Chapter 497: Interlude - Pieces Falling into Place

Chapter 497: Interlude - Pieces Falling into Place

Swish swish swish.

Qing Jies bones ached. Qing Jies joints ached. Qing Jies knees told him when a storm was coming.

Swish swish swish.

Qing Jie was an old man, a [Sweeper] in the imperial palace. Hed been one ever since he was a young boy, and hed spent his entire life holding a broom, keeping the hallways of the palace clean.

Swish swish swish.

He cast his skill, a pile of dust vanishing. He wasnt disappointed anymore. Eight decades of sweeping every day, of using his skill at every moment had hammered it out of him.

A number of court officials came down the hallway, and Qing Jie held back a hiss of pain as he pressed himself into the wall, his joints protesting at the sudden movement.

His old friend, his once-sworn brother Jing Li was in the middle of the crowd, looking two decades younger than Qing Jie. The two had promised revenge together after the Chu had slaughtered their entire village, entered the palace together. Found whatever position would take them.

To Qing Jies eternal shame, he hadnt made the cut to even be a eunuch, only the lowest, most humiliating position available. Jing Li had joined him, and the two hotblooded men had plotted the downfall of the Chu, sure that the two of them could topple the vast empire together.

How young! How naive!

Jing Li had quit after only two years, too afraid to keep going. The two had argued bitterly over it, and the bonds of their brotherhood had broken.

Qing Jie had always kept an ear out for Jing Lis activities, and stared at their retreating backs as he got back to sweeping.

Swish swish swish.

He was a low level court official, an embarrassment at such an old age if one didnt factor in his lowly, humble origins. Hed gotten married. Hed had kids and had welcomed in his third grandchild recently. He looked happy and content with life, laughing at a joke, a number of younger officials looking up to him for guidance and mentorship. Jing Li probably had an invitation to one of the minor feasts attached to the side of the [Emperors] grand event.

For Qing Jie, it simply meant more sweeping.

Qing Jie had learned eons ago to school his expression, to not show any trace of what he was thinking. He didnt curl his lips and sneer like he would as a young man - and had barely avoided being executed when hed done it to the wrong person.

The [Sweeper] still carried those scars.

He used his skill for the 1,937th time that day, the medley of sweepings vanishing once again. Qing Jie didnt need to think about counting, his skill did it for him.

Swish swish swish.

All the stories said what he was trying to do wouldnt work. That it was doomed to fail.

As a young man, Qing Jie hadnt seen any other way. Poison was too slow, too guarded against. Miasma he didnt know enough about, and Spore was right out of the question. The two brothers would enter together, and with all the forethought and patience of youth, would have their revenge by the end of the week.

The end of the month, if they were unlucky.

The stories all said it never worked. Qing Jie and Jing Li had always reasoned that of course theyd say it didnt work - nobody survived when it did work.

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Qing Jie was convinced that there were legions like him. Tens of thousands of others whod been wronged by the Chu - or maybe one of the other factions - and would do anything, anything, to enact revenge.

Swish swish -

BOOM.

Katerina stared at the map on the wagon, moving back and forth with practiced ease as the nodosauruses slowly pulled it along. Her skill was ready at her fingertips, the words at the tip of her tongue. She was ready.

The trap was set. The bait was out. All that was needed was for the prey to take advantage.

Katerina couldnt look out and confirm everything herself. That would defeat the point.

One of Optio Petras line members wasnt just an [Enchanter]. They had subtle, but potentially devastating Mirage skills. Nothing big. Nothing major. Nothing that would change the course of a battle, not with all the anti-illusion abilities being thrown around.

That, and after it was used properly for the first time, the card was revealed. It was spent. Anyone falling for the same trick twice deserved it.

Large illusions were usually seen through, one way or another. An Earth Classer could tell the footfalls didnt match the weight. A Wind Classer could tell the breeze didnt blow right. Metal could sense that there wasnt as much metal to manipulate as they could see. Anyone with two brain cells could count and realize that an army hadnt suddenly doubled in number, or that the huge stretch of emptiness with dust being kicked up was a bunch of invisible soldiers.

No, to Katerinas mind, the best Mirages and illusions were subtle and quiet. Barely known, barely seen, even by their own army.

The Sixth Legion - Ironside Brigade no more - was going home. Katerina had deliberately relaxed the standards. Had told everyone what was going on. Had the column arranged in a high speed formation to Rolland, one that was vulnerable to ambushes and attacks. Shut herself away in a wagon, and had minimal oversight over what was going on.

Then sent a quiet order to Tribune Hazel, to pass down the chain of command to the relevant soldier. One that just so happened to be marching near Nike and the other [Batteries].

Make us look tired.

Shadows under eyes were slightly enlarged. Shoulders were drooped just a little extra. Wounds were showing, the result of Katerina declaring an extra-large party right after announcing they were going home.

Because we dont want to carry it all that way! Shed joked and laughed, only a few of her [Tribunes] aware of the machinations behind her eyes.

We, Kyou sagely observed. Are late.

The two of them twisted to see the Qin banners flapping in the breeze behind them, considering how much nicer the Zhao pennants were.

