In the Ashen Empire, a nation that is regarded as the 2nd strongest nation currently in existence, there ys a certain castle known as the Stormholme Fortress which rested on the Varragard Mountain Range near the capital city of Ashen. The fortress was not home to the Imperial Family of the empire as they had their own fortress within the city, but rather this was home to the descendants of the First Schor of Quelecta, Ash, whom the empire was named after. The keeper of the fortress was the Augustus Family who carried on Ash's name through the years and were cousins with the ruling Imperial Family known as the Ashen Family who had been there since the creation of the empire.

  Now, standing in the massive study of the fortress was the current head of the Augustus Family, Duke Joachim Ruprecht Von Augustus. Standing at an impressive 5'9 ft (175.26 cm) in height and blessed with a handsome face that could make dies swoon at a simple gnce their way, with a built and well-defined body thanks to his rigorous training in combat and magic, as well as his own indulgence in sports made him a very envious man to those who were jealous of how great he has it. Joachim has many enemies within the empire who envy his family and legacy that much is true but they dare not make a move or else risk the ire of the entire nation which is still wholly loyal to the throne, a throne that backs the Agustus Family in everything they do.

  As the sun filtered through the massive window which lit up the entire study, Joachim was busy sitting in front of a communication crystal that had the projection of a certain Tower Master in the Sultanate of Ghabir, the two of them having happy expressions that were also mixed with a set of nervousness and worry

  "Sooo, you are sure that Grandmother agreed to having ALL of our retives here for the Family Reunion?" Joachim asked as he looked up at the projection

  "Yes Joachim, I wouldn't have said so if it was otherwise" Prisma replied as she looked at him

  "I know I know, I am just making sure that you are sure. It is Grandmother we are talking about" Joachim said with a small nod

  "I know, I was actually surprised at her agreeing to the entire thing, I actually thought she would reject it out the gate"

  "Yeah, but now that she has agreed, there are a lot of actual problems that may arise" The Duke said as he leaned back into his chair

  "Oh? How so?" The Tower Master asked

  "Well for one, the scheduling for everyone, that is going to be a pain to do so that everyone from all of the families can arrive"

  "Uhuh"

  "And then...there are the extended retives themselves" Joachim added with a slightly worried expression

  "Oh...OH! I see the problem there now" Prisma's eyes went wide as she immediately understood what her younger cousin meant

  "Yeah, so do I...hmmmm" He added as he nodded, his gaze drifting downward

  "Well, we can't really back out now since Grandmother has given us the greenlight...we do have to come up with a countermeasure in case an incident happens"

  "Oh? For who? Our family or Grandmother?"

  "Do I really have to answer that Pris?"

  "Ah...yeah ok I remember now, I wouldn't pass it off for Grandmother wanting to fuck around with the rest of the extended family"

  "Exactly, I know Grandmother is loving and kind, but she also likes to fuck with people for a few ughs"

  "Well she is old, she doesn't get to see a lot of action" Prisma remarked, making the two of them chuckle for a moment

  "Right right, regardless. We have to inform people on the day to report to us if there are suspicious acts being done by a beautiful woman from Kani"

  "Agreed. Let's talk about that ter, but for the date of the event, how about a month from now?"

  "That could work. It will be summer for most of the world, unless of course if you're in college"

  .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

  Inside Leini's office, she was in the midst of organizing and finalizing everything for the International University Expo which was approaching fast. After so many deys and setbacks this time around, the final date was set for the middle of summer which was on May 6th as Leini introduced a simir calendar system to the world but added a few more months in summer due to the fact that she just could, she been added a few more ber months since winter was also kinda long.

  "Hmmm, yeah that seems about all of it. All of it is finally settled, thank Gods" Leini remarked as she leaned back into her chair, dropping her pen onto the table and pushing the piles of neatly organized paper to the side

  "Indeed it is Master, you did great" Feisha, Leini's arachnia secretary stated as she stood next to her master

  "Gods...so much has happened within these past few months. I feel like dying..."

  "Don't say that, please Master, it scares me and Botswell whenever we think of a world without you" Feisha said with a slightly sad expression

  "Hays, don't you and your sister worry about that. I ain't going anywhere anytime soon" Leini replied as she conjured a projection of her hand to pat the arachnia on the head

  "Oh! You received a letter from Prisma a few days ago but I haven't found a good chance to give it to you" The arachnia secretary said before she quickly scuttled out of the room and then back in carrying a white letter with a red stamp on it

  "Thank you Feisha, I wonder what this could be about" Leini said with a nod as she took the letter into her hands and then leaned back into her chair

  Opening the letter in her hands, Leini saw that there was a letter personally for her and a pair of bronze keys that were chained together and had a pair of rings also within the envelope. The letter read

  To My Beloved Grandmother

  Heyo! Grandmother, we, as in the cousins and I and our parents, have come to the agreement that the venue for the family gathering this year is to be held in Joachim's castle in the Ashen Empire. It is rge enough for the ENTIRE family which includes our extended retives that you have yet to meet! Yes, this does include our cousin Valder who is the current emperor of the Ashen Empire before you ask, he's also on board with this idea but he does not know yet we are reted so please don't tell him hehehe. Anyway, we have decided to schedule the family gathering two months from now on July 3rd, and we will all be hosting a sort of masquerade party as the opening for the event.

