Aside: Our old teacher.
Carl:
The war meeting went on for several hours all the while reports and commands were sent to the frontlines as the Miltis Empire continued their assault. The tension in the room was palpable as the leaders of the continent new that making a mistake now could lead to the end of their freedom. Dave never put his mantle back on. It wasn't just to make the other leaders more comfortable but us Heroes as well. My most memorable times with him wearing the mantle weren't the best, mostly it being beaten by him during our 'training'.
I didn't really understand what they were talking about but stayed nonetheless. Occasionally Gary would offer a suggestion but Sayuri and Alicia had blank expressions as they stared at the map in the centre of the room. There was talk about troop movements, the lands layout, enemy fortifications, military capacity… it was a bit too much for me right now. I had never played a real time strategy game and something like this was far beyond that in difficulty. Lives were on the line.
Finally the meeting ended well into the evening. The Miltis Empire had begun their invasion almost 20 hours prior. While the time didn't seem like much, they were advancing victory after victory through territory that had little in defence. The exact plan wasn't fully founded yet but a defensive line had been formed. With Dave's help the border troops were reassigned to the front line and at the same time General Grim-tooth was leading a small strike on the enemy to 'inform' them of Dave's reply. The General didn't have enough soldiers to hold a proper assault but it would divert their attention and ease things for the Klerical Kingdom and Elsbeth.
"Heroes, the chambers you used during your earlier visit are available for you," Knight Commander Montegra lightly bowed towards us as we stood to leave, "Please rest, we have much to do tomorrow."
"Thank you very much," I replied and turned to Dave who was still hunched over the table with a narrowed expression. "Dave are you coming with us?"
"Not yet. I have some questions," he scratched his chin in thought and mumbled something I couldn't hear. We had a distinct disadvantage in this war. The attack came as a surprise and the Kingdom's armies were spread too far. With a joint effort they were barely able to stop their momentum. For one, the Miltis Empire had a greater amount of soldiers here then the humans or demons. The second and bigger problem was the three major towns they had captured near the border. Two in the Klerical Kingdom and one in Elsbeth. They would surely be holding them hostage.
Our job as Heroes was to infiltrate and liberate the largest town that also happened to be the furthest into the enemy territory. The other two would be handled by the Queen of Rentolt's elite knights along with some of the Knight Commanders. I could tell why Dave had given us this job. It was something we four could do alone and better than anyone else but it was also the most merciful. If we had been sent to the front lines against row upon row of enemy soldiers… there was no way we could be lenient and try spare their lives. None of us had killed anyone…. If it was a question of whether I could or couldn't, I would be able to do it. If it was for Dave and the people of this land I'd do it, but at the same time I feel like I'd lose something if that ever happened. Gary, Sayuri and especially Alicia… I didn't want them to have to kill anyone. Dave was looking out for us while still using us to our full potential. It just hurt that I couldn't do much more for him.
I followed the others out of the war room and into the corridor. We didn't make it far till a familiar presence stopped us.
"Heroes, can we talk?" Captain Rafhound stood in our way. It suddenly became awkward. This was the guy who trained us initially and built our foundations yet each of us knew we were stronger than him now. Not only that but I had been in direct confrontation with him earlier.
Gary as his usual self just smiled casually, "Sure, what's up?"
"I just wanted to know how my old pupils were fairing." He laughed harshly, "Though I can tell now each of you could handle me easily. And I even went through that hell training to try keep up with you lot."
"I did think you got stronger," Alicia nodded and rubbed into my side. "Not many people can make Carl get serious."
He looked at us questioningly but didn't say anything about our lack of distance.
"How have you been Captain?" Sayuri asked.
"Actually I'm Knight Commander now," he said proudly. "You never met the old one because he was quite into his years. He retired soon after you left and the position was given to me, however Allains Knight Commander, Polton, he ensured that I met the high standards of the position…."
"It seems you had a rough time," I said knowingly.
He smiled sincerely, "I'm glad that the four of you haven't changed. You're still you. This world hasn't made you give up hope."
"We have Dave to thank for that," Sayuri also softly smiled.
"Ha… Dave," he shook his head, "I knew he was strong but I never would have thought he was the Demon Lord, although Master Heafest was close on the mark."
"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.
"A few weeks after you departed Master Heafest had disjointed dreams about being beaten to a pulp by Davios. Which now I consider it, might have really happened."
My mind drifted back to our first outing when Dave had come back late at night with Master Heafest hung over his shoulder… it was suspicious then but now it seemed incredibly suspicious. Just what had he done that night?
