Demoness 3 - Chapter 8: ​Diplomacy B (8,554 Words) (Patreon)

Elania sat down at the table across from Isara as breakfast was served to them. She examined the meal of bread, some kind of milk, fruit, and cheese with interest. It looked good. “Thank you for the meal, Isara.”

Isara smiled. “I picked out a normal breakfast that any citizen of Hel might enjoy, thinking you would like the insight into our culture.”

Elania returned the smile and tasted the milk. It had a creamy flavor that coated her tongue. She took a minute to square her thoughts, then decided to initiate her plan. “I would like to provide a demonstration to some of the city officials on Neftasu Artifice.”

“Neftasu Artifice, not Contia?” Isara raised an eyebrow.

Elania nodded. “Yes, like I explained yesterday, I’m from Neftasu, along with my oracle, a priestess of artifice. We’re providing our knowledge to Contia in return for safe harbor there, but the technology I’d like to show is Neftasu in origin. I think it would be beneficial to show some of the things Contia might offer Hels in a stronger relationship.”

Isara glanced at the revolver on Elania’s hip. “Maybe that weapon?”

Elania’s eyes flickered. Maybe Isara was more perceptive than she thought?

“Yes.” Elania patted the gun. “Seems to be relevant in the current times.”

Isara nodded. “I can see about gathering Aria Lysander, the chief engineer of Hels Forge, Eira of course, Kyran Thorne who is the commander of the Militia, and Roran Alder, head of the Merchants’ Guild.”

“I appreciate your judgment on who should be there. Thank you.” Elania replied, putting on a friendly smile.

Isara sent a messenger, and they continued to eat breakfast, engaging in small while enjoying the meal.

Elania savored the flavors, the bread warm and soft, the cheese sharp and tangy. She found herself appreciating the simplicity of the breakfast. If she had closed her eyes, it wasn’t anything different from she might have had in Neftasu… or back on Earth.

She saved a piece of the meat for her last bite, the flavors lingering on her tongue as she set her utensils down. Isara mirrored her actions, a satisfied smile on her face.

Almost as if on cue, the door swung open and Eira strode in, her obsidian armor clanking with each step. “Isara, what’s this about a demonstration?”

Isara gestured to Elania. “Our guest has proposed showcasing some Neftasu artifice, specifically a firearm.”

Eira’s eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking to the revolver at Elania’s hip. “I’ve seen firearms before. We have arcane weapons, so I hope you have something impressive, or this will be a waste of time.”

Elania met Eira’s stare, unflinching. “I assure you, it will be worth your while.” She paused, considering her next words. “I also wish to visit the Arcane Academy and meet with Rynor.”

Eira scoffed, then sighed. “I can’t believe that idiot invited you. What was he thinking?” She shook her head, her braids swaying. “Either way, the demonstration will be held at the Arcane Academy. It’s the best place for it.”

Dayne leaned forward, her voice calm but firm. “I recommend we deal with Elania favorably, Eira.”

Eira grumbled under her breath, her unhappiness evident, but she nodded. “Fine. I’ll arrange things.” She turned on her heel and marched out of the room.

For a second, Elania wanted to ask Isara what was Eira’s dislike for her caused by, but then thought better of it. Or rather, she had a higher priority question she’d thought of ready.

“Why doesn’t Hels have a Demi-Divine? What happens to the energy of those who aren’t followers of one? Or those who don’t follow anything at all?” she asked.

Isara blinked, surprise flashing across her face. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Elania felt a slight rattle on her back, as if Eziel had shifted, but the sword remained silent.

The silence stretched for a bit. Maybe she’d stumbled into a sensitive topic?

Isara cleared her throat, her voice steady. “That’s an uncomfortable question coming from you, Elania. There are people who are followers in the city, mostly traders or transients, that will move on. But for any full citizen, it’s against the law to have divided loyalties.”

She leaned forward, her hands clasped on the table. “Part of citizenship entails maintaining a connection to the city’s heart so that their souls may pass through Hel into the city’s Divine Paradise.”

Elania blinked, staring at Isara as the words sank in. Divine Paradise? What the heck was that? “Sorry, I didn’t mean to suggest trying to gather followers? I just didn’t know.”

Isara nodded. “Demi-Divine recruitment isn’t actually illegal… but it has happened before and the one responsible cast out by the High Chancellor. Never actually in my lifetime, but we have records of them being… ejected.”

Elania nodded. “Don’t worry, that’s not my purpose here, so there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Isara’s smile returned, and the woman nodded back at her. “I’m glad to hear that! I’ve certainly enjoyed yesterday and today. I think our continued cooperation will be a tremendous help to both our people.”

Focusing her attention inward, Elania realized she could see the connections that bound her to her followers. To her surprise, only one remained visible: her conduit to Yolani. The others to her had shrunk, seemingly absorbed into the golden thread that tied her to her oracle.

The conduit still provided her with the familiar flow of [Divine Power], but Elania couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she pushed it too far. Would it snap like an overstretched rubber band, severing her connection to Yolani?

Turning her gaze to Isara, Elania noticed a connection extending from the woman, leading out of the building and into the heart of the city. Unlike the golden hue of her own conduit, Isara’s connection was a grayish orange, its color muted and subdued.

And what the heck was a ‘Divine Paradise?’

She turned to Isara, an apologetic smile on her face. “I’m sorry if I overstepped. I was just curious.”

Isara waved off her concern. “No worries, Elania. I understand.”

They continued to chat, their conversation flowing easily until Eira returned, her armor clanking with each step.

