alwaysrollsaone
patreon
A Soldier's Life - 364 - Return To Yuetsen
🕑 Added 2025-03-23 01:12:47 +0000 UTCChapter 364: Return To Yuetsen
I turned the apex channeling essence over in my hand. I had consumed the three major channeling essences but held back on this one. The glossy black sphere reflected my distorted image back at me—judging me. It had been three days since I learned there were others from Earth. Viridia’s network had picked rumors that they had arrived just three months ago and split into four groups. There were two groups in Lingshan, the capital of Linshania. If the rumors were true, all the humans had arrived about 100 miles north of that city before splintering into smaller groups.
Otherworlders were treated differently in every kingdom and arrived infrequently. Sometimes, they were celebrated, others exiled, and others just disappeared. Otherworlders almost always had strong potential for magic, making them dangerous if they were not controlled. And valuable tools if they could be controlled.
The group of idiots that had exploded in the upper district of Yuetsen had created a strong animosity toward otherworlders that was sweeping this half of the continent. If the reports were true, over fifteen thousand people had died in Yuetsen, with a quarter of the city destroyed. The perpetrators were, of course, all dead. We had arrived in Yuetsen from Godok, so I was familiar with the city. Lesna, the halfling illusionist, might have died in the cataclysm.
As best as Selene could relay to Viridia, the group of otherworlder women and children had been in a different part of the city during the explosion and fled north. The remaining government of Kityeunia took time to realize there were more otherworlders in their city, and the few remaining senators had called for their capture and execution. I would have to move fast to get to them before their pursuers found them. We only knew they had a seven-day head start and were headed toward the northern border. The Adventurers’ Guild in Yuetsen had complicated things when the senate posted a one thousand gold bounty on each otherworldly yesterday. There was going to be competition to get to them first.
I sent the apex channeling essence back to my dimensional space. If I ever burnt my aether channels again, it would be nice to have a quick way to heal myself available. I stood and walked through my room in Adrian’s Rest. My dimensional space was already packed with what I needed, but I was second-guessing running off to be a white knight to save these humans. Other than being from Earth, I had no connection to these people.
I had questions that I wanted answered and an innate desire to protect the innocent. I wanted to know if time was linear between Earth and Desia. Did the same amount of time pass on Earth that had passed for me here? Maybe they knew a way back to Earth, but I doubted I wanted to return. Maybe they could send a message to my parents and sisters for me. I was now, truly a child of Desia with my magic and near-endless lifespan. I had true friends here that I lacked on Earth.
I walked down the back steps to say farewell to Gilda in the kitchens and smiled as the changeling had stacks and stacks of steaming goat meat buns prepared for me. She didn’t offer me a smile and just waved me off to take them as if it was no big deal. She must have spent all night cooking. By a quick count, two hundred and fifty more buns more than doubled my stores of the bread-encased delight. She had developed a flaky, buttery crust for them, rather than the doughy one I had started with. I also had around forty plates of fish and chips. Gilda wanted to replace the plates anyway, so I did her a favor by utilizing them. Konstantin was a bit peeved at the expense of replacing four dozen earthenware plates, even if it was for me.
“Thank you,” I said to her. She raised a spoon in acknowledgment but didn’t turn around after the stockpile disappeared. I shook my head at the changeling’s mannerisms and headed into the common room.
I found Konstantin sitting with everyone in the common room, nodding to those assembled. “Are we ready?” I asked softly.
“Horses are saddled and ready,” Blaze confirmed. Konstantin rose first, and I shook wrists with him. He had been conflicted and wanted to come with me. We had a brief argument and I practically had to force him to stay. The old man was happy here and had a son to raise. If I had a child, I probably wouldn't be going off to rescue strangers, either.
Mateo was next and embraced me in a hug. I told him, “There are five modest crates in the basement filled with glowstones. Be cautious about how many you display; there have been more than a few inquiries about our supply.” I had also transferred five hundred gold from my dimensional space to the Duchy of Manch depository, and he had secondary access. There was no worry of him running out of gold, even if I never returned to manage the curiosity shop. Mateo had even started buying odd items and reselling them in the shop, keeping all the profits.
“I am the one who told you I was worried about everyone asking questions about their origins!” He said congenially with a laugh.
Anna, Mabel, and Oliver hugged my leg and wouldn’t let go until Mateo pried them away with a look of apology. They really liked their Uncle Eryk and his magic tricks. Viridia rose and embraced me, saying, “Selene, Sylph, and Helena will meet you in Yuetsen.” I nodded in thanks. The trio believed this was the perfect opportunity to repay me for my past kindness in not killing them. They must have reached Yuetsen recently and were gathering information for us.
