60 Return (1/2)

Duke Sturm freshened up as much as he could in a side room after he landed riding the courier dragon onto the dragon platform of the top of the castle. The past three-five days of traveling by flying had been taxing for him, as he was flying non stop from one way station to another, switching the tired courier dragons for fresh ones.

The ornate double doors, flanked by two of the Emperor's Lifeguards stared impassionately at him as he approached deeper into the inner castle. The doors opened admitting him into the study of the Emperor, making him sweat more as he walked in to face the consequences of his defeat.

Duke Sturm bowed and went down on his knees and greeted the Emperor, ”Long live the Emperor, your humble subject has returned.”

”In defeat, no less,” The Emperor snorted, ”Your blunders had made the 3rd Lancers suffered so many casualties, that they might as well ceased to exist anymore!” He pounded the ironwood table in fury. ”What do you have to say?”

Sturm did not dare to look up, keeping his head lowered to the ground, ”The rebels had a very powerful mage and strange magical artifacts with them, my Majesty! Level 10 spells and artifacts as powerful as level 5s!”

”My Spies reported that you lost two heavy war dragons, over a thousand fighting men, and of course the entire 3rd Lancers of over two thousand men!” Emperor Varacen read from a roll of parchment. ”You even had the enemy attack your headquarters!”

Sturm hearing the report cursed inwardly. He wanted to report directly to the Emperor, downplaying the loses and defeat. ”Your Majesty, the enemy hit my troops constantly with Level 10 spells, we couldn't do anything about it!”

”This lowly servant managed to survive by using up a family heirloom artifact if not, this servant would have perished too!” Sturm explained as sweat gathered around his brow.

”I know what your artifact is capable of,” Emperor Varacen leaned back against his throne. ”Show me!”

Sturm dug into his inner chest pocket and removed out a piece of finely wrought crystal pendant attached to a silver chain. A eunuch approached Sturm with a piece of silk cloth set on a tray, and Sturm placed the cracked crystal pendant onto it.

The eunuch carried the tray with the crystal pendant and bowed to the Emperor, who picked up the pendant. The design of the pendant was made out of several runes carved out on the delicate silver wire, while a large diamond-like stone was set in the middle.

Emperor Varacen lifted the pendant up against the light from the windows, seeing the stone had turned dull and a crack had split the stone in half. ”Level 10 spells you say?” He continued to examine the stone closely.

”Yes, your Majesty! The spells killed the dragons with a single strike and also the 3rd Lancers! I was lucky I had a light stone for protection!” Sturm explained. ”The rebels have allied with some inferior creatures, who possessed some kind of weapon, an artifact that can constantly cast fire and thunder spells, each spell kill scores of men, in less time taken for a turn of a glass!”

”Hmmm,” The Emperor leans against his throne lazily with an arm propping his head, ”What happened next? I thought Sir Kean was leading the Knights, could he have failed too?”

”H-he had fallen in battle with the creatures,” Sturm explained, ”We set a trap for the rebels, hiding Lord Kean and his men with the slaves we released into the rebels. He was supposed to attack at night but we lost his magical life link and with the level 10 spells destroying our camp, I-I ordered the troops to retreat...”

”You meant you got scared and ran away with your tail between your legs?” Emperor Varacen mocked. ”All these efforts and nothing to show at the end of it all. And you still have the guts to appear before me?”

”My Emperor! I deserve death for failing you!” Sturm frantically bows and bang his head against the gold inlaid marble tiles, causing blood to flow from his forehead.

”Enough!” Emperor Varacen waved Sturm to stop, ”Don't dirty my floor.”

”Th-thank you, your Majesty,” Sturm straightened back on his kneeling position wobbly.

”What to do now?” The Emperor tapped his finger on the armrest of his throne as he watched Sturm kneeling in front of him. His main army is currently preparing for a spring offensive to invade Meccan once winter is over.

”Return to your lands, I want you to raise another army. and prepare for a spring offensive against the rebels,” Emperor Varacen finally said. ”Do not fail me this time, it's your last chance. I will send someone along with you, SHE will help you to wipe out the rebels and their allies.”

Sturm kowtowed to the Emperor, praising him for his wisdom and leniency. He climbed up to his feet and retreated out of the room.

”Bring the witch here,” Emperor Varacen spoke and returned to his work.

”Yes, my Emperor,” A voice appeared out of thin air, followed by a slight breeze as the presence that