Here it is, the next chapter. Sorry for not posting last week, this chapter was a major pain and to get it done I needed two weeks as I had to redo the entire thing just to get it right. It was fun doing this, I had a real blast making this chapter and it is one of my favourites.

Now, we get into the meat of the story, the upcoming conflict that will set the stage for the future. How it goes down will be interesting, and I can assure you how it plays out will be awesome, so sit back and enjoy the show.


The Hand of Suffering

Chapter 13: Alliance Crumbles

Ken

She was alone, Celestine sat there in the empty Council Chamber and stared into nothing. Her mind was flurry of thoughts, jumbled and chaotic, she would never make sense of them. Even in the peaceful quiet of this chamber she could not straighten herself. Centuries of experience and the strength of will to shoulder the heaviest of burdens, gave no assistance.

This last month had been a trying time for her, one that had nearly shattered her mind and nearly left her becoming something she feared. Now she was someone she hoped she never would have become, a sad pathetic woman who could only dwell on how it all went wrong.

At one point she had thought she could finally rest, put all that has happened these last few months behind her and look forward to a bright future. But she could not do so, not after everything that has happened. All she could do was look back and wonder, wonder how this happened? How she had not seen it coming? Why didn't she realise it soon?

But most of all she couldn't accept that she had been so blind, so proud, so stupid.

If she had done right by that werewolf none of this would have happened, things could have ended peacefully. It could have ended with less damage. The Alliance wouldn't be splintering apart and her nation wouldn't be on the brink of collapse.

A month ago Olga had escaped.

That had marked the beginning of the troubles that engulfed the Alliance.

The moment Olga had been reported missing from her cell they had searched for her, looking through the city and attempting to discover how and where she had escaped. A hasty council meeting had been held, it did not take but a moment before Alicia had shouted the name of the obvious culprit.


"It was the damn werewolf! It had freed her!"

No one had argued against the logic, it made sense, it could have been the only one to sneak Olga Discordia out of this city without anyone noticing. It has escaped before, roaming this palace with impunity for a week without anyone realising. It had even escaped its cell when Vault had been standing right outside of it.

"I should have known, the wards on Olga's cell wouldn't stop that creature from entering or leaving." Celestine said, her expression creased with a deep frown.

She should have taken extra precautions, done something to ensure that she could not escape. Instead she let her guard down, maybe that was why he had ignited the fiery anger in her heart, to distract her so she wouldn't know to prepare.

"We had no idea it would have returned." Kaguya said, of all the Shields she was the calmest, as expected from the Miko. "But it is the only one that could have allowed Olga to escape, its motives are unclear. But how we act must be determined."

How they must act was a given, immediate retaliation, action needed to be swift and decisive. The smouldering fire she had thought that had been smothered returned, barely past the morning and she was back where she started. It was difficult to think of anything other than going to the Valley and wiping it clean.

"We shall assemble the Dawn Templar, send them to the Valley and purge it." Archbishop Grissom said, the smile on his face was unnerving, she had ignored it then, she had supported his action.

"It is the only way, your Majesty, let me lead our forces to face this threat." Claudia beseeched. "I will not fail you, I will return with the creatures head and Olga in chains."

"Count us in." Maia said, rising from her seat. "No way I am not getting in on this, that bastard is not going to get off scot free this time."

"My Knights are at your service." Alicia said, rising from her seat.

"The Samurai of Rad with aid you in this fight." Kaguya pledged.

"Same here! I can send word down to Thorn right now! I can get like a thousand warriors up here in no time!" Luu-Luu shouted, jumping from her chair and onto the table. "Come on! Give us the word!"

Alicia, Maia, Kaguya and Luu-Luu had pledged their forces to this single cause. The Knights of Iris, Company of the Rose, Samurai of Rad, and Half-ling Iron Legion all pledged. The entire Alliance was mobilising to combat this threat. Even General Rollo pledged to gather recruits from the Noble Houses, it was looking to be the making of a massive army, one never seen since before the Battle of Lorain.

"Then send word to your forces, and as the messages fly we shall plan." Celestine said, there was a crow of excitement from all around, they were prepared and eager to carry out their duty.

Messages have been sent, conscripts have been called upon, nobles had been informed. Now all that remained was for them to formulate an effective strategy to deal with this beast. Celestine did not wish to remain long in the city, a day would be given, and only a day, from there they would begin their march. Anyone late to the departure would have to catch up.

The plan had been simple, with the time they had they could not waste it formulating a complex strategy, the longer they wasted here the longer Olga had a chance to escape. Along with that werewolf, the plan fell into two stages, containment and assault.

"Kaguya, Luu-Luu and Maia, you three will move ahead of the Dawn Templar and Iris Knights to prevent the enemies escape." Celestine instructed, pointing towards two places on the map. "Luu-Luu you will secure the southern entrance and wait for reinforcements from Ansur and Thorn to arrive before advancing into the Valley. Kaguya, do the same for the Greenway Pass just west of Zelindo."

With the south and eastern entryways to the Valley secure all that remained was the north. Diohart should be prepared if there was ever an attack or an army marching from the Valley. That was secure, at least enough until they arrived in force.

"The Dawn Templar and Knights of Iris will head to the north along the Tower Road, we will arrive in Diohart and with any forces we can find we will secure the northern entrance. From there it will be simple to advance into the Valley. Ulfraden will be the main target of the assault, and once the werewolf is dead we will converge on the rest of the Valley and wipe out any resistance that remains." Celestine ordered.

"It will be difficult to coordinate if the Valley is in enemy hands, we will need to be precise when we strike." Claudia said.

"There is no need to worry, I will handle communicating between the forces, I will notify everyone when it is time to strike." Celestine said.

"My Lady?" Claudia asked, confused.

"You will not be leading this assault Claudia, I will." Celestine said, looking at her Shields.

The room had gone silent, many were taken aback by the declaration. Celestine had not taken to the field or left this city in decades, she had not fought in a major battle in the last century, and now she was going to lead from the front. It was a shock, one that inspired and scared many in the room.

"Y-your Majesty, you cannot go into battle!" Alicia had lost her composure for a moment, her ire forgotten as she tried to regain her wits.

"I will, I promised that werewolf I would come for him, and I will not make myself out to be a liar." Celestine replied, rising from her seat. "Once the werewolf is dead I want you all to begin securing the region, village by village, province by province, wipe out any resistance you find. Capture anyone of value, and most of all, find Olga Discordia."


The army had been assembled.

The Dawn Templar in all their glory, six hundred Knights on horseback, all in freshly polished armour and neatly groomed horses. They stood as vanguard for the army of soldiers at their back, a staggering two thousand had been marshalled in half a day. Bearing a wide away of colours to show whom they served and fought for, it had become almost a game for the Nobles to see who could marshal the most soldiers.

But it had been good natured, the many who pledged their support were already celebrating. The knowledge that she would take to the field had spurred them to action, and now half the nobles of Ken had either joined the Crusade personally or were sending their heirs and family in their stead.

"My people." Celestine had called, riding upon her golden steed at the head of the army, beside her were Alicia and Claudia. "Today is a momentous one, it will be remembered for generations and mark the beginning of great change for this nation. We have come together, united like never before, to face a threat that seeks to undo all the blood and sacrifice we have endured these last two and a half centuries. The enemy is in our midst, and we must go to face it, one last time."

A cheer erupted from the soldiers, loud and boisterous as they chanted 'Eostia'.

"There is descent in this nation, within a Valley that has stood under the guard of great heroes. A valley that now holds a festering evil that would see to this nation being torn apart, but we shall not allow it to succeed. For while the Black Dogs are not here to fight by out side, brave and virtuous warriors of the Dawn Templar and Iris Knights stand at the head. Along with the brave men and woman who took up the sword to fight for this nations future. Heroes you all are, legends ready to be made."

