Chapter 33: Great Families PT 3

Oh, but where do I begin? Do I start at the great halls of the Kan castle or the sprawling city of Redavolt? The beautiful city lies in the southern dukedom. Where do I begin the story of the four dukes and the five most powerful families in the Empire? I’m your host Wally West here to deliver you the finest tails and rumors of our vast continent we call Nia. Today my dear readers I will explain to you why there are only four dukes, and the countless nobles of the empire can only rise to the station of a count no hire unless… unless my dear readers, unless they dare to challenge for the position of a duke. None have ever survived, and few have tried. The four duke territories hold so much wealth and power that some may say they’re comparable to Central and our beloved Imperial Family. I implore to you my dear readers that is not true, and it is best you watch your words and do not speak of such matters. Alas, we shall go back to the question of why there are only four dukes. Why? When our Empire covers millions of square miles. Why? Because they are powerful beyond belief and their roots extend to the founding of the empire alongside Empress Chiara the First. Their fabled bloodlines all extend from legends and beasts the Empire only knows rumors of nowadays. So let this be a warning to you all my dear, dear readers. Do not challenge a duke for his rightful place of leadership least your entire family is erased from existing. Several have already.

Except from the journal of Walter West. Noble, adventurer, explorer, and self-proclaimed official fine wine taste tester.

Before the sun was up, we marched headed towards our next destination. The weather was becoming colder. I didn’t know if it was from the seasons changing or because we were headed farther north. Behind me were Moriah, Ryon Grand, Danica Core, and Aisha Loft. They had mostly been silent beside Aisha who flew as the rest of us marched. Her control of wind magic must be phenomenal as we’d move because she’d yet to look tired or ask for a break. It came as a surprise to me that she didn’t join the rest of the mages and instead flew with her own power.

“So how did you get so strong? You’re not much older than me and my family considers me a genius but you? You’re clearly a monster.”

I sighed internally the girl had been pestering me with questions constantly at first, I was going to brush her off but as I thought about it, I realized that these young men and women from the ten great families would be my future allies. They would all come to control vast amounts of territory, resources, and people. What did I need to act distant for?

“When I was young…,” I began.

“You’re still young now.”

It seemed we had several listeners to the conversation as Ryon Grand spoke and I could tell all the members of the nobility were listening to this conversation. Even Moriah, who tried to appear nonchalant about it. Gloria who had been a distance away moving closer also didn’t escape my notice.

So as the sun shined, and we moved to approach the city Ittane Corba resided at I told them a bit about me growing up.

“While you were out playing, I studied the blade,” I began.

Aisha who was flying next to me rolled her eyes.

“In truth the moment I was strong enough I began training with my father and mother daily. From learning how to properly wield my weapon to mastering the base four elemental balls. My magic capability all stems from my knowledge and understanding of the elements. Using that understanding I progressed through the ranks of magic.”

“That might explain a bit on how you became so strong with magic but you’re stronger using your physical body. You’ve reached the level of a Grand Knight and you’re not even 17.”

“Mind your tongue.”

The warning came from Moriah as she glanced at the close Gloria. The secrets of the Empire were not to be shared so lightly. Amongst peers perhaps but with everyone one else?

“The Catacombs.”

I still decided to answer Aisha. Although Moriah reprimanded her, I could tell by the body language of the party that they were all curious including her.

“When I was a child,” I began this time winking at Aisha who once again rolled her eyes.

“When I was a child, my father deemed it necessary for me to travel deep into the earth and go on a pilgrimage to the city of Redcoomshi.” I looked up at the brightening sky and rising sun reminiscing as I told my story.

“Wait, wait, wait, you traveled through the Wild Jungle and lived to come out alive?”

A new light was in Ryon’s eyes when he looked towards me. Was it respect, fear, or something else but he wasn’t the only one to look at me this way. All members of our little noble party were looking at me and slowly we and by extension, the entire army marching behind us came to a stop. Not that I minded the stop as it was time to eat and allow the troops to recover. Soon we would be collecting Ittane Corba.

So, for the next hour, I told them stories of my travels. The items I collected, and I even told them about Malix. The strange worm I met was still tightly wrapped in a cocoon in my trophy room back in Aurora. I told them stories up until we arrived at the city occupied by Ittane Corba. Then I began to ask questions of my own.

“What can you tell me of Ittane Corba?”

