ULTRAMagic Interlude BC - Chapter 40
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Blood-Wraith was not thrilled about the day after. He wanted to relax and play video games, but everyone else was all over the place. Barna and Dunja were coming home in a couple of days after all. Rose had requested Blood-Wraith’s presence at the mansion as she was putting together a proper uniform for him. The young man was a knight and needed to be properly dressed at all times. And the timing was perfect too, as Rose and Kresimira were not thrilled about his current choice of attire.
“Blood, you cannot go out like that” Rose chided. “I refuse to let you be seen like that.”
“Why not?”
“That suit, it’s uncouth.”
Blood-Wraith looked down at himself. “Well I don’t see anything showing.”
“It’s the principle, Blood,” Kresimira pointed out. “I won’t deny that Vexation is a master craftsman, but it’s… it’s unconventional, charitably speaking.” This comment elicited a groan from Blood-Wraith.
“No back talk, young man,” Rose snapped. “You will look prim and proper when on duty…” She then handed him the dress shirt and pants. “You are mine and Radovan’s son after all.”
“Adopted…” he replied with a cough.
“Irrelevant” she immediately rebuked. “How do they fit?”
“Fine…”
She then handed him his waistcoat. “Adopted or not, you’re still a Raynot. You have a family name to uphold.”
“And besides, you’re looking fantastic in that uniform so far,” Kresimira complimented.
Blood-Wraith took his frock coat and put it on. He then noticed a pair of boots and a beret. “Do I have to wear those too?”
“You are not going to be barefoot before his majesty or the Captain General,” Rose said sternly.
“Don’t worry, brother, they have a wide toe box; your feet should be nice and comfortable” Kresimira assured him.
“So what’s the beret for?” He asked as he put his boots on.
“It indicates that you are a knight,” Rose answered. “Knights wear silver while royal guardsmen wear gold. Plus they’re easy to make and store.”
Blood-Wraith looked at himself in the mirror and could not help but smile. “Hey, not bad…”
Kresimira clapped. “You look so dashing.”
Rose handed him his shield. “Now head to the Knight’s Barracks, Blood. I’d imagine there’s special instructions for the queen’s return.”
“Yes, mom… ahem, yes, ma’am.”
“Very good, sweetie. Remember, casual when off duty and formal when on duty.”
While the idea of marching crossed his mind, Blood-Wraith was alone and did not want to wear himself out. Regardless, many passersby complimented him on his way to the barracks. He even came across some school children that wanted his autograph. That made Blood-Wraith feel warm inside. He was constantly worried about how people viewed him, but this helped assuage those feelings. Approaching the Knight’s Barracks was a little intimidating. Blood-Wraith was met by the familiar sight of the stone buildings, which shared land with the Soldier’s Barracks.
Feeling incredibly nervous, Blood-Wraith was hesitant to open the door. “Come on, just head in…”
The door opened from the inside, presenting another knight with silver hair. “Sir Raynot?”
“Greetings, Sir Erling.”
“Just in time, come on in. Theobold was just about to send Brenna to fetch you.”
Blood-Wraith followed Erling to the main hall. Multiple knights and guardsmen were standing about, talking and maintaining their gear. Brenna spotted the two and gestured for them to approach. Seeing her was a relief for Blood-Wraith.
“Hey, Blood!” she said. “Looking good, my fellow knight.”
“Thanks, Brenna. Mom made me wear it…”
“You should be proud,” Erling stated. “Her grace did a fantastic job.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Apparently she wants me to wear this at the guild too.”
“I can get behind that,” Brenna replied. “I’ll wear my uniform too. We got to look our best for the others. Also you got to see the guild hall, how’s it doing?”
“Good. Some members have already shown up as well. I imagine you guys have met Mal already, but I also met an elektromancer and a titan.”
Before Erling or Brenna could respond, someone raised their voice. “Knights, fall in!”
“Sir, yes sir!” Everyone else said in unison once they were all lined up.
Theobold chuckled. “Well done, especially you, Sir Raynot.”
“Sir, thank you sir!”
“At ease. Now everyone, I shouldn’t have to tell you that Barna and Queen Dunja are returning soon. We’ll all be there, as expected. Now I doubt Milosh’s braindead cult will try anything, but we should be prepared anyways. And while the queen has asked us to pardon certain individuals, we must treat them with caution until such a time when our suspicions have passed…” Theobold could tell Blood-Wraith was fidgeting, despite it being barely detectable. “And I say that given the letters we have been provided with, Sir Raynot. Now, any questions?” Everyone remained quiet. “Very good. Return to your posts.”
