4 Unknown Destiny(2/2)
alfred looking at the black armored middle age man, he knew who the man is, he's the famous geralt redia, one of the 4 major imperial guardian and the strongest one, 4 major imperial guardians is the ultimates strong group who's their main task is the protection of the imperial family and as the extended arms of the kaiser.
alfred also knew that geralt redia is the only disciple of visser gallard, astoria heavenly protector, and the strongest person in the empire.
'if only i had great teacher like him too.... then...sigh'.
alfred sighing while slightly envying geralt in his heart, because geralt had a saint ranked expert as his teacher, he quickly recovering his thoughts before answering again.
"it's like this lord geralt, the barbarians from many different tribes and even there is an orcs in their ranks start suddenly coming towards the southern borders with appearantly their whole people, but their not attacking us at all instead they just building tents outside the legion outpost in the borders, also there is a report coming from the 13th legion stationed near farach's pass that they had established a peacefull contact with one of the barbarian tribes, the report also said that the barbarians just want us to provide a protection to them as something weird happen in the middle of gobi deadlands terrying them, that why they decide to migrating all the way to the north".
when alfred finished speaking, both of the grey old man and geralt redia start looking at each other and nodding their head as they already understood something.
"heh look at those 2 old codgers, you both know something's up right,.... come on spit it out!!".
commander altmar start shouting loudly after watching the 2 man looks like know about something, even though the kaiser is also in the room, but altmar did not care at all beside the kaiser did not seems to mind a bit as he already accustomed to altmar's wild attitudes.
"old man roger did you hide something from me??" .
even the kaiser also rather suspicious to the grey old man.
"sigh....your majesty it's not that i hide something from you, it's just that both me and the geralt kid needing a confirmation first about the authencity of the stories we've heard, but after hearing that young man's report we also convinced that something actually happen in the gobi deadland.".
the grey old man is speaking while sighing that in fact he know's something is happening.
"then what's actually happen in the gobi deadlands master??, just tell us now....please".
melissa start pleading the grey oldman to telling them about the situations, this grey old man who is a level 4 grand mage is actually melissa teacher also the one who serves as jetsun academy's headmaster, roger greyson.
"heehhh, very well.....it's like this.... few days ago i've received a messages from the white tower mentioning that they felt an incredible mana distruption in gobi deadlands but they don't know for sure what is actually happen.....".
old man roger start narrating story he received from the white tower, the white tower is actually an organization that was created by the mages during the times of angevin empire, their headquarters is located at the ancient white tower near the kingdom of vela in eastern side of the continent.
"they also share the information with the greysia's church who also already know beforehand, 2 days ago they decide to sending a team to investigate the gobi deadland, the team already depart to astoria now riding gryphon they will probably arrive soon".
old man roger then finished his story, while everyone in the room start to pondering.
"what kind of mana distruption is happening?? and also when did it start to happen??".
it's melissa turn this time asking her master.
"we don't know, but according to greysia church they already feel it about 1 month ago".
old man roger answering his students while also pondering about the matters
'mana distruption??? ....ah it's just an energia outburst from....hemm it looks like it came from a device related to space but, there is some sort of formation array that almost blocked my sense, it need a closer look to know more, but not now...'.
arno who is in the balcony sending his divine sense to the far away gobi deadlands, and found out about the mana distruption just like that.
"excuse me.... if i'd may interrupt,..... the demon beast stampede also intensified since 1 month ago, the timing is also somehow aligned, although in the past demon beast also frequently attacking the southern border but never with the scales like currently happens now, the barbarian who originally is really ferocious and likes to fight each other but now somehow they start working together even get along pretty well with the orcs to migrating to the north, i think they were all running away from what happens in the middle of the deadlands".
alfred is informing everyone about his conjecture.
