test

I Along the dusty road leading to the Kurlasif-Pashjagani ridges, in the south-western corner of the world, sprawling across the sands of a gigantic desert, the fertile Leefharti valley leads to a complex system of mountain passes. It is said that such a marvellous natural resource has been the work of a God, for its location would be defiant of the natural laws of the world and life would normally be impossible. In such a valley, two dark beetle-shaped carriages, trained by twelve black insectoids of gigantic size, were steadily moving towards the mountain passes just outside of the green lands and gently undulated palm trees. In the secondary carriage, a woman with a long ponytail wearing a simple attire and a worn out brown mantle, sat in silence while absent-mindedly looking at a young elf in his mid teens sporting a newly crafted black skirt. The elf playfully moved forwards and backwards in amusement as the magically enhanced material greatly boosted his warmth while maintaining his skin smooth as silk, without a single droplet of sweat. It was very comfortable and slightly longer than his usual skirt, by his own request, as it also boosted his growing masculinity. So Ainz Ooal Gown predicted, and as always, his predictions revealed themselves correct. A faint smile escaped Narberal’s normally imperturbable face. She didnt have enough time to address young Mare properly, although she knew how to call him from then on and what their relationship would be, she still felt a bit uneasy. “I must remember to keep my composure at all times. Lord Mare needs proper guidance after all. This is such an important task…!” She firmly nodded, overwhelmed by a surging sense of pride and genuine worry. “Umm… what are you doing?” “N-Nothing lord Mar- sorry, Marinee. I was just thinking about something. You neednt concern yourself with my lowly thoughts”. “Okay then…” Mare looked at her, slightly puzzled, but very much in high spirits. He was exceedingly happy to be allowed to leave the tomb for a bit to go adventuring, as his growth had naturally pushed him towards typically masculine endeavours, encouraged by Ainz himself. That particular occasion seemed quite exciting as well. He hopped back and forth a couple more times, looking at the front carriage from the large window that separated the two. Inside of it, the supreme leader of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown, was contemplating a topographic chart. With him, the chivalrous warrior Cocytus and the evil strategist Demiurge were attentively observing his reactions. As he moved his skeletal hand towards a valley located up north a few hundred miles, his index finger pointed at an area and highlighted it with a circular motion. Demiurge’s crystal eyes shone as bright as day. “Ah, incredible! Such masterful positioning and advanced thought process is inconceivable for mere servants like us, it is truly fascinating to see you in action my lord!” “Umm, thank you Demiurge, of course it was …ahem all calculated in advance”. “But of course. Brilliant planning like this can only be achieved with an unparalleled level of knowledge and power!” “Indeed” “Indeed!” “Indeed…” “Indeed!” “… WHAT BRILLIANT PLANNING??” Suzuki Satoru screamed internally as he tried to figure out what was going on all of a sudden. He was used to Demiurge’s boasting of his abilities by now, however, that particular instance was a bit unsettling as he had hoped to recall all of the Battle Maids and invite them in that region of the world to relax and socialize. Moreover, he also had a secondary objective that involved the very source of such plentiful relaxation. Truth be told, he wasnt completely sure that what he sought out for would be there, but very reliable sources from neighbouring countries had his hopes up: a massive hot spring, probably the largest that world had ever seen, was supposedly located in the area he had indicated on the map. It was said that its waters and steamy fumes could not only restore the body but also the spirit, literally sprouting friendships and good will among people. He wanted to take that occasion to see for himself, and if what was speculated would’ve proven itself to be correct, he would have studied the source of its power and tried to reproduce it, redistribute it among his subjects, or redirect it towards multiple areas of the world. Since his near total domination of all lands and hegemony over the sea, Ainz had sought out a way to appease his people without the need for mass executions. Even though his grasp over the physical realm was firm, the revolutionary spirits inside humanoid hearts wouldnt stop giving him problems, no matter how cunning his schemes were to conceal his dominion; day after day, a new riot, attempted coup, or conspiracy had some of his staff working extra hours, especially Sebas and the Battle Maids. While he knew they didnt mind it, as a leader and a father figure he would have very much wanted them to stay out of harms way, no matter how insignificant the danger was, and he also wanted them to strengthen their bonds and live more carefree lives, perhaps even without him for a time. And then there was the question of his almost unlimited undead forces, subtly placed in every country in the New World; his network of remotely controlled undead was working as intended for the most part, however Ainz was still unable to fully control every single aspect of its functionalities. Moreover, an unverified source had stated that several groups of ex adventurers had gathered together some kind of special resource in order to fight his low tier undead forces, Problems like these, while insignificant if taken into account one at a time, would just pile up eventually, and in the unlikely event that new players would appear before him, he needed to keep everyone in check. Initially, he had tried the power of overwhelming fear ostensibly, succeeding in most of his pivotal challenges in one swift strike. However, not all species were resorting to mere bravado to justify their petty actions against Nazarick’s supreme rule. Some were actively vicious and powerful, shadowy figures whose true intentions were barely concealed in contempt and vulture-like mindsets. Intense plotting had started years prior from far away lands and throughout the decades it had expanded into full fledged backdoor alliances and secret organizations. All of that had been laid out bare in front of Demiurge’s eyes multiple times during the past few days. And yet… “And yet what the hell am I supposed to do now? Come on, think! Think… what would he want me to do?” A miniscule rattling sound from behind his desk got hold of his attention. He turned ever so slightly, and the corner of his eyesocket met with the slender figure of Shizu. The small, silent maid had tried to be imperceptible as to not disturb the Supreme Being during his planning phase. She was slowly but steadily cleaning one of her presents, a teacup reminiscent of a cat’s muzzle, while awaiting further instructions along with the other maids, Solution Epsilon and Lupusregina Beta, all lined up and ready for duty. Since she was the closest of the three to this makeshift throne, Ainz swiftly took hold of her hand and invited her to move in front of him with a gentle motion. “Very well Demiurge, we shall proceed with the plan. However, I do not wish for my subordinates to remain in the dark. I want you to explain it in a way that even Shizu could understand with ease. Remember, it is important for us all to work together no matter the situation we find ourselves in”. “Splendid my lord. I wholeheartedly agree. I shall commence the explanation then, you three please pay attention because I wont be repeating myself”. As Demiurge addressed the Maids, Ainz could finally take a breather. What followed however, would find him quite unprepared. “As you may have noticed, we are unable to use teleportation magic in this area. Thus we had to recur to this fancy method of transportation, product of Entoma’s insectoid entourage, to be able to climb the mountain passes and uneven rocky terrain with ease. While this isnt unpleasant, it poses a greater question: why is teleportation magic ineffective in this area? That is what lord Ainz wants to know. To that end, he brought us here to witness for ourselves this mysterious phenomenon, but not only that, in his infinite wisdom and incredibly acute foresight, he discovered that this area is inhabited by someone, a large group of people we havent encompassed into our domain yet. As a result, putting the two together, it is fairly easy to assume that those who havent been yet conquered might have found a way to prevent us to teleport there, in a futile attempt to resist our magnanimous lord”. “New people huh. Surely this is unexpected, but not at all unwelcome. Maybe I still have a chance to find-“ Ainz’s thought process suddenly stopped. No, it wasnt wise to give himself false hopes. He brushed his forehead with a rapid gesture of his hand, then kept looking at Demiurge’s amused expression. “Still, the fact that we cant use teleportation magic is totally alien to me. Normally I would suspect a World Class Item, but its effects should have been nullified by ours. This is a little concerning…” Demiurge kept going, his arms crossed behind his back. “It wasnt immediately clear to me why lord Ainz would want Mare to join us in this endeavour, however, I soon discovered the true reason behind his masterful plan”. “You did? Now I’m curious”. “The new population we discovered apparently lives inside a reasonably large city, or perhpas it would be best to call it a fort. In essence, it is a star shaped fort with five bastions, containing a mixture of races. I proceeded to study its demographic and discovered that fourty percent of them are humans, while sixty appear to be a subrace pertaining to the elven kingdom. I have tentatively called them albino elves. Beside their pale complexion, they seem to possess no other noticeable differences. Maybe upon further inspection we’ll be able to find stat increases, but for now we can label them as simple elves.” “Ah, I see. So that’s why Mare… no wait, why would he want Mare to-” “Therefore, seeing as how effective the adventurers Momon and Nabe have been with recon and intelligence gathering in the past, lord Ainz wanted Mare to experience the same feeling to better understand how such crucial actions are performed, thus encouraging him to take his rightful place among us as an adult first and foremost, and a stronger Guardian second. I have deduced this based on his recent attitude changes and the many occasions where lord Ainz pushed him to pursue the outside world and more exotic friendships, so to speak.” The supreme ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick bursted out laughing. A genuine, benevolent laugh. “Very good Demiurge, you have summarized my plan perfectly. It is as you say, young Mare needs to mature and make new experiences in the outside world, and for us to be safer and stronger, we must start this investigation at once. Mare and Narberal will enter the city, gather information and report back swiftly. I must admit, this is an exciting prospect, it is not at all unreasonable to assume that this new kind of elven race might pose a threat, still it might turn useful in the long run. There are so many promising outcomes to be found in this new adventure. I will look forward to your progress”. “Of course my lord, I will report back to you regularly”. Demiurge bowed deeply, then took a small envelope out of his pocket. “This is a map of the area. I have drawn the outskirts of the city and its innermost sections quite clearly, however there are some parts of it that still elude my grasp. For some reason, it has been proven difficult to map every single house and subterranean passage”. “Hmm. So they have dug under the city”. “Yes my lord. It would appear that a large subterranean basin located below the southern part of the city has an intricated web of mines and corridors connecting one another. I will send lower tier demons to monitor the area… discretely”. Demiurge had a plan already formed in his mind. He would act in the shadows while his minions would do the bulk of the work. However, he’d pay close attention to the situation from multiple angles to ensure total domination against the enemies of the Sorcerer King; due to the size of the city and the relatively small patch of land between the walls and the nearby forests, which apparently formed the outer area of the “no-teleportation zone”, he needed to put some of the battle maids to work in his stead. He couldnt possibly be seen outside in his current demeanour, as it would attract too much suspicion. Moreover, he was concerned with the general notion of a place in which teleportation magic was forbidden and his own recon had been proven ineffective. Such a place couldnt possibly exist, and yet, it was right there. Normally as a devout servant of the Supreme Being he’d ensure victory first and foremost, before even attempting such a daring move. However, the particular circumstances were so unique that his carefulness had reached its peak. For a moment, he thought of himself as a chess player forced to move his pieces on a potentially rigged chessboard. One mistake could’ve costed him the whole match. As he took his leave, he thought to himself that it was only natural for him to act as such. Even though his immediate concern wasnt aimed at the elves themselves, they might have had the means to destabilize Nazarick in some way. And that was unacceptable. However, someone wasnt on the same page: as they approached their designed destination, Ainz felt a bit bothered by the whole ordeal. “Hmm. Even though this is a good time to let Mare experience the adventurer’s life, is it really wise to consider those elves enemies by default? Surely a small city like that couldnt pose a threat to our forces worldwide. Exercising caution is always the best course of action, still, I will need to speak to Demiurge in due time. Maybe I can persuade him to reconsider his approach. Plus, they may have a delegation that I could potentially add to the list of new guests. ” For a moment, Ainz’s mind focused on the right side of his desk, where a large pile of papers was sitting unattended for a while. Domestic affairs were already filled to the brim with reports of potential insurretions and several suspect illegal activities against the Supreme One. Of course this wasnt unexpected, and Momonga had someone already working on it for quite some time, but his own involvement in the matter was quite loose. He thought best to let his trusted aide handle things at home and only focus on the most urgent matters. Sometimes it would occur to him that perhaps he didnt have to take that for granted, and he should look further into each and every minute detail of those reports, but for now, he was content delegating most of it to the Overseer. A fleeting thought crossed his mind, right before his skull turned towards the not so distant valley where the fortified city stood. “I wonder if everything is fine. I should check more often”. . Far away from the bustling cities and the rattling wagons that were moving towards the southern regions of the world in search for a new home away from the Sorcerous Kingdom, still clinging to prejudice and malicious intents towards the undead and its minions, a lonely servant of the Supreme One was observing the situation for the comfort of her bedroom, far removed from all manners of excess except for her own body. A maid entered her field of vision. She was a pretty little young one, long blonde hair, a sweet scent of freshly baked bread followed her. “… disgusting” she thought, pouting a little. “How utterly disgusting… even after all the work I’ve put into Nazarick… after the total conquest of the known world… I still…!” She casually pointed her index finger towards the maid. That homunculus might have been fifteen, maybe eighteen at best. She was very pretty and joyful. “Ah, good morning lady Albedo! What a lovely day it is today. I’ll be leaving soon, please be at ease. Lord Ainz has tasked me to adjust the sheets, check up on the refreshments and assemble a new cooking group”. “New… cooking group?” she didnt understand. Why would her beloved Momonga prepare all of that, if they were the absolute rulers of the continent? Was it for a new batch of guests? But then, why even have guests in the first place? “It doesnt make sense…. It doesnt it doesnt it doesnt!!” Albedo threw a light punch at her pillow. Then another one. And another one, this time with a little more force put into it. “Lady Albedo is… is everything allright?” the maid seemed genuinely concerned. She stopped what she was doing and observed her reaction attentively. “Oh? Yes, keep doing what you have been told to do, I am perfectly fine”. There was no trace of discomfort on Albedo’s face. She looked so pretty and cheerful. The maid felt a surge of relief in her chest. If for some reason she had offended her, she wouldnt have been able to forgive herself. “Tell me, who are the new guests?” “Umm, I’m not sure. Lord Ainz said that they’re a delegation from a foreign country and they wish to speak to us. And this is just the first in a long series of meetings. It seems like more people want to be our friends now than ever before! Isnt that amazing?” “Yes… it is I suppose…” Albedo wasnt pleased. She looked forward to a world completely dominated by the Supreme Being, her lover and the greatest entity to ever have lived. Momonga was the peak of supreme achievements, an unbeatable strategist and a force to be reckoned with. Nobody should stand in his way, even so- “Those meetings are utterly pointless. What a waste of resources. Why should Nazarick be on friendly terms with anyone? We should be the rulers of the world. Our magnanimous Lord Momonga will trample any opposition with ease, there is no need for such formalities“. Albedo moved her hand slightly below her chest, reaching for her belly with her fingertips. She felt a deep sense of dissatisfaction coming from her empty womb all the way to her heart. A wild, flaming heat rose, and immediately after that, rage. An uncontrollable mixture of angst and frustration penetrated her body by means of her fingers. The small homunculus maid who was distractly finishing her tasks with a cheerful attitude was already outside, leisurely strolling towards a service corridor that would lead her to her next assignment. There was no resting for her, as well as all the other maids, who didnt get tired in the slightest and all responded to the call in unison for the glory of Ainz Ooal Gown. It was for that purpose that she was created, to serve and obey. Albedo thought so as well. She was, after all, a servant first and foremost. But she was also a lover, and a chosen among the Guardians. She had been given the highest honour of all, as Overseer, her role was instrumental to Nzarick’s advance. “Then why… do I feel so-” Albedo’s instincts told her to stop. There was no point. She kept stirring her own volition where it would never be possible for her to see comfort. She knew that and yet it was difficult, if not at all impossible, to remain calm. She pulled herself up, brushed her hair in one swift motion, and immediately set foot outside of her quarters, her gaze sharp and bored. The guest rooms were set up to accomodate persons of interest to Ainz himself. A large quantity of refreshments were being prepared and made available by the remaining maids on the ground floor. They were all busy, ready to receive new people and display the might of the strongest nation in the world as a reminder that there was no better way to keep their heads on their shoulders than to follow them and peacefully submit. Any sensible man would know that they had much more to gain from an alliance, or peaceful annexation, than with any revolution. However there were a considerable amount of fools in the world, and thus lord Ainz had established this new approach in an effort to solicit delegations from all over the world to suppress dissent and execute problematic subjects unwilling to cooperate in their respective homelands. In order to be seen as liberators and promoters of justice, the only way forward was through diplomacy, at least with the strongest nations still standing, to ensure that Ainz Ooal Gown’s hands would be considered pristine. “Eliminating potential threats by proxy”, that was what Demiurge had deemed necessary. Lord Ainz acquiesced with the clause that no Guardian had to be directly involved in it, because their fame had started to give away some of their most obvious schemes from the past decades, and their late confrontations with the nations surrounding Re-Estize had been particularly fierce. “Ah, splendid work! A fine example of cooperation, excellent!”. Eclair was ecstatic. The maid who had been carrying him until now placed him gently on the floor of the newly built residence for temporary guests of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, just short of 300 meters away from the entrance, “What do you think of our new fine establishment, lord Sebas? Isnt it nice in there? I’ll have you know that each and every corner of its interiors has been polished to perfection! And it’s all thanks to me!” Sebas had remained there to supervise the work as instructed by lord Ainz. The place would have soon received a considerable amount of people, according to him, so he was happy to fulfill a regular assignment that would befit a butler. However, he didnt seem too eager to celebrate. He kept checking a long list of names while scrutinizing his surroundings. “Hmm. I wonder…” He called all the homunculus maids in one place. They came in mere seconds, forming a perfect line. Despite their fear of the outside world, they seemed to be extremely diligent and well organized when addressed by Sebas. It looked as if his mere presence was enough to extinguish even the smallest trace of concern. “There’s one missing. Where is Coco?” “Umm, I think I know where she went, lord Sebas. I saw her inside. She should’ve been here a while ago” one of the maids spoke up “she had very simple tasks to accomplish as I recall. Umm… might have been near lady Albedo’s quarters”. “I see. Well then, there shouldnt be any need for concern. We will wait a couple more minutes. The delegations will arrive this evening at the earliest so there is plenty of valuable time ahead of us”. But the wait proved itself vain. Nobody came out from the 9th floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Sebas set out to find out for himself what was going on. Nobody would ever dare disobey lord Ainz’s orders, that must have been clear. And if anyone of the sort were to inhabit Nazarick, he would personally set their record straight and put their heads back to work. He looked far and wide, assisted in this endeavour by Pestonya whose directions had been easy enough to understand. However, despite their best efforts, there was no sign of the missing maid. No reports had been made of external forces approaching Nazarick’s defences, and nobody seemed aware of possible intrusions. It was unthinkable that anyone would be able to reach the royal suite unnoticed. “We cant do anything more for now. Please assemble a search team and have her found. I dont want to greet lord Ainz with such troubling news”. Sebas had been firm. With her new orders, Pestonya hurried up and recalled a group of maids to perform the task at hand. “What’s all the commotion down there? Is there a problem?” Albedo approached Sebas with a slightly annoyed look. Despite that, her impeccable smile was still as reassuring as always. “We cant find one of the maids. Have you seen her? She was supposed to report back a few hours ago”. “Hmm. No, I havent seen anyone in a while”. A brief moment passed, then her eyes suddenly lit up. “Oh, wait, I did in fact. Was she supposed to be here? I have seen a little one enter a service corridor outside. It lead somewhere around the bar area as I recall. Although I do not usually interact with that place, so it’s possible that she actually went on a stroll of her own accord”. Sebas rubbed his chin with his index finger, deep in thought. “There is no way…” “Oh? And what can I do about that? I’m not here to supervise the servants you know. Ask the head maid for a proper explanation. I’m sure there was some other task she had to accomplish. Lord Ainz is so generous that he bestowed more work for them to do every day, more than ever before!”. With that said, Albedo turned around and went straight for her office. She didnt appear more concerned or stressed out than usual, Still, Sebas couldnt stop thinking about something. “… must have been my imagination. I’m sure there is an explanation for everything. Now, onto the next task. All I can do is wait for a detailed report”. As she approached her desk, Albedo frowned upon seeing all the amassed papers, perfectly collected in alphabetical order, destined to her supervision. It wasnt so muh as physical distress, but rather mental fatigue that plagued her soul. Frustration kept mounting in spades as she flipped through the first pages of a report, casually picked from one of the many alreadly lined up next to the pile. “We request the courteous attention of the Prime Minister...” “As humbly suggested by our king, we ask…” “Please do take into consideration the matter at hand…” “Fluff. All of it.” She wanted to dismiss all of that trash. Those words, albeit never uttered, not even outside of the supreme one’s presence, had been incessantly occupying her mind. There was nothing else to add to it: kings and commoners asking for favors, pleas of countless nobles not to take their possessions, knights asking for permission to bear arms in the Sorcerous Kingdom’s territory, adventurers wanting to hunt down monsters in name of Ainz Ooal Gown. And then, from that trivial nothingness, some actual demands would rise above the constant boot-licking; prefects and judges condemning the Sorcerous Kingdom’s actions, asking for fair trials before the laws of men. Foolish humans pretending to be friendly and then stabbing her beloved Momonga in the back. Instead of being grateful for the priviledge of being alive, they dare oppose their dominion openly, going as far as inquiring for an investigation. Albedo flipped nervously through the pages of a document clad in black leather. She knew what that meant; the secret service set in place by herself was doing spendid work. With Demiurge’s assistance, she had been able to find and neutralize several terrorist organizations and isolated cells aiming at overthrowing Momonga’s rule. Surely their small numbers and weakness was no concern, but the mere fact that they existed posed a threat in her eyes. They had to be eliminated, destroyed, vanquished, pulverized, utterly erased from existence. Her eyes glimmered with joy while reading of the unspeakable tortures that the secret service’s executors were inflicting upon those foolish enough to even try. While her fingertips were frantically scouting for new information, a small, slightly torn piece of paper slipped through the pages and down onto the table. Annoyed, Albedo took it and almost threw it aside, if only for a small symbol barely visible on one of its corners. “This region hasnt been conquered yet. And… it’s so far away from here. Who dares-” After reading a couple sentences, her train of thought suddenly stopped. A large, malignant grin formed on her beautiful poker face. . “Ah, look at that! It’s magnificent, isnt it?” Ainz Ooal Gown, the most powerful being on the planet, was now seated at the top of a hilly rocky formation in the middle of nowhere. Apart from the distant valley that lead to the new, mysterious city scouted by Demiurge and the battle maids, there was nothing but a bare, conspicuously brown terrain all around him. Masses of dark brown rocks and reddish pebbles were his only companions. A couple of small fissures appeared to be humming a melancholic hymn; a delicate, ondulate sound was barely perceptible from where Ainz stood. “I… suppose so, my lord” Narberal looked around, slightly confused. “Wait for it. According to my sources it should occur… right about now!” Ainz casted his arms in the pale blue sky of the late afternoon, The sound produced inside the fissures started to grow closer, then the earth itself trembled and shook violently. A powerful earthquake seemed about to destroy the rocky formations where Ainz stood with the force of a thousand tsunamis. Narberal hovered above ground a few feet, ready to help her master at any time. But, as if nothing had occurred, the earthquake ceased shortly after; in its place, a powerful eruption of gasses came out of the fissures, and then hot, steamy water flooded the barren plain. “Marvelous! So it was all true after all! Hahaha!” Ainz seemed overjoyed. Maybe, for the very first time after almost a decade, he had truly found a solution to his most pressing problems. He let the hot water pour on his impermeable robe; the steamy fumes filled the air all around and then came down almost reaching the valley below. Every corner of the rocky barren terrain was completely engulfed in hot, white steam. “You can breathe normally, Narberal. Do so and then come closer”. “Yes my lord, as you wish”. The maid touched the ground, exhaling light puffs of vapour. Amidst the foggy atmosphere, Ainz’s tall, imposing figure was the only thing perfectly visible. She approached her master with puzzled eyes. “Very well. There seem to be no visible change. Please come closer”. “C-Closer than this much, my lord?” “But of course. Look me in the eyes, as close as possible”. “I see…” Narberal’s steps became uncertain, then she slowed down. Her face was but a few centimeters from Ainz’s skull. “You seem troubled. Is there something wrong? Your cheeks are bright red”. “No o-of course not my lord. I’m perfectly fine”. “Good. Hmm, let me examine you further”. Momonga’s skeletal fingertips touched Narberal’s cheek, then moved gently under her chin and on to her earlobe. “Hmm. Allright then, there seem to be no side effect whatsoever. No status alterations either. This pleases me greatly. We can move onto the next phase”. “Next… phase, my lord?” “Indeed. Next, I will strip…” “Wha-” “… you of your conscious self for a few seconds. I’m sorry but this is crucial. I need to be absolutely certain that the fumes in this land are doing what they’re supposed to”. Narberal closed her eyes for a moment. She calmly sat down to recuperate as her heartbeats returned to normal. “Are you okay? Maybe I should reconsider. There seem to be quite an excess of steam around here”. “No, please proceed as you see fit. I’m ready to do anything you wish of me”. “Very well, then look at my hand”. Ainz opened his palm in front of her. A gentle blue light emerged, then little blue flames poured out of it, forming a circle. “Tier ten: Veil of Remembrance”. Immediately after casting the spell, Narberal’s eyes lost their vigor, her pupils became of a solid black colour and her head fell slightly to the side. This spell was equivalent to Palm of the Puppeteer, however, it let most of the bodily functions of its target completely dormant so that the caster could control their subconscious and actively seek for their truthful, completely honest cooperation. Moreover, it didnt require direct contact for it to work. Momonga rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Narberal, do you recognize this voice?” “Yes. You are… my one and only master, lord Ainz Ooal Gown”. “Very good. Then, please answer truthfully. How do you view humans, and humanity as a whole?” A few seconds passed in total silence. Ainz was expectantly awaiting for her answer. Then, all of a sudden, Narberal’s body moved on its own accord. At first, nothing but a small twitch of an arm. “Humans? Humans… and humanity…” “Uh, yes. Let me repeat the question. How do you-” “Humans?? and… HUMANITY??!” Her body immediately stood up, as if moved by pure rage, her face contorted with a nasty, sadistic, grimacing smirk. “Humans need to behave and stay in their place. Which is, at the bottom of the food chain, right next to dirt and feces. If I see a human stepping out of line, my duty is to crush their skull and feed their brains to their children. Humanity as a whole is a filthy stain on our society. We should get rid of -” “Uuuh okay okay I get it! Please stop answering you made your point quite clear!” Ainz moved his hand in front of Narberal in a sweeping motion, and as nothing had happened, strength returned to her pupils. “I feel dizzy... did the test produce the results you desired?” “Um, not… exactly but I guess we will get there, eventually. Do not worry, there is plenty of time ahead of us. You are dismissed, thank you for your cooperation. Return to the camp and wait for Demiurge’s instructions. Contact me directly should anything relevant happen. And remember, whatever you do, do not kill a single living thing unless they have the specific intent to harm you or Mare. This is a unique situation, so I expect you’ll behave properly”. “Yes my lord. As you command”. As he saw off the battle maid, Ainz Ooal Gown, the most powerful being in the world, felt completely powerless. “Did I fail once again? The fumes produced from this source should have cooled off Narberal’s head. I was expecting at the very least a mild change but…” He stood immobile, looking at the setting sun reflected in the gentle waters slowly evaporating from that place. A deep sigh, imperceptible to anyone but him, made him aware once more of his fragile human origins. “No. I cant give up now. How long has it been again? 