Demoness 3 - Chapter 9: Thrust (10,922 Words) (Patreon)

Elania felt the tension in the chamber rise as Lefarne’s accusation hung in the air. Yolani’s hand squeezed her arm a little tighter.

Arlois turned to Elysia, her voice calm yet firm. “Did the Lightbringers follow all the required diplomatic procedures?”

Elysia nodded. “They have, and thus are protected by diplomatic law.”

Protected? Elania blinked and her gaze slipped between the two Towers.

“What is the specific statute?” Arlois asked.

Elysia recited the law, her words echoing through the hushed chamber. Elania listened intently.

Ember cleared her throat, drawing the attention of the council. “An investigation has already been completed in the matter of the explosion.”

Lyra frowned. Lefarne’s accusing finger dropped from Elania and he whirled around to face the Towers once more. “But you just declared that an investigation would happen,” he protested.

Elania shared a glance with Yolani. They watched as Lefarne’s objection was utterly ignored, as if he hadn’t spoken.

Ember continued, her voice steady. “The munitions were likely tampered with purposefully in order to detonate in the manner that they did. Thus, the explosion was sabotage.”

Lyra scowled, her eyes narrowing. “Why wasn’t I informed of any investigation?”

Ember smiled at Lyra, a hint of satisfaction in her expression. “After Arlois informed me, several days before the explosion, I put several of my people monitoring the situation at the wharfs. On several occasions, members of the Lightbringer’s ship used flight packs to land on Contia, illegally bypassing the jetty guards and the prohibition against coming into the city.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd, a mixture of surprise and unease. Lyra looked shocked, her eyes widening at the revelation.

Elania blinked, Arlois’ pieces starting to fall together. If Ember’s people had evidence of the Lightbringers’ illegal activities, it would shift the blame away from Arlois and the Contia leadership.

Her eyes slid back to Lefarne.

Ember continued her statement, her voice clear and steady. “The Lightbringer crew was then observed meeting with various individuals in a local tavern.”

Elania leaned back in her seat, feeling Yolani’s grip on her arm lighten. A flicker of relief washed over her as Ember revealed the new information.

“These meetings included several members of the guard and known Monevoian agents,” Ember elaborated. “After this was determined, a police force was dispatched and took all the Monevoians and the Silvers who had been meeting with the Lightbringers into custody.”

Elysia spoke up, her tone grave. “The Monevoian agents unfortunately managed to commit suicide once taken into custody. However, three members of the Contia Silver Guard were questioned via advanced techniques, and it was determined that they had been involved in the sabotage of the munitions depot. Unfortunately, this occurred after the explosion took place.”

Elania’s eyes slid to Arlois. Unfortunately? A bad feeling slid into her gut. Had the Towers known what was going to happen before it did? Why didn’t they stop it if they knew?

There hadn’t been that many killed, but there had been fatalities. It seemed like even a few were far too high a price to pay... to allow Lefarne to tie his own noose.

“The Silvers responsible directly or indirectly benefited from the arrangement,” Elysia continued. “One was involved in a hostage situation, while the other two received payment in currency. All three indicated it was the Lightbringer agents who had encouraged or incited the act of sabotage.”

Elania glanced at Lyra, who sat silently, her face contorted with anger. She wondered if Lyra’s support for the Lightbringers would continue.

Elysia motioned to a servant, who stepped forward and provided parchment transcripts of the questioning to the council members. The room fell silent as they began to review the documents, the weight of the evidence sinking in.

When they were finished, the chamber was utterly silent.

Arlois looked down at Lefarne, a savage smile spreading across her face. “Bishop, could you please answer these charges? Rather than making empty statements and demands to a foreign power about the refugees and people they took in.”

Lefarne shook, his voice trembling as he addressed the council. “The Lightbringers will not stand for such aid to evildoers that have harmed Tiria in such grievous ways. Your only choice is to surrender the Neftasuians or face war with the forces of light.”

Arlois stood up, her voice booming through the chamber. “I demand a vote for the immediate execution of Bishop Lefarne.”

Elysia stood up immediately.. “Executing a diplomatic that has been recognized cannot be done under Contia’s current laws and would have immediate ramifications for our diplomacy.” The Green Tower’s gaze moved to the Bishop slowly, and with malice. “Even if they created an act of wanton death and destruction and would deserve every bit.”

Arlois sighed, her frustration evident. “Then I demand a vote for the immediate expulsion of the Lightbringers and a severing of all diplomatic ties with their order.”

Lyra stood up and seconded the vote without hesitation. That was a bit of a surprise.

Each of the four Towers stated their positive vote for expelling the Lightbringers.

Silvers emerged from the shadows, taking hold of Lefarne’s arms, and began to haul him out of the chamber.

Elania stood up, drawing a glance from Yolani. She stepped into the bishop’s path, her eyes locked on his. Lefarne’s face twisted into a smile, his body shaking with anticipation. “Strike me down! I am happy to be the martyr Tiria needs!”

Elania remained still, her voice steady as she spoke. “The Neftasu people are under my protection. The Lightbringers should return to their nation and avoid throwing more of the lives of their army away.”

Lefarne spouted, “It’s our duty to fight demons and evil wherever they hide!”

Elania sighed, shaking her head. “Where the fuck do they find so many insane people?”

She waved for the Silvers to take him away.

The crowd filtered out of the council chamber, their murmurs echoing off the walls. Yolani stood beside her, quiet and contemplative. Arlois descended from her seat and approached them alongside Ember.

“The Heart and Gold are both in dock right now,” Arlois said, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. “We’d like to ask for your help in escorting the Lightbringer’s ship to the border.”

Ember nodded, her eyes meeting Elania’s. “The city fleet will be going, but a show of force would be beneficial, we believe.”

Elania glanced at Yolani, a silent understanding passing between them. With a slight nod, Elania turned back to Arlois and Ember. “That’s fine. We will make it happen.”

A thought crossed her mind, and she tilted her head. “I bet you want me to go with the ships, too?”

Arlois smiled. “You’re the best option we have for a mobile Demi-Divine leaving the city. We would prefer to stay here.”

Yolani frowned, her brows knitting together. “I hope you aren’t taking advantage of Elania.”

Ember chuckled, her voice tinged with amusement. “Of course we’re taking advantage, but it’s to your benefit, too. It solidifies your utility to the city and your place in it.”

Yolani frowned, then turned to Elania, determination etched on her face. “I’m coming with you.”

Elania nodded, a sense of urgency rising within her. “We better hurry, then. I don’t think there’s going to be any delay in tossing them out.”

Arlois’ smile was feral. “On that, you can be sure.”

*

Elania wrapped her arms around Yolani, giving her a gentle squeeze for a moment before they took to the air. In less than a minute, they were soaring towards the wharfs.

Not long after, they landed on the deck of the Heart, right in front of Sergeant Harlock. He stared at them like it was just another Tuesday at work. “What’s the word?”

Yolani quickly explained the situation, and Harlock sprang into action, barking orders for the ship to prepare for departure. He sent a messenger to the Gold, ensuring they would be ready as well.

