"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: Early October 1085
Location: Bavaria–Leichtstein, Leithanien.
POV: Narrator
A blond haired woman can be seen to be walking cautiously down the freezing alleyway, she is clad in a local traditional outfit, along with a flair of modernity into its ensemble. One must wonder why she goes out this early in the morning, even more so when the town had been so oddly quiet and peaceful as it can be beneath the darkening cloud above. Such skepticism is, perhaps, answered with the bag full of groceries and necessities she has her hand on.
One thing for certain is the fact of how her movement is frantic ever so slightly. Her eyes are focused onward, but its corners are scanning her surrounding wearily, quietly, and clandestinely. The sparse pedestrians along the way paid her little to no mind, but that’s only cause her to be on high alert. She and one of her colleague is being chased by a shadowy, and undoubtedly deranged, group that had been the true enforcer amongst Leithanien’ darkest time.
‘They’re already here, but thankfully they still have no idea what manner of delivery and scheme we had in mind. It reminds me of the time when I was still trapped on top of that spire, the castle, the throne, and the symbol of His Majesty’s reign of terror. Just closing my eyes is enough to recall every piece of timbre and arts resonance upon the spire…’ She recalled the time when being a spire attendant had been a harrowing page of her life, thus she decide to belay her train of reminiscing.
Arriving upon a peculiar intersection, the woman took the left side of the road and head towards a subdued, quiet, but also looking somewhat pricey hotel. There she found herself being welcomed by a clueless receptionist whom only asked her some standard formalities. She bid the receptionist farewell and took the stairs.
When she reached her destination, she knock on a door with a rhythmic steps of 2-3-2, signaling that she had returned with news. The door opened and she slipped inside without much of a fuss, there her colleague can be seen to donning his disguise and having his hands on the blade rather tightly.
“How bad was it?” Thus the inquiry came from Caprinae man, he is clad in travelling garb and arts resistant armors underneath. His hand is clutching a sword, yet it was not in fact a sword but an arts wand. Leithanien is a country that put on a heavy emphasis upon arts due to their peculiar and unique arts. They are Terra’s finest in terms of using sounds as a medium to use Arts.
“Worrying but still manageable, the remnants had more or less starts scouring the city. They’re not attracting much public attention like usual. How long till we can depart?”
“We will depart in a week… I still need to ensure that our escort won’t actually double cross us.” His face shown a grimace; reluctance upon his part on how the whole affair had been overblown due to unfortunates tidings despite the Kurfürst’s best intention and interests.
“Do you have so little faith in her?” Obviously, she is skeptical too in regards of their so called escort but reality work in such an unexpected way, she knows firsthand how fickle fate can be. The man mulled over his words, then answered with tone full of worry.
“… I am. Her records had made it abundantly clear of how little she perceives lives, even more so when getting rid of obstacle would net her a mission accomplished.” While they’re conversing, a girl can be seen to be looking through the gap of her room. She’s naturally curious about what her guardians are discussing about, but held her curiosity back especially when she knows that half of the problem here is… caused by her.
“… I shouldn’t have been so careless… Now, Dear Father needs to send me away. Gods above, I can’t bear his sorrowful gaze when he had to have me sent away… I’m just causing problems everywhere I was seen.”
‘I even roped in both Brant and Kola into this predicament. The both of them had been no less sweet… just like father and mother…’ Her gaze turned even more downtrodden and beaten. The girl is none other than Viviana Droste von Hohenberg, the Kurfürst of Schton, Werner Hohenberg, only daughter… and an illegitimate child that was driven away from home.
‘Why do I even exist?’ The question was akin to an ugly tumor, festering and gnawing deep into her psyche. It was made even worse when her mother finally passed away, yet her father had done all he could to ensure that she’s safe, away from the dangerous game of Leithanian politics and shadowy war with the remnants… alas his best just wasn’t enough.
When the girl is mentally torturing herself, she doesn’t realize that both Brant and Kola had been looking at her with worry. She put on a soft smile to ensure that she is ‘fine’ and to not cause more problem than she already does. The Caprinae girl then closed the door to her room.
When she had done so, Brant and Kola look at one another wearily and sadly. They shouldn’t have had allowed her to go down from the spire, now she was driven away or else her life would be in danger… yet it was pitiful to have such a young girl confined into a cage made of diamond and all her wants fulfilled at the cost of freedom.
“… I had disappointed Lord Hohenberg, after all he had done to free and protect me from that accursed fate…” The woman said with apparent sadness. Her colleague put his hand on her shoulder, he too is powerless when it has little to do with putting down heretics, traitors… and madmen by the sword and the ever reaching gale of Arts.
“We had already been through this Miss Lowenstein. Without you ever entertained the idea of what had to be done years ago, the war for our freedom would had probably been a failure.”
“… Danke…”
“How about we focus on what’s more important? Oh by the by, we had been contacted by one of the KdK (Kriminalpolizei Der Kaiserin) that Her Majesties expressed their sincerest apology for this incident. They had also said that we will have covert agents to help around.”
“… Her Majesties sure works fast, despite of how busy they are.” Kola sported a thin smile, but with that her tense demeanor had been lowered significantly. The KdK is one of the Twin Empress’ arms and legs to combat the remnants. There are rumors that even more clandestine operatives to exist long before their ascension… but that’s that, a rumor.
