Halkegenia Online V1: Chapter 3 - Part 2 | "Meeting the Fae Lords"
As Kirito, Leafa, and his students disappeared into the distance. Colbert turned to the gathered... Well, for now he supposed he would call them Faeries as they insisted they be called. Kirito had instilled enough doubt to give them that courtesy.
"Now then, I suppose we should set out. Just how far off is this Arrun?"
KoKo's cheerful smile suddenly froze and her ears slowly sank. "Erm."
"I beg your pardon?" Colbert asked.
Both of the green haired Fairies were shaking their heads.
"What is it?" Colbert asked more concerned.
"It’s just that, it just occurred to me, but, Arrun," KoKo pointed towards the World Tree, "Is on the other side of that, and we’re", she pointed to the ground at their feet, "All the way over here."
"Taking this road we won’t get close to the road to Arrun for hours on foot." Carmond finished with a sigh. "Kirito didn’t think this through, did he?"
"Nye-he-he." KoKo laughed sheepishly. "I guess it would be too embarrassing to chase them down now and ask for a horse."
Colbert let out a sigh of relief. "Is that all?" He asked.
"Erm, yeah, that’s a pretty big deal. I guess we could carry you." KoKo suggested thoughtfully. "At least, Carmond here is probably strong enough." The big, red armored man nodded.
"Ah well, if I might suggest, I could cast a levitation spell."
"Wait, you can fly?" KoKo asked and then smacked her head gently. "Oy, that’s right, Academy of Magic, you’re a wizard!"
"A mage." Colbert corrected. "It’s a simple enough spell, a dot mage of any element can manage it well enough." Colbert explained. "Though if it as far as you say... " Colbert surveyed the distance. The World Tree was still some ways away. "I might have trouble casting it for that long."
"So, this levitation thing, is it easier when you just have to keep yourself in the air?" KoKo asked.
"Well, yes." Colbert said. "Levitation alone isn’t too strenuous but traveling very far can be exhausting."
KoKo rubbed her chin. "Okay, maybe we can tow you."
"Tow?"
"Yeah." The cat eared woman confirmed. Reaching down to her belt she started to unreal a thin spool of some translucent cord.
"What is that?" Colbert asked.
"A super special Cait Syth item", the woman winked cheerfully, "Its woven from the silk of tame Terrorantulas." Reaching around Colbert’s waist and shoulders, she tied a secure knot and then handed one end of the line to Carmond. "Think you can pull that big guy?"
The large man nodded and tied the line around his own waist.
"See." KoKo said, "Now you just have to keep yourself in the air, leave the flying to me and Carmond." A set of glossy yellow wings began to take shape from the woman’s back without any sign of focus or incantation, and she settled her helmet back onto her head. "Whenever you’re ready."
Colbert nodded and raised his staff to begin the incantation. In a moment he was rising gently off the ground alongside the Faeries. "Hey, Clyde, Emshael, we're going to take it easy back to Arrun, you guys should go ahead and tell Alicia Rue and Lady Sakuya that we’re bringing back a guest. We’ll meet them at the top of Arrun tower."
The green haired faeries extended their wings and with a light kick, parted ways with the ground and streaked off in the direction of the World Tree.
"Okay, we’ll go nice and slow for you Professor, just, uhm, try not to look down." KoKo said as her translucent yellow wings extended.
"I’ll be quite alri-aye!" In an eye blink, Colbert felt himself being pulled into the air. The silk cord tied around his waist bit into his back as the world fell away beneath him and the sky seemed to fly forward to meet him. Colbert clung white knuckled to his staff and focused on maintaining the levitation spell, he was no stranger to flight, but suddenly exposed, at this height, and this velocity, under the control of someone else, the sensation of flying through the air was more akin to falling. KoKo and Carmond flew ahead of him dragging him through the sky like the tail of a comet.
After a few long, terrifying moments, the two Faeries leveled out and began to cruise at a leisurely pace towards the World Tree, their wings glimmering in the sun. Colbert finally got his racing heart under control and began to take note of his surroundings. From the sky, the changes to the land were plain as day. The open fields surrounding the academy gave way to a mixture of forests and plains spanning off towards the world Tree. Strangely, the roadway, the very one that connected the Academy to the nearby towns, appeared to wind unabated through the forests as if it had always been there.
All of Colbert’s fear and misgivings were cast aside as their flight took them around the trunk of the World Tree and he caught his first sight of Arrun. He felt that the boy, Kirito, had somewhat deceived him. Arrun was not a town as he had expected, it was a full-fledged city.
Nestled in the roots of the World Tree, Arrun rose up, spiraling around the base of an enormous central spire that seemed itself to be nothing but a twig besides the Bulk of the World Tree. From the air Colbert could see how the main thoroughfares coiled and turned, like tributary rivers, slowly winding their way around the tower, merging until they met at a vast central plaza at the tower’s base. A single main road snaked from the city’s main gate, impossibly wide and lined with trees, colorful banners, and tiled fountains like the Promenades that surrounded the Royal Palace. The buildings that lined the wide roads and boulevards grew from one and two story homes, shops, and villas near the city limits, into more luxurious residents and businesses as one approached the center. The buildings around the central square were as tall as cathedrals and possessed rooftop gardens that from the air gave even the heart of the city a sense of vibrant life. Colbert had seen the great cities of Halkegenia, but even he had to admit that Arrun was a beautiful place.
