(A while later)
"Number 19, your stance needs to be lower."
"Y-yes, sir!"
"Number 328, raise your shield. Your head is too exposed."
"Thank you, sir!"
Standing on a wall overlooking an organized legion of sleepers, Audun smiled bitterly.
After giving Nephis the shards, he had spent about a week lounging around the castle, hanging out in Sunny's emporium, and accompanying Effie on hunts.
Unfortunately for Audun, his lax lifestyle didn't go unnoticed.
Cassie, sleep-deprived and extremely jealous, mentioned his glaring lack of duties to Nephis, and thus, about a month ago, she had come knocking on his door with a heaping list of responsibilities.
As a result, the swordsman was forced to accept over seven hundred new students, and his vacation came to an end.
"Number 563, you're slouching."
"S-sorry, sir!"
A tired sigh escaped Audun's lips, but just before he could continue, his ears picked up the sounds of footsteps.
One of Nephis's handmaidens cleared her throat nervously.
"Uhm, excuse me, sir... Lady Changing Star requests your presence in the meeting room."
"... Did she specify a reason?"
The handmaiden shook her head.
"No, sir. I was just told by my superiors to pass on the message."
Another sigh built in Audun's throat, but he swallowed it down as he waved off the handmaiden.
He returned his gaze to the assembled legion.
"You all are dismissed. We will meet here tomorrow for a practical combat assessment."
As Audun walked away, he could faintly hear the sounds of despair echoing behind him, but his priorities kept his mind too occupied to care.
*******
****
**
Upon reaching the usual meeting room, a few guards stationed outside gave Audun a respectful bow and reverently opened the door for him, ushering the swordsman inside.
With a blank expression, he complied, and the guards shut the heavy wooden door behind him.
A pair of onyx eyes locked onto him.
"Since we're all here now, can we hurry this up? I've got a business to run."
An amused smile spread across Audun's face as he found a seat at the circular wooden table in the middle of the room, his eyes flickering in Sunny's direction.
"Aren't Aiko, Kai, and Stev doing most of the work? I heard from a 'reputable' source that the owner of the Brilliant Emporium isn't even there most of the time-"
"Hey! I'm the one gathering all the stock for the Emporium! Stev and Aiko facilitate trades, and uh... Kai's our mascot."
The swordsman merely smirked, a silent mocking crease accenting his brow.
Sunny scowled.
"Bastard."
A snarky retort built in Audun's chest, but a flat female voice cut their banter short.
"Enough. I didn't call you here so you could bicker like children."
The teacher and student scoffed in unison, but fell silent after a moment.
In the brief bout of respite brought by Nephis's reprimand, Audun took the time to scan the others at the table.
Cassie sat by Nephis's side, her expression inscrutable.
Caster sat on Nephis's other side, his lips contorted into a seemingly good-natured smile.
Effie sat next to Cassie, and, as usual, had her feet propped up on the table, absentmindedly picking at something in between her teeth, her genuine boredom clearly evident.
Right across from Effie sat Kai, an oddly tense expression coloring his features.
Nephis cleared her throat, her shoulders taught with unseen weight.
"Another winter solstice has passed, but-"
She gestured towards Kai.
"According to our scouts, there aren't any new survivors."
That piece of news immediately secured everyone's attention.
Effie assumed a more serious posture, her eyes sharpening with interest.
"Are you serious, princess?"
Nephis nodded.
"The spell hasn't sent a single sleeper here... or at least anywhere that they'd have a chance of surviving."
What Nephis was implying by mentioning this was clear.
Sunny snorted.
"So, it's time, huh?"
Not bothering to respond to his question, Nephis turned her gaze towards Audun.
"When will the soldiers be ready?"
The swordsman met the Star's eyes.
"A month at the earliest and 2 at the latest."
Changing Star nodded.
"Good."
She turned to Caster and Effie.
"Call all the hunters back and tell them of the news. For the next few months, we will start preparing for a siege on the Spire."
Caster, after flashing a probing look at Sunny, spoke up.
"Lady Nephis, what shall we do if... we encounter resistance from the hunters?"
Effie nodded.
"For once, I agree with the scumbag. There are still some older hunters who aren't entirely convinced by our proposals."
Changing Star exhaled coldly.
"Don't force them. If there are any who resist, just let them go- They'll only end up hindering us in the end."
The two nodded.
Nephis turned her attention to Sunny.
"We need access to your Emporium's memories to gear up the army."
Sunny raised an eyebrow.
"I'm running a business here, Neph. You know I don't give stuff out for free."
