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The First Recruit

Another chapter in the saga of Volpes, illustrated by the wonderful Novra aka BeefMcCat back in October of 2021.

What I am most happy about with this piece is how it illustrates the manipulative nature of Volpes, which also setting the stage for Edmund’s father and his eventually turn.

Azurium wasn’t always a part of this story, but I was planning it out I realized that I needed a way to tie together Enigma, Edmund, and Volpes. Thus, he became the connective tissue that brought all the other players in close proximity to each other.

I have many criticisms with “The Case of the Titan Syndicate”, but that is one of the solutions I’m most proud of.

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Barely exerting himself, the vulpine titan pushed his work table into position in one of the shadier corners of his new “brewing room”, reflecting on the progress he had made since escaping his old life.

Abandoning the weakness of his past and personal history, it was up to the newly minted Volpes to make a name for himself. His evolution meant that he would no longer blend into society the way he once did, but that was no problem for the fox. He was perfection incarnate: Why should he hide any longer?

While exposure to the elements was no longer a concern, the long journey proving his new form was fully capable of caring for his basic needs, having no base of operations would severely limit the scope of his great endeavor. Thus, it was the first hurdle the fox set out to address. Ironically, his apothecary knowledge was exactly what he needed to arrive at that goal. The merchants and nobles would never trust a new, decidedly rugged, and intimidating arrival, but the “dredges of society” were often desperate enough that anybody offering aid would be seen as an angel summoned by the planeswalkers of old.

And as any enterprising sort would tell you, what slum-dwellers lack in coin, they make up for in information. Despite his physique, the titan knew that information could work greater wonders than his own two hands. So it came to be that many of the darkest, most scandalous secrets of high society fell into his lap. Through them, and the blackmail they generated, he amassed enough funding to finally afford and furnish his desired headquarters.

Though small, the two-story building on the edge between the slums and the city proper featured enough space to build an office to maintain his apothecary cover while reserving a room for his sleeping quarters and another for his workspace. Gathering what herbs and ingredients he could on his own, and placing orders for those that he could not, he began to set about mixing new samples of the great elixir, the work that enabled him to become Volpes and see his life’s ambition through.

On this day, when his store was closed and he was busy mixing and
brewing, the sound of the front door being broken would have been
audible even without his superior senses. Gathering himself, he turned
off the burner, sat up, and headed towards the commotion.

A weathered, wrinkled tiger, clad in the snug-fitting uniform of the city guard, grey hair protruding slightly from his helmet, above haggard hazel eyes, had just recovered from his shoulder-check with the broken door lying at his feet. As the titan walked toward him, empty hands held up just slightly parallel to his exposed chest, the striped feline drew his sword, and pointed it forward, angling his body in that way fencers are wont. “Freeze!”

For his part, the titan didn’t bother to suppress a chuckle, a grin plastered over his features. Nonetheless, he halted his advance. “Captain Azurium, your reputation proceeds you. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Suspicion of illicit activities. We’ve received an anonymous tip that this business is a front.”

“A front for what, my dear Captain?”

“That’s what I intend to find out.” The old soldier kept his weapon trained on Volpes, but the fox remained undaunted by his uninvited guests.

“Really? How do you plan to conduct a search with one hand pointing a sword at me? I promise I don’t bite.” The two of them stood in silence, eyes never breaking contact. It was then that the titan noticed the telltale signs. As the captain digested the scene he found himself in, his eyes grew wide, pupils dilating. Sweat began to form around his face, and judging from the scent, Volpes concluded rest of his body was following suit beneath the armor. He lunged at his target, hoping to take the larger fox by surprise. Yet just as the blade started to thrust towards him, it froze. Faster than the feline could fathom, Volpes had firmly gripped his hand, still wrapped around the hilt. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised. Typical guardsman, always resorting to violence.”

Pressing the advantage, the titan began to increase the force he applied to his opponent’s hand. Azurium could only wince and squirm as the pain grew, unbearable enough that he could no longer maintain a grip on his weapon, watching as it plummeted to the floor. Following suit, it was all he could do to nurse his injured hand as he buckled in pain. “What are you!?”

Kneeling to reach eye-level with his would-be aggressor, his face still held onto that smirk as the soldier could only muster a hateful stare as he laid on the ground. “You barged into my shop, sword drawn, without even knowing who it was you were after? What sort of shoddy operation are they running in this city?” He chuckled softly to himself, then continued. “Well, that’s okay I suppose. After all, I know much about you. About your son…”

“If you hurt him I swea-”

“Spare me your melodrama.” Volpes rolled his eyes at the insinuation. “I had no intention of bringing any harm to you or your youngling. In fact, I have a feeling we might be able to help each other.”

The feline’s stare remained, though it began to soften as his creases began to unfurl ever so slightly. “Speak plainly, monster.”

As the vulpine spoke, his voice grew monotone. “All you want is for your son to be happy, but he spends most of the day bedridden, unable to venture too far away from home. You want to care for him, but your work means you rarely have time. Even if you could, your health is starting to fail with age.”

“How did you…?”

“I could give both of you a new lease on life. You’ve felt my strength
firsthand. I could give that same power to both you and your son.”

The old soldier looked down. Reflexively, he tried to raise his hand to his chin before a shot of pain robbed him of the impulse. “Hmm… Even if there was any truth to that, you don’t expect me to believe you’d simply give such a thing away.”

Volpes lightly shook his head and shrugged his immense shoulders. “Certainly not. I said we could help each other. I need someone like you. Someone loyal, well-trained, and capable of teaching others how to defend themselves.”

By now, Captain Azurium’s face had long since shifted. Gone were the creases and scowl, replaced with a neutral expression, neither smile nor frown. “What on Crossroads could an alchemist need with an old war veteran?”

“Unfortunately, that’s all I can say for now. But work with me, and I can give you the power and vitality beyond that of your youth.”

“And my son? Edmund?”

“You have my word that he will grow up to be healthy and strong, like me.” To underscore the point, flexed his left bicep, outstretching his right hand in a gesture of peace.

“I… have much to think about, Mr…” The old soldier took the titan’s hand.

“Call me ‘Volpes’. I don’t expect you to make up your mind now. Whenever you’ve decided, you will seek me out.” Tensing his arm, he granted the soldier the leverage necessary to raise himself back off the ground, his smirk replaced with something approximating a genuine smile. Once his unexpected guest had returned to his feet, he used his free hand to pick up the sword that had once been pointed at him, pointing the hilt back to its owner.

Azurium could only hang his head downwards, refusing to look the fox in the eye as he reclaimed his weapon and slipped it back into its scabbard. His mouth began to open, but he could form no words. Instead, the captain turned to walk out the entrance he came in through, taking care not to disturb the fallen door or its broken hinges.

Only when he could no longer hear the guardsman’s footsteps, when he was certain that he was alone, did the fox’s smirk return, growing into a beaming grin. While not everything went as expected, that “anonymous tip” did the job well enough. The seed had been planted and with proper nurturing, he would soon have a second-in-command. The captain of the city guard would be in his pocket: A tool he needed to see his designs to fruition.

This city was corrupt to its core, and it was well past time for a change.