Chapter 7: Chaos on Reite
Personnel: Wilbur Fender
Prime Minister of Gallia. Age 47. A pragmatic but honest individual, Wilbur entered politics right after the end of EWI among the ranks of a progressive party, soon earning recognition for his ability to hold inspirational speeches to the masses. In 1930, the previous Archduke of Gallia summoned him to the court to become the ward of Princess Cordelia, which enraged the nobles and prompted Prime Minister Borg to plot the assassination of the Archduke.
However, when the GSS uncovered the plot and arrested Borg and many other nobles for regicide, Wilbur's party suddenly gained prominence, electing him as the new Prime Minister. He had since worked tirelessly to prepare Gallia for the imminent war with the Empire and, most importantly, tutoring Cordelia so that she can become a strong leader for the country.
With the support of his longtime friends Erwin Absenkirch and Adrien Agusta, Wilbur has strengthened the military while pushing social reforms aimed mostly at bettering the living standards of the working class and granting equal right to the Darcsen, which earned him the enmity of the most conservative wings of the population, but a great popularity overall.
He is married to Lorna Baden. They have two sons.
May 3, 1935.
With Gallia's multiple successes, the Imperial offensive in all of Europa had gradually lost steam. At sea, the Federal Navy, mostly led by the Edinburgh fleet, had recently scored a massive victory in the North Sea, crippling the relatively small Imperial surface fleet.
That meant that the maritime routes were safe, and thus it was time for Wilbur to see his dream finally coming true.
Such was the thought brightening his day as the train carrying him reached the city of Romulus, capital of the Republic of Etruscia, in the southern end of Europa, one of the constituent nations of the Federation.
Aside from Etruscia being a land where there were countless Valkyrur ruins, and thus long been considered one of the bedrock of Europan civilization, Romulus also happened to be very far from the front, two reasons that made it the perfect place to declare the birth of the Europan Community.
Though Wilbur had to admit that the landscape was also enchanting. Southern Europa had a very different climate from the coasts of the North Sea, warmer and overall quite pleasant.
"So this is it." the Minister of Foreign Affairs Devron commented as the train started braking inside the station. "All your hard work is about to bear fruit, Prime Minister. How do you feel?"
Wilbur shook his head calmly. "There's still a lot to do, Devron. Then again, the treaties we are going to sign here will mark the placing of the first stone on building a peaceful Europa for my kids. I can't help but feel nervous."
A few minutes later, the train reached the central station of Romulus, where there already was a fanfare and an honor guard to welcome the delegation alongside a crowd of curious and the highest political figures of the Federation. Including the Head Councilor: Bertrand de Vancourt.
As the train stopped, the Royal Guard detail of the Prime Minister came out from the two lateral doors of the train and quickly reached the corridor created by the Federal soldiers in front of the central door, then Wilbur and his delegation were allowed to dismount.
Immediately, he was met by the Head Councilor, who greeted him with a huge smile and by shaking hands.
"Prime Minister Fender. It's an honor to have you here, in the Federation." he said with an excessively happy tone that was clearly meant for the cameras, yet Wilbur could sense a certain sincerity.
"The honor is all mine, Councilor." he replied in the same way. "Thank you for hosting this momentous occasion."
"Then that's not me whom you should thank." the other replied kindly, then showed the way with his arm before accompanying Wilbur in front of the delegation, in front of which there was a man with an olive-colored skin typical of southern Europans. "Allow me to introduce President Betto de Gemini of Etruscia."
The man, who was just slightly shorter than Wilbur but quite sturdy, made a wide smile and extended his hand. "Welcome to Etruscia, Prime Minister. I hope the journey was free of major problems."
Wilbur shook the hand and replied cordially "Not at all. On the contrary, I finally verified that Etruscia is a very wonderful land as I was told."
"Then I hope we can give you good memories, as well. Shall we proceed?"
The delegation was thus escorted to one of the many beautiful palaces of the capital, where the representatives of the other nations were already waiting, seeing that they were closer to Etruscia and that Wilbur had waited a few days to stay closer to his people until it was safe to assume that the Imperials were not advancing anymore.
That gave the added bonus to the Federation to prepare quite the magnificent welcome party for the statesman that had more than everyone else pushed this project and was gathering a lot of popular support, also because Gallia had become the very symbol of defiance against the imperialist goals of the Eastern Alliance, being the only member of the free nations to score any major victory since the start of the war.
