Chapter 54: The incoming storm.
In the home of Skyer back in the capital of Shilna, a naked girl giddily hummed a forgotten ancient tune as she stood under the warm shower, rinsing off the soap off her homunculus body's long, thick hair. Once finished, she leisurely walked out from the bathroom completely naked, letting residue water droplet to roll down her nape, along her perky breasts before falling down onto the wooden floor. It took her some time to wrap a towel slowly around her head to dry off her hair before she sat down comfortably on the large couch placed in the middle of the guestroom. Despite Skyer being the highest ranking Shilna official, second only to the ambitious prince, due to the frugal nature of the wood elf race, his house was rather tiny compared to her numerous previous residences. If she did not have to be in Vernys to deal with the hybrid, she could have never imagined a day in which she had to live in such a dump.
「Well, at least everything has been progressing nicely.」The former princess reassured herself.
Unlike the last time when she was personally toying with the Prime Minister out in the open, the Astral had decided to stay in the shadows this time to hide her presence from the cautious hybrid since if he ever learned that Adela was in Vernys, her entire plan to lure him into her trap might fall apart before it started. Right now, with him focusing on protecting the princess and observing her struggle in this conflict, Adela believed her prey was too distracted to detect her meddling and she intended to keep it that way. Needless to say, converting his trusted slave into her spy has paid its dividend, for she could get constant updates on his whereabouts for her to alter her plans accordingly. After the
...「Hahaha! You believe his lie that he's only a few years old in this incarnation of his? He's much older than he said, don't be gullible, my dear hero. He's been trying to destroy the peace us Astral trying to maintain for years now.」
「You know, I'm sure he was the one orchestrated the attack on the village of his other two slaves.」
「It was all Zaeryn's devious plans, acting behind the scene to manipulate the Prime Minister to unseal his dragonkin follower. I tried my best to stop it but since Astrals are not supposed to directly intervene with mortal affairs, even when I have infiltrated into the Prime Minister's inner circle, my hands were tied.」
「In the end, he even secretly infected the Prime Minister and destroyed Lorian. Despite the possible punishments awaiting me in Modun, I was going to break the Astrals' rules and directly assist the citizens of Maeg but "Ryuujin" confronted me. I'm sorry, Ryan kun. Had I been able to deal with Ryuujin sooner, I could have stopped the raging chaos-infected Prime Minister from injuring your brother.」
「Dont worry, my dear hero. With your help, I will make sure to stop the dreaded Zaeryn once and for all.」...
「Adela?」A voice called out to her from behind the couch, bringing her back from her reminiscence. 「How's it going?」
「Father, you know you don't have to check in on me this often, right?」answered Adela without turning back. The large mirror on the wall of Skyer's home had now transformed into a magical portal telepathically connected to the Modun Realm. 「Like I told you, I already have everything under control. Soon, I'll drag that loser's corpse back to the Ennead. You should just sit tight and enjoy.」
「... Remember, Adela, you're dealing with Zaeryn, not just some random Irregularity.」Adeus spoke disapprovingly at his daughter's dismissal of the danger that the hybrid posed. 「The plan that you devised to lure and seal away HaoS also carries some risks for you.」
「Don't you worry, Father. With my trump card, I can't lose. If such a risk is what it takes to destroy that man, I'll be glad to take it.」Adela grinned.「By the way, now that I have you here, have you prepared what I asked of you?」
「Yes… It's not easy to deploy that man, but I can send him to you for 10 minutes. Afterward, he'll be teleported back to the Modun Realm or else the Ennead would realize he's gone.」
「That's fine. If it's him we're talking about, 10 minutes are more than enough to neutralize that pathetic dragon. Besides, even if they realized he was transported outside of Modun, they'd understand why we need to use him when I bring back Zaeryn's corpse. 」
「Then… When will you proceed with your plan?」
「Within days.」
「I see… Again, be careful, Adela.」
「You sound just like a broken record, father.」The female Astral dismissed her father's concerns.
