Halkeginia, Tristain, Academy of Magic
The balding professor watched the eclipse that shrouded the sun and turned the day into night with a frown.
"It makes no sense!" said Colbert as he scratched his head, no matter how many calculations he made it didn't make any sense. An eclipse should not be today and it certainly shouldn't last this long!
"From your expression, you're not having a lot of luck figuring it out or am I wrong?" asked Osmond as he joined the bald professor in the Vestri court.
Colbert shook his head and sighed "No luck at all, the whole thing boggles my mind."
The two men were interrupted when one of the students screamed in fright. The duo rushed to her side and saw what caused her to react that way.
On top of the academy gates stood a strange monster that resembled a gargoyle...only more dangerous.
Both the Headmaster and Colbert prepared their staffs in case it attacked "Return back to the dormitory, now!" commanded Colbert as he urged the student to leave the place as quickly as possible. Fortunately the girl listened and ran towards the girls dormitory.
The creature snorted, obviously amused by their words.
The mages eyes widened in surprise as the winged creature contracted upon itself and a familiar girl was left standing where the monster was a second ago.
The two mages shared a confused look before returning their attention back on the dark haired girl.
"Isn't that the maid that worker here?" inquired the professor. He rarely interacted with the serving staff, usually to absorbed into his research to spend time socializing with anyone.
"Oh, people actually still remember me!" said the girl with feigned surprise "who would have though that nobles can even tell us apart."
Both men blinked in confusion at her behavior, they didn't bother too much with commoners but they did remember the girl being polite and easily frightened.
"Gah! I'm not senile little lady! Of course I would remember you!" shouted the Headmaster as he pointed an accusatory finger at her "How could I ever forget! The way those white panties fit around you was art!"
"..."
"..."
Both the former maid and the professor could not but stare at the perverted old man.
Osmond on the other hand didn't show any sign of embarrassment as he stroked his beard, his eyes then narrowed "Though I don't remember you being able to use magic."
"Things change" smirked Siesta "now, I'm not here on a social visit, I'm here on business" said the dark haired girl "hmmm, what would sound the best?...Ah! I know!" she then took a dramatic pose and pointed her right index finger at the two "Surrender the Academy or ye will be sleeping with the fish, har!"
"..."
"..."
"Not good?"
Both men shook their heads in denial.
"It would work better if we were on a ship" said the Headmaster.
Siesta sighed "Oh, well. I'll think of something better next time" her hand then ignited with eldritch power "the demand still stands though, surrender the Academy now and nobody gets hurt."
"I'm afraid we can't do that" responded Osmond as he readied his staff once more.
"Then let it be your way" grinned Siesta as she again turned into a Horned Devil. The two mages instantly released a barrage of fireballs and wind blades at the target but thanks to her Dark Foresight she managed to evade the attacks by jumping down from the gate and retaliating with Chilling Tentacles.
Even though they fought against the spell, both mages found themselves immobilized by the things.
"Pathetic" smiled Siesta as she returned to her original form "to think I actually was on guard against you..." neither man responded to her taunting, but that suited her just fine. She then approached the duo and pointed her palm at them "Charm!"
The warlock grinned and made the summoned tentacles disappear, leaving two bruised and charmed but alive mages.
"Give me your staffs and any wands you have" she commanded and the duo did as they were instructed, her magic compelling them to do it.
Once the things were in her hands she threw them on the ground and channeled a vitriolic eldritch blast, a split second later the items were no more.
"What is going on here?!" asked Kaita as he rushed with a bunch of students and teachers to the courtyard.
"Ah! How good that you came!" said Siesta happily as she turned to the newcomers "as it so happens the Headmaster has surrendered the Academy to me, so be nice and surrender your wands please."
The wind mage acted like he didn't even hear her "Headmaster, what's going on here? This girl here said something about a monster attacking the gates."
"Ah, yes I have surrendered the Academy" answered Osmond with a smile.
The reply made everyone's jaw hit the ground.
"Y-you did what?!" exploded the wind mage "Osmond are you out of your mind?! No, don't answer that! You have been ripe for replacement for years now" the mage then turned his head to warlock "you there commoner, what is happening here?"
"Oh my, seems we have a dim witted one here" commented Siesta as she shook her head "let me make it easy for you to understand."
With a snap of her fingers, the noise of metal boots hitting stone could be heard in the darkness.
From the gate behind the dark haired girl, numerous shapes equipped with armor and pollaxes started to advance into the undefended courtyard.
The gathered nobles, be it teacher or student took no more than a few steps back as hundreds of soldiers spread around them...and more kept coming.
Kaita swallowed hard as the enemy surrounded them. They were probably nothing more than mere commoners, but there sure was a lot of them...
The warlock smiled as she approached "As I already said, the Academy is mine so be good and surrender your wands and staffs please."
Though the girl said that with a smile on her face, the real meaning was that if they refused it was their funeral.
One by one the mages young and old threw their wands down onto the ground.
"Good, good!" said Siesta as she observed her captives, the warlock turned to the charmed men "Gather the rest in the dinning hall, it should be large enough to accommodate everyone."
Osmond and Colbert nodded and went to do as instructed.
"You there" she pointed at an armored ghoul "pick up all the wands and staffs and destroy them" she instructed.
The undead didn't say a word and simply obeyed her commands. As it moved passed the nobles the humans cringed at the stench of the thing. Get away from me you stinking commoner though Kaitha as his face showed disgust at being so close to the soldier.
Now then...it will take some time until everyone is gathered mused Siesta as she walked passed the disarmed mages. Might as well enjoy myself while I wait...thought the dark haired girl as she looked over her captives.
A smile spread across her face when she saw a good specimen "You there, come closer!"
The boy with the glasses looked around himself "W-who? Me?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes, you" answered Siesta with a predatory smile "you will entertain me while I wait for the others to gather."
As soon as the warlock said that, a blond girl grabbed his hand "You can't have him! Reynald's my boyfriend!" she hissed.
