Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  “Before---that.---[Guardman]---Darrus,---what---exactly---happened---here?”---Rathic---asks,---pointing---at---the---dead---bodies---and---wrecked---siege---weapons.

  “A---small---war.---A---couple---of---towns---which---found---themselves---starving.---They---banded---together---and---created---an---army.---Marched---it---to---our---city---and---attempted---to---lay---siege.---They---had---a---good---couple---thousand---people,---but---lacked---any---form---of---true---organization---or---plan.---We---destroyed---their---trebuchets---from---range,---which---forced---them---to---charge.---Their---charge---failed---and---they---lost---a---third---of---their---army.---The---rest---of---the---army---retreated---and---now---we---are---cleaning---up---the---mess.”

  As---Darrow---finished---the---explanation,---his---mouth---widens---in---recognition.---He---had---explained---the---situation---similar---to---giving---a---report---to---someone---of---a---more---powerful---class.---Of---someone---who---he---would---consider---a---superior.

  “Thank---you---for---the---explanation---[Guardsman]---Darrus,”---Rathic---says---with---a---smile---before---flicking---the---reins---and---quickly---entering---the---city.

  But---Darrus---stands---awestruck,---not---only---because---of---what---he---felt---around---the---[Trader]---but---what---the---man---had---said.

  “I---never---told---him---my---name---or---class…”

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  Certain---classes---excel---at---doing---certain---things.---A---[Pikeman]---is---the---military---term---for---a---[Spearman]---which---excels---in---group---combat.---They---are---efficient---at---fighting---in---large---groups.---With---enough---levels---and---possible---skills,---they---are---able---to---extend---their---spears---through---the---tiniest---margins---of---a---large---fight.---Seemingly---slithering---their---spear---forward,---avoiding---allies---and---striking---enemies---in---a---mosh---pit---of---bodies.

  But---a---[Spearman]---is---different---even---though---they---utilize---the---same---weapon.---A---[Spearman]---may---not---be---as---accurate---as---a---pikeman,---but---they---trade---that---in---for---greater---mobility---and---the---ability---to---utilize---their---weapon---defensively.---A---[Spearman]---would---be---able---to---block---with---their---spear---while---also---obtaining---skills---that---could---parry---blows.

  Both---classes---are---similar---but---are---gravely---different---in---capability.

  But---those---are---just---tier---one---classes.---When---you---obtain---a---tier---two---class,---and---not---one---of---the---lower---tier---two---classes,---then---things---become---much---more---complicated.---One---such---class---is---a---[General].---A---class---which---has---one---of---the---most---diverse---and---confusing---skill---sets---available,---all---thanks---to---a---[General]’s---unique---aura.---An---aura---allowing---them---to---extend---many---of---their---own---personal---skills---to,---if---the---[General]---is---good---enough,---the---entire---army.---It---is---this---fact---which---makes---every---[General]---so---unique---and---different---from---each---other.---Their---former---class,---former---skills,---capabilities,---all---of---it---is---a---tool---for---an---army.

  So---Rathic,---a---[General]---who---excels---in---countering---and---reacting---to---army---attacks---must---also---excel---in---gathering---information.

  Which---is---why,---when---Rathic---enters---the---city---through---the---front---gates,---he---is---immediately---struck---with---a---plethora---of---useful---information.

  The---streets,---though---lacking---in---any---proper---stone---walkway,---are---actually---relatively---clean.---No---garbage---or---wet---dirt---is---located---anywhere---on---the---ground.---It---is---clear---that---they---are---being---maintained.---The---[Slaves],---many---of---which---stop---what---they---are---doing---to---look---up---to---see---who---just---entered---the---city,---look---much---better---off---than---those---he---had---seen---from---the---other---cities.---They---are---relatively---fed,---some---having---decent---muscle,---and---the---clothes---they---wear---are---lacking---in---holes.---It---is---a---massive---improvement---to---what---he---had---seen---the---weeks---prior,---of---[Slaves]---barely---wearing---anything,---some---even---nothing.---All---while---looking---like---they---could---just---keel---over---and---die---any---moment.

