Volume 1 Chapter 9: The Aftermath
Originally Drafted: April 29th, 2022
Originally Uploaded: May 3rd, 2022
Updated On: July 30th, 2022
Big Thanks to: Aperture Zero on discord for proofreading this chapter earlier.
Update: Slight changes to a few lines. Extended the first scene a bit.
/ Tristain Academy of Magic, Infirmary Wards | November 7th, 2558, 1800 hrs. UNSC Calendar. /
Commander Parker lay in what had to be one of the most uncomfortable beds she'd ever been on. The frame was crude in comparison to the ones at home and the worst part was, she wasn't allowed to get up. Not yet at least.
She was currently being tended to by one of the school's healers. A woman in an outfit similar to a cross between a nurse and a nun. She had to lay there while said healer went over many of her wounds sustained from the brief skirmish with the Earth Golem.
"I have to say ― this magic healing of yours. It feels… strange to me." Commander Parker said to the Nurse.
The Nurse looked up from her work briefly to stare at her. "How so?" She asked.
"It feels like a burning sensation, but it doesn't hurt. Like a cooling fire, or something like that. Almost feels like having biofoam applied to you, I suppose." Commander Parker explained, to which the nurse just shot her a confused look.
"You'll have to forgive me for being blunt, but I am not familiar with this 'biofoam' you speak of."
"Ah, don't worry about it. It's just something we use to aid in our own healing." Commander Parker brushed the topic off.
With a quick nod the Nurse went back to applying her healing magic over the Captain. With expert ease, she focused the flow of water over many of the bruises she had acquired from the fight, but she seemed to stop when she reached the Captain's arm.
"Strange." She thought. No matter how much she tried to apply her healing towards that particular area none of it seemed to work. Almost as if the arm itself wasn't truly alive.
The Nurse looked at the appendage suspiciously. It seemed real enough but, given the strange magics these foreigners had with them, she wouldn't put it past them for this particular limb to be altered as well.
"Is something wrong?" Commander Parker asked the Nurse, who had seemingly stopped working.
"Your arm." She pointed at her right limb. "It does not feel natural."
Commander Parker made an "Ahh" sound when she realized what the Nurse was getting at. Giving the Nurse a better look she brought her right arm closer.
"It's a prosthetic. I lost the real one in the war." Commander Parker revealed.
She made several gestures with her prosthetic hand. Something that the prosthetics she was familiar with, could not do. It was articulate enough to be passable for the real thing.
"It certainly seems to be an impressive feat of craftsmanship." The Nurse admitted with fascination. To which, Commander Parker gave a light smile in response.
From the door leading into the infirmary the sound of footsteps against the stone floor could be heard. After a knock and a brief question asking for them to be let in, the door opened, revealing four people: Her Captain, Morgan, the ONI Lieutenant, Redding, the Duchess de la Vallière, and the school's Director, Old Osmond.
The appearance of the first two were to be expected, but she did not count on the latter two coming as well.
"Fine work out there, Commander. How're you holding up?" Asked Captain Morgan as he made his way towards the bedridden Commander.
"About as well as I could be, Captain. Feel like shit all over though." Parker responded with a bit of pain in her voice as she tried to move and was reminded of her bruises.
"I'd hardly call the level of destruction done to the Academy , to be fine work." Interjected the Duchess. She had been furious when she saw the sight of the devastated school grounds. The repairs would no doubt take a while to repair.
"Now, now, Madame Duchess, you can hardly blame her for damages caused by a rogue thief." Lieutenant Redding said in support.
To which the Duchess shot him a glare. "Need I remind you, Lieutenant. It was your device that caused this damage." Lieutenant Redding stood stoically against the accusation. It wasn't the first time he had been blamed for something, and he knew it wouldn't be the last.
Assigning fault towards each other. The two bickered back and forth. Causing the aged Director to look towards Captain Morgan, the man seemed to be at odds over how to intervene in their spat.
"You're not going to stop them, Ser Captain?" Asked the Director. He'd watched intently as the two's verbal sparring intensified.
The Captain just shook his head in response. "No, it's best to let them get it out of their system first. Let them have their discourse before we move on."
"Very well, I shall defer to your judgment." Old Osmond stroked his beard in thought.
"By the way. I've been meaning to ask." Captain Morgan said to the Director.
"Yes?"
