Chương 96: Chapter 95- Of Steel and Certainty

"... and then he proceeded to spend the next five minutes or so chasing me around the fire pit with the branding iron. At least until he lost one of his flip flops and chucked it into the bushes." Elias laughed out loud as Astra groaned for about the twentieth time during his retelling of his evolution and the second meeting with Vael. His cheeks hurt slightly from the grin plastered on his face at her reaction, maybe it was more that I stopped counting after the first literal face palm.

The trio had stopped by the mess hall with their guards in tow, mostly to show their faces and rub elbows with the enlisted for a short while, but after a quick round of small talk they had collected their food and retired to Astra's room so Eli could relay the story he had promised to tell. Astra had been surprised already by the depth of the interactions from the system, and excited to hear more details of his home world, especially of his sister Vivian.

After a small tangent in the conversation to relay a little of their shared history, Elias had begged off on explaining more with the time constraints. When his tale arrived at the yard of statues for his selection Astra seemed to perk up as she commented, " Oh, that does make far more sense! I did have an avatar in the form of my grandfather for my first class selection, since it is uncommon for a young child to be able to read and comprehend detailed System messages, but I hardly had any choices.""

Even my first tier evolution did not have an avatar, but it was simply a collection of different swords displayed in my family's Armory, and the plaques describing the choices were sufficiently thorough. Granted, the chance of my selecting any class other than a mage knight was fairly slim though." Astra grimaced in distaste at Eli's description of the first statue, although a smug grin spread across her face at his similar revulsion at the conclusion of the vision.

She was interested in his initial impressions of the [Veilcutter Adept] class, but they had covered it thoroughly in the practice yard. The real joy was a series of stunned and incredulous reactions as he relayed his meeting with Vael. He had already known from prior experience that both her and Tia made for excellent audience members, and Eli was really enjoying himself as he drip fed an escalating series of absurdities to his enthralled listeners.

The mood turned somber and pensive as he relayed Vael's final warnings, and Tia crawled into Elias's lap for comfort, an undercurrent of worry running through her bond with Eli as they sat around the small table containing the remains of their dinner.

While the trickle of emotions from Tia was concerned due to the greater warning for the future, Elias's heart swelled with pride and affection at the contrast between the two bonds, as the dominant emotion emanating down the tether from Astra was only a faint but unmistakable sense of determination and a steely resolve to see her duty completed.

Astra sat back in her chair crossing her legs as she tapped one knee in an unconscious reflection of her tutor's mannerisms, before nodding once, " A problem for the future, but not one we can concern ourselves with now. I will report this warning to Mira when she rejoins us and to my Father when we return to Emberholdt." She arched a brow at Eli, " You already stated you were willing to share your origin with him, will you share your connection to Vaelion as well?" Eli shrugged, " In for a penny, in for a pound."

Astra gave him a confused expression, " Sorry, that one did not translate well, is that a yes?" Elias laughed, " Yes, if your father is half the person his daughter is, I imagine I could easily trust him with my life, much less my secrets." Astra rolled her eyes at him, scoffing while mumbling something unintelligible about flattery, but the lingering smile and the flood of warmth through their tether told Eli she still appreciated the sentiment more than she let on.

She was lost in thought for a moment before looking back at Eli, " When you next speak, could you reassure Vaelion that we will take his warning seriously?" She continued a moment after Eli nodded in agreement, " Still I am surprised that such a being could be, for lack of a better word, so unserious? For all his power, one would think he would have more gravitas and bearing, his behavior is so different from what few writings we have left."

Eli tilted his head as he pondered, " I guess, but ultimately isn't that the privilege of power? At a certain point you can be as silly as you want to be and everyone has to take you seriously anyways." He leaned forwards as he lowered his voice, " I also had the sneaking suspicion that a lot of his mannerisms were an affectation. For example, Mira can already move faster than I can see if she wants to, and the power differential between Vael and I is much greater.

He seemed almost apologetic after his warning, as if worried that I would be too terrified to speak with him again." Elias sat back glancing out the window as he continued, " To hear him tell it, he has been alone or nearly alone for a very long time, that many of the other gods were also affected by whatever happened to them. Could you imagine that? Untold millenia without a single friend to share the time with?"

A warm hand enveloped his as Eli glanced back and returned Astra's smile at the unspoken question before he spoke, " But not us though right?" She smiled, " Aye. Together, always."

