Chapter 444 - Without Sentiment (Patreon)
Content
Leon stood before Gaius, Arellius, and the unknown woman for what seemed like an eternity as he stared at each in turn. Their combined forces had just rescued what few individuals remained of his unit from the Octavian forces that had nearly annihilated them, but Leon was still reeling from the loss of Lapis, the power hed sensed from the forest only minutes before, and Valerias ascension to the fifth-tier, and he was finding it difficult to switch back into a more diplomatic gear.
Well, Sir Leon? Sertor Arellius asked. Are you ready to talk? We can wait as long as is necessary, we understand that these circumstances are hardly ideal
Leon glared at the Legate, or former Legate, or whatever he was now. With the corpse of Lapis behind him and the bodies of the vast majority of his unit scattered around the field, talking was the last thing Leon wanted to do.
But he knew that there wasnt much else to do right now.
I can talk, Leon said, at the same time giving Marcus and Alcander meaningful looks. The two were the only two noblemen from landed families left among the handful of survivors that he had now had in his unit.
Wonderful! Arellius leaped down from his horse with a joyful smile on his face, his armor gleaming in the late morning sun.
Gaius and the woman, too, dismounted, but they remained silent.
So, lets just jump right in! Arellius enthusiastically said, his boisterousness seeming quite dissonant with the spattering of blood on his armor and the corpses that they were all surrounded by. Ive led my Legion here to fight for Prince August!
Leon cocked an eyebrow at the Legate. Youre Legion? Id heard that you were replaced after our last fight.
Indeed I was! Sertor punctuated his sentence with a booming laugh. But replacing a Legate in a Legion theyve led for decades isnt so easy, especially when the Legate in question is unwilling!
And you were unwilling to follow the orders of Prince Octavius? Leon looked at him skeptically. Seems at odds with how you conducted yourself last time. As I recall, you called me and the rest of us traitors and swore that youd destroy us.
Arellius had the good grace to look embarrassed, but his exuberance quickly returned. For that, I apologize! I was acting upon bad information and made bad assumptions! However, after a long talk with the High Arbiter following my dismissal, I have since recognized that the trial condemning Prince August was a sham set up by Prince Octavius!
A long talk, huh? Leon responded, looking unconvinced.
Lets not get bogged down in details here, the woman suddenly interjected. The point, Sir Leon, is that were here to fight against Prince Octavius, and wed like your support in doing so.
Leon blatantly broke eye contact with her to glance around at the hilltop and its surroundings, covered by thousands of bodies of Leons unit and Octavius supporters alike.
What took you so long? he quietly asked, his words laced with killing intent. His eyes flickered to Gaius at the same time, though not Arellius.
What do you mean? the woman asked, her brown eyes narrowing in displeasure.
You marched your people all the way here and watched as my unit was torn apart. All of my giants were killed fighting the people you threw at us! So. What took you so long that you couldnt act sooner?
Leon glared at the woman and she glared right back. Both began emitting killing intent and subtly reaching for weapons at their waists.
Fortunately, Marcus spoke up before either could draw.
Sir Leon, Im sure Her Grace was simply waiting for the best time
She still couldve made her move quicker. Maybe then we wouldnt have lost so many.
The plan was to move when the 2nd Legion got into position, she said, her tone if not quite conciliatory, at least devoid of anger or arrogance. We were to make our moves at the same time. The timing was off for everyone, of that Im aware, but at least youre still alive.
Leon scowled, but he could reluctantly understand waiting until the appointed time. It didnt erase his anger at how long everyone waited, but he at least retracted his killing intent and took his hand off his weapon, with the woman doing likewise in response.
I hope all that unpleasantness is over, Gaius said, his voice mostly calm but with a slight shake to it that betrayed his nervousness about what had just almost happened, because Id like to get down to business.
And so they did, though Leon was surly and barely communicative during the entire discussion. Of course, given his usual behavior, not many people noticed a difference.