"How did you recognize the Rocket Launcher? As far as I know. Weapons like that shouldn't be here." He pointed out.
Old Osmond gave out a heavy sigh. After pointing out that he recognized the weapon the Marine used ― the UNSC had shown clear interest in the topic.
"It's a long story." Old Osmond finally said.
"We have time." Captain Morgan interjected.
"Very well. It happened in my younger days. I was a foolhardy youth, well and truly arrogant. I was caught up in an... altercation involving a fiendish rogue dragon." Old Osmond said while stroking his beard, his eyes glossing over in reminiscence.
"Go on."
"I thought I could handle the dragon by my lonesome, like one of those heroes of old I looked up to." He added with a smile. "But, alas, it was not to be the case. I would have died right there, had a stranger not come and intervened. A man, wearing armor not unlike the ones your Marines wore. But, he had an insignia on his person. A red fist."
An Insurrectionist, Captain Morgan thought. He knew the UNSC wasn't the only ones to arrive here. But, if it happened only a few decades ago ― that would have been not long before his time.
"What happened to the man?" The Captain asked with genuine curiosity. If the man was still alive he could bring him in for questioning.
"Alas, I'm afraid he perished from wounds he sustained before his arrival. I'm not quite sure how, exactly. But, he felled the beast with the Staff of Destruction. A weapon your people seem to have by the scores." The elder mage shuddered at the thought of having that much firepower readily available to be called upon.
"In honor of his sacrifice, I had him buried with the honors befitting those of a Noble stature. Out of my own pocket as well. The weapons he had on hand were split between The Academy and the Palace Royale."
A loud slap coming from the Duchess and Lieutenant's side had interrupted the both of them who were in the midst of conversing. It seemed the Lieutenant had said something out of turn. His visibly reddened cheek, a sign of The Duchess' strike.
"If you'll excuse me for a moment, Director." Captain Morgan said to Old Osmond as he made his way to the pair.
The Duchess, still furious, moved to leave the room in a huff while leaving the rest befuddled.
"What did you say to her?" Asked the Captain.
The Lieutenant cupped his cheek, still visibly stinging red from the pain. "Merely pointed out that she shouldn't cast judgment on us so easily. Considering how the school failed to notice her daughter went missing a week ago and we were the ones who 'found' her." The Lieutenant said.
Old Osmond frowned at the man's words. "Ser Lieutenant, I do hope you're not saying such baseless slander to provoke me."
"I'm not intending to. Just calling it how I see it." Lieutenant Redding responded.
"The nerve of you. Should these insults go unanswered, I'm afraid we won't see eye to eye." The Director declared.
"You'll have to forgive the man for his behavior, Director. ONI is known to get under people's skin. It's basically their job to do so." The Captain interjected between the two.
"Did you forget I was here?" Said the voice of Commander Parker. Who had been largely silent while watching the two argue earlier.
"Ah, forgive me, Commander. We forgot what we came here for." Said Old Osmond.
"Please, just call me Mira. I was never one for formalities anyway."
With a nod the Director agreed. He procured a nearby chair and sat down beside her on the bed. The Nurse had excused herself earlier so as to not interrupt.
"Very well, Madame Mira. We came here to inquire about the fight." Old Osmond said as he sat straight, beside her.
"Lieutenant, begin recording." Captain Morgan ordered as he turned to Lieutenant Redding. "Please, if you would. Start from the beginning." The Captain said after the Lieutenant turned on his recording device.
「 Tristain Academy of Magic, Library. 」
Cardinal Mazarin had come to seek the strange aliens who allied themselves with the UNSC after being informed that they had asked for assistance in the Library.
Apparently, they were interested in the strange new land they found themselves in. As a representative of the Church of Brimir, he had to make sure there was no heresy afoot.
The aliens had been largely silent during the meeting. Only offering a few words when asked directly by their allies. Them being alone in the Library would be the perfect opportunity for conversation.
However, with him was the Princess de Tristain and the Duchess' own daughter. The both of them, having been friends since childhood, had spent the rest of their time here today together. Only to be interrupted by the attack on the Academy Vault .
Upon seeing the Cardinal make his way towards the Library, the pair had asked to come with.
It seems that they too were also curious about their foreign guests. Together they made their way through the vaunted halls of the Academy, towards the library.
