The Infirmary, Boulderkeep Stockade
Tlandar woke up in Boulkerkeep's infirmary. He was laying down on a hospital bed in a private section of the infirmary, enclosed with medical curtains. Chieftain Salgar, Akoros, and General Vos were there, surrounding him. "Chieftain Salgar, why you came here?" Tlandar said. "I was worried about you. After my spy network informed me of Vraek's betrayal, and that he hurt you, I was terrified. I thought that you had died. Such wounds are very dangerous. Its not possible you could have survived that attack, if it were not because of divine intervention. It's proven once more, Tlandar, that you are the prophesized warrior, the Protector, of the Aurora Descendant Oracle. You still can't believe it, Tlandar? And I feel compromised to protect you. You are like by now, like a son to me," Chieftain Salgar said.
"Chieftain Salgar, those are noble feelings. I thank you for your help and guiding me in this perilous quest," Tlandar said. "Not perilous, Tlandar. I'll always watch over you. You belong to us, the Crimson Order. You belong to me, Chieftain Salgar. You belong to Salgar Dominion," Chieftain Salgar said. "I really appreciate it, Chieftain. And I'll do my best to do what must be done, for the good of Astashica. And for the good of us, and any ally that may come our way, to join us," Tlandar said.
"Sounds good enough, Tlandar. All I want you to do now, is rest. Wait for my instructions. Did you know that after the Thranvalis Contest, and after Akoros healed you, you've lost consciousness? Do you remember, don't you, Tlandar? So you collapsed, unsconscious. And it was not due to the wound. It was because you activated you Aurora Descendant power. After activation, your power dissolves, and run the risk of falling fainting, and remaining unconscious. Your power is only partially developed. You must fully develop your power, or you can't use it. It would be too dangerous for you to use, and then, there's no point of taking risks and endangering your life. Your power is not protecting you. Therefore, I have to supervise you, all the time. The Salgaran spy network will watch over you, every step of the way. So, fear not, Tlandar. We will be with you always. And as for Vraek, he was killed by Maclar. Maclar is Cosmus' trustworthy, personal bodyguard. He guards Meannnia as well, Cosmus' daughter. Apparently, Vraek acted on his own, when he attacked you. Maclar told our spies that it was not them, or Cosmus, neither Meiannia, who ordered the attack. So, rest secured, everything is alright, Tlandar." Chieftain Salgar said. "I still cannot believe that Vraek attacked me. He looked so faithful to Val'katl. Then, suddenly, he betrayed us," Tlandar said. "But don't worry now. We must concentrate on finishing healing you fully, and preparing, all of us, for Ixtiel's upcoming invasion. We extracted a confession from a captured Ixtielan spy, whom like Vraek, acted on his own. My Salgaran spies captured him alive, and was interrogated. He said that Chieftain Ixtiel had amassed two million Ixtielan soldiers, with Formicron mechas, battle fighter spaceships, and hover tanks, in an Ixtielan port city. The spy refused to reveal which port city this massive force was. We didn't pushed him more for more info, otherwise we would have tortured him," Chieftain Salgar said.
"I am still commanding the forty thousand Salgaran troops which I used to bring Tlandar to Boulderkeep. I have stationed them around the eastern region of Val'katl, near the Leipira Marshes. If Ixtiel launches the invasion too soon, they would be able to hold his forces for while, while reinforcements arrive," General Vos, asemtek female, said. "I understand, allies. So Chieftain Ixtiel will invade the easternmost region of Val'katl?" Tlandar asked. "No, they may invade from any side. Their primary target is New Asemeri. They want to take it and destroy it. But we believe that they may start the invasion, from the southern shores of Val'katl, which face the southern continent, where Ixtiel Dominion is located," General Vos said.
"Tlandar, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Akoros, I am the commander of all Salgaran Dominion's spy network. I and Akashma Xil'ha, are spymasters. We supervise all our spies in both Salgar Dominion, and Val'katl. With Val'katl's permission, we come to his dominion with our spies and provide coverage even to him and to his own spy network. We always been watching you, ever since you came out of New Asemeri with Akashma Xil'ha. Never dismay, as we are always with you. And we are always protecting our dominions, both Salgar and Val'katl, from Cosmus. As you can see, Chieftain Cosmus' intentions have always been leading the Asemeri High Council of New Asemeri. Ever since all the Asemeri Chieftains parted their own way, choosing their own path, Cosmus always wanted full, complete dominion of Astashica. This we know through his messages sent across all Astashica, and because all captured spies have confirmed it and told us this was so. Cosmus wants to take over Astashica, and wipe out Salgar, Val'katl and Uxnall dominions. Uxnall is another, distant ally. His dominion is located in the southern continent, and we must protect him and his dominion as well," Akoros said.
"Uxnall is highly vulnerable to attacks by Cosmus or his allies. Cosmus has threatened Uxnal of full annihilation, by an azurevate missile. Cosmus possesses the last three, azurevat missiles, from the Xothek era. These last missiles were brought aboard the SV Defiance Vanguard. They have the destructive power of thousands of gigatons. We must stop Cosmus by all means possible, are he's going to wipe us all out," General Vos said.
"This is very serious! But how can we, mere simple, defenseless, powerless beings, stop such powerful enemy? They are so powerful! But, I will stand, with all of you, and take what may, for Astashica. I have Aurora Ascendant power. We have Astashica, in our side. She too, wants to live. I say, let's march forward, and face the powerful foe. Let the divine powers help us in our struggle for survival," Tlandar said. "I agree," General Vos said. Then, they all continue talking in private about minor matters, and encouraging each other, and telling jokes, and trying to pass through a difficult time in the infirmary.