways. This isn¡¯t even about Avina¡¯s vengeance anymore, though we all still owe Foss Sangrey a good hard kick in the teeth as well. This is about Zuveria and just how many innocent people will die if we let that bastard have his way. If we let him invade unopposed, or only opposed by the Order of the Rose¡­ then he¡¯ll win. And I refuse to let that happen.¡±


    Giving Avina a nod that has his Soul Mechanic blushing a little bit, he turns back to Bula and clasps a hand on the nape of her neck, bringing his forehead against hers and lowering his voice to a whisper that only the two of them can hear.


    ¡°In fact, this might just be your best opportunity to get some revenge yourself, Bula. I promise I¡¯ll hold them down for you if they make you want to beat them black and blue.¡±


    That perks the half-orc up even further and when they pull apart it¡¯s clear from the look in her eyes that she really likes the idea of bashing some elven faces in. Still, she hesitates for a second longer¡­ before finally letting out a long, drawn out sigh.


    With his hand still on her shoulder in a show of silent support, Mikael and Bula turn to face everyone else. Scowling, Bula nevertheless nods her head reluctantly in agreement, even as she grumbles a bit.


    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll go and talk to the fucking elves. No promises though.¡±


    This provokes another rare laugh from the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster, this time in the form of a chuckle. Shaking his head, Timothal Dawnguard smiles a mirthless smile, one that does not reach his eyes.


    ¡°I understand. From my own solitary interaction with the Sylian Elves, I know how isolationist they appear to be. Still, whatever connection you have with the Sylian Woods, Bula¡­ I hope you might be able to leverage it into forcing them to help us.¡±


    Then, even the mirthless smile drops as Timothal straightens up.


    ¡°If you cannot¡­ if you fail to gain us allies¡­ then perhaps it would be best if none of you returned at all.¡±


    Wait, what? Mikael glances at the others in the room¡­ only to see Thayla staring at her father with a stricken look of indecision on her face. Meanwhile, Avina huffs.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Shaking his head, Timothal is quick to explain.


    ¡°You are the one that Foss Sangrey wants most of all, Princess. From everything you¡¯ve told me, from everything I¡¯ve seen, he intends to capture you at all costs. You must be kept out of his hands¡­ even if Zuveria is to fall. That¡¯s why, even if the Sylian Elves prove to be¡­ intractable, it might be best if you all stay in the Sylian Woods. Or even range further out in either the direction of the Savage Lands or whatever might lie past the Sylian Woods themselves. I will make sure you four are adequately provisioned for the trip either way.¡±


    You four. Only then does Mikael realize why Thayla looks so¡­ conflicted. The female knight is stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, she¡¯s sworn herself to Mikael¡¯s service. More than that, there¡¯s their relationship to consider even if they haven¡¯t exactly put a name to it. Her place is undeniably at his side.


    On the other hand, her father has made it quite clear that he¡¯s leading the Order of the Rose on a suicidal defense of their country. The Knightly Order that Thayla swore her original oaths to will soon be sallying forth out of the Citadel and onto the battlefield¡­ with their father at the helm. And there¡¯s not a doubt in Mikael¡¯s mind that Timothal Dawnguard will be leading from the front either. The Knight-Superior¡¯s disposition won¡¯t allow for anything else.


    Thayla is torn between her oath to Mikael and her desire to stay and protect her father and country from Foss Sangrey. And Mikael¡­ Mikael can¡¯t really bring himself to hold her back. But it¡¯s obvious that Thayla¡¯s father won¡¯t take him up on it if he makes it an offer. If he offers to release Thayla from her service, Timothal will likely still send her on with them.


    And maybe the father¡¯s desire to see his daughter safe should trump the daughter¡¯s desire to protect her father. But just one glance at both Avina and Bula and Mikael can see that neither are on board with the ¡®run away if it all doesn¡¯t pan out¡¯ strategy. And knowing that¡­ well, that makes this next part easy.


    ¡°Actually, you only need to provide enough provisions for three of us. Thayla will be staying here, carrying out her own mission.¡±


    Even as both Thayla and her father blink at that, the words feel right to Mikael. So he continues on, holding up a hand to forestall their objections.


    ¡°Thayla Dawnguard¡­ as your liege lord, I order you to stay here and protect your father from any further assassination attempts. Foss Sangrey has already tried to kill him once¡­ and I¡¯m sure he will try again. You will stay by his side and guard him with your life. Is that understood?¡±


    ¡°That is-!¡±


    Of course, Timothal tries to speak up before Thayla can anyways, but Mikael cuts him off.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Knight-Superior¡­ but this conversation is between me and my Knight. If Thayla truly meant her vow to me, then she will obey without question. Thayla?¡±


    Relief and shame war on Thayla¡¯s face for a moment before the white-haired woman bows her head in acknowledgment.


    ¡°As¡­ as you say, Sir Mikael. I will carry out your order to the best of my ability. To my dying breath.¡±


    Mikael gives Thayla a broad smile at that, one that she hesitantly returns. There¡¯s gratitude in her eyes. Her father on the other hand¡­ Mikael turns towards Timothal Dawnguard and does his best to stand tall and straight in the face of the man¡¯s sudden antipathy. He¡¯s not at all happy that Mikael has just ruined his plan for getting his daughter to safety. But at the same time¡­ there¡¯s pride in Timothal¡¯s eyes as he looks to Thayla. After a long moment, he slowly nods.


    ¡°¡­ Very well. Far be it from me to stand between a Knight and her Oath. Dame Dawnguard¡­ I accept you as my bodyguard.¡±


    Mikael lets out a sigh of relief at that, before chuckling and drawing Timothal¡¯s attention back to himself with a shrug.


    ¡°Besides. We aren¡¯t going to run away, even if the Sylian Elves do turn out to be ¡®completely intractable¡¯ as you put it. One way or the other, we¡¯re coming back with or without reinforcements. Right girls?¡±


    Crossing her arms over her chest, Avina nods sharply.


    ¡°I already said I was done running away. Foss Sangrey is going to pay¡­ even if I have to rip him apart with my own bare hands.¡±


    Bula snorts at Avina¡¯s bloodlust.


    ¡°Hah! The little one bears her fangs!¡±


    Then, bearing her own teeth and tusks in a very toothy grin as Avina squawks and blushes at her comment, Bula leans forward, eyes piercing in their excitement.


    ¡°But aye. Mikael has the right of it. Wouldn¡¯t miss this fight for the world.¡±


    Looking at all of them for a moment in silence, Timothal Dawnguard finally looks back to his daughter.


    ¡°You found fine allies, Thayla. Fine allies indeed.¡±


    Blushing but also beaming, Thayla nods her head in easy agreement.


    ¡°Yes, father.¡±


    With that settled, they start talking logistics and provisions. Apparently, one of Foss¡¯ six targets here in the Citadel was the Order of the Rose¡¯s Quartermaster. The now dead man had a dozen apprentices to pick up the slack, but they were all going to be very busy in the upcoming days, so Timothal takes it upon himself to make sure their supplies are being prepared ahead of their departure the next morning.


    Meanwhile, as night falls over a very active Citadel, one filled with mourning but also righteous fury, Mikael finds himself with an invitation to Thayla¡¯s room. One last talk before they part ways for the time being. Of course, he has a pretty good idea of how such a talk is liable to go. He still accepts all the same.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 48: Farewells (Lewd)

    Mikael is certain that he knows what to expect when he arrives outside of Thayla¡¯s quarters the night before he and the others are due to depart for the Sylian Woods. And yet, after knocking on the door and announcing that it¡¯s him, only to be verbally invited in¡­ he¡¯s still taken off guard by the state he finds Thayla in.


    Kneeling in the center of her bedroom, the white-haired Knight of the Rose is on her knees with her hands resting palm down on top of her legs. She¡¯s completely naked¡­ if one doesn¡¯t count the impressive rope bondage she¡¯s apparently layered herself in. Crisscrossing over her flesh in a lattice of diamond-like shapes, Thayla has effectively bound herself from her neck all the way down to her sex in tight, restricting rope that doesn¡¯t confine her movement but DOES restrict her blood flow in certain areas.


    Her breasts in particular are both ¡®grasped¡¯ by the rope around the base, causing them to protrude outwards and turn a little red in the process. From what Mikael can see, she¡¯s definitely cinched the rope a little too tight across her body, making sure she¡¯d find herself in a state of constant discomfort while she waited for him to finally come to her.


    Given it had been hours since she¡¯d asked for him to meet her in her rooms at night, Mikael actually had no clue how long Thayla had been like this. But she certainly seems to have been enjoying herself if the wet spot on the floor between her thighs is any indication.


    ¡°Sir¡­ Sir Hero¡­ you¡¯re here.¡±


    Her breathless tone also makes it clear how much being in this much discomfort is turning her on. Mikael sighs as he steps into the room and closes the door behind him. There wasn¡¯t likely to be anyone in this part of the Citadel at this time of the night save for the four of them anyways, but it had still been a mistake on his part to stand there in the doorway gawking like an idiot for so damn long anyways.


    ¡°Thayla¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure I told you that you don¡¯t need to call me that.¡±


    Then, realizing he needs to couch it differently, Mikael gives the kneeling female knight a meaningful look as he moves deeper into the room.


    ¡°Actually, I¡¯m pretty sure I told you I prefer you DON¡¯T call me that.¡±


    Flushing, Thayla ducks her head in shame, averting her gaze.


    ¡°I know, Sir Hero¡­ but I do not think I deserve to call you by your name either. You can dress it up in whatever terms you like¡­ but we both know why you¡¯re leaving me behind.¡±


    Freezing for a moment, Mikael presses his lips together into a thin line. Yes, it was a little obvious. But he hadn¡¯t thought Thayla would just call him out like this. With a scoff, he decides to be flippant.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m leaving you behind because three women is one too many. I already have my hands full satisfying both Avina and Bula, so I¡¯m dropping you at the first chance I¡¯ve got.¡±


    It¡¯s a cruel, callous, mean thing to say. It¡¯s also not even remotely true, but that¡¯s what makes it so shocking. Indeed, it jolts Thayla right out of her stupor, causing her head to snap up and her blue eyes to widen as she stares at him in disbelief for a long moment. Of course, after that moment passes, the female knight¡¯s good sense catches up with her and she realizes he¡¯s teasing.


    ¡°¡­ Sir Hero, please. I¡¯m trying to be serious.¡±


    Huffing, Mikael strides right up to Thayla and grabs her rather roughly by her hair, yanking her head back and forcing her to look up into his eyes.


    ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s be serious, Thayla. Foss Sangrey, bastard that he is, is invading your homeland. He¡¯s murdered your country¡¯s ruler and his family and left the Zuverian Empire in complete disarray as he launches his attack. Assaulting Zuveria at the head of an undead army, he stands poised to run roughshod over the Empire¡­ unless someone stands in his way. Only, the only people in any position to do that are here in this Citadel.¡±


    Looking at Thayla, Mikael frowns.


    ¡°¡­ Your father is leading what amounts to a suicide mission against Foss¡¯ forces. Whether this long-shot with the Sylian Elves works out or not, things are really, really dire. And I¡­ I would have to be a monster to force you to leave behind your father, your fellow knights, and your homeland while they¡¯re all under the threat of attack.¡±


    Thayla bites her lower lip at that, but before she can muster a response, Mikael continues on, ranting a little bit now as he begins unbuckling his belt with his free hand while still holding her hair with the other.


    ¡°Of course, on the other hand I really do have my hands full, don¡¯t I? Avina turned out to be a Runaway Princess who just wanted to tinker with her Soul Engine and wile her days away working as my Mechanic. But that bastard Foss wouldn¡¯t let her because he¡¯s too much of a bastard. So now she wants revenge¡­ and to put an end to Foss Sangrey once and for all so he can never hunt her ever again.¡±


    Thayla blinks as Mikael slaps his cock down on her face at the end of that statement, dragging it across her features. Blushing profusely, she lets out a soft moan and darts her tongue out to slide it across the underside of his shaft. Mikael smirks, but he¡¯s not quite done yet.


    ¡°Meanwhile¡­ Bula is apparently some sort of Elven Big Shot. Hell, I won¡¯t be surprised if she winds up being an Elf Princess too. Oh, I know we don¡¯t know anything for sure¡­ but your father all but spelled it out. Whatever connection Bula has to the Sylian Woods, where the trees are taller than this entire Citadel and the wild life is apparently just as big, it¡¯s almost certainly why the elves are trying to bring her home. They need her for something. Because she¡¯s special in some way.¡±


    Thayla hums and opens up obediently as Mikael slides his cock across her lips. A moment later and he pushes inside of her mouth, causing her to let out a muffled moan as she begins to dutifully and eagerly suck his cock.


    Looking down into her eyes, Mikael snorts derisively at the contented expression slowly overtaking Thayla¡¯s face. She¡¯s still listening to him, still as attentive as ever¡­ but she¡¯s much happier with his dick in her mouth, the silly woman.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°And then there¡¯s you.¡±


    As expected, Thayla pauses at that, but Mikael just smiles down at her, raking his fingers through her hair and his nails across her scalp in a way that makes her shiver in delight. Like one raking their fingers down the back of a cat, Mikael finds himself thinking.


    ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to worry, Thayla. You¡¯re perfectly fine. In fact, you¡¯re officially the most normal of the group. Between Avina being a Runaway Princess, Bula being some sort of Elven Chosen One, and me being¡­ well, me¡­ you and your Knightly Order are the most ordinary among us. Even with your father being the head of said Knightly Order.¡±


    Frankly, he should have seen all of this bullshit with Bula coming. Or rather, he had¡­ but he¡¯d asked the wrong questions. And he hadn¡¯t asked the right follow up questions either. He¡¯d let things rest at finding out Bula killed his dad, when asking a simple ¡®why¡¯ would have probably revealed her elven heritage a week ago. That was on him.


    ¡°Mmmm¡­¡±


    Thayla¡¯s response is more moaning as she sucks and slurps at his cock. By this point, Mikael is fully erect, especially with how¡­ eager the female knight is. Firming up his grip on her hair, he pulls her off of his cock inch by inch until finally, he pops free of her lips, leaving her gasping and panting for breath. Her bound chest heaves up and down as she looks up at him, her arousal obvious.


    ¡°All that said¡­ I get it, Thayla. I do. So we¡¯re going to compromise, alright? You can call me ¡®sir¡¯ as much as you want¡­ but no hero nonsense, got it? You address me as ¡®sir¡¯ and ¡®sir¡¯ alone for the evening. Otherwise¡­ I¡¯ll walk out that door right now and not look back. Am I clear¡±


    Thayla¡¯s eyes widen with panic at that ultimatum. Admittedly, he¡¯s pretty sure she would have agreed without it, but he wants her to know how serious he is. See, Mikael doesn¡¯t consider himself much of a hero. Even if the circumstances of his arrival on this world entitled him to the moniker, he doesn¡¯t care. He¡¯s not in this to save Zuveria or Ocreatha, or even to necessarily stop Foss out of some principle or moral obligation.


    He¡¯s in this¡­ to protect his girls. The women he¡¯s come to love since arriving in this world... they¡¯re all that really matter to him. Unfortunately, that also means what matters to them also has to matter to him. Because he¡¯d be a pretty terrible lover and human being if he professed his affection for them in one breath and then ignored their wants and needs in the next.


    ¡°Yes¡­ sir. Crystal clear, sir.¡±


    Nodding, Mikael pulls Thayla up off of her knees and onto her feet. She squeaks as he thrusts her towards the bed and then follows. Once there, Mikael looks over her rope work for a moment, quickly locating the ties. Then, he sets about¡­ changing things up a bit. Thayla gasps and moans but doesn¡¯t resist. And when he¡¯s done¡­ her arms are bound behind her back while her sex is suddenly available, her slit no longer occupied by a thick rope digging up between her lower lips.


    Thayla¡¯s wanton moan has a hint of relief to it when Mikael finally drives into her from behind, pushing her face first into the bed and penetrating her deeply. Mikael, meanwhile, lets out a grunt in response.


    ¡°P-Please sir¡­ harder¡­ fuck me harder¡­¡±


    That, he can do. As he begins to pound down into Thayla harder, Mikael reflects on his decisions today. See, one might wonder¡­ if all he cared about was Avina, Thayla, and Bula¡­ then why is he so willing to leave Thayla behind?


    ¡­ It¡¯s precisely because he¡¯s not a hero that he has to do this. See, Mikael is very, very tempted to take his girls and run. He¡¯d be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t. When Timothal suggested that they do exactly that if they failed to convince the Sylian Elves, Mikael wanted nothing more than to agree with the man. But¡­ in the end, he couldn¡¯t.


    Not because he was some big damn hero. But because it would destroy Thayla if they ran. It would ruin Avina too. Bula could have been convinced. Sure, she wanted the fight that had been originally denied to her back in Alether, when they¡¯d had to flee Foss and his undead army. But she could have been convinced to just leave Zuveria and Ocreatha to their fates.


    Thayla though¡­ she would have obeyed if he ordered it of her, but something in her would die. She would never be the same. Avina, meanwhile, would only go kicking and screaming. And their relationship probably wouldn¡¯t survive Mikael¡¯s heavy-handed decision making.


    Speaking of heavy hands¡­


    SMACK! SMACK!


    Bringing his palms down on Thayla¡¯s backside to clap her cheeks with both of his hands, Mikael smiles ever so slightly as she squeals and tightens up around his thrusting member. He¡¯s giving it to the masochistic knight as hard as he dares, making sure to fulfill her every wanton desire without going overboard and potentially hurting her. He wants to make this a night to remember for both of them. And to give them both something to look forward to when they see each other again.


    ¡­ That was why Mikael had to leave Thayla behind. To make sure he wasn¡¯t tempted to go against Avina¡¯s wishes and all but kidnap his Soul Mechanic to get her away from the fighting. Even if Zuveria might be doomed, Avina wasn¡¯t ready to give up. Even if the Sylian Woods turned out to be a crapshoot, she would still want to come back, to face Foss Sangrey on her own terms.


    Leaving Thayla behind¡­ ensured that Mikael did too. He would not abandon her anymore than he¡¯d abandon Avina or Bula, at least not permanently. That didn¡¯t make it any easier though. In fact, it was probably the hardest decision he¡¯d ever had to make. He could have kept Thayla by his side. Kept her safe. But in doing so, he¡¯d be killing her just as effectively. She might continue breathing, but the loss of everything she¡¯d ever known would break her.


    Instead¡­ he¡¯d had to let her go. Didn¡¯t mean he was happy about it. In fact, he might be taking a little bit of his frustration at the situation out on Thayla right now. Fortunately for him, the female knight loved it. As he slams home into her yet again, her inner walls clench around his shaft once more and she tips over the edge, experiencing another orgasm upon his length.


    Mikael shudders and picks up the pace one last time, taking himself to the absolute limits of what he knows Thayla can handle. He pushes her further into the bed, completely silencing her squealing and begging for more as her face is buried in the blankets. And a few moments later¡­ he finishes, grunting as his balls empty into her cunt.


    A full body shudder goes through the masochistic knight under him, but Mikael only lets her luxuriate in the feeling for a second before pulling out of her and dragging her up off the bed. Slowly, he begins untying her and unwinding the rope from her body. He has no intention of letting her permanently hurt herself by accident, and he quickly begins rubbing the parts of her body that she¡¯d probably constricted the blood flow of a bit too much.


    ¡°Sir¡­¡±


    ¡°Hush, Thayla. We¡¯re going to take a bath now, you and me. Then, we¡¯re going to bed. No arguing, understood?¡±


    ¡°Ah¡­ yes sir.¡±


    Mikael smiles softly at that and they do exactly as he said as he continues to rub feeling back into different parts of her body. Of course, it¡¯s just their luck that Thayla had been the least kind to her chest. He has to spend a LOT of time rubbing her breasts to make sure they get back to their natural color. The result is that after the bath, they wind up going at it one more time in bed before exhaustion finally takes Thayla and she passes out cuddled against his side.


    On the other hand, Mikael doesn¡¯t sleep. He doesn¡¯t really need to. Instead, he lays there, one arm curled protectively around the female knight as she rests her head upon his chest, slumbering peacefully. Staring up at the ceiling, stuck alone with his own thoughts and contemplating the future, Mikael wonders if he¡¯s signing Thayla¡¯s death warrant, leaving her behind like this.


    No. He won¡¯t let this be her end. They¡¯ll just have to hurry back quickly. Even if Mikael has to bash a few elven skulls together in order to make the stuck-up pricks see sense as fast as humanly possible.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 49: The Sylian Woods

    The Sylian Woods. Each tree towers so far above his head it isn¡¯t even funny. Craning his neck back, Mikael doesn¡¯t think that the tops pierce the clouds¡­ but he can¡¯t even say for certain. He doesn¡¯t know because all the way at the top, despite being spaced hundreds of feet apart, the Sylian Trees manage to form an immense interwoven canopy that blocks out the sky and lets through only the faintest natural light.


    As a result, the Sylian Woods are dimly lit¡­ but not SO dimly lit that he and his companions can¡¯t see where they¡¯re going. Especially since Mikael¡¯s magic doubles as convenient torchlight, shedding teal illumination all around them as they carefully make their way into what can only be described as the land of giants.


    Megafauna. That was what it had been called back on Earth, Mikael was pretty sure. But the term had multiple meanings as far as he recalled, especially whether you were talking about fictional versus reality. Still, he was keeping an eye out¡­ somewhat worried that they might see a giant-ass squirrel skittering along one of the huge Sylian Trees. Or worse, there would be giant bugs. God, he hoped not. He really, really hoped not.


    ¡­ At least they¡¯d made excellent time to the border. It had only been two days since Foss Sangrey launched his attack on the Zuverian Empire, killing the Imperial Royal Family. He, Bula, and Avina had left the very next morning and foregone the use of horse or cart. Instead, Bula had carried their supplies while Mikael had carried Avina. Together¡­ together they¡¯d ran and ran, the land turning into a blur as it disappeared past them.


    With his magic, Mikael was able to protect Avina from any ill-effects of such travel, though he also made sure they took a couple of breaks throughout the day. Still, moving under their own power at Bula¡¯s top speed, they¡¯d been able to reach the Sylian Woods in what had to be record times. If anyone in Zuveria or Ocreatha kept records like that.


    And now here they were. Mikael felt like an ant, truth be told. He could understand why neither Ocreatha nor Zuveria had managed to successfully settle within these woods. The whole place was¡­ unnatural. The size of everything made it seem like they were shrunken down, rather than everything around them being enlarged a hundred fold.


    ¡­ He was pretty sure some of those fronds they were walking past were actually blades of grass, maybe. But he couldn¡¯t say for sure, he wasn¡¯t a botanist or anything. Thankfully, he wasn¡¯t the only one feeling discomfited by their surroundings.


    ¡°This place is the worst. Bula, please tell me you know where we¡¯re going.¡±


    As Avina¡¯s voice rings out, Mikael gives his Soul Mechanic a sympathetic look. He¡¯d offer to carry her with his magic again, but she¡¯d insisted on walking under her own power once they made it past the border and under the sheltering canopy of the woods. He wasn¡¯t sure how much longer that would last though. To be fair, it wasn¡¯t like Avina was some haughty, spoiled brat of a princess who¡¯d never worked a day in her life.


    In fact, it was the exact opposite. She¡¯d spent two thirds of her life scrounging for scraps and quite literally living out of basements while using the sewers of Alether as her transit system for clandestine dealings. She was tougher than most in Mikael¡¯s opinion. But¡­ an outdoorsy type she was not. And more than that, she was definitely still the¡­ softest of their party. Physically, she was the weakest and most vulnerable.


    Bula, meanwhile, sniffs at the air and then huffs before nodding in Avina¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Aye. I know where we¡¯re going. Can feel it. Like a¡­ tug. That way.¡±


    The half-orc warrior points at seemingly nowhere in particular, save for that it¡¯s definitely deeper into the woods. Which¡­ yeah, Mikael could have guessed as much. Still, it¡¯s better than nothing. Something Bula seems to agree with as she shrugs nonchalantly.


    ¡°Figure we just keep going that way and we¡¯ll run into whatever fucker is calling me ¡®home¡¯. Yeah?¡±


    Huffing again, Avina crosses her arms over her chest and nods.


    ¡°Yes, that seems like our best bet. Still, I hope it¡¯s not too much further¡­ you would think, given that the elves are said to be our size, that they would exist on the fringes of the Sylian Woods¡­ not in its heart. And yet, we have seen neither hide nor hair of them so far.¡±


    Looking around them, Mikael chuckles. They were several hours into the woods by this point. And yet¡­


    ¡°To be fair, does anyone really know HOW big the Sylian Woods even are, Avina? Sure, you guys told me that there were said to be a thousand of these trees that make up this forest, but where does that sort of number come from in the first place? If its ancient legend¡­ then it¡¯s more than likely that the Sylian Woods has grown since, right? For all we know, this could still be the fringes of the woods¡­ could be that the edge of the woods lasts for weeks of travel for people as small as us.¡±


    Avina¡¯s mouth opens at that¡­ and then closes shut as she lets out a shuddering breath, a shiver going down her spine. Her grey eyes narrow at him and she scowls.


    ¡°¡­ I hate how logical that sounds. We¡¯d better hope it won¡¯t take us weeks to get to wherever Bula¡¯s elves are. Doubt that the Order of the Rose can hold out that long¡­¡±


    Mikael nods at the sobering reminder that they¡¯re on something of a time crunch. Bula, meanwhile, huffs.


    ¡°Not my elves.¡±


    Sensing a sore spot¡­ and perhaps wanting to get back at Bula for all the mentions of her height, Avina smirks.


    ¡°Oh? You sure about that, Bula? We¡¯re here because of you, after all. Hunting down Sylian Elves straight out of myth and legend¡­ because of you. Following a path that only you can lead us down, because you¡¯re currently sensing them reaching out to you right now. I don¡¯t know¡­ sure sounds like they¡¯re your elves.¡±


    A low growl of warning leaves Bula¡¯s throat, but Avina is already done, simply leaning back with a smug smile as she wordlessly pats herself on the back for a job well done. Mikael, rolling his eyes at the interplay between two of the most important people in this world¡­ at least so far as he¡¯s concerned, sighs and looks for a way to change the subject. In the end, there¡¯s really only the one thing on his mind though at this point.


    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°¡­ I just hope whoever we wind up finding has a spare army lying around. I¡¯m not sure why Bula is being called home, or what the connection the Knight-Superior saw between her and these woods even is, but I hope there¡¯s something workable to be figured out here. Thayla¡¯s father wasn¡¯t wrong when he said we were looking in the unlikeliest of places here.¡±


    Bula just shrugs again, not having any sort of answer to that it would seem. But then to be fair, she HAD been effectively tossed out of these woods as little more than a baby, left for the orcs of the Savage Lands to find and raise as their own. Taking that into consideration, perhaps it shouldn¡¯t be that surprising that Avina had more information in this regard, the freckled woman striking a pose that Mikael has come to regard as her ¡®lecturing¡¯ posture.


    ¡°Well, like I said before, there have been instances of incredibly large creatures coming out of the Sylian Woods over the centuries. The last one was actually a decade ago. Nowhere near Alether of course, so I only heard about it second hand, but the thing was said to be as large as two carriages. It laid waste to an entire village before Ocreathian Knights were able to put it down.¡±


    Humming in thought, Avina gives a decisive nod.


    ¡°I figure if these Sylian Elves really are real, then they must have a way of taming these woods that we can¡¯t understand. A magic, perhaps, that lets them domesticate the massive monsters that make the Sylian Woods their home. So¡­ basically, it¡¯s like you said, Mikael. The Sylian Elves might just have a spare army lying around.¡±


    ¡­ That certainly sounded nice, though the more Avina had talked, the more Mikael found himself with a creeping sensation going up his spine. As his Soul Mechanic¡¯s words continue to wash over him, he¡¯s keeping his eyes on their surroundings, looking for any sign that something as large as what she was describing might be close by.


    Glancing behind himself to make sure they¡¯re not about to be ambushed, Mikael¡¯s eyes gloss over it initially¡­ but Avina¡¯s words have put him on higher alert and he quickly does a double take before cursing loudly and spinning in place.


    ¡°Mikael? What is it?!¡±


    ¡°Tch! Enemy!¡±


    Bula immediately recognizes that they¡¯re under threat simply by Mikael¡¯s stance. Meanwhile, Mikael is staring at a very large blob of soul energy hiding behind a tree hundreds of feet away.


    ¡°¡­ Ladies, no sudden moves¡­ but there¡¯s a living thing behind that tree over there. A very large living thing.¡±


    Bula grunts while Avina steps closer to his side. Mikael, meanwhile, begins calling on more of his magic. In hindsight, perhaps using his special brand of energy as torches was a bad idea. They were basically like a bunch of fireflies floating along the forest floor. Of course they were going to attract attention.


    ¡°What do we do?¡±


    Avina¡¯s whispered tone is strained but not fearful. She has full faith in him and Mikael finds that comforting. Bula, meanwhile, snorts derisively.


    ¡°We fight, of course. Mikael requires more power anyways.¡±


    Pausing, Mikael gives the half-orc warrior a glance, but Bula just tilts her head at him.


    ¡°You have been wasting your true potential for long enough. Couldn¡¯t use the undead because no souls. Couldn¡¯t use the knights because they were allies. But these woods¡­ these woods are teeming with challenge.¡±


    Before Mikael can muster a response, Bula lifts her battle-axe over her head and lets out a roar.


    ¡°Face us! Fight us!¡±


    Mikael blanches, but he doesn¡¯t get a chance to quiet Bula down before the blob of soul energy slowly begins moving out from behind the tree. At least a quick glance at their surroundings shows no other blobs that he can see. But¡­ that¡¯s a small consolation prize, given what the blob actually turns out to be.


    Bigger than a house. Covered in spines. Four legs. Claws larger than Mikael¡¯s torso. Fangs dripping with drool and saliva. The monster that steps out from behind the tree is like some sort of fantasy dinosaur crossed with a saber tooth tiger. Mikael¡¯s mouth goes dry, even as the creature¡¯s eyes glow with verdant green light and it slowly prowls closer to him.


    Beside him, Bula is growling in anticipation, all but ready to launch herself into battle. More likely, she¡¯ll launch herself right into this thing¡¯s maw. But Mikael won¡¯t let that happen. And maybe she¡¯s right. Maybe he¡¯s wasted too much time in not building up power. Ever since Zadicus Quinn¡­ he¡¯s been resting on his laurels, allowing the evolution of his Soul Engine to carry him through and passively absorb the Weave from around him.


    But to be fair, it wasn¡¯t like Mikael wanted to go out and slaughter hundreds or thousands just to get stronger. That had never been who he was. That said¡­ massive fuck-off monsters were a pretty good guilt-free source of fuel, weren¡¯t they?


    Mikael draws his sword and after a moment of thought, coats it in energy from his Soul Engine, growing the thing to be thrice as big as it would normally be, a blade of pure teal energy jutting out as he foregoes his shoulder altogether. A Buster Blade Lightsaber, Mikael finds himself absently thinking¡­ even if he can¡¯t quite remember where such words come from.


    ¡°Avina¡­ stay behind us. Bula¡­ I¡¯m with you.¡±


    With a growl of pure satisfaction and a big wide toothy grin thrown his way, the half-orc raises her battle-axe over her head and roars before lowering herself into a crouch and preparing to launch herself. Meanwhile, the monster has stopped about fifty feet away and seems to be readying itself for combat as well.


    However, just as they¡¯re preparing to do battle¡­


    ¡°Attack!¡±


    A voice calls out that belongs to none of them, coming from above. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as his eyes dart up¡­ but fortunately, the command to attack is not directed at any of them. As what look to be two dozen humanoid warriors, all with conspicuously knife-like ears, jump down from where they¡¯d been camouflaged on the tree above, Mikael beats himself up for getting too caught up and focusing on only the monster and other soul signature as big as it. In comparison, the much more contained soul signatures of the Sylian Elves that had been hidden right above their heads had passed his notice entirely.


    An inhuman, monstrous cry emits from the creature that had been stalking them, even as its spined hide is immediately perforated with a dozen excellently aimed arrows. Despite both Mikael and Bula being more than ready for battle¡­ the fight is over almost immediately. Whatever those arrows are coated in works fast and whatever weak points the elves struck were very vulnerable indeed, because the green glow goes out of the creature¡¯s eyes as they roll back in its head and it slumps over¡­ dead.


    Mikael just blinks, even as the elves all come in for a landing between him and his party and the creature¡¯s corpse. He almost considers reaching out and sucking up the soul from the monster anyways¡­ but holds off in the end. Best to not piss off the elves. No clue what they might think of someone like him with something like the Soul Engine in his chest.


    Dressed in the most ostentatious armor, what can only be the elves¡¯ leader turns to them all and narrows his eyes as he takes in their appearance.


    ¡°Greetings. I am High Executor Daylor Krislamin. And you all¡­¡±


    Here, the elven man¡¯s face scrunches up in distaste and frustration. His eyes slide over each of them, before focusing on Bula in particular. Finally, he bites out the words, though it seems to cost him dearly to say them.


    ¡°¡­ You all are welcome in these woods.¡±


    ¡°It is you. You are the one calling to me.¡±


    Bula¡¯s voice sounds rough, raw, and uncertain as she points at the self-proclaimed High Executor. In response, Daylor looks like he¡¯s bitten into a lemon, even as he inclines his head. His poorly concealed distaste is obvious, but he nevertheless fights back whatever way in which he truly wants to react.


    ¡°Yes. But it is not safe to talk here. We must move, now.¡±


    And then, the High Executor¡¯s face softens as he looks upon Bula with relief just as poorly concealed as the distaste had been.


    ¡°¡­ Still. It is good to have a High Priestess Candidate once more. Very good indeed.¡±


    Mikael and Avina exchange a glance at that, even as Bula wrinkles her nose at the title. Just what had they gotten themselves into now?


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 50: The People

    They make good time once the Sylian Elves are leading the way. With Mikael giving Avina a piggyback ride and using some of his magic to make sure she doesn¡¯t fall off, he and Bula ascend the side of the tree alongside the High Executor and his soldiers, following them up onto a large branch that then takes them to another large branch and so on and so forth.


    He keeps expecting them to make some sort of comment about him. Like maybe they can sense his status as an abomination or something. But he doesn¡¯t get the sense that they know who or what he is¡­ or if they do, they don¡¯t find it any more objectionable than everything else about him, Avina, and Bula. Either way, they lead them all through the lower branches of the massive Sylian Trees, until finally¡­


    ¡°¡­ Of-fucking-course¡­¡±


    There, in the distance, is the edge of what can only be described as a city in the trees. The sort of thing right out of a storybook, a fantastical elven settlement made entirely of wood, nestled high above the ground in the lower branches that they¡¯re now traversing. It looks spectacular, Mikael has to admit. Something that shouldn¡¯t be possible, but clearly is in a world like Vaclatora.


    He tries to keep his exclamation under his breath and contained, but that doesn¡¯t stop everyone from catching him anyways given the way Avina is glomped onto his back and both Bula and their elven escort have enhanced hearing. When the High Executor gives him a narrowed eye glare, Mikael clears his throat, deciding to quickly change the subject as they continue to make their way closer to the literal treehouse city in the distance.


    ¡°Ahem¡­ err, if it¡¯s not too much to ask, what was that thing back there? The one that was stalking us and that you all put down?¡±


    The query makes Daylor tilt his head to the side, his lips curling into a frown.


    ¡°That? I suppose if you have to call it something, call it a Child of Syl. They roam the Sylian Woods in great numbers and we have gotten VERY good at fighting and killing the ones foolish enough to prowl on their own.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at the High Executor¡¯s words, because they imply that there are more of those massive creatures and some of them actually like to hunt in packs. He considers that for a moment and a shiver runs down his spine. One of those things¡­ he had no doubts that he and Bula would have taken the monster down regardless of elven intervention. But more than one? Maybe a whole pack of them? Two or three, sure. But six? Twelve? That, he wasn¡¯t so sure about.


    Regardless, they soon arrive at the city proper. Most of their escort peels off to other duties, while a handful stay with them and the High Executor as Daylor Krislamin leads them along some walkways. Mikael can¡¯t help but marvel at the feats of construction, engineering, and architecture all around them. Avina, judging by her constant gasps and sharp inhalations of breath next to his ear feels the same way.


    Finally though, they arrive at their ultimate destination. Up here in the lower branches of the Sylian Woods¡¯ interconnected canopy, some of the branches look like smaller but still giant trees themselves. It¡¯s into a hollowed out ¡®tree¡¯ that Daylor leads them, with the last of their escort staying outside to guard the entrance.


    As Mikael lets Avina down off of his back, his Soul Mechanic standing on her own two feet once more, he doesn¡¯t fail to notice Bula¡¯s clear tension and agitation. The half-orc warrior never wanted to come here. But now here she is all the same. And all because of him too. Stepping over to her side, Mikael places a hand on Bula¡¯s shoulder and whispers into her ear.


    ¡°Hey. Don¡¯t forget, we¡¯ve got your back. No matter what.¡±


    He¡¯s a lot quieter this time, fully intending for his words to be only for Bula. And yet, even as some of the tension bleeds out of the half-orc at his assurances, Mikael notices one of High Executor Krislamin¡¯s long ears twitching out of the corner of his eye. The man didn¡¯t just have enhanced hearing, he had impeccable hearing¡­ perhaps better hearing than Mikael and Bula in fact. Better hearing than most of his own kind as well.