70 years next month as I recall. The situation cant stay the same forever. I want to quell dissent and inspire confidence before moving onto the remaining lands at the far ends of the world. Maybe there I will finally find someone else like me. Or better yet…” A fleeting memory of Touch Me’s hand on his shoulder gave Suzuki Satoru the chills. A surge of renewed strength filled his heart. Swiftly, Ainz grabbed an ampoule from his inventory and filled it to the brim with the hotspring’s water, then he touched his lateral lobe with his index finger. “Cocytus”. “YES. LORD. AINZ?” “I need you to guard more than just the wagons. Set up camp here, at the hotspring. Nobody shall enter or exit this area for the time being. You have my permission to recruit whoever you feel necessary for the task from the nearby forests. I need this place clear from anyone but me until I say otherwise”. “AS. YOU. COMMAND. MY. LORD”. Satisfied, Ainz returned to his meticulous research. Previously Cocytus had seen the fire brimming vividly in his master’s eyesockets, from the onset of that journey to the very moment of his call, and thus had renew his own expectations; he was eager to give battle, for the amount of years without any conflict worth noting had given him time to fine tune his own arsenal and sharpen his senses, however there were no opponents strong enough to grant him his most recurrent wish, to cherish a victory so complete that his honor as a warrior would be sanctified by lord Ainz’s praise. With the whole group in a state of high alert, ready for action and fully mobilized, Demiurge deemed his inspection of the area surrounding the encampment satisfactory enough. “Very well, it is time to move. We shall commence our operation at dawn. Everyone, I’ll be expecting your absolute cooperation. Let us do a perfect job as its customary of the Sorcerous Kingdom. Make Lord Ainz proud”. II The wind was blowing stronger than usual. Stronger than any winter in that region, with the most fearsome gusts festering atop the upper areas of the crevice. An old adventurer reached out for a handhold between two large rocks amidst a sea of emerald crystals, partly covered by neverending snow descending from countless orifices. The ice was creeping upwards, as it had been doing for centuries. In less than 300 years, it would've reached the top and completely engulfed the crevice, turning its caves, massive rock formations and granite walls into a spectacular sculputre of sparkling colours and reflective surfaces. The adventurer's eyes were imagining all of it; a little joyful thought fromed in his heart. “Wouldnt that be nice... if I were able to see it all... but you will, wont you?” As he approached the summit of the crevice, deep in thought, the old adventurer slipped. It had been but a moment, his foot sunk into fresh snow and beneath it, the void. Just as he was about to fall, he latched on to a small frozen plant barely kept firm by its fragile roots. “T-tier three: fly! fly!” He casted the spell just on time, for his frail bones wouldnt be able to support his weight any longer. He pushed himself upwards long enough to reach the top of the crevice, not far from where he fell. The spell vanished just as he was landing; his rear ruinously slammed onto a field of snow and ice. “Uughh... that was close... “ He checked for any broken bones, but it appeared as if his body was still in decent shape, enough for him to keep going. He had been lucky, as a human being, something like that would've probably killed him if he hadnt been trained to resist fall damage. But he couldnt die there. He had a mission to accomplish. He moved as fast as he could, seeking aid of any rock, plant and stake he could find to support himself during his advance. As he ventured forth, his eyes looked for a sign he once saw when he was very young. To his shock, that sign was still there: a mark on the ground, symbolizing a flaming arrow, guided him to a massive concave bamboo trunk. Inside, partially hidden by the snow, he retrieved an ancient scroll. He himself had placed it there when he first visited that place over seventy years prior. With teary eyes, he opened it. “Hiberna Divum!” He recited the spell with his palm opened in front of his visage; suddenly, his vision cleared up. He was able to see through the falling snow, the wind didnt affect him anymore. Moving northward a few paces, the old adventurer saw two dimly lit caves previously invisible amidst the snow, conveniently concealed by furious gusts of wind carrying deadly ice spikes; those would keep both entrances covered by highly pressurized ice and thick snowstorm. Any who dared come close would be cut into pieces and swept away. But now, under the spell's protection, the old adventurer could enter without fear. As he approached the largest of the entrances, he could feel a familiar warmth. Someone had been cooking in there. Salty fishes and wings of hippogriff. That smell was so enticing nobody could ever resist, so he thought. “Did I remember right?” Someone addressed his presence from inside the cave. As he spoke, an incredible aroma reached the old adventurer's nostrils. “Yes my lord. You did. This is... wonderful”. “Then I'm glad. My memory can be a little fuzzy sometimes”. A tall, imposing figure emerged from deep inside the cave to greet his new guest. He was exactly as the old adventurer had remembered him: large build, but not too muscular. Fascinating gaze, with his emerald irises and elongated grey eyebrows. His hair, dark as the night sky, clouded in a veil of poisonous tides. As they moved, it looked as if they were an agglomerate of sentient beings attached to his head, gently reminding any bystander that they'd best be on their way. He was carrying a large plate with a freshly cooked wing of hippogriff, all around it, potato stew and fish. “Someone sent me a message. I received it not too long ago. A silver carrier pigeon, I suppose it was Cledna's...?” “My lord... lady Cledna left us again twenty years ago. I'm sorry to bring this news to you”. “Not again… how can the town watch be so careless… no matter. I will solve this personally”. The man reached for the fork he had been carrying along with the plate and gave it to the adventurer. “Was it the mayor then?” “Yes my lord. The new mayor is a good man, loyal to a fault, proud and brave. But his communication skills are kind of lackluster. He… didnt sign the message, did he?” “Indeed. Hells, what sort of fool am I dealing with?” “As expected. Good thing I’ve been able to reach you on time, as the city needs you once again. I... hesitated to come all the way here directly, since my age is starting to seriously hamper those kinds of travels. But -” “It must be of the utmost importance then. If you came here alone, with such haste”. “Indeed. We might have to fight for our survival anew. There is no other way to put it, my lord”. “Is the menace really that great? What could possibly be the cause? It cannot be human... and I doubt you'd be trembling in fear in front of a couple trolls from the nearby forest”. The man was taking every word seriously. His gaze pierced into the old adventurer's eyes like a spear direct to the target's heart. “Lodelliaf, I see deep concern in you. No, its not just concern. Your soul, your very essence, is unsure of life. This is... troubling. Very troubling.” “My lord, I'm certain that you have heard of what happened to the rest of the world, even in your voluntary exile, as our people slumber in eternal bliss and solitude, it has been too great a change for anyone to ignore. The Sorcerer King is approaching. It wont be long now”. “The Sorcerer King...” The man looked at the plate, then gently pulled his portion up. The potato stew was leaking oil and hippogriff juices. He stared at it for a few seconds before eating it. His mind was racing at inhuman speed, scanning through all the possible scenarios born from such a troubling prospect. “Does he know?” “I dont think so my lord. If he did, wouldnt he be knocking at your doorstep right now? That is why I visited as fast as I could. This must be settled before he even reaches the foot of the mountain”. “I concur. The situation is deeply troubling... it is so surreal. Mother said it could happen but I would've never thought... this is too fast. Just four-hundred years”. “I'm sure it is nothing to you my lord. My mind is too small to comprehend such an immeasurable amount of time, so I will leave you to your considerations. Please do come visit us as soon as you're finished, for we will be your spear and shield”. “Is this the message you wanted to convey?” The old adventurer’s chest was blazing with passion, as if his youth had suddenly been recalled from the deepest recess of time to aid him as his shield. “Yes. All citizens, no matter how young or old, want to be part of it. They want it from the bottom of their hearts. Please be at ease, while calculating the risks”. Lodelliaf ate his portion of the meal with voracity. Once done, he looked at peace with the world and its creatures. “Aahh... I feel so tired my lord. After such a satisfying meal, now that I have completed my quest, I would really like to rest”. “You know you can stay as long as you wish. I wont force you out of here unless I need to practice”. “Then I shall stay as your guest, forever!” Lodelliaf bursted out laughing with cloudy eyes, as though what he just said brought him joy and sadness at the same time. A moment passed, then he moved towards the owner of the cave and knelt. “What are you -” “Lord Flannar, I beg of you, take my humble warmth. This is my final request”. “... You're about to die. That's why -” “I have prepared myself for months now. My lungs are old and weary. An incurable disease eats them away my lord. I lived till today only to see your face again. Every fiber of my being wished for you to hear my voice and my eyes to meet yours”. Flannar didnt reply. He gently touched the old man's cheek and raised his chin so that he could see his face. He wasnt looking at a wrinkly old man, but rather, a young boy in his early teens. His eyes big, profund and dreamy, his smile youthful and clean. “Tell me Lodelliaf, did you have a good life?” “Wonderful, my lord”. “Did you raise a family, as you wished for?” “Yes. Four kids. I had a beautiful and faithful wife. She passed away two years ago. My boys are adults now. Two have stayed in the city, the other two are searching for adventure in the outside world. They're all righteous and healthy”. Flannar closed his eyes for a brief moment, then opened his arms; a tenuous light came forth from his chest, warm and familiar. Lodelliaf felt it deeply in his very existence, it gave him the same feeling of comfort and tenderness that a womanly womb would to a newborn. “Then come. Let us live forever”. Lodelliaf felt a motherly embrace. His senses slowly numbed down till all he could feel was his own heart beating next to Flannar's. It was peaceful and reassuring. While his consciousness rapidly slipped away into eternity, joyful fragments of his past eased him into oblivion. With his very last breath, he thanked him. Now only one heartbeat could be heard. Flannar dropped Lodelliaf's robes to the ground. “May your soul forever rest in peace”. Lodelliaf's strength was miniscule, almost inperceptible. But he could distinguish it from the others. Flannar had trained for decades to be able to tell them apart, so that he could remember. Every single moment mattered to him, without exception. “You knew all along didnt you. This would've been your final meal, and yet... you took the trouble to come visit me to the very top. How foolish of you. I could tell something was amiss”. The lord of the cave turned his gaze to the entrance. Not far from there, he felt, a strong presence was approaching. A multitude of nuclei, powerful energies converging towards a point in space. It was unmistakable: The Star City might have been in danger very soon. “Sorcerer King... what is it that you wish for? Do you want to take them away from me? Or perhaps, you want to find out… No matter. Whatever it is that you desire, you wont obtain it. This, I swear”. . Powerful light shafts were filtered across the room through a series of metallic shutters. As there were no curtains, just a slight motion of any of them might have brought the miracle of fire to the sleepy inhabitant of that icy cave. In the semi permanent darkness surrounding the messy bed covered in bronze gears, wooden handles and rusty toolboxes, someone stood bent on their knees, deeply concentrated on a single heartbeat. “...key…” A feeble, seducing voice broke the stillness of the early morning. “Wa… key…” Long, silvery hair emerged from total blackness, followed by almost imperceptible flapping sounds. That room’s inhabitant soon received another occupant in his freezing, slippery, rusty abode. “Wa...ke...u-p…” An irrefutable fact: something wet had just touched the earlobe belonging to the room’s owner. And then, a realization popped in their comatose brain, still deeply tied to the realm of dreams. They had to stand, or else- “Get out! GET OUT!” A young man at the very start of his twenties suddenly jumped out of his bed, scattering around him all manners of devices, gears and metallic bolts. But it was too late. He had done it. He did not wake up on time. The mysterious intruder threw their hands in the air, as if liberating themselves from a huge burden. Then, the flapping sound became so intense that the young man’s ears were overwhelmed for a few seconds, as his brain was frantically trying to get back to reality before the inevitable could happen. A storm of silvery wings emerged from the shutters covering the windows; at once, light broke in so preponderantly that the young owner of that wretched room had to curl up and roll to the side to avoid being burned to death by unfamiliar and unwelcome hotness and blinding whiteness. “Hahaha! As usual, I win! I win! You would think that someone with a losing streak so terrible would at least try to put up a fight, but no, you’re so hopeless!” A pair of snow white bare feet moved towards the windows. That was all the room’s owner could see, among the countless silvery pigeons storming the place in perfectly tight formations. “Asta, get the hell out of here. I’m not playing around. I just wanted to sleep a little longer”. “Na-ah! No way. Nope. Dont even consider it. You’ll be waking up now, as I command you to do. If you dont I’ll have to punish you properly. But this time…” The girl standing on his bed spread her arms and fingers wide, as a big grin formed on her falsely innocent face. The silvery pigeons changed formation immediately, becoming a large heart-shaped wall of moving, reflecting darts. There was no mistaking it: she would’ve ordered the flock to either pierce him to death, or defecate on his face profusely. That was her very own special game of chance, a fifty percent survival rate. Either deep shame or ceasing to exist. At that point, after 48 attempts, he was unsure of which one of those would the worst outcome. So far, he had been covered in feces every single time without fail. But this time, it might have been fatal. “So, what will it be today? Poo or death? Hmm…” “Stop it! Get out of here! Leave me be for five seconds! Look, I didnt want to start off this important day by-” “...one dead Plurimo coming right up! Say your prayers to lady Hilda, maggot! My birds need your flesh!” “Wait what the-hold on, no I dont agree with this! This is positively not how it should be!” Even though she said it out loud, he still couldnt believe her. She had been lying about it for quite a while now. It’s not like she didnt want to kill him, rather, what she said meant absolutely nothing in that game’s context. She would’ve still left it up to chance till the very last second. At times, he swore he could feel the silvery pigeons’ razor-sharp beak coming for his throat, only for them to sudddenly stop at a few centimeters and immediately change tactics. The thrill of that exhilarating enigma gave him the strangest goosebumps. “Please let me go… I just want to sleep…”. “You’re going to sleep alright. In the afterlife!” Asta moved her slender arm towards Plurimo’s chest. At a slight movement of her index finger, the huge flock of silvery pigeons converged onto a single point in space. That was it. His fate would’ve been decided right then and there. The young man could feel his bladder almost giving in as the inevitable approached at lightning speed. He leaned on the sturdy wooden door leading outside, utterly powerless, However, that door was small and old, truly no match for a sharp object of even moderately small size. Had it been pierced by Asta’s birds, it would have surely crumbled, inflicting several damages to the nearby corridor. “What if I move away from here… she might not kill me if I stay after all. Wait, do I want to…? What’s gotten into me? I should just stay where I am an nothing bad will happen. Right?” A swirling wind, produced by the flock’s powerful flapping motions, interrupted his train of thought. He was ready. He had to be. But, as fate often times had been relentlessly merciful to him, it was no longer necessary. Large stomps announced someone’s presence, someone other than the two youngsters playing their game of shame and death at a new day’s dawn. “What is going on here?” A brutish call came from outside, then the wooden door gave way to a bulky figure clad in leather armor and a long black waistcoat. Plurimo’s body was slammed on the ground, however the crazed flock of silvery pigeons did not stop. The figure proudly pulled their chest foward and received the blunt of the attack without batting an eye. One affter the other, the pigeons dissolved in thin air as soon as their beaks hit their newfound target. Asta pouted softly after the last of her avion minions ceased to exist. “Have you gone nuts young lady? Do you even know what your role is?” “Oh come now, stop it. It wasnt so bad”. “Ha! The only reason your pretty little face is still intact is that I need you two in perfect condition at all times. Remember that, next time you want to kill your friend here.”. Plurimo gave Asta a disgruntled look. Her beautiful violet eyes and long silvery hair complemented so well on such a slender, childlike figure. Nobody, no even he could’ve expected that kind of power from such a weak looking creature wandering around the arches of the municipal grounds; that was the level of freedom the mayor had granted her, a great honor for a race dissimilar to that of the Elves of Purity to be even standing where she was right that instant, yet she seemed completely unaffected by any kind of rule. “Hey lad, you okay down there? You stink of piss and acid. Lady’s got you by the balls ey?” The brute now addressing Plurimo tried his best to give him a reassuring smile, with the only result being that the young man had suddenly gone silent and helplessly uneasy. A few seconds of awkward silence passed, then the bulky figure knelt towards him and offered him his hand. “Stand up boy. Come. This is no time to play games with your loved one. The electoral ceremony’s about to begin. We need a new batch of rifles ready by tomorrow morning. And a new set of bullets”. “Yes… as you command”. “Hey now, no need to be so formal with me. Just call me Judge”. “Isnt that the same thing?” “Yes… Judge”. “Good! Now then, you witch can stay here or wherever you please. But, I would appreciate it if you kept your pretty little rear as close to the observation deck as possible. We expect a very special guest today and you need to send him a message as soon as you see him coming from the top of the mountain. Oh right right, pardon me I gave the mayor my word that I wouldnt spoil the fun. Anyway, get there as soon as possible and meet up with him. He’ll tell you what to do”. Asta scowled at the portly brute taking away her prey for the time being. She knew the conversation was already over, no matter what she would have wanted to say. “Oh well. At least I accomplished my mission. He woke up on time. Perhaps even a little bit earlier than usual”. By the time she muttered these words, the two were already gone. Alone again, the girl distractedly looked at the abundant amount of metallic parts and indistinguishable mishmash of trinkets scattered all over the place. “I wonder… will it be a weapon of mass destruction, or perhaps an angel of death? What will come out of that little deranged head of yours?” Indeed, her thoughts were deeply grounded into reality; people often called her “witch”, “mystic crafter”, “evil spirit”, “half-human scum”. But those were just commoners, simpletons with no prior knowledge of how the world truly worked. Even with her magical ability, she couldnt rival the level of absolute terror Plurimo induced into anyone with even a passing knowledge of basic Yggdrasil technology. He, who had been blessed by an unusual talent, a weakling in every respect and yet, a masterclass in devising the most efficient ways to end someone’s life. Compared to that, summoning a bunch of pigeons was not that impressive. But for some reason, they still needed her alive. Not only that, they actively wanted her to be part of the city’s defense system. And no ordinary person had stated as such, but the chief of the local militia and second in command of the armed forces on their lands, Vashtblaff the warrior-hero. She had known that person since birth, for he together with the current mayor, raised her from the moment she first spoke. “Even so… I’d be better off leaving at some point”. There hadnt been a single day during the past few months without her thinking about sneaking away from there and seek out a new home. Alone, or perhaps even with Plurimo. That would have been so much fun. A great deal more than working for those old disrespecting elves secluded at the edge of the world. After all, the defense system could wait. She felt no obligation to stay there; as a matter of fact, the only people keeping her in the city were one off to the front gates in search of a prey big enough to satiate his bloodlust, and the other silently reading and approving bills coming from his peers. Although, the old elf had gradually changed tone during the past few years. Perhaps senility had softened him? Asta often wondered if he would’ve been more of a father figure to her if she had spent more time in his office. Still, that was her stronger connection to the city itself and the world of the Elves of Purity as a whole. To defy that… even with her resolve… would take considerable courage. The ball of her foot moved round the bed’s border, then she jumped off of it, committing to a full sprint towards the now fully opened window. With a hasty shake of her palm, several silvery pigeons materialized under her soles and lend themselves to her aid. She jumped gracefully from several meters, gliding nonchalantly towards the street down below. Just across the next intersection, where the guildmasters’ quarters were located, she could see the magnificent fountain dedicated to the city founder dominating the plaza where the municipal offices stood, tall and imposing. There, a silent procession of relentless bureaucrats was already amassing all around the richly decorated arches. She didnt have to look too closely to know that some were expectantly looking forward to the mayor’s last speech. The few that didnt were more concerned by their own trivial affairs; they were blabbering about cost-efficiency of their latest acquisitions, new taxation propositions, bills soon to be approved. Asta had heard all their ramblings a million times already. She wasnt interested in the least. But looking at the crowd from afar gave her a little courage. The great distance between her and people’s business calmed her heart and kept her emotions in check; she could reason better, look and feel the mood with sincere eyes. It felt almost as if she could turn into an animal spirit just by observing and calmly analyzing the situation from there. “Maybe that’s why they want to keep me here” she thought, looking at the tall rooftops. Just at that moment, her eyes caught the mayor’s old gaze as he was descending the seemingly endless ladder atop the observation deck, at the very summit of the municipal building. She resignedly sighed. “Well well. I guess I’ll have to meet up with you now, old man. What will you offer me today? A job? A History lesson? Or maybe, you’ll let me do as I please? What a thrilling prospect… but I doubt I’ll be presented with a real choice”. She suppressed a little smile, then she let a few hundred silvery pigeons carry her safely on the building’s rooftop. “Dont worry, I wont make you wait for me. I owe you this much”. As she promised, her feet touched the copper decoration in front of the observation deck’s main gate before the old elf got to it. She instinctively bowed as she landed, putting her left arm behind her back and her right next to hear heart. The long darkened robes that the mayor wore had been in sight for a fraction of a second, yet, her irises were already piercing through to check his condition. “Your guardian is here, my liege. Ready to serve”. The tone of her voice was completely different compared to when she had confronted Plurimo. She sounded confident and slightly happy, “Hoho, please be at ease young lady. While I’m overjoyed to see you here on time, I must decline once again,”. “N-No, please let me do it. At the very least today.”. The old mayor looked tired, his pale complexion seemed more ghostly than usual, he had no doubt been studying till very late in the morning while also gaining intel from the outside world. Plus, he had to give orders to every guild member, dispatch decrees every week, check on the army’s morale, and perform ceremonial duties. His life was full of events and at the same time, Asta thought it felt incredibly empty, devoid of emotion and freedom. “Have you been good, dear?” “Huh? Of… of course. I have woken up Plurimo every day at the appropriate time, I have prepared the sacred meals for the high priest when it was required, and surveyed the forest till noon. I also took the liberty to-” “Read as many books as you could, correct? Someone told me that you love reading as well. This pleases me greatly”. “I… do. As a matter of fact I was able to finish several novels and gain insightful knowledge on the creatures of the forest. Oh, and astrology as well! I didnt know the cosmos could be this vast and amazing! Surely there is more out there for us to discover and I cannot wait. Umm did you know my liege, that the celestial bodies move at a speed greater than light itself? And very recently, an astrologer from the northern regions cooperated with a wizard to calculate the exact circumference of a planet! It was immense, so much so that they had to use two boards!” “Hoho, very interesting. What a lovely passion, I can feel it in the air. The sparks in your eyes are as vivid as ever. It is such a delightful reminder of my youth. You know, having this kind of drive will be very beneficial to you in the long run. There is no doubt in my mind that you will make for a fine sentinel. And who knows, you could also spare some time for astrology”. “I’m honored to hear that my liege. But I’m content to be of use to you for the day. What will happen in the future… I dont know. I guess nobody does either”. “Correct. Regardless, I am confident that you will do just fine. There really is nothing more thrilling than being able to spend the entirety of your youth doing what you like most, with the person that understands you more than anyone”. “Who… are you referring to?” “Plurimo, of course. That is a golden boy if I have ever seen one. Look into his eyes my dear, listen to his voice. He can be a little weak sometimes, but his spirit is high and his morals are honorable. An upstanding citizen, everyone should follow his example”. “Why does everyone have to pair me with him? Sure he’s nice and I’d like to get out of here with him but I cannot see us together at all”. Her thoughts were crystal clear. The old elf could read her like an open book, He smiled wryly while descending the last few steps. His breathing was unsteady, yet he strived to get to her without any support. “You know… sometimes it is not strictly about what you want, rather, what life itself needs you to do. Each and every one of us has a purpose. Some find it immediately, others later on while discovering their own talents. Those who are born without talent, serve. You are no such person. I firmly believe that life has chosen you to be a diligent daughter of our great nation-state; soon enough, you’ll grow into a fine lady and then -” “Please dont”. Asta’s clouded gaze reminded him that he went a step too far. The old elf closed his eyes. “… I understand. I’m sorry, I got carried away. Forgive me, it is my greatest wish after all. I know that I wont be able to witness it, but my desire to have it realized shall not fade with my physical body”. Speaking about it would be forbidden. Nobody had ever thought about a multiracial government before and those who did, had been silently disposed of. To have a race other than the Elves of Purity as heads of state, would be unthinkable. That line of reasoning brought the mayor to his next topic, which coincided with the task Asta was required to perform. He hastened his words to prevent any further discussion on that matter. “My point is, I would love it if you decided to stay here and help. You have immense potential. But, I’m not opposed to you adventuring outside, whether alone or with Plurimo. You need to gain experience and be happy first and foremost”. “I thank you kindly my liege”. “Well then… tell me, what is it that you’d like to do now?” “I… dont know. I was expecting you’d give me a task and I would accomplish it to the best of my abilities. I’m here to serve you today, as I’ve promised”. “And who did you promise that to?” “I wanted it. For myself”. “Hoho! Sincere words, I like that attitude. Very well, then I shall concede you to be my servant for this day and this day only. If you had responded something like <> I would have scoffed your ingenuity for the rest of the afternoon”. “No you wouldnt do that, what, you think I’d be willing to bow my head to just anyone around here? Consider yourself lucky!” she smiled as she turned towards the municipal plaza beneath them. The mayor followed her, slightly worried. “You see them? What are your thoughts?” he indicated the numerous bureaucrats amassing around the building, discussing among themselves with ever lively chatter. “Should I be completely honest with you, my liege?” “Would you have it any other way?” “No, I suppose I wouldnt”. Asta sighed softly, then she inhaled as much as she could. When she exhaled, she uttered the most blasphemous words the old mayor had heard in months. His eyes widened slightly, but he immediately kept his composure in check. “Uhm. I must admit that I wasnt quite prepared for such a vigorous outburst of passion from that tiny mouth. It seems that you didnt just read romance novels after all, hoho. You got the point across quite formidably”. “Will Holy Lady Hilda punish me for this?” “Normally she would, but I’m sure she sees the good in your heart and she understands why you said what you said. Besides, her commandments are not absolute”. “What? Is the mayor himself defying our Holy Lady now?” Asta playfully looked at his trembling hands; his fingers were nervously fiddling with his golden bracelets. “Hmm. I’ll have you know that lord Flannar himself told me this. So you can be sure it is a certainty. Speaking of which…” the old elf hurriedly pulled out of his robe a crystal ball big enough to fit in his palm, “Please take it. I want you to go to the upper chamber of the observation deck and remain in standby until you see him appearing. It shouldnt take long. The carrier pigeon I sent three days ago was destined to his abode, the Air Castle“. Asta took the crystal ball in her hands with the same reverence an archeologist would have while digging up an ancient relic. “So it was him. The target you couldnt speak of. Now I understand… there were too many people listening”. “Indeed my dear. I’m sorry for keeping you in the dark for so long but I needed your aid at once. Nobody but you and lord Flannar should be aware of this. And even then…” The mayor coughed profusely. Asta immediately came to his side, after putting away the crystal ball. His weight had increased considerably since the last time they were phisically close like that. Or perhaps, she just couldnt sustain a grown male with her tiny body. Regardless, she put aside any unnecessary remark and did her best to keep up with the old elf’s unsteady breathing and terrible coughing. Several minutes later, he finally seemed to have calmed down. His hand reached for her silvery hair and gently caressed her uppermost fringe. “Hoho. I’m afraid this world is all too eager to get rid of me”. “But you will survive, will you not? Here. Hang on to me. The stairs are quite far away. You shouldnt do this alone”. “Ah, dont worry about me. We have more urgent matters to attend to, as I was saying. My body is old and weary, if this cough doesnt kill me outright, the vultures will”. He looked down at the crowd of bureaucrats, some of which stared back in amusement at that pathetic display of weakness. Asta instinctively retreated a few meters away, carrying her burden with pride and stern confidence. “They just have to try. I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them all if I have to. I’m not afraid of anyone here, much less some useless old corpses”. “Hey now, watch your tone. You may not like them, but there are good people among them. Their numbers are dwindling, but their efforts are not. We shall provide aid to their cause as much as possible, for as long as we have this system in place”. “But how can you even support all this? It’s ridiculous”. “I agree with you my dear. But it is the law of men and elves alike that created this place and kept it safe for so long, thus we have a responsiblity towards the people that inhabit this city. We must uphold our values even if it is difficult for you to understand”. “It isnt difficult, it’s impossible”. “Hoho, the naivete of youth…” “Stop it, umm, my liege. You’re not that old anyway”. “I’m well past my time as mayor. I’ll be lucky if I can still walk on this earth by tomorrow morning”. “Tomorrow morning? ...the ceremony… of course! I must-” “No. You wont do anything”. The old mayor touched Asta’s cheeks with both hands and imposed his severe gaze upon her. “The ceremony will proceed as planned. Whether I live or die, it doesnt matter in the slightest. What’s important right now is that you listen carefully, because what I’m about to tell you must be relied to lord Flannar in person”. “What… is it, my liege?” The mayor took a deep breath, then he started relaying his message with a serious, yet passionate tone. “I said there are good people among the ranks of our fellow bureaucratic brothers. And I stand by that statement. As a matter of fact, the world isnt black and white. There are several shades of gray in between… and these take the names of house Brennedt and house Falsjago. The more blackened shade is house Drykven. I need you to remember those names, and you must be able to distinguish between them with precision”. “Understood”. “House Brennedt utilizes a special kind of serpentine ring as a distinguishing trait. It is a bronze ring with inner markings made of silver. They are the only ones with an easily recognizeable symbol on their person, and thus are exposed to the strongest forms of danger. They are also the most reliable messengers and trustworthy house in the city. They are traders by profession and exceptionally empathic. You can talk to them and ask for assistance at any time, regarding the widest array of matters. The only information you should withhold is anything related to the inner workings of the world of Yggdrasil. Please be extremely mindful of that”. “I wouldnt talk to anyone about this anyway, who do you take me for?” She knew that was a forbidden topic to anyone but Plurimo and the mayor. Internally, her own existence told her that nobody should expect her to say anything about it, and whenever she felt like pointing something out regarding the nature of talents and skills, something in her brain instinctively froze her lips. “House Falsjago deals in corrupt yet still forgivable acts. They smuggle materials from the outside world into our lands, have illegal trade agreements with a tribe of beastmen from the deepest parts of the forest, and engage in slavery. But, they have a code of honor and their conduct is exemplary in public. They will not harm citizens nor question what the government says in any way. As a matter of fact, they have been labelled the silent progeny because they bow their heads to higher powers and do not actively engage in politics to contrast their enemies. Instead, they embrace their differences and try to subdue their rivals”. “Subdue? What does it mean?” “It means that they will go to extreme lenghts to suffocate dissent, from the shadows… sometimes literally”. “Scary people huh. I dont think I like them…” “And you shouldnt, hoho! But, their skills in the arts of conspiracy and concealment will be very useful to you and lord Flannar. Be warned though, their only trait is their quick hissing voice. As soon as you recognize one, patiently weigh what you’re going to say next”. “I understand. I will do my best”. “Well then… the last house is also the most dreaded of all. The Drykven are uncaring wretched elves that love getting their hands dirty. Surely you have seen some of them coming and going very close by the adventurers’ guild. That’s because they… recruit unsuspecting people from there. They often send them to certain death, using specific adventurers as testing subjects for their necromancy spells”. “What the… Necromancy? Here?” “It is hard to believe, I am fully aware of that. However, after many years of research, spying, and intelligence gathering, I found out the truth. House Drykven plans to raise the next elite of undisputed necromancers and black magic casters. Some of them can even use Tier Seven spells, which is unconceivable by our standards. I have contemplated the idea of stopping them, but the municipal cabinet is powerless before their wealth and influence. So all I can do… is warn you against them. I suspect they already know what I want to do, so they’re most likely going to try and stop us as soon as the slightest chance arises”. Absorbing such a great deal of information was pretty tough, even for someone like Asta whose young age, intelligence and pragmatism had granted her the old mayor’s trust so many times before. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to make a sense of all that. “So… those black magic casters have no distinguishable traits? How do I deal with them?” “They do wear black robes at times, but…” “Yes, that’s not helpful my liege”. “I’m afraid so. Oh, could you please stop with this <> thing? Your service will be over soon anyway, all you have to do is carry what I just told you to the top of the observation deck and send it to lord Flannar as soon as you see him. From this moment… I’m just an old retired elf who’d like to enjoy his pension, hoho”. The mayor had suddenly shifted his tone of voice and demeanour; he got back to his usual self, the kind of person Asta was used to the most. There were two sides to his personality, the most humble, kindhearted and compliant, and then the more stoic, condescending and fatalist one. The latter was on display at that moment. The one Asta hated. But she felt deep in her heart that he had to be more of a stern father figure to her right now. Or at least that’s what she would have done in his place. She didnt know if that was the right course of action but it may have been best for them to move in separate directions from there on out. She diligently bowed to the old mayor once more, her eyes slightly clouded by tears that would never fall. “Understood. Alright, guess I’ll better move my butt huh. I hope this Flannar guy is as legendary as he seems to be. Anything else you want from me, old man?” “Hohoho. That’s my Asta allright. The one I-” the mayor stopped himself as soon as his thoughts started taking form. Then, he resumed with ever stronger vigor. “Listen carefully, for this will be the one and only time I will reveal such information. What I’ve told you right now… must ultimately aid you and lord Flannar in your fight against the Sorcerer King and his forces”. “The what king now?” Asta scratched the back of her neck, visibly confused. “You dont seem to be grasping the severity of our situation, my dear. But soon you will see what sort of enemy he is. Know that this evil mastermind has conquered lands far and wide, all the way up to the very outskirts of the desert, and now he is marching this way. I have no doubts he’s been amassing a large amount of forces and he’s gathering stronger artifacts as we speak. Who knows what kind of horrors await us in the near future. I dont want you to be a passive witness to our city’s downfall. We must protect our people and defend our territory“. “I kind of get your point but… how can we even win against someone that conquered the rest of the known world? If this sorcerer person is so powerful wouldnt it be wiser for us to surrender and get the hell out?” “And where would we go? There are very few territories left untouched by his undead hand. I hear stories of horrible executions and mass murders from the travellers coming here. If it were just a couple of drunkard fools I could understand but… they have all been relaying the same information. So instead of being tortured to death or murdered outright for the slightest infraction I wish to at least try and die as a dignified and free member of my people, rather than a slave. You do understand right? After all, you are my daughter for better or worse”. “You know… never mind. Understood, my liege. I’ll go to the observation deck now. I’ll see you around”. She couldnt take it. That was the worst farewell she had ever experienced till then. And, as a matter of fact, it may very well have been the last time she could have seen one of her father figures, the stronger one, the one closer to the concept of “family” and “home” in her heart. As she flew to the top of the observation deck, not even waiting for the old mayor to say goodbye, she spit at the crowd of bureaucrats who were now merely the size of an insect from that height. As soon as her bare feet touched the hard and cold floorboards, she jogged towards the other side of the deck, she placed the crystal ball in the usual position as she’d been taught since very early in her childhood, and imposed her hands on it firmly. She was accustomed with the magic rituals of the city, even though her services werent always required for that specific purpose; her talent made it easy for her to cast spells and silently recite magic enchantments, for she was born with the Silent Casting ability and thus any and all spellcasting processes went faster and smoother than with any other magic caster in the region. Such a talent had proven itself incredibly useful, especially while surveying the outskirts of the forest and scanning the plains for troll incursions. Moreover, she could assault Plurimo in his sleep and summon her flock of silvery pigeons at will without having to recite the spell beforehand, thus eliminating the risk of him waking up at all. She could toy with him as much as she wanted. “What a delightful sight… I cant wait to do it again” Asta’s deranged thoughts started flowing in the back of her mind again. She started grinning maliciously while manipulating the crystal ball, as if she were caressing Plurimo’s cold, tender earlobes. A few minutes passed. Then hours. It was almost dusk when an image finally appeared. The crystal ball illuminated itself like a sparkling blue candlelight. At that moment, Asta could finally see what sort of person the so called “lord“ Flannar really was. The legends said various things about him. Some sources said he was a protector of the city, others said he was a demigod with a great ego simply watching them from afar as he laughed at their misery while enjoying the pleasures of life. “Hmm. He looks pretty well built. Too old for me, still. Wait… what’s he doing? Is he…!” Her spine felt intense shivers as she witnessed the tall man diving straight into the ground from the top of the mountain. At the moment of his appearance on the crystal ball’s surface, he was already moving at the speed of sound towards his ultimate fall. A large crater instantly formed around the area he had just hit with his head. Intense dust puffs covered the perimeter all around his shattered body. “This… is this guy an idiot? Oh well, we’ll never know will we? He seems… rather dead”. Asta was in a cold sweat. What would she do now? What would she tell her adoptive father, the old mayor, assuming he’d still be alive next morning? Was that the right time for her to flee the city? As she frantically tried to wrap her head around that terrible occurrence, her gaze met with Flannar’s. “No way…” She looked in the crystal ball again. The person she had just seen falling at high speed to certain death was now seated next to a pile of rubble and dirt, absentmindedly contemplating his surroundings like nothing had happened, with an almost childlike expression depicted on his face. A surge of relief, worry and excitement filled her soul. “something” had just happened but she couldnt explain what sort of divine intervention made it possible. Still, the fact that this legendary man was alive despite such an impossible fall was reason enough for her to have a little hope. “Hmm. I still cant exclude the possibility that this person is an idiot. But, if he wanted to show off, he certainly made a grand entrance. Now, onto message-sending stuff“. Quickly her fingers started to caress the crystal ball as her thoughts gathered on her fingertips and the swift strokes of her inner self reached for her mana pool. She closed her eyes for a moment, then half a dozen silvery pigeons materialized in front of her; they immediately started twirling around the observation deck waiting for their master’s commands. In the blink of an eye, they were moving at incredible speed towards their target, several hundreds of miles away. “Allright! That has been easier than I thought it would be!” Asta praised her own skills by kissing the back of her hands. “Now I just need to establish a telepathic link t-” Her mind suddenly stopped working. The corner of her eye just caught a glimpse of light coming her way before darkness fell upon her. . As soon as they departed from Plurimo’s unstable domicile, the Judge took it upon himself to instruct any and all inhabitants on their way to the cathedral to not disturb his work as the young genius inventor had been collecting resources for the army and thus had to be protected and kept in the best living conditions possible. Plurimo was extremely grateful for the treatment he had received in the years prior to his engagemnt to the municipal’s internal affairs; for all his mistrust of the city’s authorities, he did not forget who raised him from a simple nobody with barely enough food to survive, to his current enviable position as a high officer of the settlement. While he didnt exactly pertain to the army per se, his role was well defined among the higher ranks; as a talented subject of the municipal college with the highest level of intelligence among his peers, and an incredible attitude towards magic items and death-delivering mechanisms, he was considered one of the greatest assets at their disposal. It had been the current mayor, who would soon leave office after the newly established electoral ceremony, that had insisted for him to be recognized as a man of talent. None before him would acknowledge his aptitudes nor his merits as an inventor, and especially not the Judge. However, he didnt resent him for that. The passive-aggressiveness of the Elves of Purity towards anyone with different racial traits was common and widely accepted. Still dizzy from a lack of sleep, Plurimo’s first word as soon as he entered the great plaza before the cathedral was “...Kuhana”. “Hm? Right now? Cant you get some after you’ve entered the workshop?” the Judge asked, completely clueless. “Kuhana. Now. I cant begin work without a sip first”. “Ha! Fair enough. Nobody shall ever say that the Judge lacks understanding. Well then… how about Luma’s place?” Plurimo nodded weakly. The Judge took him by the elbow and dragged him along with a rough gesture. The plaza was packed with people coming and going all over, the majority of which had business in the merchant district in the northernmost side behind the cathedral. Despite nobody paying any attention to the duo, the Judge seemed extremely anxious. “Come on, here”. “I know where the tavern is you know. You dont need to be this forceful” said Plurimo with an inch of bitterness. “Right right, I know you’re a genius and all of that” the Judge stated sarcastically, “There’s too many people here, I dont want you to get lost in the crowd. Last thing we need is a delay in our schedule”. “What’s the rush anyway?” “Cant say. Not now. All you need to know is that we have an urgent business coming up and we require your assistance as soon as possible. So please, will you drink that grog and move your ass?” “Whatever you say, your majesty”. The Judge had a feral air about him, it felt almost as if he could go wild at any moment and just casually roar at people he didnt like. At that moment, Plurimo felt it more than ever. He wasnt just being observed, he was a prey that nobody else could get. As they seated outside the tavern on one of the many wooden tables available, positioned so that customers could drink while admiring the cathedral’s many decorated steeples, his eyes met with someone elses just about a few paces away. He seated slowly, almost growling with contempt. “Dont turn around. It appears that we have a vulture right next to us”. “Is it… Drykven?” Plurimo uttered these words with a feeble voice. “Yup. Keep it steady lad. Drink fast and move faster”. The young man had been instructed many times by the higher ups to just ignore the Drykven gentry and if possible, to avoid any contact with them even outside of the city walls. But he had been kept in the dark as to why that was the case. He only knew that they meant big trouble for the military, in some way. Despite that, he felt it strange since none of them kept any weapon on their person and they seemed naturally inclined to avoid direct contact with the institutions. “Here you go Plurimo! Have a great day dear!” Luma, the manager of the tavern, came in with a large goblet filled to the brim with Kuhana. Plurimo’s face went red as he sunk his nose onto those amazingly large breasts, lovingly caressing his forehead as she kept pouring the dark-red substance in. “Hell yes! That’s what I’m talking about! Hey Luma, got some for me too?” the Judge instantly averted his gaze from his newly found target as if the concern he had just expressed for Plurimo’s life was null and void. “Sorry dear buuut you’re just a tiny-winy-itty-bitty too old for me!” Luma jokingly rose up to greet him, squeezing the last droplets of the alcoholic beverage in between her chest. “Fine, fine. I wasnt thirsty anyway”. “You say that buuut your face tells me something different!” “Ha! What does that even mean you frivolous wench? My face is perfectly stoic as it is customary of a judge of high caliber such as myself!” “That… looks all but stoic to me” Plurimo could clearly tell he was inches away from grabbing her by the hair and pull her into one of her bedrooms. The lighthearted mood of the situation almost made him forget about his surroundings and the very reason he was there. For a time, he did in fact enjoy his stay at that very same tavern when he first arrived in the city, as an escapee with no money nor weapons. The very same big-breasted girl who was just then playfully joking with them had witnessed his malnourished body splattering fluids all over her favorite carpet, right before collapsing. He still had nightmares about that day, and bitterly regretted not being able to repay her for her hospitality. After that day, she hadnt been mad at him once, even when he had no way of paying for her services. “Such a person is truly rare. One day though… one day I will do you good, as much as you did to me”. His mind had been cleansed by the lightly alcoholic beverage known as Kuhana, and the ultimate combo of Luma’s breasts and thighs reaching in unison for his attention. As he got ready to take his last sip and stand up, she approached him leering at his waist. “Saaay, dearest Plurimo, did you get a girlfriend yet?” “He did” the Judge responded for him, “she’s a witch. I’d stay away from him if I were you. Me on the other hand, I’m still single!” “Sooo… dealing with magic huh? Did she enchant your pillow or something?” Luma blatantly ignored the Judge’s remark. “Uh… something like that. But she’s not my girlfriend. She’ll never be, that’s for sure”. Plurimo had made it clear to everyone multiple times. While he kind of enjoyed his games with that bratty little caster, he wasnt interested in the least. However, nobody but him would fall for that. For some reason he got paired with her at every occasion, either by proxy or direct order. “Hmm. Is that so…” Luma wasnt like the others. She wouldnt just assume things. Her heart was close to that of a maiden, yet she was very openly flirty. She reached for Plurimo’s shoulder and gently caressed his back while taking his empty goblet away. Powerful shivers paralyzed him. “Ah… m-my weak spot…!” “Hehe. I know you all too well dearest Plurimo! How about we go relax upstairs for an hour or two? I can always open back shop later”. “Sorry Luma but the lad here is off limits. We must leave. Now”. “Aww, dont be like that sir Judge! Let me have him for a little while…” “No means no. Really, we cant-” The Judge’s eyes widened as he saw the figure he had observed moments prior advance in their direction at cadenced paces. Now Plurimo could see him as well; a steel-clad gentleman with a long, dark robe partially covering his facial features, with a collection of expensive-looking rings of all sizes and shapes and multi coloured jewels on his fingers. While his appearance might have induced the least attentive commoner to think he was just an average nobleman, the scars on his face and the vacuous eyes btrayed his origin. He looked more like a seasoned assassin rather than a man enjoying luxury. The Judge stood up immediately, his right hand already on the hilt of his sword. His paladin senses had been in a state of alert for some time now, and even if he couldnt tell the exact strength of his enemy, he most certainly knew that he was a potential target. Doubts clouded his judgement for a brief moment. He was uncertain if he should attack first, or let the moment pass. His martial art was not really useable in crowded spaces, and the risk-reward ratio weighed heavily against him. Nevertheless, he just wouldnt stand idly by as a potnetial threat approached his protégé. “Oh? A little aggressive, are we?” the man clad in dark robes finally spoke “what’s the matter, Judge? Isnt the law equal to all citizens? I’m just a commoner passing by. Would you rather strike first against a mere servant of the state?” The Judge didnt reply. He was still studying his enemy’s movements, wondering what to do. As a matter of fact, he had never been a man of patience, nor wise words; he would rather throw himself in the fray and start swinging till the target was declared dead or unable to fight. “State your intentions. Now.” the Judge roared in his general direction, still unsure what to do. “I’m just passing by, like I said. Now if you’ll just excuse me, I’ll be going my own way”. “The plaza is quite big, is it not? Why the hell are you HERE, of all places?” “Well, perhaps I dont want to tell you, sir. But the boy… he might understand. You do understand what this is, dont you?” The man from house Drykven pulled up the back of his hand, showing off his many rings. Upon further inspection, Plurimo got visibly startled. A mischievous smile appeared on the enemy’s face. Of course he would know. Who else could distinguish death more than him after all, the one who dealt in killing while never truly staining his own hands. “Very well, I see we have reached a mutual understanding. Now, why dont you tell your lackey to move his hand away from that sword? Nobody wants to get hurt here. Not even you”. Plurimo nodded. The Judge reluctantly did as he was told, still visibly upset. Moving swiftly between the two of them, the man hissed subtly. “By the way, name’s Rokkan. Better not forget it, boy. We shall see eachother again, very soon”. His silhouette suddenly vanished amidst the crowd. “What the hell was that all about? Gods be damned this city needs to wipe out these kinds of people”. The Judge was all but calm, now more than ever he definitely was displeased by the whole ordeal, as his superiors had stated many times again that scum such as the Drykven had to be eliminated in the least amount of time and with the most efficiency. Failing to do that would be not being able to uphold the city’s laws. Even so, they were a powerful house of noblemen thus attempting to enact physical justice without proper procedure first would have costed him his post, and possibly his own life. But the hatred he had for their kind was too strong. Plurimo sighed softly. “We ended up surviving. Nice. I mean… nothing good would have come out of you attacking him. On that note… you may want to take into consideration what he just showed us. These were extremely powerful magic items. Those rings could have destroyed the whole plaza in one move”. “Damn it! Why? Why do we even allow those lunatics in our city in the first place?” “I dont know. Isnt the electoral college’s job to-” “Enough! I’m pissed off already! Let’s move!” The Judge swung at the wooden table, fortunately missing it. Luma sat in disbelief as Plurimo hurried up to catch up with his protector. “I… might be clueless as to what happened exactly buuut… dearest Plurimo, please be careful. I want you to come back to me as soon as possible with a large smile and an even larger bulge!” the girl winked at him maliciously. “Wow. Does nothing bother you at all?” The young man waved at her, blushing slightly. While that encounter had him worried. Plurimo couldnt afford the luxury to dwell over it too much. As they approached the cathedral, the Judge and his protégé stopped in front of the statue of Holy Lady Hilda, dominating the southern part of the plaza from a large stone podium, and bowed. Before entering sacred grounds, it was necessary to always give thanks to the city’s patron and original founder, alongside with a small prayer in her honor. Every citizen, from the youngest to the oldest, did exactly that every time they went by. That was the case even now, as many commoners were bowing at the same time as them. The Judge raised his head, only for him to find two figures wearing brown ragged robes at a few metres from him, not bowing at all. Instead, they were contemplating the statue with curious eyes, and once done, they started walking the steps leading to the cathedral as if completely clueless. “Hey, you two! Do you not follow the rituals of the city?! What’s gotten into you, huh?” the Judge addressed them both with harsh words, “Apologize right now! This is sacred ground!” As they were moving upwards, the two figures stopped. One of the two, a girl with a long ponytail, turned her head and glared at him with stone-cold eyes. “What did you just say?” her words barely escaped her mouth, as they had been uttered between her teeth. “Ah! My, my partner and I are new around here. We, we have just arrived from a region far away!” The girl’s companion, a young elf with blonde hair, started the conversation with much more emphatic force. Both of them appeared to have foreign accents and mannerisms. “Hmm. I see. Then I’ll be the one apologizing here. You couldnt know. However, now that you do, I would ask you to bow your heads in front of holy lady Hilda next time you visit the plaza”. “Why? Is, is she someone important?” the young elf asked expectantly. “Indeed. She’s the city founder and patron, our savior and eternal protector. Devoting your faith to her will be useful to you even if you plan to stay here for a brief period of time. Her blessings are numerous and generous”. “I… see. We will remember that” the girl said after inhaling profusely, “You seem to be friendly enough, unlike most of the guards around here. Would you mind telling us what kind of place this is?” “Friendly enough huh? Ha! That’s a first! But sure thing, lady. This is the sacred plaza where holy lady Hilda posed the first stone that later constituted our city’s very own roads. This cathedral has been erected in her honor, but beside ceremonial functions, it also houses magic rituals for prosperous harvesting, grand dancing events, and sacred ceremonies to protect us from negative energy. You name it, it is the center of the city after all”. “Interesting. Shall we enter, then?” “Ah, y-yes, miss Nabe. Please, be at ease”. The Judge was impressed by the young elf’s cordial mannerism “Of course. Sadly I cant accompany you two, me and my partner here have… other businesses to attend to. But I’ll be offering you a tour of our splendid city and its wonders as soon as we’re finished, if you’ll be so inclined. I love entertaining foreigners with tales of might and national pride”. “We’ll keep that in mind. If we’ll ever meet again, that is. Let’s go, Marinee”. The two moved upwards and finally reached the cathedral’s entrance. One final glance at the Judge told Narberal all she needed to know. That man felt oddly suspicious, yet there was nothing to fear from his presence; his level might have been between 20 and 30 at best, and his equipment looked subpar. Up to that point, she had felt the same across all gaurdsmen and militiamen that had preceeded him. None of them was more powerful than a regular human at its peak. Basically insects, ready to be crushed. Plurimo waved his hand weakly as he approached the cathedral under the Judge’s supervision, from the other side of the building. The municipal R&D was located in the back, hidden between a great deal of houses and small narrow alleys agglomerated around the perimeter. Only a handful of selected personnel knew of its existence due to the lethality of Plurimo’s work and the dangerous materials utilized in the process of mass production. A large freight elevator powered up by magical stones providing rudimentary electricity was the only way to the facility. Of course mages and clerics could use spells to fly towards it, but it wasnt adivsed as all manners of magic spells were being forcibly disabled in a radious of one hundred meters to the facility’s main entrance. Plurimo himself was capable of basic magic spells although not very effective. He had been the very first test subject for the anti-magic field and thus had felt on his own skin the effects of losing all mana and connections to one’s own skills before reaching the R&D. Since the effects of the anti-magic field had also been of his own design, he wanted to be sure that anyone accessing the place would feel enough pain to be discouraged from entering at all if they werent directly involved with the project. Some may have found his conduct a bit sadistic, but he thought it necessary to keep intruders and people unwilling to work at bay. Given the amount of freedom he had been granted by the clergy and the municipal college, he had all the rights to proceed as he saw fit. As he entered the facility after his slow descent, three people eagerly greeted him: Mako, his assistant engineer, a very young prodigy just old enough to keep a wrench in his hands; Risélla, a refined small lady with long silky fingers and a large, overly decorated ponytail on the side of her head, his junior apprentice; lastly Laor-f’ha, a foreign engineer with the right qualifications to also be classified as a project manager and general director of operations, the only veteran supervising anything that Plurimo couldnt handle himself. That squad of four was able to work for a hundred men at a time, for their brains and talents were exceptional among the population of the region and most certainly the world, had they chose to visit a foreign country and make themselves known to other people. So far however, they had been content with their living conditions and their salary, so they had no reason to seek out exotic adventures. Mako was a fervent patriot, he would often recite the nation-state’s hymn while working or operating machinery. His mother had instructed him to be a good kid, for all sons of the city are also sons of the nation, and even though the confines of their homeland were so small, she said, their hearts would make them limitless. He firmly believed in what her mother said, and would often take it to heart when addressing his companions. Being a foreigner, Laor-f’ha sometimes disagreed with his conduct but he would sympathyze as a fellow countryman once saved his lover during a conflict between his nation and a neighbouring conqueror, so his spirit had been softened quite a lot when it came to matters of war and patriotism. Risélla on the other hand, knew her place quite well. She would soon blossom into a fine lady and a head of the noble house Brennedt, therefore matters of war didnt interest her in the least. When it came to patriotism, money were the real balancing factor that swung her allegiance, however, she wasnt so naive as to just blindly follow her trade; she valued her friendships quite a lot, and Plurimo was amongst her most trusted allies. The Judge looked at them from a distance, quite satisfied. It was rare to find such a perfect synergy both in a professional and affective sense. They were just meant to be together in that environment. “Minds that I will never be able to comprehend. Ha. What a world we live in. These kids will one day invent the definitive way to destroy an entire nation, I am sure of it. Terrifying prospect but… they are our sons, after all”. Plurimo sat in the middle of the room, deep in thought. A mixture of concern and thrill filled the air. It only took a small reminder from Risélla to spur him into action again. “Right, then… new rifles, got it! Everyone, let’s start with the project. Today we will infuse ice properties onto those bullets. I want you to repeat the exact same steps we took for the explosive shells, this time we’ll use a slight variation to produce the desired effect. Everyone ready?” “Yes boss! For the motherland!” they all said in unison, as they had been instructed by their superiors. “Yes… the motherland, right. Today it’s the motherland, but tomorrow… I wonder what we’ll be producing Death for”. Plurimo was, in fact, sarcastic. He didnt care as much as the average man would. His work was appreciated and his status recognized. All he wanted was a bit of peace and quiet where he could spend his days in relaxing solitude. Although sometimes that felt like a solitude for two. His last thought before starting was all for Asta. “I hope that homicidal maniac is doing fine up there. I’d best invent some sort of beak-proof vest by tomorrow morning or else I might end up dead for real”. he smiled. III Upon entering the cathedral, Narberal was partially blinded by a very powerful light source for a brief moment, just enough for her to consider moving her hand towards the hilt of her sword. However, upon recalling the wise words of her master, she immediately refrained from taking action. As her vision gradually came back, everything seemed clearer. The cathedral's interior was inundated by the intense morning sunlight reflected by countless large windows, which was amplified by a special kind of reinforced, multi-coloured glass with finely crafted depictions of deities and people doing their daily business. Dozens of chandeliers were gathered atop the gigantic stone entrance, candles were set up on the floor, near several statues representing the faithful praying, on a set of stone altars, on the handrails, around the windows; everything seemed to carry the concept of "light". Intense scents of all kinds of herbal mixtures could be smelled from the back of the pulpit to the very first nave right after the entrance. "Such opulence, and not even a single statue dedicated to lord Ainz. Seems a total waste of resources" Narberal thought to herself, "what should we do now? Should we proceed towards the source of that power?" "Umm I, I think it would be wise to look for a shelter first" Mare expressed his concern towards their basic means of communication. As Demiurge always stated, it should be imperative for any strategist to first consider any means of escaping a dangerous situation in order to advance their plan, no matter its kind, without being noticed and \ or sustaining the absolute minimal amount of damage. Narberal nodded approvingly. Even so, her eyes were fixed on the southernmost stone wall, where the pulpit was located. She couldnt shake the feeling that something was up. From the moment they sat foot into the city, a strange urge to flee had clouded her mind. Something primordial, most likely caused by a very powerful magic item. While it was too weak an effect to affect her performance, she was in a state of constant urgency. That was why she had almost confronted that man on her way to the cathedral a few minutes prior. It was hard to control, although not impossible. Mare on the other hand had no problems whatsoever, that was because of the protection of the World Class Item bestowed upon him by lord Ainz himself, and his own level was probably too high for the source of the effect to do anything to him. Due to the strange phenomenon, they had decided to search for the source of the disturbance first, neutralize it, and then set up camp somewhere. But given the circumstances it seemed indeed more appropriate to find shelter, as the city was much bigger than initially predicted. The streets were large and crowded with people, the districts were double or triple the size of E-Rantel's, and it looked as if the actual depth and width of the buildings could expand by magical means. The walls moved slightly at a rhytmical pace, as if they were breathing. That wasnt the case for the cathedral or the monuments they had encountered previously, hoever the majority of the houses around the merchant district all had this weird property. "Are you okay? Should we invesigate further before accessing an inn?" Mare asked, visibly concerned. "Oh no, please dont consider my thoughts. I've been exposed to worse effects anyway. This is nothing". But as she said that, Narberal's eyes finally caught on to something. A shiny metal armor was placed in a large encased stone niche behind the pulpit. Next to it, three others of various degrees of quality and craftsmanship were put on display at the sides. They were smaller in size and less decorated, but they looked just as well preserved. "That's some high grade equipment" Narberal commented with a slight hint of suspicion. "Ah, I see you took interest in our holy relics. It is most pleasing for men of the church such as myself to witness interest in our history from an outsider". The man addressing Narberal looked like an average priest, with typical white robes and an even whiter hairline. His visage looked stoic and proud. "How do you know that we are outsiders?" "Well it is an easy guess mylady. Who would stare at lady Hilda's armor like that? None in our city would dare. But foreign eyes are always so curious and unwillingly impudent it is impossible for me to not notice". "This lady Hilda again... I must know more". "Can you tell us what kind of equipment is that? And who would wear it?" "That is the sacred armor of our holy lady Hilda and her faithful companions. She founded our city 400 years ago, destroyed the monsters inhabiting this region of the world, and wiped out any menace who dared oppose our peaceful expansion. She bestowed the gift of water and plentiful harvest upon our populace, and ruled peacefully in order for our race to thrive and realize its own potential. As a result, we now prosper in total freedom and blissful solitude from the rest of the world. We sustain our own economy, we grow our own crops, and live off of the labour of our own men and women without the need for any outsider. That however does not mean that we do not welcome foreigners, on the contrary, we salute different cultures and provide aid whenever possible". "Interesting. So you've secluded yourselves behind the desert. No wonder no one would dare disturb you under these extreme circumstances". "Indeed. The harsh climate is part of why we have been able to thrive undisturbed for such a long period of time. But we also had the protection of our holy lady and her companions for almost 200 years. Until... they sadly had to depart the realm of the living". "And, umm, why nobody picked up her equipment?" Mare asked almost innocently. "Such foolish misconception! None of us could bring themselves to even try such a blasphemous act! To wear that holy armor means to be able to dispel evil from the land, to assume command and protect the populace from the dangers of true evil". The priest seemed rather upset by Mare's question. He hurriedly got back to his composed demaneaur, not without difficulty. "Ahem, at any rate, none of us is brave or strong enough to wear that armor. The only person able to do that would be her son". "So this holy person had a son. Where is he now? I'd like to speak to him" Narberal stated, rather boldly. "I'm afraid that wont be possible mylady. The young lord is very... elusive. He lives in a remote mountain pass behind the southern city gates. But rest assured, he protects us from evil even now. His strength is comparable to that of lady Hilda and his benevolent spirit gives us courage to face off the hardest challenges". "Besides why would you ever want to speak to a demigod anyway?" someone with a loud youthful voice addressed Narberal directly from the back of the pulpit, "you shouldnt mess with the holy relics nor the gods. Pathetic peasants should stay where they belong. Right priest?" "While you are not wrong, you should well measure your words, Bastenna. We do not know if they are nobles or commoners. It is customary for members of the clergy to remain calm and courteous at all times". The priest spoke to her with a rather harsh tone. "Dont give me that look old man. I know the drill. It's just that these dont look like nobles at all. Oh right, I'm Bastenna Lokart, pleased to meet you. You seem adventurers like me, is that correct?" "Indeed we are" Narberal stated while keeping her anger in check, "for your information, yes we are of noble origin. Please dont assume our ranks based on looks alone. I myself am an adamantite class adventurer, and so is my companion". "Oh yeah? That pretty little thing is adamantite? Ahahah. Of course. Now they give top classes away to children". Bastenna looked like a brown half-elf with small pointy ears, long blonde hair and remarkably small breasts. Her attire was more akin to that of a prostitute than an adventurer; Narberal guessed her level must have been very low and her job class unmistakably relegated to support. There was no fighting spirit in her whatsoever. She was all talk, no substance. "Anyway, dont mess with the gods. Period. Trust me on that. But you know what, I know for a fact that this Flannar guy is just fluff. I saw him once, yeah? He came down that mountain like he owned the place, sat in Luma's tavern and ordered a drink. Got that? A drink, like a commoner! Then he started speaking to people, completely random peasants passing by. What kind of a demigod is that? All swag, but behind that facade, nothing concrete I tell ya. Someone challenged him to a fight, some drunk guy at the inn. And what did he do? Nothing, he just took his things and left. Does that sound powerful to you? Or exciting even?" Bastenna started laughing rather loudly without waiting for a reply. Narberal averted her gaze. "I feel like if I looked at her too much my braincells would rot". "So, umm, this, this tavern... did they know about the demigod? Are they able to tell us more?" This