Halkeginia, Tristain, Tristania, the day after the battle
People gazed upon the captured ship of the line that floated over Tristania with fascination, it was huge! Most citizens weren't familiar even with the smaller civilian vessels, let alone such a monster. And not a single Tristanian ship had the power and pride of this one, making even experienced sailors gap at it...
The Lexington alone had more firepower than the whole Tristanian fleet combined!
But with the ships came dark rumors as well...
The soldiers that followed princess Henrietta against the invaders told stories about a how the Albion ships were haunted, that their entire crews simply diapered without any trace.
...and then there was the incident with the demon that attacked the dragoon they encountered...after hearing such stories many a merchant decided that he wasn't going to Tarbas anytime soon, or ever.
Her eyes gazed upon the city of Tristania, the rooftops stretching for miles in all directions, it was easy to see it all thanks their height. Wales was also beside her, naturally disguised so nobody would recognize him.
She would have preferred if he stayed at the palace, away from sight but the prince was getting restless, hiding in a palace room was all well and good but it was still a gilded cage. Between getting killed in Albion and spending his whole life hiding in a small, though luxurious, room he would rather choose the first option.
"So what do you think?" asked Henrietta, her eyes fixated in the distance.
"I don't know" answered Wales truthfully "This ship was designed to have a crew of thousand men, I doubt that the captain was so foolish as to leave it completely unguarded. It is very probable that the strange creature from Tarbas made the soldiers disappear."
When the Tristanian army entered Tarbas they found the whole village deserted. The barricades they encountered were left undefended, blood stains, discarded weapons and other signs of combat were clear to see. It was obvious that something unusual transpired there not that long ago.
But there was no sign of the enemy alive or dead. All they found were discarded muskets and sabers, more than a few showing strange claw marks on them, like ones made by large beasts.
The houses that weren't burning were thoroughly smashed, with windows and doors broken inwards. Inside the building more blood could be found but again no bodies, though there was a distinct stench of rotting flesh.
It was very strange and more than a few soldiers said that the village was cursed and that they should burn the rest before leaving.
The rest simply wanted to get as far away from it as possible...
After they inspected the village they flew up to the Albion ships, inspecting them the situation became even stranger...like in the village there was nobody there, but one big difference was that it lacked the obvious signs of combat.
Nobody had an explanation about that...besides saying prayers to Brimir to protect them from time to time, the soldiers were rather grim and spoke only when necessary. This whole thing creeped them out even if they didn't want to admit it.
"Possible, though we don't know what it even was in the first place or where it went. Well...at least we have some new ships for the fleet" said the princess as she tried to cheer herself up. By all accounts she should be happy, the invasion was repelled with no losses on her side besides a few elderly villagers, and the weapons they collected would spare the tax payer from the burden of equipping her armies.
But still, this all seemed wrong...she didn't know what the thing was but even being near it made chills run down her spine. It felt unnatural, and unlike her unicorns...it felt wrong, like its very existence was an affront to nature.
She felt a hand grasp her own and she looked at Wales. He didn't say anything, just smiled and she could only smile back.
Though she felt bad for his kingdom, she was glad he was here giving her courage and support.
I'm not alone any more...
XXXX
Tristain, Richemont's Mansion, same day
The word of Albion's disastrous invasion spread quickly over the continent, and though nobody knew for sure what transpired in the village of Tarbas it was clear that Reconquista has suffered a big setback.
And though Tristain technically won the battle, not everyone there was happy about the outcome.
Richemont was one of them...he and those that though the same, despised the weak and stagnant monarchy that ruled their country. It was this mindset that made him conspire against the crown.
It should have been an easy victory against Henrietta, the naive child did as he expected. She gathered what forces she could and rode out to confront the enemy...
Only a fool would charge head on against a numerically superior foe in a entrenched position possessing overwhelming firepower, and he knew the princess would do just that.
By all logic it should have been a slaughter ...
The line of Tristanian royalty should have ended on the burned fields of Tarbas, so what went wrong? Where did their plan fail?
Those were only some of the questions that went through the noble's mind as he sat in his study, a glass of wine in his hand.
His musing was interrupted when someone knocked on the door.
"Yes?" was his irate response, he didn't wish to see anyone today.
The door opened and one of his servants entered the room "Pardon the intrusion my lord, there is a guest that desires to speak to you, he says it is urgent."
"And does this guest have a name?" asked the aristocrat.
"He introduced himself as Earl Vance" responded the servant.
Richemont frowned "Vance you say? Bring him in."
The butler nodded and ushered the guest inside.
"Lord Richemont" bowed the other mage.
"Earl Vance, what are you doing here?" inquired the Tristanian noble "it is very dangerous if someone sees you visiting my estate."
"I'm aware of it, but I had no choice" responded the other noble "you were the closest ally Reconquista has in this country."
Figures mused the noble though this is a good opportunity to get some facts "I see...I heard that the invasion failed disastrously, how did that happen? What did we miss?"
Vance sighed "A lot, it seems. The whole plan was working smoothly until the eclipse...then the whole thing went to hell in a handbasket."
"Explain..."
