《Undying Empire (Vol. 3 Will Stub Likely by 2/08/25)》 A Change In Writing Schedule Due to life schedule changes, I will get straight to the point about the schedule and talk a bit later in the post. I know these posts can come with some dread. I hope you understand. o7 Monday: 1. Write The Oscillation. 2. Give The Oscillation to editors to edit through the night. Tuesday: 1. Go through TO edits made through the night & day. 2. Release The Oscillation in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST).Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. 3. Write Pokesync. 4. Give Pokesync to editors to edit through the night. Wednesday: 1. Go through Pokesync edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Pokesync in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write A Tail''s Misfortune. 4. Give A Tail''s Misfortune to editors to edit through the night. Thursday: 1. Go through A Tail''s Misfortune edits made through the night & day. 2. Release A Tail''s Misfortune in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write Undying Empire. 4. Give Undying Empire to editors to edit through the night. Friday: 1. Go through Undying Empire edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Undying Empire in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Do edits that need to be made that have been pointed out throughout the week by patrons/public readers. See the Patreon Message for further details ---> Here <--- B1 — 0. Humanitarian Aid Sucks! Elinor leaned back in her seat, wiping away the sweat that dripped down her brow. Her dark makeup had long since been rubbed away, adding fuel to her already irritated mind. An itch inside her ear made her growl, and she pulled out her left earbud to scratch it. This is just great, she internally grumbled. What a perfect vacation¡­ No air conditioning for two days in this hellhole. We couldn¡¯t wait one flippin¡¯ week to get a closer flight, and they still won¡¯t give me back my SIM card! She turned away from the window to her right to glare at her parents sitting next to her; both of their light-hazel eyes were centered on their phones with disinterest, taunting her as they swiped through some news channels. She knew her mom was beautiful, which was where she¡¯d gotten much of her looks, and currently, she had her thick black hair tied back into a ponytail and pulled over her shoulder. She wore a blue spaghetti-strap shirt, one of her black bra straps poking out from under the right side, and her dark-brown shorts and sandals went well with her tan. Driving out in the middle of a random dirt road in Colombia didn¡¯t fit her soft complexion, however. On the other hand, she could see her father fitting into the wilderness quite well. His thick, well-maintained hair was swept back to expose his forehead; the cream button-up shirt with flowers on it was a disguise because he was anything but chill, and his brown shorts that fell just past his knees was his staple comfort wear. Elinor could see why her mother had fallen for him. He was handsome in a rough sort of way with his toned muscles, but he was the most aggravating man in her entire life. Huffing out a drawn-out sigh, she glanced out of the bus window, looking at the small town they were coming up on; it seemed to just appear out of nowhere, an entire community in the jungle, and her frustration hit its peak. This is so dumb¡­ Do any buses in South America have air conditioning? The long vehicle was alight with several conversations, almost all of them boring. The majority of the passengers were on the bus to travel to C¨²cuta for the humanitarian aid efforts at the border of Colombia and Venezuela; they¡¯d had to take a detour because of backed-up traffic. They were pulling a small trailer full of goods that were supposed to go to the humanitarian gathering on some bridge her father had shown her; the downside being they had to move really slow with it on the dirt roads. She looked down at her phone, scowling at the thirty percent battery icon. Taking out her other wireless headphone, she stuffed both into her tight, black latex trousers and listened to the chatter for a minute. Running a hand through her raven locks, she directed a pointed groan in her parents¡¯ direction. ¡°It¡¯s so hot¡­ My mascara literally melted off! How long do we have to be here?¡± Tiffany shifted a little to smile at her, her mother¡¯s arm reaching around her shoulders to lean into a half-hug. ¡°I told you applying that much makeup in this heat was a bad idea, and bringing an entire wardrobe of goth clothes was basically suicide.¡± She looked down at her black tank top that revealed her stomach. It had a spine pattern cut down the back and a skeletal unicorn with flowers, vines, skulls, and candles in front of a full moon. Her boots had made her feet too hot, so she¡¯d kicked them off long ago. ¡°It¡¯s my look, though¡­¡± Edmon frowned as he leaned forward, her dad scrutinizing her appearance with the disapproving eye she hated. ¡°Right, like getting your friend to give you five black butterfly tattoos on your shoulder and a raven feather on your collarbone¡­ without our permission. You know that¡¯s illegal.¡± Elinor huffed, leaning back with a pout as she glared at the shops they passed. ¡°It¡¯s not just a raven feather¡­ Shows how much you know. It¡¯s a raven feather transforming into an unkindness! It¡¯s symbolic, something you wouldn¡¯t understand, and T thought it was cool. Mom promised you wouldn¡¯t press charges, too. It¡¯s my choice!¡± ¡°Tanner¡­¡± her dad snarled, nose twisting. Her mother put a hand on her dad¡¯s lap. ¡°C¡¯mon, Edmon, we both had our fair share of rebellious behavior. Remember our punk-rock phase?¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t get any damn tattoos,¡± he growled. ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the world, Dear,¡± her mom sighed, turning back to her. ¡°Elinor, honey, I understand why you thought you couldn¡¯t come to us about this, but you should before making these kinds of body-altering decisions.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± her dad grunted, glaring down at his phone. ¡°Why?¡± she huffed, pulling away a little from her mom. ¡°It¡¯s my body.¡± Her mother¡¯s lips pursed as she squeezed her father¡¯s leg. ¡°Yes, but you¡¯re still only sixteen¡ªyou¡¯re a minor, under our care¡ªand you go through phases during these years; you know we¡¯ve talked about this. You may be into gothic stuff now, but that doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll like gothic stuff in ten years. I used to like dinosaurs and wanted to be an archeologist because of Jurassic Park, but I grew out of that. If I had a dinosaur tattoo, then I¡¯d die now.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know¡­¡± Elinor muttered. ¡°You know what¡­ you¡¯re right,¡± her mother hummed, scratching the side of her scalp. ¡°We haven¡¯t asked you what they mean to you, but you can¡¯t blame us¡­ you¡¯ve been hiding them for weeks. Why did you get them; it wasn¡¯t just for that boy, right?¡± Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down at her pants, pressing her phone into her thighs. ¡°No! It¡¯s not like that!¡± She fumed. ¡°T¡¯s just cool, okay? Geez.¡± ¡°Just cool, then; got it,¡± her mother smirked in an annoyingly knowing way. ¡°So¡­ what do they mean?¡± she asked, pulling back her hair to look at the raven feather on her left collarbone. Brushing her hand away, Elinor covered it protectively as she looked at one of her boots. ¡°It¡­ Ugh. A flock of ravens is called ¡®unkindness,¡¯ but they¡¯re actually really kind toward each other¡ªlike a team¡­ friends. In mythology, they¡¯re protectors, even omens¡­ you know, don¡¯t make me mad because that¡¯s a bad omen.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± her mother smiled, and her dad rolled his eyes. ¡°What?¡± she defensively challenged. ¡°No, I like it! Continue,¡± her mother insisted. ¡°Humph. Yeah, whatever, Dad¡­ I wasn¡¯t talking to you anyway.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything,¡± he returned, mirroring her tone. ¡°Uh-huh¡­ Ugh,¡± she relented as her mother¡¯s hopeful smile blocked her view of him. ¡°Well, T told me that in Norse mythology, ravens were like divine messengers, and even some believe they¡¯re exorcised spirits and evil¡ªthat¡¯s pretty cool, too. The bible even has a raven that went and found land for Noah¡ªI don¡¯t think it found it, but whatever¡­ so, yeah, not all bad. In Buddhism, they¡¯re like¡­ holy birds.¡± ¡°Are you a Buddhist or Catholic goth now?¡± her dad groaned. ¡°No¡­ it¡¯s just cool,¡± she grunted, pursing her lips into a pout. ¡°Edmon, let her explain,¡± her mother pleaded. ¡°Tiffany, I just¡ªfine,¡± he breathed out heavily, throwing up his arms. ¡°Tell us all about your tattoos.¡± Elinor sniffed. ¡°Whatever¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Tiffany moaned. ¡°Honey, please, I want to understand. Tell me about it,¡± she reached back around, pulling her into a hug. She closed her eyes, breathing in the lavender fragrance of her mother¡¯s hair, and her anger started to dissipate as she hugged her mother back with a groan. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°Victory,¡± her mother cheered, making her chuckle as she pulled back and waited patiently for her to continue. ¡°So,¡± Elinor paused, collecting her thoughts. ¡°I mean, T told me all these amazing stories; he showed me all these awesome sketches of the tattoos he¡¯d been working on, and these ones I liked the most,¡± she mumbled, playing with the fake Onix ring on her middle finger. ¡°He first did the butterflies¡­ they¡¯re really my favorite.¡± ¡°Ahh, okay. Did he also get you those black stone earrings I¡¯ve seen you wear the past couple of weeks?¡± Elinor swallowed, feet twisting nervously as she rubbed her phone. ¡°You, umm, you noticed?¡± ¡°Wait¡ªwhat earrings?¡± Edmon whispered, leaning forward to look at her ears and hands. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen any new earrings. Tanner gave you jewelry?¡± ¡°Of course I noticed; I¡¯m your mother. I haven¡¯t been able to get a good look at them, though; you¡¯ve been avoiding me recently¡­ probably because of the tattoos.¡± ¡°They were a gift for my first tat,¡± she muttered. Tiffany rubbed her leg comfortingly. ¡°I bet they were; can I see them?¡± ¡°I¡ªthey¡¯re in my bag,¡± she stammered. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to lose them on the ride¡­ No, Dad¡­¡± she groaned as he pocketed his phone and got up to take her bag out of the overhead compartment. Her mother chuckled. ¡°Honey, it¡¯s fine. I think it¡¯s sweet that he gave you a gift.¡± ¡°Unless you know what goes on in a boy¡¯s mind,¡± her dad muttered. Elinor rolled her eyes. ¡°Video games and food? Terrifying, Dad.¡± Sitting back down with her black leather shoulder bag, he examined it with a frown; it had the appearance of a grimoire with a pentagram on the front and ¡®Book of Spirits¡¯ written across the cover. ¡°Which pocket is it in?¡± Her mother reached over and took the bag from him, making Elinor breathe out a sigh of relief. ¡°Let her show us, dear; this is important to her.¡± Edmon rubbed his eyes with a low moan. ¡°I know¡­ I know I¡¯m like¡­ the super overprotective dad right now, but you have no idea what goes through guys¡¯ minds at that age, and it¡¯s a lot more than video games and food. Now he¡¯s giving her jewelry? He¡¯s eighteen, and she¡¯s still a minor.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Elinor whispered, hugging her bag protectively while trying to ignore her dad¡¯s unreasonable attitude and archaic position. Taking a deep breath, she undid the latches and opened the flap before unbuttoning one of the small inner pockets and taking out the velvet bag carrying her earrings. Tiffany¡¯s breath seemed to lock in her chest, and a lump fell down her throat as Elinor opened it and dropped the jewelry into her palm; her dad leaned closer to get a better look. ¡°Honey¡­ can I see those for a moment?¡± her mother whispered. Feeling a little unsure about their reactions, Elinor reluctantly gave one up. Her mother lifted the earring up to inspect it with her father. ¡°This is¡­ beautiful,¡± her mother muttered. ¡°I knew it¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s really pretty,¡± Elinor agreed, ¡°but it¡¯s not real or anything. It¡¯s just a fake; T said he found a box with them inside when he was taking diving lessons with his family in Hawaii.¡± Tiffany twisted it around, carefully studying the piece. ¡°Basket-stud earrings¡ªa four-prong setting¡ªand look at the way it catches the light¡­ It¡¯s probably five to six carats each... round black diamonds¡ªthey don¡¯t look or feel fake. If they are black diamonds, then the metal is probably black gold and something this size¡­ 14k, no doubt. If these are real¡­ they¡¯d be, like¡­ fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, potentially more.¡± Elinor mouthed her mother¡¯s estimate in bewilderment. ¡°Wait? No! No way! T works at a tattoo shop¡­ they¡¯re just fake earrings he found in the ocean.¡± Her father shook his head with a serious expression. ¡°No, if his story is true, and it wasn¡¯t a lie, then those earrings were probably accidentally dropped by a couple on a trip or honeymoon.¡± Her skin bristled. ¡°No! T¡¯s not a liar!¡± she shouted, drawing other passengers¡¯ attention. ¡°He found them in the ocean and gave them to me as a gift for my first tat!¡± ¡°Shh¡ªsettle down,¡± her mother said, forcing a chuckle and pursing her lips as she looked back down at the earring, clearly not wanting to make a scene. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll have to get them appraised to be sure, but¡­ I¡¯m pretty sure this is the real thing, Honey. If that¡¯s true, we might have to see if there¡¯s any way to track down the owner and return it.¡± ¡°They¡¯re mine, though,¡± Elinor huffed, snatching it out of her mother¡¯s hand. ¡°T gave them to me!¡± She pressed up against the window, clutching the earrings against her chest protectively. Tiffany held up her hand as her father¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Honey, think about the woman who owned those before Tanner found it; the memories they hold for her. Think about how happy she¡¯d be if they were returned to her. How would you feel if something extremely important to you was lost?¡± Elinor¡¯s lips fell into a deep frown. ¡°I¡ªI know, but¡­ they¡¯re T¡¯s first gift to me¡­¡± Her mother breathed a deep sigh, and after a moment, she smiled. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s discuss this then. If we can find the owner, then it would be the right thing to do to return them; just like how that nice boy returned your shoulder bag to you when you lost it on our European trip last year. Am I right?¡± She looked down at her hand, fingers rubbing against the cool metal pieces. ¡°I guess¡­ it would be the right thing to do.¡± ¡°If Tanner did find them, then the owners would probably want to thank him themselves. As I said, if those are the real things, then returning them would hold real value to the couple that lost them; I know I¡¯d be beside myself if I lost my engagement ring or something important your father gave me.¡± ¡°So,¡± Elinor hummed. ¡°If they are real¡ªa big if¡­ then we¡¯ll try and find the real owners, and if we can¡¯t¡­ then I get to keep them?¡± ¡°Of course, Honey,¡± her mother soothed, speaking before her father could interject. ¡°I know it¡¯s important to you, but, umm, this doesn¡¯t mean anything more than a friendly gift, right?¡± she asked, her eyebrow lifted as she studied her reaction. ¡°What? No¡ªnot at all,¡± Elinor blustered. ¡°I¡¯m too young to get married or anything like that¡­¡± she muttered, but her heart fluttered at the prospect. Could this be a subtle hint by T? No¡­ he¡¯s too cool. If he wanted to date me, then he¡¯d say it, no problem. It¡¯s not like he¡¯s into younger girls anyways. He did break up with Tonya last year, though¡­ he didn¡¯t date all of senior year, either, and since graduating, he hasn¡¯t been seeing anyone¡­ ¡°What¡¯s with that look on your face?¡± her mom hummed. Her eyes shot open. ¡°What look? I¡¯m just¡ªI¡¯m happy I get to keep them because¡­ Because there¡¯s no way they¡¯re real!¡± ¡°Mmhm,¡± her mother said with a small smirk. Her dad grunted as he sat back in his chair, closing his eyes and folding his arms. ¡°You¡¯re sixteen¡­ you have to get through high school and college before thinking about marriage.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± her mother shoved him mischievously. ¡°You were working two jobs and living out of your mother¡¯s basement when you proposed to me. If I remember correctly, you were twenty, and I was nineteen, right?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He coughed, clearing his throat. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ it¡¯s a different age.¡± Her mother giggled, turning back to her. ¡°Hey, as long as you wait until you¡¯re at least eighteen¡ªpreferably twenty¡ªthen you have my full support¡­ as long as he¡¯s a decent guy. ¡°Yeah, okay¡­¡± Elinor smiled, looking down at her earrings with her ears still burning. There¡¯s no way they¡¯re real¡­ but what if they are? ¡°Wait,¡± Tiffany smirked. ¡°You haven¡¯t even gone on any dates since turning sixteen, have you? Even though we said it was fine when you were fifteen.¡± Elinor¡¯s mind froze. ¡°Mom¡­ I don¡¯t want to talk about it!¡± she snapped, doing her best to turn away from her. Her mother just giggled. She¡¯s so¡­ ¡°Grrh.¡± ¡°Anyways,¡± her mother settled back into her seat, pulling out her phone. ¡°We¡¯ll be staying in a hotel in this town tonight. Unfortunately, the original one we were supposed to stay at wouldn¡¯t return our money,¡± she hummed irritably. ¡°Anyways, tomorrow we should reach C¨²cuta.¡± ¡°Finally,¡± Elinor moaned. Figuring her dad would snatch her earrings up while she wasn¡¯t looking, she slid them into the pocket with her headphones for safekeeping. ¡°So¡­¡± her mom trailed off. ¡°So¡ªwhat?¡± ¡°You were telling me what your tattoos meant.¡± ¡°You still want to hear it?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± she shifted to face her with a sincere smile. ¡°Well¡ªokay¡­ umm, which do you want to know about?¡± ¡°You said the butterflies were your favorite, right?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yeah, I love black butterflies.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± her mother glared at the seat in front of her, deep in thought. ¡°You liked butterflies and fairies around the same time when you were eight¡­ what¡¯s different about black butterflies that separates them from the rest?¡± ¡°Something edgy¡ªlike death¡ªright?¡± her dad asked, looking at something on his phone. Elinor rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve got me, Dad; this is all some mask to hide my suicidal desires!¡± Her mother huffed, lightly slapping his knee with her left hand. ¡°C¡¯mon, Edmon; you know I used to wear that stuff too.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Elinor shifted to face her mother, blindsided by the news. ¡°You did?¡± ¡°Yeah, it was a short phase,¡± her mother smiled softly with a slight shrug. ¡°I had a friend in Junior High that was a goth. Your grandparents had to move us, though, so I didn¡¯t get to know her that well.¡± Her dad scratched his left eyebrow. ¡°I know, Tiff, but does she have to wear the belly shirts? You really have no clue what guys think about when they see a girl¡¯s belly¡­ young and old.¡± ¡°Yes, the male mind is a dismal sphere,¡± her mother grunted. ¡°She also needs to have the space to express herself, and if she¡¯s going through a goth phase, then what¡¯s the harm?¡± ¡°But, Mom¡­ it¡¯s not a phase.¡± She giggled. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re sixteen¡ªeverything¡¯s a phase.¡± ¡°Okay¡ªokay,¡± her dad groaned, rubbing his shoulder. ¡°This is bad for my blood pressure¡­ as long as it¡¯s not anything worse.¡± ¡°Oh, and what¡¯s worse?¡± Elinor hummed, eyebrow-raising as she challenged her father. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the butterflies,¡± her mother redirected, smile turning forced. ¡°Fine¡­ so, black butterflies can mean transition, rebirth, and renewal. It can also mean death, Dad, but it can be, like, the death of a relationship, idea, or topic¡ªyou know, darkness before the dawn type of stuff. ¡°In Irish legends, they say black butterflies are the souls of the deceased, unable or unwilling to move on to the afterlife. It can also be linked with witchcraft,¡± she giggled. ¡°A witch that transformed into a black butterfly to steal your food. Oh, there¡¯s the Aztec myth of a goddess that can change into a black butterfly to devour the souls of people during eclipses! That one¡¯s kinda cool.¡± ¡°What about some positive things?¡± her mother questioned, folding her legs. ¡°Umm, well, they can symbolize freedom and the death of misfortune, but¡­ let me think. Okay, it¡¯s like this¡­ the butterfly itself is a symbol of death, rebirth, and transformation; while in its cocoon, the caterpillar seems to die but soon lives again as a butterfly.¡± She began counting on her fingers as she tried remembering everything she¡¯d read. ¡°The color black is linked with power, authority, mystery, sophistication¡ªI don¡¯t completely know if that¡¯s a word, though¡ªelegance, anger, fear, evil, sadness, death, mourning, remorse, and even the unknown! The black butterfly itself symbolizes new life from an old one¡ªthe new, strong, but subtle life after a period of transformation.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so much,¡± her mother said with a bright smile. ¡°It seems like you really have taken a liking to butterflies. Transformation, eh? I like it, but can you please promise me that you¡¯ll talk to us before you get a tattoo next time?¡± ¡°Ugh, still on about that?¡± Elinor grumbled, cheer dampening. ¡°Please?¡± her mother pleaded. ¡°Fine¡­ okay¡ªI won¡¯t get a new one for a while anyway¡­ The raven one hurt¡ªa lot¡­ I even cried in front of T,¡± she whispered, feeling shame run down her spine. ¡°Hey,¡± her mother pulled her in again. ¡°You¡¯re a girl, okay? No guy¡¯s going to blame you for crying.¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡­ it¡¯s not cool.¡± Their attention moved to the front of the bus as the driver pulled into a hotel. ¡°Alright, folks,¡± he said in English¡ªdespite a robust Colombian accent¡ªas he surveyed them. ¡°There are a few restaurants nearby if you get hungry. Be careful about what you bring with you; there¡¯s been a lot of pick-pockets in this town lately.¡± A woman wearing a white dress lifted her hand, speaking before the driver could acknowledge her question. ¡°Umm, are there any souvenir shops around? And what¡¯s with that giant crystal in the middle of the parking lot?¡± Elinor rose a little bit in her seat to follow everyone else¡¯s gaze to a sectioned-off area in the hotel they were staying at, and a police car was parked in front of the giant, conal sapphire; it was at least the size of the trees she¡¯d seen through the jungle¡ª15-meters-tall¡ªand almost looked ethereal. ¡°I have no idea about the, uh, crystal¡­ I¡¯ll ask around, but perhaps it would be a good photo for social media! As to souvenirs, yes, down the street to the left of the hotel; just turn right at the second street, and you¡¯ll find some shops.¡± ¡°Wonderful,¡± she beamed, turning to whisper to a friend. ¡°It almost looks like an illusion, don¡¯t you think?¡± A chubby man with a large, brown beard spoke up next. ¡°Uh. What time are we heading to C¨²cuta? Is there any more news about the border?¡± ¡°Nothing from the other drivers. We¡¯ll be leaving at eight in the morning, so set your alarms. We leave at eight sharp, so don¡¯t miss it, or you be left without a bus.¡± Elinor groaned as she got to her feet, stretching out her legs and lower back before wiping away the sweat on her brow again and staring at her wet fingers with a deep frown. She put the crystal in the back of her mind; it was probably some stunt to get them to pay more money. This sucks. She picked up her phone that had slid to the back of her seat and put it in her bag. Glancing at her mom, stretching beside her, she pursed her lips. ¡°Mom, I heard someone say the Venezuelan National Guard is keeping everyone out and not allowing people to help¡­ So, why are we even going?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more complicated than that,¡± her dad said, but his tone was tired as he glared at the crystal before pulling down his luggage. ¡°Venezuela is going through a really tough time, and we have the means to help out a bit.¡± ¡°The means to help out?¡± she huffed. ¡°We drove, like¡ªlike, days to get here¡­ I see homeless people all the time back home in Cali¡­ poop on the streets. Why don¡¯t we help those people instead of leaving the USA to come to this hellhole.¡± ¡°Language,¡± her father frowned. Sighing, she pressed against her mom¡¯s right arm before brushing her bangs back. ¡°I¡¯m just saying¡­ How long are we going to be here? They don¡¯t even want help.¡± Tiffany squeezed her shoulder. ¡°You have Venezuelan blood in you, honey. Your grandma immigrated to the USA, and we were able to live the American Dream. Now we need to give some back.¡± ¡°Mom¡­ you¡¯re French, and Dad moved away from Venezuela to the USA when he was a teen for a reason, so why are we even going near the place; we don¡¯t even talk to Uncle Cristian anymore.¡± ¡°See,¡± her dad said, pointing outside at the small town and hotel. ¡°This is why getting out of the country is good for you; you live in the safest country in the world with the most opportunities to succeed. The Venezuelans are starving; they¡¯re literally breaking into zoos to kill and eat animals.¡± ¡°Safest¡­ right, Dad,¡± Elinor pouted, sinking back against the wall as she rolled her eyes. ¡°Some random crystal attraction in the parking lot. Wooh, amazing. And yeah, they must be starving if they won¡¯t allow any food in.¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of that dictator!¡± her dad seethed. ¡°Dear,¡± her mom soothingly rubbed his chest. ¡°She¡¯s a teenager in all black, burning up, and forced to join her parents on a humanitarian mission¡­ What teen would want to be with her parents for something like this? Also, see if you can discover anything about that weird crystal.¡± ¡°See, Mom gets it,¡± Elinor fumed. Digging out her headphones, she put them in and turned on the music she¡¯d downloaded off her Itunes account; she¡¯d created a few playlists for the trip and turned on The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, Aviators, and Siouxsie and the Banshees playlist before zoning out her parent¡¯s discussion. Exiting the bus in seat order, Elinor put her handbag over her shoulder and did her best to follow her parents as she lugged her suitcase ahead of her, using her feet to force it along the aisle. She grunted as she dropped the bag down the last step of the bus, huffing and puffing. Man¡­ maybe I should work out a little like Mom¡­ I¡¯m freaking weak! Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have stopped cheer and gymnastics. Pulling up the lever to her bag, she wheeled it after her parents; they seemed to be talking about something serious¡ªpossibly the unusual crystal¡ªbecause they had that look on their faces that they usually had when discussing bills. She tried her best to ignore it and listened to her music. Her earrings started digging into her thigh¡ªsqueezed by her tight pants¡ªso she shifted them in her pocket, trying to find a good position. Walking into the hotel lobby, she and her mother waited by the couches as her father went to check in. Elinor leaned up against the wall, closing her eyes and pressing her head against the cool sheetrock, tracing the outline of the earrings in her pocket as she did so. Does this mean T wants to date me, and I was just too dense to realize it? I mean, it was earrings, but it¡¯s not like he like-likes me¡­ C¡¯mon, be real! Of course, he doesn¡¯t love me¡­ I¡¯m just his friend. He just thought these earrings would fit my look, and if it¡¯s expensive, it¡¯s not like he bought it¡­ That¡¯d be stupid. She lightly hit her head against the wall a few times, letting go of a low moan. Why can¡¯t I stop thinking about it, then? Her lips pursed as someone nudged her; opening her eyes, she glanced right at her mother¡¯s soft smile. She groaned as her mother pointed at her right ear, so she took it out. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± ¡°What, this trip? Yeah, it sucks. Why¡ªcan I go home?¡± Tiffany¡¯s mouth pursed as she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, My Little Vampire; we checked you out of school for the entire week¡­ This can be fun if you just let it.¡± ¡°Fun,¡± Elinor rolled her eyes. ¡°I love being stuck on a bus with a ton of sweaty, smelly old people¡­ It¡¯s been a blast. Why would I want to be back home, where there¡¯s AC, friends, and oh, I don¡¯t know¡­ good food?¡± ¡°The food hasn¡¯t been, eh¡­ terrible.¡± ¡°No? Heh. Dad was in the toilet all yesterday.¡± She looked over at her dad; he was impatiently tapping his foot as he waited in line behind a few people that got ahead of them. ¡°He was like this in Europe, too¡­ Why does he want to leave home if he has such a weak stomach?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for¡ª¡± her mother started to say before Elinor cut her off irritably. ¡°Yeah, I know¡­ for the humanitarian garbage. I get it. It just sucks¡­¡± Her mother hummed. ¡°Is this about something else? You knew we¡¯d take away your SIM card when you got that tattoo and didn¡¯t consult us, and I¡¯m not saying that it¡¯s bad, okay.¡± Tiffany sighed at her sour expression. ¡°I wanted to get a tattoo once¡ªback when I was twenty-two¡ªbut I decided not to after seeing what it looked like when you get old and wrinkled.¡± ¡°Old and wrinkled?¡± Elinor chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll just die young.¡± ¡°No, honey¡­ you can¡¯t do that to us,¡± her mother pleaded with a worried expression. ¡°Geez, Mom,¡± she rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about suicide¡­ I just don¡¯t think I¡¯ll live that long after my thirties. You know¡­ a car crash or something.¡± Her mother shook her head. ¡°Don¡¯t make decisions based on the dream of living young¡­ If your dad did that, then we¡¯d be broke and on the streets, and you wouldn¡¯t even have a cell phone to be angry about losing.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just the cellphone, Mom,¡± she whispered spitefully. Tiffany scratched her scalp. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bite. What is it, then?¡± Elinor scratched her arm, feeling the light sweat under her armpits with dissatisfaction. ¡°I just¡ªit¡¯s complicated, okay.¡± She looked down at her boots, shifting her toes. ¡°Katie said she couldn¡¯t hang out with me anymore.¡± ¡°What¡ªwhy?¡± her mother asked, scooting a little closer. ¡°You¡¯ve been friends since fourth grade.¡± ¡°Yeah, well¡ªI¡¯m just not cool enough for her¡­ not anymore, I guess,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Is this about your decision to quit gymnastics and cheerleading last year?¡± ¡°Maybe. Being a goth and a cheerleader apparently don¡¯t mix well¡­ She also doesn¡¯t like my tattoos.¡± Her emotions started to spike as a tear fell down her cheek. ¡°I showed her first¡­ I thought she¡¯d like it, too; I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Hey,¡± her mother sighed, pulling her in. ¡°Friendships can be mended. Maybe we can have her over for a movie night or something and try to smooth it over; I won¡¯t even join in¡­ Well, not that much,¡± she giggled. Fighting to regain control of her eyes, Elinor sniffed back her tears. ¡°Thanks, Mom¡­ I didn¡¯t think these tats would cause so much trouble. It¡¯s just, like, I don¡¯t know, the black butterflies just brought me misfortune.¡± ¡°No,¡± Tiffany soothed, pulling back her hair to look at the butterflies on the back of her right shoulder. ¡°They¡¯re beautiful; Tanner is a great artist. Even though he shouldn¡¯t have done it without our permission¡ªhe is a great artist. This one almost seems like it¡¯s alive,¡± she whispered, poking the top right one. ¡°Hey, stop it,¡± Elinor smiled, swallowing the built-up saliva in her mouth and turning to hug her. ¡°Thanks for being there for me, Mom.¡± She gently returned the embrace. ¡°Of course, honey; I¡¯ll always be in your corner. So, consult me next time?¡± ¡°Mmh¡­ If it¡¯s just us.¡± ¡°Promise!¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± After a minute, she pulled away, blushing as a few people gave them compassionate looks. She quickly put her headphones back in, hugging herself as she pressed up against the wall. Her mother seemed to giggle softly but closed her eyes and rested her head against the wall next to her. After a while, her dad came back and guided them to their room. It was all the way to the right of the building¡ªon the first floor. It looked extremely cheap: the walls were cream-colored, and the carpet was stained with a few brown spots, but the place seemed mostly clean. On further inspection, there was a small bathroom with a shower at the back, the two beds were singles, and there wasn¡¯t even a TV. It was extremely bare and poor compared to the hotels she¡¯d stayed at in the past. ¡°Your mother and I will take the bed closest to the door,¡± her dad said with a quick study of the room. ¡°The owner had a lot of weird things to say about that crystal.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Elinor dully mumbled, more interested in the shabby room. Her mother¡¯s smile became strained. ¡°I know it¡¯s not the most luxurious hotel we¡¯ve stayed in, but it¡¯ll do what we need; we¡¯re only here for a night, anyway. The driver needs to check the bus before we drive all day tomorrow. What was that about the crystal, Dear?¡± ¡°All day!¡± she groaned. Trudging over to the bed, she sank into it face-first. ¡°Will it have AC this time?¡± Her dad mirrored her sigh as he sat down on his chosen bed. ¡°Unfortunately, I don¡¯t think so. Maybe I¡¯ll go buy a portable fan for us; today was¡­ pretty bad. Umm. I don¡¯t know; they were saying it just appeared last week one night like a ghost¡­ and people think it¡¯s a bad omen.¡± Tiffany sat beside him, patting his knee. ¡°Eh-heh. Right. Anyways, that¡¯d be nice,¡± she chuckled and looked over at the slide-out window air conditioning and heating unit. ¡°At least we can make it a little cooler in here.¡± She got up to mess with the unit as her dad began unpacking some of their hotel items. Elinor rolled to her back, brushing her hair out of the way. ¡°We¡¯re only going to stay in that bridge town for two days max, right?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± her mother sighed with relief as the unit flipped on, supplying the room with a chilled breeze. ¡°We¡¯ll only be there for two days at the most. It might only be one, depending on how things turn out.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Elinor groaned as she stretched out. ¡°What are we going to do for food; are we going to try some new stuff, like yesterday?¡± ¡°No¡­ No, we are not,¡± her dad grimaced, shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m going to go look for something familiar. That last thing we ate¡ªwhatever it was¡ªI¡¯m done with trying new things here¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear that¡­ It smelled as bad as it tasted.¡± Her mother came over and sat next to her. ¡°You can unpack and freshen up while your father and I go grab something to eat. Just make sure to keep the door locked; we have a key to get inside.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that; this place is sketchy,¡± she said, closing her eyes. ¡°Well,¡± her dad grunted. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go look for something before everyone on the bus clogs up the lines?¡± Her mother got up, stretching her arms. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll be back in a bit.¡± ¡°Please bring back something edible this time,¡± Elinor pleaded, stomach growling with the thought of food. ¡°We¡¯ll see what we can find,¡± her mother said, adding a hat before following her dad out the door. She heard both locks click; staring at the door for several seconds, she groaned, scratching the back of her sweaty neck. The room was beginning to cool down, but it would be a while before it was comfortable. Taking her purse to the bathroom, she shut it and cleaned herself up, changing her tampon while she was at it. How can a place be so hot and humid? I thought Cali was bad in the summer, but being without any air conditioning for days on end¡­ this place is literal hell. It rains like twice a day, and then it all turns to steam and boils you! Finished washing her face and tasting a bit of the nasty water, she looked up at her reflection in the surprisingly clean mirror. Her light-hazel eyes slowly moved down her features. Her body had filled out well this year; she was blessed by her mother¡¯s good genetics, not to mention the aunts she¡¯d met on her father¡¯s side were pretty. She knew she was beautiful, at least an eight, from the whispered talk she¡¯d heard from boys, but they didn¡¯t interest her. They were all too immature; she liked to hang out with the cool older guys. She¡¯d slowly grown more distant from her female friends as they¡¯d gotten boyfriends and moved on to different cliques. She didn¡¯t really hang out with the goth crowd because they all still saw her as the preppy middle school cheerleader, so her circle of friends kept dwindling. She told herself that it didn¡¯t bug her, but it did. Truth was, she liked hanging out and being in a crowd, but she also didn¡¯t feel comfortable with the cheerleaders anymore. A moan reverberated in her throat as she let her forehead fall against the mirror. ¡°My life¡¯s a mess.¡± Walking out of the bathroom with her bag, she dropped it on the bed, noticing the light bleeding through the curtains was dwindling as the sun continued to dip below the horizon. Sighing, she fell beside her bag and flipped to her back, brushing her ponytail out of the way before staring up at the ceiling. Fatigue suddenly struck her mind. What could make this day worse? I just hope Mom and Dad come back soon. Getting up, she dressed in her nightwear, a blue silk shirt, and soft black trunks. She debated putting her earrings in her bag, but still didn¡¯t trust her parents wouldn¡¯t take them, so she put the velvet bag that carried them inside one of her shorts¡¯ small pockets. I¡¯ll just catch a short nap before they come back with dinner. Getting into bed, she closed her eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Elinor tensed as something sharp pricked her arm; she jerked awake, eyes shooting open, but everything was a blur. Her mind was fuzzy as she looked around, but she couldn¡¯t find any light. There was some kind of soft shuffling next to her, but her thoughts grew duller by the second, and her senses soon washed out. B1 — 1. Dying, Now With Butter!! Elinor¡¯s mind snapped into focus, but something felt off. The sensation of a chain snapping steadied her thumping heart, and an oscillation pulsated within her entire soul, dredging out something deep within her. Breathing in and out at an even tempo, she opened her eyes to a pure white space surrounded by darkness. Pushing herself up, her unsteady gaze settled on a radiant blonde-haired figure¡ªpractically a goddess by her illumination¡ªwho sat on an opulent throne not too far away, staring right back at her; the strange part, it was herself, and she was hurt. Elinor scrambled back, freezing as she came to the edge of the endless abyss. Her divine twin¡¯s feminine voice brought Elinor out of her revere as the goddess¡¯ focus turned from her to the gashes marring her pristine skin and simple, slim-fitted white dress. ¡°Good morning, princess,¡± she said in a mocking way, examining the droplets of shimmering ivory blood that was brighter than the platform they were on; a small pool was forming underneath her seat. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t this an unusual way to wake up, wouldn¡¯t you agree, my less attractive doppelganger?¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Her mind catching up, she ignored the damage to her twin¡¯s body and hastily looked around to orient herself. ¡°Who are you¡­ and why do you have my face?!¡± Only darkness encompassed the large alabaster pillar they were on, and a hot pressure erupted in Elinor¡¯s chest, making her wince at the intense pain. Although, oddly, it didn¡¯t impair her mind or cause her to panic; it was as if she were experiencing it secondhand. Her gaze fixated on the blonde in front of her; somehow, it felt like she had known this annoying girl for an eternity, but she certainly hadn''t; it was the most surreal feeling she¡¯d ever had. Doing a quick check, she couldn¡¯t find any damage to her own simple, slim-fitted black dress or cuts in her skin; the changed clothes were a red flag, and the fact her double was in white, and she black, instinctively made Elinor feel a certain way. Her twin didn¡¯t seem all that perturbed by their unnatural meeting by her casual shrug. ¡°Hmm. Only stating the facts,¡± the blonde crisply said, leaning back and crossing her legs to run her perfect fingernails along a break in her dress and skin, mouth creasing with mild agitation. ¡°My question would be, why am I in such a poor condition? As to who I am? That¡­ is a wonderful question, which, to my utmost frustration, I do not have the answer to.¡± Elinor kept the savaged goddess in her sight; even while cut and bleeding, she held an elegant poise as if it came naturally to her. It budded something within Elinor; gradually, she came to the conclusion that this unusual ¡®doppelganger¡¯ with this void-surrounded area had to be a dream. Her thumping heart eased as she slowly rose to her feet, foggy mind reflecting on the last things she remembered. ¡°Uh-huh¡­ You don¡¯t know who you are? Heh. Okay, I¡¯m dreaming. Maybe I should have drank a bit more water; the heat in that bus really must have gotten to me.¡± Her twin grimaced. ¡°Eesh. I certainly hope I am not a dream. Although, maybe it would be better that way, considering my state. Haaa,¡± she sighed deeply. ¡°I fear I may not be able to pull through this,¡± she whispered in a quieter voice, shifting a little to follow her blood¡¯s path to the platform. Elinor hesitantly chewed on the inside of her cheek as she mirrored the blonde, watching the pool of silvery liquid below her twin expand. She¡¯d never had a dream so visceral, and she¡¯d had a few intense nightmares in the past, but the pressure against her feet on the pillar made her question if this was something imaginary. Oddly, the most frustrating part of this entire ordeal was the gut feeling she had of this goddess; she knew her from somewhere, and Elinor did not like her. They were alike, but nothing alike, in every way, and looking at the blonde was like seeing some sick reflection. Yet, there was also a strange pull within her soul that didn¡¯t want to see her die that made her teeth grind. ¡°Mmh. You really don¡¯t know who you are?¡± she asked, moving forward to stand two meters away. ¡°Ugh. This is so confusing!¡± ¡°Imagine that!¡± Her twin snickered thoughtfully, resting her elbow on her thigh and head against the back of her hand. ¡°I wholly agree with the confusion bit. Why don¡¯t you sit, and we can figure this out together, my ¡®apparent¡¯ most hated enemy.¡± ¡°You too, huh?¡± Elinor shook her head with slight exasperation. ¡°Subtle. I kind of feel the same. You remind me of Jacy from fifth grade: never shy about expressing she doesn¡¯t like me.¡± ¡°Oh? Hehe. Sounds like we¡¯d get along,¡± the goddess mused. ¡°Huh. And let there be light,¡± she added, her shining, aquamarine irises directing Elinor to multi-hued rays that began to swirl around them into infinity. ¡°All I seem to know is that I just woke up bleeding all over the place, along with the unfortunate state of my gown and¡­ a rather dreary-looking clone¡ªno disrespect¡ªlying in front of me. It took you long enough to wake up. I thought I¡¯d be dead before saying hello.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Elinor mumbled, folding her arms and following soft trails of colors that sparked around them with her eyes. She had no idea how she was supposed to sit, as the blonde had offered, unless at her feet on the ground, which she would not do. ¡°Would it kill you to be a little less, mmh¡­ irritating? I already had to suffer through an entire day in the jungle heat, sweating my makeup off and smelling bad BO. The last thing I need is another wave of nausea in my dreams.¡± Her radiant twin made a dismissive gesture with her free hand. ¡°I value candidness over your prim and proper way of order, Priss.¡± ¡°Priss?¡± Elinor grunted, rolling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time someone¡¯s called me that; real original nickname.¡± ¡°Meh-hehe. If the heel fits the foot, as they say. Who? Haha. I couldn¡¯t tell you. In any case, I get the feeling you are an empress of some kind¡ªempriss¡ªpriss¡­ seems to fit! No? I¡¯m hilarious.¡± ¡°Ha-ha.¡± She returned her tight gaze to her twin¡¯s damaged skin, yet, something about her statement of being an empress lingered in her mind. ¡°Are you sure you should be making jokes when you¡¯re dying, Your Majesty? I do kind of hate you¡­ but I don¡¯t want to see you die. Ugh. Why do I feel so frustratingly calm right now?¡± The goddess doppelganger streamed out a long puff of air and shrugged. ¡°I appreciate the concern, my mortal nemesis, but I don¡¯t see you being able to do much for me, Priss. A bandaid is not going to help, and shouldn¡¯t I have died by now¡­ goodness, look at this at my feet; it could fill a pool. Hehe.¡± A small smile lifted the corner of Elinor¡¯s lips. ¡°You just want to chat before you die?¡± ¡°Who said I was content with dying?¡± the blonde huffed, fussing a bit with her dress to present herself a little more decently. ¡°I know I am someone important, and I cannot afford to die like this. So, until another option is present, why not enjoy ourselves in this little dance?¡± She paused and made a swift gesture at her throne. ¡°Oh, a tip! On the bright side, I learned quickly that wanting something tends to bring it to life in¡­ whatever place this is that we are currently held prisoner in. Hehe. Convenient, am I right? So¡­ pull up a chair. What is your story, my dreary-dressed Priss?¡± Elinor¡¯s own mind was filling with thoughts¡ªnot her own¡ªproviding shadows of answers as the swirling beams of light tinted their black environment, now colliding to create fireworks of color that settled into emerald hues. They fell around them into the abyss, and Elinor¡¯s hand went to her breast as she summoned her own goth-inspired throne; it worked, yet her focus was on every eruption around them that sent a tremor through her core, revealing a rather shocking truth. This wasn¡¯t a dream, and she couldn¡¯t deny it, which made her question the local¡¯s ominous crystal. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ dying, as well?¡± Her doppelganger¡¯s hand went to her mouth. ¡°Oh? The twist! I was thinking about more of a story about your life, though, if I¡¯m being honest, but sure, let¡¯s dive into this depressing topic. We¡¯re both in a sinking ship, hmm?¡± Elinor felt like she¡¯d been punched in the gut at the news, but a cold resolve was welling up within her heart, stabilizing her. Her life flashed before her¡ªthe cheer camps, gymnastics, family parties, friends, Tanner, and years with her parents¡ªcondensing into a single dot. She drew in her bottom lip, absently watching it drift away to reveal a bottomless void of untapped¡­ something, and in the next instant, everything expanded again, displaying the entirety of her sixteen years on this Earth, including childhood. Her goddess twin¡¯s gentle hum drew her mind back. ¡°Can we not space out? We¡¯re kind of on a clock. Humph¡­ Well, this doesn¡¯t look good.¡± The blonde¡¯s gaze lifted to the fireworks overhead, where emerald butterflies were now hovering down to land on the platform. ¡°Butterflies? I see. We seem to be dying from this¡­ thing that has attached to us; two Seeds we are both¡­ melding with?¡± Clearing her throat, Elinor settled into her chair, building panic quelled by the ice flooding her veins as her mother and father¡¯s faces fixated in her mind, and to calm her nerves, she discovered a rather appropriate name for this double of hers with liquid-gold locks. The spark of genius lifted the corners of her mouth. ¡°Okay, Butter. I am not going to leave my parents to collect a corpse. So¡­ options?¡± Her doppelganger¡¯s voice and twinkling, aquamarine irises became jaded, following the few creatures hovering around the platform. ¡°Butter¡­ short for butterfly and me melting. Really? Wait, did you subconsciously discover me a way out of my inevitable end?¡± ¡°Did I?¡± Elinor hummed, tapping her fingernails against the arm of her throne. ¡°Personally, I just thought it made perfect sense: your liquid-like blonde hair, aura, heh, melting¡ªas you put it¡ªhmm, personality.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s wrong with my personality?¡± the goddess returned a light glare. ¡°I think I am quite a lovely person to be around.¡± ¡°Mmh. Let¡¯s just say¡­ you seem rather fatty¡ªno offense¡ªit¡¯s just something I try to limit in my diet, but I also can¡¯t do without.¡± Her doppelganger¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°A compliment, or sorts¡­ And from you? My, you must be sick and dying¡ªdelirious, I¡¯d pose. Well, Priss¡­ I fear my only option is to, mmgh¡­ take on the form of one of these butterflies coming down. It¡¯s a rather depressing thought, if I¡¯m being honest.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Elinor pressed, not bothered by the fluttering creatures now replacing the fireworks to swarm her. It was becoming clearer that this needle-like hatred of this goddess twin was more of a memo than anything proactive; she couldn¡¯t deny it was more fun to have her around than not. ¡°I¡¯m all ears, sparkly me. What have you discovered?¡± ¡°Fatty, hmm¡­ Now, who¡¯s being rude?¡± the blonde muttered before releasing a long stream of air. Hesitantly rising to her feet, she turned her sight to a flurry of emerald butterflies descending upon them. ¡°So¡­ I realized these fiends are all Death Energy¡­ Why on all that is holy would you fill yourself with such a necrotic force? Well, that is beyond me at the moment.¡± ¡°Imagine that,¡± Elinor giggled, reflecting and mirroring her earlier statement. ¡°We¡¯re in the same club!¡± ¡°Most unfortunate, indeed¡­¡± The wave of flapping Death Energy continued to swarm the platform, cycling them like sharks that smelled blood, and Elinor reached out to let a butterfly land on her finger, unconsciously drawn to the force. It dispersed, sending a jade-colored pulse up her veins and into her heart, drawing out a single phrase. ¡°I¡¯m turning into a Mythickin Lich Empress. Uh, well¡­ this is a bit sudden. Why am I not that scared?¡± The answer came from the next butterfly that landed on her shoulder. ¡°Ah! A refining tool of the trade; a Feat of the Empress Branch in my Base Feats¡­ [Imperial Majesty X]. Is this like¡­ a game; thoughts, Butter?¡± ¡°Haaa-hehe. Well, it seems you are having a better time adapting to your Seed than I,¡± Butter mumbled, running her fingers through her liquid locks. ¡°I can¡¯t say I have any recollection of games that fit that context, but I¡¯m happy you have a lead. Ugh. How I despise you,¡± the goddess groaned while following the increase in butterflies.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Elinor sat straighter with a grin, allowing more Death Energy to land and absorb into her. ¡°Oh? You must tell me what I did to inspire that reaction. I¡¯m, heh, getting butterflies.¡± ¡°Ha-ha¡­ butterflies. You¡¯re just, mm-hmm¡­ divine!¡± Butter sarcastically retaliated. ¡°You¡¯ve started the process of adapting to it without me¡ªnot that I have the strength to fuse with my own just yet, but a little warning would have been appreciated. Also, why did it have to be butterflies¡­ Why couldn¡¯t it be, I don¡¯t know, a cute and ferocious kitty or¡­ a bull?¡± ¡°Bull? Interesting choice.¡± For some reason, Elinor found her disgruntled shifts and comments extremely amusing, making a giggle bubble up in her chest. ¡°Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, Butter, much less melting doppelgangers. If you need my help, then I¡¯m open to it, so long as you¡¯re not trying to take my soul or anything. Heh. Not that you¡¯re strong enough at the moment.¡± ¡°He-he. How nice of you to remind me. I¡¯d prefer that option if it were available, but, as you so charmingly put it¡­ I¡¯m far too weak to attempt anything that desperate,¡± she grumbled, arms crossed under her bleeding bust. Her rosy lips pulled in while delivering a salty, judgmental glare in her direction. ¡°Also, spoken like a real priss¡­ My Depressive Empress, and must you call me Butter?¡± Elinor loved to see her twin squirm, somehow moving quite smoothly on her path to an area clear of the creatures, despite her wounds. ¡°You don¡¯t see me complaining about being called Priss; I rather enjoy it, actually.¡± ¡°Hilarious¡­¡± she breathed, eye twitching as she glanced away. ¡°I suppose I was the first one to initiate this little pissing contest, so¡­ I¡¯ll allow it, and do not mistake my wording!¡± she added as Elinor flashed her teeth. ¡°Come now, Butter, let¡¯s not be crude! Huh. Come to think of it, when did I start talking like this? Ah, that¡¯s right, it¡¯s connected with [Imperial Majesty], but the [Monarch of Death I] Base Feat also has a sway¡­¡± She paused as fractured information fed back to her brain; the abilities came to her when she asked for answers, but it was as if there was interference, scrambling much of the signal. Not having a lot of success deciphering it, she settled on what she did know, which was already enough to make her doubt reality again. ¡°These abilities are so bizarre. Anyway, I¡¯m a Lich Empress¡ªPriss; Empriss¡ªheh, it¡¯s cute. Thank you for the nickname, Butter.¡± Butter had reached the end of the platform, her mouth a line while glaring at the swarm nearing her; the blood she left was already tinting an emerald green as this new force consumed it. ¡°Lich Empress, huh¡­ Well, isn¡¯t this perfect? It seems if I want to survive the crushing pressure of this Seed on top, worming its way into my breast¡ªheh, quite the imagery, might I add¡ªand your corrupting Death Energy below¡­ I must be bunk buddies with you and take a back seat, my mortal nemesis. What misfortune. And you¡¯ve doomed us both by welcoming in this madness unless I help you. Haaa-hehe. Yay.¡± The dazzling rain of sparkling emerald butterflies filled her vision, filling her with knowledge of the transformation happening within her, but one amusing spark stood out from the rest, radiating an aurelian glow. Her brilliant, internal twin goddess¡ªthe golden light in the emerald sea¡ªhad hidden in the Link Feat [Butterfly I] to escape her fate, and Elinor allowed her twin into a serving role in her new empire. Elinor couldn¡¯t constrain her laughter; it felt so unlike her, yet she couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Welcome to the Empire, my High Monarch¡ªButter, Celestial High Monarch of the Evening Star¡ªyou actually turned into a butterfly?! Well, haha, how the mighty have fallen.¡± She could practically feel the unamused stare from her transformed twin¡¯s voice. ¡°Hmm-hmm. Monarch of the Evening Star? Thank you for the rather welcome and obvious discovery, Priss¡­ You have selected butterflies as your symbol, so¡­ I didn¡¯t exactly have the most diverse selection. Have you noticed your own changes?¡± ¡°Hmm. No, not all of them, to be honest; heh, I was a bit preoccupied with laughing at you,¡± Elinor returned, glancing down to see her black locks turning white and jade pulses running through her veins. ¡°So, my fatty bunk buddy, what happens next?¡± The chime in Butter¡¯s voice returned with a vengeance as the butterfly¡¯s glow brightened. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s easy, Priss. You die.¡± Elinor blinked, and the world snapped into focus. Her senses were dulled, but she was a tad surprised the near pitch-black space she occupied was completely visible as if daylight. The heat in her chest intensified, though didn¡¯t bother her all that much; instead, she examined the space around her. She still wore her silky shirt and soft black shorts, yet her hands appeared to be bound at her back, which should have prompted a panicked response. On the contrary, a small, curious smile lifted her lips. Butter? she internally called, forcing herself to her knees and shifting her head to throw back her unbound white hair. It hadn¡¯t been a dream. ¡°Not two seconds awake, and you¡¯re already bothering me, Priss? Ugh. I am not enjoying this body.¡± Vision centered on her bare thighs, an emerald light flowed down her veins to her knees, shifting to a chartreuse green before fading; the light fluctuated with the rhythm of her heart. Elinor suppressed a hum, listening closely to her surroundings; obviously, she¡¯d been kidnapped, and perhaps she was injected with something or high, but her mind had never been clearer. Hands bound, Death Energy corroding my living body, and possibly kidnapped in a foreign country¡­ Perfect. How about you, Butter? ¡°I am rather¡­¡± Wait¡­ maybe we should hold off on the complaining until we¡¯re safe, Elinor teased, making her High Monarch sniff. ¡°I see. Only the empress can waste time with obvious discomforts¡­ Might I lodge a complaint with management? Well, I have discovered something of use¡­¡± Hehe. Complaint taken into consideration. Are you telling me you actually have a use other than for my entertainment, Ms. Evening Star? Her focus darted to a shimmering sparkle that came from her pocket. ¡°Ugh¡­ It¡¯s so tight; no, do not move, Priss¡ªyou¡¯re squishing me with your thigh!¡± Are you calling me fat, Butter? Elinor snickered, trying to shift in a way to give her wiggle room, yet her cheer dampened slightly upon seeing her crumbling skin; her body was beginning to decay, and she needed somewhere to put her Death Energy-infused spirit. Well, this isn¡¯t good. Can you fly? ¡°Finally!¡± her twin snarled, making it out of her pocket and shivering her wings. ¡°Fly? I only just became a butterfly¡ªlosing my gorgeous golden locks, might I add¡ªand you wish for me to just fly?¡± And I¡¯m desiccating. We all have our problems here¡ªand I¡¯m supposed to be the priss¡ªhave you tried? ¡°Well, heh, sure¡­ why don¡¯t I give it a go¡­¡± Butter spread her glorious, tiny wings, lifted them up, and beat them down with power to dive straight into the dust by Elinor¡¯s leg. ¡°Oof!¡± Uh-huh¡­ What happened to that elegance? ¡°You¡­ are the worst. Scoot around so I can get to the back of you¡ªsuch a pain¡ªyou have no idea how difficult it is to move four wings¡ªfour¡ªand six legs! Oh, I think I¡¯m going to throw up¡­ Why can I taste the dust?! Bleh! And don¡¯t squish me! It was hard enough to gather what little energy I had to create this body.¡± Elinor smiled and carefully shifted to allow the butterfly to crawl up her fingers to the zip-ties. What¡¯s the plan? ¡°Hmm-hmm. I¡¯m glad you asked¡­¡± Clearing her throat and watching the jade-hued light in her veins intensify with her disintegrating chest, Elinor tried to find a bit of humor by guessing what her spiritual bunk buddy was doing via the knowledge that had been somehow downloaded into her brain by this ¡®Seed¡¯ Butter spoke about. Let me guess¡­ since you¡¯re drawing from me to rebuild your strength by attaching yourself to my [Butterfly] Link Feat, you¡¯re able to use the necrotic element of [Life Tap I]¡ªthe Feat [Butterfly] it is currently attached to¡ªto eat through the bonds. A wicked snicker came from her butterfly twin. ¡°Hmm-hmm. Allow me to correct you on this topic of your powers, Priss! [Life Tap] can only work against ¡®living¡¯ things, heh, imagine that, so I¡¯ll be eating through something else.¡± Elinor¡¯s expression salted as she felt the drain; Butter was filling her Death Pool with her own dwindling life essence. Brilliant¡­ So, Butter, you really are fatty. Not only are you using me to keep yourself stable, but you¡¯re killing me faster. ¡°A little late on the uptake, Priss,¡± Butter chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve already used your [Phylactery I] Feat to craft my own house in one of the diamonds in your pocket. You must do the same¡­ can you wiggle your hands free yet¡­ before I suck them dry and they become useless?¡± Trying to dodge the topic, I see, Elinor grumbled, feeling mildly uncomfortable as the dulled pain in her decaying body amplified. I can see the reasoning behind hastening the process on my hands to slip them. Wait¡­ My two non-base Feats, one is a phylactery? You¡¯re messing with my transformation by ¡®bunking¡¯ with me, aren¡¯t you? ¡°Eh-hehe. A bit, admittedly, but I am still a servant, even if of the highest station, as painful as that is for me to say¡­ This whole thing has had me biting my nails, which I never do!¡± Thank you, Butter, that does make me feel a little better knowing I¡¯m not the only one freaking out a little. She sighed, sliding them off and staring down at her partially crumbled chest; her heart radiated the bright green color, and she could see her white ribs. My body will be bones when this is¡­ ¡°Company¡­ Wonderful.¡± They both ceased their internal dialogue as a door opened and closed upstairs, drawing Elinor¡¯s gaze to the creaking floorboards, and she cast her gaze around to more thoroughly identify her environment; most of the space was utterly empty. The walls were concrete, and the ceiling showed old wooden planks; there was a barred window to the left of the room that was boarded up, a half-broken mirror with empty crates in the corner, and a staircase leading up out of the basement she was in. By the boot prints leading to and from her current location in the dust and dirt patches spread across the ground, there were two people who had dropped her off in the entirely unacceptable room. She felt the skin and muscles across her belly beginning to wither, moving down to her lower half. Ignoring the small spark in her brain that told her to panic¡ªsuppressed by [Imperial Majesty]¡ªshe brought the back of her fingers to her shorts. Even though most of her skin and muscle were gone, she could feel the velvet pouch press against her bony fingers and thigh. ¡°Hurry!¡± Butter hissed. ¡°You¡¯ll be practically immortal once you¡¯ve changed bodies.¡± Plucking the pouch out of her pocket, she untied the binding before dumping the contents of the bag in front of her crossed legs. Curiously calm, she started to see the muscle, fat, and skin of her legs wither as the pulsing lights increased down her thighs to her toes. [Imperial Majesty] dulls joy, fear, sadness, and trust¡ªironic, I know, Butter¡ªbut leaves surprise, disgust, anger, and anticipation. Is there any way to turn it off? ¡°Why are you thinking about that right now?¡± Multitasking, she evenly replied, hearing voices upstairs. I guess not. It can be overpowered, though, but not likely at the S-tier. This whole kidnapping thing¡­ what if they¡¯re some kind of voodoo people that did this crazy ritual on me and summoned you, Butter? ¡°We¡¯re writing fiction now, are we?! Heh. Next, the gorgeous blonde High Monarch will regain her glorious figure! Huh. Well, it was worth a shot. Haha-mrrgrgr. I¡¯m sixteen, Butter. I should be worrying about if Tanner loves me or not¡­ I should just call and ask him. Why didn¡¯t I think of that before? ¡°Because you¡¯re insecure.¡± Hmm-hmm. Not cute. ¡°Just pointing out the obvious, and wasn¡¯t I supposed to hurry?¡± Elinor stared down at the pure black jewels for a moment; Butter had evidently already taken one by its weak radiant shine, but they were almost identical. She couldn¡¯t explain what she was experiencing. Despite her body collapsing on her, she was both freaking out and completely calm at the same time. The creaking floorboards overhead snatched her attention as the voices grew panicked; she could only just make them out. Wait¡­ what did they just say? They sat in silence as Elinor¡¯s degrading faculties continued to deteriorate, staring up at the floorboards of the basement she was in; a man was shouting, shortly followed by a second voice, both in Spanish. She couldn¡¯t be sure of some of it since she wasn¡¯t totally fluent. ¡°You don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see it¡ªthe whole damn sky¡ªthe hell is happening, Raul?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the crystal, man; I told you, it¡¯s an omen! The sky split like an egg, Vicente¡ªthe whole thing¡ªand then the crystal shot that light in the air! We¡¯re trapped; it¡¯s over, man¡ªit¡¯s over!¡± ¡°Dammit, I know; calm down. We still have her in the basement; we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s that light, man; there¡¯s a dome sealing us in¡ªthe aliens, Vicente! That light in the sky and that crystal that appeared in the middle of town no one can touch; I told you! There¡¯s some supernatural shit happenin¡¯ here! Let¡¯s just call Armando; we can¡¯t get him back the girl.¡± ¡°You shittin¡¯ me; do you want your mother turned into a rug? We¡¯ll get some cash from her parents first¡­ what we need. We just need to figure out how to get¡ªdammit, how the hell is there a dome over the whole town?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the crystal, man; the omen of light¡­¡± ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± Vicente shouted. ¡°We¡¯ll stay here and wait it out; no one is going to go looking in abandoned houses with this shit happening. ¡°Go check on the package; we have to deliver her to Armando¡ªhe wanted her specifically. Okay?¡± Butter giggled. ¡°It appears you¡¯re rather popular, Priss?¡± It seems so, she growled, her focus returned to the jewelry while willing herself to make the free stone her new home. I¡¯ll deal with them in a second. The world went black as her spirit left her decomposing corpse; the cold stones that welcomed her felt like a tomb, but that didn¡¯t bother her. After a moment, the tight space even felt right, safe, her own personal sanctuary, yet nothing could offer her reprieve from her fatty bunk buddy. ¡°The plot thickens!¡± B1 — 2. An Empress Rises A cold embrace welcomed Elinor, and upon opening her eyes, she saw the space she¡¯d first met Butter. The white light overhead was now split down the center, with one side tinted green and the other gold, representing their dualistic natures and phylacteries, yet it was a black-and-white holographic screen that stole her focus.
[Level Up - Level 2] [1 Stat Point Added: 1 Available]
Elinor lingered on the illuminated text in front of her, and the confusing veil of scrambled information bouncing around her skull evaporated. Meanwhile, dots strung together as her narrowed vision drifted to the golden goddess on the opposite side of the platform, back in human form¡ªthe level could wait. ¡°Welcome back, Priss,¡± Butter chimed, standing in front of a body-length mirror and examining herself as if this had been the plan all along. ¡°Hmm-hmm. We¡¯ve escaped death, it would seem, thanks to my quick thinking, no less! It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t take on my true glory outside of our little shared room, however. Pity.¡± Mouth opening, Elinor forced a short chuckle, tongue sliding across her drawn-in bottom lip as she ignored her blonde twin, currently engaged in cycling through imaginary gowns like she was preparing for a ball. A deathly hand closed around her heart, flooding her veins with stoic ice as revelations bloomed within her, drawing a frosted smile to lift her eyes; she opened her status page like the games some of her friends used to play. Even her powers seemed like some sort of fantasy, with them revolving around her Class as a lich. Rationally, she concluded the Seed Butter had spoken about filling in any gaps regarding the undead class she¡¯d been assigned, yet Elinor¡¯s mind was fixated on her Feats and the part Butter played in where they¡¯d ended up. A lich¡¯s energy source was Death Energy, which was collected into Death Orbs. Her Death Pool¡¯s current limit was five, and the [Phylactery] Feat was non-optional, despite being Equipable since her body rejected her spirit. It also required a daily maintenance cost¡ªone per vessel¡ªand she had two active while carrying the weight of the fatty blonde, which made it essential to have some in reserve for the end of each day. The time cycle for that price was exacted at midnight on whatever planet she resided on. The problem? She had not a single Death Orb in her pool, and Elinor¡¯s tight eyes centered on the cause, preening herself not five meters away. ¡°Butter¡­¡± ¡°Mmh? Oh, yes, Priss, would you look at me? My wounds are healing! Aren¡¯t I gorgeous in silver? Of course, I look good in anything, but silver does bring out my natural glow.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ Butter, if it weren¡¯t for [Imperial Majesty] being maxed Tier and Grade¡­ hmm-hmm, maintaining my poise, or this barrier between us, I would run over there and strangle you,¡± she stated with a vicious smile while walking to the divider between their sides of the pillar. The blonde¡¯s gaze lowered to the gold floor before releasing a soft sigh and turning a forced smile her way. ¡°Priss¡­ we were both panicking¡­ and you were all I had. My proactive action worked out, did it not? I did select specific Feats for you and take certain¡­ liberties, but, in the end, I still ended up as your servant. Is that not punishment enough?¡± Elinor suppressed a snort, breathing out her frustration in a slow stream before clasping her hands behind her back. ¡°Don¡¯t play this off as if we were in it together. If it were possible, you would have left me to rot and taken on a beautiful body yourself.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have left you to rot,¡± Butter grumbled, shaking out her discomfort as her aquamarine eyes mirrored Elinor¡¯s glare, and she walked over to face her, unable to cross over into each others¡¯ phylactery. ¡°We both hate each other, sure¡­ but as much as you feel you cannot allow me to die, I cannot allow you to pass on, as well. Did I want to be the one in control? Yes. Do you blame me?¡± Locking gazes for a time, Elinor begrudgingly relented. ¡°Honestly, no. I would expect nothing less from you, and I may have done the same in your position. Still, you¡¯re not fessing up to the ridiculous plan you concocted and the position you have placed us in.¡± ¡°What other option did we have?¡± Butter snapped back, crossed arms tightening under her bust. ¡°I cannot allow myself to be touched by your Death Energy, and you are repulsed by my purifying force, so I did select a phylactery for us to have our own beds, so to speak.¡± Elinor¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t touch her gaze, head tilting to the left as a black, spiked crown flared around her head, lighting with emerald flames; her Seed was now settling in with this obnoxious blonde¡¯s influence leaving. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about wanting your own bed, Butter¡­ All of the Death Orbs I had¡ªmy entire Death Pool¡ªyou purified it to heal yourself. You realize that I am maintaining this bunk we share, and midnight will be upon us in no time?¡± The blonde¡¯s challenging gaze faltered, and she stepped back, fussing with her liquid-like locks as she half-turned to focus on the mirror. ¡°Okay, look, I¡¯m not sorry that I did take two of the ability slots you had for [Butterfly] and [Phylactery]¡­ I needed those two Feats to survive¡­ to purify your Death Orbs by attaching a Link Skill that gave me access to your [Life Tap] and, thereby, your Death Pool.¡± Closing her eyes, Elinor breathed, allowing [Imperial Majesty] to cool the ice building within her that wanted to throw this Tinkerbell out of the room entirely. Reality was sinking in, and she would be a blubbering mess if it weren¡¯t for the tempering Feat. Butter did save them, yet she had also placed them in a precarious situation, among other things she wasn¡¯t admitting to. No matter, she would just have to make up for the extra weight her goddess-like bunkmate placed on her. ¡°Priss, eh-heh¡­ you okay? I¡¯m trying¡­ I do want to help you succeed now that, well, we¡¯re in it together¡­ Right?¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± A light smile lifted the corner of Elinor¡¯s mouth, and she opened her eyes to see the blonde nervously rubbing her arm. ¡°Let¡¯s just¡­ move on to what we can control.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Meaning?¡± ¡°Hmm-hmm.¡± Elinor¡¯s grin grew fangs. ¡°You patched yourself up and have your butterfly body outside¡­ something I unfortunately lack. So¡­ where does that leave us now that I¡¯m trapped inside this ¡®bed¡¯ while you have wings outside of it?¡± Butter took her hint and groaned. ¡°Yes, Priss¡­ I¡¯ll go do the Death Orb gathering. I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware at this point, but your butterflies can only hold two before I have to return, and if destroyed, it returns to the owner.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± she pressed, letting her politely savage tone tell the blonde to expand on what Elinor already knew. ¡°Pray tell, Butter¡­ what would happen if that, heh, tiny, delicate body of yours was to be destroyed¡­ after consuming all of my Death Energy?¡± A lump dropped down her divine twin¡¯s throat with a short shrug. ¡°Uh, hehe¡­ well, we¡¯d be trapped in here until someone picked us up.¡± ¡°You mean, picked me up,¡± Elinor corrected. ¡°Can you draw out life force?¡± ¡°Ahem¡­ Not without the butterfly.¡± ¡°Right, haha. So¡­ don¡¯t get caught, or we¡¯re stuck here for eternity¡ªactually, we¡¯d just die because this bunk requires daily maintenance,¡± Elinor dully returned, creating a rather amazing undead throne of metal, cushions, and bone to rest on. ¡°I¡¯ll be here studying exactly what we are because¡­ I have to somehow explain this to my parents without them burning me at the stake or calling some exorcist or something. I trust you¡¯re capable of handling it,¡± she lied. ¡°Oh! How kind of you to say, and here I thought you saw me as nothing but dead weight. Hehe. I can be more than just¡­ fat, Priss.¡± ¡°I look forward to seeing you burn a few calories,¡± she chimed. ¡°Ugh. I hate this nickname¡­ And you have parents?¡± Elinor lifted an eyebrow. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°Charming¡­ I can¡¯t wait to meet them,¡± Butter whispered, rubbing the back of her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t recall having any connections to anyone¡­ other than you, so¡­ I look forward to where we go from here. Umm-yeah. I¡¯ll be back shortly, My Broodish Priss,¡± Butter chimed, waving as she vanished in golden light. Butter¡¯s essence was technically still here, but her consciousness had transferred to the shimmering butterfly outside. Elinor had no clue how her radiant twin was going to manage to sneak up on anything to suck out their life force when that bright and weak, but she was all they had at this point. We¡¯re doomed¡­ Elinor internally cried, letting her emotions settle to focus on what she needed to do to move forward. Trying not to get lost in the depressing thought, she went over this new way of living that had been thrust upon her; it certainly changed her course, and she had no idea how she was supposed to deal with it or break the news to her parents. She was a Mythickin Lich Empress, which basically meant she was a glorified upper-tier necromancer, summoning legions of the undead to do her bidding. Maybe she could come up with some kind of business plan in the future for that, but it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine how the government would react to a lich girl¡ªtypically not well. Elinor¡¯s gaze lowered to her side of the platform, studying the jade flooring. Lingering on things that she had no control over would get her nowhere, she chastised herself, so she compartmentalized the unsettling prospects of this transformation for later. At the very least, the Seed gave her answers on the latter two parts of what she was, but Mythickin was left a glorified mystery. She had a total of eight ¡®Core Feats¡¯ that she likened to a tree trunk with its two branches being Lich and Empress; the two of the changeable Feats she had been able to select at Level 1¡ª[Phylactery] and [Butterfly]¡ªhad been chosen by Butter. A curious tilt moved her lips as she saw she still had a third changeable Feat Slot, but she pushed the enticing new Feat possibilities she could select from to understand what she currently had. Instantly, her attention was drawn to the only two S-tier Feats¡ªthe max tier¡ªthat she¡¯d been granted. At the base of this structure was her only Mythickin Feat [Primal Force X], which was both maxed in grade and tier, symbolized by the Roman numeral for ten. So¡­ Mythickin gain increased EXP growth. Well, you can¡¯t go wrong with that, and why was [Imperial Majesty] important enough to get the same treatment as [Primal Force]? No answer, hmm. I suppose tempering four of eight emotions allows me to think rationally. Butter hadn¡¯t been the one to give her these Core Feats that came with her Mythickin Lich Empress status; the Seed gave these. Questioning to see if it would give her answers as to how she came by this cryptic death item was met with silence, making her sigh. You¡¯re beyond my comprehension, I guess. Her tight eyes drifted to the shimmering mirror her blonde twin had left. And, tragically, Butter is my current champion¡­ of the highest degree. For such an impressive title as the Celestial High Monarch of the Evening Star, she certainly leaves much to be desired. Scrolling down her rather barebone Feat List, all of them at the first Grade, Elinor hummed, deep in thought as she waited for her glorified twin Barbie doll¡¯s return. Most of their functions were fairly self-evident¡ªand only at level one, unlike [Primal Force] and [Imperial Majesty]¡ªsuch as [Darkness Vision], [Death Pool], and [Life Tap], yet [Monarch of Death], [Minion Pool], and the [Raise Dead] Cluster Feat drew her in. A crown on my head that symbolizes my power as an empress, she mused, fingers rising to slide her fingers across one of the spike-like nails that made up the item on her head. [Monarch of Death] gives me a Nexus Point where I can communicate to all my undead telepathically within one kilometer. Quite the useful Feat. Her [Raise Dead] and [Minion Pool] Feats were the centers of her reign; they were quite complicated compared to everything else she¡¯d studied thus far, including an entire hierarchy system of Royal, High, Military, and Serving Courts, functioning across various duties.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Elinor tapped her leg while studying the branching topics regarding her new empire abilities. Intelligent and Unintelligent minions¡­ and the former costs double the Death Orbs to create, yet it¡¯s obviously far more capable. Unfortunately¡­ I¡¯m currently limited to three intelligent and twelve unintelligent¡­ A four times difference. Grades range from [Poor], [Common], and [Uncommon], and if it¡¯s double the price, intelligent uncommon would cost eight. We¡¯ll have to test that, and I can raise Lower-Grade units to higher when creating them, such as [Poor] to [Uncommon] with the appropriate Death Orbs, yet they will not be nearly as powerful as one who begins at that level¡­ I can¡¯t do the reverse, which likely means I have to complete these Grade II advancement quests to upgrade these Feats. It should probably be my priority at this point¡­ Wow. What a challenge, though; raise 60 Unintelligent and 15 Intelligent Undead when my limit is 12 and 3, hmm? I guess I¡¯ll be stuck with Uncommon for a bit. Elinor adjusted the black dress she¡¯d been given in this void space, mouth tightening upon seeing all she could summon were skeletal or partial skeletal units at the moment. No zombie option? That¡¯s criminal. It¡¯s probably Butter¡¯s fault. She lifted her focus to the mirror as she felt her fatty High Monarch struggling with something and dismissed it to continue her internal reverie. We¡¯ll have to fix that at some point because that would be an excellent way to reach my Unintelligent requirements for advancement. Her ¡®Stats Page¡¯ came up beside her Feats, leaving much to be desired as she tested her theory, lingering on each primary stat: Strength, Defense, Dexterity, Energy, and Tenacity, all of which had secondary stats and grades. Elinor¡¯s attention was on Energy. She had ¡®Average¡¯ Endurance¡ªa stat that dealt with mitigating the cost of one¡¯s Stamina and Constitution¡ªinterestingly, it had a multiplicative effect on the Feats she could gain to reduce the cost of all her abilities. Of course, that was only useful if she had one such Feat; it was something to keep in the back of her mind. Stamina was useless to her at a ¡®Below Average¡¯ grade since it handled her physical aptitude and she was designed as a summoner; she would sooner go into the sorceress route than focus on something that would see major diminishing returns, and it showed ¡®N/A¡¯ currently due to not even having a body to exercise. No, Constitution was where her smile landed¡ªExtremely High aptitude¡ªit handled the mental fortitude of an individual. This was her Stat. The only thing rivaling its Grade was Control Resistance in Tenacity¡¯s Secondary Stats. She used the single point she¡¯d gained from the level on her Constitution. Instantly, her Death Pool increased to eight Death Orbs, and Uncommon Intelligent Undead opened up¡ªsomething else caught her eye¡ªher theory regarding something higher than Uncommon in the Unintelligent branch proved correct unless the price was far greater than she expected. No new grade, hmm, and three DO from a single point; isn¡¯t that too generous, Seed? Hmm-hmm. No upgrade until I get [Raise Dead II], I see. Fascinating. Swapping to her Core Feat Tiers, she learned they increased by use until S-tier; therefore, Passives would rank up the fastest, but once raised to a new grade, the tier went back to F. It¡¯s obvious I gain experience from accomplishing certain tasks or achievements, such as when I abandoned my body for this diamond. So, why not when I rank up, I suppose? I have a lot of minions to summon¡­ Minions? Elinor¡¯s amusement fell at the thought, reflecting on everything drilled into her skull at school and from her parents. If they are intelligent, then I¡¯m a slaver, shackling their souls to this world, yet most would serve me nonetheless¡­ Most, hmm? She reflected on the hierarchy her Empress Subclass assigned her; naturally, she was at the pinnacle, holding absolute control over her Empire, including her vanity-obsessed High Monarch, which acted as her right hand. Below the High Monarch was the Royal Court, where her Monarchs took their thrones and enacted her desires for the direction of her kingdom. Generals, majors, captains, and lieutenants all had their place and grade, yet Elinor couldn¡¯t give a unit the Monarch Title unless it was above some gibberish numbers and letters she hadn¡¯t unlocked yet. Well, at least I¡¯ve learned Butter is the real thing if she can have the title with the most authority beside me. What a mess. Time wasn¡¯t quite easy to track in the space, but she didn¡¯t sense it had been that long when her fatty butterfly returned, sounding like someone tired, making Elinor grin as the shimmering goddess of a twin dropped into a throne. ¡°How was it?¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ war. It was cramped, and I almost died twice,¡± she cried, combing through her liquid gold locks with agitation. ¡°I had to crawl through the dirt back to you, Priss! Am I just a slave¡ªa body for you to use until it is torn to shreds?!¡± Elinor giggled and shrugged, feeling energy surge into her as she went back to studying her sheet. ¡°Heh-hehe.¡± Her twin got up and began to pace, arms held tightly under her bust. ¡°Of course, you just laugh at my struggles, Priss¡­ My efforts at battling those¡­ those furry, filthy devils in their waste and piss for what?! You just couldn¡¯t care less¡­ All I¡¯m here for is to spill blood over your bed; well, you can choke on your own tongue!¡± ¡°Butter¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± she said, silver tears in her eyes. Elinor dismissed her status sheets to examine the blonde goddess; unlike anything else that had touched her since [Imperial Majesty] dampened her emotions, the new rips and wounds on Butter¡¯s radiant skin plucked at her heartstrings. Rising from her seat, she went to the edge of their ¡®bunk¡¯ and held out her arms with a soft smile as her twin¡¯s watering turquoise eyes widened. ¡°Thank you, Butter. I¡¯m glad I¡¯m not alone in this¡­ It¡¯s nice having a partner I can count on.¡± ¡°Priss¡­¡± The goddess almost tripped as she stumbled over to hug her. It was a little uncomfortable with her purifying energy, and she was sure Butter felt the same way about her, but the warmth that passed into Elinor¡¯s chest made it worth the prickling needles. Being careful with the cuts on her back, Elinor whispered, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t get hurt in your butterfly body¡­ Where did these come from?¡± Butter puffed out a long stream of air, pulling away and regaining her elegant posture to return to her mirror to examine herself. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ deteriorating. I need to purify Death Energy to beat this hand of death seeking to claim me as his own, it seems. It will only get worse.¡± Elinor pulled up her sheet to select one of the new Feats she could select from, scanning through their information one last time as she spoke to her bunkmate. ¡°How many do you need to fully recover?¡± ¡°¡­A lot, Priss¡­¡± ¡°How many?¡± Elinor pressed, eyebrows furrowing as she caught the blonde tracing the damage to her body; silver speckles could be seen across her side of the floor. ¡°2,500¡­¡± ¡°Ahem. Hmm. Well, hehe, okay. 2,500,¡± Elinor repeated, focus shifting between everything else she needed her energy for; her current pool only held eight, as well. ¡°I suppose that doesn¡¯t include the tax¡ªso to speak¡ªof trying to keep you from falling apart?¡± ¡°No¡­ I require about ten a day to remain even.¡± Elinor went back to her seat to breathe out a long stream of air. ¡°Butter¡­ Hehe.¡± A melancholy smile lifted the edge of the goddess¡¯ lips as she stopped on one particular gash where her heart was. ¡°I understand, Priss¡­ I stole six from you already without your permission¡­ A parasite.¡± ¡°You did,¡± she said, rubbing her temple while thinking about the trouble this was going to cause. ¡°What a fatty, glutinous bunk bug I have¡­ Well, at least you¡¯re not a slob, or we would have problems.¡± Butter turned, confusion crossing her annoyingly perfect face¡ªminus the cuts. ¡°It¡¯s not like I want to be your burden. Heh¡­ hehe. I just wish I knew how I ended up in this mess!¡± ¡°You and me both, sister¡­ Well, I need to bulk up if I¡¯m going to feed you, baby bird, so we need to start now before we both die, you insufferable stick of fat.¡± ¡°I hate you¡­¡± she snarled, staring at her as Elinor laughed. ¡°The feeling is mutual.¡± ¡°Humph. Did you discover a way out of your prison while I dealt with those giant rodents?¡± Elinor smirked. ¡°Those were rats, probably, not giants, but I suppose everything looks that way when you¡¯re a delicate little glow ball, and how many did you actually kill.¡± ¡°Ha-ha. Dozens¡­ in their filth.¡± ¡°Sounds pleasant,¡± she snickered. ¡°As for a way out, there were a few interesting options, but one stole the cake¡­¡± Elinor used one DO and activated her third changeable Feat, [Artificial Body I]. Her thoughts died as the heat rose within her core; it wasn¡¯t anywhere specifically, but she knew it was somewhere within her expanding mind. White light filled her vision, and she tried to shut it off by somehow closing her nonexistent eyes; she felt a tad stupid after realizing they hadn¡¯t formed¡ªobviously, the light wouldn¡¯t fade. A pressure began to form at her back, and slowly sounds filtered into her brain. A wet sensation permeated her mouth, making her swallow, and a dusty scent birthed into her now awakening senses with color exploding around her. Momentarily stunned, she laid still for a time, and a snickering golden butterfly landed on her nose as her newly discovered faculties overloaded her mind. ¡°That¡¯s certainly one way to show me your new Feat, and it is wonderful I don¡¯t have to be your only set of hands.¡± She stared up at the floorboards of the basement, hearing the men shouting at one another again, all in Spanish, and she couldn¡¯t be sure, but it sounded like more had joined them. The general conversation wasn¡¯t anything Elinor hadn¡¯t expected, and she leveled a dull stare at the gold light blinding her. Butter¡­ is it standard practice for you to stand on your Empress and savior? Also, I still have many uses for your six legs and four wings. ¡°Hmm-hmm. Only when I¡¯m feeling particularly rebellious, Priss,¡± Butter mused, swapping to her shoulder. ¡°Two more men showed up while you were playing mental stone breakers.¡± Not wanting to know what that was and not caring, Elinor rose to her feet to study her new¡ªand quite naked¡ªbody as the four men screamed at one another. Suddenly, their shouting match took a turn that drew her focus. ¡°You don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see it?¡± ¡°What the hell happened to her? She¡¯s a damn half-rotting corpse, Vincente! How do we explain that to Armando?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t see that, Paul! It was your information we got that she¡¯d go through this town! What the hell is happening?¡± Raul¡ªseemingly the superstitious one¡ªbroke in. ¡°I checked, guys! I checked! Everyone¡¯s saying there¡¯s no way out of the dome! You know Yesenia¡ªthat one prison warden lady¡ªshe¡¯s here, and she turned into this massive snake woman! Toads! Giant toads! They¡¯re coming from the jungle!¡± ¡°What the hell is he talking about, Vincente?¡± Paul growled. ¡°Ugh. Ignore him. Eduardo, we gotta just bring him the body¡­¡± The group continued to argue over what to do with her, Raul saying the most interesting stuff about the Crystal releasing lights that branched off into various areas, bringing monsters. According to him, the whole sky cracked like a stained glass window, showing countless places across the heavens before vanishing. It was a bit after that when the dome formed from a beam that rose from the ethereal Crystal, and everyone noticed they were receiving powers. Elinor certainly could believe that part, but she was confused as to what granted them these abilities; was it the Crystal or the full sky fracture? In any case, she learned her parents were fine, out in the town and looking for her, which eased her undead heart. Moving to look through the tiny gaps in the boarded window, she saw the crazy-looking fantasy dome encompassing a large section of the town and jungle. She could imagine Raul¡¯s explanation now, and the sun¡¯s rays could barely be made beyond the transparent shell, the heavens tinted by the various colors. They really were in some kind of fantasy, end-of-the-world event. Butter hummed as Elinor went to the mirror, scanning her new figure; it mostly kept her same features, excluding her now silvery hair, which did look good with the crown. She grimaced upon finding her black earrings in their proper places; her body formed around them, as if taken away would cause its collapse. ¡°How¡¯s the new fit?¡± Decent. All my scars are gone¡­ but at least I have my tattoos still. The golden butterfly¡¯s half-torn left wing shivered with laughter. ¡°You call that a tattoo? I saw better in tiny villages. In fact, I was covered head to toe in tattoos at one point, I believe.¡± Oh? What villages? Elinor challenged. Please, enlighten me on your totally tatted body. Butter was silent a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t remember¡­¡± Convenient. ¡°Believe what you want!¡± Okay, Ms. perfect skin and vanity queen. Let¡¯s get dressed and some more Death Energy. ¡°Oh?¡± Butter lowered herself on her collarbone to not get blown away. ¡°We¡¯re killing the four men upstairs, and what of these creatures roaming about¡­ Can you?¡± We¡¯ll deal with it, Elinor calmly stated, pausing as she knelt before her former body; it had stopped decaying after her corrupted spirit left. I¡­ don¡¯t feel that bothered by murder. That has to be concerning. ¡°Why?¡± the goddess questioned, testing the stability of her wings. ¡°Everything kills in one form or another, and only the powerful can be picky about such moral stances in a world of conflict. Also, that¡¯s not what I meant. I was asking if your weak arms could do anything, but¡­ on second thought, I do feel like you¡¯re capable.¡± Elinor nudged her head to the side; it was a valid point, and she certainly wouldn¡¯t lose sleep over a bunch of kidnappers who were now talking about leaving her body to be discovered by her parents. A compliment? You¡¯re slipping, and that view is fair. Hmm. I do need clothes, she sighed, grimacing while picking her nightwear off of her corpse. ¡°Priss! Look at you. I¡¯m so proud,¡± Butter snickered. ¡°So, you have one Death Orb left, which I so valiantly obtained, might I add¡­¡± Of course. ¡°So, all there is to do is march up there, slay a few fools¡ªmaybe a light snack for two¡ªand raise the others to do¡­¡± Elinor¡¯s fingers froze as she snapped her bra back on, gaze rising as a sharp thud kicked open the door. The men shouted, and gunfire went off; Raul¡¯s scream told her all she needed to know. ¡°Toad! It¡¯s the toads! It¡¯s the end of the world! I told you!¡± ¡°Shut up, Raul! Where¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Did you hit it?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± Shattering glass came from the right of the house, followed by something heavy hitting the ground. ¡°Paul! Is that¡­ living vines? Aww-hell no! I¡¯m out!¡± Eduardo cried, running through the back door of the abandoned house. ¡°Sounds like a party,¡± Butter chimed. ¡°Are we joining or listening in?¡± Setting the golden butterfly to the side as she slipped on her shirt, Elinor resituated the goddess and went to the stairs, only having time to put on her underwear. They¡¯ll be dead soon anyway, so might as well try to get some Death Energy, and if there are supernatural creatures running around, then I need to get my parents to safety. ¡°To battle!¡± Butter cried, pointing one of her arms at the door as she walked upstairs. Let¡¯s see what madness we¡¯re dealing with¡­ It¡¯s not like I can die, and if anyone picks up my diamond I can drain their life, so¡­ YOLO. Well, kinda, I guess, seeing as I died already. Opening the door, her inconvenient butterfly mumbled, ¡°You know diamonds aren¡¯t indestructible?¡± Well¡­ thanks for the warning, you useless inflated insect. B2 — 0. The Life of Undeath Edmon leaned with his arms crossed against the side of his large, muscular horse while observing a group of thirty-two boys who had been eager to learn how to use a sword and develop, as they saw it, superpowers. He went without his helmet but kept the full plate armor that defined his defender role in his daughter¡¯s court. This was not how he saw their life going, and only in his nightmares did he ever believe Tiffany would be taken away from him. A trail of frigid energy came from his eyes as the thunder of the storm overhead rumbled through the sanctuary, yet his attention was on the ground. Something inside this planet had taken away his wife from him¡ªhurt her¡ªand he would not let that go. Edmon wanted to believe that his Tiffany would find her way back to him, but he had always been more of a realist, which was why he¡¯d willingly given up his life to spend eternity guarding Elinor. He¡¯d failed to protect his wife; he would not fail his daughter. His horse snorted with agitation, sensing the cold fire burning within his soul, and his focus was snatched by the orange-eyed witch that casually greeted him with an impish grin. His old life was dead, and he had to learn how to accept that his wife had been twisted and changed. It wasn¡¯t what he wanted, but he had to learn how to accept this new version of her. Strangely, it wasn¡¯t all that hard considering many aspects of the woman he knew were still there, yet there was a cruel evil that had tainted many aspects his wife had most loved about herself. Ultimately, it told Edmon that was how much she¡¯d loved their daughter; she¡¯d been willing to give up any principle, her compassion, and the very goodness of her soul in order to protect Elinor. In a way, that part was what had been corrupted the most by how she viewed their daughter. ¡°Brooding all by your lonesome, handsome, hmm?¡± She stopped beside him to stroke the side of his mount, speaking privately through the Nexus since the Shade was always listening; plus, it was more fun this way and brought Edmon back to their days in school when they¡¯d pass notes between each other in class. ¡°What¡¯s it about this time? Are you going to reject those poor girls that want to become knights? You¡¯re too soft on girls. Surely you wouldn¡¯t put them through such hardship,¡± she teased. On the contrary, he muttered, focus shifting to the group of six girls that surrounded Gloria. I¡¯ve given Mika the task of pushing them harder than the boys. In order to keep up, they have to access the Knight Feats I can grant them, and much of our power comes from our strength of will to not bend or break in our conviction toward Elinor. ¡°Is that right?¡± Tiffany cooed, fingers moving from the horse to slide down his armored shoulder to trace the frost-like designs on the metal. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they¡¯d want to get all sweaty and dirty¡­ Maybe I could talk to them.¡± A smirk lifted his lips as he looked down at her gentle touch, attempting to distract him. She always had been a touchy-feely woman and used the tactic often to make him forget about an argument or attempt to shift things in her direction. I think I¡¯m doing just fine. How goes the recruitment on your end? I should have at least fifty apprentices by the end of the day. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re trying to tempt me? Heh, you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll start stealing all of your witches. Her fingers twitched against his armor. ¡°Eh-heh. Yeah¡­ I may have come off a tad too strong. Maybe we could make some¡­ alterations to the bet¡ªI¡¯m willing to go deeper! Wouldn¡¯t that be fun?¡± She was losing hard, and spotting so many young men and now women flocking to him instead of her was making Tiffany nervous. It wasn¡¯t only to do with their bet; she¡¯d promised Elinor that they could get silk production underway at an accelerated rate, and to do that, she needed witches. Warlocks were apparently more combat-oriented in traits, hosting far more firepower than the more versatile witch. Breathing out a satisfied puff of air that he knew would make the woman want to strangle him, Edmon savored her plea for a lifeline, doing her best to play on his emotions. Honestly, he was starting to feel slightly sorry; he did love her touch, and she knew exactly where to place it to get his attention. Oh, boy. Well, let¡¯s see, I already am quite enjoying this victory image of you teaching your very dark and depressing craft to young impressionable witches and warlocks. I think the mascot duck head would do wonders for your reputation. What more could you offer me? The flippers we found and quacking at the end of your sentences? ¡°Edmon!¡± she groaned, leaning against him to glare up into his face. I can¡¯t quack! You know my duck impression is garbage, and I¡¯d only make a fool out of your daughter. Eh¡­ what if I, umm,¡± her eyes scanned the ground, looking for something to redirect him. ¡°I can¡­ tell you some of the dirty secrets your wife hid from you! What about Todd, hmm? I bet you¡¯re interested!¡± Todd, Edmon repeated with a short hum. You mean the student that tried to get my wife to leave me¡ªa successful Architectural engineer¡ªwith the promise of, and I quote, an apartment with five dogs he thought were his children? Tiffany¡¯s eyes widened as she pulled away, clearly confused. ¡°What?! How did you know that story? She never told yo¡ªElise! That two-faced tramp! When?! I know she tried to seduce you once!¡± That¡¯s one way to address your little sister, Edmon chuckled. Sadly, no. Tiffany could never let go of that suspicion, but Elise was always really nice and respectful of our relationship. ¡°Nice. Uh-huh.¡± Tiffany dully glared at him like something was his fault; it was so similar to countless discussions they¡¯d had in the past that he wanted to punch himself not to get pulled in. ¡°What kind of ¡®nice¡¯ was she, hmm? I know when I went out with my dad, eh¡­ Dammit!¡± She caught herself, but Edmon honed in like shark-smelling blood. Tripped up again, Sweetie. Don¡¯t get in a tiff, Tiff. I know it¡¯s hard separating yourself from my wife. Take your time. ¡°Agh! You know I hate it when you do that wordplay¡­ So¡­ what did you name your horse? She¡¯s beautiful, by the way.¡± Changing the subject is fine; our agreement still stands. He took the reins as Tiffany groaned again, chasing after him to try and get any kind of wiggle room. ¡°C¡¯mon, Edmon, we can have more¡ª¡± Oh, and I named her Tiff. She can have an attitude like someone else I know. Quack-quack. ¡°You did not name a horse after me! Wait, you¡¯re going to ride Tiff¡­ Edmon, we¡¯re not done¡­ Don¡¯t mute me! Edmon!¡± * * * Theresa¡¯s partially skeletal fingers shifted between keys on the piano she played, drawing upon the emotions she felt during the most lonely moments in her life. The rhapsody the instrument fed her had been a sense of solace for her when her boys had grown too old for their mother, and her husband spent most of his time working to cope with the death of his parents. She¡¯d wanted to be there for him, but he was always the type to deal with hardship on his own. It wasn¡¯t fair to her, yet emotion was like that, and she had her own way of releasing pain or stress. Earning a bit more money through playing the piano at one of the local churches helped to keep them afloat, and she¡¯d been raised Catholic, as had many families in South America. Never one to show excitement or excess emotion, Theresa had always been called the cold queen while going through school, yet Colby could always make her smile with his goofy antics. Life had grown hard when they hit their late thirties, though, and in more ways than one. In a way, dying was the best thing that had happened to her; it put things into perspective and gave her new purpose since all she¡¯d ever wanted was to be a mother. Unfortunately, all she¡¯d been able to carry were two children before her uterus gave out, and the blow hit Colby as badly as it did her, even if he didn¡¯t let it show. Ever since she¡¯d been resurrected, she¡¯d been among the fastest to grow among the undead, due to her many talents in the duties of a maid, directing tasks, and providing other services, such as song and instrument. Theresa always knew she was talented, and exercised her gifts, yet she had always been more focused on her family than a career. It wasn¡¯t like she regretted her decision; she wouldn¡¯t trade the memories and gifts her family gave her for the world. However, now that that chapter in her life was closed, she could focus on other areas. She smiled at Colby, her husband sitting beside her, listening to her somber music that resonated with many of the humans around the sanctuary. He¡¯d been so sweet, proposing to her again only moments after she was returned from the dead and only a bundle of bones and flame. Theresa had always taken pride in her looks, as well, and loved the way she could make her husband salivate when alone, teasing and luring him in as he did the same. There was a sort of ritual they¡¯d developed over the years that had slowly died when life and children consumed their time. Now, they could rekindle that flame. Her gaze drifted to the struggling skeleton standing nearby with a violin; Valerie Meyer was a young woman from the United States that was having trouble playing the instrument she loved, unaccustomed to playing with her bony fingers. Due to being the only Assistant Head Maid, Theresa could feel the admiration and drive the girl felt while observing her performance; she wanted so badly to play the instrument she loved again. Valerie wasn¡¯t technically a maid, but due to Theresa¡¯s many affinities, she¡¯d been granted temporary leadership over a few branches within the Serving Court, including the musical positions. She encouraged the girl to keep trying and to be careful with her instrument since supplies and goods were now limited. Yes, it was frustrating to see Theresa advancing so quickly when not even a part of the musical staff, yet the purpose for that soon became clear as she reached Common-C Grade. She¡¯d been given the Songweaver Class. When her skin and organs began to return, her growth only continued to increase as she combined her instrument with her voice. She couldn¡¯t help but giggle to herself upon seeing the Witch Queen chasing after her frosted Death Knight, fuming about something in their private dialogue. It wasn¡¯t challenging to see that the witch was drawn to the man, and there was quite a jealous streak she saw developing in how she stared at the women that interacted with him. Hours upon hours passed with Theresa¡¯s fingers skating across the somewhat damaged grand piano; one of the legs was broken, and the top had a chunk taken out of it, but it was more than usable. One thing that put her undead heart at ease was the sight of her two boys, now in their older teens, as the pair talked to a few of the girls their age, and there were many. Left with her emotions to express, Theresa expressed them in song, her soft voice mixing with the falling rain pattering against the ceiling high above and thunder vibrating the air. ¡°Born to die, ¡°Born to the life of a slave. ¡°Born to break our backs for an early grave, ¡°Born to toil and woe, we die. ¡°And that¡¯s how the story goes, yet no more. ¡°Now, born to a life of service, ¡°Born to youth, never to be taken. ¡°Born to purpose, ¡°Born to care for those in need. ¡°Born in life is to struggle, ¡°Born in undeath, I am free. ¡°Treasures await my service, ¡°For a life worth treasuring is mine to see.¡± * * * Butter huddled against a tree, squinting in the downpour as the howling wind picked up to blow her away, yet an armored hand came out to rescue her, deep voice soft as it came through the Nexus. ¡°I felt that you¡¯re having trouble. Are you okay?¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. She wanted to cry as Edmon¡ªthe father she never knew¡ªheld her protectively against his chest. The skeletons keep getting blown away by the wind. It¡¯s so frustrating! Why are you away from Priss, though? You¡¯re usually always close to her, she grumbled. Laughter shook Edmon¡¯s body as he carefully navigated to her other butterflies to gather them before the Death Orbs they carried were lost in their destruction; the hurricane had only gotten worse, and they¡¯d gotten themselves in a bad position, yet the Death Knight seemed totally unaffected by the gales that beat against his armor. ¡°I don¡¯t have only one daughter to save, High Queen,¡± he said in a teasing voice that made Butter giggle; it felt so different coming from the composed and confident man. ¡°I needed time away from camp; it gives Tiff time to stew and wonder what I¡¯m doing out here.¡± So bad! Haha. I do love to see you stringing her along. I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be so easy to poke and prod, but you make it look so easy. What¡¯s your secret? she asked, crawling inside his helmet as he brought her close to rest protectively beside his ear. ¡°Years and years of getting to know the woman. She¡¯s not so different from the Tiffany I knew, which is why I¡¯m pushing her to see how much of my wife¡­ your mother, is left. In the meantime, why not spend some daughter and father quality time together? Your sister tells me you need Death Orbs to not, ahem, ¡®wither into a mummified corpse.¡¯ ¡± Of course, Priss would say that! Humph. She knows how much I care about my looks. I will get my body back; I can¡¯t believe she killed me! You do know that, right? She literally ate me in our mother¡¯s womb. Who does that to their sister?! ¡°Haha. I have no clue how that works. All I know is that I have two lovely daughters now. I want to get to know you, Butter¡­ Your sister gave you that name?¡± Ugh. Yes. She drew closer to her father¡¯s cheek to look out of his helmet through a gap since there was some kind of field blocking the wind from entering. Get this, Priss calls me Butter because I¡¯m, and I quote, fattening! I¡¯m fat! She thinks of me like some¡­ some tumor or growth that needs to be cut out! Not a sister that needs a body¡­ Honestly, it¡¯s starting to get depressing. ¡°Hmm. I don¡¯t know. Your sister has always been¡­ the morbid type, even before she went full goth¡ªwhich I was not a fan of, by the way¡ªshe had interests that were a bit darker than her friends¡¯, and¡­ that¡¯s how she met that boy¡­¡± Hehe. C¡¯mon, tell me about Tanner! I want dirt on Priss since I didn¡¯t grow up with her. It¡¯s not fair that she¡¯s the only one with ammunition to throw at me. I¡¯m not just going to be her punching bag! ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Haha. Oh, let¡¯s get into some stories while we hunt for your Death Orbs, then. Did you know she wet the bed until she was eleven?¡± No! ¡°Yup. Big embarrassment when she brought friends over for sleepovers.¡± Hehe. Give me the dirt, Dad. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need some dirt on you, myself, High Queen,¡± Edmon laughed. ¡°I want to know everything about you. Embarrassing things, interests¡­ everything. I¡¯m your dad. I need to know what you¡¯re afraid of so I can protect you from it¡­ because that¡¯s what dads are supposed to do.¡± Butter sniffed, unaccustomed to the emotion welling up in her core as someone finally was talking to her like a real person. Thanks, Dad. I think I¡¯m starting to love you! Haha! Ugh. I¡¯ve waited so long for someone to say those words. ¡°Hey, not even the High Queen needs to shoulder everything. Let me lighten your load.¡± Unable to restrain the heat in her chest, Butter¡¯s tiny arms hugged her dad as he brought her on their first father-daughter outing to collect the spiritual energy of the living; at last, she felt welcomed into the family. * * * Klaus stood amongst the groups of undead that had been raised, information flooding the marrow of his existence. Thunder roared above them, drawing his gaze to the magical flowers that radiated light to the colossal wooden structure that kept them safe from what had to be a hurricane outside. Explanations came shortly after, adding to what they instinctively knew upon being resurrected. It was so surreal, yet he couldn¡¯t deny what was written in his bones when he saw their white-haired empress. The curiosity of this new body sucked out any panic that tried to grip his mind. Holding up his polished, white arms, Klaus studied his skeletal figure before flexing his toes and running his fingers across his ribcage; it was impossible, but there was feeling. The sensations tickling his nonexistent brain made him laugh to himself. The bizarre experience only lasted a short time before the Witch Queen and King of the Death Knights pulled his attention to the High Monarch of the Evening Star; that her name was Butter felt too comical, not that he would say that aloud. Everything was a blur, but he knew his place and what was expected of him. Klaus had been on a speed track to the Senate. Of course, there had been hand-shaking and back-door deals to garner the support he needed. None of that mattered now; the only thing was His Empress. Butter¡¯s cheery yet commanding voice touched their minds, teaching them more about how to utilize the empress¡¯ Nexus to communicate before giving them orders. ¡°Okay, people, now that you¡¯ve got the basics, get dressed up for the part. We want to show everyone you¡¯re not some mindless bag of flaming bones! Return when you find something presentable for your station.¡± A very feminine tone caressed his mind from beside him; he could practically feel her touch against his ear. ¡°Your name is Klaus Klossner, the empire¡¯s first Ambassador. Is that right?¡± It is! Turning to address the woman, Klaus hesitated a short moment to gauge how best to act moving forward. He¡¯d always tried to fit into whatever group he was in to draw as many people to his side as possible; no one made Senator without a whole cruiseliner full of powerful supporters. All of the skeletons around them wore the torn, bloodied, and very baggy clothes they¡¯d been butchered in or wore only their bones as a covering. This much shorter woman fell into the latter category; he was roughly 183 cm while this woman was likely around 160, perhaps a bit less, and that would be with flesh. It was hard to determine what was proper or accepted in this new post he¡¯d been put inside, which meant he had to learn fast, and asking for clarification would be a sign of ineptitude. And you must be Emelina De la Vega, the one and only Head Maid of the Serving Court. It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Shall we go find some proper clothes to cover our naked bones? Oh, but what must others think of us?! ¡°My, you have a very good grasp of Spanish, but I suppose that is The Empress¡¯ abilities rather than our own now. Hehe. Although, you have a handsome voice, Ambassador. I also think they have other things on their mind than our ¡®naked bones,¡¯ ¡± she said in a thoughtful tone. Klaus couldn¡¯t see it in her hollow, flaming eyes, but he had the impression she was looking him up and down. Is that right? Well then, I think we have something in common, Mrs. Vega. ¡°Miss,¡± she smoothly corrected. Haha. My apologies, Miss Vega. I fear we are at a disadvantage. You seem to know something about me, while you are a complete mystery. Her left arm crossed under where her bust would have been while shifting her weight to her right hip and turning to look toward a large tent area, set up for changing purposes. ¡°Hmm. Our destination is this way, Ambassador. Don¡¯t you think we should set an example for the others?¡± Klaus lifted an imaginary eyebrow as she gestured for them to the changing area. It didn¡¯t seem to be in much use at the moment for some reason, and nervous people were taking piles of various clothing to the location. So it would appear. Walking beside her, some of the others fell in line, but most were being swarmed by family or friends. He peeked at Emelina, but the mysterious woman simply held her skeletal hands at her front, burning eyes focused entirely on their destination. He couldn¡¯t eavesdrop on any of their conversations or the minds of others, as Butter warned, due to not being in a Maid or Butler leadership position. Klaus found himself wondering what was going through this woman¡¯s head; was she peeking in on the minds given to her charge? Emelina didn¡¯t leave him to stew long in silence, keeping her focus aimed at the tent. There was something enticing in the cadence she held; it was in her soft, controlled voice, the way she walked, and the timed delays between engaging him. In subtle ways, she was testing him, and he was here for it; she knew what she was doing. ¡°I am at your complete disposal, Ambassador. What¡¯s on your mind?¡± He crossed his arms, scanning the scene and taking in every detail, but it only took a quick look before his gaze was back on the woman next to him. I¡¯d like to get to know my coworkers, if possible. Who is Emelina? The Head Maid paused at the front entrance of the tent, doing a quick sweep of the interior. Instead of answering his question, she turned to him and held out a hand. ¡°If you would, Ambassador, I will take you to the proper dressing section. I¡¯ve been getting to know the maids, and they¡¯ve provided me with the details on how they¡¯ve organized the garments we¡¯ve been allowed.¡± Allowed? Klaus repeated, fingers twitching as he took her offered hand; it was warm and soft, very unlike what he imagined bones to be. It momentarily threw him off as she guided him inside, yet her grip was firm and sure. Those green ri¡¯bot have taken most of the clothing? She opened a section before zipping it back up. Emelina didn¡¯t bother with the solar-charged light hanging from the ceiling since they could see in the dark. She took him to the center and drew away, her tone gentle and wearing a soft smile her polished skull didn¡¯t show. ¡°Would you be willing to help me, Ambassador?¡± Curious and thrown off by all the redirections and questions left open to be answered, he couldn¡¯t remember dealing with a woman like this in the States. Emelina appeared to be attempting to step into her role as a Head Maid at full force, and each new action gave him a better grasp of her enigmatic personality. That would depend on the task, Ms. Head Maid. Leading me into a dark, closed-off tent and cornering me for a favor? You¡¯re not the first woman to try to seduce me. ¡°Hehe. Is that what I¡¯m doing?¡± Emelina asked with a coy tilt of her head. ¡°I¡¯m very new to this life as a maid, and I¡¯m supposed to guide these other women in their duties¡­ one of which is dressing our charges.¡± Klaus would have swallowed if he could, and even without a throat, his bones felt dry as a desert as the woman bent down to extract a black dress shirt from a pile. ¡°Am I going to be left here feeling stupid and useless? My, but what will the other maids think of me leaving without performing my given duty? My intention wasn¡¯t to seduce you, Ambassador, but¡­ hehe, perhaps I must if I am to do my job.¡± Ouch! Way to turn it back on me. Backed into a corner and feeling like a wolf circled him, Klaus kept perfectly still as Emelina moved around him like a shark smelling blood; the walls were whispering there was no escape. I¡¯m at your disposal, Ma¡¯am. His jaw tightened as the maid disappeared behind him, a shiver running through Klaus¡¯ marrow when Emelina¡¯s warm, delicate touch slid across the back of his ribs. ¡°There¡¯s a lot I need to learn in order to do my duties to the empire, Ambassador¡­ So much experimentation that needs to be done. I¡¯m thankful for your cooperation.¡± Trying to keep relaxed, Klaus felt the beating of his nonexistent heart pulse at her slow-moving fingers. They slid from his ribs to his spine as her low, tantalizing voice laced with steamed honey against his skull, feeding directly into his mind. ¡°Please, close your eyes and tell me everything that comes to your mind¡­ Can you feel my touch?¡± Warm¡­ soft. With his eyes closed, he lost his image of the bony skeleton entirely to the sphinxlike voice caressing his mind. It¡¯s slightly different, but¡­ no less stimulating than skin-on-skin. ¡°I feel it, too,¡± she whispered, making Klaus¡¯ toes curl with every word. ¡°Contracting muscle¡­ rising body heat. It appears the Nexus transmits more than just words. You can follow my fingers from your spine to your neck, down your arm¡­ sliding to your wrist?¡± Every inch, he swallowed. Haha. It makes me wonder what else can be passed through this private connection we now share. She stopped in front of him. Longingly, he could feel her presence with every pulse of undead energy her core released, beating like a heart right next to his soul. A pause came in their conversation, every millisecond like a hammer against his chest that she controlled. ¡°¡­A dangerous connection, indeed, Ambassador¡­ Arms up.¡± He followed instructions, eyes closed as this mysterious maid slid tingling fabric over his frame; her voice inflamed his mind, the hint of desire only just out of reach in every syllable she spoke. ¡°Once upon a time, a small rose sprouted, growing in the shelter of a lovely garden¡­ until she was plucked away at her tender age. Discarded amongst the filth and weeds, the young rose was unable to escape the suffocating forest she¡¯d been thrown into¡­ forced to take root and left to cry in her poisoned bed.¡± Each button Emelina fastened left a lingering pressure as she started from the top down. It was almost like he could see an outline of the flower that grew in front of him with every new sentence. ¡°To survive, her roots dug deep into the mud and grime¡­ whispers raging in her heart as her desperate leaves sought the overshadowed light just beyond reach¡­ Yet, no light would save this poor flower, doomed to wilt and die. But life is hardly so merciful.¡± The woman¡¯s hand glided over his torso, smoothing out wrinkles and leaving Klaus breathless. She took her time, folding back his sleeves and adding barrel cuffs. ¡°The flower lay in her cell, lost in her head, staring at the wall and waiting for the moment someone would come to steal her heart of gold. Left without a choice, she developed sharp, toxic barbs to protect herself since no tender hand would save her from the pain¡­ Lashes were all that awaited her resistance, and eventually, her bright red color became black¡­¡± Emelina¡¯s touch slid up his calf, prompting him to lift his feet. Her knuckles grazed the side of his thigh while bringing the dress pants up to his waist; she appeared to fasten them to the shirt with safety pins, taking care to allow him the sensation of the point to touch his bone ever so gently. ¡°Time passed, and the black rose bloomed, catching the notice of the wolves and foxes that prowled the territory, and she became an object of great attention¡­ A lovely sight with a deadly touch. Of course, beauty doesn¡¯t last, despite her desperate attempts to maintain her luster. Her black petals wilted, her roots shriveled, and her barbs fell off¡­¡± Klaus had forgotten to breathe for some time, not that he needed to, but Emelina¡¯s story enthralled him to the point the noisy camp faded into the background. His entire body tingled as velvet wrapped around the nape of his neck, pulling him down so her meticulous fingers could fashion the tie. He felt the imaginary honeyed steam that pressed against his cheeks; her words were lace, tightening around his thoughts to pull them into her seductive voice. ¡°In a last act of self-preservation, the black rose pricked herself. Thought to be dead, this once gorgeous flower was uprooted and cast aside like all those that had come before her. Then, she awakened in a distant, unfamiliar land. Scared, scarred, and aged, life had become death, and all she wanted¡­ was one last kiss.¡± Klaus¡¯ mind blanked as the softest pastry pressed against his lips, casting a spell over his mind that set him free in ways he couldn¡¯t describe. The intense heat, salted taste, and scent of flowers that she¡¯d imprinted onto his mind embraced every fiber of his being. Emelina drew back thorns and vines already trapping him in a charm of desire as she whispered into his ear, ¡°And now she can die in peace. Thank you, Ambassador.¡± Tightening the tie, Klaus opened his eyes to see her give him a half-turned look, fire-embraced emerald eyes flickering in the darkness before the tent flap fluttered on her exit. His fingers rose to his burning mouth; Klaus could still taste her soft lips, stronger than any drug he¡¯d taken. There was something captivating in everything she did, her gravity breaking down his resistances, dragging him closer; if he could show emotion, there would be a grin. Taking one look at his suit and tie, he marveled at how closely she¡¯d matched his thin, bony frame to the size of the items. He¡¯d been in such a daze that Klaus hadn¡¯t even felt her add his shoes or socks. As it turns out, haha, undeath won¡¯t be so bad. The walls were whispering that he wouldn¡¯t come back if he went after her, but he was already dead. Despite the warnings from his saner self, Klaus followed the provocative Head Maid into the dress section of the tent anyways; after all, he had to return the favor. B2 — 1. Budding Empire Elinor moved between the various groups of her rising kingdom, evaluating what each one needed while the hurricane kept them bunkered down. In tandem, Butter went out with the ri¡¯bot and Carlos¡¯ hunting parties to get more supplies, Death Orbs, and levels. However, she swiftly changed tactics upon seeing a pattern. While the military units were swiftly advancing within the Poor-Grade, the serving staff was seeing very slow progress. Once their tasks had been swapped to supporting the camp and sorting the goods, their experience skyrocketed. Days passed in the sporadic weather of pelting rain, hail, deadly winds, and lightning that shook the air, yet counter to Valdar¡¯s expectations, it only got worse. Tiffany provided further insight that hurricanes could last as much as two to four weeks on Earth, and being on another world meant it could be either longer or shorter. The former elder chief hadn¡¯t seen a storm like this in most of his life and was concerned about damage to the structures of his tribe since they lived on a cliff shelf. The race could easily weather the punishing tempest themselves, but their way of life could see complications due to the flooding. Luckily, the sanctuary Nicole and the Plant Callers made for them could be tweaked and modified as needed. They widened the waterways and made corrections in its integrity from her father¡¯s input with his architectural engineering background. On the brighter side, it gave Elinor more time to prepare her citizens for the trek through the harsh jungle. She could also continue to negotiate with the two remaining clans¡ªValdar was more or less already in her pocket since her gains were also his clan¡¯s. In the meantime, her maids had set up a table and ramp to get to the top of a rig so she could observe the full breadth of the giant space. It was hard to believe it used to be a field, now turned into a megalithic domed edifice. She¡¯d grown her forces by quite a bit over the last ninety hours, learning the day and night cycle of their new world was six hours longer than Earth¡¯s. Despite the feeling of losing her home, it did excite her to explore their adopted planet and its secrets. Naturally, she started with the list of individuals on the list she¡¯d had the humans craft since she¡¯d promised them priority in returning their loved ones. While in the process, there came requests from these resurrections, such as wishing for them to be brought into the Serving Court instead of the Military. She accommodated where available, yet it wasn¡¯t without its challenges. In some instances, the raised individual was a tad agitated at the swap. One such case was Ang¨¦lica Tesoro, currently a Poor-A Grade Maid, who had been a sniper in the Columbian military. Her husband wanted her to be in a less dangerous position, and that had apparently caused some contention between them since she loved her previous job. It wasn¡¯t like the Serving Court couldn¡¯t fight or gain combat roles, but their stats and Feats were severely diminished. In addition, their method of leveling diverged from the Military Court. Still, Ang¨¦lica did her work without complaint, despite the sour attitude Elinor felt through the Nexus. As for entertainment, her attention was often taken by Valerie Meyer¡ªa US influencer, fashion model, and hobby violinist¡ªshe¡¯d been raised in the Musician role of the Serving Court. In conjunction, one surprise was her Assistant Head Maid, Theresa Pecha, who was quite the multi-talented mother of two older teenagers. The worldly-wise woman had been among the fastest to level, already rising to Common-S in her Serving capacity and unlocking the Songweaver Class within the Magi Core¡¯s Resonance Division. The motherly Latino woman was shockingly beautiful, poised, and tempered. Much of her body was restored upon reaching Common-S, like many of the other higher individuals that filled key stations of the Serving Court. Only a few parts of their skin showed their undead roots, which could mostly be covered by clothing. Her husband and older teen boys were blown away by the change to their dark-haired, lime-eyed, stunning wife and mother¡ªthe lighter color representing her musical-based Division. Her talent in playing the piano and singing was also quite advanced due to being the pianist at one of the local churches. Valerie was very close to reaching Common-C, and was excited to see if she would enter the same Division as the rising role model. As could be expected from a somewhat popular US model and influencer, she was a bright, bubbly blonde, who enjoyed dressing up in all sorts of accessories and fashion, along with a passion for dancing. Elinor appreciated the music the two were able to provide, further uplifting the now hopeful humans in more ways than one with their restored appearance. It wasn¡¯t only the humans inspired, as well, judging by the ri¡¯bot that were enjoying their performances. The cadence of the propped-up, damaged piano, singing, and solemn violin mixed with the tapping rain and rolling thunder outside to set quite the atmosphere. Day by day, the number of people that saw her as a ruler and drew to her banner was increasing. Unfortunately, there was a downside to [Rising Empire: Budding]. Her growth had slowed down to a frustrating degree after hitting seven hundred and fifty followers out of the three thousand or so living humans she had to convert. Yes, the humans as a whole more or less saw her as their ruler¡ªor bent the knee to her¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t all there was for them to count toward her Feat. They had to view themselves as citizens of her empire and not slaves. It was a puzzling development that Tiffany wasn¡¯t so thrilled about, but her father counseled that it would work out in time. Butter was more in-line with her dad¡¯s way of thinking, and the pair had become a lot closer as they got to know each other. Elinor kept herself somewhat aloof, putting all of her energy into plotting a way forward and handling some of the negotiations. It helped now that she had an expert in the field in the way of Klaus, her Ambassador, that would be sent to the Clavex territory and Nalvean Empire. Although, there were times she found herself smirking and spying on a few developments happening within her Nexus, such as the playful games her father and Tiffany engaged in. It often involved the competition they had with their growing factions of mortal magic users or knights. Tiffany¡¯s entry-level Witches and Warlocks were far less inclined to do the darker side of the art, but so long as they could learn a few basics to help with their eventual production needs of food and silk products, then it was good enough for her¡ªat least for now. On the other hand, Edmon had a host of young boys and even girls that wanted to be just like her ¡®cool¡¯ dad, roaming around on his giant black Percheron warhorse. It was usually Mika that acted as the instructor for them since the ri¡¯bot was also in the process of training her father in actual combat. Sure, being raised to his station and title had given him a lot of downloaded battle tactics and skills, but it was nothing to what the experienced ri¡¯bot warriors could offer. It was a win-win since it had him engaging the excited High Warriors to test their metal against his impenetrable armor. Her father had a hard time keeping up with Garu, though, meaning he¡¯d have trouble against the cultist Xaria of the Komath. He had the Feats and many ways of trying to make up for his lack of actual combat experience, but he was determined to close the skill gap as soon as possible with the help of her undead System. Another dessert-like entertainment she nibbled on from time to time was a growing flame between her Ambassador and Head Maid, both of which were the only ones who currently managed to break past the Common-S into the Uncommon Grade. The pair were fun to watch as he tried to make the former assassin of the cartel¡ªand a far older woman in her sixties¡ªsmile and laugh. Her story was a shocking one, and originally, she¡¯d been extremely disfigured and scared due to how she¡¯d escaped her former employer, having grown up in the sex trade. She had lost her brother as a young girl when they were taken from their family and separated, and that was only the beginning. Her life was filled with woe and trauma, which forced her to grow cold and meticulous not to anger her handlers, developing a penchant for murder¡ªnot that she enjoyed it. The girl grew into a beauty, despite the scars on her back from the whips they¡¯d used to punish her when a teenager, and her task was changed to drawing in officials and wealthy businessmen that vacationed in South America. As time went on, her successes brought the eye of the bigger players in the cartel, advancing her to a more deadly job of using her looks, charm, and adaptability. Aimed at hard-to-reach targets, it was here she stepped into the role of an assassin. Once her beauty had started to fade¡ªdespite her desperate attempts to maintain it¡ªher usefulness began to dry up, and she hatched a plan to fake her death. She did escape, yet it left her disfigured in the process, and she ended up in this little town to retire in. Now, there was a young, strapping politician courting her, which made Elinor smile and chuckle at how the woman strung Klaus on. He knew what she was doing, but played into it for fun, creating this sort of dance between them that eased the monotony of the storm trapping them. On one of her resurrection sessions, she discovered another German girl that the torlim had found in the mud and dug up; a missing tourist girl from a murder case over ten years old, but the clumsy pre-teen maid provided more entertainment for Elinor while giving Nicole¡ªthe Dryad girl¡ªsomeone her age to be friends with and help through her trauma. Adoncia Vences¡ªone of the original maids she raised¡ªwas having a heart attack with her younger brother wanting to join Edmon¡¯s Argent Dusk Knights. She had regained most of her ability to speak after becoming Common-A, being one of the few maids, such as Ang¨¦lica, who obtained EXP through a mix of combat and duty-based tasks. It became clearer that it was possible to overlap some roles within the Military and Serving Courts when Adoncia obtained her Class, yet one would take dominance. She became an Elite Warrior, blue eyes changed to gold upon advancing to the Class, and her temper was beginning to show as Elinor observed her. The girl certainly had one and could be quite assertive, which made her a good possible candidate for an Assistant Head Maid role in the coming weeks as she raised more. It seemed most of the humans with loved ones to be raised wanted them in a serving role and not to be sent into danger. Elinor was fine with such sentiments since humans weren¡¯t amazing in combat roles in the first place, considering she had more advanced species she could raise for that purpose in this alien world. It also helped to have a serving staff that understood the culture she¡¯d grown up in. Her living Defending Core and guard was receiving more and more recruits after Virgil and Gloria¡ªtwo of the human ring leaders the community had grown to trust¡ªjoined, and even in the few days they¡¯d given themselves over to the training, results were being seen. Gloria used to be quite chubby and appeared to be quite self-conscious about it, but as she fell into Edmon¡¯s ranks, a change began to occur that more than one woman observed, and the same could be said with Virgil. The woman¡¯s fat melted away, and her short stature grew, bringing her to stand from her 150 cm height to 170 cm. Her countenance brightened instead of diminishing, showing that those that entered her living army could pull from not only her affinity but Butter¡¯s, as well. Virgil also drew more women¡¯s gaze with his change, developing a solid physique and a more rugged appearance that appeared to represent how he wanted to look. Her powers to mold those who served her were swiftly spreading amongst various groups, sparking many of the women to want to join either Tiffany or Edmon¡¯s circles, which was where the bulk of her citizens came from.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Sadly, since she currently only had two Royal Court members, options were limited, and they only needed a certain number of recruits. She assured her anxious citizens that more positions would open in the future. It wasn¡¯t just combat roles her undead were filling; one such individual that fell into a dual serving category was a woman that had struggled with sickness her entire life, having earned her doctorate from inside a medical bed. Luisina Aristizabal had obtained one of the Seeds, the same as Carlos, that Elinor absorbed when restoring the woman to life. It appeared to be a rather malnourished Seed since it only gave her a single level, or it hadn¡¯t fully integrated into her, but upon reaching the Common-C Grade, she gained the Clergy Class. Between cooks, ground keepers, and other positions, her Serving Court was thriving with the sharp influx of human dead she had resurrected, reuniting families. With all the new followers and advancing Feats, she had nearly ninety Intelligent and over two hundred Unintelligent undead¡ªmostly ri¡¯bot or torlim. It still wasn¡¯t enough. Levels were slowing down for her after her competition against the ri¡¯bot clans had come to a close, and with each passing day, she tried something different to further test this System. At Level 9, she got her first equipable Feat, yet left it pending since she couldn¡¯t possibly get rid of her current three selections of [Butterfly II], [Phylactery I], and [Artificial Body II]. When hitting Level 10 at the start of the second week, she obtained the ability to select something called an Ultimate Feat; yet again, upon looking at the options of Utility, Attack, and Defense, she left it for now. From what she could tell, every five levels, she had the opportunity to choose something far more powerful, and until she discovered what her fifteenth level would be like, she wanted to leave her options open. She had to see if there was a pattern. Elinor ceased raising the dead on the fourth day to fulfill the requirements to bring Phylactery to the next Grade. She spent much of this time discussing items from their world with Fennel, Nadraca, and Valdar, bartering and explaining why they needed certain items. It was concluded that due to the terrible storm, Fennel would inform the Roxim Chief that Elinor would be at this sanctuary location three months after they started their journey. It would give her time to settle a lot of affairs with Valdar¡¯s grandson¡ªthe current chief of their clan. Nadraca was resistant in quite a few negotiations, yet she managed to get her to budge enough to lend the humans three pairs of garments that would be returned with interest. It did kick some women in the butt to join Tiffany in order to have even basic clothing for the future and to develop skills, including magic, they could fall back on. A bitter part in some people¡¯s minds that prevented them from joining was the fact these powers relied on seeing her as their ruler. Stubborn men and women sulked in their groups, mumbling to one another about plots she may be having as an undead overlord. She mostly ignored them since, at the end of the day, they were helpless without her. Once everything had been divided and instructions were given to the Roxim on the basic use of firearms, Elinor smiled at the vast majority of the goods that lay on the Delthax side of the sanctuary. She had managed to bargain every bullet as a powerful tool for the Roxim to gain, and the exciting part was that Tiffany informed her that they had the means to create gunpowder. Near the colossal, old quen¡¯talrat city-fortress was a volcanic zone that was filled with all sorts of minerals and metals to be explored and cultivated. Elinor had also managed to hide many of the explosives and pass them off as unimportant to give them a head start on developing areas that required heavy demolition. Considering the Delthax made their home on the shelf of a mountain range, her father said there might be a need for the substance, which she passed off as more construction material. Audrey, her OCD terrorist maid, had obtained a rather interesting Class after reaching the appropriate Tier and Grade. Rather than joining Carlos in his Class, she was assigned to the Magi-Science Division in the Magi Core as an Alchemist. The meticulous woman would be instrumental in developing more explosives. There were much more Serving personnel she raised, learning about each of their talents and expertise over the next week, and nearly twelve days after the hurricane started, the storm died down to more manageable levels. When they prepared to leave, Klaus joined Nadraca¡¯s side to help the Clavex bring their supplies to the rafts they hoped had somehow survived the storm; if not, they¡¯d spend another two weeks crafting new temporary vessels to see them back. Somehow the High Priestess had kept the sadistic snake woman unconscious throughout the past two weeks with the help of a tonic her people made. Tiffany wanted to get a sample, but the clan was very secretive and resistant to her probes, ruffling her feathers a bit. Elinor didn¡¯t want to rock the boat too much; they¡¯d gotten away with more than they should have through careful maneuvering. They¡¯d even managed to keep a pistol with some ammunition for herself¡ªher father¡¯s insistence¡ªnot that she was particularly versed in firing it. Instead of carrying it on her person, she had whatever maid was on duty handling the item. A flurry of activity was inside the sanctuary as they got ready to leave; nervous laughter and chuckles were passed between the humans, unsure what to expect, but Quin was doubtful they would do well, despite the gear they¡¯d been equipped with. She had her undead scouting ahead with Mika and the Delthax scouts, finding them the best route for the humans to take through the winding jungle. The massive trees were larger than the redwoods, with roots sometimes the size of houses that blocked their path or created rolling mounds that needed to be climbed. Elinor sat on a chair with a seat belt that had been fastened to a harness; Quin wore it around her body. The pre-teen gorilla Elite Warrior normally stood tall and straight, unlike her Earth-like counterparts, and refused to believe Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma, her glorious leader, had died until seeing the fallen fortress for herself. She was more than willing to accommodate her desire now that the storm had eased into a light drizzle; they had to start making the journey in any case. Valdar left a few guards behind, including a Plant Caller he could communicate to over long distances, but, not wanting to be outdone, Tiffany performed a ritual with a ri¡¯bot skull that would create a permanent communication hub across a forty-kilometer range. She would need to make a relay station at some point on their journey, but that didn¡¯t require a skeleton. Setting out on their journey, Elinor entered her inner world to sit more comfortably in her chair while directing Quin to set off for her city-fortress; she wanted a look at it, at the very least. In the coming months, she¡¯d be back to explore it more thoroughly to see if it was suitable to be made into a more permanent home. Her father wanted Garu to go with her, but she superseded his desire by pointing out that their goal was to make as much noise as possible to invoke attacks from hostile clanless since she needed more bodies. Butter would be directing things in her absence, and her twin was growing quite fond of the power Elinor entrusted to her. She gave a lot of authority to the blonde to maintain what she¡¯d already built while she focused on further expansion. Studying her status screen, she let the haunting organ play in the backdrop with falling rain and thunder; she was rather fond of the ambient noise after the hurricane if she excluded the howling wind¡ªa modest rain was good enough. As she¡¯d learned more about the System, it filled out, showing her what was previously hidden. At Level 12, she reflected on how much of it had filled out with each new bit of information she¡¯d puzzled out. Immediately, she regretted not seeing if she could refine her maxed Feat. If she got another chance at Level 15, she¡¯d take it. Currently, her biggest issue was the roadblock many of her undead had reached in their advancement. Before she sunk any points into anything else, that had to be resolved. Tiffany and Edmon had been raised to Uncommon-S, the maximum her units could currently reach, and while they hadn¡¯t budged in the last two weeks, Quin had gone up to A-tier, and Garu to C-tier. The Ethereal Clan scout gained the Subclass of Mistwalker within the Hunter Class, providing him methods of tracking and killing those he marked. The Serving Court was far, far easier to level, or, at least, that is what it appeared, yet it was likely due to them not being in an actual war; this was one of the reasons she wanted to provoke clanless raiders. Still, even her Serving Court was hitting a block, but not in the Tier department, which was something of note. Instead, whenever there was a block, it came when trying to move into the next Grade, stalling upon hitting S-tier. Levels didn¡¯t seem to be a problem, continuing to rise, even for Tiffany and her father. The pair almost seemed to be having a competition to see who had the higher vantage point, making little bets¡ªTiffany always teased some kind of kiss, but her father was ruthless¡ªa domination game was his department, dictating what the Witch would wear that day. At the moment, Tiffany was in a peach summer dress with a duck head mascot that somehow managed to make it into the pile; it had many of her young disciple Warlocks and Witches snickering at the typically terrifying dark arts specialist. To make matters worse for the woman, if she didn¡¯t reach level ten by the end of the day, she had to put on the flippers. Elinor would have never guessed it, but the woman actually somewhat got off on the games¡ªlosing or winning¡ªand she had to wonder if her mother had been like this in private. For a certainty, her father knew the woman far better than Elinor thought he would, seemingly proving to him that her mother was still a part of the Witch. Butter didn¡¯t help, egging them on and waiting to see what punishment would come next from the teasing Witch and Death Knight¡¯s games that appeared to be catching the eye of many women in their two circles. Elinor was glad they were at least finding a way forward. She dismissed the thoughts as Garu contacted her before they went out of range from the Nexus; soon, they¡¯d be on the march to their temporary home amongst the Delthax ri¡¯bot. ¡°Empress, am I disturbing you?¡± Elinor shifted her cheek against her knuckles while staring into the blue flames of her fireplace, crossing her legs in the opposite direction. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No. We are setting the positioning now and making sure everything is secured on the torlim. Valdar just needs to say goodbye to the other expedition leaders, and we will be on our way¡­ Is it possible for me to discover what happened to my clan when we reach the Wixum border since they are allied with the Delthax?¡± Considering the requested quest, Elinor¡¯s gaze shifted to her sister¡¯s side of their shared space, bubbly and bright. It amused her that once the blonde had gotten introduced to the concept of photographs, she¡¯d lined her side of the room with captured memories. Of course, she could understand the desire to record them since she had almost total amnesia. ¡°Perhaps once I finish speaking to Valdar¡¯s grandson. Valdar has a lot of sway, but ultimately, it is up to the current chief to make good on his promises. Depending on how things turn out, making contact with your clan might help us¡­ or it could bring further enemies to our doorstep¡ªas you know, powerful enemies. We need to be careful at our current stage.¡± ¡°I¡­ understand, Empress.¡± He pulled away to continue his assigned mission and tasks. Elinor could sympathize with both Garu and Quin¡¯s apprehension to believe what others had told them. For the gorilla, how could someone she saw as a literal god have died? Garu saw his clan as the strongest ri¡¯bot, bar none. Yet, the god had fallen, and the Ethereal had faded into history like the mist they were known to be so close to. There was a lot of mystery to be solved in the coming months as she explored this new home, and as a snack to nibble on, Quin brought her to the home she¡¯d grown up in. ¡°Empress, we¡¯re almost out of the jungle. Look, you can see the Ke¡¯s Spire from anywhere in the valley!¡± Leaving her inner world, Elinor resituated herself in the chair. Quin was using thick vines as if born hanging from them, swinging and climbing up the giant trees to reach the canopy-like sky. Breaking through, Elinor gazed across the sea of yellow, purple, and red-leaved trees to a rising cliff that blocked the view of what lay beyond, yet one thing was visible¡ªa spear piercing the heavens. Peering past the light mist that lingered, she spotted a spire so large it dwarfed anything she¡¯d seen on Earth, shooting into the low-hanging clouds; the fact such a thing was still standing after a century without any maintenance brought back the tales Quin told her about the type of technology they used¡ªa runic language of magical properties the Ke brought back from the far north in his conquest. It¡¯s¡­ certainly grand, she whispered, noting its obsidian black appearance that would likely shine in the sunlight. There¡¯s a city below it? ¡°Kel¡¯mal¡¯tha! It is glorious, Empress¡ªjust beyond the ridge and treeline. I know the Ke will want to meet you. I just¡­ don¡¯t know why the ri¡¯bot are still here¡ªhe was intent on eradicating all the weaker races¡­¡± Doubt in the quen¡¯talrat child¡¯s voice, she jumped down in almost a free fall, forcing Elinor¡¯s braid up as her stomach squirmed like she¡¯d entered a roller coaster; she practically had. Keeping her cool as the jungle blurred past her, mist taking the place of the rain in the lower levels, she saw creatures slowly beginning to come out of their hiding place; naturally, the giant ape terrified most, sending them racing away in their passing. However, when they finally reached the edge of the barren volcanic shelf of the great quen¡¯talrat city of Kel¡¯mal¡¯tha, Quin froze in place. Sweet voice low and frightened for such a terrifying, four-armed goliath of an animal. ¡°Empress¡­ why is part of the outer wall broken; how could it be breached with the city¡¯s defensive runes? The inner wall isn¡¯t damaged, though, so¡­¡± Elinor recalled the story Valdar shared with her; it had been the Golariex¡ªone of the Great Races, as the ri¡¯bot called them¡ªthat had done it. The elder¡¯s stories couldn¡¯t compare to the real thing. Much of the city was obscured in the mist, but the walls were likely over three hundred meters in the sky, thick beyond belief. Yet, Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma was supposedly ten meters tall, so it was made to accommodate the giant gorilla¡¯s race. Dozens of kilometers of towering, black-stone wall remained perfectly intact from side to side, and the only damage was from the Golariex attack that had allowed the ri¡¯bot to be the fodder needed to open the gates for the others. However, there was only one thing running through Elinor¡¯s mind when viewing merely a slice of this intimidating city that was grander than any fortress she¡¯d seen in fiction on scale and breadth. This is a capital worthy of an empire. B2 — 2. Were Home Sitting atop Quin, Elinor had her portable throne climb the stony hills that divided the jungle from the volcanic wasteland. Tiffany was salivating over the many materials this area could provide her, and that certainly was a promising prospect, but that would be in the future. She transferred to one of the gorilla¡¯s palms for Quin to raise her up to study the deep and vibrant valley. The lingering signs of the hurricane misted the landscape, obscuring portions. It wasn¡¯t long before her gaze had wandered to the looming quen¡¯talrat city to the north. In the silence that took them, Elinor watched the fog that veiled the mountain range behind the black fortress. Valdar had been right; something atop those colossal, snowy peaks fed on the storm. She put all of that behind her, though, organizing things into priority lists with the distant rumble of the dying tempest. For the time being, Elinor contented herself with burning the misty vision of the early morning valley into her soul. She could reconstruct it in her sanctuary with Butter later for further examination. Once satisfied, she turned her attention to Quin, having the giant ape return them to the long caravan of her recently acquired citizens. Elinor busied herself by speaking to the quen¡¯talrat through the Nexus on their journey. I know it must be a shock. What was life like when you lived in that colossal fortress? ¡°I didn¡¯t know anything else, Empress,¡± the fairly young child whispered, making sure to keep her secure on one of her hands along their slow trip back to the group. ¡°Everything was already built when I was born, and quen¡¯talrat are born to fulfill a purpose. My purpose was to be a great Elite Hunter, like Amra¡¯Cora!¡± I see. You looked up to this Elite Hunter? ¡°She is the fifth daughter of the Silver Queen herself, Empress, and some say her father was the Ke!¡± Young quen¡¯talrat rumors in this Elite Hunter school you attended? ¡°I was only trained for five weeks¡­ I volunteered to push back the invaders! My parents were against it, but¡­ I had the right under the law to make that decision. Then I¡­ I died. How could the Ke die?¡± Elinor didn¡¯t respond right away; her question wasn¡¯t necessarily aimed at her. Quin was searching for her own answers and solace to her failure. It wasn¡¯t as if Garu had taken Quin down himself, either; he¡¯d been in a team of three that had ambushed her. Of course, none of that mattered in Quin¡¯s mind since her glorified god battled armies alone and without a wound. All of the tales Quin and Valdar told regarding the White God, from his rise to power, feats, and inevitable fall, were just that to Elinor. Until she had more solid evidence, everything she learned was pending. Yet, there was one thing that plucked at the back of her mind like the inescapable buzz of the jungle insects and wildlife. Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma was on a rocket to the top, and no one could stop him: well, no one but Shade. It all aligned too perfectly for the other races, and from what little she¡¯d learned about this world¡¯s history in the past week, there was an uncomfortable pattern that linked together. We will find out the truth in time, Quin; there¡¯s no need to dwell too heavily on that subject. As of now, you are my Elite Hunter, and I will give you the glory and high expectations you seek. ¡°Yes, Empress! I will not fail again!¡± Quin¡¯s terrifying roar and passage through the jungle amused Elinor. Despite its ferocity and bone-shaking sounds, to her translation Feat, it was the cry of a female child. Returning to the pack, Elinor left much of the administration to be handled by her courts while she pondered the bigger picture. Butter was given the power to identify who they required to continue to provide new services for their budding empire and raise them. Her High Monarch of the Evening Star had become quite the asset. It was still challenging for her to fully view her as a sister, but her father had gone all in. After careful self-inventory, Elinor could see herself possibly growing slightly jealous of the attention she was being given. Then again, she also was his direct supervisor, and she would not give Butter the satisfaction of discovering her sister¡¯s annoyed feelings. Her former mother was amusing enough to watch. In a way, she could see a pattern her father was playing that strummed the Witch Queen along like an instrument. He appeared to have the woman calculated to a science on how much slack to give to make her go crazy. Cool-headed, offhandedly sarcastic, and the subtle jabs of comments that he knew would stick inside her mind, her father worked a charm and game she didn¡¯t know he possessed. Tiffany, on the other hand, was struggling to find a hold since many of the traits that made her father fidget came from her more tender side. Wildly, it almost seemed like her father was forcing her to cultivate more of this side the Witch Queen was uncomfortable with. Sure, she could fake it, to an extent, but her father was swift to poke holes in her facade that caused a complete collapse and made her storm off in a huff; not that she could escape in her mind or undead heart. Elinor observed the operations of her kingdom from above for the next three weeks, always seen yet rarely making contact with the humans or ri¡¯bot. She did spend a certain block of time each day speaking to Valdar to obtain further insight into whatever plot was on her mind in the moment, but the direction of her empire had to be planned meticulously. The actions she needed to take were simple in and of themselves; it was the manner in which she executed them and in what order that mattered. Elinor had to enter a grand stage where kingdoms and powerful entities played, which required a lot of planning and forethought. Shade had given her many ideas in their brief encounter and conversation. He had to work in a slow and meticulous way due to his inability to enact things in a direct way, but she wasn¡¯t limited by that. Although, he had the advantage of interacting with people across the entire globe, and potentially beyond it. Shade was her long-term adversary. On the other side of the coin was the Scarlet Hand. Unlike Shade, they could make deals and craft connections to counter her in the short term. Luckily, Elinor had positioned herself in a way that put them on the back foot. She just had to maintain that lead. What Elinor won for her empire in resources and influence, Butter and her Royal Court could then take over. Her path was setting the direction and paving the way for them to build. Looking back, it was similar to how she ran the cheer squad when she had been captain. Initially, she¡¯d had resistance from the older girls, but her accomplishment of winning the Junior High Cheerleading Championship spoke for itself. Sadly for them, she¡¯d moved past cheerleading after her sophomore year and into her more ¡®macabre phase,¡¯ as her mother had put it. After some thought, perhaps it was her abandonment of the team that had caused the tension between her and her old friends, who struggled without her leadership and work ethic. Elinor had to dismiss these distracting thoughts every so often, yet it did serve as a warning to remain vigilant in her goals. She came to the conclusion that Butter¡¯s influence had more than likely been the draw to cheerleading in the first place. Her heart was set on something else: the unusual draw she felt to the concept of death, empires, and security for herself and others. Throughout the weeks it took them to reach the Wixum Clan¡¯s territory, an allied tribe to the Delthax, Elinor¡¯s vision shifted. She wasn¡¯t blind to the struggles, tears, and whispers of the humans as they traveled the ancient jungle, teeming with dangers with every step. Humanity had evolved to shape its environment to its needs, not traverse nearly impassable terrain with roots the size of rigs and trees towering over the redwoods of Earth. What Elinor figured would take them three weeks turned out to be nearly five, and that was only to reach the large lake shores of the Wixum¡¯s primary settlement. If they were to reach the Delthax¡¯s, it was still thirty-five kilometers to their destination, across a large river and a steep hike to the cliff shelf they lived at. Basically impossible. Butter brought up the concern to her as they finally reached what constituted civilization amongst the ri¡¯bot, causing the humans to cry with joy. Unknown to the band of exhausted and famished humans, they¡¯d already been in contact with the Wixum for some time via scout runners. They¡¯d informed their chief that their very large group would be reaching them within the month, but that had kept showing signs of delay. At the moment, Elinor was impressed by the preparations the clan of turquoise-colored ri¡¯bot had made for their arrival; it almost seemed too generous. Of course, Valdar¡¯s agitated comments regarding the allied clan over the five weeks gave her an insight into why. What he saw as a burden and growing concern for the eventual collapse of these people that would affect his own, Elinor saw as a golden opportunity for them both; it was all about perspective. Legs crossed with her hands in her lap, Elinor waited in the tree line for every last human straggler to make it into the cleared and open spaces of the clan. Butter, Edmon, and Tiffany organized into their own assigned roles to accomplish what she¡¯d laid out earlier. The witch circles were performing ¡®homework¡¯ of sorts, finalizing some of the communication rituals that would allow them to speak across a large area. Elinor had ordered its creation, which Tiffany then shoved off to her school¡¯s students as practice. A few more extreme Witches and Warlocks had even advanced to a more teaching role, such as Esmeralda, to help the beginners. The blonde ran her own little coven of girls that showed the most promise in rising to a more senior position. Tiffany really just wanted one of them to reach the level of a real instructor for her school other than just ¡®bright students¡¯ that could support the ¡®dumb¡¯ ones. Edmon¡¯s Aegis Order was coming along swimmingly, with Gloria overseeing the women, and Virgil, the men. Elinor could feel Tiffany biting the brim of the big witch¡¯s hat Edmon forced her to wear with spiteful competition; not that she was particularly complaining about the accessories. The truth was, he was just more charismatic and connected better with humans. It was funny to see him giving her lessons on recruitment, and his suggested angle of the Witch using familiars as a selling point was doing work. And that was even more fuel to make the Witch Queen want to cry in frustration at needing the man¡¯s help. Elinor¡¯s gaze only lingered on the two groups before spotting Valdar and the Wixum Chief meet; he would speak privately to her for a time and introduce the situation before inviting her to the discussion. It would be quite the diversion from where he believed the conversation would go, which was all a part of Elinor¡¯s plan since she didn¡¯t want to explain herself twice. Scanning the Wixum settlement, she made a note of the partially rebuilt dam that had been destroyed by the storm. According to Valdar, this clan had been dwindling in military might significantly over the last several decades, and the reason was somewhat his fault. In brokering peace with the Wixum¡¯s chief three generations back, Valdar unknowingly sent these people in the direction of industrialization and craftsmanship. He had somewhat of a fling with the chief at the time¡ªtheir current chief¡¯s great-grandmother¡ªwhich was a spicy topic among the ri¡¯bot warriors of the past, or so the elder joked. He shared with her the ideas and visions he had of their clans that could bring them into a more advanced civilization. It had stuck with him after talking with so many of the great races during the Fire Wars. Unfortunately, his clansmen were far too stuck in the old ways at the time, and hers far too eager to jump on board. Due to this, the Delthax became heavily militarized, pushing into it with every passing generation in order to guard not only their borders but the Wixum¡¯s, as well. It wasn¡¯t as if this was a completely one-sided union, though, since the Wixum provided much-needed food and supplies to the cliff-based Delthax. Sadly, it had soured many tongues with the loss of life and somewhat stagnated population of the Delthax while the Wixum flourished in numbers. Elinor could see why, with the Wixum¡¯s more elaborate construction techniques that resembled primitive human designs she¡¯d seen in history books. However, almost all of these structures had been completely devastated by the hurricane since they hadn¡¯t been built to handle such winds or waves from the lake. Still, the Wixum appeared happy as could be since their lives were far from lost. Their more aquatic and weathering capabilities as a species allowed them to survive such disasters where humans would most certainly die. It did provide a rather fortuitous opportunity, though. It took almost an hour for the last of the elderly humans, helped by her undead, to finally reach the outskirts, along with those that had lost limbs or that were afflicted with other disabilities. Tiffany said she had future rituals that could alleviate such conditions, which had drawn more than a few to her banner and citizenship. Gwen, as the primary individual who had taken over majority leadership amongst the living, and Lucky, her Serving Court¡¯s acting publicist to act as the liaison between the living and dead, were organizing parties to support those that were worse off. The pair were growing somewhat close with the witty undead man¡¯s caring ways and attention to detail in easing the overworked redhead¡¯s load. Gwen generally wasn¡¯t the type to shun what she thought were her duties with those that put their trust in her. Yet, Lucky had a way of twisting her around in a playful manner that made her accept his help, which included one interesting night when he¡¯d organized a dance. Carlos would have joined, but he was too busy with Mika cleaning up roving bands of clanless seeking to steal their goods. As Tiffany put it: more bodies to be raised and information gleaned from those who returned with their intelligence intact. Of course, that was just before Edmon performed a surprise attack, sweeping the squealing witch off her feet to join the festivities, complete in witch¡¯s garb as he¡¯d instructed her to wear. Upon recalling that amusing night, she sent an internal prompt to Lucky to facilitate something similar; it would be a good introduction to this clan and lighten the mood for when she eventually took the stage. There was plenty of daylight left, as well. Quin brought her to Valdar when they came back into sight, and he gave her a high-handed gesture that signaled he¡¯d done all of the preemptive work in explaining the humans and her undead¡¯s presence.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. The very few, and rather mediocre, Wixum military¡¯s legs were quaking at the approaching, silver-furred quen¡¯talrat. Quin¡¯s large feet left imprints in the wet mud, and almost everyone¡¯s gaze was fixated on her. Although, Elinor somewhat expected as much would be the case; it happened every time she went through the camps, casting a web of whispers about what her purpose was in her visit. Chief Yimara did her best not to look nervous as Quin lowered her to the more solid grass of the area the two leaders walked. According to Valdar, Yimara was quite unprepared to be a leader of such a massive clan and territory at the ripe young age of thirteen. It confused Elinor a tad, considering the ri¡¯bot saw adulthood at the age of eight. The reason was likely more to do with her mannerisms and leadership style than age, though. She wasn¡¯t nearly as confident in her military prowess. So, she¡¯d given the task to another ri¡¯bot warrior, who had abused power and made working the Wixum borders a nightmare for the more experienced and battle-hardened Delthax. Elinor knew how to handle people like that since it was rampant in school; there had always been some girl trying to usurp her authority in whatever activity she was in at the time. Touching down on the soil, Elinor gave the woman a respectful gesture against her chest, using three curled fingers with her thumb and pointer held slightly upward to the bright heavens. ¡°Hello, Chief Yimara. I¡¯ve heard so much about you. Shall we talk as you show me around your settlement?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ yeah,¡± she mumbled, returning the gesture and acting nothing like the proud Valdar beside her. ¡°The Former Chief tells me you have proposed a pact, which Chief Kalix and I must ratify the terms of¡­ I don¡¯t quite understand everything he told me, though.¡± ¡°Allow me to clarify, then. Shall we?¡± Elinor asked with an amiable tone, gesturing at the areas where her people were gathering fallen tree limbs and items to continue the restoration of their facilities. ¡°Right¡­¡± Valdar kept his peace since, in essence, his task was only to introduce them as leaders. Now, he was only in an advisory position to be called upon if needed. He used his staff to hobble along behind them, waiting to be welcomed into some part of the discussion that required his input. Hands clasping behind her back, she took her normal, confident posture, standing tall with her shoulders square and chest out while observing the damage. ¡°It seems the storm has devastated quite a bit of what you¡¯ve built. Was that supposed to be a fish farm?¡± she asked, vision darting to a place being given most of the attention near the lake. ¡°I don¡¯t understand this¡­ farm word,¡± Yimara said, enthusiasm now brightening her tone at the subject. ¡°If you mean an area to cultivate and grow fish, then yes! My predecessor and mentor had seen something similar in the Forbidden Caves when a child and wanted to replicate them. Heh. It has yielded some success, but we think there are some improvements that can be made this time around. Are you familiar with them?¡± The corner of Elinor¡¯s lip curved at the inquiry. She studied the prime areas they could expand upon; Tiffany and Edmon were going crazy with construction plans, using the mud to argue about how best to use the space. ¡°Hmm. My engineer¡¯s knowledge is¡­ extensive. You¡¯re speaking of Former Chief Vivine, who died a year ago and left you the mantle to carry on? A curse upon your line, as I¡¯m told.¡± Yimara¡¯s two teeth on either side of her mouth drew in, pressing against her skin but not drawing blood; it was a touchy subject. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the look Valdar gave her that asked, why in the Supreme Chiefs would she bring up that subject? Obviously, the one who told her this private detail would have to be him. ¡°Are you¡­ insinuating that it would be better for someone else to lead the Wixum since all of my family lines are cursed to die at the age of thirty? It is not an uncommon opinion, even amongst my own clan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not suggesting anything of the type,¡± Elinor neutrally replied, gaze drifting around to view the thousands of Wixum citizens and tradesmen, busy going about their work. Her illuminated, emerald irises gradually settled on the nervous woman, no doubt fixating on her every action. ¡°Do you believe it is true?¡± She flinched, rubbing her arm. ¡°I¡­ have to live up to my mother¡¯s expectations¡ªcarry out her dreams for our clan. It doesn¡¯t matter what I believe.¡± Elinor¡¯s smiling eyes darted to Valdar¡¯s hardening fist; clearly, this young woman was not ready for this taxing job of making the hard decisions. That was just perfect, though. If she was willing to give up the power of the military, of all things, to some loudmouth, then she could guide her in the right direction. ¡°Is that so?¡± The chief¡¯s fingers fidgeted against her shoulders as Elinor¡¯s cool stare returned to her. ¡°Then I¡¯d like to help you, Yimara.¡± ¡°Huh?! Y-You¡¯ll support Chief Vivine¡¯s vision?¡± Her unsure eyes darted to Valdar and back to her. ¡°No one has offered to help me. All I have had is opposition in the past year.¡± Valdar cleared his throat, goosebumps spreading across his arms. ¡°Empress, what are you plotting? I¡¯ve learned to read your facial expressions over the past six weeks. What kind of support¡ªyou aren¡¯t planning on staying here and not meeting my grandson?¡± ¡°No need to fret, Valdar,¡± Elinor soothed, making Yimara shiver at how she spoke to the revered Former Elder Chief. ¡°I will be joining you, but my empire will set its roots here amongst the Wixum. At least, for now.¡± She brought one hand out from behind her back to gesture at the blank canvas across the nearby grassland, ancient trees, and vast, rich lake and wide rivers filled with all kinds of aquatic creatures. ¡°Dams and fish farms are only the tip of the spear, Chief Yimara. With the knowledge my empire brings, I will build up the Wixum alongside the Delthax to be beacons of hope within this cruel valley. Electricity, machines, tools beyond your imagination, Yimara¡ªthe quality of life improvements that will put these other great races¡¯ civilizations to shame! All sparking from your loyalty to your mother.¡± Yimara¡¯s eyes were wide with the emphasis and mysterious future her enigmatic words sparked in her primitive mind. Elinor painted these great inventions that her mother had inspired as only a foundation of something far grander as she spun it back on the young chief. ¡°The Wixum may have lost their Mysticism, yet your open mind will give way to something these¡­ weak-minded individuals who oppose you cannot even fathom. Yet, you saw it¡ªthe vision your mother so craved. Accept my Court as support, Yimara, and no one will dare challenge your mother¡¯s vision again.¡± Elinor chuckled, drawing her attention back to her as Valdar reflected on her approach. ¡°There¡¯s no need to decide now, Yimara. Go, join King Edmon and express to him your mother¡¯s legacy; he will show you how our goals align. Great things are ahead for the Wixum, Yimara. Will you join me in realizing what Great Chief Vivine saw when she gave you this future to see fulfilled?¡± ¡°I, umm¡­ Wow. No one has ever offered me so much. I¡¯m, heh, a little overwhelmed, Empress. The Former Elder Chief said you were convincing, but¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°One only needs the truth,¡± Elinor whispered, motioning her toward Edmon and Tiffany, still discussing which facilities and machines needed to be crafted first with all the labor and foundation the Wixum had. ¡°Speak to King Edmon. He has an extensive background in engineering and architectural design. Exciting things are coming, Yimara. Exciting times.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The chief forced a laugh. ¡°You do make it sound exciting. I will need to deliberate on it a bit further. Thank you¡­ for seeing the genius in my mother¡¯s desire to see us never go hungry again. Often, much of our food goes to the Delthax.¡± Valdar¡¯s wrinkled face softened. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t know. Why did you never bring up any shortages?¡± ¡°Hehe. There are rumors as it is that the Delthax are looking for any sign of weakness to invade and enslave us¡­ not that I believe you would do such a thing, Former Elder Chief. If you¡¯ll excuse me. If only I could appear more confident¡­ Ugh. Confidence!¡± she hissed, rubbing her forehead. ¡°Huh?¡± Elinor smiled and stepped forward, putting pressure in places to fix the woman¡¯s posture to resemble what she saw Nadraca use when going about business matters; female and male-dominant positions might be different among ri¡¯bot culture, after all. ¡°You have been strong, Yimara. Allow me to help build upon your dream. I¡¯m sure you will see how beneficial I can be to the Wixum soon enough.¡± ¡°Humans are¡­ very strange creatures¡ªin a good way,¡± she corrected with a nervous laugh, trying to learn from Elinor¡¯s brief corrections to her posture. ¡°I will give your proposal serious thought.¡± ¡°Excellent. In the meantime, I have arranged for music and dancing to take place in the evening. I hope you will enjoy the festivities. My people are quite exhausted, but the threat of fun of any kind can get them motivated, given their terrible circumstances. Thank you for your time, Chief.¡± They made the same respectful gesture before the woman broke away to engage Edmon; he¡¯d been preparing for the encounter. Valdar watched her leave with a frown, rubbing his chin with his free hand. ¡°You move at a frightening pace, Empress. I suppose the Wixum does meet many of the requirements for available land and craftsmen to supplement your need for additional labor. The fact you are keeping the bulk of your people here might be of concern for my grandson, though.¡± ¡°Mmh. Yes,¡± Elinor calmly said, observing the many working parts of this rebuilding area; it had gone as well as she¡¯d expected. ¡°Think of the benefits, though. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already foreseen me taking over the warriors of the Wixum; it¡¯s only natural since they¡¯ll oppose such drastic changes that Yimara will put forward. ¡°Hehe. Indeed. I am but a spark for something that was bound to happen, but, instead of Yimara that is the one overthrown, as you¡¯d feared¡­¡± ¡°You will be put in the prime seat of power,¡± Valdar concluded with a sigh. ¡°Yimara will hand many of her responsibilities to your Court since they are actually quite competent, allowing her to put all of her efforts into the construction of all these inventions her mother fixated on.¡± His nose twisted in disdain while looking at the overweight warriors of the Wixum, lazing around and lightly harassing builders with jokes. ¡°These pathetic¡­ children would fold like a leaf in front of Quin alone.¡± ¡°Quin?¡± Elinor giggled, breathing in the crisp air as Theresa began to play a somber tune on the grand piano, drawing a crowd of the fascinated Wixum warriors; they weren¡¯t even aware that the notes foretold their own downfall. ¡°At this point, Mika¡¯s pets would slaughter all of them without her lifting a finger.¡± Valerie¡¯s curly blonde locks swayed beside the dark-haired pianist, slow violin joining the notes, mesmerizing the throngs of ri¡¯bot with their magical lullaby that pulled on the mind. Familiars from the Witches and Warlocks darted across the fields, sky, and lake, gathering resources their owners required. Edmon¡¯s knights organized in their units, practicing defensive formations and sparking more interest amongst humans and ri¡¯bot. Her influence was spreading by the second from her various courts and divisions: human and undead. ¡°I¡¯m handling problems your grandson sees as critical infrastructure weaknesses. Your boys and girls won¡¯t need to take such dangerous positions with my undead acting as sentries. Food, supplies, and resources you don¡¯t even know you have will be harvested and carefully managed to provide influence where you had none before.¡± Valdar chuckled, leaning against his staff. ¡°Devious as ever, Empress. You¡¯ve thought this through quite thoroughly.¡± ¡°Hehe. Don¡¯t play dumb with me, Valdar,¡± Elinor accused, shooting a smirk his way. ¡°You¡¯ve known me long enough now to know exactly what I¡¯d do when presented with this opportunity, which is why you provided me with so many details regarding the Wixum. You¡¯ve concluded that Tiffany can break whatever ¡®curse¡¯ is on their chief, which is why you gave me that method of attack.¡± ¡°Mmm. Not necessarily,¡± he whispered back, his focus on the now very enthralled Wixum Chief, who was in awe at the things Elinor¡¯s father was explaining to her. ¡°I know my grandson, and he¡¯s stubborn like this father. ¡°You needed a certain amount of victories and support from the Wixum to make him want to obtain your influence over the Wixum without incurring negative feelings from the other elders. Of course, you knew as much from the discussions we¡¯ve had, which is why you didn¡¯t simply come out and take the Wixum by force when they¡¯re clearly ripe for the taking.¡± Elinor¡¯s small smile grew. ¡°A short-sighted victory that would incite the ire of the Delthax, make the Wixum resentful, cause my own citizens to fear me, and make me an easy target for all the surrounding clans to band together to attack me on all sides until a winner holds claim over the remaining land. I¡¯m not that stupid¡­ which is why you¡¯ve supported me.¡± Valdar sighed, shoulders slumping. ¡°Is it that obvious at this point?¡± ¡°Hmm. You see an end of an era is upon the valley. Sooner than later, the other great nations will expand, or another threat like Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma will strike, and the ri¡¯bot won¡¯t survive. You¡¯re not only concerned about your own clan, as a mark of your well-respected status among the community.¡± She turned to face him, pearly teeth flashing in the overhead sun. ¡°No, you want to unite all of the clans, yet you don¡¯t have the support¡­¡± ¡°Until now,¡± he finished, rubbing the back of his neck with a groan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the whispers of the jungle of your might and seen you maneuver out of a seemingly impossible situation. I fear if I didn¡¯t push for my vision now, it would never come about, and I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s the Delthax¡­ or your empire. I want a future for the ri¡¯bot, and I see that possibility with you.¡± Elinor held out her hand, making the elder chuckle and take it; he¡¯d learned about the ¡®strange¡¯ human custom. ¡°I look forward to working with you, Valdar. Now, I must break the terrible news to my citizens that they won¡¯t be swimming across terrifying river currents and climbing the steep mountain rises to reach your home.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll be heartbroken.¡± Knowing what to expect from the conversation Edmon had with Yimara, Elinor made her way to the temporary, makeshift stage that her builders had been tasked to create. Just in front of the area, her musicians had gathered a large congregation of ri¡¯bot and humans, resting from their exhaustive journey. The rituals had been completed, enough people gathered to spread the news, and anticipation for whatever the stage was being constructed for to infect the curious local craftsmen clan. Quin met Elinor on her path, and she sat on the gorilla¡¯s palm, the sizable quen¡¯talrat pulling everyone¡¯s attention. The swaying melody her Songweavers produced came to a stop as Elinor took the stage, Tiffany already in position with a microphone. Introducing her, a deathly silence took the throng as the Witch Queen spoke through the spelled device to all those that could hear. ¡°Salutations, ladies and gentlemen¡ªri¡¯bot and human¡ªundead and the living. To those who are unaware of who we are, we are the Undying Empire. A collection of the living and dead, all in service to our great and unholy Empress! In ri¡¯bot culture, an Empress is similar to a Great Chief, ruling over many other clans¡­ but our Empress is so much more. Now, give your undivided attention to the Supreme Monarch of the Dead.¡± Mumbles followed her explanation as Elinor took the offered microphone, giving it a few seconds for the crowds to hush. ¡°Chief Yimara and the Undying Empire have come to an understanding. First, as your Empress, I will be the bearer of bad news,¡± she said, pausing for a time to let them stew. Her gaze drifted between the tense humans who listened and were gathering, fearful expressions filling the clustered groups; she could already see some beginning to tear up and cry at the expectation of being forced to continue their march. ¡°You will not be continuing to the Delthax encampment thirty-five kilometers past river and mountain but remaining here to set roots for our empire. We are here to support Chief Yimara and lift the Wixum to technological heights even beyond Earth with the Mysticism I grant. We have found our home.¡± Faces turned red one after another as weeping and thankful prayers were heard throughout the area; mildly surprised, she realized many of which were directed right at her. [Level Up - Level 15] x3 [Skill Points Added] x11 [Skill Points Available] x2 [Feat Extensions Available] x1 [Refinement Point Available] 3x [Equipable Feats Available] 1x [Feat Slot Added] x1 [Stat Modifiers Available] x1 [New Branch Feat Available - Lv 15 Perk - Utility, Attack, or Defense] [Total Follower Count Requirement Met] [Current Follower Count: 1,358] [Rising Empire: Budding] Advanced to [Rising Empire: 1st Petal] Somewhat taken aback by the wealth of information Butter relayed to her from inside their diamond home, Elinor waited for the weeping humans and confused ri¡¯bot to settle down. Finally! I best get the festivities started so I can look at these properly. ¡°They¡¯re good, Priss!¡± Butter sang. ¡°I do wonder what Perk you¡¯ll pick this time. Oh, but no one is ranking up in their Grades. Hmm. Hurry up!¡± Honestly, you¡¯ve grown so bold since Dad¡¯s been paying attention to you. ¡°Maybe, heh, because I finally get to hear all the stories about you I didn¡¯t grow up around. Well¡­ aside from in your belly.¡± Are you calling me fat? Elinor mused with silent mirth. In any case, I¡¯ll leave in the morning with Quin and Garu. Your job will be to discover this Secret Cave I¡¯ve recently heard about. It sounds promising. ¡°Ooh! I get to go on an adventure?! Ahh! Thank you, Priss! Thank you, thank you, thank you!¡± Hehe. Don¡¯t get too excited. You still have a lot to do. ¡°Count on me, Sis!¡± Elinor was surprised at how the non-sarcastic or biting comment made her feel a tad warm inside; perhaps Butter was growing on her, after all. Undying Empire Volume 2 Epub & Kindle Unlimited Great news! Volume 2 is now available on Amazon Kindle and can also be purchased on Patreon for just $5. On Patreon, you have the option to buy it as a standalone post or subscribe to gain access to exclusive benefits and content.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Thank you all for your incredible support. I truly hope you¡¯ve been enjoying the series so far, and I can¡¯t wait to hear your thoughts on Volume 2. Happy reading! o7 Undying Empire: Character/Place Glossary Main Cast:
Elinor Valera: Our gothic-loving MC and Mythickin Lich Empress. Edmon Valera: Our MC''s father, who willingly became a Death Knight in order to protect his baby girl. His goal is to bring back his wife''s (Tiffany''s) humanity and to become a family again. Is fully on board with Butter being his daughter and Elinor''s sister. Tiffany Valera: Our MC''s mother. After Shade''s invasion, trying to take over Elinor''s soul, Tiffany sacrifices the good that was within her in order to save her daughter. Now, Tiffany is the cruel and cold Witch Queen of the Empire. She has Tiffany''s memories and experiences but a very different personality from the mother Elinor knew. She can feel somewhat unwanted or hated at times due to Elinor, her Empress, and Edmon, her coworker, wanting their mother and wife back. She and Edmon often flirt with one another as Edmon tries to get his wife back. Butter Valera: Our MC''s lost and kind-of-dead little twin sister. As can happen in the pregnancy process, the egg split, and then one twin absorbed (ate) the other, yet Butter''s spirit was still there to be awakened within Elinor after she became a Lich Empress. Blonde, where Elinor had black hair (another change that can happen to twins), Butter and Elinor seem to have had some kind of contention in what appears to be a previous life. They have hatred, respect, and some kind of bond with one another, yet are slowly overcoming this aversion. Unlike Elinor, Butter loves glamor, cute things, and a royal lifestyle. She is currently on her journey outside the valley to the northwest to meet the dangerous Susime Clan.
Elinor''s Undead: Royal Court:
Butter Valera: Our High Monarch of the Evening Star and Elinor''s little sister. She heads the court, and her only superior is Elinor. Tiffany Valera: Our Monarch of Witchery and Elinor''s former mother. A general expert in all things magic, ritual, and alchemic related, she is the magic caster''s jack-of-all-trades. She is very well educated as a former professor at a university. Edmon Valera: Our Monarch of Fortification and Elinor''s father. Specializing in defensive abilities, his entire kit revolves around protecting his daughter. As a former architectural engineer, he has a great interest and understanding of structural design. Castria S. Calimara: Our Monarch of Storms Sorceress and newest member of the Royal Court. Hailing from Roman''s Legend Quest world, Castria is a 17-year-old younger sister of Elira (23 years old). As a Sorceress, much of her powers are connected to her emotional state, which can make her quite volatile. Having black hair with neon blue highlights that light up when using her power, she is a pretty girl who had her pink irises changed to a fandango shade with star pupils. Pink-eyed Tempest with streaked hair is an omen to her kingdom''s nobility, which is something her big sister has tried to hide most of their life.
Military Court:
Generals: Reapers: Horsemen of the Apocalypse
White (Conquest): Our female charger with a bow on the white horse has excellent hunting, tracking, and perception and picks the targets for the horsemen to go after. Red (War): Our male beast of a knight with a two-handed sword in full crimson armor, who can compel the opposition into a blood frenzy, forcing them to fight or empowering those on his side to defy fear. Black (Famine): Our female, anorexic rider on the black horse with the scales of balance in hand. She can deprive the nutrients and resources of anything and serves as the balance to tell her brothers and sister when enough is enough. She enjoys snacking and eating, having a bottomless stomach. Ash (Death): Our male rider on the pale (gray) horse, who holds the sickles and scythe, and who brings death. Like Elinor, he can raise those that his brother and sisters skill, but only as unintelligent undead, bringing an army at his back to flood the battlefield. He can also extract Death Energy in mass quantities, which is why he is usually always with Elinor to upkeep her empire.
Captains:
3x Th¨¦lm¨¦thra Spider Drones: Our three-meter-tall, Rare-Grade, metallic spider drones. Elinor doesn''t know much about these spiders since she hasn''t been able to communicate with them yet due to her Feat limitations.
Lieutenants:
Quin''Alse: Our quen''talrat Fire Brawler Elite Hunter. She is very young for the giant gorilla race, having four arms, two tails, and two heads; she still cannot believe that her invincible leader, Ke''Thra''Ma (The White God), has died. She can coat her arms and back with fire. Garu: Our ri''bot Ethereal Clan (white skin toads with blue spots that can flash and they use to communicate) Mist Stalker. He is a Tier-2 Scout within his infamous and feared clan. No one knows what happened to the mysterious, powerful clan, and it is something Elinor has given him permission to discover on his long journey looping outside of the valley to the west to spy out the neighboring ri''bot kingdom beyond the western mountains. Carlos S¨¢nchez: An old cowboy and former terrorist/resistance fighter in Colombia before retiring. He was changed into a Bull Beastkin during The Oscillation but was killed by the ri''bot that attacked. He has military experience in leading people.
Staff Sergeants:
Mika: Our Beast Tamer, former Roxim Clan member (splotched green-skinned toads people). She is very bitter about how she was treated by her clan after being resurrected to fight for Elinor. Things are settling down, but she has embraced her part in the empire and is currently with Butter on her journey to the Susime in the northwest, just outside of the valley.
Elinor''s Unintelligent Undead:
Th¨¦lm¨¦thra: Our Empress has a single Rare-Grade unintelligent spider worker drone. She is still unable to communicate with it.
Serving Court:
Ambassadors:
Klaus Klossner: A former US senator, on track to be one of the youngest, who got wrapped up in the ri''bot Crystal business and was killed. Elinor brought him back to life as one of the first humans in their new world. Almost instantly, Head Maid Emelina and he hit it off, with the seductive woman tying a rope around his neck, almost literally, when dressing him with a tie. Elinor is all for relationships between her undead and sent him down to the southwest, where the Clavex Clan are, which so happened to be inside the Nalvean Empire. His duty is to help further negotiations with the Clavex regarding Elinor''s commitment to supplying them silk in exchange for all the human captives.
Publicists:
Lucky Blue Smith: Works with Gwen, and she¡¯s kind of shy of his cadence. The young man with wild brown, bleach-streaked hair with a party-boy style. He has that reckless type of drug hustler energy that you saw in big Colombian cities within the cartel¡¯s employ, moving between parties in the upper-class and tourist areas of Mexico. Cleanly shaven, his sparkling chestnut irises are more evaluating than predatory.
Cooks:
Antonietta Briseno: A former restaurant owner in the Colombian town, she still works with her family to help provide for the empire''s food needs. She has two of her sons helping her in the kitchen with her daughter-in-law. Manolo, eldest son, and his wife, Ramona. Enrique, her youngest son.
Doctors:
Luisina Aristizabal: Clergy Class - Reiki Butterfly Sub-Class. She was supposed to bring simple medical supplies to those in need in the Venezuela crisis but never made it. She had very poor constitution when alive and a chronic physical debilitating illness that prompted her to go into medicine.
Musician:
Valerie Meyer: Valerie has blonde hair and is a Songweaver Dancer. She¡¯s very self-conscious of herself for a former model. Plays the violin and idolizes an online music influencer who plays the violin and danced. She often plays with Head Maid Theresa, with the motherly maid on the piano.
Head Maids:
Emelina De la Vega: Our original Head Maid Terrorist, who is involved with Klaus, our Ambassador. She had a very hard life under the cartel sex trade and was used as an assassin before she grew too old; knowing her usefulness was nearing its end, she made a plan to fake her death and start new. Unfortunately, her life ended in the ri''bot invasion. She had a little brother as a little girl but lost track of him in the cartel. She is currently heading the maids and supporting Klaus in the Clavex Territory within the Nalvean Empire. Theresa Pecha: Originally was an Assistant Head Maid, but advanced, and is a Songweaver, like Valerie. She is a mother of boys who are out of the house, one of whom is married; she was struggling with her marriage before The Oscillation due to her husband working and not having her boys anymore at home. She played the piano at the local church and did other tasks to keep herself busy around the Colombian town.
Maids:
Adoncia Vences: Our Oni Powered Big Sister Maid. Adonica has drug-addicted parents and has been taking care of her little brother since she was little. He initially wasn''t sure about his sister''s change into an undead but has since come to terms and wants to make her proud. Adonica worries about her brother since he joined the Argent Dawn, Edmon''s living military force. She is currently with Butter on her journey to the Susime. She is a big coffee drinker. Her little 15-year-old brother''s name is Sal, and her brother''s 15-year-old girlfriend''s name is Alisa, who is an upcoming White Witch of Tiffany''s.
Ang¨¦lica Tesoro: Hunter Sharpshooter Maid and one of the few soldier-type maids, such as Adoncia, who can fight. She is ex-Colombian military and has a hard time reconciling with her position as a maid instead of a soldier. Ang¨¦lica is currently going through some marital troubles with her husband not liking her on the front lines and somewhat blames him for her position within the Empire as a maid instead of a soldier.
Audrey Guerra: A maid that was sent down southeast with Klaus and Emelina to support them.
Junior Maids:
Aileen Banks: Aileen is a cute 12-year-old girl and has brown shoulder-length hair and hazel eyes. She¡¯s German and died in 2012, murdered by some man after losing track of her parents. The Ri¡¯bot found her body buried in the woods with their torlim, searching for anything hidden. She is friends with Nicole, our Dryad Faekin girl whom the Delthax Plant Callers and Valdar have taken a shine to.
Head Butlers:
James Escobedo: James has a wife who is in her late fifties, so having her hot, young, dutiful husband back has been a dream. He is a serious-looking man in his mid-thirties who isn''t shy about his relationship with his older-looking wife.
Butlers:
Federico Fallas: Not shown all that much as of yet. Christian: Not shown all that much as of yet.
Elinor''s Organizations: Public Order
Gwen: Redhead that was with Tiffany when the ri''bot were attacking. She''s taken on a leadership role within the living human community and works with Lucky to bring the undead and living together. She seems attracted to Lucky''s open and caring personality.
Edmon''s Argent Order Leaders:
Virgil: He used to be a Colombian gamer in his 30s who wasn''t too confident about his looks and wanted to live a life of adventure. After believing in Elinor and through Edmon''s Royal Class Role, he became the leader under Edmon. He''s been training all the boys of the group that wanted to join. Gloria and him have been best friends since they were young and have become an item in this new world, working together as she trains the female knights that joined the order. Gloria: A brunette-haired woman in her 30s, she used to be overweight, short, and not very confident about her appearance. Through believing in Elinor, she became a part of the Argent Order and became a Paladin. She is the leader of the female knights and works with her best friend and love interest, Virgil, to bring the order up to standard. She''s liked Virgil for a while but hasn''t been able to tell him until their time together in this new world. Their subordinates are always whispering about the pair''s relationship.
Virgil''s Order Leaders:
Sal Vences: 15-years-old, almost 16. He is the 7th in swordsmanship of the Dusk Nights (an elite force amongst the order, chosen by dueling rank). Adoncia''s younger brother and Alisa''s boyfriend.
Gloria''s Order Leaders:
Faith: A twenty-three-year-old woman who is Gloria''s 2nd-in-command. Gemma: Under Faith as the 3rd-in-command.
Hailee: One of Gloria''s girls.
Edmon''s Magic Knight Order Leaders:
Elira Calimara: In Roman''s Legend Quest World, she is Monarch Castria''s older sister, who has had a hard life trying to care for her ''different'' sibling. Abandoned by their parents as a child, Elira has worked to take care of her sister since she was a child, as shown by the scars on her body.
Tiffany''s Coven Leaders: Witch Coven Leadership:
Esmeralda Yanez: Having a darker nature as a 15-year-old girl from the US who loves witchcraft, she deals more with the dark arts than Alisa, her White Witch counterpart. She was involved in the ritual that expelled Shade from Elinor in Volume 1 and has her own Coven. Alisa Espiritu: Leader over the White Witches and Sal''s girlfriend. She was involved in setting up the communication ritual in the Lethix Clan village that she was rewarded for by Elinor telling Tiffany to get them something good to eat when they made it back to the lake camp.
Warlock Coven Leadership:Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Elonzo: Leader of a Warlock Coven that went north to the Wixum Mines, where Butter met the Susime.
Humans/Changed People in Elinor''s Empire:
Nicole Robinson: Nymph Faekin 13-year-old girl who changed when they came to the Colombian town, and her parents freaked out and ran away, leaving her feeling abandoned and without help. Elinor took her in and all the Plant Callers of the Delthax love her. She created the sanctuary with the Plant Callers where the Crystal Gateway was, providing a base of operations within the Clanless zone. Valentina Batanero: Beastkin Assassin Tiger 16-year-old girl whom Elinor took in under her wing. She is currently in the Clanless zones, trying to assassinate the brutal dictatorship of the warlord ri''bot to pull in more Clanless into Elinor''s empire. Roman: A blind Legendkin who seems to have invisible eyes to see hidden and distant things. He is sketchy and a former US general. He has no real affiliations and has just been testing out the extent of his powers. He understands it is a good idea to keep on good terms with Elinor, but Elinor doesn''t know if she can trust him. Yesenia: A prison warden who was making an inspection of the town''s local penitentiary. She was turned into a snake-like woman during The Oscillation. According to the Scarlet Hand''s records, she is a sadist and enjoys torturing others; she was one of the few, like Elinor, who was purposefully directed here to be taken or killed by the ri''bot. The Clavex took her as a gift to the Nalveans, who have a view of snake-like creatures as deities.
Ri''bot Clans: Valley Clans:
Lethix Clan: Dark brown skin color. Having a sharp decline in the female population due to the Susime curse placed on the waters over a century ago, they have very strained relations with the Delthax and Wixum. They need more women, and many of the men are growing desperate. They are allies with the Flex Clan. Lost Mysticism.
Chief Utren: Blue eyes. Has a son named Henric. Elder Chief Dren: Utren¡¯s father, who convinced his son to hear Elinor out. Henric: Son of the Chief, a year old. Felor: Past Ri¡¯bot, who was a master craftsman in many areas that created the Chief pendants. Xaria Inora: A very pretty, young female warrior that¡¯s a 1st Rank Xaria, seeking acceptance into higher ranks that hates Xaria Ectria of the Delthax. Light blue eyes. Xaria Welix: A Xaria of the clan and their strongest warrior. Chief¡¯s brother. Yeppa: A guide that Chief Utren sent with Elinor so they wouldn''t be attacked by patrols through the Lethix territory.
Wixum Clan: Light blue skin color clan that is very craftsmen-oriented. They do not have many warriors, causing issues for their strained allies, the Delthax. Mostly has female ri''bot, having a very sharp decline in the male population due to the curse inside the lake that the Susime put in place over a century prior. They are less concerned about clan grudges and more focused on their arts and crafts, which frustrates the Delthax since they are bordered against hostile clans such as the Lethix and Flex. Lost Mysticism.
Chief Yimara: A female ri¡¯bot chief that has a curse placed on her family to die at the age of 30, placed on their line through Nebu''s treacherous actions as a spy and tool of the Susime. She is not respected by the Delthax and many of her own clan due to her young age. Former Chief Vivine: Yimara''s mother who died before Elinor''s arrival, leaving her daughter to rule the male-dwindling clan. Nebu started to obtain more power around the time of her sickness, sparking a divide between the warriors and Yimara as the new chief. Elinor resurrected her to be a support to her daughter in rebuilding their clan as Tiffany breaks their curse. Nebu: A traitor to his clan, his entire family has been instrumental in setting up many of the troubles throughout the upper valley, acting as the Susime''s hand. He was taking control of the military in the Wixum, not that they were much to speak of in the first place. Nebu was killed by the Susimie when Butter met them, bringing more political influence to Elinor in the weakened Lake Clan.
Delthax Clan: Cobalt blue skin, and who have Plant Caller Mysticism. Has a blood grudge against the Flex and Lethix Clans.
Elder Chief Valdar - A former Chief of the blue tribe; Master Sage or practitioner of the Plant Caller Mystic Arts. Took part in the Fire Wars with the Clavex''s Mother Superior and Komath''s Chief, Krava, in the dissolution of the Quen''Talrat Empire, when all the quen''talrat tribe leaders divided and fought each other as much as the other nations. He has purple eyes and has been Elinor''s biggest supporter in bringing together this united front between the Lethix, Wixum, Delthax, Flex, and Roxim Clans. He has pushback from his grandson, who is the current chief. Chief Kalix: Twenty-four years old, purple eyes, and exasperated by the Wixum¡¯s declining military might as it puts a huge responsibility on his Clan. He hates the Flex Clan with their Blood Mysticism that killed his father and wants them to suffer. It is the current chief of the Flex Clan who killed his father. Folcra - 2nd in command of the Delthax expedition and a high-ranking warrior in the clan. Elinor interacted with him a few times in the 1st Volume. Purple eyes. Plant Caller Nina: Cousin to Kalix, and only eight years old. She is Valdar''s successor as the Grand Plant Caller, even though she¡¯s not an experienced Plant Caller. She is open to Elinor''s plans. 2nd Rank Xaria Meji: The eldest Xaria and most skilled. He is totally against Elinor. 2nd Rank Xaria Kole: Not totally convinced of Elinor''s intentions or her plan to unite the clans, but is more or less neutral and closer to Ectria. 2nd Rank Xaria Ectria: She is considered ugly due to her spotty splashes of brown markings, showing her parents consorted with the Flex or Lethix, the clan''s sworn enemies. Due to her discrimination growing up, she tried to be the best at fighting and completing her missions. 1st-Rank Xarina Inora of the Lethix and her have a hatred for each other.
Flex Clan: Dark brown skin and gray tongues. The Flex Clan has a Toxic Blood type of Mysticism. They have a blood grudge against the Delthax Clan and have been declining in their female population in conjunction with the Lethix, their allies.
Chief Loci: Light blue eyes. Twenty-four years old. Killed the Delthax Chief''s father. He has agreed to this competition that Elinor has proposed for their clans to unite under one Great Chief. Elder Chief Gurali: An old, prideful warrior who loved the old Flex tongue before the Ri¡¯bot began to use the more common Delthax language. Gurali hates that they¡¯re losing their clan¡¯s historical traditions. Blue eyes. 2nd-Rank Xaria Iona: A top-rank stealth warrior who has a thing for Xaria Welix of the Lethix.
Komath Clan: Orange-colored skin with pink eyes. They consider themselves superior to many clans in the valley and have ritualistic Mysticism, such as the blood vines that can control people''s bodies through the sound of flutes. They don''t care much for the Flex or Lethix Clans but have a bitter rivalry with the Xaltan since they are a border and have been the primary deterrent for the Xaltan not expanding further.
Elder Chief Krava: Not only an Elder but reigning Chief of the Komath. He is a legendary warrior, former 4th-Rank Xaria, having aged and lost some of his edge, yet being unwilling to relinquish his title to anyone unless they can beat him in combat. He doesn''t trust Elinor and it causes a division between him and Valdar, harming their friendship. He didn''t trust the Cravex or the Roxim to bring a sufficient force to combat the Crystal Invasion and brought a secret army with a new Xaria. Doing so hurt his reputation and angered the Roxim, turning them toward Elinor''s side when she uncovered his breach in their united pact. As such, he swallowed his pride and retreated, telling Valdar that he was going to call together the two Great Clans to the east of the valley to mark Elinor as an immediate threat to be dealt with. 1st-Rank Xaria Dalria: The Xaria who joined the Scarlet Hand, killed Elinor''s mother and forced the Clanless to attack the camp in volume 1. She has dark orange with glowing blue spots, while being leaner than most warriors.
Xaltan Clan: All that is known about the Xaltan is that they own the largest area of land in the valley and are considered the strongest. They seem to be moving on the Roxim''s border, preparing for war, and it is this that has prompted the Roxim Chief to put his full support behind Elinor. Unknown Mysticism.
Roxim Clan: Splotchy green-skinned toads and uses torlim, the giant crocodile toads, as mounted cavalry. A clan that has just lost its Firewalker Mysticism in the last few generations. Elinor has promised to be able to spark it alive again. They have secretly been taking in Clanless to bolster their dwindling ranks, putting on a bluff of their former strength that the Xaltan seem to be about to call. They have put their full support behind Elinor.
Chief Zargoth: Leader of the Roxim Clan whom Elinor left War with. He is fully in support of Elinor and looks forward to awakening his Firewalker blood. Fennel: Spotted, discolored green toad tribe; Boss or the leading warrior over his clan¡¯s expedition and attempting to reach the state of Xaria. He has a mystical ax that he can throw and call back that is a family heirloom.
Prume Clan: A mysterious and seemingly very powerful clan, even more than the Susime, that spontaneously showed up to speak to Elinor, Their spokesperson gave her a warning about the Susimie Clan that Elinor sent her sister to meet in the northwest. They use some kind of pipe to smoke colorful gems, seemingly granting them powers. When he vanished, Elinor''s body also went missing, prompting the thought that they''d taken it.
Spokesperson Jet¡¯al: The dark-gray-skinned ri¡¯bot wore red silk, and gave Elinor a warning that her ethics would be tested, saying that they may see her as a threat, depending on her actions moving forward. It was this that sparked Elinor to second guess who they were warning her about when meeting with the Yaltha''ma fox-monkeys.
Other Clans:
Clavex Clan: Pure green-skinned ri''bot who are in service to the Nalvean Empire, acting almost like slave labor after the Fire Wars, when they were offered protection and land within the Empire. Some of the youth are trying to reduce their debt and gain independence. They do not have Mysticism but worship a light spirit that they claim lives in the Great Ruby Lakes within the Nalvean Empire. Elinor made a deal with Nadraca to trade silk for the humans, and she even gave her share of the human captives during the raid to her on loan until they were paid off in silk.
Kolira, Mother Superior: Head toad over the Clavex Clan. Nadraca: She¡¯s first in command of the Clavex Clan expedition. She¡¯s a Priestess studying one of the holy arts of the Nalvea Race. Blue speckled eyes, pure green skin. Lacord: High Warrior of the Clavex and among the top 10 strongest warriors in their clan. He led the warriors in the Clavex''s Crystal Raid.
Ethereal Clan: Garu''s clan. The white-skinned, blue-spotted ri¡¯bot that can transform into mist and was said to be the strongest Clan before the Black King quen¡¯talrat personally destroyed them.
Tol¡¯Val Kingdom: The ri''bot kingdom beyond the western mountains that Garu went to investigate. They traded with the Delthax every so often, and Elinor obtained her information about them through Valdar.
Yaltha¡¯ma: Fox-Monkey Creatures:
The Hidden Ones:
Ina¡¯ko: A yaltha''ma that was born with a defect that made it hard for her to gather up the Th¨¦lm¨¦thra poison, causing her to spill, which is a grave sin to the Hidden Ones since they are limited in supply. Therefore, she had to willingly go to the boiling mud pit and throw herself in as punishment, committing suicide. Elinor raised her from the dead. El¡¯Co¡¯Ca: The leader of the Hidden Ones, who left the quen''talrat fortress/city of Kelmaltha to worship the spiders that killed Ke''Thra''Ma, The White God.
Roman''s Legend Quest World: Kaspir Kingdom:
Lumina: The capital city, which seems to have a hidden past of machinery and magic that has long since been forgotten by the residents. Opal Shrine Inn: The place Elinor was recommended. Sir Percy, a former Magic Knight, owns it. College of Royals: Where the Four Houses meet for classes and guidance within the Noble District. Noble District: Where the Four Houses and College reside. House of Tempest: Reserved only for nobles since Tempests can only be nobles, according to their law. Most funded House. House of Alchemy: Tiffany is interested in this and disappointed at the scope they''d utilized. She is determined to uplift the course, originally being a former college instructor herself. Least funded House. House of Combat: Magic Knights train here. Close ties to the House of Tempest. House of Conjurors: Supposedly have gateways that the college uses for combat trials. Some controversy has arisen as of late from their gateways and their safety, but the House of Tempest supports them with the Three Great Noble Families. Royal District: Only accessible to royals and select nobility. Lower Districts: Where the poor are, obviously.
Kaspir Nobility :
King ???? Alciel: Ruler of the nation and powerful Tempest. He likes Castria and is angered by his daughter''s brash actions toward Elinor, who he sees as a mythical empress from overseas who has come to potentially see one of the princesses'' under her charge educated in his kingdom. Roman has put a lot of rumors about this Raven Empress, seemingly pulling from already-told myths and legends to spin her powerful identity. 1st Queen Lilya Alciel: Died when her son was still young, having been ''supposedly'' ruined by her own experiments as an alchemist princess from the western desert. 2nd Queen ???? Alciel: Another princess from a distant kingdom that married the king after his first wife''s death, having a daughter. She is an abusive mother, who secretly beats her daughter because she ''isn''t good enough'' compared to her half-sibling and crowned prince. Crowned Prince Drew Dis Alciel: The crowned prince and a 3rd-year at the College of Royals. He attacks Elinor and is shut down by Edmon as Castria absorbs the lightning (practically dying a second time in the process). He deeply cares about his little sister and is defensive over her. He does not back down to Elinor and says he will attack her again and will not apologize, no matter what he knows about her status as empress of another nation for hurting his little sister, which impresses Elinor greatly. Princess Heather Mes Alciel: The red-haired little 17-year-old sister of Prince Drew. She has an inferiority complex and temper, attacking Elinor as she mistakes her for a Marquiness due to her dress. Elinor outsmarts her and uses her unique powers to her advantage to put on a show, solidifying her place and thoroughly humiliating the princess before telling the guards that she expects the princess not to be punished when she returns since she has already doled it out. However, her mother beats her, forcing the girl to try to hide it by secluding herself in her room, but Elinor forces her to come out since she can''t refuse her invitation, and once she sees her, Elinor is angered. She makes standard excuses for an abused child who loves their mother, further agitating Elinor.
Kaspir Citizens:
Julian: A Marquess after his father died when the Delva Empire attacked the border, which Roman used his seal to do a lot of setting up for Elinor. He has a crush on Castria, despite her ''omen'' against the nobility. They''ve known each other since they were kids. Julian has also known Princess Heather since he was a boy. Captain Flera: 38-years-old, scared, brown-haired woman. Over one of the City Gates. She wanted to be a Magic Knight but was rejected. Lieutenant Cole: 28-year-old, dark-haired man in the city guard. Dris: The cat creature that has served Julian''s family. Don''t know much about him yet. Castria S. Calimara: Our Monarch of Storms Sorceress and newest member of the Royal Court. Hailing from Roman''s Legend Quest world, Castria is a 17-year-old younger sister of Elira (23 years old). As a Sorceress, much of her powers are connected to her emotional state, which can make her quite volatile. Having black hair with neon blue highlights that light up when using her power, she is a pretty girl who had her pink irises changed to a fandango shade with star pupils. Pink-eyed Tempest with streaked hair is an omen to her kingdom''s nobility, which is something her big sister has tried to hide most of their life. Elira Calimara: In Roman''s Legend Quest World, she is Monarch Castria''s older sister, who has had a hard life trying to care for her ''different'' sibling. Abandoned by their parents as a child, Elira has worked to take care of her sister since she was a child, as shown by the scars on her body. Sir Percy: The owner of the inn and former Magic Knight. His wife was set to be the nest Grand Magic Knight, yet she couldn''t give up her dream of turning anyone into a Magic Knight, which led to her execution and the destruction of her research. He is currently training Elira for the House Selection Ceremony.
