RD 3 Chapter 5

Chapter 5

After causing a commotion at the worksite, Gloria shooed me towards the residential area. Simone, apparently having heard of my arrival, hurried out to greet me. 

"Bran, welcome home," she said, opening her arms in a grand gesture of a hug. Given that she was wearing her skimpy nun outfit, the sight of her raised my heartbeat. 

Eagerly, I stepped in to wrap an arm around her waist and squeeze her body to mine. The soft fabric gave way until her firm curves molded to me.

She sighed into the hug and let me soak it up for a moment before getting down to business. "We'll assemble the Mul Branova here shortly," she said, giving me a peck on the cheek. "There's more of them, and they're going to expect to be initiated. Furthermore, we need to discuss what you're going to do with the three servants." 

I gave her a slightly tight squeeze and put her down. "Do I have to initiate all the new Mul Branova?" I asked. Her emerald eyes bore into mine. 

"Yes, yes you do. They've all been saved by demons, they've all been told that your organization made that happen," she gestured grandly around the fortress. "These ladies want to meet their savior. They went to join the rest in becoming powerful enough that they aren't victims again." 

I still had an incredible dislike for the corrupt Awakening artifact, but I also understood the desire to grow the Mul Branova. Having my will so intensely exerted over others was a lot of responsibility. But I was going to have to learn to manage it with those I had already initiated anyway. I resigned myself to a few more.

"Good.” Simone saw my acceptance on my face. “Now Gloria, you didn't bite him too much, did you?" Simone leaned around me. 

"Not too much," Gloria smirked. "He's going to take me on a date tomorrow night." 

Simone hummed and gave me an undecipherable look before letting me go. She grabbed Gloria, pulling her along, Simone's positive mood was infectious and it seemed even Gloria was having trouble remaining grumpy with the saintess. 

We walked inside, and the interior of the fort was immediately far nicer than I had expected. I had expected smooth concrete walls, like some sort of military barracks, however it had all been framed in drywall, been put up and painted in soft pastels, along with art decorating the walls. The entryway had a guard station, of which was manned by a Mul Branova. The woman’s back straightened like she'd been struck by lightning as I entered. 

I nodded to her, "Keep up the good work." Her face split into a beaming smile, she nodded along eagerly, "Of course, my lord," she snapped a salute. 

Simone put a hand on the counter of the guard station, "If you could pass the message along, that everyone should meet in the cafeteria here shortly." 

"Right away, saintess," the woman snapped off another salute, before turning and working a phone. 

"The phones are on a local line," Gloria explained. "So we could communicate within the fortress easily."

Speakers all around us kicked on, as the guard’s voice boomed out over the fortress, "Lord Bran has arrived. Please assemble in the cafeteria. I repeat, Lord Bran has arrived. Please assemble in the cafeteria." 

There was a click as she hung up, and I glanced up to find the hidden speaker in the corner of the hallway.

Before I had even glanced down, the ground nearly shook with what sounded like dozens of initiated running with a touch too much power across the fortress. 

Gloria groaned, "At least we'll do some stress testing with this stampede.”

“Our man is very popular, Gloria," Simone smiled. "We are just lucky enough to bag him for real." 

My mafia princess was less inclined to agree, but she didn’t disagree either.

I could win her over again.

Already, several ladies were pouring out of a stairwell nearby and rushing to a pair of double fire doors that appeared to have a simple cafeteria design beyond. 

I walked through the doors behind Simone and Gloria.

Jenny and Amanda were on the other side of the doors, waiting for us. Amanda was gesturing for us to come in before falling into formation to my left.

The cafeteria was a functional area and built for community. Sturdy, unadorned wooden picnic tables filled the hall. They had at least been sanded and stained, ensuring their durability. Even with the constant use by the initiated and their increased physicality, these tables would last quite a while.

"Sir, please step to the side," Amanda gestured for me to follow her.

On one side of the cafeteria, there was a small platform, about eight feet across and raised about two feet from the rest of the cafeteria. It almost looked like a small stage for a band. However, I also knew that this cafeteria would make a wonderful assembly location, should we ever need it.

Amanda walked me beside the stage but didn't let me up on it just yet.

The cafeteria was rapidly filling up, and I found myself questioning the number of Mul Branova that had joined our efforts while I was away. They seemed to number well over a hundred, possibly even climbing to over one hundred and fifty.

"It seems you guys have not taken recruitment lightly," I commented, staring over at the tables.

"Of course not," Amanda smiled. The leggy blonde was still in her driver's uniform, her hair stuffed up under a driver's cap that she took off before fluffing her hair out as it dropped all the way down to her hips. "It's important to all of us that we help you fight against the demons to come, my lord," she batted her lashes at me and gave me a soft smile.