When they came upon the entrance leading to it they had spotted two of the Sangheili acting as a guard of sorts. No doubt due to the attack recently. They stood, with their oddly shaped legs, proudly. Eyes watching with scrutiny over the halls they stood guard in.
Their red armor was accompanied with a strange piece of glowing yellow accents throughout it. Their headpiece appeared to have the same such decorations on it as well. The ornate pieces that were atop their own already impressive armor, made the sight of them all the more imposing.
The Tristainians paused in their steps, unsure of what to do. Only to be interrupted. Cardinal Mazarin\s halted approach, with two youths in tow, was seen by one of the Sangheili who held up a hand and asked.
"Who goes there? Identify thine selves." With his unnaturally strange voice. Was that due to a side effect of their translation magic? Or did they naturally sound like that? Cardinal Mazarin didn't expect them to be able to speak Tristainian natively. But he was pleasantly surprised to hear it come out of their mouths nonetheless.
It gave off an odd harmony when they spoke. The sound of these alien's speech was completely foreign yet they spoke in an accented almost bastardized form of Tristainian.
Cardinal Mazarin cleared his throat and spoke. "It is I, the regent of the Royal Family, Cardinal Mazarin. I have come to seek an audience with your leader."
The guard stared at the trio in the hallway with a scrutinizing glare so intense it felt like he pierced through their souls. If that was at all possible.
"Kaidon V'tas wished to be undisturbed. But, we shall relay your request." The guard motioned for his partner to stay there before he went through the doors.
Cardinal Mazarin observed as the alien walked through. The sound of his footsteps growing fainter before coming to a halt on the other side. After about a moment of waiting he returned once more through the doors.
"The Kaidon has agreed. He's currently being taught about your Kingdom's history by a Professor. He wished to ask of you some questions in turn regarding your faith." The guard spoke.
Giving a polite bow, the Cardinal headed through with the other girls in tow who had stared in awe at the alien creatures.
"They truly are strange, are they not?" Asked the Vallière girl. While she had been aboard their ship earlier she hadn't seen these creatures before. Seeing them for herself was an experience.
"Yes, indeed. It astonishes me that the UNSC managed to befriend a people so radically different from them." The Princess said in turn. Though the pair spoke in hushed whispers as to not have anyone overhear, that did not stop the keen hearing afforded to the Sangheili's natural biology.
"We didn't always get along." A voice spoke behind them. The trio turned and saw the person the Cardinal had been looking for. Standing over them at his full height as he simply towered over the three.
The younger of the trio, gave off a yelp of surprise at the sudden arrival of the Kaidon. Not expecting them to be ambushed like this.
"I apologize for startling you. It was not my intent." V'tas responded with an apologetic tone.
"Ah, you need not worry yourself overmuch, Lord V'tas. We were merely surprised, is all." The Princess replied, fanning herself to calm her nerves after being startled.
Accepting the Princess' words. He spoke again. "Be that as it may. It is good to see you well."
"Likewise, Lord V'tas. I hear you were learning about our kingdoms?"
With a humph of affirmation, he pointed towards a table that was currently occupied by other Sangheili, a few of the squat creatures they glimpsed earlier, and Professor Colbert. He had volunteered himself to help translate many of the texts for the Sangheili.
"I see you have been busy." Cardinal Mazarin said. The alien creatures had been pouring over ancient books and maps. Things that would make a historian blush with pride were they to see students do so.
"Indeed, we have. Your people remind us of ourselves." V'tas spoke, to which the Cardinal cocked his head in surprise.
"How so? I imagine it'd be difficult to make comparisons with one as alien as yourself." Cardinal Mazarin responded.
"Many things actually," The Kaidon spoke, "particularly in regards to faith." The Kaidon's eyes looked afar, staring into the distance in reminiscence.
Cardinal Mazarin was surprised. He didn't expect them to broach the topic first. But given their studious behavior shown in front of him he seemed to understand.
"I didn't peg you for the religious type. Your people seem like warriors to me." Cardinal Mazarin pointed out. The aliens wore over themselves, a type of harness which very clearly functioned as armor.
"Both Warrior and Preacher my people are. We've served dutifully in service of the gods for thousands of years."
"Your gods? Lord V'tas, I must tell you, that the people of Halkeginia will not tolerate any pagan deities, should you attempt to proselytize here," he warned "The Church of Brimir and The Inquisition will make sure of that." Cardinal Mazarin said as much to the Kaidon, who paused as he took in the information he just heard.
