Chronicles of Metal: Chapter 17 – Dawn of a New City

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Weeks had passed since the fires, and the attempt by the Viscount to spirit away the women of Hashigin, and since Lady Astra declared the city's independence from the kingdom of Lazuli. Since then, Aeirfin had noticed the city had gone through quite a few changes. For one, there where more merchants coming and going. At first he thought it was only natural, Lady Astra was personally buying up the supplies needed to repair anything the fires had damaged. But even after the last nail had been hammered, the merchants continued to flock to the city. Food, medicine, fine cloths... It all came to the city by the boatload, and would be sold off within the day. He didn't know what started it, but suddenly there was more gold traveling through Hashigen than he'd ever seen before.

Merchants weren't the only ones to come from far and wide though. A few days after Lady Astra's declaration, mercenary's and adventurers started showing up in droves. As soon as the barracks had been rebuilt, they where full to the brim with people all clamming to have come to protect the city. Of course, the numerous whispers of a hansom payday betrayed their true intentions, but it was somewhat reassuring to know the city had protectors again. Even if the former town guard hadn't set a very high bar to follow.

A day ago, Lady Astra's bodyguard had stopped by the restaurant and requested that he join them as well. Initially, he refused. Frostbite remained broken, and despite perusing a number of blacksmiths, he'd yet to pick out a replacement. Nothing sat right in his hand the way his family's weapon did, and due to its enchantments, simply reforging the blade was far outside the skill of anyone he brought it too. At Aoi's insistence though, when word got around that the mercenary's would be going through tryouts to ensure their skill, Aeirfin finally abated.

He made his way to what used to be his home. The rebuilt barracks had a strange smell to it, a combination of freshly cut wood and smoke lingered when he stepped through the entrance. Before, when he stepped into the training grounds, his bright blond hair and pointed ears where the most outlandish thing there. Next to this group however, he may as well be just another citizen. Folks from all over, wearing all manor of garments, armor, and weapons lined the training grounds. Grizzled warriors, brutes in heavy armor with even heavier looking weapons, rogues eyeing up everything that wasn't nailed down, ranging in age from grizzled old men to some looking barely older than Hazel. For the first time in his life, Aeirfin didn't feel like the odd one out.

"Thank you for coming." Aeirfin's heart almost skipped a beat when he heard the voice of Tyr behind him. She herself looked like she was prepared for war, donning a short sword across her waist, a pouch of knives strapped to each thigh, and a straw sunhat resting over her back. "I was afraid I would have to do this alone..." She said with a tired expression.

Aeirfin glanced back at the hoard of adventurers, some of which where now looking at the pair of them. "What is it exactly we're doing here?" He mumbled back to her.

Stepping up next to him, Tyr handed him a handful of papers. "Testing them." Aeirfin took the papers, but did a double take. "Lady Astra only want's the best of the best. If we paid everyone here what she's offering, the city's treasury would run dry by this time next month. We need to whittle this down to roughly forty people, or so."

"Only forty?" Aeirfin looked at the papers, quickly counting up well over a hundred names on her list. "That's hardly a fighting force. The guard used to have fifty people on duty on any given day."

Tyr grumbled under her breath, but continued regardless. "It's not meant to be a fighting force, they're just meant to keep the peace, be a deterrent against invaders, and... At worse we send out a few at a time to handle any problems that might crop up." Tyr hugged her elbows, eyeing the crowd right back and obviously not very happy with what she saw. "They come from a lot of occupations with various experience. A flexible squad able to adapt to anything; that's ideally what I'd like to get out of today."

Aeirfin looked over the papers as he listened. She was definitely right about that. More than half of them classed as warriors, but there where many others as well. A few rangers, a handful of scouts and rouges, even a healer. Not really town guard material, but again they hadn't exactly left a great example to follow.

