Dawn approached on a new day at the Citadel. A weary set of knights and mages, gathered around the breached Fourth Ring. Towering shards of Deiridium littered the area, with rotting Draken corpses. Skora's lips were pursed to a line, and she sat timidly in her chair. Being glared by the weary Grand Knights and Mages. She awkwardly scanned the Aerith's bedroom. Everything coloured in a pink hue, and frills. Cin sat at Aerith's bedside, with her being propped up by a mound of pillows. "Is anyone going to say anything?" She asked. "Not, until my brother, gets here." Miranda said, her arms crossed. "Is there a need for that? I've demonstrated that I'm on your side, and..." She trailed off, seeing all of them continue to glare at her. "Alright, awkward silence it is." She said, smacking her lips. Skora sat anxiously rocking back and forth in her chair. "Can, I just ask why in her bedroom?"
Encara sat up beside Aerith. His hair silver at the base, but black at the top drooping down. "Well, that's because-" "You lay back down, and rest. Or I'll make you watch Cin, fuck me till I scream louder than Vasha." Aerith snapped, motionlessly. Encara held his hand out and quickly laid back down. Skora noticed Cin blushing and shying away. The door swung open and Abaddon came in holding a small shard of Deiridium. His body covered in sweat beads, the colour of rubies. "It's Deiridium, but not very good quality." Abaddon said. "Hey! I make fantastic Deiridium." Skora snapped, standing up to stare down Abaddon. He was a head taller than her, and stared at her with his empty black eyes. She took a gulp. "You know, now that I see you Immortals up close. You are quite scary to look at." She said sitting back down. Skora glanced at Encara being forced to sleep next to Aerith.
Was that really the man who created Immortals? She had only seen these Grand Mages and Knights, bicker and yell at each other. They were powerful but uncoordinated. Nothing akin to the stories told in the Silver versus Emerald war. "What's wrong with it?" Vexgar asked, leaning in to inspect the piece. "Looks fine to me." He said squinting at it. Abaddon created a gate of Fire in his palm, engulfing the piece. Everyone watched on intently as the metal started to glow red. When it suddenly exploded with a crackle, and two pieces flew into the ceiling. They all instinctively backed away, readying themselves for a fight. "What was that?" Vexgar snapped. "Slag, and air pockets in the material." Abaddon said, showing a dimple in the pieces. "They all have them." He said tossing the piece aside. Gwyneth sucked on her teeth, biting her thumb nail. "Are any of them useable?" She asked. Abaddon shook his head. "It's too dangerous to even throw over a stove pot."
Skora sat quietly in her chair. She had never her magic critiqued before. Why would anyone critique it anyway? She had done what no other Earth Mage could do. She created Deiridium. "Is there a way for us to condense it?" Soel asked. "Go ahead and try." Abaddon asked. Soel created an Earth gate, moving the shards into one. She begun to snarl and strain, as she tried to fuse the shards together. "They won't fuse without any heat. You're just mashing pieces together." Skora said. "Which they can't take without exploding." Miranda said glumly. "So we have literal tons of worthless Deiridium, sitting in front of our breached wall." Vexgar said. Skora clenched her teeth. How dare that weak brute call her Deiridium worthless. "How much do we have?" Aerith asked. Everyone spun around. "What good is Deiridum, we can't even mould?" Axilas scoffed.
"Lyn, Gwyneth. How many Elves were in the caverns?" She asked, taking controlled breaths. "A small unit. Maybe hundred, with some trailing behind." Lyn said. "Soel, do we have enough Earth mages to secure the caverns?" She shook her head. "If we secure it. We lose water, salt and any seafood that comes our way." "What's your plan?" Gwyneth asked. Aerith gave them a sinister smile. "We're going to remodel the caverns to cavern." They all gave her a scared and confused stare. "Skora, Soel. Gather the Earth Mages, and station yourself to secure the ground." "Hey you don't give me-" Skora froze, seeing Aerith stare at her. "You can either shut up and follow my orders. Or you can die like the rest of them." She said with a sincere smile. Skora retreated. "Honey, what is the plan?" Cin asked hesitantly.
