JACK’S POV

Jack waited at his office in the Military Headquarters located close to the Royal Castle. On his desk were three stacks of papers about three inches thick each, and a drawn portrait of him and his family. Behind his portrait was a small gas lamp.

A bookshelf filled with various military, philosophical, and informational books stood to his left, and a painting of the Dragnir Royal Family to his right nailed neatly on the dull white wall: the Queen and King, the two princes, and the princess around the Royal Throne.

Across from his desk was a smaller table. On top of it was an organized teapot and four small cups. Just in front of his desk were two additional chairs.

His office was at the top-most floor of a four-storey plain stone building, about thrice as large as his mansion. It was a simple rectangular structure with four sets of large, steel plating on its sides.

The first floor is where the reception area and the quarters of the soldiers and non-commissioned officers were located. It also had the canteen in the middle, connected to four hallways that led directly to the rooms of the barracks.

The second floor is where the offices of the commissioned officers of lower ranks below Lieutenant Colonel were located. The third for the higher ranking commissioned officers, and the fourth floor as the personal offices of the Generals stationed in Riz.

Jack spared a glance towards the window. His office’s view faced the barrack’s courtyard, a large space with a paved ground that served as a rally point and training ground for soldiers. A large flag that bore the crest of Dragnir, a three-legged triskele with spirals for legs in the middle of an octagon.

Platoons of soldiers were lined up in columns and rows and stood on attention as their commanders inspected and debriefed them of their duties for this day. Just a few meters away was the outline of the tall, obsidian Royal Castle.

He heard even knocks on the door. He promptly made his way to his desk and sat on his chair.

“Come in.”

The door opened and revealed Kris. He specifically told his secretary to just show Kris the way to his room and allow him entry anytime he wished from now on. It wasn’t anything special really, it was just to save both Kris and Jack the hassle from formalities.

Kris looked around the room as he entered.

“Not even a greeting?” Jack teased.

“What a plain room,” Kris retorted.

Both of them chuckled. Kris then took a seat in a chair to Jack’s right.

“So, what’s the plan?” Kris asked as he looked at the stack of papers.

“You’ll be part of a monster subjugation headed by a Royal Battle Mage by the name of Reina Tuey. It is sponsored by the military, although I’ve made a request to the King to involve a mage from the Royal courts,” Jack hinted his intent with a smirk.

“The King agreed to send a royal mage just because of a monster?” Kris snorted.

Jack creased his brows.

“Kris. I don’t think you’ve noticed, but the threat of these monsters are real,” Jack said. Kris listened on.

“I know that they are. I just don’t see how it would compel the King to agree to this, even half-heartedly,” Kris sighed.

Jack leaned forward as he rest his arms on his desk.

“That’s because this monster is a bit… special,” Jack hesitated.

“Let me guess, the Cult of Rizale?” Kris said casually.

Jack narrowed his eyes as he straightened his back.

“Where did you find…” Jack shook his head as he cut himself off. “Nevermind. The Ravens ought to get their hands on information like these anyway. It’s not like anyone could stop them,” Jack remarked.

Kris chuckled in response.

“You’re right. It’s that damned cult. I don’t think the Ravens has found out about this, but there’s this on-going trend that happens due to the cult,” Jack then opened a drawer and took out a small piece of paper. He scanned through its contents before placing it on the table, in front of Kris.

Kris read through the contents, his eyes darting from one end to the next. Jack just watched Kris patiently.

After Kris finished, he put the paper back onto the table.

“A monthly contest, huh?” Kris scoffed as Jack picked the paper up and returned it to its drawer.

“Something like that. It’s exactly as the letter said. Every end of the month, a monster or groups of monsters is summoned at the outskirts of our borders parallel to Erudin. Same time, same place. The only difference is the number and the type of monsters that the cult decides to summon," Jack then turned his head towards his windows and traced the outlines of the Royal Castle with his eyes.

“So what’s the catch? What happens if you lose?” Kris asked.

Jack turned his attention back to Kris.

“First, there’s the immediate risk of invasion from the surviving monsters of that wave but the bigger issue is the existence of a threat,” Jack then held his chin as he thought of the scope that he’s going to allow himself to divulge.

“The cult says that if we lose, an all-out invasion would be what’s waiting for us,” Jack decided to hold back on a few bits of information, but he made sure to look at Kris’ reaction. He was glad that he saw nothing, but it also made him feel wary.

“What’s the point? Why don’t they just attack?” Kris asked, slightly mocking in his tone.

“We have never known for sure,” Jack cleared his throat. “But that’s just the way it is with these groups. They just do things with no regard to anything at all. It just feels like they want to massacre people on a whim.”