The knights and guardsmen relaxed as Theobold went to his office. Brenna then noticed Blood-Wraith looking in that direction. “Want to go speak to him?”
“Yeah…”
“Alright. Come on, Erling.”
“Haha, not sure why you need me, but alright,” he replied.
“Moral support, Vang.”
Erling shrugged. “Fair enough.”
Theobold was looking over some documents as he smoked his pipe. A knock was heard as he stroked his brown beard. “Come in.”
The three entered, with Blood-Wraith leading. “Captain General, sir?” said Blood-Wraith. “I take it you're skeptical about the letters?”
He put down his pipe and cleared his throat. “Not exactly; just leery. I know you trust Dunja, Blood, but me and the others are still a little shaky on all of this.”
Blood-Wraith sighed. “Can’t say I blame you, Captain General. My interactions with Andelin have been… interesting to say the least” he said with a chuckle.
“To be clear, I’m not saying we point our guns and swords at the three. I’m just saying to exercise caution.”
“Well put, Captain General,” Erling complimented.
Brenna nodded. “Either way, we’ll all be there…”
“True, but the most dangerous enemy is the one you can’t see.”
“Precisely, Erling,” Theobold confirmed. “Also pardon me if I’m a little antsy after that incident with The Hunger of Old.”
“Duly noted, Captain General,” Blood-Wraith said as she shifted his grip on his shield. “That made me nervous too.”
“Indeed, Blood. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?”
“No, sir… wait, where’s Sven?”
“Ah him. He went to Shadowland yesterday. Some of our guardsmen will be stationed over there in return for some of Sten’s knights. It is a sign of goodwill. Plus it will give us easier means of keeping up with what’s going on with each other.”
“Oh, cool… assuming Sven stays safe. Thank you, Captain General, sir.”
After spending a little time talking to the other knights about the following days, Blood-Wraith left the barracks. He needed time to think about Theobold’s concerns. Was being so welcoming the right thing to do? Blood-Wraith trusted Dunja, but the matter still worried him. Returning home, he was greeted by Vexation and Drusa.
“Hey, there’s our favorite knight!” Drusa said as she took his coat.
“What’s the matter, Blood?” Vexation inquired.
He sat down on the couch. “Oh just a little bit of everything. I hope things go alright when everyone comes home.”
“Ah, I see. Well, do you want me to be on guard just in case?”
Blood-Wraith chuckled. “You’d do that despite your reservations about using curse magic?”
“To protect the king and his people? Of course.”
“I could also call in the gals,” Drusa pointed out. “Octavia, Hestia, Athena, and Aphrodite would all be here before you could even blink an eye.”
As usual, such assurances only partially relieved Blood-Wraith’s concern. As he laid down for bed that night, he noticed his wild card was blinking. Assuming it was Andelin, he went right down to the basement and further to the secret room. Andelin was in her chamber, shuffling her second deck.
“Hello again, Blood. Have a seat.”
“No messages this time?”
“No, but I do want to inform you of what might happen.” She scooted over some cups and a pot. “Tea?”
“Sure.” The water was still warm as he dropped in a teabag.
“As you can imagine, a lot has occurred over to the east. The cult has been dismantled, the church is gone, and Milosh’s ill-gotten money has been returned to its rightful owners…”
Blood-Wraith raised an eyebrow. “But?”
“I’m pretty sure Milosh is going to try one last surprise attack tomorrow.”
This warranted a groan. “Oh boy…”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Gummi’s plan to poison the last of the cult is coming nicely to fruition.”
“Poison? What kind?”
She chuckled. “Oh, just a dastardly little concoction that will riddle them with strokes and-or heart failures.”
Blood-Wraith grabbed his neck as he cringed at the mere idea. “Source, did he come up with all by himself?”
“No. Claudius and I assisted him in secret.”
“How was the poison administered?”
“The beast blood they consumed earlier. Thankfully Gudrun didn’t notice when she modified it for Milosh and his cronies. That would have been very bad if she had.”
“Beast blood… Why do I get the feeling that would also be very bad for us?”
Andelin sipped her tea. “It would absolutely be if Gummi hadn’t acted. Milosh has always had delusions of grandeur and hyper fixations. He believed that that thunderstorm off at The Storm Plateau is The Lich, figuring he could become all powerful with both beasthood and godhood. In reality, that storm is a very powerful mage named Ludwig Leichenberg. Let’s just say he’s venting some intense frustration at the moment.”