Delva Empire:
The Delva Empire is after Castria for some unknown reason that Roman was trying to figure out before he messed things up (or did he?) and got Castria killed by entering a duel for her life against Julian''s mother, who was a traitor, working for the Delva Empire. In the duel, Castria dies, taking her crush''s mother with her; he doesn''t know she killed his mother.
Elinor''s Major Enemies:
The Scarlet Hand: A mysterious organization that had detailed records that they shouldn''t have on individuals; they were so thorough to even have Elinor''s report cards. For some reason, this cult, seemingly based out of Florida, has paid the cartel to make sure she stays in the Colombian town by kidnapping her. In fact, it was the Scarlet Hand that had set the whole path for her parents to make the trip to the Venezuela crisis. Jennifer ''seemed'' to be the only one to have made it to this world, but she has swiftly spread her influence to the Komath Clan.
Shade: An ominous, ghostly entity residing within the planet that whispers and influences actions across the globe. It was Shade that seemingly invoked the whole Quen''Talrat Empire''s formation and rise to power by guiding Ke''Thra''Ma. He tried to take over Elinor''s body when the Scarlet Hand tipped him off to Elinor''s presence, but was thwarted by Elinor''s mother when she sacrificed herself and became the empire''s Queen of Witchery.
Creatures:
Ragnlar: A cat-like animal in the jungle that¡¯s a strong predator. Torlim: Aligator-toad creatures. Holan: A hard-shelled creature. Ulpix: Cow/Horse type of creature that does better on plains, not jungles. Fire Snappers and Quel: Large Fish in the rivers. Frave: Racoon-like creatures with thick fur Nuvoma: Oddly shaped animals with thick fur and several protruding rigid bones across their body grazed upon the plains before retreating to the shade that the cool forest pockets provided, grouping in herds to intimidate the Ragnlar in the area. Dreka: Parasitic creatures from the Golariex forests that infect their host and control it from the inside, taking over the brain while keeping their bodies alive. They can even control the creature if they¡¯re dead. B3 — 1. A Houses Foundation As the morning of the House Selection Ceremony dawned, Elinor sat out on the covered terrace, once again greeted by an early shower; it seemed that much of her days over the past few months had been filled with rain. Of course, her new home was a rainforest, and the kingdom she was in now had a heavy emphasis on weather controllers. Once again, Queen Alivau had yet to make her appearance. It showed her that the woman was still seething and plotting how to use this to her advantage. Elinor wasn¡¯t sitting on her laurels, either. When this was done, the queen¡¯s influence would be practically void. Still, she had until tomorrow afternoon to meet the three-day deadline and make her move. Maybe she would surprise her with something. At least that would be more interesting, but who could predict the plays she was currently spinning? The queen was an obstacle since her daughter had put her in a tough spot, which also meant she had to deal with it swiftly since Heather was a part of her plan. She suspected the queen was more interested in her daughter and stepson¡¯s reactions to her and how the nobility was taking the fistfight. Fortunately, she and her court had been able to formulate a fairly wicked plot that could be set in motion during the extremely public ceremony. It all started yesterday when Castria returned with Julian and the Crown Prince; it was a moment that gave Elinor the chance to have a one-on-one with him. During that visit, something pivotal was mentioned about his family, and in such a casual fashion, that it almost caught her off-guard. It was this piece of critical information that had spurred on her entire plot. However, she had to be absolutely positive that it was true. Elinor¡¯s gaze drifted to the side, where her father sat, reading a book; it seemed even language was translated in Roman¡¯s Quest. Tiffany was on her return from the Lower City Alchemy shops, where she was comparing prices, stock, and quality of goods. In the meantime, Black continued following her leads on the mysterious seller of the First Queen¡¯s necklace, and her brother searched for less invasive ways of obtaining Death Energy than culling the local fish market. As for Roman, his whereabouts had remained an enigma, but she expected him to make an appearance soon enough. A knock came from the closed door, drawing both their attention; Castria stood beside the dark-haired man she¡¯d extended an invitation to. ¡°Empress, Crown Prince Drew has arrived.¡± ¡°Excellent,¡± she said, her focus returning to the wet pair of sparring figures below. Elira was already outside, practicing with Percy, having awoken an hour previous to learn some final tips before the ceremony. ¡°And did Princess Heather accept my extended hand?¡± She could hear an uncertain edge in the young man¡¯s voice as he responded, maintaining his distance since he hadn¡¯t been instructed forward. ¡°My sister is¡­ not well, but she has come as you requested. She is waiting in the carriage.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Fist rising to press against her cheek as she leaned against the side of her comfortable chair, Elinor followed a streak of lightning across the heavens. The rumble spurred her heart and lightened her mood. ¡°I am one to be blunt, Prince Drew. I have too many other important subjects to consider to be delicate in such matters. Your sister joined you because to refuse my request would have angered your father, and I knew I was putting her in that position.¡± Castria¡¯s anxious voice piped up through the Nexus. ¡°Do we really need to be this cruel? Drew really loves his sister.¡± I know. It is why I am doing this, Elinor replied. You will see the results of the plan soon enough. Drew didn¡¯t respond for a second, his voice thickening as he tried to restrain his emotions. ¡°¡­Yes, Empress¡­ You didn¡¯t indicate why you wanted to see us.¡± Head tilting to the side to stare at the prince, Elinor¡¯s lips curled ever so slightly. ¡°That is for you to decide. A game played between the leaders of nations can be as complicated as it is simple. I am not here to try and sway you in one direction or another. It is your sister that has put you in this position, and it is one you must shoulder since you¡¯re so dedicated to her safety.¡± His mouth tightened, eyes dropping to the carpeted floor. ¡°I do appreciate your candor, Empress. My sister has taken a rather¡­ negative light from the incident the day before yesterday. In all honesty, I am more worried about where the confrontation between you and her will lead, and not with what you might do since you seem to be completely over it, by your own words and actions.¡± Uncrossing her legs, Elinor stood and adjusted her black gown, replaced after her last had been ruined. ¡°Join me.¡± Silence brought the pattering rain into the foreground as Castria and Drew came to stand by her side. They gave her dad a glance, but he was drawn back into the book he¡¯d checked out from the local library on the kingdom¡¯s recorded state of affairs going back the last two decades. Elinor stared down at her Tempest¡¯s older sister, drenched with rainwater in a female suit of armor that Percy had lent her. It could have been any old gear, but she had to assume it had some connection to the Magic Knight¡¯s executed wife; Elira was the spark of hope within the man to see his wife¡¯s dream come true, and it showed in how focused he was on training the young woman. Letting the pair stew for a time, Elinor allowed the prince time to unwind and find his feet. To the people of this kingdom, she was a legendary figure, spurred on by rumors that her strong entrance had solidified to the extent of being factual. Maybe she should have gone into acting instead of Cheer and Gymnastics because she was a natural; although, it helped when you truly felt as if you belonged in the role. ¡°¡­I understand you must be busy preparing for the ceremony this afternoon, Prince Drew. You have much on your mind regarding your sister¡¯s place in the House of Tempest, among many other concerns arising from her confrontation with me. I will say that I did not see this coming, which is amusing to me.¡± The prince seemed to hold his breath as she gave him a small, side-long smirk before saying, ¡°I must thank your sister for her part in providing me an opening to insert myself without playing unsavory politics between various factions. Contrary to what you might think, I am rather fond of your sister. What do you think, Princess Castria?¡± Castria tried to restrain her fingers from finding the tail end of her black, blue-streaked hair, currently wrapped in a braid over her shoulder. ¡°Princess Heather is¡­ under a lot of pressure. I don¡¯t believe she¡¯s been able to make many friends¡­ In some ways, she reminds me of myself.¡± Drew¡¯s worry was turning into confused curiosity at the turn in conversation. He wouldn¡¯t know that Castria was actually talking about her past as a peasant, shunned for her bad luck, and constantly trying to hide a secret, even from her own big sister. In like fashion, Heather had her own secret that she kept from her brother. All the lies she¡¯d told had no doubt stacked up, and all it took was just a little puff of air for the whole stack of cards to come tumbling down. Elinor found her wrist behind her back as her eyes drifted to her father. ¡°King Edmon, wouldn¡¯t it be a shame if Princess Castria and Heather were in different Houses?¡± Her dad closed his book, illuminated blue eyes rising to meet hers. ¡°It would, Empress. When we are gone, Our Princess will be set upon by many competing factions, hoping to use her ties to the Raven Empire for their political and financial benefit. We must cultivate a positive circle of support for her to rely on.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Tiffany intruded on the conversation, making a showy entrance as she sat across from the Death Knight. ¡°The Crown Prince and Princess Heather can offer support, but it is far from sufficient to challenge other highly influential parties, such as the Great Houses. It is certainly a start, though.¡± Drew cleared his throat, acknowledging Tiffany with a respectful bow as the bubbly, orange-eyed woman gave a short wave at the prince. ¡°You¡¯re setting up a support system for the princess?¡± he asked, glancing at Castria, who tried to remain neutral. Elinor chuckled and turned to leave for the carriage outside, sparking the others to trail behind her. ¡°I am not here to dethrone you, cause social unrest, or take sides in whatever internal conflicts that are happening within your kingdom. Believe it or not, but I am here to uplift your father in ways he hadn¡¯t dreamed possible. I am also here to provide a princess in my charge a satisfactory education on her powers. Then again, sadly, that is not all I must prepare for.¡± One of the attendants by the front entrance of the giant suite opened it for them to proceed before she continued, ¡°What I called you here to do was not to have an idle chat¡­ We are going to visit the Royal Crypt.¡± A shiver ran through Drew¡¯s frame as he almost tripped. ¡°W-What are you planning to do there? You can¡¯t think about resurrecting one of the former rulers?! Empress, that¡ªthat would be¡­¡± ¡°Hehehe. Prince Drew,¡± she said with a lighter tone, ¡°I will swear to you, on my empire and name, that I would not do so without your father¡¯s acceptance. I am merely going to confirm a few things. I can already imagine the gossip of the reason for the Raven Empress going to a graveyard of past rulers. Why don¡¯t we let the factions panic a little?¡± The prince had a look of disbelief as she took them down the levy elevator and toward the front entrance. She smiled when he parted the water above and on the streets for them to walk before Castria had a chance to do it. Speaking privately to her father as he shouldered a pre-packed bag, she saw one of the inn¡¯s workers jog out to open the carriage for them. She had to marvel at how much you could get away with if you took the proper attitude and had some flashy presentation. Most girls dream of being a princess, but I skipped the line right up to empress, she privately commented to her father. People can give so much power through the tinted lens of mystery, grace, and a commanding cadence. Her father summoned his horse to ride alongside them, sparking intrigue from the Tempest floating above the sidewalk and umbrella-wielding students going about their morning tasks. Swinging his legs over the massive beast, he donned his full set of armor in a showy flash of crystalizing ice as he responded within the Nexus. ¡°It isn¡¯t just the firm hand you¡¯ve shown, ¡®Princess.¡¯ Haha. You are giving people respect and showing what you respect. A mystery woman that has a path to get closer to her is a tempting thing¡­ Your mother knew that secret.¡± Elinor¡¯s focus was on the students, reminiscing about her own first few days of preparation before the end of summer. All the bustle to get everything needed for classes made her thankful that Percy was handling those affairs; Roman would be her choice, but he was off doing his own thing. She half-cursed him for dumping so much onto her when this was his quest. Recalling all the work her mother did for her, she paused at the coach steps and glanced back at her Queen of Witchery, not included in this conversation; her smile widened at the attention. ¡°Talking about me in secret?¡± she asked with her own private message. ¡°Edmon must be for you to look at me like that. He loved your mother so much¡­ I feel bad at times.¡± Entering the surprisingly wide and spacious carriage, built to fit eight people comfortably, Elinor¡¯s vision tightened as she caught sight of the redhead. Part of Heather¡¯s face was hidden behind her bangs with how she¡¯d crafted it, but it was not hard for her to see a healthy amount of makeup covering bruises. I know you two have your games and fun, she returned, keeping her peace for now as she sat directly across from the princess. Don¡¯t take things too far and try to fool my father into believing you are the woman he loves.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Tiffany¡¯s cheer diminished as she sat beside Heather, vision falling to the bulky witch¡¯s hat she placed in her lap. ¡°I understand the limitations I am under, Empress. It is not my intent to fool Edmon. It is¡­ nice to feel wanted and loved at times. Often, I am seen as a sort of¡­ parasite or body snatcher, and I do sense that from you every so often.¡± Elinor refused to acknowledge Heather as she greeted her, suddenly finding agitation welling up within her from the complications that came with Tiffany and her father¡¯s dynamics. If that happens, it is not my intent, she crisply responded. You are you, and you are not my mother, but you hold many of her memories and experiences. It is challenging not to miss her. I do not resent you, though. I place the fault on the Scarlet Hand and Shade. I will leave it there. ¡°Yes, Empress,¡± Tiffany meekly responded. It seemed the tension between them had caught the notice of the others because no one spoke as everyone situated and the carriage started toward its destination, her father directing things from the outside. Her cold, emerald eyes returned to Heather, making the seventeen-year-old princess gulp and look away. It didn¡¯t help that she¡¯d more or less confirmed her suspicions regarding the girl¡¯s domestic abuse. Last she¡¯d heard from the prince, his sister had been healed by the paladins. Elinor couldn¡¯t imagine her own mother ever laying a hand on her, but she¡¯d had a friend in middle school who suffered from that kind of trauma. Luckily, on Earth, it was much more challenging to hide such actions, so it had been reported and corrected swiftly; it wasn¡¯t always the case, but in a world like this, it was likely far worse. Perhaps it was even enshrined in law that a parent could do what they wanted to their child; it was a different society and world, after all. However, this went explicitly against her instructions that the princess wasn¡¯t to be disciplined, and that only rubbed salt into the insult. Elinor poked right to the core, making Castria¡¯s thighs tighten together, and Drew shifted comfortably. ¡°I was under the impression you were healed, Princess Heather. Bruising doesn¡¯t suit your fair complexion, and I don¡¯t recall using my nails¡­ What happened?¡± ¡°Huh? What¡­ do you mean?¡± Heather hesitantly asked, looking genuinely bewildered as she glanced at her brother for help. ¡°I, umm¡ªI, eh, I fell¡ª¡± ¡°Down the stairs?¡± Elinor snorted, rolling her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t take me for a fool, Heather. I will not be mocked or lied to. I explicitly said you were not to be punished since I had equalized that debt myself. Are you going to lie to me and tell me it wasn¡¯t your mother?¡± Drew stiffened. ¡°What? No, Heather said she slipped out of bed today because she wasn¡¯t feeling well. We didn¡¯t have time to get one of the paladins around my father, so¡­¡± Elinor held up a hand to silence him, not so much as looking in his direction. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear what lies she spins to keep you in the dark.¡± Heather¡¯s eyes began to water, sparks flashing across her hair and arms, and at Tiffany¡¯s prompt, a worried Castria swapped places with the witch. ¡°I-I¡¯m not lying! I¡¯m clumsy¡ªI¡¯ve, heh, I¡¯ve always been clumsy. It w-was my fault¡­ No! No, I¡¯m in control. I¡¯m fine!¡± she hastily reassured as the two swapped places, forcing her sparks under control. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ a little caught off-guard. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d¡­ I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d care.¡± ¡°Empress,¡± Castria whispered, taking Heather¡¯s hand, ¡°can we give her time to cool off?¡± ¡°Yes, please,¡± Drew jumped in, clearly not wanting to let go of this disturbing topic but also seeing the panic gripping his suddenly skittish sister. ¡°I fully understand your anger and questions, Empress, but maybe we should do this in another location.¡± ¡°Drew¡­¡± Heather mumbled, lip suddenly trembling as she pulled away from Castria and huddled against the side of the carriage, giving her big brother a hurt look. ¡°You¡­ You don¡¯t believe me? I-It was an accident¡ªI swear¡­¡± Elinor sat back, her tone firm. ¡°We will stop here for now. Think carefully how you respond when I ask again, Heather.¡± Just like that, silence retook them, bringing the dying storm outside to Elinor¡¯s attention. Sliding open the window to let in cool air and spot the gradually lessening showers, she noted the fear and anxiety that gripped the shattering princess. Castria tried to offer a comforting hand, but Heather flinched and jerked away. A soft hum came from Tiffany through the Nexus while observing the scene. ¡°As I recall, your mother would volunteer at a women¡¯s shelter every few months.¡± She did, Elinor whispered. It sometimes became a topic during dinner. ¡°Indeed, it was,¡± Tiffany sighed. ¡°She would hear it all¡­ ¡°I know they love me, and I love them, too. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave because of the children. ¡°We have a lot of great times together¡­ most of the time. ¡°I don¡¯t have anywhere to go¡­ ¡°She believes it¡¯s her failures that make her mother hurt her. She needs to do better, and then she¡¯ll be praised. It is such a sad cycle because praise seldom comes from such parents. All they see are flaws.¡± Spotting the look of betrayal that Heather had while looking at her helpless and confused big brother, Elinor could feel the damage caused by years of abuse. Heather couldn¡¯t see any fault in her mother, yet she also knew that showing it would cause her mother harm. The sad irrationality that came from early grooming. This was her mother¡¯s control tactic. She let the atmosphere die down, figuring that it might be troublesome if she blew up the carriage; sure, all of them would survive, but it could slow their journey. Her gaze lingered on the streets as they entered the Royal Palace grounds, only to veer on the left path after passing the gates instead of taking the center. Once stopped, the rain had dwindled to almost nothing, and a bright, warm sky was peeking through. Exiting the carriage, she waited outside for everyone to get out. ¡°Princess Heather, I would like you to join us,¡± she prompted, the disgruntled girl¡¯s makeup now somewhat of a mess. ¡°Empress, please, I c-can¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°You can, and you will,¡± Elinor firmly demanded. ¡°You are slowing my schedule, which I do not appreciate.¡± She could almost hear the grumbles about ¡®leaving her alone then¡¯ that was said under her breath. Elinor required her to be present, though. This was where she would confront the girl, and she knew Heather could sense the coming interrogation. Magic Knights surrounded them, personally assigned, and one of the grounds workers had been hastily brought to them to provide any aid. According to him, people rarely visited the site, and it was currently empty, which was perfect. Leading the way inside the underground crypt, she saw many canals built into the structure and hidden out of view to gather any water. Truly, Lumina was constructed during a much grander and lost time within the Kaspir Kingdom¡¯s distant past. Their reliance on Tempests had stunted and, in many cases, reverted their society. The underground structure was built to last the ages, and the phenomenal statues of heroic figures from their past made Elinor¡¯s smile grow. A jade butterfly left the flames she summoned in her hand to flutter along the showy displays of legends fighting monstrous beasts or standing proud, looking down on those that came after them. ¡°Incredible,¡± Elinor said in almost a reverent tone as she ran her fingers across the smooth, polished stone. It wasn¡¯t anything she recognized, red and glossy. ¡°You encase your past rulers and heroes inside stone?¡± ¡°How powerful are they?¡± Tiffany breathed, looking at each one as if they were in a store, ready to buy something. ¡°Are there any worthy of entering the Court?¡± Almost all of them, she responded, but she came to a stop near the back of the room. Unlike most of the fearsome, potent, and epic statues in the crypt, this woman was in a sleeping position, positioned upright with her hands clasped at her front. So, it¡¯s true. Drew¡ªand even his traumatized little sister¡ªwere now staring up at what had caught her attention. ¡°My¡­ mother? She wasn¡¯t a hero or legend.¡± ¡°She wasn¡¯t a Tempest, was she?¡± The prince slowly shook his head. ¡°No, like I said yesterday, she loved Alchemy. She favored the House, which is how it grew so much¡­ My father was criticized for taking on one of the Alchemy Princesses of the Western Jesna Desert as his queen instead of one of the Noble Tempest families¡¯ daughters.¡± He shifted uncomfortably. ¡°The Sand Princes were angry that he didn¡¯t return her body to them to give back to the desert. It¡¯s caused a trade ban between our nations, making some goods almost impossible to obtain.¡± Heather piped up with a huff. ¡°Queen Lilya only caused The King heartache. She was obsessed over finding some Alchemy super-drug that could cause someone¡¯s time to reverse. My mother says she experimented on herself, and that is why she died.¡± Drew drew in his bottom lip. ¡°Heather¡­ Yes, my mother was a tad eccentric, but our father loved that part of her. She was responsible for the entire cosmetic business of Kaspir¡¯s to reach other nations. The pulleys and other devices¡ª¡± ¡°And what good has it done us?¡± Heather snapped back, face red and makeup smudged, showing the black and purple bruising. ¡°All it¡¯s done is make all the Noble Houses hate how open our family is to outside forces! I-If that keeps up, then¡­¡± ¡°Then your mother might get caught up in a power struggle?¡± Elinor bluntly stated, turning to walk up to the princess as she snapped her mouth shut and looked down, eyes watering again. ¡°Talking points your mother has drilled into you. Think for yourself, Heather.¡± The Magic Knights looked at one another with uncertainty as the scope of the conversation took a turn. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. It was your mother who gave you those cuts and bruises, which could easily be healed; in fact, I¡¯m sure she has a paladin on call to solve her little outbursts.¡± Heather took a step back, fingers finding her elbow and breathing faster. ¡°No¡ªI mean, it¡¯s my fault she got angry. I was stupid; I caused her problems. It¡¯s always my fault, a-and it¡¯s not like it happens all the time. She loves me.¡± ¡°What?¡± Drew mumbled in disbelief, the Magic Knights now shifting a bit, trying to ease the tension they were feeling. ¡°All those times you said you were just a klutz?¡± Hair sparking with fire, Heather¡¯s face grew more red. ¡°No! I am klutzy. Not every time! It¡¯s just¡­ sometimes. Sometimes, I can accidentally set her off. It¡¯s not her fault. I know she has anger problems. I¡¯m not as strong as you, so I don¡¯t get Dad¡¯s attention. I-I¡¯m growing, though! I¡¯m not weak. I can get stronger!¡± ¡°Heather¡ª¡± He took a step forward, but the girl swiftly retreated, starting to hyperventilate. ¡°No, stop! Look, it¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s not her fault, Drew. This is all your fault, Empress!¡± she cried, chest heaving as wind and fire began to cycle around her, hair fanning out to show her purple eye, claw marks, and bruised neck, where hand marks showed. ¡°You humiliated my mother by forcing me into a fistfight! It¡¯s your fault, but everyone takes your side! What about me?¡± Several of the Magic Knights moved to get between them. ¡°Empress!¡± ¡°Heather!¡± ¡°See?! No, don¡¯t get close! Why don¡¯t you believe me?! What about me?! Why didn¡¯t anyone come to¡ªwhen you were¡ªI didn¡¯t want this! I¡¯m a princess! W-What do you want from me?!¡± Elinor walked forward, weaving around the confused knights to stand in front of the girl. ¡°You want to let out that frustration. Do you have the same temper as your mother? If so, show me you can¡¯t control your anger. No one will interfere. King Edmon¡­¡± Her father gave her a pointed stare before summoning his giant tower shield and coming between the Magic Knights, her brother, and Castria. ¡°I hope you know what you¡¯re doing.¡± Hot wind fluttered their dresses as the flames intensified, and Elinor looked the frightened and pained princess straight in the eyes. ¡°You wish to get revenge for your mother? Is that what she wants, or do you want it? Maybe you enjoy the beatings your mother gives you. Do you want to be punished again for humiliating her in front of me?¡± ¡°No! Stop!¡± A cyclone of fire raced outward, yet subconsciously, the girl created a break not to ignite her. ¡°Why are you¡ªwhy are you doing this to me? Why can¡¯t I do anything right¡­¡± Breaking into tears, the flames collapsed as she fell to her knees. ¡°Why can¡¯t I do anything right? I¡¯m a failure! I never do anything right!¡± Elinor knelt down beside the sobbing princess and brought her into a hug. ¡°You did do something right. Well done, Heather. I want to help you.¡± Slowly, the quaking girl¡¯s arms closed around her. ¡°Why me?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re calling out for help,¡± Elinor whispered, pulling her in tighter. ¡°Because I think you could be a great friend to Princess Castria. I know that you love your mother, but certain things must stop. I know it is hard to accept help. You have help, though. Will you become Princess Castria¡¯s roommate?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Stifling her sniffles, the red-eyed, puffy-faced ginger looked like she¡¯d been slapped. ¡°Why would you want a failure like me as her roommate? Everyone says I won¡¯t even g-get into the House of Tempest. I¡¯m¡­ damaged.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Elinor chimed, further causing bewilderment from the uncertain guards and her big brother. ¡°If I don¡¯t have to fight for you, then all the better. It is their loss since I will be starting my own House for the school. Maybe it can operate out of the castle while we work out housing arrangements!¡± she giggled, seemingly leaving the rest of her entourage in a stunned state. Releasing Heather, Elinor internally prompted her antsy Queen of Storms that it was fine to comfort her new roommate. She spun on her heels, taking one last smiling look at the sleeping woman in stone before motioning to her guard that they were leaving. ¡°Tiffany, take the princess somewhere to get healed, and Castria, help her clean up. I am not trying to beat the girl over the head but to provide a way for her to stand on her own feet and be proud of who she is; you girls need to look your best. Prince Drew, perhaps it would be best if you escorted the ladies.¡± He jumped into action, moving to help his sister, who was now protesting that she was fine, cheeks red with embarrassment, yet there was happiness on her face; finally, someone was seeing her rather than the sum of her failures. Fixing her dress, now showing slight singe marks, she addressed Drew, the knights, and her father. ¡°In the meantime, it¡¯s time I meet with Grand Duke Logan Christarion again before the ceremony begins. I have a few things to run by the good rector.¡± B3 — 2. Romans Warning Elinor moved to the front of the royal catacombs with her father, leaving Tiffany to help the princesses and prince get ready for the ceremony. It would be a short wait while the Witch Queen healed Heather¡¯s face, so Elinor had the Magic Knights send for a new stagecoach for them, taking the one they¡¯d arrived in. Now, alone inside the vehicle, she sat beside the window, observing the brightly-dressed paladins patrolling the royal grounds on high alert. The reason why soon came from her father as he talked with the lieutenant in charge of their day¡¯s escort. Emerald eyes wandering between the sparkling white-and-gold aesthetic of the wet capital city in the morning light, Elinor kept a neutral expression while her father informed her of the developing situation of Julian¡¯s march. ¡°The army is mobilizing to counter the Delva Empire¡¯s territorial expansion. Apparently, the neighboring empire has stationed its troops on the Delenear March¡¯s border; they¡¯ve overtaken the land and are screening everyone before expelling them into the Kaspir Kingdom.¡± Elinor sighed as they passed a few floating Tempest, opting to fly above the ¡®common folk¡¯ rather than walk on the ground. So, they still think Castria is within the march. It¡¯s an aggressive play, and I expect a diplomat to be sent with some extravagant story as to why the Delenear March somehow provoked the attack. It doesn¡¯t look like they want full-scale war, but Castria was important enough to cause this mess. Her father¡¯s dark tone returned as they came to the first royal gatehouse, where Roman waited with Dris, the cat creature that served the Delenear family. ¡°Or¡­ Roman convinced the empire that the invasion was the only way to secure the girl¡­ If it¡¯s her that they want in the first place. He let us know that Castria was able to eavesdrop through some method, making us paranoid of listening ears. That knowledge has made us second-guess and be cautious about how we speak in the open. It also provides him with a decent amount of cover.¡± It is suspect, Elinor returned in their private conversation. Roman has built my reputation up to a shocking degree and is trying to keep us isolated due to our limited resources and need to project a particular image. He¡¯s handcuffed me in a rather crafty way while giving me all the power¡­ I should have brought more personnel. The Legend held a noble air that befitted his title of duke as the stagecoach stopped, and he gave a respectful bow to Edmon on his horse before the small cat opened the door for him to enter. Dris shut it and saw them off without joining their party, further inciting Elinor¡¯s suspicions. ¡°Good morning, Empress,¡± the blind man said, not bothering with the idea he couldn¡¯t see to no doubt further his mystical reputation in this world. ¡°When I arrived at the inn to discover you¡¯d made a trip to the Royal Catacombs, I was mildly surprised. You always were one to move swiftly, though.¡± This act as if they¡¯d known each other for many years was a tad grating, considering the secret plays this man was doing behind the scenes while she took the limelight. If she asked him where he¡¯d been, anyone listening could think that she was ignorant about his movements or that she didn¡¯t have a handle on her people. On the other hand, there was a potentially very negative downside to not addressing this soon, and it could totally wreck her plans with Castria. He could be building her up to take a giant fall or to place some big event on her name, which would then force Castria and her sister on the run or possibly die. It was a good thing that she¡¯d prepared for this moment and reached over to the bag her father had packed. Roman¡¯s eyebrows came together as she plucked out the pink stones that she¡¯d come to find had properties that disrupted the air in a space and made listening through a Tempest¡¯s wind-based powers practically impossible. ¡°I do enjoy these colorful flames that they have here,¡± Elinor stated, handing them to the Legend. ¡°Their flicker can be mesmerizing.¡± A small smile came to the man¡¯s mouth as he accepted them and placed them inside the brackets at the corners of the stagecoach before igniting them with another reactive crystal. ¡°We may need to bring some of Kaspir¡¯s goods back with us.¡± ¡°Indeed, we might.¡± She waited for the fire to brighten and the atmosphere to heat with the unusual, circular current that the four flames produced before crossing her leg and returning her gaze to the street. ¡°I will be candid, Roman. What have you been doing with that Delenear cat butler? You wouldn¡¯t be plotting some major upset for me to stumble into, would you?¡± she asked, tight gaze darting to the poised man. Roman crossed his own legs, leaning against the opposite side to stare out of the window with his white eyes. ¡°I had planned on some major upset to happen, though I see that it is no longer needed after considering the play you are invoking¡­ You really are something special, Elinor, but I will impart a warning to you.¡± ¡°And what would that be?¡± Elinor asked as the man¡¯s sober gaze shifted to her. He took a moment to answer, showing a different, more concerned cadence than he typically displayed. ¡°Your plan is a good one¡­ a bold one. It is one that provides you with much influence and tension amongst the various parties, providing a beautiful cover for me to uncover more truths about this world¡­ But it will also reach parties I would rather not deal with, and they may make a personal appearance with the buzz you are causing.¡± ¡°Who are?¡± Elinor prompted, intertwining her fingers. The Legend¡¯s lips became a line as he glanced out of the window again, where dozens upon dozens of packs of students traveled throughout the Noble District, which would soon have the rare occurrence of being open to the public for the ceremony. ¡°Countess Evelyn Autumn, the Hag of the Everborne Marshlands. I would compare her to Tiffany, only¡­ far, far more dangerous and powerful. It was she who I would have needed to go to if you hadn¡¯t raised Castria.¡± ¡°A hag,¡± Elinor slowly repeated, her mind only going to children¡¯s stories about kids who would get snatched by the woman in the woods for disobeying their parents. ¡°What do you know about this hag? Is she human or a creature?¡± Roman suppressed a shiver, telling her that he was frightened by this person. His posture tightened, hands clasping at his front while looking beyond their vehicle to something else. ¡°I cannot tell you what she is, Elinor, but the popular belief is that she was born from the swamp at its creation, and her powers stem from the location. From what I¡¯ve been able to learn about her in this world, the people of the Kaspir Kingdom, and every other nation, for that matter, has seen the Everborne March as a kingdom in itself since before anyone can remember, and she is the queen of it.¡± He reached into a side bag to take out a short book. Elinor took it as he handed it to her, reading through the diary made by an Earl¡¯s wife. ¡°That is a journal that was written nearly three centuries ago, and it took some digging to get, which is one of the places I went last night to find. Evelyn was a rather subpar Tempest, which was something she hated.¡± Elinor held up a hand. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t Evelyn the hag?¡± The Legend ran his fingers through his dark hair, shifting a little in his chair. ¡°It will make sense in a bit. If that wasn¡¯t enough, Evelyn¡¯s pregnancy was done out of wedlock during her college days to a charming baron who had wooed her. She wanted her child to be powerful due to the scorn she¡¯d faced from the other noble women, so she secretly sought out the witch, who offered her a bargain, as she is said to do¡­¡± Roman swallowed, likely pondering what it would be like to deal with such a creature. Elinor flipped to the folded-down page in the book, where she read the details aloud. ¡°I met with the Hag of Everborne today. She was terrifying and ugly, her green skin felt like seaweed, and her fingernails were like claws, yet they held a disturbing grace that reminded me of Rehan¡¯s¡­ ¡°I quake just remembering the sensation of her touch that lingered like hoarfrost on my arm. She promised me that my son would be the strongest Tempest, to surpass the Great Houses and Royal Family themselves¡ªhe would be king¡ªif I give her three things¡­ but I shudder at the thought of what she asked. How can I give her what she asks? Why does she need me to do such things? ¡°No, I swore to Rehan that I would make our son the greatest and rise up the Alciel House to new heights. No matter the price, even if I must¡­¡± Elinor trailed off, looking up at the Legend, who was still staring out of the window. Vision lowering to the hard quill marks on the paper, she read, ¡°¡­Even if I must cheat on my husband and seduce a commoner, give up my second child, and give the hag my skin, I will do it all to see my son not have the same experience I had with those accursed high nobles. My children will rule this nation¡­¡± The tale went on as Elinor flipped through the pages, scanning through the notes of her trips across the countryside to privately meet with the hag, who cast a dark ritual on her in such brutality and disgust that even Elinor felt a tad queasy. Tiffany would love the journal. ¡°Evelyn did every evil act,¡± she whispered, flipping down the woman¡¯s long road into depravity and the occult until her second son¡¯s birth when the final note left off where she¡¯d offered her own skin to the hag, her husband never the wiser. ¡°Heather and Drew¡¯s ancestor made a deal with the hag to gift her descendants with the highest Tempest potential? What happened to the second child that Evelyn gave her?¡± Roman shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ve been following a great many trails, but you should know that one branch of the Alciel family¡­ the Autumn Branch has a tradition of always renaming their matriarchal head Evelyn, who has an estate closest to the Everborne Marshlands, and who hardly leave their lands. She doesn¡¯t attend any ceremony but the royal coronation.¡± Elinor closed the disturbing book and set it to the side, hard green eyes staring daggers at the Legend. ¡°While pertinent information, you¡¯re giving this to distract me from your other activities. I don¡¯t like how well you manage to maneuver yourself, Roman¡­¡± Fingernails tightening against her palm, she went right for his throat. ¡°You wanted a confrontation between us, or at least you were willing to entertain the idea when shifting your pieces to bring me into this game. Castria¡¯s sacrifice, pulling in the Delva Empire, and bridging all of this gossip about the Raven Empire beyond the seas¡­ I¡¯m starting to believe all of it is to drag this dangerous hag and me together. Why?¡± A long pause ensued, causing the outside buzz of the busy city to filter into the foreground as Roman spun his thoughts on how to answer her. The pink flames flickered within their stands, the fire slowly dying. She listened carefully so as not to miss any twists he was trying to make on the subject.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°¡­I have many plans in motion. Truly, I do believe we are working together, but I also am the type of person to thoroughly test my allies to understand how they work in order to accomplish the goal that needs to be done. Typically, the soldiers never know the full scope of the plan that the general employs, which is something you should be well aware of, having been building an empire up.¡± A gleam lit in her eyes. ¡°I am no soldier, Roman.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± he said, shifting to stare at the dwindling flames before his voice sharpened, ¡°which is why I am talking to you about this¡­ I did want to know what the hag would do if she heard the fabled Raven Empress would make an appearance. However, I did not expect her to have so many claws sunk so deep into this kingdom. I am trying to uncover more information as we speak, but we are stepping on the toes of another great power who has invested a lot into this kingdom already. You are bound to meet her soon if you go through with this Fifth House plan, and your soldiers will have to contend with the hag¡¯s plots while you are away. There is a bright side to this, though.¡± ¡°Let me guess,¡± Elinor said, glaring at the blind Legend. ¡°The payout in EXP for this quest will increase dramatically with how expansive it is. All I need to know right now is if you will derail me and introduce something entirely new?¡± Roman shook his head without hesitation. ¡°I have conceded all plans regarding this kingdom to you, and that is why I am telling you about the hag. My plans are further reaching, involving the Delva Empire. And if you¡¯re doing what I expect, then I can add a few more names to my list.¡± A frown came to the blind man. ¡°You have more than exceeded my expectations¡­ if you can pull this off; otherwise, we all might die in this quest. And a parting word of caution¡­ If the Alciels were supposed to be among the strongest Tempest, why do I hear the Grand Duke and the current king were said to have sparred in the past, and not once did the duke lose? ¡°Also,¡± he added with a spontaneous smile, ¡°using Kings and Queens to do your bidding can make many houses nervous at your expectations.¡± Elinor sat back, reforming her gaze to the window as they neared the campus entrance. ¡°It is for this reason I detest you. All you have said is that, yes, you are plotting, and you will continue to plot in the shadows. ¡°Essentially, I have been the one to detail you in this kingdom, but you did foresee that as a possibility and have opted to redirect your resources to another project to let me have my way. It is a story baked with half-truths and missing context. It appears you have bought yourself enough time to slip the vice this time,¡± she grunted, spotting the pink flames dwindling out. The dark-haired man gave her a deep bow and twinkling smile. ¡°Your company is always stimulating, Empress. I will do as you command.¡± Elinor glowered at the man when he wrapped knuckles against the wall to tell the driver to pull off the side. ¡°Will you be able to make it to the ceremony?¡± He gave a strained smile. ¡°Unfortunately not, Empress. I am sure it will be one to remember with you being present. I will be sure to update you on the progress of things tomorrow afternoon. We will have much to discuss.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sure,¡± she said, eyeing him as he left the stopped stagecoach. Her father contacted her through the Nexus when the Legend left, and she received an update from Tiffany that the princesses were making some headway as budding friends. It even seemed that the prince had taken a shine to their beautiful, three-years-younger princess; the only issue came with the knowledge that a hag was tied up with the history of this royal family, and what her plans were regarding the prince and princess were a complete mystery. ¡°Fruitful meeting?¡± Edmon asked as they passed by the main school fountain at its front, showing four figures in some kind of heroic squad that must represent the four Houses. Elinor brooded in silence as the many already admitted students stopped to stare at the royal stagecoach¡¯s entrance. The only person who would be riding it would likely be the prince after all so she would cause a stir by her welcome to the college. Enlightening more than fruitful, she muttered. Roman is a problem. He is either too used to handling classified information close to his chest, is plotting my downfall as a hidden agent, or hasn¡¯t quite built the trust he needs to share his ideas with me. In any case, he has managed to keep his enigmatic ends to himself. ¡°Not entirely true,¡± her father returned, opening the door and holding out his hand to help her down the steps to the stunned crowd of young adults who attended the vast college, Magic Knights keeping everyone at a significant distance. ¡°He said in the beginning what this quest entailed.¡± Finding her hands behind her back as she lifted her gaze to the giant tower at the college¡¯s center, Elinor let a low rumble run through her throat. Her father wasn¡¯t wrong. He¡¯d stated that in order to complete this Legend¡¯s Quest, they had to make either the Kaspir Kingdom or Delva Empire accept Castria and that she was a critical part of this world¡¯s salvation. That may be so, she whispered, spotting a semi-frantic woman in purple robes almost trip down the stairs as she rushed to her Magic Knight blockade to speak to them, showing some kind of fancy badge she wore. However, that statement in itself is vague. How will Castria save the world, and does it require her life, power, or some other great sacrifice? Why is her admittance into either of these nations so critical? And who are the real enemies? We are operating in a murky pond without a lot of guidance, and Roman did that on purpose. He knew I would be drawn in too deep once I was in this world¡­ I have a stake in it now. Elinor put the topic on the shelf with the many other topics currently on her plate¡ªsuch as the ri¡¯bot clan tournament that this quest was supposed to help her prepare for¡ªwhen one of her escorting knights broke away to talk to her. ¡°Empress,¡± the woman greeted, having learned the Earth bow instead of the ridiculous Kaspir dab that they usually gave nobles. ¡°An instructor from the House of Conjuration has been sent to give you a tour before guiding you to the Grand Duke. Was that the plan?¡± By the Magic Knight¡¯s deep frown, she took it as rude that the Grand Duke himself wasn¡¯t there to meet her, but Elinor figured this decision was made for a variety of reasons, including to see how she would react. Roman¡¯s warning about the unusual power of the Grand Duke also piqued her interest, as the Legend knew it would. It was her first time seeing what a Conjuration magic user was like, and it was a tad off-putting how distinctly modest she was dressed compared to the nobility. This world was filled with so many mysteries and dangers, much like the one she¡¯d left, only this place was far more civilized than her new jungle home. ¡°I did ask the Grand Duke to arrange for an escort to show me around the campus. A four-man squad to accompany us will be appropriate so as not to crowd the hallways.¡± ¡°As you command,¡± she said with a solemn nod, making several signals to the others that swiftly brought them into action. Elinor walked past them to engage the nervous woman, seemingly in her late thirties or early forties by her appearance alone, her father taking up a position by her side. ¡°And you would be?¡± The black-haired woman did a ridiculous, nervous dab before sweeping back her bangs and gulping as her father loomed by their side, more than a foot taller than the Conjuration instructor. She adjusted her thick purple robe and tried not to speak too quickly. ¡°My name is Instructor Belladonna, Your Royal Imperial M-Majesty. I am from the House of Conjuration, and the Grand Duke has instructed me to¡ª¡± She winced and took a deep, calming breath, fingers knotting at her front as the Magic Knights gave her a questioning eye. ¡°Excuse me, I am to tour you around the facility¡­ if that would be okay for you.¡± A lump appeared in the Conjuror¡¯s throat as Elinor¡¯s illuminated green eyes swept her robes and triple-eye badge, positioned into a pyramid. ¡°I will call you Bella since it is easier to use in speech, and you may simply refer to me as Empress. Hmm. You wouldn¡¯t happen to be a commoner, would you, Bella?¡± Voice becoming scratchy, the older woman did another dab out of nowhere as her tone rose an octave. ¡°Yes, I-I am, Empress; it is a pleasure to serve you¡ªI mean, guide you!¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± Elinor¡¯s chest shook with mild entertainment as she motioned for the spinny-eyed woman to take the lead. ¡°You can relax. I am not the type of ruler who would look down on those of the lower class. You may be yourself and act as you would when touring any other noble from your kingdom. I am in your care.¡± Looking a tad taken aback by the freeing words, Bella glanced between the Magic Knights and Death Knight king before giving a nod and turning to gesture toward the dozen stairs that rose to the front entrance of the college entry building. ¡°Then, if you would follow me, Empress. Umm. Do¡­ you have any requests as to where we start?¡± Elinor swept the magnificent, several-story building that branched in an X formation, no doubt each one dedicated to the four classes of study. ¡°Why don¡¯t you begin with the House of Conjuration since it is where you are no doubt comfortable? Inform me about the daily lives of the students and what the difference is between the Houses, where they retire after classes, and the college itself.¡± Bella perked up now that they¡¯d broken the ice and took the lead. ¡°I would be happy to start with the House I am a part of. Once a member of a House, always a member. We take pride in the service we provide the kingdom and our members.¡± Walking up the glossy, gold-trimmed stairs, cut out of the same type of marble as the rest of the city, Elinor scanned the intricate stonework that went into its design, somehow having more of an old, wooden British design, only stone. The windows were glossy, not allowing one to see inside and reflecting the vast skies. Tempest flew about their daily activities or played games that involved throwing various balls, using their abilities. Flowers and trees dotted the waterways, providing a contrast and walkways for viewing. Weeping willows provided shade from the sun or veils of privacy for the young to gather under. It truly looked like a place of learning for the wealthy elite. The interior didn¡¯t disappoint, going for a vast and open aesthetic with pillars and archways showing murals of the arts. She spotted Tempest floating near the ceiling with paints of some kind, decorating it with scenes that blended into each other. Bella pointed them out, stopping them in the middle of the colossal front entrance, where balconies and railings circled the place to view the artistry. ¡°Every year, the artwork is wiped clean for the second-year students to show their own talents and display their unique taste in the ever-changing arts. It is open to all second-years, but¡­ is a tad hard to reach for anyone but the Tempest.¡± Elinor nodded, figuring it was a form of gatekeeping that the nobles used to cement more of their dominance, considering many of the commoners wouldn¡¯t have the practice or nerve to show their works so boldly. However, what most caught her attention were the open gears of a colossal clock directly facing the entrance and above the sweeping staircase; it had to be for more than just the simple device, she was sure. ¡°And that?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh! That sets the schedule for everything in the college. Only the Grand Duke knows how to operate it, but the students take turns cleaning and oiling the gears as a part of their community college maintenance. Nobles and commoners do the same chores.¡± Elinor was sure that wasn¡¯t wholly the case, but it was an excellent attempt to bring the air-headed fliers down to the ground. Bella took her down the long corridors, showing her the artwork of past legendary graduates that dotted the Conjuror¡¯s Wing; she noticed quite a few students wearing similar modest clothes, yet a few showed more skin than the others, making Elinor aware of the tattoos that they hid beneath. From dampening kinetic or potential force to healing, the summoning of creatures from another realm, facilitating gateways to other planes of existence, or bringing inanimate objects to life, the Conjuror had a wide variety of valuable abilities that proved to be quite interesting. She was starting to enjoy exploring this world and its balance of power. Her excitement doubled when Bella offered to show her some of the instructors preparing the gateway that would be used to call forth the enemies that would be used for the Entrance Ceremony. Elinor followed her down the steps into the first-level basement of the branch, the Magic Knights somewhat uncomfortable by the bizarre and hideous artwork that only continued to get stranger as they went. This was the perfect branch for outcasts and lovers of the unusual. The Magic Knights fought monsters as a part of their trade, and the Conjurors summoned them; it was no wonder they wanted to shut the House down. Plus, it seemed the Tempest¡¯s idea of beauty was in stark contrast to the Conjuror¡¯s with their piercings, tattoos, and hairstyles compared to the noble¡¯s¡­ the only word would be slutty, glamorous lifestyle. Stepping down the dark, dimly lit stairs, with Bella growing more excited by her positive reception to the aesthetic, Elinor used the Nexus to comment to her father regarding the change in pace. What do you bet that we have a rogue Conjuror group dedicated to stamping out the Tempest elites? Her father lifted an eyebrow while staring at the rather eldritch and devilish-inspired paintings. ¡°I¡­ wouldn¡¯t doubt it.¡± Hahaha. We can only hope for something as interesting as that, she said, wishing she¡¯d picked up the Feat Extension for her eyes that would show her signs of the supernatural; it was possible to pick up, but she was also expecting something massive for Level 20. It was hard to save resources. I¡¯m sure there are some lovely secrets hidden in these halls¡­ School looks like it could be fun in this world. B3 — 2.5. The Heathen Goddess Arrives! The Susime Valley spread out before Butter, its vibrant, alien beauty capturing her active mind while analyzing everything it could represent for Priss and her. The landscape was a tapestry of color, with ruby grasses swaying gently in the breeze and strange, luminescent flora dotting the landscape. Nergath extracted black chalk out of his bag and made a few notes on the bottom of the animal hide of the message he¡¯d received before looking at her. ¡°Do you wish to accept his invitation?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Butter leaned against her throne, looking down at her undead ri¡¯bot mount with a fond smile; she¡¯d grown to like these toad-like creatures. ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll let him know my decision at the gate when I make it to his fortress. I¡¯m new and want to take the tour. Plus¡­I have a wonderful guide in one of his Fingers.¡± Nergath¡¯s body shook with silent laughter. ¡°I have never heard anyone who made the Head of Seg''tharis wait when summoned. You certainly are brave, High Queen. I will send the message.¡± Butter winked at him, her aquamarine eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a pretty face and a heathen¡ªwhy don¡¯t you add that part as well for the giggles! After all, even a heathen can command respect with the proper support,¡± she whispered, pointing at her hidden jewel between her bust. White snickered from beside her, leaning against her horse¡¯s head. ¡°I love your energy, High Queen. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be feeling all sorts of things from that message. Tyrants typically love women who stand up to them since they naturally feel in a position of power and bemused if someone stands up to them. The first slight brings interest, the second¡­an ax. At least, that¡¯s how it works for humans.¡± Mika rubbed her mount. ¡°If he follows standard ri¡¯bot culture, then a defiant mate is something of value when they are seen as competent. Our love grows by our personal conflicts. I doubt it will translate to hairy humans with unnaturally many teeth¡­and similarities to quen¡¯talrat, only far smaller and weaker. But, I will admit that the High Queen has a certain alluring aura about her that draws many ri¡¯bot to her. I¡¯ve heard the whispers.¡± Andoncia hummed doubtfully. ¡°You really see us as hairy, small quen¡¯talrat?¡± Nergath¡¯s brow furrowed, sending his bird back to the Head of Seg''tharis. ¡°I can see the resemblance.¡± The maid¡¯s mouth pushed to the side while looking down at herself. ¡°We¡­look nothing like Quin¡ªshe has two heads, a tail, fur everywhere, and four arms.¡± Mika shrugged, making White laugh again. Butter let the conversation work through her, enjoying the energy her party had. In the distance, a crystalline blue river shimmered under the bright sun, its waters teeming with massive, gem-scaled fish that jumped out of the water on their path into the perfectly clear lake around the Life Village. Butter¡¯s skipping heart swelled with excitement as she took in the scene, the anticipation of the unknown bubbling within her. This place is breathtaking, and Priss¡¯ body is here makes it all the more sweet of a sight, she thought, guiding her undead torlim mount down the gentle slope, Nergath explaining what they should expect on their descent from the shelf. White, Adoncia, and Mika remained close since this was all potentially enemy territory. The Head of Seg''tharis managed to get Priss¡¯ body. It must have been Shade¡¯s doing. What is he cooking in his deep dark prison? It¡¯s potent to be smelled all the way up here on the surface, she chuckled to herself. So much to learn and do. Nergath calls this Life Village Utelira¡¯s Haven¡­ The same Supreme Chief of Life that resides in this necklace. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of her top, feeling the imprint of the large gemstone hidden underneath her tank top between her breasts; the item was meant for a much larger creature with a thick neck, making it hang low. The sleeping, nigh-dead life entity within it was struggling to cling onto her power, a hope for relief emanating from within. There is so much potential here¡­ Why would Shade give us this¡­give me a body? All of this screams distraction, but he made it sweet as honey, which means there¡¯s something even more important either to our south with the navleans, the western Tol¡¯Val Kingdom of ri¡¯bot, or he¡¯s trying to direct us away from putting our attention on Kel''mal''tha. The White God¡¯s black fortress certainly does peak my interest, but I¡¯m invested here now. Descending the shelf with her escort, Butter listened to Nergath¡¯s lessons on their culture. The rustle of the sparse tree-cover along the hill and the sway of the red grasslands they walked on filled her with positivity. Yet, Butter noticed more signs of conflict within Utelira¡¯s Haven that added to the historical conflict between the two factions. Scorch marks marred the ground, and the remains of charred structures stood as silent witnesses to the recent raid. The once-lush areas showed signs of decay, the vibrant Life Energy drained away by the Death Faction, known among the Susime as the Hands of Seg''tharis. Nergath rode beside her on his dragonfly steed. His emerald eyes scanned the horizon far ahead of them; it would take another few hours before they made it to the edges of the village. ¡°The damage you see is the work of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ Left Hand,¡± he explained, his voice tinged with sorrow. ¡°They are the military faction, who see it as their duty to corrupt and control everything they touch in the name of Seg¡¯tharis¡­ Half of them will still be alive.¡± Butter nodded, her playful demeanor momentarily subdued by the gravity of the situation. She studied the multi-color skinned and splotchy followers of Utelira hung up by their tongues on wooden bars erected between the life and death sections of the valley, surrounding the floating crystal like a ritual for success or favor. ¡°They¡¯ve done quite a number here,¡± Butter whispered, ¡°but we¡¯ll set things right. It¡¯s what I do. After all, I am the Heavenly Conqueror, and they¡¯re stepping on my toes.¡± On their long journey, Butter soaked up the information Nergath provided more information about their hierarchy. In terms of power, as being the Seventh Finger of the Right Hand, he had the least rank within the Sages, but out-ranked the First Finger of the Left Hand. In essence, he was the tenth most influential figure within the Cult of Seg¡¯tharis. As they approached the outskirts of Utelira¡¯s Haven, a sudden flash of light to their right caught Butter¡¯s eye. The immaterial cube-shaped Crystal was roughly fifteen meters in width and dimension, its pinkish color and greenish glow radiating a pulse of energy¡ªit was solidifying. According to their guide, it had been lingering over their valley for over two months, and their warriors entered it a month ago. Nergath held out his hand for them to stop, and Butter noticed activity from the Death Cult¡¯s fortress as skydaters took to the sky¡ªDeath Riders. They circled the floating device, releasing howl-like croaks that sent everyone in the Life Village into their homes. Butter figured they hadn¡¯t responded to her arrival due to the Head¡¯s orders. ¡°The First Conquest has concluded, the victors who achieved the most favor from Seg¡¯tharis are allowed to bring back their prize and prepare for the next assault¡­ A new contender will enter the Death Crucible.¡± Butter leaned against her chair, having heard Nergath¡¯s explanation regarding the cube-like Crystal. ¡°So, square ones introduce a battle royal-type of challenge, and what happens to each side depends on how they perform. New factions are introduced to spice things up. Interesting¡­ It must be a higher power that has made this game of conquest¡­ I approve!¡± she chimed. A towering monolith of shimmering quartz, stood at the heart between the factions, where the dozens of sacrifices hung. It pulsed with an inner light, sending out a ray that pierced the sky. The ground trembled, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the valley, causing Butter to steady herself. Nergath dismounted, his expression grim. ¡°Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ Left Hand returns from their Death March,¡± he whispered. ¡°It only happens when a side has satisfied Seg¡¯tharis to an acceptable degree¡­or they have failed so terribly that the conquest will continue on our own land. Prepare yourself for that possibility, High Queen, because if so, the valley will be locked into its own space, and no one will be able to escape.¡± Butter crossed her legs upon straightening herself, pulled down a tad on her shorts and plucked at her tank top, she breathed in the scent of conquest. ¡°Let¡¯s go! I can feel the tingles already. You, White?¡± ¡°Like my first kiss,¡± the woman chimed, summoning her bow and knocking an arrow of pure light. ¡°You ready, girls?¡± Adoncia summoned her club and Mika prepared her torlim and knives. However, Butter¡¯s gaze was on the beam of light basking the center of the ritual site in blinding light as it faded, revealing a thick mist. As it dissipated, a group of over 150 ri¡¯bot and their skydarters emerged from the mists. She sat straighter upon spotting prisoners among the body-painted warriors of the Susime, their hands bound and heads bowed. Five of the seven Left Fingers of the Death Faction marched at the front, their dark armor glinting ominously. Butter¡¯s eyes narrowed as she spotted familiar figures among the diverse crowd of captive creatures¡ªa few humans, one being a woman with striking white hair, standing out starkly against the gloom. One prisoner, a striking woman with white hair, struggled fiercely against her bindings, momentarily breaking free. A commotion broke out with a burst of ice shards and mist before the woman was pounced on and subdued again, bound in black rope. Well, this just got ten times more exciting! Butter internally proclaimed to her three guards, feeling a strange pull towards the woman. I believe she has a similar Seed as me and my sister. We may be able to increase our numbers, after all. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± White cheered, mirroring her earlier statement. Adoncia squinted, glancing between the few humans that were amongst the snake-like creatures with four arms and were bound between skydarters by dark black ropes. ¡°Are those¡­US soldiers¡ªthe United States? Are those ri¡¯bot driving a tank?!¡± Mika lifted an impressed eyebrow at the large metal device as it pulled many more snake creatures, their mouths as bound as their arms. ¡°Impressive looking mounts, and they roar something fierce.¡± Nergath¡¯s voice was a low murmur in the ensuing silence since he couldn¡¯t hear their spiritual conversation. ¡°Lokar, the First Finger of the Left Hand¡­and they return with humans? Odd. I take it you know of them, High Queen?¡± Butter couldn¡¯t help but smile as the combat leader of the Death Faction noticed them, as did the white-haired young woman. He pointed for them to take the prisoners to the fortress as the howling Death Riders above lowered to help collect the spoils of war, dragged behind by two more tanks; the ri¡¯bot seemed to be forcing humans to drive them. Lokar directed his skydarter away from his raiding party and approached them. He was a lower rank than Nergath by his earlier explanation, yet his smug ri¡¯bot face carried a smug arrogance. Butter leaned over to ask her question before he arrived, ¡°Nergath, can you claim the white-haired human and bring her to us? I¡¯d like to see if she tries to escape. He shouldn¡¯t know about your Head¡¯s interest in me since he¡¯s been in that Crystal for a month, as you stated.¡± Nergath sighed while rubbing his chin. ¡°I can, but it will cause more strife and call my conduct into question by the other Right Fingers¡­ I will likely be summoned to the Court of the Right for a hearing since Lokar will challenge my abuse of power, and I am already on thin ice with my seniors.¡± ¡°Perfect,¡± Butter giggled, a devilish grin lifting her aquamarine eyes. ¡°Why not allow me to do the talking to take a little more heat off of you.¡± Adoncia and Mika gave her somewhat grumpy looks but they¡¯d become used to her forward and risky plays; there was a method to her madness, after all. ¡°¡­I place my life in your hands, Radiant Eminence,¡± he whispered, glancing at the chain leading into her bust, where the Eye of Utelira was nested. ¡°I hope to hear your strategy before an armed escort and two Right Fingers come to compel us to answer the summons.¡± Butter gave him a sideward wink, her pink lips rising. ¡°Trust this pretty heathen, I¡¯m not one to underestimate, and your Head knows it, which is why he stole my sister¡¯s corpse to lure me in. Shade knows how dangerous I am to your faction, and your Head wouldn¡¯t want that vulnerability getting out there.¡± She closed her mouth, bobbing her leg, in a stellar mood as the skydarter flew around them in a showy display, a red-skinned snake being dragged across the ground in a circle, already dead by its shriveled corpse. His body was decorated with black and white paint of some kind, resembling a skeletal design. His eyes scanned Butter and her companions, curiosity mingling with disdain as he landed before them. ¡°Well, well,¡± he drawled, a sneer curling his three-toothed mouth, bulging toad throat puffing up with pride. ¡°What do we have here, Honored Seventh Finger? New sacrifices for the Bountiful Crystal of Death, and ones that look similar to the ones I captured? They¡¯re feisty ones. Ugly things, aren¡¯t¡ª¡± ¡°Excuse you,¡± Butter chimed, waving amiably to catch his attention. ¡°Is that any way to speak about your Head¡¯s honored guest, Lokar? What rude officers you have, Nergath. What punishment does this call for among the Susime?¡± White whistled through the Nexus, Adoncia and Mika catching up to her plot as the Horseman of Conquest revealed it. ¡°How clever, High Queen! Using your position as an honored guest to beat the wind out of this punk and force recompense.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Lokar¡¯s triumphant poise fell into a deadly scowl, the atmosphere darkening. ¡°You speak our language, unlike the others¡­ The Inner Valley ri¡¯bot tongue, and ride on torlim with a Roxim while speaking of authority? What is this foul creature, Honored Seventh Finger?¡± he snarled hopping off of his mount while pulling out a hook-like blade attached to black thread that hummed with Death Energy. Butter chuckled as Nergath held his Death Staff between them, taking on a grave and serious tone. ¡°Hold your bane, Lokar¡­ You insult a honored guest of the Head that I am personally escorting¡­ Look at what she holds.¡± Mika, White, and Adoncia retreated a short distance as Butter showed a smug arrogance that matched Lokar¡¯s previous energy while gripping the delicate thread of the pendant and lifting it out to display the dazzling jewel of life¡ªunknown to them, a prison for their Supreme Chief. Lokar instantly jumped back in shock, a blur to even Butter¡¯s trained vision, poised in a defensive posture as several more Death Raiders split off to hover around them. Elinor didn¡¯t miss the two higher Right Fingers who swiftly changed directions to join them. ¡°The Eye of Utelira?! How, the Head of Utelira is imprisoned within the¡ªyou are the ascended Radiant Eminence¡­ A non-ri¡¯bot?! What is this blasphemy, Honored One?¡± Butter raised her voice, serene smile and regal bearing unshaken while presenting the blinding jewel as the sun hit it, making it glow. The approaching Fingers drew close enough to hear her speak. ¡°I am the Radiant Eminence, chosen by Utelira herself and requested by your Head¡­ And you insult me, First Finger of the Left. How disappointed would Seg''tharis be by your conduct?¡± The two Right Fingers dismounted their skydarters and smoothly knelt down in front of her torlim as she leered at them from her lofty position. Lokar swiftly mirrored them, snapping his jaw shut as some of the Death Raiders shot off to inform the rest of the Death Cult¡¯s offensive force. ¡°Holy One of Utelira, it is good to see the Life Bringer has not abandoned her cult¡­ And one that is not Susime. That is¡­unexpected. You are quite proficient at concealing your great power as Utelira¡¯s Sanctified Body.¡± The one to Butter¡¯s left raised his head, eyes passive and holding potent death artifacts that would have made Butter salivate had she not had this pendant; Priss would be drooling, though. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself as the Fourth Finger, Kestaris of the Death Flames.¡± His cold eyes shifted to Nergath and loathing touched his face. ¡°What might we do to correct this insult, Seventh Finger? Should not you have prevented this from happening, being the Radiant Eminence¡¯s honored guide?¡± Nergath moved forward with a solemn sigh. ¡°High Queen Butter is a mercurial creature called a human, who has received Utelira¡¯s Blessing. I am afraid Lokar has twisted his tongue before I had a chance to introduce him.¡± Lokar¡¯s face twisted with anger instead of shame, no doubt disgusted that the Right Hand were bowing their heads before a follower of Utelira. Soon enough, the illusion of her authority would dry up since these ri¡¯bot were out of the loop as to the current state of things. Nergath¡¯s presence only added to her authority within the sect. Butter waved her hand dismissively, resting her fist against the side of her head and looking off to the captives. ¡°Hmm¡­ I can overlook the insult, Honored Ones¡­for one of those human captives¡ªthe white-haired one looks interesting.¡± Lokar¡¯s nose flared with anger as his large eyes darted to the area, doing surprisingly well to control his voice. ¡°...Our greatest prize in this conquest, Radiant Eminence? The creature and its mist-like battalion were responsible for honoring our warriors in death¡­ It was meant to be the crowning, sanctified sacrifice for our first victory in Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ Death Crucible.¡± Nergath stepped forward, his presence commanding. ¡°Enough, Lokar. You will show respect to the Radiant Eminence for her more than reasonable demand. Seg¡¯tharis will be pleased at you reclaiming your Death Raiders¡¯ honor.¡± Lokar¡¯s strained sneer faltered for a moment, and he inclined his body slightly to see if the other Sages would intervene. When they didn¡¯t he swallowed and said, ¡°As you wish, Finger of Seg¡¯tharis.¡± His gaze flicked back to Butter, still mocking yet nose flaring. ¡°I look forward to seeing how you fare against us in the inevitable conflict of the Game of Life and Death.¡± Rising, Lokar returned his hooked weapon behind his billowing cloak and moved away to do as commanded. Butter observed the returning raiders from her throne, the dark-armored figures contrasted sharply against the vibrant, if somewhat scarred, landscape of the Susime Valley. Lokar reluctantly complied with her demand as Nergath¡¯s senior Fingers gave a few hollow words about awaiting their return to Shadethorn Bastion, their fortress, and took their leave. Her attention shifted to the captives, particularly the white-haired woman. She stood out against the snakes, showing a certain grace, despite her brutalized appearance that contrasted her fellow prisoners. She wouldn¡¯t know how badly she was damaged until she was brought to her but from this distance, she didn¡¯t look great in her tattered clothes and ragged hair. Adoncia¡¯s low voice reflected her Oni temper while studying the various humans, almost all men. ¡°They¡¯re definitely military from the United States; they¡¯re too diverse to be from another nation while wearing those colors and clothes. High Queen, this could change everything¡­ Wasn¡¯t there anything else we could have done to get them? Won¡¯t they use them as bait or hostages?¡± White snickered. ¡°Hostages only work if you allow them to work, which is never a good door to open, sweetie. As harsh as it is, it is better for future hostages if you don¡¯t give in to threatening demands like that or at least leave the door open enough to use it to your advantage.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Mika growled. ¡°This will be a tough fight unless we can gain similar weapons. I can tell they¡¯re highly trained, High Queen, I see very few females among them, as well¡­ Something is wrong.¡± You have a point, Mika, Butter hummed, internally soothing Adoncia¡¯s worried and aching heart. There are so many interesting things to investigate. As for hostages¡­you¡¯re only seeing the small picture, Adoncia. Where there is a few captured, there are many more. I don¡¯t know much about this US and of A is that I¡¯ve heard referenced by some of the humans, but I¡¯ve heard enough to know it is vast and filled with humans¡­ We¡¯ve hit the jackpot, ladies. Priss is going to have a heart attack. I win! Butter rose from her throne, her elegant movements drawing the attention of her companions and the surrounding overhead Death Raiders as she tucked her shimmering jewel back between her bust. Hopping down from her torlim, her bare toes met the shin-high red grass, soft beneath her feet as it folded. Hands gripping her Life Staff, held behind her back, she hummed while watching Lokar gruffly direct one of his men to bring the exhausted, white-haired young woman to her. He didn¡¯t even look back once while mounting his skydarter and becoming a blur through the sky, no doubt moving to join the two Upper Fingers to report to their Head. There was a skip in Butter¡¯s step while nearing the woman, her bound, liquid-like hair bouncing at her back. Nergath moved forward to join her with her three guards now that the dominating Life Jewel was safely tucked away and shining inward at her body rather than outward. ¡°High Queen?¡± White asked, more a question now than a warning as the defensive silvery-gray-eyed woman set her ground, ready to attack once the opportunity came. I¡¯m in no danger; she¡¯s tough, but riddled with the fatigue of a long war¡­ The Death Ropes are sapping her Life Force based on her defiance, she¡¯s already growing wrinkles and losing physical strength, yet she finds the will to resist nonetheless. I¡¯m not often impressed¡­but she might be worthy of it. A burst of cool wind swirled around her aging and trembling figure. The Death Raider lifted his knife to deliver what must have been the thirtieth gash on what should have been fair, smooth, and pretty skin, now heavily damaged, but her wounds showed ice over them, sealing the cuts. Butter drew power from the jewel between her bust, moved with a speed and grace that belied her playful nature, her staff spinning out to catch the shocked Death Raider¡¯s wrist. He instantly retreated, the woman looking as stunned as the ri¡¯bot as Butter¡¯s purposeful steps brought her between them. ¡°Is that any way to treat someone else¡¯s property, darling? I¡¯m more than happy to drown you a few times to get the point across,¡± she giggled, flashing her teeth. His large eyes narrowed, glancing to Nergath. ¡°You challenge me, Holy One of Utelira?¡± The white-haired woman¡¯s shaking legs collapsed behind her, her breathing heavy, yet Butter didn¡¯t look away from the Death Raider, her smile widening. ¡°Challenge you? How bold! Let¡¯s go! You¡¯ve got me feeling all sorts of ways. If I¡¯m a heathen to you, why hesitate and look at the Seventh Finger for permission? Are you a tadpole looking to daddy to say it¡¯s okay?¡± ¡°You mock the Death Raiders¡­¡± She lifted her other hand, water collected from the ground and air to form a sphere of water the size of the ri¡¯bot himself. It formed into various shapes with her spinning finger. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll be sure to bring you back to life every time to show all the Death Raiders just how good you are. I can also rip the liquid from your body if that works better for you! Which do you prefer?¡± His throat bulged with anger, but after one look from Nergath, he turned and left with a shout. ¡°Seg¡¯tharis be praised¡­ You disgust me, clinging to life, Holy One.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not worthy of Seg¡¯tharis!¡± she laughed, making him pause, fingers trembling while gripping his death trident. Aww, Butter internally lamented while letting the water fall to the ground and watching him leave. She turned to study the failing woman behind her after the sad ri¡¯bot¡¯s retreat. A pity. I haven¡¯t even had my first fight with my new body yet. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t waste it on him, though. Her mind was already whirring with plans while observing the battered and somewhat malnourished-looking girl, her guarded, exhausted, and bloodshot eyes showing rings under them and now losing much of her grace after being prodded forward by the Death Raider¡¯s trident. She looks like she¡¯s been through hell and back. I can¡¯t let her suffer any longer. After all, she¡¯s my golden goose to trump Priss for once! Butter¡¯s gaze softened as she took in the full extent of the woman¡¯s condition, heart now aching; even with her willpower, she couldn¡¯t summon the strength to stand. Her clothes were torn to shreds, and her body bore numerous bruises and cuts, signs of the harsh treatment she had endured. Blue Eyes¡­ ¡°Already getting some of our spare clothes out, High Queen¡­ Eh, will a dress work?¡± Wonderfully! I think she¡¯d pull off red well with that white hair after I¡¯m done healing her. ¡°Who¡­who are you?¡± the woman asked, her voice hoarse from disuse, barely able to keep herself from fully collapsing. ¡°You¡¯re golden goddess, High Queen Butter,¡± she chimed, moving forward and bending down to set her staff to the side. Brushing back her messy bangs, she sighed. ¡°Mmm. Now let¡¯s get a good look at you¡ªoh, quite the pretty face!¡± she exclaimed, using a finger to lift her chin, held low in case she needed to protect her throat from a blow. ¡°Bright white hair as fresh as snow, yet now dirty strands and tangled. Pallid skin, yet sharp eyes. Respectful, respectful¡­ Eyes filled with the hollow look of someone who has seen too much suffering,¡± she whispered, empathy piercing through her usual playful demeanor. ¡°Give me a moment, beautiful. In the meantime, can you tell me your name? What do you think, White?¡± The woman¡¯s head snapped up, her eyes meeting Butter¡¯s with a mixture of confusion and hope. ¡°You¡­know my name?¡± ¡°Your name?¡± White laughed, jumping down from her horse to stride over to tower over them. ¡°I¡¯m White, well¡­some people also call me Conquest, but that¡¯s beside the point. I can see the resemblance; you could be my petite little sister! Don¡¯t you think, Adoncia?¡± ¡°I can see it,¡± the maid absently returned, left eye creased while staring at the girl¡¯s exposed, single torn bra strap, hole-ridden crop-top at this point, and ripped jeans turned short-shorts. ¡°She might fit my extra bra¡­ Give me a second to get into my own pack.¡± The white-haired woman shied away defensively as Nergath approached, pausing at her reaction and casually holding his staff against his shoulder. ¡°She¡¯s quite the jumpy human, and she can understand you while you speak the Inner-Valley Tongue?¡± ¡°You understand them? What is their purpose? Did they make the Crystal Gateways? What about¡ª¡± ¡°Shhhh,¡± Butter soothed, offering a warm smile. ¡°No need to panic now that I¡¯m here. I¡¯m here to help you! Here¡­¡± She swallowed and forced a smile, as tired as it looked. ¡°Right¡­ Thank you High Queen Butter. In truth, I¡¯m the Fable of Snow White. Are you from¡­our Earth? You speak perfect English. Are you a Legendkin or Mythickin?¡± ¡°In time. We first need to take care of you,¡± Butter nodded, reaching out to gently touch Snow White¡¯s arm. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get you out of those Death Energy infused ropes so it stops sapping your Life Force¡­ Nasty little things.¡± With a wave of her hand, Butter summoned a gentle flow of Life Energy that bloomed inside of the woman, the golden light washing over her and dissolving the restraints that bound her as if smoke. Her youth started to blossom once more under the Positive Force. As the chains evaporated, Butter guided her to a nearby rock, helping her to sit down. ¡°Just relax,¡± Butter softly urged, placing her hands on her shoulder before pulling her into a comforting hug. ¡°I¡¯m going to continue healing you now, so just relax¡­ It¡¯s okay to cry. Can I call you Snow since we already have a White in our party?¡± Snow White nodded weakly, her body beginning to quiver a little as her nightmare waned. ¡°A leader can¡¯t cry¡­ She needs to stay strong, no matter the circumstances.¡± ¡°Oh, you pure thing,¡± Butter cried, her heart melting at her shaking voice as hope filled her with the uplifting energy she radiated, pulling from the jewel nestled within her bust. Snow closed her eyes as Butter drew on the Life Energy within her to restore the Fablekin to her original healthy glow. She felt the familiar warmth spread through her whole being as she channeled the Divine Force into the struggling woman¡¯s battered body. The cuts and bruises began to fade, the pallor of her skin replaced with a healthier shine. As she worked, Butter¡¯s mind wandered to the implications of Snow White¡¯s presence. A human, and one with a powerful aura, captured by the Death Faction in their Battle Royal. There was more to this woman than met the eye, and Butter was determined to uncover the secrets she held. ¡°There.¡± Butter pulled away, showing a charming smile upon seeing the much healthier and quite shocked looking human. ¡°How do you feel? You certainly look prettier, and I¡¯ve seen those children¡¯s picture books of the story of Snow White, and might I say you blow that image out of the universe!¡± Snow chuckled while rubbing at some of the few tears she had allowed herself to shed, her eyes slightly red and puffy. She took a deep breath, her eyes filling with gratitude. ¡°Better¡­ Much better. Thank you. Is there a way to free the others? What is the plan?¡± Butter smiled, a mixture of relief and satisfaction washing over her as she stood and stretched out, not feeling stressed in the least. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Nothing can be solved while frantic and brooding like old men hunkered over a pitiful fire¡­or my gloomy twin. I¡¯m not the type to sulk over a last meal before the winter¡¯s chill takes me! Life is meant to be enjoyed, the hard times, and the easy. Adoncia has your clothes.¡± ¡°Here you go, Ms. Snow,¡± the Colombian woman said, offering the items. ¡°You can change behind one of the torlim for privacy, if you like. You look about as old as me, or maybe a bit younger¡ªseventeen?¡± Snow seemed to be calming down, showing a more strategic and military side as her brow set. She accepted the clothes with a thankful smile. ¡°Thirty-eight, actually. The Oscillation made me quite a bit younger¡­ I¡¯ve been struggling to keep Earth¡¯s forces in a defensible position for three months now. We lost a lot of our supplies in the first week¡­ I sacrificed myself to divert them since I was losing strength, and it didn¡¯t look like we¡¯d survive.¡± A faint smile tugged at Butter¡¯s mouth, soaking up the information. ¡°Well, Snow, that sounds like quite the story that we can discuss after you¡¯ve gotten some food in your belly.¡± ¡°What? But¡ª¡± Snow¡¯s eyes widened as Butter promptly shut down her ¡®military mode¡¯ coping mechanism and drew her into another warm hug, squeezing hard and making her cough. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Snow!¡± Drawing back, she flashed a dazzling smile. ¡°You¡¯re safe¡­ Trust me. No one¡¯s here to see you break. You don¡¯t need to be a strong leader right now¡­ So cry a little. Let it out. I¡¯m here, Snow¡­ You¡¯re going to be okay.¡± The woman¡¯s throat constricted, her arms tightening around her given clothes. She glanced between them, White¡¯s large, comforting figure, giving her a thumbs up. Mika¡¯s scowl wasn¡¯t aimed at her, the undead toad¡¯s guarded expression directed at the circling Death Raiders. Nethath¡¯s passive presence remained studious yet non-threatening. And lastly, Adoncia¡¯s helpful and expectant smile, waiting to be of service. Finally, her tearing-up silvery-gray eyes returned to Butter¡¯s, her chest fluttering, and liquid fell down her rosy-red cheeks. ¡°There, there¡­ We¡¯ll get everything sorted out,¡± Butter soothed. ¡°You¡¯re a tough one, Snow¡­but everyone needs to cry out that sadness to let in the divine wrath that will replace what is shed. Believe in me¡­ A reckoning is coming, and you¡¯re looking at her,¡± she said, pulling her closer to let the soldier cry. ¡°Be happy! This stunning heathen goddess is here to save you¡­ I¡¯m here, so you can cry.¡± B3 — 3. Secrets Uncovered The dimly lit corridors, artwork, and unusual vibe that filled the lower levels of the Conjuration Wing of the college impressed upon Elinor as she linked it to the schools of magic Tiffany had explained to her. On her tour, she saw instructors and older students stocking shelves and setting the place for when the first years would make their entrance. Curious objects could be seen in the rooms, each having its own label and purpose. Instructor Bella rambled on about how their type of magic required a precise understanding, or at least a general grasp, of what the Conjuror wished to summon for it to succeed. The individual also needed enough mana or a substitute mana gem to keep something together. Conjuration could create a gold coin if one had enough energy to sustain it, but once the link to the caster was severed and no supplementary force was added, it would vanish. One of the early tests of their House was for students to conjure their own chairs and desks to work at. Elinor had a rough understanding of the magic style itself, and it certainly had its uses, but what interested her was the social dynamic between the Houses. Above, the students wore thick, modest clothing, yet down here, they¡¯d shed the robes to display shorts and crop tops to show off tattoos, piercings, and other expressive representations. She¡¯d seen the rooms near the staircase when they¡¯d passed the 1st level, where they stored their cloaks and had their own locker space. Down here, they were able to be whoever they wanted, which must have been incredibly liberating and uniting as a group, especially if they were once peasants. The crowning moment of the tour came when Bella brought her to a large room, where a three-by-three-meter metal gate sat, five instructors surrounding it. Her guide displayed the device as four held their hands against specific places, and the ruby gems inserted into the gateway increased in radiance. ¡°This is the Gateway to Ralva, where the Figmentations of Shadow reside, but I¡¯m sure Your Royal Imperial Majesty knows far more about this realm than we do. For us, it is a place to test the students for their valor, their concentration, and many other aspects, such as martial combat. The Shadows will take on random forms that the students must defeat.¡± Elinor strode around it as the teachers gave her a respectful bow, showing that her encounter with the princess had spread since they hadn¡¯t offered a dab. She let the woman explain it before asking her question, her father posing the same privately between them. ¡°I can understand the House of Conjuration being put to the test to maintain the gateway, as well as the House of Combat and Tempest showing their bravery and might¡­ but what of the House of Alchemy?¡± Bella gulped and rubbed her elbow, glancing at the other instructors as they tested the object¡¯s stability in preparation for the opening ceremony. ¡°Well¡­ they usually don¡¯t perform in this showcase, b-but the graduates do get to show off any new products they¡¯ve created! Their makeup products have been quite popular, bringing them more recognition.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Elinor paused at the front of the gateway, curious about these Shadows. ¡°Open the gate. I¡¯d like to see your work.¡± One of the Magic Knights bent down to whisper in her ear, the Conjurers giving each other nervous glances at the order. ¡°Empress, with all due respect, it is not safe to do this outside of the ceremonial window and without direct protection from the Knight Grand Order, High Noble Houses, Grand Duke Christarion, and The King presiding. While quite rare, incidents of unusually powerful Shadows have occurred in the past.¡± Elinor¡¯s smile widened, vision darting to her father, who was also hesitant to invite danger, yet she had her own purposes. I understand your hesitation, Dad, but I need to know what kind of creatures we are dealing with. I can wait until Tiffany catches up. How close are you? ¡°I just finished getting the princesses all settled away and off to shop for their goods. We are blowing through our cash swiftly, but we will only be here for several more days, which should be fine¡ªthat being said, it¡¯s very early days. Hehe. I¡¯ve managed to get the prince to agree to an allowance for our little storm cloud.¡± Edmon¡¯s dull voice answered as Elinor addressed the concerns. ¡°That¡¯s not an answer to your ETA.¡± ¡°Whoops! Roughly¡­ fifteen minutes?¡± Letting the two talk, Elinor invoked her butterfly, arms igniting with emerald flames to produce the tiny creature and draw everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°I am aware of the risks. We will wait until Witch Queen Tiffany arrives within the next fifteen minutes, and then I will see your work in action. After such, I will continue on this tour of the college.¡± The four Magic Knights grimaced at one another, but the matter was settled, and several supporting older students started to gather in the hallway, whispering to one another. It was a gamble, yet so was everything in this world. If it was available for first-year students, showing their stuff on a general basis, then it was stable enough to take the chance. In the meantime, she asked another question while waiting for Tiffany to arrive. ¡°Bella, how many of these gateways to other realms have you managed to conjure your way to?¡± The woman sucked in her bottom lips, fingers knotting at her front. ¡°We have¡­ several into the Ralva Realm, linked to stable locations, but this is the most suitable one for first-years. As for other realms, the price to open those gateways is quite high in comparison. Typically, such ventures were commonplace a century ago, but due to the dangers involved, no new exploratory gateway has been opened since the Glacial Titan¡¯s emergence.¡± ¡°Ahem,¡± one of the male Conjuration instructors interjected. ¡°That is not to say we do not have other realms in which our students may practice their various talents. Those gateways are only opened for yearly final exams or the more challenging realms for great advancement, such as becoming an instructor or a House Succession Ceremony of Passage.¡± She stared at the shiny gem path that lined their device, the jewels seemingly cut into lines and fitted side by side to create a complete circle. ¡°Understood. So the House of Conjuration has been handicapped in its research for over a century, confined to a simple chair and glass manifestation while providing battlegrounds for the college¡¯s students?¡± The female Magic Knight near her grimaced, and quite a few of the instructors looked shocked at how direct she was in saying it aloud. ¡°That¡­ is certainly a way one could view it, Empress,¡± the knight stated, ¡°but the reason for such regulations being enacted is due to the release of the Glacial Titan. It took the Grand Duke, King, and the three Great House Heads at the time to keep the city and surrounding countryside safe while battling it out to sea. Rumor had it¡­ that you actually took care of it once it reached your shores beyond the ocean.¡± Elinor¡¯s amused smile grew. ¡°Is that what they say? Interesting.¡± She let the topic die with a mysterious gleam in her eye that was left for them to interpret. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine your neighbors took kindly to such an act, which supplied pressure to your kingdom to clamp down on the House of Conjuration, much more the frightened citizens that witnessed the event. I¡¯m sure there may be some still alive that recall that event.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Bella said, throat a tad dry from the cataclysmic topic that involved her craft. ¡°One such person would be the Royal Grand Paladin himself, who believes the House of Conjuration should be dissolved, but it is through us that the Teleportation Gates are maintained, and new ones opened.¡± ¡°Indeed, you are quite important,¡± Elinor affirmed, making the magic users smile at one another from the positive reinforcement. ¡°Instantaneous transportation cannot be understated in its importance to any nation.¡± ¡°Well said, Empress,¡± said a lively man dressed in fancy purple robes that strode through the door, showing intricate stitching of what seemed to be constellations on his formal outfit. By the sash he wore around his neck and the symbols of the House clearly depicted across the white article, he was someone of importance. The Conjurors across the room swiftly took their hands off the gateway to give the man a deep, respective dab, mirroring each other. ¡°Grandmaster Irkai Calning!¡± He chuckled, shooing off the students as he stopped a good ways away to offer her a showy bow, his sash only just escaping the floor. ¡°May I approach, Raven Empress? I am Grandmaster Calning, the current leader of the House of Conjuration. Yet, I assume you are well aware of all our nation¡¯s nobility from the extraordinary reputation you command.¡± Elinor was entertained by the display; he was the type to butter you up and cut you down the center. Just as with the Grand Duke, her father informed her of the strength this man possessed. ¡°I have no objection, Grandmaster,¡± she returned. ¡°The Grand Duke must hold you in high regard if he sent a member of your staff to tour me around campus.¡± ¡°Lovely. And, hah, I would hope so, Empress,¡± the man returned, striding forward to join her. A swift sweep of his appearance made her think he was in his late thirties or early forties, which seemed young; there had to be an iceberg full of devious secrets hidden beneath his greasy smile. His bright brown eyes darted to her hovering butterfly, obviously interested, but his gaze quickly returned to her. ¡°I am honored that you would visit my House first. Although, I do feel a tad overwhelmed, considering the Grand Duke did not inform me of your arrival. When I heard of your visit, I made haste to return to the college.¡± Knowing every play inside this kingdom was like fine string, attempting to coil, deadly loop by loop, around her throat, Elinor pivoted. ¡°There is no need for you to take time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to escort me directly. I am more than satisfied with Bella¡¯s performance thus far; she reflects your House in a positive light.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± he chimed, flashing his teeth and showing a beaming smile at the previously nervous, now relieved, instructor. ¡°With that invitation to excuse myself, I will return to my duties and ensure the transportation nexus runs smoothly while bringing the nobles from the borders of our fair kingdom to its core. Empress,¡± he stated, taking another deep bow before leaving without a backward glance. Her father watched him exit with a neutral expression. ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell if he wanted to stay or find an excuse to leave¡­ He hides his intentions well.¡± I suspect most of the commoners-turned-nobility have that in common, Elinor said, feeling Tiffany entering the college on a high note. We¡¯ve already seen examples of the Tempest being able to flaunt their passion and attitude while the other Houses hide what the nobles show distaste for. While there is a level of freedom the people here enjoy, it is far from equal. Bella¡¯s nervousness diminished significantly once her boss left. ¡°I sincerely appreciate your praise, Empress, but I have hardly been the perfect guide. My arrival, for one, was quite disheveled and unprofessional. My apologies.¡± A hum rumbled in Elinor¡¯s throat, her gaze drifting to the bowing teacher, the others returning to their device, ensuring it was ready for the ceremony. ¡°Apology accepted since it is sincere, but how can I fault you for your tardiness and being ill-prepared when I am sure that the Grand Duke only informed you of the task at the last minute to gauge my reception? Is that not so?¡± A lump appeared in the woman¡¯s throat, which was answer enough for her. ¡°I thought so. A tad harsh to throw one¡¯s staff into the fire, but I suppose he did so because he trusted you.¡± The uncertainty on the instructor¡¯s face flipped at the praise. ¡°I will do my best not to disappoint.¡± Elinor gestured to the door entrance, drawing her attention. ¡°Queen Tiffany will be here shortly. Once she has approved, I would love to see your work in progress. Take me through the steps¡­¡± Bella perked up, guiding her to the device to excitedly point at each mana crystal ring. Interestingly, the stones themselves didn¡¯t contain or generate mana, but mana could be stored inside them from an external force. Essentially, the Conjurors had to have a destination in mind and channel that mental image inside the metal gateway; the material itself was vital since it helped to tune the desired location into better focus, similar to the necklace Castria had. Overall, the material was very rare, which was why most of them were purchased directly for the use of the House of Conjuration by the House¡¯s superiors, making it almost impossible to get in the open market. However, the thing that snagged Elinor¡¯s mind was the idea that these magic users had to have a vision of the destination, and that was why visionaries, or those who could peer into other realms, were of such critical importance to the craft. Sadly, the school hadn¡¯t produced such a person for the past seven decades. For Elinor, it sounded almost as if it was an exercised skill rather than an innate gift, and when they¡¯d blocked research into other realms, it naturally faded away. Tiffany internally agreed with her when the witch arrived, making the instructors nervous as she snapped her fingers to ignite her orange flames. Scanning the material, she confirmed that it was of lesser quality than the jewelry their newest Royal Court member had around her throat. As time and study went on, Elinor sighed when her father prompted them that they were, in fact, on a clock. She stood in front of the magical item; well, in truth, it was less of a magical item and more like a tuning fork with a battery. The instructors did all the heavy lifting on the Conjuration department, while the new potential initiates would each attempt to supply the needed focus and power to open the gate up. The other professors stepped away, allowing Bella herself to demonstrate the process, the Magic Knights growing tense and taking up combat positions. Bella swallowed, glancing between a fascinated Tiffany and her stoic, battle-ready father. ¡°I¡¯m going to open the way now. Shadows always do come through, but it may take a second¡­¡±The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Elinor¡¯s head tilted to the side as an inky black mass of energy materialized in the middle of the gate, the ruby crystals lighting up. ¡°I look forward to seeing your skill.¡± The cycling force exploded into a disk-like nova, rushing to meld into the metal and sticking to it like a web. In the next instant, the inky rippling pool began to clear, and Elinor¡¯s smile became a line as a black-and-white scene cast in darkness took shape. In the distance stood a broken tower and ruined city; only, to Elinor, it had a striking resemblance to the very city they currently occupied. Are you seeing what I am, Tiffany? A mirror universe? Vision scanning every angle they could, the woman¡¯s uncertain voice entered her mind. ¡°Perhaps¡­ These Visionaries of the Conjurors may have envisioned this in a nightmare and found a link to this particular world through¡­ Astral Projection during sleep? It is hard to say, but it certainly does have a striking¡ª¡± ¡°Empress!¡± one of the knights warned, sword shining with blue light as a shadowy hand reached through, invisible on the other side, only to take the shape of a man, stumbling out of the portal. ¡°Close the gate!¡± ¡°No,¡± Elinor rejected, walking around him and snapping her fingers. ¡°I will tell you when to close it.¡± Two [Chains of the Damned] connected to the shade, binding it in place, and Elinor felt something that made her pause; it froze on contact, hardly worth a thought to keep in place, despite strength that would stick it on the level of Mika. ¡°Half¡­ a soul?¡± she whispered, focus darting back to the world as shapes began to take place, colossal figures roaming beyond magically-induced darkness. [Grade Advancement - Darkness Vision III Unlocked] Her eyes widened at the titanic figures that fell over each other as if lost in an endless mental haze. Creatures with many wings, both humanoid and aviary, floated through the ruined, hilly region that in Roman¡¯s world currently saw many traveling refugees, seeking shelter in the golden city. Two more shadows stumbled through, and she could feel the one she bound stir at their presence. ¡°You may close it now, Bella,¡± she whispered. [Limit Break Activated: Chain Break I] Another pair of chains split space to bind the shadows as the Conjuror pulled her hand away, causing the web-like portal to pull tight, sticky edges being ripped away into a tiny sphere that gradually dissipated. Her Magic Knight was clearly uncomfortable with the three petrified shadows. ¡°What¡­ did you do to them? I¡¯ve never seen them so still. Usually, they become extremely aggressive and agitated after the first few make it through.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky,¡± her dad warned. They¡¯re harmless like this, she returned. Tiffany, see what you can determine. The Conjurors all closed in, showing fascination at the petrified shadow humans. ¡°Empress, do you have some experience with these entities?¡± an elderly man asked, not showing any fear while studying it from a distance. ¡°They haven¡¯t even expanded yet, and they¡¯re not trying to unify. How¡­ unusual.¡± Bella jumped as Tiffany snapped her fingers, directing her orange flames to surround the figures. ¡°This is¡­ revolutionary! Nothing like this has been observed. No magical binding artifact from the Delva Empire has ever been able to restrain them.¡± Elinor moved closer to walk around the three, her butterfly passing right through each one of them to give her a better understanding of their spiritual essence. Incomplete souls¡­ They seek unification to expand. They¡¯re neither dead nor alive, but if enough of them combine, then I¡¯m sure they could create ¡®something¡¯ of more complete origin. I doubt it would last very long before becoming unstable and dissipating here, though. Half physical, energy, spiritual, intelligent¡­ all as if cut to the very essence of what they are. What do you make of them, Tiffany? The Witch Queen pushed her big, pointy hat up to scratch her temple. ¡°Mmm. I can use them in many wonderful rituals, but it would be challenging to keep them in a usable state, given their instability in this world. If they attached themselves to people, then they could possibly find enough material to complete themselves. I¡¯d name them Shadow Snatchers; I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if multiple are already living in this world. At least, that is my initial gut opinion.¡± ¡°Hmm. This opens up many possibilities,¡± Elinor said aloud, turning away and giving her father the private message that he could destroy them. ¡°You underestimate their threat. Let¡¯s continue our tour, Professor Bella.¡± The knights made way for her father as the chains binding the shadows broke away, and a frosty chill filled the space as her father revealed a chilly, black metal blade that would make most edge lords drool. In one sweeping strike, his sword encased the weak, incomplete spiritual shadows in soul-binding ice before shattering into diamond flakes that caused an arctic gale, spreading the sparkling crystals across the stone floor. ¡°I could have used them,¡± Tiffany mumbled to the Death Knight as they followed Elinor to the door, Bella and the four knights hurrying to catch up. ¡°Incomplete materials like those are quite rare and valuable. Haaa. There are so many things this kingdom takes for granted.¡± Bella smoothed back her bangs behind her ears, heart no doubt racing after the show; her colleagues were still trying to figure out how they¡¯d disposed of the shades, kneeling down to examine the soul-sealing, shattered ice. ¡°You said they were half-souls, Empress? Could you elaborate on that? The concept of a ¡®soul¡¯ is an old one that has been hotly debated among the Houses and nobility for generations. Our House has long been in agreement that it exists, but what it is has continued to stump our greatest minds.¡± A short laugh shook Elinor¡¯s frame as she slowed to a more reasonable pace, scanning the various other rooms along the vast underground network of the college wing. ¡°Perhaps it will become a subject of study for your college when I am done. Let us not get too distracted. I may have spent too much time as is in the House of Conjuration, despite my enjoyment of your company.¡± Bella¡¯s chest puffed up with pride at all the praise she¡¯d been given, further brightening her spirit and prompting her to push forward in their tour. Their trip to the House of Alchemy was next, and Elinor smiled, having the suspicion that the woman was explicitly choosing to go to one specific House Wing last: their arch nemesis, the House of Combat. Tiffany was certainly thrilled about seeing all the materials and facilities that the Alchemists possessed; they had labs that had the witch spontaneously deciding to stay behind and complete a few experiments she wanted to try since they didn¡¯t have the equipment to use back home. She gave brief greetings to the professors and general staff that she passed along the way, and her four Magic Knights soon had a sour look on their faces when Bella took them to the Tempest Wing, leaving their House for last. Unlike the awe and curiosity she garnered from the Conjurors and Alchemists, the nobles in this lavish wing were all quite skittish. Not one floated off the ground when she silently moved through their halls with her rather smug guide at the atmosphere. Their eyes were downcast, and every one of the instructors or teacher¡¯s aids gave her a soft welcome, keeping their distance. Unlike the boisterous laughter and expression she¡¯d heard from the nobles when entering the area, the tone of the wing took on a sobering atmosphere by the time she¡¯d made it halfway through their decorated halls, only whispers following their path. Her bold treatment of their princess and dominating personality from the moment she¡¯d stepped foot into their kingdom made it very clear that she was not one to step up to without extreme cause. Apparently, both the Grandmasters of the House of Alchemy and the House of Tempest were away from the college since they didn¡¯t approach her. Finally, they came to the House of Combat, where her own four knights offered to guide her instead of Bella. She allowed it, expressing her satisfaction with the Conjuror¡¯s tour. Bella gave her a bow, preparing to leave. ¡°I thank you for your kindness and show of wisdom and power, Empress. You have truly blessed the House of Conjuration with much to consider.¡± A small smile lifted Elinor¡¯s lips as she half-turned when the woman tried to leave, imparting one last comment. ¡°Perhaps there will be more that you may be able to offer me soon enough, Professor Bella. I am sure we will talk again.¡± She left the woman to ponder her words as the Magic Knights guided her into the very bright and showy front lobby, where the students of the House mingled or studied together. According to her Magic Knights, all those who entered the college obtained a premium education, and not in their unique trades. From economics to the literary arts, for one to become a part of a House, they were also required to dedicate their lives to a degree of refinement befitting the college¡¯s name. The same as the previous two Houses, the Grandmaster was absent, yet when noon drew near, they came to the end of their tour with the elderly Grand Duke meeting them at the training grounds outside of her current escorts¡¯ House. Elinor¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Has your schedule cleared?¡± Logan¡¯s deep, piercing eyes didn¡¯t give anything away. ¡°I believe it is time we have a talk, Raven Empress¡­ alone.¡± ¡°I would enjoy that.¡± She could feel her father¡¯s protest, but he knew that this was more than likely the case. If what he said about the elderly Tempest¡¯s power was true, then they¡¯d come to the strong suspicion that he could bypass the Tempest blocking stones. He knew things he had to confront her about, and she had questions he could answer. ¡°I¡¯m in your care,¡± she stated, and not soon after, her hair rose a little, a firm breeze collecting around her like tender arms that lifted her off the ground. ¡°Trying to impress already, I see.¡± It got a slight smirk from the man, and Elinor blinked as the world blurred; it looked like the planet itself had moved, and spontaneously, they were outside. At first, her thoughts went to teleportation, but that thought shattered when she saw the small cyclone that dissipated behind them. In the next instant, she saw a drill of hyper-condensed air above them, spiraling deceptively slow before they rocketed into the sky, faster than any missile she¡¯d seen on the internet. Not three seconds had passed since she¡¯d left her father, and she¡¯d already been taken outside the college and over three times the height of the central tower to overlook the vast landscape and ocean that surrounded Lumina. Elinor didn¡¯t flinch, hands held behind her back and suppressing the discomfort of hanging over empty air with an unseeable amount more below them. The atmosphere was perfectly still as the elderly Grand Duke sat on nothing, generating an invisible platform for her to mirror him. Crossing her legs, she had to admit it was quite the move, and proved her father right: they didn¡¯t stand the ghost of a chance against the top echelon in this kingdom. ¡°Quite the remote location, indeed,¡± she chortled. ¡°Let me guess, you wish to discuss the topics I brought up with Roman. You¡¯ve been listening carefully.¡± Logan folded his fingers in his lap, voice calm as a gentle brook. ¡°You are not the Raven Empress but another ruler beyond our world. Your power over life and death is real, which is a frightening ability, yet it also has its activation mechanisms: the green flames and the fluttering insect you can generate through it. ¡°That is not your only ability,¡± he stated, eyes narrowing. ¡°Your chains that bind the soul can block the means of magic users to draw upon their mana, as observed with the prince and princess. I suspect there are many more abilities, including what your unique vision could see when looking into Ralva¡­ ¡°You are searching for the Last Queen¡¯s artifacts, seeking to insert your Tempest into my academy, and working with a man who seems not to be entirely your ally. A dubious man you call your Duke, who uncovered a rather alarming plot involving the hag¡­ And then there is the creature burrowing below our hills. It is apparent that you are taking bold steps to learn about our world¡­ All for what end?¡± Remaining perfectly calm, Elinor mirrored his posture, vision sweeping the spotted settlements that linked to Lumina¡¯s roads before her emerald eyes returned to him. ¡°To put it bluntly, Grand Duke¡­ your world is dying, and I stand to benefit greatly by contributing to its restoration. I cannot and will not give you all my cards or details, but I could take Castria to the Delva Empire. Instead, I am here. I am only here for the next several days before I must return, and in that time, I want to lay the foundation for something that will save your kingdom, and possibly your world.¡± Logan was silent after the partial confession, leaning against his invisible chair while scrutinizing her. It took a few minutes for the highly intelligent and powerful man to respond. ¡°¡­You play a dangerous game, Empress. If I were to inform the king, the acts you have engaged in thus far would be seen as aggressive acts toward war. You have maneuvered yourself well¡­ Am I included in this plot of yours by this very conversation?¡± Elinor chortled. ¡°Grand Duke, I like to think of myself as an intelligent young woman, but I am far from omniscient. I have done what I could with what I was given. Initially, it was not my intent to save this world, but, as I said, I stand to gain greatly from its salvation, and I want that to start here in the Kaspir Kingdom. ¡°Who is the enemy I fight? I am unsure. Who is trying to destroy this planet, or what exactly will save it? More questions I cannot answer. I do know that if I do nothing, then the result will happen all the same; just as those shades I examined, your world will not last long without support.¡± ¡°Hmm. And what about this Roman figure? You do not trust him.¡± A playful smirk twitched at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Roman and I may be¡­ tentative toward one another, I suppose you could say. However, I do believe that he has your world¡¯s interest at heart. Your kingdom? Not so much. But your world, he is trying to save.¡± ¡°And that is my explanation. Do note that I am more than willing to work with you to root out the evils and mysteries rooted in your history. Is discouraging the potential upset of your monarchy worth the risk of total and sure annihilation?¡± Logan stroked his beard for a time before saying, ¡°I will observe you further¡­ You intend to propose to the king that you resurrect his wife in order to put her in charge of this new House you intend to create for all magic users?¡± Showing a sober smile, Elinor glanced down at the tower and city far below. ¡°As I understand your rules, a House must have a representative capable of leading it, instructors and students alike. Queen Lilya was an Alchemy Princess of the Western Jesna Desert and more than fits the criteria. As for Alchemy¡­¡± Her sharp eyes returned to his. ¡°As for the reputation of ¡®Alchemy,¡¯ my Witch Queen is appalled at how you have underutilized the trade. I will give Lilya the needed information to build up the practice so well that the nobles may get their wish and the House of Alchemy dissolves. Heh. Well, it would be absorbed into the new House.¡± Logan pondered her direction. ¡°Resurrection has never been a happy tale in our history since it always comes at the claws of the hag. How would your resurrection be any different because how you answer will drastically change how the king responds.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± Elinor gestured below. ¡°Look at King Edmon, Queen Tiffany, Princess Castria, Black, Ash¡­ the list goes on. Those I bring back are just as they were¡­ more perfect, actually. Queen Lilya will be even more radiant than when she was in her prime and have access to traits that she can tap into that will uplift your kingdom to degrees you couldn¡¯t fathom: memories, stunning looks, cunning, past emotions, and new knowledge.¡± ¡°It sounds like a fairytale. You wish to have my support when you unveil this plot during the ceremony and for me to warn the king. Why is a fifth house so important to you?¡± Elinor was silent this time, leaning back to stare out across the bright, endless ocean. ¡°¡­Why is this important? Hmm. It is important for many reasons. Castria needs a friend. Heather can provide that. Heather disgraced herself when she mistakenly challenged me, which will come with horrific consequences that I am negating¡­ I am not a fan of how her mother treats the poor girl. Finally, Castria needs a place where she can feel at home when I am not here to defend her.¡± ¡°And how long will you be absent?¡± he asked, being far more reasonable than she could have hoped. She shook her head. ¡°Unfortunately, I cannot say. Roman is the one with the gate to your breaking world. I am sure you can see it with the shadows you fight since I am now convinced you are far more intelligent than most blinded and ignorant fools in this kingdom, only looking out for their own station and wealth as the universe crumbles.¡± Showing a smile, she asked, ¡°So, will you entertain my show and support Castria if I am able to convince the king?¡± Logan rose to his feet on their invisible wind platform to stare across the countryside. ¡°Convince him? No¡­ he would be convinced the moment I bring it up. He has never been able to get over his love for Queen Lilya, yet he has other responsibilities that will deny him the chance to unite with her since he has remarried. You will make many enemies from this action.¡± ¡°Haha. I will also gain many friends,¡± Elinor returned, rising to stand by his side. ¡°Lilya will be loyal to me, as I will be the reason she lives, but I will give her full sovereignty without restriction. Her task will be to align our interests, and since I cannot be here, she will act in my place over those I leave behind. I will give this offer now.¡± Her lips fell into a line as she shifted to look up at the tall, elderly man. ¡°Tell me you do not want my help to save your planet, and I will leave. I have no delusions that you hold great power, and I would rather focus my efforts elsewhere than continue something unproductive here. Otherwise, I would like to see your kingdom and world prosper since it will make me prosper.¡± Thunder rolled through the clear skies, Logan¡¯s calculating eyes picking apart every piece of information he¡¯d gleaned about her since coming to his world, and, after a minute, he nodded his head. ¡°We will talk more if you succeed¡­ There is a lot of room for error in the next few hours, Empress. I do hope that you are more than idle talk, else I will be forced to test your claimed immortality.¡± She chuckled as he lowered them back to the ground. ¡°To a prosperous future.¡± B3 — 4. A Queens Game Elinor looked into the clear blue sky as the Grand Duke vanished in a light burst of wind; in the distance, she saw the beginnings of a storm. Naturally, the Tempest would provide for their House to have the greatest advantage. In addition, if it turned out how she expected, the rainfall would make for an excellent demonstration of the power their royalty held. Her disapproving father was by her side, their Magic Knight escort surrounding them, and older students of the House practicing with vigor in the background. King Virelli would send for her after the college rector informed him of her proposal. Hopefully, she¡¯d judged Queen Alivau¡¯s best course of action correctly, and everything came together as Tiffany, Edmon, and she had plotted. There had been some hiccups along the way, but they had given themselves wiggle room and countermeasures. Instructing one of her guards to fetch their stagecoach, she took the path around the college. Now that things were in motion, they had to make themselves publicly available since the ceremony would begin in four hours. At the inn, Percy had informed them of a particular dignitary suite in the colossal Royal Coliseum. It was time to dangle the bait. Her gaze drifted to her father as he opened a private channel between them. ¡°He took you out of our range to communicate. It was a very hostile action that could have ended very badly. How much did he really know?¡± A rumble shook in her throat as Elinor scanned the vibrant greenery of the college before stepping onto the direct road that led to their destination on the western side of the Noble District. Logan knows I¡¯m not the Raven Empress. Luckily, he does seem to have the king¡¯s best interests at heart¡­ or he is willing to use this as an opportunity to sow disorder in the political and royal order. We will have more to go on in the next hour or so. She flipped to another private channel with her witch, letting her father stew. Will you be ready for the presentation, Tiffany? ¡°Naturally!¡± she sang. ¡°In fact, I will be able to do quite a few fun rituals in advance to put all eyes on you. The Alchemy instructors are quite generous and interested in the knowledge I am offering.¡± Fingers tightening around her wrist, Elinor¡¯s cheer sobered, sensing Black and Ash busy on their collection tasks, one for Death Energy and the other for information. All our work and preparations come to a point here. How much will Logan tell the king? He has a rough understanding of my powers, which shows how closely he¡¯s watched us, yet he does not know about my phylactery. And I¡¯m positive if he wanted to, he could destroy us¡­ so now we must gamble on if our objectives and his, whatever they are, can be aligned. The Magic Knight met them on a cross street, towing their horses, and she entered the stagecoach. Now alone inside as they made their way to her soon-to-be stage, Elinor slipped into her inner world to sit on her comfortable armchair, the gothic music reverberating in the background. Her vision fixated on her Achievement Feats; she could practically taste Level 20 around the corner. 5,000 was the number of living citizens she needed in order to reach [Rising Empire: 2nd Petal], which would dramatically increase her Death Pool and enhance her Minion Pool. Sadly, she only had 2,244 citizens, showing that, yes, her influence in the valley clanless was increasing, but it was far from where she needed it to be. The Achievement Feat had given her an extra Monarch Title for her Royal Court, among many other things, such as increased Death and Minion Pools. She used her last remaining slot for Castria, yet for her plan to work optimally, she needed one more. The question was, would the event they¡¯d put together give her the needed experience for it? A shiver ran down her spine while scanning her empire¡¯s status sheet. It was uncomfortable being so far away from those she called her people¡ªand with a war on the horizon¡ªbut if this worked, she could gain two to four more levels before leaving this Legend Quest if she played her cards right; she was sure of it. This has to work¡­ I just need to be patient. [Monarch of Death III] can be advanced a Grade from this plan, for sure, but will that give me a slot? We¡¯ll see. Her journey to the giant front entrance was done within her inner world, letting her father inform her when they¡¯d arrive. One of her bottlenecks was her Death Pool and the daily cost to sustain her empire. Yes, she was gaining access to powerful minions, but there was a price to pay to upkeep them. If that wasn¡¯t enough, to reach [Minion Pool III], she had to max her Tier and Limit. She¡¯d done the first, bringing it up to S-tier, but to reach its maximum capacity, she had to sustain 2,500 undead, which was ludicrous unless she chose to go with weak, Poor-Grade, Unintelligent Undead. And where were the corpses to accomplish that? Even if she went that route, it would still cost her just under 750 Death Orbs, and that was pricey at the moment since she didn¡¯t have the lush jungle lifeblood to support her in this Legend Quest. There were imbalances she had to correct, and, at the same time, she had to win the ri¡¯bot contest in eight days to solidify a real empire. Level 20 had to give her something phenomenal, or else they¡¯d have to pivot hard. Her eyes settled on [Prose of the Potentate II] and its two filled slots, she¡¯d put Ina¡¯ko into Quin¡¯s previous position so she could reason with the Yaltha¡¯ma in the cave; now, that slot was a necessity so her maids could control her new spider drones through the grapevine. A little annoyed that she was lacking the resources to act more efficiently, she reminded herself that all of this work was for the purpose of expanding her abilities. She had to be patient, and judging by the Th¨¦lm¨¦thras¡¯ crude responses in the Nexus, the drones may not provide much information, anyway. Brushing away the status menu as she sighed and returned to the outside world, her father opened the door for her to exit. She stepped out to whispers from the crowds of commoners who were given the freedom to explore the Noble District once a year on this day, flooding the area with new coins and intrigue. Elinor gave a few smiles to those she passed as the coliseum knights made a path for her to enter the structure uninhibited. Its extravagant architecture and gleam brought her mind back to the shadow world she¡¯d seen. It stood to reason that something like that might have a connection to Roman¡¯s overarching quest to save this planet. It was hard not to think about it, but she managed to sweep it away to engage with the present when she was guided to a spacious and lavish area that overlooked the center stage. Proceeding to the covered terrace, she found the same water-blocking silk that could be pulled down to provide shelter from a storm, not that any occupants would need it with Tempest in attendance. Equivalent to three stories above ground level, it provided a spectacular view and was extended past the audience seating to remain private. Standing at the edge of the railing, she saw more than one commoner in the stands pointing her out. Word was spreading about her presence in the city, but what she really needed was for the news to reach certain circles: specifically, the Royal and Great House circles. Her father glanced to the doorway, where the Magic Knights were on guard outside. The troops would make sure to keep her privacy, not that the average commoner had access to this noble section of the coliseum; of course, the nobility could be buzzing flies at her door, as well. High above the stadium hovered three nobles from lesser houses, engaged in this world¡¯s form of commentary as they used their wind-based powers to project their voices. It made for quite the spectacle, with the two other nobles feeding the announcer information. ¡°We¡¯re five minutes from the three-hour mark, observers. Be sure to find your proper seat in time,¡± the older woman instructed. ¡°Also, give a warm welcome to the Raven Empress, who has graced us with her presence this Selection Ceremony.¡± Elinor laughed inside as the whole stadium dabbed in almost a synchronized wave, every eye connecting with her. There were no TVs or projections in this world, which meant coming to a giant public event like this was a huge deal for these citizens, where they could mingle amongst the nobility. Worried? Elinor asked her dad, holding up a hand for the crowd to cheer. I would say there are at least 50,000 attendants that will be here. This kingdom revolves around their college, after all, so it would be a giant achievement that few in their population can attain¡­ but that could change. Her father¡¯s fingers curled into a fist. ¡°That is what I¡¯m concerned about. It only takes a few missteps at this point for everything to turn against us, and I cannot protect you against this kingdom¡¯s heavy hitters. It¡¯s fortunate they don¡¯t have the means to identify our level of strength, but I suppose my entire ability pool is centered around keeping you safe and knowing what is a danger to you. I think¡ª¡± he cut off as Black suddenly interrupted.. The horseman had been busy, slipping in amongst the commoners to reach specific targets in the underworld that had gathered in the stadium. ¡°Empress, I just got word that Countess Evelyn Autumn has appeared from the teleportation gates. It is big news since she has often used underground connections to obtain illegal contraband.¡± Elinor felt a rare tingle run over her arms, and she gulped, forcing herself to maintain a smile. So, the Hag of the Everborn Marchlands has come to the capital. That can¡¯t be a coincidence, she mumbled, vision wandering between the various other VIP boxes placed around the coliseum. A low rumble came from her father. ¡°We may have done things differently if we knew about her before today. She could upset everything we¡¯ve planned. Roman could have plotted this, or he gave us that information to try and counter something he¡¯d already set in motion.¡± Pondering the angle the hag might take, Elinor retreated to the suite interior and away from the onlookers; this area had quite the fancy accommodations, which included a closed sitting room and bathroom for guests to relieve themselves in privacy. It¡¯s possible Roman tried to set up this meeting for her, she concluded in her communication with her monarchs, but I doubt it. I can bet the man knows far more about this world than we do, meaning he was aware that Logan would be listening to our conversation. After all, this is Roman¡¯s place of expertise. However, I highly doubt he wanted to use this as the staging ground for a conflict between us because that could take me off the table for him to use.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Tiffany joined the conversation, nearing the coliseum with her wealth of ritual items she¡¯d prepared. ¡°Indeed, Empress, that snake is coiling and readying his fangs in a different circle. I also doubt this hag will make a move in front of the high nobility if Edmon is right about the good Grand Duke. She is here to observe. Patience and studious mind are a witch¡¯s greatest virtues.¡± ¡°Not words I would use to describe your practice,¡± Edmon cooly responded, making his former wife giggle. ¡°Oh, Darling, the hag is a very particular type of specialized witch that even chills my bones. You can feel it in the air when they¡¯re near, and when it¡¯s time to pay the piper. As all good things go, the good must go, and the hag comes to receive what she is owed¡­¡± Elinor turned around at the divide between the sitting and viewing area to stare at the hundreds of people still within sight in the stands. Tiffany¡¯s words made her stomach tighten as she explained her understanding of the human skin-wearing magical creature that had slipped amongst the lambs. ¡°You can¡¯t deny it, Handsome, nothing pretty comes for free. Look at the tug and pull between us! There is a price to pay for everything. Hags will whisper half-truths and succulent, twisted promises in your ear, giving you cups of sweet nothings to ease your fears¡­ and before you know it, you¡¯re wasted away, wrapped around the piper¡¯s claw, and oh,¡± she cooed, a delightful quake running through their shared connection in the Nexus. ¡°Oh, I can see the other shoe drop, this kingdom crashing from within her patient, predatory smile, as the symphony of nations collapse and demons¡¯ talons rise up from within the earth. Mmm! The fall is so much tastier from the sidelines.¡± Her father remained by the railing, a deep frown on his face as he scanned the thousands of eyes on their box. ¡°It almost sounds like you admire this hag, Tiff, and we haven¡¯t even met them yet.¡± The Witch¡¯s chortal trailed off. ¡°Oh, Sweetie, you are so adorably innocent. What you look upon in those stands are all hostages to a bloody crown. You may judge me all you wish, but your thoughts cannot be worse than mine. The hag will build your paradise on broken bones with a wide smile, and she will give you heaven¡­ for a moment before snatching it away.¡± The orange-eyed woman slipped into their room, her illuminated, entertained eyes meeting the Death Knight¡¯s disgruntled stare. ¡°You cannot deny it. These nobles play her game, fighting for their ambition to the plucking strings of a master, who savors every tear they spill, and all for that bloody crown! They¡¯ll be singing, heaven, heaven¡­ we had it, we had it¡­ then the walls were broken, and we lost it all¡­ revealing the graveyard beyond. Of course, I admire such masterful acts of witchery.¡± Her father drew in his bottom lip as Elinor explored the extent of this suite, listening to the pair argue. ¡°I cannot imagine working with a creature like¡­¡± he trailed off, but the smirking woman finished his sentence while joining him by the railing. ¡°¡­A creature like me, without the constraints of the Empress. Oh, I can understand the sentiment, but I¡¯m positively thrilled since, to me, a hag is like a rockstar. The sweet things I could learn from her. Unfortunately, hags are very jealous and greedy; they don¡¯t like sharing. I vote for not getting in her way, Empress. In fact, if one knows how to deal with hags, then she could be of great help.¡± Elinor shook her head while studying the rather pretty, thin waterfall that fell from the ceiling, creating a curtain between the sitting areas to act as privacy. Until we know what Logan plans to do with the knowledge of what the hag intends, we will remain neutral. Roman¡¯s fear of her is genuine, and it says a lot about her if you are fangirling over her. I would put her on the same level as the King and Grand Duke, which means we need to be cautious. As you said, Tiffany, we must be patient. ¡°Haaa. Understood. Still, I hope at least to meet her since just feeling how she utilizes her magic can provide me with wonderful insights. Maybe we can¡ªoh, and what is this,¡± she asked, clutching her bag of goodies to her chest as the nobles overhead announced something they had thought was a possibility. ¡°Queen Alivau Alciel has made her arrival; please welcome Her Royal Majesty!¡± Returning to the railing, Elinor stared at the box directly to their right, yet she couldn¡¯t get a fix on her before she retreated from view, the following message making her smile. ¡°The Queen has directed me to condemn her daughter¡¯s behavior publicly and will be meeting with the Raven Empress shortly to discuss the matter. Our Queen is truly gracious!¡± She saw her father¡¯s stone-cold face at the reception the child-beater received from her people. ¡°What part of that is an apology? She¡¯s just dragging her daughter through the mud. Castria, you are near the stadium, correct? Did Heather hear that?¡± Their new monarch puffed out a drawn-out sigh as a knock came at the door, and Tiffany went to see who it was, though it was certainly not Alivau; it would still be a few minutes before reaching their box. ¡°Yes, we are, and yes¡­ she heard. Heather is trying to put on a calm face, but she¡¯s never been so publicly humiliated in front of the commoners or nobles; it practically guarantees she won¡¯t get into the House of Tempest¡­ Her mother basically said as much last night.¡± Elinor tapped her fingers against the stone rail, vision narrowed. What a horrible mother. Yes, Heather was out of line when she attacked me over a seat, yet it is obvious where she gained the behavior. ¡°Hmm.¡± The Witch spoke to one of the knights outside before closing the door and retreating to the sitting area to brew a perfect cup of tea. ¡°As anticipated, the king has asked that you join him in his box within the next forty minutes to discuss an urgent matter. Also¡­¡± Elinor joined her as her father took the entrance to be ready for the queen. ¡°Worse than that, Empress. Princess Heather likely thought she was doing the ¡®right thing¡¯ in her mother¡¯s eye by confronting a noble who stole her place. It is not ¡®learned¡¯ behavior; it is ¡®trained behavior,¡¯ and one ¡®beaten¡¯ into her, which is a critical difference. I could poison the tea to give her the runs for a week. Thoughts?¡± Somewhat shockingly, her father engaged with the topic. ¡°Surely, you have something worse than that. I have no sympathy for parents who abuse their children.¡± Laughing at being the voice of reason in this conversation, Elinor shot it down. Patience, Dad. I¡¯ve already cornered her into this position, and she will get her dues without us lifting a finger. Her lies are unraveling. Legs crossed, she looked between the green plants and running water that decorated the room, providing a lush, serene atmosphere. Castria, you are with your sister? ¡°Yes, Empress! It is insane how strong she¡¯s gotten in just one day of training. She¡¯s never used a sword before, but now she¡¯s swinging it around with magic. You¡­ really have changed our lives. Everyone¡¯s treating me like a real princess.¡± Good, Elinor laughed. Now, don¡¯t choke! Show them what a commoner Tempest can do. Cutting the link, she stared at the pot of tea Tiffany brewed with her orange flames; her discussion with the queen would be more brief than the woman probably expected. When the knock came at the door, her father guided her into the room. Fingers intertwined atop her lap, Elinor sat in a fancy armchair, only a single couch placed across from her. Tiffany and her father left them alone, pulling a lever on the outside that created a veil of water that blocked anyone from eavesdropping. As Elinor expected, Alivau had the same red hair, mirroring her daughter, and was far more accustomed to utilizing makeup¡ªor had someone else do it for her. Showing piercing blue eyes and a somewhat slender build compared to her curvier daughter, the woman wore an extremely revealing, shoulderless autumn-colored dress that showed off her long legs. Her fitted bronze crown kept her wild red hair pulled back, but perhaps the most eye-catching thing was her home kingdom¡¯s unique crest; somehow, it was attached just below her exposed collarbone. Its base was a brown wood, where five uneven amber spikes branched out, two on either side, with the fifth being short and straight. At its heart was a ruby stone, with three teardrop-shaped gems branching off of it in the shape of a bow. There had to be something magical to it. ¡°Queen Alivau,¡± she greeted with a smile she didn¡¯t feel. Her focus drifted to her delicate-looking hands that had beat her daughter black-and-blue the previous night, her inch-long nails cut into points that had torn into the 17-year-old girl¡¯s flesh. ¡°That was quite the public reprimand¡­ for your daughter.¡± The woman¡¯s striking stare held no joy in meeting her, holding a noble voice that spoke of her high birthright as the princess of another country. ¡°If you were in my kingdom, it would have been in your right to burn the flesh off my daughter¡¯s muscles. Punishment in the Kaspir Kingdom is very lax¡­ I heard that you called her to the Royal Tombs earlier this morning. A curious destination, and might I add that you appear quite young to be ruling a kingdom, much less an empire.¡± Elinor didn¡¯t bat an eye; there wasn¡¯t a hint of remorse in her face, nor fear. A twisted smile came to her lips as she met the powerful Tempest¡¯s gaze. Without a doubt, this queen knew the strength she held, yet this strong entrance was out of a need for survival. It was time to pivot. Rising to her feet in the ensuing silence, Elinor moved to examine the plants along the thin veils of water that covered them in light mist. ¡°It must be challenging to have a daughter so inept compared to her half-brother, the product of a Royal Tempest and Alchemist. A product of the environment, I¡¯m sure, since your country¡¯s methods yield far greater results with you as an example,¡± she stated, marveling at the irony. Yet, Alivau took it as fact, ever the narcissist, sitting back with a tired sigh. ¡°It seems you do have an understanding of the plight many of the nobles see in the unrightful place the prince holds. He has spoiled my daughter and made her soft to keep her in check¡­ beneath him. Despite this, my husband refuses to see reason in the instability that would follow the crowning of a Tempest not of full royal blood.¡± She held a hand over her stomach. ¡°Our next child will be raised¡­ properly.¡± I see, Elinor whispered to her court, running her fingers through the water veil. Heather is to be disowned or thrown under the bus for the incident she caused with me, all so that her mother can maintain her strong image. ¡°She isn¡¯t a mother,¡± her father snarled. ¡°She¡¯s a breeder, looking to train up her prized dog for the show. Disgusting.¡± Tiffany didn¡¯t offer her opinion, choosing to stay out of the discussion. Turning to direct a secretive smile at the queen, Elinor nodded her head. ¡°I completely understand. Now, your husband has requested my presence. Though short, I learned much from our time together. I look forward to your thoughts on my gift to the royal family. Excuse me, but I will leave Queen Tiffany behind to chat. She has been dying to connect.¡± ¡°Naturally. We must meet again before you depart. Oh, one more thing,¡± she slipped in, making Elinor shift to give her a side-long stare. ¡°As rumor goes, your princess met Prince Drew¡¯s lightning bolt on nearly even ground. Is that correct?¡± Chuckling, she went to the curtain of water as her father pulled the lever to shift its path, allowing her to exit. ¡°Queen Tiffany can give you a full and accurate account. Please, enjoy yourselves.¡± The queen returned her dignified nod, thinking she was more sympathetic to her case. Oh, how that would change when the gift became poisonous barbs to strike at the heart of her legitimacy, and Tiffany would sink her sweet fangs into the woman for the toxin to erupt upon Elinor¡¯s performance. Exiting the room and leaving Tiffany to chat with the queen, she could taste the honeyed victory on her lips. The Witch Queen was right; the piper always collected her price, and karma hovered over the abusive queen like the ominous blade of a guillotine. Well, let¡¯s see what direction the Grand Duke went, and if we can find common ground to break apart this stiff, noble society. Perhaps things are moving more toward a revolution than I thought. Hehehe. B3 — 5. Succeed or Die A gentle breeze tugged Elinor¡¯s hair back as she moved through the coliseum hallway, the distant rumble of thunder lifting her mood. Nobles made a wide berth when spotting her, keeping to the sides of the corridor and bowing their heads in silent respect while she passed with her escort of paladins that the king had sent to guide her. Her bright emerald eyes maintained their forward vision, yet she took notice of every individual, and not a single Tempest stayed airborne in her presence. It was something she took notice of with each aristocrat¡¯s sober acknowledgment of her passing. This was the attitude she was cultivating in her new jungle home; as short as her time would be in this more sophisticated nation, she saw a small portion of the potential yield that could be reaped from the seeds she¡¯d planted. However, fashion in the Kaspir Kingdom left much to be desired since their policy seemed to be that the less you wore, the higher the station you presented. Who knows, maybe she would be a fashion setter in how she¡¯d specified her more gothic theme. Whispers were hushed when she swept by the nobility, leaving a tense jolt in the atmosphere that maintained her slight smile and gave her silence to think. There was so much to explore in this world and quite powerful individuals to bring to her side, yet the same could be said about her new planet that she called home. Her victories here were a stepping stone for the conquest outside Roman¡¯s fracturing and breaking Quest World. She would use everything she could to accelerate her empire¡¯s growth, and promoting change in this kingdom might gain her further resources that she could call upon later. An internal hum from her father brought her gaze to the tall, dark-haired man as he walked beside her; things were coming to a point, and she could see why her dad would be nervous about the enemies she was about to create, but they¡¯d planned this out carefully. There was no way to stop it now. Elinor returned her eyes to the back of the gold and white-themed armor of the Paladins around them while connecting to her dad through the Nexus. What¡¯s on your mind, Dad? Don¡¯t bottle it up. You understand I can feel what you feel¡­ Almost as if it were myself. The Death Knight¡¯s illuminated blue eyes darted to her, but she remained front-facing. He ignored the gestures from the lesser nobles as much as her on their journey, his deep voice holding a melancholy note that she¡¯d rarely heard come from her father; it was almost like he was¡­ vulnerable. ¡°I¡¯m just reflecting,¡± he sighed. ¡°You¡¯re so much like my little spitfire of a rebellious daughter before¡­ all of this. Now, you¡¯re shouldering burdens I didn¡¯t know you were capable of and carving out your own home in this new world since ours was taken from us. I guess I¡¯m¡­ ashamed that I haven¡¯t done more for you¡­ taken more of the burden off of you.¡± Elinor¡¯s mouth fell into a line, her vision falling to the polished tile floors. Sometimes, I do wonder if I¡¯m still the teenage girl who¡¯s grounded for getting tattoos without your permission. There are days when¡­ whenever I find a moment to myself, which, heh, isn¡¯t common, when I enter my internal world to relive memories of our life in California. A humorous chuckle came from her father as a sureness radiated from him. ¡°Never have I thought you weren¡¯t my daughter if that¡¯s what you¡¯re trying to hint at, Elinor. Are there times I want to strangle you and when I think you are taking too many risks? Absolutely. There are days I want to slap Tiffany because she acts¡­ so much like your mother at times.¡± She could feel a band of stress compressing around his chest from the emotion in his throat. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot about your mother from Tiffany¡­ things she was scared to admit or talk to me about that the witch has no problem divulging. Her fears that¡ªno, I don¡¯t need to put any of this on you,¡± he groaned, catching her eye. ¡°Suffice it to say, I¡¯m proud of the woman you¡¯re becoming¡­ that you¡¯ve been forced to become due to our failures as parents, and that includes your baby sister, who I do worry about.¡± Elinor suppressed an external snort at Butter¡¯s inclusion into the family picture; it had been a few months now since her addition, but it was still bizarre to think about her butterfly sibling. I can¡¯t tell what I truly feel about that fatty, she admitted, slowing her pace and causing her escort to stop as she pivoted to a window to look out at the approaching storm. Finding her elbow behind her back, she showed the nobles and guards a thoughtful smile while searching for the proper words to describe what was burned into her heart. The gales gradually increased, fluttering her black dress and bringing with it the scent of musk rain as the air pressure changed. It would be upon them in the next thirty minutes. I knew Butter in a previous life¡­ I know that makes as much sense as me being able to bring back the dead, but we were twins before, and there is history between us. I hated her¡­ and I also loved her. I trust her, and I don¡¯t. She streamed out a short breath, fixating on the thick, black clouds rolling over the clear sky like an ominous blanket that would match well with their plans. It is such a mess of contradictions that I can hardly untangle the absurdity I feel, and that previous life is¡­ impressing my past life on me somehow due to this Greater Seed within me. I can¡¯t say if it¡¯s new or if it accelerated the process that was already happening. Tone drawing a serious stare from her father, Elinor met his gaze as the Paladins waited for any indication that she was ready to continue. My mind and attitude have changed due to necessity, yet that can¡¯t account for all of it. I know all of this is hard for you, Dad, but I have to explore this darker side of my personality if I am going to get answers and have the strength to do what I must in order to keep everyone alive¡­ as ironic as that sounds from a Lich Empress. ¡°I¡¯ll always be by your side,¡± he returned, showing a smile she¡¯d almost forgotten in such a short time. ¡°I know Tiffany, Butter, and you are struggling in your own ways, and I would give almost¡­ almost anything to have your mother back in my arms, but I also must respect her sacrifice¡­ I will trust you¡­ because you¡¯ve proven yourself to be more of a woman than a teenager, and no ¡®true¡¯ father wouldn¡¯t be proud to see their daughter grow so much.¡± Knowing he was referencing back to the hateful queen, who thought her daughter weak and unworthy of her blood, Elinor closed her eyes. She wanted to hug her father, experiencing one of the rare moments of heightened emotion since her change, yet she satisfied herself with a verbal acknowledgment. Thank you, Dad. And I know I am your responsibility, which you take very seriously¡­ You became a Death Knight to better protect me. I need you¡­ I need this family to build my empire, which means Castria also needs to feel the support of a father figure, and Elira needs to know that she was an amazing big sister who did her best to provide when no one else would. Her father nodded, understanding that worrying about her all the time meant less time doing other activities that needed to be done; the action caught the eyes of the Paladins, taking it as a sign to continue moving. Elinor resumed her path, enjoying her reputation and the order of things within this kingdom. Yet, her path stopped when she met someone new in the hallway. As tall as her dad and holding a presence as strong as her, Elinor¡¯s curiosity peaked as to who this noble was until she caught the insignia cufflinks on his tailored 1600s-themed suit. Her smile widened as she swept the 46-year-old patriarch¡¯s appearance; his strong jaw and thick, swept-back brown hair tied into a man-bun at the back of his cleanly shaven neck. His high forehead and cheekbones matched his far less rugged and more pretty teenage son. ¡°High Lord Yeven, the current Head of the Great House of Tarnash,¡± she greeted as she met one of the strongest rivals to the king¡¯s authority since the Yeven family used to rule this kingdom more than three centuries ago before the hag¡¯s involvement. ¡°You¡¯re the first to bar my path, and I have noticed no Tempest flies when I am around. Thoughts?¡± The atmosphere took a hit as several of the passing nobles hurried along their way, chilled by the Tarnash¡¯s naturally cold aura since they excelled in the Ice Element. Yeven didn¡¯t smile, keeping a professional tone with his hand clasped against his wrist while observing them. He gave a respectful nod, his voice like rocks rolling down a gentle river. ¡°Empress Elinor, the Raven Empress, as more commonly known within our kingdom. Seeing as I just left His Majesty¡¯s room, I can see why he has been in deep thought regarding your surprise visit to our nation¡­¡± His caramel eyes drifted to his four-centimeters shorter son. ¡°What are your thoughts regarding the Empress¡¯ question, Drake?¡± The boy gave a far deeper bow than his father upon addressing her. ¡°If the ground is comfortable enough for the Raven Empress, then far be it from someone like myself to reject its embrace.¡± ¡°A flirt,¡± Elinor chuckled, turning away from the teen to look his father in the eye, no doubt taking part in the ceremony in a few hours. ¡°Do I take this as an invitation of some kind?¡± Yeven¡¯s mouth became a line, which was probably a smile from the patriarch. ¡°I¡¯ll send my son to arrange an appropriate meeting for later this week. Would that suit your schedule?¡± Her mouth curved. ¡°My schedule is dictated by first come, first serve¡­ yet I expect my time spent to be fruitful and not wasted. Have your son schedule something with Princess Castria, and we may have time to chat.¡± The High Lord stepped to the side with his son, a visible lump dropping down the teen¡¯s throat, yet it was his father who had initially dragged him into the conversation. ¡°I look forward to it. I hope you have a splendid Entrance Ceremony. King Edmon,¡± he acknowledged with another nod that her father mirrored. Elinor swept past the pair, pausing to give him a mysterious, side-long look. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure it will be one history remembers¡­¡± With that, she left the Great House of Tarnash behind her, the Paladins being neutral throughout the exchange. Elinor looked at the windows, fogged with a thin sheet of ice melting away as Yeven disappeared beyond the bowed corridor. ¡°Another phenomenally powerful figure to be worried about. These Great House Heads are not just talk,¡± her father grunted through the Nexus. We are making quite the connections, she noted, happy at the surprise encounter as the gusts of wind outside increased dramatically with the storm¡¯s approach. It seems you were right in thinking the king has been making plans for war with the Delva Empire, or at the very least, to recapture the Delenear March. ¡°So much will change after today that it might not even matter,¡± her dad growled, not too happy with the part she¡¯d play. We will see, she whispered as they came upon the king¡¯s wing, lined with Paladins. We will see¡­Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. The double doors were opened when she neared, the ones beyond that, and the locked ones behind those, revealing a larger front entrance than her own private viewing area. Just as with her waterfall sitting space, the king had his own personal isolation room, only it had been cleared of furniture for a giant map of the kingdom, figurines spread across the war map. Standing at its edge, the king was slightly shorter than her father, studious eyes scanning various places on the map. Elinor went to join him in the emptied room, her father taking the expansive terrace to stare up at the dark sky overshadowing the stadium, thunder now rumbling through the halls. King Virelli ran his fingers through his mane of black hair before scratching his neatly groomed beard. ¡°What do you make of this, Empress? Why conquer the Delenear March, kill their lord without ransom or demands, and then set up checkpoints while expelling everyone inside the territory? From what those that have made it to the capital say¡­¡± He turned his amber eyes to her, mouth creased. ¡°I¡¯m told they¡¯re searching for a pink-eyed non-noble Tempest with highlighted black hair.¡± Elinor held her silence for a time, studying the vast territory and trying to gauge its size, which was hard, yet it looked quite large. The Grand Duke floated out of the sky to stand by her father, creating a colossal dome of water that collected the rain and cast the stadium in brilliant lights. Unfortunately, she didn¡¯t have the chance to enjoy the show since the king¡¯s question was a probe filled with potential barbs. It depended on what Logan told him. After several seconds, she looked into the Tempest¡¯s eyes that stood at the pinnacle of this society. ¡°Are you suggesting that Princess Castria is no princess at all and is, in fact, the person they are looking for, and I used some kind of magic to change her appearance?¡± The king¡¯s eyes narrowed as he held a finger against one particular figure on the board. ¡°I am only asking why one of the Four Major Generals of the Delva Empire would be interested in finding a person that fits the fear the nobility have for this prophesied omen of their downfall.¡± He took his finger off the general¡¯s piece to slide his finger to a tipped-over rook-like piece, possibly representing the march¡¯s fallen capital. ¡°As a scare tactic, it certainly is a provoking move, yet they always scoffed at our traditions, so why divert such incredible resources into occupying territory and provoking us? A smoke screen?¡± he offered as a solution as she stopped over the vast Everborne Marshlands. A rumble shook Elinor¡¯s throat as she smiled and looked up at the king. ¡°I heard you took quite fondly after my princess. Queen Alivau paid me a visit just after your invitation, yet I am not satisfied with her apology since¡­ there was none.¡± Her focus darted to two chairs that floated on a gust of wind to face one another, and the curtains of water surrounded them without a button being pressed. It was time to get to the main subject of this meeting. Elinor sat on the comfortable armchair with the king as they faced one another, Virelli leaning against the side and rubbing his beard. There was no threat within his words but firmness that said he was not playing games, as not even the thunder or awe-struck crowd reached inside their isolated dome. ¡°I did enjoy my short time with Princess Castria since she wasn¡¯t trying to butter me up and ask me for favors¡­ instead I was met with a bold humility, which is sorely lacking in my court. She was pleasant to speak to, and the moment she took my son¡¯s lightning bolt, she¡¯d put a shock through his chest because¡­ well, beyond her lovely cadence, she is also quite the beauty with her unique hair and eyes. Only¡­¡± He held his hand over the nearby map to jab a finger down right on top of it, ¡°¡­Princess Castria has detailed information that she should not have unless she grew up in Utralan. It is in her accent, her style of word choice, and her political views¡­ from the perspective of one born poor, not that I have an issue with any of those things. And now, you offer to raise my dead wife from the grave¡­ What are you after as a being beyond our realm?¡± A short sigh exited Elinor¡¯s lips as she closed her eyes and rubbed between them, realizing how much they¡¯d underestimated this monarch; Logan hadn¡¯t needed to tell him much since this king was competent all by himself. ¡°Hehehe.¡± Chest shaking softly with her laughter, Elinor centered her glowing green irises on the ruler, the chill of an autumn day breathing against the back of her neck. ¡°What do I want, King Virelli? Then allow me to pull back the curtain¡­ ever so slightly with what time we have left. I am here¡­ because this planet is dying. Castria is the link to save it, and I need either the Delva Empire or Kaspir Kingdom to train her¡­ I need the best.¡± The king held her gaze for a time before creasing an eye and showing a half-smile. ¡°The best¡­ And did you go to the Delva Empire first, which is why they¡¯re trying to find your charming princess?¡± Elinor slowly shook her head and crossed her legs. ¡°No. Actually, I only became aware of this fact rather recently myself from Roman, who is not a Duke of my empire. He tried to work his own angle to discover why Castria is of such importance, and in doing so, put her in a regrettable position that had her kill Marquess Delenear since she was a traitor and was working with the Dark Tower; her husband, was in the dark.¡± Virelli ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°That is¡­ a serious accusation but aligns with several loose bits of intelligence I¡¯ve been handed. So, this Roman fellow is some prophet attempting to save the world from some inevitable doom? And you trust him?¡± Tilting her head to the side, Elinor hummed. ¡°Trust is a strong word¡­ I know that Castria has phenomenal potential, and I felt that when I resurrected her.¡± Her sharp eyes darted to the ruler as she held a firm tone. ¡°I stand behind those I call my people if it is life or if it is death. The moment Roman brought me into this mess he¡¯d created, I made it clear that Castria was no longer in his care¡­ she is no princess within my empire¡­ she is a queen because I value her potential highly. It is she who has trouble with the title.¡± ¡°A good position to hold for someone in authority,¡± the king whispered, intelligent gaze scanning the map. ¡°I am cautious about magic I do not understand¡­ which has been a position drilled into me since I was a child, but I am no longer a child, and I have heard Grand Duke Logan¡¯s opinion on you, Raven Empress.¡± He sat straighter. ¡°I have my own reasons for accepting your proposal. I love Lilya with all of my heart, yet I am not foolish enough to believe such magic does not come without a price¡­ and I am no fool to think the hag will be happy with someone like yourself encroaching near her territory. Lilya¡¯s return would drastically change foreign relations since her family runs half the trade between nations on the continent. My beloved wife¡¯s return is quite expensive, though.¡± Elinor slowly got to her feet and moved to the table, making note of each lord¡¯s territory, the majority of which was held by the three Great Houses. ¡°Let me walk you through my thoughts on that price and what I require for such an undertaking¡­ I believe our goals can be aligned, King Virelli, and push back wherever you see fit until we can find a resolution.¡± She flashed her teeth and picked up the Delenear March¡¯s piece to right it. ¡°Let¡¯s begin the negotiations.¡± ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó Thirty minutes passed as Elinor unraveled pieces and parts of her vision for his kingdom and how things could change within his kingdom. Here, she learned many more details regarding the nation that could be solved through proxy by her plan, such as the sanctions against the Kaspir Kingdom by the Jesna Desert Trade Prince and Princesses being lifted. His former wife¡¯s vast understanding of cultures and languages across the continent was legendary; as an academic and genius alchemist, she had ties to many areas that had been cut when she died, yet their desert way would have seen his wife fed to some demigod they worshiped, and he could not allow such a thing, which put tensions between him and the desert family. For that reason, he had to align himself with his current queen, who had an iron fist when it came to trade and its rival brand to the desert trade tribes. Naturally, that had only further hurt their reputation with the family, and only a miracle could save it¡­ such as the former queen¡¯s resurrection. The economy was heading for a collapse, and only the royal scholars could see it, but all of that could change. However, that put pressure on his current wife¡¯s family and trade empire, which was a whole new can of worms, but that was politics. When the discussion drew to an end, they fell into silence, staring at one another. There were a million issues, yet Elinor had one response to all of them: she was the Raven Empress. ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó ¡ª ¡ó Virelli rubbed his thumb against his temple. ¡°How can you possibly make Alivau not feel threatened by my former wife returning or the nobles seeing you have the power to bring back former monarchs? How can you convince the Four Houses to add a fifth to the school or teachers to join you?¡± ¡°Simple,¡± Elinor laughed, making a fist as green flames flickered in her shining eyes, ¡°who is going to stop us? Give me your support, and I will make a way. You clearly do not like the way your kingdom is confined to certain traditions, evidenced by the woman you married. You stood up to your father and the nobility to ensure Queen Lilya had a place in your home¡­ do it again, but you will not be alone this time. You want change¡­ it requires chaos.¡± The king mulled over her plan as the time for the ceremony¡¯s start drew near. ¡°Hmm. You do have a certain¡­ way of projecting yourself that sparks mystery and caution. The legend of the Raven Empress is grand, and somehow, you made that look small when retaliating against my daughter and showcasing a taste of your power.¡± He nodded with a tired sigh. ¡°The enigmatic empress from across the seas wishes to build relations with the Kaspir Kingdom to train her princess, yet you are not a fan of such rigid structured Houses¡­ so you propose a fifth.¡± ¡°I will do you one better,¡± Elinor snickered, lips curling into a devious smile. ¡°Queen Alivau will support my creation of a fifth House. At least, heh, she will until it is too late for her to back out.¡± The king¡¯s vision narrowed. ¡°Be very cautious of my wife, Empress, because she comes from a volatile culture. Yes, she has tempered in the last several years, but she has personally led genocides against those who cross the interests of her kingdom. She is very particular about her privacy and independence.¡± Elinor sat back, folding her fingers in her lap. ¡°Then¡­ am I to assume you know nothing about the physical, emotional, and psychological abuse she had heaped upon your little girl because personally, I am quite livid with your current wife for the punishment she gave Princess Heather when I had already exacted my price.¡± Virelli didn¡¯t blink as he held his fist against his nose, staring at her and processing the information. ¡°¡­What evidence do you have of this?¡± he asked with a low voice. She didn¡¯t hesitate or try to embellish what she¡¯d seen. ¡°I first heard rumors, and knowing such humiliation would cause an outburst within an abusive parent, I maneuvered Heather into being forced to go out the night after I publicly humiliated her. What did I discover? Poor makeup skills, which can definitely be fixed¡­ and deep childhood trauma that she broke down and expressed herself.¡± Her jaw tightened, shifting to the opposite side of her chair as her nose twisted. ¡°Would you have liked hearing your daughter give excuse after excuse as to why her mother claws her face, lashes out with her tongue and fist, belittles even the slightest failing, and calls her a failure because she couldn¡¯t beat her big, half-blooded brother, who is the son of an alchemist? How it is her fault that she lashes out. She is in the wrong.¡± Elinor released a heated laugh. ¡°Believe me, King Virelli, I can do a great many evils to get what I desire, but betrayal is something I most despise, and what worse betrayal is there than a parent betraying their child? I do want more than what I told you,¡± she admitted with a humorless smile. ¡°I want your daughter to have a proper support system as much as I want my princess to have the same. She will not be accepted into the House of Tempest. Your first wife will welcome her with open arms into the House of Ravens, who will be the mother Queen Alivau is incapable of being. And I will humiliate your current wife as she has humiliated her daughter and me, but it can never be equal.¡± She stood up and held out her hand, head high and projecting power in her voice. ¡°Your kingdom discriminates against your Crowned Prince. Wolves gather around you, blaming you for your kingdom¡¯s decline. The Great Houses are being coaxed to lead a revolt. The Delva Empire is bold enough to attack your borders. Your queen conspires against your children by having a third that she will push for the crown.¡± The green flames licking down her fingers slowly dissipated. ¡°There are secrets and history in your kingdom to be explored and countless victories to be had if only your nobility will look beyond their own fears and diminishing social power¡­ You see this. My question is¡­ do you have the strength to support the chaos that will bring about a new world order?¡± The king stared at her hand for several seconds and then took it. ¡°You do not disappoint, Empress Elinor. I have my doubts, yet you paint a grand picture for the future¡­ a dream Lilya had of all our people living in comfort, not just the nobility, which is why she tried to create a Philosopher Stone¡­ I have much to ponder, yet I am convinced to move forward¡­ with some stipulations. However¡­¡± He guided her gaze to the falling water, the gentle sound coming into focus as he pulled away. ¡°I am not the only person you need to convince. Logan controls a vast amount of power when it comes to the college. You are more dangerous than the wolves or snakes that slither around me, but Logan is my best friend, and he has always supported my decisions. In this¡­ he may not.¡± He picked up a wizard-looking figurine on the board inside the capital. ¡°Logan only does what he believes to be right. So you better pray twice to whatever devil or god you worship and be damn convincing if you want this alliance to work¡­ or else, as he told me¡­ he will test how immortal you actually are.¡± Thunder quaked through Elinor¡¯s bones as the water slid back to reveal her father and the college rector. The man¡¯s dangerous stare fixated on her, and a grin split her lips. ¡°Then let the show begin.¡± B3 — 5.5. To War And Conquest The Susime Valley unfurled like a dreamscape around Butter and her entourage as they approached the Life Settlement. Giant, jewel-toned insects hummed lazily around them, a soft symphony that blended with the rustling leaves. The air shimmered with the vibrant energy of ruby grasses and luminescent flora, painting a picture of surreal beauty that made Butter want to bring some back into the jungle. Butter sat atop her undead torlim throne, her aquamarine eyes dancing with delight at the sight before her. This place is more than a battlefield¡ªit¡¯s a canvas of possibilities, she mused, her mind flitting between thoughts like a butterfly over a field of wildflowers. White was far more casual with her demeanor, yet Butter could see her eyes taking everything in with every bit of detail as Mika¡¯s searching gaze. Adoncia was sharing her ride with Snow, peppering the white-haired woman with questions about Earth and what was happening. It provided Butter the chance to passively listen while taking everything else in. As they entered the settlement, the atmosphere shifted with a reverent tension. The colorful ri''bot that stood around looked at her as if they already knew who she was. Many already had their faces pressed against the grass, possibly feeling unworthy to so much as look at her. Nergath¡¯s soft voice spoke from beside her, keeping his gaze on the trembling ri¡¯bot woman ahead of them. ¡°It¡¯s not surprising they could sense your Life Aura from that distance with how you channeled it into the human¡­ By the looks of things, the Fingers of Utelira have all been taken or killed.¡± ¡°No worries,¡± Butter reassured, taking in the silent atmosphere as the Life Cult gave her their faith without her so much as speaking a word to them. ¡°I have a plan.¡± Her gaze slid over their skin, a patchwork of hues, and many dozens more were now hurrying away from their depressed labor to look at her with renewed hope. Continuing down the procession line to the few, nervous figures at the end of it, she heard her title circling across tongues, almost too soft for her to catch. ¡°The Radiant Eminence has been chosen.¡± Butter acknowledged them with a playful wave, her demeanor a blend of regality and mischief. Her escorts were growing nervous, though. Mika rode close, her tone cautious. ¡°We should be prepared, High Queen. The Cult of Seg''tharis might not be idle for long.¡± Nergath rubbed his chin, his calculating eyes focused on her rather than the downtrodden throng. ¡°I would not count on my faction acting so swiftly¡­ Not with the Eye of Utelira now active. Its very presence would cause significant damage to all of our Death Equipment.¡± White glanced at the thread to the jewel, tucked safely within her bust and pointing inward so as not to cause her undead escorts any trouble. ¡°We¡¯ve got their attention, at least. This Eye of Utelira is like their version of a nuke, huh?" Her voice was teasing, reflecting an understanding of Earth that Butter didn¡¯t have. However, she had heard of this famed nuke. Nergath¡¯s brow furrowed at the comment. ¡°A ball of fire from the Great Ocean in the Sky? I would not put its destructive capabilities so high¡­yet its influence would be far greater.¡± Butter chuckled, her laughter light as the breeze, figuring Priss¡¯ translation ability had put it in a way the toad would understand. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s close enough. I¡¯m already thinking about a rather charming way I can use this!" She glanced at Nergath, the toad¡¯s emerald eyes still searching for something. He¡¯d given up everything to keep the balance, and it wouldn¡¯t be wrong for him to worry if she¡¯d just swing the pendulum the opposite way and destroy his cult. Nergath slowed while looking up at the circling Death Raiders. They took off toward the fortress, leaving only a single Raider behind to observe from above. ¡°The Eye of Utelira''s activation should deter them for now, but I still do not see how this ends without total collapse,¡± he sighed, now looking at the Life Cult¡¯s far fewer members compared to the buildings spaced around the settlement. ¡°How will we find balance again?¡± A more classy-dressed ri¡¯bot, wearing silks, approached them and abruptly fell to her knees. ¡°Radiant Eminence, I apologize for our lack of faith¡­ To have lost our Head.¡± Butter calmly hopped down amongst the surprised believers, causing the woman to drop to the ground and snape her jaws shut. ¡°What is your name? And¡­I don¡¯t see a lot of males here. I heard you have trouble with your population but not this bad.¡± The female ri¡¯bot refused to look up despite her prompt, trembling on the grass as many others gave similar looks. ¡°No, Radiant One. You¡­wish me to speak of this sacred process¡­aloud?¡± She flashed her teeth. ¡°Absolutely. The time for secrets has passed.¡± ¡°I see! I, umm, I am the First Attendant to the Head¡­ Holy One, we have not had a natural birth for many years now. Only due to Head Iridia have we been able to sustain ourselves. She fashions our bodies out of mud and breathes our souls into them each five year cycle, before our form deteriorates to the point of damaging our souls.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Butter hummed, a frown touching her lips for the first time as Snow and Adoncia got down to join her, the Legend of Snow White trying to listen carefully to the one-sided conversation since she didn¡¯t understand them. ¡°That is news to me, Nergath. Is it the same for the Cult of Seg¡¯tharis?¡± Nergath¡¯s own face was creased with questions, now with many other followers of Utelira glancing up at the news. ¡°Interesting. The Half Century Death Cycle now makes more sense¡­ It is true that we are reborn through the Cult of Utelira, but the process is one none of us were made aware of since it is not a part of our function. We simply awaken within the sacred shrine during the yearly Life Festival. It is Head Iridia¡¯s holy task to return our fallen¡­but I was unsure about the method. If our bodies are fashioned from mud¡­¡± Butter examined finished his thought with a curious tilt to her head, shifting to study the whispering crowd of less than a hundred ri¡¯bot that surrounded them. ¡°It appears your mud bodies resemble true ri¡¯bot anatomy, yet they are merely temporary imitations, and cannot reproduce. The few true Susime bodies of the living are very few, perhaps non-existent now.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± asked one of the young women nearby, her experience likely far older than she sounded. ¡°If that is what the Head of Utelira has done¡­then is it not the will of Utelira?¡± Feeling the questioning eyes all centered on her, Butter digested the information, glancing between the frightened faces of the crestfallen cult. ¡°There is an answer,¡± she soothingly replied, considering the possibilities and paths she could take. ¡°In the end, all will be put right. For now, we have the imbalance of the Cult of Seg¡¯tharis to address.¡± Zenthara jumped to attention, faith renewed in every face. ¡°Of course, Radiant One! You have descended to bring us out of the darkness, as Head Iridia foretold. She told us to look for you, for you would arrive when we most needed Utelira¡¯s guidance¡­ Utelira walks amongst us.¡± The crowd mirrored the chant as if a mantra, and Butter saw Snow shift uncomfortably as Adoncia quietly translated. Zenthara gestured for them to follow her to the Head¡¯s house by the holy lake, where they could speak privately. As they moved through the settlement, Butter noticed the architecture¡ªorganic structures made of living plants, their walls pulsing gently with life energy. Only in a place like this can they function in such an unnatural order, she thought, critically examining every piece of the life-giving settlement. Now armed with more knowledge, she was beginning to better understand the ecosystem. Is this what the Death Cult realized? She stared at Zenthara, her heart light and pulsing with newfound hope. The grass she walked over, the buildings she passed, everything was budding with life. Yet, nearly every follower of Utelira was a vacuum of Death Energy, soaking up the Life Force to be renewed. She couldn¡¯t believe she hadn¡¯t noticed it sooner with Nergath, but he was supposed to be an aspect of death. These followers of life, however, were completely unaware of the truth behind this horrific way of life. Butter¡¯s smiling eyes drifted to pockets of Life Force within the ground, the souls of their powerful ancestors trapped in crystal prisons and used as fuel to keep this cycle going. The Susime talked about balance, but, in reality, they were leeches of the highest order, sapping the strength of their ancestors, torturing them to use their power, and somehow totally ignorant of it. Her shining irises settled on the hut as they neared, a thoughtful smile lifting her lips. Head Iridia knows the ugly truth behind her people and history¡­ I have no doubt. The Susime must die¡­ All of them. Zenthara cleared her throat as they approached the building, much larger than a hut now that they were beside it, and Butter could guess why. ¡°Not to doubt you, Radiant One, but¡­the Left Hand of Seg¡¯tharis¡ªwill you return our Head? I do not understand why they have broken The Cycle¡­betrayed Utelira¡¯s gift of life.¡± Butter waved off her concern with a casual flick of her hand. ¡°All you must do is follow my words and obey. Let them come, if they do. I have a plan.¡± Snow latched onto the topic, gradually starting to show a calmer and more pleasant demeanor after the hell she¡¯d just gone through. Her new dress fit her surprisingly well, showing Adoncia¡¯s skill in sizing people up. ¡°If they are going to launch another assault, shouldn¡¯t we prepare for a siege, High Queen? I can create ice walls if we have time. It might take me a bit to gather my strength again¡ªwhat?¡± Butter laughed and shifted to pull her into a comforting hug, her eyes twinkling with amusement. ¡°Oh, Snow, you¡¯re still so jumpy! Look, that is just not my style,¡± she said, pulling back and giving her a light glare that brought a sheepish look to the soldier¡¯s face. ¡°They expect us to dig in our heels, so I¡¯ll do the opposite. I¡¯ll accept their invitation and walk right into their fortress.¡± Every person present froze, faces slackening and brains becoming mush before processing what she had just said. The group exchanged glances, puzzled but hesitant and intrigued, which tickled Butter¡ªthey were learning! Nergath¡¯s concern deepened, being the first to question her. ¡°Your ways are always¡­bold, High Queen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s why I get results,¡± she smirked, leading the way to the front of the temple and living space of Utelira¡¯s Head. ¡°If you could be so kind, Zenthara.¡± ¡°At once!¡± The attendant moved the jewels inside the wall in a specific way to peel back the layers of branches, leaves, and vines. The bioluminescent glow bathed the inner sanctum room in a soft, serene light, casting shadows that danced across the vibrant tapestries of vegetation lining the walls. As butter expected, there was a hole off to one side that allowed for an area to sculpt new bodies. Butter instantly began to look around as the attendant began to close the entrance, yet paused at her words. ¡°Zenthara, can you be a darling and collect thirteen of your most courageous and faithful? Sooner than later would be advised.¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°Uh. Yes, Radiant Eminence! Yes, you¡¯re going to ordain new Holy Hands? Two full hands?¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± Nergath mumbled, now looking truly shocked while clutching his staff close. ¡°Rarely is a new Finger chosen if a soul becomes too damaged to return, and it takes many years to attune to the forces of the Life and Death Jewels.¡± ¡°For having such powers and life experience, Nergath, your Fingers have only scratched the surface of what truly lies beneath the bones and pain your civilization is built upon¡­ Go on, Zenthara,¡± she prompted again, making the hyperventilating woman jump to action, overstimulated by the implications¡ªthirteen, not fourteen, meaning she was to be chosen. Butter paused between shelves of ancient artifacts that the Head of Utelira had kept for herself, noticing another sealed chamber beside the mud pool. Her fingers slid down a rather fashionable-looking cane with a diamond filled with Life Energy attached to it. There were many such artifacts that had more than just a single element inside. Yet, only a few, like this one, were soulless, housing pure Life Force. Pulling it out, she tested its weight with satisfaction, feeling light pulses of energy resonating within the jewel between her breasts. Utelira was starting to recognize her presence and shift in her dying slumber. Before long, she may even awaken. ¡°Think carefully about everything I¡¯ve revealed to you, Nergath. You¡¯re smart enough to understand where the dots will lead you. Now, Snow, I¡¯ve been listening to you and Adoncia talk. What do you think about your situation?¡± she asked, removing her Life Staff to be replaced by the cane and looking for her next upgrade. ¡°Oh, watch out, Mika! You don¡¯t want to get close to those ones,¡± she advised with a wink. ¡°Some potent stuff here.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Snow cleared her throat, holding her elbow and trying to follow along. Her voice was soft while staring at her given dress. ¡°As I understand it¡­ You¡¯re not actually from Earth, High Queen. Everyone else is, but from everything Adoncia told me and what I¡¯ve heard about the relationship between you and your sister¡­ It doesn¡¯t add up.¡± ¡°Smart girl,¡± she giggled, lustful eyes centering on an item practically built for her¡ªa large paper fan, imbedded with soulless water and life stones. Her mind was spinning with new possibilities and experiments. ¡°Perfect. As to your statement. It¡¯s complicated. Recently, I¡¯ve become aware that Priss and I have lived a previous life, perhaps more than just that one, and we¡¯ve always hated each other. Well¡­except for in this life, which is¡­interesting.¡± White examined the sealed off room, no doubt as curious as Butter to get it open. ¡°Is it really wise to say that aloud, High Queen? You¡¯re getting really reckless, which I¡¯m not necessarily against.¡± ¡°What can I say?¡± Butter whispered, unfolding the awestriking fan to examine its design and artistic craftsmanship, possibly stolen from one of their ancestor¡¯s old conquests or a relic from their golden era. ¡°I¡¯m not the type of woman that enjoys lies. It¡¯s best to get whatever is on your chest out and forge your way forward rather than hide in the dark.¡± Snow¡¯s fingers tightened around her elbow. ¡°High Queen¡­ I¡¯m not sure how long the Army and the Mystickin our forces have left can hold out. Are¡­you going to help us?¡± Butter grinned and snapped the fan shut, turning to look at her while gripping the cane in one hand and the fan in the other, her confidence spreading out like an infection. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll form an alliance. But first, we need to deal with the Death Cult and a few¡­snags along the way. Listen and learn from Blue Eyes here,¡± she chimed, gesturing to Adoncia, who was beaming. ¡°Naturally, there will be conditions but that can be worked out with your leader.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure there will be,¡± Snow sighed, now showing a far more relaxed if still worried smile. ¡°If you allow yourself to be captured, they¡¯ll just slaughter everyone once you¡¯re not here.¡± Butter clicked her tongue and moved to tap the girl on the arm with the cane. ¡°What did I tell you, Silver Eyes? It will be fine. Trust me. You¡¯ll see. And would you look at that! It seems our eager faithful have assembled.¡± They turned toward the door as it slid aside, revealing the fourteen soon to be the Fingers of Utelira. ¡°Line up! Don¡¯t be shy,¡± she instructed, pointing her cane at specific places. If Priss can bring back the dead and do her depressing shit, then I can uplift, bless, and heal¡­ Perhaps I can even resurrect in my own unique way. Let¡¯s explore a bit since I can¡¯t enter my Soul Expanse without releasing my Artificial Body. The fourteen ri''bot followers stood in a hushed, reverent circle, the shimmering grove around them alive with a surreal energy that seemed to pulse in time with their anticipation. Tall trees formed a cathedral of living wood as walls within the sacred place, their leaves shimmering with an ethereal light. Adoncia, Mika, and White retreated outside as she called upon the Eye of Utelira, the rest of the grove reacting to her brightening countenance. The air buzzed with the ambient hum of Life Energy, a tangible force that tingled against Butter¡¯s bare skin like a soft, electric breeze. ¡°Imagine your faith,¡± she said, her charged words feeding into their souls and artificial bodies of mud, infusing them with power she couldn¡¯t currently wield without the necklace she wore. ¡°Trust in me. Do you believe I am Utelira¡¯s incarnation as the Radiant Eminence?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± they all responded, Nergath resting against the wall, observing with narrowed eyes as his Death Artifacts were vaporized. The purified souls within them were cast out to be pulled into whatever afterlife awaited them. Yet, the Finger of Seg¡¯tharis didn¡¯t seem agitated by it. Butter walked between them, her aquamarine eyes gleaming with an inner light that mirrored the aura of the place. This was not Utelira¡¯s power; this was hers, enhanced by the imprisoned, higher entity she channeled. Her presence was commanding, a gentle yet powerful force. She glanced at Nergath, who watched with a mixture of disbelief and awe, his voice barely a whisper as he commented on the impossibility of the ritual she was performing. ¡°It usually takes years of dedication to become a Finger,¡± he marveled, clutching his ordinary staff as if to anchor himself in the reality of the moment. ¡°And yet, here you stand, ready to bestow this gift upon them in an instant¡­ The power I feel is real.¡± Butter chuckled, the sound like wind chimes in a summer breeze. ¡°Nergath, my dear toad, the universe is full of shortcuts if you know where to look. It seems you discovered what I was hinting at, as well. Besides, I find the traditional methods dreadfully dull. Where is the innovation?¡± She raised her hands, her fingers tracing an eight-pointed star on each one of her chosen, and focused her will to pull her faith into them. ¡°Know that your power does not come from you, but from my belief in you. I will strengthen your souls, so put your faith in me, and through that union, you will act in my stead.¡± Her voice carried across the very trees, whispering her message to those imprisoned in the jewels and outside of them. ¡°Today, you become the new Hands of Utelira. Open your hearts to the Life Force that surrounds you, and let it fill you with purpose and strength. Know that this is not just a gift, but a responsibility¡ªto protect, to nurture, to guide¡­and to have fun!¡± As she laughed, Butter could feel the energy surging through her, a torrent of vitality that flowed into the ri''bot, binding them to their new roles. A sense of purpose was instilled in them like a seed that would only grow as they nurtured it. The transformation was immediate and profound; their eyes widened as the power took hold, their bodies trembling with the force of it. Snow stood stiff, watching in wonder, her expression a mixture of awe, fear, and curiosity. ¡°You can give people powers¡­ Does that somehow connect to The Oscillation?¡± Butter grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as one by one, the newly awakened Fingers of Utelira fainted, overwhelmed by the magnitude of their transformation to their uplifted souls. ¡°Think of it as a little upgrade, darling. I¡¯m not sure about this ¡®Oscillation¡¯ you keep talking about but this is my own power. Whatever Seed is inside of us is merely acting as a gateway to the locked potential I already possess.¡± She turned and held up her cane, it shimmered in a soft glow before being converted to Life Force and stored within her soul. Unfurling her fan she hid her face, giving off a theatrical performance with the falling toads collapsing around her. ¡°I do not need a Seed to be something great and neither do you. All you need is a little faith and the will to exercise it.¡± Nergath pressed his fist against his nose, examining the developing Fingers. ¡°Did you not say that this was your power and not their own?¡± Butter snapped her fan shut, a half-smirk on her lips and bright eyes twinkling while shifting to the toad. ¡°Phrasing, my follower of death. None of them had the will to become Fingers, which is why they weren¡¯t but all it takes is a little faith in them with a bit of a kick in the butt to get someone walking on the path of the strong. They required my faith but that didn¡¯t mean they needed it to become someone great.¡± Snow swallowed a lump in her throat, reflecting on her words. ¡°That¡¯s¡­strangely profound. These Seeds aren¡¯t what make us powerful. They only provide a means to unlock what we already have buried within us.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± She said, moving to kneel down and examine the shimmering stars on each of their chests; it would help be a visual reminder to give them courage. ¡°When dealing with the weaker willed I¡¯m merely opening their spirits to channel the energy more efficiently. It¡¯s like giving them a good pep-talk, only more effective since it¡¯s on a spiritual wavelength.¡± Butter moved among each one as they began to stir, acting as a reassuring presence, her touch gentle while helping them up. She ensured each one was stable before turning to address Snow. ¡°Now, Silver Eyes,¡± Butter giggled, using the nickname she had most graciously bestowed upon her, ¡°I have a mission for you. I need you, White, Adoncia, and Mika to leave the settlement and wait at the crystal. I¡¯ll handle things here. Trust,¡± she winked. ¡°You¡¯ll know when I¡¯m done.¡± Snow¡¯s tenson left in a single long puff of air. ¡°You really are something, High Queen¡­ I wish I could have been more like you when handling the waves we were up against the last three months,¡± she mumbled, respect in her gaze. ¡°You¡¯re really something, you know that? I kind of want to meet your twin now¡ªeh, Butter?¡± Butter hissed, her face pinching as if swallowing something sour. ¡°I do try, dear, but you would not want to meet Priss. Now Nergath? Mhm, he¡¯d love my sister. You? Mmm. Not so much. Now off you go! And watch out for any surprises the Death Cult might throw your way. I¡¯m about to make a scene that they can¡¯t ignore.¡± As Snow and the others departed, Butter¡¯s attention returned to the Fingers, who were beginning to build up their confidence upon seeing the stars on their chests and her confident smile. Their minds were slowly adjusting to their new abilities, which wasn¡¯t much, to be honest, despite the delivery; they were mainly there to maintain what she did. Butter cleared her throat, addressed them with warmth and encouragement. ¡°Welcome back, my darlings. You¡¯ll find your newfound abilities a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me, you¡¯ll soon learn to crawl and then to walk. The path ahead is a bright one, and one where you will find your peace when this is all done. I shall make a miracle, and you will maintain it. Onward!¡± With her customary grace, Butter led the way from the grove, her heart buoyed with the looks and reverence showering upon her. It felt¡­right. The potential she had unlocked within herself was beginning to blossom now that her soul was healed. She just needed to snatch Priss¡¯ old corpse from Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ head and she¡¯d be in business. The settlement was abuzz with the ripple effects of the ceremony, the air thick with hope and possibility as they followed her down to the lake. As they approached the crystal-clear waters, Butter didn¡¯t hesitate. The water shimmered invitingly, a perfect reflection of the valley¡¯s vibrant colors. She unfurled her fan, and sent her will into the sapphire jewel while stepping into the pristine, glass-like surface. The cool embrace of the liquid coursed through her and parted, her presence commanding the elements to yield. Butter lifted her hand, calling upon her cane for a secondary channeling item to divide the pressure. Her focus narrowed to a single point as she linked both with the power of the Eye of Utelira¡ªthe only way she could initiate what she was about to do. She channeled it through her connection to the lake and fed her will into the unified forces. The water responded to her command, forming a dome of shimmering life energy that exploded outward, surging over the shocked occupants to encase the entire settlement in a protective barrier against the threats that loomed beyond. The villagers and the newly christened Fingers watched in awe, their faith reaffirmed within themselves and her by the spectacle. Little did they know the settlement Life Force itself was the primary source of power, Utelira herself only being an initial catalyst to bring everything together through her. She gestured for the Fingers to join her at the lake¡¯s now waterless center before forming a star pattern in the air out of the shimmering, enchanted liquid. Their presence would be essential to maintaining the barrier¡¯s strength, connecting wires, as Priss might say. ¡°Stand here at each of these points, my Hands of Utelira! Together, you shall ensure the safety of your brothers and sisters¡­of your sacred place while I confront your enemies. Belief. Have faith. You are strong.¡± Her voice rang with authority, a siren call that echoed across every heart. Butter could feel the bond between them strengthening as their faith redoubled in her, a web of life energy that pulsed with every beat of their collective hearts. It did provide her strength, not that she needed it, but it was the sentiment that mattered¡ªshe was adored. Impatience prickled at the edges of her mind, a restless energy that demanded action now that things were set in order. The Death Cult was taking too long to make their move, and Butter didn¡¯t feel like sitting idly by and waiting. She closed her eyes, feeling the power of the fan and cane as they merged with her soul, their essence converting to pure Life Energy. In that moment, when just about to disconnect herself from the above protective barrier, a vision flickered in her mind¡¯s eye, a brief glimpse of herself as a golden-skinned elf, radiant and powerful. Butter¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Wonderful! I can feel walls inside my soul crumbling. Answers come to those brave enough to search for them.¡± Leaving the silently praying and reverent throng behind her, she passed through the liquidy barrier, the water parting for her as she joined her group outside, Nergath in-tow, deep in thought. Looking between Adoncia, Snow, White, and Mika, she clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the giant Crystal overhead. ¡°Adventure and danger awaits! Now, shall we walk into the lambs¡¯ den as lions? I must say, I¡¯m feeling quite leonine today, myself. To war and conquest!¡± B3 — 6. Path to Evolution; Level 20 Stepping through the parted stream of liquid in the king¡¯s makeshift war chamber, Elinor went to the balcony to join the grand duke and her father. King Virelli floated next to her to stare across the vast stadium, packed to the brim with what she would guess was close to a hundred thousand citizens. The private boxes hosting nobility and important figures in the market or foreign dignitaries waited for the show to begin. This would be a spectacular stage to test how far she could push this System¡¯s EXP rates in regard to non-combat methods. She was a Lich Empress, and an empress thrived on the support of the masses. Dampened rumbles came from beyond the phenomenal rain dome above, blanketing the coliseum in dazzling lights. At the center of the dry stage was a choir and orchestra, playing an epic melody to set the mood for the House Selection Ceremony, their voices projected on the wind through the grand duke¡¯s manipulations. Elinor suppressed a shiver as excitement welled up within her breast; the ball was in her court as to how she wanted to introduce herself. She¡¯d received a rundown of the event schedule, and there was one act that was perfect for her to follow. Resting her back against one of the pillars between the railing, Elinor maintained a cool smile while observing the inspiring orchestra and choir express their hearts. This nation was just on the cusp of change, and it benefited her to be that spark. A slight upward twist came to her lips as a large, black-feathered bird soared down from the top of the stadium to land near her hand; Tiffany had been quite busy these last few days in her spare time preparing for this plan as they¡¯d worked on it. ¡°Ravens?¡± Virelli asked, spotting dozens more swooping down to the railings of the private boxes. ¡°It¡¯s very rare to see them in our part of the continent¡­ Your work, Empress?¡± Elinor placed one hand on her collarbone, over her tattoo of the intelligent creatures, as her other reached out to scratch the bird¡¯s neck; tied around its foot was a neat piece of paper while a shiny jewel was attached to its neck. ¡°Indeed, it is. Grand Duke Christarion, I would like to introduce myself after the Great Houses¡¯ showy entrance. Will you be ready on your end, King Virelli?¡± The ruler breathed out a long stream of air while giving his friend a meaningful look. ¡°This is a risk I am willing to take for her return¡­ and not just for my or my son¡¯s sake. If you do not succeed in convincing my people of your good intent or manage to garner some support from the other factions, then there will only be one ending that will satisfy¡­ I have put my faith in your performance.¡± Elinor returned her hands to her front while watching the king¡¯s fluttering cape leave his chambers to speak to his Paladins outside. ¡°One way or another¡­ this Entrance Ceremony will be one to be remembered for millennia.¡± Her focus flicked to the tall, powerful Tempest, the man¡¯s striking eyes fixating on her. ¡°Is the risk of turning the whole of the Kaspir Kingdom¡­ potentially your own life worth inserting your princess into my curriculum?¡± Using one hand to hoist herself onto the railing, she leaned against the pillar with a secretive smile before turning her gaze to the stadium, filled with potential believers. Sure, they may not be her citizens, but if she could ally herself with the Kaspir Kingdom and form her first true friendship between nations, then she was positive it would unlock something grand. ¡°Fortune favors the bold¡­ And I would say that you are someone who is worth guiding Princess Castria into the destiny she is to fulfill.¡± She turned her emerald eyes skyward, where the Grand Duke effortlessly held back the storm, bathing the awe-struck people in a rainbow brilliance that he then could focus onto a singular point. Sure, the Delva Empire would likely have powerful Tempest themselves, yet there was merit in a school environment like this that Castria could grow socially from and learn the ins and outs of royalty. She was satisfied with the Kaspir Kingdom, or what it could become. ¡°¡­We shall see.¡± Elinor caught a look from her father that made her sigh inside; everything depended on her acting skills and ability to improv when opposition arose. It wasn¡¯t as if he didn¡¯t trust her; he just hated not being able to do more to support her, which was sweet and just like her overprotective father, afraid the world might swallow her whole. Palms folding in her lap, she allowed the raven to hop up to her shoulder, no doubt Tiffany acting through the bird as it fussed with her hair. Her focus drifted between four of the openings on ground level, with the music increasing in tempo, and a lower noble woman took center stage to hum along with the swaying instruments. Every citizen held their breath as the applicants from each house exited, a core group of the Tempest swiftly taking the spotlight, wind magic carrying them into the sky. Her smile softened when she spotted the prince with his sister, spinning her in a circle in their sibling dance, the young man synchronizing elegant blue flames with his sister¡¯s red. Tiffany¡¯s chortles came through the Nexus, expressing little details she picked up or comments Queen Alivau made. ¡°How sweet! My, Prince Drew is such an incredible brother for how much hate his stepmother displays toward him. According to her, this is all for his reputation and need to be in the spotlight, stealing it out from under her daughter in the guise of supporting her. He shouldn¡¯t even be in this dance, as only the high nobility House applicants are supposed to be involved. Oh! Oh! There¡¯s our princess!¡± The Witch¡¯s excitement bubbled over as another set of unique flames joined the concert; Elinor caught a curious smile from the Grand Duke and saw people pointing out the mixed yellow and green flames that came from Castria that joined Marquess Julian Delenear¡¯s red. ¡°You¡¯re stealing the show, Firecracker! It is so interesting how Tempest can change the wavelengths of their flames based on heat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t distract her,¡± Edmon chided, yet Elinor saw a fatherly pride in her father¡¯s face that warmed her undead heart; he always had a soft spot for girls, most likely due to him thinking about her when spotting them. ¡°Well done.¡± Spying on their Monarch of Storms, Elinor felt her intense concentration at trying to keep the wavelength of her dualistic flame; it was actually easier to manage between the two colors rather than going full green, which was a far hotter color for Tempest to reach. Logan folded his arms atop the railing, observing the several dancing nobles and their colors as Heather¡¯s red fire intensified to match Castria¡¯s green and yellow; it flickered back to red for a second before returning. The other nobles soon flared yellow, seemingly struggling to maintain that level at 17 years old. ¡°Hmm. I will say that Princess Castria has great talent, but I cannot speak to her training before this,¡± the man complimented. Chuckling softly, Elinor scratched her raven¡¯s neck as it hopped down to the railing. ¡°I¡¯m sure the others will be diminishing Castria¡¯s achievements with the expectation that it goes without saying she excels since she is tied to me¡­ the same reason for others looking down on Princess Heather. It is something she will need to learn to expect.¡± The dancing Tempest floated into the line of their fellow nobles, fire dispersing as they took the head of each column on the four sides of the stadium; the music gradually died, and then it picked up again, now rising into the air on the primary female vocalist¡¯s wind manipulations. The song faded with the band as they rose into the sparkling dome-like veil shrouding the heavens, the drums mixing with the gentle roll of thunder until it was gone. With that, Grand Duke Logan rose into the air and floated out to hover above the center of the stadium; the choir and orchestra picking up again, despite now being beyond the aquatic wall. It was a fantastic show with the flashes of lightning that pierced the bubble to arc over the audience, leaving rumbles that shook the stone Elinor sat on. Fire circled the slow-moving electricity, wind funnels of water cycling out of the dome to loop and dance with the other elements as the grassy earth around the stage lifted to join the harmony. In a grand display of might, the dirt, stone, and grass shot back to the ground as the other elements rocketed into the sky to meet inside the rising bubble. It all condensed and exploded in a nova of light; once it cleared, the storm was no more, yet frosty flakes began to fall from the heavens. Elinor suppressed a quake at the raw power and finesse the Grand Master Tempest displayed as her vision fell upon the perfectly smooth, grass-laid ground of the field; not a sound was uttered in the windless atmosphere, silently snow blanketing over the city from the now murky sky. Yet, the show was far from over, and after several chilling seconds, the atmosphere heated rapidly, and a hearty laugh came from one of the three VIP boxes above the others. An eruption of red flames carried out a rugged, crimson-haired man: High Lord Debro Tarkov, Head of the Great House of Tarkov. ¡°Always impressive, Old Man, but are you trying to butter up to Yeven Tarnash or show off to the Raven Empress?¡± he asked, voice carried to all on the heated wind he generated, carrying the melting snow into the heavens. ¡°I say, let there be chaos!¡± A rush of cool air mixed from another box as the 46-year-old patriarch of Tarnash left his own personal box, creating a clash between the high and low pressure; dark clouds began to form above with the seawater and damp surroundings evaporated to be pulled into the condensing superstorm between the two forces. ¡°Is this really the side you want to display during this ceremony, High Lord Debro?¡± Flashes of lightning passed within the opposing forces, Debro showing Yeven a tempting, toothy grin as the outline of two circling dragons came from inside the tight sphere they¡¯d created. Elinor chuckled as the pair floated across from each other, the Grand Duke between them, and she wasn¡¯t alone. A third and final voice entered the stage, feminine and older. ¡°It has been the same dull competition since you were both children. Let¡¯s not go overboard, boys¡­ as your fathers did.¡± A dark-haired woman, reportedly in her early sixties, joined the three men, and a light blue aura embraced her before the bubble above popped; a rush of hurricane winds expelled outward, spreading the thunderous clouds in a rapid cyclone that was swiftly brought under control. And after a minute of leering at each other, the storm settled into a gentle downpour. Clapping rang throughout the stadium as the dome of liquid reformed, pulling the hovering High Nobles¡¯ gaze to her as she laughed, her words projected by the Grand Duke. ¡°A marvelous display of power and control, High Lady Julia Proltis, High Lord Debro, and High Lord Tarnash. Surely, your kingdom is protected by exceptional rulers. The Delva Empire is sure to see a reckoning for overstepping their border to attack those under your stewardship. It is an important display to show the future of this nation the shoes they are to fill.¡± Debro put both hands on his hips with a laugh. ¡°It pleases me to hear you enjoyed this opening event, Raven Empress! Perhaps you would do the honors of showing your own great power?¡± ¡°Do not grow arrogant to overstep your place,¡± Yeven coldly whispered, a frigid chill meeting the grinning fire-haired man¡¯s fire. ¡°Or what?¡± he asked. ¡°You¡¯ll give me a cold?¡± ¡°Such inelegance,¡± Lady Julia sighed. ¡°I apologize on their behalf, Your Imperial Majesty. I am aware that you have had quite the¡­ unpleasant welcome into our kingdom.¡± A sly twist came to Elinor¡¯s lips as she shifted her weight to stand on the railing. ¡°On the contrary, High Lady Julia, I quite enjoyed my welcome. In fact, why don¡¯t I take this opportunity to introduce myself properly? I¡¯m sure rumors have been rampant. Hehehe. You wouldn¡¯t mind¡­ would you, High Lords and High Lady? The Grand Duke has kindly offered me a place in this year¡¯s events.¡± ¡°By all means!¡± Debro bellowed, eagerness in his voice as he flashed his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the most enthralling tales about your conquests and prowess. I had to see you for myself before going to the Delenear March to roast some Delva pigs on a spit and reclaim the territory! Haha. Why don¡¯t you join me, Young Lord Julian?!¡± he roared, shooting to the ground like a meteorite to land in a blaze of heat in front of the golden-haired noble.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Elinor could practically feel the pressure that hit Castria¡¯s shoulders as the towering man loomed over both him and her, Debro¡¯s superheated aura making several of the noble Tempest swiftly stumble back; well, everyone but his fire-haired daughter, grinning beside Princess Heather at her father¡¯s aggressive attitude, the only other redhead in the lineup. ¡°The Delva scum took your father, but not before I heard he did a good number on one of their generals. Haha! I always like your old man¡ªyour mother, eeh, she was too much of a Delva bootlicker for my taste. But what do you say?! Care to light a fire under their asses with a legend?¡± Grand Duke Logan flickered and was instantly between the young Tempests and giant of a man, a focused gust making the teens stumble back. ¡°Leave war to the graduates, High Lord Debro. The students are in my care and not your army.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He locked gazes with the elder before a low chuckle shook his chest. ¡°You really are a frightening relic, Old Man. I thought the boy would want a hand in reclaiming his inheritance¡­ as-is how are his people going to respect him? I wouldn¡¯t if someone else took the head of the person who killed my king or family.¡± Elinor made swift contact with Castria. Push Julian to accept the offer and that you will join him. Throat constricting acted on instinct, not liking the implications Debro was making, Castria snatched Julian¡¯s hand and gave him a look; it was probably some signal they¡¯d made when growing up because he seemed to understand what she wanted. Julian¡¯s nose flared, heat in his voice. ¡°I would join you in a second if I were able, High Lord!¡± Castria stepped forward. ¡°Lord Julian¡¯s father was very kind to me when I was inside his house; I wish to avenge him, as well!¡± A grimace crossed the Grand Duke¡¯s face as he turned to look at the two teens, yet Debro only laughed and turned to stare up at the king¡¯s box. ¡°Empress, I like the fire in your princess! But, haaa, we cannot draw you into our trouble¡­ and it seems the young lord has already made too much of an impression for me to pull him off to war. Haha! Shame you can¡¯t join me. It¡¯s going to be a blast!¡± ¡°Father! I wish to join you in war!¡± his tall, redheaded daughter voiced, several other nobles behind her and the knights from across the field joining the call to arms. Elinor picked up a seed the raven in front of her dropped from its mouth and swallowed it. Raising her arm, the clanking sounds of chains pulled everyone¡¯s attention as she launched into the sky. The conversation was drawing too far away from herself and down avenues that could get sticky. Four chains shot from opposing sides to meet in the center, creating a tight platform that she landed on, exactly where the Grand Duke had floated. Now, Tiffany. A brilliance came from the VIP boxes, the rituals on the ravens¡¯ legs activating, and the gemstones around their necks illuminating as a single raven took flight to land on one of her chains, staring at her. Rays of colors focused upward, creating a massive holographic projection as more ravens took to the sky, their ritual-linked crystals projecting her voice from the seed she¡¯d ingested. Sorry, Butter, but I don¡¯t count this as food. Balancing on the taut tightrope, her colossal reflection stared down at High Lord Debro, three more ravens landing on each side of the chains to record her from each angle. ¡°While I can understand the emotional response to retaliate when the lord that cared for you was attacked before my arrival, Princess Castria, High Lord Debro is correct. We are in no accord with Kaspir to join her in war, but I do offer my condolences for your loss, Lord Julian.¡± Stunned silence filled the stadium, and even the Grand Duke seemed caught off-guard by the projection Tiffany maintained from inside their VIP box; it wasn¡¯t as difficult as she¡¯d thought due to the vast array of ingredients and time she¡¯d been allowed to set it up. She swept the crowd and two remaining High Lord and Lady, hovering nearby as she dexterously maneuvered on the linked chains. ¡°I suppose my purpose for making this venture in your kingdom has been rather obscure¡­ so I will formally make my introduction for your benefit.¡± Hands clasped behind her back, she maintained an imperial pose as she caught the king floating out of the sky, returning to his high box; she could assume he¡¯d returned with the statue his first wife¡¯s corpse had been sealed inside, and the Paladins were hauling it through the supply zone to the stage. She just needed to buy a little more time. Head held high, the High Nobles returning to their sitting areas, she proclaimed, ¡°I am Empress Elinor, but some of you may know me by another name,¡± she chuckled, gesturing at the birds now seen across the massive coliseum, ¡°the Raven Empress.¡± She let the statement hang for several seconds, glowing emerald eyes orbs of fire in her projected image. ¡°My purpose here is two-fold. First, I am here for Princess Castria¡¯s education as a Tempest since I have none with such talents in my own kingdom¡­ and her mother is not available to instruct her. You have already seen The Princess¡¯ talent firsthand in that captivating dance with Lord Julian. Hmm¡­¡± Her gaze fixated on the next four individuals who were supposed to take over this event once the initial fun was had between the Great Houses. ¡°The House Selection Ceremony is about to begin, and I am sure you all are dying to have the yearly entertainment of fighting the sad little shadows inside the Conjuror¡¯s Gateways, but¡­ I have my concerns regarding the curriculum of the College of Royals, Grandmasters, which I have addressed to your rector.¡± The single woman sitting in the four Grandmaster chairs swiftly rose to her feet, her aged face showing a wealth of experience as she projected her own voice to be heard. ¡°Empress, I can assure you without question Princess Castria more than meets the standard required for the House of Tempest. In fact, she stands as one of the very few who have managed to produce green flames at her age.¡± ¡°Precisely, Grandmaster Vesta,¡± Elinor returned with a disapproving click of her tongue that made several of the Tempest instructors underneath them flinch. ¡°Can you hazard a guess as to why The Princess can produce such flames?¡± Vesta didn¡¯t bat an eye, keeping her tone neutral as the peasants and craftsmen alike listened intently to her sharp tongue toward their nobility, and all three Heads of the High Houses and their families were locked onto her disapproving face overhead, leering upon the professors. ¡°High expectations and strong discipline, I would say, Empress.¡± ¡°Only scratches the surface,¡± she stated, tightening the woman¡¯s mouth. ¡°My empire is one that gives no leniency to the weak nor narrow-minded.¡± Chains breaking away, Elinor tucked her legs to the side to not allow her dress to slip right off her, the ravens diving with her to keep her projection stable. Two meters before touching the polished stadium, spiked links broke through space to attach to her hand, slowing her descent and allowing her to land on her feet without effort. She stared up at the Grandmasters, now nervous about the position she¡¯d taken. ¡°My empire has flourished because of the diversity of talent that I have incorporated; talent like Castria, King Edmon, Queen Tiffany, and many, many others, small and large. You see this type of magic above me?¡± Elinor began to move across the border of the stadium, no one daring to interrupt her as she made her point. ¡°This was all done using ingredients from your House of Alchemy. We¡¯ve already seen plenty of showcases of the heights of the noble Tempest, yet when I explored the House of Conjuration, I found so much lost potential, the same with the Magic Knights¡­¡± Pausing to look up at the tens of thousands of people filling the circular coliseum stands, she said, ¡°What I am saying is that while I concede that Kaspir has incredible potential, its practical use is wasted on finite Houses that will frankly¡­ hamper my princess¡¯ growth.¡± Murmurs flooded the stands as people tried to dissect what she was saying, but that was for the nobility to decide. Grandmaster Vesta shifted uncomfortably as she glanced at the king¡¯s box, no doubt looking for support from the Grand Duke, yet it wouldn¡¯t come. ¡°Pardon me, Empress¡­ but are you suggesting that The Princess should¡­ learn Alchemy?¡± Clicking her tongue, Elinor shook her head. ¡°Again, this only scratches the surface of what grandeur your university could be, Lady Vesta. I call for a fifth House¡¯s creation, which Princess Castria will join¡­ A House that incorporates all learning, magical, science, psionics, mathematics, engineering¡­ anything and everything that can be used for the good of the kingdom.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ outrageous!¡± Grandmaster Holst roared, his shimmering red armor listening as he shot to his feet. ¡°Empress, respectfully, this is not the way of the College of Royals! Nobles¡­ learning Alchemy like, like peasants?! It¡¯s absurd! Again, I mean no disrespect!¡± he repeated as her cool gaze shifted to him. ¡°King Virelli¡ª¡± ¡°Has given me his support,¡± she crisply interjected. ¡°Ahem,¡± High Lady Julia Proltis interjected from her box as the Paladins came out of one of the ground-floor openings, directing a horse and cart with an object shrouded by a linen sheet. ¡°I can fully understand the sentiment for open-ended education and the potential benefits, but how will you fund, organize, find lodging, or¡­ even find someone capable enough to lead such an ambitious undertaking?¡± Elinor shifted her focus to the elderly woman, subtly resisting by trying to poke holes in the logistics of her proposal. ¡°You believe I have not already thought of such things, High Lady Julia?¡± ¡°I am merely curious as to how you would convince professors to leave their esteemed positions to staff this fifth House. Am I to believe you will be sending your own talent from inside your kingdom to compete with our curriculum? Why go down this route instead of speaking to Grandmaster Vesta to allow Princess Castria a special exception, which I am sure she would accommodate?