Chapter 19
The sound of synchronized footsteps echoed through the wilderness. A small cloud of dust formed behind the line of soldiers, hovering just above the ground before the wind carried it away leaving only their footprints behind. Weapons of various designs hung at their sides and swung with their arms, following the cadence of their march.
They had been marching for hours and Alex was impressed at the speed his band of heroes could travel. They all carried different backgrounds and lineages but none of that mattered to him. The only thing that mattered was how they followed orders and they had done a splendid job of that.
It took Aurelia and himself around two weeks to drill these heroes into proper soldiers. They were all young and impressionable, easily following the guidance of a Valkyrie and someone hand-picked by Goddess Ilias to lead them. It was clear that motivation was a problem of the past, they merely needed direction.
The heroes arriving in the village were already fit while a select few also had combat experience. He was not worried, after all, he knew it would come in time for the rest. Alex had plans upon plans and the first step revolved around finding a home base that could feed and house an ever growing army. A force that could take back the Ilias continent and drive the monsters from whence they came.
They crested a small hill while the spring sun beat down their backs. He looked ahead at the top of the hill and saw stone walls along the edge of a cliff. Wooden towers placed every fifty meters where the towns guard sat in the shade and watched over the countryside.
Alex took a quick breath before shouting, "Halt!"
His simple command was followed by two loud steps of each soldier finishing their stride and stopping in place. Alex could hear panting and when he turned to fully face the group he could see the sweat covering their faces and the exhaustion in their eyes.
"Stay in formation until we enter the city," Alex commanded, "When negotiations are settled you will receive food and shelter. Once that is done you will have the rest of the evening to yourselves until we reconvene outside the city tomorrow morning for training. I expect you to act like the heroes you are, do I make myself clear?"
"Sir yes sir!" The soldiers shouted. Some of their voices dragged from fatigue and others were full of vigor.
Alex would need to find those with energy, he had a feeling they would become fine weapons when the campaign began.
He waved his hand forward toward the city, "March!"
On his command the soldiers listened and continued forward. It took several steps but eventually their steps synchronized and the column moved toward the gate.
Alex watched the city's guard mobilize near the entrance to the gate. Guardsmen lined the walls that towered above them and even from a distance Alex could hear the sound of soldiers fumbling around with arrows.
From behind him he could feel a glimpse of fear rising up in some of his soldiers. It was understandable but they should have more faith in their Goddess. She sent down one of her finest and blessed him with unmistakable power, there was nothing to fear from a few untrained and undisciplined humans.
"State your business!" One of the guards shouted.
Alex order his soldiers to stop while he and Aurelia walked toward the gate and looked up to the speaking man.
"We come from Iliasville and seek an audience with the leaders of this city," Alex shouted back.
"Request denied!" The guard replied.
"We come on the orders of Goddess Ilias herself," Alex shouted back, "We merely need food and shelter!"
"Request denied!" He called back, agitation clear in his voice, "We don't allow bandits to enter the city!"
Frowning, Alex looked toward Aurelia, "I knew they'd be stubborn but I wasn't expecting that."
She gave Alex a cold glare and sighed before unfurling her pristine white wings and flying up to the guardsman. A holy warmth erupted from her body and her skin seemed to radiate a golden yellow light.
The second she appeared in front of him, he fell backwards and dropped his weapon. Several bows were knocked and aimed at her along with a few metal rods that carried some magical energy.
Aurelia stared at the guard with a hand on her sword and her wings sending gusts of wind across the wall. Fanning the flames of the few lit torches. "We seek an audience with the rulers of this town," She said, her voice deepening, "I suggest you open the gate unless you wish to feel the Goddess' wrath."
The man remained on the ground and paused for several seconds before speaking, "Low-lower your weapons. Le-let them in," He pulled himself up and frantically looked around, "Someone get the captain here right fucking now!"
The guardsmen lowered their weapons one by one. The closest guards were reluctant to lower their weapons, looking between their comrades silently waiting until someone else put their weapon down first. However, after a panicked glare from the one who gave the order, they lowered their weapons.
After a few moments, a loud creaking was heard as the massive gate that blocked the entrance to the city opened.
Aurelia flew down and landed next to Alex before hiding her wings once more. Alex raised his hand and called for his soldiers to march forward into the city. The two exchanged a wordless glance, understanding the full extent of Aurelia's action.
They had just forced their way in and that frustrated Alex. He knew the rest of the city would be weary of them and it was only a matter of time before the rest of the guards caught wind of the situations and armed themselves. He and Aurelia had to work fast to prevent any unnecessary fighting.
Walking inside, the city was more spacious that Alex initially expected. A massive plaza with a fountain stood in the center of a brick path that spread in all directions. Rows of buildings lined up along the roads and left no space untouched by man. They stood two stories high with thatch roofs covering the tops.
Looking to the right he saw his first objective, the guardhouse. Sacks of hay were placed haphazardly against the wall while dozens of arrow targets rested in front. On the other side of the courtyard were men made of straw holding wooden shields and swords. While the main building was built from the same stone as the wall and blended in with the foundation.