“Your request has been approved,” Eira announced, her tone gruff. “We’ll visit the Arcane Academy first, then move to the demonstration in a protected area of the academy.”

Isara smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Well, that worked out nicely, didn’t it?”

Elania nodded. “Thank you, Eira. I appreciate it.”

Eira grunted, her expression unreadable. “We should get going.” She turned on her heel, obviously expecting Elania to follow.

Elania bid Isara farewell and fell into step beside Eira, their escort surrounding them as they left the diplomatic headquarters.

As they walked, Elania snuck glances at the Obsidian, her mind whirling with questions. What did it mean that a woman led the military in Hels? Isara in the diplomacy corps… an ‘Aria’ as head engineer? It seemed like gender equality was in full force from what she had seen.

Neftasu had been a bit of a patriarchy, Keswick notwithstanding.

The city unfolded before them, its streets bustling with activity, but Elania’s attention was drawn to the massive black dome that loomed ahead, growing larger with each step. It was obviously the heart of the city, probably where their Engine was?

“What is that?” Elania asked.

Eira’s jaw clenched, her eyes narrowing. For a moment, Elania thought she wouldn’t answer, but finally, Eira relented. “It’s the gate to Hels. The Celestial Engine is inside.”

Elania grunted, a sense of satisfaction washing over her. “I suspected as much.”

Eira shrugged. “It’s no secret.”

As they drew closer, Elania realized the dome was made of solid black obsidian stone.

It seemed impossibly large, its size defying the laws of physics. But then again, so had Neftasu, sitting in a bubble deep enough in the earth, everything should have been molten asphalt. Another reality-bending anomaly, Elania mused.

When the Arcane Academy came into view, Elania’s eyes widened.

It was a massive, dominating structure built directly into the side of the obsidian dome. Giant spires reached up, with deep saturated hues of every color bathed the dark stone in different areas.

Eira raised her hand, bringing their group to an abrupt halt as a wagon filled with chained prisoners rattled across the street, heading straight for the dome. The prisoners’ faces were gaunt, their eyes hollow and devoid of hope.

Elania glanced at Eira. “Who are they?”

Eira’s voice was icy and detached. “Condemned criminals. Rapists, murderers, oath breakers. They’ve been sentenced to eternal servitude.”

Elania frowned. Eternal servitude?

Was that worse than the death penalty? A weird turn of phrase?

The expression on Eira’s face told her it was serious, though.

She wanted to protest. Capital punishment wasn’t something she supported, but…

The memory of terrified faces haunted her. She’d killed men just to take their essence, so she could save her own life… and the lives of those she cared about.

She had no right to judge a city she knew so little about.

Hels had its own history, its own struggles, and she couldn’t impose her own beliefs without understanding the full context. Not without being a hypocrite, anyway.

Swallowing her knee-jerk objections, Elania remained quiet. Eira and her escort led them to fall in behind the prisoner precession.

Elania kept her eyes fixed on the ground as they made their way towards the Arcane Academy. Eira was content to let the silence between them stretch.

As they reached the base of the academy, Elania’s gaze was drawn to the dome, where a section of the obsidian stone was missing. An arch of shimmering blue energy filled the gap, looking something like a energy force-field she’d expect in a sci-fi movie. It pulsed and crackled while a small crowd filled the area to watch.

The prisoner procession had turned down a separate path, straight for the field.

Eira glanced at Elania, her eyes searching. “Do you want to watch the condemning?”

Elania hesitated.

Part of her wanted to turn away and hurry inside to find Rynor.

But another part wanted to know what was going on, and to see the culmination of Hels’ ultimate form of justice.

She met Eira’s gaze, her voice steady. “Yes.”

*

Eira nodded and instead of going directly to the gates, they followed along the academy’s raised wall, where they had an overhead view.

Elania’s eyes were drawn to the prisoners, their faces etched with despair.

It took several minutes, but then their jailers began to unhook them one by one.

A large man picked the first criminal up and tossed him into the shimmering blue field like a bag of flour.

Some fought against their fate, thrashing and screaming until the very end, while others accepted their doom with a resigned silence.

A few even walked into the barrier of their own accord, their heads held high in defiance.

As each prisoner passed through the crackling energy, their flesh sloughed off their bones, leaving behind only bleached white skeletons. Somehow, they didn’t just fall apart.

Elania’s breath hitched when other skeletal figures appeared from deeper within the barrier, approaching the newcomers.

The newly condemned prisoners began to move frantically, as if suddenly aware of their fate. Then, the waiting skeletons approached them, taking their hands in a macabre gesture of welcome, and led them away into the depths of the dome.

It was another surreal sight that Elania couldn’t relate to any of her experiences on Earth.

She turned to Eira, her brow furrowed. “Are they feeding them to the Celestial Engine?”

Eira shook her head, a grim smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Just watch.”

Elania focused her attention back on the scene. The process repeated itself, an endless cycle of condemnation and transformation until all the prisoners were consumed and led away.

“I still don’t understand?” Elania asked.

Eira’s voice was cold and matter-of-fact. “It’s the gates to Hel.”

Elania frowned. “Is this your… ‘Divine Paradise’?”

Eira laughed, the sound harsh and grating. “No, this is just the physical gate to it. The servitors are forced to maintain it, while giving up their energy to sustain the Engine.”

So they were being fed to the Engine?

Elania frowned. It all seemed so very contradictory. “For eternity?”

Eira shrugged, her armor clanking with the movement. “Until they are used up and return to the energy of the world, at least. Anything more would be a philosophical question.”

