Rise of the Omnimage

Euryale was absolutely ecstatic inside. All she was feeling was pressure and fear of failure. She didn't fully know how she was going to train this team to work with her because the academy didn't go overstep by step what to do. They always talked about discipline and strength of command and blah blah blah power, but sitting before her was the answer she needed.

She couldn't however, let on that she would actually like his help out of inexperience or insecurities because she represented her family, and she could never face her father if she let slip to anyone, she needed a mere conscript's guidance. This Sorin seemed to know a lot more than he let on and held bearing perfectly. She couldn't read anything from him.

He had given her a way to accept this under the pretense of him learning from her which she didn't understand hardly half of what he said. She recognized things from leadership classes she half listened to, so she had pretended to be following. She asked basic questions to learn more, and it helped. There was no break in his bearing or any sign he was trying to undermine her.

He did say he had done this before so perhaps he knew what she was going through and was helping her already. She wanted to believe that, but she was always taught these conscripts would do things to hurt the Empire if given the chance. She would watch closely and if it didn't work, she would crush him and be like the other groups.

"The next step Lady Aegis is you provide your team with your intent. You let me know where you see your team at a specific date and my job will be to see it done under your supervision." Sorin said.

"That's it?" She said. Euryale couldn't believe it was that simple.

"Yes ma'am. Once you give me your intent, I will take care of the small tasks that are necessary to meet that objective. I provide you a plan in a timely manner for your review and approval. Once approve we operate from that. Should you see adjustments needed you easily flow around the team making those objectives. It gives you freedom to do so and gives the appearance of easy competency which instills confidence in your troops."

She was screaming and dancing inside. She liked where this is going and if she could truly rely on this man and he could deliver, she will have very very high marks in the exam that those instructors refused to elaborate on.

"Very well. My immediate concern is integration of my path with the team and its amplification. I want you three to be able to support and amplify my strength when needed." She said with a projected confidence and a tone that she was hoping sounded as if she was testing him.

He nodded.

"It will take time but can be done so that by the weeks end will have a competent group supporting your strength. That being said, do you want to have the amplification going non-stop or as required if we conscripts become outmatched and must rely on your strength? We can keep this form of amplification in reserve as a sort of secret weapon to bring out for a decisive stalemate breaker."

She liked this. Her passive is called burning regret it made all of her stats and regeneration increase the more and hotter the flames around her. She had a passive immunity to fire from her path so she just needed to be drenched in the honest flames she could, but he had a point. They didn't need to reveal her full power unless needed, but how quickly could they generate the desired inferno.

"How quickly can you generate your hottest flames?" She asked.

"May I demonstrate Lady Aegis?" Sorin asked.

"Proceed, but don't break anything." She said putting on an unconcerned look.

Sorin stood and backed away from the table. In a moment white hot orb after orb after orb became popping into existence around him and started moving around him. She was honestly surprised, and she felt her brows go up a bit. She had to control that reaction. It gives information away. At tier 2 or 2 and a half have this level of control was nothing short of impressive. She stood. "Hold them still for a moment." She commanded.

She grabbed one of the orbs with hand.

"Ma'am!" Sorin called out in warning then in confusion he went silent. He didn't know she was immune to fire. She wouldn't tell them and just let them believe that she at peak tier 3 was just that much above them their attacks did nothing.

As she grabbed the flame however, she felt like a little girl on Founding Day getting that gift she wanted.

Burning regret activated

Stats increased by 30%

She grabbed another orb, and her stats went up by 20 more percent. With just his flames alone her boosts will work.

"This is acceptable. Extinguish them." She commanded and walked away.

She turned and sat at the table once more. "Can the others produce that quality if flame? she asked.

"Not quite yet ma'am. They are learning to make it more powerful without expending more aether than required." He answered.

She thought for a moment. She needed three things off the top of her head. One she needed an understanding of their martial skill and to work with them for cohesion and effectiveness. Second, she needed to get their fire skills as hot as possible in the week they had. Third she needed to train them in boosting her quickly.

She pulled her note pad in front of her. Turned the page and wrote those things down.

She ripped the page and held it up. "Come. We will test your method. We start today. Here are my three top objectives."

Sorin stood and moved quickly taking the page his right hand still behind his back. He nodded.

"This is more than achievable. With your permission, I'll leave and get the men ready to begin the demonstration and begin to integrate you within the formation centered around you." He said with a salute.

She smirked. She wanted to smile and be her usually self where she did smile freely, but she had a job to do.

She just waved her hand in a dismissal.

"Make yourselves ready quickly. On the right of your quarters is the training court." She commanded.

Sorin bowed over his salute, turned on his heel and left.

- a few minutes later -

"Gents! We got to move. We have training to get to. She wants to start immediately. I think we will be OK with her as a commander. She surprisingly is willing to listen. I'll fill you guys in on everything tonight."

Linx and Cain looked at him nodding with hopeful looks. They grabbed their weapons and ran out to the training court.