Chapter 18: Hope

On the evening of the last sun of the last day, look west. When the moon falls, and the tides sway, look west. In the cold halls lit by mage light and lacking the presence of thriving life, look west. In the deep homes where the dwarves roam, metal clanging and armor banging, look west. For West is where the heroes march. West to the land of the orcs. Left, left, left, right, step, step, step, STRIKE!

Old wife tale created in the early stages of the Empire.

What was hope? Was it just a feeling or was it a desire? Karla did not know. As she read the report sent by Gloria’s fastest messenger hawk her mindset changed and the Warrior Princess persona that had worked so well began to emerge. This is what won her the battles whether it be rallying the support of the nobles or other two races to fight against the Nox.

The Warrior Princess reanalyzed everything sent in Gloria’s letter. She had described everything. From the characteristics of this Aegis Kan to the mannerisms and behaviors she could pick up in that moment. What she said gave the Warrior Princess pause but to summarize. This Young Lord was promiscuous not in a sexual sense but to Gloria he came off more as casual. As if this was just another thing he needed to get done under a long list.

The Five-Minute War as Gloria had described it from what was reported and her own observations before she helped put an end to it.

‘Hectic beyond the traditional sense yet these Kan’s not only held an advantage they would have surely defeated Count Darion Caccula if not for my intervention.’ A take from Gloria that the Warrior Princess seemed to settle on.

Count Caccula had been removed from the battlefield for five years ,yet that did not mean he lost his edge in fact, he was one of the well known stronger warriors of the kingdom. So, for youths according to Gloria who are barely older if not the same age as her to defeat him said something. Now how could the Warrior Princess manage this situation. By stopping the battle, it showed that this Aegis Kan was not disagreeable to other means of persuasion. His purpose here was to conquer their world and add it to his Empire’s forces. Vassalage was not a new concept to the Warrior Princess as her family had employed the same tactic back when the continent had one sole powerhouse. Yet with vassalage came a host of problems. Resources, expectations, tributes, these were all just a few in the long list but what did it mean if these people had the necessary manpower to join them in their fight against the Nox.

The Warrior Princess came to the realization that it would be better to negotiate the terms of their vassalage and try to get as much benefits as possible out while enlisting the help of her latest set of problems. Fight fire with fire.

Karla shook herself out of that state and summoned a few servants.

“Prepare the Sword of Kartalion and the Air Bastion. I will be taking a trip to Count Caccula territory and wish to be there by tomorrow.”

“Have 20 pounds of Runlion Ore, Mantta Crystal and, Loridion Steel loaded onto the Air Bastion.”

“I will need the slaughter of a few of the royal cattle’s as well and bring out the Century Wine.”

A few of the servant girls gave each other’s knowing looks that only grew more excited as she described what she would be taking to Count Caccula’s territory. Karla smiled as they formed their own opinions that could be nothing farther from the truth.

*

In the northern territory of the Last Kingdom.

Duke Loric read the report handed to him by a servant. His many spies in the capital had received word of some very interesting news courteous of Count Caccula. Their world of Prima had suffered another invasion. This time from what Count Caccula thought were a different type of human.

Duke Loric was intrigued by the report. The men and women of the new humans were said to be upwards of 8ft tall give or take a few inches. Their leader went by the name of Aegis Kan however the general of his army was someone called Amaya Kan. His wife, or family Duke Loric did not know but what intrigued Loric the most was the mention of the weird magical abilities displayed by the troops of this Aegis Kan. Only the nobility of the Last Kingdom could express physical abilities the way every troop of sufficient strength was doing in the army Count Caccula men had a hard time against. Mainly because they kept these techniques to themselves and partly because in some format, they were related to the Artis bloodline. Whether they were once part of the main branch or below. Duke Loric had been doing extensive research grabbing all the old documents of the past and doing his best to piece together the history of the humans and other races on the continent.

From his understanding roughly two thousand years ago or so Arlo created humans and spread them to the continent. That was confirmed by several sources including the church. It was said that Arlo gave his creations weapons and abilities to combat the wild and the other races. Arlo taught their mages to manipulate the forces of nature and their men to enhance their bodies beyond the limits of humans. By taking in mana and using breathing techniques to reinforce themselves. Many rose along their respective paths, and many have fallen yet one thing remained consistent no one has ever gone beyond tier nine.