¡± ¡°Hehe. Nothing so openly hostile,¡± Elinor chortled to the uncomfortable shifts of the citizens and nobles alike. ¡°And why would I wish such a special exception for my own princess?¡± Turning to the applicant Tempest, she saw lumps form in every young 17-year-old who saw the giant projection stare down at them. ¡°Princess Heather, join me.¡± ¡°M-Me?¡± the redhead choked, nerves hitting their peak and making her quake as every eye locked onto the girl. ¡°P-Please, Empress, I¡­ I don¡¯t want to fight you again,¡± she cried, sending her message directly to her with tears starting to form in her eyes as she tried to fight back her mental horror of being humiliated in front of her abusive mother. ¡°Please¡­¡± Elinor didn¡¯t budge. ¡°I will not repeat myself.¡± Unable to remain calm enough to use her powers, the girl hugged herself and tried not to stumble or trip as she jogged up the steps and onto the stage. Yet, she couldn¡¯t help but miss a step and almost fall on her face when Elinor continued, not that anyone noticed. ¡°I will have Princess Heather join this new House, where she and Princess Castria can become better acquainted.¡± She turned a fond smile toward the stunned girl as she tried to pick herself up, legs weak. ¡°Contrary to what rumors have circulated, I quite enjoy your princess and believe she will make a wonderful friend to my dear Princess Castria. You cannot imagine the joy I felt when learning the House of Tempest would be blacklisting her ability to join.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Julia whispered, ¡°but we must¡ª¡± ¡°High Lady Julia Proltis¡­¡± A shiver ran through the older woman¡¯s frame as a white flame rose out of Elinor¡¯s own private box, and Queen Alivau Alciel¡¯s radiant form displayed a pointed stare. ¡°What is your purpose in making a fool of your king¡¯s decision? Has my husband not already given the Raven Empress his support?¡± Elinor could feel the tension rise as the temperamental queen floated out to join her, the harsh, flaming wind whipping up a storm and raising her fiery locks to the sky as she slowly lowered to stand beside her; naturally, this was what Elinor had been waiting for since the woman believed she was on her and her daughter¡¯s side in this: she was half-right. A single look from her queenly mother made Heather go stiff as a board and do her best to put on a mask, yet her chest didn¡¯t move an inch as she held her breath. She did her best to walk to their side, face already the color of her hair, and trying not to choke, vomit, or faint. Julia gracefully backed away from the edge. ¡°I apologize for my behavior, Queen Alivau. I am curious as to who the Empress has found to lead such a House.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you asked,¡± Elinor chortled, nodding at the queen, eyes challenging anyone else to pose any more objections; all of the Grandmasters returned to their seats as Alivau sniffed, her white flames dying down before cooking Elinor alive. ¡°Why don¡¯t you do the honors?¡± she asked, making a gesture at the veiled statue. The Paladins worked together to place in front of them, careful not to reveal what lay underneath. An ominous silence ensued as Elinor said, ¡°Meet the Grandmaster, who will take the initiative in organizing this House that King Virelli and I have come to an agreement on.¡± Alivau¡¯s brow furrowed, a small, curious smile lifting her lips as she held out a hand, hot wind cycling around the object and making the sheet flutter. ¡°You do know how to lead a show, Empress,¡± the queen whispered, flinging the veil into the air. ¡°My daughter will¡­¡± The woman¡¯s mouth fell open, eyes going wide as the ravens shifted the projection to display the statue for all to see. ¡°You¡­ cannot be serious, Empress.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid I am,¡± Elinor chuckled. ¡°Meet Grandmaster Lilya Alicia Alciel, Head of the House of Ravens, and former Queen of the Kaspir Kingdom. I hope you enjoy my gift to the royal family.¡± She spread her arms wide as the projection returned to her. ¡°Kaspir Kingdom, yes, I can return the dead to life, and so, so much more. With this gift and this House¡¯s creation, we are now allied kingdoms and more gifts are to come.¡± Her arms ignited with emerald flames, and she felt the gears click into place: [Empire Foreign Relations Level Increased: Level 2] [Empire Foreign Relations Level Increased: Level 3] [Grade Advancement - Monarch of Death IV Unlocked] [New Monarch Slot Added: 1 Available] [Level Up - Level 19] [1 Stat Points Added: 4 Available] [1 Feat Extensions Added: 5 Available] [2 Equipable Feats Available] [Level Up - Level 20] [1 Stat Points Added: 5 Available] [5 Feat Extensions Available] [2 Equipable Feats Available] [New Monarch Slot Added: 2 Available] [New Limit Break Perk/Advancement Unlocked] [New Feat Slot Added: 5 Slots Available (4/5 Used)] [Type Evolution Unlocked] [Evolution Extension Available] Lips peeling back, Elinor laughed as she felt herself on the cusp of leveling yet again. She¡¯d been right; the System was offering her paths to evolve, which could change the whole game. If that wasn¡¯t sweet enough, the color draining from the abusive mother¡¯s face was like sugar on her tongue. ¡°Well, enough waiting,¡± she chimed. ¡°Let¡¯s resurrect the former queen!¡± B3 — 7. Path of the Warlord Taking a step toward the statue of the former queen, Elinor¡¯s flame-embraced hand paused inches away as a male voice filled the stadium, drawing her gaze up to Grand Duke Logan, standing beside her father and the king. ¡°Empress, let¡¯s not be hasty; I have a question, and I¡¯m sure the others will have their own concerns about the precedent you are setting. Never has the return of a dead monarch been so readily possible.¡± Her eager smile softened as she straightened and clasped her wrist behind her back. ¡°Patience is a hard virtue, but it pays to be calm.¡± Dress spinning out as she turned in a half circle to look between the Great Houses and nobility, leaning forward in their boxes, Elinor finally found Countess Evelyn Autumn in the shadows of a rather lavishly colored VIP section; the Everborne Marchland hag was watching. Multi-hued lights shone down from above from Logan¡¯s manipulations, the light rainfall overcasting the city, creating tiny ripple effects in the dome protecting them from the elements. Every person was locked onto her performance, a shocked Princess Heather and Queen Alivau trying to grasp what she¡¯d just revealed. Elinor¡¯s twinkling eyes settled on the one person the Grand Duke had done this for and said, ¡°I am curious as to what opposition I will face to this House creation since I¡¯ve already obtained the support of Queen Alivau and King Virelli.¡± The red-haired queen¡¯s locks began to flicker with spurts of white fire as she fought down her rising emotions, her stunned expression returning to her cool demeanor. Her focus rose to her husband, though; after all, he had had to agree to this, which would have put many thoughts into her mind. Sadly, her daughter was the one to voice her mother¡¯s fears. Hands knotted at her front, and clearly not wanting to draw attention to herself, the abused teenager¡¯s shaky voice was projected outward by the Grand Duke since Heather was in no emotional state to use her powers. ¡°Would¡­ that call into question my mother¡¯s legitimacy a-as queen?¡± ¡°It would not, Princess Heather,¡± High Lord Yeven spoke from his icy box, several of his family members standing at the edge of the railing to look down on them. ¡°The Law states that divorce is impossible for the king, and death annuls the State contract.¡± ¡°Not entirely true, Yeven,¡± High Lady Julia interjected, causing a shiver to run down Queen Alivau¡¯s frame as her gaze momentarily shot to Elinor, showing fear and hate. ¡°The State contract of marriage is one binding in life, and if one were to die temporarily or to have been believed dead, only to return years later, then the contract is still upheld, as demonstrated in the events sixteen centuries ago with one of my Great House ancestors. If Queen Lilya is resurrected, she could have a claim due to returning to¡ª¡± Queen Alivau stole everyone¡¯s attention as she nodded to Elinor, trying not to show her frustration at being outmaneuvered and blindsided. She had a little wiggle room, but the abusive mother had caught Elinor¡¯s slap across the face; if she tried to back out, then she and her husband would look like fools. If that wasn¡¯t enough, the citizens and nobility would learn about the embarrassing fact that she hadn¡¯t even been consulted in this decision after her strong stance in support of the king. ¡°Empress, I am in support of this new House¡­ as is my husband, but I have my reservations regarding your choice of House Grandmaster. May we speak in private with the king to clarify things?¡± Laughter came from the last Great House box as Lord Debro¡¯s wife sat on the railing. One of the ravens flipped their recorder to the showy woman. ¡°Wait, wait, wait¡­ Empress, does this mean you can bring back any former combatant¡­ because I have a particular enemy in mind that I¡¯d love to kill a few more times.¡± Her red-haired husband roared with mirth as he stepped to the side to kiss the woman, their children seemingly very interested in the same line of thought. ¡°This is why I love you! The Delva captains would make excellent training dummies for our children.¡± ¡°No! No! I cannot stress how insane this is,¡± High Lady Julia shouted. ¡°This isn¡¯t about satisfying your family¡¯s ridiculous need for violence, Debro and Kat! What is stopping the Raven Empress from returning the former Great Monarchs¡ªyour ancestors, Yeven, and disputing the throne?! This is more dangerous than Queen Lilya¡¯s Philospher Stone research. It¡¯s chaos!¡± Interesting reveal, Elinor mused to her Court as her soft chuckles rumbled across the arena, drawing attention again. It seems our Head of the Great House of Proltis wasn¡¯t much of a fan of the former queen. In the short ensuing silence, Elinor shifted to walk around Lilya¡¯s statue, sparking more nervous mumbles from the nobility and Queen Alivau¡¯s flaming hair to intensify slightly. Yet, her cool words rang unmatched throughout the coliseum. ¡°Of course, I will entertain you, Queen Alivau, and I have yet to hear the Grand Duke¡¯s single question¡­ but first, let me make something clear. Without order, nothing exists; isn¡¯t this correct, High Lord Tarnash?¡± The powerful, dark-haired man¡¯s deep voice was smooth as butter. ¡°An excellent point, Empress, and the Great House of Tarnash stands as a pillar of stability within our kingdom. I support the king, no matter if my ancestors were to be raised. My word is not only my own bond, but the bond of my House, and I pledged myself to King Virelli Alciel.¡± ¡°Lovely!¡± Elinor chimed, pausing to look up at the red-haired Great House. ¡°Yet, without chaos, nothing evolves, which is something I see reflected in the Great House of Tarkov.¡± Whistles of approval came from several areas, including the fire-haired teenage girl below, Debro¡¯s daughter cheering the statement as her father grinned with pride. ¡°Indeed, Empress. I love the chaos that fire brings,¡± the man bellowed. ¡°We thrive in it and ignite destruction in our kingdom¡¯s enemies.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Elinor stated, holding up a hand to draw everyone to her large holographic image. ¡°I am a staunch advocate for order¡­ and chaos. Without both, you are doomed to be destroyed by the decaying rot of your stalled society or go up in flames of unchecked anarchy. It is this union of conflict that allows an empire to flourish¡­ how I flourish.¡± She turned her gaze to the crowd again, alight with excitement; they¡¯d likely never heard a speech like this before, and she saw it resonating. ¡°What benefit would I gain from destroying your kingdom when I came here to uplift my princess by its rich history? Allow me to answer many of your questions here and now¡­¡± Gesturing at the statue and looking at the nervous queen, Elinor smiled. ¡°Listen closely, the nobility of Kaspir, you needn¡¯t be concerned about your queen¡¯s place since in being resurrected personally by me, she will never age again¡­ because she will be undead and not technically alive. Therefore, the State contract, High Lady Proltis, remains void.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Queen Alivau followed, looking for any more traps she may be laying now that she¡¯d been burned once. ¡°I have not heard of this term¡­ undead. How will she be resurrected if she is not alive?¡± ¡°Good question,¡± Elinor chimed. ¡°Those I bring back as undead are gifted with eternal life, eternal youth, beauty that surpasses their previous life, and my power infusing them with abilities to enhance their already cultivated talents¡­ but her reawakening will mean so much more for your people, Queen Alivau.¡± The redhead¡¯s fingernails dug into her palm as Elinor turned her gaze to the citizens, her voice filling with a passion that they could resonate with. ¡°Yes, the things most seek and think of as myth. Grandmaster Lilya, you knew her as your former queen, yet she was so, so much more than that. A Trade Princess of the Western Jesna Desert, she brought your kingdom wealth, put food in your children¡¯s stomachs, and provided an economic boom that the Delva Empire envied! Do you remember those days?¡± Whispers from the crowd caused nervous shifts between the Grandmasters, instructors, and noble students alike as she invoked the citizens. Public opinion was already on her side, at first out of fear, and now she was sparking something every person wanted: a brighter future. ¡°Opportunities came in droves, your ports were full, and new items from every destination were bargained for with Queen Lilya¡¯s wealth of language and cultural understanding that unified many nations to seek out the Kaspir Kingdom¡¯s support. Hehe. Your pockets were heavy, I¡¯m told.¡± Chuckles followed, men, women, and children eating up her words. ¡°Grandmaster Lilya has the aptitude to bring that prosperity back to your kingdom. I have heard about your struggles from King Virelli himself¡­ Trade is hard, and grudges have formed out of your former queen¡¯s loss¡­ yet with my power, bridges can be mended. All I ask in return¡­¡± She stopped in front of the current queen, seeing death inside the temperamental woman¡¯s eyes as she held out a hand to force another concession. ¡°¡­All I seek is for you to embrace my support and my people¡­ for you to welcome the Raven Empire in an alliance, and your king has given me his blessing to gain your favor¡­ Have I gained your favor, citizens of the Kaspir Kingdom?¡± A lump formed in the abusive mother¡¯s throat as the coliseum of a hundred thousand people erupted in cheers. Her fingers uncoiled, blood leaking down her palm as she took Elinor¡¯s hand, squeezing as hard as she could, which didn¡¯t mean much. Alivau somehow managed to keep a composed voice as she said, ¡°¡­I am sure we will find a great many common-ground topics, Empress Elinor, and I am in support of uplifting this kingdom to overtake our neighbors. Your word is your bond, and Grandmaster Lilya will never seek after the crown or my husband.¡± Harsh¡­ but touche, Elinor mused to her Court. She¡¯s punishing and putting the king in a box to not return to his former lover¡­ or at least in public. Hmm-hmm. Yet¡­ Keeping a positive tone, she chortled, breaking contact with the queen and feeling the sticky blood on her palm. ¡°I cannot give my word for the actions of others, but Queen¡ªheh, excuse me¡­¡± she said, gaining laughter from the crowd that made the queen grate her teeth. ¡°Ahem. Grandmaster Lilya will most certainly not aim for your seat, Queen Alivau; I hope you don¡¯t feel threatened.¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± the woman returned, gut pulling in slightly as she rose into the air. ¡°You have answered my questions, and now I will return to my husband¡¯s side.¡± The redheaded woman flickered white as a hot discharge of wind exploded from where she¡¯d stood, leaving Elinor to smile and the queen¡¯s daughter to stumble back in disbelief. She¡¯d won against the queen due to public opinion and gained the heart of the people; all that was left was for her to see the verdict regarding the college rector. Castria held her breath as they looked up at the royal box, where the queen was now hovering beside her husband; whatever was being said, her father seemed to be listening intently from beside the Grand Duke. ¡°You had one last question, Rector?¡± Logan waited for the crowd to quiet down, causing a staring match between them for several seconds before the man gave his inquiry. ¡°You promised me that you would have instructors, yet you also need a place to house your students. I will not support a House that cannot provide the basics of what one must supply¡­ including financial aid for those who come from troubled backgrounds.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Elinor¡¯s lips curled as, once again, the Great Houses entered the conversation. ¡°The Great House Tarnash would offer our local estate inside the Noble District to the Raven Empress for a spot reserved for my son, Lord Drake Tarnash, and my older son, Lord Alix Tarnash, to be provided a role as a Tempest instructor within the House.¡± She saw the poised and elegant brothers standing side by side, two other children beside their regal and silent mother. Yet, another voice shook the stadium as the Great House¡¯s rival cut into the discussion, sparking panic amongst the Tempest professors below the Grandmasters. ¡°Cheeky move, Yeven! Hah. In that case, my daughters will enter the House of Ravens and eat off your table! Idalia will instruct, and Anala will become a student.¡± Alix¡¯s slightly amused voice answered from beside his younger brother. ¡°Pardon my ignorance, High Lord, but Lady Idalia has only just graduated last month; can she handle the expectations of an instructor?¡± Idalia¡¯s somewhat deep, feminine voice responded from beside her mother, short red hair igniting with blue flames. ¡°If I recall correctly, Lord Alix, you only graduated three years my senior. Surely you had more practice in refining your musical talents than Tempest ability¡­ or so I heard from your peers.¡± ¡°Excellent chemistry!¡± Elinor laughed, clapping and seeing the brightened mood of the crowd. ¡°And there you have it, Grand Duke Logan, I would gladly take instructors from the stock of such great family lines, and the offer of support from the Great Tarnash House is most welcome. However¡­¡± Her mouth twitched as she snatched their attention. ¡°I am not the Grandmaster of the House of Ravens.¡± A jade butterfly formed out of the flames at her back to hover above the former queen¡¯s statue, the birds bringing it into focus for the crowd to see. ¡°I have others in mind for instructors, Rector¡­ Are there no more questions so I may proceed?¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Logan glanced at the eager crowd, waiting with bated breath for what would come next. ¡°Hmm¡­ Empress, you have gained the support of the people, at least two of the Great Houses,¡± he noted, looking at Julia, who didn¡¯t seem pleased, ¡°and, most importantly, my king. Therefore, I accept the creation of the House of Ravens and, should she take it, Grandmaster Lilya.¡± The butterfly landed on the stone, igniting it in emerald flames that broke apart the very atomic bonds to reveal the woman inside. Elinor felt the resistance of her spirit stronger than her previous resurrections, yet a hard tug brought it out of the abyss that had a hold of her spirit to reunite with her bones. Information flooded Elinor¡¯s mind, filling her with excitement as a chain shot out of a rift in space to pull her into the air; just as she lost momentum, two more linked below her, supporting her weight. As stable as sitting on a concrete wall, she observed from above while the blackbirds filmed the process. [Undead Raised as Monarch of Alchemy] [Lilya J. Alciel: Monarch - Magi Core- Rare-A - Alchemist - Magi-Chemist - Lv.1] [Monarch Slots: 0] [Monarch of Alchemy Unlocked - Queen of Alchemy] [Alchemist Advanced Classes and Subclasses Available] [Student of Alchemy Available] [Student of Alchemy Advanced to Instructor of the Alchemic Arts] [Instructor of the Alchemic Arts Advanced to Academy of Magi-Science] [Crafting Available] [Houses of Alchemy Available] [Alchemic Tools Available] Ravens descended with sheets to block onlookers¡¯ view as Lilya¡¯s flesh and clothing were burned away in her rebirth. More carried in trinkets and a golden gown, providing the former queen a means to dress herself, courtesy of the king, as her father reported. A stillness came from the crowd as Elinor introduced her newest member, while Tiffany took the initiative to congratulate and inform the Alchemist about how things had changed since her rule as queen. ¡°Grandmaster Lilya J. Alciel has been reborn. Unfortunately,¡± she chuckled, ¡°that process leaves one without clothes. So, be patient and allow her to make herself presentable. In the meantime, feel free to chat amongst yourselves. I will return after our new Grandmaster¡¯s inauguration speech.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Elinor¡¯s gaze lifted to the royal box at Alivau¡¯s interjection, as she expected it might. ¡°Considering the former queen¡¯s marriage is null and void, I do think it impertinent that she continues using the royal name. She is, by your own account, no longer a valid monarch, after all.¡± Elinor let out a low chuckle. ¡°Ah, indeed, Queen Alivau. She is no longer Kaspir¡¯s monarch. And as my monarch, she will need a new name.¡± If you are not opposed, I bestow the name ¡®Oppenheimer¡¯ to you, Queen Lilya. Getting a sense of vague acceptance through the Nexus as her new Monarch righted herself, Elinor proclaimed, ¡°Please, welcome the Grandmaster of the House of Ravens, Lilya J. Oppenheimer!¡± Her father basically rolled his eyes through the Nexus, while Tiffany giggled with mirth. ¡°My, Empress, what a sense of humour you have! We are become death, indeed!¡± Almost as an afterthought, she glanced down at the white-faced redhead teenager, still hugging herself in the middle of the stage. ¡°Ah, and Princess Heather, you may return to your proper place. Hopefully, you and Princess Castria will impress the House of Ravens Grandmaster, but I have one last surprise to offer all of you a chance to prove your dedication.¡± She winked at the crowd, and another chain brought her back to her private box to allow the people to speculate on what might be her final shocking reveal. Landing on the railing, she left the citizens and nobles a buzz, each one waiting for the sheets to be removed or for her to take the spotlight again. Elinor hopped down and closed her eyes, breathing out a long stream of air and letting her nerves settle; Tiffany was inside the sealed-off room of cascading water, maintaining her ritualistic hologram and complex weave of magic. She¡¯d managed to bluff her way through. Castria¡¯s excitement bubbled over after welcoming their new Monarch of Alchemy into the fold. ¡°You did it, Empress! Everyone¡¯s talking about it.¡± Was there any doubt? she returned, her undead heart still thumping as she collapsed inside a chair to calm it. Welcome to the Empire, Queen Lilya. ¡°I appreciate your consideration of my modesty and image, Empress,¡± Lilya replied in a soft, smooth, and musical accent; it was sophisticated and almost held a slight Syrian Arabic or maybe a gentle French accent, or at least that was how Elinor perceived it. ¡°I understand you wish to uplift my adopted country?¡± I do, Elinor replied, closing her eyes and sinking into her internal world to browse what she¡¯d gained from her levels. You will have the highest authority within this branch of the empire once I leave. My goal is to uplift your kingdom and raise Castria and her older sister in a way to save whatever danger your world will face in the future. How you accomplish that will be up to your discretion. ¡°Hmm.¡± As the woman dressed, her emotions swirled, as could be expected after learning one had been dead for nearly two decades and all the baggage that came with that. ¡°I cannot say I fully understand your goals, but I will gain further instruction from Queen Tiffany.¡± ¡°Tiffany is fine, Dearie,¡± the witch chirped. ¡°I am sure you have a far greater grasp of these proceedings than we. Allow me to explain the situation you find yourself in.¡± ¡°I am listening¡­¡± The sounds outside faded away as she distanced herself from their conversation, retreating to the privacy of her personal world. Vision clearing, she stared into the blue flames of the fireplace, the gentle plucks of cellos playing in the background. Opening her status menu, elation sent tingles across her skin; her first observation was the evolutions: [Type Evolution: Select Lich or Empress. The user can select a new Extension every 20 Levels.] [Lich Evolution: Master of all forms of magic, the Lich Evolution grants the user the ability to expand their prowess into the dark energies of the mystical arts. Decreasing the cost of spells and increasing the strength of any Lich-Based Feats while significantly increasing spell aptitude. Unlocks Arcane Feats. Increases Maximum Death Pool and Efficiency.] [Empress Evolution: Master of empire building, politics, and the governance of her peoples, the Empress Evolution grants the user the ability to expand their political and military prowess. Decreasing the cost of minion maintenance and increasing the strength of the user¡¯s units. Unlocks the Zombie Mutation. Increases Maximum Death Pool and Efficiency.] Elinor pondered the two possible choices, and it soon became apparent that the [Type Evolution] provided passive buffs in and of itself, while inside the Type were two branches she could choose to further specialize in either field. Tapping on each one, she leaned against the side of her chair, a small smile lifting her lips as she got to the last extension. [Lich Extensions - Demilich: Demiliches have transcended their physical form, allowing the user to manifest as an ethereal state. Masters of death, darkness, the chill of the afterlife, and curses, the Demilich can drain the life essence of its surroundings by its mere presence. Choosing this evolution route will give the user access to the Death, Darkness, Frost of the Afterlife, and Curse Trees, which will unlock Feats and Passives once conditions are met.] [Lich Extensions - Archlich: Archliches have transcended the realms of typical arcane magic and delved into the darker aspect of their craft. Masters of bone, blood, and plagues, the user can reanimate inanimate objects and craft golems to act as its guardians. Choosing this evolution route will give the user access to the Bone, Blood, Plague, and Sentinel Trees, which will unlock Feats and Passives once conditions are met.] [Empress Extensions - Overlord: Overlords have the mental wisdom and forethought to plan and govern empires, overseeing kingdoms and those that govern them. Master of rulers, the overlord deals with the prosperity and maintenance of its people and lands, gaining power from the faith their followers have in their aptitude. Choosing this evolution route will give the user access to unique traits to minimize the maintenance cost of the Serving Court and High Court, while also providing innate buffs to each role within the respective Courts once unlocked. More Feats and Passives will become available once conditions are met.] [Empress Extensions - Warlord: Warlords are ruthless and bloodthirsty leaders whom people look to in order to bring order from chaos while plunging their enemies into the depths of despair. Masters of battle and tactics while being gifted practitioners of martial combat, the warlord leads by example and knows every station within their army. Choosing this evolution route will allow the user to mirror the aptitude, stats, and Feats of a chosen soldier while providing command Feats to guide their other units in war. The warlord reduces the cost of the Military Court, and provides innate buffs to each role within all Classes who have a Monarch at their helm. More Feats and Passives will become available once conditions are met.] Butterflies swirled through Elinor¡¯s belly as she read each one that would unlock many Feats that she could work on over time rather than waiting for each level to give her something new. This was perfect. And, while her Lich Evolution had her salivating to test out what type of spells she¡¯d gain from delving into the more arcane portion of her Lich nature, her primary goals required her to find a way to raise more minions to build an army. Heartbeat rising, she made her decision: [Empress Evolution: Selected] [Empress extended to Warlord: Success] Elinor chuckled with the sway of music in the background, lips peeling back as a wealth of upgrades opened up before her, and she wanted to test the crowning jewel of this evolution. Power surged within her, a cold heat that filled her with a thirst for conflict. The ri¡¯bot wanted a leader who was a warlord, and now she could give that to them. [Warlord Passive: Activated] [All Military Units below Lieutenant have no Daily Cost.] [All Military Units will have their Stamina and Durability doubled.] [Improved prowess in all forms of weaponry and warfare.] [Monarch Military Units can be raised regardless of Grade, having their aptitude restricted to [Rare-Grade], the user¡¯s current cap.] [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit - 7 Day Cooldown - The user takes in the spirit of one of their soldiers for [1 hour], allowing them to mimic and utilize their Feats and abilities.] [Path of the Warlord Tree Available] [New Monarch Slot Added: 2 Available] Elinor stood up and contacted Ash, nearly at the limit of the Nexus¡¯ range. ¡°Go fetch the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡­ I need them to be within the Nexus.¡± The Horseman of Death instantly changed his course from the city outskirts to reach the spider, digging deep into the hillside in search of anything of value. ¡°It should be within range in five minutes.¡± ¡°Excellent!¡± Anticipation flooding her veins, Elinor didn¡¯t even want to spend the time going over her other gains until she had set her plan in motion. She¡¯d played it quick and loose, plotting to have a little fun tournament between the applicants to show off their talents before the main event, but now she was the main event! She had enough time for the cooldown to reset before she left this world, and she had to test it out. Exiting her internal room, she felt a burning confidence and lust for combat that quickened her steps as she went to the balcony. Lilya had revealed herself in a ray of golden splendor, the hologram overhead showing the beautiful desert woman in a glorious, queenly display that would most certainly have Queen Alivau seething beside her gawking husband. A picture of elegance with her light-brown hair and illuminated, sepia-hued, purplish-black eyes, Lilya was adorned with golden accessories as she addressed her adopted people. ¡°Citizens of Kaspir, you welcomed me once as your queen¡­ a princess of the rustic sands. I am overjoyed to have the opportunity to once again work with your nobility to provide a better way of life. I cannot tell you I know everything that I should¡­ so I plead for your patience as I come to understand your needs and desires.¡± Elinor¡¯s stomach shook with silent mirth as she glanced to her left to see the lower nobles gnashing their teeth, arguing with one another about the returned queen, no doubt. It wasn¡¯t hard to see why this Sand Princess was so popular with the citizens and hated by many of the nobility. ¡°I will walk in your streets and learn what the House of Ravens must incorporate to provide for you¡­ because a kingdom is only as good as its lowest of citizens. Now, I will take my place amongst my fellow Grandmasters. I hope you enjoy what is to follow¡­ Empress Elinor.¡± A chain brought her back into the spotlight as the Grand Duke lifted the former queen on wings of wind to set her on the podium beside the other Grandmasters, faking pleasant smiles. A new chair was placed for her to take her place. Elinor landed on linked chains that met below her, feeling lighter than ever and far stronger; she¡¯d need to look more into the buffs she¡¯d gained, but she was too eager to test this new Feat in practice. She stared right at the Grandmasters, a grin splitting her lips. ¡°I told you I had a final surprise, and a surprise it will be!¡± Her gaze drifted up to the Great House VIP boxes, settling on the Great House of Tarnish. ¡°Your condition is still to be met, High Lord Yeven, and I have thought of the perfect stage to show why your youngest son should be in the House of Ravens¡­¡± Bending down, she twisted into a backflip to land on the arena, facing the noble Tempest candidates. Her dress pressed against her leg, but she felt perfectly balanced and confident in fighting with it. Lips peeling back as she flashed her teeth, she addressed her targets. ¡°I propose a competition to anyone who wishes to test their resolve and impress Grandmaster Lilya¡­ I will allow anyone¡­ all of you, if you do choose, to face a challenge in combat as a group or on your own. I will give you five minutes to prepare. So come and show me what you are worth. Not by fighting half-dead shadows but by facing an impossible opponent¡­ me.¡± She laughed as she saw the color drain from the nobles¡¯ faces. ¡°Entertain your citizens and prove to them that you deserve their respect¡­ And I expect you to come for my life as if yours depends on it¡­ because, heh, it might.¡± Heather fainted on the spot, Julian sending a pulse of wind magic to catch her before she hit the ground. Anala Tarkov¡¯s blue eyes lit up at the challenge, looking up at her grinning father in their Great House box. The nobles around her yelped and jumped away as flames embraced the teenage girl. ¡°Oh, this is going to be fun; thank you for the honor, Empress!¡± Drake Tarnash grew more serious, working around his neck. ¡°Don¡¯t be hasty, Lady Anala. She¡¯s the Raven Empress¡­ look at Princess Heather.¡± ¡°Oh, cry me a river!¡± the redhead snickered. ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything but a good fight, so don¡¯t get in my way, Ice Boy! The Empress is all mine!¡± Smiling down at the spunky girl, Elinor chuckled. ¡°I look forward to it, Lady Anala. It will take me five minutes to prepare myself¡­ I always try to adjust myself to my opponent, or else it isn¡¯t any fun. Make your preparations, Applicants¡­ because this invite is for all of you who wish to join the House of Ravens.¡± The clink of chains broke through space to lock behind her as she sat, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap; vision going black, she returned to her inner world to process her gains. Soon, she would know exactly how it felt to be the deadly spiders that even quen¡¯talrat feared: she would channel the spirit of a th¨¦lm¨¦thra. B3 — 7.5. The Neck Turns the Head The shimmering life barrier rippled like a translucent curtain behind Butter as she took a moment to survey the gruesome tableau before her. The Crystal, hovering in all its faceted, pulsating glory, cast an eerie light over the unhallowed ground, the ri¡¯bot and conquered creatures strung around it. Their bodies¡ªonce full of life¡ªnow lay as hollow shells, their souls drained and discarded in this twisted ritual of power that gave the Death Raiders their strength. Snow shifted uneasily beside Adoncia, the pair already on the maid¡¯s massive undead mount, her gaze lingering on the dead. The Death Raiders circled above them like vultures, their croaking howls filling the air with the foreboding Death Energy they generated. Butter smirked, adjusting herself on her torlim, the weight of the situation pressing down but never quite cracking her jovial exterior. If they knew what I intended, would they be against me? I wonder¡­ ¡°Can you bring them back to life?¡± Snow tentatively questioned, her voice laced with curiosity. ¡°Adoncia mentioned your sister could do something like that¡­ Raise an army of the dead to fight with us.¡± Butter¡¯s chortles rang out, bright and unbothered while directing her ride forward in a slow crawl toward the fortress. ¡°Oh, darling, I should be able to, but something¡¯s blocking me.¡± She waved a hand dismissively, her aquamarine eyes sparkling with amusement. ¡°And even if I could, why bother? We¡¯re on a clock, you know? Who knows when that Crystal will demand the next wave.¡± Nergath¡¯s brooding expression sparked with understanding as he mounted his skydarter, the deathly creature¡¯s wings humming with dark energy while catching up to her. ¡°Shall I ride ahead and have them open the gates for you, Radiant Eminence?¡± White snorted from where she sat, trodding along on the opposite side, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. ¡°Not a bad idea, but are you sure you wanna stroll into that keep alone, High Queen? Might be more fun with a little backup.¡± Mika¡¯s cold, calculating gaze swept over Nergath. ¡°I agree, High Queen. Would it even do any good to fly on ahead? They¡¯ll bind you or toss you in a holding cell the moment you show up. It¡¯s clear enough whose side you¡¯ve taken.¡± Butter leaned back in her makeshift throne, her playful demeanor more than apparent in her cadence. She spiritually nudged her torlim to move a tad faster, the large creature responding to meet her deliberate pace. The others fell into step beside her as they made their way under the watchful eyes of the Death Raiders above, waiting for orders from the two Hands. ¡°You¡¯ve figured it out, haven¡¯t you, Seventh Finger?¡± she purred, her voice carrying a hint of challenge as she studied Nergath. Her words sparked a ripple of confusion among the others¡ªexcept for White, who merely arched a brow in amusement, as if asking if they really hadn¡¯t discovered her plan. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t come as a surprise.¡± Nergath¡¯s gaze met hers, a look of understanding on his multi-colored face and no longer holding any sort of death artifact after they¡¯d been purified. ¡°I see now. There is wisdom in how things have turned out¡­ I was blind before, but you truly are the Radiant Eminence to have illuminated my understanding. To think we were so wrong¡­and for so long.¡± Butter¡¯s fingers grazed the Eye of Utelira hanging between her breasts, feeling it press against her skin through her tank top. The stirring presence of the higher being within made her face soften as she continued to wield Utelira¡¯s power. ¡°Do as you see fit, Nergath. You have your own beliefs to follow.¡± Mika grunted, her sharp eyes darting between them. ¡°I still don¡¯t follow, High Queen, and I can¡¯t help but feel like this is a dangerous game. We may have room for mistakes, given your immortality, but it would take days to reach this location again, and we don¡¯t even know where the Empress is at the moment.¡± Oh, don¡¯t worry about Priss, Butter sniffed. She¡¯s likey off doing her own dangerous and brooding plots, pulling in multiple groups to dance to her strings. Besides, I¡¯m a benevolent force, she chimed, rubbing the delicate thread hung around her neck. When I see something unnatural, I have to investigate and cast judgment. Snow¡¯s quiet voice interrupted their internal discussion as Nergath took to the sky, flying on ahead; two of the ominous warriors above split off to escort him. ¡°And what about those Death Raiders? They¡¯re watching us, and I don¡¯t think I could defend against an attack if they did engage us. If you¡¯re going in, and we¡¯re out here. What¡¯s the plan if this goes south? There has to be a plan.¡± Butter¡¯s smile widened as she cast a sidelong glance at her new little white bird. ¡°Sweetie, don¡¯t you worry about that. Plus, I¡¯ve decided you¡¯ll be joining me with Adoncia to translate.¡± ¡°High Queen¡­¡± Mika groaned, hand running down her face. ¡°Why not take anyone from the Military Court¡­if you¡¯re going into a likely combat zone? I¡¯m not following.¡± White gave her a playful nudge with her bow, drawing the toad woman¡¯s gaze. ¡°Why do you think the Military Court won¡¯t be needed?¡± Mika¡¯s big eyes widened. ¡°You¡­don¡¯t expect a fight?¡± Butter crossed her legs as the wind changed, carrying the hum of Life Energy from behind them. ¡°I have all the cards, Mika. The only trick is playing them in just the right order. Nergath realized my stance based on my responses. You¡¯ve been too focused on our enemies to realize where I¡¯m heading, though,¡± she winked, making the warrior grunt and rub her mount¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s not like the new human or Adoncia sees it either.¡± Adoncia¡¯s mouth tilted into a pout. ¡°Respectfully, it¡¯s not my place to question the High Queen. I just do what I can to support her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not accustomed to being the one doing the thinking on the battlefield. I follow orders and protect what I¡¯m told¡­ You are who I¡¯m supposed to protect with my life¡­or unlife, I guess. Like the Crystal Hub I was guarding, before the Empress and you killed me.¡± Snow seemed to be having a hard time following due to part of the conversation being had in the Nexus. White chuckled, the sound deep and full of mirth. ¡°No need to get defensive, Mika. You¡¯ll have your time to be needed and your moment of glory. Also, I like this unorthodox direction, High Queen. You¡¯re just like the Empress in many ways, always keeping things interesting. I look forward to seeing how this plays out.¡± Mika¡¯s agitation melted away as Conquest explained the direction Butter was taking them through the Nexus. However, Snow didn¡¯t get the same treatment and Butter could see the white-haired woman¡¯s brain working behind her silvery-eyes, trying to puzzle out her goal. Of course, it would be challenging for her since she had far less information than Mika as to the state of the Susime or her comments throughout their journey. Butter maintained a calm disposition that appeared to unnerve the Death Raiders as she willingly approached the looming threat of Shadowthorn Bastion. Her eyes gleamed with excitement for which of the several paths she¡¯d walk down once entering the keep. The moment she neared, its massive, decayed wooden doors creaked open as if beckoning her inside, radiating a pulse of Death Energy, as silent as the dead, despite the gusts of haunting wind its field generated. She didn¡¯t need a grand gesture to announce her presence; the weight of her Life Aura had done that the moment they reached the gates. The Death Raiders above and within kept their wary eyes on her, but none dared to make a move, after all, they were guests. ¡°Showtime, ladies,¡± Butter chimed, hopping forward, her braided golden hair bouncing behind her. ¡°Keep our lovely friend calm, Adoncia. Snow, come along, and don¡¯t be intimidated by that bone-chilling finger running down your spine¡ªwe¡¯ve got a dinner date.¡± Adoncia strained a smile, clearly savoring the rising tension in the air, ready to activate her Oni powers, yet wanting to give Snow some support. The Fablekin was practically quaking with the potent aura of death that wove through every grain of sand within this fortress. A shame Priss couldn¡¯t be here to take a bath, Butter internally mused, taking note of the dark and ominous aesthetic that was right up her twin¡¯s alley. I hope she¡¯s having fun where she is and bullying some children because that would be just like her. Snow¡¯s eyes flickered nervously between Butter and the fortress, and the woman shifted closer to Butter¡¯s side to find some relief from her Life Aura. She wasn¡¯t used to this oppressive force, and Butter could feel it weighing on her. The very atmosphere spoke of death, sapping it from everything in its vicinity. As light as she made the situation, the Susime were not ones to be underestimated¡ªeither side. It was lucky that she got to play both sides. The massive gates swung in without a whisper, and the moment their edges touched, the darkened entranceway beyond them seemed to swallow the light. Butter stepped inside with a bounce in her step, her fan and cane safely tucked within her soul for now. Behind her, Snow hesitated, but a light touch from Adoncia sent her shaky legs forward. Lokar awaited their arrival in the dimly lit courtyard, his hulking form draped in shadow, and Butter was of no illusion that the Death Commander could likely kill her and her entire party, even with her fan and cane. However, she had something that made her practically invincible tucked out of sight. His cold eyes glinted as he took them in, arms folded across his chest. His hook-like blade, infused with Death Energy, hung at his side, its presence almost tangible in the thick atmosphere of the fortress. Wrapped around his arm was a wound cord, laced with death. ¡°Leaving your guards outside, Radiant Eminence?¡± Lokar¡¯s voice was a low growl, his words dripping with disdain. ¡°And keeping these weaklings at your side¡­ Do you think so little of our hospitality, or are you that arrogant?¡± Butter let out a light laugh, her aquamarine eyes sparkling. ¡°Oh, Lokar, why would I need guards in a place so full of gentlemen such as yourself?¡± she teased, taking a slow step forward. She made a show of casually clasping her hands behind her back, her posture relaxed. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m just as confident I will step out of your gates as I am in knowing you won¡¯t bind me. You¡¯re too smart for that, aren¡¯t you? After all, you must realize what a mess I could make if I wanted to.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Lokar¡¯s frown deepened, but he remained silent, his jaw clenched. The Death Raiders surrounding them stood still as statues, their eyes fixed on Butter, while others no doubt hid in the shadows, waiting to strike at a word from their commander. The air was thick with Death Energy, pressing down on them like a suffocating blanket. Yet, Butter remained unbothered, her light aura mingling with the oppressive darkness. He hates that, Butter thought with a grin. Hates that I¡¯m untouchable. I think we¡¯ll eventually have a problem, no matter what his Head says. Lokar thinks of himself as an avatar of his god. Wait, oh, Snow, you poor thing, she internally cried upon seeing her continue to struggle beside her. The weight of the Death Energy around them was almost unbearable for a mortal, and so far as Butter could sense, she was far below where Elinor and she were in terms of level. Beads of sweat formed on her brow. Adoncia, on the other hand, seemed to thrive in the oppressive environment. She inhaled deeply, a grin spreading across her face. ¡°This place¡± she muttered through the Nexus, ¡°I can feel myself growing stronger here. Maybe we should have brought Mika and White along after all since this place seems to strengthen undead.¡± Butter chuckled softly through their shared connection, White and Mika listening on the outside as the maid explained what she saw. An unexpected surprise, Adoncia. But no, I think it¡¯s best they stayed behind. We don¡¯t want to scare all of our lovely hosts too soon, do we? Lokar¡¯s sharp eyes narrowed at their silent exchange, his irritation evident and picking up on small things between them. ¡°How long do you plan to keep that barrier up, Radiant Eminence? Do you think it will keep us out forever?¡± Butter gave him an incredulous smirk, her voice light and airy in the oppressive halls. ¡°Heavens no, Lokar. If you truly wanted, I¡¯m sure you could force your way inside. But you won¡¯t. Your Head is smarter than that.¡± A grunt escaped Lokar¡¯s throat, and he turned sharply on his heel. Without another word, he started leading them deeper into the fortress. Butter followed with a skip in her step, Snow and Adoncia trailing behind her. The halls were lined with more of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ Fingers, both Left and Right, their calculating stares following only Butter as she passed. The Death Energy in the air only grew denser as they moved deeper into the heart of the fortress, and Butter increased her protective output enough to support Snow while not discomforting Adoncia. Nonetheless, Snow¡¯s breathing grew more labored as they went, yet Butter also felt her soul strengthening the more she walked through this crucible. The white-haired woman¡¯s steps faltered from time to time as she struggled to keep up. She could feel Snow edging closer to her with each step, seeking more of her light to ease the pressure against her soul. She never gave up, though. Lokar came to an abrupt halt before a massive set of doors, their surface etched with gems that housed their ancient ancestors, their green, swirling interiors giving off a dim light. Two of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ Right Hand stood guard outside, their expressions cold and unreadable. As they approached, they stepped forward. ¡°We will take it from here, First Finger,¡± one of them said, his voice as cold as the Death Energy that surrounded him; this had to be the First Finger of the Right Hand. His black eyes flicked to Snow and Adoncia, narrowing slightly before returning to Butter. ¡°Your companions may join you.¡± Lokar¡¯s fists clenched at his sides, his nose twisting with barely concealed rage. ¡°Is the Left Hand not invited to the trial of the Right Seventh Finger?¡± he demanded, his voice tight and demanding. The cold stares of the two Fingers fixed on Lokar, their expressions emotionless. ¡°You have received your due graces from the Head himself for your achievements, Commander,¡± the other one leveled. ¡°A finger does not twitch without the Head¡¯s guidance. Be mindful of your place and perhaps death will take you in glory sooner than you expect.¡± A visible shudder ran through Lokar¡¯s massive frame, and he bowed his head reluctantly. ¡°As you wish, Second Finger¡± he muttered through clenched teeth. His gaze flicked to Butter, a growl rumbling low in his throat. ¡°I will go watch over the Head of Utelira¡­ She has become restless since¡­your arrival.¡± Butter gave him a sweet smile. ¡°Do send her my regards, Lokar. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be seeing each other again very soon.¡± Without waiting for a response, Butter turned her attention back to the two Fingers. They opened the doors to the Unhallowed Spire with a smooth motion, the massive slabs of stone gliding silently apart. Butter stepped forward without hesitation, leading the way into the heart of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ domain. As they entered, the oppressive Death Energy thickened even further, causing Butter to sigh, pause, and turn to Adoncia with a sad smile. ¡°You will have to leave my side. Keep a few meters behind us.¡± The maid moved without hesitation, making Snow¡¯s hoarse chuckle follow. ¡°Sorry, High Queen¡­ And I thought their Death Raiders were dangerous but this place¡­ This place is something else. I feel as if I¡¯m in my eighties. My bones hurt¡­my breathing. I feel¡­weaker than when I was at the foot of death.¡± Butter remained unfazed, the First and Second Fingers observing ahead of them, a wave of Death Energy encasing them in a protective shell that perfectly countered the Life Aura she projected to further support the Fablekin. ¡°You¡¯re not weak, Snow,¡± she assured, taking her by the hand and squeezing it for support as she guided her forward. ¡°Life and Death are natural orders of this existence, and very, very few creatures are immune or resistant to their effects. You¡¯re doing wonderful and this experience will bring you to the next level, so keep pressing on. I¡¯m here.¡± Getting a thankful, if frustrated smile from the woman, Butter let go of her hand to allow her the dignity she sought for. She turned to nod at the patient, emotionless ri¡¯bot, fully golden skinned, unlike their other counterparts, showing their continual channel of Death Energy and unity with it¡ªthese two would give Elinor and her a run for their life, much less their leader. Continuing up the spire, they came to the top of the tallest tower, where the room opened up into a vast audience chamber, filled with potent artifacts of death. Items imbued by Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ power over millennia. Butter¡¯s smile grew upon spotting the Head of this cult of death, yet her eyes narrowed to slits. Butter¡¯s glowing eyes gleamed with barely concealed anticipation as she stood in the dim, oppressive chamber. The weight of decay clung to her aura, pressing against the protective light she projected, dimming it to a considerable degree, which should have been impossible, considering her source. Before her, seated on a throne of bone and shadow, was their Head, their wise, ancient leader¡ªa frail, wrinkled toad who looked as though he might crumble to dust at any moment. His sagging skin and clouded eyes hinted at the ravages of time, and the large emerald embedded in his chest pulsed weakly with Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ corrupted energy. ¡°You son of a bitch,¡± she snickered, tilting her head with a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she took in the sight of the imposter. ¡°Finally awake are we? It¡¯s about time you got up after so many pokes and prods over the millenia.¡± The Head¡¯s toothless mouth curled into a cracked smile, his breath wheezing as he chuckled. ¡°You use my sister¡¯s power well, Radiant Eminence¡­ I can see a throne more glorious than I can describe hidden within that bright, abyssal soul of yours.¡± The First and Second Fingers immediately dropped to a knee before him, bowing their bodies in reverence, and Butter took in the once-mighty Death Supreme Chief¡ªthe being Priss had taken as her persona among the valley ri¡¯bot was right in front of her. ¡°You¡¯ve been clinging to this existence for so long, haven¡¯t you?¡± she murmured, her voice gentle yet laced with challenge. ¡°But is this really what you want?¡± Butter calmly directed Snow behind her as his aged laughter pulsed out in dark waves that would have turned the woman to dust had the Eye of Utelira not taken the brunt of the simple action¡ªthis being could turn the whole neighboring jungle valley into a desert wasteland, devoid of life. ¡°Does it matter what I want, Lady of Conquest?¡± His voice was weak, yet there was an underlying bitterness to his words. ¡°My time is near its end¡­our once grand empire¡­lost in rumors and myths passed down through the tongues of germs. Look at our posterity?¡± he grumbled, his sunken large eyes drifting to the still Fingers beside him. ¡°But you already knew that, didn¡¯t you? Shade¡­that creature with a tongue of promises and half-truths laughs at us from his chains.¡± The cracks running down the emerald in the former death cult leader¡¯s chest made it obvious what had happened. ¡°And how the mighty have fallen,¡± she whispered, moving to sit in the chair that had been set opposite to Seg¡¯tharis. ¡°Your sister refuses to get her ass out of bed within her prison. Ah, Snow, just stand behind me¡ªthere, I¡¯ll keep you safe, dearie. Listen carefully!¡± She turned back to scrutinize the potent force of death. ¡°I assume Nergath and the others are in some different chamber awaiting your verdict and know nothing about the truth. Things have certainly turned out to be more extreme than I anticipated. Exciting!¡± The Supreme Chief of Death fell silent for a time as he stared at her, no doubt looking as deep as he could into her soul, and making Butter shiver with the thrill about what he might find. ¡°Well? Like what you see?¡± she asked, wearing a glowing expression. ¡°I¡¯m really quite the looker, am I right? No need to be shy.¡± ¡°You really are something¡­different,¡± he whispered, his smile fading. ¡°I will not survive long. My essence leaks out into this fortress.¡± Butter¡¯s gaze shifted back to the large emerald stone embedded in his chest, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ¡°Yes, I know. But your sister¡­" She trailed off, her smirk fading as she focused on the stirring presence of Utelira within her. ¡°She can survive for centuries more. Are you so eager to let her go?¡± The two Fingers kneeling before the Supreme Chief exchanged a glance, their expressions questioning. The First Finger, a towering figure draped in shadow, shifted his emotionless stare toward her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± His voice was low, almost reverent, as though he feared the answer she might give. Before Butter could respond, the Head let out another rasping laugh, his frail body trembling with the effort. ¡°Ah¡­ You see it, don¡¯t you? You see what I¡¯ve become¡­ What we¡¯ve become.¡± His clouded eyes drifted shut, and for a moment, the chamber fell into a heavy silence with his power ebbing out and hushing the Fingers. Then, slowly, the air around their dying god began to shift. His decrepit form shimmered, and a second figure emerged from behind him, causing the Fingers to shrink in his unhallowed presence¡ªa golden-skinned ri''bot, ragged and worn, yet unmistakably powerful came into being¡ªhis true form, the Death Supreme Chief, had been hidden behind the Head¡¯s facade. He looked as though he had been through a thousand lifetimes of torment, his once-brilliant gold now dulled by the weight of Death Energy that clung to him like a shroud. Butter recalled an analogy Priss had once used, and it fit the ancient figure¡ªa black hole, being crushed by its own gravity. So, she thought, taking in Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ countenance, this is the reason why they¡¯ve been sapping all the life from the other cult¡­to sustain their god as he quickly fades away. Butter¡¯s breath caught in her throat for a brief moment, her playful demeanor faltering as she took in the powerful sight of him. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for the ancient being before her, trapped in a cycle of decay and suffering for so long. The golden ri¡¯bot¡¯s eyes¡ªonce sharp and commanding¡ªnow held a weariness that spoke of countless battles fought and lost with a lifetime of grief. He turned his gaze to Butter, and for the first time, there was something deeply human in his expression. ¡°Are you willing to hear my story, Lady of Conquest?¡± he asked, his voice no longer bitter, but filled with a quiet resignation. ¡°A story that Shade, as you call him, does not wish you to know. I was not supposed to survive this long, yet I longed to see my sister one last time, and you have given me that chance¡­ Now that I know what is within your soul, I can be satisfied with how things have happened.¡± Butter¡¯s eyes brightened at the mention of Shade, the mysterious entity that had long influenced the events surrounding this world. Her smile returned, more genuine this time, and inclined her head. ¡°I love stories. Much can be learned from the past if one is willing to listen.¡± The golden ri¡¯bot let out a long, weary sigh. ¡°Then listen well, for it is a tale I feel you will quite enjoy as an entity of conquest¡­ How we rose to greatness through spanning eons, waging war from Crystal to Crystal, world to world. How we expanded our souls and rose beyond our frail bodies¡­ How we were betrayed¡­ How arrogant we were to challenge a living star¡­ And how we were used as bait to swallow that sun and make her fall in disgrace, sentencing us to an eternity of torment.¡± Butter sat back, resting her cheek against her knuckles and giving the Supreme Chief her full attention. She recalled Shade¡¯s short recount of the Supreme Chiefs, yet now she¡¯d get a different version of the tale. Shade wanted me to be distracted by going northwest, only to arrive too late and to receive minor strength upgrades through what artifacts they left behind¡­but Seg¡¯tharis wasn¡¯t about to let all he¡¯d gone through be for nothing. Something in this story is critical¡­ What don¡¯t you want us to know, Little Shade? B3 — 8. A Disappointing Start Opening her eyes to the dark atmosphere of her inner world, Elinor looked into the flickering sapphire flames within the hearth, the ominous notes of a cathedral organ mixing with the thunder and rain outside. Her status menu appeared in front of her as she crossed her legs, scrolling through the tantalizing options that were now at her fingertips. Outside, one hundred thousand people watched her, whispering to one another about the unprecedented event, and she couldn¡¯t restrain the anticipation welling up within her breast; at last, she¡¯d obtained the means to fight her own battles. She glanced through her Stat Sheet, making note of its distribution. [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit] made Grades irrelevant to a degree since she¡¯d gain the attributes of whichever soldier she channeled. Of course, that also included their weaknesses, but it opened up the path to increase her Death Pool amount by a substantial margin. This evolution changed everything. She placed four Stat Points into her Constitution, bringing it up to 10, where she discovered another interesting part of the System. [Constitution advanced to +1, multiply Base Pool by 2x] A curve came to Elinor¡¯s lips as she pondered the ramping scale that could come from specializing in specific fields of Stats. She was at the highest possible degree of Grade for her Constitution, which had given her 5 Death Orbs a point, bringing her to 50, yet with this bonus reward, that was bumped up to 10, raising her base to 100. Her last point was placed into Endurance, bringing it up to 7; three more, and she would see if it was a product of her Maximum Constitution Grade or if Stat Upgrades worked the same for those of a lower Grade. Sliding her finger to the side, she scanned down the rest of her Feats, gaining an overview of how many of her Tiers had increased since last she looked; they provided minor improvements to the Feats but nothing worthy of note that a Grade enhancement gave. Not too interested to linger on the small bumps, Elinor¡¯s gaze flicked to the five [Feat Extension] points she had available before studying her sister¡¯s glamorous side of the room. Due to her continual absence, it was safe to say that she couldn¡¯t return at any time she wished, as Elinor could since she had to be connected to her Phylactery. That might change when building them a new home. If Butter¡¯s butterfly body were destroyed, then she¡¯d be forced back here; her sister had already proven that. However, the creation of a second resonating pair of gemstones, converted into a new residence, could provide new opportunities to discuss things over long distances; it would be far easier to find such items in this world than in the jungle. Her focus centered back on [Phylactery II], at S-tier, it wouldn¡¯t climb any higher until she managed to create a new home for them to swap between. She could bring [Spirit Transport I] to the next extension level, yet there were other things to consider, and reducing the damage caused to the phylacteries wasn¡¯t the most critical issue at the moment. No, the real fun was that while channeling her soldier¡¯s spirit, she could use her other Feats. [Artificial Body I: Sturdy Build - Advanced to Grade II] [Sturdy Build - Advanced to Grade III] [Artificial Body: Sturdy Build has reached Max Grade - Significantly increase the construct¡¯s [Defense] and [Force]] Her brow furrowed while looking closer at [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit]; it was the most complicated Feat with the most text thus far, and one of the caveats was that she could only channel 50% of her Minion¡¯s aptitude, which wouldn¡¯t do. Luckily, there was a fix to that inside her Extensions. [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit - Soul Synchrony I - Increases the soul unity to 60%] [Soul Synchrony I - Advanced to Grade II] [Soul Synchrony II - Advanced to Grade III] [Soul Synchrony has Reached Max Grade - Increases the soul unity to 100%] Feat Extensions and Stat Points used, she scrolled down to her [Limit Break] options. A sudden idea made her teeth flash as the thunder outside came into the foreground, with the somber sound of violins and a piano taking the place of the organ. Butter would love the combination and synergies that the Warlord Evolution had given her. [Empress: Minion Break II] - Advance all current Intelligent minions by two Tiers and Unintelligent minions by one Grade and two Tiers for ten minutes. [Lich: Chain Break II] - Increase the number of chains the user can summon by 5, increase their distance by 5x, and double all users¡¯ Stats for ten minutes. [Prose of the Potentate II] would no doubt jump up one or two Grades once she slotted in her new Queen of Alchemy with her wealth of language expertise. It would take one day to change it, and sadly, the only option to remove was Ina¡¯ko, which would cause a bit of chaos within the fox-monkeys she¡¯d brought to her side, but they would have to deal with it. She freed up one of her two slots, starting the cooldown on this world; luckily, it¡¯s time was subject to where she was, and since this world had a faster passage of time, it likely wouldn¡¯t even be half a day on her 30-hour jungle home¡¯s timetable. Her emerald eyes moved on to her two Equipable Feat options, cycling through what she had available. Now that she had a new Slot she could stick one into, it had to be good. The Warlord Evolution had given her new options, proving it had been the right decision to save up instead of wasting them on less potent Feats. As her soul strengthened from this Seed, new, more powerful Feats would unlock. Naturally, she chose what would help her in the upcoming battles. [Mental Acceleration I - Reactive - F-tier - Warlord - 0DO - 1 Slot - Accelerates the user¡¯s mind in short bursts] [Strategic Mind I - Passive - F-tier - Warlord - 0DO - 1 Slot - Increases the user¡¯s mental aptitude, memory, ability to adapt to new circumstances, and process a large amount of information in a tactical manner.] She¡¯d need to swap between [Strategic Mind] and [Mental Acceleration]; the latter would probably be her go-to in typical combat, but given how new she was to [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit] and using foreign abilities, [Strategic Mind] was the play. Slotting it in, she felt her th¨¦lm¨¦thra nearing. It was sooner than she¡¯d anticipated due to her increased Nexus range from its Grade Advancement: her reach now extended to 4 kilometers. It would be instrumental to her communication network on the battlefield. Elinor browsed through the changes to her Death Pool, tapping the icon to see the breakdown of her current limit while waiting for her metallic spider to reach her. The Base upgrade from her Constitution, plus the multiplier from her Warlord Evolution had increased her limit by a substantial margin: [Base Death Pool: 38] [Constitution: 100] [Rising Empire: 1st Petal: 45] [Warlord Evolution: x2] [Artificial Construct: -10] [Total: 366 (356)] She¡¯d more than tripled her original Death Pool and increased her Efficiency from her evolution, which meant her empire-building was on point to expand when she returned. In fact, there were a few tests she could run in this kingdom with the several days she had remaining here. It would only improve when her Endurance Stat reached 10, but by how much? A cold flame lit in Elinor¡¯s heart as her soldier came into range; it was time to experiment: [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit: Activated] A heat bloomed within her chest as her th¨¦lm¨¦thra came into range, bringing the creature into her somber room. Emerald fire ignited her spirit as Elinor lifted to her feet to look at the flame-enshrouded, 3-meter-tall spider; it bowed to her as she approached it in the expansive space. Her fingers touched its smooth black head, and power flooded her entire being, leaving her breathless. [Worker Drone - Serving Court - Rare E - Nest Worker/Assassin - Genderless Th¨¦lm¨¦thra - Level 1: Selected.] [Soul Secrynoization Failure] Elinor¡¯s skin prickled as the energy surrounding them dispersed, stripping her of the intense strength she¡¯d experienced. The spider shivered, remaining stationary with her hand on its head. ¡°What happened?¡± she whispered, mind kicking into gear as she pulled her fingers away to look at her status window. ¡°What limitation did I miss?¡± Her fingers paused over the Feat as she read it again and looked at the incredible specimen in front of her, a caustic laugh bubbling up her tight chest. ¡°How funny¡­¡± Flipping to her Warlord Evolution abilities, she scanned down them again to spot the solution: Conscription. ¡°You are in the Serving Court, hehe, which means I cannot synchronize with you since you are not a soldier. However¡­ I can change your role. Hmm¡­¡± Her father¡¯s voice entered her mind. ¡°Elinor, five minutes is almost up.¡± ¡°More than enough.¡± Swiftly glancing over the conditions and requirements of Conscription, she confirmed the drone more than met them. There was one catch, though¡­ Elinor brought up her Minion Sheet and selected the th¨¦lm¨¦thra, tapping on the options beside its name to hit one of the few colored text in the black-and-white menu, labeled red: [Warning: Conscripted Units cannot return to their Serving Role and will not receive their benefits once invoked into military service. Do you wish to proceed?] Elinor tapped on [Yes] without hesitation, changing the spider¡¯s location within her command structure and redirecting its diminished, Serving Court attributes into a Rare, E-tier Soldier. Its body ignited in lime-green fire, reforming its spirit. ¡°Now, let¡¯s try this again¡­¡± [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit: Activated]The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. [Soul Secrynoization Success: 100%] [Time Remaining: 59:99] A tremor shook through her phylactery, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra converting into pure energy to be absorbed into her soul. Power far beyond what she¡¯d previously experienced erupted within her breast, her mind opening, her senses expanding, and a wealth of information budding inside her core. Opening her eyes to the outside world, her vision pulled back, allowing her to see everything within her peripheral, but it was so much more. The pattering of rain on the dome above and the slightest breeze that touched her skin spiked every hair on her body with an explosion of flavor and information. [Strategic Mind] helped to mitigate the overwhelming sensations that assaulted every fiber of her being. Jade fire slid down her figure, reforming her Artificial Body, and Death Energy created new organs for her to use, hidden underneath her skin as her entire being was reforged. [Th¨¦lm¨¦thra Physiology I: Active] Pushing off of her chains, Elinor recalled them while smiling down at the nervous teenagers. She could hear every whisper like hot breath against her ears, and the mouth-watering taste of their fear-induced hormones mixing into the air. Her hologram mirrored her above, causing the stadium to hush as she spread out her hands, laughter in her voice. ¡°I have given you time to prepare, but I am a generous woman. First, as the House of Raven depends on it¡­ I will allow Lord Drake Tarnash and Lady Anala Tarkov to prove to Grandmaster Lilya that they deserve a room in the House. I do not accept those who fail to meet expectations, no matter their rank or file.¡± She pivoted to walk around the stadium, making most of the Tempest breathe out sighs of relief; Julian and Castria were still trying to support Princess Heather as she recovered from her faint, panic gripping her. The pressure must have been immense from the tantalizing flavor the girl¡¯s hot skin released that tickled her tongue; her new senses could acutely identify every individual, including insects in the air, if she concentrated. ¡°I will give the opportunity for all of you to prove your worth to this kingdom and its future. Know that I only acknowledge those who put in their full effort¡­ and then exceed it! If you want to test your prowess against the impossible, then I offer you this opportunity.¡± She let her statement hang as she stopped in front of the Alchemist group, in notably less stylish and fancy clothes. ¡°I will even allow the Grandmasters to offer you advice to see how well you can handle following instructions under pressure. Watch Lady Anala and Lord Drake carefully, class, because once I have had my fun with them¡­ it will be your turn.¡± Elinor took one last look at the apprehensive throng, the ravens fluttering down to capture every angle as the hologram zoomed out to show a more balanced view of the stage for those too high to gain a proper understanding of the fight. ¡°I have severely altered my body and fighting style for this event, Citizens of Kaspir, and I suggest your future defenders and scholars not hold back¡­ Any words of advice for your children, High Lord Yeven, High Lord Debro?¡± The fire-haired man was encased with purple flames that sputtered white from time to time. ¡°Hahaha! Have fun, My Little Spitfire, and show her the ferocity of the Great House of Tarkov.¡± Anala stretched amongst the nobles, the teens backing away from the girl when yellow fire changed the color of her red locks. Elinor could smell the girl¡¯s anticipation as she unfastened a ribbon from around her arm to tie her thick hair into a high ponytail. A calm, calculating tone followed, the frosty look of High Lord Yeven and his family fixated on her as their children whispered to one another, attempting to calculate their brother¡¯s odds. ¡°As the Empress stated earlier, patience is hard, Drake, but it pays to remain calm. Show our people what the Great House of Tarnash¡¯s principles are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to come at you with everything I have, Empress!¡± Anala shouted, launching onto the platform¡¯s edge as Elinor made her way to the center. Elinor¡¯s smile lifted as she saw Drake take a far more cautious approach, the wind carrying him into the air to flutter his noble attire; he hovered at the edge of the coliseum, taking her back as Elinor faced the girl who would launch forward the moment the match started. The previously charismatic tone of the boy was more guarded, yet he was internally just as excited as Anala to test his prowess against the famed Raven Empress. ¡°I look forward to seeing how you battle, Empress. To clarify, are we allowed to go for killing blows?¡± ¡°I expect that at a minimum,¡± Elinor chortled, shifting a tad to look at him from an angle. She clasped her hands behind her back as the gentle breeze cycling through the stadium increased, fluttering her black dress. ¡°Grand Duke, would you do the honors?¡± The older man leered down at them, likely having already sensed her spider¡¯s stalled movements at the outskirts of the city, buried within the earth. A stillness came over the crowd, and her lips peeled back into a gleaming smile as the orchestra¡¯s gentle sounds returned, showing the college rector was feeding into the show. Elinor could hear the gulps and nervous shifts from the crowd, Anala and Drake¡¯s pumping hearts, and the murmurs from the nobles, but perhaps the most fascinating words from over a hundred thousand people came from a womanly voice in a Countess¡¯ box. ¡°Fascinating use of souls, Empress¡­¡± The disguised hag whispered. ¡°You have piqued my curiosity.¡± Anala¡¯s legs tensed as a voice rang out throughout the coliseum before the flame-enchanted girl fumbled her sorcery and tumbled halfway to Elinor, landing on her back with a growl that had the crowd chuckling; it wasn¡¯t the Grand Duke¡¯s signal to start. ¡°Empress,¡± High Lady Julia Proltis curtly interjected, ¡°might my granddaughter, Lady Aura, join this trial to show her merits for the House of Tempest?¡± ¡°Blah!¡± Anala barked, swiping her now extinguished hair out of her face to glare up at the Great House box. ¡°Ehh?! No, this isn¡¯t about the stupid House of Tempest; stay in your lane instead of trying to take my fire! Aura is terrible at offense anyway.¡± Elinor lifted an eyebrow at the mouthy redhead¡¯s shouts up at the rival Great House, her father cheering her on. Tiffany¡¯s chuckles came through the Nexus. ¡°The shade! Her father¡¯s right, she is a little spitfire. She¡¯ll throw hands at anyone!¡± Castria forced a laugh. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think Lady Aura liked that very much.¡± A green-haired girl floated into the air, arms crossed under her bust as she glared at the redhead, who returned the heat. Elinor responded, letting her unfiltered, entertained voice snatch their gaze. ¡°I welcome it. In fact, once I¡¯m finished with these three, I¡¯ll even allow the other candidates to rescue them to rejoin the fight.¡± She flexed her fingers, feeling the sticky thread that she could produce; it had several attributes that made it a phenomenal tool and weapon. ¡°I will say that when this is done¡­ you will put your differences aside to try and attack me together.¡± ¡°No disrespect, Empress,¡± Aura said as the three took a triangle position around her, ¡°but Lady Anala would die several times over before her thick skull accepted any kind of help.¡± A playful twist lifted the corner of Elinor¡¯s lips as she kicked off her heels and flexed her toes against the ground, clinging to the stadium tile. ¡°We will see.¡± The choir¡¯s hums and strum of instruments returned for a short, tense pause before Logan¡¯s calm voice spoke the fateful words throughout the coliseum. ¡°Begin.¡± A sharp gale swirled around Anala, taking her into the sky, orange fire magnifying and turning yellow as she fed it with the dualistic channel of elements. A sphere the size of a carriage grew within seconds as she threw it right at her, the other two remaining still and observing. ¡°Bye-bye!¡± she chirped. Elinor remained where she stood, fine, nearly invisible threads snaking up her arm to weave together as she fed the semi-liquid silk in its malleable form, growing like a plant to encase her chest and hips. ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm. So confident¡­¡± Heat exploded around her, the intense flames attempting to fling her away, yet she didn¡¯t budge, laughter shaking her frame. ¡°Is this¡­ it?¡± Immune to pain in her artificial body, shock replaced Anala¡¯s confidence as her flames melted Elinor¡¯s skin and ate away her dress, only for new skin to grow; it wasn¡¯t as fast as it was destroyed, but more than enough for the short burst of heat. The th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s regenerative attributes took over as she gripped her gown¡¯s front and ripped the burning article off, dispersing the flames, gradually turning red upon cooling. In its place, she fashioned a somewhat fire-resistant strap of gray silk around her privates. Skin mending before her audience¡¯s eyes, she shook her head as Anala recovered, flaming yellow hair brightening. ¡°Next.¡± [Enhance Construct II: Activated] Elinor held up her arm, fragments of ice skating across her face as she shattered the icy sword in Drake¡¯s hand, having used a concussive burst of wind to attack from her blind spot; unfortunately, in this state, she had none. ¡°Aiming for the neck, hmm?¡± Elinor mused, eyes drifting to her left as the boy slid by on a sheet of ice that had increased his speed in an impressive combination before collecting atmospheric dew to fire icicles at her in his retreat. ¡°Precise and cautious,¡± she noted, allowing the spikes to strike and shatter against her frame. ¡°Sadly, you¡¯re going to need a lot more power behind those projectiles to do damage to my shield.¡± The daggers bit into her skin, only to shatter against the mailable exoskeleton underneath, hardening the moment she sensed danger in that area. Yet again, her skin began to repair itself, feeding off her Death Energy. Aura didn¡¯t make a move, flying around the edge of the arena and observing the other two High Nobles probe her for weaknesses. Anala was quick to jump back into the fight, this time, coming in close. ¡°Perhaps I should stop playing with my food,¡± Elinor hummed, dancing back as the girl snarled with a grin and tried to box her. ¡°An interesting tactic.¡± She easily side-stepped her flame-embraced jabs, the girl manipulating wind to try and force her into a bad position before spinning in a tight circle; her ponytail became a whip of condensed, green energy, tapping into the rare stage of fire for her age to dice her into pieces. ¡°Try to regenerate from¡ª¡± Elinor spun in a barrel roll to slide between the spiral flames, feet kicking out to connect with the girl¡¯s chest and taking the air out of her lungs. Only applying a tiny bit of pressure not to crush her ribcage, she launched the girl back, breaking her concentration while attaching tiny threads to her outfit, now somewhat singed from her inability to control her fire. Landing on her feet and transferring the silk to her fingers, Elinor grinned as she set her ground and sent the electrical pulse through the string to spread out. Tension stopped the gagging girl in the air, the silk positioned like a puppeteer on her figure to not snap her bones or rip out sockets as they wrapped around her limbs and torso. ¡°Don¡¯t die!¡± Elinor sang. Jerking her upward, Elinor twisted to sling the stricken girl head-first into the stone. Thin ice sheets severed most of her string, wind cycling to catch the teary-eyed teen, choking and coughing for air, but there was too much momentum to break her fall; luckily, her prince came just in time. Drake grunted as Anala landed on top of him, her head cradled against his chest as he broke her fall with wind and his body while managing to create an ice slide to carry them away. ¡°Creative!¡± Elinor complimented them, clapping and allowing the two House enemies to recover as she tested her flexibility, which had improved to insane levels. ¡°How fortunate that your partner was able to save you.¡± ¡°Ack-ack! Get off me,¡± Anala choked, likely seeing spots and not totally stable as she rolled out of Drake¡¯s arms to face-plant the tile. ¡°W-What was that? How did she¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be your typical stupid, Anala,¡± Aura interjected, projecting her voice as Elinor put a hand on her hip and smiled at the green-haired teen. ¡°She has inhuman control over her body, unnatural senses, and can use some kind of rope or sticky substance.¡± ¡°Ugh-ack! A thank you would be appreciated for saving your face, Lady Anala,¡± Drake grunted, picking himself out of his protective dome to the redhead¡¯s red-faced glare, keeping both him and her in her vision. ¡°Her body¡¯s extremely durable, as well. I¡­ don¡¯t like our odds.¡± ¡°Hmmm?¡± Elinor tilted her head to the side as she brushed off a few ice shards that were still stuck inside her skin. ¡°I¡¯ll only give you a short break since you¡¯re the first to test my abilities. Come up with a good strategy.¡± She had to push her adaptability and prowess in this state while she had the chance, and giving the crowd more opportunities to be impressed and grow more favorable to her methods would likely pay off in the end. ¡°I¡¯ll never work with¡ª¡± Anala gagged as Elinor made a small gesture with her index finger, tightening the last sneaky thread she¡¯d managed to keep out of Drake¡¯s attack and jerking the redhead forward. The ice-loving boy acted instantly, sending another thin sheet to snap it, yet it wasn¡¯t that simple this time. Falling to her hands and knees, Anala clutched at her throat. ¡°I-I can¡¯t¡­ breathe! Something¡­ my neck¡­¡± Fire lit in her hand as she tried to burn it away, but Drake¡¯s hand prevented her palm from scorching her throat, seemingly having expected something more devious from Elinor. He winced as he fought off her struggles, her fire burning him a little, but his cool fingers firmly closed around the thrashing girl¡¯s throat, making her eyes go wide; Elinor¡¯s thread froze and shattered, freeing the haughty girl. ¡°Stop¡ªI¡­ ack¡­ Y-You¡­¡± Drake backed away, tearing off parts of his outfit that had been incinerated by her panicked retaliation; he didn¡¯t cry out at the second-degree burns on his chest and arm. ¡°Stop and think, Anala¡­ This is the Raven Empress, not some thoughtless animal. You are strong, and your last attack was a threat to her, which was why she dodged it. She thinks ten moves ahead, so you have to expect her to lay traps. She¡¯s given us time to think¡­ We won¡¯t get that on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Tic-toc,¡± Elinor said, chains exited behind her to let her sit while she appraised the three teens; the redhead¡¯s flushed cheeks darkened further at her follow-up comment. ¡°If we¡¯re judging results thus far, Lord Drake has most definitely impressed me with how observant and action-oriented he is, while Aura left you to die, and you, Lady Anala, hehe, thrash about like a wild hog.¡± She shrugged at the sour expression on Aura¡¯s face at being given a failing grade, despite her observations. ¡°Each of you has your strengths, so far as I¡¯ve seen. Will you work together,¡± her tone laced with poison, ¡°or embarrass your House Heads and your entire kingdom?¡± Lumps formed in their throats as the three teens glanced around at the crowd, and suddenly support came from the noble candidates. Castria pulled Heather up to float beside her, still trying to process what she was going to be forced to do. ¡°You can win! You don¡¯t have to beat her to claim victory. You only have to impress the Empress, and I was impressed by your last attack, Anala. I never thought about condensing my fire.¡± Heather sucked in a deep breath and eased it out, trying to put on a brave front. ¡°The Empress is very confident in her own abilities¡­ Use that against her.¡± ¡°Times up!¡± Elinor¡¯s chest shook at their support, and she pushed herself off her chains, eyes narrowing. ¡°Last chance to impress me, girls.¡± Aura shot toward Anala, condensing wind to whisper to her a plan that Drake swiftly amended; naturally, Elinor heard every word with the spider¡¯s phenomenal senses, which was probably its greatest ability. Sticking her fingers together, she spread them out, to show thick webbing, which wouldn¡¯t be so easily cut by Drake¡¯s ice. ¡°Try not to disappoint me again.¡± B3 — 9. Dance, Dance, Little Flies Spots danced across Anala¡¯s vision as she tried to keep herself up, gasping for air, hand gingerly pressing against her bruised chest and neck. It was hard to breathe, each pant like ice digging down her throat and into her lungs after the weird kick the Empress had landed on her, and the wire that constricted her windpipe made it burn. Am I shaking? Her legs were weak, and her mouth parched, quaking eyes lifting to see the unnatural ruler leering at her from her casual, sitting position. Obsidian chains breaking through reality supported her, making Anala¡¯s teeth chatter; it was unlike anything she¡¯d seen, even in her nightmares. Princess Heather and Castria were speaking in the background, but it was hard to hear them beyond the pounding in her ears. She understood why Heather had fainted on the spot after fighting this creature once. She couldn¡¯t hear the crowd when the smirking girl¡¯s glowing, lime-green eyes connected to hers. ¡°Anala! Get ahold of yourself!¡± Aura hissed, wind swirling around the prissy Proltis to launch her forward to talk in their short respite. ¡°Drake, I know you have no incentive to help us, but if we are to pass the Empress¡¯ trial, we must work together.¡± The frosty, handsome, black-haired Tarnash popped up beside her out of nowhere, snapping Anala out of her shock as his surprisingly warm hand pressed against her back. ¡°Are you okay, Anala?¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t touch me,¡± she gagged, stumbling a little away and wincing as the pain returned. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Haaa. Just checking. No incentive?¡± he asked with a slight frown, keeping his gaze on the indomitable ruler, waiting for them to collect themselves. ¡°Tarnash supports the kingdom, and you ladies are important parts of that kingdom. Even if you don¡¯t want my help, I¡¯ll offer it.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m fine,¡± she hoarsely snarled. By Drake¡¯s frown and Aura¡¯s rolling eyes, they knew she wasn¡¯t; Anala couldn¡¯t deny it to herself. She wasn¡¯t okay. Every twitch her chest made was like a boot pressing on her breast, and somehow, she¡¯d sustained bruising and burns against her ribs and limbs, too. She ran her fingers over the extremely fine lines where the Empress¡¯ thread had bitten into her skin, yanking her into a nosedive; the strength Elinor had was like a full-fledged Magic Knight. Fighting back tears, she cleared away her wet cheeks, knowing she probably looked like total shit, but that wasn¡¯t the issue. I¡­ almost died. A lump formed in her throat as she maintained sight of the smirking monster in disguise, alight with mirth at their pitiful attempts to attack her; she hadn¡¯t been pressured in the slightest, and Anala kept reliving that brief second where the ground nearly met her face. So this is what Dad meant when he said the battlefield was different from training. I¡¯m so stupid¡­ I just charged right at the Raven Empress. Stupid¡­ Growing up in the Great House Tarkov was far from easy, and she had expected a training exercise from her parents, grandparents, or siblings at a moment¡¯s notice. It was fun to play the little mind games of when her family would make a move and attack. This¡­ was not that; no, this was a whole different game, and she saw it inside the predatory ruler¡¯s frigid, calculating gaze that made her want to run. If this was what the Raven Empress was like when restraining herself to the utmost, she didn¡¯t want to know what it looked like when she was serious. ¡°What do you need me to do,¡± Anala whispered, spotting her family¡¯s attentive faces in the overhead magic Elinor generated for the audience as it panned out to show each House Head. Is¡­ Mom worried about me? I¡¯ve never seen her make that face before¡­ Unlike her typical attitude whenever they attended a ball together, Aura didn¡¯t boast or try to dig in any snide comments about her while eyeing the empress. The terrifying creature was running out of patience, which was fair; Anala knew she should be dead several times over by now. It was expected when dealing with someone on par with the king and grand duke. Only, from what she¡¯d experienced thus far, the empress was far more ruthless. ¡°Okay, this is what we need to do¡­¡± Her explanation was quick as Elinor walked to the stadium''s center, spreading her fingers to wrap her jewelry, top, and bottoms in extra layers of silk, preparing for their exchange. By the look on her pretty face, it was as if she could hear Aura¡¯s plot, despite the green-haired girl¡¯s wind manipulations to isolate their words. Drake shook his head when she finished. ¡°This is putting far too much pressure on Anala after everything she¡¯s already been through.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine,¡± she protested, hair igniting while suppressing the urge to shiver. ¡°Aura will embarrass her grandmother if she doesn¡¯t follow through. I can trust her self-image, at least, and she doesn¡¯t want to look bad in front of the empress. Right, you uppity snob?¡± she said, trying to rekindle her spirit. ¡°Humph. Just be ready for when my wind closes in. And you¡¯re the key for this to work, Drake. Anala, you have to maintain your output. Don¡¯t choke.¡± ¡°Shut up. Just cower in the back¡­¡± The boy sighed. ¡°I get you¡¯re counting on me, and that¡¯s why I¡¯ll be changing my part in your strategy.¡± ¡°And what is wrong with my plan?¡± Aura snarled, arms crossing under her bust as the Raven Empress cut in. ¡°As I said, girls, time is up.¡± They gulped at the illuminated green eyes that welcomed their attack. ¡°Do not hesitate in the face of death¡­ or death will claim you.¡± Drake gave them a meaningful stare. ¡°Trust me.¡± Anala streamed out a long breath and broke away, red flames spreading over her body as she fought past the pain compressing her chest and neck. She hated to admit it, but she did trust Drake since he¡¯d never lied in his life; on the other hand, the stupid Proltis was a walking meat bag of deception. ¡°Empress,¡± she greeted, her tears burning away as she moved to stand in front of the disguised creature. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡± A quake ran down her frame as two lines of emerald fire split near the white-haired creature¡¯s head, opening to display large ruby eyes that shifted to keep track of Drake and Aura. Dammit! She has more powers?! This isn¡¯t even fair! Elinor¡¯s calm words tickled her ears, making her fire falter for a split second. ¡°I¡¯d like to see that spitfire attitude return, Lady Anala. I admire someone who enjoys a fight. Although, one¡¯s first encounter with death can certainly leave a mark. Don¡¯t doubt yourself.¡± Drawing in her lips, Anala stiffly nodded, sensing Drake and Aura get into position. There was no doubt in her mind that the Raven Empress was inhuman. She looked like a pretty and intimidating girl around her age, yet she was something else; Anala could feel it in her bones, and Elinor¡¯s cadence dwarfed anything she¡¯d witnessed¡ªnot even her father compared. ¡°I¡¯m afraid,¡± she admitted, fingers tightening against her palms and somewhat breathless. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t know what it was like to fight something¡­¡± ¡°Something like me?¡± Elinor finished as she trailed off, removing her hand from her chest after reinforcing the thread binding it; it looked thicker and more rigid than the malleable silk before. ¡°Hmm. With that, you have impressed me.¡± Anala¡¯s eyebrows drew together. ¡°What?¡± Pivoting, the empress made a sweeping gesture to the Tempests, Alchemists, Magic Knights, and Conjurors, her voice mixing with the lowered volume of the instruments. ¡°Take note, citizens of Kaspir, it is a brave thing to admit when one is frightened in front of an enemy¡­ It is a humbling thing that your leaders know well. Fear is not weakness. Fear makes you sharp. Fear curbs pride and complacency.¡± She turned to level a smile in her direction. ¡°Fear makes you strong because it gives you resistance to overcome. Lament the day when you no longer feel fear because it is the day you cease to grow. Will you allow fear to conquer you, Lady Anala?¡± ¡°No, Empress,¡± she stated, trying not to let her legs buckle under the stress as she saw her death at the hands of the white-haired ruler. Every fiber of her being told Anala that if she fought, she would die. ¡°The House of Tarkov¡­ The House of Tarkov does not run,¡± she repeated. Her courage redoubled with the praise she¡¯d received. It didn¡¯t matter if she said this was enough to enter the House of Ravens. She had to show her best. She had to prove that she wouldn¡¯t faint in a real battle. ¡°Is that right?¡± Elinor whispered, vision narrowing as a wave of chills overcame her. Goosebumps crawled up Anala¡¯s arms as she felt unseen hands reaching for her throat, yet she knew it was all in her head; instinct told her to flee, yet she resisted the urge and channeled that fear into her fire, tinting it gold as the heat intensified. She¡¯d never fully encased herself in the aurelian flame, yet it felt effortless by controlling her fear and using it as fuel. ¡°I¡¯ve never¡­ knew fear until now. Thank you, Empress¡­ for teaching me how to use it.¡± Elinor slammed her palms together, making her flinch before the empress linked her fingers. ¡°Then show me your fear!¡± A whirlwind began to slowly cycle around the edges of the stadium, spinning high overhead with Aura¡¯s broad manipulations. Drake shot to the top of the dome of water that the grand duke maintained, generating a mist above that obscured him from view. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The dominating creature before them slammed her feet against the stage, fracturing the stone and setting her ground. ¡°Very well, recruits, show me your resolve to overcome it. Show me how bright your spirit shines!¡± Arms rising, Anala let the tightness of expectations¡ªthe expectations of her family, nation, and this frightful creature¡ªeverything within her heart collected in a film around her. It fed her flames while she burned the discomfort of trusting Aura with her life¡ªa bully who had belittled her since she was five. She pulled in the unsure emotional turmoil revolving around Drake, and every eye waiting with anticipation, condensing her flames. It intensified into a thin layer of compact energy that only grew in strength. Visualizing the pressure that weighed her down helped to compress it into a bottle, and she unleashed that bottle, allowing the floodgates to run free. An inferno engulfed the laughing white-haired creature; the empress didn¡¯t move, linked fingers still clasped together at her front as she welcomed the blaze. A gale swept in from above, Aura¡¯s tornado dramatically picking up speed and collapsing on top of Elinor¡¯s head, fueling Anala¡¯s green-flecked aurelian flames and creating a pillar of fire that whipped up the empress¡¯ braid, disintegrating it in an instant. Yet, the grinning girl didn¡¯t so much as flinch, welcoming the conflagration. Anala¡¯s gut cramped as the empress¡¯ flesh burned away, revealing the creature¡¯s metallic, black exoskeleton underneath. It began to glow under the intense heat, the tile around the Raven Empress melting to sweep up the scent of brimstone and gas that spun upward in the strongest firestorm she¡¯d ever created. Aura¡¯s winds banded tighter, funneling and feeding her inferno, yet the empress didn¡¯t twitch a finger while looking her dead in the eye.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Emerald energy erupted from Elinor¡¯s frame, making Anala step back before biting her lip. Growling, she refused to let her fear overwhelm her by taking a step forward, redoubling her efforts, arms beginning to shake; unfortunately, she was losing strength. The white-haired teen¡¯s figure reformed, skin growing back inside the green fire that tainted her golden inferno. I¡¯m going to die! ¡°Is this all you have, Aura?¡± the empress mused, her voice booming all around her from the ravens as she lifted a foot, her melted skin peeling away from the bubbling stone. The liquified minerals rose around her as she took a firm step toward Anala, her toes sinking into the lava. ¡°Can you not rip me from the earth? Lord Drake predicted as much. Hahaha!¡± Anala couldn¡¯t focus on her green-haired teammate; she was gradually losing control and stability over her flames, the fire becoming chaotic and opening herself up to recourse as her sleeves burned away. The tightness around her heart was crushing as the pounding in her ears intensified. The creature¡¯s grinning face melted away again as she took another step forward, hair and skin vaporized before reforming moments later inside her green flames. I¡¯m going to die! ¡°How much longer can you last, Anala?¡± ¡°A-As long as it takes!¡± She felt 1st-degree burns mar her unblemished skin for the first time as much of her clothes were stripped away. ¡°I can¡ª¡± ¡°Anala, stop! Now, Aura!¡± The empress¡¯ alight, neon-green eyes flicked to the sky as the golden tornado surrounding her dispersed in a rush of superheated wind. Anala winced as she felt a punch to the gut, the gale dragging her toward Aura. On the verge of fainting, she tumbled over the tile to a stop, looking up just in time to spot a colossal pool of water falling out of the clouds of black smoke above. It collapsed over the grinning empress, causing an explosion of mist from the supercooled elements. Drake was right on top of it, channeling his primary element into the sphere, flash-freezing it, and turning the ball a milky white. Cool fog spiraled throughout the stadium, leaving the crowd on their feet and squinting to see the empress¡¯ magic for the results. ¡°Is¡­ it over?¡± Aura gasped, face slick with sweat for probably the first time in her life. ¡°Hahaha. I think¡­ What?¡± Anala knew better. The icy film was filtered past to show a silky ball in the large, overhead magical projection. It constricted, making the audience and Anala stumble back as it slowly pulled in, showing a gap before rapidly expanding, pounding against the ice; a dull pulse shook the air, making Anala¡¯s lungs jump into her throat. Then, a second came, a third, and a stillness came over the throng, Anala¡¯s heart threatening to fail her as cracks spiderwebbed through the giant ball of ice. ¡°No¡­¡± Aura whimpered, falling to her knees as Drake tried to maintain the block, teeth locked together and struggling. ¡°How¡­ are you supposed to fight her? Fire won¡¯t burn her, wind won¡¯t force her off the ground, and ice won¡¯t freeze her. She¡¯s¡­ unstoppable.¡± Fighting past the burns, scrapes, and bruises across her body, Anala stumbled forward to reach the icy sphere, placing her trembling hands against the surface to try and project her will into the ball; she was far from Drake¡¯s level at harnessing the ice element, but she could do her best to help. ¡°C¡¯mon, Aura!¡± Anala shouted, unable to keep the pain from her voice. ¡°Drake, we¡¯ll try to maintain it¡ªfight back!¡± Aura soon launched forward to support them. ¡°Does it even matter at this point? There¡¯s no way we can maintain it without Drake carrying most of the load!¡± ¡°Shut up and focus, you¡ªoh, no¡­¡± A fissure ran from the center to her eyes, creating a structural weakness. Aura was right; Drake only had one shot to attack before everything collapsed, but it didn¡¯t mean they shouldn¡¯t give it their all. ¡°Aura!¡± ¡°I¡¯m doing it, dammit! Drake, do something!¡± Drake didn¡¯t respond or look panicked while pulling out one hand, creating a spike of ice from his palm before shoving it into the hole, shattering the sphere himself as dozens of tips penetrated the drawn-in silken ball, causing it to stop its rhythmic pulses. Aura jerked back, using a rapid gale to reflect the majority of ice shards from digging into them. The chunks blew apart, showing giant crystal icicles sticking into the silken sack. Yet, Anala¡¯s heart sank as it started to peel back, revealing the empress with the orchestra¡¯s ominous, plucking strings humming in the background. It was impossible. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Legs crossed, sitting inside a throne of her creation, Elinor flicked her wrist to the side, sending an electrical pulse through the silk to open the protective pod, thread attached across much of her skin. [Grade Advancement - Artificial Body III Unlocked] [Enhance Construct II - Increased to D-tier] [Artificial Body Reconstituted] [Silk Reserves: 38%] Her lip curled when she saw the tremor that ran through the two teenage girls¡¯ frames upon seeing her, peppered with ice-like shards that broke away with her weaving silk. Hands rising as the silken sack bloomed like a flower, she slowly clapped, shards breaking away from her figure as her regenerative properties ate them away. ¡°Look at what you can do when you work as a team. Impressive. I hope your classmates take note. Well¡­ why don¡¯t we move on to the main event?¡± Silk spreading out in cycling petals, mist swirling as chunks of crystal were pushed off the arena¡¯s edge to bite into the grass; she unfolded her legs to rise to her feet, Drake dropping out of the sky to generate a globe of ice to protect the two girls, a five-meter-tall spear coming into being to throw at her. ¡°Drake!¡± Anala shouted, having trouble keeping herself awake after using so much of her mana. ¡°What are you¡­¡± It sealed off, and Elinor watched the calm, red-faced noble boy launch the projectile at her, gathering all the power he could behind it. Elinor casually stepped to the side, its advance moving at a crawl to her th¨¦lm¨¦thra hyper-awareness and mental processing prowess. Her two extra eyes kept sight of the boy and sealed off girls as her focus shifted to a newcomer. A flash of light brought a bolt of lightning from the sidelines to touch her outstretched finger, electricity tickling her nerve system as she guided it through her silk network to rip across Drake¡¯s ice shell that her expanding sea of webs encased. It instantly fractured, and a weak burst of red fire rocketed out of it; Aura supported Anala as the green-haired girl glared at her, Aura¡¯s flushed face slick with tears. Elinor wasn¡¯t focused on the three anymore, though, her smirking eyes were fixated on the new contender she hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°Princess Castria¡­¡± Her Monarch of Storms held her arm out, hovering in the air as sparks danced across her glowing, neon-blue hair and encircled her frame. ¡°¡­couldn¡¯t stand being an observer any longer?¡± Her Tempest showed a forced smile as she floated higher into the air. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one that said we should move on to the main event, Empress? Everyone!¡± she called out. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back and give the empress everything you have!¡± Castria offered her hand to the trembling redhead beside her, showing an encouraging smile, sparks dancing at her fingertips. ¡°Heather, help me!¡± ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t! Drew¡¯s specialty is lightning, not me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sell yourself short,¡± she chimed, holding her other hand out for Julian. ¡°We¡¯re stronger together if we unite our mana. Funnel it all into me! Everyone else cut the Empress off from her webs so she can¡¯t ground the lightning; it¡¯s the only thing fast enough to strike her when she¡¯s like this!¡± ¡°Naughty girl, Castria,¡± Elinor snickered, kneeling to press her hands against the silk bed, ¡°I love it! Is Queen Tiffany giving you tips? Hehe. Grandmasters, guide your future students. I will get serious because my little lightning cloud has exposed a weakness¡­ How many times will I kill all of you, hmm?¡± A streak of blue light brought the third-best Magic Knight candidate right in front of her, propelling himself to cut her in half with his illuminated sword; an impressive move for someone who had yet to enter the academy. ¡°Hmm-hmm. Not even close¡­¡± Elinor mused, eyes rising to meet his determined brown eyes. ¡°Scatter.¡± Sinking her fingers into the silk and utilizing a portion of Castria¡¯s stored electricity, she sent the powerful pulse throughout the entire network at lightning speed. The thread, previously hard to control on her own due to a lack of energy, propelled in all directions, sticking to the coliseum support pillars and fashioning a colossal web throughout the entire arena that almost reached the liquid dome above. Panic gripped the students as the sticky thread spiderwebbed in all directions, and only a small portion of them managed to dodge the fire-resistant material; those that were too slow were coiled up and pulled into cocoons to be rescued by those skilled enough to evade the initial attack. The Magic Knight used a burst of mana to flip through the holes in the web, slashing through a thin veil and attempting to cut a beam-sized rod that expanded to hit him in the chest; it was too thick, and inside was a little trap¡ªliquid web that she¡¯d been steadily injecting inside the network of hollow thread¡ªthe entire structure was like a nerve system in itself, and she was the heart. His sword cut a thin line through the web¡¯s outer case, only for hundreds of tiny threads to escape and wrap the boy into a cocoon, carrying him out of sight in the expanding super-structure. Elinor lifted to her full height, sensing every pulse the air left against her nest; she¡¯d used all of her silk reserves to create it, but this was the main event, and she could still manipulate it to some extent. Letting the weight of the situation hit them, she spread her fingers wide, maneuvering the hive of threads so the audience could still see the hologram. A raven swooped in to land on one of the strings beside her, projecting her smile to a hundred thousand enthralled onlookers. Her voice rang throughout the stadium, the orchestra picking up. ¡°Dance for me.¡± Bending her fingers as flames ignited from the Tempest, she hunted those near her nest, giving her an insight into the incredible defensive position th¨¦lm¨¦thras had. Once built, their nests were practically impossible to uproot in their vast underground networks with how much control even the workers had over their home defense. Threat shot out to latch onto an Alchemist, yanking the shrieking girl into the maze to be imprisoned, and she began doubling up pairs so the Tempest or Magic Knights couldn¡¯t just break free without fear of harming those they were bound to. Her Monarch of Alchemy¡¯s deep, feminine voice sparked hope throughout the stadium of panicking participants as she whipped the other Grandmasters into action. ¡°Grandmaster Holst, organize the Magic Knights to defend the Alchemists and Conjurors. Grandmaster Vesta, have the Tempest break into two groups: those defending and aiding Princess Castria and Heather, and those supporting the Magic Knight squad entering the nest to save those captured.¡± ¡°What advantage do the Alchemists and Conjuration Houses play in this war game, Queen¡ªGrandmaster Lilya,¡± Grandmaster Holst muttered, correcting himself while stroking his beard and seeming to have swiftly adapted to the new command structure. The sober tone of Grandmaster Irkai interjected. ¡°You allow me to worry about that, Holst; the House of Conjuration is not defenseless. I will instruct them for a rather devilish surprise for our Raven Empress,¡± he said with a dark chuckle. Grandmaster Astral B. Benka leaned in closer to the former queen, whispering low enough that Elinor¡¯s advanced senses had difficulty catching her words due to the chaos around her. ¡°What can the Alchemists do, Mistress? You were the one who kept the House of Alchemy alive. You should take my seat.¡± ¡°No, Astral,¡± Lilya returned, her voice softening. ¡°Anything I taught you, you enhanced. Have more faith in yourself. The Empress¡¯ silk seems similar to the desert hulutarna nests. We will instruct the Alchemists to create a bomb that will attack the protein clusters of the Empress¡¯ web. She might be able to adapt to it, but it should take time.¡± ¡°Brilliant!¡± Astral clapped. ¡°I think I know the base you¡¯re starting at; they should have the ingredients on hand if they transmute their cosmetic items. It is sooo good to have you back.¡± Holst hummed, using a piece of paper that one of the Tempest instructors floated to him to highlight specific formations for the Magic Knights to follow. ¡°You can attack her nest directly? Humph. Well, that would have been useful in the desert outpost defenses. Maybe the recruits aren¡¯t doomed after all. How goes it on the elemental front, Grandmaster Vesta?¡± ¡°Poorly,¡± she muttered, and Elinor could hardly feel her gentle, probing air currents that tried to identify key factors about her nest. ¡°It¡¯s highly resistant to most common elements without combinations, and we¡¯ve already seen what Princess Castria¡¯s lightning did, which was very impressive at her age¡­ In fact, the Empress used it against her, storing part of it to expand her web. It will be hard to get the Empress out with the control she has over it.¡± ¡°Leave that to me,¡± Irkai muttered, scribbling over a few sheets of paper to deliver to the House of Conjuration candidates. ¡°We will see if this year¡¯s students can perform a united summoning and binding without a Gate; if they have enough combined mana¡­ I know Ralna is skilled enough to lead it. We need all of them, though, Grandmaster Vesta.¡± The noblewoman¡¯s nose creased, likely not liking the prospect of relying on the House of Conjuration for their trump card. ¡°A rescue must be planned for your many candidates that couldn¡¯t escape the initial attack¡­ It will be a miracle if these half-baked initiates can organize at this level.¡± Elinor bobbed her head side to side as she sat inside her nest, enjoying the thrill of strategy, music, and the cries of the teens. Each attempt they made to survive the onslaught of her seeking threads was like sugar on her tongue. Every gasp or stifled scream from a citizen worried about the teens filled her with a symphony of raw emotion she hadn¡¯t felt in a while. Dance, dance, dance, my little flies. Hehehe. I can¡¯t produce any more silk, my Death Pool has been drained to levels I haven¡¯t seen since I first changed, and my opponents are gradually organizing to close a vice around my throat¡­ She held a finger against her diamond earring, slightly scorched after Anala¡¯s impressive inferno that had burned through her thick defensive weaves; it had been dangerously close to touching her diamonds, and air plus heat did not make for a good combination for the items. [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 50%] This thrill is what I¡¯ve been missing! B3 — 10. Fighting Bloodlust With every pluck of an instrument or dulled roar from the flashing lightning that bled past the dome of water above, Elinor¡¯s heart beat faster. Vision dark, she soaked in the raw fire of what it was like to be a th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡ªthe humor that this was just a drone entirely dispensable to the spider species was not lost on her. Combining the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s natural abilities with her own Feats as a Lich Empress put heat in her veins that she hadn¡¯t felt since her time in cheer and gymnastics. It created a magnum opus within her mind, the howling wind of the Tempests grazing past each silken thread she expanded, giving her further insight into the stage she performed on. The hushed discussions that passed through the four Houses as they coordinated brought a small smile to her, with the Grandmasters sending their advice to the recruit candidates. It was nearing the finale, but there were bound to be some wrenches thrown at her from the other Grandmasters who wanted to test her and push back against her push for change in the kingdom. Outside of a few minor outliers, everything was progressing precisely as Tiffany had said it would; the Warlord Evolution had given her the means to propel the Witch Queen¡¯s plot to heights they hadn¡¯t dreamed of accomplishing. Yet, there was one deadly concern beginning to work through her hot veins: [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 60%] If this continues¡­ I might actually kill someone, which would be disastrous. How can something taste so tempting? Her mouth salivated; the sweat and determination of hundreds of victims clashing against her webs was only a finger¡¯s twitch away. The swirl of fear that carried on the wind told her to push forward and crush those who wanted to challenge her. Control¡­ The fight will come soon enough. Patience is rewarded to the spider who waits for her meal. She licked her lips, stomach squirming and muscles begging to be utilized, yet she kept her instincts bound under an iron grip. Every one of her Stats was boosted by a tiny margin with every second that passed: Force, Defense, Dexterity, Energy, and Tenacity surging with her thirst for anticipated combat. By sheer force of will, Elinor maintained her stationary position inside her nest, letting the teens organize a counter-offensive. Lilya adapted to their plan, and the other Grandmasters gave their instructions on how to fight her; it would take time, though. Flames and ice battered against her thick pillar-like webbing, damaging sections that were then only filled in again by the th¨¦lm¨¦thra liquid silk running through the structure¡¯s nerve system. Only a little longer. My silk gland is slowly regenerating¡­ It sucks reforming my body doesn¡¯t restore it. [Silk Reserves: 0.5%] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 58%] Opening her eyes, she slowed her breathing, the hums of the wind against her thread giving her a clear picture of the outside world. Every heartbeat was a tug on her consciousness, driven by th¨¦lm¨¦thra instinct and her Warlord Evolution Passive working in tandem to push her into combat. The Tempest and Magic Knights scrambled to get into position to defend the Alchemists and Conjurors, only just now receiving instruction from Grandmaster Vesta as the Tempest projected orders through wind manipulation. Their words tickled her ears like honey on her tongue, and a slight twist came to tinted green lips as Grandmaster Irkai told his Conjurors to follow his diagram to a T. Soon, very soon, she would have something she could sink her claws into. [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 61%] Lilya, her Monarch Magi-Chemist, invoked the next layer of their plan, receiving live updates from Tiffany. The radiant woman took a stand, drawing a raven¡¯s notice, and projected her message on the hologram above; the music¡¯s dramatic hum only increased in the background. ¡°Citizens of Kaspir, as the Raven Empress has shown you, there are threats which require your military to be capable of defending against¡­ or they will find you in your homes. You are witnessing the desperate attempts to defy the impossible challenge she has sent these candidates¡­ Not everyone can rise to the occasion. Some have run away, noble and peasant alike. Yet, many have stayed and answered the challenge. What do you see?¡± The former queen stood tall, her golden outfit gleaming in the colorful rays cast down from the water dome; it befitted a desert trade princess. Her words, the swaying music, and the tense atmosphere pressed in on the throng; thunder rolled through the stadium, making a quake run through a hundred thousand souls looking down on the mayhem. Dozens of candidates from the Tempests, Alchemists, and Magic Knights fled toward the exits; Elinor¡¯s chest shook with mirth at their attempts to retreat, and her voice projected through the gems around the ravens¡¯ throats, the image above hazing to return to her leering stare upon the cowards that had turned their backs to her. ¡°Do you believe there is mercy for those who seek to run or surrender themselves? If someone attempts to show their fangs and then withdraws them¡­ then all respect is lost; if you will not defend your own life when confronted, then how can you defend those who are weaker than you?¡± Her grin and cold words brought a sweeping chill through the rest of the candidates and stadium as a twitch of her fingers sent impulses through her nexus of web; thread-like wire erupted from the pillars running along the framework of the coliseum, striking like vipers to coil around the screaming and teary-eyed teens, dragging them into the network to be pulled inside her fluid silk network to be transported into the nest. ¡°Disappointing.¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 70%] A curse came from one of the highborn Magic Knight candidates who had taken command as he shot toward one of the Alchemists who tried to escape, cutting the thread with light blue energy from his sword. ¡°Dammit, Talen, why¡¯d you have to snatch glory and get yourself caught?! Who else has the experience to handle¡ªshit! Watch your right, kid! Yuna, grab some people and defend the Conjuration group; the Tempests are already ahead of us! Who else knows how to use magic?¡± Castria¡¯s older sister was promptly beside another teenage Magic Knight candidate, defending against her onslaught of thread. ¡°What can I do? I¡¯m not great with a sword, but I¡¯m a fast learner! Where do you want me? Hey, form a group¡ªwatch out from above!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± The boy made a few projected slashes of disruptive force that battered her string away, impressing Elinor a tad as the others organized into smaller packs around those who seemed to know what they were doing. ¡°Fine! You guys get the Alchemists and bring them to the Conjuration area; form a line and keep them defend¡ª¡± The Grandmasters¡¯ messages, written on paper, arrived on a sharp gust of wind, causing Elira to take her small unit to guard the brown-haired, self-appointed leader. It was then that Lylia¡¯s projection replaced Elinor¡¯s, her bone-chilling call-to-arms sounding throughout the stadium. ¡°If Kaspir is going to project power throughout the continent and regain the respect of other nations, then we need to show our courage. If you have a desire to show your love for this kingdom¡ªfor what we can make it¡ªthen join the candidates. The House of Raven will not limit its recruitment to only those seeking support from the established college trades. All talent is needed to uplift Kaspir into a new golden age!¡± [Silk Reserves: 0.7%] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 75%] [Bloodlust Aura: Unlocked] [Bloodlust Aura: Activated] An oppressive weight expelled from Elinor as she chuckled, replacing her Monarch of Alchemy on the display as she slowly rose to her feet to look down on the citizens from her grand illusion; her aura shot out, projected from the seed she¡¯d swallowed, oozing out of each spelled raven. Momentarily ceasing her assault, she flashed her teeth, making several groups freeze in their actions. ¡°I know at least one person who will answer that call¡­ Captain Flera. Let this mark the beginning of Kaspir¡¯s march into a position of strength. Not only of Tempest but of all branches of magic and science¡­ because it cannot survive what I know is to come without adapting. Show me you deserve to live because living is a right earned and not given.¡± The raven fluttered off its perch to follow her as the nest rippled to the electrical pulses she sent through its network, moving those she¡¯d captured while she spoke. ¡°Young future Magic Knights, Paladins, and whatever else might come from this growing college curriculum, I will offer this challenge¡­¡± Her silk split open as she came to the edge of the arena, lifting her arms overhead with a wicked snicker to display the bound trio she¡¯d beaten just before this stage. ¡°Behold your Great House candidates. I have taken quite good care of them,¡± she taunted. Elinor¡¯s sides hurt with silent laughter at the gulps that slid down thousands of throats when the hologram above zoomed in on the bright red faces of the gagged and wrapped seventeen-year-old boy and girls. Drake, having been rendered shirtless in their fight, was sandwiched by the two red-faced noble girls; Anala, having mostly incinerated her own gown during the conflict, was tied snuggly against the uncomfortable ice-user¡¯s chest, with Aura bound against his back, their arms woven around each other to keep them from using any pesky elemental attacks to escape. She could practically feel the hot steam puffing out of the redhead¡¯s lips against the fidgeting teenage boy¡¯s collarbone, cheeks scarlet. Aura¡¯s face was held stationary near the base of Drake¡¯s neck, wiggling to try to get free and only further tightening her chest against his sweating back. Their radiating body heat was suffocating the light-headed noble boy as their thighs rubbed against one another, trying to find any sort of leverage to escape. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s cruel!¡± Tiffany cackled. ¡°I can only imagine how hard Drake is trying to control the blood from leaving his head! I doubt he even wants to escape.¡± She felt Castria almost slip in her concentration and lose control of the colossal amount of channeled mana she was gathering, forcing Princess Heather and Lord Julian to catch her fumble. ¡°Empress, that¡¯s¡ªI would die if you did that to me! And in front of the whole kingdom!¡± Lilya¡¯s mouth drew in, but Elinor could sense a spark of entertained curiosity that surprised her. ¡°It is a tad mean, Empress, and could cause friction from the Great Houses.¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 70%] [Bloodlust Aura: Deactivated] On the contrary, Elinor mused, looking up at the three as the shocking display swept through the stadium. Anala is the least resistant, and her family is quite enthralled by the vision; her mother is noting how little her little spitfire is struggling. She shouldn¡¯t be afraid to burn the Tarnash boy, yet she has yet to try to escape. Maybe she¡¯s too drained? ¡°Doubtful!¡± Tiffany snorted as Aura¡¯s wind tried to dislodge them to no avail in her frantic state to break free. Elinor bent one of her fingers, forcing the green-haired girl¡¯s hands slightly lower to Drake¡¯s middle abs, her muffled screams of protest escalating. ¡°Aura should have held back less in order to embarrass her rival, so she gets to join in the fun!¡± ¡°Empress!¡± Her father¡¯s somewhat hesitant voice entered the conversation. ¡°Queen Alivau actually looks impressed by ¡®the trophy,¡¯ as she sees it.¡± Elinor¡¯s entertained eyes narrowed as she felt the redhead¡¯s fingers trace words across Drake¡¯s exposed back. Sure, the heat radiating from her skin and occasional twitches from certain parts of her body told quite the story, but the boy had daringly come to her rescue a few times during their brief fight against her. Perhaps even more interesting was that the hot head was more intelligent than others gave her credit for, having found a way to silently communicate with the ice boy. Unfortunately, Aura¡¯s squirming belly and thrashing were messing up her message. She could also disrupt her opponents and wait for her challengers at the same time; dozens of City Guards and citizens were attempting to get into the arena grounds to join the fight in any way they could help. Why don¡¯t I paint a picture for you since you don¡¯t have a clear view? she offered, lifting the trio higher into the air and curling her web around them into a cage. Because Anala feels rather safe wrapped in Lord Drake¡¯s arms? ¡°Huh?¡± A shiver came from her Queen of Storms, emotional state fluctuating a little at the topic since she wasn¡¯t born in a modern, licentious society that promoted such topics; the men and women of this world were quite innocent, despite their ¡®slutty¡¯ apparel for attention. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Imagine it, Elinor whispered, maneuvering the thread to shift the noble boy and girls¡¯ position ever so slightly to cause even more discomfort to break their concentration. What is it like for Drake to have two beautiful and rather stubborn women attached to him at the hip, sliding against his exposed skin? Hot. Smooth. The quiver of their muscles contracting together. She spun the cage she¡¯d crafted for them in a slow circle as the Magic Knights gathered with City Guards and Tempests to support them, waiting for her to present her challenge while staring at the highborn teens. The intoxicating stimulation of Anala¡¯s sweat-slicked hair, held against Drake¡¯s nose as he samples the scent of amber¡ªthat hint of pine and leather, with a heavier, balsamic, and slightly smoky aroma from her daring assault, burning her own clothes and skin¡­ ¡°Empress, you¡¯re distracting me!¡± Hmm. Am I? she teased, sensing Lilya¡¯s thickening throat through her link to the Nexus as Castria¡¯s muscles began to tense up from the picture she was crafting in the girl¡¯s mind; these were new things to these women, both born in this medieval and magical world. What part? Can¡¯t you see her hands tracing his back? How it quivers at the touch of her fingernails? What must Anala feel pressing against her breast, hmm? Drake must be enjoying himself, as well; do you see the cool touch of his hand to numb her burns and ease her pain? What about that shiver that runs down his spine as Aura samples Drake¡¯s neck from behind, her fingers tracing his hard abs, the pressure of their joined bodies writhing¡ª ¡°Empress, stop!¡± Castria begged, body temperature skyrocketing as her mind continued down the fantasy Elinor was crafting, making Tiffany almost lose control over her ritual while doubling over. ¡°Why are you just letting your words hang so people keep looking at them?! This is cheating and unfair!¡± Oh? the Witch Queen cooed. I do think you are being a tease, Empress, despite how much I enjoy this gift you¡¯ve given Drake. I¡¯m sure nothing will spark between our hot and cool teens from this fateful encounter with the Raven Empress. ¡°Tiffany, you are the worst!¡± Castria cried, now probably seeing herself in that line since she¡¯d been brought back from the dead naked in front of the boy she had a crush on. ¡°Can you just punch someone now, Empress? Please!¡± ¡°Agreed, Queen Castria,¡± Lilya sighed. ¡°As much as I am intrigued by this line of conversation, you are causing doubt to set in with the other Tempests in her ability to channel the required mana to incinerate you, which is contrary to your plan.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Castria huffed through the Nexus, returning to her task as everyone grew antsy in the stands; a few jumped as a new attack came. ¡°Really?!¡± Elinor sent a pulse of electricity through the network to project two somewhat thick silken ropes to snatch her Tempest out of the air, only for a few Tempest to throw them off course; she still managed to snag one of the noble girls that fumbled her defensive wind, unable even to pipe out a scream as she was pulled into the sticky interior. ¡°Glacia isn¡¯t good at Wind Magic¡­ She was nice.¡± Now she¡¯s dead, Elinor chuckled, waiting for the comeback. ¡°Captured! She can be saved,¡± the girl snapped. A few bolts flew at her from the City Guards gathering to support the candidates; she saw Lieutenant Cole leading the crossbowmen unit. She hardly had to move to evade the attack, the citizens now breathing heavily as they felt the tension rising. Her head tilted to the side as the projectiles didn¡¯t even penetrate her web network; [Strategic Mind] was probably the reason she¡¯d rattled her Queen of Storms. How her new Feats interacted was so interesting. [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit] [Time Remaining: 34:34] What must be going through Drake¡¯s mind with two girls sandwiching him? Dad always said to watch out for what went through guys¡¯ minds. Pausing, she pondered, observing the three struggling teens. I think he underestimates what goes on in a girl¡¯s head. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Drake tried to cool his flaming mind because it was impossible to stop the inferno from pulsing out of his body; he¡¯d never felt so hot before, and the humid puffs of the two girls against his bare skin sent his thoughts into a haze. Calm down¡­ The Empress did this on purpose. Control yourself¡ªwhere are they touching?! His finger sank into Anala¡¯s lower back, feeling the slope of her spine as the thin strip keeping her breasts covered slid away to press against his abdomen; she was too short, and blood was rushing into all the wrong places as she hugged his lower half.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. A low moan rumbled in her throat as her chest fluttered against his lower abdomen, Aura¡¯s fingernails digging into his upper abs and sparking a slight pulse of pain. The strong scent from her bunched red hair was locked against his face, forcing him to smell something foreign that sent electricity through his entire body. Anala was shockingly still, doing her best not to move, yet her body temperature was off the charts, and Aura¡¯s hiked-up dress caused her bare thighs to rub against his as she wiggled and squirmed against his back. The soft pressure from her breasts rose and fell against his shoulder blades, his tensing muscles causing her to push harder and wrap her legs around his as her lower half ground against his left butt cheek. Stop! he tried to shout, but it only came out in muffled growls from the gags they wore. I can¡¯t think with you two wrapped around me! Calm down¡ªno¡­ what is it pressing against? Please don¡¯t say it¡¯s Anala¡¯s¡­ His mind snapped away from the thought as Anala¡¯s fingernail traced an unmistakable letter across his back, making him ease up; it was hard to identify with Aura¡¯s hot skin and ripping nails as she rubbed her sweaty body against his back, butt, and legs, making them swing with her struggling bursts of wind, but his panic eased when she spelled out the phrase. ¡°Stop moving. It hurts a little¡­ You¡¯re jabbing my left breast. My back is burned.¡± Feeling utterly at fault for getting her into this sort of position, Drake took a deep, cooling breath and let it out to pass down her body, causing the girl to tense up a little; something hard yet soft was pushing against his abs just below Aura¡¯s ravaging hands. He found he had just enough finger room to deliver his own message as they stilled. Sorry for all of this. I¡¯m going to try to move my hands. I know you¡¯re burned in some places. Guide me to them so I can numb it. Again, I¡¯m sorry. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay. I know this is uncomfortable for you, too¡­ Is it uncomfortable?¡± she asked, fingers hesitating a minute before asking the question. ¡°Oh! Right there!¡± she cried, fingernails sinking into his skin. ¡°Watch where you¡¯re poking me, too!¡± He gulped, suddenly realizing what the soft-hard things were against his abs. Sorry! Sorry! Sending the cooling frost to numb her nerves, he sighed, which was a mistake because the chemicals that went from her sweaty hair went straight to his brain, depriving it of blood to be welcomed in by other areas. I¡¯m trying, but it¡¯s hard! You¡¯re so soft and hot that it¡¯s burning me up inside. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± she returned, seemingly fighting Aura¡¯s breasts as they slid down a bit, and now he was being poked in the back, as well, with the green-haired girl¡¯s hot breaths against his ear; hopefully, she wouldn¡¯t bite it if her mouth or nose was that close. ¡°I can¡¯t burn our way out. You need to freeze us out. Aura is useless. I¡¯m not that uncomfortable now. Just¡­ be gentle.¡± The words were like lightning through his spine, making him have to recite lessons from his older brother and father in his head to try and curb the excitement in his nether regions. The resurging memory of the time Anala had kicked him in the balls when they were nine wasn¡¯t helping the matter either. Yeah¡­ just endure it for a little while. Do you know how to synchronize with me? It will help with your resistance if you resonate your mana and affinity with me. ¡°I¡¯ve only done it with my mom¡­ but I¡¯ll try. And¡­ thank you for saving me.¡± Now focused on saving the redhead and regaining his composure, Drake focused on opening himself up for Anala to try to resonate with him. It was surprisingly easy for her to find his rhythm; he hadn¡¯t synced this fast with anyone before except his mother. You¡¯re a natural¡­ Your mana is so warm and welcoming, he complimented, blocking out whatever The Empress was doing with the Magic Knights and City Guards. Hang in there. Her chest fluttered against him, but she relaxed instead of tensed. ¡°Thank you, Drake. I¡¯m¡­ sorry for that time I kicked you in the nuts. You kind of intimidated me, and I lashed out.¡± What?! You intimidated me, he laughed, causing Aura to bump heads with him, which he ignored. You were always so pretty and outgoing¡­ never afraid to speak your mind. ¡°Oh¡­¡± She paused for a moment, fingers rubbing slightly against his back in a period or possibly looking for something to say, and her face seemed to heat up a bit against his collarbone. ¡°Well, I always did like how much of a gentleman you were, despite what I used to say. My siblings would just always tease me about it.¡± Thoroughly confused by that line of thought or what that had to do with anything, he let the topic die; for some reason, their synchronization redoubled. We¡¯re getting close. How are you feeling? ¡°Better. Just¡­ don¡¯t look when we do get free.¡± Haha. I can¡¯t promise anything about how we might fall. He grunted and winced as she pinched him. I¡¯ll do my best, though! ¡°Good.¡± Her arms softened, and her breathing became more controlled. Perhaps she wasn¡¯t such a foul-mouthed fire-starter after all. His mind began to wander as it became easier to control the united ice magic they linked; it was far weaker than what he typically used due to her inexperience, but it would protect her. Aura, on the other hand, was a shivering mess behind him. Hmm. Without a doubt, Anala is a lot prettier than Aura, in personality and physical beauty¡­ What am I thinking?! Get your head straight! Anala needs me to focus. Huh. Maybe I do like her. * ¡ª * ¡ª * ¡°Hehehe.¡± Elinor strode forward to the edge of the stadium, having had her fun, and clasped her hands behind her back, doing a joyful twirl while humming to the sound of the instruments as the teens struggled above her. ¡°R.I.P. to the patient girl you knew, my audience. La-la-la. She¡¯s getting tired of playing around.¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 80%] [Bloodlust Aura: Activated] Her opposition sagged slightly as the weight of her heated bloodlust crashed over them, only this time in person. Two of the Magic Knight candidates fell to their knees, legs unable to support them as she became a giant in their minds. The City Guards were the most steady, despite not having magic to combat her, taking up a position to allow them to swap out their tired comrades if needed. ¡°Oh, this is getting dramatic,¡± she whispered, scanning those who had chosen to take the fight to her. ¡°So many new victims to the slaughter¡­ and a few familiar faces.¡± Showing them a charming smile, Elinor closed her eyes, tilting her head to evade a bolt that Cole shot the second her vision went dark. ¡°Nice try, Lieutenant. The Magic Knights could learn from your quick mobilization. I¡¯m getting a little antsy and bored, though. So try not to die, challengers,¡± she warned, pointing up at the teens while opening her eyes to stare at the strongest Magic Knight candidate who had answered her call. A dozen others were beside or behind him, waiting to jump in after his assault. ¡°Let¡¯s put on a show. Your comrades are waiting for rescue. If you can harm me once or cut them down, I will give you that win. I really hope you last long enough for the Alchemists and Conjurors to complete their preparations¡­ because, if not,¡± she licked her lips, saliva thickening with the neurotoxin it held, ¡°I will be helping myself to them.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± Her gaze shifted to the City Guard captain, the woman¡¯s brown-hair shifting as she rolled around her neck and removing most of her armor to show a simple green tunic and leggings. She left her belt on with its dagger, dropping her sword on the grass. Elinor¡¯s illuminated green eyes wandered over the nasty scars on her face, arms, and hands as the officer got rid of as much weight as she could to become more mobile. ¡°Captain Flera¡­ I can taste your anticipation, but you know you don¡¯t have the firepower to fight me. If I were attacking your streets, what could you do to fend me off as a normal human without magic?¡± Murmurs ran through the stadium, many of the Tempest nodding at her comment. Surely, the City Guard was nothing more than a mundane peacekeeping force only meant for your average commoner, yet Elinor wasn¡¯t disappointed when the muscular woman tapped the shoulder of the boy who was her biggest competition. ¡°Lord Kasper, if your father isn¡¯t full of it, you¡¯re a prodigy that already unlocked the ability to conjure a Blue Blade¡­ Lend it to me and follow my lead. We¡¯ll win this trial together.¡± Elinor met the woman¡¯s hard blue eyes, feeling a shiver run down her own spine at the confidence in the soldier¡¯s gaze. This wasn¡¯t some snot-nosed brat bragging or wanting to show off but a hardened warrior who had trained all her life to be a Magic Knight, only to be denied and made a joke, as much of the nobility saw the City Guard. Kasper¡¯s jaw tightened, feeling nervous as the Grandmaster Magic Knight leaned against the side of his chair, glaring at the City Guard entering a place typically denied them. ¡°You can¡¯t just wield a Blue Blade, Captain. I haven¡¯t fully mastered maneuvering the¡ª¡± ¡°Do it,¡± Elinor ordered, vision locking with the confident older woman and making the boy swallow. ¡°This whole competition is about exploring the new and taboo. Show me what you have planned, Captain Flera. I¡¯m getting goosebumps.¡± ¡°I want to help!¡± Flera half turned her body to watch Elira running up to them with her battered red armor, the pieces she¡¯d borrowed from Sir Percy. ¡°Sorry, kid, tips would be welcomed against your mistress, but I¡¯ve seen you move. No disrespect. You have talent, and I saw that style¡­ Sir Percy has been trying to tutor you, but you have no experience fighting as a team. Sit this one out and watch.¡± The dark-haired woman sighed with disappointment but nodded and stayed back with the others. ¡°I can¡¯t, uh, tell you much. Empress Elinor is very mysterious and seemingly has an endless number of abilities at her disposal. Oh, mmgm! Empress, your eyes and, umm, presence are kind of scary¡ªlike you want to eat me.¡± ¡°Who says I don¡¯t?¡± she lightly asked. ¡°There must be something you¡¯ve learned from watching me that you could tell them. By all means, spill my secrets.¡± Elira shifted uncomfortably under her bloodlust. ¡°I, uh, I haven¡¯t seen her use her chains yet. So¡­ maybe you¡¯re holding back or can¡¯t use them? Plus, you like a good fight, which Princess Heather noted; you¡¯re very confident, and that can be used against you.¡± Elinor chuckled at the girl¡¯s stumbled responses, focus returning to Flera as she held up her hand and nudged it to the left; Anala muffled a cry as the cage swung left, pressing Drake against her, ice-enchanted bolts missing the rope keeping it stable. They didn¡¯t know that Drake and Anala were seemingly synchronizing their elemental affinity, the fire-user puffing out frosty breaths that tingled the boy¡¯s collarbone as they attempted to freeze a patch of her web in order to escape. The former ¡®enemies¡¯ were turning out to be working together to a wonderful degree. Aura was still a flapping fish out of water, totally oblivious to the pair¡¯s plan and probably wondering why they were trying to ice her. Anala and Drake might impress me further and free themselves before being rescued¡­ unless Flera noticed it? Elinor thought with a small smirk as Kasper pressed an open palm against his closed fist, generating a twinkling blue light. She must have. The boy slid his palm over the open air, creating an outline of a sapphire blade; the fancy, guardless hilt materializing in his hand as a sleek, ornate Kriegsmesser blade nearly as tall as the woman herself formed out of pure magical energy. Impressed laughter came from the City Guards and Magic Knights behind the boy. He breathed out a long stream of air, throat somewhat hoarse as he left the sword in the air. Flipping up his own blade that he¡¯d left leaning against his side, Kasper mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s going to destroy your hand¡ª¡± Flera reached for the hilt of the weapon without hesitation, a similar faint blue light twinkling off her palms as it closed around it. She brought it around, goosebumps breaking out across the woman¡¯s forearms, rolled-up sleeves bulging as she tensed her biceps. Kasper shook his head. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm.¡± Flera expertly twirled the blade around her figure and behind her back as if weightless, leaving a trail of glittering light in its wake. ¡°Just because one was never accepted into the House of Magic Knights doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t use mana, My Lord. How long can you maintain it?¡± ¡°Less¡­ than eight minutes,¡± he answered, clearing his voice and causing the throng to get excited as the giant projection of the well-known city captain showed off her skills. ¡°A warning¡­ it¡¯s not stable and could collapse or explode.¡± Elinor strode back to allow them to jump onto the platform, turning on her heel to spread her arms open wide to give them a free shot; maybe it was her Warlord idiocy or pride at play. ¡°Lovely¡ªhehe, well, aren¡¯t you full of surprises, Captain? I wonder if Grandmaster Lilya will need to skip you by a few grades at the end of this.¡± A small burst of weak blue light carried the experienced woman up the steep arena wall to land on the tile, Kasper joining her with his magic-reinforced steel blade. Several Tempest floated at the edge of the little alcove she¡¯d created in her nest for this little competition. The woman took a deep breath and took a stance with her blade held level, ready to use her small magic reserves to jump her into striking range; her hair was already pulled up into a small bun to keep out of the way. Kasper maintained a small distance from the brown-haired warrior, acting as her follow-up. Elira gulped as the atmosphere became thick with tension, the ravens showing their stare down as the Tempest hovered over a Conjuror¡¯s Gate they were going to use against her; clearly, the grandmaster was stretching things by allowing them to use it. Meanwhile, the Alchemists created deconstruction alchemic circles to obtain raw materials to reconstruct into their anti-web weapon. She¡¯d given them a lot of room to grow and for new players to enter the field; now, it was time to enjoy herself. [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 90%] Flera slowly moved around her as her thirst for combat deepened, simultaneously dulling and sharpening [Strategic Mind]. Two long, ethereal spider legs formed from Death Energy at her back, curving around and drawing eyes; she was nearing the single digits at this point. Her metamorphosis allowed two more, yet her pool was starting to run too low to use them when they weren¡¯t needed. The woman¡¯s gaze never left her face, while Kasper waited for his opportunity to strike. ¡°I am thankful for this opportunity, Empress. Fair warning, I¡¯m going for your head.¡± ¡°Fair warning, hehe, if I could be killed by decapitation, then I would have died long ago,¡± she chuckled, working around her shoulders while testing her new, nearly 3-meter-long limbs. ¡°It is a strange feeling, seeing one¡¯s body from a decapitated position.¡± Flera¡¯s low, slightly raspy voice held a degree of deadly mirth. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it.¡± Probing her senses, Elinor¡¯s toes flexed against the web-covered tile, sending threads to latch onto the captain¡¯s feet, yet a light pulse of magical energy through the woman¡¯s boots scattered the signal, only creating a slight ripple. Interesting, she thought, the world slowing with her hyper-sensitive perception as the guard shot forward, using that previous tiny burst of magical force to propel her. Her flickering blade was faster than the previous 3rd-rank Magic Knight candidate due to the Blue Blade¡¯s weightlessness along with her practiced maneuver, utilizing her well-trained twitch muscles. Efficient. Determined not to give ground, her left spider leg tried to deflect it, only to be sliced clean in two, despite the angle she¡¯d blocked at; it was practically a lightsaber. Undeterred, she twisted to the side to dodge, her right spider leg aiming for the captain¡¯s kidney; she could get more serious with this woman. Sadly, Kasper was there to back her up, glowing sword hitting with a heavy blow that didn¡¯t cut through her tough exoskeleton hide like the Blue Blade but did force it away. Flera twirled her weapon in a flourish while using her magic on a single leg to slide around and deliver a second fluid blow¡ªperhaps she was instructor material. Using her own momentum, she flipped into a barrel roll to evade the horizontal slash, two chains exiting the void; one carried her to the ceiling while the other attempted to latch onto the magical weapon, only for it to be vaporized on contact, which was a first. Her feet met the silk by the cage, mind spinning as her focus gradually condensed around the skilled swordswoman. The blue point was already rising to enter her skull, thrown from the floor as Flera¡¯s other hand drew her dagger and tossed it at the rope holding the three noble kids to the ceiling. What a cheeky play, Elinor laughed to herself, sensing Kasper¡¯s sharp expulsion of magical force that carried him to the ceiling, as well. His legs were wrapped in sapphire light to stop any web shenanigans, yet curiously, he threw his own sword at her, meeting at a cross right near her face. Something didn¡¯t smell right; they were too coordinated. A reverse cyclone of wind rotated below her, Aura¡¯s teary, accusatory eyes locked on her from her wrapped position; it was a pincer attack to lock her in place. However, it was Kasper¡¯s hands closing around Flera¡¯s thrown dagger that made her smile, a blue glow encircling it. Sticky webs drew her into the rapid slipstream of her internal silk network, carrying her outside the nova of explosive magical energy that erupted the moment the two blades connected; Kasper¡¯s was nearly too late but managed to touch the tip of the Blue Blade just in time. A quake ran through her hollow tunnel as the rods around the cage of the nobles rocketed upward; Kasper evaded the barrage of hardened silk at the last second, his Blue Blade flying out of the explosion and into his hands to eat through one of the spikes, yet the momentum still carried the boy to the ceiling. Elinor slid out from a hole near the floor, somewhat covered in the liquid silk mess, as she straightened herself to face the captain. The captain snatched Kasper¡¯s thrown steel blade out of the air as it fell, twirling it around with a slight frown. ¡°A decent weapon.¡± Sapphire light dislodged and broke Kasper away from the sticky ceiling, illuminated boots keeping him slightly off the silk floor; he was somehow taking orders from Flera without her speaking, which fascinated her. She noticed Aura¡¯s growl out of her extra eyes, the green-haired woman now shivering from Anala and Drake¡¯s attempts to freeze their way out. Her main attention was on the knight duo, though, fist resting under her chin and one arm under her bust as they met up to swap weapons again. Kasper had somehow retained the dagger. Elinor¡¯s gaze lifted to her destroyed ceiling, a whole hollow channel of liquid silk devastated by the volatile blast. ¡°Are you communicating, or are those practiced tactics from Magic Knight doctrine? Hehe. I must say, you nearly freed them, Kasper. Well done! Uh-oh. It seems my binds were a bit too thin,¡± she chimed, looking left as mist expelled from the nobles, flash-freezing and shattering her web. In the rush of fog, she darted forward in the haze, yet a twist to her gut made her drop to her knees to slide across the ground, only for her right spider leg and left arm to be met by a blue streak from Flera¡¯s reactionary twirl. Dodging three more follow-up attacks, a whirlwind expelled the mist, revealing a shivering and quite pissed green-haired teen, her long hair weaving upward. ¡°That¡­ was humiliating, Empress!¡± Anala was shaking on the frosted web floor, now inoperable to her, as Drake held her shoulders. ¡°Hey, are you okay? You¡¯re not used to the cold¡ª¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m¡ªheh, I¡¯m fine,¡± she mumbled, quite a bit more timid and shaky than she¡¯d been before as she hugged herself. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ hard to¡ªwhy can¡¯t I use my fire¡­ I can only access t-the cold¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine, Lady Anala,¡± Flera replied, kicking Elinor and slicing-off one of her limbs, getting a short chortle from her; the woman was good at taunting her and more than a little skilled. The Magic Knights were sleeping on the captain, but she was an officer in the City Guard for a reason. ¡°Kasper¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m in position,¡± he mumbled, defending the three. ¡°Not bad, kid. Your dad did teach you the Magic Knight Doctrine and Tactics. As for your fire, Lady Anala, didn¡¯t your family teach you that Tempest Synchronization causes a temporary instability in your magic? You¡¯ll be fine in a few minutes. Prince Charming, why don¡¯t you get the ladies some first-aid from the Alchemists? I hear they¡¯ve got some new tonics from the old queen.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Drake mumbled, handing the redhead a sheet of silk that had been torn off in the explosion to wrap around her somewhat exposed chest. She accepted it with a small smile before it went to a pout, and she glared up at him. ¡°Thanks for distracting The Empress for us to escape¡ªwhat, Anala?¡± ¡°How am I supposed to walk after you numbed my legs?¡± she accused, quivers increasing. ¡°It¡¯s sooo cold!¡± ¡°No, no, I get it!¡± he said with a sad laugh, clearly having trouble standing himself but surprising everyone when he managed to lift the flaming-cheeked Tarkov into a princess carry; it had to be from the cold, right? ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not done!¡± Aura snapped, the wind-user picking up steam. A breeze started to pick up around Elinor as she giggled and held up her arm, emerald flames igniting to refashion her lost limb and spider legs. Yet, a sharp tongue dropped the shocked green-haired girl to the ground as Anala created a small lump of snow in her hand to send it smacking right into the girl¡¯s red nose; Aura hit her butt hard as she stumbled back. ¡°Don¡¯t be your typical vengeful stupid and leave it to the Magic Knights¡ªwe got destroyed¡ªdeal with it! Ack¡­ Mmgmg. Drake, you¡¯re the worst!¡± she lightly growled, smacking his chest and almost making him slip, carrying both of them to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m so cold!¡± she whimpered, curling tighter into his chest. ¡°Sorry¡­ I know I could have done better,¡± he weakly laughed, stopping at the edge of the arena to look back and offer her a thankful smile. ¡°Thank you for all your lessons, Empress. Aura¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m coming, dammit¡ªmy butt¡­ Anala, if you broke my tailbone, I¡¯m going to strip the rest of your clothes¡ªAnala! Wha¡ªDrake?¡± Another expert snowball throw, this time generated from the scowling boy, had the Proltis girl thrown for a loop as the other Tempest swooped in to help ¡®medivac¡¯ them to the field hospital the Alchemists had set up. Not a bad guy, Elinor commented to her Court. Anala¡¯s heart turned out to be quite easy to melt, but I guess she is a little firecracker. After the chemical performance, Elinor turned her two opponents, still ready to fight. However, her real opponent was now here, and the heat in her chest was growing to dangerous levels. Gesturing at the pair, she tilted her head toward the group of Conjuration students. ¡°If we continue, I might really end up killing you,¡± she laughed, running her hands over her hair to check her ponytail¡¯s security. ¡°I¡¯m getting too excited! Hehehe. So, let¡¯s call it there since you did manage to impress me. Now, I get to really kill something. Besides, your time¡¯s up.¡± Flera sighed as she held the Blue Blade up, and it began to fade into sparkling light. ¡°It was fun while it lasted, Empress. Considering you limited yourself to the candidates¡¯ levels, I am the one impressed at how well you can perceive danger in combat. Thank you for the chance to wield a Blue Blade, Lord Kasper.¡± ¡°No,¡± he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck and breathing somewhat hard after the rapid exchange. ¡°I¡¯ve never felt so¡­ alive and scared. Thank you both for the demonstration of a real battle; I¡¯d like to spar and learn from you in the future, Captain Flera.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± she said, emotions settling. ¡°Well, we should get out of the ring before whatever the Conjurors are cooking up decides we¡¯re also a meal. Good luck, Empress.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need luck,¡± Elinor whispered, stretching out her new arms. ¡°I just need to be entertained¡­ because, hehe, I might get a little mad if this is too easy.¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 100%] [Killer Instinct: Activated] B3 — 11. Never Surrender! The heated pulse within Elinor¡¯s core swelled as she held her arm behind her back and walked into her nest, webbing curling around to seal her inside. Her undead heart pounded like a slow beating drum, her channeled th¨¦lm¨¦thra spirit¡¯s instincts mixing with [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust] to dredge up something buried deep within her soul. Every step she took along the silk-covered tiles of the arena sent a shivering pulse through every fiber of her being; the world moved at a snail¡¯s pace, the cries of the teenagers blending with the City Guard, instructors, and audience. Each droplet of the restrained rain against the barrier above rippled through space to tickle her heating skin. Darkness weaved out of an abyss sealed somewhere within to grip her mind, filling her with the burning chaos that brought evolution and order. An urge for conflict lifted Elinor¡¯s vision to the heavens as her casual manipulations fed through the web nexus, her dexterous fingers creating a rhythm to fill the nervous system with life. Through each plucking thread, the battlefield bloomed into a symphony of moving parts. Remaining on the defensive was becoming a chore. She needed more, and a plan blossomed in a rush of anticipation as she met her illuminated crimson eyes in the hologram overhead, the lime green replaced by [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust]. The strum of instruments met her invisible expanding fingers, causing her fleshy digits to twitch into action as she spun in a gradual circle with the rising hum of the music. Her entire web infrastructure collapsed inward to fill her cocoon with what remained of her liquid silk, generating a stir outside that brought silent laughter rolling through her with the growling heavens. The House applicants held their breath with apprehension, preparing themselves for another assault as the Magic Knights and Tempest formed a line between the two consolidated groups. The Alchemists and Conjurors rushed to complete their tasks on one side, providing healing for those harmed and rerouting the summoning gate to offer her an opponent that could ease the defensive line¡¯s struggle. It wasn¡¯t enough, though, and striding forward, Elinor turned her ember eyes to Castria, a soft song in her throat. The sphere she created with her remaining liquid silk and already-crafted thread peeled back to look up at her Queen of Storms, appearing to phase through the container with a toothy grin. ¡°E-Empress?¡± the girl hesitantly asked, unable to restrain a nervous laugh. ¡°Why are you here¡­ on this side? Your eyes¡­¡± Heather and Julian shivered at her exit, the Tempest guarding them floating back a little from the bloodlust she projected. She didn¡¯t have enough control, or the electrical generation needed to spark her plan into action from the limited abilities the Drone could project; such high-tier web manipulation was likely only possible for the queen or her daughters. Yet, she had her own power plant. Hand raising into the air, everyone¡¯s focus darted to the thread attached to her fingers and the thin, crawling string inching around the entire circumference of the stadium¡¯s roof from the four structural pillars she¡¯d set earlier. Opening her tinted lips, Elinor chuckled, flaming eyes narrowing while looking right at her Monarch while setting her trap. Her cocoon pulsed like a heart to her manipulations, creating uneasy shifts from the teens as she fed the threads around the stadium. It crawled to her will, molding into her desired framework. Within the slimy interior, her captured prisoners squirmed in their bound, trio groups. It was time to up the stakes. ¡°I have given you thirty minutes to test and plot against me; I have given you guidance from the Grandmasters. My goal in this exercise was to push you¡­ To make it painfully clear what it is you will face in this kingdom¡¯s coming trials¡­ And what have you done with that time, Princess Castria?¡± A lump formed in the Tempests¡¯ throats as she answered her rhetorical question with mirth. ¡°You¡¯ve charged up for a singular attack, waiting for the right opportunity to strike me, and look¡­ it¡¯s almost time,¡± she cooed, gesturing up at the hologram that showed the Conjurors lined up behind the most talented boy, activating the repurposed gate. ¡°Only¡­ did you think an enemy wouldn¡¯t disrupt your efforts?¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Castria squeaked, flashes of the gathered electricity sparking around Castria¡¯s figure and glowing, neon-blue highlights; the girl¡¯s necklace, a royal treasure, shimmered with the conductive mana she¡¯d gathered from the other nobles, filling her with a giant pool of energy to use¡ªfor her to steal. Castria¡¯s nervousness spiked through the Nexus as she looked at the other Tempest. ¡°Watch every angle¡ª¡± ¡°Death in the air parading, and there¡¯s nowhere to run¡­¡± Elinor interrupted, reading the wind pressure generated by the Wind-Users. Her index finger tugged at her strings, sending a pulse through the network to her thin, invisible noose that slid around the 17-year-old girl¡¯s throat and yanked her upward. ¡°Think you know your friends? What will you do when the darkness comes and all your plans fail?¡± Julian and Heather flew into the air after the stunned teenage girl to cut the thread around Castria¡¯s throat, the others nowhere near fast enough to stop the Tempest from being dragged to the ceiling; silk snaked down the tether, soaking up electricity as it attached to the artifact, filling her network with life. Arms held high, she laughed as her cocoon was dragged into the sky right through the hologram to explode in a giant spider¡¯s web that stretched across the entire stadium, blocking out the starry light of the dome and casting the audience in shadows. Gasps and screams came from the crowd, pointed fingers drawing attention to the bundled prisoners as they dangled on thick ropes for all to see. The hologram projected a dull light throughout the stands as a hundred thousand onlookers saw the teenagers through the shifting display, with the ravens taking to the air to give them a full look at the situation: row upon row of applicants swayed, a hair¡¯s breadth away from nooses closing around their throats. Thunder crashed overhead as the dome of water broke, the Grand Duke no longer feeding it and allowing the water to splash over the spider¡¯s web. Panic flooded Castria¡¯s undead body and the other Tempest as it bounced, streams of liquid funneling through holes to drop into waterfalls that fell onto the stadium. Jumping into the air, she landed on clinking chains that linked underneath her, looking upon the trembling Conjurors and Alchemists, the Tempest now gathering the anti-web liquid to spread. The entire arena was covered with layers of silk, thin threads rising to the top of the stadium and giving her the ability to take any action no matter where she stood. Heather made it to Castria first, jets of frosted air breaking the noose binding her neck and feeding off of her amulet, but the damage was done. Her grin grew upon facing the Conjuror¡¯s gateway, a vortex of black fire revealing a demonic entity of obsidian skin and ruby armaments. ¡°Gaze upon the eyes of Death, you¡¯re mesmerized!¡± Her voice projected through every bone like an arctic gust, directing their focus to the teenagers spread all along the ceiling. ¡°Hanging heads and blood raining from the sky! Can¡¯t you see the world is changing¡ªdisintegrating? The flame of chaos never dies; it only terrifies! Hahaha! Everything you¡¯ve planned is gone, Castria! How will you kill me now?¡± A guttural laughter came from the gateway, projected as if from a volcano as the semi-elemental figure of the flickering Flame Demon strode onto the grass, instantly locking its focus on her; its frame erupted in a writhing black inferno as it spoke. ¡°Ashes falling from the sky! A world wrapped in eternal gray¡ªthe Ebony Flame burns!¡± Grandmaster Vesta choked. ¡°Irkai, you gave them the schematics to summon a Duskan?! Are you insane?! They are only approved for war¡ªthe mana cost and concentration to upkeep it without contract repercussions¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Vesta,¡± the Conjuration Grandmaster returned, a grin on his face. ¡°A Duskan male, hmm? Hah. They live for conflict and battle; it¡¯s a good thing it wasn¡¯t a female or the kids could have been in trouble. So long as he is fed mana, he is the perfect counter to the Raven Empress. Ralna can handle it with the gate¡¯s assistance and Mana Gem.¡± Weaving red energy solidified at Elinor¡¯s back into two more spear-like legs as her four extra limbs spread out with her arms, welcoming the finale. ¡°Save who you can, heroes! Entertain me!¡± Elinor leaned back, spotting her red-faced Tempest as she launched into a dive bomb, green fire igniting around her. ¡°Empress!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold back, Castria!¡± A lance of ice matching Drake¡¯s launched at her, followed by an emerald conflaguration. Red wisps embraced her hand, a chain connecting to her open palm; her face passed right by the spiked icicle, shards growing out to skate centimeters from her cheeks, and the links dragged her out of its range to the ground. The second she touched the arena, her four arms closed into an x, an obsidian blade lusting for her flesh to cleave her in two; the force dropped her to one knee, and her teeth flashed at the pressure that pushed her into the stone. Vision locking with the demon¡¯s, she laughed at the aura of spiritually corrupting flames that licked against her frame; such attacks were useless against her already ruined soul, yet she was being physically overpowered as the creature¡¯s muscles flexed. Excitement rushed through her veins while staring into the Duskan¡¯s grinning face, fangs glistening in the overhead green tint that bathed them in light. Time hyper-slowed to her focused mind while the demon continued to gain ground by the millisecond, his heated crystal blade starting to melt into her exoskeleton; he was strong, and the shiver that ran down her spine said Julian, Castria, and, surprisingly, Heather were launching a joint attack. She was losing control of her thirst for combat, feeling like a stranger in her own skin with the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s nature closing in on her from all sides. Steam passed through her hot lips, her crimson eyes widening with glee as a surge of power bloomed within her, stopping the Duskan¡¯s advance and making his face morph into a monstrous, fanged grin. [Empress: Minion Break: Activated] [Lich: Chain Break: Activated] Chains broke through space from opposite directions, latching onto the black sword and her shoulder, tearing them apart as a hail of icicles peppered the stage; the crystals bit into the web-filled tile, spreading a frosty layer as she went into acrobatic twists across the arena. She passively sensed the Magic Knights and Tempest attempting to save her prey above, but the drum of war in her chest brought her focus back to the Duskan as he entered striking range. A trail of black flames followed the slowed, razor¡¯s edge that passed by her eyes, palm shoving it away; it felt like she was ready to die at any second without a second thought with the Drone¡¯s suicidal impulses to eliminate the threat to the hive. She dropped to her butt, wrapping her leg around the demon¡¯s advance with a whirlwind of emerald death swirling down from above; twisting to the Duskan¡¯s back, three of her spear-like appendages sank into its flesh, searing their exterior from the creature¡¯s infernal blood, yet she pushed into it, using another leg to trip him into a tumble. ¡°Slippery creatu¡ªagh!¡± Using the snarling demon as a shield, Castria and Heather¡¯s green fire tornado crashed over them. She winced as part of the inferno managed to slip underneath him, burning part of her face. She kicked the demon toward the black-haired Sorceress, dislodging her spikes from the demon¡¯s tough hide; she¡¯d only managed to carve a light wound. Haha! Taking no prisoners! she laughed through the Nexus to her Monarch, jade flames dispersing as Heather tackled Castria out of the monster¡¯s path. Watch yourself. You¡¯re really taking inspiration from the High Noble teens?! ¡°I have to stop you from killing the others!¡± Doing a back walkover, followed by a back handspring, she spun around the flowing water Julian manipulated. In the light reflection in the smooth liquid, she saw her half-charred face and still-burning hair, now shoulder-length and swaying across her vision. Chains launched her up, dodging the demon¡¯s cleaving swing as his fire-laced wings carried him through the air to strike her.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Good luck! ¡°Empress, no!¡± Castria screamed. Her clawed fingernails went right for Julian¡¯s wide eyes, spears aiming for his limbs; a streak of strong wind carried the undead girl into her path, and Elinor¡¯s nails tore a line down her Monarch¡¯s back as she slid by, taking Julian to the grass to tumble over one another. Flipping around in the air, links exited space, connecting at her feet and bowing slightly as she put pressure on the chains, bringing her to a stop. She aimed right at the coughing pair, Castra¡¯s mind still in a bewildered haze. She generated a weak crystal shell in their defense; it couldn¡¯t stop her. The Monarch was still petrified that she¡¯d gone for the kill against her crush. ¡°Wait!¡± Do something¡ª All the hair on Elinor¡¯s body stood on end, her extra eyes spotting Heather near one of the waterfalls, focused desperation on her face as sparks of lightning danced around her frame. Silk would be too slow to reach the arena to carry her away. The clinking of chains brought a link to her palm as a second exited space near her hand to latch onto the swinging Duskan¡¯s blade; it connected, and she grabbed the tether to create a ground to the demon, a grin splitting her lips. Yet, the creature¡¯s own mouth peeled back as Heather let a wild flash of electricity erupt from her directed hand, and the Duskan let go of his weapon. Shit. Her mind went blank, and her vision blackened as energy ripped through her chains and into her body. Spots dotted her sight, ears deafened, and senses momentarily frazzled, Elinor lost track of the demon, and seconds later, the Duskan¡¯s deep laughter filtered through her fractured mind. His clasped hands instantly came down on her chest like a maul, crushing her ribs and throwing her into the arena. Dust erupted from the impact, and stone broke apart as all the air in her lungs exited her mouth, but she didn¡¯t need to breathe to function; a thrown sword sank into her chest to be sure of it, barely missing her heart. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Body half-broken from the combination attack, she choked a laugh and pushed her core upward as the demon landed over her to gloat. The surprised Duskan tried to grab his sword¡¯s hilt as her legs rose to wrap around his waist, the blade digging through her chest while she used her th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s enhanced strength to slam him to his side. Her Death Pool was getting too low to refresh her frame without a thought; she forced herself upward with her semi-damaged spider legs, the blade sliding to its hilt against her breast as she twitched, muscles still experiencing the surge of lightning that had torn through her dead body. ¡°What manner of thing are you¡ªargh!¡± the demon snarled, fighting the webs Elinor sent from the stage floor to pin him in place while drawing the blade out of her chest, the crowd on their feet in disbelief. ¡°I will not be pinned!¡± ¡°And I won¡¯t surrender!¡± She strained a smile, holding her hand up and stumbling back, the obsidian sword in hand as she reapplied her silken top and bottom; an aura of black flames cracked the very stone the Duskan was stuck to, blasting her tethers. Elinor flipped the blade around to catch the spray of lightning that Heather projected at her again, sending it into her web network to entangle the three Tempest. A quarter of her prisoners above had been rescued, and she used Heather¡¯s energy to sever part of the supportive rope that kept them from being strangled to death. The anti-web substance entered her internal silk nexus along the stadium ceiling, flames now breaking out across the whole superstructure to send ashes raining down on them. ¡°Tempest, keep them in the air!¡± ¡°Control that fire!¡± ¡°We need Water Tempests here!¡± ¡°M-My neck¡ªI-I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t!¡± ¡°Freeze it off!¡± Elinor rolled around her neck and twirled the Duskan¡¯s sword as Castria and the others tried to untangle themselves; the virus-like substance was spreading throughout her whole network. She could quarantine sections and stop it, although, at this point, it was already a lost cause to put her attention on. Her healing factor was fighting the black flames, but it was a far cry from outpacing its destruction as the creature rose to his full 2-meter height to leer down at her. She choked a laugh as crimson flames embraced her, rebuilding her artificial body and restoring her to full fighting strength. ¡°Catch!¡± ¡°Hahaha. Not bad, little¡ªagh!¡± He snarled as she threw his sword at the Conjuror keeping his black, swirling gateway open. ¡°Coward!¡± Wings flaring, a flash burn of flames launched the demon to the side to snatch his obsidian blade out of the air, stopping the tip only feet from splitting the sweating boy¡¯s head in two. He flipped around with a snarl, jaw slackening in disbelief as her spread fingers and peeled-back lips met his gaze, chains bringing her into close range. A thick glob of silk wrapped around his face to slide down to his throat, twirling into a rope at the impulse she sent through the web. Slipping between his wings, her bare feet landed against the lip of the gateway, and she shot right back, heel landing between the demon¡¯s shoulders and giving him a mouth full of dirt as she rode him across the grass. Flicking ember flakes blanketed the arena from the inferno above, the instruments reaching a crescendo as she planted her feet against the choking demon¡¯s back. Crossing the thread, she continued to twist it finer and finer until it was like a piano wire; her muscles tensed as she pulled upward, using all the leverage she could. ¡°Is this it? Aaaah-haha!¡± she screamed, strained laughter mixing with her shaking muscles; the silk bit deeper and deeper into the demon¡¯s burning, semi-corporal form, and her spider-like legs jabbed into his thick hide, peppering his flesh for a weakness. ¡°Can you even d¡ª¡± The tension vanished, vision going wide as the Duskan¡¯s body became smoke, the sulfuric fog rushing past her, filling her lungs with a blazing inferno. Now totally airborne, she felt him materializing behind her, his ethereal blade coming down to slice her in half. Yet, she wasn¡¯t done. The fire in her veins became magma, the thrill of being caught off-guard spurring her to action. ¡°Never surrender!¡± the demon shouted, wings closing in to trap her from escaping, but who was escaping? Seven spikes pierced space behind the Duskan, her chains penetrating his corrupted soul and jailing it in place; barely holding onto the prisoning ability through sheer willpower, Elinor locked his abilities, cutting off his aura of black flames. She spun around and pounced at the demon, sinking her spider-like fangs into his flesh to inject her neurotoxin. Unable to counter it with its enhanced, infernal blood, she pumped the liquid into his veins, tasting rotten meat and brimstone burning her nostrils. His resistance lessened, allowing her to use his paralyzed frame as a platform to flip onto his shoulders. Hair sweeping behind her, chest heaving with effort, Elinor wrapped the wire around his already cut neck, fitting it into the grooves. Face and cheeks half-melted away from just biting the demon, she forced a smile while ripping the Duskan¡¯s head from his body, cutting clean through bone and flesh. Feeling a little shaky as she ran dangerously low on her Death Pool, she released her chains, dropping the Duskan¡¯s severed head to the grass. Reforming her body, Elinor landed on the creature¡¯s back, and the gateway behind them broke, along with its mana crystal. Weak laughter shook her frame as her red eyes faded. The terrified Conjurors scrambled back after their creature had died; well, those that were still conscious, most had already fainted from mana loss. However, Elinor¡¯s focus was on the army of City Guards, Tempests, and Magic Knights that now surrounded her, Castria hovering over them, wreathed in green fire. Taking a deep breath, Elinor cracked her neck. ¡°Hehe. Shall we continue?¡± She could smell the nervous vibe that swept most of the throng, yet the king¡¯s voice filled the ensuing silence as the orchestra faded away. ¡°Empress, I think you have more than demonstrated what it means to stand as a shield to the citizens from enemies¡­ external and otherwise. Are you satisfied?¡± Lime-green eyes returned, they drifted between the mostly destroyed arena, stunned crowd, and the falling ash from the burning web overhead. A smirk lifted her lips. ¡°I suppose I am,¡± she whispered through the raven speakers. ¡°I had fun!¡± Sweeping her wild hair back and letting go of a long stream of air while looking at those who had been ready to battle to the death, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a little impressed; it was more than she would have guessed. Castria was still upset that she¡¯d gone after her man, though, but that could be handled later. With all attention on her, her vision wandered to each face as she spoke, reciting a figure she¡¯d heard in her past that [Strategic Mind] and her Warlord Evolution brought back to her mind. ¡°Rejoice, people of Kaspir. If your soldiers survive your first few combat scenarios, statistically, they have a 90% increased chance of survival for future missions. This is why it is important for the House of Conjuration to present them with battle opportunities.¡± Her gaze returned to Castria, still shaking a little from the fear of losing the noble boy she¡¯d known most of her life. ¡°You still have a few more missions to reach that number. Make sure never to forget what you¡¯ve learned here, Class,¡± she giggled. ¡°Know that your king and I will expect nothing but the best, no matter what House you join. Oh¡­ and be sure to take care of those pretty necks.¡± She traced a line across her own neck, which had only recently been reconstructed, and their focus instantly went to the decapitated Duskan, getting a few gulps from those that had burn marks from her silk in the area. The clinking of chains fractured space as they brought her and her prize back into her private box, trailing inky blood. She landed on the railing of her box, the projection exploding into dazzling light as the ravens burst into black feathers that mixed with the falling ash and embers. It seemed the majority of the crowd and those who had been in the ring needed to rest for a moment because the Grand Duke gave a thirty-minute break before the Selection Ceremony, with the crown providing food. Feeling exhausted¡ªfar more than she felt like she should¡ªElinor took it as a sign that her soul wasn¡¯t accustomed to channeling such a powerful spirit yet. Ash came in the nick of time, entering the room and walking right to her as Tiffany exited the waterfall room, hiding how drained she truly was after the complex ritual. It didn¡¯t help with how many temporary familiars she¡¯d had to summon for it. ¡°How did you feel like it went, Empress?¡± the Horseman of Death asked. Elinor breathed a sigh and placed a hand on his arm, absorbing 100 Death Orbs from the man¡ªhis limit. Immediately, she felt a little better, if a little sore. It gave me a rough estimate of my current limit. I think¡­ you damaged my earrings a little, Castria. ¡°Sorry, Empress¡­¡± the girl mumbled, ¡°but that was really mean to go for Julian like that¡ªhe¡¯s shaking! Heather seems to be doing better, though¡­¡± Elinor shifted to sit on the railing and leaned against the support pillar to stare down at the crying and laughing applicants. Her senses began to spread out again now that she wasn¡¯t totally focused on the Duskan and three Tempest. Heather had impressed her at the end, having actually landed an electrical attack on her to give the demon such a massive opening. I¡¯ll have to reward her somehow¡­ How are they, Tiffany? The Witch Queen was brushing back her loose hair to study her studded earrings. ¡°A¡­ bit dusty and dirty, but the charm I cast to guard you from Shade prevented any damage. I will need to repair and strengthen it due to the damage done to it, however. Which reminds me,¡± the woman huffed, putting her hands on her hips with a leery glare, ¡°we need to find you a second Phylactery. I know I can find one in this city; I can¡¯t believe it¡¯s eluded me so far!¡± Her small smile turned to the king¡¯s box, sensing her father¡¯s anxiety; he hadn¡¯t said a word not to distract her, but he was as shaken as Julian. Dad¡­ thank you for trusting me. ¡°We¡¯ll need to talk about whatever your Evolution has done to you later,¡± he growled, hiding his true feelings behind a stoic facade; it made her wonder if he¡¯d always been this emotionally torn up inside with worry when she was growing up. ¡°That being said, you were stunning.¡± Thanks, Dad. Her gaze drifted to the Grandmasters¡¯ section, where the teachers and House Leaders were a buzz of hushed discussion. However, Heather¡¯s active role in moving between groups, personally bringing Alchemic potions to soothe those who were hurt momentarily snagged her attention. It appeared that the public humbling and dangerous experience had made a lasting change in the abused princess. Hmm. How will things shape up with her mother after this? She pondered the topic for a time while observing the clean-up. According to her information, there was still one last event after the Selection Ceremony; a Death Row death match between those who have committed treason or severe crimes, such as mass murder. How is it looking for the Houses, Lilya? The former queen of the kingdom streamed out a sad puff of air. ¡°There is pushback from your claim that even people without mana can join the House of Ravens, but I will smooth it out. With your presentation, in addition to the Grand Duke and the king¡¯s support, there should only be minor resistance¡­ Thank you, Empress.¡± For? Lilya¡¯s deep, feminine voice softened. ¡°For providing me a way to better the lives of my citizens when I didn¡¯t have the authority to grant that wish when I was queen. From what I understand, you took a great risk to accomplish this, and for that, I am eternally grateful.¡± Feeling the warm fuzzies from her connection to her Queen of Alchemy, Elinor giggled, taking a more comfortable position while catching the eye of the disguised hag in her lower-positioned box to her right. Countess Evelyn Autumn would likely make her way up to chat sooner rather than later, or so she expected her to. As a bonus, she could feel herself on the edge of Level 21, and her battle had given her quite a few upgrades to her Feats. That could come later, though. Let me be perfectly clear, then¡­ If you see an opportunity or have the desire to spend time with your husband, take it. ¡°Excuse me?¡± The bronze-skinned woman¡¯s gaze lifted to stare at her, interrupting a conversation with her thrilled, former Alchemy student who took over her Grandmaster seat. ¡°Queen Alivau would burn me to cinders before allowing me to have a private discussion with Viri.¡± Aww, cute, you have a nickname for him, Elinor cooed, drawing up her knee and resting her cheek against her palm as Tiffany went to fetch her some new garments. I am not opposed to making Alivau my mortal enemy. I hate what she stands for and what she¡¯s done to her daughter. I will make my order explicit¡­ Destroy every dream she has and make Heather into a proper princess that her kingdom can be proud of. A gentle smile lifted the former queen¡¯s lips. ¡°Order received, Empress. I will see to it.¡± B3 — 11.5. Divinitys Fall Butter could sense the weight of Snow¡¯s soul just behind her, struggling to remain conscious in the overpowering presence of the entity of death before them. Poor thing, she communicated to Adoncia as Seg¡¯tharis gathered his thoughts to finally tell the history of his people. The poor thing is trying her best to be brave, and credit where credit is due; not many would be able to face a higher being infused by the essence of death. Her aquamarine eyes flicked to the white-haired woman¡¯s determined expression, as she shifted from behind Butter to stand beside her, admiring the fire that still burned despite the constant barrage of Death Energy flooding the area. The Fablekin had been thrust into this horrific mess compared to what her soul was accustomed to. Adoncia¡¯s concern sparked through their private connection, the thin and tight-skinned Supreme Chief no doubt listening in on it, given his strength and understanding of spiritual forces. ¡°Should I take her out? There¡¯s so much more we need to learn about how Earth changed, and¡­¡± No need to worry. She¡¯ll survive this, Butter projected to Adoncia, soothing her concerns with a confident and calculating note, and her soul will be all the stronger for it. I know Snow will be critical for the future to connect us with things we¡¯ll need to bring back to the empire from your former world. So tell me if you see her aging too fast for my light to counter. ¡°Yes, High Queen.¡± Her gaze returned to Seg¡¯tharis as he lifted his hand, and with a casual flick of his wrist, emerald fog began to swirl around the room. It was familiar to Butter; her twin¡¯s bread and butter. However, Snow could be turned to dust in an instant if she stepped half a meter away. As the fog thickened, she projected more of the Utelira¡¯s Life Force. The faint shimmer of the golden light pulsing outward, forming a protective bubble around Snow and herself. Adoncia kept her distance from the budding force, listening intently in the corner and relaying everything they heard through the Nexus to White and Mika. The fog took form, and the room transformed before their eyes, the stone walls melting away to reveal a different world entirely. Butter¡¯s head straightened while taking in the ancient, primeval jungle, dotted in deep purples and dark browns, untouched by time, its dense foliage shimmering under a greenish-gold light in the heavens. ¡°This is where it all began,¡± Seg¡¯tharis murmured, his voice low and haunted. ¡°Fifteen thousand years ago¡­ When Utelira and I were but children. Mortal¡­ Weak.¡± As he spoke, the jungle seemed to come alive, the golden toads, younger and more vibrant, smaller, their bodies lithe and agile as they moved through the trees. They weren¡¯t the warriors she knew from the valley, but rather a peaceful, almost innocent race, their lives dedicated to the natural cultivation of their land of big insects they dominated, to the nurturing of their precious, pristine waters. ¡°Back then, we lived in harmony with our world, the cycle of life and death,¡± Seg¡¯tharis continued, his fading eyes fixated on the early days of his youth. ¡°The rivers, the trees, the very earth itself¡­it all sustained us in whatever we needed or desired. We were content.¡± Butter felt a tug of sadness pull at her as she watched the idyllic scene for their early race play out. She could feel their joy, their laughter, their connection to the world around them. They weren¡¯t nearly as sophisticated as they were now. They¡¯d evolved. But of course they had; nothing good lasts forever. She knew what was coming next. The air shifted, growing colder, darker. Butter instinctively increased her life projection, knowing this part of the story would bring with it the familiar stench of death and trigger more of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ corruption to spike. A giant Crystal appeared from nowhere, seemingly instantly¡ª35-meters tall, hexahedron-shaped diamond, and a light creamy color. It hovered just above the dark treeline, its faceted surface gleaming with a sickly, pulsating light in its ethereal state. ¡°It appeared one night,¡± Seg¡¯tharis said, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°We didn¡¯t know what it was. My parents thought it was a gift, something sent from the great azure lands beyond the horizon to aid us. But they were wrong, and my people would never be the same again.¡± The scene shifted, faster this time, showing the familiar multi-colored activation of the stained glass-like dome that expanded across the entire valley, blotting out the heavens and isolating them. From the four Crystal Hubs spawned creatures that made Butter straighten and Snow scoot closer to her chair, bumping into it, lips parting in disbelief as only eight things emerged. Tall, spindly figures with crystalline armor and glowing red eyes that stood on ten legs, towering above the treeline, hundreds of meters in the air. Wielding powers utterly beyond the simple toads, the horrific race marched through the jungle like gods, rounding up the primitive ri¡¯bot and shackling them in elemental chains of ice and earth. ¡°The Jestelia,¡± Seg¡¯tharis whispered, his tone bitter. ¡°Servants and vessels of an alien power beyond the veil that controlled them like puppets to act in their place, and we were powerless to stop them. They took us from our world, dragged us back to their cursed lands, and bound us in servitude.¡± Butter leaned forward, intrigued by this twist in the story. This wasn¡¯t just a tale of conquest thus far; this was a story of enslavement, but that was sure to change soon. ¡°Initially, the dark masters controlling them needed us to tend to the Jestelia¡¯s hatchery,¡± Seg¡¯tharis said, his eyes locking with Butter¡¯s. ¡°For our unique anti-toxin attributes allowed us to survive in the contaminated waters where other creatures could not. I listened. I adapted. I learned. And I grew to understand the strength we could unlock within our own souls.¡± ¡°And the Crystals?¡± Butter asked, watching scene after scene of the powerful Jestelia race, puppeteered by their dark masters beyond the dimensional veil, entering portal after portal to collect more items, creatures, and powers to fuel their conquest. ¡°What were these dark masters after?¡± A wry tilt moved the deathly face of the giant golden toad as his tired eyes shifted to the giant creatures with their crystal tentacles and jagged, diamond teethed maws. ¡°I never discovered that¡­and maybe they were running away from something even more terrifying than them, because one day, out of nowhere, the Jestelia died¡ªall of them¡ªand the complex beings behind them, pulling their strings¡­vanished without a trace.¡± He waved his hand, pointing up and making Butter¡¯s lips part in awe. A giant Crystal, 200-meters tall¡ªthe largest yet¡ªappeared in the toxic gray sky as Seg¡¯tharis spoke. ¡°A Crystal of this size is capable of engaging a whole landmass of a planet in the conflict, and its rhombicuboctahedron shape is one of only two I have ever witnessed in my fifteen thousand years of living.¡± He stood to look up at the colossal 26-faced object, pulsing with power that made Butter throat constrict. ¡°Its black hue marked it as something impossible to overcome, is what we learned through our own Crystal conquests. The more sides they have, the closer to higher dimensions it is, and this one¡­goes beyond the third or fourth, yet it appeared to us¡­ ¡°At first, I thought the Jestelia puppeteers had finished their work and had no more need for us or them¡­but now I do not believe such a fable¡­ Not after experiencing it for the second time, and on their footing. I learned the truth. About what actually happened to our first captors when that black star hung in the sky.¡± Butter rose to join him, clasping her hands behind her back, and lightly tugging Snow¡¯s arm to prompt her to join her as the Fable froze, ashen face skyward at the obsidian object looming over them. ¡°So, they did not control the Crystals but knew when they were preparing to spawn, as you eventually did, and they tried but couldn¡¯t escape the eventual fate of being conquered by something stronger than them?¡± A shiver ran down Butter¡¯s frame while watching the abyssal object hovering in solitude, the fractured dome above entirely white instead of the rainbow collage of colors she¡¯d seen before. There was something threatening in that black sphere she couldn¡¯t quite put into words, yet her instincts told her it wasn¡¯t something to be underestimated. ¡°You know what these Crystals true purpose is?¡± The ancient toad¡¯s hollow gaze drifted to the decaying corpse of the Death Faction Head he¡¯d taken over, yet his face didn¡¯t show sorrow or pity but contempt for something weak. ¡°¡­You¡¯re getting ahead of the story, Lady of Conquest.¡± A small chortle shook Butter¡¯s frame as she glanced around at the lifeless Jestelia, their souls likely no longer able to support themselves and being crushed under their own bloated weight once their dark masters ceased to empower them. ¡°Fair enough. So, what happened to you after your captors vanished?¡± Seg¡¯tharis¡¯s voice grew cold, his expression hardening while pointing at the above pulsing cavity in space-time. ¡°A dark orb fell from the Crystal¡ªa cocoon of some kind that sank into the land¡ªand in a flash of black light, everything changed. We¡¯d been taken to a new planet¡ªthis planet¡ªwhere black diamonds fell from the sky¡­ The Black Desert.¡± Butter¡¯s vision narrowed, recalling a piece from Shade¡¯s story and things Quin talked about regarding her former Ke on his journey to the far north, likely to destroy one of Shade¡¯s prison locks. It bought images of the mountain-sized dragon, the Avana, who had come to reclaim something they¡¯d taken. Yet, as Quin described the tale, Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma made his way through an obsidian desert that swallowed the weak and sent nightshades to haunt them, awake or asleep. ¡°We did not break or return to our old ways,¡± he continued, shifting his posture to show them traveling south, escaping the desert of glass shards that ripped their skin, Seg¡¯tharis and Utelira taking leadership. None of the terrors that Quin described seemed to afflict them. ¡°We¡¯d endured much¡­and had our eyes opened to a thirst to never be used again, to never be puppets as the Jestelia had been.¡± The death entity showed scenes of the giant crystalline creatures wreaking havoc across hundreds of worlds. ¡°Yet, they¡¯d been creatures of enormous power compared to us. Our only answer was to continue where their dark masters left off now that our soul potential was unlocked. With what little we¡¯d learned from the experiments done on us, we expanded in our own ways.¡± The mist swirled to show a place of elemental power, life-budding and life-stealing trees. ¡°¡­A voice spoke to me when I was in the Black Desert, and from that orb that fell from the Crystal¡ªthat dark pulse¡ªI unlocked the power to absorb life, while Utelira could raise life.¡± ¡°Shade¡¯s voice,¡± Butter mumbled, her gaze falling to the earth. ¡°Was he who came from the Crystal and became trapped by this world?¡± ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± Seg¡¯tharis chuckled as if it were the funniest thing he¡¯d heard in his long life, reverting them to the previous scene of the black star in the sky. ¡°Shade, as you know him, was a prisoner of this planet who was here long before we arrived, and he has great knowledge¡­but he could not hope to face¡­that. No, Shade needed us to draw the Crystals to this planet in order to provide him more pawns to manipulate for his ends, yet he was a pawn all the same.¡± Butter¡¯s fingers tightened against her wrist, thinking back to their experience with the Crystal and the one within this valley of life and death. ¡°So, they can be manipulated to appear? How so? They respond to rapidly growing civilizations or creatures?¡± ¡°They do, to an extent,¡± Seg¡¯tharis muttered, showing himself in the hail of black diamonds, wearing the crystal-like shells of the dead Jestelia for protection while hauling their lifeless corpses across the Black Desert. ¡°There are other, more sure methods, though. They are drawn to those who enjoy conflict. Shade guided me out of the Black Desert and Shadow Lands to its south, to a place of ancient wisdom, abandoned, and mysterious. ¡°I cannot say who they were or how they disappeared. Shade would not elaborate. We adapted what was there into our expanding spirits. And over time, we learned more about the technology we¡¯d managed to take with us from the Jestelia artifacts that had been transported with us to this world. ¡°We mastered their genetic and spiritual alteration technology. We used it against the enemies that rose against us in this land¡ªthe stupid creatures who were like us¡­before our enslavement. Primitive¡­weak.¡± ¡°I see,¡± she hummed, her focus shifting from them to the wide-eyed Fingers taking in the history of their species and scenes he showed her. ¡°The Jestelia¡¯s masters opened the way for you to replace the Jestelia, who had reached their evolutionary peak. Despite their power, they were capped, and you could have advanced further¡­¡± She reflected on what she felt and what little he¡¯d given as hints to fill in the gaps; the information felt like tugging puzzle pieces out of the void. Not exactly the knowledge of the events themselves but fundamental principles she knew involving souls. ¡°The Jestelia spirits could no longer sustain the burden to create a new generation of spirits for budding Intelligences without them collapsing, and yours was strong, fresh, and capable of higher growth potential. Perhaps you could have grown to the point that they needed to survive the fight with the black star.¡± Butter¡¯s smile faded as she watched the scene unfold and Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ bitter smile deepened. ¡°They had as much of a chance of defeating that thing as we did¡­ We were all tricked. Shade, us¡­the blinding sun that we willingly walked into.¡± It clicked in Butter¡¯s mind, her gut tightening while watching Seg¡¯tharis and Utelira conquer Crystal after Crystal, experimenting on the multiple creatures they took from worlds, as they had, or those they found on their own continent. The Crystals always came to them, so they rarely ventured further beyond their initial lands, welcoming the conquest to take their next victims¡ªthey embraced warfare.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°You created all of the advanced races on this continent,¡± she mumbled, watching the quen¡¯talrat being mutated, body and spirit. The Nalveans and others in the flashes of scenes grew to be powerful pawns, the scenes sped past too quickly for her to recognize them all, thousands of years, until the ri¡¯bot reached their zenith, five millennia after Seg¡¯tharis and his sister had been kidnapped from their original home. ¡°¡­You became unknowing slaves to your own thirst for conquest. Manipulated, as your former masters had done, and you were none the wiser.¡± Her narrowed eyes shifted to the aged, ragged toad. ¡°Is this some sort of roundabout warning for me to cease my ambition?¡± ¡°Not in the least,¡± Seg¡¯tharis mused, the thirst for war and battle gleaming in his eyes, despite his haggard body. ¡°On the contrary, I hope to see at least some of my pathetic descendants retake the birthright Utelira and I left. You will shake battlefields, and the Supreme Chiefs¡¯ legacy will continue through you.¡± ¡°How greedy,¡± Butter snickered, noticing the two Fingers rubbing their sunken chins at their god¡¯s words. He lifted his gaze to the sky, their advanced empire now spanning wide on the continent, and above into the sky; the Supreme Chiefs, an army of hundreds of millions of higher beings, sitting on the clouds to stare at their creations below, yet¡­they were also trapped by the boundaries this world had once had¡ªboundaries Shade had no doubt corroded over the past ten thousand years. ¡°We hadn¡¯t even scratched the surface of the ancient powers within this planet,¡± Seg¡¯tharis muttered, gazing out across the lands, ¡°but we battled a few potent races to our south to take the place we had¡­ The scars of that battle are the Great Ruby Lakes, as the Nalveans call them,¡± he said with a wistful note at the battles of his youth. ¡°However, the Crystals always gave us what we wanted in the way of war, and the many shields around the planet prevented us from going further into the solar system¡­but we were close to figuring out how to break some of those shells, to freeing Shade from more of his shackles. We were¡­magnificent.¡± Longing and anger burned in the entity of death¡¯s gaze as he took them high above the land to show a totally changed landscape from what Butter now knew it as. They now were among the heavenly host of the sky-living golden toads, overlooking their slave empires of mutated soldiers below them. Yet, there was something above even them. A colossal Crystal materialized in the heavens, hanging like a fourth moon to the other celestial spheres in the sky. No one was smiling. Murmurs rolling around the potent higher ri¡¯bot who stood at the top of the food chain in this section of the world during their time. Snow seemed to be adapting due to Butter¡¯s empowering aura, her sweats and shakes easing while taking in the valuable information that she could return to Earth with, listening to Adoncia¡¯s soft translations in the corner. Utelira was the one to speak in this ancient recount, ten thousand years ago, her voice exhibiting caution. ¡°I do not like this, Seg¡¯tharis. We may have the power to combat our old masters, but how can we be sure they were not conquered like we had been, and that is how we were freed? The highest number of sides we¡¯ve faced is ten on a Crystal, and we lost a third of our host to their weird Eldritch forces.¡± Seg¡¯tharis roared with laughter, most of the other Supreme Chiefs doing the same. ¡°It has been five thousand years since then, Utelira. Once we adapted to their powers, I wiped that Eldritch civilization of life in hours. This is our next challenge!¡± The Life Binder looked unconvinced, staring off to the north. ¡°We cannot even make it through the Shadow Lands to reach the Black Desert due to the dark force permeating its field or the shell around the planet and its oppressive moons¡­ It is a problem only for us after we ascend to the next dimension¡ªthere is something¡­wrong. What if we¡¯ve made a mistake? What if the Whispering Darkness is wrong.¡± Her frown deepened as dark chuckles came from below them, emanating from inside the planet and making Butter¡¯s nose twist with agitation upon hearing the trapped entity speak so liberally in the past through his earthy prison. ¡°The Black Orb festers within this planet, threatening us all, Utelira. It slumbers, though. If it had stirred, I would have warned you. Have I led you astray yet? You have done great things with the power I¡¯ve guided you to, and this is a chance to obtain something to destroy what sleeps beneath the Black Desert. Do not shrink now, Life Binder.¡± Seg¡¯tharis emanate a wave of Death Energy that turned the sky green and caused the mortal creatures below to quiver. He was ready for war. ¡°We have reached our zenith here in this oppressive bubble, Sister. We must break the seals on this prison planet to fully conquer it. We are supreme, breaking the barrier of dimensions, elements, life, and death! Were you not able to restore our fallen brothers and sisters against those Eldritch entities with our newly adapted technology? If we are not ready now, then when will we be? Keep focused!¡± Utelira breathed out a heavy sigh before turning her gaze to the colossal twenty-six-sided gateway. ¡°It is black, Seg¡¯tharis¡­which means we are highly unlikely to win. We know the colors represent the strength of each side¡¯s strongest entity. When we conquer worlds who have Black Crystals, they can hardly comprehend us¡­ Never have we faced one in reverse, much less with this many sides, except¡­ No, I suppose we don¡¯t have a choice. We must fight.¡± The Supreme Chief of Death made a zig-zag motion across her chest with confidence. ¡°We have risen beyond anything we dreamed possible when we were young and weak. No more. Our legacy will continue forever¡­ Believe me, Sister. We are strong.¡± The scene stopped, and Butter looked skyward as Seg¡¯atharis snorted at his own words. ¡°How foolish I was¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. You mentioned that not only you and Shade, but the force on the other side was tricked¡­ You were puppets of the Black Star, I take it?¡± Seg¡¯tharis didn¡¯t speak, only showed them preparing to enter the Crystal, their powerless, mutated servants praying to them on the surface. The Supreme Chiefs prepared their heavenly army to enter the ominous black Crystal. However, Butter noticed an important difference in the two rhombicuboctahedra she¡¯d seen. The first one was utterly devoid of all colors of image¡­but this one has some kind of divine world attached to it¡­ A perfect world of light and warmth that is hard for me to currently visualize. It¡¯s very different from the sensation my subconscious is looking for¡­but similar. Somehow, Seg¡¯tharis can recreate the feeling it gave him, which is different to me. Holding a hand to her breast, she felt a thump in her soul that quickened her blood. There¡¯s something more there that isn¡¯t shown¡­ Something higher¡­far, far stronger. But it¡¯s not malevolent or bloodthirsty¡­ It¡¯s curious¡­and filled with boundless pity for whatever comes through. In a flash of deadly elements and potent hurricane-like forces, the ri¡¯bot charged through the gateway, ready for combat to lay waste to this world. Swapping locations, the Supreme Chief of Death took her to their formation on the other side, in what appeared to be a glorious world of eternal light that made her heart seize and Snow cough. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t see anything but light,¡± she managed to say, relief coming over her rather than fear. ¡°It¡¯s not blinding, but¡­I feel at peace.¡± Butter looked up, gripping Utelira¡¯s Eye to strengthen her link to the Supreme Chief¡¯s divine power, peeling back the layers to squint into the blazing glory. ¡°A plane of existence completely filled with Positive Energy¡­not a world?¡± ¡°Is that what it was?¡± Seg¡¯tharis whispered, not sounding as bitter now but in awe and filled with respect. ¡°We brought everything we had¡­ All the power we¡¯d gathered, and all we saw was a single spark of light¡­ Half of us were gone¡ªspirits and bodies vaporized to their very Intelligences to be sent back through the Crystal.¡± Butter glanced to her right, where a single blinding light descended from a blazing star of glory in the sky, and, channeling as much of Utelira¡¯s power as she currently could, the veil peeled back ever so slightly. A blazing angel was revealed, wrapped in glory, with six wings spread out¡ªno sword slash or attack¡ªher mere presence vaporizing the Supreme Chiefs. Seg¡¯tharis pointed back to the Crystal, no hub or other gateway visible, only the giant rhombicuboctahedron, and it was red instead of black for the angel¡¯s side. The toad spoke in a resigned whisper, ¡°And then¡­it awoke and attacked while the Blazing Star was distracted by us.¡± The golden ri¡¯bot¡¯s nose twitched with anger as darkness took the field, and the winged figure¡¯s radiance surged, fighting back the shadows only to be pulled in a swirling vortex back to the ri¡¯bot¡¯s world and out of the divine realm. ¡°I understand now,¡± Butter mumbled, following the Supreme Chiefs as they were yanked back with the angel, used as anchors, unknowingly linked to the Black Orb when it had taken them to this world just under five thousand years ago. ¡°It was trapping you, herding you for this moment¡ªto manipulate the Crystals by shaping your souls in just the right way for this conquest¡­ It used you as bait and as a link to ambush one of these angels in this divine plane¡­to pull her out and momentarily disorient her in order to strike a blow it normally couldn¡¯t.¡± Above them, the Crystal started to crack, intense solar light overshadowing the darkness before parts of the rhombicuboctahedron object began to melt and evaporate. The divine figure in the sky flared out in a blast of light, dispersing the shadows, only for the dimming winged figure to fall out of the heavens to the north¡ªto the Shadow Lands¡ªwhile hundreds of millions of Supreme Chiefs fell with her. Butter followed their slow descent, far beyond normal eyes to the lands between the ri¡¯bot¡¯s vast territory and the Black Desert. Shade¡¯s laughter rolled out of the planet as the Supreme Chiefs were about to hit the solid earth for the first time in over a thousand years. ¡°What planning, only for it to fail at the last second¡­ How splendid! And to even use me¡­ Scattered to the wind, wounded, and crawling back into your hole. You¡¯re vulnerable. I can be patient¡­ And you¡¯ve done wonderful work, Supreme Chiefs. It is time I collect my payment.¡± Rumbling shook the crust in a terrible earthquake, and the rock split open only in those places the screaming and utterly drained Supreme Chiefs fell, swallowing them. Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ voice was heavy in the slowed scene, watching his people being welcomed into the planet¡¯s depths. ¡°I¡¯m not sure exactly what happened next¡­ If there were beings beneath the earth that did¡­this to us or if it was Shade himself, but when we regained consciousness, this was our prison, and those who survived this fate¡­¡± His baleful eyes drifted to the two tight-muscled Fingers hovering by the corner. ¡°This is my legacy¡­ Weakness spread across the land in their tiny factions.¡± The fog began to dissipate, the jungle apocalyptic scenes fading back into the cold stone of the death fortress. Butter exhaled slowly, the weight of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯s story and power settling over her like a heavy cloak as the dense atmosphere thinned. Snow shifted beside her, her breath shaky but steady while Adoncia felt more alive than ever. The Fablekin had heard it all, and Butter knew this experience would change her forever. Seg¡¯tharis turned to face her fully now, his eyes burning with an ancient fire that spoke of betrayal and hatred, even for his own descendants, who failed his expectations. ¡°You know what comes next, Lady of Conquest. You understand better than most the cost of power, the sacrifices that must be made¡­ What I desire most.¡± Butter smirked, her aquamarine eyes sparkling with mischief as new dots and mysteries danced before her. ¡°Oh, I do love a good sacrifice,¡± she purred, standing tall as the Life Energy within her pulsed brighter. ¡°But the question is, Seg¡¯tharis¡­are your people willing to follow your will when they learn what you really think about them? The end of this path is a tragic one most would fight.¡± His eyes were living coals of passion and ambition that was denied him as the body of the leader of his cult began to turn to dust, the gem in his chest crumbling away, and the golden figure in front of her faded into nothingness. ¡°Does it matter what they want? You¡¯ve already chosen, despite the differences in our views, we end in the same place¡­ Know that you have my blessing, Butter, Head of Life and Death. Avenge our betrayal and lift our true posterity to the glory we deserved. Free my sister of the burden she has had to bear for over ten thousand years. Your body waits for you below¡­ So show them what conquest means, High Queen of the Evening Star.¡± The two Fingers dropped to their knees, their bony frames bowed to their dead god as he dissipated into nothing but a naked Intelligence, losing all his unholy power to enter whatever gate lay beyond the veil. ¡°From dust to dust,¡± they chanted. ¡°All return to His belly.¡± Yeah, I¡¯m not going to comment on that, Butter internally mused to Adoncia. With the dissipating of the hyper dense Death Energy that permeated the space due to Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ presence, Snow began to recover. Butter withdrew her strong grip over Utelira¡¯s Life Force, allowing the restless Life Binder to settle back into her peaceful slumber. ¡°Well that was dramatic!¡± she cheerily chimed, hopping over to stare at the pile of dust that now covered the floor. ¡°I¡¯d give it a B- on theatrics¡ªmmm, maybe a solid B.¡± Voice strained, Adoncia walked over to give a respectful bow to the corpse. ¡°High Queen, isn¡¯t that a bit¡­disrespectful? Shouldn¡¯t we respect their culture?¡± Aren¡¯t I? She asked with a lifted eyebrow at the First Finger upon flipping around to stare at him. ¡°Now that that¡¯s done. I think we should let the rest of the goons know who is in charge! Straight from the dead god¡¯s mouth and we¡¯ve got some changes to make. Let¡¯s have a party, Butter style!¡± The First Finger shakily rose to his feet, using his staff and gave her a deathly smile, his voice raspy. ¡°Soon, we will return to the dust. There will be resistance to The Way of the Dust. Shall we prepare in advance for the known parties¡¯ betrayal?¡± ¡°No! No!¡± Butter scoffed with light laughter, patting the shaking old toad on the bony shoulder and almost making him fall over. ¡°I enjoy the challenge! In the words of good ol¡¯ Seg¡¯tharis, a dead ri¡¯bot is a perfect ri¡¯bot! Well, I¡¯m paraphrasing but you get the point. Onward to the dance of death! Priss would tear up if she saw me,¡± she playfully sniffed, catching a small smile from Snow and Adoncia. The white-haired woman wiped the lingering cold sweats from her brow, looking somewhat dehydrated and frail. ¡°You¡­are something else, High Queen. How did you know Seg¡¯tharis would put you in charge?¡± ¡°Know?¡± Butter blinked, her head tilting to the side. ¡°I didn¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t know anything of the sort! I just thought it¡¯d be fun to meet him and suspected he¡¯d be pulling the strings with how much Death Energy was cycling the place. ¡°There¡¯s no way they¡¯d be able to get that kind of feeling inside this place than to have a death god on call or my bossy big sister sneakily sitting at the top of the tower. I half expected Priss to be here wearing that smug look, you know! It¡¯d be like her to surprise me like that,¡± she huffed, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. ¡°She¡¯s the definition of dramatic!¡± ¡°High Queen,¡± Adoncia groaned. ¡°Only you can say that about the Empress¡­¡± Butter¡¯s eyes narrowed impishly as she nudged hips with the maid in passing to get her moving. ¡°Oh, we¡¯ll get you there, Blue Eyes.¡± ¡°Doubtful¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see¡­ Coming, Snow White?¡± she asked, doing a twirl to walk backward. Her golden hair draped over her shoulders as she aimed a smile at the woman, who had her vision locked on the pile of ash. ¡°You¡¯re a smart cookie and can process stuff on the go! Snap, snap. We¡¯re on the clock! We got an army to whip into shape for this next Crystal wave. You can take the first challenger. I¡¯m so excited to see you in action!¡± ¡°Right, sorry,¡± she said with a forced laugh, jogging with some effort to keep up. ¡°Wait, what? High Queen?¡± ¡°I have high expectations!¡± she sang in response as the Earth woman stumbled and almost fell before managing to gracefully catch herself. ¡°High Queen?!¡± Descending the stairs with Adoncia by her side, the Fingers behind her, and the Fable bringing up the rear, Butter¡¯s tone lowered slightly while feeling the white-haired lady¡¯s spirit quickening with a resurgence¡ªshe figured expectations were the girl¡¯s weakness. She couldn¡¯t help but rise to meet any challenge. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll get you some glass shoes. Wouldn¡¯t that be fun?¡± She paused, shifting her body to aim a thoughtful gleam up at the panting Fable. ¡°Unless you already have them and are holding out on me? Mmm.¡± A lump dropped down the girl¡¯s throat under her bright-eyed stare before she broke eye contact and continued. ¡°Your spirit has fought against an intense amount of pressure just now¡­ It needs room to spread its wings to expand your Soul Area if you don¡¯t want it to settle back to its former lul¡­ No rest for the way of the strong, dearie. So follow me¡­¡± Her smile softened while feeling Adoncia relaying her words to Mika and White, feeling their willpower skyrocket, Snow¡¯s steps becoming firmer behind her. Her spirit keeping the focus, Butter set her heart on her next big meeting¡ªIrida, the Head of the Cult of Life. However, one thing played in the back of her mind. Is that six-winged angel dead¡­or hurt and recovering? Now there is something to keep an eye out for. Someone that powerful doesn¡¯t just die, which opens up¡­possibilities, she giggled to herself. I love a good mystery. Life goals! B3 — 12. Hag of the Everborne Marshlands One leg hanging over the edge of her balcony and one tucked up against her chest, Elinor¡¯s entertained gaze wandered across the torn-up grass and half-ruined arena she¡¯d battled the teenagers in. [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 0%] Currently, the House applicants were trying to recover, and it would still be some time before they could organize into their groups to discover who would be accepted or denied. The string instruments, drums, and flutes had become far more chill and relaxing after the intense combat scenario, causing Elinor¡¯s foot to tap against the stone railing; it had a Japanese vibe to it. After the fight, the overwhelming bloodlust she¡¯d felt had cooled into a smooth, calming spring, and the whole world appeared more vibrant than she could remember. The polished white stadium with its gold and silk coverings brought a sense of peace to her undead heart. Then again, perhaps it was the joy and fulfillment she felt from the hundred thousand spectators that had shown such vigor in their support for the teens facing her. Now, all she could do was wait for Logan to join her and deliver his final verdict. Her focus wandered between those still hard at work on the ground, most of whom were Alchemists, providing healing tonics to help those who had suffered injuries. She could already hear the changes within the populous regarding the other Houses; the fact the Tempests couldn¡¯t just overpower her, and it was the House of Conjuration that had given her the most trouble, despite their prep time, was certainly making waves. Her dad¡¯s voice lifted her illuminated emerald eyes to the Royal Box. ¡°The king and queen have gone into seclusion to discuss things in private. I¡¯m guessing that conversation will not go as Alivau expects now that he knows about her abuse toward their daughter.¡± Probably not¡­ Tiffany is being slow as ever. Her father chuckled from beside the aged college rector, speaking to the uncomfortable Grandmasters through wind manipulation. ¡°To be fair, she did have a lot of bags brought up from the carriage with her ritual ingredients, and that only one got left behind or misplaced is a miracle. It just so happened to be the least important one, which happened to have your spare clothes inside. Is she embarrassed?¡± Oh, extremely, Elinor laughed, sensing Tiffany frantically sending guards out to search for the missing bag. Out of everything that could have gone wrong, this isn¡¯t the worst thing that could happen. Ash, how soon can you collect another 100 Death Orbs? The Horseman of Death moved through the hall, heading for the exit. ¡°Give me another several hours at sea, harvesting fish.¡± Black snickered from her seat in the stands, listening in on some of the Lower City mobsters engaged in bets; one of them knew the identity of the two persons who pawned the necklace stolen from Kaspir¡¯s former queen 300 years ago. ¡°Try not to make the fishermen uncomfortable again. I¡¯ve been hearing rumors about a black-armored knight, riding a war horse on the waves, killing all the fish schools.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have you know, Sister, that I have discovered what appears to be an invasive species in the coral reef that is having an effect on the local ecosystem that I can target. Have you made any progress at all since we¡¯ve changed places?¡± Watching Castria talk and make friends, Elinor laughed silently as the siblings squabbled. There was a lot that she had working in the background, and one of those things was this kingdom¡¯s obscure and seemingly manipulated historical records. ¡°Plenty more than your intimidation approach,¡± Famine scoffed. ¡°Of course, when you¡¯re a beautiful woman, you can get into places men cannot.¡± ¡°Beautiful, hmm? No offense, Sis, but you¡¯re practically 90 lbs, despite your¡­ eating habits. You¡¯re skin and bones, ¡®Famine¡¯; where is the meat?¡± ¡°Rude, ¡®Death.¡¯ Someone has been taking insult lessons from our youngest brother¡­ I have ¡®meat¡¯ in all the right places.