Transcendence, page 34
part #6 of The Beginning After The End Series
The only thing I was able to muster at that point was a weary nod. I was overcome with a feeling of having barely avoided death, and the three deaths that Merial had mentioned now sounded much more real. It could have been my parents, and I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it.
“Damn those dwarves,” King Blaine muttered angrily. “As if the Alacryans weren’t enough of a pain in the ass! Now, because of them, our enemies have access to an underground network that leads who knows how far up the southern border of my kingdom.”
The conversation continued, but I was lost in thought for a time, their voices muffled by my own internal dialogue.
I had a thousand questions, but they were all personal. My parents and I had parted on less-than-ideal terms. My selfishness in wanting them hidden safely within the castle hadn’t helped to mend our relationship, which was still healing from my decision to reveal my secret. They’d told me they wanted to help out in the war, but the thought of them actually being in danger had never resurfaced until now.
I felt a growing temptation to just leave this room and go down to the surface to see my parents, but I knew they would disapprove of me abandoning my duties to just check in on them.
“Arthur?” a concerned voice said.
Snapping out of my daze, I looked back at the commander. “Sorry, I’m okay. Please continue.”
The Council was discussing better ways to optimize the supply routes from Blackbend, a major city near the southeast corner of Sapin, to the Wall.
“How about an underground route?” King Alduin suggested, pointing toward the center of the map they had unrolled.
King Blaine shook his head, leaning forward and indicating the area just below Blackbend. “The city is too close to the Kingdom of Darv. Our maps of the dwarven underground aren’t accurate enough for us to know what we’d be digging our way into. It’s too dangerous to try that until we secure our alliance with them.”
“What’s Blackbend like?” I asked, taking a close look at the map.
“Its economy centers around potato farmers from nearby villages and adventurers because of its proximity to the Beast Glades. The city is currently responsible for our supply of rations as well as the manufacturing of weapons—mainly arrows—for the soldiers, which is why it’s crucial for there to be a secure mode of transport to the Wall,” Queen Priscilla answered seriously.
“The terrain around it is mostly flat farmland, which makes it hard for carriages carrying supplies to go unnoticed,” Bairon added, speaking for the first time in this meeting.
“Thank you,” I said to them both. The queen’s information was interesting, but it also made me realize that my question had been vague. Bairon’s answer was what I needed to know.
While the Council discussed more ideas for how to better secure the supply route, my mind drifted to ways the people of this world wouldn’t be able to consider. Thinking back to the ship I had helped Gideon design a few years back, I looked at the map. Unfortunately, there was no river near the Wall or Blackbend City—but I had an idea.
“King Blaine,” I said, interrupting their discussion. “How many dwarves do you have who are adept in metal manipulation and can help us?”
“There are numerous metal mages—or metal shapers, as they call themselves—among the dwarves, but those who are trustworthy enough for a large task…” The king paused to think for a second. “A handful, maybe.”
Queen Priscilla nodded in agreement.
I turned to Tess’s father. “King Alduin, how many elves adept in nature magic can you gather?”
The elven king looked at his wife as he rubbed his clean-shaven chin.
Merial began looking through another pile of papers, then Aya spoke up. “Four, currently on standby. The rest are on missions.”
“What’s this about?” Virion asked.
“Let me get back to you once I sort out the logistics of this idea with Gideon,” I said absentmindedly, the gears in my mind working furiously. This plan I was working on would ultimately speed up the process of transporting supplies, as well as keeping the passengers and workers—namely, my parents and the Twin Horns—safe.
The meeting concluded shortly thereafter. I was eager to leave the stifling room, but Virion held up a hand. “Before we depart, I wanted to address something.”
All eyes turned to him. Curious, I stood silently and waited for him to continue.
“In times of war, it’s impossible to acknowledge every deed accomplished. However, slaying not one, but two retainers”—the commanders’ gaze shifted from me to Aya—“as well as eliminating a dangerous traitor and disrupting a scheme that could have potentially killed thousands of civilians… I think that calls for a reward of some kind.”
“Thank you, Commander Virion,” Aya said politely. “But what I did was to help us win this war, not for a personal reward.”
Virion nodded. “General Arthur? What about you?”
I’d learned from my past life that, in situations like this, it was best to dismiss the reward. I was tempted to just thank him for his kindness, but this was the perfect opportunity to address something that had been weighing on my mind since my battle against Uto.
“Actually, there is something I would like—rather, a few things,” I said innocently.
The two kings and queens looked at me in surprise, but Virion simply laughed. “Very well, let me hear them!”
——————————
I made my way to Ellie’s room so we could visit Sylvie together, feeling much more light-hearted—happy, even.
Virion had been stunned at first when I’d said I wanted to put off going on any missions for the near future. I didn’t blame him; we had just lost a Lance, possibly two. Me saying I wanted a break would take a huge toll on our side.
But I needed some time to train, and with the war escalating at the pace it was, I wouldn’t have much chance later on. Once I explained that, Virion agreed… somewhat.
“Two months is the most I can offer—even then I can’t promise you won’t be sent out if something major occurs,” he had said reluctantly.