When one would achieve that level of strength Arlo would allow them to join him within the divine heavens becoming one of his angels and helping him along his path. Or so the text said. Duke Loric was not a kind man. His position did not allow him to be. At the end of the world the comfort and safety position of a duke brought a lot of responsibilities that his extended family would not mind taking over. What his upbringing and wariness brought him was an excellent sense of opportunities and allowed him to easily spot others like himself. Which is why he keeps his strength at the peak of tier eight. Not allowing himself to break through further.

No King or Emperor had ever been buried on Prima not to Duke Loric’s knowledge. Now with the opportunity to talk to people who come from outside of their world Loric’s mind whirled thinking up of a schemes and plans.

He began to call out orders and make preparations. He would be leaving his domain for a short trip.

*

General Irvon held the toast to Baroness Vanns and thanked her for the fresh troops and supplies that would be replacing him as he took a short excursion back to the capital and then further beyond.

He had received a rather intriguing report from Spymaster Gloria and he from what he read Irvon knew Karla would need him present more than ever. The girl was like a granddaughter to him even before his apprentice had gone under. Now with the Last Kingdom shifting into what could be a major turning point the old general knew more than ever that his expertise would be needed to guide Karla into making the right decisions not only for herself but the whole of the kingdom.

What General Irvon did not see however was the smirk that crossed Baroness Vanns face as he excused himself from the command office.

The middle-aged woman also received a report like the ones that ended in General Irvon and Duke Loric’s hands. Count Caccula was a close ally and one who shared a similar mindset to her.

She studied the map in front of her depicting the lands of the Last Kingdom and their two allies.

On the map there were several different pieces. In the endless mountains she placed a black triangle to represent this new and unknown force. Her red eyes glistened in the setting sunlight.

*

In the capital of the old Artis Empire. Eyes so crimson they seemed black shuddered as information entered her mind. High Queen Noxlia groaned.

“There is always something. First this soul refuses to bond with me and now another race has made its way onto this gods forsaken rock.”

Her fingers softly tapped the dresser as she gazed upon her body in thought. In that one moment however Noxlia notice something. One eye had turned sky blue and as she watched the other turned blue as well, yet Noxlia knew that on the outside her eyes still gave off the soft crimson glow they usually did.

The woman in the mirror smiled before she began to speak.

“You’re going to lose.”

Noxlia laughed. For a solid two minutes a clear cackle that came from deep within Noxlia chest rang throughout her room. While the blue-eyed version of herself looked on her eyebrows scrunched in confusion.

“What are you laughing about?”

“What am I laughing about. She asked what I’m laughing about.”

Noxlia continued to cackle until tears began to drop from eye hers. Finally, after a few more minutes of cry laughing the High Queen stopped.

“This is your next avenue of attack appearing in our mirror to try and mess with my mind?”

The blue-eyed version of herself looked confused.

“No, you bimbo, I meant you’re going to lose to this new force.”

The High Queen cocked her head to the side and her eyes slightly widen.

“Why should I be concerned of some new force that hosted themselves in the Endless Mountains. Your bloodline has done more than enough to point me in the right direction for my objective and we are closing in on it.”

Noxlia looked on as the blue-eyed version of her remained quiet before a soft smile emerged on her face.

“What is it? What have you hidden from me? WHY WON’T YOU JUST BECOME ME?”

Noxlia exploded in rage as her fist met the mirror cracking it as multiple blue eyes looked at her.

“The freedom to choose one own path is not to be taken lightly. Free will is the right of every man, woman, and child. You will not break me. You will never break me.”

“My daughter has found a way to beat you. How does it feel? Knowing that you’re going to lose?”

The blue eye woman began to cackle as the cracked mirror shattered leaving Noxlia alone in starring at the mirror in front of herself once again. A tired sigh escaped from her lips, and she called Noxan to her.

“Rally my Nox. We march to put an end to this war and get off this gods forsaken planet once and for all.”