"The demons are a great threat, but I think you guys will be strong enough to handle the first wave yourselves. You've grown powerfully in strength."

Simone took the stage first, bowing to the assembled ladies. I noticed the three servants gifted to me neatly lined up behind her. Knowing Simone, she would have them well in hand by the end of the day. 

"Those of you who have already been initiated," she nodded, "and those of you who will be initiated today." There was a trill of excitement in the crowd at those words, but Simone continued forward.

I resisted the urge to groan, knowing that I would have a busy day ahead of me.

"You understand the challenges that are in front of us. Many of you have seen the horrors that are demons in their attempt to take your bodies for their own devices. But you have also seen the way to beat these demons." She smiled at everyone instead. "Bran has saved you, and in turn, we are offering to empower you to save more in the future."

Excited whispers picked up in the cafeteria as everyone's eyes shifted to me before bouncing back to Simone excitedly. She was going to absolutely eat up this attention. She loved talking me up. 

"All of you have already agreed to keep these matters secret until it becomes common knowledge," she said. "And you've joined us here at our budding fortress in order to make a difference." 

I smiled politely as many of the eyes kept wandering over to me. I decided to embrace the part of being a leader where I could just stand and offer a physical presence and encouragement. That was far better than being the one giving speeches, I’d leave that to Simone as much as she’d let me.

"If you would like to take the opportunity, please steel yourself for what is to come. And then please, you may thank Bran while he is unlocking your system." 

She gestured to me, and Amanda very pointedly led me up onto the stage, my driver sticking close to me like we were somehow best friends.

One glance to the side, and I realized the move was her attempt to one-up Jenny. With a close association to me in this announcement, she’d rise in the ranks among the broader group watching.

Those two were trouble.

Amanda led me onto the stage and then gestured for me to take the center. Of course, stepping back herself. 

"Simone, thank you. Everyone…" I glanced around. "I'm being given more credit than I deserve. I found a handful of people being trapped by demons, caged like animals to be possessed for their own purposes. All I did is what any decent man would do in the same situation. I killed the demons and I freed the people. It was then that the Mul Branova decided to make it their life's mission to become stronger and help others evade demonic possession. They have taken up a charter to prevent the atrocities that demon kind should frequently produce." 

I glanced out over the group. "That said, I will happily provide each and every one of you the strength to make a difference. In the coming days, the demons that we've stopped thus far will seem like a paltry force for what is to come. And the greater our resistance, and the weaker their foundation, the more people we can save." I cleared my throat and nodded that I’d finished.

Shouting filled the cafeteria. The Mul Branova went absolutely crazy over my simple words.

Those words were easy enough. I meant them. It was critically important that we forged a force that could stand up against the oncoming demon army. 

Amanda came up next to me and opened a plush leather case. Inside was the corrupted artifact. I gritted my teeth as I took it out of the case. 

"Please line up one after the other," I held it out. "I will happily initiate every one of you. But understand before you take this on that this artifact is not perfect. It will awaken you in the eyes of the System. However, you will be susceptible to my commands. It’s an unfortunate downside, and one I would remove if I could. I would rather you follow your heart and do what you think is right, and I will do my best not to abuse this power." I nodded as the first of the next generation of Mul Branova stepped up to be awakened.

"That was wonderful, my lord," Amanda said.

"I still dislike this thing." I grumbled.

I put the crook of the artifact around the neck of the first Mul Branova to approach, watching as they awakened the New Devotee of Bran SS class that all the others had.

This part was truly a mystery to me. This organization had somehow forged their own class in the system. Not only that, but the class was incredibly potent. So far, based on what I could see from Amanda and Jenny, the skills from the class were basic and foundational, but incredibly strong. They would have to find skill books or train on their own to specialize in any sort of combat role.

"Thank you so much," a woman smiled brightly as I initiated her. She blinked, looking into the middle distance, and started swiping at a screen that only she could see.

"Please. You are very welcome," I nodded to her and then gestured for her to step aside. Each of the women walked up with eyes full of wonder as they received their class and were able to see their abilities. At the same time, I began awakening their bloodlines with Powers of Blood. Those that the demons had been gathering all had bloodlines of some sort to give them an advantage.

"You're doing amazing," Simone circled around and rubbed my shoulders, standing up on her toes to reach them. “I’ll make sure to get drops of their blood for later.”

“No, rush.” I grunted as she found the knot that seemed to form so often and began to work on it, her hands firm and soft. The woman also knew my body like the back of her hands.