Elania grunted. She tore her gaze away from the gate, her voice steady despite the uneasy feeling filling her. “I’d like to move on to the academy now.”

Eira nodded, gesturing for Elania to follow her. “This way.” She led Elania and the escort towards the main entrance of the Arcane Academy, leaving behind the macabre scene.

Elania’s eyes were drawn to the intricate designs etched into the stone of the academy’s entrance. Scholars in purple and gray robes bustled about, their noses buried in books. It certainly gave off an academic vibe.

An older mage approached them, his smile warm and welcoming. “Welcome to the Arcane Academy. We’re honored to have you here, honored Obsidian.” He turned to Elania. “You are welcome as well, honored Envoy.”

Eira dismissed the main escort with a wave of her hand, then gestured for Elania to follow. The mage led them through winding corridors; the walls lined with ancient tomes and a wide assortment of unique items and what she thought were dyed mana shards.

They arrived at Rynor’s wing, an entire section of the academy dedicated to the high mage.

Maybe Rynor was a bit more important than she had initially thought. But as they entered his chambers, the more she considered it the more she felt confused.

Which was a seemingly constant state she found herself in since arriving to Hels.

Rynor’s personality and her conversation with him just didn’t add up to ‘head mage of a giant institution.’

When he greeted them with a broad grin, it just jammed home the jarring feeling.

“Eira! So good to see you!” Rynor greeted.

Eira rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so cheerful. You’ve caused me extra work.”

Rynor’s gaze shifted to Elania, and he blinked. “Oh! You’re that Demi-Divine... right, I invited you.”

Elania nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I’m grateful for the chance to see more of Hels.”

Eira cleared her throat, her voice sharp. “Don’t forget about the demonstration, Rynor.”

Rynor’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s you! Right, right? It shall be ready in an hour.”

Eira scoffed. “You forgot, didn’t you? Five minutes after behind informed.”

Elania watched the exchange, sensing a familiarity between them.

Rynor waved off Eira’s accusation. “I didn’t forget. I’m just a busy man.”

Eira snorted. “That’s a lie.”

Elania applied her most diplomatic smile, her voice smooth. “I’d be delighted to have a tour while we wait.”

Eira’s eyes narrowed. “No restricted areas.”

Rynor chuckled. “Everything is restricted according to you. She might as well just come along with me while I prepare the demonstration place.”

They moved through the academy, the dark-hued interior illuminated by warm arcane torches.

Eventually they reached a massive chamber, its space divided in half by a massive gap in Hels’ dome, a giant shimmering blue wall of energy.

Skeletons and immaterial spirits flew around inside the field, their movements eerie and unsettling.

Elania gaped. What had Eira said about ‘working?’ This looked like a cacophony of wild spirits having a party.

Eira grunted, her voice gruff. “The view always is a surprise for outsiders.”

Elania could only nod.

Rynor led the way to one side of the chamber. He pulled out a gemstone from his robe. It looked like one of the dyed mana shards. He cupped it in his hands and gestured toward the energy barrier.

Halfway there, an outcropping of stone rose from the ground on its own.

Elania’s brow furrowed as she observed the process. It felt close to Artifice, but not exactly the same. Her [Enhanced Mana Sensing] was frustratingly vague most the time, and this had a distinct flavor. Raw ‘arcane’ magic, perhaps? She tried [System Analysis] on the stone, but it just popped up Rynor’s card.

Would it be too pushy to ask about it right now?

Rynor continued, drawing out more stone and shaping a rough shooting range for her. When he seemed satisfied, he turned to her. “Is this fine?”

Elania studied the range, a frown tugging at her lips. “Double the thickness.”

Rynor groaned. “You better not be making me go through extra effort.” Despite his protest, he reinforced and thickened the stone. Then, he created several stone pillars at three different ranges.

“Impressive,” Elania remarked.

Rynor shrugged. “It’s a trivial working for a High Mage.”

Elania’s fingers brushed against her revolver. Impatience bit at her slightly. She wanted to show off Yolani’s masterpiece. “How long until the others are here?”

As if on cue, a man in an ornate robe with gold accessories and a long salt-and-pepper beard strode into the chamber.

Elania pushed [System Analysis] at him by reflex.

[High Merchant - Human - Level 102]

Despite his level, he exuded an air of importance. Elania guessed merchants didn’t engage in much killing, so his level wasn’t indicative of his merchant-ing prowess. If that was… a thing.

The man greeted them, and Eira stepped forward. “Elania, this is Roran Aldor, High Merchant and Councilor of Hels.”

Roran nodded as he appraised Elania. “A pleasure to meet you, Demi-Divine.”

Elania inclined her head. “The pleasure is mine, High Merchant Aldor.”

Roran chuckled. “Please, call me Roran. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?”

Elania’s gaze flicked to Eira, who remained stoic, and Rynor, who seemed amused by the exchange. She turned back to Roran, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “Of course, Councilor.”

Roran clapped his hands together. “Excellent! Now, I believe we’re here for a demonstration of something of value? The message I received from Isara was quite intriguing.”

Elania’s fingers brushed her holster. If it had been something else, she might have felt nervous. But she’d put the weapon through its paces with Yolani and knew what it could do. “It won’t disappoint.”

Aria Lysander, the Chief Engineer, and Kyran Thorne, the Militia Commander, arrived with a small group in tow a few minutes later.

Eira’s brow furrowed as she provided the names to Elania as they approached. “They’re all here early.”

Rynor waved off her concern. “I’ve finished, so the demonstration can begin when everyone’s ready.”

Thorne exchanged a curt greeting with Elania. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. But Aria stepped forward, her gaze alight with curiosity. “I heard there was an artificed weapon.”