Wilbur would have like to bring Erwin, so that the real hero of these victories could be celebrated, but there was no way that he would leave Gallia as long as there was a single invading soldier on its soil.
For the time being, the Gallian delegation was brought into the main hall of the palace, where there were a series of long tables forming a rounded off rectangle, and the right side had been prepared with the pens on elegant holders and behind the chairs there were all the flags of the signatories lining up, even the nations that were currently occupied by the Empire or those who were an integral part of it. It was a clear statement of what this alliance strove toward: cutting the Empire down to its core territories around Schwartzgrad and making sure they would never be able to be a threat to the whole continent ever again.
Wilbur had been reserved one of the two central seats, right next to the Head Councilor. All the politicians took their positions, standing in front of their seats while the respective FA Ministers went to get the copies of the treaty, with all the terms that Wilbur himself had so painstakingly put together after long and almost non-stop negotiations with the other delegations back in Randgriz, but they were finally there.
"Ladies and Gentlemen." de Vancourt began for all the presents to hear, including journalists and other local authorities. "Today marks an historic day. For the first time since the days of the Valkyrur Empire, the peoples of Europa join hands to work toward a future of peace. Even if there is one entity that still clings to the old ideas of national superiority and brute domination, as long as our peoples stand together, there is no challenge that we can't overcome." he then turned his head. "Prime Minister Fender. As the main promoter and artificer of this treaty, would you like to say something?"
Wilbur cleared his voice and started the speech he had prepared for exactly that moment.
"Just twenty years ago, I, like I suppose everyone else, would have never imagined to see all of this coming true. As a youngster, I also was a fierce nationalist, and I believed that everyone should simply stay in their land and not disturb the other peoples. But then the First Europan War came. It brought a destruction and death without precedents and it taught me something very important: if everyone thinks for themselves, then it's just survival of the fittest. The basic condition of wild nature.
"But we are human beings. What distinguishes us from most other creatures is our ability to band together and cooperate. History has shown in the past, that our species thrives the most when everyone works toward a common goal. So let us make sure that such a common goal be not the desire to destroy other communities. Let Europa rise as a shining beacon of democracy, a continent of sharing resources, where different cultures will always be able to talk their differences out instead of killing each other over them.
"For let it be clear: by signing this treaty, all member states declare first and foremost that all men are equal. No matter their race, nationality or gender. We will always strive to build a fair, just and peaceful society inside our borders."
As it became clear that he was done, a loud applause started forming in the room while the journalists finished scribbling his speech on their notepads and the photographers took several shots or filmed the entire sequence of events. The representatives then took their seats while their Foreign Ministers waited standing behind them. Finally, the attendants started bringing the copies of the Treaty. All the same, and one for each delegation. The attendants formed a row and the first one reached one edge of the table, in front of the President of the Fhirald National Movement, who was to be the first to put his signature on the first pages, then the attendants kept going, letting everyone sign their copy before creating another row. When this ceremony was done, each attendant stepped forward and gave the copy in hand to the representative in front of them.
Finally, the Heads stood up and held their copy of the treaty for the cameras before starting a series of handshakes.
After that, they proceeded to the after-party, which was quite rich, but still modest compared to the prewar times, to show to the public opinion that funds were not being squandered.
And it was during that small party that Wilbur and Devron were approached by none other than the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Edinburgh, one of the main constituents of the Federation.
"Minister Fender. Your speech back in that hall was truly a bookmark in the history of Europa." the Edinburghese PM complimented.
"Minister Halscott. Thank you for your words. I hope to see you again at the coronation of Her Highness Cordelia." Wilbur replied cordially.
"How could I miss such an invitation? After all, that will be the day when the Europan Community will officially be born. You have every right to make the proclamation in Gallia, considering all your hard work."
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the excellent performance of your Navy, two weeks ago, either. This is just a shred of what our peoples can achieve together."
"I'll make sure to report those words. But since you brought the military up, most of us were wondering if Gallia would agree to a few joint exercises, in the future."
"I suppose that is a necessity. However, first we need to reestablish a land border between Gallia and the Federation." Wilbur pointed out.
