High-Archon Vommik frowned.
“And what exactly do you mean by that, Kurzal?”
He sat on a golden throne adorned with jewels, set up in a former Imperial command post in one of the conquered defensive lines. Across from him sat two other High-Archons, a man and a woman, seated on similar thrones.
The man, High-Archon Kurzal, scoffed.
“You know exactly what I mean, Vommik. This ‘final assault’ of yours has been disastrous.”
Vommik narrowed his eyes.
“You call the most successful assault since the days of High-Archon Drycnid disastrous? We have those insolent humans on the verge of destruction, and now you are losing your nerve?”
Kurzal rolled his eyes.
“And just like Drycnid, we are taking unacceptable casualties. In the meantime, dungeons rampage unchecked across our lands, while the other High-Archons can defend their property with their full might. We are nearing the point where even if we win, we will be so weakened that the rest of the Council will swoop in and snatch away our prize. A Drycnic victory is no victory at all, Vommik.”
The woman, High-Archon Ilnune, joined in.
“What is worse is that the current counterattack was a complete surprise. All the Eastern Legions had been accounted for, the humans should have had no reserves remaining. The Northern Court has long weakened to the point of irrelevance, and you assured us the traitors of Mirima were occupied. And yet…now we are facing the most effective counterattack to date, one that can even threaten Archons. Which raises many questions. Where, exactly, did this new force come from? How are they ambushing Archons so successfully? And most importantly…why did we not hear of them before now, and why were they not accounted for in your proposals, Vommik?”
Vommik scowled.
“Come now, you both know that casualties and surprises are inevitable in war, and you are both being overly-dramatic. The majority of the casualties have been the monsters that I provided. Our true forces have taken the least casualties of any invasion in all of our history. Do not lose your nerve over this latest, desperate attempt. We will overcome it as we have all the others.”
The other two High-Archons glanced at one another. Ilnune then shook her head.
“Up until now, that has been true, and so we have continued to support you. But as of this latest attack, we have taken casualties among the Archons. The numbers may be few but we should not have to tell you that even a single Archon’s death is worse than losing entire armies of slaves and younglings.”
Kurzal crossed his arms.
“And it is not just the humans’ efforts we are concerned with, Vommik. Twice you have promised us a swift victory, twice you have delivered a breakthrough in the humans’ lines. And yet, twice now, you have failed to finish the job, and we have seen no benefit from your ‘success’ compared to any other invasion attempt past. And worse…I hear of dissent within your own ranks. One of your Archons has even defected to the humans, and the rest are whispering.”
Vommik narrowed his eyes.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Kurzal broke out laughing.
“You should take your own advice. You cannot afford to fight me now, can you, Vommik?”
Ilnune crossed her hands across her lap as Vommik glared.
“The point is we are decided, Vommik. We are fast approaching the point where none of us can afford this endeavor. You will handle this latest situation on your own. We will hold our forces in reserve while you do.”A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Vommik began to tremble slightly.
“You dare to give me an ultimatum?”
Kurzal nodded.
“We do. You have given us many promises and failed to deliver on them all. You have given us many assurances and yet we have been surprised at every turn. Prove to us now you have what it takes, and if you are worth any further investment.”
Ilnune nodded as well.
“If you cannot break this latest counterattack and resume the assault on your own, then we will have no choice but to return and defend our own lands, lest our positions in the Council weaken any further. We cannot risk any further Archons until we are certain the rewards will be worthwhile.”
Vommik gnashed his teeth.
“You will regret this when I stand alone upon the ashes of the so-called Empire, with all of the lesser races crushed under my heel.”
Kurzal and Ilnune simply motioned. Servants marched into the room and picked up their thrones, carrying them out of the room. Kurzal smirked as they left.
“At this point…do as you say and I shall bow at your feet. But until then, I shall treat you with the respect your deeds deserve.”
Once they had left, Vommik rose to his feet. He walked into his private chambers, and grabbed the communication device left to him by the Herald of the New Dawn.
And then he hurled it against the wall.
“So, the hero you were ‘handling’ shows up in the East, with some sort of invisible army, apparently, and you haven’t said as much as a word to me, huh? I see now. I was never a partner, was I? You meant for me to fail!”
“That’s wrong.”
Vommik spun as a woman walked into the room. The Herald of Rain walked into the room. Her previously brown hair was now dark blue, and waved about like a rough sea. Vommik narrowed his eyes at her and stirred up his mana. The very air distorted around him.
“Choose your next words carefully, human. It was only the respect I had for your master that I allowed you to walk about free, and unharmed. That respect is quickly dwindling, and with it your protection.”
She smirked at him. Her eyes began to glow, and her voice took on a watery echo.
“The Herald of the New Dawn has only provided me with teaching. My power, and my ‘master,’ as you put it, are both beyond your comprehension.”
Vommik scoffed.
“And yet, here you are, a wounded dog begging at my table for scraps. You are not the only one to borrow the power of the Realms, human, and judging by your failures, even that has not helped you.”
The Herald of Rain smiled sweetly at him.
“Failures you are about to surpass entirely while you berate those who could help you.”
Vommik and the Herald of Rain stared at each other. The walls near Vommik began to creak and groan, while the moisture in the air rose around the Herald of Rain.
“If you have something to say, then say it, human. If not, begone from my presence if you value your life.”
The Herald of Rain clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“You are short-sighted and foolish, Sun Elf. You fixate your sight upon one single nation, while the Herald of the New Dawn looks to the entire world, and beyond. While you struggle against humans and walls, he has struck against the very Aesdes themselves, and continues to hold them at bay. Do you believe the Aesdes would have permitted your little monster horde from the corrupted dungeons we made for you if it were not for the Herald? Do you believe yourself an equal to the Blessed Land? If so, I’m sure he would be more than happy to trade roles with you. So do not take his silence for apathy, unless you are ready to take his place. But in any case, we did consider this situation, though it went against our hopes.”
The moisture in the air began to condense into a floating pool of water. The water formed into a human shape, and then the image of a certain armored girl shimmered into view.
“This is your opponent, NSLICE-00P. Hero, dungeon master, and Amicitia Populi Elteni.”
Vommik scoffed.
“Hero and dungeon master? That’s impossible.”
The Herald of Rain shrugged.
“So we thought. But so is creating corrupted dungeons on command. So is striking at the Aesdes themselves. Underestimate her at your own peril.”
Vommik’s eyes narrowed.
“I am not the one who underestimated her, given that it was your master’s role to handle her.”
The Herald of Rain shook her head.
“We set High-King Xavlaeron and all the might of the Southern Empire against her. We put countless dungeons in between her and you. You had all the time in the world to finish the job before she arrived. But the fact is, regardless of what either of us intended, she is here now. Do you wish to hear of her capabilities or do you wish to argue about the past?”
Vommik scoffed again.
“It should hardly be necessary. She may be impressive to her own kind, but one human girl cannot stand before my might.”
The Herald of Rain tilted her head.
“The same human girl who just killed several Archons and stopped your attack dead in its tracks?”
Vommik froze, and then scowled.
“Fine. Say your piece. I assume you have some sort of plan that justifies your insolence?”
The Herald of Rain smiled, and nodded. Several more water figures appeared.
“Her might is considerable, and I believe even you will be surprised when you meet her. But if you know your enemy, then even the greatest foe can be brought low. And I have been watching her for a long time now. Here is how we will beat her…”