Nearby, several of the city warships began their undocking procedures, the crews moving with practiced efficiency.

Elania recalled the hours-long wait during their last disembarkation. It was a bit maddening to know how quickly things could move when the situation demanded it.

A red streak appeared over the Lightbringer ship. Ember’s wings flapped heavily, dropping ash on the vessel below. Yolani sucked in her breath, her voice low. “They’re really encouraging them to leave.”

Elania nodded silently, her eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them. She hadn’t ever bothered to read or learn about whatever the Lightbringers ‘believed’ in, but the picture evoked an envisagement of what she’d consider hell.

Lefarne and his entourage were hauled down the wharf by Silvers, their movements forceful and unyielding.

As they reached the jetty, the Silvers shoved them, ordering them to board their ship and depart immediately.

Soldiers on the Lightbringer ship stood armed, their weapons at the ready, while nearby Silvers and city emplacements were manned and aimed at the ship, poised for action.

Elania grunted, her voice tense. “Things could pop off at any second.”

Yolani shouted for the ship to activate the arcane wordings.

Elania felt the hum of the invisible magic barriers surrounding the ship come to life, her [Enhanced Mana Sense] allowing her to perceive the shape of the anti-projectile and magic barriers.

Lefarne stumbled up the ramp to the Lightbringer ship, his men following close behind.

Elania maintained her position on the Heart, her eyes locked on the Lightbringer ship as it prepared to depart.

Soldiers on both sides stood armed and poised for action.

In under an hour, all the ships were in the sky, flying away from the city like a scattering of bees from a nest. Elania felt a sense of relief wash over her, knowing that no one had opened fire.

Yolani ordered the crew to keep a minimum one-mile separation from the Lightbringer ship for safety, while still tailing it.

The other Contia airships followed suit at various altitudes and distances, but all were within visual sight for signals. The air was free of clouds, so there was little risk of getting lost.

Elania frowned as she shook the walkie-talkie device, only to be met with pure static.

Yolani noticed her frustration. “Those don’t work. The ships put out too much interference, especially with defense fields active,” she said as she pulled up an eye-piece and sighted the Lightbringers. “Plus, the Lightbringer ship is leaking badly.”

Elania blinked. “What?”

“The Lightbringer ship’s armaments and defenses are active, but they are leaking small amounts of [Power]. That hints they are old, decaying, and or poorly maintained,” Yolani replied. She handed Elania the bronze and glass eyepiece.

Elania held it up to her eye and realized it was a sort of telescope. The Lightbringer ship was clearly visible and small, thin clouds of pink mist periodically puffed off of the vessel to drift in the air.

“Do you think all the Lightbringer ships are going to be in that shape, or did they give Lefarne the oldest rust bucket they could find because they didn’t care about him?” Elania asked.

Yolani grunted, her brow furrowed. “I can’t imagine such a ship in that state operating very well in a battle. If they are, we could wipe them all out with just the Heart and Gold.”

Elania frowned, a thought crossing her mind. “Almost as if they wanted him to fail.”

Yolani gave her a worried look, the implications of Elania’s statement hanging heavy in the air. “Then… what kind of trap are we falling into?”

Elania frowned. She didn’t have an answer, so she stayed silent. Her eyes went to the horizon in front of the enemy ship. And they were the enemy. Everything she had learned and knew pointed to that.

The ships buzzed toward Contia’s western border with Joria. The region was essentially depopulated, and untouched old-growth forests stretched for as far as the eye could see, making it traversable only by airship.

The wind whipped past her face, carrying with it a sense of unease.

Yolani stood beside her, pulling her jacket’s neck closed and her short caplet around her arms. Eventually, she spoke. “We’re nearing the border.”

It wasn’t much longer after that when Harlock emerged from the control tower, stepping onto the castle balcony with them. “The Contia warships have raised a signal indicating unknown ships ahead.”

Elania looked up and to the left, where the high-positioned ships likely had a better view. She turned to Yolani. “Can you spot them?”

Yolani produced her telescope and peered through it, scanning the horizon.

After a moment, she pointed and handed the scope to Elania.

Elania raised it to her eye, focusing on the distant shapes. The nearer Lightbringer ship stood out with a line of pink trailing behind it. Further, along the horizon, she could make out five or six full-sized airships, their course perpendicular to their own.

“They’re Lightbringer airships,” Elania decided, lowering the telescope.

Harlock’s brow furrowed. “Should we beat to quarters?”

Elania shook her head. “No, let’s stay at full active. There’s no need to go to battle stations yet.”

She handed the telescope back to Yolani. The unknown ships loomed on the horizon like a gathering storm.

As they continued forward, a chill in the air ran down Elania’s spine. Actually…

She glanced over at Yolani. The other girl looked frozen. Was she standing out on the observation deck just because she was? Concern punched her in the gut, and Elania formed her [Demonic Aura] in a bubble around them, creating a pocket of warmer air.

Yolani rubbed her gloved hands together. “Why didn’t you do that from the start?”

Elania swallowed a self-deprecating remark.

“You need a scarf,” Elania finally replied, her voice carrying a hint of concern.

Yolani nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “That’s a good idea. We should go shopping for some new clothes and things once things calm down.”

Elania couldn’t help but grin as she glanced over at Yolani. Memories of their shopping trip in Neftasu flooded back to her. “That would be fun.”

Ahead of them, Lefarne’s airship began to turn.

Yolani raised her artifice scope, peering through it before letting out a hiss. “They’re bringing their weapons to active status.”

Elania’s eyes widened, and she shouted over her shoulder, “Sound battle stations!”

One of the watchmen sprinted into the control tower, and a moment later, the ship’s buzzer erupted. Crewmen rushed out of the interior, taking their positions at the deck weapons.

The Heart’s defensive fields snapped into place and the air began to shimmer with arcane energy.

Elania and Yolani retreated from the balcony, entering the control room. The flight master barked an order, and the ship yawed sixty degrees to port. A spotter called out a signal flag from the city warships, indicating they were beating to quarters.

Elania turned to Yolani, her brow furrowed. “What the hell are the Lightbringers doing? Are they attacking?”

Yolani studied the horizon through her scope, her voice tense. “The other Lightbringer ships are keeping their distance, but they’re easily in view range.”

Harlock grunted. “Looks like they are coming around for us.”

Lefarne’s ship completed its turn.

Elania watched as the enemy cut straight towards them.

A spotter called out, “The Gold is asking if they are cleared to fire!”

Elania shook her head. “Tell them to hold!”

Yolani frowned, then looked at her. “What are we going to do?”

“We aren’t going to be the first to open fire,” Elania said, her voice firm. “I think Lefarne’s visit has been an attempt to provoke Contia all along, and now that we’ve nearly sent him back, he’s going to try one more time to prove we’re the aggressors.”

Or impale himself like some type of sacrificial martyr. She left that bit unsaid.

Harlock looked between the two of them, then back at the enemy ship. “Letting them get the first shot could be disastrous.”

