AoP | B2 | Chapter 65: Colony (Patreon)

The caravan's wheels groaned with a rhythmic sound that did nothing to ease the tension in the cramped cabin. Seth sat across from Reat as they headed north toward the city closest to the Warfare Rifts. The professor leaned his head back against the cabin wall, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, but for the first time his expression made him an open book to Seth.

The man's victory over Sergeant Faertis had been absolute, yet the triumph for the professor had faded. Now, all Seth could see was the hollow ache that vengeance left behind.

Professor Reat let out a long yawn and stretched his arms. "Hopefully Celine can pull together a group of adventurers that won't get slaughtered the second they step into that Rift."

"Yeah, hopefully," Seth answered. 

He'd already told Reat everything: about Kaelen and his sister, and about the empire having its own portal to enter the Cave of the Elements. It had made the professor's plan to secure the Seeds a thousand times more complicated. On one hand, Kastal needed to flood the Rift with its own people. 

On the other hand, Reat clearly didn't want to share a treasure trove of that magnitude with the Great Houses—even with the ones that weren't completely corrupt. 

As Seth knew all too well, greed could make monsters out of men.

"Try not to do anything stupid in the Warfare Rifts," Professor Reat said as his gaze landed on Seth. "Don't sacrifice yourself trying to help a few people who will probably be dead anyway the next day. It's not worth it." 

He paused, shaking his head as if trying to reconcile the image of the student he had first met with the one standing before him. A look of grudging awe, mixed with an almost fatherly pride, appeared on his face. "You killed a Silver Wielder while you're still Iron, Seth. All without breaking a sweat. That's... it's unheard of."

Seth pressed his lips into a line as the man continued, "If you keep growing like this, you could play a major role in freeing Kastal from the king."

Seth rubbed his neck, grimacing from the praise. "I don't think it will be any time soon, though. That Dark Assassin from the Empire... he told me the king is just a puppet. That he's being controlled by another country. And it could crush Kastal without any real effort. He's been sending them all of Kastal's resources, all the forbidden stuff. Just so he can keep his ass on the throne."

"Yeah. Volantis," Professor Reat answered.

Seth's eyes widened. "You knew? You and the others from the Champions of Chaos...?"

"Yes." The man nodded before looking at the horizon through the caravan's window. "It's something we've been preparing to bring before the NEVAK council. This type of… indirect colony, where a sovereign nation is subjugated into sending resources in exchange for 'protection' from a more powerful country, is quite a common practice. Many of the older, stronger nations have similar arrangements. The Republic is one of the few that actively campaigns against it, arguing that it robs people of their future."

"If it's so common, why would that council care?" Seth asked with a frown. "And why did the empire attack us if we have that protection? Aren't they afraid Volantis will retaliate?"

"To answer your second question first: the Empire is getting bold. Orwen's sources say they're about to secure a new, powerful ally, and that's giving them the confidence to make a play for those Legacies. They're betting Volantis won't go into a broader war over a weak colony," Reat explained before leaning forward. "As for the council, our plan is to use an internal 'change in leadership'—getting rid of Theron—to petition for Kastal's independence. It's a gamble. Sometimes they support these motions; sometimes they look the other way. We're still trying to figure out which political levers to pull, but it's not easy. Getting this type of information when you can only bribe your way into Asethka or any other large Rift-cities once every six months is a nightmare."

Seth bit his lip, processing all the information. True be told, independence would undoubtedly be the best outcome for Kastal, as it would give its citizens ownership of the resources of their land once more. Then a thought struck him. Marcus might know. He's aware of most of those people's motivations.  

"I can ask my friend," Seth said. "The Alchemist. See if he knows anything that could help us."

"Us?" Professor Reat repeated, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "So, I guess you're in, then?"

"Did you really think I wouldn't be, Professor?" Seth said with a grim smirk of his own. "My biggest dream has always been to get rid of nobles like the Faertis."

"Yeah, but don't expect all of them to be happy about it," Reat retorted. "Like your friends from House Surani. Even if they're decent to commoners, I doubt they'll be eager to give up their rights, their status, and all of their advantages."

Seth nodded, knowing what the man meant by that. Once they got there, it'd be up to Elena to show how much she wanted Kastal to change for the good. Or not.

After another long moment of silence, Seth looked back to Professor Reat. "What will happen to Intendant Lancet now?"

