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Sitting back on her throne, Elinor’s focus wandered between the gathering Ri’bot, humans, and Yaltha’ma that had gathered across the balconies to observe the gathering in the Grand Hall; she figured with the order to remain inside after the heavy blizzard began, many were restless.

She could see the various groups whispering to one another, but the atmosphere had changed, unlike the first few weeks.  The faith on every level fed to her Religious System, giving her an idea of where they stood as a whole.

Naturally, the humans were the most resistant to see her as a goddess compared to the other creatures.  However, that was quickly changing by the day, and the largest shift had been when their shining Seraph had made her presence known.  In turn, her faith's following became more precise with every new believer.

She caught Gwen talking to a group on the second floor, but they soon moved away, engrossed in their own discussion—Elinor’s influence was increasing, and according to Lucky, a notable chunk of it came from the redhead.

Should I make Gwen a part of the Argent Dawn’s home operations?  Maybe it would be better to keep her separate; she does have Dalria for protection.

Her mind chilled while thinking about the former Komath Xaria that had killed her parents.  Even if she was a believer in her, Elinor refused to have anything to do with the girl; she was happy to forget she existed.

Emerald irises shifted to Alua’Quel’Lana as she gave a little quiz to the Quen’Talrat specialists recruited from the mines.  Elinor sighed; she felt a little exhausted.  According to what she was grasping of the private test through the Nexus, the quiz was supposed to be elementary—kindergartener-level for the Sage’s tutelage at Ke’Thra’Ma’s Elite Academy—yet they were struggling, much to the colossal Quen’Talrat’s frustration.

Amra’Cora stood nearby with her guard surrounding Elinor, acting as sentries while communicating to one another about specific memories they each shared in the Ke’s institution; the Sages all had a rather dismal reputation amongst the Elite Hunters, it seemed.

In the end, Elinor couldn’t care less what their reputation was; they had a task, and if they could complete that, then she could handle some personality issues.  Her real concern was the stupidity of their deaths, for all the intellectual giants they were made out to be.

Although perhaps ‘mavericks’ was a better term, considering how they died made her want to slap her own face in disbelief.  Despite all of that, the Quen’Talrat all agreed that the beige-furred legend’s return would help the Empire.

Elinor’s gaze wandered to Jumi’calro’s anxious twitches, waiting to hear more from the rune guru as she gauged the specialists' aptitude, yet his attention soon fixated on the somewhat creepy caramel-haired teenage Maid that exited the left hallway; Esmeralda proceeded across the vast floor to stop in front of the Nalvean boy.

“Hello, Jumi’calro.  If you could come with me, High Lady Tiffany requires your presence.”

His tongue flicked out between his teeth in what Elinor figured was a nervous gesture; he adjusted his silken garments around his spikes and torso.  “I, umm—do I need to go right now?  Alua’Quel’Lana has just been revived, and—and I need to learn everything I can to, uh, to support the Empire, you see, and umm, this is just such a monumental moment!”

“Of course,” Esmeralda chimed, tilting her head and gesturing at the area she’d just exited.  “I completely agree; the sooner we complete this ritual, the less you will miss!  We can run if you so desire—I’d understand—after all, we wouldn’t want to waste a single second for the Empire’s glory.  Am I right?”

Elinor restrained a chuckle; Esmeralda was a perfect fit for Tiffany as an assistant, but how this teenage girl came by her twisted personality was a mystery.  She raised the Maids to retain their previous personalities, only adding to the already present skills by applying the Class, Title, and Jobs required for their position.

He looked up at Elinor for a split second before his gaze darted to the floor.  “I, umm … Yes, that would be best … I am not great at physical activities…”

“A shame; you’ll miss some things if we’re too slow.  We better hurry!”  She retained a perfect smile and typical teenage playful mannerisms.  “Perhaps a light jog?”

“I—I suppose…”  He hurried off with the Maid, keeping pace while she hiked up her dress a tad for the exercise.

Elinor straightened, catching the gaze of her Maids and guard as she placed a hand to her chest, a warmth flooding into her before giving her the option to return it; which she did out of pure curiosity—the converted energy flowed back out into the invisible thread that had initially touched her.

