Chapter 32: A God's Favor
At the Browntail residence, Ratatos has informed her sister Sciurus about it. "Enciades is too difficult of an opponent to keep here in Kjerag, sister."
Ratatos sighed and stood up, looking over the window. Even Ratatos' domain is being influenced by the Karlan trade.
Especially because of Asmodeus enterprise being able to haul large quantities of products throughout Terra.
"She is a warlord of Kjerag Ratatos. And even the Paleroche patriarch cannot claim to be as great as her in the battlefield." Sciurus massaged her temples.
"She won't accept this quietly. What do you think will happen if Asmodeus, his majesty the emperor arrives?" Ratatos uttered with a grave expression.
"Her fiance!? What!? But, that is impossible! They were only engaged for a year at most! How could he arise to that position of power!?" Scirius lost power in her legs.
"Indeed, you know what that means right? Enciades is connected to the empire of Leithanien. If the twin empresses that deposed the witch king approves. He will act and Kjerag will be swarmed with the best casters in the world bar the Sarkaz."
Ratatos can't imagine what would happen to Kjerag if she wins over the favor of the empresses and their husband.
"Then we must act... Monch!" Sciurus called for her servant and a woman arrived. "Yes, my lady?" A gloomy looking Itra arrived.
She was a musk deer like Weiss and has a crossbow with her.
"At the hunt, before the coronation... You must get rid of Enciades Silverash... It is imperative you do so for Kjerag." Sciurus ordered and Monch nodded.
"Yes madame, by your will." She stood up and left to prepare for her mission.
"Are you sure that Monch will succeed? Enciades seems... Suspicious nowadays, based on our reports. She has gained the strength of a beast." Ratatos rubbed her chin.
As a part of Ash's circle, Enciades was of course given a serum to enhance her body to the limits. And it was only a matter of time before somebody noticed.
Especially because it would turn a person's body into a machine. Their blood sugar is always regulated. With an enhanced brain, half can carry the work and the other lobe sleeps like a dolphin.
And Enciades has never been seen sleeping for months. Making the Karlan trade ever more powerful.
"Monch is the best at her trade here in Kjerag. Even if It's only a graze, Enciades would be no more. We should get Karlan trade under our control this instant. We have no time." Sciurus bit her nails anxiously.
"It is as you say, we can only wait." Ratatos sighed again and prayed to the goddess that it would be successful. Except she does not hear prayers directly.
In a simple room, there was a large man drinking some wine. Swirling it around while waiting, his fist on his chin.
"My lord, it is as you say. Ratatos and Sciurus Browntail have ordered for SilverAsh's assassination." Monch kneeled to him.
"Is that so? It was so obvious really. You can see it from a mile away. Here, study up on these. You already know that I can only give you a chance right?" Ash smiled at her.
"Yes my lord... This is only an opportunity, I have to win Gnosis over with my own efforts." Monch received the papers and books he gave her.
"Good girl, Gnosis dislikes clingy women... Let me rephrase that, anyone really. So be moderate and show interest in what he likes. That is, research." Ash sighed.
"I understand my lord, thank you very much for this opportunity." Monch bowed deeply, hugging the items she received like it was a treasure.
"Hmm, Gnosis that bastard is quite lucky eh? Just don't try to poison him if he ignores you from time to time. The guy's as frigid as his arts. You will leave with us when our little game here ends." Ash nodded at her and she left.
"Hah, so predictable. Ratatos Browntail, it's not even funny. Why not do this in a much more delicate manner?" He chuckled and took a sip of his drink.
It was the same as the Paleroches' wine that is to be paid as tribute. Laced with such an evil compound that it would kill people in a matter of minutes.
"I hope the grand elder likes nerve agents in his drinks. Old coots should just go to retirement homes and drink some tea." He smirked and his eyes glowed in the darkness.
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On the day of the coronation, it was deemed to be a unique one. At the same time, a royal hunt for the fabled Tschäggättäs will commence.
Monsters that have been legends in Kjerag, stories read to children in order for them to sleep or eat their vegetables.
"This is silly, the royal hunt is just a tradition. Why do we have to do this alongside the priestess' coronation?" The Paleroche patriarch stood with his huntsmen and sighed.
