Re: Level 100 Farmer

Chapter 175 - Prologue - Order

Late Fall, Season of Reddening Leaves 

Eclat, the Radiant Capitol of Soleil

It is said in old myth that when the supreme god Helios descended to the mortals, he fashioned for humans a great city wrought from solid sunlight, so brilliant and so pure that no demon nor evil could breach it. 

That city was Eclat, the current capitol of Soleil, and looking upon it, one would not doubt the validity of the myth. It was a sprawling city of incredible size, large enough that Riviera, the smallest of the four capitol cities, could fit within the walls of Eclat five times over. 

The city's design was reminiscent of the sun, comprised of four concentric walls that each housed a district, and these walls were truly unique in that they were not clumsy, towering hunks of brick and metal. No, they were pure sunlight, barriers of magical golden energy that were said to be remnants of the forged sunlight that Helios fashioned, and to this date, nothing had ever breached them.

Not the warring of men, not the frothing of demons, not the raging of dragons. 

Within the innermost ring of Eclat, there towered the royal palace, a fortress of white and gold and blue, and within the boundaries of those gilded walls - no, in a pocket of dimensional space completely sealed off from the outside world - there stood a domed room painted over with black and inlaid with gems to signify the sun, stars, and celestial bodies.

And within, the most powerful force in the entirety of Soleil, no, perhaps the entirety of the world known to man, lay. 

Nine chairs flanked a round table of gleaming marble, and atop those chairs sat the duchess Vivienne and the Ascendant Order.

"The sun shines bright and fortunate that most of the Ascendant Order has finally convened in its entirety," said the duchess Vivienne, though her eyes did lock onto three empty seats. "As much an entirety as could be, given the peculiar circumstances." 

"Where the hells is Swift?" said Sea Shrike, an imposingly built and late middle aged man clad not in bodysuit, but in scale-like bronze armor. His eyes shone bright and yellow through a curtain of ragged and clumped locks of black hair. "We've all been called from our posts, important ones, aye, but Swift has the time to laze about?"

"Swift is on a mission of great significance," said Meld as she leaned forwards, her fingers interlocked together below her chin. 

Sea Shrike scoffed, the gills on his neck flaring as he tugged at his unruly beard. "In Riviera, eh? The vacation city? A load of bollocks, I say to that. Boy's likely drinking and eating his way to restful sleeps every day."

"Meld is correct," said Vivienne. Her crown was humble in size, far less bulky than the old headpiece of Beaumont, appearing more like a sleek, slender tiara, but it still held a royal pride to it that showed in the glimmer of its diadems. "I have sent Swift there to mediate some…unsavory behavior from the priests of Light."

"And is that a wise idea, your highness?" said Sea Shrike, his burly arms crossed. "The faith gives hope to the people, and the priests, though they be scummy, fattened pigs many a time, are still needed."

"The duchess's words are final," said Sunstar sternly. "I will not have them opposed."

"Aye, if only Thunderstrike were here, he'd agree with me," grumbled Sea Shrike. He also looked to the three empty seats. "Our numbers are thinning alarmingly fast. First, it was Valkyrie to the Elves' new damned contraption, and now, Thunderstrike to some damned spirit."

"Thunderstrike's power will find a new heir, and my infiltration to the north has disabled the Elven war ballista," said Meld. "A threat to the north is unlikely, especially in consideration that we are not truly at full blown war, merely skirmishing across the Shuddering Spires.

What is more important to talk about in this rare meeting where most of us can be gathered is that of the heir to Thunderstrike's mystic lightning. Hopefully, one better suited to its responsibilities. On that end, Mindeye, my dear, have you perchance found any such heir yet?"

Mindeye sat cross legged on her chair, her tiny frame almost looking like it was getting swallowed up by it. She was a child no more than ten, a little girl in long, wrinkled sundress and waist length white hair she twirled around her fingers. 

Wrapped around her forehead was a layer of bandages, splotches of dried blood speckled around them, but her eyes did not indicate any pain, simply a bored, tired look. 

"No," said Mindeye quietly. 

A hulking, distinctively inhuman figure stirred in a seat, this time, unlike Mindeye, the figure was not dwarfed by the seat, but instead was far too large for it. Instead of sitting, it instead stood, its towering, spine studded dark green frame lowered hulkingly over the table. 

"In a way, that is to be quite expected," said the figure, its voice surprisingly calm, surprisingly gentle, somewhat hideously contrasting with the blade-toothed, monstrous jaw that uttered them. 

"Unlike the rest of us where our abilities come from within our blood and bodies, the power of Thunderstrike, though heroic in origin, is one that has been inextricably bonded to magic of some sort. Instead of relying on Mindeye's intuitive sight which is far more aptly suited to homing in on heroes such as ourselves, perhaps we should rely upon the Arcana? 

