Vacant Throne

The vanguard for the Juno Federation included two familiar faces. Made up of only thirty people, Alyssa had to wonder at them sending two arcanists with them. She could honestly not remember either of their names. The man who had been captured by Brakkt and later freed during the incident at the palace was right at the head of the vanguard group. Just to his side and back, the woman who had been with him rode along.

They were all on horses. Most of which were wearing some kind of armor over their heads and backs. All the people were armored up as well. Alyssa, having seen guards around Lyria of both the palace and city variety, couldn’t help but wonder if the Juno Federation deliberately sent the people their shiniest and most well polished knight-like armor they had to this little thing. They had definitely not worn their armor while crossing the majority of the desert or it would be covered in dirt.

That wasn’t to say that Lyria’s entourage was filthy or grungy. The First Prince had armor that was clearly enchanted given that it literally glowed with a a shiny white light. Brakkt’s armor didn’t shine, but was impressive and imposing in its own right. However, everyone else really didn’t have anything too impressive. The guards were palace guards—Oxart had not come as she was doing her job back in the war room—and had nice enough armor, but most of the actual metal was covered by cloth hauberks and tabards. They weren’t here with something to prove. They were here for function over aesthetics.

Alyssa and Companion were equipped a little differently. Alyssa was in the dragon armor. For Companion, she had conjured up some equipment more similar to a military battle dress uniform. She didn’t think there was much of a reason to appear in camouflage, so she had tried to match its coloration to the dragon scales. It was mostly a series of overlapping Kevlar armor plates that Alyssa figured would be good enough for most of what a medieval society could throw at them… except perhaps arrows. Kevlar armor was apparently not rated for piercing protection. Still, she figured it would be better than nothing.

Appearance-wise, Alyssa and Companion looked more like they were wearing slightly black suits. Alyssa’s was relatively slim. Companion’s was a bit bulky. Looking like the kind of thing a fire fighter might wear.

Companion wasn’t the happiest about her unflattering appearance.

Alyssa really didn’t care.

She did wish that she would have had the time to make Kevlar armor for the draken too. Only Ensou actually had armor made for it, Izsha, Musca, and Dasca had never marched into a situation like this before. The First Prince wanted them all to use horses at first, but had changed his mind upon Brakkt commenting that draken riders would be faster to respond to any subversion or danger, thus being able to act to protect everyone else. Not to mention the intimidation factor. So Alyssa got to reunite with Izsha, something that hadn’t really happened since the feast.

Luckily, the draken had natural armor in their scales, so she wasn’t too worried about them getting hit with a stray arrow.

Now a cannonball, on the other hand, would probably blast right through their hide. However, Alyssa doubted that a layer of Kevlar would help much if one of those were coming their direction. Companion said that she would keep an eye out. Alyssa trusted her awareness, knowing that she had Irulon’s skills in observation, but she would still be keeping her own eyes open.

The entire force from Lyria consisted of about fifty people. Enough to outnumber the approaching vanguard, but not be so overwhelming that they might turn around before there was a chance to find out why they were approaching in the first place. The First Prince decided to ride out about a quarter of the way to them and then simply wait. Lyria didn’t want to be seen as desperate to engage in any negotiations. So they were going to let the vanguard from the Juno Federation be the ones to ride up to them.

Which resulted in a short period of downtime before they would actually meet. A pair of arcanists from the palace guard had set up some protections, just in case the vanguard decided to snipe them with spells or cannonballs—though no scouts had reported the vanguard carrying cannons at all. Through her binoculars, Alyssa couldn’t see any either.

Still, with the two arcanists from the Society of the Burning Shadow leading the group, the protections were probably for the best.

“This armor you have crafted…”

Alyssa raised an eyebrow, glancing over to Companion as she lowered her binoculars. “Hmm?”

“It is… hot.”

“You’re welcome to take it off if you aren’t happy with it.” Though Companion did have a point. The former dragon had used a Chill spell already to try to cool down. Alyssa was just creating cool air underneath her outfit while destroying hot air. It was a bit of a complex task that took a little focus, but not so much that she couldn’t participate in conversation. “Just be glad you’re not crammed into a tin can,” she added, glancing to Brakkt.

“My armor is enchanted,” he said, voice flat.

“Well, yours might be. What about everyone else?”

“Better to be a little warm than to lose an arm. Or worse.”

“Yeah. I get that.” Though Alyssa still could hardly believe suits of armor were real. Obviously, she knew they were real. She had never worn one, but she had entered a car on a hot day and had burned herself on the hot metal of a seatbelt buckle more times than she would ever admit. Wearing a suit of armor in broad daylight had to be nearly as bad as that. In this world, at least, there was magic that would help out some people. Back on Earth? Medieval knights would have been absolutely baking inside their gear.

“Settle down,” the First Prince called out. “They are almost upon us. Arcanists! Be ready for any surprises. Everyone else… leave the talking to me.”

“Hm.” Companion directed Musca forward with a small huff, bringing her in line with the First Prince.