Even from this distance Alex could tell something was off about several of the targets. There was significant damage to the target's rear while the front remained mostly untouched.
This required an investigation, but for now he had more pressing matters.
A bald man with a scar across his face clad in steel armour ran toward the gate entrance with the rest of the guard following behind. His hand rested on the longsword at his hip while his other hand carried his helmet. In one fluid motion he placed and locked his helmet on, obscuring most of his face.
"Stop where you are!" The man stated, his voice was raspy and loud, showing Alex that he meant business and nothing else.
In a matter of moments the city guard had surrounded their band of heroes, bows and more metal rods pointed at them while dozens of guardsmen armed with swords and shields readied themselves.
Alex looked back to his soldiers and commanded, "Keep your hands off your weapons."
In a flash the guardsman's sword was drawn and pointed at Alex, "Here I thought I'd die before the bandits turned themselves in," A smirk formed on his face, "Where are your monster wives? Left them back in the Irina Mountains?"
A disgusted look appeared on Alex's face, "I'd rather kill myself than fall to a monster's temptation. We're heroes of Ilias!"
The guardsman laughed and several of the other guards followed, "A hero?" He mocked, "Nice try kid, but we know y'all are getting desperate. The winters are rough in the mountains and you couldn't handle the beating your wives gave you anymore."
Several bows were knocked and strings pulled back. Arrows ready to be loosed in a fraction of a second.
The guardsman eventually stopped laughing and a hardened gaze took over, "Throw down your weapons and we'll let y'all live in a cozy jail cell. That way you can rot while thinking about your crimes."
Alex looked back and saw scared looks on his soldiers faces. Several were fidgeting with their hands while others were staring at him looking for a way out.
Hardly any of them had been in a real engagement before and most would die in a fight with these guards. While he and Aurelia could survive, they still needed the numbers for his plan to work. He could not let everything fall to pieces.
So he had to ensure they survived, at all costs.
Alex looked over to Aurelia who simply nodded her head, expression unchanged as always.
"Soldiers, hold position, no matter what," Alex said.
A bright light began to form in Alex's hands. At first it was a small ball of pure white but after moving his hands together they merged to form what could only be described as a star. It floated above his hands and gradually rose to the sky before bursting in a flash of white light.
Several of the guards moved their arms to cover their eyes from the blinding light. The archers loosed their arrows both into the ground and sky as they frantically moved to protect their eyes.
Alex could hear the screams from the guards, terror, confusion, awe, a complete mixture of emotions that only increased the disarray the city guard was feeling.
Wasting no time Alex rushed forward and grabbed the guard captain by the neck and threw him into the ground, leaving an indentation in the brick path. The captain's helmet flew off of his head and rolled toward the heroes before it bounced off of nothing and stopped in its place a moment later.
He pulled a dagger out from his boot and placed it against the guard captain's neck, "I say again," He snarled, "We are heroes of Ilias, and we will not take this disrespect lightly!"
The bright light faded away and the city guards broke out of their frenzy, slowly reorganizing themselves. The guards kept their weapons placed at their sides while their eyes widened. The sight of their captain on the ground with his life hanging off of their next decision was clearly weighing on all of them.
Taking a quick glace to his band of heroes, Alex noticed that Aurelia had in fact kept them protected. Her hands which were previously above her shoulders fell to her sides, and with it the small shimmer that surrounded his soldiers began to fade.
Aurelia protective spell had done its job.
The guard captain began to move but Alex pressed his knife further against his neck and the captain froze in place, "Now you listen to what I have to say. First get your guards to stand down."
His already wide eyes began to look every direction they could before they shut. For a moment his entire body stopped moving before he took a deep breath, "Guards put your weapons down! Now!"
A series of clangs and vibrating metal rang out as swords landed on the stone below at varying frequencies. While the soft thud of wood was heard when bows hit the ground and quivers scattered their arrows.
Alex pulled the man to his feet, still holding the knife to his throat, "Second, I need a meeting with the leaders of this city."
"Tha-that will take a few days to orga-." The guard stammered before being interrupted by Alex.
"I need a meeting, today," Alex said.
"Come with me," He said quickly, his eyes darting in every direction, "We'll go to the town hall and get who we can, but they're not going to be happy."
Alex shoved the guard captain and motioned for Aurelia to follow him, "I can deal with a few bureaucrats, you just need to focus on getting me a meeting."
The guard nodded his head and started walking toward the city, a small crowd had begun to take notice and form at the edge of the city square. There were citizens of different dress and age, ranging from what he believed were beggars to craftsmen covered in soot.
Alex looked back to his soldiers, "Take rest in the training grounds for now, we'll be back with new orders soon."
The three arrived inside the town hall and much to the protests of the guild leaders a meeting was arranged. Yet despite their complaints everything remained the same as when they first entered the building.
People were walking from room to room exchanging papers. Individuals dressed in finely made clothes held one on one conversations with each other. Secretaries were bombarded with request after request from people in formal attire, each request adding to their seemingly overflowing workload.
