Chapter 11: Strategy

CHAPTER 11: STRATEGY

“Alright! First, we need to drive out the competitor! Esteemed Aelaranthae has given us freedom. First, we need to drive a bargain, a promotion! Then, we shall buy their lands!” Alantuile gave the directive to other leaders The Aelaranthae called CEO or chief executive officers. They shall become the director of the appropriate branch of Aelaranthae Company. Silvaris shall be the directors for farming, Petraea for manufacturing, LeAestas for education, and Celestialine for religion and culture.

After five years of work, gold began pouring to their coffers. However, nobility from the other side also began their embargo. Taxes on their specific goods began to rise. But their embargo was futile. Aelaranthae Company merely had to employ a third party distributor. Moreover, smuggling is rampant. Noble's security guards were easily bribed. Once the goods were in, they could easily be sold. They didn’t smuggle contraband after all, they merely evaded unjust taxes that nobles aimed at them.

When they realized their embargo and tax increase weren’t working, the nobles intensified their hostile approach. They began appropriating these stores. Which in turn left the masses to leave their territory. Queen Altressia did nothing for any of them for she preferred to deal with goblins in the west and remnants of cultists in the north. The court will deny any support to the Aelaranthae from her either way.

As the hostility rose, armies began to be drafted. Even after all the disaster from mad King Luferia, nobles from the empire were still strong. Punitive army began occupying stores after stores. Confiscating Aelaranthae goods was just a pretext, anything gilded or seemingly high in quality were taken. The nobles thought they could simply steal those goods and sell them for cheap, thus making profit, however, they didn’t realize such deeds crushed the local industry, making them bankrupt and leaving. Without their own industry, nobles soon fell into debt and had to be rescued by their monarch, Lanfeinne. Altressia is the queen merely in name, Lanfeinne is the one holding the reins.

Queen Altressia frowned when she realized the country’s coffers were decreasing to bail these nobles. She summoned Lanfeinne to ask for an explanation. However, her words fell upon deaf ears as Lanfeinne answered superficially.

“We used the treasury to invest in these nobles so their local production can be up to par against the Aelaranthae.” Lanfeinne made excuses. Queen Altressia was clueless about the economy, however, she is not a fool. She knew Lanfeinne was lying. However, any complaint she made will only be rebuked by how she had drunk from the chalice.

And so, she chose to stay silent, believing that Lanfeinne could handle it and stayed ignorant of the despair the people felt. The downturn spiral of the empire economy had led people to despair. This despair made them especially vulnerable to the lure of chaos gods. by worshiping chaos gods, one could receive blessings of their power.

Rashandur was such a person. He was a merchant dealing with Aelaranthae goods. One day, the nobles decided to appropriate all the goods he had, he lost everything. All of his hard earned money went down the drain. Not only that, his wife and daughter chose to abandon him when they realized he had nothing left. The future was bleak. He had been reduced to beggars, prowling the street to beg for food. But none gave it to him. neither the poor nor the rich. The poor were also in difficult times while the nobles looked at the dirty Rashandur like animals.

Fate said otherwise, instead of becoming beggars, homeless, and dying a dog’s death, chaos gods took a liking to him. They whispered to him, offering a blessing unto his soul. Rashandur accepted without hesitation. He had nothing left. He fantasized the power that be granted for him as he dream of taking vengeance on them all. By the power of Falfarus, he was blessed by a strong body. A Mark of Falfarus was carved into his body. He was the first, The champion of chaos gods had been renewed. This Mark compelled him, thirsting for blood.

Powers be with him. He strode upon the Lord’s opulent mansion in thirst. The soldiers tried to subdue him for his arrogance but he beat them all. Spears and swords shatter as they brush his body. As he stabbed one of the soldiers with their own swords, The Mark of Falfarus pulsed within him. It rejoiced as new souls were sacrificed to the dark god. Rashandur was elated at such power that was granted to him to punish these lords. All rich and wealth shall be burned for now he seeks the smell of blood and flesh. Sword and steel were no match for him. When he arrived before the frightened lord, the lord could only cower behind their seat of power.

