2,382[ - Author's Note - ]
Well here we are... James versus Grave. I imagine everyone knew this fight was coming, just not when. Well, at least until the last chapter. Obviously; big fight and the aftermath of Klaus' death is what this chapter will deal with... along with a few other things.
I have to say I knew there would be a reaction to killing Klaus but damn if it wasn't more then I expected. I'm glad I wrote him well enough that people liked him, even if he's gone now, at least for this story. He'll be missed; yes, even by me.
On another note; Chainharte has made a new Kuroinu fic based on my own work. I'm still shocked that people make stuff based on it; yeah I gave permission to do so, but still... Anyway; his is on FFDotNet under the title of Eostia: Harem Quest Beta. As of now he's just exiting the character creation phase, as of this writing anyway. So then, let's get it on.
James v Grave! One man walks! One man won't!
[ - Act IV - Chapter XVI: To The Grave - ]
I fight in the hope that someday my sons won't have to. The life of a solider is not an easy one; at times you are given poor, tasteless rations, have to sleep in breezy, thin tents and must endure every foul element the land can offer you. Do not misunderstand; ours is a necessary lot of life for a nation to be safe and secure. Any nation that wishes to be at peace must always make ready for war lest the violent and the conquerors bring low what others build and thus the profession of soldiery will be required always and forever. Yet there are thousands ready to stand at arms for Eostia and among them at least one shall rise to be a great leader. Those who can afford to do so should try and make their children drift to more scholarly, learned pursuits as improvements in the realms of the magical and technological make things better for us all. I had wished my own sons, Grave and Miles, would do so but both prefer the way of arms and military, the steps I myself once took. Perhaps my grandsons, once they are born, could be great scholars. That would be something I would enjoy greatly.
~From the Memoirs of Former High General Peter Levantine
[-]
Skyguard Palace, Skyguard City
High Kingdom of Ken
Office of High Queen Celestine Lucross
"And yes, I think that will be everything in order for now." Celestine said as she set her sheets aside, sighing as her morning meeting ended. Seated at her desk she saw those gathered, such as Akane Lee of the Black Watch, Auryon Reid of her Dawn Templars Shield Division, her economic and political advisors and a few other ministers. They would stand up from the table that had been set up and would, later, be moved. She idly looked down to another sheet before speaking. "Mallory, have you a moment to stay and speak?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"There's no need to be so formal." Celestine sighed as Mallory DuLouvenoir walked towards her desk as the others in the room started to shuffle out. "I understand you are my subordinate, one of my most loyal and important ones but that is not to say we are not friends as well."
"Perhaps..." Mallory replied as she nodded, the door of the room shutting as the rest of the people left. "But I also feel, at times, that I do owe that level of respect to you. You have bared the burden of the crown for eight centuries and... I do not think many would wish to see your rule end as long as Eostia stands."
"And I feel the burden, I assure you." Celestine sighed. "Which is why I need your friendship as much as your respect."
"Of course; forgive me Your, ahh, Celestine." Mallory said as the High Queen smiled.
"Thank you..." She said, relaxing a little. "But I did ask you to remain for the sake of business; specifically in regards to the Black Dogs."
"Vult's unit?" Mallory let off, calmly and coolly as Celestine nodded once.
"I suspect Vult is in league with the Cloaked Crowns." Celestine explained as Mallory stood to attention. "There's a chance it's someone under him instead but I imagine it's him in specific. The connection isn't fully clear; either he's a client... or an ally... which would be a considerable risk to the nation's security, as you may guess. As their primary handler during the Garan Conflict over the last decade you know, more then most, what they're capable of doing."
"Aye... I am not unaware of their military capacity." She said as she frowned in thought. Celestine nodded as she moved to lift a sheet of paper as she hummed.
"As such we need to consider neutralizing him." The High Queen began. "There's still investigations running to give me a better idea of the depth of this; coupled with the Black Watch reports I have gained I'm confident in my suspicions. As such he'll need to be brought in, quietly preferred but by force if required." She said before looking back up at her. "As such by the end of the following week I would like a plan to arrest him with subtlety on my desk as well as a backup plan to do so by force if needs be. I've already spoken to a few others about this but we'll be waiting on you." She said as Mallory nodded.
"Of course! I'll get started quickly!"
"Excellent. I'll leave you to it." Celestine said as she smiled. "Thank you; you may be off now."
"Very well, Celestine." Mallory gave one last nod before turning on her heel and moving to leave... and as the door closed behind her Celestine finally sighed and let her shoulders relax softly.
"With luck I'll know what I need shortly..." She said as she looked back to her sheet as she frowned. While she had her own problems and issues to deal with she was aware of Grave's betrayal and that both James and Klaus were off to chase him down. "I hope they're having an easier time of it then I am..."
[-]
My view flashed as he pointed his blade to me and sneered under his helmet. "Prepare yourself, Champion... You face a Legend today." He let off before raising and pointing his blade upwards before pulling the grip down chest level and holding it with both hands.
_Legend Turned Betrayer_
Grave Levantine
The light flashed back to normal as I lifted the point of my weapon up to aim it to him; shifting my off hand weapon into a parrying dagger as I braced for who might well be the strongest opponent I had thus far...
Neither of us moved for awhile; after all both of us were known as skilled fighters and had challenges to deal with when facing the other. He was likely sizing up what he knew of my magical abilities and what I had in my bag of tricks. For me I was sizing him up as a pure warrior; if I had anyone to compare him to it would be Horus Aeternus in terms of skill set. On the plus side he lacked Horus' titanium equipment to really screw me over. That said he also had decades of experience, including in fighting mages, wasn't limited in what Combat Arts he could or couldn't use and he actively has Silver Weapon on his blade meaning he might have other weapon based boosts he could use. I held the range advantage with my magic but safe bet was he had a list of gap closers.
This would be rough.
As soon as it looked like the was about to charge I fired off my first cast of the fight; Scatter Bolt. I was unsurprised as he spun his blade in a circle before him to block the bolts with none getting through... then turned hard to one side as the follow up Hammer of Smite I used while Dual Casting sailed at where he was as I followed that up with an Arctic Orb, aimed low. He jumped to the side to avoid and popped some Combat Art, leaping in range to strike as he used another Combat Art on his sword to strike with; I set the back of my saber to my mana formed parrying dagger and coupled it with the Physical Burst in my armor to block it, deflect it away and end the dagger to cast a Magic Missile to him at close range. I grazed his armor as he turned and hit me hard with the pommel of his weapon as I skidded back with a grunt.
He followed up with a horizontal slice but I ducked it and stepped in with a D-Guard Power Punch; he blocked it by shunting his left forearm under my wrist and pushing away... before being blown back by a point blank Vortex Tunnel. I had gotten him off his feet as he was blown back, leaning hard backwards. He got his feet under him but he still landed on his back, unable to get them under him enough. He hit hard but to his credit he rolled back up to his feet and charged once more.
I could see the sneer as he spun his blade once before shifting it to deflect another Magic Missile as well as the follow up one and the one after that... then he deflected the next bolt... which wasn't a Magic Missile but a Shine Burst. I shut my eyes on the impact of that one as he flinched. To his credit he managed to keep up the attack and rush with a thrust but eyes shut he didn't see the Permafrost Wall spell I made before me; shaped like a six inch wide pillar with an angled brace to hold it up. His thrust moved to one side of it as he smacked face first into the pillar and bounced off, snarling before slashing out with a Combat Art, cutting the pillar in two and blinking his vision back... and caught a Hammer of Smite in the chest, knocking him back once more and denting his armor a hint. He skidded back but stayed on his feet as just glared at me. "Fight me blade to blade like a man!" He barked as he rushed me once more.
"What idiot fights how his opponent wants?" I barked back to him. I held advantages Klaus didn't; he was (For lack of a better term) a support main who was primarily focused on defense and healing. He was at his best when he had someone to stand behind to protect, heal and assist and the more people he had to do that with the better; he was a force multiplier... but, not to discredit my... now late friend, he wasn't built for one on one fighting. Me? I can be that force multiplier but not anywhere near as well as he could but a one v one duel? I think it's safe to say this is where I excelled.
"Coward!" He barked out, using a Combat Art to close the gap... then stacked one onto it to keep me from casting fast enough to counter; I dove and rolled to the side to avoid it, instinct kicking in as I jumped up to back flip over his head and using Levitation to stay there and used Power Punch to hit him from above. He was still turning, faster now, expecting me to pop up behind him but still shifted to one side, making my punch whiff before I transitioned to a slash, catching the side of his helm. He moved with the hit as I scarred his armor, slid away and slashed with a Combat Art; I took a hard, Silver Weapon bolstered pressure wave of some sort to the chest that knocked me from the air and into the ground, bouncing once, turning over and forcing me to push myself up.
Naturally he wasn't going to let me breathe and recover so he was already rushing back at me, blade raised high and back as he sneered as his blade came alight with some Combat Art; likely a shield shattering one. A simple Earth Wall spell was raised up and he smashed his blade into it hard enough to crack it... before he and the chunks of my Stone Wall spell were blasted back as I casted Vortex Tunnel once more; he was forced to block lest one of those chunks clobbered him in the head but even so he still swatted my follow up Fireball from the air with his blade. He didn't charge me once more but rather planted his feet and sized me up once more as I reconsidered my own position.
I opted to sheathe my saber and draw my other Gemini half, combined them and formed it into a double bladed set up with both ends coming alight with Shadowblaze Weapon. I spun the weapon once and took a ready stance as I drew on my mana, sure he would come to me once more as I formulated a plan in my head. Soon I had an idea as I awaited his attack...
I didn't need to wait long; the man roared out as he charged once more, dragging his blade along the ground as he rushed me. Finally as he came into range I unleashed a Dual Casted Steam Burst, both from my off hand at the same time, both in a heavy stream. Scalding him wasn't the aim, although it would be a useful effect, rather I aimed to blind him as I used Heroic Leap to avoid his strike as the steam lingered in the air around him, blinding him as a smokescreen...