Perhaps because of this municipal familiarity, as they overflew the city, the Professor started to pick out peculiarities. The city was arranged like a fortress town, with thick stone walls and gateway arches separating the city into districts, but the walls were bereft of walkways or firing crenulations for archers or cannons, and not gates hung from the massive arches. But that begged the question, why would a flying race construct a walled city in the first place?
Fortress walls made sense because they could force attackers into a siege, a Fortress would be garrisoned with enough mages and commoner soldiers to overwhelm an attack that came from the air, and the relatively short walls could be heavily reinforced by both design and the Mages within. Spread over a city, the walls lost much of their advantage, especially against a race that could so casually fly. Were they merely aesthetic? Or, Colbert wandered, was flight really such a common thing? Perhaps they had fought often with land bound races, such as humans, the soldier in him thought.
Other things appeared wrong as they overflew the center of the city. The streets were bereft of people. Shops and stalls stood unattended, their doors shuts, window shutters closed. Only a handful of solitary figures stood watch on roof tops or flew at low altitude. A curfew, the old soldier in Colbert said. But it was more than that, the city felt half abandoned.
The two Faeries and their accompanying mage made their final approach on the central tower, the huge structure seemed to be as much built as hewn from one of the World Tree’s gigantic roots. Balconies and platforms ringed the top of the tower. Colbert could see more of the Faeries flitting about, coming and going. Here at last, there seemed to be some activity.
Colbert felt his feet touch solid ground with an overwhelming sense of relief. KoKo settled to the ground beside him and removed her helm. Her ears perked up almost instantly and she gave Colbert a grin and a pat on the back before untying the line around his waist.
"S’pose flying doesn’t agree with you." She said.
"Flying?" Colbert muttered. "No, I have no problem with flying. Atop a griffin, or a dragon, or a good solid ship." Colbert shook his head. "But that, yes, I do believe I might perchance walk back."
"Nyah-ha-ha." KoKo laughed. "Sorry, sorry, I wasn’t trying to terrify you, but well, you volunteered." She defended.
"And I’ve no one but myself to blame." Colbert agreed weakly.
Across the broad platform, dozens of Faeries were busy coming and going with messages or conversing with their fellows. Many were adorned in armor resembling that worn by KoKo and Carmond, others were strangely dressed in robes or hooded travelers garb. Colbert was surprised to note the variation among the Faeries, both in their form and dress. The Professor spotted at very least a dozen heads that sported the same feline ears as KoKo, while many of the others possessed the blonde hair, fair skin, and delicate features displayed by Leafa and associated with elves, the resemblance was certainly uncanny. He saw one giant of a man, dark skinned, his arms tattooed with strange runes and logos, though his ears were pointed, no one would dare mistake him for an elf. Still others had the same ashen skin and dark hair as Kirito or the tan skin and fiery red hair of Carmond. A few childish figures, red eyed and pail skinned, flitted amongst the gathered crowd on delicate violet wings.
In the distance one of the green haired Faeries from earlier, Emshael, waved to them from the direction of the tower. Colbert followed behind KoKo and Carmond as they approached a doorway leading into the Tower interior. Two squat, powerful looking creatures, vaguely akin to fire dragons and festooned in armor, stood guard at the doorway, a pair of the cat eared Faeries riding upon their backs. Colbert followed his escorts closely as the animals shook their heads and growled lowly, watching him with beady eyes.
The doorway opened into a wide, domed atrium. Light spilled down from windows ringing the high walls and was cast wide by a set of polished brass reflectors that turned slowly in a cradle driven by clockwork, though at the moment the device seemed to be out of alignment, casting light unevenly across the chamber.
Standing before the mechanism were Clyde, Emshael, and two other figures. One of the figures was short, almost a child, with golden hair and large cat like ears. The other, Colbert’s heart skipped a beat.
Colbert had seen many lands and met many people in his time as both a soldier and a scholar. He was no more a stranger to beautiful women then he was to beautiful cities. Even so, the woman standing beside Clyde and Emshael was very lovely. She was pale skinned with long dark hair that fell silkily bellow her waist. Standing tall with straight posture and poise befitting a noble woman, her hands clasped before her, face composed and serene. Bright green eyes, unusually shaped, regarded him thoughtfully. Her figure was garbed in strange, light green robes that were tied at her wasit. If not for the pointed ears, he could have mistaken her for some exotic creature from beyond Rub’al Khali.
The woman bowed her head graciously to Colbert. "I am Lady Sakuya of the Sylphs." She said, voice as clear as a bell.
"And I’m Alicia Rue, Leader of the Cait Syth." The girl beside her raised her hand, bouncing easily on the balls of her feet as if filled with pent up energy. Colbert felt some dismay that this cat like girl could be one of the Leaders that Kirito had been so insistent he meet.
"I am Professor Jean Colbert of the Tristain Academy of Magic, a young man named Kirito asked that I meet with you." Colbert said.