Blood-Wraith put two and two together. “So either Milosh keels over or he gets electrocuted, correct?”
“Yes. Or Barna pummels him into the ground. Whatever comes first.”
“Wow… should we do anything about this?”
“No, because we’ll need you guys to protect Gummi and Albrecht.”
“Oh?”
Andelin set her teacup down. “Claudius and I have discussed this with Sten. Milosh will retaliate, so the two will be rushed out of Shadowland…”
“Well just a warning: Theobold and some of the others are still shaky about all of this.”
She nodded in acceptance. “Yeah, that’s what we figured. It can’t be helped.”
“It’s like my dad said; the pen is mightier than the sword, but actions speak louder than words.”
“Your father is a very wise man, Blood. Be sure to listen to him.” After a brief pause to finish their drinks, Andelin noticed the pattern on Blood-Wraith’s armor. “Hey, Teunis wears one just like that. Where’d you get such a suit of armor?”
“Vexation made it and he also mentioned that name. Do you know Teunis?”
Andelin nodded again. “Of course. We are betrothed after all.”
Once more, Blood-Wraith felt a little embarrassed. “Oh… do you know where he is?”
“Sadly no, which is where you come in. He got lost during our last battle with Gudrun at the Phantom Glacier Fields, but I have a feeling he’ll show up once the guild is up and running. He did achieve ULTRAMagic after all.”
“Oh, well then we’ll welcome him with open arms when he pops up again” Blood-Wraith declared.
Andelin chuckled. “Thank you, Blood. That means a lot to me. And if we play our cards right, you’ll encounter some people who are very important to you.”
He smiled, sighed, and laughed. “Here we go again. Drusa said something similar… this all relates to Valerie, doesn’t it?”
“Yes… and no.”
Blood-Wraith squeezed his temples. “Aye yai yai… You’re not going to put me to sleep again, are you?”
“No. Why? Do you need it?”
“No, no. Just wondering is all” he replied as he poured himself some more tea.
Next: Chapter 41
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
Master Post - Patreon
Blood-Wraith was not thrilled about the day after. He wanted to relax and play video games, but everyone else was all over the place. Barna and Dunja were coming home in a couple of days after all. Rose had requested Blood-Wraith’s presence at the mansion as she was putting together a proper uniform for him. The young man was a knight and needed to be properly dressed at all times. And the timing was perfect too, as Rose and Kresimira were not thrilled about his current choice of attire.
“Blood, you cannot go out like that” Rose chided. “I refuse to let you be seen like that.”
“Why not?”
“That suit, it’s uncouth.”
Blood-Wraith looked down at himself. “Well I don’t see anything showing.”
“It’s the principle, Blood,” Kresimira pointed out. “I won’t deny that Vexation is a master craftsman, but it’s… it’s unconventional, charitably speaking.” This comment elicited a groan from Blood-Wraith.
“No back talk, young man,” Rose snapped. “You will look prim and proper when on duty…” She then handed him the dress shirt and pants. “You are mine and Radovan’s son after all.”
“Adopted…” he replied with a cough.
“Irrelevant” she immediately rebuked. “How do they fit?”
“Fine…”
She then handed him his waistcoat. “Adopted or not, you’re still a Raynot. You have a family name to uphold.”
“And besides, you’re looking fantastic in that uniform so far,” Kresimira complimented.
Blood-Wraith took his frock coat and put it on. He then noticed a pair of boots and a beret. “Do I have to wear those too?”
“You are not going to be barefoot before his majesty or the Captain General,” Rose said sternly.
“Don’t worry, brother, they have a wide toe box; your feet should be nice and comfortable” Kresimira assured him.
“So what’s the beret for?” He asked as he put his boots on.
“It indicates that you are a knight,” Rose answered. “Knights wear silver while royal guardsmen wear gold. Plus they’re easy to make and store.”
Blood-Wraith looked at himself in the mirror and could not help but smile. “Hey, not bad…”
Kresimira clapped. “You look so dashing.”
Rose handed him his shield. “Now head to the Knight’s Barracks, Blood. I’d imagine there’s special instructions for the queen’s return.”
“Yes, mom… ahem, yes, ma’am.”
“Very good, sweetie. Remember, casual when off duty and formal when on duty.”
