"You're already dead, you just haven't caught up yet."~ Shen, The GOAT, The Eye of Twilight. (They buffed him 2 patches in a row! My glorious king!)
I also want to reiterate.... I DO NOT USE AI. That should be fairly obvious since I write like a complete moron. And if I have AI write something for me then it is not mine is it? The idea and the overall story would be but everything else is artificial. It is why you get chapters every alternate day.
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The destruction caused by the battle had finally gotten Jarvan to ignore Gregori's command. The entire group in the court hall had seen two gigantic figures flying into the forest from the distance. They had also seen the statue of Galio soar into the skies in that direction.
If the dust clouds rising in the distance were any indication, the battle between them was devastating to say the least.
"Your highness..." Xin Zhao began.
Jarvan nodded, "I know Seneschal. We cannot sit back like this." He turned to the guards. "GUARDS!"
They all turned toward him.
"Gather every available guard on duty and send them near the forests." Jarvan's voice was commanding. "Monitor the perimeter and inspect the damages to the west walls." He pointed to a specific guard, "You." The guard stepped forward. "Go to the aviaries and bring some of the raptor riders along."
The guard nodded, bowed and began running toward the aviaries.
"The rest of you be on your way." Jarvan turned away from the windows and walked to his throne. "I will join you after donning my armor."
The guards saluted and bowed and began marching out.
"Captain!" Jarvan called. "You are still under investigation. I cannot... in good faith... allow you to leave."
Jaredan who had taken a few steps alongside the guards, grit his teeth and turned around. "Your highness-"
"Once everything is reviewed you will be released and compensated Captain." Jarvan spoke as he reached behind his throne and pulled out his spear. The weapon passed down from king to king. Drakebane.
The weapon was a spiked spear. One that could extend as the wielder swung. Its spikes causing immense damage to attacking dragons. It was also extremely lethal in close combat. A modifiable reach always put the wielder at an advantage against his enemies.
Jaredan tensed at the words but nodded and bowed. His goal was to slip away in the chaos but this king seemed to be keeping an eye on him.
"I'll watch the Captain your highness." Alain Spiritmight stepped forth. "If the Captain is a spy..." He did not finish his words but a cruel smile appeared on his face.
Jaredan stared at the man, his eyes shooting daggers.
Jarvan nodded to Alain.
"Your highness, let us join you." Tianna Crownguard stepped forth. Behind her Garen stood with purpose. Jarvan was his friend. A brother. He would support him.
Pieter stood behind them, his mind still on Gregori's identity. His eyes shifted to Alain. The Spiritmight's would be in uproar if this was true.
No.
The entire nation would be in uproar.
If the words of the boy who had spoken previously were any indication of the truth, then the playing field shifted considerably.
"He could be...."
Those words were an admittance.
A noble scion abandoned by his family? The Spirtimight's would never recover from this. Betrayal of ones family was not something to be taken lightly.
Even if the child was a mage.
Luxanna's status as a mage had damaged a lot of relations but it had maintained their reputation as a family that protected its own.
Though the status of the mages were improving each passing day, it would only take so long for his daughter to be welcomed back with open arms. But she was nowhere to be found. Every day went by in fear. Fear for her safety. Garen has been taking a lot of responsibility to keep his mind off of his sister's disappearance and Augatha had gone to bed every night in tears afraid for her daughter.
Pieter did not even care for the marriage anymore. He just wanted his daughter back. Jarvan had always seen her as a sister and now with the halfling in the mix Luxanna stood no chance. Something like an agreement between parents would not stand.
As Tianna and Garen followed the king out of the halls, Pieter walked up to Xin Zhao and spoke, "I suggest you stay with the children instead of following."
Xin Zhao frowned, "The king takes priority."
"The children are under protection of the king." Pieter shot back. "Should any harm befall them, then there is worse things that could happen to the king." He looked at the children, "Besides, Tianna and Garen are with him."