“Naturally something of this magnitude will not escape their ears, thankfully we have their blessing on this matter.”
“… Would you like to hear my suggestion?”
“I’m all ears.”
POV: Viviana
Once I closed the door, I headed towards the bed again. This room of my mine was actually the master room, but Kola usually sleep next to me while Brant stays on the living room. They had been very anxious, thus this accommodation. The both of them apologized for this less than ideal arrangement, but frankly speaking, it is more than enough and it never crossed my mind to feel insulted.
Aesthetics wise, this room has a tasteful idea of decoration. What truly please me however, is the fact that there are a lot of books already deposited on the nearby table. It ranges from the usual magazines regarding fashion, and I must say the models are all looking gorgeous wearing all these dresses.
“My Lady, the breakfast is ready.” Kola knocked politely and I sprang towards the door. She awaited me like a good attendant, I would rather have her as a friend but she is truly hesitant…
“Coming!” I can put off my reading for a while. The breakfast is a modest combination of broth, wheat bread, and some meat that I’m not really a fan with. The proportion is just the way I like it since seeing so much food left on the table just nauseates me. Kola is still stubbornly refusing to eat with me, she said that it would reflect badly…
The breakfast ended soon after and I returned to my room. My feet, seemingly with a mind of its own, moved towards the stacks of books that interest me, where? My bed of course. Plopping myself on it, which would make my ethic teacher’ grimace, I starts looking at each and every title there.
‘Still, I don’t understand why did Kola was so frantic when I informed her about magazines being amongst literatures. Was there supposed to be something dangerous in it?’ Well, it is exactly important and rather than reveling in my depression, it would be better use of time to do something more mentally receptive.
Thus I turned my gaze back on the bed. The books seems to be haphazard but they have common topics; what kind of topics? Knighthood and Fairy Tales. I always admired the Knights and Chivalric Orders that everyone had told me about, how these people embodies the finest quality of man that one can possibly have and ideally need to strive for.
Turning on a page, I start to read it out loud. I might not be much as a storyteller, the better one if I was to be more optimistic about it, but it was honestly the best hobby I picked up aside from reciting poetry and dancing, those had been my usual past-time inside the spire. I recalled seeing towards a pair of fallen sanktas, one of them just looks so… flat? Uncaring? While the other seems to be very genteel and observant, yet there is this pitfall in her emotion that I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Well, let’s start shall we…
…
…
…
“… Thus the ruly and orderly knight’s companion, wayward may his companion be, his heart blazes true, brought forth to them an ill tidings of utmost importance; the dark one of old had arisen from the underworld with its vast army of hellish horrors. The Knights of Argyraspides sought forth the fabled text of old, enigmatic and erratic yet evangelic, one that would be powerful enough to send the tyrannical dark lord back into the gate of Tartarus.” Tartarus? An analogy of hell mayhap? If so, what a peculiar name… That’s the first time I heard such a name. Wonder who is the writer of this book?
‘Also… Argyraspides? Truly peculiar for this book to include pronunciation guide, the spelling is alien to me however and it clearly based upon Minoan language when uttered. Hopefully it is not a sign that I had been slacking off during my ethics and ancient history courses… It would be an utter embarrassment of me otherwise.’ Time passes on without me noticing much of it…
…
…
…
“On the eve of 110 LE, Lord Commander Eumenes, general of the Olympian’s 5th field army, managed to accomplish an astonishing feat of arms, the slaying of the dreaded Leviathan atop the sacred steedbeast Hippo-Argos. His deed and chivalry for maintaining order by his very being garnered him the respect of all the Olympian. Elder Argos Leonidas had bestowed upon him the domain of Hesperides, the newly integrated land that had chosen to forgo their independence for security amidst the growing tension. His personal reign was marked with notable improvement upon the overall life of all that resides.”
…
…
…
“The Knights of Argyraspides was finally given the blessing of their lord, The Great God Alexander, The Torch Bearer and The Dreamer God. With pious heart in mind and matter, the contingent set forth unto the dark land of Asphodel, the once green and serene Pangea. Treachery of Ermor was great indeed, for the once steadfast bastion of nature to be transformed into a pallid mockery of utter desperation and hate. Ermor, may the Gods cursed them and their vanity for bringing ruin upon this world; all as it was foretold as it always had been for millennia untold.”
…
…
…
“Battle upon The Gate of The World; what it was dubbed in the annals of history and sung by the bards all across Quinnica, a battle that almost ended the world if left unfought and unsolved. Giants of Mekone, or what was left of them, once thought extinct and dreaded as the Early Age’s subjugator and enslaver, was even forced into the fray; all for a sliver of hope against the incoming horde of the Undead. Furthermore, an abomination of gargantuan proportion had been summoned upon the sullied land of Tir Na Nog, Tuatha, Fir, and Bolg alike cut down in the hundreds en masse. Blight and despair spread, but the Knights held fast along with all the world’s might to bear.”