"I'll let Ryehill handle her," Reat answered before straightening up and closing his eyes for a brief instant. "He won't kill her. That'd be too… extreme. But he'll make sure she doesn't cause this kind of trouble again. At least not to either of us."

"Isn't that risky? Doing that before Orwen breaks through to Platinum?"

"Not really. The Lancet House isn't one of the Twenty Great Houses. Their influence is minimal, and no one will risk a war against the Champions of Chaos and the Ryehill House for them."

Seth took that in for a second, then his brows furrowed. "This... 'colony' status with Volantis, do people know about it? The other nobles and high-Tier Wielders?"

"Yes and no," Reat replied, slowly lifting his gaze to meet Seth's. "Anyone who somehow went to a Rift city like Asethka can see how Kastal is crippled and guess that our resources are being given to someone. But is it common knowledge?" He let the question hang for a beat. "No."

"Makes sense," Seth muttered. "If people knew the truth, they'd be furious."

"Would they?" Reat let out a heavy sigh, and some cynicism returned to his voice as he said, "People already know the king is a greedy bastard. That he hoards everything for himself. What real difference does it make if he's giving it away or keeping it? Either way, the people have nothing. And aside from a few Houses who are trying to change that, most just close their eyes and lick his boots."

Seth's mouth tightened. The professor wasn't wrong. They couldn't rely on nobles or anyone else to help them out. In the end, only one thing would ever speak loud enough to change anything: strength. The kind of strength that could force each and every House to bend the knee… and allow Seth and his allies to bring their own justice.

Outside the small, rattling window, the sun was now a red smear against the horizon, slowly sinking below the endless plains. The wheel was in motion. Change was coming. And soon, people would have to choose a side.

While Seth would fight against the empire in the name of a tyrant, he knew the real war would unfold in the shadows, driven by the Champions of Chaos. He intended to join them the moment he possessed the strength—then, he could drag that man down, along with everyone who had propped up his reign.

*****

Seth stepped out of the caravan, his boots hitting the packed earth of the street. Professor Reat followed him, arms stretching once again. Above them, the twin moons shone high in the sky and cast an ethereal light over the surrounding buildings. On the way in, they had passed the city limits, where a sea of hundreds of simple canvas war-tents had been set up for the common soldiers and adventurers. 

Here in the city, however, the atmosphere was different. The inns in this neighborhood were all brightly lit, their windows warm, their stables full. This was where the nobles and the academy squads were quartered.

Seth pulled his communication orb from his pouch and infused a small wisp of aether to send a message to Elena.

Seth:  I just arrived with Reat.

The reply was almost instantaneous.

Elena: I'll be waiting in front of your squad's inn. The Drunken Drake. It's two streets over the caravan station.

Seth grimaced. He hadn't thought she would want to meet up this late at night. But then he remembered the blue spell-shard in his Endless Pouch he'd acquired. Right. At least that's the occasion to give it to her.

"Don't forget the potion tomorrow morning," Professor Reat said, his voice jarring Seth from his thoughts. "Before you meet all the others in front of the Warfare Rifts."

"Yeah, I won't."

By the time Seth had turned to look at Reat, the professor was already gone, his figure melting into the shadows of a side street. Seth let out a long, steadying breath, then set off toward the Drunken Drake.

He found it easily. Elena was waiting outside just as she'd said she would be, her silhouette bathed in the amber glow of the entrance lamps. She wore a crisp white button-down, and her crimson hair was pulled back in a simple knot that only served to highlight the sharp elegance of her features. She was pacing slowly, but the moment her eyes found him, she stopped.

"Hey," Seth said.

A wave of relief washed over the noblewoman's face, then a broad, brilliant smile appeared on her lips. Seth felt a tightening in his chest.

"You made it," she said. "How... how was the Rift dive?"

"It was great."

Elena's smile twisted into a wry, knowing look. "Right. 'Great.' Which means in your language that you almost died a dozen times?"

"Actually only about four," Seth answered, his eyes darting to the few people milling about nearby. "But it was worth it. Especially for my new beast."

"That's... good." A flicker of curiosity appeared in her eyes before disappearing a heartbeat later, replaced by what seemed like genuine concern. "Seth. Tomorrow in the Warfare Rifts. Just... please be careful. Stick with your squad. And for the love of the Gods, use an Escape Scroll the second things get too dangerous. There's no need for you to play the hero."

