Aghanim's Rubick Chapter 13

Chapter 13:

Awareness came to Hanako quickly. Confusion followed, her position of being safely ensconced in her bed not at all matching up with her last memories. She had been working in the kitchen, attempting to distract herself from the battle that she knew had been raging off in the distance. Suddenly, she had been hit by a wave of fatigue, only retaining enough sense to turn off the heating runes on the oven before she had passed out.

So how had she been moved to her bedroom? More importantly, how long had it been? Was this some form of attack against the town? The fact that she woke up at all pointed against that theory, but that just left her in further confusion.

As she moved from her bedroom to the living area, several talismans ready to throw at any foes, she was surprised to see a familiar sight sitting at the table.

“Lady Hanako!” The Dryad spoke, standing from the chair and bowing towards her, “It is good to see you up!”

“Thank you?” Her confusion made the reply come out like a question, “Might I ask what happened?”

“Ah.” The dryad started, straightening out from her bow, “My apologies. My name is Sylva, I was sent here by Lady Treyni to guard this town and make sure no one was hurt while the Harvest Festival was ongoing.”

“Harvest Festival? Was that what caused me to pass out? Is Lord Rubick okay?” She quickly fired off her questions, causing the Dryad to raise her arms for peace.

“I’m sorry Lady Hanako, The Harvest Festival is a secret. Lady Treyni went to protect Lord Rubick and your army while they slumbered, once they arrive back she will likely be happy to answer your questions.” Hanako narrowed her eyes at the tree spirit.

“I thought the Dryads do not get involved directly. What changed?” She pressed.

“The Harvest Festival occurred because of our actions. If Lord Rubick did not go to fight the Orc Lord, it would not have occurred. Although it was not our intent, we did not want harm to come to your city due to our actions.” Sylva was calm as she explained, “For now, Lord Rubick and the others should be up and moving. Lady Treyni instructed me to protect and assist you directly until he returns. What do you wish to do, my Lady?”

She wanted to get answers. But she could tell that this spirit in front of her would not be providing them. Taking in a deep breath, she started to categorise what she knew. Apparently whatever this ‘Harvest Festival’ was, it affected everyone in the army as well as herself. That meant it likely affected the town too, which if that was the case…

“I need to speak to my father, to ensure no one is hurt or missing.” She declared, moving to go find him.

“My sisters and I made sure that was not the case.” Sylva followed after her.

“Thank you.” Hanako responded, not breaking stride, “However, you don’t know everyone in the town. If there is someone who is missing or hidden away hurt somewhere, you would have no idea.”

“Very well.” The Dryad took her doubt lightly, “In that case, let me accompany you.”

Hanako didn’t mind. She didn’t trust this, the whole thing stinking of a set up to her, but if that was the case it was better to keep Sylva near her so that she could keep an eye on her.

She just prayed that Lord Rubick and Oda were okay.

---ARARAR---

Moving felt odd.

I barely noticed it when I was waking up everyone else, but now that I was walking for an extended period of time the feeling was almost a blaring siren inside my head. The best way I could describe it is through my Magical senses I could feel myself moving through space. The area around me deforming around my form, how it displaced air, how it left a small void behind me with every step.

My magic itched. Space around me was revealed to my senses like never before. I knew, without even trying, that I could reach to the threads of matter around me and contract and extend them at will. I had done it without thinking to Lucifer, smashing her into the floor with a crudely gathered area of space, but now that I was focusing on it I could tell that was just scratching the surface of what had been unlocked during my slumber.

My hands twitched. I wanted to experiment. I wanted to tinker. I wanted to understand.

Bringing my staff to rest in front of me, I focused on the piece of magically reactive ore. With a tweak, a nudge, and a twist of the fabric of reality, I let the staff go. Instead of falling, it started to slowly rotate, floating in front of me as I walked. I tilted my head as I stared at the floating hunk of metal, dissecting how my new senses interacted with this strange form of telekinesis.

Susuru, who had been walking behind me, slid up to my side staring at my staff, “What are you doing with that?”

“Just messing around. Testing something out.” I replied, before I furrowed my brow, “Could you not tell?”

He had some form of analysis skill. That much I had figured out by how he managed to do things that were amazingly complicated Magically, but when I attempted to speak to him about the underlying principles he had no clue what I was talking about.

“No.” He shook his head, “I have no clue how you’re doing that.”

“I’m holding it in a vortex of twisted space.” I saw no reason to hide it.

“More insanity. I have no clue how you do such things so nonchalantly.” He shook his head, before stiffening as the well dressed Demon walked up besides his other side.

“Of course the man that would be worthy to be my Master would be exceptional.” She spoke, her cheery smile clashing heavily with the danger underlying her tone, “I have no idea why you would expect anything else.”

“Besides,” I took the chance to change the topic, “Speaking of insanity, we need to discuss you summoning demons out of the blue.”

