Arkadia: Lightbringer Clan

Chapter Fifteen

Mr Eid, Verra and Portis makes their way to the Palace, Verra explains the reason why another Pit Fiend couldn't be created to Portis, saying while the magic they employed could definitely have summoned another one, the one they fought most probably was siphoning more than it needs to sustain itself. Their victory quickly reaches to the Palace ears, guards nodding and bowing at their passing.
They meet Advisor just outside the entrance within the Palace walls, he greets them and smile, gestures them to follow him to the council room.
"The Rex will be most pleased." as they sit on their chairs.
"Our mission at Naught is a success." Mr Eid proceeds to lay the details down, "however we did not find the rangers." He pursed his lips.
Advisor takes in a deep breath, "I'll send in a platoon to clear out the rest of the danger, and look for them... and the bodies of the fallen." Mr Eid nods in thanks for the gesture.
Advisor looks up at them, "Anything else?"
"No, what's the progress on that secret place?"
"The place is secured, they've sent a scout back here to report they've also found a piece of artifact, which they believe might be of some significance."
"Any from the Magic Circle is going to the field?"
"Yes, I believe Ms Bobbins is on her way there."
"Alisif's mentor...." Verra says under her breath.
Portis nods, "It should be easy then."
Mr Eid feels an uneasy feeling, Advisor glances over and takes note of this.
"If that is all then, I believe you all earned a well-deserved rest."
"You said it." Portis stretches her back and yawns, "Cousin-"
Verra's eyes are distant, as if her focus is elsewhere but here.
She sighs and pats her cousin back, Verra jolts back into focus.
"Come on, let's go back to the Spire and check up on Alisif, I'm sure she'll complain if she doesn't see us after she wakes up."
Verra faintly smiles, and gestures to both Mr Eid and Advisor, and leaves.
"Trouble?" Advisor speaks up after they're left alone.
The tall figure stood very still in his teared suit, and takes a deep breathe.
"It's not over." The Advisor waits for him to continue, Mr Eids' insight has saved them from trouble countless times, and this could be one of those times.
"Pit Fiend sightings and attacks, we tracked the movements down to Naught, and we were able to intercept them before they could do anything..... but what IS that anything we were troubled by? why wasn't there more of them if this operation has been going on for months? a mage, a handful of Pit Crawlers-"
"I'm sorry?"
"Ah, one of the ladies coined the term for the humanoid monstrosities."
"and while we know Pit Fiends can only be created by excess Flow, the magic that happened in Naught should be more than enough to create two of those monsters...."
"Verra explained that it may be because the one we fought at Naught could be siphoning more than it should, but why? why did it do that if that's the case?"
"In the case of the mage, I was expecting it to put up more of a fight, however it felt like it was holding back, magic was definitely flying all over the place, and it would've incinerated most of us if Alisif hadn't used her Barrier spell.... and one of the soldiers' quick thinking to throw his shield at the mage to distract it for a bit but I just can't help but to feel that he would've blasted the shield away anyway..."
Advisor stayed quiet while Mr Eid analyzes the details and information, it seems even with his student almost dying, and a few dozen deaths, this felt a bit too easy.
"I mean no disrespect to the ones who have fallen, but this..."
Advisor puts up a hand, "I understand, then your work is not over my old friend."
Mr Eid puts on a cheeky smirk, nods and Walks away.

-

"You're going aren't you?" Portis looks over to her cousin.
"Hehe." as both of them walk towards the Spire, to the room where Alisif and Leaf are.
As they walk in, Alisif is already hovering around, Leaf is fast asleep... with an reddish imprint on his face.
Both of them looks at Alisif, and she shrugs her shoulders.
"What's the situation?'
"My cousin wants to go back to the secret chamber."
Alisif pales, "What, why!" she exclaims.
"They found something there."
Alisif rolls her eyes, "oh no."
Verra cheekily smiles, "Alisif please?"
"You want to go right now?"
"No of course not! you're not back 100% yet, plus I'm assuming the investigation will be done in a couple of days, so maybe popping in there mid-way would be better."
Alisif lets out a relief sigh, "Hey I care about you guys' well-being too okay." Verra pouts her mouth.
The other two chuckle and continued to chat with each other until sundown, then Verra and Portis went back to their homes to rest, while Alisif was told to stay there until she full recovers.