…
…
…
“Seleucus plunge his sword, The Dawn Fang it was called, deep into the Titannic Abomination’s heart. Chains upon chains spew forth from the Gates of Tartarus, dragging the forever destined to be tormented for upcoming eons, back into its unrepentantly cold and rapturously boiling embrace. The Coalition broke into a hymn, The Dawn Bared its Fang! The Dawn had arisen! Take heed, all the free people! The Dawn always triumph! They chanted on with great fervor and ferocity while the Dark God’ minions cowered in anguish from such resplendence. This marked the turning point after the disaster of The Battle upon the Gate of The World, almost 2 centuries ago.”
…
…
…
“Even after the Knights of Argyraspides’ eventual destruction, their fervor and honor lived on. Thus its successor Knight Rrder, the Knights of Agema, carried on the torch that had fell on this very soil more than 3 centuries ago, the Dark One is being pushed upon the brink, and it is then shall the whole world’ righteous fury be upon them. Not for vengeance, nor for glory… only for a promise of a better future.”
I had been truly absorbed by the books, yes this is the third one of this series, quite proud of how fast I can read tales that interest me.
‘How long has it been? An hour? Another hour? Or an eternity itself?’
Page after page, chapter after chapter, and the series felt bottomless. It was not just an expression of the writer’s own fantasy and world; it is a compendium of another world’s own history if might be so candid and bold. Each words and dictions, I can feel everything that was laid bare but left unanswered to the naked eyes.
… Is this really a fiction? If yes then I’m duly impressed with how much expositions and rhetoric are being sprinkled into it. Almost felt like you would require a set of knowledge on ancient world first and foremost before trying and failing to even emulate your imagined theory for answering questions left bereft of clarity.
“My Lady?” Kola’s voice brought me back from my musings, she sounds a tad concerned. I… oops?
“Yes, what is it?”
“You didn’t answer when I called beforehand, is everything alright there?”
“Oh, of course… I apologize for causing you worries.”
“I must inform you that the lunch was served 2 hours ago. I must also confess that I had failed to inform you regarding this lapse of mine. I truly beg for your forgiveness and if My Lady sees it fit, I’m ready to be punished fo-”
“N-No, it is alright. You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, why I even consider you as someone precious to me. Mother, bless be her soul, will also be quite cross if I starts being unreasonable.” While my voice on stuttered briefly, deep down I’m also panicking for it.
‘L-Lunch!? Oh dear, I had been so absorbed with reading that I didn’t realized it.’ Then I also noticed something else…
‘It felt really calm, only occasional fowls chirping… Caninebeast’ usual barking was neither here nor there too… what on earth is happening during my reading session really? Should I be concerned? Should I tell the both of them?’
“My Lady, are you there?” She sounds really worried now.
“Y-Yes, I would be there shortly… however, if it’s not too much of a problem… can you bring it inside? I’m already felt too comfortable here…”
“That would be improper of you, My Lady. To have a meal inside your own, bedroom barring certain conditions, would reflect poorly on your education…”
“… Please…?” My voice is so quiet, I didn’t mean it to sound like this.
“… Very well, I’ll have it delivered to your room.”
“Thank you very much, I truly mean it.”
“You’re very much welcome, My Lady.”
POV: Nyx
“…” Man, I’m starting to feel it again, the sheer rush of spilling blood and doing fucked up shit… which is bad. No matter how I try to deny it now, I’m clearly having a streak of psychopathic behavior. Just needs to find the damn trigger, wonder if Terra has an emotional dampener somewhere… yeah no. I have a feeling my body would just reject it, not before chewing and screwing up said foreign object first that is.
‘Fuck me… no matter how hard I try to stave off my aggression… a simple lapse and I starts painting the alleyway red and sprinkling it with nauseous smell. Then again, they wouldn’t have been so mangled if they didn’t threaten an infected kid who minded his own business…’
Speaking about emotions… that infected kid’ fear stung a lot on my conscience even more so than usual, just what the fuck is happening in my brain…? Ugh… doesn’t change the fact that I’m completely to be blamed for that. If a person suddenly jumped down from the rooftop and starts slicing and dicing bloods and guts, of course they would be afraid. Then there was a matter with these people, clearly a bunch of heretic or lunatics. Must have be-
“W-why… a-are you… *cough*! Att-Attac-” Oh shut it, I just cocked my suppressed originium gun and shot the, surprisingly enough, barely alive Caprinae woman. She looks even more like shit after getting slammed against the window just minutes ago, no worries since the slum folks hardly cared and nothing a crate of food and some Thaler can’t fix.
‘Man, I love material compensation when it counts.’ Eh? Interrogation? Nah, cannon fodders worth jack shit other than for de-stressing.
Wonder if Mr. Really-really-legit-bartender is done with his own share of troubles. Working with professional like him truly made me feel nostalgic, being a hunting dog back in the frontier colony was probably the smoothest sailing life of mine. I mean, I did die there, as usual, but at least that happened after I screwed some local criminal syndicates who just don’t know when to call it quits.
“… I must confess that… you’re efficient at least.” A man’s voice called on to me from below. Seeing who my guest is, I jumped down from the 2nd floor’ railing. Strange, I heard a sound like something getting cracked or so, eh must have been my imagination and frankly I’m famished.