Fingers rising to put pressure against her breast, Elinor’s vision narrowed while analyzing what had just occurred—Virgil had sent a request to her for the power to protect their party, transmitting it with a measurable degree of faith in her ability to grant the prayer.

Turning her throne to stare in the direction of the group, a shiver ran through her frame from the unfamiliar sensation.  His belief is getting stronger … It’s not draining on me at all … This is different—unconnected to my Undead System, but how…

Soon after, Gloria’s fervent feelings flared, cycling her own desires to protect and safeguard what she cared for, and her pure heart radiated into Elinor’s Core; once again, she gave consent, but this was entirely different from what their previous interactions using the System was involved.

“Is something wrong, Empress?”  Camellia questioned, tilting her armored legs to follow her gaze.  “Is it my mother?”

No … something else of interest.

Her thoughts shifted to Tiffany and Edmon, but the Witch immediately contacted her before she could make the link.  “Empress, I … My ritual connecting you to Virgil and Gloria has been neutralized … What happened—are they dead?”

Elinor’s eyebrows pulled together as Alua’Quel’Lana finished her quiz in frustration, failing every member of the mining crew; she turned to Elinor, her two faces scrunched up upon realizing she was busy.

I want to pursue this, Tiffany, but give me a moment … Alua’Quel’Lana, now that we’re back, can you analyze the entire matrix of the city?  Moris’Luar can guide you there for you to give me your diagnosis.

The woman grinned.  “Of course, Empress—I wasn’t even born when the Ke constructed this city, so I look forward to seeing some of his early work.”

I’ll follow you; I’m involved in another matter, but let me know once you’ve finished your initial analysis.

“I’ll get right on that!  Alright, you failures, let’s get going—how bad have you messed things up?”

“W-We’ve been doing our best, Alua!”  Menorah pleaded.  “We were trying to decipher the network, but everything was so far beyond anything I was taught in the mining program.”

“Oh, no … How bad did you stir things up—these systems are meant to be operated by experts—a slight change in runic conversion could damage the internal integrity of an entire section of the city!  The Ke never planned to have idiots running his network … ugh…”

Don’t be too harsh on them, Elinor chuckled.  They were hesitant to begin with, but I required it of them since it was my only option.

“Gagrgh … Well, let’s see what I’m dealing with,” Alua’Quel’Lana muttered, following the nervous specialists to the Throne Room, drawing the onlookers’ attention.

Settling back into her chair while searching for her connection to Virgil and Gloria compared to the other Argent Dawn members, a low hum resonated in her throat.  Edmon, Tiffany?

“Still here!  I’m super confused … Are they dead?”

“Who’s dead—what happened?”

“Edmon, catch up!  Virgil and Gloria’s ritual bond to Elinor’s Religious System was shattered.”

“Shattered … As if someone forcefully dispelled it?”

“Ugh, now that you mention it … That does feel more accurate—death is still an option, though.”

Let me explain, Elinor sighed, scanning Violet’s gothic touches to the Throne Room as they proceeded to the Tower’s basement for the city’s Central Core.  What would you say if I told you Virgil and Gloria sent me a prayer to use my power, and I gave it—then Tiffany’s ritual was broken?

The pair went quiet as they thought; Elinor had come to a hypothesis on her own yet wanted to hear their opinions.  A small smile lifted her green-tinted lips while her vision drifted between the thirteen thrones of various colors; Sari’aél’s comment earlier that morning worked through her mind, connecting the dots.

Edmon’s low voice rumbled a thoughtful note.  “They aren’t dead?”

No.  They are very much alive.

“They used your Religious System, though?”  Tiffany muttered, popping her tongue like the Ri’bot.  “Fascinating … Does that mean my ritual was blocking their path to your System instead of bridging it … No, Gloria and Virgil materialized weapons and armor from it.”

“Maybe, but this is an entirely new development; we don’t know the conditions.  Elinor received a request for power, she granted it, and the draw came.”

No.

“No?”  Tiffany questioned, making Elinor chuckle.

“What conclusion was wrong?”

They didn’t draw power from me.