Alex shook his head, bureaucracy would always cause problems, no matter how genuine someone's intentions were or how aligned their ideas were. Someone would always find a way to disagree so they could obtain a little more money for themselves. People were always fighting for power and the pettiest of confrontation would damn someone's reputation.
It was a place of people pleasing, not a place of action.
After thirty minutes of gathering officials, the three of them walked into one of the townhall's many rooms. A large wooden table was placed in the center of the room, with several ornate chairs surrounding it. There were no windows and lit candles lined the walls, illuminating the room just enough to see the papers on the table.
There were twelve seats in total and six of them were currently occupied, seven once the guard captain took his seat. There was no head of the table but everyone was situated toward one side. Setting a clear divide between those who ran the city and everyone else.
A heavier set man with golden earrings and short freshly cut hair gestured for them to take a seat. Taking notice of his action the other individuals sat up straight and focused their attention on the newcomers.
Once Alex and Aurelia took a seat on the opposite end of the table the large man addressed the guard captain, "Captain Sigurd, why are a mother and her kid sitting in front of me? I thought this was a matter of 'extreme importance.'"
A woman with silver braided hair spoke up, a frown evident on her face, "We're quite busy today Captain Sigurd, I expect this matter to be worth our precious time."
The remaining guild leaders nodded their heads in agreement. Two of them had papers on the table and were focused on what was in front of them, rather than the meeting itself. The others were glaring intently at the Captain Sigurd.
He was composed and arrogant not even an hour ago. Yet here he was, shrinking down in his seat letting the guild leaders walk right over him. It disgusted Alex, the spinelessness from the man who was in charge of protecting the city.
"Well, uhh," Captain Sigurd stammered, "Alex, Aurelia… Why are we here…" His voice began to trail off and fade just as his confidence had done when Alex threw him to the ground.
Alex looked down the table now that most of the guild leaders shifted their attention to him, "We come from the Iliasville on orders from Goddess Ilias hers-"
"Alright I've heard enough," One of the men doing paperwork stated before standing up. The loud creaking his chair made was enough for Alex to stop speaking.
Alex furrowed his eyebrows and lightly opened his mouth, completely astonished by the man's actions. They had just arrived, he had yet to even mention the entire reason they were here and this guild leader was already walking out on them. Alex intended to work with them, work within their city.
But it appears they will not even give him that chance.
"We hear this every year," The man said, throwing his arms off to the side holding papers in one hand and a quill in the other, "Heroes coming to save the world and need our help."
He started walking to the door, "Well I'm sick of it, the people need me to keep apothecary clinics stocked and im doing my job. More than what that pitiful Goddess is doing."
Alex's eyes narrowed and he slowly stood up from his chair. Pushing it out far enough so the guild leader would have to walk directly past him, "I take it you're in charge of the Apothecary Guild?"
"Yes I am," He spat, "And I would appreciate you moving out of the way so I can do something to help this damn city."
The guild leader walked forward and pushed Alex away into Alex, only to be stopped by a hand placed firmly on his chest.
"It's funny," Alex said, his voice deepening and his words slowing down. He watched goosebumps form on the Apothecary Leader's arm while the rest of the guild leaders sat up straight in their chairs, paying keen attention to what was unfolding in front of them.
"You speak like you've solved all this world's problems. Like your inadequate medicines do enough to keep the monsters away forever. Like your salves do enough to cure the most lethal of diseases."
He pushed the Leader and force him to stumble backward, his papers falling from his hand. Alex looked into the Apothecary's ever widening eyes and pressed his hand lightly against his sternum. From the light caress Alex could feel his entire body shaking.
"You speak like you could cure the Sinner's Rash with nothing more than a little ointment. But you don't know the truth, and you don't seem willing to learn it."
Alex reached down and pulled a dagger from his side and lightly pressed it against the man's abdomen. Slowly digging into the Apothecary Leader's stomach until he felt several drops of blood flow onto his hand.
The man started to squirm, letting out a long hiss as the dagger entered his body. He pressed his hands against Alex and tried to push him away, but to no avail. Alex was unmoving and his gaze was unwavering.
"Because all I hear from you is heresy."
"Alex that's enough," Aurelia said firmly, "Let him go."
Upon hearing her words he dropped the dagger to his side and placed it in his sheath in one fluid motion. Taking a step back, he watched the man rush his hands to his wound.
He slid down the wall and lifted a hand off the wound only to see it covered in his own blood. His breathing rapidly increased as he muttered to himself, rapidly moving both of his hands around the wound to stem the bleeding as best he knew how.
The lady with white hair spoke up quietly, "Cap-Captain Sigurd… Why are they armed?"
"I wouldn't be able to disarm them if I tried," He said defeated.
Aurelia stood up from her chair and moved to the Apothecary Leader. Kneeling down by his side she removed his hands and placed her own on the wound. A bright light soon enveloped the room, while the most intense light was focalized around his wound.
In a matter of moments, the Apothecary Leader's pained and panicked expression vanished. His jaw dropped and the blood on his hands faded away. The only evidence that he was injured was the red stain around a small hole in his clothes.
