Chapter 6

Mystical Insights

The Talwar was one of the Alliance's most elegant battleclass ships shaped like a broadsword. Recorded as the most powerful battleship sighted in the Federation's database, no battleship has ever dared come close to it. It's one of the few Alliance battleships that is visible to the naked eye.

Rudra Archewing, an exotic mercenary working on behalf of the Inner Alliance, was aboard on the Talwar to secure his superior who was travelling as a VIP on the ship. What he didn't have in size, he made up for speed and he was one of Alliance's swiftest combatants. Rudra made his way into the VIP room to bring in the latest reports from the Outer Alliance.

"Sir Wakou," Rudra spoke in a monotonous voice. "we've just recently received reports from the OA team."

Wakou, a well dressed and sophisticated gentleman, stood in his place with his back turned to Rudra. He stared out the window shield into the empty space, "Ah, I was wondering when I would hear that. Have a seat, Rudra."

"Thank you." Rudra humbly accepted his captain's order.

"You've proven to be one of the most efficient and trustworthy member of my people. I don't know if it's spirit, strength, or just salary, but I know... i've chosen well." Wakou said very quietly. He was almost whispering, many took it as a sign of there being an esoteric meaning behind his every word.

"I appreciate your kind words." Rudra replied. "The report is from Commander Shin, he is currently working on the Elicoorian Route, it is only a matter of a few hours before the task will take place. What are your orders from there?"

"The situation will tell. We'll wait for further notices, tell Shin to keep in touch... and not get so reckless with his task."

"Yes, such carelessness will only lead to his demise. He seems to be leaving all his tasks to that new subordinate."

"I've heard about him. And I suppose he'd be taking him along on this one as well. Hmph. Dog. Anyway, what happened with the Federation? That didn't go so well, it seems."

"The Argyll's shields weren't durable enough... and the Federation fleets had already outnumbered us."

"I see. Heh heh. I guess even the Federation's best potential turns out to be worthless.

"Still, the Argyll could have easily avoided that mess... if it wasn't for that damn puny Klausian ship."

"Klausian ship?"

"Yes. Supposedly, a ship from Klaus interfered with our task, looks like the Federation got clever and used it to distract us. It didn't retaliate to our assault, so I assume it wasn't a battleship, and what's worse... they luckily got away."

"Heh, it looks like Klaus wasn't smart enough to keep out of the mess. Those guys must really desire trouble."

"They looked harmless. I don't think they'd cause much problem."

"No, we won't ignore our new guests. We'll have to keep an eye on them."

Rudra nodded to Wakou's orders, "Leave that to me."

Wakou shook his head. "The Argyll's still going under heavy repairs at our base. Once we reach our destination, we have other plans to carry out. Give this task to Shin once the Elicoorian Route is complete. It'll give the dog something to be busy with."

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Kirlsa was one of the biggest town in Airyglyph territory, only second to the city of Airyglyph itself. It was also the home of Woltar's mansion, the head of Airyglyph's Storm Brigade. After a peaceful night at the inn, Xeim decided to take a look around town and gather information about any recent events that had occured on Elicoor.

'Taste the Savory Bar' hmm, maybe I can find out something about this underdeveloped planet in here' Xeim thought to himself. The bar was overfilled with soldiers, knights and citizens celebrating toasts and just wasting themselves during their first break. An empty stool was available and Xeim went over to the counter to question the bartender.

"Here... knock yourself out first." the bartender tossed him a bottle of Kirlsa's savory wine without Xeim's request.

After taking a few chugs of the wine, he tasted the flavor in his mouth, and then took another few chugs. He didn't look impressed at all, "Do you have something with a little more flavour?"

The bartender including many others in sight were shocked at his response, "What!" he blurted out angrily. "You say somethin' about our special wine! Get the hell outta here, you ain't gonna find more flavor anywhere else!"

"Hmph." Xeim shrugged as he got off the stool. "Man. Touchy, and I thought they would atleast have a decent drink to offer in a backwater place like this."

"GET THIS BASTARD!" the bartender bellowed furiously.

A few got up instantly to attack Xeim in an impulsive fashion while others stayed back fearing the size of Xeim. One man leaped towards Xeim and got smacked by one punch straight to his right cheek sending the man flying to the corner. More fear and more anger. Some tried throwing Xeim off his feet with sweeps but he leaped in time to avoid being tripped and he simply blocked the wine bottles which others tossed with his forearm which was bleeding intensely. Xeim threw punches and kicks to anyone who tried to attack him from behind, one brittle old man leaped on Xeim's back and attempted to pound his head with his cane, but Xeim rushed backwards and slammed his back against a wall breaking a few bones in the old man's body. Once the fight had settled down, Xeim kneeled down on one knee to catch his breath, he then stood back up and wiped the blood on his forearms with his palms before walking out.

