Cataclysm War | Chapter 82: Really Big Chests™ (First Draft)

Sunday, August 7, 4 S.E.

Leonidas swiped away the final alert with a shake of his head and turned his gaze at last toward the watching Venerates, smiling wryly at them.

“There’s a lot,” he said to them simply. “And more I need to tell you both about, but it’s not urgent. We should go meet up with the others first,” he continued, glancing toward his friends and family in the Royal Box. “They’re probably two seconds away from rushing the Arena.”

Ceruviel and Uriel nodded at his words, and his Mentor smiled.

“Were the alerts productive?”

“Extremely,” Leonidas answered with a grin. “You’ll see soon, Ceruviel.”

His irascible teacher nodded at that and then slapped Uriel on the breastplate. “Come on, nightlight. Let’s go.”

Uriel let out the long-suffering sigh that was swiftly becoming his calling card whenever his counterpart was present, and together, the two Venerates launched themselves toward the box—soaring by unknown means that looked as easy as going for a stroll.

Leonidas shook his head again and looked up at the Arena, surveying the watching Royal Guards.

“I want to say thank you,” he called to them calmly, voice resonant within the Arena’s acoustics. “This was a challenge, for all of us, and you most of all. Your courage, dedication, and sacrifice will not be forgotten. For protecting me, but more importantly, for protecting the Thronehold: I thank you.”

A moment of silence followed his words, and then, as one, the Royal Guard slammed into an echoing wave of salutes; not in sync, but because of it, creating a crescendo of plated fists-to-warplate as they all came to a formal salute.

“THANK YOU, YOUR MAJESTY!”

The thunderous declaration echoed through the Arena, and Leonidas grinned again despite himself before conjuring his [Manastorm Pinions] and launching himself into the air after the Venerates, soaring toward the Royal Box as the Royal Guard—he really needed to change that name, he reflected—began to retreat from the stands.

Leonidas soared with a rapid drain of mana toward the box and alighted on the balcony a few moments later, dismissing the pinions as he did and meeting the expectant gazes of his wife, future wife, family, and friends. A moment of silence passed as they regarded him, and then a second later, Aylar sprinted forward and slammed into him without a word, pulling a grunt from him at her powerful strength.

“Are you okay?” the Swordmaiden asked, her arms squeezing him tight as she spoke. “That looked horrific, Leonidas.”

Leonidas blinked once at the impact and then smiled warmly, wrapping his armored arms around his wife and bending to kiss the golden locks of her head, carefully avoiding the crown atop her hair.

“It was pretty bad,” he admitted quietly, watching as she stepped back, her hands instead gripping his armored forearms. “But the benefits were considerable. I’ll tell you more in a minute, right after I—”

Leonidas had only a moment’s warning, mainly from Aylar stepping aside quickly, before Synthra barreled into him thereafter, drawing a second grunt from Leonidas despite his Adept rank Tempering, and armored body.

“Stupid bighead!” the redhead declared, clinging to him with a distracting press of her chest to his own. “That was horrible. We felt powerless, you idiot. I never want to feel like that again.”

“Sorry, Synthra,” Leonidas murmured, smiling despite himself. “It’ll happen again, but not for a long while, I think.”

Aylar grinned at his right side and subtly reached up to wipe the residue of tears from her face. “We were all very worried,” his wife said calmly, her hand still gripping his right arm. “Your mother and sister, especially.”

Synthra released him at those words and stepped back, mumbling something that sounded vaguely like a threat to his ears, and angrily reaching up to wipe her own face as well while Leonidas looked toward his family—meeting his parents’ and Kairi’s eyes as all three stared at him in tense silence.

“...what?” he asked warily, looking between his relatives.

“Was it like that the first time?” Kairi asked neutrally, speaking before his parents. “The… the lightning and the thing in the clouds?”

Leonidas hesitated and then shook his head.