He was right; it was a serious risk. Elania nodded and went to the control room’s armored window slit. She placed a hand on the metal beside in and focused on her [Demonic Aura]. The arcane fields of the Heart were pumping their energy out into the air. She added her own reinforcement to the mix.

She looked back at her companions. “I’m reinforcing the fields. Send for the Gold to stay clear until we are engaged.”

The signal went out. A minute later, the navigator called out, “The enemy is going for a collision course! I’m raising our altitude and adjusting direction to avoid it.”

The ship jolted as they veered left and pitched upward. The Heart had two balloons unlike the three on the Lightbringer’s ship, and the extra maneuverability that afforded allowed them to slip away from the attempted ram.

That didn’t stop Lefarne’s vessel from trying to match their new course, but it was only a minute later that it turned into a stern chase with the enemy falling behind… and no hope of catching them.

“Energy spike! They are opening fire!” Yolani shouted as she lowered her artifice glass and grabbed a handhold. All throughout the bridge, everyone braced.

The anticipated projectiles never came.

Instead, a massive fireball engulfed the enemy airship, the explosion sending out a ringed shockwave of turbulence. They were far enough away that it simply rattled the ship slightly.

Elania blinked in disbelief. “What happened? Did one of the other ships open fire?”

Yolani shook her head, a frown creasing her forehead. “No, one of their weapons must have misfired, and then their magazines self-detonated.”

Elania stared out at the distant Lightbringer ships, a frigid chill running down her spine.

She realized the explosion would make it appear as though she had destroyed the airship with a single blow, leaving no room for survivors.

Tiria had its “martyr” now.

*

Elania grunted as she hefted the massive chunk of rock, her muscles straining with the effort.

The sun beat down on her from an angle, a hot evening sunset doing its best to be relentless as it poured the last vestiges of the day onto her. The air was relatively still, and despite the altitude, it felt like summer had arrived.

She lifted the boulder into the air and maneuvered it into position.

Dozens of city workers swarmed around the island, attaching metal bars and stakes to the rock like little hooks.

Another team wrapped a metal band around the joint before the artifice workers began turning the crack into a molten material with several machines that reminded Elania of sci-fi laser drills.

Sweat dripped down Elania’s brow as she held the island chunk steady, the weight bearing down on her.

A tap on her shoulder nearly made her lose balance, and she heard Ember’s laughter as the Tower put a hand on the rock, lightening the load considerably.

“You should pay attention, or you could get blind-sided,” Ember said, her voice tinged with amusement.

Elania huffed, adjusting her grip on the boulder. “It’s fine. Yolani designed the repair thing.”

Ember chuckled, nodding in appreciation. “It was a great idea, but I’m not sure how well it will hold up if another munition depot explodes on it.”

Elania’s mood soured at the mention of the explosion, and she focused on holding the chunk in place until several crew members rappelled down and signaled that they were ready to test the seal’s weight bearing.

Elania and Ember counted down from three in unison, then released the rock at the same time. The island groaned, but the chunk stayed in place, eliciting cheers from the workers.

As the crews moved to start stage two, reinforcing and bracing the chunk with new steel scaffolding, Elania landed back on solid ground.

She glanced at the bustling activity at the wharfs, taking in the sight of the numerous airships and the constant movement of people and goods.

She spotted the Heart and Gold. They were in the process of being upgraded further with a full set of military equipment. A crane lowered a large artillery weapon onto the deck of the Heart.

Elania recognized it as one of Yolani’s designs. Each ship would get a pair of them, and from what she knew, they’d be armed with the elemental shells developed in Neftasu, with timed fuses making them effective for aerial combat.

Even better, the city was paying for it as part of the mobilization and preparations for conflict.

Ember flew overhead, inspecting the warships and wharf before heading away. Elania considered how the Towers were working together, and it felt like the city was coming together to prepare and defend itself.

It felt like unity. In Neftasu, it had felt like everyone was segregated into different districts and social classes.

The culture was just completely different, and… it fit her better, Elania realized.

She liked Contia. At least more than Neftasu.

Maybe that wasn’t something she should tell Yolani or the others, but… well, Neftasu kinda sucked.

The Magisters had sucked. The Conclave had sucked. The nobles and merchants had taken advantage, and there had been so many people living without hope in the slums.

Lyra was a bitch. Ember was constantly trying to figure out how to fuck with her and Yolani… literally. Arlois had… she still hadn’t forgiven Arlois, but she could understand her reasons and somehow that let her let it be.

Somehow Arlois had ridden the line right to the edge but not crossed the point that would have made Elania hate her.

Elysia was… mostly okay?

Even with the Towers, the sometimes ridiculous laws and procedures the city loved… Contia wasn’t too bad. Maybe the fact the city wasn’t a patriarchy and sexual orientation wasn’t really a factor in judging other people was a huge part of her acceptance of it.

She could see herself living here for a few years with Yolani, if they were left alone and not attacked. Given some time to grow together more.

It wasn’t likely they’d get that free time, though. The Lightbringer ships had been right there… waiting on the border. There hadn’t been a single message from Tiria about Bishop Lefarne or his exploding ship.

They hadn’t risked sending their own messenger to explain, instead they’d shanghaied a Monevoian and sent him home with it. Whether it would ever reach its destination was questionable. Not that anyone thought sending a letter of explanation that Lefarne had opened fire and blown himself up was likely to be believed.

A group of people in tattered clothes moved together, some of them breaking off to go ask for work or alms from the various ship crews or wharf workers.

A frown appeared on Elania’s face. How many people had they displaced from the Neftasu district? Maybe when they had things in hand, they could find a way to help those people, too.

Elania watched as the team continued their work, securing the island chunk with reinforced scaffolding. Soon she’d head back home.

Home.

When had she started considering the estate her home? It only took a few seconds to figure out why it felt that way: Yolani made it feel like home.

It was just that… the rest of her family wasn’t there. Not that she’d want to bring them to Eladu. That would suck. Her mom would probably have a heart attack.

A wave of melancholy washed through her as she thought about her parents.

She missed them dearly. So much so that she had pushed thinking about them, completely and utterly aside.

They would be heartbroken by now, with her absence stretching for so long. Or would they? What if time flowed differently between the two worlds? What if it had been shorter or longer?

A million scenarios ran by, from her returning to find Earth transformed by a thousand years of progress into some sci-fi world, or her waking up to find that no time had passed at all and Eladu was just a dream.

Somehow, the second filled her with panic more than the thought of never seeing her parents again.

A warm push through the conduit was like a warm balm through her panic, a mental caress from Yolani. It felt like she was right behind her, whispering on the back of her neck. Elania turned around. There was no one, but the presence whirled around with her.

“Elania!” Yolani’s voice sounded.

Elania blinked. “Yolani? What’s wrong?”

Yolani’s reply came swiftly, “The healing potion shipment is in trouble!”

Elania blinked. Somehow [Divine Communion] was working now.

Without hesitation, Elania opened her wings and leaped into the air.