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The territory that Lord Uran governed located at the North East edge of the Vernys Forest, bordered with the Operon Sea on one side and the Kingdom of Maeg's mountain ranges on the other. Being flanked by both impassable terrains provided the territory with a desperately needed protection since it could only be invaded from the Western front. Though, since they were merely supposed to act as bait, neither Yllaner or Uran had planned to fight off against the expected invasion army using the forces that were currently gathering at their territory. That was the reason why instead of having soldiers stationed within the largest settlement in the territory to defend it, those who heeded the Princess' call of duty and travelled to Lord Uran's territory were directed to assemble at the large barrack encampment that was constructed 50 miles outside the "city." Observing the growing forces, Kibadios was impressed at the efficiency at which Yllaner was able to summon her loyalists using forest hawks as messengers and Lord Uran's ability to house and feed them without a hint of chaotic hustle that one would have expected. It was apparent that both of the leaders had already prepared for this eventuality long in advance. Just how many contingency plans did Yllaner prepare? Kibadios asked himself as he stood on one of the hanging wooden trails that overlooked the encampment below. Just in two days, she has already gathered more than 3000 troops. Looking at them carefully, they aren't just wood elf huh? There are also beastmen, dryads, treekins, and even some humans. Vernys sure is diverse.
「I'm actually impressed!」admitted Maia, who was standing next to the hybrid.「Just in two days, the Princess has already gathered this many people. They must have really loved her.」
「It's not really her that they love, it's the Vernys forest.」corrected Kibadios 「Though, I'm sure they do hold her with high regards. They must believe she's the only one who can save their unions.」
「... So this is "war"? Everyone I encountered all appeared restless.」Maia pointed it out
「...War? Not yet, this is merely the opening act.」Kibadios turned to his slave. 「I guess you have never witnessed war in person?」Maia simply shook her head. 「But Maeg did have civil war, right?」
「Yes, but Rowan and I have only been living within the boundary of our secluded village so we have never experienced the devastation of the civil war. If I recall correctly, we only were aware of it a few weeks before it ended. There was a big commotion at the time at the meeting hall since the adults were arguing what course of action they should have taken. But then, by the time we sent representatives to Syllia, the war was already over.」explained the girl. 「The closest we came to know about "war" was when our village was attacked.」
「In another word, your life has always been peaceful, right?」concluded Kibadios 「Be honest with me, Maia… Have you ever regretted leaving your village to come with me?」
「I'd be lying if I say I have never missed the life Rowan and I had back then.」Maia answered with all honesty. 「But I have never regretted the decision I made back then, Master. As long as I can be by your side, I'm already satisfied.」Maia leaned over and gave her master a tight hug, allowing her breasts to press against the hybrid's arm.
「Uhem!」Amber made her presence clear, then greeted the hybrid with a friendly smile. Ever since the Ryuujin incident, the female hero had already warmed up to the hybrid despite him being a demihuman.「I'm sorry, am I interrupting you two?」
「Of course not Amber dono!」Maia's face turned red while shaking her head.
「Please know that I'd never want to disrupt your intimate moments.」Amber winked before reminded the two「 I'm not sure if you're interested in coming but I just want to let you know the strategy meeting with the Princess is about to begin.」
「Right!」Nodded Kibadios 「Thanks for coming and getting me. Of course I'd like to attend and I wouldn't want to let the Princess wait for me, would I? Shall we go?」
「Sure.」
「Ehto… Where is Floria dono? Isnt she usually with you?」
「Oh… she's...」Amber seemed unusually flustered while scratching her head. 「She's not feeling well this morning so she's resting now, ha… haha...」
「Is that so? I hope she'll feel better soon.」Maia was oblivious to the hero's reaction but her master was much more observant since just like Yllaner, his "gaydar" was also fairly sharp. I'm pretty sure they fucked last night until Floria is exhausted so she's sleeping in right now… well, it's not like I can judge them since Rowan is also lying on the bed, exhausted right now. Kibadios thought to himself, though of course, he did not push the matter any further.