"She's going to blow up caverns, using the Deiridium as a shrapnel bomb." Encara sulked. "Aerith, that could literally sink the entire Citadel." Axilas said. "Gee, I wonder what order I just gave, to the two strongest Earth Mages? Perhaps you should learn to open your ears, and not your mouths. Then maybe next time you won't have to be saved." She muttered. Axilas and Vexgar took a step forward clenching their fists. Cin stood up glaring at them, opening a gate of Fire, covering the ceiling. "Take another step, and I'll end the Xenarith lineage." Cin growled. "Try it, you fucking whipped dog." Axilas snapped. "Enough!" Gwyneth snapped. She let out a sigh, wiping her frustrated expression away. "We won't win this war being at each other's throats. Yssac, take your knights and go guard the breach. Fervias secure the caverns."
They nodded at her, and took off without hesitation. Axilas and Vexgar sneered at their obedience. "We won't be following your orders Butcher, or your cunt licker either." Vexgar jabbed. Miranda took a step forward, ready to draw her sword. Abaddon instead approached them, resting his hand on their shoulders. "You two will follow Gwyneth's or my sister's orders. Or you can go out there wearing nothing but a cod piece." He growled. "You think you scare-" He glared at Vexgar. "I've experienced a thousand deaths, and I can experience another. If you want to experience, what your brother felt-" Vexgar struck Abaddon across the face. Teeth and blood flew across the room. Miranda drew her blade.
Abaddon stood strong, panning back to Vexgar. His teeth and jaw healing slowly, over his exposed tongue. "Enough of this. We can fight each other, after we've won this war." Lyn sighed. "What do you need Gwyneth?" She asked, standing at attention. Gwyneth was taken aback. When was the last time she had called Gwyneth, by her name? Or remotely even followed an order? "Uh well, I want. I need you to-" Lyn rolled her eyes at the stammering Gwyneth. "Well?" Gwyneth blushed, and cleared her throat. "I need someone to break down the Deiridium, and move it into the caverns. Vexgar shrugged off Abaddon's grip. "Lyn couldn't do that, nor could her knights." He grunted, walking off. "Next order then." Lyn said. "Well, in that case, I need you to help clear the Draken corpses." Axilas took off. "I'll do that." "Got anything else?" She asked. Gwyneth awkwardly, rubbed her nape, shrugging. "I guess, you're on standby, to help Yssac at the breach?" Lyn said nothing and walked off.
"That was painful to watch." Miranda said. "I don't know what happened!" Gwyneth cried out, burying her flushed face into her hands. "Perhaps you should rest, and stretch that 'order' giving muscle. Seems like it has some rust on it." Miranda said patting her on the back. She walked out with Abaddon following behind her. Soel and Skora left together shortly after. "Alright you two get out." Aerith said. "Finally." Encara groaned, throwing the blanket off. "If I catch you using any Arcane energy. I'll make your life hell." She threatened. "What could you possibly do to me?" Encara scoffed "I'll let everyone know, about your third date with Rin." Encara quickly hopped out of bed, blitzing out of the room at high speed.
"What happened on their third date?" Gwyneth asked with a smile. "Take Gwyneth with you." Aerith said. Encara took Gwyneth by the wrist guiding her out. "Hey what happened?" Their door slammed shut. Aerith let out a exasperated sigh. "Finally some alone time." "Dear, I'm not going to have sex with you." Cin said kissing Aerith on the forehead. "What? Because you think I'm ugly now?" She barked. Cin rolled his eyes. He poked her arm. Pain radiated out through her body like lightning. She writhed and groaned. "OH! DON'T FUCKING TOUCH ME!" She shouted. Cin threw his hand up in the air with frustration. "Rest up honey. We'll manage." He said stroking her hair. "We're not going to win at this rate." She said glumly. "Your nightmares are getting worse. They're starving us out for the simple joy of it, and their army feels endless. Meanwhile we have no allies, or at least any worthwhile allies left." Cin poured her a cup of cold tea, heating it up with his affinity. "We have survived worse. Besides, I doubt those Elves, will attack us, after what Skora did." "Hopefully."
