Howdy,
Constructive criticism is welcome. Disclaimer I own nothing.
Some ideas I toyed with and gave up on.
Title: Preparing Olivia
My little village was acting like it was a festival. Visitors are rare, and we had two arrive late yesterday. One was a messenger from the capital with a letter as if from a dream. I knew I was gifted in magic, and it earned me a scholarship to the royal academy.
The other visitor is just a young adventurer. But his ship is mesmerizing. Sleek and black, it is clearly an artifact. I just couldn't stop myself from staring at it.
"Admiring my ship?" I jumped as the voice was right next to me.
"I'm sorry." Turning, I see it's the adventurer. His silver hair matched his silvery eyes and armor. Tall and broad his armor trimmed in blue where it meet the leather underclothes. Except for the first signs of age on his face he looks like he steeped right out of a novel.
"No need to be sorry. The Comrade is quite the ship. Miss?"
"Oh, um, I'm Olivia."
His face took on a worried expression. "The scholarship student for the Academy?"
"Yes. Are you familiar with the Academy?"
He says something I can't quite hear. Then louder, "Do you want to see the interior?"
"Oh, I couldn't impose. I don't even know your name."
"It's Kyle. And it would be a shame to miss out on seeing one of the few intact relics of the lost world." His voice has a teasing tone.
"Sorry to impose mister Kyle. And thank you."
It was amazing. There are so many relics and many in working condition. It even has a moving room that conveniently could take us to the top where the bridge is.
"This is amazing, mister Kyle."
"What is amazing is how much trouble you are."
"I'm sorry." Did I do something wrong?
"You're going to that Hell scape. And you have no idea what you are doing. Do you?"
Before I could ask what he meant, my back hit the wall. Kyle had moved so quickly I couldn't react. "Kyle, what are you doing?!" He has both my arms pinned. One of his legs is between mine, his chest pressed to mine, keeping my body to the wall.
"You are completely under my power. I can do whatever I want." His words are like some villain out of a story, right before.. No, not that.
"I'll..I'll sc..scream."
"Even if anyone heard you. Who would stop me?"
I closed my eyes as despair took over. This was supposed to be my happy ending. I would have gone to the academy, learned more magic, and maybe fallen in love. Instead, I hit the floor as Kyle stepped away. My legs had turned to jelly. I could only open my eyes. Kyle looked down at me, not with anger or lust but with pity in his eyes. "Why?"
"You need to be stronger." He held out his hand. When it was clear I wouldn't take it, he pulled back. "I'll tell you what to expect at the academy after you have collected yourself." And he walked off.
I start to cry. I don't know for how long I just sat on the floor. I didn't want to see him again. But I needed answers. On shacking legs, I got up to find Kyle.
/
Walking off the ship, I clutch an old notebook tightly. Kyle was harsh in teaching me, but it was nicer than learning by actually experience. He had been very clear that the Academy wasn't a place without problems.
The notebook contained so much I needed to know. It has explanations on unwritten rules, dossiers on several important people, and even possible locations for treasure that could prove useful.
Looking over, I can see the royal messenger is still here. Good, if I'm to avoid unwanted problems, I should start preparing now.
/
Watching the Protagonist walk away holding the strategy guide as if it was a winning lottery ticket made me feel dirty. I can only tell myself it's for the good of the kingdom.
Luxion, "Are you certain you wish to leave it like this?"
"She has a guidebook. If she can't avoid a bad ending with that, we are already doomed. You emphasized the capture targets personalities like I asked?" Hinting at the right dialog options without spelling it out proved, problematic. So I had left it to Luxion.
"Of course Master. I also padded it with provable.."
"Don't care. If she doesn't burn it after memorizing the content, like I asked, we have contingency plans." If they can even trace it back to me.
"I have modified all records as to prove you never came here. It is only a shame we didn't have enough time to fabricate a false identity perfectly." He means the only ship we have is the Partner.
"Short notice problems, I know. Let's get out of here. Also, bring me the stuff to remove this hair dye and makeup." I start getting rid of the rest of the disguise.
"Yes, Master. Taking Partner out."
Odd, Olivia is going to the messenger's ship. Whatever. Devious girl looked like a woman with a goal and, more importantly, a plan. "With this, we are even, Olivia."