“The whatever it was is new, but the lightning, yeah. It was only ten hits last time, so I guess it’ll be thirty next time, but—”

“Next time?” his mother demanded abruptly, before storming forward and pointing her finger at him imperiously, standing firmly under his chin but looking no less threatening for the height difference. “Absolutely not, Leonidas! Thirty? THIRTY?! No! You are not going to put yourself through that nightmare again! Not a chance!”

A silence descended on the Royal Box at Maryanne’s words, and Leonidas reached up to rub the back of his unarmored neck awkwardly.

“Uh, I can’t really stop it, Mom,” he said slowly. “If I want to grow my Cultivation, I have to Tribulate each time I Temper because of—”

“No!” Maryanne said again, her pale blue eyes reddened from crying. “No way, Leonidas! I won’t have it. You’re my son. You’re my only son! I’m not letting you do that again! You have an entire Kingdom at your call. You don’t need—you have no requirement to put yourself through that madness again! You could have died!”

Maryanne spun before he could respond, looking across the silent faces, and then locked in on her husband.

“Reg! Tell him, Reg! Never again. That was—he almost died, Reginald! Our son!”

Leonidas looked from his mother to his father, who looked similarly troubled, but before anyone else could speak, Kairi cut in.

“Since when does that matter?” his sister asked coldly, speaking in a voice that could have frozen fire. “Abandoning your children to their fate may as well be a specialty for you, at this point.”

Maryanne spun at her daughter’s words, and Leonidas grimaced, Aylar winced, and Synthra drew in a breath as Reginald turned in kind.

“What?” Kairi demanded, looking haughtily between their parents. “Nothing to say? This whole act is ridiculous, Mom. You aren’t even staying long enough to—”

Kairi froze mid-speech, Maryanne froze mid-speech, and even Reginald froze when he opened his mouth. Leonidas eyed his family, noticed the immense weaves of Psi which had appeared, and then turned his eyes toward Ceruviel, who was walking toward his parents and sister with that look on her face.

Oh hell.

“This,” the Duchess said boredly, “has gone on for quite long enough. I know the King was intending on interceding, but frankly, this level of petty family drama is beneath him—and all of you should be ashamed of needing him to be the bridge to connect you.”

Leonidas eyed his mentor in silence and reached up to rub his forehead as she continued, while Aylar glanced at him in sympathy.

“Leonidas will Tribulate again, Maryanne, because he needs to grow stronger to survive,” Ceruviel said in a voice that would tolerate no objection. “Your daughter is angry at you because you and your husband abandoned her when she most needed you, and you and your husband are too busy waffling over your own misplaced guilt to accept that as parents, you failed your daughter by choosing to do what was ‘proper’ instead of what was right.”

Those words hit Leonidas close to him, and he grimaced when Ceruviel said them.

“The three of you will come with me,” the Dusk-Lord said finally. “I have not lived for three and a half centuries just to observe my prized pupil’s emotional support pillar fracture itself because of a petty misunderstanding. Kairi has her own faults in what happened to her, but all of you are acting like children—which, given your relative ages, does not wholly surprise me.”

The Duchess turned her eyes to Leonidas and arched an eyebrow.

“I intend on locking them in a room together until they see sense, Your Majesty. Do you object?”

Leonidas paused at her words and looked between his parents and sister. He had wanted to bridge them, to connect them, to try to fix the divide—but in all honesty, he wasn’t sure he actually could. Ceruviel was a harsh, merciless woman, but she had the benefit of centuries of personal and Psionic experience. If she could use her gifts to grant them understanding…

“Bridge them with Psi,” Leonidas said finally. “I want to do it myself, but I almost think it’ll be healthier if a neutral party does it. I love them, but I agree, this isn’t something I can fix. Not really.”

Leonidas glanced at his parents and then walked to his sister, flicking his eyes to Ceruviel, who released all three of them with a collective gasp of shock from his family. Kairi just seemed annoyed, but his parents looked downright disturbed—and he couldn’t blame them. Being rendered helpless at the twitch of someone’s mind wasn’t a comforting experience.