Elania soared over the Neftasu District as she followed the healing potion route in reverse.

She scanned the streets below, searching for sign of the wagon carrying the precious cargo. As she flew, her mind raced with the potential consequences of losing the potions. The refugees needed them. The Guard needed them.

Yolani’s messages had cut off after a few seconds because of the time limit due to the low rank of her skill. Raising her [Divine] skills seemed like something she should ask Arlois about later.

Halfway to the Mushroohum Arena, she spotted a large crowd surrounding the potion cart. She dived straight toward it.

One crate had already been pulled off and shattered on the ground, shimmering liquid spilling out onto the cobblestones as frantic people fought through broken wood and glass to grab what they could.

Henri and Allie were standing on top of the wagon. Henri had his sword drawn, and was waving it back and forth at anyone who tried to climb up with them. It was the only thing keeping them from being swarmed, and the crowd seemed to be growing more aggressive every second.

She landed on top of the cart with a heavy thump, her wings spreading wide with a shimmering golden energy.

The crowd reacted like it had been slapped, and worked itself into a frenzy. Half tried to flee, while the other half redoubled their efforts to seize the potions. People fell and started to get trampled in the panic.

Elania took a deep breath, then pushed [Divine Power] into her [Demonic Aura] blanketing the area.

“HALT!” she ordered, her voice resonating through the bodies of everyone present.

The crowd froze in place, their eyes wide with shock as they turned to face her.

The air grew still, the only sound the occasional whimper or gasp from the injured or frightened.

Elania looked out at the sea of faces, her gaze steady. “Calmly, help each other stand up. Instead of hurting one another,” she commanded.

Her words must have carried some kind of divine influence, because almost as one, the civilians carried out her instruction.

Elania turned to Allie. “Are you okay?”

Allie nodded, her hands trembling slightly. “I’m fine, just shaken up.”

Elania shifted her gaze to Henri, who stood beside Allie, his sword still drawn. “What about you, Henri?”

“I’m alright,” he replied, his brow furrowed. “But I have no idea what happened. We were just traveling along when suddenly people blocked the way. We couldn’t move without running them over.”

Elania looked out at the crowd once more, realization dawning on her as she took in their tattered clothing and gaunt faces.

These were the poorer people from the slums. Maybe even the very ones that she had displaced building the Neftasu district. A pang of sympathy ran through her. But she couldn’t tolerate lawlessness.

“Return the potions,” Elania commanded, her voice amplified by her [Demonic Aura]. “There are far more of you than there are potions, and you can’t have them off the cart.”

The power in her words was undeniable, and slowly, the potions were passed forward, handed back to the cart. There was no salvaging the shattered and spilled liquid on the ground, but they all complied as best as they could.

“If you are hurt or sick, go to the Neftasu District hospital,” she announced. “You will be taken care of there.”

There were blank stares and uncomprehending looks, but some seemed to respond. They all began to disperse slowly.

Elania closed her eyes and focused on [Divine Communion]. In the distance, she could feel Yolani. “Yolani, the hospital should prepare for an influx of people in need from the slums. The situation with the cart is resolved.”

Message sent, she looked back to Henri. “Let’s get this thing moving back to the hospital. Naia is going to need all of them.”

He nodded with a determined look, then sat back down in the driver’s seat and reactivated the artifice engine.

Elania took Allie’s hand and sat down with her. The trembling in the other girl’s hand eventually calmed.

But Elania couldn’t stop looking at the shattered crate left behind, and the shimmering liquid slowly flowing toward the edge of the island.

*

Yolani watched intently as a large city-based artillery cannon emerged from the city works in multiple pieces, transported on a set of extra-wide artifice carts.

The cannon, one of the new defense siege weapons designed to target airships from afar, boasted an impressive elemental shell capable of dispersing thousands of smaller black powder-filled bomblets in a massive sphere before detonating a second time, creating a devastating cloud of shrapnel.

At least, theoretically. She hadn’t had time to test it yet. There were so many things to test.

She hoped the lower-velocity black powder shrapnel would prove effective in penetrating airship physical barriers. Most arcane shields were tuned to defend against high-velocity projectiles or elemental effects.

As she moved inside, Soren approached.

“Yolani! Good to see you,” he called out, his voice carrying over the bustling activity of the city works.

“Soren, hello,” Yolani replied, her attention still partially focused on the imposing artillery piece. Her gaze slid to the rear of the compartment where shells were being fitted into crates for transport. “I see the production of shells is well underway.”

Soren nodded. “Indeed. The testing was successful, and we’re now preparing the ammunition. We’re making good progress.”

Yolani observed the workers meticulously mixing the black powder by hand, each separated from their colleagues by metal sheet walls—a precaution she had implemented after witnessing the risks firsthand.

Despite their triumphs in Neftasu, three injuries and one fatality had already occurred during the powder mixing process in Contia so far.

Ember had decided to switch to unskilled labor for the task after that. The issue with that was while it spared the more skilled workers, it meant more flare up and accidents.

The system Yolani had devised allowed the workers to operate individually, minimizing the chance of a catastrophic chain reaction should the powder ignite unexpectedly. Still, the uneasy feeling in her gut persisted.

“I need to speak with Ember,” Yolani informed Soren, her mind already shifting away to something more important.

Soren waved her on. “Of course, don’t let me keep you.”

She nodded, then continued, navigating her way through the bustling City Works, weaving her way past the increased activity and workers diligently preparing an array of weapons and equipment for the impending war.

The scale of the operation dwarfed the artifice shop she remembered Ranolf running in Neftasu, more closely resembling the industry and forge works she had seen, but with a focus on advanced artifice weapons and technologies.

An extra set of forges was under construction. The rapid expansion the City Works had undergone since her and Elania’s arrival was nothing short of a miracle. The number of people and the sheer size of the operation had doubled, at least.

Amidst the organized chaos, Yolani spotted Ember sitting cross-legged on an anvil, her red wings folded around her like a cloak.

As Yolani approached, Ember’s eyes fluttered open, and she hopped off the anvil with a graceful movement.

“What can I do for my favorite Priestess of Artifice?” Ember asked, her tone silky.

Yolani frowned, her brow furrowing slightly. “I’m not your priestess, Ember,” she stated firmly.

Ember pouted, her lower lip protruding exaggeratedly. “I know you’re Elania’s, Yolani. But you’re also helping so much with the city works, and that’s a genuine connection, too, even if it’s not the one I want.”

The Demi-Divine walked around the anvil, her finger tracing the center of the metallic surface as she circled it. “If something happens to Elania, you’ll always have a place here.”

Yolani frowned, her displeasure clear in the crease between her brows and the tightness of her jaw.

She met Ember’s gaze, her green eyes filled with acid. “If something happens to Elania, then I won’t survive either.”

Ember’s expression softened, a hint of understanding flickering in her eyes. “I will do everything I can to protect both of you,” she assured, her tone sincere. “After all, you are both precious to me.” A sly glint appeared in her eyes as she added, “And besides, I haven’t given up yet.”