"I wasn't asking you" was the dark haired girl's chilling reply, to everyone's surprise her hand ignited and the warlock directed her right arm at the surprised and now terrified girl.
"Wait! Wait!" shouted Reynald as he stepped in front of the blond girl "I'll go with you, just don't hurt Montmorency!"
Siesta grinned at the boy's choice "Ah, the chivalrous type...mmmm, not bad, I knew there was something I like about you" the infernal fire dissipated "but I don't like the way she is looking at me, such disrespect should be punished."
"P-punished?" asked the frightened girl "but I didn't do anything!"
"Silence mage!" snapped Siesta "isn't that the way it goes? Those with the power can do what they want to those without?"
"We are not mere commoners we are nob-" was as far as Kaita went before his sentence was cut short as a brimstone blast turned him into ash.
Siesta lowered her arm "You are nothing" she said coldly. It was this kind of behavior she despised! The mages acted all high and mighty as they bullied the peasants around, invading peaceful villages, torching homes, slaughtering the elderly and the infirm, but they will learn how it feels when the roles are reversed.
The warlock's eyes momentarily turned crimson as her anger resonated with the demonic energies of the Abyss.
"By the Founder!" gasped Chevreuse and promptly fainted.
The other students and professors took a few steps back, but the circle of 'knights' around them prevented anyone from leaving.
Siesta turned to the two students "You will entertain me mage, and if by some chance you don't prove satisfactory then your girlfriend will have to pick up the slack."
"W-what? No, I don't want to!" protested the blond girl.
"Again, I wasn't asking" said Siesta with a blank expression "do as I say or die you filthy mage."
Montmorency looked around her for help but the other students and teachers averted their eyes, looking anywhere but in her direction.
"I don't have the whole night. Choose now." said the dark haired girl, the noble's pleading look not bothering her in the least.
"I-I will do as you ask..." said the boy.
The blond girl sobbed as she watched her boyfriend approached the warlock.
Siesta smiled at the two, perhaps after she had her way with him she should visit the kitchen and greet the old crew...she certainly has a lot to talk about.
Halkeginia, Tristain, Gramonte Castle.
The dragoon urged his mount to slow down as it finally reached his destination. As soon as the dragon landed in the courtyard Hugo dismounted and raced towards the imposing figure that stood on the balcony overlooking the training regiment of his men.
"Lord Gramont!" said the dragoon as he knelt in front of the general "I bring orders from the capitol! You are to muster your army and leave for Tristania at once!"
The elderly blond man scowled at the dragoon "What? Is it Albion again? I though that they learned their lesson already."
"No my Lord! Apparently Louise de la Vallière is marching an undead army towards the city! Your forces are needed to crush the heretic!"
"I see...do you have the orders?" inquired the man.
Hugo nodded and raised the scroll in his right hand "Right here!"
"Well, then I will teach that brat a lesson" said the elderly noble as he turned around. He didn't get far before another dragoon landed beside Hugo and stopped him from leaving the balcony to get prepared for the battle.
"My Lord! There is an army approaching the castle!" said the other rider "They will be here in a hour!"
"What?!" said the astonished general.
"My patrol spotted it during our maneuver training! We don't know if the army is friend or foe so the other dragoons went to take a better look while I came to report."
"Damn it all!" hissed General Armand "it must be that brat's doing!" he shouted and slammed his fist on the railing. He then focused on the first rider "What's your name dragoon?"
"Hugo Baudin my lord."
"Then Sir Baudin, return to the capitol and inform the palace that I won't be able to arrive in time" hissed the general. Normally he would gather his troops and their provisions as he marched to Tristania but with the enemy knocking on his front door he could forget about that. He had only two thousand men under his direct control, enough for defending, not enough for a confrontation out in the open.
"How large is the approaching army?" inquired the general from his dragoon.
"Ten thousand at least."
Armand Gramont frowned as he though over the new information. The forces approaching him probably belonged to the Valliere brat. Though ten thousand would be easily repelled, the fact that the enemy ranks would be filled with undead made the battle far less certain.
My muskets and cannons will be of little use, and I will need to call the lesser nobles to break the siege of my home. Normally one didn't divide his forces like the Valliere girl did, but in this case it wasn't a bad move.
Not only is there a real chance his castle might fall, but even if they won and he gathered the eight thousand men from his fief they would never reach Tristania in time. And considering that he commanded the third largest number of men behind the Crown and the now defunct Valliere family, his absence will be felt.
Not only that, but the former Valliere fief also won't be sending any forces to help the city since the whole damn region is now practically without any governance!
The general could not but grimace as he though about his predicament. Not only will he lose pride by having to be rescued by others but after the enemy ravages his lands he can forget taking any real revenue for years to come.
And I'm already broke! He raged inside his mind.
Though thinking about what would happen if he lost was even worse...
XXX
Tristain, Gramont castle, one hour later.
The defenders waited for the approaching enemy with unease, they did all the preparations they could in such a short time frame and everybody hoped it would be enough. Unlike a normal army that they would simply shoot to pieces with their cannons and muskets, this foe wasn't going down with just that.
Because of that every soldier guarding the walls was armed with his saber instead of a firearm. Amongst the defenders were also mages dressed as ordinary foot soldiers in hope of making themselves less of a target by sticking out.
Making your superiors take notice of you on a battlefield was very good, making the enemy notice you was very bad...
To have a better line of sight they used some of their supplies to ignite fires around the castle and on top of the walls and battlements as well.
"Here they come!" warned one of the soldiers as the first waive of attackers stormed passed the bonfires. To the surprise of many, their foe was armored...
"What the...! Why are those guys carrying armor?!" panicked one of the soldiers. Their sabers weren't designed to go against plate! That left the soldiers practically unarmed.
"Hold the line!" shouted the general "keep them at a distance and the mages will deal with them!"
As the first ghouls reached the gates they rammed them with all their might but the steel reinforced door held. The Gramont's weren't famous for their earth magic for nothing.