time it was Mare breaking the increasingly more displeasing icy atmosphere enveloping Narberal. "Oh, that would be a good idea. We could go ask them if you dont mind". "Ah no of course why would I give a damn what a couple of foreigners do? Despite me not being a local, I've been living here for the past five years so I know a thing or two. I cant possibly convince you otherwise, can I? But you know, curiousity killed the cat and blablablah you know the rest. Be on your guard if you want to pursue this demigod business hahaha! Speaking of which, Luma's tavern is one of the biggest in town and also one of the craziest". "Craziest... how?" Narberal's irritated look almost pierced Bastenna's eyes. "I mean, prices! Crazy affordable for the first night or two, but then... I dont know how she does it, suddenly everything costs triple or quadruple its original price. And you cant do a damn thing about it! Either pay up or go home, if you have one!" "The more I listen the less I understand" Narberal stated bluntly, "I apologize but we must leave now. I bid you farewell". The priest offered his thanks to the adventurers and scolded Bastenna some more before retreating to his quarters for another daily sessions of prayers. Narberal wondered what kind of rituals those savages were performing in order for them to have better harvest and protection from evil. "Humans and albino elves. What a lurid combination. They look as uninteresting as ever" she thought, trying to get a hold of her surroundings with a terribly invasive headache "I bet they're all talk. I've seen countless civilizations up until now and none of them were even remotely as complex or interesting as Nazarick. Secluded relics such as those should belong in a museum". Still, despite her disdain for the human race and the mild boredom expressed for the albino elves, the high class items she had witnessed were of undisputed interest. Lord Ainz might've been able to do something with those, so she intended to inform him as soon as they found a place to stay. "Umm is, is it fine if we visit that tavern? The one the lousy girl was talking about? You might be able to rest there". Mare had expressed concern for Narberal for a while by then. Her outbursts of anger and irritability were more frequent than usual. She valued his opinion as much as that of lord Ainz himself, so she agreed without a second thought. Moving around those same alleys and courtyards was proving difficult as the structure of the main streets and the architecture of the buildings looked very similar from place to place, most likely in a deliberate attempt to confuse outsiders. "We may investigate that cathedral further during the night. I think there is more to it. The priest seemed quite eager to have us out of there at some point". "You, you think so? That place was pretty. It even had blooming flowers scattered all over! I'm always so pleased to see Mother Nature treated with respect like that!" For a moment, Mare betrayed his age though he didnt look as feminine as before. Still grasping for early adulthood, his mannerism and composure had become proper of a young man thanks to lord Ainz's instructions and Demiurge's impeccable teachings. This of course had been advanced much faster by Sebas' intermissions as Ainz had foreseen that leaving him with Demiurge alone would just produce another disciple of destruction. What he sought after was a more refined version of himself, a Guardian capable of coming out of his shell even just a little bit, a proper brother capable of shielding his sister in times of need. Narberal nodded in agreement, a slight but sincere smile appeared briefly between her lips. "Hm, at any rate, I think we are close. The signs were clear enough. It wont be long now”. As they turned the next corner, and the next, and then a vaguely familiar intersection, Narberal decided she had enough. She sat on a wooden stool next to a large building that seemingly looked like the one she had already passed by a few moments earlier and closed her eyes. Concentrating on her surroundings, she frantically searched for a presence of some kind, whether magical or physical, but to no avail. Even though the streets were still packed with people and the journey was seemingly unaffected by magic, she could tell something was wrong. "Do you sense any disturbance? Anything at all?" she asked contemplating the large street ahead of them "I just cant understand why this tavern is so far away. It should've been close by according to the signs and yet it almost feels like we're running in circles". "Um I, I think we definitely are. It would be best if we tried with an aerial view of the area. Dont you agree?" Mare was ready to take off. Even though his visage had always been cheerful it appeared that he too was slightly concerned by the situation. He hadnt been able to identify any magical source and the amount of people around them was so great that distinguishing a powerful force from the rest would prove difficult, as many of the albino elves were well above average for the standards of the New World. "True we havent tried that. Lets consider where we are first though. We shouldnt use fly here, it would be more discreet doing it from that alley" she indicated a location shrouded in darkness close by, "I think giving away our powers to the general populous should be avoided as much as possible". "G-Good thinking. I'm sorry I still need to come to terms with how the world works". "No please dont apologize for something this trivial. I should've specified it earlier, I'm the one at fault here" Narberal stated with apologetic eyes "besides flying isnt all that uncommon. However, we need to remain in-character for the time being and our abilities shouldnt exceed those of an average adventurer unless required by necessity". "Alright. The world is really complex..." Mare seemed to be taking mental notes of everything happening around him. He looked at the ground deep in thought for a moment, then raised his head to the clear afternoon sky. "Okay, umm would that direction be good? I saw a back alley over there. It looked unguarded". Narberal nodded and moved promptly towards the shadowed entrance to the alleyway, eager to do something other than walking. A slight surge of anxiety and frustration had clouded her mind. She wanted to get rid of that awful feeling soon. The alleyway seemed to lead to a dead end; nothing but a brick wall, a few wooden crates and a metallic door to the side leading to a ruined building that looked ready to be demolished. The area was covered by large tiled roofs and a sizeable wooden structure probably arranged as such so that construction workers could manage the adjacent building's renovations. "Umm, I was thinking, did you... notice something weird? Where did all the homeless people go?" Mare asked out of the blue looking around the alleyway. Narberal was surprised to hear him of all people express that kind of concern, but it made sense: they hadnt seen a single poor person since they first arrived there. Homeless, destitute, lonesome wretched rejects of society were usually grouped in a specific district or otherwise found on the street begging for money and attention. In all of her travels with Momon as the adventurer Nabe, she had seen countless different treatments of the poor, from slavery to open beatings, to actual charity. However, in that peculiar city there seemed to be only rich merchants, educated and well dressed peasantry, and a large group of wealthy elves. Even outsiders such as that annoying half-elf she had encountered at the cathedral seemed to fare pretty well above their possibilities. "Now that I think about it you may have a point. This is another mystery. Maybe lord Ainz could-" She stopped mid sentence as a small, feather-like sound attracted her attention. Someone was moving in their general direction from the alleyway's entrance, and another presence producing the same sound could be heard from above their heads. In a few seconds, two concealed figures clad in white robes appeared. The one behind them stood still, as if waiting for an opportunity to do something. The other, rapidly walking on the wooden boards above, had pulled out a shiny object. Narberal couldnt focus her vision; they were using some kind of camouflage that made their movements very difficult to distinguish. As it stood, she was only able to discern their presence and the direction they took while moving, but their actions appeared as blurry, unfocused afterimages. Mare looked at the duo, unfazed. He seemed almost unaware of their presence, as if they had an inconsequential impact on his journey. “Hm. Impressive. You can see us and even follow what we are doing. No wonder your house is the pinnacle of magic” the one behind Narberal finally spoke. “No matter, brother. Even though they are well trained, we can take them. Hey you two! You better surrender your possessions and get away from the city center. We dont want some Drykven filth staining our turf” the one above their heads stated in a harsh, coarse voice. “What are those two blabbering about?” Narberal had no idea, but even so if they tried something she would fight without mercy. The assailant above jumped on her brandishing the shiny object. The blurred afterimages multiplied in a distorted mess of colours and light refraction. “Tier Four: Poison Lance” the second assailant behind them casted a spell at the same time. His palm opened and a violet flaming projectile emerged from his hand. As the shiny object made contact with Narberal’s elbow, that she had put in front of her chest to shield herself, she could finally identify it: it was a small knife imbued with magic that emitted a wave of distortion around it. The range seemed very small, and judging by the fact that no pain nor cut had been inflicted on her, the quality of that weapon had to be very low. The assailant was shocked to see that he couldnt hurt her. He jumped away from her as soon as the blade made contact with her cloth, landing in a crouching position with one of his knees beneath his chest. He looked ready to sprint at her immediately. The flaming projectile the other assailant had casted reached Mare’s back. He didnt even have to dodge, it simply vanished upon contact. He turned his gaze just to confirm that something had touched him as he had felt a mild tickling sensation above waist level. “Umm, miss Nabe should, should we consider this as a murder attempt?” “That may very well be the case Marinee. I say we consider it a threat to our lives and do what must be done”. “But… I dont think lord Ainz would approve of us killing two people without proof. I mean… it is not a real threat, is it?” “I’m happy to know that you value lord Ainz’s words to the letter. However, consider this: what if they had used a bigger knife? Or a stronger spell? It is obvious they attempted to kill us. I say it is a good moment to make them stop”. “I get what you are saying but still, umm, I think they just want to intimidate us and have us leave the city center so…” The assailant that had just tried to hurt Narberal with the knife took that opportunity to sprint at incredible speed towards her while she was arguing with Mare. His companion grinned maliciously as he prepared another spell in the meantime. “Getting distracted during a fight? Ah! You are more foolish than I thought! Give us your stu-” Narberal threw a blind punch behind her with a simple motion of her forearm. Her knuckles sunk into the assailant’s chin with such force that his jaw broke with a loud “crack”. As his teeth bit his own tongue due to the force of impact upwards, a small puddle of blood emerged from his mouth, crumpled in disbelief. “See? He wanted to hit me from behind. I think this is a clear indication of muderous intent” Narberal continued to argue with Mare as if nothing had happened. “Brother Rojvas! Dont worry I’m coming for you!” the spell caster shouted in anger as he moved his arms in the air while reciting an unknown enchantment spell. This time however, Narberal didnt give him the benefit of the doubt. She bolted in his direction and hit him hard with her knee at the very center of his ribcage. All his ribs broke upon contact and his internal organs exploded. His body collapsed in a pool of blood and viscera, emerged from his sternum. The man he had called Rojvas had watched it all happen with eyes so terrified he had lost control over his bladder. As he frantically tried to make a sense of the situation, his trembling legs kicked dirt as violently as a dying horse would. “Miss, miss Nabe! No! This is not acceptable!” Mare looked at her slightly upset “Lord Ainz told us not to kill anyone unless directly threatened. I’m, I’m going to tell him that you’ve failed in your duties if you keep this up”. “Ah! I’m so sorry I just… I dont know what I was thinking. I would never defy lord Ainz’s words I swear! This is the first time I lose control of my actions. I-I just…” Narberal looked genuinely concerned. She knelt and bowed her head to the ground. “Please forgive me. It is unbecoming of me. I will accept any punishment you may deem necessary”. “Dont, dont do this. Raise your head please. I just, umm, wanted you to understand that what you did is wrong”. “I know. I… I think this city’s air has something to it. I wasnt able to measure my strength”. “Then we must investigate further. I’ll, I’ll do my best to assist you”. Mare offered her his hand, then the duo turned to the wounded assailant. “Umm, we didnt mean to kill your friend. Please dont say anything about this to anyone. Otherwise we may need to kill you too. Let’s avoid that, okay?” Mare’s eyes looked as pure as the morning breeze. That terrified his interlocutor even more. He tried to speak but at every movement of his broken jaw intense pain would stop him. “Oh that’s right. We need to interrogate you now, please stay still”. Mare used light healing magic, just enough so that he could have him speak. “You… you cant be from house Drykven. They dont do this kind of stuff in the open. Who are you people?!” “We, we are adventurers coming from a far away land. Can you tell us what were you doing?” “Planning to trick us, huh? Was the city’s illusion your doing as well?” Narberal interjected with spiteful eyes. It took more than a few tries for the panicked man to attempt a response. “We have no such powers. Illusion magic is something that very few of us can wield with even the slightest ounce of confidence. My brother and I thought you belonged to house Drykven… because of that ring”. “This one?” Narberal followed the man’s line of sight and raised her hand. He was looking at the Ring of Sustenance. “Yes. It’s so similar to one of the many devices of death and destruction those fanatical psychos employ that we thought you were up to no good on our turf. Although your appearance was dissimilar to that of the Drykvens… we just couldnt leave that up to chance”. “So who are they? What did they do?” The man went on explaining who the members of house Drykven were. How their non-elven hatred had consumed them, how they didnt look at the other noble houses favourably and about their inhuman skills in magic and necromancy. And how they mercilessly kidnapped, experimented on and murdered indiscriminately any citizen, foreigner or human. After that, he proudly declared himself part of house Falsjago, that he described as a “non-official peacekeeping force among a threatened population who’s afraid of the institutions as much as robbery”. “So let me get this straight. You’re organized crime stepping on each other's toes. Is that all there is?” Narberal didnt look impressed. That explanation totally quelled her interest to the point of sheer boredom. “This isnt as straightforward as it sounds, you foreigners couldnt possibly understand! We are a force of good! We protect people! Sometimes… it just so happens that we gain a modest profit out of it, but that doesnt change our moral code! We value life just like any other person. Those monsters instead… they just want to disrupt public order and dwell in chaos”. “Sounds like people we would want to meet” Mare felt a bit curious about the whole ordeal, but not enough to actually care. “So if you didnt bring that illusion, who did?” “How… how should I know? You’re asking the wrong person. Now leave. I want to mourn my brother in peace, you monsters. If you really are who you claim to be, get out of our city. Last thing we need now is inhumanly strong foreigners messing things up”. Mare and Narberal left the man alone for just about a couple seconds. Their interest was no more, and so they went up and tried flying to grasp an aerial view of the area. However, a deep sense of uneasyness pervaded both as they approached the rooftops of the city. As soon as the skyline got into view, a powerful shockwave coming from below hit them, disregarding any and all defenses. As their hair moved about fluently, an uncannily soothing voice penetrated their minds. “dEstInY iS fleeTing. No wAy to escaPe the uLtiMate deMise. YoU sHall be judGed Soon”. Those the words of a mysterious bystander; as such Narberal and Mare’s minds identified them. Close by and yet very far away. “Clever tricks. But I’m tired of this charade. Show yourself whoever you are. If you dont, we might just have to break this little illusion barrier of yours, and then snap your neck” roared Narberal, visibly irritated. “Please calm down. We, we’ll get through this no problem. I can see the rest of the city just fine. The illusion is weak and its range is small. Come, lets, lets just get out of here” incited Mare, whose attention span had already elapsed. He didnt care for any threat nor mortal being in his proximity, for he knew how strong he was, and the several battles he had witnessed throughout the years made him more aware than ever. His place in the world was well defined, and there would’ve been no chance for any new worlder to take his. Narberal nodded and began moving towards him. Without a moment’s notice, another shockwave invested them both, piercing through their heads like a spear of thorns. While Mare seemed unaffected, Narberal felt a sharp pain exploding all around her skull, as if her brain was being physically assaulted. “Ah, YoU sEeM blIssfullY uNawarE. That is a rEliEf! But It does nOt chAnge aNythIng. PerHaps a liTtle enCourageMent shall Be in orDer?” The voice suddenly went silent. With it, the illusion vanished as if it never were. Looking below, Mare could ascertain that nobody was in sight, and they were pretty close to the cathedral, as if they had just moved past a couple hundred meters from the plaza. Relieved, he took Narberal under his arm and descended with her. As they touched the ground, Narberal felt instantly better. Her headache was slowly subsiding and the pain she had felt was no more. “That… was unexpected. I still dont get it. Did you hear that voice as well, lord Mar… Marinee?” “Y-yes I did. I think this is just part of the illusion. The, the person responsible must have a large skillset. But it did nothing to me, see? And you seem to be better now. Their tricks are just that. Nothing harmful to us”. “Even still, it hurt my head quite a bit. I’ll see the mission through the end regardless but I may need to upgrade my defenses. May I speak with lord Ainz once we reach the tavern?” “Of, of course. After all, arent you in charge of me here?” Mare smiled sincerely. Narberal felt warmth in her chest as if her pride and motivation had suddenly been boosted a million times. It was true, the Supreme One himself had appointed her that role, even if just for that mission and in mere fictitious ways because of their roles in that silly play for the world to see. She felt genuinely embarrassed for that pitiful display of skill. First, she couldnt control her strength and as a result she had disobeyed a direct order, then she had been hurt by unknown forces which could not be located by conventional means. That was almost unacceptable. If it hadnt been for Mare’s reassurance, she may have had the will to get out of the city and seek lord Ainz’s forgiveness and just punishment herself. “P-pay no heed to what the voice said. We dont know what they wanted and we dont need to. All that matters now is the mission. Lord Ainz wants results, and we, we will bring them to him”. Narberal was conflicted. That notion had always been clear in her head but now things might change. They had to be on their guard more, and if someone in that city was able to harm her physically even though for a very brief moment, she wouldnt let that happen twice. As they moved out of the plaza, they realized that Luma’s tavern was very close by, even more so than what they had originally anticipated. Frustrated by the lateness of their visit, they doubled their pace. The tavern’s owner was right behind a couple customers just about to order, seated a handful of tables away from the entrance. As they approached, her face went pale. “By the gods! You’re bleeding! Quick, call Faustus we need medication!” “Huh? Me?” Narberal looked around. Some customers offered her their seat, while others tried to rush to her aid. At that moment, she realized her ragged robes were completely soaked in blood. It belonged to the man she had brutally killed earlier. “Oh… right, right, ah! I feel so weak! Please I need a bed!” her acting skills, admittedly terribly poor, seemed to work just fine for those gullible goodie-two-shoes. In a couple minutes, she and Mare were given a proper room on the second floor, equipped with two beds, a large bookcase containing local folktales, a stash of painkillers, bandages, and a healing potion. “Such luck! We truly are blessed by lord Ainz’s favour”. “Indeed. Umm, should, should we just be reading those books to absorb more information?” “I’m not much for reading. But please lord Mare, by all means”. “I see. Alright then. You just rest there for a bit”. Narberal seated on her bed and sought to use Message to contact lord Ainz while Mare began reading. His eyes were already glued to the pages as if his soul, his very existence was trying its hardest to please his master. After a couple minutes, the two partners looked at each other’s faces and instantly knew something was up. “What, what is the problem miss Nabe? Arent you feeling well?” “It’s not that… I… I cant use Message here”. “R-really? Umm that seems unlikely. Let me try it”. Mare tried to contact lord Ainz immediately. As it happens, he was able to in the blink of an eye. “Yes Mare? Is everything allright?” “Gree, greetings lord Ainz. Yes we are allright for now. But miss Nabe seems unable to use Message”. “Hmm. That is interesting, although a bit alarming. It is very possible that the effects of World Class Items might be the key to solve the problem, indeed if you havent experienced this at all that is the most logical conclusion. To this end perhaps it would be best to recall Narberal so that I can give her one as well”. Mare reported lord Ainz’s wish to Narberal. She seemed frustrated and quite stubborn regarding that particular matter, however if that had come as a direct order she couldnt possibly refuse. Mare relied the messages back and forth as he got them, diligently and absentmindedly. “Very well then. If you wish to proceed a little while longer, I’ll allow it. However let it be known that my concern has not subsided. I shall award you two more days, at the end of which, whether you have gathered enough info or not, I’ll recall both of you to the camp. Inform Demiurge about this decision so that he can modify his plans accordingly. You need to coordinate your movements and remain vigil at all times”. “Understood lord Ainz!” Mare excitedly swung Generosity in the air. Relieved by the news and reasured by lord Ainz’s words, Narberal felt the moment ripe for the taking. She would’ve wasted no time dwelling over nothing. She rushed outside of her room, seeking Luma’s presence. She found her cleaning the counter just two flight of stairs below. Her tired gaze met hers, as if she understood something. “Ah, greetings. I’m glad to see you well. I swear the moment I looked at you earlier my heart skipped a beat! It’s very rare for us to receive newcomers in that state. Although… well lets say that I‘m used to it now”. “Nobody should get used to the sight of blood and the smell of death, right?” Narberal’s stoic expression loosened up a bit. She tried her best to be friendly. After all, that was their only lead for the time being. “You are correct. Sometimes though, one has to do what’s there to be done. It is hard the first few times, but in the end, well… ah! But what am I saying! Let’s change topic, how about that? Talking about death and blood doesnt suit me at aaaaalll!” “Alright, although, uh, you looked awfully familiar with the feeling just now. Is that something common in this city?” “Not… particularly, no. We dont have that kind of problem here. Our peculiar geographical position is a great help. Generally nobody comes visiting us, beside a few merchants and the occasional wagons full of refugees. But during this season there is a lot of tourism from the nearby countries, you know, the realms just outside this desert, sheltered by the rocky formations surrounding it. They’ve come here for the festivals, good food, good drinks, beautiful women, if I can say so myself” Luma protruded her massive breasts towards Narberal, whose eyes bore an indecipherable mixture of envy and frustration, “aaaand of course the thermal gasses outside!” “Hm. So it is true. These gasses, do they… do something?” “Why, of course! They’re veeeery beneficial for the skin, lungs, and some women swear their nails look more polished, perfect for the summer! But who am I to say this? Why dont you go and try that for yourself? The hotspring is so massive it could contain a small army. And the benefits arent limited to women either, sometimes even men go there to relax. Buuut I’m not personally concerned by it, after all I’m not too good with boundaries. Not… with anyone. Men and women alike, you know? And that’s my biggest weakness, ah!” As she said that, her leaning shoulder touched Narberal’s left breast ever so slightly, the movement of which caused one of the buttons of her shirt to loosen. “I can see what you mean. You are a very pretty girl…” Narberal moved to the side to avoid Luma’s chest swallowing her upper torso as she swept by over the counter. “I knooow right? That’s what I dont get. Personal space. See? I did it again! I’m so sorry. Here, you know what? I’ll apply a discount on your dinner. How’s that sound?” More uneventful blabbering followed, so much so that Narberal lost count of the hours passed between each break. In the end, the conversation could be changed or altered in many ways but the topics were starting to shorten. That city truly seemed the mundane, isolated, typical place many youngsters sought to abandon early on in their life. “… and so I told that gentleman, sir, you need to get a job! And I left him there. I hope he got the message, ahahah!” “Interesting” Narberal sighed, seeking comfort in a couple copper coins she willingly threw in the air a few times to wake her up from total boredom “so did this guy ever get a job even? Or was he homeless?” “Most likely homeless! Although I’ve never seen a real poor person in years”. That was the cue Narberal needed. She immediately took the opportunity to know more. “So tell me. What does it feel like to be poor in this city? We’ve seen plenty of rich merchants, politicians, lots of elves with fancy dresses and jewelry, but not even a single beggar since we came here. This seems odd to me”. “Well as a former foreigner myself, yes it is. But I cant say anymore than that. I… think it has something to do with tradition. I guess the poor are simply ostracized?” “Is that even a thing? Do the poor die of starvation outside of the city walls?“ “I guess they do… look, I’ve got to get back to work. It has been pleasant chatting with you. Maaaybe we can do it another time still? Oh, and dont forget, tonight is free, but from tomorrow onward its 5 gold pieces!” Luma hurriedly got back to work. As she tried to approach her again for more questioning later on during the evening, Narberal got met with blank stares and bland hand waves. The girl seemed genuinely busy, even still she couldnt shake off that feeling that she got dumped on that particular subject. With nothing else to do, Narberal went upstairs to listen to Mare’s report of his own findings. However, just moments before she entered the room, she heard a familiar voice. Upon reaching the handrail, she looked below and saw the Judge bursting a grossly loud laugh in the middle of the tavern’s hall. Half-asleep, half-drunk, the bulky man was carrying an exhausted youngster on his shoulder. “Welcome back Judge! Sooo how did it go?” “Ha! We wanted to try the hotsprings too for once, you see, Plurimo here got a little too excited with his uh, research, so I had to literally wake him up, shake him a little, then carry him all the way there. But do take a guess, were we able to bathe? Of course not. Bunch of trolls and very aggressive wolves started storming in as soon as we tried to approach the place. We had to leave in a damn hurry I can tell you that much”. “So unusual. Wolves… there? At this time of the year even? Are you sure?” “Yes I’m sure you bumbling wench! Ah whatever. Bring me some Kuhana so I can shake this feeling off of me, will you? And give Plurimo a sip as well. I’m going to carry him home soon enough anyway”. “Allrighty! Here you go guys!” Luma’s expert hands moved as fast as lightning. In a few moments two large goblets full to the brim were flying across the tavern, and down they went through the two exhausted fellows’ throats. While Plurimo didnt seem too bothered by the events that had just unfolded, the Judge looked visibly frustrated. Narberal couldnt help but smirk in amusement, thinking about how those fools had it coming for even thinking about trying to defy lord Ainz’s committment to his research. As the conversation appeared to have died down, someone intervened from behind their backs. At first Narberal couldnt see who it was, but then she realized. “Yohoo Judge, long time no see huh? How have you been? Must’ve been a long day. You look like crap!” “Keep your mouth shut you worthless recluse. Who do you think you are?” The slender figure approaching appeared to be Bastenna’s. The lousy adventurer with a bad attitude that Narberal had met that afternoon. She really didnt want to hear what nonsense the girl had to spew from that filthy mouth, so she turned her back to the people below and approached her room. However, the conversation that followed had her intrigued. “I’m an emissary of the church of course! You should know that! Our powers are immeasurable, so you’d best be on your guard!” “Ha! The only thing you’re good at is kidnapping people. Dont make me laugh”. “People huh? You still call those sacks of meat people?” “Hey now. There is a fine line between human beings, elves, and animals. Does the church of lady Hilda not teach you that right from the very beginning? I’ll have you know I’ve been a disciple myself”. “Yes indeed. But somehow the distinction starts to blur out as the ceremonies go on. You wouldnt know anything about that, would you?” “What are you getting at? Are you here to stir up trouble again? I dont recall ever inviting you to my table”. “I’m here on friendly terms, relax. Archbishop Byokris sent me to find your fetid rear so that we could chat about… business. You see, we need a couple more… materials, for tonight’s ritual”. “A couple more…? You guys have got some nerve”. “Umm, could you please stop talking about this in the middle of the tavern?” Luma suddenly interjected with an unusually serious expression on her face, “we have foreigners upstairs. And just so you know, I have customers to attend to outside. Do whatever you have to do somewhere else if you please”. The Judge nodded. He silently indicated a small service door behind them, then invited Bastenna to follow. Narberal didnt waste any time and, while concealing her presence by moving further away from the handrail, she casted Bunny Ears. While she couldnt see them, she could now hear them as if the three of them were in the same room. “Asking for more people to kidnap in public is pretty ballsy. To me, of all people. Do I look like a disruptor of public safety to you?” the Judge roared at Bastenna. “Well they dont call you the Judge for nothing, do they? You have the mayor’s trust, and as the highest authority among our paladins, and the bridge between the church of lady Hilda and the municipal college, you might just have some criminals in your jail cells that you simply dont know what to make of. How about you handle them to us for tonight?” The Judge seemed troubled. He got lost deep in thought for a couple minutes, as Bastenna lavishly exposed her legs towards Plurimo, whose eyes were in between a drunken stupor and a deep need for sleep. “How many… are we talking about?” “Well you see, someone did something really stupid today. Something very much against the law. But we kept it secret to not alarm the population at large. And to let the ceremony run smoothly. Gh, me and my big mouth! A-anyway, that’s why we need a lot more for tonight’s ritual”. “You didnt answer my question. How. Many?” “Ih, scary eyes! Hmm… I guess… twenty or fourty will do”. “You’re nuts. You want me to empty the whole precinct? We never executed so many at once. The inmates will grow resless. And what about the guards?” “Hey, that’s your concern not mine. How am I, a lowly wannabe clearic, supposed to solve your problems? I’m just here to expose the situation to you. And keep in mind, this stuff is highly confidential, meaning, you cant tell anyone”. “Ha! That seems like an unneeded concern on your part. You think a bastion of law and order like me could-” “… exactly because you’re a paladin. Again, this isnt our usual ritual. We wont just be feeding the children. The archbishop needs to resurrect someone”. “Resurrect? What in the hell… who died?” “It’s better for you if you dont know”. “No, now you’ll tell me or the deal is off. This story is starting to sound too weird for my taste”. A brief pause followed, making the air suddenly heavier. “… one of your protégèe. The mayor’s daughter”. “You got to be… Asta is dead?! So that’s why… by the gods, lord Flannar…!!” A violent sound echoed all around the tavern, as if someone had just broken a wall with such force that the debris were crumbling everywhere. “Calm down. See’ That’s why I didnt want to tell you. You’re way too impulsive. We can resurrect her. She wasnt… in such a bad condition that we couldnt do something about it. Got that? Now, you just need to stay put and let us work. Once this is over, we’ll contact you again. I cant promise that it will be me again, it’s more than likely that another agent with higher rankings than me will knock on your door”. “… very well. Just promise me one thing. When this is over and she’s alive and well again, I want you to tell me who did it. Whoever it is, I’ll make sure they pay dearly for this offense”. The conversation seemed to have stopped, as the two came out of their hidden spot and resumed their meal like nothing had happened. With the new info acquired, Narberal returned to her room, where Mare had finished reading another small tome containing peculiar entries regarding the city’s structure and religion. After relating her new discoveries, Mare looked satisfied enough. “We, well, now we have a clear picture of the situation. They appear to have some sort of secret hidden away. The need to make rituals for some… feeding? And they can resurrect the dead. It isnt uncommon but it could be high tier resurrection magic”. “Indeed, I think we should investigate. This seems a good opportunity to make a huge leap forward. They will be conducting the resurrection tonight, so this is a great opportunity to study their methods”. “I agree. Okay then umm… where will the ritual be conducted?” “I dont know. They seemed to have done this already so they didnt need to state it openly. The only way for us to ascertain the ritual’s location is to follow that fat ugly paladin and spy on him for the time being”. Mare nodded in agreement. Both werent too thrilled by that idea, but to satisfy lord Ainz’s wishes it had to be done. As time passed, the two prepared to go out once again. The tavern soon closed and its owner went to bed. Shortly before then, the Judge had taken his exhausted companion home, thanks to the large amount of liquor however, he didnt make much progress, thus it had been easy for Narberal to find him and hide nearby. Mare seemed oddly interested in Plurimo, so much so that he asked Narberal if he could follow him