...and let me drop back with nine Illusions of myself around him in a circle.
[-]
Grave was used to fighting mages; many lauded their 'learned skills' over men who bled, cried and sweated for real might. Grave fought foes with more magical power then Noxdecus, ones who could fight with weapons as well with more skill as Noxdecus... and he ended many of them doubly so the foolish dark elves... There were few mages he would hesitate to cross; and the only two he knew who were still alive was Celestine Lucross and Olga Discordia. He knew many of their basic tactics and advanced skills; mostly by besting them over a long life.
Noxdecus, he would admit, was more clever then many of them, more durable then all but a few and held a skill in arms few had. His armor was durable, his weapons well crafted and, given his trade, well enchanted... but in the end, however, he was still just a mage... A damned mage who rose to become a Champion of Eostia... Worse he thought this trick would do him in! Him! Grave Levantine! The Legend of the Long War! The Raging Griffon! The Sentinel of Steel! The Man of Mythril!
Ten copies of the man, nine of them illusions, circled him as the steam he had unleashed finally dissipated. He honed his hearing, trying to ignore that womb of an adopted daughter crying over a stupid sissy to pinpoint his location and heard nothing. A silencing spell, he was sure to hide his footsteps and breathing. "Foolish boy... You think this hadn't been tried on me by dozens before you?" He said with a smirk. After all, even without hearing he had pinpointed which Noxdecus was the real one. "Nor that I can still see your shadow!" After all, magic was more limited then these fools wanted to think!
He rushed the one with a shadow, the only one with a shadow, smirking as he knew he would cut the fool down at last! Shattering Strike to break through any shield he tried to put up... Adrenaline Rush and Arc of Steel to further enhance his striking power coupled with Silver Weapon. Even his vaunted dragon scale armor would not fully protect him! If Noxdecus survived this he would be in ill condition to carry on the fight. All the Illusions looked on in shock, left arm moving over the face but too slow! He slashed from high right to low left, aiming to bisect his body as his blade sheered and howled through air towards him and-
-cut through an Illusion.
Smirk changed to shock and before he could react purple flames struck him; nailing him from the side and rear, hitting low and making him scream out as even his mythril armor failed to fully guard him as, from the thighs down, his legs cooked while attached to him. The metal melted softly around the limbs as he collapsed to the ground, the flames pouring onto his legs for a long moment more. He gripped his weapon still, screaming as he tried to swing for the bastard-
-only for Noxdecus to use his own Combat Art, his weapon changed to an axe form and cleaving his arm at the elbow as it too was coated in purple flames. Still screaming he reached for the blade at his side but a boot pressed to his bicep as Noxdecus now stood over him. The man reached down, drew Grave's own sword and tossed it aside. "It's over, old man."
"How..? That's... How..?" Grave hissed out to the man who had not just defeated but maimed him.
[-]
"Oh, that?" I let off as turned my weapon back to a trident head, using it to hook his helm and pull it off, Shadowblaze slicing through his helm's shield as I did so, a flick tossing it away and leaving his head bare. "I used two more Illusions; one to hide my shadow and one to give one to an Illusion." I replied as I glared down to his now bare face as he sneered. I used the same trick before on Horus and guess what? Worked like a charm on this asshole too! "Just a little trick I picked up, is all."
Fighting Grave was as rough as I had expected but thanks to my little idea I was able to make it a much shorter fight then the one with Mace. That I bested such a legend (And in such a decisive manner) would likely put the Black Storm on alert once they learned, but that isn't here or there... Tiffany finished her foe off and moved to help the regulars but the last of Grave's men tossed his weapons down and raised his hands; surrendering. Instead, as the guards move to bind him, she moved to assist Claudia; still howling Klaus' name, sobbing it more like now...
God damn it.
"Fine. Mage or no you bested me in fair combat; I'll admit that." Grave spat out; swallowing his pride for a moment as he glared back; he accepted defeat but was clearly unhappy about it. "Not that it'll matter as the Storm washes over the realm. Now do it... finish me..."
"No." I replied as he looked up to me in shock as I kept up my glare. "No. After what you've done you will not be allowed to even think you got some sort of honorable, warrior's death. You will not be given the easy way out." He sneered, shifting; his one arm trying to move to grab me but unable to with it pinned under my boot. "You don't get to go to the hereafter thinking the Storm's going to win. No. You're going to go to a cell as a crippled prisoner and sit there in pain and frustration as you come to terms with what you've done. And once Eostia weathers your little Storm I will bring you the proof you've utterly lost." I leaned over a bit more as he sneered, hitting my shin with the stump of his mauled arm. "When you die, Grave, it won't be in some battle; it'll be with your head on the executioner's block as you die like a common criminal."
"You son of a bit-" I ended my Radiant Gemini's head and smashed the end down into his face, knocking him out as I huffed over him; ohhhhhh did I want to kill him now... It wasn't about the honor of not killing a man who was no longer a threat that stayed my hand though, no, but that the Black Watch would want to interrogate him (Not that I expected him to talk) and like I said I was not letting him think he died on the winning side.
He would die knowing the movement he supported failed and was destroyed.
My head turned as I winced... There she was, Claudia, gripping Klaus' torso, bisected from his lower half, weeping and howling in a pain I knew well given it was over the same man... but hers was far more acute and deep. I lowered my head, off hand tightening into a fist as I snorted in anger. "Damn you Grave..."
[Defeated List]
6 Armored Bodyguards x 2600XP=15600XP
Mace Versa=12500XP x 1.25 Kill Bonus=15625XP
Grave Levantine=14500XP x 1.5 Mercy Bonus=21750XP
+20% Hero of Eostia Bonus
Gain 36570XP Total
Level Up!
You are now Level 42!
+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc!
+1 to End!
+1 to Rap!
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 UTP!
Level Up!
You are now Level 43!
+1 to Con, Str, Dex, Acc & Mnc!
+1 to End!
+1 to Rap!
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 UTP!
Achievement Unlocked: Agent of The Storm Defeated - Grave Levantine
You defeated an agent of the Black Storm; Grave Levantine
Achievement Unlocked: Storm Slayer
You have killed or defeated three Agents of the Storm
Achievement Unlocked: Back to Back Brawler
Killed or defeated two major enemies over level 40 in single duels
It took me a long moment to collect myself and move over to Claudia. She didn't care about her nudity in the moment and as lovely as she was this was one of the least sexy sights around. All I could do was kneel by her and hug her around her shoulders, softly pulling her to me.
"KLAAAAAAUS! WHHHHHY!? WHY COULDN'T IT'VE BEEN MEEEEEEE!?"
Damn you Grave...
[-]
Once Claudia cried herself out and could be pulled from Klaus I... had Tiffany help clean her up and get her husband's blood off of her. Afterwards I checked on Makoto and thankfully she would be fine; if suffering a headache for a time. Healing applied I followed that by helping the regulars before ordering them to check the manor for... survivors.
Grave and his men did a rough job here; all the guards were slaughtered and of the staff only two were alive and one needed a leg reattached. I was able to pull that off but she'd be off that leg for awhile. Another survivor was Adwin; he was injured with broken ribs but was alive. I was surprised Grave didn't kill him or had one of his men do so...
(We would interrogate his surviving man; once Adwin saw what he'd done to his mistress he leapt for Grave's throat which didn't work and got him kicked to a wall. He respected the dog's loyalty enough to let him live... and admitted he wanted Klaus to be left with a reminder of what he took. Bastard.)
With that done I moved to a sitting room and sighed as I pulled out my voxlux... Time for some more pain, I guess... My device pinged and, after a moment, Celestine picked up. "James, do you have something to rep... What's wrong?" I took a moment to draw a deep breath, about to speak... and found my voice failed me in the moment. "..James?"
"...We moved to regroup at... We caught Grave in the act of trying to kidnap Claudia..." She sucked in a breath as she looked to me. "She's fine but... ...Klaus..."
"No..." She didn't need me to say another word to understand as she shut her eyes, likely a curse under her breath coming to her. "...dammit..." She hissed out before looking to me. "Tell me what happened... Swiftly." I nodded and did my best to speak, explaining of our arrival to Klaus' home, the fight that followed, defeating Mace just before Klaus was cut down, defeating Grave himself... "I see... Dammit... You did well, although I mean no disrespect when I say I wish you had done better... There are few minds like Klaus to be found at the best of times... his loss will not be made up for with any ease... And that is merely me speaking as a High Queen... I lost a friend and another must be feeling broken."
"That's a way to put it..." I said with a sigh, sitting down in a seat. "...I should have... I don't know... put out a call to-"
"Stop." I flinched at how firm her voice was. "Do not blame yourself. Do not take the responsibility for the event on your shoulders. Mistakes were made, yes, but the fault is Grave's and his alone... I will make for Primus shortly. We have much to do... and to see our friend to rest." She took a deep breath before looking at me. "...How are you holding up..?"
"...Holding..." I replied, pulling a seat out and sitting down. "...I avenged him, yeah but... It still feels like a major failure. I failed is how I feel... Maybe I could have done something, maybe not but that's how I feel..."
"That is fully understandable." She said softly as she looked to me. "I am sure mistakes were made. Things missed. But do not dwell in blame and guilt. This is not your fault and all you have done is to ensure a threat is ended. Even if the cost is... terrible..."
"Cele..."
"I will endure... Endure with me, will you?" She said with a sad smile. "I will see you and Claudia soon. For now... For now look after her..."
