Horizon of War Series

Chapter 187: Ancient Order

Ancient Order

Lansius

Everyone in the chamber was in a panic. Ingrid had fainted, jerking back from her seat and turning her head around as if seeking help. Suspecting an electric shock, Lansius rushed to turn off the lever switch. However, a glance out the window confirmed that a thunderstrike was an unlikely cause.

Sir Harold caught Ingrid as her body slumped from the seat, her eyes rolling back and her lips muttering unintelligibly.

"Get her on the floor," Lansius instructed, fearing she might have low blood pressure. He ran to the door and pushed it wide open. He saw the surprised guards standing not far from him in the corridor. "Go get Lady Audrey," he urged them with all the haste he could muster.

"Right away," one of the guards sprinted downstairs.

Turning back inside, he saw Farkas at the door, saying, "My Lord, I'll get the physician—"

"Yes, go," Lansius affirmed, watching him run downstairs.

Inside the chamber, Sir Harold had laid Ingrid on the wooden floor while Margo fashioned a cloth into a makeshift head pillow.

"I can't be sure, but she looks much better now," Sir Harold said.

"Margo, remove her earring," Lansius instructed as he approached the desk and noticed the copper wire had snapped at the connection point, exactly as the artisan had designed. This precaution was intended to prevent injuries, and it had indeed saved Ingrid's earlobe.

Lansius observed as Ingrid’s breathing became calmer, and thankfully, there were no signs of injuries. To keep calm, he resisted the urge to question the others, knowing it all happened so fast and seemingly without provocation.

Slowly, Ingrid opened her eyes momentarily, frowned as if experiencing a strong headache, reached out for her head, and muttered incoherently.

"Ingrid, can we help you with anything?" Sir Harold asked gently but received no coherent response.

"Don't give her any drink," Lansius warned, concerned there might be a deeper issue. "Keep her lying down; don’t let her stand or sit for now."

They complied, and over the next few minutes, Ingrid slowly regained consciousness. "W-what happened?" she asked Sir Harold, her voice weak, her face sweaty, and her eyes unfocused.

"Everything is fine. Don't worry about it. Just stay calm. You have no wounds or anything; just stay calm," he reassured her.

"What do you feel, Lady Ingrid?" Margo asked while massaging her shoulder.

"My head feels light, my eyes heavy, and my tongue unusually heavy," Ingrid's explanation confused Lansius as it sounded somewhat like symptoms of an electrical accident.

"The physician will be here soon," Lansius assured her, kneeling next to her.

"My Lord," she greeted weakly.

"Just stay where you are. We'll take care of you," he reassured her.

Ingrid nodded and closed her eyes again, murmuring, "It felt so odd. I felt someone else besides Paulos. And then she..."

Everyone paused, realizing her words were off, and Ingrid forcefully opened her eyes again, her face sweaty. "I think I met this Sagarius person."

They exchanged glances, and Ingrid continued, "She reached out to me, and then everything collided."

"A mage?" Lansius questioned.

Ingrid gazed at him, frowning. "Possibly..."

...

Sagarius

Turning to Paulos, Sagarius said apologetically, "I think I broke it."

Paulos was taken aback and muttered, "That can't be; it's a mostly stable artifact. I doubt you could break it."

"I tried something on it," she reasoned, removing the earring, but she couldn’t resist recalling the fleeting image of the gargantuan object flying in the sky named Horsie.

Why is it named Horsie? she wondered.

"Y-you’re a mage," Paulos exclaimed.

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"My apologies." She bowed her head without giving him confirmation.

"No, no. Don’t worry about it. I’m good at fixing things—that's my skill," Paulos reassured her proudly, evidently pleased to befriend a mage.

Sagarius, fully expecting to be admonished since she knew just how precious the item must be to them, was concerned. "You're not going to ask for money?"

"Why would I ask for money? Lady, this isn't for sale."

She stared at him. "I mean, I broke it. Don’t you want compensation?"

"Ah, don’t worry about it. I’ll fix it and even make it stronger," Paulos said with glee, likely seeing it as a challenge.

Sagarius was really impressed with him. However, she suspected it was likely beyond salvage. "You know, I think I can find a replacement for you."

"Replacement?" Paulos looked slightly offended. "These things are of ancient origin and are no longer being produced. They're very rare."

"I know a likely place," Sagarius muttered. Her words and confidence momentarily silenced Paulos.

"You do?" he asked, his tone shifting to one of excitement.