Thanatos sat in the war tent, staring at a rough sketch of the Bladed Dragon. A Blessed sat next to him attentively, healing his arm. Thanatos scratched his stump. "My elbow itches." He muttered. "Phantom itching, common in the poor who don't get their limbs recovered right away." The Blessed said, healing Thanatos's stump. Nine Commanders marched in, their armours clinking against their weapons. None of them bowed, and instead all blocked the drawing. "Thanatos, we should be attacking them while they're weak." One of them barked. Thanatos sat up in his chair, and halted the Blessed. He glared at Begron's hundredth spawn. This one had not only dropped the formality, but the rank as well.
"If you would like to turn around, and take a good look at the picture. You would see the reason, why we haven't attacked." "It's one Dragon!" He shouted, slamming his fist through the picture. "You've grown soft and weak. We're going to lead this attack from now on." Thanatos rose from his seat. "Does he speak for all of you?" Thanatos said calmly. Two of the Commanders took a step back. "Time has passed you on, Uncle. It's time for you go home and rest. You're not fit for the battlefield anymore." Thanatos said nothing approaching him. "Do you know that those with an Earth affinity. Have never been able to enter a Draken state with wings?" He said, walking past to fix the drawing. "It's unheard of. Another thing that is unheard of. Is an Earth mage, creating Deiridium." Thanatos said.
"So, nephew." He hissed. "If you want to go in and die, without proper information. You are very welcome to do so alone. However you will not waste my soldiers, from my army, in my war. So that you can earn a crumb of respect from your father, who wouldn't know which whore he fucked to birth you." The Commander was silent. Thanatos panned around at the other Commanders. "Anyone else?" They shook their heads. He pointed to the other two, who stood down. "You two are free to go." They quickly bowed and rushed out. The other Commander's started to reach for their daggers. "As for the rest." Thanatos snarled. One lunged at him, thrusting his dagger at him. Thanatos side stepped it, ripping his throat out with one hand.
The Commander fell, clutching his throat. The Blessed scurried back terrified. Thanatos threw the larynx at another attacking Commander, blinding him with the blood. He drove his fist through that one's eye socket. The Blessed, felt his stomach lurch hearing the sickening wet crunch. The Commander's lifeless corpse fell to the ground. Thanatos flicked the blood off his fist. He let out a sigh. As the others hesitantly backed away, their daggers raised. "What a waste, of time and resources. Tsk. I'll have to have word with Begron after this." Thanatos opened a Fire gate, the size of his body. The Commander's attempted to reach for their weapons. A destructive stream of fire billowed from the gate incinerating them, with a raging stream. Screams of agony rang out, as the tent collapsed, in a flickering fireball. Thanatos emerged dragging the Blessed out with him. The war camp was silent. "Dispose of their bodies. They aren't even worthy of being transformed." He snarled.
Thanatos walked out of the camp, using a spyglass to gaze upon the Citadel. The towering shards of Deiridium were being knocked down. "Captain Commander Argul. May I ask a question?" A female elf asked. She resembled Ul'lanna, wearing her long hair in a pony tail. "What is it?" He asked, lowering the spyglass. "The Bladed Dragon. The Grand Knights and Mages. They make our army seem so worthless. They've barely taken any casualties." She asked, bowing her head. "Are you showing weakness?" He asked, scanning her. "No, Commander. I would never. I am faithful to the King and Queen." Thanatos cupped her chin, raising her head up. He stared into her emerald eyes. "What is your name?" "Bi'ranna. Sir." He let her go, and handed her the spyglass. "Look upon the Citadel for me, Bi'ranna."
She anxiously followed his orders, as he stood behind her. "What do you see?" He asked. She saw nothing special. A kingdom of surrounded by stone walls. She was silent, hesitant to answer him wrongly. If he could kill his nephews with such callous. What would he do to a lowborn, such as herself? "They're repairing the Fourth Ring?" She said unsure, turning back to him. Thanatos chuckled. "Look at their walls, do you notice anything missing from them?" Bi'ranna took another look at the Citadel. She pulled the spyglass away. "There are no lightning rods on their buildings. Are they that arrogant? To think they could defend themselves against the Storm?" She said annoyed. "The Storm, does not pass through here." Bi'ranna spun back to Thanatos, her eyes wide open.