Yolani shifted uncomfortably, a sense of unease settling in her chest. “Ember, we already discussed this,” she reminded, her voice firm yet tinged with a hint of exasperation.

Ember knelt down, resting her cheek on her hands atop the anvil, and looked up at Yolani with a wistful smile. The artificer averted her gaze, the intensity of Ember’s stare making her skin prickle with discomfort.

Abruptly, Ember stood up, gesturing for Yolani to follow her. “Come, come.”

“Ember…” Yolani said in a warning tone.

The Tower ignored it, and Yolani found herself following anyway.

They entered Ember’s office; the space filled with an eclectic mix of artifice projects and personal trinkets. The red velvet decor hadn’t changed. Ember turned to face Yolani with a sly smile. “How was the ambrosia? Did you enjoy the effects?”

Heat rushed to Yolani’s cheeks, painting them a vibrant shade of crimson. “You could have warned us about the other effects,” she muttered, her embarrassment palpable in the air between them.

Ember let out a melodic laugh, the sound filling the room with a momentary lightness. “Did you share some?” she inquired, her eyebrows raised in expectation.

Yolani shook her head. “Elania drank it. We just… kissed.”

Ember clicked her tongue, a hint of disappointment in her voice as she said, “You should have. It would have strengthened her as well.” A knowing smile filled her face. “Though I’m sure you both did more than that.”

Yolani’s cheeks heated, but the indignation fixed the scowl on her face. “Why do you have to be this way sometimes?”

Ember sat down. “Sometimes a Demi-Divine gets lonely.”

“There are a lot of people living in Contia. Don’t you have your own oracle?” Yolani asked.

Ember tsked, then leaned back in her chair. “I’m afraid Soren and I aren’t compatible that way. He has his preferences… and I have mine.” A smile appeared on her lips as she leaned forward. “Although that never stopped us from experimenting a few times.”

Yolani shifted uncomfortably. “I came to talk about something important. I—”

Ember held up a hand, silencing her. The other woman reached down under her desk and retrieved a bottle. It slid across the surface as she offered it to Yolani. “Another bottle of Ambrosia, this time made by yours truly,” she announced, a proud smile playing on her lips.

Yolani frowned, eyeing the bottle with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “What do you want for it?” she asked, her tone guarded.

Ember’s smile widened, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “I want nothing for it,” she assured, her voice honeyed and smooth. “I’m taking the long view, Yolani. Who knows how you and Elania might feel in ten years, or a hundred?”

The Demi-Divine leaned forward, her gaze intense as she reminded Yolani, “Your connection with Elania means you will live for centuries, maybe even millennia, if you drink her ambrosia every so often.”

Yolani shook her head, unwilling to entertain the thought. She reached into her pouch and pulled out a parchment, her focus shifting to the reason for her visit. “This is why I came,” she stated, handing the document to Ember.

Ember stood up, accepting the parchment with a curious glance. “What new thing do you have for me today?” she asked, her attention now fully on the task at hand.

“It’s Hels’ detection device, as described by one Daelar Rynor,” Yolani explained, her voice steady and professional, eager to steer the conversation.

Yolani watched as Ember examined the parchment, her eyes scanning the intricate details and complex arcane formulas. The Demi-Divine’s brow furrowed slightly as she absorbed the information.

“Did you convert this into something we can use?” Ember asked, her gaze still fixed on the parchment.

Yolani nodded. “I’ve already created a prototype receiver that should work, but I need help with the more complex arcane aspects.”

A sly smile tugged at the corners of Ember’s lips as she looked up at Yolani. “I’m happy you know who to come to when you have a brain problem.”

Yolani crossed her arms, her green eyes meeting Ember’s with a serious expression. “Where else am I supposed to find a thousand-year-old grandma Demi-Divine who has experience in everything related to crafting?” she countered, her tone a mixture of exasperation and respect.

Ember sputtered, her eyes widening in shock. “G… g... grandma?”

She took a moment to recover, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find the right words. “While I might have a few offspring and bloodlines descended from me,” she finally managed, her voice slightly strained, “I’m not nearly as old as Arlois.”

Yolani took a deep breath. “Can you help with the detector or not?” she asked, her tone direct and businesslike.

“Where’s your receiver?” Ember asked.

Yolani reached into her bag, pulling out a metal plate adorned with antennas.

She handed it to Ember, who took it with a smile. The Demi-Divine held up a blue crystal, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “I’ve already solved it,” she announced.

“What?” Yolani blurted.

Ember held the crystal in the air, the receiver screen glowing a vibrant blue.

A mist of tiny lights flowing between the four pillars on the board.

Yolani squinted, confusion etched on her face. “There’s nothing there,” she stated, her brow furrowed.

Ember chuckled, her fingers deftly manipulating the device. “It’s set to detect high and hot things,” she explained, “but dear Rynor never considered all the applications. Why can’t we detect energy-dense things instead, and at any altitude?”

Yolani blinked, her mind racing to keep up with Ember’s train of thought. “I have no idea,” she admitted.

“Exactly,” Ember grinned, her eyes sparkling with triumph.

Suddenly, the receiver morphed, and a massive red area appeared where Contia was located.

Red dots representing airships appeared nearby, moving slightly.

To the west, a clump of a dozen airships patrolled north and south—the Lightbringer fleet.

Ember turned to Yolani, her smile wide and genuine. “Congratulations,” she praised, “this will be invaluable.”

Yolani reached out to touch the board, but Ember caught her hand and eased it to the bottle.

“Don’t forget this,” Ember said. “It’ll help both of you.”

Yolani eyed the Ambrosia warily, before quietly slipping it into her bag.

*

Elania looked and nodded to each member of the Neftasu Council. Yolani wasn’t beside her this time, but she kept her gaze steady despite the nervousness that tingled below the surface.

She refused to let her unease show.

Captain Gaston stood with a confident posture. “The Guard have received their full allotment of the new rifles.”

Elania’s brow furrowed as she interrupted, “Rifles, not muskets?”

Gaston nodded. “A new modification to the weapons takes into account Oracle Aetherhart’s improvement. Grooves have been added to the barrel of each weapon, causing the projectile to spin.”

Surprise flickered across Elania’s face, her golden eyes widening. “All the muskets have been upgraded?”

“It took several days while you were gone to Hels,” Gaston confirmed.

Elania blinked, taken aback by the speed at which thousands of weapons had been modified. “That will be a major improvement to their accuracy and range, then,” she mused, her mind already considering the tactical advantages.

Gaston nodded. “The men have been practicing and already most of them can shoot accurately enough to hit another airship, at least.” He sat back down.

Captain Montlas took his turn, his gruff voice filling the room. “The Heart and Gold are currently receiving the last of their upgrades from the city.”

“I thought they had already been upgraded with the defense fields and weapons,” Elania said, confusion creasing her brow.

Montlas shook his head. “The city provided another round of upgrades for free. Two additional sets of starboard and port side protective fields for both ships, and additional small-sized rifle artillery from the city works that can utilize the new timed shells.”