and monitor his movements for a while. “I, umm, I think that person has potential. It seems as if he… had hidden within himself some sort of power. I’m not sure, but… you felt that too, did you not?” Narberal nodded. It was true, Plurimo did feel completely different from the average person. There was some sort of oddly familiar aura about him, something primordial. One could almost say that he had an innate “something” that was communicating with them at that time. It had been true even earlier, but to a lesser extent. Narberal thought it might have been the effects of the alcohol in his body, releasing that kind of natural scent without his control. “So you think it would be best to keep an eye on him, is that it? Want to send him to Demiurge for further examination?” “That would be a good idea. I think he could make for a fine prisoner as well, if all else fails. After all, umm, would an important person such as the Judge want to keep someone that close if he was just some commoner?” “You’re right. That must be it, good guess. I’m impressed by how well you’ve been adapting to the evolving situations so far. You’ll make for a fine adventurer!” “He he. Thank you so much miss Nabe. This does mean a lot to me”. How could she be opposed to the idea of Mare monitoring him now? His resolution was more than clear, and besides the Judge would have taken a small amount of time to assemble the detainees. She had studied the prison’s location and the roads were paved and free from common folk at that time of the night, so it was only natural for her to assume so. With her blessing, Mare kept closer to Plurimo’s location. Meanwhile, as he left his companion’s home, the Judge looked extremely disheartened and angry. His eyes were akin to those of a wounded wolf, and his resolute will to kill anyone who had defied the law felt palpable by any bystander. Narberal followed him all the way to the prison, where he took a large group of convicted criminals, two armed guards, and a small wagon. He did it all discreetly and precisely, with seriousness and efficiency. In less than two hours they were all in front of the great cathedral at the very center of the city, the palpitating heart of that small domain still untouched by lord Ainz’s benevolent hand. The guards seemed blissfully unaware of what was going on, however, they appeared to have done this before more than once. They were accustomed to the Judge’s orders and treated the felons accordingly, without raising suspicion. Among them, many felt uneasy and their looks of conern didnt go unnoticed. To anyone who was even remotely trying to speak, the Judge reserved a good smack to the face, so powerful that their noses and jaws often broke. Of course, to him, they werent humans or elves anymore, but simple flesh and bone apt to return the mayor’s daughter to him. Narberal moved swiftly, already breaking into the cathedral after jumping on top of a steeple and then landing onto one of the small open windows at the top. She had a perfect view of the whole catehdral from that height, with the exception of the small niches containing the sacred artifacts of those foolish creatures. The place was completely engulfed in a subtle magic field that acted as sound barrier. It became soon clear to her why they would want to prevent anyone from hearing what was happening inside. Half a dozen priests clad in white robes with chainmail underneath were praying intensely at the center of the cathedral, among them, some were crying with joy and their large smiles looked somewhat unnatural, almost fanatical. Behind them, another group of priests, taller and with better clothing decorated with silver and golden inscriptions, were assisting them by spreading a white-ish miasma from large iron cups with a seemingly endless bottom. Narberal identified it as a magic ritual in progress, most likely to keep its participants in an inebriated state to weaken their resolve. Someone emerged from a secret trapdoor just underneath the pulpit, as if everybody was already expecting what would have happened afterwards, every priest turned their attention towards it. A large group of convicted felons, beggars, old men wearing poor rags or even naked, with visible signs of torture and malnutrition, came out of it. Some were crying, begging for mercy. Others had passively accepted their fate and seemed content to just being alive for the time being. Someone attempted to escape, but their body turned around and followed the others on its own as if moved by an invisible puppeteer. The whole procession felt oppressed and sad. Narberal had to refrain herself from grinning maliciously. “Brothers! Archbishop Byokris is coming to witness the miracle once more! Pray for him, as he guides us in this time of need!” one of the taller priests spoke, his voice echoed inside the cathedral like a spectral hymn of devotion. Everyone immediately strated praying harder than before. The large doors leading outside slowly opened, just enough so that the Judge could enter along with all of his prisoners. As soon as the convicted felons had been released from their shackles, he hurried back outside without even looking at the priests, as if the mere thought disgusted him. “The holy assembly is now in session! Those who do not wish to stain their hands with the blood of the corrupted, step aside now!” the voice continued. Nobody moved a muscle. Pleased, the priest resumed “then let the children eat their fill for the day! By the graces of our lords, we shall harbour a new generation of miracles!” From the opened trapdoor beneath the pulpit, a last figure, taller than anyone else in the cathedral, larger and thinner, manifested itself with heavy steps. The presence took hold of the pulpit and opened their arms, exhibiting a gigantic golden staff in one of their hands. “My fellow children, it is time to rise again to meet the graces of our lords and greet the babies that will constitute the most holy union between citizens of the Earth and citizens of the Heavens! Let us rejoice for today we have another important task ahead of us, so we shall make lady Hilda proud!” The creature’s voice appeared to be coarse and loud. Their head looked like that of a normal human male, however their ears were pointy like an elf’s and their lower lips larger and bloody. As it spoke, its saliva came out of it, which stained its white robes with large droplets of putrid red liquid. Their vacuous eyes made Narberal think that the creature was an undead, or at the very least an inhabitant of the underworld. It seemed very powerful compared to a regular human being, but she estimated that it couldnt have been much stronger than her. “So that must be the archbishop huh” she commented, as the creature designated a series of places on the cathedral’s floor for the priests to put the mass of beggars and poor people in. That truly must have been the case, as its coarse voice spoke more fanatical orders for the inebriated priests to follow. Then, all of a sudden a large number of children came out of the darkness. They had been imprisoned into large cages that were now being transported by what appeared to be slaves. They looked like innocent, scared little elf kids, most of them were naked, some had white clothes on most likely pertaining to the church. Narberal thought they couldnt be more than 3 to 8 years of age, although some seemed to be slightly older. “Now my children! Hear the voices of your ancestors come into one and spread the love of our gods! Hear them call to you all, do your part in this sacred ritual! Let the blood of the corrupted be freed from sin through your purified mouths! Avenge them for they have committed crimes that their souls did not understand! Give their life essence new shelter, for you must harbour a new era of miracles!” The archbishop’s voice felt grave and powerful. The creature swung his staff in the air, and as if its sheer force of will had the power to bend iron, all the cages opened at once. Terrified, the poor, the beggars and old men reunited at the center of the cathedral felt the same wave of pure fear freezing their veins. Unable to walk, run, or even cry, they stood still as the small kids came out of the cages and, looking at them for just a moment, their big eyes lit up with bloodthirsty, murderous intent. Narberal watched in amazement as the children jumped on top of their preys and started to bit their victims’ arms, feet, legs, heads, ears and noses without mercy. There was not the slightest hint of remorse; they seemed genuinely hungry for human flesh, all they wanted was to participate in that grotesque banquet. The unholy spectacle went on for several minutes as the bloody feast was beginning to look more like a massacre than a ceremony. Three kids at once made pressure with their knees and elbows on a helpless old man and tore one of his limbs apart, before finally assaulting him with their voracious teeth that sunk deep into his exposed flesh. The screams of agony and pain echoed all around the area, however, due to the magic sound barrier no one would come to their aid. They would all die eaten alive, one by one, their bellies split open, their guts swallowed whole. During the massacre, the archbishop preached the love and glory of lady Hilda with all his might, and the priests prayed as hard as they could as their pristine robes got stained by blood and spilled bodily fluids. By the end of it all, the walls of the cathedral looked more like the gates of hell. “I’m pleased to see that all of you have satiated your hunger once more! Now, as a reward, we shall grant you your deserved rest for the night. Go with the gods, my children. High priests, please grab the holy syringes for the resurrection ritual, and collect the needed materials”. Once the archbishop had spoken, the tall priests immediately took out of their robes some large syringes ornated with golden inscriptions. Then, they all proceeded to collect a sample of blood from the children, one at a time. After that, they got sent back into the trapdoor and closed it. “What the hell just happened? They seemed to have a separate ritual going on down there. I would investigate but… those kids are not what they seem. If that’s the case… I need to confirm this”. Narberal made her resolve and jumped from her elevated position. She landed near a handful of pillars just about arm’s reach from the archbishop. The creature wasted no time and immediately attacked with a large swing of its staff. “Hm, It seems like the surprise factor wont play a role in this conversation. Too bad, we may not have any conversation at all then”. Narberal spinned on herself and landed a powerful kick to the archbishop’s chin. Its head tilted a little, then it returned back in its rightful position. Normally a kick like that would have destroyed a normal human’s skull, however the creature seemed unaffected by it. “What manner of fool is this? You dare defy an emissary of the gods? How indecent of you! You shall not be counted as a true citizen of the Star City, ever!” “Ha! As if I gave a damn”. “What is the purpose of this blasphemous act, you worthless wench?” Narberal studied the creature’s movements and mannerisms. It seemed somewhat surprised, yet it was expecting an attack. Its instincts must have been extremely sharp, almost as much as hers. She could not believe that such a creature existed outside Nazarick, but it was only reasonable to assume as much. Her senses were now focused on the kids at the center of the room, protected by the priests. “It looks like their levels are rising. What sort of magic is this, archbishop? Explain it to me”. “I will not explain anything to a non-believer!” “Then make me believe. I can feel their strength increasing after this filthy meal. What did you do? If you let me in on your secret, I might consider leaving you alone. Else, you might want to start praying for your gods yet again”. “Such arrogance is unbecoming of a lady. Females should not interfere with the highly sophisticated arts conducted by males, especially if they’re human. The Elves of Purity are not called as such for no reason, our race is superior in every way. To a fundamental level, including our strength gaining abilities. We do not need to work or select complex job classes, our adaptability knows no bounds! Through this ritual our children can mature faster and grow into talented supreme beings!” Narberal felt disgusted by that speech to her very core. “Dont you dare call anyone supreme being. The only supreme being on this miserable planet is our lord Ainz Ooal Gown. But this is enlightening, I will take one of your fetid little kids as a sample”. She lunged to the side and went for one of the children’s necks so that she could easily grab them and transport them out of there under her arm, however, the archbishop’s staff was already in the way. As if the creature had predicted her next move, it swung again and hit her on the thigh, with such force that her body lost balance and fell, moved by the powerful force of impact. She spun for several meters before stopping, her palms ruined by attrition. “This has gone on long enough. You seem healthy and pretty strong. And that lord of yours… Ainz Ooal Gown you say? Hmm, so you are an emissary of the enemy of mankind. Interesting! You shall be our children’s next meal! I’m eager to see how strong they will become!” As it spoke, the tall creature moved forward a few steps, with each the earth crumbled as if a small earthquake had just come and gone. Narberal kept battling her adversary with her sword, but it broke with the next clash against the golden staff wielded by her enemy. Then she opted for her bare hands, kicks, and lightning strikes, all dealt between the small gaps in her enemy’s seemingly restless attacks. But the more she kept dodging her adversary’s hits, the better they seemed to adapt to her movements. Moreover, it appeared that her own attacks were particularly ineffective against its gigantic body. “I must have made a miscalculation… this isnt going as smoothly as I wanted. But inferior beings such as these cannot be as strong as us. I refuse to believe that”. Narberal’s head had been clouded for almost two days. As it happened, that occasion was no different. She wasnt able to judge her own strength as well as she used to, her actions appeared more impulsive, her anger had took the better of her more than once. With an angered grin, she took off and hovered above the archbishop’s head. She dodged the next attack, then she closed her eyes to find the right internal balance. Her body and mind went into a state of deep concentration for just a couple seconds, more than enough for her to prepare her next spell. Her hands got filled with light. Large amounts of sparks formed all around her body as she prepared herself to strike. “I’m going to dispose of you, filthy insect. Tremble before the power given to me by a true supreme being. Tier Seven: Chain Dragon Lightning!” Narberal casted the electric discharge with vengeance in her heart. As the attack struck the archbishop’s imposing figure, dozens of bolts exploded on the pavement, pillars and arches almost causing the whole structure of the cathedral to fall apart. All windows crashed at once and hundreds of fragments of broken glass scattered across the deserted streets. The booming sounds coming from the strike made Narberal foretaste her swift victory. She landed back on the ground and sought to kidnap one of the children again while the area was still covered in heavy dustclouds. Whether the creature had been killed or just badly wounded, she was confident that her job was almost over. However, upon surveying the area around her, she felt surprised seeing as all priests had been mysteriously murdered. None remained alive, all had their throats slit in one motion. As for the kids, they were swarming the place screaming in panic. “What in the world...” Another presence was watching from the shadows. She was certain of it. The children werent the only sources of power left in that place. Nevertheless, someone was laughing amidst the chaotic spectacle. It was a small, reserved laugh. Then, from the settling dust, the archbishop emerged once again. A single trail of brown blood covered their fat, oily cheeks. “You possess truly remarkable skills, woman. It is a pity that you did not do your research properly. Our kind is very resistant to electricity by nature, and by the grace of our goddess Hilda, some of us are even immune to it! As one such being possessing the talent of Elemental Immunity I, Byokris, archbishop of the church of lady Hilda, can withstand any of your pathetic attacks!” Narberal braced for impact: the archbishop struck her with its staff once again, this time with such haste and precision that it successfully hit her shoulder while her body was about to move away. The force of impact was considerably stronger than before, so much so that she could not remain still and thus got forcefully sent flying against the wall behind her. As she recovered from the severe impact, something shiny approached her limbs with lighting-fast velocity. In a moment, her ankles and wrists were completely surrounded by magical chains. No longer able to move, her body limped forward for a few steps before being slammed on the ground. “This is absurd… what a shameful display. I hope nobody from Nazarick is seeing this right now. Please lord Demiurge, look somewhere else. And you lord Mare, as much as I’d love to see you again at once, I hope you’ll forgive my unbearable idiocy. This is not how a true servant of the supreme being should act”. Narberal was blaming herself for being too careless. It was only natural for her to feel shame since she had been appointed as Mare’s direct superior for that mission. Instead of taking care to claculate the risks with precision, she had been unable to fill her role properly thus far. She felt the need for a punishment, a true way to apologize to everyone she had failed. “aNd NOw YoU ShALl seE tRuE feAr” a voice invaded Narberal’s brain. The same voice she had heard shortly after visiting that accursed city. “You again? Who are you? Show yourself!” she longed for a resolution, but nobody came. The voice once again stood silent. The archbishop drew nearer and with them, a multitude of magical chains materialized from their staff, engulfing Narberal’s body. The creature’s mouth was half-open in a grotesque smirk of satisfaction, its lower lip drooling putrescent red liquid. “Pity. Had you been a true believer, we would have shared the pleasures of wine and flesh together as we would’ve eaten our fill. You would have gotten stronger to unimaginable levels. But alas, you’re a simple human. Do not regret it however, for your humble origins are what makes you special. Although you were not designed to dominate, you will make for a fine servant to our lords”. So the archbishop spoke, then the creature pulled its staff high above its head; as if following an invisible magnet, the chains enveloping Narberal’s body moved vertically towards a nearby pillar, and there they wrapped her up. Now completely unable to move, her futile attempts made her life even harder as the chains grew tighter whenever she tried to move a limb. The archbishop recalled its children and showed them how impotent their adversary was. They grinned maliciously as they approached her with their voracious mouths half-open. Narberal was more frustrated and angry than concerned about her situation. She knew those creatures were barely considered as ants on her path, and the only real problem was getting her out of there on time so that she could meet up with lord Mare unscathed. She was truly preoccupied with her image more than anything: if for some reason her clothes had been torn off, or her ponytail had been let loose, how could she go back to lord Ainz? She would have had to explain to him how that happened, and then the shameful recount of her wrong assumptions and terrible miscalculations would have stained her reputation. She couldnt allow that. While she was thinking about her misfortunes, struggling to find an easy way out, someone seemed to call for her from a great distance, just short of the entrance. "You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist!" IV As Rokkan approached the steps leading to the center of the room, he gazed upon his future interlocutors with ravenous eyes. His severe father and current head of the Drykven bloodline Brute Diomedeus Nagreydan the Third, was sitting on his makeshift throne sculpted from raw stones and bone. His son and Rokkan's younger brother, the weak-willed and pious Fratherickus, was looking at him expectantly with dreamy eyes. He was small and insignificant, a kind soul among wolves. Extremely religious and devout to the cult of lady Hilda, the mere thought of conflict deeply troubled him, to the point that he hid behind Rokkan's broad shoulders during his early adulthood whenever his father threatened him phisically. This behaviour wasnt limited to situations where a real beatdown was a very tangible possibility: he soon got used to retreating, escaping, delegating his own responsibilities to someone else, and deflecting the blame for his actions towards his subordinates. All that made Rokkan deeply upset, to the point that he soon began hating his younger brother with a passion. His current demandeur didnt help. He often wore dark robes similar to those of the priests and he refused to eat more than a simple meal every day, thus his constitution, already weakened by inactivity and deep meditation, was significantly affected. Sometimes Rokkan thought he could just kill his brother with a simple push against a wall. At first he didnt mean it, but now he was quite willing to do the deed. However, that was no time to dwell in such petty concerns. As he was even more eager to avenge his tarnished honor and reclaim his rightful place among the powerful, he was going to be patient and wait for the opportunity to strike at the heart of his enemies. For that specific purpose he had sought such a meeting, and his father, although quite upset, had agreed to formally grant him his wish. "Greetings lord father. I see you are well and stoic as always". "Spare me the flattery Rokkan. Tell me, what brings you back from your expeditions? Have I not been generous enough with you? Money, an escort, twenty assassins at your disposal, and yet here you are, empty-handed. Why should I listen to the tales of your failure? Will you beg for mercy?" "I am grateful for your generosity, lord father. And I am here today to announce one of my greatest successes. As a matter of fact, I am far from being empty-handed. Please allow me". Rokkan bowed deeply, then he proceeded to show them a yellowish map containing a signed note next to a wax sigil. Brute recognized that as the symbol of the Sorcerous Kingdom; a mixture of concern and anger overtook him. "What is this? What is the meaning of this? Have you lost your mind, son? I sent you off on a quest to retrieve the sacred artifact of our gods and you come back with a piece of paper signed by the enemy of mankind? Have I not told you that our agreement with the Falsjagos is precarious already? You disappoint me". "Lord father... if you could just spend a moment to read it... you would realize that this is much more than a simple piece of paper. I have successfully contacted the prime minister herself, you see. At this very moment, negotiations could be started. If you allow me to participate, and arrange a proper meeting, I'll be most pleased. I think we should give them the sacred artifact and form a beneficial alliance that will grant our survival, and better still, preserve our power among the people of this city". "And YOU want me to ally with the enemy of mankind? YOU will conduct the meeting? How foolish! You are too daring, my son. Cease this nonsense at once or I swear I'll have you gutted like a fish by tomorrow morning!" The air around the three had started to get colder. Rokkan's determined eyes were piercing through his father's like a polearm. While he understood the importance of one's place in the world, he wasnt ready to back down at that time. Fratherickus had been silent the whole time. He looked frightened like a rabbit, but with the little courage he had left he spoke up. "Please father, give... give Rokkan the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure he wasnt going to defy your wishes! H-he's been a good son, just let him try this!" "Silence! Do not side with the traitor, Fratherickus. Your blood will one day carry this family, so you'd better know what your place is. You are a human, and as such you will not side with the enemy. Do you understand?" "B-but Rokkan isnt my enemy, father! And neither are you! Can we please just put this matter aside for one evening? I beg of you, let's get along just this once. I havent seen you happy in years!" "Dont waste your breath, dear brother. I understood. I have received my orders. I'll rescind my proposed agreement with the Sorcerous Kingdom. I am sorry to have troubled you so, lord father". Surprisingly, Rokkan averted his gaze and knelt. While his tone felt cold and condescending, it didnt take long for Fratherickus to understand that he was buying time. Happy with the result of his action, his brother stood up beside him and helped him raise his body. "Oh dear brother... you made the right choice. Angering lord father is unwise, and besides, we really need to catch up. It would be best if we stood firm as a united family in this time of great danger! Now come, I was eager to see you for quite some time. We havent spoken a lot, have we? Let's chat for a brief moment before departure. Here, lend me your hand". "Indeed. thank you brother. I shall retire to my room after we've finished, and then I'll depart to fulfill my mission". Rokkan's father seemed unimpressed by his act. He was no fool. He didnt believe a single word, but regardless, he couldnt just imprison his son for no reason. No crime had been committed, however, that single proposal seemed so preposterous that he had already thought about putting his son under surveillance for the remainder of the evening. Thus the brief exchange had ended prematurely. Seeking his father's approval had never been Rokkan's real intention, rather, he just wanted confirmation that his actions were correct. Now he felt more determined than ever to see it through to the end. Rethinking about the whole ordeal, the mere fact that house Falsjago had been able to steal one of the sacred relics from the city's guardian had been nothing short of miraculous. Their greed really knew no bounds. Some had no scruples whatsoever and would sell their own mothers for money if they could. The same group that did the deed had been responsible for several kidnappings for the church years prior, and they had a long streak of robberies in and around the city and the nearby kingdoms at the other end of the desert. In short, these were true professionals in the art of theft. Rokkan wasnt familiar with the Falsjagos, but he was very well acquainted with the power-hungry chiefs of the local bands of bandits. They often exchanged information and did favours to each other, thus enhancing his perception of society and how the criminal social structure of a bigger nation would work. If he had pushed the right buttons, he too might have been at the peak of that evolutionary stair, so steep yet so easy to climb with the right means. For that very purpose, his ambitious project had matured into a behemoth of such large proportions. Unbeknown to his father, Rokkan had established a large net of informants with eyes and ears everywhere in the city, and he was on the verge of overthrowing him. While Brute Diomedeus' cunning was second to none in the underground world, his son had two very distinctive traits: an endless thirst for power, and an ambition that defied reason. His sheer force of will was so strong that a few years prior he'd been able to overcome a deadly disease and survive with less than 33 percent chance. For that feat alone, his brother Fratherickus had started to worship him as one of the blessed sons of the gods, protected by holy lady Hilda herself. With this conviction in his heart, and his mind clouded by an unbridled love, the young and frail boy embraced Rokkan with all his might as soon as they were left alone in his quarters. His slender hands reached for his brother's neck and slowly descended towards his waist with sensual intent. "Aaah, it's been so long dear brother... I longed for the day I could see your face again and touch your strong body... you are indeed so blessed by the gods that even your shoulders are broader and your deltoids are so... perfect!" "Yes, well... I did receive more blessings than what I deserve. And you are one of them, little brother. How lucky am I to have such a loyal and pretty brother...". Rokkan's words were inflated with praise and a fake warmth that Fratherickus just couldnt comprehend. He was all entangled in his love and fanatism to the point that he couldnt distinguish between lust and devotion. "Your words honor me, brother. Tell me, what brings you back home? I do not think that seeing our father is the real reason, is it? Perhaps... were you lonely? Did you miss me?" "Of course I did. I missed our moments together more than anything in the world". Rokkan felt a deep urge to vomit. Even uttering such words with a straight face was particularly painful. For a moment in the back of his mind he considered grabbing a knife and stab that little bastard in the chest, but his hand instead reached for the nape of his neck, lovingly caressing his white hair. "Ah, you little...! My weak spot! How could you...! Now I'll have to be aggressive..." Fratherickus' fingers were long and soft, almost like a woman's. While the sensation was quite pleasurable, Rokkan just couldnt stand that position. However, he would endure it for the time being. As his own fingers reached for Fratherickus' throat, he grabbed it firmly and shook it violently. In a few moments, Rokkan sat on top of his brother with a feral motion of his torso. "Tell me something Fratherickus, your entourage... the three formidable assassins that our father gave you as your bodyguards... are they still here?" "Y-yes indeed dear brother. Why?" "Would you lend them to me? I need more of your troops for the endeavour I'm about to accomplish". "You mean... you intend to defy our gods?" "No silly. I want to put an end to the corruption that threatens to destroy the church of lady Hilda. You see, my sources reported that a circle of corrupted priests has kept other sacred relics hidden away in the archbishop's estate. It seems that the archbishop himself is a zealot worshipping the old gods, and his intention is to openly denounce lady Hilda as a traitor and false idol. How can I not do something about this?" As he spoke, his hips started to move ever so slightly. Fratherickus' breathing grew heavier. "But... why did you have the sacred relic stolen in the first place? You told me that it would have benefitted the church... was it wise to steal it from the city's protector?" "I did say that. And that is a real thing. As a matter of fact, now that the sacred relic is in my hands, the little rats wanting to defy lady Hilda will come to me to try and get it back. You must not trust anyone from the church, not until I've purified it of its corruption. Once the sacred relic and the artifacts currently in the archbishop's estate will be gathered in the same place, under my protection, only then the church will be saved". "Ah... you are so... mean...!" "Why? Do my words not reach your heart as a devout servant of the true gods?" "No, they do... it's just... you're too rough!" "My apologies. I'll be more gentle from now on". Rokkan felt like his brother didnt truly understand a thing. He was completely lost in the pleasures of the flesh and the incestuous nature of their forbidden relationship. And that was exactly what he was aiming for. Reduced to the assertive single-minded fanatic that he was, he could now manipulate him as he pleased. Even though he had prepared such an elaborate lie, he now saw that it didnt matter. He could've said whatever he wanted. "So, will you help me?" "H-how could I... refuse such a... majestic offer!!" Rokkan's grin grew larger as he spun around and threw his brother on the other side of the bed for another round. "I'm so pleased with you, little brother. You truly are the best sibling one could have. Oh, before I forget, I need another favor. This time... it will be on me". "W-what do you mean??" "... I need you to cover my traces. I'm going to assassinate someone". "Care to tell me who's your target, so that I can pray for their safe journey to Heaven?" "I will say it only once, and to you alone. I'm going to end the mayor's daughter's life today". There was no reaction. Just a nod, as if he understood. It had to be done, otherwise the gods might have descended to Earth and disrupted the upcoming deal between men and devils. Satisfied by the outcome of that exchange, Rokkan took his time. After a couple hours and a good shower, the man was ready for action. He dressed in his assassin robes, black leather jacket, silver hoodie clad in magically enhanced mythril and ceremonial sash which could contain a large number of objects. He used to store bombs, gas-based traps, throwable knives and lockpicks inside of it, bot now the only weapon he needed was a sword. The ceremonial sword he had received from his grandfather was more than a magic weapon, it was a symbol of true heroism and gallantry. Far removed from the excesses of the mortal world, the old man had had a completely different life compared to his son Brute Diomedeus; a stoic warrior with strong ties to the Brennedt family, he had used the very same sword to slay evil and free the Star City from an invasion of trolls and demonic creatures from the forest. Rokkan was genuinely proud of his grandfather, and despite their visions of the world being complete opposite to one another, he deeply respected him. Thus that sword ended up being in Rokkan's hands rather than Fratherickus, because of his attachment to his grandfather as much as its fascination for power and grandeur. With time, Rokkan had learned to enhance its properties by adding runes and magic infused jewels to it. For this reason, the blade was beginning to look more like a multi coloured staff, with all the gems and glowing carvings adorning it. WIth that sword he intended to kill the mayor's daughter, for she posed a great threat to the Sorcerer King. She had the power to summon a flock of magic creatures that would guide the gods back down from their mountainous retreat, thus assuring a bloody clash that would most likely result in their victory. Since she was apparently the only one capable of such a feat, and nobody knew about the upcoming menace beside the mayor himself, Rokkan was very determined to keep the Prime Minister's coming a secret. Late that afternoon, he departed the Drykven manor and marched towards the city center with an escort of sixteen assassins, concealed in magic robes. As he gathered information about his target's whereabouts, he found out that lord Flannar had been already summoned by someone else, an old acquaintance at the adventurers' guild. Furious, he sought out to minimize the damage as much as possible regardless; the plan did not change, he would've just spent more resources preventing any info from reaching the god's ears. Issuing such an order, he dispatched ten of his men in all directions, with the precise intent of disseminating false info. WIth six remaining assassins, he reached the municipal grounds and waited patiently. There he saw her conversating with the old mayor on the rooftops, almost blissfully unaware of how agitated the bureaucrats below looked, as the hour of the ceremony drew nearer. "Appointing a new mayor seems such an unnecessary chore" Rokkan thought, "but it will all end soon enough. Once the Sorcerer King conquers this city, I'll be the new mayor. And there wont be any election ever again. Why would these people even support such an old, frail and inept elf anyway? I'll be the first human to ever guide those fools, it will be an historic moment of immense proportions! My reign will be just and legitimated by higher powers, not even lord father will dare defy the Sorcerer King!" Thinking about it, Rokkan smiled as he realized that he too, just like his brother, looked like a single-minded fanatic in that precise instant. How pathetic must've been from an external perspective. Such a villainous act of sabotage, just for the sake of his own goals. More power, richer ambitions, larger domains. He sounded like the