Chapter 5: Champions of Peace

Tyrant: (sits in an active volcano on one of the stones) "Sure, is boring around here. Maybe, I should call Arkana. HEY, ARKANA COME OVER HERE!" (she shouts loud enough it is heard across the universe and on several planets but not loud in a way that it damages anything or anyone)

Arkana: "You claim through narrative descriptions of your actions that you were heard through the universe, but that is an exaggeration for your own ego. Anyway, it's nice to talk to you outside of working hours."

Tyrant: "It is fun Arkana, you should try it." (while Tyrant had no problem juggling lighting chainsaws because burning chainsaws was something most people did)

Arkana: “Like this?” (serves herself a margarita) “Now, let’s talk about the big elephant in the room.”

Yes, an Elephant in a volcano was difficult to overlook.

Tyrant: "Yes, her name is Marla. You don't find a volcano resistant elephant every day."

Arkana: "I mean the story being told by the author. Since the last chapter you were forbidden from riffing the new chapters, but your absence was felt in the story. I think I found a compromise you will like."

Tyrant: "Compromise? Do I make a rap summary at the start and the end of every chapter from now on?"

Arkana: "I want us both to have a conversation at the beginning and end of each chapter, with you doing your thing while I narrate in a more understandable way.”

Tyrant: "You want to be the straight man? Or rather a straight woman? Why not, balance is important in comedy as well."

Arkana: "Then we have a deal. Now, what do you think is going to happen in this new chapter?"

Tyrant: "I think Flamewing will do something heroic via surfing on a flaming meteor so nobody can detect him when he is infiltrating the base of the enemy."

Arkana: "I want to say that is ridiculous, but we live in a science fiction fantasy galaxy where different species can reproduce with each other and travelling from one planet to another is like driving from one city to another."

Tyrant: "I just hope we see more of KARSH. His remarks are all often surprisingly comedic. Also maybe I can get an appearance? I could be like a surprise boss fight for Flamewing where I fight him with an ice sword."

Arkana: “Sorry, Arturo has other plans for you in the future. In the meantime, enjoy this chapter and give the readers your feedback.”

Tyrant: "Enjoy this chapter OR ELSE.... You don't. We can't force you to like it and it wouldn't be right to do so. But I can sing now all the Lead Zeppeli Songs as the rest of my closing Monologue. Hey hey mama said the way you move, Gonna- What do you mean we can't afford these songs? Oh, fiddlesticks."

Welcome back, my dearies! These prose chapters take longer to write than regular webcomic pages, and Arturo wants to apologize for being too distracted again. On a positive note he finished the first story of Tales of the Necropolis, so go follow that webcomic now!

In the previous chapter, Flamewing and his company were sent on their first mission on another world to give humanitarian aid to the refugees of the recent military conflict. This conflict began years ago when the generals that were loyal to the noble families of the Dalee, the Furiah and the Kikiyaga rejected the reforms of Empress Morkana and decided to take over smaller territories through military strength. Of course, the attempts of these warlords of becoming kings failed since Morkana has the technological superiority with the rebuilt “Terran Dreadnoughts” and the negotiations with the enemies of the warlords were very effective. This was a war that was won easily, but like with all wars many innocent people suffered. This is where the Hero of Rayga and the Coalition enters this epic story, not as a slayer of tyrants, but as a helper of the common people. Morkana can claim this is just for public image, but she does believe Flamewing can give hope to many people by doing what he always does.

Let’s see how Flamewing is doing.

EXT. IMPERIAL COLONY OF FAEHEIM - AFTERNOON

Flamewing: “Take cover!”

Unnamed imperial soldier: “We have made enemy contact in coordinates-”

enemy dreik warrior: “I will kill you all, dirty huma-Aaaaah!”

Flamewing used his fireball gauntlets to blast away many incoming enemies. Despite years of being away from battlefields, Flamewing remembered well how to fight and his improved equipment worked smoothly. He no longer was a young teenager clumsily shooting fireballs from prototype gloves he made with scrapped technology, but he was now a veteran trying to keep the people under his command and the civilians safe.

Enemy dreik mage: “You will die! You will all-”

Before the mage cast some dark magic she got a headshot from one of Flamewing’s snipers on the rooftop.

Flamewing: “Li, look for any other caster in the area. Look for black smoke and swarms of insects.”

