Chapter 8 Part 1

An attack of a fairly large group of twenty or so people decided to attack the carriage, for what end is still unknown. Dime saw them coming a ways away, so they lost the element of surprise. Beerwolf stands next to him, taking a slim stance as his training from the maids required him to protect Christopher. The driver retreated inside the carriage so as to not become a liability.

"Did you really think attacking the carriage of the Kings of Loreafan was a good idea? Or were you contracted to do so?" Jasyn says, digging his Mythril Greatsword firmly in the ground, standing firmly and redoubtably just outside of the Carriage.

"We don't have to answer to you!" One of the attackers says.

"You certainly do scum. You are talking to His Majesty, King Jasyn Liard of The Dimensional Kingdom of Loreafan, The Mythril Warrior!" Beerwolf angrily shouts.

"If my husband will allow such mercy, I'll painlessly divorce your head from your body. Such insolence as to oppose an entire country like this!" Jasyn says, picking up his sword with both hands, taking a casual stance with the blade resting on his shoulder.

Jasyn takes a step forward and a mage towards the back of the group points his staff at Jasyn. "His armour is just for show! Kill him with everything you have!" this mage launches off a substantially sized fireball at him.

(Narrator) I hope his armour is real Mythril Christopher. That can kill 20 men in an instant. Aren't you worried?

"Not in the slightest Tari. I'm not worried about Beerwolf either. Hellhounds such as him should be completely impervious to fire." Christopher says, watching on through one of the carriages' glass windows.

(Dime) King Shavik has requested to meet with you, Sir.

"Tell him to wait a little while, I don't want to leave Jasyn here to fend them all off alone. Also tell him what's happening right now. We may be close to the border, but this is still his country." Christopher says.

(Dime) I will do so right away, Sir.

Christopher looks back to the battle, the smoke starts to clear around the explosion. Jasyn brutally marches further, as if nothing happened.

"Impossible!" The attacking mage yells. "Keep firing!"

With a single casual motion, Jasyn's swings blade through one of the close combatants torsos, his top half spins wildly in the air, being spurred on by the sword. His blood and viscera rain down on anyone nearby.

(Narrator) If I had a jaw, it'd be dropped right now. The training you've been giving him has turned that hunk into a walking disaster!

"I know right. It's so sexy." Christopher says, dreamily watching Jasyn closely. "He's gotten sloppy."

One of the opposing sides' melee specialist attempts to strike him from behind, his steel sword snapping as it makes contact with the enchanted metal of Jasyn's Mythril armour.

Jasyn grunts. "If I see a scratch on my glorious armour you're going to be food for my husband."

"Blades are useless! What are we supposed to do!" a man cried out.

After another three people are cut down with ease, what I'm guessing is the Arch Mage of the battalion calls for a retreat.

"None of you will escape us." Christopher says. He has teleported himself on top of his carriage. "World Isolation Barrier! Shield Wall!" Surrounding the area in a 100 metre radius is an invisible dome, and just behind the assailants are several tall green magic walls that are usually used for defence.

"Now your only way of survival is to get through The Mythril Warrior to kill me. Good luck with that." Sephicroth says. Christopher retreats inside the carriage and waits.

It didn't take much longer for Jasyn to mop up the sludge. Beerwolf saunters to the door of the carriage. "I was regrettably unable to assist His Majesty in battle. But he won without a scratch Your highness."

"Great, are there any survivors?" Christopher asks.

"Just the Arch Mage." Beerwolf says.

Christopher and Shavik enter his dimension for a private chat, Beerwolf and Jasyn are left at the carriage to guard it.

"We didn't get any information out of them in the end. They wore no crest or had any orders with them. None of them had any knowledge who they were working for or why they were attacking us. It's strange." Christopher says.

"What became of their commander?" Shavik asks.

"He begged me for death. I got the impression that torturing the man wouldn't yield results, so I granted his request." Christopher says.

"I see. Then I would like to have his head, just so I can place blame on someone when I make the report." Shavik says.

"Granted." Christopher says. Dime passes Shavik a brown bag with the man's head inside. "Now then, what was it that you needed to tell me?"

"Stocaea is no more."

"Huh?" Christopher seems stunned by his statement.

"The Emperor was assassinated. The assailant has claimed Stocaea as his territory. Tisk tried sending in troops to claim the land. They were repelled by an overwhelming force of wild animals and monsters. The entire country has become an unjust, lawless landscape." Shavik says.

"No way." Christopher says. He collapses into a chair that Dime put down to catch his fall. "Engilram. I hope you're ok."

(Dime) Heddwyn is requesting to talk with you, Sir.

"Let him in." Christopher says.

Heddwyn comes barging through the entrance. He and Shavik look at one another. "You told him?" Shavik nods.

"Christopher." Heddwyn says, holding his son by the shoulders. He stares deeply into his eyes with worry.

"Is he alive?" Christopher asks.

"I don't know. I just got a letter from him. Saying that he and the Orphanage kids we're fleeing as refugees. Dungannon was burned to the ground not too long ago." Heddwyn says.

"You need to go and find him. Not as your son. But as a request from a King. You'll be paid for bringing back ANY information you may be able to gather if you can't find him. Please also tell Heather and Haider in person before you go." Christopher says.

"You're saying that as if I've already agreed to it. *Sigh* Fine, I'll go find him for you." Heddwyn says. A soft but weak smile on his face.

"If you don't mind Heddwyn. I would like to discuss what happens next with him. If you're ok with that." Shavik says gently.

Heddwyn tears up as he continues to smile at Christopher. "Yeah, yeah. I'm going." he sniffles as he stands back up. He reopens the door to leave but just before he looks back. "I'm proud of you son. You've grown into a fine young man"

Christopher tears up and smiles at him as he exits.

"I did request information from Dime, not from prying but for a genuine reason. They said I would need your express permission to do so." Shavik says.

"Ok. What exactly do you need from me?" Christopher asks.

"How many people are you currently able to accommodate and how fast are you able to accommodate the refugees? Not only that, can you supply your current capacity with the food you currently produce?" Shavik asks.

"Oh that stuff is good for you to look through, Dime should sort through all the necessary documents for you in a few seconds." Christopher says. Not long after he says that, a thick pile of documents, roughly 700 pages in size, is placed in a box in front of Shavik.

Shavik laughs nervously. "Are you sure you can't just tell me?"

"I would like you to make a formal statement to all the nations for me using those numbers. If they are insufficient, we have a backup of tents that can temporarily house a large number of people, that should also be documented there too. I would do it myself, but I am currently on the road as you well know." Christopher says.

"*Sigh* Good point. I'll have my assistant go through these documents and provide a summary. It shouldn't take too long." Shavik picks up the parcel and holds it tight under his arm. "May The Mother guide you on a safe journey." he bows, elegantly leaving the dimension.

…

"Fuck this shit man. The second I get back to the carriage I'm falling asleep in Jasyn's lap I swear to the gods." Christopher grumbles.

(Narrator) You do seem drained.

"That's because I am. Shavik always has me on edge. I don't feel like I can let my guard down around him. And trust me, my hunches haven't been wrong before." Christopher says.

(Narrator) Oh yeah, that's right. You had an unpleasant feeling towards Llamiryl Genhorn way back when, didn't you?

"Kiana unnerved me quite a bit too. She reminded me too much of my old self. When I was toxic and bitter towards everyone and everything." Christopher says.

(Narrator) You've grown a ton since then. Just like Heddwyn said.

"Thank you Tari. Cmon, let's get back to the others." Christopher says, getting up from the chair.