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STORMWEAVER II: Chapter 55 Sneak Peek
🕑 Added 2023-05-04 13:23:28 +0000 UTCJuuuust pretend you didn't see that art. It wasn't ready to show yet lol đ
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Carmen Laurent, for some reason, was nothing like what Rei had envisioned. Aria was all height and grace, a stellar beauty even among the designed and CAD-assisted looks of the Galens Institute students. Maybe that was why Rei had always just assumed every member of her family would be much the same, tall and elegant and confident in their presence. Then again⊠it wasnât like the general didnât have poise.
It was just more like the titanous conviction of a mountain ruling over its domain.
As the man took started to stand at their entrance, the first thing Rei took note of was that Carmen Laurent was built more like Logan than any other person heâd ever seen. He was a few inches shorter, maybe, but just as broad, and his arms and legs with very clearly thick as stone under his pristine black and golds.. He had a dark grey, clean-cut beard that framed a broad, handsome chin, and his short hairâhis cap had been tossed onto the table between the two couchesâwas much the same other than than a thick slash of designed, deep red that went right along the middle of his head. His eyes, too, were red, though a slightly lighter shade that burned like crimson fire as the general stood straight to take Rei and Aria in, towering over them with gaze firm and hands clasped rigidly behind his back.
That was when Rei started to feel the pressure.
He knew it wasnât a physical thing. As far as he was aware, there was no Ability that could effect gravity in any kind of way. Just the same, however, Rei could have sworn an immense weight abruptly took hold of him as he met those red eyes, like heavy steel chains getting layer one at a time across his shoulders until his knees wanted to buckle. It was there, and it wasnât, but either way Rei knew what this was, knew what he was experiencing. There was, after all, one other way that Carmen Laurent differed even from the likes Valera Dent.
For the first time in his life, Rei was standing in front of a Rook-Class User.
From what he understood, Carmen Laurent had graduated Galens a legend, leaving the school an A9 User, and spending the next few decades surpassing every officer and superior he was ever assigned to in both ability and power. Now, 30-something years later, the man stood as one of only ten or so Rook-Class combatants on the front lines, the strongest fighters the ISCM had in the fight.
And difference between Laurent and a Knight-Class like the captain was⊠palpable.
Dent had always seemed terrifying, in her own right. Even Colonel Guestâwho Rei barely noticed now was standing over by the bookshelves to their leftâcould illicit a visceral fear from him as a mere Pawn-Class, and had done so before. But this⊠This was an entirely different type of dread. Both Dent and Guest could have lopped Reiâs head from his shoulders before he could blink, it was true.
But Carmen Laurent gave the impression he could have turned him to dust, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and taken a seat back on the couch again before what was left of Rei so much as started settling to the floor.
Oooh, Iâm SO not ready for this! Rei screamed in the silence even as he and Aria both snapped into what was probably the sharpest salute either of them had ever thrown up in their lives.
âAt ease, Cadets.â It was Guest, mercifully, who spoke first from by the shelves before looking to Maddison. âChief Assistant Kent, you are dismissed. Thank you for coming in so late to help.â
âOhââ Kent was behind Rei and Aria now, but he could hear the hesitation in her voice. âSir, are you sure you donât need me forâ?â
âMaddison.â The colonelâs tone was gentle, but carried an edge this time. âGo home.â
Rei thought he heard the woman swallow, but all she said after that was âYes, sir,â before taking her leave. The door opened again, then shut with a click, and Rei and Aria were left standing side-by-side before the beast of a man that was Carmen Laurent.
Rei imagined this was what a mouse must have felt like cowering in front of tiger.
And then the tiger spoke.
âCadet Ward⊠Itâs nice to meet you. I followed your progress a bit at Sectionals. Your fighting is impressive.â
Rei had to physically work not to let his body stiffen as the generalâs eyes focused in on him. That was odd⊠Of the two of them heâd assumed the man would have address Ariaâhis daughterâfirst. She was standing not a foot to his right, after all, and yet in the moment it was like the man didnât even see her.
Pulling his own gaze away with some effort, Rei stared over the manâs shoulder, barely seeing the lights of Castalon through the tall window behind Laurent as he answered.
âThank you, General! Itâs an honor to know you took the time.â
âSeemed like the natural thing to do.â The generalâs voice, in congruence to his physical presence, was low and throaty and yet sharp with the confidence of man used to giving orders. âI followed everyone who had the potential to be a thorn in Ariaâs side at the tournament. You just ended up being the largest of them, didnât you?â
Rei had to scramble to figure out how to answer that. Was it a compliment? A slight? A warning? He wasnât sure, so he went with the safest bet.
âThank you, sir. Cadet Laurent has consistently bested me here at school, so I knew I had to give it absolutely everything while we were in Ganos.â
There was a twitch, just the smallest movement of Laurentâs right eyebrow, but Rei couldnât tell if it was irritation or surprise the general was registering. Heâd bet on staying humble, and decided a brief compliment of the manâs daughter couldnât hurt⊠right?
Abruptly Rei wished the gods and religions of old Earth were still around, just so he could have someone to pray to in that moment.
He didnât breath easy until the general spoke again.
âModesty,â the man said with a snort. âWasnât expecting that. The way things have been going for you I was waiting for something else out of your mouth, Cadet.â Laurent looked over at the colonel. âI see youâre still doing a fair job of hammering your charges into shape, Rama.â
The casualness with which the general address Rama Guest seemed not only to surprise Rei and Ariaâthe girl frowning slightly beside himâbut the colonel himself.
âBoth Ward and Laurent are prime example of the kind of students we take pride in here at the Institute, GeneralâŠâ Guest started tentatively. âAlso, weâre in the presence of cadets, sirâŠâ
âBahâŠâ the general shrugged the manâs comment away. âI already told you, Iâm on leave. Iâm not here as an officer of the ISCM right now, much less as anyoneâs superior.â
Again this took Rei aback. Laurent was on leave? Starting with the pair who were undoubtedly still standing outside, there had to be thirty soldier between them and the elevators.
Before he could contemplate that further, though, the man continued.
âAs I said when I arrived, today I am hereââ finally and for the first time, the generalâs attention shifted to Aria ââas a concerned father.â
Comments
Bart Pinson
I wonder if General Abel is part of central command that is wanting to get rid of Rei? She would be positioned to make things happen without leaving evidence for the mind to find. Also, to convince General Laurent that his daughter is in danger from Rei. This would be backed up by the General bringing 30 soldiers with him for a "concerned" father meeting that just happens to involve Rei. The General finding out about Aria dating Rei, kind of puts a kink in the argument from General Able. Just my thoughts. I guess we will find out soon.
Samantha Sandlin
Pawn, Bishop, Knight, Rook, Queen/King
GERARD Mumbari
What are the strength classes in the S category according to strength?
Samantha Sandlin
I still suspect that they want Rei and Aria to advance to Globals and since Aria has important parents, they needed the General's permission since she would be potentially fighting against people with significantly more training than she has had.
Bryn Thomas
I suspect this will be addressed once the complete chapter is released.
Sam Randall
Iâd be really surprised if this goes a wholesome route⊠you donât show up after curfew unannounced just to pop by and say hi lol
Lukas
Reading a book on age by myself age i feel like im in that MASH episode where they are ripping out and reading chapter by chapter throughout the camp. Youve got us all hooked and interested to see where this goes. Cheer to you bud
Lyn Shirley
I like the sneak peek. I like the way the General is trying to be informal, courteous and involved. Yes, the General heard from Central but he also took time off from a war to make sure his daughter and her teammate know he is aware of them and keeping track. He might even want to help. We will have to see which way the storyline goes. I have no doubt Ariaâs dad has always has kept track. Even very busy and/or important parents worry about their children. I think itâs obvious in the story that Reiâs grandfather cares for Rei. He just has no idea how to reach out after all these years of not knowing for sure if Rei was dead or alive. It is hard to know people and their motives if you rarely talk to them or see them.
Charlie Staner
They probably exist to keep the rabble away rather than any actual threats
Heather Herren
I do not think Guest would allow it let alone aria.. but.. we will see what Bryce has up his sleeve..:-).
saynt
protective detail? any threat to him would probably kill those 30 soldiers just by looking at them
saynt
what art ? i didnt see any art, are you sure you werent imagining things?
Jeff McClure
You m$@@&(/;&((-?â! *ahem* I mean, thank you for the sneak peek!
Jacob Clemens
I wonder what his cad type is?
Voror
Ah that would really suck if we're going for something like that. Feels like it'd do more harm than good since each has acted to encourage the other while being a key support and source of growth.
Ghostbane
The email notification for this put me through a rollercoaster of emotions. 'Chapter 55' my stomach shot up impossibly fast, pratically yippee'ing out loud. Only to quickly crash down to earth at the 'Sneak Peak' My main concern was at least put to rest. I was hoping that the General wouldn't have an instant dislike of Rei for whatever reason from the get go. ( Not unsual considering multiple other people to date for various reasons ) The night is still young, but I don't want multiple reasons to be screaming Bryce's name into it. Lovely to see a Rook Class up close! Can't wait till tomorrow, thank you!
gratch42
Also the note of the thirty soldiers took me a bit off guard (pun intended). If theyâre a protective detail - there should have been some in the lobby last chapter (securing the ground floor) - or maybe there were but *ninja guard skills*
Phil Thomas
While the disappearing art is good surely the alt image tag should just be ( Karen Gillan in Jumanji) :)
LeaphyMoon
Oh now he wants to be a dad? When his daughter is dating a user that's climbing the ranks faster than anyone else in history? Aria is gonna be so pissed
gratch42
Personally I thought the art fully fit that chapter start. Iâll now be expecting character art in front of every chapter with the final book version! This sneak peek ends in a type shift: Cliffhanger Ramped. Excellent job at raising the cliff. *stares further down*
Heather Herren
Ahhh.. this sounds like they are going to try to separate them. I hope not!!