/Mylene
"Are you certain of this, Lucas?" My Uncle in law is trust worthy, it is just that he believes in others far too easily. I can only stare at the small notebook on my desk.
"Unfortunately, we can't confirm the most critical of it at the moment. All of the treasure maps we followed so far have been accurate. As is everything else we can confirm."
"That any normal adventurer would pass up on such easy money. I don't like what that implies."
"A man to whom money is not the objective. The ones we verified so far are in hidden areas but rather easy to get." Spoken like a true gentleman instead of a leader.
"Or a spy that doesn't want to stand out. Given that much of the provable information is unknown outside the palace. I'd say that is a more likely scenario."
"Such a disquieting thought. But then why fly about in such a conspicuous airship?"
"So mild a phrase for such a disaster. That rumors haven't started is a mixed blessing." Our reputation is intact. It also is why it has gotten so bad. "The ship may have some hidden features he was taking advantage of." Such that would allow so few people to operate it that only one was seen. Or perhaps that was the point, Dozens of men could have hidden aboard. How many would have been required to get so much intelligence that happened in the last few months?
"It could still be a coincidence." Ever the optimist. It's true that there is no actual proof of wrongdoing. But there are names and dates laid out so that the thunderous accusations are hard to deny. "Mylene, we don't know if Julius really is going to those places." Of course he'd jump to the family related problems.
"Ha. They tailed him going into the Red light district with a purse of gold coins. He came home with an empty purse. Or are you suggesting he truly spends one hundred times the market price for street food?"
"Yes, I suppose it would be better he take after Roland then be that incompetent. The boys are young they could still be guided to grow into fine Gentlemen." Optimistic again.
"They will need to be closely monitored at school. We will also need to shack up the Academy staff for allowing things to deteriorate to such an extent." So many headaches.
"Mylene, if I may, about Livia."
"I will personally see to her safety, Lucas." To think if she had not gotten the sympathy of this spy. If she hadn't trusted Lucas enough to seek him out after all these years and ask advice. I can't imagine what trouble would have befallen us. The failure of the meritocracy program is one thing. To have our kingdoms next leaders with such flaws on display for our not so friendly neighbors is unacceptable. Worst he new of all the gaps in our defenses better than anyone in the palace. Thinking how vulnerable we are and we didn't even know it sends a shiver down my spine.
/Marie
Finally Ten years of waiting and preparing, the Academy. It's so noisy being here in the flesh. Seriously, what has gotten into the mobs? Well, whatever, at the end of the day, they are just background, like a potted plant.
There he is, my prince. I have his opening speech memorized, still to hear it in his voice again. If only that witch angelica wasn't sitting by is side. Who is that on his other side? She seems familiar. Forget her, she is probably just a mob staff member. Why is the villainess taking the podium first? Makes sense given the female dominated society that the woman goes first, I guess. It's just another add on to turn several hours of game play into three years. Is there a way I can speed it up?
Why is it getting laud? Something the villainess said? Well, it shouldn't affect me. Angelica seemed to have pissed everyone off, as expected of the antagonist. "To expand on the new rules I present Her Majesty Queen Mylene Rapha Holtfort." That's why she seams familiar. It's the black hearted Queen.
"Thank you, Angelica. As many of you should have heard, Holtfort is moving back to the days of meritocracy. To that end, new laws have been made to make it easier to marry outside your noble rank. As long as the intended partners can prove they are capable of carrying out the duties expected of them. Similarly Nobles that prove unfit for their station will face consequences. As an example, Leon Fou Bartford, please stand."
An ordinary boy in the back stood to be recognized. "Sir Bartford, you have proven yourself as an exceptional adventurer. As such, if you wish, I will personally approve a match with any skilled woman even if they are of common blood. Conversely, your brother, Rutart Fou Bartford, is an example of the other point. Given he has failed to produce results in either adventuring or academics, suitable to even a Knight's standard. He is to be removed as heir to the Bartford territory by Royal decree."
Stupid side plots, hurry up and get to my prince's speech. The Queen has a few more things to say, but nothing really affects me or my plans. I'm not going to sink so low as to marry a commoner, after all.
Finally Julius is taking the stage.
/
"Livia, what are you looking at?"
"Oh, it's nothing, Mylene." The blush says otherwise.