Thanatos, found himself a rock to sit upon. "What do you think our strategy is to win this war?" He asked. Bi'ranna paused to think of her answer. "Attrition. We've allied with Tuskdran and Artaraxus to, whittle down their defences." Thanatos nodded. "Good you have half the plan." She cocked an eyebrow at him. Half the plan? "Why do you think, we allied with them?" "With our combined forces, we would overwhelm..." She trailed off. If that was the right answer, the Citadel would be theirs already. Thanatos smiled, watching her mind putting the pieces together. 'We have the force advantage, yet we waited for the other kingdoms to come...' "We want them to lose their army." "Excellent deduction." He smiled. "When we win this war. Artaraxus and Tuskdran, will not want to share this land with us." "But, why do even want this land?" She asked unimpressed, by her surroundings.
"What do you think about this side of Jux?" He asked. Bi'ranna stood at attention in front of him. "They lack any defences or strategic advantages over us, in this terrain." Thantaos rolled his eyes. "Don't think like a soldier. I want you to think like a Queen. What have you noticed about this side of Jux?" He asked again. Bi'ranna shyly scanned the area. What did he want her to take notice of? How flat it was compared to the mountainous hills of Kal'Nar? How much warmer it was up here? How there was such an abundance of wild game in the area... The answer struck her. "The terrain is flat, and the weather is warmer. Perfect for farming and cultivation. There are no Drakens in the area, which is why there are so many rabbits and boars." Thanatos smiled at her, and snapped his fingers. "There you go. That's more like it." Bi'ranna blushed, and failed to hide her joy at being praised. It was an addictive emotion.
"Then the reason we are raging war against the Citadel is because-" "Is because we're going to seize it, and relocate up here. The coddled humans will be exterminated or left to rot in the south. "Are we not here, to avenge the honour of the King and Queen? How those savages attacked us, and how that bastard Cagim started the first transgression?" Thanatos snickered. 'That's what we've been telling them?' "Yes, we are there for that. However we were always trying to do, what was best for our people. To bring our people here, to give them the lives they deserved." He said resting a hand on her shoulder.
Her eyes lit up with pride and energy. "I am ready to serve." She saluted at attention. "What will you ask of me?" "Go to my tent at dinner time. Make sure you wash yourself." He said, walking off. Bi'ranna felt her skin bump and shuddered. She did not want to serve like this. She had to be, too young for his taste. Barely fifteen. Her body was still growing from its slender physique. She would describe herself almost as boyish with how small her breast were. However these were orders. And she could not refuse them. As night fell and the camps broke for dinner. Bi'ranna made her way to Thanatos's tent, wearing a new set of clothes. There was no way she could wash the sour smell out. She entered into the tent. She was bombarded by waves of intoxicating spices and succulent meats. Her mouth watered instantly. The sound of metal knives scraping against the trays came to a halt. Every Commander sat at their benches, staring at her. What was a lowborn doing in their tent, and at this time?
Bi'ranna froze on the spot. "Bi'ranna!" Thanatos called out. The room's gaze glanced over to Thanatos, smiling at her, and then back to her. 'AHH! WHY WOULD HE NAME ME?' She squealed in her mind. She took a gulp and made her way to Thanatos. He sat alone with a table to himself. She took the seat beside him, and he slid her a plate of glistening boar meat. "Eat. You must be sick to death, of eating that gruel and grain shit." Bi'ranna still felt the gaze of a hundred judging and enraged eyes. But if she was going to be punished, she would do it, with a full stomach for once. She sat up right with perfect posture, delicately cutting a piece off with her cutlery. "You don't have to be proper with me." He said, smiling at her endearingly. Without hesitation, she stabbed the steak and shoved it into her mouth, stuffing a piece of bread in there for good measure. Thanatos let out a chortle. "That's more like it!"
