-Callia-

  Eland was giving an impressive showing of swordsmanship and parrying but lacked the decisive edge in mobility or dodging that would let him close the distance between himself and the spearmen who were working together impressively. As an individual I would rate Eland's performance similar to mine during the baron’s invasion. Borderline knighthood, but lacking experience, both literal and conceptual. It was clear that without help or a decisive breakthrough, the fight had been lost.

  Conveniently the guards didn’t seem to consider me a threat. Two men had taken the opportunity to tie my hands and watch from the sideline, but it felt almost humiliating how low priority they considered me. Well, to be fair, I was just sitting on my knees doing nothing, so there was no reason to anticipate any change. That, however, was a mistake. I shifted the bindings on my arms and grabbed the ankles of the men next to me. Both jumped in surprise, but my grip was too firm. I pulled out their legs from under them and began to spin.

  Twirling like a ballerina I swung the men violently like clubs before using the momentum of my swing to throw them violently into the spearmen surrounding Eland. Eland was not someone to waste such an opportunity, swiftly using the gap in the formation to end over half the spearmen. I left him to handle the rest while a savage grin grew on my face. These were the assholes who almost cost me my brother.

  Other than the spearmen, Eland was facing the enemy guards, numbered at around 20 to 30 in total, with a majority of spearmen but with a couple of archers mixed in. I pulled out my knife and flashed through the crowd easily, trampling the men between me and the back line. I twisted off one man's face as I leapt the final distance between me and the panicking archers. On my way, a desperate shot tried to buy time as he backpedaled while screaming. It didn’t matter as I plucked the arrow from the air with my free hand and slammed it into the man's throat. The other archers didn’t fare any better as I ducked and weaved through them, followed by a trail of blood bursting from open knife wounds digging into major arterial vessels.

  The other guards saw how quickly I tore through their comrades, but they didn’t back down. I was too fast for them, so it was now do or die. One man came at me leading the charge screaming while wielding his spear, and I grabbed it, twirling it from his grasp while dragging him close to my dagger that dipped into the slit of his helmet visor. I stopped twirling the spear and thrust it forward into the side of the next man's throat, opening it just enough for a lethal blow while keeping the spear free. Another tried to use the gap having my spear stuck would’ve created to try stabbing me, but I knocked his blow into the dirt, trapping him right next to me.

  My leg went straight up in a front kick into the man’s chin, slamming his head backwards with a sickening crunch. My right arm darted out, severing another attacker's arm, and I spun with ease, delivering death decisively as the remaining guards dwindled. Finally the only man left was the captain of the guard. I slowly walked towards him, and the man soiled himself. I raised my recently acquired spear in hand and braced to throw it into the man when Eland grabbed my arm.

  “Ser Callia, stay your hand. This man needs to be interrogated so we can dig up the men behind him.” I nodded in understanding, then looked back on the carnage I left behind in my wake. The pavement was soaked red in blood and covered in severed limbs and collapsed or collapsing bodies.

  “Um, did I go too far?” To be honest, I didn’t plan on going all psycho killer on the collective group, but being outnumbered 20 to 1 wasn’t the kind of odds that encouraged any kind of hesitation. That, and I was still high-strung from all the crap that happened in the void. Eland gently sets a hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m terribly sorry; I had not considered what kind of danger my departure would bring to your brother. I owe you a debt that I cannot repay.” The guy seemed way too somber about the whole thing; sure, it was a near thing, but Callen was fine. That made me pause; no wonder the guy seemed to be in such a carefully polite mood. He thought I just watched my brother die in an explosion that was his fault Callen got stuck in. On second thought, I really should be pissed!

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  “Callen made it out fine. He’s stuck somewhere I can’t get, but he’ll work something out.” The reassuring hand on my shoulder tightened a bit and loosened as a strange, remorseful, and teary expression formed on the man's face.

  “Of course he will always be with you.” I lowered my face into my hand while I massaged my eyelids. Ok, so the guy didn’t just have the nice looks of a Disney prince; he was also just as dumb. If I’m going to have any kind of relationship with this guy in the future, step one is unleashing Nixie on him. Enough pranks, traps, and tricks to sharpen the guys' perception of survival instincts.

