PenguinKills
patreon
Chapter 369 - From the Heart
🕑 Added 2025-09-19 00:42:39 +0000 UTCThe Admiral
Now, why in the fuck would she go and say that?
The past week of deliberation and meetings hadn't been going swimmingly, but they hadn't been going poorly either. Sure, there had been hiccups here and there, but those were to be expected.
Not the giant wrench that had just been launched at him.
Fitzwallace had finally managed to steer the discussion into the main point of this entire gathering, and just before it could get off the ground, Rachel from Frostheim shot it down instantly.
She didn't even let it catch wind first, not that Mikayla wasn't doing a good enough job of opposing him. The fact that Rachel did it with as much subtlety as a sledgehammer to the face made everyone stop and take a breath to fully comprehend the bombshell that had just been said.
It took the Admiral longer than he cared to admit, because he truly hadn't expected it out of her, of all people. He'd expected Mikayla to say something, and she had, but not Frostheim.
Then he noticed that everyone was looking at him to respond. Some were curious if this would turn into something, while others wanted to see how he would play this.
He couldn't come right out and deny it, because he had in fact been doing just as she said, but he also couldn't just agree, either. The few seconds after the woman spoke were probably the longest period of time that was spent in silence since the meeting had begun.
Seeing how she went for brutal honesty, he would go for the same.
"It is not that I wish to play World Police, or force rules or my leadership upon anyone." The Admiral began stiffly, "If this were a perfect world, I wouldn't have to do any of that. I could sit back and allow things to play out as they may, with the belief that things will get done, and I don't have to be the one to do them.
"But we don't live in a perfect world. I see the squabbles taking place already, the various leaders positioning themselves for specific resources, or to place themselves in a position to grow, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I just can't forget that not that long ago I watched thousands of people die.
"I watched friends, soldiers, people who were civilians not that long ago, all go to battle, and less than half make it out in one piece.
"It is not that I wish to lead, it is that I fear what might come next if I do not."
The Admiral wasn't done, as it brought up points that he'd wished to share but didn't, as it wasn't the time or place.
"It wasn't even the first time such a mass casualty event has occurred, either, is what gets me." He continued heavily, "Under half the people who got whisked away to god knows where didn't come back, and then it happened again when those abominations came spilling out of the obelisk.
"I've seen Demons summoned firsthand and witnessed the havoc they can wreak.
"Not once, not twice, and sadly not even three times, have there been incidents that have caused us to fight just to survive, and I fear we won't be ready for the next one. I fear it because everyone here knows it's coming, yet still persists in weakening each other before it arrives.
He let the frustration out and huffed, "So yes, while I may not be the only Viscount, and yes, our Cities may be separated by vast amounts of land, but I called all of you here in the hopes that we might prepare ourselves and be ready for whatever may come next, for I know it won't care if we are or not."
His words were heavy and from the heart, and for the second time in just as many moments, a silence hung in the Meeting Hall. First, it had come from Rachel rebuking his attempts, and now it had come from him voicing his peace.
The Admiral turned his gaze around at everyone seated before him and forced them to meet his gaze before his eyes finally came to rest on Rachel of Frostheim.
"If that is your wish, and you only seek to gain allies for the battle that we all know is coming, Frostheim will always stand with you." She said, "It is the attempts at control we buck, the positioning of those who think themselves above us that we condemn. For the first time in our lives, we are truly free, and we will not give that up for anything.
"But, if another obelisk appears and monsters spew forth from it once more and threaten the livelihood of our world, the armies of Frostheim will be there to meet it head-on. A hammer bound in frost will be the vanguard if such a battle occurs, on that, I promise."
Fitzwallace could only nod deeply, for that was as much as he could ask for. While cementing himself and his Faction as the Central Command Center was what he had been attempting to do, the ultimate goal was to ready forces for the future.
The way the words resounded, the depth and heart in them were clear to everyone at the table. They knew the words were not just platitudes or just sound, easily carried away in the wind. They were words in stone, and he believed them without doubt.
It was odd to feel such a way, he admitted, as he was used to the double speak and lies that usually came with people he knew, and it was honestly relieving to hear.
After spending the week with Rachel and seeing how she didn't seem to weigh in on most things, he thought that they would keep to themselves and not care for what happened outside of their little bubble of influence, but that didn't seem to be the case.