  It is on that note that me and everyone else please ask of you. DO NOT TRY TO FUCK WITH THE FAMILY! We love you Grandmother we really do but we know for a fact you will if given the chance, will do something for your amusement and while we are not against it, we are kinda cautious this time around as we have yet to reveal you to the entire family which will be done during the event proper. Please, love you and stay safe until we see each other then.

  From your favorite Granddaughter. Prisma.

  'Oh...seems that they really want this to go perfectly' Leini thought as she smirked at the letter before pcing it down on the table

  "Feisha"

  "Hmm?" The arachnia secretary looked up at her creator

  "Do you think I sometimes fuck around with my family? Pying little pranks here and there for my amusement?" Leini asked as she looked at her

  "Yeah. You do, but they all know it is all in good fun and that you have lived for so long that certain things such as restraint have long since been passed on"

  "What does that mean?"

  "Well, I guess that your descendants give you a pass because you are the one who was there since the beginning of the family, Master. You love them so much that pying pranks and having fun with them is something they cherish and any ill feelings they have towards you are trumped by a great appreciation for your existence" Feisha answered her master with a nod

  "Hmmm....I see....thank you for that Feisha" Leini replied with a nod of her own as she sank into her chair

  "Will you still try to mess with them during this year's family gathering?"

  "Maybe, but I also wish to respect their wishes. Who knows, considering my luck, I will end up doing so in the end regardless of me trying not to but I will make up for it if it ever happens" The Old Schor stated as she looked at the ceiling of her office

  "Then I believe Master has nothing to fear"

  "True, I usually don't"

  .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

  After spending several hours sorting through papers and reports, Leini found herself standing on a balcony overlooking one of the rge training yards on the campus. She looked down and saw her beloved Martha in the midst of a combat css even as the clock struck 4 in the afternoon. She looked down at the ongoing css and smiled as she could see Martha leading the css with ease just like a general commanding a division.

  "Alright! Warm-up exercises are done. Everyone get ready for the rest of the css!" Martha decred with a rge grin as she had her halberd standing beside her

  "Those were the warm-ups Professor?! Damn...I need a moment to catch my breath" A young orc man by the name of Chester remarked as he pced his hands on his knees and tried to recompose himself

  "Yep! Back where I came from, standard warm-ups were just like this, really get your blood pumping and mana circuting. Now, pair up and start sparring!" She ordered as she tapped her halberd onto the ground twice

  As the css did as she ordered, Martha felt a pair of eyes watching her and when she turned her head, she saw Leini resting on a distant balcony overlooking the training yard, a small smile creeping on her face as she locked eyes with the woman she loved. She waved at Leini who waved back and then turned her head back to the css, seeing the students going at it with one another across the yard that had built-in inscriptions to keep them safe.

  She saw a pair of students going at it directly in front of her, the battle was between a young arachnia student and a dragonkin student. The arachnia wielded a nce that she thrust forward repeatedly, trying to strike down the dragonkin opponent who wielded a pair of swords which he used to block and deflect her attacks. The students went at it with all they got. The dragonkin soldier blocked a thrust from his opponent before trying to fire back his own, unleashing a pair of sshes with his swords and then a thrust from his armored tail, but all of these attacks were unable to nd as the arachnia student easily blocked the sshes by expertly using the reinforced shaft of her spear to stop the swords dead in their tracks before leaning to the side to dodge the tail thrust.

  "You're gonna have to do better than that Cosmo!" The arachnia by the name of Calse shouted with a smug expression

  "Dammit!" Cosmo cursed as he dodged another thrust

  Elsewhere in the yard, there was a pair of mage students who were stuck in a struggle between their elemental magic as one mage was busy casting his fire bst spell that cshed with the beam of ice fired off by his fellow mage opponent, the two of them having strained faces as they poured out nearly all of their mana into their attacks hoping to overpower the other but failing to recognize they were both pretty evenly matched.

  "Getting tired there are we Dall?" The female mage by the name of Aris casting ice mused as she continued to channel her mana into her spell

  "I could do this all day!" Dall replied with a strained but confident tone

  Martha's expression showed pride and joy as she saw her students excelling in what she taught them to do best, fight. As the css continued, she moved around the training yard, easily ducking and dodging attacks that went wide, even deflecting some attacks to ensure they harmlessly hit the ground less they hit other students behind or beside her.