"It plagues me even now," Master Heafest said from behind us. "I still feel a trace of fear when I see him but now I know why."
"Well you did deserve it," Dave rounded the corner with a laugh.
Master Heafest grit his teeth, "My actions then were indeed wrong. Against the Demon Lord I am probably not equal to a speck to you however please do not let my actions effect our future relations."
Dave ignored his snarkiness, "Actually you weren't too bad. Probably at the level of one of my Generals which is quite formidable. Of course I could show you what happened that night."
"I'll refuse," he said adamantly. "I feel knowing would only cause me more pain."
"Tch," Dave clicked his tongue. "You're no fun as usual, but if you really mean what you said about future relations, I'd like to speak with you and the Archmage."
"Hmmm," he eventually nodded and the two left us silently.
"I guess we should be off as well," I prepared to say goodbye to Commander Rafhound. "We're starting early tomorrow after all."
"Yes, good night," he reached for my hand and I shook his. As I did so an immense rush of power flooded from his hand and tried to crush mine. I reacted immediately. To a normal person it just looked like a long handshake but to anyone trained they would be able to feel the waves of energy that erupted out.
Finally he let go and winced, "You have me beat Carl. Take that as your final test."
"Thank you Commander," I nodded with a smile.
"Please call me Telius."
"Thank you… Telius."
Alicia pushed her hand between us, "Am I next then?"
He gingerly withdrew himself, "I have the feeling you'd crush my hand. Fortunately I still need it, so let's not."
"I'm not that much of a brute am I?" she huffed but no one answered and just turned away. "Hey, don't you walk away. Carl! Come back here. Don't move faster! I said don't run!" I looked back to see her flustered and embarrassed expression. There was a far bit of anger in there too but it was still fun to tease her. She could be incredibly cute.
Aside End
Aside: My father.
Lisanna:
Halfway through the war meeting my father left without a word and in return we also ignored his leaving. My actions to the other leaders fully indicated who was in charge and who had the true power. I wouldn't let his pride be the downfall of our alliance with the Demon Lord, with Varry. In actual fact I enjoyed the moment.
Since the first day I became queen, to him I was no more than a puppet. Beforehand I was nobody but through my talent with the sword I became Knight Captain of a small squad and met Gilda. Not long after, my life changed with that fateful encounter in the forest along the border. My master Alexander, Varry's father and at the time the Demon Lord, he personally trained Gilda and I into what we were today. With his help I became the Knight Commander of Rentolt and my father recognised my worth.
I played the fool and listened to my father's every order. If it weren't for Master Alexander's help I would have committed atrocities against both humans and demons but with a twist of fate, instead I became a figure to the people. Still, I had many siblings and as a girl born from the King's philandering, had no real standing for the throne. Slowly yet surely I crept closer to my goal, working my father's own dirty plans to my own advantage. I planted false evidence to remove the crown prince's ambitions for the throne, removed my sisters from the council, caused businesses to crumble, anyone who stood against my father just happened to disappear. Yet the people loved me as I saved them from bandits, kept the peace, journeyed the country and proved my worth against hordes of monsters.
To my father I was the perfect pawn and finally as he grew older and it was time to delegate a new ruler, he chose me. Of course he kept most the power to himself but in the year I had been Queen, the country of Rentolt began to change. My agents and knights worked in the shadows and removed many of my father's supporters as well as further propelling the support from my people. Monsters were kept in check and with resources from trading with a certain 'country' the people flourished and education boomed under my rule.
Now I walked alone in the courtyard within the Klerical Kingdom's palace. It was quiet, suspiciously so. Without batting an eye I grabbed the knife lunging towards my throat. Its user tried to retreat but I held him firmly and threw him to the assailant at my back. They collided together and rolled across the paved stone. My hand whipped up and caught the poisoned dagger thrown from the nearby rafters and with a steady arm I threw it back, impaling the retreating assassin to the wall.
"Did you really think that would work?" I asked as the remaining two tried to stand. I didn't let them and, appearing above them, crushed them into the ground with my foot.
"We'll never speak!" one immediately coughed.
"Don't worry I already know who sent you, isn't that right father?" I called out and stepped away from the now unconscious assassins.
My father stepped out from the shadows, his red hair bright in the torch light. It was the one feature we shared in common, as did all those with royal blood.
"As expected of my esteemed Queen and daughter," he smiled insincerely.
"I'm not yours," I snarled.
"But you are," he raised his hand and knights burst into the courtyard. They were part of the vanguard and not directly related to me. "And you've made a very stupid mistake."