He tensed even further, like a strung bow. But before that conversation could continue we finally arrived at the throne room to the Lizardman Tribe.

“Saved by the bell, eh?” I smiled at him, trying to defuse the tension, “I’m interested in where and how you learned something like that, but for now let’s focus on the Orc situation.”

“Right.” He sighed, releasing all the tension, then sarcastically remarking, “Looking forward to it.”

Rolling my eyes, I strode into the throne room, before pausing at the sight that greeted me.

Sitting on the throne was a Lizardman that matched the description that had been given to me by Hattori, who I identified as the Lizardman Chief. Standing to one side of the room, weathering hostility from the rest of the room, was a large Orc with a yellow mohawk. The most surprising person in the room, however, was the slightly glowing woman dressed in green that was standing serenely to the other side of the steps leading up to the throne.

“Announcing Lord Rubick and his companions.” The Lizardman that escorted us here called out.

That caused the attention of every being to be drawn to our group. Easily taking the attention, I stepped into the middle of the room, pausing as Treyni moved from her position by the steps to kneel in front of me.

“Lord Rubick.” She was the first to speak, “It is good to see you are awake.”

“Treyni.” I nodded, “It appears you know something about what happened.”

She would have to, otherwise she would not be here.

“I do, Lord Rubick. I would prefer we discuss it in private.” She kept her head looking at the floor.

“Very well.” I replied, “You have not pledged allegiance to me, you do not need to kneel like that.”

“Thank you, Lord Rubick.” She stood and nodded in my direction, moving backwards out of the way of my group.

I moved the rest of the way through the room, only to be surprised when the Chieftain moved off the throne and kneeled towards me, much like Treyni did. The Orc soon followed suit.

“Lord Rubick.” The Chieftain spoke, “Thank you for saving us.”

“Rise, Chieftain. We are allies. There is no need to bow.” As he did so, I indicated to Susuru and Lucifer, “Allow me to introduce my companions, this is my Governor, Susuru and my Aide, Lucifer.”

He nodded to each of them, before turning back to me, “Pleased to meet you. As you guessed, I am the Chieftain of the Lizardman Tribe. I must once again apologise for the impudence of my son…”

I waved his apology off, “It appears to me to be an internal matter. I shall leave his fate to you to decide. My forces were thankfully strong enough to deal with the Orc forces attacking your people. I hope we saved as much as we could.”

“Yes, thank you Lord Rubick.” He nodded to me, before turning to the still kneeling Orc, the frills on his neck standing on end, “Although the Orcs tried their best… Our casualties were few in number. Lady Treyni stated that she discussed their punishment with you beforehand?”

“She did. The Orcs have a debt to pay.” I responded, the kneeling Orc tensing but not moving to attack, keeping his head down as I walked to stand before him.

“What is your name?” I asked, causing him to look up at me, raising his gaze from the floor.

“I do not have one.” He rumbled.

“Orc Leader then. I have a question for you.” He set his shoulders at that, “Do you regret attacking the denizens of the Jura Forest?”

He didn’t answer, returning his gaze to the floor as he thought through the answer. I didn’t rush him, actually appreciating that he was taking the time to think the question through rather than just blurting out what he thought I wanted to hear.

“...Yes.” He finally spoke, his deep voice low and demoralised, “I regret that we attacked the forest, that we fell to the effects of Starved to save ourselves. However, I don’t regret trying to save my people, or following my father as he did what he believed was right.”

“I see.” I spoke, considering his words before making my decision, “There are several villages and settlements that have been destroyed by your march. A wide swath of the Forest was trampled by the advance. Your attack was vicious and unprovoked.”

He nodded, resolve not faltering as I laid all this out.

“However.” I raised a finger, “Eliminating a whole people, especially one that is already defeated, is not the actions of those on the side of justice. Instead, it is the action of a tyrant. Sometimes it may be necessary, but with the Orc Lord defeated I do not believe that to be the case here.”

“If you will not kill us…” He spoke slowly, expecting a rebuke that never came, “Then what is to become of my people?”

“You shall be punished.” I decreed, “You shall work to put to right all the damage you have caused to this forest and its inhabitants. Your sins shall not be completely absolved, but in the end, you will have the opportunity to join the other monsters under my wing as a reformed people.”

“Lord Rubick!” The Chieftain called out, shocked at what he was hearing, “Surely that won’t be it? Think of the deaths, the destruction that the horde has wrought on their path of conquest!”

“If the Lizardmen wish to continue their war with the Orcs, they are welcome to do so.” My response seemed to shock the Chieftain further while also getting a look of alarm from the Orc spokesperson, “However, you shall do so without our support. We came to your defence, to save your people from extinction. We will not be party to the defensive action being perverted into an aggressive one. Additionally, considering the fact that my people will be guarding the Orcs as they work and therefore will likely get in the way of any retribution you attempt…”

I trailed off, letting his imagination do the rest of the work. Something that clearly occurred as he looked rather sour at the ultimatum I had laid at his feet.

