Demoness 3 - Chapter 11: ​False Dawn (15,699 Words) (Patreon)

Elania grimaced as Yolani inspected the damage to her flight harness. The battle had been intense, and the anti-Divinity barrage had caught her off guard.

“I can’t believe how much damage there is,” Yolani tsked, her fingers deftly working on the straps.

“I’m sorry,” Elania apologized. “No one warned me about those energy blobs.”

They had cut through her easily, and she had spent a few terrifying seconds as a rag-doll, unsure if her [Regeneration] was going to kick in or not.

Ember chuckled. “We didn’t know either.”

Elania shot her a glare before letting out a huff. She lifted her arms, allowing Yolani better access to the harness. Yolani’s touch sent a tingle down Elania’s neck as she worked.

Ember let out a catcall.

Both Elania and Yolani turned to glare at Ember, who laughed and held up a bottle of ambrosia. “Care to join me for a drink?”

Elania shook her head. “That would leave us too distracted to function properly for a while.”

“I know,” Ember grinned. “There’s a private room nearby where we could take care of those ‘distractions’ in a very fun way.”

Mercifully, Arlois entered the room, her gaze sharp as she glared at Ember. “Stop it. This is a serious after-action report meeting.”

Ember clicked her tongue. “I wouldn’t mind if you joined us too, Arlois.”

Arlois’ glare intensified, causing Ember to fidget uncomfortably. Finally, she put down the ambrosia and shrank back on her sofa. Arlois sat down, and Yolani resumed working on Elania’s harness.

“This is embarrassing,” Elania mumbled.

Arlois turned to her. “You did well, considering we didn’t know about their new weapons.”

Elania furrowed her brow, looking between Arlois and Ember. “If you knew that ‘anti-divinity’ weapons existed at all, how come they weren’t mentioned?”

Ember shrugged and abandoned the Ambrosia and picked up a glass of wine. “They’re expensive and rare. They shouldn’t have had them.”

“It looked like the entire Lightbringer fleet had lots of them,” Elania countered, “so they must not be that expensive.”

Arlois nodded. “It’s likely they were given to them by the Monevoians. That would be the only way Tiria could afford to have so many.”

Elania looked to the side, frowning. “I have a question and a problem.”

Yolani paused, concern etched on her face.

“What is it?” Arlois asked.

“I killed a bunch of Paladins, and my Karma was already low after Neftasu. Now it’s negative, and...” Elania extended one of her wings, lifting it up in the air. Her feathers were ashen gray, gilded with gold.

Ember choked on a glass of wine. “Oh, how the pure have fallen.”

Elania frowned and looked between Ember and Arlois. “How do I… pick my color? All four of you have colored wings.”

Arlois nodded. “That’s because our wings match our Domain. Since you don’t have a strong one yet, your wings represent your purity—or Karma, as the [System] likes to call it.”

“Karma seems to be a terrible measurement for anything and useless,” Elania grumbled, her frustration evident in her tone.

Ember leaned back on the sofa. “It’s not useless if you want to pick between black and white feathers.”

Elania bit her lip. “Are there any other effects?”

Arlois shook her head. “There’s nothing about that [Karma] should affect you. If you wanted to, you could restrict your followers’ access to your own powers by using Karma as a limiter.”

Elania’s frown deepened as a thought struck her. “Is that why the Conclave monks needed Karma for their skills? Was Eziel’s brother Tabbris limiting them by it?”

Arlois nodded. “That sounds something plausible.”

Yolani paused, looked up at her with a reassuring smile. “I like you regardless of what color your wings are.”

Elania gulped, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Sorry, I’m just...”

Arlois burst into laughter, covering her face.

Elania bristled, demanding, “What’s so funny?”

“I never thought I’d see the day a full-fledged Demi-Divine would be self-conscious of their feather color,” Arlois managed. Ember joined in, her laughter echoing through the room.

Elania’s cheeks burned with embarrassment as Yolani patted her side. “I’m finished—for now.”

At least someone wasn’t laughing at her.

The door to the meeting room opened, and Elysia and Lyra entered. Arlois composed herself, straightening in her seat. “Good, now we can start the meeting and debriefing.”

Elysia’s expression was serious as she took her seat. “There is a problem,” she said.

The atmosphere in the room shifted, and everyone’s attention fell on the Green Tower.

“There is a problem,” Elysia repeated, her voice somber. “We’ve found evidence that there were Monevoian ships among the Lightbringer fleet.”

A chorus of sharp intakes of breath and hisses erupted from Arlois and Ember. Elania’s brow furrowed as she leaned forward. She looked at the others, then finally decided to ask, “How will that affect things?”

Ember grunted, her expression darkening. Arlois’ jaw clenched as she spoke. “It’s not good. It will likely give the Monevoians the justification they need to invade.”

Elania frowned. Did they really need ‘justification’ for it? The more of the picture she got, the more she realized the Monevoians, and their Sun-person-boss, were more like an out-of-control bully that had just learned they could call the shots and no one would challenge them.

Arlois turned to Elysia. “How reliable is the information?”

Elysia’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Our recovery ships were forced to retreat when a Monevoian squadron entered the area and began recovery efforts of their own.”

Arlois’ fist tightened, her knuckles turning white.

Yolani spoke up, her voice tinged with confusion, “Why were those ships in Joria with the Lightbringers? Surely it was their fault.”

Arlois shook her head, her expression grim. “It doesn’t matter. The Monevoians can spin it however they like—the facts are Contian ships destroyed Monevoian ones in Joria, which is presumably a neutral power.”

Ember growled, her eyes flashing with anger. “It might have been the Monevoian’s plan all along—stir up the Lightbringers and cause an incident.”

Arlois frowned. “If so, we fell right into it.”

The mood in the room soured, the earlier sense of victory replaced by a crushing defeat.

Elania took a deep breath, her voice quiet as she asked, “Where will we go?”

Arlois met her gaze, her expression weary. “We are already en route back to our normal location over Contia.”

Yolani’s brows knit together as she asked, “Can we avoid the Monevoians?”

Arlois shook her head. “It is unlikely that there will be anywhere safer we can travel to, and going out over the ocean has its own dangers. We are unlikely to survive that.”

Elania’s shoulders slumped as the reality of their situation sank in. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “So we will have to defend—again.”

A rueful smile tugged at the corner of Arlois’ lips. “It’s a pretty shit year to be a Neftasuian, isn’t it?”

  *

Elania and Yolani entered their bedroom, exhaustion etched on their faces. As they stepped inside, a low growl emanated from the corner of the room. Shadow stood with his hackles raised, his eyes fixed on Elania.

Elania froze, her brows knitting together in confusion as Shadow’s growls intensified. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

Yolani slowly approached him, but Shadow swiftly moved, positioning himself as a barrier between her and Elania while continuing to growl.

Elania took a step forward, only to be met with a sharp hiss from Shadow.

“Stop that,” Yolani admonished, her tone firm yet gentle. Shadow glanced up at her, his growls subsiding into a plaintive mewl.

Elania frowned. “He shouldn’t be growling at me like that.”

Yolani knelt beside Shadow, running her hand along his sleek fur. “It’s just Elania, Shadow. You know her.”

The darkwalker regarded Elania with a wary gaze, making a show of sniffing the air. Suddenly, he began batting at his nose, as if trying to rid himself of an unpleasant scent.

Elania’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Is he... is he saying I stink?”

As if in response, Shadow bounded out of the room, his unhappy cat noises echoing down the hallway.

Elania turned to Yolani, her expression a mix of confusion and mortification. “What was that?”

Yolani shrugged. “Maybe it’s the changes in your essence distribution from the Arcane creatures? It could have altered your scent enough for him to notice.”

Elania’s frown deepened. “Darkwalkers have a keen sense of smell, but I doubt a mere 14% ‘other’ essence would cause such a reaction.”

Yolani’s lips quirked into a mischievous grin. “Well, there’s one way to find out. Get naked.”

Elania raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she shut the bedroom door. “I’m always happy to get naked for you, love.”

Yolani snorted, rolling her eyes. “That’s all you’ll be doing for me right now. I need to take your gear and repair it.”

Elania pouted, her lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated display of disappointment. Yolani sighed, her hands deftly working to remove Elania’s flight gear. “You should take a bath,” she suggested, her voice soft. “Maybe Shadow will forgive you.”

Elania’s eyes sparkled with an idea. “We could take one together, and then I could help you with the repairs.”

Yolani hesitated. “A bath would be nice,” she mumbled, her gaze meeting Elania’s.

Elania grinned. “After such a long battle, a bath would be wonderful…”

Yolani turned to face her, a sour look on her face. It slowly morphed into a smile. “Fine, I’ll join you,” she relented.

It was. When Elania stepped out of the bath, there was a spring in her step that hadn’t been there before. Yolani hummed as she followed.

They dried off and headed towards the workshop, their footsteps echoing in the hallway. As they approached, Shadow lifted his head and sniffed the air, his eyes fixed on Elania.

“Do I smell better now, buddy?” Elania asked, a hopeful smile on her face.

Shadow responded by batting at his nose, his ears flattening against his head before he turned and darted away.

Elania frowned, her shoulders slumping in disappointment. Yolani snickered beside her, earning a pointed look from Elania.

“It’s not funny,” Elania grumbled. “What if he never recovers?”

Yolani waved her hand dismissively. “It’ll be fine. Come on, let’s get to work.”

They entered the workshop, and Yolani began arranging Elania’s battle-worn gear on the workbenches. Most of the damage was from hundreds of tiny little pinprick holes that covered just about all the gear that wasn’t metal. Her regular outfit she wore underneath had to be completely replaced.

“So, how do we get started?” Elania asked, rubbing her hands together.

Yolani glanced over her shoulder, giving Elania a flat look. “I mostly caved because I wanted to have a bath with you, not because I needed your help.”

Elania’s lower lip jutted out in an exaggerated pout.

Yolani sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You can pass me the tools,” she conceded.

Elania grinned, giving Yolani a mock salute. “Yes, boss. Right away, boss.”

As Yolani worked, Elania watched in awe as her partner wove literal magic into the gear, wielding wands and instruments that would have left a car mechanic baffled. Because of how many and complex they were, not because an Earth mechanic would be familiar with them.