"exactly.... but it happens 1 month ago which coincidently during that ....terrifying thunder along with the dragon roar and images in the skies happening right..... is there a connection between them somehow??".
vasilli zaza, grand commander of the eastern distict start speaking while asking about some possibilities that mana distruption is connected with the massive thunder event.
everyone in the room excluding a certain person who sits in the balcony looking bored, start to remembering the huge thunder streaks in the skies that happen 1 month ago, the thunder grazed the skies in the entire realm with loud roars and massive dragon images, it placed fear on everyones heart who witness them.
some people in the room even had a goosebumps and gulping sound can be heard when they remembering the event, they will not forget that event as long as they live.
but arno who sits in the balcony are also wondering.
'1 month ago? so it's when i wake up huh.... hehe it looks like azure dragon lower domain cause a bit of uproar in the realm back then, well it is my fault because i use it unconsciously....my bad...'.
arno just keep sitting in the balcony.
"geralt i want to consult with your teacher about that event's meaning, i also think there is a definetly relation between the 2, is there anyword from him??".
the kaiser asking geralt who stand behind him.
"no you majesty, right after the event, my master received a summon invitation and already left for the saint dragon mountain, and i haven't heard from him this past 1 month".
"ah i see the saint dragon mountains huh.....then it's probably him right who summoned your teacher".
the kaiser and everyone start to pondering while nodding their heads, because they know who is the one that can quickly summoned their empire heavenly protectors on a whim, even the kaiser of astoria himself it's not easy to meet his own empire heavenly protectors.
there is only one person in the entire greysia realm that can do that, that person is none other the saint dragon king avarion, ruler of the saint dragon mountains and who is known by everyone in the entire realm as the strongest being in the world.
he also the last member who still alive of the original 4 hero who defeat the devil emperor samael 1200 years ago, saint dragon king avarion already very strong 1000 year ago and nobody know how strong he was currently.
beside he's a saint dragon, a mighty dragon race that has natural ability to accumulated strength in their body through time, so the longer the dragon live the stronger they are.
"hemmm..... then melissa is there any news from other foreign states that somehow connected to the distruption in the gobi deadland that your SAD peoples knows about?".
kaiser willhelm then moving the topic by asking melissa about foreign news.
"yes your majesty, western city states also alarms by the demon beasts incursion to their territory and many beastman tribes is getting restless as they were also affected by the demon beasts attack aswell, meanwhile the dwarven nation also reporting about the increasing demon beasts sighting in vega mountains foot near arga forest encroaching their territory"
"what about the eastern states and arga forest?"
"eastern state is still chaotic as ever, and according to my trusted sources, arga forest situations seem pretty much stabil as the dark elfs who's living inside the forest is living just like nothing happen at all, they were not really affected much by the distruption in gobi, but they are on guard and tighten the defense along several of their villages just in case, that was all your majesty there are no more news.".
melissa finish her reports.
after that kaiser willhem is silent for a few minutes, while everyone is waiting for the kaiser word soundly.
"very well..., altmar... keep an eye on the city states and tighten the defense along the western borders".
"yes your majesty"
"vasilli... ready the legions under your district command, if the dwarves nation sending in a distress call, immedietly moved them to vega mountains to support the dwarf as soon as possible".
"at once your majesty".
"while you reizen it's best for you return back to esnoz to reassume southern command, just keep the south checked and also the civilians that has been evacuated aswell the barbarians are your problem from now on, do what you must....."
"yes your majesty at your command"
the kaiser start giving order to the 3 grand commanders concerning the whole fiasco, with a decisive voice.
the 3 of them then saluted towards the kaiser and answered with voice full of confidence, 3 of them really looked heroic and overbearing when they answering the kaiser, many people in the room looking at them with respected gaze.
'as expected of the grand commanders, they were really different huh sigh..... it looks like i have a long way to go'.
even alfred start admiring them more inside his heart.
"and admiral geihar, put the navies under standby orders from now on, we don't have any problems in the seas right, but just in case something major happen".
the kaiser also giving his order to the brown haired middle age men wearing white uniforms, that always silent since the meeting begin.
