Chapter 24 - A Human Staff

Trying to make the Lava Controllorer's of lower levels importance, certain to Eric. Who primarily asked this question, and to Mogranius too since they don't need the wrong ideas in their head from the beginning.

Commander Alia raised her forefinger and wiggled it in front of them, minorly disagreeing to Eric but also aiming to explain the importance of teamwork here in the underground town of Lan Zhe. "The Masters do hold great responsibility, yes. But so does every other Lava Controller. If one group of levels is missing, the rest can't perform the main impenetrable defensive attack. Therefore can not defend this town if a large scale attack was in order."

Surprisingly managing to catch up right away after Commander Alia dumbed down the teamwork motive in this town, Eric proceeded to ask. "So it's all about teamwork! Am I right?" But his first questions still remained unanswered, and he became a little bit ambitious about receiving those specific answers. "Also! What do the experts and beginners do?!"

Giving a small smile towards the fact that Eric understood what the point was. Afterwards she unintentionally ignored his other questions, again! And added something rather unexpected at such an early stage, being focused on what she wanted to say might be the reason why she tooned out Eric and everyone else for a few seconds. "Indeed. It is teamwork that offers an unbreakable attack to this town and it is teamwork that will help us reclaim our first kingdom." After finishing that staggering sentence, she winked at Eric. With a non flirting manner of course. It was war related, plus after all Eric is just a Kid when it comes to Romance.

With perception not his best friend(like luck), Mogranius didn't exactly hear the war talk and decided to talk about something that would feed his ego furthermore. "But I held a shield against your "Unbreakable Attack!" for quite a long time." Raising his hands up and gesturing as if he was calming down a huge crowd, with a c.o.c.ky tone he continued to boast. "Yes yes i am that powerful. Please settle down! Also Eric pushed back everything you had to launch against us so... Your attack isn't exactly unbreakable."

To such sentences, although c.o.c.ky and mostly true, she didn't bother arguing about them. These two Fire Wizards are no doubt powerful even though they would be torched if the Calidum Lutum continued with their attacks earlier. No one managed to break the main attack before Eric did. Except one.

She took a few steps towards Mogranius, approaching close enough that they were only half a foot apart. At first, Mogranius had to look up because Commander Alia was a bit taller than him. Looking up would also cut half of the chances when it comes to being tossed down that Volcano, because where he would look at wouldn't be misunderstood. If he looked straight ahead or slightly down, he would start flying against his will. She doesn't like men looking at her body.

At least, he had to look up until she leaned down towards his slightly smaller size. To the point where their eyes(or faces) were only a few inches apart.

To Mogranius it felt like his pitch black Robe was getting tighter around his neck. But it was just him being tremendously nervous. The chances of him getting beaten up are larger than anything else, and he was nervous enough to prefer that over anything else right now. He is 58 years old and was never interested in women before. Of course he will be extra nervous when Romance is thrown towards him instead of the other way around.

His second reason of being this nervous, was the fact that possibly no grown man ever approached Commander Alia this close and not get critically injured. Commander Alia did unintentionally hug him before, which is why he gets a little bit more nervous when she approaches too close herself. Because even if she invades personal space, Mogranius will pay for it.

But to the two Fire Wizard's surprise, she calmly stated. "I usually toss loud mouths like you, all the way down that Volcano. But you're lucky that I don't hate you."

Although it was more of a threat, he understood it as a flirt. Which is what made him even more nervous, to the point where he started heavy breathing. He liked it and didn't like it. He liked how such a complex compliment came from Commander Alia, but he didn't like how uncontrollably red his face got. Point is, his face didn't get red out of anger.

He felt frozen on his spot and shortly after he fell on his back. Not because he was hurt and he didn't faint either. It was more of a "Heavily in love!" coma, but he was wide awake. This is probably another reason why he wasn't interested in Romance.

Not knowing exactly how to react to all of this awkward flirting kindly, Eric murmured to himself without aiming to be heard by the other two. "Alright I did not come here to see old people flirt."

As soon as Eric finished his sentence, he noticed Commander Alia taking steps back from Mogranius and giving Eric a, "I will throw you down the volcano look." It is fair to say that she heard his carefully whispered murmuring. Which is kind of odd considering that she literally doesn't have ears.

Noticing her facial reaction and a possible upcoming head smacking, Eric covered up his words with. "I mean... beautifully old people flirt."