The soldiers on top of the gates used the opportunity to rain down oil on the enemy below. Normally it would be too damn expensive to do that, but the earth mages managed to transmute a few barrels between themselves.
Regrettably everything that trick did was to have armored undead on fire, bashing on their gates.
"It seems they didn't bring any siege equipment" mused the general as his hope soared "seems the brat didn't think this through."
As if to prove him wrong the earth and stone around the gate started to rise, and a large earth golem appeared.
The soldiers who saw this froze in their tracks...
"Bring it down!" someone shouted but it was already to late, the thing raised its fist and with one solid hit send the gates flying of their hinges.
"Drop the portcullis!"
As the iron grille fell so did the earth golem stop its descend, lifting it enough for the ghouls to move through the area with the murder holes right into the castles courtyard.
From the walls mages threw wind blades and electric bolts on the golem while the earth mages made their own golems to stop the enemy advance.
Armand used his wand and created an earth golem similar to the one that breached his gatehouse. All around it hundreds of iron, stone and bronze golems appeared and blocked the way through the gatehouse and its bottleneck.
The undead futilely clawed and stabbed with their polearms, but an earth golem created by a triangle class mage wasn't so easily vanquished.
Then again, the lesser golems didn't have such luck, and though they managed to fight on par with the undead the ghouls managed to cut their numbers down one by one.
Once there were enough holes in the golem lines the ghouls went right passed the earth golem and fell upon the soldiers.
Lord Gramont felt cold sweat run down his forehead as he directed his golem to crush the attacker. The thing raised its fist and slammed it down on the closest group of undead, flattening their armor and bones as a child would crush a bug under ones foot.
But the undead simply continued pouring through the gaps, like an endless swarm of ants they went around the golem ignoring it in favor of the easier targets.
His soldiers tried to hold the undead back with everything they had but by claw or pollaxe they quickly perished under the monstrous tide.
His focus shifted to the walls and battlements where his army was fighting some sort of flying undead...they had no more luck than those on the ground.
This is hopeless!...though the general as he tried to hold his wand steady.
It was in that moment that a huge burst of flames destroyed his earth golem and a chilling wind froze a large section of the north wall, including all soldiers there.
His eyes widened when through the destroyed gates a rider entered. She was a buxom red head riding on what appeared to be a flaming stallion.
The infernal horse snorted and turned towards him "Ah, General Gramont. Nice to finally meet you in person" smiled the tanned woman even as her horse crushed a soldiers head and ignited the decapitated body.
On his north wall a blue dragon appeared with a child on its back. "Surrender" said the bluenette in a neutral voice.
The redhead chuckled "As you have heard, my companion demands that you surrender. Do so and the lives of you and your men will be spared."
Armand licked his lips, if he surrendered this easy then his pride will be in the toilet...but he would be alive.
His eyes went over his demoralized and decimated men, it was easy to see them pleading to get them out of this alive...his two sons among them.
The general closed his eyes and exhaled "And to whom would I be surrendering to?"
"Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst " spoke the woman even as her horse started to eat the corpse in front of it, tearing chunks of flesh as if it was grass.
A Germanian? scowled the man, if the Valliere brat has the support from those barbarians Tristain is done for "Can you guaranty for the lives and well being of all the people here?"
Kiche smiled seductively "Of course, though Zarken gets the dead, so no funerals."
Armand had no idea who Zarken is and neither did he care, as long as the living could continue to do so he was willing to let the dead be desecrated...it's not like he could really protest at this point "Very well, then I General Armand de Gramont hereby surrender the castle to Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt-Zerbst!" he loudly proclaimed so everyone could hear him, he then looked at his remaining soldiers "drop your weapons, it's over."
Some of them quickly threw their wands and blades to the ground, others momentarily hesitated as their weapons were the only thing that gave them any sense of security against the monsters that were in front of them.
But in the end even they did as their lord commanded.
"A wise choice my lord" said Kirche "it seems you and your men will see the dawn of a new era after all."
Halkeginia, Tristain
Richemont watched thoughtfully as the city garrison was mobilized. Soldiers and nobles took their positions around Tristania's bastions and the rest went to the ships floating over their heads, including the Lexington and its captured escorts.
Every cannon was now necessary!
"Are you certain about this?" asked the cardinal skeptically.
"Of course I am Mazarin" responded the noble "the Valliere girl won't go down without a fight. We have to teach her a lesson first."
"What about reinforcements?"
"The other lords will assemble their armies as fast as possible, but I doubt that they will be able to get here before tomorrow." responded Richemont. If things turned out for the worst, he will simply retreat with his griffin. The city defenders were mostly the royal musketeers so it would be actually beneficial to have them eliminated. On the other hand, if he and his partners manage to save the city from the undead horde then he will be hailed a hero and would have the full support of the people...that would make Henrietta's fall that much easier.
"I see..." said the other man, skepticism obvious in his voice. Though they could never find any evidence, the old cardinal suspected that Richemont wasn't as loyal as he acted. He heard a few rumors about the man's rude remarks concerning the princess but it was no real proof of disloyalty, though it was certainly something to keep in mind.
The noble was about to say something else when cannons started to fire from the south side.
"They're here" said Richemont as he levitated up to the Lexington to have a better look.
The deck of the ship was full of sailors manning the cannons.
One after another the big guns thundered.
"Lord Richemont" greeted the ship's new captain "came to watch the show?"
"Yes, we are ready for them, though we will be depending on the earth and fire mages to hold the city until help arrives" answered the captain as he looked to the artillerymen "we can't expect the regular military to stand up against the enemy, after all they are just commoners."
"Of course" agreed the other noble as he leaned on the ships railing, gazing into the distance.
It was truly an awe inspiring sight. The Lexington, supported by nine escort ships and Tristania's fortifications had enough firepower to easily stop an army half a million strong.
And it was all pretty much useless against the approaching enemy...