"You didn't follow." Xin Zhao stated.
Pieter nodded, his eyes sharpening, "There are things going on that require my presence here." He looked over the nobles who were conversing with each other in hushed tones. "These lot will not accept defeat that easily. They will do something. I just want to make sure that I spot anything before it happens."
"Any groups that stand out?" Xin asked.
Pieter nodded. "The Mageseeker group for one. Falling that far from grace is a real issue for them. Losing their leader has sent them into a disarray. Continuous losses will make them lash out, and lash out they will." He sighed, "That is inevitable." He rubbed his palms together. "There are others but you understand why I hate the Mageseekers don't you?"
Xin nodded. Everyone knew how much Pieter cherished his family and his sister's treatment at the hands of her husband was anything but acceptable. His immunity as the leader of the Mageseekers had protected him.
"But currently... my attention has been on something else." Pieter admitted as he started walking to the kids.
Xin followed him in confusion.
Pieter leaned down to the kids. "Don't worry too much. I'll keep you safe."
They looked back at him in apprehension.
He chuckled, why wouldn't they be suspicious of him. He had to make sure they knew he could be trusted. "I remember your father when he was younger you know?"
A smile crept up as he watched the realization dawn on the kids.
"You... know?" The dark skinned girl asked.
He shrugged. "Yes. I remember when he was no bigger than you all."
Xin Zhao's eyes widened as he heard those words. "You know this Gregori?"
Pieter turned to him and nodded. "Me and my brother used to watch over him and my sister as they played."
"He used to play with your sister?" Xin asked.
Pieter nodded. "A long time ago." It was extremely nostalgic to think of those times.
"That would mean..." Xin started.
"Yes." Pieter interrupted. "He is a noble."
He took a sharp breath as he took in the consequences of that revelation. "Which.... which family does he belong to?"
Pieter wagged his finger. "I cannot tell you that now can I?" He turned to the kids, "It is better to keep his identity hidden no?"
They nodded.
"See?" Pieter turned to the Seneschal and said. "It is more fun this way."
Xin Zhao took a step back and shifted his attention to the nobles. "Do whatever you please Pieter. I do hope this doesn't cause any trouble for our young king."
"The only groups it will trouble are those nobles." Pieter replied. "They wouldn't like this to be revealed."
Xin took a breath. "I hope you know what you are doing Pieter."
-x-
The king and his guards all arrived and inspected the damages to the Fortis estate.
"Pull out those stuck underneath the rubble!" One of the Guard Captains yelled. "Search for the survivors!"
"What.... caused this...?" Eileen asked out loud.
Jarvan asked one of the guards to bring any witnesses of the battle and he ran off to find a witness.
"The real question is why the Fortis estate?" Tianna corrected. "Lady Fortis's reaction indicated that she knew what caused this...."
"Your highness?" Two guards in a slightly different outfit walked up to Jarvan.
Jarvan frowned, "You are the palace guards... Why are you here?"
The guard straightened up, "In times of an invasion, palace guards are considered as fully fledged guards sire."
Jarvan nodded. "Do you have information for me guard?"
"Yes your highness." The guard nodded. "We..." He gestured to the guard. "We saw the messenger talk to Lady Fortis and then turn into a colossal monster and shoot off in this direction."
"A... monster?" Jarvan asked in disbelief.
The guard stuttered, "Y.... You... might not believe it sire... but... but.. but it is true." He raised his hand to his chest. "I.... I swear this on my life."
But before Jarvan could respond, the guard who had run to find a witness. "Your Highness!"
"Yes?" He turned to the man.
"Your highness the witnesses seem to be hallucinating." The guard spoke. "They are talking of a monster bigger than the estate."
Shock overtook the group as they turned to the palace guard. He hadn't been lying.
"Verify that information!" Tianna called. "Get us a full timeline of what happened!" She ordered the guards near them.
They all turned and scrambled to fulfill her demands.
In the distance, Gregori walked toward the west gates.