"Well, that was unexpected," I say as I read the report from the magic surveyor's corps that I requested from the empire. To come and resurvey the areas near the mountain range. It paid off. It looks like a large amount of essence crystals are in a cave system there. I'm told they act like a battery and can store super helpful information like spells. And extremely pricy to purchase.
So, all in all, it was a big win, at least financially. In terms of manpower, it's a big headache. And now I will have to ask the king to send over more manpower. I guess he'll ask for a present of the raw materials. Well, there is no point in guessing. I'll have to go there and find out. As I stand, I hear a knock on the door.
"Sir, Mr. Kalid is here for you.
"Send them in," I reply
The door opens, and low and behold, my Draven friend Kalid with his gray mane and scruff look.
"Kalid, my dear friend."
He gets right to Business, completely ignoring my earlier comment
"Is what I hear true?" Kalid asks, a look of excitement on his scruffy face
. "depends on what you heard." I state flatly
"Don't mess."
He stops as one of the guards glares at him.
"I just heard there are essence crystals in the mountains! Is it true, Zeus?"
I sigh. "Yes, but how did you hear? I haven't even gotten to tell the king."
"I heard it as a rumor, but can we make a deal? I can use it to make magic weapons and armor."
I shake my head. "No, sadly not until I report it," I say as he thinks I speak up.
"The king must know before I make any deals, but you will be the first I will do so with. Sounds good." As I approach and put my arm around his shoulder
My friend, have you gotten shorter? As we both laugh at the words that came out of my mouth, the elderly dwarf finally says something.
"Okay, but I'll hold you to that and one more. I think you will only be getting taller from here on out, brat.
As I chuckle, I finally manage to get out. That's very accurate; I'm only eight, which makes me a brat. I look forward to the day I can share a drink with you, Kalid.
With that said, Kalid left, and I teleported to the capital of white crest
As I approached the castle, the guards stopped me, Hault! Identification. I pulled out my crest and was escorted to the king's chambers?
Why not the parlor or the throne room? We arrive at the door to the ruler bed chambers.
Your Majesty, Zeus Lightless Gatsby has come as per your orders!
Enter, he says in the usual commanding voice. The door opens, and I enter. His majesty greets me.
"Zeus, it has been too long, almost two years, if memory serves me right. First, why have you come? Second, why you were summoned."
Confused, I remember what the guard said at the door to the king's chambers.
"So why was I summoned? I'm a little lost. I don't think I did anything to anger you, and as to why I came, look at this. I pull out an essence crystal.
"Ooooh, where did you get this?" the king asks.
"The surveyors I asked for returned with this and word that the mountain has much more to give."
The king shoots up and begins pacing and mumbling to himself
He then asks, "Do you know the importance of this find."
I answer, "No.
No, No, of course you don't. He then explained that the nation to the east of the Elvan territory, known as the nation of Gristale, is the only place where the resource can be found in mass. This is world-shattering. This pertains to the other reason I summoned you. We are at war with the other nation that produces this resource. They attacked the elves."
"Is Emily alright?" I ask panicked
"She is, but they are losing, so we are intervening at the behest of her father, Adam Leaf."
So why are we talking to me?
"Because you have a large military force, from the reports I received, about 10,000 seems a bit big. Don't we think my standing army is only 20,000? Anyways, you are to lead 10,000 of your troops to assist the elves and crush the neighboring nation of Gristale. This is a royal decree. You have two months to prepare for the war at hand." I kneel.
Yes, sire, it shall be done.
Oh, and one more thing: your father will also be assisting. He is sending in another 10,000
"You are dismissed, my young viscount.
"Sire," as I turn to leave."
Oh, and last thing, I will give the rights to the mine. So long as you give the crown a fifty percent discount on the essence crystal purchases.
"Consider it done."
and with that, I leave and prepare for war!
As I return to my castle, I inform the people and soldiers to be ready as we prepare the necessities for aid and relief, and supplies for the war effort. I have made a deal with Kalid for the essence crystals. In return, he is making 100 magic swords and armor for my shock troop/bodyguard that I've dubbed "The Scales of the timeless." They are the remainder of the expert swordsmen, pike men, and scouts I've personally trained over the two and a half years. And has become a knight order under me and the crown after I formally requested it through the kingdom; to my surprise, it was approved. They bear my crest mixed with the emperor eagle atop the scales of fate. as I leave the supplies to the "supplies department"
I proceeded to dive deep into my training. Boch helped, so a month passed with unease and rushed necessity. As for my progress, I am about as strong as Boch regarding my mana capacity but I've hit a bottleneck. Boch thinks it is probably my body.
"You are too young to grow more with mana as of right now." In terms of power, I am lacking but again it's due to my age. Boch is one of the strongest in the world so I'm not doing too bad.
A month later we have a day to depart the destination the capital of the elves known as Grímnir. I've ordered the troops to sleep well and Spend time with loved ones.
Kalid delivered the armor they are light but strong They are black armor with the the scales of the timeless Crest on the palm of the gauntlets. It comes with a red cloke as well. no helmet but I'm told the cloke will deflect a sword blow so that's cool My armor is a bit different it is the same color scheme but instead of the emblem on my palm it's on the shoulder and embroidered on the cloke my blindfold got redone too it now has an enchantment on it and has my crest as for the enchantment its one called the shield of the cloaked gives me the same protection as the cloak but on my face. My armor is also enchanted as well as my shock troops The enchantments for them are resized, lightened toughened, strengthened, silent, and telepathy connect. my armor has those enchantments but more in addition to those it has energized and swift, telepathy call and mend.
I was surprised he gave these he said they were worth it to see me come back alive and that the deal from the crystals and gold made this possible.
today's the day we set out on the grounds before the castle I am standing on a platform ready to give a speech the order is in the front the rest behind all at attention looking up as I walk to the podium to deliver my speech
"To all who would follow me this day, we fight this time not for survival but for home and country."
"For home! For country!" the men shout.
"We fight to once again tip the scales in balance to allow the flow of time to be true and proper we fight for nothing more than fame and glory and the scales of fate which will be our judge!"
"Fate wills it!" the men shout.
"Time will tell if we are true to our goal, to our path to our future!
"Time wills it! Time wills it!" they chant
As I hold my hand up to stop you can hear a pin drop.
"Too Time, Fate, and Country!"
"To time fate and country!"
They respond in kind the ground rumbles with the clanking of shields and the stomping of feet even the citizens begin chanting "To time fate and country."
"TO WAR!"
I shout With the aid of magic the sad mood is gone like the wind instead of a somber but expectant mood takes its place. and so the march begins.
TO Grímnir!