“Kai,” he said to her quietly, while his sister glared up at him. “It’s time. You can’t carry this anger forever. Pops and Nana are one thing, but Mom and Dad are different. This can’t go on. I wanted to help you myself, but… think of it like family counselling, with a really powerful Haelfar. This needs to happen, Kai.”

His younger sister stared at him in sullen silence, her blue eyes narrowed.

“Try,” Leonidas said gently. “For me. I’ll make sure Ceruviel doesn’t do anything too harsh, but I need you to try—even if you hate it. These feelings, Kai, they’ll eat you up, and I know you don’t hate our parents. Not really. You’re just hurt that they won’t admit they fucked up.”

Kairi hesitated at his words, and her lower lip trembled when she looked away.

Before Leonidas could say anything, she abruptly slammed into him with a hug, burying her head against his warplate.

“I thought you were gonna die,” she muttered, squeezing him with Elite strength. “I never wanted to worry like that again, Ace.”

Leonidas blinked, and then smiled and hugged her back, kissing the top of her head.

“I know, little sister. But I’m alright. Now it’s time for you handle your own kind of Tribulation. This talk has been a long time coming.”

Kairi drew back slowly at his words and glared up at him, before taking a breath and glancing toward their parents, then to Ceruviel.

“...she won’t be naked, right?” his sister muttered.

Ceruviel snorted loudly, Bardulf laughed, and his parents looked taken aback.

“No,” Leonidas said with a faint smile, “she won’t be.”

“Fine,” Kairi conceded after a moment, “but only because you’re asking. I’m still pissed at them for—”

“I know,” Leonidas replied simply, “but this needs to happen. We’ll talk after.”

Kairi grunted and then finally released him.

“Alright,” she agreed quietly, and then glared at her parents and marched right over to Ceruviel, folding her arms and refusing to look at any of them.

Leonidas turned when she did and looked at his parents, who appeared a mix between angry, upset, and outright stunned.

“Mom, Dad,” he said while looking between them. “Go with Ceruviel. I think this has to happen, and I know I said I’d be the one to talk to Kairi, but I’m not capable of the things my Mentor is. She can help. Think of it like working with a Therapist that can literally read your mind.”

“Leonidas—”

“Son—”

“I’m not giving you a choice,” Leonidas said more firmly, his voice hardening. “Not anymore. You’re my parents, and I love you, and I love Kairi. You’re going to sit down together until you reach a consensus, even if I have to put thirty Contenders to sit on all of you for a week. I can do that, by the way. I’m the King.”

Leonidas hesitated a moment, then turned to Parnym.

“Go with them,” he instructed finally. “Kairi will be glad for the support.”

Parnym blinked, glanced at Kairi, and then back to Leonidas.

“Y-Your Majesty, I—”

“As far as boyfriends go, Parnym, my sister could do a lot worse,” Leonidas said with faint amusement at the man’s panicked reaction. “Go.”

Parnym hesitated another moment and then firmly saluted, making his way to Kairi’s side, who took hold of his hand firmly while Ceruviel watched them with interest. His parents gave him another glance, looked at one another, and then slowly made their way over to the Dusk-Lord.

“Excellent,” Ceruviel said commandingly. “Now, we’ll all take a jaunt to my manor, after we pick up some hotdogs. After that workout, Maurice’s delightful creations sound absolutely perfect.”

Kairi and his Father both lit up at that idea, while Maryanne looked morose still, but her gaze on her daughter seemed, at least, determined.

Take care of them, Ceruviel, Leonidas said silently. I need them.

+Fear not, Squire,+ his Mentor said in a rare tone of softness, +I, of all people, know what it is to be a wounded daughter, rebelling against her parents’ perceived slights. They will be safe in my care.+

Leonidas smiled to himself and turned to Uriel.

“Duke Aventus,” he said more evenly, “if you wouldn’t mind staying, I’ll need your advice with something.”