Elania grunted, nodding in acknowledgment. The upgrades from the city to the ships were extremely valuable, and the fact that they were done for free was very nice.

Although, she supposed it was only fair, considering they would be expected to help defend the city.

“How are your men acclimating to the airships?” Elania asked.

Montlas smiled. “Very well. They’ve taken to it quicker than I expected. It helps that it gives them a decent purpose, and so far morale has been high.”

“Nothing like results to sharpen the steel,” Gaston added.

Montlas nodded to him, then sat down.

Elania looked over at Naia, who stood up with a sheaf of paper in her hands.

The healer’s voice was steady as she reported, “The healing potions from the Mushroohum project have satisfied nearly all demand for our citizens.”

She paused, her eyes meeting Elania’s. “However, a surge in people from other districts has taxed our resources.”

Well, that was definitely her fault, but she wasn’t going to change tack on it.

Naia continued, “The current production, as indicated by Allie, shows that we will have enough, but barely.”

A grunt escaped Elania’s lips as she nodded, her mind already scrapping the idea to sell the potions to Arlois for the Silvers. “Will there be enough for the Neftasu Guard?”

Naia nodded. “They were considered in my numbers and have priority, just before the Ironfist.”

Elania nodded. “Those two groups should be our first priority—they will be defending everyone else, after all.”

Gaston and Montlas nodded to her.

Elania turned to Naia, her golden eyes intense. “Coordinate with Allie for anything needed to increase production.”

As Naia took her seat, Amara Steelheart rose, her broad shoulders filling out her well-worn tunic. “The district reconstruction is essentially complete,” she reported. “The rest of the current efforts are mostly on expansion of existing structures as fast as we can get the modifications approved by Contia’s Theotechnican Guild, or improvements and installation of equipment.”

Elania nodded, her mind already turning over the implications. Amara added, “There is enough space for everyone now, and maybe more.”

A thoughtful expression crossed Elania’s face. “We should allow non-refugees into those spaces then, as long as they can pay a nominal rent,” she suggested, her eyes scanning the faces of the council members for their reactions.

There were flickers of surprise.

Theron cleared his throat, drawing Elania’s attention. “While I agree with helping the poor,” he began, his voice measured, “I feel I should play devil’s advocate and ask if it is a good idea to be spending so many healing potions on them at the current time. Perhaps we should stockpile them for the conflict instead.”

Naia and Selia both rose from their seats, their faces flushed with indignation as they began to protest hotly. Elania raised her hand, silencing them with a simple gesture. She let the moment of silence stretch, feeling the weight of everyone’s gaze upon her.

Elania took a deep breath, her golden eyes meeting Theron’s. “While it may be challenging,” she said, her voice firm yet compassionate, “we should help as many as we can.”

She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. “The people who come to us for aid are not just strangers—they are our neighbors, people and citizens of Contia. By helping them, we strengthen the bonds that hold our community together.”

Elania’s gaze swept over the council members, her expression resolute. “In times of conflict, it is not just the strength of our weapons that matters, but also the strength of our spirit. By showing compassion and generosity, we inspire hope and loyalty in those around us.”

Were the hell were these words coming from? Elania released a tense breath. She wasn’t some heroic leader—but somehow she knew exactly what to say.

She leaned forward, her hands clasped together on the table. “I understand your concerns, Theron, and I appreciate you voicing them. But I believe that by helping those in need, we are not only doing what is right, but also what is strategic. A city united in purpose and compassion is far stronger than one divided by fear and self-interest.”

Theron and everyone else at the table nodded to her.

There was a slight lull and then attention turned to Galen as he stood up, his lean frame exuding a quiet confidence.

He cleared his throat and then started. “Our current supplies of non-medicine and non-food items are holding steady,” he reported. “In fact, I’ve been running an arbitrage trade in certain materials, which has produced additional income without costing us any extra effort.”

Elania’s brows furrowed. “How does that work?”

Galen smiled. “We have a large warehouse in the district where we store a variety of materials,” he explained. “Whenever there’s a glut in the market, I purchase the excess supplies at a lower price. Then, when supplies run low in other districts, I sell those materials to them at a higher price.”

He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. “This process has no effect on our own efforts, as we maintain a steady stock of everything we need. However, the arbitrage has generated nearly a thousand crit in additional income—roughly a couple hundred per day.”

Elania’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open in surprise. A thousand crit was a significant amount, especially considering it apparently only required trading?

It was impossible to not be impressed. There was only one thing that bothered her slightly. It was a pretty big thing to put into place, and he hadn’t asked her or Yolani.

“That’s incredible, Galen,” Elania said. “I had no idea you were implementing such a smart trade system. Next time, please let me or Yolani know.”

Galen ducked his head. “Of course. I didn’t see any risks in it, but next time I’ll mention it first. I figured it was a good way to make use of our storage space and take advantage of market fluctuations. Every bit helps, right?”

Elania nodded. “Absolutely. I didn’t mean that as a censure. I would just like to stay informed. This is a fantastic contribution, Galen. Keep up the excellent work.”

Elania stood up, her gaze sweeping over the council members. “If there’s nothing else, I think we can conclude this meeting,” she said, her voice steady and confident. “Thank you all for your hard work and dedication. Together, we’ll weather this storm and come out stronger on the other side.”

Murmurs of agreement filled the room as the council members began to gather their things. Gaston approached Elania, his hand outstretched. “Good work,” he said, his voice gruff but sincere. “The Guard is ready.”

Elania clasped his hand firmly, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Wouldn’t have made it this far without your help,” she replied, her golden eyes meeting his.

As Gaston stepped away, Naia and Selia approached, their faces alight with gratitude. “Thank you for standing up for the needy,” Naia said, her voice soft but earnest. “Your compassion is an inspiration to us all.”

Selia nodded in agreement. “We’ll make sure every drop of those healing potions goes to those who need it most,” she added, her eyes shining with determination.

Elania nodded. “I know you will,” she replied. “Keep up the excellent work, both of you.”

One by one, the council members filed out of the room, their voices fading into the distance as they went about their duties. Soon, Elania found herself alone, the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders.

She sighed, her eyes drifting to the HUD that hovered in her peripheral vision.

Her [Divine Power] was ticking up steadily. It would be nearly full soon.

But that wasn’t what riveted her attention.

[Followers: 13,116]

The number was going up, not down.

She had a pretty good idea of why.

*

Elania and Yolani followed the servant into the Purple Tower, ascending to the second floor.

As they entered a spacious room, Arlois, Lyra, Elysia, and Ember were already seated on their own couches. All eyes turned toward Elania and Yolani as they moved to the last, empty one and sat together.

Lyra’s sharp voice cut through the air. “This is a Tower meeting,” she said, glaring at Elania and Yolani. “Do they have to be here?”

Arlois replied calmly, “It’s a Tower meeting, but we can choose who is present as we wish.”

Lyra’s irritation grew. “We don’t even bring our own oracles, so why is Elania’s an exception?”