Eclat holds the Fortuna, the most esteemed of Arcana academies, no? The Grand Visionary and his disciples are certain to be able to scry out a thunderstorm laden with mystical energy." 

 "A fair insight, dear Monster," said Vivienne, smiling. "I was certain you would utilize your insight today, which is why I wished to bring you back from Trieste. I am correct to assume that the seditionists among the merchants there have been dealt with?"

Monster smiled, and his green flesh shuddered like a desert mirage, his frame miraculously shrinking and shifting colors until he appeared to be an older man, distinctively human, a little overweight with fair skin unblemished by hard work. 

He was dressed in expensive tunic and trousers marked with royal purple patches that depicted the side profile of a seagull's face – the symbol of the Merchant's Guild in Trieste. 

"All is well in the port city, your highness. The necessary minds have been twisted, and the necessary forms consumed."

The duchess nodded. "Excellent. Then you shall see to it that the Fortuna is also adequately screened of treacherous thoughts before we rely upon them."

"Most certainly," said Monster as he sat in his chair, his human form able to fit comfortably within its bounds.

"Then what's this meeting called for?" said Sea Shrike. "Elvish bastards aren't acting up and no rebellious plot to wrangle with because o' that…Monster over yonder. I've a mighty important post in the southern seas making sure those damned Darkbeasts don't flood the coast. I'd like to return and prevent the mass slaughter o' innocents in Duvin, if you please."

"You dare talk to the duchess in such manner?" said Sunstar as he began to hover above his chair, the light around him growing brighter.

"You want a scrap, sunny boy?" said Sea Shrike. "I've put down arrogant little whelps like you more times than these old bones can count."

Mindeye shrunk into her seat, putting her hands over her ears and burying her face into her knees as she froze up, her breathing growing erratic.

Meld immediately leaped out of her seat to come to Mindeye's side, putting a gentle, soothing hand through the young girl's hair. 

"Both of you," said Meld. "Would be wise to stop, lest you want her to lash out and reduce your brains to paste."

Sea Shrike grumbled as he sat back into his seat, and Sunstar's remained expressionless as he floated down. 

Meld got onto Mindeye's seat and put the little girl on her lap. Mindeye snuggled into the older hero, shivering. 

"This is a meeting of strategy, not a competition between fragile manhoods." Meld nodded to the duchess. "Might I ask how it is going in securing a replacement for Valkyrie?"

"Based on the information presented to me in our last meeting, that would be the half hero in Riviera, no?" said Monster as he crossed his legs and put them atop the table. 

"Gods, the daughter of that poor priestess?" said Sea Shrike as he gave a pointed glare to Sunstar.

"What must be done must be done," said Sunstar simply. 

"An unlikely prospect," said the duchess. "The girl is far too attached to her adventuring life and invoking the memories of her past will not sway her."

"Perhaps," said Monster as he looked at his fingers, watching them shift between human digits to claws to talons to tendrils. "I can be of assistance?"

The duchess was firm. "No. Beyond her own will, she is protected by the Easterner."

A brief silence settled across the room.

"The Easterner, aye?" said Sea Shrike. "Have Mindeye take another look at him. The foreign fool's likely nothing too special. I don't understand why we the mighty hold such caution against one scrawny man who looks like his skin's never seen a day under the summer sun."

At the mention of the word 'Easterner', Mindeye froze again, digging herself deeper into Meld's warmth. The little girl desperately covered her ears with more vigor, her teeth chattering in abject fear.

Meld picked Mindeye up with a sigh. "As insensitive as ever," she said as she left the meeting room, patting Mindeye's head to calm her. She exited by simply walking through one of the walls, her form teleporting out. 

"It makes no damned sense," said Sea Shrike. "I pity the poor little lass, aye, but what can she possibly see that renders her so mute?"

If I may interject," said Monster.

"What is it, monster," said Sea Shrike, uttering the word 'monster' not as a chosen hero's name, but as what the word meant literally – a beast. 

"She displays signs of advanced mental trauma dependent on a single trigger, one that I have seen in the errant rages and distant stares of wartorn veterans, especially among those in the northern frontier whom face constant bombardment by Elven siege weaponry. It would be quite unwise to probe her further lest the condition of her mind fray and she becomes unusable as an asset." 

"Then get a Fortuna arcana mage, witch, whatever the damned job is, to get a read on the Easterner for once," said Sea Shrike. 

"Quite interesting. Yes, very interesting," remarked Monster. "The last time Mindeye was unable to get a read upon a being was when she attempted to reach into Torr Valeris, the domain of the dragons, and Meld speculated that was because the Elder Dragon of myth that the mountain is supposedly built atop yet still lives, its presence far too ancient and far too powerful to penetrate whether it be through conventional magic or our heroic might."

"Apply that same speculation here, for regular clairvoyance fails against him," said the duchess. "Assume that the Easterner holds the military might of a country. We do not cross paths with him for the damage he may wreak upon this duchy that holds so many wondrous lives is unimaginable. 