The Dawn-Lord, who had been watching in his usual state of calm silence, inclined his head while Ceruviel looked across her four charges.

“To Maurice’s, then,” the Dusk-Lord said, “no dallying.”

Together, the five of them departed, with his mother casting one more worried look back at him, to which Leonidas just smiled reassuringly.

“I’ll be fine, Mom,” he called as she left. “I’ve got a wife to nag me, now!”

His mother actually smiled at that, and then grinned when Aylar whacked him upside the head.

“Nag you?” the blonde asked candidly, as his parents, sister, and Mentor exited the Royal Box with a ripple of laughter.

“Just reassuring my mother, dear,” Leonidas said with an apologetic smile. “That’s all.”

Aylar eyed him until Ceruviel’s party was out of sight, and then smiled warmly.

“I know, but I had to play my part! You aren’t hurt, are you?”

Leonidas stared at her and then burst out laughing.

God, he thought silently. I really am a lucky man.

“So, Achilles,” Bardulf said as he and Synthra approached, “what now?”

Leonidas glanced at them and then looked at Uriel, who quirked an eyebrow.

“Now,” he said with a smile, “I have some chests to open. That’s why I wanted the Dawn-Lord here. In case I get something that may not actually be useful, or more useful than I suspect, I want his insights.”

His companions brightened at that, including Synthra, who looked downright draconic in her glee, while Uriel stepped a little closer out of interest.

Without waiting, Leonidas pulled up the System with Intent.

“I would like to redeem my [Royal Champion] title and [Platinum Chest] from the Rite of Ascension.”

A moment passed, and then the System chimed, materializing a massive platinum-banded chest, and a gold-banded chest a moment later. Both were made of steel, but plated with the named materials in a way that distinguished them noticeably when they appeared before him.

Both of them were, in addition to the coloration, also quite large.

“Huh. Really Big Chests…” Leonidas muttered, smiling to himself at the little joke and idly dismissing his warplate in a scattering of power and energy, leaving him in his Royal Attire alone. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”

“I wonder what you’ll find…” Bardulf murmured thoughtfully.

“Something ridiculous, no doubt,” Synthra said excitedly.

“Knowing him, it’ll be something absolutely over the top,” Aylar agreed cheerfully.

Leonidas rolled his eyes and stepped forward, reaching out toward the [Gold Chest] first and glancing at his companions and the waiting Duke of Morning.

“Okay, here goes the first…”

His hands touched the chest, and it opened smoothly.

When it did, a System screen appeared before him as the contents were revealed.

SYSTEM MESSAGE

Congratulations, Leonidas! You have redeemed a [Gold Chest]!

[Reward 1]: 100 [Platinum]

[Reward 2]: 400 [Aetherium]

[Reward 3]: [Dragonbone Longsword]

“Whoa, three rewards?” he asked as the [Aetherium] flooded into him.

“Each chest tier has more rewards and greater chances of rarer rewards,” Synthra said immediately, her Adventuring background supplying the information swiftly. “Gold is third tier, so three rewards. Platinum will have five. What’s the item? It’s still wrapped up.”

Leonidas nodded at the information gratefully and bent down as the four observers, including Uriel, shifted around to watch curiously. When Leonidas lifted the weapon, he used Intent to examine it immediately.

DRAGONBONE LONGSWORD

[Type]: Longsword

[Quality]: Epic

[Requirement(s)]: Elemental Core

[Slot(s)]: Main Hand, Off-Hand, Two-Hand

[Description]: This longsword has been created using the bones of an ancient Red Dragon, widely known to be as harder than steel. It has been forged using an ancient method into a weapon that will never break or shatter, and can be used as a medium for elemental magic, specifically that of Flame.

[Effect 1]: Enhances Fire Damage by 50%

[Effect 2]: Elemental Focus (Fire)

[Soulbond]: N/A

Leonidas stared at the weapon in silence and then sighed to himself.