Thanks to Earl Vances experience it was obvious that bullets and shrapnel won't be inflicting any serious losses on the undead.
"Let's give them hell, shall we?" asked the traitorous noble.
"Of course" agreed the captain as he ordered the dragoons to harass the enemy army.
XXXX
Marquise de Tolouse urged his fire dragon to fly faster towards the advancing enemy. This is what he trained for, what he craved for!
War!
Through it he will gain glory and wealth! Prove himself a real noble and patriot and rise to the position of Duke. He might even ask for the Valliere fief to be given over to him as a reward for his services.
He will win it all here!
"Come on! Let's burn the monsters and make them experience fear once more!" he shouted and his fifty dragoons cheered.
"Let's get some light here!" he said and directed his beast to ignite the land below him.
The dragons flame scorched the earth and ignited every house, every tree and every field in the area.
They didn't even reach the ghouls before the dragons started to act strangely, showing signs of fear.
Though nearly invisible in the darkness the flames exposed the wraiths to the riders eyes...but it was already too late, the undead vanguard was already upon them.
Dragon and rider screamed as the monsters began to feast on their life force.
"By Brimir! What are those thing!" screamed a dragoon as he unleashed a lightning bolt on the unexpected enemy.
But to their horror both spell and fire-breath hit the things as often as it harmlessly passed through them!
"Retreat! Retreat!" screamed the Marquis as he turned his dragon back towards the city... less than half of his dragoons following his example.
The whole confrontation lasted mere second, but it was only the beginning.
A terrible roar came from the sky, the sound shaking the very ground underneath. The roar made the people in Tristania shake in terror as they gazed into the sky and saw the gargantuan monstrosity that broke through the clouds and flew towards the city.
The retreating dragoons didn't have any time to even wet themselves as the dracolich opened its jaws and a line of acid shot out. Ten dragoons and their mounts disappeared as the acid melted them together with all their possessions.
"This is impossible...this can't be happening!" screamed a dragoon as he frenetically tried to make his fire dragon go faster. This is a nightmare! Though the mage as the monster gained on him.
Then the dracolich closed its jaws around the unfortunate dragoon.
XXXX
Richemont and everybody else watched in terror as the monsters destroyed Tristain's dragoons with impunity. Fifty elite mages brushed aside as bugs...almost one quarter of the kingdom's dragon riders destroyed faster than he could drink a sip of his wine.
"This...this is impossible!" shouted the noble. Yes, he did take into account that the city might be taken, but he didn't expect to battle to be this one sided...
If they can overrun the city's garrisons with such impunity than even the combined armies of Tristain's nobles wouldn't be able to achieve victory!
"Fire at will! Bring that thing down!" commanded the frantic captain as cannons were realigned.
Richemont felt cold sweat run down his face as he spotted a single person standing on the monsters head, her pink hair easy to see on the monster's blackened, rotting hide.
The image made him lose control over his Fare Sight spell, and he wasn't the only one with such an reaction...since a spyglass fell out of the captain's hand at the same time, the item going overboard and down to the city below.
The dracolich opened its mouth again and this time the stream of acid reached all the way to the Lexington. The acid collided with the hull, ate its way inside without any resistance and went right through it, hitting the escort ship behind it.
The thing then moved its head and the stream of acid moved as well, doing more damage to the ship of the line.
The Lexington lurched as a piece of the vessel's hull tumbled on the houses under it. The falling cannonballs turning into a deadly rain to those below.
I have to get out of here! Thought Richemont as he used his levitation magic to leave the sinking ship. He still had his griffin near the palace, but the beast would be unable to bring him all the way to Albion so he will need to fly towards Galia before taking a ship to the floating kingdom.
XXXX
The scent of ozone dominated the air as a myriad of spells were thrown at the quickly approaching enemy. Lightning, ice and fire rained down on the undead as they ran towards the city's bastions.
"Stop them!" shouted the commander of the city garnison.
None of the men said anything, they had their hands already full with reloading their muskets. Shot after shot went into the advancing enemy but the ghouls ignored such attacks. Unlike the muskets, the cannons had more effect when they hit, but the hits were too few to far between. Some of the undead had missing arms and large holes in their sides, some crawled since their legs were missing.
But they all still advanced...
In a manner of minutes hundreds of ghouls scaled Tristania's bastions and slaughtered the defenders without pity or remorse.
The way into the city was clear...
XXXX
Noise...is it thunder? Were her thoughts as consciousness returned to her.
Henrietta rubbed her eyes as she awoke from her sleep, the nude body of Wales lying beside her own. She probably shouldn't have done that, but after the trial...she simply needed someone to hold her, to comfort her.
"Is it still nighttime?" asked the girl...or rather woman, as she slipped out of the bed and walked to the window.
She placed her hand on the window glass and watched the city below. People were running through the streets and the church bells were ringing somewhere in the distance.
What is going on? Thought the melancholic princess. Ever since she came to his room she refused to leave it...she even ordered Agnes to leave her be. All she wanted is to be in his arms, to be one with him, to let her mind forget the world around herself, this prison that was her birthright.
People envied kings and queens...she didn't know what was there to envy, a gilded cage was a cage all the same.
Suddenly someone frantically knocked on the door, not that she had any intention of opening it.
"Princes!" shouted Mazarin from the other side "Please open the door! We have to leave the city!"
Henrietta blinked Leave the city? Why? Did something happen? She then gazed at the far side of the city where the noise and the flashes were coming from. Did Albion attack again?
"Princes! Open the door or I will be forced to order the guards to break it down!" urged the cardinal.
Henrietta looked uncertainly at the bed and the still sleeping Wales. By all accounts nobody should know about this...this indecency should be concealed, or else it would bring shame on her family if it became public.
Should she wake him up and tell him to hide under the bed? Into the closet?
As her mind was slowly beginning to clear a heavy hit on the door startled her. Naturally Wales who learned how to sleep in combat, while cannons and muskets were thundering left, right and center, didn't even stir.