The woman, as it turned out, was the Duchess of Vesontio, who had only pledged herself to Octavius once all of her neighbors had done the same. If she hadnt, she said that her lands wouldve been invaded once the war began. She could only turn against Octavius now that the armies of her enemies were busy fighting for Octavius in the Northern or Southern Territories rather than assembling on her borders.
Or so she claimed; Leon wasnt in the mood to take her at her word. Still, shed made her move against Octavian forces and in so doing pledged herself to Augusts side.
Gaius, on the other hand, Leon was a bit more impressed with. Even without receiving word of Augusts acceptance of his older brothers defectionhe only learned of the Princes acceptance when Leon told him during the meetinghe still fought alongside Vesontio and Arellius to kill more diehard Octavian troops. If August hadnt accepted, he and the entire Tullius family wouldve been branded as traitors by both sides.
As for Arellius, as Leon had heard from the former Spymaster, hed eventually been relieved of command following his inability to keep August from escaping to the Eastern Territories, though the political concerns had delayed it a bit. However, once Octavius had finally committed to removing him, Arellius had already met with the High Arbiter and been told of the sham trial. Consequently, his Legion abandoned the capital before they could receive their new Legate.
What surprised Leon the most, however, was that none of them had received any kind of assurances from anyone affiliated with August that their defections would be accepted. Their actions during the battle were done completely of their own accordand as that occurred to Leon, it suddenly made a lot more sense why they took no prisoners and waited until the 2nd Legion arrived so that they could ensure that no one loyal to Octavius or Duronius managed to escape.
By the end of their talk, they had mostly agreed to all work together, and that until Roland arrived, theyd share the responsibilities of command. It was about as fine a deal as Leon and his people could hope for. It was also decided that Gaius and Vesontio wouldnt return to the Octavian camp, even though their cover was most likely still intact. It was too great of a risk to assume that no one within their retinues would talk, so the only way they could maintain the ruse that they were still loyal would be to stay away from the main Octavian camp.
So, Leon and his retinue decided to fall in with this ad-hoc army, at least until Roland managed to break out of the camp in a few days.
But now, Leon had several more immediate problems. The survivors of his unit, being noble retainers, unanimously decided to leave the war and go home. They had followed their Lords, and their Lords were now dead. They stayed only just long enough to recover the bodies of the Barons and several of the highest-ranking knights that had fallen and then they set off back to the Eastern Territories.
It was quite disheartening for Leon to see them go, but he had no personal connections with any of them, and so recognized that convincing them to stay was so likely to end in failure that it wasnt even worth it to try. This left him with a unit of five others, and that was including Anzu. At the very least, Marcus and Alcander agreed to continue their unofficial stay under his command.
The next issue he had to deal with was what to do with the giant corpses. After a few seconds of thought, he absorbed them all into his soul realm. He intended to return them to the Crater Tribe at some point, but leaving them behind didnt feel right, especially in the case of Lapis.
Leon also spent about an hour searching the forest for the source of the incredibly powerful aura hed sensed right as things seemed most dire. However, he wasnt able to find anything. The power had seemed quite familiar to him, almost like Naiads, but for however much that excited him, it had also been different enough that he couldnt be sure. After finding nothing, he chalked it up to being either some desperate hallucination or him simply missing Naiad so much that he mistook some other aura for hers.
That left the last of his immediate problems. Valeria. Leon wasnt entirely sure how to deal with her, yet, and at the very least he wasnt willing to do so until hed recovered his magic reserves that had been expended during the battle. Her ascension to the fifth-tier made one thing crystal-clear, though: however he was going to handle the situation with her, he had to do it as soon as possible.
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Leon stared out into the Mists of Chaos surrounding his soul realm. He was at the top of the mountain, sitting just in front of the door to the lantern chamber where his throne resided. Beneath him was first his vault, then Xaphans pavilion, and then followed by a new structureessentially a simple stone box divided into cells for each giantthat housed the remains of the giants. Beneath the tomb was Leons Mind Palace in its entirety.
