The Storm King

Though he’d hoped for them to move faster, Leon spent near a week in Raiginn before the Ravens called their elder council together. It was a fair consolation that they had to call their other elders and Chiefs together first, but Leon had still felt some amount of impatience, especially with how interested Asger had been in what he had to offer them in exchange for their support.

But in those days, Leon wasn’t idly waiting. Instead, he spent almost all of his time in the Ravens’ research facilities spending time with Asger, the other ninth-tier Ravens, and the rest of the Ravens’ research teams.

The experience was illuminating, to say the least. The Ravens researched just about anything and everything that they took a fancy to—arks, healing, personal defense shields made of light magic, teleportation, weaponry of all kinds, blood magic, communication techniques including refinements to existing comm stones, anti-magic, and so much more. For his part, Leon was most interested in their research on Inherited Bloodlines. Since all Ten Tribes were based around Inherited Bloodlines, it made a degree of sense that a Tribe like the Ravens would be experimenting with them, and some of their research held quite a bit of promise, as well as had several insights that Leon had never considered.

For one, the Ravens had discovered certain magical resonances within their blood that grew stronger when awakening their blood, then quickly returning to their previous levels after the ritual ended. The theory was that the resonances grew stronger while their Ancestor was present in their soul realms, but given that the Raven-of-Hail-Hall was about as talkative as most other Ascended Beasts were to their descendants, the Ravens weren’t able to test it with much accuracy.

Another was a series of autopsies done mostly on Lion children given their lifestyle, but incorporating other Tribes as well if their children died young, that confirmed profound changes in bone marrow after bloodline awakening. While Leon lacked the anatomical knowledge to make much use of this knowledge, he still noted the changes, hoping they’d be useful later.

Finally, the Ravens had managed to get their hands on several relatively weak Ascended Beasts, none above the seventh-tier and most already dead. However, as part of Asger’s admission that they’d studied transformation before, they had certain magical insights that Leon was eager to share with Valentina’s team the next time he made it home. While it wouldn’t be of much help that he could see with the already refined transformation enchantment, he hoped it would help him to figure out how to transform into a dragon—if such a thing was even possible. If it was, then even the black eagle transformation that he’d been forced into during his final fight with Jormun might be possible to recreate.

As payment—though hardly specified as such by the Ravens themselves, if no less expected—Leon had given them some of his research materials. The enchantments he’d placed upon his armor with an emphasis on his darkness-invisibility enchantments and strength-enhancing enchantments piqued their interest. His experiments with anti-magic also attracted some attention, though he quickly realized it was due to the design of his gauntlet which allowed him to swap enchantments in and out as the situation demanded that the Ravens wanted to see.

While many of his other works were discussed during those days, Leon didn’t allow anyone to inspect anything more than his armor. Asger had spread the word about his MALL and other materials, which many of the Ravens wanted to see for themselves, but Leon only allowed them to see them, not handle any of them.

But if they gave him their support, he’d told them, they could inspect all they wanted…

Unfortunately, they pulled something similar with their arkyards. Despite Leon expressing strong interest in seeing them, the Ravens didn’t allow anyone other than their own people to access the yards. Even the Thunderer wasn’t allowed access to the yards, and the Bears had come close to trying to force their way in not long after the Thunderer was voted into his office. The Ravens had remained steadfast in their refusal, however, and the Bears had eventually backed off under threat that the Ravens would cancel all their ark orders.

To Leon’s pleasant surprise, none of the Ravens seemed to care all that much about Cassandra—or any of the Empires, for that matter. They liked that their weapons were being used, but they didn’t share the special hatred that the other Tribes had for their nemeses across the sea.

Leon greatly appreciated that attitude. He wasn’t sure he would’ve made many inroads with the Ravens if they were bitter about his choice of romantic partners alongside their general unwillingness to even discuss their political leanings. As it was, he felt like he’d struck up a fine rapport with the other leading members of the Raven Tribe, who were by and large more than willing to spend hours at a time discussing the finer points of enchantment with him whenever he pleased. They seemed, if nothing else, pleased that someone outside their Tribe was even interested in their work, something put on display by how they treated the rest of Leon’s Tribal allies.

The Jaguar and Xanthippe practically went insane during those few days as the Ravens practically ignored them entirely. The Jaguar was somewhat bitter that they hadn’t called the Tribal council already and was forcing them to wait while the rest of the island prepared for the inevitable calling of the Elder Council, while Xanthippe had every challenge, friendly and otherwise, she issued to the Ravens bluntly rebuffed, driving her just a little stir-crazy.

Ipatameni had his enthusiasm dampened by Asger’s attitude following their arrival, while Singer-in-Caves was the only one who seemed perfectly willing to just walk around Raiginn and take in the sights as they waited for the rest of the Raven elders to arrive in the city.

Fortunately, by the end of that week, the time finally came. The last of their Chiefs and elders had arrived in the city, and Leon was visited in his guest home by one of the ninth-tier Ravens he’d spent the past several days debating enchantment philosophy with.

