Eternal Dominion Book 23: Strife, page 3
“So, are you just going to stare at it all day, or are you going to thank me for all my hard work?” commented Salfe, causing Xeal to return to the moment.
“Sorry, it is just wow. Thank you. Your skill with alloys really went beyond my expectations and I just don’t have the right words to express my excitement.”
“I had excellent materials and actions always speak louder than words. Just don’t you dare let that blade end up in another’s hands.”
Xeal could see the seriousness that Salfe had as she warned him about holding on to the blade and while she didn’t say it directly, Xeal could tell she would never make anything else for him if he lost it. It was with that thought that Xeal spoke his next words.
“I understand and I won’t be careless with it, but I also won’t prioritize it over what truly holds value to me. After all, if someone takes it from me, I just have to kill my way to them and take it back with everything I have.”
“No, you need to be ready for even your friends to stab you in the back to get that blade. I doubt that there are many who wouldn’t covet that blade and you may be strong, but I doubt even you can face off against an army.”
At that Kate couldn’t hold back a bit of laughter, as Queen Aila Lorafir gave Salfe a look that clearly said that she was underestimating Xeal.
“What, are you going to tell me that he can stand against thousands on his own!?”
“No, we are going to tell you that he already has,” responded Queen Aila Lorafir. “He has also already faced off against tier-8s and at least held his own for a good bit. With that blade in his hand, I doubt that I could even come out ahead of him in a battle at this point.”
Salfe swallowed hard as she looked at Xeal as he spoke.
“Aila is exaggerating slightly. When I have faced off against any army, I have always had support mages supplying me with electricity. Even then, I can only do so much before others need to come in to clean things up. That said, with this blade I am closer to the peak of tier-8 than I am to the peak of tier-7 in ability in a fight. Plus, I am very confident in my ability to escape if all else fails.”
As Xeal said that, he shifted to his lightning form and hopped around the room to demonstrate his abilities.
“Is he even human?”
“I don’t think he is anymore either,” commented Queen Aila Lorafir. “I think he is about the same level as a demigod at this point and if there is a person who can best him in a fair fight it would shock me to my core.”
“Sadly, our enemies won’t be interested in a fair fight,” commented Kate. “If they were, it would be so much easier to deal with them.”
Xeal just left those comments alone, as he took the shift in the conversation to mean that it was time for him to make his exit. Though he would only be alone for a short while, with it being once more the end of a year in ED. As such, he was expected to make an appearance at the palace as King Victor was hosting a small gathering and it was close enough that Austru would be introduced there as well. So it was that Xeal simply focused on seeing just what the True Heart Seeking Blade was capable of. For this Xeal was simply meeting up with Amet, Clara, Ignis, Nanami, Gale and Aalin in the recently captured fort in the subterranean realm. The seven of them would be keeping close to the fort as they found a few targets and let Xeal let loose.
So it was that as Xeal arrived in the fort for the first time since he left following the battle the day prior, he took in the changes that had already occurred. Rather than kobolds, dwarves were the largest group walking the streets, though there were plenty of other races present as well. There was also a fair bit of work to convert the doorways, at the very least, to be more accommodating to regular-sized races. Although, nothing could be done about the ceiling heights without tearing down and reconstructing the buildings one by one. This was way down on FAE’s priority list and other than the few buildings that had collapsed when Ekaitza’s sisters had thrown their opponent through them, it was being ignored completely.
Still, shops were open and it wouldn’t be long before Xeal would open the fort town to players who weren’t even part of FAE in any way. Though it would need to wait until more players could handle the monster levels surrounding the area. Especially as, besides FAE’s main force and a few outliers in other guilds, the bulk of the top players were still ten to 20 levels from being ready to even think about grinding in level 240 areas. So, after putting that thought out of his mind, Xeal found his way to the meetup spot and an hour later he had completed his tests. Needless to say, he was very satisfied with the results and the blade hadn’t even lost a percentage of its durability during the fights. Meanwhile, his old blade that was in his offhand had lost about two percent durability during the same fighting.
With the results in, Xeal bid everyone but Aalin and Gale farewell, as they headed to the capital to get ready for that evening’s gathering. Though before anything else, Xeal took out the True Doppelganger Blade, that Ellayina Walsh had given him as part of their deal for him to share information with her, and looked at it one last time before using it. The crystal sphere simply displayed its short description that it could copy any bladed weapon perfectly and that it was a onetime use item. While Ellayina had offered to give it three charges, Xeal had opted to get her to agree on the idea of a trial run of allowing uploaded minds access to ED if the governing bodies of the world agreed to allow it. Which was something Kate was hard at work on in the background, as she used the connections that she had forged during the process of legalizing plural marriage, to see what she could get through. Though as of yet she hadn’t made much progress on it, as she knew better than to rush such a temperamental subject.
With that thought, Xeal selected to use the True Doppelganger Blade and a moment later it scanned the True Heart Seeking Blade and the crystal grew hot before reshaping itself. Xeal just watched as the sphere distorted and lengthened until it took the shape of a hand and a half sword, as it looked exactly like the True Heart Seeking Blade. As Xeal read the description, the only difference was in the last line that read, “This blade is a perfect copy of the real True Heart Seeking Blade made through magic.” Xeal just smiled as he stored both blades in his inventory and headed to the bath.