While the idea of marching crossed his mind, Blood-Wraith was alone and did not want to wear himself out. Regardless, many passersby complimented him on his way to the barracks. He even came across some school children that wanted his autograph. That made Blood-Wraith feel warm inside. He was constantly worried about how people viewed him, but this helped assuage those feelings. Approaching the Knight’s Barracks was a little intimidating. Blood-Wraith was met by the familiar sight of the stone buildings, which shared land with the Soldier’s Barracks.
Feeling incredibly nervous, Blood-Wraith was hesitant to open the door. “Come on, just head in…”
The door opened from the inside, presenting another knight with silver hair. “Sir Raynot?”
“Greetings, Sir Erling.”
“Just in time, come on in. Theobold was just about to send Brenna to fetch you.”
Blood-Wraith followed Erling to the main hall. Multiple knights and guardsmen were standing about, talking and maintaining their gear. Brenna spotted the two and gestured for them to approach. Seeing her was a relief for Blood-Wraith.
“Hey, Blood!” she said. “Looking good, my fellow knight.”
“Thanks, Brenna. Mom made me wear it…”
“You should be proud,” Erling stated. “Her grace did a fantastic job.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Apparently she wants me to wear this at the guild too.”
“I can get behind that,” Brenna replied. “I’ll wear my uniform too. We got to look our best for the others. Also you got to see the guild hall, how’s it doing?”
“Good. Some members have already shown up as well. I imagine you guys have met Mal already, but I also met an elektromancer and a titan.”
Before Erling or Brenna could respond, someone raised their voice. “Knights, fall in!”
“Sir, yes sir!” Everyone else said in unison once they were all lined up.
Theobold chuckled. “Well done, especially you, Sir Raynot.”
“Sir, thank you sir!”
“At ease. Now everyone, I shouldn’t have to tell you that Barna and Queen Dunja are returning soon. We’ll all be there, as expected. Now I doubt Milosh’s braindead cult will try anything, but we should be prepared anyways. And while the queen has asked us to pardon certain individuals, we must treat them with caution until such a time when our suspicions have passed…” Theobold could tell Blood-Wraith was fidgeting, despite it being barely detectable. “And I say that given the letters we have been provided with, Sir Raynot. Now, any questions?” Everyone remained quiet. “Very good. Return to your posts.”
The knights and guardsmen relaxed as Theobold went to his office. Brenna then noticed Blood-Wraith looking in that direction. “Want to go speak to him?”
“Yeah…”
“Alright. Come on, Erling.”
“Haha, not sure why you need me, but alright,” he replied.
“Moral support, Vang.”
Erling shrugged. “Fair enough.”
Theobold was looking over some documents as he smoked his pipe. A knock was heard as he stroked his brown beard. “Come in.”
The three entered, with Blood-Wraith leading. “Captain General, sir?” said Blood-Wraith. “I take it you're skeptical about the letters?”
He put down his pipe and cleared his throat. “Not exactly; just leery. I know you trust Dunja, Blood, but me and the others are still a little shaky on all of this.”
Blood-Wraith sighed. “Can’t say I blame you, Captain General. My interactions with Andelin have been… interesting to say the least” he said with a chuckle.
“To be clear, I’m not saying we point our guns and swords at the three. I’m just saying to exercise caution.”
“Well put, Captain General,” Erling complimented.
Brenna nodded. “Either way, we’ll all be there…”
“True, but the most dangerous enemy is the one you can’t see.”
“Precisely, Erling,” Theobold confirmed. “Also pardon me if I’m a little antsy after that incident with The Hunger of Old.”
“Duly noted, Captain General,” Blood-Wraith said as she shifted his grip on his shield. “That made me nervous too.”
“Indeed, Blood. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?”
“No, sir… wait, where’s Sven?”
“Ah him. He went to Shadowland yesterday. Some of our guardsmen will be stationed over there in return for some of Sten’s knights. It is a sign of goodwill. Plus it will give us easier means of keeping up with what’s going on with each other.”
“Oh, cool… assuming Sven stays safe. Thank you, Captain General, sir.”
After spending a little time talking to the other knights about the following days, Blood-Wraith left the barracks. He needed time to think about Theobold’s concerns. Was being so welcoming the right thing to do? Blood-Wraith trusted Dunja, but the matter still worried him. Returning home, he was greeted by Vexation and Drusa.
“Hey, there’s our favorite knight!” Drusa said as she took his coat.