Li (as a voice coming from a communicator): “Roger that, captain.”

Nelly: “Captain, the spy drone has detected a big magical energy signature coming this way!”

Flamewing: “Nelly, prepare the defensive shields! Reingar, you and your group guide the civilians to safety! T’no, call for backup! 00415 and everyone else, hold the line! Don’t let them in!”

Enemy Dreik berserker: “RAAAAAAAWR!!!!”

A few streets away a three meter tall dreik was rampaging through cars and barricades. This monster was a cultist of Asmoth that was mutated with dark magic to have strength like that of a Nobilis dreik at the expense of his mental health.

Nelly: “What the fuck is that?!”

Unnamed imperial soldier: “It’s coming towards us!”

Flamewing: “Oh hell no! Everyone, stay behind me!”

Flamewing stood in front of the team helping him and summoned the Kaisword from his inventory. Thanks to his oath to Morkana, he was empowered by the Kaisword and was emanating fire with every step he took.

Enemy dreik warrior: “He has the Kaisword! He is the Demon of Humanity!”

Many of the enemies came out from their hiding positions to try to kill Flamewing, even if that meant becoming easy targets for the snipers. The desire for power and revenge was too strong in these dreiks.

Flamewing: “Nelly, activate the shields!”

*As Nelly activated the shield generators around the area, Flamewing prepared to do a very powerful attack. He focused on the dreik warriors and the dreik berzerker that were approaching him, and with a mighty swing he made a wave of fire that blasted away all the enemies in front of him, leaving only charred corpses.

Nelly: “He did!”

Li: “The captain saved us all!”

Behind Flamewing his company was celebrating this victory, but he was sickened by the sight of all the people he killed. In the past he wanted to be a hero that fought against villains that harmed innocent people, but as he grew up he learned things weren’t as white and black as he thought. His experiences on the Coalition vs Blitz war made him learn that true heroism is about protecting people and always being a good person since the so-called “enemies” are people too. On this day Flamewing killed many people, but he did it to protect civilians, many of whom were families with children. Flamewing may have been sad for what he did, but he didn’t regret it since he knew children like Helen would be safe that day.

The numbers of the dead people were 4 civilians, 3 allies and 15 enemies. The numbers of injured people were 7 civilians, 2 allies and 10 enemies. Learning these numbers made Flamewing feel worse than he already felt.

INT. MORKANA’S ROOM - NIGHT

Morkana: “What have I done?!”

The situation in Faeheim had escalated beyond the expectations of the strategists.

Morkana: “Arther, what have I done?!”

Despite how much anger Morkana had for Flamewing’s treason, she felt extreme guilt about sending him to Faeheim. She knew he would be able to save the day as the hero he is, but he was sent on a humanitarian aid mission, not a combat mission.

Morkana: “I-I am such a bitch!”

Morkana felt that she almost made Helen an orphan, that she almost killed Prince’s father. She wanted to make him feel guilt, but now she was the one feeling it and it was horrible.

Morkana: “I should haven’t sent him too early!”

The Empress walked outside her room and went to visit the room of her son. He was hugging his fox plushie.

Morkana: “I am really sorry, Prince.”

She then went to visit Helen’s room. The human was talking while asleep.

Helen: “Pancakes…”

This made Morkana slightly chuckle, but she still felt sad.

Morkana: “Your father is an idiot for falling in love with a monster like me.”

INT. IMPERIAL PALACE’S ENTRANCE - DAY

One week later.

Helen: “Daddy!”

Flamewing hugged his daughter with tears in his eyes.

Flamewing: “I told you I was going to return.”

Prince: “G-good to see you, Captain Flamewing.”

Prince was standing in front of his mother and holding his fox plushie. Morkana allowed Prince to finally approach Flamewing since she felt she had pushed things too far with her punishment to Flamewing. However, Prince was still nervous and continued taking seriously his mom’s order to not call Flamewing “dad”, or “father”.

Flamewing: “Good to see you too, Prince.

Flamewing ruffled Prince’s hair, making the little heir feel so happy. For many years, Prince wanted to see his father and go on adventures with him. He wanted to be like the hero his mom told him about and help other people. He wanted to do so many things, but right now he was scared of asking for a hug. In his heart he felt that if he asked that his mom would be angry, but when he turned around his mom looked sad.