    As Daylor turns to face them, Mikael adjusts the elven leader¡¯s threat assessment up a fair amount. Even still, when he waves a hand dismissively at Mikael and Avina¡­ well, that just won¡¯t do.


    ¡°You two may leave. I shall have a couple of my soldiers give you a tour and assign you to lodgings while I speak with the High Priestess Candidate privately.¡±


    This is a man very unused to being told no, Mikael notices even as he and Avina both proceed to tell him ¡®no¡¯.


    ¡°That won¡¯t be possible.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not.¡±


    The High Executor¡¯s jaw clenches and his eyes narrow at the disrespect, but Mikael isn¡¯t having it. Still, he tries to be a little diplomatic.


    ¡°Apologies but our place is here. At Bula¡¯s side.¡±


    Even that doesn¡¯t seem to sway Daylor¡­ until Bula herself huffs and speaks her mind.


    ¡°They stay.¡±


    For a moment, that distaste from earlier flashes across High Executor Krislamin¡¯s face again. He clearly doesn¡¯t appreciate being told what¡¯s going to happen. And yet¡­ Bula¡¯s words have the intended effect that Mikael and Avina¡¯s had not. He offers one sharp nod before crossing his arms over his chest.


    ¡°Fine. You may stay. Still¡­ be grateful. Know that you are the only outsiders who have been allowed in the Sylian Woods in quite some time. Normally, we simply kill all of your kind on sight. Only your status as obvious comrades-in-arms to a High Priestess Candidate afford you the right to continue drawing breath.¡±


    Bula bristles at the implied threat, but Mikael just gives her shoulder a firm, comforting squeeze. At the same time though, he makes eye contact with Avina, seeing his own confusion reflected back in the Soul Mechanic¡¯s gaze. The High Executor¡¯s words did not line up with Timothal Dawnguard¡¯s own account of his short time spent in the Sylian Woods. Though¡­ there were a number of possible reasons for that.


    Number One, Thayla¡¯s father might have run into some ¡®kind elves¡¯, a group that couldn¡¯t be bothered to kill them all and were willing to just let them leave with a ¡®never return¡¯ style warning. Number Two, Thayla¡¯s father had self-admittedly gone to the Sylian Woods in his youth. So it was possible that when Daylor said ¡®quite some time¡¯, he meant within the last few decades AFTER the incident that had caused the Order of the Rose to forbid all official missions into the woods.


    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    In the end though, it didn¡¯t really matter. It certainly wasn¡¯t worth calling the High Executor out over the discrepancy, not when there were more pressing things to question the elven man over. Clearing her throat, Avina speaks up to call one of those more pressing things into question right then and there.


    ¡°You keep mentioning that Bula is a High Priestess Candidate. What exactly does that mean?¡±


    For the first time, the High Executor looks surprised. Daylor¡¯s eyes widen and he looks between the three of them, visibly taken aback. Then, his eyes narrow again, focusing on Bula in particular.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know? Truly?¡±


    Bula huffs, only Mikael¡¯s comforting hand likely keeping the half-orc from getting a lot more physical with this meeting. Still, she shakes her head with a broad scowl spread across her face.


    ¡°Know what? How could I know ANYTHING?! You dropped me at the border as an infant for fuck¡¯s sake!¡±


    The High Executor looks down for a moment, muttering under his breath in what might have been elvish curse words. When he looks up again, he looks somewhat¡­ drawn. Weary, definitely.


    ¡°Yes. The stupidity of that choice haunts our people to this day. I assure you; I was not one of those that voted for your expulsion. As hideous and grotesque as both your conception and appearance might be by elven standards¡­ you still had the blood of a High Priestess flowing through you. Throwing you away was a decision made by a weak-minded Council that no longer exists. It¡¯s only me now.¡±


    Well that was certainly fucking ominous. Of course, Avina isn¡¯t quite done prodding just yet.


    ¡°That still doesn¡¯t answer the question. You¡¯ve been calling for Bula. You wanted her to come here. Why? What is a High Priestess Candidate?¡±


    Daylor bristles at that, the elven male clearly taking significant umbrage with Avina being the one to address him. But then, Mikael doesn¡¯t think any of the three of them would be any better. The High Executor is clearly incredibly racist¡­ just not AS racist as his kin from the sound of things.


    Glowering at Avina for a moment until it became obvious she wasn¡¯t going to be cowed by a simple look, the High Executor finally huffs out a breath and looks back to Bula.


    ¡°Your mother was Renna Wysalynn¡­ the last High Priestess of Syl. As her daughter, you have her blood flowing through your veins¡­ making you a viable candidate to replace her as High Priestess.¡±


    For a moment, Mikael finds himself trying to imagine Bula of all people as a High Priestess. Maybe¡­ maybe a High Priestess of War and Violence. But seriously, it was a bit of a tough ask. That said, something about what the High Executor had said sticks in Mikael¡¯s mind and he finds himself asking a question of his own.


    ¡°Syl. As in Child of Syl. Sylian Woods. Sylian Elves. So that would make Syl¡­¡±


    Rolling his eyes, Daylor waves a hand through the air.


    ¡°Syl. God of the Sylian Woods, yes. Though we do not call ourselves Sylian Elves. That is a human name. If you must title us¡­ we are The People.¡±


    The People. Implying that everyone else weren¡¯t actually people. Yeah, Mikael was going to keep calling them Sylian Elves or Elves in his head. But¡­ he could exercise basic diplomacy by not saying as much out loud.


    Seeming to take the ensuing silence as tacit agreement, the High Executor nods once and then continues his explanation.


    ¡°Through our High Priestess¡¯ connection to Syl, The People could not just survive the dangers of these woods but thrive as well. We were the indisputable rulers of the Sylian Woods for centuries¡­ nay, millennia.¡±


    Mikael exchanges another glance with Avina. Sounded like there might have been a pact between elves and humans after all a long, long time ago. Or not. Based off this asshole, it could have just been a general agreement not to step on each other¡¯s toes, maybe.


    ¡°However¡­ eight years ago, Renna took her own life, leaving us without a High Priestess¡­ and even worse, without a High Priestess Candidate to replace her.¡±


    Here, Daylor gestures to Bula with a half-hearted sneer that doesn¡¯t seem solely directed at the half-orc at least.


    ¡°After your¡­ conception, your mother refused to ever let another male touch her, even from among The People. She had no other children after you. In the end, her experiences at the hands of the orcs finally got the better of her after many years. When she killed herself, she doomed us all in the process.¡±


    It¡¯s obvious that High Executor Krislamin is very frustrated by the loss of Bula¡¯s mother, and not just because the poor woman apparently committed suicide as a direct result of the actions Bula¡¯s father committed against her so many years before. Rather callous of him to act like Renna¡¯s death was some great imposition on him. A glance in Bula¡¯s direction shows that the half-orc is taking all of this in stride¡­ at least in her own way. She hasn¡¯t tried to pull her weapon on Daylor yet so at least there¡¯s that.


    Still, they¡¯ll have to have a talk later about all of this. Mikael could guess that Bula would act like she didn¡¯t care. This¡­ Renna Wysalynn might have been the woman who gave birth to her, but to call her Bula¡¯s mother would be quite the overstatement.


    That all said, Daylor¡¯s grave tone and words about Renna¡¯s death ¡®dooming them all¡¯ didn¡¯t exactly sit well with Mikael. They felt like the elven man was trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, especially with all they¡¯d seen so far. The Sylian Elves certainly didn¡¯t feel doomed if their gorgeous tree top city was any indication.


    Mikael didn¡¯t like the idea that the High Executor was projecting his anger at Renna onto Bula. As though it was somehow Bula¡¯s fault that her birth mother had taken her own life and left them in dire straits or what have you. Clenching his jaw, he leans forward with a scoff.


    ¡°You certainly don¡¯t seem doomed. You all took down that Child of Syl in the blink of an eye and it certainly seems like you¡¯ve got a great thing going here. A hustling, bustling, lively city right outside that door.¡±


    Stiffening, the High Executor sneers in response.


    ¡°As I said before, we are quite capable of taking down a single Child of Syl when necessary. It is not the solitary ones that we concern ourselves with. As for this ¡®hustling, bustling¡¯ city as you call it¡­¡±


    Here, the elven man looks to be in actual pain for a moment, staring off into the distance as he remembers things that seem to cause him no small amount of discomfort. Finally though, he gathers himself and looks back to all of them.


    ¡°I mentioned the Council before, did I not? The Council of Executors. Nine Seats in total, one for each of The People¡¯s Nine Cities. Led by a High Executor from the High Capital of The People.¡±


    As Mikael absorbs his words and begins connecting the dots, there¡¯s a sinking feeling in his gut as Daylor grinds his teeth together, clenching his hands into fists at his sides.


    ¡°Without the High Priestess, The People have no connection to Syl and thus no protection from the dangers of the Sylian Woods. In the eight years since Renna Wysalynn ended her own life, a city has been lost every single year, starting with the High Capital.¡±


    Suddenly¡­ the High Executor looks young. Lost, really. He stares down at his suddenly open hands for a moment before continuing on in a somber, sober tone.


    ¡°They¡¯re all gone now. The High Capital. The other seven cities. Where you stand now is the LEAST of our cities. I, Daylor Krislamin of House Krislamin, am the only Executor left of The People, making me High Executor by default.¡±


    Clenching his hands back into fists, he lifts his head with a fire suddenly reignited in his eyes as he gazes at Bula with a fanatic sort of glee.


    ¡°But not all is lost. A High Priestess Candidate is returned to us. If you can connect to Syl as your mother once did before you, then The People can be saved.¡±


    Well. Shit.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 51: High Priestess Candidate

    ¡°We are here.¡±


    After dropping the bombshell that eight out of nine of the Sylian Elves¡¯ city just flat out didn¡¯t exist anymore, High Executor Daylor Krislamin had told them he had something else to show them. Mikael couldn¡¯t say what was going through Avina or Bula¡¯s heads at the moment, but at least for him, he followed the elven man in silence because he was struggling to wrap his head around the reveal.


    This was the LEAST of the elven cities? It was utterly massive, stretching out in every direction. It also went up, with the city being multi-layered and taking advantage of the branches of the massive Sylian Trees. And yet¡­ it sort of made sense in a way. This place¡­ it wasn¡¯t particularly hard to get to, was it? Less than a day¡¯s travel from the border, in fact. And sure, he and Bula could travel a lot faster than your average human being, but it was still pretty close to the fringes of the Sylian Woods.


    To have lost that many people in just eight years¡­ even if Daylor was clearly a Dick with a capital D, Mikael¡¯s nonexistent heart went out to the elven man. This was a civilization on the brink of destruction. Trying not to think too hard about that for a moment, Mikael focuses his attention on his surroundings. Where exactly has the High Executor brought them?


    The room is a little smaller than the meeting room where they first spoke. Which is surprising, because the High Executor had led them into one of the Sylian Trees directly. Meaning they were standing in the middle of one of those skyscraper-sized trunks right now. It seems like a bedroom, but it¡¯s sparsely furnished. There¡¯s a small bed off to the side that can just barely be called more than a cot. Not even a desk or chair to sit anywhere from what Mikael can see. Meanwhile, dominating the center of the room is what looks a hell of a lot like some sort of ritual circle set into the tree¡¯s natural age-rings.


    Gesturing to the ritual circle, Daylor sighs.


    ¡°This was Renna¡¯s room. And that¡­ that is where she and every High Priestess before her has served The People for generations. Utilizing the circle, our High Priestesses bond with the God of the Sylian Woods, Syl himself. Through that bond, we are able to commune with the trees, with the forest¡­ with the creatures within it. It is the only way we could survive. Without that bond, we have been blind. Spurned by Syl. And the Children of Syl have been killing The People ever since.¡±


    The High Executor¡¯s tone is grave as he looks at Bula.


    ¡°Should you be able to reach out and form a similar connection with Syl, then perhaps not all is lost. If you can take your mother¡¯s mantle of High Priestess and forge a bond with the God of the Woods, then we will be ascendant once more. The People can begin to rebuild.¡±


    Bula scowls and crosses her arms over her chest, glaring at the ritual circle as if it personally offended her. Then, she glances at Mikael, clearly asking for his input. Mikael hesitates for only a moment. While it¡¯s true that they came here for their own reasons, to try and find allies in the fight against Foss Sangrey¡­ this seems important.


    Not just that though. Based solely on what they¡¯ve seen so far, even as diminished as the Sylian Elves have become, they¡¯re still a force to be reckoned with. He actually hadn¡¯t caught a glimpse of a single civilian either on the walkways they¡¯d traversed at this point. Mikael is pretty sure that¡¯s just because they¡¯re hiding them or keeping them safe elsewhere in the massive city. But that still means that he¡¯s already laid eyes on hundreds if not thousands of Elven Warriors, and that¡¯s just a small fraction of what a bustling city as big as this one seems to hold.


    Basically, while the Sylian Elves are on their last legs, they can still help. And given their racism, right now might be the only time they could even be convinced to help. After all, if Bula is able to do it¡­ if she¡¯s able to bond with a literal Forest God and save the Sylian Elves, then surely they¡¯ll be indebted enough to her and by extension him and Avina to be willing to help right? Even if it was begrudging help¡­ it was help all the same.


    With that in mind, Mikael gives Bula an encouraging smile and a nod, something he¡¯s quite sure is not missed by High Executor Krislamin¡¯s narrowed eyes.


    ¡°I think you should give it a try, Bula. It¡¯s worth a shot, right?¡±


    ¡°Tch. Fine.¡±


    It¡¯s clear the half-orc warrior isn¡¯t happy about it, but she unslings her battle axe from her back and hands it over to him all the same. Then, eyes narrowed in suspicion, she tentatively steps past the first ring of the ritual circle, only to pause when it immediately lights up under her feet. However, before she can pull back, her distrust apparent, Daylor gasps.


    ¡°The circle! It¡¯s reacting to you!¡±


    Growling, Bula glares at the elven man.


    ¡°What does that mean, exactly?¡±


    Too excited to remember that he¡¯s supposed to be disgusted by her appearance and annoyed by her disrespect, the High Executor actually smiles as he stares down at the lit outer ring.


    ¡°It means you truly are a potential High Priestess. There was no doubt of course, you would not have heard our call if Renna¡¯s blood did not flow through you in the first place. But¡­ there was a chance that Renna¡¯s blood would allow you to hear the call, but not allow you to interact with the circle. For anyone else, this is nothing but a bunch of fancy lines. Only one such as you can possibly wield this power. Go on¡­ stand in the middle.¡±


    Bula huffs but does as she¡¯s told, taking a few more steps forward until she¡¯s finally in the very center of the ritual circle. With every step she takes, she passes another ring¡­ and with every ring she passes, they each light up with glowing energy, responding to her presence. Mikael keeps an eye out of course, ready for this to turn out to be a deception of some sort. If, for instance, this is some sort of trap to sacrifice Bula to Syl or something, then Mikael won¡¯t stand for it. He¡¯ll destroy this whole damn tree if he has to in order to keep her safe.


    But¡­ no. None of that happens. While the half-orc looks irate when she finally comes to a stop in the middle of the Ritual Circle, she also looks unharmed. And most are just bemused as she looks down at herself and all around her, at the glowing circles surrounding her.


    ¡°Yes¡­ yes! It¡¯s working! Now¡­ focus, child. Not on us, but on what you¡¯re feeling. You must sense it. The power. The connections. Reach out for them, grab hold of them and pull them to you. Only then will you be able to bind with Syl properly.¡±


    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    There¡¯s a brief pause as Bula seems to consider those words for a moment. Then, nodding, she closes her eyes and furrows her brow, clearly trying whatever it is he¡¯s talking about. Mikael wishes he could help her out in some way, but he¡¯s worried that he¡¯ll fuck it up. If this ritual circle has been operating for the Sylian Elves for centuries and maybe even millennia, then who¡¯s to say how Mikael and his Soul Engine might¡­ fuck with it.


    Besides, it¡¯s not like Bula really needs his help. In fact, after a brief moment the ritual circle even seems to glow brighter for a moment. Bula¡¯s hands clench into fists at her sides and Mikael wonders if she¡¯s found those connections that Daylor spoke of and is pulling them to her as the High Executor instructed. Only¡­ a moment later, the glow of the lit ritual circle diminishes greatly and Bula opens her eyes and shakes her head with a growl.


    ¡°Tch. Felt something. But it slipped through my fingers. Like water.¡±


    For a moment, Daylor Krislamin looks angry. And then the anger flows out of him and he¡¯s just disappointed. However, after a moment his eyes alight upon Bula¡¯s body.


    ¡°¡­ It¡¯s the armor. You wear too much metal, child. Remove your armor and try again.¡±


    Bula looks down at herself at that and even Mikael has to admit to taking some umbrage with that order. After all, the half-orc warrior¡¯s armor is¡­ well, skimp would be one word for it. Metal Bikini would also be an excellent description. Frowning now, Mikael looks at the High Executor, trying to figure out if the man is actually a perverted lech of some sort.


    ¡°If she does that, she will be naked. I assume that your High Priestesses are not expected to commune with the God of the Forest in the nude or you would have mentioned it before.¡±


    Giving him a decidedly unimpressed look, Daylor sneers and thrusts out a hand over to the bed.


    ¡°Pah! The High Priestesses wear garments woven of plant fiber from the trees themselves. You will find Renna¡¯s dress under her bed. Retrieve it, don it, and try again. We are too close to concern ourselves with such banalities at this point! The fate of The People is on the line!¡±


    Bula narrows her eyes but nevertheless leaves the circle, making her way over to the bed. Said bed, which Mikael had previously barely paid any mind except to note that it was barely better than a cot, is actually carved into the tree itself now that he gives it a second look. Kneeling down, Bula feels along the side of the bed¡­ and seems to find some sort of catch or something, because she¡¯s able to pull out a drawer that hadn¡¯t been readily apparent at first.


    For a moment, the half-orc warrior pauses at whatever it is she sees within. Then, reaching down, she pulls up a leafy-green garment and rises to her full height, turning to face them and holding it in front of her.


    The thing is¡­ small, to be sure. Clearly made for an elven body, not a half-orc¡¯s. And while Bula probably isn¡¯t as big as a full blown orc¡­ there¡¯s a reason she commonly refers to Avina as ¡®little one¡¯ and ¡®small one¡¯. And it¡¯s not simply because of Avina¡¯s own slightly diminutive height either.


    Looking distinctly put-upon, Bula glances to Mikael once more. At her latest look, he can only shrug and offer an apologetic smile that he hopes gets the point across. Namely¡­ if she wants to put an end to this, she can. He¡¯ll support her if she decides she wants nothing more to do with¡­ any of this. She¡¯s a warrior after all, not a priestess. If this binding to Syl thing is a lifelong duty¡­ he¡¯s not sure she should go through with it.


    But he doesn¡¯t say that out loud because at the end of the day, he¡¯s selfish. He wants to have his cake and eat it to. He wants all of his girls to come out of this not just alive¡­ but as happy as they can be. Maybe he¡¯s being na?ve. Maybe he¡¯s being stupid. But if it¡¯s possible for Bula to take the reins as High Priestess so they can bring an army out of the Sylian Woods to reinforce Thayla and her father while taking Foss down once and for all¡­ privately he thinks they should go for it.


    He doesn¡¯t say that either though. He doesn¡¯t say anything, he just waits for Bula to make her decision.


    She hesitates for only a moment more before sliding her gaze over to an expectant, impatient Daylor.


    ¡°Leave.¡±


    The High Executor stiffens and then bristles.


    ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    Bula huffs.


    ¡°I said leave. Your purpose here is over. You are not needed any longer.¡±


    That might be true, but even if it is, Daylor clearly doesn¡¯t like having it shoved in his face. Scowling now, the High Executor takes a threatening step forward.


    ¡°Now see here, child. You-!¡±


    But they don¡¯t get a chance to find out what he¡¯s about to say. Instead, Daylor pauses¡­ and then turns his head to the side and cups his hand against his ear in a strange gesture.


    ¡°Say again.¡±


    It takes only a moment to realize that he¡¯s partaking in some sort of magical communication with another elf. And not the rare, super special kind like Timothal had done back at the Citadel. This seems far more¡­ casual. That alone is enough to pique Mikael¡¯s interest if he¡¯s being honest¡­ and a glance in Avina¡¯s direction shows that she¡¯s interested as well. Certainly, the Soul Mechanic is curious about what sort of magic could allow for such a thing. Is it a device in the High Executor¡¯s ear, or just a spell that¡¯s semi-active at all times?


    ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    His scowl not lessened in the slightest, Daylor looks at all of them for a moment before straightening up and pointing at Bula.


    ¡°I am needed elsewhere. You will continue to try and focus on binding with Syl. No matter how long it takes, whether it¡¯s hours, days, or even weeks, you WILL become the new High Priestess. The People are counting on it.¡±


    With that, the self-important elven man sweeps from the room without another word, leaving them all standing there for a moment in silence. Avina is the one who breaks it, of course.


    ¡°Weeks. We don¡¯t have weeks.¡±


    Mikael grimaces, nodding in agreement.


    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong. Still¡­ we can maybe spare a few days? Given how fast we managed to make contact, I¡¯d say we can spare a week at the most before we have to head back, reinforcements or no reinforcements.¡±


    Hesitating for a moment, Avina finally nods. Only to jolt as they both turn their heads to the sound of a clatter from the other side of the room. Bula grunts when they both stare at her, watching her remove her armor piece by piece and then shrug into the too-tight green dress her mother had left behind.


    ¡°Tch. A week then. Best get started.¡±


    With a determined look on her face, the now ¡®all-natural¡¯ half-orc makes her way back into the center of the ritual circle and sinks down to her knees, closing her eyes as she begins to focus. Mikael isn¡¯t sure if it¡¯s a trick of the light or what, but he likes to think the rings of the ritual circle are glowing just a little brighter even before she starts trying to find those connections again. Just maybe.


    Of course, no sooner as Bula started to get to work then Avina is in front of him, unbuttoning his shirt.


    ¡°No point in us staying idle while she¡¯s working. I¡¯m going to give you a check-up, Mikael. Make sure everything is working. Maybe a tune-up as well. Probably for the best that you didn¡¯t get to try to absorb that Child of Syl¡¯s soul¡­ not sure that much power all at once would have been healthy for you.¡±


    Raising an eyebrow as Avina pulls out her tools and pops his Soul Engine¡¯s casing open, Mikael chuckles at her enthusiasm.


    ¡°I handled the influx from the Grand Melee just fine, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Avina half-nods at that, before tilting her head to the side as she focuses on her work.


    ¡°You did, but that was a bunch of human-sized souls one after the other, not one massive monster soul all at once. And knowing our luck¡­ we¡¯ll wind up fighting some Children of Syl before we¡¯re done here whether Bula manages to connect or not. So¡­ better safe than sorry.¡±


    Considering their track record¡­ yeah, she was probably right. Still, Mikael isn¡¯t going to let Avina off that easy. She was such a worrier, heh.


    ¡°Whatever you say¡­ Princess.¡±


    The look Avina gives him is funny enough, but even better is the soft snort of amusement from Bula over in the center of the room. That? That makes his day.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 52: The Run-Around

    ¡°I¡¯m starting to suspect we aren¡¯t allowed to leave.¡±


    As Avina comes up beside him and whispers that under her breath, Mikael winces. His eyes immediately dart to the center of the room to check on Bula and make sure she hadn¡¯t overheard the other woman¡­ but as far as he can tell, she hadn¡¯t. Letting out a low sigh, he gives Avina a slight nod.


    ¡°I suspect you might be right about that¡­¡±


    It¡¯s been three days since they were shown to this room. Three days since High Executor Krislamin outlined his expectations and then was pulled away. Three days in which an increasingly frustrated Bula had been trying to bind with the God of the Forest. Even now, the half-orc warrior kneels in the center of the ritual circle wearing her mother¡¯s old dress, focusing on something only she can sense. Her eyes shut tightly in concentration; Bula is a fidgety, agitated mess.


    Which is precisely why neither Mikael nor Avina has told her of their suspicions just yet. While Bula hasn¡¯t spent every waking moment trying to make headway in connecting to Syl, she¡¯s still been working incredibly hard and all on Mikael¡¯s request. In return, in order to keep her motivated, he¡¯s spent every night with her since they arrived here. Needless to say, they¡¯ve broken in every surface in the room at this point, all while Avina watched.


    Mikael is just thankful he has the Soul Engine, his magic, and his¡­ unique constitution. Because otherwise, he¡¯s not confident he would have survived the experience of an incredibly frustrated and pent-up half-orc night after night.


    Still, back to the issue at hand¡­ the guards hadn¡¯t outright said it, of course. They hadn¡¯t come out and told them that they weren¡¯t allowed to leave. However, there was no denying that there WERE guards posted outside of the room and whenever they¡¯d wanted anything, it had been brought to them rather than them being allowed to get it themselves.


    Glancing over at Avina, Mikael raises an eyebrow, making sure to keep his voice as low as possible.


    ¡°What was the excuse this time?¡±


    Scoffing, his Soul Mechanic rolls her shoulders and then crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°Same as before. Not safe.¡±


    Yes. That was the most common reason why they had to stay inside. It wasn¡¯t ¡®safe¡¯. Supposedly, if they went out and walked the wooden treetop city freely, they were likely to be attacked outright by Sylian Elves who apparently saw red if they caught even a whiff of outsiders. As such, for their safety and the safety of ¡®The People¡¯, they had to stay put.


    Sounded like bullshit to Mikael though. They¡¯d gotten plenty of strange looks while traveling with the High Executor, and some had even been decidedly hostile, but none had felt murderous or bloodthirsty. And even if Daylor was too busy to escort them now, so long as they had an elven escort with them, shouldn¡¯t it be fine? Could the guards that the High Executor assigned to protect them not speak with his authority or something?


    On top of that, they hadn¡¯t spoken to High Executor Krislamin since three days ago. All of their requests to either be brought to him or to have him come to them had been met with variations of ¡®he¡¯s too busy¡¯. Doing what? Mikael didn¡¯t know exactly, though he could at least be sympathetic of the fact that the elven man was trying to hold together the last remnants of his entire species apparently.


    Still, any sympathy he might feel for Daylor and the Sylian Elves¡¯ plight drained away whenever their guards made entirely unsubtle digs about how the High Executor MIGHT have time for them once the High Priestess Candidate had finished binding with Syl.


    Frustrating, to say the least. Especially since they really needed to talk to the elven leader about potentially mobilizing his people for the fight against Foss. Sure, Mikael understood that Daylor would need to see results first¡­ but they hadn¡¯t even managed to get to why they were here in the first place three days ago. He¡¯d figured they had time to bring it up later, but with nearly half of their self-imposed time limit having passed at this point and no sign of the High Executor, he was starting to get antsy.


    One look at Avina showed that she was feeling much the same way. She might have been used to behavior like this from her time partially under Zadicus Quinn¡¯s thumb, but that didn¡¯t mean she had to like it. It feels like a life time ago, but Mikael still remembers that thug Tak and his friends and how he and Avina had interacted.


    If anything, those experiences made her more in tune with the fresh smell of bullshit, not less. This whole situation was starting to stink and Mikael wasn¡¯t sure if they should even wait the full week before getting the hell out of here.


    To be fair, Bula¡­ might have been making progress? Looking over at the kneeling half-orc, Mikael watches in no small amount of fascination as a nimbus of energy swirls around Bula¡¯s form. Her eyes tightly shut and her face contorted into a grimace, she¡¯s clearly giving it her all. The ritual circle is blindingly bright at the moment and Mikael has to assume that she¡¯s close to whatever binding with Syl looks like.


    Except¡­ just like every time before over these past three days, the energy abruptly dissipates, the bright shine diminishing to a mere glow as Bula lets out an angry huff and her eyes snap open. Mikael waits for her to gather herself for another attempt¡­ but not this time.


    ¡°GRAAAAH!¡±


    With an angry shout, the half-orc slams her fists into the wood beneath her. It¡¯s a testament to how tough Sylian Trees are, or perhaps the protections of the ritual circle, that Bula doesn¡¯t damage it in any way. That doesn¡¯t make her any happier though and she abruptly hops to her feet, glaring at nothing in particular for a moment.


    ¡°¡­ Bula?¡±


    Whipping her head in his direction, Bula huffs.


    ¡°Need to kill something.¡±


    Mikael and Avina exchange a concerned look at that, but Bula doesn¡¯t waste time mincing words. Before they can even contemplate whether it¡¯s a good idea to talk her down or not, the dress-wearing half-orc has grabbed her battle axe and is striding out of the room. All they can do is follow after her to keep up.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Hold! By order of the High Executor, you-grk!¡±


    The guards outside step forward to try to stop her, of course. But Bula isn¡¯t having it. She¡¯s not nearly as understanding as he and Avina have been so far. Grabbing the first one to speak by his leather jerkin, she lifts him off the ground and slams him into the nearest bark wall. The other guards all tense up, looking uncertain what to do¡­ after all, she¡¯s the High Priestess Candidate. Not like they can hurt her.


    Fortunately, Bula isn¡¯t so far gone that the speaker receives her battle axe directly to his face. Instead, the half-orc leans forward, pinning him in place with both her hand AND a deathly glare.


    ¡°One way or another, I¡¯m going to kill something. It can either be you and your friends¡­ or you can point me in the direction of your enemies and I¡¯ll kill them instead.¡±


    Sputtering and looking at his fellows for help but finding nothing but uncertainty and fear, the elven guard quivers in Bula¡¯s grasp.


    ¡°B-But the High Executor-!¡±


    Now, Bula does bring her axe to bear¡­ pressing the sharp edge of it against the underside of the guard¡¯s chin and snarling at him.


    ¡°Make. Your. Choice.¡±


    A brief pause¡­ and then¡­


    ¡°O-Okay! Alright! We¡¯ll take you to the frontlines!¡±


    There¡¯s some shuffling from the other guards at that, even as Bula huffs and drops the first to the ground. He lands on his feet¡­ but it would seem his legs have turned to jelly at some point because he collapses to his knees for a moment before having to be helped up by his kin. Mikael raises an eyebrow and shares a glance with Avina.


    On the one hand, it¡¯s obvious that they¡¯re clearly under orders to keep them all contained so Mikael is a bit surprised that that worked. On the other hand, he¡¯s not THAT surprised. Bula can be very intimidating when she wants to be, after all.


    Of course, there¡¯s still a moment after the first guard is pulled to his feet where he looks mulish and like he might try to renege on his deal with Bula now that she doesn¡¯t have him dead to rights and he¡¯s been pulled back to where his fellows are standing. There¡¯s a moment of silence as a standoff ensues between Mikael, Bula, and Avina and the elven guards ordered to keep them from leaving the High Priestess¡¯ Room.


    ¡°NOW!¡±


    ¡­ But Mikael isn¡¯t sure Bula even realizes there IS a standoff as the half-orc gets impatient and snarls at the group of guards a moment later. They all positively jump out of their skin, before hastily hurrying to do as she says.


    And so Mikael and Avina find themselves trailing along after Bula as they¡¯re led through the massive canopy city. The half-orc¡¯s stomping and consistent angry growling are enough to keep their escort moving across the city, even as they descend to the lower branches of the trees, getting further and further down.


    Curiously, while they definitely get some strange looks from the Sylian Elves that they pass in the process¡­ none try to accost them. Whether that¡¯s because of their escort or simply because the threat of violence against outsiders was entirely overblown¡­ in the end it doesn¡¯t matter. Eventually, they reach the Southern edge of the city. The opposite of where they¡¯d been all this time.


    Mikael hears it before he sees it, of course. Bula does too, judging by her twitching knife-like ears. The sound of fighting. Of battle. It¡¯s then that they see¡­ this edge of the city is both in shambles and far more well-fortified then the part they¡¯d been in. Probably because it¡¯s an active war zone. The branches go much closer to the ground here, only about two hundred feet up or so. And there¡­ down below, there are ¡®the frontlines¡¯.


    He hadn¡¯t been sure what the elven guard had meant when he¡¯d said he would take them to the frontlines. But now he knows. Now they all know. For the past three days, they¡¯d been in a city that was already under siege. Children of Syl swarm in the dozens on the forest floor down below, and thousands of elven warriors struggle to hold back the encroaching tide, relying upon the high ground to give them the advantage.


    Not all of the monsters are as big as the one that came after him and the others back when they first ran into the High Executor of course. But some are¡­ and even the smallest is bigger than a carriage. There are a lot of them too. Enough that Mikael can imagine how eight elven cities, all supposedly bigger than this impressively large city, could fall to the horde over the last eight years.


    ¡°Yes¡­¡±


    Caught up in his thoughts, Mikael doesn¡¯t have a chance to stop Bula from running forward and literally throwing herself off the platform into the fray below. The half-orc¡¯s opening move is to sink her battle axe into the skull of one of the moderately sized Children of Syl, riding the thing to the ground as she lets out an uproarious laugh.


    ¡°YES! MORE!¡±


    Mikael facepalms but resists the urge to jump down after her. He¡¯s not about to leave Avina with a bunch of suspicious elves after all. Instead, letting his magic slowly unfurl around the two of them, he looks at their guards¡­ who are all paying him and Avina no mind, staring after Bula with expressions of horror and awe on their faces.


    Before he can ask if there¡¯s a safer way down, Avina grabs him by the arm and points off to the side. Pausing, Mikael takes in the sight of the innocuous wooden lift just sitting there about twenty feet away and sighs.


    ¡°Of course. Bula¡­ what am I going to do with you?¡±


    With the guards still caught up watching Bula fighting like a one-woman army down below, Mikael and Avina quietly make their way over to the lift and transport themselves the rest of the way to the ground. A few minutes later and they join Bula in combat, the half-orc grinning wider than she has in a long while, her face splattered with the blood of her enemies. Dragging a modestly sized Child of Syl over, she thrusts it in front of Mikael.


    ¡°Eat!¡±


    Tilting his head to the side, he lets out another sigh before nodding and reaching out with the Soul Engine. Sucking up the Child of Syl¡¯s soul feels¡­ strange, but not unwelcome. No telling if Avina¡¯s fiddling over the past three days has made it safer or not, but either way¡­ it¡¯s a big chunk of Weave that he winds up consuming. Leaves him feeling all¡­ tingly.


    Once he¡¯s done, Bula lets out another laugh and raises her axe into the air.


    ¡°Come! There will be no need to bind with a God if we just kill them all! You will finally have the strength of an army, Mikael!¡±


    ¡­ Was she still on about that? Bula had been pushing for that strategy since Alether when Foss had shown up with his army. Only, that army had turned out to be undead so Mikael couldn¡¯t slaughter his way through them and become all powerful. Then there had been the Citadel, where her plan might have been put into place if Thayla¡¯s father hadn¡¯t turned out to be reasonable. Though Mikael would have preferred to avoid slaughtering an entire Knightly Order if possible. Just running away would have been his preference if it proved necessary.


    Now though¡­ Mikael looks around them. The Elven Warriors are giving them a wide berth but the Children of Syl are not. More than a few of the massive beasts are already prowling closer, seemingly sensing an easy meal in the form of the three morsels standing in their midst.


    Immediately, he deploys some of his magic to shield Avina from harm, keeping her close to him as she squeaks a little bit at suddenly being corralled in. Mikael gives her an apologetic look at that, but he¡¯s not about to take any risks with her, not here. Given they clearly can¡¯t trust the elves, at his side is the safest place for her, but this is still an active battlefield.


    That said¡­ Mikael smiles and gives Bula a nod. Killing every single Child of Syl in one go might be a bit of a tall order but¡­


    ¡°Sure, Bula. Let¡¯s try out your strategy.¡±


    The way the half-orc¡¯s eyes light up like a kid in a candy shop is both adorable and a little frightening. With a happy roar, the battle maniac of a woman launches herself at the closest monster, forcing Mikael to move forward to keep up with her. Apparently¡­ they were doing this. Time to see how well it worked.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 53: Bula the Warrior

    As she slams her battle axe down into yet another Child of Syl, cleaving its skull in two and roaring in victory, Bula can¡¯t deny it¡­ she¡¯s finally feeling at home in these damn woods. Beneath her, the great best she¡¯s just slain crumples to the ground and she raises her gore-covered axe into the air.


    ¡°Mikael! Another one over here!¡±


    A few dozen feet away, the human man turns away from his last ¡®meal¡¯ and gives her a nod, coming on over while carrying Avina with his magic to absorb Bula¡¯s latest kill as well. A feeling of vicious satisfaction suffuses the half-orc as she watches him take in the power and grow stronger. She likes Mikael strong. She¡¯d like him even more if he was even stronger.


    Though¡­ the fact that he was even able to walk over unmolested to consume the ¡®meal¡¯ she¡¯d just made for him in the first place spoke to a greater problem. Brow furrowing as Mikael ¡®eats¡¯, Bula looks around them to take in the state of the battlefield. They¡¯ve sort of walled themselves in. Killed five of the creatures so far, and their bodies are big enough to form natural barricades after a fashion.


    Of course, Bula is currently standing on top of one of the great beasts. Meaning she can see over the other corpses¡­ and recognize the fact that no other Children of Syl are coming their way. Indeed, there¡¯s still battles raging on around them¡­ but strangely enough, both sides of the conflict are giving them a WIDE berth at this point.


