Watching Sophie gather the troops, those already in the army and those she roughly whisked away from their homes, was a testing experience.
Going to a world with magic, being born a vampire and even body traveling was one thing.
An exciting thing!
Seeing his people forced to join a war in less than pristine conditions was not what he envisioned.
Already 1300 people were forced to train and arm themselves.
It wasn't like none tried to protest but seeing fellow humans turn into a ball to play with had been enough motivation for all.
Third time and it was still a disturbing sight.
He had actually doubled over the first and second time she did that, the third was less horrific and as he had been aware of what was coming, he had looked away rapidly.
It wasn't just a third, the rounded up people that had complained simultaneously combusted , their blood splattering to those around them. Shreds of their muscles still attached to their skeleton, which she turned into her quickly turning signature ball.
He had made a monster, the spell had worked way too efficiently.
Overlooking the training soldiers with half lidded eyes he wondered when the real conflict would start.
He would join in too, ofcourse.
As he would now, some exercise, distraction would have been fun.
If it weren't for the stern eyes of one magic wielding sister in law.
"You are pushing them too much.
It hasn't even been a month.''
She didn't deign him with an answer.
Merely observing each and every single one of them. It was a clear threat hanging in the air.
It was hard not to look at Cyra standing a little further off with the other guards.
She would at least have made a jab or some flirtatious joke, trying to pull up the atmosphere to funner grounds.
Wishing for too much here with Sophie that's for sure.
"Are you sure you want to continue this?
It is your son we're talking about.''
"You better stop talking.''
For a second he hesitated, whether or not to speak but who was he to keep quiet?
''If...you just left him, he wouldn't have done anything.
He has kept still all those years, he would've continued-''
''No, he wouldn't.
If he's anything like me, he wouldn't."
Rebuking in a sharp voice."I sure hope not."
Waiting for her reaction, he was mildly surprised when she just kept her magic to herself.
Too focused on the trainees?
Leaving with a huff, he thought of what to do.
Should he warn Asani about the number that would participate in the war that he started?
What was that boy thinking? Especially so suddenly.
Did he even think things through?!
Reacting purely on his high alert he ducked, twisted with his knife ready to sla-''Cyra?"
Her cocky smile returning his surprised exclamation, hands held high in mock surrounder
''Do you ever even think?"
''What's that good for?'' While she had dropped her arms, her smile only broadened.
"Cocky...did she see you leave?''
''Chill, she almost got me the other time. I ain't going to be stupid again.
Told the other guards I had to go to the toilet and it didn't look like your lover had any attention for me at all."
"You know damn well that isn't the case at all, either way you need to leave.''
''N-''
"I know but did you really think Sophie wouldn't catch on?
If there is even an inkling in her mind she would kill each and every one of you.''
"Each and every one of us?
She wouldn't kill you but..did you not like our time?''
''Oh I love it all right, don't ever think I didn't.
I want you to warn Asani and help him.
With your artifacts, wherever they came from, you must be able to help.''
"Sure yet the question is if I want to?"
Ofcourse she had to make things even more troublesome by being a stubborn little shit.
''He is my nephew, I can't tell him nor warn him. I need you to do it for me.
Please help him for me.''
.
.
.
.
Silently nodding she took one long look before returning back to Sophie's direction
Her voice sounded one last time ''I can't promise anything, not even for you."
Chuckling at her response, Acacius continued going nowhere in particular.
There was nowhere for him to go, he could only wait until hsi surprise mission had finished.
That way he could go home and see his family again.
He had missed them, the closer it came the lighter his heart started to feel.
Going back to his own body wouldn't be so bad either.
He had felt his body now deteriorating, it felt like each string of DNA snapped. Pulling away from him, ripping away from his soul.
He had actually felt himself losing control. The deadline hadn't been reached so he should still have time.
And yet here he was, having moments of being spaced out, losing vision and vomiting.
The closer the deadline, the closer his end.
What a weirdly motivating thought.
\--
Two days later she was gone, not another word to him.
And while she had told everyone she needed to check on her master, they weren't exactly believing her excuse. As suddenly as she came she left.
Sophie didn't take it well, her control strengthening as she believed all would be loyal that way and most importantly stay.
No one had left the castles in the month that had passed, neither had he.
All the windows forced shut with magic, same with the doors.
Only opening and closing with her command.
Kinda annoying as he had wanted that snack he had before meeting Eelerana and Nigel.
Speaking of them, he had seen the twins in some far away position, training under the command of some under officer.
Tired was one word for them as they struggled to keep space with their team members.
Each team is roughly fifty big.
And as Sophie had grabbed another 200 hundred unsuspecting men and women their soldiers totalled up to 1500.
So in total thirty groups of fifty, getting mostly trained by one superior member and two other superiors watching over them and teaching them the basics.
Except for six scattered groups, who are stationed, all were within the castle's immediate grounds
They couldn't do much else with the time they had, free time basically nonexistent.
Even now they were crowded in the throne room listing tactics and diversion with the most important, which naturally concluded him.
The entire council, unfortunately that meant a glaring hawk, who still hadden found a trace of his daughter and her friend.
Even with Sophie's help, it had been fairly laughable to see the old male whining every time he left without a clue to their whereabouts. Something his dear sister in law didn't seem to think!
Ultimately they had decided that he would go out first, the first confrontation that would start the rushed war.
Aside from small fights here and there, nothing big has happened yet so it was safe to assume that Asani was testing them.Gouging their forces and seeing how much force they need to wipe them out. No one had come back, the loss not many as they were sent in small groups yet in a tight schedule of each other.
In a way to distract Asani, raise his emotions high and distract him from the real matters at hand.
Assuming that Asani was unaware of said real matters.
He did, Acacius made sure of that!
The boy would rule as was his birthright and he would finally be able to go home.
Hopefully if there is a next time, he will be warned and prepared