"We were attacked by undead" growled the Earl, surprising the other noble "thousands of the things overwhelmed our ground forces in a matter of minutes. The ships also weren't responding making me believe that the enemy had already taken control over them before the attack on the village. After seeing that the situation was hopeless I used magic to hide myself underground, the things couldn't get through iron at all so I transmuted an iron ball around myself and waited."
"I see..."
"That's not all. As I was hiding underground I had to make an iron pipe to get air in, it was then that I heard people talking. There were three of them, one man and two young girls, they addressed one of the girls as Louise Valliere..."
Richemont's eyes widened at that "Are you sure?"
"Yes, apparently she was controlling the undead, and besides Albion she plans to kill the Pope and King Joseph."
Richemont sank into his chair and thought about this information...it certainly opened a few interesting possibilities "Is there any proof of this?"
"As far as I know no, only what I managed to overhear" answered the other noble.
"Too bad, without concrete evidence that won't be sufficient to damn the Valliere family" mused the Tristanian noble "if such an accusation could be proven it would be the end of the Valliere's as a powerful family supporting the royals. Not only would the crown loose a lot of support but I could personally benefit from their loss a great deal."
Vance then interrupted the other aristocrat "Though legally we have nothing, I don't think the Pope and Joseph would let this opportunity slide. The Vallieres are planing to dispose of them after all...not even Tristain can withstand the pressure if both Romalia, Galia and Albion press charges of necromancy against a single family."
"But we don't have any pro-"
"When was the last time the Inquisition had proof? In their eyes you are guilty until proven innocent. What do we have to lose?"
After thinking over the Earl's words he nodded "You are right...it costs us nothing to try. I will arrange for a dragoon to bring you to Albion. This debacle could still be salvaged."
XXX
Tristain, HQ - one week later
Kirche entered the laboratory without knocking and found Aeron standing over a large table, covered with a white sheet.
The man was singing as he worked on something she could not see.
"Death is sweet to fhtagn. Dance and know that even death can wither and die. Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn. Death will surely come to fhtagn. Dance and know that even death can wither and die. Even life eternal is not time enough to see all the folly and despair of all humanity..."
"Aeron" called the red haired woman, making the necromancer stop his song and look over his shoulder to see her approaching him.
"Ah, Miss Zerbst what can I do for you?"
"We are going to the baths, would you like to join us" said the Germanian flirtatiously. She was dressed in only a towel...and that was actually an improvement since she had a tendency to walk around the mansion nude.
Aeron tilted his head "Not a bad idea, yes I will join you."
The girl grinned as she came closer and placed her hand on his shoulder "Mmmm you seem stiff..." she said as she glided her hand over his back "...is there a way I could help you to relax somehow?" she purred seductively.
The wizard blinked and smiled "Well of course" he then turned around and picked something up "here, hold this for a moment."
Kirche took the object and grimaced when it was placed in her hands "...what is this?" she asked at the slimy thing.
"That?...That would be" he then pulled the white cover off "the liver."
The girl screamed when she saw a woman's nude body lying on the table, her torso opened up and most of the organs missing...she promptly dropped the lump of flesh on the ground.
"What are you doing?!" she hyperventilated.
The necromancer eyes twinkled in amusement at the girl's terror "Some improvements" was his response as he looked at the numerous parts he still needed to insert into the corpse, ranging from small proteum crystals, coper wires, adamantium dust and a myriad of other items...ah..so much work, and so little time...
She slowly backed away from the necromancer "I-I see...well, see you later!" and rushed out through the door, completely oblivious that in her panic she dropped her towel.
Aeron shook his head before he returned to work...
"To life, to life, I'll bring them. I'll bring all these dead men to life ~..."
XXX
Louise felt her muscles relax as the hot water did its magic, making the days accumulated fatigue disperse.
Tabitha as usual had a water impervious book in her hands, going through its content. The bluenette was interested in the arcane magic that the duo taught.
Siesta and Kirche like her simply relaxed in the water, though they instantly perked up when Aeron and Zanven walked out of the changing area.
Both the warlock and the Germanian keenly watched the two nude males approached the baths.
"Mmmm I like the view..." purred the red haired girl, with Siesta nodding her head as she stared at their exposed bodies. The former maid perhaps didn't like or trust Aeron but she had nothing against eye-candy.
"You know, I will have to make myself a harem" said Kirche as she licked her lips "perhaps I can get a few elves, what do you think Louise?"
The pinkette shrugged "Sure, you can have them."
Zanven's eyes widened "L-Louis you don't me-"
"I didn't mean you, there are other elves beside you" she defused his worries
The bard sighed in relief and continued into the water.
The duo of predators were disappointed that the show didn't last very long, once the men entered the water the interesting parts were no longer visible.
"This feels nice" said the wizard.
"Agreed" responded the elf.
It didn't take long for the Germanian to slowly edge closer to two males.
"Oopppss I dropped my wand" gasped the girl as she searched for it.
Aeron's eyebrow twitched "Miss Zerbst, I can guaranty that is not your wand."
The Gemanian smiled "Are you sure?" she teased.
"Let me rephrase that, remove your hand or I will remove your hand."
"I see..." pouted the girl "you know...I can turn into a man if you would prefer it better like that..." she offered.
"No thank you" responded the assassin in disinterest "all that body fluid mixing simply doesn't appeal to me."
"I have to refuse as well" was the elf's reply.
"You two are not normal" grumbled the girl.