He glared at the other commanders watching her pig out. "What are you all looking at? Planning another mutiny against me?" They all quickly bowed their heads and ate in silence. Bi'ranna continued to stuff her face. The meat was tender and most importantly had flavour. It wasn't anything like the plain gruel, and chalky grain they ate. Bi'ranna out ate most of the men in their, even being half their size. She sat back bloated, rubbing her stomach. "Did you enjoy yourself?" Thanatos asked. She struggled to sit up, clearing her throat and bowed. "Yes, very much so. Thank you so much Commande-" "Call me Thanatos." She stopped and glanced around at the few Commanders still sitting in the room with them. "Thank you Thanatos." She said bashfully, shying away. Why was he being so nice to her? What would he have to do to repay his affection.
"Follow me." He said walking out first. Bi'ranna stumbled after him, struggling to breathe. She garnered the camp's envious glares. She hesitantly entered into Thanatos's personal tent. A soft bed covered in a cured furry pelt. Thanatos poured himself a glass of wine, and took off his shirt. Bi'ranna took a deep breath and begun stripping herself. She removed her shirt. "Tell me, Bi'ranna, what do you know of your pare-WOAH!" He quickly covered his eyes, shying away from the half naked Bi'ranna. She gave him a glum look. 'I knew I was ugly.' "What are you doing!? Get dressed!" He ordered. Bi'ranna quickly dressed herself, blushing.
He took her by the arm, dragging her to the bed. "By Vasha's bloody cunt. I am not trying to fuck you." He growled. She watched as he took out a parchment. He showed her an illustration of his wife and daughter. A blonde fair skinned Elf, and his daughter a smiling little girl, that stood the height of his kneecap. Bi'ranna's eyes bulged nearly out of its sockets. Her face felt hotter than the sun. There were no words she could use to describe this level of embarrassment. "I wasn't grooming you, to make your my personal breeder. I was grooming you, because you remind me, of my daughter." He sighed, tucking the parchment away. "I'm a lowborn elf. How could I remind you, of your daughter?" She asked. "We've been marching across Jux for over a year. And not a single lowborn has asked why. Well...except for Captain Ul'lanna."
"Then, why am I in here?" She asked clutching her chest. "To sleep. I'm sure you would rather sleep on actual bed, than rocks." "I can't sleep on something this soft." She said running her hand through the soft and fluffy bed. "Try lying your head down on it." She obliged with a smug attitude. "I'm telling you that this super soft..." Thanatos watched her trail off, immediately falling asleep. He let out titter, before it turned into a sigh, and inspected his parchment once more. "Wait for me a little longer. We'll take the Citadel soon enough." He whispered. Thanatos left the tent with a pillow, and made his way outside. He found a flat patch of dirt, and plopped his pillow down. Everyone stared at him confused.
Thanatos found himself, remembering what it was like, to ride into battle with Begron, by his side. The cool air embracing him, bones aching on the sturdy ground. He had grown soft. To win this war. He would have to become the, Blood Drunk warrior he once was, and not the father he wanted to be. A warrior that had a battle cry more frightening than any battle drums. A warrior that would take an army to restrain him. A warrior that had no mercy. But he missed his Sarang and daughter so dearly. To hear their laughter. To see their smiles. To play with his daughter. To spend the night embracing his Sarang, during the freezing winters. He winced rolling onto his side, feeling jagged pebbles dig into his side. He stood up, letting out a frustrated grunt. 'What am I doing?'
As he approached his tent, a huffing Elf sprint towards him. He quickly saluted Thanatos, and took a deep breath. "What is it?" He asked. "You told us to keep watch of anything be done, without your orders." The Elf said taking a deep breath. "Several commanders left, each with a large platoon, and a horn." Thanatos felt his blood boil. "Spread the message, to fall back. We're going to regroup our forces, before we attack." He said ducking his head into the tent. "What about the Commanders?" Thanatos ducked back out, glaring at the terrified messenger Elf. "Fuck them. Let them die. I'm done trying to control my weak nephews. Tell our forces to pull back, and hold at our new position."