The elder informed him that the Ravens’ council was finally assembling, and he would be able to make his case before the entire Tribe’s leadership.

Leon hoped that what he had to offer would be enough…

---

“All right, shut your fucking traps!” Asger shouted as Leon took his place on the dais, the rest of his people in the guest benches by the door. Unlike most of the other Tribes, the Ravens didn’t allow other Tribes to join them on the elder’s benches closer to the dais.

The room, which had been filled with quiet chatting from among the assembled Chiefs and elders, quickly quieted down. Only a few of them, Leon had noticed upon their entrance, were dressed in any way that more courtly people would consider appropriate—casual wear, mostly consisting of simple sleeveless shirts and short pants cut off at the knee, were the name of the Ravens’ fashion game.

Just another thing to appreciate about the Ravens, as far as Leon was concerned.

“How about you clean the arksmith’s crucible, Asger!” another Raven, this one an eighth-tier elder sitting only a few seats away from the ninth-tiers, shouted back, a playful smile on his face.

“Watch it, lowmind,” Asger retorted, though his tone was bored and disinterested. Summoning all the motivation he could, he said to the assembled leaders of the Raven Tribe, “We have come politics that the other Tribes want us to get involved in…”

As he finished speaking, many of the elders shouted their displeasure, though few of them were those who’d been in the city since Leon’s arrival.

“Why should we care for them when they offer so little?” another eighth-tier elder shouted. “They come to us when they want their arks but piss off all other times! When was the last time another Tribe came to us when we had a rampaging beast to deal with? Who came to our aid when the Bears overstepped and tried to tell us how to build our arks?”

A chorus of agreeing shouts followed him, and Leon decided that this was as good a time as any to jump in.

“Sounds like the Bears have been trying to throw their weight around for a while!” he loudly said.

“And who are you?” the more irate elder shouted.

“I am Leon Raime.” Leon calmly replied, and the elder raised an eyebrow in surprise. Most of his belligerence vanished almost immediately.

“We’ve all heard of him at this point,” Asger continued. “Who fucking hasn’t at this point? The other Tribes won’t shut up about the Thunderbird’s return to the Tribes.”

“And why should we?” the Jaguar thundered from the guest seats. “Do we not all venerate the Thunderbird? Our rightful King has returned! It is the duty of all Ten Tribes to recognize that!”

“Old legends,” one of the ninth-tier Ravens, a woman named Thyra, responded, “are one thing. Should we not also look to the quality of the man who seeks our support as well?”

While it sounded almost like recrimination, Leon had spent a full day in that elder’s company, and he gave Leon a quick nod after speaking his short piece.

“I seek your support in rebuilding not only the Thunderbird Clan but all of yourselves as well!” Leon declared. “We are trapped upon this plane, practically a backwater compared to the rest of the universe! I would have us all return to where we belong: the Nexus! But for all that change is necessary for this, I do not seek to change how you govern yourselves! So long as you declare me your King, I would provide you with all the security and resources you need to continue your research, and how you organize yourselves will be entirely up to you!”

“Leon Raime has already shown us some of what he claims he would share,” a ninth-tier Raven named Trygve shouted. “I am personally convinced of the value of what he offers!”

“As am I!” Thyra added. “It seems we’re going to be dragged into this political squabble anyway, so we might as well pluck a few feathers while we’re doing it!”

Leon didn’t quite understand her metaphor but he got the gist of what she said, and he gave her a nod of appreciation.

The final ninth-tier Raven who had yet to speak was a man named Frode, and he had been the one Leon had interacted with the least during his time in Raiginn. All eyes turned in his direction as Thyra’s voice echoed throughout the icy hall.

But instead of giving his opinion, he stared at the Raven on the dais with Leon and asked, “Asger. Your opinion?”

“Eh?” Asger mumbled as if his mind had been far away and was unexpectedly dragged back. “He showed me he can transform! The rumors were true! I want to fucking know how it’s done!”

“Then you’re with him?” Frode asked.

Asger glanced at Leon, and Leon smiled back at him.

“Eh… that seems to be the price, doesn’t it? Then fuck it, what’s a King, anyway, next to the progress that could be made? He’s offered other things of interest, as well…”

Frode turned his eyes back to Leon, then stoically nodded and said, “Then he has my support as well.”

With the four ninth-tier mages having said their piece, it was time for the eighth-tier Ravens, and a surprising number of them spoke out against Leon—few of those who did were those Leon had interacted with at least once in the past week, though there were one or two. Once they were done, the Chiefs, who Leon had had comparatively little interaction with, began speaking, and they were more divided despite the ninth-tier elders in his corner.

When they were done, the Jaguar stepped forward again.

“I apologize for my earlier outburst,” he said. “It’s terribly unbecoming for a man to interrupt another Tribe’s gathering. However, I simply wanted to emphasize the importance of the times we now find ourselves in. The Thunderbird Clan has returned! Our Tribes can unite behind a proper King for the first time in eighty millennia! Such a momentous occasion can’t be ignored!”