    It¡¯s one of the strangest things Bula has ever seen on a battlefield if she¡¯s being honest. Sure, there had been times where her enemies tried to avoid her before on account of her being a half-orc. But that shouldn¡¯t have applied here, not where their opponents were so much larger than them!


    ¡°Bula?¡±


    Pulled from her thoughts, Bula looks down to see Mikael staring up at her in confusion. Huffing, she looks around again to make sure and then speaks plainly, as is her preference.


    ¡°They¡¯re avoiding us.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen in surprise at that, and he and Avina share a glance before speaking to one another about this strange occurrence. Clearly, this has piqued their interest. But not Bula¡¯s. No, rather¡­ this frustrates the half-orc to no end!


    She¡¯s not the smartest or the wisest person in the world. She fucking knows that! She doesn¡¯t really care¡­ it¡¯s never bothered her. But standing there wearing her¡­ her mother¡¯s shitty dress, bathed in the blood and gore of her mother¡¯s enemies, all Bula wants to do is keep killing. And she can¡¯t. Because the damn fuckers are avoiding them!


    She¡¯s just about to leap down and drag Mikael and Avina to the nearest conflict between elves and Children of Syl when a voice rings out from overhead.


    ¡°What the HELL do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡±


    Turning, Bula huffs and crosses her arms over her chest as Daylor Krislamin swings down on a rope of all things and lands atop the same corpse she¡¯s standing on at the moment. In response, Mikael uses his blue-green magic to lift him and Avina up so that they¡¯re eye level and can back Bula up. She appreciates that, how Mikael has had her back since they showed up at this place. But when he goes to speak, she cuts him off with a shake of her head. She¡¯ll do the talking here.


    Looking around blankly for a moment, the ¡®High Executor¡¯ just stares at the destruction. But far from realizing she¡¯s not some weakling maiden like her mother and that Bula can take care of herself, the elven man just looks angrier when he finally turns back to her.


    ¡°I ask again. What the hell do you think you¡¯re DOING?!¡±


    ¡­ Yeah. Bula knew she wasn¡¯t the smartest or wisest person around. But at least she acknowledged that fact. Sometimes¡­ sometimes it felt like people were too fucking smart for their own good. Like¡­ like they let their thoughts get overly complex, and then let that need for complexity infect what were otherwise simple situations.


    Like this High Executor fucker. He reminded Bula way too much of her bastard of a father. Amusing really, because her father was twice Daylor¡¯s size and green to boot. Still, they both had the same attitude with her. And it grated on her nerves something fierce.


    It was obvious, at least to Bula, that Daylor was making a simple situation too fucking complex. So she does her best to make it simple again. For his sake as much as her own.


    ¡°Killing. Because that¡¯s what I¡¯m good at.¡±


    The way his eyes widen in outrage¡­ was he expecting her to submit? Fool. She was only submissive to one man in this world and that was Mikael. He¡¯d beaten her in single combat more times than she could count and earned his position as the top dog in their relationship. He was also¡­ good. She liked him for that too, even if she would never admit it. She liked that he¡¯d cared about her enough to free her.


    ¡°You¡­ you utter simpleton! You risk your life out here and for what¡­ to scratch some sort of biological itch?! Without you, The People are doomed. Your purpose¡­ your ONLY purpose is to become High Priestess and bind with Syl! Only then will these attacks stop! Only then will The People be safe and able to rebuild!¡±


    Bula flares her nostrils at that. Daylor is a coward, through and through. She¡¯s thought as much since they first met and he and his soldiers felled that Child of Syl with poisoned arrows. That wasn¡¯t a proper kill. It certainly wasn¡¯t a clean one. And it could hardly be called a fight either. No¡­ the High Executor and his people were all fucking pansy-ass cowards.


    She hated people like that. Not least because they reminded her of Zadicus Quinn. The Lord of Alether had tricked her into serving him for more years than Bula cared to count. And even though he was dead now¡­ that¡¯s why she dislikes Daylor so much, Bula finally realizes. He reminds her of both her father AND Zadicus Quinn. He¡¯s like their worst parts all combined into one.


    And yet¡­ Bula glances over at Mikael, who is watching this in silence for the moment, currently following her lead upon her silent request. She¡­ she thinks she might actually love Mikael. Not just care about him. Not just appreciate him. But¡­ love him. She can¡¯t be sure, of course. She¡¯s never felt this way about anyone before.


    But she feels that way about him. And she knows he feels that way about Avina and Thayla as well. That¡¯s the plain, simple truth. Bula¡­ does not love Avina or Thayla. However, she does not dislike them either. Thayla is a warrior and Bula approves of her efforts to follow the warrior path even with the weakness inherent in her human female body. Meanwhile, Avina is small but¡­ feisty. She¡¯s the reason Mikael is alive in the first place and it was because of her that he was able to grow strong enough to beat Bula and free her from Zadicus¡¯ control.


    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    So yes. Bula does not begrudge Mikael his other two lovers. She might not care for them in the same way she cares for him¡­ but in caring for and loving Mikael, Bula finds herself needing to take into account Avina and Thayla¡¯s wants and desires as well, because Mikael will do so and if she wants Mikael to be happy, then she needs the two of them to be happy too.


    ¡°Well?!¡±


    Ah. Bula snorts in amusement, which only seems to piss the High Executor off more. But the amusement isn¡¯t directed at him, it¡¯s directed at herself. She¡¯d just let herself do the same thing she¡¯d looked down on Daylor for doing. Making a simple situation way too complex. It wasn¡¯t complicated. Bula liked Mikael. Mikael liked Avina and Thayla. Thayla needed help to save her homeland. Avina wanted revenge for her family. That was why they were here.


    With that in mind, the half-orc lets out a low sigh as she gazes into Daylor Krislamin¡¯s furious eyes. She despised him and everything about him. But¡­ she would try to be diplomatic. Her version of diplomatic anyways.


    ¡°I refuse.¡±


    ¡°What?! You-!¡±


    With a swing and a roar, Bula slams her battle axe into the flesh of the dead Child of Syl beneath her. This startles the High Executor enough to silence him for a moment as he takes an instinctive step back. That one, Bula doesn¡¯t necessarily blame on his innate cowardice. Even the most courageous warrior would take a step back in the face of a seemingly furious half-orc. Putting distance between you and an orcish foe was just good battle sense really.


    ¡°I said I refuse. I am not going to go back to that damn circle. I am not some fragile flower like your previous High Priestess. I am a warrior, not a maiden. I will always be a warrior and so that is how I will fight this battle for you. I will help you because Mikael needs me to. Together, he and I will kill your enemies to the last.¡±


    Pulling the battle axe free of the beast¡¯s flesh for the second time, Bula grins a savage grin, knowing full well that she has blood splattered all across her front at this point. She doesn¡¯t mind it. It will hopefully help drive home her point.


    ¡°After we¡¯ve killed all of these monsters, you will get your army together and we¡¯ll march it out of these woods to go fight that old fucker and his undead. And after that, I¡¯m going to be changing your pansy-ass ways and making real warriors out of all of you once all is said and done. Because I¡¯m not about to be High Priestess to a bunch of cowardly fucks.¡±


    There. That was diplomatic, right? A glance at Mikael and Avina shows that they might not agree. Avina is covering her face with her hands while Mikael seems frozen in place. When their eyes meet, he gives her a weak smile. Good enough.


    The High Executor on the other hand¡­ just looks incredulous. Not cowed in the slightest, in fact. Hm¡­ maybe Bula was losing her touch?


    ¡°What are you talking about, whelp? Why the fuck would we leave these woods to fight in some human war?¡±


    The disrespect rankled¡­ but the question was actually a fair one. Only because Daylor hadn¡¯t been around these past three days for Mikael to explain though. She¡¯d heard him and Avina talking about it when they thought she wasn¡¯t listening. At one point, Mikael had claimed Daylor ¡®ghosted¡¯ them. She didn¡¯t quite understand what that meant seeing as the elven man was still alive, but thankfully Avina didn¡¯t know what he was talking about either. Just one of those Mikael things in the end.


    Still, Bula looks to Mikael now and nods her head in his direction. This was definitely something he should explain, maybe with Avina¡¯s help. Seeming to agree, the human clears his throat, drawing Daylor¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Ah, right. High Executor, this is why we kept asking to speak with you these past three days. Though I¡¯m beginning to suspect the guards never even told you about our requests. You see, the Kingdom of Ocreatha has invaded the Zuverian Empire with an Army of Undead. That¡¯s actually why we¡¯re here. We came hoping for allies that could help us in repelling the invasion.¡±


    For a long moment, silence falls as Daylor digests this information. Finally, the elven man scoffs and turns to her, dismissing Mikael entirely.


    ¡°I see that I have been too lenient in my dealings with you lot.¡±


    Excuse him?


    ¡°I left your companions alive because it was clear that you and the human male were in a relationship. I¡¯d hoped that we might be able to secure the High Priestess¡¯ Bloodline along with you renewing the binding on Syl. However, I now realize that there have been¡­ misconceptions.¡±


    Bula¡¯s nostrils flare again at the incredibly condescending tone the High Executor is taking with her. She might not be the smartest or the wisest, but she fucking HATES being talked down to.


    ¡°The People do not leave the Sylian Woods. Not for anything. This is our home and we will not abandon it, no matter what.¡±


    Tch, idiots. She¡¯d sort of wondered why they seemed so cowardly but hadn¡¯t run when eight out of nine of their cities had already been wiped out. Bula might not be the best at math, but even she knew those were pretty terrible losses. But it turned out they were the worst kind of cowards¡­ the stupid kind. Not simple like Bula, but idiots pretending to be smart.


    ¡°More than that¡­ you seem to be under the assumption that the High Priestess holds some sort of position of leadership among The People. This is not the case. The Council of Executors is where authority starts and ends with The People. As the last¡­ as High Executor, I am in charge here. No one else. Certainly not¡­ you.¡±


    Wait, what? His distaste is palpable, but Bula is too busy being confused about what he¡¯s saying. How can the High Priestess be so fucking critical and yet sound so powerless and weak? It didn¡¯t make any sense.


    ¡°The High Priestess only has one purpose. To control Syl so that The People can flourish. As such, I will make this very simple for you, whelp. Lay down your axe and return to your room to attune to the High Priestess¡¯ Circle once and for all. Do this immediately and without further complaint and I will allow your human pets to live.¡±


    She would have laughed at that, but even a simple half-orc like Bula isn¡¯t dumb enough to miss it the second time he says it. Earlier, he hadn¡¯t said binding WITH Syl, he¡¯d said binding ON Syl. Bula hadn¡¯t thought much of it at the time, they¡¯d been talking about it in the form of binding for days after all. But just now¡­ it was impossible to ignore. He¡¯d said the High Priestess¡¯ only purpose was to CONTROL Syl. Not to connect to the God of the Forest. Not to bind to it. But to bind it. To control it.


    Bula had been struggling with gathering those connections the High Executor had spoken of for days now. Kneeling in the middle of that fucking circle, she¡¯d reached out and tried to pull on the ¡®connections¡¯ wherever she could find them. But they always managed to slip away from her¡­ like loose chains dangling off of something, tugged away at the last second before she could get a proper hold.


    Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Mikael and Avina both jolt at the High Executor¡¯s words which just about confirms Bula¡¯s mounting suspicions. At the same time she¡¯s not taking Daylor¡¯s threat very seriously¡­ until she realizes that the battlefield has gone completely silent at this point. The Children of Syl appear to have retreated, and they¡¯re actually surrounded by what seem to be a few hundred elves.


    The High Executor has the audacity to look smug¡­ as though this somehow gives him the upper hand. Then again, Bula finds herself briefly considering the arrows pointed at her and her allies. Likely laced with the same poison that could take down a monster the size of a house in a handful of seconds. That was¡­ irritating to say the least.


    Didn¡¯t mean she was just going to give in though. She wasn¡¯t a coward like the bastard in front of her. Face contorting into a contemptuous sneer, tusks grinding against teeth, Bula opens her mouth to tell the High Executor exactly where he can shove his offer¡­ only to suddenly stumble as the body beneath her and Daylor shifts.


    THOOM.


    Eyes widening, Bula immediately leaps down as the High Executor does the same. For a second, she assumes the Child of Syl has come back to life somehow even though Mikael drained the damn thing.


    THOOM.


    But¡­ no. The moment Bula¡¯s feet hit the ground, she realizes it¡¯s not the corpse that was shifting. It¡¯s the ground itself.


    THOOM.


    The world is shaking.


    THOOM.


    The earth is shivering.


    THOOM.


    It takes Bula a second to realize what¡¯s happening. Something is coming. Something with VERY heavy footfalls.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 54: The Beast

    A lot has come to light in a very short amount of time and Mikael is beginning to wonder if it was a mistake coming to the Sylian Woods. To be fair, it wasn¡¯t as though Thayla¡¯s father had any way of knowing the true disposition of the elves he¡¯d met a single time decades in the past. This had always been something of a Hail Mary based entirely off of Bula¡¯s heritage¡­ but also the fact that they were reaching out to her.


    If they wanted to get in touch, didn¡¯t that imply that they could be reasoned with? If they were calling to her, didn¡¯t that mean they could be negotiated with? It wasn¡¯t a bad theory. It wasn¡¯t even a particularly bad plan in Mikael¡¯s honest opinion. But¡­ the best laid plans and all that. They clearly hadn¡¯t asked enough questions when they¡¯d first arrived here. If they had, maybe they could have gleaned a better understanding of the situation.


    It was one thing to try and commune with a Forest God in the hopes of helping the Sylian Elves get back on their feet so that they could in turn help them defeat Foss Sangrey. It was another thing entirely to try and enslave that same Forest God, even for that exact same purpose. Bula didn¡¯t talk much about her time as Zadicus Quinn¡¯s slave, but that certainly didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d enjoyed it.


    Hell, if Mikael hadn¡¯t had a superior claim and Bula hadn¡¯t played a part in the initial suffering he experienced after being brought into this world, he suspected the half-orc warrior would have been far more irate over not getting to kill the Lord of Alether herself. Put succinctly¡­ the High Executor had just admitted to trying to get Bula to enslave a God these past three days. And then he¡¯d gone and threatened to kill Mikael and Avina if the half-orc didn¡¯t play ball.


    Surrounded as they were, it was possible that Daylor Krislamin could have even made good on that threat if Bula forced his hand. Mikael had enjoyed quite the power boost from the half a dozen Children of Syl that they¡¯d killed and he¡¯d absorbed, but that wouldn¡¯t mean much if even one of those arrows, coated in a poison capable of debilitating a creature the size of a house, found purchase in his or Bula¡¯s or god forbid Avina¡¯s flesh. He and Bula might be able to survive an arrow or two apiece, but Avina¡­ Avina was squishy. Very squishy.


    However, before things can descent into combat, before all hell can break loose¡­ things change.


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    The earthquakes that rock both Bula and the High Executor off of their respective perches and onto the ground below confuse Mikael at first. But when he floats down with Avina to stand at Bula¡¯s side, he finally realizes what¡¯s making the ground shake. Footfalls. Something is coming. Something massive.


    ¡°THE BEAST! THE BEAST COMES!¡±


    Daylor¡¯s panicked, desperate voice rings out through the woods and in an instant the hundreds of elven warriors ready to turn the three of them into pincushions turn away, removing arrows from bowstrings and darting too and fro in a flurry of activity. The High Executor is no different. He forgets all about them in an instant, focusing only on shouting orders to begin bringing forth fortifications and more arrows, to get into position.


    Mikael, Bula, and Avina all exchange a glance at this. To go from being on the verge of execution to being ignored is¡­ a strange sensation for all of them. Bula in particular looks disgruntled and like she¡¯s torn between planting her battle axe between the High Executor¡¯s shoulderblades or preparing herself to do battle with whatever it is they¡¯re all so afraid of.


    Given the way the remaining Children of Syl have all pulled back out of view, hiding themselves behind nearby tree trunks hundreds of feet wide, Mikael has a suspicion that whatever is coming¡­ it¡¯s the big one.


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    Looking around with his Soul Sense, it takes Mikael a second to find the thing, however. Mostly because¡­ it¡¯s actually pretty small when he finally locates it. But that¡¯s not a matter of size. That¡¯s a matter of distance. And it¡¯s definitely getting bigger.


    ¡°There.¡±


    When Mikael points, both Avina and Bula look to where his finger is going. But they see nothing because at this moment, the creature¡­ this ¡®Beast¡¯ as the High Executor called it, is still too far away to be seen through all of the massive fucking trees. However, the two believe him without hesitation. Daylor on the other hand¡­


    ¡°Where?! What do you speak of human?!¡±


    Eyes glowing with teal energy, Mikael looks over to the elven male with a tilt of his head. Given the way the bastard had just been talking to Bula, he doesn¡¯t really want to give the other man the time of day. But¡­ this is bigger than petty grievances, he supposes.


    ¡°Something huge. I can see it getting closer. Biggest source of Weave I¡¯ve ever seen, in fact.¡±


    For a moment Daylor looks incredulous¡­ but then seems to peer into Mikael¡¯s glowing eyes for a moment longer before nodding sharply. The High Executor apparently chooses to believe Mikael, because he immediately starts shouting orders to prepare for an attack from the direction Mikael pointed. It¡¯s almost enough to get him some brownie points¡­ but nah. Not really.


    Especially not when the bastard doesn¡¯t hesitate to whip around to Bula a moment later.


    ¡°What are you still doing here?! Return to the Circle! You are our only hope against the Beast!¡±


    Same shit as before, but with an added note of manic desperation in the elf¡¯s voice. Of course, Bula responds just as well to being ordered around now as she did previously.


    ¡°I refuse. I will fight.¡±


    Her repeated refusal to listen has a vein bulging out of the High Executor¡¯s forehead as he snarls in a panic.


    ¡°You fool! You utter simpleton! This is not a fight! This is the BEAST! You have seen how we handle the lesser creatures¡­ but nothing The People can throw at it will take down that monster! Greater cities then ours have tried and failed!¡±


    Mikael hums at that particular piece of information.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Are you saying that every single Elven City has fallen to the same creature?¡±


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    Glancing over in the direction of said creature as the ground continues to shake with its footfalls, Mikael has to admit¡­ even without hearing Daylor¡¯s response, he can believe it. The thing is twice the size to his Soul Sense now, and still far enough away that it can¡¯t be seen with the naked eye. And it¡¯s only getting bigger. That it could even make the ground shake from this far off was¡­ a testament to its true size.


    ¡°Yes! The Beast is unstoppable! You cannot fight it! You cannot reason with it! Everyone else is dead! We are the last remnants of The People and it is coming to finish the job!¡±


    He sounds terrified. He sounds traumatized. He does NOT sound like a leader in this moment, like the vaunted ¡®High Executor¡¯ he¡¯s supposed to be. Mikael wonders then how old Daylor Krislamin truly is. He¡¯s referred to them as children and whelps since their arrival. He acts as if he¡¯s been around for far longer than any of them have and to be fair, he probably has. However¡­ Mikael is beginning to suspect that just as this last elven city was the least of the Sylian Elves¡¯ civilization, Daylor Krislamin was the least of the Council of Executors.


    This was not a man who knew what he was doing. This was not a man who was ready to lead his people out of the jaws of extinction.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care. Maybe you can¡¯t fight it. But we can. Me and Mikael will kill this Beast for you. Just watch.¡±


    Bula¡¯s confidence is endearing¡­ but as he glances over in the direction of the approaching creature again, he has to admit¡­ he¡¯s starting to wonder if it might be misplaced. Daylor, meanwhile, has no compunctions on telling Bula precisely what he thinks of her words.


    ¡°Pure Arrogance! You stupid, ignorant brat! The Beast is not something that can be KILLED. Our only hope is for you to go back to your mother¡¯s circle and use it to bind Syl and calm the Beast down! It is our only hope you foolish little cretin!¡±


    The High Executor is practically frothing at the mouth as he rants and waves his hands wildly at an uncaring and unconcerned Bula. All around them, the elves have taken up their positions. Hastily rebuilt fortifications and sniper nests dot the tree branches. There¡¯s a sense of¡­ grim acceptance of death in the air. They all know they¡¯re doomed. But they¡¯ll fight anyways. Mikael can¡­ almost admire that.


    THOOM. THOOM. THOOM.


    What he cannot admire is Daylor¡¯s diplomacy. Or rather, the complete lack of it. The High Executor might even be right. Their only hope might be having Bula connect to Syl. Maybe without the enslavement that Daylor had unthinkingly let slip earlier. But talking to her like that wasn¡¯t going to get the half-orc on board with such a plan. No, it was obvious that the High Executor had never learned that you caught more flies with honey than with vinegar.


    Before Mikael can say as much or even begin trying to convince Bula that maybe they SHOULD go back to the Circle¡­ Daylor¡¯s expression, full of wrath, abruptly goes blank. His anger melts away¡­ and his eyes move past them, over their shoulders.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late. The Beast is here.¡±


    Mikael blinks as he, Avina, and Bula all turn around at that. Huh, yep. The massive blob of Soul Energy is indeed there now¡­ so big in fact that it covers almost the entirety of Mikael¡¯s vision. Turning off his Soul Sense is the only way for him to see the creature that that Soul Energy belongs to. Otherwise its just plain blinding.


    There, up near the top of one of the massive trees on the edge of the Sylian Elves¡¯ city¡­ a massive set of claws can be seen grasping at the wood, digging furrows into the bark as large as lakes.


    THOOM. SKRRRRRRRRRRRRRSH.


    The Beast takes a step forward, coming further into view. As it does so and the ground shakes beneath their foot, a new sound fills the air¡­ one of the loudest, most intense scratching that Mikael has ever heard as the hulking monster reveals itself to have a scalp with a hundred long, spindly horns coming off of its head. They scrape against the canopy of branches and leaves that sit at the ¡®roof¡¯ of the Sylian Woods.


    Mikael winces at the sound even as he resists the urge to cover his ears. Avina though, is forced to do so, letting out a soft cry. The Beast¡¯s mere movement is enough to cause pain and leave a trail of destruction in his wake. Looking up and up and up at the damn thing¡­ Mikael thinks he can imagine how it might have gone and destroyed eight entire treetop cities, each greater and more impressive than the one they¡¯re currently standing on the edge of.


    The Beast is¡­ truly massive. Gargantuan, even. Easily a hundred times bigger than even the biggest Child of Syl that they¡¯ve seen at this point. Mikael isn¡¯t sure where to even begin with trying to kill this monster. Especially when it contains more energy than he¡¯s absorbed in the entirety of his existence on this world. He could spend all of his magic on this creature, leaving himself completely drained and on the verge of death¡­ and he¡¯s not sure it would have any effect whatsoever.


    Of course, he still fully expects Bula to let out a war cry and go charging past to slash at the thing¡¯s big toe any second. Which is why when the moments drag on with the Beast regarding all of them with an eye the size of a house and no such thing happens, Mikael looks over to Bula, wondering what¡¯s gotten into her. To his surprise¡­ the half-orc warrior is frozen in place. Standing there with her battle axe in her grasp, Bula is staring at the Beast, jaw dropped and eyes wide open.


    Is she¡­ is she frozen in fear? Mikael didn¡¯t think that was possible. Nor was it good for their chances of survival if he was being honest. Meanwhile, a glance at the High Executor shows that he¡¯s in a similar state as Bula¡­ but trembling and shaking much more violently then the half-orc. Until suddenly, he seems to find his voice.


    ¡°Uh¡­ Uh¡­ ATTACK!¡±


    As Daylor¡¯s voice rings out through the air, hundreds of elven warriors open fire. Arrows that would have peppered Mikael and his friends mere minutes ago are now aimed at the Beast¡­ at the massive hulking monster standing between two of the massive Sylian Trees, framed in the middle of them. With how big the damn thing is¡­ not a single arrow misses, of course.


    But when your target is that big, it¡¯s not a matter of whether you miss or not¡­ but if you have any effect at all. Maybe one in ten of the arrows finds purchase in the creature¡¯s hide. The rest snap on impact or bounce off. And even those that DO manage to stick and stay impaled in flesh¡­ they¡¯re ignored. Whatever coating the Sylian Elves use to take down creatures ten times their size doesn¡¯t seem to have any effect at all on a creature ten THOUSAND times their size.


    Mikael can¡¯t really hold that against them though. They¡¯re all doing the best they can, as evidenced by volley after volley of arrow fire. The complete lack of an effect is concerning, however. Perhaps it¡¯s time to cut their losses, Mikael finds himself thinking. And by ¡®their losses¡¯, he means him, Avina, and Bula. This isn¡¯t their fight. These aren¡¯t their people, not really. And with Bula frozen in place, Mikael could just grab her like he¡¯s holding Avina and¡­ take his women and go the fuck home.


    Quite frankly, fighting Foss Sangrey and his army of undead seemed more appealing to him in this moment then trying to kill this fucking thing.


    However, just as Mikael¡¯s intent is crystallizing in his mind¡¯s eye¡­ the Beast finally moves. First, it opens its mouth. The roar that comes from its throat is no roar at all. It is an EXPLOSION of sound, one that buffets them all and forces Mikael to erect a hasty shield of Soul Energy to protect him, Avina, and Bula¡­ and regrettably, Daylor Krislamin as well since the High Executor is so close by.


    The hundreds of elven soldiers around them are not so lucky. Some are thrown hundreds of feet in the air. The lucky ones are tossed back against the nearest tree trunk just to slump down with blood pouring out of their ears from burst eardrums.


    Of course, the roar is just the opening salvo. As soon as that¡¯s over with, the Beast surges forward and Mikael realizes with a spike of fear that their chance to flee has come and gone.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 55: The Truth

    The gargantuan creature¡¯s next step clears most of the space between them and it. In an instant it¡¯s upon them, and Mikael knows that there¡¯s no running anymore. There¡¯s only fighting¡­ and hopefully not dying to this damn monster. At least, that¡¯s what he assumes¡­ right up until the thing suddenly goes still.


    Mikael blinks as unnatural silence suddenly falls over the area. The Beast, so utterly massive, is suddenly as still as a statue. He¡¯s not even sure the monster is breathing as it freezes in place. However, one thing is for sure¡­ those eyes that it¡¯s sporting, those eyes as big as a person¡­ are fixed on the ground before him. On them. No, Mikael suddenly realizes.


    The Beast isn¡¯t looking at them. He¡¯s looking at Bula. At this realization, Mikael looks over at Bula, who still stands frozen where she¡¯s been since the Beast first arrived. Her head is tilted back and her eyes are looking all the way up at the monster as it looms over them. If Mikael didn¡¯t know any better, he¡¯d say the two were engaging in a goddamn staring contest. What the fuck was going on?!


    ¡°¡­ She¡¯s doing it outside the circle. But¡­ how?¡±


    Turning to Daylor as those words come from the stunned High Executor¡¯s lips, Mikael frowns.


    ¡°What are you talking about? What exactly do you think Bula is doing?¡±


    The elven man doesn¡¯t even look in Mikael¡¯s direction. He¡¯s too busy staring at Bula in wonder. For a brief moment, Mikael thinks he might not even answer him. But finally, in a tone of awed amazement and baffled confusion, Daylor speaks.


    ¡°¡­ She¡¯s connecting to the Beast without the circle. It shouldn¡¯t be possible. No High Priestess has ever been capable of this, not in centuries. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡±


    Well, Timothal had said that Bula had a pretty intense connection to the Sylian Woods. Maybe it was never to do with the elves at all. Maybe it had everything to do with this¡­ thing. Whatever it was.


    Of course, before Mikael can say anything else, a voice suddenly rings out. Except at the same time¡­ it doesn¡¯t. It takes Mikael a moment to realize that it¡¯s not a voice at all, but rather a presence in his mind¡­ and judging by the way both Daylor and Avina wince, its in all of their minds as well. Bula¡¯s too, but she doesn¡¯t so much as flinch as the ¡®voice¡¯ buffets their senses.


    <Curious. Very curious.>


    That causes Bula to jolt. And surprisingly enough, a look of shame blossoms across the half-orc¡¯s face.


    Meanwhile, Mikael gapes. The monster could TALK?! Wait, could the others speak too? He¡¯d thought they were engaging in a battle against hyper-aggressive wildlife. Not¡­ intelligent beings! He has a lot he wants to say in that moment, but he holds his tongue. There¡¯s a conversation taking place here, and he¡¯s very much not part of it.


    <Little one. You who know what it is to have chains foisted upon you¡­ to be bound and enslaved by another. You would still try and rebind me? Enslave me once again?>


    Wait, what? There¡¯s a sinking feeling in Mikael¡¯s gut and he exchanges a look with Avina. His Soul Mechanic is pale by default, but she looks even paler now as they make eye contact with one another. Surely¡­ surely not, right?


    At the same time, Bula lowers her head sheepishly, her eyes fixed on the forest floor.


    ¡°¡­ I did not know.¡±


    Her voice sounds weak, as though she does not consider her defense strong enough. But to the surprise of everyone present, the voice chuckles.


    <Hah. I believe you, little one.>


    Well. That was surprisingly magnanimous of the Godzilla-esque creature currently towering over them all. Unfortunately, someone close by didn¡¯t think so.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, you fool?! If you have a connection to the Beast, USE it! Control the damn thing, don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t just SPEAK with it!¡±


    High Executor Daylor Krislamin looks completely and utterly done with all of this. The incredulity on the elven man¡¯s face is only matched by the outrage in his eyes as he hisses at Bula to do her ¡®duty¡¯. That sinking feeling in Mikael¡¯s gut has turned into a yawning chasm by this point. It¡¯s become increasingly obvious that the High Executor wasn¡¯t in the dark about this. It wasn¡¯t some well-kept secret that he, as the lowliest of Executors, simply wasn¡¯t privy to. And that meant he¡¯d known all along what Mikael, Bula, and Avina were just finding out.


    Bula, in a very typical Bula move, scoffs as she turns to look at Daylor with a sneer.


    ¡°And why would I do that? Why would I enslave Syl, your God? This is the God of the Forest himself¡­ and you want me to control him.¡±


    There it is. All of the pieces had been right in front of them for a little bit, but it wasn¡¯t until the gargantuan creature actually spoke that Mikael was finally able to put things together. A glance at Avina shows she¡¯s in the same boat as him, thankfully. They¡¯d both figured it out before Bula¡¯s reveal, but only minutes before.


    Still¡­ why not, right? Since arriving in this world, Mikael has had his mind torn asunder, been stabbed in the heart and killed, resurrected and came back to life, and gained magic by eating the soul of the evil wizard at the root of all those woes. And then, in the aftermath of that victory, they found out that an even greater evil wizard had been using the first evil wizard as a pawn to help him create an army of undead summoned heroes for who knew how many years.


    All things considered, if the Sylian Elves could be real, why not a Living God, right? And if there were a Living God walking the surface of Vaclatora¡­ yeah, it would probably be a creature like this. Staring up at the surprisingly quiet God of the Sylian Woods, Mikael swallows nervously, wondering how exactly they¡¯re going to navigate this incredibly delicate situation.


    ¡°Yes! OUR God! Our SLAVE!¡±


    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Oh. So they weren¡¯t, great. Turning to face Daylor Krislamin, it becomes immediately obvious that the High Executor is becoming increasingly¡­ unhinged. His eyes are wide and wild as he tries to ¡®reason¡¯ with Bula, only to sound like a mad man. Or maybe¡­ just a monster.


    ¡°The People have survived here in the Sylian Woods for CENTURIES, you little ingrate! Do you think that we did so in spite of the dangers inherent to this forest?! Of course not! We dominated this forest from the very start, as is our BIRTHRIGHT!¡±


    Scowling, Bula crosses her arms over her chest and juts out her chin.


    ¡°You made it sound like you had a pact with Syl. You lied to me.¡±


    To his credit, the High Executor looks baffled by this. Had he truly not realized he was keeping crucial information back? Did he think it was somehow obvious and they should have known already?


    ¡°A pact?! You cannot break bread with a GOD, you foolish girl! You cannot make a deal with a creature such as Syl! No¡­ there is no reasoning with a monster like that. The only way was to control it. So that we could in turn control the entirety of the Sylian Woods!¡±


    Bula looks disgusted. Mikael isn¡¯t surprised by that though. This was¡­ well, he¡¯d said before he felt like the High Executor was a lot like Zadicus Quinn. That comparison was becoming more and more apt by the moment. Both of them were, as it turned out, wannabe slavers. It made sense in a sick and twisted sort of way.


    The Sylian Elves might have been different in some ways from humans. Probably longer lives, obviously the shorter ears, and they clearly had affinities for both nature and archery from what Mikael had seen so far. But they were still human-sized. They were still much smaller than anything else in the entirety of the Sylian Woods.


    How was it then, that they were able to not just survive but thrive in this mega-sized forest? How did they manage to not just live in a place as deadly as this, but build an entire way of life? Nine massive, sprawling, treetop cities. An entire civilization. All built on the back of slavery. And not just your average run of the mill slavery of another race deemed lesser or inferior, no. The Sylian Elves didn¡¯t dream small. They¡¯d gone ahead and enslaved a fucking God.


    Of course, if the High Executor realized he¡¯d already lost them by this point, he didn¡¯t show it. Probably, he just didn¡¯t care. He was in full-on rant mode again by this point.


    ¡°For hundreds and hundreds of years, it has been the duty of the High Priestess to dominate Syl via the ancient control circle! Through that domination, The People have thrived in the Sylian Woods for CENTURIES! Controlling Syl gave us the ability to control his children. And with them as our beasts of burden and our protectors, we were able to CONQUER these trees, to make this forest our own!¡±


    Finally, the High Executor takes a deep breath. His hands have fallen to the pommels of the two swords he has at his waist, but he does not draw them¡­ yet. Instead, in a much more measured tone, he rolls his shoulders and even tries to give Bula a smile. It comes out as more of a grimace.


    ¡°You are connected to Syl now. You should know how much hatred lies within his heart for our people. Every High Priestess has spoken of it. If you do not use that connection to control him, he will slaughter us all, including you and your friends. We are like ants to him. This, Bula, is your one chance. If not for The People¡­ then save yourself at least. After you have dominated Syl, we can¡­ discuss your role in our society.¡±


    Wow. He really thought that would work too, didn¡¯t he? Holy shit, from what Mikael remembered from fiction, he knew that elves were supposed to be egotistical, arrogant assholes¡­ but this really took the cake, didn¡¯t it?


    ¡°¡­ You don¡¯t even know, do you?¡±


    Bula tilts her head to the side as she studies the High Executor with a look of curiosity on her face. In response, Daylor begins to scowl but quickly marshals the expression, now trying to turn on the charm despite it being way too late. Of course, for someone like him, ¡®turning on the charm¡¯ just means looking incredibly constipated.


    ¡°Know what?¡±


    Huffing, Bula shakes her head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t even know where I was before you started calling me. You don¡¯t know what I was doing. Or what was being done to me.¡±


    Daylor¡¯s feigned patience is rapidly wearing thin as the elven man growls under his breath.


    ¡°What in blazes are you talking about?¡±


    For a moment, Mikael thinks that Bula will tell him. Syl had already mentioned it in passing, the God of the Forest clearly having gleaned something from whatever connection he had to Bula at this point. But instead of telling the High Executor all about her years of enslavement at the hands of Zadicus Quinn, Bula just shakes her head again.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You wouldn¡¯t care. Know this though, you stuck-up elf bastard. I will never enslave another creature. Not man, not orc, not elf¡­ not god. And I definitely won¡¯t do it for a cowardly little BITCH like you.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as Bula goes off on the High Executor. He almost wants to whistle lowly because¡­ DAMN, that was a takedown. Of course¡­ Daylor doesn¡¯t take her words well. Not at all.


    ¡°Cowardly- you stupid little cunt! You think you have a choice?! I¡¯ll cut your arms and legs off and drag you back to the control circle myself if I have to!¡±


    Daylor Krislamin draws his blades at that, ready to make good on his threat. Bula, meanwhile, hefts her battle axe, savagely grinning in response. Mikael considers for a moment whether or not interfere¡­ and then the High Executor seals his fate.


    ¡°We should have done that with your BITCH of a mother! But I see now that we were too lenient with her. If we¡¯d only removed her limbs, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to kill herself when the Council finally gave the order for her to bear another child to continue the bloodline!¡±


    Mikael frowns at that. That was new information. They knew Renna had taken her own life¡­ but it had been framed as a consequence of the experience Bula¡¯s father had forced upon her finally weighing too heavily on her soul after many, many years. But to hear that she¡¯d only committed suicide because Daylor and his fellow Executors had decided she was going to HAVE to bear another child so they could keep their Empire of Slavery going for another generation was¡­ a new twist on things. A monstrous new twist on things that nevertheless lined up with everything else they¡¯d uncovered today.


    In that moment, Bula freezes up. She might have put on a brave face, she might have done her best to pretend like she didn¡¯t care about who her mother was or the things she¡¯d done¡­ but right now she¡¯s standing there wearing her mother¡¯s leafy green dress covered in blood, finding out that the only reason the elven woman committed suicide is because of the bastard right in front of her.


    As Daylor charges forward with lightning swiftness, Mikael is sure Bula will recover in time to stop the desperate, maddened High Executor. But that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s going to risk it. In the end¡­ the elven man isn¡¯t even paying him the slightest mind. Even after everything, the High Executor¡¯s racism means he can¡¯t possibly truly see Mikael or Avina as threats. They¡¯re just humans, after all.