Ember spoke up, her voice firm. “Yolani’s insights and assistance have been vital to the current efforts. She has her own important contributions to add, perhaps more significant than your own, Lyra.”

The Blue Tower leader’s face reddened, but she remained silent. Elysia cleared her throat, her green eyes scanning the room. “Now that we are all here, perhaps we can discuss something relevant instead of wasting time.”

Arlois nodded in agreement. “I’ll begin.” She reported on the damage from the munition depot explosion, noting that repairs were nearly complete with minimal casualties. “I want to thank Ember and Elania for their assistance in the reconstruction efforts,” she said, acknowledging their contributions with a nod.

Elania and Ember returned the gesture.

Arlois continued. “Our current ammunition stores have not been too severely affected. If we are attacked now, it might hinder our ability to withstand a protracted siege.” She paused, her eyes meeting Ember’s. “But that should be mitigated in the next few days, thanks to increased production.”

Ember grinned, her eyes sweeping over the other Tower leaders. “I’ve doubled the City Works’ output so far,” she announced. “And I have plans for further increases.”

Elania listened intently as Ember continued, “Almost every person in the city with the [Artifice] skill has been employed. The first limiting factor is how fast I can develop new talent with the right abilities.”

Ember’s expression turned serious. “I’ve shifted production from weapons to ammunition, but raw materials limit how much of either can be produced.”

She paused, her gaze settling on each of the other Tower leaders. “There aren’t enough mana shards or crystals to speed up production further, at least not without better methods of synthetically creating them.”

Yolani nodded to Elania encouragingly.

“We cannot draw on the Celestial Engine. It would risk destabilizing the city’s flight,” Arlois said.

Ember nodded. “I wouldn’t suggest that, but there might be a solution.” Her gaze shifted to Elania.

She swallowed. Despite knowing it was coming, she felt put on the spot, all eyes in the room focusing on her.

Elania took a breath and spoke. “We found that the crystalline metal powder I recovered from the surface made an excellent catalyst for synthetic mana shard production.” She glanced at Yolani, who nodded more enthusiastically. “It should double the rate Ember’s artifice forges and produce them.”

Despite the support, Elania couldn’t shake the feeling of being a fraud.

It was Yolani who had figured out the potential of the crystalline powder, not her.

Her presence at the meeting started to feel like… padding. She didn’t really have anything of her own to report.

Arlois seemed satisfied, though. “Elysia?”

Elysia leaned forward, her green eyes scanning the room. “The current flows of resources into the city have slowed to a crawl due to the constant modifications to our airship fleet,” she stated, her voice carrying a hint of concern.

“Several foreign ships have been picking up the slack at the cost of currency, but it’s not nearly enough to satisfy the deficit.”

Elania’s brows furrowed as she processed the information. The city’s resource situation seemed precarious, and she wondered how they would address the issue.

Elysia continued, “That being said, the current reserves in stock are high, if slowly going down.” She paused, her gaze settling on each of the Tower leaders. “I suggest we speed up several of the shipyard projects and utilize them as bulk carriers.”

Ember leaned back, her eyes narrowing. “That would require modifying their designs and wouldn’t allow them to be modified into warships later,” she pointed out.

Elysia nodded, acknowledging Ember’s concern. “But efficiency would be improved if we had specialized ships,” she countered.

Arlois looked around the room, her expression thoughtful. “We’ll modify the under construction shipping,” she said, her voice carrying a note of finality.

Elania watched as the other Tower leaders nodded in agreement, their expressions satisfied. She glanced at Yolani, who offered a small smile of encouragement.

Elania glanced between the Towers. It was hard to believe how casually and without friction they were figuring things out. It almost felt like their council chamber meetings were an elaborate dance or play.

Actually, maybe that was exactly what it all was?

It felt like they were well-oiled and used to this dynamic.

Elania bit her lip as she realized they had been doing this for a long time, together.

Her eyes fell on Lyra, who was always the most abrasive. Even she was avoiding throwing wrenches into Arlois’ plans—at least not breaking them, anyway.

Lyra waved a hand as she spoke. “The current food supplies are in surplus, and we’ve stockpiled nearly a year’s worth of food, including several stasis cellars of meat and fresh vegetables to go along with multiple internal silos of grains.” She paused, her expression turning slightly more serious. “The medical supplies are more strained.”

Lyra glanced at Elania. “The Neftasu Mushroohum supplies have been helping and are a new source of extremely valuable potions.”

There was a moment of silence before Arlois looked at Elania. “You should complete your Regalia bonding,” she said.

Elania blinked at the sudden change in topic.

Elysia and Ember nodded in agreement.

Lyra’s voice cut through the air. “Until she does, she’ll be useless in an actual fight defending the city.”

There was a lull in the conversation, and then everyone slowly turned their gaze to Yolani, as it was finally her turn to speak.

“Yolani, I heard you have something important to share with everyone?” Arlois asked.

Elania watched as Yolani stood up, pulling a board from her bag. She held it up for everyone to see, a smile on her face.

“This is a receiver,” Yolani explained, her voice filled with excitement. “It can display certain information, including heat and [Power] density over a wide area.”

Elania recognized the function. It was the detection device from Hels! Yolani had got it to work and hadn’t told her?

Yolani glanced at Ember before continuing, “With Ember’s help in managing the arcane sensor, it can detect things in real time and also be used to show historical data as well.”

Ember nodded, her expression serious. “While the sensor requires a considerable effort on the part of a mage, or someone with the correct skill-set in arcane magic, it isn’t something that can’t be handled by a small group, and I have already put them in place.”

Elania smiled as Yolani continued the presentation. Maybe her trip to Hels wasn’t entirely a waste after all.

Elysia leaned forward, her green eyes focused on Yolani. “What have you found on the detector so far?” she asked.

Yolani placed the receiver on a table in the middle of the room, then carefully set a small stand with a crystal top over it. As she did, a projection of blue lights appeared on the ceiling, casting a soft glow over everyone.

With a flick of her wand, Yolani highlighted specific areas on the projection. The blue lights shifted, transforming into various hues and gradients of red, orange, green, and blue. “The blue represents null areas, with little [Power],” Yolani explained, her voice clear and confident. “Red indicates high concentrations.”

She pointed to a massive red area on the projection. “This is Contia,” she said, her finger tracing the outline of the city. Elania nodded, recognizing the shape of multiple islands.

Yolani’s wand moved to several red spots moving nearby. “These are airships,” she explained, her eyes scanning the projection. In the distance, she pointed to drifting yellow spots. “Due to the distance, the pickup isn’t as strong, but we believe these are Lightbringer Airships near the border.”

Arlois stood up, her eyes wide with interest as she studied the map. “This is excellent,” she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. “We will know when the enemy arrives.”

*

Elania’s fingers gently ran through Shadow’s fur as she scratched behind his ears. The darkwalker leaned into her touch, his eyes half-closed in contentment.

As she pet him, Elania checked her [Divine Power].

It was steadily rising.