Morkana: “Welcome back.”

Flamewing smiled.

Morkana: “I am sure you want to talk to me in private.”

INT. MORKANA’S ROOM - DAY

Morkana: “Tell me everything.”

Flamewing: “The situation is a mess. Even if we were able to rescue as many civilians as we could from that area, we could have saved more if the reinforcements hadn’t taken too long. To make things worse, one company disobeyed orders and attacked the enemies without ensuring the safety of the civilians. 10 of those civilians died at a crossfire in a market 50 kilometers away from our position.”

Morkana: “I knew this would happen with those officers following old doctrines, but I didn’t expect in a world where war had already ended.”

Flamewing: “And I know people are safer now, but I don’t think military occupation will work in the long run. People get scared when looking at armed soldiers patrolling the streets, and after what happened that day it will be more difficult to trust said armed soldiers.”

Morkana: “Of course we aren’t continuing military occupation. This is why I made a deal with the patricians of the most influential families of Faeheim.”

Morkana showed Flamewing a blue looking fruit.

Morkana: “The citizens will be given this new kind of transgenic plant to farm so they can feed their families and cattle, and the patricians will rule as acting governors that will follow imperial laws.”

Flamewing: “That sounds nice.”

Morkana: “The only problem is that the patricians want tax exemptions and to have their past offenses to the law erased from official records. I will send a representative to negotiate a better deal, and if I find out one of those previous offenses is of sexual nature I will go full Birds of Blitz on those assholes.”

Flamewing: “I thought you wanted to stop doing things that way.”

Morkana: “I do, but the Fafnirian Empire is bigger than Blitz. If it isn’t Faeheim, there are problems at any of the other colonies, or at the slums that resulted from Meenervah’s horrible reforms. As much as I want to be an idealist, I have to go back to my old pragmatism and work in the shadows to fix the problems of many worlds.”

Flamewing: “But at what cost?”

Both Flamewing and Morkana were on the same page about how the situation was.

Flamewing: “We could do better.”

Morkana: “Flame, I try everyday to do what is right. I have to calculate every decision I make and consider what is best for the lives of billions of people. I am not a hero and I don’t have the luxury to be one.”

Flamewing noticed the sad tone in her voice.

Morkana: “I was worried you would die.”

This surprised Flamewing.

Flamewing: “I thought you wanted me to be away.”

Morkana: “As much as I despise your presence since your betrayal, I am not a heartless bitch that wants you dead.”

Flamewing: “I think you actually wanted me dead at one point in the past.”

Morkana: “I may have exaggerated my threat to you months ago. I was really hurt back then.”

Flamewing: “I am referring to those days before we started dating. When you pinned me on the floor to kiss me I was worried that was a new method of assassination.”

Morkana: “Oh my stars!”

The two laughed after remembering that moment. Twelve years ago the two had started their romance and so many things have happened, both good and bad.

Morkana: “Seriously, I am glad you are alive since I can punish you more for being an asshole.”

Flamewing: “Oh, how I am going to survive this! Hahaha! Just admit you care about me, your highness.”

Morkana: “I care for you as much as I care for the general sentient population of the Known Worlds, which is basic empathy. I feel guilty about sending you too early to a world I thought was going to be safe, but I still believe you are an ungrateful jerk that abandoned me while I was-”

Sparrow (as a voice coming from a communicator): “Your highness, have you talked yet with Captain Asswing about the cooperativa?”

Morkana felt very angry about this interruption.

Morkana: “Not yet!”

Sparrow: “Understood. Also, Lord Dagon-”

Morkana: “Ignore everything Lord Dagon says! He is a fucking racist!”

After that emotional outburst, Morkana looked at Flamewing and she was very tired.

Flamewing: “What about a cooperativa?”

Morkana sighed.

Morkana: “A cooperative group from the unofficially named ‘Human District’ want to invite you to be the special guest at their Summer Festival. I mean the summer of Rayga, not the one of Fafniria.”

Flamewing: “Wait, why didn’t I receive this news?”

Morkana: “You did, but you take too long to check your mail! I am not surprised.”

At that moment, Morkana saw how in Flamewing’s face a devilish smile appeared.

Flamewing: “Mork, what would you think about improving your public image?”

Despite the fact that Morkana could order any command to Flamewing by activating the oath he made, she was very scared of his demonic face.