A part of her told her that this kind of crafting was beyond her mindset, but seeing Yolani excel at it filled her with pride and admiration.

A knock at the door interrupted their work.

Elania opened it to find Darius standing there, his expression serious.

“You have a guest from the Bank of Contia,” he informed them.

Elania glanced back at Yolani.

The other girl nodded towards the door. “If you want to help, you can prevent distractions, too.”

With a nod, Elania followed Darius out of the workshop and down the stairs. At the bottom, she recognized the man that was waiting, Gresham Goldscales, the head banker.

“Mr. Gresham,” Elania greeted him, her curiosity piqued. “What brings you here?”

Gresham’s eyes met hers, his voice steady as he spoke. “I have a request and a mission for a Demi-Divine. The Red Tower said you could assist.”

Elania grunted, her brows furrowing. “And what might that be?”

Darius coughed, drawing Elania and Gresham’s attention. “Why don’t we sit in the dining room? I can provide some tea.”

Elania nodded. “That’s fine.”

Gresham inclined his head. “Thank you for the hospitality.”

A smile tugged at Elania’s lips. “Sorry, I’m not used to this noble bearing thing.”

Gresham waved his hand dismissively. “The courtesy is appreciated but not expected. You’re doing fine.”

They settled into the dining room, and Elania turned her focus back to the head banker. “So, what’s this mission and request?”

Gresham leaned forward, his hands clasped on the table. “We need assistance taking a package of assets to Freyhoi and delivering it to the town. Then, someone with your abilities to clear out the old mines there.”

Elania’s brows furrowed. “The mines? Why do they need to be cleared, and from what?”

“A nest of spider monsters have taken up residence in them after they were abandoned a few decades or so ago,” Gresham explained. “They don’t come out, and people don’t go in, so it hasn’t been a problem. But now… the town needs to use the mines as a potential shelter.”

Elania leaned back in her seat, considering the information. “Is going underground the safest idea?”

Gresham sighed. “The mines would be safer. They go deep and are stable, as such things go. When Demi-Divines war…”

Elania grunted. “We can have the Heart or Gold do the delivery, and disaster permitting, I can go clear the mines.”

Gresham nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. “Of course you will be compensated for your efforts.”

“Naturally,” Elania agreed, her mind already turning to the logistics of the mission.

“The package will be ready tomorrow. If you could be prepared by then, that would be excellent. We would be willing to pay an extra fee to expedite,” Gresham said.

“What exactly is in this package, and why is it so important?” Elania asked, her tone serious. “If it isn’t critical, rushing might be a bit much. Yolani and I are working on other important matters, as well.”

Gresham frowned, leaning back in his chair before nodding in understanding. “The package contains precious works and items that could be damaged if the city goes into battle again,” he explained.

Elania’s frown deepened. “And very valuable, too?” she pressed.

Gresham confirmed with a nod. “They are.”

“Do you really think they’ll be safer in Freyhoi than here on Contia?” Elania questioned, her brows knitting together. “Especially considering you’re also asking me to clear a place for them to hide in?”

“The city could very well see combat again, and such events could lead to great loss,” Gresham warned. “Freyhoi is a small town, barely a footnote. Its protection is its obscurity. The mines would be shelter just in case… something very damaging occurred to the country.”

Elania’s frown persisted, prompting Gresham to add, “It’s also wise not to put all of one’s eggs in one basket.”

It wasn’t hard to draw up images of Arlois or one of the other Towers obliterating a chunk of terrain. Heck, she’d done so herself multiple times in Neftasu. What if an angry, mature, Demi-Divine let loose without a care in the world?

Hiding in a mine was probably wasn’t going to make a difference, but...

Elania grunted, her thoughts drifting to the Mushroohums.

The colony had emerged unscathed from the recent battle, with most of the city remaining untouched. However, the prospect of an enemy airship smashing the arena sent a chill down her spine. They would have all perished.

Eggs in one basket, indeed.

Elania nodded. “We’ll do it tomorrow. I just need to confirm Yolani won’t be busy.”

Gresham expressed his gratitude, and Elania stood up and instructed Darius to take care of their guest before heading back upstairs to the workshop.

Yolani glanced up from her repairs as Elania entered. “What was that about?” she inquired.

“We need to check on the airships and prepare for a mission to Freyhoi,” Elania informed her.

Yolani grunted, holding out her hand. “One thing at a time. Pass me the melder, please.”

Elania’s eyes widened, panic rising within her as she surveyed the array of tools..

  *

Elania shifted in her council seat as Captain Gaston listed the casualties from the Guard.

“Three men were caught in an improper position and injured during the flight,” he reported. “Several improperly packed barracks caused projectile injuries to two others when the city shifted.”

Elania grunted. “If that’s all, you don’t need to go into more detail—a summary is fine.”

Gaston nodded. “In total, eleven men were injured, and no fatalities.”

Elania turned her attention to Naia, who stood up. “Things weren’t as fortunate for the civilians,” Naia said. “We’ve had to treat dozens of smaller injuries and broken bones due to mishaps during the flight.”

Yolani crossed her arms. “We should consider better accommodations for everyone when the city is moving quickly.”

Amara frowned, her brows knitting together. “It would be difficult to do so, considering how quickly such things can happen. There would need to be time to reach the special positions, and then infrastructure needed to allow the people to stay inside until the danger passed.”

Selia nervously spoke up, her voice quivering slightly. “Will the city be attacked again soon?”

Elania surveyed the worried faces around the table, a frown etched on her own features.

“I won’t sugarcoat it. There’s a real possibility we could be attacked again.” She paused, letting her words sink in. “While we defeated the Lightbringers this time, there could be other threats.”

Galen sighed heavily. “Why did they chase us all the way across the continent after destroying our home?”

The civilian council members turned their expectant gazes to Elania.

Yolani stood up, her voice steady. “We dealt a significant blow to the Lightbringers. It’s likely they want revenge for the damage we caused.”

Elania wasn’t entirely convinced that was their true motivation, but the councilors seemed to accept Yolani’s explanation.

Gaston cleared his throat. “We destroyed a vast amount of the Lightbringer strength. Yolani is probably right—they want revenge on those who defied them.”

Theron shook his head. “Giving in to their zealotry would be impossible to tolerate.”

Selia nodded in agreement. “We had just begun to settle into our new lives and establish a sense of normalcy. Now everyone is scared again.”

Elania met their gazes, her voice firm. “It won’t be easy, but we’ll have to do everything in our power to comfort and protect our people. “

Elania listened attentively as Galen suggested emphasizing the importance of properly packing items and securing loose objects to prevent injuries during sudden city movements.

Captain Gaston nodded in agreement, stating that he had already implemented similar precautions within the Guard.

Amara chimed in, “We can prioritize working on containers and other solutions that would help facilitate safe packing for everyone.”

Elania nodded, satisfied with their initial plan. “It sounds like a good first step.”

Captain Montlas turned his attention to Elania and Yolani, his expression serious. “The damage to the Heart and Gold is minor, but we suffered a few casualties during the battle.”

He looked directly at Elania. “The worst danger was mitigated, thanks to you. It was a close call, and the Heart could have been lost with all hands if you hadn’t been there.”

Elania frowned and rubbed the side of her face. Despite the thanks offered to her, she could feel there was a slight undercurrent of something else. “Are you asking for hazard pay?”

Montlas shook his head. “I considered asking for a battle fee, but the men and I are happy with the current arrangements.”

Yolani leaned forward, her gaze questioning. “Is the Ironfist considering moving on?”

Montlas grunted, his expression contemplative. “Most of the men have started to grow roots here. While I’d prefer the company to remain independent, that doesn’t seem to be the direction the men wish to go. They’re attached to the airships and working with the Guard. There’s a strong sense of camaraderie and ‘us against them’ among all the Ironfist, Guards, and refugees. I see no way to break from that.”

Elania studied him closely. “It sounds like you’d be happier if the company left.”

Montlas shook his head. “I think it would be safer for us, but safety isn’t the only thing that matters. Otherwise, every man would be a coward.”

A moment of quiet settled over the room as everyone contemplated his words.

Breaking the silence, Montlas turned to Yolani. “You’re needed for repairs on both ships, especially if we’re going to deploy tomorrow.”

Yolani nodded. “I’ll make my rounds to work on the ships this evening.”

The meeting eventually came to a close.

It left her feeling drained, but it was easy enough to follow Yolani out of the building.

Yolani looked over at her. “I need to head to the wharf to check the ships.”

“I can come with you,” Elania said immediately.

Yolani hummed. “You’re awfully clingy today. But not having to walk there would be nice.”

As soon as they were outside, Elania stepped up behind Yolani and caught her in a hug. “I’m clingy because I love you, and I realized how dangerous the battle was, even if we won.”

Yolani leaned back into her. “We’ve been in a lot of more dangerous situations than that.”

Elania hooked her chin on Yolani’s shoulder. “What if the Lightbringer warship had targeted the Gold instead of the Heart? It wiped out the larger airships in a single shot.”

“You would have stopped it, just like you did for the Heart,” Yolani offered.

Elania swallowed and squeezed Yolani tighter, her wings unfolding slowly. “It makes me feel afraid.”

Yolani twisted in the hug to face her and then clipped her harness to Elania’s gear clasp. Green eyes gazed seriously. “I know, me too. But we can’t just run away. Plus, now you don’t have to worry about dropping me.”

Elania let out a ‘pfft’ and then lifted them up into the sky.

As they flew, it was impossible to not notice the changed color of her feathers.

The others had laughed at her about it… and despite being told that the color change didn’t matter, a part of her felt as if she had become tainted somehow.

The pristine white had looked nicer, and she briefly considered how sleek black wings might appear.

The thought of having to kill people to pick a color left her in a sour mood.

“Are you really preening over your feathers instead of watching where we’re going?” Yolani asked, snapping Elania out of her thoughts.

“What?” Elania blurted out, realizing they had flown past their destination. Quickly, she turned them around and landed near the Heart and Gold’s bays.

The jetty buzzed with activity as men worked tirelessly, delivering supplies and ammunition while hauling away scraps.

“This might take a bit more [Divine Power] than usual, by the way,” Yolani said.

Elania nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem. My regeneration has been increasing.”

“Still?” Yolani asked.

“It’s growing with time. So at least we have things with the Neftasuians going in the right direction?”