The words of power echoed out, Nina staring up at the moons, silently begging the staring lidded eyes for an answer. For the System to respond to her heart and her pleas.

All too conscious that both Iona and Sigrun, the Orders [Grandmaster], were staring at her. Watching her.

The kitsune had tried many [Oaths], [Vows], and [Promises] over the years. [Knightly Protector]. [Justicar]. [Light Against the Darkness]. Shed tried building her own, but theyd always felt flat. Stale. Like they didnt quite fit.

Nina had just tried the [Wrathful Avenger], and it hadnt stuck either.

The kitsune thought she knew the problem, but shed never, ever share it with Iona or, worse, Sigrun. Theyd judge her so harshly for it.

She had some idea of what she wanted. What words resonated with her in the way Iona had described her [Vow]. They were not the ideals that shed been taught the Order Valkyrie espoused though. Not the noble and high-minded way of thinking Iona believed to her core.

What was she doing as a [Squire] if she couldnt live up to the ideals of the Valkyries?

What was she doing if she couldnt even take the most aggressive [Oath] that existed?

Iona and Sigrun mustve noticed her reaction. The drooping ears, the wilting tails. Sigrun clasped a hand on Ninas shoulder.

It comes in time. She told her. We each find our own path. You are, without a doubt, one of the bravest [Squires] Ive ever seen, leaping into battle again and again. You are more than qualified to become a full Valkyrie the moment youd like, your acts of bravery apparent 1024 times over. Not many girls would willingly sign up for the Valkyries after we were kneecapped, and yet you did. Not many would survive a warzone, willing to fight every enemy, and yet Ionas told me youve done just that. Youre willing to fight up, even without a skill boosting you, and I am nothing but impressed. You are a true Valkyrie, through and through. Im just sticking around to figure out the best title I can give you.

Sigrun smiled encouragingly at Nina and patted her shoulders again. Ninas heart was elevated by the old womans words, the shame she felt at the words that resonated with her redoubled.

She could never tell them.

One thing confused the kitsune though, her eyebrows scrunched up at one detail.

Why did Iona look so pained when Sigrun mentioned figuring out a title for Nina? Wasnt that a good thing?

Prince Feng Taizi reminded himself that he needed to sit up straight. That he needed to look brave for everyone. That he wasnt allowed to cry.

The life of a [Prince]-to be was a lonely one. There were no friends. Family either ignored him or tried to kill him. The politics and machinations at the highest level forced children to grow up far too quickly, even before their System unlocked. At only 6, Crown Prince Feng Taizi was too old.

Too young.

And-

And he had to remember, he wasnt [Prince] anymore.

Hed skipped [Crown Prince] entirely.

The Mandate of Heaven had fallen onto his shoulders.

He was [Emperor of the Qin]. Only without the class, because he was too young.

His father had died to assassins, his older brothers and sisters falling as well. The assassins had come for him too, but there were only so many talented killers for hire who were willing and able to target royalty, and the strength and awareness of his [Bodyguards] had been a surprise. Most had died protecting the boy, but in a miracle of protection, the Systemless boy had survived.

Feng tilted his head back and squared his shoulders, biting his tongue so the pain of riding a horse this fast, this furious through the Tears of Vulcan wouldnt show. Wouldnt make his few remaining protectors think he was weak and undeserving.

They would be richly rewarded when Feng returned to the true capital of the Han Empire, and he ascended the throne.

There! Liu shouted and pointed to galloping horses trying to flank them. Pursuers, intent on finishing the job. We turn here!

The four of them thundered into a small valley, a little tabernacle at the center.

Go go go! Inside! Liu urged, pressing the horses to go even faster.

Liu looked scared. Feng would be brave for Liu, as he had to be brave for everyone in the Qin - no.

As he had to be brave for everyone in the Han.

Liu scooped Feng under one arm as the horses thundered towards the door, jumping off and skidding to a halt inside the tabernacle. The loyal retainer dropped Feng like a sack of grain - Feng understood the need for urgency and protecting his life occasionally overrode the rules of decorum - and skidded to a halt in front of the small, sad altar, the symbol of the five gods prominently displayed overhead.

Sanctuary! Liu begged the gods. I ask for sanctuary!

The divine message went around, an offering of power to protect the faithful requesting sanctuary.

The gods bickered and argued about many things, but five things theyd all agreed on were sacred to them as a whole. That theyd all do their best to keep sacred.

Not desecrating places of worship was one of them, and it was a little looser than the rest. Places of worship went up all the time, and they were taken down all the time. The gods couldnt throw a fit every single time a temple was turned into construction material, or every time a chapel was lost to the ages and slowly deteriorated.

Liu had been faithful his whole life, and the divine barter of power offered for his protection was acceptable. Not enough for a full fledged large-scale miracle - else Seria mightve simply performed her own and solved the issue - but not a piddling amount that would be ignored.

Two goddesses pricked their ears up when the offer went around. They had a [Paladin] practically next door, with extreme mobility, and best of all, this was the sort of thing shed die for.

Iona, somethings come up. Selene said.