“Oh jolly, nice to meet you again Viscount Reiner.” I turned my gaze on him, he is Viscount Brant Reiner. From what information I had managed to gather, he is part of Gesatzswachter, or Guardian of Order. He is direct subordinate and retainer for the Twin Empress and Werner Hohenberg, the Kurfürst of Schton, respectively.
There was also that Caprinae woman, her name is Kola… Lowen-something.
“No offense, but… I’m afraid that I’m unable to share your enthusiasm.” His words and emotion is clear; suspicion and wariness. Meh, I can deal with this, won’t be harder than dealing against that… uh… what was it again? That thing or whatever.
“None taken, so how about the rest of these… remnants was it?”
“… How do yo- Hah… no, that’s not important.” He shook his head from my accidental slip up.
“That’s them yes, and thank you for dealing with the probable arts device to record her face. It is getting even more complicated to hide My Lady’s identity.”
“The glamour is still in place, so don’t worry.”
“I hope that’s true since that would cause severe problem further down the line. That’s not something Mein Herr would like to know.” Before his words continues, another voice cut in-between our conversation.
[Dame Nyx, the hostiles are neutralized. You may move on to the next phase or consult with Viscount Reiner regarding further update, we are cleaning up on our own end thus it might take a while to rendezvous for debrief. Over and Out.] My earpiece came alive with the update on situation, looks like I can take it easier this time around.
“Got an update, your people told me that we can move onto the next phase.”
“Splendid, the schedule seems to have been moved forward considerably, but the faster we leave this city the better would it be.”
“Then I will-” He cut off my words, kinda rude but then again I did the same with that mangled and headless bitch. Karma at work?
“However, I need to stress a point that we will have some changes in place.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Changes eh? Not the first time I need to work with skeptics, if anything it does gave me a chance to play things by the ear better. Sounds scummy you say? Hah! Of course it is, I never played fair, only an idiot did so… wait…
‘Mwi, from time to time, and the Nearl does play fair and square with honor in place, never less than any of that… eh, they’re my idiots and I love them.’
POV: ???
“She’s truly capable, don’t you agree? My fellow Kaiserin?” I said after reading the periodic reading that has been read in my presence. The content is quite crucial for this nation’s stability amidst its political uncertainty. Why, Hildegard had even personally thrashed several of those lunatics’ underground labs… I can’t help but to feel remorseful seeing so many dead children there.
“It irks me that this is where we can find a middle ground, other than when dealing with the Remnants of course. So what are you going to do about it, Lieselotte?” She is my Co-Kaiserin, Hildegard Grimmmacth. While I’m more versed in political and administrative venues, she excelled in the military and strategic planning on-site. Of course she doesn’t lack the political acumen neither do I so blind in military matters.
“She is… quite the troublemaker, but her willingness to see the bigger picture intrigues me. Her general demeanor, aside from that foul language of hers, is acceptable and refreshing compared to when dealing with our more sycophantic supporters.”
The remnants had been the real fallout of our war against Otto’s tyranny. They are hellbent on reviving him through one of his many Masterpieces, one of them being the Voice of Terra. A few years back, Hildegard stormed into my study bearing news that there are 2 positives vessels for Otto’s resurrection.
One of them is now the Graf of Urtica, something I still debated to this day of how callous that was. He is being indoctrinated by my supporters, despite me telling them not to. I can’t exactly remove them either, our rule needs every single helping hands we can have. The other vessel is now travelling the land, accompanied by one of my most faithful’ retainer. Why, I even recalled the day he informed me, despite text being mostly inanimate, his joy is true like a real relative of that child.
“Here I thought you would prefer to be unquestioned…”
“It is no laughing matter Hildegard.”
“Did I laughed? Or did I even cracked a smile?” She glared at me from that small teasing, seems like the stress of dealing with so many violent problems are grinding her sanity and patience.
The KdK had also informed me that several other labs had managed to clean up, thus causing lacks of evidence to convict the nobles who conspired against us. The law of this nation is quite complicated and if the Witch King returned, we can lose our legitimacy.
Leithanien is not an absolute monarchy, we were elected by 9, and used to be 10 before Siracusa seceded, Kurfürsten. This election was what bounded, in the most literal sense, our old tribes into the current nation that regarded to be Terra’s powerhouse that can match the larger nations. Still, the Siracusan sometimes end up being brought into our attention from time to time and how we must force them to return to the fold. We have no reprieve for that, and Victoria will not let it slide.
“Back to the topic, what do you propose?” After hearing my query, her emotion shimmered down. She put her hand beneath her jaw and think the situation through. Her eyes then flickered with a rare belligerent but playful smirk adorning her face. It is either something truly profound or nonsensical, nothing in between…
“A child’s play, really.”
“Oh? Pray tell.”
“Speaking her tongue would be a decent venture for a start.”
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who is bracing himself for his degree.
Here we have Viviana Droste, an illegitimate child whose dream is to be a Chivalrous Knightess. Kazimierz sounds like a perfect place to start, according to her.
Should I start attaching the in-game character, NPC or Otherwise, image or not?
That’s all really, since it is the calm before the storm.
