After returning to the castle hidden in the mountains, which Vance was now calling Mountain Jewel (in place of a better name), he had quickly set about preparing for the trip to the Capital. He had promised to pick Lara up a while ago, and it was now time to finally make good on that promise, even if the woman in question wasn't ready. There was a lot of work to do and little time to do it all in. The Regiment needed to be trained and armed, and Vance still required getting the first of the nine champions situated here at Mountain Jewel. A lot was happening, and what made it worse was how he had very little rest in between his constant trips back and forth. The thought alone was enough to make Vance frown some as he strapped up the boxes of enlistment forms that would also need to be delivered to the Capital if the new recruits were going to be paid.

"I see you're a quick learner." Observed Richard, who came walking up behind Vance, shaking him out of his thoughts.

Peering over his shoulder, Vance shot him a smile and nod, "Good to see you too." He replied with a slight snicker, "So, you think the Wyverns will be ready?"

Walking up to the boxes, Richard helped Vance do up the last buckle and straps, tugging at them to gauge the strength, "Depends. They seemed rested and ready, but I'm not one for trusting anyone that hasn't earned it." He noted.

Vance, for his part, made sure the straps were secured on the two Wyverns that would take him and the boxes into the city. "Fair... you are a bit of a hothead." Vance retorted, prompting Richard to roll his eyes.

"Listen... I don't care what those people out there think of me, but what I do care about is whether they treat my kin with the respect they're owed. It's their kind that nearly hunted them into extinction." Richard growled, prompting Vance to raise a brow at the sudden hostility.

He should've gotten used to it by now, but there was something about Richard that told him his horned friend wasn't always the quick to anger type. Something must've happened to make him this way, and it wasn't just the hunting of the Wyverns that was the cause of it.

Taking a breath, "Don't worry. Remember what you said to me?" Vance asked, giving a satisfied nod after everything was finally ready.

Relenting, Richard nodded his head, "Yes... I know what I said, but they can make mistakes!"

Vance shot him a sympathetic look, "I know, but you have to trust me as you trust your kin. I know we've only known each other for little more than a week; I haven't lied or led you astray, have I?"

"No... but you're different; you're the Champion of Julia! Just that fact alone makes you worthy of my trust! Not those damn-"

"It doesn't!" Vance interrupted, "You trust me because you know me. When I named you, you got a part of me, and I got a part of you. Now, that's not saying they're memories or shit like that, but it was still something that bonded us on an emotional level... So please, just trust me with this. If something happens, you know damn well I'll be the first to stand up and put whoever mistreats your kin in their place..." Vance reassured his friend.

Gently resting a hand on Richard's shoulder, he cracked a smile, "That's if you don't put them down first."

Richard shook his head, cracking a small smile. He didn't know why Vance made him cheer up, but it was enough to dispel the anger and mistrust he had for the townsfolk... for now.

Vance gave his friend a slight shake, squeezing his shoulder, "But, for now, I need you to help Estrid and William write up a training plan for the Regiment. You're more adequately experienced in teaching those lucky few how to ride a Wyvern than they are... for obvious reasons, but they'll need your help." Vance said, walking back to his own Wyvern that gently began to rumble, almost like it was purring.

If there was one other thing Vance had noticed about himself, it was that he had a weirdly calming effect on the dragonic beings. "Interesting..." Vance thought while he patted the long, scaled neck of his mount.

"I was going to do that anyway, but why? You talk as though you're going to be gone a week." Richard observed.

Shrugging his shoulders as he mounted up, "I know, but I just want to get a start on this. I'll be gone a few hours, but just in case the Marshal needs my help, or I get drawn into some drama back at the Capital... I just want to have all my bases covered so we're not wasting what little time we have."

"Right..." Richard paused in thought, "That makes sense. Well then, I'll do my best to come up with some... 'plan' for the... what did you call them? Lucky few? Though I doubt they'll think such when they meet me." Richard replied with a slight chuckle erupting from both.

"Good point, haha! Just take care and listen to Estrid. For better or worse, she's your superior officer now." Vance said, "Now, she won't say or do anything you don't already know, but when it comes to the military side of things, she's likely leagues ahead of you, so just be aware... she'll offer some criticisms and such, but nothing extreme, so take them in stride and don't be afraid to do the same for her own suggestions. You're a Captain."

"A Captain of an army I don't fully recognize as my own, you mean?"

Nodding, Vance tugged at the reigns, moving the two Wyverns towards the exit, dragging the boxes behind them, "Yes, that one. Just... you know, take it in stride, and use it as a learning experience for when we reform the Empire." Vance said.

"Fine." Richard huffed, "Just... keep safe and try not to get into any trouble while I'm not there to watch your back."

Vance smirked, "No promises."

And with that, the Wyverns began to swell the air under their wings, allowing themselves to hover upward before pushing forward and out of the mountain. Vance looked back, seeing Richard stand awhile longer, likely feeling a tad uncomfortable leaving Vance's side for so long.

"It's only a few hours," Vance whispered under his breath as he turned to face the front.

As the two Wyverns soared over the town of Luna, Vance was once again left to his own thoughts, this time dwelling on the possible future. With the first champion found, the next question raised was where the next one would be? Vilkmar left him a map of sorts, but it didn't give him a clear x marks the spot type of answer, only vague theories where they might be. The only clear cut one in that letter was the first of the nine champions, Lara. The others would take a little investigation work to dig up and find, but hopefully, the Dragon Marines would help expedite that process.

Eventually, through his long thoughts, the flight to Anceburg proved to be a short one as the two Wyverns came swooping down to the front gate. This time, the guards seemed a little less mortified by the sight of living dragonic beings but still had a tense gaze set on the two creatures that easily dwarfed all living things in the city behind them.