Having regained her wits she quickly took some of the garments "Hold on! I'm coming!" she then ran to Wales and slapped him a few time...no reaction.
No choice then! She raised her wand and gave the prince a cold shower.
"W-what?!" asked the blond man as he looked around himself in confusion "are we under attack?!"
"It seems we are" said the princess "we have to leave the capitol."
"What?!" his eyes widened as he jumped out of the bed and grabbed his breeches.
As soon as they both were somewhat decently clothed Henrietta opened the door and saw Mazarin impatiently waiting in front of the door. He glanced at her then at Wales, it was clear he knew what transpired and he didn't approve of it...she would probably get a scolding after they were safe.
"Finally!" said the Cardinal "we must leave the city at once, the earth mages are staling the enemy with walls but that won't last long. You should immediately leave for Germania your highness!"
"What happened?" she asked.
"It's the Valliere girl" said the elderly man "she's attacking the city with her army of abominations, Brimir curse her soul!"
Both Wales and Henrietta gaped at that.
"L-Louise? I-I don't believe it! It has to be some kind of mistake she wouldn't do that!" defended the princess.
"Well she is!" countered the Cardinal "the Tristanian fleet and its dragoons are gone, and the bastions around the city have fallen as well."
"I will talk to her! She will listen to me!"
Mazarin shook his head "I doubt that. Not after she was sentenced to death and her family was striped of her position and lands."
Henrietta's eyes widened "What?! How could you do that!"
The Cardinal's expression changed from worried to furious. All he ever did was to advise and help the girl ever since she was a toddler and all he got was backtalk from her. He tolerated it since she was the princess and a child but this was the last straw "How could I do that?!" he raged "What was I supposed to do when you ran out of the throne room?! The surrounding nations demanded the girl's head, our own nobles demanded we sentence the whole Valliere family to death! I made the choice that would cause the least amount of damage! We couldn't fight the other nations and our own nobles at the same time!"
The girl stood in the corridor with a stunned expression, never did he raise his voice against her in all the time she knew him...and now she could see that the cardinal was barely restraining himself from slapping her.
Wales decided that it would be good to stop this as soon as possible "Is there no way to hold the city until reinforcements arrive?"
Mazarin snorted "Even if we could, the other nobles wouldn't be able to win this either, all we can hope is that the other nations will send their armies to defeat her."
Wales frowned as he took the information in. He didn't know the Valliere girl for very long but she did save his life, she genuinely seemed like a good person...and even if she did use monsters, all she did with them is save her country from the Reconquista. Then again could he say with certainty that she wasn't planing to conquer Tristain on her own? Perhaps she didn't want to have any competition?
"Where is my mother?" asked the girl.
"I have already send the queen out of the city. I would have preferred to send her to Romalia but the roads south are blocked by the enemy so the only was is north, to Germania. I know it's not the safest option but we don't have many left. Are you ready to leave now?" asked the Cardinal once again, now that he cooled down.
Both royals shared a look and nodded.
"Good, then follow me" he said.
XXXX
Louise watched as her army swarmed through the city, their armored boots slamming loudly on the paved streets. She had ordered that those who don't fight or rather hold weapons be left unharmed, but seeing the desperate human stampede running from the ghouls she could easily imagine how people would be trampled to death by their own countrymen. Children especialy would find such and environment dangerous.
"Seems that there will be civilian casualties either way" said the pinkette impassively.
"That is the nature of war" was Aeron's reply as he landed in front of the palace, easily towering over the building "though because you didn't burn and slaughter the villages the enemy will have an untouched countryside where they will be able to get provisions and men."
"I'll live with it" said the girl as she levitated down from the dracolich.
As soon as her feet touched the ground she summoned a huge earth elemental.
"Conceal yourself and defend me" instructed the pinkette, and the monster instantly sank into the ground and followed the sorceress with its ability to glide through the earth.
The first obstacle in her way was an iron barricade formed by some triangle mage in the corridor, though normally a good defense against ghouls it couldn't stand up against her own power.
"Polymorph" said the girl as her body changed into that of a beholder. She then used the eye rays to disintegrate the barrier in front of her. As the iron wall collapsed into dust, two surprised mages froze once they saw the monstrous body she used at the moment.
They hesitated for only a moment but that was enough for her to cut their lives short.
The beholder continued through the corridors killing anyone that dared to stand in her way.
XXXX
Henrietta, Wales and Mazarin finally managed to reach the palace gardens where Agnes and a trio of wind dragons waited for them. Beside the dragoons a dozen horse riders awaited for their arrival, all of them musketeers under the command of Agnes de Milan.
"Your Highness!" said the blond woman "we have to hurry, the enemy has already taken most of the city!"
Both royals climbed behind the dragoons and as they were about to fly into the air a section of the palace fell in front of them.
All eyes looked up and their jaws dropped as they saw the gigantic skull of the dracolich, its eye sockets blazing with malevolent green energy.
The monster climbed over the palace, its skeletal legs crumbling entire roofs and wall segments of the structure.
Both Wales and Henrietta directed their wands towards the undead dragon and unleashed a powerful combined spell. The tornado slammed into the rib-cage of the monster but to their shock it failed to do any damage, it didn't even seemed to be bothered by it.
"Quickly! Let's retreat back into the palace!" said Mazarin but even as he turned to run to the gate, the doors crumbled into dust in front of his eyes.
Everyone remained quiet as they listened to the footsteps that slowly approached out of the dark corridor of the palace.
Then the familiar face of Louise exited through the now nonexistent doors.
"And so we meet again" said the pinkette coldly.
"Louise...why are you doing this?" asked the princess timidly.
The sorceress scowled as her eyes focused on the girl "For many reasons, but at the moment because I'm furious!" said the girl "now drop your wands and surrender."
"Princess!" shouted Agnes as she and her musketeers took their positions around their ruler, ready to defend her with their lives.
"Pointless" snorted Louise.