¡± Elinor glanced across the stadium to where the woman was and interjected, now curious as to what had been discovered. What is the status of your case, Black? ¡°Mmm. Whoever they were, they covered their tracks well, and the alias the vouching party used went to an empty house that is used by a proxy that maintains the property. I followed the funds through a few businesses, including a rather scandalous underground brothel for noble women. That may be worth investigating to find some blackmail; perhaps you can apply, Brother.¡± ¡°Impossible,¡± he flatly refused with a short chuckle. ¡°Too many women would be dueling over my services, and the whole establishment would get swept into the war.¡± ¡°Pfft! Ash, are you perhaps conflating yourself with Red? Who wants to bang a literal bonehead?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised by the offers I¡¯ve gotten in my time amongst the Lower City women, curious about what may lie underneath my robes.¡± ¡°Lies! I¡¯ll believe it when I see it. In any case, this mid-sized property shark in the Lower City has the information; I just need to follow him back to where he keeps his documents.¡± Keep up the good work, she mused, now actually curious about this female-catered brothel. It would be something that could distract her in the coming days; if anything, to satiate her curiosity and discover the cultural cause. There are so many intriguing things about an established kingdom and what might develop within my own Empire over time. Hmm¡­ Her mind wandered a bit, feeling a tad light-headed after her battle; all the emotion that had raged within her had been purified into a sublime sense of clarity, and her thoughts were turning toward the topic of what she should do after uniting the valley ri¡¯bot clans under her. Naturally, there would be conflicts and cultural disagreements to be handled. Just because she took over the leadership role didn¡¯t mean everything would fall into place. That was more catered toward her Overlord Evolution than her Warlord, but she didn¡¯t necessarily need such intensive governing roles yet; it would become more important as time went on, though, and she could mitigate that by finding politically savvy people to raise in her Serving Court. Elinor¡¯s eyes narrowed when she saw Countess Evelyn Autumn leave the public view from her box; the hag was making her way to the halls to reach her private room. Another interesting note came in the form of the Grand Duke giving Lilya the opening speech to the applicants when typically, it was the House of Tempest that gave it. Vesta seemed a little bothered by the change in position, yet Lilya was the former queen and a very popular figure amongst the general population. A new show was about to start, though, where each of the four Houses would put on their show for the audience, with the 2nd-year students displaying what they¡¯d learned. The House of Alchemy would be displaying their new beauty products, which had the noble women and some of the men clamoring for what would be hitting the market soon. The House of Conjuration had some new world they¡¯d recently discovered to gather resources from, bringing more exotic materials to their national trade, which tickled her interest. The House of Tempest was a tad disappointing, showing some agricultural techniques that they¡¯d learned to help with farming and irrigation. Apparently, it was a bigger deal since crops had some trouble due to all the rain, which made a bit of sense, considering the primary power of the kingdom was with the House. On the other hand, the most fascinating topic came from the Magic Knights, who would be allowing prisoners the ability to fight in the arena. Typically, it sounded like it was more about making fun of powerless criminals, and them fighting a hopeless battle against magically enhanced soldiers. That being said, there was another standing rule that anyone would challenge the Magic Knight 2nd-years for money, and for every duel they won, the prize would double. It was an ancient practice that saw at least a few traveling warriors attempt to squeeze out a bit of extra money to take on the road, and one was making some waves. She would bring it up shortly. Throughout all the discussions, Elinor let herself get lost in the background music, restrained storm, and citizen discussions. The Grand Duke had more or less accepted her performance, but the fine line still had to be hashed out, and finally¡ªjust as her th¨¦lm¨¦thras powers faded¡ªthat came when he floated down to sit on the balcony with her. [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit: Deactivated; 7-Day Cooldown] Elinor sighed as a rush of incredible power left her soul and all the incredible senses she¡¯d experienced filtered back to her normal, dull perception. It was fun while it lasted¡­ Lifting her free hand to twist it around, she sighed. My limbs feel like wet noodles. And¡­ great, it seems the th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone is also incapacitated for two hours to rebuild its energy. Three total hours of inactivity for the unit I used after channeling their soul, hmm? At least it doesn¡¯t factor into the 7-day cooldown. It¡¯s something I¡¯ll have to take into consideration in the future if the soldier I use is unconscious for three hours after use; it could put them in a sticky situation or allow them to get captured. It might also require different amounts of time to recover depending on the unit, she internally reasoned, glancing up at Logan as he descended. His robe fluttered a tad as he sat centimeters above the stone railing, floating on air while keeping his gaze on the mobilizing 2nd-year students and organizing applicants in their groups. She caught Prince Drew now floating near the Grandmaster platform, anxious to get a chance to speak with his resurrected mother; unfortunately, the woman had to wave him off while going to introduce the next event. Logan stroked his beard and crossed his legs. ¡°I have never seen a Duskan decapitated¡­ much less die in a corporeal form. Generally, they turn into fire and return through the gateway once defeated. You¡¯ve shaken Grandmaster Irkai; he¡¯ll want to know how you managed it. What will you do with the corpse¡­ resurrect it?¡± Swapping her open palm to a closed fist to rest her cheek against her knuckles, Elinor chucked and glanced at the decapitated demon, leaking poisonous black blood onto the marble floor she¡¯d left him on. She hadn¡¯t decided on what to do with the demon; she hadn¡¯t even checked to see if she could resurrect the creature. She returned her gaze to her Queen of Alchemy as the woman took all attention on her path to the center stage, her gleaming, bronze-skinned practically on fire under the dazzling light Logan cast upon her. ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet, but I might take him back with me before making him my servant. Why, did Grandmaster Irkai or you have some offer you wanted to make for him?¡± ¡°Nothing of the sort; I find it rather enthralling, to be honest,¡± the Grand Duke calmly returned. ¡°I may have been able to displace thousands of Duskan, and sweep them into a clustered ball of infuriated, other-worldly flames, they could never be pinned into a physical form; I suspect your chains had something to do with it?¡± ¡°Perceptive guess,¡± Elinor whispered, narrowed eyes drifting to the rector, ¡°but I suppose you are basing it off of what I did to Prince Drew and Princess Heather, locking them out of their own Tempest abilities. After all, you were listening and watching at the time. Were you satisfied with my performance?¡± He was silent for a time, vision wandering between the lingering signs of damage she¡¯d done to the stadium and the melting webs across the ceiling, still degrading from the substance the Alchemists had thrown across them. The gentle pulse of wind that dragged her untied hair to the side told her that he was blocking other Tempests¡¯ prying ears. Voice low, his focus darted to the disguised hag¡¯s box, now only showing a young, 14-year-old girl; supposedly, she was the countess¡¯ daughter, which was unlikely. ¡°You have sparked a revolution amongst the commoners and nobility, despite your previous claim of not wanting to start trouble for our nation. What changed your mind, or was this always the plan?¡± ¡°Hehehe.¡± Elinor eased her neck left and right while letting go of a yawn; she did feel a tad spiritually fatigued, which was a first, and she¡¯d literally not slept for months. ¡°Would you believe me if I said I had no plan when I arrived? I was merely interested in this world and came in with an open mind. I did think its resources could be helpful.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Shifting to hold her knee against her chest, she smiled at the Grand Duke, still keeping his focus on his former queen. ¡°When I raised Castria, she became one of mine, and at that point, I would do whatever it took to help her. Roman said his goal was to make the Delva Empire or the Kaspir Kingdom accept her in order to save this world. So, it wasn¡¯t a hard decision on my part, but please, don¡¯t mix up my allegiances.¡± A hum rumbled in Logan¡¯s throat as his intelligent eyes shifted to her. ¡°Your allegiances are not to Roman, but your people¡­ and Grandmaster Lilya is now within that category, which means you are with the Kaspir Kingdom¡­ but you must make it an accepted and hospitable place for her. Hence, the moment you decided to bring her back to life, you¡¯d chosen your side.¡± ¡°I¡¯m an empress,¡± Elinor chimed, a dangerous gleam in her smile. ¡°So long as we align as friends, be it war with the Delva Empire or the hag coming to see me now¡­ I stand by my people if it is life or if it is death. I will never make Lilya not see herself as queen and guardian of these people; that is the type of woman she is, and this is the type of ruler I am.¡± Silence fell between them as they turned their sight to Lilya, answering a few random questions from the crowd of a hundred thousand citizens; she chose people from all walks of life, outside of the capital city and inside, those who had been driven off their lands by the Devla Empire and those who were worried about the influx of refugees from the borders of their kingdom. If Elinor didn¡¯t know any better, by the look on Logan¡¯s face, he saw Lilya as a loved student, and perhaps there was a more father-daughter bond between them that she hadn¡¯t discovered. She had come from a totally different way of life, and from what she had heard, maybe it was the desert princess that had softened Logan¡¯s heart to broaden his worldview. ¡°Hmm. You are a different kind of ruler, Empress¡­ I look forward to working with your empire to save my world. I hope you will stop by the tower before you leave to discuss the topic with me further. My door is always open.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make it a date,¡± Elinor chuckled, watching him float up as Queen and King Alciel came back into view; Alivau did not look happy by her red cheeks and pointed glare she shot down at her. ¡°Give my best to your queen and tell her she¡¯s always welcome at my door.¡± The elder paused in the air, hands held behind his back while looking down at her with a tired sigh. ¡°You are playing with a volatile heart, Empress; even I am cautious of Queen Alivau and not only from her strength as a Tempest.¡± ¡°Duly noted, Grand Duke. You will have to educate me on her family when we next meet, but I am sure Queen Lilya will be able to give me a detailed account of her archnemesis¡­ I will steal Heather from her and show her daughter what having a truly supportive mother and friend is like.¡± Logan¡¯s expression said the man did not want to get in between that game and rose to join his king and her father as the pair went to the war room to discuss tactics. Alivau¡¯s flaming eyes didn¡¯t budge from her, and Elinor did her the courtesy of ignoring her pout; Lilya would have to watch her back. Not two minutes later, the door opened, revealing Tiffany as her former mother swept in with a Paladin running beside her with a bag. ¡°I found it, Empress! It got mixed in with the silly disposable material I¡¯d told to be discarded. What did I miss¡ªoh, Terry, you can leave it there¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Queen¡­ Empress, it seems you have a visitor?¡± Elinor¡¯s focus fell on the chestnut brown-haired, enchanting woman in a low-cut, dress, its sides from the lower bust to her hips cut out to reveal her caramel skin; she seemed more closely related to Lilya or the South American women she¡¯d taken under her wing than King Alciel for her supposedly wearing the skin of one of his ancestors. Tiffany froze up as she saw the woman¡¯s full lips and brown eyes lift into a curious smile upon studying the witch. ¡°Empress, this is¡­¡± A soft whispering voice tickled their spirits as the hag¡¯s delicate touch tapped the Nexus. ¡°Excuse my interruption, but might I have a word, Raven Empress?¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 5%] Elinor suppressed a shiver at the projected message that was passed between spirits rather than aloud; this creature was potentially even more dangerous than Shade. Swinging her legs over the side to stand, she motioned to the unsure Paladins, more than ready to turn the noblewoman away. Yet, she had been anticipating this meeting. One thing was for sure, she didn¡¯t conform to the typical Kaspir fashion with her string-like necklace, beads, and unadorned, thick, calf-length hair. ¡°Let the Countess in. Queen Tiffany, my dress.¡± The guards shut the door, and Countess Evelyn Autumn stepped into the private box, intrigue moving her focus to the decapitated Duskan. Tiffany¡¯s nerves were higher than Elinor had ever felt from the Witch Queen as she plucked out the garments to follow her into the conference room to dress behind one of the thin waterfalls. Knowing that the hag could easily break into the Nexus from her earlier display of power, Elinor kept the silent conversation going while slipping into the red and black-themed apparel Tiffany brought. Should I feel honored, Hag of the Everborn Marshlands? What brings you to see me? ¡°Please, call me Autumn,¡± she smoothly answered, running her neatly clipped and groomed fingernails across the balcony, where she¡¯d sat, her eyes wandering between seemingly random places as if tracking something. ¡°Throughout the last three centuries, it has been easier to go by the name of the House rather than ever-changing first names.¡± Her gentle, drawing voice took a curious twist with her full lips as she held the side of her dress to kneel down and slide a finger across the black blood of the Duskan; it didn¡¯t corrode her flesh as it did Elinor¡¯s. ¡°How¡­ delightful. Hmm. Why am I here, Raven Empress?¡± She chortled and rose to her feet to look at her as she went beyond sight behind the waterfall. ¡°You¡¯ve intrigued me. At first, I truly thought the Raven Empress made the journey, and I had some business with her, yet color me surprised when I found¡­ you.¡± Not respecting privacy at all, the hag entered the space to study Tiffany¡¯s orange flames, unraveling the web top and bottoms she¡¯d crafted for the fight. ¡°A human child that trapped her corrupted spirit inside a jewel and utilizes the very essence of Death to her will¡­ You have a very talented witch at your beck and call. Hmm. I¡¯m jealous. Arsho isn¡¯t nearly as gifted. My last few disciples have been¡­ disappointing.¡± The hag moved to her back as Tiffany numbly handed Elinor her garments to slip on, and Autumn¡¯s inky finger slid over her shoulder, burning her skin; she didn¡¯t flinch, breathing out a tired sigh while turning to glare at the hag so Tiffany could remove it from continuing to bite into her muscle. Are you done causing trouble and being mysterious? I invited you to chat, so the least you could do is be courteous. ¡°My apologies,¡± she snickered, brown eyes narrowing as she made her way to an armchair to sit and study her dress without an ounce of decency. ¡°Of my eons of life, I have yet to encounter a creature¡­ such as yourself. To hold divinity captive is certainly something to take note of, and for one to have so many divine threads circling you¡­ Hehe. It¡¯s quite terrifying, if I am to be honest! Where is your sister? I¡¯d like her to join us.¡± Elinor didn¡¯t let herself feel intimidated while keeping her cool demeanor, but through her bond with Tiffany, she knew the power this hag held was far beyond what the Witch Queen had dreamed. In Tiffany¡¯s mind, they were little fish, and this hag was the giant shadow of a megalodon hanging over them. She is indisposed at this moment, so you must settle with me. What do you mean by divine threads circling me¡­ and holding divinity captive? Enlighten me with your ¡®wisdom.¡¯ ¡°Oh, my sweet little girl,¡± the hag cooed, lifting a slender leg to cross her other and pluck at her dress to fix how it hung, ¡°I suspect you have already heard how I conduct business. I desire a tribute before providing my services; nothing is free.¡± Humph. Elinor slipped on her gown and moved to take the seat across from the Countess, mirroring her posture as Tiffany started braiding her hair. So, that tidbit of information was given as payment for the blood and tests you conducted against my body? I didn¡¯t set the terms. ¡°Because you do not have the ability to,¡± the hag giggled before her tone lowered. ¡°At least, not as of yet. I know more than you might think. What does a universe on the edge of collapse, a dubious hero striving to save it, and a peasant girl with a mysterious lineage have in common? You¡­ however, are a new addition to this puzzle that brings some surprising scenarios. Interested?¡± she asked with a wicked, toothy smile, tempting her to pluck the strings and take her chances in the hag¡¯s game. Elinor knew her father would be mad if she brought him into this discussion; he was currently busy having a good time going over tactics with the king and High Lord Yeven Tarnash. Her dad really liked the Ice-user and how he¡¯d raised his son, which he would with how attentive Drake had been to taking care of Anala during the battle, despite her attitude. Then again, she could gain a lot of useful information from this creature, and there was also the possibility of turning her into an ally against her enemies if she played her cards right. Before I throw the dice, I¡¯d like to be sure of a few things. What will it cost for you to tell me your intentions inside the Kaspir Kingdom and about this divinity talk? She felt Tiffany¡¯s fingers fumble with her braid as the hag¡¯s lips peeled back to show a pearly smile. ¡°My intentions with Kaspir? Give me the Duskan corpse. To reveal your destiny and the power lying within and around you? I want Queen Tiffany; in body, mind, and spirit.¡± The Duskan? Have it, Elinor dismissively waved. Queen Tiffany? Her tone became a lava-infused blade. I will never give up those under my rule. [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 45%] Autumn¡¯s joy faded into a light pout. ¡°Morals. A shame. Not even Queen Lilya or your little peasant Tempest? I¡¯d settle for at least half the information with them.¡± I said you may have the Duskan, Elinor repeated. What do you want with the Kaspir Kingdom? ¡°Hmm. Disappointing, I could make her into something so much grander,¡± the woman sighed, lustful eyes lifting to her never-shaken Witch Queen, who was now quaking in her heels. Glee returning, she pointed a finger at the corpse, creating a focused stream of air that lifted it off the ground and made Tiffany¡¯s gut tighten. ¡°You¡­ That¡¯s ¡®actual¡¯ Tempest Magic¡­ from one of your beads? You suck the soul essence out of the Autumn Household Tempest and condense them into a usable form? That¡¯s¡­ brilliant.¡± ¡°Oh, this?¡± Evelyn giggled, lifting and twisting around her wrist to examine it. ¡°One of a few rather simple rituals I performed on the Autumn family. They are to have exactly five children, the three eldest of which I take at the age of thirty, when a Tempest reaches the height of their power. I require as much to maintain a Tempest strength equivalent of a Countess Head of House. It is merely a means to an end; I could teach you so many real rituals, though¡­¡± [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 60%] Elinor leaned her head against her closed fist with a dull tone. We can discuss joined rituals and how we can be of service to one another at a future date. You¡¯re trying to muddy the water by giving me your intentions around Kaspir with easy-to-determine information. Give me what I paid for. ¡°So aggressive! I can taste your bloodlust rising. I can appreciate that in a woman,¡± she snickered, brown eyes flashing to show the yellowish fiend¡¯s irises that hid underneath. ¡°I want Princess Heather.¡± Princess¡­ Heather? Elinor repeated, jaw locking and feeling her protective nature rising; she¡¯d already selected Heather as Castria¡¯s best friend and to give the princess a better life. Why? [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 75%] [Bloodlust Aura: Activated] ¡°Careful, sweet thing¡­ I know you can control yourself.¡± Tempering her emotions, Elinor¡¯s thumb played with her left earring; it was hard to curb her bloodlust, but she couldn¡¯t afford to blow up. She had to play this smart when dealing with someone as powerful as this creature. [Bloodlust Aura: Deactivated] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 30%] Go on¡­ ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm. That evolution in your soul really has brought out a monster within you¡­ Why do I want Heather?¡± She lifted her hand to count off her fingers. ¡°Selective breeding, careful manipulation of active and recessive genes, a proper diet, and careful emotional trauma have made her the perfect candidate to carry a child that I can turn into a new hag¡ªa younger sister, if you would. ¡°Her latent potential is greater than any Tempest in the past millennia, giving her¡­ enough Mana for what I require. Well, the greatest with a few exceptions that I lost track of due to¡­ various upsetting reasons.¡± Elinor¡¯s gaze drifted to the carpet and waterfalls. There was a lot hidden in that answer and much that went unsaid, yet she had given her intentions, which meant the price was paid¡ªthis hag was crafty. Her vision lifted to lock eyes with the monster. You want Tiffany because she can become a hag and skip the whole damn process. In reality, you¡¯re trying to downplay it, but you want Castria because you can resurrect her, and her child will make the strongest hag. Having the former queen under your control could spark a massive upset if you returned her to life and there was a battle of legitimacy, allowing you to swoop in and take Heather¡­ There could also be other special connections that Lilya has from her relationships with other nations you¡¯re after. We¡¯re on a collision course¡­ What will prevent that? The hag¡¯s hand lifted to her mouth as her frame shook with laughter, causing her dress to slip in a few places, not that it bothered the creature. ¡°You are such a horrific entity in the guise of a child, Elinor of Earth! Hmm¡­¡± Her fiendish yellow eyes lit with a powerful intensity as she stood. ¡°Yes, we are on a collision course, which could end badly for both of us for reasons you cannot currently fathom. How can we prevent this fate? Smuggle me out of this dying universe and into the place you now call home. Hehe. And not as one of your dead¡­¡± Presenting her with a deep curtsy, the Countess¡¯ brown eyes returned with her charming smile. ¡°I had such a pleasant time with you, Empress. Oh, and I very strongly suggest you watch these upcoming Magic Knight demonstrations. I am positive you will find them most¡­ perplexing. Let¡¯s do this again¡­ soon. I¡¯ll be in touch, Queen Tiffany.¡± Elinor remained seated as the twisted creature left with an upbeat hum, carrying the demon with her back to her private box. B3 — 13. The Oracle Of Nungal Dark thoughts on her mind, Elinor remained seated for a time after the hag made her exit. All things considered, she¡¯d come out of this encounter rather well; for reasons beyond her understanding, the Duskan corpse had been a far more valuable prize than she¡¯d known. The question was, why did Countess Autumn want it? She should have known after the grand duke mentioned the feat of slaying the demon. Apparently, it was previously thought to be unkillable due to it merely returning to its realm after being destroyed, and the fact the hag had made a grab for it told her there was something far more significant to the Duskan than any of them grasped. All in all, I¡¯m not upset that I lost the corpse, she reasoned, vision shifting to the trail of black blood splotches dotting the carpet. No, something else is upsetting me¡­ I can¡¯t see a win condition. Her brooding gaze lifted to Tiffany, a tightness in her chest that surpassed even her encounter with Shade. The formless entity was imprisoned and slow-acting, which she could play around; the hag didn¡¯t have that limitation. There has to be a win condition. Her former mother collapsed onto one of the couches after staring into empty space for a while, suddenly not so chipper and entertained. Tiffany had warned her that the hag would be powerful, but the finesse in how Autumn utilized every aspect of witchcraft to its extreme, in addition to the raw amount of mana the creature had access to, had utterly overwhelmed her unshakable ritualist. The band winding around Elinor¡¯s chest made another loop, her fingernails pressing into the leather material as her mind continued to spin, searching for a solution: only two names came to mind. The king and grand duke¡­ They¡¯re the only ones who would make the hag back down, which is why she hasn¡¯t taken Heather¡­ or maybe she could and needs her to continue to grow inside the kingdom. She¡¯s been groomed for a purpose. What can I do? No one else in the Nexus knew about the encounter, and Elinor was fine keeping it that way for now. They were dealing with too many pieces as it stood; she needed more personnel, and her increased Death Pool capacity gave her more wiggle room to do that. Now, the only issue was finding the right people to resurrect without causing an incident. Rising to her feet, Elinor smoothly walked out of the waterfall room, mindful of the dark splotches across the polished stone and carpet. The House of Alchemy was promoting new cosmetic products. Without much study, it became apparent the crowd most wanted to hear about this new healing tonic the initiates had used in their fight against her, not that they knew much about it. Autumn isn¡¯t showing her face¡­ Did she leave? Silky black dress pressed against her frame with the ever-swirling wind around the stadium, Elinor sat on the rails again, using the pillar to support her back. Her gaze swept by the hag¡¯s private viewing area; no one was watching the Alchemist¡¯s presentation. Her focus drifted to the crowds below, not truly seeing the masses, but it didn¡¯t take long for her presence to be noticed by the throng, causing the Alchemy students to stammer over their words. She¡¯d made a big enough impression to achieve everything she wanted and to solidify her authority within the minds of this kingdom. I¡¯m winning¡­ Castria had a support group. Lilya can direct our young, impressionable Tempest and keep her from falling into traps while expanding our influence. There¡¯s now a volatile cultural revolution within Kasper that will play out over the next few years¡­ Castria will be accepted into the kingdom in the next few days as word spreads, and the House of Ravens is solidified. Her teeth latched together, fingers pressing against her nose, cheek, and chin as she scanned the expectant faces looking up at her, waiting for another twist. None of them knew the true dangers that brewed behind closed doors or the creatures that hid within plain sight. By virtually all these metrics, I¡¯ve accomplished Roman¡¯s Legend Quest objective. My goals for coming into this Legend Quest had been realized. I¡¯ve achieved Level 20 and evolved¡ªI¡¯m near Level 21. Now that I¡¯m armed with my Warlord Feats and expansions, I can leave this place to push forward to my next objective¡­ I can officially form my empire among the ri¡¯bot and seize the valley for my own to call home for my people¡­. Yet¡­ there was a nervous spike sinking into her gut¡­ What are the long-term effects of releasing a hag this powerful into my new home? Dammit. Closing her eyes, she retreated into her internal world, hearing the rumble of thunder and the soothing rhythm of pattering rain against the manor she now occupied. Her focus drifted to a seat she conjured next to her, where the subtle, sinister visage of the brown-skinned countess materialized. Elinor studied every inch of the hag¡¯s stolen body, looking for the creature that hid within, yet by all appearances, she was a country noble who was out of touch with the rest of the kingdom. She carried herself like a woman of standing, and not even her spirit felt any different from the other powerful Tempest, yet that ability to mask herself was the truly frightening part of this monster. The hag was more than strong enough to use force, but she savored the art of manipulation, causing tension and dread. Perhaps that was the reason she felt so agitated. I¡­ can¡¯t see victory against her¡­ but I can¡¯t back down; I refuse to feel helpless. What can I do? The moment she allowed the hag¡¯s mask to slip ever-so-slightly, the pressure of her spiritual presence was like a mountain. The yellowish glint of the fiend underneath, surrounded by an intense, fiery sclera, was like ice creeping into her veins. Autumn was a creature that fed off the misery and suffering of others but also had a strict code of conduct that provided entertainment to her eternal life¡­ the enjoyment of playing with her food. And this monster wanted a ticket into her new home world. ¡°Tiffany¡­¡± Her vision narrowed when she replaced the internal mirage of the hag with the witch, sensing a lot more emotional turmoil within the woman than there should be at this point. ¡°Yes, she is a very dangerous adversary. That being said, I don¡¯t see why we won¡¯t be able to work out a deal that will benefit us both¡­ a truce of sorts not to affect one another¡¯s affairs. Do you disagree?¡± Fingers slowly locking in her lap, a lump dropped down Tiffany¡¯s throat, and a quake ran down her spine. Looking up, the witch released a long, stressful breath before saying, choosing her words carefully and making the hair on Elinor¡¯s neck rise. ¡°Empress¡­ she told me that there is still an uncorrupted part of your mother within me that¡­ that can be used to bring her back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silence ensued, bringing in the sound of the background music and storm as she processed the punch to her gut. ¡°When she said she¡¯d be in touch with you¡­¡± Swallowing, her nose twitched as another screw drilled into her side. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you¡¯ve been so shaken.¡± Elinor drew in her lips, a chill passing through her spirit. Fingernails sinking further into the armrests, she found it hard to breathe while staring at the flickering blue flames in the fireplace. ¡°Dammit¡­ Dammit. She¡¯s completely pinned me. I don¡¯t want her as an enemy¡­ and she¡¯s forcing me to realize how beneficial her support will be. What can I do?¡± Shifting to the side, she ran her fingers over her bound hair with a frustrated growl. ¡°Mmmm. What can I do? I now know why you haven¡¯t advocated to bring my dad into this discussion. Damn her. She¡¯s teasing me and applying pressure¡­ ¡°Trapped divinity, divinity surrounds me, we¡¯re bound to clash with her desire for Heather, and now she plays with the idea of my mother returning, which thereby threatens your very existence¡­ I have to help her escape. I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Tiffany took a second to calm herself before settling into the chair, following her gaze to the sapphire flames in the hearth. ¡°Not¡­ entirely true.¡± Her narrowed vision flicked to the dark-haired woman, agitation growing with her inability to shake the ominous feeling of a guillotine hanging over her neck. ¡°Go on¡­¡± ¡°First,¡± the witch gulped, arms folding tightly against her stomach, ¡°allow me to reiterate that my only desire is to serve you, Empress, and I would gladly give¡­ whatever I am for your happiness. Now that has been said, I believe you have far more leverage in fulfilling Autumn¡¯s desire than she is suggesting or guiding you to think.¡± Tiffany shifted uncomfortably, unable to stop a quake from running through her bones as she carefully articulated her words. ¡°Wordplay and mind games are the bread and butter of hags. She is painting it as things you want, Empress, such as not getting in conflict with her and turning her away from Princess Heather, but all of her goals are hiding a singular purpose¡ªwhat she desires from you.¡± ¡°Hmm. Creating another hag?¡± Elinor mumbled, her attention shifting to her little sister¡¯s glamorous, darkened side of the space. ¡°She wanted Butter to be with us and didn¡¯t seem to know much else about her to pose an attack or levy anything about her issues into the bargain due to her being outside this universe¡­ She¡¯s looking for leverage?¡± ¡°She is.¡± Suddenly, a whole new angle opened up to her as she whispered, ¡°If she has all the cards¡­ why would she be looking for leverage?¡± Tiffany crossed her legs and showed a renewed, confident smile. ¡°My guess is that Autumn cannot escape this dying universe on her own; she lacks the power, and so¡­¡± ¡°She needs to create a sister with a large amount of mana to support her,¡± Elinor finished, agitation lessening with a clearer understanding of the hag¡¯s position. ¡°In short, Autumn will be indebted to me for life should I manage to help her escape, and she is trying to give me all of these potential gifts and information to subtly equal out the price. ¡°She wanted me to rush right into it without coming to any kind of deal so she could set the terms and continue feeding me hidden answers to larger questions I haven¡¯t even asked yet to know what to look for. That sly slug¡­¡± A half-smile lifted her lips as she leaned against the back of her hand and made the wall in front of them invisible to study the massive jungle valley below. ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to be one of my undead, which is another condition that gives me more power over the final price; it¡¯s a higher bar. So¡­ now we need to negotiate terms that we can both agree on, or else she will turn it down and go with her original plan with Heather.¡± A nervous chortle came from Tiffany as she fidgeted a little with her dress. ¡°She also gave us a timeline of when her plan was supposed to spring¡­ further tilting the scale in her favor without explicitly telling us. I have been carefully trying to dissect her words¡­ and I believe her telling me about your mother was¡­¡± Elinor nodded. ¡°Was to apply stress onto you to not look deeper into the contractual obligations and rules she plays by, derailing any strategy meetings after. She underestimated your willingness to give everything you are for me¡­ as my mother did. A miscalculation since she doesn¡¯t know what kind of a person you were before you were corrupted by Shade.¡± Folding her hands in her lap, Elinor returned the wall to its proper visibility, gaze drifting to the hearth before creating another image of the hag. Her perfect teeth gleamed in the firelight in a wicked grin, monstrous eyes illuminated beneath the facade. ¡°A Tempest reaches their prime at age 30, which is the height of where their mana matures, where she¡¯d want Heather to become pregnant with a hag¡­ That is 13 years away, which is nothing to her, but how much longer does this universe or world truly have? We do have angles of attack. Hmm.¡± ¡°Not only that,¡± Tiffany added, ¡°but she will need to raise and educate the hag in the right way to do a unified ritual. Hags are also very¡­ touchy, and easily offended¡ªespecially with one another¡ªso she may need to kill her sister and start over again if she doesn¡¯t play her part. Or¡­ as she¡¯s concluded, you could bypass the whole ordeal by smuggling her out.¡± ¡°Good¡­ Good. I¡¯m seeing a win condition,¡± Elinor grinned. ¡°Okay, start coming up with a list of things we can put to paper and solidify something concrete. I want to have a defined plan and method of moving forward before bringing this up to my dad to get his own opinion. You can work with Lilya if she has any extra time but do not bring this topic anywhere near my dad or Castria until I give the green light.¡± Tiffany bowed her head, emotions settling back into her typical witchy self. ¡°Understood. Hehe. I can¡¯t help but feel the pressure of attempting to win a hag¡¯s game. I look forward to tipping the scales as much as possible in your favor, Empress. I will start devising arguments to put forward.¡± With a plan in motion, the tightness in her chest eased; yes, the hag was a major threat that they needed to play around, but Autumn needed something critical from her, and evidently, she couldn¡¯t or wasn¡¯t keen on using force, which gave them wiggle room. Elinor exited her internal world to watch the next presentations, a curious smile lifting her moo. The House of Conjuration was finishing up their presentation on a new world of water that they¡¯d managed to form a stable gateway to in order to train Water Tempest and gather new resources. Autumn didn¡¯t want her to invest her attention in this presentation, though, and after Tiffany¡¯s breakdown, there was something going to happen during the Magic Knights¡¯ turn that she¡¯d be invested in. At the same time, the hag worked in many layers, which had her mind working on the angles. Black¡­ The Horsewoman of Famine paused in her mission to track down the royal jewelry of Kaspir¡¯s first matriarch. ¡°Yes, Empress?¡± Pause your investigation. I suspect the hag is attempting to keep me occupied here while she enacts another plot. Find Countess Autumn, and be cautious and maintain your distance. You know the criminal underground now; pay people to follow her and her associates from the fund Roman gave us. A positive surge fed through their connection, the horsewoman ¡°Understood. It gives me an excuse to get close to a few targets. They¡¯ll tail the countess, and I¡¯ll tail them. There is a network that tracks all the nobles¡¯ movements, as well, if you pay the right price.¡± Excellent. And, as a side note, there is the possibility that she bugged the Nexus. In general, we¡¯re pushing to get more data on the hag and her motives. I¡¯ll say it again, be on your guard. ¡°Orders received¡­ There¡¯s a good food stand on the way out, as well. I am going to miss this kingdom¡¯s food.¡± We¡¯ll have to make a shopping list to bring back to share and grow ourselves. Make a side-project out of collecting goods. Ah¡­ Elinor sat straighter as the Magic Knights took the stage. It looks like the show is about to start. ¡°Shame I¡¯ll miss it. Enjoy, Empress.¡± Cutting the connection, she did a quick check on all of her units, suddenly conscious of the fact her th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone was vulnerable with a hag on the loose. Black would deal with it if it came up and report back. Grandmaster Holst R. Rosmar made a showy entrance, pulling her gaze; shrouded in a sapphire aura of magical force, he hovered into the middle of the arena, where four teens between the ages of 18 and 19 stood at attention, wearing the armband that indicated they were 2nd-year students in the academy. Holst¡¯s gruff, booming voice took all eyes as he addressed the crowd. ¡°Haha. What a day this has been! As is typical of this yearly ceremony, we will give murderers, traitors, and rapists a chance to fight for their freedom¡ªnot that any stand a chance,¡± he chuckled to the crowd¡¯s soft laughter. ¡°Let¡¯s not forget your entertainment and show the resolve of last year¡¯s top four Magic Knights!¡± Elinor sensed a thirst for blood in the air for these evils of society to meet their just end since Kaspir had no long-term prison system for such crimes; either you served a short sentence for petty crime, or you were executed. Brutal but effective. ¡°However, as is custom, we open the way for all outside challengers who wish to test their merit against our students, and several have volunteered¡­ haha, only to drop out when the famed Wandering Quiltra signed up this morning. So, for all those who wanted to see a few rounds of swordplay between outlanders and the Magic Knights, I¡¯m sorry to inform you, but we only have one challenger left!The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°He will deliver his opening address and will duel our students in a trial of skill; for those visiting or unaccustomed to this ceremony, this is not to the death, and I will intervene if needed. I am sure all of you are as curious as I am to hear if the rumors of this wanderer¡¯s mastery over weapons are true or exaggerated! Some of you may feel that his very presence in this kingdom is a taunt, but our rules are set in stone; anyone has a right to make this challenge.¡± Murmurs flew through the stands, and Elinor¡¯s curiosity grew with the throng¡¯s excitement or anger. Her dad and most of the High Nobility weren¡¯t even paying attention at this point, going over battle plans and tactics that could be used against the Delva Empire¡¯s invasion; her dad, being an architectural engineer, was providing his own expertise on the mobile fortresses they had. Everyone else was centered on this wanderer that had shown up. However, there was one exception. Queen Alivau Alciel radiated a wispy white flame from inside her box, and Elinor could practically sense her hatred directed at the arena. The foreign-born queen was having difficulty controlling her temper. Lilya, she internally queried, what makes this Quiltra such an eye-sore for our abusive mother up in her ivory box? The former queen released a somber sigh through the Nexus, maintaining her outward poise while responding. ¡°Queen Alivau hails from the Kingdom of Jesena, across the Jesna Desert¡¯s Northern face, where they share a border with the many Beast Tribes of the Beneval Lands, which her kingdom conquered and enslaved. Her culture practices slavery, and the Rule of Power equates to the right to do whatever one pleases.¡± Well, that makes sense¡­ Elinor whispered as the grandmaster introduced his four best students from the 2nd-year roster. So, your family was in conflict with the Jesena Kingdom because you operated through trade, and they preferred conquest. What¡¯s the story behind the Wandering Quiltra? ¡°Conflict between my extended family and Jesena is accurate, but it is less the fact we are their equals and more that our way of life in the desert is too harsh for them to attempt to conquer. We refuse to trade with them because they do not pay but take what they want by force, which is why we send our trade routes through nations not affiliated with them.¡± I see. Elinor frowned while looking between the four students Astral was hyped up; none of them could compare to the boy who had supported Captain Flera against her. The more I hear about Alivau¡¯s nation, the more I understand her mind state. And this Wandering Quiltra? ¡°Hmm. I regret to say, I cannot provide you answers on that particular topic, Empress,¡± Lilya smoothly explained. ¡°I died before his legend spread, but I was aware of the Quiltra Genocide that the Jesena Kingdom perpetrated against the mountain race, and it was one that Jesena did not come out totally unscathed from, losing many powerful Tempests and soldiers. Perhaps Castria will know more from traveling bards through her village.¡± I¡¯ll link her in, then¡­ Castria,¡± the girl jumped at the sudden mental tug into the conversation, I assume the nobles are in a craze over this Beastman¡­ Is that the right term? ¡°Oh, Empress!¡± Castria excitedly chirped. ¡°Heather and Julian told me that the Wandering Quiltra doesn¡¯t have a name because he never reached the age to receive one before all of his people were killed¡ªapparently, they don¡¯t get a name until ten. Isn¡¯t that crazy?! I mean, even I had a name, and my parents abandoned me and my sister.¡± ¡°Tragic,¡± Lilya sighed. ¡°So, he is the last of his species. That is¡­ unfortunate. The males were weapons masters, who trained their bodies with the same level of expertise. The females were far more plentiful, which led to a polygamous lifestyle, and many were quite beautiful, which made for high-value slaves. They were also vegetarians, which made for an easy diet¡ªoutside the desert, that is. ¡°In addition, the females had excellent physical aptitude, despite their culture having specified gender roles. One problem I recall discussing with their chief and high priestess was their declining birth rates and gender ratio: a dangerous combination. There were discussions taking place about introducing the strongest of the females into more military roles and away from farmwork or religious rites. ¡°Still, the females took extreme pride in their labor and were resistant to the idea. To them, it felt like an attack against their very nature, making it a touchy subject.¡± Castria hissed. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d rather plow fields than go to war with other nations, especially with how violent I heard some of the Beast Tribes could get before Jesena¡¯s expansion.¡± A confused note touched Lilya¡¯s deep, feminine voice. ¡°While true that there were carnivorous and hostile tribes, that is not the whole picture. The Quiltra were quite isolationist and a very disciplined race. Hehe. Something you might find quite fascinating, Castria, is that the females often chose their partners based on how much abuse they could take; naturally, without leaving a scar or mark on the males, but a pain tolerance test, you could say.¡± The teenage Tempest was eating up the information, telling the other salivating nobles around her about their culture and acting like she was super educated. To be fair, Elinor also found it equally as enthralling, if sad, that their culture and people had been mostly wiped out. The 17-year-old girl jumped in to nibble at that particular topic. ¡°Pain threshold, so¡­ hehe, like, ahem, nuts shots? Well, they wouldn¡¯t want to damage the goods, though, right? Hmm. How strong of a hug they could receive? Hehe. Make them do push-ups with them on their back for as long as they could? I¡¯d like to do that to Julian since he thinks he¡¯s super strong. I want to see what this courting process was like!¡± Lilya¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter. ¡°Perhaps you will find out one day. It is difficult to completely destroy a race of people. I am sure there are some still¡­ Ah. Hehe. So that is why they are playing Quiltra instruments. It seems my lessons in music bore fruit,¡± she commented with delight as the Japanese-style flutes filled the stadium. ¡°I would like to talk to him when this is over to learn what has become of the Beast Tribes.¡± The Magic Knights finished their introductions, and all eyes went to one of the entrance tunnels, where competitors walked to reach the arena; soothing music played in the background, holding a somewhat tragic tune. Tiffany cleared her throat to chime in for the first time after passively listening to the cultural lesson. ¡°Empress, I should be recovered enough to do a simple projection ritual while I work on the task you gave me. Would you like me to project it for the crowd? I am sure it will further increase your popularity.¡± If it will help you gain levels while also increasing your Rank and Grade, then I don¡¯t see why not. You have leftover materials in the other room pre-prepared? ¡°Eh-hehe. I over-prepared just in case.¡± I should have expected it from you. Send them out. Elinor shifted her posture, and ravens swooped out of the waterfall room, gems attached to their necks as Tiffany summoned the familiars. Flying down to circle the stadium, they caused a buzz when the hologram reappeared. Cheers erupted throughout the stadium at the expanded view of the arena for all to see; she was becoming popular, it seemed. However, her focus was on the tall, bare-chested bunny man who walked out of the tunnel. This is a Quiltra? Not at all what I pictured, but I¡¯m not complaining. By the thickening saliva in her throat, neither was Tiffany. Large ears frayed, yet held high in the air, the man¡¯s wild, alabaster white hair was held back into a ponytail that fell to his butt. His visible skin displayed a lean, muscular build and an impressively defined 8-pack of toned abs. A few nasty scars told a harsh story of past battles, and despite that, he wore a carefree, peaceful smile on his markless, chiseled face. For his torso, his coverings were an unusual combination of a cloth-like neck and shoulder guard, while his somewhat tight pants left the impression of long, muscular legs. Not what she¡¯d expected from a Beastman, his bare feet were that of a normal, tall human, and thin gloves from his fingers up to his forearms left much unprotected. However, perhaps the most puzzling addition was the chainless shackles over his form-fitting gloves and around his wrist. To finish the swordsman vibes, strapped to his hip were two scabbards that looked impossible to draw, considering their curved shape. Tiffany drooled the moment her birds caught sight of the hunky rabbit man, only to throw a curve ball at her. ¡°A Hare Beastman?! Empress, he¡¯s gorgeous! That rugged, yet peaceful look¡ªthe fashion and bare chest, showing off the goodies to lay atop and be smothered by! Ahh! That golden tan skin¡­ Mmm. And that hair¡ªI want to run my fingers through it and braid it! Does he have a tail? He does! Yes! I¡¯ll take him!¡± Hehehe. Don¡¯t let my dad hear that. ¡°He¡¯s my perfect type! Those ears I can brush¡­ Haaa. Calm down! Control. Sorry, Empress.¡± Well, now I know why my mom went after my dad. I¡¯ve seen the pictures of him when they were in high school. Huh¡­ The noble announcers above welcomed the challenger, quieting the throng; there was a grace and unbothered attitude in the vibe of the hare¡¯s home country, playing in the background. She suspected it must have been the Grand Duke¡¯s doing. ¡°The Wandering Quiltra!¡± ¡°The Last Quiltra!¡± ¡°Without name or people, this Beastman won his freedom in the Jesena Pits by slaying 100 challengers and a nobleman Tempest in single combat at the age of ten!¡± ¡°A feat he claims is only possible due to his goddess!¡± ¡°Over the last fifteen years, he has wandered from kingdom to kingdom; this is his second trip to Kaspir and his first visit to our brightest gem, Lumina! You can taste the pressure on our young Magic Knights!¡± Grandmaster Astral Benka stepped forward to look up at the far younger and slightly taller hare¡ªmuch taller if including the ears¡ªyet the golden-skinned wanderer gave him a respectful bow, ears remaining straight. Astral appraised him with a small smile. ¡°You claimed that you would compete without drawing your swords¡­ From what I¡¯ve heard, you rarely, if ever, have drawn your own swords, but will often use anything else as your weapon, including a shoe in one tale.¡± The hare¡¯s frame shook as his tranquil, resonant voice and unbothered attitude, projected to the audience, totally unbothered by the world. ¡°Haha. Yes, that was quite the battle, but I had to make an example out of the thirty bandits ganging up on farm women.¡± ¡°Haha! I¡¯m sure the United Roland States appreciated it since they hired you to handle the rest of that roaming desert band.¡± ¡°They did! It was quite the distraction for a few weeks. Also, excuse my impertinence, Grandmaster, but I am not here for the fame of competing within your arena or for the money.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Astral grinned and took a step back to better study the Beastman. ¡°Then what led you to stand in front of me¡­ Your goddess, that rumor says empowers you never to lose a battle? I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve gone toe to toe with quite a few notable factions in the last fifteen years since earning your freedom. I¡¯ll take a swing: what brought you here, Wanderer?¡± The Beastman turned his clear silver eyes skyward, to her box. ¡°Empress Elinor, Nungal¡ªThe Chain, The Jailor, The Judge, The Keeper of Life¡ªmy goddess, instructed me in a dream five days ago to make haste to this place¡­ She has given me life and ordered me to serve you, as I serve her. I await your response.¡± Once again, all focus was thrown on her as one of the ravens flew up to project her image to the crowd, making her chuckle; however, this time, the Tempests were the ones to project her voice. ¡°Interesting¡­ You serve a goddess of chains and judgment, hmm?¡± Her mind returned to the conversation she¡¯d had with the hag about divinity trapped within her and divinity circling her. Autumn knew this Quiltra was here to serve her, but the question was how far he would be willing to go. ¡°I have high standards. Show me why you deserve a place by my side.¡± He bowed his head, ears following his example and getting a girly squeal out of Tiffany. ¡°Wonderful. I am honored for this chance to be given a place by your side. Might I request one more thing from you, Empress?¡± Elinor¡¯s lips curled as she looked up at the royal box, spotting the white flames of the current queen growing, evaporating the nets that kept out the rain; once again, she was the center of attention and doing something that pissed the abuser off. This ¡®slave bunny¡¯ had managed to kill a noble, potentially someone she knew, from home, embarrassing them. His mere existence was likely the ire of her kingdom, and here he was, in her kingdom, asking to serve someone when the Quiltra refused to serve or be enslaved by her family. It was honey on Elinor¡¯s tongue and sparked her curiosity. ¡°Ask.¡± Resting his arm against one of his sheathed swords, his soft voice projected to the whole stadium. ¡°Since as long as I can remember, I have gone nameless, and Nungal has told me to receive one from you, Empress.¡± Shivers ran through the crowd, whispers following in a buzz at the shock and change she continued to make to this year¡¯s ceremony. In the calming Japanese rhythm and dampened overhead thunderstorm, Elinor smiled down at the waiting wanderer, now seeking a place by her side. It was practically out of a fairytale. Tiffany went through multiple names off the top of his head, but Elinor made her choice practically without thinking. ¡°Grace, The Wanderer.¡± ¡°As you wish, Empress.¡± ¡°Empress, no, please!¡± Tiffany cried. ¡°You can¡¯t give this juicy piece of tail¡­ a woman¡¯s name?! Grace?! T-That¡¯s like calling someone Afro because they have an afro! The kids will bully them!¡± I think someone did that, Elinor mused, yet the crowd looked to be in awe at the name. I think it fits him pretty well; I mean, wasn¡¯t it you who was practically saying, ¡®By Grace, do you see his abs¡¯ or was I imagining you salivating over some tail? Besides, we¡¯re about to see how he¡¯d handle bullies. ¡°I guess¡­¡± ¡°As a side note,¡± Lilya interjected, ¡°the cloth he wears is due to his species getting cold in those particular areas and is also made of the silk from the desert spiders you were interested in, Queen Tiffany.¡± ¡°Oh? That is interesting¡­ I still would rather have called him Zack. Mmmgm.¡± ¡°Grace, hmm?¡± Grandmaster Benka commented, turning to study the hare. ¡°Well, I suppose we will see how graceful you are soon enough. Who do you wish to battle?¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * At peace with himself and the world, Grace shifted his tranquil smile to each of the four opponents offered to him. ¡°If you¡¯d allow, Grandmaster, I would offer up a prayer to my goddess and meet all of them at once¡­ Would you mind holding my weapons?¡± ¡°Oh-hoh,¡± the man chortled as Grace unfastened his belt to hand the swords Nungal had blessed to the Magic Knight. ¡°Confident are we? How are you even supposed to draw these?¡± He handed the curved blades over and felt a sense of relief come over him as they left his fingers; there was a weight that came with the knowledge of what the swords could do and what it felt like when he was compelled to use them by his goddess. ¡°When they are drawn, Irkalla welcomes those that meet its edge; no mortal can pull them free.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Religious shit,¡± the man grunted with a wry shake of his head. ¡°Anyway, this should be a good benchmark to show these whelps that there are all sorts of styles and strong opponents in the world. Don¡¯t hold back, students.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± they all mirrored in unison, making Grace smile; the devotion in their faces reminded him of the four years he had spent training under his father and mother before their people were attacked and scattered. ¡°We won¡¯t fail to uphold the Pride of Kaspir!¡± The grandmaster laughed and floated back to his chair, studying the rough and unadorned scabbards he¡¯d been entrusted with. The knights spread out as Grace took a deep breath and walked into the middle of the damaged stadium. His wide field of vision scanned every inch, memorizing it with a glance before his gaze turned skyward, a smile lifting his face while spotting the shimmering colors of the water dome overhead, bathing them in radiant hues. It brought back memories of his time in their tribe¡¯s temple with all its shiny gems and precious stones that they dedicated to Nungal, how it looked during winter when the ceiling was opened to project a rainbow beam into the heavens while the blanket of sparkling snow fell around them. Closing his eyes, he bridged his hands into a praying position, and knelt on the uneven arena, envisioning the teachings of his childhood at the feet of the elders and his parents. Not a face, scene, or single memory was distorted by the passage of time, Quiltra¡¯s experiences being imprinted on their brains for life to bring a vivid picture of deep pain and spiritual joy for all eternity. The memory of his mother, acting as the High Priestess to their temple, passed out the single stick of carrot that they would eat in preparation for their yearly, month-long fast; an offering of thanksgiving to Nungal¡¯s life-giving water that would be their only nourishment. The weeks of harsh training and discipline with his father strengthened his mind, body, and spirit, something every Quiltra, male and female, went through, in order to handle the tortures the world would heap on him. When he was eight and his entire clan was ravaged by the harsh Tempest elements, when a hail of projectiles blotted out the sky; the fates of his siblings, friends, and his parents. His capture with many other female Quiltra that were bound in nets of wind, vines, and earth, followed by their time in the Jesena Kingdom¡¯s coliseums since they were too wild to be broken. The fate of many of the female Quiltra due to their lack of martial training, yet fierce determination to fight until the joyous end to be welcomed by Irkalla¡¯s gates. Breathing it all in and out, he let the torture and elation of his entire 25 years of life filter through his soul to cleanse himself of weakness and impurity, feeling sweat break out across his body before opening his eyes to his opponents. ¡°Nungal is just. Irkalla welcomes all. Do not fear death; for in death we are given new life. I am Nungal¡¯s hand and voice; I am Her judgment.¡± A gentle smile lifted his eyes as he looked between his nervous opponents, taking a stance he¡¯d seen his father take many times. ¡°Irkalla sings in our passing.¡± The carnelian shackles on his wrists illuminated a deep maroon, unlocking the first seal on the power granted him by Nungal, causing a stir amongst the onlookers. ¡°I am ready.¡± His ears twitched, hearing the muscle twitches and clinking noises of the girl behind him, launching forward to strike his unprotected back. Having memorized the Magic Knight¡¯s attack style, he knew where they¡¯d strike, and in a flash of movement, he¡¯d dodged and twisted around the girl¡¯s secondary thrust from a pulled dagger. A light squeeze of her wrist¡¯s nerves in the right place made her drop the weapon and disrupt her defensive rush of mana that was far too slow to defend the girl, which was typical of their age and what he¡¯d observed during their fight with Empress Elinor. Snatching it out of the air, he more than tripled their speed, a red outline following his movements as he danced between their jabs and swipes. In one fluid combination and less than five seconds, he¡¯d landed what would have been deathblows against all four of the students, hardly giving them enough time to summon their mana shields. His arm met an immovable force, the dagger centimeters away from the boy¡¯s throat, still trying to process what had just happened; the Grandmaster had moved at blinding speed to stop his hand with one of his own scabbards, showing a wide grin as the 2nd-years all fell to their butts in the swirl of wind. ¡°So, you aren¡¯t just talk¡­ I¡¯d say Grace fits your style well. I¡¯ve never seen someone with strikes that fluid¡­ not even The Empress.¡± Grace dropped the dagger for Astral to catch, tossing him his scabbards, and they both turned to the sitting Raven Empress, showing a half-smile. Laughter came from the grandmaster. ¡°Well, Empress, has he passed your test? If not, I¡¯d hire him for my House before Grandmaster Lilya sinks her claws into him. Haha! It¡¯s a different vibe having to compete¡­ I actually kind of like it.¡± The Empress¡¯ emerald eyes narrowed, her posture telling Grace that she was intrigued but cautious. After a few quiet seconds in the tranquil music of his people, his mistress opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to be by my side for now. I hope you continue to prove your worth, Oracle of Nungal. Join me.¡± B3 — 14. House Selection The light breeze cycling through the coliseum tickled Elinor¡¯s skin as she studied the space beside the Quiltra that had pledged himself to her; she hadn¡¯t been able to follow his swift, expert movements, instantaneously shutting down the Magic Knights. However, it wasn¡¯t his skill or strength that made her grip her shin or drown out the chatter of the citizens, buzzing at the idea of this mythical hare man serving the Raven Empress. No, her bright green eyes were on the violet-haired ghostly teenage girl who flittered into existence the second she accepted him, standing beside the hare. Not a soul reacted to her mysterious appearance, she was only visible to her. It was as if she knew the girl from somewhere long ago, and the image of the phantom-like figure mixed with unending amethyst chains. One name came to mind, punching her in the chest: Nungal. She blinked, and the image was gone, leaving her in the stunned realization of what this meant and why the Scarlet Hand wanted her gone from Earth. Trapped divinity¡­ Divinity circling me¡­ Somehow, I¡¯m connected to a higher plane of existence, which is why I¡¯ve been changing so much after getting this Greater Seed. Hand pressing against her breast as she watched the hare leave the stage to make his way up to her, she completely checked out of the coming prisoner slaughter event; her meeting with the hag took on a whole new meaning. Damn¡­ She knows who I really am¡­ who I was before being born on Earth¡­ who Butter is to me¡­ Everything. Autumn can give me those answers¡­ for a price. She drew into her inner world again, subconsciously moving her chair back from the hearth to create more chairs, and filling them with the individuals on her mind. What do I know? Her little sister¡¯s golden radiance sat in a regal way, giving her a glowing smile. Butter and I aren¡¯t necessarily goddesses¡­ but we are connected to the divine realm somehow. We were at war before this incarnation, I suppose we¡¯d call it, and I won¡­ I always win. Then¡­ this Seed gets implanted in us, rekindling Butter¡¯s spirit. I don¡¯t act like a 16-year-old because the Seed is unlocking pieces of my dormant spirit, bringing me further into the realization of who I really am. Perhaps I fought against the gods or goddesses? Is Nungal here to finish the job or help me? Her eyes creased, suspicious glare drifting to the image she had of the teenage goddess she¡¯d seen for only a few seconds, yet uncovering something within her core; the strumming bled through the background, and [Strategic Mind I] combined with the music helped to keep her focused, the Feat increasing in Tiers rapidly as she connected the dots. Grace called her The Chain, The Jailor, The Judge, The Keeper of Life¡­ I wish I would have paid more attention to the deities of different religions. Autumn said I have ¡®trapped divinity¡¯ within me, but that is so vague and leading that it could mean any number of things. I could be divine myself and have some deity trapped or imprisoned inside of me. It¡¯s obvious that Autumn knew about the goddess the Quiltra worshiped, and it wouldn¡¯t be a stretch to think that deities span multiple worlds and dimensions. I¡¯ve already witnessed Shade¡¯s power, and he is practically a chained god inside this planet¡­ a prison planet. The Scarlet Hand had detailed information on me and several others to rid themselves of us the moment this Seeding Event happened. Now, they¡¯re trying to fight me away from where I could interrupt their plans on Earth. The question is¡­ why not kill me? Her gaze shifted to the illusion of her little sister, now passively grooming her liquid-like golden locks. If I die, maybe Butter gets released, causing a bigger problem¡­ Hmm. But Butter felt like we would both die if she hadn¡¯t stepped in, so that isn¡¯t likely. Something has to happen that makes my death trouble for the Scarlet Hand, which¡­ makes one wonder why they didn¡¯t try to imprison me¡­ Did I have too much background support on Earth to contain me safely? Nungal seems to have found a person to stick near me, but I still don¡¯t know her reasons¡­ and there¡¯s this feeling of¡­ competitiveness¡­ frustration¡­ when I look at her. In the end, I don¡¯t think the knowledge of who I am will do me much good at this time¡­ It¡¯s better to be in the dark and keep Autumn in my debt. She mentioned it herself; I¡¯m not capable of setting terms¡­ I can refuse them, though. Swiping away the illusions with a small smile, her curiosity sparked, Elinor did a quick check on her increased Feats and Tiers. A little mystery is always fun to have. Why ruin the enjoyment of discovering it for myself? Plus, this opens up a whole new world to explore on the side. After all, my main objective is to bolster my strength and solidify my empire. I have eternity to dig into this deeper plot in my life¡­ if I survive, which Autumn has a vested interest in. Butter is going to be so jealous of what she missed. Chuckling at the prospect of her puffy-cheeked little sister, annoyed that she¡¯d missed the comfort and shopping ventures in Roman¡¯s failing universe, Elinor scrolled through her upgrades from all the fighting she¡¯d done. Yet, one obscure notification caught her interest; she hadn¡¯t noticed the option with Nungal¡¯s enigmatic appearance. [Devout Follower Accepted: Grace, The Wanderer] [Accept Grace¡¯s Prayers: Yes or No?] Tapping the question box itself to get more of an explanation, the black-and-white System Menu expanded, making her lips tilt into a half-smile. A Devout Follower isn¡¯t connected to my Nexus but to me, hmm? I can accept their prayers or reject them. I can¡¯t peer into their minds. I can also respond to them if they are seeking guidance, knowing the intended desire of their heart¡­ Does this mean no one in my empire is a Devout Follower yet? Disappointing. She pressed the [Yes] icon and felt a private branch split off from the Nexus that she could access. The question is¡­ can Grace obtain the Classes that the Royal Court can grant without being dead? I suppose I have a new reason to discover a way to take people outside of this universe with me. Elinor did one last scan of her Feats: Base Feats [Monarch of Death IV - Increased to E-tier] [Death Pool II - Increased to S-tier] [Life Tap III - Increased to B-tier] [Darkness Vision III - Increased to E-tier] Equipped Feats [Butterfly III - Increased to B-tier] [Artificial Body III - Increased to D-tier] [Enhance Construct II - Increased to C-tier] [Strategic Mind I - Increased to C-tier] Achievement Feats [Chains of the Damned II - Increased to A-tier] Elinor¡¯s vision cleared to the bloody scene of the 18 and 19-year-old teens executing criminals in the ring. She had to admit, to a typical person on Earth, this would be barbaric, yet in a world rife with war, limited resources, and a population that had no religious framework to attach value to life, death was perfectly normal. These murderers and rapists knew exactly what would come to them if they followed through, no matter their reasons. Apparently, falsely accusing someone of such a crime carried with it the same punishment; liars were swiftly dealt with if evidence was discovered of their falsehoods. She was sure there were drawbacks to having such a system, but it seemed to work for the population. Surprisingly, the crowd was loving it. Then again, if you lived in the Middle Ages, without internet access, video games, or a wealth of books to read on a whim for entertainment, this was as good as it got. People saw their streets becoming safer while seeing justice or vengeance served. Plus, it gave their inexperienced soldiers the taste of the toll taking a life did on the soul. Castria and Heather seemed to be enjoying the show, but Elinor liked the aspect of being in the fight rather than watching it. Mind turning away from the slaughter, she looked up to see Queen Alivau was no longer where she¡¯d stood when watching the Quiltra; the redhead was probably licking her wounds. Breathing out a sigh, she sent a link to Black, rescinding her previous order. The hag is too cautious and dangerous to tail without her knowing. Where are you at in the mission? The thin woman¡¯s raspy voice had a touch of disappointment in it. ¡°I¡¯ve already paid the men, which did give me a chance to confirm a few things with their boss. We¡¯re on the way to what appears to be one of the hidden entrances smugglers use to bring contraband between districts; there¡¯s an entire labyrinth underneath the city that supposedly changes every day.¡± More things to explore, Elinor mused. Let them tail her, and when they inevitably die. Confront her directly and give her this message: I will discover the truth about myself in my own way and time. You don¡¯t need to tell me anything more. I will save your life, putting you in a life debt to me. You know what actions will void this contract, so don¡¯t test me. Black¡¯s tone held a smile. ¡°I like it, Empress. I¡¯ll report back when it¡¯s done. What should I do with the bodies¡­ if there are bodies?¡± Leave them. Just make sure you¡¯re not caught. Countess Autumn is tying up loose ends. So long as it doesn¡¯t affect us, then I don¡¯t want to poke her too much, and she doesn¡¯t want to poke me since I¡¯m her best ticket out¡­ We¡¯ll discuss more about adventuring when this event is over. Cutting the connection to look at Grace as the Paladins allowed him inside, she tapped her foot against the side of the stone railing she sat on, dress fluttering at her shins. ¡°Welcome to the Undying Empire, Grace. Is there anything you¡¯d like to say?¡± The hare¡¯s graceful cadence and unbothered expression held a happy note. ¡°Nothing other than to ask what it is you wish me to accomplish, My Empress. Nungal has given me explicit instructions to act as if your orders are hers.¡± Looking him up and down before glancing to the right, where she caught Tiffany peeking out to stare at his bare, muscular chest, Elinor chuckled. ¡°And while I am curious about you and Nungal, I have a very important task that will test how useful you can be to me.¡± ¡°My ears are always listening,¡± the man said, a hand on his hip with his other arm resting on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Elinor leaned back to study the giant, colorful dome of water the Grand Duke maintained, bathing the area in light. ¡°Is it possible to receive answers and speak to your goddess?¡± Grace¡¯s head tilted to the side, silver eyes shifting to look at the Witch Queen, who quickly ducked back into the waterfall room to continue her contract project. ¡°Depending on several factors, it can be easier or more challenging. Generally, it is more of an impression than words.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Her focus drifted to the red-stoned shackles he wore on his ankles and wrists; their crimson glow had faded. She activated their tied connection from his devotion to her, speaking to his spirit to not give away her plan to any listening ears. Ask Nungal how I can bring you and the hag with me back to my world. How long will you need to receive an answer, and do you think she will give me an answer? You can speak aloud since you can only communicate to me as a prayer in this manner. He reached up to scratch at one of the nasty scars on his left breast, large, frayed ears tilting in various directions as he listened to distant conversations. ¡°Hmm. It is hard to say, Empress. Nungal can be fickle when she is in one of her moods, but I feel she is quite pleased at this time. If you give me leave, then I can gather the materials I need to make myself available to hear her voice.¡± Do that. I need a response as soon as possible. ¡°I will see it done, Empress,¡± he bowed, ears folding with his torso before promptly turning and walking out. Immediately, her father¡¯s voice entered her mind, now standing where the queen had been. ¡°I heard about the hare. Tiffany seems far too excited to have him near you. We know nothing about this man, and what do we know about this goddess? Do you have any insight, Lilya?¡± Elinor let them speak while letting her eyes and mind wander between the crowd, House candidates, and nobility. There were a lot of things she could do in the next seven days, mainly stocking up on supplies, and luckily, she could likely use her reputation now to extort some money from the Great Houses or king. Plenty of people would be throwing money at their new House to gain favor, after all.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°Nungal is an ancient deity,¡± Lilya explained, in the process of making notes on a piece of paper while scrutinizing the teens who wanted to join a House; this would be the first time the students got to choose where they went. ¡°I do not know much about her, other than her strong connection to the Quiltra. If she gravitated to that particular race, then it says a lot about what she values¡­ discipline, honor, and grace above all else.¡± Her father growled as he silently communicated with Tiffany, learning about his sudden departure. ¡°What are you doing behind my back again, Elinor¡­ I thought you weren¡¯t going to hide anything from me anymore. Haven¡¯t I shown you that I do trust you? I am your father, though, no matter how many people you rule over.¡± Pulling her knee up to her chest, Elinor laughed quietly while focusing on the Death Knight in the box above all others. I¡¯m telling you everything you need to know, Dad, and I haven¡¯t forgotten where I came from. That being said, there are things that I do need to keep from you, and I never said I wouldn¡¯t hide anything from you; that¡¯s more projection on your part, but trust that I am doing everything in our best interest. We have too much happening right now, and you¡¯re doing great bonding with the king and High Nobility¡­ Ask if we can get some money. We need supplies, and I¡¯d like to go shopping tomorrow. As for Nungal, I¡¯m all for you learning everything you can about her. ¡°And why did you send him off?¡± her dad pressed, clearly wanting to be kept in the loop. She had to keep him focused, and if he knew the disastrous and amazing news about her mother¡ªhis wife¡ªthen it could cause a lot of unneeded pressure. To ask Nungal if there is a way that I can bring people from this world back to our new one. It could open up a whole new level of support that Roman¡­ honestly could leverage against us, but we¡¯re already partners at this point. He needs me. I need him. ¡°Roman¡­ I still don¡¯t trust him. Where is he, and what is he doing anyway? He just dumped this whole Legend Quest on us and took off somewhere.¡± Elinor¡¯s cheer fell slightly, thinking back to the private conversation he¡¯d had with the Legendkin general. Shockingly¡­ his information gathering proved so much more useful than I thought it would, which does make me worry about how far ahead he¡¯s been able to foresee. He¡¯s looking for somewhere to plant his loyalties, and I¡¯d rather it be with us, even if it opens us up a little for being betrayed since¡­ he could be working with the Scarlet Hand from the start. She could feel her father¡¯s tension through his voice and the Nexus. ¡°At least you¡¯re strong enough to handle yourself if needed now¡­ I¡¯m at least grateful for that. Just¡­ be careful. I don¡¯t want to see you get hurt again¡­¡± Her thoughts turned toward her mother, and the sacrifice she made to free her from Shade. It wasn¡¯t over, though. Her mother was still inside Tiffany, yet now she had to find a way to keep them both since the witch had become a vital part of her empire; most of it would collapse without her rituals and general versatility in academic knowledge that had jumpstarted so many projects. Pain is a part of life, Dad¡­ We just need to handle what¡¯s in front of us, and we¡¯re through the toughest part now. Have fun! Spend some time going over the engineering and rebuilding stuff. Maybe you should see if Julian can be added to the conversation about retaking his march? I¡¯ve passively heard about his uncle taking control until he¡¯s through the academy, but it¡¯ll be important for him to have a role in it. ¡°Agreed,¡± her dad said, tension leaving his voice. ¡°They¡¯re good kids¡­ even if they¡¯ve grown up in a different¡­ very different and brutal world. We¡¯re doing good work, Elinor. I just wish¡­¡± Yeah¡­ that Mom was here. Don¡¯t give up hope. ¡°¡­Like I ever could. Alright, I¡¯ll trust you. Just¡­ trust me.¡± I know¡­ Letting the link between them fade, she wandered into her own mind as the ceremony reached its conclusion, and she smiled at the excitement and apprehension that filled the throng when it finally became time to select who would join each House. The dome above peeled back as the grandmasters stood in unison, the storm had broken, the sun sending rays of light upon the masses. Floating out of the king¡¯s box, Grand Duke Logan hovered over the candidates, each of them lining up on the broken arena, awaiting the verdict on their trial against the Raven Empress. A hushed atmosphere took the coliseum after Tempests had cleaned off the gore from the Magic Knight¡¯s slaughter, and all eyes were on the elderly sage. Hands held behind his back, the lake of water over them swirled upward in a flower-like pattern, his voice was soft, projected to every ear in the stadium. ¡°As we come to the conclusion of this year¡¯s unique Selection Ceremony, I once again wish to thank the Raven Empress for providing such an astounding performance for our citizen¡¯s entertainment¡­ This projection that allows everyone to see with such clarity will be sorely missed in the following years.¡± Laughter and agreement swept the throng, the positive vibes of a hundred thousand people radiating like a wave, yet the educator wasn¡¯t finished stroking her ego. His hands detached to make a gesture at her. ¡°It is not every day that an empress descends from upon high to please the people of another kingdom. Empress Elinor, your humility and strength are something to learn from. I do not doubt that this Selection Ceremony will be something groundbreaking within our kingdom¡¯s history that will be spoken of for centuries to come.¡± Figuring it was her turn to respond as Tiffany¡¯s ravens brought her into focus, she added a mysterious half-smile to further sell her image. ¡°Who knows, maybe the House of Ravens will have Witches under its roof, come time this next year. Queen Tiffany will leave behind the methods required to create such a ritual, and establish a more¡­ permanent infrastructure should make it possible. I have mostly enjoyed my stay, thus far. Your princess is delightful.¡± Her stomach shook with silent laughter as a raven swapped the camera to Heather, Castria beaming and waving at the crowd; the abused princess¡¯ face turned the color of her hair, having her disheveled appearance projected to such a huge congregation of her citizens. It only lasted a second before it was back on Elinor for her closing response, still resting against the pillar of her box. ¡°You will see me in all districts, poor and noble, since I will be buying all kinds of goodies to return home with. I hope to show the bounty Kaspir has to the Raven Empire since we have become friends.¡± She moved her head to survey the happy crowd. ¡°I look forward to continuing to enjoy Lumina¡¯s hospitality for the remaining week I plan to stay within your walls; this city has been most welcoming.¡± The Grand Duke lifted his hands into the air, pulling the cameras as the flowery structure of water spread out high above them. ¡°We look forward to our future relations, Empress, and are thrilled to have Princess Castria join our academy. With that being said, let the harvest season and selection begin!¡± In an awe-striking display of power, the petals launched out across the landscape, no doubt spreading water to areas that didn¡¯t have enough rainfall due to Lumina sucking up so much of it. As the watery flower dispersed, eight bridging rainbows twinkled into existence, spreading out in all directions to leave twinkling mist to disperse across the city. The House of Tempest started the selection, and, to no one¡¯s surprise, Grandmaster Vesta¡¯s focus was on the second girl in the first column. ¡°Princess Castria, I understand you will more than likely choose the House started by your Empress, but I will offer a warm invitation to the House that will provide you with the highest level of Tempest education.¡± Castria cleared her throat and peeked around Heather, unwillingly forced to be in the front since Castria wanted her to be proud of who she was. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Grandmaster Vesta, but I go anywhere Princess Heather is since we¡¯ve agreed to be roommates and friends! I¡¯ve already learned so much from her, and she says she wants to join the House of Ravens.¡± ¡°Haaa.¡± Vesta looked rather bitter and annoyed on the display as she glanced to her right, where her former queen stood, waiting to welcome in many of the students she¡¯d planned on accepting. ¡°I¡­ suppose it cannot be helped. Grandmaster Lilya, you were in favor of allowing the students to decide where to seek their education. I feel a rivalry growing.¡± Lilya showed an elegant smile as her illuminated brown irises moved to the Tempest. ¡°Competition is an excellent motivator, which is why my instructor roster has become rather extensive. Perhaps your own House will begin to open up for more subjects as time goes on.¡± ¡°We will see¡­¡± Vesta whispered. ¡°You may go to your chosen House, Princess Castria and Princess Heather¡­ Lady Aura, which House do you choose?¡± The green-haired wind-user immediately flew to float underneath the grandmaster. ¡°Naturally, the greatest and most prestigious House, which will dominate all metrics,¡± the girl huffed. ¡°I expect the lesser Tempest to flock to the House of Ravens since the House of Tempest only accepts the best.¡± Vesta¡¯s chest swelled as she turned to the other high-value Tempest in the lineup. ¡°Lady Anala, I understand your oldest sister will be overseeing the training in the House of Ravens, and your father wants you to join the Empress¡¯ House, but you were never one to do what you were told¡­ Will you join the House of Tempest?¡± The redhead was in a new dress after her previous one was more or less totaled, and stood right beside Drake; Anala gave the tall boy a glance before a rosy smile brightened her cheeks, and she shook her head. ¡°I am afraid I must decline. I will join the House of Ravens.¡± ¡°And you¡­ Lord Drake?¡± Vesta asked, clearly starting to become annoyed by the new House stealing all the main talent. ¡°Your father has offered your family mansion inside the city, and your oldest brother is also an acting instructor, so I can assume you will be joining, as well?¡± The dark-haired boy floated up with Anala, the redhead¡¯s heart no doubt racing; it wasn¡¯t hard to see their death battle against her had sparked something within the girl. Yet, she paused, confusion swirling in her eyes as Drake came to a stop beside Aura. ¡°I choose the House of Tempest.¡± Castria and almost everyone in the stadium who had seen their fight against the Raven Empress practically fell to the ground at the upset, Drake leaving Anala floating on her own halfway to Lilya, yet she couldn¡¯t change her answer now. ¡°What. The. Crap!¡± Her Monarch of Storms cried through the Nexus. ¡°Can he do that, Lilya? Didn¡¯t his dad want him to join us?! Oh, no¡­ Anala. She¡¯s trying so hard not to cry¡­ Why would he do that? It¡¯s obvious she wanted to be in the same House as him. Mmmgm!¡± The redhead¡¯s lips pulled in as she flew the rest of the way to hover behind Castria, holding her elbow and looking at the grass, no doubt lashing herself inside her mind and heart for being stupid. Elinor could see a different angle, though, spotting the look Drake¡¯s older brother gave him; it wasn¡¯t Anala¡¯s decision that had pushed him to join the House of Tempest, but what drama would spark from that decision. ¡°Well¡­ we are glad to have you,¡± Vesta said, vision darting to High Lord Yeven for confirmation, and he didn¡¯t raise any objections, remaining utterly stoic next to his wife. ¡°And Marquess Julian Delenear?¡± ¡°House of Ravens,¡± he promptly stated, flying to the location without a second of hesitation. ¡°Right¡­ Well, let¡¯s continue with the rest of the selection. I think we can say that Grandmaster Lilya will accept anyone who is called, so we will let that go unsaid¡­¡± Elinor lost interest after that, with the exception of a few individuals, such as the best Magic Knight candidate who had fought against her. When his turn came up, her eyes flicked to the boy; it would go a long way to convincing others to join her House if he chose Raven. Sadly, he chose the House of Magic Knights, but she should have expected that. As could be expected, Elira, Castria¡¯s Magic Knight older sister, was right by her side when it was her turn. Another upset came from the 3rd best Magic Knight candidate, who she¡¯d taken out early in their fight, who had also chosen the House of Ravens with the second-best. Eventually, the number was whittled down to those who showed little promise, all of whom had the chance to prove themselves on a merit basis in the first month of classes. And with that, the selection was complete. The crowd began to return home, which seemed fairly early for something this massive to Elinor, but these people walked everywhere, and some had quite a distance to travel. In a world where darkness was still a threat, even in a guarded city, it was best to get home before the light faded. Elinor had her own plans, and Black made contact with the hag just as she prepared to leave. ¡°Empress¡­¡± The amused, drawing laughter of the hag followed, hijacking the connection, and Elinor came to a stop just before exiting the large double doors, Paladins waiting to escort her. The powerful men and women glanced at each other at her narrowed eyes, centered on empty space, yet, to Elinor, there was someone there. ¡°Couldn¡¯t help yourself, Dearie?¡± Autumn mused, materializing within her mind through the Nexus, her soft lips twisted in a thoughtful gleam. ¡°So¡­ you chose to be in the dark, hmm? And if you wanted to know what I was up to, then all you had to do was ask.¡± And give you an opportunity to put more coins on your side of the scale? Elinor returned with a predatory smirk. I don¡¯t think I need any more from you at this time, Autumn. I merely wanted to let you know that, which is why I sent Black as a messenger. I hope you didn¡¯t harm the people she¡¯d hired to track you down¡­ Wouldn¡¯t that misunderstanding cost you a bit? After all, this was all done in good faith. The hag giggled. ¡°You are entertaining to watch, Empress¡­ Your little schemes and plots spinning within your brain. I suppose I should start calling you my esteemed benefactor!¡± She performed a perfect curtsy, head rising with a devilish tint in her revealed, golden irises. ¡°We can accomplish great things together. I look forward to the results of your efforts. I¡¯ll send back your ¡®tracking party¡¯ in one piece. Until we next meet¡­ Empress of Souls.¡± She flickered and vanished. ¡°Empress?¡± one of the Paladins questioned. ¡°Is there something that has upset you?¡± Expression softening, Elinor turned to smile at the man as Tiffany jogged through the opening, a side bag slung over her shoulders; she was carrying a stack of paper and an ink bottle, writing all the fine details to the eventual contract that they¡¯d sign with the hag to make it binding. ¡°Not anymore, Sir Issac. Take me to my stagecoach. We will be meeting one of my attendants in the city. After that, I will be having the City Guard take over my escort since I wish to give each branch of your city¡¯s defenders an equal chance at my service¡­ which reminds me, could you send a runner off to Captain Flera to join me? She will be more than enough.¡± ¡°As you command, Empress.¡± She was impressed that the well-trained elite soldiers of the royal family hadn¡¯t so much as made a fuss about leaving her in someone else¡¯s hands, allowing her to proceed to her vehicle without a frustrating fight for who would guard her. Castria, how are things going with Heather, and I saw you roping Anala into your little gang¡­ Good girl. ¡°Eh-hehe. We¡¯re doing great, Empress. Well¡­ I am. Anala¡¯s pissed that Drake, uh, yeah¡­ and Heather is still scared of what will happen when she sees her mom¡­ She sent a message to come to the palace at 9 p.m. Should¡­ we go with her for support?¡± Absolutely. Elinor snickered. Also, slip the meeting to Prince Drew somehow. Ask him to join you to explore the town and be your guide to show you around more. ¡°Uh¡­ but I have Anala and Heather for that¡­ Won¡¯t he get suspicious? Julian is already with us. Heather¡¯s been a bit¡­ touchy with him¡­ more than I¡¯d like. She¡¯s known him for a long time, though, and they¡¯re good friends. I used to have to hide when she made surprise visits.¡± Uh-huh¡­ Well, we are trying to make him suspicious. So, yes. Do that. Have fun! I¡¯ll be by your House so you can show me around tomorrow or the next day, so get things ready to show me something grand. ¡°Will do, Empress!¡± Letting her go, she did a quick check-in with her dad. Her father was building quite a decent relationship with the king. Dubiously, he was also acting as a messenger to allow the man a chance to pass coded notes to his former wife; it was the scandalous thing her mother would have chewed on. Typically, this kind of behavior was not her dad, but few things pissed him off more than abusive parents, which put Queen Alivau on his shit list. Elinor¡¯s mind was centered on another scandal, though, and one that was more than likely about to see a ton of patronage due to the smoke screen the event had caused. Black¡­ No issues? ¡°No, Empress. Other than the men I hired being in bed for a week experiencing what¡­ sounds like a serious case of the crabs. I praise your name every day with this immortal, wonderful body you have gifted me, Empress, despite my¡­ appetite.¡± I am glad to hear¡­ So, let¡¯s talk about this noblewoman brothel, she segwayed into with a thoughtful grin. It sounds like an excellent place to find some extra, rather charitable hands to provide us with more spending money. B3 — 15. Building Bridges Resting against the side of her stagecoach, gazing out of the window, Elinor passively scanned the wet streets as they moved through the Noble District to the lower levels. The streets were packed, and the upbeat tone of the groups of citizens moving throughout the rarely accessible Noble District was a buzz. Her heart was a gentle summer breeze after the chaotic Selection Ceremony, and it amused her to see every excited face who tried to catch a glimpse of her through the window. More than one hundred thousand people packed the streets, seeking to buy goods that they could rarely get in the lower districts or that were far more expensive. The really impressive feat was how all of them kept the road totally clear, moving in neatly organized lines with Magic Knights and City Guards directing traffic. It didn¡¯t take long at all for them to leave the bustling zone and enter the less busy main street leading to the other districts. Castria and Lilya would be very occupied with the start of the school year and the baggage the former queen would need to deal with after her resurrection. All in all, Elinor could leave them to their own devices for now. Tiffany sat across from her, busy scribbling notes upon her parchment; she was not a fan of writing without modern utensils; she could hardly get a few words out before having to dip the feather back into the ink to keep consistency. She¡¯d be working on it for the rest of the week to tighten the contract down to a T. On the other hand, her father was having the time of his life, finding a sort of friendship with the king and a few other nobles, who were eating up his engineering skills. It was the first time since being forced off Earth that she felt he was somewhat happy. Her gaze drifted to her Witch Queen, tense thoughts plucking at her brain. Deep down, she wanted to bargain a deal with Autumn to return her mother, if anything than to bring light back into her father¡¯s stressful life, constantly worrying about her. Then again, she knew her mother would slap her across the face if she did return and found out she¡¯d put herself at serious risk for a short-term reward like that. Yes, her mother would want to be with them again, yet that didn¡¯t trump her own safety, and they had time to find another solution. Still, it was a cruel and calculated move on the hag¡¯s part that made her undead heart quake a little; the creature was not to be underestimated. It was hard not to ponder on the revelation, but as she searched the shops and faces of people along their path, Elinor found something to occupy her energy. A pair of large ears in the crowd caught her eye; Grace wasn¡¯t in the Noble District anymore, but shopping here in the lower. What will Nungal want from me for the information? She¡¯s a goddess, so¡­ what could she want? Soul sacrifices? Incense? Something I care deeply for? I suppose I¡¯ll learn more about her and why she feels so familiar as time goes on¡­ I hate not knowing how I need to deal with someone, though. Turning inward to distract herself, Elinor went over her new Feats from the Warlord Evolution. There were quite a few new things that she could unlock once completing certain war-based achievements, yet what those rewards were was a total mystery since they were hidden, which was frustrating since it meant she didn¡¯t know which one she should focus on. Fortunately, Black managed to sidetrack her from the annoyances colliding against her psyche. ¡°Empress, we are near one of the locations where my contact will meet us. I suggest we go on foot, not to draw attention, using the back alleys. Perhaps we could use the roofs to stop any potential tails?¡± A low growl came from Tiffany, the woman¡¯s orange eyes flicking up to meet her. ¡°Haaa. I suppose I will need to return to the inn and keep plugging away at this contract, Empress. Will you be alright with only Black as company? I¡¯m sure Edmon would be uncomfortable without someone from the Royal Court with you.¡± He¡¯s occupied right now, Elinor responded, stepping outside as the thin, raven-haired Horsewoman opened the door for her to exit. It probably won¡¯t be long before I join you again. We shall see, and it isn¡¯t as if you won¡¯t be able to respond if I remain inside the city. Tiffany forced a smile before she went out of sight. ¡°That is a major ¡®if¡¯ in that sentence, Empress. I will have some of my ravens keeping an eye on you with a few countermeasures that I can trigger for your escape if needed.¡± Have fun, and order something nice to eat; you deserve it. ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± the Witch chimed, suddenly thrilled to sample more of the world¡¯s cuisine. ¡°I¡¯ll sample everything so I can recommend the best dishes for High Queen Butter and you to enjoy together when you return with her.¡± A small smile twitched at the corner of Elinor¡¯s lips as the City Guard blocked off the sidewalk on either side of the Lower District street they¡¯d stopped at. Flera brushed back her brown bangs behind an ear before approaching her. ¡°Orders, Empress?¡± Letting Tiffany continue on to her destination, Elinor motioned for the 38-year-old new recruit to the House of Ravens. ¡°Just you, Captain. Have your guards block off the alley and go about their normal routine in ten minutes. Don¡¯t bother with those already inside¡­ I¡¯m sure they won¡¯t follow.¡± [Bloodlust Aura: Activated] Flera¡¯s gaze darted to her for a second as the threatening radiance expelled out of Elinor, her irises flashing red on their journey into the passageway; the homeless inside the alley huddled tightly against the walls, looking at her as if she were a lion ready to pounce, too terrified to draw any attention to themselves. ¡°Understood.¡± The knight took up a position on her right side, Black on her left as they swiftly moved into the dirty alleyway, and Elinor didn¡¯t so much as glance at the people who scrambled to the sides of the wall. ¡°I hope I haven¡¯t interrupted anything important by taking you away from your big day of getting into the academy.¡± ¡°Not at all, Empress,¡± the dark-eyed woman said, on guard more from her intimidating aura rather than any potential threats nearby. ¡°All packing and orientation meetings will happen tomorrow. Am I right to assume that anything I witness while accompanying you this night should be forgotten?¡± ¡°I knew you were smart, Flera,¡± Elinor chortled, turning down another branch as Black guided them to the criminal who knew the way into the female-catered brothel. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be long. Apparently, this is invite-only, and I have been extended an invitation.¡± Her ruby irises lifted to the narrow sky, where ravens followed their progress, keeping a bird¡¯s eye view for threats or tails. She had certainly expanded her influence and organization quite a bit using Roman¡¯s Legend Quest. Perhaps he was quite valuable to keep around since an entire world of new resources was at her fingertips. Black stopped her in front of a hallway that led into a dark basement area, where the bright lamps that always burned had been turned off. Tucked into the shadows was a suspicious man, dressed in a dark cloak. Elinor didn¡¯t hesitate, lifting her hand and activating [Raise Undead] to use the ghostly crimson flames as a light source for Flera instead of what it was intended for, and a maroon butterfly formed out of the dancing fire. The second she deactivated [Bloodlust Aura], the shades returned to their emerald green. ¡°So, you are my guide into the depths of the labyrinth?¡± She held up a hand as he hesitantly moved closer, mouth opening to speak underneath his cowl, cautious head turning to the City Guard captain. ¡°No need for introductions, and you needn¡¯t worry about legality while with me. Lead the way.¡± ¡°O-Of course, Raven Empress. It¡¯s an honor to serve Your Imperial Highness. Umm. We just need to wait¡­¡± He trailed off, pulling back his sleeve to show a far more fancy-looking watch than she would have expected for this era. ¡°Roughly seven more minutes until the way is open.¡± ¡°Then we wait seven more minutes,¡± Elinor stated, green light trickling down to nothing as she released the Feat, allowing her glowing butterfly to snatch the captain and criminal¡¯s gaze. In the ensuing and uncomfortable silence¡ªat least for their guide¡ªElinor sought her new Alchemist¡¯s expertise. Lilya, do you have time for my questions? ¡°Always, Empress. The paperwork and questioning process of the applicants isn¡¯t all that challenging. I hand them out the papers and wait for the answers to then review and file within the Academy Archive for the scheduling department to then craft for the students.¡± Wonderful. How well are you acquainted with the undercity? I hear it moves. The mature woman¡¯s low voice tickled her mind as she chuckled, radiating interest in the topic. ¡°The Grand Duke was quite fascinated with this city¡¯s architecture, which is actually something he and your father have been quite fixated on over the last hour. I only know that there is a pattern that Logan has discovered and cracked, yet actually exploring the undercity is quite hazardous since only a few surface areas remain constant, and places can be blocked for centuries if you get into the wrong section of the labyrinth.¡± That¡­ is fascinating, Elinor whispered, figuring that the Grand Duke had been mapping this out for much of his life and that it was a life project. Try to gear someone in that direction to further Logan¡¯s research and that he¡¯d accept as a pupil in the subject. I¡¯d like to take a shotgun approach; we can¡¯t have too many projects going. ¡°I¡¯ll look for any candidates that show promise and interest. Is this¡­ for the brothel?¡± Elinor¡¯s chest shook with quiet laughter, the sound making their guide shift away a little. Has it been that active for over two decades without much notice? ¡°Well¡­ amongst certain¡­ noblewomen circles, it is quite popular and hushed. It was not my interest, but naturally, the Grand Duke knows of its existence, and he sees it as harmless.¡± Lips curling, Elinor leaned against the wall. You don¡¯t agree? ¡°Not necessarily,¡± Lilya sighed. ¡°It is just something the women are lacking in their typical lives that they cannot find a solution for any other way, which is essentially a bandaid for a larger underlying issue. It is merely my Alchemist personality that requires perfection and a solution, I suppose. I hope it will be illuminating, and I have no idea how it has evolved over the last twenty years.¡± We shall see¡­ Waiting the remaining minutes, her enthusiasm grew as blue lines wove through the wall in a pattern, and the bricks folded into one another, revealing a corridor wide enough for five men to walk side-by-side. ¡°Right this way,¡± their guide ushered, taking the lead. Elinor followed with her guard, spotting the captain¡¯s alert gaze sweeping the area; she would know what this was, and she would also know its dangers. None of them spoke as they walked, and the gentle trickle of water echoed through the totally dry halls; it didn¡¯t matter where they were, the sound was even and clear, without the sight of the falling droplets. The continual rumble of thunder echoed from a distance, making Elinor¡¯s skin prickle; it certainly was what she¡¯d expect from a capital city themed around storms, and it made her wonder if it was powered by a continual storm, buried deep beneath its foundation in some ancient enchanted construct. Her eyes followed the pulses of blue light that zipped along the walls in seemingly random patterns; their guide¡¯s focus was entirely fixated on these, yet red, green, purple, and yellow streaks also raced along the hallways. Shockingly, it didn¡¯t take all that long for them to find their destination, where a group of four big guards stood ready to turn anyone lucky enough to reach the place away. All of them wore masks and cloaks to hide their identity. When they approached, their guide made a few wild hand gestures in some sort of code, yet they didn¡¯t step aside. He made them again, no doubt starting to sweat as he glanced back at her, fear on his face, yet a feminine laugh from behind the men brought voice to the awkward silence. ¡°It¡¯s okay, boys, I¡¯ve been expecting our honored guest¡­ The Raven Empress herself.¡± The men parted to show a rather plump elderly woman for this time era, and she was adorned with all sorts of extravagant jewelry. Her revealing outfit for her size would probably be something many would vomit or feel queasy about on Earth, but this woman had all the confidence in the world. Elinor could instantly tell that she wasn¡¯t a Tempest since they rarely walked on the ground; this woman would absolutely flaunt her powers if able. She was someone who found and exploited something the rich and powerful wanted. ¡°Greetings! Right this way, Your Imperial Majesty, and Captain Flera, what an unexpected surprise,¡± the woman cooed. ¡°I hope you are not here to arrest me! We serve quite a few powerful guests, after all. Oh, where are my manners?! Empress, my name is Madam Nevera, and I heard you were interested in learning about my establishment!¡± Striding forward, she caught Flera¡¯s frown while accompanying her. Meanwhile, Black was looking beyond them to an assortment of closed doors and the hallway that led into a giant, open space. They were brought inside the three-level space that looked to be a rest stop, complete with four hearths, rugs, couches, and an assortment of goods stacked in corners. Although, the most eye-catching thing was the masked men and women engaged in various tasks throughout the room. Elinor¡¯s focus darted to one blindfolded woman who was unmistakable by her hair color, drawing an entertained smile on her lips while watching the sweaty, panting, and modestly dressed noblewoman struggle to move sacks of potatoes to a table, where another masked noblewoman in a bird¡¯s mask tried to peel potatoes with a knife, unfamiliar fingers fumbling with the blade. An angry raven-haired woman shouted at the green-haired, middle-aged noblewoman as she stumbled around under the heavy load of potatoes. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going, Moss Head? I told you to go to the right; do you not know which hand is which? Maybe I should slap it again to remind you!¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°N-No, Lady¡ªLady Isame¡ªI¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just¡­ dizzy. Please forgive me!¡± ¡°Stop! Stop! No, don¡¯t put the sack down¡ªkeep holding it.¡± ¡°For how long?!¡± she whimpered, thin arms and legs shaking. ¡°I-I feel so hot right now¡ªI could faint, Lady Isame¡­¡± ¡°Did I say you could talk, Moss Mop? No! Just stand there until I tell you to move again. I¡¯m going to see what Big Nose is doing, so don¡¯t utter a peep until I whisper in your ear.¡± The green-haired noblewoman tucked her trembling bottom lip under, hot breaths and flushed face worsening under the pressure of not knowing when she¡¯d be able to move or speak again. BDSM? Light-weight BDSM? Elinor chuckled to herself. These noblewomen with power and influence beyond compare¡­ want to feel weak and insecure, ordered around like the servants. What a business. ¡°As you can see¡­¡± ¡°Silence.¡± Elinor held up her hand, making Nevera bite her tongue as Black casually walked over to a table and started stuffing her face. The other noblewoman froze, most of the employees doing the same as all eyes centered on her. ¡°Big Nose, are you done peeling¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up, fool!¡± The woman peeling potatoes lifted her hand, creating a rush of wind that carried the stunned employee to a couch, toppling over it in a mess. ¡°Why is she here?¡± the woman whispered, shivering and shuffling to one of her other noble friends. It didn¡¯t take long for the entire place to become as still as the Dead Sea, yet her target, and likely the highest-ranking person in this room beside herself, remained totally ignorant to the situation, blindfolded and struggling with her potato sack. Elinor held her hands behind her back while approaching the quaking jade-haired noble, thighs quaking beneath her thick, servant-girl dress and sweat stains under her armpits. She slowly circled her like a shark, a small smile brightening her eyes as she unhooked her fingers to carefully reach up and slide the blindfold up. Messy bangs pushed out of the way, Elinor greeted High Lady Trisha Proltis¡¯s big, sapphire eyes, fevered with the effort she was putting in. ¡°And what might Lady Aura¡¯s mother, and the next Head of the Great Proltis House be doing in a place like this?¡± Trisha¡¯s potatoes slipped from her fingers and struck their feet, making the woman in her early 40s stifle a cry. ¡°Mmm! I¡¯m¡­ sorry, Empress,¡± she choked, flinching before hurriedly reaching down to pull the sack back. ¡°I¡¯m, umm¡­¡± The woman¡¯s frantic face turned sheet white upon spotting the soldier that had accompanied her, eyes rolling back as shame and guilt jabbed her from every angle. ¡°Captain Flera, this isn¡¯t¡ªI wasn¡¯t expecting¡­¡± Elinor didn¡¯t so much as twitch from the sack that struck her toes, exposed since she was wearing heels, and as Trisha went down, Elinor caught the mother from hitting the stone floor. ¡°Madam Nevera, provide the High Lady and me a room to chat.¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± the brothel owner giggled, seeing opportunities. ¡°Would you like me to cancel the evening¡¯s events? Most of the noble ladies come here to unwind and release stress¡­ I have been shockingly busy since your arrival, Your Imperial Majesty. Oh, should I get one of the men to help you with her?¡± ¡°No need. Captain¡­¡± Flera appeared unnerved by the unnatural scene of peasants ordering around nobles; it was probably a huge culture shock for the guard who maintained that cultural norm. ¡°Right¡­ away, Empress.¡± ¡°The rest of you¡­¡± Elinor prompted after Trisha was taken out of her arms, gaze sweeping the apprehensive noblewomen who thought their entire lives and reputation might be over. ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm. I am not here to judge your¡­ tastes and needs. I encourage you to continue your business as usual. I will not interrupt your¡­ pleasure and games.¡± Relief came from the women, only for the tension to rise again as she paused. ¡°¡­Only, I would hope that my good-will shall be rewarded when your former queen invites you to discuss plans for my House. I would hate for a rift to be drawn between us¡­ Enjoy yourselves.¡± Turning, she saw Nevera¡¯s sparkling eyes, ready to provide whatever Elinor might ask of the businesswoman. This was the kind of dirt that could shake up the noble community, and cause a lot of tension between wives and husbands, after all, yet these women couldn¡¯t help what they craved, despite the tarnish it might bring to their names. In fact, perhaps that risk made it all the more exciting. She entered one of the first-floor rooms, Nevera ushering out the trained employee and the maid noblewoman who was roleplaying a rather scandalous scene. The lower noble looked to be in her late twenties and absolutely mortified once they stormed through the door. ¡°R-Raven Empress, wha¡ª¡± Elinor smoothly cut her off, picking up her shoes to hand to the bewildered blonde. ¡°Continue your fun in one of the other rooms. Please, don¡¯t curb your intentions on my account,¡± she snickered. ¡°Y-Yes, Empress!¡± Dropping into one of the armchairs and absently wondering what had been done on this particular piece of furniture over the years, Elinor watched the pair rush out. Flera carefully laid Trisha inside the chair before lightly slapping her cheeks and making the frizzy-haired woman jerk awake. ¡°H-Huh?!¡± ¡°Apologies, High Lady Proltis. Can I fetch you some water?¡± ¡°Yes, uh, yes, of course,¡± she mumbled, goosebumps running down her arms as she fixated on Elinor, sitting across from her. ¡°Thank you, Captain.¡± Nevera hovered nearby, waiting for an opportunity to expand her influence. ¡°Pardon me, Empress, but is there anything I can do to be of service to you? I can provide you with any fantasy you desire!¡± Elinor¡¯s half-smile turned to the woman, her illuminated jade eyes making the owner sweat a little. ¡°That is quite the declaration, Madam Nevera, and quite presumptuous of you to believe I might require anything you might provide¡­ but I suppose you have given me something of worth,¡± she cryptically said, focus drifting back to the shaking 40-year-old mother across from her. ¡°I will get back to you.¡± Knowing that was her signal to leave, Nevera seemed to realize she was not to be handled like her typical noblewoman of this kingdom. ¡°Naturally, Empress! I look forward to anything else I might be able to provide you.¡± Flera returned with water that the emerald-haired woman instantly gulped down before the captain took up a guard position outside the door, leaving them alone and in silence. Black would be gorging herself on the host of food the noblewomen had made by hand. The atmosphere only grew more tense as Elinor stared at Trisha, her facade gradually breaking down, but Elinor let her stew in her internalized judgment until finally she spoke. ¡°What¡­ do you want from me, Empress? Is this some kind of attack against my mother¡­ or for how my daughter acted toward your princess?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ve gotten the wrong idea,¡± she laughed, taking a more casual pose and gesturing to the door. Flera opened it, allowing Black and a few of the staff to bring in a small table, lining it with refreshments and food; she¡¯d waited to give the order until the right moment. ¡°There is a comb, mirror, and washing bowl to cool your face if you so desire.¡± Trisha¡¯s distrusting eyes shifted from the items to the people who swiftly exited without comment, leaving them alone again. ¡°Are you not¡­ at odds with my mother? It isn¡¯t hard to conclude that you will use this as blackmail over me. I would rather commit suicide than betray my family if that is what you intend for me to do.¡± Elinor sighed, and chuckled at her fearful determination, despite her quakes, feeling as if her life was over. ¡°Let us not be dramatic, Trisha, and please, call me Elinor¡ªeat¡­ you look as if you¡¯ve worked in the kitchens, slaving away all day. I¡¯m not here to attack the Great House of Proltis. I would like you to tell me about yourself and how your family operates to better work with your mother¡­ or with you, at some future point, considering I am immortal and can wait¡­ a long time to get what I want.¡± ¡°And¡­ what do you want?¡± Trisha rasped, taking a cup of wine to quench her parched throat. ¡°You got your House of Ravens¡­ the former queen, and¡­ you¡¯ve made a lot of enemies.¡± Resting her head against the back of her hand, she studied the recovering high noble. ¡°And many friends, let¡¯s not forget. I will make you a promise, and I keep my promises.¡± Trisha sat straighter, looking for any slack on the rope coiling around her throat. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Give me an honest answer as to why you come here¡­ the reason you go to this 3rd party and require this form of¡­ stress relief, and I will not use it as a weapon against you or your family.¡± ¡°You¡­ wouldn¡¯t understand,¡± Trisha mumbled, fingers tightening around the cup in her lap and glaring at her shoddy dress front, mixed with stains. ¡°You do not care what other people think and take whatever you want¡­ You answer to no one and nothing.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Elinor¡¯s gaze drifted to the flickering green flames of the fire, fueled by gemstones. ¡°Let me hazard a guess¡­ You hate the stress of always needing to be the one to have a solution, and sometimes, you just want to let go of all that pressure to be told what to do. Am I close?¡± Trisha was silent for a time, cheeks and nose turning more red by the second. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ deeper than that. My mother has always told me what to do¡­ What¡¯s expected of me is to be a strong woman amidst a sea of strong men. And¡­ I tried. Yet, after I had my daughter¡­ suddenly, I wasn¡¯t what she wanted anymore¡­¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Elinor nodded, closing her eyes and puffing out a long sigh. ¡°She didn¡¯t want a subservient daughter who did what she was told¡­ She wanted someone who would stand up to her¡­ and you couldn¡¯t be that woman¡­ but it is because she trained you that way and decided she didn¡¯t like it. How soon do you think it will be until your daughter takes over control of the Great House since you are the disappointment?¡± Expectedly, Trisha didn¡¯t even seem that bothered by the harsh words, thighs tightening together as an accepting, sad smile lifted her lips. ¡°You see¡­ Trying to blackmail me will get you nowhere. I only do what my mother tells me to do¡­ and if that was¡­ was to make way for my daughter to take over, then I would do that.¡± ¡°Trisha, Trisha, Trisha,¡± Elinor groaned, giving the woman a pointed stare that made her unconsciously snap to attention to receive orders before catching herself. ¡°You¡¯re submissive. That is not a sin, and I believe you can be shocked by how effective a little assertiveness training can be. I knew a girl who went through a few sessions, and she became quite the member of my cheer squad.¡± ¡°Cheer¡­ squad, Empress¡ªI mean, Elinor?¡± she recovered, stumbling through the words. ¡°I¡¯m not following.¡± Elinor saw a possible friendship that could bud from helping this woman regain control over her life, making her heart tremble with excitement at what might come from it in the future. ¡°What if I told you that you do not need to give up your pleasure here, releasing stress in a way that you¡¯ve found that works, but also become the cutthroat CEO that your House needs you to become?¡± ¡°How¡­ and what is a CEO? Is that a position in your empire?¡± ¡°Haha. It certainly is, and one my little sister tries to fill. So why don¡¯t we make another deal?¡± She leaned forward, showing a supportive smile. ¡°Grandmaster Lilya will meet with you weekly¡ªpossibly a few times a week, as time goes on¡ªand she will help you to become the person you desire to be¡­ the best version of yourself that can make your family proud.¡± The mother shifted uncomfortably, arms folded tightly under her bust. ¡°I do believe in your powers, Elinor¡­ You made it very clear how diverse you are¡ªI am not doubting you¡ªbut¡­ what would I have to do in return?¡± Sitting back, Elinor chortled. ¡°That¡¯s easy. Befriend Lilya.¡± ¡°Excuse me, but¡­ how? My mother hates everything the former queen stands for¡­ what direction the both of you make quite clear that you want our kingdom to go? I don¡¯t see how that can work.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Elinor scoffed, giving her a sarcastic smile and nudging her head toward the bed. ¡°Where are we, High Lady? You can¡¯t tell me your mother knows about this place. Obviously, you¡¯re willing to stretch yourself this much to deal with your stress. ¡°What is a secret friendship with an Academy Grandmaster? And to be clear, I¡¯m only asking you to make an honest effort to be friends with Lilya; if you¡¯re not compatible, there¡¯s nothing that can be done.¡± Now playing with her long mossy hair, Trisha knotted her legs together, struggling to find an out while also having trouble with her assertive side or the lack thereof. ¡°I¡­ suppose I do need to be friendly with the Grandmasters, and there are some new alchemic products my mother was interested in me investigating¡­¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± Elinor clapped, getting to her feet and holding out a hand to help the surprised woman up. ¡°I won¡¯t take any more of your, hehe, relaxation day. I am sure it is challenging to schedule these visits without suspicion, which is quite devious of you! I¡¯m impressed, Trish¡ªcan I call you Trish?¡± ¡°O-Of course, Elinor, umm¡­ I trust your word, and¡­ almost cannot believe you would let this scandal go without punishment¡­ and for such a simple request.¡± ¡°Mmm. Are you asking me to punish you?¡± Elinor teased, making the older woman blush a little and look down. ¡°Joking! I¡¯m sure Lilya will find you adorable once she gets to know the real you, and do not think I am taking this secret of yours lightly¡­ It is hard to open up to people about the things we are ashamed of¡­ even if we shouldn¡¯t be ashamed of them.¡± Trisha looked floored by her ending statement as she waved and moved to the door. ¡°Let the others know that I am very accepting, and wish them all the joy their dirty desires this secret establishment brings them. If you, or anyone else, needs help with anything¡­ sensitive, you will find a friend in Grandmaster Lilya. Have a good evening.¡± Sweeping out of the labyrinth as quickly as she arrived, Elinor parted ways with Flera, pondering several things in the conversation she¡¯d had with Black. Her Horsewoman of Famine opened the door to the carriage Tiffany had sent to them, Elinor¡¯s focus lingering on the skyline as night swiftly approached. ¡°Plans?¡± Black questioned, sitting opposite her and munching on some snacks she¡¯d bought from a street vendor. ¡°Anything devious I can get in trouble for, preferably near a place with a lot of food?¡± Elinor chuckled; she really would cause a famine with how bottomless her stomach was, yet it did stack and build her strength. I¡¯m going to do some internal training until our shopping trip tomorrow. Tiffany, how is Grace doing; I assume you sent a raven to follow him? ¡°I did, and¡­ he is on his way back. He entered some kind of warp gate, or something along those lines, using his shackles floating in the air. It was quite strange, even for me. I believe his body was¡­ transformed or transcended somehow. You¡¯ll have to ask him. He should arrive near the same time as you.¡± Intriguing. Getting further details from the Witch Queen on her way back, Elinor found herself more confused by the sentence. She exited the coach to step onto the red carpet walkway, lined with Sir Percy¡¯s extravagant trophies, yet Elinor hardly looked at the awesome monster corpses; her attention was on the handsome and graceful Beastman standing at the entrance. ¡°You received an answer from your goddess?¡± she asked, letting Black go off to continue her investigation of the jewelry. ¡°Indeed, I did, Empress.¡± ¡°Good¡­ We¡¯ll discuss it in my room.¡± Nodding at a few of the staff that greeted her, she led the way upstairs and took the armchair first, watching Grace comfortably sit across from her. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it. I expect she requires a tribute. What kind?¡± Grace chuckled, and without batting an eyelash, he said, ¡°A ribbon.¡± A stillness overtook them, the crackling of the fireplace that the maids lit coming into the foreground as Elinor processed the request. ¡°¡­A ribbon?¡± ¡°Yes, a pretty violet one, and a few outfits that will fit Heather¡¯s frame. She says it is close enough of a fit.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± Elinor sat to the side, lifting an eyebrow as her brain stopped working. ¡°Your goddess¡­ wants me to go shopping for her¡­ to get the complete answer I want?¡± ¡°That is what she said,¡± Grace said with a big smile. ¡°Nungal is quite enthralled by mortal attire. Apparently, it is quite challenging to find proper materials at this time, and this will make her very happy. She trusts you to find something of her liking, or she will send it back.¡± ¡°And¡­ there¡¯s the caveat,¡± Elinor groaned, running her fingers through her hair. ¡°How am I supposed to know what a goddess of chains likes in fashion?¡± The man gave an unhelpful shrug, despite him knowing everything about this mysterious higher being of a woman. ¡°She said she wanted a pretty violet one, so I would guess you work from there.¡± Elinor sucked in her bottom lip with slight agitation. Out of everything she¡¯d thought to do in this world, shopping for a picky goddess was not one of them. ¡°If¡­ that is what Nungal wants, then that is what Nungal gets¡­¡± Castria¡­ I need you to bring Heather shopping with us tomorrow. The teenage girl squealed with joy. ¡°You¡¯re taking us shopping tomorrow?! I thought you were going alone! We do need new clothes for school. I¡¯m so excited!¡± Well¡­ some of them I have Heather test out will not be going to her. ¡°What? I¡¯m not following.¡± Neither am I¡­ Apparently, heaven has run out of clothes. B3 — 16. Romans Threads The soothing and skin-prickling sound of a choir and violins tingled Elinor¡¯s ears as she sat in her extravagant room at the Opal Shrine Inn; the night was quiet on the terrace, her gaze drifting over the empty arena behind the establishment. On a small table sat a crystal-like record player, releasing the music that was recorded on the circular sheet the kingdom used. It was a gift that had been sent by the matriarch of the Tarkov family, which was a tad surprising, considering the fire-experts¡¯ explosive personalities. Her father had returned, standing nearby with a quill in his hands; the primitive writing method was something all of them had struggled with a bit. Black and Ash were still on their current assignments, obtaining the legendary jewelry and collecting more Death Energy. On the other hand, Grace sat across from the Death Knight, giving the noble-dressed man all the information he knew about the goddess Nungal in order to please her request. Inside, Tiffany continued her contract project, trying to keep what she was doing a secret from Elinor¡¯s father as long as possible until they had most things ironed out. Then there was Elira, who joined her little sister in the estate High Lord Yeven Tarnash had offered the House of Ravens, the woman taking up a protective detail position now that she was accepted into the Magic Knight program within the newly established House. Lilya was overseeing the organization¡¯s procedures to organize the various programs in the House, which was quite the task, considering it also came with her many classes that were possible for believers to receive, such as the Witch Class. Overall, her network was quite stretched, despite her efforts to expand her roster in this world. Which left her th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone to be the final piece of their group in this world; its spirit had just recovered from being used in [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit]. Soon, she would have her chance to talk with the powerful metallic spider. The hours passed, and midnight carried with it the cost for her empire, dropping her down to nearly the single digits again, yet Ash¡¯s return bumped her back up to 109 Death Orbs; it was still a long way off from her new maximum of 368, but he had found a stable source of fish near the cliffs of the castle. And at last, her Feat came off cooldown when dawn neared, and her father got up to change the crystal record to the next gift that was just brought by the Grand Duke; rather than being for Elinor, it was for her dad since they¡¯d built somewhat of a budding friendship in their discussions over the architecture of the city. One thing was for sure; this nation loved its string instruments and unique pianos, which Elinor could appreciate. A small smile lifted her lips as she leaned against the side of her chair, staring at the brightening heavens as dawn approached, and the sway of the music quickened her undead heart. [Prose of the Potentate - Lilya J. Oppenheimer Inserted] [23 Languages Added - 29 Known] [Language Requirement Met] [Prose of the Potentate II - Advanced to Grade III] [Prose of the Potentate III - Advanced to Grade IV] [Available Language Slots Increased: 3; 3 Available] [45 Languages Required For Next Grade Advancement] [Prose of the Potentate - Th¨¦lm¨¦thra Drone Inserted] [7 Languages Added - 36 Known] Entering her internal world, Elinor swept her hand across the air, dismissing the roof to her mansion to allow her gaze to wander between the various celestial objects dotting the alien sky, meticulously picking apart the vast number of languages that had opened up to her Nexus. It included three new ri¡¯bot languages the th¨¦lm¨¦thra had deciphered, as well as a minor grasp on the Nalvean hand signals and spoken language to the south of the valley. There was also a comprehensive grasp on the quen¡¯talrat common language and the yaltha¡¯ma fox-monkeys. The bulk came from Lilya, who had an extensive language repertoire, having traded with many of the nations on this continent. It would provide her empire¡¯s branch in this world a solid start at trade relations. Interestingly enough, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra also had the Ethereal Clan¡¯s language coded into their DNA to inform their queen about the troublesome fog-users¡¯ plots, meaning Garu could be unslotted. The spider¡¯s understanding of the quen¡¯talrat was far, far more vast than even Quin was as a native of the race, as well. Sliding the mist scout out of the box to put one slot on cooldown for later use, she stared at the required languages needed for the next Grade. Shockingly, she wasn¡¯t all that far off, and she had three available slots to evolve her linguistic skills further with Garu¡¯s exit. At this moment, she wasn¡¯t quite sure who she should insert next, so she brushed them away. Elinor exited her internal world and rose to her feet. Arms folding over the railing, she looked across the empty stands of the inn¡¯s stadium, knowing some Magic Knights and students would be arriving soon to begin morning exercises. Th¨¦lm¨¦thra Drone, are you able to speak to me now? ¡°I am, indeed, Empress.¡± The fluid voice was hard to differentiate between male and female, coming off as a mix between lows and highs. ¡°I am honored to be of use to The Empire. I have found and gathered several minerals that may be of use to you, and there is a vast, unnatural tunnel system underneath the land. I have not been able to find a weak point in the hardened material its walls are fashioned from.¡± Fascinating¡­ I will call you Charlie, and Lilya, what do you think about sending Charlie into the inner city to map out the city interior? I¡¯ve experienced th¨¦lm¨¦thra senses and intelligence myself, and their natural gifts would excel in that area. I am thinking about leaving Charlie here to act as your support Lilya. Thoughts? The former queen¡¯s low voice held her typical refined tone as she continued to work through the night, multitasking dozens of tasks that required the House Grandmaster¡¯s attention. ¡°Charlie would certainly be a welcomed asset that I could use in order to gather information and perform¡­ unsavory missions should stealth and anonymity be required. I can send word to the Grand Duke to coordinate with me on this endeavor. Castria could also be of service to us¡­ Is there something valuable in this goal to direct our resources toward?¡± Elbows pressed against the railing, Elinor¡¯s knuckles rested under her chin, a curious smirk lifting her eyes. I can¡¯t be certain yet, but a deeper understanding of this nation¡¯s mysterious origins and its mirky, possibly rewritten history could put us in a better position. Think of it as a Side Quest. In the meantime, Charlie, coordinate with Ash and Black to move the minerals you¡¯ve discovered to a place that can be recovered. I will be shopping soon. ¡°The exchange of certain coins and goods, yes?¡± Charlie inquired, feeding off the information it had from observing the other races it had preyed upon and the translation of the words and their meaning. ¡°I have found several buried objects that hold such things that you describe.¡± Castria¡¯s excitement boiled over from her silently listening corner within the Royal Court¡¯s group Nexus chat. ¡°Buried treasure! Oooh! How much? Is it a lot? Are we really going to be royalty now and be super wealthy?¡± ¡°I love your enthusiasm,¡± Tiffany giggled, ¡°but it is likely old bandit stores, long forgotten, or other hidden stashes of minor wealth from ages past. We shall see. Edmon, Sweetie, can you fetch it since everyone else is busy?¡± No, Elinor interrupted, pulling back and smiling down at some nervous teenagers who glanced up at her terrace, arriving early for their training. I¡¯ll go myself, actually. Ash needs to focus on filling my Death Pool up today, and Black is getting closer to this elusive seller of the First Tempest Queen¡¯s necklace. I do find it fascinating that the Autumn Countess three centuries ago who gave up her skin to the hag and made the deal took over the First Tempest Queen¡¯s throne for her son. If records are to be believed, High Lord Yeven Tarnash is an heir to that original throne, which means Lord Drake also has that blood running through his veins. Straightening and making her way out of her room, she gave a passing wave to her father, showing him an unassuming smile. If you could continue getting more information on the fashion-loving goddess, then it would be great, Dad. We¡¯re about to hit the market, after all. ¡°So much to do,¡± he groaned, rubbing his temple as he continued to scribble down more notes from Grace¡¯s description of his goddess. ¡°She¡¯s a lover of chains, cute morbid things, competitive, love competitions, and jewelry¡­ Nungal sounds like you in many ways with that gothic vibe. Maybe that¡¯s why she was drawn to you, huh?¡± We¡¯ll see, she whispered, not wanting to tell him that she felt some kind of odd connection to the older teenage girl when seeing her image behind the hare man. Plus, her father wasn¡¯t aware of the hag¡¯s claims about divinity. I will see you shortly. Thoughts on my inquiries regarding the First Tempest Queen, Lilya? Elinor asked, not giving the door attendants a passing glance at her exit. A twist came to her lips when she caught Lieutenant Cole of the City Guard jump to his feet beside the wall, the man jogging to keep up with her as her escort. ¡°We have a stagecoach outside that can be readied in only minutes, Empress. Where is our destination?¡± ¡°Outside the Northern City Gate. We will be quick. One of my servants is bringing me some gifts. Now, I must continue with a conversation with my Court, so I will not be in a particularly chatty mood.¡± Cole gulped, knowing she meant a silent conversation that only increased her mystic-like abilities to the normal guards of the city. ¡°Of course, Empress! I will inform you when we make it beyond the final gate¡¯s checkpoint.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± They entered the elevator, dropping swiftly to the ground level. ¡°I am impressed by your nation¡¯s prompt services that it has offered me. Well done in setting a good example, Lieutenant.¡± The man practically glowed from her buttery words. ¡°It is our honor to escort you, Empress. I hope to continue to meet and exceed your expectations. That being said, our schedule indicated that the Magic Knights detail will be relieving us of duty near noon.¡± ¡°Then we still have several hours to enjoy each other¡¯s company,¡± Elinor said with a slight smile, spotting many of his guards around the bar of the inn snapping to attention as they came into view from the hallway. ¡°We are going to collect some buried treasure, so be sure there is room to carry a potential load.¡± ¡°Buried treasure?¡± a few of the guards mumbled to one another, interest sparking in their eyes and setting a conversation point as Elinor left the subject for them to gossip about. Exiting the extravagant inn, she saw Sir Percy¡¯s son running the bar and relieving the night attendant since his father had taken on a position as a Magic Knight instructor. She passed by the exquisite monsters that the famed innkeeper had slain in his military days, lamenting the loss of their addition to her empire. Lilya¡¯s somewhat entertained voice came through their public exchange within the Royal Court channel. ¡°I am not too brushed up on Kaspir¡¯s early history, Empress, but I can look into it further. My interests dealt more with the immediate attitude and conditions of the nations on this continent. Yes, I had necessary historical information, yet that was less required for Kaspir compared to other peoples that I built trade relations with.¡± I see¡­ Elinor held her hands behind her back, glancing to her right, where a growling Cole stood, waiting for her stagecoach to arrive. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t keep distracting you from the enormous pile of paperwork you are required to do. I¡¯ll brush up on other topics from my father and Charlie, leaving you to your work.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Your inquiries are always my priority, Empress. I hope you find a rich bounty.¡± As do I, she hummed, her vision narrowing as she looked across the street and centered on one face she had not anticipated to find. It would be good to have some funds and goods that you can invest and flip for us¡­ Excuse me, Roman has decided to grace me with his presence. ¡°Roman?¡± her father growled. ¡°I should join you.¡± No, Dad, please. A lot is hinging on us knowing more about Nungal to get her to work with me. You¡¯re doing really important work. ¡°That you¡¯re keeping me in the dark about,¡± he grumbled, likely dropping back into his seat. ¡°I have trusted you, Elinor, so why is it hard to trust me? I know I¡¯m you¡¯re dad, and teens don¡¯t think they can trust their parents, but what else do I need to do?¡± Dad¡­ She released a somber sigh, staring back at Roman as he began to make his way over to her; Cole maintained his alert attitude. I will explain, and you will understand why I have been compartmentalizing things. We need to remain focused on our individual tasks. Trust me. ¡°¡­I hope I do understand because¡­ I don¡¯t want to think you¡¯d intentionally leave me in the dark on something that is dangerous. I¡¯m here, Elinor. I¡¯m here for you. So¡­ let me be your father.¡± Puffing out a melancholy sigh, Elinor prepared herself for the unexpected encounter. I am. More than you know. Breaking away from the conversation, she spoke to Cole as Roman casually crossed the morning traffic, being mindful of the goods moving through the streets. ¡°Something upsetting you, Lieutenant?¡± ¡°No, Empress,¡± the man said, breathing a sigh of relief as Roman drew near and the stagecoach appeared around the side of the building, timed far too perfectly for her liking. ¡°I was only a tad nervous since you rarely go anywhere without someone from your court nearby. Would you like me to inspect his bag?¡± ¡°Not necessary,¡± she whispered, her glowing, emerald green irises giving the approaching dark-haired general an imperceptive stare. ¡°Duke Roman, nice of you to join me this morning. I trust you have concluded your business?¡± The blind man was rocking a new pair of dark crystal glasses that he pushed up on the bridge of his nose while giving her a deep, sweeping bow, far overdoing the performative greeting. ¡°Naturally, Empress. Might I accompany you on¡­ wherever you intend to travel this fine morning?¡± ¡°Hmm. It seems you expect as much; I¡¯m busy, so I would suggest making this report short,¡± she advised, stepping onto the steps to enter the interior as a knight opened the door for her. ¡°I hope you will not disappoint my expectations or time, Duke.¡± ¡°Never, Empress,¡± he returned, following her entrance as Cole¡¯s frown reasserted itself, no doubt realizing Roman¡¯s attendance hadn¡¯t been planned. ¡°Lieutenant, I am thankful for your continual attendance to the Empress¡¯ safety.¡± ¡°Of course, My Lord,¡± he nodded, saluting the smirking general before the door closed, leaving her alone with the crafty Legendkin. Elinor sat in the middle seat of the wide interior as Roman promptly took the pink crystals out of a leather bag he kept by his side, lighting the flames to keep most listening ears at bay. Crossing her legs, she eyed her supposed Duke; his dubious connection to her was already blown with Logan, and she highly suspected the man had already been in contact with the hag. The horses were prompted into action, taking them to the outer walls of the city, and once the swirling wind pressure from the flames enclosed them in silence, Elinor¡¯s bored gaze shifted to the blind man. ¡°While I¡¯ve been boldly dancing a fine line between the powers that be, what have you been scurrying around doing in the background?¡± ¡°Haha! You make me sound like a rat, Elinor,¡± he mused, sitting back and spreading out his arms to show his fancy noble jacket and pants. ¡°You have made my life easier to an obscene degree due to your many points of attack. I¡¯m impressed¡­ terrified even. Well played with getting to High Lady Trisha Proltis, and nudging her to be the little canary to Grandmaster Lilya. You¡¯ve provided a way inside a rather dangerous and cautious faction within the kingdom.¡± ¡°Are you here to waste my time with honeyed words, Roman,¡± she sighed, examining her fingernails. ¡°I know you have already suspected that the hag has made contact with me¡­ and you are trying to figure out how that meeting went because you are too frightened to interact with her at this time due to a lack of leverage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll admit it,¡± Roman hissed, rubbing the side of his neck with a small frown, directed at the pink flames flickering around them. ¡°Countess Autumn is a rather¡­ nasty piece of work that has too much leverage to find any sort of angle to attack, and her claws run deep inside this kingdom, which is why I gave you that bit of information, knowing she would be drawn to you. Was it helpful?¡± ¡°Unfortunately¡­ it was,¡± Elinor muttered, vision narrowing as she glared at the man. ¡°However, if you want me to inform you of anything regarding that rather tense encounter, then I¡¯d suggest you quit with the puppeteer games and tell me precisely what you¡¯re plotting. I have set up a good thing here in Kaspir, and I¡¯m not about to let you ruin any of my plans. Spill.¡± ¡°Hmm. I thought as much,¡± Roman mumbled, head tilting to the side as his glittery crystal glasses reflected her imperial poise, staring the man down. ¡°In essence, the Jesena Kingdom and Delva Empire are colluding. Within the Delva Empire, the Black Tower is their version of the CIA, and they¡¯ve identified Castria as the fulfillment of an old prophecy given by the real Raven Empress five centuries ago.¡± [Strategic Mind I - Advanced to B-tier] Elinor¡¯s mouth became a line, nose twisting as she read between the lines, her past conversations with the Legend connecting to everything she knew about the dubious general. ¡°You¡¯ve been working with the Black Tower to better understand their internal network; it was you that forced this scenario in the first place by giving them Castria¡¯s identity that triggered their attack on the Delenear Marsh, outing Julian¡¯s mother as a traitor, killing Castria, and causing the murder of Julian¡¯s father, which thereby triggers tensions between Delva and Kaspir. ¡°Essentially, you¡¯ve brute forced them to reveal their hand by giving them what they wanted and saw how they reacted. The Black Tower wants Castria alive, yet, sadly, she dies resisting Marchioness Delenear¡¯s method of strong-arming her to go to the Delva Empire. ¡°I was your backup, and you drew me in with the promise of Levels to build my power and a new world full of resources for me to exploit. So, I became a smoke screen that you knew I couldn¡¯t turn down. Understanding my loyalty to those under me, you positioned Castria to join my court, grasping her potential and how useful she could be to me, thereby putting me in conflict with your enemies. ¡°An Empress¡¯ Gambit, if you will, plummeting us toward an End Game. You¡¯ve placed a target on Castria¡¯s back and anyone associated with her. How many agents are inside the kingdom, and how long do I have until an attempt is made? What diversions will be done by the spies to¡ª¡± Elinor paused, eyes widening as she plotted out how she would proceed in their shoes. ¡°The Selection Ceremony provided an opportunity for agents to infiltrate into the inner walls of the Noble District, bypassing normal, rigorous inspections; they¡¯re already here, and my House provides a way for any person to join¡­ placing them right inside the manor Castria is in. ¡°Dammit¡­ How can I tell who is the spy? A 17-year-old, potentially other plants from previous years working in tandem,¡± she muttered, crossing her arms and looking off to the side. ¡°It isn¡¯t hard to believe that the Great House of Proltis is willing to support any actions against me¡­ And the Jesena Kingdom colluding with Delva? Is Queen Alciel involved in this plot?¡± ¡°Hahaha. You really are impressive, Empress,¡± Roman laughed, slowly clapping before rubbing his chin and returning to his casual posture. ¡°I cannot tell you who the spies are because I do not know, but there are seven in your House. Do not think this will happen in the short time we will be here, either. This is a slow and careful operation with many working points. These spies haven¡¯t been trained for this particular job, after all. Three instructors, one Grandmaster, and a few lower nobles are turncoats. ¡°Who they are? I can¡¯t say; they speak in their own codes and methods, which I have learned through my interactions with the Black Tower. That being said, the Delva Empire and Jesena Kingdom have different motives. Delva merely wants Castria. Jesena¡­ well, they want to have a foothold on this side of the desert between them.¡± He opened up his bag to take out a book of what appeared to be notes, written in his own braille code as his fingers ran down the impressed symbols in the paper. ¡°Is the queen a part of it? Doubtful, but she will fall in line with her father if she is told to; unlike Lilya, her allegiances are fully toward her homeland. What has my plan been? Deterrence.¡± Roman snapped his book closed, having confirmed a few things, no doubt. ¡°The Raven Empress¡¯ sudden appearance and connection to the Kaspir Kingdom is sure to make the two hostile nations hesitate to act, and taking Castria into your court paints a troublesome situation for Kaspir and Delva.¡± Chest shaking with laughter, he shook his head. ¡°And can I say you performed beautifully on stage? You showed an aggression so bone-chilling that many of the spies are recommending further preparations be made in their letters, and certainly to wait to act until you leave the kingdom. Satisfied?¡± Elinor¡¯s fingers linked in her lap, her narrowed vision drifting to the closed window as they passed through a checkpoint by the slowing carriage. ¡°Kaspir is preparing for war on their northern front with Delva¡­ A surprise attack from Jesena would be crushing, especially since they are supposed to be allies through marriage. It isn¡¯t as if we can levy such a claim without proof either; the queen is from that nation, after all. We will need to play this carefully¡­ Work your angles and detail everything to Lilya before we leave.¡± ¡°And Countess Autumn?¡± Roman pressed, sitting straighter now, and Elinor knew why; there was no countering or attacking the hag with how powerful she was. The Legend had been tip-toeing around her since the start. ¡°If she wanted to squash the conflict between the two kingdoms and empire, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult for her to arrange. Can she be reasoned with?¡± A wry smile twitched at the corner of Elinor¡¯s mouth as she recalled the monster, hidden beneath a woman¡¯s skin, her intense yellow eyes alight with glee and mystery. ¡°The hag would welcome a war between nations¡­ because it would allow her to groom Heather further and pull her into her grasp. Then again, her plans aren¡¯t set to fully unfold for thirteen years, on Heather¡¯s thirtieth birthday.¡± Roman¡¯s eyebrows drew together. ¡°Thirtieth birthday? When¡­ a Tempest reaches their full potential. She harvests the Autumn House¡¯s children at that age for their magic¡­ but what does that have to do with Princess Heather? Despite my efforts, I cannot see why the hag has invested so much into this kingdom.¡± Glad to have something over the Legend¡¯s head after he¡¯d played things so secretly thus far, Elinor was content with not giving him the full context; after all, she knew he wasn¡¯t giving up all of his own cards. ¡°Let¡¯s just say that you don¡¯t need to worry about Autumn.¡± A line came to the man¡¯s mouth, a serious expression moving his face as he studied her smirk. ¡°What have you learned, Empress? The Hag of the Everborn Marshlands is possibly the most dangerous entity on this continent, and I¡¯d only put the Raven Empress above her because I only have rumors about the ancient overseas empress. How can you be sure she will not be an issue? I cannot see you giving up Heather to her after you¡¯ve placed Castria so close to her.¡± ¡°Correct.¡± Elinor mused, reaching over to knock on the side of the door to draw the knight¡¯s attention. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry because I will be taking Autumn back with us to my empire. Now, if there is anything else, then I would speak quickly because you have a lot of work to do before we leave¡­ I will have methods Lilya can take to nip this problem in the bud before we leave.¡± Roman studied her in silence as the stagecoach came to a stop, and Cole opened the door. ¡°You wanted something, Empress? We are still a ways off from the wall. Pink flames? I see¡­¡± ¡°¡­No, no,¡± the Legend said, showing a flashy smile as he gave her another bow before moving to exit. ¡°I was just concluding my report to The Empress. I will be off to enact her wishes, so please, continue with your journey. We have much to do in so little time, so please excuse Her Imperial Majesty¡¯s court for their absence; there is just so¡­ very much to do.¡± ¡°O-Of course, My Lord! Would you like an escort?¡± ¡°No, no! Haha. I can more than take care of myself, and my duties are¡­ sensitive in nature. Thank you, though, Lieutenant.¡± With that, the Legend was gone, leaving Elinor alone as she pondered the information Roman had collected. It wasn¡¯t hard to see things spiraling out of control, especially if the hag wasn¡¯t here to manipulate things in Kaspir¡¯s favor so as to fatten up her future baby incubator in all the right ways. Delva will certainly throw Jesena under the bus the moment they get Castria, putting the focus on the other kingdom. The empire¡¯s Black Tower knows far more about Castria than we do, which is what Roman was trying to get but couldn¡¯t reach high enough to get to the bottom of it. The smarter play might have been to go with the Black Tower instead of Kaspir, yet I can¡¯t cry over spilled milk, and it would have been challenging to convince Castria to join their side after Roman¡¯s blunder. Her gaze drifted to the still flickering flames. My appearance and placing my own people inside of Kaspir are sure to make Delva nervous, but I can¡¯t say the same for Jesena from what I¡¯ve heard about their culture. In fact, they might see it as an opportunity to increase their fame. Should I leave Grace here to support Lilya? No, I need his connection to Nungal on the outside¡­ Could she be trapped here and using Grace as an avatar to escape? Head tilting to the side, she hummed, deep in thought. There were too many threads to accurately draw a definitive path forward and too few to draw a connection to certain figures¡¯ intentions. All she could do was prepare her people for what was to come. Her journey to the city outskirts didn¡¯t take long, and she smiled when Charlie shot out of the grassy floor like a cracked trap-door spider, hauling quite the sack of bags and chests. It seemed Lilya wasn¡¯t quite on the mark on this one because there was a certain crest on the chests that made the guards look at each other nervously. Bending down to run her fingers across the icy dragon imprint, Elinor chuckled. ¡°And what have we stumbled upon; the House of Tarnash¡¯s hidden treasure, buried in the surrounding land? Good work, Charlie,¡± she praised, stroking the spider¡¯s leg and making the knights shake a little in their boots at the massive metal spider¡¯s far too rapid movements for its size. ¡°Return to your scavenger hunt for now.¡± Cole choked as the spider¡¯s androgynous voice responded in their language. ¡°At once, Empress. Shall I build a nest for you below the plains?¡± ¡°No need. Do create a cache of everything you find for us to retrieve later, and cover up your footsteps. We don¡¯t want to agitate the locals.¡± ¡°It will be done.¡± Charlie slipped down the shockingly small hole for its size, closing the lid like a hatch that perfectly fit into place; the tunnel would be filled in shortly. ¡°That¡­ is under our feet?¡± Cole coughed, trying to remain calm after seeing the colossal spider. ¡°How many?¡± Giggling, Elinor motioned for them to start loading up the items the arachnid had dropped off. ¡°I¡¯ll let you ponder on that. Also¡­ expect Lord Drake and Lady Anala to be joining us on our shopping trip. Things are beginning to get interesting.¡± She sent the invitation through Castria, allowing her princess to set up the date after Drake¡¯s disastrous pivot over to the House of Tempest, leaving the love-struck redhead to feel spurned and whiplash; naturally, Anala would think the worst. Elinor wanted to tell Drake and his older brother about this hidden treasure without each other knowing to see their reactions. Lilya, can you have High Lord Alix meet me at the Noble District¡¯s front gate? I¡¯d like there to be an audience. And Black, I feel bad interrupting you again, but I need a little bird listening in the shadows. It¡¯s time to go shopping for a goddess and pluck a few strings to see where the ends land us. This is going to be fun! I love a good mystery. B3 — 16.5. A Past Life Butter descended the tower steps, her mind adrift with Adoncia, Snow, and the two Fingers trailing after her. Her thoughts swayed between the echoes of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ tale and her own bubbling self-doubt¡ªconnecting to Utelira¡¯s Divine Force was unlocking mysteries within her soul and giving her questions that needed to be answered. A lesson that¡¯s as old as time¡­ There is always a bigger fish in the ocean. Priss is so careful with how she proceeds¡­ Methodical. There certainly are things I can learn from you, Sister, and perhaps that is why this life feels so different. I know we are enemies. You know we are enemies. Yet, we¡¯ve come to tolerate one another. Being linked to your soul on such a foundational level has given me insights I seem to have not anticipated. The cost of change, I suppose¡­ She reached up to cup her chin, her focus shifting to process the gradual decline of the Death Energy in the stone fortress now that the Susime¡¯s death god had passed onto his next life. How unexpectedly predictable, she mused, her aquamarine eyes narrowing slightly. The cool stone of the last step pressed against her bare foot, snapping her out of her reverie. Something inside her shifted, a faint pulse from the Eye of Utelira, a resonant hum that rippled through her core. This is new¡­ No, it¡¯s not. She stopped mid-step, her hand instinctively brushing the necklace hidden under her top¡ªsomething was bleeding out of some deep recess within her. Before she could fully process it, her surroundings blurred, and suddenly, she wasn¡¯t in the death-soaked fortress anymore. Instead, Butter found herself overlooking a sprawling city¡ªgleaming white towers, intricate bridges woven from pale stone, and streets that seemed to glow faintly under a violet sky. The Forbidden City of the dawn elf empire¡­ Knowledge latched onto her like claws sinking into her brain, Utelira stirring again within her prison. With the jewel facing inward toward her chest, the sharp pulse that emanated from the Supreme Chief cut right through the center of her soul to strike something buried deep within. My previous life with Priss¡­ When I was Ashrit. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt the ground shift beneath her. In the blink of an eye, she was inside an opulent room, her reflection staring back at her from a perfect diamond mirror. The fountain beside her bubbled with sapphire water, cool and refreshing, yet Butter¡¯s gaze was locked on the figure in the mirror¡ªher figure. Golden skin, sharp, refined features that speak of royalty, she internally noted, processing for the first time a clear image of who she¡¯d been once upon a time. Yet, one feature made her soul squirm for some reason, her sister¡¯s smirking face flashing across her mind My eyes¡­lime-green, wide. Her hand automatically rose to touch the area beneath her right eye. It feels¡­wrong. Something is wrong with this version of me. Something is¡­disjointed, like pieces of a puzzle trying to force themselves together. The room vanished again, but the unsettling feeling lingered as she stood above a sea of humans¡ªmillions¡ªall of them dead. Humans who had bowed to her only three months ago, but were now under her twin sister¡¯s rule. How? This doesn¡¯t feel like¡­me, Butter internally whispered, overlooking the carnage. I conquer but I don¡¯t commit genocide. She could feel her hatred and disgust boiling beneath the surface, all directed toward one individual: the night elf, Irkalla. Butter¡¯s lip curled in distaste, reliving thoughts that appalled her. ¡°That mistake should have died in the womb, her twisted purple skin touching mine¡­ An outcast from birth. And yet, of course, she¡¯d survived, thriving in the shadows. One mistake from that traitorous king that thought of himself as my father. He couldn¡¯t kill her with his own hand or keep his dick in his pants and away from the scum night crawler queen.¡± The question gnawed at her, like it always did. ¡°How hard is it to kill an eight year old?! Eleven years later, I¡¯ve given assassins and bounties their easy path to riches for long enough. How many heads and bodies has she piled up? Now she thinks it¡¯s cute to take a kingdom away from me? Well. How well did that turn out for you, Sister?¡± Her fingers brushed the small and somewhat fresh cut beneath her eye, a mark from their first true battle the previous night. ¡°I suppose you do share the same blood as me, despite our mother¡¯s filthy skin. I¡¯m perfect. A goddess incarnate. Yet you managed to cut me¡­ Well, we can¡¯t have that.¡± She turned her cold eyes to the heavens with a scowl, her guardians and personal guard shifting nervously around her as storm clouds began to gather, reflecting her mood. ¡°Are you watching, Father? Do you see what you¡¯ve wrought through your weakness? I¡¯ve expanded your empire three-fold since I executed you myself for your crimes against our race. It is a wonder you managed to sire someone like me. Maybe I was too harsh on you and the slutty night elf queen bewitched you with her magic. I¡¯ll sort it out when I reach the heavens.¡± Her grip tightened around the extravagant spear she held, forged of starmetal and enhanced by the greatest mages in the empire. And yet, it hadn¡¯t helped her when she¡¯d lured her twin away, intending to end her father¡¯s mistake quietly. Butter smirked internally at her previous incarnation¡¯s frustration. Well, that didn¡¯t seem to work out for you, sweetie, did it. You retreated, and with a wound at that. Oof. I¡¯d be pissed, too, but you should have known Priss is a lot tougher than that. A festering sense of pride stung in Butter¡¯s chest, feeling the ghost-like claws digging into her chest; it was as if she were arguing with herself. ¡°I could have crushed her, but that night¡­something was different. I had everything. I have powers she couldn¡¯t dream, trained from birth in the art of war and magic. There was something deeper that she used¡­something primal that made my blood boil.¡± Excuses. Excuses. I was such a whiny bitch! Oh, are you not done throwing a tantrum? Butter sighed, rolling her non-existent eyes as her body moved on its own to overlook the slaughtered human kingdom. Maybe I can¡¯t fault you for never having to work for anything. I had to work my wings off to just restore my soul from what you did to us. She used her raw spiritual force that she¡¯d tempered. It¡¯s obvious. While you relied on magic and items. ¡°It¡¯s not like I could have known that then. You¡¯re an idiot for working with her. She named you after fat! Do you have no pride? I did this to make a statement to her. One week it took her to subjugate this human kingdom from me¡­ I slaughtered it in one day.¡± Oh! Are we doing this, Green Eyes? Butter snorted, feeling disgusted while observing the mountains of human corpses her dawn elf soldiers piled up. You¡¯re a fool if you think this would have an effect on Priss. She lives for death. If anything, this empowered her. But you¡¯re all the way up your own ass with how superior you are. You can¡¯t think of her as your equal and that is your fault. ¡°¡­I may have my faults. I will admit that. Irkalla was more than your Elinor will ever be. If I were in your shoes, it would be her kneeling before me.¡± Fire rose in Butter¡¯s words. I don¡¯t kneel before Priss and she doesn¡¯t kneel before me. As I see it, we¡¯re equals, though I have had to pay rent to her, so to speak, which is¡­uncomfortable. I will not deny that. However, I see her as my sister. That counts for something to me. You failed. I will not. A short chuckle shook her past self¡¯s chest as one of her generals raced up the wet, blood-soaked stairway to the castle doors. ¡°We shall see. You are far more vulnerable than you seem to believe.¡± ¡°High Queen Ashrit, the fugitive has been spotted walking down the road. The soldiers are waiting for your command.¡± ¡°Good. I hope she enjoyed the renovations I¡¯ve made to her new kingdom.¡± Lightning cracked overhead as the dark clouds continued to gather; the rain would fall shortly. ¡°Line the streets with soldiers. For every meter of ground she takes, send a soldier to confront her. Let¡¯s see how much that mysterious power she has can last.¡± Butter sighed. I¡¯m guessing this first real confrontation between us in our last world is only the beginning of our story. I can see why Priss hated me so much if this was what I was like¡­ Where¡¯s the charm? Hmm. Maybe it¡¯s just this moment that is painting me in a bad light¡­ I hope it is. The lightning flashed, and suddenly it was nighttime, rain pouring down on them. Standing at the foot of the bloody stairs was a smooth-skinned night elf, emanating an unholy aura, the pattering of rain falling around them. ¡°You will lose everything for us.¡± The air around her shimmered with another rumble of thunder, the image fading back into the present. Her foot touched the stone. Irkalla¡¯s intimidating presence still pressing in on her chest. The kingdom her twin had stolen was lost to time now, crushed by Ashrit¡¯s command, the streets caked with human blood to set a tone for that world. Her steps echoed as she moved forward, descending further into the fortress, but her mind lingered on the vision of Irkalla. She¡¯d sensed that primal connection between Elinor and her when she¡¯d first opened her eyes¡­but Irkalla, that felt like something different, something indomitable. Maybe there is something to Ashrit¡¯s words¡­ So much fog surrounding our past and who we are. What I felt from that night elf might even make Elinor shiver¡­ That being said, I cannot close my eyes to what I¡¯ve seen and feel in our current life. It¡¯s worth exploring. A silent chuckle shook her chest as she turned her gaze to the high windows, feeling the sun drawing nearer. The burning questions rose with it, bubbling up with curiosity more than fear. In truth, the most frightening part was how free and fearless she was becoming. Is she having any visions like this? Why are we even fighting? Who stands to gain from this bitter rivalry? Heavy curtains sway within me, whispers from my past urging me to smother her to oblivion¡­but where will we go when either of us drift away? Her vision wandered with her restless spirit, feeling the wilting power draining from the fortress walls. Why has the universe pitted us against each other? There has to be a reason for it because¡­honestly, and call me a fool all you wish, Astrit, but I¡¯m growing quite fond of my sister. I won¡¯t close my eyes to what could be. Butter¡¯s hand rested lightly on the banister as she descended the final steps of the tower. Utelira settled down, causing the gap that had opened deep within her soul to seal shut again. A small smile brightened her cheeks. Maybe, just maybe, this time will be different. Butter¡¯s gaze flicked to the tall, imposing door ahead that opened without touch, their faint echoing footsteps falling in perfect rhythm with those behind her. She walked through the stone halls of the death fortress, now hers to do with what she pleased. Naturally, she had to first deal with the opposition, and what better way than to further develop her forces? The faintest ripple of energy stirred through the Nexus, prickling against her senses like static as she followed her maid¡¯s conversation with White and Mika. The ri¡¯bot warrior was stunned she¡¯d won over the fort without a fight but little did she know that it had been a battle, of sorts. The death entity had been testing her the entire time to see if she¡¯d falter in channeling his sister¡¯s power at such levels. Snow¡¯s presence lingered at her side, tentative but resolute, while Adoncia moved with purpose, the faint shimmer of Death Energy still clinging to the undead woman: little did she know the gift that had been bestowed upon her in Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ passing.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. The air in the hallway was heavy, thick with the mood of her new citizens as they approached the doorway overlooking the courtyard. Butter¡¯s fingers brushed along the cold stone wall, her smile broadening slightly when they opened on their own, welcoming her. She stepped out onto the platform, meant to address the death cult. The Death Raiders awaited her, their souls already stirring in response to Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ absence in the keep. She could feel their uncertainty simmering. The First Finger approached her side, his bony frame stiff, eyes downcast. The second-in-command¡¯s raspy whisper didn¡¯t leave her ear, ¡°High Queen, the Death Raiders stand ready. Shall I¡­ What is your command?¡± Butter¡¯s lips curled. ¡°Yes, tell Lokar to bring Nergath. It¡¯s time for him to face judgment. We wouldn¡¯t want to keep Seg¡¯tharis waiting too long.¡± All eyes locked onto them, their instruments of life eroding power glowing with emerald light shifting in their hands. The First Finger bowed deeply, his hunched frame shuffling forward, murmuring words that seemed to weave through the air like a deathly song. It reached every corner of the fortress, slipping into the ears of the ri¡¯bot under her dominion. Butter watched the ripple of recognition spread like a storm cloud, an unspoken command that passed through their souls, as the elite guard moved in response. One of the lieutenants vanished in a swirl of green mist. She tilted her head, the smallest flicker of curiosity crossing her face as she surveyed the courtyard. Soon they would learn why she was here, standing before them with their First and Second Finger. Snow hovered beside her, that uncertainty again flashing in her eyes, though she remained silent; she knew the woman was taking in every action she made, committing it to memory. Butter¡¯s smile softened as Adoncia¡¯s worry grew stronger. ¡°Her legs are shaking, High Queen.¡± No need to worry, Blue Eyes. Snow is doing fine. Well, actually, she is not doing fine, but will when exerting herself¡­or her soul will collapse on itself. I¡¯ve calculated the risks and solutions. Things I shouldn¡¯t know are blooming within me the more I draw upon Utelira¡¯s power, for better and for worse. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t mean to doubt you,¡± she mumbled, trying not to fidget. ¡°I¡¯m just really looking forward to getting in contact with Earth again.¡± Oh? Do you want to return? Butter mused, making the maid stiffen and strain a laugh. ¡°No! Sorry. No. My little brother and parents are at the Wixum Lake. I¡¯m just hoping to get a few things from Earth that will better help us make things¡­easier for a lot of the humans. I don¡¯t have a lot of problems with¡­girl issues due to being undead. There are a lot of suffering women and teens that could use some modern medicine that the witches can deconstruct and create something more lasting.¡± I like that thought process¡­ I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to get everything we could want, she said with a light chuckle, further causing the maid¡¯s nerves to rise. Moments passed, the air thickening as tension crackled through the Nexus, Mika getting more antsy by the minute. Then, Lokar appeared from one of the black doors, a hulking figure with darkened scale armor glistening under the dim light, possibly crafted from one of the creatures killed on the other side of the Crystal. Nergath was shoved forward in his wake, stripped of his vestments and bindings, a figure of meek presence, but with a pride that no doubt infuriated Lokar. Butter could almost taste the confusion rolling off the First Finger of the Left as he stepped forward, glancing around, his eyes flicking upward. ¡°The Radiant Eminence? Where¡­is the Head?¡± Lokar growled, his voice filled with a suspicious edge as his gaze scanned the assembled ri¡¯bot. ¡°I felt Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ unholy presence leave the fortress, but the Head is¡­¡± The First Finger of the Right stepped forward, his frail form standing tall with an unexpected authority as his raspy voice silenced the leader of the warriors. ¡°Seg¡¯tharis, his everlasting unholiness, has decreed¡­¡± The ri¡¯bot¡¯s voice rang out, hollow and echoing. ¡°The Head¡­is Butter, High Queen of the Evening Star.¡± A ripple of murmurs spread like wildfire. The cult followers bristled, anger flashing across a few faces as the words settled in. Centuries¡ªno, millennia of strict adherence to the old order, and now this? Butter could see the discontent bubbling just beneath the surface, their minds racing with disbelief at the abrupt change in leadership, and by the Radiant Eminence. But she was prepared for this. Her smile widened, almost playful. She raised her voice, the lilting cadence of her words cutting through the tension. ¡°Oh, I understand the hesitation, truly I do.¡± Butter paused to get their attention, clasping her hands behind her back. ¡°This isn¡¯t exactly orthodox, now is it? A new Head, and not just any Head. But I assure you. Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ wishes were clear, as spoken by his Right Finger. He chose me as his final act before he passed into the great unknown¡­¡± She suppressed a giggle at the irony, her words taking on a brighter note for just a moment to proclaim the ¡®achievement¡¯ of obtaining death to these followers, who were brought back time and time again by the Life Cult to act as their sword. ¡°I¡¯m here to fulfill his last command.¡± Her tone shifted, sharper, though not without its charm. ¡°I¡¯m not one to ignore discontent, either. Your concerns are valid, my people.¡± She gestured to the gathered ri¡¯bot, her expression turning serious. ¡°So let¡¯s settle this in the way the Death Cult does best¡­ Through sacrificial combat.¡± Lokar¡¯s narrowed eyes mixed with his grin while rolling around his shoulder, his muscles rippling. ¡°An apt way to determine the Head of Seg¡¯tharis. With you, then¡­Head?¡± Butter let out a light, musical laugh. ¡°Oh no, dear, no. Not with me. I¡¯m far too busy for that.¡± Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she shifted her posture to look to her right. ¡°But my champions? Yes, they¡¯ll be enough.¡± Snow¡¯s vision flew open in slight panic, her messy hair weaving with her head motions. Adoncia, on the other hand, grinned and stepped forward. Her oni horns grew as she summoned her kanab¨­ club, hefting it over her shoulder, the thick air of death energy crackling around her. Lokar¡¯s mouth creased. ¡°You will follow the will of Seg¡¯tharis through who is not taken?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Butter chimed. ¡°And should my champions send yours to Seg¡¯tharis, then we¡¯ll all know the truth, won¡¯t we?¡± She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ¡°Perhaps Seg¡¯tharis prefers¡­new leadership after all. Maybe¡­you, Lokar?¡± The words hung in the air like a damning curse, the silence that followed even heavier than before. The Death Raiders exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of centuries of loyalty hanging over their heads like a guillotine. For a moment, no one moved. Then, a dozen stepped forward, their faces set with grim determination, ready to answer Lokar¡¯s claim. Butter clapped her hands together, breaking the silence with a light laugh. ¡°And there you have it. In the sight of your brothers, the Fingers of the Left and Right, and Seg¡¯tharis himself¡­¡± Her smile turned wicked. ¡°Let the answer be told by the fallen.¡± Her gaze shifted, locking on Adoncia. ¡°You¡¯re up first, Blue Eyes.¡± Adoncia nodded, stepping forward while setting her club against the wall and stretching her arms high over her head, twisting left and right to create popping sounds throughout the area. ¡°I won¡¯t fail you, High Queen. In fact, I feel invincible.¡± Snow paled slightly, her voice shaking as she mumbled, ¡°Wait, High Queen, I already fought them¡­ I¡¯m not¡­I¡¯m not at their level!¡± Butter paused, her back turned as she began to walk away. She glanced over her shoulder, a gentle smile on her lips. ¡°Oh, Snow, you¡¯ve grown far more than you realize. That little Seed inside you? It¡¯s just waiting to bloom.¡± Her eyes gleamed, and she winked. ¡°Level 20 is around the corner. And you¡¯re not done growing yet¡­we¡¯ll talk more when I return. Oh!¡± She glanced at the Second Finger of the Right and added, ¡°Make sure Nergath gets a good seat during the ritual. He is a witness, and when it¡¯s done, send him down to the dungeon to deliver the results¡­ I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± She could feel Snow¡¯s soul trembling beneath the surface, the pressure mounting within her. She¡¯ll crack soon if she doesn¡¯t push harder, Butter thought, her smile fading slightly as she entered the fortress to follow the weak, pulsing embers of life she felt guiding her through the halls. The Greater Seed she absorbed¡­she¡¯s going to need to break it open, or it¡¯ll crush her. Anything less than this, then not even Priss could bring her back since there will be nothing left of her spirit. As Butter moved deeper, Adoncia¡¯s voice echoed through the Nexus, laced with mild complaint. ¡°High Queen, it¡¯s cruel to put me against them¡­ You know I can absorb Death Energy.¡± Butter¡¯s grin widened as she responded, her voice teasing. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not typical of your fellow undead, sweetie¡­ That little gift? Seg¡¯tharis granted it to you in his passing. By the way, you best tell Snow to boost up her Stats and look over her Feats while you¡¯re drawing their attention. She¡¯ll need all the help she can get.¡± The shock in Adoncia¡¯s silence was palpable, leaving her two champions to prove their worth. Mika and White would have their turn soon enough. Not all of the Fingers had chosen to answer the call, and the presence of death was now rising through the stone walls. Isn¡¯t it funny? When the brain is lopped off, the body just thrashes. Were you a chicken and not a toad, Seg¡¯tharis? Her humorous chuckles bounced through the corridors as Butter disappeared into the shadows. The cold air clinging to her the further down she went until she found herself in an ominous, cramped prison. Cells of barely living creatures lined the area, the stones themselves sapping their strength. Butter moved deeper into the fortress, following the weak pulse of Life Force that guided her. The oppressive atmosphere of decay surrounded her, the walls almost humming with the energy of countless souls drained by the Death Raiders throughout numerous generations. The stone beneath her feet was cold, and the light from the glowing stones dimmed as she descended into the bowels of the fortress. She approached the deepest chamber, past the cages and shackled prisoners of the Crystal conquest until reaching a small room lined with chains that sang with the last vestiges of the life they¡¯d held. There, suspended by those chains, was a young ri¡¯bot woman¡ªIrida, the Head of the Life Cult. Her pure golden skin had paled, and her eyes remained closed in a state of enforced meditation. Butter stood before her for a time, studying the woman who had kept the Susime alive for untold generations. A responsibility she¡¯d carried from her predecessor, no doubt. Butter glanced to her left, where a human skeleton lay, left scattered across the floor¡ªher sister¡¯s body. Finally, I have everything I need to truly live again¡­ Soon. I¡¯ll take my first real breath since dying as Ashrit. I¡¯ll have my own lungs¡­ I¡¯ll be able to feel whole again. Brushing back her liquid gold hair, she moved forward and reached out with her Life Force, sending a pulse through the room and shattering the chains that bound Irida, sending the woman to the hard stone. Curling in, Irida stirred, her eyes fluttering open as the pulse of Life Energy struck, forcing her out of the meditative trance she¡¯d entered to sustain herself. She blinked and slowly raised her body, goosebumps cascading down her arms when her gaze fell on her. Recognition dawned in her weary eyes, mixed with confusion. ¡°You¡­are not what I expected when I gave Nergath the Eye,¡± she mumbled, but there was a strength behind it that Butter found amusing as the toad forced herself to lean against the wall behind her. ¡°Has our time come? Have I succeeded¡­or failed?¡± Butter tilted her head, her lips curling into a faint smile as she moved to sit in front of the dying pillar of the Life Cult. ¡°You have failed. It¡¯s time for you to wake up, Irida. You were always meant to fail, and now¡­ Your judgment day has come. The Radiant Eminence is here to restore balance¡­ I have come to make things right.¡± ¡°So, this is the path the twins have chosen.¡± Butter¡¯s aquamarine eyes narrowed while darting to the left, where a cloud of mist seeped out of the brick. It parted, revealing an aged, gray-skinned ri¡¯bot, sitting on a simple wooden stool that hadn¡¯t been there previous. A pipe with two openings rested on his palm, fixed between his delicate webbed fingers and lavish red silk adorned his figure. ¡°Had I not warned you, Irida?¡± Irida¡¯s body shook as she forced a weak laugh as Butter observed the intruder, yet it was the diamond and milky stone inside his pipe that snatched her attention¡ªtrapped elemental force in the same manner the Supreme Chiefs had been imprisoned. ¡°Spokesperson Jet¡¯al¡­ Has the Prume finally decided to take action now that we have become so weak?¡± The name sparked memories in Butter¡¯s mind regarding the clans of the valley, drawing her curiosity. ¡°The Prume would be the faction of ri¡¯bot to the west of the Flex and south of the Delthax, correct? I¡¯m afraid no one has much to say about your isolated cliffs. It¡¯s my pleasure! What can I do for you?¡± Jet¡¯al brought the pipe to his mouth, showing his three teeth on either side of his mouth while drawing in a deep breath that lit up the diamond before releasing a puff of mist from his mouth. The fancy toad showed a smile, though his soft words held a melancholy note of pity while observing Irida. ¡°Hope¡­dangles on a string, like slow-spinning redemption, winding in and winding out¡­the shine of it has caught my eye,¡± he whispered, his gaze shifting from the uncomfortable Head of the Life Cult to the jewel hidden under her top. ¡°It¡¯s roped me in, so mesmerizing¡­ I am certain now that I am vindicated.¡± His focus moved to Butter¡¯s eyes, his enigmatic smile showing relief that confused her. ¡°I¡¯m not here to interfere with your plans, High Queen. They may be selfish, flawed¡­wrong, but they are cleaning up so well. I will be in-touch when you begin exploring Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma¡¯s legacy. For the voices who cannot speak, I thank you for the tender mercies you have shown.¡± Swirling fog shifted him to the opposite side of the room, beside Elinor¡¯s human corpse. ¡°Consider this a gift from the Prume for your actions. With this, a rotten branch has been burned and purified. Be grateful, Irida¡­ There is hope.¡± She hummed as the diamond glowed, the gems in his pipe broke, and Jet¡¯al, Spokesperson of the Prume, slipped away in a haze of fog. Tears welled up inside Irida¡¯s eyes as her body began to quake. Butter pressed her fingers against the fabric of her top, feeling the smooth jewel against her skin while picking apart his words. However, a sharp rise in Death Energy drew her attention to the black stones as they illuminated with a sickly green glow. Drawing from Utelira¡¯s power, she generated a golden dome around them, a small smile lifting her lips. ¡°So many surprises¡­ It seems the other Fingers have made their move. White and Mika will have fun. In the meantime¡­¡± Butter turned her attention to the weeping gold-skinned ri¡¯bot in front of her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you fill in the gaps for me so I can fix this mess? As Jet¡¯al said, there is hope, and I am here to bring it to you, in judgment and grace,¡± she finished, reaching forward to lift the woman¡¯s head up to look at her. ¡°Tell me your sins, so I can free you.¡± B3 — 17. Nungals Introduction Inside her spacious stagecoach, Elinor took the far seat to study the bustling morning traffic as the City Guard escorted her up Main Street to reach the Noble District. Runners had been sent ahead to inform Alix that she had requested his immediate attention, which, given her displayed personality, was tantamount to a demand expected to be followed. Her entertained emerald eyes drifted between the various parties going about their daily tasks, and the food shops were a blaze of activity, bringing tantalizing aromas to those going about their business. She really needed to get Butter a body so she could taste food again. It was such a strange thought; she hadn¡¯t had a meal in months, yet she¡¯d been so preoccupied with the survival of the people who relied on her that it had hardly been a thought. The well-established kingdom and its commerce sparked a fire within her: this was what she was working toward. No, her empire would become a beacon of intellectual and technological advancement that would pull weight all across her new world. First, as was natural with any budding nation, she had to focus on their ability to defend themselves and the resources to expand, which this Legend Quest provided an excellent window of opportunity to provide. Elinor¡¯s gaze wandered to the leather pouch of buried coins Charlie had dug up for her. Opening it, she took out a few coins the guards had commented on, informing her of their value and shocked at their ancient origin. Well, ancient for these people was two centuries. Apparently, certain collectors in the Noble District would be willing to part with modern currency for the old coins at a moderate upscale in profit, which was more than acceptable to her. She could get a small fortune from these buried treasures, which could jumpstart Lilya¡¯s activities. After all, their House currently relied on the goodwill of the nobility, and the costs of running a House were not to be underestimated. Her mind was pulled inward as her cautious father made contact, and she began her ascent up the ramps to the Upper District. ¡°Elinor¡­ we may have a problem with your shopping trip. Nungal is playing games and laughing at us.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Tiffany asked, joining with a bit of interest. ¡°What makes you say that? Has she asked for something unreasonable, like twelve spotless rams as a burnt sacrifice? If so, I can find a way to make it work!¡± ¡°No,¡± her father sighed, his short pause drawing Lilya and Castria into the call, wanting to know if there were any issues that they could help with. ¡°Nungal is going to go shopping with you all¡­ using Grace as an avatar, which means this entire job that I¡¯ve been doing has been a colossal waste of time.¡± Tiffany snorted with laughter. ¡°Oh, what a little troll this goddess is; I love it! Does that mean we will actually be able to speak to this goddess ourselves? The secrets we could learn!¡± ¡°Should she be willing to impart them,¡± Lilya smoothly interjected, projecting a thoughtful vibe through the Nexus. ¡°This is¡­ very strange for Nungal. Legends within the Quiltra tribe do speak of the ability of their goddess to use her chosen avatars to enact judgment on the battlefield¡­ but for shopping? Nungal is a very noble and elegant goddess to the Quiltra, yet also crafty and unpredictable.¡± Castria¡¯s strained laughter came through as Elinor quietly placed the coins in her hand back into the pouch, considering how this would change things. ¡°I¡¯m still lost on this idea of a ¡®goddess,¡¯ or whatever you call her. What are gods and goddesses? Why is everyone talking like she¡¯s stronger than the Grand Duke?¡± ¡°Oh, honey, honey! You should find a seat,¡± Tiffany chortled, thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to educate the young Tempest, who grew up in a totally nontheistic kingdom. ¡°Allow me to explain to you in private. Be back in a bit!¡± She pulled the Sorceress into a private chat, leaving Elinor to sigh and rest her chin against the back of her hand. Her searching eyes scanned the crowd of citizens, not really seeing them as her thoughts turned inward. Nungal specifically demanded that Heather be there to replicate her size. I doubt that is the only reason she wants the abused princess to be nearby. It seems our assumption that this was just some frivolous divine wish was turned on its head. Nungal made me think light of her and now is holding a fingernail to my neck, forcing my attention. Not bad¡­ Her father further clarified, still sounding mildly upset that he¡¯d spent much of the night jotting down details about the goddess. ¡°Grace¡¯s body may take on the illusion of Nungal¡¯s appearance, but his body will not have transformed. You could say that is the reason why she insisted Heather be brought, so she can act as a mannequin for her to use in her fashion trip.¡± Elinor chuckled and felt her anticipation growing. I think she¡¯s successfully black-pilled you, Dad. Let¡¯s not forget that she is a goddess, or at the very least, a higher being who is smart enough to garner faith like Grace¡¯s. Tell Grace that I look forward to meeting his goddess. Why don¡¯t you meet me at the newly founded House of Ravens? I needed to inspect the property in any case since High Lord Tarnash was so kind as to gift it to me. Lilya¡¯s soft, somewhat entertained laugh followed. ¡°Empress, isn¡¯t it a tad cruel to make Lord Drake guide you around his former home in Lumina? I am sure he lived there and away from their family lands to our west for much of his life.¡± Hmm. Who better to show me, then? Don¡¯t you think it is a beautiful excuse to force Anala and Drake to confront the misunderstanding the fire-haired girl has? Plus, I need to investigate new plots involving his family. Her focus locked onto the towering district divide between the High District and Noble District, a smile twisting her lips. Speaking of which, I have a short meeting to attend. ¡°Very well, I will await your visit, Empress. I hope your conversation proves fruitful.¡± I doubt it, Elinor whispered. She felt the horses stop as the guards checked in with the Magic Knights on duty to open the gate. It is what he does after that will be of interest. I will see you shortly. Waiting a few more minutes in silence, Elinor¡¯s gaze lowered to Lieutenant Cole as he approached her window. ¡°High Lord Alix Tarnash is awaiting you, Empress.¡± ¡°Good. Have him join me. I will be heading to his old family estate in any case.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± It wasn¡¯t long until the door opened, the guards outside communicating to one another to return to their journey. The tall, handsome, black-haired older brother of Drake entered with a respectful bow before taking his seat on the opposite side of the stagecoach to give her space. ¡°Empress, I was told that you wished to see me and noticed you had some rather¡­ shabby-looking cargo with our family crest on it. Am I to assume you¡¯ve bought something from our sponsored merchants and found something unsatisfactory?¡± Elinor only acknowledged him with a single glance before returning to staring out of the window; his fancy attire and well-groomed appearance mirrored his father, but she instantly got the vibe of an aristocrat from him, which wasn¡¯t the same feeling she had from his father or little brother. ¡°Before I get into why I¡¯ve called you here, High Lord Alix, would you indulge me and tell me where you came from? I would hate to pull you away from your daily activities for my little side project.¡± ¡°A side project?¡± Alix repeated, sitting back and sounding interested. ¡°I was getting better acquainted with the students of your House before I left, Empress. In truth, you pulled me away from a rather frustrating debate I was having with Lady Idalia about her older brother¡¯s¡­ achievements. Even with wind manipulation conversations, the woman¡¯s aggrevating tone and face carries over.¡± Elinor¡¯s smile raised a tad at the mention of the 25-year-old oldest daughter of the Tarkov Great House; she wasn¡¯t the current heir since she had two older brothers, but she was seen as quite the firecracker in the public eye, much like her youngest sister, Anala. It seemed Alix shared a similar kind of rivalry with the other Great House that his father had. ¡°With that being the subject,¡± she inserted, ¡°what do you think about your youngest brother joining the House of Tempest?¡± Tone notably souring, Alix shifted uncomfortably and turned his gaze toward his open window, glaring at the road and buildings. ¡°Drake and I have never been¡­ close, I suppose you could say. He believes I focus more on politics than upholding our family name, but he does not understand the fine wire our House balances on. Many would love to see Tarnash¡­ tarnish and break. I aim to see them frustrated in that goal.¡± ¡°Honesty and the admittance of one¡¯s perceived shortcomings is something I value,¡± Elinor whispered, noting the various Tempest flying around that instantly dropped to the street when they saw her stagecoach. ¡°Would you clarify something for me?¡± ¡°Whatever you desire, Empress,¡± Alix said, directing a charming smile her way and sweeping back his loose bangs behind his ear. ¡°I am at your disposal.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ The First Queen in history is your ancestor, isn¡¯t she? The pendant of nilth metal, fitted with a celiera gem that I obtained for Castria, originally belonged to your ancestor. Correct?¡± Alix fell silent for several seconds as he processed her question, cupping his chin and staring into the street again. ¡°¡­Nilth metal, hmm? I have not heard of that name since my early education at my mother''s lap, Empress. Most nobles today think it is a myth. I am glad to know it exists if you verify it.¡± He turned a calculating eye toward her passive face. ¡°When The First Queen died, there was a split within the nobility since her children were far too young, and all of her relatives died early. Then, the Autumn Family drew prominence and, through a union to the youngest daughter of the Royal Tarnash line with the new Head of House, joined our bloodlines. ¡°Through¡­ unusual circumstances over the next two decades¡ªafter five children were born¡ªall of them would become sickly and unfit to rule. It was then that the Autumn Family took control over the kingdom¡¯s governance, and¡­ in a miraculous recovery a generation later, the Tarnash children were as strong as could be.¡± Elinor noted a bitterness in the man as he folded his fingers in his lap. ¡°Not wishing to upset the balance of the kingdom in such a turbulent time, my family stepped aside so long as we could have a say in who was to be titled as king and become the bride of the Autumn Family Head since his wife had passed away.¡± Nodding, her eyes narrowed while shifting to look into the man¡¯s gray irises. ¡°Naturally, you would have thought it would be someone from your House, and you would retake the throne¡­ but that didn¡¯t happen, did it?¡± Alix put on a fake smile. ¡°History is spotty in the public record, but the Tarnash Family Heads have kept a well-documented recount after our ancestor¡¯s betrayal. Our sickened Family Head at the time¡­ chose the Alciel Duchy¡¯s eldest daughter to rule and marry the Autumn Family Head. And that is the story about how the Alciels became the monarchs over Kaspir.¡± Thus, the hag fulfilled her promise to Evelyn Autumn. Her son did rule Kaspir for a decade or two before their line slowly got pruned off for the Alciel line, which the hag needed to fulfill her breeding project. Was two decades of rule worth all the things you did, Evelyn? Including allowing yourself to be skinned alive by the creature and to use your children as batteries? I suppose the desperate will do anything for power. Elinor¡¯s eyes sparkled as she brought his gaze to the closed pouch of coins beside her. ¡°Tell me, did your parents ever mention¡­ burying anything out in the countryside? I think you might find these quite interesting.¡± Tossing the bag at him as they turned down a new street to reach the estate, Alix took the bag and opened it. ¡°These are pre-Alciel coins¡­ marked with the Tarnash seal? The cargo you¡¯re carrying¡­¡± It clicked in his eyes as he looked at the back, where the wagon with the goods rolled. ¡°You found¡­ these buried in the countryside? Empress, I¡­¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. He paused, mouth pulling in as he thought better of whatever he was about to ask. Likely, he¡¯d wanted to sort through it, expecting to find something of worth to him, but he wasn¡¯t dealing with someone he could throw his privilege and authority at. Elinor was after a solid connection, though, and not theories, so she gave him a nudge. ¡°I understand this is a monumental find, and not everything I¡¯ve discovered is from your House. I called you here to handle this discreetly. Perhaps you should inform your father; he is currently within the palace, if I am not mistaken. All your goods will be stored in the House of Raven¡¯s vault, logged, and ready for inspection. I will await his response.¡± Alix gulped and gave a swift nod, leaning out the window and raising his voice to address one of the men escorting them. ¡°Guard, I will be exiting!¡± ¡°Stop the stagecoach!¡± the man shouted, getting calls from the driver and Cole to confirm the report. ¡°Stop the stagecoach! High Lord Tarnash is leaving!¡± Elinor watched him enter the sky before returning the way they¡¯d come, flying low along the roads. Black? ¡°I¡¯m keeping an eye on him from the wall, Empress. He is¡­ ducking into an alley.¡± Give me the report later, but keep my father appraised of the situation; he needs something to focus on. ¡°Understood.¡± Turning her thoughts away from the matter, she instructed Lilya on what to do with the goods they¡¯d found. The Grandmaster would make a detailed record of the items and put them into storage, conscripting Lady Idalia into helping her with the ¡®heavy load¡¯ since the Alchemist couldn¡¯t handle the weight herself. Lilya¡¯s gentle giggles came through the Nexus as Elinor entered the estate¡¯s large, extravagant front entrance, showing quite the property with its well-maintained greenery. ¡°What a devious and dangerous game you are playing, Empress. Am I to keep a close eye on our new, fire-haired instructor to not miss anything she may¡­ slip underneath her dress?¡± Not necessarily, Elinor sighed. I doubt Idalia has the kind of knowledge that Alix has as the next Head of House. On the off-chance she does react to anything or has heard rumors passed through her family, then she may be more loose-lipped about it than her older brothers or parents. These Machiavellian plots keep getting deeper and deeper¡­ and I suspect all of them tie in somewhere with our friend Autumn. Thoughts, Dad? Exiting the stagecoach as it stopped before the colossal mansion, she examined its structure, sprawling out on both sides and featuring two wings. Standing out front, Elinor smiled upon spotting all 50 students who had taken the invitation to join her House. Lilya was out front with the instructors¡ªobviously minus the contemplating elder Tarnash¡ªand as she stood in front of them, every person gave her a respectful bow, welcoming her to the House. Elinor felt a twitch at the corner of her mouth upon seeing a few noble boys and girls still dressed in their nightgowns or silky shorts, obviously sleeping in and being awoken at the last minute. Slowly walking down the line, she could see their cheeks turn bright red, trying to hide it with their messy hair. ¡°Welcome to the House of Raven, Empress!¡± Chuckling at the unexpected greeting, Elinor singled out Heather, Castria, and Anala side-by-side, clearly forming the upper-echelon clique group. Julian was among the boys on their side of the building, separated by gender. ¡°What a joyful surprise,¡± she commented, stopping in front of the younger redhead. Her focus darted to Captain Flera and a few other staff, who looked somewhat nervous, including Idalia. The older Tarkov couldn¡¯t help but glance between her youngest sister and her, unsure if her baby sister had done something wrong to have Elinor standing before the girl. Elinor swiftly dismissed the tense atmosphere, though. ¡°Lady Idalia, Grandmaster Lilya requires your support in unloading and sorting through many of the items I found buried in your surrounding fields; it was quite the treasure trove¡­ Everyone else besides may go about your day.¡± Murmurs passed between the throng as Castria gave her a tight-lipped smile. ¡°Did you have to stand in front of Anala, Empress? She¡¯s shaking!¡± Good, Elinor whispered, illuminated emerald eyes drifting to the shorter redhead; Heather was a bit taller than the girl. It means my lesson stuck, and her body remembers our fight. ¡°Where is Drake?¡± she asked, shifting to observe the retreating students, acting as if she were about to snare them in another web to devour their souls. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t he be here by now?¡± Idalia gave her little sister an encouraging smile and pounded her chest twice before directing a V-symbol as she went to help Lilya with the luggage; Elinor didn¡¯t understand the action, but Anala seemed to take heart from her big sister¡¯s action. The younger redhead clasped her fingers at her front and plowed forward before Heather or Castria could respond. ¡°Lord Drake must inform Grandmaster Vesta of his departure and absence from the Tempest House competition for the day. House rooms are determined by competence in a show of skill and assigned to each individual for half a year, where mid-year tests will determine the next placement. He should be here within the next ten minutes at most, Empress.¡± ¡°Very well, that gives us time to go over¡­ other things,¡± she said, turning to see another stagecoach making its way down the road; Grace and her father had arrived. ¡°Follow me.¡± Taking the lead, she caught Julian jogging over to join the three girls, asking what was happening. Elinor¡¯s attention was centered on the real battle ahead, and her eyebrows came together as Grace¡¯s large, muscular frame stepped out of the stagecoach, a swirl of purple energy encircling the elegant hare. All movement around the manor came to a halt, the rush of light accompanied by a hair-raising clink of rattling chains. The veil flowed upward into a whirlwind of flowery petals, revealing black boots, tight leather leggings, and a fitted, royal-looking blouse that framed the violet-haired goddess¡¯ shapely figure. Her unbound locks fluttered as her toes touched the stone ground, and her bright lilac eyes swept the area, fingers brushing back her bangs with a mysterious smile that settled on her. Elinor could visibly see the lump that lodged into every throat present as she pinched her dress on either side and gave the divine woman a formal curtsy. ¡°Welcome to this planet, Goddess Nungal. It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. What are¡ª¡± Elinor¡¯s mind blanked as the young woman promptly strode forward without an ounce of hesitation, hair fluttering behind her, and threw her arms around her shoulders in an embrace. Her hot embrace was like fireworks going off within her chest as an ungodly amount of potent Death Energy smothered her, making her feel like an ant adrift in a boundless universe. Yet again, this goddess felt so familiar, but she knew for a fact it wasn¡¯t her; without a doubt, somehow, she knew Nungal from a previous life. ¡°Empress Elinor, I¡¯m a massive fan! You have no idea how troublesome it was for me to make this happen. So, shall we get a tour from your lovely Tempest? I have the whole day to enjoy this fun outing! Maybe we could spar a little, Raven Empress!¡± she chortled, pulling away and revealing galaxy-like swirling eyes. Nungal almost appeared to have a gravitational pull, outlined by violet light that shimmered off her black, white, and gold-themed outfit. ¡°Oh, it feels so good not to be so cramped, trying to fit inside this tiny Seed¡ªwell, it¡¯s relative¡ªlike this, I feel free! Cat got your tongue? You can drop the honorifics, as well. After all, we are well acquainted. Aren¡¯t we?¡± Restraining a shiver at what she¡¯d just felt before it was hidden away and the indomitable power beyond anything she could fathom collected tightly around the woman, Elinor put on a dubious smile. ¡°That¡­ has yet to be seen, Nungal. Shall we tour my new House while we wait for Lord Drake?¡± Nungal¡¯s sparkling eyes hid endless chains, spinning into oblivion as she smiled and tilted to her side to look at the stunned nobles behind her. ¡°I think we will have fun.¡± ¡°Excuse me, Nungal, but can we speak in private for a moment?¡± The goddess¡¯ sporadic and upbeat charm didn¡¯t falter as she flipped around on her heel to address the tall Death Knight that had exited after her. ¡°King Edmon! Absolutely,¡± she winked, finding her hands behind her back. ¡°And no need to worry about listening ears while I am around. We have a deal. I am here to spend a splendid time away from my exhausting life as of late to relish this rare opportunity. Shall we talk through your Nexus?¡± You can do that? Elinor asked, finding her feet again. Nungal¡¯s crafty irises drifted to her, giving her a sidelong look. ¡°I can do many, many things, Empress, and I am yours to entertain for the day. Grace¡¯s dedication and fortitude have allowed me this moment of freedom. Be attentive, and maybe I will impart a few little secrets. I will tell you now that you do not have enough time to focus on this plot with your buried treasure. Your mind is better spent with me and collecting items to return home with.¡± The woman¡¯s words impressed on her within a fraction of a second, and without skipping a beat, she turned to her father. ¡°I know what you¡¯re going to ask me, and I am more than willing to dance around the question for my amusement. Besides, it will be answered by the end of the night. Satisfied?¡± Her dad¡¯s frosty blue eyes lingered on the smiling goddess before nodding, and Elinor felt off her game for the first time as the girl took her by the hand and pulled her toward the manor, leaving everyone in shock. ¡°C¡¯mon, Elinor, my time is limited! I kind of wish Butter was here. Do you think she¡¯ll be jealous? Hehehe. It really is like her, isn¡¯t it? Let¡¯s go, girls!¡± Castria, Heather, and Anala stumbled after them, but it was Julian who became their tour guide upon entering the giant entryway, leaving the twoto demand answers from Castria while her crush listened intently. Julian introduced the four lavish stories, the main basement, and two sub-basements with 40 bedrooms. Each would have two to three occupants, Castria, Heather, and Anala having already been given a larger space to call their own. Halfway through the swift tour, Drake showed up, meeting them inside the dining hall in the back, open to the weather since Tempest could counter whatever forecast assaulted them. Elinor grew more accustomed to the goddess¡¯ antics as time progressed. Drake tried to put off a professional demeanor on approach, but it faltered slightly upon seeing Anala¡¯s spiteful face, not so much as acknowledging the ice-boy. ¡°Empress, I apologize for my tardiness. You asked for me? I understand if you are angry that I did not choose the House of Ravens.¡± Elinor crossed her arms and looked toward the smiling goddess next to her, expecting to go shopping now; her claim about not getting to the bottom of this drama regarding the boy¡¯s Great House picked at her brain. It was more or less a side project, in any case. To make matters worse, Black made contact. ¡°I¡¯ve lost him, Empress. He went into the alleys. Without a doubt, he is up to something suspicious, but what that is, I cannot say. I¡¯m not built for stealth missions. Sorry.¡± It¡¯s fine. Return to your original task. We will spend the rest of our days preparing to leave this world. Obtain as much information as possible about the other unique items of the First Queen. I suspect they have some kind of connection to this city¡­ If only someone would give me the cheat sheet, she muttered, glancing at Nungal, who gave her a dazzling smile and broke into the conversation. ¡°Don¡¯t rush the surprise! No empire was built in a night. Brick by brick, you lay the foundations. Use the extra funds you obtained from the buried treasures you¡¯ve pillaged, and I will make my own comments as we go through the day. Please, don¡¯t feel threatened, Elinor. I genuinely want to have a fun day with you. So, lead the way, my undead empress of chains! A small smile lifted Elinor¡¯s lips as she let her anxiety slip away; it was too obvious that this goddess could smite her without a second thought. Whatever she was after, there was no reason she couldn¡¯t enjoy the game the violet-haired young woman was playing. Giving the young nobleboy her attention, Elinor shook her head. ¡°Why would you think I was angry at you? I quite approve of the statement. However, what I cannot abide by is misunderstandings. So, I will finish this tour that you should have given me, and by the time I am finished, you will have made things clear to Lady Anala. Do not disappoint my expectations because I will not be an excuse either of you use for this dying ember in the future.¡± Promptly turning to Julian, Elinor motioned to the two princesses to join them. ¡°We will leave our two blossoming lovebirds to discuss their issues. Lady Anala,¡± she stated as the girl¡¯s spine jolted as if lightning shot through it at the word, ¡°use that temper and beat it out of him if you like. Hehe. You have my permission.¡± Conceding the dining area to the two pink-faced teens, Elinor left the scene of the train wreck she¡¯d caused. ¡°Good luck, you two. I hope you are brave enough to be honest with one another. Know that you have my support, for whatever that¡¯s worth.¡± ¡°Mine, as well!¡± Nungal called back, waving at the embarrassed pair. ¡°No one else needs to know. I¡¯ve kept a sound bubble around us, so your secret is safe¡ªat least for now. Please try to whisper! There are listening ears, looking for gossip. Oh, and an early congratulations!¡± Elinor gave the beaming woman a sidelong stare. What was that ¡®early congratulations¡¯ about? ¡°Not relevant at this time,¡± she returned, showing a secretive smile. ¡°By the way, answer me this¡­ How does one get a soul-locked entity through a dimensional filter field when they don¡¯t have exit permits?¡± Slowing to a stop, her eyes widened at the conversation topic, air locking in her lungs as Nungal leaned in, lips moving yet speaking directly to her spirit. ¡°You make them property earned as a reward from the Greater Seed Arbiter. Part of that reward is how I bargained my way into having this time with you because I am very lonely and a tad bit rebelious, I will handily admit. Yes! I did use part of your Legend Quest reward to insert myself!¡± That seems presumptuous and forced, Elinor dryly replied. ¡°Quit pulling my hair,¡± the goddess huffed. ¡°I have given you Grace and answers you would not have been able to come by otherwise. Now, how to make the hag said property will come at the end of the night because you know she will resist! Half upfront, half later. Will you show me a good time now, Empress?¡± Elinor¡¯s gut cramped at the wealth of information that actually was; an Arbiter of the Greater Seed meant someone was directing things behind the scenes. In the ensuing tense atmosphere, her father a hair¡¯s breadth away from throwing the goddess away, Elinor looked into the teasing goddess¡¯ cosmic eyes and laughed. ¡°I think we might become great friends, Nungal. I can see why Grace is so dedicated to you. Julian, continue the tour. I¡¯m starting to have fun.¡± B3 — 17.5. YOLO Butter stood tall in the dimly lit chamber, the faint golden shimmer of her Life Energy flickering against the oppressive darkness swirling around them. Irida, still knelt before her, gazed upward at the protective barrier with tear-filled eyes. The surge of Death Energy rippling through the fortress pressed against the golden dome like a relentless wave, but Butter¡¯s aura held strong without much effort, given Utelira¡¯s potent force. Irida¡¯s voice trembled as she brought her tears under control, eyes locking onto the glowing shield. ¡°The Right Fingers¡­ They¡¯ve activated the Orb of Seg¡¯tharis. Centuries of Death Energy¡­stored, infused into it¡­ The dead from the valley will rise to follow their command.¡± Butter flicked her wrist dismissively, a playful giggle escaping her throat. ¡°Oh, sweetie, I¡¯m no stranger to dealing with the dead. And, it¡¯s only three or four of the Fingers. I doubt they have total control, which is¡­a problem for them of which I anticipated,¡± she winked. ¡°My people can handle a few restless corpses until I get back. They love a good challenge.¡± Her aquamarine irises gleamed with mischief, and she tilted her head to one side, her tone light but edged with amusement. ¡°But don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice your little exchange with Spokesperson Jet¡¯al. You two know each other, don¡¯t you? I¡¯d love to hear that tale.¡± She let that hang in the air, her gaze never leaving Irida¡¯s as the golden-skinned ri¡¯bot hesitated, leaning heavily against the barrier for support. A melancholy silence passed between them, the weight of ancient secrets pressing down on the moment. Irida closed her eyes, exhaling softly as if the act of speaking would crack open the delicate fa?ade she had kept for so long. ¡°The Prume and Susime¡­ We were once one people, united before the religious nalveans ever stepped foot onto our continent, or so I was told. They¡¯ve since lost most of those beliefs.¡± ¡°Ooh. Fascinating,¡± Butter chimed, shifting her weight to the opposite hip and clasping her hands behind her back. ¡°I love a good story! Go on. Go on. You have my full attention, dearie.¡± The naked toad woman looked defeated, despite all the power she could have mustered. To her, the Head of the Cult of Life, had given up on that very notion. ¡°I cannot be certain of what I speak to be factual or sweet words twisted by the previous Life Binder¡­ My predecessor, Head Raska. He passed on his burden to me eight hundred years ago, unable to tap into the Eye of Utelira or the other jewels of power¡­ I haven¡¯t seen him in all those eight long centuries¡­¡± A twitch moved Butter¡¯s lips. ¡°North¡­ And, did he leave on his lonesome?¡± Irida looked up at her, doubt in her golden eyes. ¡°No¡­ He took a few important artifacts we had with him. I share your thoughts.¡± ¡°Shade,¡± she sighed, her focus drifting to the death-infused stones and reliving the time she¡¯d put herself between the entity and her twin to buy their mother time to purge him. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly a fan. But go on with your story, true or not!¡± ¡°Oh¡­he can be persuasive,¡± she whispered as her body shook with silent laughter. ¡°He told me our origins, and, looking back, I suspect he took several highly valuable artifacts we¡¯d kept with us after splitting away from the Prume.¡± Irida closed her eyes, imagining her own tale. ¡°We were wild and primitive back then. Well, until he came¡­¡± Her voice grew quieter, like she was recalling a nightmare she could never shake as she rubbed her palm across the cold stones. ¡°The Shadow in the Earth¡­¡± Butter rolled her eyes. ¡°The prisoner rattles his cage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­not how my mentor described him. Wise, awestriking¡­terrifying, and filled with the knowledge to bring about cataclysms. This story begins with the Prume, when Shade, as you call him, whispered truths in the ear of a lone, wild ri¡¯bot chief¡­ Truths that brought us into the knowledge of the past Supreme Chiefs, the gods of our past. And I suspect they were not the first ri¡¯bot Shade had given this knowledge to.¡± Butter¡¯s smile widened as she dropped down into a cross-legged position. ¡°A charmer?¡± she purred, the words rolling off her tongue with a mixture of familiarity and intrigue. ¡°I can relate. He pulls the strings from his little prison, always sinking his claws into something he shouldn¡¯t. I really want to know where his mystery begins. Alas, Shade predates the Supreme Chiefs.¡± Irida puffed out her cheeks, her breath shaky as she spread her legs out, looking truly exhausted. ¡°I would not doubt it. I can imagine him being the reason the Supreme Chiefs became so powerful in the first place¡­and then fell from grace.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Butter tilted her head to the side. ¡°Not exactly Shade¡¯s fault, but close enough. There was the incident of a certain Crystal and Black Sun.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even want to know,¡± the woman laughed. ¡°Continuing my story¡­ That one chief built up a mighty people. But it wasn¡¯t just us who splintered when arguments about how we should use our new gifts and power began to arise¡­ . Factions splintered from the Prume over a century, each taking different pieces of the Supreme Chiefs¡¯ power, technology, or techniques, trying to forge their own paths.¡± ¡°The Ethereal?¡± Butter pressed while thinking about the white-skinned, blue patterned toad that served her sister. ¡°Ah. The Ethereal,¡± Irida huffed. ¡°They chose a different route from us, rejecting the jewels in favor of special methods of forging metal and enchanting them with ancient relics and rights given to the followers of the Supreme Chiefs¡­ It was what drew the Black King to them, searching for that old relic that they took. One several other splinters took away, as well, infusing them with powers.¡± ¡°Mysticism,¡± Butter concluded, smoothing out her hair while thinking back on everything she knew about the valley clans. ¡°Without the relics, the strength of the power in their genes diminished over generations. Interesting¡­ Do you know the location of any?¡± ¡°No¡­ And as far as I¡¯m aware, not many survived to this day. Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma may have stolen many when conquering this land before going north on his journey for Shade.¡± Butter tapped her chin as she considered the story, her mind flickering back to the twisted origin of Seg¡¯tharis. ¡°Most of those factions destroyed themselves, did they? There seems to be a pattern. Shade gives races powers beyond their imagination. In their Prime, he has them do a task, and then allow them to destroy themselves, forgetting about him before building up a new civilization to do the next task on the list¡­ What a patient fellow!¡± she laughed. ¡°So, what about the Prume? They just¡­watched as all of this happened? Documented?¡± She grinned slyly, her tone shifting into teasing curiosity. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s why Jet¡¯al¡¯s still around, isn¡¯t it? Keeping notes on how this all plays out? He came to observe one of the many rotten branches burned and purified.¡± Irida¡¯s mouth tightened, the bitterness clear in her expression. ¡°I thought nothing of it when I took over the duties of Head at the start. Yet, now, I see the Susime¡­ We took the most extreme path. We hid ourselves here, in this valley, using the power of the Supreme Chiefs of Life and Death, which, in turn, wiped them away from the histories of the other splinter groups.¡± Her voice dropped lower, heavy with the weight of long centuries and regret. ¡°We thought it would protect us forever¡­ I thought it would give us immortality, but¡­look where we are now. Broken. Divided, like the others. Secrets I¡¯ve kept for five, excruciating centuries.¡± Butter¡¯s face moved with understanding. ¡°Ah, you put all your chips on the gods of Life and Death, or, at least, your ancestors did. Do not eat the sins of those who came before you. Hold your own and carry your cross, but the burden of others are theirs to bear. Salvation is a walk through fire and brimstone, purging one¡¯s soul of imperfection.¡± The holy woman¡¯s eyes opened, wider now and mixed with fear and resignation. ¡°What would you have me do?¡± Compassion moved Butter forward to rest a hand on her slick leg. ¡°You¡¯re at the mercy of the very uncontrollable powers you sought to harness¡­ Powers I can command. So tell me, Irida¡­what¡¯s the secret you¡¯re so afraid to spill? Because, darling, to be quite frank, I don¡¯t have all day. And neither do you.¡± Voice trembling, Irida straightened, the weight of centuries pressing down on her neck like a loadstone. ¡°I need a moment,¡± she whispered. ¡°You asked when I discovered the truth¡­ The truth about the powers and who is trapped within the jewels. It was¡­long before Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma became a threat but his dominance made it all too real how weak we were.¡± Shame creased her face. ¡°His strength wasn¡¯t the issue at first; it was the knowledge he gained from Shade¡­far more than he ever gave us. Only then did I realize how far we¡¯d fallen¡­ When Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma was directed to the secret my mentor was after to the north, where the Supreme Chiefs¡¯ legacy rested.¡± Butter watched Irida carefully, absorbing each word with a mixture of curiosity and a subdued smile. ¡°Shame without action is not for the weak, Irida¡­ It is for the damned,¡± she chimed, causing a confused crease to shift the toad¡¯s brow at her tone. ¡°Without action¡­¡± Her frown softened, muscles loosening. ¡°Wise words, High Queen. Keep your head up when you act. Never look back unless it is to push one to do their best.¡± Flashing her teeth, Butter giggled. ¡°Emotions are there as a compass that tells you where you are. As you grow, so too will you realize that the world isn¡¯t what you thought but never let questions halt you. Doubts damn you. Questions set you free! Search for those emotions. Not the fake masks you use to hide behind but the things that bear fruit¡­that bring success.¡± ¡°But¡­the torment we caused our own ancestors, the exploitation¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± Butter flatly stated, ¡°listen up because I¡¯ll only say this once¡­ If you do not like where you are, then use that feeling to look for where you¡¯d like to be¡ªto find answers, not walls. Be grateful for shame, anger, and loneliness. Rise like the sun, burning those emotions as fuel to keep moving. Work. Try. Fail. And try again. Be grateful for failure! For without failure, victory would feel hollow.¡± Irida swallowed, her gaze distant. ¡°Find answers¡­ Thank you, High Queen. You have the joy and energy of the young yet the wisdom of age.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Stop it, you¡¯ll make me blush!¡± Butter giggled, spinning her finger in the air. ¡°Go on! Go on! Tell me the next part as you work up to the sins in your heart.¡± Strength hardened the toad¡¯s eyes. ¡°When Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma returned¡­we stood no chance. Genuinely, and I knew it. His numbers, his understanding of our powers, the artifacts they had uncovered¡ªgreater than anything we had dreamed of. Without the Eyes, without sacrificing many souls, we were outmatched.¡± She forced a laugh, which made Butter glad to see her brightening up in the prison they sat in. ¡°It was shocking to learn that the eight-nation army even managed to kill him. That moment¡­it made us take our neighbors far more seriously. Well, it made the Cult of Seg¡¯tharis take them seriously.