Another boisterous cheer followed.

"Stand strong my people, you have the courage and strength to take up arms for this nation. Hold onto that and you shall never fail, never falter, we are the new bulwark against the terrors of the world. We shall never be bested and defeated. For Eostia!"

The people cried out once more, shouting praises to the heavens. For a moment she allowed herself to smile, feeling relief and actual happiness take hold of her heart. This what she had wanted, the people cheering in the streets celebrating their victory and knowing that the hard times were behind them. While it would be soon, once the cult had been defeated, it still left her with a fleeting sensation of pride knowing that things were finally coming full circle.

Eostia had been made whole.

"Forward March!" Claudia called out.

With that the army was on the move, the streets lined with thousands as they gave their warriors a proper send off. It had been some time since she had actually gone off like this, actually road her horse through the streets or even walked them. To see the people and hear their cheers, it was a little daunting, after so long she almost felt embarrassed being in the spot light.

But she kept her head forward, expression all but devoid of emotion.

It would be seven days later that they would reach the northern entrance to the Valley. Only

stopping briefly to greet soldiers sent from Karl who had begun patrolling the mountain ranged that sat between them and the Untouched Valley. Should the enemy try to cross them they would be met with the full might of a thousand seasoned warriors.

Upon their arrival in the north they found a contingent of Black Dog soldiers guarding the pass. The mercenaries were surprised by their arrival. Strange consider they had sent word ahead of them, although perhaps messages have been intercepted like before. But the mercenaries had been reluctant to allow them into the city, hastily saying that it is being locked down due to possible attack.

"These men require rest and shelter, are you denying us that right?" Alicia had barked.

"Of course not! We just can't let anyone in! If the enemy snuck in while we are letting your army in we could have trouble!" The man had said, making quite futile and foolish statements on why they could not enter the city. "Hell, even we aren't allowed back in, we are staying in the town outside the city."

"It is not important, what is important is securing the northern borders, that is why we are here." Celestine said, riding forward and taking charge of the situation.

The Black Dogs seemed to be in awe, having likely never seen her up close before, they likely never would have expected the Goddess Reborn to come to their city. But she had not come to take in the city, she was here for war.

"Your majesty! Why have you come here? Why so far from Ken?" The nervous mercenary has inquired, his name she had not asked for and even if he had said she could not remember it.

"I have come to deal with the rebels within the Valley, and hunt down the werewolf." Celestine said, she had not wanted to wait. "Have you not received our message? We sent it over a week ago, I would think you would be aware of our impending arrival."

"We didn't receive any word, this is the first I have heard about it. But if you are here because of the Valley I guess that is a good thing." The mercenary said, looking more nervous than before. "We have not heard back from our scouts or the forward forces we sent in."

It would seem that before Vault had departed he had erected several forts within the Untouched Valley, and garrisoned a thousand troops there. Most were located in the Deepwood Bough, now remained the Deadwood Bough, but no word has returned from them. Celestine had opted to investigate immediately.

The man had provided with as many troops as he could, as paltry few they may be, but the fact they aided them was more than enough. Their warriors were in good spirits, all save for the Knights of Iris and Black Dogs, who seemed to be put off as they drew close to the Deadwood. Celestine did not understand why this was to case, had she asked she would not have to learn it as they trespassed on these seemingly haunted woods.

"This place does not feel natural." Claudia said, her eyes shifting around and looking for any sign of life.

But there was nothing, the entire wood was deserted, of all life and all things that would live within it. Many were unnerved about being here, disturbed by the many bones and the twisted dead trees that seemed to litter this patch of dead earth. It was almost as if the very power of the Badlands had run rampant through the area, and in truth that is what it felt like.

"This place is cursed, similarly to that of the Badlands." Celestine said, frown deepening as she recalled the similar sensation she had when she first studied the Badlands.

Her powers over life were strong, capable of manipulating and controlling nature and the spiritual forces of the world around her. But this was a power that was a direct opposite of hers, death and decay, dark and cold.

Looking back one could see the nerves of the warriors slipping, this place was wrong and they could sense it. She could as well, only so much more, it was as if her very soul was being pulled upon by whatever foul magic was in this place. Another part of her felt like she wasn't alone, in spite of there being no life around them, she could feel the presence of others nearby that were not amongst the people that had come with them.

Celestine took the warning seriously now, there was danger here and she was worried that what forces they had brought might not be enough to stop it. But they marched on, night was nearing and many feared actually staying in these dark woods. Finding one of the abandoned forts erected by the Black Dogs they went to work on repairing and fortifying it, while she and her personal cadre of soldiers marched to Ulfraden.

"Should we not bring more soldiers?" Alicia asked, there was nervousness in her tone.

"No, we shall be enough." Celestine replied.

She had not expected Alicia to become nervous, perhaps her previous fight with the werewolf had spurred some dark memories she did not wish to remember. Perhaps it had been this place as well, sapping the light and bravery of those around them, for it had only been in these woods that Alicia had voiced her doubts on facing this creature.

She had felt it as well, when passing by the ruined villages, finding them littered with bones of humans and orcs. It had caused her much sorrow to see the many homes and people that had been torn apart, obviously attacked by orcs. A part of her had wondered at the time if much of the Valley had become like this, that this dark miasma that had permeated this forest had also swallowed the rest of the Valley. Perhaps that is why the people are so vengeful, so morose, they had been taken in by despair.

She questioned her coming here, marshalling these forces. Was she doing the right thing?

She had steeled herself before she could doubt herself, her reasons were not to be questioned. This place played with the mind and ate away at ones resolve, she would need to redouble it before they reached Ulfraden.

The description given by Maia and Alicia did not do enough justice, the stench was overpowering and the wall of corpses stole the courage of their best. Even the most vainglorious of her forces that had boasted at the idea of slaying rebels and heretics lost their nerve at the sight of the wall.

"By the gods? What monster could have done this?" Ilia Pearmond said, unable to do anything but stare up at the mound of corpses in terror

"The monster we come to face." Claudia said aloud, strain in her words as she herself fought down her revulsion and dread.

Celestine felt fear many time in her life, but the primal fear then was overpowering that it nearly stole her resolve to continue forward. The wall was composed of thousands of corpses, it proved the superiority of the enemy she was about to face. That no matter how many thousands came forward, no matter how powerful they may be, they were just another dead man waiting to be piled upon the wall.

It was a clear warning of what was to happen to anyone that cross it.

"Your Majesty." Claudia whispered, placing a hand over her own and shaking her from her thought. "Do you wish to continue?"

Celestine didn't know if she should lead the charge or not, if she had the strength or will to see this through. But looking up to the very top of those walls, she found not just orc bodies there, the corpses of hundreds of Black Dogs mercenaries were placed there. Rotting and turning green, it was a sickening sight.

"These men are dead because of that werewolf, because I did not stop it when I had the chance. I need to make amends for their deaths." Celestine said, raising her hand she order their forces forward.

Marching into the village, they kept their heads high and their eyes forward, ignoring all else as they rode towards the manor. Celestine moved for the doors, Alicia and Claudia by her side, and with a single burst of magic she forced the door open. They had entered in a mad rush to take the enemy by surprise, their forces charging in with weapon drawn and war cries on their lips.

Expectations were that they would crash into the ranks of an army of cultists, madmen and woman who performed arcane demonic rituals and performed blood sacrifices. Others that had been here before only expected the werewolf, sitting at the end of the manor bathing in the afternoon sunset. Waiting for them patiently.

