“This is a very big undertaking we’re talking about here.” Cole said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “I won’t let all of you just stroll off into some other world without any support.”
“We could use whatever resources you can give us.” Magnus admitted. “I can track the Mage, but there’s no telling how long it could take to find him.”
“Do we even have that much time?” Nathaniel asked. Hecate spoke up.
“My kind tends to take a more slow, and assured plan of action. I doubt that Ahriman would have shown himself at all for at least another few months if we had not interfered.”
“But there’s no telling how long these Celestials have been preparing.” Magnus pointed out.
“True,” Hecate conceded. “But it is safe to say that we have at least a couple of months until Ahriman shows himself. That is something.”
“Then there is no time to waste.” Nathaniel said.
“Agreed.” Cole nodded. He turned to Nathaniel and gave the mage hunter a measured look, not saying anything for a moment. “While normally the idea would be unthinkable, and I have no idea if the Senate will agree, I think that it would be in all our best interests to broker a truce, Nathaniel.”
Nathaniel stared at him for a moment, not really understanding what the man was getting at for a moment before understanding dawned. “A joint operation.” He said. “It….could work.”
Nathaniel wasn’t exactly confident in that answer. Arcia and Vaer had been off and on enemies for the better part of a century. There had been very little actual violence between them, but both nations were mistrustful of the other and given a single misstep, war could be sparked. Nathaniel had never felt as strongly as some of his countrymen about the mages of Arcia or magic in particular –which was rather odd considering his career choice- and in his eyes, this would be an excellent opportunity for both nations to pull back from the brink of conflict.
“I’ll see what I can do. Emperor Darius will listen to me, but I don’t think I can promise anything.” Nathaniel said.
“Do what you can.” Magnus said. “This is a crisis that involves us all.”
“Indeed.” Cole said. “Return to Vaer, Nathaniel. And tell him this…”
And so, for the next week, things moved fast for Nathaniel and his team. They quickly departed Arcia (discreetly) and returned to Vaer, and Nathaniel brought his report directly to the emperor. Let it never be said that Emperor Darius of Vaer was a close-minded individual. Nathaniel was almost astonished at how quickly his emperor gave his consent. Despite much grumbling from some of the nobility, Emperor Darius agreed to extend a hand to their Arcian neighbors for the preservation of their world.
The Arcian Senate reached a decision almost as quickly. There was a great deal of opposition at first, but the weight of the opinion of the Arcian Mage Knights’ leader carried the vote though. The first official meeting between Arcian and Vaerian ambassadors was a quiet affair, but from it came the foundations of Operation Mundus; a joint force of select Arcian and Vaerian forces would leave Mundus Magica in search of the Mage of the Beginning.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of planning and negotiating between both countries.
One month later, the forces of Operation Mundus were assembled to leave. Three airships gathered in a small air-dock in the neutral nation of Ossen. There was no gathered crowd to see them off; indeed details of the whole ordeal had been withheld from the public to keep from instigating panic. The forces met in secret early in the morning, preparing final checks before setting off.
Magnus stood leaned against the railing of the Arcian flagship
Rubicon’s prow, staring at the troops that bustled across the docks. He glanced out at the other two ships that were docked alongside his own. The
Veritas, like the
Rubicon, was an Arcian airship. Arica had largely contributed to their transportation for this operation while Vaer saw to most of the actual troops. The
Sylvina was the third ship. And the only Vaerian airship among them.
The forces of their little fleet consisted of the crews of all three airships, as well as two full squads of Arcian Mage Knights from Arcia. Vaer had assigned two Mage Hunters and their personal retinues to the force, as well as an entire platoon of Vaerian regulars.
A part of Magnus felt that it was overkill.
A bigger part of him knew that it was not.
Magnus had traveled to many different worlds in his long life. And almost everywhere he went, he ended up being caught in some major catastrophe or some sort of conflict. Perhaps he subconsciously sought them out. All he knew was that it would be much appreciated to actually have some back up for once.
“Makes things a little less lonely.” He murmured, tilting his head back and staring at the sky. He heard footsteps clanking against the deck and stood up to see who was coming.
“You looked deep in thought, commander.” Hecate said as she approached, the last part said with a hint of amusement. Magnus blinked, staring at the Celestial woman.
“Came to see me off?” he asked with an easy smile.
“Commander Andermann regrets that he couldn’t come in person, but the Senate has him tied down. I came in his stead. He wishes you good luck, commander.” Hecate replied in an even tone. Magnus snorted and again glanced out over the assembled forces.
“Commander.” He muttered. “I didn’t mind lending my support to this whole thing. But I didn’t think they’d actually put me in charge of it.” He shook his head in disbelief. Hecate tilted her head and regarded him with a blank look.
“You are the one we are relying on for this whole plan to work. You know where we are going, and you how to get us there and you’re a neutral party within this force, which deals with the issue of agreeable leadership.” She said matter-of-factly.