Despite his shiny silver armor—which was probably enchanted against the heat as well—he did not wear a helmet. Which gave everyone a clear view of his scowl as he glanced at his not-quite sister. Though he didn’t actually comment on her moving up to him.

A tense few moments passed. Nobody spoke, but looking around, Alyssa noticed subtle changes in how everyone sat. The guards shifted, weapons not quite at the ready, but definitely out and ready to get ready. Some wielded long swords, giant ones that would be too hefty to use while on the ground, but could use the power of a horse charging while mounted. Others had spears. With the opposing force now within sight range of everyone, not just people Alyssa handed binoculars out to, their grips had shifted.

The arcanists had their tomes out, ready to cast a variety of spells as the situation required. Even Brakkt had straightened his back, resting his palm on the hilt of his enchanted sword. Kasita, present as well for possible diplomacy should the Juno Federation bring up monsters or their treatment, was about the only person who looked completely relaxed.

Alyssa, contrary to her expectations, was feeling a little calm. She was pretty sure that she would be able to obliterate any incoming threats as long as she kept her awareness up. A few scans of the souls in the area revealed no invisible foes, so no chance of a shadow assassin popping up behind her. Sudden esoteric magic effects were a concern. The area deleting spell the brigand leader had tried to use during Volta’s rescue came to mind.

Just because the Juno Federation wasn’t supposed to be all that magically advanced did not mean that Alyssa wouldn’t be watching out for any flashes of spell cards.

Bastiel was still following Alyssa round, but the angel seemed content to simply watch for the time being. Alyssa hadn’t tried talking to her since joining up with this group, not wanting to look like a crazy person in front of the others. It wasn’t like the Virtue was going to tell her anything anyway.

Tenebrael, on the other hand, had responded to Alyssa’s message asking for her to please make the Virtue go somewhere else when the fighting started. Which Alyssa assumed was because of souls. Tenebrael, not wanting to interact with the Virtues, was going to have a hard time collecting souls when the fighting broke out. And Tenebrael’s text had said that she was expecting a fight.

Alyssa hadn’t told anyone what Tenebrael had said just yet. Tenebrael’s book had changed before. It could always change again. Telling people that a fight was a foregone conclusion might make them not seek alternates that could be more peaceful.

The Juno Federation slowed their approach a half a football field away, coming to a complete stop not long after. The First Prince did not approach. The Lyrian group stayed right where they were, simply watching and staring. They didn’t call out or make any noise. Alyssa had to wonder how imposing it might have been for the Juno Federation. A much larger group of their life-long enemies were staring them down, completely nonplussed despite almost certainly knowing about the army that was at their backs.

After a long moment and some obvious discussion going on among the enemy force, the lead five riders dismounted. The two people who Alyssa recognized among them. The rest of their people quickly followed suit. From there, they started marching forward in neat rows of seven people.

The First Prince stayed mounted, watching until they were about ten yards away. He held up a hand. “That is far enough. You barbarians have never met with us before a battle in the past. Come to realize that your leaders are sending you to your deaths and you wish to surrender? We are prepared to be merciful to those who lay down their arms.”

The woman Alyssa recognized clenched her fists. She looked like she was about to take a step forward when the man next to her held out an arm. “Amusing you should say that, Prince. I am called Bercilak and am here as a herald of the Juno Federation. We are here to offer you much the same as what you just said to us. Surrender and your people will be spared the edge of our blades.”

“Rejected,” Companion said instantly before the First Prince could even open his mouth.

To his credit, he didn’t even glare, merely taking her interjection in stride.

“A monster would speak for the prince of Lyria?” Bercilak asked, mockery in his tone.

The First Prince put on his own smile, gesturing to his side. “This monster is the human form of a true dragon, here to aid Lyria.”

“Among other things,” Companion added.

“A dragon?” the woman scoffed. “You expect us to believe that a dragon turned itself into a human?”

“Believe whatever you want to believe. It is the truth.”

“We would ask for proof.”

“Proof?” Companion shook her head. “How would I do such a thing? Turn into my true form? Everyone here would be crushed beneath my claws, turned to a scrap of red jelly that I would barely notice. No. We have nothing to prove to you.”

“As for your threat…” the Prince continued. “The City of Lyria has never faced a single defeat from your periodic assaults. The people of your armies will be given their last rites by a Doctor of Divinity and interred within a plot of land we have cordoned off specifically for the warriors of the Juno Federation. Just as always. Today will not change from the set pattern of history.”

Bercilak smiled, spreading his arms wide with his palms facing upward. The motion caused a ripple of tension to cross over the people from Lyria until they realized it wasn’t an attack, but just a needlessly overly dramatic gesture. “On the contrary… We come today with prophecy on our side.”

Alyssa couldn’t help but scoff at hearing that. It was possible that Adrael had whispered something into someone’s ears before being locked up. Alyssa was fairly certain that she remembered overhearing someone at the Juno outpost saying something about prophecy. Layla or Liadri or something similar to that. Those prophecies might very well have been real predictions—whether taken from that Tree Diagram thing or Tenebrael’s black book didn’t matter—but they could change just as easily as Alyssa could nudge a pebble.

