Chapter 12: Moriah’s Displeasure

Gaia gifted are a peculiar sort. Every one of them claims to have met Gaia herself. The physical representation of our world. Yet no actual proof has ever been presented besides the extraordinary abilities possessed by the gifted. We know not their purpose. Although this does give us a bit more insight into the nature of worlds. Yet in the worlds the Empire has conquered we have not seen a physical representation of the planet but those like the gifted have appeared.

Excerpt from Survival Guide for Dummies: Interstellar Conquering page 68.

Moriah paced around one of the tea rooms in her newly upgraded manor a complicated expression on her face. As she watched Aegis army slowly make its way to the resting forces of the count. A hunger gnawed at her mentality as she wanted more than anything to rush off and participate within the battle. This would be the opening act and she wasn’t invited. After all this was not her expedition. Mariam bounced her leg nervously and Jason Diablo eyes never once left Moriah’s pacing body.

“Do you think the Young Lord will win?”

Moriah scoffed at Mariam’s questioned and her pacing slowed but did not pause.

“Of course, he’s going to win. There’s no doubt about it. He is an upper noble from the Empire if he ever lost to some backwards place like this, he’d have to kill himself.”

“He’s a Kan and everyone knows the Kan only produce heroes,” Jason said finally taking his eyes from Moriah and looking at Mariam. The tinker had goggles equipped over her for head and wore a slightly dirty set of overalls as she never once stopped to change before Moriah summoned them.

Alexa soon walked into the room and the most important members of Moriah’s cabal were present.

“My Princess,” she said in greeting.

“It’s Moriah when we’re alone. You’ve more than proven your worth. Tell me what you have found out about these troops of Aegis.”

Alexa sat at the one of the open chairs and took a long sip of tea before finally speaking.

“Well… not much in truth Princess Moriah. These troops of Aegis have undergone some type of magical transformation, however. It is nothing demonic or related to blood or soul magic as far as we can tell. I’m expecting us to see the results of whatever the Young Lord did shortly.”

“So basically nothing… have you tried to bribe one of the soldiers.”

“Several times, each refused no matter the amount offered. Even offers of minor nobility titles has made them refused. To his army Aegis is well… something beyond a lord.”

Moriah let out a deep breath and sat on her own chair before pointing a ring on her finger at the table. A rustic looking bottle appeared and as Moriah opened it a strong smell of alcohol permeated throughout the room. Yet the sour expression never left her face as she began drinking. The hunger in her mind only grew as Aegis’s army grew closer and closer. The counts men began to hastily scramble from tents and form. It seemed they must have gotten word of the approaching force. A cool sensation finally hit her as the drink began to take affect and Moriah slowly calmed down. While her eyes began to calculate how fast Aegis army would decimate his opponents. They were down when it came to the average tier of their soldiers yes but the quality and quantity of mana and essence within this world were minor.

Who knew how many of the soldiers could use any abilities and how their mages could cast. Moriah was certain that even with the difference in tiers based off how the Kan’s trained their troops and their Young Lords growing reputation that this force would be a steppingstone for Aegis’s ascension into the status of heroes. Moriah would not let this opportunity slip; her name would also ring out loud.

*

Bella Nightingale took a deep breath her hair waving around in excitement. Around her sat the other members of the ten great families of the western nobility. Each showing excitement in their own ways. Each were magi humans and if they all had anything in common it was their excitement for battle. They were built for it after all.

“HA-HA the Young Lord is finally going to put a show on for us,” Ryon Grand said as he leaned towards the projection.

“Hmm yes, this should be good. From the reports it seems this Count Caccula is slightly above average in terms of strength of this world. However, he has been off of the battlefield for several years,” this time it was Frenda Lord who spoke.

Koama Lionheart wild red hair waved around as she gripped the armrest of her chair and leaned forward. “Do you not want to bet on the outcome?”

“If I bet with you, you would lose what paltry amount of wealth you came here with,” Ittane Corba took the opportunity to throw a jab at her rival noble.

“Do not start you two. Please let us enjoy the show. This will determine how we proceed in the future,” Bella spoke putting an end to the argument before it could even begin. Her hair still waved around to a nonexistent wind. She was sure every major force that came along with Aegis would be watching and recording.

***

Count Caccula was not having a good day. His men had barely entered the mountains only for him to receive word that the Warrior Princess’s spymaster was much closer than anticipated. His troops had yet to even find any evidence of the meteor within the swordlike Endless Mountains.

Now less than five minutes ago an extravagantly dressed messenger claiming to be sent by some lordling name Aegis Kan declared war not only on him but the entire kingdom.

