Amidst ice and blood, Cai’al and Chief Raeis blitz toward each other, their velocity creating a gust of wind nearly knocking me off balance. I need to use all of my strength to create such a force, and they do it just by moving?
Raeis thrusts his spear in a wide circular arc, as Cai’al swings his greatsword down onto the spear, pinning it down into the floor. Cai’al uses this moment to launch a brutal counter attack, kicking Raeis directly in his throat. Raeis backs off, retrieving his spear and recovering from the blow, as Cai’al presses forward forming a scythe of blood, dashing forward and sweeping upwards.
Raeis parries the attack, regaining his posture, using his offhand to throw daggers of ice at Cai’al knees, momentarily freezing his left leg in place. For the first time since he’s made his appearance, Cai’al shows a face of panic. As Raeis screams, he maneuvers his hips into a brutal jab of his spear at his frozen left leg.
The leg of Cai’al shatters into chunks of flesh and ice as he shrieks in anger. Taking advantage of the opening, Raeis holds his spear in both hands, pointing it towards the air, as a blizzard of frost begins surrounding them, and a heaping crystal begins forming in the air, pulsating.
“Ice fissure.”
Chief Raeis says calmly, as the crystal lets out a vicious explosion of frost, knocking Cai’al to the floor, as his expression goes blank. It’s not until now that I notice Raeis hadn’t uttered a Mantra yet. His mastery over the Song allows him to accomplish feats without even speaking. These aren’t people, these are machines of destruction.
“Ha ha ha. Not bad at all, Raeis.” Snickers Cai’al.
The blood pouring from his thigh turns white momentarily, as a new leg begins emerging from thin air. First bone, then tissue, then veins, blood, and skin. Cai’al begins laughing maniacally as he regains his footing, almost oblivious to the pulsating crystal of ice looming above them.
Beginning to levitate in the air, He points his fingertip directly at Raies.
“Scarlet Cannon.”
A piercing beam of blood emerges out of his fingertip, slashing Raeis’s pinky finger off as he narrowly avoids losing his arm. Maneuvering to the flank of Cai’al, Raeis flips behind him with stunning grace, and quickly sends two thrusts to the exposed back of Cai’al.
“AURGHH!”
Cai’al wails in pain, as he jolts backwards, now on the defense, as the blood from the holes in his chest turn white once more. This time though, the chief does not allow him that recovery. The chief blitzes forward, as Cai’al narrowly avoids being slashed into pieces, almost backed into a massive pipe in front of the tunnel wall.
The Chief continues his advance, landing the occasional shallow slash across Cai’als body. Raeis stops in his place, as his back directly touches the massive pipe.
“You die here, filth.” Raeis coldly declares.
“So much strength, so little intellect.”
Cai’al forms a dagger of blood in his right hand, stabbing it into the pipe, creating a gaping hole that emits a vicious burst of water that hits Raeis directly in his eyes. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Cai’al lunges forward, plunging his greatsword of blood into the stomach of Raeis, impaling him. Raeis drops his spear.
Clink.
I flinch as it hits the floor.
My guildmates and I all scream in panic, as the legion remains silent.
Cai’al and Raeis stand face to face, his greatsword lodged deep in his stomach.
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The Chief coughs out blood, looking down at the sword in his chest.
“Told you it’d end up like this. You’re weak, decrepit, and pitifully rusted. You’re no match against us. We will ensure the extinction of anyone who dares worship your false deity.”
He spits in the face of Raeis.
“Navae. A deity of story.”
As Cai’al monologues, I notice something that he doesn’t. Two swords of ice forming in each hand of the chief.
“I would tell you to return to the Song, but not even the Song would accept you in its wares.” Raeis says, a smile forming on his bloodstained teeth and stubble beard.
Cai’al laughs.
“That sword stuck in you- it’s my blood. The blood of the Ministry is currently flowing within you, and even now you remain confident. I admire it, Chi-”
Raeis swings his pair of swords in a fluid motion directly across the neck of Cai’al.
Plop.