"If you'd please join me." Without waiting for a response, Tyr strolled onto the open field. Aeirfin followed after her. Strolling into the center of the field, she rested a hand on her hip and took a sharp breath. "Thank you all for coming. My name is Tyr Ryugu." Her voice carried far better than Aeirfin would have thought. She usually spoke so softly that hearing her raise her voice was surprising. "I'll cut right to the chase. I want to see what each of you are capable of." She abruptly reached back and pulled the papers from Aeirfin's hand. "As I call your name, take whatever training weapon that suits you best and make your way forwards. You'll be paired off into teams of three, and hold a sparing match against another team."

A low murmur permeated the training ground, and Aeirfin felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. If he'd understood Tyr right, every one of them had shown up expecting an easy payday. Telling them otherwise was likely going to cause some problems.

"And why should we?!" Aeirfin felt himself deflate as one of the adventurers called out to him, a grizzled old man with an eyepatch. "We came here to babysit your city. Not to play some battle games with ya."

Tyr's eyes narrowed sharply, and she crossed her arms under her chest. "Because not a single one of you is going to be paid a thing until I sign off on it." She spoke with a venom Aeirfin had never heard before. Granted he didn't know her that well, but Tyr seemed like a completely different person than he'd first thought. "The Lady of this city has tasked me with overseeing Hashigin's mercenary force. If you want your pay, you listen to me."

With that simple command, most everyone fell in line. Aeirfin guessed the prospect of being paid was worth whatever apparent wound to their pride this would inflict.

The rest of the day was an arduous one. Three or four at a time, the groups would pair off and spar with one another. Tyr whispered to him to keep an eye out for anyone who was especially skilled, but it quickly became clear he didn't know what that looked like. There where so many of them, so many different fighting styles. Everything from the straightforward swordsmanship of the town guard he was used to, to a flourish of attacks he could barely keep track of, to one warrior who looked like to be nothing more than a brawler that happened to holding a sword... He had no idea how to gauge any of their skill outside of whoever won the match. By design, he figured Tyr had assigned him to watch over mostly the warriors. Whenever someone stood out to him, he made a little mark next to their name and moved on. At the same time though... It frustrated him to see how little he actually knew about combat. A week ago, he was assumed to be one of the best warriors in the city. Now, he didn't even know if he'd make the top twenty.

If he was going to act as a protector for Aoi and her family, he'd have to face a hard truth. That knight he encountered the night of the fires was one thing, but now it'd become all too clear. He'd have to get much, much stronger.

Inside one of the barracks higher floors, with her elbow on the windowsill and her head in her hand, Astra watched the events taking place. Something about this was... Different than she’d pictured. She didn't know in what way, or why she even thought that, but so far her rule over Hashigin had been fairly mundane.

"Am I interrupting?" Turning her head slightly, Astra found the strange merchant she'd bargained with entering the room. Though, he only looked like a merchant when he chose to. She saw what he really was the night they met. Some sort of shadowy demon the likes of which she'd never seen before. Of course, he was oddly cordial for a demon, if unimaginative. He introduced himself to her as Rob, for whatever reason.

"Not at all." She said with a small smirk, standing upright and clasping her hands behind her back. "What can I do for you?"

"Oh, just thought I'd come and see how things are going." He said with a shrug. It was now that Astra realized he had something with him, a long wooden box slung across his back. He approached, laying the crate and the pair of hatchets he carried on a table in the middle of the room. "Your town looks like it's bounced right back. You'd have never guessed it was on fire a month ago."

He had a funny way of talking, but Astra new what he was trying to say. "Yes. The rebuild is going well." She gestured to the window, and the sounds of sparing emanating from below. "My dear friend Tyr is working to ensure nothing like that night will happen ever again."

Rob stepped closer to take a look for himself, and Astra caught the tiniest smirk breaking across his shadowed face. "Right, your mercenaries. Not a bad plan, but I think I got something better."

Raising an eyebrow, Astra watched him stroll back to the create he'd brought and, using one of his hatchets, began prying the nails out of the lid. "A gift? So soon?" While she kept her smile, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I wasn't aware our alliance was going so well."

"Call it an investment." Either Rob ignored her suspicion, or he simply didn't notice, Astra couldn't tell. "I figured you wouldn't want us fighting your battles for you, or you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of hiring your mercenaries. And you mentioned wanting some way to arm your citizens if the need arose. So I had a buddy of mine whipped these up for ya."