Yolani nodded and pointed to the Gold. “We’ll work on it first, since I already know what needs to be done.”

Elania followed her onto the ship, trailing behind as they descended the hatch leading downward.

Yolani looked at Elania with a hint of surprise. “Are you actually going to help me work on repairs?”

Elania smiled weakly. “I’d like to try.”

Yolani smiled back. “Sure, come on, follow me and don’t touch things,” she said as she led the way down the ladder.

Elania followed Yolani into the bowels of the ship, descending a cramped ramp.

Yolani gestured to the right wall. “This is the main fuselage of the primary engine. It runs through the ship.”

Elania furrowed her brow. “Doesn’t that make it vulnerable?”

Yolani nodded. “It does, but the chamber needs to be the primary siphon point for [Power]. Running it through conduits is expensive, especially for defense fields and offensive weapons.”

“What about the swivels?” Elania asked, noting their distance from the engine.

“We generally run a conduit for anything on the hull,” Yolani explained. “We just limit it to a single straight line or with one ninety-degree bend if required. It’s the best balance between power inefficiency and avoiding catastrophic damage.”

Elania nodded. “That makes sense then.”

They entered the engine compartment, a slightly larger but still cramped space. Engineers worked at various stations, checking valves and other components. “This is the heart of the ship,” Yolani said.

“How does the power source work?” Elania inquired.

Yolani sighed. “That’s the most expensive part of running airships. The Heart and Gold mostly run off my your own [Power].”

Elania blinked. “What?”

Yolani led her to the ‘furnace,’ which housed an array of glowing mana shards. “I’ve been recharging them every flight with our conduit. Otherwise, we’d be paying a huge premium for the service. [Power] isn’t cheap.”

Elania shifted uncomfortably. “I really haven’t kept track of anything you use because it would feel weird. I just want to gift you whatever you need or want.”

Yolani smiled. “Thank you. But it might be a good idea to keep track of it closer.”

Elania returned the smile. “That’s what I have you for, isn’t it?”

  *

Elania and Yolani stood before the boarded-up mine entrance, assessing the situation with Freyhoi’s constable. Yolani’s eyes narrowed as she turned to Elania. “We should be careful.”

Elania shrugged, a hint of nonchalance in her voice. “How hard can dealing with monster spiders be?”

Yolani’s expression turned serious. “The last time we fought monster spiders, you gouged a canyon the size of a city into the earth and nearly collapsed an entire section of the ecosystem on our party after expelling all your [Power].”

Elania grunted, a sheepish look crossing her face. “Touché. We should be careful.”

“No one that’s went in there has come back out in the last ten years,” the constable warned.

With a wave of her wand, Yolani sent a blast of energy towards the boards, causing them to explode inward in a wave of splinters.

Elania raised an eyebrow. “What happened to being careful?”

Yolani smirked. “Being careful doesn’t mean taking forever or being afraid.”

The man beside them shook his head. “You should watch for the webs. The spiders used webs to snare prey.”

Elania turned to the constable, fighting back the need to roll her eyes. Of course, spiders used webs to snare their prey. That was spider 101. “Are you sure there are no other entrances? They have to be eating something.”

The man shrugged. “None that I know of.”

Yolani pondered for a moment. “They might be some type of Lithovore.”

Elania looked at her, confusion etched on her face. “What?”

“They might eat rocks,” Yolani clarified.

“Why didn’t you just say that?” Elania asked, exasperated.

Yolani rolled her eyes. “I did.”

The constable took a step back. “I’ll let you two get to it.”

Elania and Yolani exchanged a nod and walked toward the entrance.

With another flick of her wand, Yolani conjured light orbs that began orbiting in front of them. Elania frowned and slapped her hands together, picturing a multitude of lights. Suddenly, Yolani’s lights multiplied like cells dividing before spreading out, illuminating every corner.

Yolani stopped in her tracks, staring at Elania in astonishment. “How... how did you do that?”

“When you use artifice, I can feel it. If I concentrate, I can modify the effects,” Elania explained.

Yolani’s brow furrowed. “That shouldn’t be possible. Artifice effects in motion should remain static.”

Elania hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe that’s true unless you’re a Priestess of Artifice and I’m your Demi-Divine?”

Yolani frowned, considering the possibility. “Maybe.”

They pressed forward.

The evidence of a quick evacuation was everywhere—overturned mine carts, damaged rails, and a thick layer of dust that hinted at a long absence. Skeletons lined the walls, some intact, others shattered.

“Whoever was here last left in a hurry,” Elania commented, her voice echoing in the empty tunnels.

“I don’t know if they left at all,” Yolani replied, looking at a skeleton. She reached out and wiped away a thick smudge of dust from a mine cart. “The spiders must not come near the entrance, or there would be signs.”

They continued following the railway, minutes ticking by as they ventured further. Rooms and chambers branched off, leading nowhere. Frustration gnawed at Elania, the lack of progress grating on her nerves.

Suddenly, Yolani’s arm shot out, halting their progress.

Elania tensed. “What?”

“Shh.” Yolani pointed upward.

Elania’s gaze followed, settling on the webs above. “We’re getting closer.”

Yolani nodded, a glint in her eye. “I have a thing.”

A grin tugged at Elania’s lips. “A ‘thing’?”

Yolani pulled out a bronze circlet, a red stone gleaming at its center. She tapped it with her wand, and Elania grunted as a pulse of energy pressed against her. A yellow light expanded, clinging to the walls as it raced through the tunnel.

“What was that?” Elania asked, her brow furrowed.

A loud screech echoed from deeper in the cavern. Yolani’s expression turned grim. “A life-sign detector.”

The shrieking grew louder.

“Well, now we know they are here,” Elania muttered.

Yolani pressed the detector into Elania’s hand before drawing another combat wand. “They might come to us now.”

Elania’s vision flashed, red and orange blobs shaped like spiders visible through the solid stone—hundreds of giant ones, all charging through various tunnels toward them.

“Oh, shit.”

Yolani’s voice cut through the surprise. “Don’t use the full-powered Regalia elemental shells.”

Elania scoffed. “Yeah, I didn’t plan on collapsing things on our head. A melee weapon would be nice, though.”

Wait… didn’t she have one?

Blinking, Elania reached behind her back and pulled Eziel off her back. Yolani’s jaw dropped. “If you had a sword, why didn’t you mention it?”

Deciding to skip admonishing Eziel since they would just forget about him after a while, Elania threw him down the corridor. Yolani’s eyes bulged. “What the heck are you doing?”

As the sword clattered to the ground, Elania glared at it and shouted, “Eziel! Do some work for once, or I’m leaving you in this fucking cave!”

Eziel began to glow and then floated. Yolani's jaw hung open, her voice tinged with awe. “Oh, fuck, that’s trippy.”

[I do not appreciate being handled so roughly.]

“I don’t enjoy forgetting you exist unless it’s convenient for you,” Elania countered, her tone sharp.

Eziel turned and flew down the corridor in a flash of moving light without responding.

Elania shook the life-detector, but it didn’t work. She turned to Yolani. “How do I make it ping again?”

Yolani took the device and tapped it, sending out a ping. She sucked in a breath. “This will be easier than we thought.”

Elania bumped her head against Yolani’s to see for herself. The spiders were dying, their red blobs winking out as a golden streak flew around the caverns, hunting them down.

A grin spread across Elania’s face. “Agreed. This was a good idea.”

Yolani snorted. “You didn’t even remember the sword existed a minute ago.”

That didn’t remove Elania’s grin, and a hint of amusement seeped into her voice. “At least I remembered.”

“Should we keep going deeper?” Elania asked.

Yolani winced. “I’m not sure.”

“How long range does the detector work?” Elania asked.

“Maybe several hundred meters in the cavern, more aboveground,” Yolani replied.

Suddenly, a large red blob appeared on the detector, and Eziel’s golden streak turned around, heading back towards them. A minute later, he floated before them.

[The Mother of spiders is waiting for you.]

Elania blinked. “What?”

[I think you should deal with her yourselves.]

“Why?” Elania asked, her brow furrowed.

[You can either parley with it or kill it and absorb it as you generally do.]

Elania and Yolani shared a look, both saying “Parley?” at the same time.

[While you are sheltered underground and alone, and chances of detection are slim, I would prefer to rest.]

Elania grunted. “Fine, we’ll deal with it.”

She placed Eziel on her back, and they ventured deeper into the cavern. Yolani pulled out a wand. “We should have some defenses prepared.”

She drew glowing runes on Elania’s shoulder and her own stomach. Elania raised an eyebrow. “What do they do?”

“They’re kinetic absorbers,” Yolani explained.

“Good idea,” Elania nodded.

As they passed dozens of dead spiders, Elania resisted the urge to absorb them, just in case she shouldn’t. It wasn’t like she was ever running close to empty on [Power] anymore, and she had no idea what was up ahead. And… turning into a spider was not, absolutely not on the table.

Eventually, they reached a large chamber. Yolani pointed at the detector. “This is where the ‘Mother’ was detected.”

Elania looked up, the light orbs illuminating a giant spider the size of a large school bus descending from the ceiling. It let out an angry shriek.

Yolani shouted, “This isn’t what I had in mind when you suggested a ‘parley!’”

Elania grimaced. “I do not know what I was thinking either!”

The giant spider landed with a thump, dust flying away from it in every direction as it stared at them with gleaming red eyes.

Elania’s eyes widened as the giant spider mother shrieked at them again, its menacing form looming above.

In a swift motion, she morphed her bracer into her revolver, flipping the cylinder open and slamming in the normal speed loader before clicking it shut.

Yolani raised a wand, and a blue wall of light slammed into place just as the spider spat a web in their direction.

Elania leveled her Regalia and pulled the trigger rapidly. Three powerful shots rang out in succession.

The bullets exploded chunks out of the spider’s head, torso, and front leg, causing it to shriek in pain.

Undeterred, the spider charged forward.

Yolani waved her hand in an arc over her head, then gestured toward the ground.

Spikes of stone ripped out of the cavern, slamming into the spider and pinning it to the ground. Green blood gurgled from its wounds as it pressed against the stone, causing it to crack.

The spider spat a glob of green liquid at them, but Elania stepped forward, her wing expanding to bat the liquid away against the cavern wall, where it began to sizzle.

Yolani waved her wand again, and more stone moved to reinforce the spikes pinning the spider.