‘Something major’ seemed a bit ambiguous, but it was fair.
“In addition, if you won’t be going on missions, I will expect you to take part in the Council meetings,” he had added. “If the past is any indication, I know having you here and weighing in with your thoughts will prove useful.”
This was a bit harder to swallow. Among the few things I dreaded—now and in my previous life—were meetings like the one today. However, I needed time to study and absorb those horns that the Scythe had called an ‘invaluable resource.’
“But how do you plan on training here in the castle?” Alduin had asked.
“It’s part of what I need next as my reward,” I answered, holding up four fingers. “I need four conjurers, each with a different elemental affinity.”
“Four?” Virion repeated. The members of the Council were obviously confused, but I knew by the glimmer in the Lances’ eyes that they understood what I had planned.
——————————
The halls were empty, so my walk to Ellie’s room went uninterrupted. I thought of how to greet my baby sister. I knew it was hard on her waiting for me and our parents, not knowing when we’d come back. So, being the considerate brother that I was, when I reached the large wooden door that had been remodeled to fit her bond, I knocked and wailed in a shrill breathy voice, “Ellie… it is the ghost of your brother. I have come to haunt you!”
I didn’t need to be a genius to deduce that my sister was less than amused when she coldly muttered from the other side of the door, “Boo, attack.” But it was only after the seven-hundred-pound bear came charging at me that I realized, perhaps, my sister’s sense of humor more closely resembled that of our mother.
Boo’s body slammed against me, sending me flying back to the other end of the hall. Impressed that the walls hadn’t crumbled from the impact, I pushed the hulking mana beast away and held him at arm’s length.
“Good to see you too, buddy,” I said, avoiding the pool of drool forming underneath him.
The beast grunted, spraying a mixture of saliva and froth on my face.
“Ghost? Really, Brother?” my sister grumbled, her arms crossed in mock anger.
I pushed Boo aside and wiped my dripping face with a sleeve. “I can’t say I didn’t deserve that.”
It didn’t take long for Ellie’s stern scowl to soften. She walked up and wrapped her arms around me. “Welcome back, Brother.”
I gently patted my sister’s head, and could feel the tension in my body unwinding for the first time since I had returned to the castle. “It’s good to be back.”
Chapter 41
Landship
A bolt of light streaked through the trees, curving ever-so-slightly before reaching its target—a wooden post no larger than my head. There was a satisfying thud as the mana arrow lodged itself in the center of the post, creating a hole all the way through it before dissipating.
“Great shot!” I exclaimed, applauding.
My sister curtsied in response and her lips curved into a satisfied grin. “I know!” she said haughtily.
Stepping down from where she stood on top of Boo, her titanic bond lying lazily on his belly, Ellie skipped over to Sylvie and me. My sister picked up my bond. “What did you think, Sylvie? Are you impressed?”
“Very impressed,” she answered aloud, her gentle voice laced with fatigue.
“Sylvie’s still recovering, Ellie,” I scolded.
My sister set the white fox back down on the cushion she had been curled up on. “Sorry, Sylvie.”
It had been only two days since we had returned to the castle. Sylvie had just regained consciousness yesterday, but she was recovering at a remarkable rate. While Virion and the rest of the council gathered the four conjurers who would be stuck with me for the next two months, I was spending some time with my sister.
I was keeping the fact that our parents and the Twin Horns had been attacked a secret from Ellie. A part of me knew that she deserved to be told, but I also wanted to keep her ignorant for as long as possible.
A selfish wish from a selfish brother.
“So, can you fire that accurately while Boo is actually moving?” I asked with a grin, my gaze turning to the mana beast still drowsing flat on his belly.
Ellie sulked at my jab. “Ugh, not yet. Helen made it look so easy when she showed me, but I haven’t been able to land a single decent shot while Boo’s moving. It doesn’t help that the klutz runs like he’s purposely trying to throw me off his back.”
The bear-like creature let out a grunt of denial.
“You do so!” my sister shot back, and bent down to pick up her bow.
My gaze fell to her hand as she reached for the weapon. Calluses covered her fingers, and freshly-formed welts filled in the few places on her hand that weren’t already hardened from overuse.
“How much time do you spend practicing, El?” I asked.
My sister thought for a second before answering. “I don’t really keep track, but the sun goes down while I train so—maybe about six or seven hours?”
My eyes widened. “Every day?”
Ellie simply shrugged. “I guess so.”
“What about studying, or playing with friends?”
“The classes in the castle are only once a week, and I can finish the study material they give me in a day,” she answered. Ellie hesitated, then continued. “And as for friends, I’ll have you know I’m very popular.”
“Really?” I said with a raised brow.
Caving under my unrelenting gaze, she burst out:“Well, it’s not my fault that I have absolutely no interest in the things they talk about. How is it possible for anyone to talk nonstop about boys and clothes for hours?”
“I’m sure there are a few kids your age with an interest in magic,” I prodded, trying hard not to laugh.
Realizing that our conversation wasn’t going to end soon, my sister pulled out a chair and sat down. “Well, there were a few—but when they awakened, their parents moved out of the castle, or just sent the kids to one of the major cities to have them board at a magic school.”