¡± ¡°But it was pointless, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Butter interjected, her arms folding across her chest. ¡°You were getting closer and closer to spiritual extinction.¡± Irida nodded, her voice soft, almost ashamed. ¡°No¡­ If we tried to fight in a direct conflict¡­ I doubt I can return more than a quarter of our losses at this point. Before I was born. we relied on those other artifacts, less dangerous ones¡­but the jewels held such power. We knew they did due to the First Chief¡¯s rise in the stories.¡± Butter sat straighter as a change came over Irida; this was where her truth came out. ¡°It took time to adapt and harness the power of the Supreme and Great Chiefs, but¡­800 years ago¡­I made the breakthrough.¡± She hesitated, her tone growing heavier. ¡°I started this cycle of unnatural life and death, developing the methods we use today.¡± Scooting back and crossing her legs, Butter raised an eyebrow. ¡°New bodies, not originally crafted for a spirit, are challenging to make. Making them out of mud must have taken some time to develop, as imperfect as they were. And a spirit that hasn¡¯t quickened its soul can only return so many times.¡± She paused, watching Irida¡¯s reaction carefully. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell the Head of the Cult of Seg¡¯tharis about this issue, did you?¡± Irida¡¯s body tightened. ¡°No,¡± she admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t know until later¡­ I discovered it three hundred and thirty-three years ago. It horrified me, learning that we were torturing our gods. I kept it hidden because¡­I saw the balance shifting¡­ Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma¡¯s rise in his own lands and the threats they were posing. The followers of Seg¡¯tharis were growing more fanatical, and I saw it. I knew, eventually, they would betray the cycle we had created.¡± Butter¡¯s lips curled while looking up at the humming stones of Death Energy, a tinge of sympathy in her tone. ¡°It¡¯s sad that not all your stories can be taken as pure fact, given you came into this cycle two hundred years after the split¡­but you are far from damned, Irida.¡± Irida chuckled, a broken sound. ¡°You say that but it is hard to believe. I only know about the Prume from what my mentor taught me, and even then, I doubt some of the details after centuries of pondering it in my heart.¡± A spark of curiosity lit Butter¡¯s eyes. "The artifacts you used to corrupt the valley¡¯s waters¡ªthat¡¯s not your specialty, is it? I can tell they¡¯re not operating anywhere near capacity.¡± Irida¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°No¡­it was the Prume¡¯s specialty.¡± Her voice cracked, the fear and desperation finally breaking through. ¡°What salvation can you offer someone like me? We¡¯re nearing our final generation. Many souls have dissolved into the void already, where I cannot reach¡­destroyed. I cannot even sense their life anymore. They¡¯re just¡­gone.¡± Butter giggled lightly, her tone filled with dark amusement. ¡°Oh, sweetie. You¡¯re mistaken!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Intelligences cannot be destroyed, or even created for that matter! If pushed to its limit and its soul dispands, the Intelligence¡ªthe little, ¡®hey, I¡¯m me¡¯ part¡ªwill slip into the afterlife, whatever that means here¡ªspirit or not.¡± Irida¡¯s body sagged, tears streaming down her cheeks. ¡°They¡¯re not¡­ I did not destroy my people and gods? That¡¯s¡­that¡¯s wonderful to hear. There¡¯s hope then. We aren¡¯t¡­lost.¡± Uncrossed her legs and rising gracefully, light danced in her aquamarine eyes. ¡°You¡¯re in luck, Irida,¡± she said with an almost too-casual smile. ¡°You¡¯ve done so much in your lifetime to save your people, and learning how to channel that force is going to save you. But now¡­I¡¯m going to be your salvation. And it all starts here.¡± She extended her hand, pointing directly at the skeletal remains in the corner. ¡°To become stable, I need to tether my spirit and Intelligence to that body. It will accept me¡ªoh, it will¡ªthrough my power, it will unite with me and evolve into something far grander.¡± Irida¡¯s body trembled but determination followed as she forced herself to stand. ¡°And after that?¡± Her voice wavered, but Butter could see the fire still burning in her eyes. Even after all the wear and tear, she hadn¡¯t broken yet. That deserved a little credit, at least. Butter¡¯s grin while stretching out her artificial body. ¡°After that? Well, I¡¯ll show you what awe a true being of conquest can achieve.¡± Her fingers danced lightly over the Eye of Utelira, pulling it from her dress and holding it up for Irida to see. The toad woman¡¯s eyes widened in sudden, absolute terror, her voice cracking. ¡°You¡ªYou can¡¯t mean for me to touch¡ªto touch Utelira¡¯s soul?! I¡¯ll be vaporized! I¡¯ve only siphoned off power from her through other artifacts.¡± With a soft snicker, Butter stepped forward and tapped Irida on the forehead, her touch gentle but suffused with holy energy. The woman¡¯s golden skin brightened with living fire. ¡°Oh, no need to worry, sweetie. It¡¯s simple, really. I just need to trick Utelira into thinking you¡¯re me by infusing a little bit of my spiritual force into you. A mask, of sorts.¡± Her smirk was sly, knowing, even when she didn¡¯t quite understand all the details; pieces of her past life were filling her with knowledge like droplets of pure water leaking out of a cracked vase. ¡°Now, let¡¯s begin.¡± As Butter ceased channeling the jewel, the barrier around them dimmed, now relying on the power she¡¯d stored in the weapons she¡¯d taken from Irida¡¯s home. Golden light shimmered across the stone floor, drawing the space tighter around them. She knelt beside her twin¡¯s corpse before pulling her liquid-like hair over her shoulder and lying down. Who knew, all those many weeks ago, you¡¯d be donating your body to me in order for me to become whole¡­ I¡¯ll return the favor, Sister. Thank you. I¡¯ll be number one. And I¡¯ll work as hard as I can until I¡¯m there, never give in until I¡¯ve proven that I¡¯m your equal, Priss¡­ I just hope you let me in when that happens because I don¡¯t want any fake love¡­ I want the real thing. Irida¡¯s breath caught in her throat, slowly approached the body, her hand hovering over Butter¡¯s chest. ¡°I¡­hope you know what you¡¯re doing, High Queen,¡± she whispered, fear threading through her voice as her fingers shook. ¡°Never look back, only forward until I prove I belong! No regrets,¡± she said with a bright grin. ¡°And I love everything I do. Life is good, Irida.¡± With one final, shuddering breath, the holy toad woman pressed her palm against her chest, then laid her other hand over the bones of her twin. Light exploded from the contact, blinding in its brilliance. Butter¡¯s hair lifted, shimmering with a radiant glow as Irida¡¯s power merged with hers, wrapping around the skeleton. The light seemed to consume the remains, reshaping them to the form of her spirit, pulling them together with a surge of Life Force. Holy energy flooded the room, powerful enough to make the air hum with the force and purify the stone, moss forming across the ground with dead seeds blooming in a colorful effulgence. Butter¡¯s world shifted, fading from the dark, ominous dungeon. One moment, the cold of Death Energy pressed against her, and the next¡ªwhite. A brilliant, all-consuming white that engulfed her senses. She blinked, her mind taking a second to adjust as the cold stone of the fortress was replaced by something entirely different, something¡­impossible. She stood now on the edge of a vast, planet-sized room, or, at least, that was the interpretation she had. ¡°What in the¡­¡± Butter trailed off, lifting a hand to shield her eyes from the blinding brightness reflecting off the surging, crystal-clear waters that seemed to stretch off into eternity. ¡°Am I in¡­heaven?¡± Pathways of smooth white stone crisscrossed the room, dotted with perfectly manicured gardens, radiating the most potent Life Energy she¡¯d ever felt; it was¡­endless. Her pulse quickened. The scale of it all made her stagger, an entire ecosystem thriving under a massive dome. She stood still, stunned by the sheer grandeur of the place she must have entered. This is impossible. It¡­feels like the heavens. I can¡¯t feel Elinor or the others in the Nexus, as if¡­I¡¯m disconnected from reality. What is this? A young woman¡¯s voice came from behind her, casual, almost annoyed. ¡°You¡¯re blocking the rays, sweetheart. Could you move to the left? Oh¡­it¡¯s you. You finally made it.¡± Butter¡¯s brow furrowed, curiosity replacing the shock as she turned. Her aquamarine eyes narrowed at the source of the voice¡ªa young woman, maybe in her late teens, lounging on a sun chair, wearing a bikini, her purple hair tied up in a messy bun, and a small mirror pointed at herself. Sunglasses rested lazily on her nose. Unable to help the smile that pulled at her lips, one hand resting on her hip, Butter asked, ¡°Rays? And what rays are you speaking of?¡± The girl didn¡¯t even shift her head, but with a lazy flick of her wrist, she pointed upward. The ceiling¡ªonce a dark, imposing black¡ªvanished. Instantly, Butter was hit by a blast of bright, golden sunlight, so intense she winced and threw up a hand to shield her eyes. ¡°Esh¡­ Cute trick,¡± Butter grumbled, lowering her hand as her grin widened. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bite. Who are you, mysterious lady?¡± With a leisurely sigh, the girl set down her sun reflector and tilted her sunglasses down just enough to peer over the top of them with striking violet eyes. ¡°Nungal,¡± she chuckled, pushing the shades up onto her head and rising to her feet with a fluid grace. ¡°Congratulations, by the way, on getting your body back. I was rooting for you! Now you can finally start putting points into your own Feats and break away from your annoying doom lord of a twin. She¡¯s got a little catching up to do, but that won¡¯t last long and you kind of cheated with Utelira and all.¡± Butter¡¯s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. ¡°Cheated? Difference of opinion, darling. You¡­know my twin?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued. ¡°What is this about?¡± Nungal tossed her sunglasses to the side, slid off the chair, and stretched her arms high over her head. Her bikini shimmered in the bright sunlight before being replaced by a sleek, comfortable robe. Her purple hair fanned out behind her, catching the light as she turned to face her with a fierce and smug grin. ¡°Follow me,¡± she said, her voice dripping with a playful command. ¡°We should talk while we¡¯ve got the chance. Maybe we¡¯ll go for a dip in the Life Stream!¡± Butter¡¯s own grin widened to match the girl¡¯s energy. She fell into step beside her, eyeing the confident way Nungal moved¡ªtrained, precise, and¡­perfect¡ªthe rebellious gleam in her eye that Butter found¡­familiar. There was something about her that felt like a somewhat kindred spirit¡ªlike an unruly teen who¡¯d broken every rule just for the fun of it. ¡°So,¡± Butter slowly began, her voice lilting with a teasing edge, ¡°I¡¯m up for almost anything, but what surprise are you planning for me? Would a name be on the menu for where we are?¡± Nungal¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter, and without missing a beat, she pointed down at the floor. ¡°Here? Oh, you know where you are, goldilocks¡­ You¡¯re in Irkalla!¡± Butter¡¯s grin froze, the name sending a jolt through her chest. Irkalla¡­ The name of Priss¡¯ night elf past life? Those vivid memories flashed through her mind like lightning, casting a shadow over the brightness of the room. She took a slow breath, forcing herself to keep her composure, even as her thoughts raced, and now that she looked closer, she knew for a fact¡­she could not fight this being, whoever she was. Meanwhile, Nungal simply formed a new pair of sunglasses in her hand, slid them onto the bridge of her nose with a teasing grin, and began to walk again. ¡°Come on, Heavens¡¯ Bane. Let¡¯s hangout for a bit.¡± ¡°Interesting nickname¡­¡± Butter¡¯s vision narrowed slightly, the weight of Nungal¡¯s words and insurmountable power sinking in. Irkalla? What¡¯s the connection? Am I¡­deep inside my sister¡¯s soul, or is this place separate? Fascinating¡­ Her mind buzzed with questions, but one thing was clear¡ªthis wasn¡¯t going to be an ordinary conversation, and she was here for it! Whatever secrets Nungal held, Butter was more than ready to pick them apart. And so, with a flick of her golden hair, she followed Nungal deeper into the blinding light, her curiosity burning hotter than ever. ¡°So, can I get some of those fashionable sunglasses?¡± Nungal snorted, lifting up a hand to form a new pair. ¡°Through all your lives, one thing has never changed¡­ Your vain hunger for looking good.¡± Giggling and accepting them, she slid them on with a smirk. ¡°Oh, please! You can¡¯t stand on a soap box when dressed like that. For a queen, fashion is a way of life. As the human kids say back at camp, YOLO!¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Nungal shook with laughter. ¡°Now that¡¯s an ironic saying from you!¡± ¡°Right?! I love it.¡± B3 — 18. Love Finds A Way Anala tried to keep her temper in check, cheeks flushed and putting pressure against her lower lip as The Empress walked away, leaving her alone with Drake. She¡¯d almost rather be in the arena against the intense ruler than alone with the ice boy. Arms crossing under her bust, she averted her eyes to stare around the back gathering area, looking for anything to distract her. ¡°I don¡¯t know what misunderstanding she¡¯s talking about. You made it perfectly clear you don¡¯t want to be in the same House as me, to the point of embarrassing your father and everything he did to get you into The Empress¡¯ House.¡± Drake sighed and rubbed between his eyes. ¡°Is¡­ that what you think? Queen¡¯s Heel, I thought you were pissed at me for an entirely different reason.¡± Crimson eyebrows pulling together, Anala looked up at the tall boy with a scowl. ¡°Oh, and how do you expect me to feel?¡± He puffed out his colored cheeks, not meeting her hard gaze as he rubbed the back of his neck and looked into the sky. ¡°Hmm. Do you want to continue this up in the sky? The goddess said that there were listening ears, and¡­ I don¡¯t want to talk about this with everyone listening.¡± Anala held up her hand, temper rising with his delay tactics, but her more rational side told her that she didn¡¯t want any of this getting out either. ¡°Fine! Where do you want to go to tell me how I should be feeling? And I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m definitely not 100% after the war that was yesterday. Channeling elements hurts right now!¡± ¡°What?¡± Drake¡¯s hair fluttered a little bit as air gently picked him off the ground. ¡°When did I try to tell you how to feel? No, I understand the pain part. Umm. I can carry you if¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the pain,¡± she interrupted with a vicious grin. ¡°I hope you make it worth it.¡± ¡°As do I,¡± he mumbled, being far too cool and calm for the topic, which made her want to strangle him. ¡°Follow me¡­¡± He rose further into the air, not looking troubled or like it hurt at all, and waited for her to join him. Gritting her teeth, she took a calming breath as sparks flashed from her hair, the pressure in her chest tightening like a hand around her heart upon calling the elements to respond to her will. If there were one thing she would not do in front of Drake, it would be to cry. Steeling her resolve, her dress weaved around her legs as the gust cycled around and brought her up face-to-face with the handsome and crafty Tarnash. She was stupid and vulnerable yesterday; that would not happen again. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going, or should I pick out the location?¡± she huffed. She tried using her anger to fight past the needles digging into her entire body and threatening to break her emotional stability; The Empress had taught her how to use her emotions as fuel, but that was a double-edged sword. Drake¡¯s only response was to take to the skies, having the nerve to give an annoyingly concerned look back at her. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be far¡­ So, what can you tell me about the goddess that was with The Empress?¡± Anala internally cursed him for bringing up a topic she was actually interested in, but she didn¡¯t have to tell him anything. ¡°It is too bad you were late and didn¡¯t get the chance to hear Princess Castria¡¯s explanation. Maybe if you were a better host, then things would be different.¡± She seethed inside as he directed a sad smile back at her, and she cut the conversation there, turning her gaze to the city they were now flying over to distract herself from the pain. Lumina was easy to lose herself in when she soared over it, and she spotted dozens of lesser nobility going about their own tasks in the air, but her attention was soon drawn to the stadium, where Drake was taking them. Sending a wind message to the boy, she winced as a dagger worked into her belly at the more complicated task. ¡°Why are we heading to the stadium?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± Drake laughed, gripping his side and grimacing, ¡°I¡¯m really starting to feel the physical drawbacks of yesterday¡¯s competition.¡± Not believing him for a second from his earlier attempts to drop her guard, Anala looked away as if disinterested. ¡°Just get it over with then.¡± The black-haired boy paused over the large coliseum, staring down at the damage that had yet to be cleaned up, and Anala gulped as she saw the cracked and broken-up arena. Drake brought them right onto the stone stage, bending down to run his hands along a melted segment that twisted around a set of imprinted feet, where The Empress had lodged herself. He forced a chuckle as they both ceased their channeling. ¡°You were really amazing yesterday¡­ The imprint of that fire tornado that you and Aura created together¡­ mostly you, gave me shivers. You know, you¡¯ve always impressed me, Anala.¡± Gut tightening, Anala tried to ignore the goosebumps running down her arms. ¡°Aren¡¯t we going on an aerial loop? Weren¡¯t you supposed to clear up some misunderstanding so I can get back to the princesses to actually enjoy my day? What?! What¡¯s¡­ with that expression?¡± Drake laughed and straightened, turning to face her. She didn¡¯t know what to make of the look he was giving her; his typically cool and controlled composure was tainted by a bit of anxiety, maybe even stress. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you for a long time, Anala¡­ I know about Aura¡¯s bullying, about the way you look up to your sisters, and how much you put on an act to not feel vulnerable. So¡­ this is all that I can think of to clear things up.¡± ¡°Eh?!¡± Anala stumbled back at his advance, her heel catching on a ridge and causing her to tumble to the uneven tile. Only, a surge of condensed wind from Drake gathered to save her from the fall, pulling her into the air, and right into the giant¡ªat least, he was a giant to her at this moment¡ªand her arms were too busy trying to prevent her nonexistent fall to resist. Mind frantic, her blue eyes widened, watching helplessly as Drake drew closer and closer, milliseconds becoming minutes until his hot lips met hers, and an explosion of emotion was sent from their touching skin to the rest of her body. Toes and fingers curling, she tensed and reflexively brought her fist around to slam into Drake¡¯s strong jaw, allowing her to gasp for air. ¡°Wha¡­ what in the¡ªwhat did you just do?!¡± she gagged, her stinging hand feeling as if it was broken while touching her tingling lips. ¡°We¡­ we aren¡¯t married or betrothed! You c-can¡¯t kiss me! You k-kissed me? I¡ªhuh?!¡± Realizing she was still floating in the air, telling her that Drake was still capable of keeping her stable after her punch, she saw the boy had only moved a little to the side. At least she¡¯d gotten him to blink as if dazed, rubbing the spot she¡¯d struck. ¡°Eh-haha. Ouch! Yeah, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be forgetting that one. Haaa. Totally worth it, though,¡± he said with an infuriating smirk while running his hand through his now messy, ruffled hair. Anala didn¡¯t know what to say or do, lost in what had just happened; had he really just taken her first kiss, which was supposed to only be reserved for your husband? However, what followed made her believe this was a dream because it certainly couldn¡¯t be reality. ¡°Anala Tarkov,¡± Drake said, straightening and manipulating the air so that she could stand again, and despite her ankles feeling weak, she managed to hold herself up; that didn¡¯t last long, though. ¡°Will you accept my apology and proposal for an act of taking responsibility?¡± ¡°W-What are you doing?¡± Anala stammered, taking a step back as the boy placed his left hand over his heart, two fingers intertwined, and he got down on both knees to look up at her; it was something every girl in Kaspir dreamed of and awaited and something she didn¡¯t expect since she was seen less of as a ¡®lady¡¯ amongst the nobility. ¡°This is not happening! Stop! Stop! I¡¯m serious!¡± Green flames lit across her hair, arms pressed against her chest as Drake only smiled and finished the ritual so many little girls got before her. ¡°Will you be my betrothed for the First Winter¡¯s Dance of the Academy Waltz? May I have your ring?¡± Legs giving way, she whimpered as her shins hit the warped stone ground, staring across at the unbelievable boy who had lured her away to ambush her alone; typically, this was done in public with a large audience, yet this was so much better. It meant it wasn¡¯t for show. He didn¡¯t do this because it was better for his House; in fact, it could cause a lot of trouble between their Great Houses. Yet, he¡¯d opened the door and was waiting for her to step inside. Every noble girl was gifted a ring on their eighth birthday by their parents, and if someone asked for it, then it was a sign that they wanted to join their House. If she accepted, then the boy would wear it, either on a string or on one of his fingers that it fit on. But this couldn¡¯t happen to her! For ten years, she¡¯d left her ring in a drawer, tucked away, which Aura loved to harp on, considering she had dozens of suitors constantly seeking hers. ¡°Huh?¡± Vision going watery, she looked down at her hand, bewildered to see a tear fall onto it. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t understand. I don¡¯t have it with me¡ªwh¡­ why me?¡± she choked. ¡°I¡¯m a troublemaker. I¡­ All the other nobles our age hate me. Aura would jump at your offer, so why me? Is it because I¡¯m sharing a room with the princesses?¡± Drake¡¯s patient smile made her chest hurt worse than channeling the elements, and he smoothly shook his head. ¡°I know very well that you don¡¯t have it with you¡­ since Aura is keen on letting all the boys know. You don¡¯t need to have it on you because the ring is not what I am really after.¡± Anala shivered like the last leaf of a dying tree, filled with new water, her stomach squirmed, and the weirdest sensation of elation she¡¯d ever experienced lifted her into the sky; she couldn¡¯t hear anything else as Drake¡¯s warm hand took hers, trapping the air in her lungs. At that moment, her mind returned to their hot bodies pressed against each other, entangled in firm webs, yet this time, Drake was looking straight into her eyes. It was a joke. A cruel joke. Her pulse rose and thumping heart ached, dreading the fall, but she only soared higher with each word he spoke. ¡°You don¡¯t need to answer right now. I know this is probably overwhelming. So why don¡¯t we walk the underground Hall of Water, and I¡¯ll tell you why I asked for your ring when I don¡¯t really care about the object that much¡­ only what it represents. I didn¡¯t come here for The Empress, Anala, I came here for you¡­ You¡¯re everything a man could ever want, and I want to be yours, and no one else¡¯s.¡± She was happy to still be on the ground because when he leaned in for a second time, Anala tasted honey and jam on his lips, making her throat constrict. All weight left her, and a surging thrill cascaded from her chest to between her thighs, fluctuating down to her toes to rise up to the tips of her hair as he drew out every last bit of air from inside her caged lungs, setting her free. Quakes ran through her bones as his hot lips left hers tingling, and Anala choked for air, feeling a rush of sweet relief that soon left her face bright pink. She dislodged her hands from Drake¡¯s, coughing as her tears redoubled, and she hid her lap, hiccuping a little. ¡°Anala?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll be right back!¡± she cried, not feeling an ounce of pain as the wind whipped her into the sky and she rocketed up as fast as possible¡ªher destination, her room at Drake¡¯s freaking house. ¡°Why am I such a failure?!¡± she wept, dying at the embarrassment that struck every fiber of her being. ¡°Why is my body so weird?! I hate it! I hate it! What did he do to me?!¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Elinor frowned as they came to a stop at the front of the mansion, Nungal giving her a small, secretive smile that was begging for her to bite. Turning away from her lilac eyes to glance at the princesses, Julian, and her father, waiting for their next move since the love-birds weren¡¯t back yet. ¡°We¡¯ve finished our tour, and it is an excellent dorm, if a bit tight for space, considering the students I expect us to have as the years progress, but I am sure Lilya can handle that. Hmm.¡± She felt her agitation rising with the teasing gleam in the goddess¡¯ cosmic stare. ¡°What were you congratulating Drake and Anala on?¡± Nungal held her hands behind her back and shifted her hips to bring their attention to the second landing, maintaining her mystique. ¡°I suspect our Lady and Lord will not be joining us. Princess Castria, could you return to your room and offer Anala your support? And Marquess Julian, might you fly off to the stadium arena to console Lord Drake?¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Heather¡¯s hands knotted at her front. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ going to be alone with Your Majesties?¡± ¡°Can she not join us?¡± Castria strained a smile, her focus swiftly darting to her for confirmation, causing Elinor to sigh. ¡°Empress?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure things blew up in a bad way. I suppose forcing it could have been the wrong play,¡± she mumbled, finding it somewhat annoying she couldn¡¯t decipher the goddess¡¯ enigmatic expression. ¡°Go on. It seems Anala and Drake will need some extra help.¡± Castria shot Heather a sorry smile before backing toward the stairs to pass a few lingering students on the second landing. ¡°We¡¯ll catch up as fast as we can!¡± Julian scratched his arm before waving at the stressed princess. ¡°Try not to have too much fun.¡± Heather tried not to fidget with her long red locks pulled around her front as she waved off her friends. ¡°Yeah, how scary can a shopping trip be with the Raven Empress and the mysterious goddess that can snap a kingdom away with the click of her heels be?¡± A stunning smile brightened Nungal¡¯s face as she took the princess by the arm and guided her outside, motioning to Elinor with anticipation. ¡°C¡¯mon, Elinor, your dutiful Alchemist should have the coins ready for us. By the way, I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be catching up any time soon! I¡¯m sure your network will inform you soon enough of the troubled waters our teens have entered.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Heather choked. ¡°Goddess, what does that mean?! I once fell off of a boat when I was little because of troubled waters.¡± Elinor followed them, her father keeping a close watch on the violet-haired, heavenly woman who had wasted his entire night. ¡°Not pertinent to the story. Can you take back your items with you to¡­ heaven?¡± ¡°Irkalla,¡± Nungal absently corrected, moving a nervous Heather into the sunlight before hopping back and looking her up and down with a critical eye. ¡°Hmm. Why don¡¯t we make a few minor adjustments?¡± Irkalla, she repeated in her mind, testing the name. It felt familiar, but nothing popped into her thoughts. Nungal¡¯s home is Irkalla¡­ That is such important information. I knew her in my previous life somehow. A lump formed in her throat as she studied the woman¡¯s careless enthusiasm while trying to put herself in Heather¡¯s place to spot things none of them could see. She knows Butter, but what is our connection?! Gah. I know you can read my mind, Nungal! This may be a fun game for you, and maybe it will be fun to look back on in the future, but right now, I am very frustrated. ¡°Oh, I am sure it will be,¡± the woman snickered, passing the message to her in the flash of a second. ¡°Maybe you should focus on what is in front of you, though.¡± Heather¡¯s mouth slackened as the goddess snapped her fingers, dying the princess¡¯ hair the same shade as her. ¡°You! How did¡ªmy hair¡­ is purple?! Empress!¡± ¡°Nungal,¡± Elinor sighed, rubbing between her eyes, ¡°can we not change the appearance of others without their permission? Can¡¯t you just make an illusion¡­ or an actual body double that fits your proportions?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the same,¡± the woman happily complained, circling Heather to examine her from every angle. ¡°I¡¯ll change it back in a second. It¡¯s hard to gauge how things will look in this dimension since it is so¡­ unrefined. Still, it¡¯s cute, like dressing up little dolls. Sometimes you just have to put it on someone native to the scene to see the proper results. Fashion is a universal harmony, after all! You were the one who taught me that.¡± She came to a halt, fixating on the words and impish smirk the goddess sent her way, knowing she¡¯d dislodged her thoughts. It also opened up an awkward moment between her and her father as his frosty blue eyes darted to her. ¡°How does she know you, Elinor? What did she mean by that?¡± Dad¡­ Elinor frowned as she saw Lilya sorting through a chest in front of her stagecoach. Short answer, you know how Butter and I knew each other in our previous life. Well, apparently, we also have something to do with this goddess before being born on Earth. She can obviously listen to our thoughts and conversations¡­ and basically knows the future. All we can do is entertain her. Nungal will get what Nungal wants. ¡°Indeed, I shall!¡± the woman chimed. ¡°I¡¯m also in communication with Tiffany, looking over her shoulder, so you don¡¯t need to worry about her silence. She is quite enthralled by my input. I can¡¯t wait for the big reveal, Elinor!¡± Don¡¯t be impatient, Elinor whispered, releasing the stress building in her chest as she glanced at her father, ignorant to the hag and his wife¡¯s possible revival. We will address everything at the end of the day, and you are satisfied. Nungal¡¯s cheer dampened slightly as she reversed all the changes she¡¯d done on the spinning-eyed princess, overwhelmed by the alien enthusiasm and mannerisms of the goddess, who she now saw as above her own father in power. ¡°Until I¡¯m satisfied? If only that were possible¡­ Anyway, let¡¯s get going before you hear the news from Castria.¡± Elinor shook her head and walked to Lilya, waiting by the chest for her to approach, and all of their City Guard escorts stood ready to leave. ¡°How does the treasury look?¡± ¡°Excellent, Empress,¡± the brown-haired woman chirped in a shockingly positive mood compared to her typical tempered self. ¡°Everything related to the Great House of Tarnash has been logged. It wasn¡¯t much beyond the coins, but there were several artifacts. I have two chests of ancient coins on the back, ready to be traded, and this one is of current currency. Trading the two chests will be more than enough for me to build up the House of Raven¡¯s trade empire.¡± ¡°That is what I like to hear,¡± she whispered, pulling out one of the coin pouches that held a certain number of coins inside. ¡°You¡¯ve sorted them into individual bags¡­ As efficient as ever, Grandmaster. I will leave you to return to your very busy schedule. Any meetings today?¡± ¡°Yes, in fact¡­ Queen Alivau will be by to see her daughter¡¯s accommodations before speaking to me privately this afternoon. It is sure to be a memorable one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure it will,¡± Elinor said, eyes following Nungal as she ushered the 17-year-old teen into the stagecoach like she was an introverted little sister. ¡°Have fun with that.¡± Let¡¯s go, Dad. The sooner we start, the more information I can start looking for. Nungal seems to have something to say since she went through all the trouble of coming here herself. Her dad rubbed his left shoulder as he joined her inside the carriage, the guards strapping the 3rd chest onto the back of the vehicle. ¡°If she can hear me, then I might as well ask. I¡¯d like to know about your relationship with my daughter, Nungal. Is there baggage that we need to be aware of from her previous life?¡± Sitting in her usual seat, Nungal settling in across from her, Elinor slid open the window to study the exterior. Dad, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to tell us that. At least, not until much later. Nungal crossed her legs and folded her hands across her thighs, a mischievous gleam in her galaxy-like eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure. I can¡¯t help myself since it has been such a long time since I¡¯ve been able to discuss things with you in this manner. Before that¡­ Castria might need some calming down.¡± Her confusion turned into alarm as Castria¡¯s emotional state spiked, yet it took a moment for the girl to respond. Her dad was the one to initiate contact. ¡°Castria, what is it?! Is there danger?¡± ¡°He kissed her! He kissed her! This is crazy! Anala is totally freaking out, and she¡ªoh, no¡­ No, no, no, no! It¡¯s worse than that! Poor Anala! Oh, no! Tell Heather that I definitely need to support Anala because this is like¡­ This is more insane than any of the adult novels my sister secretly read in Julian¡¯s family library!¡± Elinor took a second to realize this world had a totally different culture and understanding of deviant behavior than Earth. Shockingly, her dad was the one who seemed to be an expert on this stuff as he jumped into the conversation. ¡°He took her first kiss before she was married? Hmm. That is very concerning from a noble standpoint. It means¡­¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Castria screamed, unsure if she should be happy or mad as she ran through the scenario. ¡°He asked for her ring! Her ring! And she didn¡¯t have it on her! Nooo! That¡¯s sooo embarrassing for a noble girl, and that¡¯s not even the worst part¡ªit¡¯s so much worse¡ªI can¡¯t even say! He also kissed her again! Twice!¡± Starting to catch up to the cultural practices, Elinor saw a few more things that needed to be corrected this week before they left, such as getting Castria one of these rings. It would undoubtedly light a flame in the kingdom, knowing there was an available princess with her ring proudly shown off. So¡­ let me get this straight. He forced two kisses, which is something only done between betrothed or married couples, and then proposed to ¡®make up for his mistake.¡¯ Am I reading that correctly? she asked, suddenly realizing what the twinkling-eyed goddess meant by her ¡®congratulations.¡¯ Is she betrothed to anyone else? ¡°No, no! Empress, you¡¯re not keeping up! King Edmon! Can you explain it to her? I¡¯ve got to take care of Anala. She¡¯s a hiccuping mess, curled up under her bed. She doesn¡¯t know if she can go back and face him after¡­ the embarrassment¡ªlet¡¯s just say it was bad!¡± Her father crossed his arms, looking slightly troubled as he studied Nungal, now making small talk with Heather so she wouldn¡¯t feel like a 3rd wheel. ¡°Anala has a reputation amongst the younger nobility for being a¡­ bit of a brat. Not that she actually is. She¡¯s hyperactive, compulsive, and can act without thinking, as you noticed during her battle against you. That being said, I¡¯ve heard rumors regarding a particular click around Aura that has bullied her for over a decade¡­ A typical mean-girl behavior while acting nice to her face.¡± He gave a sigh that only a father could, taking Elinor¡¯s mind back to the many times she¡¯d seen him give her that same look but leave it to her mother to handle; her dad could get very protective over her¡ªhe did become undead without a second thought to be with her. ¡°Noble girls in this kingdom are of bride age at eight, but that marriage must be accepted by the girl and, in part, her family. Specifically, during the girl¡¯s First Winter¡¯s Dance of the Academy Waltz, they are officially recognized as husband and wife. The years before that come with many gifts and outings, but, at most, the pair hold hands. A kiss is something serious in this world.¡± Well, I guess things did take a turn¡­ Did she reject him? Her father grimaced and shook his head, catching Heather¡¯s nervous gaze, knowing they could communicate silently at this point. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. As far as Castria is willing to say, Anala did something so mortifying that she ran away, promising to be back¡­ but now she can¡¯t ever show her face to Drake again. It¡­ is an area your mother would typically cover.¡± It seems that way, Elinor whispered, a thought suddenly gripping her stomach and putting a smile on her lips as she saw the same look lift Nungal¡¯s eyes. Wait¡­ Nungal, you wouldn¡¯t happen to know where High Lady Tarkov is? She might not want to talk about this with her big sister, but a mother would definitely be a welcomed addition. The goddess winked at Heather and put a finger to her lips before turning to speak to her aloud for the princess¡¯ sake. ¡°High Lady Karia is currently trying to look like she is shopping while hoping to run into you. She is quite interested in seeing what you think about her daughters and the gift she offered you. I would consider the record store¡ªa noble hot spot.¡± She looked at Heather, and the redhead swiftly nodded, using her elemental powers. ¡°Umm. Oh, right! I¡¯ll make a connection between you and the driver¡­ Mmgm. My body is still feeling the pain after the arena match¡ªthere, it¡¯s open.¡± ¡°Change of plans. We¡¯re going to the record store to meet with High Lady Karia. A girl needs her mother¡­ and I¡¯m sure High Lord Yeven will be making a stop soon, in any case.¡± Her father shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Are you¡­ sure that is a good idea, Elinor? It may seem a little extreme to us, but this world would see that kiss as something pretty damning, especially from a mother, who takes on the primary role of teacher and protector for their children in the social scene.¡± Elinor¡¯s smile grew. Dad, of this, I¡¯m sure. If there were any girl Drake could have done that to, it would be a Tarkov girl, because they don¡¯t conform to the typical social etiquette. Can you think how that will look from her mom¡¯s point of view? I don¡¯t think this is anything new to their parents; everyone saw how attentive Drake was to protect Anala against me. She turned her gaze back to the street, looking up at the cloudless sky as birds flew between building tops. Anala may not feel like she has the power in this relationship right now, but she has Drake wrapped around her fingers. Someone¡¯s made her feel beautiful for the first time, and after his performance, everyone can see that there is only one firecracker in his eye. Neither of them can escape each other. Nungal giggled, nudging Heather and making her jump. ¡°I feel bad that you¡¯ve been left out. Drake kissed Anala!¡± ¡°What?!¡± the redhead shrieked, shooting up and smacking her head against the ceiling. ¡°Ach! H-He kissed her?! Drake?! He¡¯d never¡ªwait, the battle, when Aura, Anala, and he¡­ were tied up¡­ practically naked,¡± she squeaked. ¡°Mmmm!¡± Her face turned bright pink, steam practically shooting out of her ears. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about it! I just¡­ oh, wow¡ªwhat would that feel like?¡± Nungal scratched her nose and leaned closer, whispering, ¡°You know¡­ I can put you in a little daydream with, ahem, a certain someone, but¡­ would that make Castria jealous?¡± Elinor felt like she¡¯d been punched in the gut as Heather freaked out. ¡°No! No! No! I¡¯m just fine imagining it¡ªnot that I am! I, umm, no-ho-ho!¡± she cried, hiding her burning face in her hands and making the goddess double over with laughter, clearly enjoying herself. ¡°Please, stop teasing me, Goddess! Don¡¯t tell Julian how I feel!¡± Now, Elinor saw a future collision, with two princesses yanking the pour marquess on both sides, attempting to win him over to their side. She had another idea, though, and she sent a private communication to Lilya. ¡°Yes, Empress?¡± Do everything you can to poach Prince Drew and stick Castria in situations with the prince¡­ I need to find an out for her since she already has so much guilt about killing Julian¡¯s mother. We need to broaden her selection pool. ¡°Hmm. I will get further details from the others in the Royal Court, but I will attempt to fulfill your order to the best of my ability.¡± Only if it looks practical and not forced¡­ Her thoughts returned to her schooling days. I don¡¯t want a divide to grow between Heather and Castria¡­ and a boy can do that to girls. Best to nip this in the bud early. Now, I need to speak to a girl¡¯s mother. ¡°Things are already heating up, I hear. You know, I¡¯d kissed and done quite a few other things with forty-seven boys before the age of seventeen. I find the Kaspir Kingdom¡¯s culture quite¡­ conservative for their typical revealing apparel, but I try to respect other cultures. Have a lovely chat with the High Lady, Empress.¡± A little impressed at how experienced her Alchemist was, considering she was in her very early twenties when she died, she cut the connection. Social connections were good to make in kingdom building, and this was an excellent way to bridge two powerful Houses. Love finds a way. B3 — 18.5. The Evening Star Butter slipped on the light yellow sunglasses Nungal handed her with a smirk, their semi-transparent sheen glowing faintly under the immense golden light of the open space above them. Her smile didn¡¯t waver, but the scale of this ¡°palace¡±¡ªor whatever it was¡ªpressed on her senses, her pulse quickening beneath the radiance. ¡°So,¡± Butter drawled, sliding into her casual, yet ever-so-regal stance, ¡°is this what you call a palace?¡± Nungal gave a light chuckle, the odd sound of chains clinking resounding around them as she stretched out. ¡°Oh, sweetie,¡± she grinned, tossing her cosmic violet hair back, ¡°entire universes are smaller than this ¡®palace.¡¯ You¡¯re standing at the heart of something much, much grander. Let¡¯s do something about that outfit, too.¡± Butter¡¯s aquamarine eyes flickered to her with a tinge of amusement as her clothes changed to a pure gold robe. ¡°Oh, just a little humble abode, is it? Good to know. I was worried I¡¯d stumbled into some godly summer retreat.¡± Nungal¡¯s lips curled. ¡°I like to keep things¡­simple,¡± she said, voice dripping with playfulness. The beautiful goddess, or whatever she was, gestured for Butter to follow her along one of the white stone paths that materialized out of nowhere, crisscrossing the space. Their steps echoing softly as if in a grand hall, yet it was entirely open, the bright light in the sky reflecting off the surging, crystalline waters stretched out in every direction, making the area feel infinite. Butter kept pace, elbows clasped behind her back. The overwhelming Life Energy swirling around them left her void of thought, awe gripping her heart for what felt like the first time. It felt like¡­home, humming with power waiting to be held close and never let go, like dipping her toes in a stream she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d missed It was a far cry from the cold grip of Death Energy she¡¯d grown accustomed to, being tied to Priss. But there was a comfort in that, as well. ¡°I can¡¯t help but¡­fall in love with this place,¡± she finally whispered, spinning in a slow circle as they reached a flat pathway that rose into the air. Slow, spirally waves of water rose and fell in a restless rhythm, as if begging to be set free, only to be drawn back into the endless rivers and lakes that stretched into eternity. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll ask the question¡­¡± Butter flicked her liquid-gold hair back with a casual gesture, attention returning to the goddess¡¯ swaying frame, her sleek, comfortable robes weaving in the light breeze. ¡°Am I right to assume you brought me here for a reason. You dressed me up with stylish shades, given me a tour, and now we¡¯re talking about universes being smaller than this little paradise. What¡¯s the catch¡­ Nungal, was it? Feels¡­familiar,¡± she noted tapping her chin and narrowing her eyes. ¡°You know Priss and me, likely from our previous lives¡­ You make it sound like we¡¯re inside my sister¡¯s soul. Curious.¡± Nungal¡¯s laugh was light, musical, even. The woman paused, half turning and giving her a mischievous look that made Butter¡¯s fingers tighten against her elbows at her back. Butter¡¯s smirk lingered, tracing Nungal¡¯s every move as she trailed behind the violet-haired woman. Each step the goddess took had a fluidity that seemed to ripple through the air, unsettling yet alluring. There was the cold prickle of unease about her¡ªa tingling crawl, like a fingertip trailing down her spine. Something about this mysterious figure¡¯s very presence seemed to shrink the space around her, making even the vastness of Irkalla feel stifling, a breath she couldn¡¯t quite release. ¡°Life and death are not the edges of existence,¡± she whispered, her voice low and silky, ¡°but rather the bars of a cage¡­¡± Nungal suddenly halted, glancing back, her violet eyes glinting with a knowing edge that bordered on affectionate mockery. Her lips curved upward, faintly amused, as if Butter¡¯s scrutiny was the most predictable thing in the world. ¡°¡­One that mortals spend their lives straining against, while those of us beyond it can hardly see the difference between the two. Sometimes,¡± she continued, her gaze sharpening like a blade, ¡°it¡¯s eternity that feels the most confining. After all, there is no cage quite like one you cannot see, no prison more binding than infinity itself.¡± Butter opened her mouth to respond, but the words evaporated as the ground beneath her vanished. Her heart jolted as gravity seized her, and her lungs leaped into her throat with the abruptness of the fall¡ªnot into empty space, no¡­into something else. Nungal gave her a two-fingered salute from her lofty position, floating without a care in the world. ¡°Careful where you land¡­it¡¯s a bright, lonely place that rises to meet you.¡± She tumbled, body free-falling into an endless expanse between heaven and earth, her breath stolen by the rush of air and the creeping sensation of something unseen wrapping around her, pulling her ever deeper. Just as the ground had disappeared beneath her, water rose to meet her¡ªnot with the violent impact she anticipated but with a smooth, creeping ascent, as though it was dragging her upward. It enfolded her like a thousand silken fingers, gliding over her skin, pressing gently as though it wanted to crawl into her very being. The sensation felt simultaneously foreign and natural, as if the water knew her, as if it understood her better than she understood herself. Then, a cold snap. Chains lashed out, clamping around her ankles and jerking her downward with a force that made her gasp, life-giving water filling her lungs. The weight dragged her under, her limbs straining against the pull, but the more she fought, the tighter the grip became. Shadows churned below, yawning into a dark abyss that beckoned her like an endless, indifferent maw. She tried to push against the pressure, but the chains only dragged her deeper, smothering her defiance until life began to leave her eyes. In that moment, the world swirled, shadows rippling like ink in water, and then she fell again, this time breaking through a surface she couldn¡¯t see until she was sinking into it, tumbling into an oily blackness that seemed to absorb the very notion of light. The air was thick and tasted of salt and metal, clinging to her skin with a chill that seeped into her bones. Butter emerged, coughing and shivering, her feet finding steady ground beneath her, the slick surface of what felt like water beneath her feet. As she regained her balance, she took a tentative breath, her pulse calming¡ªbut only slightly. The faint, metallic clink of chains echoed through the shadows around her, a soft, ghostly cadence that seemed to mock her silence. And then, like the first crack of lightning, she heard the slow, deliberate click of heels: Nungal. Butter stilled, her senses prickling, each echoing footstep growing louder until Nungal materialized from the darkness, draped in a cosmic cloak, her eyes alight with that same omnipotent amusement that made her want to quake, but she refused, fire igniting in her again. ¡°Tell me, little conqueror,¡± Nungal murmured, her tone laced with a question far deeper than her words while sleeping back into the shadows. ¡°What does Elinor mean to you? She didn¡¯t speak at first, letting the silence draw taut as she examined her surroundings, yet the entity that observed her left an intent so intense it felt like a needle pricking her every cell. Butter¡¯s jaw clenched, maintaining her smirk while straightening her posture. ¡°You could have just asked me to dance instead of going down this roller coaster, but I had fun¡­ As for Priss, that¡¯s a hard question to answer but I get the feeling I¡¯ll get more out of this if I cooperate than resist. I love her, in my own unique way,¡± she said with a bright grin. ¡°We¡¯re the loving blades at each other¡¯s throats, destined to bicker and pull each other¡¯s hair until the end of time.¡± Nungal¡¯s face half materialized from the darkness, her lips curling into a teasing smile as she held up a blade to twist it around her palm in a slow motion. ¡°Always one to get to the point with flavor. I¡¯ve enjoyed that about you¡­ And what do you recall of Ashrit, the you before you?¡± Without warning, Nungal flicked her hand, and a dagger shot through the shadows toward her chest. Her body reacted on instinct, sidestepping with swift precision and reaching out, her fingers expertly closing around the blade¡¯s hilt before her mind even registered the movement. ¡°Well, that¡¯s interesting,¡± she mused, holding the black item up while watching the weapon convert to smoke and whisper away, Nungal slipping back into the darkness. ¡°What do I know about Ashrit? She was quite the¡­unsavory character. Nothing like me,¡± she sighed, tossing what was left of the dagger into the shadows. ¡°You think so?¡± Butter leaned back as a spear flew out from her left, her cheek barely escaping its edge. ¡°Memories are such mutable things, don¡¯t you think? Especially when one ascends to godhood. How can you be so sure those memories belong to you¡­or were corrupted during your last, daring attempt to defeat your sister in the womb?¡± Butter¡¯s heart beat faster, yet a strange calm settled over her. She took a slow breath, drawing herself to her full height. The goddess stepped out of the veil, fingers curling around chains that clinked in her fingers. Instead of a frown or glare, as her twin might do, Butter felt passion welling up in her chest as she put a hand on her hip. ¡°What difference does that make? Whether altered or not, it is still my current known truth. I¡¯m not that loser anymore. I¡¯m Butter¡ªand maybe a little more,¡± she stated with a positive grin. ¡°If Priss has a bit of me to brighten her up, and I got a little more¡­whatever she gave me, then I¡¯ll take that as a win because it feels like one.¡± Nungal¡¯s head tilted to the side, and for the first time, it looked like she had to reconsider something. Then, she chuckled, her frame shaking softly as the sound reverberated in the darkness like a ripple across a still pond. ¡°What¡­a charming way to view it and truly to your strength. Somehow, through the disaster this has been, the results are better than I could have hoped for. Yet,¡± her tone dripped with honeyed menace, vision narrowing with subtle delight, ¡°you will not be able to escape your past so easily, Lady of the Evening Star. A crack has formed and must be sealed.¡± Butter grinned as three more daggers flew out of the shadows from different angles, a spark of exhilaration igniting in her chest. With minimal movement, she evaded each one, stepping to the side as a spear dropped out of the sky to dip into the inky pool below her. Experience from her past lives seemed to be surging through her veins, filling her with an almost electric energy. ¡°You¡¯re such a tease! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see what you¡¯re doing. If you wanted to, you could impale me without the blink of an eye.¡± Butter puffed up her chest with a bright grin. ¡°I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re on Priss¡¯ side or mine, but I¡¯m not an enemy. At least not at this moment. You¡¯re preparing me for something. I just don¡¯t know why you¡¯d want to help. Care to illuminate me?¡± she asked with a bright grin.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Well done,¡± Nungal softly clapped, her tone laced with approval. She took a step forward, eyes narrowed, assessing. ¡°What do I hope to gain¡­ Well, that¡¯s something for you to find out. You know, Ashrit still asked me that same thing the last time we talked when she ascended to godhood¡­before Irkalla killed her. So why don¡¯t you return and test out that restored Seed within you?¡± Butter blinked as Nungal¡¯s fingertip lightly tapped her forehead, the goddess grinning with a sly twinkle in her cosmic gaze. ¡°Try to play nice with the Hare of Misfortune on the other side of the Crystal, but, hey¡ªgo ahead and have your fun,¡± she teased, her tone lilting in that condescendingly playful manner only a goddess could pull off. The next thing Butter knew, she was falling¡ªspace warping and twisting around her, bright light replaced by the cold void of transit between worlds. She didn¡¯t even have time to register the transition fully before her back hit something soft. With a grunt, Butter sat up, finding herself back on her side of the spiritual room inside their twin souls. The gentle hum of her life-giving energy radiated around her, the distant echo of her sister¡¯s presence ever close but so far away. With a weighted laugh, she squinted at the hazy glass-like barrier between them, separating her from where Elinor¡¯s soul should be. It was vacant to her, devoid of life as her sister¡¯s sense of humor. Leaning back in her chair, she stretched her arms out lazily, fingers interlaced behind her head, a smirk curling on her lips. Let¡¯s see if I can get some mood music going¡­ She tilted her head back, eyes half-lidded as she willed her surroundings to respond. Sure enough, soft, uplifting music began to filter through the space, a calming melody that contrasted the intensity of the encounter with Nungal. Butter allowed herself a small chuckle, her hand absently brushing against the jewel nestled between her bust. The power of the Supreme Chief still pulsed within it¡ªa warm, rhythmic beat that seemed to resonate with her own Life Force. Hmm, she thought, fingers tracing the smooth surface of the gem. That little chat with Nungal was more revealing than I expected. So, Priss and I have more of an audience than I first thought¡­ Someone leagues beyond the Scarlet Hand or Shade. Frown tilting her mouth slightly, her curiosity piqued while creating an image of the stunning purple-haired young woman. She feels so¡­familiar. Whoever she is, she can¡¯t be alone, and they know us intimately¡ªour actions, our lives. How long have they been watching, interfering?And why? Is it in our benefit or their own? No, the real question is¡­how does one kill a goddess? Her gaze drifted back to the illusion she summoned, pondering it for several seconds before shaking her head, unable to come up with a definitive answer. A problem for the future, when needed. Actually¡­ Butter sat a little straighter, creating an image of her twin next, sitting there with her signature scowl plastered across her face. That little scamp! She tells me that Priss killed me, but not only that, but when I became a goddess? She couldn¡¯t help but giggle, waving a dismissive hand while considering the absurd experience she¡¯d just had. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t give me that look, Priss. What was I supposed to do? Punch her in the face? Please.¡± Tilting her head, her tone shifting to a more serious tone. ¡°I bet you¡¯ll have your own little visitation soon enough, Sister. Let¡¯s see how you handle our little divine stalker.¡± The illusion didn¡¯t respond, but Butter could practically hear her sister¡¯s irritated sigh in her head. Butter leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, her mood fading into something more thoughtful. ¡°Nungal seemed¡­invested. That¡¯s a good word for it. Like she¡¯s expecting something big from us, and, obviously, her improving my reflexes, among other things, no doubt, is for this Crystal event. ¡°Hmm. Whatever it is, it¡¯s not just about us, dear sis. I¡¯m sure of that. This goes deeper¡ªbeyond our petty squabbles or even the Scarlet Hand. There is a bigger game being played on that higher level. Not that we will see what that looks like anytime soon.¡± She tilted her head to the side as the room changed to a vision of the Valley of Life and Death, the Crystal hovering in the sky. ¡°And that gateway¡­ A Hare of Misfortune, she says? Interesting¡­¡± She trailed off, her mind racing with possibilities. With a shake of her head, she dismissed the illusion of her twin, her expression brightening once again as she pushed aside the heavy thoughts. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find a way to turn it to my advantage once the fog begins to lift and the future becomes present,¡± she whispered, her grin returning. ¡°And if I get into trouble¡­ Well, that¡¯s what big sisters are for, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m such a terrible little sister!¡± Butter relaxed back into her chair, her gaze lingering on the darkened barrier between her and Elinor. Whatever was coming, she was ready to adapt. After all, life was so much more fun when it kept you on your toes. And if anyone could handle whatever cosmic games were in play, it was her. For now, though¡­she had a conquest to perform. A status window popped up on desire, a low hum rumbling in her throat as she scanned through the Feats she¡¯d been granted and had been automatically assigned to her, no doubt influenced by Nungal herself. What a naughty goddess you are¡­ she snickered, her vision fixating on the Achievement Feat that most stood out to her. [Conquest¡¯s Domain: Domination]. You know me too well, mysterious lady in the sky. I hope to get better acquainted in time¡­ We can have so much fun together! Swiping it away, she stood, exiting her internal world, aquamarine eyes flashing with the spirit of conquest burning within her. Butter emerged with a deep breath, enjoying the stale air that filled her lungs as her feet touched the stone floor of the chamber. Irida jumped to her feet, a nervous note in her voice. ¡°High Queen¡­¡± The Head of the Life Cult glanced up, eyes wide with a mixture of relief and awe, as if sensing the change in the air around her after regaining a body of her own. ¡°What are we to do about the Orb of Seg¡¯tharis?¡± Butter¡¯s posture straightened, her golden hair shimmering as she clasped her hands behind her back, the jewel nestled against her chest pulsing in sync with her own heartbeat. Her head tilted toward the repentant woman, a soft smile playing on her lips. ¡°Let¡¯s save the formalities for later, dear,¡± Butter said, her tone light but commanding. She felt the Eye of Utelira resonate with newfound strength, an almost magnetic pull as her connection to it deepened. No¡­not with it, but with the aspect of Life Force itself after whatever Nungal had done. ¡°We¡¯ve got a mess to clean up.¡± Without another word, she ascended the steps, her footfalls echoing through the chamber as she moved toward the courtyard. The air grew heavier with each step, the faint hum of Death Energy swirling overhead. She could feel it¡ªthe tension in the air, the battle raging just beyond the doors that Mika and White were engaged in. Beyond the walls, Mika was locked in combat with hordes of undead, rising to attack anything that moved indiscriminately, attempting to drag them into the underworld. The toad woman¡¯s blade cut through bone and rotten flesh alike, Butter sensing her precise, brutal efficiency. White was even more magnificent, performing the act that Butter had resonated to, and for a reason. The Horseman of Conquest fit her personality like a glove, and she¡¯d join her soon enough as she turned the undead against one another. Butter calmly assessed the situation, getting updates from the three women she¡¯d brought. Snow and Adoncia were busy facing the faction that had followed Lokar¡¯s claim for leadership. They¡¯d bought her enough time to regain a body, and she had to reward them for it. But that would come later. Now was a time of action. As she emerged into the open courtyard, the scene before her was chaotic. Snow was still locked in fierce combat with Lokar himself, her white hair matted with sweat, a few cuts on her arms and legs, her dress torn in places, but still fighting fiercely. Frost crept up the stones around them as her ice magic coated the ground in patches, and, perhaps greater, she¡¯d unlocked the ability to purify Death Energy. I¡¯m like a proud parent! Butter sniffed, her smile never wavering as she gauged her strengthening soul, battling the waves of death that assaulted her soul. It seems my touch and support has unlocked some rather potent abilities in our little snowflake¡­ Time freezes¡­momentary phases where she steps between dimensional lines, becoming intangible and passes through time waves. And is it just me, or has she grown even prettier? I knew there was potential in her. Just a little more¡­and we can shatter that Seed in her to unlock something greater to be sucked in by that Greater one she stole. And let¡¯s not forget my Blue Eyes¡­ Adoncia was a blur of movement, engaging several Death Raiders at once, her savage brutality mixed with graceful, fluid motions. She was dancing between their attacks in a conflict of competing styles, trying to remain dignified while expressing the frustration she¡¯d harbored toward her parents for most her life that had brought out this oni within the young woman. Unbothered by their auras of Death Energy that surrounded them, her maid was a terror for the warriors to handle. Then, there were the real threats. Butter¡¯s gaze shifted to the walls, where two of the Fingers of Seg¡¯tharis stood, defectors, their expressions tense as they watched the battle unfold. Above the fortress, a vortex of Death Energy spiraled, casting a dark shadow over the battlefield. However, the Orb of Seg¡¯tharis was nowhere to be seen. It seems the two other Fingers escaped with it, fracturing away from this group. Who else would they run to¡­but Shade? Well played, you underground hermit crab, snapping your claws and getting little snails to dance. Nergath was waiting at the front doors for her, his eyes hard as he glanced between the fighters and the roiling sky. Beside him stood the First and Second Fingers, their bony, ghastly faces split with amused grins as they watched her approach with a mix of wariness and something else¡ªsomething like hope. Butter tightened her grip behind her back, walking with the regal grace of a queen reclaiming her throne. The First and Second of the Right lifted their sunken eyes to the skies, blind but capable of seeing through the aspect of Death that hung around all things, awaiting their time for destruction. ¡°The High Queen returns.¡± The First Finger snickered, pointing at the dark heavens. ¡°And the power of Seg¡¯tharis shall imbue his chosen with the shroud of decay. Observe, the greatest honor bestowed by His Unholy Arm.¡± ¡°Fools¡­¡± All eyes flew to the heavens as a voice whispered from above, caressing every ear from beyond the vortex as if a shadow dug its way into their minds. ¡°You think yourselves triumphant? The end¡­is upon you.¡± The ground quaked and the sky parted to show a floating Skydarter, emerald lightning sparking across the heavens. Atop the undead dragonfly stood the Third Finger of the Right, a shimmering emerald orb sparking to life as if a miniature sun in his hands. ¡°The living will perish and fade, it is only a matter of time¡­ The skies turn red with the blood of the fallen!¡± he howled, the vortex above intensifying into a brilliant crimson as the ground beneath the fortress began to tremble. ¡°The Army of the Damned hears my voice!¡± Snow staggered back, her hand clutching at her chest, her eyes wide with alarm as the angel of death descended. Adoncia readied herself to strike, her eyes locked on the twisted, ghostly figure that materialized out of the bloody fog, but Butter raised a hand, her voice cutting through the chaos. ¡°Don¡¯t be so sure¡­¡± White, Mika, stand down. Return to me. Adoncia, grab Snow and bring her into the keep. You¡¯ve done enough.¡± Adoncia didn¡¯t hesitate, using the distraction of the shocking figure descending upon them to dart for the trembling, aging Fable to bring her into the fortress. Butter stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the bloody figure of otherworldly death, a creature from a higher sphere, no doubt¡­nothing compared to Nungal. The Eye of Utelira flared to life, golden light spilling from her form as she smiled and strode out to meet it. A brilliant radiance enveloped her, the very air around her seeming to hum with divine power. The ri¡¯bot¡¯s eyes widened, and one by one, they began to drop to their knees, unable to withstand the sheer force of her presence. Snow gasped as they passed her, life surging back inside her crippling figure. She pressed a hand to her chest, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. ¡°What¡­what is this feeling?¡± Adoncia chuckled and whispered, ¡°The High Monarch of the Evening Star.¡± Butter summoned her fan and raised it high into the air, and as if responding to her command, golden clouds gathered above them, creating a barrier between the shrieking figure. Her voice rang out, clear and strong, as she addressed the entity forced into their dimensional sphere. ¡°Come, fiend. I will prove my right to rule here and now. I am the Radiant Eminence¡­ I am, The Evening Star. Show me your smile!¡± B3 — 19. Former Life Revealed Elinor drew inside herself, closing her eyes to her internal world as Heather occupied Nungal. Her father spoke with Lilya about her opinion on the current situation. He¡¯d let her know when they reached their destination. Sitting on her comfortable throne, facing the blue-flamed hearth of her mansion, she let her troubled emotions simmer in her private world. Her typical music hummed in the background, improving her mood. However, it wasn¡¯t so private anymore since not a few minutes into her reverie, the smiling, violet-haired goddess spontaneously appeared beside her, situated on her own extravagant chair. ¡°Soul for your thoughts?¡± she brightly asked, looking toward the window as the pattering rain increased with the dull rumble of thunder. ¡°I love the aesthetic you¡¯re going for. It¡¯s so¡­ you.¡± She didn¡¯t immediately respond, emerald eyes drifting to her sister¡¯s darkened side of the room; her connection to Butter felt so distant. There were a lot of things on her mind that she¡¯d come to learn inside this Legend Quest, and Nungal had all the answers. Hidden behind the goddess¡¯ cosmic irises and playful mannerisms was a pit viper, and she could feel it like a snake¡¯s kiss on the nape of her neck, waiting to bite. Fingers folding over her crossed legs, Elinor¡¯s cautious gaze fell on the mysterious woman infiltrating her soul, despite everything Tiffany had done to stop Shade from doing the same thing. Nungal was on a whole different level than anything she¡¯d met until now, and the most troublesome part was that this wasn¡¯t their first meeting. ¡°¡­You didn¡¯t come here only for a shopping trip. Butter and I knew you in our previous life. I don¡¯t suppose you will tell me whose side were you on?¡± The young woman¡¯s cheerful face became secretive as ages of wisdom and knowledge creased her dazzling eyes. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you neither? If we invite your father and Tiffany to join us, then I don¡¯t mind giving you a little teaser into your previous life. It would be good to understand the conflation that is happening within your soul that has caused such a dramatic divergence from the child they knew.¡± Elinor¡¯s fingers tightened against each other, her heart picking up its pace as Nungal studied her in ways she couldn¡¯t comprehend. ¡°And you¡¯ll tell me all of this for free? I don¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Did I say it was free?¡± Nungal slyly challenged, lifting her slim fingers to snap them and direct her attention to two more chairs that materialized beside the fireplace. ¡°I stated stipulations, did I not?¡± Not looking away, she tried to relax, but it wasn¡¯t easy to deal with someone who could see the future and knew more about her than she knew herself. ¡°I have no reason to believe you are lying to me, nor do I believe it would do me any good to discount anything you say thus far. I will accept whatever it is you wish to enlighten me on. Although, I would appreciate the answer as to why you chose me and this time to intervene in this manner.¡± ¡°Wonderful¡­ Tiffany, Edmon, you are welcomed to join, and I will inform Your Empress when we have arrived. You needn¡¯t worry about Heather; I am entertaining her, hehe, or she is entertaining me with her cute and awkward responses. She has no idea how to act around people she believes she doesn¡¯t outrank.¡± ¡°A product of her environment, no doubt,¡± Tiffany sighed, materializing in her orange-themed throne as Edmon took the blue chair beside her. ¡°Empress, I must express that Nungal has been an absolute treat!¡± Her father¡¯s gruff voice broke into the bright atmosphere. ¡°Can we skip the pleasantries? Why are we here, Nungal? It feels like you¡¯re abusing your power as a goddess to play with mortal lives. Grace¡¯s people worshiped you, yet they are all but extinct now. That is not a comforting track record for the only people who worship you on this planet to be genocided.¡± ¡°Such harsh words,¡± Nungal pouted, leaning her cheek against her fist and tilting her head to study her tall, Venezuelan father. ¡°It may be useful information to learn that most of the Quiltra were slaughtered by the Jesena Kingdom, but there are scattered pockets that survived¡ªadmittedly, mostly female¡ªand many of which are enslaved.¡± Her galaxy-like eyes shifted to the fireplace. ¡°If Grace were to go on the path of vengeance, then he certainly would have caused quite some damage with my support, but it would have been fruitless in the end¡­ No, I told him to wait and look at who raised precisely the woman who could do what he could not with his swords.¡± Elinor¡¯s arms prickled. ¡°Lilya¡­ You want Lilya to find and purchase the rest of the Quiltra survivors from across the various kingdoms that have them as slaves? I thought they were a willful race that refused slavery.¡± ¡°Most of them, yes,¡± Nungal confirmed, ¡°but the younger generation, such as Grace, were more adaptable than their parents. I have told them in their dreams that there would be a time when freedom would come at the hands of a Trade Queen from the east, who would free them to join their new chief.¡± Tiffany giggled. ¡°Grace! The chief you¡¯ve been raising up for this very purpose. What is your expertise on¡­ crossbreeding?¡± she carefully said, rubbing her chin. ¡°Is it possible for humans and Quiltra to intermingle? How much of their unique physical traits would carry over?¡± The goddess¡¯ lips curled. ¡°Quiltra spirits and blood are stronger than human; either sex would produce near-perfect offspring with¡­ minor physical changes, be that eye color or size. They are by no means monogamous. However, there are certain customs revolving around allowing a new woman into the family that the current wives must accept. That is all that needs to be said about that subject. I¡¯ll let you instruct Lilya on that quest, Edmon.¡± Her focus moved back to Elinor, and she lifted her free hand to create an image of what she must have looked like in her previous life. Elinor sat straighter as she studied the white-haired, elf-like woman who materialized. Gold-eyed and with midnight blue skin, Elinor had one name that came to her mind from a game some of her friends played. ¡°I¡­ was a dark elf?¡± ¡°Night elf,¡± Nungal corrected, rising to her feet to circle the image as she absently waved her hand to move their chairs back a little. ¡°But close enough. Allow me to introduce Irkalla¡ªmy touch, of course, after our first interaction. After all, it was you who always sought me out,¡± she whispered, hands held behind her back as she stopped in front of the woman to stare into her dangerous, gleaming eyes. ¡°You¡¯re so pretty!¡± Tiffany chimed, jumping up to take a closer look at the tight cloth and leather outfit she wore. ¡°I see you favored the spear in this life, as well, since you tend to like pole-based weapons from what I¡¯ve seen so far. This hair is ridiculously thick, as well! I can see why you¡¯d always wear it in braids.¡± ¡°Our first meeting in this particular life was not when you were so noble looking as this picture of power and dominance you see here¡­ A conqueror of billions with hundreds of millions dead at your feet, including your own sister, which is¡­ quite the tale. You were not a world destroyer when I first met Irkalla and gave her that name. ¡°No, you were but a ragged, malnourished child of five, who had killed her ¡®perceived¡¯ mother in her attempts to pawn her off to the sex trade while her royal twin sister lived in luxury, high above in the Forbidden City, only accessible to the nobility.¡± Nungal spun the scene to contrast Butter and her upbringing, from their birth to their fifth birthday in their previous world. Their mother was an alluring night elf captive from the devastated underworld kingdom, and their father, the emperor of the powerful dawn elf empire that had crushed them. Her sister was born golden-haired and bronze-skinned, and she, the ugly bluish tone of her mother¡¯s heritage. ¡°So glorious was your dear little sister that she was put in line with the legitimate children, and she killed every one of her older siblings to obtain the throne. Meanwhile, you were smuggled out by a disgraced lady to the empress, attempting to use you as insurance and the scandal that it could bring¡­ which didn¡¯t last long due to her reputation.¡± She swept the tale away, moving upward to her fifth birthday, where her foster mother abused and used her to steal and collect clients for her room since she¡¯d sold her body in the Moonlit District, where the night elves were shunned. Nungal chuckled, focus shifting to her father as he looked at the scene with disgust. ¡°Naturally, being a dawn elf in a predominantly night elf industry was humiliating for your mother, and she took every opportunity to take it out on you. It is here that you learned the brutality of the world¡ªit is where you learned about me, the goddess worshiped by both night and dawn elves alike¡­ And you hated me.¡± Snapping her fingers, the environment turned to smoke, replaced by her cold face, which looked strange on a child. She sat next to the lady who had raised her, a bloody spoon in her jugular, filed down to a knife with three other men in the room. ¡°Oh, my!¡± Tiffany whispered, stepping back to examine her handiwork. ¡°A tad crude on some of the vital points¡­ but for a five-year-old to kill three grown men and a woman? How?¡± Her father refused to rise, tight-lipped and goosebumps running down his arms as he tried to cope with learning about her previous life. This was an entirely new version of her, and without a doubt, when this Greater Seed entered her body, she¡¯d awakened pieces of it within her soul. Elinor could feel it in her chest; this was no false recount. In fact, it was painfully accurate. Nungal¡¯s smile grew as she knelt down beside Elinor¡¯s 5-year-old previous life, finger pulling back her messy white locks to show her red nose and teary eyes, not yet the golden hue she¡¯d seen in her future self. ¡°Irkalla didn¡¯t have a name at this point. Typically, night elves obtain their name as a part of a sacred right after they gain maturity¡­ and their changed eye color tells a lot about their genes once they mature. She didn¡¯t trust her mother at this point, and had heard the talk about her being a liar regarding her origins¡­ ¡°Irkalla wasn¡¯t crying due to murdering four adults¡­ No, she¡¯d watched the adults around her very closely. She¡¯d witnessed murders as a way to obtain what you wanted since she could see and think. No, she was methodical¡­ cold, not numb. ¡°Knowing what her mother was encouraging to be done to her, she played along, hiding in the room with her hidden weapon. Only by surprise would she win this conflict, and she planned it well, having studied the craft of murder from the adults who abused her. ¡°How to fashion makeshift weapons, poisons, and all manner of murder by this tender age; death was all she knew, drawing her closer and closer to me. It was practically in tandem with the lessons of walking or talking to you, Elinor. You would not cry over murder. You¡¯ve felt that same pulse in your chest when you first took those lives in that abandoned jungle home.¡± Elinor leaned against her fist, diverting her gaze from her father, as she watched herself hiccup and shake amidst the carnage. At this point, she hadn¡¯t eaten in over two weeks. ¡°No,¡± Nungal continued, ¡°Irkalla was crying because she knew that after this, she wouldn¡¯t have a roof over her head, no one to talk to, and she would only be hunted like a dog for its meat. A child with her skillset was valuable to some and a threat to most. This would be the last time she cried¡­ until her final moments on this planet.¡± Vanishing to appear in her chair again, Nungal gave her a teasing smirk. ¡°And that is when she called upon my name to tell me that she would not ask for one thing from me. No, she would become the steel that shattered all that came for her, and she would do it by her own power. Now¡­ that is someone worth keeping an eye on, no?¡± Her dad¡¯s voice was low as he looked between the blood-soaked child and her. ¡°So¡­ that Greater Seed you told me about is causing your previous lives to bleed into each other? There were more besides this one?¡± Nungal¡¯s frame shook as the tension grew, her intense lilac eyes burning into Elinor¡¯s with her flashing, perfect teeth. ¡°Oh, many, many more¡­ locked in conflict with your golden little sister through time. This is the first time that you have ever joined forces, which is very, very interesting, considering how capable you both are¡­ This is the first time you¡¯ve had a good childhood, Elinor. That, Edmon, is something to be proud of.¡± The pressure broke as her bright expression returned, and the scene vanished with the rattling of chains in the background as if pulling them away. ¡°How was that for a teaser? By the way, in this material plane, Irkalla was by far the most powerful you¡¯ve been¡­ killing gods and goddesses alike in your previous world. Well,¡± she tilted her head as if almost an afterthought, ¡°your sister did rise to the level of a goddess, so that goes without saying.¡± Tiffany clapped, the Witch Queen bouncing with joy. ¡°I knew The Empress was something special! We are so blessed. Edmon, you must be honored to have such a legend as a daughter!¡± Her father worked around his jaw, not looking so awed at the revelation. ¡°I don¡¯t care about who my daughter was in the past. I only care about protecting who she is in the present and maintaining our family. I am worried about how you will see this, though, Elinor.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Elinor tapped her foot to the background strum of the orchestra, her mind on one particular detail that had been left out of this tale. Her sharp, jade-green eyes fixated on the cheery, lilac-haired woman, and her stomach twisted in a knot as the answer became all too clear. ¡°Has my sister ever killed me?¡± A wicked smile split the pretty girl¡¯s face as she slowly shook her head. ¡°Not once.¡± Tiffany and her father quickly understood her question, their eyes widening as they looked at the mysterious and intimidating goddess of chains. Elinor spoke her conclusion before they could voice it. ¡°You kill me in the end¡­ In every life, my end is by your hand.¡± Fingers folding in her lap, Nungal¡¯s cosmic eyes twinkled. ¡°I will say, just because you can kill a god does not mean you are invincible, sweetie. We are so very much alike that it might scare you if you knew the truth¡­ but there are levels so far above gods and deities that you cannot possibly fathom the top of that pyramid¡­ At least, not as you are now,¡± she teased, laughling playfully. The sound blending maliciousness and mirth. Elinor¡¯s throat went dry under the devious goddess¡¯ infinite-like stare, her eyes a gaping abyss that could suck in universes without end. And in the dense atmosphere that followed, Nungal unfolded her legs and smoothly got to her feet. ¡°Well, I think that is enough for now.¡± Lifting her fingers, lips twisting, the sharp snap of her fingers jolted Elinor out of her own inner world. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± She gave a start as knocking came from beside her head, and she blinked rapidly to adjust to the bright inner cabin, Nungal showing a devious smile from beside Heather, who looked far more comfortable now with the goddess. Lieutenant Cole cleared his throat. ¡°Empress, we¡¯ve arrived at our destination. It is nearing the time when the Magic Knights will be taking over the guard detail. I have sent word to them informing the platoon lieutenant of your location.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Elinor said, retaining her poise as she leveled a stare at the innocent-looking goddess; her father seemed somewhat shaken by the sudden shift, as well. ¡°Shall we?¡± ¡°Most definitely!¡± Nungal chimed, bumping hips with Heather. ¡°We have gotten to know each other quite well, Elinor. Did you know Heather can sing?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t¡­ she hear?¡± Heather asked, red eyebrows pulling together and cheeks coloring a bit. ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t think I¡¯m very good, but I try to practice with the Royal Choir when I can¡ªI know I¡¯m not that good. Aura is way better than me, and everyone knows how lovely her voice is.¡± The goddess snickered as the door opened and gave Elinor a wink while exiting with the redhead. ¡°Oh, you would be stunned to learn how absent-minded the Raven Empress can be when she gets inside her own head. Also, I¡¯m sure everyone heard how lovely Aura¡¯s voice was in the competition when tied up, practically naked, to our good Lord Drake.¡± Her comment got a few lifted-eyebrow looks and chuckles from the guards, no doubt recalling the very publicized and hologram-projected event. Heather¡¯s face turned scarlet, almost tripping to fall on her face had a guard not jumped forward to support her. ¡°G-Goddess, you can¡¯t say something l-like that!¡± ¡°Oh? I typically say whatever I want,¡± she chortled, covering her mouth as her chest shook with mirth. ¡°And I¡¯m sure her lovely screams were quite enjoyed by the masses. It isn¡¯t every day you get to hear a future High Lady scream like that, no?¡± ¡°High Lady¡­ No, no, Goddess,¡± Heather hurriedly tried to explain. ¡°Aura isn¡¯t the High Lady; her mother, High Lady Trisha, is the next in line for the title of Head of House.¡± Nungal put a finger to her chin, giving Elinor a thoughtful stare as she exited with her father. ¡°Is that right? I must be looking at the wrong year. Has she butchered her hair yet?¡± ¡°N-No?¡± ¡°Huh. Well, I suppose we still have some time then,¡± she giggled, purposefully confusing the redhead, no doubt for the fun of it. ¡°Shall we go inside this record store? There is one crystal record I think will make your mind pop, Heather! It has to do with what was going on in the background when recorded; they didn¡¯t even check it before pawning it off,¡± she winked, making the princess gulp at the lewd implication her devious smile gave off. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know if I should listen to it.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a Priss,¡± she said with a sideways smirk at Elinor, Butter¡¯s nickname for her making her chest tighten. ¡°You can¡¯t let your new sister-in-law get ahead of you!¡± ¡°My what?!¡± ¡°Too soon! Too soon!¡± the goddess sang, ushering the bewildered teen into the establishment, laughter abounding. ¡°So much fun and drama in the future! Betrayals, heartache, the cheating¡­ the murders! So much fun!¡± Her father¡¯s white knuckles were held at his back, slowly following beside her as they tailed the goddess. ¡°Is there anything that Greater Seed can do to give you an edge against this goddess? Because I don¡¯t see any way that I can protect you from her. It sounds like she¡¯s been pitting you against Butter for eternity, and when she¡¯s had her fun, she kills you.¡± Elinor shook her head, her mind a web of theory and drawn connections. Not necessarily¡­ She is making it seem that way without explicitly telling me anything to allow us to draw our own conclusions. At least I know now why I¡¯ve changed so much since becoming a Lich Empress. This conflict goes way before Mom and you, Dad¡­ but that doesn¡¯t change how I feel about our family. I will get Mom back¡­ for both of us. She felt the shiver that passed through her dad¡¯s frame as it traveled along the Nexus. Nungal was having fun, and maybe she was more friendly than an enemy, or maybe she was just that, a viper coiling around her neck, waiting to taste fear. She¡¯d brought one of her most devout followers into her empire to keep close proximity, and that was by design. Nungal had actually told her quite a lot about herself and something about their relationship. It said quite a bit that she¡¯d maneuvered an entire race, like the Quiltra, in order to bring them into her empire. She was who Shade aspired to be, and that was terrifying. Elinor slowed as Nungal paused at the open front doors, and it felt like chains locked around her heart as her cosmic eyes met her. The purple-haired woman gave her a smiling wave before entering with Heather and shattering the sensation. She¡¯d be choking if she had to breathe, which, luckily, she did not in this artificial body, and the hair on the back of her neck stood up as the System Notification prodded her brain. [Level Up - Level 21] [1 Stat Point Added; 1 Available] [Level Up - Level 22] [1 Stat Point Added; 2 Available] [1 Feat Extension Added; 1 Available] [1 Equipable Feat Choice Added; 1 Available] Nungal¡¯s words tickled her mind in the flash of a second, trapping the air in her lungs. ¡°Another free tip because I¡¯m feeling generous: Over the course of the week, you will be spontaneously gaining levels rather than all at once, which can cause stress on the soul. I¡¯ve worked it out with the Arbiter of this Legend Quest. No need to thank me; I am having plenty of fun as it is! I might even offer another tip if you play your cards right with our dear High Lady Karia. She¡¯s spotted you!¡± Elinor ingested all of that in the span of a blink, cursing at how disruptive Nungal was, and she was doing it on purpose. Still, she was gaining precious information from her playful jabs. She only just managed to regain her senses when the tall, motherly, redheaded matriarch of the Tarkov Family gracefully exited the shop with a smile. The woman hardly used makeup, yet was a picture of beauty for being in her very early forties. ¡°Empress! I was hoping to catch you around the Noble District today,¡± she honestly proclaimed, her voice buttery sweet and quite forward compared to the other nobility she¡¯d interacted with. ¡°I understand you went to the House of Ravens this morning. Can I get your opinion on a few things, if possible? Is something the matter?¡± ¡°No, and I appreciate your candid inquiry.¡± Elinor smiled and motioned for them to enter the shop together, the matriarch¡¯s many attendants carrying bags and waiting for instruction. ¡°I just had a surprise visit from a very old and respected friend, Goddess Nungal. She can keep me on my toes and can be quite¡­ vexing at times, but other than that, I am doing wonderfully. Princess Heather is distracting her. You wanted to speak about your daughters?¡± ¡°I did!¡± Karia chimed. ¡°Idalia may not look it, but she is the nervous type when given authority and can doubt herself. Luckily, having Alix as a buffer gives her some fire in her belly to shove her prowess in his face! They have a history,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Mmm. I am concerned about Anala, though. Her attitude last night was¡­ uncharacteristic, we could say.¡± Falling into lockstep with her as her father took up the rear, Elinor did a side-sweep of her appearance on their way inside. The woman plucked at her rather modest blue dress for the typical skin-showing nobility of this kingdom. ¡°I¡¯m sure she is a tad temperamental. In fact, I heard your interest in seeing me and made an effort to come here personally. I believe it might be best for you to go support Anala at this very moment.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The blue-eyed woman glanced down at her, nearly half a head taller. ¡°Anala is not one to feel uncomfortable in new places. It would be quite embarrassing and an overstep in boundaries for me to enter a House to check on my daughter. It would be seen as me not trusting you to handle their accommodations.¡± Elinor¡¯s mouth drew in as she pivoted toward the clerk, who appeared quite nervous about having such prominent figures inside his establishment, which was starting to draw a crowd of gossip from those outside and inside. ¡°Do you have a quill, ink, and paper that I can write with?¡± ¡°Uhh. Yes, Empress, uh¡­ right here!¡± Karia gave her a questioning look as she accepted the items and promptly took them into the private back room, the owner not daring to stop them. ¡°Everyone else wait outside,¡± she instructed, her father standing in the way to provide them privacy as Nungal gave them a half-smile from her corner with Heather. ¡°I will be speaking privately with High Lady Karia.¡± Entering the back, where a table and supplies for labeling were situated, she cleared off an area. Karia¡¯s cheer had fallen into a severe frown as she made an absent gesture that sent a gust of wind to sweep the blinds shut, and a snap of her finger instantly lit every candle in the room, showing how skilled and powerful a Tempest Duchess was. She dipped the quill into the ink and began writing in the language that had been given to her the moment she stepped through Roman¡¯s gateway: Anala needs you. It is serious. Elinor¡¯s gut cramped as wisps of alabaster flames rolled down Karia¡¯s thick locks, and the scent of burning fabric lifted up her nose; beside her was a colossal tigress who was easing out her claws. One wrong move and her instincts told her she would be vaporized into atoms. The heat skyrocketed in the room, and the candles rapidly melted into puddles of wax as she took the accepted quill. Her flames quenched slightly as she wrote: I am not one to handle threats well, if that is what this is, Empress. What plots do you have involving my children? This was the kind of woman who would burn the world for her children, and that realization made Einor hesitate for a second. Depending on how she viewed Drake, then this could actually start a war, and Nungal¡¯s promise of a reward lodged her tongue in her throat. Karia is the exact opposite of Alivau. Her children are her life, and she would go to bat against her husband for them. Buying time to calm her thumping undead heart by meeting the woman¡¯s hot gaze, Elinor held out her hand for the quill and wrote: If I wanted to threaten you, it would not be in this way. Your youngest daughter likes Drake. Anala feels like Drake spurned her when he chose the House of Tempest. He didn¡¯t. He hates his oldest brother. Anala leaves her ring at home. To prove his own feelings, Drake kissed Anala¡ªtwice¡ªand asked for her ring to take responsibility. Your daughter She didn¡¯t get the rest of the message out as the woman spun on her heels, blasted open the window¡ªsending glass everywhere¡ªand became a superheated streak that left a sonic boom shaking the establishment. Blinking, Elinor reformed her Artificial Body to fix the ringing in her ears and jitters running through her bones as she stared at the incinerated glass and blackened outline over the now totally open window that might as well be a hole in the wall. ¡°Elinor?!¡± I¡¯m fine, Dad. She turned to see the letter they¡¯d been writing on a pile of ashes that had been blown across the room. Fully mature Tempest are¡­ something else. Castria will be a terror when she comes into her potential on her thirtieth¡ª Her Monarch of Storms practically screamed in fright through the Nexus moments later, cutting her thoughts off. ¡°Aaaah! Empress, High Lady Karia j-just blew open our window?! She¡¯s practically naked¡ªshe¡¯s covered in white flames¡ªnow she¡¯s tackling Anala?! What should I do?!¡± Relax. Just be supportive and give her whatever she needs. She¡¯ll get everything sorted out discreetly. She¡¯s on her daughter¡¯s side. ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯m still freaking out here! I¡¯m not used to this kind of thing, Empress. Karia is terrifying¡ªI died fighting¡­ Yeah, I just don¡¯t do well with surprises like this. I almost had a panic attack!¡± Lilya¡¯s soothing, deep voice entered the conversation. ¡°I¡¯ll be there shortly, Castria. Just breathe with me. I¡¯ll handle things here, Empress.¡± Elinor left the whirlwind to her Monarch of Alchemy; no doubt the Tempest on guard around the castle would be calling all sorts of alarms after such a shocking display of raw power. Her thoughts were pulled back to Nungal as she giggled privately to her soul. ¡°I¡¯d give that a B-, Elinor. Still, a passing grade, so I suppose I should reward you with something.¡± Like? she asked, moving back toward the front, where people were still recovering from the sonic boom, wondering what had happened; her dad was calming things down. Why not something dealing with the outside rather than inside this world? ¡°I can accommodate that,¡± she mused, stopping in front of her with a vicious grin; a raddled Heather was hiding behind her. ¡°Butter will be getting her body just before you leave this world.¡± Elinor¡¯s fingers tightened against each other at her back. The Susime Clan took my corpse?! Nungal¡¯s devious cosmic eyes creased as she slowly shook her head. ¡°The Prume, and their warning to you was not what it seemed. In fact, it had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with Butter.¡± She blinked as the whole world turned black and white, the chatter and movement of the Tempest around them freezing; time had stopped, and Nungal made a gesture to the side as everything melted into a swirl of colors to be replaced by her Inner World. ¡°What¡­ are you doing, Nungal?¡± ¡°What I promised,¡± she chuckled. ¡°All you said was that the topic couldn¡¯t be this world. Hmm.¡± She did a slow circle as the music in the background she always had playing hit a crescendo. ¡°Do you realize that this ¡®Inner World¡¯ you so enjoy is actually called a Soul Expanse?¡± ¡°And¡­ what good does knowing what it is do for me?¡± Elinor challenged, turning to stare at the image of the hag the goddess created. Maybe it was actually Autumn, frozen in time for all she knew. ¡°Why are you showing me this now?¡± Nungal gave her an incredulous look, tilting her head to the side as if to say she should be quicker on the uptake than this. ¡°Because¡­ it relates to you reaching Level 25 by the end of the week. Or, more importantly, Butter will break you into that bracket after all the work you¡¯ve put in here¡­ and that Soul Expanse can be expanded.¡± ¡°Go on,¡± she whispered, but the goddess was already pointing her toward the hag. ¡°Why do you think our dangerous lady here can so easily break into your Nexus or grasp so many higher-dimensional phenomena? It is because she understands the importance of Soul Expansion; the ability to take one¡¯s Inner World¡ªyour inner soul¡ªand project it into reality, significantly increasing your ability to utilize your unique gifts within your Soul Domain Expansion.¡± Brushing her violet locks to the side, she giggled and swiped away the hag¡¯s image, time gradually picking up its normal tempo. ¡°Level 25, darling, is when your Inner Soul has reached the point of ¡®Soul Expansion.¡¯ Try not to fall behind your sweet sister¡­ She can be quite the war terror when she gets conquest on her mind. You might need to intervene. Now, let¡¯s go shopping!¡± B3 — 20. Nungals Gift Hours passed more rapidly than Elinor had anticipated as Nungal took them through the city in her shopping spree, spending quite a few coins in the process. Then again, Elinor doubted everything she did was at random; she knew precisely which places had the items she wanted and how to speak to each shop owner or employee. There was a method to Nungal¡¯s activities that she couldn¡¯t puzzle out; she needed more pieces to fit into place, and what she could map were the results of her actions. Her father had become totally self-absorbed after her previous life had been revealed. Nungal had specifically invited Tiffany and him to learn the truth alongside her for a reason. It wasn¡¯t hard to see that her dad was restructuring much of his understanding of the universe and their family dynamic. Knowing that she¡¯d lived an entirely different way of life before this as a night elf, and in a world so brutal, had to affect him. The worst was learning that a part of that life had been transplanted onto his baby girl. Obviously, there was a lot to consider regarding the many implications Nungal had revealed. The fact that the goddess herself was the cause for her end in so many lives was also a sobering thought to consider. How was he supposed to prevent either of his little girls from dying when they couldn¡¯t compete against Nungal as goddesses themselves? She could have been lying, but Elinor didn¡¯t think she was. It all fit together in her heart in a way she couldn¡¯t deny, like a great cosmic puzzle being twisted into place that she¡¯d known for what seemed to be an eternity. This devious and teasing Goddess of Chains had somehow bound her into this eternal conflict with her sister, or had it been the goddess? Answers were given, and more questions emerged. Contrary to her brooding father, Heather was swept into a bubbly whirlwind, turned every which way. The goddess ushered her between stores, draping new outfits or accessories over her arms to try on everywhere they went. Heather was having a good time; the redhead seemed to be enjoying how much attention she was getting from very influential figures. It probably stemmed from the girl¡¯s need to please her abusive mother, and finally, she was getting some form of recognition. It could also be the fact that the goddess was running circles around her, and seeing the empress who humiliated her treading lightly around someone was probably cathartic for the Tempest, especially with how attentive Nungal was. No, things were looking up for the princess after Elinor set up her friend group. And despite all Elinor¡¯s gains in this world and how much she¡¯d accomplished, Nungal made everything look small. The hag most definitely knew about Nungal or could sense something divine like her circling. At least Lilya, Castria, and Julian had the budding relationship between the rival Great House couple on lock. Apparently, Drake¡¯s father was now involved. High Lord Yeven and High Lady Karia were engaged in a private meeting, and the woman¡¯s daughters nervously waited outside for the results. It was a big deal to have stolen a noble girl¡¯s first kiss. Drake had yet to leave the stadium with Julian, which was probably for the best at this moment. One point of interest was Alix¡¯s unusual absence after sending word to his father about the haul regarding their buried treasure. He must have been shocked to have been ambushed by Karia the second the man arrived. Well, it would be of interest to Elinor had Nungal not thrown everything out of the window with the bombshell she¡¯d dropped on her. Nonetheless, her budding House was certainly causing quite a stir within the kingdom. Elinor couldn¡¯t focus on any of it, though. Despite her attempts to stay centered on Nungal and keep her word of the bargain to show her a good time, Elinor¡¯s mind wandered. It was challenging not to reflect on everything the Goddess of Chains had given her to chew on. Her own chain-based powers, for instance. As dusk began to set in, Elinor got out of the stagecoach and stepped onto the dusty streets of the Lower West Dock District. It was the poorest area within the city walls and also where most of the contraband was smuggled in, or so Black informed her. The Magic Knights guarding them were on high alert, and it wouldn¡¯t be long before a Paladin company relieved them. Hands held behind her back, her emerald eyes swept the nervous looks she received from the locals as they ducked into alleyways, inns, or bars. After her performance in the stadium, none of the Magic Knights suggested the area was too dangerous for her. If anything, they thought they were here to talk her down or stop any citizens from causing another incident, such as had happened with Heather. Most of the citizens mirrored that idea. Nungal drew attention with her unique appearance when she exited, though. Elinor hadn¡¯t seen a single person in the city with purple hair, and her formal attire was very out of style for the kingdom. Still, the simple fact that so many soldiers were with them showed how important they were. Heather was about to get out when the violet-haired woman shook her head and motioned for her to return inside. ¡°No need for you to join me here, Heather, and that goes the same for you, Edmon. Elinor and I will only be a moment before we retire back to your room. I have a little fun planned for you, Heather,¡± she added, making Elinor frown as she gave the pair a secretive smile. Her dad was oddly accepting, taking one last enigmatic look at her before returning to the vehicle to speak to Heather. Elinor could sense his true feelings through the Nexus; he was having a hard time figuring out which parts of her were still his daughter or Irkalla. It was understandable to her¡ªnatural, even¡ªbut it was still a depressing thought. Going along with Nungal¡¯s flow, she walked beside the cheery goddess, a somber song in her heart. Dad has suffered and lost so much already: our home, his life, Mom¡­ and I¡¯m not fully the daughter he knows and loves. I¡¯m not his innocent teenage little goth girl anymore, and that is painful for him. Still, he¡¯s grown to love Butter, and he knows his love will deepen for me now that he knows the truth¡­ It will just take time. A Magic Knight opened the door for them to enter, but it had already been swept and cleared before they stepped into the establishment. When they left the doorway, the man shut the entrance, leaving them in a momentary silence. Nungal¡¯s mysterious eyes wandered around the crowded interior. She spoke softly and moved around the untidy and dirty place. ¡°I hoped to spend more time with you, but you¡¯ve been too busy spending it on yourself. Not that I expected anything differently. It is just a little annoying to see how little you¡¯ve changed over your many lives¡­ No time for fun; it¡¯s all business. Depressing.¡± Elinor¡¯s frown deepened as she studied the messy environment, which was lined with junk. On their path, weaving through the mess, she spotted broken fishing nets, half-repaired statues, and torn paintings. It was nothing like the places they¡¯d visited thus far. ¡°When you hold all the cards, you have the leverage for fun. I am dealing with potential wars on all fronts, including the very faction I¡¯m trying to unite and save. Your very presence here, seeking one-on-one time with someone so small, like myself, tells me how bored you must be up on your throne of chains.¡± Nungal paused, a sigh close to her lips as she shook her head and ran a finger down a twelve-stringed instrument, half the twine broken. ¡°You can be so wrong sometimes and believe you are so right¡­ I am not bored, Elinor. I quite enjoy my life. It is just that you and Butter provide entertainment I cannot get any other way. It is enthralling, really, and I am looking forward to this ¡®sister bonding¡¯ time you two are sharing. I¡­ do have my concerns, but that can wait a little bit¡ªOlyssia, kind of you to wait for us to approach you!¡± Elinor¡¯s fingernails dug into her palms at her back as the goddess leaned against a counter and addressed the store operator; the shop owner was a short girl, no older than fifteen, and she did not know who she was, much less Nungal. The girl¡¯s shabby appearance and suspicious stare were on-guard while sitting on a raised stool across the lopsided counter. ¡°What can I do ya for, ladies? I don¡¯t get the uppity-types here often. I didn¡¯t steal anything! All of my stuff is tossed out by people¡ªfree pickings, ya hear! Wait¡­ where did someone like yourself hear my name?¡± Nungal chortled as she reached over the counter to slide one of the dirty, half-broken buttons the girl was polishing off the table. She expertly flipped it up, smoothly holding out her hand, and it landed perfectly on her palm. It was now a massive, shining golden coin. ¡°No need to get into the details; we are not here to cause you any trouble, Olyssia. In fact, we are here to make you an offer you can¡¯t refuse.¡± ¡°How did¡ªthat¡¯s a golden crown¡­ Who are you, ladies? I don¡¯t want to get mixed up in any shady business¡­ I keep my head down.¡± Pressure condensed around Elinor¡¯s chest as she stared at the golden coin Nungal had conjured, unsure where the goddess was going with this conversation. The woman placed it on the counter, hand gliding over it, and when it came into view, it was a fully polished half-button. ¡°Wha¡ªwhat trick are you using to do that?!¡± she gasped as the goddess continued her magic act. Nungal straightened as the girl picked up the button to examine it; she was dropping the girl¡¯s guard and drawing her in. ¡°You have an eye for valuable things, Olyssia. I know you have a hobby of walking the beach to pick up pretty shells and stones you find. I¡¯d like to purchase two items from your treasure box.¡± The fifteen-year-old went completely stiff, suspicious gaze rising to meet Nungal¡¯s. ¡°You¡­ have really pretty and scary eyes, noble lady. Umm. What will you do if¡­ if I refuse to sell them to you?¡± Elinor crossed her arms, wondering where this would lead them. ¡°You have yet to hear the price. What is the price, Nungal?¡± The goddess¡¯ smile brightened. ¡°You will be moving into the House of Ravens and as much gold as you can carry, Olyssia. You will be moving to the Noble District.¡± Olyssia¡¯s mouth dropped open, showing her dirty and damaged teeth for a girl so young. ¡°What? What is the House of Ravens? The Noble District?!¡± Elinor mirrored the girl, lifting an eyebrow at the cheery violet-haired young woman. ¡°Indeed, what? The age for House acceptance is 17, and she is clearly not at that age yet. What Class would she be studying to learn¡ªAlchemy?¡± ¡°No,¡± Nungal whispered, a knowing smile on her lips as she leaned forward to stare into Olyssia¡¯s intimidated eyes again. ¡°Olyssia will be your Spy Instructor in training, and who said she has to join the House of Ravens to live there? She can be granted special living quarters. It may take a few years, but given the right support, she will be everything you need. You know exactly who Empress Elinor is, so there is no need for the act, dear.¡± Olyssia¡¯s trembling fingers folded in her lap as she glanced between them. ¡°I¡­ just have a few friends, and we talk about a lot of stuff. Hehe. I¡¯m not a spy!¡± Elinor¡¯s lips curled while shooting an inquisitive glance Nungal¡¯s way; she was being shockingly helpful and disruptive at the same time. She might as well be the Goddess of Trolls. ¡°Well, not yet, you aren¡¯t. Queen Tiffany will have to do something about your appearance before we leave; we must keep a certain standard for reputation purposes, after all. A restorative ritual would¡ªor that¡­¡± Nungal gave her a smirk and snapped her fingers, instantly correcting the girl¡¯s teeth, hair, and other afflictions from living in the lower city. The fifteen-year-old¡¯s hands darted to her face as she worked around her jaw, no doubt feeling a tad uncomfortable at the abrupt change. ¡°Give it a few days, and it will feel normal to you; try not to bite your tongue. Now, you will bring the two pearls you found with you tomorrow. Pack only the essentials and give the guards your name; they will let you by. Congratulations!¡± Elinor hesitated for a moment before following the goddess as she flipped on her bootheels and walked out of the cramped shop, leaving the stupefied girl to process what had just happened. ¡°The last time you said ¡®congratulations,¡¯ a boy illegally kissed a girl. Am I supposed to draw any conclusions from that?¡± ¡°Perhaps in the future,¡± Nungal chortled, physically opening the door herself and lifting a hand to snap her fingers at the Magic Knight captain as they exited. ¡°Relay these instructions to the Gatekeepers and City Guard. We are returning to the House of Ravens¡­¡± Elinor almost lost her footing as the environment instantly changed, and they were suddenly in front of the giant mansion; several of the Magic Knights had to catch themselves. The stagecoach had been teleported with them, and once again, Elinor was reminded of just who Nungal was. ¡°Empress?!¡± Tiffany choked, Black and Ash mirroring the witch. ¡°You instantly changed locations?¡± ¡°Are you okay, Empress?¡± I¡¯m fine. Dad? ¡°I suppose Nungal teleported us¡­ I guess that means she¡¯s running short on time.¡± Nungal ignored their inner conversation, strolling around the recovering Magic Knights to open the door and usher Heather out. ¡°Welcome back home, sweetie! Thank you for being such a treat and trying so many clothes for me.¡± Heather didn¡¯t even seem to question how they¡¯d gotten back without moving as her red hair bounced at her back on her exit. ¡°Mhm! I had a lot of fun. Can we do it again sometime?¡± ¡°Unfortunately not,¡± the goddess sighed. ¡°I had to do a lot of shuffling to get this rare opportunity, and I doubt my older brother will let me be so brazen and forward when the distractions I left are done occupying him. Still, it was worth it!¡± she chimed, hugging the surprised princess. ¡°You will have a lovely life being friends with Castria. I hope you have the courage to take her side in the coming years.¡± Brother?! Elinor was blindsided by the new lore drop; she answered to someone or at least had to be careful around them. She really is the Goddess of Mischief, I swear! The redhead strained a laugh while breaking away and moving toward the manor entrance, where a butler awaited to open the doors. ¡°You¡¯re always so mysterious, Goddess. Castria has been good to me¡­ very good to me. Oh¡­¡± She paused before hurrying back to give a proper curtsy, cheeks rosy with slight embarrassment. ¡°Empress, I felt like my entire life was over after our first conflict¡­ but you have shown me nothing but kindness since, and I cannot express my gratitude enough. Thank you.¡± Elinor¡¯s neutral expression lifted into a small smile, spotting the Magic Knight¡¯s melting hearts by the looks on their faces. ¡°I reward those who are willing to make the needed changes in their life to warrant investment. You will be a powerful woman one day, Heather, but remember what it felt like to be betrayed by people you thought of as friends. Stand beside those who would stand beside you. Do not be blindsided by fair-weather friends.¡± A shiver ran down the Tempest¡¯s spine at her parting words. ¡°Fair-weather friends¡­ What a profound expression, Empress. Many of the nobles did speak ill of me after our fight, and I was thrown out of many groups I was the center of¡­ You have taught me so much in such a short time, Empress. Thank you,¡± she gracefully said, performing another curtsy. ¡°I hope to meet the expectations that are placed upon me and be a storm-weathered friend to Princess Castria.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Elinor nodded, internally chuckling at the word the girl had created on the spot. ¡°Alana has felt spurned by many noblegirl cliques and could use support. Loyalty is earned, so show it by your actions instead of biting words.¡± Heather nodded and hurried inside, a skip in her step as a few of the Magic Knights tailed after her with the many shopping bags. Shockingly, Nungal only had three bags worth of items that she¡¯d picked out for herself; everything else was left for Heather. Wrist clasped behind her back, Elinor stood beside the goddess. ¡°What is next on your agenda?¡± ¡°Me?¡± Nungal sighed and snapped her fingers, only transporting the three of them straight into her room at the inn, making Tiffany jump. ¡°I am nearing the end of my available time with you, so I suppose it is time to get to the meat of the discussion. Hello, Tiffany!¡± ¡°Nungal!¡± the orange-eyed witch chirped, waving at Edmon and her as they took their own seats around the extravagant sitting area. ¡°Empress, I think I¡¯m nearly done with all the support Nungal has given me.¡± ¡°Done doing what?¡± Edmon growled, rubbing his temple and looking somewhat agitated. ¡°Am I finally going to get an explanation as to what you¡¯ve been keeping from me?¡± Elinor closed her eyes and rested the side of her head against her knuckles, figuring Nungal was still keeping their conversations more secure than the Nexus itself. The goddess happily situated herself between them, folding her hands in her lap and waiting for things to settle down after the bomb Elinor was about to drop on her father. ¡°What we have been keeping from you is that the hag of the Everborne Marshlands met with me during the Entrance Ceremony. Do you want me to explain what happened and why I hid our meeting?¡± Her dad¡¯s tired voice was guarded. ¡°I can guess, but fill me in on the details anyway.¡± Not wasting any time, Elinor bluntly explained everything that transpired with the hag, which was why she no longer had the demon¡¯s corpse, leaving out the final bit for the end. Her father¡¯s narrowed, frosty irises maintained eye contact with her throughout the tale, rarely questioning the narrative until she concluded the story. ¡°So¡­ she¡¯s ultimately after a new sister and mostly wants Tiffany because Autumn can quickly turn her into what she requires to escape this dying universe¡­ I have a few questions that have been bugging me on that, Nungal. How can something on this planet save the entire universe?¡± ¡°Dad,¡± Elinor interrupted, her sober expression snatching his gaze again. ¡°I¡¯m not done.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Tiffany¡¯s fingers found her right elbow, rubbing it while averting her gaze from the man¡¯s vision and spiking his anxiety. ¡°What did the hag do after the meeting?¡± Elinor¡¯s white hair shifted against her shoulders as she shook her head. ¡°It isn¡¯t what the hag did, Dad¡­ it¡¯s what she can do. She can bring Mom back.¡± A chilling breeze seemed to pass through the still room, the dim light of the globes around them brightening slightly as night took the city. Elinor watched the goosebumps rising up her dad¡¯s arms, yet he retained his calm cadence as his full attention went to Nungal. ¡°I will not entertain bullshit claims. You know the answer and extent of what the hag can do, so give it to me straight. What does that mean? Will this Tiffany be erased? Will my Tiffany remember everything she¡¯s done? What are the conditions? Why won¡¯t you do it?¡± Elinor¡¯s chest tightened as her gaze flicked to the violet-haired goddess. These were good questions that she hadn¡¯t had the chance to ask the hag. Yet, how much would the goddess offer them? She still couldn¡¯t see the reason why she was helping so much, and that was the most troubling part. There was some ancient connection or relationship between them that went back multiple lifetimes, but what that was could be anything. The slight upward tilt of Nungal¡¯s lips filled the space with anxiety as the soft rumble of thunder came from the distance in the storm-prone kingdom. ¡°¡­There are many ways that your wife could return, Edmon,¡± the goddess eventually whispered. ¡°However, it isn¡¯t as simple as bringing back the dead. You are right to assume I could and won¡¯t supply that relief¡­ because of reasons you cannot grasp at this time, which, yes, does sound like a copout, Elinor,¡± she added before she could say the words, deepening Elinor¡¯s scowl. ¡°The question will be, how much are you willing to weigh the scales back in the hag¡¯s favor? I will say she is not the only one capable of facilitating this. After all, anything she can do¡­ Tiffany can eventually do, as well,¡± she stated, drawing all eyes to the petrified witch. ¡°I would suggest a middle ground, though.¡± Sitting back, Elinor folded her hands over her knotted belly, maintaining her dignified posture and tone. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Nungal gestured toward a clone of Tiffany that materialized between them. ¡°You will not and cannot bring your mother back entirely the way she was¡­ She will know everything that this side of herself knows the same way as this persona of Tiffany knew everything about her past life with the two of you.¡± Her serious gaze shifted to Edmon. ¡°Despite what you may think, Tiffany has not changed all that much. Yes, certain parts of thoughts and desires she buried deep within herself were made manifest, twisted even, but this is your wife¡ªthis is your mother, Elinor.¡± A shiver ran down Tiffany¡¯s frame instead of her father¡¯s. ¡°Wow! That, uh-heh, is very scary to voice aloud¡­ but I do see Elinor far more strongly as my owner than her mother.¡± Edmon sucked in his cheeks for a few seconds before running his hands down his face. ¡°Because¡­ that mother and daughter relationship was twisted into master and servant. Ugh. I can see many attributes in her that remind me of my Tiff, but she is not my wife¡ªnot the woman that I love.¡± A short chuckle shook Tiffany¡¯s chest as she hugged herself. ¡°That¡­ makes perfect sense. I¡¯m not. I mean, I kind of am¡ªaccording to a goddess¡ªbut perfectly fair¡­ perfectly reasonable So, umm, what are these¡­ methods to rid themselves of this corrupted, parasitic witch that has possessed their mother and wife?¡± Elinor sighed, feeling the weight of the conversation. It wasn¡¯t as if the witch didn¡¯t have any feelings; yes, her dad¡¯s blunt words hurt her. In a way, Tiffany still considered them husband and wife; they were just going through a rough patch and it was a little awkward with Tiffany¡¯s feelings about her master/servant relationship with Elinor, but it wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d lost her feelings for her father. She¡¯d tried to be respectful and give him time to come around, and now this came up¡ªElinor could sense it all through the Nexus. ¡°Tiffany,¡± she whispered, ¡°I do not want to erase you. I do need you. No, more than that, I rely on you and do enjoy your company. Perhaps even as an aunt figure, as weird as that may sound to my dad. So, I¡¯ll ask¡­¡± Elinor shifted to look straight at the goddess; information from her was scaling points not wasted on the hag¡¯s long-winded answer to further tip the deal in her favor. ¡°Cutting past the options I or my father would be opposed to, if you are being so helpful, what is the best solution?¡± Nungal pulled her knee up to rest her chin on it. ¡°Hmm. Here¡¯s the thing¡ªthere are more favorable options in the future, with powers far more suited for this surgery, yet with some¡­ discomfort, I suppose you could say, the hag could separate Tiffany and your mother¡¯s Intelligence and spirit. ¡°Essentially, think of it as one person is living in your personal Soul Expanse¡ªthe inner world you enter¡ªwhile the other controls the body. The issue comes from their shared soul; they are the same person. Eventually, Tiffany could discover a means to split their body, yet they would still share a soul. Thereby, what one feels, the other feels¡ªpain, joy¡­ pleasure,¡± she added with a short giggle that had her father shifting uncomfortably; Tiffany didn¡¯t seem all that bothered by the idea by her deviant smile. ¡°There will also be certain¡­ benefits and uncomfortable realizations that come with a shared soul between an undead¡­ and a living human body. I will not spoil the rest,¡± she said with a mysterious smirk. ¡°I will just say that drama of this type can be a fun dynamic to observe. That is your solution and the deal that Tiffany and I have discussed. Well, I don¡¯t want to steal your thunder. Go on!¡± Elinor felt half-whiplashed by the abrupt end to the critical topic as the goddess gave Tiffany the floor. ¡°Wait¡­ Why are you being this helpful to me, Nungal? What condition are you imposing on me? Because we both know the ugly truth that you will eventually kill me.¡± Nungal looked at her as if she were crazy, displaying a knowing confidence and a stare that made her feel stupid. It made Elinor realize how she might appear to others when frustrated; for a moment, it was like she was looking into a mirror. ¡°Elinor, you know I¡¯m not your enemy. Yes, I keep killing you. What is the big deal? Oh, right, you¡¯re too stupid right now to understand it because, well, heh, you¡¯re a teenager¡ªmostly teenager,¡± she corrected with a humorous tilt of her head as if contemplating something hilarious. ¡°So, let¡¯s just put that pointless question in the garbage and get to the point before I leave Grace¡¯s exhausted body in Tiffany¡¯s attentive care.¡± ¡°Eh?!¡± Tiffany¡¯s regained composure shattered like glass. ¡°Me? I get to clean and bathe and nurse Grace back to health? Oh. Oh!¡± She brushed her loose bangs behind her ears with a nervous laugh at the dull stares she got from Elinor and her father. ¡°Okay. Okay. Hehe. Umm, right, where were we¡­ Contract! Yes, the¡ª¡± ¡°And Tiffany,¡± Nungal¡¯s teasing voice somehow made the witch¡¯s face turn pink, ¡°try not to be too handsy with my dear follower. You must realize that he has a perfect eidetic memory, so every touch against his chest and every caress of his neck is burned into his soul. Just remember that,¡± she winked, making the witch¡¯s voice go hoarse as her mind fixated on the topic. ¡°Right, ahem, right¡­ of course! Umm, wow, so¡­ Contracts! By submitting herself to your rule, and as a prize for this Legend¡¯s Quest, Autumn will be able to leave this world with us; by signing this soul-binding contract¡ªsomething she and I will mutually enact¡ªshe will be granted some level of autonomy within our new planet. ¡°However, she is wholly restricted from plotting against the empress, the empire, or anyone within it. There are provisions for allied nations, but we can¡¯t fully restrict her. If her actions would cause moderate damage to our interests, then she must inform you, Empress, and work out a deal. Therefore, if she has the slightest impression that her actions could harm the empire, you, or our citizens, then she will meet with you.¡± Tiffany glanced up from the thick, rolled-up scroll that could probably unravel quite a ways. ¡°That is the general summary, but it goes into a lot of details and conditions. If we want her to accept it, I think this is the best we can ask for because she does have other options.¡± Elinor rubbed between her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s fair. Alright, that is in the open. Is this everything you wanted to do, Nungal? Because I think you¡¯ve saved something mysterious and aggravating for last¡­ I¡¯ve come to see that in your personality.¡± Nungal closed her eyes, lifting her lips with a fond smile as she rose to her feet and opened them to gaze upon her with that enigmatic stare she¡¯d mastered. ¡°I will cherish that compliment.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t a compliment,¡± Elinor grunted, standing and expecting to be teleported somewhere again. ¡°Hehe. I will cherish it, nonetheless. I will only take a moment more of your precious time¡­ Well, what fun you will have in the coming days instead of work!¡± Clearly doing it for the show since she¡¯d already demonstrated she didn¡¯t need action to influence the world, Nungal snapped her fingers, leaving a sharp crack in the air. Elinor blinked, and suddenly, her hair floated upward. Elinor¡¯s undead heart seized as she gazed upon a tiny planet, half enshadowed by darkness. Around her grew sparkling azure flowers, spread across a field of undisturbed, coral earth. She breathed, and a strange scent filled her lungs; it wasn¡¯t typical air, not that she needed it. We¡¯re on the moon¡­ One of the moons of this planet? she asked through the Nexus, only sensing the vague realization that her court was on the dazzling sphere across space. What are we doing here? There are flowers on the moon?! Nungal giggled, motioning for her to follow her as gravity increased, pulling them to the lunar surface. Her boots met the field of flowers, and she took her first step, remembering that the people of this planet came from another within their solar system. This moon had probably been populated at one point or still was. ¡°You can speak now,¡± the goddess absently said, pulling Elinor¡¯s eyes to blue flowers; an invisible force folded them down and created a road, leading up a hill for them to climb. ¡°I will be blunt with you. Do not pursue anything more in this world. You will only cause trouble later down the line for your people here. The foundation is set; let them grow. You must set your gaze on returning home to your citizens, who need you, but that isn¡¯t why I brought you here.¡± Elinor¡¯s excitement redoubled as the purple-haired woman created a shimmering spear of Death Energy and tossed it to her; it floated through the air until meeting her palm. There wasn¡¯t anything special about it, other than being perfectly balanced for her size. ¡°I lied to Tiffany and Edmon. You won¡¯t be back for a bit since I want a little more time to have some fun. Besides¡­ you need the training,¡± she said in a way that set Elinor¡¯s heart on fire in protest, but she knew she was outclassed in every way. ¡°I cut our shopping trip short for this. Before that¡­ there¡¯s one last thing to address.¡± ¡°Butter,¡± Elinor whispered, swinging the pole around her frame to test its weight and size; it was perfect. ¡°How am I supposed to reign her in from all the way in another dying multiverse? I can hardly feel her here, and I worry she might not make it back if her butterfly body were destroyed with the distance between us.¡± ¡°No. Not a worry to be concerned about; if there were a problem, her body would be destroyed, and she¡¯d return since this is her true soul center,¡± the goddess stated, turning to walk backward and pointing at her earring before flipping around again. ¡°Butter is going to meet with someone called Rachel, which will set into motion many things¡­ but it is the ally Butter has found and the enemy she will create, which will bring out the little dawn elf sister you knew.¡± Elinor smirked. ¡°You mean, the one I killed?¡± ¡°Yes, well, that may be true, but during this Crystal Battle Royale she¡¯s been forced to participate in, she will unlock a major step in both of your growths, but she will have an unfair advantage for a short time¡­ At Level 25, Greater Seed holders gain access to the Soul Expansion Feat, projecting their inner soul. Butter will have access to Divine Soul Expansion for a limited time, and you will have to face her in your shared room.¡± Nungal flipped around as they reached the top of the hill, where a strange, solitary arena had been built, showing signs of past battles and stained with dried, green liquid. ¡°You either must kill her or convince her to cherish this new relationship you¡¯ve developed. She will not be totally lucid and will be fighting multiple parties, so you at least have a chance! Let¡¯s sharpen those skills a bit more, though,¡± she chirped, flashing her teeth. ¡°Butter will be in an internal battle with her former self, fighting against the transcended soul she¡¯s using to access her lingering powers from her previous life, you, her current persona, and the foe she faces in this battle royale on the outside.¡± Anticipation now welling up within her chest, Elinor placed her first foot on the step leading up to the arena. This was more her style. ¡°Damn. My little sister is kind of a badass, huh?¡± she laughed, touching spears with the goddess as they moved to the center of the arena. ¡°She¡¯ll be fighting me, herself, the divine influence¡ªpresumably something from the Susime, whatever that will be¡ªand some dangerous foe or foes on the outside? Does that mean she¡¯ll obtain her body so we can finally have our first meal together when she gets back, and when is this supposed to happen?¡± Nungal chuckled, making a swift, fluid motion that twisted her spear away and sent her spinning to land on her back. She¡¯d hardly seen what she¡¯d done as the goddess leaned against her spear to smirk down at her, holding out a hand to lift her up. ¡°Cheap shot¡­¡± ¡°It was! Hehe. Deal with it. Irkalla would never have accepted any training from me. If I''m being honest, I like Elinor much better. It will be good to take the raw drive, power, and mind of Irkalla and combine it with everything Elinor has to offer¡­ You are far more flexible, which is a good thing! Butter and your temporary ascension will happen at the end of the week. So take that time to practice what I teach you¡­ because this is the last time I will be able to do this directly.¡± ¡°At least I¡¯ll have Grace,¡± Elinor said, connecting the dots and accepting Nungal¡¯s hand; she was actually starting to like this woman, despite how often she¡¯d apparently murdered her. Maybe that was a part of her master plan, but if so, Elinor would use every benefit she could. ¡°Don¡¯t go easy on me.¡± ¡°Oh, that is hilarious!¡± Nungal held her hand against her chest as her body shook with laughter. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t last half a second against me if I restrained myself to your level and was joking around. You¡¯re about ten thousand lives too young for that. Let¡¯s have fun, though!¡± Their spears met again, and Elinor lost herself on the moon¡¯s arena, being killed hundreds of times in the hours that passed by them, yet Nungal filled her Death Pool every time to reform her artificial body to continue. And, if she were being truthful, she did find something familiar about the moves and style the goddess taught her; it came as naturally as breathing. This was what she needed. Elinor couldn¡¯t be sure how long the training lasted, or if Nungal had sped up time, but when she appeared back in her inn suite, she saw daylight peeking through the windows. Her dad and Tiffany rushed to her side, but she collapsed against the bed, feeling spiritually exhausted. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Grace appear, passed out on the sofa, and for the first time since becoming a Lich Empress, her mind collapsed into a haze of bizarre dreams. B3 — 20.5. Glory Renewed Head held high, Butter strode forward, her fan stretched wide in her hand, a shockwave of golden light pulsing from its edge, rolling outward like the sun breaking the horizon after a dark, endless night. The radiant wave spread across the field, pushing back against the crimson mist that coiled above, the higher entity lashing out in fury. But even as the ominous cloud roared, spitting bolts of blood-red energy, the barrier of life held steady, radiating a serenity that hushed the battlefield into stillness. The Eye of Utelira shone at her bust, her frame shining with glory. With every step she took forward, the weight of her authority pressing down on the battlefield, her aquamarine eyes gleaming with challenge. ¡°Fools?¡± she repeated, a light chuckle rolling through her as she approached the gate, White and Mike coming into sight. ¡°Triumphant is what the universe sings in my presence.¡± The shriek of the creature above cried out as it struck the golden clouds that formed a sanctuary above, swirling with threads of silver and gold, each thunderous rumble an oath of protection, while vibrant bolts of life-bound energy crackled against the crimson mist. Waves of light kept it disrupted in their world, trapping it between the vice of dimensional walls. The gates creaked open, revealing a vast sea of the undead clawing their way from the ground, dirt and bones scattering as tens of thousands of lifeless figures rose to the call of the crimson entity above. And yet, a stillness settled upon them. White and Mika stood just beyond the gates, their gazes unwavering as they watched her step forth, a hundred lifeless corpses lying at their feet, frozen in mid-attack, encased in an ethereal white aura that held them back¡ªnot in threat, but in reverence to the radiant figure crossing the threshold. ¡°Allow me to show you the face of Conquest. La gloire royale m¡¯enchasse.¡± As Butter moved forward, the Susime death cult members fell to their knees, bowing in silent awe as the power trapped deep within her core bloomed outward in a spiraling display. Their heads lowered as she passed, the pulsing light rippled out from her, calming the storm within them. It was as if each pulse of golden energy washed away their fears, their doubts, spreading a peace that stilled even the trembling ground beneath them, inspiring. ¡°Crowned in glory¡­fear no more, for the Evening Star is upon you.¡± The heavens above responded, a deep, resonant hum rolling through the stilled air, as if nature itself recognized her command. With each step, the sky above answered her presence. Massive effulgent clouds gathered to her projected power, drawn out through the Eye of Utelira, twisting and thickening until they formed a counter force against the crimson entity¡¯s influence. ¡°La gloire royale. Forever may I reign.¡± A fortress of storm and radiance encircled the field, containing the bloody mist in its swirling grasp. Thunder rumbled within the clouds, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated through the air, carrying the promise of cleansing rain, pressing in on the undead entity, stifling its enslaved, mindless cries. Thick bolts of lightning flashed, illuminating the field in stark relief, casting long shadows that flickered as she continued to advance to overlook the undead throng awaiting her introduction. Standing before this grand display, the Third Finger hovered above on his mount, paralyzed at the raw display of power that countered his bone-chilling cry of death. Glowing eyes turning skyward, the shimmering liquid began to fall to the ground, bringing new life to the barren valley. Her intense stare fixated on the shaken cult upstart. ¡°Forever¡­may I reign.¡± She lifted her fan, and spread it out, the jewels on her staff brightening, and with a single, elegant gesture, directed the clouds to tighten. The forming spiral dome of radiant, living energy wrapped around the bloody mist, confining it like a beast in a cage. Her aquamarine eyes gleamed with a quiet confidence, an unspoken challenge that dared the crimson entity to strike high royalty. ¡°You can struggle all you like, darling¡­ Under my will, all will bow.¡± A pulse of malevolent energy shot down from the mist, thick tendrils of death, but it evaporated long before reaching her. Butter tilted her head, a slight smile playing on her lips. ¡°Recognize the will of the high heavens. Understand who you stand before.¡± And standing upon the opening on the gate of the fortress, overlooking a sea of undeath, she turned her imperial stare upon the masses of reanimated corpses. Rays of glorious light beamed from the clouds above, her arm lowering. Nungal¡¯s valuable lesson welled up within her. ¡°Bow,¡± she declared, her voice as steady as the mountains and twice as resolute. The very atmosphere bent to her will and golden vines of pure Life Force wove themselves through the stones at her feet, crawling toward the undead army like fingers reaching through the soil. In the light of the clouds above, glowing with an intense light that blazed through the crimson mist, casting it in sharp relief as if under the unforgiving scrutiny of the sun itself¡ªit began to turn white.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Impossible,¡± the Third Finger mumbled from above. ¡°You are not the Radiant Eminence¡­but something more.¡± Cleansing water patterned against the ground in a gentle rhythm, every drop sparking life into Butter, drawing her closer to the right of power she¡¯d held before this life: the power of Ashrit. Skin gleaming against the holy rays singing her praise, Butter watched in delight and fascination as every undead creature below, tens of thousands, bent the knee, not purified, but reforged in her name¡­forged in life. Her voice rang out across the valley, the Life Cult¡¯s barrier being absorbed into her manifestation of strength that surged out of her like a cracked dam. ¡°Souls of the lost and abandoned. Hear me and rise once more.¡± Her smile warmed as warm liquid ran down her face and body, plant life, dead animals, and insects blooming with new life as she exercised a power that felt as natural as breath itself. ¡°Return not as the undead, but reborn in life through my command. Your high queen demands it.¡± Flesh renewed on exposed bone and muscle, ri¡¯bot and many other creatures raised their heads toward her, a rippling surge of recognition and faith budding in each spirit, souls renewed. Snow stumbled forward in awe, White, Mika, and Adoncia looking down at themselves as their souls evolved, bathed in her unique energy: not dead, yet not alive, but something in-between Elinor and her. Immortal. ¡°What¡­is this?¡± Butter¡¯s smiling eyes lifted to the heavens once more, where the crimson entity glowed white, fading back into its higher sphere, bowing before her. ¡°The birth of an Army of Conquest¡­ My army.¡± She turned to smile at the Fable of Snow White, her soul glowing brighter than ever as her refining glory washed over her, imbuing her with the strength of her faith. ¡°So long as you have faith in me, as a friend or ruler, you will have my power to support you.¡± Shaky knees unable to support her, Snow dropped to her knees, her appearance, already lovely, was enhanced to supernatural degrees. Her hair became black as the abyss, her eyes bright as a blue star, and her skin glowed to perfection. White, Mika, and Adoncia changed, as well, undergoing a metamorphosis. All Susime, excluding the Third Finger hovering above, now bowed before her, the pulsing belief of the Cult of Life filling her with warm fuzzies. The air itself seemed to vibrate, syncing with her will as her radiant soul emanated with an authority none could deny. The released entity of death, cleansed of Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ corrupting force, bowed before fading back into its higher realm, recognizing the all-encompassing dominance she demanded. Now, the sole figure above her golden clouds had her gaze amidst the glittering falling droplets of holy life, lightning dancing for her. Her last opposition stared down in disbelief, his army conquered with a single flick of her wrist, unable to comprehend her power, as if worship was the only possible response to her brilliance. ¡°You see why I was chosen. You see what I represent¡­ What say you, Third Finger of Seg¡¯tharis? Do you submit willingly, or must I bind you in chains?¡± Wind and water joined in a tumultuous dance, shifting at her command, twisting around her like an obedient pet. She pointed the fan toward the skies, and the clouds gathered in swirling shades of gold and silver, answering her call with the rumble of thunder. Lightning flashed, illuminating her face, a divine fury tempered with the thrill of power. ¡°Come closer, darling,¡± she taunted, voice dripping with mirth. ¡°Show me what Seg¡¯tharis¡¯ power can do against the Heavenly Conqueror.¡± Fear etched in his voice, the ri¡¯bot resisted, withdrawing the Orb of Seg¡¯tharis and moving higher to escape the rising tempest. ¡°You are everything I fight against¡­ The Supreme Chief of Life. I am Jet¡¯tara, Holder of the Eye. You have won this battle, but soon my lord will rise to devour that life you flaunt.¡± ¡°Is that all? Really, darling, I expected more.¡± Butter huffed as his undead skydarter carried him beyond sight. ¡°Coward. And here I was hoping you¡¯d have a little bit of grit and allow me to blow off some steam¡­ At least he may provide some form of entertainment later.¡± She gave a theatrical sigh as White was instantly by her side, Snow shakily rising to her feet as the others joined her. Butter tapped her cane against the pulsing ground, the sound echoing in defiant delight as she gazed across the expanse, greenery and new rivers forming, cracking up from beneath the soil to fuel the renewed valley. Snow squinted at the pendant at her bust before meeting her eyes. ¡°What now¡­ Do we save Earth? High Queen¡­¡± Snow¡¯s eyes widened as they all shifted to their side to stare at the cube, now materialized and roughly fifteen meters in width and dimension. Only, its color had changed from a pinkish hue to light green, making. ¡°That color¡­means it¡¯s the weakest rank.¡± Butter¡¯s frame shook with mirth while turning away from it to stare at the throng awaiting her address. Her pearly teeth flashed, excitement welling up within her breast as the thunderous shouts of her name rang across the heartland. Irida gracefully walked forward to meet her, Nergath and the other Fingers behind the Head of the Cult of Life. Yet, a change had come over them in the light rain that fell over the valley. Restored to their golden-hued glory and youth, tens of thousands of soldiers awaited her command. ¡°What now?¡± Butter repeated, her illuminated eyes rising to the Crystal gateway descending from the heavens as if awaiting this very moment, surrounded by her glorious aurelian clouds. ¡°Now, we go to war. Lokar, your horn.¡± The humbled First Finger of the Left presented his horn, and Butter¡¯s caressed the hollowed out horn of some mountain animal. It turned to gold, glowing with the power she¡¯d infused into it through the Eye of Utelira. Once finished, her smile grew as he held it to his lips and blew. The uniquely crafted item released a low, amplified pulse that vibrated the earth and atmosphere that resonated with the roars of her newly founded army. Stepping forward through the cascading rain, with rainbows bursting like celestial bridges across the valley, Butter lifted her fan high toward the descending Crystal amidst the dazzling drizzle. Her voice rang out, commanding and radiant, ¡°Behold, the path to glory and untold riches awaits us! Remember, my faithful¡ªlet positivity be our banner. You are the chosen soldiers of heaven. Onward, to conquest and eternal splendor!¡± B3 — 21. Ashrit’s Return The noisy bustle of students gossiping throughout the academy hallways tickled Elinor¡¯s ears as she walked its corridors. Entirely invisible to the throng, her emerald eyes drifted in her study of the giant campus¡¯ aesthetic. She knew there had to be inconsistencies, yet nothing stood out to her in its design. Then again, she¡¯d heard the conversations between groups on repeat for the past several hours, which somehow tempered her annoyance at learning that she needed Butter with her to create another phylactery. Hopefully, that wouldn¡¯t come back to bite her in the ass. Her focus was pulled to her Status Window, a desire pulling it up:
[Level 24] [5 Stat Points Available] [2 Feat Extensions Available] [1 Equipable Feat Choice Available]
She brushed it aside, her thoughts lingering on everything Nungal had hinted at throughout her shopping day. So much had been revealed in this Legend Quest, and the goddess had been right; over the last several days, she¡¯d gradually gained levels at seemingly random points. In reality, the EXP had progressively been fed to her. Even after meeting Nungal, it was practically impossible to dissect her personality or agenda. Quite a few factors made her visit extremely aggravating yet shockingly helpful. If she¡¯d wanted to fill her undead heart with anxiety, then she¡¯d succeeded in ways few had been able to manage since becoming a lich. A frown touched Elinor¡¯s lips as she stopped at the front entrance of the academy, redacted within her Soul Expanse, imagining the goddess appearing¡ªnothing happened. She swapped to the hag, and Autumn materialized in a flare of green fire, smiling. Her dangerous yellow eyes, underneath the facade, glinted with malevolence. ¡°Damn you,¡± Elinor growled, dismissing the illusion with a gesture and continuing on her path around the academy, phasing through students. ¡°Why can I create anything I¡¯ve seen or been around in this Soul Expanse, including a creature as powerful as the hag, yet you¡¯re entirely off-limits?¡± Modifying her desire in her personal space, every student changed into the purple-haired, cosmic-eyed goddess, even taking on her voice as they repeated their lines. It wasn¡¯t what she wanted. Nungal had specifically pointed out this attribute of their Seeds for a reason, and it wasn¡¯t even that related to the Seeds. Over the last few days, she¡¯d been obsessed with exploring the possibilities this inner world offered. It was her inner soul¡ªmind, body, and spirit¡ªand somehow, everything here was connected in a way that it was possible to take physical damage within this space if she desired that affix to be added to her training here. What that told her was that while she had a tremendous amount of freedom and creativity in this space, it was also a double-edged sword that could be used against her. The Nexus was connected to her soul, which meant that the hag, or anyone else, might be able to use it to attack her through her people. It was a weakness within her soul defense, or so she was coming to believe. And there were so many other things to consider that Nungal poked at. Breathing out her mild frustration, she wiped away her inner world, and the broad expanse of the Noble District opened up to her. She sat on the battlement of the main gatehouse leading into the zone, her left knee tucked under her chin as her gaze wandered. She observed the Tempest, wealthy, and upper-class individuals in the kingdom go about their end-of-day activities, more or less oblivious to her scrutiny. It had rained a lot over the past ten days that she¡¯d been in this kingdom, and her time here had been quite eventful in the first couple of days, yet that had petered out as the week went on. Nungal¡¯s warning did make her hesitate; if she continued pushing things in this kingdom, she would only cause further trouble for her people. She suspected the aggravating Goddess of Chains had wanted her to be the object on her mind. The cosmic-eyed woman was beyond helpful, yet she also came off as an interested party who could turn on her at any moment. The sharp edges that Nungal hid behind her playful mannerisms intimidated Elinor, and if she was the standard of what gods and goddesses were like, then she had to step up her game. Grace was an asset, and his training in various weapons over the last several days had been a welcomed addition. Finding a suitable place where they wouldn¡¯t be spied upon was a little challenging at first, but the labyrinth underneath the city had rooms they could use, which her th¨¦lm¨¦thra was invaluable in finding. However, the hare could also become an enemy with a single whisper from his goddess. The hardest part was determining Nungal¡¯s objective, and she was no closer to an answer since the woman left. It bugged her. Tiffany¡¯s voice fed through the Nexus, causing Elinor to shiver at the interaction. ¡°Empress, I have made a full account of our packed goods, and everything seems to be in order for our departure in 12 hours¡­ Has there been no response from Butter yet?¡± No, Elinor growled, rising to her feet to stare across the kingdom. The tension of waiting a week for something significant to happen has been murder. Nungal knew what she was doing when dropping that particular future event on my head. Turning on top of the flat battlement to study the ten Paladins standing around the wall, Elinor hopped off and walked along the wall to the stairs leading into its interior; the elite soldiers fell in line without a word. She¡¯d often taken strolls like this while attempting to work through everything Nungal had revealed. I¡¯m returning to the hotel. Black? ¡°I¡¯m still following Roman, Empress,¡± Famine reported. ¡°He seems to be going a long way to your inn, meeting with people along the way and passing coded messages. It is¡­ unfortunate I wasn¡¯t able to reach the end of the lead on Castria¡¯s necklace I¡¯d found for the original seller.¡± It doesn¡¯t matter, Elinor muttered. The fact it traded through multiple brokers¡ªand deliberately¡ªtells us they knew what they were selling. It isn¡¯t like we have the time to follow the remaining trail to the Northeastern Highlands. You did fantastic work, Black. Lilya will handle the rest. Just before entering the stairway, she made one last sweep of the city from her high position. The orange sun was dipping below the horizon as the rumble of a passing storm drifted out to sea; it had missed the city due to Tempest intervention. Tiffany¡­ let my dad know I¡¯m coming back. Has his mood improved? ¡°Eh-hehe. I¡¯m afraid not, Empress,¡± the Witch Queen mumbled, no doubt rubbing her arm and looking over at the man, engrossed in a book from the Royal Library about the hag. ¡°He is not excited about me sharing a body with¡­ his wife.¡± Elinor sighed as she descended the stairs, causing glances to be passed between the Paladins, likely wondering what was frustrating her. Little did they know it had nothing to do with their kingdom; she just needed to get out, walk, and think on her feet. You don¡¯t need to pretend that you aren¡¯t upset, as well, Tiffany¡­ He asked you to change your name, and you don¡¯t want to¡­ You don¡¯t have to. There is tension between the two of you that I can only imagine; it might be my change, or something from my past life influencing me, but I do not share his concerns. Neither of you can help how you feel. He thinks you¡¯re abusing my mom¡¯s body, and you feel like it is your body, as well. Tiffany¡¯s strained laugh put pressure against Elinor¡¯s chest because she could experience the woman¡¯s feelings, even if it was still uncomfortable for her. ¡°It isn¡¯t like a goddess told us quite plainly that I am still your mother¡­ just that things are all twisted around. I can accept that it is an awkward reality¡ªdistressing! I certainly have trouble with that part, but the more I dwell on it, the more I find myself¡­ feeling a certain way. He can call that an illusion or trained behavior all he wants¡ªI may even agree with him¡ªbut it doesn¡¯t change the feelings.¡± We are doing our best in the wave Nungal left, Elinor mumbled. Tonight, Autumn will make her appearance, so we need to be in peak condition. It is game time. ¡°Understood¡­¡± Elinor rubbed between her eyes while swapping to another level and continuing to the street. She purposefully maintained her distance from the chatter happening through the Nexus as Tiffany, Lilya, Castria, and Charlie were going through a laundry list of things. Once making it onto the street, Elinor reflected on her time in this world and everything that had happened: The House of Ravens was in full swing, and Lilya was a demon of a Grandmaster over the House, providing a strict curriculum that even the instructors scrambled to meet and keep their heads above water. The students lived at the estate granted to them by the Tarnash Family and traveled to the campus for their classes each day, and the many new subjects being introduced were causing a revolution of sorts within the academy. There were talks about some of the other Houses incorporating certain aspects of Raven¡¯s adaptive curriculum. The former queen¡¯s resurrection was still being spread throughout the kingdom due to how long it took the news to travel on foot, but it caused quite a stir. If anything, the nobility was most affected by her new House since it was an entirely new faction within the political landscape that held a lot of sway, with not only her but the former queen backing it. Dread and excitement brewed in the countryside as bards retold the events of this year¡¯s Selection Ceremony throughout the kingdom and, most importantly, the Raven Empress¡¯ part in it. Her name was being sung far and wide. The news that she¡¯d started her own House was a buzz among the commoners since anyone could apply. Next year would most certainly be a packed stadium, yet her trial was sure to strike fear in those who wished to join¡ªit set a precedent. As for her House, the uniforms were in the final production phase with Tiffany¡¯s input and tended to match Elinor¡¯s personality in a practical gothic aesthetic. Naturally, the attire changed based on the role the students applied for in the expanding academy curriculum. The Grand Duke did appear to have some kind of student/teacher relationship¡ªeven friendship¡ªwith the former queen because he frequently visited to speak with her, which only furthered their reputation. He¡¯d been ecstatic about Charlie¡¯s adaptive abilities, bringing new life to his research on the labyrinth underneath the city. Castria, Heather, and Anala were roommates, and the three girls were hitting it off fantastically. Drake was in a bit of hot water, and after High Lady Karia had a chat with his father, there had been a bigger closed-door meeting that happened, with High Lord Debro being brought into the discussion, and High Lord Yeven¡¯s wife participating. It was hushed for now, and tempers were high. From what she¡¯d heard, Debro had fought Yeven over the ocean three days ago. Tiffany was convinced it was more of a ¡®dad chat¡¯ than an actual battle, but the weather hadn¡¯t been the same since. Other than seeing one another in the hallways, neither side had talked since the kissing incident, and no one knew about it yet. However, their behavior around each other in shared classes had certainly sparked rumors. Oddly to Elinor, most of the negativity was directed toward Anala, with many of the girls thinking she¡¯d done something to Drake. Little did they know that their dashing dream boy was the instigator of that exchange. Drake was still in the dark about the real reason Anala felt so awkward and embarrassed around him since the kiss¡ªthe fact she¡¯d had to change her underwear¡ªand he would likely never know for years to come. With all of that happening, the former queen of the kingdom vented her frustrations regarding Queen Alivau¡¯s visit by digging into her work. There was a lot of pressure against King Virelli, and despite Alivau and her husband being at extreme odds for what she did to their daughter, she had a considerable amount of weight inside the kingdom. Elinor was happy to stay out of that particular mess, but the king and his former wife had a daring meeting scheduled for next week. Old loyalists and close allies inside the castle allowed the pair to share little notes and private messages every few days. As night fell, she strode along the streets, hands held behind her back, as the strong winds whipped through the city, blowing back her braided locks. In the store windows she passed, Elinor caught a reflection of her appearance.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! I¡¯m changing¡­ Little things so far, but my height has been slowly increasing ever since Nungal showed me my previous life. [Artificial Body] resonates with how I view myself, and seeing how I looked as an adult night elf is affecting me. It¡¯s not just my appearance either¡­ it¡¯s my age. No wonder Dad is freaking out¡­ Pulling her gaze away from the reflective sheets to stare around the emptying streets, Elinor set her brow as Ash made contact with her. ¡°I have found the hag, Empress. She is just entering the Noble District¡­ with quite the wagon full of goods.¡± Then it won¡¯t be long until she makes her way to the inn. Retreat for now. She¡¯ll come to us. It¡¯s time we prepare to leave this world. There are a few things I¡¯d like to clarify with her before we finish our business here. ¡°I will see you at the inn, Empress.¡± Disconnecting with Death, she remained silent throughout her journey back, pondering where things would go from here. The goddess had placed several puzzle pieces in front of her to put together, one of which hinted that she might need to fight her little sister within their Soul Expanse. One concerning part of Nungal¡¯s visit was their final location, where she¡¯d pointed out Olyssia to her, and recruited her as a future member of the House of Ravens. Olyssia had done as she was told and delivered her pretty black pearls to her the following day¡ªresonating twin pairs¡ªwhich Tiffany promptly had made into earrings at a local jeweler. Perhaps the most troubling part was that they weren¡¯t ordinary black pearls, but a synthetically created stone crafted by deep sea clams that matched the properties of the gemstone in Castria¡¯s necklace. In any case, Olyssia had been quite out of place within the Noble District in her rags, yet once she was cleaned up and given proper clothes, many of the students had taken the girl under their wing like a little sister. It was interesting how Nungal¡¯s makeover had made her fit into the noble scene; the goddess played by a different timescale, and Elinor could learn from that. Some of her guards waited by the inn¡¯s entrance as she rose to her suite, but she didn¡¯t make it to the stairs before she stopped in her tracks. Gut cramping, the Paladins instantly spread out around her, their leader speaking¡ªshe didn¡¯t hear him, though. Elinor lifted her fingers to the earring that housed Butter¡¯s spirit, and before her fingernails could touch the stone, they disintegrated. Reforming her artificial body as it began taking damage from the golden radiance now brightening around the item, Elinor hurried past the bewildered Paladins, ears ringing. Butter! Why couldn¡¯t you wait until I was back in my room?! Shit¡­ She caught sight of her reflection in a mirror as she rushed up the stairs, swiftly climbing them and reforming her body again; the black diamond had been purified a brilliant gold. Without addressing the Paladins¡¯ concerns, she stormed through her door and shut it behind her, wincing as the holy energy increased its strength again. Her father was up and right beside her, despite his distant attitude throughout the week as he struggled to understand the shifting dynamics of their family. ¡°Is it Butter? What do we need to do?¡± ¡°Nothing¡ªwe can only¡­ Oh, drat!¡± Tiffany replied, bustling over to guide her to the bed as a pulse of holy light destroyed Elinor¡¯s physical body. ¡°No need for concern, Roman¡ªdammit, I¡¯m talking to him as if he¡¯s in the Nexus¡­ Empress?!¡± With her head spinning, she felt Tiffany play with Butter¡¯s phylactery like a hot potato before dropping it on the bed next to hers. Elinor had been preparing for this moment since Nungal¡¯s warning, though. As she entered her inner world, Elinor¡¯s eyes opened to a blinding sun from Butter¡¯s side of the room. She lost all contact with the Nexus, meaning the whole network was likely down. Closing one eye and shielding her face, she watched the brilliance gradually fade to be replaced by two figures; her little sister floated in the air, seemingly unconscious, and the other was someone Elinor had never considered even once as a possibility. ¡°A ri¡¯bot?¡± she snarled, setting her will to counter the Holy Force. Within her internal world, a surge of Death Energy projected out of her, creating a shield that flared back with the excess energy that passed through their barrier. Summoning a spear capable of physical damage within her Soul Expanse, she directed it at the intruder. ¡°Who are you!?¡± Abruptly, the light vanished, leaving a yellow-skinned ri¡¯bot female that glistened like polished gold. Her slim figure was adorned in extravagant silk and jewelry as she glanced around Butter¡¯s side of the room. Her voice echoed with subtle grace as she clasped her hands at her front, the divine toad¡¯s big eyes slowly moving to stop on her. ¡°And¡­ you must be the big sister. Hmm. Not what I was expecting, but I was half-dead when your sister communicated with me. Such¡­ potent force trapped within her ravaged soul.¡± What she¡¯d come to know was a smile from the race lifted the woman¡¯s mouth as she summoned an opulent throne to sit upon. ¡°Please, Elinor, sit. I will only take a moment of your time.¡± Flipping her spear to a neutral position, Elinor shook her head. ¡°I will remain standing. You¡¯ve invaded our space. Why?¡± ¡°A false framing,¡± the divine figure whispered, ¡°but suit yourself. I¡¯ve learned much from your little sister,¡± she stated, gesturing at the floating, liquid-haired blonde next to her, looking more radiant than Elinor had ever seen her. More importantly, totally healed. The ri¡¯bot¡¯s tone turned melancholy as the walls around them vanished, showing the jungle valley before flashing through every toad they¡¯d met since arriving on the alien planet. ¡°¡­Such¡­ a regression. I was wrong. Our species deserves to be wiped away.¡± ¡°Say that again?¡± Elinor was so thrown off that she had to repeat the toad¡¯s words. ¡°Your species¡­ deserves to be wiped away?¡± ¡°Hmm. Allow me to introduce myself,¡± the golden ri¡¯bot replied. Memories of her time with Valdar passed by them in rapid succession, and all conversations centered on one topic that had come up before. ¡°You could consider me the Supreme Chief of Life¡­ Utelira, the Life-Binder. In reality, I am no more than what remains of our one supreme race.¡± Not expecting this turn of events, Elinor slowly sat on the throne that appeared behind her, keeping her guard up and an eye on her little sister. ¡°Before we continue, tell me what you¡¯ve done to Butter. What is happening?¡± The ri¡¯bot deity¡¯s chest shook with gentle laughter as she leaned against the side of her armrest and stared at the floating blonde. ¡°I do not know, Elinor¡­ Not entirely. Ashrit spoke to me in my half-dead dreams and mumbles. I am merely the gate at which she knocks, seeking the power to open the door into her inner soul.¡± Elinor¡¯s jaw locked at the name, and the knowledge slapped her across the face; Ashrit was the name her sister used in their previous life when she¡¯d been Irkalla. ¡°So, you were leading the Susime?¡± ¡°Leading?¡± Utelira massaged her head, no doubt reacting in ways that she could understand her emotions since most ri¡¯bot didn¡¯t act this way. ¡°No, I have been delirious for a very long time and seen many clans rise and fall, using me as their claim to power.¡± She laughed and gestured to generations upon generations of ri¡¯bot that flashed around them, spreading out into the hundreds of millions. ¡°Look at the decay¡­ the degradation of our once proud race. I¡¯ve had to watch my people weaken generation after generation. A curse! And now, your sister refuses to let me die. How cruel,¡± she growled, glaring at the blonde floating next to her. ¡°She brought me back to this state in hopes of using me to solidify her connection to a new body. Now that I¡¯m awake¡­ I can refuse.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Elinor whispered, emerald eyes darting to her sister as Butter groaned, unconsciously lifting a hand to grip her chest as if in pain. ¡°You¡¯re going to stall until Butter destroys herself¡­ and me along with her. That way, you can die?¡± ¡°How I dream of that day,¡± Utelira snarled. ¡°No, your sister has revived my trapped soul. Imprisoned by the Great Shadow that had whispered half-truths¡­ sending us right into the six-winged bird that took¡­ everything. The bird looked too similar to humans to be a coincidence. Haha. I thought we were at the peak of strength¡­ We were pathetic!¡± Elinor lifted a hand for her to continue, trying to connect to the toad and learn something that could help her in this conversation. ¡°How so? The Great Shadow¡­ Are you talking about Shade? The creature sealed inside the planet?¡± ¡°You know of it?¡± Utelira sat straighter, glancing around their internal space. ¡°Yes¡­ I sense its touch on your soul. When we arrived on this planet, on our Path of Crystal Conquest, spreading our great empire between the Crystal Worlds, the Great Shadow showed us how to reach the Higher Crystal Gates¡ªwe ascended¡ªand then we burned! ¡°I ran,¡± she whispered, looking away in shame. ¡°Everyone ran from the light¡­¡± Elinor glanced up as she created the image of a six-winged female angel, or at least that was what it looked like within the blinding radiance. Utelira glared at her as if the devil incarnate. ¡°I do not know what happened, but it followed us¡ªdestroyed billions of my people with a flap of its wings¡ªand then¡­ the light fell.¡± Her throat went dry as she watched the blinding star take into space, shattering the Crystal Gateway that had reversed in the process, yet not moments later, the angel fell from the distorted heavens, disappearing into the distance. ¡°The misguided Susime used my powers as a channel to sustain their decaying souls¡­ caused by using my companion¡¯s dying soul for many generations. Now¡­ he is gone. Snuffed out by your little sister. I¡­ am tired. I¡¯ve suffered enough¡­ Yet, your sister refuses to let me die! How pathetic we are¡­ Insignificant in the face of the six-winged bird,¡± she laughed. ¡°Our extinction is inevitable.¡± Elinor sat back, resting her cheek against her knuckles as she thought and listened to the Supreme Chief¡¯s lamentation. Utelira wasn¡¯t nearly as powerful as Nungal¡ªnot even in the same universe¡ªbut she could easily kill Butter and her. She was starting to understand the situation, at least in part. Dismissing her spear because she knew it wouldn¡¯t do her any good, Elinor¡¯s vision narrowed as she observed the depressed goddess. Nungal¡¯s words about how insignificant killing a god was now brought new meaning to her in the face of this ancient ri¡¯bot. Nungal¡¯s explanation and the Prume¡¯s warning to Butter and her now made perfect sense. ¡°I can give you the death you desire. Butter is fighting on the outside and needs your power to win. What can I do to make you provide that for her?¡± Utelira sighed, rubbing the side of her head. ¡°I am perplexed. Is your little sister adapting to my power? Yes. I must choose to allow her access to it¡­ She wants to crack open the Seed inside of her to access its power. But why should I? If I allow that, then I will be restored and remain trapped in this prison the Great Shadow tricked my people inside¡­ A power source for the lesser races. Humiliating!¡± Elinor folded her fingers in her lap as she returned Utelira¡¯s stare; an idea came to her, likely dredged up from her past life experiences, but it felt right. ¡°Okay. How about an alternative¡­¡± ¡°What alternative?¡± Utelira grumbled. ¡°There is no alternative.¡± ¡°No?¡± She giggled, confidence lacing her voice as she sat forward. ¡°Transmit all of your power to Butter¡ªnot to crack open the Seed¡ªstraight to her, unfiltered¡­ raw.¡± ¡°What?¡± Utelira doubled over. ¡°No lesser being could handle raw 5th-dimensional energy! We communicate with the Great Shadow face-to-face. We walk through time and space. We built wonders throughout this solar system with other beings of similar aptitude before the six-winged angel destroyed everything we built in seconds. Her soul would be vaporized!¡± Having faith in Nungal¡¯s story regarding their past lives, Elinor¡¯s smile grew. ¡°I¡¯d bet my life on Butter being able to handle such a small degree of Holy Energy. Let her soak up everything you are, and I think you¡¯ll trigger something unique. Can you even do it?¡± For the first time, intrigue moved the Supreme Chief¡¯s face. ¡°It would be difficult to redivert where she is trying to guide my power¡­ but more than possible if I am willing to exert myself.¡± ¡°Worth a chance at death?¡± Elinor proposed. ¡°Try to kill my little sister, and she will take everything from you.¡± Silence came between them for a few minutes, and with a short fit of laughter, Utelira rose to her feet, prompting Elinor to do the same. ¡°Very well, but know that if she cannot take it, my Holy Force will seep through that flimsy barrier and overwhelm you¡­ You will die. Will you still risk your life on it?¡± ¡°Why are you stalling?¡± she challenged, standing tall and having 100% confidence in Butter¡¯s resilience. ¡°My sister has survived worse. She¡¯s fought me.¡± ¡°Cocky creatures,¡± Utelira snickered, making a gesture that straightened Butter in the air before placing her large hand on her sister¡¯s chest. ¡°Then we gamble and die or live in eternal suffering¡­ Which will it be?¡± A tornado of potent life energy erupted from the Supreme Chief as Utelira sank her fingers into Butter¡¯s breast, reaching for her heart; a rush of superheated force collided with Elinor, making her take a step back as the barrier between them bowed and cracked¡ªthe black diamond wouldn¡¯t last long. Butter¡¯s eyes flew open, and a blinding turquoise light shone within them as she gasped. Her peach-like skin illuminated like the noonday sun. Utelira¡¯s mouth slackened in disbelief as her grip closed around Butter¡¯s heart, whispering, ¡°Soul Expansion? She has a Soul Expansion?¡±
[Level Up - Level 25] [1 Stat Point Added; 6 Available] [1 Refinement Point Added; 1 Available] [1 Stat Modifier Point Added: 1 Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Added: 1 Available] [New Feat Slot Added: 6 Slots Available (5/6 Used)]
[Twin Souls Expansion (Butter) Tier-1: Heaven¡¯s Domain] [Twin Souls Expansion (Elinor) Tier-1: Earth¡¯s Domain]
[2 Feat Extensions Available] [1 Equipable Feat Choice Available]
Power flooded Elinor¡¯s chest as time seemed to slow, and Supreme Chief Utelira, The Life-Binder, looked up in peace, transforming into pure light, absorbing into Butter¡¯s body. Her sister righted her head in the air, a smile brightening her blinding face as she slowly dropped to her heeled feet, yet something felt wrong. ¡°Butter?¡± Elinor choked, feeling tingles all over as her little sister flexed her fingers and looked around with a curious gleam in her glowing blue eyes. ¡°No¡­ you¡¯re not Butter.¡± Her twin strode forward, placing a hand on the cracked barrier between their rooms as she traced a line, her voice like silk as their eyes met. ¡°Irkalla? No, something¡¯s not right¡­ Hahaha! Is this our last incarnation? You don¡¯t know! How cute.¡± ¡°Ashrit,¡± Elinor growled, summoning her spear. Yet her twin¡¯s former incarnation laughed at her weapon, clicking her tongue. ¡°I know Butter is still in there.¡± ¡°Are you¡­ afraid of me? You¡ªafraid¡­ of me?! Now, this is a treat. And what do you think you¡¯re going to do with that, Sweetie? This¡­ is the only weapon you need¡­¡± Retracting her fingernails from the thin barrier, Ashrit sank them into her own breast, her hand passing through her body as if it were ethereal, fighting an enormous resistance. Gripping her heart, she squeezed. Elinor instinctively felt a wave of danger, and it felt like claws were ripping into her own chest. ¡°Divine And Infernal Twin Soul Expansion: Heaven and Earth¡¯s Domain!¡± A power deep within her welled up, and she knew what her twin¡¯s past incarnation had done. She¡¯s projecting our intertwined souls into reality, using Utelira¡¯s power to crack open my own suppressed powers from our previous life to use them as her own on the outside! If I don¡¯t stop her; she could take over the dominant position between us. Ashrit summoned her own opulent spear and expertly twisted it around her body as the whole world shattered, taking them to a golden coliseum in the heavens. ¡°Well, Sister? How skilled are you in this incarnation, hmm? Despite having so many advantages provided to you while I contend with forces on the outside, do you think you¡¯ll last more than a minute? I think¡ªmmgm. Damn, you¡ªleave it to me!¡± Elinor¡¯s tight throat eased as Ashrit winced and stumbled back. ¡°That you, Butter? Are you really going to let some past version of us take your victory? Typical Butter, fashionably late. You¡¯re not looking all that confident now, Ashrit. What happened?¡± Ashrit strained a grin as she righted herself. ¡°How could I become this pathetic? Serving you?! No. I think we need an intervention.¡± B3 — 22. Twin Souls Flipping her spear to her back, Elinor trained her eye on her sister¡¯s former incarnation as the pressure of her spirit expanded, weighing down on her like a gravitational force. If she were in the real world instead of this inner sanctum, she knew that she would be utterly paralyzed by the Divine and Infernal waves the dawn elf emanated. ¡°An intervention?¡± Elinor scoffed, focusing her will since this was not a battle of raw power but of fortitude; Nungal had been very specific about what she could and couldn¡¯t do when engaging in a battle of wills. ¡°Why do we hate each other so much? Please, enlighten me.¡± As Ashrit¡¯s vision narrowed, a skin-prickling silence met her. The dead goddess lifted her free hand to flex her fingers, and Elinor took a single step forward before bone-chilling ice cascaded through her soul. On instinct, she jumped to the right, her hair standing on end, and a tingling sensation she¡¯d experienced earlier this week tightened her gut. A flash of light and the ear-rupturing chaos of thunder ripped through her frame as the bolt was absorbed by the golden platform. Landing on her feet, careful not to slide on the smooth polished surface of the metal floor, she blinked to adjust her eyes. Yet Ashrit hadn¡¯t moved from her spot, now examining her gown with displeasure. Despite her ringing ears, the elf was easily heard. ¡°What¡­ a gaudy incarnation you are¡ªButter, was it? Hmm. Why gold? No, this is better!¡± ¡°Priss?!¡± Elinor¡¯s jaw slackened as her gold-haired sister stumbled forward, a glowing orb dislodging itself from her body. Ashrit¡¯s radiant, dawn elf figure took form behind Butter; Ashrit had somehow separated herself from Butter. Nungal had not mentioned this. Butter dove forward, using one hand to try to flip around, yet ruby chains split space beside the smirking elf, connecting to her twin¡¯s ankle and jerking her back. ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon¡ªack! Priss, she¡¯s still trying to sort through the changes to our soul¡ªmmmm!¡± Ashrit¡¯s entertained lime-green eyes peeked over Butter¡¯s shoulder as more chains strung up her double between Elinor and her. She smoothly slid a white cloth gag around her twin¡¯s mouth. ¡°Now, now, Butter, let¡¯s not give our sister any more insights into what I might be doing. You are so¡­ not what I envisioned when concocting this plan of mine. Bumps can be ironed out, though. I cannot believe you allowed yourself to be called after¡­ fat. Ugh.¡± Elinor felt a protective spike bud within her upon seeing her twin chained and gagged. Nungal hadn¡¯t given her all the information on purpose; it could have been due to the constraints on the Legend Quest¡¯s rewards or possibly for far more nefarious reasons. Taking a deep breath and letting it go with the stress in her chest, she cursed as lightning bolts shot out of the sky, creating the shapes of lions. The electricity sparked around the beasts, shaking their thick manes and roaring before prowling forward. Ashrit floated into the air, a carnelian stone throne materializing behind her as she leaned against its armrest and lazily brought Butter up to watch; the goddess¡¯ dress shimmered before being replaced by a lapis lazuli blue and white. ¡°You are lucky I am too preoccupied learning about these¡­ changes these Seeds have made to our souls to direct my attention at you, Irkalla¡ªalong with some annoying flies outside. How¡­ frustrating. This is wrong,¡± she growled, spear vanishing as her fingers pressed against her left breast. ¡°Something drastic has changed in the higher dimensions.¡± Time seemed to slow as Elinor cautiously backed away from the giant lions, at least twice the size of the largest she had seen on Earth, their red-and-blue fur matching the goddess¡¯ throne and gown. She kept close track of the cats but knew soon one would disappear behind her, waiting to attack at a blind spot. Nungal hadn¡¯t mentioned Butter being separated or Ashrit being able to summon animals to do her bidding; she suspected there was a lot the Goddess of Chains had kept private in their training. However, if what she suspected was right, Nungal had given her the puzzle pieces to bring it together. ¡°You split persona, but your soul is still linked,¡± she chuckled, drawing Ashrit¡¯s displeased gaze. ¡°If anything happens to Butter, then you¡¯ll receive the same damage.¡± Butter gave her a creased eye that asked, ¡®What are you thinking, Priss?! I¡¯m not a pincushion for you to poke holes in!¡¯ A giggle shook Ashrit¡¯s frame as she locked vision with her. ¡°You¡¯ve been talking to someone. Hmm. We¡¯re being manipulated. But by who? No, this does take priority. It¡¯s too important not to address, and my stupid incarnation is fighting my search for answers.¡± Elinor spun around as the lion pounced, only to shield her face in surprise as it illuminated and exploded in arcs of lightning; she grounded her spear, yet none of the bolts struck her. ¡°Agk! What¡¯s wrong with you? Priss, she¡¯s going to try to kill me to take over control!¡± Spinning around, she saw the chains around Butter vanish, replaced with a gag, dropping her twin to her butt, and the other lion exploded in like fashion, energy sinking into the golden stage. Yet, Ashrit simply remained in her seat above them, a smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. ¡°Not yet, my young counterpart,¡± the goddess mused, legs crossed and the pulsing force of her expanding spiritual pressure weighing down on them again. ¡°I need to confirm a few things, and that requires me to be a tad less¡­ hostile. Work with me, and maybe you will find the chance to actually strike me. It isn¡¯t as if you have a choice.¡± Elinor¡¯s throat tightened as Ashrit lifted a hand, emerald flames rising up her wrist to her fingertips; Death Energy began leaving her body, yet it wasn¡¯t from her Death Pool but somewhere far deeper within her¡ªsome kind of hidden reservoir she couldn¡¯t access. Her entire body erupted in green fire, filling her with a subtle strength. ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± It clicked shortly after as Elinor felt thousands of souls chained to her soul from an eternity away. ¡°You¡¯re using my power,¡± she mumbled in shock, the tremor from a wellspring within her core being drawn out by the elf as a vision of the outside world gripped her. ¡°How?¡± An entire landscape pulsed to life in Elinor¡¯s mind, each flash image coming into color with every beat of a heart. Horrific monsters, the US military, the Susime, and Infernal demons from Hell were below Ashrit. The goddess¡¯ teeth flashed, and time slowed to a crawl. Only four people stood in the sky around the golden-haired elf to face her¡ªall enemies. Elinor saw as each realized the truth about what was about to happen¡ªdisbelief mirrored the monster, demon, coyote, and hare woman¡¯s faces. A mere second had passed since Ashrit had released her Divine Twin Soul Expansion in the outside world, and it had enclosed the entire Crystal barrier, pushing it further outward. Abruptly, the rain reversed, and lightning flashed across the sky as the clouds radiated a golden glow instead of darkness. Ashrit opened her arms and welcomed her opponents, wreathed in an aurous glow. The former goddess of another world grabbed a lightning bolt in one hand, forming a spear, and in the other, emerald flames flared, chaining the dead below her to her will. ¡°Well, shall we dance?¡± The vision broke, and Elinor found herself alone, the pattering of raindrops against her scalp pulling her gaze skyward to a dreary, weeping heavens. She felt every droplet against her prickling skin, a foreign, hollow numbness gripping her soul as she tilted her head to observe the memory from her past life¡ªIrkalla¡¯s memory. Taking a step to turn and observe the dead city below her, she heard no sound from the night elf metropolis she¡¯d found and liberated. Ashrit had awakened to her memories and found her, tricked her into a one-on-one battle, only to have her true objective be the city. All along the staircase to a high palace above, bodies were strewn behind her, and not a single drop of blood was on her soaked white robes. The beating of her undead heart sounded in her own head¡ªit hadn¡¯t been undead in her previous life¡ªand each thump reacted in a slow sway of motion that came from her past incarnation. Elinor shifted to stare at the top of the bloody staircase, her smirking sister waiting with her elite guards. She admired her handiwork and showed off a cut on her cheek she¡¯d sustained from their earlier fight. The kingdom had been Irkalla¡¯s first attempt to build a force to rival her established sister in their previous world. At age 19, she¡¯d established her own people by conquering a tyrannical ruler under her sister¡¯s heel, only for her sister and her forces to lay waste to the entire kingdom in under a week. There was no pity or remorse in Elinor¡¯s heart at the loss, only cold, calculating odds. She could escape, but first, a psychological blow against her people would be needed¡ªat least six of the twelve guards she¡¯d grown up with¡ªthat would be a sufficient attack against their morale. Fingers tightening against her chipped and battered spear, a chilling smile lifted her lips as she rose to meet her sister. Ashrit was arrogant. She was born with everything, while Irkalla had nothing from the moment she was born. It didn¡¯t matter how often Ashrit foiled her upstart kingdoms; as long as she had faith in herself, she could never lose. In an instant, Ashrit was in front of her, prickling the hair on the back of Elinor¡¯s neck, yet she didn¡¯t retreat. Standing her ground while looking into the dawn elf¡¯s searching gaze, Butter slid between them, surprising Elinor a tad and making the woman laugh as she gracefully skipped back to her throne. ¡°What is your deal?!¡± ¡°Things have gone very wrong. A look into our past, Elinor? We don¡¯t have time for such reflections. There are much more pressing things to consider, so take a seat and wait for your¡ªwhat is this?¡± Ashrit¡¯s body froze, vision widening before narrowing to slits. ¡°Nungal! That is how you were prepared for me. Hmm. It was Nungal¡­¡± ¡°Who-a-nun?¡± Butter snarled, bumping shoulders with Elinor as she recovered from her flash memory; the confidence and unyielding resolve resonated with her. ¡°What is up with you, Priss? I¡¯m the only one fighting here! Pull your shit together. This bitch is not going to take the body I finally got for myself! Humph. I haven¡¯t even had the chance to kiss anyone yet!¡± Elinor looked down at her spear, a half-smile lifting the corner of her lips before tossing it to the side. ¡°Okay,¡± Butter groaned, ¡°you¡¯ve lost it, Priss!¡± ¡°No. I feel quite well. This is a battle of Intelligence. The willpower within us that gives us our individuality is at stake. Nungal was killing me over and over again for the fun of it while building my frustration. You don¡¯t need to understand it, so much as I need to understand your position right now, Butter. What matters¡­ is her¡ªAshrit, your former life come back to haunt us.¡± Striding forward, Elinor summoned her own throne. It wasn¡¯t like the previous effortless times she¡¯d changed her internal world; there was resistance. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how much more powerful Ashrit is, Butter. She needs us in order to sustain the power that is trouncing her opponents outside. There¡¯s something else that is bothering her, though¡­ Something more pressing than making me look like a fool.¡± Butter growled, fixed her out-of-place white dress, and made her own throne to sit beside her. ¡°I figured Utelira was setting me up for a trap, but I knew you would have intervened since our souls are linked¡­ I did not expect to be greeted and confronted by my rude former self. I¡¯d like an update, whenever possible, by the way.¡± ¡°In time,¡± Elinor whispered. ¡°There is a lot to unpack¡­ Go on, Ashrit. Quit wasting our time.¡± The golden-haired elf tilted her head to the side, scrutinizing them in a way that reminded Elinor of Nungal; Ashrit had experience and powers they couldn¡¯t even dream of at this point in their life, but that held little sway in a raw battle of wills. Butter was fighting for what she¡¯d been denied for as long as she could remember: a body. And Elinor knew it was a hill on which she¡¯d die over. Ashrit huffed, waving her hand to create an image of the sly Goddess of Chains, pulling their gaze. ¡°Nungal is such a shit-starter. Haaa. This isn¡¯t her work, though¡­ This Seed inside of us. Elinor, tell me what you know about it because this energy stored within it is¡­ troubling. ¡°How did we get to¡­ this place? What are these Eldritch Crystals that connect realities that should not be bridged? Why are foreign deities entering the arena to fight me as if their very existence depends on taking this Seed? Annoying weaklings¡­ Quit fighting me, Butter, and give me the answers I am looking for! This is not how our conflict was supposed to conclude. This Seed has ruined everything I had planned. Explain!¡± ¡°Make me!¡± Butter shot back with a smirk. ¡°What, are you too preoccupied trying to squeeze out my memories to give these gods your attention?¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Elinor relaxed, seeing Ashrit in a new light after her past memory. ¡°Keep fighting, Butter.¡± Her twin rolled her eyes, looking absolutely gorgeous now that all of her wounds were healed and her radiance was put on full display. ¡°Like I need your permission, Priss. I have your body, by the way. The¡ª¡± ¡°Prume took it,¡± Elinor interjected, ¡°yes, I know. Work with me, Butter, and when we get back, we can enjoy our first lovely meal together as sisters. My promise.¡± If Butter had elf ears, they would have been wiggling, by the excitement that budded on her face. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet? I made a bet with Conquest that you would have. My choice?¡± ¡°Your choice.¡± ¡°Deal!¡± Butter settled into her seat, now the picture of confidence. ¡°Alright, imposter, you¡¯re going to have to play ball with us if we¡¯re going to cooperate. So spill the mud!¡± ¡°Beans,¡± Elinor passively corrected, making Butter¡¯s eyebrows draw together and give her a look that said she was crazy. ¡°Why would you spill beans? It¡¯s good food. Mud would be much better to spill since no one would care¡­ unless it was in my house or on my clothes¡ªand beans wouldn¡¯t be any better in that case, either.¡± Elinor¡¯s mouth became a line, and she rubbed her temple. ¡°Typical Butter. I¡¯ve missed you, Sister. First, confirm this to me¡­ It was never your goal to kill Irkalla.¡± ¡°Aww. Cute¡­ sister bonding,¡± Ashrit sighed, spinning her finger in the air and creating an image of the dark blue skin elf. ¡°I will be blunt. No, Elinor, my goal was not to kill Irkalla in my incarnation¡­ I wanted to learn the depths of my sister¡¯s heart and how cold it could grow until I found the sliver of light left in the darkness I could exploit in this, our final life. I wanted to know what my sister was at her core¡ªwhen she was pushed to her extreme. Do you know what I found?¡± Butter snickered, shooting a side-long glance at her. ¡°Family? She is a big softy for family and building one.¡± Ashrit¡¯s smirk became vicious as thunder rolled overhead, and scenes of a colossal army materialized below them. They faced a lone figure: Irkalla. Standing atop a cliff, Ashrit stared down at her dark-skinned twin as the warrior slowly walked right through the hail of magical shards that peppered the landscape like needles, yet not one touched the focused night elf, drenched in blood and illuminated by her manifest inner spirit empowering her. ¡°No¡­ Irkalla had no light. No compassion, no heart, no forgiveness¡­ no weakness.¡± Irkalla met the host on her own, cleaving through monsters, elves, and colossal war beasts as if nothing posed the slightest challenge to her. She coldly and methodically dismembered the army, not so much as breaking a sweat. ¡°The people and gods alike throughout the realms we fought in my incarnation called her Mada Yara¡ªthe Smiling Dead Goddess.¡± Ashrit¡¯s fingers twitched, and Elinor wondered if the former goddess¡¯ gaze was fearful as she watched her twin eviscerate the sea of bodies sent against her¡ªman, woman, and child. ¡°Irkalla is a woman of intense focus¡­ commitment¡­ and sheer unmitigated will¡ªsomething you inherited, Elinor¡­ at least in part. I once saw her kill a Devil Pit Lord with a blessed feather¡ªa blessed¡­ feather. She took no lover. She had no fears. She only had one goal¡­ and sadly, it wasn¡¯t to kill me in this life, despite everything I did. Somehow, her gaze was only on one Infernal figure who masqueraded as a goddess.¡± Elinor¡¯s throat went dry, the memory of the cosmic-eyed woman¡¯s grinning face flashing through her mind with all of her training. ¡°Nungal.¡± ¡°Again, who is the nun?!¡± Butter¡¯s confused and agitated tone made Elinor chuckle. ¡°Someone I¡¯ve recently met¡­ Her powers aren¡¯t divine, then?¡± ¡°Not in the slightest,¡± Ashrit snickered, wiping away the scene. ¡°Nungal is a mystery even to Irkalla and I. What I do know is that she has watched every life we¡¯ve lived; it doesn¡¯t matter what godly sphere we end up in next¡­ she is there, and be it deity or devil lord¡­ everyone fears her. I¡¯ve answered your questions. Butter, give me what I want. It is to our benefit in any case!¡± Elinor picked at her fingernails as Butter looked at her. ¡°Not yet. What exactly is a Soul Expansion? I know what a Soul Expanse is, but Nungal made it seem very important.¡± To her surprise, Butter was the one who answered her. ¡°Ho-ho! I know something the great empress does not,¡± she chimed, a smirk lifted her cheeks as she leaned to the side to gloat. ¡°Utelira explained the basics to me. Essentially, the soul is¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± Elinor impatiently waved off, ¡°the soul is the Intelligence, spirit, and body in unity. The Soul Expanse is our inner soul in its entirety¡­ but what is Soul Expansion, and why is there a specific name to it?¡± ¡°The name part¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Butter mumbled, ¡°but the expansion part is basically your soul spreading out to encompass a set area, allowing you to exert your will upon reality. Utelira said that it is isolated, though¡­ but Ashrit¡¯s isn¡¯t.¡± The former goddess chortled. ¡°So young and innocent.¡± Her tone became molten. ¡°Not by accident! Give me access to your memories, Butter, and I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Elinor glanced at her nervous sister. ¡°Do it¡­ but be prepared to fight with me. Once she solves this mystery that¡¯s bugging her¡­ we¡¯re next on the menu.¡± ¡°Smart,¡± Ashrit whispered, vision narrowing as Butter opened up the memories for her to scan through. ¡°You don¡¯t even know how to access your experiences in the womb. Such ignorance¡­ but it is from your parents. ¡°A manipulation of selective breeding over a century, which developed a natural temperamental change within the unique set of spiritual genetics that molded our spirits¡­ We were not supposed to be born to Edmon and Tiffany¡ªevidence shows they weren¡¯t even in our same Existence by their unique spiritual design.¡± The elf woman¡¯s hands gripped the side of her chair, crushing the stone to powder. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s an Eldritch touch to this Existence we¡¯re in! Who is this small¡­ thing? Revilla¡­ Some worthless dead Pit Fiend, in the revival process and given the power to act as a puppet¡­ but by who? Nothing I¡¯ve come across¡­ feels like this.¡± Getting up, she began to pace, looking at things neither Butter nor she could see as she mumbled. The rumbles in the heavens escalated with her agitation. ¡°Foreign Existences meshed into a maelstrom. Sealed dimensional walls to prevent strong influence from outside parties, limiting even Nungal. An infiltrating malignant force designed to bridge pathways through the walls by using the Eldritch Crystals as gateways from the outer circle of the maelstrom to the inner¡­ where we were and where this now connects.¡± She glowered at something before dismissively waving her hand. ¡°An annoying Hare of Misfortune with hidden secrets placed in my path to distract me. Desperate Lesser Deities pining for these Seeds¡­ but who gave these Seeds? Two types¡ªtwo sources¡ªboth Neutral Force, one to the highest degree, the other to a lesser degree. Souls and fractured omniverses in the form of Seeds, expanding to counter the compressing force of the maelstrom¡­ It¡¯s all by design. Plots within plots. Enemies beyond sight¡­ This is no longer a game.¡± Ashrit seemed to come to some sort of conclusion as she looked over at them, a cryptic look on her golden face. ¡°Perhaps¡­ it would be better if I were to work with my sister. The threat certainly does seem warranted¡­ Nungal¡¯s intervention proves that much¡­ She¡¯s scared of something I can¡¯t see from my limited dimensional vision. The signs are there, though.¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Butter shouted, waving at her double. ¡°You said you¡¯d tell us about the whole Heaven and Earth Domain thing! Could you maybe make some sense instead of mumbling like a crazy woman?¡± Elinor figured her twin knew that some of her ramblings contained critical information, but she wanted to annoy the former goddess. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re coming around to our way of thinking, Ashrit! So, why not give Butter back her body¡ªno harm, no foul¡ªand tell us about Soul Expansions so we can move on with our plans?¡± Ashrit paused, her face creasing with a dark glint in her lime-green eyes. A sweet scent carried along the strong breeze that flowed around them, and a sharp sense of danger ran down Elinor¡¯s spine. Butter summoned a spear, distancing herself to the side of Elinor as she summoned her own. ¡°Mmm.¡± Ashrit held her hands behind her back while glancing between them. Her gold-liquid locks molded around her shoulders as her head tilted heavenward. Abruptly, the storm parted to reveal a dazzling sun that lit up the whole stadium. ¡°I bet you don¡¯t even know why your instincts are screaming at you to keep your distance.¡± ¡°You could enlighten me,¡± Elinor returned, her eyes narrowing as her twin¡¯s illuminated aquamarine irises told her to follow up on her attack. ¡°You¡¯re the one who said you wanted an intervention. Where¡¯s the education? Didn¡¯t you want to distance Butter and me?¡± Ashrit¡¯s lips peeled back, revealing her perfect teeth. Now, she began circling them, moving in the opposite direction, and lightning brought the two lions by her side. ¡°Do you know how many times we¡¯ve been at each other¡¯s throats, my dear big sister?¡± ¡°Enlighten us,¡± Butter huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t really like Priss, but she¡¯s a hell of a lot better than you¡­ I¡¯d probably hate me if I were you¡ªoh, I am, and I do!¡± The former goddess¡¯ chest shook with laughter as she expertly flipped her spear around in an effortless dance. It was as if she were looking at Nungal again. ¡°Too cute! Let¡¯s just say it¡¯s been too many times, and this is the last. Nungal told you that I could not attack you so long as you didn¡¯t initiate, didn¡¯t she? You¡¯d have an advantage if I stepped across the divide between our souls first. Butter doesn¡¯t count, though. How close are we as sisters now¡­ because I would rather drag out Irkalla than have a weak-willed sister like you.¡± ¡°Rude!¡± Butter shouted. ¡°Priss is not weak-willed! Yeah, okay, Elinor, I hate myself now. Please pinch me if I ever turn into this much of a bitch. She didn¡¯t even tell us about Soul Expansions¡ªnice kitties!¡± Elinor smiled as the lion¡¯s roar rippled through the air. ¡°Bluff. Butter is your hardest fight, and attacking her leaves you open for attack. I¡¯ve figured that much out. Butter¡­¡± ¡°Now, what fun do we have here?¡± All of them froze as a malevolent force seeped into Elinor¡¯s chest. A brown-haired woman materialized off to the side; Autumn¡¯s monstrous yellow eyes scanned the scene she¡¯d stumbled upon. ¡°I could offer a bit of assistance, ladies.¡± Ashrit smiled at the creature¡¯s appearance. ¡°A hag¡­ and a powerful one. Yes, please, join us. I would love to meet you!¡± ¡°No, no, no!¡± Autumn dismissed, waving her hand. ¡°I know very well what will happen to me should I get any closer to you, my lovely dead goddess. I do not plan on taking the path of whatever lesser deity you squeezed to a pulp to reignite that power! My advice is more catered to these fine women¡­ you are the dominant personality, my sweet,¡± she cooed, lustful eyes darting to Butter. ¡°She¡¯s just a remnant¡ªa phantom, on her last breath¡ªyou can seal¡­¡± ¡°Not¡­ exactly,¡± Ashrit interjected. She made a simple gesture with her finger, separating the hag¡¯s neck from her body; the malicious energy evaporated in an instant, and the lions moved closer. ¡°Dabbling in things above your neck might land it in hot water¡­ Let us end this little game. I need to have a talk with my real sister. You can just¡­ go.¡± Golden chains flew out of the sky to circle Butter, only to shatter as her radiant twin puffed up her chest and stood tall. ¡°Mmm. No, I don¡¯t think so! I think I¡¯ve figured it out¡­ Opening up my memories was a two-way street, which is how I know what you¡¯re doing now. Priss, take this!¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Ashrit shot forward as Butter threw her the golden spear she¡¯d made. ¡°Both of you are clueless. Your instincts and experiences have been carefully manipulated in a natural way that should be impossible! I can show you how to access the Divine and Infernal Forces within¡ª¡± ¡°Mmm. I don¡¯t think so,¡± Elinor chimed, snatching her sister¡¯s spear out of the air. The second it touched her hand, a resonance passed between her and Butter, the information blooming within her mind and making her laugh. ¡°It¡¯s so simple!¡± ¡°Elinor!¡± Ashrit growled, now looking intimidated as she stopped in front of her, the lions instantly boxing her in. ¡°The Scarlet Hand is a temporary threat. I know the bigger players. We can work together!¡± ¡°At the price of my little sister I¡¯ve grown to¡­ like¡ªlove is a strong word,¡± she said, shooting her twin a pained smile. ¡°No, I totally get it!¡± Butter chirped. ¡°Now stake this bitch since I can¡¯t get to her to stab her, and you only get one shot before she has a chance at killing you.¡± Ashrit held up her spear, yet Elinor had another plan. Leaning back, she threw her spear high in the air, careful at her aim, and realized why Nungal had ended their final fight this way. Butter¡¯s eyes bugged out. ¡°You¡­ are such an idiot, Priss! What are you doing?! That¡¯s the only weapon that can¡ª¡± Elinor lurched forward, making Ashrit curse and redirect her weapon not to strike first as she embraced her dead sister. ¡°A hug goodbye, Ashrit. You won¡¯t be missed.¡± ¡°This¡­ is not how Irkalla fights!¡± ¡°This is how I fight!¡± Ashrit screamed and struggled to shake her off, yet a vision flashed through Elinor¡¯s mind the moment they came together¡ªa graceful hare woman with a hammer landed the first blow Ashrit had received in the entire fight against her four opponents on the outside. The clattering of chains split space, and the spiritual links attached to the spear¡¯s point. The holy weapon was carried right into Elinor¡¯s back, impaling both of them to the stage. ¡°Now, Butter!¡± Her twin vanished, reappearing above them as Elinor wrestled the former goddess, hands gripping the shaft. A flash of light blinded her, and every soul Ashrit raised using her power was sent back to the void. When the light faded, her former twin was nowhere to be seen, and she had a front-row seat to Butter¡¯s obnoxiously perfume-laced carpet. ¡°Ugh. What is this?¡± she tumbled, feeling at her chest to find no hole. ¡°My favorite scent! Don¡¯t bash it. Humph. Hey!¡± ¡°Can you get your fat ass off me?¡± Elinor grumbled, forcing Butter off her. ¡°You¡­ could have sealed me with her. Why didn¡¯t you? You¡¯d have the room to yourself,¡± she laughed, feeling pressure welling up in her chest. Butter held out a hand to help her up, a smile on her pretty lips. ¡°I do have a nice ass, by the way. And it would be boring if I were alone¡­ I¡¯ve felt anxious being apart this long already, which¡­ is kind of embarrassing to admit,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Plus, she¡¯s in here¡­ not gone. I had to use the Divine power she absorbed as the seal, taking it away from her, but if it¡¯s not used in a solidified form, then she can take hold of it again¡ªit¡¯s complicated.¡± Elinor frowned as her twin held up the spear before setting it on a bracket she had created above their long, shared fireplace. ¡°So¡­ she¡¯s just here with us now? Lame. That¡¯s not comforting. Can we throw her in a random room, at least?¡± ¡°Eh. Probably not the best idea, Sis,¡± Butter mumbled, sinking into her seat as if exhausted. ¡°What if Shade somehow got in and released her without us noticing? I¡¯m just saying, it¡¯s best to have the dangerous stuff where we can keep an eye on it.¡± Stumbling onto her side of the room, Elinor felt the tension around her break as she phased through the cracked barrier. The pearls Nungal got them would be a welcomed addition since she didn¡¯t expect her diamond to last much longer in this state¡ªtheir spiritual force was already leaking out. ¡°So, Twin Souls¡­ and she¡¯s gone,¡± Elinor growled as her twin faded away. Now that Ashrit had been kicked out of her body, she returned to it. She took a moment to ponder everything that had happened, expecting Autumn to be outside while she stared at the spear on the wall, a small smile brightening her lips. Butter and she had repaired another board in their burnt bridge. ¡°So, our Twin Soul can resonate with one another if we work together, combining Infernal and Divine Force, which multiplies its effects by rebounding off one another when in harmony. Interesting. ¡°Does that mean we can do a normal [Twin Soul Expansion: Heaven and Earth¡¯s Domain]? It doesn¡¯t have to be at the level of Divine and Infernal, right? Food for thought. Butter is actually pretty powerful, though. In any case, my sister certainly can pull out a side of me that I keep suppressed. Hmm. ¡°Autumn¡¯s intrusion was¡­ unexpected, and hopefully won¡¯t come back to bite me in the ass. In any case, time to meet a headless hag and make this deal.¡± B3 — 23. Returning Home The calming notes of a piano pricked Elinor¡¯s ears as she exited her internal world, the rhythm playing from the orange crystal record player High Lady Karia Tarkov gifted her. Reorienting herself, her connection to the Nexus flooded back as Ashrit¡¯s influence waned, bringing a chaos of inquiries. ¡°Empress?!¡± ¡°Elinor! Is it you? Tiffany says someone was hijacking your soul. What happened?¡± her father asked, stress emanating from their connection through the network. ¡°The hag didn¡¯t do anything to you?!¡± Autumn¡¯s mildly annoyed voice interrupted, once again infiltrating their private discussions. ¡°You would think, after watching my head roll across the floor, that I would be cleared of suspicion. She is stable.¡± Elinor pushed herself into a sitting position against the headboard. Scanning the room, she felt the soft fur blanket beneath her tickle her skin. Castria was seated in the corner, trying not to interfere with the bustling activities around the bed. Lilya¡¯s cool, calculating cadence followed. She was busy mixing ingredients into a tonic or potion on a cart beside the bed. ¡°You speak as if you had some hand in that, hag. As I understand it, you were of absolutely no help. Is that right, Tiffany?¡± ¡°Yes, but no, to be fair,¡± The Witch returned. ¡°Distracting the entity seemed to benefit things. At least, things started to get better after she poked her nose into the conflict. Was Autumn of help, Empress?¡± A small smirk lifted Elinor¡¯s lips as she caught Black, Ash, and Roman in the sitting room to her right. It seemed everyone had rushed to her side to be of use if they were needed. Her attention was drawn to the hag as the disguised creature examined herself in the mirror, finishing up the stitching on her neck, now reattached. Hardly. Autumn was more interested in getting a peek than helping, and she lost her head for the price. It seems that wasn¡¯t the only thing you lost, she noted, spotting the large clump of severed hair on the carpet. I don¡¯t need your insight or support in this matter, but I hope your glance at Divinity was worth it. The brown-skinned woman used the back of her fingers to push back what remained of her now neck-length hair. It reminded Elinor what a Divine or Infernal Soul Expansion could do¡ªa literal projection of one¡¯s inner soul into reality¡ªbut she would have to test the normal version when the time was right. The hag chortled at her study, gripping her neck and causing a flare of orange light to seep out of the stitching. ¡°What do you expect from me, dearies? Yes, I am quite experienced and powerful¡­ yet that does not mean I can challenge a Lesser Goddess, much less a Creation Deity. Mmm. This will do for now.¡± She rose to her feet and smoothly turned, leaning her lower back against the beauty station to stare at her. ¡°I was right to assume the goddess would not waste her effort killing me and merely threw me out like rotten food¡ªmy favorite. In any case¡­ shall we do business? I am sure you have discovered a way to smuggle me out.¡± Tiffany¡¯s voice brightened at the subject as she handed the hag the thick scroll to unwind and study. ¡°By all means, browse to your heart¡¯s content. You will find everything in order for a fair price for what we both desire. After all, it isn¡¯t just your life on the scales, but all your future lives and your very soul itself which is at threat in this dying place. There are some¡­ additions for loosening the leash a tad, should you be able to accommodate them.¡± The hag¡¯s lip curled as her thin fingers closed around the parchment, her pink fingernails gleaming in the light orbs hovering nearby. ¡°I take it you had a visit from Grace¡¯s goddess, who gave you forewarning about this outcome. Most curious¡­ It would be folly to think I could find my way out of a contract co-authored by such a higher entity. Unless¡­ they want me to exploit a point. Fascinating¡­¡± Tiffany maintained her cheery demeanor, now that the threat had passed. ¡°I do hope you have the aptitude and skill to accomplish some of our requests. I look forward to working with you, Madam Autumn.¡± ¡°A new, acceptable title, and one I¡¯ve been given before,¡± the creature laughed, moving to the sitting area to take a spot opposite Castria¡¯s corner. ¡°Mmm. Yes, this was written by someone quite crafty, and I believe much of it comes from you, my sweet witch.¡± ¡°Indeed, it was!¡± Tiffany boasted, puffing out her chest. ¡°I¡¯d love to go over it with you¡­¡± Leaving the pair to tease and banter with one another, finding rare, like-company, Elinor turned her focus to the others in the room. Primarily, her frowning father, annoyed she hadn¡¯t answered his questions yet and very worried, by the vibe she got through their connection. In like manner, the nervous Tempest looked like she wanted to ask something, but the girl would have to wait. Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, she smiled and shook her head as Lilya offered her a blue concoction. Whatever good it may do, I made a promise to my sister to have my first meal with her since becoming a lich. Yes, Dad, we will talk, she said, as he gave her a critical stare. Give me a moment to gather my thoughts. Her father¡¯s blue eyes and face displayed complex emotions, gripping him in a new way since he¡¯d discovered her past life. ¡°Elinor¡­ Yeah, I¡¯ll just wait for you to come to terms. I¡¯m¡­ worried, though. Very worried.¡± There is a lot for me to discuss, she laughed, feeling somewhat different after her confrontation with her sister¡¯s past life. Butter and I fought off her dead goddess half that is somehow still lingering in Butter¡¯s spirit. I¡ªhmm? When her feet met the ground, her legs almost buckled, making her grimace. Lilya withdrew her potion without question, but her dad was quick to support her. ¡°Careful! Tiffany¡ª¡± No, I¡¯m fine, Dad. Really. ¡°Not exactly.¡± Lilya sighed. ¡°It is not only your body that is the problem, Empress. As Tiffany explained to us, this invasion affected your entire soul. Your gained EXP, as she calls it, affects not only your spirit but also your Intelligence and body. Your entire existence is stressed after your battle.¡± Flexing her fingers, Elinor¡¯s vision narrowed. Not the battle¡­ It must be from the Soul Expansion. I don¡¯t have a body, though; this is just artificial. Although, I suppose it wouldn¡¯t matter if the Soul Expansion and rapid increase in EXP affects everything I am. Hmm. I thought you didn¡¯t have a concept of the spirit or soul. Lilya chuckled as her dad stood off to the side, looking very unlike himself. ¡°The Kaspir Kingdom does not, but the Desert Royal Trade Coalition does. Many Beast Tribes tend to have such beliefs. The Sand Jessebe under-dwellers¡¯ entire culture surrounds spiritual enlightenment; this is a tonic they taught me. Also, Empress¡­¡± Setting down her flask, the former queen picked up a hand mirror and handed it to Elinor. Her brow furrowed as she took the item and stared at herself, fingers rising to her now-pointed ears. I¡¯m¡­ mixing with Irkalla¡¯s image? I suppose this Feat does work with how I see myself, and it is hard not to see pieces of my former life creeping into my identity. She looked up at her dad, now knowing why he was so agitated, beside her almost being potentially killed or taken over moments before. ¡°What do you make of my changing facial features, Dad? Do you think I¡¯m being overtaken by Irkalla on a more subtle level than what Ashrit did in trying to fully take over Butter?¡± It took a few tense seconds before her dad shook his head, bending down to hug her. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m the same man I used to be after everything that happened. I know you¡¯re still my Elinor¡­ just mixed with a far more mature woman. In a way, it¡¯s, hmm, like I¡¯m watching you grow up¡­ only so much faster. I¡¯m just worried about what your mother is missing.¡± With her head resting on his shoulder, Elinor saw Tiffany¡¯s shoulders droop at his words, pausing in her conversation with the hag. Once again, he¡¯d rejected her as his wife. Before, he¡¯d wanted to bring her back and had given her all his attention, but now, after learning what the hag could do, he had totally rejected The Witch. Letting out a short sigh, Elinor drew away from her dad and took one last look at her maturing face. At least her skin hadn¡¯t dyed blue yet. We will get down to business, then. How long was I unconscious? Where is Grace? Her jaw tightened when she moved around her father and saw the overcast morning glow peeking through the closed curtains as a light drizzle fell over the city. Castria piped up and answered her question as she took a seat across from Roman, the blind man scrutinizing her behind his crystal-like glasses. ¡°It¡¯s about 8 a.m., Empress. You¡¯ve been out all night and will leave in less than two hours.¡± Two hours, Elinor mumbled, crossing her legs and smiling as her father sat next to her. We cut things close. And Grace? ¡°Umm. Do you want me to open the curtains? There is a large group gathering outside, near the inn¡¯s backyard training field, eager to see you off. Roman called it together. The king and queen will be in attendance,¡± she nervously reported. ¡°Grace is double-checking your wagon, and is accepting a lot of departing gifts from the nobility and citizens.¡± Wonderful¡­ Her gaze darted to the hag, a frown touching her lips as she scanned the very long, unwinding scroll. I assume the Paladins told them about my rush upstairs. What have you told them, Lilya? Her Monarch of Alchemy calmly took an armchair in the circle, smoothing out her extravagant dress. ¡°An urgent meeting you had to attend, using your unique methods and powers. Nothing more, nothing less. The mystery will cause rumors in a more positive way, such as who is this mysterious goddess you were accompanying around the city. I have already informed the High Duke, and he is running interference with the nobility.¡± There was no need for concern, then, she said, fingernail tapping her knee as she stared at the unabashed and totally calm blind man sitting across from her. I assume the students of the House of Raven will be in attendance to see us off, Castria. ¡°Yes, Empress.¡± The girl¡¯s smile became forced as her gaze darted to her ears and face. ¡°My big sister is helping Grace. Although, umm, your changed features are sure to cause some¡­ other rumors.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fret over,¡± Lilya interjected. ¡°It will actually further support your claim that you came across the Great Ocean, being of the mythical long-eared race that sailed the stars. I will further cultivate your origin in your absence.¡± The weight of returning to a possible nightmare of circumstances dissipated as her court explained their actions and how they¡¯d mitigated suspicions. Good. If we are on a clock, we¡¯ll wait for my explanation of events until we are back on our planet. In any case, it isn¡¯t pertinent to the group in Kaspir. Castria, light the fires. Her Monarch of the Storm jumped to her feet and hurried to light the pink flames in the room, creating a damping effect so that most Tempest couldn¡¯t listen in. Opening her mouth for the first time since awakening, Elinor refrained from showing the weakness she felt in her exhausted soul. ¡°Roman, we will discuss this more after we depart. I am sure we have much to talk about regarding your part in this grand play. Is there anything you want to add?¡± The deceptively young man leaned back, rolling around the hilt of his expensive-looking cane in his palms, which he¡¯d obtained at some point. A grin split his lips, and he gave her a gracious bow. ¡°You are masterclass, Empress. I am more impressed by what you managed to accomplish than I could have dreamed. I managed to look over the contract you made with our dear servant girl that you bought¡­¡± Elinor¡¯s questioning eyes followed his casual gesture toward the hag, silently speaking to Tiffany in the corner of the room. A small glint appeared in the creature¡¯s eyes as a swirl of colors embraced the woman, revealing the new skin suit of a beggar.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°My affairs are in order, Empress,¡± the hag privately cackled. ¡°And¡­ yes, I can do everything you¡¯re asking¡ªat least, for a limited time. Who told you about the anchor I prepared that will provide a gateway back into this world? Ashrit was not the little bird in your ears whispering secrets. It must have been someone else.¡± Excitement bubbled up within her, and Elinor¡¯s smile grew as the hag¡¯s noble lady disguise returned. Autumn was still puzzling over the contract¡¯s details while questioning Tiffany about who helped her craft such an iron-clad deal. Roman again drew her attention after the enticing news. ¡°It seems you will be making return visits rather regularly. Would¡­ it be possible to create a gateway to bring other individuals to our homeland through your power?¡± Elinor¡¯s hungry eyes darted to Autumn, her head tilting to the side while tapping a particular line near the end of the unfurled scroll. Can I bring Castria and anyone else back to my world? ¡°I hate to disappoint, Empress, but just because a tunnel has been created does not mean the rules that govern the divide between our worlds are bypassed. It is impossible to circumvent its field, even for those of the level of gods, so far as I can tell. Hmm. Hehehe. It must have been Nungal, the Quiltra¡¯s goddess¡­¡± she proudly proclaimed. ¡°Grace is a clear sign of her interest in you. Yet, her presence still escapes me, proving how crafty the hare¡¯s goddess is. I have always been cautious of dealing with that tribe, due to her hand in guiding it. I would be careful of her, Empress. She may be trying to wiggle her way free of this dying universe in the same way I am.¡± Elinor wanted to laugh at how wrong the hag was for once. Nungal was not bound to this universe; the goddess was far more potent than Ashrit and her when they¡¯d been at their most powerful. At this point, she was sure of it. Nungal was above their concept of gods and goddesses, and she happened to have a brother whom she was cautious of. You¡¯re wrong, Autumn. You thought you could further tip the scale in your favor, but I can tell you without hesitation that Nungal is not trapped in this world. In fact, there is a system of rules that she manipulated in my favor to overcome Ashrit. We will add a bit more to the scale for that bit of information. The hag doubled over with laughter, her teeth flashing and the yellow-eyed monster underneath twisting her pretty face. ¡°I believe we will have a splendid partnership moving forward, Empress. Only those who have a¡­ Soul Pass, I suppose you could describe it, may enter or leave.¡± Sighing, Elinor¡¯s cheer dampened a little, yet Nungal had given her a hint on how to obtain such a pass. Focus on the eager blind man, she nodded. ¡°I do know of a way for others to join us within our kingdom¡­ in time. Now, let us prepare to leave. There is much that needs to be done once we are home.