《Reaper Ex Magus: Highborn Herald》


 Prologue: The Hero of Kria

    The first Crossing began in the Age of Fire, billions of years ago, when the world was still young.


    The second Crossing began in the Age of Gods, millions of years ago, when the world was still empty.


    The third Crossing began in the Age of Castles, thousands of years ago, when the world was still


    divided.


    The fourth Crossing began in the Age of Discovery, hundreds of years ago, when the world was still curious.


    The fifth Crossing began two years ago, in the modern age, when the world settled in contentment.


    = ] | [ =


    The first Rift, signaling the beginning of the Crossing, appeared in 1020 ADE.


    The Krian Forest Rift was the first to be discovered on the eastern continents.


    Its appearance inspired an expedition. Mercenaries, nobles, and scholars alike were drawn to it like moths to a flame. People from all walks of life arrived in droves, curious of the enigma that appeared above the mountains and the snow.


    = ] | [ =


    The Sintenee mountain range wrapped around the northern border of Kria. It stretched for miles to the north. In the age of castles, the mountain range acted as a natural barrier to protect the kingdom from invaders. In the modern age, the range became nothing more but a tourist destination. The massive mountains stretching on for forever were a spectacular sight. The tallest mountain, known as the Earthen Peak, was a favorite of mountaineers and skiers alike.


    Dozens of ski resorts called the mountain range their home. But now, none of them were open for business. The king himself announced that all tourist activity around the mountains be ceased. His Majesty declared that the area around the mountain range was too dangerous.


    For there, hanging in the open sky, was a portal to another world.


    A young noble girl stood just outside her pavilion. Her eyes were emeralds and her hair was the color of fire. She radiated an aura of grace and authority. Here, surrounded by the whiteness of snow, as the cold winter wind blew through her hair, the girl wondered if she really needed to be here.


    Couldn¡¯t her father have sent someone else? Preferably not his heir?


    Nikita Takahashi was sure that she had other heiress duties to attend to. She was sure that there was a ball somewhere that needed attending or a duke or earl that needed a stern talking down to. Yet here she was, in a thick turtleneck sweater, knee-deep in snow.


    She furrowed her brows and craned her neck toward the sky.


    The enigmatic Rift was a circle in the heavens. It reminded her of a dinner plate¡ª except much larger and spinning slowly. It was a portal, that much was clear. She should have been impressed, in awe. But she wasn¡¯t. The thing seemed like any other magical portal. Being a sorceress meant that Nikita had her fair share of experience with portals that seemed to lead into the ether. This Rift seemed no different from the smaller ones her family used.


    Still, it was quite the sight to behold.


    The center of the Rift was a mass of whiteness, dotted by hundreds of swirling symbols and runes.


    The sky itself seemed to bend around the Rift, the clouds forming a vortex around it. The Rift radiated magical energy, so much so that Nikita felt herself physically drawn toward it.


    Of course, she won¡¯t be so easily tempted. She was the Hero of Kria, after all. She faced worst things than just a shiny hole in the sky.


    ¡°Your Grace,¡± came the familiar voice of the captain of her guard. ¡°I beg your pardon, but Commander Tristram has requested your presence. He is gathering the other expedition leaders for a meeting.¡±


    ¡°Can it wait? I¡¯m trying to admire the Rift.¡± Nikita mused.


    The captain made a face that told her that he was having none of her jokes. ¡°He says it¡¯s urgent, Your


    Grace.¡±


    She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m surprised he bothered to ask for me at all. I was starting to think that he forgot about me.¡±


    Old man Pascal¡¯s grandfatherly face twisted in concern. ¡°No, no, I¡¯m sure he meant no disrespect, Your Grace. Many consider your presence to be a bless¡ª¡±


    This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    Nikita tried her hardest to keep back her smirk. ¡°Relax, Pascal. That was a joke. Just trying to lighten the mood.¡±


    She walked past him, heading straight into the pavilion. The guard fell into step beside her, his posture and imposing armored figure demanding respect from the younger guards they pass by.