"Colonel." Vance greeted the guard commander, who came waltzing out from the nearby gatehouse.

"Colonel Wolfram? I didn't hear anything about you coming today?" He noted, shaking Vance's hand warmly.

It seemed as though the Commander himself had either the biggest balls out of the city watch or had a conversation with the Marshal. However, given how he used his rank and surname, it was clear it was likely the latter.

"No, I suppose not. Though, if I'm honest, even if I did send a rider out, they'd still be weeks away from arriving." Vance noted with a chuckle, "But, the reason I'm here is to deliver two crates full of enlistment forms, all volunteers set to join the Regiment the Marshal has me forming." He explained, nodding back to the two heavy boxes that lay between the two dragons.

"I see... well, I'd offer to help, but I'm sure you can just fly those over to the Square yourself." The Commander said dryly, running a hand through his hair in thought. "Right, well, don't let me keep you. Give my regards to Franz if you see him." And with that, he turned and waved goodbye.

The City Guard didn't need to be told to stand down either since their duty was to watch the front and rear of the gate, and Vance... well, he wasn't going through the aforementioned gate but rather above it. A gale of wind kicked up once again under mighty wings of skin and scale before the two Wyverns were off into the sky again, carrying with them the same heavy crates.

However, this trip proved far faster than the last, as it took only five minutes to reach the Square. Gently setting the boxes down in front of the main office, the two Wyverns hovered in place, their wings occasionally flapping to keep momentum under their wings.

Almost immediately after the crates were set and on the cobbled floor, two clerks and the Marshal burst through the front doors.

"By the gods! I never thought I'd actually get to see one of these majestic creatures in my life..." Franz thought aloud, calmly walking towards Vance and his mount as they themselves touched down.

"Marshal!" Vance snapped a salute off regarding the Marshal in command of the Corps he was a part of.

"At ease, Colonel, at ease." Franz returned it with a quick tap to his forehead, his index finger just lightly touching above his eyebrow before waving Vance at ease.

"Incredible... simply incredible." Franz's astonishment and awe were clearly given away by both his voice and reactions.

Leaning forward, Vance gently rested against one of the thick spikes jutting outward, a sort of natural saddle horn of sorts if Vance was to give it a name. "I suppose you didn't get to see them last time, did you?"

Shaking his head, "No, this is my first and hopefully not the last time I've seen such a beautiful creature!" Franz replied.

"Well, you're bound to see more of the six months from now," Vance noted, gesturing over to the crates. "Well over eight hundred volunteered to enlist in the Dragon Marines. Already have most of my officers too. Estrid, Richard, William, and Lara. Just missing a handful of junior officers and NCO's, but the latter should be easily filled roles given how a quarter of those who volunteered were Adventurers." Vance reported.

Franz nodded in the affirmative, "Well done, Colonel, well done indeed." He said, gently petting Vance's Wyvern. "Does he have a name?"

In a rush to get things done and ready, Vance hadn't yet come up with a name for his partner, and it was finally dawning on him that he needed to call his trusty steed something other than... Wyvern. Looking down, he recalled his old cat from childhood back on Earth; a warm smile soon spread across his face as he reached out and gave the dragon a few affectionate pats.

"Magic. I call him Magic."

"Magic?" Franz paused, mulling it over before shrugging, "I suppose that does make some sense when you consider their powers."

Vance nodded; it was a good name from a dear departed friend and family member. Either way, the name given and task done here, Vance refocused on his commanding officer.

"Though, as much as I'd like to say I came here to show off the mounts for the Regiment, I actually also came here to pick up Lara. I told her to pack her belongings before I take her back to Luna." Vance reported.

Franz nodded, "Good, she's a talented and genius Engineer... sad her standing in society didn't see her rise further." Pausing, a fatherly smile soon formed, "That is until now. But, with you as her CO, I have no doubt she'll rise through the ranks quickly."

"Of that, I have no doubt. We've already come up with a few new ideas too for the Army, but before I give you a copy, we'll do some... tweaks to them so that it's not just something we wrote down on a scrap of tissue." Vance said.

Franz nodded, pursing his lips as he did so, "Good. Very very good. But, before you go heading back to pick up your new Officer, I have another one I'll be sending you in the next week."

Vance paused, raising a brow, "Oh?"

"Mhm, a young fella, much like yourself in fact, but, unlike you who specializes in the art of killing and leading, he focuses his time and talents on the administrative side of things."

"Oh... Oh! You mean?"

"Yes, a Clerk." He stated, "and don't worry; it's not Gunther here. He's new. Fresh from the Military Academy of Kendirewen." Franz continued, pausing to let his words sink in, "With him will also be a small cadre of junior officers, ensigns primarily, just to help shore up the numbers... and yes, I vetted them all myself. They're good men and women. Easily trustable and moldable into proper officers if given the right time, training, and guidance. But, for now, don't stress about them and focus more on drilling and preparing your Regiment for service." Another pause, this time his commanding aura, took over, reminding Vance he was the superior here.

"Yes, Sir. Six months. Six months is all I need to prepare my Regiment for whatever campaign it is the King has planned." Vance answered.

"Good man. Now then, off with you. Lara's not going to wait around all day for you, so go. In the meantime, I'll have logistics ensure your troopers are paid and your equipment requests are approved. Just... if you are going to pick up or receive any orders from HQ, do try to send another Wyvern Rider."

"Will do, Sir," Vance responded with a chuckle, knowing full well his CO just wanted to see the Wyverns.