Astra's POV Elias's words had lingered in her mind long after he had left her room and retired for the evening. Vaelion's actions may have seemed a little daft, but Astra considered if she would have held up half as well with the weight of eternity bearing down on her. Given the nature of the Bloodsong and the unique pressure it places on relationships, she had spent more time considering such a thing than most.

Sleep eluded her for the early part of the night, as the questions around Vaelion's warnings and the nature of whatever catastrophe could have possibly befallen the old gods. A disaster so monstrous that the gods themselves would fall from power, and also one terrible enough that the System itself would restrict knowledge of even just the name of it.

These thoughts combined with the normal pre deployment anxiety of their upcoming combat actions conspired to keep her awake but, as her frustration grew, Astra could feel a gentle ripple of resolve and affection travel down the tether in her chest. The soothing waves of emotion had eventually calmed her thoughts enough to lull her to sleep.

The following morning, as she walked down the hallway away from stairs descending from the officer's quarters to the foyer that led to the main courtyard exit, Astra steeled her nerves. The forces deploying with her patrol to assault the alleged cultist base had been gathered by Mr. Mason and, as she halted just inside the doorway, the words of Captain Winterbrook could be heard echoing in the yard beyond.

As the Captain gave the final briefing to the men and women of her impromptu battalion, Astra paused to reflect on the events that had brought her here. The urgency of the initial reports had seemed a concerning but minor thing; it was, in her Father's words, the perfect flame to temper her steel and give her the first taste of command.

Clear orders and a detached unit, filled with solid prospects for future service at her side, forces leavened with experienced hands such as Mira and Mr Cooper to provide advice and a measure of safety. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. She took a deep breath as her thoughts lingered on the prior events spiraling into an increasing hair-raising situation.

Finding that the reports of missing persons were if anything, highly understated, the lack of clear suspects, at least until the suspiciously successful ambush and her near capture, the trail of minute and tangential evidence pointing to wealthy and well connected backers, the startling discovery of the source of their symbol, and the desperate and fraught ambush that revelation had triggered.

Astra had grown quickly in the last few weeks, not quite as quickly as a certain outlander, but rapid even for one as young as she was. She flicked open her status pane for one last check, before the whirlwind of command took the chance from her.

Name: Astra Emberholdt Age: 21 Class: Crimson Flame Mageknight- Lv 19 =========== Health: 450/450 Stamina: 660/660 Mana: 1400/1400 =========== Strength: 152 Dexterity: 63 Vitality: 45 Endurance: 66 Intelligence: 140 Wisdom: 76 Willpower: 32 Charisma: 22 Free points: 0 ============ Class 1: [Crimson Flame Mageknight] Class 2: Locked Class 3: Locked ============ Class Skills: [Crimson Flame Mageknight] Arcane Armament: Lv 16 Crimson Aspect: Lv 16 Spellblade Synchronization: Lv 14 Mana Reinforcement: Lv 15 Knight's Physique: Lv 15 Keen Strike: Lv 13 Battle Acceleration: Lv 7 Crimson Lance: Lv 1 ============ General Skills Studious Pupil: Lv 17 Stalwart: Lv 18 Knight's Foundation: Lv 19 Combat Trance: Lv 19 Arcane Perception: Lv 17 Mana Shaping: Lv 19 Tempered Body: Lv 18 Flame Channeling: Lv 19 Cinder Constructs: Lv 18 Appraisal: Lv 15 Free Skill Slots: 0 / 10 Astra grinned as she ran her eyes over the numbers, Level 19 in an Epic class before I even hit the Academy, Darian will be green with envy.

I wager even if he has reached 50 by now, I could still fight him to a draw, we shall see if he dares to call me the little sister now. Astra had been worried about assaulting a fortified position without Mira's help. There were a few artillery mages amongst the garrison, but none were true specialists as they focused on area denial in the case of a monster tide, they had few true siege breakers in their ranks.

The new Skill she had acquired after battle at the inn had put her worries at least partly to rest, and her eyes flicked to the scaled form of Tiamat as Astra anticipated the wyvern's reaction to the first cast with a wry grin. [Crimson Lance: Lv 1 - Where lesser flames spread and consume, the Crimson Flame Mageknight refines their power into a single, decisive point. Through the compression of fire-aspected mana under the influence of the Crimson Aspect, you forge a lance of searing plasma capable of piercing even heavily reinforced defenses. When activated, this skill gathers and condenses mana into a focused construct before releasing it in a directed beam or projectile. The longer the charge, the greater the density, range, and penetrative force of the attack, at the cost of significantly increased mana expenditure and reduced mobility during formation. This skill excels at striking hardened targets, converting raw output into concentrated destructive force rather than widespread devastation. Moderate reduction in mana cost and minor reduction in charge time per level.] She will definitely love it, the little pyromaniac. If I did not know better I would swear she was an Ember Drake in disguise.

