We spent five years preparing for every possible outcome that could have arisen from the Corruption.
In that time, the landscape began warping much more than it had when it arrived. It was interesting to see the process that took place on a magical world from a wider perspective...and also being able to do something, unlike last time...
We had managed to check on Zangriol, the frost dragon.
We went to speak with him every few months to ensure his safety
According to Zangriol, world dragons were exceptionally powerful and made to combat such threats. They were deeply imbued with Animus energy. He assured us that unless he allowed it, he should be able to resist infection. He wasn't Kelvastiol, after all.
All we could do was fight back and try to save Delvandal for now.
In the five years we spent here, Vakra eventually caved under pressure from me and began preparations to build a ship.
So far, the crew would consist of myself as the commander with Isabella and Cassandra holding the same level of authority.
Next, Vakra assured me that he would not be on board. He wanted to remain on Delvandal in case the Corruption returned.
The Enforcers and Rune would hold high-ranking positions.
Rune was to serve directly under me. She would be in charge of routine maintenance. Jallah would fight on the front lines and had the position of Chief Inquisitor but would also help Rune when onboard.
Leiso would be the General of our small army of twenty soldiers. All of which had undergone harsh training regiments, biological and magical enhancements. Each one of them was an elite super soldier...and still had room to grow.
I would eventually train them to use different weapons. The goal was to have everyone specialize in a different weapon type. Diversity on the battlefield would allow us to cover all of our weaknesses.
But in all likelihood, I still played with the idea of just making them onboard guards for the ship itself. Operators of equipment and such.
Carlos would be in charge of Research and Development. For the advancement of the ship's onboard technology, weapons, and anything else we might need to combat the Corruption.
I made a list of our positions.
{Supreme Commander: Mizik Iratus Permissions: Administrator
Vice-Captains: Isabella Iratus, Cassandra Iratus.
Permissions: Administrators, onboard leaders.
Generals: Leiso Akali, Commander of the heart soldiers.
Jallah O'Brien, Maintenance and frontline combat/Chief Inquisitor
Rune O'Brien, in charge of routine maintenance.
Carlos Ortega, Research and Development.
Permissions: Operators, onboard supervisors.
Forces: Twenty elite heart soldiers possessing a multitude of strengths weaknesses, and talents. Including, but not limited to: first aid, general combat, magic use, alchemy, material gathering, stealth, etc.
Permissions: Operators.}
I also had the desire to add Rastair to the ship as a pilot with Operator status.
Meanwhile, there was the subject of Aldaril.
We hadn't heard a single thing about him for a long time. Only that he was a teacher at a magic academy in another country.
We attempted to visit, but he wouldn't receive us.
The only message he gave was: 'I'll find you when I'm ready.'
Regardless, I would still try to recruit him as part of the crew.
To a ship that still didn't have a name.
I was having a lot of problems coming up with a name. I had plenty of time to do that, so I wasn't worried. It was the last thing on my mind.
Alwen was also growing up more.
He was now sixteen and doing a wonderful job at being the Emperor.
He married a noblewoman around his age.
The new Empress learned very quickly not to harass or bother any of us. Alwen prevented her from making any mistakes.
At the same time, Rastair was going around and continuing her 'work' as a Pirate Queen. Raiding small settlements, ships, and the like. Except that now she was far more unstoppable with immortality, a regenerating body, and greatly increased physical and magical power. She still came to visit at times and Vakra even allowed her to bring her normal ship and crew.
She would, of course, be far more helpful to us with her entire combat power.
At one point, Rastair volunteered to receive training just like the others.
She was surprisingly skillful in battle and her personal fighting style was somewhat chaotic but very deadly.
It made sense for a Pirate Queen to be so fearsome in battle.
Lastly, my relationship with Isabella changed quite a bit as well.
My curse continued to have quite a few negative effects on me... The result was that Isabella worked hard to be supportive.
She worried about the curse taking away my humanity and closing me off to everyone. So she began acting very...motherly towards me.
Whatever that means. I never had a mother, so it was difficult to tell. She wanted to be part of most of the things I did. Not to a meddlesome degree, but...
She also wanted to cook for me.