"I'm sure that will only be a matter of time. The Empire is losing strength, which gives us an opening for a counterattack. Ah, I just remembered: there is a unit among the ranks of our Armored Ranger Corps that would be a perfect partner for a joint exercise between us and Gallia."
"The Ranger Corp?" Devron asked. "Isn't that the elite vanguard of the Edinburgh Army?"
"Indeed. And one of their squads that has already distinguished itself in action is made mostly of foreign volunteers."
May 4, 1935.
Learning that Gallia had been one of the founding members of the Europan Community had been met with mixed feelings back in the country: near half of the population was still clinging to the idea of armed neutrality, thinking that Gallia should only think for herself and not get involved with the rest of the world, but it was clear that the years of Wilbur's preaching that Gallia couldn't just watch the world burn and then complain whenever a fire reached its territory, had paid off. A good chunk of public opinion had by now realized the truth of that doctrine and had welcomed the project of an organization that would foster cooperation and peace in the future.
In general, the people was too busy worrying about the invasion of their homeland to think about the complex geopolitics of this gesture, so for now the national unity was not an issue.
That meant that Gallia could stay focused on the war, and with the Imperial offensive toward Fouzen progressing very slowly, Erwin felt like it was a good moment to increase the number of Valkyrias in his ranks. That was why he had brought Alicia and Welkin with him and they were now reaching the small harbor to take a ferry to Reite, alongside the General's pupils.
"How do you feel, Alicia?" Erwin asked patiently as he led the group.
Dressed in civilian clothing to be more comfortable, just like Welkin, Alicia replied "Very worried, sir. I still can't believe this."
"You opened the temple, Alicia." Ramal pointed out. "There is simply no other explanation."
"And combined with your absurd healing ability, the doubts that you are a Valkyria rise even more." Kiril added.
Alicia didn't feel like she could deny that reasoning, but it was clear that she still had doubts.
"I hope it's worth it, though."
"And...Erwin, exactly what am I supposed to do?" Welkin then asked.
"You are here for moral support. Plus, you are her commanding officer and I think you need to know all the truth to realize what she, me and all the Valkyrur can do."
Welkin scratched the back of his head. "I guess. Though I think Isara should have had the right to come, as well."
"Another time, perhaps. The people on the island are always quite wary of new faces, I didn't want to bring in more than necessary."
As he said that, they had reached the pier with the ferry. The island was clearly visible from there, being only 7 km away from the coast, but the group was taken by surprise as they first saw a Gallian destroyer patrolling the water around it and that the pier was presided by a group of Marines, likely coming from that same ship, and the local Town Watch.
Luckily, the NCO recognized Erwin immediately and, even if a little surprised, yelled "Atten-tion!"
Erwin returned the salute and said "At east. What's your ID?"
"Sir. Sergeant Barsen of the GN Gilroy."
"What's going on, Sergeant? I didn't hear the island was locked down."
"It's just a precaution, sir. Yesterday, our ship caught up a signature that was very similar to that of a submarine in this sector. Our Captain ordered us to stop the ferries while the ship makes one last sweep around the island."
"Can I talk to your Captain?"
"Give me a second…" the NCO took his radio and contacted the commander of the ship, then he passed the device to Erwin.
"This is General Erwin Absenkirch of the Gallian Special Service. Identification code 'Rot Falke'."
"Greetings, General. This is Captain Veneet."
"Captain, your Sergeant brought me up to speed. Did you find anything?"
"Negative, sir. Though I am pretty sure that we detected something yesterday. It's just a precaution against possible Imperial infiltrators. But if you want to go back home, the waters seem relatively safe."
Erwin pondered. He could wait until the ship had made its sweep, yet his instinct was itching. There was something wrong in the air. He was sensing something. A presence he hadn't felt for years…
"If you confirm it's safe, then yes, we're in a bit of a hurry." he concluded.
"All right, I'm sending you one of our boats. Better safe than sorry."
"Thank you." Erwin concluded before turning toward one of the guards. "Watcher, do you have some spare weapons we can take?"
The young man turned toward the pier. "What do you say, boss? Do we have anything left?"
An old man, probably too old for the draft but still willing to defend his town, stepped forward and spoke to the General with a certain distrust. "Do you expect trouble?"
"At the GSS, we always expect trouble." Erwin replied with calm determination.
The local watch leader assessed the General and then he clearly convinced himself not to pose any trouble to that man. "We don't have much. A couple of machine guns and some old rifles."