Sure, they had shown up at the Battle of St. Louis, but who was to say they would do so again?
"You are not the only one to have such fears," Mikayla admitted, which nearly caused his stoic face to break, "We are all aware of what may happen should we lose our protection, it is why we all showed up to the Obelisk in the first place.
"We aim to go about it in different ways, but the Heartlands is not blind to what lies in our future. If it is another battle we face, our warriors and mages will be there to meet it as well.”
Of the four known Viscounts, three had just agreed to fight if it came to that. The Admiral doubted the last would miss out, even if he wasn't here to add on whatever self-centered words he may have said.
"The Twins as well."
Marcus wasn't the only one to voice his ascent, as everyone at the table, in what was probably the first time, agreed in unison.
"I may not have been there for the previous battle, but if another should occur, the Golden Isles will participate. We, I, will not leave you to fight it alone again." Drake spoke up.
Fitzwallace was smiling on the inside. While everything may not have gone his way, and if this was the only thing he gained out of the entire Assembly, that was okay.
It was enough.
"Then my fears are abated for the time being." He said, "Why don't we break for dinner and take the night. Tomorrow we shall discuss a way to spread the word should another Obelisk appear, and if there is anything any of you wish to say."
While the Admiral may not have been able to stop the coming conflict between the Factions, he would get one thing out of them on the morrow. He didn't want to push things now, as they were finally at a good place.
But before they left, he hoped they would all agree.
Should the test occur while Factions were currently at War, they would face the external threat first.
___
Abigail
Frostheim
She had been checking her Message Stone near constantly ever since Rachel started sending updates on the Assembly. The scouts positioned to relay the Message all the way North weren't happy about it, but they knew it was important.
It helped that some of them were now getting skills for it. [Send Message] was an amazing spell, and she wished everyone would get it just to make her life easier. Mages usually could, as it was offered during their initial F-rank Class options, but other than it and Ranger, the other base Classes didn't have it.
The skill orb for it was ludicrously expensive, because every Faction had a use for it, not to mention the skill shards. Vulwin could only sadly shake his head when Abigail had asked to buy some, as the margins for selling them here weren't worth it.
The System may subsidize some of their costs, but for things with an already high markup, it wasn't worth it to send them out here.
It didn't help that the skill didn't drop all that often from Dungeons either. From the three Frostheim had, the skill had dropped less than five times.
[Power Strike] and [Power Shot] were the most common by far, with the elemental mage bolts being next. [Ice Bolt], [Fire Bolt], [Earth Bolt], and the like. The Floors cleared most often were still those below D-rank, which led to the weaker, Common skills dropping more often.
You also had to consider that the data was skewed from the beginning, as well. Anyone who received a higher grade skill would use it, rather than sell it, which made it so they couldn't get an accurate number on how many had dropped.
Now that the delvers had gotten the Common grade skills and had used them already, they were starting to show up on the market more and more frequently.
Lucille said that she had no way of influencing what was dropped in any way or form, which was a bit disappointing but understandable. If a Curator could dictate what was received as dungeon rewards, they would be the most valuable Profession out there.
The Stone buzzed, and she instantly sent mana into it.
Talks are wrapping up, and tomorrow looks like to be the last day of the Assembly. With your advice, I made sure our position was known in a way Chris would be proud of. It led in a direction I didn't expect, at first, but I feel it worked out in the end.
I don't anticipate tomorrow bringing anything new or substantial, so the outcome won't change by much, if at all.
That being said, we walk away from this Assembly with the unified decision that if, or when, another Obelisk is found, we shall face it together. If the test manifests in some other way, we have a communication network in place so that word will spread. While there were other details discussed along those lines, those two were the biggest.
I will send a detailed letter back with Erick, which will have all of the details I don't want to say over the stone.
What I will say, though, is that Chris will be happy whenever he comes back from galavanting in the snow.
I managed to find him a supply of coffee.
Comments
Thomas Issa
Trade routes increasing
John Anastacio
Greenhouses maybe? I've no idea if coffee can be grown under glass that far north, though. Maybe runes to kee the greenhouse warm.
Corwin
Chris needs Coffee plants that can stand the cold otherwise he will have a hostage situation with his coffee bahahaha