    Pascal has been with her ever since she was a little girl. Nikita had many teachers growing up because the world expected great things from a noble. Mean ladies taught her elegance, brooding spymasters taught her politics, arch magi taught her magic, and scary tall people like Pascal taught her how to fight. He introduced her to her first blade. And though nowadays, she prefers the company of spears and staves to swords, Pascal¡¯s lessons still mattered so much to her.


    He¡¯s basically the grandfather she never had.


    After gathering a small retinue of her guards, they begin the short trek through the snow toward the commander¡¯s pavilion. The various groups who have gathered to observe the Rifts are all staying in close vicinity of one other. The different camps were just a short stroll away. The Rift attracted the attention of everyone, including the elves and the deva. Those two groups stayed at the outskirts of the camps.


    ¡°You always seem so dour about everything, Pascal.¡± Nikita said offhandedly. ¡°Don¡¯t you find this exciting?¡± she pointed at the sky. ¡°I mean, look at it! It¡¯s a portal, in the sky, leading to gods-know-where.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m so worried, Your Grace.¡± the old man said. ¡°The Rifts are an enigma. Their appearances have never boded well for the world.¡±


    Nikita shrugged. ¡°Last I checked, every major legend in the world featured a Rift appearing at some point in the story. That floating circle of mysteriousness is an introduction to something big, a prologue to a legend¡ª¡±


    ¡°No legend begins without tragedy, Your Grace.¡±


    The captain¡¯s words caused Nikita to slow her pace, her guards slowing down behind her.


    ¡°I feel uneasy. Your father should not have sent us here.¡±


    ¡°Oh don¡¯t say that, Pascal.¡± Nikita shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s our duty to be here. And better he send me than my sister. Sena is much too young to face the horror of giant spinning holes in the sky.¡±


    The captain scoffed. ¡°Your Grace, this is a serious¡ª¡±


    ¡°Make no mistake, I completely understand the gravity of the situation.¡± she frowned. ¡°I just prefer to take things like this in stride. The history of these Rifts isn¡¯t lost on me.¡±


    The Rift hung in the sky, high above the snowy peaks of the distant mountains. It seemed so unworldly. Its very existence was unnatural, a stain on the otherwise perfect balance of the blue sky and white snow. Magical energy was pouring out of the Rift like water out of a faucet. To someone as magically sensitive as Nikita, the sensation was unnerving, bordering on disgusting.


    Her eyes eventually caught sight of the tall beam of the commander¡¯s pavilion. Rows of soldiers stood in the snow. Most stood in perfect attention, some, the younger of the soldiers, Nikita assumed, were shivering in their armor.


    But human soldiers were not the only ones she could see. Elven and deva soldiers stood on the fringes of the small camp. Most kept to themselves. A few turned to greet Nikita¡¯s retinue, while others silently watched her pass, looks of fear mingling with respect crossing their features.


    ¡°Humans, elves, deva¡ª three naturally incompatible species with differing philosophies and opinions.¡±


    she mused.  ¡°It¡¯s never a good sign when the three races come together like this.¡±


    A few meters ahead of them was the commander¡¯s pavilion. It towered taller than all the others, and upon it hung the kingdom¡¯s royal seal. Stabbed into the ground were the sigils and insignia of noble houses, including the scale-and-scholar of Nikita¡¯s own. With a sigh, she hastened her pace, preparing herself for another long afternoon of talks.

 Chapter One: Hours Before the Breach

    Powerful figures gathered around a large table in the center of the pavilion. Upon the table was a map of the immediate area, projected through a hologram. Though she tried her best to enter the room inconspicuously, everyone still managed to stop what they were doing to spare her a glance.


    ¡°Greetings.¡± she said confidently. ¡°I was told that I was needed.¡±


    She glanced around the room, looking for a familiar face. Despite gaining fame as the Hero of Kria, she still found herself very uncomfortable in the presence of strangers. Luckily for her, old man Pascal was still close behind her.


    She glanced to her right, checking if that was indeed true. When she found him gone, a hint of panic crossed her features.


    Oh.


