Archive Of Potentialities.

Short Story: Dreamer [1]

Chapter 1: Weary Soul

Sela always felt like it was too easy.

Life as an Imperial was more convenient than not, it was like everything had been arranged, and they were just following along.

She was a member of the Amor family, one of the more martial oriented houses in Tempest. She always felt like there had never been any uncertainty for as far as she could remember. The Kijin of her family always ended up in her sort of post eventually, like it was their calling.

And maybe it was.

Her rise through the ranks was systematic, efficient, and convenient.

Like everything in Tempest tended to be.

It was bland, she thought.

“Status?” She asked the demon standing beside her.

Her and her meagre force of ten men were waiting to ambush a train carrying human traffickers. They were the remnants of a syndicate that had done the impossible a mere 80 years prior.

A syndicate that had managed to escape Tempest and flee the planet. The records she had read about them made it clear how much of an interplanetary uproar the incident had caused.

“The Grand Regent has expressed her compliance,” The demon spoke. He wasn't one of her men, he was simply here to personally observe the situation on behalf of his master, the Grand Regent of the Tempestian Empire.

The Emperor had abruptly stepped down centuries ago, along with a sizable portion of his direct subordinates, or at least that was what the official records said.

Sela thought it was odd, but she couldn't be bothered with contemplating the secrets of people far above her.

“Please convey my sincere gratitude.” Sela replied.

As a Kijin, she felt like she wasn't suited to conversing with bureaucratic types like this demon here, but the opportunity to cut her work in half by hitting the enemy with the equivalent of an orbital laser was one she couldn't pass up.

The cargo trains used in this era were frankly unreasonable. They were extremely resistant to attacks from the outside, especially when the assailants were still bound by flesh and blood. And moving at speeds close to that of sound, they were genuine nightmares to deal with.

For this reason, banditry wasn't exactly a lucrative occupation anymore in the Cardinal World.

“Rest assured, your work is noticed and acknowledged. Thanks are unnecessary when you desire the growth of the Empire.”

She wondered how much of his words were his and how much were the Regent’s.

Sela held in a sigh and opened a Thought Communication channel with her subordinates.

‘Her Imperial Highness has agreed to launch Argos, prepare yourselves.’

Words of acknowledgement flowed through the connection as she observed her forces with Magic Sense.

Clad in formal military attire, they looked more like dignitaries for an event than a squad of elite operatives.

“Miss Sela, your mark approaches.” The black haired demon commented casually, his eyes gleaming with interest.