System Change

A week later, Alanah stood at the window in her office alone. With Gerald and the other nobles dealt with, she was finally able to take a breather. The death of the nobles may have taken a toll on Edwin, but Alanah had been personally involved in a number of the executions. Well, the Deathsworn she commanded had been responsible for carrying out some of the trickier assassinations.

The work was split into three trusted groups. Alanah and her Deathsworn, Natalie and her trusted warriors, and the King’s Royal Guard. So, while Edwin may have ordered it, Natalie and she had both taken part in it. What concerned her the most, though, was that she hadn’t felt much of anything giving the orders. The world was harsh, and she knew this better than most.

She let out a deep breath as she looked out her window at Zachary, Lucas, and Clare training with the Searidge butler, Bronson, in the courtyard and smiled. Those children are going to give Avery a big surprise when he gets back, she thought.

Clare had fit right in with the two boys. They were all around the same age, and would be unlocking access to the Great System close to one another. It was a shame that Avery would miss that, because it was something that even someone at her age was excited about. Just what classes would the three children gain access to?

She envied the three of them, as they were already forming the bonds needed to create a strong group. They would need to pick up a couple of others along the way, but she could almost see their future together as she watched. She never had anything like that and had to rely only on herself. What would her life had been if she had made those connections?

She sighed and returned to her desk. She was still playing catch up after stretching herself too thin over the last months. Actually, she had even thought about bringing in a Deathsworn to take over some of her tasks. They were the epitome of loyal, but the thought of seeing one on a daily basis didn’t sit well with her. Each Deathsworn had once been someone absolutely vile.

While she was flipping through some paperwork, multiple communication crystals began buzzing both in her desk drawer and in her personal storage ring. She frowned as she pulled one of them out and quickly connected to one of the Deathsworn on the other end.

As she listened to the report, her frown grew deeper. Then she disconnected and grabbed another. As she moved through the crystals, a sense of dread flooded into her. Finally, she quickly put all the crystals away and channeled her aura before activating her skill.

The pupils of her eyes disappeared, replaced by a silver-gray glow, and a pulse of energy rippled out of her body through the kingdom. In an instant, she found herself looking through the eyes of one of her Deathsworn. One who she had ordered to patrol the border.

She watched from a hidden vantage point as soldiers, mostly elven and human, but she also made out a few other races, appeared outside a fort just inside the borders of Indria. In moments, she put together what was going on. Not only was Indria attacking, but they had allied themselves with Astrus. It was the only possible conclusion.

At first, she had wondered how so many people could appear out of nowhere, but then she saw the portals. Multiple forbidden portals were opened up, allowing thousands of soldiers to flood out.

At that moment, she left her Deathsworn with a command and ended her skill. She soon found herself back in her own body. It took a second to reorient herself, then she pulled out all her communication crystals. Her first call was to the King. She didn’t bother staying connected, and just told him what she had seen, then disconnected.

She did her part. Now she needed to protect her people. Her first priority was to contact all her managers in the main cities and get her employees to the capital or Savannah. She had enough room in her hotels to house them all between the two cities.

Unfortunately, those in many of the sub-cities would not be able to get to one of the cities with a teleporter fast enough. Many would most likely be caught out in the open by the opposing army. So, she grit her teeth as she sent her Deathsworn out to protect those Crown Restaurants that wouldn’t be able to evacuate.

Next, she needed to contact Natalie to inform her of everything, but before she pulled out the crystal containing the woman’s rune, a frantic knock sounded on her door. She almost turned the person away, but before she could say anything, the door swung open and one of her employees rushed in.

“Mistress?” she said as she moved closer. She held out a red crystal toward Alanah. “I was ordered to give this to you.”

Alanah reached out and grasped the communication crystal. As soon as she had it in her possession, the woman’s eyes dimmed, then returned to normal.

