Vacuse frowned as he watched the illusory light close up around his fake figure. After he realized that the Black Accord must have lured Rhydian out so they could set up a two-way trap.
One to attack Vacuse, and if that worked then no problem. The other to breach the fortress in the absence of the High Commander, since all fortress defenses are keyed to him.
But when he told Rhydian, the man had simply shaken his head and said there was no way for the fortress to be breached.
That meant the trap would be laid before they reached the fortress. They had intentionally walked into the trap so they might have the chance to get a Black Accord member.
"That illusion... it’s from a member of the Black Accord, alright."
They watched the scene without doing anything.
Kagerou shifted. "Are we... going to do anything?"
Vacuse shook his head. "Yes. We watch. Captain Mera is in there."
Before long, purple beams that threw out ripples of intense heat punched through the shield. There must have been fifteen beams in total, and they ruptured through the illusory light that was covering them, tearing them into nothingness.
Vacuse formed a disappointed expression. "I thought they would show themselves, but it seems they are afraid of you, High Commander."
Rhydian snorted coldly, but he didn’t say anything.
Vacuse clapped. "They must have figured out the illusion figure of me too late. They lost their chance of snatching me away in one go."
Nothing much was said as Captain Mera arranged her men, and they all proceeded to the real fortress. And when they stood in front of it, Vacuse finally understood why the fortress had likely never been breached.
The fortress was covered with runes, and the pressure that came from the wall was strong enough to make everyone present grimace uncomfortably as it pressed down on them.
Just like earlier, the High Commander stated his password, and they were allowed in.
"We give our respectful greetings to the High Commander!"
"We give our respectful greetings to the High Commander!"
Those at the wall saluted quickly, slamming their hands on their armored chests to create clanging sounds.
Vacuse ignored it all as he entered the Standpoint fortress for the second time in both lives.
The buildings inside were built in small, blocky manners, with the biggest in the middle while the others surrounded it. Vacuse’s mouth curled. "Just as unimpressive as always."
"You’ve been here before?" Kagerou asked curiously.
Vacuse ignored him as he looked around. He knew that the majority of what made the fortress a worthwhile thing was its underground structure.
The Standpoint fortress was made to store a bulk of Vorrakyn’s weapons of war. It’s not a well-known fact that it is a vault as well as a fortress.
In case anything happened to Kragthar, they would be able to carry out offensive operations from Standpoint.
And also be able to accommodate refugees in the hundreds of thousands.
That fact wasn’t well known either.
Standpoint is a lot of things, with tunnels connecting to outposts in the wilderness. They also have the highest number of the Vorrakyn’s Soulbearers.
The numbers were kept low for the public, and most of the Soulbearers moved through secret tunnels through the wilderness for training.
Milixa Vorrakyn did a lot of things. Constructing roads through the wilderness and also tunnels. Too bad he wasn’t able to do it for the entirety of the wilderness, or the Orcs might have seen real trouble.
Vacuse smiled at that, and he was already thinking of ways to make use of things.
Soon the sightseeing ended, and he was escorted to the building he was given, together with some of his guards, including both the Captains.
Vacuse bathed and changed his clothes, washing away the dirt and memories of the fight while he reflected on what happened earlier with Rhydian.
But Vacuse wasn’t entirely worried about the High Commander, and the reason was because the Vorrakyn were not in a stable period.
The position of the High Commander of Standpoint is not one that’s given lightly. It’s a position of trust. Because of the war weapons under the High Commander, it’s not a post that just anyone can occupy.
They must have deep love for the family and not be ready to turn the weapons on the Dragon Lord at the slightest provocation. And not only because some of the weapons could only be accessed by the combined authorities of the High Commander and the Dragon Lord.
But because the post is one that could literally tear the family apart based on the power it commands.
That was why a High Commander would never make war with the Dragon Lord when the Dragon Lord was in war with his enemies.
"But then again," Vacuse muttered silently, "one of the most bloodiest civil wars among the Vorrakyn was between the two positions.
"I won’t be surprised if the so-called SS Dragon fight of the Blood Dragon was the same."
"In a way, the Vorrakyn are one of the most complicated families. They won’t do some things... but only at some seasons."
But Vacuse couldn’t deny that such politics was also what got his blood raised.
Suddenly, Vacuse became solemn as he realized something important.
"Everything was things of the past though. Now, the Vorrakyn were not the Vorrakyn of the past. A lot has changed. Even the Commander of the Dragon Guards and the Wing Brigade were willing to betray the family."
And that was why Vacuse was glad that Rhydian Vorrakyn seemed to be, to some certain extent, following the old ways.
He soon got out of the washroom, and his guards, who had washed as well and dressed, surrounded him as they went out.
They were to have dinner with the High Commander and his family.
"I’m really glad I made the decision to follow you, Vacuse!" Kagerou said.
He was part of the only few people that still called Vacuse by his name without adding any titles. "Imagine all the fun I would have missed out on! What do you say, Harkon?"
But the captain of the New Dawn only grunted.