Waking to the dim light of the cave, Aneko stretched as she climbed out of bed and into the clothes she had been given. It was rough, slightly itchy, and she missed her old clothes. However, she had to try and show her acceptance and gratefulness.
“Good morning, Anne.” Luckily for Aneko the Navoi did not make their building according to their stature. At least not here in the city of Hirngan where resources were normally aplenty.
“Aneko, how are you?” Anne greeted back. She was Volgrim’s second wife. For the time being Aneko was living in her manor as a-- well her status wasn’t exactly confirmed.
Aneko was both a prisoner and a guest, forbidden to leave the manor but free to do whatever she wanted within. In short, she was under house arrest.
“I’m good… I see you are busy as ever.” Aneko smiled while looking at the engravings Anne was adding to the shield.
Anne smiled but didn’t let her focus wander, as she worked the shield started to shine.
Breuno34Heya, apologies for the unstable releases. Quite busy with my other story and life in general. Hope you enjoy.
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Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos Intermission: Ven (Part 2 – War is brewing)
“Ven, can we talk in private?” Gabriella asked after her daughter had gone to bed. Currently, Ven was reading by moonlight. A strangely unique activity that wasn’t possible on Earth due to light pollution. “Of course. What is it, Gabriella?” Ven closed her book and turned to her troubled friend. “I’m afraid I’ve been summoned.” “Summoned? Summoned for what?” Gabriella took a deep breath, steeling herself for the answer. Her head was still spinning. “War…” “War? War with who, why are you summoned?” “Come now, Vendelin… You must understand that as the head of the house of Sandor I must lead my men to the battlefield.” “Why must I understand this? No, say no!” “I can’t… The head or heir of the house must join the war, or it will be considered an act of cowardice… I can’t send Violette to war… She’s…” Gabriella failed to finish the sentence as she broke down at the thought, as the memories of her husband and son resurfaced.
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 1 – A smooth start)
Dashing through the woods, Edvard jumped over a fallen tree and disappeared from sight into the underbrush. Behind him, several orcs rushed to where they had last seen him. As they moved over the tree it cracked and split in half. Revealing a pit filled with sharpened logs below. One of the orcs managed to react in time, using the cracking tree to jump away. He was welcomed by an arrow while his friends were welcomed by the sharpened logs. “That’s another seven.” Edvard mumbled as he moved to recover his arrow. “How has the other group been doing?” “It seems they had only managed to lure the orcs into one trap, nearly losing their lurer in the process.” Sighing, Edvard understood that this was difficult for these people. But the difference between the group he was leading and the one Jaune was leading was just too large. Of course, he was doing most of the work. Being the lure, and also the one to kill the stragglers. The six people with him m
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 2 – Their goal)
The next few days went relatively smoothly. Slowly the group led by Jaune got the hang of this lure and trap tactic. Edvard also became stronger and faster each day.Abigail’s guild had also joined the volunteer mission. Strangely, her magic was not suited for fighting against strong foes such as orcs. The winds she could summon were certainly powerful, but orcs were inhumanly strong.While it could do some damage to them, it was minor. Instead, Edvard found a much different role for her. Wind magic had this very nice attribute when used as a source of healing, it soothed the soul. Or so the explanation went.Edvard didn’t believe in things like the soul, there was and has never been any evidence. The same could be said for magic, so he didn’t outright deny it. But he wasn’t suddenly going to believe everything is magical.Rather, he tried to rationalize it.From what he understood, water magic and the divine magic of the go
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 3 – The siege starts)
Rushing along the river, Jaune prayed that they would make it in time. As they broke past the treelines and entered the cultivated lands surrounding the town, she breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of farmers still working in the field, at the sight of the town not being put to the torch.Rushing forward, she headed directly for the mansion. Those with her instead rushed to tell everyone to evacuate the fields and enter the city.Bursting into the main room, she interrupted the meeting that was underway and shouted for everyone to leave. This stunned the handful of rich merchants who looked at her in disbelief.Their disbelief grew when Martin asked them to leave. Sighing, Teo just knew this was going to be a hot mess to clean up later.“What is it? Why did you cause such a scene?” Teo asked, believing that there must be a good reason. Looking at her condition, it did not appear that they had been defeated.“The orcs…&r
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 4 – A desperate fight)
‘Well, that worked perfectly.’ Edvard mumbled as he quickly took another arrow from his quiver and let loose. While the orcs were fast, he was proficient. By the time they crossed the two hundred meters (656ft), he had killed another five. Sadly, not all hits had been a kill and there were far too many for him to face directly. Jumping down so he wouldn’t be surrounded while stuck in the three, he used the little time to release one last arrow before abandoning his bow and dashing away. Weaving past all the trees, branches, and plants, Edvard was not slowed in any way. The forest was his home. The orcs roared in anger seeing him run, their determination to get the dishonourable assassin leaking into the air. They did not weave through all the obstacles of the forest, instead they cut through it. It slowed them down a little, but not nearly enough to give Edvard time to breathe. ‘I can keep leading them, but to what end?’ Edvard thought, realizing that this would not work. Looking ar
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 5 – Image of their god)
Edvard could feel that his body lacked the strength to fight on. Lacked the basic energy required for him to move. He had long since started running on fumes fuelled by his will, and even his mind was becoming foggy. As he was slipping on towards sleep, a welcomed sleep. The eternal sleep, Edvard’s mind flashed with his Yawen’s gentle smile. His body recalled her warm embrace. Her tender love. This flash of memories long past filled him with endless warmth and strength. It soared through him as he realized that she could very well be somewhere on this planet. He prayed that her situation was better, but if it was not. ‘I cannot allow that to happen!’ Edvard looked at the charging orc, his determination like fire. His will and bloodlust so strong that the orc paused for just a second, a second was enough. Edvard stood next to the orc, his sword dripping with blood. Taking a deep breath, he recalled this smell, he relished it. He suddenly recalled his last moments in that hell. ‘I s
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 6 – The siege)
The rivers going through Erendale had done nothing to slow the orcs. They had not even needed to deviate to the bridges to cross them. The rivers were after all not that deep nor that strong.As a result, all three gates had been assaulted with little difference in timing. Locking everyone inside the town with no way to escape. The orcs ramming the gates protected underneath their shield of fireproof logs.Jaune looked at the charging orcs with a slight smile, they had been truly bothered by the orcs’ patience thus far. The gates would not last long, they needed to thin the orcs on the walls before falling back to the keep. Sadly, the keep could not hold everyone. Some had to die here first, they could only retreat once it was clear that the walls were lost and after enough had died. It was terrible but it was their best bet. The attack had simply come too fast.Luckily, now it appeared that the orcs would indeed scale the walls, all thanks to Edvard. And to top it off he had taken ha
Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 7 – Their struggle)
As the despair grew and the atmosphere became heavier, it was all too clear that no one thought victory was possible. They had sacrificed so much just to stall the orcs on the walls yet here they were. Some had been optimistic, believing they could stop the orcs in their tracks. Sadly, even the wilds gate where the orcs had attacked in rage had managed little against the far lesser number of orcs. The other gates had lost far more and killed far less, this fact added to the heavy air of despair that filled the air. None were still optimistic. Everyone understood just how terrifying their enemy was. In their retreat they had not given up. A number had taken shelter in the abandoned homes. While some of those were praying not to be found like cowards, most were waiting. Waiting for the movement to strike. When they could make the largest difference while sacrificing themselves. For if they were to die, they would have it be in an effort to save their families. Sadly, even this was
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