"Yes. Besides, if we’re going to meet someone, it's best to bring a gift," she remarked, turning to find a map on top of a chest used as a table. "Mind if I take a look?"

"Certainly," Paulos responded, pocketing the earring and joining her by the Imperium Map that displayed provinces east of the Capital. "We are around this area," he pointed out.

Sagarius couldn't help but notice the current borders around Elandia, Arvena, and Midlandia. "These are new borders..." she muttered.

"The three provinces' borders?" Paulos followed her gaze, seeking clarification.

"Yes, let's not go there. There's danger in the forest," she hastily put up an excuse to dismiss the topic.

"So it's true that the Hunter's Guild is active around the ancient forest," he observed.

"Yes, I've heard reports of minor fell beasts in that area, and sometimes even major ones," she added reluctantly. "We shouldn't venture near it, lest we disturb one," she cautioned, despite knowing that the ruins, once known as the Old Elandia Kingdom, likely held a vast amount of relics. However, the presence of fell beasts made it impossible, moreover, they were particularly sensitive to Elves.

"I've always wished to visit the ruins," Paulos unexpectedly said, causing Sagarius to widen her eyes in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, right, not even most officials know about this. There are records of an advanced kingdom's ruins located deep in the ancient forest, but access is officially barred. Even the records are hidden or falsified."

"What are you, a record keeper?" Sagarius couldn't help herself, intrigued by a human who knew as much as her.

"Yes, I am," he answered proudly, missing the suspicion in her voice.

Sagarius blinked several times, doubting what she had heard. "But with the earrings and all, shouldn't you be in Dwarven Studies?"

"Well, my parents didn't have enough to bribe my way into that department."

"Bribe? But why?"

"It's a well-known secret that the ministers there could sell fake Dwarven artifacts to unsuspecting merchants. Thus, it's quite lucrative," he sighed, pain evident in his voice.

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"I see," Sagarius exhaled bitterly, never having expected the once-prestigious department that her Father had helmed to sink so low. "Then how did you manage to fix this earring?"

"An old minister allowed me to tinker with it. He must've noticed my curiosity. I couldn't get it to work before he died, but his widow let me keep it on the condition that I promised to marry her orphaned nephew." He turned and nodded toward a modestly beautiful woman dressed in a mismatched outfit suitable for travel, her only grace being the correctly chosen inconspicuous hood that covered it all.

With ease, she noticed her anxiety. "You need to take better care of her. She looks concerned."

"Well, we lost the Capital, and my parents aren't exactly easy to work with." Paulos' expression turned sad for the first time. "Poor her, she must've wished to enjoy a carefree life in the Officials Quarters, playing with blue-eyed cats, chatting by the koi pond, or lounging in the vast Imperial garden."

"No," Sagarius disagreed with him. "She's lucky to be here. If she were still in the Capital, she'd be in a far worse position."

"Do you think so?" Paulos turned to her with genuine curiosity.

"Of course. Stop feeling guilty about it and be happy that you escaped the fall."

Paulos smiled and nodded happily. "So, why are you asking about the map?"

"There," she pointed at a marked area on the map.

"Vin... de... bona," Paulos tried to read the small, blurred words, evident that it was just an unimportant site.

"Vindebona," Sagarius confirmed. "There was an Imperial storage there during the beastmen war."

"Not anymore, I think," he mumbled, then added, "I don’t remember that name at all; it probably didn’t make the list of important cities or towns. It must have been abandoned after the beastmen war, and its storage redistributed," he noted, oblivious to her unusual knowledge.

"Then there's a higher chance that the secret stash is still safe," Sagarius pondered aloud without thinking it through.

"Secret stash?" Paulos raised his brow.

"I mean, there's a probability that what's now a secret stash is safe," she babbled, trying to cover her slip.

"Oh, I see," Paulos replied, convinced yet still harboring a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

"You better take care of your wife; she needs you. Also, let me borrow the map for a bit. I'll talk to the chief for permission," Sagarius suggested, creating a diversion. Afterward, they went their separate ways, each preparing for the next day's departure.

This time, Sagarius had a concrete destination for her growing group. Instead of just heading south, they were going to the forgotten city of Vindebona.

***

Eastern Mansion

Three days had passed since Ingrid's incident with the earring, and the educator was now recovering. Although she exhibited no ill side effects, Lansius and Audrey insisted she take it easy for at least a week. As for the earring, nobody dared to touch it, fearing unknown dangers.