At the table, Ignis had a crooked smile on her face, and I suspected she wanted to hold onto the dreamscape amulet. “Keep it, boy,” she rasped when I started to turn my hand over to produce it. “My Elvish is passable, and I had copied enough notes to last me a month.” She walked to me, gave me a strong hug, and whispered into my ear, “In your travels, see if you can get me some mithril to work with. Also, don’t be shy around Iggy.” She stepped back and winked.
Iggy was what she called her dreamscape manifestation. The first time she had tried to impart her crafting knowledge to her young clone, she had been bedridden for a day, moaning with a painful headache. She hadn’t heeded my advice to take it slowly. Iggy was the youthful version of Ignis. I think she had made the manifestation flirtatious to spite the simulacrum of Raelia in the dreamscape.
“So, you are ready to make me a suit of chain?” I said mockingly as we separated.
Ignis blew a raspberry, “I will be lucky if I learn half the techniques required before I die. Most of the work is properly prepping the chain for an artificer.” She still had a bright smile, entranced with the challenge.
Castile rose next, her travel clothes hugging her figure. She had put on some weight but still carried it well. I didn’t try to dissuade her from joining me; having a powerful mage like Castile with me was welcome. Benito, seeing it was time to go, stuffed the last breakfast muffin into his mouth, washed it down with chilled goat milk, and rose to join us.
Konstantin needed to get in the last word, “You all, don’t be going and getting yourselves killed. I have enough vendettas to fulfill with Firth.”
Castile snapped back at him blithely, “Firth will breathe his last very soon. Keep your patience until next spring.”
Goodbyes finished, Castile, Blaze, Benito, and I walked to the stables where Ginger and the other mounts awaited us. We were soon mounted and heading toward the portal stone. Viridia had contracted a powerful Elven displacement mage at great expense to teleport us all the way to Yuetsen. When we reached the courtyard for the portal, a familiar blonde elf was waiting for us flanked by her guards.
“Oh, it is you!” she said with a smirk. The elven displacement mage had taken me from Esenhem to Gramney and then back to Esenhem.
“I guess I made an impression if you remember me,” I snorted. The truth was I was being watched by the Esenhem elves as soon as I landed in their nation since I was a Telhian.
“Not a good one!” She laughed in jest. “Must be doing well for yourself to afford my services on such short notice.”
“I just have wealthy friends,” I deflected. The truth was I was making decent coin from the inn, forge and curiosity shop. Everyone insisted I receive my fair share, although Ignis frequently proclaimed that she would own the forge at some undetermined point once I had been sufficiently compensated.
The elf mage signaled that the banter was over and gestured for us to enter the runic stones. As she prepared, she talked. “Rumor has it that Yuetsen has been destroyed, but the old anchor stones are outside the city. I have already tested the connection, and I’m confident we won’t end up a mile underground.”
Castile complimented the displacement mage, “I hear the Elven Displacement mages are some of the best on the continent. I am sure we will be safe in your hands.” It never hurt to be nice to the person who held your life in their hands.
The teleport took a little longer than expected, and there was some consternation on the elven woman’s face as she attempted to lock onto the destination. I could feel and see with my aether sight, that the runes in the rocks before us were saturated with aether from the ley line deep in the earth. When we portaled it was slightly more unpleasant than normal, and my ears were ringing.
We were far outside the city's walls, but still on the plateau above the river. The mage’s four guards interposed themselves between the Linshanian soldiers in tabards of the Prince. The Principality of Linshania was ruled by a Prince, but it was the Senate that had the real power. The Prince was a figurehead for the government, and that was the primary reason why he was not given the title of king.
The elven mage spoke in the native language back and forth until the soldiers finally relaxed. She addressed us, “Good luck, there is a lot of tension in the air. If you would please move out of the circle.” I was a bit shocked she was not resting after such a long teleport, but she had completed her contract. A few minutes later she winked at me, “Until next time.” Then she vanished.
Castile was slightly amused, “You seem to have a way with elves.”
I groaned, “Not all elves like me.” I thought back to the Guildmaster in Esenhem and Raelia’s aunt. “Let’s go find Selene.” I turned and headed for the city’s gates.
As we approached the city, the smell of death was heavy in the air. Chunks of stone embedded in the soil lined the road to the gates. The horses didn’t want to approach the city; even Ginger was unhappy. Fortunately, Selene waited for us just inside the gate and got us past the guards.