“And he isn’t just of Thunderbird blood!” Xanthippe added. “I can testify to his prowess with a blade! He beat the Thunderer himself in a duel to first blood on my Tribe’s sacred sand!”

“And I,” Singer-in-Caves spoke up, “can attest to his magnanimity in sharing with my Hawks the secret to better attuning ourselves to our inherited power and transforming ourselves into the shape of our Honored Ancestor!” when she finished speaking, she demonstrated just what she meant by transforming into her avian form.

[He has also shared this secret with the other Tribes sworn to him,] she added.

“And I can attest to his character!” Ipatameni declared, joining his voice to the others. “He has made no demand of the Tribes to change our ways, and has indicated that he would be a wise administrator that listens to our concerns! It is the belief of my Tribe that our fair island will only find unity behind him and not the Thunderer!”

Leon couldn’t stop grinning as they spoke in turn. Though it was a little dramatic and perhaps a little overstated, the simple fact that they were all willing to speak up for him like this never failed to amaze him.

“Let’s just get on with it, then,” Asger said. “How many are for?”

Leon grinned as the majority of Raven hands went into the air, including all four of their ninth-tier mages and the vast majority of their eighth-tier mages.

“And against?” Asger asked.

A little under half their Chiefs and a handful of eighth-tier Ravens raised their hands.

“That’s then,” Asger stated. “Looks like the Raven Tribe will be supporting you, Leon Raime.”

After a moment of silence during which Leon just smiled expectantly at Asger, Frode said, “Make an oath, you lowmind!”

“Eh? Fuck, well fine.” Asger turned to fully face Leon and said, “Leon Raime, the Ravens will support you to become King.”

Another moment of silence followed before Frode sighed and stood up. “Honestly, that you’re serving as Highmind during this could be used as evidence that fate exists, and it hates us.”

As he spoke, he stepped up onto the dais, glared over his shoulder at the rest of the Tribe, and then took a knee. All the other elders and Chiefs did likewise, rising to their feet before bowing.

“We are an old bloodline,” Frode intoned. “Our power is great; our knowledge, vast. All is yours, Leon Raime. The Raven Tribe is yours. By our wings, we will be lifted from ignorance!”

“May we never fall!” the rest of the Ravens said as one.

Leon, grinning ear-to-ear, gestured for them to rise. “You honor me beyond words. Your trust and faith will not be misplaced. Together, we will discover every deep, dark secret the universe has and use that knowledge to create wonders the likes of which the universe has never seen before!”

As he spoke, his body grew in size and bent in shape, and feathers sprouted from his skin. He paused as his mouth turned into a beak, and he only spoke again once he had fully assumed Thunderbird form.

[Together, we will return to the Void and the stars where our Ancestors were born! We will fly through the sky of the Nexus and reclaim all that we have lost! By the winged grace, I swear this to all of you!]

He screeched and filled the hall with his power, but only for a moment. The Ravens began shouting and stomping as they rose to their feet, those who’d voted against Leon less than enthused but still participating.

Leon surveyed them all, his people in the back bowing as well. Only Anzu and Maia remained on their feet, though Anzu still lowered his head.

As the clamor died down, Leon took control. [We have much to do. With this declaration, all the Tribes have either chosen me, or they’ve chosen the Thunderer! It’s time to call the Elder Council!]

Again, the hall erupted in stomping and cheering, though it didn’t last as long as it did following the Ravens’ oaths. When it did die down, Leon, Asger, and Frode had been joined at the dais by all the other ninth-tier mages in the room.

“The Thunderer will not take this lying down,” the Jaguar growled. “He will be outvoted. He will be removed from power. Expect violence to break out after the vote is brought to the floor.”

“We must do all we can to ensure that our fellow Tribes aren’t harmed,” Singer-in-Caves said. “It is on us to also speak with them before the vote to prevent any unwanted violence.”

“If violence comes, then it comes!” Xanthippe replied with an anticipatory smile. “We will crush all who refuse to bow to their new King!”

“We shouldn’t be so eager to kill our fellows, Xanthippe,” Ipatameni chastised.

“If they attack first, then they’re our enemies, not fellows,” the Lioness retorted.

“How likely is this?” Frode asked.

“The Bears have been preparing themselves to invade my Tribe’s lands,” the Jaguar said. “They wouldn’t assemble themselves in the numbers they have unless they were serious about seizing power by force. And the Tigers… they will follow the Thunderer in whatever he decides.”

“Then we will bring our war arks,” Frode responded. “We have a few that we can pull from patrolling the northern mountains to bolster our numbers. The other Tribes should bring theirs as well.”

The Jaguar agreed, and they began speaking more intensely about necessary military preparations.

Leon, however, didn’t participate in their discussion. He wasn’t going to start his reign off with a civil war. He would’ve frowned if he had a mouth instead of a beak, and he silently swore to himself that he was going to do everything he had to do to ensure that peace was upheld. And if he failed, then he would personally kill anyone who thought to disturb the peace he wanted.