“If I may…” Treyni’s voice was soft as she glided into a position of easy visibility to all present, “Lord Rubick has the backing of the Dryads of Jura. We will stand by his decision in this matter.”

At that decree, all desire to fight was expunged from the aged Chieftain as he sagged in defeat.

“If even the Dryads say so…” He spoke softly.

“Chieftain.” my voice was diplomatic, “I personally killed over a hundred thousand Orcs. Their numbers have been reduced to a tenth of what they were. Surely that is revenge enough for the losses you have incurred? Would you only truly be satisfied if they were erased from the earth entirely, without even the chance to make amends for their actions?”

“…You are right, Lord Rubick. Forgive me.” The Chieftain mumbled, “I let my rage blind me. As the victor of this battle, it is your right to dictate the outcomes.”

“Thank you for your understanding.” I nodded to the aged Monster, before turning to my companions, “That said, Susuru, the Orcs are all yours.”

“What?!” This came as a shock to the Slime, “Why?!”

“You were the one advocating for mercy and peaceful integration of all races, no? That is your dream. If you are not prepared to work for it, do you truly believe in it?” My tone was firm, wishing to impart a lesson to the other man.

He struck me as someone who had been rather sheltered. Despite being older than me in our previous lives, I felt that I somehow had more life experience between the two of us. His idealism and naivete was refreshing, but also incredibly dangerous without the proper consideration as to how to implement his big dreams.

“It’s just sudden is all, we didn’t discuss this at all…” His eyes narrowed as he stared me down, realisation lighting up his gaze, “Wait a moment, you are just dumping the tedious tasks on to me so that you have more time to do research, aren’t you?”

“Me? Perish the thought.” I smiled.

Maybe he had more life experience than I thought.

“I don’t see why you are ungratefully complaining. It is an honour to be given a task by your Master. It shows that they have faith in you to carry it through.” Lucifer sneered down her nose at the diminutive slime, seemingly taking his reluctance as a personal insult.

“Yea Susuru, this is an honour.” I grinned at him, causing him to raise his arm in a rude gesture towards me that was halted as Treyni spoke.

“Now that the issue of the Orc tribes has been dealt with, there is another thing of import that we must discuss, as soon as possible.” She commanded the room, her aura subtly growing larger to force all attention to be drawn to her.

“What may that be, Treyni?” I asked, my interest piqued.

“Your ascension to the protector of the Jura Forest.” She responded, smiling at me.

“...I was unaware that I agreed to such a thing.” My voice was deliberately neutral, ignoring the gasp that the Orc and Lizardman made in response to her statement.

“It is a title granted to one that has the power and temperament to be a good steward to the Forest by the Dryads, Lord Rubick.” Treyni graciously explained, “My sisters and I were unanimous in our decision, especially after your conduct during this crisis.”

“I see.” I was non-committal, turning over what I knew of this in my head, which wasn’t much, “What will be my duties?”

“Nothing you haven’t already done.” Her voice was too smug for my liking, the tone of a well laid plan bearing fruit, “Protect the Forest from threats that seek to disrupt it.”

“That is what the Dryads see it as.” The Lizardman Chieftain seemed uncomfortable speaking, but did so to explain, “However, with them recognising you as the Protector, you will become the de-facto leader of the entirety of the Forest. Many will travel to pledge fealty to you, and just as many will wish to challenge you for the title.”

So I will essentially be King then. Man, I just wanted to mess around with magic, but ever since Hanako convinced me that I should stick around her village it had just been one thing after another.

“It sounds like they are crowning you a King.” Susuru mirrored my thoughts.

“As is only right.” Lucifer nodded, satisfied as if she had anything to do with this state of affairs.

Well, it’s not like I couldn’t see this coming. I wasn’t blind, I had basically been participating in Nation building for a while now, but this was a rather drastic escalation. I couldn’t lie and say that I didn’t feel some form of duty towards the Monsters I named, not to mention my growing attachment to them. Just refusing was not an option, as with the Dryads making the declaration I would be seen as the Protector regardless of my feelings on the matter.

So if I wanted to stay with the new friends I have made, I didn’t really have a choice.

“Fine Treyni.” I sighed, “You win. I will become the Jura Forest’s Protector.”

“Thank you Lord Rubick.” She beamed at my answer, like the cat that had caught a particularly juicy canary, “I am sure that we will grow into something amazing under your stewardship.”

I refused to be the most uncomfortable person in this room.

“Well.” I turned to a rather smugly observing Susuru, causing him to raise an eyebrow, “If we are making a country anyway, I guess we will need a name, won’t we?”

He groaned, “Why? You know I hate having to name things suddenly like this.”

My smile was vicious, “I know.”