    She was alone now. Then again, it¡¯s not like this was the first time she found herself surrounded by powerful personalities. She was the Hero of Kria, a magus responsible for uniting a once-separated kingdom. A year ago she travelled from region to region, convincing lords and ladies alike to join her cause.


    Of course, back then she had to meet with those people one at a time. Verbally sparring with a disgruntled lady who wondered what the hell you were doing in her castle was one thing, but getting stared at by half a dozen confident lords was something else entirely.


    ¡°It¡¯s good to see that the Hero of Kria has chosen to join us.¡± the baritone voice of Commander Tristram caught her attention. He stepped forward from a corner to her right, folding under his armpit a small tablet.


    He gestured for her to approach, as he stepped before the center table and placed both hands upon it.


    ¡°Forgive me for summoning you so suddenly, Your Grace.¡± he glanced at the other people in the room. ¡°And I extend this apology to the rest of you as well. There is a matter that needs attending, one that concerns all of us.¡±


    The commander was dressed in the red-and-gold of Kria. A shield emblazoned with his House¡¯s sigil hung over his back as a sheathed sword was around his hip. He was a man in his sixties. Though his hair was greying, his body was still sinewy and strong.


    Stepping forward toward the table, Nikita could not help but take note of the other gathered leaders.


    The easiest to spot was the eight-foot tall figure of First Soldier Interaa. The imposing deva held a military position akin to that of a human admiral. Technically speaking, Nikita realized, the deva held a higher rank than the commander.


    Try as she might, Nikita could not help but stare at the deva¡¯s impressive set of horns.


    It was always weird seeing horns on something that vaguely resembled humans. The deva were basically giant, stone-fleshed people. The average deva was three times stronger than a human, and there have been stories of them literally snapping elves in half. Yet for all their imposing appearance, deva were the only race in the world incapable of controlling magic.


    And while the deva chose their leaders as strength as the only measure, Nikita knew that nobles like herself were still way out of First Soldier Interaa¡¯s league. While the deva¡¯s eight-foot frame may have been intimidating to any other magus in the world, to her and the other nobles in this room, he was nothing more but a very big, easy to hit target.


    She then turned her attention to the much smaller figure beside the deva. Elder Istonia was an elf, made clear enough by her pointy ears and lithe figure. An ornate staff hung on her back, while the elf herself set her eyes across the digital map with a look of quiet scrutiny. The elf reminded Nikita of her grandmother. She seemed aloof and wise, but most of all, just a little bit scary.


    The other figures that gathered around the table included the occasional uninteresting noble, uninteresting captain of said noble¡¯s guard, and¡ª


    ¡ªa particularly pink-haired, spectacled girl who very much looked out of place.


    The girl stood relaxed, with a hand on her hip and her fingers tapping away at her cell phone. She was dressed in a fashionable jacket, a contrast to the armored figures of everyone else. Nikita was not armored herself, but she was at least wearing a soldier¡¯s long coat.


    She must have been someone very important to be allowed here, considering the fact that nobody was even paying attention to her. Was she a noble? A diplomat? Someone¡¯s secretary? She was probably all of these things.


    ¡°My lords and ladies, First Soldier Interaa and Elder Istonia.¡± Commander Tristram began, clearing his throat. ¡°I thank you all for coming in such short notice.¡±


    ¡°We had no choice.¡± the deep voice of the Interaa seemed to echo in the tent. ¡°Your king placed us under your command. We were sent here by the Composer himself to investigate this Rift, yet every moment your people hold us back from our duty.¡±


    ¡°The area is far too unstable for your people to just haphazardly walk about.¡± Tristram said. ¡°I am sorry, but no one is allowed to cross the perimeters we have set up.¡±


    The giant seemed to relent then, responding with nothing but a huff.


    Commander Tristram placed his hands on the table and leaned forward. As the hologram¡¯s light touched his face, Nikita saw just how tired he was.