"That will be enough, thank you. Ram, Kiril, you take the automatics."
"As if this trip wasn't already looking awful." Alicia commented disheartened by the whole situation.
The Watch handed over three rusty but still working rifles from the stash they had set inside the ticket cabin and the two machine-guns, which were old models but had been maintained quite well. Then an armed patrol boat from the Destroyer arrived and brought the group through the waters of the strait, reaching the town of Reite which was also being searched by the rest of the Marines.
"Did anyone go to the village?" Erwin asked to the squad leader.
"No, sir. We didn't want to disturb the Matriarchs. Besides, this town is the only way in or out, even to hide a rowboat would be impossible in the rest of the island."
Erwin had to concede that much, but there was still something bothering him.
"Well, we need to get to the village anyway. Come on, boys. Lieutenant, keep patrolling the beach. Nobody in or out until I say otherwise."
"Yes, sir." the officer replied.
Then Erwin led the group up the trail leading to his village. After half-an-hour they reached it and were welcomed by the population of the village already gathered in the streets. But when they saw him with the two new strangers, the women and children quickly let him through toward the center of the assembly, where they found the four Elders of the village: Valkyrias beyond the age of 60. And among them, the one with the most severe frown turned toward him. And Erwin greeted calmly.
"Hello, Mother. Elders."
Welkin and Alicia were actually stunned for a moment.
"That's your mother?!" Welkin asked a little panicky.
"Welkin, Alicia, meet Urma Absenkirch. My mother and one of the Elders of the village."
The woman, probably the youngest of the Elders, indeed looking in her first 50s, stepped forward and spoke with the General.
"Erwin. Why are your soldiers on the island?" she asked severely.
"I didn't send them. They think there might be an imperial submarine hiding around here, they are just making sure that nobody slipped past them."
"Well, nobody came here. So get back there and send them away." Urma said.
"Erwin!" the familiar voice of Vyrka called suddenly from the crowd before she emerged.
"Vyrka. What's going on?" he asked, recognizing the urgency on his wife's face.
"Angelica is missing. We looked everywhere but we can't find her."
The news hit Erwin's brain like a truck and suddenly he came to an awful realization. He immediately turned to his squad. "Alicia, Welkin, you stay right here. Ramal, Kiril, come with me, double time!"
He then started running northward, to the nearest point to the sea.
"Wait, sir what's going on?!" Kiril asked as he and Ramal tried to keep pace with him and his much longer steps.
"There are infiltrators!" Erwin simply said back. "And I know where they are going!"
They rushed uphill, past a little ridge formed by the great mountain, then they entered a relatively secluded part of the island, where the boys saw for their first time a hidden temple of the Valkyrur, built between the trees and standing right next to a cliff next to the sea.
And not a moment too late, they spotted Angie, tied at her hands and with a rag gagging her mouth. She was being dragged by two hooded figures that were quite small, Erwin judged, but nonetheless they had to be stopped.
The three rushed until they caught up to the ignorant figures and pointed their weapons.
"Freeze!" Erwin ordered.
The two figures stopped and turned around. Then one of them let Angie go so the other could take her closely and point a blade at her throat.
"Not another move!" the figure said and the GSS recognized a female. "Or she dies. Very slowly." she added with a twisted fun.
Meanwhile, the other one had taken an imperial machine-gun from beneath, a small model that could easily be concealed.
"I don't think you realize what you're doing." Erwin replied staunchly. "Let that girl go, and you will survive to see the next day."
Angie was in the meantime struggling with a panic, but she could only muffle a scream.
"Perhaps. But are you willing to let a kid die?" the other figure, also a young woman apparently, said provocatively.
But they didn't seem to realize what Erwin was actually capable of. For a brief moment, he awakened his abilities and then made a dash at full speed toward the woman holding Angie. Since he didn't summon the flame, he managed to prevent their reaction, but he only had so much strength to use, and his priority was to put Angie to safety, so he limited himself toward grabbing the knife-holding hand and tossing the woman away.
It did free Angie, while also removing the cape from the woman he tossed, and thus he realized that it was actually a young girl, with azure eyes and a blonde bob, but wearing what looked like the uniform of an Imperial elite operative. The girl quickly stood back up and growled at him.