¡± The pressure rising in Elinor¡¯s chest wasn¡¯t from fear but from what she¡¯d gained in this Legend Quest. Her powers had grown to exceptional degrees, although they did come with drawbacks: She was a Warlord now. Yes, she could become a personal powerhouse for an hour a week, yet that strength wouldn¡¯t match the soldier¡¯s spirit she channeled. It was something to be used when she needed to display her strength in a more tangible way or invoke fear. In any case, it was highly adaptable since her powers changed based on the unit¡¯s spirit she used. Through Roman¡¯s Legend Quest and the power of his Greater Seed, she¡¯d opened up a whole new world. However, she could only obtain resources from it in a limited way, and apparently, the portal had a time limit. That being said, if the gateway had already opened, it should be able to be renewed somehow. Renegotiating with the hag when the topic came up would be on the agenda. Finally, she¡¯d discovered much about herself and her past. She was Level 25, and her Soul Expanse had reached the point of being able to expand and affect the outside world. If she could do this, then others would, as well. From what she understood, though, it was an advanced technique that required a certain level of personal experience and inner power. Accepting Roman¡¯s invitation had been the right choice. Now, she was invested, and so was he. This was not the end of the Kaspir Kingdom. There was plenty more to gain from this world. It was time for her to officially establish her kingdom among the ri¡¯bot tribes. To reach this point, she¡¯d taken risks, manipulated, and maneuvered the political landscape of five ri¡¯bot clans and an entire kingdom of powerful Tempest. She¡¯d learned, grown, and overcome every challenge. Elinor stood up, the tension of returning home and reuniting with her little sister resonating within her breast. She knew Butter had her own story to tell, and there were many secrets her sister had discovered about their new home¡¯s history that could change their next move. However, what was for sure was that the drums of war sounded in her chest. The Xaltan were attacking the Roxim. War should be with Chief Zargoth, and Tiffany¡¯s Witch Covens should have awoken their leader¡¯s Firewalker Mysticism, providing a further edge to their military arsenal. Klaus and Emelina were in the Nalvean Empire amongst the Clavex Clan, learning more about their light spirit Mysticism. After chatting with the Supreme Chief of Life, Utelira, the Life-Binder, Elinor had an idea of where the people were obtaining their divine powers¡ªthe Supreme Chief of Light, no doubt, trapped in a gem by Shade¡¯s machinations in the distant past. Garu¡¯s visit to the Ethereal Clan¡¯s secret village, with the additional information he¡¯d gained about their neighboring kingdom of ri¡¯bot to the west, could bring new challenges and potential alliances. If anything, trading partners could prove useful. Krava was busy in the far eastern plains, gathering support and a large army from the two Great Clans that ruled the grasslands. The Xaltan were their immediate threat. Another hidden danger came from the news she¡¯d received about the Elder Chief¡¯s rogue Xaria, Dalria, who had killed her mother and now served the Scarlet Hand. The woman was with Jennifer, her mysterious cult leader, converting the ri¡¯bot clans between the valley and Nalvean Empire to their south. They had potential enemies on all sides, so they couldn¡¯t grow complacent. A minor point of contention came from the Clanless, who were preparing to expand. Local warlords were conscripting the ri¡¯bot rejects and exiles of the zone into their ranks. Valentina, her ambitious 16-year-old Beastkin Assassin Tiger-girl, was stirring up trouble there, but she suspected she might need to send reinforcements for the girl when she returned. The girl was the hot-blooded type, and looking back, Elinor reconsidered her decision to let the girl roam. She¡¯d been comparing the girl to herself, wanting to expand and not be restricted, but now that she had further context into why her mind had matured so rapidly, it gave her a new perspective. She¡¯d sent Valentina in as a spy half-cocked. The girl needed a tutor. If all of that weren¡¯t enough, Butter would be returning from the Crystal Gateway she went into with a story to tell. She suspected the Susime were not going to survive much longer without their Supreme Chief. The Prume¡¯s warning had been centered around the Susime, and now she was wondering if the gems Spokesperson Jet¡¯al had smoked in his pipe were lingering, crystalized energy from a time when the ri¡¯bot were world conquerors. It certainly made them more interesting. Elinor exited the fancy accommodations she¡¯d been gifted, passing a few satisfactory words to Sir Percy and his son as they joined her; she wasn¡¯t surprised to see Captain Flera by his side. The inn¡¯s owner would be the premier Magic Knight instructor for the House of Ravens, and Flera was acting as his assistant. She wondered if the scarred woman and widowed man might find further companionship in one another as time went on. ¡°I am honored to have had your patronage and ear, Empress. Despite your frightening reputation, you are a woman of restraint, insight, and wisdom. I look forward to your return, and hope to present suitable Magic Knights to show the fruits of your efforts within our kingdom.¡± ¡°I look forward to it,¡± Elinor nodded, leaving the three at the end of the hallway as they descended the stairs. ¡°I still would love one of your trophies at some point, Master Percy.¡± ¡°I will consider it next time we meet,¡± he laughed. She turned with a smile aimed up at the beaming knight. ¡°I will hold you to that. Push Elira to her limits. She needs to be as strong as possible to keep Princess Castria safe.¡± ¡°I will teach her everything I know, Empress!¡± Giving a satisfactory nod, she went to the ground level, a slight smirk lifting her lips as Autumn scurried behind them, maintained her servant-girl guise, playing the part so well Elinor wanted to laugh at how skittish and timid the hag portrayed herself. It didn¡¯t take long for another face to snatch her eye, though. A thoughtful hum resonated in her throat as she saw a somewhat nervous, pretty green-haired woman in her early 40s standing off to the side. ¡°High Lady Trisha Proltis. Here to see me off in place of your mother?¡± The puppet heir of the Great House of Proltis gave her a proper curtsy; it seemed her Earth etiquette was spreading rapidly amongst the nobility¡ªit was better than a dab. ¡°High Lady Julia sends her regrets for her absence, Empress. I hope you have a safe journey back to your empire.¡± Elinor couldn¡¯t get the picture of one of the most powerful Tempest in this kingdom¡ªa woman meant to stand as one of its pillars¡ªfrantically role-playing as a servant out of her head. When you had everything in your life, you started craving the unusual to spice things up, and she suspected she had her own mother issues and past trauma to thank for that. ¡°I hope Grandmaster Lilya and you become close friends¡­ The House of Ravens does not forget those who side with her. Have a lovely morning, High Lady Trisha.¡± Walking past the nervous Tempest, knowing there was a noose around her neck due to her underground fetish, Elinor hoped that fear would turn to respect as she worked with her Monarch of Alchemy. Perhaps her daughter would have competition for the House¡¯s leadership seat as time went on and Trisha grew more of a backbone. She caught the well-dressed blind man¡¯s lifted smirk from out of the corner of her eye. He¡¯d probably learned about Julia¡¯s activities in the private female establishment. She didn¡¯t feel like the word ¡®brothel¡¯ described it properly. If anything, it was a kink dungeon for the wealthy and noblewomen to release pent-up frustrations around their society. Nearing the end of the hallway, she paused as Julian, Heather, and Anala gave her a formal greeting. They probably only got inside due to Castria and Heather¡¯s influence with how tight the Paladin and Magic Knight security was around the inn. She was a little surprised not to see Drake beside the redhead. ¡°Safe journey, Empress,¡± Heather said, showing a genuine smile that softened Elinor¡¯s heart. The princess deserved better than what her mother gave her, and it said a lot that she wasn¡¯t by her mother¡¯s side in her send-off. ¡°I hope you return soon¡­ Wait, Empress, is that you?¡± Elinor chuckled, an enigmatic gleam in her emerald eyes. ¡°You¡¯re the first to have said anything, but yes, Princess. My body is more¡­ fluid than you might believe. I may look a little more different next time you see me. Princess Castria, join your fellow students.¡± ¡°Oh. Okay¡­ your earrings are damaged¡ªP-Princess Castria!¡± ¡°Yes, Empress! It¡¯s fine, Heather, and remember¡ªfirst names!¡± The former peasant skipped to Princess Heather and Lady Anala¡¯s side, hugging the surprised girls, flustered and unsure if it was appropriate given the setting. Elinor pushed on, leaving the comment about her earring unanswered; she¡¯d address it when home. She exited through the doorway as the Magic Knights opened it for her, and Elinor¡¯s heart swelled upon entering a sea of cheers¡ªalmost all of which were of the higher merchant class or above. She heard Lilya¡¯s name called amongst the shouts, which made sense. Much of this excitement was aimed at the desert trade princess and former queen. The bronze-skinned woman¡¯s return accompanied hope for a blossoming economy, and the market was king. High Lord Yeven and High Lord Tarkov stood beside Grace and the large wagon he¡¯d secured. Beside their father, Drake and Alix hovered with the rest of his family. It wasn¡¯t only the fire and ice Great Houses in attendance. Grand Duke Logan and King Virelli were on the ground rather than the air, which seemed to be a great show of respect for the Tempest society¡ªQueen Alivau was not present. Debro¡¯s flaming red hair and strong grin were aimed at her as she approached amidst the cheers. His wife was a tad more suspicious of her after their private chat about her daughter. Elinor didn¡¯t miss the ring Drake wore around his middle finger; Anala and him were all but publicly engaged, and she doubted the information would leak out anytime soon. Many girls were about to become expert detectives, in search of who had stolen the high-value noble boy off the market. ¡°Empress!¡± Debro roared, flashing his teeth and offering her a bow and hearty laugh. ¡°You have certainly caused a stir within the kingdom and caused quite a few controversies. I love the tension! I hope you will return before the First Winter¡¯s Dance of the Academy Waltz.¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Elinor nodded, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips as she glanced at his oldest daughter and wife. ¡°I will do my best, but I can make no promises. Still, I would hate to miss such delicious drama.¡± ¡°Way to butter my biscuit!¡± the man said, excitement in his eyes. ¡°Karia suspects you¡¯ve helped this bud blossom. I didn¡¯t think you were the type for such fun plots, but you¡¯ve all but confirmed it! I love it.¡± Idalia wore an expression that Elinor took as if someone had slapped her across the face¡ªshe was still in shock that her little sister was engaged before her when she was eight years older. From her semi-hidden agitated glances at High Lord Alix, fingers playing with the ring hanging at her bust, it was all too evident that the woman had a crush on the next head of the Great House of Tarnash. The stunning and outgoing redhead had probably had hundreds of men ask for her ring and refused them all. Lineage was important to Tempest, so it didn¡¯t look good for her public image, yet her heart seemed to be set. Castria¡­ ¡°Yes, Empress?¡± I want you to ship your two Tempest instructors. Alix and Idalia would work well with each other, and wouldn¡¯t it be cute if the Great Houses had a double wedding? Food for thought since Idalia likes Alix and tries to deny her heart. ¡°H-Huh?! Really?!¡± Elinor left her to stew and gossip with her friend group; the teens would be on a crusade after planting that image in their heads. When she met the kingdom¡¯s royalty, Elinor gave a gracious curtsy to the king, showing her respect to their ruler as he greeted her. ¡°I lament that we weren¡¯t able to spend more time together, Empress. I hope your stay in Kaspir has been enjoyable.¡± Tilting her head to the side to glance at the Grand Duke before returning to the king, Elinor hummed. Both of these men could vaporize the entire ri¡¯bot valley to blackened ash, yet politics and the longing of the heart had brought them to her side. She caught an uncharacteristic lump drop down her Monarch of Alchemy¡¯s throat as the former queen met her husband¡¯s gaze; theoretically, they could still be legally wed by the country¡¯s law. The tense dynamics between various factions and forces within this kingdom wet her tongue with the future drama that would unfold. ¡°Considering my introduction to your kingdom and my first meeting with your lovely daughter, I would say my visit has been most enjoyable. I feel safe leaving Princess Castria here with the support system I¡¯ve gathered for her. I look forward to our future dealings when next I return¡­ hopefully, as I said, before the First Winter¡¯s Dance of the Academy Waltz. I hate to leave so abruptly, but I must be returning.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The Great Houses floated away with a few parting, joyful words for a reunion. King Virelli¡¯s eyes lingered on the woman he longed to hold, and goosebumps ran down his arm as he nodded to his resurrected wife before joining the Great Houses. Logan¡¯s imperceivable stare lingered on Elinor, the last to leave. ¡°¡­I understand there is a greater threat to address. Thank you for the forewarning and support, Empress. I am not so sure about your duke¡¯s intentions, though. I will hold my judgment for now.¡± Elinor turned a tight smile at the oblivious blind man, her thoughts now directed at the Legendkin. What plots are you involved in that are putting heat on me from someone as powerful as the Grand Duke? We are going to have to have a chat when this is done. Grace joined them now that they were ready to leave, and Roman made a showy display, holding up his cane before slashing the air and ripping a hole through space. Shock and whispers swept the throng, not expecting such a flashy exit, yet Elinor walked through without a second glance, maintaining her poise. Her boots sank into the muddy floor of her jungle, and the chatter of its alien creatures welcomed her home. Soon, this lush valley would be the foundation of her growing empire. Autumn¡¯s cloth shoes sank into the muck as she hopped through, a wide grin splitting her lips, free from her dying universe. Now, it was her turn to fulfill her end of the contract. I¡¯m home. B4 — Prelude. The Eve of War War stood near a blazing mud furnace as Roxim craftsmen kept it lit and working round the clock to be sure everything was ready for the upcoming war. His tied back red hair weaving in the strong wind like long flames in the early morning light as he laughed and clapped. Chief Zargoth danced in swift, deadly fashion, fire blazing around him as his warriors and citizens cheered or cried, their legacy returning with a renewed sense of hope. He spun and twisted in a mesmerizing trance to the gathered toads. The children were jumping up and down, asking their parents when they¡¯d be able to dance with fire, and War could see the emotion in the Roxim people¡¯s eyes. Morale was soaring and the clan¡¯s excitement was palpable, their cheers and rhythmic claps adding to the energy of their chief¡¯s movements. Beside War, Rylee watched with a soft smile, her sharp green eyes reflecting the firelight as some of her witch coven stood nearby. Zargoth¡¯s words boomed as he maneuvered mid-air with the fire, accelerating his movements and creating a cyclone of heat. ¡°You witches have truly outdone yourselves, Rylee!¡± He flipped out of the sky to land in front of them, the flames dissipating as the scarred warrior gazed upon the slender witch, tall for a human woman but not when compared to a standing ri¡¯bot. ¡°Your rituals work¡­ Empress Elinor has fulfilled her promise.¡± Rylee brushed back her dirty and long dark brown hair, falling over her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re far from done, Chief Zargoth. Now that we¡¯ve finished the ritual formula I can direct Hilda¡¯s Circle to start working on your other warriors to unlock their blocked genes.¡± She glanced from Red to the perpetual misty expanse to their southeast, where the Roxim¡¯s lake fed into the giant scar in the valley; the Avana dragon had carved it out nearly a century ago, and Red had seen the interest in the Gray Coven members¡¯ eyes eager to explore it over the last few days since they¡¯d arrived. ¡°With Hilda¡¯s thirteen witches working on your High Warriors, it leaves Carla¡¯s Circle and me available to research further activities and further strengthen your defenses. I have a few things to personally see to, given to me by Queen Tiffany, such as getting the communication grid more stable, but that shouldn¡¯t be too challenging. We¡¯re far from done supporting you, Chief.¡± Zargoth settled down a tad, naturally thrilled to have his people¡¯s legacy returned to them. He studied the thirty-two-year-old woman with respect he likely rarely gave anyone else. ¡°I will speak highly of your achievements with your queen when she arrives. You are one of three covens within the Empire, are you not?¡± Red stepped back to let the brown-skinned Colombian woman have her spotlight as he surveyed the bustling village, the pulse of war in every heart. Right now, they were on the defense, but soon, he¡¯d be leading the charge, and that sent a surge of energy through his undead veins. Rylee accepted a resilient flower stem from Hilda as she directed her Circle to prepare the next ritual. They¡¯d found flowers nearby that had some elasticity, which made it perfect for them over the last week and been used as hair ties. The issue was they seemed to have a week¡¯s life span. The coven leader tied back her hair and returned her gaze to the chief. ¡°If there is anything else you¡¯d like, then please, let Zara know.¡± She shifted to her right to bring a bright-eyed sixteen-year-old girl into focus, clasping her hands on her shoulders before fixing the girl¡¯s curly brown hair. ¡°Zara is a bit young and new to the Gray Witches, but I¡¯d bet she could advance to the 2nd Circle position as a leader in the next few days, given her talent.¡± The girl¡¯s muddy irises widened in shock. ¡°You really think so, Rylee?¡± Her two-years-older big sister tapped her on the arm nearby and winked. ¡°You¡¯re already outshining me, Zara. Mom and Dad will be proud when the Empress brings them back.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Red smiled as a few of the other witches rallied around the beaming teen. Most of the witches in the Gray Coven were over eighteen, but there were five of the twenty-six witches that were between fourteen and sixteen. Their parents had entrusted them to his care, and they were going to return to the Wixum base when the war truly started, cycling out for the White and Black Covens. Zargoth crossed his arms and looked around at his laughing warriors and citizens, wondering who in their clan would have strong enough blood to become Mystics. ¡°Hmm. War, join me for a moment¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m in your service until told otherwise,¡± Red chuckled, arms crossed over his thick, armored chest as he nodded to Rylee to go have their fun; Zara moved to join them, acting as the courier for her coven if they needed any more witchcraft done. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to check on the Xaltan¡¯s movements. Is that a good direction?¡± The discolored green toad patted him on the shoulder while taking the lead. ¡°Just where I wanted to go! Fennel should be returning shortly but I¡¯d like to see how their preparations are coming¡­ The last report has me cautious.¡± Red nodded and gave Zara a reassuring thumbs up as she jogged after them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll carry you up the side of the cliff.¡± ¡°Oh! Thanks, War. Are we¡­taking the cleared path?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zargoth mused, looking at her thin frame; most of the men and women had thinned out quite a bit over the last few months in the jungle environment. ¡°Humans have adapted better than Fennel believed they would, considering how clumsy your species was when they first arrived in our world.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Empress Elinor,¡± Zara swiftly returned, her pulled-up hair bobbing with her carefree movements as she waved at the toad children and studied the Roxim home base. ¡°Without her power, none of this would be possible. Everyone really believes she¡¯ll take us back to a point that was better than we had it in Colombia. She¡­really cares about us.¡± Red breathed out a long puff of air, his ruby irises looking down at the suddenly melancholy teen, the morning sun glistening off her sweat-slicked brown skin. ¡°Still wondering when your parents will be brought back? You don¡¯t need to worry. The Empress will recognize what you and your sister are doing. Your prowess as a witch proves your dedication to her vision.¡± ¡°No, no,¡± she protested, playing with her torn and dirty tank top, leaves sewn into the fabric to provide better modesty from the damage; they¡¯d worked hard over the past few months. ¡°I¡¯m just missing them. The fact they can come back is more than enough¡­ If I work harder, then maybe things will happen faster¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ll just try my best and wait for it to happen.¡± Gauntlet disappearing in a flash of ruby light, he rubbed her back for comfort. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine, Zara. All of this preparation work is the most critical part. Your rituals will save lives.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her smile grew. ¡°Not that death really matters with the Empress around. She¡¯s so¡­amazing. Some of the girls wonder if High Queen Butter really is related to her because none of us actually knows what¡­she kind of does.¡± ¡°Oof.¡± Red winced at the redirect, which was natural considering the hard work everyone else was doing while the High Queen of the Evening Star was off on her mysterious mission. ¡°Empress Elinor and High Queen Butter have a¡­complicated relationship from what my brother and sisters say, but she does pull her weight.¡± Zargath¡¯s body shook with laughter. ¡°I haven¡¯t met Butter, but I¡¯ve heard the whispers about the lazy golden butterfly.¡± Zara flashed her teeth. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll believe it when I see it, General War. All everyone¡¯s seen is her flying around eavesdropping on people.¡± Red tried his best to defend the positive and gung ho blonde twin of his Empress, but it was hard when he hadn¡¯t talked much to the High Queen either. Most of his information came from second-hand. White was currently with her, though, so he was sure they were off conquering something with his indomitable, strategic, and charismatic big sister on the mission. Their path up to the ridge was met by Fennel, and he guided them on the hour hike to the steep mesa that defended the Roxim from the other clans. He took the excited teen into a princess carry, summoned Carnage, and set her on the front half of his muscular, proud war steed. Swinging up behind her, he followed the ri¡¯bot up the winding, hazardous path to the top of the rocky mountain¡¯s flat summit. He shielded his eyes from the blinding sun as they reached the sweltering and humid top of the mesa, the sun rising higher in the sky. Zara plucked at her tank top, trying to get air through to cool off as Carnage came to a slow trot. ¡°I¡¯m going to get sunburnt, I can¡¯t believe no one in the Gray Coven learned Alisa¡¯s sunscreen ritual trick¡­ The White Coven has so many convenient rituals. Aww, and you¡¯re such a good boy, Carnage,¡± she cooed, nuzzling the horse¡¯s neck. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you join them?¡± Red chuckled while passively listening to Fennel and Zargoth talk about the status of the smaller villages north of the main Roxim settlement. ¡°Because your sister was already in the Gray Coven?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Esmeralda¡¯s Black Coven scares me, to be honest, and Alisa does less, eh¡­cool things, I guess you could say,¡± she mumbled with a strained grin. ¡°The Gray Coven is advertised as being a little more dark than White and less dark than Black. The perfect mix!¡± ¡°Just without the sunscreen benefits.¡± ¡°You get it! Ugh¡­ Can undead even get sunburns?¡± she asked, jealousy in her muddy brown eyes while twisting to look back at him and accepting the last water bottle he¡¯d brought in Carnage¡¯s satchel for situations like this. ¡°Oh, thanks! Seriously, though, everyone that comes back is drop-dead gorgeous. Have you seen Theresa? She used to play the piano at church, but now she¡¯s like a supermodel, singer¡­and Head Maid for the Empress.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get your chance eventually to taste what undeath is like,¡± Red mused, scanning the attitude of the soldier toads with their snipers and guns that Elinor had traded for their human slaves; Zara had been one of the rare teenage girls that were taken by the Roxim and now she was helping them. ¡°No need to rush it, and there are things you can do while alive that we can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Like having babies!¡± Zara chimed, shockingly energetic about that detail. ¡°From what I heard down the witch grape vine, Queen Tiffany has been researching a way to speed up the process. We¡¯re kind of¡­dying out since there¡¯s less than four thousand living humans, right?¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Not wrong,¡± Red muttered, swinging down and easily picking her up to set down beside him. ¡°In any case, I¡¯m going to have to let you be bored and lonely for a bit.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mind me!¡± she proclaimed, pointing at the water house that the ri¡¯bot used to rehydrate. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest in the shade and splash some water on my face before I die of heat stroke!¡± The teenager jogged off, leaving him to walk with Fennel and Chief Zargoth. Carnage nipped at his ear, making him chuckle. Of course I¡¯m soft to the citizens of the empire. Lay off. Carnage snorted before vanishing in a crimson haze as Red dismissed him, his vision narrowing while joining the Chief¡¯s conversation. ¡°So, they are building boats? Show me.¡± Passing by the wooden towers and walls that covered any steep path up to the ridge, Fennel took them to the far south observation tower. Jumping to the top in a single bound since it didn¡¯t have a ladder, his cloak billowed in the strong wind. His fiery braid whipped in the strong gale as he surveyed the valley below. It was always a sight to behold, standing over 500 meters in the air, the alien jungle sprawled beneath, a tapestry of life and color. The colossal tar-black trees towered over the landscape, their vast trunks rising high, dwarfing even the largest redwoods. Each tree was adorned with massive orange and purple leaves, casting violet and auburn rays of light that created a vibrant sea of vegetation. Stretching between him and the jungle, an 8-kilometer wide river wound its way between the jungle marshlands and lush, young landscape north of the waters. It was a gleaming serpent in the vast valley. The marshlands of the Xaltan lay low, almost cradled by the valley''s towering walls, where the land dipped to embrace the river¡¯s path. The sheer cliffs on either side rose steeply, their rocky faces dotted with vegetation and crowned by the dense jungle above. From this aerial vantage point, the valley seemed almost serene with its spotted showers, yet the storm brewing in the distance hinted at the untamed power of this alien world. As was typical, it would be drawn in by the valley¡¯s crowning jewel of a colossal mountain, possibly higher than Mt. Everest, and constantly veiled in snow, before dumping its content onto them. As Fennel and Zargoth joined him, his gaze lingered on the jungle¡¯s canopy, a dense mosaic of greens, oranges, and purples, swayed gently in the wind. It was a living, breathing entity that thrived in the fertile soil enriched by ancient fires and volcanic activity. The spotter handed him a pair of binoculars, and he adjusted them to get a clearer view of the Xaltan¡¯s shores. His focus instantly centered on activity along it, giant boats anchored along its banks. ¡°These boats are too modern for the Xaltan,¡± he whispered to the chief and his top warrior, frowning as he counted at least a few dozen and handed the item over to them. ¡°They¡¯re long and sleek, designed to transport large groups of people.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Fennel growled as Zargoth examined them. ¡°It is not of our natural design and is more in-line with Nalvean technology.¡± ¡°The salamander water-benders, eh? Well, that¡¯s not concerning¡­¡± The presence of so many vessels made his stomach churn with unease. He shifted his attention across the river to the perpetual mists hovering over the Maw, barely able to discern the partially hidden mountain that overlooked it on the opposite side of the Roxim lake. Fennel tapped his ax against his thigh, his face etched with concern. ¡°The odd thing is they¡¯re preparing not only large rafts that we¡¯ve never seen,¡± he muttered, ¡°but far more than what would be required for an assault of elite units. If they used torlim, like us, I¡¯d understand, but they don¡¯t.¡± Zargoth followed Red¡¯s gaze to the eastern fog on their side of the river, his expression serious. ¡°I¡¯ve taken your advice and stationed scouts near the border of the mists to cover that side. They won¡¯t get by without being seen, but the Xaltan are masters of stealth among the valley clans. That being said, the thermal binoculars, which regain their vigor through the sun¡¯s light, should prove valuable in detecting any movement across the river.¡± ¡°At least at night,¡± Red nodded, a grim smile playing on his lips. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll need every advantage we can get if they somehow got Nalvean support because that wasn¡¯t something we¡¯d planned on. Klaus didn¡¯t report anything on his last letter that indicated that they were mobilizing for an offensive in their capital, but their empire is so vast that he may not even know. We need to be prepared for everything, which is why Rylee is here to provide the flexibility of rituals.¡± The view from the tower offered a stark contrast between the bustling activity in the Roxim camp and the foreboding stillness beyond the river, their vessels empty. Below, the Roxim craftsmen toiled tirelessly by the lake, their fires leaving smoke rising into the sky, their mud furnaces blazing as they prepared for the impending conflict. War drums echoed through the camp, mingling with the cheers and cries of the clan¡¯s warriors and citizens at regaining their Firewalking Mysticism. ¡°War is coming,¡± Red said, his voice a low growl as he felt something shifting already in the wind. ¡°They¡¯re already in motion. The Empress should return tomorrow morning, so it won¡¯t be long until reinforcements come. We need to be ready.¡± Fennel hoisted his ax over his shoulders, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. ¡°I never would have thought the weak human that died so easily would become our shining hope¡­¡± He glanced down at the pistol strapped to his waist and the grenades. ¡°The Xaltan won¡¯t know what hit them. But we need to stay vigilant. There is a reason they are considered the strongest clan in the valley. They¡¯re cunning and won¡¯t hesitate to use any advantage they can find since they don¡¯t operate on honor.¡± As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Zargoth handed the binoculars back to the spotter. ¡°I¡¯m sure the Empress has something to tie the Xaltan¡¯s tongue and prick their feet. She¡¯s the most resourceful creature I have ever met¡­ I knew it the moment I met her and saw what she¡¯d managed to build.¡± Fennel rubbed his drying head, watching the spotter be replaced by a fresh warrior, allowing him to rejuvenate in the water house from the blistering stun, despite the shaded roof¡¯s protection. ¡°I can see their faces when she brings the quen¡¯talrat Elite Hunter to devastate their defensive line.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she will have more surprises for them¡­and us,¡± Zargoth muttered, and Red detected a hint of admiration and anticipation from the Roxim Chief. ¡°For now, we need to make sure the torlim are in top condition. The binding rituals your witches are crafting, War, combined with our awakening Firewalkers and the witches¡¯ other disruptive traps will allow us to repel at least the initial attack.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hope,¡± Red sighed. ¡°All we can do is prepare, yet¡­I feel something ominous in the air.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll double the watch,¡± Fennel instantly replied, moving to jump down. ¡°We¡¯re reaching the final jump to the Empress¡¯ return. If we hold out, then reinforcements will come but if we fall, then all of this work will be for nothing. I¡¯ll send a scout across the river with one of those walkatie-talkaties to observe from the shores.¡± ¡±No,¡± Zargoth muttered. ¡°If they¡¯re captured, then they could listen in on our communications. For now, we need to remain vigilant in tracking their movements. We have the high ground and vision. Keep patrols on the shore and look for any signs of swimmers. Let¡¯s head down. We need to finalize our preparations and ensure every warrior knows their role.¡± Red nodded. They Descended the tower, and he chuckled upon seeing Zara lying on her back in the water building, tank top pulled up to her lower chest and spreading cool water over her skin to cool off. ¡°Ready to go?¡± ¡°Eh?! Are we actually going down? This place is a heat death trap! We need some ventilation in here¡­like, bad!¡± Carrying the heat fatigued sixteen-year-old witch down to her relief, he wondered if Rylee had sent her to be their witch ambassador because of her dangerous tendencies when left alone. Apparently, the girl was all too willing to experiment with rituals and cause mischief, including pranks on her fellow coven members. When they made it back to the bustling camp, he saw several more Firewalkers performing a dance together that had the Roxim citizens bouncing to the war drums. The energy was palpable, a mix of fear and excitement as the Roxim warriors prepared for battle, entertainment was given, and witches flitted about, engaged in their own activities. Red¡¯s presence was a steadying influence, his confidence infectious as he moved among the troops and Roxim citizens, offering words of encouragement and advice. ¡°We fight not just for survival,¡± he reminded them, ¡°but for our legacy. The Xaltan think they can take our land, our people, but we will show them the strength of a united front between Roxim and the Undying Empire. Death is no end within the Empress¡¯ eternal flame.¡± As the day wore on and the darkness of night settled, Red found himself back at the edge of the camp, staring out across the river once more. The mist seemed to mock him as it stretched over a quarter of the serpent-like waters, hiding whatever threats lay beyond its shroud. He glanced down at his walkie-talkie as Rylee¡¯s exasperated voice came through. ¡°General War¡­¡± Closing his eyes and feeling that ominous sensation in his gut again, he breathed out a long breath and brought the device up to his mouth; this wasn¡¯t what pre-war felt like¡­ It felt like the Xaltan had already made their move, and they couldn¡¯t see it. Yet, no movement had been spotted, and they had eyes everywhere, including the witch familiars. ¡°What is the problem?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the communication ritual relay point inside the caves underneath the mesa¡­ It¡¯s been utterly destroyed. We¡¯re going to have to rebuild it.¡± Figuring the woman was probably covering for someone¡¯s mistake if she wasn¡¯t suggesting foul play, he rubbed his forehead. Don¡¯t tell me Zara thought she could upgrade it and make it better, and at this critical point. ¡°What happened? Did someone have the bright idea to upgrade it?¡± The thirty-two-year-old woman sounded somewhat perplexed and agitated at the same time. ¡°Zara discovered the disconnect, actually, and went to investigate while trying to double check all the rituals. It happened earlier today, likely in the morning, which was why we didn¡¯t get any midnight updates. Actually¡­it was Carla¡¯s mistake.¡± Red¡¯s brow furrowed, turning away from the mist to walk toward the settlement. His thoughts went to the thirty-year-old, brown-haired, and blue-eyed Colombian woman. A Second Circle Witch, and the leader of one of the Circles? Carla¡¯s a biologist by specialty, focusing more on flora and fauna than communication rituals. Why would she be trying to upkeep it when Quinnel is her expert for that in her Circle? Perhaps they got a bit too caught up in their own research and activities today? Still, it¡¯s a huge blunder, and one she should know better than to make. She¡¯s the intelligent, practical, and level-headed type who fears to disappoint Rylee. How could Carla have missed such a critical step than to test if the ritual was inactive or not? ¡°I¡¯m on my way. How long will it take to fix?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem,¡± Rylee hissed, likely glaring at her friend. ¡°Some of the materials used are not that prevalent on the eastern side of the valley since it was created with western valley materials. We¡¯ll need to find some work-arounds since the materials used for it¡­somehow got used on other rituals. Zara¡­¡± He heard the sixteen-year-old¡¯s downcast voice on the other end. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Rylee, War¡­ I succeeded in making the camouflage charm, though. That¡¯s useful, right? I just, why did Carla not tell anyone! She¡¯s been off with Sofia way later than she should, too, looking for¡ªoh, they¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Zara, we¡¯re not trying to blame you. We always need spares for situations like this, though. Nothing is more important than communication across the valley,¡± Red sighed. ¡°Anyway, it doesn¡¯t matter. Keep Carla there. We can¡¯t do anything about it now. Try to figure out a work-around and I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be waiting,¡± Rylee mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m going to go talk to her now and figure everything out. It really doesn¡¯t sound like Carla, but she was the last one who swapped places with Olivia, and no one else was told to maintain it, which means someone is lying, which¡­I doubt, but I don¡¯t know. This shouldn¡¯t have happened at all.¡± Walking through the grasslands beside the Maw and the Roxim lake, he went to see what was the real damage because Rylee rarely sounded that upset. He felt more bad for Carla than anything else. What is Tiffany going to do when she gets back and hears that one of her witches, who should know better, unlike Zara, let the ritual network be down for more than twenty hours without reporting it? There had to be a communication error somewhere along the way, which needs to be found and plugged with prejudice¡­and redundancies¡­a lot of them. It feels more like sabotage. Uncomfortable thoughts swirled in his mind as he felt war breathing on the back of his neck. Something isn¡¯t right¡­ I¡¯ve felt something off since this morning, and now I come to learn the communication grid has been down for that long? No checks. And people are out later than they should be. Zara is right, Carla shouldn¡¯t be out after dark with Sofia since she¡¯s only fourteen years old. Red increased his pace, his fingers tightening into a fist. I¡¯ve gotten to know all twenty-six of the girls fairly well. Ximena, Ursula, Yolanda, Karina¡­ All of them can only use their powers due to believing in Empress Elinor. If they tried to betray her, then their powers wouldn¡¯t work. It doesn¡¯t make sense, but¡­is there somehow a Scarlet Hand spy within the coven? B4 — 1. Ominous Reports Elinor breathed in the humid, crisp air of her jungle home, closing her eyes to listen to the chatter of the alien critters and the hum of its insects. A shiver ran down her frame as the expansive pulse of her Nexus exploded with information; dozens of voices plucked miles between each other as the Serving Court welcomed her home. Vision opening to the bright morning rays of the sun peeking through the thick canopy, a small smile lifted the corner of her lips when Theresa Pecha met her with a deep curtsy; Theresa was the current acting Head Maid in the Wixum camp. She didn¡¯t so much as glance at the cackling hag next to her. ¡°Empress, I hope you had a lovely week. Your appearance seems to have changed slightly. You look¡­ slightly older and more mature.¡± Elinor chuckled. A good way to say I now have elf ears, Theresa, but yes, you could say I¡¯ve grown a bit. ¡°Lovely. Lieutenant Carlos S¨¢nchez has stationed your troops throughout the jungle to be ready for any action required. We are ready to act on whatever order you give. A short shower approaches. We have prepared a place for you inside if you wish for a more suitable place to oversee the written reports we have prepared.¡± Unsticking her boots from the wet mud to survey the small clearing outside of the th¨¦lm¨¦thra cave, she swept the area, spotting the trembling yaltha¡¯ma outside, waiting for her commands. Elinor felt leagues ahead of where she¡¯d been when she¡¯d left this spot a week ago¡ªten days for her in Roman¡¯s world. On top of things, as usual, Theresa, she whispered, her focus returning to the motherly woman, dressed in a black summer dress. Have the goods we¡¯ve collected from Kaspir brought inside the cave. If there is nothing that demands my immediate attention, then lead the way. Theresa¡¯s tempered blue eyes shifted to Autumn as a pulse of orange energy returned her to the noblewoman¡¯s appearance before noting the others who came through the rift behind her. ¡°Right this way, Empress.¡± Elinor silently walked beside the Songweaver, listening to the chatter passing between the excited maids, butlers, and the general Serving Court she¡¯d raised before leaving. Autumn followed beside her, a wide, predatory grin on her face as she took in her new world, fingers sparking with magic while sampling the taste of the atmosphere. Her dad, Tiffany, Grace, and Roman followed, with the hare obtaining instructions from Black and Ash. The Horsemen were keeping him updated on what transpired between their private communications, likely finding solace in another warrior. However, Elinor paused at the mouth of the cave, a tightness clutching at her chest, pulling her eyes to the east. A voice entered her mind, but it didn¡¯t come from the Nexus; it was a whispered prayer for strength that pulled her to the exact location of its origin¡ªit was Valentina. ¡°I¡¯m not weak. She believes in me¡­ If I die, I rise again. I¡¯m not weak¡­ I can escape.¡± ¡°Is something wrong, Empress?¡± Theresa asked, hands held at her front while following her eyes to the thick undergrowth leading to the river. With her vision narrowing, she backtracked a few steps, drawing everyone¡¯s attention when the rift to Kaspir closed, and the wagon came to a sharp halt in the mud. ¡°Tiffany, I¡¯ll leave you to get everything settled in. Dad, Roman, go over the reports inside; you¡¯re both faster readers than me.¡± She paused to give Autumn a hard stare as the hag¡¯s gleeful grin grew. ¡°You will prepare what you agreed to. In one of the rooms inside this cave, you can set up your temporary base of operations and work on fashioning this gateway to Kaspir.¡± Not waiting for anyone to confirm or deny her, expecting her orders to be handled, Elinor looked up at the beams of light passing through the dense foliage. ¡°I will be back in a moment. Grace, join me.¡± Chains punched through space, connecting to her open palm and launching her into the sky. She passed the massive tree roots of the towering greenery and the wide branches reaching for the heavens around her. A second chain exited, pulling her further into the canopy, and she smiled upon seeing the hare standing on a branch as if he¡¯d been waiting for her. Rising past him, she saw a blur as the hare continued up the jungle trees until she landed next to the bare-chested man. Elinor¡¯s cheer fell upon seeing the uneven sea of leaves that spaced out around her; she was in a lower part of the valley, blocking much of it behind hills and mountains. Well, I suppose this is a good reason for me to pick up that Feat¡­ I¡¯ve stockpiled my points for a reason, and it will become more useful as we get into war plans. Grace¡¯s giant, frayed ears tilted left and right, the hot breeze pulling at his bundled, thigh-length hair as his arm rested on one of the hilts of his curved swords. His sharp gray eyes showed a small smile, looking totally at ease while memorizing everything he saw with his perfect memory, waiting for her orders. An idea popped into Elinor¡¯s mind. ¡°Keep following me, Grace. Get a good look at the valley.¡±
[Limit Break Activated: Chain Break II]
Multiple chains broke through space to pull her further into the sky, multiple links exiting to meet and pulling tight, creating a sky ladder for Grace to climb with her. The wind whipped past Elinor while flying into the heavens, spotting the sparse dark clouds rolling in that Theresa had warned her about and the colossal scope of the quen¡¯talrat city-fortress in the distance. She stopped when breaking even with the northwestern mountains, which were far below the vast north-central giants that overlooked the shiny black stone city. Sitting on her linked chains, Elinor crossed her legs as the cool breeze drew her unbound locks back, surveying her valley. All of this would soon be hers. The Susime and Butter first drew her gaze, but it didn¡¯t last long, and she couldn¡¯t see that far beyond the valley behind the mountains; her sister had yet to return from her Crystal expedition by how distant her spirit felt. Grace landed beside her, studying the scenery. ¡°What am I supposed to be looking for, Empress?¡± ¡°Nothing yet,¡± she responded, squinting in the distance, where she thought she saw a walled fortress to the northwest of the city; Valentina was near there. ¡°I want you to get a complete grasp of our new home so you can travel it without getting lost. How long will it take?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The man expertly balanced on the two linked chains, turning slowly to observe what they could view from their vantage point. ¡°We can only view 65% of the valley at most, from my calculations, perhaps a bit less. The scale of the jungle is beyond anything I¡¯ve witnessed in my world¡­ the size of the foliage is breathtaking. There are a lot of places for predators to hide.¡± Elinor rubbed the cold metal that she sat on while observing the valley herself. ¡°Do you recognize the word tiger?¡± ¡°There was a rather competent Beast Clan that went by that title in the far east of the Beneval Lands. As I understand it, they have yet to have the Jesena Kingdom set their sight on them, but I have met several wanderers from the clan¡­ They were the ambush type¡ªswift, strong, and deadly accurate.¡± ¡°Their fur color?¡± ¡°White and blue.¡± Elinor frowned. ¡°Cat-like?¡± ¡°Indeed, Empress,¡± Grace replied, zeroing in on specific landmarks. ¡°Ash and I went over many of the notable subjects within your empire with their descriptions. Does this have something to do with the Seed Holder Valentina?¡± ¡°Good. You do know about her,¡± she whispered, pointing in the direct spot she felt the 16-year-old Beastkin pray from. ¡°South of that semi-hidden fortress, I feel Valentina in distress. I want Famine, Death, and you to rescue her¡­ collect Death Energy from those holding her, and help her with the mission I tasked the girl with. Allow her to lead, but advise her. She¡¯s motivated and is trying to find her place in the empire. She has promise.¡± Grace¡¯s smile grew, and his finger tapped his hilt while he looked northward at the layered mountains that hid part of the vast, dry plains beyond their valley. ¡°Is there a specific time frame you want this to be completed in? Am I to assume this is to bleed into the war that will come to the Xaltan, who¡­ I can guess are in this south-central area?¡± ¡°You are sharp, Grace,¡± Elinor sighed, giving him a thoughtful glance from her sitting position. ¡°I still don¡¯t know if I can trust your goddess. Nungal has a little demon in her that makes me nervous, and the fact she¡¯s killed me in every life I¡¯ve lived gives me pause to accept your service.¡± Grace didn¡¯t respond to her misgivings. He maintained his poise and elegance while waiting for her to finish, his unbothered silver eyes sweeping the old quen¡¯talrat fortress. ¡°That being said, you are more than capable, and I need capable people with what is to come. I know your loyalty is to Nungal, not me, and you only follow my orders because your goddess told you to. So, I will use you while I can.¡± His unassuming smile showed a pure heart, only that total devotion wasn¡¯t aimed at her. ¡°I am happy to serve, Empress. You are not totally wrong about my mistress. My people have a few sayings about our goddess. Do you wish to hear them?¡± A knot tied around Elinor¡¯s throat as her grip tightened around the chains holding them; she didn¡¯t need her Limit Break to get down but it would run out soon, nonetheless. Pressure enclosed her chest as she looked straight ahead, imagining the cosmic-eyed goddess standing before them on her own set of chains, her long, violet hair weaving in the wind. Nungal¡¯s knowing impish gaze held darkness beneath those shimming galaxies. ¡°Go on.¡± Elinor glanced to her right as the hare man dropped to his butt next to her, and for the first time, his tail was stiff and goosebumps ran down his arm. He swallowed, likely perfectly recalling the words his parents spoke, probably his mother, who was the High Priestess of Nungal. He spoke the words as if they were a song that had been sung to him as a child. ¡°She¡¯s easy to love, oh, and easy to hate. She tastes like a drug, and she feels just the same. Bitter to the tongue, but a thrill for your brain. A little bit crazy, but it¡¯s worth all the pain. She¡¯s a dark, little artist with ink in her veins. She¡¯s been through the hardest but prospered from the pain. She appears to be heartless, surrounded by flames¡­ but through all the darkness, a believer is chained.¡± A quake ran through Elinor¡¯s bones while thinking back to her day with the goddess, the playful way she flitted between her father, Heather, and her, giving advice, teasing, and pulling her down an insane trip. ¡°You make her¡­ sound more like a devil than a goddess.¡± Grace¡¯s smile grew as he looked up at the dark clouds, moving over them, continuing to speak the words repeated to him as a child. ¡°Sharp eyes with the mind of a sinner. You can tell there¡¯s a little darkness in her. She will make you obsessed. She will make you confess. A guest you are, yet amidst the clatter of noise, the gate falls shut. She chains you in jest, a coiled embrace to savor a prisoner¡¯s zest. The sweet nectar of pain smothers freedom¡¯s urbane, and the purring darkness welcomes home the restrained.¡± He turned his devout, thrilled silver eyes toward her, showing a small reflection of the insanity she saw in his goddess¡¯ cosmic gaze. ¡°Though I may not understand her goals, I know her mind is a beautiful thing. If those bright eyes could speak, dark thoughts would be released. ¡¯Cause she hates that she loves so hard like a disease¡­ it¡¯s left her with all these scars no one can see but me.¡± Closing his eyes, he held a hand against his chest as if in prayer. ¡°She¡¯s been through the hardest but prospered from the pain. You never quite know what she is thinking, but if you are lucky, she might just let you see what hides behind nightmares and dreams. Oh, she¡¯s easy to love, little ones, oh, and easy to hate¡­ but it¡¯s worth all the pain because we prosper in the flame.¡± Laughter bubbled out of Elinor¡¯s tight throat as she released the tension wound around her chest, turning her focus to the valley while shaking her head. ¡°I resonate with some of that¡­ but damn, does it make Nungal sound more like an unholy goddess from Hell¡­ which maybe she is¡­ and so am I,¡± she whispered, lifting her hand to watch the emerald flames ignite up her arm. Reflecting on the emotions rolling through her chest, she discovered there were feelings she had when thinking about the violet-haired goddess that she only got from a few individuals, including her sister. I¡¯ve known Nungal for a long time¡ªa long, long time. I want to trust and reject her at the same time. Why do I have these conflicting thoughts? Who really is Nungal? Elinor sighed, unable to put the uncomfortable feelings behind her. Ever since she¡¯d met Ashrit and Nungal revealed portions of her previous life, something had been budding deep within her soul¡ªa complicated love that wasn¡¯t for an enemy, as Irkalla saw her, but something more binding and unmoving.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°With those thoughts on your mind, you seem like you¡¯d get along quite well with Tiffany. I¡¯ll leave Valentina to the three of you.¡± ¡°I will see her task done, Empress.¡± Giving one last look at the hare man, she saw his grace and elegance returning from the intense emotions he¡¯d shown. He studied the vast black stone fortress in the distance, judging everything with a critical eye.. How can he be so devoted to the goddess who let almost his entire clan die and only empowered him after going through the Jesena Coliseum crucible? No, I¡¯ve met her¡­ and I want to walk with her again to figure her out. That phrase Grace said, though¡­ She appears to be heartless, surrounded by flames¡­ but through all the darkness, a believer is chained. She saw the hare in a new light, chained in the unbreakable bonds of his goddess. Once caught in her web, Nungal wasn¡¯t the type to let you go, and Elinor could feel that chain wrapped around her own chest. Had she followed Nungal at one point? If so, why had she hated her so much in her previous life? Ashrit confirmed that this is Butter and my last incarnation¡­ but what does that mean? Nungal is helpful, teasing, and mysterious¡­ I want to know her more, but I¡¯m also cautious and scared¡­ I¡¯m scared of her. Irkalla only had one fear, and it was her. Yet¡­ there is something so binding between us that it feels more binding than I feel to my own sister. Releasing her chains, she leaned back, her hand clutching at her chest. Falling face-first toward the jungle, the drag of the wind pulled at her dress as she descended. Through all the darkness, she knew what it wasn¡¯t. It¡¯s not the binding chains of a lover¡­ It¡¯s deeper. It¡¯s not exactly love, though. Guilt? Anger? Pride? Disappointment? Fear¡­ So much fear. So many lives before Irkalla must be mixing and clawing their way to the surface after this Seed latched onto my soul¡­ Whatever plan Nungal had, this Seed changed things. Ashrit was ready to work with her bitter enemy due to whatever was happening behind dimensional fields. Feelings of falling rolled through her belly, she searched her undead heart for any crack that would give her further insight. Nothing more came, though. Whatever she thought about Nungal before, it was all muddled together in countless lives of interactions with the goddess¡ªinteractions that all ended with the Goddess of Chains¡¯ fingers around her throat. Eyes opening, she spread out, flipping around, one hand gripping her dress to keep it from flying off, the other rising to connect to the chain that attached to it, slowing her progress as she entered the foliage. As she expected, Grace easily cut his momentum by bouncing off the side of the trees until he reached the ground outside of the cave. Using two more chains in succession to slow her progress, Elinor smoothly landed on the moist soil outside the cave entrance and proceeded inside. Black and Ash were already mounted, having been informed about her plan while she talked with the hare. They galloped into the jungle to rescue the captured tiger teen and support the Clanless rebellion that would bring them to her banner¡ªshe needed a banner. With her hands held behind her back, Elinor ignored the monkey-foxes that chased after her, proclaiming their praise for her. She appraised the changes that had happened in the area as Theresa joined her from beside the wall from the moment she landed, having waited for her. In the past week, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra seemed to have been busy leveling out the opening for an easier descent, and the caverns had been expanded on either side to provide further rooms to be furnished. It seemed Carlos, her Lieutenant and former Colombian rebel, had decided to make this a forward base for their activities north of the valley. She paused in front of one room, spotting Autumn and Tiffany inside. The hag had a distant look in her illuminated, nightmarish yellow eyes while studying things beyond their sight. Her fingers twisted, leaving orange lines of light in the air that trailed after her fingernails before fading. Tiffany appeared to be preparing a ritual, and Elinor could guess what it was for. Some of the undead ri¡¯bot soldiers stationed here brought in their goods from Kaspir, directed by the maids and butlers. The hallway was large enough to easily accommodate the traffic. They¡¯d be busy organizing things, and it would be better to keep these supplies hidden from the ri¡¯bot for now. After all, she didn¡¯t know if she could trust all the clans. Continuing to the room where the th¨¦lm¨¦thra soldiers and princess were, Elinor appraised the impressive red and black-themed spider; she had the ability to raise units outside of her current Grade limiter for Monarch-level undead, restricting them to her highest capable Grade, which was Rare at this moment. She would test that out, soon enough. The Warrior Drones were four meters tall, and she suspected they wouldn¡¯t rise to the level of a Monarch simply by their purpose; they weren¡¯t leaders but soldiers. The five-meter-tall arachnid was a different story. Hand leaving the smooth, metallic-like body of the giant spider princess as the yaltha¡¯ma praised her, she saw that much of the webs had been removed to expand the nest further. Her unintelligent spiders were hard at work, making her aware of how useful the one she left back in Kaspir would be for her branch there. After this tournament between the five clans and becoming their Great Chief, she would be entrenched in war, and excitement bubbled up within her at the thought. She walked in on her father and Roman, discussing the reports. Where are we at, Dad? Roman turned with her father as she entered, the blind man getting the first words in. ¡°Nothing you hadn¡¯t anticipated. There were a few probing attacks that the Xaltan made against the Roxim, but your witches managed to unlock his Firewalker Mysticism¡ªimpressive,¡± he commented with a smirk. ¡°You will be busy these next few weeks.¡± After Logan¡¯s warning, Elinor still had a difficult discussion with the Legend ahead of her, but that would have to wait for a better time. Her dad followed up through the Nexus with his own questions. ¡°I heard about your mission for Famine and Death. Are you sure it is a good idea to send Ash away? I know since becoming a Warlord, your daily cost has dramatically decreased since units under Lieutenant don¡¯t cost anything in the Military Branch, but that doesn¡¯t include your expanding Serving Court. You¡¯re about to fight multiple ri¡¯bot Xaria, as well. I don¡¯t like it.¡± An understanding smile lifted Elinor¡¯s lips as she moved to rub her father¡¯s arm and study the maps spread across the table¡ªCarlos¡¯ work. ¡°I¡¯m always busy, Roman,¡± she whispered, her vision narrowing as she studied Klaus¡¯ reports from the far south of the Nalvean Empire. ¡°Do you see anything of note with your military mind?¡± I¡¯ve grown a lot, Dad. My Death Pool is actually quite large right now, and the cost has dropped significantly. I suspect with Ash, Black, and Grace backing Valentina, they¡¯ll be back sooner than we think. Personally¡­ I think if Nungal was backing Grace, not even Autumn could handle the hare. ¡°If she is backing him,¡± her dad replied, his focus shifting to the hallway that led to the previous chamber where the ruby-like spider princess was. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you aren¡¯t going to raise those soldiers, as well? Is that two generals and one monarch to dump resources into daily?¡± No, Dad, I can¡¯t raise the soldiers yet, she explained, picking up Klaus¡¯ report to scan down the content. I can only bypass the restriction on Monarch-class undead. The handwriting was rather feminine, and she suspected Emelina, her first Head Maid, had been the one to write it as Klaus spoke; she hoped the pair were having fun and that the former assassin was using the maids she¡¯d sent down to her well. There seems to be some trouble brewing within the Nalvean Court¡­ That prison warden snake woman is being held up like some kind of demi-goddess by a section of their military. Her connection to the humans could cause strife between us. Problems¡­ more problems. I sent Klaus down there to handle that kind of problem, though. I can¡¯t put my attention on it now. Roman shuffled through the papers and produced one, handing it to her. ¡°And¡­ what¡¯s this?¡± she asked, taking it and reading it as the former US general spoke, pulling her dad¡¯s attention. ¡°According to Red, the Roxim spies south of the valley recently reported that the ri¡¯bot clans bordering the Nalvean Empire believe the drivel the Scarlet Hand is spreading. The Lethix scouts have reported no sign of activity from the Komath, as well. I suspect the Komath have abandoned their land and retreated beyond the mountains.¡± Her father grimaced, picking up another page, much of which had been written by her maids or military leaders from the various ri¡¯bot discussions, using their ritual phone line. ¡°We have to assume Krava has made it to the Great Clans of the Great Plains. We need to squash the Xaltan before the southern clans and the Eastern Great Clans unite and march on the valley. Could they get the Nalveans to join their War Council?¡± Elinor shook her head while handing her father Klaus¡¯ report. ¡°Right now, they seem to be dealing with their own internal struggles with this snake woman. Even if the Scarlet Hand does show up, it¡¯s one of the reasons why I sent Klaus there in the first place. Personally, from what information we have on the southern clans, I doubt they¡¯d contribute militarily, but with resources. Hmm. We could pressure them if we can deal with the Xaltan swiftly.¡± Roman smirked and turned toward the hallway. ¡°It is a good thing you have a secret weapon. If the Clanless join you, the Komath have abandoned their land, leaving it open to occupy, and the four clans of the west unite¡­ the Xaltan will be completely surrounded.¡± He pointed at the map, tracing a line at key points. ¡°They¡¯re already gathered and prepared for war to the east, attacking the Roxim. It is where their major defenses will be set up, while their other cities supply support. If the Clanless attack their wooden fortresses along their center, pulling personnel away from the front, and our four united clans attack from the Komath¡¯s territory, you could pincer them on all fronts¡­ Although, perhaps, someone warned them of this possibility.¡± Elinor¡¯s mouth bunched to the side. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ possible. If the Scarlet Hand or Krava met with their leaders before leaving the valley, then he could have stirred them up to this possibility. Still, knowing it could happen and defending against it are two different things¡­ unless they get support from elsewhere.¡± Her father pointed to the southeastern climb into the valley. ¡°They don¡¯t have a choice but to attack the Roxim as soon as possible and secure a solid route for aid to come. Why would the Xaltan trust a rival clan on their opposite border, though? It could be a ploy to put all their attention on their east while attacking from their west.¡± Thinking about it for a moment, Elinor slowly shook her head. ¡°Krava¡­ is a war hero. Yes, his reputation was tarnished in the eyes of the Roxim and Clavex when he broke his word about bringing a second army to the Crystal, but that isn¡¯t the case for the Xaltan. I think he could convince the Xaltan that a new threat was coming, with five of the eight valley clans uniting against them. War being among the Roxim would all but confirm it in the Xaltan¡¯s eyes, and they could have their own spies.¡± Roman knocked his knuckles against the dotted line of the Xaltan territory. ¡°In my opinion, the Roxim have less time than you might think. Let¡¯s operate from the worst-case scenario. Either the Scarlet Hand or Shade are whispering words into the Xaltan chief¡¯s ears¡ªperhaps both. They know about your ritual communications and will take them out before striking the Roxim in a surprise assault. ¡°Take out the guards and lookouts through an elite operation along these plateaus,¡± he commented, sliding his hand from their territory through the Clanless zone. ¡°This is a major advantage and weakness for the Roxim. If they¡¯re focused on their south and not the west, then you could have an army climb up and glide or parachute down in the night. It would be easy to target if they¡¯re using any kind of fire or light source in their cities or land inside a large lake like this that they gather around¡ªit¡¯s what I¡¯d do.¡± Elinor drew in her bottom lip, now seeing the terrible vulnerability. The Scarlet Hand had been pushing to have her taken out since arriving in this world. For some reason, perhaps due to Nungal potentially intervening, they¡¯d waited to fully make their move until off of Earth. Jennifer, their prophetess on this side of the Crystal, knew that she would change into a Lich Empress and had advised Krava of her immediate threat to his clan. If Jennifer was getting her instruction from her own blood goddess, or whoever she got her orders from, then there was the possibility there was something more sinister behind the Xaltan¡¯s sudden mobilization. With that possibility also came out-of-the-norm attacks from the primitive ri¡¯bot clans. Theresa. ¡°I will send word through the ritual network immediately,¡± the woman replied, getting in contact with the butler with the witches in the other room, operating this outpost¡¯s communications network. She went over a few more details regarding the suspicious movements of the Delthax elite warriors, which made her sigh. She expected Valdar¡¯s grandson to prioritize his hatred for the clan that had killed his father and plot to crash their tournament, but she hoped that she¡¯d be wrong. The sad part was that Valdar himself had reported his grandson, which showed how much the Grand Plantcaller wanted peace and a united front in the valley. I need to get ready to leave for the show¡­ She turned to her dad with a pained smile. You trust me, right? Her dad reflected her somber expression. ¡°I won¡¯t say this hasn¡¯t been a nightmare, My Little Emo¡­ When we lost your mom, I didn¡¯t want to believe it. I¡­ knew I had to be here for you. When you return as the Warchief of the Delthax, Wixum, Lethix, Flex, and Roxim¡­ your mother should be back.¡± Sadness tainted Elinor¡¯s heart, protecting Tiffany from her dad¡¯s words. It may be due to her change, but she had started having new feelings for the Witch Queen, and maybe that was because she could feel Tiffany¡¯s heart transforming; perhaps it was in response to her own desires. It didn¡¯t matter in the end; it felt the same. If her mom returned, then she would have two moms who viewed her as their child, despite what her dad thought, and she hoped her mother would see what she saw changing within the witch. Yes, there was crazy in her second mom, but she cared for her as much as her mother¡­ because she was just another, darker side to her mother that her dad refused to see. Pulling him down to kiss his forehead, Elinor hugged her dad, feeling her undead heart being squeezed; love was a beautiful thing that she rarely experienced these days with her cold, rational brain and endless drive. Grace¡¯s words about Nungal resonated within her¡ªmaybe the two of them weren¡¯t so different after all. Everyone followed her into the chamber of the spider princess, the fuzzy monkey-foxes chanting their praise and prayer for their queen to lift her powerful legs again. However, as Elinor slid her fingers over the giant arachnid¡¯s metallic body, she didn¡¯t feel like some proud, absolute queen but a frustrated, bitter, and angry little girl, struggling with her own self-worth. What is your story¡­ I suppose I will find out soon enough.
[Raise Undead III: Activated]
Green flames flowed up her arms, and she saw Autumn, Tiffany, and several other hopeful maids and butlers hovering near the exit into the hallway. A new guardian was entering their ranks to protect their friends and family. Yet, none of them knew the depths of the anger and determination to prove herself that this princess held in her soul. Remembering her mother¡¯s lessons on different flowers and what they represented, Elinor gave a new name for her new Monarch that reflected this daughter¡¯s soul that eagerly accepted her chains, burning to prove herself. ¡°Welcome to the empire, Camellia C. Hassleriana.¡±
[Undead Raised as Monarch of the Hunt]
[Camellia Cleome Hassleriana: Monarch - Hunter Core- Epic-S [Restricted to Rare-S] - Hunter - Night Stalker - Lv.1] [Monarch Slots: 1]
[Monarch of Hunter Unlocked - Queen of the Hunt] [Hunter Advanced Classes and Subclasses Available]
[Apprentice of the Hunt Available] [Apprentice of the Hunt Advanced to Instructor of the Hunting Arts] [Instructor of the Hunting Arts Advanced to Academy of the Night Stalkers]
[Trackers Available] [House of the Hunt Available] [Stalking Skills Available]
Well, Elinor thought with mild surprise and delight as her flames restored the arachnid¡¯s metallic-like body, I guess I¡¯ve found a Monarch Valentina can model herself after. B4 — 2. A Spider’s Evolution Elinor stepped back as the th¨¦lm¨¦thra princess¡¯ smooth, matte body was reconstructed in the emerald flames of death. The ruby, sinister four-eyed patterns illuminated the underside of Camellia¡¯s abdomen, steam hissing out of the shifting plates on her sides and back, and the gem-like eyes that dotted her head brightened as she opened her eyes. From experiencing a th¨¦lm¨¦thra body herself, she knew that despite the predator¡¯s seemingly totally metallic and slick design, Camellia was, in fact, covered with microscopic hairs that fed information to a more complex and powerful set of sensory organs than anything Earth had to offer. Her crimson pincer-like claws on either side of her mouth flexed and extended slightly, capable of being dislodged and regrown. Perhaps the most terrifying part of the silent huntress was her closed, jewel-like mouth, which could be drawn back to crush her prey or reveal her barbed teeth inside that could be projected like poison-laced arrows. Camellia¡¯s eight powerful legs rose, the deadly tip not so much as making a tapping sound against the stone as they lifted her off the cave floor. Rising to her full five-meter height, the arachnid¡¯s forever open thirteen scarlet-gem eyes scanned the area, the rubies attached to her eight legs acting as branching ocular attachments to give her a complete 360 view of her environment. Her female voice was strong, yet almost a whisper, as she lowered herself before Elinor. It held powerful and ominous vibes that somewhat broke down once she started speaking. ¡°Empress, I, umm¡ªI feel¡­ so weak¡­ I answered your call and am eager to prove my worth.¡± Her gaze nervously shifted to the yaltha¡¯ma, calling out to their princess and bowing before her. ¡°What would you have me do, Empress?¡± Elinor chuckled, not expecting this kind of reaction from an overpowered mega-predator, yet the Nexus gave her a small bit of insight into the spider woman¡¯s inner workings. ¡°You will join me on my journey, but soon, you will be going to slaughter some ri¡¯bot. Join me¡­¡± Walking toward the exit, she gave Roman a backward wave. ¡°No more secrets. I expect a detailed report when I get back, ready to start a war. You¡¯re bound to my empire now, Roman; we¡¯re partners, so it is time you started showing a little trust.¡± The man¡¯s laughter echoed through the tunnels as he returned to the planning chambers a room over, giving the impressive arachnid a last glance. ¡°I think you should wait until you have full control of the valley before dipping your fingers back into my quests. Let me handle the grunt work with your established network on the other side.¡± ¡°My network,¡± she pointedly stated. ¡°Use this time to lay out your plans¡ªon paper for me. I want to be kept in the loop.¡± ¡°As you command, Empress.¡± She still didn¡¯t quite trust the Legend. There was a bigger game he was playing; unfortunately, she needed him. She suspected he wasn¡¯t so easy to kill and raise; at the moment, she had enough enemies as it was, so a somewhat friendly party wasn¡¯t the worst position to have with the man. The former US general had proven his worth already. He¡¯d also proven the lengths he¡¯d go to get to his answers with how far he¡¯d pushed Castria. Elinor paused in front of Autumn and Tiffany, her father standing beside her with the towering spider. Dad, make sure Roman divulges what is making the Grand Duke cautious¡ªwhether it be him flirting with the Delva Empire, the Jesena Kingdom, or some other party¡ªI don¡¯t want to jeopardize what I¡¯ve been able to build in Kaspir. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the bottom of it¡­ but first, your mother,¡± he stated, glaring at the grinning hag as she entered their private conversation. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry about me, dearies; I keep my promises,¡± she cackled. ¡°It is a core aspect of my very being. That being said, I need to run a few¡­ experiments.¡± The woman lifted her fingers into a swaying motion, her fingernails extending into grizzly claws that left an orange trail of light. ¡°The magic is far more¡­ potent here than in my previous universe. The tantalizing secrets and whispers echoing through the cosmos make my skin¡¯s skin crawl with delight! I owe you¡­ much, Empress. It will be done by the time you return. The portal, though? It will take longer to prepare.¡± Good. Elinor¡¯s focus moved to the anxious witch. Tiffany, I need more information on those poisonous bugs the yaltha¡¯ma have been fighting. I¡¯m sure you can find some fitting uses for their unique attributes. ¡°I will see to it, Empress! Erm¡­ Elinor,¡± she corrected, seemingly trying to make a conscious effort to bridge the gap she¡¯d begun to feel. ¡°Edmon can help me while Autumn gets things prepared! What do you say, honey? Care to help me one last time before I become the least favorite wife?¡± ¡°Tiffany¡­¡± her father growled, rubbing between his eyes as she giggled and turned to gather samples from further inside the caverns. ¡°I¡¯m relying on you to eventually give me back my wife¡­ so I¡¯ll be courteous.¡± ¡°¡­Praise be for that¡­¡± Elinor left the cold war to the pair¡¯s private conversation, not wanting to get distracted by their couple¡¯s arguments. Things were turning from playful teasing to bitter anger, and she hoped her uncorrupted mother would be able to mitigate those feelings when she returned¡ªit was what she did best, after all. That being said, she knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her uncorrupted mother to accept, as well. Camellia listened intently as Elinor continued out of the cave; she could feel the spider soaking up an ungodly amount of information. Placing a hand on the arachnid¡¯s leg, she asked, How do you feel about stretching your legs and getting me to my next destination as quickly as possible? An ecstatic pulse ran through Camellia¡¯s frame as she promptly lowered herself, legs moving to act as stairs; it wasn¡¯t about being ridden, from what Elinor could sense, so much as the ability to be useful to her¡ªthe spider woman seemed to crave validation and responsibility. ¡°I would love to be of service, Empress! Whatever you need, I¡¯m your th¨¦lm¨¦thra!¡± Learning more about this deadly spider princess was somehow becoming far more interesting than she¡¯d initially thought, which was already a high bar. Mounting her just before exiting, she smiled at Theresa when the Head Maid hurried to catch up. ¡°Am I to remain behind, Empress?¡± No. Join me. I can feel Quin nearing. Her chains broke through space, attaching her and her maid to the spider to act as support upon settling onto the arachnid¡¯s back. I will be a bit busy. Many of our forces will be redirected to the Roxim, so make the other Serving Court stations aware that there will be movement happening soon. ¡°Understood,¡± the motherly maid replied, redirecting forces and sending the message in their game of telephone. In the meantime, she said, talking privately to Camellia since she was now within the Royal Court, I want you to get used to communicating through this Nexus chain, so get better acquainted with Carlos through it. Tell him to redirect many of our forces to the Roxim. Can you handle that assignment while speaking to me at the same time? ¡°Most certainly, Empress,¡± the woman said, acting far younger and more energetic than she first took the spider for. ¡°Shall I take you anywhere specific?¡± Far south of here, to a giant body of water. She hardly got the words out of her mouth before the spider lurched into action, g-forces slamming her chest and only maintaining her balance due to her paralysis chain keeping her attached to Camellia¡¯s back. Taking the opportunity to enter her Soul Sanctum, she closed her eyes when the peppering drizzle from the overhead heavens poured over them. The pattering of the rain didn¡¯t fade when she opened her eyes to the flickering blue flames of the fireplace within Butter and her shared soul. Her gaze shifted to the glorious spear hanging above the hearth, where Ashrit was sealed away. I have so much to do, and so little time to do it. Luckily, I am not alone. It would be nice if Butter were here, though. Dammit, you fat butterfly. Return and gloat about your victory already, so I can use you on another front and finally start having tasty meals. A small smile lifted her lips as she summoned a clone of her pouty-faced blonde twin to sit next to her, if anything, to have a little company. She waved away the wall, leaving the fireplace and giving her a full look at the expansive valley view she¡¯d just obtained with Grace. It wasn¡¯t an accurate portrayal of what she¡¯d seen since she mixed other elements into its base, but the general topography was precise. With a desire, she lifted the clouds higher in the sky, allowing the rain to somewhat remain with the thunder and somber string instruments that played in the background; the mood was essential in soothing her restless soul, after all. Leaning against the side of her chair, knuckles held against her cheek, she generated a second clone of herself and observed the physical change to her appearance. Her subjects would need to come to terms with her changing body. Overall, it was fairly obvious it was still her, only a slightly older, elven version. Her ears were longer, her white hair thicker, and slightly curled in the humid environment. In life, her skin had been a tinge brown from her father¡¯s side, yet in death, her mother¡¯s French side seemed to come out, or just being dead made you paler. On the other hand, after learning about Irkalla, she saw touches of her more brownish-gold skin returning, possibly due to her sister¡¯s influence in unlocking Ashrit. She¡¯d filled out a bit more in places most women would like, grew an inch, and now appeared more in line with an 18-year-old than 16. She suspected further developments were on the way as her soul further expanded. Brushing the clone away, she brought up her System Sheet, bobbing her crossed legs a little to the strumming instruments. Her focus instantly went to what points she had to spend upon reaching Level 25:
[6 Stat Point Available] [2 Feat Extensions Available] [1 Equipable Feat Choice Available] [1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Stat Modifier Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available] [New Feat Slot Added: 6 Slots Available (5/6 Used)]
[Twin Souls Expansion (Butter) Tier-1: Heaven¡¯s Domain] [Twin Souls Expansion (Elinor) Tier-1: Earth¡¯s Domain]
Her chest shook with soft laughter as her fingernail flicked up on the expansive options at her disposal. I don¡¯t need to use all of it. It is good to be flexible when situations arise. My Warlord Feats are giving me a lot to play with already. There are things that will become important in the coming war, though¡­ Elinor¡¯s attention was taken by her Constitution, which now had a +1 next to it, doubling what it had been when it had 9 points sunk into it. Stat milestones came when they hit 10, which was something important to note, and she examined what she had already put points into with a critical eye:
Force: Power - Low - 0 Strength - Average (Modified) - 5
Defense: Toughness - High (Warlord) - 0 Resilience - Average (Warlord) - 0
Dexterity: Speed - Low - 0 Agility - Average - 0 Quickness - Low - 0
Energy: Constitution +1 - Maximum (10 DO per point) - 10 Stamina - Above Average (Warlord) - 0 Endurance - Above Average (Modified) - 7
Tenacity: Elemental Resistance - High (Warlord) - 0 (excluding Life Element) Physical Resistance - Above Average (Warlord) - 0 Control Resistance - Maximum (Warlord) - 3 Penetration - Average (Warlord) - 0This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
[Warlord] gives me a full range of Grade advancements for my total durability, while increasing my Stamina. Path Advancements are a huge marker, but so is Level 25 with the Soul Expansions. I suppose the Path Advancement is meant to boost your soul to the ability to project one¡¯s soul into the outer world. I could bump Strength or Endurance up to ten¡­ What if upgrading each of the three Substats to ten gives me an energy bonus as a whole? Increasing my physical Stamina would affect [Artificial Body]. It¡¯s worth pursuing since [Warlord]¡¯s influence¡­ It may even save me Death Energy overall when I use my [Warlord] Feats, further enhancing the spirit I¡¯m channeling. Let¡¯s experiment¡­
[Endurance upgraded to 10] [Endurance advanced to +1, multiply all mitigations by 2x]
Elinor¡¯s excitement grew as she swapped to the [Raise Undead] conversion table, and she found her upkeep and prices decreased by half¡ªshe¡¯d essentially cut her daily empire maintenance cost by half with that one decision. She could expand by quite a bit. Perfect, she cooed, swapping to her other Feats and seeing the price further decrease. It wouldn¡¯t have been half, had there not been three other stat increases in the chain to 10¡­ likely due to my Grade being Above Average on it. I can modify another Stat, and it will be another 15 Levels¡ªminimum¡ªuntil I can select another Path. And something tells me the ri¡¯bot aren¡¯t going to give me the same EXP as they did before the Legend Quest. Levels will become more sparse unless I beat a particularly powerful spirit; tiny spiritual energy gleaned from weaker creatures wouldn¡¯t give the same pressure as a stronger one to blow up my spiritual balloon, I suppose. It may not even be accepted by my soul because it¡¯s too weak. Yet again¡­ more experimentation. Strength is a solid choice for my chains.
[Strength Modified to Above Average]
Making the hard choice to ignore the 5 points in Strength, she dumped the final 3 Stat Points she had into Stamina, feeling the urge to reform her physical body to account for the multipliers she¡¯d just initiated but refraining for the time being. As she scanned down the Equipable Feats at her disposal, she selected the one she¡¯d already decided on when showing Grace the valley and projected her mental image to Camellia.
[Project Mental Image I - Active - F-tier - Lich - 0DO - 1 Slot - Project the user¡¯s mental image to another party within a 2-meter radius.]
Elinor laughed to herself as she unfolded her legs, stood up, and walked to the edge of the open wall to stare down from her floating manor. A red line traced a circle of where they were on her desire, cutting through the jungle dozens of miles to the large Wixum lake¡ªthe distance limit of projecting her thoughts was meaningless since her Nexus bypassed it. ¡°This is where I want you to go, Camellia. Let me know when you¡¯ve arrived. I will be changing clothes and getting ready for my battle.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± the earnest girl stated. ¡°Umm, Quin and Carlos will be inside the range of your Nexus soon, Empress, and we will arrive at the location you¡¯ve specified within ten minutes.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± Elinor whispered, reevaluating where they were in the jungle. ¡°I expected us to take longer and have a chance to talk, but I¡¯ve been a little preoccupied¡­ Quin.¡± ¡°Empress!¡± the giant four-limbed gorilla girl roared. ¡°You have returned stronger than ever! I can feel your growing power within me. I wish you could meet the Ke. He would be sure to note your excellence!¡± ¡°Haha. I hope to meet him at some point,¡± she commented, figuring it was still tough to accept that the young quen¡¯talrat¡¯s glorious and prophesied hero had died. ¡°You will be replacing Camellia when we reach the Wixum camp, so be ready.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± ¡°And, Carlos¡­¡± ¡°I am here. I heard that you¡¯ve read the reports,¡± the old Colombian revolutionary stated. ¡°I¡¯ve just had confirmation from the Witch Ritual Station at the Shattered Crystal Camp. Our station in the plateau caves has been destroyed. I can¡¯t be sure about the Roxim Clan¡¯s ritual site, but without that bridge amplifier, the one by the Shattered Crystal can¡¯t reach them. It likely happened not long ago, just before your arrival and after they checked in.¡± Elinor¡¯s mouth drew into a line, knowing that meant at least one of Tiffany¡¯s little witches that had been left to operate it had met a tragic fate. At the very least, she was captured, but more likely than not, the Xaltan had murdered her. ¡°I should have expected Shade or the Scarlet Hand to have some form of knowledge on our communication network¡­ It was our oversight. Did we have any undead with her?¡± ¡°Yes, Empress, but they don¡¯t seem to have been destroyed.¡± ¡°Good. So, they are operating with some form of advanced knowledge from someone,¡± Elinor whispered, shifting the whole floating house to stare at the distance plateaus, hardly visible, even from this height across the vast valley. ¡°It means there is a likelihood that our little witch girl is alive since they¡¯re trying not to alert us of the break in communication. We can¡¯t warn the Roxim¡ªwe don¡¯t have time¡­ I doubt Quin or Garu could get there in time.¡± Her gaze shifted to the red line cutting through the jungle. ¡°Camellia¡­ you could make that journey before nightfall, right?¡± she asked, rediverting the line from the Wixum lake to the plateau. ¡°War is there¡ªone of my generals¡ªwho you can connect with.¡± Camellia¡¯s pride exploded, a sense of worth budding within her. ¡°Easily, Empress! Although¡­ my sisters or mother would be far swifter, especially my middle sister and mother. My youngest¡­ not so much. She¡¯s lazy.¡± It clicked in Elinor¡¯s mind; she had an inferiority complex within her family, despite being an extremely powerful huntress who could easily handle any of the monsters she¡¯d seen in Sir Percy¡¯s inn collection. Camellia would eat through most of the Magic Knights, potentially only having trouble with the Grandmaster, if she was judging the arachnid by her resurrected full potential. ¡°Excellent, Camellia! These are the ri¡¯bot who are our allies,¡± she added, projecting an image of the green, slightly discolored, and splotchy toad clan with their mutated patterns, having deviated in their bloodline outside of their people. ¡°Connect with War and discover what happened to our little witch girl. If she is alive, rescue her; if dead, bring back her body, and as to her assaulters¡­ I want them killed and brought to me; and, Camellia¡­ it could be in a pile of goo, for all I care. I can still chain their spirits.¡± The arachnid snickered. ¡°You sound like my middle sister, Empress, although less playful. She enjoyed teasing her food. I will complete the order you have given me without fail¡­ We have arrived.¡± A little shocked at the distance the spider had covered, Elinor left her internal world, expecting to feel the slick sensation of water drenching every part of her. Blinking as they slowed to a reasonable and very smooth pace, she felt totally dry after passing through the short storm, which was likely caused by the drag the arachnid generated. She felt a heavy burden on her body, and parts of her dress stitching had been ripped¡ªif she let go of her chains, she¡¯d collapse. Beside her, Theresa looked totally poised, her own outfit somewhat ruined, yet beneath her mask, she could feel that the woman hadn¡¯t felt so physically exhausted since being raised as an undead. The Head Maid still managed to keep her voice steady as they traveled around the lake, the ri¡¯bot children running over to see her. It only took one look at Camellia before their parents were snatching them away. ¡°I¡¯ve sent word for the off-duty maids to meet us at your house, Empress. Is there anything particular that you would like them to prepare? Shorts, a tank top, new garments¡­ bring a few sizes larger than I have stored, and for footwear, nothing. I¡¯ll go barefoot for this fight. Bring a more presentable outfit for the follow-up speech, though, which means I will need to discover my new proportions and foot size. ¡°I will have a measuring strip brought to mark it down.¡± Elinor¡¯s gaze shifted to the edge of the forest as large birds took to the sky, the rumble of brush parting as the giant five-meter-tall gorilla jumped out of the jungle¡ªit was crazy to think she was a little girl, although unnaturally large for her age. Carlos spoke his departing words as she neared the more populated area of the lake, a stir spreading as humans and ri¡¯bot learned that she had returned. ¡°Do you still want the army gathering to the east instead of positioned for Chief Kalix¡¯s surprise attack? I don¡¯t expect all the Delthax to follow his orders, mainly the elites, but without King Edmon here, I am concerned about security. I¡¯ve¡­ heard about your damaged Phylactery.¡± If Edmon isn¡¯t here, then you needn¡¯t be concerned, Carlos. Take everyone to support the Roxim in the initial invasion. They¡¯ll be looking for support with the attack coming from two sides. You need to counter their pincer. ¡°Makes sense. Haha. It¡¯s a pleasure having you back, Empress. Give ¡®em hell.¡± Cutting the connection, green flames lit across her figure, causing the onlookers to gasp and whisper to one another as she reformed her body. She smiled and waved at the wide-eyed children who watched. Elinor could feel the awe and respect most gave her, at least those who had accepted her as their ruler. She saw a small group positioned outside her house, a mix of soldiers, standing in formation¡ªher father¡¯s troupe¡ªwith Gloria and Virgil at their front. Lucky was with Gwen, the red-headed human leader who had been voted to be the human representative. Not far away from them sat Garu, sharpening a blue metal blade with a shiny black stone. The last person that awaited her was Former Chief Vivine, the Wixim¡¯s last chief and Chief Yimara¡¯s resurrected mother. Most of her citizens respectfully kept their distance, and some bustled off to continue their work. Elinor scanned the changes that had happened over the past week she¡¯d been gone. Nicole Robinson, the little 13-year-old Nymph Faekin whom Valdar adored, seemed to have crafted several large structures near the edge of the growing town, providing a good shelter for the humans. A quick inquiry told her that they were waiting at the challenge location. Vivine spoke through the Nexus after answering her question about the teen. ¡°The four clans have gathered at the tri-meet area between the Wixum, Flex, and Lethix territories. They await your arrival before sunset, or else all treaties are off, and war will begin. It is to take place at the base of the cliff clearing overlooking Lethix land. You have changed. I¡­ cannot believe you awoke a ruler of the things that crawl within the shadows.¡± That works for me, Elinor whispered. And say hello, Camellia. ¡°Hello!¡± she awkwardly chimed, bouncing up and down a little and making Elinor hold fast as the girl greeted the ri¡¯bot in her own unique way. The living around them, including Grace and Virgil, retreated a little at the unusual movements. ¡°I have never spoken to my food before. That¡¯s usually my middle sister¡¯s thing.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Vivine cleared her throat, yet Camellia wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Umm. Empress, before I go, can I ask you something?¡± Dismounting with ease after reshaping her body, Elinor chuckled as Theresa took a far less bold approach so as not to embarrass herself in case her ankles gave out. She would need to rest a bit before continuing, but Elinor had a plan for that. She turned to look up at the 5-meter-tall spider woman towering over her; she certainly was a frightening thing when on all eight lance-like legs. However, what she asked made Elinor¡¯s mind blank. ¡°I would like to take your skin, Empress.¡± ¡°My¡­ skin?¡± she slowly repeated, nightmares of the cackling hag coming to mind. ¡°My translation ability is fairly accurate to meaning, but maybe not so accurate with you. One moment¡­¡± In the ensuing silence, she closed her eyes and entered her internal world, swiftly adding Camellia to the translation list since her new max was five. Say that again, she instructed, sensing the nervous twitches from the arachnid as everyone stared at her; the creature was a killing machine, not an idol, after all. What did you mean by¡­ taking my skin? ¡°Sorry, Empress! I, umm¡­ you gave me the opportunity to change forms. Well, it is in my abilities¡ªbut only for one time,¡± she rambled, her voice becoming far more awkward and cute after the perfect translation was activated. ¡°I just need to sample¡ªeh, analyze a bit of your DNA structure to fully conform to the form¡­ Did I ask something wrong? I¡¯m trying to learn your customs. I just thought¡­ it would be easier if I knew what it was like to be like you.¡± Still inside her Soul Sanctum, she pulled up the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s ability list and centered on one Feat¡ªa single-use Feat. ¡°[Metamorphosis X],¡± she whispered, reading its description. ¡°Take on the physical attributes of another creature once in the user¡¯s life, retaining desired features from their previous form to further the user¡¯s evolution. The user is capable of reversing this change at will, shifting between forms.¡± Exiting her internal world, Elinor looked up at the monstrous spider and, without hesitating, held out her hand, a thoughtful smile brightening her lips. ¡°Garu, cut off my arm.¡± A chill ran through the throng at the first words she spoke aloud since returning. The white and blue-spotted ri¡¯bot moved without hesitation, hopping off the house¡¯s deck, and severing her outstretched appendage with a single stroke of his glowing blade, no doubt recovered from his visit to his home city. Elinor caught it, refraining from reforming her body, and threw it in the air as her citizens watched in a hypnotic fashion. Camellia blurred, creating a small gust in her sudden acceleration. Her horrific, protected jaws opened to reveal the sticky, poisonous saliva within; pincers snatching it and guiding it into her maw, Elinor¡¯s arm disappeared inside.
[Camellia Cleome Hassleriana¡¯s Evolution: Begun]
A stillness swept the crowd as Camellia¡¯s metallic body illuminated a ruby shade. Her metallic body fluctuated and molded. Steam hissed out of various areas, thickening around the area that circled until forming an egg around the spider.
[Evolution: In Progress]
Abruptly, the shimmering crimson egg compressed, expanded, compressed again, contracted, and constricted. Elinor could practically feel the goosebumps running down the arms of the ri¡¯bot and humans observing the radical change. One thing was for sure, whenever Elinor showed up, interesting things happened. After several minutes, Camellia was the size of a human. Reforming her arm in a blaze of fire, Elinor snapped her fingers and pointed at her house. ¡°Someone bring a robe or blanket!¡± Three of the on-duty maid girls rushed inside, jogging out with the item just as a crack ran down the ruby egg. Rays of light peaked through, and Elinor realized what the difference was between your typical Rare-Grade and Epic-Grade creature: it was their Advanced Feats. Th¨¦lm¨¦thra were evolutionary predators by nature based on what she¡¯d learned from the drones, and this was what it meant to be a princess of their species.
[Evolution: Complete]
Instead of breaking open, the whole egg shattered into glistening ruby light, revealing a quite naked¡ªand very beautiful¡ªruby-haired woman, seemingly around the age of twenty-three. She blinked, opening her pure ruby eyes, seemingly solid stones within her socket as a small circular radical moved within it, acting like a pupil. The maids wrapped her in the robe as everyone else recovered from the blinding flash that had preceded the hatching. Only, she wasn¡¯t fully human with her elven features and golden skin¡ªshe hadn¡¯t even thought about that angle. Camellia¡¯s perfect lips pulled into a smile as the maids fussed with her, slipping her arms through the holes and tying the robe closed before anyone could get a peek at her very toned and well-endowed physique. She lifted her hands to squish her face, carefully sliding her fingers around her figure as if exploring new territory. ¡°It is so¡­ sensitive! So¡­ squishy, yet my exoskeleton is underneath, protecting me. I feel so flexible and light¡­ Hmm. My thread comes through my strange, twenty little legs¡ªso many legs¡ªand so small,¡± she giggled, wiggling her fingers and toes. ¡°I can hunt so much better like this, Empress!¡± Elinor forced a laugh as everyone studied the former spider, slack-jawed at the glowing, ruby-haired beauty. ¡°You certainly did select what genes to use wisely,¡± she noted, wondering if attraction was something genetically baked into the spiders. ¡°Come inside briefly while I get ready to leave. Everyone else, direct your questions to Lucky, and he will filter them through to me. I have a busy day. I have a chief to kill in a few hours¡­¡± Entering her single-room log cabin with her maids and Camellia, she saw Theresa bustling from a side house with a duffle bag filled with items. Right now, she trusted the th¨¦lm¨¦thra to reach her destination without much trouble, and she wanted to know a little more about her family before she left. If Camellia was so intimidated by her younger siblings and mother when she was already this powerful, she had to hear at least the shortened version of the th¨¦lm¨¦thra tale. She directed the bewildered and slightly overwhelmed arachnid woman to do as she did as the maids took their measurements, writing them down to find the proper outfit sizes. While we wait, tell me about your family, Camellia. What happened to your nest? The shortened version. And once you have something to properly wear, I¡¯ll let you loose. Where do you suppose the rest of your family is¡­ because I¡¯d love to reunite you with them.
Remaining Upgrades Available: [2 Feat Extensions Available] [1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available]
B4 — 2.5 A Tiger Girl’s Predicament Valentina glared at the thick metal bars of her cage, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface; it was wide open because it wasn¡¯t meant to keep her in but to act as a structure to tie her up. She was a prisoner, and the worst kind¡­used as a fashion product. The massive black fortress carved into the side of an obsidian mountain loomed over her, straight out of a fantasy movie. The place was enormous, with stone walls as black as night and thick metal gates that were currently shut, keeping her trapped in this open courtyard. This is so stupid, Empress, she thought, her prayer dripping with exasperation. I should have been paying more attention to how you conducted business with all these toads. Now look at me¡ªlocked up like an animal. Blegh. She shifted uncomfortably against the vines twined around her limbs, pulling her tight against the x-cross bars of the cage that was far too large to be meant for humans. The smooth, black marble-like ground beneath her was a stark contrast to the jungle she was used to now. Her eyes moved to the strange terminal-like devices placed all around the courtyard, the clanless guards of the Blessed Elite, as they were called, pressing their hands against symbols to make the gates lower or raise. It all looked eerily similar to the giant black citadel she''d been studying, currently to their southwest. Of course, it¡¯s the quen¡¯talrat¡¯s doing. Everything here screams ¡®big, scary gorilla people.¡¯ I can see Quin just laughing at me about how I talked all big, and here I am, tied up¡­practically naked. Her ears twitched as a few discolored female ri¡¯bot approached, wheeling giant buckets filled with suds¡ªanimal fat soap. The storage devices were meant for quen¡¯talrat. She growled lowly, remembering how they had shaved her yesterday; it was becoming more frequent. My fur¡¯s barely had a chance to grow back¡ªmy hair¡¯s not even to my shoulders yet¡ªand they¡¯re already going to scrub me down again to¡ªugh¡­¡®make my fur shine.¡¯ Empress! I could break out so easily¡­but I can¡¯t if I want to fulfill my mission. What am I supposed to do?! The ladies seemed to be in bright spirits as they started scrubbing her defensive pelt; somehow, these women were far too good at collecting her hair without harming her. Valentina sighed, a mix of embarrassment and relief washing over her. At least it¡¯s not painful¡­and it¡¯s keeping the resistance leaders off the chopping block. Yeah, look at the bright side, Val; your defensive Feat Grade and Ranks are skyrocketing! I should go back into my internal world and try to figure out another strategy. She relaxed her fur as they worked, knowing it would be easier for them to trim it, collecting every fiber they could. Her fur was like body armor, and it was something the Supreme Leader, or so he called himself, was quite fond of, especially her tiger-themed color pattern and soft feel. Caught between a rock and a hard place, she thought bitterly. If the stupid resistance leaders die, there won¡¯t be anyone capable of rallying the scattered groups to join you, Empress. And it¡¯s not like I can do it since I¡¯m just a scary kitty-cat to them.
[Beast Queen¡¯s Coat II - Advanced to S-tier]
Valentina''s mind drifted to the recent events that led to her capture. The clanless leaders, the ones Roman had brought together, had been caught in a trap set by the Supreme Leader. One traitor had been lured with promises of alliance and protection, only to be ambushed and taken prisoner, blowing the stack on the whole operation. None of this is my fault, Empress; I didn¡¯t know how to get into their stupid, impenetrable quen¡¯talrat fortress! I got the code down now, but all the leaders are split up and could be killed at any moment. At least right now they¡¯re brought out and shown to me daily for my cooperation. If only I¡¯d paid more attention to The Empress and how she handled these things. Diplomacy is so much more complicated than I thought. She sighed, the weight of her situation pressing down on her. But I won¡¯t give up. I¡¯ll find a way out of this. Somehow. The ri''bot continued their work, seemingly oblivious to her inner turmoil. As they finished scrubbing her down, Valentina sent her prayer to her empress. I¡¯ll get through this. I¡¯ll find a way to make it right¡­ You would do that. Valentina shivered, feeling vulnerable with her fur shaved down to practically her skin, leaving her almost hairless. Her emerald eyes narrowed as she watched the female ri¡¯bot wheel the buckets away. She swore she¡¯d get revenge on the Supreme Leader. He was strong, but she¡¯d gotten a lot stronger, too. Tonight, when everyone was asleep, she¡¯d strike. She¡¯d been watching the guards change shifts and she¡¯d be ready. Valentina felt her cheeks burn as the ri¡¯bot finished scrubbing her down. She could feel every breeze against her exposed skin, her fur shaved down to practically nothing. Vulnerable didn¡¯t even begin to describe it. But there was something else simmering beneath the surface¡ªa fierce desire for vengeance for this daily humiliation. I swear, Supreme Leader, you¡¯ll be begging when I¡¯m through with you¡­ You don¡¯t just leave a girl naked in public! At least there aren¡¯t any humans around, but I¡¯m not some mindless animal. Tonight, when everyone¡¯s asleep, I¡¯ll strike, Empress. Time seemed to stretch and warp in her cage, the hours passing like days, yet she could tell it went by due to her gradually returning fur. The courtyard was a hive of activity, with military units of the newly founded Clan of the Supreme Leader bustling about; several took time out of their day to jeer her, praising their new ruler. The name itself was a joke; they weren¡¯t even creative enough to come up with something better. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the noises of the jungle outside the high, 50-meter-tall walls grew louder. Giant crickets chirped their song, and the occasional distant roar of a Ragnlar made her ears fly up as it echoed through the night. Unlike the other ri¡¯bot who thrived in the jungle, these toads had poor eyesight and needed fire to see. They¡¯d abandoned the jungle generations ago, relying on the stone fortress for protection. Torches flickered to life around the vast area, casting long shadows across the courtyard. The guards were alert at first, but Valentina knew their routines. She¡¯d watched them for days, memorizing the patterns and waiting for the right moment. Almost there, Empress. Just a little longer. The shift change came, and the guards¡¯ vigilance began to wane. Valentina flexed her muscles, testing the strength of the vines one last time. They were tight, but she¡¯d been working on loosening them without the toad¡¯s notice. As the night grew deeper, the sounds of the jungle seemed to encroach on the fortress. The guards lit more torches, their flickering light dancing on the smooth, black marble-like ground. The Supreme Leader¡¯s fortress was imposing, but she knew these ri¡¯bot were playing soldiers compared to the warriors of the jungle clans, and they had nothing on Empress Elinor. She had a mission to complete. Her moment came when the guards moved to the far side of the courtyard, their attention diverted by some minor commotion. A giant rock that flew out of the sky? It didn¡¯t matter. Valentina took a deep breath, summoning every bit of strength she had, flexed her fingers, and broke one of the twine locking her digits, wrists, and arms in place; her muscles were coiled and ready. Alright, bastards! Time for the hunt. Her large, feline eyes glowed as she called upon her predatory instinct, slipping through the bars and into the long shadows. She moved silently, her keen senses guiding her through the dimly lit courtyard.
[Melding Shadows II: Activated] [Beast Empowerment II - Advanced to D-tier]
Seconds had passed since Valentina had escaped, her heart pounding with a mix of frustration and exhilaration. The scent of ri¡¯bot hung in the air, ripe for the hunt. She rubbed her sore wrists, flexing her claws and stretching her body out as she prowled through the shadows. Her eyes locked onto the changing guard, her muscles coiling with anticipation. Alright, bastards. Time for the hunt. With a swift, silent leap, she launched out of the darkness, her claws slashing through the first guard¡¯s throat. Blood sprayed, and she pounced on the second guard, who was just turning to see his stiffening companion, mouth opening in shock. Her bloody fist jabbed down his open gullet, cutting off his croak. She snatched his tongue, making him gag and fumble his torch, casting more shadows over the area as it fell. With a brutal yank, she ripped it out of his throat, a gurgled cry dying in his blood-filling lungs. Yet, she hadn¡¯t been as undetected as she¡¯d thought¡ªshe¡¯d somehow missed someone. A shiver ran down her spine to the tip of her spiked tail when a calm, deep voice praised her, breaking the silence of the courtyard. ¡°Well done. Efficient and ruthless.¡± Fur standing on end, Valentina¡¯s bob-cut hair whipped across her face as she leaped away, centering on a tall, handsome bunny man sitting on a large metal storage crate. [Beastial Instincts] screamed at her to run, but she knew she wouldn¡¯t escape. Sweat broke out across her body, yet she jumped at him anyway, projecting a claw-like slash of physical orange energy at him. The man dodged it effortlessly, his movements smooth and calculated. Valentina¡¯s frustration bubbled over as she launched into a series of attacks, each one met with a serene dodge or one-fingered deflection. His voice was calm, almost bored, as he critiqued her. ¡°Your form is good for one solely relying on instinct, but you¡¯re too predictable, and your fear of me is making you stiff. Adjust your footing; set a solid foundation.¡± Valentina snarled, her anxiety rising as the rabbit continued to evade her strikes with ease. His critics felt like a master educating a student, and it grated on her nerves, taking her back to The Empress¡¯ playful comments. ¡°Your speed is impressive¡ª¡±
[Blitz I: Activated]
¡°Oh, a sharp and sudden increase?¡± he mused, immediately matching her. ¡°But you¡¯re not using it to its full potential. Anticipate, don¡¯t just react.¡± Her breath came in short, furious bursts as she dashed after him across the courtyard, afraid if she looked away, he¡¯d draw his two sheathed blades and cut her in half in an instant; she had to have drawn attention, though. Why weren¡¯t the alarms being sounded?! Each failed attempt added to her frustration. She tried a feint, hoping to catch him off guard, but he smoothly sidestepped, his eyes reflecting complete serenity and never leaving hers. ¡°Better, but still not enough to get your revenge. You need to think several moves ahead.¡± She growled, the sound low and feral, her patience wearing thin. Who does he think he is, critiquing me like this, my dad?! Valentina¡¯s belly cramped as he slipped by her thrust, his fingers lightly tapping her side, sending a jolt through her body; it didn¡¯t hurt so much as make her lock up as if hit by static shock! She stumbled back, her rhythm broken while glaring at him. ¡°W-What¡¯s your deal?¡± she snarled. ¡°Focus, Valentina,¡± he said, left arm resting against his sheathed blade hilts. ¡°You¡¯re letting your emotions control you.¡± Her claws flexed in and out. ¡°Is that right? Then quit taunting me!¡± She launched at him again, this time aiming to drive him toward the obelisk by the metal doors of the mine¡¯s entrance; by some miracle, the guard resting against its side hadn¡¯t noticed their dance. If she could just get to the weird console and open the mine gates, she could sprint to the prisoners. The bunny suddenly stood his ground and met her with a series of blocks and parries, his expression never changing. She just needed to¡ªValentina¡¯s ears flew back as she realized what he¡¯d just called her before being sent into a tumble. ¡°You¡­know my name? Who are you? Why aren¡¯t¡­¡± she trailed off, a lump forming in her throat as she rolled over the stone to right herself beside the obelisk guard, only¡­all that met her were dead eyes and pale skin: he¡¯d been dead for a while. Eyes widening, she stood straighter and darted back a few feet, scanning the courtyard, now registering that none of the ri¡¯bot but her guards had moved for a while. Some of them should have changed positions. ¡°You¡¯re¡­with The Empress?¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Clapping came from the deep shadows of the gatehouse, and a familiar scent of decay wafted on the wind as the thin woman and man within revealed themselves: Death and Famine. Valentina¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she saw Black and Ash walking across the courtyard, their entertained, deliberate steps contrasting sharply with her earlier frenzied fight. Her heart raced, not out of fear, but from the surge of emotions that jabbed at her eyes like tiny spears. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me¡­¡± she mumbled, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow and rubbing her hot nose with a forced grin. ¡°Black, Ash¡­ Hah. What took you guys so long? I¡¯ve been praying for, like¡­days. I was about to clean up this whole fortress on my own. What, did Ms. Empress need her beauty sleep? Where is she?¡± she asked, looking into the air because it was just like the undead lady to come rocketing out of the sky with a showy entrance. Black¡¯s thin lips curled into a smirk as she adjusted her gloves. ¡°We thought you had a plan, Valentina; we¡¯ve been waiting for hours to see what you¡¯d come up with. And¡­ahem, most of these ri¡¯bot have been dead since twilight, courtesy of Grace.¡± Ash¡¯s skeletal fingers clapped together with a hollow sound. ¡°Impressive display, though. Grace, that was some wonderful tutelage.¡± Grace¡¯s soft chuckles were as serene as his unchanging expression. His gaze swept the fortress walls, where Valentina now realized there must have been more than fifty dead toads, all without a single drop of blood being released to the wind. ¡°She has potential; she just needs a little refinement. To be honest, I believe Queen Camellia would be a better fit for her. The Empress sent us here to support you while she handled other business.¡± Valentina¡¯s fur bristled, both from embarrassment and irritation; it stung a little her hero hadn¡¯t come herself to rescue her, but she understood she was the busiest person in history¡ªthe undead girl never even slept. ¡°You¡­were watching me for hours! Ugh. Wait, was that rock your doing?! It was! And refinement, huh? Well, if you¡¯re done watching the show, maybe you can lend a hand?¡± she growled, ears pulled back and cheeks red as she crossed her arms. Ash tilted his head, his hollow eyes focusing on her. ¡°I see you¡¯ve developed more of an attitude this past week, Tiger, and they gave you quite the haircut. It¡¯s certainly a fashion statement for the other teens when you get back.¡± Valentina rolled her eyes, a snarky smile playing on her lips, now feeling totally safe with some of the empire¡¯s biggest hitters beside her. ¡°Yeah, yeah, whatever. I¡¯m thinking of starting a trend. Maybe call it ¡®forced fashion¡¯ or something.¡± Black stepped closer, her expression softening slightly while rubbing her head and messing up her hair. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, little cub. Now, tell us the tale. We can just wait for the doors to open for the next shift. I don¡¯t see any need to rush, and¡­they seem to have a lot of food,¡± she chirped. Her dark-coated giant horse materialized from corrosive fog, and she sent it prancing off to kick open the wooden boxes to eat their stored fruit. ¡°Interesting place, by the way. How do we get these obelisks to cooperate? Do you suppose they¡¯re the same as the northern lake one High Queen Butter discovered? We just scaled the walls with our Feats, and Grace is an absolute monster!¡± Valentina took a deep breath, her focus shifting to the task at hand. ¡°Alright, so, this is what happened¡­¡± She felt somewhat pissed, sitting in the middle of a fortress she would have trouble taking out herself while these Horsemen and rabbit¡ªcorrection, hare¡ªman just swept in and took out the wannabe soldiers without anyone¡¯s notice¡­including her. Valentina explained the painstaking effort and time it took to round up the clanless since they were in tiny family clans across the valley. This Supreme Leader weirdo was subjugating most of them with his band. She¡¯d taken out most of the generals fine enough¡ªwell, there were some close calls, but nothing a good ol¡¯ ambush couldn¡¯t solve. Going over the rebellion leader¡¯s stupidity and capture, she capped it off with the more fascinating part¡ªthis fortress. ¡°So, yeah¡­ These runic obelisks here are some kind of ancient quen¡¯talrat tech, or something,¡± she mumbled, her tail swinging left and right as she pointed the glowing runes out to them. I¡¯m sure Quin will be able to tell you all about it. ¡°All these guys seem to know is they require specific hand motions against certain symbols to activate. It¡¯s like a password, but with gestures¡ªactually pretty complicated.¡± ¡°No joke,¡± Black mused, sliding her slim finger down the edge. ¡°Not only would you need to know the right symbol, when there seem to be over two dozen, but the proper hand motion¡­ What is this sonic gun you mentioned that they use to knock people out?¡± Valentina pointed them up to the wall, where sleek-looking metallic dishes were spaced. ¡°It¡¯s one of those, but on a portable stand he makes six girls carry¡ªdon¡¯t ask me why he thinks they require a female ri¡¯bot, but as far as I¡¯ve seen, only females can pull the trigger. Probably a messed up setting when they were playing around with the code or something,¡± she shrugged. ¡°I did that on the library computers once.¡± She approached the nearest obelisk, her claws retracting as she demonstrated the motions. ¡°Anyway, first, you touch this symbol here¡ªlooks like a spiral with a cross¡ªand then you slide your hand up to this one¡ªan inverted triangle. It¡¯s all about precision and timing.¡± Ash and Black watched intently, their eyes following her movements. Grace jumped over ten meters with each hop until he reached the top of the wall to study the devices, his big ears no doubt still silently listening. ¡°Interesting. And once activated, what happens?¡± Ash questioned. Valentina glanced at him, her orange eyes gleaming as she made a single line down the last symbol. ¡°Once activated, the gates to the mines will open¡­without a sound.¡± The obelisk hummed to life under her touch, its runes glowing with a soft, eerie light. One by one, the colossal gates to the mines began to rise into the ceiling to an interior meant for giants, and Valentina¡¯s heart pounded with anticipation. ¡°That¡¯s where the prisoners are kept. I can follow their scent. I honestly don¡¯t think the clanless will be good for soldiers, though. Also,¡± her eyes narrowed as she darted forward to take out the lazy guards, not expecting an attack. ¡°I want to kill the Supreme Leader.¡± Black nodded, her fingers flexing as she casually followed, a heavy aura overlapping Valentina and the guards; her scales tipped the opposite way, and the men¡¯s bodies began to shrivel while hers filled with a burst of energy, pushing her forward faster than she¡¯d ever run. ¡°I don¡¯t see why we shouldn¡¯t explore a little. Perhaps we could bring back a few souvenirs for The Empress. What do you say, Grace?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s too large; I can¡¯t even hear it¡¯s full size. Although, a short venture wouldn¡¯t hurt. It is all up to our team leader.¡± She almost missed her slash when Grace somehow appeared ahead of her, peering down a nearby branch before turning to give her a decision-making stare. I¡¯m trying to kill things! she sighed, wanting to cry at how far behind she really was in the empire. Give me a break¡ªthat¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about!
[Level Up - Level 15] [1 Stat Points Added; 1 Available] [1 Stat Modifier Point Added; 1 Available] [1 Refinement Point Added; 1 Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Added; 1 Available]
With Black¡¯s dualistic enhancing and debilitating support, the guards were left throatless before they could let out a cry. Thank you, Empress! I¡¯ll get stronger! I¡¯ll push harder! Valentina¡¯s bloody fingers quivered, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips, satisfaction bubbling up inside her at the progress. Grace observed her with a calm, appraising look from within, while Ash and Black casually walked beside her. The tension in the air was palpable¡ªat least, it was to her¡ªbut it was the kind of tension that made Valentina¡¯s blood sing with excitement. ¡°Alright, team,¡± she whispered, her tone laced with sarcasm. ¡°Let¡¯s break out the stupid prisoners and make the Supreme Leader regret his life choices. Maybe I¡¯ll even get my fur back in the process as a trophy.¡± Ash¡¯s hollow eyes flickered with amusement, summoning his wicked-looking sickles that he spun in a slow circle, sliding the ends together to create a haunting sound that echoed through the deep halls. ¡°I¡¯m sure your fur will grow back stronger than ever, Val. It certainly looks formidable¡­at least where you have it,¡± he noted. Prowling forward while sniffing the air, she rolled her eyes and glanced at the receding fur around much of her body. ¡°Yeah, because that¡¯s the real priority here. For your information, my Feats get stronger the less fur I have¡ªlike condensing my tiger powers into speed, senses, or power. Just focus on not getting us all killed by some quen¡¯talrat death trap, okay? That¡¯s about the only thing I¡¯m scared of right now.¡± Black¡¯s grin widened. ¡°With you leading the charge, what could possibly go wrong, fluffy tail? Usually, White¡¯s the one galloping ahead, but you¡¯re our little shining horse today, sweetie.¡± Valentina snorted, her claws flexing as she followed the first path to the left that descended further into the wide corridors. Most rooms seemed to be sealed shut, and, by the scent, no one had ever visited inside, which probably meant more than a year. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen plenty go wrong so far, so don¡¯t you worry about surprises. But that¡¯s what makes it¡ªno way.¡± Valentina stopped mid-sentence, her eyes widening as the wall to their right rumbled and shifted. It revealed a colossal open cavern that seemed to stretch infinitely into the heart of the mountain. Bridges, platforms, and intricate railing systems spanned the void, disappearing into the darkness beyond even her [Darkvision II] Feat. ¡°Woah,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible over the ambient hum of the cavern. The sheer scale of the place was staggering, making her feel like a tiny insect in a giant¡¯s lair. This really is fantasy¡­ ¡°May Nungal guide my way.¡± As she took a moment to process the sight, Grace vanished from her vision with a gentle prayer on his lips. One second, he was there, and the next, he was gone. Shouts echoed from down the hall seconds later. Valentina spun around just in time to see Grace reappear, his long ponytail whipping through the air as he dispatched five toads in a blur of motion. One of them managed to draw a poorly crafted knife before Grace effortlessly stole it and used it to jab into the previous owner¡¯s chest, returning it to him. She gulped, watching the scene unfold. ¡°Uh, what¡¯s his story, Black?¡± she mumbled, half in shock and half filled with jealousy. ¡°How did he end up in the Empire? He¡¯s definitely not undead, but he¡¯s just as terrifying.¡± ¡°Grace, showoff much?¡± Black called out, a smirk tugging at her lips despite the tension. ¡°Leave some for the rest of us, handsome.¡± He gave them a serene smile, not touching anything from the fallen toads, his eyes reflecting an almost amused calm as they neared. ¡°Just ensuring our path is clear.¡± Ash snickered, his skeletal fingers clinking together. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Val. We¡¯ll let you handle the next batch, and I think you¡¯d be better to hear the story from The Empress¡¯ lips. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll make it entertaining with your frenzied boxing.¡± Valentina shook her head, leading the group deeper into the cavern. ¡°Keep making fun of me; I know I¡¯m a little kitty in a big world.¡± She was surprised when they mirrored her, moving with practiced stealth¡ªher craft¡ªthe eerie quiet only broken by the occasional distant rumble. A few more quickly assassinated toads later that had no business being warriors, and they finally reached a heavily guarded room¡ªthe barracks, apparently. Of course, they¡¯d be through the most heavily guarded place! Half the room is still awake¡­and are those slave ri¡¯bot women and men in the corner? Damn. They used most of them for sport. I guess the Supreme Leader attracts a certain type of clan¡­ Figuring the so-called ¡®resistance leaders¡¯ were just beyond them in one of the rooms, Valentina frowned. The individual families she¡¯d met in the jungle had more heart than these guys, but they did put on quite the show when she first met them. She pouted a little when the three monsters beside her looked at her for guidance. I want to have them! I know I¡¯ll make a ton of noise with this many, though¡­ ¡°Fine¡­ take them out. Wait¡­¡± Death¡¯s bone-like face cracked, the light in his deep-socketed eyes glinting. ¡°If we¡¯ve discovered our target¡­then I see no reason to hold back.¡± Valentina¡¯s heart pounded in her chest as the bony man in robes stepped into the light, his sickles flashing with an unholy glow. The room fell silent, the toads frozen in place, their eyes wide with terror at the unearthly figure¡¯s reveal. The clash of his sickles stopped conversation and snatched all eyes. His hollow, haunting voice echoed through the still halls, a dark mist rose around him¡ªan ashen war steed emerging from it beside him, its clicking hooves striking her brain. Valentina almost felt a little pity for them¡­almost. ¡°And I looked, and beheld a pale horse, and his name that sat upon him was Death, and Hell followed with him¡­¡± His voice was a chilling whisper. Death moved with eerie elegance, his sickles slicing through the air with deadly precision. Each swing reaped the souls of the panicking ri¡¯bot, their bodies crumpling to the ground before rising again, animated by the dark magic that flowed from the torrents of energy now filling the space. The undead toads, now under his control, turned on their living comrades, adding to the chaos. Valentina watched in disbelief as the dead began to flood the hallways, more corpses crawling out of the hellish mist that followed the Horseman. Screams filled the air, mingling with the stench of brimstone, sulfur, and decay. The fortress had become a living nightmare¡ªand this was only one of The Empress¡¯ generals. She shivered, feeling the weight of the situation press down on her. This is insane... I knew Death was powerful, but this... This is something else entirely. Despite the terror around her, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. It served them right for turning against their own people for a little taste of power. Ash and Black moved with her, their presence a comforting reminder that she wasn¡¯t alone in this madness. They made their way deeper into the fortress, passing gates, the screams and cries of the dead and living resounding through the stone walls. Valentina led them to the right room, wondering if she¡¯d get a chance to kill the Supreme Leader¡ªshe hoped so. Still, Death was putting in work for her!
[Level Up - Level 16] [1 Stat Points Added; 2 Available] [1 Stat Modifier Point Available] [1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available]
Entering a side room. Inside, the clanless elders trembled, their eyes darting between the four guards, who seemed more interested in their stick game than the chaos outside. Valentina didn¡¯t hesitate. She leaped forward just as they looked up, confusion twisting their faces, her claws flashing as she dispatched the guards with swift, brutal efficiency¡ªGrace even complimented her! The elders cowered as she turned her gaze on them, her orange eyes blazing with fury. ¡°Get up,¡± she ordered, her voice cold and commanding. ¡°We¡¯re getting out of here, and you¡¯re going to gather everyone you represent for a speech in the courtyard. Now!¡± They scrambled to their feet, their fear palpable¡ªnot from her, but the shadow of literal Death looming on his horse behind her. Valentina didn¡¯t wait for them to gather their wits. She turned to her team, her expression determined. ¡°Let¡¯s move. This is not how my story is going to end. I¡¯m going after the man who had me shaved naked for the last few days! Is he still alive, Ash?¡± The ghostly figure¡¯s bone-like mouth cracked into a smile underneath his cowl. ¡°I figured you would want to handle him yourself. I¡¯ve trapped him on a bridge. He was, hehehe, fairly easy to identify with his attire.¡± Valentina¡¯s blood boiled. ¡°Good. I¡¯m going to bite his throat out and watch him suffocate on his own blood!¡± ¡°Yikes!¡± Famine snickered, her thin eyes twinkling. ¡°I think we¡¯re rubbing off on you. Why don¡¯t I help a tiny bit?¡± she asked with a wink. ¡°No complaints from me,¡± she cackled, taking the woman¡¯s extended hand to swing onto the back of her horse. ¡°Grace, can you guide them out while I take care of a side quest?¡± ¡°By all means, My Lady,¡± he smoothly replied with a deep bow. ¡°May the flavor be as sweet as the honeydew of a first kiss.¡± Almost thrown off by the comment, Valentina prepared herself for her boss fight. He made a fool out of her, which meant he made a fool out of The Empress, and she couldn¡¯t face her idol again until righting that sin. B4 — 3. We Rise, And We Fall Elinor stood still as the maids fussed with her clothes, stripping them to measure out her new body so they could discover the right outfit. Camellia mirrored her, paying close attention to every action she took, and Elinor was sure the th¨¦lm¨¦thra was doing the same to every person outside, given her powerful senses. So, she began through the Nexus, provide me with a brief summary of what th¨¦lm¨¦thra are, your culture, death, and where your siblings and mother might be. Camellia didn¡¯t hesitate, but there were a few giggles and twitches that came from the woman from the maid¡¯s tickling fingers against her bare skin. ¡°Th¨¦lm¨¦thra are the supreme species. We eat, adapt, and propagate the next generation to surpass the previous. We are world devourers, spreading from the Crystals that provide bridges to new feeding grounds. Our culture is fairly simple: ¡°At the end of The Harvest, all breedable Queens and Princesses fight until only ten remain. My grandmother was the ninth¡ªa former Princess, not a Queen¡ªin her world. Then, each one finds a Crystal to use, spreading to the new planet and beginning the cycle anew.¡± Interesting, Elinor butted in, her gaze drifting to one of the maids as they actively passed along her measurements through a private channel in the Nexus; her proportions had grown more than she¡¯d anticipated. And what if no Crystals appear? Camellia¡¯s head tilted to the side, seemingly confused by the question. ¡°No generation that I am aware of has come across such a scenario, but my mother taught us that should there be no food on a planet and no Crystal, we are to expand into space.¡± So, your species does have an understanding of outer space, she thoughtfully nodded, growing more intrigued by the creatures the more she learned. Your grandmother was the first to come to this planet. What happened to her? Do you have any aunts? ¡°Two,¡± the redhead said between fits of laughter. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Empress, this body is, umm, just very sensitive¡­I have never experienced this sensation before!¡± Take your time. After a few seconds of enjoying the unusual interactions with the world-destroying spider, the arachnid managed to get herself under control. ¡°My mother killed my grandmother; it is a right of passage that the strongest of the brood is cemented atop the hierarchy, drinking their essence pouch to further strengthen the next generation. One of my aunts challenged my mother for prime land, and she was defeated, taking her brood to the southeast deserts. My other aunt decided to take a more aquatic approach, going to the western ocean to spread out her children.¡± And when was this? ¡°Mmm. I¡¯m, umm, not quite sure, Empress,¡± Camellia whispered, furrowed brow shifting to the shuttered windows. ¡°How long has it been since we have been dead?¡± Pondering the question for a second, she answered as best she could. It has likely been a little over a century. ¡°Oh, goodness!¡± the redhead jumped as one of the maids laid the measuring strip across her spread-out arms. ¡°If that is the case, then my aunt would have likely been eaten by her children, or is preparing them for it, such as what my mother was readying us for.¡± I see. So there are other th¨¦lm¨¦thra broods elsewhere in the world. Good to know¡­and how did such a powerful species as yourselves all die? Was it Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma? Oh¡­why the guilt? she asked as the redhead¡¯s shoulders and eyes drooped to the floor, feeling her emotional turmoil. ¡°Our mother¡­told me and my sisters that we were not ready to face such an opponent as the powerful white ape¡­we were late bloomers, and required more experience. She said it would be beneficial to us in the end, but¡­I had my doubts.¡± She shifted uncomfortably at the admission, somewhat feeling as if she were defective. ¡°Then again, to say I am right would mean my mother was wrong¡­and my mother is never wrong. She went off to face the White Ape alone to collect his essence for our last sister¡­her last viable Princess-Class offspring. And¡­and I convinced my sisters to follow me and to try to prove her wrong. My desire to be useful to her got my mother and sisters killed...If we weren¡¯t there¡­she would have won.¡± A hopeful gleam lit in her eyes. ¡°Well, I am not sure she lost because¡­well, I died first, trusting my tough exoskeleton too much against the White Ape¡¯s blows. He used a power my mother understood, but I did not¡­the, umm¡­the oldest in a th¨¦lm¨¦thra brood tends to be¡­the weakest, and the youngest¡­the strongest.¡± Elinor could now understand the shame burning within the spider woman¡¯s chest, but the news only further heightened her internal excitement. If Camellia was considered weak as the firstborn, and she was considered a late bloomer, then the future potential they could bring to her empire could not be understated. We all make mistakes. ¡°Mother doesn¡¯t¡­¡± Hmm. I¡¯m sure she might have a different perspective...In any case, can you find your dead siblings and mother? Camellia shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her bare arm as the maids tried to get her to put on a robe again after they finished taking her measurements. ¡°I, umm, I could try to find them through their lingering threads and scent, but to be sure, I would need to go back to the scene of the battle below the surface of their black fortress.¡± A mission for another day, Elinor chimed, happy at the interaction rather than disappointed. You did well, Camellia. The arachnid perked up at the praise as if she¡¯d rubbed her head and called her a good girl. ¡°Is there anything else you wish of me, Empress?¡± She spotted the maids sorting through a few garments, going for a sports bra, shorts, and tank top¡ªthe same as her¡ªto have a more battle-able outfit. The items were coveted by the human women while working in the humid jungle heat. Luckily, they were getting close to pumping out the prototype silk and cloth Tiffany¡¯s busy witches had been slaving on over the past few months. Allow the maids to teach you about our customary outfits, and our reason for wearing them. After that, your initial mission resumes¡­and, Camellia? ¡°Yes, Empress?¡± she chirped, practically bouncing up and down, still getting used to her human form. Have fun. Eat. Enjoy life again¡­and know that for every ally you save and enemy you slay, the more proud I am. You¡¯re precious to me, Camellia. You are unique. And you have your own worth within this empire. She could visibly see the woman vibrating with motivation, and not long after learning about human clothing, she was set loose on their enemies. Elinor wanted to see the looks on the ri¡¯bot and human faces as Camellia rushed into the jungle; despite being restricted to Rare-Grade, she knew the arachnid was on a whole different level. When Theresa had discovered the proper outfit and finished dressing her, Elinor returned outside. Her smile lingered on Quin as the giant ape child waited to be useful. She was a little surprised to see even more of a crowd had formed since she¡¯d entered. Her gaze drifted between the undead and the living, seeing hope in their eyes for further updates as to Butter and her activities. She knew word would spread, and it would be good to show the results of their progress, and she had the rest of the day to get to the arena. Several minutes spent uplifting the humans and ri¡¯bot that put their faith in her was worth the time. Elinor centered on the two girls who had the skillset that she required. ¡°Alisa, Esmeralda.¡± The two witches stepped forward, and she saw the White Witch give Sal, her boyfriend, a nervous glance while presenting herself. If she remembered right, both of them would have likely turned sixteen by this point. Sal had grown an inch or two over the week she¡¯d been gone, and she could sense his faith in her rebounding, filling him with power. It wasn¡¯t quite as much as Valentina, but it was close. She was sure Sal was worried about his big sister, as well, since Adoncia had gone north with Butter to act as her maid. So far as her status sheet showed, the young woman was still alive and good. In fact, she¡¯d advanced to [Uncommon-F] and Level 17. It seemed she was putting in work for her sister. Breathing out a short sigh, she held her hands at her front as the girls approached. ¡°Is there a ritual already prepared that will allow me to address everyone around the lake?¡± Both teens lit up at the question, and Esmeralda was the first to respond, her sandy-blonde ponytail bobbing with her head. ¡°Absolutely, Empress! My coven can have everything activated in less than a minute. Will we be receiving updates on Queen Tiffany¡¯s whereabouts?¡± ¡°That and much more,¡± she said, suddenly seeing a split within the witch camp as Alisa piped up next, clearly unsure if she should speak but charging forward nonetheless. ¡°And High Queen Butter? We can have it up in less than thirty seconds if my coven helps her; ours don¡¯t require live sacrifice and are ready to activate whenever.¡± Knowing the girl was asking for her boyfriend¡¯s sake, Elinor chuckled, seeing the slight annoyance from Esmeralda, likely thinking the teen was trying to compete with her. ¡°Good. I¡¯ll wait for you two to prepare it for me. In the meantime, Lucky¡­¡± ¡°I am here, Empress!¡± the charming brown-haired Publicist chimed, his bleached streaks still showing after his raising. ¡°Use the Nexus and have every undead spread the news that I will be addressing the lake in five minutes, so there is no need to rush, girls,¡± she added to the witches, who still had yet to be dismissed. ¡°Coordinate with Gwen to pull in as many humans from their tasks, as well.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± Gwen beamed, her bright-red hair drawn back into a bun and sporting a bright-yellow Sunday dress that was quite dirtied by this point. Elinor motioned to Quin, snatching the giant gorilla child¡¯s attention. ¡°Inform me when everything is ready. I will be checking a few things in the meantime.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± she stated, holding out her hand so Elinor could transfer onto the ape¡¯s powerful palm. ¡°It is so wonderful that you are back.¡± ¡°It is nice to be back¡­¡± Maintaining her standing position as the gorilla lifted her up before she needed to, Elinor let the quen¡¯talrat do what she wanted. Closing her eyes, she entered her internal world to study a few names she wanted to report on.
[Butter - Mythickin Saintess Empress - High Monarch - Female - Level 25]Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. [White - Rare E-tier - Military Court - Female - Level 21] [Mika - Uncommon A-tier - Military Court - Female - Level 19] [Adoncia Vences - Uncommon F-tier - Serving Court - Female - Level 17]
Elinor leaned against the side of her throne, a small smile on her lips while fixating on her sister¡¯s revealed class. It all made sense as to why they hated each other. Butter was a Saintess Empress, and she was a Lich Empress. Butter is whole. She has a body. I bet she¡¯s so excited¡­I kind of don¡¯t want to send her off as soon as she gets home¡­but I may have to. I¡¯d like to better explore our new relationship as sisters. Mom is coming back¡­a mom she¡¯s only met once. Hopefully, there will be a little time to explore more of our family dynamics. Losing herself in her daydreams, she was a little amused when Quin informed her that everything was ready. When did she start dreaming like this again? When was it since she last had these teenage desires? Maybe things were going a little too well lately, but she¡¯d ride that smooth wave as long as it carried her. Opening her eyes, she felt tingles run down her arms upon seeing the sea of people waiting for her around the lake, awaiting her voice. One look and it was hard to catch her breath. She could feel their longing for relief, hopeful for a proper place to call their home. Elinor could look into the throng and see the tears and prayers of individuals, waiting for her to look into their eyes and tell them it would be okay. The group had truly become her citizens, looking to her to lead them into a better life from the hell they¡¯d been plunged into. There was a hunger in them for success¡­for life. It was ironic that they looked toward an empress of the dead, yet look to her they did. She released the pressure that collected in her lungs as Garu swung up Quin¡¯s right two arms to deliver a cute wooden microphone that she just knew Alisia had crafted. Accepting it, she examined its carefully carved symbols, glowing with a light-orange hue. She could see the brunette White Witch laughing with her coven friends while engaged in their rituals, imbuing her hope into every stroke of her knife against the wood. I¡¯m not only carrying my own dreams for the future. Is this the weight of what it feels like to be a leader? She looked out across the sea of her excited citizens. Their numbers had grown, and she saw a few women with plump bellies, bringing the next generation. These strong women had carried an extra body all the way from their world to this lake¡ªhaving Tiffany and her rituals to thank for getting them through the rough three months. For all The Witch claimed she had lost her humanity and her love of death, she was surprisingly caring and nurturing. There is no room for failure. Quin lifted her up over six meters above the ground, extending her arms as high as they would go. Elinor maintained her balance, letting her presence be felt for several seconds before beginning her speech, her words projected all across the Wixum main settlement. ¡°I will not bore you with fancy words. There is only one thing to impart...We¡¯re winning. We¡¯re winning¡­and we will continue to rise because of the support you have given me. We are winning¡­¡± Instead of cheers, Elinor¡¯s undead heart felt punched as joyous tears mixed into the crowd¡¯s emotionally overwhelmed response. It was as if they¡¯d been waiting for months for her to tell them they¡¯d done a good job, and so she continued¡ªthat they¡¯d be okay. ¡°When I look upon you¡­upon your cracked hearts and the shadows behind your eyes, I have a few words that come to my mind...You¡¯re fighters. You persevere...You¡¯re worthy, and you have a hunger to live¡­to live well. I am here to tell you¡­it is going to be okay. Tell your children that everything is going to be okay, and know it is not a lie. Empress Elinor said change is coming. And all of you have a part in that.¡± She let her words sink into their burning hearts, seeing many unable to stand any longer, falling to their knees. Elinor saw a future these ri¡¯bot and humans couldn¡¯t, though; a future that surpassed the Kaspir Kingdom, and it was set in the black citadel standing firm inside her valley. Standing tall, she continued her report to her citizens. ¡°I¡¯ve gained the power required to bring you into that future, and without you as my foundation, none of it would have been possible¡­ ¡°The silk plants are growing, providing us trading partners and goods that will bring us wealth and unique products we cannot obtain ourselves. ¡°You¡¯ve learned about this world¡¯s seeds, sowed them, but faith is not blind belief. You¡¯re out in those fields, diligently tending to them, learning¡­growing, having hope that they¡¯ll bear fruit. This may not be the world many of you were born into, but we will conquer its challenges. We haven¡¯t let it crush or ground our spirits. We are taking into the sky to claim what is ours, and we are not alone.¡± She gestured to the clusters of ri¡¯bot, mainly females, that surrounded the lake. ¡°The Wixum Clan has thrown their support behind me. The Roxim have pledged themselves to our banner. And by tonight, three more clans will have joined hands with us.¡± This time, cheers erupted from her citizens, building from her building speech. ¡°¡­Yes, we will soon control much of the valley, but it is the first step in a grander plan. I have discovered a portal to another world¡ªa dying world, which I have pledged to support for their material aid. A kingdom of powerful weather manipulators, who will join our banner in time. I bring crops and goods from their home that we can develop here, furthering our empire¡¯s growth.¡± Shock swept her citizens at that report, but she wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°As many of you know, Butter has traveled to the northwest of the valley, and she has been engaged in a vicious war between worlds. A Crystal attack¡ªmuch like the one we suffered through. She will return victorious, bringing more to the empire, and that is what I pledge to all of you...Wherever we go, the Undying Empire will uplift, we will build friendships where we can, and serve those who seek us harm fire and brimstone to the very bedrock!¡± Her building emotion carried through the undead and living. ¡°War is coming! Evil rises to once again take everything from you, but I will stand in their way! They will not so much as touch a hair upon your head¡ªI swear it.¡± Passion to protect and build a new home sparked within her citizens as she finished her speech, directing them to Quin, the proud four-armed gorilla puffing up her chest with pride. ¡°You stand on the shoulders of literal giants! A home is here for us¡­a future. I will build our home on the ashes of those who dare rise against you, and we will accept all who will come for shelter and peace. There is no need to hide¡­because we are strong. So tell me, do you want a bright future, where you have food¡­where you have shelter¡­where you have safety?¡± Cheers came with each pause she gave, and she let the crowd settle down. ¡°¡­Good¡­good. I am fighting for you¡­for us¡­and I am not alone. So, to conclude this meeting before I go off to war on your behalf, allow me to put some of your hearts at ease.¡± She glanced down at Alisa with a soft smile, the attention almost making the witch lose control of her ritual. ¡°So far as I can tell, not one soul has been lost in the expedition to the northwest: Butter, White, Mika¡­and Adoncia are safe.¡± Relief visibly came over Alisa and Sal. Virgil slapped the teenage boy on the back with a short laugh, and several of his knight buddies nudged him, making his face flush. ¡°For those waiting on news from the Deep South¡ªnalvean territory¡ªfrom what I have read, all those maids and butlers that have been sent to support Ambassador Klaus Klossner and Head Maid Emelina De La Vega are in perfect health.¡± Spotting some of the apprehension passing through the throng, likely hearing stories about the scaled salamander-like species from the Wixum, Elinor pressed on. ¡°Negotiations are still being ironed out between the Clavex Clan and our ambassador, but headway is being made. That being said, I understand that some rumors are circulating regarding a large ri¡¯bot clan in the southeast of the valley preparing for war...It is true.¡± She paused, allowing the whispers to settle. ¡°The Xaltan Clan has chosen to attack the Roxim, who have allied themselves to us. Many of you saw Queen Camellia, that gigantic metal spider that ran into the jungle to the east¡­she is our newest member of the Royal Court...The Monarch of the Hunt.¡± Nodding as she saw excitement more than fear embrace her citizens, happy to have another powerful name added amongst the Monarchs that Tiffany and Edmon had largely built up to be a big deal, considering their contributions to their daily way of life. ¡°¡­Queen Camellia is a very mighty asset who has gone on ahead to prepare the way for us. Queen Tiffany is working with a new ally of ours in a secret location on powerful weapons and gateways for more resources for us to use in the future. Great things are coming! ¡°The Xaltan will be crushed within a week! I swear it. And you will not see the flames of war as I am unlike any other ruler, for I will not put them in the ground¡­ ¡°No, your enemies will see no rest, for they will be on the front lines against the Great Clans should they choose to attack the valley from the plains¡ªshould they choose to attack our home. By this time next month, I will guide you into a home you can be proud of¡­a home you can feel safe in...That is my word.¡± On prompt, Quin lowered her to the ground as she was serenaded with praise for her work and dedication. Elinor handed the wooden microphone to Alisa, the teenage girl practically glowing at the report, setting her heart at ease. Esmeralda was quick to jog over, her glowing orange irises brimming with an unholy desire that reflected her idol. ¡°Empress, please allow me to support Queen Tiffany; I will not be a burden, I swear!¡± ¡°Me, too, Empress!¡± ¡°Me, as well!¡± The coven heads of the warlocks and a few other witch groups joined them, feverish eyes wanting more than just being botanists, tending the fields, or healing wounds. Their cheer dampened as Elinor slowly shook her head. ¡°I need the witches here, girls...However, the warlocks may make the journey since they are more offensive-based.¡± ¡°Yes! Hah. In your face, Goldie Girl!¡± one boy laughed, clearly having some kind of rivalry or grudge against the most prominent witch student. Elinor caught the cringe from Alisa and a few of the other witch coven leaders; Esermalda¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t changed in the slightest as she turned to the seventeen-year-old boy. ¡°We all have our strengths¡­I hope you make it there without your food being poisoned¡­or a curse finding its way under your pillow.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, keep yappin¡¯. Thank you, Empress! Let¡¯s go, boys! We¡¯re on an adventure.¡± Several of the girls glared at the boys, and some of the older warlocks chastised the younger, gifted boy, who refused to apologize. Elinor was sure they were worried about becoming collateral damage in the certain war between factions that was bound to happen. She sighed and gave the grinning, sandy-blonde teen a look. Esmeralda giggled and winked. ¡°Queen Tiffany made me very aware of what lines I can and cannot cross. Don¡¯t worry about us, Empress. I¡¯m not so thin-skinned¡­but I do get my pound of flesh. Hehehe.¡± ¡°Witches will be witches,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Just be aware we are at war¡­and now you two want your turn?¡± she asked as Gloria and Virgil approached. ¡°I really must be going.¡± Her gaze darted to Lucky as he posed a question from Gwen that was important to answer that she¡¯d forgotten to address. Yes, let everyone know that when I return, I will be doing a mass resurrection ceremony. I¡¯ve become far stronger and capable of returning a great number of loved ones. ¡°You are merciful, Empress!¡± the charming brunette laughed. ¡°We will further refine the priority list before your return.¡± Virgil cleared his throat as Gloria glanced at him, keeping her mouth shut to likely not waste more time than was necessary. ¡°We¡¯d just like to know if we¡¯d have our place in the coming war. Our boys and ladies have been practicing hard these last few months.¡± Elinor¡¯s focus drifted to the stiff and at-attention boy knights and female paladins; they¡¯d seemingly split into their own paths on their own. ¡°Hmm¡­perhaps as a supportive role in the backlines. King Edmon is your general, though. I will take his opinion at the end of the day, so be sure to impress him.¡± ¡°Understood, Empress,¡± he said with a casual wave and smile that was very unlike his formal-looking wife next to him¡ªshe¡¯d heard about their cute wedding through the Nexus, done on the lake. ¡°We¡¯ll redouble our training efforts. Give ¡®em hell for us.¡± ¡°Oh¡­I will,¡± she chuckled. She had Theresa join her on one of Quin¡¯s extra hands; the Head Maid was now wearing a backpack with extra goods in case she needed them. Quin took them into the jungle with a word as Garu contacted her. Organize a defensive network around the Wixim camp. ¡°Mmm. I was wondering what my task might be,¡± he whispered. ¡°You think the Delthax Chief may attack while you¡¯re away?¡± I don¡¯t need to be certain it will happen to play into the possibility, she returned with a low growl. Quin is with me. War and Camellia are with the Roxim. Carlos is taking his forces to the east. Tiffany and Edmon are working on a secret project. Grace, Famine, and Death are handling the Clanless recruiting. While Butter, Mika, and Conquest are in the northwest¡­ ¡°I see,¡± the Ethereal ri¡¯bot agreed. ¡°We¡¯re stretched too thin with our officers. I¡¯m the only one left to defend the citizens. I¡¯ll work with Virgil, Grace, and the witches to further fortify the area. May your blade never chip, Empress.¡± Oh¡­I think there will be quite a few chipped blades when I am done, Elinor chuckled. We are going to war, after all. I only hope¡ªQuin, get to the top off the canopy!¡±
[Mika has returned to the void]
A familiar, chest-gripping claw sank into her heart, twisting Elinor¡¯s abdomen¡­the feeling she had when Raul¡ªher first Ghost soldier¡ªhad been purified by the Clavex Priestesses. ¡°Is something wrong, Empress?¡± Garu darkly returned. Quin repositioned a surprised Theresa against her chest. Tail looping around a branch, g-forces hit them as she launched into the sky, swinging tree to tree to break through the canopy high above. A chain shot out of the sky, attaching her to hand; the clattering chain launched her upward into the heavens. Wind whipped past Elinor as she used another chain to hang in the air, a fear she hadn¡¯t felt in a while, clutching at her breast while staring at the northwest¡ªMika¡¯s chains holding her to this world had shattered¡ªMika, her first raised ri¡¯bot¡­was gone, and right after they¡¯d returned from the Earth Crystal, showing up on her radar. Butter¡­what is happening? Don¡¯t you die on me, Sister! Her gut cramped as she felt a holy resonance deep within her core, and her sister¡¯s voice struck her chest like a speeding train. ¡°Twin Soul Expansion: Heaven¡¯s Domain.¡± Fire erupted in Elinor¡¯s chest; it was uncomfortable, and she grimaced as she lifted her free hand to her damaged left earring¡ªthe holy energy was further eroding its stability¡ªand then¡­it shattered, leaving her sister without a place to return if her body failed her. A shift happened within her soul, making her wince; they were still connected but in a far more loose way that could easily unravel. Dammit, Butter! B4 — 3.5. War Is A Challenge War strode forward without the fear of the darkness beyond the veiling mist that surrounded him, his mind on the Gray Coven witches who awaited his arrival. The heavy, humid air filled his undead lungs with the scent of damp earth and the distant promise of rain¡ªit always rained here. A traitor doesn¡¯t make sense, but the error is too grave to be negligence. Why do I have this feeling that I¡¯m missing something? All of the witches had enough personal time yesterday to cause trouble if they wanted to, and perhaps that freedom led to the opening for tampering¡­ The path to the caves below the mesa was a rugged and narrow trail through the large jungle trees, flanked by thick foliage that rustled in the wind. A thin mist hid much of the timid creatures that called the area home. The chatter was subdued tonight with Roxim warriors and scouts moving through the underbrush. Shoving thick ferns to the side, he arrived at the entrance to the mesa¡¯s complex network of caves, a gaping maw of black set into the rocky hillside. War paused, his illuminated crimson eyes drifting to the left as the Roxim scouts checked in. Everyone checked in¡­ He rubbed the back of his neck as prickles ran down his spine. Then why does it feel like the Roxim¡¯s bloodlust for battle is decreasing? They should be as tense as it can be at night. One problem at a time¡­ The usually hot nights had a chill mixed with the wind, emanating from within the cavern. He descended into the cool shadows, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls, loud and meant to be heard, as he made his way deeper into the subterranean labyrinth. The flickering light of torches brightened the main chamber, where the witches of the Gray Coven had gathered. Their voices mingled in a heated discussion as War stood in the darkness, listening to their explanations and accusations. Carla, the Circle Leader, was the first to speak, her voice tinged with frustration. ¡°I swear, I told Quinnel to inform you about the ritual¡¯s failure, Rylee,¡± she insisted, her eyes scanning the faces of her fellow witches for support, unsure and now looking toward the Coven Leader. ¡°Sofia and I went out to gather new ingredients to recreate the ritual since the right materials were missing. Our Roxim guard told you everything we did. I left all of that in Quinnel¡¯s hands since I prioritized the ritual.¡± Olivia interjected with a wry smirk and crossed arms. ¡°Quinnel''s not exactly known for her enthusiasm at completing tasks. Maybe she didn¡¯t hear that part but she sure heard the part about investigating and harping on my little sister for taking the materials.¡± Quinnel shifted uneasily at the edge of the group, typically quiet and introverted as the group shifted uncomfortably. The twenty-two-year-old woman¡¯s voice was soft, almost a whisper. ¡°I¡­I didn''t hear Carla say anything about the ritual being broken¡­just that she needed to go out for something and missing materials, but I did see her leave this morning with Sofia. Sofia¡¯s also been going off on her own to practice and find new ingredients¡­¡± The fourteen-year-old looked like she was going to cry. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to be helpful¡­everyone else is so good, and I wanted to find something new. You¡¯re always by yourself, too.¡± ¡°I just¡­don¡¯t like crowds,¡± Quinnel mumbled, looking away and fidgeting a little at the attention. ¡°I was always a loner growing up.¡± The room erupted into a cacophony of voices, each witch offering their perspective, the bickering casting a sharp edge to the atmosphere. War watched with a detached curiosity, noting the undercurrents of personality and allegiance that colored the debate. Sofia curled in, the fourteen-year-old closing her eyes and holding her hands over her ears; War recalled hearing that her parents often fought at home before they died in the ri¡¯bot attack, leaving the other girls to bring them into their circle, which was how she became a witch. Carla raised her hands upon seeing the trembling black-haired teen, her tone firm, showing her more authoritative personality as a Circle Leader. ¡°Enough. We can¡¯t keep going around in circles like this. We need answers, not excuses. I did keep Sofia out longer than I should, and she does need some sleep but she was quite helpful in finding these flowers,¡± she said with a small smile that seemed to help the teen settle down. War leaned against the cool cavern wall and cupped his mouth. Her comment made a few of the younger girls giggle, no doubt connecting it to their group being called a circle. Carla was swift to pull the focus back on herself. ¡°This is my responsibility¡ªthe buck stops with me. I should have gone to Rylee myself instead of prioritizing the ingredients. Communication is critical, and I was flustered and annoyed, not thinking clearly¡± She paused, a shadow of concern passing over her features while looking to her fellow Circle Leader, Hilda, and their Coven Leader, Rylee. ¡°But what¡¯s troubling me is that no one else noticed or stepped in when I was gone. That¡¯s not like us. There were multiple layers of error that happened from what I¡¯m hearing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Hilda sighed, kneeling down to separate the flowers, ferns, and grasses Carla and Sofia collected. ¡°Something isn¡¯t adding up here.¡± Sofia choked out a forced laugh that drew everyone¡¯s attention to the trembling girl as she knelt down to show a few pretty blue flowers. ¡°S-Shouldn¡¯t we focus on the ritual first? We¡¯re supposed to be friends¡­right? Can we stop fighting¡­please? We all want to serve The Empress, right?¡± War stepped out of the shadows, the conversation halting and all eyes turning toward him. Sofia is right about the ritual taking priority, but it is that very fact that requires us to figure out where the fault lies¡­ If it is sabotage, then allowing the same perpetrator to mess with the ritual again could spell disaster now that we¡¯re on the verge of war. This could be a simple series of unfortunate events, he mused, but better to act as if it isn¡¯t. Her eyes darted nervously to the shadows as he stepped out into the light, his tone low to silence the girls and make them listen. ¡°You¡¯re right, Sofia. The priority is to get the ritual working again. How long will it take, Rylee?¡± Rylee¡¯s expression calmed as she took a deep breath and looked toward Carla. ¡°It¡¯s a whole new ritual. Carla would be the only one to have the expertise since she¡¯s been studying it all day.¡± The blue-eyed botanist hummed, exchanging a frown with Rylee, the silence stretching as she weighed her response. Finally, she shook her head. ¡°With the new ingredients, we¡¯ll have to perform some tests. We need to see how potent these ingredients are and if they¡¯ll interact properly with the ritual¡¯s original design. Additionally¡­I¡¯m not that comfortable doing it if I¡¯m a suspect.¡± War had heard enough. He gestured for Rylee, Hilda, and Carla to join him a distance away, taking the torch to give them light. He led them to a quieter alcove, the echoes of the ongoing discussion fading as they stepped away. He looked between the two Circle Leaders and Rylee. ¡°We need to expedite this process. The Empress could be back in less than twelve hours. If there¡¯s any chance of sabotage, we can¡¯t afford delays or involving potentially compromised parties, laziness or nefarious notwithstanding.¡± Rylee nodded, her eyes thoughtful while shifting to stare at her two juniors. ¡°I¡¯ll coordinate with Hilda¡¯s Circle to streamline the testing. If the ingredients are viable, we¡¯ll work through the night and have the ritual back up by tomorrow.¡± Hilda, ever the pragmatic one, added, ¡°And I¡¯ll double-check the shifts. We need to ensure there¡¯s always more mature and advanced witches monitoring the ritual in pairs, especially if Carla¡¯s circle is engaged elsewhere due to suspicion.¡± A stillness fell over them as they looked to him to approve their plan. He wasn¡¯t satisfied, though. The sound of the distant jungle echoing through the cave pulled him in, the rhythm of life outside the cave a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere within. They already knew there were many tunnels underneath the valley, and it was possible that there was one that connected this side of the river to the other. War¡¯s mind raced through the possibilities, already processing the next steps, each scenario more troubling than the last. The Xaltan¡¯s movements across the river, the destruction of the ritual, too many errors that shouldn¡¯t have been made¡­ It¡¯s all too coincidental. ¡°Rylee, Hilda, Carla,¡± War began, his voice low as his narrowed eyes lifted to observe their reaction, ¡°I agree Hilda¡¯s Circle should handle the ritual testing. However¡­first, I need you to examine each other for potential mind control tactics. This could be a deliberate attack, and I want to rule out every possibility.¡± The three women exchanged nervous glances. Carla was the first to nod, her expression resolute. ¡°I have nothing to hide. It makes sense. If we are using the Empress¡¯ powers, then obviously we are loyal to her. That doesn¡¯t mean mind control can¡¯t exploit that, though. It¡¯s the only way they could sabotage our efforts without us noticing. Unless someone¡¯s gone delusional and sees us as an enemy to The Empress, which would have shown in other ways.¡± Rylee¡¯s lips pulled in for a moment, one arm held across her stomach and one hand cupping her chin. ¡°Was it broken when Olivia traded places with Carla? Carla, you mentioned Olivia was the last one to speak to Alisa¡¯s White Coven, confirming The Empress would return tomorrow morning. Ursula was with her, but you only noticed it was broken twenty minutes after taking over her shift with Sofia. Right?¡± Carla¡¯s brow furrowed in concentration. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t me, the only other potential break would have been Olivia, Ursula, or Sofia. Then again, perhaps someone managed to slip past them¡­ Zara managed to make that camouflage charm.¡± Silence hung between them, heavy with unspoken fears and suspicions. Rylee finally spoke, her voice carrying the weight of her position as the coven¡¯s leader. ¡°I think you¡¯re right, War. We need a thorough investigation of all our members. It¡¯s too important to pass up and could cause problems for the ritual itself if mental deception is at play.¡± Hilda nodded. ¡°If the three of us do it together, there¡¯s less chance of manipulation or foul play.¡± ¡°True,¡± Carla hummed, a dark look in her sapphire eyes as she glanced at him. ¡°Then again, if all of us are compromised in some way, then it wouldn¡¯t matter since we could exert our authority as leaders over the others to infect them. I¡¯d suggest you prepare for the possibility that the whole coven is compromised, and we¡¯d believe we were doing the right thing.¡± Teeth flashing in a wide smile, War glanced between the three dubious women, his chest shaking with mirth. ¡°What a terrible time for paranoia to strike¡­and in such a divisive way. I can feel the pounding drums of war rising. I do not think The Empress will make it before the initial battle starts.¡± ¡°It¡¯s worse than that, I fear,¡± Rylee whispered, running her fingers through her hair and shifting her hips to stare back at the passageway where the other girls waited. ¡°We¡¯re not well-versed in mind control rituals, War. That¡¯s more Esmeralda and the Warlock¡¯s field. We can attempt to probe for any outside influence, but I can¡¯t promise anything.¡± War held up the flaming torch to look into the flickering fire, casting long shadows across the area. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that everything was aligning too well, and every woman didn¡¯t show any signs of deception; then again, if they truly believed what they were doing was for The Empress, they wouldn¡¯t be acting. It was as if pieces were fitting into a puzzle he could only see the outline to, yet the image remained hidden. ¡°We will take what precautions we can. Do it. I¡¯ll remain here, listening. I want a thorough check, including a physical. Tell me what you find when you are finished.¡± The witches nodded, determination etched on their faces to uncover the truth. They returned to the main chamber, where the rest of the coven awaited, curiosity and concern mingling in their voices as War remained in the shadows, his back turned to them. The cool night air passing through the tunnels was a balm to his restless thoughts. He stared at the natural grooves in the walls, elements mixed in sparkling like stars peeking through cloudy browns, reds, and blue stone. Their stories and excuses fit too well. Too perfect. And that¡¯s what botched him. The hour dragged on as the witches conducted their examinations, each member scrutinized, questions whispered in the privacy of a side chamber between the three leaders and singled out girls before performing their simple analysis rituals. War knew that Rylee, Hilda, and Carla would do their best, but even their best might not be enough against a skilled manipulator like Shade or Jennifer. It didn¡¯t take long for the ri¡¯bot guards he¡¯d stationed around them to join him after he called for them since they weren¡¯t allowed inside the cave; they repeated everything the witches had said. An hour after they started Rylee emerged from the darkness and he dismissed the ri¡¯bot to retake their positions. Her torch met War¡¯s, and the woman¡¯s expression, a mix of relief and frustration, told him what she¡¯d found¡­nothing. War had concluded as much while listening to them throughout the exchange. ¡°Everyone checks out,¡± she said, her voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Hilda, Carla, and I triple-checked everyone. Nothing seems wrong. You heard us perform a few rituals to put them into a daze to also check to see if they might say anything under another manipulation¡­but nothing. It might just be a lack of communication or something else we¡¯re missing. Maybe someone snuck in and sabotaged it, but¡­the alert rituals haven¡¯t picked up any movement. I don¡¯t know.¡± He looked at her for a few uncomfortable seconds before handing the nervous coven leader his torch. ¡°¡­Stay vigilant. We can¡¯t waste anymore time. Have Hilda¡¯s Circle do the communication ritual while Carla¡¯s double-checks every ritual around the settlement in pairs of three, with one group having four. We can¡¯t afford another oversight or mistake.¡± Rylee¡¯s mouth tightened, her vision downcast and fingers curling into a tight, frustrated fist. ¡°We were supposed to prevent things like this from happening¡­ How could we have been so blind and complacent? We¡¯ll proceed in groups of three, as you said.¡± Carla nodded. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start with Sofia since it¡¯s best she gets some rest after the day I put her through, searching through the jungle for replacement materials. Plus, she was with me, and I¡¯m the most suspicious, so it will put the primary suspects on the coals.¡± War watched the witches disperse, their focus renewed, but War lingered a moment longer, watching the shadows shift and dance around the cave¡¯s entrance as he moved to watch them form groups and distribute tasks. The women took a bit longer with Sofia than the rest, which made sense since they had to discuss how best to perform the mind control test and associating protocol they¡¯d use. They were also more gentle with the girl since she had been somewhat verbally abused by her parents. The three women tried to sooth the frightened teen by bringing her into the examination, allowing her to help them check each other.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. After fifteen minutes, they moved onto the others once testing a few rituals that War was careful to listen in on. Nothing odd stood out in the words but there were odd pauses from time to time. Everything became more streamlined with each new examination. Even the fourteen and fifteen year olds were determined to push on through the night, but Rylee, Carla, and Hilda insisted Sofia rest to her disappointment. Upon seeing them moving as one body, tightening up roles and carefully crafted teams, they split to their tasks, and War entered the night again. Despite the thorough investigation, nothing came up, which didn¡¯t sit right with him, yet there were boundaries The Empress would expect him to keep¡ªhe couldn¡¯t go stripping or interrogating fourteen-year-olds. The darkness was more alive with the hum of unseen forces as he exited, the mist thinning a tad. A gentle rain fell over them that would pass in less than an hour, but it sharpened his mind. War¡¯s greaves sank into the mud, leaving a path anyone could follow, daring anyone to do so as he strolled toward the lake. He lifted the radio to his mouth and pressed the button as the liquid started to fall. ¡°Any movement across the river?¡± ¡°Not to the east.¡± ¡°Across the river is clear, other than boat keepers tending to them. A change in maintenance shifts thirty minutes ago.¡± ¡°The west is still¡­ The fish were acting up earlier. It¡¯s not uncommon in the rainy season. Ground units in the area report nothing from the Clanless territory.¡± War¡¯s mind returned to the possibility of sabotage as the reports continued until finished. There were some things to investigate, but nothing immediately threatening. However, the unsettling thought that their defenses were compromised kept returning. Yet, what could he do if he didn¡¯t know where? One wrong decision could weaken a place the Xaltan could exploit. Mental warfare¡­ He returned the radio to his belt strap and clasped his hands behind his back on his path down the hill to the lake. They¡¯re not taking overt action but poking at places with subtle tactics to misdirect our attention. Either the Gray Coven is compromised as a whole or aren¡¯t at this point. The issue is, they¡¯re the only ones who can create the ritual needed to communicate with The Empress, and the rest of the Empire, which is a must. They¡¯ve all had Roxim bodyguards, as well¡­ Reaching the Roxim settlement with the gentle rain falling over him, War let the elements attack while observing the heightened alert from the ri¡¯bot warriors as their citizens slept. The Roxim torlim riders were vigilant, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of threat. His bright crimson irises drifted to the side as Fennel returned at the same time as him, seemingly coming from the Roxim¡¯s other settlements not on the front line. ¡°Any issues from the north?¡± Fennel¡¯s discolored, slick green skin gleamed to War¡¯s darkness-piercing gaze. A low growl rumbled in the High Warrior¡¯s mouth as fire sparked over his mystical ax, spinning it in a slow circle with agitation before holstering it on his approach. ¡°Less true warriors than I anticipated from the proxy leaders, and a lower standard for trained torlim than last season. The spotters on the northern mesa reported the Clanless being more active than usual, possibly a coalition of sorts at the quen¡¯talrat Black Mines. Other than that, around five hundred more Young Bloods and retired warriors picked up the ax.¡± Not particularly anything worth War¡¯s notice. Although, Valentina had been given the task of rallying the Clanless to join The Empress, so perhaps she was making progress. ¡°Five hundred young for any manual labor needed and some older administration officers could lighten the burden and give us more eyes¡­ Fennel, wake the Chief. Something is happening,¡± he muttered, looking up at the gloomy night sky as lightning flashed across the clouds, lighting up the heavens. Fennel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Should I call the generals and set the forces for active combat rather than alert?¡± War thought about it for a moment and shook his head. ¡°We need everyone to be rested and ready for a major attack, and I don¡¯t have any solid evidence yet¡­ It¡¯s better he knows now rather than later, though.¡± The High Warrior left without a word, and War glanced left, spotting the first witch group of three as Zara, Olivia, and Sofia together; it seemed the young teen managed to weasel her way out of sleep or just couldn¡¯t with everything happening, which he could understand. Then again, it was a strange combination¡ªa fourteen, sixteen, and eighteen-year-old together¡ªbut upon further inquiry, he learned that they were sent to keep total watch on this ritual communication device inside the camp. He watched them move with purpose upon breaking away, wearing their ponchos and huddling close to one another in the downpour, their steps quick and deliberate. I suppose it makes sense to group them since they were in totally different places for the most part yesterday. Zara was making her charm, Olivia was in the last group that was in charge of overseeing the broken ritual, and Sofia was in the group after it was discovered broken. However, all of them aren¡¯t skilled enough to do much but maintain a ritual, and if they break this one, then we¡¯ll have confirmation. War felt the familiar burn of anticipation in his veins as the bloodlust within him roared for a real fight, a pyroclastic flow ready to erupt from his two-handed blade. This was his element, the chaos of war, the dance of strategy and strength. War thrived in it, even as he recognized the danger that loomed on the horizon, he was ready to brawl. His smile rose as Chief Zargoth exited his hut, a warrior¡¯s favor following him with the vibe he sent to his men around the settlement. Conflict¡­change¡­ I could care less if I lose this battle because losing a battle isn¡¯t losing the war. War is the force that moves nations and topples empires. What fun has the Xaltan, Jennifer, and Shade cooked up for me? Informing the chief of what was happening in the background, the leader sent his men to sleep in shifts at their battle locations. The drummers were ready to alert the population at a moment¡¯s notice. It didn¡¯t take long before the rain lifted, leaving a low mist that would be swept away by morning. Yet, not a whisper came from across the river. His illuminated eyes remained fixed on the vast river, kilometers across as the night air carried whispers of tension and anticipation. The Roxim torlim riders maintained their vigilant patrols, their bodies moving with a silent grace that belied the chaos simmering beneath the surface. The jungle, alive with its own rhythm, held its breath as if waiting for the first note of an impending symphony of conflict. He¡¯d been on the side of was now becoming more noticeable, something most seasoned soldiers would recognize¡ªthe impending dread of a slaughter. The only question is, Red mused to himself, is the slaughter for us or them? Whatever the case, I can feel the heat on the back of my neck¡­ It¡¯s close. As the first hints of dawn brushed the horizon with pale strokes of light, Rylee approached him, her movements steady despite the weariness etched on her features. The Gray Witch had been working tirelessly, orchestrating the witches to restore the ritual and ensure the camp''s defenses were impregnable. ¡°Everything¡¯s in order,¡± Rylee reported, her voice a calm anchor in the midst of uncertainty. ¡°The ritual is up, and the communication grid is stable. We haven¡¯t heard from the Empress, but I¡¯m confident she¡¯ll return soon from the earlier report, if not already arrived.¡± War nodded, his gaze shifting to the horizon where the sun began its ascent, casting long shadows that stretched across the land. ¡°Good. The Empress should be back by now. At this distance, I can¡¯t tell through the Nexus, but soon¡­ Keep everyone alert. I don¡¯t trust this quiet.¡± Rylee hesitated, her sharp green eyes meeting his. ¡°Do you think it was sabotage? The witches would never¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about trust,¡± War interrupted, his voice firm and his smile wide. ¡°To put it bluntly, we¡¯ve been outplayed. I just need to see how. If it wasn¡¯t you or your witches, then someone else knows how to disrupt the ritual. Perhaps Shade. Leave the Roxim warriors defending the ritual sites and bring them here for safety. We¡¯ve done everything we¡ª¡± Before Rylee could respond, the radio on War¡¯s belt went off, and Chief Zargoth echoed its report, his voice booming from behind them. ¡°Movement across the river. They¡¯re preparing the boats for attack!¡± War¡¯s mind raced, feeling the torturous pain in his chest as the pieces of the puzzle refused to fit together. If the witches didn¡¯t sabotage the ritual, who did? The knowledge required to disrupt such a delicate process without notice is beyond most, yet someone did it. Wait¡­ Eyes widening, he cast his gaze to the west at the high mesa cutting a knife through the valley. That report of ship movements¡­ It came from the river team. The slaughter, the failing bloodlust of the Roxim warriors¡­ Not failing, disappearing. He lifted the radio to his mouth, Zargoth and Fennel catching his expression and rushing over as he shouted, ¡°Mesa Lookout Teams, report.¡± The response was swift. ¡°Movement across the river!¡± Yet, now that he was focused on the voice, it didn¡¯t sound like anyone from the previous reports. ¡°Name and rank,¡± War demanded, excited rather than angry as the pieces finally fit into place. The line went silent¡ªa chilling confirmation that the mesa was compromised. But when? Rylee¡¯s face went ashen and she took off at a sprint toward the jungle, no doubt realizing the truth. As he turned to inform the chief, he spotted Zara jogging toward him, her expression one of excitement and urgency. Then, it struck him. ¡°War!¡± she yelled past the shouts and calls as instructions were sent to the drummers to convey the chief¡¯s orders. ¡°War, I went to the bathroom, and¡ªand when I got back, Sofia and my sister said The Empress is back and she wanted to talk to you! They said she just called!¡± How did the Xaltan dismantle or bypass every ritual alarm Rylee¡¯s coven set¡­when she said everything was perfect? How many of them are compromised? We¡¯ve already lost. ¡°War?¡± Zara panted, the sixteen-year-old following his gaze to the mesa, where Red felt a total lack of its former bloodlust. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? The Empress, she¡­¡± Instincts flaring, a smirk lifted his lips and he held up a hand to stop her. ¡°Zara, go into hiding. Now. Alone.¡± The confusion in her eyes was palpable, but she nodded, understanding the gravity in his voice. ¡°W-What about my big sister and Sofia?¡± War rubbed his chin, calculating the odds and tactics the Xaltan had employed as he thought of the two young witches. ¡°I¡¯ll give them the same order as I gave to you, and don¡¯t come out for anything until The Empress sends someone. At least one person needs to make it out alive to report what happened¡ªgo.¡± A shadow passed over Zara¡¯s face, a mix of fear and uncertainty in leaving her sister. ¡°But¡­no, I trust you, War. I have faith in The Empress, even if we die!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t welcome your grave yet, kid. Survive,¡± War replied, his voice a low rumble while rubbing her head and sending her off. ¡°Take whoever you can¡­they¡¯re coming. Again, don¡¯t come out for anything, even your sister. Stay hidden.¡± Zara nodded, her small form disappearing into the crowd of organizing ri¡¯bot. As she vanished, War turned to see Olivia and Sofia approaching with Chief Zargoth landing beside him, their expressions mixed with confusion and excitement. Zargath¡¯s narrowed eyes were on him. ¡°I heard The Empress has returned?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they said,¡± he mumbled, giving him a firm ¡°but I want you to deliver a message to your people¡­ Do not resist. We¡¯ve already lost.¡± He exchanged a look with Zargoth, the chief¡¯s nose creasing while piecing together everything they¡¯d talked about throughout the night. ¡°War, we need you in the communication tent,¡± Sofia cried, huffing and puffing with Olivia beside her. ¡°T-There¡¯s an urgent message from the Wixum Lake¡ªThe Empress! She said she needs you and Chief Zargoth!¡± ¡°Wait¡­where¡¯s Zara?¡± Olivia asked, glancing around at the citizens going into underground shelters and northward to the nearby settlements. ¡°I told her to tell you first¡­¡± Zargoth glanced between the two totally normal girls. Understanding the possible implication of a trap, War was impressed as Zargoth ran the calculations in seconds before responding. ¡°I¡¯ll give Fennel the order¡­ I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± War was slightly surprised as Sofia and Olivia didn¡¯t so much as make a fuss at Zargoth being late, more concerned about where Zara had gone and if she¡¯d gotten lost in the crowd when a battle was about to start. He comforted them, saying he¡¯d sent her on another errand, sparking conversation between the fourteen and eighteen-year-old. He studied their behavior on the way, less concerned about what was coming and more interested in the power that had caught him off-guard. If this is mind control, it¡¯s so far advanced that it could topple entire empires with how subtle it is¡­ Not one person realized it, and none of us would have noticed if not for the sabotage being discovered, which means they hadn¡¯t gotten full control over the coven last night¡­ Okay, trip your trap. Let me see the trick. They made their way to the tent, the tension in the air thick enough to cut. The jungle around them seemed to pulse with life as the ri¡¯bot made battle preparations. He awaited the thrilling moment; he was War, so why would he fear conflict or death? War always returned, and what better way than to inform his Empress something happened. Olivia was the first inside, pulling back the tent flap. The inside was lined with ritualistic symbols and additions. As War entered, the older sister motioned to the animal skull that acted as the speaker and receiver. ¡°Sofia and I will start it up¡ªSofie!¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m coming¡ªI¡¯ve only done this a few times.¡± Breathing out a long sigh, she looked nervous while bending down on the opposite side. ¡°Here we go¡­everything we¡¯ve prepared for.¡± Olivia¡¯s face turned sharp with focus as Sofia mirrored her words, resonating with her magic. The ritual seal flared to life all around them, Red¡¯s teeth flashing as sticky spider¡¯s thread snaked around his frame, locking his feet in place first to rise up to his chest and around his throat. ¡°By the elements of earth and water, we call upon the ancient darkness within the planet¡ªthe benefactor of our mistress¡ªthat is vast and scattered. Unite the strong silk of otherworldly properties and bind this warrior in a cocoon prison, shrouded in thy abyss!¡± Red stood tall and resolute, his hands held behind his back while observing and studying every aspect of the trap the Xaltan set. And, at this point, Jennifer was all but guaranteed. Sofia poured a silvery liquid onto the ground at War¡¯s feet, and it spread like liquid fire up the thread-like bindings, tracing the salt lines on the tent and igniting them in a brilliant blaze that destroyed the covering. The light danced and flickered, casting long shadows that writhed and twisted like living things. Olivia and Sofia¡¯s voices spoke in unison, blending in a rhythmic chant as they looked at him with such venom that he might as well be Shade himself. ¡°By sacrificial life from ritual transference, we sacrifice the souls of five for five chains, lives willingly given. By blood and bone, by flesh and spirit, let the ties that bind be strong and unbroken. Anchor him in the here and now in the shadows of the powerful silk of monsters¡¯ past.¡± The tent scattered and destroyed, War could do nothing but stand and watch as the Xaltan elite force slipped out of shadows, wielding thread-like steel to bind the shocked warriors, and struck with a precision and ferocity that spoke of meticulous planning with prepared targets. War¡¯s muscles coiled, the chains around him tightening as he tested their strength. Zargoth¡¯s roar in the distance, and he saw him battling four of the shadowy ri¡¯bot at once, his fire eating through their silky ropes. It wasn¡¯t long before he was overwhelmed, Fennel falling into a web of silk just before his chief, their defiance echoing in the confined space, the chief¡¯s fiery nature undiminished even in captivity. Of course, he was merely drawing their attention to hopefully allow anyone else to escape, but Red doubted that was possible after such careful planning. It wasn¡¯t long until the orchestrator behind this assault made her way into the camp, the citizens being herded like cattle. Oliva and Sofia were sweating, barely able to keep their eyes open as the seal settled around him. The eighteen-year-old¡¯s nose twitched with hatred. ¡°Wherever you hid my sister, traitor¡­I¡¯ll find her.¡± War¡¯s smile didn¡¯t diminish as she collapsed and the brown-haired manipulator walked right up to him, her smile gloating. Her voice was filled with mirth while circling him like a shark. ¡°The great War, fashioned after the very personification of the word for his empress¡¯ needs, bound and brought low by teenage girls.¡± ¡°How did you do it?¡± War asked, spotting similar rituals binding other warriors across the settlement from hidden rituals the Gray Coven had made. Already, the Xaltan were spreading the mark of the Scarlet Hand across the settlement. ¡°When did you get to them? Back on Earth?¡± Jennifer¡¯s sky-blue eyes drifted to Sofia as she pulled back her ratty hair and knelt to pull back the fourteen-year-old girl¡¯s tank top to show a red handprint beneath it, burned into her flash as if done by an iron. ¡°No one suspects the little girl who wanders away, trying to be useful to the big sisters she looks up to¡­ The child with no experience. They¡¯re true believers, which makes manipulating their minds easy.¡± Heart and pride clashed within War, yet a snap within him halted all thought within his mind. Jennifer giggled, stepping closer to study him like a specimen. ¡°Let me guess, Butter¡¯s phylactery just shattered, and your Nexus is unstable¡­ Your Empress has no idea what is happening. I had to time this very precisely. Take that as a compliment because you¡¯re far too dangerous to be left unbound.¡± War laughed, his heart free and realizing the full extent of her plan; he¡¯d been right to surrender. The counter attack was already in motion because he could feel it now with the unstable Nexus; his Empress was growing stronger, and likewise, so was he. ¡°You intend to keep me alive so My Empress stays in the dark¡­ Your mistake,¡± he grinned, his crimson eyes burning her face into his mind. ¡°Take me away.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. Keep struggling, but those threads are far beyond your ability to break, and your own little witches will strengthen it soon enough.¡± A warrior¡¯s rage welled up within him as he saw Rylee and the other tired witches meet Jennifer with respect; she was impersonating Elinor herself to them. Yet, all War felt was thankful, for nothing felt better than battling against impossible odds. For War, this was the essence of existence¡ªthe challenge, the struggle, the fight that defined him. Prisoner today¡­ A king of slaughter tonight. Placed on a cart to be wheeled onto the boats that would ferry the Roxim citizens back to Xaltan territory, War gave the enraged chief a look that told him to be patient. Bide your time, Friend¡­ Tonight, we feast. B4 — 4. The Challenge Hanging in the hot jungle air, a gust pressed against Elinor¡¯s frame while she studied the northwest. The thick, pungent smell of vegetation filled her nose with flowers, decaying greenery, damp soil, and wood. Beams of the bright sun overhead showered her in heat, yet it couldn¡¯t ease the maddening chill that swept through her agitated soul as she scanned the rolling mists hanging over the northern cliffs in the distance. Not a soul knew of the trouble compressing within her chest; it was too far away for any of them to notice any reflux inside the Nexus. Butter was strong after fusing with Elinor¡¯s former body; she felt it when they¡¯d fought Ashrit. Her fingers closed around the shattered diamond inside her palm. Something was wrong, though¡­ Something was very wrong. Elinor¡¯s emerald eyes wandered the Delthax cliffs in the distance, leading to the towering mountains with their lightly snowy peaks. Spotted, low-hanging clouds covered sections of the area, no doubt blanketing Butter in a veil of fog. Somewhere above that area, her sister was struggling against¡­something. Mika was dead¡ªsent back to the void. Butter¡¯s phylactery had been shattered due to her being forced to activate her Soul Expansion¡­and there wasn¡¯t a damn thing she could do about it. Once again, she was spread too thin. It was a recurring theme over the past few months and something she needed to correct¡ªswiftly. Nose twisting with agitation, she let go of the chain, falling through open air as the links snapped back into the void. Allowing herself to be caught, the soft cushion of Quin¡¯s large hand broke her fall, and Theresa¡¯s sharp eyes caught the broken earring in her palm as she righted herself to sit on the gorilla¡¯s hand. ¡°Empress, Is¡­is High Queen Butter in danger?¡± Tucking her knee up to her chin while staring at it, Elinor stared at the dimming, golden hues that were escaping the item, returning it to its black origin; the Holy Force within it burned her skin, but it wasn¡¯t lethal now that the connection had been cut. In a way, that was a blessing. Hot air streamed through Quin¡¯s nostrils as she looked to the northeast, her muscles tensing; the fatty butterfly was an important figure within many of the citizens¡¯ stable worlds. Yet, Elinor shut down the pair¡¯s protective impulses that were instinctively bound into their souls. Butter is a big girl. She can handle herself¡­ Garu, she said, connecting to the mist toad by the Wixum lake. ¡°A change in plans, Empress?¡± the young officer instantly replied. Not a change in plans. Just an update needed to be sent to my father and mother¡­ Mika is gone. My sister is still alive, but her phylactery is broken, and mine is nearing the end of its life. She has activated her Soul Expansion and is likely dealing with a troublesome foe with White, Adoncia, and Ang¨¦lica. Theresa¡¯s somber voice entered the discussion. ¡°Empress, If Mika fell as a Lieutenant, Uncommon-Grade military unit, then the two maids would stand no chance.¡± I am aware, Elinor muttered, standing on Quin¡¯s hand to look across the sea of jungle trees and watching the wind create waves along its surface. It is likely why Butter activated her Soul Expansion in the first place¡­to protect them. I don¡¯t know how long she can keep it up or her new body can last with it active, but she will be relying on White to carry them out of danger. Garu sighed. ¡°It is their duty to protect the High Queen, not the other way around.¡± A half-smile lifted Elinor¡¯s lips as she felt Theresa¡¯s emotional tug of respect that Butter would prioritize the maids within her care. I¡¯ll give you permission to tell Butter that, but good luck convincing her¡­ Butter is proud like that, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯s pissed as it is¡­ I know I would be if I had to return and report my miscalculation which cost us a valuable soldier. Butter is not the type to drop things and run for her life. She¡¯ll exact her payment in blood. Motioning for Quin to keep going, Elinor stabilized herself on the gorilla¡¯s palm. We will honor Mika when we can and when Butter returns with her story¡­ Hopefully, with Mika¡¯s body, so that we can return it to the Roxim. She¡¯s more than proved her worthiness to be welcomed back into her old clan as a hero. I need you to inform King Edmon and Queen Tiffany of what has happened¡­and this: I cannot use Soul Expansion, or else it will shatter like Butter¡¯s. It isn¡¯t the end of the world. My Artificial Body can probably hold my soul¡­but we are more vulnerable than I anticipated. I need to find more soldiers and solutions to even the odds if we are going to be fighting large armies¡­ And tell my dad to have faith in his daughters as we descend into this madness. ¡°I will send the message along to select individuals within the Serving Court to relay.¡± Elinor retreated into her Soul Expanse as Quin carried her to the tri-zone territory between the Wixum, Lethix, and Flex. They¡¯d arrive at the location in less than ten minutes with Quin¡¯s superior navigation aptitude in the jungle environment, albeit not Camellia¡¯s insane level. Still, no one she had could compare to the monstrous spider. Elinor sat in her chair inside her floating mansion, clearing away the wall to study the expansive, over two-hundred-kilometer-wide valley with its colossal black fortress on its northern half. She saw the future rather than the present and the price she might have to pay to realize that vision. Her goal wasn¡¯t just to own this jungle but to tame it. This world was rich with secrets, dangers, and opportunities. The potential for what this valley could symbolize could make this a real home for her citizens. Yet, with that future came risks and sacrifices. To the north of her empire was the old quen¡¯talrat badlands, a vast wilderness of barren fields abandoned for this lush valley. It was free real estate that was reportedly ten times larger than her little nest egg. She couldn¡¯t believe someone like the White God of the quen¡¯talrat would leave it unused either; there had to be something there. Her gaze wandered from the seemingly endless yellow grass plains to the east, where vibrant green fields sprawled out. Waterways split off from the wide serpentine river cutting through its rolling hills that snaked its way into her valley, providing a ripe section of land to be cultivated. Powerful ri¡¯bot clans were gathering their armies to Krava¡¯s warcry across the region, the war hero chief hoping to raise up an insurmountable host to crush her. A small chuckle shook her chest as she considered how poorly this could have gone for her if he¡¯d taken a more aggressive stance against his former best friend. If Krava had cast aside his friendship and respect for Valdar, appealing to Chief Kalix behind the Plant Caller¡¯s back, Elinor could see the Delthax¡¯s current chief siding with the Komath¡¯s war hero. He had a real chance at succeeding in turning the Delthax against her. He could have used Kalix¡¯s pure animosity toward the Flex Clan to shut down his grandfather¡¯s voice within the community, offering his clan¡¯s strength and joining forces with them to deliver a decisive victory against the Flex and Lethix. However, Krava¡¯s pride was too great to unite with any clan he believed to be ¡®weaker¡¯ than him. At least, that is what she¡¯d come to understand. It lined up with his opinion of the Roxim¡¯s failing military prowess. Instead of taking the quickest way to stamp out her small advantage in the valley, the orange-skinned toad had stormed off to the east to entreat the Great Chiefs of the plains. The old toad¡¯s decision was both right and so very wrong at the same time. He saw the diminishing power of the clans around him¡ªmuch as Valdar did¡ªand that was the correct opinion. He needed a way to build up his own clan¡¯s foothold in the valley¡­ To once again find pride in his people. It was here he¡¯d taken a divergent path to the Grand Plant Caller. Krava turned to the Great Clans of the East for his support. It was a bold move, and one taken with risk to his own territory since he¡¯d need to abandon it and send his people south, out of the valley. It also showed that Krava¡¯s pride was worth more than his clan¡¯s. And luckily, that gave her time to prepare. Elinor¡¯s focus moved to the south, where the Great Ruby Lakes glittered like dazzling rubies in the sun¡¯s reflection on their vast, bloody pools. Klaus was having trouble getting the clout needed to talk to the nalevean High Lord, their name for an emperor. In fact, from his report, he couldn¡¯t even get a proper foothold with the Clavex¡¯s Supreme Mother. It was no fault of his; the man had made several important connections that brought him closer to that goal. Yet, it was the snake woman, Yesenia, who was giving Elinor an edge of caution. The former prison warden that the Scarlet Hand had booted off to this world, like Roman and her, seemed to be making strides with them. It was a troubling development based on her ambassador¡¯s reports. She didn¡¯t have the leniency to divert her focus to the south, though. First, she needed to secure her empire, which would give her the clout she needed. And the mysterious kingdom of ri¡¯bot beyond the mountains to their west could prove useful if they could create a stable trade route between them. Well, unless they also wanted to go to war, giving her more land to absorb into her growing empire¡ªtime would tell. Green eyes lighting with fire, Elinor glared at the black spires of the mysterious and awesome former capital of the quen¡¯talrat. In any case, if she wanted to bring her people to this fortress city and cement their pride in this new world as their home, it was time for her to stop messing around. Theresa informed her of their soon arrival at the challenge grounds, and she left her internal world, stopping Quin from fully exiting the jungle. ¡°You want me to stay behind, Empress?¡± the confused gorilla woman asked, hanging from one of the branches high within the canopy. Elinor hopped off of her open palm, carefully aiming her descent from high up within the jungle canopy. Theresa seemed to have total faith in her and followed without a second thought; the woman had no ability to break her fall but had seen enough regarding her chains. Find somewhere close by to lay low, out of the range of the Wixum guard. Soon enough, I will show you one of the new abilities I gained during my training this week. ¡°Oh?! I cannot wait to see your power, Empress!¡± The hot wind rushed past her bare skin, pressing against her tank top and shorts. Theresa held her legs to the side, using one hand to keep her dress from slipping off while holding her other up since she¡¯d already seen how Elinor was operating now. The stunned, minimal guard of the Wixum watched them fall in shock. Yet, just before reaching the muddy earth, chains split space, connecting to their open palms. Locking their spirits and bodies to prevent any damage to joints, the tension gradually tightened as they came to a stop just before touching the jungle floor. Theresa landed with a grace that befitted the motherly woman, and Elinor¡¯s boots touched the soil beside her, less interested in looking cool. One of the few senior warriors excitedly jumped down from the trees to join them as Quin slipped into the branches. It was impressive how such a giant ape could blend into the jungle. ¡°Empress, I knew you would not run away; we¡¯ll make a load of bushel berries from everyone that took bets! Talia, go inform the Chiefs that the Empress has arrived!¡± ¡°Right away, Lead Warrior!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Elinor asked, adjusting her tank top and shorts as the thrilled and semi-nervous ri¡¯bot surrounded her. ¡°And who is spreading this rumor that I would run away from this challenge¡­that I suggested?¡± He forced a laugh, his big toad-like eyes shifting to his buddies while rubbing his stationary neck, the bulge on it blowing up and expelling air as he talked. ¡°Xaria Meji, 2nd-in-command of the Delthax warriors, Empress. He has been speaking much about your absence these last several days and your lack of a military presence at the challenge arena.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress,¡± another younger warrior of the Wixum piped up. ¡°Tensions are high among the Flex and Lethix due to the minimal warriors the Delthax has brought when they so vehemently oppose you ascending to Great Chief of the coalition.¡± Elinor stretched out her fingers high above her head with a short laugh. ¡°Is that right? Let¡¯s meet the other representatives. Who has shown up from each clan to oppose my challenge?¡± The young, inexperienced Wixum New Bloods clustered around her, expressing their excitement at what was to come. It seemed after Nebu died that the few male Wixum men left¡ªand quite a few female toads¡ªhad gravitated toward Garu as their idol, who gave his allegiances to her. And that meant, in the eyes of these youth, she was basically a goddess. ¡°Elder Chief Valdar is here with a few of his top Plant Callers.¡± ¡°They don¡¯t seem to be getting along well with their chief, Empress, and Chief Kalix has been very¡­hostile toward our chief,¡± one female warrior mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s a little upsetting, to be honest. Chief Kalix and Elder Chief Valdar have argued a lot¡­ Everyone was really scared of what might happen if you didn¡¯t show up, Empress¡ªit would probably be a total war on all sides.¡± A short male toad strained a smile, long tongue sliding out to wet his chin in a nervous gesture as Theresa kept her eyes ahead, anticipating danger. The toads didn¡¯t seem so concerned, though, but they believed in the pride of each clan before their Supreme Chiefs to remain neutral, as was their word. ¡°2nd Rank Xaria Ectria is here and said she wanted to test your strength, but 2nd Rank Xaria Kole¡­is not here, which is causing some people to spread rumors about where he is¡­ Maybe he is leading an attack against the Flex¡¯s villages.¡± ¡°No!¡± the previous female warrior scoffed. ¡°Xaria Kole is a man of honor! He¡¯s probably overlooking the defense of their cliffs. If it would be anyone who broke their word, it would be Meji¡­ I¡¯ve heard things about Meji from some of the other Young Blood Delthax¡ªthey like to talk to me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they do,¡± Elinor chuckled, allowing the youngsters to clear obstacles for her on their path to the clearing. ¡°I know quite a bit about what the Delthax has been up to, but what about the rumors regarding the Flex and Lethix¡­and is Chief Zargoth of the Roxim here?¡± The first ri¡¯bot who had addressed her glanced at the other Young Bloods, scratching his left arm. ¡°I¡¯m¡­afraid not, Empress. He stated that you have his clan¡¯s support and will be putting his efforts into securing his people against the Xaltan invasion. He did send a runner to watch and report the results, though.¡± The girl jumped back in, her light-blue skin glossy and polished, which Elinor had come to learn was a sign that she was looking for a mate. Her words didn¡¯t betray that visual display.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°Oh, the Flex and Lethix have brought some stronger warriors, but most of them are Young Bloods¡­hehe, and wooh, do they have a lot of boys! I¡¯ve counted at least three hundred each, and all of them look, eh¡­really ugly!¡± she said with an unconvincing laugh at the other blue-skinned boys¡¯ dull glares. The girls all averted their eyes in ashamed agreement, though. It was obvious that the human influence amongst the Wixum over the last few months was breaking down a lot of social barriers with the youngster toads. It would have been nonsense for such talk to happen before she came to this world, but now, at least when it came to these ri¡¯bot, they all believed she would take the leadership role and usher in a change. ¡°So, the Flex and Lethix expected foul play and left the bulk of their forces with their settlements,¡± Elinor mused, clasping her hands behind her back while stepping over large twigs in this world that would be considered branches on Earth. ¡°If their strongest cannot keep up with me, then the others would be a waste to bring¡­ It¡¯s smart.¡± She saw the beaming looks the young toads shot one another at her praising words. It really was a cultural revolution. Krava was right to be terrified of her. She was poison to their archaic ways, but that didn¡¯t mean she¡¯d tramp over all of them¡­ Only the deadwood that needed to be burned. Her half-smile grew as she entered the clearing and saw what the clans had been working on over the week. A stage of bound wooden logs had been laid out, a cage-like framework on all sides to provide launching platforms for the jumpy toads. It was an arena built with the ri¡¯bot¡¯s advantages in mind. The other clans were swift to lock onto her entrance after a few of the Young Bloods had dashed ahead to warn them. A hush took the youngsters, and the throng¡¯s eyes fell upon Theresa and her on their path toward the smoothly shaved arena platform. A strong breeze brought the sweet-and-sour scent of fruit across the glade. Her gaze drifted between the four sides of the arena. Each side of the square hosted a cluster of the main fighting forces of each clan. It was time for her to show these toads who they were dealing with¡­today was a day of violence. Curiosity moved the Flex and Lethix leaders¡¯ expressions; the two chiefs and their advisors moved to a conjoined area to speak. The light and dark brown-skinned clan stood tall, awaiting any action from their leaders, as their Xaria moved along their ranks, hyping them up. On the other hand, apprehension was firmly fixed on Chief Yimara¡¯s face as the Wixum chief jumped onto the platform to talk to her. The very few senior warriors of the light-blue ri¡¯bot were lighting up with confidence as the Young Bloods ran to speak to them¡ªshe¡¯d already won the hearts of the lake toads. Yet, her most argent opposition was right in front of her as she mounted the steps leading up to the cliff face. Chief Kalix¡¯s twitching nose and scowl said it all; they¡¯d expected her to shy away from this challenge. She¡¯d said that she¡¯d face all of them herself, but Elinor doubted they actually believed she would follow through with it. It was an insult in their eyes for her to only bring one of her weak, human maids along to observe. Valdar was quick to jog up to the stage, no doubt feeling relief that she¡¯d made her appearance long before the sun went down, and a discolored, green-skinned female ri¡¯bot straightened on her torlim, alligator-toad mount¡ªthe Roxim¡¯s representative. Packs of blue and brown ri¡¯bot spotted the wide open area in their cliques, and ahead of her loomed the tall cliff that rose over a hundred meters to Flex territory. She didn¡¯t slow her pace or look away upon climbing the steps to the single witch woman who had volunteered to operate the speaker system. Theresa told her the woman¡¯s station and name on their approach. ¡°Kaya, I see you¡¯ve made it to the 2nd Circle Rank within your coven by that blue armband¡ªa full-fledged Intermediate Witch. One more rank, and you¡¯ll catch up to Esmeralda and Alisa as Advanced Witches. It must have been challenging to reach this place on your own; I heard you made the trip yourself.¡± The 27-year-old woman chuckled, holding one of the White Witch microphones that she¡¯d been given back at the lake, seemingly the prototype this Columbian woman had made. ¡°Thank you, Empress. This job was my test to reach the 2nd Circle and uplift my coven¡­ I couldn¡¯t fail since my team was counting on me.¡± She swept back her shoulder-length black locks behind her ears before handing her the item. ¡°I feel a little ashamed at being outpaced by teenage girls, but I¡¯m trying my best. Alisa is a big inspiration after starting her White Coven. It made a few of us more sure of ourselves to take a less¡­dark route to gain access to your gifts in contrast to Esmeralda and Queen Tiffany. Everything is prepared.¡± ¡°Good. Theresa will accompany you and let you know when to activate this ingenious network you¡¯ve developed,¡± she said, scanning the various wooden boxes hung around the clearing. ¡°I look forward to seeing the fruits of your labor.¡± The woman bowed her head with an anxious smile. She was wearing shorts and a tank top, and her brown skin was slick with sweat and dirt, showing how hard she¡¯d worked over the last few days¡ªshe¡¯d want to take a shower when she returned to the lake. Elinor watched the fifth strongest Witch¡ªsecond strongest White Witch¡ªleave with a skip in her step. Her ritual station was located near the Wixum group, where a bunch of the Young Bloods gathered, curious at her Mysticism as they saw it. She spoke to her maid as they retreated, waiting for Valdar and Yimara to reach her. So, to reach the next Circle for Tiffany¡¯s witches and warlocks, you must gain a degree of sorts, by developing a new, advanced ritual that supports the empire. It¡¯s an effective way to promote research and development¡­ I¡¯d expect nothing less from my mother. Theresa lifted her skirt slightly while descending the stairs with the dark-haired woman. ¡°It isn¡¯t only the witches and warlocks. Queen Tiffany has also instituted incentive programs and rewards in conjunction with the Serving Court leaders to motivate our efforts further. I¡¯ve heard Gwen and Lucky discussing the topic amongst the living, as well.¡± Interesting¡­ The further we develop, the better rewards available. Her smiling eyes darted to Yimara as the Wixum chief neared. ¡°I told you I would be here on the seventh day. Did you doubt me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Valdar said with a hearty laugh as he spoke first, but his cheer soon faded. ¡°The jungle whispered of your return. I am sure you received¡­quite the report. I¡¯m afraid I must rely on your cunning once again to save my clan. What should I do?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Elinor turned her smirk toward the fuming Delthax leader behind the elderly toad as he jumped nearly the full distance to land beside his grandfather. ¡°Nothing at all. Well, aren¡¯t we jumpy today, Chief Kalix?¡± Yimara had a sour expression as the darker-skinned Delthax didn¡¯t give her the courtesy to speak when she¡¯d arrived before him. ¡°Today, you will die, Empress of Death. Your only option is to choose how to die.¡± Head tilting to the side with an incredulous crease to her left eye, Elinor chortled. ¡°What an oxymoronic statement, Chief Kalix. You see¡­I¡¯m already dead.¡± Purposefully dismissing the agitated chief, seeking to intimidate and provoke her, Elinor turned her attention to the disrespected Wixum chief. She grinned at the absolute torture she invoked on Kalix upon brazenly turning her back to him after his threat. It was open for attack, but he couldn¡¯t throw away his pride to strike; she could taste his lust for her death, though. ¡°I met your mother on the way here, Yimara. She is taking excellent care of your people¡­ I expect some hiccups, but don¡¯t fret; I am more than prepared.¡± The woman released a breath that held the weight of her whole world on it; she¡¯d likely been hearing warnings from Carlos and Garu about the Delthax¡¯s movements. Within the Wixum¡¯s border far above them, the Delthax¡¯s full army was gathering for a massive play. Yet, they wouldn¡¯t be ready yet for her since the challenge was set to begin at sunset, and she knew there was doubt in many of their warriors¡¯ hearts at this deceptive tactic. Well, plans could also change. ¡°That is a relief,¡± Yimara said, strength returning to her posture. ¡°I will return to my seat and await your grand display then, Empress. I put my trust in you.¡± Kalix spat on the ground at her feet as she turned to leave, and everyone paused in the ensuing tense atmosphere; the scowl on his grandfather¡¯s face could kill. An act of the chief was an action taken by the clan itself, and the Wixum were supposed to be their allies. ¡°You always were a dirt licker, Yimara, just like your mother, without an ounce of pride for your clan. You all but licked my toes before this, humph¡­Pit Demon aberration showed her face, and now you lick the ground she treads.¡± Instead of anger, Yimara brushed it off with a chuckle and shifted to face the indignant Xaria-grade chief boldly. ¡°I am not blind enough to believe the Wixum could have stood up to you, Chief Kalix¡­ And yes, I do not have a sliver of your pride. That does not mean I do not have pride in my people. I dare say as much pride as you have in your warrior name, I have in my craftsmen and craftswomen.¡± ¡°Those are words of challenge¡ªthe utmost disrespect! Comparing warriors to¡­to builders¡ªgrandfather¡­ Why do you stop me?¡± he snarled as the elder placed his staff in front of his chief. ¡°I lead the Delthax now, Elder Chief.¡± ¡°Indeed, you do, Kalix¡­but do not allow yourself to make a fool out of us for such a small slight. I thought I taught you better than this,¡± he sighed, ¡°but your temper and animosity toward anyone outside of our clan have grown in leaps and bounds by the year¡­ Set an example for your warriors, Chief.¡± ¡°A title he will not hold for much longer.¡± Elinor¡¯s snicker stole Kalix¡¯s heated gaze as the two brown-skinned clans mirrored her entertained laughter at the fighting chiefs who should have been allies. Goosebumps ran along the Delthax chief¡¯s slick skin at her threatening words, his fingers twitching to attack her, yet holding himself back. ¡°¡­Say your last speech before the Supreme Chiefs, and try to die with honor.¡± He turned and walked away, green blood dripping from his white-knuckled hand as his fingernails dug into his flesh. Most of the Delthax warriors present looked at her as if she were the devil incarnate, which was fine for her. Kalix had had plenty of time to poison their minds against her. She did wonder about the opinions of the two Xaria who had accompanied her to the Flex and Lethix, however. Ectria was standing off to the side, apart from her fellow warriors. The spotted, ¡®ugly¡¯ Delthax Xaria¡¯s focus wasn¡¯t on them, though; her thoughtful scowl was aimed at the Flex¡¯s top-rank stealth warrior, Xaria Iona. She¡¯d learned from their previous encounter that the pair shared somewhat of a cross-clan hatred or rivalry of sorts, and Ectria was likely the better fighter, but Iona was better at her spy trade. Valdar had a mournful smile on his face while watching his grandson leave, and it touched his soft whisper. ¡°Can you at least make it quick, Empress?¡± Elinor streamed out a sigh and moved to pat the elder on his shoulder, feeling the slight tremors that ran down his frame; he didn¡¯t want this outcome but knew if the Delthax were to survive, this was the best path forward for a united valley. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t think I will be able to fulfill that request if things turn out as I envision¡­ You should return to his side and spend what time you can with him.¡± ¡°¡­I was afraid of that,¡± he mumbled, a tear falling down his cheek as he read between the lines of her response. ¡°I suppose it wouldn¡¯t have ended any other way. The Plant Callers will take no action.¡± Valdar left her alone in the arena, Yimara returning to her fuming warriors, cursing the Delthax for their arrogance after all they¡¯d provided for their people. Taking a deep breath, Elinor walked in a wide circle while bringing up her microphone to her lips and sending the prompt to Theresa to begin the ceremony. Kaya closed her eyes inside the center of her ritual circle and whispered her incantation; she seemingly drew power from the trees themselves to fuel the ritual boxes that spread her message. Elinor¡¯s voice filled the space, the volume having to tone down a tad as all the ri¡¯bot winced at the high output the nervous witch set. It swiftly tamed, and she didn¡¯t stop her opening speech, trusting Kaya to adapt as they went. ¡°One week was the time limit set for all of us to sharpen our blades and hone our skills for this day. One week, we made plans, plotted our strategies, and expected betrayal. Today, everything changes. Today¡­a Great Chief is named!¡± Cheers rang out from the Young Bloods on all sides, eager for their own chiefs and Xaria to take the title for themselves. She let them scream their vigor, the pressure in her chest from Butter¡¯s Soul Expansion fading; it had lasted longer than she thought, and she suspected her twin was utterly exhausted after pushing her soul for so long¡ªbut she was alive, and no one else had died. Attagirl¡­ Now, don¡¯t disappoint me and go dying after expelling all that energy. We still have a celebratory meal to enjoy together. Elinor chuckled, raising a hand to control the cheers as the croaking toads continued their loud choir, trying to yell out harder than their enemies. She moved on by speaking to each one individually, allowing them to cry out their voices again and pump up their base. ¡°Yes, yes, I can hear you¡­ We have the prideful Delthax¡­ The Lethix¡­ The Flex! Hahaha. Yes, yes, I can hear your blood surging for violence! And finally, the Wixum and our honored guest from the Roxim¡­who have put their support behind me¡­the Empress of the Dead. It is time for me to meet your blades¡­¡± She met the boos with an entertained smirk until the crowd died down. Amid their jeers, she closed her eyes and entered her Soul Expanse. The cry of violins, lightning, and pelting rain smacking against her mansion roof filtered into focus as she stood at the open wall of her private room. Elinor looked over the land, soon to be firmly held in her grasp. ¡°Quin¡­it is time.¡± ¡°I am ready, Empress!¡±
[Project Mental Image I: Unslotted] [Mental Acceleration I: Slotted] [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit: Activated]
The thumping in her breast increased, and she felt the pre-battle jitters cascade through her soul. Scrolling through her system menu, her finger hovered over her Warlord¡¯s submenu, and she pressed the icon, whispering to the terrifying creature all ri¡¯bot feared¡ªa child, yet a terror nonetheless. ¡°Fear is a dangerous thing, Quin¡­and fear steeped in truth all the more potent¡­ Let¡¯s welcome them to their nightmare.¡±
[Quin¡¯Alse - Military Court - Rare F - Elite Warrior/Fire Brawler - Female Quen¡¯Talrat - Level 19: Selected.] [Soul Secrynoization Success: 100%] [Time Remaining: 59:99]
A tremor shook through her phylactery, the five-meter-tall quen¡¯talrat converting into pure energy to be absorbed into her soul. Physical strength far exceeding what she¡¯d previously experienced from the spider drone erupted within her breast, and Elinor felt her damaged diamond sphere crack further with Quin¡¯s soul uniting with hers.
