The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

Leaving behind Fred, Emily, and the others, Oscar and Erden floated upward to the shocked gasps of the crowds, their cheers rising higher as they waved their hands at his retreating figure. The temporary command center was put up in the ruined castle. Half of it was toppled over in a mess of rubble, the tip of a spire sticking out like a sore thumb, charred black from presumably intense flames. Old soldiers were already at work, moving the rubble away one brick at a time, a menial task designated to the Apprentice Exalts. His presence attracted their attention, and they all stopped, dropping the rubble loudly on the ground and bowing in deep respect.

Past the ruined arches and avoiding piles of rubble, he navigated a course to the intact part of the castle, though barely as seen in the widespread cracks and caved-in walls. The guards by the doors didn't stop him, stepping to the sides the instant they saw him coming. Oscar nodded to the guards for a job well done and unmounted Erden to walk the remainder of the way. Entering a large terrace, he stared silently at the ruins, where statues of honorable warriors of olden days broke apart on the ground. Judging from how the rest of the terrace was relatively clean, Oscar clicked his tongue, insulted that the enemy purposely destroyed artifacts of their past.

In the center of the terrace, Aunt Ward, Abraham Raeven, Great Elder Robert, and the rest of the commanders, including Phillip and Gavir, assembled. Surrounded by the admiration gleaming from their gazes, Oscar softly raised his palm to greet them. Aunt Ward cleared her throat and addressed the gathering, "Everyone is here. First, I thank everyone here for their efforts in this war. The victory here has crippled the enemy and broken their resolve. For now, we have established peace in this section of the empire."

"Hurrah!" The commanders cheered once.

"But we have lost much to get this far. Several others should have been here to bask in this victory, but they offered themselves to pave the way. A moment of silence for our fallen, for our dear brothers and sisters." Aunt Ward rested her fist over her chest, directly on the heart, and lowered her head as if bowing to the ghosts. While in deep thought, Oscar remembered the faces of everyone he lost, the soldiers who died from their injuries in the camp and the ones who fell during battle. After a few minutes of this solemn wake, Aunt Ward stuck her glaive in the stone, a dangerous Ein rising from her body, a burning anger glaring from her eyes.

"I'm sure everyone wants to rest and celebrate but look here. We have found this." Aunt Ward gestured to the empty plot of stone and snapped her fingers, the air distorting and twisting as if a veil had been lifted. A large wooden scaffold revealed itself, the gallows, on which several lifeless bodies were hung down, swaying around to the breeze. There were about fifty of them, all dressed in the uniforms of the Pavilion and Empire.

Losing his breath, Oscar wandered from the gathering, and others soon moved closer, their steps slow and heavy. Balling his hands in fists, he slowed his steps and stopped right before one of the hanged, the unfortunate person who had been dead for a long time. He knew him. Oscar cut down the rather short yet stocky man, seeing the distinguishable blonde hair and plump cheeks.

"Erik, you idiot. Why are you here?" Oscar closed Erik's eyes, carrying him in his arms. The cheerful and loud Erik was cold and silent. Bringing him over to the side, several Exalts went to work and carefully wrapped Erik up in cloth. Slowly, they handled Erik with great care, and Oscar remembered their shared past, from when they met during the Coliseum and the Free Duels to the brutal battles in Ashen Grove.

"Did you know this man?" Gavir held his hands together in respect for the fallen, clasped by his stomach.

"He was a good friend and a good Exalt. We fought up the Great Tree and delved into the deep city. This isn't the way he should have gone. He deserved better than to die in this way." Oscar took out a few rations, all of them being meat. Before they could fully enclose Erik in the cloth, he rested the rations on Erik's body and placed his palm on Erik's forehead, sending in a warm Ein to bring color back to the pale face. Oscar grunted, "A snack for your journey beyond and a warmth to keep you company. Farewell, my old friend."

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Somehow, he could swear he saw Erik's face smile for the briefest of moments. It must have been a trick of the eyes. Oscar kept his gaze unblinking on Erik's body as the others carried his friend over. Soon, the dead would find their way home and be put to rest.