Louise had to grimace, Kirche needed to get her hormones under control...or else she won't be able to sit without a cushion ever again...then an idea hit her Why didn't I think about that before!
"Aeron didn't you have a Summon Harem spell in your spellbook?" asked the pinkette.
All eyes turned to the Shade.
"Yes, I do" responded the wizard as he summoned his spellbook and found the page with the spells "here it is."
Both Siesta and Kirche were instantly there, grabbing for the book.
"And I can summon any man or woman of any species with this spell?" asked the Germanian as she red the short description of the spell.
"Seems so."
"Even a giant or a titan?"
All eyes were now focused on the red haired girl.
"What in Cyric's name would you do with a twenty-five foot tall titan?"
"I don't know, but I want one" she drooled.
Zanven shook his head "Humans..." he then relaxed in the water.
For two days now they have been doing everything they could to help the people of Tarbas. Food and blankets were supplied by Louise and distributed by volunteers. Considering how most of the villagers lost everything they had in the battle, it was also necessary to help them start from scratch.
Louise payed out of her own pocket to build new houses and barns that were burned or otherwise damaged in the conflict, naturally it was not for free or else people would get strange ideas. They had to pay the money back, though over a very long time period so it wouldn't burden them in any significant way. The food and blankets were free of course.
As he was relaxing he saw Louise's expression change from blank into one of surprise and finally disbelief.
"Is something wrong?" inquired the bard.
The girl didn't respond as she stared blankly, her eyes so wide that they could have fallen out of her sockets.
Zanven's question caughed Aeron's interest so he grabbed Kirche's head and submerged it so she would quiet down "What is it?"
"I don't know..." answered the elf.
The necromancer felt someone poke him in the shoulder, he glanced to the side and saw Tabitha poking him with her staff.
"Drowning" said the blue haired girl as she pointed at the struggling Kirche.
Aeron raised an eyebrow "You want me to drown her?"
Tabitha smacked the assassin with her staff upon the head "Let go."
"Ah, sure" said the disappointed wizard "you know I could have always brought her back to life."
Aeron smiled when he saw the girl's eyes widen in surprise, not only could she get her mother back but her father as well...
...then she hit him once more on the head.
"Bad" the girl then quieted down "how?"
Before the white haired man could answer, Louise stood up and seemed to be one step away from becoming a Frenzied Berserker.
Having no better option Zanven used Calm Emotion on the pink haired girl and watched the stream of profanities stop.
"Care to tell us what happened?" asked the elf the now calm and collected pinkette.
"The Inquisition just took my clone to Tristania for questioning" responded the girl.
XXXX
Tristain, Tristania, Royal palace
LouiseB scowled as she was escorted to the royal palace by the Romalian Inquisitors that apprehended her in the Academy during lunch. Well, apprehended is a bit of a strong word, she came willingly to see what this nonsense was all about since the Romalians didn't know anything except that she should be brought to Tristania to answer the charges of heresy that were brought up against her for some obscure reason.
Though seeing her classmates smirk at her being taken by the Inquisition for heresy was more than a bit infuriating. Ever since she started to excel in magic the vitriol of the other nobles was redirected in any other aspect they could mock like her height, small breasts and the sort.
The males mostly ignored her but the other girls simply didn't back off it seemed.
"I need to go to the restroom" said the plant to the guards.
"You can wait."
"I waited the whole time during our ride here" hissed the clone "now step aside or I swear, you will rue the day you made yourself an enemy of the Valliere family."
The man hesitated and looked uncertain for a minute "Have it your way, we certainly wouldn't want any accidents in front of her Highness."
The plants eye twitched at the smirking Romalians as they made a slight detour to the toilets.
As soon as she entered, the plant made sure that nobody was observing her.
A second later the original Louise appeared and took the Ring of Mind Shielding from her clone before it teleported to the HQ.
"Let's see what this nonsense is all about" said the pinkette as she exited the restroom.
The pinkette's eyes narrowed when she entered the throne room where the inquiry would take place.
Beside the Tristanian guards, there were also some local nobles present though she didn't know most of them, but the people whom stood out the most were Henrietta and her parents.
From one look at their faces she could tell that it was something that disturbed them rather badly.
"What in Brimir's name is going on here?"she whispered to herself. Louise could think about few things that would land her neck deep in trouble but she was certain that there was no evidence that could be used against her.
"Princess" said the pinkette as she knelt and bowed deeply to Henrietta.
"Louise Francoise..." said the princes, concern obvious in her words.
The kneeling girl frowned at her tone of voice... "Princess, may I inquire as why I was brought here under such..." she then scowled at the Romalian dragoons "circumstances."
"Oh, indeed you shall" said a man that donned the robes of the Romalian Holy Inquisition. The man wasn't physically anything special at first glance. Lean with a small body, but with sharp facial features, and an uncanny intelligence in his eyes "The Valliere family is being accused of heresy most foul" his words boomed over the throne room.
Louise glanced at the other people in the crowd and saw that many were astonished but some had a calm look on their faces indicating that they knew about the accusations. She then looked from the inquisitor to Henrietta. She could see that the princess knew about the charges but she still couldn't wrap her mind around it.
She was probably told only recently...mused the pinkette as she stood up and glared at the inquisitor "What kind of slanderous remarks are you spouting!" Screamed the girl in feigned anger "you dragged me from the Academy like a common traitor for this nonsense?!"