Of course, he grumbled. It’s fine for me, but it’s perfect for someone else.

Wordlessly, Leonidas picked up the purple-wrapped blade, turned, and held the sheathed and covered sword out to Synthra, whose eyes widened in surprise.

“Achilles?”

“Take it,” Leonidas said with a wry smile. “My [Cataclysm Core] has elemental attributes, but I doubt I’ll be able to use them any time soon, and this is literally a dragon-wrought weapon. It’s perfect for you.”

Synthra stared at him in shock, and he raised an eyebrow.

“What?” he asked with faint amusement. “You don’t want it?”

“Husband,” Aylar interjected, her voice warm with humor, “I easily forget how uninformed you are. It is extremely rare for someone to just hand off an artefact like this, especially from a chest. Most people would just sell it, or keep it for future use.”

Leonidas looked at his wife, blinked, and then glanced at Bardulf and Uriel, the former nodding with a grin, the latter inclining his head once. In response, Leonidas just snorted.

“That seems ridiculous,” he said plainly. “I already have Archon equipment. Why would I want a sword I can barely use? It’s not like I’m short of [Aetherium]. Take it, Synthra. Consider it a banked apology for when I inevitably make you mad about something.”

Synthra stared at him again, glanced at Aylar—who smiled at her encouragingly—and then slowly reached out to take the weapon, unwrapping the purple cloth and examining the blade. The hilt was wrapped in red leather, with a bone-white texture beneath. The crossguard, sitting above the gold-filigreed red sheathe, was cruciform, with two stylized roaring dragon heads on the ends.

When Synthra drew the weapon from its sheath and held it aloft, the blade itself was as white as the hilt, and Leonidas noticed that the entire weapon appeared to literally be a reforged bone, with no visible joints or connecting points, despite the stylization that clearly defined the tang of the blade, which itself was slightly broader and thicker than a normal longsword, but seemed razor sharp at a glance.

At the bottom third of the weapon, vicious serrations were artfully carved into each side, offering an agonizing prospect for anyone cut by the lower half of the sword. A ruby gem, he noticed belatedly, was inlaid into the bottom of the pommel and the heart of the crossguard, and when Synthra catalyzed her mana a second later, the entire weapon ignited with potent flames as the rubies blazed with light, hot enough that all of them except Uriel took an instinctive step backward.

“It’s beautiful,” Synthra whispered, staring at the immolated four-foot blade of the sword in awe. “I can feel the draconic power in it. It’s singing to my blood.”

“You should soulbond it, then,” Leonidas said while eyeing the fire dubiously. “And maybe stop it from burning before we all get toasty.”

Synthra blinked, glanced at him, and then blushed as the fire winked out, sheathing the sword again a moment later. A moment of hesitation followed, wherein Synthra glanced at Aylar, who gave her a small nod, and then the Sorceress stepped forward and planted a soft, chaste kiss on the corner of Leonidas’ mouth.

“Thank you,” she murmured, before stepping away and hugging the sword to her ample chest like a newborn.

Leonidas stared at her in surprise, glanced at Aylar—who just grinned at him—and then shook his head and turned back to the [Platinum Chest] while fighting down a blush. Uriel graced him with a faint, approving smile as he did, and Leonidas felt a kernel of pride at the Duke’s approval. It was rare to win such.

Okay. Well. That’s one chest down, let’s see what the other has.

Aylar stepped next to him to rub his back supportively while Bardulf joined Synthra to chatter excitedly about the sword, and Leonidas reached out to open the [Platinum Chest]. Like the gold, it yawned upward at his touch, and a System screen appeared a second later.

SYSTEM MESSAGE

Congratulations, Leonidas! You have redeemed a [Platinum Chest]!

[Reward 1]: 1,000 [Platinum]

[Reward 2]: 500 [Aetherium]

[Reward 3]: 20,000 Experience

[Reward 4]: [Bulwark of Radiance]

[Reward 5]: [Map of Albion]