User blog:AloofComputer/Dark Winds: Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Risky plans

As Druella entered the room, everyone stood up. “Sit down. Is everyone here? Good.” The lilim sat at the head of the table. “I called you here for a sudden development. After interrogating the prisoners of the attack, I found out something… disturbing. Very disturbing.”

She snapped her fingers and a map unfolded and hovered besides her. “The faction that attacked us has several safehouses along the border, where they store stolen gear and supplies. However...” she pointed to a specific spot “… here they have a research facility. They have kidnapped several mamono here and keep them imprisoned. This facility is deeper inside human territory than the rest.”

“Did you find out why they need such a facility, my Lady?” Primera asked.

“There wasn’t a clue on the minds of the foot soldiers and the knights, and the mage has protected that part extremely carefully. We can only speculate. It will take some time to undo the seals, unless we convince him to give it up willingly.”

“I can make an educated guess.” Alatar spoke up. All eyes turned on him. “It probably is a facility for harvesting monster mana.”

“They can get monster mana the moment they enter the monster realm, Alatar.” Primera said.

“That is true. However, they need vast amounts. The amount present in the demonic realms, while high, is not concentrated enough so that harvesting it can be efficient. And they need a reliable, stable source. That is the reason they kidnapped all those mamono, at least by my estimation. Of course, conducting experiments is also a possible activity there.”

“Why would they need monster mana to begin with?” Princess Francesca asked.

Alatar’s face darkened. “For the same reason they attacked the city. They want to create more like me.” Deathly silence followed his words. “They needed Pallanto alive to learn of the modified procedure. However, even without it, they can produce something that is close enough. The resulting artificial incubus won’t be as dangerous as I was, considering that he will lack the trapped holy energy. However, he will be just as lethal. Those soldiers, while short-lived, can be trained to be extremely destructive.”

“Short-lived?” Mimil asked.

Alatar shared a look with Veronica and Wilmaria. “Yes. I’ll explain to you later. The soldiers produced this way will have a lifetime of about a decade or two. Also, they will need the mana of the mamono that initially turned them. But, all things considered, they will be far more dangerous than most human soldiers.”

He turned to the map. “The area of the facility is also quite problematic. It is surrounded by two forts. They probably pose as an Order safehouse or monastery to avoid questions. The security is bound to be tight. Also, I don’t know how much knowledge the three defectors from the Order of Shadows have imparted to them. I must contact my former commander to learn how many members have defected or are under suspicion.”

“Will do, Alatar.” Pallanto followed. “Also, the stash of blessed weapons that we captured does not amount to the one reported as stolen. That means that they will also have some of those as well.”

“Getting the mamono free will be quite challenging.” Koyoi spoke up. “The safehouse is inside a ridge, between two rocky hills. I can assume it extends into the ground. Two fortresses are atop those hills, and the area is sparsely forested. Even a frontal assault-”