typical evil lord from ancient folktales. He was well aware of that, even so he genuinely believed that his reign would be better than the current status quo. He wanted equality between humans and Elves of Purity, and he would've obtained it, by all means necessary. His target seemed to have moved upwards to the summit of the observation deck. That was the moment he had been looking for. He pulled out his sword, moved his hand across its blade, and pointed it at the observation deck. "So young and unaware of anything. You are not to blame for your condition. In fact, I might have spared you if we could've reached an agreement. But... I dont deal with kids. You are simply too young to be convinced with words alone. I've been naive as well, you know? A long time ago... I might've chosen to stop right here. But I cant turn away now, nor can you. We both chose our path in life, and it lead us here". Rokkan was talking to his target as if she was right there with him. For a moment, he had the slightest glimpse of remorse. But that was nothing but a fleeting thought of the foolish young idealist he once was. That person was long gone. He took aim, then slashed in the air. The shockwave from the blade's motion travelled across the building and silently made its way to the top. A single flash of light signaled him that the target had been hit. A splash of blood splattered all across the observation deck's walls. The deed had been done. "Go check it, quick. THe next shift will start in about five minutes" Rokkan ordered one of his men to confirm the kill as he took care to search for a way out of the building, now packed with bureaucrats eager to give battle for the new mayor's ascension. In a few moments the assassin responsible for the confirmation came back with such haste that he seemed to be teleporting from wall to wall with each step. The death of the girl was unmistakable, all went well. Satisfied by the swift outcome of his action, Rokkan ordered a general retreat. Once the breach had been found, he moved into the crowd and disappeared. A few hours later, news of the mayor's daughter's death spread like wildfire among the ranks of the municipal politicians. Some were concerned about the potential implications, others were just glad that a half-elf had been disposed of. But the majority was simply terrified by the prospect of a killer capable of killing a magic user with such incredible power in the blink of an eye. The mayor had been informed for last. Shocked, he sat on his large wooden chair like a sack of beans and stood there motionless for several hours. He refused to eat and drink the following day. as his catatonic state grew heavier, his eyes also slowly lost their color. During the night, Rokkan went straight to the cathedral as his informants assured him that the place was devoid of people inside. No sound could be heard, and the electoral ceremony clearly had taken precedence over any religious function for the day. Convinced after witnessing for several minutes a total lack of personnel coming or going, as it was customary for many priests to briefly leave the cathedral in order for them to restore their incense supplies, Rokkan and his entourage slipped past the large doors and hid behind pillars, jumped on top of elevated balconies, or nested in between large groups of lit candles with such mastery that one would have thought those were just abandoned robes on the floor. As he approached the pulpit with silent steps, his heart started pounding harder than ever before. It was a daring situation and he was, for the first time in years, truly at the heart of the gods' secrets. "Just a few more hours... and lady Hilda's precious artifacts will be mine" he thought, drooling in front of her armor, "I cant believe that I'm actually doing this. I, a common human, am able to stand this close to the gods' remnants and soon I'll wield their most powerful possessions... no, not yet. I need to remain calm. Excitement leads to perdition and defeat. I must remember what grandfather told me". As he recalled upon his childhood memories, footsteps signaled him that someone was fast approaching. Many people, probably a dozen or more. He went into hiding in the darkest area of the cathedral as far from the pulpit as he could, then he waited. Priests, fanatics, and a large number of poor people swarmed the place in a few minutes. Rokkan thought someone had tipped them off, but it was soon revealed to him that it wasnt the case. The ceremony began: many children, thus far kept in secret cages, emerged from the back of the pulpit. As he witnessed them being freed and subsequently eating the poor beggars, made to sit at the center of the cathedral by the archbishop and his entourage, he realized in horror that the church that he had often times smeared with accusations and vile remarks was indeed corrupt and willing to go to such lengths. "This is nothing short of barbaric. Even for someone like me... this slaughter is unjustified". He didnt know what he was looking at, but it must have been something important for them to consider creating a soundproof barrier around the cathedral. The blood of the poor wretched souls being eaten alive by the mass of children with sharp teeth and voracious looks on their faces splashed everywhere around the cathedral. Soon their screams of agony ceased as their throats had been forcefully ripped apart in that hungry frenzy. In about an hour, all that remained was an endless sea of blood and guts being swallowed whole by the ravenous children who stood naked, laughing in satisfaction, all around their unholy feast. During the massacre the archbishop of the church of lady Hilda had preached the absolute love for the gods and how the gifts of life and death are bestowed upon the faithful only. His words sounded empty and ridded with contempt for the lower classes. What would Rokkan do then? He was not sure. The situation wasnt pleasant, he thought he could just kill everyone in sight and be done with it swiftly but he couldnt possibly do that now: the archbishop himself was an inhumanly tall creature with abnormal power. His sheer presence made his skin crawl. He could feel the aura of strength surrounding him, as well as the powerful children he had freed from the cages. The rest of the unholy congregation seemed to be manageable, however there were too many for him alone and his companions were not born fighters, their specialty being lurking in the shadows waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Thankfully for him however, someone was about to do the deed. As he looked upwards, he spotted a woman clad in brown ragged robes with a simple adventurer's attire. The woman looked young enough, with a long ponytail and a murderous expression depicted on her face. She jumped from a considerable height and landed on her feet without so much of a scratch. Upon landing, she immediately moved towards the center of the cathedral with such speed that Rokkan had to enhance his vision with magic in order for him to grasp her current position. When the woman reached the pulpit, she instinctively dodged a swing from the archbishop's staff and returned the kindness with a high kick to his chin. They appeared to be conversing briefly after that, but Rokkan wasnt interested. He took this chance to recall all his forces and order them to move further away. With a gesture, his assassins slipped past the fanatic priests and slid all their throats at once. After that, he came out of the shadows and reached the back of the pulpit as fast as he could. Panicked and screaming, the cannibal children ran in all directions as their masters dropped dead one by one. The archbishop was still battling the woman, so Rokkan was sure to have at least a small chance of succeding. He ran towards the niches exposing the artifacts and grabbed as many gems, necklaces, pieces of armor and mantles as he could. Then, he silently ordered a general retreat. But before he could commence his own escape, he realized that the woman was losing her battle. His concern wasnt out of pity, rather, pure interest and curiosity. She seemed to be strong enough to take on the archbishop on her own, yet he had successfully imprisoned her. She was being kept tightly still by a large number of magical chains that became stronger and heavier the more she tried to struggle. The ravenous children were then recalled by the archbishop and made to come closer to her. Now Rokkan had a choice: get out of the way, ensuring his escape, or help the woman. Had he chosen the former, he would have had more artifacts for himself and the meeting with the Sorcerous Kingodm's ambassadors and prime minister. However, he had a feeling that by doing the latter, his chances to get closer to the Sorcerer King would increase exponentially. Taking on this gambit, he dropped every holy relic he had on his person and charged head on towards the archbishop, brandishing his grandfather's sword. "You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist!" he shouted while striking at the chains keeping the woman on a pillar. "Who the hell are you? I dont recall needing help from anyone here, especially humans" she roared while struggling even harder. "Dont be ridiculous. Pride at this time will just get in the way of your success. Do you wish to live and accomplish your mission?" he responded with resolute eyes. "...I do. But I can do it alo-" "Then by all means, give yourself up to your pride. I shall avenge the people who got slaughtered here today and nullify the terrible misconduct of this morbid priest and his cult. If I happen to save you as a side effect of my powerful deeds, I ask that you remember me. We will meet again, after all". Somehow, Rokkan felt that he genuinely wanted that, deep in his heart of hearts. However, his ultimate goal had to be concealed as much as possible. Nobody had to see his good side, for that would mean losing grip over his men and the evil dwellers among his underlings. He was evil, and he needed to be as irredeemable as possible in everyone else's eyes. For that reason, his main concern in that situation had to change. He charged his sword with all the power he had stored in its gems and spoke unholy prayers of destruction to enchant it further. With a resounding slash, the magic chains were broken and the woman got freed. Soon after that, he moved towards the archbishop; with a feint he successfully dodged a swing of his large staff, then he went under a flaming ball of light that had been thrown at him immediately after. He used the archbishop's long robes as a jumping platform to reach his neck in one swift motino. He slashed in the air, the subsequent shockwaves from his strikes reached the archbishop and cut him multiple times. Even so, he looked unfazed by Rokkan's bravery. "Damn this is a freaking monster... it seems that I wont be able to do this alone after all". He didnt have to take a second glance at the pillar to understand that the woman he had just liberated was waiting for her turn. "Tch. Enjoying the spectacle, are we?" he muttered while charging his next attack. "Fool! You must bend your body and soul to lady Hilda's merciful wrath! Repent and everything shall be forgiven!" the archbishop shouted as loud as he could, his bloodshot eyes staring into space. "Shut it, disgusting murderer. Killing innocents for the fun of it is not what assassination is all about. You give righteous murderers a bad reputation". "Fun? You speak to me of fun? This is a sacred ritual! It is for the preservation of our species and the Elves of Purity that we do this! You son, you have been blessed with lady Hilda's talents as well!" "Dont give me that crap you swine!" Rokkan jumped yet again to avoid another attack, this time he choose to run up the archbishop's staff and strike at his face. He moved as rapidly as he could, but just before he’d be able to hit him, he got intercepted by a supersonic object behind his back. Something hit him so fast and heavily that his body could not resist that force, and thus he got sent flying towards the archbishop's forehead. He was already in a striking pose, so that event only made it easier for his sword to sink into the enemy's skull. As he tried moving the sword upwards to deepen the wound and then extract the blade, he realized that he could not as the archbishop's skull was too thick for extraction with his hands alone. At that moment, someone else's hand reached his own. The long and slender fingers of the woman he had saved now grasped firmly around the hilt of his sword. Rokkan then understood: there was no supersonic object at all, it had been the woman using her inhuman strength to propell him towards his target. She was right behind him. "You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist" she stated, a sarcastic smirk running between her cheeks. "Tch. You're a funny one arent you" he smirked back at her. As if they both knew what they needed to do next, their hands and feet pressed against the archbishop's large forehead and moved upwards with all their might. Together they were able to move the sword even further deep, and then extract it from the open wound. Already weakened by the hits received previously by the woman, the monstrous creature limped back and forth for a moment before kneeling on the ground. His wound was spreading a large amount of brown blood everywhere. There was no telling if that would have been enough to finish the job, however it was unlikely that the archbishop would have regained his former strength. "Well that was intense. I suppose I should thank you for the help". "No need. I realize I've been too rash with my decisions. Let's call it even". Rokkan nodded. He moved away from the corpse and took back his possessions, ready to get out of the cathedral. "Your strength is impressive. Are you... perhaps, are you one of the Sorcerer King's assistants?" he finally dared to ask. "What if I am? Will you report me? Will you try to kill me?" the woman seemed tired but still able to put up the best fight of her life. Rokkan was sure he would be dead in no time if he didnt measure his words carefully. "No, nothing of the sort. If you were... I'd be pleased if you recalled my name. Rokkan of house Drykven, at your service. Tell your master that I have what he needs. Soon we shall meet and discuss the future". With the tiniest hope in his heart, Rokkan jumped away into darkness. Narberal was finally alone, her robes soaked in blood and guts, the cathedral was a messy spectacle of flesh and bone. With more questions in her head than ever before, she took this chance to come closer to the niches containing the few relics still untouched. "All good materials, rare minerals, fine jewels... I wonder if it could be useful to lord Ainz. And that sword of his... not too bad at all. I think I'll take it as a trophy". She was thinking about Rokkan's ceremonial sword. The power within it was not great, but it could be enhanced with the right components. It would make it at least a legendary class weapon if it were. Overall, she was very pleased by how fast that encounter had been. Rokkan's presence made it easier for her to return to the tavern as she could have just blamed him for the mess. There were no witnesses because his men had killed eeryone, so beside the scared children that were already crawling all over the archbishop's body trying to eat it, nobody had seen her come and go. "I guess I should kill the older ones. They might be able to speak to the guards". She sighed as she took the archbishop's staff in her hands and searched for the more developed kids. "So boring. At least now I know why they did all this. Dismantling the organization behind the rituals will be a long and tiring process, I'm sure. Maybe I could persuade Solution to do it. She loves eating virgins after all. Ah, what am I thinking? I’m getting ahead of myself again. What if lord Ainz deems this place necessary for his future plans? I should just report my findings and let the higher ups deal with it.". She found a couple of targets, grabbed them by the arm, and tossed them all in the same place. Half a dozen kids now stood at the center of the cathedral, naked, covered in blood and viscera, trembling in fear. Normally Narberal wouldnt do the killing in cold blood against creatures that wouldnt put up a fight, but those bastards had tried to eat her alive so she felt no remorse. "Now, stay still, it will only take a moment" she whispered as her arm moved upwards, ready to smash their tiny heads. "Miss Nabe, a moment please". Demiurge's mellowish voice instantly calmed her heart. "Yes? What is it?" "Our plans have changed. You are scheduled for immediate removal from the chessboard. Come back to base as soon as you're able if you please. Dont make me repeat myself". She lowered her arm, then angrily threw the staff against a pillar, smashing it in one strike. The kids crawled back to their cages, terrorized. "You're lucky. For now. Next time we meet, I'm going to finish the job". She spit in their general direction, then she took off at the speed of sound. V As he recalled his thoughts, Flannar looked around, spacing out. He didnt think he would survive the fall, surely it must have been some divine intervention from his mother. He lived; despite being aware of the frailty of his current mortal vessel, he expected it to be replaced. Yet it still lived. His legs however, were badly injured, his torso had been split open and his arms felt heavy. "Oh well, guess I'll have to wait a little while longer before dying" he stated, admiring the beautiful sun of the early afternoon. He sat there in the middle of the crater his body had generated after the impact, wondering if that was the right course of action. Indeed he needed to hasten back to the city as soon as possible, however he was unsure if the Sorcerer King was already there waiting for him. Lodelliaf had warned him but, as he recalled from his old memories of when he was still a child, the adventurer had had a pretty short memory, so it might have been possible for the entire population to have been enslaved in the span of a single day. "It only stands to reason that I should doubt everything and everyone in this delicate moment. The fragile balance of power between me and the guardians of the city must be confirmed and restored if lost. And besides, I cant wait to see Cledna's face again. I wonder if she still bakes those delicious cakes". His thoughts now were all for his third in command, the young C-160e. He had renamed her Cledna shortly before departing from that place, about 300 years prior. The sweetest name he had ever heard, as a matter of fact, for it belonged to the little female dog of his mother, the very first - and last - gift that Nature had bestowed upon her and her heritage. She died so very young at the age of nine. He had desperately tried to fix her, to make her better, to enhance her lifespan, but alas it was all for naugh. Moreover, his very same actions had caused her to age more rapidly than it should have been possible for such a long lasting race of dogs. Her soft white fur lovingly caressing the tips of his fingers had been one of the very first sensations he had experienced. One he would never forget. As his mortal vessel neared its death, he looked at the palm of his hand and then squeezed his fingers tightly. Blood poured out of his palm. "I wonder... when this is all over, will I be able to see you again Cledna? C-160e bears your name like a badge of pride. You should see how happy she is whenever I call her name". He sighed softly. "Will you forgive me? I hope you will... let us all stay together in the afterlife..." Flannar closed his eyes for a brief moment. A warm feeling pervaded his chest. Then, for what he felt was a split second, a tenuous light engulfed him. Suddenly his eyes were open again, as if brought back by a miracle. His strong arms were unharmed, his chest as powerful as ever. The remains of his previous vessel were still breaking down all around him. A rigid piece of what appeared to be part of his forearm detached itself from his new body. "Ah, I will never get used to this". He tried to get up, first kneeling, then stnading fully. Darkened remains were scattered on the barren soil as if a large porcelain vase had just been smashed into the ground. As his strength rapidly recovered, Flannar contemplated on where to go next. From his position, he would be able to reach the southern borders of the Star City in a few hours on foot, or he could settle for an old shortcut used by travelling merchants in ancient times that led directly into noble lands governed by local peasants just outside the city walls. From there a secret passage created by his mother would help him reach his destination in a single night, for the intricated net of hidden corridors led into all four bastions with no detours. After a moment of consideration, he opted for the latter. He knew that the noble families coming and going from the city were allies and devout servants of his mother, so there wouldnt have been any concerns; should he require their aid, they would provide it in spades. He went and ran fast towards the lush forest separating the mountain pass and those grassy fields, now populated by corn and tall vegetation. He ran past the trolls' nest, jumped over the numerous wolves in search of an easy prey, and dodged the boulders thrown by the giant monkeys standing tall among the kings and queens of the entrance to that green paradise. He did not harm any of them, for he believed in the absolute innocence of animals and creatures of Nature as much as his mother; lady Hilda had taught him to be wary of men and a select few breeds of undead creatures, but beside that, he didnt view any other as hostile and thus not worthy of his immediate attention. With that mindset, Flannar had been able to pass through the forest entirely within a single hour. As dusk rapidly approached its end, his feet finally reached the grassy fields managed by the busy servants of house Falsjago. He knew the general purpose of their labour, however he did not care about trafficking, abuse of substances or slavery. A leader should guide its people, just like his mother had taught him, but he should not interfere with the affairs of humans and beasts alike. He was content being a mere spectator of the drama unfolding before him. Had he seen a servant breaking his back during a particularly heavy session, or because of inhuman working conditions, he wouldnt bat an eye. This wasnt uncommon among slaves; as he passed through yet another field, he saw many sweating profusely, working almost to the brink of tears. THat was none of his concern. His role was supposed to be that of a shepard, detached just enough as to let others' free will dictate how they should spend their own lives. The slaves were simply too weak to rebel or organize an insurrection, and as such they were in that perilous condition. Therefore, helping them wouldn’t make sense. Goodness for the sake of good was totally pointless as one needed to be able to defend himself or at the very least demonstrate the bare minimum required to call himself a man. Still, he wasn't indifferent to their suffering. He looked at them with pity and offered a prayer so that they might one day find the strength to make a difference. He kept on walking till he reached his first and only detour; right behind a large mansion once inhabited by a benevolent lord, he would find the secret entrance leading into the city walls. And so he approached it: the mansion once belonging to the de Bratiant noble lineage, looked ancient and in a very bad shape. A large column of white smoke was emerging from its windows and part of its ruined rooftop. The land was barren, crops destroyed, signs of a large fire and the smell of bloodshed permeated the area. "What in the world happened here?" he commented, remembering the greatness of 50 years prior when he last saw that land. A dim light in the darkness manifested itself. It could be seen from one of the broken windows albeit just for a moment. Flannar decided to investigate, however briefly, to get more intel on that strategic location. Had any servant of the Sorcerer King discovered the secret passage, he may have been too late. He needed to confirm that no other person had acess to that place. Upon entering the building an eerie feeling greeted him. The stench of death filled the air; old bloodstains covered the floor, carpets torn apart, paintings viciously destroyed by what appeared to be giant claws. The walls had been burned or otherwise cut with something heavy, capable of slashing. During his search for clues, Flannar found the source of the light. It was a small candlestick moved by magic forces. An old, tall man in his late sixties followed shortly after the floating candlestick, apparently quite careful as to not produce any sound. His silhouette looked pale and visibly frustrated, droplets of sweat kept pouring all over his face. Judging by his attire, Flannar deduced that it must have been some scavenger with low casting abilities, for he didnt look like a noble at all, unless he had been forced to march in the mud for several weeks. "Hey you. What happened here? Care to tell me?" he inquired, standing a few meters away from his target. The old man turned around in panic, he reached for the hilt of a hidden dagger beneath his belts but got promptly stopped by Flannar's rapid movements. His hand was already on the poor lad's throat, threatening to break that fragile neck within a single motion. However, as his face moved closer to the dimly lit silhouette of his captive, he recognized that person. "By my mother's grace... you're still alive, Jaodar!". And indeed, he was. Jaodar de Bratiant, son of the former owner of these lands, Pyotriksen de Bratiant, was heir to a long decaying dynasty of noblemen from the north; seeking aid after the Sorcerer King's forces started invading the surrounding territories from which his family came, his father had managed to establish, through hard work and sheer determination, a foothold on the Star City's own economy to the point that his name had briefly appeared on a small quantity of bronze coins made specifically in his honor. Not only Pyotriksen had been a prolific inventor, construction worker, entrepreneur and brilliant economist, but he quite literally gave his life to see the city prosper. On the fateful day of the annual merchant guilds' assembly to ensure fair deals and a share of the profits to all whose contributions had been high enough to warrant his approval, he had been assassinated in cold blood by a member of a rival family. Nobody found out who the assassin belonged to, however, it was widely speculated that the Drykven were involved in the act. On that occasion, Flannar was present. He watched it all happen, in silence as it was customary to his demeanour; he did not interfere with the lives of men, despite everything, and thus let the tragedy unfold before his eyes despite an ardent desire to intervene. Back then, Jaodar was about ten years old. He had witnessed his father's murder first hand, watching from a caravan a few paces away from the scene. Had the guards not restrained him, he would have been the first to meet the blade. Many among Pyotriksen's followers were glad that a second tragedy had thus been avoided. But alas, fate had decided to be unkind to Jaodar. The boy was born without a talent. He was the most common of commoners, devoid of even the most basic notion of business and enterprise. Unlike his father, whose life had been full of adventure and thrill, gambles and emotionally wrecking moments of triumph and defeat, Jaodar had nothing gonig for him. He was a recluse, a sociopath, and an arrogant despot to his subordinates. He had no sense of humor nor legitimacy and would often give away his money to prostitutes rather than keep them for a time of need. His only redeeming quality was that he possessed courage in abundance. His recklessness was passionate, some might say he could feel the thrill of being near Death itself. This however would not help him with anything. His behaviour only created a wider gap between him and his peers. And now that Flannar had his eyes pointed at him, he could truly see what a venomous snake he had become. "Jaodar..." The man's eyes had a strange light about them. As he heard his own name, he sighed. "...r fault". "Huh?" "It's ALL YOUR FAULT!" He shook off Flannar's hands with a violent movement to the side, thus landing on his feet a few meters away from him. "You... it's because those filthy sacks of meat were praying to you..." "What are you saying? I dont understand any-" "GONE! THE SLAVES ARE ALL GONE!!" Jaodar grabbed his concealed dagger and pointed it at Flannar with fury in his eyes. "I... I have been a good owner! I never made them do anything impossible! All they had to do was serve me every day faithfully! And then, all of a sudden, they're gone! And my father's mansion..." "What happened here? What's going on?" Flannar kept inquiring as he slowly but steadily advanced in his direction. "All the same... you gods are all the same! You just casually walk in here pretending nothing happened. You're never at fault, you're never interfering. But you are, arent you? Meddling in people's affairs to entertain yourselves. Hell, I bet you're making fun of me right about now, son of Hilda. God? Ha! God my ass!" A yellowish glow emerged from Jaodar's feet, it grew in intensity until it envoeloped his whole body in a tenuous flame. The dagger's blade was shining with magical properties. "There has been a time when I believed in you... but you have abandoned me. My life has been filled with misery and pain and all you did was watch. Why? Why wouldnt you listen to my prayers but those savages can now roam free from my yoke?" "I do not know what you're talking about Jaodar. I just descended my domain to seek for assistance. There are far worse problems at stake right now. Rest assured, I listen to all of your prayers. But the most I can do is guide you. I recall you were a devout servant of my mother's teachings. Then you must know that your misfortunes are not my doing. Your misery, your sorrow, the loss of your slaves... it's all on you, and you alone. I am sorry to hear all of this, but such is how life works. We come to aid in times of need, but beyond a point of extreme peril, we cannot-" "Silence! I have enough of this crap!" the old man shouted as loud as he could "Whether you listen to my prayers or not everything goes to hell anyways. I am so glad we could finally meet again so that I could insult your presence on this earth with my own mouth. The merchant guild's leader predicted this. You are here to stop them from advancing the industrial revolution in town, because it would undermine your religious efforts to keep people ignorant! You just want us to mindlessly pray to you every day so that your power can grow! That’s why… that’s why you’re freeing the slaves!" "This is madness, Jaodar. My powers do not depend on your prayers. Think for a second. All you have been doing until now is feed yourself lies to mitigate your deep frustration over your losses. I will ask again for the last time, reconsider your actions and back off. All I want from you is answers. What happened here? Why the blood, the destruction, the slaves' escape? Is there anyone inside beside you?" "Huh? And what do you care, of all people? Oh... that's right. You're here because of the old tunnel, is that it? Ha! Of course you couldnt be here to save me, alleviate my suffering, give me back my slaves! You're a god in name only!" With that said, Jaodar charged at Flannar with blind rage. The dagger's blade penetrated Flannar's forearm, the force of the thrust was enhanced by the old man's magical enhancements. A loud roar and a slashing sound followed. Flannar moved away from his assailant, staggering like a regular mortal who had just been hit by a powered up thrust to he arm. Jaodar laughed maniacally as if he understood something vital to his survival. "So this is the power of a god! A mere mortal with fancy clothes! And here I was all nervous and fearful for nothing!" The man proceeded to come closer. Another slash, this time to the ankle, made Flannar fall. His body limped briefly before collapsing on the ground. He emitted a loud grunt, then stared back at Jaodar with eyes full of pity. "What's that expression for? Still mocking me after receiving your just beating? I'm not done with you, not one bit. Let it be a lesson to every so called god still out there. From now on, we men will take charge of our own lives! No more slaves of the arrogant deities!" A brief pause ensued. Then, Flannar chuckled. Irated, Jaodar's face writhed in pure rage. "You see, I find it ironic that you want to be free from the gods' yoke while you yourself desperately need to enslave your subjects yet again. You claim that you want your free will back, and yet here I am at your complete mercy. I let you do what you wanted without opposing any reistance. Thus, you have tasted true freedom". "You... you are just mocking me. Endlessly. Just like when my father's-" Upon hearing the start of that sentence, Flannar stood on his feet and marched towards Jaodar with stone-cold eyes as nothing had happened to him. The old man recoiled in panic as he truly believed that his attacks may have had some sort of effect. "Impossible! How..." Flannar's hand reached for Jaodar's dagger. His fingers slowly touched the blade. In a moment, it tore itself apart and split in a million fragments. The aura of power surrounding Jaodar instantly vanished. Still at the mercy of the gods, the man could not do anything but let fate run its course. "My mother always told me... that it is common courtesy for someone as powerful as her to be humble. And we should be humble as well. Since I cannot feel pain from such ridiculous toys, she taught me how to properly behave in front of lesser creatures" Flannar explained while running his fingers across Jaodar's throat, "it will come a time when you will need to face who you really are and who you aspire to be. When that moment comes, you may make a choice. Be a commoner, a man among men, or a special creature, different from you. She taught me the difference between suffering and momentary debilitation. She made me experience true pain as well as true love. Therefore, I have become a better actor than any other. What you inflicted to me was a mere wave of hatred with nothing to back it up". "No... you are no god, you're a monster!" "I offered you mercy yet you refused. I gave you freedom yet you wanted none of it. I told you what I was seeking yet you decided to ignore it. Now you will reap the fruits of your vile nature. Jaodar de Bratiant, you have lived for nothing, done nothing, and will leave nothing to no one. For wasting the precious gift of life in indolence and arrogance, I hereby send you to hell". A second later, Flannar's fingertips were reaching Jaodar's carotid. His hand moved inside the old man's throat with the same ease as a heated up blade slicing through butter. Soon a sea of blood covered the floor; his death had been instantaneous. Flannar did not waste time and threw Jaodar's body at the wall like a useless broken figurine. Upon impact, his remains erupted in a mass of meaty chunks of red and black so thin that it would've been impossible for anyone to recognize a human body from that mess. "May your soul forever rest in peace" Flannar muttered, contemplating the destruction inside the manor, "it is highly likely that he didnt know anything regardless of my actions. This is the work of organized people. There seems to be a certain pattern in this brutality. Moreover, Jaodar offered a hint albeit unknowingly so. The merchant guild's leader... who might that be? Spreading false information about the gods is a surefire way to get arrested and executed. Assuming the church is still intact...". Flannar had to hurry. He picked up the pace, searching every room for any potential clues, but did not find anything of value. Frustrated but still hopeful, he sought to find the old passage through the city walls. He found it behind a double set of false bookshelves in the lower floor of the mansion, after tearing down a fortified brick wall that had been erected by Pyotriksen decades prior. Upon entering the passage, he swiftly passed through a series of small corridors caved into the side of a rocky formation just below the walls, several hundred meters underground. These corridors were further connected with more sets of entrances parallel to the ancient mines previously built by the original crew of players that entered that world with his mother, Hilda. He had known them for a few months