The Main Branch was the culmination of Galia’s efforts in the last century, where historical esoteric devices and artifacts resided as a testament of her inhuman lifespan. Her youthful appearance carried the blend of maturity found in the wise and elderly.

How long had she been living in Elysia for? Her time spent on Earth? The Nexus became accessible to all Blessed exactly 50 years ago thanks to the Warped Stone. But what happened before it?

Jury didn’t wish to act on her ravenous curiosity. She almost asked, but her voice latched to her throat as they moved into the colorless crystal, suddenly finding themselves inside of a hollow, spherical cathedral. There were no private rooms, for everything was open for all to witness in its revered glory.

The Main Branch consisted of multiple floors, each held by 12 distinct pillars that were arranged like a dodecagon. Hallways branched off into 12 more locations, each terminating with a spherical room that saw colorful crystals floating in place. They were smaller versions of the ones outside, their purpose as enigmatic as the thoughts that ran in the heads of her guides.

In each spherical node was a pillar of light that rose to the highest floor. But if one looked closely, they’d realize that the colorful displays of light were in fact millions, perhaps even billions of tiny crystal bullets.

Indeed. The Main Branch was where the crystal bullets were created, stored, and sent to the weapons of the Justica Arms when they were called upon. Jury was awestruck, her eyes trembling at the majesty of Galia’s Workshop as they went over the intricate, golden inscriptions that were drawn around the inner rims of the ceiling above like murals.

Depending on where one observed, the silhouettes of a person could be seen from the pale branches that spilled into the central cavity of the Main Branch, and as Galia and the Arbiter led her towards the purple side, she realized who these focused installations of art depicted.

“Bartholow. The Apostles. Amazing…” Was all she could utter.

Galia warmly smiled in response, elated to hear that her ‘home’ was up to Jury’s standards. The Arbiter hummed a delightful note, her tails rising like the feathers of a peacock as though to stretch them.

“This is my Workshop. Where all 12 variants of my Justica Arms are created, and where all 12 bullet types are forged and stored. This is the lifeblood of my Branches. The supplier of Justice. This is where it begins, and…”

Suddenly, a floating slab of stone came floating by, led by individuals in black and white garbs. The length of their ribbon-like apparel were hung on the shoulders of one another as they escorted the slab towards the central light.

And on that slab laid the deceased body of an Elven Justica Arms employee, surrounded by white lilies, as a bundle of chrysanthemums were held in their cold clutches.

“… where it ends. One day I will receive an Apostle on a stone plaque. I fear that day will one day come. It’s become a dangerous world, almost to the levels of when I first arrived a century ago. Have a look around~ Touch what you wish.”

“I’m… fine. Thank you. Are those objects relics of yours?” Jury pointed to the numerous items that were on display along the walls, which were left disturbingly within reach of her personnel.

“Small arms. Some in the prototype stage. They’re there for protection. I’m quite fond of my personnel, enough where I allow them to live within my Workshop.” Galia eloquently spoke, and with the flick of her fingers, one of the items appeared before Jury.

“O-Oh – Got it!” She fumbled it, catching it with her tail as she quizzically looked at the item in her palms. “It’s tiny. It looks like an ‘L’ shaped weapon.”

“I call it the Justica Small Arms. A handheld, convenient device capable of delivering small caliber crystal bullets. On Earth, we had cumbersome versions called flintlock pistols. These are the holy weapons of my admittedly weak Sacral personnel.”

“It looks harmless…”

“That is the point. No one would suspect a thing.” Michaela answered, kindly removing the weapon from Jury’s hands. “It’s fascinating how technologically advanced this world is, yet it’s rooted in a primitive era. We’ve skipped steam and combustion, and moved into a reign of convenience, powered by bottled suffering. Nex is an unforgiving resource because of its origins.”

“Unforgiving doesn’t do it justice. People are incentivized to make people suffer as much as possible to extract the most out of them.” Jury gratingly spoke.

“It’s the truth.” Galia said, snapping her fingers as the Justica Small Arm returned to its rightful place. She then began to walk towards a clear section reminiscent to the Central Relay, her back demanding that they follow.

“So you’re the same?” Jury asked.

“I don’t create Nex myself. Being free from the vice of the Warped Stone means I require far less Nex to live. But, to maintain what I’ve built I will always require a steady stream. We do not harvest Nex. We have other Ateliers that provide us with it. We call ourselves business partners, but between you and I: there exists an impetus that keeps them constantly supplying me.”

“Like Oboros Infinitas?” Jury’s curiosity began pouring out, and Galia had no qualms in sating it.

“Oboros Infinitas are different. We have a deal and stable partnership. We hand over unforgivable criminals, and they make the most out of them. In exchange, we are rewarded a percentage of the accumulated Nex.”

They came across more of her Sacral personnel as she spoke.

People wandered by in draped robes carrying crystal fragments in palms as though they were sacred objects.

They were blinded by pale cloth, for they were guided by faith alone. They wore headwear more than meters long, consisting of a golden plate and the finest of white fabric. These exalted individuals consisted solely of humans, whereas the Branches tended to use Elves.