Devourer

Chapter 198: Flickering Embers

Cecilia sat silently as she read the report in her hands. The carriage she was in was specially designed to rock as little as possible. But she could still hear the cheers on the outside as the common people shouted their praises.

“It is sometimes difficult to fathom how much you are beloved.” Montis said as he glanced out of the carriage window.

“The Empress produces results. In the end, the common sheep just want to be fed and happy. Maintain their little garden, and they won’t even notice the fence,” Ordias said as he continued to stare down at the report in his hand.

“The fence doesn’t only keep them in, it also keeps things out.” Cecilia replied as she looked up from her report. 

Or perhaps it is to keep things in. True to Nemesis’s promise, the Syndicate has been on the move. They have attacked angels three times in the past week. The angels are understandably on edge, the city guard is on high alert and even the Wardens have been tasked as additional escorts for the more prominent Seraphim. 

Legiana has mentioned that even the hive was getting involved. The Syndicate were highly capable infiltrators, and it seems Nemesis sent some of her best. The Hive couldn’t detect them until they were basically right on top of their targets. Short of something with the detection abilities of her dear friend, it seems the Syndicate could move through her city with impunity. It wasn’t that surprising, considering Nemesis showed up on her front door.

At least it was working, the Seraphim seemed to be causing fewer problems with the omnipresent threat of the Syndicate taking up all their attention.

“The Hive are behaving strangely.” Beatrice muttered as she looked down at her giant stack of notes.

“How so?” Ordias asked.

“They might be trying to throw off anyone trying to establish any predictable pattern.” Montis ventured and Ordias nodded.

“It’s not only that, they seem… dumber somehow.” Beatrice said.

“Most likely Legiana is allocating more of her resources to more important matters.” Cecilia said. It was a half-truth, the real reason was that her friend simply wasn’t here and that she was prepping for the intervention in the east.

“Issues in the east my Empress?” Ordias asked and Cecilia paused in her work.

“Yes, demons.” Cecilia muttered in response.

“Migrants are frequent from Eastern Voleria.” Montis stated with a scowl.

“Indeed, it is a concern that demonic influence may begin infiltrating the empire.” Cecilia said.

“Provided it has not already occured.” Ordias stated and Montis clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“I have tasked Sarana with monitoring the situation. What she reports is not encouraging.” Cecilia said with a scowl.

“The world sinks closer and closer to an age of strife.” Ordias said with a grimace.

At that moment there was a shockwave followed by screams. The entire carriage jolted but Cecilia sensed the enchantments on the carriage roar to life as they fought back the magical barrage. Beatrice let out a scream as she went toppling onto the floor of the carriage. In an instant Ordias and Montis both had thier swords out and looking out the windows.

“We are underattack.” Ordias said calmly.

“Yes thank you General, I have gathered as much. I believe we must go, we are stopped and an immobile target is a dead one.” Cecilia replied as Montis hauled Beatrice to her feet.

Cecilia glanced out the window and she saw her royal guard and members of the Hive locked into combat with almost thirty Syndicate assassins.

“More on the roof tops.” Ordias said as he peered upwards.

More than thirty…

Cecilia wracked her brain as to why Nemesis would order this attack. Was it a betrayal? Or did she think she would find more success with her dear friend alone and her out of the picture. No that can’t be it, it that was the case Nemesis herself would have come personally, or attempted to kill her in her room.

Plus, Cecilia highly doubts her friend will take her demise well. The Syndicate will be drowned in a tide of slashing claws and gnashing teeth as the hive descended upon them with a vengeance.

No this was another ploy, perhaps to show the Seraphim that the Empire was at odds with the Syndicate. It was a crude trick but it would be effective. Cecilia just needed to “ally” with the angels against the Syndicate here in the Empire and it should keep the Seraphim off her back for a time.

“We need to move.” Ordias said his voice as calm as always.

“Follow behind me my Empress, if you could eliminate the sniper above that would prove useful.” Ordias said as he got ready to open the door.

Normally Cecilia wouldn’t suffer someone beneath her giving her orders but she also wasn’t a fool. Ordias was a general who has been fighting for thousands of years so she shall trust his judgement. 

“Let us go, General Montis I suggest you get Lady Beatrice into cover as soon as you can.” Ordias said as he opened the door. In a black blur Ordias had vanished out the door and clashed with one of the Syndicate Assasins.