Update as usual
Ciao
"Mono/Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
Narration
[Message/communication apparatus]
Date: Early October 1085
Location: Bavaria–Leichtstein, Leithanien.
POV: Narrator
A blond haired woman can be seen to be walking cautiously down the freezing alleyway, she is clad in a local traditional outfit, along with a flair of modernity into its ensemble. One must wonder why she goes out this early in the morning, even more so when the town had been so oddly quiet and peaceful as it can be beneath the darkening cloud above. Such skepticism is, perhaps, answered with the bag full of groceries and necessities she has her hand on.
One thing for certain is the fact of how her movement is frantic ever so slightly. Her eyes are focused onward, but its corners are scanning her surrounding wearily, quietly, and clandestinely. The sparse pedestrians along the way paid her little to no mind, but that’s only cause her to be on high alert. She and one of her colleague is being chased by a shadowy, and undoubtedly deranged, group that had been the true enforcer amongst Leithanien’ darkest time.
‘They’re already here, but thankfully they still have no idea what manner of delivery and scheme we had in mind. It reminds me of the time when I was still trapped on top of that spire, the castle, the throne, and the symbol of His Majesty’s reign of terror. Just closing my eyes is enough to recall every piece of timbre and arts resonance upon the spire…’ She recalled the time when being a spire attendant had been a harrowing page of her life, thus she decide to belay her train of reminiscing.
Arriving upon a peculiar intersection, the woman took the left side of the road and head towards a subdued, quiet, but also looking somewhat pricey hotel. There she found herself being welcomed by a clueless receptionist whom only asked her some standard formalities. She bid the receptionist farewell and took the stairs.
When she reached her destination, she knock on a door with a rhythmic steps of 2-3-2, signaling that she had returned with news. The door opened and she slipped inside without much of a fuss, there her colleague can be seen to donning his disguise and having his hands on the blade rather tightly.
“How bad was it?” Thus the inquiry came from Caprinae man, he is clad in travelling garb and arts resistant armors underneath. His hand is clutching a sword, yet it was not in fact a sword but an arts wand. Leithanien is a country that put on a heavy emphasis upon arts due to their peculiar and unique arts. They are Terra’s finest in terms of using sounds as a medium to use Arts.
“Worrying but still manageable, the remnants had more or less starts scouring the city. They’re not attracting much public attention like usual. How long till we can depart?”
“We will depart in a week… I still need to ensure that our escort won’t actually double cross us.” His face shown a grimace; reluctance upon his part on how the whole affair had been overblown due to unfortunates tidings despite the Kurfürst’s best intention and interests.
“Do you have so little faith in her?” Obviously, she is skeptical too in regards of their so called escort but reality work in such an unexpected way, she knows firsthand how fickle fate can be. The man mulled over his words, then answered with tone full of worry.
“… I am. Her records had made it abundantly clear of how little she perceives lives, even more so when getting rid of obstacle would net her a mission accomplished.” While they’re conversing, a girl can be seen to be looking through the gap of her room. She’s naturally curious about what her guardians are discussing about, but held her curiosity back especially when she knows that half of the problem here is… caused by her.
“… I shouldn’t have been so careless… Now, Dear Father needs to send me away. Gods above, I can’t bear his sorrowful gaze when he had to have me sent away… I’m just causing problems everywhere I was seen.”
‘I even roped in both Brant and Kola into this predicament. The both of them had been no less sweet… just like father and mother…’ Her gaze turned even more downtrodden and beaten. The girl is none other than Viviana Droste von Hohenberg, the Kurfürst of Schton, Werner Hohenberg, only daughter… and an illegitimate child that was driven away from home.
‘Why do I even exist?’ The question was akin to an ugly tumor, festering and gnawing deep into her psyche. It was made even worse when her mother finally passed away, yet her father had done all he could to ensure that she’s safe, away from the dangerous game of Leithanian politics and shadowy war with the remnants… alas his best just wasn’t enough.
When the girl is mentally torturing herself, she doesn’t realize that both Brant and Kola had been looking at her with worry. She put on a soft smile to ensure that she is ‘fine’ and to not cause more problem than she already does. The Caprinae girl then closed the door to her room.
When she had done so, Brant and Kola look at one another wearily and sadly. They shouldn’t have had allowed her to go down from the spire, now she was driven away or else her life would be in danger… yet it was pitiful to have such a young girl confined into a cage made of diamond and all her wants fulfilled at the cost of freedom.
“… I had disappointed Lord Hohenberg, after all he had done to free and protect me from that accursed fate…” The woman said with apparent sadness. Her colleague put his hand on her shoulder, he too is powerless when it has little to do with putting down heretics, traitors… and madmen by the sword and the ever reaching gale of Arts.
“We had already been through this Miss Lowenstein. Without you ever entertained the idea of what had to be done years ago, the war for our freedom would had probably been a failure.”
“… Danke…”
“How about we focus on what’s more important? Oh by the by, we had been contacted by one of the KdK (Kriminalpolizei Der Kaiserin) that Her Majesties expressed their sincerest apology for this incident. They had also said that we will have covert agents to help around.”
