-Callia-

  I got up and moved over to my door without hesitation, already plotting out how to escape for the central pillar and into the city proper. However, I stop myself a step short. Were the circumstances really the kind of situation that demanded I ignore all the rules of my house arrest? Callen’s message had a hint of urgency, but not enough to justify running off blind without even knowing how much he meant when asking for ‘large amounts of food.’ I reached back to Callen for clarification.

  “Callen, How much is large, what’s it needed for, and how urgently are we talking?” I waited briefly, but his response was prompt.

  “I don’t have the exact numbers yet, but enough to feed at least a couple thousand soldiers for the next month and potentially more later. I’ll talk with the queen to get a signed order.” I whistled softly at the number, but that kind of number was still significantly less than a normal city’s needs. I vaguely felt Callen had twisted the time range detail, but it wasn’t a detail that mattered to me. Likely he reached that number for more reasons than for the aforementioned soldiers.

  While I waited for Callen to sort the order, I opened up my door and made my way over to the levitating platforms. I was strictly ordered not to leave the dormitory without an escort, but I have no idea who to ask for an escort. There was nobody at the platforms; most would likely be in their rooms after a long day. I myself had spent most of the day in my room putting the finishing touches on it, so I was still unfamiliar with what citadel life looked like. I leaned over the edge to see if I could see anyone above or below on their way to talk to me. From the side I heard someone moving excitedly to the door of their room and flinging it open.

  “Not even a day and you're already scouting out how to escape your punishment!” The crone mocked with a mix of glee and vindication. Meanwhile, I just rubbed my eyes tiredly, sighing in annoyance. “Outsiders are always so eager to break the rules, but I’m sure you’ll learn your place with the right guidance.” She continued her rant, her voice laced with sadism and moral grandstanding, like I’m a charity case only she can resolve. Ignoring her continued monologue, I clasp my hands together and ask a question that I need answered.

  “Would it be ok to throw her from the tower?” Unfortunately for me, I get a distinct impression of murder being wrong. Well, when in the holy citadel, it seemed best to listen to holy guidance as given. The impression was also shared that just because I shouldn’t hurt her didn’t mean I needed to listen. At this moment I noticed a familiar face riding the platform towards our floor. I stepped back, giving it space to land as I completely tuned out the increasingly irritated hag. Joana stepped off the platform and gave me an exasperated smile.

  “Callia, barely a full day here and I’m already hearing about elders getting stoned. I thought I mentioned that you should avoid trouble?” She lifted a small tray up with what appeared to be a thin soup and a small cup of water. “If you’re waiting for dinner, I’ve brought your share with me. Sorry I couldn’t bring better, but I certainly can’t encourage a troublemaker.”

  She then turned to the old lady I had been ignoring, and I finally noticed she was out of breath from extended yelling. However, her feelings for Joana could be clearly exemplified by the spark of distaste in her eyes that matched her look for me. Clearly the two of them weren’t on good terms.

  “Mother Lidia, I’ll be talking with Callia to make sure no further issues come up; please rest well. It would be a shame if you lost your voice while guiding others.” With that statement Joana led me back towards my room.

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  “Joana, I’ve an order from the queen that I need to pass on to whoever is in charge of food or can authorize a large amount being sent out.” She paused in thought. I suppose this wasn’t the kind of question or demand newcomers typically asked, but she was the only link to any kind of authority I had.

  “Certainly not something that can be ignored. . . I’ll inform High Priest Norold; he should be able to point us in the right direction.” With that Joana set off to handle the issue I had been excited to solve myself. Still, it might be for the best to let the local connections solve this instead of running around blindly ignoring my house arrest. While I kicked back to wait for bureaucracy to work, I felt Callen reaching out to me.

  “Apparently the queen didn’t bring her equipment to issue official letters, so instead she wants to visit in person. I need some time to make a new void gate, but let me know when you are ready to receive her.” I hopped straight back up and out my door. Back in the entryway I noticed the hag shouting at Joana as her platform drifted away from the tower. I broke into a sprint down the hallway, zipping past her and leaping the gap onto the platform. I broke into a smug grin as the old hag began screeching at us while we drifted away.

  “Callia!” I felt a bit embarrassed as Joana called out my name while looking shocked. “I just assured Mother Lidia that you wouldn’t cause any serious trouble!”

  “Sorry, but I couldn’t let you float away after I just got an important piece of information!” I paused a bit to let us both recompose and continue on. “Turns out the queen didn’t pack her lettering equipment, so she intends to personally visit. As for how my brother can establish a sort of space gate between us. He needs to prep things on his side, but I’m assuming whoever is in charge locally would prefer to know about a spontaneous royal visitation.” Joana just nods and sighs.

  “Certainly if that isn’t an urgent update, then I don’t know what is.” Seeing her agreement, I relaxed a bit. Glancing back at the tower, I noticed the hag riding another platform heading up towards the upper floors of the central tower. It seems I’ve stirred up a bit of trouble. I eagerly smile imagining a bunch of upset, stuffy old men coming to yell at me until I hit them with a good old uno reverse and summon a queen. I probably shouldn’t be excited considering how much trouble this might cause the queen, but I can’t help it.

  Fall of Meccas

  Baron Meccas wheezed with exhaustion. Ever since his rushed return, the city had been under nonstop siege by the elven menace. His arrival had just been in time to stabilize the situation, but every day they held hundreds of men perished. At first the baron would charge out in retaliation to chase down and butcher the elves; however, the resilience and near-immortal recovery made such attacks result in little gains. The elves even adapted to account for his retaliation, using the time in which he pursued them to attack from another angle, butchering more men. The baron had adapted by reducing his pursuit to simply repelling and catching any slower elves. This shift had changed the siege into a game of tag in which the baron had no time to recover, or the elves would break through, causing massive losses. However, despite the dire circumstances, Baron Meccas didn’t despair. As a family of nobility representing the frontline of humanity, the Meccas family was well prepared for the push and pull of territory gain and loss. Every day, Meccas bought his people fled through the secret tunnels, and his knights escorted more to safety within Nox City. Every day he held, the elves wouldn’t push into Nox from the north, and the armies of humanity would have time to assemble and push the elves back.

  Stiffly Baron Meccas lowered himself back into his seat. A brief respite in which his servants didn’t hesitate to provide him with food. A soft voice spoke up next to Meccas.

  “My lord, you need rest.” He nodded slowly after a week of pressing himself; even blinking while relaxed would risk him nodding off.

  “It would be nice to sleep, but I’m afraid I can’t do so when so many are at risk.” He held out his blade to her and saw confusion appear before concern flooded her features. “I will not retreat; the elves are waiting to see my weakness before exploiting it. I don’t have the energy to run. Instead I entrust this with you. I may not have a child, but I’ve taken care of you for years. I’ve trained you and know what you are capable of. When you are recognized, take up my family name and legacy.” He waved at the guards standing nearby, calling them near. “Escort my adopted daughter through the tunnels and see that she is safe by any means necessary.”

  Meccas watched as she choked on words as the guards dragged her away. He turned back and finished the food at his table and grabbed a family greatsword from the wall. Compared to how well his previous sword fit, it was trash, but it was enough to drive back the irritating gnats. The sound of ringing alerted him to another elvish incursion. Without hesitation he launched himself out of the castle, closing the ground in no time, arriving at the wall. Outside he saw nearly one hundred elves and siege equipment closing rapidly. It seems the time for back and forth was at an end. Today Meccas would fall, but someday he trusted it to rise again.