“Ugh, don’t get me started. She’s a unique magic user and that gets to her head sometimes too much.”

Aisha spoke and I was truly beginning to like the young woman. She had a pleasant personality that was different from the hardened exterior most nobles put up. Even now Danica was showing that expression. I didn’t know if she was upset from the ease with which I defeated her or another matter, but she was the only one in the party that rarely spoke.

“Ittane Corba is… a competitive sore loser. She likes to challenge Koama for the pettiest of reasons and they used to be such good friends. The three of us were but well… we are nobles.”

Aisha left it at that not saying much more. I understood her point. Your families came first in nobility. The duties and responsibilities that came with being the first child and one to inherit the weight of your title. I was only slightly worried about Ittane’s unique magic.

Unique magic could be anything but usually resulted from someone having a beyond special bloodline or their affinities for elements combined to produce unique results. For example, I could cast fire and earth spells with such ease and in less time than others because of my affinity to those elements but one thing I hadn’t explored was my ability to combine them to create lava or magma magic. Unique magic was more, however, so much more. It came about when affinities for two or more magic combined to create something else. If fire and water combined and created steam.

Unique magic wasn’t all positives, unfortunately. Using the elements, the unique magic came from usually cost the same amount as the average person. You no longer get the affinity advantage for the individual elements that came together to create your unique magic.

We were once again on the move less than an hour away from the city but a figure in the middle of the road halted the entire army. Behind the tall magi-human stood her few hundred forces.

“Aegis Kan, I challenge you to a duel of honor!”

The figure said head held high and slightly tilted up appearing to look down on me and the forces behind me.

“Ittane Corba, I accept your challenge.”

This was clearly a trap and I wondered what she prepared throughout the environment to aid her.

“Let us move to a clear area,” I said gesturing around at the thousands of soldiers behind me and her troops as well.

Still looking slightly up she nodded, and we moved off the road and into the tall grasses. A moment later Aisha cast a few spells chopping the grass down for about half a mile of land. I wasn’t surprised Ittane knew we were coming. Most of the troops brought by the ten great families were a minimum of tier five. These were likely battle-hardened soldiers and the families spying on one another was a definite possibility. That along with the various ways of magical communication available to them. My only question was what was their play?

Why did they only make a move after months of sitting in relative silence? I understood it taking time to adjust to the mind magic and language of this new world along with learning geography. I even understood their initial plan of cutting the head from the rest of the snake’s body. They held hostage key figures and nobility of the north. Their plan was most likely similar to the one Amaya, and I had initially planned on acting on. Cut the head of the snake off in a certain region then use the rest of the body to wage any war or battles necessary. Just one of many plans. Just one of many ways the Empire conquered other lands. Similar to what my father did with fewer troops than me but at a much stronger level than my own.

I studied Ittane as she did me neither of us made the initiative to attack just yet. She stood just slightly shorter than me but only by an inch or two. She had an oval-shaped face with a slightly hooked nose that only enhanced her beauty with a large chest that even her armor couldn’t hide. She wore standard battle mage attire but spiced up to a noble setting. Light metal covered her body’s weaknesses such as her chest, head, privates, etc. All in a royal blue color. Her eyes and hair were a deep shade of green and only then did I realize what her unique magic was. I also realized how stupid I was giving her time to set up. The moment the realization came over me Ittane noticed and acted. Roots sprang out of the ground and began to smother me, but I didn’t hesitate to activate my bloodline and call upon my perks.

“I am the Fortress, and the Fortress shall move, gritting itself through all damage it may take.”

Activating Adventurer’s grit as the roots fought through the flames and lava binding me down. The roots burned but more and more constantly rose from the ground around my feet and suddenly the energy within my body and armor began to drain. While the roots seemed to have a renewed vigor and more and more sprang to life and tightly bound me.

“I can see all weakness before me, and all shall provide to my insight.”

My vision lit up showing me the weakness of the surrounding roots. Individually they were all easy to tear and break but that did not help me currently as they were draining me of mana sucking it all away. Even with the strength of my physical body, the roots were too numerous. I needed to hurry already my mana pool was drained by a fifth. When an idea came to me. Something that had explosive effects.