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The room was filled with an unusual silence once the messenger finished reporting the developments regarding the situation at the Fyeran Clan's territory to Yllaes since no one wanted to be the first to speak in front of the fuming usurper. Knowing Yllaner had escaped with her life had already upset him enough and now, the news that forces from across Vernys have begun to gather around her infuriated the prince even more. His eyes were lit up like raging fire under the fluorescence light from the firefly lamps while his hand gripped tightly onto his chair's armrest.
「... We need to act now.」declared Yllaes. 「Before my sister's forces have a chance to grow even further. How many troops has she got? 」
「There are 4000 troops provided by lord Uran and about 3000 have come to her aid so we're looking at approximately 7000.」
「...and counting.」added Skyer, who was sitting next to the Prince.「At this rate, her forces would exceed 10000 in no time.」
「10000 huh?」Yllaes lightly tapped his finger onto the table, deep in thought for a few minutes before he looked around the table, checking the expression of half a dozen elven lords. 「Everyone here, heed my order: get your troops ready. Within 4 days, we shall match our army into Uran's land and crush their forces.」Murmuring could be heard before one elven lord asked the obvious question.
「... Yllaes sama. Please reconsider. With the threat from the Yin empire, if we needlessly fight against one another, wasting our army strength, it will create an opportunity for them to attack us. Now that the Vernys Confederation is no more, we can't rely on other Clans to come to our aid and repel the empire. 」
「Aren't you a bit of a worrywart, Lord Iugo? Currently, the Yin empire is our ally right now.」
… It seems like the empire already bribed some of the council members. Damn you, Yin empire. You're acting much faster and decisive than I would have thought. Yllaes discreetly leered at the lord who just spoke, though he knew better not to voice his suspicion since he still needed their forces… at least for now.
「Ho? Do you really trust the Empire that much? If so, then you're either a simpleton or a double agent working for the Empire, Lord Yosun.」Laughed Iugo.
「How dare you!」the elven lord slammed his hand onto the table at the accusation.
「Stop bickering.」Commanded Yllaes, trying to diffuse the situation.「Now is not the time to argue among ourselves. Lord Iugo, what is your suggestion regarding my sister, then?」The prince turned to Iugo.
「Assassinate the Princess would certainly end this conflict without any further bloodshed.」he answered with the obvious option.
「That's correct, but have you not just heard that Erik of the Hyakki Yagyo had failed or that a dragonkin and heroes are now protecting her? The presence of that strange dragon had instilled hope among her followers too...」The prince was getting irritated, both at the realization that the Yin empire had already extended its hands to influence the council and at the rather implausible objective Iugo just suggested .「Of course, we can always ask the great demon lord Ashura himself to deal with the dragonkin and the heroes, but convincing him to take the job is no easy task. It'd take weeks before we can know whether he accepts the mission. What if he doesn't? You know how strong Yllaner's forces can grow in a few weeks? Sending out our armies and crush her right now, when her army is still small and unprepared, is the best course of action since it ensures the losses we suffer would be minimal due to the small scale of the conflict.」
「I see...」Again, the murmuring started to grow as the lords discussed among themselves.
「This is not up for debate. Just get your armies ready. In 3 days, we will set out with our troops to crush my little sister's rebellion forces.」reminded Yllaes. 「Skyer, send messengers to the other Clans, asking for their help.」
「Asking for their help?」surprised the elven advisor. 「But you have already granted them their independence and dismissed their vassal statuses, I don't think they would agree to our request...」
「Of course they do.」intercepted Yllaes. 「They're not our vassals anymore, but the existence of my sister and her forces, which aim to reestablish the Vernys Confederation, still pose a threat to their new found independence so of course, they would also want to crush her as much as we do.」
「I'll send out our messengers right away.」Skyer acknowledged.
「Good. We need to end this quickly.」