She looked around. “I… I… what…. Oh, Mistress Swan. I am so sorry. I don’t know…”

“It’s fine,” Alanah said. Her voice causing the young lady to pause. “Where did you get this crystal?” she asked. Randi, the woman, was unable to resist her voice, so she had been under her skill from the moment Alanah spoke.

“I… don’t know.” Randi answered. “I left the Crown to run some errands, then the next thing I knew, I was in your office.”

Alanah nodded. “It’s okay. You can have the day off. You may go.”

Randi mechanically turned and walked out of the office, not even bothering to close the door behind her. It would be some time before the effects of Alanah’s words wore off. Someone with a mental skill had obviously commanded Randi to pass the communication crystal to her.

Alanah stared at the crystal in her hand and hesitated for a moment before flooding it with her mana. Whoever was on the other side had better hope they’re strong, because if they weren’t they would be in for a world of hurt.

‘Miss Swan I presume?’ A voice sounded inside her head.

‘And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?’ she asked.

‘My name is Ryven Elras,’ the man on the other end said.

‘Duke Elras?’

‘That’s correct.’ He confirmed.

‘Well, Duke Elras, what is it that you need? I’m sure you know that I am extremely busy,’ she sent.

‘Ah yes. I will make this quick. I assume you have already been informed of the current situation?’

‘I have.’

‘That makes things easy, then. As long as you do not personally get involved, I give you my word no harm will come to you or those under your protection.’ Ryven explained.

‘As if any of you could do me harm,’ she spat.

‘That, I hope, we will not have to find out. But your people are another matter.’

Alanah paused. The man was basically threatening her with her people. She didn’t take kindly to coercion. Currently, she didn’t have enough information to make an informed decision.

‘As of two minutes ago, we have already captured multiple small cities and many villages. Some of those cities are home to your business. No harm has come to those inside… yet.’ Ryven continued.

Alanah clinched her fists. If she didn’t restrain herself, the communication crystal in her hand would have already turned to dust.

‘You need not answer me right away. I will give you time to think. You may contact me anytime. I look forward to hearing from you. However, don’t take too long. I am a patient man, but these are not patient times.’ With that, the communication between the two ended without her even saying another word.

She was furious. She had half a mind to go out herself and show Indria and Astrus her power. But she calmed down. They already had hostages, and she couldn’t allow her temper to be the cause of their deaths. She needed to think.

***

A cloaked man with silver-gray eyes jumped over the wall to the village. Neither of the guards overlooking the area spotted his arrival. The man quickly moved through the village, being noticed by nobody. The village was busy, and the man zigzagged in and out, avoiding contact with any of the villagers.

Soon, he arrived at a small village house made his way in. Four older villagers were sitting inside having dinner, what seemed like a stew. Upon the creaking of the door, all four gazes turned to the cloaked man.

The couple on the left both jumped to their feet in alarm, while the other did the same, just a fraction of a second behind the former.

“I mean you no harm,” the cloaked man said.

“Who are you?” the older man on the left asked.

“That is not important,” the mysterious man said. “What is important is that Richard and Delilah follow me. I have been given a take to escort you to Wilmette, then to Savannah. We do not have time for discussions. You may bring whomever you wish. I’ll give you five minutes.”

“Not until you tell us…” Richard began, but the man released some of his aura, causing all four villagers to fall to fall to their knees.

“It is for your own good and the good of Derek Hunt and Thomas Stewart,” the man said, before drawing back his aura. “Five minutes, go!”

Ten minutes later, seven people were already over a mile away from the village on their way to Wilmette.

***

Derek continued waiting for Vanessa’s party to get back from the first trial. It had been eight days since they went inside, and the orb hadn’t shown any signs of them appearing. He closed his eyes and waited, the sounds of hammering still ringing out in the background.

At the end of the tenth day, Derek smiled as he felt the fluctuation of the trial orb in front of him. He stood from his seated position and took a few steps back.

Shortly after, a blinding light flashed around the orb, and numerous figures appeared. The first trial was finally over, and by the look of things, it wasn’t easy.