Chapter 850 Prototype

Ilea rolled over on the bed and grabbed a blanket. She smiled when Felicia moved closer to hug her from behind.

“I missed this,” the woman said in a whisper.

Ilea turned around, close to her now, looking into the yellow eyes. She could feel her breath. “If you’re looking for more…”

Felicia shook her head. “No. This is quite alright.” She sighed. “I have my duties, just as you have yours.”

“I just fight monsters,” Ilea said and smiled.

Felicia tapped her forehead. “A duty to yourself is still a duty.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Ilea said and kissed the woman. “But we should keep making time.”

“We should,” Felicia said and kissed her back. “I should prepare. We have another meeting with the military in an hour,” she said and sat up.

“Aki wanted to show me something anyway,” Ilea said as she cleaned herself with heated ash, summoning a set of comfortable clothes onto her body. She fell back onto the bed and sighed, looking at the curved ceiling painted in a dark red color, intricate carvings decorating each corner of the room. The windows were massive, the busy sounds of Virilya floating into the room as Felicia cleared the air with the help of her magic.

“Best not tell me about it. People know about us, and Alyris loves collecting whatever she can know. And not just her,” Felicia said, turning around. “How do I look?”

A well fitted vest in red and gray covered her chest and arms, the neckline high and tight. Her hair was put up and perfectly in line, a pin showing the Redleaf insignia held it all together. She wore no makeup. Felicia wore black leather pants neither too tight nor too loose, her boots black as well and both fitting for a town hall and the battlefield.

“Like a General,” Ilea said. She bit her lip and flopped onto her belly, her ash supporting the bed in this dangerous maneuver. Both hands supporting her chin, she smiled a mischievous smile. “Maybe next time we should start like that.”

Felicia stared at her, not a hint of a smile on her face before she tilted her head slightly. “Maybe we should.”

“Not bad,” Ilea said, grinning like an idiot.

Felicia turned and looked at the large mirror in her room. “Maybe I should have something similar made for you. Your interest in clothing is far too limited for a lady of your standing. Your legend, really.”

“I’m famous for my terrifying ash armor, not for dresses and skirts,” Ilea said.

“I know. I’ll still have some things put together if you don’t mind,” Felicia said.

“I don’t,” Ilea said and teleported out of the bed. She stretched before hugging Felicia.

“My hair,” the woman said but hugged her back a moment later.

“Your hair is fine,” Ilea said. “I’ll see you.”

“If you don’t get yourself killed,” Felicia said.

Ilea kissed the woman one last time before she teleported out into the city. Her wings spread and moved, bringing her a few hundred meters ahead. She slowed and landed on a busy road.

Wagons pulled by Guardians rushed past, some of the machines simply carrying crates themselves, others carrying people.

Public transport I suppose, Ilea thought. Guess something more akin to trains or buses would make more sense. She didn’t doubt Aki had something in the making already. Ilea assumed changing up the production facilities to make anything other than the intended Guardians was quite an undertaking.

She watched a group of soldiers walk past, trying very hard not to stare at her.

This title is going to be the end of me.

The end of my peace, she thought with a sigh. Oh the woes faced by Lilith!

She walked into a bakery she found by smell alone and bought a few pastries. More than five people would eat at a breakfast. But the she wasn’t exactly normal people.

Teleporting up to the roof of an especially nice looking, and sturdy house, Ilea leaned back and enjoyed the view over a large section of Virilya, eating croissants filled with jam and covered in powdered sugar.

Life is good, she thought, straining her eyes for a moment to look at the suns. She almost expected them to vanish in that moment, but nothing happened. They shined on, as they had for likely millions of years before.

Ilea finished her breakfast lunch or whatever description would’ve been the appropriate choice for a normal human with actual physiological need for food.

She summoned a gate below and fell off the roof, rolling to a stop in the domain of the Meadow.

“Hello. Aki wanted to see me,” Ilea said, lying on her back on the ground and looking towards the tree.

“Indeed, here he is,” the Meadow sent before a Hunter Praetorian appeared next to Ilea.

“You are lying on the floor,” the machine said, looking down at her.

“I’m digesting,” Ilea answered.

Aki looked up for a few seconds and then returned his eyes to her. “I managed to modify a Destroyer, creating a prototype of something quite exciting. I wanted to test it in the field.”

“How can I help?”

“A gate in Iz,” Aki said.

“I had to remove that location, but I can set it again,” Ilea said. “Got a teleportation gate nearby?”

“I can move you,” the Meadow sent.

Ilea was moved to a random cave in the outskirts of the Meadow’s domain, a taleen gate bringing her to Iz where she could place her Fabric Tear destination once more, replacing the one in the Mava tower after confirming a gate had been added to the current home of the Skal.

“This is it?” Ilea asked, looking at the large flying machine, almost looking like an armored upside down scorpion.

“Yes,” Aki sent.

“It’s a little bulkier,” Ilea said.

“Let’s go back to the Meadow, we can test it in the northern lands within its Domain,” Aki said.

“What about the storms?” Ilea asked.