V'tas glared at the Cardinal for a moment. He had expected the natives to be zealots, but to deny the existence of another's faith, had struck him as odd. Surely the people of this world had heard of the Forerunners? Their mighty empire had stretched across the entire galaxy, long before the Covenant and Humans had come to a head.
"I am not here to preach, Cardinal. That, I can assure you. We are no longer bound to the Covenant. It would be unwise for us to betray any trust we hope to gain."
Cardinal Mazarin stepped away for a moment. He turned to look for the Princess who was with him just a moment ago, but it seems she and the Duchess' daughter had gone off to meet some of the squat creatures accompanying the Sangheili.
They appeared to be playfully interacting with each other. The smaller creatures, although that was only in relative to the towering Sangheili, had offered to tell jokes with the duo. The contents of which, the Cardinal couldn't overhear, were likely crude and inappropriate. As indicated by the blushing red faces of the girls.
"A sight like that would have been unthinkable, years ago." V'tas spoke behind him. A tone of regret in his voice was clear. "My people have yet to repay the sins we've wrought on your species. It is a sin we hope to rectify."
"What ever do you mean by that, Lord V'tas?" Asked the Cardinal, though he was almost frightened of what he would learn.
The Kaidon mulled the question over in thought. While the Great Schism had happened years ago, though still within living memory. It was no longer relevant to their current climate. But, to him, it was as if it was only yesterday. The scars were still fresh in his mind. After all, he was present when the Parasite had infested High Charity.
He closed his eyes in reminiscence, as he tried to piece together how he would regale this tale to the Cardinal in a way he could understand.
"It is a long story." He began to explain. "But to put it simply: we were lied to by our Hierarchs. Led on by the promise of a great crusade to rid the worlds of a pest that defiled sacred relics. Only to find ourselves in ruin when the truth was revealed." He clenched his hand into a fist, as if to put emphasis on that last statement.
"A great schism, one which has still affected our people to this day. Blinded, were we, by our faith. Something held dear to us since the time of our great ancestors. They, our Prophets," he spoke the title with such venom, "bastardized it with their perfidy. Leading us to committing the greatest of sins upon humanity." V'tas spoke solemnly.
"I still hold my faith, Cardinal. But I refuse to blind myself upon the words of those who deem themselves inscrutable." V'tas concluded.
Cardinal Mazarin didn't know what to make of what he learned. He wasn't even sure if it was technically heresy, considering the inhuman nature of these aliens. But as he stared at the forms of the Sangheili, ones who attempted to be peaceful towards them, even to the point of wanting to learn about them personally.
Now entangled in this unprecedented situation. He was left to wonder what he should do. The Kaidon's words had echoed within his mind. Threatening to surface some unwanted thoughts.
/ Tristain Academy of Magic, UNSC Section. /
After they finished interviewing the injured Commander Parker, leaving her to recuperate from her injuries. Captain Morgan and Lieutenant Redding had made their way to the Command Post set up within the academy to discuss the day's events, passing by the devastated area on their way.
The earlier fighting had left much damage. Something which couldn't be fixed overnight, even with the magic the nobles flaunted. They could clearly see that the tower that held the vault was nearly about to topple over, now that the supports which held it firm were no longer in place.
Nearby sections had caught on fire as well, threatening to spread even further damage before it was stopped by some quick thinking on the part of the Tristainian's. Their Water Mages had acted like firefighters and prevented the flames from engulfing the rest of the academy around it.
Captain Morgan had to admit, it was a sight to see.
As the pair reached the entrance to the Command Post, the Captain had set the Lieutenant aside into an empty room.
"I need you to be straight with me, Oliver." Captain Morgan said, he usually never referred to those under his command like this ― but the ONI Lieutenant's actions have been grating on his nerves. "We have fail-safes for a reason. Doubly so, for our fragile power supplies. How the hell did it explode so violently?" The Captain asked the Lieutenant. A hint of fury in his voice.
His patience was running thin with the way the ONI Agents had tiptoed around him and the rest of the crew. They were acting ahead of their own accord ever since they got to planetside.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Captain. I assure you, ONI was not involved in that woman's attack." The Lieutenant said impassively. Though the Captain didn't buy it.
"Then why antagonize the Duchess, and the Director as well? You know we need them."