Seth raised an eyebrow. "And you? Will you do the same? Run at the first sign of trouble?"

"That's different," she argued, then winced. "I'm in a squad of Peak-Irons. We have a real chance of winning our battle. Your squad..." She caught herself before she could say the words, yet the implication hung heavy in the air. Your squad is full of fodder.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about it," Seth answered. "And I'm not just going to leave and let them get slaughtered."

He hadn't pushed himself, Nightmare, and Colossus through hell in the Cave of the Elements just to let Henry, Selena, and the others die because they were weaker than the others from his kingdom. No. I won't let that happen.

Elena pressed her lips together. Seth could see the argument on the tip of her tongue, but she held herself back, knowing it was useless.

Seth used the silence to change the subject, pulling the small crystal shard from his pouch. It glowed with an inner blue light that felt cold to the touch. "I got this in the Rift," he said before holding it out to the noblewoman. "I thought... well, it's your affinity, so it could probably be useful to you later."

Elena looked at the gem, then at him, confusion knitting her brows. She reached out, her fingers brushing against his as she took the crystal. "Seth, I... what is...?" The words died in her throat, and her eyes went wide. "A Silver spell-shard."

Her head then snapped up, the realization hitting her like a punch under the chin. "You killed a Silver-Tier beast?!"

Seth rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah. With help."

A fleeting image of Kaelen's scared face flashed in Seth's mind, though immediately he pushed the memory aside.

"Even with Nightmare... Seth, that's incredible," Elena whispered before storing the spell-shard in her own Endless Pouch. "I'll pay you back for this. I swear it."

"No." Seth shook his head. "You've helped me enough over this year, Elena. You don't owe me a thing. Just... make good use of it."

'You realize she could become an enemy in the future, right?' Nightmare's voice resonated into Seth's mind. 'If she does as that always-tired man said and stands against the Champions of Chaos when they try to tear down this whole noble-commoner thing... this little gift could come back and bite you in the ass... and me in mine.'

Seth's jaw tightened. 'Maybe. But she might make the right choice when the time comes.'

'I would like that too,' Nightmare answered. 'She'd be a great packmate for you. But I think you're being delusional.'

Elena noticed the sudden shift, the way Seth's face hardened. "Seth? What is it? You look..."

He blinked, forcing the inner argument away. He couldn't tell her the truth—that the Champions of Chaos were plotting to burn down the very system she served. "It's nothing. Just... the thought of going to war for him." He didn't need to say the king's name for the implication to be clear. "It makes me uneasy."

Elena's expression grew tight, and her posture stiffened. Seth could see the conflict warring behind her eyes—the clash between the military values she held dear and the growing, painful realization that the rules she so loyally respected were being twisted by a tyrant. It was as if she was slowly taking in that the rot she had always known was there ran far deeper than she had thought, and just how broken the system she defended was.

"I know," she finally answered, her voice laced with what appeared to be resignation. "But... it's still the right thing to do. Defending the kingdom isn't about him. We don't have a choice."

'Hmm,' Nightmare mused in Seth's head. 'Maybe I was wrong. She might make the right choice after all.'

'We'll see,' Seth answered to the direwolf.

"You should get inside," Elena added at last, the worry creeping back into her tone—she'd seemed to push the heavy thoughts aside. "Get some rest."

"Yeah," Seth replied. "You too."

The noblewoman nodded, her hands balled into fists at her hips. She gave him one last, lingering look before turning and walking away, her slender figure gradually disappearing into the night.

'So... she won't join our family?' Colossus's voice rumbled through Link, heavy and confused.

Before Seth could answer, the scorpion continued, 'What about the quick woman in the cave? Could she join?'

'Come on, Small Bite.' Nightmare scoffed in exasperation inside the teardrop necklace. 'She's even more of an enemy than this one!'

'But she helped me!' Colossus protested.

Nightmare huffed. 'I know all this human stuff is... strange, but sometimes people can't be packmates because of where they are from. It's a territory thing. You can't just pick the ones you like.'

Colossus grumbled something back about territories being stupid, but Seth barely listened. He stared for a second longer at the spot where Elena had just vanished, a knot in his gut, then turned and pushed open the heavy wooden door of the inn.