721 Chapter 721 Back in Action
In their spaceship assigned by Aldred, Elralya and Cellaeth exchanged bewildered glances as an ethereal form materialized before them. The figure emanated a profound, otherworldly energy, and a sense of reverence filled the air.
Cellaeth, gripping her spear with a warrior's instinct, questioned, "Elralya, is this some kind of illusion or magic?"
Elralya, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and recognition, responded, "No illusion can conjure the presence of our great ancestor. This is beyond any magic I know."
The ethereal form spoke, its voice echoing with wisdom that transcended time. "Elralya, Cellaeth, warriors of the elven kin. The fate of our people rests on your shoulders."
Cellaeth, though formidable in battle, felt a tinge of uncertainty. "What do you mean? How can we shape the fate of our people?"
The great ancestor's form shimmered, revealing glimpses of forgotten lore and ancient prophecies. "The cosmic balance falters, and demons threaten the realms."
"Even though the demons are active in the last thousand years, I do not think they can threatened the elven race to exctinction," Elralya said. "I am sorry, Great Ancestor. It is simply too hard to believe."
The great ancestor's ethereal form retained a solemn demeanor, addressing Elralya's skepticism with patience. "Elralya, the demons' threat has taken a new form, a convergence of cosmic energies that jeopardizes the very fabric of our existence. Even the great Emperor of Mankind and his holy sons are now restless because of this."
Cellaeth, still holding her spear, sought clarity. "And what of me? How can my skills in battle contribute to averting this cosmic crisis?"
The great ancestor's form glowed with a gentle radiance as it responded, "Cellaeth, the shadows that encroach upon our realms are not only of the demonic kind but a distortion of cosmic forces. Your spear, guided by elven agility and strength, must pierce through these shadows and protect the essence of our people."
Cellaeth looked down, still in doubt. "How can one individual such as me affect something so large such as sustaining an entire elven race."
"Don't think too little of yourself, young ones. Look from where you started. A group of two imprisoned by the orcs, now look where you are at?"
Cellaeth sighed. "I do not think I make any significant changes yet."
Elralya, curios, began to ask. "I've been meaning to ask. Ancestor, you were never able to show your form before."
"It's the blessing that Aldred gave you. For some reason, it allows me to connect to this realm much better."
"Is it possible to revive you?"
"I do not think so. As we speak, the connection I have with this realm is weakening."
Elralya panicked. "Does that mean we won't see you ever again?"
"You will see me. If I enter into a slumber my connection to this realm will slowly grow once more and I can appear before you again."
Elralya sighed in relief.
"Before I leave. Let me tell you one thing. Help that man, Aldred. He holds the key to everything, including the salvation of our race, and the salvation of the entire galaxy."
The Ancestor vanished, leaving Cellaeth and Elralya exchanging glances with each other.
In the dimly lit spaceship, Elralya and Cellaeth sat facing each other, the weight of the ancestral encounter palpable in the air.
Elralya, her eyes reflecting the lingering awe, broke the silence. "Did you ever imagine, Cellaeth, that our journey would lead us to communing with the ancient spirits of our kin?"
Cellaeth, still holding her spear, leaned forward with a furrowed brow. "I thought I'd seen all there was in battles and adventures, but encountering our great ancestor is beyond anything I could fathom."
"I used to receive their communication in abstract codes and cryptic languages. It's great to be able to communicate directly." Elralya's gaze shifted to the holographic star map, her fingers tracing invisible patterns. "The cosmic crisis, demons, and the fate of our people—do you believe it all?"
Cellaeth sighed, her elven features reflecting a mix of doubt and determination. "I've faced monsters, fought battles, but the fate of an entire race resting on our shoulders? It's a burden heavier than any spear."
Elralya, with a thoughtful expression, responded, "Yet, the great ancestor spoke of Aldred as the key. Do you think he holds the answers we seek?"
Cellaeth nodded, a newfound resolve in her eyes. "Aldred might be more than just a guide. The ancestors and the cosmic forces seem to intertwine in ways we can't fully grasp."
As they continued their discussion, the spaceship sailed through the cosmic expanse, carrying the elven warriors toward an uncertain destiny. The words of the great ancestor echoed in their minds, a guiding whisper amid the cosmic turmoil that awaited them.