"Quiet down Louise" said her mother as she joined her daughter's sides "I'm sure that the good Inquisitor Fabio has some proof to support his claims."
The eyes of every nobleman and woman shifted from the two pink haired woman to the Romalian.
"Indeed, bring forth the witnesses" he instructed a soldier.
The man nodded and opened the door "The witnesses may enter."
Six people entered the room.
Fabio gestured to the newcomers "Please introduce yourself and tell us what you have seen."
The first man in the line bowed to Henrietta and the nobles "My name is Earl Vance of Albion. I was on the Lexington when the Tristanian vessel opened fire on one of our escorts and destroyed it."
His words caused a commotion in the crowd. The Tristanian nobles didn't react too well to that statement...but more than a few didn't react at all.
So these are Reconquista's lapdogs in Tristain mused Louise as she glared at the traitors. As soon as this farce is done she will deal with them. The though of working against Henrietta ignited a flame of rage inside her heart. Traitors weren't human...they were less than human, a plague that needs to be dealt with without mercy before it could spread.
"I was one of the nobles that was send to the village of Tarbas to occupy it" continued the man.
And who gave you the right to occupy one of my villages? thought the displeased princess. Though the wreckage of the destroyed Albion escort ship was to damaged to know if it was truly shot, this was still going too far.
"As we were securing the village the eclipse appeared and from all around us hordes of undead monsters appeared and slaughtered my men."
The murmur of the crowd became louder as they discussed this new information, undead were rare and almost as dangerous as elves.
"Seeing how we were being overrun I used my earth magic and hid myself in an iron sphere underground. I left only a small pipe to the surface so I could get some air in, it was through this that I heard the voices outside" said the earl as he pointed to Louise "I saw her!"
People gasped...
"Are you sure it was the same person?" asked the inquisitor.
The noble nodded "I didn't see much from the small hole but I saw her face, and there were also other people who called her Louise Valliere."
Fabio glanced at the accused "I see, though it was possible that she was there by accident is it not?"
Vance shook his head "No, she seemed relaxed around the undead" his face then darkened "I even heard their plans how beside the Reconquista they will dispose of king Joseph and the Pope."
The throne room exploded into a cacophony of noise at that revelation.
"Silence!" shouted Mazarin as he tried to get the mob under control...and he actually managed to somehow pull it off "we still have to hear the other witnesses and the accused herself."
"Does the Inquisition have any evidence beside testimonies?" inquired Karin.
"Regrettably not" answered Fabio "but using the potion of truth and the Magnifying glass that allows to look inside a person's memories we can take their words as fact. Now shall we continue?"
"Why bother?" asked the Duchess "if you have a potion of truth or an item that looks into people memories then we can skip the whole ordeal and get the answer directly from the source."
Louise really wanted to punch her mother in the face at that moment...
"Indeed we do" said Fabio as he showed the enchanted magnifying glass, a handy item in his line of work.
This is bad...thought the pinkette as she glanced at the ring on her finger. The moment they fail to see into her mind they will either declare her guilty as an abomination or she confesses that she has an item that protects her mind and still get all her secrets exposed.
Not only the undead part, but Guiche, Mott and all the things she learned from Aeron about magic. She would give Tristain's enemies unlimited power on a silver platter...
The pinkette bit her lower lip This isn't good...how do I get out of this?!
"Louise?" said her mother, a suspicious scowl on her face after seeing her daughter sour expression "Is there anything you want to tell me?"
HELL NO! Though the sorceress as she pushed her brain to find a solution to this, any solution! She couldn't let that guy into her head, but she couldn't say no either.
Karin blinked "What did you say?"
Louise raised her head so she could see her mother and Henrietta in the face "I did it for Tristain" she repeated.
The silence that followed was deafening...
"Louise!" gasped the princess as she cowered her mouth with her hand, shock more than obvious.
"I couldn't allow Henrietta to die in a Reconquista trap!" shouted the girl "so what if I employed a necromancer! He saved Tristain from Albion! And it didn't cost us a single gold piece, no Tristanian lives were lost! What's wrong with that!"
She then glared at the nobles who could barely suppress themselves from grinning, their mirth poorly concealed on their faces "Why should I allow such filth to have their way! Traitors that would hand our beloved Tristain to the Reconquista, dogs that proudly killed their own Royal family!"
After that explosion she calmed down "...I did it for my friend."
She stood in the throne room, surrounded by speechless nobles...not a single person dared to speak. Louise looked at the throne and saw Henrietta's astonished face as tears ran down her face.
Then all hell broke loose...
"Heretic!"
"Heretic!"
"Burn her!"
"Let the Inquisition have her!"
Accusations tore at her heart as she was once again in the center of every single insult imaginable, from heretic to demon worshiper and devil's whore and many more. She had lived through bullying most of her life, but never was there so much malice thrown into her face...she never did anything to the people here and still they judge her as if she ate their children in front of them.
Louise clenched her teeth as she tried to contain the emotions swelling in her heart...she then looked at her mother for support.
What she saw in her eyes was something she didn't wish to see.
"I'm disappointed Louise" said Karin.
The pinkettes eyes widened even as her heart was broken piece by piece.