before their departure, but that had been enough for him to feel genuine affection towards the demihumans. For that reason alone, he had allowed more races into the city and thus enabled the diverse cast of warriors and priests to set foot into his domain. Normally lady Hilda would not have permitted such action, however, her vision of the world had been greatly distorted by her personal story as she came from a world alien to him where humans were the majority and the planet had been overrun by poisonous alliances, tracerous betrayals and misfits of all kinds. He couldnt even begin to imagine the suffering she had endured in that world. So he had sworn to make that small corner of earth a place where most races could thrive while being supportive of his own rule. Common elves made for excellent bureaucrats, despite what the majority of people would think. Their innate sensitivity and attention to detail were instrumental in the process of further enhancing debates and legislative applications into the city. Humans were a proven workforce capable of enduring a lot of stressful tasks and physical labour, while dwarves had been crucial in the past for their intelligent use of machinery and defensive constructions. While the Star City appeared as a regular city-fortress from an outside perspective, as a matter of fact, it was much more secure than any other nearby kingdom. Flannar had specifically built it as an impregnable bastion to prevent strangers from desecrating his mother's tomb. That was, in theory, the original goal. The subsequent successful expansion of its former walls and extension of its borders hadnt been planned at all. It came as a natural consequence, seeing as tomb raiders and adventurers with evil intentions tried time and time again to loot Hilda's treasury and resting place. Each time they failed, more came. At first they brought only a select few companions, but soon they took their whole families with them. Those who stayed for the climate, atmosphere, luxurious natural beauties and abundance of resources eventually reproduced and willingly settled under Flannar's rule. The underground passages seemed to never end. He knew them like the back of his hand, however, it was not easy to navigate through these intricate webs of tunnels. Eventually, his eyes met the light of dusk once again. The small opening he was facing would then lead him through a set of stairs that ended right behind the municipal building. The second he set foot outside, he was inundated by a sea of voices and shadowy figures walking up and down, a seemingly endless stream of people. Judging by the commotion around him, the size of the decorations and festive attendants running around the plaza, it must have been an important occasion. Suddenly, it came to his attention that there were very few occurrences when bureaucrats of any gender and caliber would be open to festivities; that day was indeed special. The electoral ceremony, created to celebrate the end of the current mayor's term, was the most likely scenario. Flannar sought after some bystanders and thus was able to confirm his suspicion. They would soon elect a new mayor. Before they did that, he had to hurry up and speak with the former regent to keep the flow of information going. He desperately needed to know more. If the Sorcerer King had already passed through the city gates, he needed to hastly put together a team of defenders. His mind was racing at lightning speed: was he too late? Was the Sorcerer King capable of disguise, and if so, was he alone or with a group? Would he wait with his forces outside the city or silently assassinate high ranking officers of Flannar's army? Where they even capable of seeing him, was he invisible? There was no telling what he could do. All Flannar knew were generic horror stories reported by a bunch of survivors of the Sorcerer King's onslaught. His voluntary isolation and passive attitude towards the rest of thw world didnt help his cause. He hurried into the municipal building, unopposed, and headed towards the mayor's office. A large group of bureaucrats clad in black clothes passed by, some were looking at him directly, others were laughing maliciously. They were all too young to know who he was, or even remember "the deity" of the Star City in the first place. He didnt expect them to, nor cared. His protection of the city as a whole was more important than a bunch of nobodies. his concerns were very specific: the vital institutions of the legislative system, crucial military personnel, and a select few specimen for his research. Everyone else was expendable. That is not to say he wouldnt protect them, but the stakes were too high for him to care about single individuals. To his surprise, the office wasnt locked, nor protected by guards. Even though the mayor usually didnt stay there for long periods of time, at the very least a single guard was always present. Protocol dictated that the mayor be escorted at all times except on the roof of the building, by his own decree, for he had to talk privately with his adoptive daughter, and that was the only time he had truly ever been left alone. Flannar knew this, for he himself had instructed his peers before him on such a matter and gave them the same order. Thus concerned, he hesitated for a brief moment. His eyes were fixed on a single point. The doorhandle looked suspiciously clean compared to the decorative frame around it. He hovered over it with his fingers, then retreated. After inhaling profusely, he concentrated on the door. "Tier eight: Faltering Murmur". A wave of powerful breaths came out of his body, as if his whole being were instantly breathing from each and every pore of his skin. Because of this, the door was soon wide open. As it opened, a shockwave come down from the ceiling as if a thunderstorm had struck inside the mayor's office. A loud crackling sound followed by lightning emerged from thin air; the floorboards in front of the office were now covered in ash and blackened marks. "A trap... set by who, I wonder?" Flannar entered the office with caution. He inspected the large desk inside, the cupboards, the drawers. No signs of intrusion. It had to be the work of a professional. "It might be the sign of a riot... no, political intrigue perhaps? ...I shouldnt jump to conclusions. This might also be the work of the Sorcerer King. Although, why would he decide to aim for the mayor of all people. There are far more capable opponents right at the gates..." Flannar wanted to make sense of that situation as soon as possible. He kept on searching for clues until, upon opening a large closet at a few meters from the desk, he got hit by something heavy. Looking down at his feet, he recognized in horror that the thing hitting him was a full sized human torso: inside the closet, a large number of body parts was being stored. Arms, legs, pieces of skulls and fleshy remnants of what appeared to be elven spine and internal organs. Some of them appeared to have been skinned. A large pool of dried blood had covered the inside of the closet, but for some reason there was no smell. Someone had used magic to conceal the foul odor of decomposition and set a trap for him to find. "These are... the guards..." he muttered. There was no more time to think. The mayor was in immediate danger. He hurried to the large hall used by politicians and bureaucrats alike to set up ceremonies and formal debates that required more than one party present. As he expected, they were all there: over six hundred people, some dancing, some engaged in pleasant conversations. None of them had noticed his presence. “My children. I require your immediate attention!” Flannar shouted. His voice sounded like a roaring lion feasting upon its prey. His heavy, blunt tone attracted quite a few annoyed stares. "Lend me your ears! I am Flannar Olgath, protector of the Star City. Point me to the mayor's location at once! The ceremony needs to be stopped, you all may be in immediate danger!" "Protector huh? A god descended among us? And to what end, if I may ask?" someone among the crowd inquired with spiteful attitude. "Bah! Bold of you to show up now, mighty god. Are you even a god though? You do look like a young man rather than a deity. Where is your purple sash? Where are your angels, your magic? Is that black armor of yours supposed to represent something? And that serpent, it looks to me more of an evil omen than a benevolent sign" someone else replied with vehement sarcasm. Flanna couldnt believe it. The devout servants of the gods were much more untrustworthy and distrustful than he thought. Even though when he first abandoned the city, they were all eager to serve him and do what was right for the benefit of the city. Indeed some foreigners and select groups of misfits were always present, however, it now appeared that the corruption and massive greed lurking in the corners of his realm might have seeped into the highest positions of power. "I appeal to your principles and heart, give me the mayor's location at once! You need to interrupt the ceremony without fail and postpone it. Do haste for the fate of our city might be in danger. I also request you to cease your activities and prepare an assembly as soon as possible". "Cease our activities? Are you out of your mind, sir god?" some grumbling politician with a double chin looked at him with scorn. "Do you have a habit of coming down here from your castle in the sky demanding things to your supposed subjects? Are we slaves, perhaps?" someone replied with indignant looks. "No, wait a moment dear friends and fellow party members. Let's hear it. Why would we need to step down from our current political predicaments? There must be a valid reason, right?" a young apprentice wearing white, clean clothes and a long blonde fringe covering his left eye addressed the situation calmly as if to imply that cold reasoning was the key to solve that tense moment. "I cannot divulge the nefarious news to you all. Only a select few need to know. Have faith in me and my mother for I've been sent here to help. There is no other motivation behind my actions. I only ask that you cooperate until the crisis is averted". "Crisis? What nonsense is this. We politicians are here to inspire the populace and avoid any kind of confrontation. It is our duty to prevent crises in the first place. Go back to your domain, sir god. You have nothing to worry about". "If there really is a crisis, wouldnt you be able to solve it yourself? You are a god, after all. Cant you just... produce a solution?" It was clear to Flannar that those who were addressing him directly had no intention of backing down. Cooperation seemed like the last resort as the people he was looking at had well past their prime and any idealism, or ambition of making a difference was long gone from their hearts and minds. Those were old, passive, corrupt sons of a political system that was rotten to the core and had undermined the very reason the Star City had been built in the first place. When he had left over 50 years prior, the first signs of this change were already starting to surface, however Flannar was confident that both Elves of Purity and humans would cooperate to heal the social structure of the city and revamp its beneficial relationship between the people and the institutions. However, now he was certain that not acting sooner had been a grave mistake. "I should have never trusted commoners" he thought to himself as he advanced in front of his disgruntled audience, "now everyone may pay for my sin. Mother, please forgive me. I hope this will not anger you in your sleep. I beg of you, rest peacefully". The god of the Star City, Flannar Olgath, defender of the peace and guardian of the sacred tomb of lady Hilda, pulled his arm up. Then, with a swift movement of his forearm, he swung against the first row of grumbling politicians, all too eager to scream and shout demanding his immediate removal from the ceremony. Despite him aiming for a specific Elf of Purity that had aggressively shouted blasphemous words against his own mother, he lost control of his strength for a brief moment. He wasnt ready to deal with mortal beings once again and thus had to measure his own power with far greater care; his blow did hit the target, however it also caused massive damage to the bystanders. Fifteen aristocrats exploded in a putrescent mass of viscera and sprouting blood emerging from their clothes, stained with bodily fluids, flesh and large chunks of semi-liquified organs spontaneously departed from their carcasses. The red liquid stained everyone in the second and third row, temporarily blinding some of the closest politicians who screamed in horror, frantically trying to make a sense of what they just saw. A general panic ensued; most people still far from Flannar started sprinting in all directions like headless chickens. Of course, nobody wanted to die, however their composure as highly decorated officials, politicians and administrative personnel alike had been completely obliterated. Flannar observed the scene with disdain. Had they witnessed first hand what the Sorcerer King could do, they would have thought what they just saw was akin to a slap on the cheek. Despite everything, someone didnt escape the god's wrath. On the contrary, the young lad who had suggested listening to him a few moments prior stood amidst the blood and gory remains all around him. His composure, pristine. His visage, immaculate. Although his clothes had been stained, he kept looking directly at Flannar with an amused expression. He slowly clapped twice, then he got up from his seat. "Well then, I must admit that I wouldnt have guessed a literal god would have come down here to strike judgement upon our elites. That being said, I'm not totally opposed to the idea. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, lord Flannar. I'm Hendrikvor E'Clannestan, you may remember my grandfather, I suppose". "Your grandfather? ... Byokris the archbishop, of course! What a marvelous devout servant of my mother!" He was overjoyed. Of all the servants still actively preaching the teachings of lady Hilda, Byokris had been one of, if not the most prolific and ardent follower of her faith. Flannar was sure that fate might have been once again on his side. "Precisely. Now, may I accompany you for a short walk? You seem to be clueless as to what is happening around here. Forgive me for stealing away some precious time that you could dedicate to your cause, but I find it of the utmost importance that you be brought up to speed. Your anger seems to be misplaced. I wish to guide you towards better suited targets". "Please do. But I must warn you, although I do know your grandfather well, I am not inclined to perform acts of mercy for those of you who are planning on deceiving me. So make your resolve and be concise for time is of the essence". "Rest assured lord Flannar, I'm on your side. I will never betray your trust…". As they ventured away from the ensuing chaos spreading all around them inside the ceremonial hall, Hendrikvor spoke frankly about all that was happening in the city. While his knowledge wasnt on the same level as the old mayor's, he did mention the three noble houses currently at the top of the food chain, describing them as a mass of sharks eating one another with ever voracious intent. He did not add too many details however, for even he had tried to stay away from their grasp for as long as possible. Thus Flannar had at the very least a bit of context to go after, and perhaps even a place to start looking for the old mayor's whereabouts. They walked from the hall to a well lit service corridor, Flannar patiently awaited for the apprentice to finish. "I sincerely thank you for your service, Hendrikvor. No matter how you look at it, this might take a while. My objective as of now is to find the current mayor and prevent the election of a new one until I'm absolutely certain that he is alive and well. Moreover, I need to reach the guardian of the city, lady Cledna. I dont suppose you have seen her?" "I'm afraid not, my lord. I know of her existence from my grandfather, and then from my father's drawings and recollections, but I've never seen her myself. I'm worried that something might have happened a few years ago. But I wouldnt know what, exactly. You've been gone for five decades, maybe more... things have changed quite a bit". "Indeed they have. Now I can clearly see how pitiful of an existence these villainous bastards conduct for themselves. If only I had stayed a little while longer..." No. That was not the time for regret. Flannar shook off the terrible feeling of inadequacy and turned towards the mayor's office. "When was he supposed to arrive?" "About an hour ago, give or take my lord". "Then something must've happened. I need you to convince as many of your peers as possible and halt the ceremony. They will be tempted to finish it regardless of his presence and elect a new mayor, that must not happen. Whether it's treason, a coup, or... an external influence, I must know what is going on at all costs". "I'll do what I can, my lord. Although I'm not so sure that I'll be able to stop the ceremony. But I do believe that your previous energetic actions might have turned their attention towards bigger problems" Hendrikvor barely suppressed a small laugh. "That was an unfortunate accident. I didnt mean to be so rude. The frailty of the mortal condition is still alien to me. But if it served a greater purpose, then I feel it less of a burden on my conscence" Flannar replied with a stern look on his face. Having found each their own objective, the two parted ways. A little relieved by that encounter, Flannar hastened out of the building. Next, he would've tried the municipal arsenal, where he was certain to find more information about the current state of the city's defenses, and then he'd reach the Bastion of Darkness where Cledna, the city's protector, used to reside. As he entered the facility, he got instantly attacked by a multitude of automatic weapons. First, a series of rotating firearms in the guise of large arquebuses exploded their bullets as he approached the eastern walls of the arsenal's antechamber. Then, sixty crossbows fired a relentless stream of poisoned arrows from both sides of the next room, leading up to the main R&D underground. Then, once he reached the entrance, Flannar got bombarded by a series of shockwaves and an anti-magic field so powerful that, had he been a few levels under, would probably have had disastrous effects on his health. Despite all of that, his condition remained pristine. He was very pleased by the new systems devised against intruders, as none of them were present when he first left the city. Whoever had created such an elaborate web of traps must have been very talented. As a matter of fact, he would soon encounter such a marvelous architect of destruction; upon stepping into the R&D, Flannar was met with shock and awe. The Judge, one of the very first apprentices that he had instructed personally, came to his side in mere seconds. Alongside him, what appeared to be exhausted kids covered in black marks and bruises all over their tiny bodies flocked to him, smiling. "This must be a dream... my lord, it really is you isnt it! How long has it been!" the Judge was overjoyed. "I'm surprised to find you here, Pharx. Sorry, they call you Judge now, do they? I'm truly grateful to see you're well. By my mother, you've grown quite tall". "And how could I not? With your blessings and the miraculous crops lady Hilda provided us with, everyone has been fed to the brink of obesity!" he bursted out laughing, slapping his own belly like a happy child whose meal had been consumed with gusto. "It's an honor to finally meet you, lord Flannar" a small girl dressed in fine clothes, whose presence had up until them been concealed by her peers, spoke to him frankly and politely with the grace of an older lady, "Although they told us you were a little taller than that. But... they didnt exaggerate your beauty. I'm... I-I'm happy to be looking at your clean visage and... eyebrows". "Ha! This is a new one. You're a little too young to be speaking of sex appeal to an older man such as lord Flannar" the Judge interjected without permission. "Young adults grow up so fast in this country. Do you have an eyebrows fetish, Risélla?" Laor-f’ha, the foreigner engineer so far silently observing the scene from a distance, finally spoke, a little malicious and a little curious. "Hey uh... what... what is a fetish?" Mako the youngest of the apprentices asked innocently. "N-No! What are you saying! I was just pointing out... awww forget it!" Risélla turned around and crossed her arms as if to imply that the whole situation made her upset. Nonetheless, her cheeks were bright red. Flannar smiled sincerely. His heart seemed slightly more at ease, even though for a brief instant only. "So which one of you created all those sophisticated mechanisms?" "That... would be me, sir" Plurimo's exhausted smile almost made Flannar consider grabbing a chair for him to seat on. He looked like a broomstick, small, long and full of hair. He must have worked himself to the bone. "Tell me, have you been forced to work so much? Or was it your initiative?" "I've... been working a little more than usual, but I generally love what I'm doing. It serves a greater purpose as well, right? So why not. I'm probably a bit too awkward in public and I dont like crowded places so this feels like home to me. Plus, we're not always working as hard as today". "Right? As the youngest heir to the Brennedt household, it is my duty to ensure that all our subjects are treated decently. Since this facility is currently under our direct control and funding, you know, beside generous subsides from the government, I made it my personal mission to see Plurimo's needs fulfilled" the young mistress from house Brennedt stated proudly, her chin raised high. "I see, I see. I'm pleased to know that. You've done well, miss Risélla". Flannar touched her hair at about shoulder height and gently stroke it with affectionate care. Risélla instinctively shrunk like a small dog that is afraid of taking a bath for the first time. "So I take it that you've been successfully contacted by Asta, my lord?" the Judge suddenly inquired with a serious look, "we have quite a lot of work to do. I have been informed as well, you see. The mayor told me everything". "So you know... no, I havent been contacted by anyone". "What? This is impossible... Asta should've been at the observation deck a few hours ago. Not good. Something must have gone wrong. I'll investigate as soon as we're finished here". "Asta... right. The mayor's daughter. I remember her being a generic NPC before I took her personality onto the next level personally". Flannar recalled her origin. Indeed, she was just a blank slate when he first came into contact with her. She had been born from one of the most recent pools of NPCs from her mother's generation. She had good qualities for scouting and a talent that granted her usage of magic casting without having to announce the next spell. He had been the one to design her personality, her rough habits, and small facets of her being, including her customization. It wasnt his proudest creation by any stretch of the imagination, however he felt like she could produce good results in the long run. The fact that they started using her immediately as a scouting figure and a live communication device was a really good sign in his eyes. The Judge expanded upon her story a little more. He told Flannar how her rebellious attitude was starting to get her in trouble and her desire to get away from the city was ever present. "I should've paid more attention to her backstory. It must have been auto-generated by Dracolitur'xe. No matter, whatever the case we can solve this in no time. Please see to it that she is found and treated to proper care for the time being. I need to speak with her". "Understood my lord. We are almost done with the preparations anyway. New firearms and bullet-propelled weaponry have been implemented recently. Our defenses exceed any other kingdom's expectations. Relying on long ranged weapons has been a fantastic idea". "We shall see. I dont trust any kind of weapon against the Sorcerer King. We need to be extra careful. Who knows what kind of evil plans he has in store for us. I bet his devils are watching, closely monitoring the situation as we speak. He must be laughing at our pathetic display of force. I need you to alert the army's chief of staff with due haste as well. There is no guarantee that Cledna is combat-ready at this time, nor that she'll be in the Bastion. I've heard rumors that she hasnt been seen for quite a while". "Yes my lord. It is as you say, that's unfortunate but lady Cledna has left us several years ago and nobody knows where she is. I have done my own research and it is undoubtedly possible that someone has tried to smuggle her out of the city. You know how gullible she was". "I've always hated that trait of her personality" Flannar remarked regrettably, "why did mother design her that way I wonder? Still, it might not be all lost. I doubt she'd ever venture somewhere that isnt the Star City to begin with. I bet she got involved in something dangerous trying to save naive citizens and got trapped somewhere". Flannar thought about Cledna's own personality; While her evil nature put off quite a few of their peers, she was fundamentally kindhearted. That has been a design flaw of her character, initially introduced by one of lady Hilda’s guildmates, a relentless backstabber and terrible companion. However, since she was an NPC with remarkable abilities, lady Hilda had adopter her and changed some of her traits, thus infusing some sense into her ravenous evil doings. Cledna became more passive, quiet, and reserved. She occasionally started helping her own guildmates spontaneously, but then upon doing so, she would immediately retreat behind Hilda's back, like a scared little kitten. That unusual behaviour must have been the result of such a conflictual vision for the same character, torn between her original creator and her new master. This unnatural development and only partial override of her original feelings led her to believe blindly in almost anyone with a kind attitude towards her, while doubting anyone even passively aggressive. On one hand, her firm attitude and evil side helped her remain a reliable ally and a very effective patrol officer, while on the other her newfound kindness had often betrayed her, preventing several missions from being completed successfully. Lady Hilda had tried time and time again to correct this, but to no avail. And now that Flannar was in charge, he had the burden of responsibility heavily weighting on him. He had trusted her judgement too much, he thought to himself. Another mistake to add to the pile. “I’m not a good commander, indeed perhaps I’m not a good father figure either. I feel like I should remedy to all of this before its too late. It is a shame that it took the Sorcerer King knocking at my doorstep to realize how foolish I was. What a terrible way to succeed to my mother this is". He offered a brief prayer to her, then he respectfully bowed to his subordinates with the promise to return as soon as possible. “I shall be back with Cledna in one piece and avenge any wrongdoings. I promise to you all, this city will know order once again”. “I hope so my lord. I really do. Let us see to it and be ready to hasten our advance. We might have a few days of advantage over the Sorcerer King after all. Even if he’s spying on us, there is little chance that his troops could gather rapidly without any patrol noticing”. “You’re optimistic, Phrax. I always liked that about you”. Flannar didnt wait any longer. He jumped with the force and speed of a bullet from the R&D underground hall to the surface, and landed safely on the streets. His journey inside the Star City seemed quicker than he had anticipated, but that was true only in perspective, because he knew the city’s layout like the back of his own hand. The amount of uncertainties and missing key members of his entourage made it increasingly difficult to find optimism in his situation. As he approached the Bastion of Darkness, he felt like something was amiss. His heart ached with a mixture of remorse and fear. Nonetheless, he opened the large metallic doors leading up to the bastion’s antechamber. The place was shrouded in blackness, illuminated only by two dimly lit torches at the opposite sides of the large round walls, A crimson window frame revealed a small room on the back of the antechamber, inside of it, he could see someone snoozing on a wooden chair, completely uncaring of their surroundings. “They say ignorance is bliss but…”. He considered what to do next. Normally, he would just enter through the window, shake them up a bit, and intimidate them just enough, to the point that they’d willingly want to return to their post for a twelve hour shift. But due to the situation he found himself in, his mood was very much worsened. He then decided to be considerate and assume that the person inside the other room might not even have heard of him in his lifetime. For this reason, he decided to approach the window. “Good day sir. I need to go upstairs. I want to steal every valuable object at the top of the bastion. I will also rob you of all of your coins while I’m here. Is that alright with you?” “*snort*… Huh? Ah sure, whatever”. As expected, the person he was speaking to didnt even listen to him. He sighed lightly. Then, he nonchalantly punched the wall with the back of his hand. The sonic wave produced by his hit was so powerful that the earth itself shook for ten seconds. A wooden chair fell off, and so did the guard sleeping on it. “What? What’s happening?! I… ready the alarm! … Oh. We have a visitor. I’m sorry I was just checking some things. Uh…” “Tell me, do you know who I am?” “Uuuh… no sir, I’m sorry. But I do recognize that crest and armor, for some odd reason. I feel like I should know you but… you seem trustworthy”. Flannar smiled bitterly. He remembered the guard well; he was but a boy when they first met. He had grown into a fine looking man with a decently muscular build, but sadly his attitude and mannerisms didnt improve at all. “I’m glad that hasnt changed at least. We will chat later on, you can be sure of that. For now, I want you to give me access to the top floor”. “Uh sure thing. I mean, I should ask for your name first… I think”. “I am Flannar Olgath, Byaron. Can you at least remember that for a couple more years?” The guard looked at him like he had seen a ghost, his eyes glowing, his hands shaking. “Lord Flannar... In the flesh?! So that’s why I- d-dear lord! I’m terribly sorry sir! This wont happen again I swear, sir! Nobody told me anything, least of all how you looked like. I didnt recall… forgive me. If I had known I-” “Yes yes, I get it. Enough Byaron, dont worry about it. I dont hold you responsible for it, my visit wasnt planned. As a matter of fact, I might not visit ever again”. Byaron bowed deeply and hastened to open the gate that lead to the spiral staircase next to the antechamber. Flannar waved towards him and proceeded upstairs. The first thing he noticed, was a faint smell of roses. As impossible as that might have sounded, they were probably still alive, maybe even thriving. A little sense of joy filled Flannar’s heart, just for a fleeting moment; he might have been able to see her again, the same way he left her. Maybe the years had been kind to her, and the people too. What the Judge had stated might have been just a fluke. He was fully prepared to see her jump from her throne of roses and ivory at any second, he could feel her arms wrapping around his neck, applying such pressure that he would have had to forcibly prevent her from strangling him. As he approached the summit of the bastion, his heart started racing. He could see the last rays of dusk risen just above the rooftop expand downwards, partly revealing a dusty old circular room. He finally set foot inside it, and just as his rampant imagination majestically showed him pictures of the past, silhouettes of a life ago… Reality came barging in on his quest for a sweet reunion. He had hoped. He had sought after. He had perceived. He had imagined. And now, he… “Cledna… no….” Flannar expected a smile. A smile that wasnt there. There were only tears and sadness in his heart now. Darkness had completely engulfed his surroundings, both outside and inside. He timidly approached the room’s center, with the reverence that one reserves for the dead. The smell of roses was no more. There were countless plants and roots coming and going from all directions, withered away long ago. The fragile petals, once bright red, yellow, pink, purple… were all indistinguishably grey. The large ivory throne, wrapped in a delicate floral intricacy, was gone. Only the base remained, buried under layers of dust and stained blankets. Beneath these, Flannar could see an arm dangling, gently pushed by the nightly breeze. Long, delicate aquamarine hair got caught in between several broken pieces of furniture. As he approached that pitiful scene, Flannar barely kept a tear from wetting his cheek. He knelt, extended his arms and wrapped them around a tiny torso. He gently pushed it out, getting rid of the obstacles in his way. A doll, or to be more precise an automaton, was staring blankly in his general direction. A once beautiful girl, her cheeks slightly reddish, healthy and delicate skin tone, big blue eyes with vivid shades of green around her irises. Those same eyes now had no motion, nor life. Her lower torso was in a bad condition. Flannar inspected her thighs and the remains of her legs and feet. “You never left, did you… you never, ever left. That is why nobody could find you. You were here all along…”. The more he inspected her body, caressed her wounds, looked at her disfigured shape, the greater the despair. And then, a surge of uncontrollable fury. “Fetid pests. Pigs… no, monsters, I will find them. And then I’ll end their existence”. Flannar put Cledna’s body on the floor, cleaned her up, and adjusted her long fluffy skirt. “C-160e, Status report”. As he spoke, a soft blue light emerged from the automaton’s chest. A virtual holographic display projected from her breasts gave him a detailed explanation of what was going on. Multiple lacerations, fractures of the skeletal structure, excessive power consumption, critical failure of all systems but the core unit. “Someone had fun with her. There’s a hole in her belly”. Flannar’s hand swept away the dust where her stomach was supposed to be. The feelings of dread and disgust inside were reaching boiling point. He decided that this had to end immediately, otherwise he might go outside and kill every single person in sight. “Message, override priority. Plurimo, are you busy at the moment?” “Lord... Flannar? Well I was trying to calibrate our new rifles, we are almost-” “I’m sorry to burden you like this all of a sudden, but you need to listen to me right now. Drop whatever you’re doing and come to the Bastion of Darkness at once”. “Y-yes my lord, I’ll be there immediately”. . The large hall inside the cathedral of lady Hilda was still filled with the bloody remains of the feast occurred a few hours prior. Due to the large amount of convicts and priests that had met a premature end in that sacred place, work had to be done as fast as possible to prevent anyone from witnessing the horrible display of carnage. For such a purpose, a man had been hastily called by the municipal militiamen presiding the perimeter. Vashtblaff, hero of the Star City, some said self-proclaimed as such, had entered the cathedral to assess the situation. Behind him, two other men made their way into the spectral realm that was then the sacred building once used to worship the gods. The militiamen present at the scene stopped for a brief moment to make sure the two were no ordinary people; upon seeing their attires, they presented their weapons and made way so that they could come close to the center of the hall where the archbishop's body - or perhaps, corpse - was still laying in a pool of his own blood. "What a mess... grandfather was supposed to be alone in this endeavour. What happened here?" One of the two men directly behind Vashtblaff touched the grotesque creature that had been the archbishop with his bare hands. He was none other than Hendrikvor, his grandson. While the resemblance between the two was minimal, there was no denying that their facial features were quite similar in a couple of key positions such as the forehead, the nose bridge and the upper lip. Still, one