Hed finished the whole thing not long ago, but his soul realm was still only growing at a relatively slow rate. It wasnt even halfway to being big enough to be considered seventh-tier, and from what Leon had been taught by the Thunderbird, he knew that if his Mind Palace was truly complete then his soul realm would start to accelerate its growth, propelling him to the seventh-tier in a matter of days, if not hours.
But his soul realm remained frustratingly static, even with his Mind Palace complete.
As a result, for the past few days, when Leon trained, hed focused on adding small details to the Mind Palacea mural here, a garden there. Small touches that helped to fill the place out, to help it feel not quite so empty.
But empty it did feel. It was a palace of more than a thousand rooms, but only Leon resided within. Hed added libraries, bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, ballrooms, everything that a functioning palace would need in the physical world, yet his soul realm didnt respond.
If he never completed his Mind Palace, his soul realm would never grow big enough. Eventually its growth would stall out, leaving him stuck at the sixth-tier just as so many other mages were. He needed to figure this out.
But right now, in the wake of Lapis death, Valerias ascension, the loss of his unit, and that mysterious aura poking at the wound left in the wake of Naiads departure, Leon was in no mood to wander his halls adding tiny, meaningless touches to his Mind Palace. So, he just sat at the top of his mountain, staring at nothing in particular as he ruminated on how everything had gone wrong, on how everything just seemed wrong.
The past four to five months had been some of the worst in Leons life. Only the loss of his father could compare. Things had been about as close to perfect as Leon had ever had in his life before all of this had begun, but then he lost Trajan and Naiad on the same day, he couldnt take immediate revenge, he was run out of his home and forced to leave Elise, the giants hed called into service had all been killed, hed lost Lapis, and now, finally, Valeria was gaining on him in power.
Leons thoughts were dark. All of the frustrations of the previous few months were weighing down on his mind, and with his soul realm refusing to acknowledge that his Mind Palace had been completed, it was all Leon could do to just sit at the top of his mountain and stare into the distance rather than
Well, he didnt know what. His instincts demanded violence, but Valeria was the only person around that he could direct that at, and in that respect, his pragmatism and personal feelings won out. He didnt want to kill Valeriaat the very least, not until shed told him everything he wanted to know about her family and their relationship to him and his.
It occurred to him that he was, perhaps, just trying and failing to focus on his Mind Palace issue to get away from his problem with Valeria, but he didnt much care.
At least, he didnt until he realized that the Thunderbird had been staring at him for who knew how long.
Gaah! Leon shouted in alarm as he bolted to his feet.
The Thunderbird laughed at his shock, then asked him with an almost derisive look, Whats wrong, boy? Youre moping like a dog that isnt being given food from the table.
Leon scowled, then explained to the Thunderbird his Mind Palace issue. The rest he wasnt quite up to talking about, and so he focused on what seemed most frustrating and least embarrassing.
and it just doesnt feel right, you know? And the more I add, the more I realize that the more would have to be added to make it right, and it just doesnt feel like its come together the way I wanted it to.
The Thunderbird nodded her enormous avian head in understanding, then fixed him in her bright yellow eyes.
Why do you think it doesnt feel right? she asked.
Not a clue, he replied. I suppose because it isnt detailed enough?
That may be true, I suppose, the Thunderbird replied. But, boy, have you ever considered that its too detailed?
I Leon began before cutting himself off. He stared down at his palace, soaking in all that he had built. Towers and halls and a mountain and a secret underground palace. Training rooms, gardens, enough space for hundreds of people with thousands of servants. Glittering marble, intricate architecture, detailed statues, and equally detailed murals.
In short, hed built much in just over a year.
Is it too much? he quietly asked as he drank in the enormity of his creation.
I cant say, thats for you to decide, his Ancestor replied. However, from what Ive seen of tour temperament, aesthetic choices, and from what youre feeling right now, Id say it does seem a little overdone, no?