[-]
Once more support arrived Grave was fully dealt with; the melted armor was removed from him, along with the gambeson padding, or what was left of it. His legs were... a mess and the healers opted to have them amputated... I'm told what was left was a few inches and... well, if he was given prosthetics they would have little to hold onto and need a belt to keep them on. Even if someone did pity the bastard enough it would be minimum strength ones so he could be led to his death someday. For now he'd be given a prison cell; and in Eostia that was an eight by six affair with a bed, a chair and, if you're lucky, a working toilet and sink. If you're unlucky then just two buckets, one with water. If you behaved you might even be allowed a book. Maybe even a second book. Yes, Grave's future would be a thrilling one. I made a note to send him a copy of the most boring, dull and painful to read book on magical theory I could find.
And yes, Celestine promised me directly that he would be jailed and his execution had only after the Storm was done with. He'd live to see the Black Storm pass and little else.
To carry on with the bad news; Lorcan slipped away from the Black Watch. How wasn't known but the assumption was he escaped Colt Ridge, made for the hills and was laying low while slipping either north or west. They tried to pick up his trail but I wasn't hopeful on that; for now he was in the wind. Grave's other men; less so, the Black Watch were picking them up for interrogation to see how much they knew. Some likely would be freed and let go due to not knowing what was going on but more might know something worthwhile...
Speaking of; the Black Watch was now turning over Grave's manor for any hint of what he was up to and checking his other offices and known holdouts. With luck his men would point to ones no one knew of where the good stuff was but in the end he was a General who knew how valuable such documents would be. I didn't expect the man himself to talk so, with luck, someone else knew and would chat for a lighter sentence.
It took a couple of hours but Cele did arrive and moved straight to Claudia and scooped her into a hug. Claudia tears had dried but that was less due to not crying and more... running out of tears to shed. Akane Lee arrived with her and sought me out for a face to face debrief of an unexpected fight. In the end we both agreed that Grave being taken off the board was a major win but Klaus' death was a near equal loss... Speaking of...
The regulars had... moved the body to the morgue until it was time for the funeral...
Fuck...
I was still coming to terms as I sat outside Claudia's front door, sitting on a porch and trying to ignore the literal blood on the ground lost for... anything to do... Just...
Fuck...
"Champion..." I flinched for a moment; the voice was odd... A hint of Grave's gruffness but... also mixed with Klaus' softness. Looking up I saw Miles Levantine walking up the path to me a... look on his face as if regretful. As if he was as lost as I was. "Forgive me for asking but... I heard that horrible things happened... My brother caused them, I am told..." He huffed, looking away. "I was told... Klaus is dead... died defending his wife."
"He is... and he did..." I replied simply as he... nodded and moved to sit down next to me, huffing softly.
"... ..." He said nothing for a long moment but I sensed he was... collecting his thoughts and words, thinking about what he had to say. Finally his mouth opened and he started to speak. "I... was not... I didn't like him much... I saw him as a coward and thought he could never... ..." He trailed off, looking aside. "...he did the Levantine name proud... I thought if he was ever so tested he would crumple... run... He didn't and... I'll never be able to tell him he did well." He huffed softly. "My father would have liked him, I am sure. I... I knew he did well for a man of his limitations... That he excelled in his field was worth celebrating, and I never understood why my brother... ... I shouldn't have listed so much to Grave... ...bastard slew his own blood... and for what? Some foolish want of a dead empire long since gone..."
"Grave cut him in half and didn't even blink at it..."
"Fuck..." He let off as I told him that... His face was pale as he looked ahead, seeming to have aged ten years since last I saw him. "...I underestimated Klaus but I also made a mistake in thinking my brother would have stayed his blade. Fuck..." He planted his hands on his knees and looked ahead. "I will ask he be buried with the name Levantine. It might be too little too late but I would honor what he's done... and spite my brother at the same time."
"Claudia's call, I imagine." I said, surprised a bit at him. "If I might say I didn't expect you to be so... broken up over this; my understanding was you didn't like him overly much."
"Don't misunderstand, I didn't. I didn't think he'd find courage in a moment that required it." He said with a huff. "He proved me wrong. Cost him his life too... And I..." He gave a sigh as he shook his head. "He deserved better. From his father most of all, but also from me. I find myself looking back now and finding fault with myself. And ill chances to make it right; doubly so as my brother's actions will stain our house... Bastard..."
There was an urge to chastise him for not doing better when Klaus was still around but I decided here and now was not the time nor the place. Besides, better late then never. "...I'm gonna miss him... I already do..."
He just... put a meaty hand on my shoulder, patted twice and left it there in support.
[-]
Near the Town of Kerensky's Cottage
Barony of Cameron
Near the Border of the Duchy of Sanka
"Good... Everything's set then?" Vult let off, grinning. At that moment his forces were resting for lunch; or at least the fraction he bore with him. In one month's time he would arrive in Dominious once more and reenter the Civil War proper. He only hadn't gone already as he had things to oversee within Eostia before doing so; speaking with various lords among them. His plan was to speak with... choice members of House Caelum in Sanka along with a selection of their minor nobles but also minor nobles in Bemul and Pulca to see what support he could gain when the time came.
One did not just conquer a nation of Eostia's size and power with any ease, no. Because of that the more people of influence within such a nation who could be turned to your banner before war was made would increase their chances. Doubly so with Garan weakened but no longer hostile to Eostia. Both nations would need a few years to fully recover so he had to strike before this year's end; before they could fully replace losses...
The groundwork needed to make this happen was annoying to lay out but day by day he laid it... and thus he would have something to build upon later... "More or less." Keane replied, looking to his sheet, clipped to a small board and held in one hand as his other adjusted his glasses. "He has that tinkering goblin set up to build; I'm sort of excited to see what he'll make."
"Good, good. Tell Arron I'll be footing most of the bill but to make sure he isn't being wasteful with his resources." Vult replied with a grin; he recalled seeing the contraption on the fields outside of Mooncast as it fought James Noxdecus on horseback. It failed but he wondered how much of that was due to poor design and how much was due to limitations put on him by dark elves who likely cared little and gave him mostly scraps to work with... and a sizable spell stone that, as it turned out, he stole from House Goldtomb and blamed it on some lowborne house member.
Luckily they were able to 'acquire' one thanks to one Michel Pantielle lifting one from Eostian storage... along with a few others for their use; most dropped off with House DeSagesse. "Naturally. I'll also be updating the Fang's enchantments; once I swap the stone out." Vult grinned at that as well; the Fang of Bahamut was very well enchanted... by the standards of two thousand years ago; by modern standards it was still acceptable but not exceptional; Keane could enchant well enough to correct that. He would need it given Eostia's Champion was, himself, a well practiced and now famous enchanter. More over the weapons of his lieutenants would be improved as well; they would be the ones leading and, thusly, needed to lead well. More over they would need to survive Dominious but that was fine; there were opportunities there...
"Can't wait to test it out... Anyway; what about that Canal War? Do you know how's that going?" He asked as Keane adjusted his glasses.
"Balanar and Camafran have begun their offensives in the Glory's Shield province." His best aide replied. "Last report I've heard has Castle Glory under siege while Qulona's forces are bypassing it to sweep for enemy patrols and take smaller settlements. Justical is attempting to reinforce but are stretched thin with an Olladona led coalition forces leading the charge in Helm's High and Torosa led forces in Crown's Watch, well, it's unknown how much effect it'll have. White Wolf seems to think Justcial's north will fall in a month in full... but the collation will likely be bogged down as they get in deeper."
"Not to mention as Justical become more desperate; it's been sometime since someone invaded them, eh?" Vult mused. Honestly he had to make sure, once the Cuntry was up and running, to harden the south; Balanar might be in the way but he imagined Justical would want to pull some crusade on him once he was emperor if they ever regained the ability to do so.
Such was the life...
Of course that was depending on Justical's state by then; if anything the Canal War would tie up Camafran and Balanar both for the future and no matter what happens they would be recovering and unlikely to want to poke into his new empire once his flag was raised. That wasn't to say there weren't back up plans to ensure they were tied up that he could trigger via Zenith when the time called for it.
"That said we made sure our best associates aren't going into Justical; either Dominious or hanging around Eostia." Keane added as Vult grinned wider. That was another secret of their operations; they had deals with multiple smaller mercenary outfits from the White Hawks to the Mountain Wolves to the Red Lions to the Steel Fangs and even the Midnight Marauders... and that wasn't including groups formed by his own lieutenants who broke off to grow their own forces; The Dread Fangs, Seven Hounds, Hell's Riders, Davion's Swords and the Red Moon Troopers.
Individually none were that impressive... collectively they could drum up at least another nine thousand men at arms, all awaiting his word. And as none were directly connected with him it was unlikely they'd be caught or noticed; most of them were working for one or more Eostian lords, including minor lords meaning they would be waiting in place where he needed them.
He grinned wider as his thoughts carried on; and of course Dominious was more then a chance to earn more coin but more men... after all there would be frustrated conscripts, disenfranchised regulars, villagers seeking a better life then an Empire's boot... and eager to be the boot...
He was willing to bet he could raise another five to ten thousand men once he returned to the Empire of the Iron Fist... and maybe even more...
Despite some setbacks he was still marching ahead...
A ping sounded and he moved to answer his voxlux...
[-]
"I need not explain the level of disaster we have laid before us." Celestine let off and this was... a very different feeling then usual with her, even back in the war. We were in a spare bedroom of Claudia's home and she was looking out the back to the backyard as her frown was reflected in the window. Myself and Lee were behind her, standing in silence. It was like two schoolkids behind an upset teacher. "The fact Grave is proven to be a traitor to us means we can start to undo the damage he has caused. We have no idea how may secrets he allowed to be known to the Storm. We do not know how much of our military knowledge and plans he leaked or how much we are compromised. That is devastating but one we can, with effort, overcome. The death of Klaus, however, is a massive problem."
