Chapter 4: Half ii

Irelithe spent the rest of her time moving throughout the northern region, warning the rest of the Barons and Baronesses about the oncoming danger. Some were amicable, and with plenty of military and commercial development worthy of the title, while others were like Baruch, vile and a mass of pure human greed. Their military stagnated and products withheld. The people who were supposed to be protected by the nobles were often exploited for the noble’s own personal gains. Of the six northern territories that Irelithe flew to, only two had a standing militia strong enough to properly defend themselves when the need arises. The other four, while not as weak as Baruch’s was, were still inadequate to handle the impending threat.

Irelithe was currently sitting in the main room of a rather large mansion. On the other side of the luxurious table sat a woman and a young man. A female servant walked into the room and served tea before quickly moving towards the wall to stand with the rest of the servants, ready to serve should they be required to.

Irelithe only acted seriously when the other party held the same regards towards her. The two nobles that she actually found capable were the Baron of the Hamon territory, Lance, and the Viscountess of the Lanchester territory, Virandi. Virandi wasn’t a fool like the Barons were. As the sole female noble within the northern region, she better not be otherwise she’d only end up as a puppet for the others. She rose her rank of authority by performing well, allowing her own territory which she inherited to flourish into a powerhouse of the northern estates.

“Just to make sure, you have absolute certainty that a Demon was summoned and is currently rampaging somewhere?”

“Does this eye look like an accident to you?”

Irelithe pointed towards her left eye as she said that lifting a temporary patch which hid it from the world. The wound had been healed using regeneration gel, but the eye itself hadn’t escaped undamaged. A deep gash, though replaced by newly formed skin, could be traced from her left temple across her eye, only ending when nearly reaching the bridge of her nose. Her cornea could be seen visibly split, her eye had become a misty black with no light or indication of sight from it.

The Viscountess figuratively jumped in her seat and the Baron to her right held a rather bemused expression. Irelithe put the patch back in its rightful place as the Viscountess reevaluated her.

“How can we be sure you got that injury from the Demon?”

Virandi pointed out shortly after.

“And how do we know this isn’t a trap?”

Virandi knew that the other Barons, except for Lance of course, envied her power. They would commit many atrocities in order to obtain her power, and as a result, Virandi had to be cautious of anything. Especially a traveler bearing news about a Demon which hadn’t appeared in several centuries.

“If it were a trap, then why would I be here? Wouldn’t an advisor bearing news be more fitting than an unnamed wanderer like me?”

Irelithe slammed her fists onto the table. The tea set clattering from the impact.

“Listen. There’s a [Demon] on the loose, and if you don’t want a repeat of what happened during the first war, you better act fast.”

The two ladies continued bickering, even the servants standing by the walls forgot about the existence of a single Baron sitting awkwardly next to Virandi.

“Uh… What happened during the first war exactly?”

Lance asked meekly, trapped between the presences of two predators fighting over their territory.

“Hm, I forgot you were a newly titled family for a moment.”

Viscountess Virandi sat back down on her seat, her delicate fingers picking up her cup of tea and sipping for a few moments before speaking again.

“During the first war between the Helios and Ivecil Kingdoms, someone managed to open a [Gate] using the lives of thousands of Balros citizens within our capital. A tragic slaughter was all that was.”

“Thousands?”

“Indeed, and that wasn’t even the worst of it. Hundreds of the Demon race poured into our world, slaughtering and destroying everything they met. Our mighty empire fell that day, and now we are only a shadow of that glory. The war was put on hold as both sides were threatened by them. They had to retreat otherwise they would be absolutely destroyed.”

While the two nobles were exchanging their words, Irelithe waited patiently, sipping on the warm tea that was served. The two had actually listened to reason and started mobilizing an anti-demon force within the hour. The group comprised of elites, namely several Knights from both territories, a few priests from the local church and a few odd cloaked men who proclaimed themselves as exorcists. Their task was to investigate the Demon sighting, and to eliminate it should they meet it.

The group marched southward on official orders towards the bloody swamp I had mentioned previously. Viscountess Virandi overlooked her city sprawled across the horizon. She turned her head over her shoulder and looked at me, hiding her face behind an ornamental fan.

“This better be worth it. I’ve sent my best men and they’d better come back alive.”

“Anything is worth it to avoid that calamity.”

“I hope so, otherwise another dark day will come to quench the last remaining flames of our once great empire. Honor the Empire.”

“Honor the Empire.”

The three then separated, Lance returned to his own territory leaving the two women behind. Irelithe followed suit and left the Viscountess’ manor, travelling down the cobble paved streets. The various commoners moved around doing their tasks in their everyday lives, unaware of how fate would change because of her at that very moment. But Irelithe didn’t feel the need to be the hero. She resupplied on ink and parchment, as well as various potions at the local apothecary before setting off for her original destination, the independent city of Viscor located too far away from the capital for the Balros King to hold. A place filled with craftsman, and rumored home to the one she needed to find.

Irelithe ran out of reagents for her flight inscriptions long ago, she would have had enough to last her a few more weeks but the several botched attempts in her hurry and mainly at fault for her ruined eye had run her supply dry. She could only walk or ride her way there now. So she headed towards the Adventurer’s Guild and settled on a merchant issued escort mission to Viscor. She didn’t care for the pay, all she needed was a ride.

The next day, Irelithe and a few others gathered outside of the Lanchester City, she found the recipient of her request standing in front of a rather long line of caravans. He was a stout man, unlike the grubby fat of Baron Baruch, and he held within his hands the acceptance letters with our names and faces.

“So all you youngin’s ready for a long haul? We won’t be arriving at Viscor for at least a month if all thing go well. Make sure everythin’s packed and ready to go. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”

Irelithe’s face dropped. She regretted wasting so many precious regents earlier as she reluctantly got onboard the last caravan in the line with the other equally troubled adventurers.

-Back at the Viscountess' Mansion-

Shortly after Irelithe had left the estate, a loud clambering sound could be heard from outside the hall from where Virandi sat. The fumbling of doors followed by the rapid pants of a disheveled butler entering the room.

"My lady! I have urgent news to report!"

The butler cried, exasperated from the long run. Virandi closed her fan and stood up from her seat, walking towards the servant to receive the untimely report.

"Tell me else you won't be seeing another dawn tonight."

The butler was sweating profusely on top of her favorite rugs. His body was visibly shaken all over as he gave his lady the dire news.

"Our connections have said that the war is over in the southern regions. We can finally make our move!"

Virandi took in those words as she moved back to the grand window overlooking her lands. She gazed over the various tiled building and at the greenery beyond. The vast expanse twinkling in her sharp gaze.

"The time has come, the Balros Empire will finally be revived. For the Empire!"

The maids standing by the walls and the exhausted butler yelled out in unison just as their lady had.

"For the Empire!"