Colonel Vito smashed the heel of his feet against the butt of the cigar. He breathed in and out before heading inside the interior of the carrier. Colonel Vito passed through corridors and halls before arriving in an antechamber. He took a long look at the double-doors before entering with a folder pinched on his side.
“Welcome, Colonel,” she was holding onto a picture. Her eyes traveled to him, “I heard of what happened, please hand over your personal report to Velna, would you kindly?”
Colonel Vito handed the report to Velna. He stared at the Lady who concentrated on the picture that was on her hand.
“Minerva, she was...idealistic. A person that thought she, as someone superior, had the need to lead her flock to whatever it was. She was strong, undoubtedly one of the pioneers in discovering the sparks again. I hated her for that. But nonetheless, she proved herself as someone who thought of liberty and fraternity. A person that could have changed the world, nonetheless this person was nothing more than a pawn as well. I thought of her as an enemy, truly. And by the looks of it, despite her powers, she was soundly defeated, by a curious object.”
She revealed her left arm reinforced with a curious black object. “Do you know what this is? This is called black iron, an iron made of what seemed to be limited quantity. There is only a few of it left, and most of it has been melted to reinforce my arm. Not only that if made into a blade, it can cut through steel like a hot knife to butter.
“There are only a few left after the incident with the Exiled One, and the only one who had them are either the Old Empire, Lazon, and the Hounds.”
“Are you saying?”
“There are still remnants of the Hounds left. Honestly, they are hard to tame, though most of their underground shelters have been uprooted by the Empire, their numbers dwindled, it didn’t mean that they lost so easily. Kristine and Rene’s work were refocused on enchanting soldiers similar to the Hounds. They were not able to find Ike and Martina so the method to create the Hounds has been lost, and forgotten. Though Prince Kaleb, and Prince Arno wanted to recreate the Hounds’ natures, unfortunately they were lacking something. Even dissecting and ripping them apart did nothing other than create the imperfection called the magiborne.
“The black iron was one of their prized possessions. I had recovered most of their supply, but it seems like Aunger had kept it stored away here in Holmia. Aunger, the Master of the Hounds...it seems that man is still alive.”
He had heard of the magiborne experiment that was made by Rene and Kristine during the civil war. They were mostly focused on the development of the hydroelectric crystals when the war started, and they were told to engineer super soldiers instead. To say that they are the mother of the magiborne, can be rather up for debate. Some say that they were created by Ike and Martina, but some argue it was them. So he was up against the Master of the Hounds? Colonel Vito felt a bad headache coming.
“So are we after them?”
“I heard that Nano was around.”
Colonel Vito nodded. “I see. So she’s still around. What did she say?”
“It should have been told to you, Ma’am. She said that Lady Cassowary sends her regards.”
The area around her instantly cracked. “I see. What else?”
“None, she only wanted to recover the body of Minerva and the footage containing the security camera.”
“I cannot blame you when faced with an Archmagi, but I am displeased by your...inability to give me results. Then again, you are facing Nano and the Old Magi. Nonetheless, have you heard of what Ryne said?”
“I have, Ma’am.”
Miss Velna handed Colonel Vito a piece of document. Contained in the document was a transcript of what Ryne Alathor said. He told of a ”A man in a skull-like headgear, massacring the entire team, and forcing them to make the broadcast.”
The description of the man and the one he saw was different. Though from what Ryne Alathor said, the man wasn’t wearing the same outer-gear that he had used in assaulting the gear.
“Can you confirm it?”
Lady Velna said as she played the retrieved footage. Colonel Vito got close to the television, and watched the multiple point of view shots of the man. He might not recognize the gear, but he could recognize the gait of the man and the hilt of the blade. Like all the footage that this man had, it was blurred, as if there was something affecting whatever was capturing him.
“What do you think?” Lady Bellatrix asked.
“I think that this is the same one, Ma’am.”
“I see. What we have here might be a Hound who owns a nuller technology that allows him to do this. We already know of the active camouflage that the Old Magi used by now, so this shouldn’t surprise us by now. Nonetheless, however this man is, and whatever his goal is. He might have Wendy.”
Colonel Vito felt that silent anger in her eyes. It felt like he was stuck between two hard places. If he didn't obey the Lady’s orders, then he had to face a man who had been able to successfully defeat an entire fireteam, and raid a compound on his own while armed with a gear that made him dangerous alone.
Not to mention that he didn’t have any clue where to start other than the name of the Master of the Hounds, Aunger.
“Should I start with the Hounds?”
“You should,” the lady said blandly. “Colonel, what I require of you is to get Wendy back to me safe and sound. Once she’s back, we can push forward with the laws, and the resources that Holmia wants. So unless you want to stop your colonization of the Easternside, then find Wendy and bring her back to me safe and sound.”