Sir Harold suspected that the earring had broken from excessive use, while Farkas was curious about the involvement of the other party and whether they posed a risk. Despite the potentially sad end of their experiment and their contact with Paulos, life in Korelia continued.

This evening, Lansius held a feast to welcome several prominent noble guests who had recently joined Korelia from their respective hometowns.

In the hall of the Eastern Mansion, a lively small feast unfolded under the warm glow of candlelight and a fiercely bright oil lamp. The lamp had returned to Korelia as a staple after the Lord had secured an oil reserve. Unknown to them, its main ingredient was leftover oil from the filter, considered too dirty for use in the airship furnace.

The hall resonated with the sweet strains of minstrel music and the rich aroma of roasted meats and spiced pies. Guests mingled and laughed, their voices harmonizing with the melodious sitar tunes and bursts of hearty laughter.

At the high table, somewhat secluded from the rest of the gathering, Lord Lansius and Lady Audrey shared a private world amidst the public revelry. They leaned close, their whispered words lost in the swell of festivity.

"How about that one?" Audrey, with a mischievous glint in her eye, nudged Lansius toward a guest.

Lansius turned and noticed that one of the guests had brought his daughter. He chuckled softly, observing the daughter's slightly revealing clothes that highlighted her full-figured body, and remarked, "What a curious wardrobe choice. But, I'm happy for her future husband."

His jest made Audrey stifle her giggles. "I think the father wants you, not some other guy," she quipped.

Lansius continued to chuckle, the wine had gone to his head. "It takes more than just a big bosom to keep me happy."

Audrey's giggles mingled with his. "Perhaps you need a closer look. Why not invite her to join us?” she teased further.

"Here or straight to the bedchamber?" Lansius countered boldly.

The two stifled their laughter, both becoming flushed from it.

"I don't want to risk losing a barony," Lansius said jestingly, before gazing into her eyes that were mostly serene these days. "And I surely don't want to lose you."

Audrey hid her smile by playfully slapping his arm, then took a sip from her goblet of water. The two then surveyed the crowd, half-expecting their jests to be overheard, but the hall was so lively that their words slipped unnoticed.

Suddenly, murmurs arose as an unexpected but welcomed development unfolded in the hall. Capturing everyone's attention, a group of nine half-breeds entered, led by Francisca and the guards. Their arrival ignited a sparkle of murmurs and delight among the guests. The crowd graciously parted, giving the newcomers the floor, with some guests displaying wide eyes, and others offering subtle nods of respect.

The half-breeds made their way toward the high table, one of whom, taller and more beastly-looking than the others, was clad in ringmail.

"Male half-breed," Audrey commented as they rose to their feet. Lansius noticed Sir Harold, Farkas, and their men at the table, along with Carla and her guards standing nearby, all subtly assessing the newcomers. It wasn't a matter of trust but rather what professionalism demanded of them.

"My Lord, My Lady, my kin have arrived to fulfill your invitation," Francisca announced.

The newcomers then greeted the Lord and Lady with deep bows, their presence a striking contrast to the usual attendees. "On behalf of Lord Beatrix of Umberland, please accept our greetings," a female half-beast formally addressed them.

"On behalf of the Shogunate, welcome to Korelia," Audrey declared proudly. Lansius noticed there was little suspicion or animosity in her voice, despite last year's ambush at the hill fort.

He then added warmly to everyone in the hall, "Please enjoy the feast. We will extend the merriment until every guest has had their fill."

His words were a command that prompted the mansion staff to act accordingly. They quickly prepared an additional long table, chairs, and servings of meals and drinks, while the kitchen readied more dishes.

The music resumed as Francisca and the female who had greeted them stepped forward to speak.

"My Lord, my Lady, we numbered nine—eight females and one male," she reported, her voice and countenance reminding Lansius of Beatrix.

"Nine new friends," Lansius remarked, much to their delight.

"We were more numerous when we set out, but six of our kin have decided to mingle with the nomads along the way," she explained, eliciting surprise from both Lansius and Audrey.

The two exchanged glances and chuckles. Lansius then reassured them, "I shall raise no issue with it. Everyone is free to choose where their soul leads them."

The half-breed leader looked pleased with the answer.

"You haven't told us your name?" Audrey asked.

Her question caused the leader to glance at Francisca, who giggled and wagged her tail, before saying, "This one also wishes to be named."

Lansius and Audrey couldn't resist smiling, amused by the exchange. "Looks like another task for Sir Harold," Lansius said.

