“The scouts recommend we head east from here,” Arlena said with an overly casual shrug. “There’s a defensible area not far off—the front line’s been working on it.”
Defensible area?
No, you guys aren’t taking up residence here!
“Actually, Lieutenant Arlena, I think it’s about time I thank you for the escort and—”
“You’d be incorrect in that thought,” she interjected with a grim smile.
What is it with people interrupting me? I’m the Captain!
“As I was—”
“Hold it.” Arlena’s ears dropped to her temples as she leaned forward, her brows tightening. “You wouldn’t want to be labeled a liar, would you?”
Liar?
My heart began to pound in stereo surround sound.
Does she know what I did?
Relias didn’t tell her… did he?
No. That makes no sense.
“You promised to brief me on the infamous Captain Corwin!” Arlena exclaimed, wheeling her horse to block my view of the tower. “As the commanding party, you are honor-bound to disclose all relevant intel regarding his relationship with my Captain—preferably before you charge off with flaming sword in hand.”
Seriously?
“I don’t think now’s the time for that conversation,” I snapped. “Do you see what’s happening around us?!”
“Not yet,” she replied. “But I will—once the scouts return with a full report.”
I glanced at Relias, every wrinkle in my nose brimming with suspicion. Without a shred of guilt, he smiled. “I find myself in agreement with the Lieutenant, Chosen One.” He gave Arlena a curious side glance. “Regarding the wisdom of waiting for the scouts, that is. Not the pretext she’s chosen to distract you.”
Arlena shrugged. “Strategic alignment, Holy Sage. She gets time to breathe and assess the situation, and I secure future leverage against my superior.” The Lieutenant then led her horse off in an easterly direction, as if the whole matter had been settled. Relias made sure not to look at me directly as he followed her.
“They’re in cahoots, alright…” I muttered as even Aurum betrayed me by following their lead.
To say the squad was “setting up camp” would be an understatement. They had claimed a rocky outcropping near the base of a nearby cliff and transformed it into a bustling hub encased in a holy barrier. Gold-glowing lances had been planted along the perimeter, each aligned in a precise radial pattern and adorned with ivory pennants. Weapon stockpiles had also sprouted between them, full of bows, bolts, and swords. A team of priests moved in disciplined loops, muttering renewal blessings over every piece of equipment.
However, the center of the formation caught my eye: a cluster of cloaked individuals concentrating their efforts on the ground between them.
“It looks like they’re installing some kind of tile,” Nora observed, creeping up on her tiptoes as curiosity got the better of her. “Hmm? Oh! Translocation runes!”
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“Members of the Black Order,” Relias said quietly from my side. “They are linking them to the node installed at Bastione Bianco. Once Chairo’s global conduit is rejoined with the Grand Ley Line, the runes will awaken even here, and the network shall become whole once more. It should not be long now.”
And once that happens, we’ll have a quick exit strategy in place.
All of us!
I stared expectantly at the intricate design, willing it to do something. Anything.
It didn’t.
Nora shook her head. “A watched pot never boils.”
Relias rubbed at his cheek. “Ah, I should have been clearer, Dear One. A matter of mere days is most likely, knowing the tribulations the High Temple must endure to relink the conduit…”
Days? No. We need it now!
“But…” I started to protest. “I know things take time, but I mean…”
Weirder things have happened. And honestly, I feel like the world owes me a win right now.
Then again, maybe I should save my luck for my forthcoming confrontation.
“Don’t tell me you thought you could just will it to start working,” Nora laughed, waving her hands in mock ceremony. “Abracadabra! Align the array!”
A deep thrum pulsed from the circle, and all twelve outer runes lit up in quick succession. Then the center one ignited with electric blue flames that shot skyward before stabilizing at about three feet high.
Everyone froze, and all eyes turned to Nora.
“C-coincidence!” she yelped, holding her hands up like a caught criminal. “I was just fooling around!”
Even Relias stared at her, wide-eyed. “I would swear you did not draw upon any animus,” he murmured more to himself than anyone else. “Such a powerful, otherworldly incantation…”
“It’s just a silly saying!” Nora insisted. “Abra—” She stopped herself, catching the terrified faces of the Black Order. “But I’ll… keep it to myself, just in case.”
The magic circle began to flicker, oscillating between blue and green. One of the dark mages stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Holy Sage Relias. Would you assist us with the calibration phase?”
“It would be my honor,” Relias replied, turning to us. “The process will likely take the rest of the daylight. Please excuse my absence in the meantime.”
Realizing we’d be a distraction if we hovered, I led Nora off to find Lieutenant Arlena.
“I really didn’t do anything, you know,” Nora hissed under her breath.
“Yeah. I know the difference between coincidence, correlation, and causation,” I replied. “I also heard you whispering ‘abracadabra’ at least a dozen times back in Chairo while practicing your lessons without incident.”
Nora flinched. “Well, I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s a totally normal thing to test.”
“Captain Lightbringer!” someone shouted. “A note! A note from Taika!”
Three men came running toward us, one waving a large parchment overhead.
“You met her directly?” I asked, taking the letter.
“I did,” said the man in the center. “I was trying to enter the valley but kept turning around.”
“Turning around?”
“I even tried running straight in,” he said, a little breathless. “But every time I started descending, I just ended up back where I started. I never turned my feet, but…”
“Warped space,” Nora muttered. “And then you ran into Taika?”
“On the way back out. She just appeared, smirking. Then she handed me the paper and vanished through one of those viney voids.”
Nora snorted, then leaned over to read the parchment with me.
To: Captain Lightbringer, Commander of the Order of Gold, and Acting Leader of the Order of White
This communication serves as your first and final notice: the continued advance of the Order of White into the Valley of Death is strictly prohibited. Any unauthorized incursion will be interpreted as a hostile action and will be met with the combined forces of Mistress Aziza and General Ragnerus.
Only members of the Order of Gold, operating under the explicit authority of Mistress Aziza, are permitted entry into the Valley for the sole purpose of executing Demon King Olethros, as previously authorized for numerous crimes committed against Demonkind.
You are expressly forbidden from attacking, dismantling, or otherwise interfering with the containment array encircling the tower. These artifacts maintain the barrier that prevents the Demon King’s release. Any breach will be treated as sabotage and responded to accordingly.
Access to the tower’s interior will be granted only upon verified presentation of the Crimson Heart (Mistress Aziza’s sigil) previously entrusted to Captain Lightbringer. The said item must be installed at the location marked “X” on the attached map to ensure safe access to the tower.
No further dialogue or negotiation will be entertained until the Demon King is destroyed.
—On behalf of Mistress Aziza and General Ragnerus
“W-wow,” Nora said with a low whistle. “Operating under Aziza’s explicit authority, huh?”
I briefly considered reassigning every soldier to the Order of Gold and charging forward out of raging spite.
But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
“You’re not gonna do something reckless right now… are you?” Nora asked in a wavering voice.
I looked at the map, then toward the tower beyond the sands, and sighed.
“No, of course not,” I said. “I’ll wait until tomorrow.”
“Good choice,” she replied with a slap on the shoulder. “Always better to be well-rested before doing something unhinged.”
https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/83633/the-last-rae-of-hope-a-satirical-isekai-book-1/chapter/1819569/book-2-chapter-66-an-unpopular-decision
That's the form you chose to confront her with, Amos?
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