Two hours later, Queen Aila Lorafir and all of Xeal’s wives were present and ready to leave, save for Austru. She was still waiting for word to join them as she still only got a single hour each week and unlike Xeal’s time in the quest world, it couldn’t be stockpiled. Still, it was better than nothing and so after one final verification that it was time, Xeal sent Vento a message and Austru joined them, dressed in an elegant blue dress that complemented her silver eyes and white hair. Though as Xeal looked at all 12 of the women before him, none of them would lose out to the other in their dress or looks in his eye and he just smiled like an idiot for a long second upon realizing this.
“Xeal, we need to hurry now that Austru has joined us,” commented Aalin as she pulled him back to reality.
“Sorry, let’s be off.”
As Xeal said this, he found himself with Enye on his right arm and Austru on his left, as they walked and talked towards the palace. After the thankfully short walk to the venue, Austru only had about 50 minutes left and so for the first part of the gathering she took priority as Xeal introduced her to the other attendees. It wasn’t until she only had ten minutes left that Xeal made it to King Victor, who was flanked by Queen Nora and his second wife, Sciencia, both of whom had been delivered by the dragonoids from Cielo city for the event. Both were very much pregnant and neither would be returning to Cielo city until after they had given birth. Though Prince Vicenc had been left in the care of others in Cielo city until Queen Nora and Lady Sciencia returned with his younger siblings.
“Duke Xeal, it is good to see you and your wives were all able to make it,” greeted Queen Nora. “I must say that it is nice to finally get to meet you, Austru. Enye and the others have told me so much about you.”
“It is the same for me, Queen Nora,” responded Austru. “I just wish that I had more freedom to be here, but just being able to do so at all has been a dream come true as it is.”
“I can only imagine what traveling between worlds must be like for you…”
Xeal almost had to hold in a laugh, as the last of Austru’s time was all but used up by Queen Nora. It was only Kate cutting in when she only had a minute left that gave Austru the chance to actually greet King Victor and bid farewell to Xeal and his wives. As she disappeared, Xeal just sighed as it tipped his hand that transferring between worlds ignored all normal tools that blocked teleportation within certain areas. Still, he turned to King Victor and just smiled as he spoke to him.
“I must say that it feels off to be gathered like this tonight, my king.”
“Don’t give me that my king line. You and I both know that it isn’t necessary.”
Xeal just held back his retort, as the fact of the matter was that the event was simply to quiet the rumors that Xeal had been holding Queen Nora and Lady Sciencia hostage. Though the fact that Prince Vicenc wasn’t present would mean that there would still be some who claimed that Xeal was still holding hostages. However, the fact that two more members of the royal family would soon be born quieted these whispers, as so long as one was a son Nium would still have an heir.
“Yes, well tomorrow I return to the front as ordered, and hopefully I will be able to help complete the final push to break through to our allies and free them from the siege they have been suffering under.”
“Yes, and perhaps after that you will be able to bring a quick end to this war and life can return to a somewhat normal situation. Now, Xeal, if you would walk with me for a bit.”
Xeal nodded and a moment later he and King Victor were walking with only a few royal guards trailing behind and another pair ten or so feet in front of them. Perfect for the contents of their conversation to be shared quietly with key figures afterwards.
“Tell me, Xeal, how much time is left with Princesses Bianca and Lorena before you have fulfilled your obligations to see if courting them is what you wish for?”
“I owe each of them about ten hours and I have two months to complete that in.”
“I see and you are leaning towards refusing them, correct?”
“I simply have a hard time seeing how adding them to my life would work out for the better for my family.”
“You wouldn’t need to do more than give each of them a few children and have them around for a few public appearances each year-”
“No, if I marry a woman at this point, she must be able to be part of my family’s daily life without tearing apart what I have now. I considered accepting such a situation with Mari when we first agreed to move forward with accepting our engagement and while I never said so publicly, that was the biggest mistake I made in courting her. It almost cost me the love that I have nurtured with her and I am sure it would have poisoned other aspects of my life by this point had I not corrected that mistake quickly after our marriage.”
“Is it just that Enye refuses to accept them?” Victor asked.
“I am sorry, but I will not give you an answer on that one,” Xeal replied.
“Tell me, what did they say at the thought of marrying me?”
“They would have killed themselves, or you first. Honestly, I fear for any man that marries them and gets on their wrong side now.”
“Oh, do you fear them as well?”
“Victor, any man who doesn’t fear their wife’s wrath is a fool.”
“Indeed, Nora has already begun putting my life back in order and she has only just returned to the palace. Also, I am sorry for this, but I am going to forbid you to allow any but you to explore marrying those two until the war has come to an end.”
Xeal could feel the headache that was coming as he responded to King Victor’s declaration.
“You know that ordering me to marry them will fail, so you will instead tell me that none other than I will be permitted to marry them.”
“I am sorry, but as you have said, only a fool doesn’t fear his wife’s wrath.”