    Which is why Daylor Krislamin doesn¡¯t see it coming, even as Mikael steps forward and sweeps his sword right through the roaring High Executor¡¯s wrists. The elf¡¯s hands come away from his body in an instant and both they and his twin swords go flying through the air.


    It takes elven man a second to realize what¡¯s happened as he stumbles forward another step. Then, he falls to his knees, his roar of outrage turning into a scream of agony as blood spurts from the stumps.


    He lands on his knees right in front of Bula as a matter of fact¡­ just in time for the half-orc to recover, a snarl on her face and death in her eyes as she steps forward and swings her axe, removing his head from his shoulders.


    With that, the last High Executor of the Sylian Elves dies, his decapitated, de-handed body slumping over lifeless on the forest floor.


    Silence blankets the Sylian Woods for a moment¡­ and then all hell breaks loose as the hundreds of elven soldiers still alive to witness this finally react. Needless to say, things get a little dicey after that.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 56: The Forest God

    Genocide. There¡¯s no other way to describe it. Not something that Mikael would ever normally partake in, and not something he would ever normally condone either. But in these circumstances¡­ well, it¡¯s not like they really have a choice.


    It starts with the elves who witnessed their High Executor¡¯s death attacking him, Bula, and Avina. At first, all he can do is raise a massive teal shield to block those deadly arrows from hitting them. If it were just the three of them against hundreds of archers, then he¡¯s not sure he could have held off the onslaught forever.


    But it¡¯s not just the three of them. As Syl, God of the Forest, lets out another titanic, earth-shaking roar, the sound of dozens if not hundreds of massive paws strikes against the ground as the Children of Syl who had pulled back at their progenitor¡¯s approach come bounding forward again.


    Screams fill the air and soon after the deluge of arrows being thrown at Mikael, Avina, and Bula stops. From there, they¡¯re able to take stock¡­ and take part in the initial battle. Needless to say, he didn¡¯t think they would be fighting on the side of the monstrous-looking creatures AGAINST the elves, but that¡¯s where they wound up all the same.


    Bula led the charge and Mikael found himself and Avina swept along in the half-orc warrior¡¯s wake. It wasn¡¯t like he was going to leave her to go it alone. But it was equally obvious that her need for vengeance wasn¡¯t satisfied with just High Executor Krislamin¡¯s death. No, in the end¡­ Bula was out for blood. And so were Syl and his children.


    Mikael kept his own blade to that of actual enemy combatants, at least. Fortunately, most of the remaining Sylvian Elves WERE combatants. The final remnants of their entire race were all fighters in the end¡­ and any who stood before Mikael died, their power absorbed into the Soul Engine as he and Avina followed Bula¡¯s path of destruction and death.


    Eventually though, there was a point when even Bula began to slow. Mikael can¡¯t say quite when that happens. Around the four hundredth elf dead specifically at the end of her axe? The five hundredth? He doesn¡¯t know¡­ nor does he particularly care. Bula will never face judgment from him for the things she¡¯s done today. Not with everything they now know.


    Still, the last elven city is massive, covering a multitude of Sylian Trees. Eventually, the three of them stop and can only watch as the Children of Syl wash over the city, tearing it and its inhabitants to shreds. Elves die by the thousands, possibly the tens of thousands¡­ and they don¡¯t lift a finger to help.


    How can they? Are they supposed to speak up in the defense of a bunch of slavers? Maybe not every Sylian Elf knew what the High Priestess¡¯ true purpose was. But it didn¡¯t change the fact that their entire society was built on chaining a god and his children and forcing them to do his bidding.


    Not every elf dies. The more Mikael absorbs, the more his Soul Sense grows in distance. As such, he sees a smattering of tiny soul signatures running, fleeing out of the Sylian Woods. Some are even fast enough, or at least far enough ahead that the Children of Syl don¡¯t run them down. You don¡¯t have to be faster than the predator. You just have to be faster than the other prey.


    Mikael winces at that morbid thought but can¡¯t really come up with a way to deny the truth of it. There will be survivors. Maybe even numbering in the hundreds. But one thing was certain all the same. By the day¡¯s end, the last Elven City has fallen. As the sun begins to set, ¡®The People¡¯¡­ are officially no more. The great civilization, built on the back of an enslaved god, has been swept from the Sylian Woods completely and totally.


    When said god comes up to them in the aftermath, he approaches with slow ponderous steps that don¡¯t shake the ground quite so hard as his first entrance but nevertheless announce his arrival. Standing on a platform near the top of one of the Sylian Trees, the three of them find themselves face to eyeball with the God of the Forest.


    <Thank you for your assistance.>


    Mikael isn¡¯t really sure what to expect from a literal god, but gratitude isn¡¯t it. And yet, Syl continues on, his voice booming through their minds.


    <Your mother, may she rest peacefully, is also someone I will remember fondly. Without her, I would still be in chains. She gave her life to free me.>


    Mikael glances to Bula just in time to see the half-orc blink, seemingly not sure what to think about that. She¡¯d just executed Daylor Krislamin and slaughtered her way through hundreds of elven warriors out of rage felt on behalf of a woman she¡¯d never met. But even if Bula and Renna Wysalynn had never gotten the chance to know each other, she was still the half-orc¡¯s mother. There was a connection there, even if it was one born solely of wearing the woman¡¯s clothing and sleeping in her old room for three days.


    ¡°¡­ I am glad you were freed. But I do not know this woman as a mother. I knew no mother at all.¡±


    As blunt as ever. Fortunately, Syl seems to be a surprisingly understanding god. For a moment, the gargantuan creature¡¯s massive eye drifts shut. When it opens again, he gives the slightest of nods, his crown of spines and horns scraping against the canopy overhead and sending leaves and branches falling down to the ground beneath him.


    <Hm. That is fair, all things considered. However, you should know that it was not her choice. You were never a source of hatred for her¡­ and you only became a source of despair when you were taken from her in the dead of night by the last High Executor.>


    Bula stiffens up at that revelation, her eyes narrowing.


    ¡°What?¡±


    <Your mother loved you, little one. For the few short weeks she was allowed to have you after your birth, she wanted nothing more than to raise you as her own. It was the Council of Executors that ended this fantasy. It was they who decided you were a blemish on the honor of their vaunted People and needed to be tossed away before you tainted their perfect civilization with your mere presence.>


    Well, shit. Mikael takes a step forward and places a hand on Bula¡¯s shoulder at that. He can tell how much that knowledge rocks the half-orc to her core. She¡¯d likely always assumed her mother wanted nothing to do with her. Even if it was the Council¡¯s choice, surely Renna would have been happy to give her up considering her origins and how she¡¯d been conceived in the first place. But now Bula was finding out that that was false. That her mother¡­ had wanted her after all. That she¡¯d been TAKEN from the other woman against her will.


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


    Mikael feels a shift and blinks, looking past Bula to see that Avina has posted up on the half-orc¡¯s other side and is hugging her arm in a silent show of support as well. For a long moment, Bula remains frozen in place¡­ finally though, she looks to both of them, acknowledging their presence for a moment before turning her attention back to Syl.


    ¡°How¡­ how did she die? Truly?¡±


    <Hm. She did in fact take her own life, as was said. And she did so after the Council ordered her to give birth to another High Priestess Candidate, no matter how it harmed her to do so. However¡­ this, in the end, was the culmination of a plan many years in the making. After they took you from her, your mother had no one to turn to. No one¡­ save for me.>


    Ah. Right. Isolated and ostracized from her own people, a jailor had turned to her prisoner. Interesting.


    <It is much as was said. For many centuries I was filled with nothing but hatred and rage for The People and their High Priestesses. It was my fondest dream to kill them all, to slaughter them wholesale and destroy their civilization entirely. A dream that has now been realized. However¡­ your mother was the first to be different. The first to look past the hatred and rage¡­ the first to offer up her own sorrow, grief, and anger in return.>


    Mikael could easily imagine it. Or maybe¡­ maybe he was seeing something like a memory. Because it wasn¡¯t just words that the God of the Forest was pushing into their minds. It was memories. Visions of the past, of an elven woman that could only have been Bula¡¯s mother kneeling in the center of the ritual circle, sobbing as she communed with an enslaved god.


    <We became kindred spirits, she and I. Admittedly, it was not the first time over the centuries that one of my jailors reached out to me with an open hand instead of a closed fist. But it was the first time I actually quelled my rage long enough to listen to her sorrow. And together, we decided that it was time to bring this era to an end. Your mother swore to me she would never bear another child, little one. She swore she would see me free. And so we worked together, tirelessly for years, to try and unbind me. Unshackle me. Unchain me.>


    The visions of Syl and Renna working together fly through their minds. Bula is shaking now, Mikael realizes. He squeezes down on her shoulder as hard as he dares and feels her lean into him, even as Avina leans into her.


    <We made much progress before the end. But the Council forced our hand. Renna refused to bring another High Priestess into this world. She refused to let them continue on as they were. If we¡¯d had a little longer perhaps we could have cast off my chains together. But we¡¯d run out of time and so she sacrificed herself and in doing so shattered my bondage so thoroughly and utterly that it could not be restored. Not even by her half-orc daughter called to return in a fit of desperation.>


    Well damn. So Daylor¡¯s plan was never going to work. Mikael wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about that. Better? Worse? In the end, it didn¡¯t matter. The elven man was still dead¡­ and good riddance too.


    As Bula wrestles with her emotions, still shaking with tears streaming down her face¡­ Syl¡¯s focus shifts. They¡¯re all too close together for it to be said that his gaze turns away from Bula towards Mikael and Avina. And yet, his attention definitely switches to the two of them.


    <Hm. It has been a long time since I last met a True Hero. A thousand years, I do believe. Indeed, it¡¯s been at least that long since the Last Hero sealed this world from the Calamities. Ah, but that is not why you¡¯re here, is it?>


    Well shit, hold on a second, that was¡­ but no, Syl has already moved on.


    <Through my connection to the one you call Bula; I have already seen your purpose here. You came to the Sylian Woods in hopes of finding an army, did you not?>


    Well, that was a little surprising. But also¡­ yes they had. Glancing at Avina, Mikael swallows for a moment before stepping forward away from her and Bula. Then, he gives the gargantuan God of the Forest a careful nod.


    ¡°¡­ That¡¯s right. Though if we¡¯d known what the Sylian Elves were doing to you and your children¡­ I promise you, we would never have supported them, not even for the promise of an army.¡±


    <Mm. I believe you, Hero. And yet, the defeat of my slavers does little to solve your problems. In return for your assistance and in recognition of the bond that Renna and I shared¡­ I will help you.>


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at that. The thought of Syl himself charging out of the Sylian Woods and rampaging through Foss Sangrey¡¯s army to grab hold of the Necromancer and tear him limb from limb flashes through Mikael¡¯s mind. Of course¡­ he can¡¯t let his expectations get ahead of him. Clearing his throat, he gives another slow, careful nod.


    ¡°We would¡­ appreciate any help that you wish to offer us, God of the Forest.¡±


    <Unfortunately, I myself cannot leave the forest. The Sylian Woods, as you call them, are my domain and I am tied to that domain by pacts I made long ago.>


    That gets Mikael to shoot a glance at Avina. Pacts¡­ was there some truth to the legends after all? Maybe things had gotten twisted over time and instead of elves and humans making pacts, it was Syl and whoever this Last Hero was? Either way, now was unfortunately not the time to be asking for a history lesson. Not when it sounded like they were on the verge of getting what they¡¯d come to the Sylian Woods for after all¡­ despite the genocide they¡¯d just helped complete.


    <However, my Children bare mere fractions of my power and are not diminished by leaving the Sylian Woods. Normally I hold them at bay as best as possible¡­ but an exception can be made this time. So long as Renna¡¯s daughter lives, my Children will follow you into battle. Keep her safe and they will wage war against your enemies until the very last is defeated.>


    Well now. That was¡­ a hell of an offer and an ultimatum wrapped up in one. On the one hand, however many Children of Syl the God of the Forest was offering would be a great boon against Foss Sangrey and his army of the dead. But on the other hand, it sounded like if Bula died at any point, they¡¯d have an even greater apocalypse on their hands as a bunch of monsters the size of houses went on a rampage across Zuveria and Ocreatha.


    ¡­ At the same time, it doesn¡¯t really sound like a choice. Syl isn¡¯t really offering his Children up, he¡¯s telling Mikael what¡¯s going to happen. The Children of Syl will follow them out of the Sylian Woods and into battle¡­ so long as Bula lives.


    Yeah, that¡¯s more the kind of blunt, one-sided decision-making Mikael expects from a God. Especially one that¡¯s also a massive fuck-off monster the size of Godzilla. Looking back at Avina and Bula, he¡¯s unsurprised to see the determination and resolve in their faces. At the end of the day, they¡¯re both more than ready to take Syl up on his ¡®offer¡¯ and finally take the fight to Foss.


    Chuckling softly, Mikael rubs a hand through the back of his head before giving Syl a proper bow at the waist.


    ¡°¡­ Thank you for this generous gift.¡±


    <Mm. I will imbue them with as much of my power as they can possibly carry so they can survive off of your barren lands for a time. But I would send them home once they have served their purpose. Otherwise, they are likely to ravage your lands solely for purposes of sustenance before long.>


    Right. Great. Good to know.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 57: Returning (Lewd)

    Things move quite quickly after Syl¡¯s declaration and by the end of the day and the beginning of the evening, Mikael, Avina, and Bula find themselves leading an army out of the Sylian Woods. Well, almost out. They stop on the edge of the Sylian Woods and make camp for the night because as much as Syl promised to imbue his children with as much of his power as they could all hold so that they didn¡¯t eat the Zuverian Empire to ruin, it was better to be safe than sorry.


    Indeed, while they¡¯d gone into the Sylian Woods hoping to garner an army of elves, they¡¯d come out with an army of beasts. Not unintelligent though, but rather monstrous in appearance and size more than anything. Thousands of Children of Syl ranging from the size of a house to the size of a horse follow them. Rather¡­ follow Bula.


    Now that they¡¯ve set up camp for the night, the half-orc is who Mikael sees to before turning in. When he arrives at her location, its to find Bula laying contently in a cuddle pile made up of some of Syl¡¯s smaller children, staring upwards where half of her vision would be the canopy of the forest and the other would be the clear night sky, shining overhead.


    Mikael himself stares for a moment at the sight of her, before snorting in amusement and calling out to the half-orc warrior.


    ¡°Bula? You good there?¡±


    Sliding her gaze over to him, Bula smiles slightly.


    ¡°I am fine.¡±


    Fair enough. She¡¯s not wearing her mother¡¯s dress anymore, but instead has her own garb on once again. One might argue that Renna¡¯s leafy green garment was ruined by the sheer amount of blood that soaked it after Bula wore it into battle, but if one were stubborn enough to do so, they better be smart enough not to argue it in Bula¡¯s hearing.


    After coming to a river, they¡¯d all stripped down and gotten cleaned up, but Bula had not tossed her mother¡¯s dress aside. Instead, she¡¯d cleaned it carefully as best she could and then dried it in the last moments of the setting sun before carefully folding it up and tucking it into her pack.


    Their time in the Sylian Woods had changed the half-orc, even if she might not want to admit it. But¡­ for the better, Mikael figured.


    He stays close as she lays in the cuddle pile, setting up a campfire and watching over Bula as she eventually falls asleep. Somehow though, Mikael suspects Bula won¡¯t experience any nightmares as she currently is, surrounded by the Children of Syl. It doesn¡¯t look comfortable to someone like him, but it seems like the half-orc is entirely satisfied.


    This scene is how Avina eventually finds them, the Soul Mechanic sitting down beside Mikael at his fire and resting her head upon his shoulder. For a few minutes, they enjoy companionable silence with one another. Mikael certainly isn¡¯t going to break it, so in the end Avina has to.


    ¡°¡­ I¡¯m afraid of what comes next, Mikael.¡±


    Mikael frowns a little at that, before wrapping an arm around her shoulders.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s unreasonable, Avina. We might have a mighty army now¡­ but it¡¯s still been a few days. With how fast Foss can move his undead, I dread to think how far he¡¯s already reached into Zuveria. How many people have died because of him so far? Hopefully¡­ well, hopefully the Order of the Rose and Thayla and her father are all still alright.¡±


    Avina hums at that, before letting out a sigh.


    ¡°Yes. But that¡¯s not what I¡¯m talking about. I¡¯ve¡­ I feel weighed down; I suppose. Destiny. Responsibility. Foss Sangrey has to be stopped¡­ and you and I might be the only ones who can stop him.¡±


    That gets a look from Mikael. The way Avina is talking sounds unbelievably heavy. And to be fair, everything about what they¡¯re dealing with constitutes as ¡®heavy¡¯. But this¡­ this has a different tone to it all the same. As though Avina is talking about more than just armies and living versus dead.


    He can tell she¡¯s struggling though, so he doesn¡¯t press her on it. She brought it up and she¡¯ll continue in her own time. Mikael remains quiet, continuing to hold Avina in a one arm hug as he waits for her to collect her thoughts and continue. His is not to question¡­ his is to support. Always.


    ¡°I never wanted to learn my family¡¯s magic their way. And sure, maybe part of that was still being a kid. Perhaps if I¡¯d had the chance to grow up with them, with my father, mother, brothers and sisters all alive¡­ maybe I would have come around to it. But even as a girl, I knew I was different. I wanted something else.¡±


    Turning to him, Avina spreads her hand over his chest¡­ no, over the Soul Engine. Her fingers cup its edges, her palm sliding over its glowing center. She lets out a shaky breath before giving him a broad smile.


    ¡°And I got what I wanted. I made something magnificent. I saved your life. I¡¯m proud of what we¡¯ve managed to achieve together. I¡¯m proud of what I created.¡±


    Mikael returns her smile.


    ¡°As you should be, Avina. Your creation is amazing. I-!¡±


    Cut off midsentence, Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as he suddenly finds himself with a lap full of Soul Mechanic. Avina climbs aboard without hesitation, straddling him in mere moments as her hands go to cup her cheeks and her lips go to his lips. She kisses him and Mikael¡­ he kisses her back, of course. His hands go to her hips to center and anchor her, and together they lovingly, but also urgently makeout with one another.


    He''s not sure how long the kissing continues for. There¡¯s a tinge of desperation to Avina¡¯s actions that Mikael doesn¡¯t know what to make of, but he¡¯s not about to reject her. He will never reject her. Coming into this world, dying and coming back thanks to her device¡­ sure, a part of Mikael will always feel like he owes her everything.


    But it¡¯s beyond that now. He loves her. And she loves him.


    Steadily, clothes start to come off. Not all the way, since they¡¯re not truly alone. None of the Children of Syl have ¡®spoken¡¯ into their minds the same way that Syl himself had, but Mikael still isn¡¯t sure how intelligent the monsters actually are. That¡¯s not going to stop them, but there can be some forms of propriety maintained.


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    As such, Avina¡¯s dress is merely hiked up. Her top is only partially pulled down in order to reveal her breasts to him and him alone, hidden as they are between their bodies. And Mikael¡¯s pants are unlaced and pulled open just enough to free his throbbing mast from its confines as deft fingers grab hold of his length and fit him against his Soul Mechanic¡¯s entrance.


    With a sigh, Avina slides down his cock once she¡¯s properly lined them up. A quiet moan lilts from her lips as she moves her hands from between them to his shoulders. Looking him in the eyes, Avina smiles, even as her nipples harden in the cold night air.


    ¡°To think, even though you¡¯ve been fucking Bula every night, you¡¯re still this pent up. My, I¡¯m lucky that you have other lovers, or I would spend all of my time just trying to satisfy you.¡±


    Mikael flushes at her teasing, but also grins as he runs his hands along her sides, enjoying the way she rides him. He lets Avina control the pacing, both because it¡¯s good manners and because she¡¯s the weakest, physically speaking, of the women he regularly lays with. Her body is soft and pleasant to touch and fondle and be joined with, but Mikael is strong¡­ very strong these days. He can¡¯t afford to risk hurting her.


    Under more controlled circumstances, he might lay her down and ravish her, but in this situation, it¡¯s easier to just let her set the pace and ride him as she wants. That said, that doesn¡¯t mean she can tease him as she wants without¡­ repercussions.


    ¡°You act like I¡¯m the one who started whatever this is, Avina.¡±


    Her eyes narrow at that and she slams herself down onto him more meaningfully, as though trying to get him to shut up. But Mikael isn¡¯t done.


    ¡°It was you who decided Thayla was joining us. You who sent Bula to pull me out of my funk.¡±


    A low growl emits from her lips and she digs her nails into his shoulders. Mikael just grins wickedly and continues on.


    ¡°Even though Thayla tried to slip in under your nose and Bula won¡¯t stop calling you different versions of small. Something I should know, Princess?¡±


    With a huff, Avina smacks her forehead into his. Not very hard, but not very soft either. Mikael rocks back with the blow to diffuse the impact, more for the health of his Soul Mechanic than his own safety. Afterwards, she keeps her forehead against his, looking into his eyes.


    ¡°¡­ I told you not to call me that.¡±


    Mikael gives her an apologetic smile, even as she continues to gyrate her hips upon his cock, grinding down to the base of his member.


    ¡°Sorry, my beloved, adorable, terrifying Soul Mechanic. But you know¡­ Ocreatha will need someone, after Foss is gone.¡±


    He hates to bring this up now, but to be fair, Avina had started talking about responsibility first. And she doesn¡¯t immediately shut him down, though she does grimace for a moment before letting out a long, drawn-out sigh.


    ¡°¡­ I know.¡±


    With a scowl, she starts to ride him a little faster. Mikael takes the hint and falls quiet; save for the rough exhalations she forces from him as her insides clench and squeeze around his member. She shudders and moans for him, and together they just enjoy the moment. Then, she throws her head back, arching her spine in the process. Her breasts, which have been out all this time but have ultimately gone unattended, are suddenly right in Mikael¡¯s face.


    He wastes no time bringing a hand up to cup one of them, softly kneading her titflesh as the freckled, pale young woman mewls in response. He fiddles with her nipple between his fingers and then brings his mouth down to her chest, suckling on her teat and nibbling at it with his teeth. Avina cries out then, her inner walls spasming as she tips over the edge.


    She¡¯s quick to bury her face in his shoulder, quieting herself down so he doesn¡¯t have to. They aren¡¯t exactly alone after all¡­ but with so many beasts all around them, the night isn¡¯t exactly what one would call quiet either. The sounds of movement are constant, and there are animalistic sounds constantly reverberating through the air.


    It would be more unsettling if they weren¡¯t on their side but instead it just makes for the perfect cover. A quick glance over at Bula shows that she¡¯s still sound asleep in her cuddle pile, even as Avina whimpers into his neck, shuddering upon his cock. Then, as soon as she recovers¡­ she begins riding him even faster. She might have cum, but he has yet to find his release.


    That is, until she leans up to his ear, wrapping her arms around his neck while sliding herself up and down his length as fast as she can possibly manage.


    ¡°Cum for me, Mikael. Cum for me.¡±


    And so he does. She might not like being called Princess, but she certainly has the authority down pat all the same. He fills her and she lets out a breathless moan in response, clinging to him with her limbs even as she also clings to him with her insides. They both seize up for a moment at the end there, until finally it¡¯s over and Mikael has emptied himself inside of her.


    ¡°¡­ Thank you.¡±


    Her soft whisper has Mikael releasing a shuddering breath as she pulls back from his shoulder and looks at him with lidded eyes.


    ¡°Sorry for bringing up what comes next mid-coitus. That was probably uncalled for.¡±


    Avina giggles in amusement at that before sobering up and shaking her head.


    ¡°No¡­ you¡¯re right. By all reports, Foss Sangrey hasn¡¯t just abolished the Council of Lords, he obliterated it. He¡¯s seized absolute power in Ocreatha and once he¡¯s dead¡­ there will be no one to take his place.¡±


    She hesitates and then swallows thickly.


    ¡°¡­ No one but me.¡±


    Mikael nods a solemn nod. He¡¯d had the same thought. She was the last surviving member of the Royal Family. The Lost Princess. There probably wasn¡¯t anyone left in Ocreatha who was more qualified for the role of leader then her¡­ Foss would have made sure of that in his purge. But even still¡­


    ¡°Tell me you don¡¯t want it, Avina. Tell me to have Bula help me kidnap you and Thayla the moment Foss is defeated and I will. We¡¯ll abscond with the two of you faster than anyone can blink and¡­ go elsewhere. Leave it all behind.¡±


    His beloved Soul Mechanic freezes at the offer. Then, she lets out a soft little laugh.


    ¡°I suppose I shouldn¡¯t be surprised. But¡­ where would we go? Back to the Sylian Woods to live in the empty elven homes under the protect of a god for the rest of our days?¡±


    Mikael shrugs, about to say yes. That or anywhere else, really. This continent can¡¯t be the only continent on Vaclatora. Nor do they really know what lies beyond the Sylian Woods. They could go anywhere. But before he can speak, Avina presses her fingers to his lips, quieting him.


    ¡°¡­ I appreciate the offer, Mikael. But no. My place is here. I have a responsibility to my people.¡±


    Frowning, Mikael shakes his head.


    ¡°You don¡¯t owe them anything.¡±


    But it¡¯s clear Avina has given this plenty of thought.


    ¡°Don¡¯t I? My father always said it was a privilege to rule. A duty. Our family did not rule Ocreatha because it was our birthright, but because it was our obligation. I can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t just kill Foss and avenge my family only to turn my back on my Kingdom. That would be spitting on my family¡¯s graves as much as fleeing and leaving Foss in power would be.¡±


    He sees her conviction. More than that, he appreciates her drive. Smiling, Mikael hugs Avina close to him and she happily curls into his chest, gazing up into his eyes.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll be there by your side, every step of the way. Bodyguard, advisor, warrior. However you¡¯ll have me.¡±


    Avina snorts at that.


    ¡°Try Consort. As though I¡¯d hide you from the Kingdom. I am not ashamed of you Mikael¡­ I could never be ashamed of you.¡±


    Her hand goes to his chest again, to palm the Soul Engine once more.


    ¡°I meant it when I said I was proud of what I¡¯d created in bringing you back from the dead. I just hope¡­ I just hope I can be proud of what I have to do next. And that no matter what happens, you won¡¯t judge me too badly for it.¡±


    Mikael considers those words for a moment, desperately wanting to ask for clarification. But once again, he can tell his role is to be there for her, not to interrogate and question. The fear in Avina¡¯s voice unsettles him, most of all because it seems directed at herself for some reason. But¡­ no matter what, he¡¯ll stay by her side.


    No matter what.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 58: The Tide Turns

    They quickly figure out that the situation in Zuveria has become quite dire, despite them only being away for less than a week. The nature of Foss Sangrey¡¯s undead forces, his partially successful decapitation strike on the Empire¡¯s leadership, and the danger at their border with the Savage Lands tying up their armies all worked together to make for very favorable circumstances for the self-titled Supreme King.


    Knight-Superior Dawnguard had marshalled what forces the Order of the Rose had still at the Citadel into a working army and had sallied forth to meet the greatest concentration of the Supreme King¡¯s army, but Foss Sangrey wasn¡¯t content with playing things by the book or even remotely fair. And his army, as it turned out, wasn¡¯t measured in the thousands¡­ but in the tens of thousands.


    As such, groups of hundreds of undead summoned heroes were sweeping across the Zuverian Empire, attacking and destroying everything from hamlets to towns to villages, putting homes to the torch and forcing the peasantry and noncombatants to flee before their relentless assault.


    The only positive from the whole mess seemed to be that he was letting most of those civilians live so long as they actually ran away¡­ but Avina was quick to explain this was almost certainly because they would eventually make their way to Zuveria¡¯s cities, overwhelming them with a refugee crisis that would destroy moral and wreck supply stores in the days and weeks before the Supreme King¡¯s armies reached said cities as well.


    So¡­ basically, even that show of mercy was Foss Sangrey being an evil, manipulative, monstrous prick. Mikael really shouldn¡¯t have been surprised.


    Fortunately, there was one thing the Supreme King wasn¡¯t counting on. Them. With Bula¡¯s connection to Syl refined into something far less one-sided and based on slavery, she could effectively reach out to the thousands of Children that they¡¯d brought out of the Sylian Woods with them and communicate with them all instantaneously.


    It sounded like a hivemind to Mikael, but Bula didn¡¯t know what that was so he couldn¡¯t really say for sure. Regardless, at Mikael and Avina¡¯s urging, Bula had some of their forces peel off from time to time as they moved with lightning speed across the Empire. The Children of Syl they had to send off to fight Foss¡¯ pockets of undead raiders were technically unsupervised, but it wasn¡¯t like the three of them had much of a choice. In the end, they had orders to kill only that which was already dead but still moving, and to leave any living they found alive and well.


    Meanwhile, the vast majority of the Children stayed with him, Avina, and Bula as they raced to the frontlines. Fortunately, they were able to make good time. Unfortunately, this was because the undead army had already pushed deep into Zuverian territory. They weren¡¯t quite to the Citadel itself yet, but they were about halfway there and engaging in constant skirmishes with the Order of the Rose.


    In fact, when they finally arrived, it was to see that the Knights of the Rose were in the midst of pitched combat. With enhanced eyesight, Mikael was able to see exhaustion on exposed, dirty faces, and golden armor no longer gleaming under the amount of mud and blood coating it. The Order of the Rose was clearly being pushed back by the moment, and perhaps almost nearing a full rout.


    ¡°We need to get in there. Avina, can you try to find the Order of the Rose¡¯s command tent and see if the Knight-Superior and Thayla are alright? It¡¯s possible they¡¯re in the battle itself¡­ if they are, just let whoever you can find know that the beasts are on their side.¡±


    The Soul Mechanic nods sharply from atop her mount. Mikael gives her a smile and then looks to Bula.


    ¡°Bula¡­ ready?¡±


    The half-orc warrior flashes him a wide and wicked grin as she hefts her battle-axe high above her head.


    ¡°Hah! Ready?! I¡¯ve been ready since we first saw them crest over the horizon back in Alether! This battle has been a long time coming, Mikael!¡±


    Chuckling ruefully, Mikael shakes his head. She¡¯s not wrong¡­ but this is the first time he feels confident in their ability to actually put a dent in Foss¡¯ forces.


    ¡°CHARGE!¡±


    Bula roars out the order, even though they both know she doesn¡¯t actually need to speak aloud to communicate with the Children. Still, the effect is something straight out of legend. Even as Avina and her Child of Syl break off to move behind Zuverian Lines and find whoever¡¯s in charge here, the bulk of the army that the Forest God has sent with them begins to surge forward, with Mikael and Bula both astride their own monstrous house-sized ¡®mounts¡¯ at the front of the pack.


    As the Children of Syl flow towards the battlefield, Mikael notes the way the two very different sides react to their arrival. On the one hand, the Order of the Rose looks shocked as all hell, individual reactions the name of the game from the look of things. On the other hand, Foss Sangrey¡¯s army doesn¡¯t have an ounce of individuality to it. In the end, the army is made up of a bunch of undead puppets under the vile necromancer¡¯s nominal control.


    He also clearly has some form of sense-sharing with his army, because there¡¯s no element of surprise here. A portion of the undead army turns in unison to set themselves in Mikael and Bula¡¯s path, preparing to meet the charge. In Mikael¡¯s mind, that can only mean that the small groups of Children that they had break off along their rush to get here had already met with some success and had encounters with the groups of undead soldiers they¡¯d felt along the way. Foss Sangrey had known they were coming¡­ he just didn¡¯t seem to care.


    He should have. He really should have. Because even as his forces turn to face the Children¡¯s charge, the great big hulking natives of the Sylian Woods reach the line¡­ and barrel right on through it like it¡¯s not even there. Swords, spears, and all sorts of gleaming glowing weapons are brought to bear¡­ to practically no avail.


    The Children of Syl rip through the undead army¡¯s initial defensive line with ease, and Mikael shares a savage grin with Bula as they find themselves in the thick of it instantly. This right here¡­ this is what Timothal Dawnguard was hoping for.


    Speaking of which¡­ a look at the Order of the Rose¡¯s forces shows indecision and shock on their faces. Avina will find someone and let them know what¡¯s going on eventually, but it won¡¯t be nearly fast enough, Mikael realizes. Right now, the arrival of all these monsters straight out of legends and horror stories told around campfires late at night¡­ it was honestly doing more damage to the Knights¡¯ morale than it was Foss¡¯ forces. Mostly because the army of the dead didn¡¯t HAVE its own morale, but also because in all the chaos, it didn¡¯t really seem clear who¡¯s side the army of literal monsters were actually on.


    Well that just wouldn¡¯t do. Mikael thinks for a moment before coming up with a solution. Lifting his sword high over his head, he coats it with his distinctive teal energy. He grows the sword larger and larger in size, until its one big beam of glowing teal light shining over the battlefield. He¡¯s got a lot of eyes on him by the time he¡¯s done, and once he¡¯s sure everyone is looking his way, he feeds some of his magic into his vocal cords.


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Foss Sangrey wasn¡¯t the only one who could enhance his voice to be heard across a wide area, after all. This battlefield might not be the size of a city¡­ but that just meant it was easier to make sure everyone heard him in the end.


    ¡°FOR THE ROSE! FOR ZUVERIA! REMEMBER THE EMPEROR!¡±


    It was the best he could come up with on short notice. Maybe not the deepest or most meaningful battle cry, but hey¡­ if it worked, then it worked. And boy did it work. Hearing those words from a man wielding a massive teal sword from the back of one of the Children of Syl definitely did the trick. Mikael watches with a grin on his face as the Order of the Rose rallies in real time, their eyes lighting up with renewed vigor and fresh fervor, their sword arms raising and their shields lifting from the ground.


    ¡°For Zuveria!¡±


    ¡°For the Order!¡±


    ¡°Remember the Emperor!¡±


    With that, a rudimentary understanding of who¡¯s on who¡¯s side here is established. They might not be fighting side by side with each other, but at least the Order knows not to attack the Children¡­ and with Bula leading them, the Children are very, VERY focused on tearing every undead they can get their claws on to shreds.


    Unfortunately, shreds is just about what has to happen for one of Foss Sangrey¡¯s warriors to be put down permanently. Mikael¡¯s lips slowly thin out from the wide grin they¡¯d been pulled back into as he observes the battle developing from there. Swinging his elongated blade around in large slices, he¡¯s able to remove heads from necks, arms from torsos, and even separate multiple enemies at the waist.


    However, even removing the head doesn¡¯t seem to end the magic this time around. That doesn¡¯t make sense given their experiences back at the Citadel¡­ unless one assumes that distance between the Necromancer and their creations is actually a factor in their long-term viability.


    As headless, armless, and even legless undead continue fighting until every single method with which they can swing a sword or wield a dagger is removed, Mikael¡¯s eyes sweep across the battlefield¡­ and up onto hill far in the distance behind the enemy¡¯s lines. There, seeming almost innocuous, is a small tent of all things. A tent¡­ for an army of undead. An army that needed no food, water, or rest to continue moving and fighting. And in that tent¡­ the flicker of a soul. In a place where there are plenty of moving bodies, but not a soul in sight.


    Could it be? If there¡¯s even the smallest chance¡­ Mikael figures he has to take it.


    ¡°Bula! I¡¯m going for the tent! Keep fighting! Make sure the Order of the Rose doesn¡¯t get overwhelmed!¡±


    ¡°Grrr! Fine, but if you die I will have the little one bring you back again so I can kill you myself!¡±


    Mikael just tosses the half-orc warrior a grin and a nod before leaping off of the back of his mount. Except, he doesn¡¯t hit the ground. Instead, his feet hit shimmering panels of solid teal energy forming one after the other as he sprints high over the heads of the forces battling below. He has full faith that even with their insane durability, the undead will eventually be demolished by the Children of Syl so long as nothing changes.


    But that¡¯s just it. If Foss Sangrey knew that they were coming, that meant he¡¯s had time to consider countermeasures. And that¡­ that, Mikael can¡¯t allow. More than that, if the undead are moving better because of their proximity to their creator, which meant Foss was here at this battle. And that meant Mikael could end this all by killing the bastard right this moment.


    There was a small part of him that wondered if he should have retrieved Avina first. This was her revenge after all. But¡­ his Soul Mechanic wasn¡¯t a fighter. And ultimately, he was her greatest creation. Foss dying at his hands was the same as Avina doing the deed herself, he figured. But most of all¡­ Mikael knew Avina wouldn¡¯t begrudge him ending this here and now if he could. Foss Sangrey was a monster that needed to be put down once and for all.


    Racing across the sky on a path made of his own magic, Mikael comes to land atop the hill in front of the tent. He¡¯s not at all surprised when two undead soldiers with swords dripping in malicious green energy come out from behind the tent¡¯s sides and attack him. Even if he couldn¡¯t sense them on approach, it only made sense that the tent would be defended.


    This time around, Mikael is more than ready for them. He¡¯s gorged himself, first on a handful of Children of Syl, and then on hundreds of elven warriors. Those sickly green swords, while able to eat through his magic like no one¡¯s business, don¡¯t even manage to touch him OR the teal energy that whips out and rips through their wielders. The undead soldiers are torn limb from limb into multiple body parts in an instant, with Mikael not even pausing his stride as he makes his way to the tent.


