• Date: September 29, 2173


  
• Time: 6:15 AM


  
• Location: Gian Pantheon Church Garden


  

  {I have been waiting for you, my master.}

  This stunned the Ghost to a halt. Never did he think that an object could possess sentients. Worst of all, if the Queen and the Saintess were kneeling to the sword. That could only mean that this weapon is their supposed mother. In his mind, he only had one question, how did it make any sense?

  [What the hell!]

  Vee exclaimed out loud. First, it was their method of teleportation, and now it was a talking sword. This made the cerebellar matrix of the A.I. comprehend how a blade could somehow talk. It was mind-boggling and frustrating knowing that magic was still beyond their comprehension.

  {Pardon?}

  [That's not possible! How can you talk? And why are the Queen and the others kneeling!]

  {Because I am their mother...}

  {...Or at least I used to be when I still possessed my flesh.}

  The blade responded to the perplexed artificial intelligence. Not wanting Vee to be overwhelmed, Tale confronted the sword face to face. Based on the sword's properties, he concluded that magic was likely the reason it functioned as it did.

  ''Why did you call me your master?''

  {Because you are the hero. The one destined to save Eldrant from its demise.}

  ''And how does that prove I am your master?''

  {Because I have seen your future, Master Tale.}

  ''Elaborate.''

  The floating sword then shattered into a million pieces of sand. Right before forming an elven lady, she wore a bright golden dress. Dawning a golden wreath crown over her shining blonde hair, she stood facing Tale. Afterward, she cast a three-dimensional projection before her master, allowing him to comprehend her words.

  {Two hundred years ago. Our kind fought against the Kaynians. They arrived at their ten-kilometer-long fortress and brought it with them. The song of death and despair. Armies of each kingdom fell in a matter of seconds. The defenses that protected our capitols fell within minutes. And the entire world burned within a matter of hours.}

  Witnessing the fall of armies and fortresses due to the Kaynian's arrival on this planet gave Tale another perspective. He had never anticipated the presence of a ten-kilometer-long dreadnought, especially since the largest warship encountered by the A.F.E. had been a Kaynian Galleon. These elves had confronted and defeated a mountain-sized warship, demonstrating their impressive capabilities.

  {However, not all was lost. In the face of defeat, hope lingered. The fallen kingdoms banded together under one goal. The reclamation of what was once ours. Our homes, our people, and our world. Together, we drove back the Kaynians, and the sacrifices of brave men and women will never be forgotten...}

  {...Two hundred years ago, I led all of Eldrant in pushing away the invaders from our world.}

  The projection shifted to the most brutal battle in Eldrant's history—the final push to drive out the invaders using the most powerful magic ever wielded by an elve. Tale watched as the Former Queen shattered the shield and damaged the hull of the Kaynian capital ship. It was surreal, but the combined efforts of countless men and women ultimately secured victory over the aliens.

  {But I sensed that this was only the beginning. Utilizing forbidden magic, I foresaw the future. A future where Eldrant burned, kingdoms desecrated, elves butchered, and my children deceased. Fear drove me mad, seeing how my daughters could meet such a fate...}

  {...But then, I saw your kind. The battles that occurred and the lives sacrificed to achieve victory surpassed us elves in every regard. I watched as your kind defeated the Kaynians and reclaimed the world you call Mars.}

  The revelation about Mars raises questions about how the elve could know its name, as it should be impossible for her to possess that knowledge. Let alone the confrontation between the U.G.E. and its military and intelligence branches against the Kaynians. But for some reason, this elve knew, and Tale could tell she was truthful. Which was surprising for him. Whatever logic he used to assess her truthfulness was quickly discarded; he had no way of knowing if the truth was even something he could uncover. He could only trust that it was the truth.

  ''I see...''

  ''...Will you assist us in our war against the Kaynians?''

  The Former Queen knelt before the Ghost, her gesture a clear sign of her determination to save her planet and support the U.G.E. in their battle against the Kaynian Menace. The operative regarded her silently, awaiting her reply.

  {From this day onward. I shall become your eternal servant, your weapon against the darkness, and I am yours to command my master.}

  Answered the weapon spirit as she made her allegiance to her new master. Lifting her face, she bore witness to the helmet of the Ghost. It looked crude, brutal, and ominous. For a brief moment, she saw a reflection of her face on her master's helmet. Then, she would hear his response.

  ''Your name, we will need it to communicate fluidly.''

  {Of course, my master...}

  {...I am Sarroth, Former Queen of Elvania.}

  Accepting the blade spirit to be his servant. Someone within his armor quickly took offense to this recent development. Vee appeared on his heads-up display with an irritated look. Tale assumed she was displeased that someone other than her had become his partner.

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  [Okay, so you're replacing me now!]

  ''She is not replacing you.''

