Chapter 603: Empires Invasion [21] (1/2)
”Right then adventurers, please make for the counter and register. We should have a few quests to get started,” the excitement of a new journey in a foreign town. Moments later, a notice board full of tasks showed lesser pay.
”Extermination quests, monster problems,” read Frost, ”-they're all offering cheap change. I knew this was a bad idea.”
”Don't say so,” snickered Anna, ”-let me guess, the mighty icicle cannot handle a job without reward?” inched closer, ”-how about we do that thing as a prize?” a coy side-glance bamboozled the brute into worthlessness.
”Not fair,” exclaimed Rena, ”-who does he think we are?”
”Chill,” returned multiple whispers. The team was divided into three. First was Ling, Goldie, Ella, Ellie and Kein. Next, Jen, Rena, Leonard and Lampard. Lastly, Anna, Frost, Cole, and Ila. The last two were more of an eight men unit, members switched around depending on the fight and task.
”Alright people,” gestured Ling, ”-we're heading out to the inn. See you later.”
”Understood,” returned Anna, ”-see you girls later.”
”Lampard,” squinted Jen, ”-what this about forcing your mother to accept our relation?”
”Oh yes, didn't I explain this before? Igna used his standing as noble to pressure my family. I heard even the Queen reprimanded my mother's action, thus our situation. Not that it matters now, he's a young baron of the Blood-King's Faction.”
”What of it?” inquired Lampard, ”-he's just another noble then.”
”Wrong,” he dismayed, ”-being baron in a war-torn province is an effort, a lot of it. He's not only responsible for his life but the life of the populous as well.”
”Which means,” said Rena, ”-I don't get the whole politic thing. Come on, Lampard, we're going on a date,” no reservations, hands on the boy's ears, the date seemed more of a mother scolding her child.
”We should get moving too,” proposed Leonard, ”-we've already picked out the quests. Best get acquainted with the lay of the land,” the second party diffused to the wonder of the unknown.
Frost's team remained sternly, ”-What now?” inquired the blue-haired prodigy.
”You tell me,” said Anna, ”-the man must take the lead.”
”It's as my lady said,” glared Ila, ”-show her the way to happiness, else I show you hell.”
”Now isn't the time to fight,” whispered Cole.
”-Shut it!” fired the ladies.
”We're doomed,” sighed Frost, ”-I agree,” despaired Cole. Along the way, Ila suddenly asked Cole on a date. Things went from friendly to a relation. In search of strength, the academy students invited a romantic endeavor, an opportunity to find inner power. The importance of protection, fighting for a dream, or achieving greatness – emotions were strong.
New faces slipped in around the general populous. Time elapsed, work led Igna to scour along the town wall. The expansion was to be made towards the north; a suspended bridge would lead into the start of a craggy hill. Deforestation began as soon as offering to the dryads were made. Dubbed Svein's hill, home of Vanesa's cave – a purplish taint and minute miasmic particles of Aedric energy hovered.
'I didn't notice it before, maybe because of the forestry. The main entrance faces the bothersome hill of illness. Well, the bridge will span a long distance, the stream's rather arduous to built upon. Undre reported the details earlier, the architects suggested using the hill as material and support to carve out a new district for Glenda. It's going to take a few years to complete,' a half-smile proved otherwise, '-we'll get it done in two months. A new district for the refugees. This project's my personal quest.' Noon shifted into the afternoon; the brightly lit sky dimmed per greyish clouds. A side-glance showed a couple ambling along the walls.
”IGNA!”
'Damn it,' he snarled, ”-hey.”
”There's no need to look so disappointed,” remarked Leonard, ”-you're a landed noble now, quite remarkable for one of our same age group.”
”I suppose. What brings a couple here of all places?”
”Exploring,” they sat overlooking the town, ”-Glenda's an awesome place. They're very much amiable, I can't imagine this place being affected by the war.”
”Oh, is that so,” he joined, ”-Glenda seems free because of the pile of bodies I left,” leaned to stare Jen, ”-I have a question.”
Her guard went up, the visage broke into a frown, ”-go on.”
”You're from Iqeavea. A saint of the Church,” he squinted, ”-mind tell me more of that. The power you used in the dungeon, I found it weird,” index to the stone, crimson crystal dispersed to halt shy of her palm, ”-tell me, are you a friend or foe?”
”F-friend,” she gulped.
”Good,” the scarlet crystal retracted, ”-what church?”
”Temple of Dustina, Goddess of Destiny. My sister and I were humble followers of the church. We were trained to be protectors of the Empire. Due to circumstances, we fled to Hidros and began a new life. I attained the rank of Saint from the constant practice,” she pulled onto her turtle neck shirt, ”-here's the symbol of sainthood, a boon from goddess Dustina. Without this, I'd have never been able to survive.”
”As long as there's no threat to the town and its people, the story doesn't interest me.”
”Igna,” her expression dulled, ”-how long are you going to keep us at arm's length. Come on, it's about time we clear the misunderstanding and move on, I don't want to feel so miserable the rest of my life.”
”Miserable huh,” he stood, ”-look over there,” he pointed, ”-see those men and women, they're survivors from the ex-lord's treatment.”
”Yes, I remember them, they're the kind folks who welcomed us into town.”
”Correct, they've been abused and treated like animals. The disparities between humans and demi-humans will never end. King Staxius vowed to promote an alliance and set differences aside. The dream was half accomplished – adventurers are free to mingle and garner deeper bonds. The Azure wall's complete with our people. Goes to show the effort didn't totally fail. The Empire's tactic of divide and conquer has worked.”
”What then, what can the populous accomplish?” wondered Jen.
”No idea,” said he, a gust carried the hair, ”-the decision is in the hands of the higher-ups.”
”What about you?” inquired Leonard, ”-will the Haggard dynasty get involved?”
”We're already involved,” he laughed, the aura darkened, ”-information's abundant. Trips to the inns and taverns should paint a better picture. My goal is simple,” spun to stare the imaginary wall, ”-I'm going to protect what little semblance of safety we have.”
*Woosh,* a flash of white flames darted along the walls, ”-POPS” screamed Draconis.
*POOF,* a violent cloud of smoke carried on after Igna. Parts of the stone cracked, he caught the ball stood with an arm stretched out, ”-Draconis,” he mumbled, ”-care to explain this interruption?”
”Let go of my head first,” struggled the boy, ”-I just wanted to say hi.”
”A boy shouldn't go around spearing another for the sake of saying hello.”
The fog of chaos dwindled, Jen and Leonard remained utterly silent. 'Such power, I thought we were dead,' gulped he. '-An explosion and then he stood with a kid in hand, what happened?'
”Igna… is that a demon?”
”No,” refuted he.