"That's the newest Baron. Is he your type?" The Magical prodigy and the Master adventurer, hum. The potential for a good vassal family is enormous. If I add the Baronies together and he finds another island I could even make a new county. I should speak of this idea with Ange and Julius. Her current followers are lacking and he needs a better friend.
"No, I just thought.. I think I might recognize him." When I heard about his ship being so similar, it had crossed my mind. Could two such behemoths go unknown till now? Though, no, his path took him nowhere near Olivia's island. Then again... No that's nonsense, I saw the records myself, Leon was on the other side of the kingdom from Olivia. It can't be in two places at once.
"I'll make sure he invites you to his tea party. Why don't you take the opportunity to find out."
"Um. Ok." Even if the Baron isn't connected, looking into what his ship is capable of could prove useful when there's another like it out there. Bartford may not know enough to use whatever features the spy used to move unseen for so long but maybe Olivia can.
"Now come let me take you to greet Angelica."
An: A little story for if Leon went through with his "I'll pay her back someday." When he was first looking for Luxion.
Title: Royal Knight
/ Festival Café Queen's visit.
Mylene "Honestly Leon couldn't this have been resolved in a less violent way. Have you considered how this will affect your future?"
"What future." I snapped. Dealing with Offrey had left me short tempered.
Ange "Leon, what do you mean? Your our generations most accomplished adventurer."
"That's the problem. My land holdings, even when developed, will be just enough for someone of lower rank. In order to make up the difference in taxes, I'd need to continue adventuring using up a lot of my time. Until bad luck forces me to sell my lost items to pay those taxes or, worse, gets me killed outright. It's a cruel, downward spiral. Higher rank means more adventures, which will lead to even higher rank and higher taxes."
Mylene "Higher rank is an honor to recognize your achievements." Some panic shows threw her regal mask.
"A gilded slave collar, one that leaves me no future worth living if I stay in Holtfort."
Ange "You'd abandon your country?!"
"The same country that forces me to grovel and demean myself to useless women. The same women that would murder my children for a pittance." The Queen and Ange tried to say something, but the café door slammed open.
"Mother, what are you doing with these scoundrels?!" Julios yells from the doorway.
"Yes, the prince. Please go with your son your grace and tell me what my heavy handedness has resolved."
/ Mylene's office days later
Saintess above, what happened to my son? Refusing to leave this Marie was one thing, refusing to listen to me that was both new and unacceptable. That trip really went awry. I tried going back to Leon to conclude my interrupted business, only to find a girl asking him to take care of some pirates.
Julios burst into the room. "Mother, I need to talk too..." he trailed off as he noticed the other two in the room.
Angie "I see you still don't know how to knock, your highness."
"Julios, we are in the middle of Livia's lesson. Come back later." Livia should have been taught better than to fall for Carla's ploy. I only have myself to blame for not checking in on her.
Julios "No, I am leaving to go after Brad and Greg. They've gone to subjugate sky pirates." Foolish boy.
"Subjugating sky pirates? Julios, it seems you still don't understand your place. Right now, you don't have an airship or even a suit of armor. Nor do you have any right to command the kingdom's forces. Yet you still want to participate? Please spare me this farce."
Julios "BUT MOTHER! Is this not the duty of us, Nobles?!"
Angie "It's a duty for the competent, or are you saying you are better than the Knights and soldiers whose job is to fight sky pirates?"
Livia "Would this be the same pirates Carla Fou Wayne asked Sir Leon to handle?"
Julios "Um...yes."
"Leon..." Oh, what's wrong with me? Just because he said a few sweat things to me before I left the second time.
Julios "Oug, MOTHER, please STOP!"
"Right. Lord Bartford has my blessing to handle the matter. It will be a good test to determine his ability. And a royal guard ship is already in escort."
Julios "Mother, please. Why is Bartford fine but not me?"
"If you don't know the reason, then I truly can't let you go."
/ Leon
Twirling the Saintes's necklace around, I can't help but feel how anti-climactic the pirate event was. Red and Purple at least learned a valuable lesson about how small they are. Honestly, the Offrey fleet that demanded custody of the pirates was more interesting than the pirate hunt. And that's not saying much given how it was Knight Captain Duncan that took care of all the talking.