“No … power,” Tiffany whispered.  “If so … How did they have their request answered if not pulling from your Undead System?”

Edmon hissed out a low breath, and Elinor could see him through her link, sitting back from inside the West Wing’s library, glaring at the architecture blueprints he’d been perusing.  “Are you referring to the statement Sari’aél made about two Seeds?”

Correct.  What if my Religious System wasn’t a splinter from my Undead System … But an inactive Seed independent of it—not only that, but Sari’aél called them twins.  My second Seed came to life when we started funneling into it, yet what if the idea of how to bring it out of its slumber was also implanted into your resurrection?  No, it doesn’t matter—it was activated, and that’s the important part.

Twins, working together, but not the same.  My Religious System doesn’t function for the Undead—it’s as if the two can’t be connected—yet they are related.

“Opposites?”  Tiffany hummed.  “It is a working theory … So, since my ritual was attempting to redirect them to your other Seed, it rejected it outright and destroyed the link, yet their bridge to you remained … Does that mean anyone who truly believes in you and prays for deliverance can enter their ranks … Anyone can join the Argent Dawn?”

A growl rumbled in Edmon’s throat.  “That’s dangerous … I suppose you need to accept it, yet that can have its issues.  If you have an army of religious believers, and every one of them is shouting out their prayers to you, then it could be troublesome.”

“Wait…”  Tiffany went silent, her tone becoming thoughtful as she shifted to likely stare at the recovering angel.  “Has Sari’aél been linked to both Systems by her father?  Perhaps you are now sensing this because of her current state … She’s known and been directing things herself.”

“Not impossible.”  Edmon made a sound in his throat as if rolling around his neck, and Elinor got the impression as she focused on the Doom Guard that he was glaring at Milthren; it was a perception she’d been refining, gaining a better grasp on her Undead’s actions.  “Sari’aél is not an Undead … She’s very much alive, and she has inspired quite a change among your citizens.”

“Ha!  Naturally,” Tiffany scoffed.  “Have you seen her—she's an actual divine!  Although, I do think we are on the right track … Why she didn’t tell me my ritual wouldn’t work makes me a bit irritated, though.”

“She may not have known.”

“Simp.”

“What does that mean?  Is it another teenage term you learned from your maid?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Elinor’s focus drifted to the galaxy patterns on the walls.  We’re getting off-topic.  Basically, their faith is their own power, and I’m just a conduit … In a way, it is similar to what I sensed from Apollo, and I can see him not ‘directly’ interfering with my Seed to change it but Sari’aél … She is his daughter, so I wonder…

“Ah…”  Tiffany puffed out a long stream of air.  “Tricky god-like beings—”

He’s far beyond gods, Elinor instantly corrected.

“Still, considering he explained even he was constrained by these laws shows there are methods of getting around it—his daughter, as we’re discussing—and her influence as a … would you call it a baby Transcendent … My, how have I only now just realized how similar our Undead System is to Apollo as a being.”

Edmon stood to lift the holy ax and study it; a shiver ran through his connection to Elinor.  “She is a budding Transcendent, I suppose you could see it … Her influence must have had an effect on the second Seed, and she’s been secretly holding together the fracturing aspects of the Nexus from its rapid expansion on her Divinity Release.”

“My, the woman has been doing so much more than I considered,” Tiffany groaned, sitting beside the Seraph to look into her face.  “I don’t even feel ashamed to admit I feel a little intimidated by her … What does this mean, though?  Is my ritual worthless—how did it function, Elinor?”

The elevator lowered to the bottom level of the Tower to reach the city’s main terminal, but Elinor was fully invested in the current conversation to ponder the discussion passing between the Sage and specialists.

Their faith flowed into me with a request, and I accepted it, which took their faith and ran it through my Seed to convert it into potential energy they could use to fulfill that desire.

“Wow … So, when you said it didn’t drain you, you weren’t kidding … You are a conduit for them to center around.  Still, they must conform to your moral standards … Perhaps that is something you could add as this System grows.”