"at your command your majesty".
the man then saluted towards the kaiser and answering him with soft but decisive voice. the man is admiral geihar essen, grand admiral of the imperial navy, he's very quiet and reserved person as he's more 'talk less do more' type person, although very unsociable and hard to approach but no one doubt his loyalty, as he served in the navy for almost 70 years.
"listen everyone, now we know the general situations currently that's why we must prepare for something that i think will happen...it's just i really had bad feeling about this whole event's..... so for the safety of the empire and it's people, i sincerly asked all of you....to worked harder... if there isn't anything else then the meeting is conludes".
the kaiser admit that he had bad feeling about the distruption as somehow it will lead to more greater problem in the future, when everyone in the room heard that they started to sweat a lot as they know that a monarch premonition tends to actually happens.
"your majesty if i may, when master says before that both the white tower and greysia's church sending their team to investigate deep into the gobi deadlands, i'm also thinking after hearing your majesty says we also must prepare, i have a suggestion for this matters....".
melissa suddenly offer a suggestion while everyone was about to standing from thier chairs.
"alright let's hear it....." the kaiser nod then gave signal to melissa to continue.
"i suggest that we also sending an investigation team too, this is an opportunity for us to know more about the situation as our empire is one of the most affected by this whole event, and i also propose that i'm the one who is leading and picking people for the team".
most people hearing the suggestion is agreeing with melissa even the kaiser also nod his head while pondering, but when they heard that melissa suggest that she's leading the team, the room is in uproar.
"nooo!!!! melissa don't start a joke!!!, this will be dangerous mission, if we send the team they may not came back at all".
even the kind looking old men roger is suddenly become ferocious after hearing melissa proposal.
"the old codgers is right you know miss, anyway.... dont't crack a joke okay, i mean why do you even want to go to the deadland anyway??".
commander altmar also voiced his complain.
"melissa this.... are you sure... although sending in an investigation team is good suggestion, but about you leading them is..... it's not that i don't trusted your capabilities, but this is the gobi deadlands.... you know, what will i said to your parents if something happenedto you".
the kaiser was worried about the idea to send his young talented subordinate to a low survival mission.
"lady melissa, the gobi deadlands is not something that you can underestimate, with your strength the barbarians and orcs will not be a problem to you, but it is the demon beasts that will posed you a threat, you also knew about their ecology right, the more stronger demon beast is making their lair in the middle of the deadlands near the mana distruption is located which is the place that you need to investigate, this an extremely dangerous area that even the barbarians who is native's there also avoiding the area as much as possible,...your majesty if we send the team then it will be the best to includes me too".
geralt redia also lectures melissa about the danger of gobi deadlands, also nominating himself to be include in the team.
"i know exactly about the danger and i've already thinking about it before i'm suggesting the proposal, master i'm not a little girl anymore alright and i'm not joking, i have decide that if our empire is sending a team, then i want to leading them, and i take no less than that, beside lord geralt should be stay in the empire in case something major happens, so your majesty please give me the chance, i will definetly not disappointed you".
melissa gave them who is worried about here, a confident answer.
after hearing melissa answer, peoples know that it will be impossible to convinced her, as they know about her stubborn temperament, the kaiser set his gaze looking at melissa face silently for a minute or two, while melissa also looking at the kaiser without fear as she only take a yes as an answer.
"sigh.... i guess it will be hard for you to change your mind huh..... very well..... we will be sending the team and you melissa dreyfuss will be leading them, this mission will be under the IA authorities especially you, and i'm also giving you the blank check to use any supports from the military and the civil affairs to help you in the mission, but first it best for you to report to him about the mission, if your team succesfull and returning alive, there will be huge rewards and commendation for them".
the kaiser finally agree sending melissa with the team to investigate the gobi deadlands, while the old man roger is sighing heavily because her student will be going to a dangerous mission.