Maybe Leon muttered. He stared out at his palace for another minute or two, then began to walk down the stairs. He didnt fly, he wanted to see it all for himself from ground level.
He paused at Xaphans pavilion.
What do you think, demon? Leon loudly asked, knowing that Xaphan had likely been listening inhe and the Thunderbird had hardly been whispering, after all.
Xaphans fiery yellow eyes opened and landed upon him. The demon barely even moved, simply sitting in the firepit of his pavilion for enough time to make Leon feel quite awkward. So, instead of pushing the matter of his soul realmfor Leon had already realized what he needed to do as soon as the Thunderbird asked her question, he just needed to work up the nerve to do sohe asked a different question.
Did you sense it, too? Leon quietly asked.
Xaphan remained silent.
Felt a lot like Naiad, Leon said.
Xaphan stared at him, no words falling from his lips if he even had lips for words to fall from, Leon wasnt too sure on that front.
I cant be sure, but Id be willing to bet that she was here, watching.
Finally, Xaphan spoke up.
Ive felt various powers in the forest following you for a while, as I told you a few days ago. At first, they were only more of Amons vampiresor at least, beings associated with fire demonsbut given they never made a move against you, they were undoubtedly weak and no threat to you. A day or two ago, those auras vanishedprobably hunted down by what I sensed next. And that was a strange, yet familiar aura; one that caused the magic power that your fish girl left within you to resonate, the power that she left within you when you first met.
Leon carefully nodded. He directed his attention to the area around his thronespecifically, his Mana Glyph. When hed sworn to Naiad to mate with her and father her children, shed left some of her magic power within him so that she could find him whenever she needed to. At first, hed been able to do likewise with her since hed left some of his power with her, but she seemed to quickly figure out how to prevent it, leaving him with little idea as to her whereabouts. Eventually, that power had faded into the background of his soul realm, and hed quite forgotten about it.
But now that he stared at it, the little clump of transparent magic power floating in the air by his Mana Glyph, he could see it trembling.
So she is here he whispered.
It would seem that is the case, though Ive little idea why, Xaphan replied in an almost dismissive tone. After all, your pathetic attempts to be assertive practically chased her out of your home. If she wanted to reveal herself to you, I think she wouldve before now.
Leon grimaced, looking suitably chastened. He knew that forcing that decision on Naiad wasnt the best course of action, but hindsight was always perfect and hed just lost Trajan, so he wasnt in the proper state of mind. Regardless of the circumstances, though, he knew he screwed up and deeply regretted being so sudden and not talking to her more openly.
Have you learned from your fuck-up? the demon asked, sounding for all the world like he was trying to be Leons father, which irked him a bit.
Yes, asshole, I have, Leon testily replied.
Thats unfortunate, I was hoping to watch you fuck up again. Though I suppose youll probably do that, anyway. Youve a habit of doing so, after all, and Id bet on it happening again with your silver knight girl.
Yeah, well soon see, Leon combatively replied.
I put your odds of getting her on your side completely at less than five percent. Personally, I kind of hope she walksshes too good for you, anyway. I mean, a woman who advances that quickly and that devoted to mastering the martial arts? So far out of your league it isnt even funny not that I wont laugh at it anyway.
Leon bitterly smiled and nodded as he turned away from the demon and back to his Mind Palace.
Back to my original question, demon, what do you think about this place? Too much?
Does it feel like its too much? Xaphan replied.
Leon went quiet as he stared out at the majestic palace that hed built. I have to say that it does he murmured. He then walked away from Xaphans pavilion, ignoring the demons grumblings about the unceremonious departure, and proceeded down the stairs cut into the side of the mountain.
The only thing on his mind was that his Mind Palace would never be complete. As it was, he could easily see himself making constant small changes to what he had until the day he died, never truly considering it to be complete. Hed already been doing that on some level for several weeks before hed initially thought it to be done, and there was no sign that that situation was going to change.