She would... slump, head turning down a bit as she kept speaking. "As a friend to them, as someone who loved them my heart aches for the loss and while glad Claudia is alive... I know her pain well... as High Queen it would have been better if Claudia was the one who died... That I have to consider such makes me ill but in the end the truth is soldiers are the coins of war and such are a silver a dozen... One like Claudia is rare but I've lived long enough to see those of her skill and character rise to the occasion time and time again... But a mind like Klaus', his degree and breadth of knowledge in numerous fields... that is far rarer... He will not be so easily replaced..." I knew she had to play Chess with real people all the time and it was a frank confession of her feelings and thoughts... not just as a woman but as her station...
I hate politics...
"Maybe I should have put a call in sooner-"
"The fight would have ended well before you were reinforced." Akane cut me off with a brusque tone. "No; I made the call to go for both Lorcan and Grave at the same time and... someone under me made a mistake, that is my responsibility... Maybe I should have had Lorcan's capture put off until-"
"There would have been a risk of tipping him off anyway; I have a feeling Grave would have warned him if he could." I replied simply, although in a soft tone.
"Even so I am the one who organized the capture; a mistake in the plan is mine." She replied as I sighed.
"And I was the one fighting him and his men; I had a chance to-"
"Enough." Cele let off; not loudly but sternly. "Mistakes were made. There are an infinite numbers of would haves and could haves... The fact is this." Finally she turned to face us and I winced; her eyes were red... I'd later learn she and Claudia more or less cried together which... made me feel like a heel; I'd done little to comfort her so far as I... had to deal with Klaus' death on me as well as... picking up what pieces I could. Yesterday we were excited about the progress we made and now...
Fuck...
"We are all hurting. We are all seeking answers to... what we could have done better. I could have been more cautious in my own way; more aggressive on the pursuit of the thief or made moves against Grave before now instead of waiting for the proper moment." She looked to Akane then myself before addressing us both. "But fretting over our mistakes, real or imagined, will not help us. It could, quite possibly, paralyze us with indecision if we let it consume us. Instead we learn what we can and stride forwards. If nothing else Klaus would, I imagine, wish us to carry forth the torch and bring light to the Storm and weather it."
"He would, wouldn't he..." I mused softly. "...Honestly I should be doing more for Claudia given-"
"While I understand do not fret." Celestine said as she walked closer. "He was a mentor to you; you are hurting as well. Claudia is not the only one in need of emotional support." She said as she set a hand on my chest softly. "Yes; men are expected to be the more stoic and stalwart of the genders but we both know no one is emotionless..." I didn't even noticed for a moment that my hands moved to her hips; even so I nodded simply to her.
"I'm well aware. Trust me... I guess I just feel..." I took a moment to find the words... but only found one... "...lost..."
"That is natural. For now... Go back to Enterprise... Rest..." She said as she let me go. "I will have someone... arrange the funeral..."
"Right... I... yeah, sounds like an idea..."
[-]
I... sorta just moped on Enterprise after that, for a bit. Riri checked on me of course (Damn good girl...) and after awhile I called up Prim, Alicia and Kaguya in a four-way call to deliver the bad news. The support flowed but it went in all directions; Prim was in tears. She wasn't overly close to Klaus but looked up to Claudia as a leader and senior and her natural empathy meant she still felt horrible. Alicia was acting tough and stoic but you could see she was distraught as well. Kaguya seemed the least effected but was still speaking softer then normal.
Once that call was over it was a call to my parents to tell them and a few others after that. Come the morning I returned to the Curtis-Levantine Manor; I wanted to speak with Claudia once the chance arose. Given... given how it all went she need support and while I was still hurting, let's be honest, she was hurting worse.
I wasn't surprised when I knocked on the sitting room she was in that the 'enter' I got was... soft and almost neutral in tone.
Fuuuuuck...
I walked in and... was glad she was dressed this time; this time in a simple white dress. Some frills around the trim but simple. She was just... sitting there... sadly... looking out of the window to the garden. I walked in, steeling myself as I moved to sit to her right to not block her view. It was clear she was crying; red, sunken eyes, paler then normal skin and her hair seemed... not unwashed but less washed. "Claudia, I..." I was searching for the next word as she lowered her head a hint.
"James... Before anything else, tell me the truth..." She said before finally turning her head to look at me. "...Who made the choice to not call me... tell me fath... ... tell me Grave had turned..."
"Claudia, is that rea-"
"Please..." Her voice was soft, hoarse and sorrowful. I winced and was tempted to lie, direct the blame to myself but... She'd likely realize... or already knew and was searching for confirmation. I gave a long sigh before speaking.
"I wanted to tell you; Klaus and our contact thought you were... too trusting of him." I said, sighing deeply. "Don't... don't blame him for-"
"Please." I went silent as she shook her head. "His father was... one of the few things we truly butted heads over... If I wasn't so blind maybe I would have understood more... I just... don't understand..." Tears threatened to return as she seemed to shrink into herself as I winced. "...why? Why would he fight so long... so hard for Eostia and... and... Why would he turn on us? Me? Kill... Kill..." I scooted my chair closer to make it easier to move and arm around her shoulder and gently pulled her closer as she quivered into me. "...why..?"
"...I can offer my thoughts but we'd need to ask Grave himself... And I don't want to deal with him if I don't have to." I said as I tried to keep my voice from cracking. "But that's all I have to offer; my own insight and guesses."
"I'll have them then..." I nodded and took a moment to collect my thoughts before speaking.
"Klaus told me he... Grave, thought highly of the Kaiser era and it's telling of history." I began. "It was a more authoritarian time and place. More focused on the strength and glory of the solider and warrior over all else. Eostia venerates such too, I've found that out first hand, but it also prizes it's economists, builders, inventors and diplomats as highly. You know Grave looked down on almost anyone who wasn't a fighter of some sort." She nodded, as I hugged her shoulders softly. "The idea of an empire that reveres soldiers and the military over all else, strength of arms over all else likely appealed to him. Look at Klaus; how many men who are knights and warriors would have been proud of having such a celebrated scholar in their house? But... Grave..."
"...He never liked that Klaus couldn't ever use a weapon..." She said as I nodded, rubbing her shoulder.
"Someone in the Storm knew him well enough..." I mused as I gave off a sigh. "Knew the right words needed to tempt him... to give him the idea that a new empire was coming on the horizon and he could have a place in it, one of reverence, one where he and men like him could shape the future and be a leader, a ruler..." I sighed deeply for a long moment. "I just wish... he... I wish there was something I could have done to-"
"So do I..." She said, shivering. "I should have... I should have..."
"Don't. I can do enough of that for the both of us." I replied sighing. "I'll miss him too..." She let off another sob as I rubbed her shoulder, just... holding her... What else can I say? What words could offer her comfort? Guidance? Nothing I could say or do would undo what was done.
Klaus was dead. That was that as much as I hated it... I couldn't undo it... No last words, no goodbyes, just... dead.
"I... I'm sorry, I must be such... I feel so weak..."
"You're not the only one..." I told her, sighing. "You're not the only one..."
[-]
"Goddess damn it..." I winced as I watched Celestine pound the railing near the bow of the Enterprise as I flew her back to Skyguard. She had given Claudia a leave of absence and left her in the care of a surprisingly supportive Miles and two of her fellow Templars. Much as we wanted to stay and support her the fact was she was the Queen of Eostia and had enough duties to choke a whale and I was still the heir of a newly promoted county and had my own duties; duties I had put on the back burner for a week... I could only put them off and delegate them for so long... And I'd be dealing with Klaus' death at the same time...
Fuck...
More over I'd be on call to get the shields to Primus via Enterprise when the... funeral came... Klaus, according to a will he had left, requested to be buried in the Levantine's family graveyard and in his manor's backyard if denied. Miles promised to allow it and made a declaration; Peter Levantine wanted to be buried with his sons and when he was buried two were set aside for Miles and Grave... and Miles opted to use Grave's plot for Klaus to spite the bastard. Yup. I approved as did Claudia.
(As a side note once Grave was executed, post-Storm, Miles would stick to his father's promise to bury both of sons near him... but behind Peter's headstone with a small plaque over the ashes remains (Grave demanded his body be buried, no cremation. Miles decided he no longer deserved that sort of respect) to mark his resting place, out of sight and where his father could look over him... and likely spite him further.)
I had been thinking of my former death in my past life a bit more now but also my own, current mortality... Sure it would be a long, long life (Assuming I avoided a violent end) but I would die someday; I wasn't immortal after all... "Is it weird I want to say something but I don't know what, let alone have words for it?" I asked as I stood behind her as she sighed.
"No... At times like this I struggle myself." She took in a long, deep breath before turning to look at me. "...As hard as it is we cannot dwell on Klaus' death; we must move forwards... even if the first steps on that path are as painful as the loss. With Beardsley we knew how high these traitors could be in within Eostia, with Grave we know even those with decades of service and sacrifice as a solider can turn against us. More over knowing this we risk distrusting those loyal and worthy of absolute trust... Knowing that friends I have known for years, even those in families I have befriended for generations could be turned on us is a painful thought... Yet if we let distrust rule us then the Black Storm will not find a unified Eostia but a fractured one..."
"Yeah... If you need to go into battle you need to know the person you go with has your back." I said as I crossed my arms. "If you have a secret to keep you need to know they won't expose it. If you have a document to hide you need to know they won't copy it. We have to put our trust in our fellow Eostian... and yet it's a number among our fellow Eostians who are betraying that trust... So... We need a means to trust but verify."
"Well put." Celestine replied; the first real one I've seen that day. "We cannot break under this pressure. With luck we'll learn more; if not from Grave who I do not think will talk then from his men who may not be so stoic and faithful to his cause. That said... for all of our speak of trust we know of one segment of Eostia who will be difficult to put faith into..."
"The Traditionalists..." I replied as I huffed. The issue with them wasn't the concept of honoring tradition or looking to tradition for answers. I did agree with the motto of the Conservative faction in the Council of Lords; tradition is not the worship of ashes, it's the preservation of fire. That said I also believed in another phrase on tradition, coined by the Liberalists.
Tradition is a guide for the wise and a rule for fools.
