DD5 ~ Chapter 17!

(a favorite of mine)

The warlord stood stock-still, staring at his supposedly subservient sibling. He shook his head back and forth slowly, unable to believe the words that were about to come out of his mouth. “Tom, moments ago I had planned to rebuke you. I had planned to have you returned to your position and prepare for the greatest Glory along with our entire nation.”

Tom sharply inhaled, and made as if to speak. Only the warlord holding up a hand stopped him. “something has changed. In my mind, I knew that you were correct. Your way forward is valid. Still, our traditions and laws are in place for a reason, and I was going to deny you. But now, now... I feel the will of The People pressing me to accept your words. I do not know why it favors you so highly, so much as to even intervene when you should have died during your trials, but it is clear what we must do.”

“But, before we address the nation...” the warlord opened his desk and pulled out a single, shining Core. “You have returned, and you have earned your place amongst us once more. It is my duty, and my pleasure to return to you what was taken upon your exile.”

Tom stared at the shining gem on the desk, and with trembling fingers reached forward and reverently grasped it. He wiped a manly tear from his eye, then tore his shirt off as he moved the gem toward his chest. The trace work of a Rune began to appear, shining on his chest. Tom pressed the Core into the only open space of the luminescent tattoo, and stiffened as energy began to course through him.

More than the flood of essence, greater than the return of the Northman Royal cultivation techniques, Tom basked in the details of his childhood returning. When he had been exiled, all information not pertaining to his direct chain of command had been stripped away. Many of the events remained in his mind, but all of the fine details, all of the emotions, and especially all of the joy had been taken. Only certain key memories, such as his mother, had been left to preserve his mind. With their return, Tom began to undergo a radical shift.

The previously well-muscled and impressive figure began to swell. His muscles bulge outwards, his bones lengthened and became denser, and it was obvious by the new clarity in his gaze that his intelligence had been restored. Tom's body was now on par for size and musculature to match the warlord himself. Tom's cultivation spiral was shattered and rebuilt in an instance, replaced by his long-ago original. More and more Essence began to flow into him, and was bound by the spiral. Just under ten minutes later Tom was restored to his previous glory, body, mind, and cultivation.

“Looks like I’ll need to get my armor adjusted.” Tom looked down at the leather armor that was straining to contain his body. It looked like he was wearing children’s clothes. Then his fiery gaze snapped up to the Warlord. “Sir. It’s good to be back.”

“Welcome, General.” The Warlord’s tone had shifted, and respect now suffused his voice. “The People have missed you.”

“As I have missed The People.” Tom moved his arm, marveling at the motion. His cultivation had been fully absorbed, and he was currently at rank C-five. “I feel like Beinn has let the D-rank armies rest on their laurels while I’ve been away. How bad is it?”

“The quality of our weakest army has suffered somewhat.” The Warlord admitted freely. “You were the best trainer in two-handed weapons that we had seen in generations. For abyss-sake, even without that memory you came back here with a weapon practically humming with power.”

Tom smiled viciously. “I do wonder what it will be like to wield ‘Thud’, now that I remember the proper way to do it.”

“You always did have a terrible naming sense.” The Warlord chuckled, slapping an arm around his brother and guiding him toward the exit. “Let’s go address the nation.”

They walked back to the amphitheater at a pace easily double their first trip. Tom kept his eyes on the space he expected to see his team, and allowed a wide grin to run across his face when he saw their reactions. There was delight and interest showing on Dale’s face, surprise and sizing up from Rose, and finally shock and outrage from Hans.

“Are you kidding me?” He stood and shouted into the silent room. “Is everyone I know able to jump ranks like this? Have I just been held in the dark and there’s an easy way to ascend? Am I a joke to you?” 

Dale grabbed Hans and pulled him down into his seat. “Easy, Hans. I’m sure we’ll all hear the reason for this later.”

“My People!” The Warlord was standing on the blood-soaked stage and bellowing into the air. “A new path forward has been exposed! A new hope for our survival and continued prosperity. We are going to throw our might and magic behind the creation of a portal to a new land!”

Silence filled the room, only the reverberations of the Warlord’s voice still being heard. Then, another man stepped onto the stage. The Warlord glared at him, his hands falling to his sides. “General Aiden, what is the meaning of this?”

“Sir, I am concerned that you are suggesting that we flee.” Aiden spoke the last words bitterly. “By law, we cannot run from our nation’s issues.”

“Feel for the will of The People, Aiden.” The Warlord stated calmly. He looked around at everyone gathered. “All of you, feel for the will of The People. This is the correct course for all of us, and it is going to be the path we tread.”

Aiden saluted and stepped off the stage. The Warlord had an annoyed expression on now, but he continued explaining the plans he had made, and finally he began issuing orders to be carried out at once. When he was finished, he came to talk with Tom and the outsiders. “You four, can you secure a portal from your floating base for our use? If we have to follow you across the world, we will not be of much use.”

“It should be manageable.” Dale nodded at the Warlord, and they were given permission to go back up and begin working to accommodate the Northmen.

Turning toward Tom, the Warlord sighed. “I know that you have only just returned, but would you be willing to work as our go-between? It would be helpful for the people above to see a familiar face, and you can resume your duties after we survive this… inconvenience.”

Tom paused only for a moment, but relaxed when he saw the he wasn’t being set aside and this was a true issue. “I see. Would I have permission to bring my war armor along?”

“Everything that isn’t attached to the ground by indelible magic is going, Tom. Bring whatever you want.” The Warlord stopped and turned away. “Since… since we are going to be donating everything to the dungeon in return for a new home, I lift the restriction on all of you. You will be able to explain whatever you need in order to secure a powerful position for us.”

“I will do my best.” Tom slumped a little, he had been looking forward to seeing old friends and visiting family. 

Hans reached over, patting the huge man on his upper back. “Don’t worry, Tom. You’ll have plenty of time to visit, make new friends, and tell me how the abyss you jumped in rank!”

The people around him laughed, and Hans started to twitch. “I knew it! There’s a conspiracy to make me the world’s slowest cultivator! I’m-”

Hans had his knives in his hands and was advancing on Tom, but Dale had decided to intervene and whacked the assassin in the back of the head. Dale lifted the unconscious man and started walking back the way they had entered. “So, how do we get back up?”

“I can bring us to the surface, and we can take the lift from there.” Tom started walking away, leaving his friends to follow. Now that he had his memories back, he was starting to return to the mentality of his previous life. There was an air of command about him, and he seemed to expect that the others would listen without question. As they walked, Tom stopped a squire and ordered him to meet them at the lifts with his armor. In fact, several times through their journey he stopped other people and ordered them to bring him goods.

“Going a little power-mad, Tom ol’ buddy?” Hans poked Tom with a finger from his position in Dale's arms. When that didn’t get a reaction, he did it with his dagger.

Tom yelped and flinched away, then turned and glared at his mentor. "Weren't you supposed to be unconscious?" 

Hans held up a hand. “Seems like you’re getting back to old habits. I’m just gonna go ahead and remind you that your old habits got you exiled. Your new habits and friends got you back into a certain position you are already apparently abusing.”

Tom’s mouth clicked shut, and he could only nod wearily. “Fair point, Hans. It’s just… I have decades of conflicting information in my head now. For abyss sake! I didn’t even know that I was in my late sixties. I thought I was in my mid-to-late twenties at most.”

“Wait what?” Hans’ grin lit up the room. It must have been a trick of fire Essence. “You’re older than me? Yes!”