    ¡°I am sure you are all aware what this Rift is, about what it means for all of us.¡± he began. ¡°A Crossing occurs whenever an old god seeks to waken. Crossings begin with the appearance of these Rifts, gateways to the Realm of Memories. Though each of our peoples have different myths and legends to tell how the world was formed, Crossings are something that our stories all have in common¡ª¡±


    ¡°Are we even sure that this is a Crossing?¡± interrupted a noble. ¡°It seems to me like nothing more but an oversized portal. For all we know, an animus is waiting to come out of that, not an old god.¡±


    ¡°The portals that sorcerers use are not self-sustaining.¡± the pink-haired girl says, her eyes not leaving her phone. ¡°You¡¯re a sorcerer yourself, aren¡¯t you? You should know that.¡±


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.The noble fumed, turning to the girl. ¡°Know your place, advisor, I am Lord Mikhael Sommer and I will not¡ª¡±


    ¡°I apologize for offending you, oh great and magnificent Lord Sommer.¡± the girl replied haughtily. ¡°Gods know I should be watching my tongue in the presence of such¡­ magnificence. Forgive my lack of tact. We in Genevede prefer to share our opinions plainly.¡± she turned her gaze away from him. ¡°¡­without worrying too much about offending other parties.¡±


    The lord¡¯s face turned red. He seemed just about to burst, when the commander cleared his throat loudly,


    catching his attention.


    ¡°Lord Sommer, Her Grace¡¯s point is correct.¡± he said. ¡°The Rift is self-sustaining. It appeared two weeks ago. My men have been working around the clock to find the magus channeling it. We found no one. It seems to run on its own energy, and that energy is steadily growing more powerful.¡±


    He gestured at the hologram, causing the map to zoom in on an area directly beneath the Rift.


    ¡°Three hours ago we lost contact with one of our forward bases.¡± Tristram said. ¡°The base housed a team of scholars and scientists working together to study the Rift.¡± he turned to the elf and deva leaders. ¡°It is to my understanding that you both sent some of your people there as well.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± the elder elf nodded. ¡°May I know why you are only informing us of this now?¡±


    ¡°The Rift¡¯s magical energy is powerful enough to disrupt radio signals.¡± Tristram explained coolly. ¡°We¡¯re still determining if the situation is as serious as it appears, or if it¡¯s merely an issue of interference.¡±


    ¡°Is the Rift getting bigger?¡± Nikita asked.


    ¡°Not necessarily bigger, Your Grace. Just stronger.¡± Tristram said. ¡°While the Rift isn¡¯t a portal, it still possesses a few portal-like qualities. Like portals, the Rift projects its own magical energy into the world. And as you are familiar, the more powerful the portal, the more powerful the creature it can summon.¡±


    The veteran commander slowly scanned the faces of every person around the table.


    ¡°I believe that the Rift is nearing its apex. I¡¯m sure most of you can feel it¡ª that sensation of a spell nearing its completion.¡± his fingers tightened on the table. ¡°Finding out what happened to the forward base is important, but so is stopping the rift from activating. In a few hours, my men and I will be launching an operation for both of those tasks. I¡¯m not asking that anyone volunteer themselves or their men, but any offer of support is appreciated.¡±


    Nikita didn¡¯t even hesitate.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go, commander.¡± she pounded her fist on her chest. ¡°If there¡¯s anyone here who has experience dealing with weird voodoo portal magic, it¡¯s me.¡±


    Tristram nodded his acceptance.


    ¡°I will go as well.¡± the First Soldier followed.


    ¡°I¡¯ll send rangers for the cause.¡± while Elder Estonia said simply.


    A few of the other lords also pledged their support. The last one to speak up was the pink-haired girl.


    ¡°Genevede offers her aid. My sister will be joining this operation.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s it? Genevede pledges but one magus?¡± the same noble from before says arrogantly.


    The pink-haired girl raised her head. ¡°My sister and I are S-Ranked magi. She is more than enough.¡±


    That seemed to silence the noble.


    When she finished speaking, Commander Tristram looked content, happy even. He stood ramrod straight and held his hands behind his back.


    ¡°I thank you all for your support. We will be departing in two hours. Each faction should only bring three to four men. Too many people may make organizing movement difficult.¡± he turned his attention to Nikita and nodded. ¡°It is an honor to have the Hero of Kria join us. Your presence will boost the morale of our men.¡±


    That was the last thing she wanted.