No...no, no, no, NO, NO, NO! tHiS WasN't hoW it wAs sUpPoseD to HAppen, This IS aLL wROng!
"It seems we got our confession" said the inquisitor sadly "now all that is left is the punishment for such heretical behavior."
"She has to be executed!" said the envoy from Albion "you heard Earl Vance's statement! She want's to destroy not only Albion but also Romalia and Galia! She is too dangerous! Insane!"
"I agree!" said the Galian envoy "the very idea of regicide is a serious crime! If Tristain doesn't execute this...this THING, then we will declare war on your kingdom!"
"Albion as well!"
"As will Romalia" said Fabio "we can't allow such heresy to remain unchecked."
"What about the rest of her family?!" shouted one of Tristanian nobles "they should all be given over to the flames, let Brimir sort them out!"
Voices in support of the idea rang through the throne room.
Henrietta couldn't take it any more...this was too much, what was she supposed to do? Give her friend and her family to the Inquisition to be burned after all they did for her? The Valliere's were the crown's strongest supporters! And is this the reward Louise should be given after she saved Wales and stopped the Albion invasion?
She couldn't bring herself to do that! She would be damned if she did such a thing!
But if she refused then Tristain will burn...can she sacrifice those close to her so that her subjects would live? Could she sacrifice a dozen people so tens of thousands would live?
She couldn't do it...
Everyone in the throne room watched as the princess stood up and ran away.
Truly it was a great day for Tristain's enemies, such a pitiful sight of the kingdom's ruler was a terrible blow to the image of the future Queen.
Louise watched wide eyed as Henrietta ran away, leaving them hanging...
"Quiet down!" shouted Mazarin, the man barely containing his own frustration and anger about the whole situation "The princess feels unwell so I will reach a decision in her stead" he spoke "Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière will be given over to the Inquisition, may Brimir have mercy on her soul for her sins. The Valliere family will be striped of its titles and lands, they are to leave the kingdom in two weeks time. Their lands will be seized by the crown."
Mazarin's decision seemed to placate the crowd, but Louise wasn't listening any more.
"You think this is it, don't you?" said the sorceress calmly, her pink hair hiding her eyes. Though she didn't say it very loudly, everyone heard it perfectly.
"If you think I will simply roll over for you, then you don't know me very well" said the girl as she raised her head and watched the people with hate filled eyes.
"Mark my words, you will suffer for this. You will all suffer!"
And with a flash of light Louise disappeared from the throne room, leaving the gathered nobles watching in amazement and awe as how the girl escaped.
"What are you standing around you fools!" shouted Richemont "Find her! She couldn't have gone far! Search the palace, the whole city if you have to!"
Mazarin sighed as he sat down into his chair...what a mess...
XXXX
Tristain, HQ
Louise appeared with a flash of light in Mott's former home...she clenched her fist as she chanted "Polymorph!"
Her body was engulfed by a white light and instead of the petite pinkette stood a Annis hag. The dark skinned monstrosity raised her hand and brought it down on the firm oaken table.
The furniture shattered like it was made from glass...but her anger was far from gone.
With a howl of rage she started to demolish furniture and even punch holes in the walls.
XXX
Zanven lowered his book as his ears picked up the sound of something being broken "Did you heart that?"
"Hear what?" asked Kirche as she stopped her conversation with Siesta.
A strong impact from above could be felt as the windows of the room shook, the sound of something breaking audible to everyone.
"Hmm, it must be your imagination" said Aeron as he flipped the page of his book, ignoring the dust that was falling from above.
Zanven sighed "Yes, silly me" said the elf as he stood up and took the book the necromancer was reading.
"Hey!" complained the assassin "I was getting to the best part!"
The bard snorted as he threw the book on the nearby table "I don't think that 'Principles of Advanced Arcana' have a best part, unless you count the ending."
The necromancer rose to his feet "Some of us like it dry and technical."
Kirche and Siesta shared a look as the duo got completely side tracked and their conversation went into the arguing over magical theory.
"We should get Tabitha here, she would love to listen to this" smiled Kirche as she watched the two.
"I don't know" mused Siesta "their words make my head hurt...ugh."
"Don't try to understand them, it's easier that way" commented the red haired girl.
The chatter was stopped when a black foot broke through the ceiling.
"Hmm, perhaps I should have a talk with Louise..." mused the necromancer as he used the Ethereal Jaunt to rise into the air and pass through the ceiling/floor.
As soon as his head went through the concrete he saw an Annis hag demolish anything close to her "Remodeling already?" inquired the necromancer as he canceled the spell that made him ethereal.
Louise turned around and glared at the wizard, she slammed her clawed fist into the assassins face making him fly back and crash into the wall behind him.
Thankfully one of his contingencies activated and a Stoneskin was placed upon him before the attack connected so he didn't sustain any damage.
"Ah! You want to train!" said the grinning wizard "well why didn't you say so!"
Louise faltered a bit as she registered his words, she knew all to well what the bastard could do...but she needed to went her anger.
Aeron ducked under the girl's attack and slashed with his dagger over her arm, a twisted grin appearing as the blade sunk into her tough skin.
Thanks to the many combat lessons Louise didn't falter, instead she used her other hand and threw a bunch of splintered wood at the necromancer. It was nothing dangerous, but some of the pieces will hit the bastard and remove a layer of protection from him.
