Eternal
You’re in the middle of a danger zone right now and you’re still feeling woozy from that gas, you need to get out as quick as you can.
You crawl away just in time for the chimera to try to sting you again, though now that one of its faces isn’t on fire anymore the creature is advancing along with the bull. Summoning all your energy you cast a cone of frost at the pair of them. You actually get a few other enemies and several allies in the blast as well, but whatever gets the job done.
The chimera and bull try to advance despite being slowly frozen solid and they actually make a few more steps, but you keep up the spell ignoring the drain its taking on you. You soon have several ice “statues” in front of your area. Grabbing the mace of a dead soilder nearby you take several swings at the frozen chimera smashing its body parts into frozen bloody chunks. You then turn your attention to the bull.
“A shame this couldn’t have been a fair fight. You were certainly worthy of one.” You say and with one mighty swing you smash the bull’s head in and kick the rest of the body over. It’s going to be a mess when it all finally thaws out.
A quick glance up displays several winged bodies falling out of the sky, some of them on fire. The Storm is holding so far, but you can tell by the thick black smoke emanating from it that it isn’t without damage. The second airship however is coming along and already engaging the enemy.
In the distance ahead of you, you see that your kobold teams have successfully dug underneath the battlefield and started to flank the Torites. Even with the element of surprise most of them are probably going to end up getting stomped on by the minotaurs and centaurs, but they’ll at least be in a position to disrupt the satyr mages.
The confrontation rages on for the remainder of the day and you find yourself all over the battlefield, either giving commands or doing battle. At one point you even find yourself fighting side by side with Decena. While it is no doubt a big thrill for her to actually fight along with you, you actually enjoy it as well. It reminds you of when you fought along side Alison as Decena also has that instinctive knowledge of complimenting your fighting style, but then again she should considering you trained her.
Day becomes dusk and finally to night though the sky lights up spectacularly when the Storm gives out its final service when part of it explodes turning the entire ship into a blazing wreck dropping to the ground fast. Both sides run for cover and out of the area while attempting to avoid the burning shards already hitting the surface.
Still even with this loss, your side is definitely winning. Most of the centaurs are dead, the one who aren’t, have long since galloped away. Most of the satyr troops are dead as well with the few remaining starting to retreat. All their large beasts such as the manticores and chimera have all been slain. The harpies still alive from their assault on the Storm have flapped away. The only ones still putting up any resistance are the minotaurs and that’s because they’re too stubborn to retreat, but eventually they’ll be overwhelmed.
By the time the clash is finally over the moon is hanging high above the battlefield causing a minor luminescence over the numerous dead on the battlefield. This is definitely going to be one that the scholars and historians are going to write about.
While you stepping over the dead and passing by soldiers taking well earned victory celebrations (or just taking well earned rests) Decena comes running up to you.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you. We got split up after those manticores attacked. I mean I knew you weren’t dead, but I just wanted to know you were okay.” Decena says.
“A few minor wounds, probably some new scars to look forward to, aching muscles and joints, extremely tired, but other than that I’m fine. How many in your army left?” you ask.
“Quite few. I don’t think my side recieved the brunt of the Torite attack though turning our golems against us was certainly a surprise. Galen managed to rectify that though, even if it did cost us the use of them.”
“Oh, survived did he?”
“Yeah, thanks to Captain Flevas. I know a lot of people don’t like elves, but he was invaluable on the battlefield.”
“I wouldn’t have promoted him and transferred him to your command if he wasn’t. So besides Galen did any of your other wizards survive?”
“Unfortunately none.”
“Same here. The Torites were successful in that regard. (Sigh) Successful in that endeavor as well.” You say pointing to the still flaming wreckage of the Storm in the distance.
“Well at least we still have the second airship.” Decena says.
“Oh we’ll have more of those, no doubt. Wizards, not so sure about. I’m thinking the age of using battle mages on any large scale might be coming to an end. Better keep what talent we still have left at home in case of an emergency.” You reply.