Elania walked up to the spider mother, pointing the revolver at its eye at close range. She fired into its head with a final shot, and the spider fell still.

Turning to Yolani, Elania asked, “Should we harvest it or not?”

Yolani shrugged. “We aren’t really equipped for that, and it would probably go to the townspeople, anyway.”

Elania nodded. “Right.” She touched the spider with her wing.

The corpse immediately began to turn into a flash of golden light motes that rushed into her. The standard [System] message popped up, confirming.

It was just a small amount of power to her now, so not that big a deal. More concerning would be the way absorbing things affected her essence ratios.

[You have gained the skill Web Mastery.]

Elania blinked and tapped her HUD and pulled it up.

[Web Mastery]

Elania’s face contorted in displeasure. “No no no no, I am not going to become spider woman.”

Yolani raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Don’t make fun of me, or I’ll tie you up,” Elania threatened.

Yolani patted Elania’s shoulder. “There, there. I’m sure it’s alright. No need to worry.”

Elania pouted, her bottom lip jutting out slightly. “You’re not the one getting weird ass skills from Arcane monsters.”

“How bad can it be?” Yolani asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“If you’re not careful, I’ll test out ‘Stink Amplification’ on you,” Elania retorted.

Yolani winced. “Maybe we should go tell the townspeople the cavern is clear.”

Elania looked around, nodding.

A thought she had the day prior came to mind. “Maybe this would be a good second place for a Mushroohum colony?”

Yolani’s eyes widened slightly. “That might be a good idea, so they aren’t all in one place.”

“After the battle, I was thinking just that,” Elania explained. “A bad hit on Contia could wipe them out. Plus, I promised to see about finding a way for them to live on the surface, underground.”

Yolani looked back toward the way out. “I wonder how the townspeople will feel about that.”

  *

The warm sun cast a golden glow on Elania and Yolani’s faces as they made their way towards the Mushroohum colony. The streets were bustling now that the lockdowns and tense atmosphere had evaporated.

Yolani glanced at Elania, a sharp look in her eyes. “I’m definitely older than you,” she stated matter-of-factly.

Elania raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “No way, I’m older.”

“I’m twenty,” Yolani countered, her tone firm.

“So am I,” Elania replied.

Yolani narrowed her eyes, a hint of suspicion in her gaze. “How many days are in an Earth year, then?”

“365 days,” Elania answered confidently.

Yolani’s frown deepened as she admitted, “There are only 340 days in a Neftasu year.”

Elania froze, her eyes widening as she turned to face Yolani. “Wait, was your birthday recent?”

Yolani’s brow furrowed. “I can’t believe you’re older than me,” she grumbled.

“Is your next birthday coming up soon, or did it just pass?” Elania asked again, her tone serious. “It’s important.”

Yolani thought for a moment before responding, “It was probably around the time the Lightbringers were invading.”

Elania rubbed her temples. “I’m so in trouble. I’m robbing the cradle,” she muttered under her breath.

Yolani blinked, confusion evident in her expression. “What?”

“You’re too young. You’re a teenager!” Elania replied.

Yolani raised an eyebrow. “And you’re too immature! I was sure I was older.”

Taking a deep breath, Elania placed a hand on Yolani’s shoulder. “A two-year age gap is fine.”

Yolani looked at Elania as if she had lost her mind. “Who are you trying to convince? Is this some weird Earth thing?”

Elania nodded, deciding that it really didn’t matter. “We’ll have to throw you a late birthday party, too.”

Yolani shrugged, a hint of indifference in her voice. “Celebrating your birth year isn’t that important.”

Elania’s smile grew brighter. “It is, and plus, it’s a great opportunity for a celebration that will let everyone have some fun.”

Yolani let out a grumble but conceded, “If it makes you happy, we can do it.”

Elania beamed at her, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on it.

Yolani rolled her eyes as they started across the bridge.

The guards nodded to them and let them by without comment. When they opened the heavy metal door into the arena, a rush of warm, humid air escaped.

They descended the stairs. At the bottom they spotted Allie working alongside Tre’gat’aru at the bustling alchemist station. Several apprentices scurried about, filling crates and managing the operation.

A smile spread across Elania’s face as she took in the expanded setup. It was responsible for a lot of good so far already, and it felt like it was her one major achievement. Even if she wasn’t directly making them herself, she felt like she could claim enough of the credit herself for setting things up.

Allie waved at them, her face beaming.

“How are you doing, Allie?” Yolani asked.

“Things are going great!” Allie exclaimed. “I’m especially thankful for all the new helpers we’ve been recruiting.”

Elania nodded, her expression turning serious. “The potions are becoming increasingly important. We’re starting to need them not just for the Neftasuians but for everyone on Contia, especially the military.”

Allie’s gaze drifted to Elania’s belt, noting the potions secured there. “Even you’re using them,” she remarked.

Looking down, Elania acknowledged the observation. “I’m really grateful for them. Haven’t used them yet, but knowing I can heal people if needed is reassuring.”

Yolani interjected, “You can use your [Divine Mending] if you need to heal or repair things.”

“The mending is slow,” Elania countered. “The potions work almost instantly.”

Allie glanced between them, then turned to Tre’gat’aru, who made a series of hand gestures. Elania blinked in surprise. “Can you communicate now?” she asked.

Allie faced Elania, her smile widening. “We can! And Trey would like to show you the new fields.”

With a nod, Elania and the others followed Tre’gat’aru into the heart of the colony, heading towards the Tender huts.

She was sure she hadn’t been gone that long since her last visit.

But the beds of growing [Glow-Moss] had expanded to reach the arena walls. Hundreds of rows of fungi, stretched out around them, the entire area teeming with dozens of new Mushroohum tenders diligently tending to the crops. A smile spread across her face.

The progress was nothing short of a miracle. Allie chattered excitedly beside them, explaining how they had dramatically improved the yields by experimenting with different alchemical fertilizers.

When they reached the Tender hut, Elania turned to Tre’gat’aru. “Trey, do you remember what we discussed when we first arrived here?” she asked.

Tre’gat’aru released a puff of spores and gestured with his hands, indicating that she needed to be more specific in her question.

Elania nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing. “We might have a place for the Mushroohums to set up a second colony on the surface underground. It will be with some humans in Freyhoi, but you would be closer to your natural habitat, and the air would be thicker there. Although I can still modify the environment to help make it more suitable for you.”

She paused, her gaze meeting Tre’gat’aru’s own. “Plus, you might dig deeper until things are more to your liking.”

Tre’gat’aru remained silent for a moment, contemplating Elania’s words. Finally, he spoke, his spores resonating with gratitude. “My people would appreciate the chance to do so if it’s possible.”

Yolani chimed in with a grin. “I can set up some containers for transport that will house them on the airships while they make the journey.”

Elania nodded, a hint of concern in her voice. “It will be difficult, but once they are there, things should be fine.”

Elania listened as Yolani launched into discussing the specifics, with Allie acting as translator for Tre’gat’aru.

Eventually, she excused herself, saying she was going to walk around the village.

She strolled through the [Glow-Moss] fields, the golden light shining on her. It reminded her of her first days in Eladu after escaping the cultists.

It felt like an entirely different world and time to her. She wondered how different things would have been if Anton hadn’t attacked Relain and let her escape.

There was no way she would have made it out of the summoning circle, and she’d have been forced to take a contract.

Elania sighed.

She decided to check on Tessa again, despite Arlois’ promises of treating her and the chickens well.

She felt guilty for not checking in more often, but so many things had happened.

It felt like her life was a rollercoaster, running from disaster to disaster, and the stops at the station for a break were way too short.

A bunch of young Mushroohums arrived and surrounded her, and she patted their heads, smiling.

She could feel a radiant warmth coming off them, and she realized that her bond to the Mushroohums was stronger than any of the others to the refugees, except for Yolani.

There were a few other lines that might have been thicker, but they weren’t nearly as numerous as the Mushroohums.

Elania checked her power HUD.

[Divine Power: 14,875/50,000]

It was going up faster now, and she could even see it tick up in real time as she interacted with the Mushroohums.

She was still unsure how good that was, and she decided that along with checking on Tessa, she needed to ask Arlois some Demi-Divine related questions.

Because if she didn’t figure things out better, they were all going to pay the price for her ignorance.

  *

Elania and Yolani crossed the bridge towards the Purple Tower, their footsteps echoing on the stone. Yolani glanced at Elania. “I want to learn about it too.”

Elania nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “That’s fine.”

Yolani grumbled, her shoulders sagging slightly. “I need a break from all the work, anyway.”

Elania slipped an arm around the other girl, giving her a gentle squeeze. “We can always lounge about or go for a trip.”

Yolani shook her head, a wry smile on her face. “There’s no way. Between the airships, Mushroohums, Neftasu council, and Ember’s requests, we’re way too stretched.”

Elania frowned, then nodded. “Let me know if there are any things I can pick up to lighten the load.”

Yolani smiled. “I’ll let you know right away—I already do and push as much as possible on you.”

Elania feigned a hurt expression, her voice laced with mock indignation. “Hey… I’m not a hole to fill in.”

Yolani giggled. “Sometimes I wonder, especially at dinner.”

Elania let out a mock-hurt scoff, placing a hand over her heart. “I can’t believe my Oracle has betrayed me so badly.”

Yolani hummed, a teasing smile on her lips. “I can’t believe my Demi-Divine is supposed to be the older one.”

Elania sighed. “I’m sorry I ever made a big deal out of that.”

Yolani laughed, the sound filling the air as they approached the tower entrance.

The Silver guards let them in, and a servant greeted them, offering a place to sit and wait along with some tea. They accepted, settling into comfortable chairs as they engaged in idle chatter.

A little while later, Arlois arrived. She looked at Elania and Yolani, her brow furrowed. “What do you need?”

Elania met her gaze. “We have some questions about Demi-Divine things.”

Arlois grunted, nodding as she waved them towards a private room.

It was the same room they had used to chat before. Elania sat beside Yolani across the small table from Arlois.

The Purple Tower leader leaned forward, her gaze focused on the pair. “What do you wish to know?”

Elania glanced at Yolani, who nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, Elania turned back to Arlois. “After merging my Regalia, my [Divine Power] capacity has increased, but I’m not sure how good it is.”