Prying the lid off the crate, Rob reached in and produced a... Well, Astra had no idea what it was. It looked to be made of wood, but adorned with metals. Iron and brass mostly. The back half somewhat resembled a crossbow; a wooden stalk and grip, adorned with a trigger and some sort of other metal mechanism she couldn't make sense of. The rest of the item looked to be made purely to contain a narrow metal tube.

"What... is it?" She finally asked.

Somewhat annoyingly, Rob's smirk grew. "It's called a gun. Specifically, a rifle." It must have been clear from her expression she had no idea what that meant, because after a moment, Rob produced a small metal drum from the create, clipped it onto the bottom of his rifle, and began to elaborate. "It works like a bow and arrow, but way easier to use. You aim it at a target, pull the trigger. Fire ignites the powder inside the round, and the bulle-... I mean uh... A little piece of metal flies out of the other end faster than you can see. Makes a hell of a noise when you shoot it too."

He held the item out, inviting her to take it. When she did, she found it heavy. She should've seen that coming, seeing as how much metal it was composed of. But oddly, it was also perfectly balanced in her arms. Even not knowing what this thing as, she could tell it was exceptionally made.

"Who made this?" She blurted. "I've heard dwarves are incredibly skilled craftsmen, but-."

"No, no dwarves." Rob said with a chuckle.

Astra stole a glance at him. "Another of your accomplices then?" Rob gave a knowing nod. In truth she didn't care where they came from, or who made them. So long as they worked. "And... My people can defend themselves with this?" She asked, feeling an excitement swell in her chest.

"This, and others." Rob nodded. "These four, and the next few batches my friend is throwing together should get ya about thirty. Plus, all the ammo you'd ever need. And I can show you how to use 'em. All you need to do is get the volunteers together."

Astra nodded slightly, still admiring the... Rifle. She liked that name. It sounded... Like how a weapon should sound. "Thank you for this." She muttered under her breath, laying the rifle back down on the table. "I'll spread word around right away. After my former husband's actions, I'm sure more than a few citizens will come forward."

"Whatever happened to that guy?" Rob asked, laying the lid back over the crate. "You never mentioned him during your little declaration."

Astra felt her breath catch in her throat. She'd been trying not to think about what he must've done, but knew there was only one place he'd go. "He..." Her voice came out far quieter than she meant too. "He likely... Returned to Cronus." Rob gave her a sideways glance, indicating he didn't know what she was talking about. It was strange to think, for someone so powerful he new very little about the place he now resided. It was like he came from another world or something. "Cronus, the capital city of Lazuli." She bit her lip, casting her eyes to the floor as a sick feeling filled her stomach. "He likely ran back to my father."

Far away, an enormous white marble palace rose out of a vast thriving city. The top of the palace held a great throne room, wherein a single man sat upon a large marble throne. He sat relaxed, resting his elbow against the armrest and propping his head up with a pair of knuckles against his cheek. Deep, blood red eyes surveyed the room full of nobles, but his expression remained stoic as he listened to one issue after the other. Small things really. Harvest prospects, foreign relations, the comings and goings of running a kingdom.

"M-My Lord?" One of the nobles stepped forth, cradling a cloaked figure under his arm.

"The Durns Family, my king." One of the record keepers announced with a small bow.

"Of Hashigin. Wed to my daughter Astra." The king took a long breath, after which he gave an affirming nod. "Speak."

His voice echoed through the halls, carrying far better than anyone else thus far. Slowly, the noble slid the cloak back. revealing a head of shiny golden hair on an otherwise emaciated person. "My boy, Roth, my king. He... Has an affliction." On cue, the cloak dropped, revealing a shrived, gray arm dangling from the former Viscount's shoulder. It was sickly, looking almost mummified all the way up to mid way past the man's bicep. "We can't find a cure, no mater how many healers we ask." The noble said sheepishly.

The slightest raise of an eyebrow was the only reaction the king had. All the same though, he slumped into his chair. "Take him to my daughter."