She grabbed him by the arms and stood him up.
"Th-tha-thank you so much!" The Apothecary Leader stammered.
"Take a seat," She said gesturing to his chair, her voice verging on apathetic.
Alex could feel the tension in the room as everyone moved to their seats. The guild leaders were sweating, the Apothecary Leader was in a state of mental distress, and there was much they needed to cover.
"I'm not going to keep you all here against your will," Alex said, he offered a light smile in an attempt to ease the mood, "So long as you are faithful to Goddess Ilias we will not be enemies. On that you have my word."
"I don-don't mean to be rude Alex… May I call you Alex?" One of the guild leaders said, her long brown hair covering one of her eyes.
"Take a deep breath and calm your nerves," Alex said showing his non-blooded palm to the guild leader in question, "Call me Alex, we'll be working together for a while after all."
The lady in question did as instructed and took a breath. Slowly she exhaled and placed her hands in her lap. From the way her arms moved, it looked like she was clenching her hands together.
"Alex…What would you define… Faithful as," The guild leader said slowly.
"It's simple really," Alex said, "So long as you pray daily, respect Goddess Ilias, understand that she always watches over and protects us, and don't associate with monsters. Then you can be called faithful."
Alex watched her shoulders drop and exhale a sigh of relief. Relieving the tension in her body. The other guild leaders had a similar expression of relief, some more than others.
When she spoke again her voice was significantly lighter than before, "Wonderful."
"Now, let's get to the matter at hand," Alex said his previous expression transforming into one of utmost seriousness, his elbows placed on the table with his hands interlocked, "We need to take back the Ilias continent."
"Continent?" A new guild leader said, his hand holding the end of his long beard, "You're not planning on going to Hellgondo to fight the Monster Lord?"
"Correct. We can't underestimate the strength of the monsters. Especially with how isolated humans are across the world," Alex said, "We need to make a safe haven for humanity."
The large man with a golden earring spoke up, "This continent is already safe from the Monster Lord's influence. Our constantly flowing caravans are proof of that. Spending resources here would be a waste of time."
"The elves guarding your caravans do not make them safe," Alex said, he was actively restraining himself from hurting this guild leader, but the merchant's guild would be instrumental. He, of all people, needed to live.
The guild leader's eyes widened, he coughed once to clear his throat, "I would never do such a thing. The caravans have their own guard and they travel across the continent uncontested."
Shaking his head Alex turned and glared at the man, "You should have just told the truth, you will be punished for your sins later. If you wish to lie, learn to control your body language."
"Regardless," Alex continued, "You will stop all communication with those elves. My soldiers will be guarding those caravans from now on. Mark my words, the goods will flow… But they will only flow to humans."
"The local economy will collapse if we go that far!" The heavier set man said, raising a hand only to quickly put it down.
"You may be correct," Alex said, "But it needs to be done nonetheless. Humans are easily tempted and until we exterminate the monsters here and reclaim our land, we must be strict and diligent."
"Next topic," Alex continued, shifting his gaze away from that guild leader, "Which one of you is responsible for the blacksmiths?"
The man with the beard from before raised his hand, "That would be me."
"Perfect," Alex said, "Now what are those metal poles several guards were carrying? I can only assume they were your creation?"
The man sighed before placing a hand on his head, "Of course, you're interested in them as well."
Alex tilted his head in confusion, "Explain."
"The one blacksmith not part of the guild made them, and some scrawny kid designed them recently. He's been calling them 'Muskets' and by Ilias they're deadly."
Alex's eyes widened and a feral grin appeared on his face while he let out a small chuckle, "Muskets you say? I take it they can blow out the back of a hay target then?"
Captain Sigurd spoke up, "Yea those same ones, not accurate in the slightest but they cause so much damage to those targets. It's honestly annoying to constantly replace."
He started to laugh, at first it was a few sporadic chuckles but it quickly escalated into a a loud bellow that echoed throughout the room. Tears began to fill his eyes as he collapsed onto himself, slamming his fist into the table leaving a small crack where he hit.
The guild leaders looked between each other unsure of how to react to what could only be described as hysteria. Concern grew on their faces as Alex continued, snorts escaped from his mouth as Alex lost all composure. The laughter only being broken by the occasional gasp of air.
Eventually, the laughter subsided and he wiped the tears from his eyes. A few residual chuckles left his mouth as he slowly composed himself to speak in front of the guild leaders again.
"My apologies, my apologies," Alex said calming himself down, "I had no idea the war would be this easy."
"...What do you mean," Captain Sigurd said slowly.
"If I'm understanding this right," Alex said a massive smile still formed on his face, "Then we can arm even the most untrained of civilians to fight back."
Captain Sigurd narrowed his eyes before relaxing and leaning back in his chair, "That's exactly what that boy said."
"Really now," Alex said sitting up in his chair further, "I need to speak with him right away."
Captain Sigurd remained silent and slowly shrunk down in his chair, almost trying to hide from him. Alex took note of this and called him out.