The assassin's form also shifted and a familiar pink haired woman stood in front of her.
"You wouldn't hit a woman, would you?" he teased.
The polymorphed girl roared in anger as she grabbed the wizard by the neck and started to repeatedly punch into his face.
Finally the Stoneskin expired and her fist collided with the assassin wearing her mother's face, she didn't stop though...she slammed her fist right into the wizard's face and punched through his skull and the wall behind.
Louise inhaled deeply as she allowed the mutilated corpse to collapse on the floor. The sorceress closed her eyes as light enveloped her and she returned back into her own form.
"...I needed that..." she said, having finally calmed down.
"Understandable" said Aeron from behind her. Louise glanced over her shoulder and saw the Shade squating on the floor since all the furniture was nothing more than kindling.
The shadovar now had the appearance of the female musketeer that guarded Henrietta, though unlike the blond knight Aeron preferred smiling instead of frowning.
The body in front of her also stood up and started to regenerate the damaged head, the plant's proteum crystal providing the necessary arcane energy for the process.
"So what happened?" inquired the wizard.
Louise sighed and sat down on the ground "You're acting as if you didn't know" grumbled the girl.
"True. So then, what now?"
Louise remained silent "I don't know...my family is striped of its rank and sentenced into exile. I'm accused of heresy and sentenced to death. My mother thinks of me as a disappointment and Henrietta left me hanging...what is there now?"
Aeron nodded "Bad, but not the end of the world."
The girl snorted "You knew about this didn't you?"
"Yes, I was watching as the plan was hatched by the Pope, Joseph and Cromwell."
"And you didn't warn me..." hissed the sorceress venomously.
"I'm not your pawn Louise, I kept an eye on them but if you wanted the information you should have done the same on your own" commented the necromancer "you don't honestly expect me to hold your hand the whole time? I can jump in and give some assistance, but whether I do it is entirely up to my own good will."
"Of course..." sighed the utterly defeated girl. There was no point in blaming Aeron, it was simply his nature to hinder one as much as he helped "Any advise for a commoner down on her luck?" spat the girl.
"Well...you can give up and go away. Start fresh, new opportunities are available anywhere in the multiverse for a powerful person like yourself. Naturally Tristain won't survive in the long run, your princess is too weak to hold this country against her neighbors."
Perhaps once Louise would have disagreed, but seeing how Henrietta ran from making a tough decision in the throne room...
"She simply doesn't have the ambition to play the game against people like the Pope and Joseph. Even the Germanian Emperor is more than a match for her though he is nowhere near as capable as the aforementioned two. So Tristain will either be conquered by either Albion or Galia, or absorbed into Germania. Even if by some miracle it survives, the disaster with the wind stones will finish it in the future."
Louise frowned "Does that mean that the Pope's plan is the correct one? He alone is thinking about saving the people from the doom that is approaching."
Aeron shrugged "True, unlike the rest who will allow the cataclysm to happen he is trying to prevent it. On the other hand even if he manages to gather everyone against the elves there is no guaranty it will work. It's a desperate move that depends on either elves or humans facing genocide and possible extinction. And even if it succeeds, nobody knows about the infinity that exists beyond this planet. It is only a matter of time before something powerful discovers this world and either conquers it or destroys it. What this world needs to survive are rulers, or a ruler whose ambition and hunger for power is unmatched, your enemies won't stop their quest for increasing their power and if you don't keep up then you will lose. And trust me, there are things out there you don't want to lose against because you won't get a second chance. In the end you have tried to help others not knowing if they will be grateful for your actions, when they weren't you felt disappointed...because of that it's always better to do things that are entirely for your own interest."
"I see..." said the girl as she placed her head on a pillow she found. They remained quiet for some time and in the silence the girl fell asleep.
The necromancer stood up and walked toward her, once by her side he stroked her hair and picked her up.
A second later they were in one of the guest bedrooms where he carefully placed her in the bed. Though she wasn't physically that tired, the emotional trauma of the day forced her to seek relief in the blissful embrace of sleep.
Aeron then sat in one of the chairs and quietly sang the song 'Angels are Weeping' from Nox Arcana.
XXXX
Louise slowly opened her eyes, a rooster's crowing reaching her ear...before it suddenly stopped.
Aeron closed the window, a drow handcrossbow in hand.
"Did you kill it?"
"No, I used the infamous drow sleeping poison on the bolt."
The pinkette nodded "I have reached a decision."
"About what?" inquired Kirche as she entered the room, the rest of her group right behind her.
The sorceress frowned as she stood up from the bed "I'm going to conquer Halkeginia."
"..."
"..."
Zanven glared at the necromancer "May I ask what brought this change of mind?"
The pinkette's expression showed determination as she continued "Henrietta is a weak ruler, it will be better if I take over."
"You wish to become a queen?" asked the surprised Kirche.
"Not really, but the alternatives are worse" responded the girl.
The bard wasn't having any of it "I'm not helping you start a war! Please don't go down that road."
Both the elf and the girl gazed into each others eyes and both radiated the same determination "So what would you do? Let Halkeginia be destroyed by wind stones or them attacking and perhaps exterminating the elves? Because those are the only choices there are. Whether Tristain remains a sovereign state is meaningless in the long run, survival is what is here at stake. The only way I can save the people of this world is by having enough power and authority to make my will supreme, so nobody can oppose me when I decide to relocate them somewhere safe or start reforms."