Rather then obeying his command, as every other before him had, the noble turned and bowed his head. "F-forgive me, my king but... We have already visited Lady Rewt. She was unable to help us."

Murmurs rose from the other nobles, when another, croaky voice cut through the noise. "It's true, father." From the back of the hall, an old, raggedy woman slowly hobbled forth. Compared to everyone else present, she looked completely out of place. Grey skin, shaggy white hair done up in a mess of dreadlocks, glowing blue eyes that left a trail like fire when she walked. The hag of a woman wondered up next to the Durns, clutching a twisted staff in her ancient hands. "I've never seen an affliction like this. It eats at the boy. Corrodes everything it touches. It will kill the boy if left to fester."

The murmurs began anew, a little louder this time. "I-it was..." Roth gasped. "It was that demon!" He cried; his pained eyes frantic with agony. "That bitch, she... She summoned a demon! She did this to me!"

"Silence." That single command cut through the noise, rendering all quiet. The king rose from his chair, slowly striding forwards to get a better look for himself.

"Astra? Summoned a demon?" Another man chuckled as the King approached, standing off to one side of the room away from the nobles. He wore a long black cloak, with a cleanly shaved goatee and mustache that'd curled into a smirk. "Are you sure this isn't some disease you picked up from one of your prostitutes?"

"Silence, Veirs." The king commanded.

The king next turned to the old woman. "Rewt, what news is there from Hashigin?"

"Nothing new, father." The woman bowed, propping herself up on her staff. "They've begun hiring mercenaries. For what purpose, we do not know."

"Is the purpose not obvious?" Veirs spoke up once more. "With Norn at her doorstep, she thinks she can just secede from our great kingdom?" He laughed at the notion, as did a few of the nobles watching them. "The little upstart wants to play at ruling with no army to defend with. Give it a month, her treasury will run dry, and she'll come crawling back to us a failure." His thumb traced over the ornate hilt of a saber hanging by his hip, and a wicked glint flashed through his eyes. "Then we can deal with her as we see fit."

"We'll deal with her now." The king corrected, and both Rewt and Veirs bowed their heads again. "Where is your brother Calgar?"

"Quelling a pirate rebellion in the north-east." Rewt muttered as the massive doors to the hall opened and a new figure strolled inside. "I received word; he expects to be finished by the end of the week. Then he shall return to the capital."

"Father?" A new voice called out, belonging ot the one that just entered. A younger woman, maybe around Roth's age wearing light armor and a flowing white robe strolled into the room with a dozen solders following after. Her long, white hair flowed behind her, and a pair of bright yellow eyes locked onto the king. "If you wish to give her the trial of the sword, I volunteer to be the administrator."

The king looked up at the new arrival, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Toria. Are you sure?"

"Yes, father." The woman bowed. "You simply wish to see if she remains loyal, yes?" The king didn't respond, but she took it as an affirmative anyway. "I shall ride for Hashigin as soon as I am able. Two hundred solders should be enough to quell whatever mercenary's she's hired, don't you agree?" Again, the king didn't respond. But Toria didn't wait log before spinning on her heel and matching straight back out the way she came. "For the glorious King Arbias!" She cried, raising her arm into the air.

"For the glorious King Arbias!" The nobles chanted after her.

As the doors shut, the king turned and began striding back to his throne. "M-my lord?" The man standing next to Roth muttered. He seemed to freeze in place when the king looked back at him, lowing his gaze to the floor. "M-my boy."

Without so much as saying a word, the king raised his hand. A bright crimson orb began swirling at the tip of his fingers, growing to be the size of an apple in just a moment. With a wave of the king's hand, the orb flew out, vaporizing Roth's arm from elbow to shoulder. There was no blood, just a dark red scab that sizzled upon the man's shoulder. He screamed in agony, and after a short chant, a fire jumped from Rewt's fingertips to consume the rest of the sickly appendage. As guards escorted the noble and Roth from the room, the king marched up to his throne and sat down. "Now show me, my daughter." The king mumbled, resting his head on his knuckles again. "Show me how you plan on winning the game."

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