Without a warning the musketeers were send flying by the concealed elemental, its stony hand easily knocking the woman away.
"Surrender, you can't win this fight."
Agnes growled as she stood back up. The blond glared at the earth golem even as it again disappeared into the ground, but the one who she hated the most at this moment was the mage in front of her.
She quickly took her pistol and fired a shot at the brat, but contrary to her expectations the projectile bounced of a shimmering barrier that appeared around the girl.
Louise pointed her finger at the blond woman but before she could unleash her spell she was forced to evade a lightning bolt form the sky.
The sorceress rolled to the side even as the bolt struck the ground and created an actual crater from the impact, sending dirt and stone flying through the air.
Everyone looked up into the sky and saw a manticore fly overhead.
Louise scowled as she recognized the rider.
A powerful blast of wind collided into Aeron's head, though the attack did little to the undead the additional strain on the palace infrastructure was too much and the building collapsed under the monster's claws.
"Quickly! Run!" said Karin as she landed beside Henrietta "I'll hold them off!"
"T-thank you!" said the princess as the dragoons took to the air as quickly as possible.
Karin then turned her attention to the girl in front of her "Have you no shame?"
"None" responded Louise as she polymorphed into a Will-O'-Wisp, and instantly extinguished her glow.
Even as the duchess readied her wand the earth elemental struck with its fist and her manticore flew to the side. Thankfully the old beast was resilient and managed to remain standing after the surprise attack. It swiftly lashed with its poisoned stinger, but the hit it scored on the elemental was barely a scratch.
Karin pointed her wand at the earth golem but before she could release a spell the thing again disappeared into the ground.
The woman didn't have much time to glare at the spot as something collided with her face, knocking her down from her familiar.
The duchess glared around herself but beside a brief glimpse of something glowing she couldn't see anyone.
"Louise if you continue to play around, the princess will get away" said an unfamiliar masculine voice.
Karin turned her head to the side and saw a white haired man leaning on a nearby wall.
"I know that!" came her daughter's angry reply as she appeared beside the stranger.
Louise glared at her mother "I will get them, you make sure my dear mother doesn't follow me, but don't permanently harm her." said the girl as she used the spell Alter Self to change into an Avariel.
"You think I will let you go after the princess?" asked Karin, but before she could say anything else Louise teleported away.
What kind of magic is that?! Wondered Karin as she tried to climb on her manticore.
"You are not allowed to leave" whispered a silky voice into her ear. She quickly turned around but it was too late, she was punched hard into the face, the force of the blow breaking her nose and knocking two of her front teeth out.
The duchess stumbled as she recovered from the surprise attack.
What?! though the woman as she watched the white haired man grin at her. She then looked at the place he was a moment ago How did he get behind me so fast?!
"The spell is called Dimension Door" answered the man to her unspoken question "it gives me some mobility on the battlefield."
She spat out the blood, teeth and saliva as she glared at the stranger "And who are you?"
Aeron slapped his forehead "Ah, how thoughtless of me" he said dramatically "allow me to introduce myself then. My name is Aeron Blackheart, your daughter summoned me as her familiar."
"She summoned a snake" corrected the duchess.
"Oh no, she summoned a mage that took the shape of a snake" grinned Aeron "And here I thought that you would have remembered my handsome face, it wasn't so long since we met after all."
If he is realy that black snake that would mean he was at the same table when Louise visited us mused the duchess.
"Correct! I was there!"
Karin's eyes widened in shock Can he read minds?!
"I'm rather good in it."
"It's you wasn't it? You tricked Louise into this!" she accused.
The wizard's grin widened "Well, pretty much. Though I usually deal with possibilities, and as it so happens thanks to your actions this path was the most likely she would take. Poor Karin, you tried so hard to make your daughters powerful so they could stand on their own feet, only to have fate destroy all your efforts. Your eldest is unlikable and will never have a good marriage, Cattleya would have died if not for Louise, then there is the little pain in the rear herself. Neglected by you and ostracized for her lack in magic she was nothing but another failed creation on your part. Your rule of steel failed miserably...until I reforged her that is. I trust you have nothing to complain, she is stronger, as you wanted it."
"She betrayer everything we stand for!" shouted the duchess "she defied every law and custom this land has!" and with that she released a powerful tornado from her wand.
The spell easily tore the land to pieces and not even the palace remained intact as the spell went through the building like a hot spear through butter.
Then she felt pain that spread through her abdomen and was send flying backwards into a tree.
Her vision blurred from the impact but she quickly found her wits.
The manticore took the opportunity to attack the wizard but a single Finger of Death removed it from the battlefield.
"You missed, then again perhaps I should go easy on you" grinned the necromancer as he removed the admantium gauntlet from his hand "mmm, you exercise a lot it seems, nice abdominal muscles you got there."
"Stop mocking me!" glared the enraged woman as she created a dozen wind-blades to cut her opponent to bits. To harm her familiar! To use her daughter! The man must die!
But to her astonishment he disappeared into his own shadow and appeared from a shadow of a nearby lamp.
"Powerful as you are Duchess, you have no chance of victory against me. All your potent, wide attacks are better for inflicting massive destruction on a battlefield than facing one enemy with superior mobility."
To prove his point he again appeared in front of her, delivering a punch to her face. Karin raised her wand to cast a spell but a simple Shatter spell made her weapon break into pieces.
He then grabbed her by the neck.
"Do you know how hard it is for me to restrain myself from actually injuring you?" asked the assassin as he caressed her face with his free hand.
His voice was full of longing, as a lover who whispered words to his dearest, his hot breath sending chills down her spine.
Aeron closed his eyes and moaned "The pleasure of ripping your arms from your body...the feeling of ramming my fingers into your eyes until the skull fractures under my hands..."
"M-monster!" spat the woman as she struggled to get the things filthy hands from her.
Aeron smiled "You have no idea how much potential your daughter has" said the wizard "one day she will hopefully be strong enough to entertain me."