    A lieutenant or a soldier of lesser rank approached the commander and whispered something in his ear. Though outwardly professional, Nikita noticed the deep frown that passed for a moment on the commander¡¯s face.


    ¡°Now, if my lords and ladies would excuse me, there is a matter that needs my attention.¡± he gestured to a soldier to his right. ¡°If you have any concerns about the mission, please speak to my lieutenant.¡±


    He exits the pavilion swiftly. The leaders disperse quietly, though some linger to exchange a few words. No one talks to Nikita, though the occasional glance falls upon her.


    She meets with Pascal as she exits the tent, sighing as the cold air meets her face. Old man Pascal hovered close beside her, as protective as always. He would no doubt demand to join her. It was his job. Specifically, it was his responsibility. Father trusts him to keep her safe. It was odd, in a way. He may have been older and more experienced in the face of war and conflict, but nothing changed the fact that he was a lowborn magus.


    He was still physically inferior to her in every way imaginable.


    If anyone needed protecting, it was him.

 Chapter Two: Winters Breath

    It took an hour for the men and women to gather. They came together at the foot of the mountains, banners flapping in the wind. Each noble sent half a dozen soldiers, a small number all things considered. Smaller groups were easy to coordinate in case a fight broke out. Nobles were present in the meeting, but few were currently around.


    ¡°Hey Pascal,¡± Nikita mused. ¡°Is there a reason why the other nobles are invisible? Should I be invisible as well?¡±


    ¡°Knowing them, they are probably attending to pressing matters, Your Grace.¡±


    ¡°Ah, ¡®pressing matters.¡¯ I should have thought of that.¡± her shoulders sagged as she walked forward, her guards following behind her.


    Her armor was an ornate red and gold, with a half cape flapping over her left shoulder. The neosteel that covered her chest bore the scale-and-scholar seal of her House. Her armor was thin and light, allowing her the mobility she needed. The clean, modern curves of her armor covered her from neck to toe like a second skin, while a pair of spears were magnetically attached to her back, long red strings flowing from their tips.


    In the distance she spotted the commander, now dressed in his own armor. Flanking him were two guards, dressed in the color of the sky.


    She walked over to him, saluting lazily.


    ¡°Commander Tristram.¡± she said. ¡°Nikita Takahashi, reporting as requested. May I know when we¡¯re moving out? I¡¯m getting a bit restless here.¡±


    The commander raised his eyebrow.


    ¡°You? Restless? I thought you hated battle.¡±


    ¡°I do. But the sooner we get this over with, the better. Are we waiting on anyone else? The deva seem punctual as usual, and the elves and nobles look just about finished with their preparations.¡±


    Tristram nodded at her before he turned and spoke to his lieutenant.


    He was being unusually quiet, and for a moment, Nikita found herself worrying. Commander Tristram was known throughout the kingdom as an honorable, loyal man. He fought with her against the Whispers a year ago. He helped pushed back the darkness. He was more approachable then, a bit more open with information. Now he seemed annoyed with everything.


    It was probably just the stress.


    Their small group of thirty-or-so soldiers walked through the snow in tight, linear formations. The commander and his men were the vanguard, followed by the disciplined deva. Nikita and her small group of personal guards were somewhere in the middle of the formation. She chose the position herself. She could protect the most people here.


    ¡°Where are the Genevedian magi?¡± Pascal asked, trudging along beside her.


    ¡°Genevedian magus, you mean.¡± Nikita said, white mist escaping her lips. ¡°They said they were sending an S-rank magus with us. But I don¡¯t see anyone like that.¡± from the corner of her eye, a soldier trips and falls into the snow. She grins. ¡°I see some E-rank magi though. How many E¡¯s does it take to make an S?¡±


    ¡°Around ten thousand, Your Grace.¡±


    ¡°Wait, really? That was a rhetorical question, but, hmm, okay.¡±


    Her train of thought stopped when she sensed something in the air. She did not miss a single step. Continuing to stroll forward, Nikita began to focus on the eerie sensation. The Rift continued to pour out magical energy above them, but the energy it released was consistent¡ª like a gas cloud that hung in the air.