"Indeed. Houses Blitzhaus, Bludhorn and Stoneshard in particular could be expected to join any such coup against the Alliance." She said simply, looking out to the distance from aboard the ship once more. "Their minor houses may not join such insurrection or wait to see how the wind blows before picking a side but I know this; the Black Storm will rattle and trash at every crack in Eostia it can find. To weather this storm will not be easy but we must find the means to do so."
"One way would be to fill the cracks and pull out the loose stones... but as anything political, that's easier to say then do." I said with a frown. I ended up stepping up to her, draping an arm about her shoulder and holding her softly; feeling her lean into me. Something then occurred to me. "...You have an idea who's behind this, don't you?" I said as she, unsurprisingly to me, nodded softly.
"A have an idea, yes, but not a full one. I'm working on getting a full picture but that might be some time yet..." I was tempted to ask further but opted not to; it wouldn't help if I tipped her hand by knowing something I shouldn't and I trusted her that if I should know I'd know. "For now I think our efforts are best set to uncovering how much damage Grave caused and mitigating it as best as we can."
"Yeah, I can see how much of a pain that'll be..." I said with a sigh. That would be a pain in it's own right...
[-]
The bulk of efforts made after Grave was exposed was to work out what could be done to mitigate all the intel he might have spilled which was an annoying job. For my part I went home and tried to recover as best as I could... In that moment I was more or less waiting on word of the funeral and getting ready to ferry all of the shields to Primus for it...
I... busied myself as best as I could; teaching Dawn once more, adjusting my enchantments, training, my lordly work... I'd put my four, newly earned RSPs into Endurance, sent my revolver off to be repaired (I didn't put an auto repair spell on it... Well that's my own damn fault and I'd be double sure to rectify that when it got back; it wouldn't have helped in the fight but that could be an important detail down the line), and just... well, worked through my grief as best able.
Sora would look after the manor once it was time; I picked up Kaguya, Maia and Lulu; Alicia and Prim used a Cloud Rider to go to Primus as did Celestine. We would go to the Levantine Manor; Grave's former home and Miles' childhood home and... well, new home, more or less. Yes, Miles took over as patriarch of the clan and among other things started to clear out Grave's belongings; everything the Black Watch didn't take he sold or destroyed... save a collection of glass figurines his brother had bought and painted. As it turns out Grave enjoyed these little things as did Miles and he couldn't sell, gift away or destroy them. He did vow to add to the collection... and vowed to add my figurine when it came out.
(In the event your wondering; yes a company made these things. Yes, they asked permission to use likenesses and would pay out a little coin for it. Yes, I made an agreement with them. Thankfully it was me in my armor and carrying weaponry and not me in the nude wearing a cape and a hope)
Some guests would be given quarters with Claudia being given her old room... Miles would prove to be a gracious host, changing out into a black great coat. Claudia would arrive... wearing her full armor although with a black cloak over her shoulders. Condolences were given to her and even I gave her a brief hug and a gentle 'be strong' as I tried to take her measure. I thought it would be a bad time to... well...
Klaus left a letter in my quarters on the Enterprise with Claudia's gift... with a note that said if anything happened to him to pass the letter and the sword to Claudia... I had to wonder if he was expecting trouble with Grave when he heard he slipped away; the man was a smart one and maybe wanted to cover his bases... Now was a bad time to give them to her but I smuggled both into the manor. Fingers crossed I found a good time...
...
Fingers crossed I found what passed for a good time...
Come the afternoon the funeral was held; the graveyard for the house was deeper into the back courtyard, within it's own walls. Lines of graves was about, each with a name on it; not all of them were of House Levantine; some were those who were friends with or served it's members. House Levantine had a history stretching back to Eostia's founding, at least I believed so, and while it always had it's ups and downs their stock rose since the days of Hogan the Hero... but the family wasn't unused to scandals... and Grave might have made the biggest in the house's history.
And it was, as I said, a long history.
Benches were set out for seating with a podium before them. Our host wasn't present yet but the Seven Shields were set at the front with Claudia in the middle for support. I was sat in the same row to the side of them, next to Prim who would lean into me for support.
(As much as this was a serious, somber situation this set another precedent that I was on a comparable level to the Seven. Yes, a little moment like this; mourning a friend. Fucking politics...)
My parents, Miria, Riri, Cress, Tiffany and Dawn sat behind our row. In the opposite front row on the other side of the path was a collection of Klaus' peers, members of the Spellcaster's Guild, Dominic Pencraft and some others I didn't know. The leaders of Geofu, the High General, Chancellor and Governor were also in the front row with minor lords of Geofu behind them in addition to some local lords; the most notable being an... usually quiet and somber House Adelle out in force...
Other notables of the regions sat behind them; other members of academia, students Klaus mentored over the years, friends of the House, higher ranking regulars, Dawn Templars and more. Nikita DeSagesse was present as well but I didn't see anyone else of her house with her.
The earth to place the casket in was dug up already and a small spot to set it for the viewing was set before it. Part of the casket was made of spell glass and I was... asked to enchant it to both preserve... the body and allow the casket to levitate down into place. It would be inactive until then...
Some might doubt that given what happened as the band started the funeral procession song; as one might expect the casket would be carried out. What one might have expected was for about four to six, maybe eight guys to carry it out. No, it was just one... Miles Levantine. No joke...
He came out with a grunt, casket on one shoulder, other hand up to grip the side to help balance and get both arms on it. He panted a bit and was clearly feeling the strain of the casket's weight (Which could weigh between a hundred and fifty to two hundred and fifty pounds... not to mentioned the body inside of it) as he carried it in the aisle between the benches. A few of his men were around him, looking worried but didn't help; although they looked ready to step in. I would later learn this was his idea of an apology to Klaus; to bear the weight alone as a show of respect.
(I'd later learn that while he hadn't intended it there was a side effect of making Klaus' blood be washed from the House in the eyes of some and thrown onto Grave solely. I assume it wasn't intended; Miles seemed the type to hate politics more then I did...)
Claudia seemed gob smacked by it as the Seven Shield stood along with myself (All in black, in case you needed to know) as he grunted as he reached the place in question, kneeling down to gently slide the casket from his shoulder and down into place. He took a moment to collect himself before standing and lifted the upper half of the lib open.
Klaus was... dressed in his usual robes, his spellbook on his chest with his hands cradling it. We all sat down as Miles moved to the podium and looked out to the crowd for a long moment as he set his hands to it. "We are gathered here today to lay to rest my nephew..." He began; his voice carrying to everyone about and was short of booming, the softness he spoke with me before mostly gone. "I will not lie. I will not claim to have been close to him. I will not lie and say I thought highly of him. I respected him for he was a good man and one of exceptional brilliance; even Grave in a few moments would admit it, although you needed several stiff drinks to eke that out of him..."
Claudia sniffled softly but he carried on. "I will not lie... I thought he could not be a brave man... one able of self sacrifice or standing up alone to face a dire foe... He would prove me wrong in his last actions; in this I have been... forced to reevaluate my opinion of him... In doing so I found myself lacking... My own father wished me to be a scholar; me and Grave both... He would have adored Klaus I am sure. I failed him as an uncle in life; I shall not dishonor him in death. As such I will not wax poetic of who he was but rather I will allow those who knew him to do so. High Queen Celestine... if you would honor us?"
Celestine would nod and stand, walking up to the podium as Miles moved to the side and took a seat next to the local bishop who was also on hand for last rites. She wore a black version of her usual wear; I'd have called it sexy if it wasn't for the current circumstances. Once at the podium she looked out to the crowd. "When it has come to friends I have lost, be it to old age or... more violent means I have always took comfort in an age old phrase. 'Do not weep that they are gone. Smile... for they were here'. It is... never easy to smile at first but in time I will smile once more for Klaus; for having known him. Know this; a solider like Grave comes often. While those of his ability are rarer they will make themselves known and as long as they are allowed to rise in the ranks, they shall. A scholar of Klaus' caliber... is far rarer, harder to cultivate and far more valuable. I swear; the first time I met the man he made me late for a meeting by a full hour simply by how fascinating his theories and thoughts on the different enchanting languages made by the Imperium, those descended from it and those outside of it. Not that I so minded; it was a terribly boring meeting."
There was a short, soft, subdued chuckle from the audience that she let dissipate before she carried on. "Klaus and his wife have become two of my closest friends; and while I have had a lot of close friends through my long, well lived life he is still one of the closest I've known. Over an eight hundred year rule I can count on one hand the number of people who held his brilliance. I had, in truth, wished many times he was an elf or dragonborne so our realm could benefit from him much longer then a human life would allow... But no; that is not the truth of it..."
"Make no mistake he had benefited Eostia in many ways." She carried on. "Yes, his wife, his father and those like our own Champion were always important in war on the battlefield, fighting in our defense... but Klaus has, in his years, uncovered a better means to seal and preserve food, uncovered new formulas for spell glass, wrote and tested dozens of magical theories... These innovations might not have a quick, notable impact but they build. In the decades after our soldiers are buried by means natural or by force his works will make life better for us and ours... and another will follow, take his works and build something greater upon them. In life he was meek and humble but once you knew him he could be clever and humorous... and once pressed he could debate and reason like my best ambassadors. Indeed; I've used him as an ambassador before and he'd done so well I was tempted to request him to take such a position... But it was never where he'd do the most good..."
"I would say a favorite moment is when I brought up the subject of Nyaru and he rolled his eyes and said simply 'are they really a mountain cat or a hill kitten?'" There was a small chuckle let off at that kingdom's expense. "Indeed, it was a part of the reason I sent a more aggressive ambassador to them at the time; that Klaus seemed to understand with instinct their internal weakness, at least more so then most. He was a good friend. A better scholar. Strange, I usually say it in the other way, but it was true... and he was a very good friend. Thank you." She said, giving the crowd a curtsy before returning to her seat, allowing Miles to come back only to call forth someone new with good words to say about Klaus.