"yes your majesty thank you, i will certain bring the team back and myself alive, and yes i will also report to him,... for the first use of the blank check, i'd like to use it to includes alfred byron as the first team member under my command, is that alright commander reizen ?".
melissa thanked the kaiser for the chance, and she immedietly use the first support from the military which is the transfer of alfred byron from the legions to her team.
alfred was flabbergasted as he did not understand why melissa suddenly drag him to her team, but then he remember that there will be huge rewards and commendation for them if they successfully investigated the distruption, this could be a major opportunity for him, so he just silently accept hoping that reizen will agree to it.
reizen then look at alfred behind him, then smile before answering.
"sure lady melissa, no problem.....he's a capable young man i'm sure he will be useful to the team,... alfred from now on you're no longer a knight battalion leader of the 5th legion, i will be transfering you to the lady melissa team directly, i will also tell firenze about your transfer so you don't have to worried about that" reizen also agreed to alfred inclusion in melissa team.
"yes grand commander thank you".
alfred was elated in his heart, it's really grand opportunity for him to get some merits and facing danger to promote strength, although he also afraid as he also heard some scary stories about the deeper parts of gobi deadlands back in the legion camps, but he will not backdown, to continue chasing what he wanted.
"hemmm good good but melissa be sure to take an extreme cautions..... then if there isn't anything else then let's concludes this meeting, you are all dismissed".
the kaiser words effectively end's the meeting, and he also leaving the room together with geralt and old man roger along with the other escorts.
the old man roger gazes at melissa who is bowing to the kaiser along with other people, and sighing heavily while shaking his head then he also left with the kaiser.
after the kaiser left, the other people also starts to left after saying goodbye to each other.
leaving only 4 people inside, melissa, her assistant and also alfred who is from now on under melissa command, while there is also another person in the room who's currently trying to sit in the grand chair that the kaiser sits in before and listening to alfred and melissa talks.
he is none other than the unparalleled arno the dark prison overlord.
"this is will be a huge thing for you right, i mean the rewards will be enoumous when we returning back after the mission, ..... also jennie you don't have to wait for us, you can go back first if you want".
melissa start speaking with alfred while offer her assistant to go back first, the assistant also taking up the offer and left, leaving only alfred and melissa right now, also arno who's thinking that this grand chair is indeed more comfortable than the other chairs in the room.
"if we returning back alive you mean, and what is the proposition you talked about before the meeting lady??, also how did you know about her?".
alfred asking about something that melissa want to propose about it before.
"no nevermind, because there is a huge situation development thanks to this meeting, just forget the earlier proposal,... about that hehehe i know her personally you know.... even she called me big sister, she.... hehe mentioned you a bit to me... look let's straight to the main point alright,..... you already in her heart, but your status is the main obstacle, that's why i'm including you in this mission, so that you can have more merits and achievement than from getting it by being attached with the legions".
melissa explaining the reason why she let alfred joined her team.
"i see.... then thank you lady melissa but..... why do you wanted to help me??".
alfred was confused why melissa is helping him, as he did not had any relation with her before today.
"sigh... i'm not helping you alright..... actually i'm helping her.... because she is my cute little sister although we're from different parents.... her status is already fixed, no matter what she do, it will not change anything, that's why you must gained strength and status, so it will be enough to shutting up people's mouth when the time of your union came.".
melissa then start talking about her little sister that seem had relation with alfred.
"yeah i wil.....no i definitely achieved it" alfred then with fire burning in his heart, he swear that he will getting stronger and achieved more more status in the empire so that he can stand alongside her, even arno smile looking at him as he posesses an unyielding character.
'this kid got his priorities right.....but love huh..... hahaha what a good reason'.
arno nodding satisfied.
"good... work hard then...but now our next move is to picking up people for the team, i'm thinking making a small team between 7-10 people will be enough as it does not attract many attention, they must have enough strength and unique skill also with acceptable attitudes, do you have any ideas?".
melissa is telling alfred about her plan while asking him about person they will recruited.