“… Her Majesties sure works fast, despite of how busy they are.” Kola sported a thin smile, but with that her tense demeanor had been lowered significantly. The KdK is one of the Twin Empress’ arms and legs to combat the remnants. There are rumors that even more clandestine operatives to exist long before their ascension… but that’s that, a rumor.
“Naturally something of this magnitude will not escape their ears, thankfully we have their blessing on this matter.”
“… Would you like to hear my suggestion?”
“I’m all ears.”
POV: Viviana
Once I closed the door, I headed towards the bed again. This room of my mine was actually the master room, but Kola usually sleep next to me while Brant stays on the living room. They had been very anxious, thus this accommodation. The both of them apologized for this less than ideal arrangement, but frankly speaking, it is more than enough and it never crossed my mind to feel insulted.
Aesthetics wise, this room has a tasteful idea of decoration. What truly please me however, is the fact that there are a lot of books already deposited on the nearby table. It ranges from the usual magazines regarding fashion, and I must say the models are all looking gorgeous wearing all these dresses.
“My Lady, the breakfast is ready.” Kola knocked politely and I sprang towards the door. She awaited me like a good attendant, I would rather have her as a friend but she is truly hesitant…
“Coming!” I can put off my reading for a while. The breakfast is a modest combination of broth, wheat bread, and some meat that I’m not really a fan with. The proportion is just the way I like it since seeing so much food left on the table just nauseates me. Kola is still stubbornly refusing to eat with me, she said that it would reflect badly…
The breakfast ended soon after and I returned to my room. My feet, seemingly with a mind of its own, moved towards the stacks of books that interest me, where? My bed of course. Plopping myself on it, which would make my ethic teacher’ grimace, I starts looking at each and every title there.
‘Still, I don’t understand why did Kola was so frantic when I informed her about magazines being amongst literatures. Was there supposed to be something dangerous in it?’ Well, it is exactly important and rather than reveling in my depression, it would be better use of time to do something more mentally receptive.
Thus I turned my gaze back on the bed. The books seems to be haphazard but they have common topics; what kind of topics? Knighthood and Fairy Tales. I always admired the Knights and Chivalric Orders that everyone had told me about, how these people embodies the finest quality of man that one can possibly have and ideally need to strive for.
Turning on a page, I start to read it out loud. I might not be much as a storyteller, the better one if I was to be more optimistic about it, but it was honestly the best hobby I picked up aside from reciting poetry and dancing, those had been my usual past-time inside the spire. I recalled seeing towards a pair of fallen sanktas, one of them just looks so… flat? Uncaring? While the other seems to be very genteel and observant, yet there is this pitfall in her emotion that I can’t quite put my finger on it.
Well, let’s start shall we…
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“… Thus the ruly and orderly knight’s companion, wayward may his companion be, his heart blazes true, brought forth to them an ill tidings of utmost importance; the dark one of old had arisen from the underworld with its vast army of hellish horrors. The Knights of Argyraspides sought forth the fabled text of old, enigmatic and erratic yet evangelic, one that would be powerful enough to send the tyrannical dark lord back into the gate of Tartarus.” Tartarus? An analogy of hell mayhap? If so, what a peculiar name… That’s the first time I heard such a name. Wonder who is the writer of this book?
‘Also… Argyraspides? Truly peculiar for this book to include pronunciation guide, the spelling is alien to me however and it clearly based upon Minoan language when uttered. Hopefully it is not a sign that I had been slacking off during my ethics and ancient history courses… It would be an utter embarrassment of me otherwise.’ Time passes on without me noticing much of it…
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“On the eve of 110 LE, Lord Commander Eumenes, general of the Olympian’s 5th field army, managed to accomplish an astonishing feat of arms, the slaying of the dreaded Leviathan atop the sacred steedbeast Hippo-Argos. His deed and chivalry for maintaining order by his very being garnered him the respect of all the Olympian. Elder Argos Leonidas had bestowed upon him the domain of Hesperides, the newly integrated land that had chosen to forgo their independence for security amidst the growing tension. His personal reign was marked with notable improvement upon the overall life of all that resides.”
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“The Knights of Argyraspides was finally given the blessing of their lord, The Great God Alexander, The Torch Bearer and The Dreamer God. With pious heart in mind and matter, the contingent set forth unto the dark land of Asphodel, the once green and serene Pangea. Treachery of Ermor was great indeed, for the once steadfast bastion of nature to be transformed into a pallid mockery of utter desperation and hate. Ermor, may the Gods cursed them and their vanity for bringing ruin upon this world; all as it was foretold as it always had been for millennia untold.”
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“Battle upon The Gate of The World; what it was dubbed in the annals of history and sung by the bards all across Quinnica, a battle that almost ended the world if left unfought and unsolved. Giants of Mekone, or what was left of them, once thought extinct and dreaded as the Early Age’s subjugator and enslaver, was even forced into the fray; all for a sliver of hope against the incoming horde of the Undead. Furthermore, an abomination of gargantuan proportion had been summoned upon the sullied land of Tir Na Nog, Tuatha, Fir, and Bolg alike cut down in the hundreds en masse. Blight and despair spread, but the Knights held fast along with all the world’s might to bear.”