“A Destroyer will withstand them,” Aki answered.

“If you say so,” Ilea murmured, stepping back into the domain of the Meadow.

The tree moved her out into the desolate northern landscape. There was nothing but sun, stone, and dust. She couldn’t see any storms in the vicinity.

“Aki asks that you open a gate large enough for the Destroyer to fly through,” the Meadow sent to her, from its distant location below Hallowfort.

Ilea focused on the area and opened the gate. She watched as the Destroyer came flying through and landed, the top bit shifting and expanding, metal support beams extending before digging into the ground around the machine that had turned into a platform instead.

She flew up to get a better view when she felt magic thrum to life. A dozen Guardians appeared and rushed out, securing the location. Another thrum and a second Destroyer appeared. The third brought two Praetorians while the second Destroyer landed and shifted into a platform in turn.

“You got your mobile setup,” Ilea said. “Kind of terrifying to be honest.”

“It’s good that it’s in my hands then,” Aki spoke through one of the Praetorians nearby, more and more machines appearing. “If I have forty seconds to set up uninterrupted, I can bring an army one hundred thousand strong onto the field. Anywhere on this continent.”

“Terrifying, as I said,” Ilea repeated.

“Once I have enough modified Destroyers that is. Currently it’s just these two,” Aki spoke. “The Meadow reports no issues with the enchantments. This version should be good.”

Ilea just watched as more and more machines appeared on the platforms, already a few hundred present. The larger more powerful models took up more space on the platforms but not every enemy required Praetorians, let alone Executioners.

“Are you working on higher level models by the way?” Ilea asked.

The Praetorian glanced at her. “Of course. The intricacy of production is difficult, even for the Accords including the Meadow, me, and the Taleen, but the bottle neck will likely be the same as for the Core Guardians. Energy consumption. There are no places known to me with enough ambient mana to power the four mark machines for longer than a few minutes at most. The Source can support them at a certain distance, but beyond that, it’s near impossible as consumption seems to be increasing at an exponential curve compared to levels.”

“No way to tap into another source? Like the fabric or something?” Ilea asked.

“We are conducting research, but we don’t expect any major breakthroughs in the coming decades sadly,” Aki spoke. “With the pooled resources of the Accords however, and the rich realm of Elos, we are however sure to progress.”

“Sounds good. So you still need me to deploy the first Destroyer I assume?” she asked.

“For now. But strategically placed static platforms are being constructed as we speak. Many have already been finished. Throughout Accord territory and the wilderness,” the machine said. “Both to deploy machines and troops, but just as much for the transport of goods and civilians. The network will be the main key to evacuation plans concerning threats that endanger entire cities or even countries.”

“I doubt there would be much time if a Monarch, Oracle, or an Elemental attack a city,” Ilea said.

“No. Any calculations suggest a high mortality rate. But any improvement is not only desirable but necessary,” the machine said. “Until I can protect the Accords from any possible threat.”

“Is that your goal?” she asked.

“One among many,” Aki answered.

“What kind of entity are you basing those threats on by the way? Me?” she said.

“The most powerful being on which I have reliable data. The Meadow,” Aki said.

Ilea crossed her arms. “Right. I was walking right into that one.”

“The Meadow with your resilience, ability to regenerate, your mobility and your teleportation,” Aki added. He sounded entirely serious.

“That suggestion is a little more terrifying than your network, I won’t lie,” Ilea said after thinking about it for a moment.

“And that is why we need to prepare, why my goal is yet to be met, if ever I can fulfill such a monumental task,” Aki said. “But it’s exciting, I think. To even consider it. Compared to my previous form as a consciousness imprinted on a dagger.”

“You are pretty impressive, old friend,” Ilea said.

“I do what I can,” the machine spoke as the Guardians started to return to Iz.

“Should I open a gate for the Destroyer?” Ilea asked.

“No. One can remain in the Domain of the Meadow.”

“Fair,” Ilea said.

“A successful test scenario,” the Meadow sent. “My congratulations. Ilea, Ren Va has asked for you. Something in regards to the Heart of Verivyen. There is not rush.”

“I have time, before I go hunting again,” Ilea sent back. And I should get back to it soon. Aki is already building mobile teleportation platforms. She cracked her neck. “You can bring me to him.”

Her space magic resistance deactivated as the last of the machines left, metal plating shifting with mechanical noises as the remaining platform started to turn back into a Destroyer.

Ilea felt the spell of the Meadow manifest before she was moved through the fabric, and into it’s Domain.

The Mava was waiting for her, bowing his head before he established a telepathic link.

“Godslayer. You honor me with your presence,” the arcane fox sent. “Our Skal has invited many from the desert and beyond, to witness and take part in the ritual of our Heart’s revival. You too have been invited to this sacred festival, if you would find interest in such matters.”

“It does sound pretty interesting. How long are we talking?” she asked.

“The ritual itself will take place tonight. The festival will endure for twelve cycles, but do not fret if you are considering social or political ramifications. You do not require to join, or stay. But to have one more present, blessed with the fires of creation, would be a great honor,” Ren Va explained. “And the very one who has returned the Heart.”