It didn't matter who or what was before them, they were ready for a fight.

But there was no fight to be had.


Days passed.

They moved from Ulfraden to Sturmholz and found no one, and then to Pretoria where not a soul was discovered. Scouts were sent out. To Drownholme, Augaglade, Vistapool, Lunaalden, Besalt Clearing, Tempers Crossing, to everywhere that was within reach. No villagers were found, not a grain of wheat or a bag of fertiliser, or even so much as a chicken was discovered.

Completely abandoned, no signs of where they had fled to or when.

They began to broaden their search, coordinating with their forces in the south to find the heretical cultists and their leaders. Celestine had remained in Pretoria for several days, in constant communication with the Mercenary Queen and Luu-Luu trying to search for any signs of life. They moved between villages, at one point using them as bases to explore the surrounding areas. It had gone on for nearly a week, constantly searching up and down the Valley looking for any nook and cranny where someone could hide.

In the end it had proven to be wasted effort, and soon enough they had all gathered in Pretoria. Luu-Luu and Maia bringing their armies up from the south, and Claudia returning from another patrol in the Deadwood. The news they brought was well known, it had been consistently given each day, but to hear it one final time had finally broken the resolve of the army.

Twenty three villages, twenty thousand settlers, all gone.

"They must have gone over the mountains, there is no other way!" Alicia barked, looming over the map and her hand pointing to the ranges to the west. "We should send forces into the mountains to search for them!"

"They are not large ranging mountains, the path through it is narrow and not easily traversable, twenty thousand people could not cross those mountains easily or quickly." General Torro said. "Besides, they could not survive there for long, this time of year would be too cold. Also, we have sent people up there already, there is nothing there."

Celestine had been in constant communication with all her forces, including the Regent of Karl who was patrolling the base of the mountains with his army. There had been nothing to report on his end, nothing had crossed the mountains as far as he was aware. While the path on the other side of the mountains was not known, it was suspected that the pass was close to the Fen Foothills and Lake.

"Then where did they go?" Alicia said, her glare landing on the Black Dog mercenary captain. "Did they sneak by the Black Dogs?"

"Hey! We didn't see a damn thing, besides we have been on the border of those forests for months now, we haven't seen anything come out of those woods. Nothing has gone in or come out in the last two months." The mercenary said.

"What about through the Greenway Pass? We have not heard from Kaguya in some time, nor have we heard from Zelindo. If they did not receive our message as Diohart did, it is possible that they are unaware of our mission." Claudia said.

"They intercepted our missives, they knew what we were about to do. They must have launched an attack and pushed their way into Ansur." Celestine mused, that was the likely scenario and only one that made sense. "If Zelindo was caught unaware and their forces depleted they likely would not stand a chance against twenty thousand people. Farmers or not."

The most concerning part of this was that Kaguya had not reported in.

Her forced had been meant to arrive in Pretoria and guard the Greenway Pass for possible escapees. Word was sent ahead of them so that the Samurai had ample time to gather their forces and meet their leader in Zelindo before advancing to take Pretoria.

Instead they found no one here on arrival, or any signs of them even having been here. Messages had been sent to Zelindo since then, and any attempt to summon Kaguya through magical means had failed, there has been no reply from them as of yet. It had become a minor concern at first, but as realisation set in they knew that something was amiss, something that might mean their fellow Shield Knight was in danger.

"We should send soldiers, a force to move through the Valley and go to Zelindo to appraise us of the situation. The longer we wait the harder it will be for us to act." Claudia said.

"Then go, take your Knights, all of them, and get to Zelindo. Find out what has happened to Kaguya." Celestine ordered.

Claudia had departed that afternoon, not willing to waste a night when it was possible that the enemy they were after could be on the other side of the mountains. If anything happened she would report back, but for now they were left with nothing to do, although there had been a breakdown in ranks since this debacle began.

The cultists seemed to have been the glue that solidified everyone's comradely, now it seems that with nothing to vent their frustration they were looking to expel it upon one another. It led to several cases of duels taking place, sanctioned or not, and even brawls between nobles and their conscripted soldiers.

Two more days and they were on the verge of a riot, attempts by Maia and Alicia to keep the peace had failed. The men wanted to fight, they had come here for it and they were not getting what they wanted. Maintaining the army was difficult, and if nothing changed soon they would be looking at possible mutiny.

A messenger had come from the Valley, a Dawn Templar had rode back into Pretoria and bore news from Zelindo. It did little to brighten everyone's mood, the first part of the message was relieving and vexing at the same time.

Claudia reported that the Cultists had not escaped through the Greenway Pass, reporting that Samurai General Kazumoto had been guarding the pass for the last twelve days. They had been marshalling their forces for some time over the last two weeks and nothing has come about from it. While it had caused many to be disgruntled about the situation it was what was reported next that caused disbelief to flood through the army ranks.

"Where is Lady Kaguya?" Celestine asked, sitting in the command tent with most of her command staff.

"Zelindo, she is in Zelindo." Ilia replied. "She has been in the city for the last week and a half."

"Why has she not moved as instructed?" Celestine asked.

Kaguya was meant to move her forces into the Valley and secure Pretoria, her actions could have had serious consequences. Right now many still believed that the enemy had escaped through the Greenway Pass, that was the only logical explanation, although some had thought they had escaped past Maia and Luu-Luu down south. Blame mostly cast upon the Halfling, who complained that the army she had was too small and her forces had been barred from coming north when she tried to call for them.

While many did not complain that Luu-Luu and the Iron Legion were not present, some thankful for it, Kaguya's absence from the Valley had been noted by many. At first many suspected she was running late due to the sheer distance she had to travel to reach her Fortress, which was double the distance between Ken and Ansur. But after her lack of response and no sign of her forces many had thought she and her warriors had been slain in battle.

Now it seems she has decided to neglect her duties and remain in Zelindo.

"It is not like Kaguya to waste time like this, and it is neither her way to neglect her duties when they are given to her. What is she doing in Zelindo? Why did she not follow my orders?" Celestine asked, trying to be impartial so not to cause a stir.

Her words carried weight, and if she looked unfavourably on anyone it could lead to that person becoming a pariah. Many Nobles have lost their sway in the government because of her words, even a simple off-handed comment can have lasting ramifications. To say anything negative about a Shield, that was inviting all kinds of trouble.

"I have not spoken with her directly, but I was sent back to report what is known." Ilia said. "It seems that Kaguya entered Zelindo with her forces to capture the imposter Shrine Priestess, but has been unable to find her. Instead she has begun searching the city for her, that is as much as I am privy to. Claudia sent me back to inform you, she is currently in talks with the Nobility and Kaguya."

"She ignores her mission." Alicia said.

"Must have been shaken up about that Shrine Priestess, can't blame her really, I would want the head of anyone that impersonated a close friend." Maia whispered back.

"What did Kaguya say to you? To Claudia?" Celestine inquired, she needed answers.

"I did not speak with Kaguya, and neither had Claudia before I was sent back. We were barred from the city." Ilia said. "The Shrine Maiden has taken full control over the city, it seems she is trying to root out the imposter. Based on what we could hear she is tearing the place apart, and it seems that the people are being displaced by it as well."

Murmuring broke out, many were surprised by the revelation, Shrine Maiden Kaguya had taken over Zelindo and was searching the city for the imposter? She had forsaken her mission and gone after the imposter due to some personal vendetta? Celestine had to fight down her frustration, something that had been slowly growing worse with each passing day.