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“Seleucus plunge his sword, The Dawn Fang it was called, deep into the Titannic Abomination’s heart. Chains upon chains spew forth from the Gates of Tartarus, dragging the forever destined to be tormented for upcoming eons, back into its unrepentantly cold and rapturously boiling embrace. The Coalition broke into a hymn, The Dawn Bared its Fang! The Dawn had arisen! Take heed, all the free people! The Dawn always triumph! They chanted on with great fervor and ferocity while the Dark God’ minions cowered in anguish from such resplendence. This marked the turning point after the disaster of The Battle upon the Gate of The World, almost 2 centuries ago.”
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“Even after the Knights of Argyraspides’ eventual destruction, their fervor and honor lived on. Thus its successor Knight Rrder, the Knights of Agema, carried on the torch that had fell on this very soil more than 3 centuries ago, the Dark One is being pushed upon the brink, and it is then shall the whole world’ righteous fury be upon them. Not for vengeance, nor for glory… only for a promise of a better future.”
I had been truly absorbed by the books, yes this is the third one of this series, quite proud of how fast I can read tales that interest me.
‘How long has it been? An hour? Another hour? Or an eternity itself?’
Page after page, chapter after chapter, and the series felt bottomless. It was not just an expression of the writer’s own fantasy and world; it is a compendium of another world’s own history if might be so candid and bold. Each words and dictions, I can feel everything that was laid bare but left unanswered to the naked eyes.
… Is this really a fiction? If yes then I’m duly impressed with how much expositions and rhetoric are being sprinkled into it. Almost felt like you would require a set of knowledge on ancient world first and foremost before trying and failing to even emulate your imagined theory for answering questions left bereft of clarity.
“My Lady?” Kola’s voice brought me back from my musings, she sounds a tad concerned. I… oops?
“Yes, what is it?”
“You didn’t answer when I called beforehand, is everything alright there?”
“Oh, of course… I apologize for causing you worries.”
“I must inform you that the lunch was served 2 hours ago. I must also confess that I had failed to inform you regarding this lapse of mine. I truly beg for your forgiveness and if My Lady sees it fit, I’m ready to be punished fo-”
“N-No, it is alright. You mustn’t be so hard on yourself, why I even consider you as someone precious to me. Mother, bless be her soul, will also be quite cross if I starts being unreasonable.” While my voice on stuttered briefly, deep down I’m also panicking for it.
‘L-Lunch!? Oh dear, I had been so absorbed with reading that I didn’t realized it.’ Then I also noticed something else…
‘It felt really calm, only occasional fowls chirping… Caninebeast’ usual barking was neither here nor there too… what on earth is happening during my reading session really? Should I be concerned? Should I tell the both of them?’
“My Lady, are you there?” She sounds really worried now.
“Y-Yes, I would be there shortly… however, if it’s not too much of a problem… can you bring it inside? I’m already felt too comfortable here…”
“That would be improper of you, My Lady. To have a meal inside your own, bedroom barring certain conditions, would reflect poorly on your education…”
“… Please…?” My voice is so quiet, I didn’t mean it to sound like this.
“… Very well, I’ll have it delivered to your room.”
“Thank you very much, I truly mean it.”
“You’re very much welcome, My Lady.”
POV: Nyx
“…” Man, I’m starting to feel it again, the sheer rush of spilling blood and doing fucked up shit… which is bad. No matter how I try to deny it now, I’m clearly having a streak of psychopathic behavior. Just needs to find the damn trigger, wonder if Terra has an emotional dampener somewhere… yeah no. I have a feeling my body would just reject it, not before chewing and screwing up said foreign object first that is.
‘Fuck me… no matter how hard I try to stave off my aggression… a simple lapse and I starts painting the alleyway red and sprinkling it with nauseous smell. Then again, they wouldn’t have been so mangled if they didn’t threaten an infected kid who minded his own business…’
Speaking about emotions… that infected kid’ fear stung a lot on my conscience even more so than usual, just what the fuck is happening in my brain…? Ugh… doesn’t change the fact that I’m completely to be blamed for that. If a person suddenly jumped down from the rooftop and starts slicing and dicing bloods and guts, of course they would be afraid. Then there was a matter with these people, clearly a bunch of heretic or lunatics. Must have be-
“W-why… a-are you… *cough*! Att-Attac-” Oh shut it, I just cocked my suppressed originium gun and shot the, surprisingly enough, barely alive Caprinae woman. She looks even more like shit after getting slammed against the window just minutes ago, no worries since the slum folks hardly cared and nothing a crate of food and some Thaler can’t fix.
‘Man, I love material compensation when it counts.’ Eh? Interrogation? Nah, cannon fodders worth jack shit other than for de-stressing.
Wonder if Mr. Really-really-legit-bartender is done with his own share of troubles. Working with professional like him truly made me feel nostalgic, being a hunting dog back in the frontier colony was probably the smoothest sailing life of mine. I mean, I did die there, as usual, but at least that happened after I screwed some local criminal syndicates who just don’t know when to call it quits.
“… I must confess that… you’re efficient at least.” A man’s voice called on to me from below. Seeing who my guest is, I jumped down from the 2nd floor’ railing. Strange, I heard a sound like something getting cracked or so, eh must have been my imagination and frankly I’m famished.