In the past, Isabella didn't really cook much because she said I was better at it. She said she was a good cook, but wasn't allowed in the kitchen at the castle. It turns out that she overestimated her abilities by a large margin.
A very large margin...
Isabella was abysmal at cooking.
It made absolutely no sense to me that someone with such great talent and a sharp intellect couldnt grasp the concept of food preparation.
I didn't let her cook anymore after eating something that I might consider to be poison.
Seriously, if I didn't know any better, I would have assumed that she was trying to kill me.
Regardless, she made strong efforts to shower me with her love and affection.
I was very appreciative of it.
Although it caused me great pain occasionally. I wanted to ignore the pain because I enjoyed the way she treated me. She believed that since she was getting older, a new way of thinking and acting would be appropriate.
She was 35 now. And I was 33.
Overall, she had become highly supportive and very helpful in most ways.
Unfortunately, Cassandra hadn't changed much. She still wanted to be an object of my affection so badly that it was painful for her.
Her only desire was to please me and be loved by me.
The arguing still occasionally erupted, however...
Because Isabella refused to back down and accept Cassandra's constant doting.
And Cassandra wouldn't stop acting like a perverted stalker.
As far as things to report went, our lives at this point were pretty much that.
Currently, I was waiting on a report from Stella and Sato. Those were the names of the two soldiers I elected as captains of their respective groups.
Stella had put forth an extreme amount of effort and showed a significant amount of ability.
Not only to lead, but also to serve and fight.
Granted, she still had her...issues...
But she served loyally. Even if she was a tad crazy...
Sato was a large and imposing elven man with white hair and dark skin. He was well-aged and highly experienced.
I wasn't aware at first, but dark elves also lived among the people in Elysium. They were typically found in the southern provinces.
Sato was a strong and honorable elf whom had earned my respect. I appointed him because he was also a natural leader with the admiration of his fellow soldiers.
When no one else was around, these two would lead their respective squads.
It should also be noted, that even though the two squads got along really well, the men were...kind of bothered by the unhealthy obsessions that the female squad had for serving me.
Especially their commander.
I just told them to blame the former Advisor and my sister-in-law for such a thing. Although Cassandra hated being called my sister-in-law...
She said that the phrase put up a wall between us.
Iris forbid there be some form of separation...seriously...
But despite the circumstances, things were going well.
And I truly meant that. For once, things seemed to actually be working out.
But we knew that the relative peace wouldn't last forever. We were prepared to continue the fight as soon as we needed to.
And this time, we planned to win.
* * *
Stella and Sato walked into the lab where I was testing alchemy ingredients.
They both saluted...and then Stella dropped to her knee and bowed her head.
Sato looked somewhat bothered by her behavior, but ultimately continued standing at attention.
"At ease," I said.
They both relaxed and Stella stood up.
"Master Mizik, we have news to report about the current state of the Corruption," Stella said.
"Go ahead."
Sato cleared his throat.
"Sir, there have been sightings of the warped landscape near the mountain in Lokan. Port Sagral has also mentioned seeing strange creatures roam the streets at night," Sato said.
"Looks like we're going to Lokan, then," I said.
"Shall I gather the troops on an airship, Master Mizik? I'll do everything according you your will...and desires...ehehe..." Stella said.
I'm so tired of this shit...
"Yes. Gather your squad. Sato, gather yours as well. I'll notify Vakra and get Isabella. Also, Stella-"
"Yes!? How can I serve?"
"Please stop obsessing over me. It's a little unnerving..." I said.
"I will do my best to contain myself, Master Mizik. But...you make it very difficult..." Stella said.
"You act so similarly to Cassandra that it's frightening..."
"Ah, but my mentor, Lady Cassandra was absolutely right about you! I am Master Mizik's possession and I am eternally grateful to you for saving me!"
"How many times do I have to say that I didn't save you...? Cassandra did."
"Ah, but you saved my mind, Master. You freed my way of thinking and gave me a purpose!"
Damn it all! Why are you so difficult!?
"I don't know why I bother... Sato, get your squad. We're going on a trip," I said.
"Yes sir," Sato said.