Claudia... declined to be a speaker and we all knew why; no one thought she'd... keep it together. Hell I was surprised she was holding together as well as she was so far. That wasn't meant as an insult she was a strong woman in body, mind and soul... but her love for Klaus was strong too, and without him... well...
Fuck...
Finally it was my turn and while I wasn't a fan of the whole 'public speech' thing... It was for Klaus and that was that. I stood and moved to the podium, hands set on it as I sighed. "So. It was almost three years ago when I met Klaus... Bit of a situation involving a run away wagon that... isn't important to the here and now... But as it was settled and introductions was made we got to talking and once he learned I had been studying as an enchanter and still honing the craft he was quick to start up a conversation on the subject. I can say that some of what into the voxlux stemmed from ideas and observations he had made."
No joke; the version my father left for Roxford with (In what feels so long ago now) wouldn't have been what it was if not for a couple of ideas he gave me. I wouldn't mention what those ideas were; don't want to give copycats ideas... "From there I've considered him a mentor; not just in magic but life in general. He always stressed the importance of granting mercy and holding oneself with honor; but knowing when both would be more hindrance then help. To hold onto ideals and strive towards them but to also not to be so blinded or consumed by those ideals to ignore or overlook their weaknesses. 'A wise man considers all things but can do so without accepting them' is what he'd told me which has... done me well in the times were I could apply words as opposed to swords... not as well as he could have, sadly."
"Enough have summarized him as humble and kind, gentle, loving and more so as opposed to expose more on that I'll share some of his humor." I began. "I was having a bit of a lone moment after Celestine's Blessmas dinner, musing a bit with my new positions; brooding almost, truth be told. So, how did he let me know he was there?"
"And lo the hero, good and true in a private moment looks to the stars and seeks answers they have not." I repeated what Klaus had said, spreading my arms wide, booming a bit more then he had."Contemplating matters many would see as beyond their understanding, beyond their comprehension; the unknowable thoughts of a legend! Yet they do not see that the legend for all his deeds and victories is as much of a man as they and much they wonder and struggle with are the same as the peasant who grew the wheat and grain for his bread and mead! The struggle of the greatest is not so different then those of his lessers!" There was a small bit of laughter before I carried on. "I asked what play he took it from and he admitted that... he watched plays just to have sweet nothings to whisper to Claudia's ear." That got a short but good laugh as I gave a sort of embarrassed shrug on his behalf.
"He knew how to give his little remarks in the manner that wasn't snide but held a level of, how do I say this, simplistic deadpan that you couldn't help but smile at." I said with a shrug. "And he always had words of wisdom and good advice; I won't go into details but he gave me more then a little relationship counsel." I could feel my face fall before I even spoke my next words. "And sadly... I'm never going to enjoy that counsel again. We'll never talk of some subject or another over tea... what names he would wish his children to have... what books had caught our eye or come into our possession... I am... still coming to terms with what it will mean to be a dragonborne; bearing that level of lifespan. Klaus is the first friend I'll watch be buried... I am well aware... he won't be the last... I will be here long after my family... and most of my friends..."
I took a calming breath as I looked up as I gave the crowd a somber look. "Even to the end of those long days I know I'll miss him... And I know even then I'll be carrying his wisdom like a torch and passing it onto others, onto others in need of it. I intend to ensure his name doesn't die for as long as I can. That is what he deserves. I thank you all. He gave me comfort in life. I'll take the same from his memory." There was a polite response and applause as I stepped from the podium as I moved to sit.
A few others would speak before the final viewing. An Eostian tradition was to add a flower into the casket in a final show of respect; in a color you thought was representative of your feelings for the departed or what you thought they would best enjoy. Mine was a blue flower; more of a lighter, calming blue then a Noxdecus blue. Claudia would be the last, another tradition, and held three; red for their romance, a white one for their friendship over the years... and another one called an Imperial Bloom, a purple flower favored by the Imperium through it's time. I imagine it was for his love of such history... She would, with shaking hands reach out and set them down... I had set my flower to his side, as had those before and after me. She would set them onto his book, held in his dead limp arms... just as the tears flowed from her as I winced. There was one sob... then a second... a third and a forth, Celestine and Prim already moving to her sides before she collapsed to her knees, sobbing in emotional pain. "Dammit all... Dammit all to hell..." Claudia hissed out as I walked over, the High Queen of Eostia and Princess of Ur already hugging her from two sides. "It's so hard to bear him a last farewell..."
"I know my friend, I know..." Celestine said as I reached out, setting my hand to Claudia's shoulder as best as I could around her pauldron. Miles would moved to the casket and set his hand to the lid, giving Klaus one last look.
"It needs be done..." Miles said with a deep sigh. "No magic can bring him back to us, and any that could would twist him to something beyond recognition." He said as he shut his eyes. "Farewell, nephew. And forgive me." He said, gently shutting the lid. The bishop (From Anima Lux, aka the Faith) would step in as Miles stepped back and set his hand to the casket, my enchantments becoming active as it moved to hover over the hole prepared.
"Blessed Goddess of Larentia, Giver of the Light, heed the words of a son of the faithful." He began as Claudia's sobs carried on, the casket slowly lowering. "Forgive this son of his misdeeds and praise him for that which he has done for the common good of all. May he bask in your splendor or be cleansed of his sins at your judgment. May he know as much peace, love and joy as he knew on this earth... We bid him farewell as you bid him greetings."
Soon the casket would be put to rest inside of the earth. Afterwards the soil would be replaced with shovels; Miles taking one for his own use and others joining in.
A chorus of sobs from Claudia and sniffles from Prim was the song they'd work to; bit by bit, spadeful of earth by spadeful of earth. The last act was to erect the tombstone, words carved into the face of it; four feet wide, three tall once it was placed in the ground; a spell stone set to it to ensure it would stay clean and intact for centuries to come.
Here lies Klaus Curtis Levantine
Scholar. Husband. Hero.
Beloved Man Wise Beyond His Years
Taken Before His Time
Laid To Rest With Grace & Care
And so the funeral was done...
...but the emptiness continued...
[-]
Later That Evening
Graveyard of House Levantine
What was it to know pain? Not physical but beyond that? Not of the body but of the mind, the soul... and the heart? Once Claudia might have expressed some knowledge in the subject; not perfectly versed in the area but enough to know of it. Enough to emphasize and understand those who knew it truly, enough to sympathize and respect what they endured.
She had a better idea now and wish she hadn't... Then there was the sip and it dulled, that pain not of the body...
The whiskey was... meant as a respect to her husband. 'Pour one out', as they say and share the drink... then she had a second... a third... a forth and a fifth...
...she lost track after the eighth...
At some point she took the cup she made for him because Klaus wasn't around to enjoy it so maybe she should...
And she found a fascinating little thing; that pain she had been so introduced to dulled... At first a little but now much more... and when it came back a good sip made it vanish that same amount!
Sure it left her stumbling and leaning and slurring and... other things... After getting outside she found herself oddly wet but it wasn't raining... and only her legs were soaked...
Oddly warm for rain too...
It was good to be outside; much more clear air and it was crisp and chill... and she was feeling oddly warm. Sure, she had changed into a black dress but it was so warm...
Ah, right... the magic drink in her hand made her warmer... She might need another sip for that...
...
One more on top of that for good measure. To avoid too much chill.
Then she stumbled over it; that stone... with it's blurry words... until the name cleared up enough for her to read once more... and then...
Bisection by her father.
The last taunt.
The brutal fight.
The blood...
Seeping blood...
The face and body of her love...
Seeing his life vanish...
Her life crumbling...
All that pain of the soul returned as her hand tightened and it was then she remembered her magic little cure, there in her hand; pain numbing... rum? She forgot; it wasn't the whiskey she started with but whatever; it was still magical in what it would do... Up to her lips the liquid magic would go and-
shatter
-splash everywhere as the bottle exploded in her hand; glass and booze lashing out (Mostly away from her but splashing on her chest) as she dropped the remains in shock. "Whad the-"
"Ooooooh no! No, no no!" She heard, mind a bit clearer... ...and that pain more acute... as she saw James Noxdecus lowering his hand.
[-]
So I had hoped to drop off Klaus' letter and gift to Claudia's room; check up on her, offer his last words and so on... and got no answer. I let myself in, a bit worried, set the items down on the dresser before the mirror as I wondered where she was... and saw a sloshed out woman walking to the back with her hair up in a Claudia-like bun. I opted to go after her and, well...
Claudia was drunk... Beyond drunk. Sloshed and wasted. She was just standing there but if you cut out the scenery you'd think she was on a boat in rocky waters with how unsteady she was. I... I thought she'd be above this but...
Fuck... "You're not going to become a drunken woman Claudia; not like this." I said as stern as I could.
"Fffffuuuuck yoo..." She slurred out as she started to stalk to me with anger... which would have been intimidating if she could manage a straight line. "You're nod my father! Yoo can't stell me whad t' doo! How t' cope wiss whad thad basser did!" Eyes red with rage (And booze) she stepped up and swung at me with her right hand; and hard. She was looking to deck me.
I side stepped and she stumbled, nearly falling over. "Look at yourself woman; this isn't you. This isn't who Klaus married." I said; trying to sound stern as she recovered and threw a left haymaker I backed up from; she stumbled and found herself running head first to my chest and bouncing off it.
"What duzz it madder whoo he meareed! He's gone; off t' fffuck the angels inna sky ann ged summ gooond pussy wile I'm here, ssill alive ann havin' t' see his blood onna grounn onna inside uhf my eyelids!" I winced as she ranted and slurred at me as she tried to lunge and tackle me; I just caught her arms with my own as she tried her UFC style take down and tossed her to the ground at the side.