"Do we really? Captain, need I remind you; these people are woefully underdeveloped. Sure, they may have their 'magic' but what good is that in the face of our superior firepower?" Lieutenant Redding pointed out.
He'd been apprehensive of cooperating with the locals ever since they captured many of their scouts, attempting to pry into the UNSC.
"Frankly speaking, I did us a favor. That vault of theirs was said to contain some of their most powerful artifacts. Denial of assets is vital to any conflict. And believe me, Captain, we're going to be dragged into one."
"So you sabotaged a potential ally? For God's sake, Oliver we don't need to do that. We're not up against the Innies or the Covenant out here. What makes you think we're going to be at war anyway?" Captain Morgan argued. He was furious at the Lieutenant.
"I admit, I may have gone overboard. But it was the best idea I could think of at the time. The Viscount of Wardes informed me one of their own was going to break into the vault so, I rigged one of our generators to explode, should she attempt to steal one to break in. I have been told that the Vault was heavily fortified against conventional means, but they never accounted for nuclear fusion."
"And now that stolen generator blew up in our faces. It nearly destroyed the Academy and killed a Marine. Oliver, if word gets out heads will roll."
"I'm well aware of that Captain but, they don't have to be ours. They'll blame the Reconquista. They're the ones who planned on breaking in in the first place."
"You sound so sure about that." The Captain said incredulously. He wasn't sure at the moment if the Lieutenant had gone mad or if he was always like this.
"Positive. Trust me, they'll come around." The Lieutenant tried to placate the Captain.
"For both our sakes, I hope you're right." The Captain sank down with his rage now simmering.
"But, there will be no more sabotage. Not unless I give the go ahead. Are we clear?" He pointed to the Lieutenant. His eyes weary over the conversation that just occurred.
"Crystal."
「Tristain Academy of Magic, Guest Dormitories. 」
Matilda of Sachsen-Gotha, formerly in disguise as the Director's Personal Secrétaire, Miss Longueville, had awoken to an unfamiliar ceiling. The last thing she remembered was fighting off several of the UNSC and the Royale's personal guards in her attempt to escape. Her eyes widened in realization.
"I messed up. Oh, Founder in Heaven, they'll hang me for this." she thought bitterly.
Her mind raced as she began to think over her options. The Albish woman looked around in the room she now found herself in. It was bare of any of the frivolities usually associated with the Noble guests who come to visit. It seems whoever put her here had intended for her to have no means of escape, as even the windows were sealed shut.
Her wand was not on her person, neither were the holdout wands she kept elsewhere on her clothing. They had thoroughly cut her off from any escape.
"It's no use." Said a voice from across the room. She hadn't noticed the man before but upon laying her eyes on him. She recognized the person.
With graying hair but a youthful face she knew who the man was. One of her colleagues within Reconquista, the Viscount de Wardes. She didn't realize the man had been captured as well. If his presence here was any indication.
"What are you doing here, Jean?" She said, normally she wouldn't use his name so openly. But seeing the two of them in the same situation, it was well past the point of caution.
The man looked down on the floor, his eyes refusing to look at hers. "Same as you." He simply said.
"To think a man of your stature would be bested by mere commoners, of all people. Has your edge dulled so badly?" She jeered at him. Her current predicament had left her in a foul mood.
The captured Viscount glared at the thief. His mood as well wasn't in any good form but he accepted the situation as best he could.
"I'd ask yourself the same question. From what I've been told; you didn't even fight the best they had to offer. Their Knights in armor. Believe you me, they'd have left you flattened on the ground within mere moments." He said as his face grew bitter at the recollection of the memory of his capture.
The thief scoffed at his words. "If it weren't for their explosion magic, I would have gotten away."
"Maybe for a while. But they'll find you. They found our other colleague, what makes you think they won't do the same to you?"
Matilda looked surprised at the information. She knew the Count was missing. She read so from the correspondents the Director and the Palace Royale had sent between the Academy and themselves. The Messager Royale disappeared into the night with his estate in ruins. At the time she assumed the man had run afoul of her benefactors and chose to flee.
"How?" Was all she could say.
But the Viscount refused to answer. He had chosen to remain silent. The pair remained in this awkward quiet. Neither choosing to speak another word.
After several agonizing minutes of silence. Matilda bit her lip and broke the quiet. "Did you sell me out?" She asked the Viscount.
The man turned to look at her for the first time. His eyes looking like a man who had given up. "I had to."