"well about that........i think there's is only 2 person i know, one is a level 1 super warrior legionnaire i knew in the 5th legion, he's extremely talented with bow and crossbow or anykind of long range or throwing weapons, the other one back then is a level 4 super warrior close range fighter, she's a spear expert, but i haven't seen her for almost a year, maybe she still teaching in the academy who knows, both of them is good people with good attitudes aswell, although the woman is a bit rude".
alfred start giving infos about the 2 people he know that can be recruited in the team.
"that's great we will put them to our list, i've also already have several people in my own list, so we can procced from it,..... hmmm it looks like is already night huh... let's end it for now, you can go but tomorrow morning come to this place alright... i'll take my leave first...see you tomorrow.".
melissa leave after noticing that the night is arrive and also giving alfred an address written in a piece of paper, then alfred also leaving the palace as well while arno decide to follow him and keeping his divine sense on melissa.
'he goes towards an inn to rest ha, it look like i also need a place to stayed too, the inn also looks good" .
arno follow alfred all the way until he arrive at an inn in the city downtown, the inn is a normal but clean inn, it's a good inn overall, alfred already booked a room when he arrived in the city earlier so he goes straight to his room.
while arno revealing his presence in the alley near the inn, as there are many peoples activities inside the inn and outside near the inn front doors.
he then enters the inn and walk to the reception desk, there is a charming middle age lady behind it smiling as arno approach her.
"hello...sir, welcome to our inn, is there something i can help you with?" the charming proprietress is welcoming arno with her smile.
"just need a single bed room how much for 1 night ?
"it's 50 silver for 1 night, it also includes a breakfast and hot water that can be delivered to your room at anytime you want".
"very well i'll take it for 2 days, here is 1 gold...." arno gave 1 gold coin to the charming proprietress for 2 days renting a room, then she start registering arno.
"here you go sir the key to your room, the room number is also written in it so you can easily find it, do you need the hot water now ?, i can delivered it to your room". the charming proprietress is offering arno the hot water.
"no it's fine... i'm just want to rest so you don't have to do that". arno refused the hot water then climb up to 2nd floor where his room located.
after he found his room and entered it he slowlly sits in the bed, he caress the soft bed gently with his hand, then he start wondering about everything that happen and he found today, it has been a million years if according to the history book he read back in the library since he's hibernating.
he understand many things for example the time when the chaos entering this universe and it's demise at his hand, along with the gaia realm breaking apart, it is all happens during the immemorial era around 1 million years ago.
which is even for arno himself is a really long time, it is a long forgotten era by the people in all realm.
the other thing is about the people of greysia realm seems does not noticed or simply does not know about the existence of other large realm except for the underworld realm even that they only vaguely knows about it.
arno think's that the other 2 large realm already so far away from the greysia realm and there is really great distance seperating them.
without a martial sovereign rank strength it is impossible for the cultivators to break the boundary of the skies and venturing into outer space to goes to these realms, maybe some people still had the knowledge about the other realm during the dawn era as they still had powerful cultivators back then but it looks like the knowledge along with other heritage also lost through war and time.
'i've also read about this so called a fighting aura martial arts that majority of the warrior in greysia realm practice,..... i guess the academy is good place to start... if i want to know more, maybe can also peeping about mage cultivations heh..'
arno already start making plans for tomorrow.
he then start to gather his mind and checking both melissa and alfred with the divine sense.
'that melissa woman is already return to fanctoms store, while alfred is already sleeps... it's time for me to rest aswell'.
after knowing both of their situation arno then retracted his divine sense.
arno remember the 2 people that he had destiny connection the most and the other 1 is the wolfman he meet the first who's also connected to him but it's intensities are not really high compared the other 2, so he doesn't keeping an eye on him.
and just he's about to close his eye, he mutters.
'.....so much happen's today, and this is just the first day sigh... ...destiny... because i've decided to just enjoying the view while waiting for my tribulation, let's played along and see what you have'...