“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.
Breuno34Hope you enjoyed the chapter :)
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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
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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
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Quantum Rip: Welcome to Ethos The orc horde (Part 8 – Tree of light)
Edvard slowly stirred, fighting the sleepiness that filled his entire body. He fought to simply stay conscious. Sleep was a tempting mistress, but his years in the illusion taught him never to let sleep dull his sense. He needed to confirm the situation. The last thing he recalled was seeing Abigail among the carnage.Abigail was sitting near a fire, her clothes a mess of blood and tears, having used her clothes as bandages for Edvard's wounds. Forcing himself upright, Edvard smiled. She was a beautiful girl, far too young for him, but he could at least enjoy the sight as the fire illuminated her hair. Her hair was no longer a shiny bright green but rather a deep dark green. Yet it was still enchanting as a shine would come through as the flames of the fire played in the wind. Edvard was lying atop some large leaves, close enough for the fire’s heat to reach him. His own clothes were tattered, his toning muscles reflecting the light of the fire. A few more months, and he would be at
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