Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Arc Chronicles Calixte I
Calixte IBrigadier General Blanc was nervous. It was the first time I had ever seen him nervous. Whenever I ate with him, he was full of, undeserved in my opinion, confidence. He was talking to an older man with a head full of white hair. I had never seen him before, but I recognized the black uniform he was wearing; Office of Secret Intelligence.It was the imperial equivalent of the Gestapo or the KGB. They reported directly to my father and only answered him. Not even the Imperial Assembly or Military High Command could interfere with the OSI.My heart started pounding a little more. I was a prince and my station usually protected me from certain institutions, but my father had given them discretionary powers that could be used against me.The white-haired man turned when he saw me. I saluted, noticing the three stars on his uniform. "Sir!"The white-haired officer saluted back. "At ease, your Highness. I'm Agent Laurent."Laurent? That was a common name in the empire. Like Smith
Arc Chronicles Interlude: NGLF & Red Hair
Interlude: NGLFThe Captain stared out at the city, the lights illuminating the darkness. Her new overlords had named it Bayard. Her former masters called it Thinis, and they would claim they built the city. The Egyptians were liars, they had built 'Thinis' years ago, not the invaders. She had no illusions that Aquitaine and Corai would be any better than their old masters.If anything, Corai was worse than Egypt or Aquitaine. Her people knew the latter two were imperial invaders, but they seemed to forget Corai had invaded their home just the same. The only difference was Corai controlled the other half of their homeland, where their brethren were ground under heal. The Front ignored this because of the money and weapons Corai supplied.The Captain worried. What were they going to do if they did liberate themselves from Aquitaine? They would still have Corai to deal with and Corai acted as their benefactors. One day they would need to fight Corai, and she didn't know if the front was
Arc Chronicles Calixte 2
Calixte IIMy shields flared to life under the hail of bullets. The Florentine fighter pilot might be flying an inferior unit, but he was good. Maybe a little too good. I couldn't seem to keep him in my sights and whenever I was ready to fire, he had vanished. Only to reappear in a completely different direction. If it wasn't for my large mana pool, my shields would have failed by now.The bastard seemed to have a personal grudge against me. He ignored the rest of my squad, as well as Viper and Pixie to single me out. I'd be flattered if the damn bastard wasn't so fucking good."Hey, you need any help? That nat still sticking around?" Rolo radioed.I wanted to say no, but honestly... I might be outmatched. Fuck, that bastard was a little too good at his fucking job. At this rate, he was going to drain my mana, and then I"d be a sitting duck.I looked over and saw Rolo engaged with his own trouble. He was barely staying in the air with two fighters hounding him. "It looks like you got
Arc Chronicles Euphemia II
Euphemia IIIt was a grueling twelve-hour flight to the Tyché colony. My new staff and the plane crew were the only ones joining me. It wasn't an uncomfortable flight. I was in the seat of luxury, the best the empire had to offer, but it was long. As I looked out the window, I was reminded that my plane wasn't alone. A fleet of aircraft carrying the first waves of new colonists trailed behind us. Those planes were crammed full, so I was lucky to have a spacious plane almost all to myself.I was tired, but I couldn't sleep a wink, I was so nervous. When the plane touched down, my life was over. I would be the Viceroy of a new colony halfway across the world.As we flew over the glittering sea, I felt the urge to jump out. I mastered the impulse, but it was there. I didn't want to go to Tyché. I didn't want to oppress the natives or any Egyptians that remained. Xavier would be a better choice. He had done wonders with Vietnam, why not give him Tyché?Because my father wanted to rest me.
Arc Chronicles Euphemia III
Euphemia IIIThe last time I had seen Soma, he was regal. He had been dressed as an Egyptian prince and he looked every bit the part. He was handsome and stood at 183 centimeters. He had been so full of life and his laugh could make the room brighter.The person she was looking at didn't look like Soma at all. He was covered in a layer of dirt, and if the smell was any indicator, piss. The royal Egyptian garb he was dressed in was torn and ripped, looking like a patchwork. The parts that remained intact were even dirtier than the rest of him. He had dark purple bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days. His arms were chained together above him.Next to his legs was a half-eaten plate of moldy bread and a cup of water speckled with dirt. His handsome features were hidden under a layer of grime so thick it looked like a layer of skin. When he opened his eyes to look at me, his eyes were bloodshot."Eu-... Euphemia-"The fat prison warden stepped forward and nailed him with his ba
Arc Chronicles Calixte III
Calixte IIII dreamed I was back in the air, flying my Moraine. The girl was on my tail, chasing me through the Moroccan skies. I couldn't shake her off, no matter how hard I tried and she finally got my engines. I fell to the ground in a fireball.I shot up out of bed and nearly fell off, catching myself at the last moment before I hit the floor. The metal floor of the transport wouldn't have felt too good.Static blared over the speaker. "We will be landing at Orleans airport in five minutes." Orleans was the largest airport in Aquroya. It had been months since I had last set foot in the capital. Not since my father forced a military commission on me.Splashing some water on my face to wake me up, I looked through my wardrobe. Gone were the military uniforms I had become accustomed to wearing, replaced by the regalia of the imperial house. I wasn't a military officer right now. I was a prince who was going to be married. A wedding I had no hand in.At fourteen years old, I was going
Arc Chronicles Calixte IV
Calixte IV"Ouch!""I'm sorry, Your Highness. Forgive me.""It's fine- OUCH!" The old crone jabbed me with a needle. Again. "Are you doing that on purpose?"The old crone shook her head. "No. Hard a prince of the blood? I would never."She jabbed me with a needle again. Once was an accident, twice was coincidence, but FIVE TIMES was enemy action- STAB!Six times. I yanked my arm away from her, earning the wrath of my mother. "Calixte-""She keeps poking me!""Apologies, your highness. Apologies.""She's very old, Calixte.""Why is an old woman making my suit?""Because she's the best."She's an old crone I almost said, but bit my tongue. "Perhaps it is time to retire.""Oh, no, no, no. I cannot, Your Highness. Please, give me your arm."She grabbed it and pulled it back with more strength than any old woman should have had."And why not?""Because Gabriella is a maiden at heart, Your Highness." Stab. "She must work, Your Highness. Stay still. I am almost done, Your Highness." Stab.I
Arc Chronicles Calixte V
Calixte V"You look so handsome." My mother put her arms on my shoulder. I could see her smile in the mirror. I did look handsome, didn't I? The old crone might have been trying to poke holes in my fucking skin, but she sure did her job right. I looked like a prince out of an early twentieth-century photo on earth, about to get married. Which I was.It was ironic. I had to die, get reborn, and live another life for fifteen years before I could get married. I didn't have any love prospects in my last life, so standing here was a bit surreal. I never expected to get married.I popped my collar and fiddled with my tie until it was straight. I looked good, for a fifteen-year-old. Certainly better than I looked the first time around.Rolo threw his hand over my shoulder. "She's right, Calixte. You look great."I pushed him away and he had the nerve to laugh. "I'm still your prince.""You aren't the kind of man who would send me to the mines because he's angry I'm making fun of him. You are