Dungeon Robotics 10-12 (Patreon)

Good morning!

Chapter 12

Louella

I took my time observing the night market after we left the tavern. Much like the lord, the people maintained, as long as they don’t mess with us we don’t care, attitude. I probably wouldn’t let them watch my back any time soon. Letting them manage themselves shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the short term.

The air whipped around me as the ferry ship landed next to my group. We had ended the tour near the docks. There was plenty of space and only a few watchers to worry about. I stood on the ramp and turned to look back at the city. It was a lot quieter now, but there were still plenty of lights here and there. I decided that it was a good city overall.

“Take us back to the Aresa,” I ordered as I took a seat. The small airship rose quickly into the air and before you could tell we were moving, I felt the clamps locking us into place on the flagship. I laughed a bit inside at the ridiculousness of it. I couldn’t have imagined moving at such high speeds before let alone not even feel it.

We left the small ship and made our way up to the bridge. From the looks of it, the fleet was ready to depart. Part of me would rather just hold the line here, but there was no telling when the Lelune fanatics might launch an attack on us. They had already proven that they cared little for collateral damage.

Walking on to the bridge, I nodded to the captain. “Everything in order?”

“We're ready at your order, your highness,” he replied with a salute.

I sighed but hardened my expression. I couldn’t show weakness, even if these people wouldn’t judge me for it. “Very well. Let’s go end this nightmare before we lose the ability to wake up from it.”

The captains grabbed the microphone. “All forces lift off!”

Unlike a seafaring vessel, there was little to note as we moved from over the port. The ship barely rocked and being in the sky, the scenery was just a dark blue sky that was slowly turning dark as night rolled in. The temperature on the bridge went up a few degrees right before the sun spirits flew in. The surrounded my head and started barraging me with their twittering voices.

Holding out my hands, they landed one by one taking a seat. “I thought I told you ladies to stay in my cabin,” I scolded before taking a softer tone, “but I know how bored you lot get. It should be fine for you to stay with me for the next few hours.”

The sun spirits were well into tier three and able to protect themselves. That said, I still had trouble letting them roam free. Even if they are in my sights, they had a tendency to get distracted. With thirteen of them, they could be a handful in an unfamiliar place like the port, or worse, the battlefield.

The spirits started rubbing their stomachs and I couldn’t help but giggle at the cute sight. They had Regan’s mana along with regular food to feed them back in the dungeon. With me, they had to get some of my mana and food. I placed them on my shoulders before turning to the captain.

“Inform me when we’re closer to the cape. I’ll be in the mess.”

The captain saluted before turning back to the controls. I told the guards to take a rest and had just Wrakras accompany me. This was home territory. If they never got a chance to rest, they would be exhausted before they even had a chance to actually fight. Plus, moving through the ship, there were plenty of soldiers that could come to my defense on the off chance that something did manage to attack us en route.

I let Wrakras led the way. He knew the ship like the back of his hand and with the sun spirits, I was a bit distracted. If I wasn’t careful, I would walk right into a wall. Not the sight I wanted the soldiers to see. The internals of the ship were designed to be tight with several turns before you get to your destination. This was done with defense in middle so that you could bottle neck any enemies that were sieging the ship. The only con was that it took a few minutes to reach your destination. The ship was close to five hundred meters long after all.

“Valorie?” I asked one of the spirits as we walked into the cafeteria. She took a pose that I was certain she learned from Regan with her arms crossed and a finger tapping her chin. Finally, after what was a considerable deliberation for any of the spirits of nearly a minute, she nodded with a thumbs up.

“Well, that’s at least one of you finally named,” I said with a chuckle.

She patted my check before she flew off. Most of the others did the same. They flew around the room harassing some of the soldiers or inspecting anything that they found interesting. Even without the threat of death if any of them hurt my spirits, the soldiers appeared to enjoy their company. The women especially tried to lure them in with candies and sweets.

“I think they’re more popular than I am,” I complained to Wrakras.

He chuckled before he gestured to a free seat. “It is the way of the world. Cute will always win out.”

I gave him a frown, “Are you saying I’m not cute?” I griped as I sat down and turned back to look at him.

“The thought never crossed my mind. Your cuteness, however, isn’t that easy to admire.” He gestured to the rest of the soldiers. “They value living after all.”

I quickly snorted at that. Were they that afraid of me? “I wouldn’t hurt anyone for calling me cute.”

Wrakras gave me a grin that I hadn’t seen in a while. It almost made him look evil, and would have certainly put him on anybody’s dangerous list. “I never said you would. They would answer to me.”

I sighed before laughing at the pointless conversation. “Well, sit boy. I don’t need you harming our allies now.” I took in the soldiers, part of me relieved they were able to laugh and were talking with a good atmosphere. I personally had never seen a true war and even most of the battles since I became lord had been rather one-sided. I was pleased at that fact, but also worried about when the hammer might drop for the other side for once. Either way, I had heard stories about what sort of hell a place could become if the war drug on. It was my job to make sure these people got back to their families.

“Here you go, my lady,” a cook said bringing me from my thoughts. I had been so focused on them that I hadn’t noticed the women set the tray in front of me. I thanked her and dug in, still slightly full from my meal at the tavern earlier in the night but not wanting to be rude.

When she didn’t leave, I looked up at her. “You look like you have something to tell me,” I said with a smile.

“I… I do, in fact,” she replied nervously.

“Come now. We’re both adults and I promise not to get upset if its about how I’m leading,” I said leaning back and smiling softly.

“No! Nothing like that,” she retorted looking nervous for an all-new reason. She quickly cleared her throat. “Um. I wanted to thank you.” She stopped and I waited since I had no idea what she was thanking me for. “Ah. Sorry. You spared my son when our old lord attacked your town almost a year ago.”

Realization flashed through me as I remembered the survivors from that attack. One of them had been little more than a boy. He had been released a while ago since he had been mostly harmless and frankly the lord that caused the attack was dealt with later.

“I see. You fled to the valley?” I asked curious.

“Yes. Along with my daughter.”

“I’m glad to hear you were reunited. That’s the best result when one speaks of war,” I replied before reaching over and patting her hand. “Where is the young man?”

“He is part of one of the other units.”

“I understand. Are you sure you should have left the valley?” I asked concerned. “What about your daughter?”

“She is with a family that came with us. Vaihdetta has treated us all very well. I couldn’t settle feeling like a sponge and volunteered to cook.”

I nodded understanding the feeling. I felt like that all the time thanks to Regan. “From the looks of it, you’re a very good cook.” I glanced at Wrakras and he nodded with a big grin. “Even this one likes it and he’s basically a picky glutton.”

“Thank you for the praise. Well then, I better get back to work,” she said before she curtsied then headed off for the kitchen.

“If only everyone’s story could be like hers,” I commented as she went.

“That would be best, but sadly, mortals can’t agree for more than a few minutes before it all falls apart again,” Wrakras replied much more critically.

I smacked his hand but couldn’t deny his statement. We might take the continent in a few days and we would be united in a way that hasn’t been seen in centuries, but in a few years, there might be someone that dislikes the way that I rule and the power to take it from me. Even Regan, something told me that he probably wouldn’t be holding my hand forever. Would I be able to make the right decisions when he was gone?

“That’s of the future,” I mumbled then turned back to the food. I ate feeling the weight of the woman’s life who cooked it for me.