Selene and Castile embraced further into the city, smiling at each other. Selene asked, “I am surprised you came, Castile.”
“I am healed, thanks to Eryk,” Castile replied with a grin, nodding at me.
It was clear Selene was familiar with Benito and Blaze. I think Blaze might have been drooling a little over the beautiful mage—at least he lacked his normal decorum and was having trouble making eye contact. “So this is the famed Eryk,” Selene said, drawing my attention back to her.
Even without makeup, the young mage was strikingly attractive, with clear green eyes and wavy auburn hair. It was the first time I had met her, as she had been abroad managing Viridia’s investments. Well, that wasn’t exactly true. I had captured her in the dark, but we never really talked civilly, and the second time I saw her was when I left her unconscious on the bed with Castile before leaving for the Caliphate. I bowed, somewhat formally, “A pleasure to make your acquaintance in better circumstances, First Citizen Selene Greko.”
The slight smile vanished from her face, “Just Selene if you please.” I had touched a nerve. I nodded as the Empire had killed her parents to take over her family's precious metal mine. “Follow me, Helena and Sylph are in the lower city digging up rumors.”
“Can you show us the destruction?” Castile asked, causing Selene to pause.
Selene nodded, “I think you’ll be amazed. The destruction is beyond the scope of anything since the time of the Titans.” As she led us, I noticed she was no longer the soft-bodied First Citizen I had captured over a year ago. Her steps were purposeful and athletic. Her glutes were firm, and her hips barely swayed—she had been training, probably with her legionnaires. I wasn’t the only one admiring our guide; I caught Benito and Blaze doing the same.
I raised my focus as we walked through the city. The debris had rained down and caused some modest damage, but as we got closer to the site, many buildings had collapsed as if a giant had swatted over them. The people were sparse, and those we did pass looked like they had been beaten down. We turned onto a wide thoroughfare and headed to what I knew as the upper city. Very few buildings stood now as we progressed. Only those made of large blocks of sandstone. Then the road stopped.
We were all in shock as we looked down on a massive crater in the middle of the city maybe four hundred yards across. I immediately guessed the explosion had originated in the undercity to create this much devastation. It really was a cataclysm. As we were silenced, Selene talked. “They have stopped trying to count the dead, but tens of thousands died. They stopped trying to burn the bodies and are now just throwing them in the river for the crocodiles. Most of those people down there and in the city cleaning up were caught looting and pressganged.”
“They must be desperate as those look like halflings,” Benito said, pointing.
I followed his finger and cursed, pulling my spyglass from my belt to confirm. A touch of aether and I focused. Yep, that was definitely Lesna.
© Copyrighted 2024, 2025 by AlwaysRollsAOne
No Permission is given to translate, copy, or repost this original work of fiction. If you are reading this on a site that is not my Patreon it has been stolen without my permission and is a violation of DMCA. Remember, this work is the result of my creative effort and is protected by copyright law. Removal or altering of this notification is an acknowledgment you are aware you are in violation of DMCA.
Comments
Erick Thiemke
there is some errors in there becasue I was zoomed out too far when writing. when I get to the edit, I will fix it and try to be consistent with cultures/languages
Aspiring Sage
Love that Lesna is back!!! She and Bonito will provide endless comic relief. I just hope the author is up to the wordsmithing task required!
Aspiring Sage
ARAO, the map of the continent shows Yuetsen as the capital of Kityeunia, but in this chapter you say it is part of Linshania.is that an error to be fixed or is Kityeunia a province of Linshania? It's a bit confusing. 6 or so chapters ago, I think you also wrote that their ship from Godak would land in Gesedmuria, but it landed in Yuetsen. If you could, please clarify. Thanks.
Erick Thiemke
every woman? maybe the author has a fetish? i dont know. i actually thought there was only two, renna and Zyna
WhetNooodle
1-2% of the population is redhead on Earth, logically if humans come from Earth, that same percentage would transfer to this universe, how is every woman mage Eryk runs into a redhead, doesn't make sense.
Erick Thiemke
it was a plot by a senator to kill the prince and take over. the otherworlders went overboard but "supercharging" gunpowder with aether. they didnt realize the effect since they buried the gunpowder under the residence of the prince.
