Chapter 5: First Contact

I am no hero. I am no savior. I am no champion. I am HUMAN. Just like you. If I can fight against the tyranny of the orcs, then so can YOU. Join us. Join me, Apollo Kan, and the newly crowned Empress.

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight for your mother, your brother, your father, your sister. Fight for the Empire. Now is your chance to become something greater, someone greater. Undergo the Magi Human process today! Come out a better human. A Magi Human.

Propaganda from Empire Start. A call of recruitment by Apollo Kan.

Alexa gazed at the human looking people as they went about their daily lives within the small village. From people visiting the butcher’s shop to the bakery. The small town was a normal one that you may see in the Empire if slightly less developed as most individuals needed to still go to a large well to gather water. Her squad of Watchers began their approach each already having picked out a target to become aquatinted with. Mind magic was something the Empire strictly controlled with its teachings as the effects it could have on people were abnormal. The effects on the mage casting the magic were abnormal as well. If not, careful you could have the personality of the subject bleed into the caster or vice versa changing and altering the person in multiple ways. None usually were positive.

Alexa was not worried however as the magic and essence of this world was significantly lower. In their training for this mission the Junior Watchers were instructed under some of the most formidable Watchers the Empire ever saw. With figures like Leo the Faceless and Carma of Change personally taking the roll of training the Junior Watchers. These figures have gone and helped establish the Empire governance over several worlds and were now facing a comfortable life in the capital teaching others.

A life that Alexa would have one day but only after she lived to the fullest and her name was recorded as a hero. She zeroed in upon her target and a compulsion was sent his way as he finished his conversation with another villager before quickly removing himself as if he forgot something. Mind magic worked by constructing the spell format within the mages mindscape but instead of projecting it out into the open like most mages did when spell casting. The mage would instead send it along the magic in the air. Invisible and only becoming active once the mage deems it safe. A partially dangerous magic to non-mages as it would be difficult to detect. To another mage however it would be like a scent within the air able to be sniffed out once the sent was caught. To the mages with advance mana perception, it would be clear as day.

She watched the compulsion follow behind the man and waited to activate it at the right moment. Alexa had cast two spells one being |Lure| and the other the main spell |Compile|. |Lure| was the spell she used to coerce the man into leaving his conversation and head in the direction of his home. |Compile| was the dangerous of the two mind magics as it would search through the man’s memories and compile what the mage was looking for into itself. Having the right intent when casting this spell was important as a host of useless information could come along if you did not make your instructions clear enough to the magic. Magic was all about your intent after all whether using direct or indirect spells.

The moment the man turned down an alley way to take a short cut towards his home. Alexa activated |Compile|. A purple spell construct appeared before the man, who startled, opened his mouth to shout in surprise only for a dull look to appear on his face and a purple glow to come from his eyes. A minute passed then three then another two until the spell finished its job and made its way back to Alexa who was on the other side of the alley cloaked in a magic black garment that would have any without the proper protections in place forget the women was ever near them unless the Watcher deactivated it.

She moved quickly to the inn room she rented within the village the man forgotten but safe as he would only wake within a few minute with a massive headache. Throwing the innkeeper a quick nod Alexa moved up the stairs before arriving to the third and last floor. Entering her room several figures were already seated crossed legged as the concentrated on the glowing purple spell construct before them. Alexa soon joins the group before revealing her own spell and beginning the process of absorbing the information.

***

Moriah trained alongside her men Jason Diablo and Mariam here as well. They were some of her closest followers and over the years Moriah had come to see them as more than just a means to an end. Mariam was now privy to the true way to cultivate after becoming bonded by a geas and was quickly moving her way into the mage tiers using her greater mindscape to come up with more complex designs for her inventions.

Moriah swung her blade against Jason’s own while dodging backwards and gathering her energy into her weapon using it to slice apart Mariam’s spell. The entire time her focus remained on Aegis Kan’s troops. Something had changed among them. They were stronger and much more coordinated than previously. Almost as if they knew what one another was thinking. Was Aegis messing around with mind magic of some type? From the reports she knew he could utilize all four of the base elements yet not much was known about his magic prowess as he only used his physical abilities even while training his troops. The last she heard was that he remains a tier 4 in the Path of the Mind.