This was turning out to be a very unproductive Crusade, their enemy was nowhere in sight, the nobles were fighting amongst themselves, and now her Shield Knight was ransacking a city looking for someone. Kaguya had a very fragile place in the Alliance, even more delicate than Luu-Luu's, she would have hell to pay when this was over.

Celestine couldn't understand it, going out of her way to take over a city and defying orders? This was unlike her, was capturing the imposter so important that she would risk alienating herself from Eostia and risking having her privilege as a Shield Knight striped away? Something Celestine would be happy to oblige at the moment, she was in no mood for continual mistakes. Kaguya has already risked the safety of Ansur with her negligence and now she overstepped her authority in taking over a city she had no right to take.

"Send word back to Zelindo, now, I want Kaguya standing before me by tomorrow at dawn. She will answer to me and everyone here for this transgression." Celestine ordered, sending the Dawn Templar away.

Ilia was out of the tent for only a moment before they were whispering, everyone putting together whatever little theories they could come up with.

Many felt that the Shrine Maiden was making a power play, attempting to take Zelindo for herself, to expand her influence and that of her Empire. Others suspecting she was using the city for her heretical black magics. Baseless rumours and speculation that had been recycled from pervious attempts to slander her.

"Enough, when Kaguya arrives she will explain her actions to us all, but remember, she is a Shield Knight and I will have no disrespect directed to them. Understood?" Celestine ordered.

They complied immediately, knowing not to stroke her anger and risk being on the receiving end of her ire. The last man that tried that had been threatened with beheading, last she heard he was now the lowest of the low and no one risked association in fear of their heads coming off by association. Even if the odds of his head coming off are next to zero.

"Then return to your duties, and be ready to march at a moments notice, if the enemy is in Ansur we will depart for the region as soon as we have confirmation." Celestine stated, rising from her chair and departing.

She wasn't in the mood for fanfare, she needed some privacy to relieve her stress. Maybe a bath as well, that would at least allow her to unwind before tomorrow.


Celestine felt insulted, and she was certain that everyone else was as well.

She had demanded Kaguya come to Pretoria immediately and answer for her actions and instead she sent someone else in her place. That was a grave insult, everyone believed that to ignore or skew the words of the goddess was akin to treason. Right now Kaguya was defying her words and the people knew that.

"I know you, General Kazumoto Machijiri, you are the leader of the Samurai of Rad." Celestine said, hiding her irritation. "Why has Kaguya not answered my summons, and instead sent you in her place?"

"Miko Kaguya cannot leave Zelindo, she has declared marshal law and taken control of the city. She will not be able to leave it, not while she needs to be there." Kazumoto replied, the words alone made those around her forget their place.

"What is the meaning of this? What right does that foreign priestess have in taking one of our cities, she had no right!"

"This is treason, that woman oversteps and now she disrespects the Goddess further by not coming to face us!"

"Enough." Celestine ordered, turning back to the General. "I do not believe Kaguya would do something so brazen and disrespectful on purpose, that is my hope. What you say next will either dash that hope away or allow it to remain. But I expect an answer. Why has Kaguya taken over Zelindo? What circumstances could she possible have to do this?"

"Read this, it shall explain everything." Kazumoto said, presenting a scroll to Celestine.

Breaking the wax seal Celestine examined the message.

To Lady Celestine Lucross, Goddess Reborn and High Queen of Eostia,

I send this letter to explain my actions, which I can not claim to be wholly innocent or without personal motivations. But I assure you that what has been done up to this point has been for the good of this nation.

I entered this city searching for an imposter, holding the name of a dead Shrine Priestess. A companion and friend, and my honour and heart could not allow myself to step past this city and not find the one who would deface one of my treasured Priestesses. I have forsaken my mission to protect the pass, and while no word has reached me of the enemy attempting to escape through there has reached my ears, it changes nothing.

I put this before the task you set before me, searching for one person to satiate my personal desires over the safety of Eostia. In the end I have failed in both. The one I seek has fled from the city, escaping my clutches before they could face me and answer for their actions.

In my grief I searched the city, scouring its deepest depths and crevices to try and locate this imposter. Unable to let go of my pain to see that it was a futile affair. But that had allowed me to discover something, allowing me to see clearly once more and place my own desires second compared to the safety of this nation.

Where I was guided by personal desire, now I am on the path of justice with the intent to root out the corruption I have found…

Celestine furrowed her brow, corruption?

I have discovered evidence, near irrefutable, that the Nobles of Zelindo are involved with illegal activities that border on high treason. I discovered a warehouses, filled with military provisions, records from the Nobles own documentation's show that they are illegally held. But more concerning was that their food stores are stocked with many such provisions.

This is but one of the crimes to be discovered.

"Impossible." Celestine said, unable to take her eyes off the letter and the name of every unforgivable crime that had been committed in that city. "This must be a mistake, it cannot be true."

Slavery

Murder

Rape

Those were but a few of the listed crimes, the most serious in her opinion. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts, as she read further the cold dread settled in her stomach. How could this be true? How could any of it be true?

The rage she had been consumed by the last few weeks had evaporated as she read the letter. Her mind going back to the many accusations that had been levelled against the nobility all those month ago. By the same people she was hunting at this very moment. By the same beast she had said she would hunt down and kill.

People she doubted only because she trusted the word of her Shields. The same who had advocated destroying them, who convinced her that they were liars. That their words could not be trusted over their own.

"Miko-Kaguya is not mistaken, she has discovered several storehouses filled with military provisions, along with a warehouse filled with slaves." Kazumoto replied. "She wishes you to come to Zelindo, to see for yourself."

Gone was the tension and murmuring of conspiracy from the nobles, no longer was their gaze and attention focused on Kaguya. Now they stood in numb shock knowing that the entire city of Zelindo was involved in treasonous activity.

"Gather the men, we are leaving." Celestine ordered.


Celestine had never known decadence, especially that which permeated through Ansur. Most of the northern reaches of the region were untouched by the collapse of the old Ansur regime. Only around the city that took the name of the region bore the brunt of the collapse, and Celestine had often thought that it was the only one to suffer because of it.

"Your Majesty, please, this way." Claudia said, guiding Celestine and her forces through the city.

People lines the side of the muddy and filth laden streets, starving and despairing, looking on with wonder and shock. Some were weeping, and Celestine did not have the heart to think that they were weeping because she was here. This place was broken, diseased and falling apart. What had happened?

"I had not thought that Zelindo was also like this, I had thought it to be better." Celestine said.

"Neither did I." Maia had muttered beside her. "The food shortage, that's the reason, it has to be."

The mercenary Queen had been muttering along those lines many time, often within earshot of herself. She wondered if Maia was trying to tell her something, make her realise something important. But Celestine could not begin to decipher her meaning, her only focus was on meeting Kaguya and seeing for herself what had transpired. To see this evidence for herself.

They came to the very entrance to the inner District, Samurai stood guard instead of the Hunters. A clear signs that even the Hunters may be involved in whatever corruption was afoot in the city. The contrast between the inner District and Outer was plain to see. This is how Celestine remembered Ansur from fifty years ago, paved streets with incense filling the air and having many bright colours.

This is how she remembered it. A pretty picture to cover up the foul things that lurked beneath the surface.

The Samurai moved in groups through the streets, raiding house after house and dragging out people. When asked what was going on, she was informed that these people are involved in profiting off prostitution of slaves.

"We do not know how many are involved, but Kaguya has said that the majority of the upper district is guilty of at least knowing." Claudia said, looking around with a frown as another house was raided.

A man was pulled out, screaming and shouting to be let go, demanding they release him. He was a noble, the big belly and jewels on his fingers and neck showed he was well off, more than could be said of the people in the lower districts.

