Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Author's note: A little something something for the future next arc. A respite from the school portion if you will.

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Neleh was just putting the finishing touches on one of the most complex magical formations Azrael had seen when she brought Asheara into the room. The formation was drawn using some kind of dust that was pulsing with magic. Azrael didnt know what exactly had been used to make the dust, but it reminded her of some sort of crystal, ground into fine powder. It was not very common to use materials like that for magical formations because of the cost involved, but it was not incredibly rare either. On the other hand, the complexity of the formation was extremely rare indeed. Large magical formations were not rare, since the size of the formation needed to be in relation to the intended effect, but did usually require more power to activate.

This one however, had formations within formations, and Azrael had no idea what some of the symbols meant. Furthermore, she had never seen their kind before. It was like a language long dead to the world. It could not be a new language, because some of the symbols had the air best described as ancient about them, the weight of the years adding complexity and refinement. The large formation was made up of nine smaller formations, with eight of them forming a hexagon around the largest central one. The central symbol was located under a floating table, held immobile in the air by an unseen force. The girl had been right; she would see quite a few things she had not seen before tonight.

The girl had approached her that evening after their quite enjoyable shopping trip. Azrael had seen the girl and her mother locked in a conversation, and from the looks of things a decision had been made. A decision that had made neither of them very happy. The mother had gone off to prepare for whatever they had planned, while the girl approached her.

It seems you have something on your mind. Azrael stated, not really a question. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

I need your help for something tonight, and most likely a couple of times in the future. The girl asked, not really showing any expression, but the air about her spoke of her unwillingness.

Seems rather important. What is it? Azrael asked interested. The girl had struck her as a person that didnt really hate asking for help, but who very rarely was forced to. It was not the asking part that was the problem, it was something else.

Im going to have to perform a fairly large ritual to help Asheara on the path she has chosen. During the ritual, Ill most likely end up needing a bit of your help. The ritual Im about to perform is the type that I wont be able to stop once started, and it will most likely take a lot out of me. Ill need someone there to make sure Im able to finish. Neleh explained calmly.

Azrael had heard of rituals like the one she described, but had never seen one performed before. She was all too eager to see one, despite the possible dangers involved. She was even more curious about where the girl had learned such a ritual. Sounds interesting. Also doesnt seem too difficult. She replied.

The hard part comes next. Youll see several things youve never seen before, and naturally youll have plenty of questions about what were doing. I need you to keep from asking those questions, at the very least until were done. Especially during the ritual, I need you to keep your eyes open in case theres a need for you to step in and help, because I wont be able to stop to explain. The girls voice was serious.

That was acceptable to Azrael. She would get to see something new, and she would most likely have more questions after the fact anyway, once shed had some time to think.

Azrael brought her thoughts back to the present. Neleh was applying her magic to the formation. The dust seemed to melt into the ground, forming a glowing formation on the ground. So thats what the dust had been for. Now the formation was a permanent fixture on the floor, for as long as the house itself was there. Most magical formations tended to be temporary, disappearing after use. Since most formations were used to afford a better control over a spell, it made no sense to make permanent formations unless you planned on casting the same spell several times in the same place. It required something like what the girl was using to make a permanent formation; the materials used determining the quality of the formation. Permanent formations were usually reserved for situations where several people wanted to invoke a spell they had no skill to cast without help. In this case, the girl had indicated that there would be need to perform the ritual more than once, and the large formation was rather bothersome to create every time.

Neleh indicated that Asheara should lay on the table at the center of the formation. Asheara removed the robe she was wearing and positioned naked on the table, face down.

Im not entirely sure if there will be pain involved with the ritual. I would imagine it wont feel pleasant at least the first time, since I will have to modify your Dantian an Ki veins rather heavily. However, once I start, I wont be able to stop, or we might run the risk of burning out your Ki veins. I also need you to remain completely still. It should not be too painful though. Neleh said with a grim seriousness in her voice. She continued. Its better if you try not to struggle and close your eyes. Azrael, would you be so kind and use your magic to make sure she doesnt move?

As they had expected, many of the corrupt nobles and their families that had managed to escape the purge had gathered within the duchy, in the hopes of finding a passage out of the elven lands on Consortium controlled vessels, but Estelars quick crackdown had trapped them. Many of them had turned to banditry in order to survive. Estelar was very successful in hunting them down, but it was a time consuming process. Related to that, one of the most visible things they had done was offer to take care of any children orphaned by the civil war, or any people displaced by banditry. These people were all given a chance at new life. In exchange they would be trained as the fist of the duchy. Mostly they attracted children and orphans throughout the empire, who had nowhere else to go, and no discernible future.

On Nelehs command, Estelar had founded several military Orders that gave harsh and effective training to their members. The members were paid well, clothed and fed by the Order, and in return they would go through training harsh enough to make the Legion of the Phoenix balk. In many cases, more important than the food and money, the members were given a new purpose and a future. In the case of those wronged by the bandits, they were given the chance for revenge. The training was designed by Neleh, Estelar and some veterans of the elven army, and would repeatedly break, rebuild, break and rebuild those subjected to it. It was designed to break even the strongest of individuals, but even the most fragile individuals were put back together by the trainers and healers of the Order, a group of grizzled veteran officers and priestesses hand-picked by Estelar.