"Remember that this is not the end. That horrors like this happen to the defeated, to those we left behind. Remember what we are fighting for and never be drunk on the victory had here." Aunt Ward finished her statement and dispersed the others to roam freely.

"Oscar, shall we share a drink?" Phillip asked.

"Our three armies fought together for the past week. It would be a shame not to celebrate together." Gavir went in between and wrapped his arms around them. "We'll pour out some drinks for those who will be missed."

Oscar sighed and said, "Today does seem like the day to drink."

The festivities continued long into the night. Torches and lanterns dotted Arkenen City, bringing life to the wasteland of rubble and death. Oscar no longer cared and drank away, clinking cups with everyone who came to congratulate him. The citizens put on great shows to entertain the soldiers, putting on great performances and plays of old stories. He clapped and laughed along the songs. Compared to the stiff Summer Gala, this festival was more to his liking, a place where everyone laughed and cheered their hearts out.

Seeing Emily wrangle Fred around, stopping him from drinking more, Oscar laughed the most. Having a moment of clarity, he stood up, attracting the attention of everyone, and raised his mug high, a bit of a slur in his words as he spoke. "It has been a long week. Lift our cups high to all those who gave their lives and paved the way. For their victory in life and death! May they watch proudly over us!"

"For them!" Everyone raised their cups, mugs, and bottles and drank before cheering. Their lively celebrations never ceased until the break of dawn. Resting his flushed and hot cheeks on the cold stone, he nearly gagged, the morning breeze helping him a little. The sounds of groans and pained grunts showed how hard everyone had partied last night. Shaking his head, he roused his men up, all remaining seventy members of the Black Aegis Order. Well-trained as they were, some could not contain the grumbles and complaints, which Oscar allowed for now since they were all hungover.

"Where are we heading, Os?" Fred yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"Aunt Ward says a ship will pick us up to return to the Pavilion. So we can all rest on the ship! Understood!" Oscar shouted, his men weakly agreeing. At the designated location, an airship closed in, an ordinary-looking vessel for simple transport, but the one person riding it was anything but ordinary. Smiling at the old man resting on his reclined chair, Oscar waved over and stumbled on the decks. "Elder Saul! What brings you here?"

"Picking you up. Isn't that obvious?" Elder Saul yawned and waved his wrinkled hand. After Oscar settled his men in the airship, most sleeping in their quarters, Elder Saul tossed some fruit over to him, Emily, and Fred.

"What? No dry biscuits this time?" Oscar bit into the fruit, the sweet, refreshing taste washing away the heavy hangover.

"Ungrateful brat! My own hands make those biscuits!" Elder Saul scoffed. "I'm here to ensure no surprises happen. With me here, the New Dawn won't try anything. Fighting them won't break the Primaere's decree."

"Thank you. I can sleep easily now." Oscar finished his fruit and rubbed his shoulder. Fred and Emily stared with worry, something he didn't like to see on them.

Elder Saul moved from his reclined chair and crouched, eyeing the missing arm. "Why did you lose an arm?"

"I lost it, but we won. Can you fix it?" Oscar held hope that Elder Saul would have the solution. He always did.

"It's hard to get a Grade Five elixir for that. It was simply a droplet when I gave you one to regrow your missing ear. We'll need a full vial to do so." Elder Saul rummaged in his space pocket, shaking his head. "I don't have more. Rather, I never needed one, and getting a droplet was hard enough. To make a fresh one for you now will take several years."

"Years?!" Oscar gripped his shoulder and frowned. He didn't realize a Grade Five elixir would take that long.

"We don't lack the materials, but the process will take around six years. I can start it, but you'll still need a way to fight without an arm." Elder Saul rubbed his wrinkly chin, squirming his lips. "One arm is a huge detriment to your power, especially as a Reis user."

"It'll be fine. There is one other way." Erden had an answer and transmitted the information to Oscar. His face brightened up, and he nearly smacked himself for forgetting. One of the most crucial experimental blueprints from Gol-4's notes, one that had never been realized into reality.

Right…he could make an arm.

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