They entered the palace, finding the long hall draped with finery. Kneeling along one wall was around a hundred men and women, all of them in chains and of the noble class. Sitting upon the high chair at the very end of the hall was Kaguya, passing judgement upon one man who was forced to kneel before her.

"Lord Undercroft, you have profited from slavery and extortion, committed untold numbers of rapes and violence against woman. I have evidence of the transfer of gold to several of the suspects we now have here for owning slaves. Raids on your property and storehouses owned by yourself show you have over eighty-seven woman as slaves, seventeen of which are children." Kaguya said.

"You have no authority here! You cannot charge us with anything you foreign bitch! Release me!" The Noble said, his chin jiggling as he shouted.

"No, but the Goddess herself will." Kaguya said, a snide remark such as that was uncommon to hear from Kaguya.

But the expression she wore, the deep frown and fiery look in her eyes spoke of her anger. Hidden well, but the mask of indifference was beginning to crack. Rising from her seat the Shrine Maiden bowed towards her, head low and respectful and in clear deference.

"Lady Celestine Lucross, I thank you for coming on such short notice and without properly inviting you. But as you can see, the city is in turmoil." Kaguya said.

Celestine looked on, walking forward gracefully and taking a seat upon the throne. She looked at the man before her, indifference was shown on her face but deep down she was far from calm.

"You have been holding trial on these men?" Celestine inquired.

"Yes, I have already prosecuted ninety one others, these are the ones we have already rounded up, more will be coming soon. Once we find them." Kaguya said.

Celestine pondered that for a moment, nearly a hundred had been found guilty, and a hundred more waited judgement. How many she wondered were innocent? Were there any who were innocent.

"This is all a lie, it has been planted to implicate us of wrongdoing! We are innocent oh Goddess Reborn!" Lord Undercroft cried out, begging her for mercy, shouts that came from many others on the wall.

Celestine barely heard them, her mind in a flurry as she tried to figure out how this had slipped past the notice of her two Knights. Maia and Alicia should have realised something, they should have said so, they mentioned a food shortage and that the people were starving in Zelindo but not to this level. Maia had said she had checked the food stores and warehouses, looked into the claims of criminal activity and found nothing irregular or substantiar.

They said it would all be alright, that nothing was wrong, that they had been lied to.

Looking at her two Knights she found both of them in states she is not accustomed to seeing them in. The Mercenary Queen was quiet, having a terrified look in her eye, what she seemed so afraid of could not be guessed upon. Alicia however seethed, quiet and brooding, she looked as if she wished to speak, but something held her back.

"My Queen, should we not put a hold these proceedings? Along with looking back onto the previous trials to make sure they were carried out properly?" General Rollo said.

"Are you questioning my ability to preside over a trial?" Was Kaguya's neutral response.

"I mean no offence, but this is a matter for Eostia, these are our people. Truthfully it would be better if one of their own countrymen oversaw the trial." Rollo responded, but there was hidden meaning behind this, something Celestine did not have time to bother with.

"Kaguya, continue with the sentencing, I wish to observe and decide if you are capable." Celestine said, leaning back and watching as Kaguya went to work.

The evidence was extensive, showing that without a doubt Undercroft was guilty of multiple counts of slavery and theft along with murder. She listened, hearing all the details, list of accomplices and those connected to Undercroft were stated. In fact she had come back to multiple other cases that incriminated Undercroft and all but surely would see him executed.

But it was when that one such accomplice was mention that the trial was interrupted.

"Bullshit! There is no way the Black Dogs are involved! Vault is not a traitor and he sure as hell isn't a slaver!" Maia yelled. "Where the hell did you even get this evidence? Out of thin air! There is no way it is true."

"The facts speak for themselves, we have found these documents to corroborate physical evidence as well. There is no reason for me to doubt they are untrue." Kaguya replied.

The argument continued on from there, Maia shouting denials and Kaguya rebuffing her claims. But Celestine barely heard them, her only thoughts returning to the words given to her by the werewolf. The night he had entered her chamber, made tea for her, and promised to bring peace to her nation he had demanded little in return.

He wanted her to look into Zelindo herself, to go there and search out the evil and rot that was present. She had tried to say that Alicia and Maia had been unable to find such wrongdoings, but he had rebuffed her claim.

"They were blinded by their own personal feelings, but you will be able to see things clearly. Go to Zelindo and do this for me, I will return Olga Discordia to you and end this war. And you can mark the end of this conflict with the removal of the last remnants of corruption in this nation. You will have your perfect nation, if only you do this one simple request."

Celestine looked to Alicia, she had spoken up now.

"This trial ends here, I do not doubt that there is guilt in this city but to find it as you have tells me you should not be leading this. Hand over all you have found, me and my Knights will take charge of rooting out this corruption." Alicia said, already striding forward to take command.

There it was, the source of the festering anger, she was ashamed.

"Of course! The moment the Black Dogs do something you can hold against them you pounce! Going to try and slander Vault again?" Maia said, causing Alicia to stop and turn on the Mercenary Queen.

"Watch your tone, I am not going to let you stop me again! I had a chance to discover this truth had you not interfered!" Alicia yelled. "You deceived me just as that snake Vault! You are just as guilty as he is!"

Maia seemed to back away at the accusation, but her glare remained intact.

"Enough, both of you. This is not the time or place." Claudia ordered, silencing them both. "My Queen, perhaps we should consider having another take over, this is causing some tension."

Claudia was right about that, but she was not going to change things now.

"No." Celestine said, steel in her voice as she rose from her seat and turned to the Shrine Maiden. "Kaguya, remain here and continue with the investigation, carry out the sentencing and punishments as you see fit."

The actions caused a stir in the chamber, many were shocked by her willingness to allow the Shrine Maiden to lead this investigation. But it needed to be her, nobody else would be willing to go to these lengths. Kaguya would see to many of these nobles executed by days end. As was require by the law. If there was one thing about the people of Yushu, it was that no matter ones standing, all were subject to the law.

Right now, she was going to make sure the law was carried out.

No more mistakes.

"My Queen, you cannot do this, allow me to take over and finish this, these are our people to judge." Alicia started, trying to take over once more.

"Alicia, you do not dictate what the Goddess decrees, remember your place." Claudia said, pulling the junior knight away.

There was evil afoot here, and she needed to root it out. But it wasn't just in Zelindo, another place was also tainted by this treason.

"Claudia, gather your Knights, I have a mission for you."

Claudia would be sent to investigate Diohart the following day, she along with all her Knights marched out of the city towards the Black Dogs fortress. If there was any credence to the claims discovered here they would find it.

The rest of the army had been split apart, some scouring Ansur and the rest moving south into the Forests of Divoy. It was once the favoured hiding spot for the Wildlings, it may be possible that this is where the cultists could be hiding.

She hoped to salvage this situation, to put it back on course and prevent disunity and chaos from further consuming the army. But barely three days later she received word from Luu-Luu that Maia had broken rank and taken the majority of her forces back to the north.

Celestine knew where she was going. With that knowledge she took a horse and rode to Diohart.


Last time she had come here her forces had been barred entrance into the city by Black Dog soldiers in fear of an enemy attack. Now she realised why the excuse was so hasty and foolish, and instead of being suspicious she brushed it off. Was she the fool now? Having done the same thing as Maia and Alicia had.

Said Knight had broken rank as well, journeying up north with Claudia. Celestine gave her no leave to do so, her desire to redeem herself was overshadowing all other things. But she made no move to reprimand her, Claudia could do so herself.

Celestine had found Maia in the midst of an argument with Claudia, what had spurred her to try and pick a fight with her second? The Dawn Templar massaged her temple to fight down her own rising irritation, it would appear that with Alicia not in the vicinity her superior had taken the brunt of the Mercenary's frustration.