"Knock it off." I told her as she rolled with the impact... and I just noted the piss stains on her dress. Wonderful. "You're the Commander of the Dawn Templars and you're out here acting like a booze hound before my friend's grave! Your husband's grave!" I let out, some anger coming to me as I tried to hold it back along with the utter disappointment I was feeling.
"Ann what's thad godden me!" She let off as she rose up, standing straight... then stumbling back three steps before stalking forwards to me once more. "Nooo shild cuz uhf my career, nooo hussman cuz he's ded, nooo fazzer cuz he's a traitor, nooo frienns cuz they'll never unnerssann-" I blocked her next punch and shut her up with one of my own; a little too much anger coming out as I gave her a right straight punch in between the eyes. In a... comedic moment one might say (I didn't) she stood up straight for a moment, looked surprised before her eyes rolled back and she fell down onto the grass groaning. "Fffffffuuuck..." She let off as she stood back up, stumbled part way, fell and crawled to me, grabbing my clothes to help pull herself up...
Here she is... one of Eostia's strongest... "Enough Claudia. Listen to me-"
"No, I'm gonna mayke yoo lissen t'... t' my fizz... It'll talk t' yer face-"
Smack!
The slap I stumbled her back but I grabbed the front of her dress as I glared to her to both keep her from falling or going off too far. "ENOUGH!" I hoped no one in the manor heard that. "Look at yourself! We're all in pain and you, more then any other, have reason to hurt but is this the woman Klaus loved so much!? How would you feel if you were the dead one and Klaus was the one drunk with drink in hand and you had to watch from the hereafter as he killed himself with booze!?" That got through to her as she stiffened and gulped, looking back to me as she shook in my grip. "What would you tell him, Claudia...? What would you tell him if it was you buried there and him standing here and you only had minutes to speak?"
She went silent and still, save the drunken swaying in my grip, as she sniffled for a moment. It was clear that through the haze of booze my words cut through to her and got her mind focused, to a degree. "Thad... Thad he shud. h-he shud fine... h-happinezz... joy... remarry... H-have the shildren he wanned... live life ann be merry... be... be happy... "
"Do you not think he would tell you the same? Ask of you to move on?" I told her softly as she started to shake, crying openly. "To have children and find joy? Happiness? So when you two meet once more in the hereafter you could tell him all that happened until he felt like he was there the whole time?"
She sniffled and snorted... before clamping a hand over her lips and stumbling off to the side while pulling from my grip, collapsing to the ground as she puked, too much booze and too little food coming back up as I moved with her, stroking her back and trying to mind her condition... and ignore the smell... Good lord...
She coughed up the last of bile before shivering on all fours. "What... Whad havve I led myself become..? Why wooud I... Oh, Klaus... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'll... I'll ssann ann be ssrong... fer us... Fer yoo..." I sighed and offered a smile as I helped her up.
"You'll be okay Claudia..." I said softly as I picked her up, bridal style and moved to carry her back to the manor. "You'll be fine... You'll see it through and you won't be alone through it..."
"Haa. Klaus said... allw'ys said he wished... thad he had a brozzer... liyke yoo.." I couldn't help but smile a little, even as she fell asleep in my arms. I still sighed and carried her back, quickly getting her inside as I moved down the hall, a little worried about how to, ahh, clean her up...
"Should I ask what you were up to with-ohh by the grace of god, what is that smell?" Oh, somethings answer themselves.
"Hey Kaguya." I greeted softly. "It seems we've had a moment of weakness here..." I said as she moved to examine the bundle in my arms.
"Uuugh, that explains the smell... Dare I ask how much she drank?" She said as she moved to follow me back to Claudia's quarters.
"Too much..." I sighed. "With luck I talked some sense into her-" And knocked some, but I didn't want to bring that up. "-but someone else might be better suited to... cleaning her up..."
"Yes, this sounds like a job for a woman." Kaguya said as she sighed, opening Claudia's door as we arrived. "Set her to the tub and fetch a robe; I'll handle the rest." It wasn't that I was opposed to cleaning her up but... well, it would be better for her to be told Kaguya did it then me, I think.
I set her in the tub as Kaguya moved to gently strip her, bathe her with sponges, soak her dress before wringing it out and setting it aside to be washed properly and set her into the robe before I carried her to bed. Kaguya would pull the covers back so I set her down and tuck her in before we both moved to retire for the night...
[-]
Claudia couldn't help but groan and turn over as the sun rose and pressed it's light into room and across her bed. She groaned as she sat up, hand moving to her head, "Why do I have such a headache... I haven't had one like that since the time the girls took me out... oh..." With that memories started to flash back in her mind.
Pouring one out...
Pouring more out...
Taking the one she poured out...
Wandering out drunk...
Lashing out...
The talk...
She smiled a bit bitterly. "Always helping people, eh James? Even a drunk woman..." She couldn't help but move to stand and stretch. "...No more drinking, not for sometime... Klaus... Klaus deserves better then to see me destroy myself like that..." She said as sigh sighed... and noted the sword at long last. "Hmm?"
The golden hued, orichalcum blade with the shaped, red spell stone wasn't there before and drew her full attention; namely as it bore a note over a letter over its guard. She walked over and ignored the headache she had as she looked to the note first.
(-)
Claudia
Klaus wrote the letter once we heard Grave was loose.
I haven't read it but I assume he prepared for the worst.
I do know the sword was meant to be your gift from him
for your birthday and I've taken great care to enchant it,
as much as Lulu did forging it. I wish he could have
seen it to you himself. With luck it'll serve you well.
~James
(-)
"Oh Klaus..." She let off as she looked to the letter and gulped. Slowly she would open the letter, bracing herself for what was within.
(-)
My dearest wife...
If fortune favors me you will never see this letter. I will have burned it, laughed over all I have written and forget about it someday. But with my father being who he is I opted to write it regardless so nothing would be left unsaid. If you find yourself with letter somehow and I am alive still then I suppose it will be romantic in some manner. If not then know all I wrote here is truth and nothing less.
I love you beyond all measure. You found a skinny little boy with his nose buried in books, dusted him off and gave him the self worth needed to call himself a man. You would listen to all I had to say no matter how inane and strange and guide me into putting those energies to good use. You are the best thing that happened to my life and for that I am thankful beyond all means of expression.
I won't lie; I fear my father. I always have. There is still that boy in me that wishes to bolt from the room when he enters. I do not think I can bring myself to face him for any reason; any reason but you. Losing you frightens me more then facing him; to the point I may even seem brave in doing so. It is embarrassing for me to admit; as far as I've come in life things still anchor me so. I have been lucky in life to have you; uplifting me further and beyond what I imagined those anchors would allow.
They say behind any great man is a great woman... when I think of that phrase I oft think that makes me the greatest of all.
I will not wax on poetic or sing all your praises; I've told you them enough you should them by heart. No instead I take this moment to beg of you; do not succumb to despair and loss in my absence. Carry on as who you are; the Heart of the Dawn Templars, the woman who could see a man in a boy, a leader our nation needs to weather the Storm before us. Find for yourself new happiness and joy, new loves and new strength. Remarry and become the mother I know you could be, my fearless defender. To that end I asked Lulu and James to help me in forging the tool that will guard you my absence; Sentinel's Heart. May it serve you as well as you served me as wife and I you as husband.
Someday when we are reunited I wish to hear it all. The triumph and tragedy. The love and loss. The rise and fall. More over I want to hear of the defeat of the Black Storm, what children you raised and who with. Remarry, hold your head high and be forever more my glorious, lady knight.
Signed With Love Undying
Klaus
(-)
She would find herself weeping once more, staining paper with tears... yet once the sheet was set down she would steel herself and don her armor before finally lifting the new sword; feeling the weight and power of the blade before setting it to her back.
In the end she would be what she was...
Commander of the Dawn Templars, Defender of Eostia and Shield Princess of Geofu...
[-]
By the time I left I was feeling a little better. Claudia looked... maybe not okay but better and was finally standing with her head held high. She took the time to apologize to me about the whole 'drunken bitch' phase she went on and I... tried apologizing for the punch and slap I gave her... which she rejected in favor of thanking me for them.
'Sometimes a woman needs a strong hand to straighten her out' she said which is... ... ...well if you said that in my old world you'd be given a funny look, to say the least. I did ask to make sure she never needed another because I didn't want to punch a drunk friend again.
"Although she will require time to heal truly Claudia is on the path." I was sitting at the bow of Enterprise, legs swung over the railing, as Celestine walked over. I was opting to escort her home for the moment; Kaguya, Maia and Lulu would stay with Claudia for a time but said they'd take a Cloud Rider home once done. Alicia and Prim took another but not to home; a trip to a Bria spa was in order for them. She set her hands by me on the railing as she looked out to the world sailing under us as she sighed. "Auryon can handle Claudia's duties for a time; she still needs sometime to mourn. Still I imagine she'll be as strong as ever once she resumes her duties." I nodded for a moment as I sighed.
"Let's hope so. I don't want to go slapping women again soon." Oddly enough it was Claudia who told Celestine of her moment of being lost in a bottle; that takes some fortitude. "...Is it strange I don't feel as lost as before?"
"You've been able to mourn awhile now and still are; but everyone does so in their own way." She replied. "I imagine helping Claudia has given you the guidance you needed to have enough clarity and direction. For now we can refocus towards facing the Storm once more." She let off, leaning in and kissing my cheek; I quickly returned the favor. "Pain and suffering cannot be avoided but in them we can find a strength. With that strength we can yet find a dawn better then the last."
"You love the pick-me-up speeches, don't you?" I asked teasingly as I stood up and turned, staying on the outside of the railing as she giggled.
"Not overly; but it seems to be something expected of a High Queen." She said, moving a hand to her chest. "I imagine we can be quite the team in that manner; the gentle word and the stern word... and hand."
"You know I don't count spanking as slapping a woman, right?" I let off as she blushed. I was sure she had quite the retort on her lips... and then her voxlux went off. Surprised she pulled it out as I climbed over the railing.