Darion Caccula wanted to scoff and execute the man but a medallion that made even him pause allowed the man to escape before he could even formulate a proper response. Now Count Caccula had no choice but to rouse his army in case this truly was an attack. Was there some sort of hidden kingdom on the other side of the Endless Mountains? Count Caccula had no knowledge of an Aegis Kan, or this Vasu Kan also mentioned. He had never heard of a Lord of the Wall. His red eyes glowed fiercely as he donned his armor. His left and right hand were already making sure the men would be ready and in formation. Count Caccula had no plans on fighting if he could avoid it, however. Not when most of his army wasn’t even present.

***

The terrain was rocky, but we found ourselves in another small open valley between mountains. In the distance I could see the forces of the count rushing into formation. I turned to Amaya who was now at the front of the army. The Crimson General would be announcing her presence today. This expedition to conquer Prima was hers as much as it was mine and my cousin was definitely excited. I looked around at the troops who also showed a similar level of excitement. Men and women would die today but it would not be my shoulders.

A figure approached our marching army, and I came to recognize Fabian the young man who had an interesting aspect available that I made him choose. Surprised colored my face but I quickly hid it. I expected him captured or dead in truth so seeing his return was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps he could mediate with the bugs we caught trying to scout around us. Their lives wouldn’t be in danger but as they were from the hostile force, I had plenty reason to kill them. Originally, I was going to trade them for Fabian but that was no longer necessary.

Amaya removed a horn from her side and blew into it and our army slowly came to a halt. Her golden eyes were brightly shining as she stepped out in front of the army, and I moved forward matching her pace.

“My name is Amaya Kan. Crimson General and leader of my Young Lord’s army. We have come to add the world of Prima to the forces of the Empire. Surrender now and be spared. Resist…” she left the rest unsaid.

A tall man stepped forward not taller than me or Amaya as Magi Humans but tall enough and appearing like a significant person. Count Caccula.

“I have not heard of an Amaya or Aegis Kan. From what Empire do you hail?”

“The Empire is from the continent of Nia on the world called Gaia. Far from the reaches of this place. We have come to add your planet to the growing force of our dukedom and Empire.”

*

Count Caccula eyes widen as he watched the brown skin human looking giants approach. He had never seen anyone of this size and instantly new they couldn’t be human. He felt a sense of danger coming from them and was instantly on his guard. Behind them an army bathe in crimson armor stood silently and at the ready.

He could tell the strength of these men would be formidable, but the count had fought against the Nox for multiple years. When hadn’t he fought against something formidable?

The young lady for even with her height advantage Darion Caccula could tell she was young began to speak.

“My name is Amaya Kan. Crimson General and leader of my Young Lord’s army. We have come to add the world of Prima to the forces of the Empire. Surrender now and be spared. Resist…”

She left the rest unsaid but from these words alone Darion had picked up on a few things. One, these people whoever they are weren’t here on a vendetta against him. Two, no matter what he said. Blood would be spilled today. Darion would ensure it was not his. Looking for a bit more information Darion spoke up.

“I have not heard of an Amaya or Aegis Kan. From what Empire do you hail?”

“The Empire is from the continent of Nia on the world called Gaia. Far from the reaches of this place. We have come to add your planet to the growing force of our dukedom and Empire.”

Darion Caccula paused as he was already cooking a response to delay and help his mages prepare but the words that came out of the young ladies’ mouth began too truly registered.

These were not humans of Prima or another race from their world. These people were from an entirely different world altogether. So many things ran through Darion’s mind. The prospect of new worlds, the fact that these people would attack the kingdom in such a precarious state, and the hope that if he captured them, he could buy his way off this forsaken world. There was a reason he hadn’t returned to the battlefield in such a long time. He was there when the former queen struck the blow that crippled King Aaron and he was there when she gave out the speech. Those words would forever change Darion’s perspective. Blood would be split today.

“Let us fight then and may Arlo guide my way to victory!”

*

The moment the count finished speaking giant fireballs appeared over his army and immediately began speeding its way to the Crimson Army.

Amaya reacted instantly and the mages who had already prepared fired off the spell of their own.

|Earthen Walls|.

Giant walls appeared before the Crimson Army and an explosion that rattle all the way to my bones was felt but the walls held growing redder by the moment until the last fireball collapsed the spell. My lips curved upwards, and I turned to Amaya only to see the same as she jumped back into the protection of the army. I however, still stood in front and my eyes turned back towards the last location of the count only to see him long gone. The melting walls crumbling around me as the air grew dry and hot. The battle had begun.