“I like that,” Edmon grunted, setting the ax back on the table.  “I’m sure there will be many more things you can do with this System, but having limitations on how it can be used will be important.  Sari’aél will need to explain to us further what the extent of this Religious System is when she awakens.”

“I’m still annoyed she didn’t warn me I was wasting my time,” Tiffany grumbled.

Elinor’s portable throne stepped out of the large platform as they made it to the bottom level, and she stood off to the side with her escort.  The Sage and her group went to the center, yet the moment she stepped onto the platform, runes exploded across the room.

“Wha—How…”  Menorah gasped, spinning in a circle.

The smug beige-furred giant ape waved her hand for the area to utterly blacken, an entire city of runes springing up around them in colossal fashion; a sea of information seemed to spread out for the Sage to study, and she pointed to her feet.

“Standard activation runes engraved on my feet—it saves so much time, and removes the need for archaic tools—like you have in your hands … Oh, goodness, such an absolute disaster … A bit simple for the Ke’s work that I know, but considering it was his first project … No, he was truly the most gifted Quen’Talrat in our history…”

Coming to an end to her examination of the Argent Dawn and her mysterious second Seed, Elinor smiled at the woman’s expert hands, shifting them around the entire city grid to mark critical locations of damage and in need of maintenance.

I think that concludes everything we can discuss on the topic for now.  I’ll contact you if there are any more developments.

Edmon rubbed his forehead, glaring down at the giant documents in front of him.  “Right … I have my hands full as it is … Yes, we have a runemaster, but that doesn’t help the architectural issues, such as our gaping hole in the southern wall that needs a complete restoration.”

“Good luck with that!”  Tiffany snickered, making the Doom Guard terminate the connection before any further biting comments came.  “Heh—oh, Elinor, might I have a little more of your time?”

Observing the show the Sage was putting on, Elinor hummed.  What is it?  Ah, on that note, how long until Jumi’calro’s binding ritual is done?

“Hmm, not long, maybe ten minutes—at least when they get to the room—this is an unnecessarily massive palace, even for creatures of Quen’Talrat’s size,” she mused, sounding somewhat absent-minded.  “Esmeralda will do the preparation work for me to check and perform.”

By their connection, Elinor could glean the Witch was studying Violet and Sari’aél’s conditions, yet judging by the emotions she sensed, Tiffany had somber questions on her mind.

“I have been cataloging many ingredients and performing a few rituals in the hopes of perfecting the bonding process between your followers … Ugh, now that is up in the air, though I suppose I can still make use of their other properties.

“Umm … I wanted to get a better understanding about the variance between your two Seeds, so I have a proper framework to work from and not waste my time again.  Is that fine?”

Ask away.  I’m just watching Quel analyze the city grid.

“Hmm … considering what we spoke of before, might I ask how your link is between the Argent Dawn; its strength compared to the others—say the Ri’bot in the Nalvean Empire?”

Pondering the question and ties, Elinor crossed her legs and leaned against the side of her throne; they were currently floating up the virtual representation of the Tower to study the apparatus at its tip.

It is different.  The Ri’bot there do give me a minor degree of Death Energy when taking the life of other living beings … So, a Death or Blood Cult isn’t far off from that train of thought, yet it seems to be more of a base tie of the two Seeds holding hands than actually being fused or connected—if that makes sense.

“No, I follow!  Continue.”

Throne changing positions for her to stare southwest in the sea of runes, Elinor’s lips tightened.  It’s not nearly as powerful or in detail as the Nexus connection to my Undead are, yet I do have a general grasp on how many there are in an area and the strength of those believers … Interestingly, Virgil and Gloria are the first to tap into this empowering side when I’d say there are other creatures that see me more as a goddess.

“If that is the case … I assume the Argent Dawn are still among the highest in faith—maybe not the top, but up there?”

Mmh … Virgil and Gloria are the most potent, by far, within that group.  They are still within the Empire boundaries, and if I were to compare them, I’d say they’re among the … Hmm…

“Something you noticed?”

Their type of faith…

Elinor’s focus drifted between the Ri’bot, humans, and Yaltha’ma; if she reached out with her heart rather than her mind, she could distinguish a sharp variance between the majority of the groups.  By doing so, she discovered not all faith in her was equal.

