Trials of the Inventor Hero

Gabriella spun one Nathaniel's strange tools in her hands. Its circular, wooden handle had grooves carved into it with a thin, round metal shaft sticking out. The shaft ended in a star-like pattern. With a bit of sharpening, it would make an excellent stabbing tool, but she doubted that was its purpose.

"What is the purpose of this tool?" she asked the Inventor.

Nathaniel glanced up from his work. "That's a screwdriver." He said with a smirk. "I use it to secure screws into place."

"I was hoping it'd be the magic wand you use to conjure those rho-bots." She chuckled, waving it around. "They're quite useful, and I'd like to take a few home with me."

"They'd be no use without a dungeon core."

Gabriella pressed herself tightly against him with a sultry smile. "Then maybe I should move here." She purred.

Nathaniel turned away, taking a deep breath. "What about your father, your people?"

"Father can visit whenever he desires, and I can always rule my domain from here." She said, tucking a strand of his hair into place. "Besides, my dominion would also belong to my husband."

"So is that why you're here." Nathaniel groaned. "Trying to worm your way into a marriage?"

"That is a secondary objective." Her flirtatious tone vanished. She stepped away, wrapping herself in her arms. "I am here to support my friends first and foremost. Otherwise, I'd be in the capital for the war council."

Nathaniel returned his attention to the metal spine before him. "What's that?" He asked.

Gabriella pursed her lips. "Near the end of winter, the five kingdoms come together to discuss the upcoming campaign." She said, choosing each word deliberately. "Most of the other kingdoms support the war with monetary compensation, but there might be a change this year."

"Why?"

"The heroes failed to push back the Horde, putting Gilbrant in a position of weakness. The other kingdoms may renegotiate and offer reinforcements in exchange for ceding control of occupied land. I'm certain Umvral will push for it."

Nathaniel set down his tool, staring at the table in thought. "Will that be bad for us?"

"You have nothing to worry about." Gabriella gently touched his hand. "All of the occupied land is to the northwest, far from Treante and the Wilderness. However, I wouldn't put it past the other kingdoms to send you messages while they're here."

"Are there any I should avoid?"

Gabriella's face darkened. "Umvral, they are a kingdom of traitors and thieves." She stared into the ceiling, her eyes going distant. "They should be holding the council now."

Gilbrant capital

Ophelia stepped lightly through the halls of the castle. Her fingers laced together to stop herself from clutching her skirt. These negotiations weighed heavily on her heart, especially this one.

"Don't be nervous." Maria said with a gentle smile.

"I'm trying not to be." Ophelia replied, "But news has spread about Nathaniel's return. The other kingdoms will have questions that I'll need to answer."

"And she doesn't have the king backing her this time." Shizuka interjected.

Maria scoffed. "He's still holding the fight against you. He was the one that accepted Nathaniel's challenge."

Ophelia let out a small sigh. "That loss has shaken the court. The King's party shrank while his opposition grew." Her lips twitched into a small smile. "And now there's rumors of a faction forming to support Nathaniel."

"I can't blame them." Maria chuckled. "His wares are flooding the capital. If only we could get Nate to move back here."

"You simply want him here to make you clothes." Ophelia smirked.

"That may be one reason." Maria laughed.

The other two women joined. Their laughter filled the halls, drawing everyone's attention.

"Such a beautiful sound."

The most beautiful man approached them. His long golden hair pulled back into a loose braid that hung over his shoulder. A fine velvet coat fitted well to his body with the silk shirt underneath parted to reveal his muscular chest. His vibrant green eyes took them in, although they lingered on Maria.

"I must say, you three have the loveliest laughs I've ever heard." He said, his accent emphasized every vowel. "Especially yours, my dear saint."

Maria responded with a tight smile. "Thank you, prince Julian. It is good to see you're doing well."

"You honor me with your kindness." Julian bowed dramatically. "Being in your presence is the greatest pleasure I enjoy from these negotiations." He said, taking Maria's hand. "I propose that you come visit Umvorial before this campaign starts. We'd be honored to bless you with the finest equipment before you take to the field again."

A blow forced their hands apart. The prince of Gilbrant stepped between them, glaring at Julian.

"Why would the saint need Umvorian gear when Gilbrantian equipment is of finer quality." Ollimier growled.

Julian simply smiled at him. "Now, now cousin, don't be so hostile." He said, playfully slapping Ollimier's cheek. "The people of Umvral desire to show their support." His glistening eyes landed on Ophelia. "And besides, I doubt the quality of your products since you threw away your greatest crafter. Will the Inventor be attending today?"

"No, he couldn't make it." Ophelia replied, "The Inventor is busy attending to his new domain."

Julian's smile grew as he turned his gaze back to Ollimier. "Couldn't, or wasn't invited?"

Ollimier growled deeply; his fingers clenched into a fist. Sparks filled the little space between the two princes, making the atmosphere feel heavy.

"Shouldn't we be getting to this meeting?" Maria stepped between them.

"Yes, we should." Julian offered his arm to Maria with a dashing smile.

Maria hesitantly took his arm, letting herself be led away. Ophelia and Shizuka stepped past Ollimier. He let out a soft string of curses as he followed them into the meeting room.

The large room was well-lit thanks to the large windows on the far side. A round table sat in the center of the room with a map of the continent secured to it. Wooden pieces littered the map, showing the updated positions of the enemy and allied forces. Ophelia's heart ached at the sight of the red pieces being pushed farther east.

She sat down at the table in between Maria and Shizuka. Prince Julian sat across from them, the banner of Umvral draped across his chair. Next to him sat the representative of Nevran, a burly dwarf with silver hair and a thick braided beard. His bronze skin was set ablaze by the bright sunlight, making him look like a living statue despite his size. The dwarf's short stature contrasted greatly from the towering representative of Touldan.

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The Touldian woman scanned the room, her large, hooked nose and long neck made her resemble a bird of prey. Her head was completely shaven, save for five thin strips of dark red hair. Her thick robes clung tightly to her body, covering every part of her save for the dark scalp. She was a striking woman but paled in comparison to the Melmarian representative.

All eyes were naturally drawn to the dusky skinned southern woman. Long waves of black hair hung from her head and held together with gold jewelry. The sun washed over her, making rainbows dance across her cheeks. The southern woman was wrapped fully in furs, yet she still had an air of sensuality that drew men. Ophelia gave a silent prayer, thankful that Nathaniel wasn't there. Thundering footsteps echoed through the hall, drawing all eyes to the door.

Duncan strode in with heavy breaths. He wore a freshly laundered suit that fit him perfectly, and he ran a hand through his hair, trying to fix it. He stopped next to Ophelia, his eyes scanning the room.

"Am I late?" he asked as he fixed his ascot.

Words slipped from the oracle's mind. "N-no, we are still waiting for the King." She stuttered.

"Good. Where do I sit?"

"You'll sit there." She pointed to a seat with a banner draped over it. A banner with a shield and crossed swords was draped over it. "The seat with the Champion's seal."

"Got it, thanks." Duncan nodded. He took a few steps before turning back to Ophelia. "Can Veyl join in?"

"Yes, as long as she remains quiet."

Duncan ran off, giving her a small wave. She watched in amazement as the man took his seat. Several of the maids approached with sultry smiles, but Duncan waved them away. His focus was solely on the map.

"What the hell happened to him?" Maria asked.

"I don't know, but I've seen him training a lot lately." Shizuka replied, "He uses different weapons for each session too."

"I'm glad to see him change for the better. If only I could say the same for Shawn."

A crash came from outside. A gaggle of servants gathered at the door, some picking up broken dishes while others helped the tall ranger to his feet. His skin was sunken with an unhealthy hue. His bloodshot eyes stared blankly at the ground, and his clothes were horribly disheveled. A maid walked him to his chair, flashing a bright smile his way, but Shawn barely reacted.

A sorrowful frown appeared on Maria's lips. "This is the first time I've seen him in months."

"I'm not certain what happened, but shortly after Nathaniel left, he locked himself away in his room." Ophelia whispered.

"Does it have something to do with the queen?" Shizuka asked nervously. "I've noticed the king's been keeping her close lately."

Ophelia nodded, pressing her hand to her chest. "I fear you may be correct."

A courtier stepped into the room. "All rise for the King!"

Chairs screeched across the floor as everyone, except for Shawn, stood. King Rogmier walked into the room, arm-in-arm with his queen. The two made their way to the large chairs at the head of the table, and when they sat, so did everyone else. Queen Haley gave Shawn a worried, but quick look before turning to assembled members.

"Let this council begin." Rogmier stated loudly. "We shall begin with a debriefing of the previous campaign. Prince Ollimier, please recount the events of the royal army."

Ollimier rose to his feet. "In this last campaign, we lost forts Pillion, Hammel, and Emeriti along with the counties of Weisser, Queion, Curate, and Lumenion. Our total casualties are roughly eleven hundred dead, nineteen hundred grievously wounded, three hundred missing, and two hundred desertions.

On the Demon front, we've made little progress. Their castles remain off the coast, out of reach of our forces, and without proper naval support, we have no means to defend against them. The raids on our northern lands have slowed thanks to Duke Warnmier's soldiers. We are still considering the Horde to be the greater threat."

"You lost all that progress from the last campaign." Prince Julian sighed dramatically. "Perhaps it's time for us to join the fight?"

Ollimier growled deeply. "That's not necessary. We merely underestimated this new warlord." He said, staring at the reports imperiously. "Warlord Grangk utilizes the various races of the Horde efficiently. Unlike the previous warlord that predominately used orcs. Now that we've seen them fight, we simply need to reorient ourselves to counter their tactics."

Duncan stood up. "It's my fault we failed this campaign." He said sternly. "I became overconfident and wouldn't listen to any of the advice given."

"It is commendable that you acknowledge your failures, but Prince Ollimier is the commander of the army." The Melmarian representative replied. Her voice made every word sound lyrical. "He is also to blame for this setback as well as his handling of the Inventor."

"Who doesn't seem to be here." The Nevran representative words rumbled from the dwarf's chest. "Why is that?"

"The Inventor is currently tending to his new domain." Ophelia answered.

"A new domain? You've let him out of your sights again." The Touldan representative said disapprovingly. "You've already lost him once, who's to say you won't again."

"We won't lose the Inventor again." King Rogmier replied, "He has taken control of a dungeon and converted it into a workshop. From there, he'll be providing arms and armor for the war."

Chaos erupted as the representatives started shouting.

"What do you mean he's taken control of a dungeon?"

"Is there no one overseeing his work? Can you verify the quality of the gear?"

"That's no excuse for him not to be here. You should summon him immediately."

"Where is his domain? We need to send missives to him requesting an update on his progress."

"Enough!" Rogmier bellowed, silencing everyone. "The Inventor's location is to remain secret. We don't need the Horde or demons to learn where he is."

"If you have no desire to control the Inventor, then give him to us." The Nevran representative slammed his fist onto the table. "Our master craftsmen will see to it that the Inventor's skills are properly utilized."

"And how much will you charge for his crafts?" The Touldan representative scoffed. "Your kingdom already bleeds us dry for the rare metals that can only be found in your mountains."

"I agree." Prince Julian said, "However, it should be stated that Gilbrant has failed to properly raise all the heroes. Look at the poor state the Ranger is in!" All eyes fell onto Shawn, who was laying facedown on the table. "And secondary reports show that the Archmage hasn't performed well ever since her summoning."

"I concur with Prince Julian." The Melmarian representative said, "The heroes should be split between the kingdoms. The change may help them grow faster."

"Why should we hand over the heroes?" Rogmier glared, his face during a deep red. "It was our citizens and our mages that volunteered for the summoning rituals. Your kingdoms provided nothing. Therefore, the heroes belong to Gilbrant by the right of blood. None of you can make any claim on them!"

Shizuka leaned closer to Ophelia. "Is that true?" she whispered.

"In a sense." Ophelia replied.

"That's nothing but a lie!" The Nevran representative snapped. "We offered to ease the burden, but you demanded payments and material support for the war."

"We will not allow you to lie on this, king Rogmier." The Touldan representative continued. "We had a hundred slaves ready to send as tribute. Even now, we are willing to send sacrifices to summon another hero if need be."

"Send them to Umvral. One of our wizards reached the level needed to perform the summoning." Prince Julian said nonchalantly.

"Does Umvral desire another Hero War?" The Nevran representative rumbled.

"Of course not." Julian replied with a huff. "We would never break the Blood Bound Treaties. However, the current number of heroes isn't enough to turn the tides of this battle. So, with everyone's permission, Umvral is ready to summon another hero to fight for us, and we are willing to have them train in the other kingdoms too."

"Of course you want to steal our heroes too." Ollimier quipped.

Julian's smile faded. "We never stole any heroes."

"That's a lie and you know it!" Ollimier shouted, standing to his feet. "Your ancestor seduced the Executor then convinced him to turn on her own family to establish her own kingdom. And now you're trying it again with the Saint!"

Julian slowly stood up. "Do not speak ill of our matriarch." He growled. "She was a wise woman who couldn't stand seeing the Executor being taken advantage of. Much like I can't stand you taking advantage of the other heroes."

Both princes started hurling insults at each other, causing the room to fill with angry voices. Representatives shouted, demanding custody of the heroes be passed between the different kingdoms. It was sheer chaos.

"What is the deal with Umvral and Gilbrant?" Maria shouted over the pandemonium.

"Umvral used to be part of Gilbrant." Ophelia replied, rubbing her temples. "However, the third princess at the time convinced one of the summoned heroes and the eastern dukes to secede, forming their own kingdom with her as queen." She looked around sadly. "This was during the height of the Great War, so the move was unexpected, and our two kingdoms have hated each other ever since."

"Quiet!" A deep voice filled the room making everyone fall silent. Duncan stood, looking around. "We must prepare for this next campaign, not be at each other's throats. So let's get back to the matter at hand."

Maria moved closer to Ophelia. "Duncan's starting to scare me."

"The Champion is right." Rogmier said, glaring at everyone. "We have much to discuss and little time to do it." He turned to Julian. "I will consider the possibility of summoning another hero, on the condition that Lady Ophelia be a part of their training."

Julian gave him a pleasant smile. "I can agree to that."

"Then let us continue with this council."

Hours passed, and the blue sky slowly turned golden. Papers covered the tables with multiple ink stains. The representatives leaned back in their chairs, some with pleased smiles, others with deep frowns.

"Do we agree with these terms?" Rogmier asked.

Slow nods came from everyone.

"Very well. Then the next campaign will go as follows: Umvral will proceed with the summoning of another hero with Touldan providing the sacrifices. Touldan will provide naval support to Duke Warnmier to fight off the demons while Nevran will send forces to aid in fighting the Horde. Lastly, an advisor from each kingdom will join Lady Ophelia in the training of the heroes with a representative of Nevran being sent to the Inventor. We can finish determining the finer details tomorrow." He slammed a gavel onto the table, dismissing the council.

"Looks like this next campaign will be interesting." Maria sighed, rubbing her lower back.

"Yes." Ophelia said sorrowfully. "Unfortunately, it came at a great cost."