AGNOMAKHOS

by Ulquiorra9000

Chapter 2

This is where I make my mark on history.

Valerie, clad in a simple red robe, drew a deep breath to steady herself before she stepped into the warehouse's main doors. Located in the derelict section of Meletis, the warehouse had once been the center of trade and upstart businesses, but not anymore. As the city expanded, the old, poorly-built sector had been left behind in favor of the bigger, geometrically perfect districts. So, countless criminals and refugees sought shelter here, and here, in the dead of night, Valerie would set great things into motion.

Better get started.

Valerie swung the doors open and the hundreds of people inside broke into enthusiastic applause at her arrival. She smiled and waved as the crowd parted to let her approach a makeshift stage at the far wall, and she felt her heart race. So many had rallied to her in the past five years! For the first time, her fellow rebels had gathered like family to make a stand, and Valerie would lead the way.

An assistant handed Valerie a small trinket enchanted with blue mana, and when she spoke into it, her voice boomed across the entire torch-lit warehouse. "Good evening," she said. "You know why we're all here tonight: to take back our city from the corrupted council and Reverent Army! They were once our protectors, but now, they're our oppressors. Am I right?"

At that, the crowd shouted indignations about the council of Twelve and its Army protectors, and Valerie let the people have their moment. Over the years, she had learned the value of letting people's thoughts be heard, valuing their feelings, and treating them like family, so long as they shared her views. And by now, so long after the Shadow League's fall, Valerie's new family had grown pretty big.

"The council doesn't realize that protecting this city is worthless without its founders' pledge," Valerie went on. "The tyrant archon, Agnomakhos, had stripped Theros of its freedom. When one mind dominates the rest, are we truly alive? The philosophers say that 'I think, therefore I am'. But if the council of Twelve tries to control our will, and takes our city from us, are we truly alive? Well, are we?"

"NO!" the crowd roared.

It was true; more and more, the council was claiming the city with its paranoia, scared of another organization like the Shadow League forming within its walls. All voting was suspended; taxes were brutal; and the Army acted as thuggish enforcers, making all kinds of unjust arrests. And the people were told to just obey all that? Impossible.

"It seems that the council hasn't listened to our protests," Valerie continued. "They ignored our petitions and complaints. They see us as enemies of the state, threatening to let outside evils back in. Well, it's time we use Agnomakhos as an example against them! The tyrant archon had created this city... and under his name, we will reclaim it by force. Yes, we wear the name of history's greatest villain to show the council their fallacies. I'm sure that the irony won't be lost on Perisophia and the other councilors."

There was intrigued muttering at this. By using Agnomakhos' name, the rebellion would force the council's mind back to the terrible archon and use that memory to rally the people. Of course, the rebellion wouldn't actually fight for Agnomakhos' name, but rather, use it as a psychological weapon.

"In short," Valerie explained, "we will root out and destroy this great city's corruption, and to that cause, I will now invoke the favor of Purphoros, the god of the forge, the master of will and passion."

A shocked silence fell over the crowded warehouse as Valerie knelt and raised her hands to the ceiling. "Mighty Purphoros, smith of the gods, hear me!"

The torches' light faded as the star-filled darkness of Nyx crept down from the ceiling. Amid the constellations and nebulae, Purphoros' stern, metallic face loomed. "I have been watching you, Meletians," the smithing god said. His deep, firm voice was like the rumble of a volcano. "The cycle of creation and destruction is eternal, a dance of flame and rebirth. Meletis has stood the test of time, only to fall victim to itself. Do you truly wish to see it destroyed and reborn, mortal? To witness its death?"

"I do," Valerie said with awe. She bowed her head and kept it that way, lowering her arms. "We all do. We realize that this city can only be saved by our passion and love, and we yearn for the strength to see it renewed."

Purphoros chuckled, and the sound seemed to rattle the entire warehouse. "I will see if your passion truly matches my will, mortal. For now... go forth and prove your conviction to me. I will be watching. May the true Meletis show itself in the fires of change."

With that, the smithing god faded back into the stars, and Nyx vanished a minute later. Light flooded back into the warehouse.

"You heard him," Valerie said firmly, raising her head and standing up. "Do you understand me, my fellows? We must fight, we must bleed, we must truly want our city reborn. Or else our endeavor will spell our doom. Are you with me?"

"YES!" the crowd cheered, and burst into applause.

Valerie smiled again. "Then we've already taken our first step towarad victory. Let our cause be known as Agnomakhos, and let Purphoros inspire us to reclaim what is ours! And to prove it, I've had some uniforms gathered. Wear them with pride."