"Yes?" She let off seeing Akane Lee on the other end.
"Sorry to interrupt but something... odd is going on." She said as I blinked. "The Black Dogs are no longer following the schedule my people learned of; they've entered Cauldona and are hiring ships to ferry them to Dominious."
"Wait... according to what we know they're not supposed to leave Eostia for about a month; three weeks in the earliest... Why would they-" She stopped and flinched before taking on a hundred yard stare to my surprise as her face paled. "-...no..."
"Cele?" I let off as she looked at me.
"...I know why they accelerated their plans..." She said as she looked back at Akane sternly. "I need you to ready agents to make an arrest on my authority. We've a leak and I know the source. The Black Dogs are as I thought part of the Storm." I flinched in shock... yet I wasn't that surprised...
"Should I order House Abhainn to interject and confront-"
"No." Celestine said as she shook her head. "They'll be unable to handle the Dogs on their own; alert them and nearby Houses in case they are needed but the damage done if a battle started could cripple their forces and cause massive damage to the county and it's civilians. We'll focus on making our arrest."
(Celestine would later say it was a case of she didn't think the forces that could be called up on short notice would be able do more then slow them down and not enough to prevent their escape. I was forced to agree; one can't snap their fingers and assemble an army. That took time; more so to get the numbers needed to challenge a force as formidable as Vult and his Black Dogs.)
"Who are we arresting your highness?" Akane asked as Cele sucked in a breath and spoke a name.
I nearly felt my jaw drop... And then the view flashed to watch myself and Celestine at the Enterprise's bow as it sailed on as the narrator spoke once more. "From the skies of Eostia to the land of Roxford to the peaks of the Thunderblaze to the Savannah across the lake our hero has come far. Raising to heights few could and making grand accomplishments he has even brought low one of the Black Storm's strongest agents... and yet it came at a cost..."
The view transitioned to watch Enterprise sail off from behind as he kept speaking. "Yet in spite of it all press forwards he must... for all of Eostia is at sake and one life pales to the many that may yet come to death if the Storm is not halted. Each day the pen of history writes the tales of men and nations upon the pages of time... and the tale of Eostia's fate will be written in the blood of innocents and tyrants alike..."
Act IV: Complete!
Act Completion Rewards
+1 Level
Level Up!
You Are Now Level 44!
+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc!
+1 to End!
+1 to Rap!
+2 RSP & SSP!
+5 UTP!
+50% XP Current XP to Level
Gained 22000XP
Achievement Unlocked: Expert Adventurer
Compete Act Four
[-]
Fortress Ken
Outside of Skyguard City, High Kingdom of Ken
Fortress Dungeons
"In my long, long time of rule I have learned many things well." Celestine let off as she stood outside of the prison cell before her, addressing the person within. Unlike with Grave there was no attempt to escape the arrest or fight back; surprise was their ally this time. It helped that she had James on hand for it along with five Dawn Templars, including Auyron Reid. "Such things as ferreting out possible leaks one needs look to all places... and sadly that includes the closest to you..." She let off as a sigh. "I always found it a bit amusing you were in charge of our contact with the Black Dogs given your name, although I thought it just a coincidence and not a cause for concern... Du... Louve... noir... Of Black Wolf..."
Within, stripped down and given a simple white tunic and pants to wear was Mallory DuLouvenoir, former General of Eostia, who looked back; not even glaring, just looking oddly impassive. "And now I am forced to ask a friend this... why?" Celestine asked the woman. "Why turn your coat on myself and Eostia?"
"Because we sit on our hands." Mallory let off simply as she stood in her cell; manacles about her wrists bound by chains with a length running to connect to a collar. "We've spent seven hundred years unable to end a war and once we have we do not absorb them into us. We do not bring the authority of the blade to those about us and instead merely hold territory instead of claim it... Eostia could have formed a new Imperium and yet you and those before you refused. Instead we sit here content to allow us to degrade and not consolidate." Celestine couldn't help but frown for a long moment before replying.
"And you would rather a man like Vult be emperor?" She let off, almost spitting the name out as her eyes narrowed. "You, you of all people should know his reputation and how the worst of the Black Dogs excesses are held in check by little and less. I've read the reports of what they've done to the women of Dominious; had the Garan war not been so dire I would have never let them be hired. Even you I suspect would be little more then breeding stock or a woman of comfort in a realm where Vult wears a crown."
"I am a solider. I am a knight and a general, although I imagine that rank is no longer on my shoulders." Mallory replied with a small smirk. "The idea of sacrifice is nothing new to me and to give an empire new children and warrior, more so his should he wish it would be a necessary duty. Nothing more." Celestine huffed as her eyes shut at that; such thinking so alien to her to be beyond the pale, a perversion of chivalry. "The weak, foolish Queen will be chained, collared and bred by the grand and powerful Emperor. Vult will claim Eostia and more; Garan... Rycall... End Nyaru once and for all by putting it to the blade and it's king's head to the dirt. It will be a new... grand... Imperium."
"... 'And thus there and before you stands the one who thinks they understand the history of things, the way of people and powers and yet they, in their hubris cannot see the true lessons of history and stumble into folly; and risks dragging nations with them to oblivion'." Mallory blinked at the High Queen as stern eyes opened. "Words spoken once by a friend I just laid to rest. Wiser then you by far as well."
"Do you think in your weakness that-"
"Eostia has stood longer then the Imperium and Brazen put together... by nearly four times." Celestine let off, sternly cutting her off. "We have stood before all challenges and repelled them. Other nations would have crumbled to Garan on it's first incursion; Eostia endured for seven centuries of a foe no one could strike back against, a period longer then the Imperium and Brazen both." She said stepping forwards to the bars to glare more easily at her. "Strength does not alone come from violence and force; it comes from will, kindness, endurance and intelligence as well. There are more kinds of strength then imposing one's will onto another. If you cannot see that then I fear I have befriended a fool. That said I do now know what I hadn't before from our short conversation."
"What... what do you mean what you hadn't before?" Mallory let off as she blinked... and Celestine let off a small smirk.
"Oh, that? I was aware the Black Dogs would be a part of the Storm the second I was aware of it; the moment I had the vision I knew whoever would lead the attack would hire the Black Dogs as muscle." Celestine replied. "What I hadn't known was how high up the chain of command Vult was; I had expected him to be at least a lieutenant, perhaps one of the notable leaders, perhaps even a tactician in the Storm... The idea he might have been the overall leader of the effort had occurred to me of course but I hadn't considered it the truth until now. I know now who leads the storm and, as such, can better prepare."
"He's overcome everything that has ever been set before him." Mallory hissed out, eyes narrowing behind the bars. "He'll overcome you as well."
"You overestimate him... or perhaps underestimate what he's opposite against." Celestine replied simply. "The same can be said of myself. The same can be said of our Champion. And I for one would place my bets on him."
Mallory glared as she walked closer to the bars holding her in the cell, head leaning back to look over her nose. Bars and three inches were all that kept the two women from pressing chest to chest. "He'll break your bleeding hymen and take your treasured virginity. There's nothing you can do to stop it."
Celestine, to her surprised, smiled in a pleasant manner. "Reports of my continued virginity needs to be amended." Mallory flinched as surprise claimed her face, jaw opening a little. "It was quite enjoyable. So it seems Vult is as good as stopped." She said before putting on a more serious look. "...I'm sad to have to bid farewell to two friends so quickly. I will follow James' example; you'll be held until the Storm passes so you can understand your failure in absolute. Then you can face the executioner's axe. With or without dignity is up to you." She said as she turned on her heel and walked away through the fortress and to her quarters within. Once alone with her door shut did she allow herself to press her back to the door and slid down to the floor, wrapping her arms around her knees. Once once the silencing spell was up did she let herself sob.
In so short a time she had lost two of her closest friends...
...and even the High Queen needed a moment to mourn...
[ - Author's Note - ]
And thus ends the shortest act to date... Whew...
So on DuLouvenoir... Yes, she's White Wolf as more then one person picked up. I hoped I gave enough foreshadowing to make people realize it but without being too obvious; even so more then a few guessed right. It can be weird; how people can view something that is detrimental to them and there's and still see it as better. I mean how many people look back at the Soviet Union despite all of it's problems and say 'yeah, that's how society should be'? Needless to say some people are... hard to understand.
And of course the fight that started us off; Grave and James facing off. Originally I had planned to have Grave boast a shield (Tossed to him by one of his followers before they fell) and have James stagger him with an Earthshaker on it before cutting him down. However I opted to switch; I felt it would be more fitting for Grave to fall for 'a mage's trick' as opposed to just hack and slash after making an opening. I was tempted to drag it on for longer but in this case I felt the chapter would have enough with the aftermath of Klaus' death to fill it with, namely the funeral.
With Claudia drinking herself such; I'll understand if some people think it's out of character for her... but it's not impossible for even the strongest to seek comfort in places they shouldn't. In her case it didn't even start as a means to get drunk and dull the pain; it was a drink to pay respects... that turned into more drinking and more drinking and, oh look I don't hurt so much...
It's a spiral that anyone can go into...
In addition we get some insight into what Vult plans to do to ensure he has the might needed to pick a fight with Eostia and win... and it using the Dominious Civil War to his advantage. We also get some more insight into his thinking and yeah... he has plans.
Honestly it was a hard chapter to write because of the feels.
Needless to say the epilogue will have more Vult and a bit of James working out his next moves... Other things will be brought up, a couple of which was meant to be here but... well, the chapter is long enough as is.
As always I thank you for reading and enjoying the journey with me. I do enjoy this and I'm glad so many are enjoying it with me. As always leave a comment, tell me what you liked, didn't like and would like to see. And if you thought Mallory was White Wolf feel free to say 'called it' in the comments. And, hey, feel free to add your own eulogy for Klaus as well. I'll see you all next time!
So until them... Take care of yourselves everyone.
~Eostian Scribe