Eldric read the text with great interest, only for his expression to sour near the end.
"What the hell? Some say... others claim... Does this damn book not even know anything about itself?"
What infuriated him most was that the description said so much, only to reveal so little. It did give rise to some new questions, however.
"An extension of my soul, huh? And who are these beings who dwell behind the veil?"
Humans had an uncanny ability to deify anything and everything they came across. This world also had a few religions of its own, so it was no different.
It wasn't like Eldric didn't believe in a higher power. He literally got reincarnated into a mystical world of magic and monsters. If he didn't believe, who would?
Eldric took notice of something out of the corner of his eye. "Huh..."
The word "veil" reminded him of "void". It had the same root, same shape, just different vowels. Maybe that was a coincidence... or maybe not. There wasn't anyway to tell for sure.
'Unless I ask Uncle Rykard, of course.'
It was doubtful that the mustached scholar would give him a direct answer, but it was worth a shot at the very least.
Eldric skimmed through the text a few more times, checking for details he might've missed.
He let out a small sigh. "No dice..."
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. 'If there's a whole page dedicated to Insignias, then maybe...'
Before the thought could fully form, his sister was already upon him. "Let's go, go, go!"
Eldric let out another, larger sigh. "You sure you don't need to go again?"
Elaine shook her head. "Nope. I'm all set!"
Eldric got up from the bed. 'Guess I'll have to try it later.'
He accompanied his sister, who skipped happily down the stairs as they descended. She seemed to be humming a hymn.
Eldric thought for a moment before realizing he had no clue what he was being dragged into. It wasn't too late—if it was that bad, he could always wait out her screaming.
He stopped halfway down the stairs. "Where are we going, anyway?"
Elaine turned to face her brother, her mouth ajar.
"You don't know what day it is?"
He shook his head. 'Is it somebody's birthday? Or birth-month, I should say...'
This world didn't particularly have calendars. The concept of numerical dates was non-existent. Instead, time was tracked through the changing of the seasons and the various moon phases.
So people had birth-months instead of birthdays. Each season consisted of three months, and the beginning of each month came with the appearance of a full moon.
Eldric, for example, was born in the second of winter, while it was currently a few days into the third of fall.
He met his sister's eyes, shaking his head. "Not really. Should I?"
Elaine gave him a fierce nod. "It's the Half-Moon Festival!"
She grabbed his hand and dragged him down the stairs. "Come on! We don't want to miss it!"
Eldric groaned. "So what? This festival happens twenty-four times a year..."
Elaine smiled. "That's where you're wrong! This one's special!"
Eldric raised an eyebrow.
"The Valtherrean Garrison are coming back from the border! And they're passing through here today!"
His eyes widened. "What? Why would the Garrison pass through here?"
Elaine shook her head. "Dunno. What I do know is that the festival's going to be extra festive because of it!"
Elaine rushed forward, Eldric's arm still within her clutches.
She ran past the drunks roaming the inn, expertly outmaneuvering them. She was almost at the door when she collided with a plump, blonde-haired woman.
Elaine looked up and greeted her with a smile. "Morning, Auntie!"
Miss Hargette looked down at the two children. "It's the afternoon, dearie..."
She raised an eyebrow, her eyes shifting toward Eldric. "And where are you going in such a hurry?"
Elaine replied enthusiastically, "The festival, Auntie! We're going to see the Garrison!"
Hargette nodded. "I did hear they had a meeting with the duke." She muttered the next bit under her breath. "Curses be upon him..."
She thought for a moment, then met their eyes once more. "Have you told your mother?"
Elaine shook her head. "Nope, she's at work."
Hargette let out a small chuckle. "Then you cannot go without her permission, can you?"
Elaine thought for a moment. "Sure we can! We just need your permission, Auntie!"
The blonde matron laughed—a rare sight indeed. "Well, in that case, have fun, dearies."
She patted Elaine's head and ruffled Eldric's hair. "Do not get too mischievous now."
They both nodded. This time, it was Eldric who spoke. "We'll try..."
With that, they were off.
---
People gathered at the wall gates, waiting expectantly for the appearance of the noble Garrison.
The Bastion of Valtherra was a continent forever at war, its lands constantly aflame with the embers of conflict. Ever since the mysterious disappearance of its ruler, Veilin the Present, peace had become nothing more than a memory.
For a hundred years, the unrest had endured without pause. Men, women, and children perished in the merciless clutch of battle, yet the Sigiled rulers who led them never withered.