"Are you being like Enciades now?" Ratatos raised a brow at him.
"Let's get it over with then." He huffed and they started the hunt with a blow of the horns.
The tri-clan council hiked through the mountainous regions of Kjerag. Hunting animals on the way for a festival.
"Enciades, can I ask you a question?" Ratatos looked at her and she nodded.
"Why do you want progression so much? Does our traditions matter to you not?" Ratatos squinted her eyes.
"Hah, as a conservative. You wouldn't understand Ratatos. You helped me establish the Karlan trade years ago. I've been in Victoria to study, and roamed around some places." Enciades sighed.
"What do you mean?" Ratatos raised a brow. "It means, that you and the Paleroche head do not know a thing about the outside world." Enciades left.
Ratatos furrowed her brows and squinted her eyes. "A shame then, Kjerag would have been prosperous with your wholehearted support." She whispered.
"Enciades nee-chan, do you have some treats? It's boring here." Kay skipped around while looking around for something to do.
"Umu, Ash let us go with you. But it's quite boring here, can't you just use arts to hunt?" Narcissa blew warm air onto her hands and was carrying a container of hot chocolate.
"Should I make things burn?" Alastor was getting annoyed by the snow and her impulse was to burn everything down to the ground.
"Sister, Ash won't give you headpats if you do so. Good thing he told me you'd be bored." Astaroth gave her some emergency candy.
They were quickly growing their mental faculties. And being blessed with arts, wielding a hammer that is always on you. Everything they see would start to turn into nails.
"Yeah, calm down Alastor. Here, drink some of this for now." Narcissa gave her a cup of her hot chocolate and they followed the group.
Degenbrecher who was wearing a cloak besides them broke into a cold sweat. "These kids will be the death of me..."
Enciades' ears twitched and she was also getting nervous. "Hah, those kids have too much power in their hands. Ash is the only one who can control them."
She imagined Alastor unleashing her deep red flames everywhere like her moniker in Paradiso, the crimson lord.
Enciades was thankful that her sister, the great archduke of hell is calm and collected. Narcissa is also calmer nowadays too. Especially with Ash's continuous therapy.
"That man is serious with world dominance." SilverAsh remembered the empresses and him talking about disposing of the grand elder like trash.
"Which is perfect." She smirked. Someone then suddenly lunged in front of her and she felt something graze her.
"Enemy attack! Look for suspicious individuals above!" Degenbrecher shouted and everyone was on high alert.
'A graze was enough Sciurus said... Then that is fine, forgive me Enciades. It is simply of your own choice to be like that.' Ratatos looked at her condition.
"Tch, Degenbrecher is here..." Monch started to run from her vantage point and abandoned her crossbow.
"Hmmm? There's a rat running away in that direction." Narcissa could feel anyone's position in her range.
With a raise of her hand, she grasped in a direction somewhere and something quickly arrived towards them, or someone.
"An assassin!? Right at the coronation and the royal hunt! Who are you!?" The Paleroche took off Monch's hood and he hardened his eyes.
"A servant of the Browntails... What is the meaning of this Ratatos!?" He looked towards Ratatos.
"I do not know anything about this! Monch, you are Sciurus' servant, what is happening?" Ratatos clicked her tongue inside of her mind.
Monch does not speak and the royal hunt was cancelled. And as the news arrived, the citizens of Kjerag saw it as a bad omen.
"How was Monch caught Ratatos!?" Sciurus was being eaten by paranoia. Biting her nails anxiously.
"Tch, it was that feline girl with Enciades... They are from Paradiso... That girl caught Monch with just a raise of her hand." Ratatos massaged her temples and did not expect that one bit.
"What will happen Ratatos!? The Browntail house will be implicated by this!" Sciurus frowned.
"Stay in our estate for now Sciurus! Be calm and collected! Enciades has been hit grazed by her arrow. It is already pretty much complete, we just have to wait." Ratatos bit her lip.
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After a few hours, the coronation must continue and the grand elder decided to pass judgement to Monch at the Karlan temple.
"How do you plead? Who ordered you to do this?" The grand elder looked towards Monch.
"If I may, grand elder?" Enciades appeared and it shocked the Browntail sisters greatly.
"May I receive Monch and interrogate her directly at the Silverash territory?" Enciades requested and the grand elder nodded.