  [Oh? And why is that, huh, wise guy!]

  ''Sarroth is vital in any future confrontation with the Kaynian Lord...''

  ''...Yesterday, we had our ass kicked by him. But with Sarroth, we can compete with him on equal footing.''

  A light bulb appeared on Vee's holographic avatar. A sign that she figured out why Tale agreed to Sarroth's request. If he wanted to gain an upper hand over his Kaynian rival, he would need to accept any help he could get. After all, he couldn't rely solely on his battle machine rifle to handle every threat. An ally who wielded magic was an advantage he would welcome.

  [You want to compete in a sword contest with the Kaynian?]

  It seemed that Vee didn't grasp why he was interested in forming a tactical alliance with the blade spirit. But it's better than nothing. In due time, he would inform his partner of the massive boon that was Sarroth's allegiance to him.

  ''In a way, yes...''

  ''...During our confrontation with the Kaynians. The A.F.E. struggled against our adversary's melee capabilities. Much like the situation we are in. Sarroth provides a strategic deterrence against the Kaynian.''

  [You know. For a made A.I. such as myself. I'm dumb at times~.]

  ''Yes, yes you are.''

  Setting aside everything that they had talked about. Tale and Vee then looked at the other elves present at the Gazebo. Feeling embarrassed for herself, Vee smiled shyly at her outburst. Seeing how things had turned out, Gabriella raised her hand, gaining everyone's attention.

  ''Now that you have agreed with our mother's request...''

  ''...Shall we proceed with our meeting?''

  [Of course, Your Majesty.]

  ''Very well, allow me to summon the necessities for our meeting then.''

  Materializing out of nowhere was a massive circular table and a set of chairs surrounding it, each seat ornately designed to reflect the unique culture of its intended occupant. The table's surface shimmered with faint, glowing runes that shifted and pulsed fit for the meeting that would concur.

  ''Please take your seats...''

  ''...Ah, hero. I assume you are comfortable with standing?''

  ''Affirmative.''

  The pivotal meeting began as each member— the Queen, Saintess, Marshal, Champion of Elvania, Hero of Eldrant, and his companion—took their respective seats. This gathering marked a significant moment in their alliance against the Kaynian Menace, which had infiltrated the elven world. Without delay, Her Majesty took the floor and outlined the purpose of their meeting.

  ''Now we shall plan our attack against the invader here on Eldrant...''

  ''...As you all know, the invader was last spotted on Quake Town. The hero and My Champion battled the invader and drove him away from the town.''

  [Yes, we were there. But I have a question?]

  Turning to meet the A.I., the Queen saw her seated with her hand on her face as she asked her question. With an open mind, she prepared to confront her esteemed guests. After all, they would naturally be interested in the device they had fought the lone invader to secure.

  ''What is your question, Lady Vee?''

  [Where is the Kaynian Device that your elves took on Quake Town?]

  ''I believe Marshal Eugene could shine some light on the invader's device.''

  The marshal then used her magic to project a three-dimensional image of the device. It revealed multiple researchers tampering with its mechanisms, but none hadn't activated the device.

  ''The device is currently in Fae, our military headquarters within Ivershine City...''

  ''...The device is in good hands, Lady Vee. I can assure you that. Our top researchers are doing their best to decipher its properties.''

  ''What have you discovered so far, marshal?''

  Seeing the invader's device before her, Isabella was curious about its purpose and why the Kaynian Lord was keen on protecting it. Facing the Saintess, the marshal would address her concerns and what her researchers have discovered thus far.

  ''Nothing as of yet, Saintess. The device is intelligent, as far as we can tell. But we can tell you that the device harbors energies foreign to our own.''

  The projection displayed the radiation levels emitted by the device. Fortunately, the elves researching the Kaynian Device had worn hazmat suits, shielding them from its lethal radiation. As Vee examined the readings before her, her virtual heart nearly broke, but not before she noticed the protective gear worn by the elves tampering with the device. This reassured her, knowing the elven researchers were competent.

  [Well, I don't want to crush anyone's hopes and dreams about discovering the purpose of the Kaynian Device, but I already know of its function.]

  ''May I ask of its true function then, Lady Vee?''

  [Certainly marshal. I was about to inform Tale about it, but I think everyone should be on the same page as us...]

  [...It is a faster-than-light travel device capable of creating wormholes in the galaxy. Eliminating the reliance on onboard FTL engines. It allows Kaynian vessels to traverse vast distances in an instant. Under normal circumstances, this technology wouldn't pose a threat to us. However, the device is currently activating.]

  Vee then projected a holographic image. A simplified animation of the Kaynian Device could be seen. On the top corner of the hologram was a stage meter. The elves were confused about its nature, and Tale was equally perplexed.