Arlois raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“[Divine Power: 14,899/50,000],” Elania replied with a hint of uncertainty.

Leaning back in her chair, Arlois nodded approvingly.

“That’s fairly good, much better than I expected.” She shifted her gaze to Yolani. “The Regalia must have been exceptionally crafted and compatible with Elania, considering how high the increase is.”

Elania furrowed her brow. “It seems like a ridiculous amount, considering how it ratios into [Power] and what exponential releases can do.”

Arlois nodded, a serious expression on her face. “You haven’t seen any real fights yet, at least not between Demi-Divines. When you do, it will seem like the world is ending.”

She paused, considering her next words. “You should aim for several hundred thousand over the next few years, once the Regalia is fully completed.”

Yolani shifted in her seat. “I haven’t even started on the next step.”

Arlois fixed her with a pointed look. “You should do so soon, while you have the chance.”

Elania leaned forward, concern etched on her features. “How are things with the Monevoians?”

Arlois sighed, her shoulders tensing. “There is no news, which I take as the worst sign. They are likely to attack without warning.”

Elania and Yolani exchanged a worried glance. Yolani spoke up. “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we be preparing for another battle?”

Arlois nodded. “We are, just not as hurried. We don’t want to break morale, and we do not know if it will come in the next few weeks, months, or even years.”

Elania slumped back in her chair, frustration evident in her voice. “This really sucks, not knowing.”

Arlois nodded. “You’re correct.”

Arlois looked at Elania, her expression serious. “There’s no reason your [Divine Power] should be kept so low. I’ll recharge it for you.”

Elania blinked, surprise evident on her face. “What? How?”

Arlois glanced at Yolani before answering. “I have to kiss you.”

Yolani tensed up beside Elania.

“On the forehead,” Arlois quickly added.

Elania turned to Yolani, seeking her approval. The other girl hesitated for a moment before nodding. Elania faced Arlois again. “How will it work?”

“I’ll simply transfer my own [Divine Power] to you. You won’t have to do anything,” Arlois explained.

Elania frowned. “If it was that easy, why didn’t we do it before?”

Arlois sighed. “By doing so, it will make me more vulnerable to you in the future. You’ll have a natural feel for my [Power] and energy, and it will also affect your [Domain] slightly.”

She paused for a second, staring at Elania as if measuring her. “Your domain has strengthened and started to take shape already, so it isn’t as large a concern.”

Elania’s eyes widened. “What does that mean? Domains have shapes?”

Arlois nodded. “The formation of a [Domain] is a very personal process, as I explained partly before. Too much information isn’t good because it can affect how it turns out. The closer it is to the Demi-Divine’s own subconscious feelings and actions, the stronger it will be.”

Elania shook her head. “I don’t feel like I’ve made any progress.”

Arlois met her gaze. “You have definitely made concrete moves toward one.”

Yolani spoke up, her voice hesitant. “Is it possible to change Domains in the future?”

Arlois turned to Yolani, her expression grim. “While it’s possible, it generally only happens if the Demi-Divine goes through something exceedingly traumatic... like losing their Oracle or loved one.”

Elania tensed up, her jaw clenching. That wasn’t a thought worth entertaining.

She took a deep breath before speaking. “Arlois, do the transfer.”

Elania watched as Arlois walked around the table and sat beside her. She smiled at both her and Yolani, then cupped the sides of Elania’s head in her hands, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

A sensation of electricity ran through Elania’s body, making her feel as if she was being shocked. She became aware of Arlois’ wings expanding out of her back, then closing around her and Yolani, who was holding on to her side.

A wave of maternal warmth washed over Elania, leaving her unsure of what to think, do, or say. She felt frozen in place as Arlois wrapped her arms around her back, hugging both her and Yolani to her chest.

Power flooded through Elania’s veins, and she felt as if she could crush a hundred armies or save a thousand cities, as long as Yolani was by her side.

As quickly as the transfer began, it cut off, leaving Arlois panting as she released them.

“I didn’t expect that,” Yolani stammered.

Elania blinked and looked at her HUD.

[Divine Power: 48,580/50,000]

She wasn’t even sure what that number represented compared to her early [Power] numbers, other than it being an order of magnitude higher.

Arlois said, “There, you should both be strengthened now.”

Elania looked to Yolani, who still stared at them in shock. Turning back to Arlois, Elania asked, “What did you do to Yolani?”

Arlois explained, “I cleaned the impurities in your connection and made it so that instead of just providing power for her, you now provide reinforcement and improvements to her physical capabilities, including resilience and healing.”

With that, Arlois stood and returned to her seat across the table.

Elania frowned as she felt Arlois’ movements while the other woman walked. The sensation was strange, almost as if Arlois’ presence was now a part of her.

“What is that?” Elania asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Arlois mirrored Elania’s frown, her expression thoughtful. “It’s likely a resonance of my [Power] within you now.”

Elania probed the feeling, her discomfort growing. Beside her, Yolani spoke up, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “I feel it, too.”

“You are deeply connected,” Arlois explained, “so that’s not a surprise.”

Elania let out a tense breath, the words tumbling from her lips before she could stop them. “Why does it feel like you’re my mother now?”

Arlois’ expression softened, a hint of understanding in her eyes. “It is just a reverberation of my own feelings.”

Blinking in surprise, Elania blurted out, “You see us as your daughters?”

Yolani mumbled, her voice barely audible, “The feeling is way too strong.”

A smile played on Arlois’ lips as she spoke. “Well, if you feel at all the same way, it’s probably amplified. But it doesn’t mean anything serious. I feel that most of the others are my children as well.”

Elania fought the urge to call Arlois a liar. The connection, the bond screamed that loudly. It wouldn’t be good to air that, though, so she remained silent.

Yolani cleared her throat. “Arlois, your domain is that you are mother to the city?”

Arlois looked at them, her expression unreadable.

Elania shook her head, words spilling from her lips. “No, Arlois’ domain is that she is the Ruler of the city, and all of its people are her sons and daughters... and she’s closer to some of her children than others.”

Arlois grunted, looking away as she spoke, her tone stern. “It is incredibly impolite and improper to point out another Demi-Divine’s domain, especially after they just filled you with their own energy.”

The memory of Arlois’ abuse, the threats and the reality of her own weakness, resurfaced in Elania’s mind.

She still couldn’t forgive Arlois for that violation. That was incredibly sad, because she liked Arlois. Not as her mother, but as an older friend? Sibling? A mentor for sure…

Clearing her throat, Elania decided to move on to the second reason for their visit. “We’d like to check on Tessa.”

Arlois nodded, but before she could respond, a knock at the door interrupted them. As the door opened, Lyra entered, her eyes snapping to Elania.

Arlois frowned, turning her attention to Lyra.

“What is it?” Arlois asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Lyra crossed her arms, her gaze still fixed on Elania. “I’m glad you are here. I won’t have to send the Silvers to find you,” she said, her tone sharp.

Blinking in confusion, Elania asked, “What?”

Lyra glowered, her expression darkening. “There has been a major crime: the theft of followers by a non-Tower.”

Elania felt a sense of unease as Lyra leveled a finger at her, the accusation hanging in the air. “You’ve been converting the people of the slums with succor and shelter, growing your followers at our expense!”

Elania’s mind raced. “They were starving and had nowhere to go,” she explained, her voice firm.

Lyra shook her head, her frustration evident. “They go overboard! Contia will overpopulate and become burdened by them if the population isn’t kept in check.”

“Elania has been assisting them for two months already, and she was just assisting with the city’s infrastructure,” Arlois intervened, her voice calm and measured.

Lyra was not satisfied.

She shook her head and dramatically pointed at Elania once more, her voice ringing out in the room. “I formally demand a council hearing on the matter!”

  *

Elania shifted uncomfortably in the defendant’s box, her fingers tapping nervously against the polished wood.

The Tower Council chamber stretched out before her. The lack of spectators made it feel extremely empty. That emptiness was broken only by the guards and Yolani, who sat on the spectator benches alone.

The room was silent until two guards marched to the main doors, closing them with a resounding clank that echoed through the chamber.

Elania’s gaze darted to the raised seats, where Arlois, Ember, Elysia, and Lyra took their places, their eyes fixed upon her.

Lyra’s voice cut through the stillness, her tone sharp and accusatory. “All members have been informed of the defendant’s actions, and she has admitted to the crimes.”

Elysia rose from her seat, her expression grave. “The normal penalty for this crime is death or banishment.”

Elania’s fingers continued their restless tapping against the defendant’s booth, her mind racing. She doubted either of those outcomes were very likely.

“Since the evidence is so clear cut, we should vote immediately,” Lyra announced.

Arlois held up a hand. “Lyra, Lyra, please,” she said, her voice calm and measured. “Would anyone like to present mitigating circumstances?”

Ember’s hand shot up, drawing a glare from Lyra.

“I would,” Ember declared, her voice confident. “Elania and her Oracle have benefited the city innumerably. They have made gigantic improvements to the city’s defenses and infrastructure thanks to their efforts. Their healing potions have revolutionized the city’s healthcare, and the Artifice work Yolani has done likely saved thousands or tens of thousands of lives during the recent battle.”

Arlois nodded, acknowledging Ember’s words. “Thank you, Ember. With those mitigating circumstances in mind, I believe a dispensation for the statute of law is in order.” She turned her gaze to Elysia.

Lyra shook her head rapidly, turning to look at Elysia herself.

Elysia sighed, her gaze meeting Elania’s. “While there is no prior precedent for dispensation of this statute, it would be remiss to harm or eject a fellow Demi-Divine that has benefited the city so much.”

Lyra hissed, her frustration evident. “Elania is taking our followers, my followers!”

Arlois fixed Lyra with a flat look, her voice firm. “You shouldn’t be reliant on half-connected people living on the fringes of society, anyway.” She turned to address the council. “I call a vote to give Elania dispensation and nullify the law for her.”

Elania let out a puff of breath she hadn’t known she had been holding.

Ember, Arlois, and Elysia all stood, their voices clear and resolute as they declared their decision to nullify the charges against her.

Lyra hissed in defiance. “I won’t do it,” she spat, her eyes narrowing. “I won’t vote to nullify, and I demand compensation.”

Arlois sighed, turning her gaze to Elania. “Lyra demands compensation. Are you willing to give her any?”