"Indeed, as the victim of this farce. You can do so, the Paleroches must accompany you with his endeavor however. They are a neutral party that will not be biased." The grand elder ordered.
"Then let us continue with the coronation. While we await the priestess, please proceed with your tributes to our goddess." The grand elder looked at the tri-clan council.
The gifts were given and it was customary for the grand elder to consume the beverage a bit immediately.
'Ratatos will come under fire if I do not do anything...' Sciurus was trembling in fear.
"I!" She was held down by her husband. But the grand elder noticed. Her husband had to unhand her and Sciurus raised her hand slowly.
"I ordered the assassination attempt on Enciades!" Sciurus admitted to her crimes and everybody gasped.
"Sciurus... You should've just stayed quiet!" Ratatos grumbled. "Grand elder! Please show mercy to my wife!"
The Paleroches detained them, but before they could be sent to the gallows. Gnosis appeared and he was of course unwelcome.
"Enciades! It is time for you to be stopped! The Browntails are right, we have evidence of your misdeeds. In their name, I present them to the grand elder!" Gnosis took out some papers.
Ratatos furrowed her brows and felt that something was wrong.
"Bring... It..." The grand elder suddenly started to twitch and he collapsed on the ground.
"What is the meaning of this Paleroche!? You dare poison the grand elder?" Enciades looked towards them and it was chaos.
"What!? This is a setup!" The patriarch cried out and the tension was sky high.
Everybody slowly backed off and Gnosis smirked.
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"People of Kjerag! Hear me, the Browntails and Paleroches are conspiring against the faith! The Paleroches poisoned the grand elder. And the Browntails dared to assassinate me in the royal hunt!" Enciades gathered the people.
Weiss was tasked with doing so beforehand and he has been given a mission to disseminate the news all over Kjerag.
"Can't you see the displeasure of our goddess! Dark clouds and blizzards rage because of her anger! We must do something before they take over the country!" Enciades used her charisma and the people started to whisper.
"Join me, they might put their hands on my sister next! Enya Silverash, the next saintess! They dare to poison the grand elder, then the saintess is next!" She smirked under her cloak.
The people of course are easily swayed. And with their quick work, everyone believed it. Especially with the royal hunt being cancelled due to an assassination attempt.
The rumors started to spread and a single snowflake became an avalanche.
Slamming the table, the patriarch of the Paleroche was of course angry. "How dare they!? When we are victims of a conspiracy!"
"Gather our troops! We march against Enciades! Or she will embroil Kjerag into chaos! Send a message to Ratatos!" He shouted at his servant and they rallied their troops.
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Nearby the Karlan mountain, choppers were dropping down masked soldiers. "The Tschäggättäs have arrived my lady." Their leader bowed to Enciades.
"Good, they will be rallying their troops now. We retaliate of course." She grinned and was pleased by their arrival.
"Ohh? Are they your little group Enciades? They look quite fierce." Soleil observed the troops and Luna nodded at them.
"Hah, are you complimenting me your majesties? You and I both know that you would annihilate them in seconds." She sighed at their teasing.
"Oh no, that's rude of you Enciades. You're to be our sister you know? Why would we do that?" Luna chuckled.
'So they're not denying it... Meaning I should be satisfied with Kjerag. Not that I can do anything to Ash...'
"Yes, you are... My sisters to be." She blushed a bit and her eyes twitched.
"Hmm, that's right. Now march on and end this little game. We are running out of time now, poor Gertrude is holding the throne for far too long." Soleil gestured for them to go.
The sounds of soldiers sounding horns were heard as well. The Paleroches and Browntails are near the territory of the Silverash.
"Let's go, my Tschäggättäs. It must have been boring in Victoria? I require your presence here." They bowed and SilverAsh marched with her elite forces that she cultivated in Victoria.
"Should we do something?" Narcissa snacked on a bag of chips and was watching the three groups march on.
"Are there bad guys there? I want to test my new weapons." Ceobe was armed to the teeth and her axe was starting to form frost on them.
"My lord has already told us to be still. We do not make a move." Specter was calm, but she wanted to shed blood. Her eyes were trembling with delight at the thought of being useful.
"Ehhh~ Then we wait." Ceobe whined, but they were given their orders.