    This sudden sensation was more intense, more invasive.


    She glanced around. No one but her seemed to notice the presence. Far ahead, she saw that the commander continued to move forward without a care in the world.


    She could stop the column right now, but that would arouse suspicion and cause unnecessary panic. If someone or something was following them, that was the last thing she wanted to happen. She slowed her pace, allowing Pascal to catch up and walk beside her.


    ¡°Keep the men in formation.¡± she said. ¡°Something¡¯s not right. I¡¯m going to check it out.¡±


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


    Pascal nodded without complaint, as he subtly takes her place in front of her guard.


    She slipped out easily enough. The wind was blowing and it was bloody cold. No one was really paying attention to anyone else. This was not a single unit, not a tight-knit group of soldiers. Unit cohesion was low. Because of that, the group was very vulnerable to attack.


    She walked through the billowing wind easily enough. Her superior physique allowed her to climb the steep mountainside effortlessly. She practically jogged through the loose snow, as silent as a shadow.


    Nikita was many things. She was a noble, an experienced soldier, and a powerful magus. The basics of identifying and tracking a threat were not lost on her. She knew her responsibility, what she needed to do. Her instincts told her that something was wrong. And her instincts have yet to fail her.


    The path she followed brought her higher up the mountain, in a path adjacent to the commander¡¯s column. As she followed the snowy trail, she found her feeling of danger steadily grow. The trail brought her to a cliff, where a large stone statue stood, and where a man in armor sat before it.


    She recognized him immediately.


    With a sigh, she lowered her guard and walked toward the figure. The man moved not an inch as she approached, and instead continued to silently gaze at the statue.


    He was dressed in the gold-and-blue of his house, his cape wrapping around his neck like a scarf. His eyes were green like hers. His hair was a dark brown. The air of nobility radiated from him, but his posture was aloof.


    ¡°Not a letter or an email in months, and here I find you, praying to a rock.¡± Nikita said, placing a hand on her hip.


    ¡°I¡¯m not praying. I¡¯m just appreciating the craftsmanship.¡± his voice was cool. She missed hearing it.


    ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that you were around. I assumed that House Maxwell had no interest in such a boring expedition.¡±


    ¡°Magical anomalies are always interesting. But I¡¯m not here to investigate the Rift on behalf of my house.¡± he uncrossed his legs and stood up, the snow gently rolling over his armored shoulders and chest. ¡°The king sent me as a representative, or rather as insurance for the rest of you.¡±


    Nikita was a tall girl, but he was half a head taller than her. She looked up at him, staring into the pools of his eyes.


    His name was Chaos Maxwell. She dared not speak the words aloud for the hurt they may give her. Like her, he was considered a hero. The world called him the Savior of Orison. His efforts singlehandedly ended a noble¡¯s rebellion in a neighboring kingdom. His actions prevented a civil war that not only could have caused the deaths of millions, but also could have ended the world.


    ¡°You¡­ haven¡¯t changed.¡± he said, suddenly looking away. ¡°You still have the same impressive figure, Your Grace.¡±


    Her cheeks reddened instantly. ¡°I uh¡ª thanks.¡±


    ¡°Wait that came out wrong.¡± with a finger to his chin, he frowned.


    ¡°Damn straight that came out wrong!¡±


    ¡°I meant that you project an impressive figure.¡± he quickly corrected himself, slapping his fist into his palm. ¡°Since you¡¯re the Hero of Kria, and all that. You don¡¯t become a hero without projecting a heroic figure, right?¡±


    He smiled warmly at her.


    ¡°Let¡¯s just go with that.¡±


    And just like that, his lips were upon hers.


    And for a time, nothing seemed to matter. Not the Rift, not the cold, not the soldiers marching on the path beneath them¡ª nothing else mattered. The wind blew and her hair danced in the wind. The crimson of her cape twisted and turned with the azure of his. The coldness of winter mattered little in the face of such longing.