Elania blinked, disbelief etched on her face. “I don’t owe her anything,” she retorted, her voice firm. “If she’s upset about the people who were literally starving and dying, she should have been more attentive to actually, you know, making sure they were fed and had shelter? She’d have been losing the followers anyway when they were ‘thrown off the island,’ as she put it.”

Arlois laughed, slamming her gavel on the bench. “By a 3-1 vote, the charges against the defendant have been nullified.”

Lyra spread her wings, her voice rising in anger. “I won’t be made a fool of!”

“Then stop doing foolish things,” Arlois countered, her tone sharp.

Undeterred, Lyra pointed at Elania, her eyes blazing. “I demand a trial by combat!”

Elysia stood up, her expression incredulous. “For what?”

“Because she annoys me!” Lyra exclaimed, her voice filled with venom.

Elysia shook her head. “That’s not a valid reason!”

An angry puff escaped Elania as she stood. “I’ll fight her.”

There was a chorus of “What?” from almost everyone.

“I’ll fight her!” Elania shouted.

Ember burst out laughing, her amusement echoing through the chamber.

Arlois facepalmed, her exasperation evident. “Fine, you will have a limited combat, but only limited, and overseen by the rest of us.”

Yolani rushed to Elania’s side, her voice low and urgent. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I’m going to figure out why this bitch has been twisting our panties since we arrived,” Elania hissed.

Yolani groaned, her frustration palpable. “They… you are acting like a bunch of... of... testosterone-fueled men!”

Ember, standing atop her seat, roared. “We aren’t—we are a bunch of crazy bitches fueled by [Divinity]!”

“Order!” Arlois shouted, pounding her gavel, her voice silencing the chamber.

There was no wasting of time. Less than an hour later, they all had moved to a remote, high-floating island.

Elania stared across the open space, the wind whipping through her hair as she faced Lyra.

Arlois stepped forward, her voice carrying over the gusts. “This fight will be a limited match, witnessed by three Towers and subject to the following rules.”

She held up a finger. “First, both participants will have their [Power] normalized for fairness.”

Lyra scoffed, but Arlois continued, undeterred. “Second, there will be no usage of [Domain] in the fight.”

Elania nodded, her eyes never leaving Lyra’s.

“Third,” Arlois said, “external weapons other than those on their person are not permitted.”

Lyra’s hand twitched towards her belt, but she remained still.

“Fourth, your Oracles may not intervene in any way, spiritually or physically.”

Elania glanced at Yolani, who stood beside Ember, her face etched with worry.

“And finally,” Arlois concluded, “you will be wrapped in wards that will register damage but prevent harm, and you will be limited to the confines of the current island. If you leave the barrier or have your wards break, you will lose.”

Elania nodded firmly as Arlois looked between her and Lyra.

“Yes,” Elania said, her voice steady.

Lyra echoed her agreement, a feral grin spreading across her face.

Yolani approached Elania, her fingers moving to tighten one of the straps on her armor. She patted Elania’s back, a silent gesture of support.

As Elysia moved to stand beside Lyra, Ember joined Elania. “I’ll make the protective field now,” Ember said.

A shimmering blue sheen appeared over Elania’s skin and body, enveloping her. She glanced down at her hands, marveling at the strange sensation. How the heck did it work?

Arlois drew her sword, pointing it toward the sky. A translucent blue dome formed above the island. The shimmering barrier grew, spreading across the ground until it covered every inch of the island, isolating them all from the rest of the world.

Yolani patted Elania’s back once more, her voice filled with encouragement. “Go beat that harridan up.”

Elania smiled at her words, giving Yolani a confident thumbs up.

As Yolani and the others stepped back, exiting the dome, Elania turned her attention to her opponent.

Arlois’ voice rang out, announcing the last conditions of their fight. They would continue until one of them fell unconscious, surrendered, or had their ward broken.

Elania sized up Lyra, taking in her stance and the feral grin that stretched across her face.

Blue wisps of magic began to form around Lyra’s wings, a clear indication of the power she wielded.

Arlois held up her hand, a purple ball of energy forming in her palm. “On the sound of the boom, you may begin the fight,” Arlois announced, her voice echoing through the dome.

Elania morphed her bracer into her revolver, loading it with a swift, practiced motion. She chose fire. Opposites canceled, and she felt fairly confident in the rate and power output of the weapon, even if they had been magically ‘normalized’ for the fight.

The purple orb in Arlois’ hand popped loudly, signaling the start of the battle.

Lyra moved first, darting forward on her wings and shooting blue lances at Elania.

Reacting quickly, Elania leaped into the air, flying along the dome’s edge. The blue lances tracked her movements but smashed into the dome, unable to turn fast enough to reach her.

Elania leveled the revolver at Lyra and pulled the trigger.

A giant gout of flame erupted from the barrel, filling an entire quarter of the dome where Lyra stood.

As the fire cleared, Lyra emerged from beneath her wings, leaving behind a blue protective dome of water and a field steam.

Lyra leaped after Elania, but Elania fired again. And again. Until her cylinder was empty. It blotted out her view of the rest of the arena, but there was nowhere to hide from it.

Before the flames dissipated, Lyra flew out of the inferno, enraged. “Stop running away, bitch!” she shouted.

Elania morphed her revolver back into a bracer and grabbed her sword from her back. The sight of the huge golden blade caused Lyra to skid to a halt.

Reaching up into the air, Lyra summoned a large blue spear with a curved blade. Elania blinked, thinking it looked Asian... or Japanese? A naginata? Or something similar.

The momentary distraction of trying to identify the weapon was enough for Lyra to launch forward and attack again.

Elania swung her sword, blocking the first strike, but Lyra’s weapon proved faster and more maneuverable.

She held her sword up, using it more as a shield rather than an offensive tool while losing ground in the air.

Lyra swung wide, and Elania blocked the attack, only for the blue spear to wrap around like a whip and smack her in the back.

Elania hissed in pain. The ward apparently didn’t block that.

She swung with her wing, but Lyra caught the attack with her own. Their feathers sizzled with electricity as they became entangled, stuck together in a fierce clash of power.

Lyra’s spear shrank in size, allowing her to continue to continue to jab despite the close proximity. Elania discarded her sword and grabbed the shaft.

Painful spikes stabbed her palm, but she ignored them and punched Lyra in the face so hard they both were sent hurtling toward the ground.

Elania flexed her wing to bring her in for another punch. Instead, she grabbed Lyra’s other wing so they were stuck to each other.

Lyra screamed at her and head-butted her in the nose.

That sent them spinning while still plummeting toward the ground, and Elania started punching her in the face, in the stomach, and everywhere she could.

Lyra punched back.

They were still punching when they both hit the ground with a heavy thump and went bouncing.

They rolled across the arena, neither of them giving up. For a minute. For five. Time lost its meaning, their fists slamming into each other until the blue ‘wards’ shattered and they were smashing flesh that wouldn’t give or break.

There was shouting from someone else—not her or Lyra. The whirl of punches and screeching only stopped when a hand grabbed her by the back of her outfit and wrenched her away.

Elania blinked and saw Ember grabbing Lyra, too. Lyra turned and attacked Ember with a blue dagger. Ember jumped away and created a barrier of fire. Lyra started shooting it with icicles.

Elania turned and saw Arlois looking at her with a stern expression.

Anger bubbled up in Elania. Arlois had hurt her, too. Arlois had violated her.

She swung. Arlois grunted in surprise and blocked it with a forearm.

That wasn’t enough to satisfy her, so Elania swung her wing only for Arlois to slap it away with her own.

Elania reached up and pulled a golden spear of energy out of the air and stabbed with it.

A purple disc shield appeared in front of the spear and both energies crackled into motes of purple and golden light.

One wasn’t enough, so Elania summoned a dozen spears. Arlois replied with the same number of purple discs.

Elania’s fist lashed out, but Arlois caught her wrist and flung her to the ground.

Fire filled her lungs as Elania lay on her stomach. Head turned to the side, she caught sight of Lyra unleashing a blizzard of ice and water at Ember, who had been joined by Elysia in blocking the attacks.

Before she could move, Arlois kicked her in the side, rolling her over and standing on her chest. Elania struggled to get up, but Arlois’ weight kept her pinned down.

Elania’s eyes scanned the arena for anything that could help. She spotted her sword lying on the ground. She reached out, and to her surprise, the sword flew into her hand.

That was a surprise for Arlois too, because the senior Demi-Divine’s eyes widened as well.

With a mighty swing, Elania struck Arlois with more force than she thought possible, sending the other Demi flying off her.

Elania stood up, facing hundreds of discs summoned by Arlois in the air. They started to track inward toward her.

Behind her, Ember and Elysia were overwhelming Lyra with a myriad display of fire and plant attacks. Elania summoned her own golden light spears to counter the discs, but it was a losing battle.

Stepping back further and further, Elania found herself back to back with Lyra. They shared a shocked expression before turning back toward the fight.

Without really thinking about it, Elania combined her aura with Lyra’s to defend against the attacks coming from both directions.

Elania poured more [Power] into her light spears, attacking faster and faster at all three of the other Towers, while Lyra focused on protecting them with a swirling sphere of water and ice. Explosions rocked the island, sending gouts of flame, steam, and smoke in every direction.

The battle had reached a stalemate.

A gray basketball-like object thumped into the middle of the arena, drawing everyone’s attention.

It exploded, and all the [Power] in the area was nullified.

Their defenses snapped back into place immediately, but it was enough to shock them all out of the fight for a second. That was long enough for them to spot Yolani, who was waving at them with both arms.

Yolani shouted, her voice filled with exasperation, “I have no idea what the fuck I just watched, but if the rulers of this city are going to play fight, they should do it responsibly!”

She stopped waving and pointed to an island below. The previous wisps of clouds had thinned out enough for all the citizens to witness the spectacle.

And they had attracted quite the crowd.

  *

Yolani wiped her brow with her forearm, the heat of the artifice forges filling the air.

She stared at the yellow-white metal held in her tongs, turning it over and scrutinizing it. Reaching over to a wide dish filled with crushed mana shard powder, she took a generous pinch and scattered it over the metal before sliding it under the mechanical hammer.

With a press of her foot on the pedal, the hammer began to strike rhythmically. She adjusted the angle and location of each strike by deftly maneuvering the bar with her tongs.