Meanwhile, Ramal and Kiril opened fire on the second one, who quickly discarded her hood to run faster toward a cover, She was also the same age as her colleague, with a tan skin, black eyes and dark hair with a strange shade of purple, though she clearly wasn't a Darcsen.
"Angie, run!" Erwin said as he stood between the girl and the two Imperials.
The child might have been tied, but she quickly stood up and ran toward Ramal and Kiril, the former knelt down to incite and protect her.
Then Erwin felt a jolt on his neck. A danger was coming at him.
He immediately jumped away, just before a loud smash hit the ground where he stood.
He quickly turned around, and he froze just like everybody else.
Standing there, with the right leg still pressing on the terrain, was a man with white hair and short beard, but that was because he looked like he was 70.
What wasn't natural were the crimson eyes. The eyes of a Valkyrur.
"Aduin…?" Erwin said. He wasn't entirely surprised, but the shock was still great.
"Hello, Erwin." the old man replied calmly, even with a note of respect. "I'm sorry, but I need that girl to come with us."
After taking another moment to metabolize who he was actually fighting, Erwin regained his footing and assumed a fighting stance. "I don't know what's happening. But Angie is staying right here."
The old man briefly closed his eyes, as if he was quite bothered by this situation, but as he assumed a fighting stance, as well, he talked to the two Imperial girls.
"Nikola, Chiara, take the girl. Be quick."
"I don't take orders from you!" the blonde one replied.
Ramal quickly untied Angie and removed her gag.
"Angie, listen: I need you to hide behind a tree and wait for us while we put these baddies in their place, okay?"
The girl was clearly terrorized, but she still nodded.
"Good girl. Go!" he finally exhorted and Angie ran away.
Ramal retook his gun just in time to see the two Imperial operatives, Nikola and Chiara he heard, running toward him and Kiril, with the clear intent of kidnapping Angie again. The two girls fired and ran toward them, so the GSS took cover behind trees and returned fire, but the girls were incredibly fast and quick to avoid the bullets.
So much, in fact, that they arrived in front of the GSS and fired a burst of their own. Ramal and Kiril barely avoided them and suddenly they found themselves locked in a close-quarter-combat, with the former facing Nikola and the latter Chiara. And the boys quickly noticed that the girls were grinning sadistically.
"Not bad." Chiara said. "You two might prove to be funny."
The opposing squads threw blows at each other, eventually ending up disarming each other and resorting to bare hands and knives.
Kiril at one point clashed his blade with Chiara's, the metallic screech sent a jolt down his spine and put his senses higher than he ever felt. But what unsettled him the most was that his opponent had what could only be called a crazy smile, as if she enjoyed risking her life like that.
At the other end, Nikola certainly wasn't any less uncanny, always smirking with the eyes of a predator, which became very evident when she and Ramal ended up in a lock where they both held the wrist their opponent's held the knives with, staring at each other in a contest of will. Despite the girls a slender figure, Ramal felt her pushing with a strength almost on par with him.
"Such a cute face." she then said, taunting him.
"I don't date crazy...anymore." Ramal replied with a defiant smirk.
"Now that's rude." Nikola added before twisting her arms in a way that Ramal didn't think would be possible and using the force of that twist to jump at her opponent, hitting his chest with a powerful headbutt that sent Ramal on the ground, two meters away. In doing so, he lost the grip on his knife and Nikola didn't lose a moment jumping and diving onto him, preparing to sink her blade with both hands.
However, Ramal found the right moment to make a quick push-up, grab her hands while they were coming down and she was still midair. Then he immediately pulled back and put his boot on her belly, sending her fly over his head and making her lose her blade, too.
Knowing he had at most three seconds, Ramal quickly looked at Kiril and saw that his friend had been pushed with his back to a tree while both him and Chiara still had their knives.
Ramal quickly took out his handgun, that was still in his holster, and fired two shots. Unfortunately, Chiara noticed him just in time and dodged, but it still freed up Kiril from his tight spot.
While Ramal turned around to fight Nikola as she charged back, Kiril used the momentary confusion of his foe to charge and grab her over his shoulder. The girls might have muscle, but they were still relatively light for the trained GSS to lift and throw away if they wanted.
He thus managed to throw her toward another tree, but the Imperial operative surprised him by simply jousting in the air and ending up with her feet on the tree, then using the accumulated force to dive back at him. Kiril had no intention of taking that human bullet on so he simply dived to the ground.