  'Gods this is the life' She thought to herself as she csped her hands behind her back and continued to walk past her students

  For a woman who had lived most of her life in war, from being a child soldier to a general who retired early, Martha cherished these moments that were both filled with calm and the sounds of battle without the dangers of an actual war zone. She felt great teaching these young men and women and actively did her best to bring the best out of them, using her own experience to help them if they struggled with their own problems reted to the subject.

  {!}

  Just as she passed a pair of students, her senses fired off and she unconsciously moved her halberd to her back, the head of her weapon blocking the twin bdes that were aimed at her back. She turned her head and a small smirk formed as she raised an eye, looking at the two students bold enough to dare something like this.

  "Ah...the Marinez Twins. How unsurprising" Martha mused as she looked at the blonde, beautiful and tall twin elven sisters who tried to stab her with their bastard swords

  "How did you sense us coming Prof?" The elder twin by the name of Nau asked with a shocked expression as she leaped back with her younger sister Cau doing the same

  "I am more than meets the eye. I thought the two of you, who are arguably the best in this css, knew that" Marthat answered her as she flourished her halberd, her left hand resting behind her back as she looked calm as ever

  The rest of the css stopped what they were doing as all eyes were now on their professor and the star students of this css. Some cheered for the twins while some stayed silent, others cheered for their professor, but all were excited to see the battle unfold before them.

  "Right, since you both had the audacity to try and come at me. I will allow this to continue. If either of you can nd a gncing blow, you get perfect for your midterms" Martha stated as she pnted her halberd on the ground

  "And if we lose Professor?" Cau asked with a curious expression

  "Well, that will have to be decided by the css on a ter date...so, do we have a deal?" Martha asked, her smirk getting rger as she aimed the tip of her halberd to the twins, inviting them to challenge her

  "You're on! Don't say we didn't warn you!" Nau stated as she flourished her sword

  "You will regret this arrogance Professor" Cau added as she did the same as her older sister

  {!}

  At that moment, the twins rushed forward again, their swords raised to strike at different points on Martha who stood still with confidence in her gaze. As they rushed to her, Martha rolled her shoulders and her head, adjusting her coat that bellowed in the wind before she smirked at them. As Nau reached her first, Martha simply shifted her body slightly to dodge the incoming upward ssh before shifting her body once again to move backward from the horizontal ssh fired off by Cau.

  In reply, Martha swung her halberd in a downward arc, allowing herself to barely miss the twins who broke off to either side of her, their breathing heavy as they barely saw Martha's weapon swing downward and impact the ground they just stood in. Undeterred, the twins rushed their teacher from either side, their swords swinging with efficiency and lethality as they were aimed at nding a blow that would force Martha to yield. But to their frustration, their teacher was keeping them at bay, her halberd easily shoving off their attacks and blocking them faster than they anticipated. Adding to their frustrations, Martha didn't even go on the attack, she was content with the two students attacking her and just being the unyielding and unmovable tower in their way.

  Getting more desperate and tired, the twins unched another coordinated attack but this time saw a sense of success as Nau was able to disarm their professor, her sword ssh having as much power as she could muster, striking the shaft of the weapon and sending it flying off to the side much to the surprise of the css. But before she could capitalize on her success, her face was met by a quick right jab by Martha that sent the older elven twin stumbling back. Cau, who was still moving to get Martha from behind, was unable to defend herself quickly as Martha turned to face her quicker than she anticipated, nding a left hook that sent the younger elven twin staggering back and clutching her jaw in pain.

  "Remember css. Just because someone is disarmed doesn't mean they are out of the fight" Martha stated as she looked at her css and the twins before moving and picking up her halberd with ease

  The two twins shared a gnce and a nod then wasted no time and quickly cast streams of lightning. They fired off from the tips of their swords, which acted as conduits. But to their shock and surprise, Martha simply twirled her halberd blinding fast and as she spun it around her, the weapon was the one taking the brunt of the lightning that turned the ornate and intricately detailed halberd into a glowing weapon that left the twins stunned into silence as they had never seen anyone deflect their attacks like this.

  "What's wrong? Haven't seen a magi-core weapon before?" Martha asked with an amused expression that left the twins wondering what she meant

  {!}

  Before she could even let them comprehend what was happening, Martha tapped the end of her halberd onto the ground with force, and an electrical shockwave dispersed from her weapon, forcing the entire css to feel an electrical sting and be thrown off their feet and onto the ground. Everyone was silent as they saw Martha standing over them like the unmoving tower she was during the entire fight.

  "That's it for today. Beadle, I want the names of those present and those who were absent for today. I also want the css to think of a punishment for the Marinez Twins for the next css. Anyways, css dismissed" She told them as she turned to walk away

  As she walked away, she gnced up at Leini who was looking down at her with a loving smile

  'Nicely done Professor Martha. Meet me in the office, we have something to discuss' Leini said via telepathy

  'I'm on my way' Martha replied with a nod

  A/N: New Chapter. Enjoy! Hehehehe