  Other,---possibly---more---useful---information---that---Rathic---obtains---from---his---quick---view---is---of---children.---A---group---of---children---had---been---playing,---but---has---stopped---to---stare,---followed---by---one---quickly---sneaking---off---into---the---deeper---parts---of---the---city.

  Clearly,---an---untrained---eye---would---have---given---little---thought---of---a---child---sneaking---off.---But---Rathic---noticed---the---careful---ease---in---which---the---child---had---disappeared,---seemingly---focused---on---staying---in---shadow.

  “This---will---be---troublesome,”---Rathic---says,---staring---at---the---location---the---child---had---disappeared---to.

  Henrietta---looks---up,---“Is---there---a---problem?”---she---asks,---her---eyes---turning---to---look---towards---where---Rathic---is---staring---at---but---finding---nothing---of---importance.

  “At---the---moment,---no,---but---it---would---be---best---to---obtain---a---place---to---live---as---soon---as---possible.---This---city---may---not---be---as---safe---as---it---may---seem.”

  Henrietta---nods,---“Then---it---would---be---best---to---head---directly---towards---the---central---castle.---A---home---near---there---would---be---far---more---desirable---for---safety.”

  Without---saying---a---word,---Rathic---whips---his---reins,---increasing---the---pace---of---the---animals---pulling---the---carriage,---his---eyes---focused---on---any---possible---threats.

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  Entering---through---the---double---doors,---David,---the---[Viceroy],---kneels.---“[Lady]---Rose,---your---presence---will---be---required---soon.”

  The---[Lady]---looks---at---the---[Viceroy],---annoyed.---She---had---designated---him---to---run---the---majority---of---the---city.---After---all,---she---is---much---too---busy---to---be---bothered.

  “Is---it---reeeaaalllyyy---required---David?---Can---you---not---speak---in---my---place?---I---am---very---busy---right---now.”

  David---looks---at---his---[Lady],---a---very---plump---[Lady],---sitting---on---a---chair---with---a---half-finished---cake---in---front---of---her.---“I---understand---that---your---time---is---precious---my---[Lady],---but---an---extremely---wealthy---and---powerful---[Trader]---is---requesting---your---presence,”---David---stops,---frowning,---“and---I---do---not---believe---I---have---enough---levels---in---my---class---to---properly---deal---with---him.”

  “Then---send---Scarlet.---She---is---a---high---level---[Captain]---after---all.”---[Lady]---Rose---exclaims,---annoyed,---“Have---her---assist---you---with---this---[Trader].---I’m---sure---between---the---both---of---you,---taking---care---of---some---[Trader]---should---be---easy.”

  David---sighs---and---rubs---his---head.---Yes,---he---enjoys---his---job,---running---the---city---in---place---of---[Lady]---Rose.---But---he---has---only---been---a---[Viceroy]---for---a---short---while.---Granted,---he---feels---he---has---done---a---fantastic---job---of---pretty---much---running---the---city---alongside---[Captain]---Scarlet,---but---that---is---more---towards---the---fact---that---no---other---[Nobles]---are---present---in---the---city---to---complain---about---his---changes---or---the---usage---of---the---taxes.---Unfortunately,---that---[Trader]---is---someone---that---the---[Viceroy]---very---much---feels---inadequate---to---deal---with.

  “[Captain]---Scarlet---is---very---busy---with---paperwork---and---organizing---the---cleanup---work---outside---the---city.---Her---skills---are---also---inadequate---to---deal---with---anything---outside---of---combat.”

  *Sigh*

  “And---it---seems---your---skills---are---inadequate---at---dealing---with---a---single---[Trader].”

  The---Lady---shakes---her---head---and---places---the---fork---on---h
er---plate,---taking---one---last---longing---look---at---it---before---standing---up.---Which---of---course---is---followed---by---the---creaking---of---her---chair---no---longer---having---to---support---her---massive---weight.

  A---massive---weight---born---from---the---love---of---food.

  “Fine,---take---me---to---this---[Trader].---Let---us---see---what---he---wants.”

  David---stands---up,---his---internal---struggles---dying---down---as---much---as---the---chair’s.

  “Follow---me---my---[Lady],”---David---says,---turning---around---and---walking---through---the---double---doors,---towards---a---room---to---entertain---guests.