…
Francus and Grigor, both seasoned mercenaries of the Celestial Platoon, stepped into the bustling branch office after weeks of recovery from a demon attack. The scent of antiseptic lingered on their freshly healed wounds, a testament to the fierce battle they had endured.
As they approached the mission board, Francus, a young and spirited warrior, cracked a smile. "Back in action, Grigor. I was starting to miss the thrill of action and battle."
Grigor, an experienced and grizzled veteran, chuckled with a hint of nostalgia. "You'll learn, lad, that the thrill comes with its own share of scars. But we survive and fight another day."
Their eyes scanned the mission board, filled with requests ranging from routine patrols to high-stakes demon extermination. Grigor's weathered fingers traced the edges of a particular parchment. "A nest of demons in the forsaken ruins of Eldrenath. Sounds like a job for us, Francus."
Francus nodded eagerly, his eyes gleaming with determination. "Let's teach those demons not to mess with the Celestial Platoon. They make take our legs and arms, but they won't ever take our lives!"
Grigor shook his head. "Don't jinx it like that. But before we take any mission, we should report to the human resources first."
Francus and Grigor, their spirits high, made their way to the Human Resources office of the Celestial Platoon. The HR officer, a composed and attentive individual, welcomed them with a warm smile.
"Francus, Grigor, it's good to see you back. How are you feeling?" the HR officer inquired, genuine concern in their eyes.
The HR department had personally visited them in the hospital and taken care of the bill to the full. After all, the Celestial Platoon had many hospitals of their own.
It was free for Celestial mercenaries which was a great incentive and convinced many people to join. They were probably the first ever mercenary group with large numbers of hospitals.
Francus, still brimming with energy, replied, "Ready for action! Those demons won't know what hit them."
Grigor, with a more measured tone, added, "We've been through worse. A few scars won't slow us down."
The HR officer nodded, jotting down notes on a holographic pad. "I'm glad to hear that. Now, regarding your conditions, any lingering discomfort or issues from the recent encounter?"
Francus flexed his limbs, testing his agility. "All healed up, thanks to the top-notch medical team. These healers work wonders."
Before they departed, the HR officer's demeanor turned more earnest. "Remember, your safety is a priority. If you ever feel overwhelmed or encounter unexpected challenges, don't hesitate to call for support. The Platoon is a family, and we look out for each other."
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Grigor, though not as exuberant, nodded in agreement. "The recovery was swift. They patched us up better than new. They have replaced my bones with stronger metal, so I am actually much stronger now."
The HR officer smiled, relieved by the positive report. "Good to know. The Platoon values the well-being of its warriors. Now, about your next assignment that you are about to take—there's a demon nest in the forsaken ruins of Eldrenath. A challenging mission, but I believe you two are up for it."
Francus grinned. "Eldrenath it is! We'll clear that nest in no time."
Before they departed, the HR officer's demeanor turned more earnest. "Remember, your safety is a priority. If you ever feel overwhelmed or encounter unexpected challenges, don't hesitate to call for support. The Platoon is a family, and we look out for each other."
Now the last sentence might sound like something the HR team would say in a typical corporation that enslaved its workers. However, there was a tinge of truth in it.
Although not literally family, Celestial Platoon treated its mercenaries far better than any other group. Insurance, mortgage, lawyer, financial advisor, family-planning, career building, and retirement were all included in the package.
However, the Celestial Platoon did pay less compared to other group. But a group of mercenaries did the calculation and determined that being a Celestial Mercenary was much more rewarding because of all the benefits they got.
The Celestial Platoon did not only rely on its mercenaries to make money. They had tons of business in many industries such as food and beverages, fashion, transportation, tourism, agriculture, banking, and many more. But it was well-known that the Celestial Platoon was quite slow in the development and investment in tech except for military use.
Still, the fact that the organization had many business all over the place meant that it can give its members discount and bonuses.
Items that were about to be thrown away could be given to the members for free instead. Food that was about to expire were served to the members, of course they made sure it was safe.
And from time to time, they would give free tourism tickets to the mercenaries.
With all of these benefits in mind, it was concluded that joining Celestial Platoon was much more rewarding.