"You keep your filthy hands away from my daughter!" hissed the duchess.
Aeron chuckled "Or you will do what? So far I have been more of a parent to her than you ever were" he then grabbed her chin with his hand "be happy Karin, I have done what you never could...then again, it doesn't take much to be a better parent than you are" laughed the necromancer.
Then the Shade frowned as he felt his magic resistance negate a spell cast on him, he turned around to see who had the bright idea "Can't you see I'm busy here?"
The man in question was an elderly person with blond hair and a well kempt beard "Get away from my wife scum!" said the newcomer with barely restrained fury.
A grin spread across the wizard's face "Now that I think about it, Louise only told me not to permanently harm the duchess here..." mused the Shade as he released his hold on the pink haired woman and turned his full attention to the duke "normally I don't like to fight and kill weaklings since it's not very entertaining, but I have suppressed my bloodlust for a while now and I really need some release. Regretfully for you duke Valliere, that means I will use your entrails as a necklace."
"R-run!" gasped Karin as she tried to remain standing "you don't stand a chance against him!"
"I'm sorry Karin, I have my pride" said the Duke sternly "I can't bare to watch you in pain."
The shadovar chuckled "You could try harder, it gets very satisfying after you get the gist of it."
The Duke didn't respond with words but with a lightning bolt that slammed directly into Aeron's chest...and did absolutely nothing.
The assassin didn't lift a finger and simply watched.
Then something black pierced the duke's gut through the back.
"Nooo!" screamed Karin as she watched her husband collapse.
"Relax, I avoided all his vital organs" said Aeron as he approached the man, his shadow standing behind the mage with his shadowstuff blade.
"Assassins are truly the bane of magic users" smiled the shadovar as he took his dagger and started to remove the skin from the man's fingers.
Karin slowly, desperately tried to reach her husband as the monster flayed him in front of her eyes.
A thrown dagger ended that as it buried itself into her left thigh.
"Relax and enjoy the show" said the necromancer "That remind me, I have a full bottle of ant acid with me, after I'm done with the skin it would be fun to see the effect on his raw meat- Don't you think so too?" asked the grinning wizard as he suddenly dislocated the duke's shoulder making the man cry out in pain.
Karin didn't listen to the monster as she crawled towards them, her hand grasping her husband's.
"How sweet" grinned the wizard "should I leave you two love birds alone?"
He didn't get a response as the couple ignored him entirely. Though the Duke was obviously in agony he suppressed it completely, he didn't wish to see his wife sad because he was in pain.
So he endured it...
Aeron sighed and dropped the man's mutilated arm "This is boring" grumbled the Shade "perhaps I should simply crush your skull and be done with it?" he mused and pulled out a warhammer from his bag of holding.
Seeing how he still didn't get a reaction from the two he snorted "How dull" and teleported away.
XXXX
Tristain, no GPS signal, same time.
Louise appeared with a flash of light on a dark road, in the middle of a forest. The spell moved her a considerable distance away from Tristania in no time at all.
This is the direction Henrietta was going mused the pinkette as she cast a few protection spells and summoned another earth elemental. Once that was done she took a wand of Issac's lesser missile storm and waited for her targets to arrive.
She didn't nave to wait for long.
The pinkette used the wings she was given by the Avariel form to rise into the air, and then pointed her wand at the approaching wind dragons. With a singe word she unleashed a barrage of devastating magic on them.
As soon as the dragoons spotted the attack they tried to evade the projectiles but no matter how much their dragons turned and dived they couldn't prevent being hit. She had no intention of killing the two royals so she directed the attack only against their mounts.
The wind dragons screeched as their bodies were shredded, huge puncture wounds appearing in their scaly hides.
The sorceress slowly descended where the dragoon fell, and was greeted by a barrage of lightning and shards of ice...all easily blocked by her Globe of Invulnerability before they even impacted on her Stoneskin.
"Protect the princess!" shouted one of the dragoons and raise his wand to fire a bolt of lightning at her...he didn't get very far before the earth elemental grabbed him from the ground in its huge fist and squeezed...
Even as the the mage was turned into something that reminded her of Aeron's 'homemade passata di pomodoro', Louise was landing behind him.
"Good evening Henrietta" said the pinkette as her feet made contact with the ground, her body returning to her human form "or is it still day? Can't really tell the difference anymore."
The princess stood up and was quickly joined by Wales and the last surviving dragoon, since the other had an unfortunate accident if the body with the broken neck was to be believed.
"Y-you killed him..." glared the princess "Louise how could you!" she accused and raised her wand towards the girl she considered her friend since they were nothing but children.
"Technically the elemental killed that one" was her reply as she glanced at the crushed soldier "and gravity did the other one in" she said and motioned to the one with the broken neck.
"W-wh-how..." gaped the princess at the complete lack of remorse or respect the pinkette showed.
The sorceress didn't move a muscle as she observed the person she would have done anything for, for the person she would have died for...the person who couldn't even sentence her herself!
"Weak..." said the girl as she took a step towards the group "you are too weak...no wonder that Aeron believes that the others would have played you like a puppet. How blind was I to see it only now?" mused the girl as she contemplated this.
Wales unleashed a powerful lightning bolt at the girl but it harmlessly dissipated as soon as it came near her.
His eye widened in astonishment "How?!"
"Burning disarm!" said the pinkette, instantly their wands or rather scepter wands turned red hot and Wales, Henrietta and the dragoon instantly discarded them as it burned their hand.
"You can't win, surrender and I will be merciful" said the sorceress coldly.
"How about if you surrendered?" said a voice from behind her.
Louise glanced over her shoulder as saw a large group appear through what looked like a teleportation spell. Approximately a dozen gargoyles surrounded two people, one of them a blond man and the other a hooded woman.
The woman whose only visible characteristics were her mocking smile and a few strands of black hair, raised an orb of some kind "You shouldn't have left on your own little girl...that was unwise."
"And who would you be?"
