2 Tenetika

"Ô lord Maximilian" Said thaumael in a reverent tone" worry not, all is advancing according to plan, the Wealdlanders arrival has been well studied, and well prepared for, if..."

"I warn you Thaumael, if your plan came backfiring onto the kingdom and its highness Maximilian, the only glory you will ever receive will be your own blood served to your family in a golden cup" said Casam, the right hand of Maximilian the leader, king, and pope of the tenetika castle, in which they were discussing some state affairs.

"Ô thy highness Maximilian, rightful lord of the tenetika castle and all its land, heir of the greatest name and title that ever Layed foot on earth, prophet and apostle of the only truthful religion in existence, i swear on your name, if ever the wealdlanders dared lay foot on our holly kingdom, our troop will show no mercy especially if my strategy be thoroughly followed." He stood up, put both hands calmly on the long round table in which he, Casam and Maximilian were sitting thus putting emphasis in his last words.

Casam smoothly let the small blades hidden in his sleeves slide down to his hand palms, ready to murder anyone who tryed to get too close to his master even Thaumael, for he was his right hand, his guard, and seemingly his puppet, he never failed to meet Maximilian's will be it charitable or not.

"I trust you my child" said Maximilian after standing up, he then slowly walked away towards the big door leading outside the assembly room right to the wide hall, "begin the preparations if you will" were his last words before exiting the room, he as always was tightly followed by Casam.

"When the 'festivity' commences i will be praying to the Noumenon, make sure no one interups" was oredered Casam by his master and lord Maximilian, not that he did not know already, for Maximilian spent the totality of his time beside the Noumenon, the throne of the castle and the central and most important room of the sanctorium a religious temple build inside the castle, the whole kingdom and dogmas of the tenetika and the religion ruling it was originated from there.

No one knows what the throne holds and hides, its will, sacrifices, offerings, and all contact was made through Maximilian, the only one who is allowed to interact with it, and he perfectly preserved the secret whichever was the cost.

The only apparent feature of the throne was that it sheltered an entity bearing humongous amount of energy, a type of magic the tenetians call the nexus, which can only be accessed through Maximilian, and only to a meticulously selected few, who have of course totally surrender to and accepted the tenet religion.

Thaumael went to his office gathered some scrolls and parchments and went down stairs to the lowest level of the castle, in there were waiting Theon the war master and troup trainer, Berith financier of the throne, and Linosa the blacksmith.

Each and everyone of them swore allegiance to the throne, and were granted the title of knights of the tenetika castle along with a share of the mystic energy that is the nexus, accessible only to those deemed worthy by Maximilian.

Theon was a robustly built man wearing a shiny metalic armor and a claymore, on which was printed the golden emblem of the tenetika a lemniscat with a vertical line that separates its two hemispheres. He is a warrior that was once found grievly wounded and lost wandering between the dunes of Terra Nullius, by Casam who promised him shelter under the tenetika castle, thus he was proclaimed Theon the courageous knight.

Berith the generous knight, was a skinny man with classy clothes and a tenetika emblem pin attatched to his tailcoat. Once a beggar and bandit of tenetika's poorest districts, who through wit and an incomparable eloquence and negotiation skills gained great fortune and reputation throughout the city, so that he was personally invited by Maximilian to join the tenetika castle as a financier and knight in exchange of a portion of the nexus.

And finally Linosa a charming young lady, whos unique dexterity handling metal, made of her father's smithery the most fancied and frequented by knights, warriors, mercenaries, assassins, so that the throne couldn't ignore the threat it represented serving anyone but its cause.

Naturally she joined the tenetika as the graceful knight, after being showered by threats coming from the throne, specifically Casam who made it his duty to exterminate the familial smithery and its owners, if she did not surrender and join them, she deeply hated the castle but it was a sacrifice she made to ensure her family's safety.

"Gentlemen, my lady, the day has come, we will need to gather as many of your men, Theon." Said Thaumael.

"Yes sir" responded Theon.

"Berith, did you provied Linosa with ample metal suply as you were ordered ?"