As the squads studied each other again, they were then distracted by a sudden explosion and the sight of a blue flame. Actually, two.
They thus saw Erwin and the man called Aduin clashing with their weapons. Erwin with his two-handed sword and Aduin with what looked like a curved blade. However, differently from the other valkyrur weapons, that blade was made with a black stone, and it still managed to face Erwin's blade.
Then both the Valkyrur turned toward the direction of the operatives, and so the four contenders did so, as well. Chiara and Nikola quickly realized what was happening and fell back.
Because a moment later, a group of six Valkyrias, armed with lance and shield and led by Urma, entered the scene and put themselves in front of Angie and the GSS.
"What…?" Urma then said after seeing the old Valkyrur.
On his part, Aduin suddenly released a wave of energy from his left palm and pushed Erwin away.
"We're pulling out." he decreed to the girls.
"What?!" Nikola asked almost terrified.
"But we haven't…" Chiara also complained.
"We can't win, now. We'll get them next time."
He then retracted his blade and grabbed the two girls like two sacks, much to their complaint, then dashed away...off the cliff.
Erwin rushed to see where they had gone, only to look down and see them on top of a giant submarine that was still emerging while navigating away.
The General had no idea how that thing managed to slip past the Destroyer, but perhaps even that ship would have little chance against that beast. He simply watched and memorized the code on the side of the submarine.
XO – VII
"You think they're fine?" Alicia asked worried as she and Welkin awaited in the gathering hall, accompanied by Vyrka and her children.
"It's my father. Of course they are fine." Sigurd said proudly.
"Precisely." Welkin added optimistically. "They will be back in no time."
In order to help Alicia relax, Vyrka decided to start a conversation with her naturally gentle tone. "So, Alicia. You come from Bruhl, as well?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm surprised you know about my town." Alicia replied, starting to be a little more comfortable.
Vyrka chuckled. "Erwin often talked about Welkin and Isara, so I feel like I've been there several times."
"Oh, he did?" Welkin asked a little more embarrassed.
"You bet." Sigurd said quite enthusiast. "He said that you love everything about nature, and that it often gets you in trouble."
Welkin chuckled. "I guess that's quite true."
"But he also says that you are reliable, smart and caring." Vyrka added. "After seeing you, I can tell he wasn't exaggerating."
Welkin blushed a little, but then the conversation was cut short as the door opened and Erwin, Ramal, Kiril and the Elders entered the hall.
Vyrka stood up and asked in preoccupation. "Angie? Where is she?"
"Don't worry, she's back at the caring house." Erwin reassured her. "We have a much bigger problem to discuss."
"What happened?" Alicia asked.
Erwin sat down on one of the benches and sighed before turning toward his wife. "Vyrka...Aduin is with the Empire."
Vyrka's eyes widened, unable to believe what she just heard. The other Valkyrias also seemed unwilling to talk about it. However, the youngsters were obviously confused and curious.
"Ehm...who was that guy?" Ramal finally asked.
"Seemed like you knew him." Kiril added. "Also...a male Valkyrur? Sir, I thought you were the only one around."
"I am not. I simply said that we are rare. Even Sigurd is a pure-blood and he hasn't manifested anything yet." Erwin replied, briefly turning toward his son. "I am only the last that has been born so far. But before me...there was him: Aduin."
"He is over 90 years old, now." Urma intervened to explain. "You probably heard about him via his public name: Iosif Barclard."
"Wait...I think I heard that name when I was in high school." Welkin pondered.
"Right!" Kiril suddenly remembered. "Wasn't he considered the greatest historian on the Valkyrur?"
Erwin made a slow nod. "Yes, that was his persona. He studied and became a renowned Historian just to convince the whole world that the Valkyrur no longer exist, and that they were most likely just a myth all along. In his spare time, he taught us how to control our abilities so we could keep blending with the rest of the world."
"It might sound quite odd to you, but when Europa was swept by the Industrial Revolution, there were many who started to wonder if our people was still around, somewhere." Urma explained again. "His contribution made sure to divert any public attention from us...until now."
"But...if he is with the Empire…" Ramal reasoned. "Then that means that they know about you. Selvaria and Maximillian most likely know that you are a Valkyrur." he said to the General.