Elania nodded, her fingers brushing against the revolver at her hip. She drew the weapon, its polished surface gleaming in the light. “This is a weapon crafted by my oracle, so it’s more ornate than most, but it’s something that can be mass-produced for soldiers to use.”

Aria’s eyes widened, and she reached out a hand. “May I inspect?”

Elania handed the revolver to her, then showed the loading mechanism. “The bullets are inert. It’s powered by a single mana shard. There’s an older version that uses mana crystals per shot, but we developed a process that allows multiple discharges at high enough intensity from large shards.”

Aria turned the revolver over in her hands, her fingers tracing the intricate designs etched into the handle. “Fascinating. And the range?”

Elania gestured to the shooting range Rynor had created. “I can demonstrate, if you’d like.”

Roran cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the murmurs of the gathered crowd. “I believe that’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?”

Elania took the revolver back from Aria. She turned to face the shooting range.

Thorne crossed his arms. “Let’s see what this weapon can do.”

Elania stepped up to the firing line Rynor had created. She raised the revolver, lining up her shot with the nearest pillar. A sudden wave of gratitude washed over her as the memories of the hours she’d spent practicing with Yolani at the shooting range flashed by.

She squeezed the trigger, and the revolver jolted slightly, the weight of the weapon and the strength of her grip keeping it steady. The standard ammo Yolani had designed blasted out of the barrel, obliterating the nearest pillar in a shower of stone and dust.

Elania glanced back at the others, gauging their reactions. While some looked surprised, most wore critical expressions.

Thorne spoke up first. “Impressive for such a small package, but any of our artillery weapons could do the same.”

Elania grunted, meeting each person’s gaze in turn. Disappointment was clear on their faces.

She turned back to the range, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

In rapid succession, she let off her five remaining shots. The first two obliterated the remaining stone target pillars, while the last four drilled a hole through the firing range, the final one slamming into the blue barrier behind it.

Elania looked back at the others, satisfaction surging through her as she saw their impressed expressions.

Aria stepped forward. “Can all the weapons shoot like that?”

Elania nodded, her voice confident. “They can use larger magazines, up to thirty shots, or one’s like mine with several high-powered shots.”

She paused, a smile tugging at her lips. “And I was using normal ammunition a soldier might use, not anything special.”

Eira’s stoic demeanor broke. “You mean you can shoot more powerful ones than that?”

Elania grinned, pleased at the reaction she’d elicited.

A messenger hurried into the chamber, his face flushed with urgency. “High Chancellor Valaran has declared an immediate council session. Demi-Divine Elania’s presence is expected.”

*

Elania walked with the group, her mind whirling with possibilities. Eira, Rynor, Thorne, Aria, and Roran - all members of the Hels’ council - strode alongside her. As they exited the Arcane Academy, a carriage waited to whisk them away.

Eira waved the others to go on ahead. “Elania needs her own carriage.”

Elania didn’t argue. This was her chance to finally meet the Chancellor and make progress on her mission.

So far, she sensed Hels could offer more than just a squadron of airships. The Demi-Divine tracking magic and barrier protections were high on her list of things that could help, though uncertainty nibbled at her confidence.

The second carriage arrived as soon as the first departed, and Eira climbed in with Elania.

The ride was brief, curving around the Hel dome before reaching the government building.

Its architecture differed slightly from the arcane building but kept what Elania had decided was Hels’ classic look—dark stone structures illuminated by arcane torches. Two extensive gardens flanked the entrance, with black fountains their defining feature. It exuded an air of officialdom.

As they disembarked, Eira took the lead.

Elania followed, her heart pounding with anticipation. She hoped this meeting would yield the answers and support she sought.

They ascended the steps.

Their footsteps echoed through the oversized halls of the Hels’ government building.

The scarcity of people and the slight chill in the air sent a shiver down her spine.

Eira led them into the council chamber, and Elania immediately noticed the stark contrast to Contia’s chamber.

The room was smaller, more intimate, with a large rectangular table dominating the center.

The councilors from the revolver demonstration were already seated, along with a few unfamiliar faces.

But it was the man at the end of the table who commanded Elania’s attention.

As her gaze fell upon him, her [System Analysis] activated instinctively as the hair on the back of her neck stood up.

[High Chancellor - Lich - Level 1912]

Elania blinked, taking in his human appearance, yet the power radiating from him was undeniable. It was actually disturbing, and felt far more visceral than anything she had felt from Arlois or the other Towers. Or Magisters. Or Elders.

Was the lich… leaking?

Her second thought was to wonder if he could pass through Hels’ dome and walk through the gate to the dead.

Her wings curled around her, providing a reflexive protective cloak.

Valaran stood, not missing the instinctual body language. “Please, do not be alarmed.”

“My apologies for my reaction,” Elania said, her voice steady despite her unease. “No one warned me you weren’t human.”

An awkward shuffle rippled through the room, as if she had committed a faux pa. But Valaran laughed, his voice echoing off the walls. “Indeed, I have slightly slipped my mortal coil for some time.”

Elania took her seat, and Valaran followed suit.

He announced the commencement of the council meeting. A piece of paper floated into view, accompanied by a quill, poised to record the minutes. Elania realized it would transcribe everything said.

Valaran fixed his gaze on Elania, his eyes piercing. “Why has Contia decided to contact Hels now, without warning, and by sending such an under-prepared and overqualified envoy?”

Elania swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. “High Chancellor Valaran, esteemed councilors of Hels,” she began, her voice steady. “I come bearing urgent news and a request for aid.”

