{"id":3167,"date":"2021-01-29T12:11:34","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T17:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=3167"},"modified":"2021-01-29T12:11:34","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T17:11:34","slug":"3-realms-3-34","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/3-realms-3-34\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Realms 3-34"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over on the <em>Endeavor<\/em>, Calandra snored, her arms wrapped around Elmar as they lay in bed. A buzzer then sounded, waking them up. It was quiet, but it was enough to cause them to stir. The buzzer sounded again. \u201cMhm, who is i\u2026\u201d Calandra\u2019s sentence was interrupted by the door opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGOOD MORNING, CALANDRA SWEEEEEEYIKES!\u201d It was Andwayla! She immediately turned her back as Elmar and Calandra yelped, pulling the sheets over their chests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour Majesty! Bedroom!\u201d protested Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is a RULE about the bedroom!\u201d snarled Calandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat are you even doing here?!\u201d continued Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA conference of my own,\u201d explained Andwayla as she kept her back turned. \u201cHeadmistress Tanfa is stepping down and wants help in finding a successor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou didn\u2019t add MY name to the list of candidates, did you?\u201d asked Calandra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, Heights, no! I\u2019m not letting my sweet daughter stress herself out like that. You\u2019ve got enough coming up as the heir to the Galdredan Throne.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou didn\u2019t\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSame issue here, I\u2019ve got too much on my plate as Queen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSo why are you onboard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBecause I told Headmistress Tanfa that you and I would be witnesses, along with Rellmeer, since Orbak is busy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026You can\u2019t be serious!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andwayla had her way and she, Rellmeer, and Calandra were in a meeting room with elderly people sitting around a table. What was Tanfa Headmistress of, you ask? Why, none other than the Crimson Diamonds, the Assassin\u2019s School. She was getting on in years and decided that it was time for her to step down. This, of course, caused a stir with the School\u2019s Staff as Tanfa was the best Headmistress in the school\u2019s history. By tradition, a student had to take her place. Out with the old, in with the new, was the School\u2019s policy. A large cauldron sat in the center as pieces of paper with students\u2019 names on them were being pulled out and sorted into piles of varying heights. The papers were then sorted, and the Gym Teacher began her explanation of the piles. \u201cThis stack,\u201d she began with a large stack, \u201chas a lot of smart people when it comes to general studies, but no records of contracts. This one here,\u201d the pile was smaller than the first, \u201cthe candidates are impressively stupid, but can manage a kill or two. These guys are okay,\u201d the stack was smaller, \u201cand these guys,\u201d the pile only consisted of a small pieces of paper, \u201care the best of the best, so they won\u2019t waste too much of your valuable time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat about that pile right there?\u201d asked Calandra as she pointed to a massive pile on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey\u2019re the lame-brains,\u201d explained the History Teacher, \u201cwho couldn\u2019t tie their shoes even if the instructions were spelled out. Which reminds me, we need to pare down the student population a bit. I think ousting them before you go, Headmistress, would be prudent. Give the Successor a better chance to raise better Assassins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHeadmistress,\u201d remarked the Dean, \u201cit\u2019s nice of you to give everyone a chance, but\u2026well, why not just take our suggestions?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEven among them,\u201d remarked Rellmeer, \u201cthere won\u2019t be anyone to replace a Headmistress like yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo one is irreplaceable,\u201d dismissed Tanfa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn that, I couldn\u2019t agree more,\u201d remarked a strange voice. Everyone turned to the door to see an armored figure with a helmet obscuring their features. \u201cWell, well, well, how are things?\u201d purred the figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYamta?!\u201d yelped the Secretary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOh, you know who I am?\u201d sighed the figure as they removed their helmet to reveal it was, indeed, Yamta. \u201cA pity, I rather hoped you were ignorant of my usual appearance. Oh well, them\u2019s the breaks. How IS the staff of my Alma Mater? Long time, no see. Have you discovered how Oltor killed with his voice or are you still doing your research? I must say, it\u2019s rather hard to complete it now that he\u2019s dead. Thanks for sparing us the trouble, by the way, Rellmeer. You and your fellow Over-realm Royals did us a service. Pity we had to do most of the leg-work with the other Splitter Branches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe didn\u2019t kill him for your organization\u2019s sake!\u201d snarled Rellmeer. \u201cAnd the Splitters were OURS to execute, not yours!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWith methods that took too much time and money?\u201d Yamta\u2019s gaze went to Andwayla as she posed the question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAt least they were effective and made it so no one feared us, unlike YOUR methods!\u201d snarled Andwayla. Yamta rolled her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYamta Velonar,\u201d snarled the Dean, \u201chow dare you come back to us after all this time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2018After all this time\u2019?\u201d chuckled Yamta. \u201cOh please, you could be a bit more\u2026how did my fourth level teacher put it\u2026flexible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFlexible?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, not physically. Don\u2019t bust your backs, Old timers!