Machinist of Mana Chapter 112 News

The fighting lasted for seconds and nothing more.

“Another strike?” one of the men nearby asked.

“Much closer than the previous ones. That way?” I told them, pointing.

For a moment I saw the duke pale, eyes following my hand. “The portal nexus is that way.”

“Well, sounds like they won,” someone said.

“The leader of the goblins is a death priest. That much is known.” Ignus didn't hold back, making the whole room fall deadly silent.

“I'll go.”

“No, one of my people will go,” Ignus insisted. “You know these creatures best, and we cannot risk you at this moment.”

Before I could argue he popped into the hall and ran down the hall, seemingly searching for the right people.

Within the room though the silence was grating, nobody knew what to say, knew what to do. It held for moments, moments when we could all hear that the noise from outside had died. Then the duke himself broke it.

“The gates have safety measures, there's little reason to worry.”

“If they fail, if he gets into the capital, who knows how many could die.”

“He won't make it to the capital, no publicly accessible portal goes directly there, hasn't in over a century. Military ones perhaps, but we don't have one of those in this facility. Those goblins would have to survive leaving here, and then getting from the nexus to one of the Central Duchies. From there some further transport.”

“The what?”

“Ah,” Duke Noct laughed. “Nobody uses the term anymore. The capital is surrounded by duchies called the Central Duchies. An old form of address, but they form the whole central region of the country.”

“I see. Ignus will be here momentarily.” I could hear him in the hall, running back towards us.

“They blitzed the guards,” Ignus announced as he entered. “About half made it through before the emergency measures went off, but they're moving. We need to contact the king now, and alert him to what it coming, see if we can get more information.”

“Can we follow?” I asked.

“No, not for at least half an hour, that is if the other side attempts to reestablish contact. Procedures are pretty sticky, and we'll need to see what's happening.”

“Percival, I appreciate your work so far, but what comes next is state secrets you are not privy to, nor shall you be for some time at the least. Please follow my aide here, he will show you to where your family is.” Duke Noct spoke kindly but firmly and though it grated he was right. I wasn't privy to a lot of things, and there was little help I could be for now.

“Very well your Grace, should you need anything I can provide please let me know, I'm more than happy to help.” He nodded at my statement and I gathered up my sister before doing as he bade me.

Kaylee for her part seemed to be almost in shock, and that wasn't surprising at all. She'd been through a lot today, truly we all had, and it was proving to be too much for her to process at the moment. Did I worry? No, she was a smart girl, and dedicated, she'd be fine through this, eventually.

My family, along with some of our closest servants were in a room deep in the castle. As the door opened I could see mother pacing, stress written upon her face. Both sets of my grandparents were here as well, and they looked bothered too. My two grandfathers holding themselves still, but too still, faces furrowed and dark. As for my grandmothers, they looked to be trying to calm mother, both near her, but careful and back a bit.

“Percival!” she all but shouted when she saw me, blinking across the room faster than I'd ever seen her move and wrapping me in a tight hug.

“Fool boy, what in the world were you thinking! Where's your father, I've half a mind to give him a good beating!”

My silence hung heavy in the air and when she finally pulled back to look at me I shook my head slowly. She froze, all the anger leaving her in an instant, eyes disbelieving.

“Where, son, what happened?” she stammered.

“He rescued us, better than I've ever seen him before, told us to leave. Mother the explosion was close, and the way he spoke... he knew he wasn't coming back.”

“But you didn't see it?”

“No...”

“So maybe, maybe he's okay, just hiding, or buried. We need to send someone to go and find him immediately!” she nearly screamed as she turned toward the aid, starting to move.

I stopped her with a hand, she was strong, but over the years I'd gotten stronger. “Mother, stop.”

“But he's still out there, what are you doing!” Her shrill voice made the aide grimace as he backed toward the door, knowing full well this was not a good moment.

“Enough!” The one word I shouted was all it took to stop her, and draw her eyes to me once again.

Acceptance of the truth hit her like a blow. Her muscles, only moments ago struggling to go, struggling to get someone to do something went limp as tears began to fall. She stumbled and I had to help her over to the nearest couch. Where both of my grandmothers moved to her side, whispering calming words.

Off to the side my grandfather, the ever unflappable Baron Shadestone closed his eyes. To most of the people here it would seem as if he were silently waiting, but I could hear it. His teeth ground and fist clenched; and all around his face I could see the muscles tighten as he schooled himself before coming over and putting a hand on my shoulder. My father may have been an absolute mess, but he was still his son.

“I heard about what you did today son, and I'm proud of you,” he told me with a slight squeeze.

All through the castle people were talking, holding one another, reassuring each other. The Season had just started, with nobles arriving from near and far, ready for the yearly batch of parties. However the atmosphere was anything but happy, with tears and people shaking from fear or stress. Men and women embraced trying to make sure their loved ones were alright.

And the city outside? It was chaos, pockets of fighting remained, with men wielding whatever they could against the horde while others huddled in terror in their homes, praying for hope. Soldiers and officers began to gather in groups, going street to street, house to house, room to room, looking for enemies and survivors, each face a rictus of fury when they found one of the former.

Hundreds lay dead in the streets, thousands more injured, and soon there would be fury unlike any had known. It took time to mobilize fighters fully, particularly when they were so surprised, but soon, very soon the city would be scoured, and woe to those who'd brought this calamity.