"This is bullshit! You know she is not thinking straight, she is here just to get back at the Black Dogs!"

"I have given Alicia strict instructions, and I have someone watching over her, she will not do anything reckless." Claudia replied, her patience seemed to be nearing its end with the way her teeth were clenched.

"She hated the Black Dogs! You think that will change because she has a chaperone? That crazy bitch will likely lie just to make herself feel better!" Maia said.

"I have been here the entire time and I have found nothing that points to fabrication, the evidence we acquired in Zelindo is matching up." Claudia said. "You can't keep denying this Maia, we have found woman and young girls chains to beds. Had to pull men off of them, we found a dungeon filled with slaves."

Celestine had to stop when Maia exploded.

"Like hell that is true! I know these people! These men! This is nothing but some damn witch hunt by a bunch of envious prick that feel inferior to their better man!" Maia shouted.

"Dammit girl, why the hell can't you see what is clear to everyone else!"

"All I see is some Princess who hates being in the shadow of their better! And her teachers is whose order is nothing more than a bunch of glorified bodyguards!" Maia shouted.

The quiet fell on them both, many looked on, worried about the possible confrontation that was about to unfold. Claudia had a very dark look in her eye, she was furious, barely holding herself back from striking the Mercenary Queen. Maia must have noticed that look, she shifted back and readied herself for a fight.

"Claudia. Maia. What is the meaning of this?" Celestine called, stopping any confrontation from occurring.

They simmered in their own frustration, but they at least put distance between themselves.

"My lady, Maia has broken rank and brought her forces to Diohart, and made moves to interfere with our investigation." Claudia said.

She had dropped the rank, that was not a good sign. Celestine had to stop any conflict here and make sure nothing got worse. Any attempts to broker peace and understanding failed, Maia did not want to hear any of it. She could accept that the Nobles of Zelindo were to blame, but only them, any doubt or suspicion cast upon the Black Dogs was immediately ignored and countered.

They were once her comrades, she could never betray them, it was clear how much she trusted and respected them. It blinded her to the truth. Not for a moment did she believe that the woman were being chained and raped, that other races were being sold into slavery, that the Black Dogs were part of an illegal black market.

Every time they pointed it out she had a rebuttal, some excuse or reason to disregard such things. It didn't matter what they said or did or showed her, it was always the same. She didn't want to see the truth, she didn't want the world she knew to be false.

Celestine understood that perfectly.

It was during these tense negotiations that they realised a fire had broken out in the city, a large one. Word came that there was rioting in the streets, Celestine had ordered them both to calm the people and evacuate. No sooner had they done so that the city had begun to rise up against them, Celestine was caught between hundreds of angry citizens.

They denounced her as a false goddess, calling for the downfall of Eostia, cries for Vault to return and take the county from the unworthy Queen who would see them all on their knees as slaves. Other foul things were said, the intent was clear, and they had no choice but to fight back.

The battle had been fierce, the Knights of Iris and Dawn Templar had fought tooth and nail to keep themselves from being overwhelmed. It was a long fight to the gates, where they evacuated out into the surrounding town, and again they were besiege from all sides. They fought their way down to the Deadwood Bough and regrouped, having no choice but to leave the city that had united against them.

The Company of the Rose had disappeared not long after the conflict had begun, many believing that they had been lost in the chaos of the uprising. Some even whispered that they orchestrated it, aiding in pushing them from the city and having sided with Vault. Such whispers would spread through the rest of the army quickly, along with many others.

A day and a half later they had gathered their forces and quelled the city, forcing them to surrender after a horrific amount of bloodshed. Much of the city had been burned to the ground, and half its people put to the sword. Those captured had been detained and were being shipped back to Ken to face trial for treason and many other crimes.

Less than a day passed afterwards before word reached them that Zelindo was in open revolt, the Nobles that remained had rallied what soldiers they could and had driven Kaguya from the city. Many of her Samurai had been killed. Kaguya had been injured but escaped with her life, if barely. Now the Nobles have claimed their independence and are declaring themselves to be servants of the Black Dogs and waiting for Vault's return to restore Eostia to its glory. The city was currently under siege, the forces of Rad had remained to try and retake the city, while the rest of the forces had returned back to their respective cities to regroup and think.

That had marked the ending of the Untouched Crusade, now labeled the Ansur Uprising.

What had started with them attempting to root out cultists and rebels had turned up with those they hunted vanishing. Evidence turning up of corruption against the nobility of Zelindo, corruption that was now widely accepted as to be the reason for the rebel forces existing in the first place. And now their nations once greatest defenders have been labeled traitors and criminals, and had been planning a coup against the monarchy for the better part of a decade.

It had turned into one of the greatest scandals in their nations history, one that had tarnished the reputations of the nobility and the Shields as well.

A month since her departure Celestine had not thought she would be sitting here and regretting all the choices she had made. Because the worst that came from all this had yet to occur. For it was not dismissing the charged laid against the Black Dogs or Zelindo. It want not labelling the people of the Untouched Valley Heretics or Rebels. It wasn't even the scandal that had seen several Shields reputations tarnished and forever damaged by this revelation.

The worst to come of all of this did not become apparent until they had returned to Ken.

It would be a week before all the Shields would gather again.


The tension in the Council Chamber was suffocating, there was hostility in the air and there was resentment between many of the Shields. Shame and disbelief clouded their minds, robbing many of reason and stopping them from being able to speak.

"How goes the siege?" Alicia seethed, crossing her arms and glaring at nothing as she asked the question.

Her temper had become more wild, rumours had begun to circulate as of late. Not just of her failing to root out corruption in Zelindo, but even some stating she had caused the uprising in Diohart. Starting he fire to burn the city to the ground, even slaughtering the people there without just cause. How much of it was true no one knew, but the danger of rumours was that it didn't matter how much of it was fabricated, people believed if there was even a sliver of something they found compelling.

The accusation had done nothing but unbalance the young Knights already hair trigger temper.

"Zelindo is still under siege, with their provisions they could last two or three years before they surrender." Kaguya said. "But if Vault were to return from the Black Fortress, I will be forced to withdraw."

Celestine again was filled with guilt.

The crimes that had been revealed to them during this Crusade has showed her that the werewolf did not lie to her. Even if she had tried to denounce them, say they were wrong, she could not deny the truth that had been discovered with her own eyes.

She doubted the werewolf once and it had cost here, it had cost this nation, she couldn't do that again. There was many who doubted that Vault was a traitor, that he had planned to take all of Eostia and become King. But now she was a believer that he was a traitor, that he planned to steal the throne from her and take this nation for himself. Given the nature of his rule over Diohart, she feared for what kind of nation Eostia would become under his tyranny.

It could be only a few weeks before he returns, maybe even days, what hope did they have that they could stop him in such short a time? He had thousands under his command, the other border fortresses were controlled by the Black Dogs. Mercenaries littered nearly every single city in Eostia, they had no legitimate military anymore save for the Knights that numbered in the hundreds.

"I will be returning to Feoh, I must rally my people and prepare for battle, I will not be caught unaware when the Black Dogs return." Alicia said.

"When the Black Dogs come? Are you hearing yourself? There is no way any of this can be true!" Maia shouted.

Celestine turned to the Mercenary Queen, she didn't know what to feel anymore regarding her. After the revolt of Diohart she had been missing, and it was only after their departure back to Ken did they learn she had gathered her forces and had marched back to Ansur. That act alone had been called treasonous by the nobles, she had abandoned the Goddess in Diohart and fled back to her city.