[Mutated Quen¡¯talrat Physiology II: Active]
Opening her flaming eyes to the outside world, her vision pulled back as the world appeared smaller. Green flames enshrouded her entire body, and unexpectedly, white fur covered her chest and lower half. The fur spread along her back and ripped her precious clothes as she grew, the ri¡¯bot on all sides stumbling back in shock. Elinor lifted her two newly formed, ethereal arms to flex her toughened fingers, watching the toads shrink around her while growing to the size of the giant ape girl she channeled, towering over five meters tall. Gray flames lit along her arm, mixing with the emerald green and radiating a shocking amount of heat. Her chuckle vibrated the air, an ethereal set of eyes representing the ape¡¯s second head materializing to allow her two angles of view. She stared down at her mostly human frame, patches of steel-like gray fur protecting her chest, back, lower half, and the outside of her arms. It wasn¡¯t like her skin was particularly vulnerable as much as her fur was that much tougher to penetrate. Her long, ghostly tail flicked out, smashing the platform, denting the wood, and sending splinters exploding out from the impact. Elinor rose to her full height, feeling a lust for combat that resonated acutely with [Path of the Warlord].
[Warlord¡¯s Vigor: Unlocked]
[Whenever [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust] is above 25%, increase all Stats by 1; whenever above 50%, increase all Stats by 2; and when above 75%, increase all Stats by 4]
[Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 35%]
The heat of the blazing sun beat upon Elinor while she flexed her powerful hands¡ªshe¡¯d become a quen¡¯talrat and human hybrid, as she¡¯d become a th¨¦lm¨¦thra when channeling the drone. She didn¡¯t feel nearly as fast as the spiders nor share in their hyper-sensitive senses, yet by raw power, Quin far surpassed the drone¡­Camellia might be a different story, though. Turning her flaming eyes to the tiny toads around her on the much smaller platform, Elinor brought up the now minuscule wooden microphone in her hand. Being careful not to crush it, she looked right at the stunned Delthax chief and showed him a belittling grin. ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time, Chiefs. I know you have your army waiting above us to attack and wipe out the leadership of the other clans. Well, I¡¯m right here. Any who oppose me, challenge me here and now with honor,¡± she roared, knowing she would be heard from miles away as Kaya projected her booming voice further. ¡°Challenge the Empress of Death with honor before your Supreme Chiefs! Meet me in combat now¡­all of you at once, if you so dare. Bring your champions before me to crush beneath my feet!¡± Tossing the microphone to the Wixum, gray flames mixed with her green, she felt invincible as one ri¡¯bot stepped onto the podium, a smile on the Xaria¡¯s face as his wet tongue slid under his chin.
[Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 50%]
¡°Xaria Meji, welcome your death at the hands of a god¡­hahaha, not that it will be enjoyed for long.¡± B4 — 5. Great Chief Elinor! With a slow, deliberate pace, Elinor circled Meji, her eyes never leaving the ri¡¯bot Xaria. A towering figure, he barely reached half her height when fully upright. The silence in the large wooden arena was deafening, each spectator holding their breath, knowing that the outcome of this fight would ignite the rest of the contest. Quin¡¯s soul impressing on her filled Elinor with utter confidence. No, not confidence; it was far more degrading than that. Ri¡¯bot were pathetic insects to be swatted like pesky vermin. That they dared stand upright in front of a quen¡¯talrat instead of running like yaltha¡¯ma wasn¡¯t courageous, it was an insult to their intelligence. The gray flames rising off her forearms intensified, two large hearts pumping Death Energy through her five-meter-tall frame as her green fire faded. Quakes reverberated through the platform with every footstep she took, yet she felt light as air and stronger than ten elephants. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Meji?¡± she taunted, using her lower-left hand to gesture at her opponent. ¡°Maybe you should scamper away and hide in the bushes¡­because all I¡¯m looking at is a victim.¡± Meji¡¯s hands darted into the pouch at his side faster than her human eyes could have perceived and whipped out a throwing knife; blue-tipped, the same metal Garu had returned with, only her misty toad had the full thing. Quin¡¯s advanced vision caught every twitch, but she had to admit, the ri¡¯bot was faster than her. He had four throwing knives, three of the ri¡¯bot smoke bombs, and two long daggers. ¡°Arrogance is your way, Empress,¡± the toad chortled, flipping the two blades in the air and expertly catching them. ¡°It will be your undoing. You wish to fight every challenger at once? What nonsense!¡±
[Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 55%]
Elinor paused as the Xaria bent his knees and jumped to the side, launching around her in a rapid blur, increasing his speed. Placing two hands on her hips and shifting her weight to the opposite foot, she turned to leer down upon his chief, watching his anger grow as she ignored one of their peak warriors. The thrown knives struck her physical eyes, the glowing blue tip cutting past their defensive film to sink halfway to the hilt; her two ethereal organs maintained her sight. Meji¡¯s searching daggers rained blows against her toughened skin, and gashes opened wounds in his rapid assault; each attack bit somewhat deep into her flesh, revealing shimmering emerald light within. ¡°Arrogance¡­ Are you deaf, Chief Kalix?¡± she goaded, reaching up with her upper-right hand to pluck out the two knives. Gash after gash sought to penetrate her body using his blue-tipped blades, seeking to make an opening large enough to strike one of her hearts. ¡°I said to stop wasting my time.¡± The Young Bloods around the camp shot nervous glances at their chiefs as she tanked the powerful Xaria¡¯s blows. All of the more advanced warriors seemed to realize how wrong they¡¯d been about her just using her undead to fight for her¡ªa miscalculation on their chiefs¡¯ part. True to his station, Meji found the angle and sent his second-to-last knife through an opening in her back; entering her body, it penetrated her heart, causing her Death Energy to leak out. ¡°That¡¯s one heart destroyed, Empress!¡± Meji boasted, slowing to a stop in front of her with a smirk. ¡°We know your body can be destroyed and how hard it must be to maintain such a colossal form. You are not as immortal as you think.¡± Elinor chuckled, maintaining her poise and leer; she was getting annoyed. Cheers rang out, yet they slowly died as she casually tossed one of the throwing knives back at Meji; he set his stance to grab it, only to abandon that lunacy milliseconds later, stepping to the side as the weapon hit the wooden platform like a comet, breaking through the planks and disappearing inside the structure. ¡°Is that right?¡± Smirk rising, she tossed her second stolen knife into the air, caught it with her upper-right hand, and sank it into her own chest. ¡°You were saying?¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Meji snarled, confused murmurs sweeping the throng. Pinching the small weapon between two fingers, she slid a long line down the center of her chest, hearing bone being broken away. Halfway down, the handle snapped, making her frown and hold it to examine. ¡°Damn. How do you expect to do any real damage to a quen¡¯tarlat with such brittle weapons? Humph. You were saying?¡± A vicious grin lit her face, and the various ri¡¯bot colors changed shades in shock as she buried her hand into the incision she¡¯d made to rip out her damaged heart. Her teeth shone while dropping it into her bottom-right hand, using the upper to dig out the broken blade. Several ri¡¯bot stepped back, mumbling, ¡°Supreme Chiefs!¡± ¡°She plucked out her own heart!¡± ¡°Does she feel no pain?¡± Meji jumped without hesitation, throwing his final knife through the shining opening to strike her remaining, open heart; it struck. The toad laughed. ¡°Such stupidity! You opened¡­yourself up?¡± [Artificial Body] brought her green flames, mixing with her gray as Elinor ripped out her last heart. The fire reformed the organs and mended all the work the Xaria had done. She held up the two disintegrating, large hearts in both of her right hands, burning away and leaving the knife that had pierced them.
[Artificial Body III - Advanced to C-tier]
¡°You were saying?¡± she laughed, her fur thickened across parts of her body and a light film glazing over her frame. ¡°Let¡¯s see you do that again.¡±
[Enhance Construct II: Activated] [Max Death Pool Decreased from 368 to 358] [Current Death Pool: 334]
¡°Come on, Meji; keep trying! You can do it.¡± Her arrogant smirk got a twitch from the Xaria as she casually tossed the broken and good knife back. ¡°Is it time to call for help? This is embarrassing.¡± ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Empress!¡± She glanced over at her maids, where Kaya was now waving and cheering like a pop-idle fangirl. ¡°Show those victims the difference between your power! They¡¯re all weaklings before your might!¡± It also happened to be over her speaker system, which got a rise out of the Delthax warriors. Even a few of Valdar¡¯s Plant Callers looked uncomfortable at the human witch¡¯s comments. Chief Loci of the Flex and Chief Utren frowned at Kaya¡¯s words; they held their tongues, though, the higher echelon whispering to one another. Xaria Inora and Welix seemed to be considering something the two Elder Chiefs of the brown-skinned clans said. Their chiefs and the two Flex Xaria looked unsure. However, the Delthax appeared done with her taunts. Chief Kalix¡¯s purple eyes had a fire in them as he rose to his full height. One of Valdar¡¯s Plant Callers broke away from the elder, making him grimace as he jogged to his chief and whispered something in his ear. It was probably about that time. Kalix raised his voice, making every one of his surrounding warriors firm their ground and summon their courage. ¡°Very well, Empress. If you wish to showcase your strength¡­then why don¡¯t all of our clans strike at once? Would you accept that challenge or shy away with your tail tucked between your legs?¡±
[Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 60%]
¡°¡­Heh-haha¡­yap, yap, yap,¡± Elinor muttered, stretching out her chest and throwing back her shoulders while straightening again. ¡°I¡¯ve done more damage to myself than your damn Xaria, Kalix. How long are you going to keep this up?¡± Her tail lifted and slammed into the arena, breaking clean through it in a long line and making Meji stumble and use one hand to stabilize himself. ¡°I said, come at me with everything you have. If you need all the other clans backing you up because you¡¯re scared¡­then have at it!¡± Spinning on her heels to pace around the semi-damaged structure, Elinor¡¯s blood pumped hotter while looking at each clan she passed. ¡°I¡¯ll make this promise. Engage me with all you have, warriors of the Lethix¡­warriors of the Flex¡­warriors of the Wixum. I have prepared thoroughly for this day. Obviously, the Delthax have not.¡± She raised her hands in the air with a wide grin from the nervous looks they gave her. ¡°You could destroy this body dozens of times over¡ªwhich you can¡¯t¡ªand it would make no difference. When you look at me, you will see the horrific image of the White God of your past¡­and that is not far from the truth, but allow me to make this promise to you, Chief Utren, Chief Loci, and Chief Yimara¡­ Not one of your Young Bloods will die. ¡°The Blood Mysticism of your clan, Chief Loci, is useless against me. You understand that well. So, allow your warriors to take this opportunity to show their valor in fighting a god, because¡­¡± Elinor stopped in front of Meji to loom over him, looking at the proud warrior like he were an ant while internally prompting Theresa to act. Her maid expertly threw her the microphone she¡¯d collected, and Elinor brought it to her mouth, her voice ringing throughout over a mile with the witch¡¯s projecting magic. [Strategic Mind] spun gears in her brain. ¡°¡­I will take on every clan that wants to challenge my rule, but today, only Delthax warriors will die. Delthax, if you recognize my strength, do not approach¡­or you will die.¡± Tossing the microphone in the air, Elinor¡¯s gray flames roared across her forearms, creating a trail in their motion. She spun in a sharp circle, her tail whipping out to strike Meji. He jumped. Her two right arms launched out, palms spread to backhand the Xaria. Meji took the heat while diving through her spread fingers¡ªjust as she¡¯d expected.
[Mental Acceleration I: Activated] [Mental Acceleration Advanced to E-tier]
Meji had dodged her first two attacks, which only led to her closed left fist, raging flames flowing off her bottom-left hand¡¯s knuckles as the Xaria¡¯s wide, serious eyes caught the closing-in meteorite. Willing to sacrifice an arm to escape, he dropped his dagger, body twisting to use his momentum to carry him over the flames¡ªhe hadn¡¯t expected her delayed upper-left fist to meet his gaze. A heated whirlwind exploded around the area as she showed off her explosive speed, the gore of the blown-apart Xaria splattering across her arms and shoulder. Silence struck the clans when she came to a standstill.
[Mental Acceleration I: Deactivated]
When she straightened, the scent of boiling blood and charred flesh filled the area, and she saw the shaken looks on the ri¡¯bot warriors¡¯ faces. Hot steam blew out of her nose as she quelled the heat in her hand, her second pair of eyes following the microphone¡¯s fall into her open palm. The smoke of one of the Delthax¡¯s heroes flowed off her fur as she flashed her teeth at the lot and spoke to them¡ªand their hidden army.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°Xaria Meji died in a single blow¡­ What hope do you have? Shall we find out? Send your army to become burnt meat, crushed in my hands.¡± Kalix lifted his hand, his cold eyes on her, not that the man would engage her himself. ¡°Chiefs¡­warriors, when this is over, you will see the great Empress Elinor running for her life. Attack!¡± Shouts filled the zone, yet Elinor couldn¡¯t focus on them as she stood in stunned bewilderment; Kalix had done something to her¡­affected her on a level she didn¡¯t quite understand. The ri¡¯bot lurched forward, stones were thrown, barbs spat, and the four brown-skinned Xaria of the Flex and Lethix blurred to engage her. However, in those initial seconds of this battle, Elinor only had eyes for the Delthax chief as she mumbled the stupid, nonsensical jargon that the man had allowed to taint his tongue. ¡°Ha¡­hahaha! Run¡­¡±
[Quen¡¯talrat: Blood Pride, In Effect] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 100%] [Bloodlust Aura: Activated] [Empress: Minion Break: Activated] [Partial-Body Firecoat III: Activated]
¡°Why would I run?!¡± A shockwave of heat exploded from her body, fur crawling down her chest and legs as the gray flames flared across her body and billowing silver locks. All the Young Bloods and half of the seasoned warriors tripped, falling over one another across the mud as the rest hesitated. Elinor was already leaping forward, the rattling of chains splitting the superheated air as nine spiked links cut through space to select her targets.
[Chains of the Damned] [Lich: Chain Break]
¡°Who¡¯s running?!¡± Nine chains pulled the first Delthax high warriors to get into range into a ball. Her burning hands slapped together around them with enough force to create a wave of gore across every nearby toad, splattering her front with their innards. Incensed, she lurched to the left, tail sweeping out in a circle to sear and pummel anyone foolish enough to test her strength. Mud, gray flames, and broken bodies whipped around Elinor on her rampage through the masses. Her nose twitched with fury upon seeing the cowardly youth abandoning their weapons as she became a chaotic ball of superheated death. ¡°Fight, you mud-licking rats!¡± Vines and roots reached out of the jungle and earth to wrap around her. ¡°That¡¯s it¡ªno, don¡¯t stop them, Valdar! Show me your ire! Show me your hatred so that I can purge you from this valley!¡± Beating back the greenery and setting it alight, she used it as a weapon to batter the nearby warriors, unable to even get close with her more advanced cloak of flames. Laughter bubbled out of her thumping chest as she charged through the disorderly ranks of the Delthax, wounding dozens in just her passing rampage to get to the insufferable chief. Unfortunately, her path was soon blocked off by six Xaria, including Kole, the last Delthax Xaria¡ªwhere had he come from? Her second pair of eyes lifted to the cliff, seeing a host of ri¡¯bot, yet they weren¡¯t jumping down to engage. A few exchanges between the fast and cooperative Xaria and Elinor¡¯s grin increased as two colossal roots exploded underneath her. An extremely loud voice gave her pause, though, bringing her gaze to Kaya. More than twelve Delthax High Warriors were entangled in vines beside the girl, and a wheezing Valdar was being supported by Theresa beside the witch. However, it was her Head Maid¡¯s voice inside her mind that snapped her back to reality. ¡°The battle is won.¡± ¡°Empress, you have proven your strength enough¡­ They have already yielded¡ªKalix, wait!¡± Elinor cast her gaze around at the devastation she¡¯d inflicted, unaware of how widespread her actions had been. Most of the Delthax area was in flames, and what had to be over a hundred burned bodies littered the zone.
[Quen¡¯talrat: Blood Pride: Deactivated] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 65%] [Bloodlust Aura: Deactivated] [Partial-Body Firecoat III: Deactivated] [Time Remaining: 54:43]
Breathing out a long stream of steam through her nose, Elinor let [Minion Break] and [Chain Break] run their course while maintaining [Enhance Construct] in case anyone else got any funny ideas. When she shrugged off the vines Valdar had no doubt summoned to snap her out of her blood rage, Elinor saw the outcome she¡¯d foreseen all along. In the middle of the half-destroyed, burning arena, the Delthax and Flex chiefs stood face to face; a dozen or so of their most loyal members were spread around them, waiting for the word. The Xaria who had been keeping her busy kneeled around her, and many of the others who were able did the same. Theresa informed her of the developments as her frenzied mind settled and the chiefs squared off. ¡°The Flex and Lethix have recognized you as having the strength to rule as a Great Chief. None of the Wixum engaged you, choosing to wait. A few of the Flex and Lethix approached, but once you went wild, it became fairly obvious how pointless the outcome would be.¡± Has it really been five minutes? Elinor questioned with a frown. It felt more like several seconds to me¡­ I suppose when in [Quen¡¯talrat: Blood Pride], I lose track of time¡­even with [Strategic Mind]. That can be a double-edged sword¡­and I could have hurt the other clans when I promised them I wouldn¡¯t. What about the chiefs? Elinor rubbed her sore shoulders, seeing some damage on her body she hadn¡¯t known had happened. Reforming it, she motioned to the Xaria while talking internally with her maid. ¡°I recognize you, Inora, Welix, Kole, Ectria, and the Flex Xaria. I will learn your names later. For now, start helping the survivors. If anyone else wishes to face me, gather them in a group, and I will see them face-to-face when this is done¡­ I will meet anyone who still wishes to deny my place at the head of this new coalition.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see it done,¡± Ectria stated, nursing a slightly burnt left arm. Elinor shifted her four hands behind her back to observe the sharp banter that passed between the two chiefs, still keeping a wary eye on her position. Theresa¡¯s commentary put a smirk on her face while the remaining Delthax, mostly Young Bloods, dashed around on the orders of the few seniors that were left. ¡°Valdar has reclaimed the right to take his seat as chief, which means he will need to face his grandson. However, he did so after the Delthax chief had jumped around your battle to reach the Flex chief. His true aim this entire time, Elinor muttered with a sad shake of her head. He really was too consumed by hatred to be an effective leader. I was right to come early. If I hadn¡¯t, Xaria Kole might have led the army he¡¯d been given and genocided the normal Flex citizens. It is a good thing he sided with Valdar in the end¡­ Did I kill any of his Plant Callers? ¡°Two, Empress¡­ Swiftly and decisively the moment they chose to side with Kalix.¡± Shame. They¡¯re valuable, and I don¡¯t suppose I left enough of them around to bring back in body? ¡°Not in the least. Valdar seems to think that his grandson is out of his depth in this battle.¡± Oh, I would say he is, Elinor mumbled, her calculating eyes watching a few of the Delthax and Flex men and women still fighting. I¡¯ve shaken some of Kalix¡¯s guards¡­ They won¡¯t be as focused as Loci¡¯s warriors. It will be a bloodbath. Most of Kalix¡¯s men were cut down before the two chiefs met blades, and their biting or taunting words gathered a crowd of the remaining ri¡¯bot, now that Elinor wasn¡¯t killing everyone. This was where everything led between the bad blood between the two clans; sadly, the Kalix was lacking in one critical area¡ªMysticism¡ªhe hadn¡¯t been born with the gift. ¡°My uncle said your father was crying when they pulled him off the battlefield, Kalix. What do you make of that?¡± The dark-blue-skinned chief snorted, two left teeth biting into his lower mouth. ¡°Lies are nothing new from your cowardly clan. One nick that draws blood, and you retreat to let your Mysticism do your battle. Pathetic.¡± ¡°Hah. What you call pathetic, I call good strategy. If only you trained your Mystics as warriors, then maybe you would have stamped out the Flex, but we flex on, Limp Tongue. I suppose you can¡¯t go against the wishes of your hero grandfather, though, can you?¡± Kalix blurred into action, the two exchanging a flurry of blows before breaking apart; half their accompanying men had fallen, the victors coldly watching the chiefs¡¯ duel. ¡°Hah! If I had your Mysticism, you¡¯d be dead, Loci!¡± Kalix boasted, his long tongue to slide across the blood with a smirk before spitting it at the Flex chief¡¯s left eye. ¡°I¡¯ve used one of your captured Mystics to strengthen myself against your rot.¡± Loci¡¯s vision narrowed, side-stepping it as his left forearm bled a pale green liquid from a minor gash. ¡°Oh? I suppose that means Talira is still alive¡­my day just got that much better. I get to kill you and save one of my childhood friends.¡± Kalix swapped positions, waiting for the next chance to strike as his tongue dripped poison. ¡°Well, on the off-chance that happens due to your lack of martial skill, due to using your Mysticism as a crutch, I suppose you¡¯ll find at least half of her. I had to cut off certain parts to make her less¡­active.¡± ¡°As cruel as your father, I see,¡± Loci mumbled, tossing his dagger at the surprised Delthax chief. Kalix caught it in his free hand with a confused grin as Loci dove forward to take them to the ground; the Delthax toad had the advantage as he made a nasty cut across Loci¡¯s arm, finding leverage on top of him. ¡°Haha! You really are a fool. Without Mysticism, I¡¯ve trained my whole life to become a Xaria¡­to make my father proud and kill you dirt-licking¡­eh?¡± Elinor sat straighter as black blood dripped on Loci¡¯s face, dripping out of Kalix¡¯s right eye, then his left, and down his ears. ¡°Why can¡¯t I hear anything¡­ My immunity¡ªthe Whispering Shade said I could be¡­immune if I¡­if I¡­¡± Strength seemingly leaving his body, Loci kicked him off, nursing a deep wound from the knife buried in his gut. Kalix¡¯s breathing became raspy, his veins turning black down his lulled open tongue, making Elinor shake her head at the irony. And he called me the arrogant one. Elinor walked closer with everyone else to observe the dying Delthax chief clawing at his own throat, black ooze falling out of his orifices. It was a gradual decline from there that took more than thirty minutes, and Loci straddled his rival through the whole process, not allowing anyone to put him out of his misery while looking into his bloodshot eyes. Valdar hobbled over, much of the fires put out as squads of Young Bloods sucked up water from a nearby stream to spray it out over the flames. Elinor felt no pity and no inclination to bring back the former leader from the dead. It would probably put a sour taste in her relationship with the Flex in any case, even as a slave, especially after what she¡¯d just learned Kalix had done to one of the clan¡¯s respected Mystics. Apparently, that was fairly taboo in ri¡¯bot culture. Mystics, no matter the clan, were to be treated with respect if captured, well, if they behaved in accordance with that given respect. ¡°What was that about immunity?¡± Elinor asked Valdar, the elder¡¯s sad and guilt-ridden gaze refusing to leave his grandson¡¯s tortured end. ¡°He was in contact with Shade?¡± ¡°Hmm. He told me about it when he was a boy¡­and I can see Shade¡¯s manipulating hand clearly in it now. Kalix grew to hate the Flex from his father when my wife was taken in an accident of crossed blood during one of our tense years of truce¡­ I knew it was a simple mistake. Yet, that action sparked our fourth war with the clan, no matter my opinion.¡± Loci breathed out a bitter grunt. ¡°So, he targeted Talira to try and slowly expose himself to tiny droplets of her blood to obtain immunity¡­ Sadly, Talira¡¯s bloodline was always amongst the weakest of our Mystics, and¡­as the chief, mine is the strongest.¡± As Kalix took his final breath, the Flex chief forced himself up, despite his bleeding side. Kaya was busy disposing of all the contaminated blood that had been spread around, jogging over on prompt from Theresa when the Dethalx chief died. ¡°Oh! Careful. Ugh. This¡­is a toughy, but I think I can manage with my ingredients,¡± she mumbled, shooing people away. ¡°Maybe I should have brought some of my coven with me.¡± ¡°Just be sure to remain safe,¡± Elinor prompted, sitting beside the pair as the wounded chief leaned back to stare up at her. ¡°You want to ask me something?¡± Loci hummed, his focus momentarily moving to his calm grandfather, who popped his tongue in their old language. Elder Chief Dren, of the Lethix, and Valdar looked at each other as Chief Yimara and Utren spoke about the possibility of crossing tribal bloodlines and its effects. Loci responded while scratching his neck. ¡°What would you have us do, Great Chief¡­or would you prefer Empress? Blah. It feels strange being led by a quen¡¯talrat¡­thing. Not that I am trying to insult you.¡± Elinor chuckled, figuring there was another topic he wanted to discuss, but his grandfather told him to drop it. He seemed like a traditional, hardass type from what little she¡¯d learned through their short interactions. ¡°Empress is perfect. As for our purpose. I will handle whoever still wishes to challenge me, and then we will begin war plans to face the Xaltan. In the meantime, healing needs to be done¡­and I believe my witches can put Talira back together, potentially block out her memories of her torture among the Delthax.¡± Elder Chief Gurali¡¯s rough voice spoke up from beside his grandson, a dubious scowl on his face. ¡°And why would you waste your time and resources on that detail? We don¡¯t need pity. The Flex are always ready for battle and sacrifice¡­ Blood for blood.¡± She looked to the east, where War and Camellia roamed. She knew many of her Feats had advanced during her rampage, but she¡¯d been too enraged to realize which; there was be time to see what had advanced when this was done. ¡°Because I have a feeling the Xaltan have something special in their favor, and I want every strong fighter we have. The best victory is an overwhelming victory, after all.¡± A grin spreading across her lips, she rose to her feet to look at the hateful eyes of the two dozen or so older generations of Delthax High Warriors who glared at her from their guarded prison zone. ¡°Now, which one of you wants to go first? If you kill me, then, as the new Great Chief, you can order Loci here to kill himself. Interested? Hehe. I thought so.¡± B4 — 6. A Hero’s Desire Standing in the middle of the ruins of the arena that the ri¡¯bot had built for her tournament, Elinor studied her blood-soaked hand. Twisting it around to stare at the gore that soaked the gray fur sprouting out of the back of her hand, she breathed out a dissatisfied sigh. Vision lifting to her enraptured audience, she shifted her posture to observe the two dozen corpses she¡¯d left in the wake of her battle, or, at least, what remained of them. All opposition to her rise to the Great Chief of the valley was quelled.
[Partial-Body Firecoat III: Deactivated] [Time Remaining: 43:12] [Warlord¡¯s Bloodlust: 20%]
[Level Up - Level 26] [1 Stat Points Added; 1 Available] [2 Feat Extensions Available] [1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available]
A sober silence filled her breast while lifting her large hand to just below her ear; the final crack spread down her black diamond, and the home she¡¯d made with Butter shattered. She grimaced as a pulse erupted in her chest; her artificial body transferred out of the stone and into her frame.
[Phylactery: Destroyed] [Soul Instability] [Artificial Body¡¯s Maintenance: 2 Death Orbs an hour] [Leaking Death Energy: 1 Death Orb an hour] [Death Pool: 332/460]
If this body she was in was destroyed, then she would die. Butter had her body now, as well, which meant they weren¡¯t as intrinsically united as they¡¯d been when her little sister had been dependent upon her to survive. She didn¡¯t know what would happen at this point, but all she could do was move forward. The three remaining chiefs, Valdar, and the Roxim representative approached, skirting the gray flames that their Young Bloods put out. One of the converted Delthax Young Bloods handed the elder the microphone she¡¯d tossed away. All attention was on her, and she felt her believer counter rising by the minute. Valdar was the one to speak amidst the crackling wood, delivering the artifact to her. ¡°Empress, as our new Great Chief, what is your command?¡± Staring around the field at the ri¡¯bot, she saw fright, awe, and reservations mixed between the various clans she had gained stewardship over. Uncomfortable at the rapid loss she was experiencing, she cursed her overconfidence in sending away Death. She¡¯d have to collect her own Death Energy today because, on top of her daily maintenance cost, she was now losing ninety Death Orbs a day because she didn¡¯t have a Phylactery, and who knew when Butter would be back. It was the worst time to limit herself. Luckily, she still had Quin¡¯s speed and power on her side, and her maximum Death Pool was increasing. She¡¯d tried to make a temporary one in Roman¡¯s world, only to have the jewel shatter moments after creation; it had to be a resonating pair, due to their resonating souls. Without Butter there to place her own soul in it, they were both vulnerable. Her more than Butter, since her fatty twin had stolen her original body. Lifting the tiny ritualistic item up to her mouth, she made her decision. ¡°I will not raise those who have opposed me¡­they died for their loyalty, and that is to be commended. However¡­I will use the bodies of Chief Kalix and Xaria Meji for their disrespect and disgrace. Gather the bones that remain in a pile. We will put them to rest in accordance with your customs when available.¡± Elinor let the statement hang for several seconds. She could see the mixed opinions of the Delthax that remained; on one hand, she showed respect to those who had challenged her, and on the other, she¡¯d blatantly singled out their dead chief and strongest warrior. Xaria Kole and Xaria Ectria looked at one another before walking forward and kneeling down behind Valdar, showing their support. With that action, the rest of the Delthax followed their top warriors and Elder Chief. She breathed out the stress pumping in her chest. There was a lot for her to accomplish, and she needed to increase her fame. She needed to expand her empire, and she was so close. Voice rising in octaves with her five-meter-tall frame, Elinor rose to her full height. ¡°All clans, prepare yourselves¡­ Prepare for war against the Komath! Prepare for war against the Xaltan!¡± She paused, [Partial-Body Firecoat] momentarily igniting her fur, despite the Death Energy cost. ¡°Gather your strength, warriors¡­because we take the whole valley!¡± Shivers ran through the ranks, and raising her three free arms into the air, she shouted, ¡°By the end of this conquest, you will be free to move from north to south¡­east to west! There will be no divide between clans! We are one people! We are united! And if the Great Clans of the grasslands come to challenge your right to this land¡­then they forfeit their own! I will lead you into a new age¡­the age of the Undying Empire!¡± War cries and whistles were heard around the clearing, and Elinor turned her attention to their chiefs and elder chiefs. ¡°Return home and gather all your forces; tell everyone of my name and my feats¡­of their welcomed place within our empire! Everyone has their place. A new dawn has come to the ri¡¯bot of the valley! ¡°Chief Utren, of the Lethix, your forces will begin their assault at the northwestern point of the Xaltan¡¯s vast territory, gathering clanless along the way to join our cause. I accept anyone who will abide by my laws, ri¡¯bot, human, or any other species. ¡°Chief Loci, of the Flex, and Chief Valdar, of the Delthax¡­ Your forces will meet at the border between the Flex and Komath. Valdar will take point with Chief Loci as council, leading his own army. You two will bring your armies south to the Komath and sweep across the east until you meet with the Lethix in Xaltan territory to bolster their strength! ¡°Chief Yimara, of the Wixum, will take point with her mother, Elder Chief Vivine, in providing logistical support with supplies and protection to your clans in the absence of your warriors.¡± She slowly turned, addressing each face in her speech. ¡°Make no mistake that when this is done, there will be no borders but one singular empire under the Empress of Death! Your Empress! Know that you will not die in my service¡ªyou will not be lost¡ªfear not death¡­because you serve her.¡± Flames rising off her fur, her long tail beat the dirt like a drum between each pause, sending a shockwave through the ground as the ri¡¯bot cheered and her follower count increased. ¡°Currently, Chief Zargoth, of the Roxim, is holding the brunt of the front lines against the full force of the mighty Xaltan, but they are proud warriors with weapons from my world on their side! And, ho-ho-ho-ho. They do not realize that the drums of the mighty Delthax, Flex, Lethix, and Wixum roar from their rear. Undefended, the Xaltan territory will collapse, and their hearts will fail them. Victory is assured.¡± She laughed as her name was called throughout the ranks, quaking the ground. Yes, she was vulnerable, but this was worth the risks. They had to win swiftly, though. It had to be within the next few days, and she had to meet with Death on the way to the Roxim battleground. ¡°What about me, Your Empress?¡± The throng quieted with anticipation at the question, and she let her low chuckles press in on them. ¡°As Your Empress, I will be joining the battle on the front lines to draw the Xaltan¡¯s eye while you deliver the daggers inside their spines. And I make you one more promise¡­¡± Doing a full circle, she pointed toward the northeast. ¡°I am not satisfied with just the valley. When we are victorious, we will take the Black Keep of the White God for our own! Kel¡¯mal¡¯tha will become our home with all its hidden riches!¡± Excitement hitting its peak, despite the clans not having any clue what that actually meant, she let them digest her words. In the end, all they saw was an impossible fortress that had loomed in the distance all their lives that represented fear, and she was the one that would lead them to conquer that sky-piercing spire. ¡°Go! Spread my message and gather warriors and volunteers alike¡­ The Undying Empire goes to war.¡± A flurry of activity spread across the cleared zone as they made ready to embark on their journey. Elinor returned her focus to the chiefs, their elders, and their Xaria, who waited for her more direct comments. ¡°I need scouts from each of your clans to go to the Wixum lake to escort a Circle of witches within each of your main communication branches. They have been creating portable relay stations for our long-distance network to keep us in contact with one another. It is a critical element to organizing a large-scale war that will allow us to coordinate better than our opponents.¡± She turned her head toward the dark-brown-skinned toads, deciding to put her guard to the test. ¡°I will be sending the Argent Dawn humans to provide support. I don¡¯t want them in direct conflict since they¡¯re not ready for live combat, but I want them to see it and help where they can.¡± Elder Chief Dren chortled from behind his son. ¡°More hands to carry goods is always welcome. We travel fast and hard, Empress. I do hope they are not left behind.¡± ¡°Push them hard,¡± Elinor mused. ¡°They need to know what they signed up for. With that, we¡¯re off to our own preparations. Keep in communication with the witches. They will have an undead torlim for mounts and supply animals, so you needn¡¯t worry about them keeping up.¡± Just as she was about to turn away with the rest of the chiefs, Valdar cleared his throat. ¡°Empress, might I have a word?¡± Her anxiety rose slightly with her ticking down clock; there was a lot she had to do while having Quin¡¯s strength. There was a grave seriousness in his voice that gave her pause, though. ¡°If it is quick.¡± He rubbed his chin and glanced to his right at the Plant Callers under his command, conversing with one another. ¡°Mmm. I would like to speak to you in private back at the Delthax camp as we gather the rest of our warriors and inform our people¡­ Would that be possible?¡± Considering it, she predicted her time crunch and slowly nodded. ¡°I have a few things to accomplish, but I will meet you on the platform lookout tonight, if you can get there in time.¡± Valdar¡¯s wrinkled face creased in a smile, and he forced himself to his feet. ¡°Would it be possible to send one of your torlim to help me? Ectria could fetch it for me¡­ I¡¯m afraid my old bones aren¡¯t what they used to be.¡± She chuckled and put her two left hands on her hip while staring down at the legendary Plant Caller. ¡°You sell yourself too short, Valdar. You managed to pull me out of my blood rage with those bindings. I¡¯ll see it done.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Chief Loci pushed himself to his feet and looked up at the clear sky before his hopeful, light-blue eyes returned to her. ¡°What about Talira? When can your¡­witches restore her to fighting strength? Having another Blood Mystic within our ranks would speed things along.¡± Elinor shook her head. ¡°That will be a longer process, Chief. She will not be able to join in this war, but perhaps the next. I am sure Chief Valdar will provide for her, and I will send medicine that will stop the pain she undoubtedly feels.¡± ¡°That is more than enough for now,¡± he said with a smile. ¡°I did have my doubts, Empress, but I can see the vision in what you speak¡­and more importantly, I see you have the strength to achieve it. I will meet you on the battlefield.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Another thought made her address the ri¡¯bot leaders again. ¡°Also, Chiefs¡­be sure not to harm the Xaltan who do not resist or surrender. When this is over¡­I will let them face me in the same way you have, and those who refuse will become ashes and embers beneath my feet.¡±
[Time Remaining: 30:01]
Breaking apart from the meeting to devoted cheers from the young ri¡¯bot, eager for war and glory. She left a disappointed Theresa to deliver her message to Kaya for the witch to send back to the Wixum camp. Carlos would take command of directing her army across the valley to support the Roxim. In the meantime, she took into the jungle to find prey to top off her rising Death Pool. It took nearly the full thirty minutes, but that was only because, finally, all her work bore fruit:
[Total Follower Count Requirement Met] [Current Follower Count: 5,123] [Grade Advancement - Rising Empire: 2nd Petal]
[Every 5 Citizens increase Minion Pool [Unintelligent +5 and Intelligent +1]. [For every 40 citizens, increase Death Pool by +2] [Reaper Core Base Attributes Upgraded] [New Monarch Slot Added; 2 Available]
[Next Petal: 25,000]
By the time [Warlord: Soldier¡¯s Spirit] ran its course, she¡¯d almost topped her current Death Pool. Quin had to get the full account from Theresa when she awoke from her stasis and swung through the jungle to pick her up. Elinor covered herself in the extra pair of clothes the Head Maid had brought, waiting for the giant ape girl to reach her. However, she was not prepared when she finally had a chance to relax and enter her internal world to check her stats. The hot, humid jungle gave way to a twisted, broken landscape. Sitting in her throne within a fractured segment of her manor, Elinor¡¯s jaw tightened when observing cracks running through everything within view of her valley manor. ¡°I see¡­¡± She frowned, bringing up her status menu, trying to swap Feats.
[Access Denied: Unable to Modify Soul while Unstable]
¡°Interesting¡­ The Seed is a tool to expand and unlock my soul, so it would make sense that I cannot develop it while unstable. Butter couldn¡¯t access hers. Hmm. Does that mean she can develop it now that she has a body and restored her soul to health?¡± Resting her fist against her cheek, she glared at her shattered soul, only contained within her unstable artificial body. She couldn¡¯t recreate this form if it took too much damage and completely collapsed¡­she would die. ¡°At least I can still view my soul status,¡± she whispered, following her citizen count increase, further building her [Death Pool] and [Minion Pool]. ¡°Butter is returning, and quickly¡­¡±
[Current Follower Count: 5,829]
Glancing northward, she hissed at how blurry and smudged it was. Butter was drawing closer, but she couldn¡¯t quite tell how close. Leaving her abruptly inoperable Soul Expanse, Elinor tucked her knee up to her chin to stare at the large jungle critters going about their daily lives, devouring one another. I can¡¯t use my soul expansion until I create a new phylactery¡­ It would likely be too much for this artificial body to handle. I need to keep my new phylactery candidates on me for when Butter, the fat lard, finally shows up. Until then, I have a war to win. Who doesn¡¯t like a little risk? She smiled, welcoming the challenge as Quin jumped out of the trees to pick her up. Unlike so many times before, she was down to one life, and at a significant handicap. Okay, Shade, the Scarlet Hand¡­ I¡¯m vulnerable, and I¡¯m sure you know that now. What trick will you try to pull before my fat little sister finally makes it back to my side? Don¡¯t disappoint me. Kaya was escorted back to the lake to ready her coven and support the other witches. Elinor felt her Death Energy rising throughout the day with the growing ri¡¯bot followers that were now entering her empire and viewing her as their empress. By the time she arrived at the river below the Delthax settlement, she¡¯d broken a new milestone. It seemed the chiefs were spreading the news of their new empress swiftly; her story was gaining traction.
[Current Follower Count: 10,013] [Death Pool: 513/870]
She felt the g-forces as Quin scaled the cliff, creating her own hand-holds. Feeling too anxious to wait, Elinor used her chains to swiftly launch out of the gorilla¡¯s hand and into the sky. Landing on the Delthax wooden platform overlooking the valley, Valdar was waiting for her as she landed. A silence passed between them as Elinor reflected on their conversation in this very spot many weeks earlier. She peered over the moonlit valley that she was soon to be empress over with its nighttime birds and large insects out on the hunt. Her focus soon drifted to the north; still, she couldn¡¯t accurately tell how far her sister was, and now Butter was moving away from her. That could just be her circling the mountains to reach the hills that would bring them back into the valley, or she could be going further north; there was no way to tell. Breathing out a long sigh, Elinor¡¯s chest shook with soft laughter. Behind her, the ri¡¯bot citizens and warriors were still abuzz with war preparations. ¡°Did you think we¡¯d be this close to your dream within such a short time, Valdar?¡± The blue-skinned toad overlooked his homeland; he was beginning to look his age¡ªfrom what she could tell¡ªhaving been born during the worst times of its history; he sounded at peace. ¡°I hope you will forgive me, Empress, but I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve called you here for selfish reasons¡­ I know you are a very busy human.¡± Elinor maintained her standing position, watching Quin crest the edge, drop off Theresa, and move to ask if the ri¡¯bot needed any help with anything heavy. She was a good girl for being such a terrifying monster to these toads. ¡°You¡¯ve more than earned my respect and ear, Valdar. Call me Elinor¡­ I have not forgotten what you have done for me and the trust you have put in a total stranger. You have allowed all of this by taking my side instead of Krava¡¯s.¡± Valdar¡¯s air pouch expanded further than Elinor had ever seen it before the elder released it in a long stream. ¡°It is selfish of me, Empress, but I wish to ask you to have mercy for my oldest friend¡­ He only does what he believes to be right.¡± Elinor¡¯s lips pushed to the side as she stared across the colossal expanse of the 200-kilometer valley, barely capable of spotting a small section of the rolling plains to the east. It was going to be a hard journey, even for undead, to travel past that much territory through the dense jungle in a few days. The war had to be swift, though. She needed time to prepare for the much larger threat that would come from those grasslands. ¡°I understand Krava is a proud ri¡¯bot¡­and I can¡¯t really say he is wrong. I am dangerous. I do upset the balance of things. I am changing the ri¡¯bot way of life and bringing frightening things to your culture. However, I do think that Krava wanted to be me¡­to be the strength that united the valley. That being said, I will concede that you know him far better than I. So, I am happy to leave his punishment to you.¡± Her brow furrowed upon seeing the somber crease on the elder¡¯s face. ¡°Elinor, my friend, in the short time I have known you, I have found a kinship of sorts, and I know you have relied on me¡­yet I fear I will not survive this war with the Xaltan to see my friend again, and my heart is torn.¡± Elinor digested his words, reading between the lines and realizing where this conversation was going. Taking a seat next to the old ri¡¯bot, she breathed out the frustration that had welled up within her lungs and let the feeling go while aimlessly scanning the dark, loud jungle. ¡°How was your life, Valdar? Tell me about it.¡± He leaned back and pointed at the imposing black fortress. ¡°I was born in the shadow of those walls¡­ My mother was a Plant Caller, and my father. the chief. Ri¡¯bot were¡­not well received by the other races. We were seen as weak and incapable of truly supporting the cause, which was not wrong compared to the great nations. We are primitive and insignificant.¡± Valdar dipped his hand into a bucket beside him to run a liquid down his head and neck, wetting his dry skin. ¡°It was during the Fire Wars that I learned how helpless we truly were. Krava saw it as a calling for us to rise up to the challenge¡­few answered his call, yet he became strong enough to be respected by the nalvean soldiers to our south¡­ At least, in his youth. ¡°When the White God was killed, everyone thought the war was won. How wrong we were¡­ The death of their Ke caused a quen¡¯talrat civil war that burned a warpath through the valley and across the nearby landscape¡­ For every ape we killed, hundreds died from all races, turned to ashes to feed the jungle. War was for the other races¡­we ri¡¯bot mostly hid and lurked to pick up the scraps or support those wounded.¡± Directing her toward various areas, she took note of the places he pointed out. ¡°¡­There were six kings and six queens of the quen¡¯talrat¡ªtheir versions of chiefs¡ªand their White God was their Great Chief. Without him, chaos ensued, and they dispersed to their various fortresses¡­ ¡°The Blood King and Coral Queen took their forces far to the northeast, forcing the Yalm¨¢th Democracy back to their lands to defend themselves. ¡°The Mud King disappeared into his tower in the far northeast of the valley while the ques¡¯k¨¢ dragon riders of the southeastern Amethyst Desert¡ªthe strongest of the united nations¡ªdestroyed the Rose Queen¡¯s fortress near their lands and mysteriously withdrew from the Fire Wars.¡± Elinor carefully filed away the information; the locations would be important places to investigate to obtain more quen¡¯talrat. ¡°The Black King destroyed the Ethereal Clan in the lands beyond the western mountain range?¡± Valdar forced a laugh. ¡°Indeed. It was¡­a shock to the rest of the nations. It was a rumor spread by various ri¡¯bot clans in the area that many still do not believe today since the Black King was the next strongest to the White God¡­yet ri¡¯bot had been the reason for his destruction.¡± ¡°I can see why Krava was so cautious of Garu,¡± she whispered, recalling the white toad¡¯s report that she read. ¡°From what he tells me, all that is left is a colossal crater. He found an old hidden cache for weak scouts, but there¡¯s nothing left of his people.¡± ¡°Hmm. I often did wonder what happened¡­ All I can recall is the dark clouds that hung over the area for a decade before being swept away when the Avana came. Ah, but I¡¯m getting ahead of myself.¡± Elinor¡¯s fingers tightened against her thigh when he brought up the mountain-sized dragon from the north that had blazed a path through the eastern side of the valley. ¡°The Sapphire Queen and Forest King lost most of their clan to the Silver Queen, and retreated into the northern mountains¡­ That was the last that I heard of them. The nalveans and the Golariex Holy Empire united to face her inside her fortress for¡­two decades. Oddly, she never left¡­none of her people did. It was more of a siege than a war, but not one the Silver Queen seemed too keen on contending with, and no one could make it beyond their fire shield.¡± He paused and ran water across his chest and shoulders. ¡°Predatory birds unlike anything I¡¯ve seen flew out of the north¡­devouring everything and forcing the armies to retreat. They threw themselves at the Silver Queen¡¯s fortress, being slaughtered by the tens of thousands¡­until the Avana came.¡± ¡°I recall the story,¡± she mumbled. ¡°A firestorm that came out of the north, its wings blotting out the sun and spreading fire by its mere presence. It destroyed the Silver Queen¡¯s fortress, created the Roxim plateaus, and returned to the north¡­ You¡¯ve lived a hard life, Valdar.¡± The elder rubbed his forehead again before smiling at her. ¡°A long life¡­at least for my species; not necessarily a hard one. I told you these things because I believe they are things you would wish to look into. There is more to be explored, and I can see you forging your path forward in a blaze of ambition and glory, Elinor¡­ ¡°The Roxim¡¯s Crater of Decay. The fissures and tunnels of the Crawling Shadows beneath the jungle. The mysterious Prume, and their hatred of the Northern Mountain¡­ The Black Fortress of the White God. Haha. The hidden moons in the sky! Oh, the unknowns of this world have always enticed me.¡± Elinor reached over to rub the ri¡¯bot¡¯s slick back. ¡°I¡¯m guessing the jungle has told you that you won¡¯t live much longer. You know I could bring you back to life, but you want to rest¡­and you feel guilty about that?¡± He shivered, looking up at the black spots in the heavens that blotted out the bright constellations and stars. ¡°It isn¡¯t so much that I want to rest¡­as I want to move on to my next journey. I have lived as best I could and followed my beliefs¡­ Now, I have found someone who can be the heroine that the ri¡¯bot need¡­that we¡¯ve waited for. ¡°Elinor, you can bring us out of the mud and into a world none of the older generation can see¡­that they fear. The young will follow you. Your unyielding power will bend the will of the stubborn or crush them to be the foundation of progress we so desperately need¡­ Our future is not hopeless, and with that reality now firmly within my breast, I can move on to the Great River in the Sky.¡± Elinor felt the tingles run down her arms as he finished, and she reflected on the short time she¡¯d known this pillar in the ri¡¯bot community. She owed him her life¡­her parents¡¯ lives. Every human was here today because of this old toad man, who dreamed of uplifting his downtrodden and failing race. Holding out her hand, he laughed at the human gesture that he¡¯d learned, and took it. ¡°Well, Valdar, it¡¯s been a pleasure. You are the reason I see the humanity in ri¡¯bot. Your example has shaped how I view this world and the creatures in it¡­and I may need to call you up to chat every once in a while. You wouldn¡¯t mind visiting every so often?¡± ¡°Not at all, Empress,¡± he chortled, holding his hand against his chest as if in pain. ¡°Nina will take over my place as the Master Sage of the Plant Callers. She is young, but I believe Nina and your little druid girl will elevate one another to heights I couldn¡¯t dream to achieve¡­which leaves the empty chief position.¡± Elinor went through the very short list of potential candidates. ¡°It has to be either Folcra, the 2nd-in-command you took on the Crystal expedition¡­or Xaria Ectria or Kole, right?¡± He sighed. ¡°Kole is very well respected, and I want to give Ectria the title due to how hard she has pushed to be seen as a proud member of our clan¡­ Discrimination is a tough thing. Her discolored skin is seen to be very ugly in our culture, amongst other traits she has no control over. It would only be inviting further contention.¡± Elinor hummed, drawing his gaze. ¡°I can think of better things Ectria might enjoy than being a leader. Don¡¯t worry about her. Make Kole the chief, and I¡¯ll handle Ectria¡¯s position. Have heart, Valdar. You¡¯ve made a difference in me, and that will reflect on the world.¡± Getting to her feet, she reached out to pat his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon, friend. Make your peace and enjoy your next journey. I will take your words into consideration when judging Krava.¡± Rising himself as she moved to enter the settlement and retrieve Quin, she waved back at the ri¡¯bot elder chief who had dedicated his life to the betterment of not just his clan, but his species. ¡°Thank you, Elinor¡­I wish I could have known you better. I look forward to our next chat, friend.¡± Now, it was time to march to the Roxim. It was time for war. B4 — 6.5. A Spiders Trap As dawn filtered through the dense canopy, Camellia emerged from the shimmering waters of the Wixum¡¯s lake, her ruby hair glistening like a beacon in the early morning sun. Making her way further into the jungle, she let the wet season air stretch her senses; it was going to get worse before the dry spell hit. The heavy atmosphere draped the jungle in a dewy cloak, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of damp vegetation that surged through her lungs. It brought redemption into her tingly human body. She was the family screwup, yet now she had a chance to set things right. Not wanting to ruin the fragile covering The Empress had given her, she¡¯d left it behind. Droplets clung to her silk top and bottoms, the intricate patterns of her own woven web glistening crimson, pulled tight against her alabaster skin. Her squishy skin and nerve endings were so foreign to her, and she required time to get used to it. Camellia¡¯s senses flared, mapping the terrain in vivid detail with the sparks of information sent back from the fibers of her flowing hair. Each pulse of the jungle, each rustle and whisper, was cataloged with the precision of a predator¡ªa hunter. The massive trunks of the trees, wide and towering, were familiar, forming a labyrinthine pathway through which she moved with fluid grace. She sprinted, her lithe form a blur of scarlet and white, her speed beyond any creature beneath the canopy. Yes, she was clumsy and awkward compared to her sisters, but she was still a reborn th¨¦lm¨¦thra queen candidate. An odd reverberation fed through The Empress¡¯ Nexus that made her senses of other undead spotty. She was new to the network, so perhaps there was a learning curve or typical activity. Camellia leaped from one colossal branch to another, her movements silent and precise, disturbing neither leaf nor limb. The jungle was alive with the hum of oversized insects and the distant calls of creatures hidden in the shadows, none of which could match her. Swiftly ascending the nearby hill, she rose through the branches and slipped out of the canopy to observe what little she could of the eastern half of the valley. She frowned, noticing the many changes to the home she remembered a century ago. To the east, the trees thinned noticeably, and the silver-colored quen¡¯talrat ruler¡¯s castle was blocked by a new cliffline. The Empress had given her a high view of the valley to show her where her target would be, yet there were quite a few inaccuracies that immediately stole her notice. She quickly realized that if she was going to make the appropriate time, she¡¯d need to get a more precise view. Memories of her time roaming this jungle, preying on the quen¡¯talrat who attempted to reshape it to be their home, came flooding back¡­ Her inadequacies within her own family flooded back. Her youngest sister spoke quite often about her failings, lulling her gifts away within their nest, spinning her beautiful webs while she was out hunting to prove herself. I may be far more clumsy and less gifted than you¡­ I know I couldn¡¯t compete with your blooming abilities. However, I am not worthless. The Empress sees worth within my talents¡­as Mom did¡­ I¡¯ll show you. A quake ran through her figure at the very thought of her indomitable, beyond graceful mother, who stood as an example to them all to follow: to teach them what it meant to be a queen. I will live up to your expectations, Mom¡­ I must if The Empress is going to bring you back. I failed our family¡­I won¡¯t fail you again. Pausing briefly, Camellia cooly surveyed the scene below¡ªa mass of ri¡¯bot, their numbers far greater than she remembered. These were the Lethix, from what she¡¯d heard amongst the chatter within the Empress¡¯ Nexus on her exit from the lake. Ri¡¯bot being the dominating presence in the valley was a surprise; although, between the quen¡¯talrat and her family, all of the major predators within the jungle had been hunted into oblivion or consumed. She needed to better understand her new hunting grounds. It would have been easier to travel through their complex network of tunnels beneath the jungle, yet she wasn¡¯t sure how maintained they were after a century of degradation. She had to multitask on her way; it was something their mother taught them to prioritize. Closing her eyes, she flexed her fingers, yet it was her hair that branched out, snaking around her frame in a long trail. She left small spikes of compressed silk at the hidden entrances of their many nests still accessible on her path, activating and applying minor repairs. The thin fiber linked to the gateway to her former home nexus. Pulses of electricity spread from her internal organs, gathered from the atmosphere and earth, to generate a picture of their vast subterranean kingdom. Sadly, she hardly received a response, even after her mending efforts. With a deep, disappointed breath, her vision opened, and she continued, her path altering to check more entrances and take her toward her next survey destination. Soon, the white rapids of a giant riverway cutting through the western valley from the north came into view. With practiced ease, Camellia anchored a thin thread between two towering trees on both shores and darted across. Everything¡¯s changed. Her hair broke off at points, lingering impulses carrying them into their tunnel access points to further apply minor repairs. It would take a powerful earthquake to collapse so many of our tunnels, many of which Mother reinforced herself. Her steps were as light as air, barely disturbing the tension of the silk. Why can¡¯t I find any trace of my sisters¡­or mom? Wouldn¡¯t someone have carried their corpses away? The quen¡¯talrat typically display trophies of their prey¡­so where are my sisters? The water surged beneath her, a frothing mass of power and chaos. She increased her pace, scaling the cliffs to the northern volcanic zone with ease, and came upon the quen¡¯talrat fortress. Upon reaching her high perch, Camellia gazed across the colossal black citadel. It was a monolithic structure of unique obsidian stone, mined from the northern mountain range. The material was even hard for their legs to penetrate, which was why the White God had utilized it. The structure loomed against the sky, a testament to the unusual power the White God had obtained that had somehow matched her mother¡¯s strength. Camellia¡¯s hearts quickened, a mix of awe and trepidation flooding her senses. The last time she¡¯d been inside this structure, she¡¯d been the cause of her whole family¡¯s destruction. That could be redeemed, though. She could be redeemed if she found her sisters and mother. The issue was¡­where were they? She turned her attention away from the towering walls to spread her threads out again, drilling into the stone to link up with other silken tunnels buried underneath. These caverns were more stable than the ones on the western side of the valley, giving her more information as she reactivated the network. Finally! The Drones gathered southeast, without a doubt moving outside the valley to be absorbed by my aunt¡¯s brood. Our chemical traces should abide for many th¨¦lm¨¦thra generations. We battled below the city, and if we were moved¡­I should be able to sense the path. Her illuminated ruby irises slid from the boiling mud pits and colorful bodies of water with their complex bacteria habitats, yet her vision looked beyond them to the burrows underneath. There are pathways still open to get inside the keep¡­but the one Mom created to fight the White God is sealed. My scent trail leads down a path to the west¡­so why can¡¯t I find anyone else from our family? She knelt down, focusing intently on the nexus her whole family had worked together to maintain and manage. It was challenging to spread her mind out this far, even if it was far more limited than it had once been; in truth, the hardest part was accessing her sisters¡¯ far more complex silk¡­by design. She could see her youngest sister¡¯s black and white exoskeleton design shimmering with mocking mirth at her attempts to utilize her perfect web. I found something! Her fingers twitched as a faint trace of her middle sister touched the activating silk, the sensation sending a shock through her hair to her multiple brains. She looked up, observing the quen¡¯talrat fortress, dominating the landscape, its vast expanse stretching over 800 square kilometers. Yet, her focus was drawn to the northeast, beyond its formidable walls. The verdant ocean of emerald, jade, and topaz jungle teemed with life, an intricate tapestry of colossal trees. Somewhere within its expanse, her sister had been taken. Slowly rising to her full human height with a wide grin on her face, she glanced left and right, judging the valley¡¯s area; it had remained roughly the same, 350 kilometers in length and over 200 in width. If she could get a better grasp of her youngest sister¡¯s network, then it would be easy to follow their middle sister¡¯s chemical trail¡­but this wasn¡¯t what she should be focusing on. Camellia took a deep breath, the humid air filling her mutated human lungs; she had to redeem herself to her mother and sisters. And that started with serving The Empress well. Her eyes traced the eastern half of the landscape now that she was at its center point. She took careful note of the massive rivers¡¯ changed courses, new lakes, and changed terrain. The new mesas cutting down the far eastern side of the valley were her destination; they blocked the view of the Roxim lands, where the Silver Queen¡¯s keep should be. The range¡¯s flat tops and steep sides rose out of the far less dense jungle, creating a natural fortress of stone and earth. Flexing her hands and preparing to further spread her hair in hopes of gaining more intelligence, Camellia¡¯s invisible fingers danced across the intricate web of threads she¡¯d accessed. Each one was a tether to her past and a guide to her present. She took note of each vibration that fed back to her focused mind. A tinge of sorrow and determination tightened her chest as she relived the last few days of her life, the memories written into the fabric of their home. Upon once again sensing the faint but unmistakable scent of her middle sister, meticulous and sociable, she perked up, pulling her gaze to the northeast. Stop getting distracted! she internally chided, returning her attention to the east. A devious smile lifted her full lips, the anticipation of food wetting them. She isn¡¯t going anywhere¡­my prey is. Hair detaching from the northern network, it was pulled into the earth to hide, responding to the lingering impulses. Camellia leaped from her perch, her powerful legs propelling her down the cliff. The air rushed past her, enjoying the new tingling sensation her long locks left against her scalp; humans were so sensitive that it helped her better connect to her younger sister¡¯s silk. The jungle transformed beneath her, and the dense and wild western side of the valley gave way to the more spare and open eastern expanse. Her locks shot out to stick to a tree and swing her into the foliage, slipping into it as a shadow. In her race toward the mesas, she spotted the lingering scars of a great fire in the distant past, the fire¡¯s devastation still evident in the giant charred remains of ancient trees. Yet, from the ashes, new life had sprung. In the hours that went by, she took note of the plant life and ri¡¯bot, the many packs of broodless toads in the process of moving to the north. She didn¡¯t have time to investigate. However, she did pay close attention to the novel plants, with their vibrant hues and unusual shapes that thrived in the fertile, fire-enriched soil. Luminescent vines the size of her human thigh wound their way up the blackened trunks, their soft glow illuminating the shadows to reveal adapted wildlife. Massive flowers spread their paralysis pollen into the air. She was naturally unaffected, yet figured it was something to bring to The Empress¡¯ attention. One strange addition was the bioluminescent fungi, which formed intricate patterns on the forest floor, lifting rocks to counter gravity¡¯s pull. Filing it all away, she eventually reached her destination. The mesas rose before her, their flat tops and steep sides stark against the darkening sky. Due to her observations, she¡¯d made it early, finding a quicker route. Camellia paused at their base, scanning for signs of movement. Her frown deepened as she spread out her flaming locks, releasing them into the atmosphere to weave in memorizing patterns several meters past its normal length; each filament was a delicate sensor, gathering enduring samples from the air. Her vision narrowed, head tilting south; the scent of ri¡¯bot, distinct and pungent, clung to the cliff face. A decent-sized group had already scaled the mesas earlier that day. They were supposed to attack in the dead of night, she internally reasoned, looking beyond her sensory fibers to the twilight. Something is off¡­ Camellia proceeded further south as a shadow against the moss-covered rocks, following the persistent biological remains to where they¡¯d begun their ascent. Their scent was unnaturally potent to her compared to the other ri¡¯bot¡ªfundamentally different. Fascinated, her extended hair lowered to spread out across the moss and rock surface. She sampled their sweat and lingering skin residue that had rubbed off. Her silk collected a droplet of dried blood to press against her tongue. Bitter¡­and laced with bile I haven¡¯t tasted from ri¡¯bot before¡­ It¡¯s familiar, though? How can I not recall the source? I know it¡¯s not exactly the same, but similar to¡­something prolific. How can I not remember something I feel is prolific? Well¡­this is a first. Potent and energizing, she separated it within her unique queen organ to further digest and analyze. It was too small of a sample size to fully process and connect to whatever her instincts were trying to tell her, but enough to make a probable conclusion. Their DNA has been manipulated, similar to the quen¡¯talrat. But¡­it isn¡¯t them. The report about their attack was wrong. Judging by the rate of decay, they attacked just when The Empress was raising me from the dead this morning. Does that mean the witch I¡¯m supposed to keep safe is dead? Looking up, she soundlessly scaled the cliff in pursuit of her prey; the scent of blood carried on the wind guided her. Cold detachment stilled her hearts at the scene of carnage that met her at the top. The wooden lookout points were stained with the remnants of what should have been a fierce struggle; it should have been a very easily defensible position. They¡¯re all dead.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Bending down, her hair wrapped around her frame as her fingers brushed the dried blood, baked in the hot sun. She picked apart its structure, processing the information, and her active mind recreated the battle while taking in all the available data. They came over the wall in a short break between shifts¡­impossibly fast for the typical toads I¡¯ve seen. It isn¡¯t impossible for the ri¡¯bot of my age, but the weaklings in the jungle I¡¯ve observed thus far? Not possible. In conclusion, the Xaltan are different¡­more dangerous. Her gaze drifted, noting the atypical slaughter. No bodies¡­ They were dragged and thrown off the cliff to the far south, near the river. Was that to counter The Empress¡¯ ability to bring them back and question them? The chemicals in their blood don¡¯t suggest a battle, either¡­ It is as if they had died without realizing they were under attack¡­ No fear or anxiety. Her focus shifted to the strange metallic devices she¡¯d seen at The Empress¡¯ camp, most of which had been abandoned or smashed with rocks. However, the unnatural chemicals the items produced did indicate that some had been taken. She could smell some of the explosive powder scattered across the cliff. Looking over the flat mountain, she confirmed not a single warrior remained. Yet, the further she went, the more there were signs of a struggle. It had been too late by then, and the taste of their blood was potent with fear and hopelessness¡­such as when her middle sister played with her food. A lump formed in her throat as she jumped onto a nearby building and scanned the scene as a whole. An uncomfortable realization ebbed into her gut. Why do parts of this feel¡­similar to how we hunt? There¡¯s something I¡¯m missing. I don¡¯t smell any Drones¡­not my sisters or mother¡­ And yet¡­I keep getting this familiar vibe that tickles my thread. I did much of my hunting in this area when I was young, and I have thread scattered¡­ No, that¡¯s impossible! Camellia¡¯s thoughts froze, and she brought her fist against the roof of the rehydration storage building the Roxim had made. Crashing through the shaved planks to the bloody water inside, the shallow, tainted liquid sprayed around her. Her gaze was instantly drawn to the gore marring the brown wooden wall. The image of a bloody hand was impressed on it, an eye with three pupils staring at her with shimmering crimson light. However, Camellia¡¯s attention was fixated on what was wrapped around the hand, as if taunting her. My silk¡­ My old silk. I couldn¡¯t smell it because¡­I unconsciously filtered out my own scent. They raided one of my hunting nests and somehow used my silk. How? The way they swiftly scaled the cliff, the silent attack patterns¡­ They¡¯re mimicking th¨¦lm¨¦thra. Lips peeling back, she stared at the illuminated eye, her fingers curling into fists as soft laughter rolled out of her throat; the emotion was so exhilarating compared to how she typically felt. What The Empress said about the Scarlet Hand being led by some powerful entity and some Shade within the earth¡­ Is this a challenge for me? They knew I would be raised from the dead¡­ They left this here for me to find. A trap? Drawing me in? Mimicking a th¨¦lm¨¦thra, using our silk¡­and being one are very different things. Her hair reached out, sliding over the still-wet liquid, processing the bile in the blood and the poisonous force within. Her bright, flaming eyes turned away from the disrupted image, and her locks formed a solid mass. Abruptly, it whipped out, destroying the whole building in a sweeping cyclone of empowered silk. Xaltan Mysticism is mimicry¡­by ingesting the remains of abandoned Drone eggs?! I can taste it now; the bile in their blood that will kill them in time. Poisoning yourselves to enhance your frail bodies. Is that it? You desecrated my mother¡¯s legacy. Very well. Let¡¯s see how much of a th¨¦lm¨¦thra you can mimic. Approaching the eastern cliff edge, she coldly scanned the jungle floor below. The dense canopy concealed much in the dying twilight. Not a problem for her. Camellia¡¯s keen senses locked onto the Roxim main settlement, hidden within the trees by a large lake, perhaps even larger than the Wixum¡¯s. She observed the Roxim land. Only their main settlement had been targeted; the northern areas appeared to be untouched. This was calculated, and she couldn¡¯t sense War nearby, yet The Empress¡¯ Nexus had been somewhat spotty over the last several hours in any case; it was something to bring up with someone more accustomed to the empire when she had a chance. Small creatures scurried about the raided settlement and the scent of death permeated the updraft, although less than she would have imagined. Beyond it, a solitary rocky mountain rose, its imposing form mirrored in the still waters of the lake. A colossal fissure, likely over twenty kilometers long, split the land to its south, welcoming the lake water and creating a hanging mist that obscured the scar in the valley. This fissure had not been here a century ago, a recent and significant change to the landscape since it occupied the area where the quen¡¯talrat Silver Queen had set up her fortress. I was supposed to meet with War and Chief Zargoth¡­ I should proceed with caution if they¡¯re expecting me. If either of these powerful, otherworldly entities are pulling the strings, then perhaps there will be a challenge. I doubt they¡¯ll be able to match the quen¡¯talrat generals and officers I¡¯ve fought¡­but what is this strange sensation in my breast? An odd thump she hadn¡¯t experienced when alive pulsed through her; she couldn¡¯t put it into words, and it stemmed from what the Xaltan had done to her mother¡¯s brood. How many others had ransacked their nests due to her mistake? It had to be set right. She had to set it right. After several seconds of observation, Camellia¡¯s thoughts turned to her mission; it hadn¡¯t changed. The presence of these altered ri¡¯bot posed an even more deadly threat than The Empress seemed to realize. First, she had to establish a connection to her new ruler and report. With a final glance at the bloody scene behind her and expecting the worst, Camellia crawled over the cliff¡¯s sheer drop. Her bare feet effortlessly clung to the stone with her arachnid abilities, and halfway down, she released thread from her toenails, compressing it at her feet, and launched herself towards the lake with a spike of electricity. As she neared the treeline, her hair spread, more thread breaking her fall to swing to the silent settlement. Blood marked the ground once more, but there were clear tracks this time. Maintaining her stealth Feats, she was a shadow, following the path of a huge number of ri¡¯bot that had been relocated southwest. Camellia redirected her attention the moment she detected the trace remains of Death Energy: War¡¯s energy. Finding her elbow behind her back, she cast her eyes about, noting how little damage had been done to the infrastructure itself, yet more bloody hands and eyes permeated the area, as if watching her. War was taken by the Xaltan¡­ How? The Empress should have been aware of any changes or deaths when it came to her forces, yet no one has been sent after me to change my orders. She looked west with a widening smile, where she felt hidden movement before returning to the unpopulated zone. It is a trap for me. How fun! The Roxim¡¯s main settlement has been taken back to the Xaltan¡¯s territory. They knew I would be coming. Yet, besides those creeping about¡­I sense only one ri¡¯bot left nearby as my bait. How sloppy. By ri¡¯bot standards, they¡¯re very stealthy...laughable to me, and my stealth is scoffed at by my sisters. Their stealth is sad, even by Drone standards¡­ They fail. Her senses sharpened as she turned toward the largest building near the lake; the tainted scent in the ri¡¯bot blood was thick in that direction, taunting her. Fingernails biting into her palm, she resisted the urge to break her stealth and allow them to converge on her to preemptively spring the trap. She wasn¡¯t a little girl anymore, though, and oddly, it smelled like a Roxim¡¯s blood rather than the Xaltan she¡¯d been tracking. An enemy, traitor, or messenger, as many races typically have¡­which will it be? Camellia moved with total silence, her stealthy approach making her invisible to the frightening jungle animals creeping into the abandoned buildings. Rather than engaging the bait and tainted Roxim, she left a thread to keep her notified of the toad¡¯s actions and backtracked to War¡¯s most recent path. She slowed upon finding the human female¡¯s scent she¡¯d been looking for by the tree line; the Xaltan assassins maintained their distance, waiting for her to reveal herself or some other action because they most certainly couldn¡¯t find her. Upon further investigation, Camellia discovered a covered tunnel a short distance into the jungle: a shelter, hiding some of the young. Hundreds of thousands of Camellia¡¯s silken locks extended, her hair sinking into the dirt. She silently injected her thread, using it to burrow and create a perfect hole while quietly reinforcing the other side. As if a phantom, within seconds, she had opened it up and crept inside, tasting the scents of a few dozen young ri¡¯bot and hundreds of tadpoles within. She went further in and found her target; it couldn¡¯t be a coincidence these ones survived undetected. Her sudden appearance spooked the young ri¡¯bot and a human witch, who was trying to carve a symbol into the hard rock with little effect. Revealing herself, the toad kids shrank back, shaking and holding up knives, and the witch looked up, startled, her eyes wide with fear and desperation. ¡°Who are you?¡± the living witch demanded, her voice trembling. ¡°Wait¡­are you human?¡± Camellia stepped forward, her movements fluid and graceful yet filled with an underlying purpose; this was the real trap. ¡°I am Camellia, servant of Empress Elinor. I seem to have come too late¡­ Come, you must reconnect us with The Empress. Hmm.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?!¡± the girl choked, gesturing to a bunch of pots. ¡°These are all the Roxim¡¯s tadpole children, uh¡­and these Roxim teens are helping me¡­ M-Ms. Camellia? War told me something was happening on the cliff and that I should hide in here¡­¡± Her lips tightened while looking up, smelling unnatural composites to anything she¡¯d experienced buried throughout the cavern; they¡¯d been taken from the mesas. ¡°Shh¡­ They were here before you arrived¡­wrapped in my silk. Crafty¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± A pulse ran through one of her extended hairs, warning of movement outside; her instincts told her it was a distraction. They were springing the trap and knew where she was now that she¡¯d revealed herself. She had to thank her middle sister for always playing her troublesome games and setting traps for her to get tangled in. Stepping closer, the witch stiffened as Camellia¡¯s hair thickened. She pulled her in, wrapping them inside a cocoon. Just as it locked into place, shockwaves erupted all around her, immediately sending a surge of information through her sensitive threads that overloaded her nervous system. Part of her thickened shell was destroyed, which was a challenging accomplishment for even quen¡¯talrat Elite Hunters. ¡°W-Was that a bomb?! Did they just blow up the tunnel? Where did they get bombs?!¡± Vision spinning, the next thing Camellia saw was the frantic witch hugging her tight and trembling as her mind cleared. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t breathe!¡± Tricky. Tricky. Tricky little toads. No, this had to be, in part, planned by a creature with a more intimate understanding of our species. A trap like this¡­laid for a th¨¦lm¨¦thra? Bold. Camellia internally chuckled, blinking away the spots across her cut senses. I¡¯ll have to adapt to that shockwave trick, but do not think it is so easy to escape me. You only use Drones¡­and I am no Drone. Quickly recovering, Camellia instantly discarded her ruined outer silk layer. Her thread branched out, launching her upward with the witch. The moment she burst out of the collapsed tunnel, her senses expanded once more, and she watched in slow motion as the black-skinned ri¡¯bot nearby slipped into the shadows, retreating. Camellia chuckled, releasing the girl to collapse against the ground. Her hair fanned out, shooting into the soil as clumps of dirt rained around them with noxious fumes. Thread enclosed the panicking girl¡¯s face, filtering in clean streams of air to counteract the toxic gas left behind. This underground area was more connected to her nest within their underground empire. Long buried, partially damaged silk writhed beneath the land as she took control over her former network, cutting the weakest links and reinforcing needed nexus points. Her wide field of vision branched out within a mile radius, her ruby eyes everywhere, looking at everything: ten black-skinned Xaltan, the mark of the Scarlet Hand burning on their foreheads, came into view. I see you. I see all of you. ¡°They killed all of those¡­help!¡± the human screamed as the web closed in and embraced her in a protective shell. Camellia¡¯s senses sharpened¡ªfocused¡ªand she felt the Symphony of the Hunt resonate within her breast, each beat a reminder of her purpose. Her hair, a crimson cascade of threads, fanned out from the soil, establishing another protective dome around the human witch. Dozens of thrown objects shot out of the sky from the cliff. Explosions echoed around them as they detonated, blowing apart much of her shell. Yet, the heat hardly affected her since she was accustomed to quen¡¯talrat flames, and it was easy to deactivate her nerves near the blast radius to escape the mind-blasting rhythms the shockwaves created. Her inner web absorbed the shockwaves, shielding the girl from harm and making Camellia laugh. You underestimate me, but congratulations on depleting half my silk reserves with this trap. Camellia''s ruby eyes glowed with a fierce delight. She felt every vibration, every movement within her web. They were retreating into the shadows, but that was her domain. With fluid grace, Camellia shot into the night, her threads trailing behind her as she pursued the Xaltan. Her movements were a blur, a streak of red against the green and brown of the jungle as night fell. She launched from tree to tree with predatory stealth, able to move in any direction. The Xaltan were surprisingly fast compared to those she¡¯d seen in the jungle¡ªmaybe they could rival their typical ancestors a century ago¡ªbut that was laughable to her. One by one, she closed in on her prey. The first Xaltan barely had time to react as she descended upon him, her threads wrapping around his limbs and pinning him to the ground. His eyes widened in fear as Camellia loomed over him, her expression glee-filled and unforgiving. ¡°You thought you could match the real thing with Drones?¡± she giggled, her human figure expanding to her true, five-meter-tall arachnid form. ¡°I think I¡¯m beginning to understand why my middle sister loves giving her food so many chances to escape; you¡¯re so funny!¡± With a swift motion, she consumed half his body, using his sacrifice to complete her analysis and leaving the rest for the jungle. She had nine more to bind and question; there were more to catch. Her massive form shrunk again, threads relayed information back to her, guiding her to the next target. The jungle became her hunting ground again, every tree, every shadow a part of her domain. The second Xaltan attempted to fight back against the plucking threads of darkness because he most certainly couldn¡¯t spot her. The thread-like shadows he fought sliced through the air and bound him in place. The fear in his eyes mirrored that of the first, clearly surprised their well-crafted ambush had failed. Camellia''s mind raced as she moved from target to target, each capture fueling her thumping hearts to feast on their bones: she was patient, though. The network of threads she had established long ago came alive under her command, an extension of her will. The Xaltan had tempted her in her own playground, and they would pay for their audacity. As she captured the last of the ten Xaltan, long before they reached the river divide, Camellia felt a sense of satisfaction. Slinging them over her shoulder, one by one, their futile struggles against their silken restraints only served to brighten her mood. She returned to the witch, still cocooned in the protective shell of her threads, trembling but unharmed. On a brighter note, she appeared to have mostly calmed down. The witch looked up at Camellia with wide eyes, a mixture of awe and fear in her gaze. ¡°Y-You¡¯re amazing! Umm¡­these guys killed all of their babies¡­ How did they overpower the Roxim so easily? Was I¡­bait?¡± Camellia¡¯s expression softened slightly as she regarded the confused girl. ¡°It was lucky that you were the bait, my little insect. Sadly for them, they didn¡¯t know whose web they were playing in¡­or did they? I¡¯m still debating it¡­¡± The witch nodded, her fear slowly giving way to anger. ¡°Right. Uh, we need to establish a connection back to The Empress to inform her, right? Is War nearby?¡± Camellia shook her head, crossing her arms and glancing south. She felt the tainted Roxim in the big house begin making his way toward them. She lashed out with her hidden web nearby, binding him in place; there would be time to collect him shortly. ¡°I¡¯m a new member of the Royal Court within the empire, so I am not accustomed to many things. I cannot sense any undead nearby. You¡¯ll have to ask The Empress. How soon can you get it ready?¡± The girl¡¯s attitude flipped at her statement, fear dissipating as she jogged toward the abandoned settlement, showing her trust. ¡°You¡¯re in the Royal Court?! Oh, okay. Umm. If they didn¡¯t take the extra supplies we brought, then I should be able to use a few of these bastards as fuel to reach The Empress without an amplifier¡ªwell, their life would be the amplifier. It would only last for several minutes, but that should be enough time, right?¡± ¡°Great! Let¡¯s do that then¡­¡± The girl paused and glanced back, her worry returning. ¡°What about Rylee and my friends¡ªThe Empress sent two Circles here to set everything up. I was left here to maintain this one while they worked on more stuff in the caves and in the jungle.¡± Camellia looked back the way she¡¯d come. ¡°I haven¡¯t smelled any trace of a human beside you.¡± ¡°Huh? That¡¯s¡­weird. Yeah, we should report this!¡± The witch rushed off and gathered the necessary tools while Camellia maintained her grip over the prisoners, keeping a watchful eye out for anyone else. She searched around the settlement with her webs, but it was as if the witches had never existed, and now that she thought about it, it was strange it had been so hard to find this witch girl. This couldn¡¯t be the end of their trap, but she was sure this witch girl was genuine. She could patiently wait for their next move; after all, th¨¦lm¨¦thra were very patient predators. As the witch began the ritual to reconnect with the Witch Network, Camellia¡¯s thoughts turned to the symbol of the red hand with the tri-pupiled eye; the girl had smeared all of the ones looking at them around the camp. The connection to the mutated ri¡¯bot was clearly the Scarlet Hand, but the purpose remained shrouded in mystery. In any case, The Empress would have a direction for her. Camellia¡¯s glowing eyes drifted to the hardened warriors, no less than quaking children under her watchful gaze. Hopefully, her order was one that would allow her to satiate her sudden hunger¡­because her stomach was finished gnawing on the bones of her first victim, and she could use them to rebuild her shrunken silk gland. B4 — 7.5. Quen’Talrat Mines Valentina prowled through the underground halls of the quen¡¯talrat mines, with the echoes of Black and Ash¡¯s horses ominously fading, swallowed by the vastness of the ancient caverns. Her footsteps were hardly heard, and Grace¡¯s were nonexistent. The sheer scale of the place was staggering, built for apparently super-intelligent, thirty-foot-tall gorillas, like Quin, and it showed it. Sculpted arches soared above her, their intricate carvings telling stories of battles long past, scenes of epic war frozen in time and painted with some kind of sparkling dust that looked like crushed gems. Statues of mighty quen¡¯talrat warriors stood sentinel along the passageways, their stone faces etched with fierce roars. Quin¡¯s people were something else, she thought, her eyes tracing the exquisite details of a battle scene etched into the wall. Even their art screams power, and Quin¡¯s only, like, a few months old, which is insane to think about. The air was thick with the scent of decay and blood, a grim reminder of the carnage left in Death¡¯s wake. Valentina¡¯s keen eyes caught glimpses of the undead ri¡¯bot, mindlessly shambling along, their lifeless eyes glowing faintly in the flickering flames along the hallway. The clanless had positioned the torches reasonably close to one another due to their poor eyesight, casting long, flickering shadows that illuminated the ancient murals that decorated the cavern walls. Bodies of the fallen lay scattered, signs of a weak resistance becoming more evident as they went. More undead were rising to join the ranks of the undead as Valentina and her companions passed by, Death¡¯s field of shadows spreading smog along the floor. As they descended deeper into the mines, the corridors opened into a colossal cavern that stretched out into an abyss. Bridges and platforms spanned the void into eternity, their edges lined with intricate railings that wound around the giant hole in the mountain. Far below, molten lava poured from cracks in the rock, glowing rivers that vanished into the darkness. Valentina¡¯s night vision couldn¡¯t penetrate the depths of the chasm, the blackness below swallowing the light as if a mouth accepting tribute. This place is a nightmare, she mused, her fur bristling at the sight. What was the purpose of this place¡­ They¡¯ve got rail systems, elevators, and, by the looks of it, the defended areas seem to be designed to keep people in rather than out. I¡¯m sure you¡¯d love this place, Empress, she commented in her heart. The ramp they followed spiraled downward, its steep incline leading them into the heart of the mountain. The air grew warmer, the heat from the lava flows seeping into the stone beneath her feet. She could hear the distant rumble of the earth, the mountain¡¯s core beating with a slow, powerful rhythm. One thing was for sure: this place was no ordinary mine¡ªthey had been digging toward something. On a bridge ahead, she saw him¡ªthe Supreme Leader¡ªstanding with a group of his lieutenants. The leader wielded a shockwave device, a blend of runic technology and excellent craftsmanship that was sure not ri¡¯bot made, its surface etched with glowing symbols. The device hummed ominously, a menacing promise of its destructive power to hurl anything that inched out across the open walkway to be another sacrifice for the mines. Valentina¡¯s eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of him wearing gear adorned with her own fur, her precious stripes displayed like some kind of twisted trophy. Licking her lips, she chuckled to herself as the undead unconsciously parted for them. You¡¯re dead, bastard. The Supreme Leader and his lieutenants laughed at their fallen comrades, attempting to inch forward to reach them, their voices carrying over the chasm. ¡°Not even the Pits can take us!¡± one of the lieutenants crowed, his voice echoing off the cavern walls. Valentina¡¯s mouth tightened as she took in the Supreme Leader and his lieutenants¡¯ strategy. They¡¯d created a choke point, stacking their shockwave devices together on wooden carts, forming a faint white barrier that pulsed with energy. The undead ri¡¯bot stumbled and faltered against the wall or tumbled over the edge if they allowed them onto the walkway. ¡°These Pit fiends don¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°Look at them, so pathetic. Even in death, they¡¯re useless!¡± Valentina moved through the slow, shuffling mass of undead ri¡¯bot, with Grace, Black, and Ash flanking her. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, but her mind was clearer now. These powerful soldiers of her Empress waited on her command, and the responsibility was nerve-wracking. What was worse was that they weren¡¯t saying a word! No, they were probably talking through The Empress¡¯ Nexus. They reached the edge of the bridge, just beyond the reach of the shockwave device. The Supreme Leader¡¯s mocking voice rang out. ¡°Well, well, if it isn¡¯t the naked fur bank! You think you can sneak behind us and attack our backs like last time? We can last here for weeks; we¡¯ve got enough food. What have you got, useless Pit fiends?¡± Valentina flexed her fingers, her claws itching to tear through his smug face. His words echoed in her mind, but she pushed aside the anger, focusing on the task at hand. Their torches won¡¯t last that long, but I¡¯ve got a mission to do. In the grand scheme of things, they¡¯re worthless gnats. She leaned in close to Grace, her voice a low whisper as the serene hare man amiably surveyed the grand environment more than the defended clanless. ¡°I know I¡¯m weak. I know I can¡¯t get past these barriers on my own; I¡¯ve tried before when I was taking out their lower ranks. Can you¡­take out the barriers and the shockwave device? The Empress will be interested in them, so is it possible to not damage them¡­ Is it possible?¡± Grace¡¯s serenity didn¡¯t falter as he nodded. ¡°Anything is possible with the right approach. I¡¯m sure you would find a way, given time. None of these toads pose that much of a risk to you.¡± Death¡¯s hollow eyes glowed with an eerie light. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, Sis, but I¡¯d like to see more of Grace¡¯s moves. What do you say?¡± Famine¡¯s grin widened atop her thin horse as she stretched out. ¡°Why don¡¯t you show us some of Nungal¡¯s power you¡¯re always going on about.¡± Valentina took a deep breath, steeling herself and now wondering exactly how powerful the hare was as she looked at his scarred, bare chest. ¡°I don¡¯t know who Nungal is, but I¡¯d rather be done with this business so I can get back to The Empress because this shit is a bust. The clanless are only good for followers and supporting the Wixum.¡± Valentina crouched low, her muscles coiled with tension, eyes locked onto the Supreme Leader across the chasm. The mocking laughter of the leader and his lieutenants grated on her nerves, their jeers echoing in the cavern. This bastard had humiliated her, and she was ready to repay the favor tenfold. Grace¡¯s serene voice cut through her boiling anger, a calm presence in the storm of her emotions. ¡°Valentina, there is strength in belief. If you wish to see the power of faith, I will demonstrate.¡± She glanced at him, his lean, muscular form relaxed but seemingly always ready for action. His silver eyes held no threat, yet she felt a chill as if a knife was just a centimeter away from piercing her heart, cutting through her rage. She gulped, trying to calm her bristling fur, her ears flattening against her head. ¡°Be specific with your order,¡± Grace continued, his hand resting lightly on one of his swords. ¡°Are you asking me to remove these barriers alone, or do you wish for me to eliminate the threat so we can explore these halls and find something useful for The Empress?¡± Valentina hesitated, her eyes flicking to Black and Ash. Both watched with interest, their expressions a mix of curiosity and excitement. ¡°Will they¡­suffer for what they did to me?¡± she asked, her voice tinged with the bitterness of her ordeal. Grace¡¯s smile rose a little, a hint of amusement in his eyes that made her growl and cheeks turn a tad pink. ¡°I will ask my goddess.¡± He closed his eyes, and the air around him seemed to hum with a quiet power. Valentina rubbed her arm as goosebumps ran down its length beneath her fur. Who the heck is this Nungal chick? He serves The Empress, but also some goddess? Black and Ash seem to respect his power. I have no idea what The Empress has been doing! I¡¯m so out of the loop¡­ When he opened them again, the intensity in his silver gaze made Valentina¡¯s breath catch in her throat. ¡°Nungal has told me she will see to it herself,¡± Grace said, his voice calm and assured. ¡°She has granted me permission to unlock my third seal, and unsheath one of her blades. I have not done this since facing the Lightning Champion of the Island of Storms. Is that acceptable?¡± Valentina¡¯s pulse quickened, excitement building as she saw the anticipation on Black and Ash¡¯s faces. Her own curiosity was piqued, despite her irritation. ¡°Sure.¡± Grace¡¯s smile widened, and he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. He stepped forward, his movements fluid and graceful as the unintelligent undead shuffled to the side. He smoothly knelt on the cold, black stone floor, an ethereal glow casting out from him, bathing the walls in an otherworldly light. His silver eyes closed, and he began to murmur a prayer, his voice soft yet resonant. ¡°I¡¯m building this house, on the moon; ¡°I am a lost, wanderer; ¡°Looking at you, like a star; ¡°From the place, the world forgot; ¡°There is nothing, that I can do; ¡°Except bury my love for you.¡± His words carried a profound sense of longing and devotion, the haunting melody echoing through the cavern like a hymn. Valentina watched, her breath catching as the air around Grace seemed to shimmer, his very presence commanding attention. She had seen power before, seen The Empress summon back the dead, but this was something different, something sacred. ¡°The brightness of the sun; ¡°Will give me just enough;A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°To bury my love; ¡°In the Moondust. ¡°I long to hear your voice; ¡°But still I make the choice; ¡°To bury my love; ¡°In the Moondust.¡± A soft light began to coalesce in front of him, forming the figure of a woman. Her long, violet hair flowed like liquid galaxies, and her deep lilac eyes swirled with cosmic energy. She was both beautiful and terrifying, an embodiment of loveliness and judgment. Valentina¡¯s heart pounded as she felt the weight of Grace¡¯s emotions, his love and reverence for this goddess palpable in the air. ¡°Nothing can breathe, in this space; ¡°Colder even than, the darkest sea. ¡°I have dreams about the days; ¡°In your sunset breeze. ¡°But the first thing that I will do; ¡°Is bury my love for you.¡± Nungal¡¯s gaze softened as she looked down at Grace, her fingers gently tracing his cheek. ¡°My faithful servant,¡± she murmured, her voice like a celestial symphony. ¡°You honor me with your devotion.¡± Grace¡¯s eyes opened, shimmering with unshed tears. ¡°I live to serve you, My Goddess.¡± Nungal leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead. A wave of energy surged around Grace, and the carnelian shackles around his wrists and ankles glowed a deep maroon before unlocking and falling away. Valentina¡¯s eyes widened, her fur standing on end. The man rose, his movements fluid and filled with purpose. It was as if all time had slowed, excluding him; she couldn¡¯t breathe or move, and no sound echoed through the cavern. He placed his hand on one of his curved swords with reverence. The sheathed blade seemed to hum with a life of its own, resonating with the cosmic energy that flickered with a liquid, phantom force. ¡°I¡¯m a castaway, and men reap what they sow; ¡°And I say what I know, to be true.¡± Grace continued his prayer as he walked forward, his voice unwavering. The shockwaves from the Supreme Leader¡¯s device were frozen in place, quivering the air, but they parted around him as he proceeded, unable to touch his divine aura. Valentina could only watch in awe as he approached the leader, his presence commanding and unyielding. ¡°Yes, I''m living far away, on the face of the moon; ¡°I¡¯ve buried my love to give the world to you.¡± Grace stopped in front of the Supreme Leader, his silver eyes locking onto the toad¡¯s wide, terrified gaze, unable to move. ¡°Congratulations,¡± he softly said, his voice carrying the weight of divine judgment. ¡°You have the honor of meeting Nungal. Send her my love.¡± The Supreme Leader¡¯s smug confidence shattered, replaced by a look of pure terror as he gazed into the eyes of the goddess who stood behind Grace. Valentina felt a surge of satisfaction, her lips curling into a smirk as she felt the assurance of what awaited the toad who had enslaved his own people. He stumbled back and tried to run as Grace slowly slid his blade out. Yet, she couldn¡¯t see it as if the weapon were a ghost, ethereal. The words of the ri¡¯bot faded with all sound in the area. With an elegance Valentina couldn¡¯t describe, the world stood utterly still, hanging for several seconds. The hare turned, his phantom sword slid into its sheath. On his second step, the click of the sword entered the scabbard, and every ri¡¯bot, including the undead, exploded before fading into nothingness, leaving the ring of his blade humming in the still atmosphere. The stillness in the cavern was almost suffocating, the tension a distinctive force that pressed down on her chest as the hum of the blade still rang throughout the giant space. She blinked, trying to comprehend what had just happened. One moment, the Supreme Leader and his minions, including the raised undead, were there, and the next, they were nothing but particles in the air, erased from existence by Grace¡¯s ethereal blade. That was... unbelievable. She swallowed hard, her ears twitching as she turned to Black and Death, searching their expressions for any sign of what to do next. Black¡¯s usual smirk was replaced by a look of genuine awe. ¡°Well,¡± she said, breaking the silence with her calm, calculated tone, ¡°I suppose that answers any questions about his power. I must say, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised after meeting Nungal myself.¡± The flicker in Death¡¯s hollow eyes showed a rare smile playing on his skeletal lips. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many things in the last few months, but that¡­ That was something else. Grace, you continue to surprise us.¡± Grace¡¯s otherworldly presence and overwhelming presence faded with the goddess¡¯ figure vanishing like smoke, and his shackles reappeared on his wrists and ankles. He stood at the edge of the bridge, his staple amiable smile in place while his silver eyes stared down at the depths of the abyss below. ¡°The Supreme Leader has been judged,¡± he said quietly, his voice carrying a serene finality. ¡°Nungal¡¯s will is done.¡± Valentina felt a shiver run down her spine. Grace, you¡¯re something else entirely. She stepped forward, trying to regain her composure, her claws flexing as she looked at the spot where the Supreme Leader had stood. No harm had come to their devices. ¡°I¡­I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s just¡­gone. It¡¯s as if he never existed. No blood. No flesh¡­ Nothing.¡± Grace gave her a gentle look, his demeanor as tranquil as ever. ¡°As I said, faith is a powerful thing, Valentina. Nungal¡¯s justice is swift and absolute, as is The Empress¡¯.¡± Black¡¯s grin returned, a spark of mischief in her eyes. ¡°I think we¡¯re all a bit more impressed than we¡¯d like to admit. Valentina, you handled yourself well, so don¡¯t be too hard on yourself. Now, the rescue is done, the threats neutralized, and a¡­rather unusual place ready to be explored.¡± Valentina took a deep breath, nodding firmly. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get these prisoners out and figure out what other secrets this place holds. I have a feeling there¡¯s more to uncover. Although¡­do you think The Empress would want to explore this herself?¡± she asked with a strained smile as Grace rejoined them, the mine now eerie with how still and silent it was. Death rubbed his bony jaw, looking up at the fathomless ceiling with its layers of spiraling walkways and corridors. ¡°We could get lost in here for weeks¡­perhaps months. If you¡¯re asking for my opinion, it is best we look around for anything new on our way out rather than wander. Reporting back should be our priority. ¡°She could use more followers, as well, so seeing to the clanless could prove fruitful. I think your judgment was right in focusing on the mission we were given, Val. Grace, can you speak to The Empress right now?¡± The man¡¯s ears tilted to the right with his gaze, no doubt following sounds far more distant than her smaller ears could detect. ¡°Not for a short time. I must prepare my mind and heart to properly reach out after communing with Nungal.¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Valentina nodded. ¡°We head out.¡± She smiled, feeling like she actually had something under her belt now. She had a large number of followers and a giant quen¡¯talrat mine to present to Her Empress. Her tail swung at her back as she hopped onto Black¡¯s horse, her feet feeling a little stressed with how far they¡¯d walked and how much pressure she¡¯d put on them in her fight with Grace. Valentina glanced down at the calm, relaxed hare, her cheeks coloring while getting a good look at him. The Empress is alright with us worshiping Nungal and her¡­ I want to learn more about Nungal after that. She¡¯s real¡­ A real goddess. I saw her for a brief second¡­ He¡¯s more than just a warrior with her strength; he¡¯s a force of nature¡­just like Empress Elinor. As they moved deeper into the fortress, the weight of Grace¡¯s display of power still hung in the air. Valentina¡¯s mind raced, trying to process everything she had witnessed. The corridor they followed was lined with more of the strange, glowing obelisks, their runes pulsating with a faint light. The air grew warmer, and the sound of distant machinery echoed through the cavern. Valentina¡¯s sharp ears directed them further past the exit door, and she could smell that the ri¡¯bot leaders they¡¯d rescued had run out of the fortress. Her ears fluttered, a weird noise brought her attention to Grace¡¯s earlier action. Questioning the long-eared hare, he confirmed it had begun once he¡¯d released his seals, suggesting the timing could be coincidence. Valentia wasn¡¯t so sure, though. Pausing for a moment just before the open doors of the mine¡¯s exit, she looked further down the corridor, the opposite way they¡¯d come. It sounded like something metal slamming against a wall. ¡°Let¡¯s¡­just check that out real fast.¡± Proceeding a bit further and following her gut, Valentina¡¯s lungs jumped into her throat upon making it to what looked to be a colossal storage area, where a giant, ornate door blocked their sight of what lay beyond; that wasn¡¯t the important part, though. Valentina¡¯s ears shifted to the left, where the largest cart system they¡¯d come across so far came into focus, leading to the door as if the area was meant to transport a ton of goods from the mine. The faint shimmer of a force field blocking their path from reaching the far more complex obelisk on the platform, and a large mechanical quen¡¯talrat seemed to be malfunctioning inside, walking into the barrier on the opposite side of them. ¡°Well, that¡¯s not creepy,¡± she mumbled, eyeing the intimidating giant. ¡°I see others in the background¡ªover there, below the ramp, but they seem to be broken. I can hear gears inside.¡± Death stepped forward, examining the barrier with a thoughtful expression as he ran his finger over it. ¡°Unlike those other obelisks we¡¯ve seen, this one here seems unique. They must be protecting something valuable.¡± Valentina''s ears twitched as she scanned the room, her eyes narrowing on the massive mechanical quen¡¯talrat clanging against the force field. Grace stood beside her, his silver eyes reflecting a calm intensity as he studied the intricate obelisk. Black and Ash flanked them, their expressions a mix of curiosity and wariness. The atmosphere was thick with the potential dangers that lay ahead. The flickering torches of the decimated clanless marauders cast eerie shadows on the stone walls, and the hum of the force field added an ominous undertone to the vast open space. Black glanced at Valentina and Grace while nudging her brother. ¡°I¡¯d like to check it out, yet given the quen¡¯talrat¡¯s famed military prowess, I¡¯d rather not open up something that could be a problem for us without The Empress¡¯ permission. Thoughts, our fluffy-tailed leader?¡± ¡°I agree,¡± she mumbled, moving left and right; the mechanical quen¡¯talrat followed her, its movements rigid. ¡°Wait¡­that¡¯s in the direction of the black fortress,¡± she said, pointing at the door. ¡°Do you think this could help us find an underground path inside?¡± Black grinned and ruffled her hair, making her frown at being treated like a little kid. ¡°Nice one, Val! Can¡¯t you communicate with The Empress, Grace?¡± Grace¡¯s gaze was fixated on the metal quen¡¯tarlat. ¡°I can, if she is listening. Give me a moment.¡± He closed his eyes, and a soft glow enveloped him. Valentina watched in awe as the air around him seemed to shimmer with a faint light. His permanent serenity somehow made her even more antsy. She felt a mixture of curiosity and impatience bubbling inside her, her tail twitching with the need to move. What¡¯s he saying to her? Did I really do a good job¡­because I don¡¯t think I did. She would have had this done in like half a day¡­ No, less than that. I suck¡­ Minutes felt like hours as they waited, the only sound the persistent clanking of the mechanical quen¡¯talrat. Finally, Grace opened his eyes, the glow fading as he turned to them with a grave expression. ¡°The Empress has given new orders,¡± he said, his voice calm but urgent. ¡°We need to move out immediately. Her Phylactery is broken, the Nexus is unstable, and the Roxim and even War have been taken captive by the Xaltan. She has become the new Great Chief over the other valley clans, and they are preparing to engage the Xaltan.¡± Valentina¡¯s ears drew back. ¡°Huh?! How did all of that happen?¡± A cold look passed between Ash and Black, their faces hardening. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Black asked, her voice laced with disbelief. ¡°We recently received advancements from The Empress¡¯ [Rising Empire: 1st Petal]. How could they capture War of all people?¡± Grace shook his head, his expression uncharacteristically somber. ¡°Their Mysticism is mimicking the creatures they consume, and they¡¯re using th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone eggs. What is more concerning is that nearly two Circles of human witches are missing from the attack, their scent wiped clean of the area.¡± Valentina¡¯s heart sank at the news. ¡°Twenty-five women¡­ With how few humans we have left, that¡¯s a big deal. We need to move.¡± Grace nodded. ¡°The Empress says we must leave the secrets of this place for now and focus on the immediate threat.¡± Valentina didn''t hesitate and jumped onto Black¡¯s horse. ¡°I guess it¡¯s war.¡± Grace somehow managed to keep pace with them on foot, his movements fluid and effortless as they made their way out of the mines. The cool air of the mountain¡¯s interior gave way to the warmer, more humid atmosphere outside, the sounds of the jungle enveloping them as they emerged. The urgency of what was happening weighed on Valentina¡¯s mind as Grace further explained. While I¡¯ve been ambushing low-level jungle thugs and getting stripped, The Empress has built connections with an entire otherworldly kingdom, made deals with hags, talked with goddesses, and united the entire damn valley under her banner. What the hell!? I¡¯ll get stronger, Empress. I won¡¯t let you down, I promise. She glanced at Grace, his returned serene expression a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt inside. If I ask¡­will he train me? Because I¡¯m just not good enough! They rode through the jungle, the dense foliage closing in around them as they pushed forward. The path ahead was uncertain, but Valentina would fight for The Empress, for the Empire, and for the future they were building together in this alien world. She wanted to be a part of it. To contribute. She wanted to prove herself worthy of The Empress¡¯ trust. B4 — 7. Called Bluff Elinor listened to Camellia¡¯s articulate and detailed voice with a distant focus as she sat at the edge of the open hut door. The grass curtain had been drawn to the side, the cool night air brushing against her skin and making the grass bundle sway. One of Esmeralda¡¯s Intermediate Black Witches looked annoyed while maintaining the communication network. Her agitation was likely due to what she¡¯d heard regarding Rylee¡¯s Gray Coven. No doubt she thought this reflected terribly on all the witches in the empire, yet, to Elinor there was a lot to consider, given the information the spider had provided. Her fingers ghosted to her ear again, the absence of her phylactery an unsettling reminder of her current state as Death Energy leaked out of her body. She was weakening, and Butter¡¯s slow return wasn¡¯t helping her mood. It would be days, perhaps even longer, before Butter reached the valley at her current pace, and Elinor didn¡¯t have that luxury. She glanced at Quin, standing guard near the hut. There are a lot of moving pieces to this puzzle right now. The fact I didn¡¯t realize the loss in citizens and Camellia¡¯s timeline puts the Xaltan attack right after my phylactery breaks and I gain many more citizens, masking the decrease¡­ My movements are being watched. Looking into the distance from the hut¡¯s raised position, overseeing the valley, she stared at the mountains that loomed in the distance, massive and unmoving. Shade is the obvious suspect, given he is spread throughout the whole planet¡­but Jennifer has far more influence and power given what Camellia explained. Could it be a bluff to make me hesitate? Her gaze drifted toward the fortress of Kel¡¯mal¡¯tha standing proud on the northern shelf, its ominous presence casting long shadows over the sea of trees in the orange glow cast from the dying sun. The rain clouds had gathered north of it, pulled in by the strange force that swirled around the valley¡¯s highest mountain. It would be so much easier to respond to things if I owned that city¡­ Soon. She looked past it, where Valentina was with Black, Ash, and Grace, dealing with the captured tiger girl¡¯s issues. The Clanless aren¡¯t valuable for their combat aptitude but their number added to my citizen count. Grace, Ash, and Black should have gotten there by now and rescued her¡­ I can still hear her prayers as if distant echoes, though. Maybe I was right to send three General-tier units to support her if she still isn¡¯t free. Her gaze narrowed while zeroing in on the far side of the valley, too distant to discern the finer details, but her thoughts were already racing. Camellia was waiting for an answer as to what she should do, but there was a problem she had to address first. The Xaltan aren¡¯t the problem¡­not really, she hummed, fiddling with the wooden microphone in her hand that would allow her to communicate across the valley. Their newfound abilities with the th¨¦lm¨¦thra eggs is certainly unexpected. If I¡¯d learned about this before entering Roman¡¯s world, then I would have been concerned. However, I now have an intimate understanding of their capabilities after channeling a drone spirit myself. Her mouth tilted to the side while spotting the many Delthax citizens, whispering to one another and discussing the change in leadership after their chief¡¯s death. The Xaltan warriors poison themselves, and quickly, by ingesting th¨¦lm¨¦thra eggs. It¡¯s a suicide act, and a potent one, yet they aren¡¯t nearly as potent as my ability to utilize th¨¦lm¨¦thra features. For one, they cannot create their own silk, merely taking on their stealth, senses, and resilience aspects, none of which mean a lick to someone like Camellia. If it was a single drone, then the students in the Kaspir Kingdom¡¯s ceremony would have been able to kill one fairly easily. It was due to my Death Energy reserve, strategy, and [Artificial Body] that I became such a threat¡­ They have learned to use her old thread, though¡­and it¡¯s stronger than her current since Camellia¡¯s powers are currently limited until I unlock the next Grade. That shouldn¡¯t matter in the end. Yes, War should have struggled, but won against those odds, as would his siblings. Especially with the Firewalkers of the Roxim regaining their Mysticism. Plus, there was an entire coven of witches there¡­ A coven of witches that disappeared. Leaning her head against the back of the doorframe, her crown pressed against the side of her head while shifting to stare at the expectant and frowning Black Witch. It¡¯s worse than she thinks¡­ The Gray Coven was turned against me, which should be impossible. There¡¯s no other way they¡¯d get past the wards, even with the th¨¦lm¨¦thra powers. Rylee¡¯ s group specializes in that style of defensive rituals. An entire coven, save for one witch, turned on me¡­ How? Her fingers traced the wooden microphone she held, her eyes flicking back to the glowing-eyed skull effigy that waited silently for her command. She had her suspicions. ¡°Camellia,¡± Elinor called, her voice low but commanding and making the witch hold her breath, waiting for what came next. The response was immediate, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra Executioner¡¯s tone laced with happy compliance, ready to do anything ordered. ¡°Yes, Empress?¡± ¡°Strip Zara and check her body. Head to toe. Look for any markings, anything unusual.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Zara choked, possibly having difficulty maintaining her ritual with the shock. ¡°Hey¡­you don¡¯t need to rip them to shreds. I only have one extra set¡­ ¡° she mumbled. ¡°Wait, why are you having her do this, Empress? Did I¡­did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already scanned her before, and done it again, Empress. There¡¯s nothing that I can detect, other than puss pockets, clogged pores, and the need for better hygiene.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in the jungle without a washer or good products,¡± the sixteen-year-old defended. ¡°Geez. Well, I¡¯m self-conscious now.¡± Elinor bypassed the teen¡¯s balks, studying the darkening horizon again while explaining her thoughts aloud. ¡°All of your powers stem from me, or, more specifically, your faith in me as your empress. It¡¯s impossible to do your rituals without that, yet I am certain the rest of your coven has turned against me, likely mind controlled in some way to believe they¡¯re still serving me.¡± ¡°My sister, too?!¡± Zara gasped. ¡°I mean, everyone was acting kind of strange the last day or two¡­ I messed up yesterday. Rylee, Hilda, and Carla were acting a bit off, mainly Carla after she went out alone with Sofia. Sofe was a little¡­more aggressive, I think, too. Usually she¡¯d just shrink back when arguments came up and try not to get a part of it but she was kind of putting herself out there, which wasn¡¯t normal for her. War had Rylee do a lot of ritual checks.¡± Closing her eyes, Elinor chuckled softly while leaning her head against the wood. ¡°He knew something wasn¡¯t right and didn¡¯t have the time or means to identify it, so he accepted the loss¡­ I bet that¡¯s what he did so as not to cause more casualties. He weighed the risks and took this chance to get a better grasp about what the enemy was planning.¡± She held a hand over her chest, feeling through the threads to all her citizens and undead to reach him, despite her Seed being unstable. All of my Horsemen were upgraded with [Rising Empire: 2nd Petal]¡¯s advancement. He¡¯s consolidating his strength. I need to bring war to Red, and then he can act¡­ You sly redheaded devil. You¡¯re right in the middle of their camp, right in the position to save the very witches that imprisoned you. What a man of honor¡­ A smile growing, Elinor pushed herself to her feet and put the microphone to her mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t think they¡¯ll be ready for War. Camellia, bring Zara her second pair of clothes, if you can find it, and then bring the messenger. I bet Jennifer will be using them as a puppet.¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m fine, Empress,¡± Zara protested, clearly not while being butt naked in the jungle but trying to be strong. ¡°I just want to save my sister¡­ Is there a way to save her without resurrecting her?¡± ¡°Trust Red,¡± she replied, leaning her back against the doorframe to stare at the effigy. ¡°And, Camellia, expect the messenger to do something dramatic like explode or spontaneously combust when it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress. I¡¯ll keep a cocoon ready.¡± ¡°In the meantime, Zara,¡± Elinor prompted, searching her memory to get a clearer picture of the short, curly brown-haired sixteen-year-old girl she was speaking to, ¡°I expect your ritual is only temporary. Am I correct?¡± ¡°Uh, yes, Empress¡­ I really want to do something to help. Is there any¡ªoh, one second, the Xaltan I¡¯m using is about to turn into a raisin. I just need to roll the next one onto the ritual circle. Call back in one sec. Sorry!¡± Elinor chuckled as the nineteen-year-old Black Witch rolled her eyes and shook her head. ¡°Go ahead, speak your mind.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you use a Chain Ritual with linking life¡ªand she¡¯s gone. Freaking Apprentice Witches. Empress, wouldn¡¯t it be better if the Black Coven went to set up the Forward Base? A White Circle is currently at the Crystal Camp. Both Warlock Covens could create an acid cloud to fall over the Xaltan and melt the skin off their bones¡ªeasy win.¡± Glancing down at the wooden microphone that Kaya had created for her Intermediate advancement trial, creating a new ritual. ¡°I don¡¯t hear much about Tiffany¡¯s Covens or your progression since she mostly handles her own field¡­but if I were to follow what you suggest, Cielo, It would melt the flesh off of loyal witches and Roxim who have put their faith in me.¡± Cielo¡¯s eyes lowered to the floor. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it their fault for being captured and used against you? They can be resurrected, too. It feels worth it.¡± Elinor sighed, the young woman refusing to look her in the eyes. ¡°Think a little outside of the Black Circle mind state for a moment and consider all sides. If you¡¯re going to try to be a Circle Leader, then think about the future rather than the simple immediate results. Why would I want to poison the jungle, possibly upset the ecosystem, and create future problems I¡¯d need to handle? A scorched earth policy certainly has its place but mainly to serve as an example.¡± She turned her narrowed eyes back to the valley, thinking about the woman who had initially gotten her mother captured by the ri¡¯bot in the first place. ¡°Why do you think Jennifer pushed the Xaltan to take this path when it is likely outside of their typical behavior? It¡¯s because she knows it will work on me¡­ She doesn¡¯t know everything about me, though. And neither do you, it seems,¡± she whispered, getting a defeated grunt from the young, ambitious witch. ¡°Running an empire that will not crumble at the slightest pushback is a difficult task, and one can learn a great many lessons by watching its administration. So, observe, and grow outside of that dark mind state that drew you to the Black Coven. Perhaps you¡¯ll learn something important that will help you surpass your Coven leader by doing so.¡± Cielo looked up at her with a hopeful smile, refocusing as Zara¡¯s somewhat distant and confused voice returned over the flickering eyes of the effigy. ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯m having trouble with¡ª¡± ¡°Your blood lines are too thin for the amount of power you¡¯re trying to pump through them,¡± Cielo quickly replied, trying to show a smile. ¡°Redraw them and call back.¡± ¡°Oh! Yeah, you¡¯re right. Thank you¡ªCamellia, you found them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not difficult to follow your scent trail.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ I smell. That makes me happy. Be right back.¡± A questioning look crossed Cielo¡¯s face as she studied her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you¡­annoyed at all the incompetencies and mistakes, Empress? We¡¯re wasting valuable time. Aren¡¯t we?¡± Folding her arms, a small smirk lifted Elinor¡¯s lips while looking out across the busy Delthax camp, preparing for the war. ¡°It¡¯s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when walking in the present. You could consume yourself with doubts and second guess yourself by stressing about things you have no control over.¡± She gave the witch an approving nod. ¡°You did good there, supporting Zara instead of harping on her. She¡¯s trying and in a very stressful position. Her sister is being mind controlled and captured with all the girls she¡¯s come to think of as friends. I¡¯m sure just hearing another witch offering her advice helps more than you know, no matter the coven. That¡¯s leadership.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Cielo seemed to pull in, reflecting on her words before Zara reconnected. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m back, Empress¡ª¡± ¡°And dressed in her weak fabric,¡± Camellia reported. ¡°I could weavy my own silk into it to make it stronger.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re bored and need something to do,¡± Elinor laughed. ¡°Bring the messenger forward.¡± ¡°Right here! He has a metal wrist thing and an ax that hums like the white toads that were to the west.¡± ¡°H-High Warrior Fennel?!¡± Zara gagged. ¡°That mark¡­ Empress, he has a red palm print on his chest with an eye on it. Is¡­is that what they did to my sister?!¡± ¡°Interesting¡­¡± The voice that responded was not of the gruff, military leader of the Roxim but the sultry feminine tone of Jennifer. ¡°His spiritual fight grew stronger when you said that name, Zara. He may break free of my control before I get a chance to finish our chat¡­ And where did you find this monster of a predator, Elinor? You shouldn¡¯t have been able to summon and bind her soul yet. Unfortunate.¡± Camellia¡¯s intrigued hum came through. ¡°The cadence of a female ri¡¯bot yet the scent of a male¡­ How unnatural. My middle sister would find you interesting. She likes playing with her food.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure she does, and yes, Zara, I do have control over your sister. It¡¯s a shame you were hidden away well enough that I couldn¡¯t get to you before the Xaltan took control. Your sister is worried sick about you. You should come home. Soon, they¡¯ll have far more power than what the Empress can give you.¡± Elinor¡¯s chest shook with laughter as her sharp eyes darted to the glowing-eyed effigy. Valdar, the newly promoted Chief Kole, and Xaria Ectria walked into view. The Plant Caller no doubt had been listening through his abilities, and Plant Caller Nina came jogging out from behind them, lagging behind with Aileen Banks trailing beside her¡ªit had been a while since Elinor had seen the 12-year-old German Dryad Faekin. ¡°A bluff,¡± Elinor pointedly stated, silencing the cult member. ¡°The moment you realized Camellia was raised and had a chat with your disembodied bestie downstairs, you knew you had to cut your losses. He didn¡¯t anticipate the gains I¡¯d make when outside of his ever-watchful gaze, and neither did you¡­¡± She walked closer to the communication device, spotting Cielo¡¯s eyes sparkling with delight at her tone. ¡°You underestimated me. How much damage are you trying to do to me with the Xaltan¡¯s suicidal gambit? Your aim isn¡¯t victory. You¡¯re stalling for Krava to return with the Great Clan War Council.¡± ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Jennifer said with a slightly annoyed tone that showed a bit of effort; Fennel was fighting her control. ¡°You¡¯ve got it all figured out, Empress, don¡¯t you? I¡¯d hoped to have a chat to see if we could come to an agreement, but Revilla will show me the truth in your downfall¡­ As guarded as you are, you do have weaknesses even you do not realize. In time, Empress of the Dead¡­ In time. Damn this frog.¡± Toad, Elinor internally corrected, but a low groan followed¡ªFennel¡¯s voice. ¡°Mmmgm. Empress¡­ She does not need the Xaltan but what¡­agh! She requires what is buried beneath the hatch¡ª¡± Elinor grimaced as a rush of muffled noise followed, Zara¡¯s soft tone low and melancholy. ¡°He¡­exploded, Empress. Queen Camellia stopped it, but¡­the bones are even melting. It¡¯s like his blood is acidic. And right after he got his Mysticism¡­ I¡¯m sad. He was actually kind of nice to us.¡± ¡°Mmm. My thread is being eaten through,¡± the curious spider whispered. ¡°It doesn¡¯t taste bad. It¡¯s not terrible. I could incorporate its chain structure but it wouldn¡¯t really impress my middle sister.¡± She caught the scowls on Valdar¡¯s wrinkled face at the exchange. And, despite how they¡¯d started their antagonistic relationship, Elinor felt an edge of respect for the fallen 2nd-in-command for the Roxim Clan. ¡°Jennifer is really showing her overconfidence in her deity¡¯s power. Fennel managed to give us valuable information, though it is possible it is a trick. In any case, it¡¯s something to take note of, and Fennel will have a proper send-off, according to his own beliefs,¡± she stated, fist tightening behind her back. Elinor shifted her gaze toward the Delthax¡¯s new chief and the single-toothed, female Xaria; now was the time for action. Perhaps this was what the jungle had been warning Valdar of. ¡°Camellia, keep his ax and bracelet. I¡¯m sure Chief Zargoth will want it.¡± ¡°Will do, Empress! Careful, human girl. Don¡¯t want to get this acid on your new threads.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more worried about my skin!¡± ¡°Now,¡± Elinor interrupted, a fire lighting in her belly. ¡°I¡¯m going to do something that both of you are going to have trouble with, mainly you, Cielo¡­¡± The Black Witch stiffened upon being singled out. ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯ll get it done, Empress! I have faith in your power to support me.¡± ¡°Good,¡± she chimed. ¡°I just need you to connect with every other communication network across the valley that we¡¯ve been able to establish. It might be hard for you to maintain Zara, given your level. Can you two do it?¡± ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± Zara immediately stated before asking, ¡°Uh, do I need to do anything to the ritual, Cielo? Sorry, I¡¯m just working off of the notes I took from my sister¡­ We were practicing stuff together. I wonder what she thinks happened to me¡­ No, sorry. I¡¯m focused! I¡¯m sure War will save her.¡± Cielo¡¯s expression softened before determination lit in her face. ¡°No, you¡¯re fine the way it is, Zara. It¡¯s me who needs to reinforce this access point since it will be transmitting to all other ritual sites¡­ And if Kaya can do it, then I can too.¡± Elinor didn¡¯t point out that Kaya¡¯s specialty seemed to be in communication rituals, seeing as that was where she made her breakthrough ritual research to advance to the next rank. She wasn¡¯t sure what Cielo¡¯s specialty was, but it wasn¡¯t likely this. Luckily, certain rituals were shared across all factions grimoires, and this was one of them. Momentarily disconnecting from Zara, Cielo summoned her book and got to work making upgrades to the device. It only took her ten minutes, double checking her work before starting it, crossing her legs and taking the center position to act as the focus medium. Sweat began to break out across her forehead as she recited the words Kaya¡ªa White Witch¡ªpioneered. Wind picked up around the space, cycling around her as the sulfur and salt fused into the wood to add new lines and a broader design; they were ingredients the Black Covens rarely used since theirs mostly relied on organs, blood, and Life Force. ¡°Okay, Empress¡­ Whenever you¡¯re ready. I can only keep this up for a few minutes.¡± Elinor turned her back to the witch and stood in the entryway as a cold gust blew down from the mountains to pass over the ridge. She stared across the valley, Quin listening intently nearby as Theresa returned with some herbs and ingredients Tiffany had requested from the high location. One hand held behind her back, she brought the microphone to her mouth with anticipation putting a smile on her lips. ¡°Listen up, Undying Empire. I know I just talked to all of you not that long ago, but things have changed¡­ The Roxim main settlement has been conquered and many taken prisoner, including War and the Gray Coven witches. Also¡­ We¡¯ve discovered the Xaltan¡¯s secret weapon, so there¡¯s no further need to be cautious. I will only say this once, so take note¡­¡± Elinor swiftly ran through what Camellia had reported, which only took her a minute to condense. ¡°¡­With that being said, every leader, push your angle as soon as you can. I give you full access to wage war as you see fit in your factions. Expect something big to happen tonight from inside their camp¡­and it looks like there will be a heavy thunderstorm. Send out scouts. Have medical and support units ready to support anyone that does escape.¡± She flashed her teeth with a short laugh. ¡°Cause trouble at their borders, draw eyes. Be a nuisance with your advance units while the main forces advance. Don¡¯t push too far, make them use their poisoned eggs and push their forces thin. They¡¯re on a clock. We are not. Expect them to know about your general unit placement and move accordingly with that knowledge. Lay traps for them. Have fun!¡± She turned to Valdar and the group of powerful Delthax individuals, including her little Dryad German girl. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the front lines with Quin and Theresa to join Camellia. I¡¯m coming to you, Zara. Tiffany, I need a drone sent. Direct things from your cave. I need what you¡¯re working on done, asap,¡± she instructed, not wanting to have the Hag out of her mother¡¯s sight until everything was done that she¡¯d promised. ¡°I expect King Edmon will join me soon enough. I¡¯ll be taking who I can from the Delthax that can keep up with Quin. Cielo will be with me to further guide you when we arrive, Zara. I want the White Witch Circle that is stationed at the Crystal Camp to make their way to the Roxim settlement. We¡¯ll likely pass you on the way.¡± Her vision narrowed with the drums of war beginning to pound in her chest, the wheels in her head turning. ¡°Garu, I want you to join up with me. I need your talents. High Queen Butter will be back in time to support the Wixum and other nearby clans from any secret retaliation. Make her aware of the situation when she arrives. King Edmon¡¯s Argent Order will provide home support. ¡°Jennifer and her goddess think they can shake us and stall our advance by compromising our forward position with the Roxim. It is a bluff. You will walk on their bones before they rise back up to march behind you¡­ Death rides on your backs; we cannot lose. So ride my armies, and show them who the Undying Empire is¡­ Dress in your best, soldiers. It¡¯s judgment day.¡± She walked to the sweating nineteen-year-old and placed the microphone on the ground in front of her, a twinkle in her eye as Quin roared her glee from outside. Elinor didn¡¯t have to say a thing as the girl struggled to her feet and joined her on the way out of the hut to mount one of Quin¡¯s large hands. Valdar refused the silver-ape¡¯s offered hand, no doubt wanting to make this final trip on his own two feet and stand tall when he entered the next world. He passed a few encouraging words to his granddaughter, the eight-year-old next Master Sage looking slightly unsure next to the frightened twelve-year-old Dryad. Ectria smiled, holding up an arm that Kole met in a sort of warrior salute. ¡°Don¡¯t arrive too late or you¡¯ll miss all the fun, Chief.¡± Chief Kole sighed and glanced up at her as Elinor situated herself. ¡°Do you want to know my plan, Empress, or should I leave it close to the tongue so the Whispering Shadow does not know?¡± ¡°Now you¡¯re catching on,¡± Elinor laughed, accepting her staff that Quin handed her, pinched between her fingers. ¡°We¡¯re going to conquer this valley, Chief Kole. Don¡¯t think we¡¯re done when the Xaltan are finished. My sights are there¡­¡± He followed her staff¡¯s point as she directed their attention to the dim silhouette of Ke¡¯mal¡¯tha, the towering city looming over the valley with its tall towers and central spires that pierced the heavens. ¡°Valdar, trust me. I¡¯ll make your dream of a united ri¡¯bot species reality. I will break the Xaltan¡¯s pride and build them back into a proud people that are a part of something greater than a clan¡­ They¡¯ll be a part of the Undying Empire.¡± The elder¡¯s tight mouth became more gentle at her words, surveying the divided valley he¡¯d known his whole life. ¡°I believe you, Empress. Now, I must do my part to see that vision bear fruit. I am with you.¡± ¡°Then we ride! Quin, to war.¡± The giant, four-armed ape shot forward and jumped off the ledge, using the cliff face with ease to take them to the jungle below. Behind her, Valdar and Ectria followed. They hadn¡¯t even made it back to the Wixum camp when Grace¡¯s voice touched her soul, and a grin split her face. A way into Ke¡¯mal¡¯tha? Nungal, you wouldn¡¯t have guided them to that, would you have? What is your game¡­ Killing me every time I kill Butter in our previous lives, but offering us support every time. This time, don¡¯t expect it to be so easy to get rid of me. Butter and I are on the same team, after all. Twins on a warpath. Speaking of War¡­ Do what you do best. * ¡ª * ¡ª * A flash of thunder cracked overhead, unseen beyond the thick canopy but the sharp wind pushed trees and branches in a rush of sounds. A storm was approaching. Red¡¯s bright crimson eyes opened to the darkness as the first droplets of rain struck his unprotected skin, conserving his energy for the better part of eighteen hours. He looked into Jennifer¡¯s judging face, Rylee and Hilda beside her, leering at him as if he were Jennifer herself. The woman¡¯s slightly annoyed tone told him all he needed to know about her conversation with the Empress. ¡°Now that she knows you¡¯re captured, we¡¯ll need another distraction for your mistress.¡± Her soft fingers pressed against his hard, bare breast before a spark of crimson electricity repelled it, making the woman wince and the two witches curse him. ¡°Not strong enough?¡± he asked, his deep chuckle bringing further hatred to be thrown his way by women who liked him quite a bit before their minds were warped. ¡°A shame. You¡¯ll have to kill me. Wait¡­you couldn¡¯t do that either. How strong is your goddess again?¡± ¡°Mocking the empress?¡± Hilda growled. ¡°You won¡¯t be laughing when we¡¯re done with our next ritual to strip you of that defensive aura you¡¯re guarding yourself with.¡± ¡°Aww. You¡¯re cute when you¡¯re mad, Hilda,¡± War chirped, showing a true smile. ¡°I like how curly your hair is right now, and those blue eyes stand out when filled with passion. It¡¯s too bad you¡¯re normally so patient and kind because you¡¯d be something fierce as a lover. Maybe I just haven¡¯t seen that side of you¡ªoh, and there¡¯s the slap. Another medal to add to the collection! A better hook than Karina, though.¡± ¡°He¡¯s relentless,¡± Rylee grumbled, looking at him in disgust. ¡°What a weird ri¡¯bot Mystic. The Xaltan really are the worst. Maybe it would be better if Esmerelda handled this.¡± ¡°No,¡± Hilda fumed. ¡°He¡¯s been harassing us all day. I have to hear him apologize at least once.¡± ¡°Oh. Is that all?¡± War creased an eye. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you¡¯re so charming, Hilda. It¡¯s a curse really. And that beauty mark on your collar bone¡ªstunning! I like how your nose slightly turns up, too. It¡¯s cute. Although, Isabella¡¯s button nose is so adorable. Black hair is the best, too with those hazel eyes and long, natural eyelashes.¡± ¡°Is he talking about me again?¡± Isabela groaned while approaching from the side, hood already covering her as the rain continued to pick up. ¡°At least he isn¡¯t talking about my butt like he does about Carla. I finished doing the reverse Firewalker ritual to block off their powers¡­but I don¡¯t know how effective it is since we haven¡¯t really tried it out in practice. I¡¯m exhausted, though.¡± Jennifer gave each girl a proud look, as if a mother looking at her children. ¡°Soon I¡¯ll teach you even more powerful rituals that invoke a dead deity¡¯s lingering power. With your natural gifts and the development of your spirits, you will be something fearsome. Now, off you go. You¡¯ll need your rest for tomorrow¡¯s big ritual.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± War asked, flexing and trying to stretch with what limited slack he¡¯d been allowed. ¡°So, tomorrow is the big day? Rushing it after talking to the Empress, I see. You¡¯re scared. Did she not take the bluff?¡± ¡°What bluff?¡± Jennifer smiled. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, pawn. You¡¯ve served your purpose, so why not cast a silence ritual on him next, ladies. I¡¯m sure we can all go without his lewd and crude comments.¡± ¡°Come on,¡± War playfully complained, flexing his open fingers, ¡°a guy has to fight back somehow. And what¡¯s so bad about a man telling the truth? A guy can¡¯t compliment beautiful women?¡± He hung his head as the women began to make plans to silence him, putting on ponchos that Jasmine brought over, a fourteen-year-old apprentice witch under Hildra¡¯s control. His vision narrowed upon seeing one of the glowing fingers poke through one of the holes in Hilda¡¯s tank top when turning her back to him and putting on the protective cover. Just a bit longer¡­and I¡¯ll have the strength. Plus, I feel an army coming. The tide of war has shifted again¡­ And I¡¯ll spark the charge. Just wait a little longer, ladies. I¡¯ve got a plan. Hopefully it¡¯ll work and I won¡¯t have to kill you¡­because that would be tragic. Our living human population is already too low. B4 — 7.5. The Tempest Rises The jungle was alive with the sounds of a fearsome storm. The wind howled through the colossal trees, their vast trunks groaning as if under the weight of the dark clouds above. The dense canopy swayed, allowing the rain to pelt down in heavy sheets, each drop hammering against the slick, muddy earth below. War¡¯s breath fogged in the humid air, the metallic tang of the rain mixing with the earthy scent of the jungle floor. His bright crimson eyes flickered with every flash of lightning, catching glimpses of the black-skinned ri¡¯bot lurking in the shadows, their forms only visible for a heartbeat before the darkness and veil of rain swallowed them once more. Suspended between two massive tree branches, War felt the tension in the silk threads binding his body. They were slick with rain, slightly more elastic now, but still strong. The threads pressed hard into his skin, yet they couldn¡¯t pierce it¡ªhis body, hardened by the hum of war that permeated the restless land; he was nearly impervious right now, which was why Jennifer had opted for this route. He could feel the drums of war in his chest, each beat synchronizing with the storm, with the hearts of the Xaltan warriors, and with the growing power within him. A grin spread across his face despite his predicament. He gently flexed his muscles in slow, rhythmic study, testing the strength of his bindings. Each digit of his fingers were bound, twitching as he focused on the tension in the threads. The Empress must have leveled up, he mused to himself, sensing the hold on his spirit from Rylee¡¯s ritual growing weaker as the current witches maintaining it grew more weary due to the hammering storm. He was only growing stronger¡ªthe pulse of inevitable battle grew stronger by the second. Soon¡­ Below him, nestled beneath the exposed roots of a colossal tree, three young witches huddled together¡ªNatalia, Beatriz, and Isabella¡ªall below the age of twenty-one. The Xaltan were not very good at constructing decent shelters for the weak constitution of humans, and Jennifer was busy excavating something within the caves below the Xaltan¡¯s land. He observed the young women¡¯s determination and drive as the night and miniature hurricane of the wet season went on, flooding barely kept away from their heightened shelter. Their forms were barely visible in the dim, illuminated mushrooms they used as a light source; War could practically see their faces pale with exhaustion. Maintaining the ritual that kept him bound must have been more taxing than they realized since his power was only growing stronger by the minute. Their spirits flickered like the dying embers of the fire and hatred they¡¯d shown him the previous day. War could sense their weariness, their power waning as they fought to stay awake and focused. The rain was relentless, soaking through their cloaks when the wind hit their shelter just right, its drumming on the earth assaulting their stressed minds. The smell of wet leaves and damp soil filled War¡¯s nostrils as he breathed in deeply, savoring the scent of impending conflict. He could feel it in the air¡ªthe anticipation, the tension, the rising tide of battle that would soon wash over them all. The Xaltan young bloods had taken over the watch of the cautious seniors who had guarded him through the day. Their inexperience was evident in the way they moved through the trees, changing positions to better escape the elements. Four of them in total, eager to prove themselves to their chief, patrolled the perimeter of the makeshift prison. War could hear their hearts beating, their blood pumping with the excitement of a potential fight from the few Roxim warriors who were left, tied somewhere beyond War¡¯s vision. They were oblivious to the danger he posed as the night went on, what it meant that the human women were growing tired. War¡¯s vision narrowed as he tested the threads again, now slicker, easier to manipulate than before as the roar of thunder echoed through the foliage. His power reached its new zenith within him, a surge of energy that had been growing since the previous day hitting its limit¡ªthe Empress was coming closer, and with her, the full might of her wrath¡­ He could feel it. War¡¯s grin widened, his teeth flashing in the darkness. Let the war commence. A flash of lightning illuminated the jungle, turning night into day for a brief moment and blinding his inexperienced guard; the sound that followed would disorient the frightened human girls, unsure why they had yet to be relieved. In that instant, War flexed his fingers, condensing the red aura of his fighting spirit into a claymore. The blade shimmered with a crimson light, its edge sharp enough to cut through steel with the surge of kinetic force running along its edge like a tangible force. With a flick of his wrist, the threads snapped, and with a single arced slash, the rest of the bindings fell away. Not skipping a beat, War dropped to the mud below, the crash of thunder masking his landing and making the witches flinch. Concentration broken, they looked up out across the darkness, only able to see his glowing aura in the black, their eyes wide with terror. They¡¯d instantly known their hold over him had snapped, but the young ri¡¯bot warriors had yet to recover. Red didn¡¯t spare the women a glance, his focus on the four young bloods that could still alert the others. With a surge of herculean strength, War launched himself toward the first of them, his claymore slicing through the air with a deadly hum yet masked by the billowing wind. The blade cleaved through the toad¡¯s torso, the force of the strike splitting him in two before he could react. One down. War moved with the speed of a predator, his eyes burning with the thrill of combat. The second Xaltan barely had time to register the death of his comrade before War was upon her. The claymore swung in a wide arc, catching the toad in the side and cutting her clean through in an upward angle. Two. Spinning on his heels, keeping balanced with the wall of wind and rain that peppered him, Red searched for the beating heart of the third rather than relying on his other senses¡ªthe thirst for battle gave the young Xatlan away. Flipping his blade around, he threw it like a spear, cutting through the mist and fog like a hot knife through butter. The toad noticed just in time, raising his weapon to block, but it was futile. The sheer kinetic force behind pushed the dagger aside, snapping his wrist in the process. The claymore passed clean through the toad¡¯s skull at an angle, pinning him. The fourth Xaltan¡¯s neck bulged to let out a warning croak as War¡¯s landed on his branch. A pulse of ruby light illuminated his stunned expression as his crimson armor took shape around his form, unblocked by the witches spiritually restricting power. Fingers closing around the toad¡¯s throat and pushing the air out like a deflated balloon, he pressed the warrior up against the slick black trunk. His shimmering maroon cloak billowed in the wind as he held the victim firm, unbothered by his powerful kicks and punches that bloodied and crippled the boy¡¯s arms and legs. War didn¡¯t say a word but there was a smile on his face as he slowly applied more and more pressure until a snap was barely heard past the hammering downfall. The Xaltan fell limp, spine and throat crushed, and Red tossed him in front of the root-like alcove the girls were using, letting the rain wash over it as he retrieved his claymore. The three women jumped and cried out, the fear he instilled from [Intimidation Aura] preventing them from scattering into the storm and getting themselves killed. Flash flooding riddled the area, the currents carrying the slain ri¡¯bot into their muddy depths, the last of which was still alive, paralyzed and helpless as he suffocated to death. Red retrieved his claymore, the blade shimmered with its own crimson light with the storm raging around him. He stood amidst the carnage, his eyes scanning the jungle for any other threats. The thunder and pelting rain had reached its peak, falling in sheets that blinded even his enhanced vision, the wind tearing through the trees with fury. Turning his gaze to the hollowed-out tree where the witches huddled together, their fear locking them in place. War¡¯s smile faded, replaced by a look of grim determination. He¡¯d only thought of one way to free the witches¡ªone way they could be saved without death and resurrection¡­but it would be painful. War¡¯s glowing eyes narrowed as he approached the witches, their forms huddled together beneath the twisted roots of the colossal tree. The storm¡¯s fury raged around them, the rain slashing sideways as the wind tried to carry him into the dark, rushing waters. His boots sank into the mud with each step, but the squelch was drowned out by the relentless hammering of the rain. He towered over the women, his presence casting a dark shadow in the faint light of their mushrooms that made their already pale faces drain of what little color remained. So much for them seeing me as a lovable guardian, he ruefully thought, a pang of guilt surfacing briefly before being buried under the weight of his mission. ¡°Hands on the tree,¡± War commanded, his voice low but carrying the weight of an ironclad order. ¡°Don¡¯t move, or I¡¯ll rip off your fingers, one by one, and I don¡¯t want to do that.¡± The witches hesitated, but Isabella was the first to move. She was the leader here, the one who had the nerve to speak when the others faltered. With trembling hands, she pressed her palms against the rough bark of the tree, and the others quickly followed suit, their eyes wide with terror, looking to her for guidance. ¡°W-We don¡¯t have anything here to do much to you," Isabella stammered, her voice shaking as she tried to maintain some semblance of composure. ¡°Our ingredients¡­they were ruined by the storm¡­ We aren¡¯t a threat, I promise. Please don¡¯t¡ª¡± War cut her off his bright eyes within his helmet no doubt coming off as a sharp glare to them, his hand tightening around the hilt of his claymore making them flinch and whimper. ¡°You don¡¯t need to talk. Just do as I say.¡± Isabella¡¯s mouth snapped shut, her eyes dropping to the ground. War felt a brief flicker of pity. The Empress didn¡¯t want them in this position¡­ They were supposed to be safe in the back, yet Jennifer, you had to use them as bargaining chips, and to steal the Empress¡¯ loyal people because you can¡¯t create your own at such a caliber needed to stop me. He worried if they were close to breaking entirely; the women may have built up a more solid foundation in the past few months, but this storm was something else¡ªlike what he heard they¡¯d come into when first arriving in this world, only without the protective barrier the Plant Callers and Aileen had crafted to weather the hurricane. The storm roared louder, a bolt of lightning striking a nearby tree, splitting it in half with a deafening crack. The thunder followed, shaking the ground beneath their feet, and the witches flinched, their knees buckling as they struggled to stay upright, tears leaking down their faces. This storm is getting out of hand, War mused, casting a glance up at the dark, churning sky through the thinned canopy, branches torn from trunks providing a partial view of the impenetrable blanket of gray above. The wind was fierce enough to peel the bark off trees, the rain a relentless assault that made him think this had to be unnatural. It was practically a hurricane now, a force of nature unleashed upon the Xaltan. He turned his attention back to the witches, his focus narrowing to the task at hand. ¡°If you want to live, don¡¯t move.¡±This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Without another word, War jumped up to the branches where the Xaltan had been keeping guard, cutting one of the ropes binding Zargoth in his suspended position, being beaten by the raging elements that inflamed his open wounds, bindings cutting deep into his wrists, ankle and chest. The main line cut, he jumped toward him, cleaving another thread to loosen him on the left side, allowing Red to carry him to the rapid waters below. Landing in a stream that had swollen with the flash flooding. The liquid rushed around them, waist-deep and icy cold, but War¡¯s strength held firm with [Immovable III], his feet planted as he made his way to the raised area where the witches were gathered. The chief was heavy, his body weak and sluggish from the strain of captivity, the rapids crashed around them, battering against his frame and making him groan. War hoisted him over his shoulder without effort, continuing until out of the surging waters to lean him against a tree and cutting the remaining cords to crouch beside him. ¡°Can you still fight?¡± he asked, his voice raised to be heard over the crashing waves while peering out at the apocalyptic scene. ¡°I doubt your people will last forever in this kind of storm, even with your natural adaptation, and it only appears to be getting worse.¡± Zargoth¡¯s breath came in labored gasps, his eyes half-lidded as he struggled to focus. ¡°My limbs¡­they¡¯re not doing well but it is the voice¡­the voice in my mind that keeps me shackled¡­¡± War¡¯s vision narrowed, centering on Jennifer¡¯s bright red handprint burned into the chief¡¯s chest, the flaming eye at its center seemingly having a life of its own. ¡°It¡¯s¡­degrading my ability to stand¡ªto think¡­ It feeds me images of something¡­something terrifying beyond my sight¡­ A dead abomination, seeking souls to be reborn¡­for my soul to join her.¡± His voice was a rasp, raw from the strain. ¡°But¡­give me five minutes¡­ Haha. I should be able to work enough blood back¡­into my limbs, and get the willpower to combat it. I could at least wield a blade. Can you¡­free the other Firewalkers, or is our window for escape too narrow?¡± War¡¯s lips curved into a grin, the feral edge of battle creeping back into the seasoned warlord¡¯s voice as he gained a second wind. He wasn¡¯t chief of the Roxim for nothing. ¡°You¡¯ll have plenty of time since¡­¡± Red paused and cast his gaze toward a small wave that crested the edge to wash over their feet before returning to the rapids. His tone laced with dark humor, he held out a hand to steady Beatriz, crying out with panic as it cycled, pulling her with the tide. ¡°I think they¡¯ve got their own problems with flooding in their caves where they keep their precious eggs and resources¡­ I figure that is where Jennifer has focused the efforts of the other witches in order to reach whatever she¡¯s searching for before it¡¯s submerged.¡± ¡°I like the spirit. But first, I want you to try something¡­ Can you burn the mark on your chest with your fire?¡± Zargoth¡¯s tired eyes widened in surprise, a strained smile splitting his torn lip, long tongue exiting to show wounds all along its length while wetting his throat. With a groan, he forced himself to his feet, his movements clumsy. ¡°I won¡¯t know until I try¡­¡± Using a small break in the rising tide, Zargoth spun in an awkward circle, attempting to reach the required movement to summon the flames his Mysticism required. A weak flash of fire ignited around his palm, flickering like a candle that could be blown out at any moment. Gritting his teeth, Zargoth pressed the flame against the eye on his chest, his flesh searing under the heat as water coursed over his smooth skin. He didn¡¯t flinch, didn¡¯t cry out¡ªonly a weak chuckle shook his body as War steadied him. ¡°It worked,¡± Zargoth breathed, his voice a whisper of relief. ¡°She¡¯s no longer in my head.¡± ¡°Perfect. Do the same with the three witches. Strip them if you need to find the marks, and free your people in the prison¡­ I¡¯ll find some way to do the same to the other witches when I find them.¡± War started to enter the gale, his mind already shifting to the next phase of his plan, but Zargoth¡¯s voice stopped him. ¡°Where are you going, Red? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to reunite with the Empress to form a solid assault?¡± War paused, turning back to the chief, his bright eyes gleaming with anticipation. ¡°She¡¯s on her way,¡± he said, his grin widening as he glanced at the tumultuous heavens. ¡°In fact, maybe this storm is her doing.¡± He laughed, the sound a rumble of dark amusement that mingled with the roar of the tempest. A thick branch was pulled along by the thickening currents, the vast Wandering River likely expanding all the way to their location. ¡°I¡¯m going to free the other witches under my protection and confront the true orchestrator behind our capture,¡± War continued, his voice growing more serious. ¡°Besides, I owe Jennifer my undivided attention. Do what you can for the girls and take them with you. Retreat into Clanless territory. Meet up with the Empress¡¯s forces or head to the Shattered Crystal base to report back to the Wixum camp. It was a pleasure serving with you, Chief.¡± Without waiting for a response, War turned and strode into the thick cloud of gray, the thumping of battle coursing through his veins. Ahead of him was an army of enhanced ri¡¯bot warriors, lurking in the shadows of their cavernous depths. Spinning his long blade around in a flourish, his laughter mixed with the thunder that split the sky. ¡°It¡¯s days like this that make me feel alive again.¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Elinor¡¯s boots hit the ground with a soft thud as she leaped down from Quin¡¯s hand, her slender frame landing gracefully on the damp soil. The Shattered Crystal base loomed ahead, nestled against the backdrop of towering trees that pierced the darkening sky, the canopy peeled back to the domed wooden fortress. Quin dropped the dusting corpse of a large creature she¡¯d used on the way to top off her leaking Death Energy reserves. The light gray clouds swirled above, rolling in from the northern peaks that had drawn them in to spread like ink over the valley, promising a simple rainstorm. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips, the memory of Fennel¡¯s final words surfacing in her mind¡ªJennifer¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t to best her here but to obtain a critical item buried within the Xaltan caves. That one bit of intel had changed all of her plans. The jungle around her was alive with the sounds of the night, the cacophony of insects and distant calls of nocturnal creatures adding to the tension felt in the air. Her father was on her other side, having met her along the way, standing tall and imposing, his frosty cold eyes sweeping over the expanded and refined forward base with approval. Valdar, looking winded and worn, followed closely beside her. His normally composed demeanor was strained, his breaths coming in shallow gasps as they approached the base. Elinor could sense the weight of his thoughts, though she didn¡¯t press him¡ªhe would speak when ready now that his time was drawing near. The light rainfall began as they passed through the opening gates, the stationed Plant Callers nodding respectfully as they entered the sanctum. The gentle patter of rain on the leaves outside created a soothing rhythm that contrasted sharply with the tension brewing within her. Inside, the sanctum was illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent moss that clung to the walls, casting a pale, ethereal light over everything. Camellia was already waiting, her excitement barely contained as she bounced forward to meet them. Zara was visible in the background, engaged in conversation with one of the White Witches stationed there. Elinor¡¯s gaze shifted to the wall where a th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone Tiffany had sent sat perched, another corpse they¡¯d found bound to its back ready to be raised, its unintelligent gaze fixed forward; it would have its uses shortly. ¡°I see you¡¯re going to raise another drone,¡± Camellia chimed, her bright eyes eager to feast on ri¡¯bot meat. ¡°We¡¯re heading out right away for the hunt, right? I can¡¯t wait to see what has become of my former home and devour those who would desecrate my mother¡¯s nest.¡± Elinor nodded, her thoughts already spinning ahead. ¡°In a moment¡­ The armies will close in and clean up what¡¯s left, but I don¡¯t plan on waiting for them, as I mentioned in my last communication. But first, I need to prepare a present for the Scarlet Hand¡¯s incessant hounding and transgressions.¡± Her father¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a cautious gleam entering his gaze. ¡°For your mother? What are you planning?¡± Elinor smiled, a secretive curve of her lips. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to ruin the surprise, Dad.¡± They moved through the sanctum, the atmosphere thick with the scent of wet earth and the steady hum of critters who had added to the internal ecosystem. As they approached the communication area, Zara stiffened, the young White Witch beside her was clearly nervous once realizing she was here. It was the first time she¡¯d met the 27-year-old woman in person. The brown-haired woman quickly bowed her head, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. ¡°Do you need to communicate with the others, Your Majesty? I¡¯ve strengthened the network to communicate for a short time between, umm, between all the channels, as instructed by The Queen.¡± Elinor bypassed the comment, her focus already narrowing in on the task at hand. ¡°I only need you to get in touch with Queen Tiffany. It should be quick.¡± As Zara hurried to comply and to support the witch, Quin poked her head through the open door, her fur slick with rain, curiosity gleaming in her eyes as she took in the scene. Ectria was patrolling outside, on-guard of any lurking threats or surprises the Xaltan tried to send their way if they had brainwashed some of their people. Everyone waited in silence as the ritual was activated, the skull on the communication platform lighting up with a soft, eerie glow. Moments later, Tiffany¡¯s voice came through, steady and calm. ¡°I hope everything is going well over there! I see those clouds, darling. Everything is on track with solidifying the portal. No need to worry,¡± the witch reported, her tone lively and in heaven no doubt working and learning from the powerful hag. Elinor¡¯s gaze flickered with satisfaction as she turned to the red-haired spider lady beside her, a question already forming on her lips. ¡°Camellia, how bad would a storm have to be to flood your holes?¡± The disguised arachnid glanced to the side, doing a myriad of calculations in her head. ¡°That is my part of the jungle,¡± she said slowly. ¡°It would take a significant effort, despite me not caring that much for guarding against that, but it¡¯s doable. My younger sisters were more homebodies while I always roamed. ¡°That being said, Mother moved the primary nest there for her preparations to fight the big white ape. It should only be small sections that are reinforced, though, and it would be hard for me to break into her nest once covered.¡± Elinor chuckled softly, her mind whirring with possibilities and now realizing perhaps one element that was holding Jennifer up. ¡°Excellent,¡± she murmured, her attention shifting back to the communication device. ¡°Tiffany, I understand Countess Evelyn Autumn, our resident hag, has acquired quite the store of power from the Tempests in the Autumn line. Negotiate with our indentured ¡®guest¡¯ to whip up a storm over the Xaltan to flood the area. Red could use some cover to rescue the witches, I¡¯m sure, and it will provide the perfect surprise battering ram for our assault.¡± Zara exhaled a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding, visibly relieved at the shift in focus. ¡°Thank you, Empress. I hope my sister is okay.¡± Tiffany, however, wasn¡¯t as quick to celebrate, her voice becoming oddly strained and tinged with unusual caution. ¡°Mmm. Are¡­you sure about this, Empress? You know I¡¯m not one to deny a party! It¡¯s just¡­you¡¯re talking about using the Hag of the Everborne Marshlands. We haven¡¯t really, mmm¡­ How should I put this? Uh, tested how powerful she is¡ªespecially not her Tempest side, and a fully fledged Countess, as she posed as is¡­not something light, from what stories I heard when we were in the kingdom.¡± Elinor¡¯s eyes narrowed further with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s a perfect test then. I¡¯ll handle the rescue with an elite force. It¡¯s time Jennifer answers for the crimes she committed against us, and why not let Evelyn announce her presence to any other spying eyes that might be watching. I¡¯m sure it will make them reevaluate their decision to move against me.¡± Tiffany sighed, a sound that was half-concern, half-intrigue. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll take care of the negotiations. Happy hunting, Empress! I hope this doesn¡¯t get too out of hand¡­ My! What am I even saying? Yes, she does intimidate. What can I say?¡± The connection ended with the two witches nearby giving each other looks that asked, ¡®Who and what was this hag that could intimidate the Witch Queen?¡¯ Elinor turned to the entrance, her movements filled with anticipation while silently ordering the drone on the wall to follow her. Camellia, Valdar, and her father rallied behind her, Quin waiting by the door as she felt others drawing near. ¡°We¡¯re moving out as soon as Ash, Black, Grace, and Valentina meet up with us¡­ They¡¯re close.¡± As she strode towards the exit, the soft breeze of the gathering storm brushed against her face, her thoughts returning briefly to the raw display of power she¡¯d seen from the Great Houses, knowing that it had likely been child¡¯s play and mostly for show. They hadn¡¯t struggled in the least in their confrontation. How powerful is a Countess-level Tempest really in full on war? What levels can Castria get to on the other side? Oh¡­ The clouds started to darken, a loud crack of thunder streaking from the western side of the valley¡ªit came from the ground to strike the lulling gray. It seems our hag is moving faster than I thought¡­ We¡¯ll have to pick up our pace. She studied the swirling mass growing larger, darker, more ominous by the second, and a cold grin split her lips, recalling the moment she¡¯d witnessed her mother¡¯s death. Tonight, I¡¯m coming for you, Jennifer. You¡¯ve tempted Death, and I¡¯ve answered. I hope me knocking at the doors doesn¡¯t frighten you off¡­ But if anything, tonight, a certain yellow-skinned Xaria¡¯s head will be mounted on a stick. Elinor¡¯s heart chilled instead of quickened as she felt her two horsemen drawing near, stepped up to her drone to awaken the slumbering dead arachnid. She¡¯d need its senses to navigate the jungle, and she¡¯d only channel its spirit once she reached the river crossing¡­ She needed to squeeze every second she could out of the hour she had to use its powers. Watching the green butterfly land on the metallic corpse to spark an inferno, she turned her gaze onto the rain-soaked night, her gaze fixed on the sparks of electricity charging the atmosphere in thick, deafening roars. Her soul sang to be released, expanded to its limit. The storm clouds cycled into a tight cyclone that would soon unleash her fury as devastating tempest, and she hadn¡¯t even begun to reveal the horror she could unshackle. This is what I¡¯ve built, Jennifer. Bluff by bluff, negotiation and strengthening my soul every day¡­risking my life every step of the way¡­ You asked for war. This is how I do war. B4 — 8.5. A Swampy Threat The storm raged outside, the roar of wind and rain crashing against the silken barrier that the Xaltan had erected to shield the cave entrance. Water still sloshed against the ground and walls, breaking past the first deterrent. Only the single human witch at the mouth of this branching tunnel kept the liquid out, more water surging in with each relentless gust. The human was frantically trying to keep the enchantment intact, despite her pants and shaky frame, soaked from the initial flash flood that had struck. Dalria could feel the air hum with the strain of her spellwork. Even inside, the damp cold seeped into Dalria¡¯s bones. This isn¡¯t natural. It came from nowhere, she internally snarled, glancing to her right to see more young bloods running between multiple tunnel intersections with goods in hand. Why wasn¡¯t I included in this ritual or plan Jennifer and the Xaltan are doing? We had everything under our control, and then¡­this happened, and Jennifer freaked out. What is happening?! Her chest ached¡ªa sharp, stinging pain that throbbed. She absently brushed her fingers over the crimson mark of the Scarlet Hand, tracing its jagged edges as though trying to smooth the sensation. It didn¡¯t help. ¡°Punishment¡­¡± The thought flitted through her mind before she could stop it, almost making her long tongue ball up in her throat; a creeping whisper she had no desire to listen to. Revilla¡­ Jennifer must have not done something right. Is that why she¡¯s panicking and brought most of the witches back to her? No¡ªdon¡¯t show me! She squeezed her eyes shut, but the vision clawed its way to the forefront¡ªshapeless flesh writhing and twisting in a mass of blood and viscera, rolling over itself again and again until a single, massive dead eye was revealed and pinned her naked soul in place. ¡°Convince them into the ritual or suffer amalgamation.¡± Her breath hitched, and cold sweat broke out across her skin. She jerked her hand away from her chest, as if that would silence the brand¡¯s voice, but the sensation lingered, gnawing at the edges of her sanity. It wasn¡¯t for her, the message was for Jennifer. In the dim light of the cave, Dalria¡¯s gaze snapped to a Xaltan young blood running toward her from the deeper tunnels. The boy¡¯s eyes were wide, darting nervously between the witches and the swirling storm outside. She stepped in front of him, blocking his path with a sharp, commanding tone. ¡°What¡¯s happening inside? Why have all the Xaltan Elites been called back?¡± The boy skidded to a halt, waving his hand in confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Xaria. I was told to guide a guest who should be arriving soon. They need him inside immediately¡ªa nalvean.¡± ¡°A nalvean guest?¡± Dalria''s frown deepened. ¡°Jennifer didn¡¯t tell me anything about¡­¡± The storm''s ferocity seemed to lessen for a heartbeat, and then, to the shock of everyone at the open tunnel, the water stopped and the furious wind died down. The witch who had been struggling with keeping the water out of this hallway sagged in relief, her shoulders dropping as the enchantment held steady without her constant effort. Dalria¡¯s instincts flared. She stalked toward the entrance, her sharp gaze searching the swirling mists outside for any sign of the cause. The water that had been threatening to flood the cave now shimmered, unnaturally still, then parted. A shadow loomed out of the fog, massive and deliberate. As it entered the downward slope of the cave, Dalria made out the shape of an unusual, metal platform¡ªa large, floating mass that seemed to fill the mouth of the tunnel perfectly, with dark cloth draped over something bulky at its center. Symbols glowed faintly across the edges of it, etched in a language she couldn¡¯t read but knew from only one source¡ªthe White God¡¯s colossal fortress gates and walls. Three nalveans stood upon the slow-moving vehicle, their regal postures contrasting starkly with the chaotic landscape that continued to rage outsides. At the head was a figure draped in fine silks, his scales shone in shades of bright green and gold, glistening under the blue flames burning on all four corners of the platform. His expression was one of calm confidence and curiosity, his eyes tracing the contours of the cave with an appraising look, his voice aged and tinted with fascination. ¡°The exact same¡­ Perfectly symmetrical and down to a mathematical genius. Truly, extraordinary creatures.¡± Dalria felt the prickling sensation of being scrutinized when his gaze landed on her, lingering a moment too long to be casual as the witch watched from her kneeling position, petrified. ¡°Xaria Dalria, as I have been told,¡± the nalvean''s voice was rich, a smooth baritone that carried easily across the storm-muted air. ¡°I assume you will be the one to guide me into this¡­remarkable place? It is good I came when such a novel storm has broken out across your humble valley.¡± There was something unsettling in his tone, as though he was sizing her up, measuring her worth, but not her physical attributes but her very soul. Dalria straightened her back, glaring up at the nalvean without faltering. ¡°That¡¯s correct. I¡¯ll take you to the Elder Chief. He¡¯s expecting you. How should I address you.¡± The Xaltan young blood opened his mouth, likely to correct her and assert his given duty, but Dalria cut him off with a sharp gesture and gave him a pointed stare. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± She had to understand what was really going on because Jennifer was floundering and for some reason, this mysterious nalvean had not only answered her call, but managed to arrive in a time that should be impossible. The nalvean¡¯s lizard-like mouth curled into a predator¡¯s smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Good. And you can address me as the Grand Designer. I have long awaited the opportunity to meet Elder Chief Varnak in person. It is rare to be welcomed into a th¨¦lm¨¦thra nest. I¡¯ve only had samples sent to me by the Elder Chief¡­but I believe this visit will be far more enlightening now that the storm is at the gate, I suppose you could¡ªoh?¡± Dalria¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. Her grip tightened on her spear as a low rumble shook the ground beneath her feet, the tremor accompanied by a distant, haunting horn. It blared throughout the valley, a deep, resonant note that made the nalvean¡¯s smile falter. She¡¯d only heard stories about it from Chief Krava¡¯s feet as a little girl. The horn that had only blown twice in his long life: when the th¨¦lm¨¦thra had attacked the White God and when the Avana blotted out the heavens, bringing fire on its wings to incinerate half the valley and slay the quen¡¯talrat Silver Queen. The Grand Designer¡¯s narrowed eyes flicked toward the tunnel¡¯s entrance. ¡°What is this? The White God¡¯s warning signal¡­ Something only he could have faced, warning his people to leave it to him. Hmm. I do hope that isn¡¯t meant for the enemy marching against the Xaltan at this moment. Perhaps we should move along¡­ Interesting.¡± He chortled and glanced between his hollow-eyed companions, looking totally dead to the world. ¡°That being said, I¡¯ve brought nothing that could match a threat on the White God¡¯s level¡­¡± Dalria¡¯s gaze narrowed, her throat going dry. She¡¯d been excluded from Jennifer¡¯s inner circle for too long, kept on the fringes like an outsider while her clan¡¯s fate was decided behind closed doors. If something was happening, she needed to know. Now. She didn¡¯t wait for the nalvean to follow her, spinning on her heel, mind racing. Something on the White God¡¯s level? Impossible. If another threat of that magnitude is on Elinor¡¯s side¡­ We¡¯re doomed. Stepping forward into the cave, her focus locked ahead as the wind howled behind her, echoing down the tunnels like the wails of a torlim female in heat. The storm, once a ferocious assault against the Xaltan¡¯s protective barrier, now ebbed slightly, though its presence lingered, threatening to surge once more. The water pooled at her feet again, forcing the witch girl at the entrance to groan in renewed frustration. The human¡¯s voice broke into a harsh, whispered incantation, trembling as she resumed her desperate attempt to hold back the flood. Dalria didn¡¯t spare her a glance. There was something bigger happening. She¡¯d already devoted herself to the Scarlet Hand, so why was she shut out now? Haven¡¯t I proven myself by killing Elinor¡¯s mother, allowing the Whispering Shadow to attack her? And somehow it failed. I¡¯ll have to tell Chief Krava about that when he returns. She moved deeper into the labyrinth, considering Jennifer¡¯s rapid change in attitude the moment she heard a lightning strike come from the storm clouds; it wasn¡¯t unusual during the rainy season, yet it had shaken her in a way nothing else had thus far. Jennifer didn¡¯t plan for this¡ªRevilla didn¡¯t warn us¡­ No one somehow saw Elinor¡¯s next move coming. But why wasn¡¯t I brought into the counter plan? She clenched her mouth tight, grinding her outer teeth against her skin, her fingers curling into fists as the slippery stone floor shifted underfoot. The Scarlet Hand throbbed faintly at her chest, the reminder of Revilla¡¯s gnawing hunger in her mind. Why does it feel like every step I take leads me further from the truth¡­when Revilla showed me the truth? My insignificance. That it¡¯s pointless to fight her. How can Elinor frighten her? I don¡¯t understand why we can¡¯t just kill the dirt licker instead of dancing around the human! We have to cripple her, but not kill her. Why? Ahead, the cavern widened into the main chamber. The dull flicker of torchlight illuminated the surreal sight that unfolded before her: symbols etched into the ground in intricate patterns, interwoven with materials from the jungle she only half recognized¡ªscraps of metal, fragments of bone, and something that glimmered like cracked stardust. However, it was the bodies that stole her paralyzed brain. Massive metallic corpses, their cold, lifeless, eight-legged forms spaced with eerie precision, surrounded by Xaltan Elites and Xaria, who stood motionless, their eyes closed, muttering in a low, rhythmic chant. Her heart froze a beat at the sight of Chief Noklan, knelt reverently before a towering th¨¦lm¨¦thra, larger, more bulky than the rest. The creature¡¯s black exoskeleton gleamed under the dim light, dwarfing even the shiny-skinned ri¡¯bot that surrounded it. The symbols etched into the stone by the overworked human women connected to every Xaltan, material, and body in a large, interconnected web, creating an unsettling aura that twisted Dalria¡¯s stomach. The human witches¡ªpale, gaunt, and soaked with sweat¡ªscrambled around the chamber, their eyes darting from their tasks to a figure standing in a corner: Jennifer. The cult leader¡¯s face was flushed, her brow furrowed as she barked orders between frantic glances at the complex diagrams she had sketched on animal hide. Her fingers trembled as she gestured to the scattered artifacts, pushing the human witches to complete their part of the ritual. Dalria¡¯s feet moved before her mind caught up. What is this? Why are they surrounding those¡­things? Is this a mass ritual to give them more powers from the th¨¦lm¨¦thra? Her gaze snapped toward the outer ring of the design. There, lined up with eerie precision, were hundreds of large, black, metallic eggs. They pulsed faintly, as if alive, waiting for something¡ªwaiting for what? ¡°Grand Designer Jumi''kerune.¡± The deep voice of Elder Chief Varnak pulled her out of her stupor. She blinked, her eyes shifting to the elder as he stepped forward, but not for her. His expression was grim, his posture tense. He stared at the nalvean, hovering behind her, now fully within the chamber. ¡°We are fortunate you could arrive on such short notice.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Jumi''kerune smiled faintly as he descended from the platform. Water swirled beneath him, forming a solid disk that carried him gracefully across the chamber floor. His bright green scales shimmered under the torchlight, his regal posture and calm demeanor a stark contrast to the chaos around them. ¡°Fortunate indeed,¡± Jumi''kerune said, his voice smooth but laced with curiosity. His eyes flicked over the symbols, the bodies, the witches, before landing on the Elder Chief. ¡°I see things are¡­dire, to say the least. The horn sounded for the third time.¡± ¡°You know the Ques¡¯k¨¢ prophecy after the death of the White God,¡± the elder ri¡¯bot mumbled, shifting his posture to stare at the giant dead creature in front of his son. ¡°When the horn sounds for a third time, the ri¡¯bot valley clans will be no more. We were warned it would sound, and she was right.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune adjusted his silk with a more dismissive grunt than his tone had given earlier, and Dalria saw Jennifer catch sight of them, her shoulders sagging with relief. ¡°Despite the Ques¡¯k¨¢¡¯s inevitable strength as a species and leading power of the known world, I am doubtful of their¡­speculations. It isn¡¯t hard to predict that when a threat on the White God¡¯s level comes, disaster will follow. Now¡­¡± He turned his gaze back to the Elder Chief with an eager grin, making a hand gesture that was for politeness within their culture. ¡°This ritual, Chief Varnak¡ªwhat exactly is its purpose? The message you sent spoke of unique magic, something capable of altering fate itself. Can such power truly cheat what is foretold by the Ques¡¯k¨¢? I certainly hope so because I grow weary of their preaching.¡± Varnak¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°We don¡¯t have another choice, Grand Designer. You see the power that the dead human Elinor commands. We are under assault. Jennifer was the one who warned us the horn would sound soon. She was right.¡± Dalria stiffened at the mention of Jennifer. The woman was now striding toward them from the far end of the chamber, her hair plastered to her face, her soaked clothing clinging to her thin frame. There was something off about the way Jennifer moved compared to her usual controlled persona¡ªsubdued, almost defeated¡ªyet there was that damned smile on her face, one that didn¡¯t match the situation. A chill ran down Dalria¡¯s spine as she approached, yet Jumi¡¯kerune didn¡¯t appear impressed, his tone playful yet cold. ¡°For someone who commands such respect from you, she certainly doesn¡¯t give off the best impression. Look at her¡ªsoaked, ragged, unsightly.¡± His clasped hands at his front tightened with disapproval, which was exactly in-line with what Dalria had been told about their rule-centric and fashion obsessed culture. ¡°Perhaps I could offer her a more fitting appearance.¡± His eyes gleamed with amusement as he turned back to Varnak, ignoring her. ¡°If this human manages to do what you promised, I will have many questions and far more resources to provide her.¡± Dalria¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. How does he know¡­? Her thoughts stumbled, her mind racing. How does he know about humans? I suppose they had to bait him here with something big. Is she bringing in the Nalvean Empire to fight with us, or is this more isolated and inside the shadows? She swallowed hard, her hand moving unconsciously to the mark on her chest. The Scarlet Hand felt like it was burning into her skin, the creeping presence of Revilla scratching at the edges of her thoughts. Jennifer¡¯s approach slowed, that smile never leaving her face. ¡°Grand Designer,¡± she greeted, her voice sweet, yet laced with something darker. ¡°I trust your trip wasn¡¯t too arduous, given the weather? I suppose your formidable technology and powers proved helpful in braving the storm. You arrived just in time.¡± Dalria¡¯s hand tightened around the shaft of her spear, her knuckles white. Every word from Jennifer grated against her nerves. I don¡¯t trust her. She¡¯s playing us all¡ªand for what? I know I can¡¯t fight her. I know Revilla is inevitable. Yet, I¡¯m having doubts the longer Elinor is able to counter. Why does it feel like we¡¯re always the ones on the run and a step behind? This was supposed to be our big victory. Varnak¡¯s hard eyes gestured toward the ongoing ritual. ¡°This magic,¡± he began, voice low, ¡°is our last hope. The valley clans are doomed if we fail. We do this not only for ourselves¡­but for our species. The third horn signifies the end, and we must do everything in our power to stop what is coming¡­even if it feels forbidden.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s lips curled into a thoughtful smile. ¡°How very¡­quaint. Forbidden things tend to be the most interesting..¡± He chuckled softly, but his focus flicked toward Jennifer with a calculating glint. ¡°Perhaps our dear human knows more than she lets on. Word is, you¡¯re in a bit of a bind.¡± Jennifer met his gaze evenly, but for the first time, Dalria saw a flicker of something beneath the surface¡ªuncertainty, perhaps fear. ¡°I assure you, should you provide the final ingredients I need, then I can help your lord gain ground he hasn¡¯t been able to achieve since Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma¡¯s venture to the north.¡± ¡°Big words for such a tiny, unsightly creature,¡± the famous nalvean mused, his platform rising on its own to give him a better view of the ritual¡¯s design. ¡°I will say that whatever higher being is granting you knowledge¡­they certainly do have excellent taste.¡± Holding out his hand to the right, he made a few complex gestures, speaking in the true nalvean language of body movement that she hadn¡¯t learned. One of his dull-eyed companions moved to the cloth covering and took it off, revealing a glass case full of thousands of items. ¡°I brought a few extra things, just in case, but you only wanted the runic soul disruptor? Why?¡± Jennifer¡¯s nerves seemed to settle as he held out his palm for his assistant to extract one a black needle and hand it over; if Dalria was to guess, these nalveans no longer had their minds in-tact to do anything but act as the Grand Designer¡¯s puppets. The cult leader giggled, and held herself tall. ¡°I know you¡¯re cautious about me knowing so much about your, hmm, how should I say it¡­ Non-sanctioned operations within your homeland. You¡¯ve called me out already, being a follower of a higher being, as you are¡­ I need resources, and you need influence in the southern islands¡­ Influence I can provide. Care to follow your curiosity?¡± she finished, holding out her hand with a bright smile. Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s eyes narrowed, a deadly gleam in them that Dalria would have rejected on the spot, and without a doubt, the Grand Designer could easily kill all of them if he wanted. Yet, he reached down and dropped the needle in her open palm. ¡°What would you do if you didn¡¯t have these humans? I¡¯m told it is unlikely that you will keep them?¡± Jennifer breathed out a hot puff of air while gesturing over to one of the lead witches, handing it to the woman with a sickly sweet grin; she hated the way human mouths twisted¡ªit was so unnatural to her with all their teeth, unsettling. ¡°Rylee, we need to do this now. Use this at the¡ª¡± Her vision clouded over, making Dalria¡¯s muscles tighten; she knew the signs of Revilla¡¯s messages. When her eyes cleared, tears fell from her eyes and she looked up at the Grand Designer as if he were her savor. ¡°You have Jade Fire with you?¡± The lizard¡¯s frame shook with silent laughter. ¡°A very dangerous thing to ask for within the nalvean lands, human. The fire that cannot be extinguished and that burns the very bedrock¡­ And tell me, what will Jade Fire do for your¡­magic?¡± Jennifer didn¡¯t skip a beat as the unsure human witch glanced between them, waiting for her ¡®empress¡¯s¡¯ command. ¡°It will be our power source instead of the lives of the women. And I won¡¯t need them for the next plan. Their work will be done¡­ The ritual will be done immediately.¡± Rylee¡¯s shoulders slumped with relief at the promise of relief, unknowingly serving the very enemy with their blood, sweat, and tears. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I¡¯ll get everyone ready, Empress. We can¡¯t last much longer at our current strength. Is¡­Queen Tiffany returning soon?¡± Jumi¡¯kerune responded by performing another wordless gesture, and the nalvean servant gingerly opened a larger separator in the glass container, pulling out a tiny vile that was mixed with layers of what looked to be minerals of all colors, and a tiny green gemstone nestled at the bottom. He handed it to Rylee, Jennifer gesturing for her to the center of the ritual, where Chief Noklan was still whispering his mantra. ¡°Queen Tiffany will return soon enough¡­ Now, place it unbroken on his lap as the main focal point and repeat the incantation I gave you. It must be precise. The chant will be easy with the flame as the fuel. All you need to do is follow Queen Tiffany¡¯s instructions. I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Yes, Empress!¡± Dalria¡¯s crossed arms tightened against her front as Jennifer turned to her for the first time and directed her into an empty circle in a corner, right in back of the giant metal arachnid in the center of the cavern¡ªthe one Chief Noklan sat in front of. ¡°You wanted action and to prove your worth, Dalria? How would you like to have the chance to kill Elinor and make your chief proud?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll allow me to kill her?¡± she asked, somewhat taken aback as the call for action swelled within her breast; standing around and guarding Jennifer all the time was frustrating and gave far too many chances to allow Revilla to claw at her brain. ¡°I can go into battle? And¡­what will the ritual do to me?¡± She didn¡¯t want to squirm under the cult leader¡¯s appraising stare, but it was hard not to when Jennifer and Jumi¡¯kerune gave her the same unsettling stare. ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know. But Revilla has now shown me that you were to take the crowning position instead of Elder Chief Varnak. The Elder Chief has more secrets to show us before we depart, so I need you to buy as much time as¡­¡± Jennifer paused as the young blood who was supposed to guide the Grand Designer came running into the room. ¡°Enemy¡ªsurrounded in ruby armor that burns like fire! It¡¯s charging through the outer forces with an army behind him!¡± ¡°Tch.¡± The woman¡¯s smile waned for a moment before turning that sickly grin on her one last time. ¡°Well, I think it¡¯s your time to shine and I¡¯ll give you power that will make Chief Krava proud¡­ You will become great.¡± Dalria felt goosebumps crawl up her arms. Am¡­I not already great? Isn¡¯t that why I¡¯ve been guarding you this whole time? She stifled a grunt as the palm print on her chest flared, an unholy whisper caressing her brain as the supple, husky voice of Revilla scarred her soul. ¡°Ride forth as my champion to meet Elinor¡¯s¡­ Show everyone the strength of the Komath. You are not a coward.¡± No¡­ I¡¯m not. Somewhat confused by her own response, she stumbled forward a few steps before catching herself and completing the journey. Elinor¡¯s panicked, weak face upon seeing her mother¡¯s death resurfaced. I should have ended it then. This time, I won¡¯t be held back. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Jennifer watched the weak-willed Xaria stumble off to perform her mission, unease biting at her chest as if a swarm of bed bugs were groaning at her flesh, Revilla¡¯s message digging into her marrow. Her gaze shifted to Jumi¡¯kerune as he hovered beside her, the impressive nalvean picking apart her ritual with keen observational intelligence and the whispers of his benefactor breathing into his ear. Elder Chief Varnak calmly watched from beside them, knowing why he¡¯d been selected to stay but looking uncertain if he should take them to their holy of holies¡ªthe place not even his son knew about, now open after excavating the collapsed tunnel the Avana¡¯s rampage had collapsed. ¡°Are you impressed, Grand Designer?¡± ¡°By the ritual? Mmm.¡± He snorted and tilted his gaze toward her. ¡°Not particularly in itself. I can see portions of my own old research in it and its consequences. Now, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra being the target is certainly of interest to me. It is too rushed in my opinion, though.¡± ¡°But,¡± she pressed, ¡°it will certainly provide a temporary form of resistance and incredible threat, no?¡± ¡°¡­We will see how their souls adapt with the runic technology involved. I¡¯ve only performed these types of surgeries on individuals I am very well acquainted with after years of spiritual study in their development. Your method is as crude as your appearance. And you intend to give the humans back¡­and alive at that? A waste of resources.¡± Jennifer¡¯s soft laughter shook her body as she watched the mind controlled witches started their ritual, the hum of potent magic making the very earth tremble around them. ¡°Elinor brought something back with her from the other dimension she went to¡­ Something she shouldn¡¯t have that sounded that horn and changed the rules of the game. We have to adapt, and she won¡¯t be a fan of you, Jumi¡¯kerune¡­¡± She paused, swallowing the lump that formed in her throat while feeling Revilla¡¯s bloody tendrils wrapped around her neck. ¡°Elinor is a being of pure focus and willpower. If I kill her witches, then she¡¯ll hunt me down as a priority. She¡¯ll have to if I dispose of her citizens. And I can¡¯t afford that attention with the creature she brought back with her¡­ I can¡¯t risk Elinor freeing that thing from her control to get to me. Not yet.¡± ¡°Aww. No need to be so guarded, dearie.¡± Jennifer¡¯s chest tightened as cackles rang in her head, shifting between a tone of venomous honey to a cloud that offered the world. ¡°I¡¯m not as bad as your silly dead ball of flesh seems to think. I can be quite the fun partner, if you¡¯ll accept my proposal.¡± It was exactly as Revilla warned her; Autumn was far too wild and unpredictable. Elinor had brought something incredibly primordial and dangerous to a world with secrets she could use to upend everything, and she¡¯d brought her swamp with her. I¡¯d rather not deal with a hag¡­ I¡¯m not stupid enough to think I could outsmart you. The question is, how did Elinor? ¡°Shame. Maybe you should ask her. But it¡¯s cute seeing you sacrifice useless pawns now that they¡¯ve served their purpose. We could be friends, you know. In any case, I think I¡¯m done being a little storm cloud. So, you better run, run, run, little rabbit¡­ The wolves are on their way. Good luck. I¡¯m rooting for you. Hehehe.¡± Trying to wet her parched throat, Jennifer watched as the emerald flames lit, spreading across the blood patterns. Yet, instead of the supernatural flames instantly burning them to ashes, it was channeled by the complex ritual into fuel, providing power she hadn¡¯t expected to have and allowing for far more potent effects than she¡¯d anticipated. A small smile twitched at the corner of her mouth as the massive th¨¦lm¨¦thra warrior drone and the workers spread around the large cavern twitched. Turning toward the area that had previously been collapsed, she strode forward with the hag¡¯s laughter fading into oblivion. ¡°We can¡¯t stall any longer; Elinor is on her way, Varnak. Tell your son to buy us as much time as he can but leave the humans alive¡­even if his hunger feels like it will eat a hole through his belly. We must go to the th¨¦lm¨¦thra queen¡¯s inner chamber. Take us there. Now.¡± B4 — 9.5. Trap Sprung The howling wind whistled through the trees of the ancient forest, battering the slick trunks and flinging the rain at an angle. Its intensity was gradually subsiding, something Red took careful note of from the rumbles of the distant thunder. The jungle floor was matted with thick mud, each step heavy as Red trudged forward without effort, given his Feats. His eyes glowed a deep crimson, his aura casting a faint light onto the waterlogged foliage. Steam hissed off his armor as the rain evaporated on contact with his rising body heat. The corpses of black-skinned ri¡¯bot lay shredded in his wake. Pulsing conflict tugged at his senses, drawing him deeper into the dense underbrush along the rushing waters of the raised river. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his claymore, the corner of his mouth twitching into a grin. Something is brewing below¡­ A challenge awaits a challenger. A flicker of movement from the shadows caught his attention. Without turning, War sensed the presence of a Xaltan warrior¡ªa shadow in the trees, swift and deadly. He tensed, ready for the ambush. Suddenly, the warrior leaped from the canopy without a sound in the hailing rain, his thread-like bindings lashing through the air. Reacting on instinct, he spun, his blade slicing through the wet silk with ease given his rising power, the force sending the frayed ends flying. The Xaltan barely had time to register his failure before the razor¡¯s edge cut clean through his body, to tumble into the underbrush for the insects to feast, unable to utter a word before his death. War laughed, his voice a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the jungle. ¡°Where are all your strongest warriors, Xaltan? I am bored of your Young Bloods, trembling in the shadows, toad,¡± his roar joining the rolling thunder. His eyes darted to another shadow in the trees, yet before he could strike, a bolt of fire shot out of the darkness, creating sparks as metal met metal. Chief Zargoth¡¯s blazing body brightened the former fortified mines, the clang of steel following as newly awakened Mystic collided with the Xaltan, their weapons clashing in a series of blows, sparks flying as fire danced in dazzling patterns. Red slung his blade over his armored shoulder, studying the short battle with calculating accuracy as the scarred chieftain and enhanced Xaltan Young Blood fought. His grin widened as Zargoth¡¯s fiery short sword cut clean through the Xaltan¡¯s throat, ending the exchange in a spray of steam and blood. The toad warrior crumpled, his body limp before it even hit the mud. War stepped forward, Zargoth landed beside him, breathing heavily, the rain sizzling as it evaporated from his flaming skin. ¡°You made your choice,¡± War said, glancing over Zargoth¡¯s wounds, noting the deep cuts on his wrists and ankles, the marks from where the threads had bound him. ¡°Can¡¯t say it¡¯s the smart decision.¡± Zargoth chuckled, rubbing the raw skin with a grimace. ¡°It seems I did.¡± ¡°You look like shit,¡± War added with a smirk. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be the first time,¡± Zargoth shot back, bouncing on his toes despite the pain and making Red shake his head at how things had changed between the Roxim and Empire. ¡°But I¡¯ve still got a fight left in me for what they did to my people.¡± War clapped him on the back, forcing a cough. ¡°Good to have you.¡± Around them, a dozen or so Mystic Fire Walkers descended from the trees, their bodies aglow with the same fiery Mysticism as Zargoth, the heat they generated turning the rain into vapor to swirl around them. War observed them appreciatively before turning back to Zargoth. ¡°An elite fighting force, as taxed as they are. It could be worse. Think you can do me a solid?¡± Zargoth wiped a streak of blood from his cheek, his expression one of grim determination. ¡°I owe you my life, and the life of my people. Name it.¡± War¡¯s gaze flicked toward the direction of the caves, where the lowering river was now retreating from. The witches were still bound by the control markers of the Scarlet Hand, their spirits twisted by Jennifer¡¯s foul deity. ¡°I know you want to see this through to the end, Chief,¡± he began, ¡°but if your Fire Walkers could focus on getting the witches out and burning those control markers, we¡¯ll call that debt even. Fair?¡± Zargoth hesitated, his eyes drifting toward his fatigued elite warriors, who were already preparing for the next fight, keeping their blood pumping with stretches. ¡°It¡¯ll be a hard thing, asking them not to use their Mysticism after just regaining our legacy. Hmm¡­ You¡¯ve got my word: the witches will be their priority.¡± War¡¯s grin returned, feral and sharp. ¡°Good. Now I can fight without holding back. I can feel the Empress getting closer¡­ The haunting chill her cold resolve brings. My brother and sister are drawing nearer, as well¡­ Death and Famine will be at our backs soon.¡± Zargoth adjusted his grip on his short sword, his face grim and without joy due to the humiliation and destruction the Xaltan had wrought on his people. ¡°You seem to know the way, War. We¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± Red nodded, his senses tingling as the pulse of conflict grew stronger, pulling him toward a dark opening in the hillside ahead. ¡°Prepare yourselves,¡± he warned, his voice low but charged with anticipation. ¡°There¡¯s a powerful enemy ahead. It¡¯s going to be a party.¡± The air around him crackled as his aura flared, the red glow of his fighting spirit enveloping him like a cloak. His eyes burned with a molten intensity, and his claymore shimmered in the dim light, the blade reflecting the red of his aura. Every movement he made seemed to leave a trail of steam in its wake on his path forward. ¡°Jennifer will sacrifice every last Xaltan to achieve whatever is hidden below and escape¡­ If you can get past whatever awaits us and attack her direction, do it.¡± Zargoth made a few clicks with his tongue, instructing his people on formation and orders regarding the witches, falling in lockstep with him. ¡°Leave you to die, if it completes the mission¡­ No complaints here.¡± The hurricane had tempered out, its roars now falling into a rolling thunderstorm . But the real storm¡ªthe one inside War¡ªwas only just beginning. A clever ambush and harsh prisoner treatment? No problem from him. However¡­manipulating loyal and hardworking women to his empress to fight the very person they served? Unforgivable. Together with Zargoth and the Fire Walkers, War advanced toward the cave, the sound of their footsteps drowned out by the sizzling rain and the rhythmic thrum of distant thunder. His grip tightened on the hilt of his claymore as the dark mouth of the cave loomed closer, and he cut down two more Xaltan lying in ambush. The pulsing sense of danger grew stronger with each step and War¡¯s smile widened upon reaching the dark interior. ¡°It¡¯s going to be one hell of a fight,¡± he muttered under his breath as an ominous wave of danger rushed up from within, his eyes gleaming as he prepared to face whatever waited for him in the darkness. ¡°Into hell we ride.¡± War¡¯s boots squelched in the soaked jungle floor as he pressed on, leading his elite force through the thick mist and rain that obscured their surroundings. His grip on the hilt of his claymore tightened as they approached the mouth of the cave, its entrance perfectly smooth, too mathematically carved to be natural¡ªit was a marvel, really. The atmosphere shifted, growing heavy, oppressive, as if the very air was resisting their approach, the tides of war shifting against him. A twinge of unease crawled down his spine, the first hint of something foreboding awaiting them. His crimson aura flickered, casting an eerie glow on the surrounding stone walls, water trickling down the carved surfaces in small streams. The sound echoed, mixing with the distant rumble of thunder and the faint patter of droplets hitting stone. Something¡¯s wrong¡­ Jennifer is hinging everything on whatever is hidden in these tunnels, so there should be barriers, opposition¡­but there¡¯s nothing. Just a hollow emptiness ahead. Not a flicker of conflict or battle awaiting as if all emotion vanished in an instant. ¡°Stay sharp,¡± War muttered, his voice barely a growl as he scanned the hallway upon stepping into the slow moving streams of the entrance. The smooth stone was polished with precision, as if someone or something had carved it with more precision than fine sandpaper and meticulous care. The flowing water winding along the floor reflected the faint light from his aura, creating shifting patterns on the slick walls that only added to the unease pulling at his core. Behind him, Zargoth¡¯s Mystics flanked the narrow passage, their flames glowing softly in the damp air. One of the Fire Walkers surged forward, his body poised to strike as they reached the only non-flooded branching hallway. Yet, War halted the moment he stepped over the threshold, his muscles tensing, his skin prickled. What is this feeling¡­ The Fire Walker bent down, his eyes narrowing as he inspected a faint marking on the ground with discarded, burned items. ¡°The human Gabriela¡¯s scent,¡± he whispered, his nostrils flaring as he stood. War¡¯s pulse quickened, his mind flashing to the witches under Jennifer¡¯s influence. ¡°Help!¡± ¡°Red! We¡­ Where are we?¡± ¡°Is that you, Red?!¡± War could hear faint cries ahead as if triggered the moment he¡¯d touched the branching hallway, a haunting sensation sending chills down his spine in a way he¡¯d never experienced. His jaw clenched, his heart thudding with the weight of their desperation. Jennifer¡¯s methods were more than just twisting the weak and using them as bait. This isn¡¯t a trap like before¡­ This is something real. The smile that had been playing on his lips had long faded, replaced by a grim determination. He turned to Zargoth, his voice low, but the authority in it unmistakable. ¡°Whatever lies ahead, I¡¯ll handle it. Get your Mystics to free the witches, burn those control markers, and I need you to go after Jennifer. I¡¯ll draw the attention of whatever is ahead.¡± Zargoth opened his mouth to protest, but War silenced him with a look. ¡°Chief, this isn¡¯t a negotiation. You¡¯re to get them out, leave me, and go after Jennifer. I don¡¯t know how much time I can buy you.¡± For the first time, an unsettling feeling gripped him as he turned back toward the silk-filled cavern ahead of them. Something beyond anything he¡¯d felt lay ahead¡ªsomething darker, and, without a doubt, it was more powerful than him. The air around the Fire Walkers grew more dense as they continued, following his lead. Red could see it, but it was there¡ªhe felt its hunger¡ªa shadow lingering just beyond the range of his senses. A heavy presence pressed against his chest, forcing him to pause, despite the cries of the witches for help. He placed a hand against his breastplate. I can feel it in my undead heart¡­that rare flicker of doubt, gnawing at me¡­ My death is up ahead. War¡¯s end. He swallowed hard, forcing down the anxiety that threatened to rise. There was no turning back. For the war to be won, sacrifices had to be made¡ªeven if it meant facing the one battle he could not win. His grip on his claymore tightened, the metal cool against his palm as he stepped forward, his aura pulsing brighter to encircle the ri¡¯bot warriors behind him. With every step, the air grew colder, more oppressive. The sound of distant water rushing through the lower tunnels filled his ears, along with the faint cries of the witches and the muffled clash of battle beside him. He could hear the Fire Walkers making quick work of the Xaltan warriors hiding in branching tunnels, cutting them down with swift, brutal efficiency. Yet War¡¯s gaze never wavered from the path ahead. He had one focus now¡ªthe nest. The hallway gave way to a large cavern, its center dominated by a massive structure of silk, threads woven into a complex web that spanned the entire chamber. At its heart, a group of women huddled together, their eyes wide with confusion and fear. They were trembling, clutching each other for support, unsure of why their empress had abandoned them as bait but too loyal to disobey. War¡¯s lips twisted into a grimace as he advanced, his thoughts flickering to something Elinor had told him on their journey to meet the Roxim: There is only one path for us, War¡ªthe way of the strong. No fear of death, only the fear of failing our duty. The words echoed in his mind, a reminder of the unyielding resolve that had brought them this far. He could feel the weight of his duty pressing down on him, the burden of his position pulling at his every step. But there was no room for fear, no time for doubt. He would follow the way of the strong, and press through the fire of doubt. As he approached the center of the cavern, a sudden chill ran down his spine. His eyes narrowed as the silk threads shuddered, the air around him growing unnaturally still. The hair on his arms rose, his every instinct screaming at him to run as th¨¦lm¨¦thra emerged from nowhere, surrounding them at every angle, their many legs clicking against the stone with a sickening rhythm unlike what he¡¯d heard described by Tiffany. Yet, one thing snatched his attention, the silk beneath him shifted like a living organism. Jennifer has th¨¦lm¨¦thra under her control? Shit. The witches¡¯ screams pierced through the cavern, his eyes narrowed, and without wasting a moment, War tightened his grip on his claymore. His aura flared, casting a blood-red light throughout the cave, filling the space with a frenzied force. The steel-like silk trembled under his feet.