appeared as a simple man while the other was a huge Elf of Purity with unnatural growth on his extremities. "Salutations, elector Hendrikvor. Dont worry your grandfather will get well soon enough, we've seen far worse in our darkest days'' one of the militiamen spoke frankly. "I hope so. As a side note, I know that you guys are always a bit wary of the Drykvens, but I would appreciate it if you could cooperate fully this time around". "Of course. Please dont take it personally little Drykven lord, this is a natural occurrence for anyone with a passing thought about their own safety" the militiaman replied, visibly uneasy. "I know. I dont take offense to that, not anymore. I... I just want to see this through. It will take some time but I'll get it done". Hendrikvor's interlocutor was walking next to him. His name was Bellmor Drykven, and as a member of the hated noble house that time and time again had displayed its true colours whenever something evil was happening in the suburbs, his mere presence on holy ground was deemed treacherous. Still, he was not an evil man. Born with incredible healing abilities and a natural kindness that was alien to the majority of his peers, Bellmor had sought the church's clemency to be able to do what was, in his personal vision of the world, the right thing. For the past decade he had traveled the world under a false name to be able to heal the poor and enrich the less fortunate inhabitants of the nearby kingdoms, elevating his name to heights of good will and genuine kindness that the average Drykven would never even attempt to reach. And now, barely out of his teens, he was about to embark on a totally different adventure. Hendrickvor greeted Vashtblaff the hero with a simple gesture, then he moved aside to let the timid but resolute Bellmor introduce himself. The difference between them was huge: despite his age, Bellmor looked like a small child with big blue eyes and long blonde hair that barely reached Hendrickvor's chest. Vashtblaff was a massive man with broad shoulders and large forearms that appeared more similar to an orc rather than a regular human being. His pointy chin was large and symmetrical, his teeth looked spiky and bloody as if they had been used to tear apart a big chunk of meat just moments prior. His eyes looked feral and fiery as much as a wild wolf leading his pack to victory. "Greetings oh mighty hero. I was called here in a hurry by my personal friend and colleague Hendrickvor to help you solve this crisis. I am-" "I know who you are, kid. Now move your butt and solve this matter at once". Vashtblaff's voice was coarse and deep like a caveman's. His mannerism was rough and uncultured, totally uncaring for anyone around his proximities. He looked at Bellmor's visage for no more than a couple seconds before turning his back on him. There was nothing more disgusting to him than having to let someone else with such a small stature and insignificant physique do the job for him. But he recognized that he wasnt a magic caster and his role was diametrically opposite to his. "... I understand. Of course I'll cooperate. Please let me do my job then. I will need room to move". "Ha. As if you hadnt enough space already. What more do you require, little man?" "Just the area around the body. Please order your men to dispose of any other corpse and leave the hall completely free from anyone else's remains. This will be tough". "What a demanding little rat you are. Very well then, I guess it needs to be done. You've heard him men! Get your asses moving!" Vashtblaff roared his orders with fierce conviction. Then, he nonchalantly retreated behind the podium where he proceeded to look for something on the floor. "Must've been here somewhere. I know I saw it earlier". After a couple minutes, he threw a punch against the wooden handrails next to the podium with enough force to break them into pieces. "Yes! Here it is! Ha, as I thought the old bastard came out from here!" He grabbed something on the floor, possibly a small metallic object, and then he pulled with all his might. In a moment a large trapdoor was revealed to the bystanders. Behind the trapdoor, there was a long flight of stairs leading downward into darkness. "Hey you, know anything about this? Where does this thing lead?" Vashtblaff rudely addressed Hendrikvor while spitting on his own hands to get rid of the dust left on his fingers. "I'm afraid I dont know the details. Grandfather had a certain... role, in the church's hierarchy. He didnt have the liberty to divulge where he was going nor what he was up to on a regular basis. I often tried to avoid any sensitive subject regarding the church of lady Hilda to not offend him. However, I think I might have a hunch. He often performed what was defined as a miracle healing ritual every so often. Part of his current condition has been caused by his frequent use of his powers during such an occasion". "Miracle healing ritual huh? What a ridiculous name. I bet that was some kind of tribal orgy!" Vashtblaff smiled maliciously as if his joke had been the best thing anyone said at that moment. "Whatever the case may be, I'll shed a light on this. By tomorrow morning everyone will know what kind of monstruosity is hidden beneath the cathedral. I must thank you for your service, elector Hendrickvor. Without your connections we wouldnt have been able to look into this". "Please dont think of me as a co-conspirator. I was merely following a lead to help lord Flannar. It just so happened that my path crossed my grandfather's. And I would greatly appreciate it if you could refrain from divulging the details of your findings with the general populace. We must appropriately filter any and all discoveries to not cause unnecessary chaos, especially now". "Yes yes I get it. Move along already, dont let me stop you. Do what you have to do, just dont get in the way of our investigation". Hendrickvor and Bellmor exchanged looks, then the former knelt in front of the latter. "My sincerest apologies, good friend. I didnt expect this encounter to turn so unpleasant. Please be at ease, I'll be outside taking a stroll. Should anything happen, do not hesitate to contact me. I'll be sure to take you out of here". Bellmor smiled gently as he took Hendrickvor's hands. "You're too kind for your own good. Dont worry about me, I'm used to it by now. There have been much worse instances of ingratitude in my life. What's important right now is that the healing ritual succeeds". A few minutes later, the area was finally ready for him to exercise his magic abilities. As Bellmor casted his preparatory spells and enchanted his surgical tools, Vashtblaff descended into a sea of blackness. He was not afraid in the least, for his natural night vision granted him the ability to see in the dark. Not only that, his body was naturally resistant to any spell based on evil alignments, and his strong constitution had been the very reason why he was chosen as second in command of the militia. While he technically wasnt the head of the army, one could argue that Vashtblaff had more than enough courage and might in him to be considered an honorary general in chief. When he reached the end of the long stairway, he sought after the nearest source of light. He found one not too far away, near a large wooden door that was guarded by a high priest. "Greetings. I'm here as a representative of the people above the surface. Kindly let me pass if you please. If you refuse, I might have to smash this door". "How rude of you, sir hero. You should know that the church of lady Hilda has nothing to hide. Proceed at your leisure, although I must warn you... you might find something unpleasant inside". The high priest didnt lose his composure. He seemed unaffected by Vashtblaff's presence or perhaps he simply was uncaring as he moved aside. "If you had nothing to hide, you would've let that trapdoor wide open for anyone to see. Still, I'm intrigued by what you just said. Unpleasant huh? Let's see". Vashtblaff's curiosity peaked as he entered the dimly lit area before him. What he found inside was nothing short of shocking. A large slab of granite sat at the center of the room, covered in blood. A bed of flowers, emanating a poignant smell, had been put all around it. The first thing Vashtblaff saw were a pair of familiar feet dangling at the side of the slab of granite. "No way... the little brat is dead... this is... damn!" Indeed, coming a bit closer, he acknowledged his discovery with the tiniest amount of pity in his heart. The corpse laying down in that makeshift autopsy table belonged to Asta, the old major's - and his own - adoptive daughter. Her torso was intact, as well as her legs and part of her arms. However, from the shoulders to the base of the neck, deep cuts had slashed open the flesh all the way up to the bone. The head had been severed and there it stood, almost perfectly preserved, placed above the remnants of her clavicles. "... I told you to stay put. But you wouldnt listen to anything I said. This is your own fault. Following that blabbering buffoon of a mayor instead of me has been the worst mistake yuo could've ever done. But I guess you've figured out as much now, huh?" Vashtblaff muttered these words while contemplating the corpse with curiosity and a tiny hint of sarcasm. He found it ironic that she fell victim to someone's schemes, no dobut to prevent lord Flannar from coming back, since she was the one secretly planning on escaping the Star City in the first place. "Wasnt she your daughter, oh mighty hero?" the high priest inquired. "Nah. She was... someone I have been entrusted to. But what do you care anyway? Priests of the church of lady Hilda cant have kids. You wouldnt understand". "Oh believe me, I do. I have been entrusted with special children as well, you see". "Special? In what way?" "It exists a clear distinction between human beings, elves and Elves of Purity. The process of awakening of our powers requires certain rituals. But I digress. You'll be witness to one yourself in the future, I'm sure". "We'll see about that. For now I'm just glad she is still intact. This means she can be resurrected, right?" "That was what the archbishop intended to do, yes. If your associates manage to heal his wounds then all will be alright". "And if they cant?" "In that case... you might face severe consequences. But that is not for me to decide. The gods will see through it with their merciful warmth". "Merciful.... ha. When have the gods ever been merciful anyway?" Vashtblaff didnt wait for the high priest's response. Instead, he kept on exploring the nearby rooms sniffing in every corner like a hungry dog. Corpses, many corpses. Scent of children, blood, stench of the elderly, death and finally, the smell of tears. His acute sense of smell let him recognize all of that. Once he had a pretty clear picture of what had been happening inside these obscure cells, he felt somewhat satisfied. However, he didnt want to interfere, not right then and there. He needed time to process their motives, get more intel on the archbishop, and most importantly, he needed to prepare the army for the upcoming battle. The Sorcerer King must've been waiting for them outside the city borders. So, as his beastly nature called for action, he realized the one truth of the situation. "If I cant press any charges against the church, I cannot interrogate the archbishop until this mess is over, and I have no way of contacting lord Flannar directly... that means that the fate of the city rests solely upon my shoulders. This... is actually incredibly exciting!!" Vashtblaff's expression went from wild but resolute, to absolutely insane. In his deep irises one could only find an endless lust for blood and vengeance. He finished his search and, without stopping by the high priest still guarding her adoptive daughter's corpse, he ran upstairs jumping steps at a rate of five to ten at a time. He came into view of young Bellmor Drykven as he was about to end his ritual, absorbed deep in concentration. "Let's not disturb the little brat then... I look forward to seeing that old, putrid sack of lard revived. Now onwards, to victory!" his heart ached for resolution. He jumped as high as a bird, his hands quickly grabbed onto the highest set of pillars still intact that dominated the center of the cathedral, and from there he jumped off again onto one of the large windows that had been destroyed during the night. He landed on all fours at a hundred meters away from the cathedral, creating heavy dustbowls all around his body upon impact. With that beastly position, he sprinted as fast as the wind and reached the headquarters of the militia, avoiding any and all streets. The rooftops and cimneys were his personal passage to where he wanted to go. There was nothing more liberating and exhilarating than being able to move this fast and so freely, the only thing that could top it would have been being able to kill the Sorcerer King himself. He felt the urge to restrain a wild animal, to tear apart a beast... to feast on one of the Sorcerer King's lieutenants. He had heard rumors about them; apparently, they were a large enough group to scare off even the most valiant knight. It was said that only one of them could tear apart a nation. But he was convinced that those were just rumors, probably fostered by a long streak of victories on the battlefield. Some said they looked like animals, one of them was a literal beetle of gigantic proportions. That notion alone made him even more excited. As he entered the headquarters, little more than a couple of fortified buildings with a set of houses protected by iron gates, he stormed the armory and immediately inspected all blades that were stored inside. Then, after calling all of his subordinates, fifteen among the most brave and strong men in the city, he addressed them with words of fury. "You call yourselves protectors of the city-state? Ha! What nonsense. Maggots, that's what you are! I left you here in good faith for about two months looking for new challenges, hoping to come back and look at you in the eyes as my equals. But I see no equal in here. You've been slacking off all day, have you?! Your swords arent polished enough, your muskets have not been used in ages, and whats worse our rifles, the trump card of the nation, have not been moved from the municipal arsenal to here yet. What the hell are you guys trying to pull? Want to start a mutiny or something?! If so, you'll have to respond directly to me!" Everyone was deeply afraid for their safety. Although they trusted his judgement, whenever Vashtblaff was seen like that, there was no stopping him in his ramblings. He could go on for hours on end, and if anyone dared oppose him, he would simply smack them in their face with such force that they'd end up slammed against the wall. "Then... what are our orders, sir?" one of his men finally spoke, interrupting his elaborate train of thought. "Ah, sure, sure you're right. I need to issue orders now. Well! Soldiers, hear my commands! I need you to recover all available rifles from the municipal arsenal and store them in our armory. Then, I urge you to train as hard as you can for the next ten days while calling all able bodied men to action. Nobody shall be spared, from the age of fifteen to fifty, I want them all enlisted. If women want to give up their right and be thrown in the battlefield, I welcome their patriotic spirit as well". "That will be troublesome. What about the nobles? And the merchant guild? They've been opposing our efforts for the past few days. It seems as though the new head of the guild doesnt like lord Flannar meddling in their affairs". "What's that supposed to mean? That is preposterous! Who's in charge of the guild now?!" "It's... some woman, we dont know the details. But it is certain that she was voted head of the guild by unanimous vote. It would seem that she's been very popular with the merchants from the very beginning. Some say she's the daughter of a great businessman distributing her riches among the merchants in exchange for favors and political influence". "This is madness! Do we have time to think about politics now?! The heart of the nation is being attacked and all they care about is money??! I wont stand for this. Assemble a platoon armed to the teeth and march to the guildmaster's quarters at once. Make sure your men are presentable and that they look menacing enough. Dont threaten them, unless they strike first. You are allowed to use force if necessary". "This seems a sound plan sir, it shall be done". The few still brave enough to speak mustered the courage to tell Vashtblaff that his genius was obviously right. There was no opposing him, after all. And with that, the large, strong, rough ogre-looking man grabbed the nearest sword from one of his subordinates and left. "Dont disappoint me. With all the fuss in the cathedral and the agitation amongst the merchants, it is clear now that the Sorcerer King draws nearer. I estimate that we have more or less ten to fifteen days, maybe a full month in the best case scenario. So I want you to hasten all preparations and assemble the militia at full strength by then. There is no telling whether the church of lady Hilda will help us out or not, but if they try anything they shall be dealt with by me personally. So keep your eyes peeled. The enemy is all around us, stay vigilant and keep your wits high!" Everyone nodded as he jumped off the stairs with the vivacity of a kid eager to run off in the fileds to play. As soon as his imposing presence was out of their sight however, they sighed, looking at each other with ever worrying thoughts. "So, what should we do now?" "What do you mean? We do what we're told. I dont know about you but I sure feel the need to feed my kids this month". "Such materialism... you know, if the Sorcerer King wins we may end up not having anything to feed ourselves with at all". "And what would you suggest instead? Just surrender?" "Why not? Isnt that a reasonable thing to do in this situation?" "Baaaah, forget it! We are wasting time over nothing! There must be a solution to all this. The nobles, the merchants, the war... all at once. It cannot be a coincidence, I tell you". "You're too paranoid. We need to think about one problem at a time". "I agree but then, what do we do?" The conversation appeared to have moved in circles. A long silence followed, then the tallest man in the group, with long pointy moustaches, put himself at the center of attention. "This isnt getting us anywhere, gentlemen. Let's do what we must in a sensible way. First, retrieving the equipment from the municipal's arsenal. That we must do quickly. Secondly, training. There is no telling whether we can truly expect ten days of peace, so I would suggest that we consolidate what we already have. How many are left in your districts?" "On active duty? I have... 20 patrols, two musketeer companies on leave, and a handful of policemen in office duty". Everyone shared their respective information. A rough estimate was then put in place. "Alright gentlemen. We have about 8.000 troops that can be mobilized immediately with reasonable training. 4.500 more can be achieved within a month. Which puts us at about 12.500 men at the absolute maximum capacity. While it does sound promising, you know this wont be enough. So... our only long term solution would be stalling the Sorcerer King's troops for as long as we can until lord Flannar comes in. Do we agree on this?" Everyone nodded firmly. That seemed sound reasoning. The only thing left to wonder was the question of the nobles and the merchant guild. "I think... we need to stick to Vashtblaff's plan. There is no way we'll be able to avoid this. Either he'll beat us senseless and accuse us of insubordination, or we'll beat the merchants senseless and accuse them of treason. It's either them or us, we have to do this as quickly and painlessly as possible". "Agreed. But then how do we do it?" "We'll march on the guild tonight, when everyone is fast asleep. After all they're just a bunch of merchants, what can they even do to us? We only need to surprise them and confirm that no suspicious activity is being conducted inside". The verdict was unanimous. Everyone agreed to the plan and started their own preparations for each district of the city. While this was happening, long gone from the hearts and minds of his men, Vashtblaff didnt waste any time; he had started scouting the plains around the city with ever growing impatience, assisted by a small team of cavalrymen of his choosing. There appeared to have been bands of misfits lurking around in the outskirts, hiding in the rocky formations at the edge of the forest. Something suspicious was going on, according to the rumors. "If I cant do anything else but sit and wait for the Sorcerer King to show up, I might as well have some fun" he thought, eagerly investigating the natural caves in and around the designed areas in search of a sign of misconduct. Anything would have sufficed: he would have gladly beaten someone to a pulp if he had found out the smallest amount of evidence to incriminate anyone in the perimeter. As it happened, he finally found someone worthy of his interest. A gentleman with a finely crafted orange coat, wearing a distinctive outfit that he had never seen before, was inspecting some rocks near a peculiar entrance, possibly artificial. He observed him for a while from a safe distance. His composed demeanour, slow but precise movements and attentive look reminded him of a very meticulous person that knows their stuff. Despite Vashtblaff's accurate observations, it took him a while before realizing that the creature he was looking at had in fact a tail and pointy ears. "Hmmm, could he be part of the elder Elves of Purity? I do not know all of their racial traits but they sure look ugly". Despite his incommensurable will to just run up there and smash his victim's head with his bare fists, he exercised a lot of restraint on himself and decided to show up in a civilized manner, to at least give a semblance of legitimacy to what he was about to do. "Hold it right there, citizen! Who are you? What are you doing here?" The person he was addressing slowly turned towards him. He smiled, touching his chin with his index finger as if he were thinking of something neat. "I beg you pardon? Who am I speaking to?" Vashtblaff wasnt sure, but it seemed as if the replied he just received came from multiple directions, including his back. "I'm a representative of the law. If you dont know me, then it means that you are either a trespasser or a visitor. So, which one is it? Are you here to stir up trouble or enter our great city in peace?" "Neither. I'm here to observe". "And what exactly are you observing?" "Rocks". "Is this guy mocking me?" Vashtblaff's blood started to boil. He clenched his fist but didnt dare make a move yet. "What purpose do you have in our city?" "Currently I'm not in your city, representative of the law". "But you will enter, sooner or later. Or are you suggesting that staying in the plains is preferable to our graceful hospitality?" "I am not suggesting anything. But perhaps you'd want to look behind you now". "Huh? The oldest trick in the book? So he really wants to attack me after all!" Vashtblaff finally had an excuse. He went to pull out his sword but then, his acute senses told him to turn around immediately and so he did. He managed to slash at something just in the nick of time before his back had been pierced. Then he realized that what the stranger had told him was true; two bandits armed with short daggers had spotted him and went silently behind his back with the clear intent of killing him. His sword hit both in a single strike, slashing their throats. "Damn that was closer than it should have been. How come I didnt sense them on time? I should've been able to do that flawlessly". He was perplexed and slightly worried. That was the first time his senses had failed him, and even more worrying still was that stranger's voice. It felt suave and calming, while at the same time terrifying. He turned to face him, but that person was gone. Vashtblaff searched far and wide in the plain, to no avail. "I'm seeing ghosts now? What the hell is happening here... Bah, I need to forget this. He probably was a magic caster. If he wanted to kill me he could've done it immediately. You know what, I'll switch to a smaller target. I bet my subordinates' monthly pay that these caves are full of bandits". He acted upon it immediately; recalling his cavalrymen, he went into all of the caves which had the tiniest bit of light coming out of them, whether by virtue of refraction or reflection. Simply put, he was obsessed with his frustrations and had no way to convey them to anyone, nor let off that heavy burden. Thankfully for him, he found plenty of real bandits and mercenaries inside doing all kinds of shady deals. It was no mere coincidence in fact, that someone as powerful as a magic caster would've been seen in that area, he thought. Mercenaries often needed magical aid in battle, or on the field to perform trickeries and scams alike. Using his fury and his fists, he disposed of the majority of them, thus finally releasing all that pent up pressure. He smashed heads, tore up torsos, broke legs and enslaved female bandits to his will. Once he had finished applying his very own justice, he took some coins away from the scene and divided them among his cavalrymen, who were equally eager to enact vengeance for the stupidest reasons. "Ah! Today has been a good day my friends! Let us all celebrate with good wine and fine women!" he bursted out laughing while spanking a female prisoner with gusto, "Make sure to save at least half of the gold coins. It needs to be put to good use, after all. Remember, we are ultimately serving the militia and the good people of our great nation". "Yes! To the nation!" his men replied, already soaked in drunkenness. It was a mere maniple of 500 cavalrymen, little more than a company of horse, however they were all, for better or worse, used to pillaging, killing, molesting and enslaving. Some of them had been borrowed from the Falsjago family line, others were willing conscripts who were being promised days of free torture and depravity in exchange for a job well done. In either case, those were scum of the earth, according to human laws. However, Vashtblaff consoidered them a bunch of good for nothing kids who were in dire need of discipline, nothing more, nothing less. As long as he was around, he would've been able to control them and bend them to his will, as his personal unit in the army. And if the situation called for it, he would have gladly sacrificed all of them to stop the Sorcerer King's advance. At that moment, a brilliant idea struck his brain: he would have waited there for the enemy to appear, instead of sitting idle in his headquarters back home for ten days. "I need to wait for my men to finish any kind of proper training before moving on to the next phase. And the Drykven kid hasnt finished with his resurrection yet. Let's take one more step to prevent the Sorcerer King from coming into the city. Once the situation with the merchants' guild has been quelled, I'll set camp here just outside the city's borders, and then devise a series of traps for the enemy. Marvelous, yes that's a genius move". He intended to dig ditches, make up trenches, set up wooden palisades and take the artillery out of the city to put it directly in front of the gates. That way, he thought, nobody would dare even approach his great nation. And the fact that he had to defend only one city was in fact his biggest advantage. There were only three entrances, from the north, south, and east. Of course there were plenty of caves and secret passages underneath where the catacombs stood, but who would even think about entering from beneath the ground? "No true ruler would ever put his men through mud and darkness willingly. The Sorcerer King cant just expect to dig up a tunnel and catch us by surprise, traversing the whole of the catacombs. That would be truly ridiculous" Vashtblaff thought so with deep conviction, "but just in case, I'll send a squad of scouts to verify this". Reveling in his own glory, marveling at his tactical genius and completely, utterly ready to confront the enemy lieutenants, he ordered his cavalrymen to set camp there for the rest of the day. He would soon sleep in the plain to quell his grumbling stomach and enjoy the brief moments of peace that him and his city still had. Soon, he told himself, the milita would need to rise up against lord Flannar's opposition and enact the will of the gods in full. He was already tasting the sweet scent of the money exacted from the corrupted church, the pillaging at the Sorcerer King's expense, and on top of it all, the sense of justice he derived from it. A shot of endorphin directly to his cortex, better than women, better than killing. He, way more than the Judge himself, felt the need to be the best at what he did: destroy the enemy and restore peace, at all costs. With that in mind, Vashtblaff the hero finally fell asleep. As soon as he closed his eyes, he immediately felt at peace with the world. His heart was already beating slower than normal, his brain descended into rem phase. It felt like any and all sounds suddenly faded, as well as all sensations from his limbs. "What a peaceful day... I wish this day would last forever". "Oh, really? Well then, your wish might as well be granted at this point". Someone had whispered into his ear. Or perhaps it was directly in front of him? Vashtblaff couldnt comprehend. In a moment, the stranger he saw earlier, a fine gentleman with big crystal eyeglasses and exotic orange suit, appeared before him. He seemed to be walking in his direction, slowly, his hands behind his back. He looked confident and relaxed. "Greetings representative of the law. This intermission wasnt planned, I just wanted to test whether my spells could work at this distance or not. I'll leave soon". "Huh? Leave? Where to?" "Nowhere concerning you. Tell me, are you the only protector of the city?" "Uh, no, of course not. But I'm the greatest, and the most feared! You will soon see my mighty army march to battle into the sun and win the day for our great nation!!" "Hm, I see. So there really is nobody else more powerful than you?" "No I tell you, only the gods would be as powerful as me. Although, the only one still around is lord Flannar, hah, that little shit couldnt stand a chance against me. But he has his magic on his side. Whatever the case may be, he is not physically more fit than me. In short, I'm the muscle, he is the mind, and then there's the army..." "Oh, splendid. This information is very valuable. Thank you for telling me". "What are you planning to do with what I just told you, stranger? You visit me in my sleep with your petty little magic tricks but you dont even dare answer my questions. You ran away before, but you cant do the same now, since you're in my head". The stranger suddenly stopped advancing. He looked directly at Vashtblaff with a smirk. "True, I am inside your head. But there is nothing here, apparently. So I can just get out at my leisure". The man turned his back to Vashtblaff and walked away. "Hey! Come back here! You cant just say that and leave me! I demand a duel! We need to settle this now!" "So you would challenge me? Are you sure?" the stranger stopped again, this time he kept giving his back to Vashtblaff. "Hell yes I would! In fact, wait till I wake up and I'll make you regret it". "Ah, if that's the only hiccup, then let me assist you". The stranger snapped his fingers, and just like that, Vashtblaff's eyes opened. He was standing still, in the same spot he used to sleep. The stranger was right in front of him, at the same distance he was during his dream. "Well then, shall we begin? Show me something interesting. I will give you five seconds". "Wha-" "4...3..." "Hmph. Just like that huh? Fine! Frostward Spike! Ascending Inferno! River of Lust! Balthus's Fury!" As he invoked his Martial Arts, Vashtblaff started sweating. He wasnt expecting a real duel so soon, but part of him was really excited for the opportunity. His muscles grew exponentially, his height exceeded 3 meters, his fingernails acquired stone-like properties, his fingertips started glowing crimson red as a fiery burst erupted from his palms. His feral eyes mutated into solid blocks of glowing lava, a large crest made entirely of spiky metal grew on his head. By the end of it all, he looked like a monstrous demonic entity with his face partially melting into flashing bursts of never ending lava. "...and 1. Time's up I'm afraid. Please take care not to stain the suit". Vashtblaff felt like that moment was exhilarating. He jumped at the stranger with all his might, at the peak of his strength, fully rested and animated by anger. "This is retribution, magic caster! Take back what you said!" he roared while striking a bolt of magma and rocks at the stranger. Cold. The self proclaimed hero of the Star City felt incredibly cold, even amidst pure lava. The lavic fumes emerging from his throat would just freeze before reaching his nostrils. Everything around him spun, then the scenario lost its colour. He was looking at a world in black and white. For just a split second, he saw a very young Asta, almost an infant, waving at him. "Stupid brat. I should've taken you into custody by force. Why... why did you follow that old man... lord Flannar, was I not enough? I've b-" A loud splashing noise woke up everyone in the makeshift camp on the plain just outside of the city walls. The cavalrymen looked at the source of the sound in horror and shock; Vashtblaff's body had been torn open from the neck all the way down to his hips. His organs, as well as his flaming flesh covered in darkened rocks and lava, melted away into nothingness as soon as they reached the ground. A puddle of blood, magma and fleshy stones soon formed where their commander used to stand. His head, still intact, rolled over a small hill and stopped. His face had been completely melted. The only thing that remained was his lower lip, where his mouth used to be. Everyone screamed and shouted angrily as they ventured closer to inspect the scene. Only one man stood where he was. The stranger, displaying a satisfied smirk, moved one of his hands to his cravat and shook it a little. "You shouldnt have picked this fight, if you had no confidence in winning it. Excitement alone is better left to monkeys such as yourselves". Upon hearing that, most of the cavalrymen tried approaching him from multiple sides, as if numbers could overcome the odds. "Hmm. Apparently I'm outnumbered. Let's even the odds, shall we?" With that said, the stranger called forth a blinding blaze of light. From it, something unnatural and extremely evil emerged. The bystanders were immediately overwhelmed by a great sense of dread and madness that violently shook their morale and urged them to flee the scene. "Kindly dispose of them if you please. Next, come back to the camp, I have new orders for you". The creature who had been summoned nodded firmly. Tall, muscular and beautiful looking, the young man wielded his scythe with pride, and with it assaulted and massacred all the fleeing cavalrymen, picking them one by one with extreme cruelty. As he made his way up the gentle slope that would have taken him back to base, Demiurge saw someone running at him with great speed and agitation. "What is it Entoma? I told you not to leave the camp unless it's extremely urgent". "Ah! Lord Demiurge! It's terrible! Lord Mare... he..." "Hmm? What about him?" "Lord Mare is injured! He has been injured in battle!!" Demiurge stopped. For a moment, it felt like reality itself had a weight of its own. And he was feeling all of it crushing his chest. "What are you saying? That's impossible!" "But it's the truth! Please go look for yourself, this is very bad!" "To harm Mare of all guardians... that is... but how, I didnt foresee... Let me have a look at him, dont tell anything to lord Ainz until we are absolutely certain of what is going on". Demiurge felt the urge to punish himself in any way possible, but he restrained his own hands because he had to ascertain the situation first. If what Entoma had told him really was true, then there would be war. A war so great that nothing would stop him from seeing the whole city destroyed and all of its inhabitants reduced to ash, time and time again. He would ensure a victory so complete that lord Ainz would be able to kill his opponents over and over for all eternity. And whoever was responsible for harming Mare, would have received the highest, most atrocious punishment he could conceive.