“So, Nora is getting back at me for adding Sciencia to your life and not marrying Lois.”
“I have said nothing of the sort, but I will say that it is your own fault for failing to convince Enye to stay put up there during the war.”
“You know that this changes nothing in the long run, right?”
“That is yet to be seen. I just don’t envy you having to explain this to Enye. Now, I think it is time that we rejoin the party.”
“Perhaps I will tell her now,” retorted Xeal. “Make sure that you are within range of her shadow step when I do so.”
“You wouldn’t want to suffer the consequences were she to actually harm me, would you?”
“Better it happen now, than you needing to wonder if she is lurking in the shadows like her master enjoys. Oh, and Zylah, I can see you up there. So why not come down and join us?”
As Xeal said this, he focused his aura on the spot where she was hidden as he looked right at her and after a second, she was standing before them with a frown as she spoke.
“What good does it do to call me out right now?”
“One question. Did you have a hand in this?”
“Ha, all three are my apprentices. Of course I did, but that ended when I dropped them off with you.”
“I see. Very well, I am going to ask that you oversee Lorena’s and Bianca’s training as I am going to insist that they reach tier-7, if possible, before the war ends now.”
“Oh, and if I say that the war has me too busy?”
“Do you think you can still defeat me?”
“I give myself an even chance of winning, though I doubt I would be able to escape were I to find myself losing. Why, do you intend to force me to accept your terms by force?”
“No, but if you refuse, I will be training them instead of returning to the front starting tomorrow and my goal will be to get them to hate me by the end of it.”
“Xeal, that is unacceptable!”
“Victor, I don’t want to hear that from you, as what you are doing to me is no different. You want me to marry them and I want you and their families to stop pushing things in that direction.”
“They’re not,” commented Zylah. “They are simply playing the game that all rulers must to survive. Each must seem as if they are trying to negotiate an end to the death in a way that seems reasonable to others, while knowing that it is doomed to failure. Were you not so focused on the fact that it is your bedroom which is being used as the bargaining chip, you would see that.”
“Yet, they would all be happy if I were to give in right now,” retorted Xeal, before taking a breath and turning to look at King Victor. “Victor, I will accept what you are doing as what Zylah is saying for now, but I will not shield you from the actions of my wives. Just know that any end to this war that doesn’t end in either Nium, Habia, or Paidhia being the last one standing is unacceptable to me.”
“I am aware and I hope that you succeed sooner rather than later. Zylah, I can afford for you to be focused elsewhere most of the time. Just make sure you’re able to take on a few missions when needed.”
Zylah just nodded before giving Xeal one last look and leaving them. Xeal just focused on controlling his breathing and getting his temper down, as he recognized just how touchy he had become on the subject of any meddling related to his wives. After taking the extra second that they all needed, Xeal and Victor rejoined the party. Though it was clear to Xeal that Kate, Queen Aila Lorafir, and Aalin had all clearly heard some of what had been said, with their enhanced senses being what they were. Although after speaking with them about it, Xeal was relieved to learn that Queen Aila Lorafir had cast a privacy spell when she realized that it was going to get slightly heated. As such it was only the four guards, King Victor and Zylah who would know the extent of the disturbance that Xeal caused.
Still, Xeal wasn’t about to just sit on what had been said and so he slipped away with Enye, Queen Aila Lorafir and Kate for a moment, as he shared the details with them. Once he had said his piece, Enye looked annoyed, but not surprised as Kate just gave Xeal a look that said he should have seen it coming. Of the three of them it was Queen Aila Lorafir who actually looked the most upset over the development, as she spoke in a frustrated tone.
“This all but assures that you will end up giving in to them now.”
“How so?” asked Xeal almost on reflex.
“Xeal, you’re too kind,” supplied Kate. “Enye has almost given in as well, particularly as Nora has been working on her in the background this whole time.”
“They still haven’t shown me that they can be good for him,” countered Enye. “As long as I don’t see them as a healthy addition to our lives I won’t give in and therefore Xeal won’t give in.”
“So, what happens when they reach tier-7, or heaven help us, tier-8?” asked Queen Aila Lorafir. “I am sorry, but all they have to fix now from what I can tell, is the complete lack of worth they place upon themselves. Tell me, do you see them not doing so by the time they reach tier-7?”
“They will almost certainly have to do so and if I know my master, she will be ensuring that they are ready for that as well.”
“It may not be too late to remedy the situation and ensure that they don’t join us if that is what we want to happen,” interjected Kate. “They have spent the last four years having themselves torn down, but we know the next stage is to build them back up. So, we just need to build them back up in such a way that they see settling for being Xeal’s 14th and 15th wives, if not an even higher number, would be unacceptable.”
“Kate, your idea has merit to it, but considering that I am willing to be wife number 19 or even later if Xeal caves to others and well, would they dare insult me?”
“So, abdicate to Alea and marry Xeal already,” retorted Kate. “Give me one good reason why you can’t yet? And don’t say that she isn’t tier-8 yet, as we both know that as long as you stay in the picture to lend her your name, that won’t matter.”