In fact, her presence here might already be changing something. She couldn’t say for sure.

“The disbelief on your faces is palpable,” Bercilak said. “But your belief will not alter the outcome. We will be prepared for battle by daybreak. Victory will be ours by sunset. So it has been foretold.”

The confidence this man projected was astounding. He truly believed what he was saying. Alyssa wasn’t sure how much everyone around her believed in anything resembling superstition—they definitely believed in Tenebrael, but she had the side benefit of being mildly real. They must have believed at least a little. She didn’t know why. If an enemy who would find it advantageous to disturb her mindset showed up with something that might disturb her mindset, she would take it with a grain of salt. A big grain of salt.

Alyssa had half a mind to try to debase them of their notions—both the Juno Federation and anyone from Lyria stupid enough to believe them—but this was still the First Prince’s show.

“You would ask for proof of my being a dragon yet offer none for your far more outlandish claim? Embarrassing. And… Unfortunately for you,” Companion said with a wide grin before the First Prince could speak, “Your prophecy means little in the face of Tenebrael’s power. And we are blessed with the presence of Her Avatar. Unlike your claim or my claim, this is easily provable.”

Alyssa immediately felt a tinge of nausea in her stomach. The Pharaoh had deliberately asked that she not do anything. And while she had given him some flack for that, she didn’t really want to be a liar when she said she wouldn’t do anything. Though it was clear that the negotiations were… not really negotiations at all.

Companion was clearly expecting her to do something with the way she was looking back. A quick look at the First Prince had him offering a subtle nod. So that was permission, she supposed. Though permission for what, Alyssa wasn’t quite sure. Just showing off her glowing eyes was probably not enough. Glancing upward, she considered just blasting another, far more intentional hole in the moon.

But it was probably best to not do anything that could screw with planetary systems. And it probably wouldn’t do much aside from make her look like a powerful arcanist. Showing off that she was Tenebrael’s powerful arcanist…

Alyssa slumped slightly as the idea came to mind. It would be simple. Far less impressive than blasting a hole in the moon, but possibly more impressive to these people.

It would also be incredibly embarrassing.

But… after shooting a glare at Companion for making her do this, Alyssa created a bright flash of light over her body. Over her armor, a dress similar to the one she had worn at the feast appeared. Recreating that dress had been a little bit of a side project as of late. It wasn’t perfect, but the blinding light would hopefully help hide that. And hide the fact that she hadn’t actually taken off the dragon scale armor. Unable to recreate it, she didn’t want to destroy it.

Behind her back, Alyssa conjured up two pairs of wings, darkening the light to mimic Tenebrael’s. Altering the effect of gravity on her, Alyssa began hovering. Not high. Just enough to keep the tips of her toes above Izsha. It was a delicate balance, reversing gravity just enough then pulling herself back down. If she went up too high, she was pretty sure she would end up cutting off the spell entirely regardless of how dignified her landing might be. But for the moment, she was pretty sure she was having the effect she wanted.

Many of the Juno Federation had staggered backward. Their faces were twisted in obvious and quite terrible awe. Even some of the Lyrian guard were. Alyssa had to wonder just how it looked from the outside. From where she was, this was embarrassing. Just hovering above Izsha felt incredibly awkward. And… she was just now realizing that she should probably say something.

“Your… prophecy was delivered by Archangel Adrael. An adversary of Dominion Tenebrael. Archangel Adrael is currently imprisoned outside this universe and has been a prisoner for roughly a month. I imagine your people have been lost or have had their powers fail since then? Perhaps even earlier than that. Regardless, you will receive no support today. If you continue marching toward the city of Lyria, your armies will be… Annihilated.”

To punctuate her statement, Alyssa created an Annihilator spell and immediately consumed it, firing a beam of white-hot destruction directly over their heads and off into the horizon. The same horizon that their armies were currently traversing.

It… also punched a hole in the ring around the planet. She had deliberately been avoiding the moon, but forgot about the stupid ring.

So much for not screwing up celestial bodies.

By the time the light died down, the Juno Federation was fleeing without a single word of departure. Their horses and the few who stayed behind were charging away as well, scattering every which way. They would have to flee on foot.

“Go,” Alyssa said, cringing as she spoke. She wasn’t even sure if any of them were still listening. “Tell your countrymen that all that awaits them here is death.”

She waited just a moment longer, watching as they all scattered while trying to ignore the looks her allies were giving her—and their own struggle with their horses—before dropping back into Izsha’s saddle. She didn’t dare look to her sides, fearing what she might see on Brakkt’s face, or Kasita’s, or even Companion’s. Alyssa simply stared dead ahead…

Until she heard a soft “Ufu~” to her side.

Trying to turn it into a small joke, Alyssa decided to put on her least cringiest smile. “Do you think I over-did it?”