The dark haired woman chuckled "The one who takes you prisoner of course, now as you so fittingly said. Surrender and we will be merciful Void mage."
Louise narrowed her eyes at that statement Void mage? Her eyes then spotted the pointy ears of the blond man. So he's an elf...no matter, those two are of no concern thought the girl as she pointed her wand at the second group and unleashed another missile storm.
But to her surprise the blond man stepped in front of the woman and the spell bounced of the elf's repel barrier and went straight at Louise.
But as before, her own defenses stopped the spell from inflicting any damage on her.
"Tsk, how annoying" grumbled the pinkette as she concentrated on the elf "so how did an elf get dragged into this?" she inquired.
"Your kind is too dangerous to be left to their own devices" answered the elf cryptically "now surrender human."
The sorceress chuckled "Human huh? Do I sense loathing there?" asked the girl as she pulled out a Greater Rod of Quickening "Summon Hakeashar."
The space in front of the newcomers contorted and allowed a monster to set foot into Halkeginia.
The elf scowled as he gazed upon the thing "What is that?"
The creature had the appearance of a large crimson sphere, the body pulsed as it floated over the ground, its countless eyes, hands and mouths perceiving the world around it.
"You will see" grinned the sorceress "go and feed" she commanded.
The creature did as it was ordered to do and went directly for the elf.
Neither the elf nor his dark haired accomplice seemed worried by the thing.
The monster collided against the invisible barrier...and nothing happened. Or at least that is what the other people perceived.
"Impossible!" hissed Bidashal as he poured every scrap of magic he had into maintaining his barrier.
"What? What is it?" inquired the dark haired woman.
"It's devouring my barrier!"
Louise couldn't help but laugh out loud at the elf's predicament "Foolish elf! You think magic can protect you from a Hakeashar?! It seems Kirche will get herself an elven pet faster then anticipated!" she then pointed her wand at the woman and her gargoyles and unleashed another attack, this one tearing through the things with impunity.
"Curses!" hissed Sheffield as her fenrir were turned into shreds "Don't think this is the end of it!" growled Myozunitonirun as she summoned even more of the things to replace her losses.
"More of the same?" inquired Louise "Earth Elemental, crush them!" commanded the girl and watched as the elemental smashed through the things.
Sheffield growled as she summoned even more fenrir to assist her but so far the fight wasn't going well Patience, with all the magic the brat is using, her willpower must be all but spend.
"Princess!" came a shout from the distance.
"Oh, what now!" grumbled the pinkette as she looked down the road to see the musketeers riding towards them.
"More nuisances" sneered the girl as she pointed her hand towards the group "Web!"
The pinkette couldn't but grin went the charge was stopped in its tracks.
While she was distracted one of the fenrir managed to circle around the elemental and attack her directly, but its claws bounced uselessly against the Stoneskin spell.
"So you want to play?" asked the girl as she used a Mirror Image and a Polymorph on herself.
"W-what are you?!" stuttered the terrified Myozunitonirun as Louise turned into an annis hag and ripped the gargoyle to shreds "this is impossible! You shouldn't have this much willpower!"
Louise didn't even bother answering her as she went straight for her opponent. With ease she crushed the gargoyles with her supernatural strength.
Panicking Sheffield decided to cut her losses and teleported herself, Bidashal and the two royals away from the battle.
"Nooo! Not again!" raged the sorceress as the slammed her clawed fist into the closest tree, breaking it as one would a twig.
"When I get my hands on those two!"
XXXX
Tristania, moments later.
Louise appeared in the palace throne room in a foul mood.
"So the conquering jail-bait returns" said the necromancer "since you returned empty handed, I assume they got away?"
The sorceress only growled as she glared at the man.
Aeron placed his hand in front of him "No use in getting angry at me, I had nothing to do with them escaping."
"Too late, it's a habit already" hissed the girl "how are the things proceeding?"
"Very well so far. Kirche, Zarken and Tabitha have taken control over the southern territories. Lord Gramont is in her custody, there is no resistance from the people. Wardes has performed also nicely by eliminating De Poitiers and the army that he managed to gather, he was able to utilize the wraiths excellently and increased their numbers to ten thousand."
Louise felt her right eye twitch "That means he used them to kill the general's entire army!"
The wizard shrugged "Casualties of war Louise, casualties of war. Since De Poitiers, Comte de Chalet and Marquess d'Aiguillon were a greater threat thanks to the high number of mages in their ranks it was prudent to deal with them in the most efficient way possible."
"They were supposed to be my subjects!" she hissed.
"And they are, more loyal now then they were ever in life. Not to mention that they are technically not your subjects as long as Henrietta lives."
"And as a wise man once said, crowns don't give you power, armies give you power" countered the girl as she climbed the steps of the throne room.
And sat on the throne...
"What about Siesta?"
"Ah..." grimaced the assassin "she managed to take the Academy without much effort."
"I sense a but, coming."
"But, it appears that she went a bit overboard and raped a few students."
Louise facepalmed so loud it could be heard down to corridor "That dumbass!" hissed the pinkette "What in the Nine Hells has prompted her to do such madness?!"
Aeron shrugged "One of the problems with fighting monsters is that you inevitably become like them. Her hate of nobles has made her act as bad as they did with the commoners." And then there's the corrupting influence from the pact...
The sorceress shook her head "Unbelievable..." sighed the girl.
"So, now that you have taken control over the entirety of Tristain, what now?"
"We will advance on Galia and Romalia next as was planned" explained the girl "we don't want to give them the initiative to strike first. Also, even if Tristain wasn't ravaged by war we still need to make a few changes."
"Such as?"
The sorceress coldly stared at the necromancer "You will see, but for now could you tell me why someone would call me a Void mage?"
"Ahhh...err, about that..."
A/N: Here is the next one as promised. I still have one more 10k chapter that I have on the PC, but again, I don't think I will do it today.
Since I have a meeting tomorrow probably in three or four days, depends if I will be game to go through my horrible spelling for hours on end.