Matilda didn't know what to make of the Viscount's words. It made sense he would do anything to save his hide, but the way he spoke made it seem as if it was out of his hands regardless. The information must have been pried out of him forcibly. She shuddered at the thought. Whatever strange magics these people had. She was unprepared for it.
By the door side a knock could be heard. It seems that they've finally seen it fit to talk. Founder knows how long she's spent cooped up here. The door creaked open ever so slightly. A head of pink and another of blonde came into view when it opened fully. In walked the Duchess de la Vallière with the Chevalier de Milan in tow. It seems the two were here to cast judgment on them.
"Karin." The Viscount said as he saw the armored woman walk through the door.
"Do not call me that." She said in a threatening fashion to the man, unsheathing the swordwand at her waist and aiming it near his face.
"I know not the reasons for which you turned traitor, boy." She said the name she used to refer to him as in his youth with such venom. "But your crimes will be answered for, in due time. At the moment we are not here for you." She pulled back her weapon and sheathed it back into place.
The Duchess turned her gaze towards Matilda. The Albish woman, recognized the power the Duchess held. Having been nicknamed the "The Heavy Wind" for a reason. In recognition for her prowess in combat magic. She knew about her reputation as well, one which seemed to hold true to an extent.
"Madame Longueville, or should we say, Lady Matilda of House Sachsen-Gotha." The Chevalier beside the Duchess said. "You have been accused of espionage, spying for a foreign rogue state. Your actions have caused the damage of numerous priceless artifacts, including the Staff ofDestruction. And for bringing the lives of countless innocents into jeopardy."
The Chevalier announced. Matilda for the first time in a long while ― had been shocked. They already knew of her, and if they knew her family name, they might have also found out about her. She gritted her teeth. Awaiting for her verdict to be passed. Treason would be more than enough for them to execute her on the spot.
But the Duchess and Chevalier remained silent. For a brief moment ― she felt her heartbeat slow. Rhythmically beating at a snail's pace. She tried to calm herself. If she were to face her death, she would do so with dignity. Something the rest of her clan didn't get to have.
But it did not come to pass. The Duchess stared at her with a look almost reminiscent of pity.
"Tell us what you know. What Reconquista has in store for the continent." The Duchess asked.
"Do so, and we may give you some leniency." The Chevalier beside her added.
Matilda sighed. At least it wasn't torture. Giving a quick look to her imprisoned partner ― who seemed to be giving her a look to go ahead. She made up her mind.
"I will." Matilda said with a tone of desperation. "But promise me, you'll keep her safe."
The Duchess and Chevalier looked to each other. The younger woman deferring to the more experienced, she agreed to go along with what she decided.
"Very well." The Duchess said after a moment's deliberation.
"By my honor, I swear to uphold this promise." She swore to the fallen Noble in front of her.
「Tristain Academy of Magic, Halkeginia. November 15th, 2558. UNSC Calendar」
The following week after the attack, and the conclusion of their meeting, was hectic. With many students and staff begrudgingly packing up their luggage for their trip back home.
A good portion of the Academy had been left demolished after the attack. Which meant that those who were able to ― were made to help with reconstruction. The UNSC had offered to help aid the Academy's staff, but were politely refused.
Seeing the damage caused by one of their devices ― even if it was accidental. Had made them nervous to be working around them. Pressing no further, the UNSC backed off in turn. Due to the extent of the damage, burning through the Vault and causing a minor fire to break out in adjacent buildings. The classes were canceled for the time being.
A move which garnered a fair share of controversy with the teaching staff, particularly with the elderly Director. He bore through the flurries of insults and accusations laid against him by many a disgruntled noble. But he handled it nonetheless. Though quite a few of their harsh words did hurt his ego slightly.
Who were they to judge him on his peculiarities in behavior? At least he had the decency to keep it in moderation. He thought to himself.
Taking a quick break he looked outside his office window. The view from here offered him clarity upon the academy grounds from up high.
He spotted a familiar head of pink being led into a carriage. It seems the young Vallière was finally being sent home.
Her mother was adamant about bringing her back earlier, even moreso after the Director divulged to her, her daughter's connection with the UNSC. Something she nearly choked the life out of the elder mage for.
But Louise was quite hesitant to go. Making up excuses as to why she couldn't leave. She appeared to be afraid of how her family would treat her.