    ¡°Grahka Illrau Navrak Slanu! Ravah Slikah Vilcresh Sanark!¡±


    He¡¯s not surprised to see someone clearly unlike the undead soldiers fighting down below the hill within the tent. He IS surprised, however, to see the cloaked figure hunched over a swirling ball of black energy in a ritual basin. The fact that the Supreme King hasn¡¯t stopped even though he must be aware of Mikael¡¯s presence¡­ well, it confirms his worst fears.


    Whatever that black energy is, it¡¯s almost certainly some sort of spell or ritual that will turn the battle back in Foss Sangrey¡¯s favor. And for him to be continuing chanting even in Mikael¡¯s presence¡­ perhaps it was already too late. Perhaps it would be better to turn and run, to try and warn someone of whatever was about to happen. Perhaps¡­


    Nah, fuck that. Gritting his teeth, Mikael calls upon his magic once more. He fills the interior of the tent with teal light and lashes out at the ball of black energy with all his might.


    ¡°FOSS! I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re trying¡­ but GO FUCK YOURSELF!¡±


    Maybe not his best line, but Mikael felt like Bula would have been proud if nothing else. Regardless, he grabs onto the black ball of energy with his magic and is almost immediately pulled off his feet towards the damn thing. All the while, the cloaked Supreme King continues his chanting.


    ¡°Grahka Illrau Navrak Slanu! Ravah Slikah Vilcresh Sanark!¡±


    Same exact shit. But building in tempo and speed with every repetition. Mikael might not know what it meant, but he knew it couldn¡¯t be good. Anchoring himself to the ground with more of his magic in order to avoid being sucked in, Mikael nevertheless pushes forward with the teal tendrils he¡¯s wrapping around the black ball. He grabs at it with all his magical might, slipping through cracks that tug at him, almost like they¡¯re tugging at his very soul.


    And indeed, that might be exactly what¡¯s happening. Mikael doesn¡¯t know¡­ nor does he care. One thing is for sure though¡­ Foss had to be sloppy. Whatever this ritual is supposed to be, Mikael suspects it¡¯s the kind of thing one casts over the course of days, if not weeks. Unfortunately for Foss, he only got warning of their imminent arrival a few hours ago with how fast they moved.


    It¡¯s very obvious that he¡¯s rushed this spell¡­ and while Mikael might not know what the bastard is trying to do exactly, he knows one thing for sure.


    ¡°Hey, Foss! What happens if I do THIS?!¡±


    With that last word, Mikael twists every tendril of teal energy he has on the outside and inside of the ball of black energy¡­ in the opposite direction that the black magic is swirling. In the blink of an eye, Foss stops his chanting mid-word.


    ¡°Grahka Illrau Navrak- NO!¡±


    The black ball implodes and the backlash sends them both flying backwards out of the tent and onto the open ground of the hill overlooking the battle. Mikael wishes he could say he recovers first, but irritatingly enough, they both wind up pulling themselves off of the ground and onto their feet at the same time.


    Gritting his teeth, Mikael sheathes his sword in a fresh layer of teal energy, even as he gets ready to end things with the self-titled Supreme King. However, he finds himself stopping dead in his tracks when his opponent pulls back his hood and he discovers it¡¯s not Foss Sangrey at all staring back at him.


    Motherfucking Zadicus Quinn, complete with that shitty little cheek scar under his eye, stares back at Mikael. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. Mikael hadn¡¯t just pulped the bastard¡¯s face and skull; he¡¯d eaten his damn SOUL.


    What the fuck was going on?!


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The next TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a> at all times!

 Chapter 59: The Truth Revealed

    Once he got over his initial shock, it quickly became apparent that something wasn¡¯t quite right. It SEEMED like Zadicus Quinn had been resurrected from the dead much like Mikael himself. His face and skull have been reconstructed from the shattered pulpy mess that Mikael¡¯s fist had reduced both to and the former Lord of Alether stands there looking down his nose at Mikael with a sneer. To top it all off, there¡¯s most definitely a soul flickering inside of the man, despite Mikael¡¯s very magic being a result of consuming Zadicus Quinn¡¯s soul wholesale.


    But the key word there was ¡®flickering¡¯. And while it certainly seemed like Zadicus Quinn must have been brought back to life based on the fact that he had a soul, the rest of him¡­ not so much. His pallor is worse than Avina¡¯s perpetually pale skin, a filthy grey that makes it clear his head might have been reconstructed, but he¡¯s still very much a corpse past his expiration date.


    And while there is a black glow in his eyes that Mikael remembers from, beyond that¡­ there¡¯s nothing. Just glazed over irises. Even as his lip curls back and Mikael can see the other man¡¯s gums¡­ they¡¯re pitch black. Zadicus Quinn is still very much dead. Or rather, undead. But then how does that explain the soul? Well, Mikael isn¡¯t an idiot. He can put two and two together.


    ¡°You¡¯re not Zadicus Quinn. I suppose I should be outraged on his behalf that you¡¯re puppeting his body like this Foss, but honestly¡­ he deserved worse than I gave him anyways.¡±


    The sneer on Zadicus Quinn¡¯s face freezes for a moment¡­ and then drops, to be replaced by the same sort of deadened, void-like expression as Foss had exhibited when he¡¯d been found out back in the Lord¡¯s Tower all those weeks ago.


    ¡°So very quick on the uptake, hero.¡±


    Even the voice sounds wrong, more like Foss Sangrey¡¯s projected voice from back outside the walls of Alether than Zadicus Quinn¡¯s voice had ever sounded. Indeed, Mikael had thought he¡¯d heard the self-titled Supreme King¡¯s voice when he¡¯d first came into the tent and caught the ritual chant that the other man was performing. He hadn¡¯t been mistaken¡­ it was Foss all along, merely puppeting Zadicus Quinn¡¯s corpse to avoid having to be present on the battlefield himself.


    Smirking, Mikael holds up his sword, calling on his teal magic to be ready for whatever Foss-as-Zadicus might still have up his sleeve.


    ¡°Am I? Or are you just that predictable? I should have known that a coward like you would never show your face on a battlefield like this. Even something that should be a sure thing¡­ you continue to hide behind masks.¡±


    Zadicus¡¯ face remains blank as Foss scoffs in response through the dead man¡¯s lips.


    ¡°What you call cowardice, I deem practicality. I am a man stretched thin, hero. I must maintain control of my Kingdom, while conquering an Empire. Still¡­ to thank you or curse you. On the one hand, you¡¯ve returned to me the Princess. When I first discovered she¡¯d fled Zuveria, I must admit to being quite enraged.¡±


    For a moment, Zadicus Quinn¡¯s face twists into a rictus of a grin, one that looks quite unsettling on the dead man¡¯s features. But then it twists into a scowl, something much more natural for the deceased Lord of Alether.


    ¡°And yet, in the same breath you¡¯ve brought chaos incarnate from the Sylian Woods. Creatures that take a hundred knights to bring down and you¡¯ve somehow herded thousands of them into Zuveria. By the time they¡¯re done with this Empire, there will be little left for me to rule over thanks to you.¡±


    Mikael smiles thinly at that¡­ and lies his ass off.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that so long as I still live, Foss Sangrey. The Sylian Beasts are under my control one and all. And even now they¡¯re tearing through your army. Perhaps it¡¯s time for a retreat, hm?¡±


    That provokes a bark of ethereal laughter from the puppeteer, even as they both glance at the battlefield down below. Mikael isn¡¯t wrong. The Children of Syl ARE turning the tide. And yet¡­ the Supreme King doesn¡¯t seem all that concerned. But then, why should he be? The bastard isn¡¯t even really here.


    ¡°Is that so? Your confidence is¡­ quaint. But you¡¯ve just revealed to me the route to victory. Why retreat when I can simply take control of you and have an entire new army at my disposal?¡±


    The question turns out to be rhetorical, because the next thing Mikael knows, he¡¯s fighting for his life. Or perhaps more accurately, he¡¯s fighting for his freedom. Foss flings out his dead subordinate¡¯s arm and a wave of black energy surges towards him. Mikael cuts it in half with his sword still covered in teal energy, but to limited effect. The black energy simply splits and then attacks him from both sides, forcing Mikael to forego his sword altogether and rely solely on his magic.


    It''s not whatever sickly green enchant the bastard of a necromancer had given to his soldiers at least, but that doesn¡¯t make this any easier. Still, Mikael is able to hold Foss at bay just like he did back in the Tower. Only, this time he needs to keep doing it until his allies have secured victory. No sweat.


    In fact, as Zadicus¡¯ undead face twists into a rictus of vicious glee felt by his puppeteer, Mikael is keeping a similar expression off of his face. The urge to smirk or grin right now is almost overwhelming, but he hides his true emotions all the same. This was the reason he¡¯d lied in the first place, after all. Focus all of Foss Sangrey¡¯s attention on him, make the man think that he was being needlessly boastful.


    ¡­ That said, he might have miscalculated. The urge to grin quickly fades away and the teeth gritting grimace on Mikael¡¯s face soon becomes very, very real as Foss throws more and more of that inky blackness at him. More power fills the hilltop, more black energy assailing Mikael¡¯s teal defenses.


    He¡¯s holding strong at first. How can he not be? His Soul Engine has been upgraded by Avina herself a handful of times by now, alongside adapting and evolving all on its own when he consumed Zadicus Quinn¡¯s soul in the first place. On top of that, he¡¯s just gotten back from absorbing a few hundred elven souls, suping up his engine and giving him a lot more power to play with.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    And yet¡­ even still, that black power that Foss can call upon is no joke. Mikael¡¯s shield now is a hundred times more powerful than what he summoned in the Lord¡¯s Tower all the way back in Alether, and yet there are still cracks forming, still inky sludge spilling into those cracks.


    As Foss¡¯ power spider-webs out through Mikael¡¯s defenses right before the younger man¡¯s eyes, he realizes he can¡¯t keep this up forever. But neither can he retreat. He has to keep Foss engaged in the off chance that the ritual he¡¯d stopped can be restarted right where the bastard let off. At the same time though, Mikael can¡¯t let himself fall under the Supreme King¡¯s control. If that¡¯s even possible. But one thing is for shit-sure¡­ he¡¯s not about to find out.


    Grasping at straws, searching for answers as he grits his teeth, Mikael finds himself staring at Zadicus Quinn. Or rather¡­ at the flickering soul inside of the dead man¡¯s chest. Now that¡­ that was a possibility.


    ¡°Hey Foss! I wonder¡­ what happens if I absorb a part of your soul while you¡¯re so¡­ stretched thin?!¡±


    Needless to say, the last thing the necromancer is expecting him to do at this point is go on a counteroffensive. Mikael doubts he could really ¡®kill¡¯ Zadicus as he is right now anyways. But Foss had given the game away himself, hadn¡¯t he? He¡¯d said it outright, his incessant need to explain and justify himself exposing a secret Mikael could exploit. The man was using Zadicus¡¯ body as some sort of beacon or relay. And to do so, he¡¯d filled the corpse with a small bit of his own soul so that he could speak and cast magic.


    But indeed¡­ what if Mikael got ahold of that bit of soul? That flickering soul fragment was looking mighty tasty right now. Sending a surge of teal power along the ground underneath Foss¡¯ pitch-black assault, Mikael reaches for Zadicus¡¯ body and the bit of Foss¡¯ soul harbored within it. Under normal circumstances he couldn¡¯t just tear the soul of someone the size of Zadicus clean out of their body without killing them first.


    But these weren¡¯t normal circumstances. And that wasn¡¯t Zadicus¡¯ soul.


    ¡°YOU WORTHLESS INGRATE!¡±


    Breaking off his assault, Foss stomps Zadicus¡¯ foot in what looks at first like a temper tantrum but is really a defensive maneuver as he sends a sheet of black energy out that annihilates Mikael¡¯s grasping teal magic and forces him to jump into the air to avoid it taking him out at the ankles.


    ¡°You have been a thorn in my side at every damn turn! If only Avina had failed to bring you back, this¡­ all of this could have been avoided!¡±


    Mikael begins gathering his power up again, readying himself for his next assault. He was definitely on to something there. Of course, at seeing this Foss just scoffs.


    ¡°Alas¡­ this battle is clearly lost. We¡¯ll end this where it all began¡­ back in Alether, where even now I convert the population into more undead fodder for my armies. Tell the Princess, hero. Tell her that if she wants to save the City of Alether, if she wishes to save her pathetic Kingdom¡­ then she¡¯d best come and try to stop me.¡±


    Mikael grits his teeth as Foss¡¯ monstrous nature rears its ugly head once again. He supposes he really shouldn¡¯t be surprised though. The bastard clearly cares much more about immortality than he does about ruling anyone. Everything he¡¯s ever done, all the power he¡¯s ever gathered¡­ he¡¯s turning it towards getting Avina. No matter what.


    ¡°Funny that you think I¡¯m just going to let you leave, Foss!¡±


    He wasn¡¯t about to let the necromancer escape. Not in Zadicus¡¯ body, and certainly not out. Going still, the self-titled Supreme King looks at him for a moment before scoffing.


    ¡°No, I suppose you won¡¯t. The moment I pull my fragment back from this body, you¡¯ll be all over it. Annoying. But¡­ sacrifices must be made, I suppose.¡±


    That¡¯s all the warning Mikael gets before Zadicus¡¯ body suddenly floats up into the air. His eyes widen as the soul fragment flickering within the undead corpse suddenly begins to shift and twist and spasm wildly¡­ before growing beyond Zadicus¡¯ form in less than a second.


    Pitch black energy erupts as Zadicus Quinn, former Lord of Alether¡­ explodes. Mikael immediately covers himself in teal power, but he doesn¡¯t feel the concussive or corrosive force he¡¯s expecting¡­ and the black energy that detonates from Zadicus does not stop at the hill top. Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as it expands over the entire battlefield in an instant, covering the area in magical darkness.


    Even Mikael can¡¯t see anything beyond his teal shield. He can push the pitch black darkness back for a few feet around himself, but not only is that taxing, it doesn¡¯t really help when all he sees is the ground of the hill.


    Finally, he realizes what he can do and begins stair-stepping upwards into the air, using the same trick with teal platforms that he did to get onto the hill in the first place. For a few hundred feet there¡¯s nothing but darkness above him, until finally he¡¯s able to break free and finds himself above a massive cloud that covers not just the battlefield but also miles of land around it.


    The very backlines of the Order of the Rose are clear thanks to the epicenter of the blinding darkness being on the hill but that¡¯s not much of a consolation prize because¡­


    Mikael hisses in anger when he sees what¡¯s coming out of the side of the black cloud furthest from the Order of the Rose¡¯s fortifications. Heading back in the direction of Ocreatha and indeed in the direction of Alether itself¡­ are the remains of Foss Sangrey¡¯s army. Undead Summoned Heroes leave the darkness as though it has no effect on them, some missing limbs, armor, or weapons¡­ but plenty more relatively untouched beyond a few dents and dings here and there.


    It can¡¯t be called a normal disorganized retreat, but there¡¯s certainly no order to it. They¡¯ve all been called home, whether Foss gave one last order before spending his soul fragment on this magic, or whether it was simply hardwired for them to return if his relay was destroyed. Either way, they¡¯re retreating. Escaping, really.


    For a moment, Mikael wants nothing more than to go after them. To cut down as many of them as he can. They¡¯ll all just be enemies that he and his allies have to fight at Alether, after all. But¡­ no. He has no idea what this magical darkness does¡­ and all of those aforementioned allies are currently trapped in it.


    Activating his Soul Sense, Mikael is relieved to see that it still works through the magical darkness, albeit to a limited effect. And after a moment, he¡¯s able to find one in particular and dive back into the black cloud.


    Hurtling to the ground, Mikael grabs Bula by the shoulders, grunting as he takes a battle axe to the midsection in the process. No stress, it¡¯ll heal.


    ¡°Grk! BULA! Bula, it¡¯s me! Mikael!¡±


    The half-orc immediately stops as he forms a teal bubble around them, clearing out the pitch-black darkness so she can see him.


    ¡°The undead are in full retreat! You need to have all of the Child of Syl stand down! The only humanoids left on the battlefield at this point are Knights of the Rose!¡±


    Her face scrunches up in consternation and frustration for a moment, but then she nods and Mikael sees as the larger souls all around him stop blindly lashing out and rampaging back and forth. From what he can ¡®see¡¯ right now, the Order of the Rose had immediately begun pulling back as best they could from the darkness anyways. In reality, at this point, the only opponents the vast majority of the Children of Syl had to fight were each other.


    Mikael lets out an explosive sigh as Bula¡¯s order is followed after a brief second of it being relayed. He lets himself feel it then¡­ they¡¯d done it. They¡¯d won this battle and even pushed Foss back from Zuveria altogether.


    So then why did it not really feel like a victory? Why did it feel like this was just the beginning?


    ¡­ Maybe. Maybe it was just the beginning. But if it was, it was the beginning of the end. And Mikael would be damn sure to see this through.


    -x-X-x-


    Plug: The last TEN chapters of The Soul Engine</a> can be found over on my Patreon</a>!

 Chapter 60: Next Steps

    ¡°Thayla!¡±


    ¡°Ah, S-Sir Mikael!¡±


    Thayla¡¯s blush is pronounced as Mikael seizes her and lifts her up into the air, armor and all. Its not the most cushioned or comfortable of bear hugs, but that doesn¡¯t stop him from greeting the female knight with one all the same. It only lasts for a moment anyways, with him relying on his enhanced strength and power to lift her off her feet, spin around, and set her back down again a moment later to catch her bearings.


    The magical darkness that Foss Sangrey had left as a parting gift had turned out to have no nasty surprises waiting in it. Everyone had ultimately managed to leave the cloud, which had then taken the next several hours to dissipate. While there were a few injuries here and there, the most damage done had in fact been between Children of Syl who had blindly struck out at each other during the initial moments of confusion, not even realizing that their foes were fleeing the field.


    Mikael had been surprised when it turned out the cloud of darkness didn¡¯t have any sort of necrotic poison to it that would slowly kill them all over time or something. But he supposed it made sense. Foss had sacrificed offense for defense in this case, expending his soul fragment in a way that allowed him to cover the entire battlefield AND some of the surrounding area to obfuscate matters as much as possible. A more concentrated cloud might have been nastier to overcome, but it also would have been easier to escape and allowed more of his retreating forces to be put down before they could get away.


    As it was, Bula had sent some Children of Syl to hunt down the undead Foss was recalling, but unfortunately running them down properly turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. Not only did they have a head start, but the mass of undead, steadily growing into a larger and larger clump as they all made a beeline for Alether, was liable to turn as one and swarm over any Child that got to close. Like soldier ants on a honeybee, Mikael had found himself inexplicably likening it to.


    In the end, Mikael had told Bula to pull the Children of Syl back and they¡¯d all regrouped with the beleaguered but still standing Order of the Rose. Now here they all were, holding an impromptu War Council of sorts.


    Though¡­ it was a testament to how much damage Foss Sangrey¡¯s decapitation strike had done if THIS was the extent of their ability to form a War Council. On one side there was Thayla¡¯s father, the Knight-Superior looking somewhat battle-weary but just as intense as ever in his ichor-splattered golden armor. Timothal Dawnguard looks bemused by Mikael¡¯s greeting of his daughter, but also as though he¡¯s not going to say anything at all.


    Next to him is Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield, a bandage wrapped around his head and covering one of his eyes. From the look of things, the Chevalier would never see out of that eye again¡­ but he still stood tall and Mikael found himself feeling a surprising amount of respect for the other man, especially when compared to their first meeting what feels like a lifetime ago. Fuck, it wasn¡¯t even a month ago though, was it?


    After the two of them is Thayla of course, who looks like she¡¯s definitely seen plenty of fighting, but also hasn¡¯t taken any debilitating injuries, thankfully. The white-haired female knight is still blushing hard at Mikael¡¯s greeting, but looks all too happy to be at his side once more¡­ and makes no move to return to her father, something Timothal definitely notices but also doesn¡¯t seem about to mention.


    That¡¯s it for the Order of the Rose¡¯s side of the War Council. Then there¡¯s them. Bula with one of the smaller Children of Syl keeping her company and representing the serious firepower she now represents. As well, Avina and Mikael bringing up the rear. The Lost Princess of Ocreatha and her successful experiment.


    Funnily enough, it¡¯s Bula who breaks the silence.


    ¡°Mikael. Said you were going for the tent. What¡¯d you find?¡±


    As curious eyes from everyone else shift to him, Mikael gives Bula a nod and steps forward, explaining everything that had happened after he¡¯d left her side. Hearing that Zadicus Quinn was back in any capacity clearly set all of the girls on edge and Mikael couldn¡¯t begin to guess which was more upset by the prospect. Of course, in the end it wasn¡¯t really Zadicus at all and he sees the way Avina tenses up when he explains everything Foss had said before the end.


    Indeed, when Mikael explains Foss¡¯ threat and declaration that he would be waiting for them in Alether, the words trouble everyone there. Silence falls as he finishes recounting the events, with even Mikael not entirely sure what to say at this point. Their next steps seem like a foregone conclusion to him¡­ but he¡¯s not sure everyone agrees.


    ¡°Knight-Superior¡­ the Knights of the Rose will follow you unto death itself. But I must advise caution. I do not know if we even have the manpower to besiege Alether at this point. Especially if the enemy is bolstering his numbers with the city¡¯s population as we speak¡­¡±


    Mikael winces at that. He wishes he could tear into Nathaniel for his words of caution. Say something like ¡®Man and I was really rooting for you before you went and turned out to be a coward¡¯ or whatever. But he can¡¯t. Mostly because the Chevalier is right. Just a look at Nathaniel¡¯s own injury makes it harder to claim the man a coward. He¡¯s personally sacrificed much in the fight for his homeland. Is it really right to ask him, Timothal, or the rest of their Order to sacrifice anymore.


    The Knight-Superior remains silent, still deep in thought. Thayla, on the other hand, shakes her head.


    ¡°The fight¡¯s not over just because the Supreme King has run away. If we leave him to his own devices, he will simply turn the entire population of Alether into undead, using them as levies for what remains of his army of well-equipped summoned heroes. From there, if we ignore him long enough, he will simply launch another attack on Zuveria. He can¡¯t afford to give us enough time to figure out who to put on the Imperial Throne so they can figure out how to cycle our defenses at the border with the Savage Lands to spare enough soldiers to destroy him.¡±


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Mikael pauses at that. Thayla¡­ well, he doesn¡¯t think she¡¯s stupid necessarily. But damn if that wasn¡¯t a lot more tactically minded than he¡¯s used to from her. And he¡¯s not the only one that thinks so either, because practically everyone there is staring at her in surprise. Thayla flushes at the attention and ducks her head for a moment before lifting it high and giving a shrug.


    ¡°What? I have been by my father¡¯s side for the past week, learning much.¡±


    Finally breaking his silence, Timothal chuckles and gives his daughter an approving nod.


    ¡°Much indeed, daughter, much indeed.¡±


    Thayla blushes at that but stands a little bit taller all the same, pride clearly swelling in her chest. Meanwhile, Timothal moves over to a table covered in a map that dominates the center of the area.


    ¡°Dame Dawnguard is right. Leaving the Supreme King to his own devices is not an option. We must push our advantage while we still can. Chevalier Ironshield is also right though¡­ besieging Alether and destroying Foss Sangrey will be nearly impossible if he has transformed the entire population into undead. Unless of course¡­ our resident half-orc can be relied upon to make a siege unnecessary.¡±


    Bula straightens up as Timothal throws her a curious look. After a moment, she grins ferally¡­ and the Child of Syl she¡¯s been petting all this time bristles in tune with her vicious bloodlust, bearing its fangs and extending its spines.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    That single word answer seems to be enough for the Knight-Superior, who just smiles grimly and nods.


    ¡°I have to admit, I wasn¡¯t sure what to expect when I sent you all to the Sylian Woods. If we were extraordinarily lucky, elves was my best hope. Just having you three return to us alive was all I dared pray for though. And yet¡­ and yet, you come back from the woods with an army of monsters straight out of legends even more ancient than the elves themselves.¡±


    Timothal¡¯s exhaustion shows in that moment as he shakes his head, looking genuinely lost for a heartbeat.


    ¡°I do not know how you did it, though I imagine it¡¯s quite the tale.¡±


    Avina and Mikael exchange a glance at that, before Mikael quickly makes eye contact with Bula and gives her a small shake of his head. The half-orc has her mouth open and knowing her blunt ways, was just about to straight up tell the Knight-Superior precisely how they¡¯d done it. Truthfully, Mikael doesn¡¯t THINK that Timothal would judge them too harshly for taking part in a genocide¡­ but perhaps it would be better if what happened in the Sylian Woods STAYED in the Sylian Woods.


    ¡­ Hm, why did that statement resonate with Mikael so much? Eh, no matter.


    In the face of their silence, Bula¡¯s a bit more mulish, Timothal raises an eyebrow but doesn¡¯t press further. With a shrug, he shakes his head.


    ¡°No matter. A story for another time, perhaps. Either way¡­ some of our new allies can literally leap the walls of Alether in a single bound. Others could scale it in a handful of seconds. With such powerful beasts on our side, I have no doubt that we would not be kept from invading the city for very long at all. That said¡­ there is something else that must be discussed. The Princess¡¯ safety.¡±


    A hush falls over the War Council as all eyes turn to Avina. Mikael¡¯s Soul Mechanic stiffens, her own eyes having been on the map that Timothal had been looking at. Her gaze had been fixated on the dot that represented Alether until the word ¡®Princess¡¯ had left the Knight-Superior¡¯s lips. Flicking her dark eyes up from the map, Avina narrows them as her black lips press into a thin line.


    ¡°¡­ I hope you are not suggesting that I stay behind, Knight-Superior Dawnguard.¡±


    Straightening up to his full height, the Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster sighs.


    ¡°I am not suggesting anything specifically just yet. But as I said, it must be discussed.¡±


    Avina crosses her arms over her chest.


    ¡°I¡¯m going. No matter what, I¡¯m going. It¡¯s probably already too late to save Alether. But if I don¡¯t go and confront Foss, who¡¯s to say he¡¯ll even come after Zuveria a second time right away?¡±


    That causes a stir of confusion, with Nathaniel furrowing his brow and asking the question on everyone¡¯s minds.


    ¡°¡­ Why wouldn¡¯t he?¡±


    Stepping up to the table, Avina gestures to Zuveria on the map.


    ¡°His initial strike has failed. He might have killed the Zuverian Imperial Family and much of the Order of the Rose¡¯s leadership, but he¡¯s been pushed back. He was trying to rush into Zuveria and take over before anyone could muster a defense. Maybe it would have even worked if his assassins had actually killed the Knight-Superior and he¡¯d made it to the Imperial Capital before anyone could respond. But that doesn¡¯t matter anymore, because that didn¡¯t happen.¡±


    Stepping away from Zuveria and over to Ocreatha, Avina gestures again.


    ¡°What if he doesn¡¯t make a second go at Zuveria so soon? What if you all go to Alether without me and when he sees I¡¯m not with you, he¡­ retreats further? He¡¯ll have to abandon Alether. And he¡¯ll be in the heart of Ocreatha with an ever-growing undead army. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll stop building it either. I think he will continue to turn the people of Ocreatha into undead until he feels ready to destroy even an army of Sylian Beasts.¡±


    Taking a step back from the table, Avina crosses her arms over her chest again as she punctuates her point.


    ¡°He¡¯s gone off the deep-end. He doesn¡¯t care about ruling anymore. He¡¯d just as happily rule a kingdom of dust as he would a kingdom of people. I¡¯m the one thing he wants. So I have to go to Alether, as bait if nothing else.¡±


    It¡¯s a fair point. Not to mention Mikael wouldn¡¯t leave Avina¡¯s side anyways. Not for anything at this point. But he doesn¡¯t really think that needs to be brought up right now. For a long moment, Timothal contemplates Avina¡¯s words. Finally, the aged Knight-Superior nods, his expression grave.


    ¡°And what if he takes that bait, Princess? What if he manages to capture you after all?¡±


    Avina hisses and her hands curl into white-knuckled fists as she leans forward with her teeth bared in an open-mouth snarl.


    ¡°I will DIE before I give that bastard ANY of what he wants. Count on that, Knight-Superior.¡±


    Mikael steps up to Avina¡¯s side and places a hand on her shoulder, a silent show of support. She jolts at the touch, looking at him for a moment before smirking slightly as she looks back at Timothal.


    ¡°Besides. So long as I have Mikael with me, Foss can do nothing. He¡¯s stopped him at every turn. The safest place in the world for me is right here, at Mikael¡¯s side.¡±


    The Knight-Superior looks at them both for a long moment¡­ before nodding once.


    ¡°Then so shall it be. The Order of the Rose will not falter here, not when the battle is still far from done. You will have our Knights in the fight ahead, Princess. Fret not.¡±


    Despite her fiery words, Mikael can feel Avina¡¯s relief through his hand on her shoulder at Timothal¡¯s words. At the same time, she flicks her eyes over to Bula questioningly, causing the half-orc to snort in amusement.


    ¡°What? Of course we¡¯re in. Bastard thinks he can run just when the fight is getting good? I¡¯m looking forward to showing him and his corpses exactly what we think of that!¡±


    Behind her, the Child of Syl hisses its approval, flaring its spikes and shaking them in response to Bula¡¯s bloodlust once more as it continues to ramp up. Mikael just chuckles and so does everyone else.


    At the end of the day, everything has come full circle. They¡¯re going right back to where it all started. Back to Alether at long last.

 Chapter 61: Together Again (Lewd)

    ¡°P-Please, Sir Mikael! Please!¡±


    Mikael holds back a groan as the tip of his dick is nestled between Thayla¡¯s lower lips, her legs spread wide and her thighs flexing along with her slit as she grips down on his cockhead with all her might. Still, he doesn¡¯t let her bound form drop down onto his dick. With her arms tied behind her back and her legs spread apart and bent at the knees before being bound around the thighs and shin specifically, she¡¯s not going anywhere without his say so.


    Holding her aloft, Mikael chuckles instead of groaning, tilting his head to the side as he rests her on just the tip of his member.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ have you really earned it, Thayla?¡±


    ¡°Nnngh!¡±


    The female knight doesn¡¯t want to admit it. She doesn¡¯t want to say she¡¯s earned it. Instead¡­


    ¡°I-I¡¯ve been naughty¡­ I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve been naughty! I need to be p-punished, Sir Mikael! I need you to hurt me¡­ please, I beg of you¡­¡±


    Mikael scoffs at that. Seriously? This again?


    ¡°We¡¯ve talked about that before, Thayla. Fucking you is not a proper punishment, is it? Rather¡­ if you want me to punish you, then what I should do is stop teasing you altogether and force you to go to sleep. Is that what you want?¡±


    ¡°N-No!¡±


    Mikael grins from behind Thayla¡¯s head, out of the white-haired knight¡¯s field of view. Meanwhile, both Avina and Bula are watching with amused smirks as he so easily plays the beleaguered, sweaty woman like a fiddle.


    ¡°Then say it. Say you¡¯ve been a good girl. Say you¡¯ve earned this. Say you¡¯ve done everything I asked of you and that you want your just reward for obeying my orders to the letter.¡±


    ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡±


    Thayla stutters and stammers for a moment¡­ before finally the dam breaks.


    ¡°I-I¡¯ve been a good girl! I¡¯ve earned this!¡±


    Mikael drops her an inch down onto his member at that, making her squeak as she¡¯s cut off for a moment. But then he stops again, holding her up with ease, just a bit of his cock now inside of her. Once a panting Thayla realizes he¡¯s not going any further, she continues on.


    ¡°I¡¯ve done everything you asked of me, Sir Mikael! I-I want my j-just reward for obeying your orders t-to the letter!¡±


    Mikael hums, letting her sink down a little further to the halfway point. The moan that comes from Thayla¡¯s lips can only be described as wanton and the bound knight throws her head back onto his shoulder as she shudders happily. But once again Mikael stops, making her start to whine in confusion and disappointment.


    ¡°Hm. And what were my orders? What exactly did you do such a good job with, Thayla?¡±


    Forcing her to confront her own capabilities and accept that she was in fact a competent Knight of the Rose was apparently more painful for Thayla than anything physical he could have done to her, because she whines some more before finally answering.


    ¡°You told me¡­ t-to stay and protect my f-father. And¡­ I did¡­ I even¡­ s-saved his life at one point.¡±


    Oh? Mikael hadn¡¯t known that. Still, he¡¯s not going to force Thayla to spend the entire time he¡¯s fucking her talking about her father. At hearing her admit just how skilled she truly is, albeit in a roundabout way¡­ Mikael finally impales Thayla the rest of the way upon his cock and then immediately starts bouncing her up and down, making her mewl, moan, and squeal in equal measure as he fucks her from below.


    Thrusting up into her, bouncing her on his dick, Mikael just grins as she really lets her voice out. His cock throbs inside of her, admittedly. He¡¯d missed her more than he cared to admit. This¡­ he¡¯d needed this. Not that he was going to tell Thayla that. This was her reward after all and he was intent on keeping it that way.


    Still, wouldn¡¯t do for her voice to carry too far. Pushing Thayla forward into her bedroll, Mikael uses it to muffle the female knight¡¯s squeals, even as he leans over her and begins pounding her from above. Now that he¡¯s on top, he can fuck her all the harder¡­ something that Thayla enjoys greatly as his hips clap against her firm, toned ass cheeks, her moans muffled but still reaching his ears.


    Leaning forward even further, Mikael slides a hand through Thayla¡¯s hair, pulling some of it out of the way of her ear so he can speak directly to her.


    ¡°You did good, Thayla. You did so good and I¡¯m not about to let you forget that. Nor am I going to let you downplay your triumphs. The Knight-Superior is alive because of you, which means the Order of the Rose is alive because of YOU.¡±


    He punctuates that last ¡®you¡¯ with a thrust that causes Thayla¡¯s toes to curl and her muffled squealing to reach a fever pitch as she cums for him on the spot. But even then, Mikael doesn¡¯t stop. No, he¡¯s just getting started. Just one orgasm for the time they¡¯ve been apart isn¡¯t enough to repay Thayla for leaving her behind. But that¡¯s alright, they¡¯ve got all the time in the world now that they¡¯re back together again.


    -x-X-x-


    ¡°Mmm¡­¡±


    Chuckling softly, Mikael runs a hand through Thayla¡¯s white locks. The spent female knight simply nestles further into his lap where her head is currently resting, sleeping soundly for what¡¯s probably the first time since he and the others left. Frankly, he¡¯s come to regret leaving Thayla behind at this point. She should have been with him, Avina, and Bula in the Sylian Woods¡­ but the past is in the past and there¡¯s no going back now.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Still, when she¡¯d come to him all but begging for ¡®discipline¡¯, what had followed had been as much for Mikael as it was her. Though he had to admit, he¡¯d been more than a little surprised when she¡¯d revealed how she was handling matters herself while they were away. Underneath her armor and underclothes, Thayla had bound herself with rope.


    Nothing that would keep her from swinging a sword or charging into battle of course, but she¡¯d effectively fashioned herself a harness that wrapped over her shoulders, around each of her breasts, through the valley of her thighs, and even around her neck. Every trace of it was hidden at all times of course, but that didn¡¯t make it any more provocative once she¡¯d revealed it to them.


    Fortunately, the four of them had had no choice but to make their camp separate from the Order of the Rose. The Children of Syl refused not to cuddle pile Bula at every opportunity imaginable, and while they could at least be kept from literally cuddling up against her again, they still all but demanded to be as near to her as they possibly could.


    As a result, Mikael, Thayla, Bula, and Avina are all resting around a small campfire right now, surrounded by great big beasties. Some of which are as tall as houses, meaning that any¡­ debauchery that they partook in was completely out of sight of their allies and Thayla¡¯s peers within the Order of the Rose. Specifically, it was out of sight of Thayla¡¯s father.


    The man had to know that Mikael was fucking his daughter by this point, but there was no reason for Timothal to know exactly what form their intimacy took and if Mikael could help it, he wouldn¡¯t ever let the man find out. That was just common decency.


    Regardless, with Thayla¡¯s reintroduction into their group finished, the white-haired woman had passed out on his lap now, covered in sweat from the exertion of what he¡¯d just put her through. Not quite how Mikael would have chosen to welcome her back into the fold, but it was what Thayla wanted, in the end. Still¡­ only he, Bula, and Avina are still up now.


    Resting on their bedrolls, the other two women don¡¯t seem all that interested in engaging him for some fun of their own at the moment, though they had watched him handle Thayla with no small amount of amusement. That¡¯s fine because¡­ Mikael has something to say. To get off his chest. Something that¡¯s been weighing on him for some time now.


    ¡°A while back¡­ we all subjected ourselves to a test to judge whether we were good or evil. We took a journey through the Truth Above All.¡±


    The only sounds are the shifting of Syl¡¯s Children and the crackling of the campfire, but both Avina and Bula are looking at him now.


    ¡°At first it was a mess. As much of a mess as everything else has been for me since coming to this world. My mind is like Swiss Cheese thanks to what Zadicus did to me. My memories of Earth are¡­ fragmented at best.¡±


    He thinks of his half-erased room and home for a moment, of his parents. His father without a face. A shiver runs down Mikael¡¯s spine, but he continues on a moment later. This is too important not to get out, at least by his estimation.