Many had suspected she was planning to pledge her independence and swear fealty to the Black Dogs. No word of such things had reached them yet, but Celestine now had shamefully began to consider the possibility she might actually side with Vault.

Others believed that it had been Maia who had been protecting Vault from scrutiny for all these years, claiming she used her status as a Shield Knight to hide incriminating evidence and denounced claims of treason or wrongdoing. Some even made accusations she had even aided in the uprising in Diohart, aiding the rebels in recapturing the city.

"You have seen the evidence, there can be no doubt, even what was said by those we captured proves to us that Vault is a traitor." Kaguya said. "More than that, we are looking at a slave network in Eostia. We could be looking at a nationwide conspiracy, and corruption in many governments."

"I doubt that it is possible this has spread to the other nations, Ansur is a region rife with lawlessness and corruption, if it is rooted there than it can be remove there." Alicia said, dismissing the evidence of the corruption possibly being outside the borders of Ansur.

"You would think that wouldn't you? Favouring whatever evidence that doesn't make you out to be a fool or anymore incompetent! The nobles mock you for your stupidity! But I curse you for framing the Black Dogs! I hear what they say, I know there is no way the Black Dogs could have done what you accuse them of! You are framing them to try and clear your own name! Thinking that shaming someone else will save you from suffering any further embarrassment!" Maia said, giving a derisive laugh as she said it.

"What I believe is based on what I see, and I saw slavery in the city of Diohart! Those Black Dogs are guilty without question! As is their commander! And it was you beside me that continually whispered in my ear of their innocence! My mistake and shame was that I allowed you to sway me when my judgement was correct!" Alicia snarled back.

"Shut it! There is no way he or any of the Black Dogs could be traitors, this is a damn wrought! The man had fought for the last thirty years for this country, and were just going to label him a traitor because of some trumped up charges?" Maia said.

"He is a traitor, we all know that, had his slippery tongue not tricked you we might have been able to expose him before he departed for Garan. Had you not be so infatuated you would see it as well, your love for that traitor has cost us all dearly." Alicia said.

"Tricked me? I don't doubt him as so many do! And they only think that way because of you, because you have done nothing but insult and belittle a great man! You would stoop to any level to try and ruin him, after all you are nothing compared to Vault! So desperate that you would do anything to elevate yourself above him for glory, try anything to remove someone that threatens that ego of yours!" Maia shouted.

Alicia had shot up from her chair at the insult, Maia followed a moment later, Prim and Luu-Luu were up and trying to keep the two from lashing out.

"That mercenary is a manipulative snake! A vainglorious pig of a man that cares for nothing but filling his pockets with gold and forcing himself on women! And the Black Dogs are no different! A cohort of criminals who think themselves heroes!" Alicia yelled.

"You know nothing about Vault or the Black Dogs! You hate them because you are an envious little shit that thinks she deserves all the respect for doing nothing! You have always hated him, because he was honoured more than you, because the people venerate him above you! You are jealous of who he is! You are doing this to try and escape the shame that is being thrown at you! Along with removing the one person who is your better in every single way!" Maia shouted, glaring at Alicia.

"I do not need to envy a traitor, that man has no honour and deserves only the executioners axe like the rest of his mercenary companions. I intend to do just that when he returns!" Alicia shouted, glaring at Maia.

"Not if I have anything to do with it, I won't let you murder a good man!" Maia retorted.

"Even after all this you still defend him! After all we have seen you think he is not guilty? Perhaps we should consider your innocence then! You defend him at every turn in spite of the damning proof. When me, Lady Claudia and the Goddess were beset by traitors you fled and never looked back. Maybe it is you we should see if there is anything treasonous to be found!" Alicia barked.

"How dare you! I have been fighting longer than your little band of copycats have been around! I earned my rank amongst the Shield Knights! You just got it because your daddy is the King!" Maia shouted back.

"Both of you, enough!" Claudia bellowed,.

"Alicia please, stop, you're making it worse." Prim said, trying to pull her sister back to her chair.

Their attempts to stop them failed, shouts for them to cease their argument was not listened to. Only curses and accusations were thrown around between the two, the once comradely between the two had evaporated and their rivalry had returned stronger than ever before.

"Maia, you must accept that Vault is involved in this. He has been moving slaves all across Eostia for several years now." Kaguya said, trying to convince Maia to see the truth like the rest of them did.

"Evidence? It is a loud of horse shit!" Maia shouted at the Shrine Maiden.

"No, it is not, it is substantiated, we must look to dealing with the rest of the corruption, it does not end in Zelindo. Almost every single city in Eostia is implicated in this, we cannot ignore the possibility of there being dissenters in Ur and Feoh." Kaguya said. "We should work together to try and root it out, fix this issue before we have more incidents like in Zelindo."

"My city is pure! I have no need to worry about such things." Alicia said.

"Fucking typical, you cast blame on everyone else and make them out to be bad but nothing is wrong with you! Always thinking your so damn perfect!" Maia shouted.

"Please, both of you, this is important, we cannot ignore the facts here." Kaguya said, trying to take hold of the conversation. "Alicia what evidence we found shows that Feoh is connected to Zelindo, as is Ansur, Ken and Ur. We cannot dismiss this, we need to investigate."

"Facts? Funny how you point to my city and Ken and all the others as being corrupt and rotten, and yet Thorn has not a single black mark next to its name." Alicia said, narrowing her eyes at Kaguya.

"My people do not condone such things." Kaguya said, frowning as she responded.

"Of course, and we would not think you had ulterior motive here. After all you disobeyed the Goddess and entered Zelindo and by chance found evidence that pointed to corruption in all the cities of Eostia but your own!" Alicia barked.

Kaguya's expression had darkened there, the implication were clear as day.

Celestine knew that Alicia did not have issue with the fact evidence was found, no matter how much it had hurt her reputation for not being able to clearly see issue with the nobles. It had spurred her to new levels of anger to learn that while Kaguya was pointing out many cities in Eostia were part of the corruption in Zelindo, while her own city had not a single association with Zelindo.

Some rumours had spread that Kaguya had gone to Zelindo to remove incriminating evidence against herself. It was the way of rumours to blow things out of proportion and defy logic, and now that was being used by Alicia to try and condemn a person she feels was responsible for her own shame.

"You question my honour?" Kaguya said, her words low and eyes hard.

"I question its existence. You stand there calm and content, attempting to force me to believe that my home and nation is as rotten as Ansur. Yet your city, one you have boasted at having no crime, is orderly and a shining example of perfection, is free from any wrongdoing." Alicia said, narrowing her eyes. "Typical, I have heard you cannot accept even the slightest criticism, you hide any wrong doing or just outright deny it."

"I would find your words insulting, if they weren't so hypocritical." Kaguya replied, her calm words replace with derision. "I thought you above rumours, believing your own eyes instead of words, perhaps I should as well. Many speak of how you torched Diohart during the uprising, it seems that your anger and resentment go the better of you."

It had become unhinged from there, all three of them had clashed with words. Celestine could do nothing but watch, everything she had thought she knew had been shattered. Her vision of this nation being on its way to becoming a true utopia, dashed away with this revelation. And now her Champions, her Shield Knights, were not tearing themselves apart as they succumbed to their own anger.

The room was filled with shouting for many minutes after that, eventually it ended with Alicia storming from the chamber. Maia and Kaguya followed shortly after, their departure violent, each of them had left with scathing words for the rest of the Shields.

Maia had said she would no longer be a Shield Knight, that she would not fight alongside those that have turned their back on their allies and murdered them. With that she had effectively withdrawn from the Alliance, and in turn Ansur had now become an independent nation. That alone would shake the very foundations of Eostia, enough that it could tear itself apart.