Erwin sighed in resignation. Yet there was something else that bothered him. "Guys, did you happen to see any distinctive sign on those girls' uniforms?"
The two pupils pondered, then Ramal replied first. "Yes...on their berets they had a badge. I saw...let's see...there was the drawing of a book and then...ah, yes: I saw the letters I, S and B. Do we know what that is?"
Erwin felt a grip on his heart. He gulped down and replied. "The Imperial Science Board. They are a division of the Imperial military that develops and studies new weapons. They also have an elite unit called XO. Their leader is Doctor Heinrich Belgar. That explains a lot."
"Belgar? Isn't he the one behind the Hafen Incident?" Vyrka asked preoccupied, leaving the other soldiers stunned.
Erwin nodded. "He was friend with Albert Miller, until the latter realized that ragnite implosion was too dangerous and called it out the research they had brought on together. It makes sense that they were trying to apprehend Angie: Belgar is still trying to attain the technology Angie was taken for by the Federation."
The General sighed exhausted and leaned forward, rubbing his face into his palms, leaving everyone else wondering if they should speak to him, but no one really had something else to say.
All except Urma, who stepped forward. "Erwin, you know I never approved of your military career. I thought that you should simply settle down here and leave our people in the obscurity, as we have done for generations.
"But if Aduin has joined the Empire, then we are all at risk. So, for whatever it is worthy, you will have my support."
Erwin rose his head in surprise. "Mother…?"
Urma knelt down and reached her son's shoulder. "I don't know why Aduin chose to walk down this path...or better said, I can only speculate. But I also know that he must be stopped."
Those words had Erwin ponder. "Right...why would he do this? He left the island right when the last war ended, right?"
"What?!" Kiril asked astonished. "And nobody thought about following him?!"
"He left because his son, who had enlisted in the Militia, died during the war." Urma replied firmly. "His wife, a normal human, then killed herself because she couldn't bear the pain. Right after that, Aduin left the island, a shell of his former self. We figured he only wanted to find his own way to die, so we let him leave."
"Whatever happened, he's the enemy now, and we must stay vigilant." Erwin finally decreed. "I need to go back to Randgriz and inform Wilbur." he then turned toward the two guests on the island. "Alicia. Last chance to back off."
Alicia took a breather and then replied vigorously. "I won't. If you think I have the power to protect my people and friends...then I want to take the shot."
"Ah." the oldest of the Elders, Kriza, stepped forward as she leaned on a walking cane and added "She has our blood." in understanding.
"Right...who are these younglings?" Urma asked.
"May I present you Welkin Gunther and Alicia Melchiott. I already talked about him to you, as for her...she recently opened the door of the Barious Temple with just her touch."
Urma hummed and brought her closed hand on her chin in a thoughtful gesture. "You want us to awaken her."
"Yes. We are going to need all hands on deck." Erwin concluded.
"Did my son tell you how the ritual is going to work, young Alicia?"
"He told me that it might be painful, but not lethal."
"That's quite accurate. We will give you a drug that will give you a death-like sleep, so you don't suffer too much. Then we Elders will channel our energy inside your body to stimulate a reaction. Depending on your potential, this can take a few minutes or a few hours." then Urma turned her head toward Welkin. "Your friend can stay in the room, if that makes you feel safer. He won't be affected in any way, provided he stays still and doesn't annoy us."
"I promise, ma'am. You won't even notice I'm there." Welkin replied a bit intimidated but firm in his intentions.
"Good. Then let's get started."
"I'll go back to the town, in the meantime. Ramal, Kiril, come with me." Erwin concluded instead.
Inside the Imperial submarineOrcinus Magnusthe atmosphere wasn't any more joyous.
"I must say, Master Aduin, that I am a little bit disappointed." Doctor Belgar said as he leaned on his desk, talking to Aduin directly.
Nikola and Chiara were waiting at attention behind the Valkyrur, but their faces were terrified as they heard the words of their boss and creator.
"There was no way to know that Erwin Absenkirch would have been on the island. All our reports gave his position to be in the capital."
Belgar, while still embittered, could not deny that simple, logical fact. "Yes, that is quite true. Truly an unlucky day for us. But still, I figured you all would be able to handle him and his two lackeys."
The girls slightly gasped in fear.