"Kay, here." Alastor passed her some hot chocolate and some muffins. They then watched with interest.
"Enciades! Your scheme ends now! How dare you implicate us with your dastardly plans!?" The Paleroches roared and were ready to fight.
The winds were harsh and a blizzard was blocking the view. And slowly, they heard footsteps marching. Enciades' special forces appeared.
Vantage points were filled with men armed with crossbows. Enciades stood in front of her troops and took out her sword.
"Is that so? But who is it that tried to assassinate me?" She snorted.
They were surrounded and the coalition forces gulped. If they fight, they would be annihilated by the snipers up above.
Warning shots were fired down at them and they understood that they were outmatched. "R-retreat! Silverash... This is not over yet!"
The Paleroches retreated, but Ratatos remained. "Enciades, we need to talk." She squinted her eyes and SilverAsh raised a brow.
"Leave us in private, do not worry. I can protect myself." They went to a lodge nearby and they sat in front of each other.
They stared at each other for a moment and Ratatos sighed.
"Enciades, you will win with your schemes. But how can you do this old friend?" Ratatos frowned.
"You already know it Ratatos, it is to prevent Kjerag from falling like the Gallic empire. Isolation is not the answer." Enciades answered with a straight face.
"Then why? The Karlan trade monopolized the profits of the Karlan trade for years." Ratatos took something out of her coat and tossed it aside.
A fire started to burn and it quickly spread because of the fuel.
"It was necessary, that's all." Enciades shrugged and was not disturbed.
"The Karlan trade is supposed to improve the country's economy. Yet you disgustingly monopolize it for your own gains. This isn't the teachings of Kjeragandr Enciades." Ratatos stared at her with determination.
"Are you fine with this?" Enciades looked around and understood that she wanted them to die mutually.
"The goddess will not abandon her people. I have made my choice, her teachings... Does it mean nothing to you? Kjerag is supposed to prosper together. Like a family, it is her desire for Kjerag." Ratatos sighed and thought of where her friend had gone astray.
"Hmmm, but it will. You just do not see it Ratatos. Join me, Ash will bring greatness to Kjerag. The goddess also didn't order us to isolate ourselves like rats here in Kjerag." Enciades knew that Ratatos wants the best for the country.
"What do you mean?" She furrowed her brows. "Ash, my fiance. Has already taken control of Leithanien and Kazimierz. You must have noticed already right?"
"Leithanien... Has been slowly turning into a superpower like it once was. Their economy is booming. And the quality of life there is top notch..." Ratatos furrowed her brows and pieced the puzzle.
"Asmodeus, my husband to be is the cause of it all. He wields great political power and military might. Kazimierz fell in a few days." Enciades shrugged and was proud.
"Kazimierz has held the line against Ursus. Yet he made it his in such a short time?" Ratatos felt her legs weaken and could only imagine his terrifying influence.
"Kjerag will not survive if we do not follow the trends. He will conquer the world." Enciades stood up.
"I see, then I will wait for the results myself then?" Ratatos shook hands with her.
The top half of the lodge then suddenly opened and Narcissa was in front of the house with the others.
"You done? I want to play with Ash." Narcissa looked at them with bored eyes.
"Thanks Narcissa, let's go." Enciades held Ratatos' hand and they left the place.
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At the Karlan temple, Enya was awaiting the signal for the coronation patiently. "Hah, I'll have to be stuck here and I can't spend time leisurely with Ensia anymore."
Enya looked at the scenery at the peak of the Karlan mountain and she knew that she will spend a lot of time intimately looking at it.
She was in a bad mood, but she suddenly saw a hand appear at a ledge. "Phew, that was a rough climb."
"Ensia!? What are you doing here?" Enya helped her up and she looked at her with worry.
"Ahh, don't worry. Big bro Ash gave me some good climbing gear. It's awesome, it can stick to rocks and I didn't even need a harness." Ensia looked at her gear with a blush and was delighted with it.
"I see... But you didn't answer my question?" She raised a brow at her and Ensia remembered her purpose.
"Ahhh, there's going to be a civil war Enya. The Paleroches are rallying all of their troops against big sister." She sighed.
"What! A civil war? What happened?" Enya shook her sister and Ensia pried off her hands.