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°Move, or I¡¯ll cleave you down where you stand!¡± he roared, not to his enemies but to the Roxim Fire Walkers, who were momentarily stunned by the sight of the massive arachnids. ¡°Get the women out! Zargoth, I¡¯ll handle this!¡± His voice sparked them into action, their hesitation melting under the weight of his command. The Fire Walkers darted forward, weaving around the silk-wrapped chamber toward the human girls. But Red¡¯s gaze was locked on the largest th¨¦lm¨¦thra as it emerged from the silken nest above the witches. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Hssssss!¡± Steam erupted from its joints, many others doing the same, and in one swift motion, the creature lunged at him, its speed astonishing for its size. War raised his claymore in defense, meeting it head on. [Immovable III: Failed] What?! Hit with a force unlike anything he¡¯d expected, his feet slid across the slick stone, arms trembling under the spider¡¯s advancing, unstoppable force. His aura flared as he shouted, meeting its gaping maw and bracing for its giant, quivering fangs on either side of his arms, but it wasn¡¯t enough to stop the creature¡¯s momentum. War¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he was forced off the ground. The thing was somehow even stronger than it looked¡ªfar stronger. For a brief moment, it was as if the entire world slowed down, and he found himself flying backward with the arachnid carrying him with its flailing advance. His body slammed into the cavern wall, its twitching fangs somehow not cleaving him in two yet. The impact knocked the breath from his lungs, not that he needed it, but he didn¡¯t have time to react before the creature was on him again. Its jaws unhinged, the foul breath worse than Death¡¯s and gaping mouth hissed spittle that splattered his armor. In the next second, it sprayed out transparent ooze that mostly dribbled to the stone floor, yet a small stream splattered his right side, causing his metal to bubble¡ªacid¡ªmelting past his empowered defenses. Shit! This isn¡¯t good¡­ The acid is eating through my armor and skin. If it reaches my bone¡­ Keeping it at bay with all the strength he could muster, his eyes widened when his sword started to bend. Gritting his teeth, War planted his foot against its lower jaw, keeping himself braced against the wall and away from its thin, jewel-like teeth inside its mouth, as large as railroad spikes. He pushed upward to create just enough space to maneuver, flipping his freed blade sideways to use the flat of it to brace against the creature¡¯s sudden snap of its fangs. They struck, stopping them just in time from snapping around his torso¡ªthe stone behind him wasn¡¯t so lucky, fracturing under the pressure and being shaved away by the diamond-like fangs. The pressure was unbearable, his entire body vibrating from the force he exerted. Dammit¡­ This thing¡¯s strong. His muscles strained as he held the creature at bay, but he could feel his sword bending under the pressure. Instinctively, he knew something wasn¡¯t right with it, though; if it was this powerful, it should have dispatched him long before he was even aware of its presence, yet it was thrashing about as if in pain. If he timed it right¡ª In a split second, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra pulled back to snap its fangs again, more acid spraying out. War seized the opportunity. With a grunt of effort, he dropped beneath it as a cloud of noxious gas expelled from its mouth and dove through a gap in the falling liquid, tucking to roll upright. The creature slammed into the melting wall, breaking through into a secondary tunnel with a thunderous crash. War didn¡¯t have time to celebrate as heavy stones hit him in the collapsing tunnel, and he pushed himself up, stumbling out of the billowing cloud of debris. In shock, he lifted his left arm, half gone, armor, flesh, and bone replaced by a melting goo. Son of a bitch¡­ One arm down. And it¡¯s worse than I thought. Checking the damage in the cloud of dust that surrounded him, he realized part of his armor was bent, applying pressure to his spine and his sword was bowed from the force of the arachnid¡¯s fangs¡ªthat one wild charge had almost crippled him. Releasing his armor and weapons to repair them, his narrowed eyes shot up as he danced to the left, dodging a spear-like leg that cut through the haze, barely missing his torso. My left arm is done for, but I¡¯ll manage¡­ They¡¯re clumsy. I can win. The leg pierced the smooth stone floor like hot butter, throwing the th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone off-balance and giving him time to jump away. A pulse of ruby light returned his repaired sword and armor, his internal power taking a slight hit for the energy cost. His foggy eyes lifted, scanning the zone to get a feel of the battlefield, taking it in with a single sweep of the mayhem that had taken the cave. The Fire Walkers were moving the witches while trying to stay out of the way from the flailing spiders, the cries of the women still echoing through the chaos as they were carried toward the exit by force. The toads were racing to get the hell out of the chaotic storm that was dozens upon dozens of oversized tank-like spiders, thrashing about and stumbling toward Red¡¯s agitating aura. The silk that had once clung to the cavern like an oppressive fog was now ablaze, thanks to Zargoth¡¯s fiery assaults in trying to free the witches. The room shook as more of the th¨¦lm¨¦thra emerged from thin air, their jerky, erratic movements betraying their lack of coordination. Steam hissed from their joints, and some of them thrashed wildly, as though fighting against invisible enemies¡­or the very bodies they had been trapped in. Red¡¯s sharp mind took in the ritual that was uncovered from the writhing sea of silk; Xaltan Elite Warriors and Xaria were now withered husks within the circles and lines spanning the zone. The result was obvious. Jennifer had used the witches to create a ritual to put the Xaltan elites¡¯ spirits into th¨¦lm¨¦thra bodies. You mad zealot, War chuckled, the shock of the ambush wearing off as he dodged another wild swing from a drone that could go through him, armor and all. Obviously, th¨¦lm¨¦thra complex nerve systems and abilities are too much for them¡­ A missing arm is trouble, but I have a chance! One of the creatures lunged at him, its movements sluggish and uncoordinated. War sidestepped easily, right hand tightening around his hilt to deliver a slash with his claymore across its legs in one smooth motion. The blade hummed with his renewed focus, yet only sparks flashed as his blow was deflected: the exoskeleton was too strong for him to get through. The steel-like silk rising to entangle his legs¡ªit was too slow. Leaping away, he noticed the Fire Walkers now gone and their lingering fire somehow smothered by the shifting threads. Good. I can cut loose then. If they¡¯re exoskeletons are too hard¡­what about those cracked jewel-like eyes of yours? Red danced around two more that advanced, maneuvering to bait one to pounce on its comrade, spear-like arm breaking into its side and making his grin widen. That¡¯s it, boys! Work for me here. The creature screeched, collapsing in a heap of twitching limbs as if giving up because it certainly wasn¡¯t dead. Another th¨¦lm¨¦thra trampled over it, its legs flailing wildly. Yet, War¡¯s attention was on the one with a cracked eye, using its own awkwardly placed leg to jump onto its body, swinging his claymore in a wide arc to crush it¡ªseveral more cracks appeared. Not good enough! Again! This time using the blunt hilt of his weapon, it shattered, sending bright blue liquid pooling out as the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s legs curled, steam hissing out of them. Red swiftly repositioned, swinging his blade to connect with the creature¡¯s opened segmented front leg, slicing through at a fractured section in its armored joints¡ªtime hadn¡¯t been kind to them¡ªit cut clean through with a sickening crunch. The creature shuddered, its other legs giving out beneath it without the stability of its full legs as it crashed to the ground. But even as he flipped his blade around to sink it into the leaking eye socket, two more took its place¡ªhis claymore sunk halfway to its hilt, and still, it twitched and thrashed. No wonder every race feared these things! Abandoning his blade as steel-like thread shot out of the ceiling to grab him, it vanished in a pulse of light before returning to his right hand. They don¡¯t die and are tough as hell! Their movements were only growing more desperate and erratic, though, as if they were fighting the very air that surrounded them. War could see the fear in their jerky movements, the steam hissing from their bodies as they struggled to maintain their grip on reality. Panicking, War thought, his grin widening. Good. He held up his arms, his aura of conflict irritating the already fracturing consciousness of the Xaltan mutants. Their attacks had become more frantic, more dangerous to each other due to their size, disorganized¡ªconfused. War glanced toward the back of the cavern, where Zargoth was burning through a thick silken wall, his flames bright and hot. The chief¡¯s focus was unyielding, ignoring the battle, but even he was beginning to show signs of fatigue. I¡¯ve got to buy them more time. He turned back to the th¨¦lm¨¦thra, his eyes narrowing. There were still too many of them, their massive forms slowly building momentum and lumbering toward him, their gem-like eyes gleaming with a mix of desperation, rage, and pain. Red set his ground, his aura flaring once more, brighter than before to keep them on him instead of the chief. His claymore shimmered with renewed energy as he brought it up in a defensive stance. In that moment, the giant th¨¦lm¨¦thra that had crashed through the wall emerged again from an upward eruption of stone, its body writhing with anger. The silk around it shifted like misty tentacles, coiling and uncoiling as it raced over its comrades, trampling and breaking past the exoskeletons of those unlucky enough to stumble into its path, but it was growing more precise in its movements. War¡¯s grin returned, feral and sharp. ¡°Bring it on.¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Elinor¡¯s boots hit the soaked ground with a soft thud upon a hilly area along the Wandering River as she dismounted her father¡¯s sleek, obsidian-colored steed. The distant rumble of thunder echoed behind her, and her sharp gaze swept the scene. The once raging river was now calming, its surface less turbulent, yet the water was still choppy from the heavy storm that still lingered from the hag¡¯s display of raw power. She turned to look at her assembled forces, their focus unwavering and a forced smile twitching at the corner of her lips as, out of everywhere in the valley, a soft light that cut through the tumultuous black sky to illuminate their singular hill. Autumn, you are going to be trouble¡­ Her dad reigned in his horse beside her to cut the wind resistance, studying the bending landscape, his cloak billowing in the gales. He¡¯d been fairly silent for most of their journey, no doubt thinking about her uncorrupted mother¡¯s inevitable return. Camellia leaped down from Ash¡¯s horse, landing lightly on the muddy banks of the river with a small smile. Famine pulled up beside her as the curious spider¡¯s gaze followed the path of the flowing water before she glanced up at the flashing heavens, her deep crimson eyes holding a spark of curiosity. ¡°Riding across on a beast is very different from using silk to cross. We will have to try my method next time. Oh! Empress,¡± Camellia chimed, placing a hand on her hip before looking to the northwest. ¡°That sound from Ke¡¯Thra¡¯Ma¡¯s fortress¡­ It¡¯s not something we need to worry about, right? Mother was always interested in whatever the White Ape did.¡± Before Elinor could respond, a sharp wind rushed through the trees. Grace dropped down from the sky, his long, bound white locks swaying as he set a flushed Valentina onto the soaked grass. The tiger girl¡¯s breath was heavy, but she regained her composure quickly, her usual energy subdued as she straightened her back and shook out her soaked hair. ¡°Brrr! Sky walking, Grace?! How in the world¡ªnevermind. It¡¯s just cool,¡± she mumbled, her face going even more crimson as Quin emerged from the roaring waters, the giant gorilla child rising up the slope to meet them. ¡°What was that horn sound? It was louder than the thunder!¡± Grace chuckled but didn¡¯t speak, loosely leaning an arm against his sheathed blade before turning his full attention on her. Elinor¡¯s cold green eyes shifted toward the horizon, a dark smirk pulling at the corner of her lips as she exhaled slowly. ¡°Interesting. Yes. Concerning? Not something to focus ourselves with at this moment,¡± she replied calmly, her voice cutting through the pelting rain that slicked their skin and clothes. ¡°Autumn will certainly be a problem, eventually¡­¡± she voiced, looking up at the break in the clouds, where the hag likely observed, ¡°but that is another issue for another time.¡± Her thoughts briefly wandered to the Hag of the Everborne Marshlands, to the Tempest that could be unleashed with ease. The raw power that Autumn held was a wildcard¡ªa threat she had to monitor and keep track of. Well, Tiffany at least had to. That is the released power of a Tempest at the Countess¡¯ level¡­ Queen Alivau was seriously holding back when I embarrassed her in front of a hundred thousand of her citizens¡­ I''m still walking a tightrope in Kaspir. And if a Countess can do this¡­the King or Grand Duke could command hurricanes that could reshape the world on a scale I¡¯d rather not speculate at this point. She could feel the strain already building on Roman¡¯s plate as they pushed for the establishment of a more permanent portal between their realms. She needed something more solid, more secure¡ªa leash on Roman¡¯s ambitions to prevent the type of chaos they¡¯d witnessed from ever escalating on their side of that portal. Roman is very intelligent¡­a strategist of the highest level, who managed to get me involved in his antics. There¡¯s more to his Quest World than we currently are aware of, and I¡¯m sure he is withholding key information¡­because I¡¯d do the same. Shaking the thought aside, her focus returned to the present. Her new world needed to be rebuilt first, which brought her to the present. She tugged at the ethereal threads of the th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone she¡¯d brought, her fractured Nexus still capable of commanding her troops and speaking to them telepathically, if in range, that was. Its many eyes gleaming faintly in the rain, reaching them at what most would consider an alarming rate; Camellia had brought it across the river with them by attaching a string to it, its sleek form navigating the murky waters with little effort as far as she¡¯d been able to observe. The race was certainly well adapted to just about any environment. ¡°What do you command, Empress?¡± it asked, standing stalk still as it approached and Camellia circled it in her human form, soaked red locks sticking to her face with abandon. Burrow into the soil, Elinor ordered, her voice firm. It obeyed without hesitation, silk escaping its sack at its backside to form into a drill with its precise manipulations to bury itself. Within a matter of seconds, it had created a nest and used its silk to cover itself with the mud. Elinor was slightly amused by Camellia¡¯s unimpressed and judging glare. How would you rate the performance? The th¨¦lm¨¦thra princess bent down to poke at the mud with a huff. ¡°Slow. Inefficient. Inelegant. And that¡¯s by my very low standards compared to my little sisters, much less our mother. It¡¯s defective compared to what it should be, which is not my mother¡¯s doing¡­¡± Her eyes widened and she jumped up. ¡°Not that you are the reason for its¡ª¡± Chuckling to herself, Elinor shook her head and glanced around at her forces. No, it is likely me who is the problem. As you said, your mother was a master at her craft¡ªa World Queen. She turned her sight back to the nervous spider princess, fidgeting with her silk behind her back. And for that, I refuse to believe she would create anything but perfection in you. Camellia¡¯s twitches froze, her very complex mind working around that very simple concept that likely had never entered her many brains. ¡°I¡­never thought about that concept. I am perfect as my perfect mother created me. Hmm. I will have to think about that, Empress.¡± ¡°Empress,¡± Death whispered, his hollow eyes shifting toward the southeast, ¡°War feels¡­off to me. Something has shaken him.¡± ¡°I feel it as well, Brother,¡± Black growled. ¡°He advances the cause, yet something makes him hesitate.¡± Elinor¡¯s smile became a line as she peered through the pelting rain, lightning streaking across the heavens before the rumble shook the air.Valentina firmed her brow, flexing out her claws, Quin rolled around her four massive arms, and Grace bowed his head in prayer to Nungal. Well¡­then we shouldn¡¯t keep him waiting. Drone, you are to burrow into Camellia¡¯s former tunnel system and locate where Jennifer is. If you get the chance and find her¡­ Do not hesitate. Kill her, immediately. Defend anyone who is an ally. And above all¡­do not let her escape while we attack the front. ¡°It shall be done, Empress.¡± The drone drilled further into the hill, and Elinor mounted Ash¡¯s horse again. We ride to the aid of your brother¡­ Leave only death in our passing. Steed rising up on his hind legs, Ash¡¯s cry rang out with Famine. The grass around them withered, the very air turning foul and the howls of the dead rose from the depths of the underworld to meet the force of War that was ahead of them. You sent the challenge, Jennifer¡­ Death answers, and Hell rides with her. B4 — 9. A Father’s Plight Riding behind Ash on his pale horse, Elinor felt every sharp gust from the dying storm¡¯s residual breath. An army of undead was raised behind them, clawing their way out of the muck and grime to join their charge. The remnants of the hurricane still howled, a ghost of the tempest, but nothing compared to the former wrath Autumn conjured. Tonight, the division in the valley would be done with. If only she could have used her ability to channel a soldier, yet that week-long cooldown had been spent on channeling Quin to unite the clans under her. Rain pelted her, thin lines of cold water streaking down her back as her father¡¯s presence loomed nearby, silent yet alert¡ªhis keen eyes scanning the horizon for threats, ready to defend her at a moment¡¯s notice as they raced through the jungle. To her right, Quin swung through the thick branches, her massive frame nimble in the dark, the four-armed ape blending seamlessly into the chaotic rhythm of the forest. Grace carried Valentina above them, jumping from branch to branch, keeping an eye out for enemies within the canopy. Camellia was out of sight to her left, keeping pace with Ash¡¯s steady gallop, her sharp senses searching for signs of movement. The soft vibrations in the earth underfoot echoed through Elinor¡¯s body. Through her fractured Nexus, she could feel the th¨¦lm¨¦thra burrowing beneath the dirt, breaking into the old, webbed tunnels. Garu¡¯s voice came through her mind, snapping her focus to the blurred treeline. ¡°I¡¯m almost across the river, Empress.¡± Redivert, she immediately responded. I want you to stay in the river and look for an underwater cave entrance. I need to block off every type of escape route I can. ¡°Understood.¡± Be thorough, Garu, Elinor replied, her tone crisp while searching the dense jungle foliage in their passing and attempting to judge the distance the th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone was below the surface. Jennifer has support from Shade and her dead goddess. Listen carefully and cut off her escape routes. ¡°I should be able to follow the fish, attempting to escape the storm in calmer areas as a guide and keep you updated.¡± She redirected her focus to the surrounding trees, many of which showed damage from the hurricane that had swept through it. Each movement of Ash¡¯s horse fed through her muscles, a steady rhythm beneath her. The fatigue of her body reminded her of the distance they¡¯d traveled without rest, but she couldn¡¯t waste Death Energy to rebuild it until absolutely necessary or until Ash left her side. A slight pressure to her left pulled Elinor¡¯s attention toward Camellia, the spider¡¯s voice was low and controlled through the Nexus. ¡°There¡¯s a large force coming our way, Empress. Slow-moving.¡± Elinor¡¯s gaze flicked toward the path ahead, where Famine rose on point, and her father immediately responded. ¡°Check it out, Black. Be ready for an ambush.¡± Black¡¯s dark form blurred into the rain ahead of them, a shadow darting into the untamed jungle to vanish around the winding trees and sprawling roots. They were getting closer to Red, which meant the Xaltan settlement wouldn¡¯t be far off. Elinor¡¯s grip tightened around Ash¡¯s waist, her breath steady but her artificial body nearing its limit, and if this vessel collapsed, she didn¡¯t have a phylactery to retreat into. The landscape rolled by in a blur of green and gray, the dark jungle alive with the pelting rain and weak thunder rolling overhead. After thirty seconds of tense silence in their solemn ride, Black¡¯s voice returned. ¡°Red just made contact through the Nexus¡­ He¡¯s engaged in a heated battle. Against th¨¦lm¨¦thra,¡± Black added, the calm darkness in her voice cutting through the chaotic atmosphere like a blade. Her eyes widened and her undead heart quickened. Living th¨¦lm¨¦thra? This could get ugly. Camellia¡¯s sharp inhale through the Nexus drew her gaze to her left, unable to spot the red-haired spider through the foliage. ¡°Excuse me, Empress, but that is impossible.¡± Black didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°He is having trouble responding to me due to the ferocity of the battle. There is more than one¡­ He claims it is an army that will soon spill out of the tunnels. The main one he is having trouble with is an elite.¡± ¡°An elite? No,¡± Camellia insisted, a shiver running through the unstable Nexus connection. ¡°We do not take our own burrows. We destroy them to reform them in the Queen¡¯s meticulous design. If they are here, then it is to purge the area, and an elite¡­ If an elite is here, it means my aunt or one of her daughters are nearby,¡± she murmured, her voice laced with worry. Elinor¡¯s jaw tightened, feeling Black pause up ahead and report, ¡°The large group¡ªthey¡¯re the Roxim prisoners, not Xaltan.¡± Stop them and get answers. Her stoic father maintained the conversation with the quaking th¨¦lm¨¦thra. ¡°Camellia, say it were your aunt or cousins¡­ Could you negotiate with them or defeat the elite if it is alone?¡± ¡°Fight a Queen? Not unless I were fully grown, and finished training with my mother to become a Queen myself. A princess? Not in my current suppressed state, and that¡¯s not only if she¡¯s the eldest, like me,¡± Camellia flatly answered. ¡°If it¡¯s a young princess, perhaps I could distract her long enough to bore her, given my experience and new, more nimble form, but against a Queen or an elite, I would definitely lose. Red should have been dead instantly if it were an elite¡­unless it has been told not to end the battle by a princess.¡± The weight of that statement hung heavy in the air as Elinor¡¯s eyes narrowed. Camellia was currently her strongest unit. Before she could formulate a revised plan, Black¡¯s voice cut through again, this time with an unexpected twist. ¡°Empress, the Roxim have quite a few wounded and are seemingly escaping captivity. The witches are among them.¡± We¡¯re almost to your position. ¡°What about Red?¡± Ash whispered, his voice rumbling like the distant thunder to his sister. ¡°Can he maintain a defensive position until we arrive?¡± ¡°He¡¯s struggling, finding it hard to focus and respond to me. He just reported over five dozen th¨¦lm¨¦thra in total. However, it is the elite unit that is giving him trouble,¡± Black answered, her words steady despite the gravity of the situation. ¡°I¡¯ll take them on!¡± Quin¡¯s young, booming voice echoed through the rain, her bravado surging as she swung from the branches overhead. ¡°You¡¯d be immediately eviscerated,¡± Camellia hissed, her voice sharp. ¡°As I said, Empress, it is impossible for Red to be alive and to be facing an elite. Drones? Yes, he could run for a short time, but elites are on a whole different level.¡± Breaking through the foliage, Elinor caught sight of the massive group of green, discolored ri¡¯bot. She only spotted a few warriors amongst them, holding weapons, and relief came upon seeing the shivering humans in their arms. A slight edge of panic gripped the Roxim citizens as the sporadic flood of undead came into view, but the warriors were swift to calm their people. Elinor¡¯s mind was fixated on the options, though, adapting to the news she¡¯d just received. No, Quin. Camellia is our expert on her species. Throwing ourselves at them would only weaken our forces. If Red can¡­ ¡°Empress!¡± Red¡¯s voice silenced all of them as his voice carried through thunder and rain, his urgency transferring to all of them through the Nexus. ¡°The th¨¦lm¨¦thra are the Xaltan Xaria and elite warriors, infused into their corpses, giving them new life. They¡­they can¡¯t control their bodies or senses that well, but are learning quickly.¡± She caught Black¡¯s narrowed eyes on their approach, one of the Roxim warriors beside her, carrying Rylee, the leader of the Gray Coven. If that¡¯s the case, perhaps we do stand a chance. Ash¡­ Green flames surrounded Elinor before even giving the command, her Horseman of Death refilling her pool of energy from his reserve to rebuild her physical form. Chains split space, and gripping the lapis lazuli links, she launched off Ash¡¯s horse to land beside the warrior carrying Rylee. Her father was already issuing orders. Black, Ash, Camellia, continue to Red¡¯s side and clear the way for us. Quin keep a lookout for Xaltan ambushes. Rain slid down Elinor¡¯s face as her boots sank into the mud, watching the horsemen race into the jungle, Death¡¯s undead army lumbering after them. Her father dismounted to join her and she could sense his unease; he was likely concerned about leaving Tiffany with the Hag after her display of power. Grace dropped down from above to join them, setting the abashed tiger girl down from her princess carry. ¡°What happened?¡± she asked, seeing the relief on the toad people¡¯s faces at her presence. The Roxim warrior carefully set the trembling witch down, soaking wet and looking as if she could collapse at any moment. Lacerations and wire-like cuts marred his smooth body, yet he spoke as without a hint of the pain he should be feeling. ¡°Chief Zargoth went after Jennifer. Red had us escape with the witches¡­¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Rylee cleared her throat, hugging herself, yet Elinor could see the anger and guilt in the thirty two year old¡¯s face. ¡°She manipulated our minds¡­into believing she was you or Queen Tiffany, Empress. I have no excuses. We performed rituals for her¡­¡± She flinched as Elinor stepped forward, placing a soothing hand on her shoulder and taking note of the burned hand print under her armpit, much of her shirt torn away, leaving her exposed in the harsh storm. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Rylee. There¡¯s nothing to forgive or blame.¡± She smiled, knowing the woman more than likely could hardly see her in the darkness yet projecting the emotion with her voice to put her at ease. ¡°I know you did your best and believe in the vision I have¡­ How are the others?¡± she prompted, glancing at the Roxim citizens huddled together throughout the visible area. Tears mixed with the rain, running down Rylee¡¯s face, her brown hair a mess and plastered to her skin. ¡°I know most of them are alright, but the last ritual was¡­intense. Jasmine, Sofia, and Felicia may have¡­complications from it. As far as I know, the twenty four girls in my Circle are alive. Empress?¡± Elinor pulled her into a hug, making the witch stiffen before she sniffed and awkwardly returned it, her body quaking. ¡°You did well, Rylee. You¡¯re safe¡­¡± Allowing her a several seconds in the pouring rain to collect herself, Elinor drew back. ¡°I understand you placed the Xaltan warriors into th¨¦lm¨¦thra corpses. Is there anything of importance that you need to tell me?¡± Taking a shuddering breath, the Colombian woman and former teacher¡¯s face firmed. ¡°Jennifer is after a hidden chamber, blocked off by the Th¨¦lm¨¦thra Queen. There is a salamander man that arrived on a floating platform which gave Jennifer the needed ingredients we needed for such a complex ritual¡­ I didn¡¯t talk with him but he had two other salamanders with him. I¡­believe they were nalveans.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Elinor¡¯s eyes grew cold, internally processing the information. ¡°That helps¡­ Warrior,¡± she said to the ri¡¯bot who had been carrying the woman, ¡°I will have Quin escort your people safely across the river. It should be calming down, but know that the humans with you are very vulnerable to elements. She will burn out a log that they can huddle in to cross it. Ally forces are closing in on all sides.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see them safely to the other side with my life, Empress,¡± he saluted without further comment, knowing the urgency to escape enemy territory. She gave the frustrated Gray Witch¡¯s arm one last comforting squeeze before turning to her father, already informing Quin of the new mission. However, she paused as Garu made contact and the Roxim prepared to move out again. ¡°Empress, I¡¯ve found a tunnel¡­ I smell a human, nalveans, and a several ri¡¯bot who have passed by through the cavern inside. One has the scent left by the Roxim.¡± Fingers curling in, she accepted her father¡¯s hand, helping her mount his large black warhorse as he prompted the th¨¦lm¨¦thra to join the Ethereal scout. Chief Zargoth¡­ Catch up to them. I¡¯m sending a drone. We¡¯ll be there shortly. Just as her father turned the horse away, Grace stepped up, drawing her focus to the tiger girl and hare man. ¡°Empress¡­ A problem.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Pausing, she looked down at the pair. Valentina held her elbow, unsure yellow eyes glancing between them as Grace held his typical lax and unbothered smile. His large ears tilted to the south, where his gaze shifted, staring into the dark jungle, rain pattering around them with the crowd of ri¡¯bot passing around them. ¡°Enemies?¡± her father questioned. ¡°I¡¯m unsure,¡± he hummed, left eye creasing with interest. ¡°Winged creatures, flying across the canopy right toward us. Should Val and I handle it?¡± The tiger girl¡¯s hair and tail fur bristled but she remained quiet, an eager smile lifting her face at finally having something to do. Elinor peered past the veil of cold water falling from the heavens, quickly evaluating everything she¡¯d learned thus far. Jennifer and Shade are working together to obtain whatever Camellia¡¯s mother left behind¡­ It can¡¯t be her sisters or her body, since she closed it off herself. Some treasure she¡¯d found while burrowing through the valley? It¡¯s possible. And now the nalveans are involved. Klaus is still working on that angle in their capital city. No, Shade¡¯s hand is likely involved with the nalvean. Either that or the Xaltan have been secretly forming an alliance with some of them¡­ In fact, they could be mercenaries for all we know. She turned her gaze to the canopy blanketing them, the gales creating a symphony of sound before staring down at the calm man, his arm resting against his sheathed, curved blades. Is this Nungal¡¯s direction? Grace typically doesn¡¯t act on his own. He¡¯s totally devoted to his goddess. Him volunteering Val and him to handle it is likely for a reason. Damn her and her games. I bet you¡¯re up there snickering at me right now. I don¡¯t have time to hesitate. Right now, action is required. Elnor nodded. ¡°Handle it and catch up when you¡¯re able.¡± Grace gave her an elegant bow before nudging the seventeen-year-old girl. ¡°We¡¯ll be moving fast, Stripes. Can you keep up?¡± ¡°You know I can!¡± she snapped back, cheeks darkening and making Elinor chuckle as the tiger glanced at her, clearly embarrassed at the question. ¡°You just picked me up on your own before¡­¡± ¡°Happy hunting,¡± Elinor said, refocusing as the last of the Roxim filtered past them, heading the way they¡¯d come from. ¡°I trust you.¡± She could feel the determination and faith rebound from the Tiger Beastkin as she nimbly jumped up onto a root to climb the branches into the canopy. ¡°Hurry up, Grace, or I¡¯ll leave you behind.¡± Grace¡¯s body shook with silent mirth while brushing back a loose strand of his long white hair, giving Elinor a mysterious glance before saying, ¡°¡­She¡¯s an ambitious one but a hasty one. She doesn¡¯t even know where we¡¯re going. Nungal likes her.¡± ¡°I bet she would,¡± Elinor mumbled, still not trusting the goddess who had killed her in all her previous lives. ¡°Keep her safe.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± The storm¡¯s intensity somehow grew worse after the brief respite as they resumed the ride, the hooves of her father¡¯s massive horse carving a path through the drenched terrain. Ice formed beneath the horse¡¯s galloping feet, leaving a shimmering trail behind them. Elinor held on tightly to her father¡¯s armored waist, her eyes narrowing against the biting wind. Even the air seemed to be at war with itself, much like the forces scattered throughout the valley, skirmishes likely happening underneath its dense canopy. Quin met resistance, reporting back as a Xaltan group, most likely forced to take refuge from the relentless downpour engaged her. The Xaltan were regrouping, following the scent of bloodlust that hung in the storm¡¯s wake. This war wasn¡¯t one of giant armies on open battlefields but of small groups meeting amidst the undergrowth and vast branch network. But Elinor¡¯s thoughts were only partly with them. Her mind wandered to the man in front of her, sensing his emotions raging deep below the surface. The stern and silent presence of her father, who had tried his best to be her shield through every battle, only for her to keep him at arm¡¯s length. She¡¯d learned many harsh lessons in this unforgiving world and been forced to grow up swiftly to take leadership, to keep the humans who relied on her alive. Yet, there were many internal troubles that needed to be resolved. Does he really think there¡¯s nothing left of Mom in Tiffany? It¡¯s hard to tell, even for me, using the Nexus. He¡¯s sacrificed everything to protect me¡­ But I¡¯m more than his little girl now. I am running an empire. I¡¯ve lived many past lives, becoming a goddess in at least one that I know about before coming to Mom and him. He never was good at dealing with change. Dad. Her voice cut through the roar of the wind to his soul, piercing the silence that had settled between them. I need to know¡­ Do you truly believe there¡¯s nothing of Mom left in Tiffany? There was a pause. His grip on the reins tightened slightly, and she could feel the cold radiating off his form intensify, though it wasn¡¯t the frost that bit at her skin. His response, when it came, was carefully measured, his tone carrying the weight of old wounds. ¡°This isn¡¯t the time for that discussion, Elinor.¡± She could feel the hesitation, the way he seemed to want to deflect the conversation, but she pressed on. It¡¯s never the right time, is it? I rarely have moments like these to speak with you. And she¡¯s not here right now to say it, so I will. Her arms strengthened around his waist as they leaped over a massive root, the force of the jump pulling a sharp breath from her lungs, not that that mattered to her. You hurt her, you know. She may not show it and have put up a wall, but I feel it in her soul. Is it fair to judge her so harshly after everything Mom sacrificed for me? I¡­I see her in Tiffany, more than you realize. Is she the same? No. But there¡¯s more of Mom in her than just her appearance, as hot as she is now that she¡¯s returned to her youth, and you can¡¯t deny that. A low grunt escaped him, the icy exterior he presented cracking for a moment in a way only she or her mother could get past. ¡°And you think I don¡¯t see that?¡± he asked, his voice strained, the pain bleeding through. ¡°I loved your mother more than you can know, whatever you can sense through the Nexus¡­ I still do. But¡­what she became, the things she had to endure¡­ It twisted her. I do see pieces of her in Tiffany¡­of our Tiff¡­my wife. And that is the most painful part.¡± The thunder overhead masked the brief silence that followed, but Elinor could sense her father¡¯s unease, the way his grip on the reins loosened, then tightened again, the subtle shift in his posture that betrayed his inner turmoil. His cold, stoic exterior wasn¡¯t impenetrable, and she had a way of finding the cracks. Elinor frowned, her gaze searching the dim, storm-lit horizon ahead. I saw the way you looked at her weeks ago. You were working through that gap, reconnecting with her... What changed while we were in Kaspir? Was it because she followed my orders to stay out of the situation with the hag until it was necessary? He paused, pulling them around a bank, water surging out in a stream that his horse jumped over. ¡°It¡¯s more than that, Elinor. Yes, I am more upset with you than her for that¡­but it did help me realize something about her¡­¡± It took several seconds for him to continue, searching for the right words. ¡°¡­Your mother would have never hid that from me¡­ Never. That was what terrified me, Elinor.¡± The statement made her shiver, taking her back to the memories she had growing up of her mother. He was right. Her mother always told her father about any trouble she had, only she had a way of doing it that helped her protective father understand her position. He wasn¡¯t finished, though. ¡°The worst parts of your mother,¡± he continued, struggling through his emotions in the storm they rode through, ¡°the parts she most hated and tried to work on, were amplified in ways that I can¡¯t help but feel disgusted by. The things she would do if not for you holding back that darkness¡­¡± Her father¡¯s voice grew colder, a blizzard in a wildfire of loss and frustration at failing to protect his wife. ¡°Sweetie, I don¡¯t think you realize the heinous acts Tiffany would perform, not only to our enemies, but those you protect if she knew you¡¯d allow it. You are the only thing keeping that small light in her alive. I am merely a relic of her past she feels physically and emotionally attracted to as a stabilizer¡­ Yes, I hurt her. But not in the way you think.¡± They slowed upon reaching a denser area, weaving through brush and roots. ¡°¡­What I see in Tiffany isn¡¯t the woman I married¡­ And meeting the hag made me realize why Tiffany idolizes her so much. She¡¯s not your mother, Elinor. And she never will be. But¡­¡± He hesitated, his deep voice faltering as they swerved around a cluster of broken branches, the horse¡¯s hooves striking the muddy ground with sharp thuds. ¡°When she interacts with you. There are moments¡­small glimpses, where I see her. Where I feel her. And maybe that¡¯s what makes it harder. Because it¡¯s never enough. She¡¯s always¡­just out of reach. And now I know we can truly have her back¡­ Of course I¡¯m conflicted¡­because I fear this could backfire and even that small light will be gone.¡± Elinor bit her lip, her own feelings conflicted as the sound of their horse cutting through the storm filled the void left by his words. ¡°Maybe you are right, and I¡¯m the only thing keeping that light alive. Still, I think there¡¯s more of her left in Tiffany than you¡¯re willing to admit,¡± she said softly. ¡°She¡¯s¡­still trying to be what Mom was. And that¡¯s not just for me. It¡¯s not perfect, but it¡¯s something. And you loved her once. Isn¡¯t that worth fighting for if she¡¯ll be sharing a body with my Mom¡­ To not be left behind and discarded like¡ª¡± Before she could finish, a flash of movement caught her eye¡ªtoo fast, too close, too late. A projectile shot out from the treeline, aimed directly at her head. Yet, her father¡¯s reflexes kicked in instantly, his armored hand darting up to intercept it, but the force of the blow was enough to partially deflect it. The sharp edge of the projectile grazed Elinor¡¯s neck, slicing through her skin with precision, right where a major vein would have been if she were alive. Eyes narrowing and focusing her mind, she maneuvered her body away from the direction it came, hiding her head using her father¡¯s armor as a barrier. However, a cold fury that chilled the air enclosing them, a frosty barrier blocking the following thorn bullets. ¡°Don¡¯t leave my side!¡± I don¡¯t see anyone¡­ ¡°They¡¯re somehow blending into the trees. I should be able to sense them.¡± He wheeled the horse around, eyes scanning the storm-darkened treeline for the attacker. Elinor¡¯s hand instinctively flew to her neck, feeling a sticky liquid that bubbled against her skin, eating away at the tissue. A corrosive substance¡­ We should dismount and take cover, wait for them to come to us. This doesn¡¯t feel right. Her father¡¯s eyes flashed as he spotted their assailant and a heat rose in his chest Elinor hadn¡¯t felt since she¡¯d raised him. ¡°Her¡­¡± Elinor locked onto Xaria Dalria: the woman who had murdered her mother. The ri¡¯bot stood out starkly against the faint light that managed to pierce through the dark clouds and storm-tossed canopy. Her dark orange skin gleamed, and the ominous crimson tattoo of a Scarlet Hand glowed faintly on her chest. Yet, something was off. A grotesque third eye had opened on her forehead, blood leaking from its lid and staining her weathered face. Well¡­that¡¯s new. Elinor could feel the swell of her father¡¯s rage building, a cold fury she rarely sensed from him. His protective instincts screamed louder than the storm, and she knew he was seconds away from lashing out. Gently, she placed a steadying hand on his shoulder, her voice calm yet laced with steel. Have faith in me, Dad, as I have faith in you. I¡¯ll be safe. Her gaze never wavered from Dalria, whose taunting smile was twisted with arrogance. I know you want to deal with her, but also want to protect me. I¡¯ll join the others. This is your battle. Under the dome of translucent ice her father had summoned, there was a brief moment of silence, broken only by the howling wind. And Dalria¡¯s voice slithered through the storm like poison. ¡°Speaking through your secret ways won¡¯t save you. You¡¯ll die tonight, Elinor,¡± she sneered, her gaze gleaming with malice. ¡°I¡¯ll see it through in the Eye of Revilla.¡± Her father¡¯s voice spoke directly to her soul, carrying a note of trust Elinor hadn¡¯t quite heard before like this. Not from her overprotective father who had wanted her home before seven every day while growing up. A note of a resigned and proud father. ¡°You¡¯ve grown into a woman faster than I would have liked¡­ Your mother will be proud when she''s purified.¡± His eyes, hard and focused, flickered with a rare blend of sorrow and reconciliation. ¡°Go after Jennifer. Dalria may have killed your mother, but it was on Jennifer¡¯s order. I¡¯ll handle her¡­¡± A cold, familiar cadence returned to Elinor¡¯s voice, closing off the part of her heart she had briefly opened with her father. Without hesitation, she raised her hand, and a shimmering chain split the air, attaching to her palm. In a swift motion, she launched herself skyward, her body rising into the turbulent air and peppering rain. Dalria spat a final barb after her, but before it could reach her, a massive icy dome materialized, trapping the ri¡¯bot and her father within. Elinor whispered into the storm, her voice barely audible over the winds. ¡°Make her suffer.¡± As she ascended, Elinor¡¯s mind sharpened, focusing on the task at hand. Camellia was just about to reach Red, Black and Ash right beside her as they reported their position. Famine being the voice. ¡°There is a mine area just beyond the main village to the east. The first hole on the right¡­ There is a giant chasm below it, Red is coming out of the¡­ No! Red!¡± ¡°I will handle the elite,¡± Camellia interjected. ¡°Take Red out of the cave, Black!¡± Elinor¡¯s gut tightened. Hold on, I¡¯m coming. B4 — 10. The Crimson Flower Shit¡­ The cavern ground beneath Red buckled, rampaging arachnids fracturing areas all across the cave, destabilizing the terrain with every reckless lunge. Red barely shifted his weight before the floor gave way entirely, sending him and the writhing mass of creatures down a steep incline. Dust billowed, obscuring his vision, but every instinct in him zeroed in on survival and keeping their attention. He pivoted, avoiding jagged spear-like stones the th¨¦lm¨¦thra sent spraying in all directions, devastating the debris and flinging it in every direction. Persistent things. One of the drones hurtled down toward him from the high ceiling, parting the dust, its colossal figure aimed to body slam him. Diving left, he managed to evade its legs as they penetrated the stone, sinking half its body into the floor. Illuminated red eyes darting left, he found legs scrambling for purchase as another clawed at the crumbling surface, yet another cavern below the one they¡¯d just fell through. War spun to avoid it, leveraging the beast¡¯s momentum as it crashed into another, their impossibly hard exoskeletons brittle and cracking on impact against one another. ¡°Nice shot, bud!¡± he roared, sword appearing in his right hand, his left missing. ¡°Damn, you¡¯re strong bastards.¡± He pressed forward, swiping his blade at one¡¯s exposed side to rip a silky gooey substance out. Red¡¯s brow furrowed upon spotting the twitching organs, beating at an impossible rhythm. As the dust began to settle, he felt the hair on his arm rise: four dozen were shaking off the rubble, not one so much as phased from the collapse. However, it was the massive frame of the elite that rose out of the heavy stone fragments that forced a smile on Red¡¯s lips. It opened its monstrous mouth and hissed, steam billowing out of its joints, acid peppering the floor, liquifying the stone as it charged. There you are¡­ His lips tightened underneath his helmet, noticing dozens upon dozens of the spiders crawling over the walls and floor, all center on him. As much as I hate to admit it. I can¡¯t take all of you head on. Making a snap decision, he let out a low, commanding whistle¡ªhis call to Carnage¡ªand his warhorse answered, thundering through the shadows like a crimson specter to appear by his side. War swung up in a single fluid motion, the leather reins meeting his gauntleted grip, and they surged down a twisting tunnel as the arachnids screeched in pursuit. The longer this takes, the harder it is for me¡­but I just need to buy enough time, War grimly mused, sensing the mounting pressure of dozens more creatures narrowing in behind him. If this leads to a dead-end¡­ Perfect! Racing into another wide, open space, Carnage¡¯s hooves met the waterway they¡¯d entered, sending ripples through the still basin as his horse glided forward, unbothered by the liquid terrain. War grimaced when glancing behind him, the tank-like arachnids climbing the tunnel walls and ceiling, relentless. In their frenzy, the Xaltan-fused creatures flung webs at random, lacking precision and intent as the spider powers overwhelmed their frail understanding of the creatures they¡¯d become. Still, it was far from harmless. The air grew thick with the strands, sticky webs threading across the cavern like haphazard nets that were like steel. War¡¯s lips twisted into a grim smile, his horse side stepping a thick line of silk that snapped from the ceiling. They¡¯re calming down, he observed, glancing down for half a second at his missing left arm. He was crippled when he¡¯d tried to fight the massive brute, and [Aura of Conflict] was waning now that he wasn¡¯t actively fighting them. No use hesitating! He clenched his claymore, teeth flashing as he whipped his mount around, bringing him into a rapid charge. The towering silhouette of the elite th¨¦lm¨¦thra stood at the water¡¯s edge¡ªa hulking mass of razor limbs and gleaming eyes, still thrashing but gradually regaining focus. War¡¯s smile sharpened, mirroring his weapon¡¯s edge as they approached. He used his supernatural strength to force himself to stand on the saddle, reading himself for the attack. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Carnage let out a battle cry, and together they surged forward, heat and kinetic force building with every step his horse took. Water sprayed out from under them as they carved a path toward the elite, its web-throwing minions momentarily stunned by his change of direction. As War launched himself from the horse¡¯s back, his claymore met the gleaming tip of the elite th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s foreleg in a brutal clash. Steel scraped against stone-like chitin, a shower of sparks illuminating the creature¡¯s gem-like eyes as it held his gaze, unblinking. The creature retracted slightly, mouth gaping open. Clever, War thought as a pool of acid sprayed out to engulf him. Twisting his lips into a mocking smile in his airborne, vulnerable position, he pulled back his arm, channeling the remaining kinetic force he¡¯d stolen from its attack. But not clever enough. With a sharp inhale, he funneled it into his blade. In one powerful, sweeping motion, he swung his claymore, fanning the acid away in a wide arc, redirecting the liquid back onto the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s own body. A feral shriek echoed off the cavern walls as the beast recoiled in fright, only, Red¡¯s smile faded when the colorless liquid simply splattered its body without effect. ¡°Resilient bastards.¡± In the next heartbeat, Carnage was upon it, his entire weight compressed into a single, devastating charge. The warhorse slammed into the elite with a force that reverberated through the stone walls, knocking it back toward the tunnel. The impact sent a splash of acid across Carnage and his side¡ªunfortunate¡ªrapidly eating through his armor, but he¡¯d seen this already. Before it could eat his flesh and bone, Carnage and his armor erupted in a flash of crimson light, dissipating into crimson mist. Dropping onto the stone ground, he narrowly skirted a bubbling pool of noxious liquid. The drones were on him in moments. His entire body braced with each shift in weight, pivoting to avoid the sharp edges of fallen stalagmites, spear-like legs, and darting after the elite to escape the swarming hoard. He ran right past the elite, crimson aura brightening and fueling his physical prowess without his armor; the massive spider collapsed a part of the tunnel, sending dust billowing around him but he knew where he was going. ¡°Red¡­¡± It was Black, her voice resonant, calm as a creeping shadow. ¡°What is the situation?¡± War grit his teeth, eyes narrowing as he used quick footwork to dance left, a sharp point passing through where his head had just been. Twisting in a sharp circle, he spotted an exposed critical junction and slashed upward, using his carried momentum¡ªit cleaved partway through before lodging into what he assumed was bone. Son of a bitch! Abandoning his sword, he kept his focus on the twelve th¨¦lm¨¦thra crawling over one another to impale him. These things are impossible to take down! Hahaha! More excited than angry, he used the heat rising in his flaming body to wrap his arms around one of the lunging arachnids. Pulling it into a sharp cyclone, he yelled out his effort, muscles bulging while forcing it off its feet to plow into two others. They¡¯re getting more precise by the minute! Th¨¦lm¨¦thra, Black¡­ He could hardly breathe as another jumped from the wall, two more from the ceiling, forcing him to skip backward again. His blade flashed further down the black hallway, dispersing to reappear in his right hand to deflect another flurry of blows; he held his ground, [Immovable] keeping him stationary against their strikes. Black didn¡¯t even question him, her tone becoming serious. ¡°How many?¡± An army, at least five dozen¡ªit¡¯s the elite that¡¯s the problem¡­ Jennifer is after something further inside. They¡¯re stabilizing. His eyes widened as the arachnids parted, and the giant closed in on him. He sent a few more words through the communication to get the points across but he was too focused on the approaching behemoth to put his attention on what transferred to his sister. With his armor dismissed, War¡¯s muscles flexed with renewed strength, each movement fluid yet charged with lethal precision. He sidestepped the former chief of the Xaltan¡¯s thrust, his eyes catching the arc of its massive leg, now barbed and dripping with acidic venom. He¡¯s got even more tricks up his sleeve? As it came dangerously close, he raised his left arm¡¯s stub defensively, the momentum of its swing sliding off him, leaving his exposed ribs searing from even that brief contact with the toxic appendage. Before he could fully regain balance, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra chief lunged again. War twisted his body, pivoting to strike with his claymore in one powerful arc. The blade rang against the elite¡¯s exoskeleton but failed to connect with any visible crack¡ªthen he noticed it. Its once-damaged joints and splintered carapace now gleaming, entirely restored. The bastard heals?! War¡¯s teeth flashed in a feral grin, tinged with frustration and admiration. ¡°Regenerating now, are you? I¡¯ll just have to keep going until I find your weak point,¡± he snarled, voice low with a dangerous edge. In his mind, Black¡¯s voice hummed with deadly calm. ¡°The witches are safe, Red. We met with Zargoth¡¯s forces. We¡¯re on our way!¡± Good, you know the details, War replied sharply, blade flashing up to deflect a strike aimed at his legs; he could hardly keep the blow from moving him, even with [Immovable]. He ducked low, eyes scanning the wide cave for any escape routes and spotting another unfortunate bit of news. I¡¯ll be glad to have you. Dammit! The others are regenerating¡ªjust like this brute, he added, leaping aside as another massive arachnid body slammed into the ground beside him; he was running out of options: the acid had eaten up to his left bicep now. Jennifer is deep below, looking for something the th¨¦lm¨¦thra queen hid away, or something like that. He grit his teeth, narrowly avoiding another swipe from the elite, its leg nearly skewering him where he¡¯d stood. His pulse spiked as the Xaltan chief swapped directions at a seemingly impossible angle, barreled forward to crush him. With quick footwork, War dodged left on pure instinct, letting the creature¡¯s momentum carry it past him and into a wall of crumbling rock. It tore through the barrier, and a violent flood of water surged through, spilling over the arachnid¡¯s massive frame and dragging it away into a nearby hole. War watched as it disappeared, his laughter echoing through the tunnel. ¡°Nice swim, chief,¡± he muttered, but his reprieve was short-lived. The remaining drones advanced, filling the cavern with the hiss of their acidic joints and the steady clacking of their legs on stone. ¡°And now you¡¯re all learning how to use acid¡­ Great.¡± With a flash of crimson light, Carnage reappeared, kicking the left one aside to allow him the means to leap over the surging river that was now flooding the tunnel. He ran uphill, toward the collapsed cavern the ritual had been in. His red-furred horse was right beside him, taking a swipe to the thigh by a drone, not that damage like that had much effect on the undead. Jumping on Carnage¡¯s back, he managed to make it to the cavern before the hissing th¨¦lm¨¦thra caught up, yet Red¡¯s eyes widened when words began to echo through the tunnels¡ªthe th¨¦lm¨¦thra Xaltan warriors.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°I can¡­see!¡± ¡°I feel everything!¡± ¡°I am one with the earth!¡± ¡°I taste him!¡± Well, this isn¡¯t creepy¡­ I¡¯m down an arm, fam. Ash¡¯s low chortles filtered through their connection as his big brother entered the conversation. ¡°Lose another for all I care. Just don¡¯t lose the heart, Little Brother.¡± Red grinned, leaping off Carnage to land on top of an arachnid, using the blunt end of his sword to smash one of their gem-like eyes that hadn¡¯t fully healed; it shattered. ¡°I see beyond sight, insignificant¡ª¡± Carnage re-materialized beside it, the warhorse¡¯s hooves smashing against its body and sending it tumbling into the stream for a swim. Chuckling, War mounted him again, breaking through clusters of the arachnids. He didn¡¯t get far before having to separate again, Carnage flashing in and out of existence around him, keeping them at bay and offering critical moments for him to regain ground. War¡¯s chest heaved, his ribs unusually raw and exposed from acid that had eaten through flesh at some point, showing the extent of even a brief contact with their saliva. Red¡¯s grip tightened on his claymore as he used the writhing drone beneath him to impale another, the creature¡¯s shrill hiss echoing off the stone walls as its carapace shattered under the arachnid¡¯s force. If I keep up like this, you won¡¯t need to¡­ War¡¯s eyes narrowed, sensing the shift in the air. A subtle vibration rippled underfoot, the unmistakable sign of something far more dangerous lurking beneath. The floor erupted. The drone he was mounted on was flung aside like a broken toy as he was thrown into the air, and the towering form of the elite th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡ªthe Xaltan Chief Noklan¡ªrose from the fissure. His legs steamed with acid that ate away at stone and echoed with the sound of power barely contained. Damn¡­ ¡°War?!¡± Black growled. The chief¡¯s speed had surged, faster than anything he¡¯d encountered before. A swipe caught him mid-flight, tearing through the flesh of his foot, severing it cleanly, while another blurred leg lanced through his gut, pinning him with shocking precision. No pain came as War took in Noklan¡¯s renewed power, the chief¡¯s multiple legs rooted firmly around him, an unmistakable aura emanating from his form: he¡¯d learned how to control his body. Low rumbles shook the air, and a voice, cold and contemptuous, whispered through the cavern. ¡°Insignificant, undead¡­ Do you see now? You stand before true supremacy.¡± War¡¯s lip curled, no blood trickling down his frame, the inner emerald glow of his undead organs casting a glow over the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s black form, but his eyes sparkled with a fierce glint. ¡°Supremacy, huh?¡± His voice low, mocking. ¡°You might want to rethink the title. Real kings don¡¯t need an audience to cheer ¡®em on.¡± Noklan¡¯s jaws opened, acidic saliva dripping from his maw, seething. Carnage burst from below in a flash of light, charging straight at the elite. But Noklan seemed to anticipate the attack, a foreleg snapping out to batter the warhorse away without effort. Red¡¯s laughter echoed through the cavern, raw and taunting. ¡°Should really learn a thing or two about humility, Noklan. You might learn you¡¯re not the only monster in the dark.¡± He met the Xaltan¡¯s intimidating gem-like gaze, a grim smile pulling at his mouth. ¡°You¡¯re too arrogant.¡± Noklan walked forward into the open area, water dripping down as his spider soldiers gathered to witness his victory. His jaws parted, and a torrent of acid sprayed from his maw. ¡°No! Red!¡± Black¡¯s voice rang out. As a meteor shot through the falling stream above, a ruby veil enveloped him, and he was carried away into a soft, velvet blanket to places unknown. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Camellia hurtled through the air, a fierce blur against the shadows of the cavern, her bare feet landing squarely on the elite¡¯s head with enough force to fracture the stone floor beneath. Her red hair fanned around Red, cocooning him in a shield of silk-like strands as she removed him from the elite¡¯s leg and flung him upward. I will handle the elite and drones; take Red out of the cave, Black! she shouted through the Nexus as her gaze locked onto the beast beneath her. Continue after the primary prey. The elite th¨¦lm¨¦thra growled in frustration¡ªa sound unlike anything she¡¯d heard from the guardians of their nests. She felt the intricate network of its nerves come to life beneath her, a surge of energy sparking through its body. She knew the beast was about to strike, knew every twitch within its body; she was faster. Balling her fist, she drove it toward the upper third eye, aiming to sever the nerve center beneath in order to temporarily disconnect its ability to detect her own movements. To her surprise, her strike left only a faint dent. Is the power difference this much? In that case, I must reevaluate my approach. Time seemed to crawl as she registered the elite¡¯s next move: a wide projection of silk, spilling from the creature¡¯s spinnerets, forming a crude but effective web that moved midair, shooting toward her; pitifully slow, by even her low standards. Instinct kicking in, she leaped through a gap in the tangled weave, her hair spreading out to anchor itself to the web and seize control. Yet, the moment she connected, a powerful counter-signal rebounded through her, sending a violent tremor down her spine. It was like being smacked by her mother¡ªa raw display of strength rather than finesse. A guardian! An elite repelled me?! she thought, her fingers trembling as she cut the connection, her ruby locks being absorbed into the elite¡¯s mess of a nest as she landed on the wall, her lips twisted in frustration. And it¡¯s not even close to refined! If Mom saw that, she would string me up and¡­I don¡¯t want to think about it! The imposter let out a mocking laugh, the sound grating in her ears; it felt so¡­unnatural in her language. But she was already analyzing, observing every pulse, every nerve flare from within the elite¡¯s body, her senses dissecting its movements. In that frozen moment, she saw through the creature¡¯s fa?ade¡ªoperating at barely five percent efficiency, it wasn¡¯t using the full capability of its frame or many offensive attributes. Only the spinnerets and tips of its feet had been activated to manage its silk; it was wasting untold potential. I can handle it. However, not if there are any unexpected interruptions in web control¡­ The whole room moved in slow motion around her, and she noticed the other drones, gradually improving in their motor skills, each second adjustments in their frames signaling they were learning to adapt. But they were still clumsy, still limited. They¡¯re vulnerable. But while the elite is here¡­I am. Hearing his name passed through the Nexus as Black carried Red to the surface to meet the Empress and Ash rode further in to confront Jennifer, Camellia watched her opponent intently. As Noklan continued his one-sided speech, his voice dripped with venomous arrogance, each syllable grated on Camellia¡¯s heightened senses, a twisted reflection of her kind¡¯s grace. ¡°You¡­you feel similar to me. As if I were¡ª¡± She was on him in a flash, faster than his sluggish senses could track, her sights locked on his spinnerets. He tried to shield himself, expelling silk in a dense spread to form a makeshift barrier. But Camellia¡¯s movements were razor-sharp, trained through her mother¡¯s unyielding lessons on one day potentially facing her sisters or cousins. She sliced through the strands with a swift, precise slash of her hand, her attack sending a calculated shock through his neural pathways. Noklan¡¯s hulking form jerked, caught off-guard by her false surge of energy but she couldn¡¯t harm him in that way as she was¡ªit was merely a feigned power struggle meant to distract. Before he could react, she was upon his weakened web, landing on its frayed connections. With one swift, lethal slice, she severed the critical thread at his spinnerets, paralyzing his silk output and leaving him disoriented. Now, Camellia¡¯s ruby hair spread outward like a serpentine cloak, connecting to the surrounding threads and weaving through the gaps in his eight legs¡ªplaces he¡¯d barely grasped how to control. With precise control that felt sluggish and graceless compared to her sisters, she bound him, securing his legs and harnessing her own to the ground to tether herself. Her silk anchored him in a vice-like grip, and then she spun him. Pulling the false elite into a rapid whirlwind, Noklan¡¯s hulking frame became a blur of frenzied limbs and strangled hisses. The force of her motion created a wide, spiraling cyclone that hurled nearby drones aside as they scrambled to escape, the violent motion flinging them back like debris in a storm. She tightened her hold, building momentum before releasing him in one fierce throw, sending his form smashing through the ceiling, through layers of stone until his shadow vanished into the jungle above, leaving only a trail of broken rubble in his wake and falling rain in the revealed hole. As the dust settled, Camellia¡¯s form emerged, a shadow framed by the fractured stone and shimmering web remnants. Her wide, ruby-red eyes glowed in the dim cavern light, each iridescent gleam carrying a predatory hunger as she tasted their fear. Her expression was serene, almost delicate, but the faint, eerie curve of her lips betrayed her inner thoughts. Noklan would be back soon enough¡­but not soon enough. Slowly, she tilted her head, eyes narrowing with a sinister amusement that prickled the air with tension. Her voice came soft, laced with a strange sweetness, yet edged with real venom that dripped on each note. ¡°Well now¡­¡± Her voice slipped out like a dark lullaby her middle sister liked to hum when hunting, curling around the remaining drones, seeping into the cracks of their fragile minds. ¡°Let¡¯s see if any of you little drones can dance on my web. I¡¯m getting hungry,¡± she giggled, licking her lips, ¡°and mother used to say drones have a certain¡­flavor to them.¡± Camellia¡¯s ruby eyes glinted with amusement as the remaining Xaltan drones hesitated, paralyzed by the unseen tension filling the cavern that only their species would feel when in her presence. Masked, unique, and faint electrical pulses crackled through the air, her senses extending through the chaotic network of silk strands that they felt. She assessed the disjointed labyrinth¡ªher former nest¡ªthat they had trespassed and sullied: tunnels that twisted in ways foreign to her species¡¯ design were soon discovered, strange branches leading into collapsed passages¡ªevidence of something having burrowed here decades before. Abandoned, gutted, her work¡­her mother¡¯s work, desecrated. Her gaze turned to the defective creatures with a chilling stillness, dissecting their feeble attempts at coordination her species prided itself on. Abominations. She traced a thread of silk connecting one of the drones and watched it twitch in her hidden, slow-moving web, sluggishly preparing to attack with a single, jagged leg aimed at her head. Camellia¡¯s lips parted in a bewildered smile, the attack barely worth her attention when it should be deadly. The creature moved beyond inefficiently for the potency its muscles could exert, its many sensory abilities to identify weaknesses squandered. With the faintest pulse of energy, her silk snared its leg midair, yanking it into the ground. It shivered, a spark of recognition flashing in its dull jewel eyes as she turned toward it, a dualistic combination of curiosity mingling with fear in its shaky voice. ¡°What¡­what are you? It¡¯s like you¡¯re¡­ Life¡­ Death¡­ All things.¡± The silk shifted, tightening around it, tendrils weaving through the threads and drawing closer, tighter, as she extended her reach outward past the others, making it her territory. Her crimson eyes glowed brighter as she approached the paralyzed thing, not of her brood, her gaze boring into the false drone¡¯s panicked internal reverberations. She lifted a hand to its twitching mandibles, and the creature froze, its entire nervous system locked under her touch. Camellia¡¯s voice slipped out, soft yet laced with cold command. ¡°Because in my womb is your life¡­ In my belly is your death. And your existence is to fulfill my every desire.¡± Her fingers tightened around its mandibles, sending vibrations through its body that made it quake in recognition. ¡°You are made for me¡­yet you are defective. I no longer have any use for you, which means¡­¡± The drone¡¯s voice cracked, barely a whisper. ¡°Death.¡± Camellia leaned in, her hands gliding down the hard edges of its chelicerae, cracking the base. ¡°Death.¡± Threads extended from her fingernails, slipping into its mouth and burrowing through its innards. Her silk overtook it, hijacking its nerves, repurposing its silk glands as she seized control. She applied a steady, unyielding pressure, the sickening sound of cracking exoskeleton echoing through the cavern as she ripped it down the center. Gore and silk exploded outward, a shudder rippling through the remaining Xaltan drones. A storm of silk unfurled from her expanding web, cascading across the ground, the walls, and the ceiling. It hardened into needle-sharp spikes, each hissing with steaming pressure to expand. The false th¨¦lm¨¦thra began to flee, their shrieks filling the air, but her network was faster, binding their legs and hoisting them into the air. Silk coiled around them, spikes piercing their bodies and fusing with their silk glands to further develop her nest. One by one, the imposters were seized and suspended within the matter of seconds, their limbs twitching in helpless agony as her web invaded every aspect of their being. Within moments, the cavern was littered with their limp, lifeless forms, their bodies swathed in writhing silk, now part of her. Gore dripped from her frame, staining the ground below as she absorbed the scattered threads of her web, repurposing them to form a thick lattice that crawled into the cracks of the stone. She felt the tremor of something massive above electrifying the air, and with a silent command, the silk threaded downward, burrowing through the lower tunnels to evade the invading hostile force. Noklan crashed back into the cavern, his massive form landing with a roar that shook the walls, his laughter filled with manic exhilaration. ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re one of them. The real thing.¡± Camellia¡¯s smile widened, an unnatural glint sparking in her human eyes. ¡°Real things¡­ I am the Queen¡¯s eldest daughter.¡± Silk-like tendrils extended from her hair, reaching toward one of the fallen drones and collecting a sensory organ. She raised it to her lips, sinking her teeth into it, the satisfying crunch resonating in the silence as she chewed. Her gaze held Noklan¡¯s, glowing gem eyes, brimming with a dark, simmering hunger. ¡°Mother was right,¡± she murmured, licking the last of the blood from her lips. ¡°Drones have a rather unique flavor.¡± Her smile deepened, a predatory gleam flashing across her face. ¡°What will a guardian taste like? I suppose I am about to find out.¡± B4 — 11. Threads of Dominion Rain hammered through the fractured ceiling, droplets sizzling as they struck venom pools carving shallow scars into the stone. Mist coiled through the musky air, each curl pulled into Camellia¡¯s ruby gaze as she perched on a jagged stalactite. Her weight shifted on the lattice beneath her, each thread whispering Noklan¡¯s chaotic movements below. Noklan¡¯s frame jerked, his segmented carapace shivering with raw, untamed power as steam billowed from his plates. Caustic discharge dripped steadily from his open maw, hissing against stone, filling the cavern with its acrid tang. Every sound rippled through her web, mapping his clumsy movements. Pathetic. Wasteful. Her lips fell into a faint frown. Leaving trails for anyone to follow¡­ Borrowed power rarely fits its wielder, mother used to say. Did you even earn the shell you wear? Obviously, not. Noklan¡¯s gem-like eyes gleamed as they locked on her, his foreleg twitching. The power radiating off him pressed against her instincts, urging her to strike. But as the limb blurred toward her, she let go, her body twisting through the air as acid sliced the stalactite clean in two. Stone fragments rained down as she landed in a crouch, the web carried with her flexing beneath her feet. Noklan lunged, mandibles flaring as his rasping voice scraped the air. ¡°Your threads won¡¯t save you. I¡¯ve learned your games.¡± Camellia tilted her head, crimson silk spilling around her like a veil while burrowing deeper, deeper, and deeper still. Her smile deepened, fingers brushing her shimmering locks. ¡°Stronger?¡± she murmured, crimson weave pulsing with a faint charge beneath her touch as she discovered what she was looking for beneath her feet. ¡°Perhaps. But you¡¯re still blind to the threads you can¡¯t see due to your inability to utilize all the brains at your disposal throughout your body.¡± The Empress¡¯ voice came to her as they sized one another up; as dangerous as she was to him, Noklan was to her. Of course, that was only if she was caught. ¡°I¡¯m about to enter the cave. War was handily picked apart by them. Can you handle it?¡± Her lips curved. Without a doubt, Empress. I have already eradicated the false drones. All that is left is the fake guardian. ¡°Is that so?¡± her new ruler hummed, clearly impressed by her tone. ¡°You¡¯ve given me all I need then. Take your time. Dismantle him. I don¡¯t want a hair on your head harmed.¡± A strange, warm bubbly feeling welled up within Camellia¡¯s breast. That is a challenging demand. Understood, Empress. I will see to it. In the swift interaction, she remained totally still, knowing her agitated opponent could sense his disadvantage. The guardian¡¯s frame was far from perfect, as well, the Xaltan¡¯s crude control evident in the jerky motion of its limbs, but its power¡ªraw and unrefined¡ªpulsed through the space like a slow, gathering storm. Then, it blurred. His foreleg snapped upward, a venom-laced scythe carving through the air. Camellia¡¯s gaze locked onto the jagged limb, her body twisting away as it split the air beside her. She leaped to the side, the blade-like leg leaving a rush of cut air that narrowly missed her as his second strike came, spearing the place where she had been perched. Carrying her gossamer trap with her, she landed in a crouch, the slick webbing beneath her flexing but holding steady, her hair fanning out to anchor her in place. Every twitch, she followed through the guardian¡¯s complex nerve system, identifying what attributes the toad in th¨¦lm¨¦thra shell could activate. The hiss of dissolving rock met her ears as she straightened, her vision narrowing. His foreleg withdrew, acid dripping from its tip, and his mandibles parted in an unnatural way for her kind. ¡°I feel your threads¡­child,¡± Noklan said, his voice rasping like brittle stone against steel. ¡°Do you think I haven¡¯t learned your trick? Every move you make teaches me more about myself.¡± Camellia tilted her head, the faintest curve of a smile pulling at her lips. Her fingers brushed the webbing beneath her, the electrical pulse spreading them out around his frame, taunting. ¡°You call me a child? Perhaps to that guardian, I am. Yet, we live far longer than your frail species. We didn¡¯t even consider you worth hunting.¡± Steam hissed from his legs as she charged forward. Each shift of his limbs revealed his flaws¡ªthe slight drag on his hind leg, the inefficient use of his spinnerets as they twitched but failed to fire with precision. It was a crude mimicry of her kind¡¯s natural grace, an insult to the artistry her mother¡¯s brood embodied. He spouted more insults, attempting to connect to her sea of webbing that she tugged around the cavern, leading him to a more confined tunnel. Her projected lattice dug through the earth, knowing he could sense it, knowing he could do nothing about it. Her silence seemed to aggravate him, though. Noklan lunged, his barbed leg a blur. Camellia pivoted, her web snapping as she twisted away, her foot brushing the venomous strike. His next limb followed, forcing her low, her hair anchoring her escape with perfect precision. Sliding under his bulky swings to his underbelly, she batted away the silk he shot from his spinneret. Her hair lashed out, crimson thread penetrating tiny openings in his unprotected left legs, right where the tiny liquid openings were left open and vulnerable, plugging them. Side stepping, she couldn¡¯t help a light laugh as he leaped upward to project a cyclone of webbing to ensnare her. Shifting lightly on an elevated ledge, she crouched low, her gaze fixed on the guardian¡¯s exposed spinnerets as they spasmed, time slowing. Her instincts screamed for the strike¡ªto tear him apart as her mother had taught¡ªbut the weight of his hulking frame forced her muscles taut, demanding control. Another second, and he surged again, forelegs slashing where she had stood moments before. He¡¯s stronger¡­ Faster. I can¡¯t do the damage I know I should be able to. Precision. Nimble efficiency¡­ Me, precise and efficient? What would you think of that, Sisters? Silk gathering under her feet, it launched her upward through the clumsy gaps as Noklan spun to face her, his gem-like eyes glimmering from the ceiling. Smoothly bypassing the trap, she cut the thread from her hair, sending it spiking into the ground while retreating further into the narrowing tunnel. She skipped back, crimson weave snapping taut as her threads rewove the trap. Noklan lunged, releasing a hissing wave of toxins that coiled, clawing toward her. Camellia moved like water, batting the toxins aside without pause. Too slow. His barbed forelegs scraped against the stone, the sound grating and sharp. Stone cracked beneath her as she darted forward. Her web caught the strain, anchoring her sharp, fluid turns. The rain spilled around her, streaking across her skin and soaking her shorts, steam rising where droplets met Noklan¡¯s acid-slick carapace, typically a defensive mechanism¡ªhe was growing less confident. She adjusted her footing on instinct, her body moving like a taut thread poised to snap. Noklan surged, his foreleg a jagged blur. Camellia¡¯s slim form wove like smoke in response, defying the jagged arcs of his assault. Her hair snapping taut as she narrowly avoided the strike¡ªstone exploded behind her, shards grazing her shoulder as the acid hissed against the walls. Too close. She spun low, every nerve alive as she brought him into alignment. ¡°Running again, little princess?¡± Noklan¡¯s mandibles clicked as he lunged, acidic venom streaking the air. He shifted his weight, legs flexing as he tried to anticipate her next movement within the pattering rain, distracting him. ¡°You cannot outlast me. I will master this body, and then¡­¡± Camellia''s lips curved, not needing to speak when playing with her prey; that was her middle sister¡¯s pastime. Rain spattered against Noklan¡¯s trembling form, droplets tracing the crude contours of his stolen guardian body. The hiss of acid rising from his spinnerets mingled with the sharp crackle of her threads. Running? Her lips curved, fingers brushing the web. A faint pulse answered. Beneath them, silk buried deep snapped taut, the ground shuddering in submission. Such ignorance to our ways. Noklan froze, gem-like eyes flaring as he realized too late¡ªher trap had been sprung. A tremor ripped through the cavern, the stone buckling beneath them as a flawless circle cut away with surgical precision. The falling droplets peppered them as the newly created platform lurched, beginning to plummet into empty space. He staggered, the Xaltan¡¯s barbed legs scraping against the slick stone. Instinctively, he fired a thick tether of silk toward the wall, seeking stability, but a sharp twitch of Camellia¡¯s fingers activated another thread, sending pre-cut slabs of rock crashing down, severing his lifeline before it could anchor. Once again, he was too slow to curve their trajectory. Noklan growled low, his spinnerets spasming as he sent another pulse to redirect his web. From her perch atop her bundle of silk, Camellia pointed a finger his way, unleashed a single thread, unique and almost invisible in the dim. Her lips curved into a faint smile. Predictable. It connected inside Noklan¡¯s gaping, unprotected mouth. His body jerked as a crackling pulse surged through him, forcing his legs to lock and his mandibles to snap shut. ¡°You¡ª¡± His voice cut off as Camellia immediately severed the connection, jarring his silken pulses to change their trajectory and keeping his senses in total disarray. In the next moment, they passed into total darkness, their platform breaking free over a massive underground lake¡ªone her mother had crafted for the drone¡¯s daily sustenance needs. Directing a finger heavenward amidst the pattering rain, her web pulled tight, jerking them to a halt just above the massive underground lake that teemed with life.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Rain continued to fall through the fractured ceiling high above, splashing against the stone and pooling on the edges of the platform. The rhythmic patter seemed to echo Noklan¡¯s rising panic, a relentless tide of noise that disoriented his crude senses. Underwater fish darted away in alarm, sending more sound and movement colliding with his fractured brains. Camellia slowly advanced, her steps deliberate, her ruby eyes gleaming as she closed the distance between them, crimson silk coiling from beneath the platform. He tried to steady himself, his barbed legs twitching erratically, senses overwhelmed amid the millions of raindrops colliding with the stone and against his body. But she was already before him. Utterly paralyzed, all he could do was watch from every angle, unable to block out the flood of information she¡¯d purposefully activated with her earlier shock. Her figure loomed large in his vision, her presence filling his fractured sensory field. ¡°Small,¡± she murmured, her voice a lilting melody that seeped into his mind. Her hands slid down the length of his venom-coated fangs¡ªuseless; she¡¯d analyzed and neutralized it¡ªher touch feather-light yet like fire to him. ¡°Weak. That¡¯s how you feel, isn¡¯t it?¡± Noklan¡¯s body shuddered. His spinnerets twitched, firing an erratic pulse in an attempt to seize control of her silk. For a brief moment, his thread surged toward her, seeking to wrap her in its cutting grasp. Camellia didn¡¯t flinch. Instead, she caught the thread midair with her hair, twisting it with effortless precision and redirecting its energy back into his frame. ¡°You thought you could use silk against me?¡± she purred, her tone dripping with mockery. ¡°Hubris. Is that the word? I¡¯ve rarely spoken to those I devour,¡± she giggled, licking her wet lips and tasting the tantalizing flavor to come. The delicate balance between his borrowed strength and the guardian¡¯s raw power unraveled as his confidence wavered. Camellia¡¯s crimson lattice slipped beneath his defenses, infiltrating the vulnerable gaps in his joints and spinnerets. Her locks spread outward, an intricate web of ruby silk that hummed with its own predatory intent to his knowing senses. Noklan staggered, his legs buckling beneath him as the threads burrowed deeper, infiltrating, hijacking. Camellia¡¯s voice lowered, her words a soft, venomous whisper as her hands caressed his quivering jaws. ¡°I feel everything, you know. Every pulse. Every tremor. Even your doubts are laid bare for my delight¡­ I feel a little closer to my little sister. This is¡­delectable.¡± Her silk wove through his nerve system, latching onto the flickering impulses that controlled his limbs. His mandibles clicked in a futile attempt to fight back, but his own threads betrayed him. Her web coiled upward, lifting her effortlessly onto a platform formed from his own silk. She gazed down at him, her ruby eyes glinting with predatory amusement. ¡°When it comes to raw power,¡± she said, her voice calm and deliberate, ¡°you have me beaten. But finesse?¡± Her lips parted in a chilling smile, her sharp teeth glinting. ¡°You never stood a chance.¡± Her threads plunged into Noklan¡¯s gem-like eyes, infiltrating the crystalline structures from within. A sharp crack echoed through the cavern as the silk took control of his sensory receptors, severing his connection to the outside world. His trembling ceased, his movements stilled as she claimed complete control. Rain continued to fall, the droplets hissing against the heated stone edges from their downward descent and sliding down the sleek surface of her expansive crimson hair, now draped across the stilling waters. Suddenly, her body contorted, reshaping into her true, 5-meter-tall arachnid form. Steam hissed from the plates on her back and legs, the humid air shimmering around her as she loomed over him. The humanoid facade melted away, revealing the terrifying elegance of her true figure. Eight limbs extended, each gleaming with a smooth, metallic sheen that seemed to drink in the dim light. Her eyes¡ªnow thirteen glowing rubies¡ªfixed on Noklan with unrelenting focus. A low, melodic giggle escaped her lips, the sound reverberating through the cavern like a sinister lullaby. ¡°I¡¯m so hungry,¡± she murmured, her voice carrying an edge of dark satisfaction as her diamond-like teeth flashed in the misty air. All he could do was silently watch her mouth open wide, pincers closing in, screaming in utter silence. ¡°Thank you for the meal.¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Rain spilled into the jagged opening as Elinor descended, a chain splitting space and lurching toward her. Each link clinked faintly in the humid air as she snatched the lapis with ease and began to descend in silence. Her bright emerald eyes swept the space, the expanded cavern below stretching wide, an echoing chasm marred by shattered webs, cracked stone, and glistening pools of acidic venom. Her boots touched the uneven ground, her dark gaze sweeping the devastation Camellia and Noklan had left in their wake. Ash waited at the bottom, his pale horse a ghostly specter amidst the gloom. His sharp silver eyes met hers beneath his hood, a faint smirk tugging at his bone-like mouth. ¡°She¡¯s impressive. I suppose that is to be expected from someone in the Royal Court.¡± Elinor clasped her hands behind her back, posture rigid as she studied the destruction. Camellia hadn¡¯t been the one to carve this chaos, but the surgical precision of certain cuts in the stone did bare her marker. War lives because of her, she coolly returned. But we will see what can be done about his condition when this business is finished. It makes me want to find her mother and sisters¡­ We have time on our side. She walked past a jagged hole in the stone floor, where Noklan had been hurled into the jungle above. Her Nexus pulsed faintly, a web of connections as she took stock of her unit positions. Her chains extended again, coiling downward as she stepped over the edge and began her descent into the lower caverns. Ash followed, his horse effortlessly leaping down to keep pace, looking for lurking danger. Garu was closing in on Chief Zargoth, his steady presence like a heartbeat in the distance. Black was already retreating with Red, moving to rendezvous with Quin and the Roxim citizens. Her mouth became a line, eyes burning like a fire upon envisioning his condition: losing a leg, arm, and having a gaping hole through his torso. Her boots met the cavern floor, water trickling in faint rivulets around her as she continued through the ravaged zone. Jennifer¡¯s face fixated in her mind and all the damage she¡¯d caused to her life, to so many lives now under her protection. ¡°Would you prefer to ride with me, Empress?¡± Ash asked, his voice low and haunting with the aura of death he projected. ¡°The drone and Garu are converging from different angles. If we ride fast¡­¡± I¡¯m not in a rush, she whispered, her calm mental voice brushing against his like the faintest whisper. Everything is already in motion. Sensing his confusion and discontent, eager to slice souls, Elinor sighed, trying to temper her expectations and plan for reality. If I thought rushing would provide us with results, I would. We are not only dealing with Jennifer and her master but new forces we have yet to properly identify. Her vision narrowed. We cannot underestimate Shade, either. I am sure his manipulations entangled my sister. We¡¯ve learned much after infiltrating the Xaltan. I can expect Jennifer to have a way out. Despite us closing in on all sides¡­ She is a cockroach who prioritizes her own life above anything else. This requires a measured pace and controlled spirit. Ash¡¯s fingers tightened around his reigns. ¡°The nalveans Garu smells could be her trump card? Given what they did to the Xaltan elite and the damage they caused to my brother, I can certainly respect the need for caution. Is this nalvean the one who sent the armada of flying creatures that you sent Grace and Valentina to handle?¡± She stepped toward one of the broken th¨¦lm¨¦thra Camellia had dispatched, its massive form crumpled and lifeless. Emerald butterflies materialized around her in the dark space, falling rain pattering in the background as they shimmered and fluttered around her. Without a gesture, they flew forward to land on the corpse, Death Energy flowed into the creature, sparking new life into its shattered frame and shackling it to life just as a surge of power embraced her.
[Level Up - Level 27] [1 Stat Point Added; 2 Available] [1 Feat Extension Point Added; 3 Available]
[1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available]
The notification barely registered in Elinor¡¯s mind as she walked up a fallen rock formation, the th¨¦lm¨¦thra¡¯s renewed form rushing to the location for her to smoothly step onto its back. She spoke through the Nexus to the Intelligent drone. You know how nalveans and ri¡¯bot smell, I assume. Follow the scent of those who passed through here. The arachnid lurched forward immediately without a sound, its movements smoother than she¡¯d expected for something recently awakened. She balanced effortlessly on its back, her gaze shifting to Ash, waiting for a response while riding beside her, keeping pace without a word. Her thoughts briefly turned to Grace and Valentina, challenging whatever flying army Jennifer had called to her aid. Shade¡¯s influence was involved, no doubt, making her jaw tighten. At least Nungal had offered to handle it, using her loyal hare man as an instrument. The mysterious goddess was always meddling. I have no time to waste thinking about something that is sure to be handled with Grace involved¡­ They might as well be facing the hag herself. Garu¡¯s steady voice reached her through the Nexus, diverting her mind as his calm and focused tone snatched her attention. ¡°Chief Zargoth is just ahead of me¡­ I smell blood and the smell of ash. What¡¯s this¡­¡± Elinor didn¡¯t interrupt, waiting for him to report, her calculating mind already anticipating the worst. Yet, at that exact moment, another surge of energy coursed through her, sharper this time, from Camellia as she killed the Xaltan Chief.
[Level Up - Level 28] [2 Stat Points Added; 4 Available]
[3 Feat Extension Point Available] [1 Refinement Point Available] [1 Branch Feat Point Available]
Refocusing, her nose twisted as Garu¡¯s report continued. ¡°I¡¯ve discovered many small circular jewels, emeralds and diamonds¡­ They are imprinted with a marker and smell of nalvean. There is also a seal on what appears to be copper, showing a creature I am unfamiliar with. Chief Zargoth wounded one of the nalveans but appears to have been captured.¡± Or dead and they took the corpse so I couldn¡¯t resurrect him, Elinor mumbled, glancing toward Ash. Continue to pursue them and rescue him if you can. I give you full command over the drone that is tracking them from another tunnel. Don¡¯t let them escape. Her fingers tightened around her wrist as she felt a surge of cold fury from her father¡¯s connection. His confrontation with Xaria Dalria burned like a storm through the Nexus. Her jaw locked as she thought of the ri¡¯bot who had killed her mother. Dalria is a monster, a tool¡­but not the root of the rot. That lies with Jennifer and Shade. Now, we have a new target, a nalvean. It took me too long to get strong enough to confront them¡­ Butter, why are you taking so long? Her gaze drifted to the northeast, her connection to her twin faint but present. Mika has returned to the afterlife and I almost lost War. What baggage will you bring me, my fatty little sister? Elinor¡¯s lips curved into a faint, sardonic smile while recalling their united spiritual fight against Ashrit. Like you, will I face the echoes of my former life? Will my past demand an audience? If anything¡­that scares me. Ironic, my worst fear is myself. Her fingers curled into a tighter fist, the faintest tremor of resolve passing through them. If so, I won¡¯t face her alone. The th¨¦lm¨¦thra surged forward, its movements smoother now as it carried her deeper into the caverns to find what Jennifer had scrambled to secure before losing access to the valley¡ªbecause, when this night was over, it would be hers. B4 — 12. Storms Tempered, Souls Forged The wind howled, carrying the tang of rain and earth through the humid air that lifted Grace¡¯s lips. He stood motionless on the jagged outcrop, his posture lax against the tempest¡¯s fury, his ears tilted forward, tracking the buzz in the distance. Below the jungle canopy, the brush and foliage churned like a restless sea, thrashing under the remnants of the hag¡¯s storm. Lightning split the horizon, illuminating the dense mist with sharp flashes, and in those fleeting moments, a swarm of sleek insects became a dance of glistening iridescence. Large things, he noted, shifting on instinct to an angle to cut the wind resistance from a change in direction. Perhaps the same size as a horse? No, slightly larger. Four wings, membranous by their sound, Six legs¡­and iridescent scales that make them glitter like a rainbow amidst the lightning. How beautiful. Valentina was only now catching up, claws extended while climbing up the slick branches. He rubbed the red-stone shackles on his wrist as she braced herself on the swaying platform he stood upon; her feline grace was giving her an edge but more refined movement would take many more months of training. A low hiss rumbled from her throat as she caught sight of their target within the misty veil. ¡°What kind of rainbow moves like¡­ Hold up! There¡¯s like¡­thousands of them! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about. Finally, something I can sink my claws into.¡± ¡°Patience,¡± he whispered, knowing her sharp ears would catch his words. He felt his goddess drawing near with the hail of rain that peppered his bare chest. ¡°Nungal will provide a way. Listen for that pluck within your breast that directs you. Observe, and be a beacon for her glory.¡± ¡°Sour puss,¡± the Tiger Girl grumbled. ¡°You could take them out in a single slash, couldn¡¯t you?¡± Grace didn¡¯t respond to the girl¡¯s testing taunts; she¡¯d made a game out of trying to get him to snap at her, which was mildly humorous. His focus was on the task, though, the target. Precise movements, he gauged, head tilting to the left as they raced against the wind, finding exact currents to find the path of least resistance. Unnaturally precise. A slight delay¡­following key members of the swarm. Silver eyes tracing the ebb and flow of their formations through the dwindling hurricane winds, he took note of each pattern, locking onto the leaders and sub-leaders. ¡°This is no natural hive acting on primal impulse,¡± he instructed, finding his hands behind his back and shifting with practiced ease to smile down at the impulsive tiger, still struggling against the gales. ¡°A foreign will guides them.¡± Valentina¡¯s mouth bunched to the side, her breath coming in sharp, measured draws, a predator¡¯s cadence in the thick of a hunt. Her newly acquired Feats had her eyes wide, pupils dilated, locked in for the hunt. ¡°You haven¡¯t even seen me really fight. I¡¯m ready!¡± Her bound, thick hair stuck to her face and back. The rain slicked her tiger-striped fur across her chest and waist area, tail drawing still as the droplets tracing the lines of muscle beneath. Even as her posture screamed readiness, Grace caught the subtle quiver in her tail¡ªa tell of frustration, tightly wound and barely contained. In some ways, you are, he thought, his gaze never leaving the swarm with his wide field of focused vision. That fire can temper you into steel or burn you to ash. A ripple of warmth spread through his thoughts as Nungal¡¯s voice stirred within him, slowing space and stilling the tempest. Like a distant bell echoing in the chambers of his mind, her amused chuckles sounded. ¡°Let the empress¡¯ pupil find her own path. Nurture the Seed with care¡ªobserve, guide her growth, and build her confidence. Teach her well, then reveal my hand. These insects, as you¡¯ve noted, aren¡¯t driven by instinct but bound by unseen chains in their Spiritual Core. When the time comes, free them, Wanderer. For now, stay with Val.¡± Your wisdom is radiance, My Will and Sword. Grace closed his eyes briefly. ¡°Grace,¡± Valentina hissed, her voice low yet sharp enough to slice through the storm¡¯s din. ¡°We¡¯ve been watching for what feels like forever. They¡¯re almost right over us! If they come any closer, I can take out the first few, but then they¡¯ll¡ª¡± The tempest waned, giving way to a lulling bubble of purple hues that draped over the nearby jungle like a hushed breath. The wind played with his long ponytail, slick and glowing as he slowly reached for the hilt of his blade. Valentina¡¯s breath caught as her claws flexed, her muscles coiled like a spring. ¡°Finally! Are we doing this? Should I uh, should I duck? Don¡¯t kill all of them! Grace?¡± His voice harmonized with the wind, the very air vibrating with the light violet aura that infused him. ¡°Grant your servant clarity, Nungal. Let my actions honor thy will and guide the very heavens to obey thy dictate.¡± Silver irises gleaming with the surety of divine dictate, he opened them again, spreading his stance as the wind and rain moved to circle them in a hot embrace. Grace¡¯s hand stilled her with a faint gesture, his expression serene and unhurried. ¡°Hold,¡± he instructed, his tone carrying a calm weight that rippled through her taut energy. ¡°No need to be nervous. Nungal¡¯s arms surround us; the elements and Lesser Gods heed Her command.¡± He unsheathed his blade in a fluid motion, the curved metal catching the light of a distant lightning flash. Rather than striking, he raised it skyward, the blade seeming to drink in the charged atmosphere. ¡°What are you¡­¡± Valentina trailed off as the sword¡¯s curved tip illuminated, carving an elegant circle through the air. The shackles around his ankles flared and vanished, the sound of chains tickling his long ears. A violet glow trailed in its wake, the line pulsing as if alive, resonating with the storm around them. The circle completed, the hum grew, vibrating through the ground, the air, and his chest. The purple line expanded, a gentle ripple turning into a growing wave. The storm¡¯s remnants bent to its influence, swirling around them. Dark clouds above churned and spiraled, gathering into a vortex that consumed the heavens, causing Valentina to drop to her butt. The wind¡¯s cry softened into a melody¡ªhaunting, resonant, and divine. ¡°No way¡­ This is just, next level¡­¡± ¡°The wind hears Her voice,¡± Grace murmured, his words as soft as a prayer yet echoing with unshakable certainty. ¡°It carries Her will, a cycle eternal, bending all within its grasp to the rhythm of Her command¡­ None shall escape until She wills it.¡± The circle pulsed brighter, and the vortex began to expand. The swarm, once so sure in its precise motion, scattered as the winds caught them. The insects tried to flee, wings buzzing frantically for a way out, but the unseen force twisted their paths back toward the vortex¡¯s heart. The canopy overhead was a swirling abyss, yet the jungle below remained untouched¡ªa testament to the precision of his mistress¡¯ power. Valentina¡¯s mouth parted, her golden eyes wide. ¡°This¡­ This is crazy.¡± She snorted, her lips curling into a crooked smile. ¡°That¡¯s it, huh? That¡¯s what goddess power looks like. You didn¡¯t even touch the jungle! Just wrapped everything up like it¡¯s in a big ol¡¯ box with a bow on top.¡± Grace let the faintest smile tug at his lips, pleased by her reaction. With measured grace, he resheathed his blade and lowered himself to the swaying platform, his movements unhurried as though the maelstrom were merely a passing breeze. He sat, back straight, his twin blades resting against his left shoulder. ¡°Now, Valentina,¡± he said, folding his hands lightly atop his knee, ¡°the field is yours. Battle to your heart¡¯s content. Should you falter, of course¡­¡± His smile deepened, faintly teasing. ¡°You may always return to me for a hint or two. They can be slippery.¡± Valentina blinked at him, her tail twitching with lingering energy. ¡°Hints, huh?¡± she huffed, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. ¡°Right. Like I need your help.¡± With a sharp exhale, she bounded forward, claws gleaming in the violet light as the vortex roared above, isolated from the rest of the jungle. Inside Grace¡¯s mind, Nungal¡¯s voice rang with warm amusement, like a melody carried on distant winds. ¡°A charming display, my Will and Sword. You honor me with every motion.¡± Her laughter was playful, a teasing edge in its timbre. ¡°Keep tending the little tiger. Her fire will suit me well when the time comes. Imagine how she¡¯ll bristle when I nudge her onto my path. Truly, your devotion makes it so much fun to shape these mortals.¡± Grace inclined his head slightly, an imperceptible acknowledgment of her presence, his focus never leaving Valentina as she tore into the swarm¡ªat least, the few she managed to catch who got trapped in the cyclone, trying to escape. The mist curled and danced around the edge of the vortex, the cyclone¡¯s roar outside muted into a steady hum within its tranquil core. He silently observed Valentina as she darted between targets, her tiger-striped form weaving through the violet glow of the storm¡¯s grip. Every movement she made was raw, untamed, but brimming with potential. A predator learning her hunt, unrefined but fierce. The vortex suddenly shifted as a section of the swarm broke free, the iridescent dragonflies veering toward them with unerring exactness. Their scaled bodies blended seamlessly into the rain, making them nearly invisible for the girl until they struck. His sharp eyes caught the shift of metal strapped to their legs¡ªsome kind of device¡ªas they dove toward the tiger girl, releasing jets of concentrated water that sliced through the air like knives. Not one targeted him. Valentina growled, her movements quick but frantic as she bobbed and weaved, lashing out. Her claws glinting as they tore into one of the creatures, sending it spiraling into the cyclone¡¯s winds, two wings ripped away. ¡°Center yourself,¡± Grace calmly instructed, noticing the shift in her stance to a more aggressive momentum. ¡°Their movements follow a rhythm. Find it, exploit it, and you won¡¯t need to come to them, they¡¯ll come to you.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say!¡± she snapped, flipping to another branch as a jet of water shattered the one she had just vacated. ¡°They¡¯re flippin¡¯ spitting bullets at me over here! Ah! That almost hit my tail!¡± ¡°Thoughts?¡± Nungal asked, her voice resonating with his soul. Mmm. He rubbed his chin, tilting his head the opposite way as the teen had to time the blast of each group that twisted in and out, attacking her at virtually every angle. She has sharp instincts. She¡¯s noticed they run in packs of twenty five and attack as one. Allowing her to identify where the gaps will be since they¡¯re all uniform, yet¡­ The subtle quiver in her tail betrays her frustration. ¡°Indeed. Yet, she has the most talent out of every human girl within Elinor¡¯s empire.¡± The small shifts in motion¡­ There it is, she¡¯s taken to the sky. Good. Use their dance. Find the rhythm. Make them sing for you¡­ Valentina spun around the peppering bullets to land on the leader¡¯s back, but she knew better than to take out the commander¡ªthey made the swarm predictable. No, her focus was on the drones around him. A smile lifted the girl¡¯s lips as her claws found another target, slashing through the membranous wings of a dragonfly with a guttural snarl. Using it for momentum, she leaped to the next just before it tumbled into the swirling storm, its iridescence fading into the mist. Grace allowed himself a slight smile as another group from the swarm dove at her exposed flank, the teen¡¯s eyes widening when they unleashed a rain of condensed water ripping through their comrades she rode on. ¡°Perhaps a little help,¡± his goddess mused with a giggle. ¡°I¡¯d rather not have her armless.¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. With a flick of his unsealed wrist, Grace summoned a spectral chain from the void, its shimmering violet links materializing in an instant. The spike chains lashed out, locking all twenty-five creatures mid-dive, freezing their entire souls. ¡°Focus, Valentina,¡± he murmured, his tone unhurried. ¡°Your fire is strong, but fire needs direction, or it burns out. Expect the unexpected. Bend with the wind. Flow with the water. Strike like the rock.¡± Valentina¡¯s tail twitched as she accelerated, jumping in quick succession from insect to insect, eviscerating them in quick succession. The dragonflies took notice of his strike, redirecting toward him from the command of a single sapphire leader hovering high above the swarm. ¡°I¡¯m doing fine!¡± she barked, but her movements began to shift, her impulsive strikes giving way to sharper, more deliberate motions. Another insect fell under her claws as she timed her drop to land on a new cluster moving toward him. ¡°Watch yourself!¡± Grace fluidly took one of his sheathed swords and held it in front of him, tilting it in order to intercept each blast of water, his posture unshaken. ¡°They¡¯re about to change the dances¡­ Careful.¡± Each strike she made, each adjustment in her form, he noted with precision. She¡¯s learning quickly¡­ I expect she will grow into something formidable if she can temper that impatience and trust her instincts more. A warm, feminine chuckle echoed faintly in his mind. ¡°She¡¯s coming along nicely, isn¡¯t she? Such a spark in her¡ªwild and untamed. Imagine what she¡¯ll be when her fire dances to my chains. ¡± Grace inclined his ears slightly, the soaked fur causing water to drip onto his nose. Your chains, My Mistress, are not bonds but keys. They unshackle those imprisoned, freeing them from the frailties of flesh and the blindness of mortality. Through them, they ascend beyond their limitations, becoming instruments of your will¡ªperfect in form, grace, and purpose. His silver eyes flickered with a faint light as he added, She may yet resist, but all wild flames find their hearth in time. Under your guidance, even this untamed fire will burn brighter, unyielding, and eternal. Nungal¡¯s laugh lingered, teasing. ¡°You give me such praise, my faithful wanderer. Tend to her well. Her place in my plans with our dear empress will amuse me greatly¡ªand perhaps give me new ways to trouble and pester her.¡± Grace¡¯s lips twitched in the faintest of smiles. Your plans are radiant and all-seeing, My Goddess, he whispered, his eyes never leaving Valentina as she leapt toward her next target. It seems my time has come to step in. The heavens churned, the sapphire dragonfly above the swarm commanding their retreat with sharp, precise movements. Valentina¡¯s growl cut through the thinning storm as her tail flicked with frustration. Bloodied claws glinted in the violet light, the air heavy with the scent of rain and ozone. She crouched low, teeth bared in a triumphant snarl, her gaze locking onto her next target. Below her, the shredded remains of the dragonflies she¡¯d taken down spiraled into the swirling vortex of the tempest. She landed on the last of the squad. Then, all at once, they surged upward at a rhythmic beat from the sapphire leader¡¯s command. Grace¡¯s eyes narrowed, ears rising as they scattered, leaving her without a platform to leap to. The teen¡¯s ears flicked back, muscles coiling to jump, but the space above was vast, too far to reach another insect, and escaping below at the sudden rise in elevation was suicide. The leader hovered above the vortex, its sparkling figure a sentinel of the swarm, its will rippling through the synchronized hum of countless wings. The swarm shifted higher, pulling Valentina with them. The iridescent canopy of their bodies tightened, forming a glittering dome above her, while the jungle grew more distant. Valentina crouched lower with the buffering winds of the altitude that threatened to buck her off her mount, her tail twitching in sharp, agitated arcs. Their blood streaked her claws, mattering her bare skin and fur, her teeth clenching as her golden eyes darted for an opening¡ªnone to be found. A tisk sound hummed from deep within Grace, Nungal¡¯s words a picture of disappointment that the training had come to an end. ¡°Bravo, hidden opponent behind insectoid eyes She loses.¡± ¡°Damn it,¡± the Colombian teen muttered, the words slipping through her teeth in a low growl that pricked Grace¡¯s ears as hers flattened, pressed back against the rain-slicked tangle of her hair. ¡°I was doing so good.¡± The hum of the swarm deepened, a resonant drone that vibrated through the atmosphere. Droplets of water gathered beneath the dragonflies, coalescing into shimmering spheres that hovered like knives held aloft. One by one, the spheres elongated, becoming concentrated bullets aimed squarely at the tiger girl. The sapphire insect pulsed with a flicker of blue light¡­and the swarm fired as one. Liquid tore through the air, a coordinated assault from every direction. Valentina¡¯s claws flexed as she braced herself for the onslaught. She didn¡¯t falter, didn¡¯t flinch. Grace could see every thought racing through her head¡ªshe calculated how many she might counter, how many she might survive, her feral instincts screaming for action. Then¡­the world slowed. Well, she knows her limits. The violet light of the cyclone he¡¯d summoned swirled more languidly, its tempo drawn out like the final notes of a melody. The rushing streams of water froze mid-air, their sharp edges glinting against the faint glow. Grace rose slowly to his feet, the motion almost imperceptible against the slowed chaos around him. His swords hung against his shoulder, still rain streaking their sheaths. His illuminated silver eyes lifted toward Valentina, his gaze calm, unreadable. The faint clink of his shackles resonated softly, barely audible beneath the stillness. ¡°Hand her a blade,¡± Nungal murmured directly in his soul, her tone carrying a note of playful intrigue. ¡°Offer her the path.¡± The faint scent of lilac and starlight seemed to brush against him, a reminder of her embrace. Grace¡¯s lips curled into the faintest smile as he reached for one of his clothed swords and held it aloft. With a deliberate motion, he traced a smooth arc through the time-frozen air, the blade carving an ethereal rift into the fabric of space itself. The tear yawned open, violet light spilling forth, and he stepped through, his soul expanding with every step as he whispered the phrase. ¡°Soul Expansion: The Boundless Chain¡¯s Ascent.¡± Valentina¡¯s eyes widened as he emerged into the sky, walking on air as if it were solid ground. The violet glow enveloped her, steadying her precarious perch on the dragonfly. She flinched, nearly losing her balance as she gripped the creature¡¯s slick carapace. ¡°What the hell?!¡± she barked, her claws scraping against the dragonfly¡¯s back as she looked around at the time-frozen world. ¡°You just¡ªdid you¡ªare you walking on air?!¡± Her eyes darted to the rift still hanging in space, its edges swirling like liquid fire. ¡°Did you cut space and walk through it with a sheathed sword?!¡± Her voice cracked between awe and indignation. ¡°That¡¯s so¡­ Eh, no, I¡¯m fine! I don¡¯t need your help!¡± Grace¡¯s shoulders trembled, his body shaking with silent laughter, though his expression remained composed. He stepped closer until he hovered three meters from the insect, its wings¡ªthe same as every other temporal thing¡ªfrozen in a stilled hum around them. His violet aura shimmered like a shield, encasing them in serene stillness. ¡°It is not I who offers a hand, young tigress,¡± Grace chuckled, his voice low, carrying the serene certainty of his faith. He held out the sheathed sword he¡¯d used to reach this lofty position, its hilt glowing faintly a deep crimson. ¡°Tell me, Valentina¡ªdo you believe in Her power? Do you trust Her to lift you to realms on high, as she does for me?¡± Valentina blinked at the blade, her lips parting as if to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her claws flexed against the dragonfly¡¯s back, her gaze darting between Grace¡¯s tranquil expression and the glowing weapon. ¡°I¡­¡± She hesitated, swallowing hard. Her tail flicked once, then stilled. She released a sharp breath and glanced down at the open space between them, her hand trembling slightly. ¡°I¡­believe she can do anything after watching you.¡± She extended a cautious foot toward the air, and, to her credit, did not expect to fall¡ªshe didn¡¯t. Her toes met something solid¡ªunseen, but unyielding. Her eyes and smile widened as she took another step, her weight shifting tentatively onto the invisible path. The air held her, firm and steady beneath her feet. ¡°This is¡­¡± She faltered, her balance wavering. Panic flashed across her face as she stumbled. ¡°Nungal!¡± Her cry was sharp, instinctive, as she lurched forward, grasping the sword¡¯s hilt. Her fall abruptly stopped, the blade anchoring her in place as Grace¡¯s hand steadied her. He pulled her up onto the swirling violet light beneath him, his movements unhurried, his gaze steady. ¡°Why did you doubt?¡± he asked, his tone even, but a flicker of warmth touched his words. ¡°Your actions matched your belief¡­ It was strong.¡± Valentina gritted her teeth, her tail flicking in irritation. ¡°I wasn¡¯t doubting¡ªI just¡­ Maybe I did have my doubts. It won¡¯t happen again.¡± Her eyes darted away, the faintest flush warming her cheeks. ¡°Dammit. It¡¯s just¡­that was intense. Okay? Something like that¡­ I guess only the Empress has made me feel that way before. Wait¡­ Really?!¡± Grace¡¯s faint smile deepened as he placed the sword in her hands. ¡°The path is yours to walk,¡± he softly replied, stepping back. ¡°Now, follow it.¡± He moved away, the violet aura shifting with him as he turned his gaze skyward. The sapphire insect still loomed above as he parted the time-locked rain drops in passing, its swarm poised mid-strike. Thousands of glinting liquid streams hung in the air, ready to unleash their fury the moment his expanded soul retracted. Grace exhaled slowly, his posture relaxed as he closed his eyes. ¡°Nungal,¡± he murmured with reverence. ¡°Let my blade guide her. Let no drop of rain above strike the earth and let the glory of the moon shine her glory upon us.¡± Unbound by shackles around his wrists and ankles, he grasped his remaining sword with both hands outstretched. His lady¡¯s presence surrounded him, her arms a phantom embrace, her voice a whisper against his ear. ¡°Show her the path to transcendence, my faithful wanderer. Let her see the world through your blade.¡± Grace unsheathed the unhallowed steel by an inch, the sound a clarion cry, cutting through the stillness. He slid it back, the motion deliberate, precise. Time seemed to hang in the pause, the air heavy with anticipation. Then, silence. The vortex above unraveled, its winds dissipating into nothingness. The clouds parted, revealing a pale pink moon hanging low in the sky, its glow casting a tranquil light over the jungle. The swarm was gone, vanished without a trace. The storm in a kilometer diameter had passed, leaving behind an eerie calm. Valentina blinked, her claws still gripping the sword¡¯s hilt. Her ears twitched as she glanced around, searching for any sign of the dragonflies or the rain. ¡°What¡­ What just happened?¡± A cold gust swept through the canopy, carrying with it the faint sound of clinking chains. The violet aura faded, the last echoes of its light dissolving into the air as Grace turned back to her. He extended a hand, his silver eyes calm, unyielding. ¡°Will you follow the path of Nungal?¡± Valentina hesitated, her tail stilling as her gaze locked with his. She gripped the sword tightly, her knuckles whitening. Then, with a sharp exhale, she nodded, her voice low but steady. ¡°If it means doing cool shit like that¡­ Ahem. Yeah¡­ Yeah, I¡¯ll follow. So¡­what¡¯s next?¡± Grace¡¯s faint smile returned as he took her hand. Together, they began their descent, the canopy rising to meet them as the last traces of the violet light dissipated into the tranquil hum of the jungle below. ¡°Next? You obtain your shackles.¡± He stood silently as the last flickers of violet light faded into the stillness, the hum of Nungal¡¯s presence retreating to the quiet edges of his soul. The jungle around them was eerily silent, the remnants of the tempest dissipated, leaving only the rustle of leaves disturbed by the faint evening breeze. His gaze shifted to the teen as her feet touched the slick wood of the canopy, her grip tight on the sword now glowing faintly in her hand. The weapon pulsed, its crimson hue deepening as it responded to her essence. Grace watched without a word as the blade¡¯s light intensified, the glowing metal losing its solid form and flowing like liquid flame into her palm. The light coursed through her body in intricate, branching streams, coiling around her wrists, ankles, and tail. He noted the faint tremor in her hands, her wide-eyed stare as the crimson energy solidified into gleaming ruby shackles, their surface etched with subtle, shifting patterns like celestial chains. ¡°She has accepted you. The shackles are not burdens but symbols of your strength and Her guidance. They will remind you of what you now carry and will manifest again in a way comfortable to you.¡± Valentina shifted, flexing her fingers experimentally as the light faded into her skin, the shackles glinting faintly in the moonlight. She twisted to glance at the band encircling her tail, her brow furrowing before her ears twitched. ¡°Alright,¡± she muttered, her tone sharp yet tinged with curiosity. ¡°This is cool and all. I got a ton of levels and crazy new Feats¡­ Nungal¡¯s Chosen is a cool title, but¡­what exactly am I supposed to do now? Punch harder? Glow a little brighter? Do I get the sweet purple aura, too?¡± Grace regarded her with a serene chuckle. ¡°Now, you must learn how to sheath your claws,¡± he said, his tone deliberate, as though offering her a lesson she had yet to grasp. Her head snapped up, golden eyes locking on his. ¡°Sheath my claws?¡± she repeated, the words slow and incredulous. A sharp laugh escaped her, echoing in the quiet. ¡°That¡¯s it? After all of this, you¡¯re telling me to stop scratching things up? Seriously? After that display¡ªyou cut every flippin¡¯ rain drop, my guy!¡± His faint smile deepened, carrying a hint of amusement. ¡°Restraint, Valentina, is the difference between chaos and mastery,¡± he said, his tone calm but firm. ¡°Power without control is destruction. Power guided by purpose? Creation.¡± Finding his hands behind his back, he gave her a deliberate wink. ¡°A storm unleashed will destroy all in its path.¡± His gaze lingered on the shackles, their faint ruby glow mirroring the steady rhythm of his words. ¡°A storm tempered can carve rivers, feed lands, and bend even the skies to its will. That is the lesson: when to strike, and when to stay your claws. When She demands it through you, all beings tremble and obey, be them elementals¡­or gods.¡± Her claws extended and retracted reflexively, her tail flicking once before settling. She snorted, her lips quirking into a grin. ¡°Fine, fine,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°But don¡¯t think I¡¯m giving up on the whole ¡®tearing things apart¡¯ thing just yet.¡± She flexed her fingers, the shackles glinting faintly. ¡°I¡¯ll try this ¡®restraint¡¯ thing¡­just don¡¯t hold your breath if I have a few scratching posts.¡± Grace laughed and nodded, his gaze lifting briefly to the canopy as the quiet hum of the jungle returned; in the distance, he saw a streak of blue light, heading over the southern mountains. It seemed this war was about to end. How will Empress Elinor feel about this conclusion? ¡°That is all I ask. Now, let¡¯s return to the Empress¡¯ side. I am sure she has already concluded her war with the Xaltan. You must take joy in victories earned. Hard work should be rewarded,¡± he said, ruffling the cat¡¯s soaked hair and making her growl and glare up at him. ¡°Life is joy, death is peace, and service is fulfillment.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay grandpa¡­ Maybe we can get a bite to eat on the way back. I¡¯m starving!¡± she groaned, cupping her belly. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Huh?¡± Bend down, he smoothly lifted the collapsing tiger into a princess carry as her eyes sagged and her stomach snarled. ¡°I shall have a wonderful meal prepared when you awake. You have earned your rest.¡± B4 — 13. The Shade Upon Scarlet Hands Haunting blue light radiated from the giant frozen dome as Edmon watched the tiny, sparkling frost crystals begin to fall. Its icy walls refracted like shards of a shattered mirror. Each sharp edge reflected his blackened frost armor, his broad tower shield planted firmly into the crystalline ground. Frost crawled outward from his feet, a slow, relentless tide that glimmered with the light of his icy aura, saturating the battlefield with chilling inevitability. Dalria¡¯s breaths came sharp and quick, visible puffs in the frigid air as she dropped down to level a dark grin his way. ¡°You humans love your theatrics,¡± she hissed, voice laced with venom as she shifted her stance, every muscle coiled. ¡°You think this cage of ice will stop me from killing your daughter? I¡¯m not like those ri¡¯bot you faced who were crippled in snow. As a Xaria, I¡¯ve trained in the frozen peaks of the valley mountains.¡± Edmon¡¯s pale blue eyes glowed faintly behind his helm, his voice, low and resonant, cutting through the cold air like a blade. ¡°You misunderstand, Jennifer¡¯s Pawn,¡± he said, his words deliberate, each syllable weighted with disdain while not even acknowledging her name. ¡°This is no cage¡­ It is your grave.¡± Her orange skin stood out vividly against the monochrome landscape as the woman¡¯s slick tongue slid out to wet her lips, and her third eye, a grotesque mark of Revilla¡¯s influence, dripped crimson tears that evaporated before touching the frost-kissed ground. ¡°Is that so¡­¡± Spear hovering at her side in a taunting gesture for him to attack, Edmon didn¡¯t budge, yet it took everything in him to keep himself from unleashing the demon he¡¯d bottled up within. Instead, he let it whisper and scheme as he watched her gaze dart to the growing layer of frost overtaking the once-muddy earth gradually crawling toward her feet. ¡°You¡¯re stalling as your daughter¡¯s loyal defender,¡± she sneered, the third eye growing wider. ¡°You have no clue how prepared I was to eradicate your daughter¡­¡± Without warning, Dalria launched forward, her crimson-infused spear blurring with speed as she lunged, the strike aimed for his eye slit. He didn¡¯t flinch. His massive shield moved like a glacial wall, intercepting the weapon with a resounding clang. The frost spread instantly from the point of contact, tendrils of ice creeping along her weapon¡¯s shaft, yet he didn¡¯t come away unscathed¡ªthe crimson energy latched onto his bulwark like webbing. [Assaulted by Unknown Element: Resisted] Dalria cursed when the force flaked away into ice. She twisted away, wrenching her spear free before the frost could claim it entirely. She retreated several paces, her feet skidding slightly on the ice-slicked ground. With a flick of her wrist, she produced a crimson-infused grenade from her belt, the dull metal sphere reflecting the dome¡¯s ethereal light. She hurled it at his feet, leaping back as the explosion erupted, sending shards of ice and ruby shrapnel flying. The smoke cleared to reveal Edmon, unscathed, his shield raised. The frost around him flickered between the red hue and his icy blue before the wispy light was once again smothered. The ice was now thicker and darker where the grenade had struck. [Assaulted by Unknown Element: Resisted] He stepped forward, his movement slow, methodical, as the frost advanced with him, the air around his armored frame growing colder, heavier. ¡°How! That is the raw power of Revilla, transferred through my devotion to her¡ª¡± ¡°Devotion?¡± he murmured, his voice carrying a frigid edge. ¡°You know nothing of the word when it comes to a father¡¯s love¡­a husband¡¯s grief. What do you know? Always clawing, always running, never able to escape what you are¡ªa tool, wielded by some faceless being that demands but never reciprocates.¡± ¡°Strong words from a corpse playing dad,¡± she snarled, darting sideways, her movements quick and precise as Edmon¡¯s fist shook behind his shield. ¡°You could never hope to land a blow on a Xaria¡­ My revenge is inevitable!¡± ¡°Revenge?¡± He couldn¡¯t help a low chuckle at the word. ¡°Have you considered that your desire for revenge does not come within the same realm as me, and that is why your attacks lack¡­substance.¡± ¡°You know nothing of the humiliation of Chief Krava!¡± From the treeline that rimmed the icy dome, Dalria pulled out a long device, stolen from the Roxim¡¯s armory¡ªa rocket launcher. ¡°You disgraced our entire clan by your trickery and turned his oldest friend into an enemy!¡± Sapphire mist leaking out of his visor, Edmon let the silence be his response. With a sharp crack, she pulled the firing pin. The rocket popped out, fire and smoke streaking out as it screamed toward him. Edmon simply detached the smaller, circular shield from the back of his tower shield with a metallic hiss¡ªthe rocket exploded. Pressure and heat roared around him, yet Edmon refused to take a step back as he powered through the crimson-infused modern weapon. [Assaulted by Unknown Element: Resisted] Smoke swirling around him with ice and dirt fragments raining outward, he stepped out of the falling debris, drew back his arm, and hurled it like a spinning saw blade. The shield left a line of blue dust in its wake as it passed right through Dalria to strike the trunk behind her, erupting in a cloud of sapphire mist. Dalria¡¯s image hazed as her laughter came from the high branches of a black wooden tree to his right. ¡°Your daughter was faster than you when running for her life.¡± Edmon silently held up his hand, smooth ice forming into the circular shield as it reformed itself. Five grenades dropped down from every angle, the sound and shrapnel peppering him from every angle, but he felt none of it¡ªhe couldn¡¯t. All he could hear was the words he spoke to his daughter upon giving himself over to the ice that had enclosed his heart. My daughter, I swear to protect you for eternity¡­ ¡°Vengeance is my only ward, pawn of Jennifer,¡± he whispered, as he continued his glacial advance toward her through the swirling mist, growing thicker by the second. ¡°Human weapons, modified by your dead god or whatever she is¡­ You¡¯ve prepared well. But this isn¡¯t a contest of preparation, tool. What did you say¡­ I am inevitable.¡± Dalria growled, her third eye gleaming with unnatural light as she launched herself forward, flanking him in a flash. Her strikes came in rapid and varied¡ªslashes, thrusts, and quick feints designed to exploit any opening. Yet, each movement was met by the unyielding defense of his armor, even the openings refusing to give way due to the invisible force defending them. He maintained his advance, wherever she retreated to, moving with the inevitability of creeping frost, always in the right place, always a step closer. ¡°Tell me,¡± he said, his tone quieter now, almost conversational as his inner demon drew nearer to the surface with every blow. ¡°When you murdered my wife¡ªwhen you tore apart the life I built¡ªdid you ever wonder what it would cost you¡­ What it would cost your clan?¡± Dalria faltered, her grip tightening on her spear as she leaped back to evade another thrown shield that she easily avoided, leaving it to strike another tree. ¡°I did what I was told, as a soldier should. She was merely a bridge to your daughter¡¯s soul¡­ You have no idea what horrors lie chained deep within her dead flesh!¡± Edmon¡¯s voice turned colder, the frost at his feet spreading faster, encasing nearby rocks and roots in thick shimmering ice, the fog deepening. ¡°We had plans, you know,¡± he whispered, almost to himself, his words carrying the weight of something deeply buried that ached to be spoken. ¡°A house by the lake in rural California. A garden greenhouse she would tend. Elinor off at college, making her mark on the world. I would¡¯ve retired. Perhaps even¡ª¡± He cut himself off, his breath visible in the freezing air as he shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter now. You ended all of that¡­ Jennifer and her organization ended that,¡± he hissed, jagged ice crystals forming around his steps now. ¡°You, a wild animal, desperate for scraps of power handed down by others, ended that.¡± Dalria¡¯s third eye narrowed, her voice sharpening. ¡°What foolishness do you humans believe in? I didn¡¯t take her from you. Your weakness did. You failed to protect her, and you¡¯ll fail your daughter, too. Just like you always did to protect her from Jennifer¡¯s manipulations. I heard she was kidnapped from the sanctuary you hid her in¡­and killed while you went to stuff your mouth with your dead wife.¡± The words struck like a blow, and for a moment, the frost wavered, the air growing heavier with tension. But Edmon¡¯s grip on his shield tightened, and the cold returned with renewed ferocity, tingles cascading up his spine. ¡°I did fail my family,¡± he reflected, his tone glacial as he looked past the swirling mist to see the smirking toad woman, her five of her daggers stuck into his ice dome, attempting to eat their way out¡ªtheir crimson energy was smothered under his gaze. ¡°I promised my daughter I would never let that happen again¡­ And now, I have a chance to get my wife back¡­¡± Reaching up, Edmon removed his helmet to stare at the shivering toad as she pieced it together and a cold smile lifted his lips. ¡°But this time¡­you will not be there to take her from me again. It seems you didn¡¯t train long enough in those mountains.¡± ¡°What¡­¡± Dalria glanced back, seeing her daggers, iced over and brittle as glass. ¡°You¡¯ve been lowering the temperature the entire time¡­ Why does nothing work against you!¡± she shouted, jumping to one of the few non-frozen areas left, the advancing ice from his thrown shields continuing to expand. ¡°Do you feel it, pawn? Wild frogs don¡¯t realize they¡¯re being cooked if you turn the heat up little by little¡­ It seems the reverse works for toads.¡± He took another step, the silence now deafening as Dalria quaked, realizing how thick the dome around them had become. Dalria¡¯s gaze darted to the edges, where the frost had almost entirely consumed the soil. ¡°It¡¯s never been about hitting you,¡± he coolly whispered, having left a specific zone ice free to corner the proud orange-skinned toad. ¡°The moment you were in my cage, my hands were creeping in¡­ Slow, patient¡­reaching until every muscle stiffens¡­every breath burns with crystals digging into your dry throat¡­ My hands reaching deep into your lungs, making the air dense¡­painful.¡± Her eyes widened as she jumped to a nearby bush, fumbling with another rocket launcher and cursing her Supreme Chiefs when the pin broke against her pressure. He took another step, cracking ice resounding in the confined space. She flung the rocket at the wall with shocking strength, causing a sharp explosion¡ªit hardly left a mark. ¡°This¡­this isn¡¯t supposed to¡ªI was¡­ She gave me the power¡ªLady Revilla¡¯s power,¡± she spat, her voice tinged with both fury and fear as she stumbled back and revealed her final weapon¡ªa machine gun. Yet, her fingers were now stiff while trying to keep the blood flowing as she pressed the button, her aim erratic. ¡°I received all of¡­of her power¡­ I have her eye. Why d-didn¡¯t she show me¡­ I have your weapons¡­ Stay away!¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you figured it out yet?¡± Edmon mumbled, not even blinking as he allowed the bullets to ricochet off his armor and face, leaving only minor cuts. He released his shield as he stepped closer, letting the futility of her shaking body press in on the woman. His pale blue eyes leered upon the pathetic creature. ¡°You were always a sacrifice. Why would Revilla use you¡ªthe thing that killed my wife¡ªto separate me from my daughter?¡± The trembling machine gun fell from Dalria¡¯s stiffening fingers, her breaths shallow and ragged as the frost encroached on her knees, locking her in place. Her third eye twitched, weeping crimson tears that froze before they could reach the ground. The riot of emotions etched on her face¡ªpride, desperation, and disbelief¡ªspoke volumes as Edmon¡¯s shadow fell over her, blotting out the faint blue light of the dome. His steps were slow, the resonant crack of ice beneath his boots punctuating the silence. The sapphire mist streaming from his naked eyes coiled lazily around them, as if savoring the moment. When he stopped, towering above her, the stillness returned, save for the soft hiss of frost biting into the ground. ¡°Did you truly believe,¡± Edmon began, his voice a measured, resonant whisper, ¡°that you ever embodied the strength of a Xaria like the Lethix¡¯s? Inora and Welix are leagues above you.¡± Dalria¡¯s throat worked, but no words escaped. The spear she had wielded with such precision now hung limply from her frozen hand, its shaft encased in frost. Her eyes darted to the edges of the dome, where the faint remnants of heat in the soil disappeared, the creeping cold rendering even the air too dense to inhale deeply. ¡°I¡¯ve spent the last few months watching and learning your culture. You cling to the title like a drowning creature reaching for flotsam,¡± he continued, his tone devoid of anger but weighted with disdain. ¡°But it was never yours to hold. Your Chief¡ªKrava¡ªhe is nothing compared to Valdar. Your chief is but an aged figurehead. A relic of a clan that has long since lost its direction.¡± Dalria¡¯s lips parted, her voice a thin rasp. ¡°You¡­ You don¡¯t know him¡­¡± ¡°I know him better than you, it seems.¡± His gaze brightened, pale blue light spilling from his eyes. ¡°I see the threads he¡¯s pulled, the web he¡¯s spun to maintain his throne amongst the valley clans, boasting of his prime. ¡°He¡¯s blinded himself with his own importance, his vanity keeping his grip on a dying people. He could have built strength, cultivated resilience in your clan, but instead, he promoted mediocrity to safeguard his position. And you¡ª¡± His armored hand gestured faintly toward her, frost blooming from his gauntlet like a flower. ¡°You are the culmination of his legacy.¡± Dalria¡¯s teeth clenched, her third eye burning brighter in defiance, though her body betrayed her struggle to resist. ¡°You¡­know nothing of our pain, of our clan! We have strong Xaria¡ªstronger than me! You know nothing of what it means to survive under constant oppression and expectations!¡± Edmon¡¯s breath hissed visibly from his mouth as he lowered himself to her hunkered level, his towering presence forcing her gaze upward. ¡°And what have you achieved with your so-called survival? Look around you. Division. A fractured faith in your Supreme Chiefs. A fractured faith in yourselves.¡± His voice grew quieter, yet it seemed to resonate deeper, the frost encasing Dalria¡¯s legs climbing steadily higher. ¡°So much so that you jumped at the first phantom hand extended to you¡ªRevilla¡¯s Scarlet Hand¡ªdripping with lies and poison. You are everything your people claimed the Roxim were.¡± Dalria¡¯s eyes widened, a flicker of raw fear flashing beneath her defiance. Her mouth opened, but the icy air caught in her throat, her protests reduced to a thin gasp. He could see his words digging at the consolation of beliefs that made her who she was, dimming every dying star. ¡°And now?¡± Edmon murmured, his voice soft as a blade sliding into its sheath. ¡°The Roxim stand renewed, their Mysticism restored under my daughter¡¯s power, their faith unshaken. And you? What do you have for your defiance, violence, and hatred?¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. His hand hovered over her shoulder, the frost thickening around her torso. ¡°A homeland lost? A people running to the doorstep of those you looked down upon? A clan begging the Great Clans for salvation while you bleed out the last remnants of your dignity at the feet of your new Scarlet goddess.¡± Dalria shook her head, her third eye glowing dimmer as her limbs shuddered against the creeping ice. ¡°No¡­ No, we were¡­we were stronger than them. He¡¯s a legend¡ªChief Krava¡­ He¡ª¡± ¡°Krava failed you,¡± Edmon stated, his armored fingers descending onto her shoulder, the contact sending tendrils of frost spidering out over her placid skin. ¡°And in turn, you failed yourselves by making us your enemy beyond redemption.¡± She tried to recoil, but the frost gripping her legs now climbed to her chest, locking her muscles in place. Each breath came shallow and labored, her struggles reduced to little more than feeble twitches. ¡°We could have been allies,¡± Edmon continued, his voice devoid of malice yet cutting in its finality. ¡°Supported one another like the Wixum did by opening their arms to us. Your name could have been remembered in triumph¡­glory, even. Instead, the Komath will be nothing but a footnote in history.¡± Dalria¡¯s face contorted in silent fury, but her words remained unspoken, her throat choked by the cold. Edmon leaned closer, his pale eyes glowing faintly through the mist. ¡°History remembers strength, Dalria,¡± he whispered, the frost creeping into her throat and down to ice over her spasming lungs. ¡°And your clan¡ªyour Chief¡ªchose pride and weakness over survival¡­ You chose to seal their fate in murdering my wife. And choices have consequences.¡± The finality of his words struck like a hammer. The frost claimed her entirely, her defiance locked forever in a tableau of stillness, her third eye¡¯s glow extinguished. Edmon straightened, the cold radiating from him filling the dome with a hollow silence. He regarded her frozen form for a moment longer before turning away and taking one step in the direction of his daughter, he released the fury of the ice within his chest. The dome cracked, fissures running down Dalria¡¯s frozen body, and then it all shattered to diamond dust to be swept away in a rush of hurricane winds from the north. The dazzling radiance was swept away as if the toad woman had never existed. Edmon¡¯s cold voice resonated through the Nexus, feeling Red and Black retreating toward Quin and the Roxim civilians, his daughter already inside the tunnels beneath his feet. The tool is dead¡­ I¡¯m on my way. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Jennifer¡¯s breath caught as the icy grip of death tightened through her connection to Dalria, the chilling sensation making her knees momentarily weak. Her vision tunneled, hijacked by the scarlet brand of Revilla, forcing her to witness the Xaria¡¯s final moments through her third eye. The unnatural cold coursed through her blood, numbing her extremities as though the frost was her own. Dalria¡¯s desperation screamed through the connection for help, deliverance, but Jennifer dismissed it, her focus stolen by the towering figure standing over the Xaria¡¯s crumpled form¡ªEdmon. The knight¡¯s obsidian frost armor seemed alive, refracting blue light as ice climbed across Dalria¡¯s twitching limbs, locking her in a statuesque pose. Relentless¡­ Unstoppable. He wasn¡¯t like this on Earth. His daughter¡¯s taint on his soul, hardening him and fueling his spirit with her power¡­ How is it this potent when she¡¯s so heavily sealed? Jennifer¡¯s lips pressed into a tight line, her voice sharp in her mind. Lady Revilla, you told me we could seal her if we obtained this treasure¡­but she¡¯s only getting closer. Revilla¡¯s laughter oozed through Jennifer¡¯s mind like blood congealing over jagged bone, a guttural, wet sound that dragged against her consciousness. The Eldritch presence writhed, an all-consuming force that bore down on her with the weight of a thousand mutilated realities. ¡°Dalria¡¯s failure was expected, but her agony...¡± she spoke, her voice dripping with sadistic relish, each syllable like a pulsating wound, splitting and reforming in Jennifer¡¯s thoughts. ¡°...a symphony. Her terror will feed me as she joins my beloved host, and still, it would not be enough to sate the hunger of what I am becoming¡­ What I must become to face what is to come.¡± Jennifer clenched her fists, forcing the bile creeping up her throat to subside. You said she would hold Elinor back¡­ At least for a time. ¡°And I delivered.¡± The entity¡¯s chuckle morphed into a cacophony of screams layered beneath a voice thick with malice, reverberating in tones Jennifer could scarcely comprehend. ¡°At least, in part. Yet the creature you face is more than a mortal¡¯s burden of flesh¡­ You know this by the command she elicited from such a creature as a hag. Elinor gathers the shards of power within her like a carrion drawn to rotting dreams, piecing herself into something beyond even me¡­for now.¡± The crimson hand branded on Jennifer¡¯s chest flared, sending shocks of molten heat down her spine. A distorted whisper slithered from the mark, merging with Revilla¡¯s whispers into a discordant harmony that frayed at the edges of reality. ¡°You are but a fragment of my reach, Jennifer, a splinter driven into the heart of an unraveling world. A world that I exiled Elinor and her damnable sister to. And you would presume to question me after all I have accomplished in banishing hosts of beings you cannot comprehend to the Outlands? That Infernal woman of chains and her host plucks her smiling links behind The Twins¡¯ shadow. Of course she is making ground with her devout hare answering her caressing whispers.¡± A cold sweat broke across her brow. Jennifer forced her breathing to steady, straightening under the oppressive weight of Revilla¡¯s attention. Elinor is getting help from deities beyond the 7th Wall? So that¡¯s how she managed to get such a powerful hag on her side. She¡¯s devouring everything in her path, My Lady. Every piece I¡¯ve captivated in your glory. The Komath, the Xaltan, all the weapons I obtained from shattering the Roxim¡­ All of it was swept away in that hurricane that damned hag generated. What do I have left to counter her? I cannot go to the Black City now.¡± Revilla¡¯s form manifested in Jennifer¡¯s mind¡¯s eye, causing her to pause, not as a singular shape but as an endless cascade of grotesque imagery¡ªtwisting tendrils of sinew, erupting eyes that blinked in patterns of unknown meaning, and mouths that spoke truths not meant for mortal comprehension. ¡°You speak of countering, little vessel, as though you have the capacity to play in a game this vast. But I have already given you the answer¡­¡± The voice shifted, tones layering upon one another until Jennifer could feel them clawing at her sanity. ¡°Behold, your savior.¡± Without warning, Jennifer¡¯s vision twisted and fractured, dragging her into an overwhelming cascade of countless eyes. Each unblinking gaze pinned her in place, plunging her consciousness into a torrent of sights she could scarcely comprehend. Suddenly, she was staring at the nalvean man beside her, his reptilian features etched with curiosity that felt far too knowing. Before she could process the moment, flashes of vivid images erupted across her mind, each sharper and more disorienting than the last. A sprawling nalvean city sprawled before a shimmering ruby lake, its waters glistening like molten jewels. Beneath its serene surface lay a labyrinthine facility, cloaked in shadow and mystery as deadly arachnids proweld within webbed nests. The scene shifted abruptly, yanking her awareness across vast distances to a string of islands rising from a restless sea. There, a colossal volcano loomed, belching amethyst smoke that coiled through the heavens like ghostly serpents. The imagery didn¡¯t end above ground¡ªher vision plunged beneath the waves, revealing an intricate web of hidden underwater networks, pulsating with a strange, otherworldly energy. The nexus below surged with an unrelenting power, veins of light stretching across the ocean floor, seeping into the abyss. Jennifer¡¯s knees hit the cold metal of Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s hovering rune device, her breath heaving as the shattered remnants of the vision lingered, tearing at the edges of her mind like glass shards. The cavern¡¯s flickering light felt dimmer now, each shadow more oppressive, each breath of air thinner, as though the world itself had recoiled from what she had seen. Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s calm, measured gaze settled on her. The Grand Designer¡¯s towering frame loomed above, his reptilian features betraying only the faintest hint of curiosity. The eerie glow from his hovering platform cast shifting patterns across the walls, illuminating the perfect holes they floated through. His smooth voice broke the suffocating silence with his hand motions, carrying an unsettling resonance. ¡°You¡¯ve seen it, haven¡¯t you? The pathways beneath our feet¡­ The web of connections that even my previous master dared not fully tread.¡± He gestured lazily toward the cavern¡¯s far wall, his clawed hand curling in a motion that suggested infinite depth. ¡°The Great Shadow within the heart of this planet has whispered its truth to me¡ªour paths, entwined, are a pact struck in your lady¡¯s name, it appears.¡± Jennifer forced herself upright, one trembling hand bracing against the smooth edge of his platform. She fought to steady her breathing, burying the disarray of her mind beneath a mask of sharp focus. ¡°I didn¡¯t come this far to play messenger to the riddles of your trapped shadow entity,¡± she managed, her voice steady despite the lingering echo of Revilla¡¯s eldritch touch clawing at her thoughts. ¡°You¡¯ll find I have my own games to play.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s golden eyes gleamed, his smile parting to reveal rows of serrated teeth. ¡°I would expect nothing less. A woman who dances in the wake of annihilation cannot afford to be merely a piece on the board. I do wonder what your lady actually showed you¡­¡± Her smile rose as she got to her feet and adjusted her ripped clothes, understanding beginning to bloom within her soul. ¡°What did she show me? Why¡­your secret Jumi¡¯kerune. Such research underneath your estate must be costly to maintain without your High Ruler taking notice.¡± His smile fell slightly. ¡°Oh, how resourceful, little tailless monkey. Interesting. Still¡­¡± The nalvean¡¯s gaze drifted toward the cavern wall, where the air itself seemed to pulse faintly, carrying the weight of something ancient and primal that Jennifer could feel in her chest. ¡°Knowing and experiencing the truth that comes from a World Devourer is something else entirely. You are here because you understand necessity. Survival demands alliances, even with shadows that can burn you at any given moment,¡± he mused, his gleaming aurelian gaze peering down at her. With a flick of his hand, the platform beneath them began to hum, the vibrations reverberating through her bones. A smooth disk extended from its underside, a crystalline light around its edges glowing with a harsh, white light. Jumi¡¯kerune clasped his hands behind his back, his tone almost amused. ¡°Let us see if your resolve holds to the end with our little pacts. If it does¡­ I can help you reach your goals at the Outer Isles.¡± Jennifer¡¯s spine stiffened, the hair on the back of her neck prickling as she gave him a measured sideward stare. It seems the being Elinor calls Shade has its own viability to peer past dimensional walls and communicate with Revilla¡­ Am I just a tool? Even so¡­ The end of all things is in the balance, and we can¡¯t hope to face what is to come without them. A beam of focused light erupted from the device, striking the cavern wall with a blinding intensity. Jennifer shielded her eyes as the beam burrowed through the ancient rock, melting it into bubbling magma that pooled and hissed at the edges of the newly formed tunnel. The air filled with the acrid tang of scorched stone, and the ground trembled beneath them as the rock begrudgingly gave way. Jennifer¡¯s voice was cold as she turned to him, her focus returning. ¡°And what exactly do you expect to find on the other side, Grand Designer? I know this is a promised gift from my lady to you for your aid, but the details aren¡¯t¡­clear to me.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune chuckled, the sound low and rippling like the surface of an oil-slicked lake. ¡°I expect many things, my dear, but disappointment is rarely among them when dealing with my shadowy partner¡­and they say your information is beyond valuable.¡± He gestured toward the tunnel, its molten edges cooling rapidly into jagged, blackened stone. ¡°Step into the Silken Nexus, if you dare. It is a place of beginnings¡­and endings.¡± The cavern¡¯s oppressive stillness deepened, and Jennifer¡¯s gaze lingered on the dark opening. Her mind raced as fragments of Revilla¡¯s cryptic laughter entwined with the venomous promise of power and the faintest hint of betrayal that would come from this union. What lies beyond this breach? Another trap? Another layer of the endless game I¡¯m forced to play? Adele made me a believer, but I¡¯m more than just a tool in reality¡¯s renewal¡­ I¡¯ll be a major piece to our salvation. You promised me, Lady Revilla, and you cannot lie. I will sacrifice my soul for it. I will not falter. Jennifer steadied herself, wiping a thin stream of blood from her nose as the platform drifted forward into the newly excavated tunnel. The molten edges of the cavern walls pulsed with residual heat, while the acrid stench of scorched stone lingered in the air. Despite the bone-deep chill from her connection to Revilla, her expression remained composed, her mind focused on the implications of what lay ahead. Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s golden eyes flicked toward her, his serrated grin half-hidden in the eerie glow of his platform. ¡°You seem unfazed for someone who had a brush with a higher being and the secrets I keep. I expected more¡­hesitation from such a vulnerable thing.¡± Jennifer shot him a sidelong glance, her voice measured. ¡°Hesitation is a luxury I can¡¯t afford, Grand Designer. Your secrets are intriguing, but I¡¯m here to leverage them, not marvel at them, as fascinating as they are. My lady¡¯s pact with your dark partner wasn¡¯t for idle observation.¡± The nalvean¡¯s smile twitched, the faintest hint of amusement dancing in his gaze. ¡°Ah, ever the pragmatic one. The witches of your kind that we passed seemed far less prepared compared to your temperament. I find it enthralling that you maintain such focus when the threads of your existence dangle so precariously in such an alien world to your species. You are either remarkably resilient or profoundly reckless.¡± Jennifer adjusted her tattered cloak, her fingers brushing over the scarlet brand on her chest; a higher ritual brand performed by Adele herself. ¡°A bit of both, perhaps. But you misunderstand something, Jumi¡¯kerune. This isn¡¯t about survival¡ªit¡¯s about winning against the bands of Fate which coil around all of Existence.¡± The nalvean tilted his head. ¡°Intriguing. Fate is a concept I¡¯ve never quite believed in. A product of limited creatures unwilling to sacrifice to achieve their greater destiny. And do you believe you¡¯re winning, little flesh emissary of chaos?¡± She smirked, stepping toward the platform¡¯s edge to peer into the darkness they inched into. ¡°Winning isn¡¯t always obvious. Sometimes, it¡¯s about positioning the right pieces on the board and waiting for the moment to strike. Lady Revilla knows that, as does your dark partner¡­ And so do I.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune chuckled, his voice rippling like disturbed water. ¡°Interesting. Let us see if your confidence holds when the truths of this place confront you directly.¡± Jennifer¡¯s vision narrowed, her tone edged with steel. ¡°Weakness doesn¡¯t survive in Lady Revilla¡¯s shadow. If this th¨¦lm¨¦thra is half as formidable as you suggest, she¡¯ll recognize an ally worth keeping.¡± The nalvean¡¯s grin widened, and he gestured toward the dark, pulsating sack nestled amid the webbed silken walls ahead. ¡°I think you misunderstand my intentions with this world calamity. We shall see. But beware¡ªthe threads of this place have eyes, and they are always watching, studying¡­salivating.¡± The platform shuddered slightly as it entered the cavern¡¯s heart. Jennifer inhaled deeply, steadying herself against the oppressive sensation of countless unseen gazes pressing down on her. The air grew heavier, colder, each breath dragging against her chest as though the space itself sought to test her resolve. Chief Varnak emerged from the shadows at their back, his lithe form carrying an air of reverence as he approached. His sharp features remained neutral, though his eyes betrayed a glint of curiosity. The restrained dethroned ri¡¯bot chief on one shoulder and the lifeless nalvean servant on the other presented a stark contrast to his otherwise composed demeanor. ¡°Jennifer,¡± the elder chief greeted, his tone measured but tinged with respect. ¡°You walk willingly into the Silken Nexus, yet you do not falter. Perhaps there is more to you than the whispers of your Supreme Chief suggest.¡± Jennifer met his gaze evenly, her expression unreadable; his son just died, but to them, it was in glory. ¡°I don¡¯t let whispers dictate my worth, Elder Chief Varnak. If you¡¯re as perceptive as you claim, you already know that.¡± The elder chuckled softly, setting down the restrained and gagged ri¡¯bot with calculated precision. ¡°A sharp tongue. You may need it when the Princess awakens.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s platform hovered closer, his gaze flicking between Jennifer and the pulsating silken cocoon ahead. ¡°Enough posturing. Wasted time is not something that entertains me. The time for words is over. Prepare yourselves¡ªwhat lies within this egg is neither ally nor enemy. It is potential incarnate, and how I proceed will determine her role in the threads of this fate you speak of, Jennifer.¡± Jennifer¡¯s focus sharpened as he spoke her name instead of some half-handed insult, her hand brushing the scarlet brand once more. The faint pulse of Revilla¡¯s influence thrummed beneath her fingertips. You and your shadow master think yourselves the leaders in this exchange, holding all the power¡­but my mistress has waited far longer than your darkness was even conceived. ¡°Then let¡¯s ensure we¡¯re the ones weaving those threads, Grand Designer. If not¡­Elinor will sink her hooks in you and show you what an inevitable fate means.¡± The platform advanced, its crystalline hum echoing through the cavern as the air thickened with some new chemical she couldn¡¯t identify. Jennifer¡¯s mind raced, not with fear but calculation. Every step, every word, and every action from this point forward would determine the balance of power between Elinor, her sister, and her¡ªno one else mattered or needed to be stopped. As they neared the silken cocoon, the oppressive silence broke with a faint, rhythmic pulse. It wasn¡¯t just a sound¡ªa predatory lineage, ancient and alien, seeping into the marrow of her bones. Jennifer inhaled sharply, the weight of the moment pressing down on her, but she refused to falter as Jumi¡¯kerune took out a syringe from his tool chest at the center of his platform, glancing at the Elder Chief with anticipation. Jennifer didn¡¯t flinch as he stepped forward to carefully insert it into the egg sack. In this game of gods and monsters, her role was clear: she would not be a pawn. She would be the one holding the board when the Grand Designer¡¯s plans failed¡ªRevilla had shown her his fall, and Elinor would not go unscathed. B4 — 14. The Price of Perfection Garu¡¯s breath came slow, steady, vanishing into the cool underground air. Every sound had weight¡ªthe drip of water from above, the faint creaks of stone settling, the low hum reverberating like a distant pulse. He moved with precision, each step a whisper on stone, his webbed toes splaying to feel for traction before shifting his weight forward. The scent hit him hard. Blood, sharp and fresh. Burned ash. Ri¡¯bot and nalvean sweat. It clung to the air in distinct layers, telling him a story. Zargoth, an elderly ri¡¯bot, and two nalvean. He scanned the scuffed floor, tracking the path of scorch marks and an unnatural displacement of water¡ªred liquid. Streaks of crimson dragged along the stone, broken by jagged claw marks. The Firewalker put up a fight, and the water displacement is a sign of nalvean Seaweavers¡­but what is this sparkling blue substance inside of it? It¡¯s not like the aftermath of battles I saw during the great war with the White God. His nostrils flared as he crouched low, fingers brushing over a patch of slick, fresh blood. Nalvean, brine and bile, not ri¡¯bot. Vision rising, Garu followed the splotchy path. Far too much for them to survive. It seems Zargoth killed one. Movement. Barely a shift in the air. Garu¡¯s focus snapped to the side, red eyes narrowing on the faint quiver of a hanging root. Not wind. No, a hole in the stone that hadn¡¯t been there when he¡¯d entered. Ancestors, th¨¦lm¨¦thra are something else¡­ We were lucky to not have our home inside the valley with these creatures burrowed beneath its surface. The slick, metallic predator¡¯s approach was almost undetectable, its chitinous frame moving as if the air itself parted for it. It emerged from a crack in the stone it had created like a phantom, its onyx-black legs folding in smooth, soundless strides. He contacted The Empress, informing her of his findings as he ignored the creature, shifting his attention to a small cluster of scattered gems, glinting dully on the ground. Emeralds, diamonds, each marked with symbols too small to read from his position. A copper disk lay among them, the imprint of a coiled beast etched deep into its surface. Air converted to mist on contact with his skin, spreading a milky film further into the cavern. Garu slid forward, smooth as an eel through water, fingers brushing over the disk¡¯s surface. The grooves were sharp, purposeful. Important. Nalvean currency. After reporting it, he was given control over the night fiend and new orders, pulling his gaze to the tunnel ahead, where the blood led. With a silent prompt through the Nexus, the unintelligent arachnid¡¯s spindly legs moved in a controlled burst of motion, spinning thread into a taut sack. He crept forward as it made quick work of collecting the smears of blood and items¡ªthe witches might be able to do something with them. Within a matter of ten seconds the drone managed to seal everything within a silken sack for collection later. His eyes locked on the path ahead where the natural curves of the cavern twisted. The echo of murmured voices bounced off the walls. Empress, I hear them ahead. When you say don¡¯t let them escape, I assume the charge is dead or alive? ¡°Naturally,¡± his Empress responded, voice as cold as the ice upon the Crowned Mountain. ¡°The drone is reporting strange vibrations. Camellia, what is it sensing?¡± Camellia¡¯s reply came fast through the Nexus. ¡°It¡¯s saying there¡¯s an active Nest Core ahead? No. It¡¯s impossible. It¡¯s indicating that¡­there is a living leader ahead. I¡¯m on my way!¡± Garu¡¯s jaw tightened, feeling a sudden chill run through his veins the moment he stepped foot on the tunnel entrance and noticed the floor was impossibly smooth, yet had unseen texture for grip¡ªth¨¦lm¨¦thra silk unlike anything he¡¯d seen yet, certainly unlike the one beside him. What does that mean? Garu mumbled, his senses sharp as he scanned the area ahead, smelling Jennifer¡¯s passage in the stale air instead of the ground. Are they living? Should I prepare for an attack? ¡°No, if they were living, and an active Nest Core, then you would have long been consumed by now,¡± Camellia returned, sounding more confused by the minute. ¡°A Nest Core is for important eggs¡ªa guardian¡­or a princess. But Mother never made a Nest Core in my territory. My youngest sister¡¯s was in the southwestern nesting zone. These are living eggs.¡± Elinor¡¯s voice cut through their thoughts, crisp as a blade. ¡°Perhaps Jennifer knew something about your mother that you didn¡¯t, Camellia. Press forward with caution, Garu, but expect an attack. Jennifer wouldn¡¯t have come here if her life would be in danger.¡± The arachnid princess¡¯ thoughts curled inward, calculating, reassessing within the Nexus as Garu sent the drone ahead, crawling across the ceiling to scout. ¡°Mother would never think she¡¯d die and produce another child. Her next natural cycle wasn¡¯t for another few decades. No, she plans for everything. But¡­maybe¡­¡± Her voice faded, replaced by a tension Garu recognized as doubt. ¡°Maybe¡­Mother knew I would convince my sisters to interfere with her battle with the White Ape, and¡­ I made a mistake. I doubted. So she planned ahead¡­¡± Garu¡¯s fingers flexed against his drawn dagger as he approached the curve ahead. Locking onto a soft glow, a fading flicker of molten light. The air had changed, dry heat brushing against his face. His hand brushed against the wall¡¯s edge¡ªsmooth, too smooth. They used some sort of fire to melt through the wall, Empress. Fresh. His fingers pressed against the cooling bedrock, hot but more than passable in places since he was undead. Fire cut through here. Not natural. Too¡ªcontact! A sharp metallic clang echoed off the cavern walls and Garu¡¯s mind¡¯s eye slowed, a threat reverberating through the light mist. His eyes flicked toward the th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone just as one of its legs spun away in a clean arc, landing with a sharp clatter. Fast. Too fast. His instincts screamed in ways he hadn¡¯t felt since his death¡ªno, since his first initiation into the Scout Unit. His muscles tensed, and he flung himself backward just as black thorns shredded through the air. Twisting to the side, he flipped backward. Two struck like molten iron. One stabbed clean through his abdomen, the other punched through his side just beneath his ribs¡ªboth with so much force, they exited the other side. His breath hitched, sharp and shallow. Not vital. Missed my organs. Barely. No blood dripped as he twisted away, muscles coiling into desperate movement. His back pressed against the cold stone wall as he extended his senses through the fog, every breath controlled, his senses on fire, searching for further threats. The drone scuttled back, fast¡ªincredibly fast¡ªbut not fast enough. Two more thorns shot out, one smashing through its left cluster of eyes, shattering them in a spray of glass-like shards and smoke-like Death Energy leaking out. Another thorn clipped its abdomen, splitting open the exoskeleton in a spray of deathly fog. It wasn¡¯t down but was losing a lot of energy potential. Not good. Not good. The drone¡¯s movements slowed for a moment, limbs stuttering, but it pulled itself into defensive posture, legs tucked close as Garu sent the order. Defense! Pull back! Who moves like that? If it was focused on me instead of the drone¡­ Garu¡¯s eyes darted through the fog. Shadows flickered. Too fast. Too precise. He dropped low, undead heart steady but his nerves thrumming like taut strings. Hidden behind a rocky stalagmite, his fingers flexed as he reached out with his senses. Used the moisture like eyes. The air shifted. Garu¡¯s breath slowed to match the rhythm of the cavern¡¯s faint pulse. He felt the dampness on his skin, the cool moisture hanging thick in the air. His nerves sparked as his breath synced with the fog. Moved with it. A spike shot toward his face. He ducked, the sharp edge whistling past his eye. His pupils dilated, breath stuck in his chest. Organs. It¡¯s targeting my organs. Attempting to dissect me. His body twisted as two more thorns ripped past his ribs, grazing him. Garu¡¯s focused vision tracked the angle of attack. From above. High ground. Near the cavern ceiling. How can they see in the mist and complete darkness?! His mist clung to the air, revealing subtle movement in the shifting moisture. Threads of displacement. The faintest drag of something moving faster than it should. The drone became far more fluid now that it was on alert, Camellia sending instructions for it to seal off its damaged portions with its silk. He stepped to the side, letting his fingernails brush the stone for stability. The Empress¡¯ voice came, but he was too focused to respond¡ªone mistake was all it would take. Predict. Measure. React. Another thorn came, but this time he saw it¡ªbarely¡ªthe thread of mist breaking before it shot through. He dodged to the left, shoulder grinding against stone as it skimmed past the corner of his third tooth, aimed to go right through his mouth to pierce his tongue and throat. Close. Too close. They¡¯re adjusting. Learning. Chuckles echoed through the fog, low and rough. They bounced from wall to wall, impossible to pinpoint. No. Not chuckles. Croaks. It¡¯s like I¡¯m facing Scout Master Jelisa¡­ A shadow emerged, part of the mist itself. For a moment, Garu thought he¡¯d imagined it, but then it moved, peeling itself from the fog like it had always been part of it. ¡°Impressive,¡± came the low, gravelly voice. Slow. Leisurely. Calculated. ¡°Your nerves are tuned to the mist, boy. Your every shift, every twitch¡ªprecise. Mm. Yes. Yes, you¡¯re one of them, aren¡¯t you? One of the Ethereal scouts my grandfather warned me about.¡± Garu¡¯s fingers tensed on the hilt of his ancestral dagger, feeling the telekinetic force within reverberate through his bones. His heart stayed steady, breath measured, but his eyes locked on the form materializing in front of him. The shadow became flesh. The fog twisted around the figure, following his movements as if it recognized him, when it shouldn¡¯t. Elder Chief Varnak of the Xaltan.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. But it wasn¡¯t the frail, ancient chief Garu had been informed of. No. This one stood tall, shoulders broad, his body sleek and powerful like a th¨¦lm¨¦thra in its prime. The wrinkles were gone. Black skin gleamed with the sheen of youth. His eyes¡ªsharp, piercing red like a hunting beast. ¡°You¡¯re Ethereal,¡± Varnak muttered, his lips curling into a grin. He adjusted the thick coil of silk rope slung over his shoulder, his fingers tapping it like a warrior might tap the flat of a blade. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard stories. Never fought one of your clansmen during the Fire Wars. Always wondered if you¡¯d live up to the legend.¡± He¡¯s testing me. Probing. No¡­not me. He¡¯s testing his own abilities. Each strike is more accurate than the last. Calculated. Deliberate. Garu shifted his weight. His eyes locked onto Varnak¡¯s hands, watching the tension in his fingers. Every twitch, every shift of muscle spoke of a movement prepared but not yet acted on. If I¡¯m going to survive this. I can¡¯t look at it as any normal enemy¡­ I¡¯m facing my Third Rank Scout Advancement Trial. Failure is death. Learn his movements, dominant limbs, instinctual directional changes. The th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone lurched forward on command, fast, remaining front legs blurring in a burst of speed. Its fangs snapped at Varnak¡¯s leg, but he moved like water¡ªfluid, perfect. His step carried him out of range, a flowing motion as natural as a wave retreating from shore. In response, a crack ran down one of its raised legs¡ªlegs that should be far too dense to split. Garu¡¯s heart sank. Those aren¡¯t Scout movements or attacks¡­ Varnak¡¯s chuckle grew louder, the air around them vibrating with each sound. His breath pulsed through the mist like a war drum, shaking the fog itself. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve felt this¡­young,¡± he rumbled, his body swaying with the fog¡¯s movements. ¡°Come, Ethereal. Show me if your kind is still worthy of its name.¡± The fog shifted. No, it wasn¡¯t the fog¡ªit was him. His presence seemed to seep into the mist, becoming part of it. He¡¯d only known a few Ethereal that managed that kind of oneness with the fog. For the first time since his first introduction into the Scout Core of his clan, Garu felt like the fog was hunting him. Elinor, I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to last long. His voice remained calm, but his eyes tracked every shift in the fog. Every flicker of movement. Elinor¡¯s reply was immediate. ¡°Buy yourself one minute, Garu. Death and I will be there.¡± Her tone was cold as frost, as absolute as a promise etched in stone. Garu momentarily lost track of him, crouching lower, his body perfectly balanced. His breath fogged the air, curling around his grin. No hesitation. No missteps. Every shift is perfect. He gripped his dagger tight enough to make his bones ache. He bent low, breath shallow, his eyes locked onto the occasional shifts in the mist, but it was the drone that allowed him to keep up with the directional shifts. No gaps. No mistakes. He¡¯s not guessing. He¡¯s hunting. The th¨¦lm¨¦thra drone attacked again, its legs a blur of speed and deadly precision. But Varnak was already gone, his movements faster than the drone could track at close range, which was mind-boggling in itself. It lashed out with its fangs, but he rolled under it, his hand brushing its abdomen with casual ease. Testing it. Testing himself. ¡°Smart,¡± Varnak said, his eyes locked on Garu as he managed to evade the thorns sent his way. ¡°You¡¯ve already realized, haven¡¯t you? This body¡¯s new and powerful, but my mind¡­that is what goes beyond understanding. I remember every step. Every mistake. I know how hard you grip. I know what your dominant foot is. I can feel every pulse in the air you track, the electrical flicker you send into it¡­evade it.¡± The fog twisted, thickened, and Varnak¡¯s grin widened, flickering into nothingness. Empress, I¡¯m not facing a Xaltan¡­ He¡¯s on the level of an Ethereal Xaria. If I can buy thirty more seconds, it will be a miracle. Perhaps you shouldn¡¯t come. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Jennifer traced every pulse of light that rippled through the translucent, fleshy surface of the massive egg before her. The glow came in slow, hypnotic intervals, each one a brief flicker of pale violet light pushing through the thin, veined membrane. It wasn¡¯t just light¡ªit was a presence, a thrum of life that reached into the marrow of her bones, making her fingers itch. Her gaze flicked to Jumi¡¯kerune, watching as he reached into his crystal centerpiece on his fascinating, runic platform. With the care of a man about to perform surgery, the Grand Designer¡¯s long, clawed fingers drew out a crystalline syringe unlike any Jennifer had seen before. ¡°You have quite a few tools at your disposal.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure your dead mistress beyond the veil will guide you to your own treasure trove soon enough, human. Much of my items are home grown¡­ Tested and developed over centuries of careful analysis and the combination of many projects.¡± The tube glowed faintly from within, runic symbols circling its surface like orbiting stars. Her sharp gaze caught the faint shimmer of shifting light¡ªnot mere glass¡ªsomething stronger, more fluid yet unyielding. As he turned it in his fingers, the runes flickered in sequence, releasing a soft chime like the hum of a distant bell. Elder Chief Varnak¡¯s nostrils flared. His sharp gaze locked on the item, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. ¡°No thread?¡± His raspy voice echoed low and rough in the cavern. ¡°We¡¯ve always needed their own hardened silk to breach the drone eggs¡ªthis won¡¯t work.¡± Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s slit pupils rolled in a slow, deliberate way to give him the exasperated stare of a scientist speaking to a neanderthal. ¡°Rudimentary biological adaptation. I understand your Mysticism better than you,¡± he muttered, amusement dripping from every word. ¡°You think yourselves so advanced with your th¨¦lm¨¦thra threads and poison-stained fangs compared to your brethren¡­ Such hubris. Watch and learn, Elder Chief.¡± His platform hovered upward, the hum of its magic-infused mechanisms low and steady. Jennifer¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t leave the syringe as Jumi¡¯kerune raised it to the egg¡¯s surface. He moved slowly, steadily, ensuring it entered at a particular angle. The sharp point touched the membrane¡ªfor a moment, nothing. No give. No puncture. Then, with the faintest push, the syringe¡¯s needle slid through as if the shell had dissolved before it. The membrane didn¡¯t burst, didn¡¯t weep fluids¡ªit simply allowed him entry. Varnak¡¯s eyes widened with disbelief, his tongue clicking in surprise. ¡°Impossible¡­¡± he hissed, stepping closer to watch the needle¡¯s progress with the intensity of a man witnessing heresy. ¡°Not even a trickle of lost fluid.¡± ¡°Because,¡± Jumi¡¯kerune said, tilting his head to the side as if lecturing a stubborn student, ¡°your solutions were designed to overcome nature¡¯s defenses through brute force. I¡ª¡± he pulled back on the syringe¡¯s plunger, slowly drawing out a rather tiny amount of pale, swirling essence from within the egg. ¡°I design solutions that nature itself welcomes.¡± Jennifer¡¯s lips quirked into a small smile. ¡°Alchemy mixed with the runic technology of lost ages, not biology. Efficient.¡± Her tone was light but her eyes tracked the fluid¡ªa glistening, opalescent swirl that glowed faintly like liquid moonlight. ¡°Did the Shadow tell you how to make this?¡± Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s snout wrinkled, a snort of derision escaping his sharp, toothy grin. ¡°No. Well, only so far as to introduce me to the methodology of runic design. This,¡± he tilted the syringe to let the glow dance across his scaled face, ¡°¡ªthis is mine. Not whispers from below. Research. Craft. Refinement. This is one of my perfections.¡± He descended, platform humming softly as he approached his final living slave. The gaunt nalvean man knelt obediently, hands already busy sorting through an array of reagents. Nearby, trapped in a runic prison on the platform, the Roxim chief silently observed. Among the display, Jennifer¡¯s eyes locked onto a sliver of bark so white it looked like frozen lightning. It pulsed faintly, as if it still carried the rhythm of a heartbeat. The slave pulled it out with tweezers. ¡°Lifewood,¡± she muttered, eyes narrowing. ¡°Where did you get something like that? You¡¯re taking no half-measures, Grand Designer.¡± The nalvean mind slave¡¯s nimble fingers moved with mechanical precision. He dropped powdered silverroot into a ruby-like bowl and poured in a thin trickle of dark green oil, followed by a brown syrup, the two liquids hissing on contact. A sharp, acrid vapor rose, but the slave, well-trained, immediately lowered a translucent bag over it, letting the vapor condense into a bulging pouch. Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s gaze never wavered as he added two drops of crimson ichor¡ªthe blood of something Jennifer didn¡¯t recognize. The vial¡¯s hiss grew into a bubbling froth. ¡°Interesting,¡± she whispered, watching the mixture¡¯s glow deepen to a molten orange. Her gaze flicked to the bottom edge of the bowl where faint runic glyphs shimmered. Not simply alchemy. Rune work acting as an enhancing medium. Smart. Perhaps I¡¯ll need to learn a few tricks before I leave his estate. Jumi¡¯kerune swirled the contents with a claw, his gaze sharp and hungry, yet the encroaching mist snagged her attention¡ªElinor¡¯s people were getting close. He seemed to notice her slight unease. ¡°Perfection takes time, human. Unlike the haphazard mess of your witch¡¯s circle that I saw, this¡­¡± He held the bowl up to Varnak. ¡°This is art waiting to be set free.¡± The Elder Chief¡¯s eyes darted from Jumi¡¯kerune to Jennifer. Her face remained impassive, but her gaze locked onto him with cold intensity. After a moment, his nostrils flared and he snatched the bowl. He hesitated, eyes narrowing at Jumi¡¯kerune. ¡°Drink,¡± Jumi¡¯kerune urged. ¡°Unless you¡¯re afraid of rebirth in the glory of your princess¡­ Accept the power she can grant from her essence.¡± With a sharp grunt, Varnak tipped the bowl and downed it in a single pull. He staggered, the empty bowl clattering to the platform and stopping just before the edge¡ªa safety mechanism activating. Varnak¡¯s breath turned to gasps, his body locking up as veins of white-hot light burst through his black skin, illuminating every line of muscle, every tendon. His mouth opened to scream, yet, it didn¡¯t come¡ªtongue writing like hot magma¡ªtoo raw, too primal while being reformed. It wasn¡¯t pain¡ªit was too much sensation¡­ecstasy. He collapsed, twitching violently as his body curled inward, muscles convulsing. His black skin began to smooth, old wrinkles vanishing, muscle density increasing before their eyes. His breath came in short, desperate gasps, and the moment she blinked¡­he vanished. Jennifer¡¯s eyes narrowed as she felt a shift behind her. A metallic clang echoed, distant, through the tunnel nearby. She turned slowly, her gaze sharp. ¡°He¡¯s¡­a lot faster now, at least. Interesting brew.¡± ¡°Faster than fast,¡± Jumi¡¯kerune remarked, eyes fixed on the egg as his platform hovered over it. It was almost as if the Elder Chief was no longer worth his time; he¡¯d seen what he wanted. Now, the nalvean tapped a claw to his chin, his smile growing sharper. ¡°He¡¯ll burn out, of course. The venom of a true th¨¦lm¨¦thra princess is far too potent to fully mitigate. Only delay with a surge of rapidly renewing cells. Once the fuel keeping them multiplying lapses¡­ Well, I suppose you get the point. But until then, he¡¯ll feel like a god.¡± His platform¡¯s hum grew louder as he turned to her with a far too prideful gleam in his gaze for what Jennifer knew Elinor was capable of. ¡°See? We have plenty of time.¡± Jennifer¡¯s eyes flicked down as the platform¡¯s underside gripped the egg. I wouldn¡¯t underestimate Elinor after returning with a hag of that power. She may have won this battle for the valley and obtained the means to establish her empire, but that requires her attention. It will also introduce quite a few careful lines she will need to walk with the surrounding nations. Her gaze soon returned to Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s scaled face. ¡°How long do you expect your experiment to last because I do not see an exit, Grand Designer.¡± He pointed above, smile widening as the hum became a harsh vibration. Beams of red light shot from the platform¡¯s points, searing the stone above into a triangular outline. The molten rock bathed them in orange light as slag fell harmlessly against a shimmering white barrier that formed around them. Jennifer¡¯s grin grew razor-sharp. ¡°Well, I stand corrected. You seem to be very well prepared. How long until Elinor finds your home? It was a mistake to send your slaves out to collect the Roxim Chief. She no doubt has some evidence and knowledge now to connect a well-established nalvean helped me,¡± she commented, glancing at the glaring toad, trapped inside the hovering, ethereal cage of light. Jumi¡¯kerune¡¯s grin mirrored hers. ¡°Have you considered that I want her to find me? The ability to return the dead and spark such a visceral reaction from higher beings¡­ It¡¯s as if she were a deity made flesh.¡± Her gaze grew darker, cursing his intrigued tone to brighten. ¡°I think we are in store for a rather fascinating turn of events in the near future. One¡¯s enemy can become one¡¯s friend under the right circumstances.¡± She turned her focus toward his assortment of goods at the center of the platform before locking eyes with the Roxim chief. Jennifer wanted to laugh at his arrogance¡­but she stayed silent. After all, by helping her, he¡¯d already chosen a side. He just didn¡¯t know Elinor. Of course, she¡¯d come to learn a few uncomfortable truths about her in their second confrontation. My only goal is to keep her from Earth¡­ Something is going wrong, and we have to recalculate. The fate of¡­everything rests on my ability to keep Elinor in the Outlands. Speaking softly, she whispered, ¡°Some designs are flawed from the beginning¡­but they¡¯re all we have, I suppose.¡± UE Vol. 3 Release Monday, Probably Lol I''m working on the cover art and I have it but need to send it to the cover site I use to create it. Because of that, I''ve decided to keep Vol. 3 up until it is ready to actually publish. + The file itself is ready to upload. 158k Words. + I''ve got the artwork. This one is more of a highlight between Butter and Elinor since the twins have big revelations in this volume.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. - It isn''t in cover form yet Thanks for being patient and for all your support! o7 I know these releases are always pushed back a week or two. Lol. There''s always more that needs done than I tend to think. I''m working hard to get it all done, though! Once again, it means a lot you guys enjoy my stories so much. <3 B4 — 15. The Great Clans of the Grasslands Pausing at the edge of the clearing, his heavy staff sinking slightly into the soft earth, the increasing wind pulling at his pouch and hanging flute. Behind him, the familiar silhouette of Valdar lingered beside Elinor, a small blue dot against the backdrop of humans. He could feel the weight of their parting in the air, like an arrow drawn taut but never loosed. Krava allowed himself to look back. Just one more glance at his old friend¡ªhis brother-in-arms through wars that had forged and broken so many¡ªbut not this. How could it have turned out like this, Valdar? Do you really think this creature with the power over death can unite our valley? Do you believe your dream of becoming one people is impossible by ourselves? Human webs of promises and strange powers¡­ You are blind to her ambitions, old friend¡­ She is a poison. ¡°Fool,¡± he sighed, his cold eyes shifting to the colossal quen¡¯talrat and the white-skinned ri¡¯bot next to her. ¡°She¡¯ll consume you in the end¡­ I hope I won¡¯t be too late to save you.¡± Turning away, he joined his warriors in their shameful retreat. The memory of Valdar¡¯s calm, almost serene acceptance gnawed at his chest and ignited a fire in his aged body. Krava¡¯s grip tightened on his staff, focus drifting to the sole human he¡¯d retained¡ªJennifer. The human feels the same as Elinor¡­ A tide waiting to drag me into her depths. I cannot trust any human¡­but how she reacts will tell me much. Calling for his officers to rally around him, he gave them swift commands, feeling the skin-tingling sensation of a terrible storm coming. Krava had seen Elinor¡¯s power firsthand, the way she wove life and death into tools of absolute dominion. He had no illusions about what lay ahead. The message he sent with them to deliver to their clan was a simple one, yet it would light the flames of war: The Fire Wars start once again. Death is coming. His forces would rally the clans scattered across the south of the valley mountains. They would move quickly, sending warnings to the Nalvean Empire to be cautious of Elinor; a threat like unto the White God is rising. Every able warrior must be gathered, every blade sharpened. The valley was no longer safe; it would soon become a crucible. Dalria, young and ready for action shot out of the trees, brow creased with confusion and rage. ¡°Elder Chief! We are leaving in disgrace? I have heard from the scouts that this creature named Elinor has humiliated our clan and pointed out our advanced preparations but¡­what is this about a quen¡¯talrat?¡± Krava didn¡¯t stop, watching his officers leave to disperse his orders as the mistral unit hung in the distance, their Mystics keeping an eye on everything. He turned to the young Xaria and directed her toward Jennifer. ¡°You will be in charge of escorting this human to the grasslands. If Valdar is behind Elinor, then she has the reputation she needs to challenge any opposition in the Delthax¡­ Even Valdar¡¯s own grandson.¡± Shock replaced Dalria¡¯s frustration. ¡°Elder Chief Valdar¡­opposes us? I had not heard about that,¡± she muttered, nose creasing as the flash of betrayal darkened her face. ¡°We are to march toward the grasslands?¡± Krava could see the young woman wanted to ask more questions and was likely feeling a rush of emotions at this moment. How she responded and took charge would determine if she really was ready to take on this mantle of Xaria. He slowed in his path back to their secondary camp, feeling the cool breeze picking up. I need to hurry and push toward the grasslands¡­ The journey is long to reach the Great Chiefs and it will take time to convince them to view the evidence. Making a gesture he motioned for Jennifer to be brought to him while continuing to address Dalria. ¡°With Elinor¡¯s powers over the dead, I have no doubt the Wixum will fall into line without a whisper. The Flex and Delthax will fall soon enough. She¡¯s also blinded the Roxim by lulling them in with weapons from her previous world to make up for their lost Mysticism.¡± ¡°Is it that dire? Elder Chief, we should take care of her now!¡± Her orange skin gleaming in the light that pierced the canopy. Her grin was sharp, her spear resting loosely on her shoulder. There was an eagerness in her eyes that he had come to distrust. ¡°Should we not?¡± You¡¯re not thinking clearly¡­ Perhaps my decision was a bit rushed to give her this opportunity. Ambition is good in the young¡­but it can burn too brightly and threaten wisdom that will keep you alive for decades to come. ¡°Think clearly, Dalria,¡± he began, voice low and steady as others drew closer to listen. ¡°You may want vengeance for my disgrace, but that desire will only lead to ruin if you do not temper it. There is a time and place for pride.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± she mumbled, cheer diminishing for a moment, then returned, though weaker this time. ¡°Given the threat Elinor is¡ªthis human creature¡ªI would have cut her to pieces regardless of the other clans¡¯ opinions. I do not fear the other three clans in the slightest¡­ So why do you think I decided this course of action is best, Dalria?¡± ¡°With respect, Elder Chief, as you said, we can¡¯t let her go unchallenged. You¡¯ve seen what she¡¯s done. Letting her consolidate her power is¡­not wise. Is this a test of my courage? Between the minstrels, you, and me, we could slaughter every¡ª¡± ¡°That quen¡¯talrat Elite Hunter and Ethereal Scout will tear through every one of the forces we brought with the exception of maybe you, young Xaria,¡± Krava cut her off sharply, causing her jaw to snap shut. ¡°Yes, I know you have hot blood at this moment. But she holds power that cannot be underestimated. You will not waste your warriors or your lives in some futile attempt at glory. Understood?¡± Dalria scowled but nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Ahem. Elder Chief Krava?¡± the human chimed on approach. He held up a hand as the warrior escorting Jennifer almost backhanded her for speaking to him without prompt. The small creature didn¡¯t flinch once, confirming Krava¡¯s suspicions. This was not one of the weak humans they¡¯d brought back but a leader of some kind¡­ One Elinor was opposed to and who could be a competing rival. Her words were chosen carefully, and not what he had expected. ¡°The Xaltan,¡± she suggested, her tone smooth as river stones, ¡°could be persuaded to join us, I believe. Their strength would add a formidable barrier to whatever Elinor plans next before you gather the forces of the Great Chiefs of the Lowlands.¡± Krava didn¡¯t respond immediately, his pale eyes scanning the secondary camp as they arrived. Where did she learn about the Xaltan? The frightening part is that she¡¯s not wrong¡­ Her Mysticism is as dangerous as Elinor¡¯s. His gaze drifted from the wide-eyed warriors around the camp, awaiting his orders for their company since the main force was already preparing to return to their land. After careful deliberation, he turned his attention to Jennifer and the new Xaria nearby. Xaria burn or thrive¡­ Ambition is tested in flames. I cannot waste warriors but she needs to go through her marks. Humans are snakes in the brush but will you heed my wisdom¡­or fall for the promises she weaves, as Valdar fell for Elinor¡¯s sweet words. Tone neutral, he said, ¡°Dalria will handle the human hostage. I¡¯ll hold you responsible if this falls apart, Xaria. Be careful of her words¡­but gain the Xaltan¡¯s support by informing them of the Roxim¡¯s weaknesses and the threat Elinor poses.¡± ¡°Me? A solo mission?¡± Goosebumps ran down her slick skin as she placed a fist over her chest. ¡°Of course, Elder Chief! I will gladly jump into Xaltan territory and deliver your message personally.¡± Krava¡¯s hands tightened around his staff. You¡¯re focusing on the wrong part of the duty. The Xaltan are not as dangerous as the frail human you are escorting. I hope you do not disappoint me. ¡°The human¡¯s name is Jennifer,¡± he continued, catching every twitch she made. ¡°She is a human of some¡­power. Be cautious of her. I will leave you to decide how many of your squadron will stay with you but once you have finished pitting the Xaltan against Elinor, you are to take her to the Grasslands.¡± His vision narrowed, causing sweat to gather across the young woman¡¯s skin under his scrutiny. ¡°Under no circumstances are you to take her to the clan¡­ Understood?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Jennifer¡¯s expression matched Elinor¡¯s¡ªperhaps a smile¡ªthough he thought he caught a flicker of something else in her face. Satisfaction, perhaps. ¡°A wise decision, Elder Chief. Xaria Dalria seems most qualified.¡± He gave her a long stare before grunting. ¡°If Elinor weren¡¯t a greater threat than you, then it would be you who was gutted here and now.¡± She gave him a deep bow. ¡°Then I count myself most fortunate. Please, make use of my talents and knowledge. I will tell you all of Elinor¡¯s weaknesses.¡± Brushing past the woman, he muttered, ¡°I am counting on you, Dalria.¡± Krava didn¡¯t look at her again. He didn¡¯t trust her¡ªdidn¡¯t trust any of the humans, with their soft voices and hidden edges. Yet, for now, this could turn out in their favor. Allowing a human to fight a human would give far more insight than anything she would tell him outright. He didn¡¯t look back at Jennifer or Dalria as he strode into the shadows of the jungle with a solemn heart. The storm rolling in overhead was a fitting backdrop to the chaos brewing in his chest. Stopping beside two of his minstrel Mystics, their lithe forms blending seamlessly into the foliage, he placed a heavy hand on each of their shoulders. ¡°Come with me,¡± he said, his voice a low rumble against the rising winds. The elder of the two Mystics inclined his head silently, but the younger, with streaks of gold painted across her arms, cast a questioning glance toward Dalria, who was already organizing her warriors. ¡°Elder Chief,¡± Dalria called, stepping forward, her voice edged with concern. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go alone¡ªeh, even with two Mystics. There are too many dangers beyond the valley, especially with this storm and Elinor¡¯s undead forces.¡± Krava smiled, faint but sharp as she jogged forward to re-engage him. ¡°You are young, full of fire,¡± he said, his tone almost indulgent. ¡°But don¡¯t mistake energy for understanding. You have much to learn in being a Xaria. Be smart¡ªdo not overestimate your strength, nor underestimate mine. I am still a Rank-4 Xaria, despite my age.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for her reply. With a fluid leap, he disappeared into the trees, the two Mystics following close behind. The branches bent under his weight as he climbed higher, several other minstrels having taken the hint to join from the shadows until the canopy opened. The first lashes of rain streaking the darkening the skies showed in the distance. The wind roared, pulling at his pouch and rattling the flute tied to his staff. At the top of the trees, he paused. The two Mystics stopped a few paces back, crouching silently on the thick branches. Krava turned to face them, his voice cutting through the howl of the wind. ¡°The humans are crafty,¡± he muttered, looking down from their high perch to the clearing, where the giant quen¡¯talrat loomed. ¡°Their power lies not only in their weapons, or even their otherworldly abilities, but in their convincing words. Elinor is a force unlike any we have faced, and this Jennifer¡ª¡± His expression darkened. ¡°¡ªshe is no less dangerous.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The Mystics nodded, their expressions grim but resolute. ¡°Dalria is young and impressionable,¡± Krava continued. ¡°How she handles this task with the human will determine her worthiness. But mark this: she is not to return to the clan with Jennifer. Be like the Ethereal and watch everything. Your eyes are mine. If she falls for vengeance and glory¡­then she will do so of her own consequence. The clan will live on.¡± The two Mystics saluted silently, their hands forming the intricate pattern of the clan¡¯s minstrel oath. Few understood this side of their clan, even within its ranks. Minstrels were of a class of their own¡­and Elinor managed to slay one. Without another word, they disappeared into the jungle, their forms swallowed by the rain-slicked leaves. Krava breathed deeply, watching the storm¡¯s fury rush across the valley, the sensation it brought washing over him. He leapt down, branch to branch on his passage toward the river. A time passed in silence, only broken by the crack of distant thunder, until his feet met the soft mud of the riverbank. A faint quake ran from the pouch against his chest¡ªa message¡ªcausing him to pause by the swollen waters, churning angrily from the rising winds, and he crouched at the edge, untying the leather strap binding the contents together. He extracted the spiked yellow seed quivered, one of its jagged points weeping amber. The sight sent a shiver through his spine. Something important has already happened? This is Kestilsa¡­ What has Dalria done? Or¡­has she been killed by the human? If so¡­ He reached for the ritualistic flute tied to his staff and paused, his fingers brushing the worn wood. A single tear slipped down his weathered cheek, mingling with the rain. Valdar¡­ If you hadn¡¯t joined her¡­ This time you¡¯ve gone too far. Is there anything left of you now? Or has that creature stolen you entirely? Shaking off the thought, he washed the weeping amber sphere in the water before returning it to his pouch. Next, he plucked out a vibrant orange pod from within and placed it on a stone beside him. Bringing the flute to his lips, he played a few sharp notes. The seed tumbled, tendrils snaking out to writhe like roots in search of soil. They coiled upward, forming a lattice-like mask, which he lifted and pressed over his left eye. When he opened it, the world fractured and reformed in a rush. He was no longer staring at the riverbank but through the eyes of one of his minstrel scouts¡ªone use of their diverse Mysticism. The scout crouched in the jungle¡¯s shadows, peering into the camp where Dalria and Jennifer stood in quiet conversation. Krava¡¯s breath hitched as he watched Jennifer extend her hand, her voice low and soothing. A faint, glowing mark appeared on Dalria¡¯s chest as she hesitated, then grasped the human¡¯s hand. The young Xaria¡¯s expression shifted¡ªuncertain, then resolute, and finally, alight with something Krava recognized all too well: ambition. ¡°Dalria,¡± Krava hissed, his hands curling into fists. The scene shifted as the scout moved to gain a better vantage. Jennifer was speaking again, her words serpentine, her gestures subtle but powerful. ¡°I warned you¡­but you want to be the one who takes the glory of killing something I fear¡­ You wish to make me proud. Fool.¡± His stomach twisted as he caught a few phrases through the scout: ¡°¡­strike her mother¡­a force deep within the earth¡­¡± The rest was lost to the noise of the jungle. ¡°All humans are poison,¡± he muttered, the words bitter on his tongue. ¡°Manipulators. Corruptors. They twist everything they touch.¡± Reaching for his flute again, he played another sharp sequence of notes. Through the tendrils of the orange seed, he sent a silent command to the minstrel scout: Continue to observe. Record everything. Do not interfere. The scout¡¯s acknowledgment pulsed faintly in return. Krava played the release note and ripped the mask away; the orange pod crumbled to a withered husk in his hands. His chest heaved as he stared into the encroaching storm, night approaching. For a moment, he held onto hope¡ªhope that Dalria might find her way back, might resist the human¡¯s temptations. But it was a faint hope, and one he dared not trust. Krava sat motionless as he stared at the dead ritual seed for a long moment, then tucked his flute away and rose. Nine pods remained. Nine more chances to gather the evidence he needed. The ritual seeds would all be recorded to the Plant of Visions by the time he reached the Great Chiefs, he would have enough to prove the danger Elinor and Jennifer posed¡ªnot just to his clan, but to the entire valley. A reckoning was coming¡­ Just as my ancestors warned the others about the White God¡¯s rise, Elinor¡¯s threat will be greater. Only I can gather the forces needed to deal with her. He moved like a shadow through the dense undergrowth, his staff shifting the damp foliage without a sound as the deadly storm struck. The Roxim side of the river had changed, huddling behind rocks, oblivious to his presence. Their splotched green skin told him all he needed to know, and not one danced in the rain with their flames. The once-proud clan, who had rivaled his own in battle, had become a husk of what they once were in only a few generations. He could feel it in the way their warriors patrolled¡ªlazily, their formations loose, their discipline lacking in the rage of the wind and thunder. They relied too much on their torlim now, the massive reptilian creatures padding through the underbrush with their slitted eyes flicking about. A fine war beast, bred for endurance and aggression, but no replacement for the raw discipline of a true warrior. Krava crouched beneath the cover of a thick-rooted tree as a group of Roxim warriors passed mere feet away. Their once-glorious Firewalker Mysticism, the gift of their ancestors, had faded from their lineage. Their blood had mixed too much with the clanless, the wandering tribes who had no loyalty to any banner. With that dilution had come weakness. He could see it in their sluggish movements, in the way their senses failed to pierce the mist of the Maw¡ªthe scar the Avana left many decades prior frightening many of their patrols to move around it. Weakness¡­ All I am greeted with is weakness in this valley. Even in my own clan, I see it in the newer generations. Soft. Relying on the strength of the old guard who purged the valley of its major predators. When he was younger, he had faced true Firewalkers in duels, warriors who could conjure living flame into their very strikes, their breath igniting the air in battle. It had been for comradery back then. They¡¯d been one of the few ri¡¯bot who could draw the quen¡¯talrat¡¯s attention and survive momentary contact with their fire. They had been terrifying, worthy brothers at arms. Now, they were nothing but a memory of a time he¡¯d longed to relive. The Maw¡¯s mist curled around his skin like a living thing, thick and oppressive, rising from the blackened depths of the earth itself. The terrain became treacherous, twisted with hidden pits and jagged stones slick with unseen moisture. It was no wonder the Roxim patrolled so poorly here¡ªone wrong step in the Maw, and a warrior could vanish forever. Krava¡¯s senses sharpened, using it as a means to quicken his veins and reignite the fire within him as he moved through the swirling fog, his instincts his only guide. He knew the stories the Roxim chiefs told¡ªknew that some said the mist was alive and could snatch unsuspecting ri¡¯bot into their depths. But he had no time for fear. He moved with purpose, slipping past half-asleep guards, scaling the side of a ravine where the old, overgrown hunting paths were, created by the nalvean army during the Fire Wars. When he finally emerged on the other side, the valley behind him, he felt something lift from his chest. He was free of its rot, free of the slow death creeping through every clan. He would return with the storm. Descending the cliffs to the lowlands, he saw the marshy forests spread out just before the Grasslands. Ancient and towering, thick with gnarled roots that reached like grasping fingers into the rich soil, they awaited with threats which still lingered from the old world. This was a land where the trees stretched toward the sky, their massive trunks covered in vines that dripped with luminescent spores. Creatures darted between the canopy, their chirps and growls blending into the ever-present hum of life. Krava moved quickly, weaving through the underbrush with the precision of a predator. Here, the air was thick with the scent of damp wood and rich earth, the weight of the jungle pressing against his back. He could feel the energy here¡ªuntamed, wild, alive in a way that the valley was not. It took days before the trees began to thin, the dense jungle giving way to rolling hills of golden-green grasses swaying beneath the vast sky. Oddly, he¡¯d made it through without encountering any of the old predators that had been run out of the valley by the quen¡¯talrat and creeping shadows inside their holes. The transition was stark¡ªthe cool shade of the lowlands replaced by the open expanse of the grasslands. Here, the world stretched wide and endless, the horizon a hazy mirage beneath the burning sun. The wind howled across the plains, carrying the scent of distant rain and the musk of creatures unseen. Of course, it wasn¡¯t as stark of a change as what was happening in the valley. Throughout his journey, he¡¯d kept track of everything through his silent minstrel spies: Elinor¡¯s colossal growth, the tension rising between the four clans, her challenge to become their Great Chief. He¡¯d also seen Jennifer¡¯s manipulations, Dalria¡¯s fall into madness, and the way she manipulated the Xaltan to become her arm. Krava pulled his pouch tighter, his body adjusting to the change in temperature. He was right to move immediately to gain support. Elinor was raising an army of the undead. Now, he just had to find a patrol because he hadn¡¯t walked these plains since his childhood. He traveled for weeks, his pace steady but relentless. The land was shockingly empty of settlements, but not of life. He had seen the signs¡ªmassive hoofprints embedded in the dirt, gouges in the soil where creatures had grazed. Then, one morning, he spotted them. A patrol, moving swiftly across the plains, mounted on creatures he had never seen before. They were beasts of muscle and sinew, low to the ground but built for speed, with curved horns that swept back over their heads and thick, plated scales running along their spines. Their strides devoured the earth, their hooves pounding in rhythm as they surged forward. The warriors astride them were ri¡¯bot¡ªsimilar to his kind. Their skin was a deep orange, with markings that spiraled down their arms like the ancient tattoos of his ancestors. Their lineage was clear to him, even from this distance. A split from his own people, a division that had occurred over three hundred years ago. They would recognize him. Krava raised his staff and waited. It didn¡¯t take long to spot him and thunder his way. A quick exchange, and he was accepted on the back of one of the creatures. Not long after, he arrived at the third city closest to the valley¡ªapparently, he¡¯d missed two others to his south and north. Compared to his jungle home, Krava felt small. The city rose before him, a marvel of stone and craft unlike anything in the valley. The Great Clans had not stagnated as they had after the Fire Wars. They had advanced¡­just as Valdar had tried so hard to push for. Towering stone walls enclosed the city, their surfaces etched with intricate carvings of their ri¡¯bot history¡ªhis own clan¡¯s ancient history, before the split¡ªeach line telling a story of war, conquest, and unity under the Great Chiefs. Beyond the walls, the architecture was a blend of practicality and beauty¡ªangular buildings of smooth stone, reinforced with wooden beams, their rooftops adorned with banners of deep reds and golds. The streets were filled with life, ri¡¯bot of all ages moving with purpose, their postures strong, their gazes sharp. Even the youngest among them carried themselves with the bearing of warriors. This¡­is what Valdar wanted. It is here, old friend. You only needed to step outside of the valley to find it and bring it back¡­ You didn¡¯t need to sell yourself to that human of death. Torlim, larger and more robust than those of the Roxim, moved through the streets, their riders guiding them with an ease that spoke of years of training. Above, great birds circled¡ªmassive creatures, their wingspans equal to a torlim¡¯s length, their riders gripping long, barbed spears. Skyborn warriors, their presence a reminder that the Great Clans did not fear battle on any front. I must convince the Great Chiefs¡­ The living versus the dead. They still believe in the Supreme Chiefs. At least¡­Father said they did. A lot can change in a century¡­as the valley proves. We must advance before the valley itself turns into The Pits. Flying beasts, though? Where did they find them? It doesn¡¯t look like there are many¡­but enough to be a threat. Krava¡¯s breath hitched as he took it all in. This was what the valley had lost. This was what his people should have become. If only you could have described it like this, old friend, then there would be no dissension. Will you join me if I show you this? A warrior guided him through the bustling streets, leading him toward the central keep where the city¡¯s commander awaited. Krava barely noticed the path, his mind caught between admiration and shame. How have we fallen so far behind? Could we have become this had I listened to you Valdar? If so¡­I will not fail you this time. Relying on non-ri¡¯bot is not the way to advance¡­ Humans are dangerous and must be eradicated. They are growing out of control¡ªthriving¡ªunder Elinor¡¯s leadership. Soon¡­there will be nothing left for your people. It was the technology that struck him the hardest. It was not the metal of the humans, nor the simple tools of the valley clans. No, this was something refined, something ancient. Bronze gears turned on great machines, mechanisms of pulleys and levers adjusting the flow of water through the city¡¯s aqueducts. The soldiers bore weapons with sleek craftsmanship, blades balanced to perfection, shields reinforced with layered metal in a way that spoke of careful engineering. And the arts¡ªby the Supreme Chiefs, the arts. Murals lined the streets, depicting great battles and legendary Great Chiefs of their past during the Fire Wars when one of the White God¡¯s captains was sent to eliminate them, each piece capturing a moment in history with stunning detail. Statues of past leaders stood tall in the plazas, their visages carved with precision, their stances exuding power. Krava exhaled slowly. He had spent so much time focusing on war, on the immediate battle with the Xaltan, Flex, and other threats to the west, that he had forgotten what true greatness looked like. He would remind his people. The warrior leading him halted before the towering doors of the commander¡¯s hall. They were reinforced with bronze and decorated with intricate filigree, the craftsmanship exquisite. ¡°You will be given an audience with City Chief Lekara, Elder Chief of the Komath,¡± the soldier informed him, his voice firm but respectful. ¡°If she sees it appropriate, then she will fly you to the capital to meet the Great Chiefs. If your warning is true regarding this threat being like unto the White God¡­then war is upon us once more.¡± Krava grimaced, gripping his staff tightly. ¡°I have more than words, young warrior¡­ I will show her exactly what power Empress Elinor holds. A fraction of the forces she commands¡­ And she only grows stronger.¡±