"Did something happen to him?" He said, his voice rising in intensity, "Did the monsters get to him!"
Captain Sigurd gulped before responding, "From what I know, he and his sister left the city."
Alex stood up from his chair and placed both of his hands on the table, "When did they leave, and where exactly did they go? We cannot under any circumstance let the monsters get a hold of this technology."
"I don't know," Captain Sigurd said, only to receive an even more intense glare from Alex, "I really don't know!" The captain continued.
"Then find him," Alex said slowly, "Send out scouting parties, whatever you need, and find that kid."
"I'll get it done," Captain Sigurd said sheepishly.
"Good, the fate of this war rests on the monsters not having this technology," Alex said.
Facing the rest of the guild leaders Alex took his hands off the table and placed one on the hilt of his sword, "In case it wasn't clear, you all listen to me now, and I listen to Goddess Ilias. When this war is over humanity will thrive and you'll see a future that is possible, not one only dreamt of."
Aurelia stood up and looked toward Captain Sigurd, "We need sleeping quarters and food for our soldiers. They will protect the city and its surroundings, so hold no fear toward them. We look out for each other."
The guild leaders nodded their heads and watched as the two left the room.
Walking down the hallway Aurelia looked toward Alex and raised an eyebrow, "What happened to working together with them?"
Alex sighed, "When it became clear to me that they wouldn't listen to a thing I said, I knew there would be no other way. Despite the name of Iliasburg, they have lost all sense of what faith in Ilias can provide."
Aurelia lightly smiled before returning to her neutral expression, "While the ironic name is quite funny, I still believe you could have been gentler with them. They are not soldiers like you and I."
Alex sighed before speaking thinking back to a book he read a long, long time ago, "Men are less worried about letting down someone who has made himself loved than someone who makes himself feared. Love can vanish in an instant, but the fear of punishment always remains."
Alex continued, "If they fear me, then they will listen. But I can't guarantee they'll listen if they love me."
"Fear is a dangerous weapon Alex," Aurelia said, opening the front entrance to the townhall, "Just be careful they don't come to hate you."
Aurelia put her mind on taking care of the soldiers. They had been sitting out for hours and were likely growing impatient. No matter how much Alex had trained them, they were still young adventurers who he turned into a fighting force. It would take a significant amount of time to instil a sense of patience in them.
While Aurelia completed her mission, Alex set out on his own. Finding the blacksmith who was operating out of the guild's influence. Outside of his influence.
Their skill was unmatched if they found more success outside of the guild than inside. The opportunities a guild membership presented craftsmen were numerous, and for this blacksmith to be surviving without it there must have been something special about his work.
Alex had a vague idea of where the blacksmith might be located. A majority of the craftsmen were situated in a district near the cliff side of the city, offering some extra protection in the event of a frontal assault to the city.
While Alex wandered, the buildings changed from two story towers that blended seamlessly with each other, to wide single story buildings. One was more compact and designed to house as many citizens as possible. While the other was designed for crafting space and potential equipment.
It was functional, however much space it took up. Alex knew morale was important for productivity so appeasing the artisans helped make the city run smoother. After all, everyone needed a tailor at some point.
Slowly a brick smoke stack began to fill Alex's eyes. It towered above the other buildings, sending a plume grey of smoke through the sky before dissipating in the atmosphere. A small orange glow could be seen at the top, threatening to send a pillar of fire into the sky.
While Alex walked closer he could hear the shifting of massive piles of coal and the distinct rattle of metal chains colliding with each other. After a few moments Alex heard a hissing sound and watched another pillar of white smoke enter the sky.
This must be the blacksmith, or at the very least a blacksmith. Turning the corner Alex saw a large man, similar in build to the blacksmith's guild leader. His short blond hair shinned against the light of the forge behind him. While a black apron hung tightly against his chest protecting him from the sparks of white hot metal.
Alex approached his forge and admired the collection of unfinished weapons. Sword blades duller than a stone, uneven spearheads, and a basket of tanned leather strips. It fascinated Alex to see the unfinished creations, after all blacksmithing was an art form.
However, what stood out to him was the shaped metal rods, lined up on a wooden rack. There was a pile of pins sitting in a small bowl. Upon closer inspection he saw several thick metal hooks with a circle a centimeter in diameter. Looking back to the metal rods he saw a small hole and pan with a clear indication of where the hook could attach.
He felt someone's gaze on him and quickly turned around to see the blacksmith walking toward him, sweat pouring down his face and water dripping down his long beard. A frown was evident and his blue eyes were staring menacingly at him
"What are you doing in my forge?" He said with a low growl.
Alex offered a cordial smile, "I'm looking for the man who designed those muskets, and I take it your the one who forged them?"
The blacksmith's frown remained, "I am… Now get out of my forge."
"Wonderful," Alex said, completely ignoring the smith's demand, "But I still have to know where the designer is. I have several important questions and they're quite time sensitive."
The blacksmith shook his head and walked into the forge, grabbing one of his unfinished swords and some leather straps. Not wasting a breath he sat down and worked to fasten a grip and pommel to the sword.