Hope … Trust … Rebirth … Most of my followers lack rebirth and adoration … Fear is the weakest form of belief.

A shiver ran through Elinor’s bones, but touching the pair’s souls through her invisible thread filled her with a relieving warmth that reminded her of Apollo; Tiffany’s thirst to not be wrong had pulled her in the right direction.  I think I understand…

“Please, I’m all ears!”

The Ri’bot may have a great deal of faith, but it is heavily diluted because it is based on fear and not love—there are even different degrees of love, as well … Virgil and Gloria love and respect me because of this new life I provided them, and they have an intense desire to be reborn through my power to reach our shared goals … My Seeds may be twins, but they’re polar opposites.

“Mmh … The Undead System is a shackle and forced servitude to the Empress … Your Religious System revolves around a shared union that uplifts both parties … Huh, well, that’s not exactly ‘ideal’ for what I’d like,” she grumbled, “but maybe … we could try fanaticism … Hmm?”

Elinor’s lips fell, vision glazing over to feel more than see the two Argent Dawn members working through the jungles after whatever had halted their journey.  There is a link between my two Systems, but it can’t be forced … We saw what happened when you tried.

Thinking back to Apollo’s explanation … These Seeds are far stronger than anything we can feasibly restrict them with, and the Religious System is based on mutual goals and an open relationship … If I feel we are deceiving them, it will break the consensual contract.

“Shit!  That makes things rather difficult,” she hissed.  “Basically, I’d need to brainwash you and them … Although, I suppose that means they cannot be manipulated to misuse your powers, as well … Ugmgm…”

Haha, Tiffany, it’s fine.  My goals haven’t changed.  I am the Empress and ruler that wishes to build a protected nation; they accept me, which is why they can use me as a conduit for our mutual goals to overcome both of our enemies.  Yes, a personal war could cost their faith, which means I can use the Undead for those conflicts … Two armies, different purposes.

“I just … I don’t like them being able to refuse you—no matter the order.”

It’s something you’ll need to learn to handle.  I understand your reluctance, but it exemplifies Sari’aél; heh, maybe she didn’t tell you because she knew you’d sabotage things obsessing over it—as you tend to do.

“I—I can’t help it … Mmgm … Fine, but I’ll continue to map out the exact rules of this System … I hate not understanding rules.”

So you can break them?

“Well, only if needed.”

Again, Elinor was reminded how terrifying Tiffany could be; she may have had the mind of her mother but was possessed by something she would have abhorred, yet without the Witch, she wouldn’t have survived—life was gray, not black and white.

Come to me before doing anything drastic.

“I wouldn’t dream of excluding my Empress in something that could harm her!  I will always keep you safe.”

I’m sure you will, Elinor returned.  Is that everything?

“Oh, umm, no, actually … Oof, Esmeralda’s starting the prepwork—they arrived sooner than I anticipated, given the distance and stairs.”

Mhm?  Elinor muttered, observing an unusually long tunnel leading from the center of the Tower—the elevator—which seemed to actually run below the thirtieth floor.  However, Tiffany’s next statement tightened her muscles and wiped the thought from her mind.

“Yes, well, Sari’aél’s body is fascinating … Her flowing, energy-like structure has slowed after using all of her power, which has given her a shockingly similar physical makeup to a human—a human with six enormous wings, halo, and a more perfect figure than any woman on Earth—but still…

“Umm, heh … I dare say she may even have the organs to, heh, reproduce in this drained state … Hmm?  Perhaps, she had it all along, but I simply couldn’t sense it given the enigma I tried to analyze before.  Now, what do you think about that?”

Tiffany … I don’t need to remind you to be careful in dealing with Sari’aél?  Elinor hissed, mind drawing a horrifying path from her casual remark.  Apollo is not the type to overlook someone harming his daughter—I imagine especially in that way.