Magnus didn’t point out that he actually did not know for sure where they were going. Traveling between worlds was like throwing yourself into a vast ocean. You could try and influence where you were going, but you could never really know where you would end up.
“It’s just….well, it’s been a while.” He said. “Commanding troops,I mean.” Now Hecate looked at him curiously.
“You were a soldier?”
“I’ve been a lot of things.” Magnus chuckled, somewhat bitterly. “That’s the thing about living for a long time. You don’t have to hold yourself to one path.” His eyes grew distant, remembering. Hecate just watched him for a moment before both noticed a crewman approaching.
“Sir!” the ensign saluted. “All final checks have been completed and the cargo has been loaded. We’re ready to go.”
Magnus sighed and stood up straight, brushing off his battered longcoat. “Then I suppose it’s time to get things underway.” He turned, his coat swishing (rather coolly in his opinion) behind him as he made his way below deck.
~][~
Nathaniel couldn’t say that he was surprised that Captain Corvinus had volunteered for this assignment. The crew of the
Vandred (and now the
Sylvina) had always stood by Nathaniel and his team. The mage hunter hadn’t been at all surprised when he was assigned this operation. He would have volunteered for it regardless.
Now he strode through the hallways of the Vaerian airship, determined to be on the bridge when their small fleet set off. It wasn’t everyday that one got to see the veil of the world peel back and travel through it, and Nathaniel was determined not to miss it.
For official observations of course. It was in no way related to the feeling of childish excitement in his gut at the prospect.
It was the first time in a month that Nathaniel had actually been looking forward to something. Ever since returning from Arcia, from that bloody fight, his thoughts had gotten darker and Nathaniel found himself working through the nights to keep the nightmares at bay. To keep the images of his soldiers dying from replaying in his mind. It only mildly helped.
“Nathaniel, mi’lad!” A booming voice stopped Nathaniel mid stride, snapping his from his thoughts. He turned back down the hall to find a huge figure following him down the hallway, ignoring the crewmen that struggled to avoid his massive frame.
“Lord Kell.” Nathaniel greeted as the large man reached him. “A pleasure to see you.”
The huge man, lord Kell, snorted. “We aren’t in Vaer anymore lad, no need to be so formal, ‘specially wit me. The name’s Gregor, lad. Use it.”
Nathaniel grinned. “It’s good to see you again Gregor.” Gregor Kell returned his grin with broad smile of his own.
“It’s been too long, lad. Glad to see you’re still doin’ well for yourself.”
Gregor Kell, like Nathaniel, was an Imperial Mage Hunter. Unlike most Mage Hunters that Nathaniel had met, Gregor seemed to hold his position with little pomp. Which was why Nathaniel liked the man. Gregor had been a friend to Nathaniel’s mentor, Lord Klein, and had been around to help train Nathaniel to be a proficient Mage Hunter along with his master. Truth be told, Nathaniel didn’t know much about the man, save that he was from a clan of Nostians, and absolutely despised necromancers.
Nathaniel made a mental note to keep Deyanira, Roluo and Suri away from Gregor at all costs.
“So you’re the other Mage Hunter they picked for this assignment.”
“Aye, heard about the details and couldn’t pass up the opportunity.” If possible Gregor’s grin got wider. “Sounds like quite the adventure.”
“If it’s anything like that last assignment, I’m not so sure that I’m looking forward to it.” Nathaniel replied, his grin turning sour. Gregor’s face turned serious.
“I heard about it. There was nothing you could do, lad.”
“Three of my men died, Gregor. I could have done
something.” Nathaniel said. He had already found replacement for Eggard, Henson and Lasky, but their deaths still weighed on his mind, and it would be a while before the replacements found their place in his team.
“You’re lucky any of you made it out of there alive.” Gregor said. “Those men were soldiers, they knew the risks. So do you.”
“It’s different than having you or Klein explain it to me.” Nathaniel muttered. For the first time in a very long while he felt young and unsure. He knew what to do, knew what he should do. Yet he still couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. Nathaniel had never lost a soldier under his command before. It was a grim reminder of just how inexperienced he actually was.
“Klein always did a better job of explaining things.” Gregor said ruefully, rubbing the back of his neck. “If he were still alive he’d probably know just what to say to ya. All I can offer you is this, lad. It never gets easier watching your men die, and it never should. Keep that feeling with ya. It’ll help you get stronger. To do your damnedest to never let it happen again.”
Nathaniel and Gregor stood in silence for a moment. Nathaniel wasn’t sure what to say, and Gregor was content to let his junior mull over his words.
A beep from the ship-wide intercom broke the silence.
”Attention all crew. We are entering final preparations. All hands to stations and prepare to embark.” Gregor sighed and put a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder. “I’d best be getting back to my team. I’ll see you soon, lad.”
Nathaniel nodded and Gregor turned and walked back down the passage, disappearing into the ship. Nathaniel stood there for a moment before continuing his trip to the bridge. With considerably less excitement than before.