"Geez give me a break Enya... I'm tired from climbing you know?" They sat down and she started explaining everything that transpired.
"That sister of mine..." Enya furrowed her brows and thought that she has to stop the civil war and Enciades' ambitions.
"Miss, you didn't say that you'll be having a visitor." Kjera arrived and she prepared some tea for Ensia and Enya.
"Ahhh, Kjera... Sorry, it was an unexpected visit by my sister..." Enya avoided her eyes.
"Is there something troubling you?" Kjera smiled at her and thought that her new saintess is quite cute.
"Yeah! Miss, Kjerag is in trouble you know? A civil war is just around the corner." Ensia shouted energetically.
Kjera's eyes twitched a bit and she was going to have a talk about that with Ash.
They went quiet for a moment and Kjera held Enya's hand. "How about you ask the goddess herself for help? You have the bell of Kjeragandr. Shouldn't you ask for intervention?"
Enya looked towards the bell and she nodded. Ringing it, she asked what to do and confided with the goddess.
"Goddess, the country will be embroiled in war... What should I do? Needless fighting should be prevented." Enya pleaded.
Kjera chuckled a bit and sent a message directly to her head.
Enya went wide eyed because she has never intervened before. "Thank you goddess, I will protect this realm. Ensia, let's go." Enya looked at her with determined eyes.
"Wait! Where are we going!" Ensia was pulled by her and Enya was a girl on a mission.
"God speed Enya Silverash. Now, that Ash and I will have a talk about this." She huffed.
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The Paleroches and Browntails teamed up even without Ratatos. Returning to the Silverash domain to free the country from her grubby hands.
"Enciades! You even roped Ratatos to your side as a hostage!" Paleroche saw the brunette.
"That's right, it's the only way. Kjerag will rot otherwise, are you prepared?" Enciades smiled at him and drew her sword once again.
"You... In the name of Kjeragandr, your acts will not go unpunished! Attack!" Paleroche ordered and they began to charge.
"Hmph, foolishness." Enciades pointed her sword in front and the silent special forces prepared to clash with them.
Before they could do so however, a wall of ice appeared in front of them. They then heard a bell and Enciades frowned.
"Enya... What in the world are you doing here?" She didn't expect it and Enya slowly walked towards the middle of the battlefield. The ice disappearing as Ensia escorted her.
"Is this what the goddess Kjeragandr would have wanted? Her teachings are to take care of each other like family. This is blasphemy against her." Enya looked at the family heads.
"Enya..." Enciades sighed and thought that this was going to complicate matters.
"The goddess chose me as the priestess. We both agree that this is needless! Repent from your sins!" She rung her bell and the blizzards and dark clouds from the skies disappeared.
The warm sun was seen and the soldiers kneeled at the miracle of their goddess.
"There is no second time..." Enya walked away and her position as the priestess of the goddess was rock solid.
Ensia who was looking at the skies in awe sobered up and saw that everyone was staring at her. "Ahhh, hehe~ excuse me. Enya! Stop acting cool and wait for me!" She ran after her.
"Hah, it seems that would be the end of this farce. Me and Ratatos call for a tri-clan council meeting." Enciades shouted and everyone agreed.
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The next morning, Enya was the one who was leading the meeting after the grand elder got poisoned.
"We meet here today due to the civil war that almost wrecked Kjerag and fracture it." Enya glared at them and they cannot go against her. She is the head of state after all.
"What do you have to sa-" Before she could scold them and make them make up like little kids who quarrelled. Someone stepped inside of the room.
"Insolence! Who dares..." Paleroche was about to have an outrage, but Ash entered the premises with his empresses.
"You were going to say?" Ash looked at him and they shut up.
Ash then went to the middle seat that was supposed to be for the arbiter of the meeting.
He sat down and the empresses stood beside him. "Now, as you all know. I am the emperor of Leithanien. Ahhh, that isn't true is it?"
Soleil and Luna chuckled. "Yes, dear. It should include you as the king of knights. Kazimierz is our vassal state now after all." They explained.
"Hmm, that's right. Now that's out of the way, ladies and gentleman. Let's discuss how this country shall proceed. Let us begin." He smirked and they were speechless.
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Thanks for reading everyone, ciao.