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  Surprising---to---Rathic---is---how---fast---he---had---been---granted---an---audience---to---see---the---[Lady]---of---the---city.---Granted,---it---was---his---first---stop;---to---request---an---audience.---Normally,---his---request---would---be---answered---and---specific---time---and---date---would---be---given.---Usually---a---date---several---days---later.---This---would---allow---the---leader’s---[Spymaster]---to---obtain---information---about---the---individual---that---the---leader---can---use---to---manipulate---the---other---party.---Things---like---knowing---financial---strength,---levels,---skills,---anything---that---can---be---used.---The---[Nobility]---loved---to---play---these---games.---Games---which---Rathic---hates.---How---is---he---to---know---that---a---[Noble]---is---insulting---another---[Noble]---by---make---them---wait---four---days---to---see---them---instead---of---three,---or---if---the---food---available---is---not---towards---the---guests---liking?---Politics.---Rathic---hates---it.

  Which---is---why,---when---he---was---ushered---into---the---castle---by---a---very---nervous---[Viceroy]---to---meet---the---[Lady],---he---was---utterly---flabbergasted.---No---games---or---politics.

  “[Lady]---Rose---is---inside,---please---follow---me---and---feel---free---to---take---a---seat,”---the---[Viceroy]---exclaims---nervously.

  Rathic---nods---at---the---[Viceroy],---confused---about---the---man,---trying---to---figure---out---how---a---rat---demihuman---was---given---such---an---important---class.---Question---upon---questions,---all---of---which---would---be---hopefully---answered---soon.

  Rathic---enters---the---room,---finding---it---to---be---something---he---did---not---expect---to---see.---The---first---things---to---notice---about---the---room---is---the---sunlight---streaming---through---the---windows,---lightening---the---place,---followed---by---several---portraits---of---food---on---the---walls.---Cakes,---pastries,---even---a---portrait---of---a---cooked---pig.---All---of---it---was---food.---And---at---the---center---of---the---room---is---a---table---filled---with---snacks---alongside---it---two---very---plush---couches---at---either---end.---One---couch---has---an---enormous---woman,---a---woman---that---Rathic---would---guess---to---weigh---over---two---hundred---kilograms.

  And---she---is---currently---holding---a---half-eaten---pastry---in---her---hands---while---sporting---an---annoyed---look.

  The---[Viceroy]---scurries---behind---the---woman---and---places---his---hands---behind---his---back,---“[Lady]---Rose,---this---is---[Trader]---Roth.”

  The---[Lady]---looks---at---the---man.---Tall,---strong,---powerful,---confident,---back---straight.

  “You---going---to---stand---there---with---your---fucking---mouth---open---or---are---you---going---to---take---a---seat?”---she---exclaims,---looking---at---Rathic,---her---aura---seemingly---attempting---to---surround---him,---to---manipulate---him,---but---the---[General]---is---unaffected.

  Still---confused,---Rathic---walks---and---takes---a---seat---on---the---couch,---unsure---how---to---react---to---the---situation.---Every---[Lady]---he---had---met---so---far---had---acted---similarly---to---each---other.---They---were---all---skinny,---constantly---smiling,---always---regal---in---their---looks,---and---never---cursing.

  This---[Lady]---Rose---has---broken---most---if---not---all---of---his---expectations.

  The---[Lady]---takes---another---bite---of---her---pastry,---some---of---the---powdered---sugar---falling---on---her---chest,---but---she---gives---it---not---one---thought.---As---she---finishes---the---pastry,---she---grabs---another---one---from---the---table---and---starts---to---eat.---Not---even---saying---a---word.

  Normally,---Rathic---must---wait---for---the---other---party---to---make---introductions---before---he---makes---his---own,---and---then---they---would---be---able---to---talk.---But---after---her---fourth---pastry,---it---was---clear---that---she---was---waiting---on---him.

  Rathic---leans---forward.

  “My---name---is---[Trader]---Roth.---I---have---com-”

  “Lies,”---she---says,---one---word,---interrupting---him.

  She---quickly---swallows---her---bite.