Lady Sakuya placed a hand to her forehead. "Going off without telling us first. I see that Kirito and Leafa have disobeyed me. Honestly, those two must have thought it would be better to beg forgiveness then ask for permission."
"Looks like that Spriggan is teaching your girl some bad habits." Alicia Rue snickered.
"It’s not funny at a time like this." Lady Sakuya sighed and looked back to Colbert. "Though if Kirito was willing to make himself a hostage, he probably thought it was important." The dark haired woman frowned. "The Tristain Academy of Magic? Alicia, have you ever heard of it?"
"Doesn’t sound like anything from ALfheim." The cat eared girl said. "Maybe another VRMMO?"
What did that mean? Colbert wondered, he was about to ask when Lady Sakuya replied. "There aren’t that many on the market are there?"
"Excu-" Colbert tried to speak.
"Eh, maybe American?" Alicia Rue suggested.
He decided to wait until the mystifying conversation came to a pause.
"Mmm, it does sound like the system auto translate." Lady Sakuya said doubtfully, she looked at Colbert with a troubled expression.
"Pardon me." Colbert said, "But I believe that I am quite lost. What are you ladies talking about?"
Alicia Rue blinked in surprise. Lady Sakuya’s expression darkened.
"You know. Another VRMMO, our latest theory is something’s got the game scrambled." Alicia said.
Game?
"Alicia." Sakuya said quiety.
"Yeah, Yui-chan mentioned that ALfheim uses the same engine as SAO, I think most of others do too. Maybe the servers got borked or cross connected, maybe a virus, that sort of thing? Could that do it?"
"Alicia." Sakuya repeated more loudly.
"Cause there’s definitely no place called Tristain in ALfheim." Alicia continued. "And I've definitely never seen an avatar that didn't belong to one of the Fairy Races."
Colbert was rather lost by the strange terms that came easily from the lips of his hosts. Lady Sakuya leaned down and whispered in Alicia Rue’s ear. The ears stood up as the girls eyes went wide. "But that doesn’t make any sense Sakuya-chan!"
"Even so, we should continue this conversation elsewhere." Lady Sakuya said. "Away from prying eyes. Professor, please follow me."
Ringing the atrium were hallways that ran around the perimeter of the tower. At the end of one of these hallways was an office with large windows that looked out over Arrun and the surrounding countryside. Carmond had placed an arm across the doorway, barring KoKo and the others from entering behind Colbert.
"We’ll keep watch out here ma’am." Carmond said.
"Thank you." Lady Sakuya nodded as she shut the door.
Colbert nearly jumped out of his skin as something small and fast shot past his face. At first he thought it was an insect, or perhaps a humming bird, but on closer inspection it looked like a flower, no, that was just what it was wearing. It had the form of a beautiful little girl, hovering in the air before Lady Sakuya and Alicia Rue. She was no bigger than a sparrow, pale and slip thin with long black hair. Tiny translucent wings sprouted from her back like those of the Faeries in miniature.
"Is Poppa back?" The girl asked, voice anxious.
Alicia Rue smiled and gently plucked the girl from the air. "I’m sorry Yui-chan but your Poppa is still working to sort this all out. He sent this nice man to talk to us so we can get done faster."
The tiny girl gave a troubled nod and cast Colbert a suspicious look before flitting over to stand on Lady Sakuya’s shoulder, using one of the woman’s bangs to keep her balance. "Who are you and what have you done with Poppa?" The girl asked seriously.
"I am Professor Jean Colbert, how do you do?" He said, confused. "And, your Poppa?"
"She means Kirito." Lady Sakuya explained. "Allow me to introduce you, this is Yui."
Colbert blinked very rapidly as he tried to understand. "You mean that she is that young man’s daughter?"
The girl nodded seriously. Colbert’s mind turned over this new tidbit of information and waited for Lady Sakuya to further elaborate.
"Something like that." Lady Sakuya said. "I wouldn’t think too hard about it." She advised as she settled down behind a large wooden desk and gestured for Colbert to take a seat. The girl on her shoulder sat down and hid herself partially behind one of Sakuya’s bangs. "We’ve more pressing matters to discuss." She added
Colbert nodded. "Of course, you’re quite right." He accepted a seat on one of the sofa's facing the desk.
"The strange happenings from earlier today." Lady Sakuya began. "As I understand, we all experienced an unusual and violent phenomenon."
"Yes. Something to that effect." Colbert agreed. "It was during..." Miss Zerbst's speculations from earlier that day bubbled up in the back of his mind but he pushed them down, no, that was just not possible. "... It was during class hours. The students were gathered for their lessons. The land began to glow until it was blinding, and there was trembling like an earthquake. It was accompanied by an unearthly noise that went on for the entire time, though I cannot fathom its origin. I would estimate it lasted perhaps one to five minutes."
"One to five minutes?" Alicia Rue asked. "That's not very specific."
"Time is subjective", Colbert observed, "I wouldn't trust my own opinion on the matter without a timepiece. The phenomena seemed to be violent but harmless enough, though I shudder to think what would have happened if the Academy wasn't so well reinforced. When it ended, the World Tree was visible from the Academy. The land had also changed. If I were to guess, I'd say it was some sort of spell but I know of no incantation that could affect such a wide area. And even if it could, no human could channel the willpower necessary. A hundred mages would kill themselves trying to summon something as large as the World Tree."