From the clues he had gathered, Xeim concluded that the Alliance was nowhere in this area. He thought about contacting Mirage straight away but he figured it'd be best to move further and inspect a little more to be sure the territory is completely clear of any risks. The north exit in Kirlsa led to the Bequerel Mountain Path. The path was completely clear and Xeim watched his step as he moved forward. The ground just got rockier and rockier as he moved west before reaching a tiny waterfall on the mountains of Barr.

'There's a cave behind the waterfall' Xeim took a closer look and his suspicion was correct. However before he could enter he heard a loud roaring sound from above. An enormous flying dragon of atleast 12 metres in diameter exhaled a fiery breath in Xeim's direction who leaped from place to place avoiding the dragon's attack.

The dragon's elevation was far too high above ground for Xeim to play even a little offensive. He was successful in being able to evade most of the creature's attacks, but time passed and Xeim began to grow weary. He decided to play a little game and wait until the flying beast descended to slash the tough man with its claws, and then landed a quick roundhouse kick to its head after successfully dodging yet another attack. This angered the dragon and it began flying around the area furiously shooting its breath everywhere. The area was beginning to turn into crisp with its flames, and the dragon this time grabbed Xeim by the shoulders with both its claws and took him up with it.

"Gaaah!" Xeim screamed out as the dragon flew off to a separate area with Xeim's body in its clutches. It dropped him in another part of the mountains where it landed on the ground near him and charged its breath to unleash a fatal attack. Xeim wasting no time to get up while having nearly no strength left ran towards the dragon to disrupt it with two launch kicks.

"Hah! Yah!" the scaly beast however did not stop inhaling, which gave its undersized opponent another chance to strike.

"Uppercut!" Xeim launched a rising uppercut with his right fist which was surrounded by a massive force of energy. The force was strong enough to launch the dragon high up in the air, Xeim followed his uppercut with roundhouse kicks that continued to launch the dragon up and down, however due to the massive size of the feral dragon... the juggle game didn't continue for too long. Just when Xeim had hoped the assault was enough to take it down, it got back up and was able to fly into the air once again. It unleashed its powerful breath once more but this time nothing came out. Instead, the clouds gathered in the air above it in less than a second and struck the fierce dragon with a powerful lightning strike. The consecutive lightning strikes showered the feral dragon with bolts and jolts killing it as it hit the ground flat with a hard thud! The clouds had disappeared shortly after.

Xeim was astonished and confused at the same time. He walked towards the dragon and made sure what happened was real. It didn't even twitch, it laid there looking as if it had been cooked while lightning sparks still flew all around its body.

"Don't look so surprised, dear..." a deep feminine voice spoke from behind. Just the voice was enough to send chills up Xeim's spine. "You'll get used to seeing species like these if you have been living around here for the longest time like I have."

Xeim turned to give the woman a quick glance. She was a middle-aged woman covered in black garments completely, revealing only her face and her thin and pale hands. She was incredibly beautiful, with dark waxy lips, eye shadow, and glittery cheeks.

"So, it was you..." Xeim said as he walked a little closer to the enigmatic female. "Are you a symbologist?"

The lady laughed slightly, "No, i'm an alchemist. Alchemists don't make use of symbols... we are generally known for transmutation of metals and invoking the essence of pure minerals. That was... just another one of my tricks. Alchemy is potentially a lot more powerful than symbology, but you also have to be willing to give a lot more."

"Like what?"

"Time mainly, but to be able to use alchemy in the form of greater power and range, you'll need alchemist stones." the woman displayed orbs of different color and texture to Xeim. "Like symbologists use symbols, and runologists use their engraved runes, some types of alchemy require alchemist stones."

"Right, right..." Xeim retorted not the least bit interested in the topic, just when a thought shook him. "Oh. Mirage. I have to contact her, it's been a while. You... have you heard of the Alliance or any terrorist group around here?"

"No..." the woman replied as she still looked down at the mystical stones in her palm.

"Hmm, I suppose there really is nothing here then. Looks like the Federation must already be dealing with them. I'm gonna head towards Peterny... I suppose you wouldn't want to stay here any longer, would you?"

The mystical alchemist ran through some deep thoughts before answering, 'This young man isn't from this world. Then maybe...'

"Please take me along then." she nodded her head.

"Yeah, you'd probably find a better workshop there anyway. This might take a while... I don't know exactly where we are. Oh... by the way, i'm Xeim Juran." Xeim lent his hand.

The gorgeous lady thought of shaking his hand but decided to simply walk past him, "Misty. Misty Lear."