“What’s the matter, Blood?” Vexation inquired.
He sat down on the couch. “Oh just a little bit of everything. I hope things go alright when everyone comes home.”
“Ah, I see. Well, do you want me to be on guard just in case?”
Blood-Wraith chuckled. “You’d do that despite your reservations about using curse magic?”
“To protect the king and his people? Of course.”
“I could also call in the gals,” Drusa pointed out. “Octavia, Hestia, Athena, and Aphrodite would all be here before you could even blink an eye.”
As usual, such assurances only partially relieved Blood-Wraith’s concern. As he laid down for bed that night, he noticed his wild card was blinking. Assuming it was Andelin, he went right down to the basement and further to the secret room. Andelin was in her chamber, shuffling her second deck.
“Hello again, Blood. Have a seat.”
“No messages this time?”
“No, but I do want to inform you of what might happen.” She scooted over some cups and a pot. “Tea?”
“Sure.” The water was still warm as he dropped in a teabag.
“As you can imagine, a lot has occurred over to the east. The cult has been dismantled, the church is gone, and Milosh’s ill-gotten money has been returned to its rightful owners…”
Blood-Wraith raised an eyebrow. “But?”
“I’m pretty sure Milosh is going to try one last surprise attack tomorrow.”
This warranted a groan. “Oh boy…”
“I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Gummi’s plan to poison the last of the cult is coming nicely to fruition.”
“Poison? What kind?”
She chuckled. “Oh, just a dastardly little concoction that will riddle them with strokes and-or heart failures.”
Blood-Wraith grabbed his neck as he cringed at the mere idea. “Source, did he come up with all by himself?”
“No. Claudius and I assisted him in secret.”
“How was the poison administered?”
“The beast blood they consumed earlier. Thankfully Gudrun didn’t notice when she modified it for Milosh and his cronies. That would have been very bad if she had.”
“Beast blood… Why do I get the feeling that would also be very bad for us?”
Andelin sipped her tea. “It would absolutely be if Gummi hadn’t acted. Milosh has always had delusions of grandeur and hyper fixations. He believed that that thunderstorm off at The Storm Plateau is The Lich, figuring he could become all powerful with both beasthood and godhood. In reality, that storm is a very powerful mage named Ludwig Leichenberg. Let’s just say he’s venting some intense frustration at the moment.”
Blood-Wraith put two and two together. “So either Milosh keels over or he gets electrocuted, correct?”
“Yes. Or Barna pummels him into the ground. Whatever comes first.”
“Wow… should we do anything about this?”
“No, because we’ll need you guys to protect Gummi and Albrecht.”
“Oh?”
Andelin set her teacup down. “Claudius and I have discussed this with Sten. Milosh will retaliate, so the two will be rushed out of Shadowland…”
“Well just a warning: Theobold and some of the others are still shaky about all of this.”
She nodded in acceptance. “Yeah, that’s what we figured. It can’t be helped.”
“It’s like my dad said; the pen is mightier than the sword, but actions speak louder than words.”
“Your father is a very wise man, Blood. Be sure to listen to him.” After a brief pause to finish their drinks, Andelin noticed the pattern on Blood-Wraith’s armor. “Hey, Teunis wears one just like that. Where’d you get such a suit of armor?”
“Vexation made it and he also mentioned that name. Do you know Teunis?”
Andelin nodded again. “Of course. We are betrothed after all.”
Once more, Blood-Wraith felt a little embarrassed. “Oh… do you know where he is?”
“Sadly no, which is where you come in. He got lost during our last battle with Gudrun at the Phantom Glacier Fields, but I have a feeling he’ll show up once the guild is up and running. He did achieve ULTRAMagic after all.”
“Oh, well then we’ll welcome him with open arms when he pops up again” Blood-Wraith declared.
Andelin chuckled. “Thank you, Blood. That means a lot to me. And if we play our cards right, you’ll encounter some people who are very important to you.”
He smiled, sighed, and laughed. “Here we go again. Drusa said something similar… this all relates to Valerie, doesn’t it?”
“Yes… and no.”
Blood-Wraith squeezed his temples. “Aye yai yai… You’re not going to put me to sleep again, are you?”
“No. Why? Do you need it?”
“No, no. Just wondering is all” he replied as he poured himself some more tea.
Next: Chapter 41
ULTRAMagic Alternate © 2022 William Ford II (ChaoticTempleKnight)
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