"I see." Sakuya said. "The phenomena was very different for us. Everyone I have spoken to has reported that they felt the world stop around them and then were suddenly assaulted by an overwhelming sense of pain. When we regained our senses, we were here. Wherever here is."
"Wait, who's to say we're the ones that were transported?" Alicia Rue asked. "It could be the other way around, or both, couldn't it?"
"Perhaps." Lady Sakuya agreed. "But I think, given what we've observed so far, that it is likelier that we were the ones who were transported. Professor Colbert, could you please tell us about your land, it may help us to understand what has happened."
Colbert agreed and aided by his years as a teacher began to recite a brief history of Halkegenia. The lecture was complicated by the face that neither of the Faeries had ever heard of Tristain or even of Halkegenia, forcing him to explain the Brimiric Kingdoms and their connection to the Founder, which then lead into an explanation of the Magic used by Halkegenian mages. As he finished, both Alicia Rue and Lady Sakuya were listening intently, neither looked happy about what had been said.
Sakuya seemed to compose herself for several moments, gathering her thoughts before she replied. "Professor Colbert, if I might ask, where do you hail from?"
"Ehh, isn’t that kind of personnel Sakuya-chan?" Alicia Rue asked.
"I’m a native of Tristain." Colbert said, curious to see where the question would lead. "I was Born in the Capital during the reign of King Leopold."
Sakuya did not seem pleased by his answer. "You don’t look like an NPC." She said thoughtfully, "No, Kirito is too discerning to have missed something like that. I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you aren’t a VRMMORPG player."
"Another of your strange terms." Colbert frowned. "I don't believe so, though I could be, not knowing what that is."
Alicia Rue listened curious. "You’re joking right? Sakuya-chan, I get that something weird is going on, but what are you trying to get at?"
"Think about it, Alicia-chan." Sakuya said. "The sudden jump in damage rendering and the pain response spike are both things that should be beyond the capabilities of the AMUsphere to achieve. But they are perfectly natural in real life."
In real life? Colbert wondered.
"Yeah, okay, but that theory is even more crazy!" Alicia pointed out.
"Sakuya-chan’s assessment is likely correct." The small girl sitting on the woman’s shoulder said. "At least, in the absence of additional information I have to conclude that the world we are experiencing now is our reality."
"But that’s not possible!" Alicia said, voice betraying a hint of panic. "I mean, that’s insane! The AMUsphere is a game machine not a teleporter, there’s not even a turntable to spin in reverse from the normal direction!"
Lady Sakuya nodded. "I would normally agree with you completely Alicia-chan. What I'm saying is impossible. But as Kirito-kun said, an impossibility cannot be disregarded when we have observed it."
Alicia Rue pulled on her ears. "Let’s say, just for arguments sake, that you’re right, what does that mean for us, what’s happening to our real bodies?"
"I can’t honestly say." Lady Sakuya replied.
"Real bodies?" Colbert asked, again the conversation had spiraled off into the indecipherable. The Scholar had come here for answers but he seemed to be face with only more questions.
Both women seemed to remember Colbert’s presence at the same moment. Sakuya nodded. "To be clear, for you, this world is your reality and no other exists, am I correct?" Colbert stiffened. It was the woman's eyes, they starred right into him, measuring him, clinically. No matter what he said, she would have her answer. And yet, Colbert didn't even understand the question. "My Lady", Colbert said, eschewing philosophy entirely, "I have known only one world all my life and it is the one I was born to, to live as the Founder intended."
"I see." Lady Sakuya said quietly. She glanced at the window. "In this world, magic is common?"
"This world." Alicia repeated slowly.
Lady Sakuya's lips twitched.
"In... This world?" Colbert asked."Are you trying to say that you are not of this world?" Colbert shook his head quickly, "Yes it is common, magic is used in every field and industry."
"What about illusion magic?" Lady Sakuya asked.
Colbert frowned, "Such things exist, but why would you ask?" "This place doesn't exist." Lady Sakuya said. "Or rather, it shouldn't exist. In our land, we use illusions for entertainment, to play out fantasy. The World Tree, this city, these bodies, were all part of that illusion."
"You seem real enough to me." Colbert observed carefully. He was suddenly preternaturally aware of the Sofa he was sitting on, the texture of the fabric, the way the cushions sank under his weight. A simple illusion shouldn't feel so real.
The woman smiled. "I suppose that is our problem."
Colbert listened as Lady Sakuya explained. Her story was fantastic, like something out of a children's tale. The Professor trembled to consider an enchantment powerful enough that it could touch the minds of thousands at once and draw them into a waking dream, but he couldn't deny the appeal. Fool hardy young men seeking glory, Commoners dreaming of wealth and status, women seeking romance, and Nobles thirsting for what even money and power could not buy them. If such a thing existed, then he was sure it would be used just as Lady Sakuya described.