The mark has yet another victim. Blood of the nobles was sacrificed to the mark and it rejoiced. As he displayed the trophy, the villagers who were oppressed by the lord exalted Rashandur achievement. They exulted in the death of the tyrant. Rashandur then shares the mark of Falfarus to anyone willing. As the mark spread, the cultist of Falfarus was born. They slaughtered their own wives and kin for the ecstasy the mark gave them was beyond reckoning. The blood from their dead wives and children painted their body, giving them strength.

Soon, after no one was left, the new cultist marched south. To the source of their hatred. The Lush Antheria empire and Aelaranthae Town were their next targets. They couldn’t tolerate such unfairness, they had nice clothes, tasty food, and stone houses while the cultists only lived in shacks, starving, and dressed in rags. As they plundered, the ragtag army came to the south, they feared no death for beyond death was salvation and vengeance.

Knights who patrolled the border fled in terror as the fearless army swooped down on them. Cities fell and the number of the cultists rose. Despair engulfed the land as Rashandur, the skullseeker, claimed his next trophy. Another lord of Antheria was slain. Without Lucoria, the Loyal general, and King Luferia, The golden lion, Antheria was at its weakest. Altressia was merely a graduate from the knight academy with no experience and Lanfeinne was a treasurer. None have the experience dealing with bloodthirsty cultists with their champions. Their knights lack the courage Lucoria nor the ingenuity King Luferia had. And so, the cultist march continued unabated.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Until new weapons from Aelaranthae Academy entered the scene. Arquebus, crafted by Petraea engineers. Alantuile had finally found a way to break the embargo Antheria and other nations imposed upon them. They soon arranged a meeting, Velryne, along with some of Aelaranthae Town’s loyal troops then agreed to send mercenaries to thwart Rashandur’s advance.

The new arquebus surpassed that of arrows and crossbows. The mercenary from Aelaranthae town, nicknamed Ae mercenaries, was led by Velryne, Son of Lotharine. Volley after volley of arquebus fired when the barbarians raided the town they were defending. The gun proved its worth.

The people of Helvianne praised Velryne for the victory which prompted the jealous lord to be assassinated by his heir so the town could officially join the new Aelaranthae Empire. The cultists spread like plague, now encompassing not only Antheria, but Petraea and Silvaris as well. They raided every village and town they could lay their hands on. For each town and village they conquered, the despaired men and women chose to join them, bolstering their numbers. Like Rashandur, they wanted a new world, a world where they could come out on top.

Altressia was helpless when the nobles in her faction asked for her help. The only thing left in the capital of Antheria was the Royal knights and her personal guard. She needed all of them to defend the capital. Moreover, all the knights that she sent previously had all but been destroyed. They lacked supplies, weapons, and training. While everyone was losing, The Ae Mercenary kept winning.

“Esteemed Aelaranthae , we have achieved another victory!” Bellarion, a new captain for Aelaranthae mercenary, knelt before Ae Zir. She then hugged him in return.

Aelaranthae loved hugs.

“Blessing be with you. You have worked hard.” Ae Zir smiled. Another soldier came, bearing news from Velryne who was garrisoned in a nearby town. There were too many cultists. Their ammunition had grown thin. Velryne had to get creative with traps in one of the towns they defended.

Cultists care not who they kill. They seek blood. The reason the Velryne Empire seemed unharmed was simply because they worked hard to defend the border, sometimes using neighboring towns from Antheria or Petraea as a bulwark. Bellarion then asked for a campaign in another territory, seemingly in competition with Velryne. However, Ae Zir refused. She decided to wait until Velryne returned.

“Were cultists always this strong? Ordinary knight didn’t stand a chance. We need someone at the level of royal knights or guns…” Ae Zir asked Velryne. She had witnessed it firsthand. One of those cultists took three bullets in the head before going down. She wanted to interfere, but these soldiers wanted glory. They also needed the experience.