“I’ll join you tonight, but I should be back to my hunt by tomorrow,” Ilea answered.

“That is most welcome,” the fox spoke and bowed yet again. “The location of the ritual lies deep within the desert. I would show the way, if you please, or you may contact me within the next five hours.”

“I can join you now,” Ilea said. She didn’t have a specific target in mind at the moment. Maybe the Mava have a suggestion for me. They must know of some powerful beings in the west.

Ren Va glanced up before Ilea felt another space magic pull from the Meadow.

They appeared in the same cavern housing the Taleen teleportation platform. Aki was already informed and the gate set for the intended destination.

Ilea appeared alongside Ren Va in the tower of his Skal.

Dry desert winds flowed past as Ilea felt the different air and the heat. They were high up but as she looked around, she couldn’t find a single fox or even one of the Druned. Instead there were two standard Praetorians present to guard the gate.

“Everyone else already left?” she asked.

“Indeed. I have returned after your inclusion was requested by our Skal, and accepted by the others,” Ren Va said. “I apologize for the short notice. Many of us have committed time to the efforts of the Accords, otherwise this festival would have been planned for months in the future. And it would last far longer than mere twelve days and nights.”

“No worries,” Ilea said as she spread her wings, the fox already flying out of the tower.

She followed, the two quickly speeding up towards their destination.

Ilea struck up a conversation a few minutes into their flight. “What is the Heart anyway?”

The fox glanced back at her. “You will see.”

“Mysterious are we. Do you know of any high level creatures in the area? Anything worth for me to hunt?” she asked instead.

“There are beings that come and go. Some considered gods by our Skal or others. Some a mere menace to our kind and the creatures of our lands, while others are a blessing. We do not track such beings as your green eyed machines would, I’m afraid. If you seek dangerous creatures, I suggest the Elven Domains to the north and east, the oceans to the south and west, or the Cursed Marsh, though even the Elves dare not venture there.”

“Seems like a good destination for me then,” Ilea said. Not sure if I want to see that Leviathan again to be honest. I guess I should, if only because I’m afraid of it.

“Do you have many festivals?” she asked.

“We do. However as I understand it, your kind counts the days and seasons of the years. Our festivities are less, static,” the fox replied, with a slight grin. “I must ask, Lady Ilea. Did you bring more of the sacred cake, gifts of revered Popi?”

Ilea smiled at that. “Maybe I did.”

The fox took in a deep breath but kept flying, dunes rushing past below.

“I was wondering. Why is the flame of creation so special? What do you know of it?” Ilea asked.

“You bear it, yet you do not know. I am not surprised. A Spirit of Old travels with you and sits on your shoulder. You are blessed, and I am sure the flame was gifted to you by their kind, in one way or the other,” he spoke.

“So it’s all about the Fae?” Ilea said.

“Indeed. It is said, when first the creatures of the world started to feel and to see, that it was the Spirits of Old who guided them, who protected them against ravaging monsters and the fury of the elements themselves. It was them it is said, who have taught our kind how to wield magic, how to fight for ourselves, how to build, and thrive. I have considered those words and stories, and perhaps some of it is an exaggeration. Are we not born with the ability to wield magic? Are we not born with the ability to fight? And yet I still believe, that in a time long past, the Fae were there, teaching and protecting, as they are here now, watching, and learning themselves,” Ren Va explained.

“I can imagine them being helpful to random creatures,” Ilea said. Maybe beings started to develop consciousness at some point and the Fae were just interested in this new phenomenon, and wanted to prolong it, observe it. Or they really just wanted to help. Who knows.

How old exactly is Baron Violence?

“You don’t know when that time was, do you?” Ilea asked.

“Nobody does,” Ren Va said. “It is said the world was formed, when the first Dragon fought the Primordial Elemental, the latter winning the battle which lasted millennia, fracturing in the process, the remains of those two entities now shaping the magic and the elements you see all around. I assume if such a story could be true, that the Fae came soon after.”

“Why did the Dragon and the Elemental start to fight?” Ilea asked.

“Do they need reason to battle?” Ren Va asked.

Ilea would’ve thought the question a cheap answer for a possible plot hole in the history of existence, but all she could think of was the Wind of Aveer. Maybe that’s actually how it happened. At least moving on the corpse of a massive Dragon is pretty awesome.

“It’s a nice story,” she said.

“That it is,” the fox replied.

They continued in silence for the better part of twenty minutes before he slowed.

Ilea could already see the strange structures in the distance, a bustling mess of towers connected by bridges swaying in the winds. Spells flashed up from time to time, small creatures running after each other on and around what she could only describe as a city.

“Your capital? Or an old town the Druned once built?” she asked.

Ren Va stopped in the air and looked at the city of towers. “No. The place chosen for the Heart. Only sands were here when we arrived three days ago.”

“Cool, what are we waiting for then?” Ilea asked with a smile, checking to make sure that she had brought the remaining cakes from Popi.

She had.