“I wanted to ask you about something else, did you ever find out more about the traitors in our ranks? Only a few hours before the conflict with the Torites and it was all over my own camp about how you executed General Ackerson in front of his command and warned everyone that you know others were involved in a conspiracy against you.”
“Oh that. No, but given that the only ones trying to kill me today were the Torites I’d say I squashed it, but I still will have Warrick do a full investigation to anyone close to Ackerson though I can guess a few of them now. I have to believe that Sini who I replaced Ackerson with was involved, being his second in command and all, however Sini has redeemed himself by dying in battle loyally. Saves his family the embarrassment and saves me the need for another execution later.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay, but then I shouldn’t have worried I suppose, you’re the Emperor and nothing can ever destroy you.”
At this point the pair of you have entered your tent and Decena grabs your hand. Decena looks at you with a mixture of concern and adoration. The same adoration she’s had since you took her as your student. While it’s definitely true your actions and position have probably molded her into these feelings, she’s also not a naive babe in the woods.
“Emperor, I need to ask. Now that we have this time together are we ever going to pick up where we left off or are those days over?” she asks.
“Did you want to continue that sort of relationship? I don’t want you to feel obligated that you have to because of a loss of self control on my part in the past.” You say.
“Do you regret it then?”
“I regret that I have made things unnecessarily complicated for you. I probably just should’ve had you enrolled into the Eye training camp or even the regular army. Would’ve made things a lot easier for the both of us.”
“But then I wouldn’t be as good as I am. I wouldn’t be able to serve to my fullest capabilities. You managed to bring out my full potential. I doubt if I would’ve survived this very battle without your personal training. You are my Emperor and I will loyally continue to serve the Empire no matter what. But I need to know how things are going to be in the future so that I may conduct myself accordingly towards you.”
A reasonable request.
“Decena, it would be a lie to say I don’t feel something for you, but those feelings are tainted with a lot of negative past experiences of my own. Most of which I don’t even want to get into right now, but rest assured my reasons for initiating the more intimate nature of our relationship was more than just simple loneliness and weren’t exactly positive motives. In fact they were downright twisted at times and I don’t think you’re quite aware of some of the things I thought about doing to you. This isn’t even counting the fact that you’re in competition with a ghost to a certain degree and that’s hardly fair to you.”
Decena of course knows you’re referring to Alison. She’s probably always known that you still have never completely gotten over her. Not with the way she’s seen you stare at her portrait for long periods of time back when she was at the palace.
Decena has her answer.
“I…see. Very well my Emperor. I understand that it is time for me to grow up and put aside the silly emotions of a young girl. I shall no longer trouble you with my immature displays of affection or letters but… know I shall continue to… (sniffle) love you in the way that a…”
Decena can’t even complete her sentence. She might’ve even known this was a long time coming, but it still doesn’t make things any easier. She reaches out to hug you and you embrace her. She tries to stop herself from completely crying, but she’s struggling with this a lot.
“You’ll grow stronger from this and move past it Decena. I know you have it within you to do so.” You say in an attempt to be reassuring, she looks up at you with tears in her eyes.
“Can I just make one request, (sniff) my Emperor?” she asks.
“What is it?”
“Can…for just tonight. I lie with you one last time? We…don’t even have to do anything…I just…if this is going to be it…I want to experience your body next to mine one last time.”
While you’re not exactly sure if this is going to make things harder or easier for her, you don’t have it in you to say no at this point.
“Of course Decena.”
With those words the pair of you lie together one last time.
The next day when you wake up Decena is already gone. Not gone from the area, just from your tent and back at her camp probably giving her soldiers orders to move out and head back to the nearest settlement for supplies.
“She’ll be fine.” You say to yourself though you don’t know if you’re exactly convinced of it. You suppose you’ll see in the future.
And while you know it probably was the “healthiest” thing to do, you’d also be lying to yourself if you aren’t going to miss that part of your relationship with her completely.
Who knew that between an army of rampaging beastmen, traitors in your ranks, and a visit from Semra, breaking up with a young woman would be the most emotionally draining?