Turning to stand with her back to the door Astra, turned her gaze to her current companions, a personal guard that it had taken far too long for her to see the necessity of. The steady and reliable Mr Cooper gave her a nod as he cocked his ear as he waited for their cue to exit.

The ever watchful Mr Taylor diligently scanned the hallway, flipping an eye in her direction at the movement, the easy smile on the face of one of her longest serving guards helped to reinforce that this place was about as safe as one can be in this town. Of course with my newest companions it hardly feels like that matters. Astra smiled at the final pair, Tia chittering away, probably something about breakfast at a guess, Elias nodding along attentively.

Feeling her gaze upon him, Eli looked up to give her a confident smile and a wink before turning back to Tia, but the slight shift in his stance told Astra that despite his gaze facing downwards his focus was still in her direction. Ever the perceptive one. The threat of a major breach was enough to bank the flames of courage in even the most valiant of Knights, but as she stroked the tether in her chest, the faith and confidence her counterpoint held in her was steadfast and unwavering.

Astra knew she was capable, Elias spoke true in that a damsel's modesty was not in her nature, but she was still reasonable, and no matter her station this kind of threat was clearly beyond what could be expected of her. Her grandfather's voice found her, the way it often did in such moments. True peril finds us whether we wish it or not, little one, but a Lion stands tall even if he stands alone.

A chill ran down her spine as a breeze whispered through the open door in time with the words in her heart, finding her resolve in those simple words as a heart of steel stiffened her spine. After all, I am hardly alone, how could I not stand tall with such companions at my side? As she considered his part in the events leading up to this point, Astra considered Elias's confidence in a different light.

Even as a stranger to her, under leveled and inexperienced, he had fought like a demon from the depths of the Abyss, and saved her life twice over. After the ignition of their bond and their exchange of memories the other night, she took a moment and reflected on his choices. The emotions had been strong in the moment, and yes there were a few that lingered on quieter moments, but what he chose to show her spoke almost as much as what he did not.

Desire and affection, but also pride in her strength, awe in her talent, and admiration in her skills. Not in the System granted Skills, but the skills she had honed through long years of blood, sweat, and tears. From this lens the actions of the past few weeks looked different, the way he had spent his heart's blood freely in her defense, she could see where he counted on her strength as much as his own to see them through.

Astra knew that even without the song he would likely have found his way into her heart, but what was the difference? It was beyond refreshing to be seen for her hard work and personal achievements, and not just her name, and already their battles spawned rumors among the men and women of the troop. They may not speak directly to her, but she had ears to hear and eyes to see, and the whispers could be heard by any who wished.

Whispers of the birth of a new legend of battleborn, a pair of twinborn united by fate and chance, leaving a river of blood in their wake even before their strength grew to shake the earth like the titans of old. Could she really blame them? From the inside it was a wildfire of blood and fury, a chaotic storm that they survived through a ferocious amount of determination, skill, and no small amount of luck. From the outside we probably look like a pair of invincible berserkers crushing all who stand in our way.

As far as the men were concerned, if they could fight off a whole band of assassins with naught but shirt sleeves and steak knives, what could they achieve armed, armored, and prepared? Astra smirked, It is only fitting that my counterpoint would have fangs as sharp as my own.

The crash of steel on steel echoed across the courtyard as the assemblage came to attention, the sounds causing a ripple of gooseflesh across her skin as the hymns in her chest uncoiled in anticipation, the softest whisper slipping through her heart. Eli's eyes snapped over to meet hers with a smile as a flutter of excitement thrummed along their bond with a single beat of a distant drum.

Astra stood and turned as Mr Cooper opened the gate into the courtyard, nerves steeled as the undercurrent of confidence from the tether filled her heart. She squared her shoulders as the doubts drifted away and she could almost feel the heavy mantle of duty settle upon her. A breeze swirled around her, lightly stirring her hair as it brought the murmurs of the arrayed men outside to her ears, whispering of twinborn, as she strode forth into the sun under the clear blue sky.