She wasn’t sure how long she talked, but they allowed her to run through her thoughts without interruption.

When she finally paused, Valaran spoke. “I called this meeting because I was worried you’d woo my councilors to your side before things could be considered carefully.”

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. “Maybe Contia does have something valuable.” He turned to Aria. “What do you think about the weapon Elania demonstrated?”

Aria cleared her throat. “It could be advantageous to arm the men with. The firepower and range are impressive.”

Valaran nodded, then looked to Thorne. “And your opinion?”

Thorne gave a grudging nod. “It has potential. It would be a force multiplier for our regulars. We wouldn’t have to rely so much on the Obsidians.”

“High praise indeed,” Valaran mused. He turned to Eira. “Do you see an advantage for the Obsidian Guard as well?”

Eira leaned forward. “With hand held weapons like the one we saw, it would be a considerable boost to our short to medium ranged firepower.”

Roran raised a hand. “It would only be an advantage if sufficient weapons could be obtained. Since each one requires a mana shard, arming the men in such a way could be very expensive.”

Elania smiled and nodded. “They could cost a lot if sufficient mana shards can’t be acquired to produce them, but they are still much more powerful than crossbows.”

Valaran fixed his gaze on Elania. “What does Contia want?”

Elania felt the tension in the room. This was her chance. She took a deep breath. “Contia is interested in long-term relations and a defensive pact.”

Valaran’s expression hardened. “Such things can’t be produced overnight.”

Elania’s spirits fell, her hopes of a quick alliance crumbling.

She searched for the right words to salvage the situation, but the skepticism in Valaran’s eyes told her it would be an uphill battle.

Elania listened intently as Valaran continued speaking, his words measured and cautious. “The Towers seemed to completely forget of Hels existence for many years, and while for them and me, that is only a blink, much can change for our citizens in such time. There is little attachment to another state that is so distant.”

Elania acknowledged his concern with a nod. “I understand, but we both face the same threats. Cooperation could benefit us all.”

Valaran nodded slightly, his eyes glinting with interest. “That is why I am interested in continuing and furthering relations.” He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. “But I believe you were meant to return with an answer in a much too shortened timeline, and the answer can only be no at the moment.”

Elania’s heart sank, but she maintained her composure.

Valaran continued, “I wish Contia would send an actual diplomatic mission, instead of an air-mailed Demi-Divine.” A hint of amusement colored his tone. “Hels can send its own mission to Contia in the coming weeks or months.”

“The threat from the Lightbringers grows with each day. By then, it could be too late,” Elania replied.

Valaran’s expression hardened. “I have learned that moving too quickly can open one up to dangers that could be averted by being cautious. While I don’t believe you or Contia mean Hels any harm, we must deliberate every factor before making any commitments.”

Elania nodded. “I’m happy to hear that you are at least considering things in a positive light.”

Valaran stared at her, his gaze intense. Then, he turned to Rynor, the High Mage of the Arcane Academy. “What about the sky searcher project?”

Elania wasn’t sure what the sudden change in topic was about. From the looks of the Councilors, neither did they.

Rynor perked up, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “Ah, yes! The Arcane Academy has made significant progress in developing a tracking system capable of detecting high-flying heat sources.” He leaned forward, his hands gesturing animatedly. “It can distinguish between falling rocks and controlled flight, a crucial advancement for detecting fast moving Demi-Divines.”

Rynor dug into his pouch and pulled out the screen Elania had seen earlier. With a few deft movements, he activated it, displaying Elania’s flight path from Contia to Hels.

Valaran turned to Elania, a knowing look in his eyes. “I believe you expressed an interest in such a thing, did you not?”

Elania blinked, surprised that Valaran knew that. She quickly composed herself and nodded. “Yes, Contia has nothing like it. I think it would enhance the city’s defenses against attacks.”

Valaran stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You must be concerned about an attack from the Sun Emperor, then.”

Elania nodded, her expression grave. “Arlois claimed she could defeat him within her own tower and domain, but she acknowledged he would pose a significant threat if he attacked the city directly.”

Valaran threw his head back and bellowed a loud laugh, startling the council members. He wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling. “I can imagine that purple brat saying that, indeed.”

Elania couldn’t help but smile at Valaran’s reaction.

It seemed that Arlois’ reputation preceded her, even in Hels. Or maybe the High Chancellor had met her before?

She glanced around the room, gauging the reactions of the other council members. Some looked amused, while others appeared deep in thought, maybe considering the implications of the Sun Emperor’s potential aggression.

Elania studied Valaran’s face, trying to decipher his thoughts. But that didn’t last long.

Valaran turned to Rynor, his voice firm. “Provide her with an informative paper on the arcane technology.”

Eira’s objection came swiftly. “But that’s secret technology we just developed! We can’t just give it away for nothing!”

Valaran raised his hand, silencing her protest. “We can, and I just did.”

He fixed his gaze on Elania, his expression unreadable. “Consider it a token of goodwill from Hels to Contia. We wish you well in your challenges, but further relations will need time to bear fruit.”

Elania nodded, her disappointment tempered by gratitude. “Thank you for the gesture. I understand Hels’ position, even if I had hoped for something more concrete.”

Valaran inclined his head. “In time, in due time.”

What if they didn’t have more time? Elania bit her lip.

As the council members dispersed, Elania found herself alone with Rynor. He approached her, adding a thick roll of parchment to the display board he had produced earlier. “Here’s the information on the sky searcher project, as promised. You can even have the unit, although you’ll need to implement detectors of your own.”