The field of lava surrounding me began to withdraw turning the charred ground into obsidian as it drew near me and into the ax I’d never let go of. Its kinetic energy is stored still for my previous fight with Danica. The heat from my bloodline concentrated within the ax and not even the ever-generating roots could withstand it as it shined with crimson light. The heat freed my right arm. At that moment before Ittane could react I slammed my weapon into the ground releasing its stored kinetic energy and the power of my bloodline all at once.

“Crimson Claw.”

The explosion destroyed the surrounding area throwing debris into the air and shooting out shards of obsidian. I moved not letting the dust settle down remembering Ittane’s last position finding a circular dome of roots with obsidian shards sticking out of it. Its weakness was the direct center where it had been hit the most. Not worrying about the aftermath my ax slammed into the spot pointed at to me by Adventurer’s Insight. It shredded the roots in the way and reveal a wide-eyed Ittane. Not giving her a chance to react my hand found its way around her throat softly squeezing.

“It was a great attempt. Your unique magic is nature? All four elements combined into one. You could do some amazing things with it. Why did you only use roots?”

I was fascinated by the magic. The old childish glee I once had returned as I removed my hand and gazed all around us.

The wide-eyed Ittane still staring at me.

“If you yield, I’d love to discuss the nature of your magic. Only if I’m not pushing any boundaries of course.”

I climbed out the root barrier and held my hand out staring at Ittane who was now showing signs of regaining her cool.

“My honor was questioned, and the Young Lord has returned me to the proper path.”

“Thank you.”

She grabbed my hand and I pulled her from the root barrier.

She smiled, “I would love to discuss the finer details of my magic. I rarely get the opportunity to do so with someone of my station.” She shot a glance in the direction the scions of the western noble houses stood alongside them was Moriah and Gloria.

As we approached Aisha clapped.

“Bravo! Bravo! Beautiful performance. It’s a shame neither of you was going all out.”

“You seem much stronger than someone of your tier should be. Doing feats that should strain the average tier seven. Does it come from these ‘aspects,’ Lady Gloria has been telling us about?”

My eyes narrowed but only for a moment before I remembered the cat was already out of the bag.

“It is a new form of magic I discovered available to all. Even a commoner can use it,” was my response to Ryon. His eyes slightly narrowed.

Ittane stared at me curiously as I responded, and I turned my attention to Aisha.

“Who said I wasn’t going all out?”

Rolling her eyes seemed to be a habit as the soft green iris spun in a circle.

“There was no meteor summoned or ashes falling around you and you didn’t even equip your shield. These are turning into a theatre performance at this point or an orb movie. I’m sure the rest are going to fight you just to say they were included. Also, since you’re becoming all buddy, buddy with us now. How the hell did you summon a meteor as a tier-five mage. That’s impossible. I don’t even think I can call you a monster anymore.”

Her eyes glowed in excitement as she began to talk and soon, I was chatting with the group as we made our way towards the final destination for the day. Learning more about the party and who they were in general.

It was evening by the time we made it to the city Koama Lionheart conquered. A fierce fire user. From what the party told me of her. She was a tier five on Path of the Body and would use flames with all of her attacks. She held the Lionheart bloodline a physical enhancement type of bloodline that would boost her strength, speed, agility, and pretty much enhance every single aspect of her.

Once again as we came up to the city occupied by Koama a figure was waiting for us far outside the city limits. Koama Lionheart stood as tall as me and her eyes blazed in a bright red color. Her hair was like a mane surrounding her head. She had bronze skin with a wide nose and freckles covering the middle half of her face. Koama had red, full lips, which were wide open in a feral-like grin. She was a beauty for sure, but the grin told me she would be troublesome.

“Aegis Kan, I’m here to challenge you to a duel of honor!”

“Booooooo, Ittane beat you to it. Hurry it up and stop acting like a third-rate villain from one of the orb movies.”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I think I was starting to like Aisha as a person and probably a friend. It was a shame I hadn’t interacted with her when I was younger.

Koama grew a few shades darker from embarrassment and the rest of the noble party joined in my laughter. Ittane, especially to the point that tears began to leak from her face.

“I accept your challenge. Let us move off the road.”

The evening was cool but, in my temperature-regulated armor I hadn’t noticed and the excitement I got from facing a worthy opponent in battle began to surface. I equipped my shield and prepared myself as we moved to the open ground. Aisha once again repeats the process from the battle with Ittane.