\u201d Yamta giggled at her crass joke. \u201c\u2026Not a single person to offer me a goblet of wine?\u201d She then heard someone pouring liquid into a container and shifted her gaze to the Math teacher pouring himself some wine. He then gave a smarmy look to her and raised the glass to his lips. Yamta then dashed towards the Math teacher, made a magic orb, had it circle the air in front of his eyes, and stared intensely through the circling orb. The Math teacher\u2019s expression then slowly turned from confusion to vacant. He was motionless as Yamta took the goblet from his hand and sipped the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou\u2019ve got some nerve,\u201d snarled Rellmeer, \u201cusing Fae-based Hypnosis here! How did you get that secret?! Dr. Borg isn\u2019t so generous!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe is when she\u2019s got a scientific marvel to study. She wanted to know how I made my old helmet and wanted to improve it.\u201d Yamta then looked at everyone. \u201cOh, don\u2019t panic. This kind of hypnosis only works on the most pliable minds or willing subjects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat do you want from us?!\u201d Rellmeer snapped her fingers under the Math teacher\u2019s nose, snapping him out of his trance. He then looked for his goblet and then followed Rellmeer\u2019s finger to see Yamta sipping from it, then tossing it over her shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFrom you, Empress? Nothing. I\u2019ve got a contract, but I thought I\u2019d get a distraction out of the way. I\u2019ve come to apply as a successor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSuccessor?!\u201d snarled the Math teacher. \u201cSuccessor to what?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTo WHOM is the accurate question. And I\u2019m talking about the Great Headmistress Tanfa. Isn\u2019t that the order of the day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou?!\u201d protested Calandra. \u201cIs this a joke?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYour degree was revoked,\u201d reminded the Poisons teacher, \u201cafter the unmitigated disaster that was the previous Headmaster!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou think Headmistress Tanfa will hand the Crimson Diamonds over to you?!\u201d called the History teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou can\u2019t be serious!\u201d snapped the Dean. As the objections were hurled at her, Yamta strode towards Tanfa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter, my dear Headmistress? Feeling your age now? Thought you were a ripe peach? I\u2019d say you\u2019re actually an overripe banana! It\u2019s finally taken you all this time to realize you\u2019re not so special after all! That\u2019s it\u2019s time to stand down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTanfa is, by far, the best of us!\u201d snapped the Dean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBetter than you lot, yes. But I was voted the Greatest Assassin of the Age, or have you forgotten? I won\u2019t be shackled by your ridiculous form of morality, for I would teach future assassins that a contract is a contract, regardless of status, instead of watering down everyone\u2019s skills to mere vigilantism! That kind of power, given to only the best of the best, is our one chance to actually achieve peace! Warmongers would be afraid of us! \u2026But our celebrated Tanfa is after a good little student who does what they\u2019re told, a model apprentice she can mold in her image, into a selfish rogue like herself!\u201d At that remark, Tanfa simply splashed the contents of her own goblet onto Yamta\u2019s face. \u201c\u2026Application rejected, I take it? Oh well, just thought I\u2019d throw the idea out there.\u201d She then drew her spikes and leveled them at Andwayla. \u201cBetter get the contract out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNO!\u201d roared Rellmeer as she flew towards Yamta. Yamta ducked, forcing Rellmeer to fly over her and crash into Tanfa. Calandra, Andwayla, and the Staff drew knives and rushed at her. Yamta dodged the blows and used her spikes to dispatch them. She targeted non-vital areas on the Staff. As they lay groaning, Rellmeer got up and leapt at Yamta again. Yamta then swung a spike at Rellmeer\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMY EYES!\u201d cried Rellmeer as she collapsed to the floor and shrank to her usual height, her hand over her now bleeding eyes. Yamta then stabbed Calandra in the shoulder. She cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s too far!\u201d roared Andwayla. She swung her knife, still using her skills. For a while, both combatants were evenly matched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI admire how you are ready to avenge your daughter\u2019s wounding,\u201d remarked Yamta. \u201cSadly, I have a contract to complete.\u201d She then took out a spike and\u2026ran it up through Andwayla\u2019s rib cage, on the right side of the chest, where a Fire Demon\u2019s heart is located. Andwayla gasped as the air was forced out of her lungs. She looked down at the spike in her body, then collapsed to the floor, trying to pull it out. Sadly, it was no use. Her movements became feebler until\u2026she stopped entirely. Queen Andwayla Narven, ruler of the Galdredan Lava Kingdom was dead. Yamta then activated a personal Realmgate and disappeared into it as Calandra regained consciousness. She saw her mother\u2019s body and crawled to her. When she got there, she finally saw the wound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026No!\u201d she pleaded. \u201cNo, please! No! No!\u201d She then cradled her mother\u2019s body and sobbed before throwing her head back. \u201cNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!\u201d Her body was then wracked with loud sobbing and wailing as she held her mother tight to her.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over on the Endeavor, Calandra snored, her arms wrapped around Elmar as they lay in bed. A buzzer then sounded, waking them up. It was quiet, but it was enough to cause them to stir. The buzzer sounded again. \u201cMhm, who is i\u2026\u201d Calandra\u2019s sentence was interrupted by the door opening. \u201cGOOD MORNING, CALANDRA SWEEEEEEYIKES!\u201d [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-3167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3167"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3168,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3167\/revisions\/3168"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}