Surprised at her daughter's adamancy. She acquiesced. Allowing her at least a week to finish her dues before she would be dragged back to their estate, forcefully if she wouldn't comply.
The week had passed already by then. And the young Vallière still seemed quite unwilling to leave. She made a show of it as her mother merely picked her up and dragged her herself to their carriage. An upset look on the Duchess' face.
Inwardly the Director wished her luck. He wouldn't wish it on anyone to face the wrath of Karin de La Vallière.
Louise was apprehensive at the moment. Sitting in front of her was her mother. Face stern and rigid. Eyes boring into her own. She made good on her promise of dragging her back herself. She felt a twinge of despair build up within her.
She wasn't sure if her mother was disappointed with her or not. She surely would have known by now that she was a Familiarless noble. Barely even counting as one in the eyes of their society. She felt as if her mother was disappointed, yet somewhat relieved at it. She didn't know what to make of the situation.
Fearing the worse, she hoped she would at least be given the courtesy of saying goodbye ― were she to be kicked out of the family for being a failure.
"Louise." Her mother said, her tone as cold as it usually was.
"Yes, mother?"
"I wish to speak with you regarding your… summons." She spoke almost hesitantly.
Summons? I never succeeded in the Ritual. Mother must be mistaken.
Louse thought. She hadn't managed to successfully complete the Familiar Summoning Ritual. Something her mother would have surely been informed of. Especially considering her close proximity with the Director and the rest present during the Summoning Day.
"My summons? Mother, I'm afraid to say… I didn't manage to succeed in doing so." She admitted.
Tears trying to form themselves beneath her eyes, yet she willed it to not be so. She wanted to appear strong, at least in front of her mother.
"Yes, you failed to succeed. Conventionally speaking." Her mother said.
Louise looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean by this, Mother?"
The Duchess de La Vallière, sighed inwardly. She was unsure how her daughter would handle this revelation. She couldn't even bear to look the Directorin the eyes when he told her of it.
After a moment's hesitation. "The UNSC." She said.
"What about them, Mother? They seemed to be quite the curious bunch, if not eccentric." Louise tried to explain.
"No, it's about why they're here." She paused. Louise only looked at her with a blank expression eager to hear her next words.
"My daughter, it seems you did summon something through the Ritual." The Duchess spoke ominously.
"You summoned the UNSC."
Louise felt the world around her go silent at the revelation.
"Well, you can't win all of them over!"
/ UNSC Eternity, Bridge, November 16th, 2558. UNSC Calendar. /
Captain Morgan had kept himself busy during the following week. Going through reports being sent in by the Crew. Some of the Marines he'd sent as forward scouts, the eggheads over at the Science Deck who were conducting research, and the occasional reports from Commander Ferdinand on his exploratory mission.
It had amazed him to learn that not only were things from UNSC space sometimes dragged into this world. But the Covenant and Forerunners as well.
With Commander Ferdinand reporting the odd Forerunner architecture off in the distance on the deserts east of here. Covenant and UNSC wrecks could be seen scattered across the dunes and littered the sands.
He'd ordered the Commander to salvage what he could. He couldn't allow them to fall into untrustworthy hands.
But, as fascinating as this all was, he turned his attention back to the home front. With relations improving slightly since the meeting concluded. They had worked out a deal with the Tristainians.
Allowing them to remain autonomous within their designated territory ― by being treated as an enclave within Tristainian borders.
From within their territory, they began to build a comfortable living space outside the Eternity. The ship, still undergoing repairs in the meantime, fell into a steady rhythm of work and relaxation. Allowing them to finally relax after a hectic few weeks.
The chime of a nearby holotank pinged the Captain for his attention, bringing him back to the present and out of his thoughts.
"Captain, incoming message from the 4th Recon Group, Sergeant Dizdar's Squad. They've safely arrived at the village of Tarbes." Reported Monty from within his little pedestal.
"Excellent, thank you, Monty. Thanks to the Queen as well, for allowing us permission to conduct some humanitarian missions. It should improve our standing with the locals. I dp hope this is an apology enough for disrupting their livelihoods within this region."
"With your generosity, Captain. You're giving them better treatment than their own Lords." The AI cheerfully chimed in. Captain Morgan gave a wry smile in turn.