  “You---are---neither---a---[Trader]---nor---is---your---name---actually---Roth.”---she---says---like---it---is---the---most---normal---thing---in---the---world.

  Rathic---stops.

  [Silent---Analyze]

  And---to---his---surprise,---he---finds---that---his---skill---was---blocked.---It---seems---that---this---[Lady]---is---far---more---capable---than---he---had---expected.---Probably---a---very---high---level---as---well---with---many---powerful---skills.

  She---lifts---an---eyebrow---at---him,---clearly---knowing---that---he---had---attempted---to---analyze---her---but---failed.

  “I---can---see---now---why---my---[Viceroy]---demanded---my---attention---to---deal---with---you.---I---was---a---bit---confused---initially---why---he---needed---assistance---with---a---mere---[Trader],---but---it---is---clear---that---you---are---something---else.”

  She---takes---a---bite---of---the---pastry---in---her---hand,---swallowing---quickly,---“And---if---the---feeling---I---am---getting---from---you---is---correct,---then---I---would---guess---you---are---some---kind---of---class---from---the---second---tier.”

  Rathic---doesn't---move,---doing---his---best---to---control---his---aura---from---reacting---to---his---emotions.---To---keep---her---from---being---able---to---read---him.---Unfortunately,---that---was---the---wrong---course---to---take.

  She---smiles---like---a---predator---playing---with---prey,---“Keeping---your---aura---from---moving---at---all---is---something---that---only---a---second---tier---class---can---do,”---she---exclaims,---chuckling,---clearly---seeing---through---Rathic’s---attempt---to---reclaim---control---of---the---situation.

  She---moves---forward---and---grabs---a---cup,---pours---herself---some---tea---from---a---kettle,---and---then---pours---an---enormous---amount---of---sugar---into---the---cup.---She---then---immediately---chugs---the---whole---contents---down.

  “Mmmm,---very---good---tea.---It---goes---very---well---with---the---pastries.”

  She---looks---back,---behind---her,---“David,---when---you---get---the---chance,---tell---Anita---she---very---much---outdid---herself---with---the---snacks.---I---am---very---pleased.”

  David---bows,---“I---will---my---[Lady].”

  Turning---back---to---Rathic,---she---finds---that---the---man---is---expressionless,---waiting,---aura---completely---silent.---She---can't---read---him---anymore.---He---is---now---guarded.---But---that---is---a---moot---point.---He---cannot---lie---to---her,---especially---not---when---he---is---in---her---castle.

  “Now---then,---Roth,---if---that's---the---name---you---are---choosing.---Why---have---you---requested---my---presence?”

  Rathic---frowns---and---takes---a---deep---breath.---He---is---not---used---to---being---so---easily---cowed.---If---only---he---had---brought---Henrietta.

  “I---have---traveled---long---and---far…---to---reach---this---city.---I---am---looking---to---live---here---with---my---daughter---and---all---my---servants.---I---would---like---to---buy---a---large---building---closer---to---the---center---of---the---city---to---live---in.”

  “Ahhh,---good.---Honesty.---Maybe---we---actually---can---come---to---an---arrangement,”---Rose---says,---her---eyes---staring---at---a---pastry---too---far---for---her---to---reach.
>
  “My---city---is---not---at---all---lacking---in---coin---Roth.---We---get---more---than---enough---from---selling---food.---Is---there---something---else---you---can---offer?”

  “I---can---offer---various---enchanted---items---of---several---different---grades.”---Rathic---says.

  Rose---scratches---her---chin,---thinking,---“I---see…---hmmm.---Do---you---have---weapons---and---armor?---Enchanted?”

  “I---have---several,---both---light---and---heavy---with---various---kinds---of---weapons.”

  “Good.---I---have---a---[Captain]---that---has---done---a---tremendous---job---over---the---years---and---she---will---need---to---be---rewarded---properly.---You---will---give---her---an---entire---set---of---Common---grade---enchanted---armor---and---a---Rare---grade---enchanted---sword.---In---exchange,---you---will---be---given---a---house---near---the---castle.”

  “We---don't---have---any---homes---available,”---immediately---says---the---person---who---had---been---silent---the---entire---time---as---the---meeting---had---taken---place.