“Oh jolly, nice to meet you again Viscount Reiner.” I turned my gaze on him, he is Viscount Brant Reiner. From what information I had managed to gather, he is part of Gesatzswachter, or Guardian of Order. He is direct subordinate and retainer for the Twin Empress and Werner Hohenberg, the Kurfürst of Schton, respectively.
There was also that Caprinae woman, her name is Kola… Lowen-something.
“No offense, but… I’m afraid that I’m unable to share your enthusiasm.” His words and emotion is clear; suspicion and wariness. Meh, I can deal with this, won’t be harder than dealing against that… uh… what was it again? That thing or whatever.
“None taken, so how about the rest of these… remnants was it?”
“… How do yo- Hah… no, that’s not important.” He shook his head from my accidental slip up.
“That’s them yes, and thank you for dealing with the probable arts device to record her face. It is getting even more complicated to hide My Lady’s identity.”
“The glamour is still in place, so don’t worry.”
“I hope that’s true since that would cause severe problem further down the line. That’s not something Mein Herr would like to know.” Before his words continues, another voice cut in-between our conversation.
[Dame Nyx, the hostiles are neutralized. You may move on to the next phase or consult with Viscount Reiner regarding further update, we are cleaning up on our own end thus it might take a while to rendezvous for debrief. Over and Out.] My earpiece came alive with the update on situation, looks like I can take it easier this time around.
“Got an update, your people told me that we can move onto the next phase.”
“Splendid, the schedule seems to have been moved forward considerably, but the faster we leave this city the better would it be.”
“Then I will-” He cut off my words, kinda rude but then again I did the same with that mangled and headless bitch. Karma at work?
“However, I need to stress a point that we will have some changes in place.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Changes eh? Not the first time I need to work with skeptics, if anything it does gave me a chance to play things by the ear better. Sounds scummy you say? Hah! Of course it is, I never played fair, only an idiot did so… wait…
‘Mwi, from time to time, and the Nearl does play fair and square with honor in place, never less than any of that… eh, they’re my idiots and I love them.’
POV: ???
“She’s truly capable, don’t you agree? My fellow Kaiserin?” I said after reading the periodic reading that has been read in my presence. The content is quite crucial for this nation’s stability amidst its political uncertainty. Why, Hildegard had even personally thrashed several of those lunatics’ underground labs… I can’t help but to feel remorseful seeing so many dead children there.
“It irks me that this is where we can find a middle ground, other than when dealing with the Remnants of course. So what are you going to do about it, Lieselotte?” She is my Co-Kaiserin, Hildegard Grimmmacth. While I’m more versed in political and administrative venues, she excelled in the military and strategic planning on-site. Of course she doesn’t lack the political acumen neither do I so blind in military matters.
“She is… quite the troublemaker, but her willingness to see the bigger picture intrigues me. Her general demeanor, aside from that foul language of hers, is acceptable and refreshing compared to when dealing with our more sycophantic supporters.”
The remnants had been the real fallout of our war against Otto’s tyranny. They are hellbent on reviving him through one of his many Masterpieces, one of them being the Voice of Terra. A few years back, Hildegard stormed into my study bearing news that there are 2 positives vessels for Otto’s resurrection.
One of them is now the Graf of Urtica, something I still debated to this day of how callous that was. He is being indoctrinated by my supporters, despite me telling them not to. I can’t exactly remove them either, our rule needs every single helping hands we can have. The other vessel is now travelling the land, accompanied by one of my most faithful’ retainer. Why, I even recalled the day he informed me, despite text being mostly inanimate, his joy is true like a real relative of that child.
“Here I thought you would prefer to be unquestioned…”
“It is no laughing matter Hildegard.”
“Did I laughed? Or did I even cracked a smile?” She glared at me from that small teasing, seems like the stress of dealing with so many violent problems are grinding her sanity and patience.
The KdK had also informed me that several other labs had managed to clean up, thus causing lacks of evidence to convict the nobles who conspired against us. The law of this nation is quite complicated and if the Witch King returned, we can lose our legitimacy.
Leithanien is not an absolute monarchy, we were elected by 9, and used to be 10 before Siracusa seceded, Kurfürsten. This election was what bounded, in the most literal sense, our old tribes into the current nation that regarded to be Terra’s powerhouse that can match the larger nations. Still, the Siracusan sometimes end up being brought into our attention from time to time and how we must force them to return to the fold. We have no reprieve for that, and Victoria will not let it slide.
“Back to the topic, what do you propose?” After hearing my query, her emotion shimmered down. She put her hand beneath her jaw and think the situation through. Her eyes then flickered with a rare belligerent but playful smirk adorning her face. It is either something truly profound or nonsensical, nothing in between…
“A child’s play, really.”
“Oh? Pray tell.”
“Speaking her tongue would be a decent venture for a start.”
[END OF CHAPTER]
Author’s Note:
Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who is bracing himself for his degree.
Here we have Viviana Droste, an illegitimate child whose dream is to be a Chivalrous Knightess. Kazimierz sounds like a perfect place to start, according to her.
Should I start attaching the in-game character, NPC or Otherwise, image or not?
That’s all really, since it is the calm before the storm.
Update as usual
Ciao
