The Game Before the Fall

Chapter 51: Break away. (Part 2)

"Welcome Saint of Skies," an impressive figure welcomed Poppy from the other end of the table. He wore a white military suit with a short red cape attached to his shoulders. On top his head was a golden crown embedded with a single green jewel at its centre. I recognised him as the King of Crysis, Articus. He was of course much younger than the King I had seen, but he still held an imposing aura of command.

"Greetings Articus," Poppy smiled and several people around the room frowned, clearly annoyed at her casual demeanour.

The King picked up on it, "Settle down. There is no need for decorum in such desperate times. Saint, who is this friend of yours?"

"This," Poppy turned to me, "this is my saviour, I got in a bit of a pinch and without him I might have died."

"Does this saviour have a name?" he looked at me.

My brain flared into action. Was it alright for me to give him my real name? Would he remember me in the future and how would that even impact the world?

"I'm Arvel..., just Arvel," I bowed my head, the fake name suddenly popping into my head.

"Well Just Arvel, we welcome you. Thank you for saving our Saint. She has done so much for us and we appreciate the risks you took to save her." He smiled in trust and friendship. I decided not to fix his mistake. "Minister Argyle, please brief the Saint and her friend on the current situation."

"Of course," an elven man well into his years bowed his head and looked to Poppy. "Shall I begin?"

"Go ahead," Poppy nodded and looked to the large map that had been laid out on the table. Like a hologram, images produced by magic were placed all over the map highlighting different point and as the King spoke they enhanced in turn.

Minister Argyle began to speak, "Thanks to your efforts the Western border has stabilised. We've done this by moving the populace as far as we could. Under the protection of the Great Spirit, the Rift Walkers are unable to appear within our borders. While they can cross it, with our people far enough away, they at least will not be attracted."

"How long can that last for?" Poppy asked.

"It is tenuous. We are monitoring the situation from afar, but even that may trigger their attention."

"And what about the North?"

The room's tension heightened, and the Minister breathed tiredly, "That is where we require your assistance. Our Northern border has merged with the Destrian Desert but a large part of the allied army and refugees are still within the area. They are making their way, but Rift Walkers are at their heels."

"So, you want me to attract them away like I did in the West?" Poppy asked. "That's simple enough, but what then? Is that your plan, to keep the Rift Walkers away to leave a gap of life between us and them?"

The King frowned, "It is a poor plan, but the only one we can maintain for now. We can feed the people hope all we want, but without proof of success it means little."

"Ha," Poppy sighed. "Yeah, I'll go but I can only hold them off for so long. You better get your arses out of there quick."

"Thank you, Saint of Skies," the King nodded his head in respect. The action passed on to all others in the room. "When can you depart?"

"I'll leave now," she gave them a wave and yanking on my sleeve pulled me from the room. I guess I was going with her. As we left those that remained began to flurry into action, already communicating to those in the North that their Saint was on the way.