Letting out a joyful sigh to such cute acts, she proceeded to mock Eric. "Fear does speak louder than reasoning to some."

Although he passed that slightly embarrassing situation with ease, he still seeked answers to the questions Commander Alia caused in his head(which are now more than before). Before her and Mogranius started flirting that is. After giving it a short thought, he found the words to ask. "I have two questions. What do the experts and Beginners doo in this so called "Teamwork" and how are we going to reclaim "our first kingdom." Which Kingdom exactly?" Throughout these sentences, airpokes were inevitable. Even though he couldn't do them properly. He mostly moved the rest of his body downwards instead of his fingers, but it still proved his point. He was getting a little frustrated about not having his questions properly answered.

Being surprised at such questions coming from a child but yet not so surprised because she caused them to begin with. She answers with a strong will. "Insightful questions for a child. The Experts are like directors. They share a similar task with the masters. They make sure the lava doesn't burn the beginners alive, like the masters make sure that the lava doesn't burn the experts alive. Beginners can only handle so much, their main task is to aim the lava towards one target."

Astonishingly able to catch up to everything, he stated the facts better than she did after he received a brief explanation. "Alright so basically this large team of Lava Controllers is like a human staff. Branching lava from the bottom to the top.

"Yes. They..."

"The Grandmasters are the source of lava, providing all the lava required to form this town's Signature attack!"

Yes... and..."

Still being interrupted, unable to finish sentences. Commander Alia found it the best idea to just listen to him at the moment. Because Eric doesn't sound like he will stop talking until he finishes everything he has to say. Rather adorable considering that he has trouble forming life full conversations, especially with new people.

"The Masters and experts are the directors who keep everything balanced, branching the Lava instead of letting it flow wild and possibly hurt their kind. And the beginners are the Blasters, aiming the tremendous amount of lava bit by bit towards the target. Which of course means that this attack requires more beginners compared to the rest of the levels(4+)."

Leaving Commander Alia at a loss for words when she noticed such capability to understand such complex information. She didn't know what to do. Either hug him, or praise him. But she isn't exactly the hugging type.

Eric is among the rare ones to witness this main attack, revealed in front of him by the Calidum Lutum after thousands of years(Well more like used against him.). Not having this information to base anywhere but a "staff", he understood it extraordinarily well.

Not noticing that he left Commander Alia in shock, he simply proceeded to ask about the other questions, again! "What about reclaiming a Kingdom though?" That question has been puzzling his mind and he has been itching for a stable answer and explanation ever since she said it out of a sudden. It could of been said as a joke after all but he had to be sure.

Noticing that she has been accidentally ignoring his questions after partial parts of memories flashed in her mind as soon as she heard the word "Kingdom", she found the decency to apologize and Finally cut to the chase. "Have you heard about "Gaster Kingdom!"."

Waking up from his love coma the second he heard the name "Gaster", He yelled. "I know this one. Actually I was born there and I moved to Crutal Kingdom to further my studies. But why that specific Kingdom?"

Before continuing such a time worthy conversation, at first of course she had to do something of higher importance(at least to her), which is teasing Mogranius. "Look who finally woke up. Having nice dreams i suppose?"

Knowing that there is at least a little feelings in her heart for him, he went into another level with the flirtful compliments. "Indeed. Dreaming about you is never a bad dream."

At such a flirt, she acts like she ignored the flirt but her heart is pounding hard and her forehead started sweating. Trying her best to avoid a visible blush, she stock to war talk. It worked well. "I personally scouted Gaster Kingdom. I lived there for a few months. For research similar to this plan that is, looking for their weak spots."

"Did you find out anything of use?"

She boldly replied, "Yes." And continued to state facts as if she sat down and tried to memorize everything before. "Gaster Kingdom is too far. All the way to the edge of the Continent. It's close to the ocean which is perfect for fishing, but it doesn't have any crops. The land there is to harsh for farming, therefore leading to a flat profit."

"But what does that have to do with..."

"Yes Yes. Keep on offending my place of birth, i love it." Although not pissed enough to be considered angry, he still didn't like how his home Kingdom's name is slandered.

Noticing that Mogranius wasn't exactly angry, she proceeded with a bit of sarcasm. "You're welcome." Afterwards turning to Eric who seemed to be the only one worthy to talk about such a topic, and continued with her explanation. "My point is, since the Kingdom is too far away from any other profitable Kingdoms, people rarely make their way down there. And since the Kingdom doesn't have any wheat farms which can fairly be considered a big profit in most Kingdoms, the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance doesn't support that Kingdom anymore. Especially after the mines depleted. Considering that, the religious organization known as "illas", aren't there too since their monthly expenses wouldn't be covered by anyone."