"We realized that something was wrong after we woke up here. There are... spells... that are used to enter and leave the dream at will, but they no longer seem to have any power. Also, these bodies should be nothing but hollow shells, but from the injuries I've seen today, I'm certain that if you cut down, you would find muscle, bone, and entrails within them now. This leads me to my conclusion. Something has brought us here and made our fantasy into reality. If such a thing is even possible."
Colbert shook his head in disbelief. "That is... quite a story."
"I would not blame you if you didn't believe it." Sakuya said calmly.
"It is not that I cannot believe it." Colbert assured. "But how can I prove this. I am a scholar, a philosopher by nature, My Lady." Colbert explained, he shook his head once more. "Just, what are you?"
Lady Sakuya looked him in the eyes. "We're human beings."
Henrietta de Tristain, Princess of Tristain and heir to her father’s throne, accepted the canteen offered to her by one of her guards and placed its rim to her lips. The water was cold and tasted wonderful after exhausting the last of her willpower reserves. The first half hour had been trying as she had fought to staunch internal hemorrhaging and prevent necrosis or infection from setting in around the wounds. Though General Eugene had remained conscious, it was a wonder how he had managed to stand, much less fight. Muscles had been torn and ribs had been shattered. It was a small miracle that none of the vital organs had been damaged. The entire time, the Lancer Kagemune had sat at her side, alternately whispering prayers and words of thanks.
Captain Wardes had made himself busy seeing to Cardinal Mazarin and his men. Thankfully, as the Lancer had predicted, the effects of the pollen on her guards began to fade with time. Those that had been furthest from the plant had been the first to recover, being helped shakily to their feet by some of the red clad soldiers. The job of treating the General’s wounds had been handed off to one of her recovered guards, a water mage with training in field medicine. Cardinal Mazarin, who’s injuries were less pressing and had already been stabilized by Henrietta, needed only minor attention and had been laid down on a flat stretch of grass, pillows from her carriage were used to prop up the Cardinal’s head as he slept.
The respite gave Henrietta a chance to take a step back, to observe. Cardinal Mazarin had told her once that eyes and ears were a ruler’s greatest asset, do not turn a blind eye, and keep an ear to the ground.
At the moment, they had not yet moved from the sight of the battle. Her Guards and some of the red clad soldiers who had called themselves "Salamanders", had formed a perimeter around the small clearing. The looks that the Royal Guards gave the Salamanders were openly distrustful, though thanks to them, their lives had been saved. But the loyalty of the Guards was to Henrietta and at her insistence; they had grudgingly accepted an informal truce while General Eugene was treated.
"My Lady." Captain Wardes said as he approached.
"Captain." Henrietta said.
"The Cardinal’s condition is stable. I expect we’ll be able to move him soon."
"And your men?" Henrietta asked.
"The last of them have started to show signs of recovery, other than thirst, there appear to be no signs of any harm. My men are seeing to their mounts as we speak, the griffins seem to be recovering now, though my own mount will need time to heal before it can fly again. We’ve found Sir Canning’s body and the corpse of his Griffin."
Henrietta nodded and closed her eyes, so two men had died in her defense. "I see. Thank you Captain. Please alert me of any new developments."
Wardes turned to leave and then stopped, looking over his shoulder to his sovereign, he asked. "Are you sure we should be so trusting of these people?"
Henrietta looked to the Salamanders. There were now ten of them in the clearing, three of the Salamanders who had run when their general seemed slain, had eventually returned. So far, there had been no sign of the other three. Several of the red garbed soldiers had gathered close around General Eugene, watching as the water mage worked.
"They saved us, Captain." Henrietta said. "And the Royal Family of Tristain has always repaid its debts. Besides, they knew what that monster was and how to fight it. It might have something to do with what happened earlier."
Henrietta of course referred to the event earlier that day when the land itself had glowed and trembled and the air had been filled with that awful warbling banshee’s cry. The Princess, in the company of Cardinal Mazarin, had been paying a visit to one of the border garrisons when the phenomena had reached them, causing even the solid foundations of the garrison fortress to tremble. When the earth had stilled and the air grown quiet once more, Henrietta and her retinue had departed almost immediately for the Palace. They had made it no more than ten miles before falling prey to the vicious creature that had taken residents in the forest.
Wardes nodded his head in acknowledgment. "It is very likely, My Lady."
Henrietta stood slowly. "Perhaps it is time that we ask our questions." The princess made a straight line for the Lancer from earlier. Without his helmet, Kagemune cut a distinctive figure. His skin was slightly lighter than that of his General, and his hair a shade darker. Most striking for the gathered Mages were the pointed ears, Elf’s ears.
"Princess Henrietta." The man bowed deeply. "Thank you again, thank you for saving our General’s life."
"And thank you for saving the life of my Guards and myself, Mister Kagemune." Henrietta said. "I must know, during the battle, you displayed some experience with fighting that monster. Just what was it? Who are you, and where are your from?"
Kagemune cocked his head to the side. "You fight with water magic, but do not appear to be an Undine."
"And you have the visage of an Elf but have been quite courteous." Henrietta said.
Kagemune frowned and ran a hand across his chin. "The monster that ambushed you is called a Venus Man Eater, it’s a field boss in this area, or at least it was before this area suddenly changed."