“Oh, heavens, no!  Please, heh, have a little more faith in me than that!  I have no intention of subjecting her to anything of the like, Elinor!  I was just making an observation in my physical exam of the woman…”

Mhm … So far as I am concerned, it further highlights why we ‘must’ keep her safe when vulnerable.  Apollo, a being so far beyond our very concept of God—more powerful than anything I could conceivably put ‘any’ measure of comparison to—nothing—has entrusted his precious daughter to me, and for what?  Something apparently more satisfying than revenge—whatever that means—I don’t know.

“I know!  I know!  Calm down!  I’m well aware of his power—after all, just his daughter brought The Covenant to their knees on sight.  Every inch of this palace is well-guarded by undead and my rituals … I can’t speak to the runes, though—as you said, Quel is on that task at the moment.”

Okay … Just make sure she is on the path to recovery, Tiffany.  Mmh … Tiffany, I understand, she is not Undead like us … Still, she is a member of the Royal Court—the Elite Warrior Transcendent—she has given her life to me.  Please, respect her as you respect me.

“E-Elinor … Please, never plead—I-I—you are my Empress!  I am not someone you should ever plead with!”

Then don’t make me worry about you, Tiffany … I understand you have a need to push boundaries and look at unorthodox solutions, but there are lines I will not cross.  Anything that puts me against Apollo or turns Sari’aél against me is not an option.  In fact, you’re making me question even putting her in the public eye at this moment if something like that comes from my Royal Court.

“I … I’m sorry, Empress—I have crossed the line.  Umm, my only thought was that should she ever choose—of her own free-will—as you said, she is unlike her brothers and sisters—she could possibly bear a child … That was my intent.”

Elinor was so rattled by just the thought process her brain had gone down that she wasn’t sure if Tiffany had honestly had such innocent notions; it was challenging to tell with the Witch.

Okay … I’ll leave you to your rituals.  Let me know if there are any changes in their condition.

“I’m doing everything I can to speed up their recovery.”

Promptly cutting the communication with the Witch, Elinor shivered.

“Empress?”  Theresa asked, stepping forward with concern.  “You look unwell.”

“Can we do something?”  Valerie asked.

Taking a deep breath, Elinor puffed out a heavy sigh, fingers pressing against her chest to feel her thumping artificial heart.  A song may help … Just an unpleasant end to a relatively productive conversation.

The pair promptly began their harmony, and Elinor settled back in to try and relax; she hadn’t felt a chill run through her marrow like that since seeing the Transcendent’s ire toward the one who’d harmed his daughter.  Of course, Tiffany wouldn’t grasp the supremacy Apollo commanded without going through the Quickening process to even reach such heights—a ten-winged angelic deity; his daughter—lamented the inability to be in his presence.

It made her wonder how, even with his protective hand, she’d been able to do so yet instantly dismissed it since it was pure speculation that would lead her nowhere.

Rubbing her forehead, Elinor cleared her throat and bridged a connection to Alua’Quel’Lana.  I need some good news.  Tell me you have something?

Quel turned, a pained smile on her two faces as the specialists looked around in dazed wonder at her work within the rune-based cityscape.  “Unfortunately, a vast number of systems are heavily degraded due to a lack of power sustaining them … Mmh, now that I can examine the full network, this city was never meant to function on its own—it doesn’t have the power.”

She directed Elinor’s attention to the long funnel reaching into the earth and below the city from its center.  “The Ke designed it to recharge via the main power station within the mountain you call the Crowned Jewel.”

It suddenly clicked in Elinor’s head; the whole purpose of Noa was to eventually be the power manager of Ke’Thra’Ma’s projects, maintaining everything in his absence.  Naturally, everything he worked on would be connected to his generator; everything required power.

Can you fix it?

“I’d need to grasp the issue,” she groaned, rubbing the back of her neck.  “Still, give it to the Ke to have a secret entrance to the Power Center—no wonder we could never find the internal system to his other projects; heh, believe me, Alua’Talia’Asa tried.”

Where is the path down—the elevator?

“Mmh … No … Huh—the Ke installed teleportation runes to the tunnel, but I don’t recall any labor being used in such a project on record or mentioned by the other Sages.  He must have mined and done this himself when first arriving back from his conquest.”

Feeling a little impatient at the young runic genius’ wandering mind, Elinor had to restrain herself from pushing her on; she had to remain dignified—her Maid’s soft song helped.  Do we have the power to teleport?