Koama equipment appeared over her. Red armor covered her from head to toe. She used a great sword the weapon almost as tall as us. We stood roughly twenty feet apart. A short distance that could be crossed before a blink could finish. A distance that she crossed the moment I exhaled to take another breath. Hitting me with a horizontal slash that my shield raised to block. The blow pushed me back dozens of feet as I let it. I wanted to see what Koama was made of. So, none of my perks were activated as I was testing the waters.

Koama didn’t let up the blows as she continued to swing while I rarely countered. Only swiping with my ax here and there as she was mostly out of range because of the wide aggressive sweeps.

“Is all you can do is dodge? Fight me, Aegis Kan. Show me the talent that everyone speaks of.”

Koama attempted to provoke me, but it wasn’t enough to get me to make a mistake or rush an attack. I was two tiers beyond her in strength. I was faster, stronger, and not even mentioning my tier in Path of the Mind. I could end this any at any time, but I truly wanted to see what Koama Lionheart was made of.

She did not disappoint as flames began to emerge with every attack. Licking at my armor and reducing the charge I tried to fill on our way to meet her. Koama was out for blood, and I decided to give her the respect she deserved.

“I call to you fireflies who’ve lost their spark come from [Beyond].”

Ashes began to descend around us, and the flames from her licked throughout the field setting the grass on fire. Soon we were fighting through a raging inferno. The flames slowly consumed the energy of my armor. Koama only laughed as the flames grew in intensity. Red jewels on her armor seemed to be consuming the flames boosting her attacks that came faster and faster. Until in a moment of carelessness, Koama Lionheart landed a solid blow. As I was bringing my shield to block another of her sweeping strikes, she pulled back. Leaving me slightly overextended. A powerful kick sent me shooting far outside of the inferno that surrounded us and into a hilly region.

“I can see all weakness before me, and all shall provide to my insight.”

My shielding from my armor was now spent. I began to build a construct. I stood and flexed my body before looking up to Koama who was making her way towards me swiftly. During our small bout, I notice several things that I was hoping my now activated perk would confirm. In the corner of my vision, the stack counter was now at three and Koama just entered the range of my ashes once again.

“Good, great, fight me, Aegis Kan, show me what it means to be the Young Lord of the Kan family and next Lord of the Wall.”

“|Blue Blaze|.” I pointed my ax head at her the spell fired off a literal wall of bright blue fire blazing in her direction superheating everything along the way. Koama was less than ten feet away as she was rushing towards me and would find it hard to dodge. Let’s see how good the enchantments on her armor were. The ground superheated as the spell roared to life and behind the spell, the ground turned into lava. The second after the spell fired off, I followed behind the lava from the ground splashing but not strong enough to damage the material my suit was made from yet strong enough for me to feel the heat.

Something that I did not expect happened as the spell finally reach Koama. Blue Blaze split revealing what I could only imagine being a grinning Koama. My eyes widen surprised, but my next actions were already in motion my shield lit up in the power of my bloodline. What Koama didn’t see and what the spell hit was my bloodline activating and me pulling it into my shield a move that I kept in my back pocket. This armor and my weapons were completely made for me and in tune with an ability such as my bloodline.

The superheated shield bashed into Koama, but I pulled back not wanting to seriously injure the young woman.

“Yield,” I said dissipating the effects. Staring at the girl I knew was bloodied from that blow.

Ba-Thump.

Ba-Thump.

Ba-Thump.

Ba-Thump.

Ba-Thump.

What could only be Koama’s heartbeat sounded out. My body moved before my mind could comprehend the danger as Koama moved just as fast as I could at tier seven. My magi-human instincts saved me from having my legs chopped off as Koama’s blade swept through the area they were previously in. She was bigger. Physically bigger her armor increased in size and glowed with a red light. She was now a foot taller than me and again she moved. My insight showed me how her chest was injured. I estimated that she had several ribs broken, yet she stood and fought on.

Her blade began to glower brighter and brighter and in a swift movement, she jumped back and slashed forward simultaneously a wave of fire headed towards me. Koama Lionheart was out for blood. My senses SCREAMED DANGER.

“I am the Fortress, and the Fortress shall move, gritting itself through all damage it may take.”

I activated my perk as the wave consumed me. The roar of triumph from Koama reached my ears the moment the wave did. A notification appeared in the corner of my vision that I barely noticed. The heat baking the inside of my armor.