"So, tell me, why is Valtherion here, Luther?" Thomas asked as he relaxed in a large bath. He had been thoroughly cleaned, and now medics were pouring one herb after another, as well as potions. Luther was holding him from sinking, while also injecting him with Qi.
"It is complicated. Very complicated, my friend. It is best that you recover and head back and talk with Louis, or your sister-in-law. I can tell you some details, only if you swear an oath. You are aware of your mental condition; I will not risk a disaster around him." Luther said as he felt something kicking him, causing him to smile. Thomas was regaining control of his body, bit by bit.
"I swear, in the name of the Goddess, I will keep what is said only between us. I am aware...I am not what I used to be. Speak now, please." Thomas said, looking Luther straight in the eyes. Thomas was dangerously thinking; however, with each pill that he was being fed, with each herb that he was given, his expression returned to normal. All that was left was to feed him.
"Prophecy. Holy City. Louis knows. The Emperor is involved. There is nothing we can do, Thomas. It will happen, one way or another." Luther said with a sigh, accepting that the result had been set. They just had to live through it.
"Prophecy...the holy city...Emperor? I...Damnation, my bloodline is facing one calamity after another. Who is our Emperor now?" Thomas asked, rage in his voice; he was mad, mad at fate herself.
"Our friend, Alexander. I must say, he is ruling well. He has moved The Shard here and observes every step. When the time comes, the gryphons will soar in the sky." Luther said, smiling at the fact that now they have a capable Emperor.
"I see...Good...What will Valtherion do with me, Luther? What is my nephew's character?" Thomas was full of questions, as he was eager to learn the whole situation.
"My Godson, he is a prodigy in strategy. A natural-born general; however, he is actually...a painter, Thomas. He is quiet and introverted, unlike you and Louis...well, Louis became introverted as well, after everything that happened. Your nephew is a good person, quiet and good mannered, alas, he has not spared any Orc, Rat or Elf. He is cruel with his enemies, and as you saw, an Expert." Luther cleared his throat as he reached for a goblet, taking a sip from it before giving it to Thomas. It was wine.
They had taken the elf's residence, enjoying the lavish foods and wines. Gadgeztan had been purged, every body was now being mounted and burned, while every freed human was feasting and preparing to be escorted back to Mograine County. Around 20,000 humans were to return to their homes; what awaited them, nobody knew.
"I do not know what he will do with you, Thomas. You are not at your peak; you need to rest for a while. Do not be eager to rejoin any battles or lead armies again. If you want to participate in anything, go to your sister-in-law, or even better, your brother. He has felled the enemies and is shifting towards the centre of his county; he has arrived in Emberfall. I don't think that the son or father would let you charge into battle; you have just returned. Do not weep." Luther said as he comforted him.
It was a tragedy itself to lose your whole family, to be enslaved and freed by your nephew. To know that your remaining kin was fighting on the line, that you were now a weakling who could not help them. Thomas knew that neither his mind nor his body were stable...yet still, he felt powerless, as he was once a prodigy.
"Get me on my feet, Luther. I will walk when I meet my brother. Call my nephew; I will dine with him." Thomas said as he felt renewed, using all of his strength to walk in the small pool. He gripped the railings before he let go of them. Slowly but steadily, he reached the stairs and rose above them. He was weak, but now he was going to only get better.
Luther dried him before dressing him in an elegant black robe with the initials of the Mograines. Soon, food was served on their table as Valtherion entered, clad in armour, carrying wines and good news.
"Uncle, Godfather. A teleportation gate has been found. Our mages can only rewire it to Emberfall. Uncle, I will have to send you home with a stash of spatial rings. There are massive amounts of wealth that have to be put in our treasury." Valtherion said with a smile on his face as he sat between them.
"That is good news. Send your uncle. How will you send the people back and the rest of the wealth though?" Luther asked as he cut the meat for Thomas. It was better not to let the man strain himself further for tonight.
"I have sent a letter to the men in our conquered castles. A few divisions will escort them back, and my father will send a few more to receive them. Everyone will be stationed and taken care of in Emberfall. We will also give them enough money for life, as well as help them find their family members." Valtherion said as he poured the wine. He was happy; his father had fended off a siege, but he would have to leave soon, as the enemies would not rest.
"Nephew, how will you deal with a force of 200,000? You barely have 80,000 men?" Thomas asked, as if that thought prevented him from eating.
"I have found the way through which they will pass. Tomorrow we depart as well; tonight the people leave at night, on carriages. This city resupplied us well enough. I will take the initiative and destroy this army as they set will have to pass through the Artemis Canyon." Valtherion had seemed to have planned it already, causing Luther to smile. In the canyon, their numbers of 5:2 will not play a big role; the enemies will be slaughtered. It will be a battle that will be etched in History.
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It was at the peak of the night that Thomas was escorted towards a teleportation gate, holding a box with unknown contents in it. He seemed much better right now, walking, albeit slowly.
"I will see you, son, uncle! Take care of yourself!" Valtherion said as he bowed.
"Tell my wife I love her!" Luther butted in.
Thomas took a look at them. He did not wish to leave, yet he knew that he had to. He was raging inside at the fact, yet with a calm breath, he stepped through the gate. It was better to be gone, to recover and to return stronger.
Opening his eyes, he found himself in a place that he recognised. It was familiar, yet also entirely unrecognisable. In front of him there were guards, clad in black, and the one leading them was a man that he recognised immediately, even if more than a decade had passed. A woman was beside him, holding his arm.
Louis, Louis the troublemaker who would run around, cheery, was now a grown man, changed by tragedy. His heart ached as he remembered how the most carefree sibling had been the one to bear the weight of everything, to turn into a stoic man.
Ah...he was around 17 when it all happened...I was powerless...
"Louis!"
"Big brother!"
A thud was heard as Louis embraced his weakened brother, and for the first time in decades, he cried, cracked.
"Welcome home brother, welcome home!"