Chapter Seventy-Six: Definitely Could've Gone Better

"So we're just dealing with the logistics now, won't be long until the impending war is public knowledge."

"I'm sure that'll go down well with people."

Meg and Tim were eating dinner in the library, and updating each other on how their respective works were proceeding.

"Better than you expect, I'm sure." Tim said.  "We've been running a propaganda campaign on the citizenry using spies and merchants to increase hostility to Richard. Even have a few in Athene itself, spreading dissent in the villages."

"That's... Who's idea was that?"

"Mine."

"...You scare me sometimes."

"Only sometimes? That's an improvement."

"Just don't take it any further than you need to. Please?"

"It's war Meg. We're not punishing a child, we're about to commit the biggest mass murder in over a century. The propaganda is meant to make sure no-one has to die unnecessarily. As long as the ordinary citizens stay out of the way and carry on as normal, there'll be no issues."

"I still don't like it."

"Whether you like it or not isn't really a factor at this point."

"Hmm..."

"How're things going on your end?"

"Well, I've made a deal with the merchant's guild and the magic institution based in the bitch's city for their help in information gathering."

"I assume you mean Metz. What information do you need?"

"Starting with crop growing techniques from all nations, along with soil types, samples and which crops will grow in which soils."

"I feel like there are a lot of easier ways to get all of that."

"Probably, but I don't have the connections or experiences you do, and you're busy. So I have to go about things through other people."

"What are they asking for in return?"

"The magic institute just wants to reproduce the books here, the merchant's guild wants an upfront payment for anything they find upon delivery."

"The magic lot paying for it?"

"Yup."

"Good. I already pay for your food, can't be paying for the merchant's guild's activities too. I'd be broke before I realised what had happened."

"Yeah they certainly weren't cheap."

"I do have an account with them though."

"You do?"

"Yeah, for quite a while actually. I think I even get a special discount, so if the magics don't want to fund something, just give them my name. At least that way I'll save something."

"Will do."

They talked for a little while longer, before clearing up. Tim said goodbye, and went back through the transport circle to the palace. Meg continued her studies for a while, then went to bed.

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A few days later Meg was in her usual spot, having spent the time studying any relevant texts she could find as she waited for the merchant's guild to get in touch. Deciding to take a break, she got up to have a walk and stretch her legs.

Looking out through the great glass window that made up the library's front however, she noticed a black shape blotting out her view of the white path leading to the library. She flew over to the centerpiece of the window, the moon, and tilted it outwards. Squinting through the open gap, she could see a group of men on horseback, with a wagon behind them.

Her first thought was that the guild had arrived, but the size of the group caused her some concern. Deciding to err on the side of caution, Meg descended to the ground floor to await their arrival by the entrance.

The open area by the entrance had seen extensive use during Meg's stay there. It was where she conducted her experiments on Tim, and it was where she had set up the faulty power storage circle in order to scare her last unwanted visitor. Due to Meg's unwillingness to get rid of something that could be of future use, all of these things were still there.

She once again coated the bottom of her shoe with the conducting agent, stood by the break in the line leading from the charged storage circles upstairs to the faulty one downstairs, and waited.

Eventually, the group came to a halt outside the entrance, and the man who had been leading the group stepped through the door.

"Hello." Meg said, arms folded and watching the man intently. The man looked at her in shock, and Meg moved her foot over to the break, now certain these visitors weren't friendly.

Then the man pounced.

He tore his way across the floor faster than Meg could've anticipated. In her shock, she slammed her foot down, and the man was engulfed in light.

Meg was blown backwards by the shockwave, as a fireball erupted in front of her, followed by a piercing cold, with bolts of lightning tearing through the air.

Rolling across the floor, Meg was saved from the worst of the damage due to being knocked away by the initial blast, though she was still hurt. Her flesh felt like it was burning, and drowned out any other feeling, whilst she was being deafened by a ringing in her ears that came from nowhere. Her vision blurred, and she stumbled as she struggled to her feet, a murky red liquid mixing with the dust from the explosion on the ground beneath her.

Stunned from the blast, Meg finally got to her feet. Wobbling precariously, she tilted back her head, and screamed out.

"UPSTAAAIIIIIIIIRS!"

A few seconds later, the door leading into the basement burst open, and shambling masses of decayed flesh made their way to the front of the library. One of them stopped by Meg, and began to drag her to the stairs leading to the upper floors.

Not long after the ascent began, screams and yelling chased behind her from the unwitting survivors of the blast. Hearing them, Meg simply grit her teeth, and pushed forward, aided by her undead servant.

Finally reaching the top, Meg dropped to the floor by the large summoning circle, and began to alter it as fast as she was able to in her state. Repeatedly making mistakes due to her numb body, and in some places substituting the usual drawing materials with her own blood for expediency, she managed to complete it as the yells died down.

She pressed her palm to the ground next to the circle, and activated it. As it began to glow, she looked around her, just in time to see the corpse that has aided her ascent be torn apart.

As viscera splattered onto the floor, Meg looked at the culprit, and saw a man covered in scorched flesh snarling back at her. He reached out his hand for Meg, and the last thing she saw before her vision was overtaken by light, was a magic circle, carved into his skin.

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"C'mon, you can do better than that." Tim said, swatting aside a thrust sword as it headed towards his chest.

"Maybe I would be able to if you'd actually train me instead of just playing around." Edgar said sulkily.

It had already been decided that Prince Edgar would the one leading the army when the war began, even if only as a figurehead. He had then asked Tim to train him leading up to the event, hoping to make use of his experience.

"How dare you." Tim said, in overplayed indignation. "I'm helping you and all you do is backchat. What a brat you are."

"You aren't even using a sword!" Edgar yelled as he swung a cut aimed at Tim's collarbone.

"I would if there was any need for me to." Tim replied, stepping back out of the way, then stepping inwards, grabbing the blade by its edge and slamming his palm into the prince's chest.

Edgar stumbled back with a wheeze, letting go of the sword, and earning himself a jab with its hilt for his efforts. Tim looked down at the boy, who was now bent double, and dropped the sword at his feet.

"You know, I could teach you how to use a sword all day, but if you can barely swing the thing properly what's the point?"

"You're just, abnormally fast." Edgar said between gasps.

"No, you're just weak. Seriously, you need to work on strength before you try swinging this thing around. Or just get a smaller sword."

"I will not bring dishonour to my father by wielding anything less than those who would fight in his name."

"Instead you'll do it by being swung around by a hunk of metal you aren't fit to handle, and getting yourself killed. Well, not really. You'll never see a fight anyway cause I'll just deal with it all."

"I'm not sitting back and putting my life into your hands. I want to be able to defend myself, if I can't, I have no right to lead anyone."

"I know. Literally the only reason I'm bothering to do this, despite your refusals to listen to my advice, is I at least respect your reasoning. Although I am starting to get bored."

Edgar bent down, and picked up his sword. "Let's see if we can't change that." He said, pointing its tip straight at Tim.

Tim grinned. "That's the spirit." He said, and awaited Edgar's attack.

The next thing Tim knew he was staring out through the shattered glass window of the library.

"...The fuck?" He said, looking around. Looking down, he saw Meg on the ground, her dress in tatters, and blood dripping down her cut up face. Tim's eyes widened in shock, and seeing him stood there, relief washed over Meg. Her adrenaline waned, and she slumped down, unconscious.

Before he could move to help her, Tim's head jerked to the side, as the injured man's fist struck him in the temple. This didn't do much damage however, and with his head still at an angle, Tim's arm snapped up, and he grabbed the man's wrist.

Tim turned his head to look the man in the eyes.

"Was this you?" He asked, completely calm. The man saw into Tim's dead, emotionless eyes, and swung out with his free hand.

This did nothing to help him, as Tim crushed the man's wrist in his hand. The man let out a cry of pain, and Tim let go as he pulled away, causing the man to fall backwards. Tim watched, expressionless, as the man's hand snapped back into place, reforming itself.

"You can heal." He said, stepping towards the man, stomping on his ankle to stop him getting away, crushing it in the process. "Let's see if it'll bring you back from the dead."

He reached down, and wrapped his hand around the man's throat. He lifted him by the neck, and slammed him against the wall. The man choked and gargled as he clawed at Tim, kicking his legs wildly, all to no avail. Fear and desperation showed in the man's bulging eyes, as Tim pointed the fingers of his free hand, and pressed them into the man's stomach.

The man's body shuddered as Tim broke through his skin, forced his hand slowly up through the man's chest cavity behind the ribcage, and grabbed hold of his still beating heart. He then began to apply pressure, and the man's neck was crushed, the skin broke, and pulverised flesh squeezed through the gaps in his fingers. Tim's hand now closed into a tight fist, the man's body dropped to the floor, separate from its head. Tim's other hand slipped from the body as it fell, and the mulch that used to be the man's heart dripped from his fingers.

Satisfied the man wasn't getting back up, Tim turned around, and healed Meg. Once he was done, he pulled out some cushions, and lay her down on them. Looking out the now reconstructed window, he could see a couple of people riding away in the distance, whilst on the ground floor, a few new undead stirred, the original servants that killed them having been torn to pieces.

Deciding that all of this was fine, Tim began to clean the blood off of Meg, as he waited for her to wake up.