Inside the Grand Hall of Eclipseon back on Velmora, the music had grown louder.
Chatter and joyous celebrations rose higher and higher with colliding glasses and music strings filling the room.
At the centre stood Wein and the representative of Untra and Kell. He smiled when required, nodded when addressed. This was also the time for him to get to converse more with his subjects and they did not hold back.
The subject matter went from art to vacation tourism destinations, Vl'jii even spoke about her home world sparking interest by the elite. Uthman was especially social in this as he was a well-travelled man despite the financial weakness of his house. He was often overheard naming the best places to visit in the empire.
Everyone was merry, having not known about the war happening across the system. Finally the dinner drew to an end and guest returned home.
During the exodus, a servant approached Wein and Vern still accompanying the noble guests. He did not interrupt them and waited at the side, Vern noticed and excused himself and went to inquire.
Vern returned to Wein, his face unable to hide the worry.
"My lord." He began whispering to his ear.
"The attack has moved to ground invasion. Ulix has notified the Imperial family, in hours or maybe minutes this war will become mainstream news throughout the empire. We need to get ahead of it."
Wein paused for a bit and inclined his head towards Vl'jii and Uthman.
"My apologies, might I be excused? Please, enjoy your stay"
"Yes, lord Voss" they replied in unison.
The both of them could feel the weight of the development, though not its full severity. Little did they know.
The hall had become empty when Wein and Vern began moving.
"What are the casualty projections?" Wein asked calmly.
"Initial losses are moderate. Few ships are out of service but ground engagement is possible. Marshal Velis believes dropships and landing zones of key areas will be secured in the coming hours."
Wein nodded once.
"And how is Ulix reacting?"
"The fleet stationed at the edge is under full surveillance, and the second fleet is stationed outside Velmora's airspace ready to face off. Other than that, Ulix has sent complaints to several major houses claiming Voss initiated unprovoked aggression."
Wein's expression twitched with a slight frown.
"They will portray themselves as victims," Vern continued. "Despite holding the rank of viscount, Ulix is weaker than Voss alone."
They entered a private chamber overlooking the skyline of Eclipseon. The doors sealed behind them and other officers and senior admins entered the room preparing for a conference.
There was a couch in the room, and Wein found himself sitting on it while Vern conversed with other admins and began drafting a speech for Wein to deliver in response.
All the while what plagued Wein's mind was not the war nor the danger Voss would soon face but the idea that he finally felt his chest pain lessen when he walked and breathed.
It meant he could finally begin training the sword forms stuck in his head. With Vaelstine on his hand, he imagined himself holding the blade and swinging it just like the manual said.
An officer came up to Wein who was reading his pad while deep in thought.
"My lord, permission to display news feed from House Ulix" he said.
"Go ahead"
Moments later, a holographic projection filled the centre of the room, and silence fell over the bustling chamber.
The crest of House Ulix rotated slowly before resolving into the image of its head, Viscount Simon Ulix. He was a small, wiry man with a long moustache and red hair. His expression was grave, controlled carefully constructed.
"…House Voss has launched an unjustified assault upon Ulix territory," he declared. "without purpose or provocation, they have begun an invasion of Ulix-Ultra."
The projection sharpened, his red hair gleaming under Ulix lighting.
"This act of aggression violates Imperial conventions and threatens stability across the Salven system. We appeal to the Imperial family and the noble houses to recognise those for what it is and educate the new young lord of House Voss to not sully the great houses any further."
A subtle pause.
"We only ask for justice."
The hologram dimmed and silence filled the chamber. Several officers exchanged glances as one senior administrator muttered quietly.
"He sure plays the victim card too well."
Wein remained seated, his face twitching with anger at the jab directed at him in the address.
"He moves quickly," Vern said. "He held this conference in front of Imperial news agencies. By now most if not all the empire will be well aware."
Wein let a quiet breath.
"Of course he did"
He stood up and began walking away.
"Inform me, when it's time to respond."
"Yes, my lord" everyone replied.
