studiobondurri Chapter 26: Military Headquarters
Chapter 26: Military Headquarters
Chapter 26: Military Headquarters
The teleportation was different from the other times he had used it before, Boy could tell it was different from the ones that brought him into this realm.
He could instinctively tell that it was not a transfer between realms, not the overwhelming sensation of being torn from existence and placed somewhere unfamiliar. He could feel the movement of himself and the group being contained within the boundaries of Terranis itself.
Then, as suddenly as it began, it was over.@@@@
The world reassembled in a rush of light and sound. Boy staggered slightly as the teleportation's pull released him.
At the moment, Boy and the others materialised within the teleportation chamber, in that instant, the whole building shook to life as guards tense while one of them hurriedly ran off to inform the higher ups.
Boy's senses reeled for a moment, his vision adjusting to the dimly lit chamber, the shift from battlefield to a majestic great building almost jarring.
Rows of strategic banners lined the hall, each representing a different battalion within Aegaryn's forces. Heavy iron sconces illuminated the chamber where long war tables covered in detailed maps, military reports, and enchanted scrolls.
The presence of magic was unmistakable as glowing rune formations pulsed along the edges of the floor, ensuring that only authorised personnel could pass through into deeper halls.
Upon arrival, the elite soldiers who had teleported with him stepped forward, moving with tense, disciplined urgency. Their duty pushed them forward but nevertheless, the weight of unspoken grief hung in the air.
A deep silence settled over the room, an unnatural stillness that made Boy's fur bristle. Everyone silently stepped off the teleportation circle and stood still at the area in front of it, as if waiting for something.
During this, Boy took the time to take in his surroundings.
They had arrived at the heart of Eldoria's military command- the Grand War Hall, the nerve center of all strategic operations. Towering walls of reinforced white quartz loomed overhead, carved with battle histories and the names of fallen generals.
It was unlike any place that he had been before. The place smelled of aged parchment, iron, and the faint lingering of burnt aether.
Suddenly, the towering iron gates of the Grand War Hall groaned as they swung open, revealing a procession of scribes and high-ranking officials stepping forward.
Their robes, marked with sigils of authority, flowed as they moved with practiced grace, their presence immediately commanding attention.
Boy could sense the air around them carrying a faint hum of enchanted quills and arcane scrolls; he immediately guessed that they were keepers of the information and records of this place.
Subtle, but undeniable. It flickered in Callen's features, a shadow of emotion that barely surfaced before being buried beneath his hardened exterior.
Finally, Callen exhaled, his fingers tightening behind his back.
"Where is Commander Darius?" his voice cut through the chamber like a blade, calm but unyielding.
At this, each one of the teleported group were at a loss for words as an intense wave of sadness rang through each and everyone of them.
"Do not waste my time with hesitation or embellishments. I want the truth- every word of it," his expression remained unreadable, but his eyes held a weight that pressed down on the room as he expected an answer.
The whole group began to make way as they created a path. A path between Callen and the two summons that they had brought with them. The head of the soldiers in the group slowly got to his feet as he spoke, "High Commander, Commander Darius sacrificed himself along with the rest of them at the stronghold. The enemy summoned a dragon."
The words sent a ripple of shock through the room.
Callen's stoic expression faltered as his jaw slightly clenched, his eyes narrowed and his breath was held for just a second longer...
A dragon...
Dragons were beyond the reach of ordinary summons. They were all S-rank beings, forces of destruction that were not able to be controlled by humans under regular means. For one to have been summoned onto the battlefield, an unimaginable price had to be paid as dragons would also go on to avoid humans...
To Callen, this scenario...it was an impossibility that had become a terrifying reality.
His fingers curled into a fist at his side before he forced them to relax.
"Are you certain?" his voice was measured, but disbelief still clear in his voice.
"Yes, sir," the soldier answered, "It was not just a summon- it was something else. It moved with purpose, as if it wasn't just following orders but choosing its own path."
Having it confirmed, Callen exhaled sharply as he brought his hand to his forehead. His thoughts churned.
If the enemy had truly gained control over an S-rank summon, then Eldoria was no longer fighting a conventional war. This was something far worse.