"I'm doing what's best for not only Rentolt but our entire land!" The knights surrounded us and pointed spears my direction.
"No, you have joined the traitors with those foul Demons! They are a scum that needs to be scrubbed from this world. I would sooner join the Miltis empire then see them as our equals."
"You truly know nothing," I scowled.
"Say all you want my dear Lisanna but you will not make it from here alive. You were much more adorable when you behaved."
I sighed, "I didn't expect this day to come so soon. My initial plan was to let you 'puppet' me around for another few years before I kicked your arse out, but oh well."
"Ha," he looked down on me, "pretend all you want child. This whole time you have been nothing more than my plaything."
"Do you really think this amount of Knights could stop me?" I stared him down and released my mana.
He involuntarily flinched but regained his posture, "Even for you, these are a hundred of our finest knights and your men are nowhere to be found."
"It's because I don't need them," I stamped the ground and the pavement shattered. Mana pumped through me and a wave of heat dispersed into the air. Red particles of light began to float around me as my hair burst into colour, shining red in the dim courtyard. I turned my crimson eyes to my father.
He stepped back, "Those eyes, that hair! It's impossible."
"The symbol of Rentolt and the first Queen's power. Even if you had thousands you may wound me but you would never make it out alive," I took an intimidating step forward as ripples of light gouged the ground around me. He fell disgracefully on his behind. "However for you I don't even need to go this far." I withdrew my mana and returned to normal.
"Quickly kill her!" he screamed but the knights did not move. "What are you doing!? I am your King!"
"No, you're an old washed up has been clinging for a power you no longer have." I raised my voice, "I am the Red Beast of Rentolt your Queen and ruler! I command you to arrest this traitor."
The spears shifted at once pointing towards my father's neck as he lay upright on the floor.
"Y-you! You're all traitors the lot of you! How dare you listen to the daughter of a simple whore!"
I flashed forwards and picked him up by the scruff of his neck, "Unfortunate as it may be, I am also your daughter, and as for my mother. Even though she neglected me and died from the drugs you fed her, she was still a far better parent than you." I tossed him back to the ground.
"By joining the demons you've doomed us all," he looked up at me with valiant eyes truly believing his own words.
"About that." I bent down low and whispered, "Those Demons are the reason I became Queen. I've been in cahoots with them since the beginning. The Demon Lord, he's like a brother to me."
"You foul wench! To fraternise with those wretch-,"
I grabbed his throat and choked his words away, "You will not insult my family any longer." With a slight pinch he fell to the ground unconscious.
I stood up again and turned to the Knights "Take him to a cell and make sure he doesn't interfere any longer. I'll deal with him later."
"As the Queen commands!" as one they straightened and bowed with their hands over their chests. Just as quickly as they came in, they left, taking the assassins and my father with them.
The courtyard was quiet once again. Not a soul in sight, I was truly alone now. It seemed my father really did want me removed in secret. I let out a long slow sigh and breathed in the cold air.
"Wow didn't you take that a little too far?" the voice spooked me and I jumped.
I turned to the source and frowned, "Varry could you not sneak up on people like that."
"Well… no, it's fun," he laughed. "But still have to feel sorry for the man. Thought he had it all and you just ripped it straight from beneath and not only that, you pretty much proceeded to bat him with it. Right in the face, like POW, POW, POW-,"
"I get it," I interrupted. "At least now I'm finally in full control."
"That is a plus."
"By the way where did you come from?"
"I was just talking to the Archmage and Heafest. They had some interesting points about the Hero summoning."
"Is that so.... I'm surprised you're trying to send them back so soon."
"They can't stay here forever, we're not their problem," he smiled. "But it will be lonelier."
"Especially with a certain someone leaving," I teased.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about Sayuri who else?" I poked him in the side, "You lady killer you."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," he tried to pull it off with his usual poker face but I could see straight through it.
I laughed and spread my arms open, "Come here, I need a hug before I go to sleep."
He stepped closer and let me wrap my arms around him, "You're squishing me."
"I know." I sighed, "You were so much more huggable when you were small. I miss those days."
"It's called growing up," he wormed his way out.
"Yes indeed, grow up some more and with a certain girl in a few years I can hug your kid. I bet they'd be super cute."
He frowned "Leave Sayuri out of this."
"Oh? I didn't say Sayuri specifically."
"J-just go to sleep already!" his face flushed red and he shooed me away with his hands.
"Fine, fine," I laughed and walked away with a smile. Family certainly made you feel better, even when you had just ostracized your father.
Aside End: