44.2 End of Book Two
From the top of Castle Zenovi's tallest tower we stared out towards Regulus, past the valleys that cut across the mountain range that sliced this continent between East and West. The wind was strong and cold, but neither of us were beings that could feel the chill anymore.
Three days. I sighed. "Three stupid days."
/"Three days? We can only hope General Bazoar shows himself in three days. My ability to help in tracking him down is limited. I can't bring up a minimap anymore. I can't even ask [The World] for a helpful quest marker. We are basically hoping for luck on luck that he is stupid enough to charge straight for the Regulan Capital instead of going to ground after being humiliated."/
"No, I mean, we only had three days together. This sucks. Since Leene already gave us the information, we can't charge it back. Three days so much closer to our goal and then this happens. I am super pissed off."
/"Player, there's no need to leave our allies hanging. Wars means lots of people will suffer. I can endure this."/
"Yeah, no. You have a whole 'sacrifice my entire well being for other people's happiness' thing and I don't want to enable that *at all*."
/"I'm not comfortable with that."/
"You also have an equal right to find happiness, and it's unfair for other people to rob that chance from you. It's not ok for you to live through PTSD just for other people's fucking convenience."
/"Unfortunately, you wear the face of a man who acts too selfishly and running away from problems you have caused is a bad look, and you swore to be better than him. I won't let you get away with that either. You reclaim this name to mean all the good it could have been, instead of someone that betrays every single one that ever believed in him. We can't abandon our friends. *We* have to be better."/
"Tch. Better three times finer, than three times faster."
/"Yes. I hope. I hope that if we work hard enough… we can get more kindness than what we deserve at the end."/
I smiled wanly and reached out, my hands stopping just short of Monika's shoulders and disturbing her illusion. She closed her eyes and leaned into me, but again just before the point of contact.
That little centimeter gap was all the distance in the world. She just had three days to feel like a real girl again and then this injustice.
This is intolerable.
-.
-.
But we couldn't just leave with just that.
As the crow flies, from Castle Zenovi to the Belfast Border Wall was five minutes.
On horseback, that takes up to two hours. Even if Tristwin was comfortable to go around without escort, it could not be risked. The plains right below the castle had seen so much bloodshed, ever since the time this whole place was not owned by human hands.
After all, remember the name of the country. Belfast. B'el-fasti. Be elf-owned. Or elf-haught.
The elves ceded this territory to relocate in their entirety to the cold highlands north of Regulus, creating a new country Elfrau - elf-rough, over a thousand years ago.
Yep, elf was apparently a verb.
A thousand years ago, Belfast was not Regulus territory either. It was the land of barbarians, and even when Regulus recruited from the Beastkin Legions, Belfast was a hard nut to crack. Magic learned from the elves allowed them to withstand massed manpower and Regulus' own mage auxiliaries.
As we passed farmland and people glancing nervously at our group, and noted how many of them had animal-like ears, it was a fine time for me to remember that the elves were not by default good people. Like everybody else in that time period, slavery was normalized and they had a strict magocracy with them at the top.
We faced the ruined walls of the Zeno Gap. The ones on the Regulus side were still intact. Probably seizing those would constitute an act of war despite what happened.
I turned around and asked "And because we aren't on a war footing I suppose we do still need these gates so civilians and troops can pass through?"
"Hmm. As much as possible I would like this war to be fought on Regulan ground," replied King Tristwin. "As long as we don't claim any new territory afterwards that should be just fine."
Amazing what three days can bring you. A couple of days before, we were preparing for a defensive war, and now we were considering if it was best to raise a coalition to invade Regulus before Bazoar burns enough of the country to fuel his demon army.
I clenched my fists and brought them down to my hips. I crouched to a Horse Stance, then stamped my feet. Right. Left. Anchor one's weight to the earth, become unmoving as the mountain. As mysterious as the forests.
"Rise, [Earth], create for me an invincible bulwark! [Earth Wall!]"
The ground trembled.
Rumbled.
And grew!
A wall of rough stone began to rise out of the ground right in front of the ruined stone wall. With a grinding noise reverberating like thunder, a perfectly flat plane scraped against the front of the existing wall. Everyone weaved unsteadily on their feet as the earthquake intensified. Royal Guards had to grab their horses' necks and tried to keep them from bolting in fear. The wall rose higher and higher until it was twice as tall as the previous wall and twice as thick.
With one final creak and a puff of fine dust, the wall settled into place.
I exhaled strongly. Whuff. I still cast from stamina, so even if I may not run out of magic power, that still sent my blood pumping and my heartbeat pounding inside my ears.
I opened my palm and pushed out. A hole sunk down right in front of the existing gates, forming an arched tunnel.
"In-inconceivable…!" Zorah gasped.
I breathed in and out and slowly unclenched my fists. It was hard to find humility when you could do things like this, but being too arrogant and secure in our power managed to hurt us already.
I turned around and faced the king again. "That should do for now. I'll leave it to you guys to carve out how to get to the top, but this should be fine for defense while I'm away."
"Wait, wait - that is not how it works. That is not how [Earth] magic works at all!" Zorah shouted while waving her arms. "Earth constructs, like Water constructs, are not permanent! When you leave they will reduce back into the very ground they are made of after enough time has passed! You cannot violate magic by creating permanent structures - Shape and Form need to be maintained!"
"Not if you fold bedrock straight up. Rock is supporting rock," I replied. "This shite will last, don't worry about it."
The king did not boggle, it was beneath his dignity, and he had already long prepared his heart for my bullshit. "Fascinating. This will surely help our defensive works."
I shrugged. "Frankly, I'm not sure why this gap was ever really that relevant as long as the river's right over there. Though I supposed barges can sink, and as long as aquatic beastkin are allied with you, no one's going to dare move large amounts of troops over water."
"Indeed. When Mismede joined Belfast, that ended the Empire's ability to push troops quickly through the Gap and their defeat was a matter of wearing down their willpower." Tristwin stared up at the colossal monolithic edifice. "Zah, this much power… won't you reconsider? As a king, it is necessary for me to find assurances that you will never become an enemy to my nation."
"I already have your daughter as a virtual hostage for each other's goodwill, what more do you want?"
King Tristwin smirked in a smug lion-like manner.
I scowled back. "That's Yumina's problem, not yours, so shut it."
He laughed at the blatant disrespect.
Then he gestured to the side and said "You should bring Yumina with you."
I blinked. "I… am already doing that?"
"No, I mean in your mission to Gallaria, the Heart of the Empire. As much as you might want to move swiftly and push through any resistance, it may be best to have this as an official political matter. From one monarch to another monarch, a warning out of mutual concern."
I frowned. That did make sense. Instead of just trying to ninja my way across a strange new palace, we have a fall back excuse if we are caught.
But that added complications.
"I'm going to have to wear Yumina like a backpack."
Yumina, all this time standing beside me, opined "... what?"
-.
-.
Fwoosh.
Tristwin went back to Berge in Mismede to finish the details of the alliance.
Fwoosh.
The girls went back to the capital Alephis to prepare for a long inter-continental journey. Elze and Linze reluctantly accepted they didn't have much to contribute in this new lightning mission that needed to happen. Leene had more to protests since, as she emphasized, she could *fly* and this whole invasion of the capital could surely use her expertise.
The problem was that she was also a *fairy*, and she would trigger all sorts of alarms. Who knew that centuries of drubbing Regular legions would have its consequences?
Yumina and Yae as well, because it didn't really matter if we started the mission here or in Alephis. Distance was irrelevant. Monika's [Boom Tube] was now super inaccurate without something to home in on.
"Adventurer Zah - before you leave - I would have a word," said Zorah as she stepped up.
"Shoot."
She stared at the shimmering pool of the Ring Gate for a few moments, and then turned to speak "You… were not lying at all about anything you have said to me, were you? From knowing royalty, to your missions in diplomacy… truly, you were working on a higher level than myself."
I shrugged. "Why even lie when the truth would hurt that much more?"
"Hmf. It was a trap that I foolishly and happily fell into on my own volition. I will not object to that." Zorah then slammed her palm together, laced her fingers together in a strong double-handed fist, and then bowed deeply. "I, Zorah Zoreah Zenovivi, do apologize for the insults I have laid upon you. I have judged you by your… appearances… and that was unseemly of me.
"Why a noble would lower himself to being mere adventure scum, I do not understand - but if even Her Highness Crown Princess Yumina does so, with full approval of His Majesty, then clearly there is a sensible reason for it. I, Zorah, without hesitation, beg for your forgiveness."
"I do not forgive you."
Zorah looked up. Her makeup cracked around her eyes. But her expression was still. "That is your prerogative and I accept it. This too is not new to me."
"I don't know if it has escaped your attention, but I despise you. Everything about you is annoying to me. I deeply relish insulting you for things you cannot help. Even you were Zanac's relative, who is my friend despite your unwillingness to entertain that another man can appreciate his works without an ulterior motive, I would never have a friend such as you."
"It has not." She took in a deep breath, held it, and then exhaled. There was no sadness or outrage in her, for a change. This was a fact of her life.
I grinned. "Now a rival on the other hand - well now that's a different matter entirely."
Zorah blinked.
"You are frustrating and headstrong and lacking womanly virtues. Certainly I can't impugn you for not following social niceties I also don't give a hoot about. But I find… that I rather enjoy hating you. I missed having someone that I can creatively insult and then retort in like measure. Only best friends can be such total assholes to each other and yet not mean anything… but as much as I like Elze, she resorts to violence far too early.
"Life, without competition, is boring and festering in mediocrity. Someone to push you harder and harder, to never be content in your achievements… I think, sometimes, a rival is more important to have in your life than having many friends."
"Wa… what are you trying to say to me?"
"I have no interest in getting to know you any closer than this, Zorah. The opposite of love isn't hate - it is indifference. Find some way to challenge me in my fields, Zorah - or else I will just find someone else."
She snarled and pointed with her arm and body at a straight right angle. "You completely loathsome pug! I am not some doll to dance at your behest, I refuse to struggle just for your amusement!"
"I guess if that's an admission that you can't perform on my level, then I guess I will have to eat the disappointment. So sad. Oh well. Maybe someone in Regulus will step up to the plate once I expand my franchise there."
"Disappointment- never! YOU WILL REGRET THIIISSS!!!" Zorah screamed before hiking up her dress and then turning around to run away.
Heh.
/"Player, what in the world are you trying to accomplish with this? Zorah *is* super annoying - no matter what happens now, I will have zero sympathy for your giving her license to intrude into your life at random."/
"I mean it. Without competition, my Chickenjoy can only stagnate and grow stale. I'm not lying when I say I enjoy seeing her *fail*."
Monika groaned /"I keep forgetting how you're *completely serious* about making your fast food franchise your legacy."/
-.
-.
And that was the real, true, totally did happen story of how the Western Alliance was formed.
Fwhoosh.
-.
-.
End Book Two
-.
-.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN:
Not satisfied with this. Book One ended on a strong note, this one with a whimper. Might still edit it.
Three days. I sighed. "Three stupid days."
/"Three days? We can only hope General Bazoar shows himself in three days. My ability to help in tracking him down is limited. I can't bring up a minimap anymore. I can't even ask [The World] for a helpful quest marker. We are basically hoping for luck on luck that he is stupid enough to charge straight for the Regulan Capital instead of going to ground after being humiliated."/
"No, I mean, we only had three days together. This sucks. Since Leene already gave us the information, we can't charge it back. Three days so much closer to our goal and then this happens. I am super pissed off."
/"Player, there's no need to leave our allies hanging. Wars means lots of people will suffer. I can endure this."/
"Yeah, no. You have a whole 'sacrifice my entire well being for other people's happiness' thing and I don't want to enable that *at all*."
/"I'm not comfortable with that."/
"You also have an equal right to find happiness, and it's unfair for other people to rob that chance from you. It's not ok for you to live through PTSD just for other people's fucking convenience."
/"Unfortunately, you wear the face of a man who acts too selfishly and running away from problems you have caused is a bad look, and you swore to be better than him. I won't let you get away with that either. You reclaim this name to mean all the good it could have been, instead of someone that betrays every single one that ever believed in him. We can't abandon our friends. *We* have to be better."/
"Tch. Better three times finer, than three times faster."
/"Yes. I hope. I hope that if we work hard enough… we can get more kindness than what we deserve at the end."/
I smiled wanly and reached out, my hands stopping just short of Monika's shoulders and disturbing her illusion. She closed her eyes and leaned into me, but again just before the point of contact.
That little centimeter gap was all the distance in the world. She just had three days to feel like a real girl again and then this injustice.
This is intolerable.
-.
-.
But we couldn't just leave with just that.
As the crow flies, from Castle Zenovi to the Belfast Border Wall was five minutes.
On horseback, that takes up to two hours. Even if Tristwin was comfortable to go around without escort, it could not be risked. The plains right below the castle had seen so much bloodshed, ever since the time this whole place was not owned by human hands.
After all, remember the name of the country. Belfast. B'el-fasti. Be elf-owned. Or elf-haught.
The elves ceded this territory to relocate in their entirety to the cold highlands north of Regulus, creating a new country Elfrau - elf-rough, over a thousand years ago.
Yep, elf was apparently a verb.
A thousand years ago, Belfast was not Regulus territory either. It was the land of barbarians, and even when Regulus recruited from the Beastkin Legions, Belfast was a hard nut to crack. Magic learned from the elves allowed them to withstand massed manpower and Regulus' own mage auxiliaries.
As we passed farmland and people glancing nervously at our group, and noted how many of them had animal-like ears, it was a fine time for me to remember that the elves were not by default good people. Like everybody else in that time period, slavery was normalized and they had a strict magocracy with them at the top.
We faced the ruined walls of the Zeno Gap. The ones on the Regulus side were still intact. Probably seizing those would constitute an act of war despite what happened.
I turned around and asked "And because we aren't on a war footing I suppose we do still need these gates so civilians and troops can pass through?"
"Hmm. As much as possible I would like this war to be fought on Regulan ground," replied King Tristwin. "As long as we don't claim any new territory afterwards that should be just fine."
Amazing what three days can bring you. A couple of days before, we were preparing for a defensive war, and now we were considering if it was best to raise a coalition to invade Regulus before Bazoar burns enough of the country to fuel his demon army.
I clenched my fists and brought them down to my hips. I crouched to a Horse Stance, then stamped my feet. Right. Left. Anchor one's weight to the earth, become unmoving as the mountain. As mysterious as the forests.
"Rise, [Earth], create for me an invincible bulwark! [Earth Wall!]"
The ground trembled.
Rumbled.
And grew!
A wall of rough stone began to rise out of the ground right in front of the ruined stone wall. With a grinding noise reverberating like thunder, a perfectly flat plane scraped against the front of the existing wall. Everyone weaved unsteadily on their feet as the earthquake intensified. Royal Guards had to grab their horses' necks and tried to keep them from bolting in fear. The wall rose higher and higher until it was twice as tall as the previous wall and twice as thick.
With one final creak and a puff of fine dust, the wall settled into place.
I exhaled strongly. Whuff. I still cast from stamina, so even if I may not run out of magic power, that still sent my blood pumping and my heartbeat pounding inside my ears.
I opened my palm and pushed out. A hole sunk down right in front of the existing gates, forming an arched tunnel.
"In-inconceivable…!" Zorah gasped.
I breathed in and out and slowly unclenched my fists. It was hard to find humility when you could do things like this, but being too arrogant and secure in our power managed to hurt us already.
I turned around and faced the king again. "That should do for now. I'll leave it to you guys to carve out how to get to the top, but this should be fine for defense while I'm away."
"Wait, wait - that is not how it works. That is not how [Earth] magic works at all!" Zorah shouted while waving her arms. "Earth constructs, like Water constructs, are not permanent! When you leave they will reduce back into the very ground they are made of after enough time has passed! You cannot violate magic by creating permanent structures - Shape and Form need to be maintained!"
"Not if you fold bedrock straight up. Rock is supporting rock," I replied. "This shite will last, don't worry about it."
The king did not boggle, it was beneath his dignity, and he had already long prepared his heart for my bullshit. "Fascinating. This will surely help our defensive works."
I shrugged. "Frankly, I'm not sure why this gap was ever really that relevant as long as the river's right over there. Though I supposed barges can sink, and as long as aquatic beastkin are allied with you, no one's going to dare move large amounts of troops over water."
"Indeed. When Mismede joined Belfast, that ended the Empire's ability to push troops quickly through the Gap and their defeat was a matter of wearing down their willpower." Tristwin stared up at the colossal monolithic edifice. "Zah, this much power… won't you reconsider? As a king, it is necessary for me to find assurances that you will never become an enemy to my nation."
"I already have your daughter as a virtual hostage for each other's goodwill, what more do you want?"
King Tristwin smirked in a smug lion-like manner.
I scowled back. "That's Yumina's problem, not yours, so shut it."
He laughed at the blatant disrespect.
Then he gestured to the side and said "You should bring Yumina with you."
I blinked. "I… am already doing that?"
"No, I mean in your mission to Gallaria, the Heart of the Empire. As much as you might want to move swiftly and push through any resistance, it may be best to have this as an official political matter. From one monarch to another monarch, a warning out of mutual concern."
I frowned. That did make sense. Instead of just trying to ninja my way across a strange new palace, we have a fall back excuse if we are caught.