Cecilia casted a barriar over herself and calmly stepped out. One over zealous assasin leap from the nearby rooftops and before she could even respond a Briar materialised in mid air and smashed the assassin into a nearby building.

Instantly a dozen Briars appeared around her and half of them began engaging the assasins. Their twin ether cores allowed them far more power than your average creature and it clearly showed. The Syndicate Assasins who clashed with Briars met swift and brutal ends. The difference was so apparent that the Syndicate Assasins instantly started to retreat the moment they realised they were out matched.

Although credit where credit is due, they were at least smart about it. No point expending precious resources over an unwinnable battle.

“Well that was rather anti climatic.” Ordias stated dryly as he turned around. The assasin he was fighting got tackled by a Briar, and now he was lying in two pieces on the floor.

“New soldiers my Empress?” Montis asked as he helped a trembling Beatrice down from the ruined carriage.

“Yes. Send word for healers, there are injured civilians.” Cecilia said to Montis. Some of his soldiers saluted before grabbing nearby mounts and gallopping off.

“Let the Temple know we will be late. There has been a delay.” Cecilia said calmly to another soldier who mounted up and headed off towards the Sacred Order Temple.

“What shall we do my Empress?” Ordias asked.

“You two get your soldiers in order and secure the area. Any mages who know healing should tend to the wounded.” Cecilia ordered.

“And as for you, make sure no other intruders get close.” Cecilia said as she turned towards one of the Briars who merely bowed and left to perform its function.

Cecilia sighed as she looked around at the devastation around them. The Syndicate had tried to destroy the entire convoy with magic. There was now destroyed buildings everywhere and she could hear moans of pain and the cries of dying from the maimed civilians. She spotted no shortage of dead civilians as well. 

What a mess, looks like she was going to address the people at a later date. But for now, she has some public relations work to do. She turned away and started looking for the first maimed victim. She would be a fool not to realise a good public relations opportunity when she saw one.

“My Empress we must get you to safety.” a member of her Royal Guard said into her ear.

“The people suffer and you expect me to run?” Cecilia spat in return.

“Secure my safety as is your task. Carry your burden and I will carry mine.” Cecilia said as she narrowed her eyes and the Royal Guard nodded before giving her a stiff salute.

Cecilia approached the pile of rubble which used to be one of the houses in the middle class district. 

Cecilia casted [Detect Life] and she immediately sensed three life signs. One was weak two others were stable. The lift signs were coming from  underneath the rubble of a house.

She waved her hands and the rubble rose off the ground. The strain was there since she basically lifing half a house worth of stone but it was something she could do for hours. All that training under Mahaila has payed off, plus those elixers her friend made using the Primordial Font has caused her power to swell. All that left was her own personal practice which she did diligently. If there was one thing her friend had taught her it was that weakness was brutally and mercilessly punished. 

As the rubble gave way she saw the weak life sign was a young girl. The stronger signals were from a man and woman, probably the mother and the father of the girl. However, she did spot the corpse of what looked to be a teenage boy. His head looked like if someone took a mace to a melon. The blast must have sent stone right through the side of his head. 

Cecilia casted [Greater Heal] on the girl and she noted how her crushed body reformed it self. She did the same for the parents and turned away before they started to mourn the death of the boy. If there was one thing equal in this world it was death, not even the likes of the Firstborn could defy death itself. Worm or God, they all die the same. For all the wonders of magic and ether, once death has taken you, there is nothing you can do.

Even her friend could bring anything back from the dead. Although he did mention he was working on it, she highly doubted he would succeed. Yet… her friend was not the type to attempt something fruitless, but somehow, Cecilia felt even if he was to succeed, it would be a compromise. 

She was not clear on the full scope of his plans, it wasn’t that he was unwilling to share, it was that there was so many. Several of which he has given off to the likes of Rosa, Malegaros and Legiana. 

As for his personal projects he seemed particular interested in one that had a rather particular name. It was the same project where he seemed to be looking for some way to bring back the dead. However, she did remember him mentioning that no one could really revive the dead. 

So what what the hell was Project Lazarus?

The name was peculiar but that wasn’t important. Her dear friend’s naming skills fluctuated between nonsensical and lazy to esoteric and inspired.