"Changed?" Henrietta asked, and what did he mean by "field boss"?
Kagemune nodded. "Yes. We were preparing to farm this area before... well... I think it was a server crash..." The man trailed off. "When we came to we were in a nearby Undine Village and the lands beyond the Village had changed. We should be in the wetlands right now but... Forgive me Princess, I truly do not know what is happening."
"I’m afraid I cannot be of much help either." Henrietta said, "Your words only leave me with more questions. During the battle you said... you said that it was just supposed to be a game. Were you on a hunt?"
Kagemune seemed to be at a loss for words but shook his head. "N-no, that isn’t what I meant." He frowned. "I don’t know how to explain it to you Princess. Forgive me for asking, but, this is real, isn’t it?"
"Pardon?" Henrietta asked.
Kagemune shook his head. "It must be real, or what happened to Garsk..." He placed a hand over his eyes and was quiet for a time. "A hunt." He said quietly, "I suppose you could call it a hunt. A sport if you will. It was never supposed to be dangerous."
Henrietta glanced to the corpse of the Man Eater, such a creature was not supposed to be dangerous?
"While we were traveling, the whole world froze around us and there was this burning pain", Kagemune said, "And then we were here. We awoke in a small village some distance away. The townspeople were frightened, something was wrong, but we weren’t sure what. General Eugene ordered half of our men to stay in the town while the rest accompanied him. We left the town to investigate and saw that the land had changed." Kagemune's face darkened.
"We thought it would be safe enough. Because of that, we didn’t take the situation seriously at all. One of the monsters killed a friend of mine, it caved his chest in." Kagemune clenched his fists. "Some of us wanted to run. The General wouldn’t let us give in though. He threatened to kill anyone who broke and ran. That’s probably what saved us. Forgive me Princess, I am not a soldier or warrior, this was just supposed to be a game."
Understanding dawned and suddenly the peculiarities of the Salamanders made much more sense, the reason these men had seemed so undisciplined in battle was because they were not soldiers, they were huntsmen. It was a popular pastime amongst nobles and safe enough when careful and on familiar ground.
It sounded as if, whatever had transpired earlier had transported them and perhaps parts of their land, though Henrietta knew of no spell save a familiar summoning that could do such a thing. In an unfamiliar land, they had chanced upon Henrietta and her guards, and seeing them in danger, had done their best to help. If their armor and weapons were used for sport, it was no surprise that only the General had not been terrified in the face of a life or death battle.
Henrietta smiled kindly, "I don’t believe I fully understand, but even so, thank you, you displayed great bravery Mister Kagemune."
The man shifted awkwardly and his skin darkened a shade. "T-thank you, Princess."
"You mentioned a village?" Wardes asked. "More of you Elves?"
Kagemune shook his head. "We’re Salamander, and no, it’s a place called Lila Village, the inhabitants are mostly Undines, water Faeries."
"Faeries?" Henrietta asked.
Kagemune nodded. "We Salamanders are on moderately good terms with them."
"My Lady?" Captain Wardes said with disbelief.
"Mister Kagemune, it sounds to me as if you were transported here from someplace very far away, perhaps you could tell us about the land you are from. As I said, you very much resemble an Elf, but I would never imagine a member of that race would intervene to save my life. And the only Salamanders I know are lizards from the Fire Dragon Mountains."
"I will try Princess." The man said.
Kagemune’s story took some time to tell. Henrietta was forced to stop him and ask him to explain strange terms time and again. Eventually he managed to describe his homeland in terms that she could understand. He spoke of a land in his country where people went to play elaborate make believe. Powerful illusions were used to make fantasy seem like reality, but because it was all make believe, there was no danger.
In this land, people would take roles as heroes, villains, and rogue adventurers, dividing themselves into factions to play out games of power and politics. He talked of this place with a sort of warm nostalgia, describing with pride how he skillfully acted out the part of a Lancer in the army of the Salamanders. Henrietta recalled his actions during the battle, it had taken courage to face that monster for even a moment, she wondered, perhaps rightfully, if some of the skill and courage of a soldier hadn’t crept into him while he played his role.
It would have seemed too fantastic to believe but there were many childish games that were tolerated in adults because they were indulged on a much grander scale, nobles commanding imaginary armies against one another in tournaments, or playing parts in elaborate masquerade balls.Henrietta could not imagine the power and wealth of such a kingdom that they could afford to set aside vast estates just to play pretend, perhaps beyond Rub’al Kali, that fabulous and exotic land on the other side of the Elven territories. When Kagemune finished with his tale, Henrietta was left only to wonder if it was a lie. Could a poor liar be so earnest? And would a good liar tell such a bold lie? She would believe him, for now, and repay good faith with good faith.
By that time, the water mage was finishing with his work on General Eugene. The huge man was currently unconscious, put under while the water mage treated his injuries. With the help of his subordinates, the outer and inner layers of his upper body armor had been removed to treat his wounds. The skin still looked impossibly tender where the roots had struck him through. As the water mage bandaged the General’s sides, he warned that the General would require further treatment from a properly trained physician and should not be allowed to stand on his own until his body had had time to finish the job that the water magic had started. But true to Henrietta’s word, the General’s life had been saved.