"I don't have time for this," The blacksmith said, "I already got too much going on."
Alex rested his hand on the hilt of his sword and continued watching the blacksmith, "Neither do I," He said keeping a calm tone, "But I still have questions and you're keeping me here longer than necessary blacksmith."
"Torfi," The blacksmith spat while focusing on his work, "If you're going to waste my time at least use my name."
"See now were getting somewhere," Alex said, "I'm Alex and we'll be working together frequently, so some courtesy would go a long way."
"Okay Alex," Torfi said while tying the leather strap tightly onto the sword hilt, "Why don't you stop patronizing me with your little introduction and get out."
Alex scoffed at the comment, "I hope you realize I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where the designer is. Its a simple question really."
"You really think you're so high and mighty don't you," Torfi said throwing the blade onto the ground. It bounced twice before landing at Alex's feet with no visible damage, "I've seen kids younger than you do more than you'll ever accomplish. So why don't you piss off and let me work!"
Alex was unphased and patted his hand on the hilt of his sword a few times, "'Kids younger than me.' I knew he was young but I did not expect that young. Maybe that sister of his also has a keen mind. Considering you're going through such frustration to hide their names."
Torfi froze for a second before glaring up at Alex, "What are you even after? No matter what I say you'll just find a way to hunt them down."
"Ilias no!" Alex said, "I would never hunt them down. I want to protect them! This designer has knowledge that can benefit humanity, so I have to do what I can to keep it out of the monster's hands."
Torfi stood up and grabbed one of the dull blades resting next to him, pointing it at Alex, "That sounds an awful lot like what a harpy would say."
Alex deadpanned at the blacksmith before grabbing his own sword and unsheathing it. The radiant glow emanating from the blade caused Torfi to squint his eyes before eventually, the light dimmed down.
"I am the hand of Ilias," Alex said glaring at Torfi, "I fight for humanity and I want to protect these kids before they get themselves captured, or worse, killed. All you have to do is tell me where the designer went."
Torfi's grip tightened around the piece of steel and his body remained unmoving, "Hero or not, I know I can't trust you. You'll do the same thing the harpies did to him, keep him locked in a damn cage."
Alex sighed before shaking his head, "That boy was captured by the harpies and managed to escape. All the while designing a replica of the musket. That shows unprecedented willpower and genius, it's all the more reason we have to protect him!"
"It just gives you more reason to keep them from living their lives," Torfi spat.
"Just tell me where they went Torfi," Alex said, growing tired of the blacksmith's antics, "They can live how they want in this city. They can sacrifice a little more for the sake of humanity."
Set off by his last statement, Torfi charged toward Alex and threw his unfinished sword at the hero. A moment later, his hands wrapped around Alex's waist, and used his momentum to slam Alex into the ground.
The sound of metal clattering and objects falling broke the relative silence in the area. Swords fell off their rack and musket bodies collided with each other as the two fell down. The blade Torfi threw was deflected off of Alex's sword and connected with a wooden rack, causing its contents to fall to the ground.
Sword still in hand, Alex was left with one hand to non-lethally subdue the blacksmith. Despite this he managed to grab onto Torfi and pull him close, leaving him unable to lift his arms above his head.
In one swift motion Alex shifted his body weight and rolled Torfi, forcing his back to the ground. His hand was placed firmly on his shirt, gripping the chest hair underneath his clothes. With his sword hand he managed to lift his arm high enough to rest the blade on the blacksmith's throat.
The moment Alex's blade touched his neck all movement ceased and a silence hung in the air.
Alex spoke in a low whisper, "If you really want these kids to live then you'll tell me where they went."
The hero paused for a long moment thinking over his next words, "I can't imagine what the harpies did to him, but I know if we can't actively protect him then we're throwing away humanity's best chance at fighting back."
Alex removed the sword from against Torfi's neck but kept his hand on on his chest. His eyes stared into the blacksmith's waiting for either a sign of submission or a sign of aggression. Regardless he could not kill this man, no matter how much he fought back Alex needed him alive.
Torfi let out a deep sigh and looked past Alex toward the roof above, "I don't know."
Alex recoiled at the answer, "Excuse me?"
"Let me go and I'll tell you the story," Torfi said.
With his hand firmly grasping his sword, Alex let go of Torfi. He slowly moved his body, creeping his legs off of the blacksmith giving him the space to move and stand up.
Regaining their composure the two stood up and faced each other. Torfi took several steps back and Alex held his sword loosely at his side. He made a quick scan of the area for weapons that the blacksmith might use and escape paths he might take.
"He went out to fight the harpies when the snow melted," Torfi said, "All I can do is hope and pray that they'll be safe."
"'Do you have any idea which part of their territory?" Alex said.
"Not a clue," Torfi said, shaking his head, "I just know the harpies won't stop until they have him."
"They're actively trying to take him back, aren't they?" Alex said.
"That's one way of putting it," Torfi said, "One day we found him unconscious in the courtyard and the only thing we could piece together was a Kitsune snuck her way in to give him a warning."