Then he and Stella left the room
"Loyalty is fine like the other maids, but why do you have to be in love with me like Cassandra is...?" I mumbled.
Then the doors opened back up and Isabella walked in.
Before I could react, she darted straight over and hugged me.
"Ah! Hey, Isabella," I said.
"Every time I see your face, it makes my heart skip a beat. I love you, Mizik!" Isabella said happily.
I feel the same way, but...owww...
My head started feeling the piercing pain as I tried not to smile.
"I...ugh...."
"It's okay, Mizik. I understand. I know how you feel," Isabella said with a gentle smile as she leaned her head on my chest.
That makes it worse... I love this, but it's so painful...
She continued hugging me for a while. When she pulled away, her face was flushed and she as still smiling.
"I passed by the troops on the way here, Mizik. Sato mentioned that we were heading to Lokan to purge the Corruption. Is that correct?" Isabella said.
"It is. And we'll also be checking on Zangriol. Supposedly, the Corruption has gotten a bit too close to the mountain to be considered safe," I said.
"Let's go then. I'll walk with you. We should spend more time together!" Isabella said happily.
I'm not opposed, but we already spend most of every day together. I'm happy that you want to.
Then her eyes switched.
"Mizik! Spend time with me, too!! Lots and lots of time! I never want to be away from you!" Cassandra said happily as she hugged me as well.
"Cassandra, please stop! I haven't gotten to spend nearly as much time with Mizik because of you!" Isabella said.
I just sighed and started walking as the two began arguing right next to me. Lately, things had been difficult for Isabella.
Five years of 'rooming' with her sister had caused her quite a lot of stress.
It was finally sinking in that Cassandra was here to stay...and she was suffering as a result. Oftentimes, she would be sad because she felt like she couldn't get any privacy.
Although Cassandra wasn't happy about it either. Still, she said anything was preferable to being Difar's slave.
Even being erased from existence.
Cassandra wished badly for her own body as well... And as much as I was able to separate the two, I couldn't fix their problem.
After all, I lacked an extremely important type of magic...
Creation magic, which was fueled by the light element.
Unlike my Blessing passive, which could function independently but used the light element as a catalyst for extra strength, creation magic required light to even function at all. Vakra suggested making another android, but Cassandra refused.
She didn't want to be tied to an unfeeling machine body.
Not that it was possible for me to tether a soul to a machine in the first place, of course...
He suggested growing a homunculus as well, but Cassandra said that such a thing would be filthy. She wanted a body made by me, specifically. We were at an impasse.
Not to mention that creating homunculi was a VILE form of alchemy to me...
Regardless, even though an understanding had been reached and the two sisters still loved each other, it was still difficult for them to share a body...
Nevertheless, the two...or rather, three of us made our way through the halls of the lab to notify the Enforcers that we were heading out.
* * *
One thing that had been discovered in the past few years, was that the Enforcers were not compatible with heart stones.
Unfortunately, their souls repelled magic.
Before, when I had first gained the Archmage Aspect, I mentioned to them that it wasn't possible to imbue a soul with magic. That it had to be done at birth by being born into a magical world.
This was not technically true.
It wasn't completely impossible. Just really difficult.
They had already decided to use other strengthening methods, thankfully. Iris had been researching a way to increase their powers exponentially.
Going forward, if they were too weak to fight the Corruption, they would be a liability instead of a benefit.
Currently, we stood in front of Leiso and she saluted.
"Leiso, go to the airship. Grab the others as well. We're heading to Lokan," I said.
"Understood sir," she simply said.
"You're...not going to ask why?" I said.
She tilted her head slightly
"Soldiers are not paid to ask questions, Mizik. We're paid to fight. Besides, I trust you. That, and I assumed it was to deal with the Corruption, anyway," Leiso said.
"Well put. But I'm not paying you. And that is the kind of behavior that causes soldiers to commit terrible crimes," I said.
"Just humor me, will you? I've been doing this for a really long time. I know you don't have any ill intentions, either," she said.
"Very well. You can go."
Leiso gave me a slight smile and nodded. Then went on her way.
After that, we boarded the airship in the hangar bay, nearby.