"Tell the Sergeant that he and his men should help the villagers out as well, while they're giving out supplies. Have them teach the locals how to operate their new farming equipment." Captain Morgan said as he looked over the equipment manifesto being delivered to the Tarbes.
After confirming Siesta's grandfather was indeed a citizen of the UNSC from the Eternity's database. The Captain had authorized the transfer of civilian equipment to aid the village in turn. The least he could do as compensation for the man's family ― who had been cut off from the rest of the UEG for so long.
"Already on it, Sir." Monty gave a quick salute at his orders.
Looking over some of his other duties from his personal datapad in the meanwhile. The Captain was interrupted by a hail.
"Captain, priority message coming from the Fires of Liberation. It appears to be urgent." Said a crewman who had been manning the Eternity's communications suite.
Captain Morgan approached his station to accept the hail. "Patch it through." He ordered.
After a moment the familiar face of Commander Ferdinand came into view. He appeared to have moved himself into low-orbit. If the stars as his backdrop were any indicator.
"Commander Ferdinand. What seems to be the problem?" He asked.
Commander Ferdinand appeared exhausted, the man had clearly been through a lot recently.
"First contact with another race, Captain. We've met the Elves." Commander Ferdinand reported as he sent a recorded log through to the Eternity's end. A series of videos and audio transmissions taken hours ago.
"And they weren't too happy to see us."
Authors Notes:
Spent the past few organizing my notes for this story. I fully intend on finishing it, someday. May take a while but I won't abandon this. I promise. Not without good reason at least.
As for the quality of the chapters. I realize they vary and seem inconsistent at times. Or that may just be my personal opinion. But as it stands. I feel myself cringing at some aspects.
I apologize if it seems like I've been ending sections of this story on minor cliffhangers. That was not intentional. I just seem to have ran out of ideas on how to extend the scenes further.
Because of this, I've decided to change some of the location names on the local's side and perhaps even names. Part of the reason why I refer to some characters with their titles or ranks, is because I don't feel as if their names fit their station. In the future I may or may not change them.
Their backstories have already been set, but the names have not.
Will be updating the previous chapters at some point to maintain consistency.
If you have any suggestions or comments. Feel free to join the Discord server: /sDgJN8F4tY
Thanks for reading. And as always. I'll see you in the next one. じゃ、またね
Updated: Now part of the rewrite canon. Added a few extra bits, but it's not too different. Hopefully fixed a few grammar issues here as well.
Reviews:
snipervtk4: Seems a bit excessive, for now. I don't plan to go that far with level of violence shown so soon.
naufalrakha0104: Aye, I'll try to get to that. But maybe as a side story. Dunno where to put it in the scope of the main plot.
Jamesonboo: Thanks for the heads up, corrected it.
TheDisquietingOne: They'll get the chance to. Eventually.
Crescentation: Sorry for brushing over that bit so far, but it will come up eventually.
MajorSimi: Thank you, for the inciteful comment again.
I Maserbate to Hentai: Fair enough. I tried to change that bit again from the previous chapter. But I didn't want to leave Jenkins' dialogue blank.
Dreg003: If it comes up in a discussion by them, sure. I'll write that in.
Guest (Auditor): Thanks for the corrections. Kind of slipped my mind when writing the Sanghelios parts. Haven't touched 4 or 5 in years.
Guest (Austin): Aye, thank you for reading. I've thought over those questions as well. I hope when I get to write those it'd meet your expectations.
Guest (a fool): I don't know, honestly. Would the materials used by the UNSC for their weaponry even be valuable to them if they didn't know the composition? Genuinely curious.
Guest (Halo): That was the intent. But I couldn't find a spot to place it into the conversation. I could shoehorn it in a later encounter or something. Wouldn't be the last time something like this would come up.
Titan225: No, unfortunately. This is the Eternity's spotlight. As much as I love the Infinity. I didn't want to bring in the baggage that Halo: Infinite brought with it as well. For now, any elements from Halo: Infinite aside from the UNSC's aesthetics in this story. Will be left out.
Guest (Matt): Thank ye, I wasn't quite sure how it would turn out when writing it. But I appreciate your candor.
N1cok: Aye, me too. Hope I do manage to finish this eventually. But I'm writing as I go for the most part. Nothing's set in stone entirely. Got the skeleton of the plot down tho.
ghost777: I was watching the movie while writing. Thought it'd be a neat inclusion.
Dovahwolf13: Great movie. Holds up pretty well.