Wein did not look back as he exited the chamber behind two guards at careful distance. The doors slid shut behind him, muting the increasing hum of debate and projection of the officers.
Outside the corridor was quiet and empty, lit by very long lanterns placed on the carpet styled walls. For a moment, Wein stood there thinking about the coming hours. He was always aware of what was coming and this conference by Simon only reminded him.
He and Voss were not safe, they did hold sway over the Requests but that alone would not guarantee the safety of Voss.
Simon's rushing to inform the empire of this conflict, even with Wein as a newly named 'noble', only meant one thing. Wein's standing among the other nobles was already low.
To change that, he would have to fight himself. Best way was getting stronger and faster.
With all the pressure pressed against his mind, he strangely felt his chest go clear and his shoulders ease. He flexed his fingers, then slowly gripped Vaelstine.
The blade had remained sheathed within its scabbard, waiting for Wein to draw it out, to use the forms he'd learnt and grow his divine, psychic power. He had already read through the manual and tonight he would attempt training and take a leap to strengthen himself.
****
Inside a sparse chamber, Wein was alone. His guards stood by the door to prevent anyone from entering and Wein stood at the centre of the room. Some furniture had been shifted to the corners and edges providing him enough space to freely move throughout the room.
He searched the room, the windows were closed, the lights turned out with just him in the dark and his staff in hand. His suit was taken off. His tie and jacket were tossed to a nearby stand. His shirt was unbuttoned and sleeves rolled to allow free movement.
He drew the staff to himself, the weapon even sheathed commanded an eerie authority. His left hand held the body of the staff while his right held the head and then he drew it out with a smooth swift pull.
He swung it around just to get a feel of it. His heart began to pound and his body warmed with the motion. Without knowing it, Wein was smiling ear to ear looking at the form of the sword.
He had not paid too much attention to it before but now he could feel how majestic the sword was. Vaelstine was a famed sword throughout the empire made from a rare metal Qorvane.
This was it, to strengthen himself. He remembered meeting Kell and Untra, their leaders were respectful enough to not pry into his mind even with his defences not fully secure. But that was likely because they needed Voss and did not want to ruin the partnership.
This was part of the reason why Wein wanted to do this soon. Grow his mental strength and psychic abilities faster. Enemies of house Voss were coming soon and by the numbers.
He dropped the shaft and stepped into the centre of the room just where the moon light that shone through the closed windows shone. He exhaled and recalled the forms he saw on that manual.
Form one- First stance: Opening Guard.
Left foot forward, right foot angled, spine straight and shoulders relaxed. He adjusted, his body was rather too stiff for his liking but he tried once more.
The manual had emphasized that foundation was above flourish, he needed to be stable before anything else.
He then raised the blade above his head with both hands, followed by a slow horizontal cut. It was too stiff, he corrected his grip and another cut, smoother this time. He shifted his weight and followed with a vertical strike.
There were numerous form steps in the manual, the basis for both Falling Leaves and Rain Drop. For the time, Wein was still at the beginning, attempting the movements.
He had an image of what the forms were but pushing the body to meditate was difficult even when he was a Shock Trooper. But the value for having once been a Shock Trooper made itself apparent.
These motions required control, aligned breathing, and a body at peak condition. Their true power lay in speed, and speed itself depended on that condition.
His form was crude but there was a flicker of satisfaction across his face for the first time he could feel his Divine Core lit from within his chest. His blood carried the sensation throughout his body, as if updating each cell with the new moves he had just learnt.
He continued.
Form one, Second stance: Guard transition.
Pivot. Blade sweep and reverse stance. Wein did so, pivot with a wide sweep but the balance faltered slightly. He corrected himself and tried again. At first, he started at slow 'human' speeds then he tried forcing himself to move faster and like that, minutes passed.
Just when Wein was immersed in the sword, a knock came from the entrance by the guards. He stopped immediately, lowering the sword.
"Yes" he replied.
"It involves Ulix, my lord" answered one of the guards.
Wein sighed. He eyed the shaft he had dropped and his suit.