It only took two days before the rest of Gryndor’s champions returned from their initial missions. Their surprise deploynt had ended with a total of five champion kills and six more injured on the beastkin side as well as one being captured. Two of their champions however got so injuries during the fight as well.
“Anything you can do about this?” The prince asked Ajax after he explained the injuries.
“From what you said Life Mana should be able to overpower the lingering effects, but it will take a lot of Mana.” Ajax knew he didn’t have the ettin staff with him, not only that but he wouldn’t be willing to risk using the staff when healing anyway.
“I’ll bring them over.” The prince said. “You should have no problem regenerating Mana where they are sending you.”
“And where is that?” Ajax asked.
“You’ll be joining the army blocking the road to the capital.” the prince told him.
“They want
there?” Ajax was surprised, that was arguably the most important battlefield, what was certain however was that it was by far the largest battlefront with armies in the tens of thousands having a standoff.
“Since you and Aurexion won’t split up.” The prince quickly raised his hands. “Not that I am saying you should. I am glad to have my own bond back and wouldn’t split up from him either.”
“Since we won’t split up what?” Ajax asked.
“The two of you will be replacing a champion and two champion level teams at that front.” The prince finished.
“There are only two champions and two champion teams there now!” Ajax was shocked how much trust they were putting in him. “They trust
that much after one showing?”
“Firebeard did a lot to help your credibility.” The prince explained. “More than one or two people were questioning your ability to kill a long range champion in under half a minute. But it’s the person who’ll be staying there with you as well as the synergy the two of you would have together that fills them with confidence.”
“Who is it?” Ajax asked, the markers on the map didn’t signal which allied champion was at which location, an anti-spying asure ant to ensure even if information got leaked none of their people were hunted down by people specifically chosen to counter them.
“Our old friend Aranor.” The prince said with a smile. “I’m sure he’ll be excited that he managed to et your bond.”
Ajax stopped when he heard who he was being partnered with. Now it all made sense, the reason why they were putting so much trust in him despite him not even showing everything he was capable of. They knew Aranor was a strong enough caster that they would need other casters to get to him or to ambush him with physical fighters. With Ajax and Aurexion there both options beca almost impossible, the large dragon stopping any blitz attacks and Ajax being there to take out any mages they might send.
“Guess I won’t be seeing a fight any ti soon then.” Ajax chuckled.
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” The prince looked serious for the first ti. “This counterattack of ours hit them hard. The champions they lost might have been on the weaker side but you and Firebeard capturing Redfang is a big deal. They’ll be looking for a way to break the deadlock and get montum going their way once more.”
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It took Ajax a little more than an hour to heal the other two champions and another four to fly over to his new deploynt position. The camp he found there was about the sa size as the army headquarters, the only difference was that this was almost all made up by soldiers with a few regints of elites mixed in instead of support staff and rapid response teams.
THe common soldier’s reaction to Aurexion remained consistent. The fear and horror at seeing a dragon landing amongst them quickly turning to awe and courage once they realized the dragon was on their side did wonders for morale within the first minutes of their arrival as the news spread like wildfire throughout the camp.
“When I heard you bonded with a dragon I thought it would have been a small, young one.” Aranor greeted Ajax as he dismounted his bond. “But I see that’s not the case.”
“Among my kind I am considered both small and young.” Aurexion said with glee, Ajax enjoying the look of shock on the champion's face even if he knew Aurexion wasn’t really all that small considering his investnt in physical stats.
“Aranor, it’s good to see you.” Ajax shook the elves hand before introducing his bond. “This is Aurexion, though I am sure you know that already.”
“It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Aurexion.” The elven champion said and Ajax could actually feel Aranor inspecting Aurexion with his [Sense Mana] Skill, he wasn’t sure what the elf’s level with the Skill was but it wasn’t an inspection Skill, his Skill was simply so high that when pushed its effects could be sensed.
“You won’t get much out of
with that Skil, maybe a headache if you keep going for long enough.” Aurexion said. “I am more physically focused so unless I am actively using my magic you won’t be able to read much into it.”
“Arianwyn will be excited to know you’ve arrived.” Aranor stopped trying to inspect the dragon and changed the topic.
“She’s here?” Ajax was surprised the princess was in a battlefield of this scale.
“It is the only way she’ll get to delve these dungeons in the near future, with every level she gets she is wasting more and more stats.” Aranor explained. “With the changes you’ve introduced the age range for a generation will grow, she will be considered part of the sa generation as so of the children now that will get all these benefits in a century or two and she can’t fall too far behind in her Stat gain if she wants to keep her position as an elite and leader.”
“I suppose that does make sense.” Ajax nodded. “She’d also be among the strongest fighters in the regular army so it shouldn’t be all that dangerous for her.”
Left unsaid was that if she was faced with fighting the elites or even worse champions it would be no contest and she was a walking prize.
“Do you have a plan for how you want to spend your ti?” Aranor asked. “With the size of this battlefront it can get pretty boring.”
“I think they put
here with you because they are expecting that to change.” Ajax answered. “After Firebeard, Aurexion and I captured Redfang it won’t be long until they get answers out of him. The enemy will have to change their plans or act on them now before we know them.”
“You captured Redfang.” Aranor was clearly surprised. “Yes, that will probably break this lock we’ve been having.”
“As for what I’ll do in the anti…” Ajax thought over it for a mont. “I do have a delve I’m waiting to cash in on, they were happy to hear that’s what I was asking for when they offered
a reward for my part in Redfang’s
capture. Besides that I’ll be working on this.”
With that Ajax pulled out a set of daggers and a few vials out of his spacial ring. Aranor instantly recognised them for what they were, the daggers and poison Redfang had to have been using. Since beastkin champions sent against Ajax would mostly be physical or hybrid focused poisons were a big part of their fighting and working on an antidote would be a good use of his ti considering his experience as an alchemist.
“I’ve also heard you got a bit of a better handle on your [Telekinesis], think I could see that in action?” Aranor asked.
“Maybe later.” Ajax answered, he was still under half Mana from healing the other two champions. “I’m a little low on Mana right now.”
Slowly but surely a few of the command staff were inching their way close to the group, but seeing as they were the champions assigned here they were giving them a mont to co to an understanding. Unfortunately for them they had waited too long and a horn blowing in the distance caught their attention.
Ajax tensed up. He didn’t have the experience yet to differentiate what the horn signified but from the look on the faces of the command staff and the way the camp burst into motion he was guessing it wasn’t good news.
“You can relax.” Aranor put his hand on his shoulder. “That horn ans the enemy regular army is attacking. They most likely will just have a small skirmish between the regular soldiers before one side disengages.”
Aranor was sure that even though Ajax had flown here at a very high altitude there was no way the enemy had missed his arrival when he dropped down on the camp. Considering that the rest of the champion level forces stationed here hadn't left yet there was no way they would risk pushing the fight past a skirmish right now.
“Should we force it to be sothing more?” Aurexion’s question seed to attract a lot of interest from the strategists that were making their way back to the command tent.
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