"Naturally, the best of the best, specifically chosen to be forged into deadly weaponry, just as my elegant sir demanded." Returned Berith with a gentle smile and a confident look.

"Well" said Thaumael "i presume all the supply had been forged as ordered !" While swiftly peeking at Linosa who nodded yes with a strict blank look on her eyes.

" I will now leave my parchments on which i meticulously detailed the strategy formation and purpose, i count on you Theon, if ever they do dare march on our holy land, which i believe them foolish enough to do, no mercy shall be bestowed upon those Wealdlanders bastards, i count on you !"

"Surely sir" said the intrepid Theon.

"and pass the message to Triston not to fool around this time, the throne is way more important than some skittish villagers" said Thaumael befor climbing the many steps leading to his office

Linosa hastingly rushed towards the door leading outside the castle, followed by Berith holding tge parchments in his hand, "a war is ahead, yet you can not throw away your contempt, even in the presence of thy highness's vizierpathetic !"

"Come take what you were ordered to take, then go back kissing your highness's bottom and spare me the drivel" said she angrily while heading to the throne's armoury behind the throne's smithery, where she spent the many last days and nights forging the equipment she was requested.

Berith signaled to one of his general to bring his troop so that they may carry the equipment to the tents Berith ordered to be installed around the city.

The tenetika castle hierarchy might seem holy and well built but in fact it was mostly done through deception, blackmail, extortion and sometimes blood shed, the knights were seen as mere pawns or tools by the three leaders of the castle, Maximilian, Casam, Thaumael in order to reach that which they sought, be it power, wealth, or protection.

The only benefit awarded to the knights was the small and restricted portion of energy or magic that is the nexus, provided by Maximilian. Which in fact was a game changer, for it granted them an amount of skill and abilities that were never to be gained by otherly means.

Not far away, in the castle's courtyard where the knights usually train their combat ability and magic mastery, stood Lily the captain of the knights and the strongest amongst them, alongside the newest member of the tenetikas, Aether.

"...now focus, feel the energy going all the way from your body to your hands, let if flow along your hammer's handle and try to direct it towards its face and claw..." Instructed Lily to Aether, it was part of her training mastering the nexus, at the same time Lily was judging her aptitude to take part in the war ahead, which clearly was far away from happening.

Although she was a fierce berserker, the undisputed best in the whole kingdom, Lily had a heart of Gold, it was said that she had never in her life killed a human being, and she cared too much for Aether to let her vainly risk her life.

Aether was the newcomer, a gullible young girl with a skinny posture but a strong will, who joined the knights by recommendation from Lily, she saw something in her, something she never told anyone about, she just wanted to be close to her, teach her, help her grow stronger, maybe she reflected her own bloody childhood on hers, maybe something else, the only sure thing was that Lily never trained anybody let along personally recommend someone to Maximilian.

Aether was struggling, but for someone who gained powers seventeen days ago she was doing well enough, where it took months for Lily to even manifest her nexus, Aether could already control her nexus flow inside her build, all she needed now was to learn how to instill it into external bodies like the huge two-handed warhammer she chose as weapon.

Lily drew her long sword and her shield, held them infront of Aether, sparkles started emerging from Lily's impeccable blade, then thin blue electricity rays started moving faster and faster from handle to tip, Aether was observing closely in amazement, admiring her tutor's mastery, Lily swung her blade towards a target, and in a blink of an eyes a slashing beam of thunder emerged from the blade and shatered it into pieces leaving dark electricity marks on the wall behind it.

Lily then said: "once you learn how to control it as if it were a natural part of you, i am quite sure you will achieve great things." an innocent smile shone from Lily's face, Aether was so excited to rise to that level of power and mastery, she said: "you are the best Lily, i wish one day i will be strong enough to share an adventure or two with you."

"You will darling, soon enought." Answered lily "i will let you proceed now, train hard and after the war ends, if i deem you strong enough, we will have a ride together outside the kingdom, savvy ?"

Aether nodded excitedly, then continued her training.