Nephis, seasoned by months of negotiations with Sunny, instantly laid her offer on the table.
"I'm willing to pay a hefty sum for you to lease your memories to the soldiers, and, in the case that they destroy any of them, I'll pay an additional fee."
A corrupt smile spread across Sunny's face.
"Lady Changing Star of the Immortal Flame Clan... You have yourself a deal!"
With a hint of resignation in her eyes, Nephis spoke once more.
"Most of the preparations are already finished; we just need to focus on strengthening our troops and securing resources and weaponry for the assault."
Everyone nodded.
"Effie, Caster, and Kai will periodically take hunters out to gather memories, and Audun, Sunny, and I will focus on training the troops."
She paused.
"Any questions?"
Coughing into his fist, Sunny shamelessly raised his hand.
"Yep, just one."
Nephis raised a brow.
With a smirk, Sunny formed a coin with his fingers.
"What's the payment?"
************
*********
*****
***
The conversation went on for a while longer, but eventually, the members of the cohort began to trickle out of the room.
Soon, the only ones left were Nephis, Cassie, and Audun.
Sunny had left a while ago, probably to flex his earnings to Stev and Aiko, while Caster, Effie, and Kai had disappeared to execute their new orders.
"Once again, thank you for all the help, Audun."
Meeting Nephis's gray eyes, the swordsman merely nodded.
"I apparently had nothing better to do."
He shot a glare at Cassie, though, the blind girl was none the wiser.
A tiny smile spread across Nephis's face.
"Well, I'm thankful nonetheless."
Audun raised an eyebrow.
".... What do you want exactly?"
Changing Star narrowed her eyes.
"Is a friend thanking another friend really cause for concern?"
Audun scoffed.
"No need for all the foreplay. Just get on with it-"
SMACK
"Phrasing."
The seer, who had been silent thus far, delivered what she believed to be righteous judgment.
"Hey!"
Nephis silently observed the exchange before coughing lightly into her fist.
"Was it that obvious?"
Audun's gaze flickered back at Nephis.
"What do you mean?"
A sigh escaped Changing Star's lips.
"... My intentions. Was it really that clear that I wanted something from you?"
Audun chuckled lightly.
"You picked up quite a few habits from Sunny, and buttering people up before asking them for something is one of them."
Sighing grandly, the swordsman continued.
"It'd be remiss of me NOT to notice after spending months with that bastard student of mine."
Nephis nodded slowly, digesting his words.
"Well then, get on with it. I've got places to be."
Silence permeated the room as Audun stared at Changing Star, waiting for her to say something.
Eventually, though, she let out a sigh and bluntly stated:
"Train me."
The swordsman and the oracle were both taken aback.
"Huh...?"
Nephis repeated herself.
"Please train me."
Audun silently gripped the ring in his pocket, while Cassie did the same.
"Cas, a warning would've been nice-"
"Don't blame me! Neph hasn't said a word to me about this!"
"So... what should I do?"
"... You're your own person. Figure it out yourself."
"Seriously? That's all you have to say?"
"Well, after you turned Sunny into a sword savant, Neph probably felt a bit inferior, so-"
"You're saying this is my fault?"
"... You said it, not me~"
A sigh built in Audun's chest, but he swallowed it down as he scanned Nephis.
"Is there a particular reason why you'd like me to train you?"
A hint of hesitation flashed through Nephis's eyes.
"... I recently asked Sunny to spar and-"
'oh.'
"I lost to him quite badly."
With a grimace on her face, Changing Star continued.
"It felt a little embarrassing to lose to someone that I once taught, so... I was wondering if you could give me a bit of advice."
Listening to Nephis's earnest plea, the swordsman and the oracle shared a single thought.
"Sunny, you fucking asshole-"
_________________________________________
(A/N: Hi it's been a while...
So, originally, I was supposed to post on Tuesday, but as you can see, things didn't go according to plan...
But hey, I did say I had priorities, y'know!
Me and a couple of friends have been playing through title update three of Monster Hunter Wilds, and well, we've been getting brutally molested by Savage Omega.
I easily clocked in like 30 hours this week, so I got a little sidetracked and forgot about writing...
My fault gng, but I was busy getting rocket-fisted by a spider clanker.
Anyway, I still owe you guys a bonus chapter, and since we didn't meet the goal this week (Thank god) I'm free from another obligation.
Thank you guys for waiting for so long, and if you enjoyed the chapter, leave a comment ykyk
Anyway, I've got more Omegas to kill, so I'll see you next time!)