-

The next morning, Portis wakes up and stretches her back, pops out of bed and starts doing her light morning workout routine, push-ups, squats and core exercises, 200 repeatitions each.

After her workout, she washes up and walks to her armoury, about a hallway away from her room. She steps out of her room into glorious red carpet floor, the walls and ceilings adorned with chandeliers and various decorations either standing vases, or a portrait of a family member.
Portis reaches the armoury, opens the door, and is greeted by weapons and armours of pass Champions in a vast room like a treasury.
She walks straight towards her own armour glistening under the sun, shining bright with her weapon on a weapon stand, a warhammer made specifically for her.

She dons her armour and gives her weapon a quick twirl with both hands and straps it to her back. She takes a deep breath and heads down stairs, out the door and walks to her guard tower headquarters.

"Champion." a guardsman outside the door nod and salutes Portis, she stops and returns the gesture, "Kyle, no need to be so formal with me, we've known each other for quite awhile."
Kyle the guardsman shakes his head, "Nay, I would like to respect the station you hold, word has gotten around that the Champion has brought glorious victory for Fosurbs." He winks.
"You are too kind, we've successfully won against what would've threathen Fosurbs, it's what we do."
Kyle smiles and nods, "and that's why we hold you and the Light bringer soldiers in high regard, it is not easy."
Portis smiles and bid Kyle farewell, and headed into the headquarters.

Commander Grenpoint greets Portis as she enters, after a brief greeting, they both sat down, tea already brewed, still hot.
"Good work over at Naught."
"Thank you sir, we are only doing what we need to do."
Grenpoint smiles, "always so humble, I am glad power has not held you."
Portis bashful, "Of course, it was not only my own strength."
"Yes, the Lightbringer soldiers are strong indeed, and we mourn those who have fallen."
Both sit quietly across each other, "Portis, I am thinking of retiring soon."
The champion looks at the Commander shocked, What do you mean?"
His face softens "Portis, I'm getting old, I am 56 years old and I can hear my back creaking."

Portis leans back into her chair, processing what she just heard.
"Of course I'm only thinking that." as Grenpoint cracks his head side to side. "ya'll still need a lil bit more before I let you go off on your own." he smiles.

Portis nods in relief, "glad to hear that Commander, we still have need of you." She hangs her head a bit low, Grenpoint notices this.
"Something the matter?"
"The work of a Champion is... not easy.."
Grenpoint leans in, "Would you like to talk about it Portis?"
Portis draws in a deep breath, "I don't know if I should?" she looks puzzled, confused.
Grenpoint lets out a sigh, "You needn't be strong in front of me Portis, I am your Commander, but I have always been first and foremost your friend."
Portis lets out a tear, sniffling and letting her emotions overwhelm her, "What if my cousin had died yesterday?! what would've happened then?!"
She puts her face into her hands, Grenpoint rushes to her side.
"It's okay Portis, you've done it, Verra is safe and back in the City."
"And ALL those soldiers that died, that's my fault!" the cry deeper, the grief weighs heavy in Portis."
Grenpoints holds her, and holds her tight, he could feel her shivering, he covers her from mayhaps prying eyes and ears, away from the world that demands much of her.

Grenpoint continues to hold her while Portis goes through her emotions, Grenpoint calming her and assuring her through the process.

"It was the best thing that you could've done, with the information that was available to you in real time."

"You are still loved by the citizens here, your cousin and family for sure, and the respect from your soldiers will not waver."

Portis hearing these words, starts to calm down, wiping away her teared covered face, steeling her resolve once more. At this point in time, Grenpoint has let her go.

"You have things to do today?" Portis nods and mention to Grenpoint that she will be accompanying the Duchess on an errand.

"Be safe out there Portis, you will always find a home here."

Portis tilts her head up and nods gratefully, "Thank you.... Dad, I truly appreciate this, thank you for being here for me."

The old man pats his daughter on the back and wish her well on her journey.