But that added complications.
"I'm going to have to wear Yumina like a backpack."
Yumina, all this time standing beside me, opined "... what?"
-.
-.
Fwoosh.
Tristwin went back to Berge in Mismede to finish the details of the alliance.
Fwoosh.
The girls went back to the capital Alephis to prepare for a long inter-continental journey. Elze and Linze reluctantly accepted they didn't have much to contribute in this new lightning mission that needed to happen. Leene had more to protests since, as she emphasized, she could *fly* and this whole invasion of the capital could surely use her expertise.
The problem was that she was also a *fairy*, and she would trigger all sorts of alarms. Who knew that centuries of drubbing Regular legions would have its consequences?
Yumina and Yae as well, because it didn't really matter if we started the mission here or in Alephis. Distance was irrelevant. Monika's [Boom Tube] was now super inaccurate without something to home in on.
"Adventurer Zah - before you leave - I would have a word," said Zorah as she stepped up.
"Shoot."
She stared at the shimmering pool of the Ring Gate for a few moments, and then turned to speak "You… were not lying at all about anything you have said to me, were you? From knowing royalty, to your missions in diplomacy… truly, you were working on a higher level than myself."
I shrugged. "Why even lie when the truth would hurt that much more?"
"Hmf. It was a trap that I foolishly and happily fell into on my own volition. I will not object to that." Zorah then slammed her palm together, laced her fingers together in a strong double-handed fist, and then bowed deeply. "I, Zorah Zoreah Zenovivi, do apologize for the insults I have laid upon you. I have judged you by your… appearances… and that was unseemly of me.
"Why a noble would lower himself to being mere adventure scum, I do not understand - but if even Her Highness Crown Princess Yumina does so, with full approval of His Majesty, then clearly there is a sensible reason for it. I, Zorah, without hesitation, beg for your forgiveness."
"I do not forgive you."
Zorah looked up. Her makeup cracked around her eyes. But her expression was still. "That is your prerogative and I accept it. This too is not new to me."
"I don't know if it has escaped your attention, but I despise you. Everything about you is annoying to me. I deeply relish insulting you for things you cannot help. Even you were Zanac's relative, who is my friend despite your unwillingness to entertain that another man can appreciate his works without an ulterior motive, I would never have a friend such as you."
"It has not." She took in a deep breath, held it, and then exhaled. There was no sadness or outrage in her, for a change. This was a fact of her life.
I grinned. "Now a rival on the other hand - well now that's a different matter entirely."
Zorah blinked.
"You are frustrating and headstrong and lacking womanly virtues. Certainly I can't impugn you for not following social niceties I also don't give a hoot about. But I find… that I rather enjoy hating you. I missed having someone that I can creatively insult and then retort in like measure. Only best friends can be such total assholes to each other and yet not mean anything… but as much as I like Elze, she resorts to violence far too early.
"Life, without competition, is boring and festering in mediocrity. Someone to push you harder and harder, to never be content in your achievements… I think, sometimes, a rival is more important to have in your life than having many friends."
"Wa… what are you trying to say to me?"
"I have no interest in getting to know you any closer than this, Zorah. The opposite of love isn't hate - it is indifference. Find some way to challenge me in my fields, Zorah - or else I will just find someone else."
She snarled and pointed with her arm and body at a straight right angle. "You completely loathsome pug! I am not some doll to dance at your behest, I refuse to struggle just for your amusement!"
"I guess if that's an admission that you can't perform on my level, then I guess I will have to eat the disappointment. So sad. Oh well. Maybe someone in Regulus will step up to the plate once I expand my franchise there."
"Disappointment- never! YOU WILL REGRET THIIISSS!!!" Zorah screamed before hiking up her dress and then turning around to run away.
Heh.
/"Player, what in the world are you trying to accomplish with this? Zorah *is* super annoying - no matter what happens now, I will have zero sympathy for your giving her license to intrude into your life at random."/
"I mean it. Without competition, my Chickenjoy can only stagnate and grow stale. I'm not lying when I say I enjoy seeing her *fail*."
Monika groaned /"I keep forgetting how you're *completely serious* about making your fast food franchise your legacy."/
-.
-.
And that was the real, true, totally did happen story of how the Western Alliance was formed.
Fwhoosh.
-.
-.
End Book Two
-.
-.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AN:
Not satisfied with this. Book One ended on a strong note, this one with a whimper. Might still edit it.
Last edited:
