The Grand Selection

By E.M. Allen

When Grand Paladin Edgar Thatch announces his retirement, a grand selection is held to commemorate his years of service and elect his replacement on the Grand Council. But The Celestial Order aren't the only ones on the move. Sir Nightwatch, along with his agents: Oliver Turner, Donald "Dodger" Rogers, Kara Starling, Morgan Ravencroft and Vincent Dakane, all mobilize to make the most of this situation. Sir Nightwatch hopes that by revealing his intentions to the masses, he can secure a more favorable position for himself and more importantly, his agents. Meanwhile Eliza Alcius, Arch Knight of The Celestial Order and ally to Nightwatch, must choose between the only family she's ever known and the friends she's made along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 26, 2024
• ISBN: 9798350943429

E.M. Allen

E.M. Allen is a writer, Youtuber, media commentator and humble blue-collar worker from St. Louis, Missouri. He runs the mediaocrity4 YouTube channel where he talks about cartoons and comics.

Book preview

BK90085764.jpg

© E.M. Allen.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 979-8-35094-341-2 (paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-35094-342-9 (eBook)

Dedicated to Ashley, one of the many inspirations for Eliza, and the embodiment of this verse:

But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

—James 2:18-19 (New King James Version)

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1: What Oliver Turner Lacks

Chapter 2: Night of the Hellhound

Chapter 3: Clash of Crusaders

Chapter 4: Sir Nightwatch Comes to Collect

Chapter 5: Ms. Alcius Goes to Washington

Chapter 6: The Agents Gather

Chapter 7: Who’s Who on the Grand Selection

Chapter 8: The Committee Begins

Chapter 9: Sir Nightwatch Stakes His Claim

Chapter 10: Bickering Among Arch Knights

Chapter 11: The Importance and Negligence of St. Louis

Chapter 12: Night Out

Chapter 13: Father Santiago

Chapter 14: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Selection

Chapter 15: Santiago and Nightwatch Meet

Chapter 16: The Incident at Cherry Blossom Bar

Chapter 17: A Venting Night

Chapter 18: Henry Alcius vs. Pedro Santiago

Chapter 19: The Broken Mirror and the Shattered Self

Chapter 20: Oliver and the Eyes of Fate

Chapter 21: Truth

Chapter 22: A Matter of Fate and Faith

Chapter 23: Night of the Stygian Birds

Chapter 24: Night of Selection

Chapter 25: Eliza’s Choice

Chapter 26: Nightwatch vs The Knights

Chapter 27: The Children of Nightwatch

Chapter 28: What it Means to Stand on the Top

Chapter 29: The Left Arm of Immanuel Griswold

Chapter 30: Oliver in the Dark

Chapter 31: Nightwatch Counter Attack

Chapter 32: Four-Star Combatants

Chapter 33: Sir Nightwatch vs Edgar Thatch

Chapter 34: Visions of a Blade

Chapter 35: The Humiliation of Edgar Thatch

Chapter 36: The Selection is Made

Epilogue

Afterword

Appendix

Prologue

No law of man or God ever dictated what people do with power. Power is there for anyone to grab. Some grab it for themselves, using their acquired strength to satisfy selfish impulses. Some accumulate it over time, moving up the ladders of whatever faction they saw fit. Others gather power for the sake of those beneath them. That was the original purpose of The Celestial Order.

While people slept and others suffered, the Grand Council of The Celestial Order discussed current events and future plans. The cries of the citizens rarely ever reached their ears. They were all perpetually busy individuals with their own lives, their own goals and their own feelings regarding those goals.

Each council member broadcasted to the others from their offices using a transference stone. The twelve mages were scattered across the western world yet stayed unified under one roof. Even so, they were anything but unified.

The council had adjourned their weekly meeting. Most of its members ended their broadcast. Yet here, in the Washington D.C. office, a lone grand paladin had yet to say everything he intended to say. The only one with a sense to keep broadcasting to his location was the one above him, the one he respected and despised all at once.

Is something on your mind, Edgar? The Grand Priest asked his colleague.

The hour is long, Gregory. Grand Paladin Edgar Thatch weighed his words. Despite being of lower rank, he was nearly fifteen-years the Grand Priest’s senior. There is still much I would like to do but I feel the need to leave it to the next generation.

How surprising. Gregory feigned.

Don’t mock me. We both know you predicted this day would come by year’s end.

Most people believe it’s polite to act surprised. Regardless, if you’re retiring, then we will need to hold a grand selection.

I already have a replacement in mind. Edgar Thatch noted. There’s just a few pieces I want to gather for one final sendoff.

A snicker forced its way to the lips of Gregory Pendragon, Fifty-Third Grand Priest of The Celestial Order. The snicker soon broke into a cackle unbecoming of a man sitting in such a place of honor. Any passerby or eavesdropper would surely think it the laugh of a wretched villain. But this is who he was, a man who reveled in the winds of change and how satisfying it was to manipulate the very concept of fate. This was a laugh usually reserved for his enemies but now it was at the expense of his one-time rival in memory of his favored student who inherited his menacing glee.

Oh, I understand. Gregory let the laugh calm down before standing from his chair in London. Good luck.

Chapter 1

What Oliver Turner Lacks

Green was returning to the park. It had been a quiet couple months since the defeat of Corlarva the vampire. The damage done by the Hellfire Brats had been all but reversed. The people of St. Louis felt safer than they ever had, at least when it came to monster attacks.

The occasional monster incursion would be dealt with swiftly. The various mages of St. Louis were all on the same page, all working in tandem to keep the people safe. Those that reported on this band of children believed that nothing could come between them.

Spring break had arrived. There would be no more school for a whole week. For most teenagers, this was a time of partying, visiting family, and heading to ocean shores for a vacation. For Oliver Turner, it was the perfect chance to refine his skills.

The nephilim Nightwatch agent had manifested his corporis during the battle with Corlarva. With that invisible shield protecting his body, he was now able to fight harder and train longer without fretting over his physical health. Therefore, his focus was on making the most of that ability.

His top priority was mastering the transformed state all nephilim were to be wary of. The act of transforming killed most nephilim. Even stronger ones like him were only able to transform two or three times before perishing. His corporis negated that particular draw back. Now he could transform whenever he wanted for a limited amount of time. For if he exceeded that time limit—which was roughly a minute at this point—he would surely die.

He practiced boxing with Brittany Rembrandt, a schoolmate two years his senior. He had started martial arts with Basal Knight Amelia Petrochilos. All of his training was overseen by Donald Dodger Rogers, his best friend and fellow Agent of Nightwatch.

There was only one thing he was desperately missing. It was a core piece of the tria-ethos all mages must manifest to some extent before being officially recognized and licensed for active duty. Oliver had a powerful animus befitting of a caster. His corporis was strong but often unstable as was the case with all nephilim that had lasted this long. What he lacked was his sensus.

Dodger always found ways to incorporate sports into his training regime. Usually he preferred baseballs but the bouncier nature of tennis balls suited his needs more now than ever. So he and Oliver were off to the tennis court. Once there, they would do some warm ups and then put Oliver’s perception and reflexes through the ringer.

They were not the first to arrive that day. Arch Knight Eliza Alcius was also there, alongside her partner Amelia, for a friendly game of tennis. The lack of schoolwork and the infrequent monster attacks had given Eliza more freetime than she had had in over a year. She would have preferred going to an orchestra concert or simply staying home and reading. Amelia was much more passionate about sports and had convinced her partner to indulge her hobby.

Oliver couldn’t help but stop and admire the two. Oliver believed them both to be undeniably beautiful. When he first met Eliza, he had thought she was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Those feelings only grew stronger with each passing day. The stronger they grew, the more he saw how much she stood out in any crowd. She was only a little shorter than him, with ivory skin, platinum-blonde hair and sapphire eyes. Her frame was thin but in her short skirt, her hips were accentuated.

Amelia, in contrast, was muscular and nearly as tall as Dodger. Her natural brown hair had been dyed red which complimented her emerald eyes and tanned skin nicely. They were both wearing similar clothes: a polo shirt, short skirt, sneakers and a visor with their long hair pulled into ponytails. The only difference was the color. Eliza was wearing white whereas Amelia was wearing red.

Oliver stopped to observe the game. Amelia tossed the ball up to serve it. Her arms flexed as she slammed the ball with enough speed to create a wind current. Eliza’s eyes glowed as she dashed to the side and returned the serve. The two girls were not only in incredible shape, they were also mages and using the physique that came with a developed corporis to heighten the game.

After thirty seconds of rapid-fire back and forth, Amelia sliced at the ball. The stroke caused immense backspin that forced Eliza to dive in order to scoop it back over the net. Amelia’s sensus proved the better as she appeared right where the ball was and spiked it past Eliza.

Fifteen-Love. Amelia smirked.

Damn it all. Eliza picked herself up and brushed the scuff marks off her skirt.

You did a lot better than last game. Amelia said.

I don’t even like this sport. The smaller girl pouted and stomped her feet. How did I let you convince me to come here?

You have to stay in shape, boss. Those fifteen minute aerobic exercises aren’t going to cut it forever. Besides, I’m having fun and so are the people watching us.

It was at that moment that Oliver realized he had been staring. Even more embarrassingly, Dodger had noticed him staring and left him behind to juggle off in the corner. It caused the young boy to become flush as Eliza shot him a cold, inquisitive glare.

You uh…you’re both way better than me. Oliver broke the ice.

No surprise there. Eliza said. If you want to improve, then I suggest watching Amelia. She usually didn’t care enough to mind his gawking but she also wanted him to behave in a more gentlemanly fashion.

Oh uh…it’s just I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a skirt like that.

Well… Eliza blushed and fiddled around with the garment’s edges. I quite fancy pretty things. Is that so weird?

Oliver still needs his sensus, said Dodger, as well as some sense. So I’ll be smacking balls at his face for the rest of the afternoon. Feel free to join in. I’m sure he won’t mind so long as it’s you, Princess.

Tempting but no thanks. Eliza said. He’s only my responsibility when his life is in danger. The way she said it almost sounded maternal. Oliver replayed that quote and its inflection over and over again as he trained.

It was obvious to Dodger that the failed flirt attempt was distracting him. He rocketed balls past his nose and sent a few bouncing up into it. The balls circled around and buzzed across his face. The nephilim heeded Dodger’s advice. He tried extending his mana into a field that could track the balls he couldn’t see. None of it worked, and each volley stung like a punch.

An hour later, Oliver was thoroughly exhausted. He collapsed on the ground and looked over to his friends. Amelia was also at her limit but Eliza had a little more mana in the tank. Oliver’s corporis had been damaged by Dodger’s relentless assault and his body was beginning to feel sore. During his reprieve, he once again stared at Eliza in admiration as she squirted water from a bottle down her throat.

She caught him staring again. The half-heartedness of it all caused her to curse under her breath. His eyes darted away only to be drawn back by approaching footsteps. The insecurity of the action was more irritating than the action itself. Eliza was towering over him. He was once again in her shadow, trying to comprehend his own admiration. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in anything she did. It was no mystery why he was always watching her.

You need to stay hydrated. She said as she passed him the bottle. He squirted the water into his mouth like she had and felt his body rejuvenate and all the soreness wash away.

What’s in this? Oliver asked.

Water. Just plain water. I’m sure you know this but everything is mana and mana is everything. It’s all protons, neutrons and electrons each stored with boundless potential. She snatched the water bottle back from him and had another shot.

I never really thought of it that way.

Are you serious? Dodger! The man in question was playing a solo game against the wall. Haven’t you taught him anything?

Just because I teach him doesn’t mean he listens or remembers. Dodger said between grunts. He’s a good student but his mind tends to wander. It’s pretty common. Any idea how many people I see claim they didn’t learn something in school when I know for a fact they did.

Never took you for an astute student. Eliza crossed her arms. Guess you’re not hopeless after all.

Hey, he snatched the ball out of the air and turned towards the knight, between the two of us, which one aced the recent book report assignment?

Eliza’s face became flush. She decided to drop that conversation and teach Oliver a little bit herself. Maybe, she thought, he would be more eager to listen to her then someone like Dodger. She was correct but not for the reasons she thought.

Only a mage can utilize the extent of mana’s potential. She explained. You wouldn’t notice unless you’re really thinking about it. Your body naturally converted the mana stored in the water into energy for yourself. That’s why a good diet is important. Eat lots of fruit, dairy and meat. She took her racket in hand and directed it under his chin so that he could no longer look at her feet. And keep your chin up. That pathetic look irritates me.

She parted ways with the boys so that she could go back home and take a nice hot bath. She still did not know what to make of Oliver. She saw in him a potential that rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, her own. Yet he was so much weaker than she was at that age. She understood the extenuating circumstances surrounding his life but that wasn’t enough of an excuse for her. She had been asked to protect him by a being she didn’t truly know, let alone understand. She did not know what compelled her to be so kind to him when she had shut so many others out.

Wow, for a second there, I thought he was going to shoot his shot. Amelia whispered into her ear.

I would have had to break his heart if he did. I don’t have time for boys.

A social life wouldn’t kill you, Eliza.

Like you’re one to talk. I don’t recall you ever talking to boys.

My life is dedicated to you, milady. I already gave it plenty of thought. I’ll wait until we graduate high school. You’ll be deacon and I’ll be arch knight and we’ll have a new basal knight helping out around here. I’ll try the dating scene after that happens.

You really thought it through.

Have you?

Nope. Eliza scoffed. Relationships and marriage are overrated. It tends to not end well for people in our line of work.

All the more reason to take a gamble. Amelia muttered under her breath.

She knew better than to argue this point with Eliza. Amelia’s own parents had been killed in the line of duty. Eliza on the other hand, was estranged from her entire family. She couldn’t help but see the world through that fractured lens. She had seen over and over again, broken families, single-parent households, domestic abuse, affairs, enough to dash any romantic feelings from her heart.

They always knew they would have to cross that bridge eventually. Eliza’s parents were both high ranking members of The Celestial Order. Eliza having to confront her own parents and grow beyond them was an inevitable step in her quest to become Grand Priest. Little did they know that the time for that was fast approaching.

Chapter 2

Night of the Hellhound

As the sun rose on the second day of spring break, Oliver was feeling full of energy. The soreness he was expecting after his day-long workout had not come to pass. The first face he saw in the morning was not one he had been expecting. A tap on the window signaled the approach of one of his best friends—Rachel Rune.

Morning sleepy head. She said as she climbed in through the window.

I thought you were grounded.

The half-hexenjäger nephilim athlete had lived life fast for a while. After falling into the clutches of Corlarva, she had tried cleaning herself up. She swore to put a hold on dating and kick any other bad habits she may have picked up in her teenage angst. That lasted about two weeks.

Still too cautious to leave the house, she made the mistake of inviting a boy over. Her father walked in on them and flipped out. From then on Tyler Rembrandt—her father—adjusted his schedule so he could drop her off and pick her up from school every day. Nobody was allowed to visit for a while. She even had her phone rights revoked, though he had since laxed on that.

He’s at work. Rachel said as she jumped into Oliver’s bed. Don’t get all excited though. I can’t stay out long, otherwise he’s going to take all my spring break privileges away.

Staying sober?

Nitrex and sulfix? Yeah. My dad is pulling out loans trying to get me a good prescription. Brittany used to help him around the shop but now she’s working at a clothing store. It sucks seeing them work so hard just because I can’t even think straight. But my therapist says that I have to stop thinking like a burden.

How is therapy going anyway?

Well, it’s been just fine after that breakthrough I was telling you about a few weeks ago. She and Oliver already had that conversation after it happened. Rachel had been mature in taking accountability for her actions but at the end of the day, she was still a child and should have never been put in those positions in the first place. And the only people at fault were the ones who took advantage of her.

I wonder if therapy would do me any good.

It certainly wouldn’t hurt but you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Speaking of your issues, do you still get headaches?

Sometimes but I just power through them. Oliver said. Funny that you’ve put a lot more effort into staying in shape and eating healthy than I have and you still practically go comatose about once a month.