Elania accepted the items. “Thank you. I’m sure Contia will find this invaluable.”

Rynor’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “I’d be interested to hear how you plan to implement it. If you improve the design any, I would appreciate having that feedback.”

Elania nodded. “I’ll see that you get a full report on whatever we do with it.”

*

The welcome back to her estate was warm, but Elania skipped past Darius and the servants and headed straight upstairs.

As she stepped into the bedroom, her mind was still processing the events of her journey to Hels.

Yolani looked up from a chair and closed the book she had been reading. Concern was etched on her face. “How did Arlois take the news?”

Elania shrugged. “She didn’t say anything, but it seemed like she wasn’t pleased.”

Yolani sighed and ran her hand through her hair. “Things have been going well on the construction and production front while you were gone. I will look at the detector thing tomorrow.”

A smile tugged at the corners of Elania’s lips. “I’m happy to hear that. Thanks for doing your best while I was away.”

Yolani nodded, but a frown creased her brow. “Are you really sure about doing the essence purging for the Regalia now?”

Elania’s gaze drifted to the window, the city sprawling beneath them. “I’m afraid time is running out. It’s now or never.” She turned back to Yolani, determination in her eyes. “I’ll use the ambrosia Ember gave us to reduce how much power I lose.”

Yolani’s fingers drummed against the workbench, a nervous rhythm. “You expect to drop from around 4,500 power to 2,500?”

Elania nodded, her jaw set. “Something like that. Once the Regalia is fully bonded, my maximum should go up from 5,000. But what I really need are more followers to replenish faster.”

Yolani’s lips pursed, her gaze thoughtful. “That’s going to be difficult. Especially in Contia.”

Elania leaned against the wall, her arms crossed. “From what I can tell, the quality of followers is just as important. I’ve noticed my regeneration has increased despite losing over a thousand so far.”

Yolani pushed herself up from the workbench, her steps measured as she approached Elania. “I’ll go over the process with you again.”

Elania smiled, then reached out, her fingers intertwining with Yolani’s. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Yolani’s smile was soft, her eyes shining with affection. “You’ll never have to find out.”

They ended up on the bed and distracted for a while, but when they were done, neither of them was actually sleepy.

Yolani rolled over and pulled out a book and began explaining the two-part process of bonding with the Regalia.

First, Elania would need to purge her non-Divine essence—that wasn’t even part of the process, it was just what was naturally required. Normal Demi-Divine didn’t have cores or essence—that was distinctly Elania’s lesser demon race’s fault.

Then she could match her [Divinity] to the artifact, and then begin the process of melding the bracer and revolver to herself.

When it was finished, she’d be able to morph the revolver into the bracer, or vice versa. Eventually, the plan was to expand the bracer into a full set of armor. The elemental ammunition was already ready, just waiting for the transformation of the weapon into its Regalia form.

The hardest part would be maintaining 100% [Divinity] for the entire process.

“I just have to avoid absorbing anything,” Elania said, her brow furrowed in concentration. “[Soul Management] will let me prevent any passive gains from my other cores as long as I vent them constantly. It’ll drain my [Divine Power] income, though. Two-thirds of it, actually.”

Yolani frowned. “Should we try to gather more... material? The other Towers might have some extra ambrosia.”

Elania shook her head, determination in her gaze. “We’ve waited too long already. We need the Regalia as soon as possible. I’m going to do it now.”

“Can I help?” Yolani asked.

A smile tugged at the corners of Elania’s lips. “Yeah, that would be nice.”

Yolani nodded, then got out of bed. Elania eyed her lover’s form.

“I’ll fortify the room,” Yolani explained, her fingers already tracing intricate patterns in the air.

Elania waved her hand dismissively. “It isn’t necessary. It’s not like I’ll be an invalid, just lower in [Divine Power] for a while.”

Yolani stopped and turned around with a frown. “Fine.”

“You can help by cuddling,” Elania said with a smile.

Yolani’s eyebrows shot up. “You are doing something that’s going to leave you vulnerable and is critical to our survival, and the help you want is cuddling?”

Elania’s laughter filled the room. “Yes, come here.”

Yolani returned to the bed and Elania leaned back against her, welcoming the embrace as she nestled into the other girl’s arms. The warmth of their bodies mingled, a comforting closeness that made closing her eyes easy.

“I’m not going to sleep, just most of this is mental,” Elania mumbled.

Yolani nuzzled her hair behind an ear. “Sure, sure. I’m here. Do what you need to do.”

Elania sank into the comfort of Yolani’s embrace.

She focused inward, her mind delving into the depths of her being.

[Soul Management] allowed her to sense the swirling essences within, each one a distinct thread in the tapestry of her existence.

[Human], [Darkwalker], and [Divinity] roiled in distinct clouds, with solid cores at the center of each. A thin gray mist suffused the space between them, with the minute amounts of other essence that was slowly filtering out.

She needed to destroy the balance, to reach a state of pure [Divinity].

Breathing deeply, Elania began the process.

She visualized the essences, guiding them with the power of her will.

[Divine Power] surged through her, a conduit for the unwanted energies. The essences were expelled into the air like wisps of smoke, although they weren’t visible to any mortal sense.

It formed a thick cloud in the room and around the Estate for several minutes until a sudden, powerful suction began to drag it away.

That almost jolted her out of her focus. But she quickly realized what it was.

The Celestial Engine was hungry, and free floating [Divine Power] was an easy meal, even at a distance. And the Engine didn’t care about was essence flavor it was.