His head slowly slides off his shoulders, hitting the floor, and rolls a few feet before stopping. His legion lets out a deafening scream of victory, as Raeis drops his swords, picking up his spear, impaling the head of Cai’al, lifting it into the sky. A divine machine of war, a blessing from above, the Chief’s legend does not do him justice. Forget seeing a dream, I was witnessing history.
“Let this be a lesson to the agents and false prophet of the Ministry. This fate awaits anybody who dare oppose us on our path to justice. The Ministry will face death across all ranks, from their lowest to their false prophet. Nothing but victory awaits us in the glory of Navae.”
“INVICTA NAVAE!”
He shouts, as I find myself screaming back.
“INVICTA NAVAE!”
We will retrieve Orbona, and I’ll make sure to right my wrongs.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a bat with black fur, and eight white eyes perched on a ledge of the tunnel. Just as I notice it, It flies off.
“RAEIS, LOOK!” I scream
Noticing it, he quickly launches his spear in its direction, just narrowly missing as it flies off into the sunset.
“NO!”
He screams.
“The ministry is now aware of us. The element of surprise is no longer on our side. We must travel immediately. A party of Etrean Elite Guards are also likely on their way. Follow behind me, NOW!”
As we reach the very end of the tunnel, we march into the Etrean docks. Its gates stand tall, the same shrine-centric craftsmanship still present. Two guards stand at each side of the gate, as they walk up to Raeis leading our party of almost five hundred. I’d be pretty confused too.
Charlie whispers in my ear.
“Wait, isn’t that the guard that we beat up?”
Alexandria overhears Charlie, and notices.
“Yeah, it is. We need to hide, immediately.”
“I’m sure it's fine.. Raeis’s presence should deter them from doing anything stupid.”
Sevilla says.
The guard speaks up.
“G-greetings, Chief Raeis! We’ve prepared your boats as you instructed. We wish you safe travels.”
“Thank you, Lance. You will be rewarded upon our return.”
He nods his head. We walk past, as I cover my face In hopes he doesn’t recognize me, as Charlie whistles looking to the side.
I have no time to admire the stunning architecture of the dockyard, as we quickly navigate through the vast array of ships to reach our fleet, which thankfully was already primed for our arrival.
“Come get Lumen’s freshest Scallops!” A man screams in my direction, his stand filled to the brim with customers.
“Best Mushroom Bisque in all the lands over here, lads!”
Another woman screams from the opposite direction.
Before we know it, we’re overwhelmed by the clamor of salesmanship.
Finally, his legions begin boarding their war-vessels, countless large boats of brown artisanal wood, lines with six cannons, three on each side. Raeis, my guild and I, and the elders walk further up the dock to the Chief’s Ironclad, a massive steam-powered boat. A true marvel of engineering. It is built with gray metal, and lined with a massive streak of red. It has two decks, With a large sleeping quarters as well as living quarters. There are cannons above and below deck, with a war room in the upper cabins. A steel bridge connects the boat to the docks, as we march across it followed by a group of selected elite Navaen warriors. We walk up to the captain’s wheel, as Raeis announces to everyone in the vicinity. The vastness of the sea lies in front of us, illuminated by the golden glow of sunset. The sprawling dockyards bustle with travelers, pathfinders, and Etrean guards. Before I can even begin to wonder how he came to acquire this, he speaks.
“We must treat our rations with care, everyone. This is a long journey. We will be at sea for nearly a week, so be cautious with indulgence. Train hard, and prepare for the upcoming battles. This war will not be easy, but we will win, and we will retrieve Orbona. We will return to our home with newfound prosperity.
INVICTA NAVAE!”
His army, now fully boarded on their boats, chants back.
“INVICTA NAVAE!”
Merchants, civilians, and guards, all watch, confused or maybe in awe at what they are witnessing.
“We depart now, my kin. We will take a pit-stop at the Four Kings Statue in the Etrean Sea, halfway through our journey. We carry the spirits of our fallen soldiers with us. I will see you soon.”
Raeis looks at me, and the elders.
I nod, and the Chief nods back, as he wraps his hands around the helm.