Ember, sulking in the corner, glanced over at Yolani’s work. “You have 0.18% crystallite in there. You should increase it to 0.28%,” she remarked.

Yolani’s concentration faltered for a moment, nearly causing her to mis-align a hammer strike.

A surge of anger coursed through her. Ember had been a constant source of annoyance throughout the process of crafting Elania’s next Regalia piece.

She’d decided to use the city works instead of her workshop on the estate because of the advanced tools and facilities, but she hadn’t anticipated the Red Tower’s presence being such a hindrance. Annoyance. She wasn’t going to let Ember slow her down.

Pulling the glowing metal bar from under the hammer, Yolani placed it back into the forge.

She turned to Ember, her eyes narrowing in frustration. “The crystallite content is correct, as is,” she asserted firmly. “At 0.18%, it will provide better resistance against elemental attacks.”

Ember stood up, meeting Yolani’s gaze with a questioning look. “I don’t understand why you’re making a helmet anyway,” she challenged. “Elania lacks a proper melee weapon. You should be crafting a sword or something more suitable for combat.”

Yolani frowned, turning away from Ember to focus on the metal heating in the forge.

She watched the vibrant glow intensify, her mind racing with thoughts of the Regalia’s design and purpose.

Bracer for the primary defense, revolver for a ranged attack, and a melee weapon for close combat. That made sense. Maybe the fact that Ember was partially right added unjustly to her anger at the woman.

But…

But a deep-rooted instinct told her that Elania didn’t require a sword.

She couldn’t explain why, but listening to her gut felt right and so increasing the Regalia’s defense it was. Given the limited materials available, a helmet seemed the most practical choice, especially considering the chaotic brawl she had witnessed the previous day.

Normally, Yolani would have considered casting the helmet, but her [Priestess of Artifice] abilities would handle most the final work.

She just needed to get the alloy perfect.

While relying on that didn’t sit well with her, both Ember and Arlois had confirmed that the quality of secondary Regalia pieces didn’t need to be as flawless as the first.

It would be beneficial, but not crucial.

She refused to compromise, and turning the process entirely magically didn’t sit right with her. Thus the manual labor and effort. Something told her putting that into it would help the result.

“Ember, if you’re just going to bother me, be quiet,” Yolani said, her patience wearing thin.

Ember approached, her expression serious. “I mean it, Yolani. You should increase the crystallite content. Listen to me.”

Yolani’s frustration mounted. “You’ve been pestering me this entire time. Why should I listen to you now?”

“I’ve done this before, for Elysia and Lyra,” Ember replied, her tone insistent. “I’m familiar with the alloy you’re using. Increasing the crystallite won’t reduce the resistance, but it will improve the strength, and the metal will remain morphable.”

Yolani took a deep breath, weighing Ember’s words. “Fine,” she conceded, “but if you’re wrong, you’re paying for a reforge.”

Ember raised her chin, a confident smirk playing on her lips. “I’m not wrong.”

Yolani reached over to the dishes of various powders and picked up some of the crystallite with her gloved hand.

Pulling the bar out of the forge, still glowing white-hot, she sprinkled the crystallite onto the surface. Grabbing another pinch, she added it before placing the bar back under the hammer.

She worked the billet repeatedly, ensuring the added crystallite was fully integrated into the metal.

Once satisfied, she pulled up her [Artifice Analysis], revealing a 1.2% increase in quality.

Yolani grunted, acknowledging the improvement.

Ember chuckled, a smug grin on her face. “You should listen to your elders.”

Yolani glanced at Ember from behind the glowing billet. “You act more like a brat than a grandma.”

Ember placed her hand on her chest, feigning a hurt expression. “I can’t believe you would say that.”

Yolani shook her head as she began to reheat the metal once more.

“I have another trick that will improve the metal,” Ember said, her tone turning serious, “although it’s very difficult to pull off.”

Yolani eyed her warily.

Ember held up a bottle, the liquid inside shimmering with a faint golden hue. “I have some fresh Ambrosia,” she revealed, “and it would be the perfect additive.”

Yolani raised an eyebrow, immediately feeling on guard. “You’re telling me it has uses other than drinking?”

Ember laughed. “Of course! It’s bottled [Divinity], so naturally, it improves everything.”

Yolani regarded Ember with skepticism. “What kind of side effects would the Ambrosia have on the metal?”

Ember waved her hand dismissively. “None at all,” she assured, a confident smile playing on her lips. “In fact, it would increase the compatibility with Elania’s Regalia a considerable amount, not to mention strengthening the metal itself.”

Yolani bit her lip. If the Ambrosia truly possessed such potent properties, it could revolutionize their artificing processes. “If it’s that good, why don’t we pour it on everything?”

Ember let out a scoff, shaking her head. “Pfft, if we used it like that, the effect would be diluted,” she explained, her tone taking on a more serious note. “The more Ambrosia created, the weaker the effects become, based on the strength of the Demi-Divine.”

Yolani narrowed her eyes at Ember. “You’ve been giving Elania and me ambrosia constantly, like it’s going out of style,” she remarked, her tone accusatory.

Ember smiled. “Of course I have,” she admitted, her voice soft. “I like you both.”

Yolani rolled her eyes, not buying into Ember’s charm.

“Again, what’s the catch?” she asked, her voice firm.

Ember’s smile widened, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Using Ambrosia during an artificing has one quirk,” she revealed, her tone playful. “The smith—or artificer has to drink some.”

Yolani scoffed, her mind flashing back to the memories of Ember’s manipulation and harassment.

She recalled how Elania had to stand up for her, defending her against Ember’s advances.

Anger boiled off of her and she fixed Ember with a fierce glare. “I’m not your rabbit. Fuck off. If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll make yesterday’s brawl look like a carnival act.”

Ember quickly stepped back and held up her hands, the bottle still clutched in one. “It isn’t like that,” she assured. “Yes, you’ll experience the Ambrosia effects, but you don’t have to drink all of it—that would defeat the purpose. You just need to take a sip, and that will be enough to attune to the essence of it. Then you can work it into the metal using your abilities—a normal artificer wouldn’t even be able to attempt it.”

Yolani studied Ember’s face, searching for any signs of deception or ulterior motives. Who was she kidding? The woman was a walking, breathing, ulterior motive.

But…

Making the metal stronger for Elania was a clever bait.

“I’m not trying to take advantage of you, Yolani,” Ember said, her tone sincere. “I genuinely want to help you create the best Regalia possible for Elania.”

Yolani considered Ember’s words, her mind torn between refusal and the desire to craft an even more powerful Regalia.

The idea of settling for anything less than perfection haunted her, making her earlier excuses feel hollow and inadequate.

She wanted the Ambrosia, despite the effects she knew would come. If it was just a sip, she would be able to handle it.

The metal in the forge glowed a brilliant white, demanding her attention.

Yolani brought it back to the hammer, the rhythmic strikes filling the air.

She knew she couldn’t stop the process now to consult with Elania; the metal had a strict time limit before she needed to infuse it with her [Priestess of Artifice] ability, or risk ruining the entire piece.

Yolani’s gaze flickered between the glowing metal and the bottle of ambrosia in Ember’s hand.

“Fine,” Yolani relented, her voice tight with reluctance. “I’ll take a sip of the Ambrosia. But if you try anything, Ember, I swear...”

Ember smiled, her eyes glinting. “I won’t, I promise. This is purely for the sake of the Regalia.”

Yolani reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she took the bottle from Ember. She uncorked it, the faint golden glow of the liquid within casting a soft light on her face.

With a deep breath, Yolani brought the bottle to her lips, the Ambrosia’s sweet scent filling her nostrils. She took a small sip, the liquid flowing smoothly down her throat. It left a trail of warmth in its wake.

Almost instantly, Yolani felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins, her body tingling. She gasped, her cheeks flushing as the Ambrosia’s effects took hold.

Ember watched, a knowing grin playing on her lips. “Now, let’s see what you can do with that metal,” she purred, her voice laced with suggestive undertones. “Just splash the metal and don’t worry about spilling any—it’s the essence transfer that’s important.”

Yolani swallowed hard, her focus shifting back to the task at hand.

She had to concentrate, to channel the Ambrosia’s power into her artificing, and create a Regalia worthy of Elania.

Yolani’s brow furrowed, her mind struggling to focus through the haze of arousal. “What about the steam?” she asked, her voice strained.

Ember waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t worry about that,” she assured.

Yolani nodded, her grip tightening on the bottle.

She tipped it over the glowing metal; the ambrosia cascading onto the surface.

Instead of erupting into a cloud of steam as expected, the liquid seemed to disappear, absorbed into the metal itself.

A faint red hue emanated from the metal, a sign of the ambrosia’s influence.

Ember moved closer, her presence sending a shiver down Yolani’s spine.

Yolani tensed, her body hyper-aware of every movement, every breath. Ember’s hand brushed against her side, a gentle touch that sent a jolt through Yolani’s body.

Yolani inhaled sharply, her knees threatening to buckle under the intense sensations coursing through her. The ambrosia’s effects were overwhelming, even with a sip.

“Ember,” Yolani said warningly.

Ember leaned in, her lips brushing against Yolani’s ear. “You are so special,” she whispered, her breath hot against Yolani’s skin. “Now make her the best Regalia the world has ever seen.”

Yolani’s breath caught in her throat, the sensation of Ember’s breath on her neck sending a jolt of pleasure through her body.

Ember lingered for a moment, her proximity almost too much to bear, before finally moving away.

Left alone, Yolani panted, the overflowing sensation of energy coursing through her veins. She realized the metal was ready, demanding her attention.

She felt a connection with the billet click into place, something like she had with Elania. She poured all of herself into it. The metal changed hues from red to white to finally settle with a divine gold that mimicked Elania’s feathers.

There wasn’t a need to hammer it anymore, because whatever she’d done had purified the metal of anything she didn’t want. There was no more scale to pound away.

Gripping it with a pair of tongs, she took the glowing metal over to her workbench, setting it down on a heated rock.

It was time.

Whether or not Ember was there, it didn’t matter.

Nothing mattered except the Regalia. It all faded into the background.

Yolani put down her tools and sat, raising her hands.

The world washed away, fading into the background as she focused. A flood of power rushed through her [Divinity] conduit to join the roiling energy already present.