"But you're the one who came up with the name Francisca," Audrey reminded him.

"That's why it's overdue for Sir Harold to pick one," Lansius replied in jest.

As laughter lingered in the air, Francisca found it appropriate to add, "My Lord and Lady, you might want to know that Batu married one of my kin who decided to stay with the tribe. He wanted little Lancius to have a powerful little brother or sister."

Lansius grinned, and he knew Audrey did too, though perhaps for a completely different intention. "Then I should send a congratulatory gift. What would be appropriate?" he asked.

"Spiced wine," Francisca suggested immediately, while the other female sheepishly added, "And some mead."

Lansius turned to Audrey for her input. "I'll arrange for our finest to be delivered tomorrow," she replied.

Servants brought snacks while the meals were still being prepared, providing enough for the feast to continue. The guests found themselves seated again, enjoying plates of assorted cheeses, slices of smoked meat, and an array of fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and small rye bread loaves with pickled vegetables.

"What do you think of them?" Audrey asked inquisitively as the two returned to their seats.

"A reason to celebrate," Lansius replied happily. "I dream of integration and peaceful coexistence. Managing peace between the nomads and the citizens was challenging, and I dare not think about the half-breeds. But they managed it themselves. Life indeed finds a way."

Truthfully, he had always advocated for such integration, but witnessing it unfold so organically was a sight he had scarcely anticipated.

Audrey nodded and murmured, "Marry and be merry," while caressing her belly where their child grew.

Lansius smiled, feeling the warmth spread through his soul as everything turned out just right. Audrey looked at him once more and asked, "Shall I arrange a meeting with the two old lords?"

"Absolutely, but make sure neither chooses a wife from among the newcomers. We can't risk a House rift so soon after the shogunate's inception," Lansius replied with a chuckle, thinking of Lords Robert and Galdia, who would be delighted by the presence of the half-beasts.

Once mythical and forgotten, the half-beasts were now emerging, making themselves known and enhancing the charm and allure of Korelia.

***

Korelia market

A few days after the Lord's banquet at the Eastern Mansion, Korelia woke to a bright morning, and the market was a flurry of activity. The air was filled with the sounds of merchants calling out their wares and the murmur of a crowd bustling through the narrow alleys between stalls.

Vendors lined the streets with stalls brimming with goods. Piles of colorful fabrics waved slightly in the gentle morning breeze, beckoning passersby to touch and admire them. Tables were laden with trinkets that glistened under the morning sun—silver ornaments, intricate combs, beaded necklaces, and wooden toys for children.

The scent of spices filled the air, a mix of cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, drawing customers closer to the stalls heaped with vibrant powders and dried herbs. Nearby, loaves of freshly baked bread enriched the fragrance further.

Amid the crowds of shoppers, a woman with a basket in hand browsed through the stalls, purchasing bread and some sweet treats.

Suddenly, a figure approached her from behind. She noticed, turned, saw the face under the cloak, and spared a smile. They walked off together, with him trailing behind her, away from the crowded market.

"When did you arrive?" the woman asked.

"Two days ago. Couldn't find you yesterday," he replied.

"It's a big market," she said. "How was the journey?"

"Sore in the butt," he responded bluntly, then added, "It's fortunate they don't really check people from the east."

"True, they're well-guarded against people from Midlandia but mostly turn a blind eye toward those from Edessa," she confirmed, then teased, "So, what guise have you adopted this time? A dishonest and bankrupt merchant?"

"No, a bastard son of a fallen noble," he replied nonchalantly without a smile.

The woman formed a satisfied grin and led the way to a secluded alley, a shortcut to her inn. "That brings us to three," she continued.

"I'm the last one," the man stated. "I have the guild's order and confirmation of payment. Edessa has paid."

The woman sighed heavily. "For Midlandia and Edessa to send two of us, and even a mage. They really want him dead."

"I care not for the nobles' squabbles or their petty reasons," he said indifferently. "We lost so many in the Elandia forest. We need fresh funds to recruit, train, arm, and replenish our ranks; otherwise, many will be in peril."

"For our Order to remain faithful despite the fall of another Imperium," she murmured, then began to chant in whispers, "The guild is father—"

"The guild is mother," he followed, and their eyes momentarily glowed—a sight that would frighten both beast and human alike. To them, the Order, masquerading as a guild, represented parents, lovers, siblings, and even future children. And now, it demanded the elimination of one: Lord Lansius of Korelia.

***