“A frontal assault is no good, Koyoi” princess Francesca cut her off. “It will be a violation of the treaty. And this was exactly what those freaks wanted. Whatever must be done, it must be done quickly and quietly. And leave no evidence behind.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We can try to contact Frederic” Pallanto proposed. “After all, it is something that he will want eradicated as well.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“It seems we will need a lot of magical aid.” Alatar said, looking at Mimil and Lucella. “The magical items of the order can be of great help. I do believe… that infiltration is possible. It is a risky plan, and we will need the help of the Order of Shadows.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“What is that plan?” Druella asked.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar flashed a most unsettling grin. “I turn Pallanto and myself in.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Hold still.” Mimil ordered.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Alatar sat on a stool, as Mimil’s tentacles probed his body, naked from the waist up. Pallanto, Veronica and Lucella watched in silence from a corner. After a good fifteen minutes, the tentacles retracted.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Well, it seems that your assumption is correct, Alatar. The good news is, frequent doses of monster mana can impede the progression, but it will proceed over time. Your body does reject its transformation. And the link of the mana to your wrath doesn’t seem to diminish. In fact, the more you use it like this, the stronger it will get.” Mimil concluded.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Is there anything we can do?” Veronica asked, desperation seeping into her voice.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“I can’t say for sure, for now. I’ll need to conduct some experiments. So, I’ll need all of you to come to the palace at least three times per week. Our forces will take about two weeks to prepare for the attack plan. I’ll do what I can about it until then. After that… we will see how things turn out. Assuming you are alive, and you have refrained to use monster mana like you did.” The last part was delivered by Mimil to Alatar with a strict glare.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Thanks. I really appreciate it.” Alatar said, as he put on his clothes.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Take it easy now. We have some rough days coming.” Mimil said as Alatar and Veronica left the room.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“So?” Pallanto asked after the door was closed.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“As I’ve said to you before, this thing you did seems all the nastier the more I look at it. Isn’t this the part where you propose something about it? It is you, after all, who is the authority on heretical seals.” Mimil said pointedly.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Let’s leave that for later and focus on the task at hand, Mimil.” Lucella intervened. “We must consult with Lady Druella about this. We might even need help from even higher up.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“You mean, the Demon Lord herself?” Pallanto asked, worried.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes. That procedure exploited a loophole in the very nature of monsters. It may be our only chance.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Greetings, commander.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Greetings to you, too, Benjamin. Were you noticed by anyone?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“No, I wasn’t. Don’t worry about it, being under almost house arrest doesn’t mean you can’t accept visitors.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“It’s not the legal side that I am worried about. So, what is it?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“I received a message from my predecessor. It seems that they are planing an operation to hit a certain safehouse of the radical faction. They have proposed an interesting plan, and it will serve our purposes, too.” The head of the mages branch of the Order of Shadows handed the commander a scroll.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Let’s see… yes, that will kill two birds with one stone. I’ll have the men they need. What about the priest?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“He seems to have withdrawn from the scene. His official excuse is that he needed some time for rest and prayer, and he said that he’ll move to one of the monastic orders for a while.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Any other suspects?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Quite some, unfortunately. Mostly knights and priests, but I do have some mages under surveillance, too.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Damn. Well, it seems that we need to execute this plan flawlessly, then. Notify only the shadow members that I’ll choose. None else needs to know.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“We have some members stationed around the area. Should we enlist them?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“No. This will draw suspicion. Alfonso is spooked, after the failed attempt. He knows that the radical faction is exposed. He probably suspects that I know its links to him. It is very possible that he will try to amass all his followers for a frontal assault.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“I don’t think he will be too rushed, commander. The failed attempt was dealt with in a very efficient way. The Order states have learned nothing of it. And, of course, Alfonso didn’t reveal it, considering its utter failure.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“True. Still, it is us that must act with haste. The more we wait, the more fanatics and impressionable people he will recruit. See to it that news of the priest’s betrayal  reach only the appropriate ears.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Understood, commander.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Now, enough grim business talk. Care for a glass of brandy? Pallanto loved it.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Greetings, brother Alfonso.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Blessings of the Chief God upon you, brother. Is the plan going according to schedule?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes, brother. Although some begin to question-”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Yes, I know. Her will manifests in mysterious ways, brother. She deemed appropriate to use the very miasma of the monsters as a weapon against them. Rest assured, our brothers that sacrificed their bodies for this will be rewarded by her, and remembered by us. How many are there?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Four. The procedure is very exhausting, brother Alfonso, and requires much of our resources and people.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Have hope, brother, more will join our cause. More come to us every day. We will prevail.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“By Her will, brother. Come now, you must be exhausted from your trip.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Even though I told you to take it easy, you want to spar with me?” Mimil’s scowl would seem cute, given her childish appearance, but the tentacles, waving menacingly, meant business.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Well, you would know when to stop the duel. That’s why you are the most suitable.” Alatar said, as they walked to the forest clearing. “Besides, I need to kill some time while Veronica is training.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Mimil sighed. “You could always just, you know, have some cookies, enjoy the view… I don’t know how your Order training changed you, but you are a far cry from what the headmaster described to me.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“More than you’ll even even suspect.” Alatar smiled. “Besides, wasn’t it you that proposed a better battle training for the mages a few years before?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Oh, so you did take notice. No matter. Let’s get this over with.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Do let’s.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Later…

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“You seem to have improved since the last time we fought, in terms of concentration and tactics.” Mimil commented. Alatar was panting, and the ground around them was scarred by the arcane energy they used against each other. “However, your mana is considerably less. That limits your options very much.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Your recommendations?”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“ Besides avoiding battle altogether? Finish fights with speed and efficiency. No large scale spells for now, unless it’s a matter of life and death. Which could very well be one, given the nature of your problem.” She wiped the sweat off her forehead. “Also, let me give you an examination now. With such mana loss, the changes in your body should become even more e v i d ent.”

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">As Alatar took off his top, Veronica appeared from the edge of the clearing. Mimil turned to her, waved and called her.

<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal">“Oh, Veronica, good timing. It’s time for an experiment, and after that Alatar must replenish his mana. If you could sit over there, for now. Now, Alatar, stand still.”

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<p style="margin-bottom: 0in">A/N: Small chapter, still foreshadowing and plot. Read and review.