Pulling into port towing a dozen ships, I was met with several dozen guards with small prisoner transport crafts. So much for not standing out. As long as I can pass it off as Brad and Greg's accomplishment, I should be ok.
/
"What is the meaning of this?!"
The official looking man looked apologetically at me over a small mountain of gold. "I'm sorry, but in situations like these, the report of the highest ranking individual takes precedence. According to Earl Duncan, this is your accomplishment." That gray-haired old captain, dam him.
"Please, no."
"By the way. The queen has asked for you to see her as soon as we are finished."
What's with the room I was led to. It felt more like it was part of a home than the palace, even if it was an excessively wealthy home. Mylene sits with a disconcerting amount of paperwork files that have my name to them.
"Your Grace, I was told you wanted to see me." She placed her current file down, I could just catch the heading 'Weiss' before she placed it into a folder.
"Yes, Lord Bartford. Please have a seat." Fearing she may still call for my head, I sat in one of the oversized chairs across from her. "Now, given what you said last time, I am sorry to tell you that you will be promoted to Viscount. However, I have something that should help."
She stood up, picked up a file, and came around the desk. Taking the file, I read the contents. An offer to become a knight in direct employment of the queen. Payment is waiving my taxes and marriage requirements, and my only duty is to ensure the safety of one princess, Erika Rapha Holtfort, in times of war or crisis. Simultaneously releasing me from all other war time responsibilities. There are probably a few huge razor blades in this equally huge cotton candy, but I can't think of one Luxion couldn't get me out of.
I slid off my seat into a kneeling position. "My fair queen. It will be an honor and pleasure to serve one as radiant as you."
"Please, Leon, you shouldn't tease an old woman." Her flustered red face is just so cute.
Standing up and taking one of her hands in mine. "Your grace, I meant what I said. You are a picture of youth and beauty like a rose in full bloom. Any man that would prefer a mere flower bud is as foolish as they are blind." Her face is equal parts embarrassed and contemplating.
"Come with me." She pulls me to a door behind the desk and pushes me inside. It's a bedroom, I'm too shocked to react. A soft click and a softer thump from behind has me totally frozen. "Leon..." Mylene says in a husky voice as she wraps her arms around me from behind. Dam suit I can't feel anything.
/Third Person
The queen was woken by a maid as the king was approaching with knights in tow. Dressing quickly, the queen looked back at her private quarters and the naked young man in her bed before turning to the maid. "See to it that Lord Bartford stays out of trouble."
The queen sits down in her front room just as the king enters and shouts. "Where is he?!"
"Good morning to you, too, husband." The queen turns to the knights. "Thank you for escorting him here. You may leave now." Surprise was evident on the king's face as the knights obey and left. "I'm surprised you remember where my room is after over a decade."
"You have no right too..." But he stopped at the glare she gave him.
"I have every right, I am the Queen! Maybe if you acted like a king instead of chasing skirts, you would still have some power here."
"Is that it then? You intend to take over. You know, the royal airship, cornerstone of the kingdoms defense in times of crisis, won't work without me."
"It wouldn't work with you! The requirement is a descendant of one of the founders in love. Do you really think those bloodlines haven't spread to half the people of the kingdom. You alone have created over a dozen new lines with other women." The queen picks up a file labeled Partner. "And Weiss isn't the only lost item now."
"The boy's ship, it's been evaluated as nothing but a large cargo vassal." The queen handed him the file and just stayed silent as the king read through the report. "This can't be right."
"I had Earl Duncan observe the ship in real combat. As a leading authority on Lost Items, he still wasn't able to get a good reading on what it's capable of." Left unsaid was that one kid with one armor and one ship vs. a dozen ships and dozens of armors wasn't enough of a challenge to make Bartford take them seriously.
"If it's really so powerful I'll just kill the..." The kings voice dripped with unadulterated lust for power.
"IDIOT! Do you really think there isn't some trick to controlling it like Weiss. And if it really does have a sentient monster controlling it, like Duncan suspects, what do you think this Aye Eye will do if it's master is harmed? No better the Honey than the whip."
The kings face contorts with a sneer. "Yet it would be better with fresh honey."
The queen's face flushes. "Just what are you implying."
"Admit it, you intend to dissolve the arrangement with the Fraser boy and give my sweet princess to that brute who's only redeeming quality is he got lucky a time or two."