With a hand motion, Valerie summoned a few fellows who carried heavy wooden crates from a back room. They pried off the lids to reveal hundreds of red robes, and the assistants started handing them out to their fellow rebels. The room slowly filled with red, the color of passion and desire.

If only you could see me now, brother, Valerie thought, thinking of the Army-bound Alex. You'd see what it really means to love Meletis and our freedom.

*o*o*o*o*

Quietly, carefully, Olivia crept across the ceiling of her brother's private quarters in the first battalion's barracks. Her green and white mana flowed through her legs and feet, adhering to the wooden ceiling like a spider's foot. Up ahead, Kulla had his back to his sister, seated at his desk and deep in a book.

So far, Kulla didn't seem to notice Olivia's approach. Like usual, he had surrounded himself by book in his spare time, and the bookshelf was overflowing with volumes. Crickets chirped outside the glass window.

"Gotcha!" Olivia finally reached her brother and tapped a finger on his head. She broke into a smile.

Kulla didn't turn around. "I knew you were there."

"You did?" Olivia's face fell. "I was so sure that you wouldn't notice me this time!"

"I can always tell," Kulla said simply. He didn't tear his eyes from his book. "Sorry, Olivia."

"Oh, well." Olivia detached herself and landed lightly behind her big brother, hands on her hips. "I just wanted to say hi. So, hi."

"Is there anything to report?" Kulla asked. He had removed his colonel cape, which hung on a hook on the far wall, but he still wore his leather uniform.

Olivia shrugged. "Kind of. The other captains and I are getting more reports of sporadic attacks, all by citizens." Her tone darkened. "They're taking up arms, Kulla. Some of us think we're going to have an all-out civil war soon."

Finally, Kulla put down his book and glanced at Olivia over his shoulder. "I'm not going to let that happen," he said sternly. "We're worked too hard to uphold this city and its laws just to lose it to some disgruntled citizens. The council has authorized us to use any means necessary to uphold its will, and I plan to use that authority whenever needed. The same goes for you... and all the Army officers."

Olivia shivered. "I don't like to use force like that," she said. "Those citizens... they're our people, whatever they may think of us."

"Don't have any doubt," Kulla reminded her. "Without the law, without order, there's nothing. Justice is on our side, Olivia. These rebellious people will burn the city to the ground if they have to, and we will be there to stop them. Heliod and Ephara watch over us. Their strength is ours."

"I'm sure Jaina could handle that part," Olivia commented. "She hasn't used her full favor since the Shadow League invasion, but in this situation... it would be pretty scary if she had to use it again."

Kulla hesitated for a moment. "Heliod's favor is not meant to slaughter others... but it is designed to uphold justice. If fighting our citizens is what's needed for justice to prevail, then so be it. I'll leave that to Jaina's discretion."

"Yeah." Wanting to chat about a lighter subject, Olivia piped up, "So, those new recruits..."

"What of them?" Kulla picked up his book and resumed reading.

"I think they're a good bunch," Olivia said brightly. "Some of those mages and warriors really know their stuff! Some of them could make captain in just a year's time."

"Like you did?"

"Like I did," Olivia said smugly.

Kulla grunted. "We'll see."

"Like that Alex guy," Olivia said, grinning. "Too bad he's in Jaina's platoon and not mine. It would be fun working with him."

"You know that you could submit a transfer form, right?"

"Yeah, I know. But 'fun' isn't a good enough reason for you, is it?" Olivia asked. Kulla, as the battalion colonel, would have to approve a transfer request.

"Not really." But Kulla couldn't help a faint grin. His sister certainly brightened the Reverent Army.

"Still," Olivia persisted, "I watched the exit exams and some of those guys were really good. Such as Alex. I like him."

"I don't."

Olivia made a face. "I guess we'll have to agree to disagree there, huh?"

"Yes. Alex seems exciteable and reckless, a combination I don't like," Kulla said flatly. "With any luck, service in the Army will stamp those traits out. A disciplined mind and body are what the Reverent Army needs from every recruit."

"Yeah, I guess." Getting bored, Olivia threw her brother one last question. "So what are you reading tonight?"

Kulla showed his sister the volume's cover. "Encyclopedia of hafted weapons, Volume II, version 6.3. It's updated to include the latest Akroan javelin and mace models."

Olivia smiled again. "You're going to be up all night again, aren't you?"

"I will. I'm only halfway through, so I have some ground to cover."

"Well, good night, then."

"Good night."

Olivia walked out the study's door and shut it behind her. She was used to Kulla relentlessly researching weapons and martial arts techniques, the better to combat any type of opponent. All Olivia needed, though, was her strength, her sword, and a good attitude, and she could handle anything! And tomorrow, she'd have a patrol with the fifth platoon. Maybe she could show the recruits a few of her moves...