That’d been bad for Neftasu’s Engine when the ratio had gone wildly out of balance due to Relain’s machinations, but here it probably wasn’t an issue, she hoped. Arlois or Ember would have mentioned it if it was, surely?

Time seemed to stretch.

The closer she came to 100% [Divinity] the longer it seemed to filter out the remnants of the other essences.

Elania focused on the warmth of Yolani’s arms around her. The longer the process took, the weaker she felt.

When the last trace of unwanted essence faded away, [Soul Management] reported the 100% achievement.

It felt like a lock clicking open. A sense of rightness settled over her.

Immediately she snapped into place two cyclic expulsions, visualized conduits attached to her [Human] and [Darkwalker] cores to push anything they generated out of her. She would be leaking [Divine Power] everywhere until the process was complete.

Elania opened her eyes, blinking at the golden light that suffused the room. Yolani’s face looked down at her, bathed in the ethereal glow.

“You’re glowing,” Yolani whispered.

Elania raised her hand, marveling at the luminescent bracer that encircled her forearm. Her eyes went to the bedtable, and the revolver. She probably should wear it, too.

But doing that while naked felt a little silly.

She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, and Yolani hugged her tighter.

“Sorry,” Elania mumbled.

“Don’t be,” Yolani replied. She reached over and grabbed Ember’s bottle and opened it. “Drink this.”

Elania did so. The rush of sweetness filled her with the feeling of energy and warmth.

She reached up and pulled Yolani into a kiss.

*

The cool night air blew Elania’s hair as she sat on the roof of the estate, alone.

Yolani was still snoring in bed, loud enough to be heard from the open balcony door.

Her emotions felt muted. The after-effects from the Ambrosia—Ember hadn’t mentioned it was an aphrodisiac—mingling with the change in her [Divinity] essence.

Too much energy coursed through her still to sleep, so she probed inward. Her essence was different.

Her Seraph-Form [Divinity] had made her numb, logical, laser focused on her mission to the exclusion of all else—or at least it had tried. It had waxed and waned as widely as her [Power] levels had.

The same [Divinity] as a Demi-Divine was different. She felt slightly detached, separate, like a bird looking down. But still connected.

God, she was still connected. A feeling of warmth fed to her by all the thin strands of gold that converged from the nearby floating islands to her from the massive conduit of trust and belief that came from the room below.

A slow gift of [Divine Power] trickled to her through those connections, from things as simple as the belief that she was doing her best to protect and help them.

Elania swallowed and took a deep breath. There was no reason she couldn’t be down in the bed with her heart, snuggled up in a warm ball of bliss.

Except.

Except there was something in the air.

Tension.

She couldn’t explain it, but it felt like a thousand needles hovering above, waiting to fall. A slight tension in all the threads connected to her, coming together subtly in an attempt to warn her.

She could see the threads of the other Demi-Divine clearly if she wanted, and somehow she could feel the tension in those lines just as she did in her own.

Somehow she had become attuned not just to her own followers, but to the people of Contia as a whole.

Elania’s eyes slid to the central island, where the Celestial Engine was housed in the astrolabe chamber. She knew what had caused the connection.

It had consumed some of her essence—it wasn’t hers anymore, but it had been part of her once. It resonated through the Engine and into the city.

It would have happened eventually, if she had lived in the city long enough for the cycle to happen naturally, but her expulsion of essence had sped the process up a thousand-fold.

Elania stood up.

[Divine Power: 3336/5000]

That was better than she had hoped, thanks to the ambrosia. Really, she wasn’t that weakened. It just felt that way.

Her [Divine Power] ticked up a single point. She’d recover quickly once her Regalia was bonded. She could feel the metal on her hip and forearm slowly becoming a part of her.

It was hard to think of words to describe the sensation.

But the incessant warning she felt in the air made it impossible to relax.

Elania spread her wings and took to the sky.

She glided through the air, her wings carrying her effortlessly over the city.

The cool night breeze whipped through her hair as she surveyed the wharfs below.

Airships lit up the docks, their lights twinkling against the clouds below. One thing caught her eye—the larger number of heavy ships.

The Towers had been busy, and it looked like most of the merchant ships had been converted into warships. Dozens of artifice weapons lined their decks. The subtle conversion from trade to war was impossible to miss.

The Lightbringer ship was still docked, close to them.

A slight smile appeared on Elania’s lips. A message to the blessed Bishop Lefarne?

Elania banked, turning her flight path towards the Neftasu district.

Where once stood abandoned, dilapidated buildings, now streets of lights illuminated the night. Several patrols of Guard walked in opposite directions, carrying artificed lanterns. The Guards Barracks and Council building shone like beacons, lighting up the area around them like twin Christmas trees.

The new bastion—her Tower, if they stayed long enough—had grown rapidly, reaching upwards like a finger, trying to climb to the stars.

Elania banked again, aiming toward the estate. A purple glint caught her eye, though, on one of the spires that overlooked the wharfs.

She angled for that instead.

A long figure stood on the spire’s highest balcony. Arlois had her purple wings spread wide, a soft breeze ruffling the feathers constantly.

What was she doing out here during the late hour?

Maybe she felt the same tension?

Elania looped around the spire twice, then landed beside Arlois.

“What is going on?” Elania asked.

Arlois’ gaze remained fixed on the city below. “There is an ill wind in the air tonight.”

Elania grunted. “I felt it, too.”

That did draw a glance.

“Is it something we can do something about?” Elania asked.

“No,” Arlois said. “There is nothing solid. Something is going to happen, and it won’t be good.”

Minutes passed by in silence as they observed the city.

“You’re attuned more than before.” Arlois finally said. Her gaze drifted to the revolver on Elania’s hip. “And you’re finally taking my advice.”