“They bore different marks from the one you and father faced before. This one has a live champion. As long as he still lived, those who bore the same mark will be strengthened. If we could kill their champion, the cultists would lose their power and it would be easier to root them out.” Velryne replied, drawing from his knowledge of the Mad King Luferia’s campaign against the cultists.

Meanwhile, Ae Nae and Ae Nae’Ire were still in Aelaranthae Town. Their fear was unfounded. No matter how far, they could still communicate with each other. They just needed to focus more. Ae Zir received a call from Ae Nae and Ae Nae’Ire in Aelaranthae town. They received a letter from other nations, asking for help.

“Velryne, I received a call that Silvaris and Petraea needed help. Should we go there?”

“Good idea. Let’s leave this place. We need to search for the champion. Killing the champion would earn you recognition from the four nations. King Luferia was able to kill one. That’s why Antheria was able to grow into such a large empire.” Velryne answered.

“Why? How could killing someone bolstered national prosperity?” Ae Zir tilted her head.

“You got recognition from other countries.” Velryne looked at her as if it was obvious.

Aelaranthae were still studying about the immaterial power called politics. Below that was reputation. It was only recently that they paid any attention to the intricacy of human nature. They didn’t know that killing one person would receive the recognition of the entire alliance. They knew it would make them look strong, but they didn’t know it would affect other areas such as trade or security. Something pricked their mana sense and Ae Zir looked over the horizon where she found a mana cortex..

“He is here.” Ae Zir said. Premonition told her that this was the champion they were looking for.

“Hm?” Velryne tilted his head. Aelaranthae didn’t like to talk, so he had to guess what they were talking about.

“The champion you were talking about.” When Ae Zir said that, Velryne immediately rallied the men. A man walked over to them in the distance. His gait was rough and alone. Velryne stopped his hand from his gun. He looked at the Aelaranthae before him who drew her sword. She soon leaped from the wall, landing beside the man, leaving Velryne scrambled to the gate to chase after her.

“Are you the champion of the cult?” Ae Zir asked nicely. Her tone was like a song, no hatred or malice. However, the man looked at her in contempt. Rage built up within him for he envied them. With just a single glance, he knew they were mortal enemies.

“Dogs of the nobles. I sense power within you. Join me and together, we shall destroy the old world!” The man said. His scale rattled and his sword drawn. Tattered he was, but his scales and swords were pristine. It was part of him, imbued by the power of Falfarus. red scars were engraved upon them. His body grew as wings of darkness blessed by his god, Falfarus unfurled. Rashandur has turned from the man he once was into this magnificent creature. Big, strong, and ruthless. Terror was plastered on every being who gazed upon him. But not for the Aelaranthae. They merely looked upon him and offered advice. Even when her height did not reach his knee, she didn’t show any fear.

“That power is unstable. It is dangerous.” Ae Zir stated the fact after she saw the swirling mana around him. His hatred rushed out evermore. From her gait and lobe, he understood.

“I see. You are not one of us! You are even worse. You couldn’t see them. You neither care nor know the suffering of common people. You have no needs. You are blessed with power. The wretched vermin crawling on your legs, begging for food. You feed them as you look down and pity them. You should not exist,” Rashandur stated. He saw before him a race that betrays this world. A race that needs nothing. Like a goddess that he once prayed that had abandoned him. Deep down, he felt anger. Aelaranthae were the antithesis of what he now prayed to. His god desires to steal, kill and destroy. And that’s what he shall do.

Aelaranthae were made to be self-sufficient. They were made with the ideal of the goddess. They seek no destruction, they do not seek to rule over others. They seek coexistence, sharing, and helping. They were made to be such. Such antithesis were incomprehensible to Rashandur even when he was a human.

However, now was not the time. Rashandur walked away after meeting Ae Zir. Velryne finally caught up to the Aelaranthae. He quickly used a pistol and shot him. However, despite the ragged clothes he wore, no wound blemished his skin. A silvery ball bounced on the desolate soil. Velryne was agape at the scene before him. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow. Such power was bestowed upon Rashandur.

The twilight of the new era is at hand. Will the twilight bring darkness of the night, or will it bring dawn of hope?