In fact, as he reached the upper halls of the palace, those that hed set aside for his personal usenot that there was much difference between that and non-personal given that his soul realm was hardly publiche began doing what hed been doing during that time: aimlessly wandering the halls, lost in thought as he stared at his creation.
It was all beautiful, all of it exactly what he thought a richly decorated palace ought to look like, and none of it felt right even if he found it aesthetically pleasing. His Mind Palace was supposed to represent him, not how he saw himself, not who he wanted to be. The further down he walked in those halls, the more obvious it became that his initial strategy in building the place had been misguided.
The thought had been to have architecture reminiscent of the Bull Kingdom hiding an underground palace built with architectural styles that resembled the few Thunderbird Clan buildings hed seen, much like how was a member of the Thunderbird Clan masquerading as a Bull Kingdom knight. Hed thought it made sense. But it wasnt him, not who he was at his core.
He didnt truly consider himself a member of the Thunderbird Clan. He never knew any of those people, he had no real personal connections with them aside from his father and the Thunderbird herself. In other words, he had no strong feelings about the Thunderbird Clan beyond how it related to him, and the same could be said for the Bull Kingdom. He cared about some people within it, but he was by no means loyal to the state or the ideas it represented.
Leon emerged from the palace about twenty minutes later from its lowest hall and stood at the base of the mountain, staring up at the palace. Without hesitation, he lifted his hand, swiped it across his vision of the palace, and causing nearly everything hed built on the mountain to dissolve back into the mist that hed used to create it, which rushed back into the clouds far beyond the islands edge. He swiped again, and the underground palace joined it, leaving nothing but a hollow mountain. But even that wasnt enough; Leon swiped a third time, and the mountain itself collapsed upon itself as Leon wiped the slate almost completely clean.
In a matter of seconds, his Mind Palace was brought down along with the mountain it sat upon. Leon kept a few things, such as the stone platform upon which his throne sat, his vault, Xaphans pavilion, the giants tomb, and the red and white checkered tiles that had always existed in his soul realm. All of it now rested upon a huge flat plain of lifeless dirt and bare stone.
Leon slowly walked back to Xaphans pavilion where both the demon and his Ancestor awaited.
Wonderful, simply spectacular! the Thunderbird said as she morphed into her human form, clapping her hands as soon as they formed. Xaphan didnt speak, but Leon saw his shadow briefly nod its head in recognition of what hed just done. How do you feel, Leon? the Thunderbird asked.
Leon paused near the pavilion and glanced around at the rocky plain, taking it all in and measuring his response. Once he was ready, though, a smile of abject joy and relief blossomed across his face.
I feel light as air, he exclaimed.
Good, thats how it should be, his Ancestor replied.
I cant force these things, I cant plan them out, Leon continued to the Thunderbirds glee. I tried that, and it clearly didnt work. I have to let it come naturally. Let it come in the moment.
The Thunderbird nodded furiously, her bronze face alight with happiness that Leon understood without her having to explain.
Planning works for some people she started.
but not for me, Leon finished. Im not a man of a palace or however it should be phrasedIm not a palace guy, maybe? Whatever, to the hells with palaces. Thats not me.
What is you? the Thunderbird asked.
I suppose well find out, Leon replied. However, right now, I have some other business I need to attend to This hasnt weakened me, has it?
Do you feel weakened at all?
No, but I havent tried throwing lightning bolts, either.
Your Mind Palace wasnt resonating with you, and as such wasnt giving you any benefits. Youve lost nothing in casting it off. Notice how your soul realm hasnt even shrunk?
Leon refocused his gaze to the Mists of Chaos miles away, and indeed, they hadnt moved any closer.
That in itself is the biggest indicator that youve done the right thing, here. Now, what is this business you have that had you worried about possible weakness?
Leons smile turned grim and he didnt answer, at least not out loud. He knew what he had to do now, he didnt need to talk to Xaphan or the Thunderbird about it. In his mind, he whispered a name.
Valeria.
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