You crawl away just in time for the chimera to try to sting you again, though now that one of its faces isn’t on fire anymore the creature is advancing along with the bull. Summoning all your energy you cast a cone of frost at the pair of them. You actually get a few other enemies and several allies in the blast as well, but whatever gets the job done.
The chimera and bull try to advance despite being slowly frozen solid and they actually make a few more steps, but you keep up the spell ignoring the drain its taking on you. You soon have several ice “statues” in front of your area. Grabbing the mace of a dead soilder nearby you take several swings at the frozen chimera smashing its body parts into frozen bloody chunks. You then turn your attention to the bull.
“A shame this couldn’t have been a fair fight. You were certainly worthy of one.” You say and with one mighty swing you smash the bull’s head in and kick the rest of the body over. It’s going to be a mess when it all finally thaws out.
A quick glance up displays several winged bodies falling out of the sky, some of them on fire. The Storm is holding so far, but you can tell by the thick black smoke emanating from it that it isn’t without damage. The second airship however is coming along and already engaging the enemy.
In the distance ahead of you, you see that your kobold teams have successfully dug underneath the battlefield and started to flank the Torites. Even with the element of surprise most of them are probably going to end up getting stomped on by the minotaurs and centaurs, but they’ll at least be in a position to disrupt the satyr mages.
The confrontation rages on for the remainder of the day and you find yourself all over the battlefield, either giving commands or doing battle. At one point you even find yourself fighting side by side with Decena. While it is no doubt a big thrill for her to actually fight along with you, you actually enjoy it as well. It reminds you of when you fought along side Alison as Decena also has that instinctive knowledge of complimenting your fighting style, but then again she should considering you trained her.
Day becomes dusk and finally to night though the sky lights up spectacularly when the Storm gives out its final service when part of it explodes turning the entire ship into a blazing wreck dropping to the ground fast. Both sides run for cover and out of the area while attempting to avoid the burning shards already hitting the surface.
Still even with this loss, your side is definitely winning. Most of the centaurs are dead, the one who aren’t, have long since galloped away. Most of the satyr troops are dead as well with the few remaining starting to retreat. All their large beasts such as the manticores and chimera have all been slain. The harpies still alive from their assault on the Storm have flapped away. The only ones still putting up any resistance are the minotaurs and that’s because they’re too stubborn to retreat, but eventually they’ll be overwhelmed.
By the time the clash is finally over the moon is hanging high above the battlefield causing a minor luminescence over the numerous dead on the battlefield. This is definitely going to be one that the scholars and historians are going to write about.
While you stepping over the dead and passing by soldiers taking well earned victory celebrations (or just taking well earned rests) Decena comes running up to you.
“Hey, I’ve been looking for you. We got split up after those manticores attacked. I mean I knew you weren’t dead, but I just wanted to know you were okay.” Decena says.
“A few minor wounds, probably some new scars to look forward to, aching muscles and joints, extremely tired, but other than that I’m fine. How many in your army left?” you ask.
“Quite few. I don’t think my side recieved the brunt of the Torite attack though turning our golems against us was certainly a surprise. Galen managed to rectify that though, even if it did cost us the use of them.”
“Oh, survived did he?”
“Yeah, thanks to Captain Flevas. I know a lot of people don’t like elves, but he was invaluable on the battlefield.”
“I wouldn’t have promoted him and transferred him to your command if he wasn’t. So besides Galen did any of your other wizards survive?”
“Unfortunately none.”
“Same here. The Torites were successful in that regard. (Sigh) Successful in that endeavor as well.” You say pointing to the still flaming wreckage of the Storm in the distance.
“Well at least we still have the second airship.” Decena says.
“Oh we’ll have more of those, no doubt. Wizards, not so sure about. I’m thinking the age of using battle mages on any large scale might be coming to an end. Better keep what talent we still have left at home in case of an emergency.” You reply.