“Will do,” Colonel Vito saluted.
“I trust you, Colonel. That’s why I expect much from you.”
Colonel Vito grimaced as he faced away from her.
He walked out of the interior and watched the skies along the landing path of the fliers. They were tying the jets alongside the path while the rest were secured in the hangers. The air carriers were masterpieces of design and engineering. There were only seven of them in existence, three belonged to the Holmians while the rest belonged to the Confederate of Athesia.
At least that solves the magiborne problem, Colonel Vito thought. Miss Wendy is out there, and it should take two days before I could move my forces again to search. I need to take care of the enemy inside the city before making a move. Guess this is the price of wanting to be a good dog for your superiors.
Colonel Vito thought of the burning city in the ground. Most of the forces belonging to the antiwar movement had been neutralized by the armed forces of Holmia. The broadcast that was spread hours ago had caused confusion and desertion among them. There are those who ran away after seeing Colonel Elric limbless, while the rest gave in after being cornered.
They had also spread news of Minerva’s death. They had shown photos of her and demoralized the enemy with it. The cruel death of their leaders, led them to believe that it was over for them.
Colonel Vito understood what they were fighting for. He didn’t want war either, but the war in the Easternside allowed their stale economy to be...prosperous. Not to mention that Holmia’s PR department was eager to identify the Demikins as their hated enemy, and that if mankind fails to do what they had come to do.
Then one day their enemies would grow strong.
But it was an era where there were movements eager to come in contact with those of foreign. Although most of the known continents are located in the Northernmost Part of the world, the Southernmost part had pockets of civilization that they had recently convinced to aid against the demikins.
The demikins were running away from something, but they chose to run away while leaving a slaughter. Mankind wouldn't forget what they did when they first arrived. Humanity might have gone far, but until the entire continent where they live still have them breathing.
Then humanity wouldn’t stop.
Until they culled them all.
It wasn’t right. He understands that. But Colonel Vito knew that if they wanted to continue their crusade against these animals then they needed the support of the industries of Lazon.
Just obey them, get the resources, get your merit, and ask for a recommendation to get away from dealing with them, Colonel Vito thought as he fished out another cigarette from his pocket and lit it up.
“Please be safe, Miss Wendy,” Vito said to himself. “Or they might just kill me if you aren’t.”
Colonel Vito smashed the heel of his feet against the butt of the cigar. He breathed in and out before heading inside the interior of the carrier. Colonel Vito passed through corridors and halls before arriving in an antechamber. He took a long look at the double-doors before entering with a folder pinched on his side.
“Welcome, Colonel,” she was holding onto a picture. Her eyes traveled to him, “I heard of what happened, please hand over your personal report to Velna, would you kindly?”
Colonel Vito handed the report to Velna. He stared at the Lady who concentrated on the picture that was on her hand.
“Minerva, she was...idealistic. A person that thought she, as someone superior, had the need to lead her flock to whatever it was. She was strong, undoubtedly one of the pioneers in discovering the sparks again. I hated her for that. But nonetheless, she proved herself as someone who thought of liberty and fraternity. A person that could have changed the world, nonetheless this person was nothing more than a pawn as well. I thought of her as an enemy, truly. And by the looks of it, despite her powers, she was soundly defeated, by a curious object.”
She revealed her left arm reinforced with a curious black object. “Do you know what this is? This is called black iron, an iron made of what seemed to be limited quantity. There is only a few of it left, and most of it has been melted to reinforce my arm. Not only that if made into a blade, it can cut through steel like a hot knife to butter.
“There are only a few left after the incident with the Exiled One, and the only one who had them are either the Old Empire, Lazon, and the Hounds.”
“Are you saying?”
“There are still remnants of the Hounds left. Honestly, they are hard to tame, though most of their underground shelters have been uprooted by the Empire, their numbers dwindled, it didn’t mean that they lost so easily. Kristine and Rene’s work were refocused on enchanting soldiers similar to the Hounds. They were not able to find Ike and Martina so the method to create the Hounds has been lost, and forgotten. Though Prince Kaleb, and Prince Arno wanted to recreate the Hounds’ natures, unfortunately they were lacking something. Even dissecting and ripping them apart did nothing other than create the imperfection called the magiborne.
“The black iron was one of their prized possessions. I had recovered most of their supply, but it seems like Aunger had kept it stored away here in Holmia. Aunger, the Master of the Hounds...it seems that man is still alive.”
He had heard of the magiborne experiment that was made by Rene and Kristine during the civil war. They were mostly focused on the development of the hydroelectric crystals when the war started, and they were told to engineer super soldiers instead. To say that they are the mother of the magiborne, can be rather up for debate. Some say that they were created by Ike and Martina, but some argue it was them. So he was up against the Master of the Hounds? Colonel Vito felt a bad headache coming.
