Chapter 740 (Patreon)

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay any longer?” Arianwyn asked. 

“We will certainly be coming back but our House is still in its infancy so our presence is needed.” Those words would have sounded a little odd had they come from Ajax but it was Lexi saying them and she had been there for the majority of House Hearthbound’s settling of their duchy. “I do have to say I really appreciate the basket you made for me.” 

The basket in question was a wooden four feet by four feet box about four feet deep without a lid that Arianwyn had made from the trees Aurexion’s fight had felled. She had made sure the inside was made comfortable and that Aurexion would have no problems keeping a hold of it in one of his claws. The purpose was clear to make travel with Aurexion more convenient for Lexi or anyone else since Aurexion would only allow Ajax to ride him.

Leaving Xavier, Anna, Benedict and Harold to stay for longer wasn’t an issue but Ajax had commitments he had made, not only that but he was sure that an opportunity to delve the three Empire dungeons he hadn’t yet gotten a chance to delve would arise before the year timeline he gave Khalysstra would be up and he wanted to make sure he had the time to delve them when it arose. 

“I doubt the royal family would allow anyone to so much as touch our House.” Lexi looked towards Ajax. “Why do you have to be there when they try out the boats?” 

“Because I don’t know what creature might live in the lake.” Ajax’s answer brought Lexi up short. 

“There is nothing all that dangerous in the lake.” Lexi said. 

“No, there is nothing all that dangerous on the shore.” Ajax corrected her. “There could be something dangerous once the waters get deep enough.” 

Ajax had already discussed the topic with Aurexion and he had been reassured that there should be nothing above level two hundred and fifty in the lake, the lack of Mana Density would have killed such a creature or put it in a sort of hibernation. 

That conversation had led to Ajax actually considering suggesting the destruction of a dungeon, as blasphemous as the notion was to him, if they couldn’t find a way to raise the Mana density of their own territory before they reached that point. Ajax’s current solution was to try and find a rune that would allow them to make a few places where their people could be drained of some Mana and have that Mana released in the area. Most humans had no ability to control their Mana so this would be a perfect chance to make use of all the Mana they had.

Now that there was no carriage to wait on, Aurexion didn’t have to slow himself down, their talk with Khalysstra had also happened already so Aurexion cut a straight line through the air as they headed towards Lessis. 

“Do you think Tom and Kate have decided if they want to let Jake take part in the mock battle on the lake?” Lexi asked. 

As a callback to their initial way of meeting Lexi had proposed that once the initial ships were built and those trailblazer crafting Skills gained then a mock war like the one where she first met Ajax, even if only briefly, would be the best way to add some danger and motivation to help their people gain some combat trailblazer Skill.

Ajax agreed with the idea, since it was only their retainers taking part the whole thing would only take about a week instead of the months the mock war had been. The idea that the first ships would also be used for battle did mean an increase in costs for their materials since they wanted sturdier ships for battle even if it was only a mock fight. 

“I hope they let him but I can understand why they would say no.” Ajax answered. “He’s still so young and even if they are next to him something could happen. We’ll have to put limits on mages for the battles anyway or it will all turn into a whose mage can sink the enemy ship contest.” 

Stopping mages from trying to just sink the ship was a pretty big limitation but it was one Ajax was sure would make for a more dynamic battle. He’d still allow mages to attack other people on a different boat; they just couldn’t use their magic on the boat directly to try and sink it. They would be encouraged to use magic to make their own boats move faster or on the water itself to slow down other ships. 

Aurexion’s contribution to the discussion was small. He had little experience with such battles, fights between Ascended races tended to be big affairs between few participants, his sole contribution was to make sure their people didn’t focus on having warriors dive in the water, swim and try to damage the boats. While such a tactic might work any such Skills would have surely already been claimed by the leviathans over the millenia so trying to get them would be more of a waste of time. 

“That leaves us with the big question.” Lexi said. “Do we invite the royal family, and if we do, do we invite them only to watch or give them a spot or two to take part if they want?” 

Aurexion was already above the Wild Lands only a few hours into their flight, at the speed he was going and with Ajax’s Wind Magic helping him along as they were practicing their cooperation they should be back in their duchy within a day. 

“I don’t think we should give them any spots.” Ajax shook his head. “Inviting them to watch can be a good opportunity to showcase our invention and explain the advantages for trade and a pointed threat towards the Empire that can help Gryndor slowly take over.” 

“I also want to take part.” Lexi said. 

“Of course you are going to take part.” Ajax said as he looked towards Lexi a little bewildered. 

“But I thought you said…” Lexi wasn’t expecting that reply. 

“I’m the one who shouldn’t take part.” Ajax said. “I might have the biggest chance of getting one of the Skills but another Trailblazer Skill for me won’t mean as much not to mention it would ruin a lot of the challenge if I join one side. For you it’ll be a perfect challenge that will force you to rely on your magic for more than destruction.” 

Despite her large spell repertoire and Mana types Lexi had one weak spot Ajax had managed to pin point when it came to her fighting as mage. As her power grew with the delves she had managed to get used to her physical stats being high enough that she wasn’t rooted in a single place for the duration of the fight. At the same time her Mental Stats grew much quicker and while that had been fine for her massive attacks the increase in power meant that her more precise spells had suffered in the control department. 

“I was initially considering having Anna also join so that she could balance out your presence on the other team but her fire magic doesn’t really go all that well with the rules I plan to have mages under.” Ajax's mind was already picturing a ship going up in flames as Anna’s Legendary Skill made her flames burn underwater just as well as above. 

The rest of the flight was spent discussing different finer points of the aquatic battle that was to take place in a few months time as well as Ajax’s schedule until the battle. Ajax’s plan was to focus on making Mana dense cement for the port of his new city all while keeping up with his training. Aurexion had little interest in such things and he would instead continue his focus on learning how to shape shift, the item earned from Elara’s vault hopefully speeding that process along. 

The three of them arrived at the duchy in the middle of the night. With it being so late and after a long day of flying Aurexion went down in the vault to sleep and Lexi followed his example. Ajax however was still awake, all this talk of trailblazer Skill had him wandering through the sleeping hives of bees House Hearthbound was taking care of. 

“You are the most ambitious Duke I have ever met.” Lancel said as he approached Ajax. 

“I have almost no political ambition.” Ajax answered back, they weren’t specifically keeping anything from Lancel so Ajax knew he must have learned of it during his trip to Sylvanthal. “In fact I try to keep as far away from politics as I can.” 

“That will serve House Hearthbound well after news of what you are planning now comes to light.” Lancel chuckled. “It will let your family put the blame for the decision to keep it all for House Hearthbound on you while they make the deals needed to help your people prosper.” 

It was no secret that the members of House Hearthbound didn’t really need the help of most of the nobility to prosper, but if they were to be frozen out their duchy could suffer. 

“Do you think any of them know anything about it?” Ajax asked Lancel. His final worry was that the nobles would find out and find a way to ruin his plans by injecting themselves into them. 

“There are at least a few Houses watching closely.” Lancel answered. “They know there was a reason for your new city and that it wasn’t blocking off trade with the Empire. But the idea of large boats hasn’t leaked. None of the people who know about it have been swayed to share the details.” 

Beside Ajax’s family there were a few crafters who had also been brought in so they could start designing the ships that would be built. All of them were now lifetime retainers to House Hearthbound with benefits that ensured they wouldn’t be tempted away by another House. 

“All that is left is to wait and to build.” Ajax said as he looked up towards the stars, more ideas came to mind as he took in the black canvas filled with glowing dots.