    ¡°Eventually though, I realized what truly mattered to me. My life on Earth is in the past. I¡¯m never going back. But that doesn¡¯t mean I can never go home again, not really. Because home¡­ home is right here. With all of you. You three are my home. Avina, my Soul Mechanic. Bula, my sparring partner. Thayla, my ever loyal knight. Everything in this world I love¡­ is right here.¡±


    Maybe it¡¯s a bit sappy, but it¡¯s how he feels all the same. Looking at Avina and Bula as he continues to run his hands through the sleeping Thayla¡¯s hair, Mikael offers a crooked smile.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do anything for the three of you. And I wanted to make sure you knew that no matter what happens next.¡±


    His words hang in the air for a moment, a promise conveyed with every fiber of his being. Truthfully, Mikael hadn¡¯t brought this up with any intention of starting some sort of confessional. All he¡¯d wanted to do was reaffirm how much he cared for them. So he¡¯s just as caught off guard as Avina is when Bula suddenly clears her throat and speaks up in a gruff tone.


    ¡°I saw my old tribe in that damn mirror. My father.¡±


    Bula commands Mikael¡¯s full attention at that. The half-orc warrior wouldn¡¯t be sharing if this wasn¡¯t important, he figures.


    ¡°Told you before. Bastard threw a party when I came of age. Said it was finally time to raid the Sylian Woods again, with me leading the charge. Didn¡¯t take too kindly to that, so I killed him in the night and left.¡±


    Bula shrugs, staring into the fire for a moment in silence.


    ¡°Case I didn¡¯t make it clear¡­ didn¡¯t do it cleanly. Waited till everyone else in the tribe had partied all night long and passed out. Waited till he passed out. Slit his throat. Left.¡±


    She¡¯d said as much in fewer words back then, but Mikael had to admit, he hadn¡¯t truly understood what she¡¯d been saying. It made sense though. From what he knew, half-orcs and full orcs were supposed to have similar physical strength. But if Bula wasn¡¯t confident in her abilities to fight her father on equal footing¡­ she¡¯d made the right call.


    Mikael almost opens his mouth to say as much before realizing that the half-orc isn¡¯t done yet. She¡¯s just collecting her thoughts.


    ¡°¡­ Never realized how much that bothered me until the damn mirror. Made me fight my father in front of our entire tribe. Killed him, of course. Bastard didn¡¯t stand a chance against me as I am now.¡±


    Bula snorts, giving a crooked smile as she looks down at her hands for a moment before looking up at Mikael.


    ¡°Earned the devotion and adoration of the tribe. Had them all kneeling at my feet, naming me the new chieftain, begging me to lead them. Rather than fleeing like some cowardly thief, I was in charge. I was the new boss lady.¡±


    Huh. Did Bula regret having to flee from her people that badly? Had she truly longed to return to the Savage Lands? To be recognized as a proper orc, despite her half-blood status? Mikael isn¡¯t sure what to say. Luckily, he doesn¡¯t have to. Bula pauses for a moment and then shakes her head with another snort.


    ¡°Utter bullshit.¡±


    Huh?


    ¡°Felt good to kill my old man all honorable like for maybe half a second. Felt good to have the old tribe all bowing and scraping at my feet instead of insulting and treating me like shit for just as long. Then¡­ it just felt hollow.¡±


    A savage grin replaces the crooked smile as she looks at Mikael, her eyes glittering in the campfire.


    ¡°Damn mirror did its job. Showed me how much I cared about what those assholes thought of me. And then it showed me how little it really mattered. Fuck, what good would being Chieftain of an Orc Tribe have done me? Would never have met any of you.¡±


    Shaking her head, Bula punctuates her point by smacking her fist into her palm.


    ¡°Killing that old bastard in his bed or in the ring¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter how I did it. Because in the end, sometimes¡­ some bastards just need killing.¡±


    Well shit. Grinning himself, Mikael raises a fist in solidarity, seeing how his other hand is still occupied with Thayla¡¯s hair.


    ¡°Damn straight, Bula. Damn straight.¡±


    The half-orc looks quite pleased with that response. Then her eyes drift over to Avina¡¯s bedroll and she snorts in derisive amusement. This causes Mikael to look over as well, for a second worrying that Avina might feel pure pressured into sharing her own experiences in the Truth Above All.


    ¡­ But no. His Soul Mechanic has turned over in her bedroll and gone to sleep in the time that Bula has been speaking. Mikael winces a little bit, because he¡¯s pretty sure that has more to do with her not wanting to talk about it, over wanting to slight Bula in anyway. Luckily, one look at Bula shows that she¡¯s not at all upset. The half-orc gives him one last grin and then settles back down as well, staring up at the stars until her eyes drift shut and her breathing evens out as slumber takes her too.


    In the end, Mikael is the only one left awake, one hand continuing to stroke through Thayla¡¯s white locks while the other takes up a stick with which to stoke the fire, making sure his girls stay as warm as possible all night long.


    Tomorrow they¡¯ll march. And in a week or two, they¡¯ll be at Alether. From there, who knows what happens. But for tonight¡­ and maybe only tonight, Mikael will just be happy that they¡¯re all together again.

 Chapter 62: Back to Alether

    They make good time to Alether. Better time than they made fleeing it in the first place, that¡¯s for sure. But then in all fairness, while they were a much smaller party back then, they¡¯d utilized the flexibility offered by that fact to lose any trackers that the Supreme King might have sent after them. The weeks they¡¯d spent in the woods doubling back on themselves and purposefully going in circles had set them back quite a bit.


    This time around, they had no reason to hesitate, no reason to dally. It was a straight shot to Alether and there was nothing truly holding them back save for their numbers. Mikael had to admit, he had mixed feelings on that front. On the one hand, Foss Sangrey had to be stopped. On the other hand, a part of Mikael wanted to just take his precious people and run even now.


    But no¡­ that wasn¡¯t an option. In fact, that was probably never an option. The Supreme King had made it clear time and time again that he was willing to hunt Avina down to the ends of Vaclatora if it proved necessary. More than that though, Mikael knew Avina was done running. She¡¯d been in hiding for a long, long time only to find out that her family¡¯s killer had been keeping tabs on her all along.


    In the end, Avina¡¯s past had caught up to her. In the end, she couldn¡¯t ignore her parents¡¯ and siblings¡¯ murderer any longer. Not when he also had all of the citizens of her kingdom under his thumb as well. The responsibility of being royalty, of being the last remaining royal of Ocreatha¡­ it seemed like it¡¯d finally caught up to her.


    Even as they arrive outside of Alether with their armies, with the Order of the Rose side by side with the Children of Syl, Mikael ponders whether whatever Avina saw in the Truth Above All had anything to do with the sense of responsibility she now felt towards her people. Wanting revenge against Foss was one thing, but this was more than that. This was duty. This was commitment.


    Never mind that though. Avina would tell him when and if she was ever ready to tell him. Shaking such thoughts from his head, Mikael takes in the state of their forces and finds them to not be all that wanting. Let it not be said that the Order of the Rose is truly the least of their allies by this point. The losses that the Knightly Order had taken were great, that was undeniable¡­ but as they¡¯d moved, reinforcements had arrived.


    The majority of Zuveria¡¯s military was still tied up with the Savage Lands. Some had been pulled back to the Imperial Capital, likely be officious toadies and bureaucrats who were scrambling for power now that the Imperial Family was dead. But those who were sworn to the Order of the Rose¡­ they¡¯d finally arrived in force after double-timing it in order to catch up to the rear of their army.


    Rows and rows of golden, gleaming Knights of the Rose sit atop mounts dressed in finery and armor of their own, their backs ramrod straight and their eyes peering out from their helmets at the walls of Alether. At their front, Knight-Superior Timothal Dawnguard wears a new set of armor and sits upon a new amount as he waits, ready to lead his forces into battle.


    And then there¡¯s the Children of Syl, a lot less unified or uniform in their own formations, with Bula at their head. To call the two armies a match made in heaven would be a downright falsehood¡­ but they were a match all the same. The Order of the Rose might be uneasy about the strange bedfellows they find themselves relying upon, but at the end of the day, their purpose was as one. They had all come to Alether for one reason and one reason only¡­ to stop the Supreme King once and for all.


    ¡°You¡­ all of you, like lambs to the slaughter.¡±


    Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Literally, in this case. Mikael stiffens and can feel a general freeze go through all of their forces as Foss Sangrey projects himself before them all, the same larger-than-life projection he¡¯d used all those weeks ago when he¡¯d first been approaching the city he now holed up in. Although¡­ he¡¯s certainly seen better days.


    Back then, Mikael remembered comparing the man to Santa Claus at the time. Jolly, grandfatherly, and all around kind in his expression and demeanor. That, needless to say, is no longer the case.


    Whether it was Mikael forcing him to destroy that soul fragment or whether it¡¯s just the toll that controlling this many undead for so long is taking on him¡­ Foss Sangrey looks to be reaching the end of his rope. His eyes have sunken into his skull and his features have taken on a ghoulish look. His beard is unkempt and filthy, even as he strokes it with skeletal fingers and sneers at the lot of them.


    Then, his gaze finally finds Avina in particular and he suddenly changes tact. He still looks as ugly and grotesque as before, but his sneer abruptly transforms into a truly terrifying grin as he reaches for her with one large, flickering hand.


    ¡°Ah¡­ Princess. Home at last. I¡¯m so glad to see you here. So glad to see that you¡¯ve come.¡±


    Gritting her teeth, hands balled into fists at her side, Avina shouts at the projection.


    ¡°I¡¯ve come to see you dead, Foss! One way or another, this ends NOW!¡±


    Mikael isn¡¯t even sure she¡¯ll be heard¡­ but after a moment, Foss laughs and shakes his head.


    ¡°My dear, dear Princess. Please¡­ see reason. Join me willingly, and together we shall be more powerful than anyone in your entire family line has ever been. We shall be the most powerful beings in this entire world.¡±


    Snarling, Avina shakes her head right back.


    ¡°You¡¯re a monster, Foss! I¡¯ll NEVER join you!¡±


    Still amused, Foss just hums.


    ¡°A monster I might be. But¡­ never say never. You came, Princess. Meaning that your little pet relayed my message. The plight of Alether spoke to you. Fear for your people brought you back to me. If you will not join me willingly¡­ allow me to offer you another reason to surrender yourself to my power.¡±


    There¡¯s a sudden CRACK from behind Alether¡¯s walls and then-


    ¡°TREBUCHET! TAKE COVER!¡±


    A large projectile is launched from a trebuchet behind the city walls, sailing through the air as everyone tracks its path and makes sure to get out of its way. In the end though, it doesn¡¯t actually reach their lines. Probably because it¡¯s not a rock or boulder¡­ it¡¯s not stone at all. Rather, it¡¯s a mass of corpses. Writhing, wriggling, clawing corpses.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    The mass of undead roped and strung together impact the ground a few hundred feet away from their lines¡­ and then crawl and claw their way up out of the ensuing crater, pulling free of the rope that loosely tied them all together and shambling in the direction of their forces. Knights of the Rose and Children of Syl move forward at the same time. Not quite in unison, but still with concerted purpose as they quickly put down the undead before they can cause any damage.


    Not that any damage was likely. These undead that Foss has just flung at them are not summoned heroes. They aren¡¯t wearing enchanted armor or even wielding weapons. They aren¡¯t even soldiers. Men, women, and children¡­ corpses one and all, with the Knights of the Rose and the Children of Syl forced to put them down and tear them to pieces before they would stop fighting.


    ¡°Surrender, Princess.¡±


    Just as the last undead dies, Foss Sangrey¡¯s voice splits the silence yet again. His tone is¡­ lofty. Confident. Arrogant, really.


    ¡°Surrender or every last man, woman, and child left alive in Alether will be converted into undead fodder. To be loaded into my trebuchets. You can tell them why you let them die while they groan and moan and try to tear your allies to shreds.¡±


    For a moment, Avina wavers. Mikael can see that she¡¯s considering it. But¡­ only for a moment. Then she looks to Mikael. Having been waiting for such a thing, he shakes his head in response, mutely giving her the only answer that she needed.


    Foss thought he was clever. And to be fair, he was a lot smarter than Zadicus Quinn had been. A lot more monstrous too. Still, where Zadicus Quinn had been a short-sighted idiot who didn¡¯t even truly realize how good he had it or the things he was missing out on¡­ Foss Sangrey was a different sort of fool. He was the overconfident sort of fool.


    He still didn¡¯t fully understand what Mikael was capable of, even after all this time. Nor could he possibly know how much Mikael had grown, along with Avina¡¯s Soul Engine. Eyes blazing with teal light, Mikael has been gazing upon the City of Alether all this time. Even while the Knights and Beasts were tearing the undead thrown into their midst to shreds, Mikael had stayed out of the fight, his gaze searching Alether for¡­ anything. Even just one survivor.


    Alas, there was no one. Well, not quite. There was no one of Alether¡¯s original population left alive in the city. But Mikael¡¯s soul sight could see ONE soul. All the way up at the top of the Lord¡¯s Tower, overlooking the city and their armies from afar¡­ Mikael sees a tainted, blackened soul. At first he¡¯d been worried it was another flickering soul fragment, but no¡­ while the distance is great, he can tell even from this far away that Foss Sangrey is up in that fucking tower. The man is the only living being left in all of Alether.


    All of this, Mikael conveys to Avina with a single shake of his head. They¡¯d discussed this ahead of time, after all. The possibility that nobody in Alether would be left. Hell, given that Foss never intended to wait for their arrival, it was possible that the entire population of Alether had been converted into undead even back before they¡¯d pushed him back with the timely arrival of the Children of Syl.


    That many undead¡­ Foss would have to be physically present to keep control of them all. No more soul fragments for the Supreme King. No more puppets to hide behind.


    ¡°Well, Princess? I¡¯m waiting. Don¡¯t make me lose my patience now, girl.¡±


    A single tear tracks down Avina¡¯s cheek at the knowledge that she¡¯d already failed an entire city of her people. But only the one. Standing tall, the Princess of Ocreatha snarls up at Foss Sangrey¡¯s waiting projection.


    ¡°They¡¯re all already dead. Do you think I¡¯m an idiot, Foss? You slaughtered the people of Alether long before I arrived.¡±


    Avina¡¯s words are as much for their allies as they are for the self-titled Supreme King. Perhaps back before he¡¯d lost his soul fragment, Foss could have shrugged that accusation off and bluffed his way into sewing dissention in their ranks. Some of the Knights of the Rose might have even balked at the idea of not trying to rescue the hostages that the bastard of a necromancer claimed to have.


    But Foss Sangrey is not nearly as put together as he was the last time they saw him. He flinches back, his sunken eyes shrinking to pinpricks as he gazes down at Avina. His sickening smile finally drops and he sneers at her.


    ¡°How could you possibly know, girl? Tch, no matter.¡±


    With that, the man has confirmed to all those listening that their path is clear. There¡¯s no one left in Alether to save. Only undead waiting to be purge¡­ and the bastard hiding behind them. But Avina isn¡¯t done quite yet.


    ¡°Upon my name as Avina Reyalis, Princess of Ocreatha¡­ I SWEAR I will put you down, Foss Sangrey! No matter what it takes!¡±


    Foss just sneers at that, waving a hand. His projection vanishes and a moment later, the cracks of multiple trebuchets can be heard from behind Alether¡¯s walls, even as balls of writhing, wriggling undead civilians fill the air, coming down to splat on the ground before their lines.


    Avina glances at him for a moment¡­ and then past him, over to Bula sitting astride her own massive, hulking mount. Every inch of the half-orc¡¯s being is pulled taut like a bowstring, waiting as she stares back at Avina. Until finally¡­ the Princess nods.


    Bula grins and thrusts her battle-axe into the air, letting out a loud roar of challenge before pointing the head of her weapon towards Alether. Rising up around her, reaching near-deafening levels, are the bestial roars and cries of the Children of Syl in response. A moment later and they¡¯re all charging forward, a tidal wave of massive monsters that race across the ground separating them from the walls of Alether.


    Armored figures appear on the battlements with bows and arrows, likely the Summoned Heroes that Foss Sangrey has left to him after his previous defeat. But there¡¯s only so much that even they can do to delay the humungous beasts born of the incredibly harsh Sylian Woods. As Bula and her army race up to the walls and leap up onto the battlements, Avina comes to Mikael¡¯s side and grabs him by the arm. He turns to his Soul Mechanic, giving her his full attention as she in turn gives him an intense look.


    ¡°You know where he is?¡±


    Mikael nods decisively at that.


    ¡°The Tower. At the top.¡±


    Avina lets out a shuddering breath at that, along with a little laugh.


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    As they talk, Mikael hears Timothal shout out to his men and women as well, yelling ¡®Forward!¡¯. The Order of the Rose doesn¡¯t charge quite as fast as the Children of Syl did¡­ in fact, they move much slower, mostly because they have to deal with each glob of undead being thrown from behind the walls of Alether as they advanced. If they didn¡¯t, they risked being routed from behind, or even from within their formations.


    At the same time, Thayla comes up beside him and Avina, looking concerned. She¡¯s been glued to his side ever since they came back from the woods. Mikael can¡¯t blame her¡­ he missed her too. Still, in this moment his attention is solely on Avina. The pale young woman looks at Alether, at the battle taking shape right before their eyes, and bites her lip for a moment in thought.


    Finally, she looks to him.


    ¡°I need to reach Foss. That¡¯s the only way to end this once and for all.¡±


    Thayla is the first to respond to that, furrowing her brow.


    ¡°But¡­ if we take you to him, isn¡¯t that giving him exactly what he wants?¡±


    Avina¡¯s eyes never leave Mikael¡¯s, even as she shakes her head.


    ¡°But by the same logic, I¡¯m the only one who can be sure he dies here and now. That he doesn¡¯t¡­ linger. It has to be me, Mikael.¡±


    Mikael. Not Mikael and Thayla, just Mikael. Because at the end of the day, Avina is asking for his help above all else. Asking for HIS faith.


    ¡­ Was it ever any question? Giving his Soul Mechanic a smile, Mikael nods sharply.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    And that¡¯s that. Thayla falls in line of course. Avina smiles in relief. And together, the three of them join up with the Order of the Rose in taking advantage of the hole that the Children of Syl soon have established in Alether¡¯s walls. Soon enough¡­ they¡¯re venturing into the city itself.

 Chapter 63: The Battle

    Fortunately for their allies in the Order of the Rose, the trebuchet barrage consisting of ball o¡¯ zombie does not last for long. In fact, it seems as though the first thing Bula has her forces do once they¡¯ve leapt over the walls of Alether and into the city itself, is hunt down said trebuchets. They can¡¯t exactly be easy to hide given how much space they much each need to operate.


    Within a few minutes, the barrage has slowed to a crawl, allowing the Order of the Rose to advance apace. Mikael, Avina, and Thayla do the same, moving with a sizable contingent of knights and arriving at the gates of Alether just in time for them to be broken down from the inside by a pair of massive, hulking Children.


    Once they¡¯re in Alether itself though¡­ it¡¯s a fucking shitshow and a half. Even with the Children of Syl running roughshod over the city, the place is basically a death trap. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it an undeath trap, because there are corpses aiming to attack them from around every corner and from within every home.


    What was once a bustling city filled with tens of thousands of people is now an infested pustule crawling with the undead. They¡¯re everywhere and worst of all, Mikael can¡¯t even sense them with his Soul Sense because they don¡¯t have souls. Their soul energy has already returned to the Weave, leaving him having to keep his head on a swivel to be ready at every turn.


    Fortunately, it¡¯s not just the three of them because even with the Soul Engine, Mikael doubts his ability to keep Avina and Thayla safe in the long run. Alongside them is Chevalier Nathaniel Ironshield and a large contingent of Knights of the Rose, with gleaming golden armor and shining masterwork swords ready to cut down every undead that comes close.


    They take losses even then. This close to Foss, the undead population of Alether are empowered. Just like at the battlefield back in Zuveria where the Supreme King had used Zadicus Quinn as a conduit for a fragment of his soul¡­ the proximity to his actual soul and this the concentrated effect of his necromantic power keeps the undead going far beyond what should be possible. Removing their heads doesn¡¯t stop them, removing their limbs doesn¡¯t stop them.


    In the end, Avina was right. There¡¯s no victory to be had here unless Foss Sangrey himself is defeated. Until the Supreme King is killed and his influence over his undead creations is removed, Alether will continue to be an endless pit of fighting. In the end, their target has to be Foss Sangrey and with everyone quite aware of that fact, they forge forward at an unrelenting pace, moving closer and closer to the center of the city where the Lord¡¯s Tower can be seen high over all the other buildings.


    Unfortunately, while their reckless speed is necessary, it still means they incur heavy losses. The closer they get to the tower, the more undead summoned heroes they encounter as well. Distinctive for their enchanted armor and weapons, it would seem that Foss split his remaining ¡®elite¡¯ undead forces into two groups. One of those groups had been manning the walls and the trebuchets, a first solid line of defense meant to weaken them at all costs.


    If it weren¡¯t for the Children of Syl and the out-of-context problem that they represented with their absurd size, it would have been an excellent tactic. However, after that first line of defense there¡¯s just a whole bunch of undead civilians, hiding in wait to ambush from dark alleys and out of windows and doorways, but neither armed nor armored and thus fairly easy to push back.


    But then, closer to the tower, they find themselves running into more and more undead heroes again. They mix in with the civilian corpses, using them as fodder and meat shields, as well as cover to allow opportunities to quickly slip past the Knights of the Rose¡¯s defenses and pick off a target here and there. It¡¯s incredibly frustrating how well it works, especially since Mikael knows none of the undead are even remotely intelligent.


    No¡­ this is all Foss. The necromancer is stretching himself very, very thin, leading the battle from atop his tower in real time. He has eyes on them more than likely, keeping track of them via the flashy contingent of golden-armored knights as well as Mikael¡¯s distinctive brand of teal Soul Magic.


    Still, knowing this doesn¡¯t really help too much. Knowing might be half the battle¡­ but it¡¯s still only half the battle. And the other half, in this case, is the challenging part.


    As they¡¯re harried and harassed all the way to the tower, they eventually arrive at it¡¯s base all the same¡­ only to discover what they already could have guessed. The wards are up and the Lord¡¯s Tower is currently as impenetrable as it was back on that day when Zadicus hid out in it.


    Indeed, even the Children of Syl are having to give it a wide berth as due to their massive size, they accidentally brush up against the wards just by walking too close. Like an electrical fence back on Earth but a hundred times worse, the Lord¡¯s Tower is proving an effective deterrent against the beasts of the Sylian Woods.


    ¡°What do we do now? How do we get inside?¡±


    Chevalier Ironshield¡¯s words come as he skewers another undead through the face with his sword, shouted over the din of battle as their diminished contingent of Knights is constantly fighting back undead to hold their position.


    Feeling a brief moment of despair, Mikael looks to Avina, only to see her with a considering gaze on her face. His Soul Mechanic stares up at the warded Lord¡¯s Tower for a moment¡­ and then down at her feet. No¡­ not at her feet. Past her feet. Past the ground her feet are standing on. Mikael¡¯s jaw drops open as he picks up on her idea, swiftly moving next to her and leaning in.


    ¡°You don¡¯t really think¡­?¡±


    Avina grimaces and lets out an amused huff.


    ¡°It might be our only option. I can¡¯t¡­ If I still had the ring, I might have been able to make something work. Or if I went to Ocreatha¡¯s Capital and forced my way into the Royal Palace, I could probably sit my royal ass on the damn throne and declare Foss Sangrey a traitor who is unworthy of the protections of the Kingdom¡¯s wards and that would work too.¡±


    She shakes her head and graces Mikael with a wry smile.


    ¡°But neither are options at the moment and we¡¯re kind of pressed for time so¡­¡±


    Mikael nods sharply in response, before glancing up and around them in consideration for a moment. Finally, he calls out.


    ¡°Thayla! Nathaniel! Avina and I are going to try something! Hold this point! Keep the attention on all of you!¡±


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    ¡°Your will be done, Sir Mikael!¡±


    ¡°Aye Sir Hero, we¡¯ll hold for as long as we can!¡±


    There¡¯s no time to complain about the damn titles. More than that, if they want to keep Foss Sangrey¡¯s focus on this battle and not have the man hunting for them¡­ Mikael needs to make it seem like he¡¯s still here, fighting with his distinctive brand of teal magic.


    With that in mind, he does something he¡¯s never done before. He reaches for his power and the Soul Engine answers. Then¡­ very carefully, he splits his power off from himself while also maintaining a metaphysical grip on it. He probably should have practiced with this before implementing it. It¡¯s incredibly risky to be experimenting at a time like this. But needs must and all that.


    Mikael has used his magic in a ranged fashion before, but it¡¯s always been an expulsion of energy, like a bullet leaving a gun. This though¡­ this needs to last for a while. So not only does he give it a good portion of his power, but he also holds onto it with his mind, shaping a facsimile of himself. It doesn¡¯t have to look convincing. It just has to glow teal and whip out some teal magic every once in a while.


    Only once that¡¯s done does Mikael pull Avina close to him and drag his own teal glow deep into his chest. Breaking away from the fight after that isn¡¯t easy, not with how Foss seems to be sending most of the undead in the city in their direction, but¡­ Avina has lived in Alether for most of her life. She knows this city like the back of her hand.


    Within a few short minutes, they¡¯ve not only managed to slip away from the battle, but they¡¯ve also managed to slip underground¡­ into the sewers that Avina had used for travel purposes for oh so many years.


    Mikael¡¯s old stomping grounds, where he¡¯d spent many a night curtailing Alether¡¯s sewer rat population and patrolling these underground passages to pass the time. As he and Avina move towards Zadicus Quinn¡¯s escape route that will lead directly into the depths of the Lord¡¯s Tower, Mikael doesn¡¯t see a single rat anywhere. It would seem they still haven¡¯t recovered from the culling that he put them through all that time ago.


    ¡°¡­ Do you think Foss found out about the escape tunnel by this point?¡±


    Avina lets out a shuddering breath at that.


    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know. I certainly hope not, because this is our only chance of catching him by surprise.¡±


    Mikael nods. It would be poetic in a way, wouldn¡¯t it? To catch Foss off guard in the exact same way they did to Zadicus Quinn. But¡­ the real world isn¡¯t always poetic. Sometimes it likes to remind you that it¡¯s a cruel and uncaring place.


    Which is why Mikael is both surprised and not surprised when he and Avina turn the next corner only to have a howling, glassy-eyed corpse throw itself at them in a frenzy.


    ¡°SKREEEEEEEEE!¡±


    Luckily, Mikael is taking the lead. He acts immediately, cutting through the undead with a glowing teal sword that had been doubling as torchlight until now. To his mild surprise, the undead doesn¡¯t keep attacking after it¡¯s cleaved in half. The two pieces fall to the ground and cease moving, becoming lifeless again.


    Blinking, Mikael pauses and looks over at Avina in confusion.


    ¡°Avina?¡±


    She opens her mouth to respond, but before she can say a word, there¡¯s a sudden shuffling sound from up ahead. Mikael and Avina both jolt in that direction, and Mikael holds out his sword and increases the glow so that it illuminates the entire sewer in front of them. What they see¡­ is a whole lot more undead. Unfortunately, those undead see them too a moment later, heads twitching in their direction and glassy eyes staring unblinkingly at them for all of a heartbeat before the corpses burst into movement.


    What follows is a fight for their lives, but one that Mikael wins. Let it not be said that he¡¯s a pushover at this point. Not after all he¡¯s been through. The wave of zombies come streaming down the sewers, but with just Avina to protect and all of them only coming from one direction¡­ well, it¡¯s a bottleneck. And Mikael is well suited for utilizing bottlenecks.


    Teal power flows out of the Soul Engine, and even though he¡¯s also still maintaining focus on his power up above with Thayla and Nathaniel, Mikael has enough strength for this too. His magic turns into blades and those blades cut heads from necks like a scythe through wheat. Decapitated bodies drop, heads roll, and the sewer is soon cleared of their enemies.


    It¡¯s easy, truth be told. Almost too easy. Still keeping an eye out for anymore undead, Mikael nevertheless clears his throat and asks again for clarification.


    ¡°Avina?¡±


    ¡°R-Right. As I was going to say before I was so rudely interrupted¡­ if I had to posit a theory, these are feral undead.¡±


    Mikael raises an eyebrow at that, even as they make their way past the unmoving corpses and continue towards the tower.


    ¡°Feral undead?¡±


    Avina nods.


    ¡°Foss is already stretching himself thin enough as it is. More than likely, when he started having his forces massacre the people of Alether, some of them fled into the sewers. But¡­ they couldn¡¯t survive down here. They likely died of dehydration, starvation, or any other number of things. And then when Foss saturated the entire city in enough necromantic energy to raise them all¡­¡±


    Mikael slowly nods as well, getting where Avina is going with this.


    ¡°He inadvertently raised the people who had died down here without even knowing it.¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡±


    Well that was¡­ awful. But hey, at least it was taken care of now, right?


    Not even a moment after that thought runs through Mikael¡¯s head, he hears something on the edge of his enhanced hearing. Something coming from behind them. It doesn¡¯t sound like the shuffling of the undead citizens of Alether he¡¯d just relieved of their heads. It sounds like¡­ skittering. But also heavy. Like a mass of many, many somethings is moving through the sewers.


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen as he realizes what ELSE might have killed the people who¡¯d come down to the sewers to hide. Maybe the Supreme King had sent out multiple pulses of necromantic energy. And if he had¡­


    ¡°Avina. Run.¡±


    His Soul Mechanic looks at him curiously, her own hearing not good enough to hear what he¡¯s hearing.


    ¡°Wha-?¡±


    But Mikael doesn¡¯t have time to explain. Well, not without also running. Scooping Avina up under his arm, he takes off down the sewer at a dead sprint. Meanwhile, the skittering gets louder and louder behind him. Until even Avina can hear it.


    ¡°Hey! What¡¯s wrong?! What¡­ what the fuck is that?¡±


    And see as well, apparently. Mikael doesn¡¯t dare look back. He doesn¡¯t dare stop moving either. But he still has a pretty good idea of what Avina is probably seeing.


    ¡°Yeah so uh¡­ remember all that time ago, back at the very beginning, how you told me that I could survive off of small animals and didn¡¯t necessarily need to kill human beings to feed the Engine?¡±


    ¡°¡­ Oh Mikael.¡±


    Mikael just sighs and puts an extra burst of speed into his legs. All the while, a veritable tidal wave of undead shriveled rat husks, some reduced to nothing but their skeletons, comes barreling down the sewer after them like a fucking grotesque, cascading avalanche.


    He runs and runs, but his memory¡­ well, his memory isn¡¯t the best. Luckily, Avina¡¯s is.


    ¡°LEFT!¡±


    Acting purely on instinct and out of complete trust and devotion towards the woman who brought him back to fucking life, Mikael hooks a hard left and damn near runs right into what appears to lead directly into dead end. But it¡¯s not. He recognizes this ¡®dead end¡¯ and even as he keeps running, he shoots out a tendril of his magic, forming a teal palm against the activation rune he¡¯d gotten so familiar with back in his early days in this world.


    The hidden wall opens up into the basement of the Lord¡¯s Tower and Mikael races through with Avina still tucked under his arm while creating a barrier of teal energy behind them. The rat tsunami strikes his barrier first, but it holds. Mikael makes damn sure of that, until the wall is finally closed up. Only then does he slowly let the barrier on the other side fade.


    For a moment, both he and Avina hold their breath as the impact of undead rats against the wall can be heard from the other side. But¡­ the entire mass didn¡¯t turn left with them. And now that the wall is closed up, the feral creatures don¡¯t seem to realize that they could break through to get to Avina and him. Slowly¡­ slowly, the impacts peter off and the scurrying fades away as the skeletal rats skitter off into the sewers.


    They¡¯ve made it. But his barrier isn¡¯t the only thing that fades as Mikael and Avina stand there. Up top, the power he¡¯d left behind in a glowing facsimile of himself also fades at long last, running out. Which means they¡¯re running out of time too. Only one thing left to do though. Ascend.

 Chapter 64: Fighting Foss

    ¡°Echo¡¯s ran out up above. Gotta move. Dunno what sort of defenses Foss will have throughout the tower, so stay close alright?¡±


    Avina nods sharply at that.


    ¡°Right.¡±


    With that short peptalk over and done with, Mikael moves to the basement door with his Soul Mechanic close behind. By this point, they¡¯re both quite familiar with this particular alternative ¡®entrance¡¯ into the Lord¡¯s Tower. Mikael finds himself thinking hard about what he remembers of the tower¡¯s layout¡­ but in the end, there¡¯s no real helping it, no time to plan ahead. No use in trying either. Foss could have redecorated, plus who knows what sorts of enemies are waiting for them beyond the door to the basement.


    Can¡¯t even check on those because his Soul Sense doesn¡¯t work on undead. All Mikael knows for sure is that Foss is still at the top of the tower, still likely overseeing the battle down below. The longer they wait, the more opportunity the Supreme King gets to notice that neither Mikael nor Avina are fighting alongside the Knights of the Rose stationed at the base of the tower anymore.


    Nothing for it but to move fast, just like he¡¯d told Avina. Making sure she¡¯s right on his heels, Mikael summons his magic and lifts his sword, before kicking down the doors in front of him and racing forward.


    ¡­ There¡¯s nobody waiting up the stairs on the ground floor, so he and Avina quickly ascend the spiral staircase that goes all the way up to the tower. Mikael keeps expecting for undead to leap at them from every shadow and every alcove. He assumes they¡¯re waiting in every doorway, around every corner.


    But as he and Avina ascend the tower, there¡¯s no one and nothing. No undead, not even Alether¡¯s civilians. Just¡­ just empty silence. If it wasn¡¯t for Mikael¡¯s soul sense, he would worry that this was all just a red herring. But no. They higher they get, the more Mikael can detect of Foss Sangrey¡¯s polluting presence at the top of the tower.


    There¡¯s no denying that the Supreme King is up there. He¡¯s just as overconfident as his prot¨¦g¨¦ Zadicus Quinn, in his own unique way. He truly doesn¡¯t think he needs the protection. But Mikael has to remind himself that that might not be overconfidence. It might not be arrogance, even. It was entirely possible that Foss Sangrey could handle anyone or anything who managed to slip past the wards, given how powerful he was.


    Still, even if remembering Foss¡¯ power back when they¡¯d had to initially flee Alether sends shivers up and down Mikael¡¯s spine, he¡¯s not been idle himself. He¡¯s stronger than he was back then. And he has to believe that he and Avina, together, can defeat Foss.


    That said, Mikael knows one thing for sure¡­ if they¡¯ve got the element of surprise, they¡¯re going to fucking use it. And so, as they reach the top of the tower and a familiar pair of large double doors, Mikael doesn¡¯t hesitate. They aren¡¯t open a crack anyways. There¡¯s no conversation to listen into this time. He goes charging forward and with his power, blasts the doors inward off their hinges before rushing into the room.


    From across the way, out on the balcony overlooking the city, the Supreme King himself whips around, actually caught off guard for a moment. He looks even worse in person than he did in that projection, with sunken eyes widening in gratifying surprise and yellowed teeth baring into a snarl. Unfortunately, he¡¯s not stupid enough to waste time demanding to know how they got in.


    ¡°YOU!¡±


    Even as Mikael is already throwing out a lance of teal energy, hoping to take the Supreme King¡¯s head off of his shoulders in a single blow, Foss Sangrey¡¯s personal brand of shadowy black magic swirls around him. An offshoot slices out and cuts Mikael¡¯s attack down while at the same time gnarled fingers are thrust in his and Avina¡¯s direction, more shadow and darkness launching their way.


    Mikael blocks as well, but a moment too late. His sword is torn from his grasp and sent careening off to the side where it winds up embedded in the wall. Reacting immediately, he shields himself and Avina with his Soul Magic. However, unlike his attack, Foss doesn¡¯t let up, forcing him to remain on the defensive just to keep them from being blown away by the onslaught of power. The Supreme King¡¯s flickering soul might not be in the best of states by this point, but he¡¯s much stronger than he was while puppeting Zadicus Quinn all the same.


    ¡°Princess! Despite your defiance, despite your foolish rebellious streak, you came to me of your own accord all the same! Finally, with you by my side, everything shall be set to right. Despite all of these setbacks, you¡¯ve played right into my hands!¡±


    Mikael grits his teeth, about to fall into the other man¡¯s groove and return his words with some choice insults of his own¡­ but before he can speak, Avina¡¯s hand falls upon his arm and it¡¯s like the whole world falls away. He¡¯s still maintaining his shield, but in that moment he only has eyes for Avina as she looks at him with deadly seriousness.


    ¡°I need you to grab hold of Foss, Mikael. Get your hands on him and I¡¯ll do the rest. Alright?¡±


    Obviously he wants to ask questions. He has a million of them in that moment. But this isn¡¯t the time or place. Nodding sharply, Mikael sets his jaw and straightens up. Then, he begins moving forward. Keeping himself between Avina and the cackling Supreme King is good enough at first¡­ but as they cross the tower¡¯s upper room, Foss¡¯ shadows begins to slip around his teal shield, forcing Mikael to shield Avina from behind them as well.


    Still, the decrepit necromancer¡¯s sunken eyes focus on Mikael alone as he continues to soldier forward. Gnarled fingers still splayed in their direction, Foss Sangrey sneers as he steps off of the balcony and into the room. Forcing out a bit more of that black power, the Supreme King seeks to overwhelm Mikael¡¯s defenses¡­ thankfully to no avail.