Siesta looked blankly at the necromancer "Can't you use magic to remove the wind stones from the ground?"
Aeron laughed "I can use a Wish, but I can't guaranty what will happen. A wish of such proportions simply begs its caster to screw him over royally. No, the safest and easiest way is to simply relocate the people. Perhaps I could create a creature that burrows underground and eats the crystals but that simply means that the Halkeginia will collapse down once the thick wind stone layers are no more, and the beasts going rampant wouldn't surprise me."
"I..I understand what you are trying to do, but I can't help you in this" said the elf "it goes against everything I stand for. Wars are a terrible thing where mostly the innocent suffer...I cannot do it."
"Then I will find you a new task" said the necromancer as he then turned to Louise "what do you command?"
Louise scowled "Gather all our forces, we are going to war."
XXX
Area near the HQ mountains
Wardes grimaced as he approached the gathered group. Seven people conversing in front of the terrifying army of armored ghouls, all standing in neat ranks holding pollaxes and waiting for their master's orders.
"Ah, Viscount" said the jovial necromancer "it's good that you have arrived, I was beginning to worry your family matters would keep you indisposed."
The former noble didn't respond to the wizard, he quickly learned that the white haired man loved to get under peoples skin for no reason what so ever. At least his mother was now alive and well again...
His eyes went from the necromancer to the pink brat he once called his fiance, the problem was that he was seeing two of her now Brimir help us, they're multiplying! "Is there a reason for gathering us here in this backwoods?" he asked the girl.
"I though it's a beautiful day and we should have a picnic here" smiled the sorceress, though it didn't last. Her smile was soon replaced by a blank expression "Of course there is a reason. I don't know if you have heard but my dabbling with undead has reached the public. Halkeginian rulers have striped my family of their position and lands, and if they could, my life. But their plan has a little problem they didn't think about, I'm not going to let them take it."
Matilda smirked "Welcome to the club" said the green haired woman "so what will you do now?" she asked as she glanced at the undead "I doubt you called them here to move your luggage."
"Well, to make things simple I decided that it's about time for a new world order, with me as the ruler" said the girl "naturally, I don't expect the people already in power to be very happy about the idea – hence these guys" said the pinkette as she pointed her thumb over her shoulders at the waiting ghouls.
"I see..." mused Wardes "and what is our part in this?"
"It's simple. You will get to lead the army on Tristain today, and after it has fallen in our hands, on everybody else" explained the girl, she then turned to the necromancer "what will we do about the sun?"
Aeron frowned "I will make an artificial eclipse with magic, but I will need a bit more power for that" mused the necromancer as he gazed towards LouiseB.
The clone tilted her head in confusion, then gasped as his shadow pierced her with the shadovar blade from behind. Before the plant could even formulate a coherent though, Aeron's fingers morphed into sharp blades and he pierced her chest with his hand.
He pulled it out and in his palm he held the proteum crystal that served as the puppet's core.
Louise felt a headache as she lost control over her clone, without its power source the puppet lost its intelligence and immediately went feral.
But before it could eat anyone in the clearing Aeron used Disintegrate on the thing.
"W-why did you do that?!" hissed the pinkette as she fought of the vertigo.
"I told you, I need more power to create and keep an eclipse for as long as this military campaign will last" said the wizard as he started an incantation.
Normally he had no problem with using rituals on the fly, but this time the power wouldn't be bound to him but to the piece of proteum in his hand. Since the crystal draws power directly from the Weave it will have unlimited arcane energy to maintain the spell.
The crowd watched as a chilling wind blew across the clearing and a shadow cowered the land.
Eyes went up and jaws dropped as the sun disappeared behind an expanding sphere of darkness until no light came through.
"I-impossible!" gasped Matilda as she stared into the sky.
Tabitha, Kirche, Siesta and Wardes were equally amazed as they now stood in the darkness.
"There" grinned the assassin. As soon as he said that, thousand of wraiths emerged from the earth to float behind Zarken.
Wardes was the first to gather his wits "So, how will the forces be used?"
"Everyone will get four thousand soldiers each, Aeron excluded" explained Louise "we will communicate between each other and provide assistance if we can, but every single one of you has one goal. Capture Tristania, once the capitol and Henrietta are in my hands Tristain is mine."
Wardes raised a eyebrow "What? That's it?"
"Of course" answered the pinkette "you have a goal, do everything in you power to achieve it. After I have conquered all, you will be richly rewarded. Most of your forces will be ghouls but everyone will also get some wraiths as a substitute for the lack of dragoons on our side."
"Did I forget anything?" she asked the necromancer.
"I don't think so, if we did we will remember once it is all over."
The sorceress groaned.
"Actually, there is one thing..." added the wizard.
"What is it?"
"You need to show off a bit" grinned the necromancer as his skin withered and bones burst through his flesh.
The whole group took backed away as the wizard's form changed through what appeared to be an extremely painful process.
From his back huge wings appeared, and the stench of decay overshadowed even that of the ghouls.
The humans retreated further away as the gigantic dracolich turned its skeletal head in their direction, arcane energy emanating from the monster as green vapor.