Just not nearly as fast as before. She rubbed her forearm, the bracer cool to the touch. Though she could feel the connection growing stronger, it still felt like it was taking too long.

A sense of inadequacy crept into her thoughts as she recalled how much Yolani had accomplished in recent days. Elania couldn’t help but feel like she was falling behind. Not that it was a competition exactly, but the weight of being… useful pressed at her.

She was supposed to be the leader. The ‘Demi-Divine,’ or whatever they wanted to call her.

The sound of the door opening drew both Elania's and Shadow’s attention. Yolani stepped inside, a warm smile on her face as she carried a large bottle in her arms. The raven-haired oracle’s eyes sparkled with affection. “Shadow looks happy.”

“Another one?” Elania asked, watching as Yolani set the bottle down on the table.

Shadow stood up, his tail pointed straight up as he bumped and rubbed against Yolani’s leg, nearly knocking her off balance. Yolani laughed, reaching down to rub his ears. “Ember gave it to me,” she explained, her cheeks flushing slightly. “She made this one herself, recently.”

Elania hummed. “I’m surprised you accepted it from her. Remember what happened last time?”

Yolani’s face turned scarlet, and she glanced away, unable to meet Elania’s gaze. “I remember,” she mumbled, her embarrassment palpable.

Elania couldn’t help but giggle at her partner’s reaction.

Yolani, however, took a deep breath and turned back to face Elania, her expression determined. “I want to drink half this time,” she declared, her voice steady despite the lingering blush on her cheeks.

Elania blinked, her mouth falling open. Now her cheeks began to heat. “W…why?”

Yolani looked away, a frown tugging at her lips. “I want to be stronger,” she confessed, her voice tinged with determination and a hint of vulnerability. “So I can fight beside you, Elania. Be useful to you.”

Tears began to form, and she reached up to wipe a cheek, her hand trembling slightly. “I’m terrified of something happening to you. If I drink the ambrosia, it might let me live longer, maybe even as long as you.”

Elania stood up, her heart aching at the sight of Yolani’s distress. She pulled her partner into a tight embrace, holding her close. “Yolani,” Elania murmured, her voice soft but firm, “you’re already amazing. You’re doing so much for everyone.”

She pulled back slightly, looking into Yolani’s green eyes. “You figured out the detection device, upgraded our weapons, and come up with dozens of different plans and ideas. Like how to do the repairs more efficiently.” Elania’s brow furrowed as she continued, “If anything, I’m the one who isn’t able to do enough. To protect you or everyone else.”

Yolani’s eyes widened, and she immediately objected. “No, Elania! Without you, we would never have made it to Contia. You’re strong and smart, and you even got Hels to give us the detector. That was all your work. I just figured out how to copy it to something we could use, but the effort was already done by you.”

She squeezed Elania’s arms, her gaze intense and filled with unwavering belief. “Without you, everything would have fallen apart. You’re the most important person in my life, Elania.”

Elania blinked, taken aback by the depth of Yolani’s conviction. She swallowed and embraced the other girl again. “Same… same.”

They stood like that for a moment before Elania pulled away slightly. A grin spread across her face. “Let’s both drink it,” she suggested."

Yolani looked at Shadow. “Time to go to your own room, Shadow.”

The big cat mewled, but then headed for the door. His tail flicked out as he went through, pulling the door shut.

“That’s… I am not sure that’s normal,” Elania muttered.

Yolani giggled. “He’s getting smarter. I never heard of a darkwalker like that, so I think it has something to do with your connection to him.”

Elania blinked, then looked out into the hallway. Sure enough, there was a golden thread linking her to Shadow.

Yolani reached for the ambrosia bottle and then headed to the bed. Elania followed her a second later, leaving the desk behind.

They settled onto the edge of the bed, the silken sheets rustling beneath them as Yolani uncorked the bottle. Without hesitation, she brought it to her lips and took a huge swig, the liquid disappearing down her throat in large gulps.

Elania watched, her eyes widening in surprise. “Hey woah, uh, are we going that fast?”

Yolani shoved the bottle into her hands, the glass still warm from her touch. “Yes.”

Elania glanced at the remaining ambrosia, the liquid swirling within the bottle, and decided to follow Yolani’s lead.

As the ambrosia passed her lips, Elania was struck by the difference in taste compared to their previous experience.

This time, it was all fire—a searing heat that filled her mouth and throat, the liquid settling in her stomach like a barely controlled inferno.

The sensation didn’t hurt, but the heat spread rapidly through her entire body, reaching the tips of her toes and fingers.

Elania turned to Yolani, noticing the flush that had crept onto her partner’s cheeks, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

As their eyes met, a wave of desire washed over Elania, a potent mix of need, love, and want that threatened to consume her.

It was as if the divine conduit that ran between them had shattered, the barriers that separated their emotions shattered, allowing Yolani’s feelings to flood into her.

And hers to Yolani.

Elania realized they might as well be each other’s mirror in how they felt at the moment.

She leaned in, capturing Yolani’s lips in a searing kiss as she pressed her into the soft pillows.

The sweet, intoxicating taste of the ambrosia lingered, heightening every sensation as the empty bottle clattered to the floor, forgotten.

Yolani’s hands reached up, grasping Elania’s shoulders as she flipped her over, trading places in a swift, fluid motion. Straddling her hips, Yolani gazed down at her, her green eyes smoldering with desire.

“I know this is what you want,” Yolani whispered, her voice husky and filled with promise.

Elania’s heart raced, pounding against her ribcage as Yolani leaned down, capturing her lips once more in a passionate kiss that left her breathless.

Hours later, Elania stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she found herself tangled in the silken sheets, Yolani’s raven locks entwined in her fingers.

Their bodies were pressed close, skin against skin, as if they couldn’t bear to be apart.

Exhaustion settled deep in Elania’s bones, a pleasant weariness that came from the all-consuming passion they had shared, like two bonfires that had burned until nothing remained but embers.

As Elania’s gaze drifted to the bedside table, her heart skipped a beat.

The Regalia was missing. Panic began to rise in her chest, but a sudden warmth on her arm drew her attention.

To her amazement, the bracer emerged from her forearm, melding with her skin as if it were a part of her.

Elania blinked, her mind racing. What about the revolver? As if in response to her thoughts, the bracer slid into her palm, transforming into the familiar shape of the weapon.

Beside her, Yolani mumbled something incoherent in her sleep, and the Regalia instantly rushed back into Elania’s palm, returning to its dormant state.

Realization dawned on Elania—her bond with the Regalia was complete.

She could feel the divine power thrumming through her veins.

She checked her HUD.

[Divine Power: 4,998/50,000]

Elania blinked and read it again. That was a tenfold increase to her maximum capacity. She slipped her arm back around Yolani and pulled herself up closer.

The other girl mumbled sleepily.

Elania swallowed and tried to calm her heart.

It was going to be hard to fall back asleep.

Now she just needed to figure out how to increase her [Divine Power] regeneration.

Maybe she’d be able to protect them after all?