DrDarrenB
I’m curious as to how they did not get caught. Enough gun powder to blow up a quarter of the city? How did they get the money to buy the resources necessary to create the gunpowder in the first place? Also how were they able to buy it in sufficient quantities without anyone noticing? As established in the previous chapter people are already aware of the existence of gunpowder due to previous outworlders. How does no one notice the vast quantities of the materials for gunpowder being bought and that not set off any alarm bells in the government or merchants selling it. Did someone high up in the city catch on quick and suppress the news and support the outworlders in the hopes of getting the gunpowder for themselves? Maybe the blowing up of the quarter was the intentions of that individual and the deaths of the outworlders involved is crucial to covering their own tracks? Just questions that come off the top of my head
GucciG
I'm kind of iffy on how gunpowder can cause this much destruction. I could see a warehouse taking out a full block or two... but almost an entire city? I don't think aether is a good excuse either. I'll be disappointed if this is some kind of foundation to make guns OP to conquer the ignorant natives who use swords. I don't even think magic can do this much damage unless they're on the level of Zyna. That's too extreme for me.
J. L. Mullins
So, obviously you don't have to change it, I just wanted to hang a flag on how much damage you are putting forward. Even weaponized, targetted, military detonations are only 10x more effective... Example: The Great Chicago Fire, a devastating conflagration that burned from October 8-10, 1871, destroyed 3.3 square miles of the city, killed around 300 people. Obviously less 'instant' but it bares comparison. Again, if you want this to be this distructive, that's fine, it's your story. 😁 I just wanted to make sure that such was intentional.
Erick Thiemke
thinking 200,000 population in both the upper and lower and lower city. most of the upper city destroyed....plus undercity would have had large sections collapse
J. L. Mullins
"over fifteen thousand people had died in Yuetsen, with a quarter of the city destroyed" That is... way, WAY more damage than gun powder, even being manufactured on a large scale, should have done. If there is some sort of magical backlash, MAYBE? Fifteen thousand people is 10% of the number that died in Hiroshima... Is your intention really that this was 10% of a nuclear blast in a major, 'modern' city? "already packed with" makes it sound like his dimensional space is full, rather than that it just has all that he needs.
Invalid Entry
They built a gunpowder mill under a city then started pumping magic into their stockpile to see what would happen? Was this a purposeful terrorist attack because even human beings aren’t capable of that level of stupidity. I assumed something about magic being in the world meant any explosives were doomed to cook off randomly because otherwise everyone would be using guns by now lol
Medhanie Kidane
Too much involvement of Erick and others to save some people. I would have loved if he had heard about them while he was in the city and got a contract from the gild to hunt them. Twist and turns I get it....but 🤷🏾♂️
Bananaboat
Exactly, we were never dissuaded from the use of gunpowder because of accidents, we perfected the manufacture of it until it became a safer process
Steve
A normal gunpowder factory exploding under ground would cause a localised earthquake and at least a few 100 deaths of its under a city. They make a really big boom.
Steve
It frequently explodes in the primitive production processes used historically too, mix the vat too fast or slow and you get an explosion which causes a chain reaction if you are in a factory. If you have ever seen an ammo dump explode, the documented effects of most historical factory explosions are pretty similar. Even in 2021, the only factory the US army had manufacturing gunpowder exploded and destroyed all its equipment.
Owen Jones
There’s always platinum and mithril to use as ranks above it.
IndyBart
Sure but safe off screen is preferable to dead and gone, especially for our beloved former company mage captain.
Chachi
which is why i said i wish i doubt he changes from goody two shoes tbh
Sunto
It definitely feels like eryks going to be forced into some unjustified decision to save her. When realistically breaking someone out of prison is crazy, even if they’re your good friend. And even more so when they’re someone you shouldn’t have any positive feelings about, who was caught looting after a disaster. Besides which looting a bunch of civilians who just died is seriously scummy behaviour.
Apophixas
You can't be lawful good and be in the gray area. That's almost the very antithesis of lawful. He'd be neutral good or chaotic good.
Apophixas
Yup. No reason for Eryk to feel this bad for her. She's been nothing but trouble for him, and she almost certainly earned her current fate.
BubblyGhost
It's probably highly unstable taking into account context clues. You could potentially make someone a suicide bomber with spacial artifacts, but it seems like the ones who made it here died in the process of merely trying to create it.
Erick Thiemke
One long running character is enough for this book. Let’s just say the POV vote was important
IndyBart
I hope this does not mean you kill off even more cherished characters to drive further revenge plots.
NovaZero
You know, I really think it's more odd that it isn't brought up more. Gun powder is quite easy to make but in this setting where boiling water slowly is considered an alchemical process, ehhhhh
Bananaboat
I don't understand why gunpowder is so shunned, it seems like it has the ability to be used as a nuke. It seems like using gunpowder would be right up the Empire's alley. Have someone smuggle gunpowder into an Esenhem city, give it a fuse that takes 15 minutes to finish, then the agent gtfo.