For now, he chooses a path of gentleness, and though he is making waves in the order of authority in Riviera, it is not anything too drastic. If anything, I quite like him there."

"A being of that might left alone and unchecked in Riviera, one of the cardinal cities?" said Sea Shrike. "And you like him there? Your highness, have you gone mad?"

The duchess raised her hand to check Sunstar from moving and responded with grace. "This meeting was not called to discuss the matter of the Easterner.

I shall move on to our main topic of concern: the Sunspear of myth has landed in the far western ranges of the Hinterlands, and the demons have mobilized to retrieve it, or, more accurately, prevent anyone from wielding it."

The duchess clapped her hands, and the table glowed, becoming completely white with shining magical energy. Writing in black light began to form atop the sheen of light, forming into detailed reports of the Sunspear's location, the demon army's movements, and possible courses of action to take. 

Monster sat up for once, eyes widened. "We have long known of the demonic horde's advance, but the Sunspear? Why, with that, we will become the mightiest nation upon this continent, no, the entirety of this world.

We may need not even need utilize him to best the demons."

"I'd rather not use that sick old thing," said Sea Shrike with a hint of disgust. "Can't the sun child work his magic again? Tear the Burning One from limb to limb?"

"I have tried flying west," said Sunstar. He crossed his arms. "The demons have adapted. They have the means to defeat me with magic of foul nature that not the best of the Arcana can decipher. If I had stayed there any longer, they would have corrupted my mind."

"Would it be wise for me to waste my time infiltrating the Fortuna?" said Monster. "Sunstar is our sword and spear, but it appears the enemy has an apt shield readied against him this time. But my mind is wired quite…differently. Perhaps I can be the silent dagger that slips past their bulwark to slit their throats unawares."

"Aye, I'd gladly abandon my post to ward off the demonic horde, too," said Sea Shrike. "The fate of humanity depends on this after all. The demonic rats have to cross past the vast breadth of the spiritshade river to fully pass the Hinterlands, and that connects to the oceans - I can bring the full might of the western and southern seas bearing down upon them." 

"If you two must be called, then I will call you. For now, do as I have instructed," said the duchess calmly. "If the demons concentrate their attack upon Soleil, then the elves may attempt to make use of our weakness. I cannot have more members of the Ascendant Order away from their posts."

She glanced for the slightest of moments to Meld's empty set. "The demons will make their way to the hinterlands. The primordial spirits in the Howling Groves will not hold them long. Then, they will crash down upon the plainsmen of the hinterlands.

The demons have no true strategy. They swarm and they overpower. There will be a chaotic, full-scale confrontation.

There, that will be the optimal environment to place our creature."

"The hinterlanders are subjects of Soleil, too," said Sea Shrike. "And that thing knows not friend or foe. Even should it best the demons, it will not stop. It will condemn all the hinterlanders to death, and it may even head to Riviera."

"The hinterlanders are subjects in name only," commented Monster. "Realistically, they could be sacrificed, and analytically, they are the most likely group within the duchy to rebel, considering the persecution they faced under Beaumont and the shaky acceptance they find even now. Their destruction also heralds the end of the primal spirits which stand in opposition to an unified faith of Light. 

As the saying goes - two birds, one stone. 

And, if the thing falls to the demons, then we are rid of its presence, and the demons will surely be vastly weakened. If it heads to Riviera, then Mindeye can pacify it. If she cannot calm the it, then, well, we will finally solve the mystery of the Easterner's power that you so very much wish to know, will we not?"

Sea Shrike leered at Monster. "And the lives sacrificed for this stunt? What of them, monster?" 

"What must be done, must be done," said Sunstar. "Unless you wish to oppose us so far from your beloved waters."

Sea Shrike clenched his fists and then shook his head. "I swore the last I would spill needless life was in overthrowing that rotten fool Beaumont. I sank thousands of ships in Sunclear Lake that day all for the sake of a greater peace, to not be slaves of the Elves, and that peace, I do see now. 

But I cannot make that sacrifice again."

"And I am not asking you to," said the duchess. "That is why I want you at your post to the south, defending our seas where it is most vulnerable. Do your duty as you would want to, fending against those with little to their name."

"Then I'll stay here no longer," growled Sea Shrike as he stood and left, his form vanishing when he hit one of the room's walls. 

Vivienne looked to Sunstar, then to Monster. "It appears then those remaining are simply all of like mind. I will brief Meld personally at a later time. Sunstar, come with me, and Monster, I trust you will live up to the name you have chosen for yourself."

"It would be my utmost pleasure, though a tad bit tedious compared to vampire hunting," said Monster as he bowed before heading off. The duchess and Sunstar left as well, leaving the meeting room entirely empty aside from the figure of Meld which materialized out from the wall, stretching out from a shadow an aged portrait cast down.