Kris' eyes darted to his side as if he recalled something. Jack paid no heed for now.

“Then, what do I have to do with all this? If it’s just a subjugation that you’ve been doing for some time now, I doubt that my presence would be anything more than arbitrary,” Kris stated.

Jack understood Kris’ doubt. But it’s not as if Jack thought of this on a whim.

This time, Jack knew that Kris’ help will become a factor.

“I get your confusion, but this time it isn’t so simple as a monthly wave,” Jack then searched through his pockets and handed out a smaller piece of paper. In it simply was a simple message.

Kris didn’t even have to pick it up to be able to catch its contents.

“An agwe,” Kris creased his brows and darted his eyes as he thought about Jack’s revelation.

Jack’s expression turned grim as he saw Kris’ reaction.

Agwe’s are gigantic monsters of the dragon variety. They have tough, orange scales that could deflect most physical and magical damage. They are not only dangerous because of their size and colossal strength, but their threat lies mainly in the fact of their powerful use of fire magic.

Most monsters don’t have access to magic. Normally, monsters had natural racial skills that they instinctively use, whether through the help of mana or not. The Agwe is only one of the few monsters who have an aptitude for the conscious use of mana.

What made the Agwe fearful even amongst them is how they can adapt and develop their magic in the midst of battle, like a mage. Under an Agwe’s bestial eyes seemed to hide an intelligence unfit for a monster.

For all their other qualities, such as their bloodlust and wanton need for destruction, their’s would be a level more aggressive than others.

“Think you can handle it?” Jack asked playfully, trying to liven up the conversation.

“There’s nothing I could do but try,” Kris smiled while Jack relaxed. He at least knew that Kris’ presence would be a deciding factor for the upcoming battle.

There was still the problem with how unreliable the Cult is although they’ve been keeping their end of the bargain with these monster attacks. In fact, depending on the way they deal with this situation, they might be able to glean some important information regarding the Cult.

Jack just hoped that the Cult wouldn’t pull something big.

Jack steadied his breathing as the guards opened the door to the Royal Throne. Once opened, it revealed the King seated on the throne. Jack entered then he heard the doors creak as they closed behind him.

He walked forward, his gaze looking straight at the King. The King wore a simple crown with a blue octagonal jewel embedded on its front end. He wore a stylish, but simple brown garment. On his shoulders were a red cotton cape.

The King was a middle-aged man edging closer to his twilight years. The King’s deep-set, black eyes followed each of Jack’s steps. His inverted triangular face moved with his eyes. His skin was losing its vibrance, but the King’s firm posture and subtle, controlled movements exuded calm grace and dignity.

The King was a lean individual, but his tall stature, even when seated, accented his already imposing stare.

Jack stopped a few paces away from the King. He straightened his back and puffed out his chest. He brought his right arm to his heart then he knelt down.

“Rise, General,” the King ordered.

“Your Majesty,” Jack stood up but otherwise he kept unmoving. “I hope you’ve been doing well since our last meeting.”

The King nodded, his expression stiff as ever.

“I am not that old yet, General,” The King’s mouth curved slowly upwards. “I reckon you have news for me.”

“Sire,” Jack nodded back. “The young man has agreed to our proposal,” Jack has specifically made sure to make Kris’ identity ambiguous. The King didn’t have to know until after the subjugation of the Agwe.

“Then it puts me at ease. If it weren’t for my duties as King, I would’ve gone and destroyed the Agwe myself,” The King’s tone became filled with rage as he neared the end of his sentence. Jack’s core shook just from the presence of the King’s overwhelming mana that flared and receded as the King stifled his rage.

“I am sure that with the subjugation corps and Reina Truey’s help…” Jack inhaled sharply, determining himself. “the young man should be able to handle the Agwe,” Jack said.

The King’s eyes narrowed.

“You seem to hold that man in high accord. That he’s not the one giving some small assistance, but judging by the way you described it, you seem to think that the young man is stronger than Reina, one of my top mages,” the King shifted his posture before leaning forward while clutching his chin.

“Sire. I believe that Dragnir would benefit by nurturing a relationship with him,” Jack remarked.

The King stared at Jack for a few moments. The King then removed his crown from his head.

"Jack."

"Yes, your Majesty... "

“What’s really the identity behind this young man?”

Jack wasn’t sure he should answer now. He felt that he didn’t understand Kris enough to do his explanation about him some justice but he also didn’t really want to hide something from Iame.

He steeled and reassured himself that he’s making the right decisions before addressing the King.