"I honestly hadn't thought of that, but it is an excellent idea."
"What NO! It's a horrible idea."
The queen had misgiving about giving her daughter to a man she had just beaded, still.. To control so powerful a machine, he had to be quite talented, with Erica's precocious wisdom to guide and direct him... Yes, much better than a border, Marquis. Especially as Julius is now disinherited.
As for Elijah himself, he may be devoted to Erica, but she still considered him spineless, and despite trying, he hadn't won Erica's heart.
"For the moment, I have Lord Bartford as Erica's personal knight for her safety. We will wait and see from there."
As the King and Queen's argument devolved into nothing interesting, a small spherical blur quietly left the room.
Title: Colony
Sitting on the bridge in the final moments before the operation, I look upon my gathered commanders. Images on the forward screen show their stoic expressions from their ships. Last line of defense for all of humanity, and we number less than two dozen. Twenty-one counting myself.
"Many years ago, Duke Vincent Redgrave banished me from the kingdom of Holtfort. He did this to protect me, and so I could, in turn, protect his daughter. So began.." The door to the bridge burst open with a bang. Ice filled my spine as I was tacked in the chest, pushing me back into the captain's chair.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy. Look, it's Godzilla! Rawrr." And sure enough, he holds up a tablet showing a giant lizard like monster in the ruins of an unfamiliar city.
"Hero, how did you sneak aboard." Gods, his mother is going to kill me.
Luxion, "Apologies master. It appears Sparks was masking your son from internal sensors." I can only glare at the newly made AI. He is a lot less intimidating than Lux as Hero had put several stickers on the red eyed orb.
"You were being too serious anyway, bro." Collins was a lot cuter when he was Hero's age. "We already know the mission. Kill the big monsters, grab the survivors, and get them back to Mars."
"You're not wrong. It's just that it's important to drive home how important this is." Only grim faces looked back at me. "OK, I'll save the speeches for the victorious return trip. Everyone last checks." And the comms cut out one by one.
Hero "Daddy, why does everyone look angry?"
"It's not that they are angry, son. But there is a monster down there that has hurt a lot of people. And we need to stop it."
"Like Ghidorah?"
"Sort of? It is poisoning the land and air, so most people are having difficulty getting by. We call it Arcadia."
"But daddy and Uncle Luxion are strong! Can't you defeat the monster and save people?"
Luxion, "That's why we came here today, young master. And with all our family as backup, we are guaranteed a speedy victory."
"Hurray!"
It hadn't been easy finding an AI for everyone and building or refitting ships to Luxion's specs. Admittedly, the AIs did most of the heavy work. My family and I got to work fixing up the old Martian colony, so humanity has somewhere to flee to.
Good news we have enough colony space to house all of humanity. Bad news, that's because less than half a million people are estimated to be left alive. Mostly hiding in the ruins of Old Humanity in small pockets.
Luxion, "Master, we are almost in range." I watch as the indicators next to each ship turn green, indicating they are in position. "Master."
"Fire." Word had hardly left my mouth when a streak of light splits the darkness. Followed by another and another, each ship staggering there firing so when the last fired Luxion is ready to fire again. The cycle continues over and over. Red light fills the bridge, but I can't look away from the destruction raining down outside the main view port.
"Master, it is done. Arcadia is no more." For a supposedly emotionless machine, he sounds quite happy.
That was rather anti-climactic. Bombardment vs. a battle, I guess. Advantage of the high ground and all that. Looking at all the red warning on the console, maybe it was closer than I realized. "Status report."
"Ideal, X303, Avenger, and Martha have suffered minor reactor meltdowns and are on emergency power. They are currently immobile until they are repaired. Main gun on Janet, Dr. Antlion and T209 should not be used again until critical components are replaced. Myself and Orion had conduit failures. Orion blew out its primary communications. My primary life support system is offline."
Hero, "Is Uncle Luxion hurt?"
"He just needs some rest, kiddo." Life support backup is meant to last half a day at capacity, and we have two people. I key the com. "Dad, take Claire and help with the reactors. Everyone else, press on. Luxion ETA on repairs."
/
Forced awake by a banging on my door. I want nothing but to return to my sweat dream of pretty dresses, good food, and my boys alive and well. Even life in a game is a bitch.