Then she heard a wail as the parents discovered the corpse of their son and Cecilia just moved along. The next building she spotted some civilians desperately digging through the rubble. Again, Cecilia cast a simple [Detect Life] spell and found a young woman buried under the rubble. Life signs are strong although the body isn’t moving, probably knocked out.

With a wave of her hand the rubble levitated out of the way. Before she could step forward one of her Royal Guards ran forward, she saw the insignia of a Combat Healer. Her dear friend had coined the idea and the tactical advantages were undeniable. It was just quite hard to teach healing magic to swordsmen. So only a small number managed to be barely passable healers.

What they lacked in healing ability they more than made up for in military pragmatism. The Combat Healer pulled the young woman out of the rubble and after a quick examination just laid her on the ground before moving on. She was in no danger, no sense expending precious resources.

Cecilia turned and looked around. The blast was huge, all of her Guards were wearing highly enchanted artifice armour so they shrugged off the blast. The buildings on the other hand were not designed to take a blast like that. Judging by the way the blast was done, it seems collateral damage was kind of the point. Most likely to make it more dramatic.

She was going to be here awhile…

◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.♚.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦

Mother Justina rushed down the stairs of the temple as her assistant followed behind her frantically.

“I understand your concerns Sister Junie, but the Empress herself is at the site of the attack.” Mother Justina replied curtly as they both boarded the carriage.

“But Mother, if you were to be killed…” Junie began.

“I do not have the finest guards the Empire and the Hive can offer. If the Syndicate wanted me dead I would not see the next sunrise. They do not want me dead, or perhaps I am not worthy of their attention.” Mother Justina replied as she sat down.

“I cannot and will not sit idly by as the common citizens suffer right under my nose. We are healers first and foremost. We walk onto bloody fields to save the injured and sooth the dying.” Mother Justina said as she glanced at Junie who bit her lip and nodded. Without even saying anything both women’s minds wandered to that fateful day where the Great Beast emerged and laid waste to the army of Tralis.

A forgotten horror had returned and a harsh truth remembered.

Justina could feel it in her bones. The world was changing, shifting into an older, more primal state. An ancient awakened, and his hive was roused by his command. The Angels returned to Terra to combat an ancient enemy. The Syndicate, once hidden, now openly strikes and challenges the might of Heaven. The Demons roam and seduce in Divonia while the Naga reave the seas. 

If truly felt like something great and terrible was coming. A war to bath the world in fire and blood. She could see it, the embers of war turning into flickering flames. Justina knew if she lived to see it, she would be able to throw a stone down the street and hit a widow.

 “Dark times are upon us Sister. We must be brave, we must be strong for what is to come. Soon we will know not know peace, only the madness of war.” Mother Justina sighed and Junie seemingly shrinked into her chair.

The reason Mother Justina elevated her to this position was that Junie represented a more innocent form of the faith. One born of simple virtue and compassion. She has not been corrupted by pragmatism and the cold logic of this world. In perhaps a selfish effort, Justina hoped she would help her stave off that very same corruption within her heart. Hardship makes the heart grow cold and evil grows long in shadow. Justina needed her here, even if it does put her in harms way. 

Innocence must be protected, lest they bargain their souls for their future…

When Justina finally arrived she was dismayed to see the damage was extensive. The Empress was somehow spotless as she sat on a provided chair and drank from a water skin. An odd sight as her hand usually held a crystal glass filled with the finest of wines.

At times when one looks at her youth and beauty, you could almost forget she was the most powerful Mage in the Empire. Her power has only grown under the tutorlage of the Great Beast. No doubt her mind now swam with forbidden knowledge.

“My Empress.” Justina said as she approached and Cecilia just glanced at her before handing the water skin to a nearby attendant.

“And the rest of your Healers?” Cecilia said as she stood up, her movements graceful yet strangely rugged. She seemed like an eagle, graceful before the plunge to skewer its prey.

“On the way your Grace, there aren’t enough carriages at the temple and the panicked citizens are clogging the roads.” Mother Justina said, and Cecilia just nodded in understanding.

Right when Justina was about to add something, the ground shook again. 

Justina turned to look in the distance and her blood turned cold. A pair of angels shot into sky followed by a dozen black cloaked figures. She looked around and saw the Hive presence and realised this was the plan. It was never about killing the Empress, it was that the Hive valued her far more than they did the Angels.

Justina felt a crackle of Ether and she turned to see the Empress looking angrier than she had ever seen her.

You do not get to use me as a distraction…