Elsewhere

The morning found the pair still entangled and Duke awoke first. He shrugged inwardly and decided to go through his notifications rather than disturbing Aurelia’s sleep by trying to get up.

*** You like dancing on the edge, don’t you? Adding a representative of the local gods into your group when you know I don’t want those gods involved in our project. That takes chutzpah. Doing so in a way that makes it clear that you are not trying to accept the interference of the local gods – that is actually quite impressive. And then you declare your girl to be your one and only so well that she actually believed you which led to that scene. Oh yeah, you get a reward for high entertainment value.

You receive 50,000 experience for pure entertainment and chutzpah.

On top of all this, you explored a new area, got sucked into their politics, and managed to navigate your way though it and come out with potential allies and a good fight. Perhaps you are not as much of a gamble as we thought and are starting to see you realize your potential. Your actual experience from the fight is a pathetic 100, but the bonus from everything else involved is 25,000. Well done! You are now level 104 and have 12 Characteristic points to spend.

You have seen Skill and Ability increases as well.

Dodge has increased to Practiced 42

Aerial Maneuvering has increased to Initiate 24

Martial Arts Combat has increased to Adept 23

Diplomacy has increased to Novice 17

TELEPORTATION has increased to Adept 80

REGENERATION has increased to Adept 52

OVERCHANNEL has increased to Adept 9

MENTAL FORTITUDE has increased to Practiced 21

CLEANSE has increased to Initiate 30

RESTORE has increased to Master 39

INVENTORY has increased to Initiate 42

ARMOR SKIN has ranked up to Adept 1

FLIGHT has increased to Practiced 15

COMBAT SENSE has increased to Initiate 7

DUNGEON SENSE has increased to Adept 52

You have pleased us greatly as of late and your growth reflects that. Yet you are still too weak. Seek out your next true battle and show us what you are capable of. Do not stagnate and think you have done enough. The challenges you have faced to date are nothing compared to what is coming. Prepare yourself. Prepare your friends and allies if you care to see them survive as well. ***

Duke finished off his notifications and poured his Characteristic Points into Intuition. He took the warning seriously and wanted every edge he could have in being able to see what was coming before it affected him or his friends. One of my biggest edges is in my stats themselves. I need more levels to accelerate stat growth. But now that I’m over level 100, it’s getting harder and harder to find things my level to fight. Guess, it’s time for the volume plan!

As Duke tried to solidify his thoughts, Aurelia woke up against him, nuzzling closer. He lost all capacity to think as he turned into her embrace and helped her to fully wake up.

Some time later, the pair returned to the Legion which had already broken camp and was beginning to march. Baslin waved to them and pointed at his ring to indicate that he had the Command Tent in his Ring of Rooms.

“Did we miss anything?” Duke asked.

Baslin chuckled. “Only questions I didn’t feel like answering. So now Shimmerstone has a much more expansive knowledge of magical theory or possibly a raging headache. I’m not certain which as her eyes seemed to glaze over after the first ten minutes. In future, I would ask that you not introduce new people to the group and disappear, leaving me to answer their questions. It wasn’t pleasant for either of us.”

“You lectured her into submission?” Aurelia asked.

“Just so.” Baslin responded with a wry smile.

“Wait. Are you telling me that every time you just start spouting magic theory it’s just to avoid conversation or explanation?” Aurelia’s exasperation was clear in her voice.

“Have you ever considered the practical application of auditory magical manipulation? The theory is grounded in how-“

Aurelia threw her hands up with an outrush of breath that could be called a hiss. She walked away, heading towards her command cadre to get an update from them on the Legion’s status. Duke looked at Baslin in a new light.

“How many times have you done that to me?” He asked.

Baslin chuckled. “Duke, my boy, you actually listen when I start explaining magical theory. It’s quite different and you usually have some interesting questions to throw in as well. Makes me feel like your actual magical mentor.”

“I kinda thought you actually were my magical mentor.” Duke replied.

“Perhaps. Perhaps. I certainly did get you started, but you are continually wrapped up in too many other things for it to be effective. For example, how is your Hold Undead Spell coming along?”

“I…don’t have that one.” Duke responded with dawning realization.

“Now you see the issue. I offered to teach you that Spell quite a while ago, but you’ve been too busy with everything else to even learn it at even a basic level. I’m not faulting you as everything you have been doing has been for a good reason, but you are spreading yourself very thinly by trying to do it all yourself. You may be more powerful than most of your companions, but you have limits too.”

Duke nodded as this wasn’t the first time he had heard this argument. It was no less true now than it had been all the other times. “I see your point but I’m not going to stop moving forward.”

“Neither, it seems, will the Legion.” Baslin summoned his floating chair and settled in, reading a book bound in particularly thick hide embossed with carvings that Duke’s XENOGLOSSIA translated to “Dragon’s Eggs – Revelations and Recipes”.