After some negotiations, the Salamanders agreed to accompany Henrietta and her Guards back to the fortress where General Eugene could receive further treatment and the situation could be explained at Length. Stretchers were made from the remains of the carriage to transport the Cardinal and General. The body of the fallen Knight, Sir Canning, was wrapped in cloth and carried on the back of one of the Griffins while his own mounts remains was cremated with fire magic, a fitting and noble end for a loyal mount.
The Unicorns that had fled from the battle had not been found, but the one that had been tangled in its harness had turned out to be miraculously uninjured, and after calming the creature, it had been presented to Henrietta for want of her carriage. The unicorn had bowed its head to her as she neared. It was said that Unicorns were amongst the wisest of animals, and the sacred beast seemed to understand that Henrietta was in part responsible for saving its life. She ran a hand gently across the Unicorn’s head and cooed gently to it. The creature sniffed at her curiously and then kneeled down, an invitation for the Princess to take her place on its back.
Their procession made haste from the forest, the Griffins keeping pace with Henrietta’s own mount, their riders unwilling to take to the skies until they were certain the effects of the pollen had worn off. Several of the Salamanders flew ahead to scout while the remainder helped to carry their wounded General. Between the power and skill of her own guards and the knowledge the Salamanders possessed about any other dangerous monsters, the Princess was confident that they would make it safely back to the fortress. Even so, she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw the trees begin to thin and the fields open before them.
"My Lady, look!" Wardes pointed from atop his own wounded Griffin. Henrietta’s heart quickened and for a moment she feared that they had spotted another monster like the Man Eater. But Warde’s was pointing into the sky. In the distance the sky was filled with tiny black specs that grew into a shape reminiscent of birds, and then of men.
Henrietta gasped as the figures finally resolved themselves. Translucent wings and red armor. More Salamanders, and not just a small hunting party, there were over a hundred of them. They were a company on the march. The Salamanders flew in small formations of five or six which were then formed into four larger formations composed of six to eight of the smaller groups. Two of the formations were kitted in heavy armor and wielded lances and heavy shields, the third wore deep red robes and carried staffs, ranged mages, the last group wielded strange looking crossbows.
The formations were centered around a smaller group of ten Salamanders in deep red armor, all surrounding a loan figure garbed in robes of dark red and black.
"You!" Wardes shouted to Kagemune and clutched at his wand sword. "What is this?"
"I-I don’t know!" Kagemune shouted. "That squadron is the Reserve Forces. But that would mean..." The man’s eyes widened. "No, it could be, he’s supposed to be in Gadan!"
Henrietta’s Guards readied themselves, the two able Griffin Knights preparing to take to the air while the rest spread out from the road and readied themselves to cast. From the center of the formation, the small group descended towards the roadway.
"Stand down!" Henrietta shouted to her Guards.
Before any could protest, she spurred her Unicorn mount into a trot, preceding alone towards the landing Salamanders. She felt and heard Captain Wardes and Kagemune falling in at her side. The gathered Salamander formations hovered above them. Watching stoically as they neared the small group that had settled to the ground.
Henrietta noted their uniformly fearsome armor and the impressive looking swords carried on their backs. None of the grounded figures had drawn their weapons, the Princess felt certain that if they did so, it would only be to cause ruin. She remembered Kagemune’s words, that it was an illusion, that it was make believe. But she also remembered the man’s courage in battle, and the fearsomeness of General Eugene, if it was make believe, it was terrifying make believe.
The armored soldiers stepped calmly onto the road, barring their way. Henrietta brought her mount to a stop and looked to the dark robed figure at their center. "I am Princess Henrietta De Tristain, Princess of Tristain, in the name of my Kingdom and the Founder, name yourself!"
The figure gestured to armored soldiers who stepped aside. Henrietta, Wardes, and Kagemune preceded slowly.
"May I go ahead?" Kagemune asked. "I think it is best if I speak to him first."
Henrietta bit her lip but nodded. "Please do Mister Kagemune."
The Salamander flitted forward, the figure watched him approach and land at his side. The two conversed as Henrietta and Wardes drew near though the Princess heard none of what they said. Finally, Kagemune stepped back and waved for Henrietta to approach. The princess dismounted, and standing strait, approached the robed figure. This close it could be seen that figure was masculine, of medium height and build, his face was obscured by a fearsome helm like that warn by the Lancers, a cane was clutched in the left hand while the right was held at his side.
Henrietta stopped four mails from the man and starred him in the eye. "May I please have your name?"
The man reached up and removed his helm. Fiery red hair spilled down to his shoulders, the face beneath the helm was pale as if from long days spent indoors, it was a young face, handsome even, cold red eyes regarded Henrietta. "I greet you Princess Henrietta De Tristain. I am Lord Mortimer of the Salamanders."
The man bowed deeply. "Thank you for saving my brother."
The small fort located near the Gallian border was known as Fort De Arlon. The garrison was composed of some two hundred men, twenty mage officers and one hundred and eighty commoner foot soldiers and cavalry. It was normally a sleepy post even in these troubled times, meant more to keep an eye on the border and highway than to beat back an incursion.