Eric put up pieces of the puzzle together and stated a plausible theory afterwards. "Under these circ.u.mstances and visible betrayal coming from the ill.u.s.tratian Alliance, those people might even cooperate with us!"

The war talk was intense, informational and not just daydreaming, this was the base of a future collision with Gaster Kingdom. But Mogranius wasn't uttering a word about all of this. No, he was too busy staying on his belly, keeping his head up with his hands and looking at Commander Alia's shoulder length thick shining hair which was tied into a tail. If looked in good enough, you would notice a heart made out of a slim line of fire above his head.

Not even noticing that Mogranius was looking at her, she just stuck to her war talk. "We can conquer it, put all the ill.u.s.tratios that give up behind bars and shoot down any travelling ill.u.s.tratio that comes down the Kingdom. Which should be tremendously rare. My point is, we can Conquer that Kingdom and still keep a very low profile. The other Kingdoms won't have a clue that Gaster Kingdom got reclaimed."

"And even if they did, they wouldn't bother helping a Kingdom where they wouldn't get a profit out of." Amazing isn't it? From stuttering when he spoke, to finishing longer sentences with ease. It is fair to say that Eric got more comfortable around Commander Alia. It became even easier after she started praising him and his mind.

Mogranius however, just sighed in deep satisfaction, saying. "Aaaaaahhhhhhhh she is so smart."

Eric follows up, seeing the plan reasonable and of course doable. It would be stupid if they threw such a chance. This Kingdom reclaim could be the start of their revolution. "This plan sounds flawless. But exactly how many soldiers do you think we need?"

Right after Eric finishes his question, he sees the two previous ten foot tall Calidum Lutum bringing in Woldemir and Stefan. They were carrying them on their shoulders though. Obviously they tried some sort of resistance against the Calidum Lutum, one of the large men even has a fresh cut through his chest. Likely the work of Woldemir with the help of his trusty Dagger. It doesn't seem to have been enough though.

Looking at the fact that Woldemir actually managed to cause damage on one of the Calidum Lutum, she states. "Looks like you have all the soldiers we need."

The two large Calidum Lutum Guards put down Woldemir and Stefan(almost gently). As soon as they were placed down, Stefan stood up in a flash and yelled. "Haha! Looks like you two lava heads finally gave up and fled." The two Calidum lutum who brought them here, however, were simply walking away and ignoring this foreign language. Afterwards Stefan turned to Eric and stated, "I fought them both but they got your father so i had to join him."

Pointing out the inevitable obvious, Mogranius replied with. "More like this man grabbed you by the head and lifted you here."

After looking at this disaster, noticing how easily they were brought here, Eric turned his head towards Commander Alia and boldly said. "We are going to need more soldiers." He clearly felt uncomfortable with his group's arsenal.

Trying to assure Eric, she replied with. "No actually. Can your father hold a Sword?" Clearly, she toned out Eric before more than he thought. Because he did mention Woldemir's skills with a Sword.

Right before Eric was about to repeat his words, Woldemir stood up and kindly cut Eric's sentences before he even started. He noticed that these new people seem to be their allies now, since they are talking peacefully and didn't throw anyone down the half mile deep hole. "Yes actually. I didn't hold a good sword for years because I had to sell it in order to survive! But I am a qualified Grand Master(Level 6/6) in Swordsmanship."

Now feeling even more sure about this plan, she stated. "Well this is literally the whole team we need to invade." Taking her thoughts towards another direction and her head towards Stefan, she said. "From appearance and obvious slight lack of courage, it shows that Stefan is the brains of the group. Or at least that's what Eric said."

Stefan speaks up with strong sarcasm.

"Thanks Eric." And afterwards states. "Well the courage part is definitely not true but i'm definitely the brains of the group."

Commander Alia replies with "Here you go. You have a battle planner as well. Perfect. A Grand master Swordsman, a battle planner, and two Expert Fire Wizards. You are actually a bit over qualified. Gaster Kingdom is a lot smaller in population than Crutal Kingdom. It holds only about 100 Guards. If my people go there, we would burn it to ashes. So it is up to you."

"Looks like we have all we need to start the invasion."