Opening the door. "Deidre, I thought you were going foraging today." Had I slept so long, they have already returned.
"We came back early. Marie, there are two armors approaching. Everyone is gathering in the great hall. Come as soon as you can." She didn't even wait for a response before hurrying off.
As I slipped on the threadbare outfit, my sight landed on the Saintes's garb. Red stained sleeves.. no, I can't dwell on that now.
Great hall, or rather the magic device room on Weiss. What passed as a council is already in an uproar. Erika is there already holding my other daughter, Mylene. "We are not going to just attack anyone we see."
"Why not? They could have supplies we need." Alice represents what's left of the traditionally minded ladies. Is this really what we have become? Little better than pirates.
"Then you go. I remember what one of those can do." Daniel Durland is the leader of the few fighters we have left. Did he recognize the model? "If it is Leon, I intend to see if he can help us." That black machine compared to the last few years it's almost a pleasant memory.
Deidre leads the neutral and dominant faction. "We don't know if it is sir Bartford. Regardless, I agree that negotiations should be our first option."
Alice, "Negotiate with what?!" A harsh reminder we have nothing. Even essentials are dangerously low. It shows, too. In our old and worn clothes hanging loosely from shrunken bodies.
"We won't know what they may want till we speak with them." Erika and I are in control of Weiss. It's the only reason we have any power anymore. I glance at Erika for agreement. "We say go for negotiations. That's three to one. Now, who should approach our guests?"
We were still arguing when a messenger arrived as had one of our guests. I was so shocked that he brought a small child I nearly missed that it is indeed Leon Bartford. "Daniel, is that you?"
Daniel, "Leon, Saintes's own luck man. How have you been?"
Leon, "I'm good. What about yourself? Is Raymond here, too?"
Daniel suddenly looked gloomy. "He was cut down during the first war."
"Dam. I'm sorry I couldn't get back sooner."
Alice, "All vary touching. Now why are you here?"
A flash of anger crossed Leon's face. Before he could react, the little boy puffed out his chest. "Daddy came to kill the mean Kaiju and rescue the people."
Leon. "What Hero said. We used artifacts to build a safe haven. It will be a little while until my ship arrives. How about you fill me in on what happened to Holtfort after I left."
"Your exile meant the founding heirs kept their status. For a little while, everything was ok. Then Offery sent us on a pirate hunting quest." And we lost Brad. In his overconfidence, he charged in only to be cut in half. "We won in the end. And the Offery family was exposed as traitors." But that couldn't bring Brad back. In my grief is when I first heard her voice.
Deirdre. "With their conspirators gone and so many of the core alliances destroyed." She didn't glare at me. She didn't have to. "Fannose decided we were weak enough to attack. Cowards attacked one of the school trips as they declared war." Chris died, and I don't even know the details. That's when I started to listen to her.
Daniel. "It was a short but bloody war, Leon. Somehow, they had monsters fighting for them." She told me to tell the crown about the flute. They sent Jilk in with a team. They didn't come back. "If they hadn't lost control of the monsters, they would have destroyed us easily."
Alice. "That's when the rif raf revolted. Because they felt we were unfair in our need to fix the damage to the kingdom." They felt it unfair, so many noble were fat as they starved from over taxation. "But Julius managed to unlock this amazing ship and calm the peasants." No, she had but not before Greg and Kyle had been ripped to pieces by an angry mob.
Erika. "Something happened to my brother after that. He became almost unrecognizable. He led a campaign against the Holy Empire, convincing one group after another to join us. Finally, they unleashed a wave of magic so powerful it poisoned everything. Only those stationed on this ship with my brother were spared."
Leon. "So that's why it's mostly students from the academy. What happened to Julius then?"
Daniel. "Don't know he disappeared one night. We woke up, and he was gone. His armor, too." He glanced at me. "Probably monsters got him." The monster's name was Ann. She used my hands. It was all her plan. If it hadn't been for Erika, I and my yet unborn child would have been next.
Something soft touched my face. Opening eyes, I hadn't realized I'd shut. I see little Hero in front of me. "It's ok, auntie. Don't cry. Daddy and Uncle Luxion will make it all better."
"Thanks, sweetie." He can't bring them back. Just like I never could get past my brother's death.
AN: The thought of Leon going F this and leaving always ends up rather dark in my mind for everyone else.