Her sword flashed brilliantly blinding Jason and startling Mariam who was farther back. As Jason regained his focus, he felt a cold object pressed against his neck. Only to see his liege starring off at the distant force of Aegis Kan. Her eyes never wavering even though the training soldiers were at least a few miles away. Her gaze flicked to be the man himself was dodging in and out as his cousin cast spells one after another barely pausing. It was as if she already had the constructs completed within her mindscape. Moriah eyes narrowed. Amaya was throwing out tier 4 spells casually tearing up the ground sending chucks of dirt everywhere as Aegis casually dodged. It should not be possible for her to fling spells like this not until she was at a greater tier. Something was going on that increased not only the power of Aegis army but of his family as well. Now Moriah was curious and immediately decided to have Alexa move onto this upon her return.

*

Judd Lance breathe in deeply Bella’s sent filling his nostrils as dined within her manor. Although Judd wanted to pay attention to the young lady as she was finally giving him the opportunity to court her their attention was pulled to the young heir of the Kan Dukedom. Bella smile and Judd frowned as both watched with varying degrees of interest as Aegis army seemed to improve in all aspects. it was like their strength and coordination had been enhanced. Leading them to form and flow smoothly as if they were seasoned soldiers who had experienced multiple battlefields. Judd knew for a fact they only slain bandits at the most. So, what was this strange discipline that was causing even them to pause and observe. Judd understood Aegis was up to something within the HH Heartful, hell, even a blind person could see that. Yet he hadn’t bothered to press the issue as one he did not care and two, he was only here because of Bella. Now his martial instinct takes then as he watched the army train.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say those are soldiers who’ve experience at least ten to twenty battles.”

Bella glanced his way before her attention returned to the army and Aegis.

“Something is going on. Something that will shock the continent. I don’t understand it, but I can feel it deep within my magi core.”

Judd slightly rose before sitting back down. He wanted to march up to Aegis and receive an explanation, yet they already imposed themselves into his expedition to conquer a new world by using unscrupulous means. Judd’s martial demeanor and background would not allow him to make any demands of explanation. His family and the Kan’s were great friends and allies of one another, and Aegis was their superior noble. Judd decided to approve this at a different angle. The Kan and the Lance were longtime friends since before the establishment of the Empire. His forefather had traveled with a young Apollo Kan. It was time to rekindle that friendship within Aegis Kan. He got up once again. He would need a proper training partner anyway. Bella’s eyes widen in surprise as Judd excused himself before leaving. The once boy had become smitten with her ever since their meeting as they traveled with Aegis to the capital. Since then, Bella hadn’t been able to get him to stop bothering her and the Lance’s even sent a formal proposition for marriage.

Her eyes turned back to Aegis this time her expression was unreadable as she gazed upon the young man.

***

Alexa smiled as she finished absorbing the last of the man’s memories on the language of the Largon continent. The others who once occupied a space within her room gone as they eagerly left to fulfil the second part of their mission. Deep agents would be planted in every major city within a hundred-mile radius while Alexa would be the one to returning and transfer the language to the expedition.

She passed the innkeeper thanking them for the hospitability before leaving. They would forget the encounter but would be a few gold coins richer. Alexa left the city in a hurry after buying a small undetailed map of the region. Anything more detailed would be in the hands of the noble of the lands. While this one would point out any major landmarks or cities. It would not have the exact layout of the land. Fortunately, it was part of the Watchers mission to get those exact details for the expedition.

Alexa traveled for around an hour before she abruptly turned around and began speaking.

“You’re a hundred years too young to ever tail a Watcher without any form of back up. I’d have to say it is impressive that you manage to spot me with the enchantments built into my clothing.”

Alexa looked expectantly at a tree off to the left side of the clearing she stopped to rest in.

“Come out or blade will make you come out.”

She still looked expectantly over at the tree yet only the wind seemed to rustle a few leaves to the ground. Her blade appeared at the throat of the invisible assailant as the image of her standing within the clearing disappeared. The sharp point was dangerously close to piercing. The figure wide eyed suddenly appeared and Alexa was taken aback at how young the kid seemed. That did not mean she let her guard down however as the young man suddenly moved. Twin daggers flashing as one attempted to stab the left side of her abdominal while the other headed towards the dagger place at the young man’s neck. Before any blades had a chance to reach their target Alexa’s spell went off and the figure collapsed to the ground screaming as he desperately clawed at his body.

The fifth-tier spell |Horror of the Adversary| came into effect and the figure of Alexa who was holding the blade dispersed while the one in the clearing returned. Mind magic having been at play the entire time.

“My Princess will be pleased with this.” Alexa said as she began to remove objects from her spatial bag.