In her mind, she could see it—a perfect helmet shaped for Elania’s head and face.

An open front, with a nose and chin guard to protect her from unwanted headbutts.

A pair of wings over her ears, a pretty ornament that matched Elania’s own wings.

A band around the crown, reinforcing and protecting from blows, a symbol of Elania’s leadership.

With a surge of [Power], Yolani poured her essence into the metal, her entire body feeling empty as the energy flowed from her.

When she opened her eyes, the Regalia was there, glowing on the stone, perfectly formed and ready.

  *

Elania rubbed Yolani’s back, the fabric of their bed rustling gently. Yolani let out an unhappy groan, her face buried in the pillow.

“Ember should have warned you,” Elania said softly, her fingers tracing soothing circles on Yolani’s back.

Yolani groaned again and grabbed another pillow, holding it over her head. “Don’t talk,” she mumbled, her voice muffled by the plush fabric.

Elania slid into bed beside her, wrapping her arms around Yolani and holding her close.

She had already tried using a healing potion and [Divine Mending], but apparently the overuse of [Divinity] and ambrosia, combined with the strain of creating the most exquisite Regalia helmet, couldn’t be healed quickly.

Out of options, all she had left was cuddling.

Yolani’s breathing slowly evened out as she slipped into sleep, and Elania pressed her forehead against Yolani’s back, savoring the closeness and the warmth of her skin.

After a while, she carefully extracted herself from the bed, letting Yolani continue sleeping peacefully.

Elania made her way over to the table with the mirror and sat down, studying her reflection.

Her golden eyes shone back at her, the cat-like pupils contrasting with her crimson red hair and the folded ash and gold of her wings. At the roots of her hair, she could see the beginnings of gold starting to grow.

Her feelings on the prospect of having blonde hair were a bit mixed.

Her hair color had gone on a wild journey since arriving in Eladu, and while she had dyed it before, she had never really strayed far from her natural black before.

Having it change so often based on whatever super-powered journey she was currently on was harrowing—when she had time to consider it, anyway.

Which was right now.

If she solidified her [Domain], would she get to pick the colors, and would they stick that way?

It seemed like they might.

But what would she like?

Images of all kinds of ridiculous themes ran through her mind, but none of them felt right. Honestly, she would just like something normal-ish and something that Yolani would like.

Those were her two biggest criteria, and Yolani wasn’t awake to ask, so the topic was going to have to be shelved for now.

Elania let out a sigh, her reflection mirroring the weariness she felt.

She turned her thoughts to her Regalia, watching as it slid out of her skin around her forearm and neck, forming a bright yellow bronze helmet and bracer.

The armor felt more solid than before, and her HUD confirmed the increase to her capacity.

[Divine Power: 51,228/60,000]

Despite the improvement, it still seemed like a long way from Arlois’ suggested ‘hundreds of thousands’.

She knew Yolani would have to craft many more pieces of armor for her.

By the time she was done, Elania would probably look like one of those stupid paladins.

Maybe Yolani would be able to craft the Regalia to be scale armor instead, at least for the torso? She wasn’t sure if the Regalia could handle that, as it seemed to be restricted to metal, and an underlayer was required. How would all the scales attach properly?

Her bracer formed over her leather to create multiple layers. The helmet was worse. When she wasn’t wearing her new coif, it pulled her hair unless she adjusted it constantly—which she could do, but it wasn’t ideal and would definitely be a liability in battle.

The more complex her Regalia became, the more gearing up would get more complicated, with longer times needed.

She wondered how Yolani even managed, with all the extra things she had to keep track of. A smile crossed her lips as she glanced over her shoulder at her sleeping partner. The answer was simple—Yolani was smart.

Elania stood up and slipped out of the room, finding Darius in the hallway. She told him to prepare a dinner for everyone, find a cake, and some fresh meat for Shadow. Darius nodded, saying, “Of course,” before heading off to take care of the arrangements.

In the living room, Elania found Shadow sleeping on the couch. She sat down beside him, causing him to sink into the depression on the cushion with her.

He sat up immediately, his ears held back on alert. Elania giggled. It was obvious he was surprised that anyone would mess with him.

He glanced at her and then flopped back down, and Elania rubbed his ears.

She told him they’d have a nice party, and he’d get some fresh meat. Shadow purred.

“Thank you for being a good kitty,” Elania said. He nipped her hand playfully.

“Ouch,” she laughed as he pawed at her. “Thank you for being a good darkwalker.”

Shadow raised his nose, seeming content with the correction.

“You’re ridiculous,” Elania giggled.

Shadow rumbled lightly in response.

She continued rubbing his fur until he rolled over.

Eventually, Darius coughed into his hand to get her attention.

Elania looked up at Darius. “Yes?”

“You have visitors, a Henri and Allie. Should I show them in?” Darius asked.

A smile spread across Elania’s face as she stood, leaving Shadow wanting more attention. The darkwalker head-butted her in protest.

“Yes, please let them in,” Elania said, nodding to Darius before following him out of the room.

Shadow hopped off the couch and trailed behind Elania. In the foyer, Henri and Allie waited. Allie’s eyes widened when she saw Shadow, and she stepped behind Henri.

Elania smiled. “It’s fine, Shadow is nice.”

Henri watched warily as Shadow approached and head-butted him. “See?” Elania said, just as Shadow chomped down on Henri’s knee, nearly knocking him over.

“Hey!” Henri shouted.

“Shadow! Be good!” Elania scolded. Shadow let out a mewl in response, but released his nibble and headed back into the living room.

Elania turned back to Darius. “Could you prepare some drinks?”

“Don’t you think it’s weird to be celebrating Yolani’s birthday months later?” Henri asked.

Allie elbowed him in the side before looking at Elania. “Are the other guests here yet?”

“You’re the first to arrive, but I’m sure the others will be around soon,” Elania replied, a hint of worry creeping into her mind about whether Yolani would recover in time.

“Where is Yolani?” Allie inquired.

“She’s still resting. She had a huge project earlier, and it took a lot out of her,” Elania explained.

Henri’s frown deepened. “Are we still having the celebration, then?”

Elania stared at him for a second. “Yes, we will. I’ll go check on Yolani. You two can make yourselves at home.”

She headed up the stairs and back to the bedroom, where she found Yolani sitting on the side of the bed.

“Are you feeling better?” Elania asked.

Yolani nodded silently.

Elania looked around the room, trying to think of something to say or do. “Would you like some water?”

“No,” Yolani said quietly.

Elania hovered as Yolani got dressed, concern etched on her face.

“Are you feeling better?” Elania asked again.

Yolani looked at her, a hint of exasperation in her eyes. “I’ll feel better if you stop asking that.”

“Sorry,” Elania said, feeling a pang of guilt.

Yolani sighed, her expression softening. “I’m sorry, too.”

A weak smile tugged at Elania’s lips. “We’re both sorry, then.” She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Yolani, who leaned into the embrace, resting her forehead on Elania’s shoulder.

After a moment, Elania pulled back slightly. “Henri and Allie are downstairs.”

Yolani stepped back, a smile appearing. “I’m glad they seem to get along.”

“They’ve been working a lot together since we had Henri help her with delivering the potions,” Elania explained.

Yolani nodded. “I hope they keep getting along.”

A mischievous glint appeared in Elania’s eyes. “Maybe they’ll even become a couple.”

Yolani’s eyes widened, and she fidgeted. “Do you really think so?”

“They seem like a good fit,” Elania said.

A look of relief washed over Yolani’s face. “That would make me feel a lot better.”

“Because he won’t be pining after you still?” Elania asked.

Yolani’s lips flattened into a line, but she nodded in confirmation.

Elania’s expression turned thoughtful. “Henri seems like a really nice guy. I hope he finds someone too, either Allie or someone else who can treat him well.”

Yolani smiled and nodded. “That’s all I’d like. He’s always been a good friend to me, and while I thought he might have been more, it wasn’t really in the cards.”

Elania squeezed Yolani. “I’m sorry for Henri, but I’m happy for myself.”

“Maybe you’re counting your cards before you have them.” Yolani raised her chin.

A giggle escaped Elania’s lips. “I think I’m playing with a stacked deck.”

Yolani hummed, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Maybe you are.”

They grinned at each other; the moment stretched until a distant alarm sounded, filtering in from outside.

It was like a bucket of ice water splashing them.

“That’s the warning alarm for the military,” Elania said.

Elania’s heart raced as the distant alarm continued to sound.

She and Yolani rushed downstairs, their footsteps echoing through the hallway.

In the foyer, they found Henri hurrying out the door, his face etched with worry.

Allie stood nearby. “What’s happening?” she asked.

Elania placed a reassuring hand on Allie’s shoulder. “You can stay here or go to the hospital. It’s up to you.”

Darius stepped forward, his expression calm. “I suggest you stay with the staff until we know more, Miss Allie. It’s safer here.”

Allie nodded, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

Elania turned to Yolani. “We need to go.”

Yolani nodded, and they headed outside. The air was filled with voices and shouting as people rushed about. Yolani quickly hooked her harness to Elania’s outfit, securing herself.

Elania hugged her. “Hold on,” she said before spreading her wings and taking off into the sky.

They flew towards the Purple Tower, the wind whipping past them as they soared over the city and clouds. Elania’s mind raced, wondering what had triggered the alarm.

As they landed at the base of the tower, they were greeted by chaos.

Soldiers and officers rushed about, their faces grim and their voices urgent.

Elania and Yolani made their way inside without being challenged.

The war table was already in place, maps and figures scattered across its surface. Arlois stood at the head of the table, her expression grim as she looked up at Elania and Yolani.

“What is it?” Elania asked, her voice tight.

Arlois’s eyes met hers. “The detector has found an enemy fleet on the edge of its range, and it’s headed straight for Contia.”

Elania frowned, her heart sinking. “So much for weeks or months or years,” she muttered.

Arlois nodded, her face somber. “It’s almost certainly the Monevoians.”

Yolani stepped forward, her eyes scanning the maps. “How many ships?”

Arlois was quiet for a moment, the silence stretching between them.

Elania’s impatience grew. “Well?” she prompted.

Arlois looked up, her voice grave. “There are hundreds, and more are still crossing into detection range.”

Elania felt a chill run down her spine.

This would be different from trouncing the Lightbringer fleet.

***