Sylphid trembled as the undead dragon's hollow eye socket turned in her direction.
"So what do you think little one," said the monster "am I sexy or what?"
Sylphid shook her head frantically and ran away to hide behind Tabitha, Aeron chuckled though it sounded more like a landslide than laughter.
Aeron then focused his 'eyes' on the sorceress "If you are going to be a conqueror, you need a proper mount. So what do you think?"
Louise didn't respond as she pulled something from her pocket.
The decomposing dracolich recoiled as she sprayed his shout with her perfume.
"Hey! Stop it!" growled the necromancer but instead of stopping the others joined in and added their own perfumes to combat the stench.
Aeron was not amused...
XXXX
Albion, Westwood forest, same time.
Tiffania hummed happily as she made lunch. The children will be hungry after playing so long and she had to finish it on time. Normally they would eat only what she could forage in the woods like berries and other plants but lately her sister has been sending her a lot of money. Thanks to that she was able to buy many things in the nearby Westwood village, from bread, dairy products and even fish. Now the little ones could have milk every day!
A smile appeared on her face as she stirred the chopped vegetables in the large pot.
That smile didn't last long as one of the orphans rushed into the kitchen.
"Tiffania! Someone is coming!" warned the little girl.
The half-elves ears twitched as she heard that...there were not many people who would go so deep into the forest, most were too afraid from the rumors that were spread about the woods
"Thank you Mary!" said the the blond girl as she removed the pot from the stove and placed it aside. She then hurried to the door, though she did stop and took her large brimmed hat from the nearby table.
She opened the door and saw that someone was indeed coming towards them. The other orphans looked suspiciously at the stranger, though stayed discretely at a distance. He was very beautiful with long, blond hair and a charming smile, certainly someone who had the favor of the gods on his side concerning his looks.
Once their distance was only a few meters he stopped and bowed "Greetings, my name is Zanven Silverleaf. I'm looking for a Miss Tiffania, would you know where I could find her?"
Tiffa blinked a few times "Um, t-that would be me" she pointed at herself.
The stranger's smile disappeared "...you?" his eyes went over Tiffania and she felt that the man was somehow confused.
"Ah, pardon...Matilda said her sister is a half-elf so I'm a bit surprised" lied the bard. In truth he was very confused by the girl's appearance. Elves were very slim and usually half elves also showed such characteristics. In all his life-time he never saw an elf or half elf with such mammaries. It was...bizarre, as if someone met a drow elf with black eyes! Such physical traits never appeared in those that shared elven blood.
Tiffania's eyes widened, not only from him knowing her sister but that he knew she was a half-elf and didn't show any fear or hostility "Y-you know my sister?"
Zanven nodded "Yes, she is currently working for one of my acquaintances. I was send here to protect you and the orphanage."
"Protect me?" blinked the girl.
The blond man sighed "Yes, until now Aeron was protecting your home with his summons as in accordance to the deal with your half sister. That now isn't possible since he needs all his minions in Tristain. Hence he send me instead."
"I see..." responded the timid girl, she then glanced at the children. If Matilda send him she should let him stay...but...this was all so sudden "um, sister's room is free so you can stay there...would you like to join us for lunch?"
Zanven smiled "I would be delighted" he said and bowed to her.
It was then that Tiffania spotted two things. First was the harp on his back...it was a truly beautiful instrument. The second thing was the pointy ears he had...
"Y-you're an elf?!" she gasped even as the sun disappeared behind an eclipse.
XXXX
Tristain, Tristania - same time
Richemont laughed with his fellow co-conspirators at the delightful turn of events. Perhaps the invasion was a disaster but it wasn't all for naught. The Valliere's were disgraced and had to leave Halkeginia, their land were seized by the crown but it will be a simple matter to persuade the royals to entrust the lands to him or to nobles he would suggest.
"Truly a Godsend. I honestly didn't think the Valliere brat could be this stupid!" commented Marquis Wuyts.
"It gets better, I heard that the princess has locked herself into her room and won't come out even to eat" said another noble.
"Well, what did you expect! She is as weak as her whole family!" interjected another.
As the conspirators chatted the illumination in the room suddenly dropped.
"What in Brimir's name?" wondered the Romalian inquisitor as he rose from his comfy chair and walked to the window.
Fabio frowned as he looked up into the sky "This isn't right..."
"What is it?" inquired Viscount Pieters.
"An eclipse..." mused the inquisitor "but there shouldn't be any eclipse for the next half a year...curious."
"Eclipse?..." gulped Earl Vance as he walked towards the balcony. He pushed the doors open and gazed into the sky.
With every moment the eclipse didn't move the greater his fear became "...No...impossible! This can't be!"
"What? What are you talking about?" asked Richemont.
"I-It's the same as in Tarbas..." said the foreign noble.
Richemont's eyes narrowed "Are you sure?"
The earl nodded "Yes..."
"Then we better be prepared to welcome them accordingly, send word to Albion! This is the perfect excuse to launch a full scale invasion on Tristain in the name of liberation."
The other lords abandoned their drinks or gulped them hastily down before they went for the exit. They had to gather their troops for the inevitable battle.
A/N:
I don't believe I will correct the next chapter today, too bothersome, so I will do it tomorrow.