“So are we after them?”
“I heard that Nano was around.”
Colonel Vito nodded. “I see. So she’s still around. What did she say?”
“It should have been told to you, Ma’am. She said that Lady Cassowary sends her regards.”
The area around her instantly cracked. “I see. What else?”
“None, she only wanted to recover the body of Minerva and the footage containing the security camera.”
“I cannot blame you when faced with an Archmagi, but I am displeased by your...inability to give me results. Then again, you are facing Nano and the Old Magi. Nonetheless, have you heard of what Ryne said?”
“I have, Ma’am.”
Miss Velna handed Colonel Vito a piece of document. Contained in the document was a transcript of what Ryne Alathor said. He told of a ”A man in a skull-like headgear, massacring the entire team, and forcing them to make the broadcast.”
The description of the man and the one he saw was different. Though from what Ryne Alathor said, the man wasn’t wearing the same outer-gear that he had used in assaulting the gear.
“Can you confirm it?”
Lady Velna said as she played the retrieved footage. Colonel Vito got close to the television, and watched the multiple point of view shots of the man. He might not recognize the gear, but he could recognize the gait of the man and the hilt of the blade. Like all the footage that this man had, it was blurred, as if there was something affecting whatever was capturing him.
“What do you think?” Lady Bellatrix asked.
“I think that this is the same one, Ma’am.”
“I see. What we have here might be a Hound who owns a nuller technology that allows him to do this. We already know of the active camouflage that the Old Magi used by now, so this shouldn’t surprise us by now. Nonetheless, however this man is, and whatever his goal is. He might have Wendy.”
Colonel Vito felt that silent anger in her eyes. It felt like he was stuck between two hard places. If he didn't obey the Lady’s orders, then he had to face a man who had been able to successfully defeat an entire fireteam, and raid a compound on his own while armed with a gear that made him dangerous alone.
Not to mention that he didn’t have any clue where to start other than the name of the Master of the Hounds, Aunger.
“Should I start with the Hounds?”
“You should,” the lady said blandly. “Colonel, what I require of you is to get Wendy back to me safe and sound. Once she’s back, we can push forward with the laws, and the resources that Holmia wants. So unless you want to stop your colonization of the Easternside, then find Wendy and bring her back to me safe and sound.”
“Will do,” Colonel Vito saluted.
“I trust you, Colonel. That’s why I expect much from you.”
Colonel Vito grimaced as he faced away from her.
He walked out of the interior and watched the skies along the landing path of the fliers. They were tying the jets alongside the path while the rest were secured in the hangers. The air carriers were masterpieces of design and engineering. There were only seven of them in existence, three belonged to the Holmians while the rest belonged to the Confederate of Athesia.
At least that solves the magiborne problem, Colonel Vito thought. Miss Wendy is out there, and it should take two days before I could move my forces again to search. I need to take care of the enemy inside the city before making a move. Guess this is the price of wanting to be a good dog for your superiors.
Colonel Vito thought of the burning city in the ground. Most of the forces belonging to the antiwar movement had been neutralized by the armed forces of Holmia. The broadcast that was spread hours ago had caused confusion and desertion among them. There are those who ran away after seeing Colonel Elric limbless, while the rest gave in after being cornered.
They had also spread news of Minerva’s death. They had shown photos of her and demoralized the enemy with it. The cruel death of their leaders, led them to believe that it was over for them.
Colonel Vito understood what they were fighting for. He didn’t want war either, but the war in the Easternside allowed their stale economy to be...prosperous. Not to mention that Holmia’s PR department was eager to identify the Demikins as their hated enemy, and that if mankind fails to do what they had come to do.
Then one day their enemies would grow strong.
But it was an era where there were movements eager to come in contact with those of foreign. Although most of the known continents are located in the Northernmost Part of the world, the Southernmost part had pockets of civilization that they had recently convinced to aid against the demikins.
The demikins were running away from something, but they chose to run away while leaving a slaughter. Mankind wouldn't forget what they did when they first arrived. Humanity might have gone far, but until the entire continent where they live still have them breathing.
Then humanity wouldn’t stop.
Until they culled them all.
It wasn’t right. He understands that. But Colonel Vito knew that if they wanted to continue their crusade against these animals then they needed the support of the industries of Lazon.
Just obey them, get the resources, get your merit, and ask for a recommendation to get away from dealing with them, Colonel Vito thought as he fished out another cigarette from his pocket and lit it up.
“Please be safe, Miss Wendy,” Vito said to himself. “Or they might just kill me if you aren’t.”