    ¡°Princess! I¡¯m fairly certain that I taught you to put your toys away before lessons a long time ago! This¡­ nuisance has gone on long enough! I must admit, once I thought to keep your success alive in order to appease you. But I know better now. There¡¯s no appeasing a spoiled BRAT of a Princess! No! Sometimes you just have to take her in hand and give her a good PADDLING!¡±


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Avina doesn¡¯t respond so Mikael doesn¡¯t either. Instead he reaches deep within himself, calling up his reserves. The Soul Engine responds and Mikael grimaces as he feels himself having to dig rather¡­ deep. But this is too important to not go all the way. Avina has given him his mission. She¡¯s told him what he needed to do. And she¡¯s right, Mikael has realized.


    Hell, he might not even need Avina¡¯s help. He¡¯s not sure what ¡®all the rest¡¯ means, but if he can get his hands on Foss Sangrey, maybe he can kill the bastard without Avina having to do anything at all. That would definitely be preferable, especially since Mikael doesn¡¯t know what Avina is planning. Will it hurt her? Will it force her to cross some sort of internal line?


    He doesn¡¯t want Avina to have to sacrifice anything in order to beat the bastard who killed her family. Maybe that¡¯s a foolish dream on his part, but there it is. He wants to protect Avina with all of his power and all of his soul. Even from herself.


    With a roar and a surge of the teal swirling around him, Mikael turns the shield encircling him and Avina into a cone, splitting it down the back and scooping up Foss Sangrey¡¯s shadows, pushing them all back towards the Supreme King. He¡¯s treated to the wonderful sight of the bastard¡¯s sunken eyes widening in surprise again, even as Mikael rushes forward.


    Taking advantage of the moment, he pushes through and arrives right in front of Foss. A savage grin spreads across Mikael¡¯s face as he grabs the old bastard in a great big bear hug, trapping the Supreme King¡¯s arms down at his sides and holding him tight. As his Soul Engine grows brightly in the space between their bodies, Mikael doesn¡¯t waste time. He squeezes with all his might, waiting to exult in the sound of Foss Sangrey¡¯s bones cracking, breaking, and shattering as Mikael pulps the man with his immense, enhanced, supernatural strength.


    ¡­ Only that never comes. The Supreme King¡¯s eyes are wide in stupefaction and for a moment he looks helpless enough that Mikael feels victorious. But there¡¯s no cracking. No breaking. No shattering. Mikael is using every iota of his power right now. He¡¯s stronger than Bula at the moment, stronger than any ten orcs could possibly be. And yet, Foss Sangrey¡¯s body holds. It doesn¡¯t make sense.


    After a moment, the Supreme King¡¯s stupefaction drops and is replaced with a wicked grin that shows off his yellowed teeth as he throws back his head and laughs. For all Mikael¡¯s strength he can¡¯t crush Foss like he wants to¡­ and after a moment, he realizes why. There, beneath the old bastard¡¯s robes¡­ are more shadows. They writhe against the other man¡¯s skin, sheathing him in power¡­ and shielding him from physical harm.


    No wonder the old man hadn¡¯t kept any undead close to him to act as guards. No wonder he hadn¡¯t concerned himself with intruders managing to infiltrate the tower. It wasn¡¯t an overreliance on the wards of the Lord¡¯s Tower, or arrogance¡­ it was well-earned confidence in his ability to protect himself. Even as he was attacking Mikael and Avina so furiously mere moments before, the Supreme King had on a suit of invulnerable armor this entire time, impenetrable shadows lurking just beneath his robes.


    Foss continues to laugh as those same shadows begin to infect Mikael¡¯s magic again, just like they did back on the hill when the bastard was puppeting Zadicus. Only this time, Mikael can¡¯t pull away. The shadows creep up his body, starting at his feet and rooting him in place. They spiderweb their way through his own protections, creating and then filling cracks in his own defenses.


    Mikael fights back of course. But he¡¯s running on fumes already. The Soul Engine is a magnificent power source, but he¡¯s already reaching its limits by this point. He¡¯s all tapped out.


    As his laughter ceases, sunken eyes stare at Mikael, filled with disdain.


    ¡°Did you really think that you, some pissant from another world, could truly defeat me? Did you really think you stood even the slightest chance? Hah! Who the HELL do you think you are, you foolish little WORM?!¡±


    Gritting his teeth, Mikael struggles with all his might¡­ only to go still as a hand suddenly splays across his back. Spreading her fingers in every direction as she presses her palm against him, Avina¡¯s voice suddenly fills the air.


    ¡°He¡¯s mine, Foss. My creation. My lover. The embodiment of all my power. The bearer of my Soul Engine.¡±


    Sunken eyes narrow and yellowed teeth grit as Foss Sangrey hisses.


    ¡°You mewling, simpering child. So very proud of your pathetic little artifact. I shall enjoy taking it apart and showing you all of the mistakes you made once you¡¯re back in your proper place at my feet. You¡¯ve been misusing your True Necromancy all these years, but not to worry¡­ we¡¯ll get you back on the right track, Princess.¡±


    Avina huffs, sounding more amused than anything. Mikael, meanwhile, is continuing to struggle¡­ but something is happening. He can feel it deep within his chest¡­ no, within the Soul Engine itself. Something is¡­ activating.


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, Foss. I¡¯m not a necromancer. And there¡¯s no such thing as True Necromancy. I¡¯m a Soul Mechanic¡­ and so long as I have my Soul Engine, I will always have a conduit for my power.¡±


    Mikael watches with gritted teeth as the Supreme King¡¯s face scrunches up in derision and hatred. Foss opens his mouth to respond¡­ but never gets the chance. Instead, that feeling of activation suddenly becomes very real and Mikael gasps as his chest rises and a feeling of more power than he¡¯s ever had in his entire life courses through him.


    The Soul Engine didn¡¯t have this much power, he¡¯s sure of that. It had never had this much power, even with all of the alterations made to it. It seems almost impossible, the power suddenly flowing through him, filling him up, suffusing every bit of his being. From the center of his chest outward, the power fills and fills him. All the way to his fingertips. All the way to his toes. All the way through every strand of hair on his head.


    The shadows threatening to overwhelm his magic are pushed back. The cracks that Foss¡¯ power has created in his defenses are healed. The spiderwebs clear away as if they were never there and Mikael¡¯s shield becomes stronger than ever as Foss Sangrey¡¯s eyes get wider and wider¡­ and stay wide this time.


    ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s not possible!¡±


    Mikael snorts in amusement at the rather clich¨¦ line. But he can¡¯t exactly voice that amusement properly because¡­ well, it¡¯s starting to burn. The power inside of him is starting to get to be too much. He wouldn¡¯t have thought that possible. But it made sense, in the end. The Soul Engine¡­ it had to have limits. Capacity. He¡¯d just never reached them, at least in part because of Avina¡¯s upgrades.


    Now he is though. Now he¡¯s very much reaching capacity. The power, that impossible amount of power¡­ it feels like it might just burn him out. Is that what Avina was afraid of all this time? Was this why she was scared? Not for herself¡­ but for him? Well, Mikael doesn¡¯t mind. If this is what it takes to kill the Supreme King, so be it. If this is it, then hey, he had a good run. It was his second life anyways after all, so really-


    ¡°You big idiot. Trust me.¡±


    Mikael blinks as Avina¡¯s breath ghosts across his neck, her words whispered into his ear. Then, that overwhelming sensation of power¡­ it passes on. His eyes widen as the Soul Engine embedded in his chest begins to expel the excess of energy that Avina has somehow filled him with. It¡¯s just like Avina said. A conduit.


    Foss¡¯ wide eyed grow wider still and the old man screams as bright teal light spills out of Mikael, passing through him and into Foss. That same light begins to pour out of the man¡¯s sunken eyes and open mouth as his head is flung back. And a moment later¡­ it engulfs all three of them, filling the room with power. Unfiltered, raw power.

 Chapter 65: The Last Reveal

    When Mikael¡¯s vision finally clears up, he finds himself crouched down, holding Avina in his arms. When her hand had slipped off of his back he¡¯d moved on pure instinct as she¡¯d collapsed behind him, whirling around and catching her before she could hit the ground. Glancing over his shoulder for a moment, all he sees of Foss Sangrey is a smoking lump of robes on the floor. She¡¯d done it. That said¡­


    ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Avina smiles at him tiredly, looking as though she¡¯s barely keeping her eyes open.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mikael. Just¡­ just a little spent at the moment. I¡¯m sorry for lying to you all this time. Sorry for not telling you the truth. I¡­ I was afraid. Afraid it wouldn¡¯t work. Afraid it would work and cost us everything. I should have told you though.¡±


    Shaking his head, Mikael brushes a lock of hair out of his Soul Mechanic¡¯s pale face and chuckles.


    ¡°What are you even talking about, Avina? We did it. There¡¯s nothing to apologize for.¡±


    But Avina disagrees, reaching out and grabbing him by the arm with surprising strength.


    ¡°No. I¡­ I saw things in the Truth Above All. Things I should have told you about. But I was scared, so I kept it to myself. True Necromancy¡­ it¡¯s a misnomer, Mikael. All along¡­ there was really no such thing. I think my family knew that too. I think they hid behind the identifier to avoid thinking about all they¡¯d lost.¡±


    Brow furrowing, Mikael won¡¯t deny that he¡¯s confused. But Avina bulls on ahead with her explanation, so at least he¡¯s not confused for long.


    ¡°Legend¡­ Legend says the Royal Family of Ocreatha descended from a Summoned Hero many, many centuries ago. That Summoned Hero¡­ not much information about them and their abilities remains. The Truth Above All showed me though. It showed me the lie inherent in True Necromancy. We weren¡¯t a family of necromancers¡­ we were a family of healers. We just¡­ somewhere along the line, we lost that. We lost our way.¡±


    Avina¡¯s hand slips off of his arm and falls to his chest. Her fingers splay out and her palm presses into the Soul Engine as a tired but broad smile spreads across Avina¡¯s face.


    ¡°Not just healers. My ancestor¡­ she held command over Life and Death itself. She could heal grievous wounds. She could cure diseases and cleanse poisons. And¡­ she could even bring the dead back to life.¡±


    Mikael¡¯s eyes widen at that as understanding begins to dawn on him. He starts to finally see what Avina is saying, even as she caresses him¡­ well, caresses the Soul Engine.


    ¡°I managed to recreate a bit of that. In my own way. I forged my own path. I made the Soul Engine and I used it to bring you back to life, Mikael. It was a one of a kind creation, something I don¡¯t think would ever have worked on anyone but a summoned hero like you. And through it¡­ through it I was able to harness long latent powers to resurrect you, help you grow¡­ and make you stronger.¡±


    She trails off at the end there, looking less certain. When she starts to pull her hand back from the Soul Engine, Mikael is quick to reach up, lacing his fingers through her fingers, taking her hand in her own.


    ¡°And you did it, Avina. You were spectacular. We were amazing, together.¡±


    Biting her lower lip, his Soul Mechanic hesitantly nods. Then, she casts her eyes downwards, towards the ground.


    ¡°¡­ I risked it all for my vengeance. I didn¡¯t know this would work. It almost didn¡¯t until I found a way to save us both. I didn¡¯t know if we would survive this, Mikael. I risked your life and mine, all for revenge.¡±


    Mikael gives her hand a squeeze.


    ¡°He killed your family Avina. He threatened your people. He needed to die. But¡­ what exactly did you do?¡±


    He can¡¯t help it. As much as he wants to reassure her, she¡¯s finally explaining things to him and Mikael is a curious sort at the end of the day. He wants to know what happened, how she stopped Foss at the end there with that explosion of power.


    ¡°I used you as a conduit. And I ripped Foss¡¯ army from him. I reached through you and the Soul Engine and into Foss Sangrey and I tore every connection he had to his creations away at once. But it wasn¡¯t enough. The cost of destroying them all afterwards would have burnt us both out. Funny that¡­ normally, it¡¯s easier to destroy. Cheaper. But this time¡­ this time our salvation was their salvation.¡±


    Pausing, Mikael sees Avina¡¯s smile grow before he slowly looks up.


    ¡°I brought as many of them back as possible, Mikael. I resurrected¡­ as many as I could. Not all of them. Couldn¡¯t resurrect the ones who were dismembered. Couldn¡¯t bring back any of your fellow heroes. But¡­ but I saved who I could save.¡±


    His Soul Sense had shut itself off in the midst of that explosion of energy. Probably some form of automatic defense to keep his eyes from being burned out of his skull. Now though, Mikael reactivates it and looks out across the City of Alether. There are¡­ quite a lot of souls in the city at this point. Children of Syl and Order of the Rose alike. But they¡¯re not moving with quite so much fervency anymore. There¡¯s no urgency to what he¡¯s seeing.


    And besides the Knights and the Beasts that they¡¯ve brought to Alether, Mikael sees others. Hundreds more souls than had been there mere moments ago, easily. Thousands, maybe. Alether is still maimed, still grievously wounded¡­ but it¡¯s no longer the dead city it was moments before.


    ¡°Avina. You-!¡±


    Just as he¡¯s about to praise his Soul Mechanic for the truly awe-inspiring feat she¡¯s pulled off, Mikael¡¯s eyes gloss over the smoking pile of robes again¡­ and with his Soul Sense active this time, Mikael is able to see the soul still within Foss Sangrey¡¯s body, signaling that the Supreme King is still alive.


    In the exact same moment, the old man sucks in a deep breath and comes springing up into a sitting position. Mikael moves without thinking, pulling Avina to his chest and darting back from Foss with all haste. Only once he¡¯s put a few yards between them does he look back¡­ and freeze in shock at what he sees.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    No longer sunken eyes gaze at wrinkle-free hands as Foss Sangrey stares at himself in wonder. The man¡¯s hair is still silver, but no longer pure white. Likewise, his beard has shrunk back all the way to his face, taking on a rather trimmed look. It¡¯s not just his physical appearance either. Where before his soul had been flickering from the damage Mikael had dealt him back when he¡¯d been puppeting Zadicus, now Foss Sangrey¡¯s soul is pristine and glowing brightly within him.


    Put simply¡­ the Supreme King appears to have lost about thirty to forty years of age, going from appearing to be in his eighties or nineties to a distinguished and healthy-looking fifty years old.


    ¡°Oh Princess. Look at what you¡¯ve done for me¡­¡±


    Even his voice sounds younger as he slowly rises to his feet, smiling broadly and marveling at his more youthful appearance. From her position cradled in Avina¡¯s arms, she lets out a huffing scoff.


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t intentional Foss, I assure you.¡±


    Mikael believes her. Not just because she would never in a million years give the bastard who¡¯d killed her family what he wanted of her own volition, but also because¡­ well, what she¡¯d just done was completely insane and utterly untested, by her own admission. Some accidents were bound to happen at the end of the day.


    Letting out a chuckle, Foss¡¯ eyes twinkle with malevolent merriment as he rolls his shoulders and beams at the two of them.


    ¡°I¡¯m sure it wasn¡¯t, Princess. You¡¯ve been very, very naughty. I¡¯m of half a mind to take you over my knee for your transgressions. But I¡¯m in a good mood, so I promise once I¡¯ve killed your pet I¡¯ll only rough you up a little bit before we¡¯ll be on our way.¡±


    Mikael bristles at the Supreme King¡¯s insinuations, even as Foss throws out his hands in their direction. Stiffening, Mikael is quick to call a teal shield up to protect them, finding it all too easy and realizing that he¡¯s still filled to almost capacity with power. However¡­ it proves not to be necessary. Foss definitely TRIES to attack them¡­ but the key word there is ¡®tries¡¯.


    No shadowy magic answers Foss Sangrey¡¯s call. No black power or necromantic energy arises from his fingertips or the ground to launch itself at them. The Supreme King¡¯s supremely confident expression abruptly melts away into baffled confusion as he looks at his hands in disbelief.


    ¡°What¡­ what is this?¡±


    From within his embrace, Avina once again pipes up. This time it¡¯s with a bark of laughter.


    ¡°Ah. It would seem there was a cost for your youth, Foss. I gave you the Life that you so desperately craved but your brand of magic¡­ it¡¯s anathema to both Life and Death. So in return, your necromancy was stripped from you at the same time that your army was. You¡¯re magicless now.¡±


    As Foss freezes in horror at this revelation, Mikael grins and chuckles to. That¡¯s funny. Actually, that¡¯s fucking hilarious. Both he and Avina dissolve into giggle fits as they feed off of one another¡¯s amusement in a minor feedback loop. One that sends the de-aged Supreme King into a swift rage.


    ¡°STOP LAUGHING! YOU¡­ YOU PATHETIC LITTLE INGRATES! I AM SO SICK OF YOU WHINING, SIMPERING FOOLS GETTING IN MY WAY!¡±


    Of course, that only makes them laugh even harder. Until Avina suddenly chokes on her own spit as a massive, familiar pressure falls upon them both. Mikael¡¯s shoulders abruptly tense up, hunching inward as his bones creak. Avina lets out a soft cry of pain as the pressure forces her out of his hands and to the floor.


    Looking up at the standing Supreme King, Mikael sees Foss Sangrey with his hand stretched out¡­ and a familiar ring on his finger. There¡¯s a look of maddened triumph in the de-aged man¡¯s eyes as he lets his lips curl into a half-sneer, half-smirk.


    ¡°I might not have necromancy¡­ but I still hold power here, you foolish little children. This is a Lord¡¯s Tower¡­ and so long as I wear this ring, I am the Lord of Alether.¡±


    He curls his fingers backwards into a fist and then pumps it in their direction. The pressure redoubles beyond anything even Zadicus was capable of bringing to bear and Avina lets out another cry as one of Mikael¡¯s knees is forced to the ground.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Hero. Kneel. Kneel and beg me for my mercy. In fact, I won¡¯t even kill you after all. Let¡¯s make a contract instead, shall we? You and me, here and now. In exchange for the Princess¡¯ safety, you¡¯ll agree to serve me faithfully for the rest of your pathetic life.¡±


    Full circle. Mikael would laugh if the situation wasn¡¯t so serious. And this wasn¡¯t so fucking painful. Of course, it¡¯s not his pain that he¡¯s concerned with right now. It¡¯s Avina¡¯s. The pressure¡­ if Foss doesn¡¯t let up soon, it might very well kill her. However, one look into the maddened Supreme King¡¯s eyes and Mikael knows that won¡¯t convince the man of anything at this point.


    Unfortunately for Foss, he¡¯d gone ahead and cut ties with Zadicus Quinn a little early. Before his prot¨¦g¨¦¡¯s final battle. Before his death. So he had no idea how exactly it was that the previous Lord of Alether had died.


    Funny how the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Foss Sangrey might be able to use more of the pressure from the ring then Zadicus could¡­ but Mikael is also a lot stronger than he was back when he faced Lord Quinn in this very same room.


    Slowly, wordlessly¡­ he rises to his feet. Foss¡¯ expression turns incredulous and he pumps his fist in Mikael¡¯s direction again, once more redoubling the pressure. Avina lets out another cry, but Mikael¡­ Mikael just stretches out his hand to the side and sends a whip of teal energy to the sword embedded in the wall there.


    At the same time, his other hand is thrust to the floor, more teal energy flowing out of his palm and to the ground, where it travels to Avina and wraps her in a tight, safe cocoon.


    ¡°Pathetic. This display is meaningless. You might be able to stand, but do you truly think you can defy me? My reinvigoration gives me more options than you can even dream of Hero. You will submit. Or you will BOTH die here.¡±


    For the first time, Mikael can hear an undercurrent of fear enter Foss Sangrey¡¯s voice. His sword back in his hand, he lets a smile grace his face¡­ and takes his first step forward. The Supreme King¡¯s eyes widen and he scowls, pumping his fist again and then taking a step back. But all the pressure in the world isn¡¯t going to stop Mikael, not as he is now.


    Even as waves of power from the wards of the Lord¡¯s Tower buffet him, Mikael lets some of the energy Avina gave him spool out of the Soul Engine. Wrapping around his body in the same way the shadows wrapped around Foss Sangrey¡¯s before he was rendered magicless, it also sheathes his sword in a teal glow.


    Forging forward, step by step, Mikael closes in on his prey. Foss, meanwhile, continues to backpedal. The de-aged man reaches the balcony in no time, his back hitting the railing. Looking back over his shoulder, he clearly doesn¡¯t like what he sees. Mikael can imagine. The City of Alether is currently swarming with Children of Syl, monsters the size of buildings straight out of legends. And that¡¯s to say nothing of the Knights of the Rose, members of the Zuverian Empire¡¯s premier Knightly Order.


    Turning back to him, fist and ring still outstretched as he tries to stop him¡­ Foss Sangrey finally breaks.


    ¡°Please. P-Please, we can make a deal. I¡­ I surrender. I¡¯ll be the one to sign the contract. Take me as your slave. The Princess will have need of someone of my services, of my experience. I was her father¡¯s advisor for decades and I could be hers as well! I-!¡±


    Mikael steps out onto the balcony. He considers some pithy one liner for a moment, or just laughing in the other man¡¯s face for turning out to be even more cowardly than his prot¨¦g¨¦ in the end. But ultimately¡­ he just goes with what feels right.


    ¡°Fuck. You.¡±


    And then he swings his sword through the air and separates Foss Sangrey¡¯s head from its shoulders. As the de-aged Supreme King¡¯s head goes flying through the air, falling to the city below, Mikael¡¯s free hand snaps out, grabbing him by the front of his robes so that the body doesn¡¯t follow. Instead, he holds it aloft and makes sure to drain every last drop of soul energy out of the decapitated corpse to make sure it¡¯s done, once and for all.


    Only once he¡¯s sure he¡¯s finished does he drop the headless body to the ground, turn back around, and return to Avina¡¯s side.


    And with that¡­ it¡¯s over.

 Chapter 66: Next Steps

    Victory could feel hollow sometimes. The day was won, but to call it saved would be an overstatement. Their triumph had not come without its costs¡­ on both sides, at that. The war between Zuveria and Ocreatha had been mercifully short, but that didn¡¯t change the fact that Zuveria¡¯s entire Imperial Family was still dead.


    Nor did it excuse the numerous Zuverian Citizens pushed from their homes and forced to become refugees as part of Foss¡¯ scheme to put pressure on what bureaucracy the Empire had remaining so he could continue his blitzkrieg across their lands all the way to the Imperial Capital. Likewise, it was a cold comfort that Ocreatha had actually wound up suffering the most casualties in the war in spite of so much of it being fought on Zuverian Soil.


    While the Order of the Rose had lost hundreds of knights, it was Ocreatha who had lost tens of thousands of people in the depopulation of Alether. But as previously stated, that was cold comfort because at the end of the day, the war was never truly between Zuveria and Ocreatha in the first place. It was one man, one monster of a man railing at being able to see the end of his own natural lifespan and causing untold suffering across both countries in an effort to keep from having to pay the piper.


    Foss Sangrey was the villain in this particular fairy tale. And not every story got happy endings. Alether was proof enough of both these simple truths. In the battle¡¯s aftermath, there¡¯s no salvaging the city, not right now anyways. The place is covered in blood and guts and rubble, buildings destroyed by rampaging Children of Syl, dismembered bodies littering the streets.


    Instead of trying to save the city, the Knights of the Rose and the Children of Syl focus their efforts on evacuating those that Avina brought back to life. Mikael plays his own part here, his Soul Sense allowing him to pinpoint each and every survivor of Alether, directing the allied forces to them so that they might be rescued and brought to the camp set up just outside of the city.


    In the end, the final count for survivors is just over a thousand people. The rest of Alether¡¯s population had either been dead too long or torn to pieces in the intense fighting that had occurred while they were all trying so desperately to get to Foss.


    ¡­ Still, it was a thousand more survivors than there had been when they¡¯d arrived outside of Alether earlier that day. Avina¡¯s actions could not be understated. What she¡¯d done was a miracle, plain and simple. And while it might have seemed like such a small number compared to those that had been lost¡­ it was a thousand people clawed back from Foss Sangrey. A thousand people he¡¯d killed who were getting a second shot at life, a second chance at living. That was something to celebrate, Mikael figured.


    Speaking of the dethroned ¡®Supreme King¡¯¡­ his head had been retrieved from where it¡¯d fallen to the streets below the Lord¡¯s Tower. His body, shriveled up by the Soul Engine, had also been brought down from the top of the tower. Both head and body were thrust into a fire and burnt to a crisp with Mikael and his girls standing witness right alongside Knight-Superior Dawnguard and Chevalier Ironshield.


    Standing around that fire at present, the six are silent and somber for a time¡­ but eventually, the silence is broken by Thayla¡¯s father. The Order of the Rose¡¯s Grandmaster turns to Avina and respectfully inclines his head.


    ¡°Princess. What comes next?¡±


    Mikael isn¡¯t blind. More than that though, he feels more in tune with his Soul Mechanic than ever before. She hides it well, but he still sees the flinch, even as she purses her lips together in a thin line for a moment.


    ¡°Now¡­ now I suppose we gather these people up and take them to the Capital. They can¡¯t stay here. One day Alether might be resettled, but for now¡­ for now it¡¯s in no state for anyone to try and rebuild. A thousand survivors of a truly horrific attack do not make a city.¡±


    Timothal¡¯s eyes close in sorrow at the loss of life even as he nods. But Avina isn¡¯t done.


    ¡°When I tore Foss Sangrey¡¯s connections out of him and ended his necromancy, I felt how far his web spread. Thankfully, Alether was the only city he completely depopulated. He had his soldiers, the summoned heroes that Zadicus Quinn fed him, all over Ocreatha to keep the peace¡­ but he hadn¡¯t turned the entire Kingdom into undead yet, thankfully. He probably knew he couldn¡¯t have controlled them.¡±


    Taking a deep breath, Avina looks into the fire, a quiet satisfaction in her eyes as she watches even Foss¡¯ bones burn to nothing but ash.


    ¡°There were small contingents of his soldiers spread across Ocreatha, but without his control they¡¯ll have become feral. No cohesion, no intelligence. They¡¯ll still be armored, but they won¡¯t even know how to use the enchanted weapons he had made for them. It won¡¯t be difficult for the Kingdom to handle them once they know that Foss¡¯ threat is gone.¡±


    Her voice is strong. Very¡­ regal-like, Mikael notes. But he also notes something else in Avina¡¯s tone. Hidden beneath that strength of hers is something¡­ resigned.


    The Knight-Superior doesn¡¯t seem to notice it. Perhaps because he has other things on his mind. Sighing in relief, Thayla¡¯s father also looks into the fire, nodding along with Avina¡¯s explanations.


    ¡°That is good. That is all very good to hear. I wish that I could pledge the Order to your cause further, but we must return to Zuveria from here. The battle is won and the war is over¡­ for the Knights of the Rose to venture into Ocreatha at this point would only serve to potentially provoke further hostilities.¡±


    Avina¡¯s lips are pressed tightly together as she hums at that. But Timothal isn¡¯t done.


    ¡°It is my fondest hope that Zuveria and Ocreatha can renew our bonds of friendship. That together, we can both rebuild what we have lost at the hands of Foss Sangrey. I admit¡­ I received a message from the Imperial Senate just a few hours ago. It would seem the vast majority have already grown weary of having to run the empire by themselves. They are becoming desperate to name a new Emperor as soon as possible. So desperate that they¡¯ve turned to me.¡±


    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Wait, what? Mikael is glad to see he¡¯s not the only one that pauses in confusion, but it doesn¡¯t change that he IS confused. Brows are furrowed, blinks are had, and everyone turns to Timothal at that, not entirely sure what he¡¯s saying.


    Smiling somewhat ruefully, the Knight-Superior rolls his armored shoulders and lets out another sigh.


    ¡°I must confess, I have not been entirely forthright with any of you¡­ not even you Thayla, Nathaniel. I, like most people, have a past. However, unlike most people, my past involves me being born a bastard to a lowly serving girl that served the Emperor before last. Essentially¡­ I was this latest Emperor¡¯s half-brother.¡±


    Well shit. Talk about last second bomb shells. The older man at least seems to understand how insane this is, as he looks down at his gauntleted hands for a moment before shaking his head.


    ¡°Many, many years ago, when I was still a young child, I was sent to the Order of the Rose to keep me out of the way and prevent any potential claim to the Imperial Throne. I grew up unaware of my true bloodline. In fact, it wasn¡¯t until I was already Knight-Superior and Grandmaster of the Order that my half-brother contacted me. By that time, I had already made a name for myself, literally. I wore the name Dawnguard proudly, having earned it through distinction along with my titles and position. Fortunately, the newly enthroned Emperor understood this. We had a¡­ professional relationship throughout his time on the throne.¡±


    It finally dawns on Mikael and everyone else what this really means. Eyes slide over to Thayla Dawnguard, who has gone incredibly pale the more her father has spoken. Icy blue eyes stare at Timothal in horror and shock, even as Timothal finally lifts his head, looking at his daughter with a half-hearted smile.


    ¡°It seems I have to be Emperor now, Thayla. At least if those old fools in the Imperial Senate have their way. Will you come with me, daughter? To the Capital?¡±


    Even as he asks, Mikael can tell that the man already knows Thayla¡¯s answer. It¡¯s written all over her shocked whitened face. Once the words permeate through her stupor however, Thayla is quick to shake her surprise off and regain herself, even as she¡¯s also quick to shake her head.


    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry father, but I cannot. I must¡­ I must remain at Sir Mikael¡¯s side. My pledge to him does not end simply because the Supreme King has been defeated! Just as it did not end when Zadicus Quinn was brought to justice either. I¡­ I took Mikael¡¯s life, unjustly and in a cowardly fashion. I offered him my own in recompense, but he chose to accept my offer in a different fashion. Therefore¡­ I have no choice. I MUST serve him until my dying day. I am sorry.¡±


    That¡¯s a lot of words Thayla just spouted there, but Mikael has a sinking suspicion that it¡¯s not just her sense of duty or even her love for him that pushes Thayla to reject her father¡¯s offer. No, he can easily imagine what¡¯s going through Thayla¡¯s head right now. If she went with Timothal to the Zuverian Empire¡¯s Capital¡­ there would be no more adventuring. No more armor. No more swords.


    She would be named Imperial Princess, dressed in fine silk robes, and likely pushed into a bunch of etiquette classes by the Imperial Senate to make her more ¡®royal¡¯ and ¡®majestic¡¯. Mikael can see it writ large across Thayla¡¯s face¡­ her whole life is flashing before her eyes, both her past and her future, and what she sees in her future if she goes with her father clearly scares her to death, amusingly enough.


    Not so amusingly¡­ this meant that Thayla actually WAS a princess all along! Damn it all! It wasn¡¯t enough for her to just be a quasi-princess thanks to her status as the daughter of the leader of Zuveria¡¯s preeminent Knightly Order. No, she had secretly turned out to be the Heir to the entire Zuverian Empire¡­ at least once Foss Sangrey got his way and had the whole Imperial Family assassinated anyways.


    What was up with him and his luck? Did someone tag him with some sort of Princess Catnip when he first arrived in this world or something? Or was this merely the universe balancing the scales in his favor? Oh sure, you¡¯ll be torn from your old life, your mind ripped in two, and then killed. But don¡¯t worry because afterwards you¡¯ll be resurrected by a Hidden Princess descended from some sort of White Mage Analog, have an oath of eternal service sworn to you by a Hidden Princess Knight, and then also play a pivotal role in freeing a Druidic Nature Princess from slavery to an evil wizard.


    Sheesh, when he spelled it all out, his life really had become something straight out of a fantasy, hadn¡¯t it? But never mind all that. Focus back on the present, Mikael.


    Thankfully, Timothal takes his daughter¡¯s words in stride, nodding along amicably enough in a resigned fashion that makes it clear he expected just such a rejection from Thayla.


    ¡°I understand, my daughter. I understand all too well.¡±


    The knowing look he gives both Thayla AND Mikael makes it clear he has at least some understanding of their true relationship. Mikael can¡¯t help the heat that rises to his cheeks but at least he¡¯s not quite as bad as Thayla. The female knight is positively incandescent with embarrassment. Still, the Knight-Superior shows mercy as he smiles and continues after a moment.


    ¡°I suppose then that my only course of action is to name you my unofficial liaison with the Kingdom of Ocreatha, Thayla.¡±


    ¡°What?!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    Thayla¡¯s exclamation of surprise is expected, while Avina¡¯s slightly more understated response is nevertheless audible enough for Timothal to hear her. Turning to Avina, he inclines his head in Mikael¡¯s direction.


    ¡°I imagine you¡¯ll be keeping this one close by, Princess. And since he¡¯ll be at your side and my daughter will be at his side, there¡¯s no reason not to kill two birds with one stone. As such, Dame Dawnguard shall be my liaison with you. Unofficial for the time being, but we¡¯ll see about making it official once the Senate forces a crown upon my head and names me Emperor. Acceptable, I hope?¡±


    Avina bites her lower lip for a moment before nodding.


    ¡°I¡­ yes. That¡¯s acceptable.¡±


    The crow¡¯s feet at the corners of the Knight-Superior¡¯s eyes crinkle as he gives her a broad smile.


    ¡°Thank you, Princess. To a brighter future than, for both of our countries.¡±


    Avina nods, but there¡¯s a not of hesitance to it. Even as they part ways with Timothal and Nathaniel from there, and then in the morning see them and the rest of the Knights of the Rose off, Mikael can tell that something is bothering his Soul Mechanic. There¡¯s a mulish expression on Avina¡¯s face whenever she thinks no one is looking, a sort of contemplation that makes it clear she¡¯s not happy about something.


    Unfortunately for her, he¡¯s always looking. And he¡¯s not about to let her bottle up her emotions anymore. Just a matter of figuring out how best to approach her. Or perhaps more honestly¡­ ambush her so she can¡¯t hide how she¡¯s really feeling and is forced to admit what¡¯s bothering her.


    After all, they¡¯ve won haven¡¯t they? Sure, Alether is all but wiped off the face of the map, but Foss Sangrey is dead. Her family has been avenged. Avina is happy about that, Mikael can see that much¡­ but she¡¯s not happy enough for his tastes. And as his Soul Mechanic, her happiness is one of his top priorities. That meant it was time to get to the bottom of things. No matter what it took.

 Chapter 67: The Talk

    In spite of his conviction, it¡¯s a couple days later before Mikael is finally able to confront Avina about her carefully hidden melancholy. But then, to be fair¡­ corralling over a thousand people who were just brought back to life and not only lost their homes but also in many cases their friends and loved ones isn¡¯t as easy as it might sound. Wait, that didn¡¯t sound easy at all. Okay, so it¡¯s actually even harder than it sounded.


    Of course, one would expect the massive fuck-off army of Sylian Beasts they still had with them to help out in that regard. But no. The Children of Syl had played their part in helping get them into Alether and they¡¯d played it well. Mikael isn¡¯t sure that they could have ever gotten to Foss Sangrey up in his tower without them busting down the gates and running interference. Let alone survived the bastard¡¯s invasion of Zuveria if they hadn¡¯t gone and brought them out of the Sylian Woods in the first place.


    But¡­ the Children of Syl were always a temporary measure, as the Forest God himself had explained to them back before they¡¯d left. They were just too energy intensive. There was a very good reason that the megafauna in the Sylian Woods didn¡¯t come sweeping out to ravage and rampage across Zuveria and Ocreatha more often. And that was because to creatures as big as them, the lands of the two countries might as well be barren.


    That said, Syl had infused those of his Children that were following Bula out of the woods with as much power as he possibly could before they¡¯d returned to Zuveria. And then that power had been used to great effect in the battles that had followed. It shouldn¡¯t have been surprising when they finally began to reach the end of that energy.


    In the end, Bula brought up the fact that the Children were growing more and more restless at the same meeting where Thayla brought up how much the appearance and size of the Children were frightening the refugees. And so the decision was made between the four of them to let the Children of Syl go loose. The hulking creatures had all departed as one, heading back to the Sylian Woods at Bula¡¯s urging¡­ and without eating a single refugee either. Mikael had to count that as a win.


    Of course, it meant more work for him. Between his soul and a complete lack of a need for sleep, Mikael was best situated for being Chief Wrangler to the refugees they were trying to lead to Ocreatha¡¯s Capital. Once the Children of Syl were gone, he found himself spending most of his first day putting out proverbial fires, making sure none of the kids who Avina had brought back to life got lost or left behind, and also keeping an eye out for any natural wild predators who might seek to prey upon their not-so-little caravan.


    They WERE taking the main road from Alether all the way to the Capital, but that didn¡¯t necessarily mean it was entirely safe.


    Fortunately, on Day Two of their trek, Thayla had helped him out by finding those among the refugees who had natural leadership qualities. By the time night fell, Mikael was no longer their primary source of scouting and protection. Even Thayla and Bula had begun to feel stretched thing to be honest, so it was nice to be able to just sit down at a campfire, all four of them, and rest for a moment.


    Mikael still had his head on a swivel of course¡­ and he still had Soul Sense active twenty-four-seven as well. But right now he could tell that most of the refugees were sleeping soundly and those that were awake were either lookouts or at least staying out of trouble. Mikael wasn¡¯t about to begrudge anyone some insomnia and restlessness after what they¡¯d all been through.


    That said, now that he, Avina, Bula, and Thayla were all together and they had a moment to actually breathe¡­


    ¡°Avina. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Startling, his Soul Mechanic looks up from where she¡¯d been leaning against his shoulder staring into the flames. She gapes for a moment before quickly schooling her features.