Duke took the dismissal for what it was and left only realizing hours later that he still had not learned the Hold Undead Spell.

The Legion’s march paused when they finally broke out of the forest and met the main road. The road was occupied with a long train of fearful people. They panicked at the sight of the Legion and split in two directions. Those further down the road away from the Capitol hastened their pace, trying to get away from the Legion. Those on the road closer to the Capitol bunched up as they had nowhere to go but to move past the Legion. It was those people who looked the most fearful. Duke decided to act before things could get ugly.

He flew forward and landed before the front of the cowering people. “Greetings and peace to you.” He paused for a response but did not receive one other than the fear and concern radiating off the people. They appeared to be simple townsfolk and people from the area fleeing for their lives.

Duke continued, “I am Duke and I assume you are fleeing Chopie’s madness, yes?” He put the gentlest tone he could manage, pushing as much kindness as his Psyche would allow into his words.

As he spoke, Aurelia rode up next to him. A young child spoke from somewhere in the crowd, “Pretty shiny lady.” The child was quickly hushed by their parent, but Aurelia’s blush and Duke’s chuckle were quickly evident. It was likely this interaction that softened the mood. A woman, dressed in a dirt-encrusted dress that was frayed and torn held her baby close to her chest as she spoke, “We are fleeing the conflict and evil of the Capitol. None of us wish conflict with you or your army, Your Grace. We are but simple peasants.”

Duke responded, still projecting kindness. “The Twice Blessed Legion marches on Chopie and his evil. We do not wish harm to the people of this land. In fact, if you follow the path the Legion took to get here, you will find a place of safety and comfort.”

A voice from the crowd interrupted, shouting “Usurper!” Duke’s keen Insight and DUNGEON SENSE made it easy to pinpoint the man who shouted. Duke didn’t need his XENOGLOSSIA to see the defiance in the man’s face and read how different it was from everyone around him.

Duke turned to the woman holding her child and spoke. “May I offer you some relief from your long journey?” He produced a pastry that had been sitting in his INVENTORY and handed it to her. As she tentatively took it, he fired off a rapid CLEANSE and RESTORE with a significant Mana boost. The Abilities washed over the crowd, removing the grime of the road as well as countless years of wear from all their clothes. Shoes repaired themselves, frayed hems re-knitted, and torn fabric became whole and clean.

The shock of the change quickly rippled through the people gathered on the road as even the road repaired itself beneath their feet. As they stared in wonder at the change, Duke calmly walked through the crowd who parted in awe before him. He approached the man who had shouted and stood before him. The man was about six centimeters shorter than Duke and now that his uniform had been repaired and cleansed of the mud that had been caked on it revealed himself to be wearing the king’s livery.

Duke stood before him and asked a simple question, “After all the atrocities and evil Chopie has inflicted upon his own people, do you still find yourself unwaveringly loyal to the Lich King, or does your heart yearn for freedom from his oppression?” Duke could feel his PURPOSE stirring to life as he spoke, amplifying the Psyche he was pouring into his words. Everyone around them unconsciously took a step or two backward, distancing themselves from the man.

“I…I” The man stammered, suffering immense internal conflict. “I pledged my life to my King.”

A feeling from deep inside of Duke’s soul welled up. He could feel the full fire of his PURPOSE infusing him with unknowable power. Duke answered, his voice reverberating across the crowd with the power unleashed by his PURPOSE. “No man, not even a god can uphold a vow of fealty to a king that turns on his own people. His actions have abdicated his Right to Rule and, in turn, has Freed you from your oath!”

A shudder passed through the man as the struggle between binding oath and the power of Duke’s PURPOSE warred within. As the man’s scream of agony erupted, Aurelia and Eihlen arrived through the parted crowd. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground. Eihlen swept forward to treat him only to find him rising to his feet with a rapturous smile. She stepped back to give the man room to stand. Duke surreptitiously IDENTIFIED the man, learning his name to be Brondar.

“I am freed! Praise the gods! I am freed from mine oath to Chopie!” He immediately fell to his knees before Duke and began to speak.

Before another word could be spoken, Duke stopped him. “Brondar, you have just been freed from a life oath. Don’t you DARE make one to me. Instead, take your newfound freedom and do something to make this world a better place. Perhaps starting by offering these people fleeing from your former master the protection of your blade.”

Immediately, Brondar rose to his feet. “I offer you my heartfelt thanks, Your Grace. I was sent to infiltrate these people and find where they wound up hiding. I must tell you that Chopie knows you are coming and has laid several traps for you and your army along the road.”

Duke smiled. “Good. I need the exercise. Explain what you know of these traps to General Aurelia. I have more that needs to be done right now.”