"Considering the lack of real security here its a miracle she didn't leave with him," Alex said.
"We all thought the same thing, but that's beside the point," Torfi said offering a dismissive hand gesture, "Sybil, the Queen Harpy, pretty much said 'if you don't come back we'll take you back'."
Alex's eyes narrowed, "And for all we know he could be going right back to her."
"No, no, no, no," Torfi said repeatedly, each time with more emphasis than the last, "They went out with blood on their minds, and he's smart enough to not run directly into danger. Especially when we know the harpies are expecting him."
Alex sheathed his sword and brought a hand to his chin, "I'll send out battalions when everything gets fully organized. Those two are effectively our vanguard and we have to ensure they make it out alive. We need him alive and we need him on our side."
Torfi let out a sigh, "Good luck trying to stop them if you do find them, but that at least eases my mind a little. Knowing they're not the going to be the only ones out there fighting."
"They'll have more comrades than they know what to do with by the time this war really starts," Alex said, "But in the meantime I need you to focus on making muskets along with another design I'll get to you later. We may not have the numbers but by Ilias I'll make sure we have the quality."
"These take a while to make I hope you know that," Torfi said.
"From what I'm aware the guards already have a stockpile we can work with for the time being," Alex said, "But you'll be showing the guild blacksmiths how to make these and all the profit will go to you."
"They're incompetent," Torfi said bluntly, "If you want anything of quality then I'm the only one who can make them."
"Well then," Alex said, "You'll have to bring them up to standard. I don't care about the quality of anything else they make, so long as the musket and its parts are made to your standard. Think of it as… Specialization."
"Fucking hell," Torfi groaned, "I already know they won't listen to a thing I say."
"Oh you won't have to worry about that," Alex said, a smile forming on his face, "They'll listen to everything you say. I'll make sure of that."
He extended a hand to the blacksmith, "I look forward to working with you Torfi. Now, what what this boy's name again?"
Torfi slowly shook his head before grabbing Alex's hand and shaking it, "Leo… His name is Leo and his sister's name is Maya. Just make sure they come back safe."
Alex's grip tightened and his thoughts began to race. Dots began to connect and he felt his heart race. He continued to break down their conversation until his mind focused on the exact design of the musket he saw earlier. Each part had its own use and he remembered describing this very design to someone else.
His very own brother.
Iliasburg was a much quieter place than Luka expected. The road to the city was barren, its well-trodden path was worn down yet footprints were absent. Though if one looked closely they could see a faint line of wagon wheels in the dirt.
The atmosphere it gave off worried him, almost like the city was waiting for something. Waiting for the monsters to attack. Guards patrolled the walls in small groups while the citizens were looking over their shoulders at the slightest sound, constantly on edge.
The trip with Alice took significantly long than he expected. Normally he would have reached the city in two weeks, but instead it took them almost a month and a half.
They encountered several types of monsters on the way; elves, slug girls, bee girls, and slimes. It felt like every day they traveled another would cross their path. At first it was harmless slime girls that he brushed away with ease.
However, the problems began when he started encountering elves. Most of them were well trained with the sword, enough to put Luka on the backfoot several times. He knew he would not have made it out without Alex's training. The simple feints he learned, playing dirty when he could, fighting to stay alive and fighting to keep his dream alive.
That was always on his mind while they traveled to Iliasburg.
Luka and Alice both jumped when a short but loud rumbling came from the city walls, followed quickly by several cracks in quick succession. Looking toward the wall, he saw a large group of individuals standing below the wall, all dressed in dark blue and white. They were in perfect lines while another man in the same uniform walked around the square.
It to Alice a few moments to recover her balance, still not used to the human like form she wore.
The purple haired boy removed his hand from his ears that he did not even realize where there, "Wha- What was that?"
The men began to shift in their lines, the ones in the front moved to the back with haste, while the second line moved forward a few steps. The new front line kneeled down and pressed a metal rod to their shoulder.
"I'm not sure," Alice said, her eyes narrowing. She placed a hand on Luka's back and pushed him forward, "But we'll get food and ask around."
The man standing out of the square raised his hand and threw it down to his side with a snap. Not a moment later the same thunderous roar came from the direction of the wall. This time however, Luka and Alice could place the source at the square of men.
Luka shivered and continued walking forwards, unable to take his gaze off the group of men. Their movements were mesmerizing, fluid, simultaneous, and efficient. Something that must have taken years to perfect. Was this really what Iliasburg had to offer? Was life in Iliasville really that different?
He felt Alice nudge his back once again and they walked toward the open gate to the city. Both of their heads were turned to the group, watching their uniform movements, blending together like a single entity.
Compared to outside the walls, the inner city was bustling. Everyone walked with purpose while their pace differed, but the seriousness on their faces worried Luka. It was the middle of the day and everyone looked like their life was on the line.
But another thing stood out to him, something important to him but a passerby might not notice. There were no kids running around playing. Not a single one.
They were lively, yes, but they were not happy.
"Ilias asks for your hand!"