As a result, they could take a broken and battered housewife fleeing from an abusive husband, and turn her into a hardened professional warrior. Talent and previous experience were not required, only will. Only thing that changed with talent, was how long it would take to break you enough times to become the kind of warrior they aimed for. Not all would manage the training, and anyone who gave up were given some coin and sent on their way. The Order didnt have many standards in the beginning, but weak willed people were weeded out fast. They had no place in the Order, although many weak willed individuals would mature into iron willed veterans during the harsh training. Assuming they didnt give up. On the flipside, anyone could apply.

If their plan was successful, in ten years they would have the meanest and most professional fighting force in the empire. They had taken everything that worked from the elven army training, and removed that which was superfluous and didnt work. The army had its own quirks after all. They added things that Estelar and the veterans had learned in their careers as professionals and topped things off with several ways and methods Neleh had learned in her previous life.

Once the recruits managed to survive the grueling training, they were divided into the several parts of the Order according to their talents and inclinations. Most would become the members of the first Order, soldiers and warriors. The second Order was in charge of support and logistics, drawing those who had skill in organization and medicine. The third Order was for those that had talent either as a priestess or a mage, but had either never gotten the necessary training, had been too young to discover their talents before or joined anyway. The order would in time draw many gifted young people, much like the Hunters Guild or the academies. Fourth Order was for those that showed talent as a scout or a ranger, or as a spy. The members of this Order would be in charge of gathering information, and making sure the other members would not walk into traps. As for the fifth Order, which would gather the most talented, the most cunning and those that had less trouble with dealing deathwell, Neleh had special plans for the members of the fifth Order.

These moves did not go unnoticed by the other nobles, but since most duchies trained their own troops, they paid less attention than they should. What JaoeTinukai was doing might have been on a larger scale and with more focus than the other duchies, but it was basically what other duchies also did. They also assumed that Neleh and Estelar would not be able to afford to complete their plans on a large enough scale to really matter. Heavy training like theirs required funds after all, and the members of the Order were well paid, in compensation of the harsh training and to discourage the need for corruption. Why take the risk of a bribe, when you were already well paid by the order, and the duchess was a well-known enemy of corruption. Of course the nobles didnt know of the other plans Neleh had prepared for the duchy, some of which might make them wealthy enough beyond imagining. Additionally, Neleh didnt feel the need to hoard wealth like the other nobles did, and instead planned to put any wealth she managed to gather back to work for the duchy. Why bother with money, when you could just conjure almost anything up with magic? Still, it became obvious that Neleh would have to pay a visit to the duchy in the near future, for the next part of their plans.

After Neleh had finished with Estelar, she was pulled aside by a messenger from Nimue. Apparently there were people that wanted to have an audience with her. The messenger didnt know much else, except that the people waiting were naga. Neleh and her two companions quickly made their way towards the meeting place, an audience chamber just a little outside the din of the party. Neleh had expected this meeting to happen, although she was a little surprised when she arrived to the meeting chamber and saw that Nimue was also present along with Yunalesca.

After they greeted each other, the naga representatives were shown in. The naga contingent was fairly sizeable, with almost twenty members. Their apparent leader was a very old male naga that had a long white beard and hair. On both sides of him were two of the biggest naga Neleh had ever seen, reaching almost three meters in height, and both were wide and heavily muscled. They were the quintessential bodyguards, at least appearance-wise. The chamberlain at the door announced the presence of the Left Chancellor of the Naga Empire, the rest of the naga were apparently just entourage.

Before there was any chance to exchange greetings, the old naga bowed deep and spoke. On behalf of the Naga Empire and the Eternal Empress, may she live forever, I Left Chancellor Fujino Toyotomi give our most heartfelt and humble greetings to the Empress of the Immortal Flame.

There was confusion on the faces of both Yunalesca and Nimue. Empress of the Immortal Flame? What was going on? Since when has Nimue been anything of the sort? Their confusion both cleared and deepened when they noticed that the old naga was looking at Neleh, after rising from his bow. Neleh stepped forward with a smile and without missing a beat.

The Immortal Flame greets the representative of the Eternal Empress, may she live forever. Neleh said with a clear voice and a smile. She wasnt sure where they got the information, but it would just be silly to try and pretend she didnt know who or what they were referring to. Her words brought raised eyebrows from Nimue and Yunalesca.

Neleh continued. What brings the representative of the Eternal Empress to elven lands? I hear you have been looking for me. Another shocked expression from the other elves, and a grunt even from Azrael.

The Eternal Empress seeks to establish formal relations with the Empress of the Immortal Flame, and wishes to extend you an invitation to visit Coral Palace. The old naga said, bringing gasps from the elves and Azrael. The naga and especially their empress were famously insular, and other races were not allowed access to the Imperial palace of the naga, known as the Coral Palace. In fact, none of the other races had even seen the empress before.

Nimue spoke eagerly. Youre saying that the Eternal Empress wishes to establish relations with the elves? What kind of relations? Of course she was eager. The naga ruled the seas, and the combined power of the two normally neutral powers of elves and naga together would be an alliance of the highest importance on the world stage.

You misunderstand me elven. The Eternal Empress has little interest in your kind. The one she wishes to form bonds with is only the Empress of the Immortal Flame. If Flame and Thunder join hands, then no one can stand against them. That is Her desire. The old naga said dashing Nimues hopes.