Quel glanced at a host of three-dimensional runes that danced ahead of her in various patterns, nervously scratching her left arm; Elinor made a note to try and upgrade her language Skill to translate the runes into something she’d recognize later.

“Mmgm … the logs show a huge dump of energy has occurred since your arrival … You’ve been bleeding it by turning random places on—brute-forcing some systems that aren’t even operational yet … breaking many in the process.”

Elinor wanted to groan, recalling Edmon and the specialists just flipping on and off buttons to see if they could get things to work; of course, their own mistakes would cause them issues, yet the guru’s lips curved while glancing between places, tongue sliding out at the challenge.

“Hmm … I can redirect supportive systems in the Greenhouse … oof, pull that away, we don’t need plumbing for the ‘entire’ city when a tiny portion is actually being used … turn off the amphitheater that’s been playing music for over a century?  Okay … eegh, yeah, we don’t need the heating functions to melt the snow with how temperatures are rising…”

After going through a checklist of wasteful spending and blunders, she rubbed her hands together to the specialists’ pounding their chests in amazement.  “So … I’ve gathered enough for three, possibly four teleports … It’s a more costly version from Alua’Es’Ros’ more refined touch, but considering this is the alpha version … Wow, the Ke was a master of masters…”  she whispered.

Eagerly waiting for her to conclude her project, Elinor couldn’t breathe; she hadn’t dreamed of connecting Nethermore to the maze-like structure of Noa’s Nexus so soon.  She didn’t want to give up her hopes, yet she couldn’t help but feel like a girl, bouncing with anticipation on Christmas Eve while wiggling in bed and trying to listen for Santa’s sleigh.

Finally, she watched the haze of runes encircle just Elinor’s group and Quel, likely her conserving power by excluding the specialists she deemed practically worthless.

When the veil of vibrant lights and shapes lifted, Elinor found a pristine white marble-like corridor that extended into oblivion, and not soon after, red lines traced down its entire length in a grid-like fashion, far fewer runes than the complex weave she’d witnessed above floating out of the walls.

“Empress?”  Edmon asked in concern.

I’m fine … More than fine.  Continue your own work.

“Understood.”

Tiffany popped in but likely kept her peace, knowing Elinor was probably still upset over the end of their discussion.  She didn’t have time to reminisce on the topic as Quel giggled, walking over to run a hand along the wall.

“Simple, clean, and to the point … He must have done this himself, yet it would have taken so long … A path straight to the source.”

Elinor remained silent as the girl worked, moving slowly down the path while checking for problems, yet none seemed to pop out to her; it was as if everything was left in perfect condition, and it wasn’t for another hour until she stopped—all of the traces were gone, and the white marble was blackened.

“How crude … cruel…”  Quel whispered.  “Surely it wasn’t the Ke who would have utterly torched his own creation?  It’s utterly ruined.”

Mila…

“Ka’Mila’Sa?”  Quel muttered in disbelief.  “Why … Why would the Azure Queen ruin the city’s link to the Power Core?”

Not the real Azure Queen, the A.I. replica like Noa.

“Ah … Okay … Hmm, I can see why she’d wish to cut off something she might deem useless to the Nexus … It wasn’t like she’d be using it, and all it would be doing is drawing power away from other projects.”

Can it be repaired?

“Mmh, not repaired … rebuilt, and on the bright side, heh, she would have had to fully bridge the two networks, finishing the Ke’s work to accomplish this.  Empress, it may take a few days, but I will have a simple path linked that will supply all the power we require—of course, it will be much faster if you can find my sister—ugh, or one of the other Sages … This isn’t my specialty, after all.”

Finally, this was what she wanted to hear.  I’ll head back to begin a search immediately.  Start, and I will see who I can find to aid you.

“Right away, Empress!  Oh, and let me move you to the transportation station to make your path easier; it won’t cost much more than returning you to the Tower.”

The runes encircled Elinor, and not soon after, she was staring at the train; growth was in sight.  She boarded the vehicle, sending Valerie to report to Edmon and Tiffany.

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