  Instead of trying to convince the man about the Callen’s survival, I followed him back as we slowly made our way to the Imperial Guard headquarters. About halfway there a team of six guards encountered us immediately coming to Eland’s defense from the “shameless tramp trying to abduct him.” I cracked my knuckles violently in response, which got Eland to smack sense back into his man. I couldn’t help but let a smug comment slip as they joined us in heading back towards the base.

  “If I were abducting him, he would already be mine.” The man started barking at me aggressively while I enjoyed their anger. However, as the yelling continued, I noticed that they weren’t a guy at all, just a very muscular bodybuilder-looking girl who was disguising herself as a man.

  “Ser Callia, I apologize for the conduct of my aide. They were likely just disturbed that I was taken in such a hasty manner.” I nodded in acceptance. In the end I just grabbed him and ran the whole way. It’s a shame it was too little too late. Finally we arrived at the headquarters that was buzzing with activity. It seems something stirred them up. Eland’s subordinate took the guard captain down into the lower cells. I wanted to summon the slave boss, but void shifting didn’t seem to work. There must be some kind of restriction I couldn’t identify.

  I accepted that I’ll just have to give them the gross meatball later after Callen finished the wand he was struggling to make inside the void. There was some issue there where magic was acting funky in the void. More things to investigate later once we have time. I arrived in the office, and Eland gestured for me to take a seat.

  “You and your brother have done a great service for the kingdom of Talia. While your brother may no longer be with us, I feel it's only natural to offer you whatever you request as a reward and consolation. On the other side, I implore you not to reveal any information regarding the explosive nature of the earthkin mana generators. It's a sensitive topic that we need time to safely resolve.” I nodded in understanding. Callen had shared with me the conclusions he had gotten while I was getting help. The idea that some big conspiracy involving runic bombs planted in the capital made a little too much sense, especially with how well made the bombs themselves were.

  “There will be no news being leaked from me. As for reward, could you arrange a meeting with the king regarding the transfer of authority for our town? I’ve heard from our previous mayor that he spent months in the capital waiting for a meeting, and I would rather return home with our mission accomplished sooner than later.” It was the perfect opportunity to save all the tedious waiting that may have occurred otherwise. Though from the sad look Eland was giving me, I suspected that the standard transfer might become some kind of ‘honorary transfer.’ I wanted to shake the man proclaiming Callen was fine and just an idiot, but I knew that any actions like that would be considered delusional and earn me more sympathetic looks that really just looked incredibly stupid on Eland's face. I much preferred the determined and sweaty face he had when fighting valiantly against the spearmen.

  “I’ll see that it is done. In the meantime, use this card to have accommodations provided for you and your companions.” I accepted a nicely made runic card and went on my way. I’ll have time to prove Callen’s survival to Eland later; for now, getting properly settled in the city sounded nice.

  Citadel of the Chosen

  High priest Norold made his rounds in the lower floors of the temple, where the broken were kept in captivity. The only reason such monsters were raised in the church was that their ability to identify and track chosen ones was unmatched. Anywhere in the central Talia domain, anyone who acquired the trace of divinity trait would be identified. The role of the church was very limited in nature. They provided key instructions to those who were blessed by the heavenly father on how to survive despite being hunted by all the evils in the world.

  Norold was immediately stunned, noticing the rabid desperation of the broken. It was a desperation unlike any they had shown for any previous saint or saintess. Immediately he signaled the paladins. The hunt for the next saint or saintess was urgent. The reaction from the broken was far stronger than any they had previously recorded, which suggested someone even more important than a trace.

  While the paladins set out with the broken seeking the holy one, Norold went to the senior authority. Such an irregularity in the reaction of the broken was something he felt necessary to report. Entering the upper floors, the sounds of unclean activities echoed through the door down to him. He knocked on the door and waited as the sounds came to a stop. The door opened, and a disheveled trace bearer left hastily, looking ashamed. Norold focused inwardly, quietly remembering, “Evil comes from a person’s heart.” Among these was "Sexual Immorality." The seniors of the church may have submitted to and accepted evil in their lives, but they still provided help that was essential for the trace bearers. He resolved to talk with the girl after he finished his report. While what comfort he could offer was limited, he couldn't stay silent after witnessing authority wielded in such an evil manner.