Accession

A bubble of silence met his declaration of intent. Some battles on the fringes continued.

Everyone was still. Judging to see whether their opponent would take advantage of the break in battle. Eyeing each other wearily. Most were happy to finish fighting. The artisans and the hunters saw the futility in all of this. With Tessai dead and Kido out of commission, there was no one to fight for the mantle of Lord. After all, it didn't really matter all that much in the end. 

The militia that Nephis commanded were happy to hear that the remaining leader had surrendered. Cementing their victory. This battle was the roughest for them. While they had large numbers, their lack of experience and powerful memories meant that they had the most casualties out of all factions. With the castle guards following closely behind. Without Nephis and Aldric as their driving force, this war would have ended in their slaughter.

While Aldric's threat bore weight, the presence of the black knight was what cemented their fear. The black knight was a disease on the battlefield. With no one knowledgeable about anything related to the apostle, the knight cut through the sleepers. Typically, a fallen-ranked nightmare creature would need preparations, planning, and a well-experienced team of hunters to even consider taking it on. But with the chaos of a formation-less battlefield and their lack of knowledge surrounding the knight, it was over before it even began. 

Nephis stopped her battle in the centre of the castle and surveyed the room. Exchanging a look with Aldric, she began a slow walk through the enemy lines. None brave enough to challenge her. 

STEP

STEP

STEP

She finally came upon the throne of the castle. In an act that went over the heads of those present, she stood on the first step of the small staircase that elevated the throne platform. 

"Your Lord is dead."

She looked at the corpse on the throne that pathetically laid still. Everyone following her line of sight.

"Tessai is dead."

At the prompt, people's eyes instinctively went to look at the shards of shattered ice on the ground.

"Your remaining leader has surrendered."

Eyes of varying emotions locked onto Gemma, who was already beside Kido. Tending to her injuries. Feeling everyone's eyes on him, he focused on what was in front of him. 

Nephis stayed quiet. Looking into the eyes of anyone that dared to look directly at her. White wisps of flame danced beneath her eyes. 

A smirk of intention formed on her lips. Raising her sword and resting its tip onto the ground.

She spoke with absolute command.

"This castle is mine. Does anyone object?"

For a battle that was so chaotic, silence surprisingly dominated.

---------

The battle was over. Of the well over 1000 sleepers that they started with, 650 remained. Many were critically injured. Dismembered or worse. Nephis had laid waste to a majority when she recovered from the formation of her new core.

In a small room behind the throne, Nephis and her cohort were surrounding a small table. 

Aldric asked the scout a question.

"How was the battle with Harus?"

All of the cohort's wounds were healed by Nephis, so he could not tell the damage that was dealt to the shadow.

"It was therapeutic."

Sunny responded in a pleased tone. 

Not wanting to ask more, Aldric looked to his side.

A new addition was standing opposite them. 

Seishan.

Her handmaidens were what allowed them to overcome the overwhelming numbers of the castle guard. They may have been smaller in number; however, with Seishan leading them, they were lethal.

The beautiful woman began to introduce herself. 

"Hello, my name is Song Sei Shan."

A beastly smile was on her face. Showing off a glimmer of pearly teeth. 

Caster seemed to have a visceral reaction to her introduction. It was funny to Aldric for the regal scion to have such a reaction. Breaking his poise.

The grey-skinned beauty looked at Aldric with eyes of recognition. 

"It's good to see you again, Aldric. I didn't know you would be so deadly on the battlefield."

Her sentence sent waves of interest and curiosity from the group. How exactly did they know each other? 

"Long time no see, Seishan."

Aldric responded in an amicable tone.

She smiled in response.

Seeing as they were not going to continue their conversation, Sunny began his discussion around who exactly the spy was and why no one knew about it. 

Aldric tuned out the conversation between the group and looked at his runes. He had begun the war with just over 200. This was due to the birth of his apostle and its cost.

Dark Sprites:[1027/2000]

A smile formed on his face. 

He had gained over 800 sprites in just over an hour. Making more than his entire trip back to the Dark City.

The majority of this was due to his apostle and the special nature of his attribute. It was during his first nightmare that he had learned that killing any human would net him ten sprites. Ten times more than it should be. Aldric himself only killed about 20 sleepers before and after his battle with Tessai; however, the black knight had no inhibitions. Murdering those Castle Guards in droves allowed him to increase his sprites by over 600.

It was disturbing. Seeing the value of life be wilted down to numbers. Numbers that he had a vested interest in. It seemed as though his path was predetermined, should he wish to saturate his dark core quickly. 

That was something for his future self to worry about. With the end of the civil war, the final stage was at play. Aldric had already determined exactly what his actions would be in the near future. There would be variance due to circumstances, but his intentions were set. 

He absentmindedly looked through the memories he had received. Most of it was junk. Weapons that he was not proficient in without any enchantments to make them worthwhile. He had received something from the death of Tessai though. He read the runes. 

[Memory: Niflheim's Rage]

[Memory Rank: Dormant]

[Memory Type: Tool]

[Memory Description: Even in death, the wrath of the eldest on the Forgotten Shore will not rest.]

Aldric was curious about the memory; however, the rank of it made him lose interest. At most it would be a gimmick, so he would check it out later. 

Noticing the reference to Tessai, Aldric concluded that the spell truly isn't just focused on the past but on the present as well. Remembering the references made to the 'Treacherous' Sunny as well as the spell referring to him as the singularity that birthed his apostle.

Noticing movement around the table shift, Aldric focused on the conversation.

"The winter solstice will be in three weeks. We will use that time to empower the sleepers here and gain more memories by hunting in the Dark City. With the Dawn Shard, it should be much easier. On the solstice, Kai will search for the new sleepers sent over."

Nephis concluded. 

Aldric walked away as the group dispersed. 

He had a duel to prepare for. 

*********

Thanks for reading people. 

Had a comment from Rzxs in the last chapter. all I can say is that we will see. I would encourage you to write a fanfic. You have a lot of good ideas. 

Enjoy yourselves. Take care.