Bananaboat
Ruh roh Raggy.
NovaZero
Storage Time!
NovaZero
This is such a good thing to throw in there.
Sunto
The author really wants to make Lesna work huh?
Reid
Didn't realize there was a Tier 1 Operator in the comment section 🦅🇺🇲💪
Andrew
Thank you!
Reid
Ooh, you have my attention now. The intrigue has been reestablished and my original concerns are now moot, I happily look forward to how this will all play out 😈
Andrew Glass
I don't know, if I was in his situation and found out some people from earth were getting hunted down, and I wasn't specifically doing anything else, id problably try to help em out
Ulises
I mean... Empathy? After all he is an outworlder too and, there are children.
Erick Thiemke
SPOILER....yeah, there is no happy ending for this arc
Chachi
i dont mind the lawfully good character but wish eryk was more in the gray area when it came to his morality.
Reid
This situation feels a little thin tbh. So far Eryk has assisted in a plot to kill an Emporer thus overthrowing the current Empire, directly assisted and is the primary reason for a world leader (Ork Caliphate) being put in power, returned enslaved Goliaths to their homeland while also fixing a primary issue that they have had forever, and outed a villainous sect of were-people to a nation's authorities. This has happened (if I'm tracking time correctly) in less than 3 years, and all of these event have a multitude of highly dangerous and "virtuos" sub-events. So what I mean by this feeling "thin" is that there hasn't been a point in the story where what Eryk is currently doing hasn't been antagonistic on a national scale. And his "reasons" for doing all this keeps getting more and more stretched. Like he's about to go halfway across the world to save complete strangers that are being hunted down by an entire nation of people. Once he accomplishes his goal and everyone is of course happy and healthy (because the probability of the alternative is most likely a flat 0%) what does he expect to do with these people. If I had to guess they're all going to join Eryk and his party at Adrian's rest, fit in seamlessly, and all find perfect roles that fit their exact personality and skillset because they have nowhere else to go and Eryk is going to accept them because it will increase his power base and he has a bleeding heart? The fact tbh that he's doing all of this without a "what am I for sure going to do with this group of people after I'm done rescuing them from a shit ton of powerful people" is actually astonishing.
saber
Yup! I like the cheeky halfling. It's like a force of chaos thay keeps messing up eryk
Erick Thiemke
it was a lot of gunpowder and they infused it with aether
Erick Thiemke
I assume you are referring to Lesna and not Selene, Helena or Sylph.
saber
Yay I'm glad she's back already!
Justin Barnett
If gunpowder can do this much damage, what would something like dynamite do?
Erick Thiemke
gold...but I thinking that gold it the highest rank
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Gwalmeich
The city really went full nuclear.
Erick Thiemke
corrected
Reid
If it doesn't the author will have granted us the power of foresight: • Eryk hears about "x" • Eryk helps "x" • "x" and Eryk are healthy and happy Repeat as needed
Ivan Kanewske
“I pleasure to make your acquaintance in better circumstances, First Citizen Selene Greko.” I to A
Chachi
i believe eryks need to rescue ppl will bite him in the ass aswell
Justin Barnett
He knows how much it sucks being dragged from earth to Desia. I think it’s him wanting to give them the help he wished he had when he first arrived. Also I think it was implied the group he’s after wasn’t involved in making the gunpowder.
Ivan Kanewske
I think she had made the manifestation flirtatious to spit the Raelia in the dreamscape. Spit to spite, Add manifestation of I think she had made the manifestation flirtatious to spite the MANIFESTATION OF Raelia in the dreamscape.
Sean Kauffman
I like this train of thought as it give some good motivation. "I wanted to know if time was linear between Earth and Desia."
Silver Beard
OH, the irony! Wonderful. If only Raelea had been honest in the letter! He does have a son... [If I had a child, I probably wouldn't be going off to rescue strangers, either.]
Jordan A
“but I was second-guessing running off to be a white knight to save these.” Did you mean to say “…save these people.”?
Chachi
is their a higher rank than silver as an adventurer?
Nick Nicholson
Yeah I don’t get why he cares about these people. They’re total strangers and part of a group that destroyed a whole city.
Erick Thiemke
In the final leg of book 6! Crazy...maybe 20-25 chapters but I am not going to rush it. Tomorrow is World Sphere.