Luka and Alice turned their heads towards the voice and watched a young man with a shaved head, wearing the same blue and white uniform they saw outside the wall. He stood on a small wooden platform while dozens of people stood around listening to him.
His gestures were grand and he spun in circles, trying to address the crowd around him as best he could. Luka could see sweat pouring down the man's face but his voice was as strong as ever.
"The monsters have pushed us too far!" He preached, raising his hands to the sky before lowering them down in dramatic fashion, "We can no longer live in poverty while they take everything that belongs to us!"
Luka's walking slowed down but he kept moving forward. Something about the way the man spoke drew him in, caught his attention like a fox in a snare.
"Goddess Ilias humbly asks for us to stand up and fight!" The man yelled and a moment later the crowd cheered, several fists raising to the sky.
"Fight for your neighbors! Fight for your family! Fight for humanity!"
The entire crowd erupted into cheers. Their hands pumped into the sky while Luka heard their voice sound out through the entire city center. More and more people began to surround the podium, encircling the preacher.
Luka could see the man trying to speak again but his voice was drowned out by the crowd.
Luka stopped, trying to read the man's lips. However, before he could tell anything Alice pulled his arm again. Forcing Luka out of his train of thought and breaking him from what felt like a hypnosis.
"Ignore those fanatics," Alice said, her voice dripping with venom, "They want to solve violence with more violence.
Luka turned his head away from the crowd and followed Alice. He spoke with a solemn tone, "We don't have to fight each other," his voice fell to a whisper, "...We don't have to go this far."
"Keep that stupid dream of yours Luka," Alice said, resting a hand on his shoulder, "It's still better than trying to bring the whole world down with you."
Luka's eyes fell to the ground, wondering if this was what the rest of the world was like. Were all humans outside of Iliasville like this? Were the humans the ones in the wrong?
The two continued walking until they came across a small building marked, 'Inn' across the top. Its wooden structure looked almost rotten compared to the buildings next to it. Several green stains ran along the edges of the building and wooden boards had numerous cracks in them.
But despite its horrendous appearance, there were several tables with well kept umbrellas sitting outside. A wooden fence around knee height enclosed the tables into a small area, marking the edge of the inn's property.
Sitting at one of those tables was a young women with auburn hair that went to her shoulders. She sipped on a small colorful drink while watching the crowd, almost like she was trying to stay out of everyone's way and not draw attention to herself.
But the dress she wore denied any chance at being inconspicuous. The red dress littered with golden yin and yang symbols showed a sense of wealth that was in clear contrast to the city around her. Especially the rotting inn where she sat.
However, when Luka and Alice passed by she quickly sat up and walked toward the two.
Alice immediately noticed her presence and sighed. Halting in her place she turned to face the woman, Luka managed to take a few extra steps before realizing that Alice stopped.
"Yao," Alice said bringing a hand up to her face, "Why are you here?"
A massive grin formed on her face with sharp, fang like teeth reaching her bottom lip. Her arms reached out wide pulled Alice into a hug lifting her off the ground, "Oh Alice! Fancy meeting you here."
She put a clearly annoyed Alice down and kneeled down in front of Luka, inspecting him. The boy in question awkwardly shifted from her peering glare, "Who's this cutie you've snatched?"
Yao looked up to Alice and placed a hand in front of her mouth, gasping, "Don't tell me you found a boyfriend."
Groaning, Alice grabbed both Yao and Luka's arms before walking toward the inn and sitting down at a table.
Immediately upon sitting down Yao placed her elbows on the table and looked at Alice, "So…" she said drawing out the word, "How did you two meet?"
Luka's cheeks brightened to the color of tomatoes and Alice silently shook her head.
Ignoring Yao's comments, Alice spoke with her voice deepening, "Yao, how long have you been here?"
Her smile dropped in an instant, "About three days."
Alice continued, "Why are you still here?"
"The kid Sybil's obsessed with over left the city," Yao said, "But too much has been going on here and I have to document it all while I can."
Alice turned her head and looked toward part of the city she could see. Turning back to Yao she raised an eyebrow, "This is all new then?"
Yao nodded her head, "They call themselves the Ilian Templars and from what I can tell they're a group of new heroes. But over the course of my time here they've been conscripting normal citizens into their ranks."
"And you were going to tell me about this when?" Alice said, her tone unchanging.
"When I finished my report of course," Yao said smiling, "I do take my duties seriously, despite what you think."
"Then the kid?" Alice said.
"One of my subordinates has been working with Queen Sybil for the better part of twenty years." Yao said, her smile forming into a smirk, "We'll find him, don't you worry."
Alice shook her head again before standing up and walking toward the inn, "Let Tamamo know when you do. She's been dying to speak with him."
Luka looked up to Alice then looked over to Yao. The auburn haired woman blew a kiss to him before waving, "Good luck!" she said in a sing song tone.
The purple haired man shook his head before standing up and looking toward the crowd of people surrounding a man wearing blue and white. He whispered to himself before turning and following Alice into the inn. Hoping to stop her before she ate everything this already poor inn had to offer.
"What did you do Alex?"