“I wanted to ask you about something else, did you ever find out more about the traitors in our ranks? Only a few hours before the conflict with the Torites and it was all over my own camp about how you executed General Ackerson in front of his command and warned everyone that you know others were involved in a conspiracy against you.”
“Oh that. No, but given that the only ones trying to kill me today were the Torites I’d say I squashed it, but I still will have Warrick do a full investigation to anyone close to Ackerson though I can guess a few of them now. I have to believe that Sini who I replaced Ackerson with was involved, being his second in command and all, however Sini has redeemed himself by dying in battle loyally. Saves his family the embarrassment and saves me the need for another execution later.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay, but then I shouldn’t have worried I suppose, you’re the Emperor and nothing can ever destroy you.”
At this point the pair of you have entered your tent and Decena grabs your hand. Decena looks at you with a mixture of concern and adoration. The same adoration she’s had since you took her as your student. While it’s definitely true your actions and position have probably molded her into these feelings, she’s also not a naive babe in the woods.
“Emperor, I need to ask. Now that we have this time together are we ever going to pick up where we left off or are those days over?” she asks.
“Did you want to continue that sort of relationship? I don’t want you to feel obligated that you have to because of a loss of self control on my part in the past.” You say.
“Do you regret it then?”
“I regret that I have made things unnecessarily complicated for you. I probably just should’ve had you enrolled into the Eye training camp or even the regular army. Would’ve made things a lot easier for the both of us.”
“But then I wouldn’t be as good as I am. I wouldn’t be able to serve to my fullest capabilities. You managed to bring out my full potential. I doubt if I would’ve survived this very battle without your personal training. You are my Emperor and I will loyally continue to serve the Empire no matter what. But I need to know how things are going to be in the future so that I may conduct myself accordingly towards you.”
A reasonable request.
“Decena, it would be a lie to say I don’t feel something for you, but those feelings are tainted with a lot of negative past experiences of my own. Most of which I don’t even want to get into right now, but rest assured my reasons for initiating the more intimate nature of our relationship was more than just simple loneliness and weren’t exactly positive motives. In fact they were downright twisted at times and I don’t think you’re quite aware of some of the things I thought about doing to you. This isn’t even counting the fact that you’re in competition with a ghost to a certain degree and that’s hardly fair to you.”
Decena of course knows you’re referring to Alison. She’s probably always known that you still have never completely gotten over her. Not with the way she’s seen you stare at her portrait for long periods of time back when she was at the palace.
Decena has her answer.
“I…see. Very well my Emperor. I understand that it is time for me to grow up and put aside the silly emotions of a young girl. I shall no longer trouble you with my immature displays of affection or letters but… know I shall continue to… (sniffle) love you in the way that a…”
Decena can’t even complete her sentence. She might’ve even known this was a long time coming, but it still doesn’t make things any easier. She reaches out to hug you and you embrace her. She tries to stop herself from completely crying, but she’s struggling with this a lot.
“You’ll grow stronger from this and move past it Decena. I know you have it within you to do so.” You say in an attempt to be reassuring, she looks up at you with tears in her eyes.
“Can I just make one request, (sniff) my Emperor?” she asks.
“What is it?”
“Can…for just tonight. I lie with you one last time? We…don’t even have to do anything…I just…if this is going to be it…I want to experience your body next to mine one last time.”
While you’re not exactly sure if this is going to make things harder or easier for her, you don’t have it in you to say no at this point.
“Of course Decena.”
With those words the pair of you lie together one last time.
The next day when you wake up Decena is already gone. Not gone from the area, just from your tent and back at her camp probably giving her soldiers orders to move out and head back to the nearest settlement for supplies.
“She’ll be fine.” You say to yourself though you don’t know if you’re exactly convinced of it. You suppose you’ll see in the future.
And while you know it probably was the “healthiest” thing to do, you’d also be lying to yourself if you aren’t going to miss that part of your relationship with her completely.
Who knew that between an army of rampaging beastmen, traitors in your ranks, and a visit from Semra, breaking up with a young woman would be the most emotionally draining?