The events of the morning had put the Fort on high alert. First with the surprise visit of Princess Henrietta and Cardinal Mazarin, and then with the strange occurrence that had lead to their sudden departure. Reports coming in from scouts and mounted messengers had only further ratcheted up the tension within the fort.
Corporal Bos scanned the horizon while clutching a crossbow tight to his chest. At his side the old Sergeant of the Fort, Sergeant Barents, sat reading a ratty, dog eared book. Bos had been slightly surprised to learn that the otherwise course Sergeant was literate.
"Well course I am!" The man had shouted. "Whos else in this place is gonn read the men their letters from home and write’m back. The officers?!"
"Ey, Sergeant?" Corporal Bos said.
"Wha-izit Corporal." The man growled, turning the page of his book.
"Yah think happened out there?" The Corporal asked.
The old Sergeant sighed heavily. "Looks ter be magic ter me." He decided. "Best to leave it ter the Nobles to deal
with. You and me just hold down the Fort an keep eir heads down when they start throwing thunder and lightning, aye?"
"Aye Sergeant!" Bos said quickly.
"Ere boy, have some water, we’ve ben up ere all day." The sergeant handed Bos his canteen.
"Thank you Sergeant. Eir, what you be reading Sergeant?"
"Oy, this?" My sister sent it. "Da, always wanted to be raising scholars. Hoped I’d become a scribe or secretary buh I never had the manner for eir. My sister married a printer, she loves books and he loves her and making’m. Sends me interesting one from time ter time. This one here’s by some Romalian, called Niccolò di Bernardo, s’called The King, s’lousy bout all the things ya gotta know t’be a good ruler."
Bos struggled not to snicker. "Why you be reading something like that Sergeant. Plan on marrying the princess and becoming King?"
"Eh, shut your trap boy." The sergeant thumbed another page. "I’s just figurine, if the Nobles run things, might as well find out where they be getting their ideas. Get in their head ya’see." The Sergeant tapped his own temple seriously.
"Well, tell me if it says why I always get ordered on latrine duty." The Corporal took a swig from the canteen and then almost immediately choked as the sound of distant warning bells reached his ears and he caught sight of the silhouettes in the distance.
Cough, cough, ack! Sergeant, Sergeant!" Corporal Bos waved his hand madly at the sky. "Wha-izzit boy?" The book fell from the Sergeant’s hands. In the distance a swarm of black dots had appeared. They were too far away to be birds which meant they were big, big meant mounts, and lots of them. Which could only mean.
"Attack! Attack!" Sergeant Barent roared. "Mounts South, I say, mounts to the South!" Bells began to ring throughout the fort. Men scrambled to grab their weapons. Gun crews ran to their stations along the walls, readying ball and powder. The Fortress Commander, a burly giant of a man, a member of the Grammond Family, stormed up the stairs to the watch post followed by his aid and second in command.
"What’s happening Sergeant!" Captain Grammond demanded.
"Aye, see for yourself Sir." The Sergeant nodded to the distance. The Captain squinted into the distance, frowning. "Are you sure, there’s something out there?" The man asked.
"Aye sir, perhaps with your eyeglasses sir?" The man suggested.
"Bah! Rubbish things!" The Captain waved his hand.
Captain Grammond drew a wand from his pocket. Corporal Bos instinctively cringed and Sergeant Barent, with surprising forethought, stepped behind the Captain. Captain Grammond was a superb triangle mage of air, but had the duel shortcoming of being blind as a bat and thinking that he had perfectly adequate vision. Fortunately the spell the Captain cast was a good deal less destructive than the ones he showed off in battle or during training. The air before him swirled and compressed, distorting until it seemed as if the lens of some gigantic spyglass had appeared before him.
Sergeant Barent watched, arms crossed, while Corporal Bos peaked over the Captain’s shoulder. "Eh, strange things. Are they using levitation spells, or are those wings?" A group of what could only be mages were approaching by air.
"Oy, Captain, what be that?" Sergeant Barent pointed his chin to something moving along the roadway.
The Captain adjusted the focus of the air lens with his wand. "My word, is that the Princess?"
"Sir?" The Captain’s aid asked.
"Aye, it must be the Princess!" Sergeant Barent agreed.
"And how’d you know that Sergeant?" Bos asked.
"That be a Unicorn she’s riding boy. How many invading armies you know that bring along a Pure Maiden?"
"Watch that tongue Sergeant or I shall have it cut out!" Captain Grammond warned. It was an idle threat, Barent said something treasonous at least once a day. "It does appear to be the Princess", Grammond decided, "Tell the men to hold their fire."
The Unicorn road to the fortress gate in the company of a trio of Griffins, Captain Grammond and his aid were waiting for them when they arrived.
"P-Princess?" The Captain asked.
The girl atop the unicorn was indeed Princess Henrietta, but far from her refined appearance that morning, her hair was in disarray, her dress was torn and muddy, and a bandage was tied about her arm. She looked to have gone running across a battlefield.
"Good day again, Captain Grammond." The Princess smiled warmly, "We met an army of Fairies and their Lord on the way back to the Palace, and need a place to entertain them, could we trouble you for the use of your fort?"
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