  [Currently, the device is in stage one. This means it's pinpointing the entrance and exit of the wormhole. It will acquire the ability to transport entire fleets of warships from Kaynian worlds to Eldrant. Indeed, that's what the progression of the device stages will ultimately achieve.]

  This shocked everyone, including Tale. It meant Fleet Admiral Arthur Kingstone knew about the Kaynian Device's purpose or had some idea about it. If that was true, then the mission given to Sword and Shield was to prevent Kaynian reinforcements on Mars.

  [Tale, our mission before we arrived here on Eldrant was to stop the Kaynian reinforcements from reaching Mars. That was our mission, and we accomplished it. But we also doomed Eldrant in return.]

  The revelation now hit the Ghost harder than a depleted uranium round to the chest. He couldn't believe his actions had doomed the elven world. Worst of all, he knew his partner wasn't done.

  [Additionally, the so-called "fleet" that arrived on Pluto on September 25 was merely a reconnaissance flotilla. Pardon my language, but it was a fucking flotilla! Not even a battlegroup or a strike group but a fucking flotilla! We do not know the full strength of the entire Kaynian race, Tale...]

  [...They almost got Earth and Her People in just three days! THREE DAYS! Two hundred years ago, a ten-kilometer-long Kaynian warship nearly burned Eldrant! Now imagine what lies behind that device when it opens. Even if we were prepared, we wouldn't stand against them. In truth, not only are we outnumbered, but we're also outgunned by the Kaynians.]

  Vee exclaimed about their current situation and how dire the Kaynian threat was. Tale processed the information calmly, though he couldn't shake the fear of the actual size of their enemy, which he kept hidden in his mind. Meanwhile, the elves were in shock, struggling to comprehend how the hero's people were barely holding their own against what was essentially the Kaynians' equivalent of a flotilla.

  ''A flotilla? Am I not hearing this wrong, Lady Vee?''

  [I'm afraid not, Your Majesty.]

  ''By the Pantheons...''

  ''...But there has to be a way for us to stop the device from opening. Deny the invader's entrance toward our world?''

  [Yes, that's the good news, the only good news we currently have and will ever have. The Kaynian Device could be shut down or, better yet, set to self-destruct. This means we could deny the Kaynians the chance of coming to Eldrant before anything else.]

  Immediately, the elves present gave out a collective sigh. At least their world wouldn't be invaded just yet. But that didn't mean that they were out of trouble. After all, there is a chance that the Kaynian Lord may retrieve the device, and with that, they straighten themselves. Knowing they still had hope and were determined to seize it at any cost.

  ''I suppose our only objective is to guard the device until we can find a way of destroying it?''

  [Marshal Eugene, to be frank with you. During our confrontation with the Kaynian Lord in Quake Town. He triggered its second stage.]

  ''And what is this second stage?''

  [It implies the device would teleport until it positions itself above Eldrant's atmosphere.]

  ''Oh, I assume that the device would try its best to escape the confines of Fae?''

  [Yes. That would be the case.]

  A moment of silence echoed throughout the meeting. The information bombshell that had just been dropped had just exhausted each participant's capacity to comprehend the reality they were in. However, Tale had seen one critical problem in hearing his partner's detailed explanation. They couldn't return to Earth and Her People.

  ''Then this could mean we wouldn't be able to return to Mars?''

  [I'm afraid not. This is the only way, Tale. I'm sorry. We either destroy or deactivate the device for Eldrant...]

  [...Believe me. I tried to find a solution, but there was none.]

  Everyone in the meeting felt the hero's despair. Unable to return home due to his predicament, the Ghost Operative stood silently, clenching his fist. The fact that he couldn't return home meant that he was basically deserting Earth's authority. If it had been any other operative, they might have sought a way back through violence, but fortunately, Tale was different.

  ''Very well...''

  ''...It was our fault that the Kaynian Lord and the Kaynian Device are currently here. So it should be our responsibility to help this planet and its people.''

  Tale understood that accepting this reality was difficult, but he recognized that the likelihood of returning home was nearly nonexistent. In his short career, he never gave up, but now that wasn't the case; he needed to give up on returning to Earth. The U.G.E. can hold its own pretty well without him: he only hopes his brothers can change the tides of war against the Kaynians.

  "Marshal Eugene, I order you to place our military on standby and prepare for mobilization. Sister, I want your priestesses to locate the invaders' position. Hero of Eldrant, please prepare yourself for any confrontation against the invader. Adelard, you will assist the hero in his quest...''

  ''....The fate of Eldrant is at stake, and we will not leave anything to chance!"

  The Queen issued her command, urgency driving her every word. They needed to locate the invader swiftly before the device could escape Fae. In the best-case scenario, it would remain stationary; in the worst scenario, it might teleport directly to its master.

  To Be Continued.