Elania frowned. “I was already doing so. It just took time and effort to put it into action.”

Arlois turned back to the airships, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. “I’m glad you and the refugees arrived in Contia.”

Elania blinked. She hadn’t expected such sentiment from the other woman.

Before she could reply, a flash of light lit up the city.

A massive fireball erupted upwards from the wharfs, and then a deafening explosion and wave of wind ripped through the air.

It was at the far end of the docks, away from the warships, at least.

“What was that?” Elania shouted.

Arlois stood stoically. “The airship magazines.”

“How?” Elania asked.

Arlois sighed, her wings folding. “The Lightbringers likely have an insider.”

Elania’s brow furrowed. “Why don’t we do something?”

Arlois shook her head, a bitter smile appearing. “I’ll be blamed for this. There’s nothing more I can do but lay a trap and see if they swallow the hook.”

“We can at least put out the fire,” Elania said.

Arlois nodded, her gaze still fixed on the inferno. “Feel free. But remember—you should watch over the ones that you care about first. That’s all we can do.” She paused, her voice softening. “It’s all we can ever do.”

Elania shook her head, not sure where Arlois’ mental journey was taking her, but it wasn’t time to be reminiscent.

She took flight.

An hour later, the destruction was tamed to the best of her and the dock worker’s ability. The rest would be days or weeks of effort.

As she flew back to the estate, Arlois’ words haunted her.

Yolani’s embrace gave her solace.

In the morning, they were forced to hurry to an emergency council meeting. The building was packed with spectators. It took an escort by a few Silvers for them to push their way to the viewing benches.

The hearing was, as expected, for the explosion of the Silvers’ ammunition depot.

An officer took the stand, his uniform crisp and his posture rigid. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Some munitions were likely improperly stored, resulting in a chain reaction.”

Elania glanced at Arlois, who remained impassive despite the implied blame. Her face was a mask of calm, betraying nothing of her thoughts.

The other three council members exchanged concerned looks, their eyes darting between the officer and Arlois. They began questioning the officer further, their voices rising with each new query.

Elania sensed a shift in the room, as the blame seemed to fall on Arlois’ leadership.

Yolani leaned over to Elania, her breath warm against her ear. “Something doesn’t feel right,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the council’s questioning.

Elania nodded. She watched as the council members continued their line of questioning, pressing the officer for more details on the safety violations.

The officer provided specific examples, painting a picture of negligence. “Proper storage procedures were not followed,” he said, his voice ringing out in the chamber. “Explosives were not properly segregated, and regular inspections were not conducted as required.”

“Why was the wharf munitions depot not following the same procedures as all other armories?” Lyra demanded, staring at Arlois.

“I don’t know,” Arlois replied.

Each word was a damning indictment, a nail in the coffin of Arlois’ leadership.

The weak response only further opened the floodgate of accusations against her. Witness after witness took the stand, their testimonies painting a damning picture of negligence within the Contia Silvers. Elania shifted in her seat, unease gnawing at her gut. Yolani caught her eye, mirroring her worry.

Arlois sat motionless, her gaze fixed on the proceedings, her expression an unreadable mask.

How was this turning the tables?

Lyra stood, her voice clear and authoritative. “I motion for an investigation into Arlois’ handling of the defensive measures. A possible censure may be necessary.”

Elysia hesitated for a moment before reluctantly seconding the motion.

Ember, normally a bedrock of support for Arlois, crumbled under the weight of Elysia’s stare. “An investigation is called for.”

Arlois remained stoic, her eyes fixed on Lyra. Elania sensed the tension between the two leaders, a palpable electricity crackling in the air. She wondered how this investigation would impact Arlois’ position and Contia’s defense. Would it weaken their resolve in the face of the Lightbringer threat?

The next announcement by Lyra was a surprise for all. “The Lightbringer diplomatic mission has business to bring before the council.”

Pandemonium broke loose for several minutes until the slam of Arlois’ gavel silenced the chamber.

Arlois spoke, her tone sharp. “Why are the Lightbringers clogging one of the primary wharf bays?”

Lyra ignored the question and gestured to the chamber’s threshold. “Welcome Bishop, please share your thoughts with the council.”

The bishop proceeded down the aisle, flanked by two members of his entourage. His white robes swished as he strode to the center of the room. No one spoke, his presence commanding attention and drawing all eyes to him.

“Fair people of Contia. I come here today to bear warning to you. For many years, the Kingdom of Tiria and Contia have been peaceful neighbors. It grieves me to now tell you that you have clutched a foul viper to your hearts—one with deadly intent and a dark mission to destroy your precious flying city.”

He paused, then turned to stare straight at Elania.

Her hair stood up on the back of her neck, and Yolani squeezed her wrist.

“Neftasu was a city steeped in crime and corruption,” Lefarne continued, his voice booming through the chamber. “Its streets were filled with vice and depravity, its leaders more concerned with their own power than the well-being of their people. They suppressed the holy folk and bred with demons.”

Lefarne’s speech reached its crescendo, his voice rising with each accusation. “When missionaries were sent to its hellish depths, they were martyred while one rose to destroy something that concerns all of us—the holy blade of righteousness!”

He turned his attention to Elania, pointing an accusing finger at her. His eyes blazed with righteous indignation. “The one who tried to kill us all and destroyed the Celestial Engine sits right there!”

“Tiria demands justice,” Lefarne declared. “We demand you hand over the vile snakes you have taken in, and deliver to us their demon, one that blackens the meaning of the Holy by her mere existence!”