    ¡°What¡­ what makes you think something is w-wrong?¡±


    Mikael is just about to answer when Bula lets out a huff and answers for him.


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious.¡±


    The half-orc¡¯s words almost look like they strike a visible blow from the way Avina jerks back. Ducking her head and letting her raven locks cover her face for a moment, Avina groans and whispers almost too quietly to be heard.


    ¡°Fuck¡­ even Bula could tell? That one hurts¡­¡±


    Only Thayla can¡¯t hear her though, given Mikael and Bula¡¯s enhanced senses. Likewise, the Knight of the Rose looks confused. Unlike Mikael and Bula, Thayla hadn¡¯t noticed Avina¡¯s melancholic attitude. Still, she knows better than to speak up right now and silence quickly falls save for the crackling of the campfire. Finally though, Avina raises her head and lets out an explosive sigh before admitting what¡¯s bothering her.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be Queen.¡±


    Those six words land like a bombshell in the middle of them all. Silence falls as Mikael digests that statement. Huffing, Avina gestures with a hand and explains.


    ¡°I mean, why would I? Sure, I was raised a Princess¡­ for like, eight or nine years. And then my whole family was killed and I had to run. I survived not as a Princess, but as an orphan and an urchin. I learned to live on my own without any of the amenities royalty could expect to have at their disposal. Of course, it turns out that the entire time I had Foss Sangrey watching me and spying on me with patsies like Zadicus Quinn, but that doesn¡¯t change the facts!¡±


    Grumbling, Avina hugs herself, wrapping her arms around her body.


    ¡°I spent more of my life on the streets, living day to day and trying to work on the Soul Engine then I did as a princess. I don¡¯t remember HALF of the lessons I was given as a child. And I was never meant to be Queen in the first place! I wasn¡¯t the eldest of my siblings by a long shot, so the chance of me being Queen was always minimal. Or rather, it was supposed to be.¡±


    Untwining her arms from her body just as swiftly, Avina lets out another explosive breath and runs a hand through her hair, raking her fingers back along her scalp.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be Queen. I don¡¯t want to rule Ocreatha. But¡­ it¡¯s my duty and I understand that. I¡¯m just not looking forward to it, you know?¡±


    Then, summoning a smile to her face, Avina looks to all of them one by one, eventually stopping on Mikael.


    ¡°At least¡­ at least I¡¯ll have you all by my side, right?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Mikael only realizes how his response sounds after it¡¯s left his lips. To be fair, the word falls from his mouth almost entirely involuntarily, completely on impulse. Still, when Avina¡¯s face flashes to hurt and confused right afterwards, he quickly elaborates.


    ¡°Sorry, to be clear I don¡¯t mean ¡®no¡¯ to being by your side. I¡¯ll always be by your side Avina, for as long as you¡¯ll have me.¡±


    The relief that comes over her face at that is almost painful. But it¡¯s his own fault for implying for even a moment that he¡¯d abandon her. Shaking his head, Mikael reaches out and slips his fingers through Avina¡¯s, taking hold of her hand and gripping it tightly.


    ¡°What I was saying ¡®no¡¯ to is this idea that you HAVE to become Queen. Why? Why not just¡­ let it go?¡±


    That brings Avina up short. His Soul Mechanic just stares at him wordlessly for a long moment, her dark grey eyes wide. Finally though, she collects herself.


    ¡°Let it¡­ go? It¡¯s not that simple, Mikael. I can¡¯t¡­ people are counting on me.¡±


    But Mikael just shakes his head again.


    ¡°No they aren¡¯t. Avina, most don¡¯t even know you¡¯re alive. So I ask again¡­ why do you have to become Queen if you don¡¯t want to? Why is it your duty? Just because you were born royalty doesn¡¯t mean you owe a bunch of strangers anything.¡±


    Straightening up, he looks his Soul Mechanic, his savior, right in the eye.


    ¡°You have a claim to the throne of Ocreatha. There¡¯s no denying that. But it¡¯s just a claim. You hold no responsibility to press that claim. You do NOT have a duty to the people of this country anymore than you¡¯ve already satisfied by killing Foss Sangrey and ending his tyranny. Your family has been avenged. Ocreatha is free of the ¡®Supreme King¡¯. So¡­ why not? Why can¡¯t we just drop off the refugees outside of the Capital and leave?¡±


    Avina is gaping at him now. Mouth fully open, eyes still wide. A little aghast, she wiggles for a moment before glancing down at where he¡¯s holding her hand. A small, secretive little smile flies across her face for a second before she gets ahold of herself and shakes her head.


    ¡°Where¡­ where would we even go though?¡±


    Mikael just scoffs good-naturedly.


    ¡°Go? We¡¯d travel of course. We¡¯d go wherever we wanted to go. We¡¯d do whatever we wanted to do. And most importantly of all¡­¡±


    Here he leans in and with his free hand proceeds to boop Avina on the nose. Needless to say, she does not appreciate this one bit, batting his hand away and scowling at him¡­ right up until he finishes his sentence.


    ¡°¡­ we¡¯ll be who WE want to be.¡±


    Avina goes still at that idea, but she can¡¯t hide the longing in her face from him. The girl who had told him to call her his Soul Mechanic all that time ago in a basement in Alether longed to be free. She longed to no longer be tied down by society¡¯s expectations of her. Well fuck it. Mikael would give her that. No matter what it took.


    ¡°Let¡¯s explore the world, yeah? This continent we¡¯re on¡­ I can¡¯t imagine it¡¯s all of Vaclatora. There¡¯s gotta be more of it out there. We¡¯ll see it all if possible. The four of us.¡±


    For the first time, Mikael sweeps his gaze to the others, including them in his spiel.


    ¡°We¡¯d make an excellent adventuring party. Avina has the healing down pat so long as she can use me and the Soul Engine. And between Bula, Thayla, and me, we¡¯ve got more than enough martial firepower to take on anything we come across as well, I¡¯m sure of it. The four of us¡­ striding across Vaclatora, causing mayhem, putting out fires, and saving the day for innocents while ruining it for the bad guys. What do you say?¡±


    At the end of his speech, he turns his attention back to Avina. Those last four words are directed at all of them of course, but there¡¯s no denying they¡¯re directed at Avina most of all. His Soul Mechanic¡¯s breath hitches and she looks like she wants nothing more than to take him up on his offer. However, before she replies, she turns to the other two women sitting around the campfire herself. Staring at Bula and Thayla, she bites her lower lip as she gives them both questioning looks.


    Bula is the first to respond, the half-orc warrior snorting in derision.


    ¡°Sounds like fun. More fun than watching you play Queen, anyways. Either way, I¡¯m sticking with you lot.¡±


    Rolling her shoulders in a shrug, Bula grins wickedly.


    ¡°Seeing as my only other choice is to go live with a bunch of monsters that are all so much bigger than me it¡¯s not even funny, I¡¯m here to stay. Cuddling with a bunch of Syl¡¯s Children every once in a while is all well and good, but not like I want to live in those damn woods full time or anything.¡±


    All three of the other people around the campfire shudder involuntarily at the thought of ¡®cuddling¡¯ with a Child of Syl. Way too many spikes. But Mikael had to admit, somehow Bula made it work. Hell, she even made it look comfortable the few times he¡¯d seen it happen. Still¡­ her point well-made, it¡¯s obvious she¡¯s on board with their plan.


    Thayla on the other hand is squirming and looking a little bit pale. Likely at the thought of turning around and running right after her father gave her the job of liaison to Ocreatha just two days ago. And Avina looks like she¡¯s not sure how to ask Thayla to abandon that duty, judging by the way his Soul Mechanic looks down at her lap, biting her lower lip.


    Mikael knows how though. Clearing his throat and drawing Thayla¡¯s attention in his direction, he gives a half shrug.


    ¡°You know Thayla¡­ once the Imperial Senate forces your father to become Emperor, they¡¯re almost certainly going to force him to name an heir as well. And with you as his only living child, well¡­ Ocreatha might not be far enough away to prevent him from naming you Heir to the Zuverian Empire in the event that something happens to him. In fact¡­ not that I want to cast aspersions on the Knight-Superior¡¯s good name¡­ but assigning you as liaison to Ocreatha might very well have been his plan for keeping you within arm¡¯s reach all along¡­¡±


    Thayla¡¯s face goes through a number of contortions as Mikael¡¯s words wash over her, before ultimately settling on even paler than before, her big blue eyes wide with fear. It also serves the dual purpose of reminding her just how LITTLE she wants to be the Imperial Princess with all the duties and responsibilities that such a role would carry¡­ and allows her to perhaps finally recognize what Avina is staring down the barrel of as well.


    ¡°The¡­ the Savage Lands might be nice this time of year!¡±


    Everyone blinks at that suggestion, but Thayla is quick to defend her suggestion.


    ¡°No one knows what lies beyond the Savage Lands apparently. So¡­ if we wanted to begin exploring the far corners of Vaclatora, it¡¯s either that, the Sylian Woods¡­ or the ocean. And I don¡¯t know how to sail. Or swim.¡±


    Mikael finds himself beginning to nod along.


    ¡°Yeah. Plus, the Sylian Woods would probably be boring anyways. We¡¯d find a lot more satisfying fights in the Savage Lands and whatever might lie beyond them.¡±


    Bula perks up at that, grinning savagely.


    ¡°No clue what¡¯s past the Savage Lands. They¡¯re bigger than Zuveria and Ocreatha combined from what I was told. Not that I know for sure, we didn¡¯t exactly have maps. Still¡­ I could see myself going back there. With the right kind of people.¡±


    Mikael returns Bula¡¯s grin with a grin just as savage as his own. Finally, all three of them turn to Avina. The smallest member of their group looks surprised and also incredibly touched even as she too slowly begins to grin. In her eyes, Mikael sees pure happiness overtake the melancholy she¡¯d been trying to hide these past couple of days. Avina finally sees what he sees¡­ that in the four of them, they¡¯ve found a strange but loving family. And no matter what, they¡¯ll always have each other through thick and thin.

 Chapter 68: Other Perspectives

    He wasn¡¯t anyone important. Which was probably why he was still alive and this whole awful headache was his fault. He was the assistant to a minor functionary in Ocreatha¡¯s new government after Foss Sangrey disbanded the Council of Lords and took over as Supreme King. Only, that minor functionary had been dragged from his office and drawn and quartered when all of the sudden the undead soldiers who were keeping the peace had gone feral and started attacking everyone.


    All across Ocreatha, people had risen up. They¡¯d killed the feral undead and then they¡¯d gone ahead and overthrown the Supreme King in Absentia. Seeing as the man was nowhere to be found and his undead shock troops had been destroyed one and all, the people of Ocreatha had decided to take their Kingdom back.


    He, of course, wasn¡¯t involved in any of that, including the drawing and quartering of his superior. But when the dust had settled, he¡¯d found himself as one of the only remaining pieces of a no longer functioning government that still knew how to do the paperwork. And someone always had to do the paperwork.


    Still, it wasn¡¯t like he had any power, he just did as he was told by the scary fellows with armor and swords. The old City Guard, who had been disbanded and forced to lay down their arms and armor back when the Supreme King took power, had pulled those dusty armaments and cuirasses back out and had taken to the streets of the Capital while the undead were rampaging. They¡¯d killed every last one and then overseen the punishments of those who had most benefited from Foss Sangrey¡¯s tyranny.


    But not him. Him, they¡¯d stuck in a room and kept working. And then they¡¯d pulled him from that room a day ago and had him doing this.


    ¡°Please¡­ just tell me what happened.¡±


    Sitting across from him, a young woman fidgets nervously but after a moment she finds her nerve, swallowing thickly and nodding.


    ¡°R-Right. W-Well¡­ I died. The Supreme King killed me. And my ma. And my pa. And then¡­ t-then I was back. And there were knights and massive monsters and¡­ and¡­¡±


    Before she can shut down completely, he plasters a comforting smile on his face and catches her eye.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. You¡¯re okay. Tell me¡­ who brought you and the others to the Capital?¡±


    Blinking, she has to think for a moment.


    ¡°Well¡­ there were four of them. One was a Knight of the Rose. One was a half-orc. One dressed all in black¡­ and the fourth was the only man.¡±


    Humming, he slowly nods as he records her words. She¡¯s not the first person he¡¯s talked to, of course. By now, the refugees from Alether have painted an¡­ astounding picture. One that he wouldn¡¯t even remotely believe if it wasn¡¯t for the fact that the hundreds he¡¯d interviewed so far had all said pretty much the exact same thing.


    The City of Alether¡­ was dead. And not because of their so-called enemies in the Zuverian Empire, but because of their very own Supreme King. Foss Sangrey had turned the entire population of Alether into undead. Truly, the most heinous of crimes.


    But joy of joys, he was dead now. Slain by the same people who escorted the refugees to the Capital, if said refugees are to be believed and didn¡¯t just have some mass shared hallucination. It made sense, to be fair. In fact, the Supreme King¡¯s purported death lined up perfectly with the moment that his soldiers had gone feral and mad not just in the Capital but across every inch of Ocreatha, reportedly.


    Still¡­ one would think that if a group of people had helped end Foss Sangrey¡¯s tyranny, they would have stuck around to at least claim their reward or something. Instead¡­


    ¡°Do you know where those four people are now?¡±


    He keeps his tone as gentle as possible, of course. He doesn¡¯t want to spook the poor woman sat across from him. As impossible as it sounds that she was not only killed and raised as undead, but then cured of her undeath¡­ that she and her fellow refugees had gone through something truly traumatic was not in question.


    Unfortunately, he doesn¡¯t get anything more from her than he did from the previous interviewees. Eyes wide, she shakes her head.


    ¡°N-No. I¡­ I remember when we reached the Capital and the Captain at the Front Gate demanded to speak to our leaders¡­ I looked around for them. They¡¯d led us all the way h-here after all, protecting us and k-keeping us safe and well fed. But¡­ when I looked, they were already g-gone. Nowhere to be s-seen.¡±


    Same story as the last hundred times or so. These four¡­ heroes, if you will, had gone out of their way to make sure the last thousand survivors from Alether made it to the Capital. And then they¡¯d just up and vanished. How absolutely vexing, to say the least.


    But then, it wasn¡¯t his problem. He¡¯d let whoever decided they were in charge next figure out what to do about¡­ any of this. He just did the paperwork. He knew his lane and he stayed in it, no matter what.


    Still, for as much as they¡¯d given him quite the headache without ever meeting him, the man wished those four the best. If they¡¯d done even half the things that the people he¡¯d been interviewing claimed they had, then they¡¯d saved Ocreatha beyond a shadow of a doubt.


    What came next¡­ well, that was for Ocreatha to decide.


    -x-X-x-


    ¡°Commander! We have a situation!¡±


    Looking up from his maps within his tent, a nameless commander on the frontlines of the border between Zuveria and the Savage Lands narrows his eyes.


    ¡°A situation? What kind of situation?¡±


    The equally nameless foot soldier who¡¯s stepped halfway into the tent swallows thickly.


    ¡°Four dangerous unknowns have entered camp, sir!¡±


    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°What?! How?!¡±


    ¡°Well sir¡­ they came in from Zuveria, sir!¡±


    Pushing off the table, the Commander growls as he grabs the map he was looking over and rolls it up before storming out of the tent. The messenger barely having the time to get out of his way to avoid being bowled over. But to be fair, he really didn¡¯t have time for this. The Zuverian Border with the Savage Lands was as hotly contested as ever. And to top it all off, the latest reports from the Empire were downright insane.


    The Imperial Family assassinated? The Kingdom of Ocreatha had declared war only for the war to end in a few short weeks? The Imperial Senate claimed to have found a successor to the throne already?


    It was all ridiculous¡­ and quite frankly, it was way above the Commander¡¯s paygrade. His job as a Commander in the Zuverian Empire¡¯s military was to hold this particular stretch of land from the orcs and other monsters who sought to invade from the Savage Lands. And damn it all, he did his job well!


    He didn¡¯t need complications. He didn¡¯t like surprises. And he certainly didn¡¯t want dangerous ¡®unknowns¡¯ to be parading around his camp, no matter where they came from! Fortunately, it doesn¡¯t take him long to find the four. Though when he sees them, the Zuverian Commander does stop short for a second and just stare. They aren¡¯t¡­ quite what he was expecting.


    One of them isn¡¯t even wearing armor! The shortest of the group is dressed in all black with her raven-black hair done up in a tight ponytail. She has on a thick leather apron and a pair of leather gloves along with a pair of big round goggles that cover her eyes. She looks like a mad woman, to be quite frank.


    Another is very clearly a half-orc based on the way she¡¯s carrying herself. The bulging muscles and skimpy armor along with the battle-axe hefted over her shoulder are all par for the course for a female orc¡­ but the fact that she¡¯s not going into a rage or demanding that someone fight her make it clear that she¡¯s only half orcish. So do her sharp knife-like ears¡­ most orcs have rounded ears, after all.


    Then there¡¯s what would be the oddest of them all if not for the fourth. A Knight of the Rose stands with the other three, resplendent in the Order¡¯s signature golden armor from head to toe. With her features covered, the Commander has no way of knowing who she might be¡­ especially since the Knight of the Rose is foregoing any sort of identification in the form of house heraldry or anything like that. Her armor is unadorned in a way most Knights of the Rose would never abide by.


    But setting her aside, the most eye-catching of an already eye-catching group has to be the last of the four. Dressed in a hulking suit of armor that puts him at broader and taller in stature than even the Knight of the Rose, the Commander would mark the fourth as a male orc or something if it weren¡¯t for the fact that he had his helmet off and under his arm, revealing a charming brown-haired man with a wide grin.


    That wasn¡¯t all though. His armor was black¡­ except for where it was glowing with lines of teal energy that threaded his four limbs and spread outwards from the center of his chest where there was a circle of the glow almost blinding in its intensity. And to top it all off, his eyes were glowing that same teal energy, making it clear that he was some sort of¡­ wizard-knight from the look of things.


    Taking all of this in, the Zuverian Commander just huffs as he gathers his bearings and heads on over. Just from the carefree smile on the fourth one¡¯s face, he decides they aren¡¯t necessarily a threat¡­ yet. Clearing his throat, he draws their attention as he comes to a stop a few yards away and crosses his arms over his chest.


    ¡°I am the Commander here. You are trespassing on a military encampment. State your names and purpose immediately.¡±


    The ¡®or else¡¯ hangs in the air, even as the one with his helmet off steps forward, his smile morphing into a grin.


    ¡°Apologies Commander. We didn¡¯t mean to step on any toes. We are¡­ adventurers if you will. Looking for¡­ adventure.¡±


    The Commander¡¯s eyes narrow at that, but before he can react, the other man gestures to himself and then his female compatriots.


    ¡°I am the Hero. This is the Mechanic, the Dame, and the Warrior. As for our purpose¡­ well, it¡¯s quite simple. We¡¯re hoping you¡¯ll point us in the direction of the biggest, baddest, scariest thing you¡¯re currently dealing with. We¡¯ll take it from there.¡±


    If his eyes weren¡¯t already narrowed, they¡¯d narrow even further. Either these people were some of the bravest warriors he¡¯d ever seen¡­ or the stupidest. But then again, maybe it was both. Seriously, code names? How¡­ juvenile.


    ¡°You¡¯re planning a trip into the Savage Lands.¡±


    Its not a question, but the one who called himself ¡®the Hero¡¯ answers it all the same.


    ¡°Oh, we¡¯re not just going into the Savage Lands my good sir! No, we¡¯re planning on seeing what lies PAST the Savage Lands!¡±


    The Hero¡¯s boisterous claim sends a jolt through the encampment and for the first time the Commander realizes just how many of his men are listening in on this conversation¡­ or just staring in lustful admiration at the Hero¡¯s companions. Once you got past the leather apron and gloves, or the half-orc status, or the golden armor of a Knight of the Rose, you realized just how beautiful the Hero¡¯s female compatriots really were.


    Jaw clenching, the Zuverian Commander realizes that he should have had the soldier who first came to him bring these four to his tent, rather than coming out here himself. Well, nothing to do about that now. There¡¯s just one thing here that doesn¡¯t make sense.


    ¡°If your plan is to try and journey past the Savage Lands, wouldn¡¯t you want the path of least resistance?¡±


    Not that anyone had ever made it past the Savage Lands and then returned to tell of what might lay beyond in the first place. But still¡­


    ¡°Oh, nah. We¡¯re not looking for Easy Mode or anything like that. We want a good, solid fight. Mostly to settle a bet.¡±


    Wait, what? The Commander just stares at the self-proclaimed Hero, nonplussed.


    ¡°¡­ A bet.¡±


    Nodding jovially, the man, with his glowing teal eyes, grins a savage grin.


    ¡°Oh yes! Plus, we¡¯ll need the power going forward. So¡­ point us in the direction of your biggest problem. And like I said¡­ we¡¯ll take it from there.¡±


    There¡¯s no way. And yet¡­ slowly, the Commander looks down at the rolled up map in his hands. Then, before he can second guess himself, he takes five long strides forward and thrusts the map in the Hero¡¯s direction.


    ¡°Here. This map leads to an orc warlord who¡¯s just popped up in the area.¡±


    The Hero¡¯s eyebrow raises as he takes the map.


    ¡°Oh? Orcs have warlords then?¡±


    What? He was literally traveling with a half-orc! Did he know nothing? Pushing that thought from his mind, the Zuverian Commander grits his teeth as he explains.


    ¡°Yes. It¡¯s said that he¡¯s managed to browbeat two tribes into submission in addition to his original tribe and named himself Warlord. Warlord R¡¯azz. Unfortunately, the way in which he managed to bring the extra orc tribes under his control was by discovering and ransacking a hidden cache of castle-forged weapons buried underneath an old abandoned Zuverian Fortress from back when our border with the Savage Lands was an hour in that direction.¡±


    Pointing towards the Savage Lands themselves, the Commander watches as the Hero follows his eyes. After a moment, the other man slowly nods.


    ¡°Which means you have an orc warlord with the strength of three tribes an hour from your encampment.¡±


    Huh, maybe not a complete idiot after all.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Now that the cards are on the table, he half-expects the Hero to fold and say that that¡¯s too much. After all, three tribes of orcs working together¡­ it was practically a death sentence for every single man in this encampment if he didn¡¯t receive reinforcements within another week or so. No group of four adventurers, even with magic and a half-orc at their disposal, could possibly hope to take on such a large-


    ¡°Well then¡­ consider it done. Ladies? Shall we?¡±


    His jaw drops open as the Hero tucks the map away in a satchel and then turns on his heel and begins heading out of the encampment and into the Savage Lands themselves. His female compatriots follow him, much to the Zuverian Commander¡¯s relief and the utter disappointment of his troops.


    Still¡­ that had to be either the most terrifyingly powerful man he¡¯d ever met¡­ or the stupidest. He¡¯d wait a day or two and send out the scouts again to assess the situation and find out which it was. For now¡­ it wasn¡¯t his problem anymore.

 Chapter 69: The End (Epilogue)(Lewd)

    ¡°Nnnngh! Hah¡­ hah¡­ hah¡­ p-please! M-Mercy!¡±


    Dangling from the ceiling, slowly swinging in a circle, is one Thayla Dawnguard, daughter to Knight-Superior Timothal Dawnguard, and would-be Imperial Princess Candidate¡­ if the Imperial Senate of Zuveria ever managed to get their hands on her.


    Bereft of armor, clothes, and even underclothes, the white-haired, blue-eyed, completely nude woman swings in the center of an abandoned Zuverian Fortress¡¯ Great Hall. Once housing an entire garrison of Zuverian Soldiers, and more recently housing three tribes of orcish warriors, there¡¯s nothing in the Great Hall close enough for Thayla to manage to cling onto¡­ not that she can cling very well with her arms pulled taut behind her back anyways.


    The Knight of the Rose is positioned upright with a hook attached to complex rope bondage that restrains her arms behind her back and crisscrosses over her torso, wrapping painfully tight around her large breasts. Further, her legs have been bound at the thigh and shin, bent at the knee and then forcibly spread to show off her dripping wet cunt.


    At the sound of her begging for mercy, an orcish snort can be heard before a powerful palm comes down onto Thayla¡¯s ass, making her squeal in pain and pleasure.


    S-SMACK!


    Stepping into view, Bula¡¯s eyes glitter with amusement as she looks Thayla up and down. Her open hand is fresh from giving the tied up Knight of the Rose a spanking, but her other hand is occupied with the roasted leg of some beast, which she tears into with her teeth, chewing noisily and then shaking her head at Thayla once she swallows.


    ¡°You don¡¯t want mercy, foolish knight.¡±


    Thayla stutters and stammers at the blunt truth of Bula¡¯s words, even as Bula steps away from her. Meanwhile¡­ Mikael just grins in amusement at the exchange, watching from a seat at the head of the Great Hall¡¯s last surviving table.


    This was probably the table that the leadership of the garrison that once called this Fortress their home sat at for meals back in the day. It was definitely made of stronger, sturdier wood than the other tables, seeing as it was in the best shape. The chair was sturdy too¡­ which was good, because Mikael and Avina were making more use of the table than the chair at the moment.


    ¡°Don¡¯t, nngh, get distracted now. Focus on me~¡±


    Riding him, his Soul Mechanic hooks her arms around his neck and Mikael grabs her by the hips, turning his gaze back towards her and following her request. Panting noisily, Avina continues to bounce up and down on his dick. They¡¯re both just as naked as Thayla right now, though with a lot less rope. But then so is Bula, to be fair.


    Speaking of the orc warrior¡­ as Avina makes him look into her eyes while they fuck, Bula proves to be stealthier than she has any right to be, sneaking up behind Avina while they¡¯re staring each other down. His beloved Soul Mechanic gets no warning before the half-orc, having set down her meal, snakes her arms around Avina¡¯s body and abruptly gropes her tits, making Avina squawk in surprise.


    ¡°Hah! The little one is so needy!¡±


    Now it¡¯s Avina¡¯s turn to blush, stutter and stammer, but of course Bula isn¡¯t having any of it. She continues to grope the pale human woman¡¯s breasts for a little while, even going so far as to rest her chin on Avina¡¯s shoulder so she can look past her to Mikael. Bula¡¯s eyes twinkle with satisfaction and pride as she gives Mikael a toothy, tusky grin.


    ¡°Heh. Told you it would work.¡±


    Mikael chuckles in amusement at that, inclining his head in acknowledgment.


    ¡°You did. And you were right. The plan went off without a hitch.¡±


    Not that it was really that much of a plan. It was the same thing that Bula had been pushing for since all the way back in Alether when Foss had first shown up with his army. And that was to throw Mikael at the enemy and have him kill until the killing was done.


    Sure, the four of them could have handled Warlord R¡¯azz and his three orcish tribes together and probably come out on top. And they certainly would be fighting together going forward, even as they ventured further into the Savage Lands. But in this case, Mikael had wanted to break in his new armor properly¡­ and what better way than to test his mettle against a threat that had that poor Zuverian Commander back at the camp shitting himself in terror.


    Oh, don¡¯t get Mikael wrong. The man put on a brave face and a stiff upper lip. Hell, he probably even had himself mentally fooled. That was the sort of thing military leaders had to do sometimes. It wasn¡¯t just about convincing your troops that they had more than a snowball¡¯s chance in hell of winning, it was about convincing yourself that you had that chance too, even if the odds were very much not in your favor.


    But both Mikael and the Commander knew that if Warlord R¡¯azz had turned his little tribal coalition in the direction of the Zuverian Border not an hour away from their base, every single soldier in the camp would probably die.


    That would no longer be a problem¡­ because Mikael had issued a challenge to the Warlord and his orcs to come out and face him or be labeled yellow-bellied cowards. Needless to say, that had worked them all into a proper frenzy and they¡¯d come at Mikael in waves. Waves that had broken upon his armor, sword, and magic, again and again until every last orc was dead. Soul Sense was great for making sure of that.


    At long last, Bula¡¯s strategy of just having Mikael kill all of their enemies, absorb their souls, and keep killing until the killing was done¡­ had come to fruition. She was hilariously proud of that fact, despite it being relatively basic on the face of it.


    It wasn¡¯t like Mikael was going to tell her that much though. Reaching out, he grabs the red-haired half-orc by her ponytail and yanks her forward for a kiss. She moans happily at his roughness and he even bites her lip in a way he can tell pleases her. She might not be as bad as Thayla, but she likes to be reminded who¡¯s on top in her own way.


    Of course, Avina does not appreciate being squished between the two of them and makes this clear by whining almost pitifully.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°H-Hey! Stop crushing me y-you two!¡±


    Finally letting Bula go, Mikael expects the half-orc to pull back and give Avina her requested space. But instead she stays right where she is, pinning Avina to his chest. Not too tightly, but just enough to make sure that the Soul Mechanic knows she doesn¡¯t take orders from her.


    ¡°Have your fun for now, little one. I¡¯m next.¡±


    Bula pulls back then, leaving Avina to scowl and Thayla to whine piteously at being relegated to last like that. Except, the steady drip-drip-drip of her sexual arousal on the floor in the center of the Great Hall makes it clear she¡¯s not as upset as she might claim. In fact, it¡¯s incredibly obvious that Thayla LIKES being made to wait. And that she¡¯s probably edging like crazy right now.


    Meanwhile, Avina pulls back from his chest and makes some room between them now that Bula has stepped away and gone back to her leg of cooked meat. Huffing indignantly, Avina taps the Soul Engine in the center of his chest as she narrows her eyes.


    ¡°Bula¡¯s¡­ strategy only worked today because of your new armor. Don¡¯t forget that. You¡¯re welcome, by the way.¡±


    Mikael just grins wider, though he also dips his head to Avina in acknowledgment of her words.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, of course. Thank you.¡±


    Honest, earnest gratitude always manages to take his Soul Mechanic off-guard in a way few other things do. Blushing beautifully, the pale freckled Ex-Princess of Ocreatha just huffs and goes back to gyrating her hips and bouncing up and down on his dick.


    Still, she¡¯s completely right. Maybe one of the orcs would have gotten lucky and landed a hit on his Soul Engine or even his head if it wasn¡¯t for his new armor, courtesy of Avina. Of course¡­ it wasn¡¯t REALLY armor at all.


    His new suit of armor was in fact an extension of the Soul Engine itself. Avina hadn¡¯t just cut Foss Sangrey off from his necromantic magic back in Alether. She hadn¡¯t just torn it all away from him¡­ she¡¯d taken it upon herself. And that meant she had to find a use for all that black power. Mikael wasn¡¯t squeamish. Magic was magic, power was power. When Avina told him she could use Foss¡¯ necromancy for good, he¡¯d told her to go right ahead. He trusted her, one hundred percent.


    Of course, he hadn¡¯t realized at first that when she said ¡®for good¡¯, she meant ¡®for their personal gain¡¯. He still would have said yes, but it made it quite a surprise when she had crafted something new out of Foss Sangrey¡¯s stolen magic and then proceeded to graft it onto his Soul Engine. It was undoubtedly the biggest update to Avina¡¯s creation that she¡¯d ever given him, and it turned him from strong to scarily powerful in a finger snap.


    Essentially, Mikael¡¯s new armor was an addon to the Soul Engine rather than proper armor. All he had to do was concentrate and black energy would flow out of the engine, sliding over his body and coalescing into a frightening appearance. With streaks of teal flowing through it, it looked like enchanted armor, but in reality, it was a part of him just like his Soul Magic was a part of him. Just like the engine itself was a part of him.


    People could damage it of course, but it would just as quickly repair itself based on his will. An orc could take an axe to his chest and the armor would not just weather the blow, it would grow more powerful when he responded by cutting off the orc¡¯s head and sucking up his soul a moment later. The perfect defense to go with the perfect offense.


    Between his ability to get stronger the more he killed and the new armor that Avina had given him, Warlord R¡¯azz and his orc warriors simply hadn¡¯t stood a chance. And with the armor being a mere thought away at all times, Mikael didn¡¯t have any concerns about having a bit of a celebratory orgy in the Fortress¡¯ Great Hall with his three girls, all four of them wearing nothing but their birthday suits.


    To be fair, his Soul Sense detected no other living things bigger than some rats down in the basement for miles around. The four of them were completely alone here and Mikael saw nothing wrong with taking advantage of that fact.


    Sliding a hand up through Avina¡¯s hair, he pulls her in close for a kiss, one that his Soul Mechanic greedily returns as she continues to slide up and down his member. Her slick wet insides flex and squeeze along his shaft as she moans into his mouth, the two of them making out for a little while before pulling back for air.


    Resting his forehead against Avina¡¯s, Mikael gives her a grin.


    ¡°Any regrets? Still feel like you¡¯re abandoning your duty to Ocreatha?¡±


    Biting her lower lip for a moment, Avina hesitates.


    ¡°¡­ Maybe a little bit. But I think I¡¯ll always feel a little bit like that. This is better though. Ocreatha can move on. Maybe¡­ maybe it would even be better if it ceased to exist altogether. Perhaps Zuveria will swallow it up after all, once Thayla¡¯s father is crowned Emperor.¡±


    Mikael hums at that. Maybe it would. Timothal wasn¡¯t some power hungry tyrant or despot, to be fair. He didn¡¯t have Foss Sangrey¡¯s insatiable ambition, nor Daylor Krislamin¡¯s racist arrogance. The Knight-Superior, soon to be Emperor of Zuveria, wouldn¡¯t choose annexing Ocreatha as his first or even second choice.


    ¡­ But if it proved to be necessary, he might do it. And seeing as Foss Sangrey had disbanded the Council of Lords and reportedly killed them all in his bid to become the undisputed Supreme King of Ocreatha, it might just prove necessary after all.


    That wasn¡¯t their problem though and as Mikael looks into Avina¡¯s eyes, he can see that she agrees. Which is why he feels comfortable in teasing her a little bit.


    ¡°Well we can¡¯t have that now? Seems we¡¯ll have to turn back and save Ocreatha from the power-hungry Zuverians!¡±


    Avina rolls her eyes and good-naturedly smacks the part of his chest not dominated by the Soul Engine.


    ¡°Not on your life, Mikael. You promised to show me what lies beyond the Savage Lands. I¡¯m holding you to that promise, is that understood?¡±


    ¡°Heh. Yes ma¡¯am.¡±


    Huffing in response, Avina focuses herself back on the matter at hand¡­ that being them having sex. Following her lead, Mikael does the same. It doesn¡¯t take much longer for the inevitable conclusion to take place, of course. When he finally cums inside of her, his Soul Mechanic slams herself down upon his shaft, taking as much of him up in her as she can and making sure he cums as deeply inside of her as possible as well.


    By the time he¡¯s finished, her eyes are lidded and she¡¯s clearly ready for a rest. Mikael, meanwhile, is feeling as ready as ever. Pulling Avina off of his cock, he gently sits her down in the fancy chair he¡¯d been sat in himself. Best view in the hall, that. Rising to his feet, Mikael then looks out to see Thayla is still slowly swinging back and forth, the white-haired female knight moaning as she looks at him with hope in her eyes.


    Hope that is, of course, subsequently dashed when Bula steps between the two of them, her meal finished and her naked body on full display as she gives Mikael a growl. One that Mikael returns, before he leaps at her.


    Wrestling Bula into position is par for the course at this point. In fact, it feels quite¡­ natural. Even as he inserts himself inside of the half-orc and begins savagely fucking her pinned form, Mikael looks up and meets Thayla¡¯s eyes, giving her a wink and a mouthed promise of ¡®soon¡¯.


    Biting her lower lip, the Knight of the Rose just nods, clearly getting off on watching him fuck the other women as much as she would get off on being fucked herself. Perhaps more so, in fact.


    Their little foursome isn¡¯t the most normal of relationships and Mikael knows it. Has known it for a long time in fact. But as he grabs Bula by her ponytail and pounds into her, he reflects that he wouldn¡¯t trade it for anything in the world.


    Tonight, they celebrate their arrival in the Savage Lands for what it is¡­ the first step on the path that will take them beyond the influence of any meddling bureaucrats from either the Zuverian Empire or the Kingdom of Ocreatha. Tomorrow¡­ tomorrow they continue that path, cutting what¡¯s likely to be a bloody swathe of destruction through the Savage Lands, all the way to the other side¡­ whatever that turns out to be.


    Vaclatora is laid out before them. The world is their oyster. And Mikael has to admit, he¡¯s excited to see what it has in store for him¡­ but he¡¯s even more excited to experience all of its mysteries and beauty with his girls by his side.


    A pessimist would say they weren¡¯t ready for the things they might uncover. But personally, Mikael felt like it was the world that wasn¡¯t ready for the four of THEM.

 New Novel Starting today!

    Hello everyone! Been a bit over a year since I finished The Soul Engine back at the end of 2023 and I''m coming to you today to let you know I''ve just launched my next original novel here on Royal Road!


    It''s called The Age of Chaos and while it has no ties to The Soul Engine, I still wanted to give it a shoutout here so that you guys, as fans of my work, can go and check it out.


    The Age of Chaos (Isekai/Fantasy)</a>


    This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Summary: The Deities of the Heavens have been slaughtered by the God Killer. The Deities of the Mortal Planes are hunted down like dogs by the God Hunters. The Age of Gods is all but over. But an Age of Man, if one is to ever come, is still far in the distance. Now... now is the Age of Chaos.


    <div>


    <div>


    <div>


    If it sounds interesting to you at all, please give it a try for me. 9 total chapters are being released today, followed by one chapter a day going forward!


    Thank you for your time!