Each kingdom was ruled by a Seraph, gods among men. Yet these mighty beings never clashed directly, fearing that their battles might reduce the entire Bastion to ashes.
And yet, amidst the chaos, a glimmer of hope arose... the Valtherrean Garrison.
A united force of Sigiled from across the Bastion. Only the most exceptional were even allowed to attempt entry, and fewer than one in a hundred applicants succeeded.
Their mission was the preservation of the Bastion itself. A private militia that guarded the outer walls, ventured into the unknown beyond, and returned with riches and relics of a forgotten human age.
They were welcomed everywhere across Valtherra. For their deeds, and for the hope they inspired among the common folk.
The Garrison was led by a mysterious figure. All that was known about her was that she was the youngest ever to attain the rank of Seraph, at only twenty-eight years of age. Her name and appearance were shrouded in complete secrecy.
So it was no surprise that people of every class—noble and peasant alike—came to witness their arrival. The wealthy watched from gilded carriages, while the poor fought for any glimpse through the crowd.
Eldric and Elaine, however, had found the best view in the city. They stood atop a house near the gates. Eldric had phased through the walls to climb up, then tossed a rope down for his sister. Being the little monkey she was, Elaine had no trouble scaling it, earning them a perfect view of the plaza below.
Elaine giggled as she sat beside him. "I still can't believe you're a Siggie, Elly."
Eldric stretched beneath the sun. 'I want a beer…'
His sister continued talking, ignoring his disinterest. "It's so cool! You can just pass through stuff, like... whoosh!"
Eldric smirked. "I guess it's kind of cool…"
Elaine beamed. "You should join the Garrison!"
Eldric glanced at her, faintly puzzled by how highly she thought him, despite how often he ignored her. "That's not a bad idea…"
Joining the Garrison would let him pursue his goals. It would allow him play a real part in humanity's future.
And being most likely the youngest person ever marked surely counted for something… right?
He scoffed at his own thoughts. 'That's If I can even make it through the next few years…'
Elaine tugged at his arm, eyes sparkling. "Oh—they're here! They're here!"
The colossal steel gates groaned as they opened, metal scraping against stone. The crowd hushed.
Then came the sound of thunderous footsteps—and a breathtaking sight.
A great beast emerged from beyond the wall, towering nearly ten meters tall. Three horns crowned its head, resting above golden reptilian eyes. Its scales gleamed a soft, pearly white. It stood on two powerful hind legs, while its forelegs were wings ending in clawed, bestial paws. Its draconic head contrasted a mammalian tail and haunches, a creature of divine symmetry.
The crowd gasped in awe. Someone shouted, "It's a Vyros!"
Eldric's eyes widened, his jaw slack. "A Vaelborn…"
These creatures were dwellers of the Outerlands, they were a noble breed distinct from the vile Aghorath. Legends called them the sacred steeds of heroes, beasts sent by the God of Life himself to aid mankind in their war against the accursed.
Vyros, especially, were seen as holy, lesser angels shaped as beasts, crafted to be humanity's perfect companions. Each differed in form, but all shared one divine trait, the gift of flight.
Elaine leapt to her feet. "By the gods! It's a Vyros! A real one!"
Eldric nodded slowly, dazed. "They're… actually real?"
She gawked at him. "Of course they are! You're seeing it right there, aren't you?!"
Eldric could only nod again.
The majestic creature trotted into the plaza, circling once as if to show off its grandeur. Atop its back sat a figure clad in lusterless white armor, their presence commanding silence. A golden crest adorned their back— of a crown hanging from a tree branch.
Their face was hidden behind a golden helm with a long white plume trailing from it.
The rider raised their head and spoke, their voice magnified as though carried by unseen winds.
"I am Corvyn, Herald of the Valtherrean Garrison! We humbly ask for the town of Sickle's generous hospitality!"
Eldric's eyes flickered. 'Vocal amplification...' He could do that too, although his power barely carried his voice across a large room, let alone an entire plaza.
The crowd erupted, drowning out the Sigiled warrior's voice.
"All hail the Garrison!"
"Stay as long as you like!"
"Usurp the kingdom for all we care!"
That last shout in particular, stirred chaos among the spectators. Vigorous cheers and opposing curses clashed in equal measure.
The Herald's amplified voice echoed once more, silencing all. "Advance!"
The very earth itself trembled.
A sea of armored soldiers poured through the gates. Thousands upon thousands of warriors revealed themselves, clad in the same lusterless white. Each step boomed against the ground like thunder.
Ten, twenty, fifty… no—a hundred thousand.
All of them warriors of the Garrison, all of them Sigiled...