"Don't even think about it, Belgar." Aduin said firmly. "Nikola and Chiara did their best, but this was their first true combat, while Erwin and his pupils have been fighting numerous battles, already."
With the two young women looking with surprise at Aduin, Belgar pondered. "I suppose so. But we can't afford another failure like this. What do you propose to improve their performance?"
"It's simple: let me train them my way. Then we need to start taking on real missions, not necessarily against Erwin."
"What do you say, girls?" Belgar said to the other two, with a more sinisterly caring tone. "Do you think you can handle a training regimen from a Valkyrur?"
"Y-Yes, Lord Belgar." Nikola replied after a moment of confusion.
"We will not fail you again, Lord Belgar." Chiara added.
"Very well. Then I will leave them in your care. If you will ever face those two brats again, I want you to obliterate them. You can go, now."
"Thank you, Lord Belgar." the girls said one after the other.
Aduin simply huffed annoyed and started walking toward the door, also motioning Nikola and Chiara to follow him.
After passing through a couple corridors, being saluted by the soldiers and crewmen aboard, the three reached the training room and Aduin started his lesson.
"So...what do you think went wrong, today?"
The two at first didn't know what to reply. They were not that used to fail a test, but this had been their first real assignment and they had failed.
Eventually, Chiara did have something to say. "I know what." she said before pointing the finger toward Nikola. "It's you! I almost had my prey, but you let yours free to shoot me!"
Nikola barred her eyes with an offended frown. "Excuse me?! Don't blame me for your slowness!"
Chiara leaned a little bit in to yell stronger at her partner. "Better slow and successful than rushed and fumbled!"
"Oh yeah?! Then how…"
"Enough!" Aduin said with a booming voice.
Honestly intimidated, the two retook a martial standing.
"You actually got the point, Chiara." he then added with a more patient tone. "Those two...what was their name…? Ah, yes, Ramal and Kiril. They fought knowing that they were 2v2. You two, on the other hand, fought as if each of you was alone against the others. They have an instinctive teamwork, which allows them the get out of desperate situation and to fight with a clearer mind.
"In conclusion: if you want to beat them, next time, you need to learn how to cooperate."
"Cooperate with her?!" Nikola said disgusted. "Don't make me laugh."
"Yeah. I don't need someone who gets flipped over by a kid." Chiara replied in tone.
Aduin sighed and passed his hands over his eyes. It seemed like he had the work cut for him.
May 9, 1935.
"Okay, so...we have your old mentor, who is another male Valkyrur, siding with the secret Imperial research team?" Wilbur asked with a certain emphasis.
Erwin simply nodded. "Yes."
The Prime Minister sighed as he went to sit at his desk's chair and held his face in his hands, rubbing his tired eyes.
After a few seconds of silence, he made a question to his old friend. "What do we do now?"
"With Aduin on their side, it's extremely likely that the Imperials found new ways to awaken their own Valkyrias. Selvaria might just be the first."
"New ways?" Wilbur asked.
"That's...actually the only ray of hope I have: to force an awakening, you need at least four Elders capable of channeling their energy into the body of the new Valkyria, so Aduin clearly can't do it on his own. On the other hand…" he hesitated to speak more.
"What? Is there any other way?" Wilbur insisted.
"Well...there are record of Valkyrias awakening when they were very close to death and managed to survive. And if I know the Empire enough, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't hesitate to do just that. It only remains to be seen how many valid Valkyrias they have obtained with this method."
"Oh my…" Wilbur mumbled.
Erwin leaned his arms on the desk and spoke with determination. "Wilbur, we need the Navy to patrol Reite 24/7. The news must not get out before the proclamation of the Community."
"I know. But that is more than a month away. What if the Empire announces first that they have living Valkyrias."
"If they give us no other choice, then we will anticipate the revelation, but for now we need to hold fast. Remember: it's not just about letting the continent know. It's essential to keep Cordelia on the throne that we reveal ourselves on that day."
Those words reminded Wilbur of the focal point: Cordelia. She had a huge secret as well, and she was going to need the support of the divine Valkyrur to resist any attempt to overthrow her once the truth would be revealed.
"Very well. The Imperial surface fleet is no more, anyway. Our Navy can focus on protecting Reite. In the meantime...are we ready for the next move?"
Erwin nodded. "I have already planned a series of raids. We will soften the Imperials so that Operation Eastern Wind can take place safely."
