Chapter 40: To Honour the Fallen (Milla)
It's been about an hour of foot travel since we left the battlefield at Lake Giras and the Dragon has long since past us with the legendary masters from both the Kingdom of Talos and the United Kingdom of Agur-Ulldar in pursuit. The army was originally chasing it too but they weren't able to keep pace and have since returned to the garrisons at the lake. But I can't help but feel a little worried. We are returning to our base on Dragspear Mountain, but the trail left behind by the Dragon and the legendary Masters align well with the path towards the mountain. A little too well aligned for my comfort.
"I'm sure many of you noticed, but the path back home is also the path the Dragon from the lake took to retreat. I want everyone who can't fly to split up and take detours to return to base. As for everyone else who can fly, you lot are coming with me. We are going to speed up and check the situation at the base. If my hunch is correct, there is going to be some trouble soon. If there is anyone who isn't confident with the chance of having to fight a three-way battle between us, the Legendary Masters, and the Dragon, should also take the slower detour route."
A small smile makes its way onto my face as I see that all my subordinates are fearless and confident with a possible three-way confrontation.
"Alright then, everyone let's move out!"
Taking to the sky, me and a few dozen of my subordinates speed across the Border and over the steppes leading up towards Mount Dragspear. Most of the area south of the mountain is steppes and most of the residents are nomadic, but that hasn't stopped a few small towns popping up here and there, but a few of them have been partially destroyed in the wake of the Dragon's run. These are also towns that are under my sphere of influence, they pay tribute to our group and we don't take their stuff. While I won't remove the tribute entirely, I might lower the tribute cost for the towns that got trampled until the rebuild. They serve as an important source of income after all so I'm reluctant to drop the tribute all together and moreover I ain't running a charity, but I do think that I'm definitely one of the nicer leaders in the Central Alliance of Talonia.
With our flight speed, we manage to reach the base of the mountain and find our forward fortifications in ruins. Fortunately, no one is hurt, well from the destruction of the fortifications anyway. Plenty of people are hurt right now due to the battle that is taking place. The Blade Master of Agura-Ulldar, Sigurd Merovin, is currently engaged in combat with the defence forces I left behind, but where are the others? I don't see the other Legendary Masters and the only other strong presence I can sense is coming from the top of the mountain, but there is only that one. While I am curious as to what is going on up in the mountain and where the others went, the immediate problem is this guy.
My passive skill, Battle Instinct, is enough to tell be this guy is dangerous but I use Analysis anyways to confirm his abilities and I'm not even surprised. Despite only being level 11 almost all of his stats far surpass mine at level 55, as expected of the Legendary tier. I hope I can use diplomacy to get him to leave but if it comes down to it, with so many of us here, I don't think we can't at least force him back. Although, I personally want to rip his heart straight out from his chest and force him to eat it. The grudges between this man and me a far too gone to be forgiven.
"Sigurd Merovin, wielder of the Sacred Sword Gram, Blade Master of Agura-Ulldar, you are trespassing on the territory of the Central Alliance of Talonia. I am Milla August, one of the leaders of the Alliance. My position does not allow me to let a notorious warrior such as yourself, do as you please within our territory. If you wish to visit please go through the proper diplomatic channels, I humbly request that you return and follow the correct procedures next time."
Giving me no face at all, Sigurd spits in my direction before he even says anything. With a sharp glare, he finally decides to speak.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Princess of the Dragonoid Tribe... oh right your not a Princess anymore, you're the Matriarch now. A shame that neither of your parents were able to see your coronation, but of course they couldn't, since I killed them both in the last war with this sorry excuse for a country. No, I can hardly consider it a country, you people are just a collection of inhuman scum masquerading as a country. But your family's the worst of them all in the Central Alliance. How anyone let the previous Matriarch marry the leader of a bandit group is beyond me."
Typical of a man from Agura-Ulldar, their human supremacy views are an annoyance to us, but Sigurd's personal views are clearly far worse than average. But more importantly, he has insulted my family once again. If I don't end him here how could I possibly face my parents who died in battle against this man, I gave him his chance to leave and he refused, so let there be blood.
"I gave you a chance to leave so as to hold the sword of righteousness on the diplomatic stage should you refuse, and you did just as I predicted. You have insulted our country, and more importantly, you have insulted my family! Sigurd Merovin, I as the Matriarch of the Dragonoid Tribe and leader of the Dragon Bandits, I proclaim on the honour of my parents that I will avenge their death! I will end your life here and claim as the Sacred Sword, Gram, for myself right off of your bloody corpse! All units charge!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Akkre_Kojuuin
Akkre_Kojuuin I thought about including the battle with Sigurd in this chapter, but I decided on doing a two-part from Milla's point of view instead, the actual fight and more will be in the next chapter.
So it turns out Milla isn't just a simple bandit leader, but also one of the political leader of the Central Alliance of Talonia. I could elaborate on the country here but I won't, you'll find out in a couple of chapters.
For those who are interested, I referenced the germanic figure Sigurd/Siegfried as the basis of Sigurd Merovin. His last name comes from the theory that the mythological Sigurd was based Sigebert I of the Merovingian Dynasty. Of course, the Sacred Sword Gram is a direct reference to the sword of the same name, but it is also known as Balmung.
As always, have a nice day everyone.
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