Not many children would have had the connections my sister had to be taught by a mage in this castle. And it was understandable that parents would still want their children to be taught how to utilize their newly-formed core, even with the potential danger of the war reaching them.
I looked at my sister as she fiddled with the string of her bow, then carefully asked, “Did you want to attend a magic academy as well?”
“Of course,” she answered without hesitation, “but I know you, Mom, and Dad would all worry.”
I winced at my sister’s words. She was only twelve, but her words reflected a maturity that I wasn’t quite sure I wanted her to have. From my own experience, I knew what it was like to grow up too fast. It was yet another selfish wish of mine that my sister could remain the innocent little girl who worried only about what to wear to her friend’s birthday party.
Pushing aside my thoughts, I shot her a gentle smile. “I’ll talk to Mom and Dad when I get the chance and ask them about sending you to school.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“Assuming they give you the okay, I’ll still want to send a guard with you to protect you in case anything happens. I know it can be a bit stifling to have someone with you at all times, so I’ll try to find someone you’ll be comfortable with, but—”
My sister barreled straight into, throwing her arms around me in a firm embrace. “Thanks, Brother.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too high,” I replied, my voice coming out as a wheeze as she squeezed me.
“Too late!” she giggled, releasing me before picking up her bow. “I’m going to have to practice harder if I want to beat those snooty nobles.”
I continued my role as an enthusiastic spectator, relishing the clear skies and the sweet scent of morning dew on the grass field. Ellie continued to fire off mana arrows at faraway targets with uncanny accuracy. It would be a long time before she would be as comfortable with the bow as Helen Shard, but she had her own strength that the leader of the Twin Horns couldn’t hope to replicate.
Ellie had yet to develop an affinity toward an element, so she was limited to firing pure mana. It was a shame that there wasn’t much I could do to help her develop an affinity—that was mostly dependent on her own insights—but it was exciting to see her grow and develop.
‘Your thoughts make it seem like you wish to have offspring of your own.’ Sylvie’s voice suddenly intruding into my head startled me.
“Offspring?” I said aloud, startling my sister.
Ellie’s mana arrow arched off-course at the sky, dissipating before it hit the castle barrier. “What?”
“Nothing,” I smiled, sneaking a sharp glare at my bond when my sister turned away.
Sylvie shifted on her cushion, looking at me with an expression of amusement on her shrewd, vulpine face.
Go back to sleep, I sent, grumbling in my mind.
I continued watching Ellie’s seemingly repetitive motions—murmuring, drawing her bow while a translucent arrow formed between her two fingers, steadying her aim, then firing.
She skipped the chanting process for the types of arrows she was more versed in, but sometimes she needed to describe the kind of arrow she wanted so she could shape the mana accurately. By the thirtieth arrow she fired, I wondered how Boo was able to sleep so easily with Ellie on his back.
“General Arthur?” a voice called from behind me.
My eyes snapped open and I turned around to see a middle-aged elf holding a clipboard. She was garbed in white attire which oddly resembled a lab coat from my former world. What really caught my attention, though, was the color of her eyes—or rather, colors. A ring of bright pink surrounded each of her pupils, then shifted into a bright blue on the outer rim of her irises.
Noticing my fixed gaze, she bowed, perhaps thinking I expected a formal greeting.
The elf straightened, standing as if her back was glued to a wooden plank, and announced, “Artificer Gideon has arrived at the castle and is expecting you.”
“You’re going?” my sister asked, slinging her bow over her shoulder.
“Yup. I have some things to discuss with the old man,” I replied. I headed off behind the unusual elf, then turned and said to my sister, “I most likely won’t be able to eat dinner with you, so don’t wait up.”
She nodded. “Gotcha. Say hi to Emily for me if you get the chance to see her.”
“Will do.”
‘I’ll stay here with Eleanor,’ Sylvie said groggily.
Sure. I’ll update you when I get back, Sylv.
I trailed silently behind the elven secretary as she led the way with confident steps.
“Is there a name I can address you by?” I asked.
The elf stopped abruptly, bowing so deeply that her blond hair, tied firmly into a ponytail, flipped over her head. “Forgive me for not introducing myself. My name is Alanis Emeria. I have been personally assigned by Commander Virion to be your attendant.”
I dipped my head in response to her greeting. “Well, Alanis, it’s nice to meet you, but I have a hard time believing you’re merely an attendant, considering the amount of mana you have concealed.”
The elf blinked, her multicolored eyes shining, but otherwise looked unfazed. “As expected of a Lance. Allow me to clarify. I have been assigned by Commander Virion to be your attendant while you undergo your training here. It was my wish to meet you as soon as possible.”
I didn’t quite understand what her role as my attendant during training would entail, but before I had the chance to ask, I spotted Gideon’s familiar frame running toward us.
“I came as soon as I heard from Commander Virion!” he huffed excitedly, his voice echoing as he ran down the narrow hall toward me. He was a sweaty mess. “What sort of ingenious idea do you have in that god-sent cranium of yours?”