Alicia had said something similar, seceding her rank of Shield Knight and vowing that Feoh would no longer be part of the Alliance. Claiming that its honour would not be questioned or tarnished by foreign pagans and unclothed commoners who thought themselves true Eostians. Prim had been hot on her heels, trying desperately to try and calm her cousin down. Claudia had followed after her to try and talk some sense into the girl.

Only Luu-Luu remained, and not for long, only offering an apology before she slowly scurried out of the room.


Looking back on it one could say it had been the greatest moment in the Alliance's history. Never before had the forces of all the Shields banded together under a singe banner. It had been called a crusade, one that would being united to the whole of Eostia. One would think it a simple dream, a fantasy cooked up by those excited to take part in the glorious undertaking.

Celestine had thought so as well for a time. In a moment she had thought that wiping out the werewolf and the vestiges of his cult that unity could finally be achieved.

How blind she had been, so consumed by her hatred and anger that she had gone against her very teachings. She didn't seek to change minds and sway hearts, as she had done for so many centuries, it had been intimidation and mass murder that had been her tool for bringing peace. Olga had been right, she had become like her.

"Did he plan all of this? Was I led astray? Did he want me to come to him in a fit of rage and be brought to despair?" Celestine asked herself, what scheme had this been where he had toppled her from her pedestal.

What motive did he have to lure her to the Valley? What did he hoped to gain from this? Chaos? Disunity? Civil War? She did not know, but in the end that had been the result of her Crusade. They started out unified, a single cohesive army and nation, now it was crumbling to pieces under the animosity between their leaders.

She sat there, looking back on these moments, reliving them over and over again in her mind trying to figure out what to do. But she couldn't do anything, the damage had been done, the nation she built had begun to come unhinged and was crumbling all around her.

Maia's departure would cause turmoil, possibly even conflict in the future. With how she acted towards Kaguya and Alicia it was no doubt that in time there would be hostile confrontations between the three.

Alicia's departure however was one that was likely not to occur, she could not turn her nations away like Maia could. Only King Eos could do so, and Celestine believed Prim would sway her parents to remain in the Alliance and Queen Aurora to convince her husband and daughter to not declare independence. Of the two Feoh was one power that could not be lost, the relationship between Feoh and Ur was what gave this nation its wealth and prosperity.

If it was to crumble than both nations would suffer.

But those were barely a passing thought for Celestine.

This was all her fault.

She was supposed to keep this empire together and bring unity. Now, because of her negligence and desire not to know, she had been the cause for it being torn apart. When her Shields needed her guidance she had remained silent and watched them fight amongst themselves.

"Where did it all go wrong? What didn't I do? Have I not done enough? Everything that has happened over the last forty years, over the last two hundred and fifty, has it not been enough?" Celestine muttered to herself.

Was this the outcome of her visions? Was this what she had been warned of by the werewolf? Had this been the consequence had she not done things the right way? Had she failed to listen? She had no doubt it was the case.

Ansur would split from the Alliance. Feoh would attempt to do so, causing further political strife as the tension between Ur and Feoh grow. Ansur would be going through a massive food shortage and with the civil unrest occurring in the northern regions of the land it was expected more suffering was to come.

All of this, everything that has happened, was because she didn't listen.

No doubt she would be in the same position now, the only difference would be that it would have been two months ago that she discovered the truth and acted upon it. But at least then they would have had time, to prepare and figure out how to sort this out, and maybe the Shields would still be together and unified.

"There was nothing that could have been done." Phelorna said, stepping into the chamber.

"I should have listened. I should have kept my word and all of this could have been different, the reputations of many have been tarnished and my authority has been tainted." Celestine said, unable to look up at her teacher.

"You had no reason to trust it's word." Phelorna replied.

"I had every reason to trust it." Celestine said. "They believed in him, those people from the Valley turned to a monster, people who were taught to fear and revile a creature so dark and evil, and they wished for it to protect them. They admired it, respected it, would kill and fight for it. And now they have fled to parts unknown."

She looked back now and realised just how useful that werewolf would be, its ability and power could have made for a major asset. Now more than ever. Had she looked past what it was, how its presence made her nervous, and how fearful she was of it. She would have seen the truth, of what it had done and what it had always been doing.

It had protected the people, guarded them when no one else would and when others sought to destroy them. Alicia and Maia had failed in their duties, ignored it out of personal reasons, and because of that they never discovered the truth. Had they realised, had they given her even an inkling that something was wrong there and gave credence to the rebels cause she could have done something.

But they didn't. She became complacent and ignored the request, one that would have revealed everything and saw to a different outcome. Now it was gone, vanished from sight, and she knew how.

The book it had asked for, a simple magical tome, the chapter and page it wished to study.

Magical transportation, an art that had been lost for centuries.

"He knew what was coming, that the Black Dogs and the Demons of the North would be coming to wash over this land. He fled with his followers, because it knew what we would do now, that there is no hope of stopping them." Celestine bemoaned, clenching her fist and fighting back tears knowing that after all these centuries it was all about to end.

Only a month ago she had thought that the future was going to be bright. How hopeful she had been that time, and now it was all dashed away and everything was going to end with a single spectacular failure.

"You cannot give up, this nation still needs you, the people still need you. All that you have worked towards and fought for is now teetering on a knifes edge, if you give in and do nothing it will all be for naught." Phelorna said. "Rise up, regain that vigour and strength you had when you marched upon the Valley, use that to lead your people and do what you have always done."

"Nothing but anger, wounded pride, and hatred, unfit for doing good."

"In times like these, you must be ready to go to war than to call for peace, you know that when you went to war with Olga. Now you will be facing someone who is deserving of that rage." Phelorna replied.

Celestine did not need to be reminded of why she should hate Vault, just discovering all that he had done and was part of had washed away all the good she once thought of him. The man was a monster in his own right, and one that deserved to be put down. She rose from her seat, the past was to be learned from, not dwelled upon.

She had dwelled on it long enough, now it was time to repay all those years Vault had done wrong and make him regret ever committing them. They would not succumb to the enemy, they would face it head on and be victorious.

"Call for an Assembly Meeting, and any of my Shields that remain, we are preparing for war."


There it is, done, took a while to finish but I was able to do it, sorry for the delay again but this was a tricky chapter to produce.


Ansur – The Mage Nation

Founded over five hundred years ago, by the Magister of Amargh, the city of Ansur and Nation was a difficult and harsh region to live within. Twice to size of Feoh, yet having the scarcest population of all the three nations of Eostia. The region was mostly flat with rolling hills of grass, which also had hundreds of rivers and lakes dotting its surface. Because of the large mountains that surrounded the region these storms rarely were able to moved inland to the more fertile regions of Ur and Feoh.

The coastal nation was constantly assaulted by storms and heavy rain, unfit for farming and production it was mostly used as a naval colony for the region. But following the collapse of the Ansur Navy some three hundred and eight years ago after a fateful encounter with the Dark Elven navy. Most of the nation had limited resources and value following the loss of the navy, with only a few fishing villages remaining afterwards.

The city of Ansur was one of six cities built in the large region, situated upon a plateau to the south that was protected by mountain ranges. It was a mages city, dedicated to the study and preservation of the old magics of the Armagh Empire. The other cities were similar, each one becoming a centre for different magic and development.

It was a place of philosophy and learning for many years. It was also a place of slavery, having been one of the centre points for slavery in the entirety of Eostia. Following the collapse of Ansur forty years ago most of the people who live here were former slaves to the old regime or the children of slaves.


There you have it, another chapter, hope you liked it. Also I hope these snippets help with understanding the lore of the universe a little better.